Museum lovers, we know you miss visiting your favourite galleries and taking in all the beautiful art the world has to offer, so we have some good news for you: you can now join The Museum of Modern Art's top curators every Thursday (or Friday, Down Under) to explore the famed museum's exhibitions. Different gallery tours will be uploaded to the museum's website every week, ranging from film exhibitions to deep dives into the work of some of America's most iconic artists, including Great Depression photographer Dorothea Lange and sculptor Donald Judd. If you prefer to get a bit more hands-on with your art, the gallery is also offering a heap of free online courses, covering everything from postwar abstract painting to fashion and photography. Top image: MoMA by Gorup de Besanez for WikiCommons
Normally a fire that burns out a warehouse doesn't exactly spell good fortune, but for the creators of new events space The Third Day things turned out pretty well. Originally a costume warehouse in the 1920s, the space in North Melbourne was struck by a fire seven years ago and has laid dormant ever since — that is, until about a year ago, when The Third Day team took ownership and started work. Venue manager Rob Anthony says it's been a work in progress since then, at times slow thanks to the council, but is gaining momentum now in the new year. "We've had the venue for a year, and feel like we've been sitting on it since then and nobody knows," he says. "There's a big social media roll-out happening now and we're looking at lots of events too." The venue's first party was on Boxing Day last year, and since then they've played host to a number of other parties, mostly house music-centric and with the distinctive flavour of the Berlin club scene. "Being in Melbourne is a bit like the Berlin way too," says Rob. "You've got to seek out your parties. It might not look like much from outside, but inside it's huge — people are saying they've never seen anything like it here." The warehouse block is large, and the venue sprawling: think more openair art bar than cramped club, with space enough to expand themselves — and plans to do so soon. "Our plan in the future is to open five or six nights a week with food offerings too, and perhaps a couple of different music options and sounds. For now, we'll just do these events until we get into the groove of things. But we've got a little kitchen next to the bar and plan on moving a guy who does woodfire pizzas in by next summer." After a year ofbuild-upp, The Third Day seems to be easily in the swing of summer parties; keep an eye on their social media pages as it seems like there are hotter things still to come (no more fires though). Find The Third Day at 290 Macaulay Road, North Melbourne and www.thethirdday.com.au. Check their Facebook page for events.
If you're looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and reconnect with nature, then it's time to pack the car, cruise through Anglesea and Lorne and head to the Otways. Not only does the National Park have rugged coastland, beaches, rainforest and mountains, but it's also home to Otway Fly Treetop Adventures where you can walk in the treetops, climb to the canopy and zip through lush greenery. Located just 20 minutes from the Great Ocean Road, the adventure park features a stunning 600-metre treetop walk ($25). The elevated track is 25 metres from the ground (acrophobics beware), putting you right among the branches so you can observe the flora and fauna more closely. There's also a cantilevered lookout above Young's Creek and, for those wanting to scale to new heights, the 45-metre tall Spiral Tower provides unparalleled views. For those seeking thrills, Otway Treetops Fly Adventures has a forest zipline tour ($120), where you'll be flying through the trees at 30 metres above the forest floor. The guided tour lasts about 2.5 hours and you'll learn all about the forest's history. Your ticket also includes access to the Treetop Walk. Otway Fly Treetop Adventures is open from 10am–5pm every Thursday–Monday, with last entry at 3.30pm. Prices range from $20–120.
You've binged your way through HBO's excellent Chernobyl mini-series. If you're a Melburnian, or you've taken a trip to the Victorian city recently, you may have wandered through a recreation of the exclusion zone around the exploded nuclear reactor as well. Soon, you also might be able to sip shots of vodka from the region — made from grain from the Ukrainian area that has been off limits for more than three decades. The tipple in question is called Atomik Vodka. Brewed by a team of scientists from the UK and Ukraine, it's part of a three-year research project investigating the transfer of radioactivity from the soil to crops grown in the closed-off spot, as well as in the Narodychi District within the Zone of Obligatory Resettlement. (People still live in the latter location, but the land isn't officially allowed to be used for agriculture.) While the grain itself showed some signs, all traces of Chernobyl-derived radioactivity was lost in the distilling process, which inherently reduces impurities — leaving the vodka with the same level of natural radiation that you'd find in any other spirit. The vodka also uses local mineral water, sourced from a deep aquifer below the town of Chernobyl, around 10 kilometres south of the nuclear power station. It's been found to possess chemistry similar to water from limestone aquifers, like the one in the Champagne region of France, and was used to dilute the distilled alcohol to 40 percent. At present, only one bottle of the vodka exists. And, if you're curious about giving it a taste, it's not for sale. But the team behind Atomik hope that will change, and, that after clearing a few legal hurdles, they'll be able to begin a small-scale experimental run of the grain spirit by the end of this year. If they're successful in their efforts, they plan to donate 75 percent of Atomik Vodka's profits back to the affected Ukrainian community. It's also hoped that the research project will assist residents around the exclusion zone by showing that the land is now safe to be used for agriculture, opening up further investment and economic benefits. For more information, visit the Atomik Vodka website. Via the University of Portsmouth.
Every year, Australia's finest horse riders converge on stunning Werribee Park for three days. And you're invited to watch them in action. The competition will start on Friday, June 6 with dressage, which carries into Saturday. The following day, the riders will let loose on a cross-country course around the property's beautiful grounds. Then, come Monday, it's show-jumping time. Whoever performs best across all three events will be announced champion and take home some serious prize money. In between watching, head to the Trade Village to wander among horsey-related stallholders. You'll come across apparel (for animals and people) by Valley Horsewear, saddles by Bates, equestrian gear by Castlefin and loads more. Plus, on Sunday evening, catch the indoor speed jumping competition, set to music. Entry on Friday is free; tickets range from $12.50–$110 Saturday–Monday. You can book ahead online.
While it doesn't always feel like it, Melbourne is closing in on the home-stretch of this latest lockdown. A handful of restrictions were eased from 11.59pm on Sunday, October 18 and Premier Daniel Andrews has also confirmed the state's on track to November 1. But just in case you were thinking there'd be some wiggle room during step two, the Victorian Government is cracking down hard on rule-breakers and bumping up the penalties for any illegal gatherings. Break the rules now and you could cop a hefty fine of almost $5000. The Premier has warned that the penalties for flouting current restrictions on public and private gatherings will now be increased to match the fines given for travelling into regional Victoria without a valid reason: $4957, to be exact. The no-nos include having a picnic with more than ten people, or people from more than two households, and having anyone over to your house that isn't an intimate partner or in your 'single social bubble'. You can brush up on all the gathering rules over here. Victoria Police has also confirmed it'll maintain a strict approach in enforcing the rules. In a press conference, Chief Commissioner Shane Patton urged the public to help police by phoning in any suspected rule-breakers to the Police Assistance Line. And, ahead of the balmy picnic weather forecast for this weekend, he warned police would be stepping up its presence, keeping an eye on busy parks and even knocking on doors. "We will be out and we will be enforcing," he said in the Facebook video. "We'll be doing everything we can to make sure that people are adhering to these guidelines." If you are caught doing the wrong thing, it seems there'll be little chance of walking away with just a slap on the wrist, with the Chief Commissioner saying, "The use of discretion will be only in the most extreme circumstance and very rarely applied". While the penalty increase was announced on Sunday, September 27, Victoria Police today confirmed it's doled out over 67 fines to individuals for breaching the Chief Health Officer directions in the past 24 hours. They included penalty notices issued to six men gathered at a home in Greater Dandenong, with police tipped off after multiple cars registered to different addresses were seen in the driveway. For more information about the status of COVID-19 and the current restrictions, head over to the Department of Health and Human Services website — and for further details about Victoria's steps for reopening, head to the roadmap itself. Updated October 20, 2020.
Keen for a beachside beverage and in the vicinity of the St Kilda foreshore? Don't go rushing to the sand with a drink in hand just yet. The City of Port Phillip has extended its existing temporary ban on boozing, which was initially put in place after a wild Christmas day party and will now last through until April 3. That means that coastal Easter shindigs will also need to be drink-free, as the council contemplates its next steps. A long-term ban has been under consideration since approximately 5000 people gathered at the popular spot on December 25, resulting in unruly behaviour through the afternoon and evening, 29 tonnes of rubbish and a clean-up bill of around $23,000. "This is about doing our best to balance safety with celebration," said Mayor Bernadene Voss following the Council meeting on February 7. "We heard, and sympathised, with some residents who told us they want the right to be able to drink responsibly on our beautiful St Kilda foreshore... but we also heard local traders, residents and emergency services personnel telling us that alcohol is a problem and is getting worse." The council will engage with the community to ascertain views on the effectiveness of the current trial ban, and whether it was encouraging or deterring use of the area. Possibly permitting well-managed events to supply alcohol on Christmas Day, rather than visitors bringing their own, will also be explored. Restrictions were initially planned to run over the New Year's Eve period, were first extended prior to Christmas and then subsequently increased to continue until February 15 following the unruly incident. The area affected spans from Marina Reserve to West Beach. Via The Age.
Ivan Sen has always gone it alone. In the world where we live, filmmakers have set decorators, editors, production managers, post-production technicians, concept artists, storyboard artists and legions of other scurrying assistants. Not Ivan Sen. He's an Australian filmmaker who does it all himself, and his outsider approach has so far taken him from his native rural New South Wales to places like Sundance, Cannes and Berlin film festivals. This directive — hands-on, honest, thoughtful, singular filmmaking — now stretches into the guts of his latest film, an outback murder case, Mystery Road. It's a quiet, steady yet thrilling film, held together by Aaron Pedersen's staggering performance as a lone, Aboriginal detective. To talk about Ivan's films, you have to talk about equality. In Sen's film worlds (Toomelah, Beneath Clouds), as in this world, some people are more equal than others. When Julie Mason, an Indigenous girl, is found with her throat cut off Mystery Road near Massacre Creek, no one gives a shit — not the cops, not anyone. This is the crime genre plot-point that opens up to a chasm of inequality. Underneath the high skies and low plains of Mystery Road, something else surfaces — a frighteningly beautiful, dead-on look at a troubled country. THE START OF MYSTERY ROAD "It's been a bit of a journey, this film," says Ivan. "I first mentioned it to Aaron in 2006 in Kings Cross, around midnight. We were passing like ships in the night, and I said, 'brother, I got an idea for you'. And he said, 'alright'. Then five years later, I ring him up and say, 'here's this idea, here's the script, it's time to do it'. It's a story that's come from my own experiences, my own heart, from my family and their experiences. So everything you see in some way comes from reality. The whole thing about Jay Swan being this cop caught between two worlds is something that's very close to my heart, coming from a small town, growing up, not quite belonging to the Aboriginal part of town, and not quite belonging to the white part of town. That's what I've always been fascinated by: the turncoat, the black tracker, the black trooper, the Native American scout. The person who's got a foot in both worlds, walking along the edge." Mystery Road comes at the crest of a wave of Indigenous storytellers making movies for all audiences — films like Bran Nue Dae and The Sapphires. "There are all kinds of young warriors trying to change the face of the industry, trying to tell our stories," says Aaron. "I've done a lot of mainstream material before on television. People used to always tell me, 'you play too many coppers!' Not now, because all those cops got me this job! Ivan wrote the role for me. It's something I'll never forget and a job I'll never get again." "I think [the murder storyline] is something that affects a lot of Indigenous families," says Ivan. "A distant cousin of mine was found underneath the roadway in very similar circumstances, a long time ago now. The killer has never been brought to justice. If you actually pursue reality in a film, that can make things more interesting and suspenseful than all this artificial and contrived conditioning." Adds Aaron, "This film is important to this country, the lessons of healing and understanding. It's about our lives. There are a lot of cold cases in this country, a lot of people left behind after murders." THE ONE-MAN BAND What's behind the all-encompassing role of director, writer, camera operator, editor and composer? "It's just easier to do it yourself," Ivan says. "I just started doing it a long time ago, back in the 1990s. And now technology's caught up and I can edit on the laptop, soundtrack on the plane, write in a cafe. For me, why should film production be the way Hollywood says it is? What right do they have to define all these things?" "Let's hope he doesn't learn how to act, because then there'll be no work for actors!" Aaron's having a go, but you suspect he might be right. "Ivan had all these hats that he'd been wearing [on set], but I'll keep saying 'till the day I die, if he was stressed out, you wouldn't have known. Incredible leader. I was so glad to be part of the project on this big scale — not just as a hired gun, but as someone who helped implement the operation. It was kind of like ceremony in a way. It was really beautiful, really personal. You don't usually have that relationship with a director. We became brothers." SEN GOES SCI-FI I've heard Ivan's next film is a science-fiction epic set in China, his new home. "Yeah, sci-fi," says Ivan. "Set in the future. Big action, romance. Commercial." At first it seems worlds away from the art-film vibe of Mystery Road. How do you cater for the largest possible audience without turning your film to shit? "Someone like Christopher Nolan is in massive demand," Ivan continues. "He puts his heart and soul into what he does, and really wants to give the audience something unique. There's not many other guys with the talent and heart trying to give the masses something special. Because it's all controlled by suits. Chris Nolan's not a suit, but he wears one. He gets the deals without losing any freedoms or destroy his personal approach." It's true — you see a big budget movie with heart and talent and intelligence (Robert Zemeckis's classic space movie, Contact, springs to mind), and you think, hey, that's what Hollywood could be for, that's what all those big budgets and beautiful faces could be doing all the time. They could have big ideas, too. "There's a big hole there, in the commercial arena, for quality," says Ivan. "There's so many shit films for big audiences. You go to the cinema and it's like, 'which crap movie do I have to pick?'" "I actually don't go to the movies very much 'cause of that," admits Aaron. "Too many people are spoon-fed their opinions in this world. That's another audience [than the one for Mystery Road]." Ultimately, for Ivan, leaping into sci-fi just makes sense to him as a filmmaker. "I don't want to make the same film over and over. It's boring. I'm a lover of cinema. Watching cinema gave me emotions that I'd never felt before in my whole eight-year-old life. I'd never felt that connection before." Mystery Road carries this sensibility — beyond being a genre piece, is cuts to the emotional heart of a country that's been torn by dysfunction for too long. At a screening of the film in Sydney's inner west, Aaron spoke plainly, and passionately. "History did not start 225 years ago in this country ... This role is more than a job, it's a chance for me to show my ancestral trauma. This film is larger than this script: it's a cinematic campfire. Sit around it. Take something from it. Be smarter for it. Be a better nation for it."
Imitation may be considered the sincerest form of flattery, but when one movie spends its duration seemingly trying to ape another, it also proves one of the most grating methods of filmmaking. Staring at its grey colour scheme, listening to its moody score, jumping along with its shifting timeline and unpacking its narration-heavy, twist-filled story, there's little doubt that The Girl on the Train is trying to follow in the footsteps of another recent adaptation of a page-turning novel. Alas, this movie is no Gone Girl — although thanks to its own stylistic choices, the comparison isn't going to go away any time soon. Working from Paula Hawkins' best-selling book, The Girl on the Train intertwines the plights of three women in a whodunnit thriller, while attempting to dissect — and find commonality within — the many roles women are forced to play in life. Sadly, with a flimsy script by Erin Cressida Wilson doing the source material few favours, director Tate Taylor fails to live up to expectations with this hotly anticipated adaptation. Instead, the film alternates between serious and trashy, without finding the right balance between the two. So it is that alcoholic divorcee and New York-based Englishwoman Rachel (Emily Blunt) rides the train every day, staring out the window at people she assumes are happier than she is. In the case of her ex-husband Tom (Justin Theroux), his new wife Anna (Rebecca Ferguson) and their baby, she knows that's the case. When it comes to their neighbours Megan (Haley Bennett) and Scott (Luke Evans), she's just guessing. But when Megan goes missing on the very same day that Rachel spots her on her porch with another man, questions start being asked. Before long, some of the hardest ones are directed at Rachel herself, who was seen drunk in the area but can't piece her memory together. Characters peering into the seemingly perfect lives of others is a concept that has fuelled many a movie in years gone by. And yet, you can add a distinctive lack of Hitchcockian intrigue to the list of ways that The Girl on the Train disappointments. Narrative developments are clearly foreshadowed, clichés fly thick and fast, and attempts to bust gender stereotypes remain superficial at best. In this light, even appreciating the film's place in voyeurism-obsessed cinema history offers little solace. Thank goodness for the quality cast. Whether acting erratic like Blunt, suspicious like Ferguson or furtive and discontent like Bennett, none of the picture's lead actors are quite at their best, but at least they're reliable, which makes them the best thing the film has going for it. That said, when paying close attention to how Blunt plays boozy becomes more interesting than the story itself, you know something has gone seriously wrong. There's an interesting-enough thriller at the heart of The Girl on the Train. Unfortunately, we never get to see it.
If you haven't done it before, flying solo can be a little daunting — especially to something like the opera. But, hey, you shouldn't have to miss out on indulging your operatic passions just because your mates aren't huge Puccini fans. That's presumably why Opera Australia has come up with a nifty solution for its solo guests. The new initiative, named Opera for One, offers a a special package for those going it alone at select Sydney and Melbourne shows. No more standing awkwardly in the foyer before the performance or during interval, wishing you had someone to dissect the show with. Under the new scheme, solo punters will get access to a discounted B Reserve ticket (at a tidy 10 percent off), then kick off their evening at a complimentary pre-show drinks and nibbles session. An expert from Opera Australia's creative team will give a casual talk about the show and you'll have the chance to mingle with other solo opera fans, before heading in to take your seats together. To help take some of the edge off, guests will also score a handy guide before the show, packed with conversation starters, information about your chosen opera and insights into what you can expect on the night. If you're keen to give it a whirl, Opera for One is currently taking bookings for a handful of Sydney and Melbourne shows. NSW fans can see the likes of the compelling Salome or Puccini's Turandot, while Melburnians can access Il Viaggio a Reims, Mozart's Così fan tutte, and beloved classic Rigoletto.
At the moment, you can't go down to your local, order yourself a pint and chat with the bartender, but that doesn't mean you have to go thirsty. While you're at home, it could be a good chance to shake things up, sample new liquors, brews or wines instead of your go-to VB and even maybe brush up on your cocktail making skills. The only thing holding you back will be your supply — and right now, after a few weeks of staying at home more, we're betting it's looking a little lacklustre. One way of making sure your liquor cabinet is always well-stocked is signing up to an online subscription service — and in Australia there are many. Whether you're after wine, tinnies or whisky, a number of local booze subscription services are ensuring you don't go thirsty while social distancing. Here are eight of the best. CRAFT BREWS AND NATTY WINES FROM GOOD BOOZE PROJECT (MR WEST) Mr West is known for many things, but its bottle shop packed with craft beers and minimal-intervention wines is a standout. Previously, you had to visit the Melbourne bar to get said tipples, but now you can have them delivered with its subscription service, the Good Booze Project. Its mission is simple: deliver incredible booze to your door. So, expect to be sipping top-notch tipples from independent producers from around the globe. You can opt for boxes of three, six or 12 wines and six or 12 beers delivered to your door every month. There's the Explorer, Lover or Buff subscription levels for both wine and beer — and you can upgrade anytime. The Good Booze Project delivers across Australia and your box will arrive chilled every month, too, so you can crack open a cold one as soon as it hits your front porch. Right now, new members can nab a free Mr West crystal wine or beer glass pack (valued at $35), too — just enter SIGNMEUP at checkout. Plus, if you want something a little stronger to see you through iso, you can add on an order of Mr West's 1.5-litre 'bagnums' of negroni and espresso martini. For more information on the subscription levels and to sign up, head here. ARTISANAL GINS FROM GIN SOCIETY If you're a G&T person or a lover of a dry gin martini, look no further than Gin Society, which treats its subscribers to a full-sized bottle of a small-batch gin every two months. The company launched back in 2018 and features a range of local and international gins, with a focus on drops you won't find at your local bottle shop. Each time one of these hand-picked, premium gins lands at your doorstep, it'll be accompanied by an edition of Gin Journal magazine, too, featuring expert tasting notes, suggested cocktail recipes, bartender profiles, reviews and details about the gin's origins. Everything you need to ensure you enjoy that bottle of artisan booze to its fullest. So if you're not a gin whiz yet, you will be soon. The subscription will set you back $95 bimonthly, which includes a full-sized bottle of gin, the magazine, exclusive invitations to future Gin Society events and cost of delivery, no matter where you live in the country. Sign up for your bimonthly gin fix here. [caption id="attachment_765523" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Naked Wines[/caption] BOUTIQUE LOCAL VINOS FROM NAKED WINES Online cellar door Naked Wines launched in 2012 with the aim of connecting at-home wine drinkers with winemakers across Australia and New Zealand. Since then it's grown to include more than 53 winemakers, including the likes of Enfant Terrible from Adelaide Hills, Le Petit Mort from Queensland's Granite Belt and Hilltops, NSW, plus Blindside from Margaret River. So, if you're looking to stockpile your cellar, you could be doing it with some top-notch drops from around the country. Its subscription service is a little different to others, and instead of signing up for a delivery every so often, you become a 'wine angel' for $40 a month. The money will go into your Naked Wines account and you can spend it how you wish, plus get a stack of discounts, exclusive wines and a free bottle once a month, which you'll receive with your next purchase. You can get cases of six, 12 or 15 bottles delivered to your doorstep. And right now you can nab a $100-voucher to spend on a case if you're a first-time Naked Wines customer (and over 18). Just head here to make your purchase. If you're based in Sydney, Melbourne or Perth, your Naked Wines could be winging their way to you by the next working day. For Adelaide, Brisbane and Canberra, delivery is within two-to-four business days. It's also free delivery for members if you're in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth, however there are delivery costs of up to $20 outside of those cities. To order your first box — and get $100 to spend on it — head here, then sign up to become a wine angel. HARD-TO-FIND AND NEW-WORLD WHISKIES FROM WHISKY LOOT Keeping you suitably soused while you're stuck at home is Whisky Loot. And while it mightn't be new, there's never been a better time to get small-batch and hard-to-find whiskies delivered straight to your door. The monthly subscription service delivers a box of three 60-millilitre bottles, with a different theme every time, so you'll never drink the same tipple twice. The aim is to expand your palate and educate you along the way. So, if you're just entering the world of whisky or looking to sample something other than your go-to firewater, this is for you. As well as three tasty ambers, you'll receive expert tasting notes and a tasting journal (with your first box), both of which will help take you from whisky novice to aficionado. And although it's a subscription service, you can do it month-to-month, with no lock-ins. Best of all, Whisky Loot is offering $10 off your first order if you opt for the subscription, making it just $49 for your first round, which includes free standard shipping across Australia. All you have to do is enter SUPPORT5 at checkout. Plus, it'll be donating $5 from each box to Hospo Voice in support of the hospitality industry, which is doing it pretty tough right now. So, you can cheers to a good cause. For more information about Whisky Look and to sign up, head here. WINES PICKED BY TOP SOMMELIERS FROM THE BOROUGH BOX Pick this and you'll pretty much be getting the cream of the crop of natural wines, with Lo-Fi Wine directors James Audas (Noma) and Tom Sheer (Love, Tilly Devine) behind every box. This monthly vino subscription has just launched and features a range of sustainable, organic and biodynamic wines from every corner of the globe, with a particular focus on small-batch producers. So, expect Aussie favourites such as Good Intentions Wine Co, Das Juice, and Jauma alongside European wines, including Matassa (France), Lammidia (Italy), and Gut Oggau (Austria). Every box will contain six wines and contain one or two whites, one skin contact, one rosé, a couple of reds and occasionally a sparkling — though the ratios will vary. Plus, every bottle will come with information on where its from, who made it, what's in it and some tasting notes. You'll be spending $180 a month, but if you're a lover of minimal-intervention drops — and hate deciding which ones to buy — it's worth it. In April, deliveries will happen every Monday, then from May, you'll get your box on the first Monday of the month. Currently, The Borough Box is only available for delivery across Sydney and Melbourne. Keen to try some top-notch natty drops — every month? Head here to sign up. DIY COCKTAIL KITS FROM COCKTAIL PORTER Trying to up your bartending game? Enter Cocktail Porter. Founded Sydney's Cameron Northway (co-owner of Rocker), this at-home cocktail making subscription is sure to deliver the goods. The subscription works similarly to most DIY food delivery services, except with booze — and is available nationwide. You'll get fixings for a different seasonal drink delivered to your door, along with a recipe card, pre-measured ingredient and premium spirits, for $135, which may seem a lot to fork up at once but it'll make 14–18 cocktails (about a tenner each). Each month will feature a different cocktail, curated by world-class bartenders and based on "global drinking trends". In past months, there's been the likes of a treacle old fashioned with sweet Italian vermouth, burnt orange-vanilla syrup and cacao-macadamia bitters; a classic gin martini with your choice of flavoured vermouth; and a bloody mary with turmeric vinegar. If you're not ready to commit, Cocktail Porter also has a heap of one-of cocktail box options, includes a mini espresso martini kit for $69.95. If you're keen to get shaking and stirring, sign up here. WINE (YES, MORE!) FROM VINOMOFO Vinomofo has made a name for its not-so-snobby, fun approach to wine nerdery, since starting life in a tiny Adelaide garage back in 2011. Its sprawling online wine selection now caters to over 500,000 members worldwide. So it's safe to say it knows what it's doing when it comes to grape juice. There are two subscription packages to choose from — The Black Market ($139) and The Mofo Club ($179) — and you can opt to get them dropped off every one, two or three months. Each includes 12 wines, which is a bargain compared to some of others. While both packs are mixed, The Black Market features more reds; The Mofo is a mix or white and red wines, plus you'll get a link to some tasting notes so you can up your vino game as you sip away. It delivers across the country — and we mention you can get $25 off your first order if you sign up now? No? Just click here and you'll see. To sign up — and get $25 off your first order — head to Vinomofo's website. NEW-RELEASE AND CRAFT BREWS FROM BEER CARTEL Sydney-based beer haven Beer Cartel knows a thing or two about the big wide world of ales and lagers. And its not just a bricks-and-mortar bottle-o either, with its online store stocking over 1000 craft beers, handpicked from top breweries across Australia and overseas. And, if you're after regular beer deliveries, you can sign up to its Beer Club, which first began in a Kennards storage unit in 2009 and claims to be 'Australia's longest running beer subscription'. A The Bootlegger six-pack subscription deal will set you back $39.99 per month and will include three new releases and three of Beer Cartel's core range. The Speak Easy (12 beers) costs $69.99, with six new and six of the Cartel's go-to brews, while The Black Market pack features 12 new and super limited-release brews, which will cost $89.99. It ships Australia-wide, too, so if you can't make it down to the shops to stock up, these guys have got you covered. To join the club, head here. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
In what would have been his 100th year, the late Nelson Mandela will be honoured in a travelling exhibition set to make its world debut in Victoria next September. Hosted by Melbourne Museum, MANDELA My Life is expected to be the most comprehensive collection of the human rights icon's memorabilia ever to be shown outside South Africa. Alongside a huge assortment of artefacts, including warrants of committal for Mandela's 27-year stint in prison, the exhibit will explore the Nobel Peace Prize laureate's life through a series of film and audio archives. Some of the other confirmed artefacts that will be featured in the exhibit include a boxing glove signed and gifted by Muhammad Ali, Mandela's shoes, walking cane and some of his vibrant Madiba shirts. Alongside these, there will also be images, sound and film footage of one of Mandela's earliest interviews — which took place during the 'Treason Trail' of the late 1950s. MANDELA My Life is supported by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, which is the custodian of most of the revolutionary's personal photographs, documents and memorabilia. After premiering in Melbourne, the exhibition will embark on a five-year world tour of up to 20 international cities, expected to be seen by as many as 2.7 million visitors globally. Boxing Glove image: Jon Augier, courtesy of Museums Victoria
In 2011, Ian Strange recreated a full-scale replica of his family home as part of an installation in Turbine Hall at Cockatoo Island, accompanied by a film featuring the powerful destruction of three Holden Commodores. In his new body of work, Suburban, Strange films and photographs (amongst other things) violently burning a house in the suburbs to the ground. Whether or not this is a particularly creative way to work out some childhood angst, we should be grateful that Strange has art as an outlet. Initially gaining recognition in Australia’s early street-art scene from the late 1990s under the moniker Kid-Zoom, Strange is one of the few who have successfully transitioned from the canvas of the streets to internationally recognised contemporary exhibitions. In a body of visually stunning and emotionally compelling photography and film work, the Australian-born, New York-based artist explores the notion of the family home as an icon of Western post-war idealism in the United States and Australia. Travelling across Ohio, Michigan, Alabama, New Jersey, New York and New Hampshire with a film crew and volunteers for two and a half years, he has produced a recreation of eight site-specific interventions incorporating suburban homes. Surrounding you with three screens in a pitch-black room, the video installation work is particularly arresting and immersive and feels as monumental as a moving cinematic experience. Shots of eerily lit house facades branded by a red X or a large circle as though by alien intervention combined with an equally ominous soundtrack challenges the association of warmth and comfort in a home, and paints a distinct wash of unease over the energy of these otherwise cookie-cutter moulds. As the music builds, so too does the imagery, climaxing in wide-scale shots of homes being burnt to the ground, sitting in a unclear emotional place somewhere between devastating and mesmerising. This was in fact the tone of the entire exhibition, imparting upon the viewer the confusing fusion of an iconic symbol of comfort with a mysterious, dark energy.
UPDATE, October 30, 2020: Melbourne's outdoor cinemas are now reopening — including the Coburg Drive-In, and the Lido, Classic and Cameo outdoor cinemas. Antebellum opens with a sprawling, roving and weaving single-take shot that's designed to garner attention from the get-go. Constantly roaming — and saturated with both sunlight and colour, in case you aren't instantly glued to its vivid sights — it surveys a stereotypical-looking plantation in America's south. This is where resident belle Elizabeth (Jena Malone) lives. A troop of Confederate soldiers under the leadership of Captain Jasper (Jack Huston) also call it home, too. And when the latter aren't in combat, they join Elizabeth in imposing their might on the property's other residents: its enslaved Black workers. Watching this conspicuously eye-catching introduction, it helps to know what Antebellum's title actually means. The term refers to a time before a war, and is typically used in relation to the American Civil War — but, in the movie's first sequence, it certainly seems as if that historical conflict is raging away. Indeed, that'd explain the soldiers' presence, as well as the cruelty and brutality meted out to the plantation's slaves for daring to speak while picking cotton, refusing to acquiesce to every single order or trying to escape. First-time writer-directors Gerard Bush and Christopher Renz haven't chosen Antebellum's moniker by accident, though, and that clash between the word's definition and the sights seen on-screen is crucial to their movie. Yes, Antebellum hinges on a twist, endeavouring to use the horror genre to explore US race relations in the manner that Jordan Peele has recently perfected. Alas, this copy-cat flick consistently proves far less surprising, powerful and clever than it thinks it is. Here's the setup: attempted runaway Eden (Janelle Monáe) is one of the property's enslaved workers, and subject not just to beatings, brandings and forced labour, but also raped regularly by the general (Eric Lange) who has claimed her as his own. She's planning another escape; however, thoroughly unexpectedly given the surroundings, a mobile phone suddenly rings. Now Monáe's character is called Veronica Henley, and she's a well-known activist and author. Also, everything about her life — including the conference in New Orleans she attends, meeting up with her outspoken best friend Dawn (Gabourey Sidibe) while she's there — is firmly set in the 21st century. Obviously, how Monáe's dual roles intertwine is best discovered by watching, as is the reappearance of Too Old to Die Young's Malone as a modern-day caller for Veronica. But even if you'd hardly call yourself a horror or thriller fan, or even just a movie buff, the big shift here isn't hard to guess. Bush and Renz rely so heavily on their one twist that the film resembles M Night Shyamalan's more forgettable works more than Get Out, Us or TV series Lovecraft Country, and suffers noticeably as a result. Their aim is undeniably bold, smart and timely, unpacking systemic racism by not only looking at how Black Americans have been treated both in the present and in the country's history, but by finding a way to firmly, unmistakably connect the two. And yet, Antebellum feels more like an exercise in making a provocative genre film than a feature that actually says something substantial about engrained prejudice in the US — a topic that sadly continues to remain relevant, but is treated here as stock-standard horror fodder. Take the movie's always-lurid, often-violent imagery as an example. Visually, Antebellum isn't easily forgotten, but its parade of grim frames is a double-edge sword. On the one hand, it reinforces how horrific the idea of slavery is, and shows the audience exactly why in graphic detail. Of course, viewers already know this, even without such heavy-handed reminder. Accordingly, Bush and Renz seem to revel in startling sights almost for the sake of it. If its main victim didn't seem so much like a symbol — more than a fleshed-out character, that's for sure — Antebellum might've succeeded in getting viewers to stare unflinchingly at her pain, experiencing it with her like Australian standout The Nightingale did so expertly, but it really just appears to put her through the wringer to evoke shocks rather than emotion. Most of Antebellum's cast are only asked to fit a specific type, too, as Malone, Huston and Lange all demonstrate. In fact, although Kiersey Clemons (Hearts Beat Loud) pops up as a new arrival at the plantation and Tongayi Chirisa (iZombie) also features among the property's fellow captives, the film tasks them with little more than being present and distraught. The exception is Monáe, with the Moonlight and Hidden Figures star turning in a masterly performance. That's a credit to the musician-turned-actor and her all-round excellence more than the material, though. And if everything around her didn't feel so formulaic and calculating, this'd be a far better film — rather than just an ambitious one that mistakes jumping on a bandwagon for actually making a meaningful statement. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nf--afqelY
The largest-ever showcase of living Australian artists has landed in the budding cultural hub that is Ballarat, with the inaugural Biennale of Australian Art (BOAA) in town until Tuesday, November 6. The epic exhibition includes 150 artists from all corners of Australia, making this a once-in-a-lifetime art extravaganza that's not to be missed. Lucky for you artsy folk, we've got your trip sorted. In partnership with Visit Ballarat, we're giving away the ultimate art lover's escape, which includes a double pass to BOAA plus a night's stay and dinner in Ballarat. Taking place in more than 14 different venues across Ballarat, with up to 65 solo exhibitions, BOAA's colour and culture will take over the town. The event will reflect on what it means to be Australian and tell stories of our country's past, present and future. It's also a celebration of Australia's heritage, with BOAA boasting a strong focus on Indigenous talent. In addition to the great art, the BOAA Band Wagon will be making the rounds and pumping great tunes. There'll also be a living sculpture fashion parade, an evening program called BOAA Dark — the Victorian version of a mini Dark Mofo — and a lake sculpture walk that will see Lake Wendouree transform into an outdoor gallery featuring 26 sculptures. Once you're tuckered out from all that art, enjoy a top-notch dinner and a glass of wine, or two, then spend the night in one of Ballarat's finest hotels — and don't worry, we'll pick up the bill. [competition]693738[/competition] Top image: Gerwyn Davies
It's hard to come by actual hidden gems in your city these days. Chances are you've heard about the latest hidden/vegan/swimming/cannoli hotspot via social media — and so have the masses, and they've beaten you there. Most, save the truly intrepid city wanderers among us, often miss the boat on undiscovered goldmines. But hey, it's more than okay to jump on a bandwagon if something is truly good (we'll admit it; we've lined up at Lune Croissanterie with the best of 'em). But how about those little nuggets of gold in your city you've forgotten, or never got around to visiting in the first place? This summer just might be the perfect time to back-up a little bit, consult the notes app in your iPhone and see what you had scribbled down as a to-do. Not sure where to start? We've partnered with Henkell, purveyors of quality Blanc de Blancs bubbles, to pull together a hit list of some (kinda) hidden gems to dig up around Melbourne on your summer break. They'll all bring a little sparkle to your day and remind you that Melbourne is pretty darn great. CATCH A BLOCKBUSTER AT AN OUTDOOR CINEMA Running until March 2019 in the Botanic Gardens, Moonlight Cinema is one of the few openair cinemas that welcomes you to BYO picnics and alcohol. An outdoor cinema may not be so hidden or forgotten during the summer, but this tidbit of information certainly makes this one a diamond in the rough. Make it a grand affair — bring some Henkell sparkling and catch some of this year's favourite flicks, a smattering of all-time faves and a few sneak peeks at new movies coming out soon. Tried-and-tested highlights include A Star Is Born, A Simple Favour and Crazy Rich Asians, plus Halloween, Bad Times at the El Royale and Venom if you're after something darker. The first part of the program has been released, with the second half arriving in mid-January. [caption id="attachment_701556" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lean Timms.[/caption] LAZE AWAY THE DAY ON THE RIVER Pick one of those perfect summer days to get out onto the water. Just 30 minutes on public transport from the CBD will put you at the leisurely Fairfield Boathouse, where you can rent a rowboat and float the day away on the water. To top things off, you can even bring a picnic (and a bottle of Henkell Trocken) to enjoy as you lounge the day away on the water. And if you're looking for something for you and the crew, come January, you'll be able to rent one of the new GoBoats headed for Docklands in early 2019. These eco-friendly picnic boats are slow-moving, a breeze to operate, don't require a boating licence and they feature a central picnic table with room for eight people and some BYO food and drinks. And despite what you might be thinking, they're even affordable enough to fit your post-holiday budget — simply find enough eager sailors to jump aboard and a GoBoat session will cost you less than $15 per person, per hour. That's $109 hourly in total. [caption id="attachment_701750" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Matthew Paul Argall.[/caption] WANDER THE RJ HAMER ARBORETUM Sure, your local park might be pleasant enough and conveniently located — but does it have 120 hectares worth of 150 different varieties of trees? Unlikely, if you live cityside. So, follow the Eastern Freeway a decent ways away to wind up in Olinda, home of the RJ Hamer Arboretum. It's always a few degrees cooler in the hills than the mainland — if you can't stand the heat anymore, this is a top-notch escape from the hot city. Starting with views from the entrance hill — of the Yarra Valley and Silvan Dam framed above the conifer trees — you'll wander down, discovering an immense encyclopedia of trees, plants and probably wildlife too (watch out for lyrebirds). The beauty lies in the fact that there's something new to see every season of the year, so you've got a hidden gem four times over. Bring walking shoes (it's hilly) and a picnic. REDISCOVER THE YARRA WITH A DIP AND A PICNIC The Yarra River isn't all brown city stretches full of rowers and tourist cruises. Sure, that bit around Flinders Street is — and you wouldn't be jumping in there even if you dropped your phone — but don't forget the whole thing stretches some 242 kilometres across the city and well beyond. Make for the gleam of clearer waters outside of the CBD by heading northeast to Warrandyte. Pound Bend Reserve is worth the commute, offering you a beaut stretch of the Yarra for a refreshing summer dip (head through the rock tunnel if you're brave enough), bushwalk in the surrounding area (about four kilometres round trip) and picnic facilities here and there to settle in at once you've swum. No dogs allowed, but BYO footy — there's heaps of grass. GET A CULTURE DOSE AT NEWPORT'S SUBSTATION Newport is a mere 10 minutes from Melbourne's CBD. It's part of the bayside suburbs that make up a lot of Melbourne's west and have more going on than you might think — plus a bayside breeze you'll love on a hot summer's night. The Substation is an arts and culture venue that ticks quite a number of boxes. A live music go-to, gallery and dance studio are just a couple of them. Coming up soon are an experimental sound performance (William Basinksi and Caterina Barbieri), a multimedia cinema and contemporary dance installation (Cinematic Experiments) and a video installation about the power of rumour (by Melanie Jame Wolf). The inner west has just as much art scene clout as the inner north, it seems. Summer is here and it's time to pop the bubbly. Pick up a bottle of Henkell Blanc de Blancs or Henkell Trocken for your next sparkling occasion.
So long Saigon Sally — after more than four years in business, the popular Vietnamese eatery in Windsor is set to close its doors next month. But diners won't be mourning long, with the venue set to reopen as a Thai joint just a few weeks later. "We have a very loyal clientele and we want to keep them stimulated and inspired," said Saigon Sally co-owner Simon Blacher in a statement announcing the news. "This is why we have decided to re-invent the restaurant offering." Named after the bustling Thai capital, BKK will be headed by head chef Sean Judd, previously of Longrain and Chin Chin, as well as Bangkok's Nahm. Under his direction, menu highlights will include gai yang (turmeric and lemongrass chicken cooked over smoke) and som tam tod (a crispy papaya nest salad). The refurbished space will also feature a cocktail bar and function space, both of which are expected to open before Christmas. As for Sally, her spirit will live on at sister Vietnamese venue Hanoi Hannah, on whose menu Blacher says we can expect some of Sally's signature dishes to pop up before too long. He's also teased the possibility of resurrecting the beloved lady in the CBD, or maybe even interstate. You can also visit the team's Japanese restaurant Tokyo Tina just around the corner. The restaurant relaunch is something that quite a few Melbourne venues are testing at the moment. Just this week Green Park announced it would become Park Street, while, just around the corner in Prahran, Toko has closed to make way for new karaoke bar tokosan. Saigon Sally will continue to operate as normal at 2 Duke Street, Windsor until September 3. BKK is expected to begin service later that month. For more information or to make a booking before they close, visit saigonsally.com.au.
Get out your inner kitsch, embrace your inner quirk and head to the Fine Design Market for your fix of arts and crafts. Celebrating independent Australian designers, the Fine Design Market boasts a range of boutique crafts, art, music and tasty, tasty food. What's more, it's indoors — meaning that dastardly weather is no longer an excuse not to head to a market. Head to MC Square in Doncaster from 10am – 3pm this Sunday, August 10, Sunday, September 12 and perhaps for a Chrissy pressie on Sunday, December 7. Or if you're interested in running a stall of your very own, check out the website and apply now. Keep an eye on their Facebook page too, as they update it regularly with sneak peeks of stall items. Happy market-ing.
Now that the busy harvest season is over, winemakers have a little time to kick back. At Rochford Wines, that means hosting its Rochford Harvest 2025 Festival, a one-day event filled with wine, food and music at its picture-perfect Yarra Valley winery. Held beneath the Rochford Pavilion on Saturday, May 17, settle in to taste the full range of Rochford and Toolangi Vineyard wines. Meanwhile, other local outfits are also getting in on the fun, including Burton McMahon Wines, Timo Mayer Wines and Rob Hall Wines. Leading wine critic and educator Tom Kline will also make an appearance, presenting four masterclasses dedicated to diverse wine varieties and the art of pairing food and wine. Alongside top-notch food trucks, live music and cosy fire pits, expect this family-friendly affair to fill your cup with good vibes. Set an hour's drive from Melbourne CBD, Rochford Wines' 60-acre home offers a stunning backdrop for the day's festivities. Tasting tickets are available for $35, which includes 10 tastings and a fancy Rochford stemless wine glass.
Almost three full decades after the departure of the old Valhalla Theatre, a brand new pop-up is set to turn Richmond into Melbourne’s home of cult cinema once again. Operating just a few blocks away from its namesake’s original location on Victoria Street, The Val Cinema is part of the suburb's newly minted food and cultural precinct, the Swan Street Chamber of Commerce. Running Thursdays through Sundays, the 42-seat cinema has lined up an awesome program of classic and eclectic film titles, several of which qualify as absolute must-sees. Fittingly, the season begins with The Blues Brothers, which screened at the original Valhalla – first in Richmond and then at its subsequent home in Northcote – every Friday night for more than 20 years. Other highlights include Martin Scorsese’s The King of Comedy, William Friedkin’s Sorcerer and Robert Zemeckis’ Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, as well as a more recent would-be cult film in Harmony Korine’s Spring Breakers. For the first part of The Val’s summer line-up, visit their website.
It's been seven years since Smith & Daughters landed on Brunswick Street — and for seven years the vegan restaurant has smashed plant-based dining perceptions with its limitless culinary creativity. But now, the Smith & Daughters team is embarking on a new venture, which will see one of the largest vegan dining hubs in the world open its doors to Melburnians. Both the original Fitzroy Smith & Daughters venue and its sibling spot — all-vegan delicatessen Smith & Deli — are set to pack up and move into a new Collingwood home. From November this year, the combined offering will span across a 500-square-metre ground floor site on Cambridge Street, which was formerly occupied by Bar Rosella. The lofty space will encompass a deli-cafeteria, restaurant and food store. Smith & Daughters co-founder and celebrated chef Shannon Martinez is spearheading the move, which she acknowledges is no small feat in Melbourne's current lockdown. "I know it seems like a crazy time to start something new, here we are in lockdown! But it feels like it's now or never," she told Concrete Playground. "They [Smith & Daughters and Smith & Deli] deserve this growth. With the move and with this new space, we'll be able to take them to the level they really deserve." [caption id="attachment_824521" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ashley Ludkin[/caption] While the current Smith & Deli is known for its New York deli vibe, this refreshed iteration will take cues from European delicatessens. Expect a homely yet stylish aesthetic complete with plenty of timber panelling and — for the first time — a dine-in offering. There'll be a menu of grab-and-go eats, alongside a tight selection of top-quality pantry essentials, ready-made meals, and other goodies like cheese and pastries. Meanwhile, a cafeteria-style eatery is set to showcase a rotating offering of hot and cold dishes, complete with a carvery — inspired by the vegan kebab pop-up Smith & Daughters hosted earlier this year. Patrons will be able to slide trays along the canteen with fresh fruit and mueslis on offer at breakfast, or an array of hot dishes and salads at lunchtime and dinner. A daily-changing deli plate comes loaded with a main, two sides, a dessert and a beverage from the curated drinks list, which celebrates a rotating pick of wine and beer. The 80-seat restaurant is a little more high-end, with a seasonal menu steeped in a vast spread of Mediterranean flavours and an aesthetic inspired by Vivienne Westwood. Expect an open kitchen with ringside seats, where you can settle in for a surprise food lineup guided by that day's fresh ingredient haul. A wood-fired oven is also on Martinez's wish list. [caption id="attachment_824522" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ashley Ludkin[/caption] "People don't realise how good Melbourne and Australia's vegan food scene is, there's some really cool shit happening now," Martinez said. "Hopefully having this massive vegan hub with fresh produce and great food ... will help show everyone else." The roomy new space means Martinez will also have capacity to launch a Smith & Daughters wholesale offering, with plans to install a commercial production kitchen you'll be able to watch in motion through the full-length street windows. This new incarnation of Smith & Daughters will also be spreading the love as enthusiastically as ever, celebrating local suppliers like Northside Fruit & Vegetables. There'll even be a new line of signature homeware products crafted in collaboration with Emma Abrahams from cult jewellery label Heart of Bone. "It felt like with everything that everyone's had to deal with this past year, people really need something to look forward to — a cool project like this to bring everyone together," Martinez says. Smith & Daughters' new venue is set to open at 107 Cambridge Street, Collingwood, from November this year. Top Images: Ashley Ludkin
Sample the very best the Barossa Valley has to offer at a day-long food and wine event in North Melbourne this July. Billed as a showcase of one of the country's greatest wine regions, Barossa: Be Consumed is being put together by the folks at Bottle Shop Concepts, the same team behind Game of Rhones and Pinot Palooza. More than 40 different wineries are expected to take part, including Sons of Eden, Henschke, and Hentley Farm, showcasing over 140 styles of tipples. In addition to the boozers — which will include beer, gin and cider from the region, too — a number of food producers will take part, slinging everything from pickles to cured meats to ice cream. They'll also participate in a number of free 'conversation sessions', designed to give punters a new found appreciation for what the region has to offer. Barossa: Be Consumed will take place on Saturday July 22 at Meat Market, 5 Blackwood Street, North Melbourne. Early bird tickets are $55 and include a Plumm wine glass.
Take your protein pills and put your helmet on, A Space Oddity is the latest exhibition to don the walls of the Linden Centre for Contemporary Arts. Also spilling onto the nearby streets of St Kilda, the exhibition is curated by Jan Duffy and Matthew Perkins as an exploration of the changing human condition in an increasingly online environment. Arguing that there’s still a human need for tangible engagement is artists Adad Hannah, Denys Arcand, Darren Sylvester, Masato Takasaka, Antoinette Citizen, Dominic Redfern, Akira Akira and Philip Samartzis, who each produce artworks that discuss the need for us 21st Century folk to navigate both virtual and physical spaces. Including found objects, video works, an urban walking trail, sound works, and artworks that require viewing through the exhibition’s smartphone app, A Space Oddity is looking pretty exciting. So commence the countdown, engines are gearing up from Friday, September 27, and the show will be on till November. Image credit: Adad Hannah and Denys Arcand, Safari, 2011, HD Video 7 min 7 secs.
Come October 2023, Disney fans Down Under can enter a whole new world, hitting the sea on the Mouse House's cruise line on its first voyages from Australia and New Zealand. Fancy sailing further afield, from Sydney to Honolulu or vice versa? In 2023 and 2024, the company is also launching its first-ever South Pacific cruises — one coming to Australia, the other heading to Hawaii. These legs are known as repositioning cruises, aka the journeys that ships take when they've finished their stints in one area and need to make their way to another for a new season. Of course, vessels don't make those trips without passengers, so if you're keen on spending a couple of weeks floating around the South Pacific surrounded by all things Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars, now you can. Tickets go on sale at 8am AEDT on Thursday, October 13, with two voyages scheduled around the Mouse House's maiden 'Magic at Sea' Australian and NZ cruises: a 13-night voyage from Honolulu to Sydney departing on October 13, 2023, then a 15-night trip the other way leaving on February 16, 2024. Unsurprisingly, the 'Magic at Sea' legs between Australia and Aotearoa have proven as popular as Disney movies with, well, everyone, so expect these legs to attract plenty of interest. And yes, these lengthy South Pacific trips are only sailing to and from Sydney — so if you live elsewhere, you will need to factor that into your travels. Disney has been running cruises for nearly a quarter-century, taking fans of its ever-growing array of pop culture wares on themed vacations, all thanks to its Disney Cruise Line. Alas, setting sail to and from Down Under hasn't been a possibility until now. Onboard, you'll watch live musical shows, see Disney characters everywhere you look and eat in spaces decked out like Disney movies. Those musicals include a Frozen show; another production dedicated to the company's old-school favourites like Peter Pan, Pinocchio, Cinderella and Aladdin; and a Golden Mickeys performance, which is obviously all about Mickey Mouse. Or, there's a Mickey party set to DJ beats, nightly fireworks and a pirate shindig on the vessel's deck. The entertainment also includes Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, Moana, Tiana, Cinderella, Woody, Jessie and more wandering around the ship. Plus Chewbacca, Rey, Spider-Man, Captain Marvel and Thor as well, if you like hanging out around folks in costumes. The dining setup rotates, so each day of the cruise takes you to a different location with a different theme. One day, you'll hit up the Animator's Palate, which focuses on bringing Disney characters to life — including getting patrons to draw their own characters — and on the next, you'll get munching in a restaurant inspired by The Princess and the Frog, and serving up New Orleans-inspired dishes. Or, there's also Triton's, which offers an under the sea theme given it's named after Ariel's father, and serves four-course French and American suppers. For folks travelling with young Disney devotees, there's also a whole range of activities just for kids — but adults without littlies in tow are definitely catered for, complete with a dedicated pool for travellers aged 18 and over, an adults-only cafe, the Crown & Fin pub, cocktail bar Signals, Italian eatery Palo, and a day spa and salon. Room-wise, there's ten different types to choose from — some with private verandahs, and some with ocean views through portholes. Disney Cruise Line's 'Magic at Sea' cruises will sail from Honolulu to Sydney in October 2023, then from Sydney to Honolulu in February 2024, with bookings open from 8am AEDT on Thursday, October 13, 2022. For more information, head to the cruise line's website. Images: Matt Stroshane / Kent Phillips / Todd Anderson. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
When it comes to a good night out, dinner and cocktails are a pretty good start. To make a perfect pairing even better, Trinket has whipped up a series of monthly dinners that pit the bar team against the kitchen. Step through the secret entrance and experience a Bartender vs Chef Dinner, where the two different domains go head-to-head to turn a single boozy ingredient into three courses of top-notch eats and cocktails. For this month's dinner, on Wednesday, October 23, you can expect bourbon-inspired eats and drinks, kicking off with some seafood — think crawfish po' boy and a crispy crab salad. Paired with the entree is the Spaghetti Western cocktail, featuring Amaro Nonino, lemon and bourbon. Then, sip on the Northern Neighbour, a mix of bacon-infused bourbon, maple syrup and bitters, while you tuck into some smoked wagyu beef ribs and grits. Finally, finish off with pecan pie and a Boston Tea Party, which is a blend of chocolate bitters, dry curacao, bourbon, peppermint syrup and lime. If you can't make it this month, keep Wednesday, November 13 free to try a menu that's even more indulgent. With champagne as the key ingredient, you'll start with oysters and caviar; crumpets topped with spring crab salad; barramundi with malt vinegar chips, champagne butter and smoked caviar; and an Eton mess with strawberries, champagne jelly and sorrel. On the drinks menu, expect the bittersweet Champagne Trinket — a light and fruity spring racing-inspired punch — and the Wimbledon Float made with rosé, champers and ice cream. Each dinner costs $80 a head. To book your spot, head here.
Alcohol and vehicles don't typically make for a good mix. But when the transport in question is a tricycle — and when the driver dispenses rather than imbibes the drinks — it's a practice we can get behind. The project, cutely dubbed Tipsy Tricycles, is a joint venture between The West Winds gin and Maidenii vermouth, both part of a new wave of locally produced, top-class spirits. Good food and good wine have been a part of Australian DNA for years, but of late there are also Australian-made spirits worth writing home about. The West Winds Gin, made in Margaret River Western Australia, has found its way onto many a drinks list nationally. Brought to us by the passionate duo Jeremy Spencer and Jason Chan, it is setting itself apart by using great native botanicals like wattle seed and bush tomato. If you've tasted it, you don't really need to hear anymore. "I love local booze. For two hundred and twenty plus years we have made good food, wine, and beer in this country, so why not fine liquor?" says Spencer. "It's an exciting time for the industry." Customers seem to be embracing new and locally sourced products. "Spirits are more expensive, and especially with cocktails people are very wary to trying something new so they so stick to the big brands, stuff they know," says Nick Reed, manager of 1806 cocktail bar. "But I think people are really starting to come around." Maidenii vermouth is a new player to the game, made by Shaun Byrne, resident bartender at Gin Palace, and French winemaker Gilles Lapalus. Just like The West Winds, it is a drink that is getting people excited about the prospects of Australian liquors. Tipsy Tricycles will see the two drinks coming together with a touch of Campari, a lot of ice, some of Melbourne's most loved venues, a few tricycles, and no doubt some mischief. They are bringing negroni granitas to the streets. Each week the guys will ride their tricycles — tipsy or not — to a new venue and serve up the refreshing concoction from the street straight to the people. "Sean Byrne and I grew up as kids in Cairns and used to ride trikes so this sort of morphed into a collaboration of our two current-day projects, being WWG and Maidenii Vermouth," Spencer says. "It's an icy-cool break from the summer's heat using Australian ingredients to showcase one of the world's great drinks." Will Jeremy be on the trikes himself? "Damn right. As my father said, never tell a man to ride something you wouldn't ride yourself," he says. While the schedule is only made available on their social media sites on the days that it is happening, we can expect some of Melbourne's iconic venues to get a visit, including 1806, Virginia Plain, Royal Saxon, Pei Modern, Toff in Town, Madame Brussels, Joe's Bar St Kilda, Meatball and Wine Bar, and Gin Palace. "I'm really looking forward to being able to showcase these two great Aussie products. It's beautiful stuff. Being able to put these two things together is great. And they just taste bloody awesome," says Reed. What can we expect next from these guys? "That would be telling," says Jeremy, "but it involves guns. And booze." Find Tipsy Tricycles all over Melbourne, on random days and times until March 11. Track them through Twitter and Facebook.
At some point or another, it's likely you've found yourself sitting in front of a screen as it resolutely remains frozen — perhaps there was even a spinning wheel of death thrown in there for good measure. Life can feel a little same, same sometimes; everything gets a bit beige and starts to feel like your, well, frozen, stuck in your same old same routine. You might be — just like your computer — in need of a refresh. That's where we come in. To help you out, we've teamed up with our friends at Coopers to bring you a list of 'easy wins' — small things that'll make your day better and leave you feeling revitalised. MONDAY: DANCE IT OUT While it's tempting to become a bit of a vegetable after you drag yourself home on a Monday night, getting out and being active can be just what you need to take the edge off your 9-to-5 routine. Don an old leotard, do a couple of stretches and head along to a dance class that'll have you energised, sweaty and raring for your dinner. Try The Space in Melbourne, Dance Central in Sydney or Groove Therapy in Brisbane. TUESDAY: COOK DINNER FOR YOUR LOVED ONES It might have been a while since your mum fed you on the reg — care packages sent home with you after a visit don't count — but don't underestimate how difficult cooking for a family every single night can be. Props to all the mums, dads and others, who manage it week by week — it's certainly not easy, so it might be time to thank yours. Make your loved one sit down, pop on their favourite Joni Mitchell/Pink Floyd album and cook up a storm. Aim for the stars and go for a three-course feast, but even a one-course fish fingers effort might go a little way to saying "thanks for feeding me even when you were tired, sick and/or sick and tired of my teenage angst". It's a good way of getting you back in touch with what's really important in life, parents (and also fish fingers). WEDNESDAY: BUY YOURSELF A BUNCH OF FLOWERS There's a reason that your mood lifts as soon as spring rears its fragrant head — yes, the vitamin D and warmer temperatures have something to do with it, but it's the beautiful blooms that really get you smiling. And, being gifted flowers is one of the greatest things ever — it makes you feel like a spoiled, whimsical nymph — but why wait around for someone to do it for you? Buy yourself a bunch to brighten up your home or freshen up your stale office environment, the air and the feng shui will thank you for it. Plus, your co-workers will assume you've got a super romantic partner and will be extremely jealous. THURSDAY: CREATE A HOME CINEMA Going to the movies can be an expensive outing — once you factor in parking, tickets and, of course, the popcorn and Malteasers combo. Also, you have to contend with crowds, queues and people who ask stupid questions all the way through Iron Man 3. An alternative? Invest in purchasing a home projector (or hire one) and invite a couple of friends around for a private Marvel marathon where you can ogle Mr Hemsworth in the privacy of your own home. If that's a bit too pricey, get the sick set up going, cook some popcorn in the microwave and charge your mates a $5 cover fee — it's still cheaper than what they'd pay at the cinema. Plus, you can all don your favourite comfy trackies and BYO blankets, winning. [caption id="attachment_628248" align="alignnone" width="1800"] Kimberley Low.[/caption] FRIDAY: BUY A COFFEE FOR A STRANGER It's likely nobody has ever done this for you, but how good would it be if the legend standing in front of you comped you your first soy flatty of the day? Pretty good. And for it to happen on a Friday? What a way to kick off the weekend. Start a circle of caffeine giving by sparing $4 to buy whoever is behind you in line their drink of choice. It's more than likely that it'll make their day. Caffeine is the lifeblood of a productive person (them) and being generous for no reason is the lifeblood of someone feeling good about themselves and their lives (you). SATURDAY: BETTER STILL, SHOUT A STRANGER A BEER Yes, this one requires more than a $5 note, but stretch yourself and buy someone a pint. It might end up being closer to the $10 mark, but chances are if you're out buying yourself beers at a pub you can afford to shout one beer. Reclaim the old "buy ya a drink?" trope — prove it's not just the terrain of flush men trying to pick up women at the bar — and make someone's night. SUNDAY: SOAK IN A BUBBLE BATH Baths are your greatest weapon when it comes to making aches and pains disappear. They're also a pretty good way of making your body and brain feel calm and nourished. You can even add to the experience more by picking up one of those bath bombs from Lush, too. The company produces handmade vegetarian products, doesn't test on animals and stays away from plastic packaging, so you can rest assured that you're doing a bit of good while you soak. Hot tip: get one with sparkles to really indulge your over the top inklings and feel like a shiny mermaid or -man. You'll feel on top of the world and ready to conquer the week ahead. Kick off your 'easy wins' by enjoying a Coopers Dry, or two, with your mates. Top image: Katje Ford.
When it comes to a snow holiday in Australia, Thredbo is at the top of a lot of people's lists. And, after the ski resort was named Australia's best for the fifth year running at the World Ski Awards earlier this year it makes sense that so many holiday makers flock there each winter. If you're not a regular at Thredbo, you might be wondering what exactly makes it stand out from other snow holiday destinations — and that's where we come in. Turns out there's a whole lot more on offer than exceptional alpine activities, from live music to excellent food and, of course, the top-notch skiing and snowboarding. We've teamed up with Thredbo to showcase all the cool ways to have fun there this winter. THE NIGHTLIFE A fully fledged nightlife scene might not be the first thing you imagine when you picture Thredbo. But, at this bustling alpine village, that's exactly what you'll find. The après ski sessions at Thredbo attract loads of snow lovers every year. And, the jewel in the crown at this year's winter festivities is the return of the much-loved evening soirée First Base happening across three Saturdays — July 26, August 20 and September 3. In the past the music event has featured artists like Hayden James, Mickey Kojack, Touch Sensitive and Joyride, and its 2022 lineup is set to be just as impressive. There'll also be regular music events on weekends at Merritts Mountain House and plenty of fun to be had at Alpine Bar. THE FEASTS Thredbo is filled with top-notch eats to keep you fuelled for those big days on the mountains. But it's not just delicious eats that the hospitality venues are serving up. Some of these incredible feasts are their own full-blown events. One upcoming highlight is the Bavarian-inspired dinner happening every Saturday evening from June 18 till September 17 at Merritts Mountain House. To get there, you'll ride a gondola under a starry night sky to your dining destination before enjoying a gluhwein on arrival and an unforgettable feast to follow. Another stand out culinary experience is the Kareela Hutte Snowcat Dinner happening on Wednesdays from July 13 till August 31 — complete with a snowcat ride, champagne and a four-course dinner at the cosy European-style hut, no less. THE SPECIAL SNOW EVENTS A trip to Thredbo wouldn't be complete without some time on the slopes. And there are loads of different ways to get your fix on the mountain that go beyond your standard snowboarding and skiing. Consider yourself an early bird? Wake up before the sun and see it rise from the top of Australia's highest lifted point with a sunrise session. You'll get to have breakfast at the country's highest restaurant, Eagles Nest, and then carve the first tracks into the longest run in the country after the overnight snowfall. If you time your trip right, you might even get to catch some of the action at the Thredbo Snow Series competition, the eighth Annual Transfer Banked Slalom snowboarding event or get involved in Australia's longest and fastest downhill race, Top to Bottom, for it's 30th race happening on August 6. Ready to lock in a trip to the snow this winter? For more information and to book, visit the website. Or, enter the competition before February 28 to win a VIP trip to the slopes this winter.
Transcendence feels like a movie out of time. For one, it seeks to pack far too much into its 119-minute run-time, but — more to point — it feels like a movie that's 14 years too late, and not just because it specifically references Y2K without any irony or reminiscence. Set in the 'could be today, could be tomorrow, but in no way distant' future, it concerns itself with married couple and MIT-supergraduates Will and Evelyn Caster (Johnny Depp and Rebecca Hall). They, along with friends and colleagues Max (Paul Bettany) and Joseph (Morgan Freeman), are amongst the world's leading engineers in the pursuit of a fully functioning, self-aware artificial intelligence. Opposing them is a group of militant luddites operating under the banner of 'Unplug', which again — in the age of wireless — seems markedly dated for such a forward-thinking movie. When these 'Unpluggists' (as they're definitely not called) launch a series of coordinated attacks against AI-focused research centres, Will winds up mortally wounded, albeit in a manner so unnecessary and bewildering that it's a genuine mystery how and why it was ever included in the plot. As his final days draw near, Evelyn decides to upload his consciousness to a mainframe in the hope that he can live on inside the machine. It's at this point that things turn bad for both the characters and the film. The compelling ethical questions raised in the first act largely fall away, dismissed with the apathetic resignation of 'oh well, we went and did it so what does it all matter now?' As Will's intelligence rapidly surpasses that of humanity's — a theoretical moment known in conventional science as 'the singularity' and in the film as 'transendence' — his aspirations and ideas become, just like the movie, too broad, too incorporeal and too numerous. Moments of extraordinary innovation and emotion, such as the bestowing of sight upon a man who'd only ever known blindess, are shown and then dispensed with absent almost any sentimentality or drama. It's not that any of the ideas are necessarily bad, it's just that any one or two of them would have made for an excellent film, whereas all of them combined prove little more than a confusing and threadbare mess. The glue that binds it all together is the delightful Rebecca Hall, whose performance as the dutiful, then grieving, then wilfully blind accomplice to Will's increasing 'transcendent interventionism' instills some much-needed humanity to the film. Her stubborn refusal to acknowledge the possibility of confirmation bias in believing the AI she's interacting with is anything but her dead husband is both moving and unsettling, demonstrating how important objectivity is in any scientific pursuit, let alone one with global implications. The recent, exceptional Her raised many of the same questions relating to artificial sentience, and — to put it plainly — did it much better. Given the rate of technological advancement, there's an undeniable sense of inevitability when it comes to the singularity, and doubtless we'll soon see many more films exploring the possibilities (and dangers) of blurring the lines between man and machine. The issues are genuinely fascinating, though future films would do well to learn lessons from Transcendence and explore just one of them instead of all of them. https://youtube.com/watch?v=QheoYw1BKJ4
There's something oh-so-relaxing about staring at the sea, even if you're feasting your eyes on the water via the big screen. That's the concept behind the Ocean Film Festival Australia. You can't always spend all your time at the beach, by the river or in a pool — but you can spend an evening peering at the next best thing in a cinema. On select dates in March, the festival will unleash a cinematic feast of water-focused wonders onto the silver screen at various venues around Melbourne. Head to the Astor Theatre at 7.15pm on Wednesday, March 10 and Thursday, March 11, and to Crown Melbourne at 6.30pm and 6.45pm on Wednesday, March 17. Film-wise, viewers will spend time both above and below the ocean's surface thanks to a compilation of shorts from around the world. Expect to chase big waves, explore a range of sea life and get a hefty ocean rush, plus a heap of other sea adventures. The program is united by a love of the ocean, an appreciation of the creatures who dwell in its waters and a curiosity to explore the substance that comprises more than two-thirds of the earth. It's the next best thing to diving in, all without getting wet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo-qXf5sXAw&feature=emb_logo Image: Travis Burke.
Shortstop is celebrating its birthday in the best possible way: by giving away a boatload of free doughnuts. Saturday, September 8 marks four tasty years since the coffee and doughnut specialists started slinging rings of dough and cups of joe from its Sutherland Street store. And to mark the anniversary, the bakers will whip up a special limited-edition birthday cake doughnut (topped with sprinkles, naturally), which they'll be giving away free with every transaction. There will only be 1000 available, though, so best get there in the morning — because once they're gone, you won't see them again until birthday number five.
On the lookout for a dope new denim jacket? Or do you want to be rid of that weird-looking lamp taking up space in the living room? Then, by golly, you're in luck. The Garage Sale Trail works with local council partners Australia-wide to get as many trash-and-treasure troves happening on the same day as possible. More than 8000 garages opened their doors to bargain hunters in previous years, and they're doing it for the seventh time on Saturday, October 22. Aside from the retro goodies up for grabs, the Trail is all about sustainability. Instead of ending up in landfill, unwanted clutter becomes a fantastic find. So get that tight pair of sunnies for peanuts and help the environment at the same time. The Garage Sale Trail began humbly in Bondi in 2010 and is growing bigger every year. There's a right slew of sales happening all around Melbourne, with everyone from frankie magazine to Pascoe Vale Costumiers joining in on the festivities. You can views the best Melbourne sales here, or register online to make a quick buck from your old junk and hang out with the friendly folks in your hood.
By now, we thought we'd seen it all by way of food pop-ups. In the last year alone, Melbourne has hosted a pop-up whisky bar in a jail, a floating pop-up bar on the Yarra and a pop-up entirely dedicated to lobster rolls. But nope, there’s still something we haven’t seen before, and that's an immersive, post-apocalyptic themed food and drink pop-up. The Richmond Yard will see a humble Cremorne carpark transformed each Saturday into a creative installation that explores a post-apocalyptic world — presumably one that ensues after Melbourne implodes from one too many food pop-ups. The zany idea comes from creative production team The Seven, who were behind epic Melbourne Music Week venues Where?House and Kubik. The post-apocalyptic theme will be played out with multiple installations in The Garden, and a mock-trailer park in the Residential zone. Here they'll have eight trailers stationed for public use — you'll be able to book them out for two hours so you can sit back with some food, booze and your mates and avoid the hustle for seating space. The outdoor dining area, The Commons, is where everyone else will be hanging out though. Each week, five food vendors will join the party; Easey's, Mamasita and Burn City Smokers have already been locked in, with more to be announced. The bar, which will operate out of a vintage Airstream-style trailer, will stock the likes of Handpicked Wines, Flying Brick cider, Quiet Deeds beer, and a selection of summer cocktails. Things kick off at 4pm and will kick on until midnight, with DJs playing throughout the night. The Richmond Yard is also super sustainable (hurrah!), making use of renewable energy, food composting, an onsite vineyard display and no disposable food service wares. The pop-up is the first in a series of activations from the creative team, so expect to see more things like this in the future. A post-post-apocalyptic food installation, anyone? The Richmond Yard launches this weekend, and will pop up every Saturday from 4pm - midnight until February 20, 2016. It is located in the carpark at 55-67 Cremorne Street, Cremorne. To be the first to check it out on opening night, you can book a free preview ticket here. Image: Steve Walser, Flickr CC.
A weekend getaway is always sweeter when it's a prize. This one should particularly appeal to lovers of both bourbon and honeybees. We've teamed up with the champions over at Maker's Mark and Beechworth Honey to create an exclusive Beechworth getaway. It's all in celebration of Maker's Mark's new Gold Rush cocktail: a symphony of Australian honey, fresh citrus and the bold flavours of bourbon. At first glance, one might think that there's not much in common between an American bourbon brand and an Australian beekeeping family. Scratch under the surface and you'll find they aren't so different. Two multi-generational family-run businesses with links to gold on both sides of the planet, both work with a natural product, champion craftsmanship and have a shared commitment to sustainable practices. Lucky winners of the competition will receive a two-night stay at the historic Hive Apartment located in the heart of Beechworth — the ideal hub for discovering the town's unique dining, retail and historical streetscape. The building that houses the apartment was originally built in 1865, making it one of the oldest bank buildings in Victoria. It once operated as the 'Gold Office' and stored bars of gold for the bank. Now it is a homage to a liquid gold: honey. Not only will winners stay at the Hive, but they will also take part in a unique one-on-one honey-tasting experience at the Beechworth Honey Shop where they will learn all about honey and the importance of honeybees from the staff. Plus, they will be greeted with a bespoke Gold Rush gift basket with all the ingredients they need to make the cocktail yourself: a bottle of Maker's Mark bourbon, a jar of Beechworth Honey, and a cocktail shaker. You don't even need to worry about travel costs — the prize includes travel (either flights or car hire) up to the value of $1000). [competition]898062[/competition]
While it might feel like we're awfully far away from warmer months, there's nothing better than making plans to spend more of summer soaking up live tunes to ward off the cold. And here's some more musical goodness to add to your hit-list: ARIA award-winning DJ Dom Dolla will play his largest-ever hometown show this summer at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. The hypnotic house music producer recently played at Coachella, and headlined local festivals including Brisbane's Wildlands and Beyond the Valley. The DJ also thrilled Sydney festivalgoers on New Year's Eve at Field Day. Now, he's bringing his dance tunes to Melbourne's iconic Sidney Myer Music Bowl. [caption id="attachment_900753" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Beyond the Valley, Chloe Hall[/caption] "I've dreamt about hosting a show at the bowl since I was DJing in my bedroom. I've lost count of the amount of huge shows and festivals I've attended there over the years growing up in Melbourne. I never thought something like this would really be possible, this really is a dream come true and I can't wait to show you what we have in store for it," Dom Dolla says. [caption id="attachment_900755" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Beyond the Valley, Chloe Hall[/caption] Tickets go on sale to the general public on Thursday, May 18 at 12pm. Presale registrations are open now, with tickets going on sale on Wednesday, May 17 also at 12pm. Top image: Ash Caygill
There's a certain NSW coastal town that's caught the attention of travel-deprived Aussies this spring. Maybe it's the primo surf beaches and plethora of restaurants and bars. Maybe it's the fact that both NSW and Queensland residents can currently visit without quarantining. Or maybe it's the Zac Efron sightings. Whatever the reason, Byron Bay is, more than even, the place to be. You can join the fun and visit the celebrated beachside spot for zero dollars. Yep, fashion retailer Surf Stitch and Aussie seltzer brand Delvi are giving away a luxury holiday to Byron Bay. And to enter, you just need to sling 'em your deets over here. No 25-words-or-less-answers, just your name and contact info. Pretty darn easy. If you're chosen, you'll get two return flights from anywhere in Australia, two nights of luxury accommodation, a fridge full of Delvi seltzer — because, it's set to be the summer of seltzers, after all — two $1000 Surf Stitch vouchers and an ultimate beach pack for two. A runner up prize of a 'summer worth of seltzers' will also be given out. Nothing to sniff at. Don't win and still want to visit? We've rounded up 20 of our favourite Byron Bay getaways for couples and groups. Enter the Surf Stitch x Delvi competition to win a free trip to Byron Bay here. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Just one of the ways we see the patriarchy manifesting in modern life is in the gender information gap — only 18 percent of biographies on Wikipedia are about women and only 16 percent of the online encyclopedia's contributors identify as female. Under representation and misrepresentation can go hand in hand, which is why an intersectional feminist organisation was created to change the stats. Art + Feminism is all about teaching people of all gender identities and expressions to edit Wikipedia. Since 2014, the group has facilitated the creation of more than 58,000 articles over hundreds of worldwide edit-a-thons. You can get involved this International Women's Day at NGV International at a day dedicated to increasing the online presence of women artists and creators, with the help of the Women's Art Register, Wikimedia Australia and WikiD: women, Wikipedia and design. There'll be people on hand to help get you registered with an account and show you the ropes. Just bring your laptop down to the NGV International Great Hall from 11am–2pm on Sunday, March 8. The Art + Feminism Wikipedia Edit-A-Thon is free to attend, but it's recommended that you book through the NGV website to secure your spot.
Think of live music and you invariably think of one of our rich and diverse capital cities — but there's plenty going on beyond the big metropolises. From renowned multi-day festivals to the regional town that turns itself over to celebrate an enduring cultural icon once a year, there's something to tempt every music lover away from the city this autumn. Ready to reconnect with your love of music, dance under the stars in the outback and experience those heart-swelling, foot-stomping, feel-good moments that live tunes provide so well? We've teamed up with Destination NSW to pick a half-dozen events that'll satisfy your cravings for a live gig and a road trip in one go.
This Is Not Art is Newcastle's premier independent arts and media festival, where the emphasis is on collaboration and experimentation. It is a testing ground for new ideas, an opportunity to mingle with industry professionals and fellow artists in order to re-invigorate your artistic passion and develop new skills. An umbrella sheltering a number of festivals, this year TINA is home to the Crack Theatre Festival, National Young Writers' Festival, Critical Animals and Electrofringe. Between, the festivals boast workshops, performances, round table discussions, interactive events and a sleepover. A forum for showcasing, networking and inventing, TINA is a festival targeted at launching a generation of aspiring artists and fostering the creativity of local communities. Capping off a weekend of bold and dynamic events, don't miss the epic closing party hosted by Electrofringe and featuring a swag of emerging electro artists from Melbourne, Sydney and Newcastle spinning danceable tunes and experimental beats.
Where some of director Alkinos Tsilimidos’s previous works for the Melbourne Theatre Company have been highlights of the company’s seasons — shows like Red and The Mountaintop — Glengarry Glen Ross is flat and unaffecting. By the time the cast leaves the stage before their second curtain call, any world they’ve created is long gone from our minds and hearts. It’s difficult to point to what precisely makes this production such a depressing experience; the feeling is pervasive, running through the listless ensemble, the fact that it was programmed in the first place, and even David Mamet’s acclaimed 1984 script itself. Much is made of Mamet’s burst-fire dialogue and invective — but what is it actually doing? The play’s Chicago real-estate salesmen, backed up against a wall by their company’s relentless demand for sales, descend into conniving manipulation and vicious diatribe. But what this production highlights is that for all Mamet’s facility with language, it is also, at its most basic level, just one man swearing at another. It’s testament to Greg Stone’s abilities as one of the country’s most consistently fine stage actors that he at least can wring many satisfying moments out of the text as Moss. That said, Stone’s prowess is only made starker by contrast with the rest of the ensemble, with the exception of Alex Dimitriades, who makes the role of Roma his own, unencumbered by Pacino’s definitive performance in the film. The language of playwrights with far more draconian notation allows their work to endure today (think of Beckett, with his commands for every shake, breath and turn of the head in Happy Days). Here, indulging Mamet’s fastidious attention to punctuation and rhythm has the effect of locking this production firmly in its mid-'80s context, but perversely without allowing a 2014 Melbourne audience a way into this world. It’s been 30 years since the MTC presented their first production of the play. There’s nothing intrinsically bad about choosing to program what is essentially a period piece, but there is in a production that offers nothing more. There is so much that only live performance can do. Theatre interacts simultaneously with both the minds and hearts of an audience; it makes our world bigger, more full, because it lets us strain our lives past what we know. But watching this show was an hour and a half of the world just getting smaller.
As soon as last year's Indonesian action thriller The Raid: Redemption hit cinemas, you knew Hollywood would be scrambling to develop a remake. By contrast, when 1995's Judge Dredd hit cinemas, you simply couldn't imagine a time when anyone would ever deem it worthy of a second chance. Tinsel Town's hard to read that way. Some might call the phenomenon 'predictable unpredictability', but an easier term would just be 'Dredd 3D' — where novel idea meets stale disaster in a surprisingly successful union. The film's central character, Dredd (Karl Urban), hails from John Wagner's dark and dystopic graphic novel in which the police have become judge, jury, and executioner all in one. Dredd and his fellow ‘judges’ are the sole symbols of authority in a gritty metropolis beset by gangs and drug syndicates, coldly enforcing the law and upholding ‘justice’ with near-fascist ruthlessness. When he and his rookie partner (Olivia Thirlby) find themselves trapped in a high-rise apartment block controlled by drug czar 'Ma-Ma' (Lena Headey), their only option is to wage war on the gang, one floor at a time, until help can break through. Helloooooooooo Raid: Redemption. Plot, however, is not their only similarity; the bloodshed in Dredd 3D is both frequent and highly graphic, often delivered with such rich slow motion it plays like the most violent Schweppes commercial ever made. Coupled with the 3D, Dredd serves up a relentless visual feast of shiny gold bullets that tear through enemies' flesh and send specks of blood and bone gently tumbling towards your eyes like James Cameron butterflies from Avatar. It’s also probably the highest body count for a movie not featuring an atomic bomb, at least since Commando, yet it’s precisely that stylised and completely-over-the-top violence that elevates Dredd 3D above the run-of-the-mill. Action movies are rarely about plot or dialogue, so it’s in the manner and aesthetic of the carnage where they can best define themselves, and in that respect, Dredd 3D delivers. It's certainly not for the squeamish, but the stunning visuals, inventive action, and warped sense of humour make this one of the better heart-pumpers of 2012.
Ghostface Killah constantly features as an 'honourable mention' in countless publications' lists of the greatest rappers of all time — perhaps perceived as almost too smart a lyricist for his own good to attain too many top billings in his own right. Just as RZA’s overall production vision for the legendary Wu-Tang Clan has been the sonic foundation to the diverse crew’s raw power, Ghostface has been credited with holding the at-times fractious group together over twenty years at the cutting edge of the game. The 44-year-old New Yorker is the kind of rapper who's more at home sampling You Roam When You Don’t Get It At Home (from his acclaimed solo record Supreme Clientele) than repeating the mantra "Everyday I'm hustlin'". More recently he's embraced rap's intertwined foundations in classic soul even more fully, collaborating with Black Dynamite composer Adrian Younge and the Delfonics on Twelve Reasons to Die (soon to get a sequel) for a time capsule-like recreation of live 1970s instrumentation that spawned a series of unlikely singles, capped by 'Murder Spree'. Fresh off the back of a headlining slot at Meredith — where he invited Australian paralympian Dylan Alcott onstage for 'Protect Ya Neck' — Ghostface is playing an unmissable sideshow at St Kilda's Esplanade Hotel.
South Melbourne Market has long been an integral part of the fabric of Melbourne's food culture, having been churning out fresh produce, top-notch seafood and much-needed flat whites for nigh on 150 years now. So the time is ripe for a big ol' party to say well done, you old thing. To celebrate the market's milestone, Saturday, May 6 will see a barbecue-heavy street party take over Cecil Street. From 10am until 10pm, pop-up stalls, live music and games will ensue — if you've got kids with you, you'll be able to drop them at the jumping castle while you head off in search of serious adult entertainment like the giant Connect Four and Jenga games on offer. Celebrate and eat yourself silly with barbecued Spanish chicken, Polish deli foodstuffs, spanakopita, haloumi souvlakis and barbecued pork belly tacos. But just leave room for some cake — there'll be a huge one on display made by the market's traders (150 years is a lot of candles, so it's bound to be big). The street party is just one of the events being put on by the South Melbourne Market to celebrate their 150th anniversary, others of which include an exhibition, tours and three new mural commissions. You can view the whole calendar of birthday events here.
Christmas isn't the only source of cheer in Sydney this month, especially if you like heartwarmingly endearing baby animals. After introducing the world to its new koala joey and lion cubs earlier this year, Taronga Zoo has just unveiled footage of its pygmy hippo calf, which was born at the zoo on Monday, November 22. The calf doesn't yet have a name; however, Taronga visitors will get to see her in the flesh in the coming weeks — with the adorable critter set to make her public debut just in time for the upcoming school holidays. She was born to parents Kambiri and Fergus, and marks the first calf born at the zoo in more than four years. At the moment, the calf's day involves spending time in an off-exhibit nursery den with Kambiri — suckling, getting energetic in short bursts and napping. And, learning how to navigate the water, because pygmy hippo calves aren't born knowing how to either swim or hold their breath. So, that's something that Kambiri is teaching her offspring. Once the calf masters splashing around, she'll be able to enter the public hippo exhibit, which has had its pond floor raised so it's easier for the calf to access. The new calf will call Sydney home but, in the wild, pygmy hippos are native to West Africa's forests and swamps. Only around 2000–3000 are estimated to remain outside of zoos, which makes the species endangered. And, in the wild, they only tend to come together for breeding. That's enough words about this new cutie, because we all know that you're here to get a glimpse. Check out Taronga Zoo's footage below: [video width="1080" height="1920" mp4="https://cdn.concreteplayground.com/content/uploads/2021/12/HippoAnnouncement.mp4"][/video] [video width="1080" height="1920" mp4="https://cdn.concreteplayground.com/content/uploads/2021/12/Pygmy-hippo-antics.mp4"][/video] Taronga Zoo's new pygmy hippo calf will make its public debut sometime in the coming weeks. For further information, keep an eye on the zoo's website.
Well before Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel The Handmaid's Tale was turned into a TV series, it was transformed into an opera. And this October, the show will make its Australian premiere as part of the inaugural Yarra Valley Opera Festival. Among the historical buildings and landscaped gardens of Olinda Yarra farm, you'll experience Offred's story taken to new dramatic heights, thanks to Melbourne-based opera company Gertrude Opera. The work was originally created by Danish composer Poul Ruders and librettist Paul Bentley and, since premiering in Denmark in 2000, The Handmaid's Tale opera has appeared in the UK, the US and Canada. We can safely say there will be no Talking Heads in this version. If you don't yet know the story by way of your high school reading list or SBS On Demand, here's the gist: a handmaid, Offred is sent to a barren household, where, once a month, she is forcibly inseminated in the expectation that she'll bear a child for The Commander, Fred Waterford. The Yarra Valley Opera Festival will take place over ten days, from October 12–21. Other highlights include the Gala Opening Concert, Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte sung in English and an evening combining opera trivia and dinner.
In an era when plastic waste is on all our minds and packing a serious threat, Melbourne's got a new eco hero. And this one happens to be of the four-wheeled variety. Introducing Roving Refills — a new local environmental initiative that's set out to put a big dent in our container habit. The vehicle operates a bit like your favourite food truck, with locations posted to social media. But instead of takeaway fare, this one's loaded with bulk cleaning and laundry products. Think detergent, dishwashing liquid, disinfectant, shampoo and conditioner, plus ingredients for DIY products such vinegar, bicarb soda and coconut oil. Rather than racking up more plastic waste with each trip to the supermarket cleaning aisle, you can bring your own reusable containers to Roving Refills to fill up on the go. It's the brainchild of Environmental Management and Sustainability Masters student Claudine Lagier, who runs the van as a part-time side project with her sister Raphaelle. Right now, they're operating using a borrowed ute and a mobile vendor permit for the City of Maribyrnong, but have plans to expand to more locations — and hopefully obtain a new solar-powered or hybrid vehicle to keep those carbon dioxide emissions to a minimum. You'll also spy them popping up at a handful of markets, in areas like Kensington and Altona. The Roving Refills concept sets out to take a direct hit at plastic waste, inspire action and give consumer habits a big ol' shake-up. While most of us are becoming more mindful of the waste generated by our food products and things like straws and plastic bags, Lagier wants to extend the focus onto other plastic-filled aspects of daily life. And she's certainly leading by example — aside from the products themselves, which are bought wholesale from mindful operations like Williamstown's Back to Basics and Robyn's Soap House in Knox, Roving Refills uses almost only recycled items. We're talking ice cream containers upcycled into storage boxes and chipped cups used as scoops, sourced from places like Urban Upcycle in Geelong. Keep track of the Roving Refills van — its movement are posted on its Facebook page. Updated: June 4, 2019.
In the early 1970s Patti Smith and Sam Shepard illicitly shacked up in the notorious Chelsea Hotel and co-wrote a play in just two nights, literally shoving a typewriter back and forth across the table until Cowboy Mouth was complete. Forty years on director Emily O'Brien Brown and Exhibit A: Theatre pay homage to the self-destructive lovers' attempt to immortalise their young wild selves through the play’s two characters, Slim and Cavale. Cavale is French for “escape” and Slim is “a rock ‘n’ roll Jesus with a cowboy mouth” — a far cry from Slim Shady. Cavale and Slim fight, drink and wrestle with their own egotistical fantasies of themselves; their unravelling mental states mirrored by the literal deterioration of their decrepit, rundown hotel room. Like a rock royalty version of Vladmir and Estragon in Waiting for Godot, both express a desire to leave but neither follow through. Instead, they play games or musical instruments and survive, barely, on dreams, Cavale’s stories and lobster take-out. Adorned with a baseless mattress, tatty drawings and a drum kit, the stage at GoodTime Studios is cleverly used to show the two characters trapped in their perceived corner. Cavale cuddles a dead bird and tells stories of dead French poets as she avariciously stalks Slim across the stage. He is edgy and practically aquiver with artistic torment: he’s left a wife and child (or she’s left him) for Cavale’s feverish artistic blatherings. Partnered in psychotic torment the two ricochet from happy to wretched, from lustful to fearful, from psychiatrists to podiatrists. Comic relief comes, happily, when they call up the Lobster Man — an inarticulate delivery dude outfitted in full crustacean uniform. The theatre group has breathed new life into this rock ‘n’ roll tale of psychotic infatuation with two impossibly attractive leads, an eclectic soundtrack and even a Rock Lobster. Regardless of whether Cavale and Slim are drunk, demented or simply defiant of spiritual demarcation it's surprisingly easy to relate — we all know what it's like to look around and find ourselves trapped in a corner. Image via Exhibit: A Theatre
It's been less than a year since Scottish craft beer giant BrewDog made its much-anticipated Australian debut, opening the doors to its hefty Brisbane brewery DogTap last November. But already the team's looking to ramp up that local presence, announcing ambitious plans to open more flagship venues across Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney by the end of 2021. While the company's keeping hush for now on exactly where these new bars will be located, it has confirmed it's already started searching for sites between 300 and 1000 square metres, in each of the three above cities. It seems the choice to kickstart Aussie operations in the Queensland capital has proved a smart move for the brewery, especially given the extra COVID-19 fallout some other states have had to endure. "The continued success of our DogTap taproom has convinced us that the time is right to start the search and find exciting locations to join the fold," said BrewDog's Head of Australian Operations Calvin McDonald in a statement. Already operating in over 80 countries, the company plans on snapping up 25 more sites worldwide before the year's out. [caption id="attachment_751726" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pandora Photography[/caption] BrewDog's ambitious expansion plans come off the back of a few news-filled months for the brewing company. Just recently, it claimed the distinction of becoming the first carbon negative international beer brand in the world, removing twice as much carbon from the air than it emits. BrewDog plans to open more sites in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney in the coming 12 months. We'll share more details as they're confirmed. Images: DogTap Brisbane by Pandora Photography
It takes a lot to make great wine. It also takes a lot to successfully run a business and a happy family. So, what about when all three things are put together? We chat to three wineries in Victoria's north east that are managing to nail all three. Here are a few stories from their journey through wine, family, tradition and hard work. Brown Brothers Winery – Stories and Shiraz An old lady is fussing about in her kitchen, many moons ago. She takes four teacups and places them in the oven, just until they are too hot to touch. She takes them carefully out of the oven and places them on the table, next to a steaming hot pot of tea. In walk four of her sons. They take a chair at the kitchen table as their mother pours them a cup of tea in the scorching cups. The cups are too hot to touch. They stay that way for a while. The boys linger, telling storing, sharing tales of the family business — tales of the winery. The woman is happy. Her plan to keep them there long enough for their tea to be drinkable is working. The hotter it is, the longer they stayed. A brilliant plan. She is the mother of the Brown brothers and grandmother to Katherine and Caroline — the fourth generation of Browns and the next to take over the reigns of the well-known Brown Brothers family winery. Now picture this: three young, beautiful and driven Brown daughters are sent off into the big bad world. They must complete the non-negotiable task of working outside the family business for four years before being allowed to work within the winery. A beautiful clause, it encourages hard work and avoids entitlement. And it's worked. The daughters ooze with appreciation of the business and a keenness to continue the legacy. Brown Brothers have just relabeled their 18 Eighty Nine range, each fit with a different chair from their family table and a different tale of the family. This dry range includes a fruity Chardonnay, a Shiraz made in Heathcote and a savoury Cabernet Sauvignon. 239 Milawa Bobinawarrah Road, Milawa VIC 3678, brownbrothers.com.au Dal Zotto Wines – Practice and Prosecco Otto, Eleanor, Christian and Michael Dal Zotto are sitting around the large table in their trattoria in King Valley. While Italian voices are coming from one end and Australian accents from the other, there is no denying they are related. Mother, father and two sons. As the kitchen serves up divine, simple, sharing style Italian cooking, the wine begins to pour. A Prosecco to begin, of course. The two wine glasses in front of each person are instantly filled. Then the gentle bickering begins. Where are the rest of the wine glasses? After all, it is only right that each guest have the opportunity to taste all the wines on the table at once. After lunch, stuffed to the brim, they take their guests outside for a throw of the bocce ball, a run with the two dogs in the kitchen garden and to play with the many grandchildren that live just next door. What began as Otto and Eleanor's business — pioneering Prosecco in Australia — is now strongly ingrained in the lives of their children. Michael takes the reigns as the winemaker while Christian looks after the marketing. Spend an afternoon in their trattoria with them if you get the opportunity. The passion is tangible. 4861 Wangaratta-Whitfield Road, Whitfield VIC 3733, dalzotto.com.au Pizzini – Community and Chardonnay Roberto and Rose Pizzini, along with their three children migrated from the Northern Italian Alps to Australia back in 1955. Lost for what to do, digging potatoes became their bread and butter. This later turned into tobacco growing. None of these felt quite right to the Pizzinis. It was only when Brown Brothers planted their first grapes in the King Valley in 1978 that the Pizzini family began farming grapes. A collection of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Shiraz were farmed by Alfred and Katrina and sold to different winemaking companies around Australia. Over the next twenty years Alfred Pizzini began trying his hand at two relatively unknown Northern Italian red grape varieties — Nebbiolo and Sangiovese — and later the white Italian varietals Verduzzo, Picolit and Arneis. It was only in 1994 that Alfred and Katrina Pizzini began the Pizzini label with their signature chardonnay. As they began to build their business they realised they needed to help build up the local area as well. After a cellar door was created from tobacco drying kilns, the Pizzini's invested in three local hospitality venues around town. A little restaurant in Oxley, the Mountain View Hotel in Whitfield and finally they renovated a cottage on the property and turned it into a self-contained B&B. Fast forward to today, Katrina Pizzini running a thriving cooking school, the winery is one of the biggest in the area and the King Valley is never short of wine enthusiasts. The winemaking is now in the capable hands of their son Joel. 175 King Valley Rd, Whitfield VIC 3733, pizzini.com.au
The Act of Killing is one of those movies that in its very form is something new. While filming survivors of the 1965-66 Sumatran massacre, Joshua Oppenheimer discovered that the perpetrators, now elder statesmen, remain openly proud of their crimes — and eager for fame. So he takes the project in a new direction (the survivors, for good reason, weren't keen to appear on camera anyway). Oppenheimer has the perpetrators join the film, scripting and starring in re-enactments of their murders. They jump at the chance; they're fans of American movies. The Act of Killing then becomes a documentary with fictionalised elements that, by virtue of what they reveal about their subjects, are a mode of deep-digging documentary in themselves. It's chilling but also achieves a surprising effect, leading Werner Herzog to say "I have not seen a film as powerful, surreal, and frightening in at least a decade...it is unprecedented in the history of cinema." He signed on to executive produce, along with documentary king Errol Morris. No synopsis can quite convey how extraordinary this all is. We in Australia, Indonesia's closest neighbours, have barely any memory of the genocide that took 1 million lives. The current Indonesian government still has links to the militias of 50 years ago, and in a speech by a senior politician, we see him further the ideology of the 'gangster', a libertarian delusion that alleviates the war criminals' consciences. They're welcomed on a daytime TV show as if they were pop stars, while the cheery host recognises their achievements in finding "a new, more efficient system for killing Communists". There are so many of these extraordinary scenes — too many, probably. It's hard to figure out what could have been cut, but there is a point in the middle at which it becomes a catalogue of bewilderment rather than a purposeful trajectory — and the running time is 159 minutes, so. US-born, Copenhagan-based Oppenheimer's real strength is his knowledge of Indonesia — he's spent a lot of time there, speaks the language without an interpreter and was able to really relate to his subjects as human beings. They're comfortable and candid around him, without his having to trick them into participating. He's also proved to have a great eye for character, as his main focus, Anwar Congo, is both charismatic and very easy to empathise with. Those spotlighted around him, too, serve to elucidate other sides of his character. It's challenging. We're made to wonder, who is more evil, the murderer who is an ostentatious true believer in the cause? The pragmatist quietly living out his days in great wealth? Ultimately, it's hard to believe there are evil people at all — just crazy, heightened situations with patterns that repeat all over the world. The Act of Killing is deeply humanist that way. There's no point dwelling on some minor drawbacks; The Act of Killing is the film of the year, if not the decade, if not documentary history. Just go see it already. It's simultaneously being disseminated in Indonesia via private screenings and sparking, you can imagine, a big conversation. Proof that sometimes, art changes everything. Read our interview with director Joshua Oppenheimer here. https://youtube.com/watch?v=zJ5_JAgoZ5Q
