If you're travelling around the world on a budget but are looking for some exciting places to stay that are a little out of the ordinary, then these boutique hostels will be up your alley. Offering more than your everyday bunk rooms, these spots are creative, fun and don't follow preconceptions of what the average hostel entails. Be sure to book yourself a bed in one of these amazing locations on your next trip. Jumbo Stay - Stockholm, Sweden Jumbo Stay, situated at the entrance to the Arlanda Airport, houses guests in a real Boeing jumbo jet plane, which was stripped of its seating and revamped to accommodate up to 76 guests. Radeka Downunder - Cooper Pedy, Australia An opal mine was transformed in the mid 1980s into 10 motel rooms, 12 budget rooms & 12 dormitories, with some rooms as far as 6.5 metres underground. Kadir's Tree Houses - Olympos, Turkey This award winning holiday stay on the majestic Mediterranean coastline caters for those yearning to sleep in an adult treehouse. Railway Square - Sydney, Australia Near Sydney's Central Station lies a YHA Hostel which allows guests to stay in the funky railway carriages of former Platform Zero. Carbisdale Castle - Kyle of Sutherland, Scotland The Carbisdale Castle was built between 1906-1917 for the Dowager Duchess of Sutherland after her step-son effectively kicked her out of their castle. The castle was gifted in 1945 to the Scottish Youth Hostel Association and has since been housing backpackers who can marvel at the 365 windows, magnificent marble statues or priceless paintings. Mellow Eco-Hostel - Barcelona, Spain The charm of this vibrant eco-hostel is almost unparalleled due to its location away from crowded tourist spots, surrounded by Guinardo Park. Zhangzhou Wie Qun Lou Inn - Fujian Tulou, China A stunning marvel of architecture, the modern buildings in the mountainous areas of Fujian Tulou in China were originally built in 1802 as a symbol of the wisdom and diligence of the Hakka people. Hostel Celica - Ljubljana, Slovenia Each room at the Hostel Celica, a former military prison, has its own unique mosaics, artistry and architectural design. Point Montara Lighthouse Hostel - California, USA Originally established as a fog signal station in 1875, this hostel provides a little taste of history by allowing guests to stay in the former Coast Guard's quarters or the fog signal building. Hostel Brumund - Hedmark, Norway Known as 'The Pine Hut', this one-of-a-kind rustic Norwegian hostel has two cabins, which house 5 or 6 persons, that are perched 25 feet high on the branches of a 250 year old pine tree.
UPDATE: Thursday May 6, 2021 — New COVID-19 restrictions have been announced. We'll keep you updated on this event as the situation changes. For the latest information, visit NSW Health. What time is it? Showtime! After taking the world by storm when it hit Broadway in 2015, Lin-Manuel Miranda's critically acclaimed musical Hamilton is finally coming to the "greatest city in the world": Sydney. If, like us, you've been watching the filmed version of Hamilton with the original Broadway cast on repeat since it was fast-tracked to Disney+ in July, then we bet you could not be more satisfied with the news you'll finally be able to see it live on stage. The record-breaking production, which nabbed 11 Tony Awards (including Best Musical), six Laurence Olivier Awards, a Grammy Award and a Pulitzer Prize, was inspired by Ron Chernow's 2004 biography Alexander Hamilton. It tells the story of Caribbean-born immigrant Alexander Hamilton, who rose to become America's ten-dollar Founding Father ("without a father"). Directed by Thomas Kail, the musical tracks Hamilton's arrival in New York in the early 1770s, fighting in the Revolutionary War, and working alongside the likes of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and his rival Aaron Burr to form the United States of America. On paper, the subject matter may sound a little dry. But Miranda's energetic lyrics and music, which spans hip hop, R&B, soul and traditional show tunes, as well as Andy Blankenbuehler's choreography ensure it's anything but. You'll be captivated by cabinet rap battles, hip hop-heavy duels and heart-wrenching ballads about Hamilton's complicated love life. The Aussie production has also continued the Broadway musical's colour-blind approach to casting, by enlisting BIPOC actors to play historical white figures. The cast includes Jason Arrow (Disney's Aladdin, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical) as Alexander Hamilton, Lyndon Watts (Disney's Aladdin, West Side Story) as Aaron Burr, and Chloé Zuel as Eliza Hamilton. A common feature of Hamilton is actors playing two different roles throughout the show — Marty Alix, who played Sonny in Sydney Opera House's season of Miranda's other Tony Award-winning musical In the Heights, has signed on for the dual roles of John Laurens and Philip Hamilton. If you want to be in the room where it happens, Hamilton is opening at the Sydney Lyric Theatre on Wednesday, March 17, 2021, booking through to September. Tickets will set you back $70–250 a pop. There are flexible ticket options available, now including gift vouchers, which might suit those planning to travel to Sydney especially for the show. They'll also make excellent Christmas presents. The Sydney Lyric Theatre also has a COVID-19 safety plan in place, in accordance with NSW Health. Top images: Images 1–5, US National Tour, Joan Marcus; Images 6–7, Broadway. Courtesy of Destination NSW.
Some holidays arise from months of planning. Others happen simply because an airline has cheap flights on offer. Both are perfectly acceptable ways to lock in a getaway — and if you're keen for the latter, Jetstar is doing a big 48-hour sale with 400,000-plus fares to Bali, Phuket, Hawaii, Vietnam, Japan and Seoul, among other destinations. Actually, the Australian carrier is doing discounted flights across Australia as well as to international spots — but after the couple of years we've all had, with closed borders both locally and overseas, you're probably (and understandably) itching to venture to other countries. International fares start from $199 return — yes, both ways — because this is Jetstar's 'return for free' sale. Running from 12am AEST on Wednesday, May 4–11.59pm AEST on Thursday, May 5, or until sold out, it's as straightforward as it sounds. Whatever flights you opt for as part of the sale, you'll get the return fare for nothing. Overseas, one big caveat is worth keeping in mind: some destinations, such as Japan, haven't yet opened to international tourists. But if you'd like to book cheap flights to Tokyo or Osaka and back for later in the year and cross your fingers that the border situation changes, you can. Also on the list: fares to Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch and Queenstown, to name a few, with 29 international routes covered. Locally, you've got a choice between 59 routes — all with return legs for free — starting from $69. Tickets in the sale are for trips from this coming spring onwards, with exact days varying in each region. There are a few other rules, as is always the case. You have to the same departure and arrival ports for the two fares — so you can go from Melbourne to Honolulu and back, for instance, but can't return via another place or to another city. And, the sale fares don't include checked baggage, so you'll need to travel super light or pay extra to take a suitcase. Jetstar's 'return for free' sale runs from 12am AEST on Wednesday, May 4–11.59pm AEST on Thursday, May 5 — or until sold out.
Love theatre? Desperate to see all the latest and greatest shows that London's West End has to offer, or the British theatre scene in general? Live in Australia, rather than the UK? If you answered yes to all of these questions, and you can't afford to zip over to Britain and back to indulge your stage fix — because who can? — then you're probably a huge fan of National Theatre Live. Since well before the pandemic, this theatre-to-cinema program has beamed live versions of hit London stage productions into Australian picture palaces. If you watched Danny Boyle's phenomenal version of Frankenstein starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller, as everyone should've, then this is how you saw it. If you caught Carey Mulligan and Bill Nighy in the also-phenomenal Skylight, it was thanks to NT Live, too. (And if you found yourself streaming other British theatre shows during lockdowns, that's because National Theatre set up its own online platform when we were all at home as well.) NT Live's Aussie cinema program has been back up and running as the venues themselves have been doing the same, and it has something massive in store in July: Prima Facie. The one-woman play marks the West End debut of Killing Eve star Jodie Comer, who plays a brilliant young barrister. And it'll be showing in movie theatres Down Under from Saturday, July 23. Penned by Australian British playwright Suzie Miller — and an AWGIE winner in 2020 at home for its Griffin Theatre premiere season — Prima Facie also sees Miller herself make her West End debut. Her play follows legal eagle lead Tessa (Comer, The Last Duel, Free Guy), who has succeeded in her field after working her way up from working-class origins. Then, thanks to an unexpected event, she's forced to examine power dynamics, the patriarchal force of the law, morality and burdens of proof. NT Live's recording of Prima Facie was captured live at the Harold Pinter Theatre — and, as all such stage shows that make the leap to cinemas as filmed versions of the original plays, the visual presentation is designed to make you feel like you're really there. Prima Facie will play in select cinemas around the country — including the Hayden Orpheum, Dendy Newtown, Palace Chauvel and Ritz Cinemas in Sydney; Cinema Nova, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Como, Palace Balwyn, Lido Cinemas, Classic Cinemas, Cameo Cinemas and Yarraville's Sun Theatre in Melbourne; and Palace James Street, Dendy Portside and Dendy Coorparoo in Brisbane. It'll also show in Palace Nova Eastend in Adelaide, as well as Luna Leederville and Luna on SX in Perth. And if you're wondering what else is on NT Live's schedule, it's doing Shakespeare — Henry V starring Game of Thrones and Eternals' Kit Harington, in fact — from Saturday, June 25. Check out the Prima Facie trailer below: Prima Facie will screen in Australian cinemas from Saturday, July 23. Images: Empire Street Productions, Helen Murray.
You've probably already heard of WeWork, the international coworking movement. They have 230 coworking spaces around the world. In 2016, they opened their first coworking venture in Sydney and they've just thrown the doors on their first massive Melbourne space in the London Stores building. Located on the corner of Elizabeth and Bourke Street, the WeWork office is a little bit fancy with some distinct Melbourne flair. And when we say massive, we mean massive. With six floors and space for more than 700 creatives to shack up and compete for funniest coffee mug, it's set to become the hippest place to work in Melbourne. But don't expect a cookie-cutter corporate office that will put you to sleep. The interior was designed, interestingly, by graphic designer Sui Yao, and has been decorated by Australia artists Georgia Hill, Mik Shida and FunSkull. With an open-air terrace, and an endless supply of kombucha, nitro cold drip coffee and fruit-infused water, you won't mind staying late at work. So, what kind of perks can you expect from a coworking space? The best part of coworking (apart from meeting likeminded folk and working in a beautiful office) is the events. You can schmooze at ample networking dos, lunch and learn sessions, happy hours, and even yoga and massage events. The WeWork system also gives members access to each other at locations across the globe, like your own in-real-life LinkedIn. The Elizabeth Street location is taking enquiries now and WeWork have already announced a second venue, opening 2018, on Collins Street. WeWork Melbourne, located at 152 Elizabeth Street in the CBD, is open now.
The ability to shop online, in-between emails and before we drift off to sleep, is a thing of beautiful convenience. But despite international brands like Zara, H&M and COS launching a string of retail stores in Australia, we've been largely left in the cold (or in long fitting room lines in shopping centres) when it comes to buying these clothes online — which, in a world where we can order same-day deliveries from The Iconic, seems a little behind. But today — Wednesday, March 14 — Spanish fashion chain Zara has officially launched its Australian online store, seven years after its first bricks and mortar store opened on our shores. The site is now live, with the brand's extensive women's, men's, kids and TRF collections all available to peruse and — most importantly — get your hands on without having to enter the chaos that is the Pitt Street/Bourke Street/Queen Street store. Delivery is the game-changer for Zara fans here. Next-day delivery is free on orders over $75 (or $7.95 if you're spending under that) as long as you're in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra or Brisbane and order before 4pm. Sydneysiders can get same-day delivery for $12.95 if they order before 2pm — the goods will arrive between 6 and 9pm that evening. Importantly, there are no charges for exchanges and returns, which you can do in-store or via a drop-off point. Zara's Australian online store is now live. You can spend all your money at zara.com/au.
In 2019, a horrible goose wandered around a quiet village, then chaos ensued — and instigating it became one of the most-entertaining ways to mash buttons. Untitled Goose Game first released in September that year. By the time 2020 hit, more than a million copies had been sold, getting folks controlling a pesky waterfowl with a penchant for trouble. That's honking phenomenal for an indie game out of Melbourne, and it's a feat that the city's Australian Centre for the Moving Image keeps celebrating. After giving Untitled Goose Game the live orchestral treatment back in 2022, the Aussie screen museum is now hosting a world-premiere exhibition dedicated to the title. Honk! Untitled Goose Exhibition features different versions of the game from its various development stages that you can play, plus sketches, concept art and design material for attendees to check out. It's going to be a lovely five months in Federation Square from Tuesday, September 17, 2024–Sunday, February 16, 2025, and you'll be an adoring Untitled Goose Game fan. Sorry Mario Kart. Move over Tetris. Forget Wii Sports, Pokémon Go, Street Fighter or whatever other title first springs to mind whenever you think about video games. They're all well and good, but they aren't taking over ACMI like this homegrown hit from House House. If you're new to Untitled Goose Game, it's a puzzle game — and, yes, it's about a goose. You play as the bird, and your aim is to move objects and other characters, and just generally cause mayhem in a small village. No description can really do it justice, though; you just need to play it. While the game has filled oh-so-many hours over the past few years, and gotten its ARIA-nominated original soundtrack by Dan Golding stuck in everyone's heads, Honk! Untitled Goose Exhibition isn't just for diehard gamers. No matter if you know every inch of the game or you're only hearing about it now, you'll be plunged into its world in an interactive showcase that's designed to get you playing. How slapstick factors in, plus the form of comedy's history, is also a big feature. We don't expect that running off with keys, socks, glasses, radios and the like will be a part of it, however.
Not all that long ago, the idea of getting cosy on your couch, clicking a few buttons, and having thousands of films and television shows at your fingertips seemed like something out of science fiction. Now, it's just an ordinary night — whether you're virtually gathering the gang to text along, cuddling up to your significant other or shutting the world out for some much needed me-time. Of course, given the wealth of options to choose from, there's nothing ordinary about making a date with your chosen streaming platform. The question isn't "should I watch something?" — it's "what on earth should I choose?". Hundreds of titles are added to Australia's online viewing services each and every month, all vying for a spot on your must-see list. And, so you don't spend 45 minutes scrolling and then being too tired to actually commit to anything, we're here to help. We've spent plenty of couch time watching our way through this month's latest batch — and, from the latest and greatest through to old and recent favourites, here are our picks for your streaming queue in February. BRAND NEW STUFF YOU CAN WATCH IN FULL NOW THE CONSULTANT If there's a question that no employee wants to hear from the person setting company agendas, pulling strings and signing paycheques, it's "what do we do?". In The Consultant, the small screen's latest moody and mysterious workplace nightmare — which adapts horror author Bentley Little's 2016 novel of the same name, but plays like Severance filtered through Servant — Regus Patoff (Christoph Waltz, Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio) asks a variation of it early. "What do we make?" he queries at CompWare after he arrives amid grim circumstances. The mobile gaming outfit came to fame under wunderkind Sang (TV first-timer Brian Yoon), so much so that school groups tour the firm's office. Then, during the visit that opens this eight-part, excellently cast and supremely easy-to-binge thriller, a kid shoots and kills the company's founder. That doesn't stop Regus from showing up afterwards clutching a signed contract from Sang and spouting a mandate to do whatever it takes to maximise his legacy. Regus is as stern yet eccentric as Waltz has become known for — a suit- and tie-wearing kindred spirit to Inglourious Basterds' Hans Landa, plus Spectre and No Time to Die's Ernst Stavro Blofield. He first darkens CompWare's door in the thick of night, when only ambitious assistant Elaine Hayman (Brittany O'Grady, The White Lotus) and stoner coder Craig Horne (Nat Wolff, Joe vs Carole) are onsite, and he won't take no for an answer. There's no consultant job for him to have, Elaine tells him. There's no business to whip into shape, she stresses. By the next morning, he's corralling employees for an all-hands meeting and telling remote workers they'll be fired if they don't show up in-person within an hour, even if he proudly doesn't know what CompWare does — or care. From there, The Consultant gets creator Tony Basgallop, who is also behind Servant, doing what he loves: kicking off with a blow-in, unsettling a group already coping with tragedy and reordering their status quo with severe methods. Both of his current shows lace the chaos that follows with nods towards the supernatural, too, and both ask what bargains we're willing to make to live the lives we're striving for. The Consultant streams via Prime Video. Read our full review. CUNK ON EARTH If you've ever watched a David Attenborough documentary about the planet and wished it was sillier and stupider, to the point of being entertainingly ridiculous and ridiculously entertaining alike, then Netflix comes bearing wonderful news. Actually, the BBC got there first, airing history-of-the-world mockumentary Cunk on Earth back in September 2022. Glorious things come to waiting viewers Down Under now, however — and this gleefully, delightfully absurd take on human civilisation from its earliest days till now, spanning cave paintings, Roman empires, Star Wars' empire, 1989 Belgian techno anthem 'Pump Up the Jam' and more, is one of the best shows to hit Australia and New Zealand in 2023 so far. This series is a comedy masterclass, in fact, featuring everything from a Black Mirror-leaning skit about Beethoven resurrected inside a smart speaker to a recreation of a Dark Ages fray purely through sound also thrown in. It's flat-out masterful, too, and tremendously funny. This sometimes Technotronic-soundtracked five-part show's beat? Surveying how humanity came to its present state, stretching back through species' origins and evolution, and pondering everything from whether the Egyptian pyramids were built from the top down to the Cold War bringing about the "Soviet onion". The audience's guide across this condensed and comic history is the tweed-wearing Philomena Cunk, who has the steady voice of seasoned doco presenter down pat, plus the solemn gaze, but is firmly a fictional — and satirical — character. Comedian Diane Morgan first started playing the misinformed interviewer in 2013, in Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe, with Black Mirror creator Brooker behind Cunk on Earth as well. Over the past decade, Cunk has also brought her odd questions to 2016's one-off Cunk on Shakespeare and Cunk on Christmas, and 2018's also five-instalment Cunk on Britain. After you're done with the character's latest spin, you'll want to devour the rest ASAP. Cunk on Earth streams via Netflix. Read our full review. EMILY THE CRIMINAL Enterprising, astute, intelligent and accepting zero garbage from anyone: these are traits that Aubrey Plaza can convey in her sleep. But she definitely isn't slumbering in Emily the Criminal, which sees her turn in a performance as weighty and layered as her deservedly Golden Globe-nominated portrayal in the second season of The White Lotus — something that she's been doing since her Parks and Recreation days anyway. Indeed, there's more than a touch of April Ludgate-Dwyer's resourcefulness to this crime-thriller's eponymous figure. Los Angeles resident Emily Benetto isn't sporting much apathy, however; she can't afford to. With $70,000 in student loans to her name for a college art degree she isn't using working as a food delivery driver, and a felony conviction that's getting in the way of securing any gig she's better qualified for for, Jersey girl Emily breaks bad to make bank when she's given a tip about a credit card fraud ring run by Youcef (Theo Rossi, Sons of Anarchy). Her simple task: purchasing everything from electronics to cars with the stolen numbers. Writer/director John Patton Ford makes his feature debut with this lean, sharp, keenly observed and tightly paced film, which works swimmingly and grippingly as a heist thriller with plenty to say about the state of America today — particularly about a society that saddles folks starting their working lives with enormous debts, turning careers in the arts into the domain of the wealthy, and makes even the slightest wrongdoing a life sentence. Emily the Criminal is angry about that state of affairs, and that ire colours every frame. But it's as a character study that this impressive film soars highest, stepping through the struggles, troubles and desperate moves of a woman trapped not by her choices but her lack of options, all while seeing her better-off classmates breeze through life. As she usually is, Plaza is mesmerising, and adds another complicated movie role to a resume that also boasts the phenomenal Ingrid Goes West and Black Bear as well. Emily the Criminal streams via Binge and Netflix. PAMELA, A LOVE STORY If you weren't aware of Pamela Anderson's recent Broadway stint, bringing the razzle dazzle to a new production of Chicago in 2022, Ryan White (Good Night Oppy)-directed documentary Pamela, A Love Story will still feature surprises. Otherwise, from Playboy to Playbill — including Baywatch, sex tapes and multiple marriages in-between — the actor's story is well-known around the globe. Much of it played out in the tabloids, especially when she married Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee in a white bikini after four days together. She also graced what can easily stake a claim as the internet's first viral video, after intimate footage of Anderson and Lee was stolen, then sold. And that very experience was dramatised in 2022 limited series Pam & Tommy, including the misogynistic way she was treated compared to her spouse, how her rights to her image and privacy were considered trashed due to her nude modelling days, and the unsurprising fallout within her relationship. No matter how familiar the details are, Pamela, A Love Story does something that little else on-screen has, however: it lets Anderson tell her story herself. Much of the doco focuses on the Barb Wire and Scary Movie 3 star in her childhood home in Ladysmith on Canada's Vancouver Island, watching old videos, reading past diaries and chatting through the contents. She's recorded and written about everything in her life. Sitting in front of the camera without a trace of makeup, with her sons Brandon and Dylan sometimes talking with her, she gives her account of how she's been treated during the highs and lows of her career. The film coincides with a memoir, Love, Pamela, so this is a tale that Anderson is currently on the page and in streaming queues — but it's still a powerful portrait of a woman made famous for her appearance, turned into a sex symbol to the point that male interviewers in the 90s could barely talk about anything else, then cruelly judged and discarded. She's frank and sincere, as is the movie amid its treasure trove of archival footage. Pamela, A Love Story streams via Netflix. SHARPER Sharper didn't start its life on the page, with director Benjamin Caron (Andor) instead working with Brian Gatewood and Alessandro Tanaka's (both Superstore alumni) script; however, it spins the type of tale that'd flow easily in chapters. The slick-looking and smartly cast psychological thriller adopts that kind of structure anyway, unfurling its story in five parts — each named for a character. To begin with, the kindly, soft-spoken Tom (Justice Smith, Jurassic World Dominion) meets the well-read Sandra (Briana Middleton, The Tender Bar) at the used bookstore he owns. He asks her out, she declines, then returns to take up his offer. Then, before his section of the flick is out, he's been swindled out of $350,000. To help fill in the gaps, Sharper jumps into Sandra's backstory, which involves con artist Max (Sebastian Stan, Fresh). His history comes next, and so on. Socialite Madeline (Julianne Moore, Dear Evan Hansen), paramour to billionaire Richard Hobbes (John Lithgow, The Old Man), also pops up, also scoring her own dedicated segment. The connections between characters, and the deceptions many are spinning as well — most on purpose, some on themselves without realising it — are obviously best discovered while watching this twisty Manhattan-set movie. Sharper achieves its number-one task, however, and one that's essential for any film that's actively playing up its mysteries: keeping viewers wanting to puzzle through its glossily shot pieces. It helps that eating the rich is firmly on the menu, biting in as heartily to the well-to-do and entitled as The White Lotus and Succession have earned such acclaim doing. Also crucial: the top-notch roster of on-screen talent, especially whenever Stan, Moore or both feature. He's a picture of smooth-talking charm, but sly, sneaky and making everyone in his orbit succumb against their better judgement, while she's exceptional, as always, as a woman doing whatever she must — and selling whatever she needs to — to keep moving forward. Sharper streams via Apple TV+. BAD BEHAVIOUR When high school is hellish on television, sometimes that happens literally; Buffy the Vampire Slayer's teens did their studies above a hellmouth and Stranger Things' crew is constantly trying to avoid the Upside Down. In Bad Behaviour, hell is the girls of Silver Creek, the wilderness campus of an exclusive all-female boarding school where young women decamp to spend a year learning resilience away from the wider (and supposedly wilder) world. It's where Joanna Mackenzie (Jana McKinnon, We Children From Bahnhof Zoo) attended on a scholarship, sharing a cabin with Alice Kang (Yerin Ha, Sissy) before they cross paths again ten years later — Jo striving to become a writer, but paying the bills in hospitality; Alice a musical prodigy-turned-global classical star. While Jo doesn't have fond memories of her year away, she's shocked at Alice's frosty reception. Indeed, she'd always thought that the domineering Portia (Markella Kavenagh, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power) was the bully of their dormitory, making her own experience a nightmare. But this blast from the past gets Jo rethinking her own behaviour. Adapted from Rebecca Starford's book of the same name by Pip Karmel (Total Control) and Magda Wozniak (Neighbours), with Corrie Chen (New Gold Mountain) directing, Bad Behaviour is spot-on about the Mean Girls-meets-The Lord of the Flies realm it navigates. Starford's tome is a memoir, after all. For anyone who has ever been or known a teenage girl — so, everyone — this four-part series feels deeply lived-in, even if you've never attended a private school, let alone such an education institution's remote campus. With McKinnon, Ha and Kavenagh all delivering potent performances, and the latter making a memorable antagonist, the mood is equal parts tense and reflective. As Bad Behaviour flits between Jo's time at Silver Creek, including the thrall that Portia held over her, and her adult awakening to who she really was while she was there, it's unafraid to face stark truths about our teenage demons as well. Bad Behaviour streams via Stan. SOMEBODY I USED TO KNOW Gotye and Kimbra's similarly titled Hottest 100-winner doesn't get a play in Somebody I Used to Know. Instead, the Alison Brie (Happiest Season)-starring and co-written rom-com gets its lead making up her own lyrics to Third Eye Blind's 90s hit 'Semi-Charmed Life'. She plays Ally, a documentarian who has been chasing her dream by making and hosting reality TV — a cooking competition with a Survivor twist called Dessert Island — and gets singing at the wedding weekend of her ex Sean (Jay Ellis, Top Gun: Maverick). Her career is the whole reason that he's now marrying the younger Cassidy (Kiersey Clemons, Antebellum), after she traded their home town of Leavenworth, Washington, and his dream of a quiet life for Hollywood. But an impromptu trip back after Dessert Island is cancelled leads to an unexpected run-in, a promise to Sean's mother (Olga Merediz, In the Heights) that she'll be the nuptials' videographer, and old feelings resurfacing. When Ally takes to the stage, she's battling with Cassidy, who fronts a punk band, and overtly trying to win Sean back. Brie and her Somebody I Used to Know co-scribe Dave Franco, also the film's director and her IRL husband — with the pair reteaming as filmmaker and star after 2020's The Rental, too — are well aware that they're toying with familiar parts. (In cinemas rather than on streaming, What's Love Got to Do with It? also follows a filmmaker shooting a loved one's wedding while grappling with work troubles and harbouring a crush). Accordingly, Brie and Franco are also highly cognisant of how the tale they're telling usually goes. This romantic comedy doesn't avoid many of its genre's tropes, lacing them throughout the script knowingly so that it can unpack and build upon them. The whole 'workaholic discovers what she really needs after a career upset' setup is a prompt, getting Brie and Franco thinking about what that really means beyond the cliched idea of getting romance to solve your problems. That said, it mightn't have worked as charmingly as it does without either Brie or Clemons. Somebody I Used to Know streams via Prime Video. GEORGE & TAMMY Stepping into a real-life Tammy's shoes is turning out well for Jessica Chastain, as two of her most recent roles have proven. In 2022, she won an Oscar and a Screen Actors Guild Award for playing televangelist Tammy Faye in The Eyes of Tammy Faye. In 2023, she has backed that up by scoring another Screen Actors Guild Award, this time for playing country icon Tammy Wynette in George & Tammy. Chastain might run out of IRL Tammys from here. If Parks and Recreation ever makes another comeback, perhaps she can add a fictional Tammy there. For now, she's made the most of Faye and Wynnette's stories — especially the latter. This time, the Scenes From a Marriage and The Good Nurse star is on the small screen, in a six-part series that focuses not only on the singer behind 'Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad', 'D.I.V.O.R.C.E.' and ;Stand By Your Man' (and, with The KLF in the 90s, 'Justified and Ancient'), but also on fellow musician George Jones (Michael Shannon, Amsterdam). Always an on-screen powerhouse himself, Shannon hasn't been notching up accolades for his work on George & Tammy, but he deserves to — and any series that pairs these two acting titans was always going to be worth watching. The ups and downs of Jones and Wynnette's intertwined lives and careers are a matter of history, but it's all brought to the screen with fierce and committed performances that cut to the heart of the two famous figures, handsome staging and lensing, impressive supporting turns by Steve Zahn (The White Lotus) and Walton Goggins (The Righteous Gemstones), and genuine appreciation for the central pair's contribution to their chosen music genre. The soundtrack takes care of itself, and easily, and Australian filmmaker John Hillcoat ensures that this biographical affair is never a by-the-numbers effort. Indeed, the series is also worth seeing as the latest work by the Ghosts… of the Civil Dead, The Proposition and The Road director alone. George & Tammy streams via Paramount+. NEW AND RETURNING SHOWS TO CHECK OUT WEEK BY WEEK PARTY DOWN Sometimes, dreams do come true. More often than not, they don't. The bulk of life is what dwells in-between, as we all cope with the inescapable truth that we won't get everything that we've ever fantasised about, and we mightn't even score more than just a few things we want. This is the space that Party Down has always made its own, asking "are we having fun yet?" about life's disappointments while focusing on Los Angeles-based hopefuls played by Adam Scott (Severance), Ken Marino (The Other Two), Ryan Hansen (A Million Little Things), Martin Starr (Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities) and more. They'd all rather be doing something other than being cater waiters at an array of California functions, and most have stars in their eyes. In the cult comedy's first two seasons back in 2009–10, the majority of its characters have their sights set on show business, slinging hors d'oeuvres while trying to make acting, screenwriting or comedy happen. Bringing most of the original gang back together — Lizzy Caplan had scheduling issues making the also-excellent Fleishman Is in Trouble, but Jane Lynch (Only Murders in the Building) and Megan Mullally (Reservation Dogs) return — Party Down keeps its shindig-by-shindig setup in its 13-years-later third season. Across its first 20 instalments as well as its new six, each episode sends the titular crew to a different soirée. This time, setting the scene for what's still one of the all-time comedy greats in its latest go-around, the opening get-together is thrown by one of their own. Kyle Bradway (Hansen) has just scored the lead part in a massive superhero franchise, and he's celebrating. Ex-actor Henry Pollard (Scott) is among the attendees, as are now-heiress Constance Carmell (Lynch) and perennial stage mum Lydia Dunfree (Mullally). Hard sci-fi obsessive Roman DeBeers (Starr) and the eager-to-please Ron Donald (Marino) are present as well, in a catering capacity. By the time episode two hits, more of the above will be donning pastel pink bow ties, the series keeps unpacking what it means to dream but never succeed, and the cast — especially Scott and the ever-committed Marino — are in their element. Party Down streams via Stan. Read our full review of season three. SERVANT When M Night Shyamalan (Knock at the Cabin) earned global attention and two Oscar nominations back in 1999 for The Sixth Sense, it was with a film about a boy who sees dead people. After ten more features that include highs (the trilogy that is Unbreakable, Split and Glass) and lows (Lady in the Water and The Happening), in 2019 he turned his attention to a TV tale of a nanny who revives a dead baby. Or did he? That's how Servant commenced its first instantly eerie, anxious and dread-filled season, a storyline it has followed in its second season in 2021, third in 2022, and now fourth and final batch of episodes currently streaming. But as with all Shyamalan works, this meticulously made series bubbles with the clear feeling that all isn't as it seems. What happens if a caregiver sweeps in exactly when needed and changes a family's life, Mary Poppins-style, but she's a teenager rather than a woman, disquieting instead of comforting, and accompanied by strange events, forceful cults and unsettlingly conspiracies rather than sweet songs, breezy winds and spoonfuls of sugar? That's Servant's basic premise. Set in Shyamalan's beloved Philadelphia, and created by Tony Basgallop (The Consultant), the puzzle-box series spends most of its time in a lavish brownstone inhabited by TV news reporter Dorothy Turner (Lauren Ambrose, The X-Files), her celebrity-chef husband Sean (Toby Kebbell, Bloodshot), their baby Jericho and 18-year-old nanny Leanne Grayson (Nell Tiger Free, Too Old to Die Young) — and where Dorothy's recovering-alcoholic brother Julian (Grint, Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities) is a frequent visitor. That's still the dynamic this season, which keeps slowly and powerfully moving towards its big farewell. Dorothy is more determined than ever to be rid of Leanne, Leanne is more sure of herself and her abilities than she's ever been — in childminding, and all the other spooky occurrences that've been haunting the family — and Sean and Julian are again caught in the middle. However Shyamalan and Basgallop wrap up this discomforting tale, and whether or not they stick the landing, Servant has gifted viewers four seasons of spectacular duelling caregivers and gripping domestic tension, and one of streaming's horror greats. Servant streams via Apple TV+. Read our full review of season four. HELLO TOMORROW! In 2022, scam culture was here to stay, as drawn-from-reality hits such as Inventing Anna and The Dropout repeatedly promised. In 2023, playing fast and loose with the truth sits at the heart of Hello Tomorrow!, too, which tells a fictional tale about the deceptions people spin to chase their dreams. The show's beaming face: travelling salesman Jack Billings (Billy Crudup, The Morning Show), the regional manager for BrightSide Lunar Residences, and a passionate pusher of timeshares on the moon. He's this intriguing dramedy's version of Don Draper, but with Mad Men's 60s surroundings swapped for The Jetsons-style robot help and hovering vehicles. There's a The Twilight Zone-meets-Leave It to Beaver feel to Hello Tomorrow!, too, as its characters seek the same thing we all do: a better life. Creators Amit Bhalla and Lucas Jansen (both Bloodline alumni), also co-writers and showrunners with You're the Worst's Stephen Falk, zoom in further, focusing on the reasons anyone holds onto to hope their lot will improve. Befitting any blend of all of the above series, the look of Hello Tomorrow! is retro-futuristic, steeped in 50s-era visions of what might come. The time and place is an alternative version of that decade, in a suburban enclave called Vistaville, where one of Jack's biggest fibs has its origins. He's summoned back with his crew of hawkers — the gambling-addicted Eddie (Hank Azaria, The Simpsons), promotion-coveting Herb (Dewshane Williams, In the Dark) and resident righthand-woman Shirley (Haneefah Wood, Truth Be Told) — by his mother Barbara (Jacki Weaver, Penguin Bloom) after his wife Marie (Annie McNamara, Severance) is injured by a self-driving delivery van. His son Joey (Nicholas Podany, Archive 81) is struggling to cope, a task made all the more difficult by Jack's absence from his family's lives for decades. He's skilled at sharing stories about his domestic bliss on the moon to customers, but being a happy head of a lunar household is merely one of his go-to falsehoods. Hello Tomorrow! streams via Apple TV+. Read our full review. A RECENT CLASSIC MOVIE YOU NEED TO CATCH UP WITH TONI ERDMANN Standing in a bar, being interrupted by a stranger, making awkward small talk: we've all been there. Hearing from your parents more frequently than you have time for, despite your best intentions: many of us have experienced that as well. In Toni Erdmann, both scenarios combine in the way that many people might have nightmares about. What if the person accosting you while you try to enjoy a drink turns out to be your dad, just sporting a bad wig, false teeth and calling himself Toni Erdmann? At its simplest, that's the idea behind German writer/director Maren Ade's phenomenal comedy. Here, Ines (Sandra Hüller, I'm Your Man), a German consultant living in Bucharest, is irritated when her practical joke-loving, divorced and lonely father Winfried (Peter Simonischek, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore) arrives for an unexpected visit. But that soon gives way to unbridled horror when his alter ego Toni starts following her around. Once is odd, twice is annoying, and three times... well, that's something else. Then again, one of the basic elements of life is repetition, which Toni Erdmann demonstrates disarmingly well across its 162 minutes. First, you'll cringe. Then you'll laugh. Before long, you may find yourself crying. Those are the stages that audiences cycle through while watching Ade's film, and it's no accident. The mastery evident in ensuring that every detail of the movie imitates life can't be underestimated. The naturalistic camerawork and astute commentary on the importance of humour is not unlike Toni's ridiculous headpiece: it's just what's visible on the surface. Though its first half might make you yearn for a bit less time in the titular character's awkward company, that's by design; in contrast, the second half will make you hope that the movie doesn't end, all while marvelling not only at Ade's astute direction, but at Hüller and Simonischek's pitch-perfect performances. Toni Erdmann streams via SBS On Demand. Read our full review. Need a few more streaming recommendations? Check out our picks from January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December 2022, and January 2023. You can also check out our list of standout must-stream 2022 shows as well — and our best 15 new shows of last year, top 15 returning shows over the same period, 15 shows you might've missed and best 15 straight-to-streaming movies of 2022.
Summer staple Arbory Afloat has reclaimed its prime position on the Yarra in front of on-shore sister venue Arbory Bar & Eatery, for another season of sun-drenched cocktails and riverside revelry. This year, the 69-metre floating venue is taking inspiration from Turkey's Turquoise Coast. The space has been reimagined with a vision of olive trees, tasselled umbrellas, iconic Missoni prints and plenty of classic Aegean hues, across its two bars, upper deck and sprawling dining area. Plush daybeds and cabanas are available to book, nestled by the onboard swimming pool. The matching Mediterranean-inspired menu is filled with Turkish flavours, both classic and contemporary. Snack your way through bites like house-made flatbread ($9) teamed with carrot dip ($8) or the signature hummus ($10), creamy burrata dressed with za'atar ($24), cheese-stuffed zucchini flowers ($8) and red lentil köfte ($12). There's plenty of seafood to enjoy with your feet up, poolside; from raki-cured kingfish ($18) to chargrilled octopus ($18). Plus, pizzas, gyros and kebabs, heroing ingredients like spiced lamb, sucuk sausage and toum (traditional Lebanese garlic sauce). And if grazing's your summer pastime of choice, Arbory Afloat's rotating mezze selection will have you sold. Of course, it wouldn't be a visit to the floating bar without cocktails, so expect a generous lineup of signature sips — from tapped concoctions, to fruit-forward spritzes, to a globe-trotting array of specialty G&Ts. The Pink Gin Spritz blends ruby grapefruit with the collaboration Four Pillars Afloat Pink Gin ($16/45). You'll find solo serves, carafes and even four-shot Turkish teapot cocktails, alongside an international spread of wine and easy-drinking brews. Images: Simon Shiff
If you have been looking for a way to escape the world of mere mortals, then this is the event for you. The Wizarding Academy Express, a magical train journey, is steaming into Melbourne. On Saturday, November 2 and Sunday, November 3, the Express will be departing Docklands' Southern Cross Station throughout both days (from Platform 9 3/4, we hope). Professors from the 'Saremcroft Wizarding Academy' will be sourcing local witches and wizards for their next intake. Your lessons begin as the train departs the platform — you'll need to brush up on your spell casting and potion making. The train ride is an interactive theatre experience, suitable for all ages. Your carriage is your 'house', where you'll find your House Captain and Professor. Robes and wands are, of course, recommended. The whole experience has the air of a certain fictional wizarding universe, but, it has been noted, is not affiliated to or endorsed by Warner Bros in any way. The whole thing goes for 60–90 minutes, including all magical activities and even non-alcoholic potions. Unfortunately, all tickets have now sold out, but we'll let you know if any more journeys are added. Updated: September 24, 2019.
2024 will be a year of many things, including the year that hitting the skies Down Under means travelling on the three safest airlines in the world. As it does every January, safety and rating website AirlineRatings.com has released its latest ranking of the best carriers to fly with. Coming out on top: Air New Zealand, closely followed by Qantas and Virgin Australia. Air NZ returned to first place after also doing the honours in 2022, taking over from 2023 winner Qantas. The latter has a long history of topping the list, doing so for eight years in a row from 2014–21. Virgin Australia has also proven a mainstay on the full rundowns each year, with the top 25 carriers named in 2024. "Our top 25 safest airlines are all standouts in the industry and are at the forefront of safety, innovation and launching of new aircraft. In fact, the safety margins between these top 25 airlines are very small," said AirlineRatings.com Editor-in-Chief Geoffrey Thomas. "Between Air New Zealand and Qantas there is only 1.5 points. It's incredibly close." Wondering how Air NZ topped the list, then? The website called out the airline's "firm focus on safety", while also advising that it "has excelled across a broad safety spectrum right down to the smallest detail, and its pilots operate in some very challenging environments". The highly sought-after accolade chose its safest airlines for 2024 from a pool of 385 carriers from around the world. Factors that influence a carrier's placement on the list include crash and incident records, safety initiatives, fleet age, profitability, training assessments for expert pilots, and audits by aviation governing bodies, industry bodies and governments. Bird strikes and turbulence injuries aren't take into consideration, however, and neither are weather diversions and lightning strikes, given that airlines have no control over these issues. If you're a budget-conscious flyer, the website also outlines the 20 safest low-cost airlines. The winner this year also came from Down Under, with Jetstar emerging victorious. TOP 25 SAFEST AIRLINES FOR 2024: Air New Zealand Qantas Virgin Australia Etihad Airways Qatar Airways Emirates All Nippon Airways Finnair Cathay Pacific Airways Alaska Airlines SAS Korean Air Singapore Airlines EVA Air British Airways Turkish Airlines TAP Air Portugal Lufthansa/Swiss Group KLM Japan Airlines Hawaiian Airlines American Airlines Air France Air Canada Group United Airlines TOP 20 SAFEST LOW-COST AIRLINES FOR 2024: Jetstar easyJet Ryanair Wizz Norwegian Frontier Vueling Vietjet Southwest Volaris flyduba AirAsia Group (AirAsia, AirAsia X, AirAsia Thailand, AirAsia Philippines and AirAsia India) Cebu Pacific Sun Country Spirit Westjet JetBlue Air Arabia Indigo Eurowings For the full AirlineRatings.com list, visit the airline safety and product rating review outfit's website.
Award-winning beer brand Urban Alley now has a sibling for its OG Docklands brewery, opening this $5 million brewpub in Wantirna's Knox Westfield Ozone precinct in May 2022. Spread over 1000 square metres and multiple levels, Urban Alley Brewery Knox not only features an array of indoor and outdoor spaces, but hosts a dedicated gin distillery from renowned Tassie producer Dasher + Fisher. It's a destination for beer-sipping, gin-appreciation, pub-style dining and live entertainment, with capacity for a hefty 750 people. The bar showcases Urban Alley's award-winning range, pouring core creations like the Urban Lager ($7/13) and Slapshot Aussie-style pale ale ($7/13) alongside a rotation of limited releases. There's even a beer crafted in honour of the new digs, dubbed the Ozone Pacific Ale ($7/13). Meanwhile, gin aficionados can get acquainted with a range of internationally-awarded Dasher + Fisher creations, also made on site. And if you've got a thing for both drops, try the Plummy Brew ($22) — a special-release cocktail crafted on both beer and the distillery's Ocean Gin. To match, the kitchen serves a contemporary take on classic pub fare — like the Korean fried chicken burger with 'sinner' sauce ($26), slow-cooked lamb shanks ($35), and cous cous-crusted salmon with a lemon and pea risotto ($32). Fish and chips are done in an Urban Lager batter ($27), and there's a solid lineup of pizzas and snacks, too. You'll also find a diverse program of happenings, ranging from Tuesday night trivia, to Saturday DJ sets and acoustic sessions every Sunday afternoon.
Taking over the lush grounds of the Heide Museum of Modern Art sculpture park once a month, the Heide Market always makes for an idyllic Saturday session of shopping, eats and tunes. But this month, the pop-up marketplace is turning on the festive charms, hosting a special Christmas edition on Saturday, December 11. As always, there'll be a broad-ranging lineup of stallholders making an appearance, so you can put a big dent in your Christmas gift shopping all at once. Expect everything from fashion to food products, ceramics to art, and homewares to jewellery. There'll be coffee and food stalls to help fuel your shopping adventures, and as always, pooches are allowed to come along. You'll even spy some pet treats and doggy items among the lineup, should you wish to spoil a very good boy or girl. It all kicks off at 10am.
Since Plan International Australia launched its Free to Be map in Sydney last month, giving women a platform to highlight safe and unsafe areas around the city, it's attracted over 2600 entries. With double the number of respondents of a similar map previously launched in Melbourne, it's a huge response — and one that has enabled the NGO to pull together a list of preliminary safety 'hotspots', which it has released to the public. The unsafe spots, which attracted the most 'sad' pins on the Sydney map, include Kings Cross, King Street, Wentworth Park, Pyrmont Bridge and the stretch of George Street near Town Hall. A big number of these negative pins around key bus and train stations also highlighted major issues surrounding safety on public transport. On a more positive note, a list of 'happy' spots has also been revealed — these include Central Park, the UNSW and Macquarie University campuses, Circular Quay and the ferries, Oxford Street and McIver Ladies Baths in Coogee. Alongside the list of hotspots, Plan International Australia has also released its Sexism in the City research report, which surveyed 500 young Sydney women to get right to the guts of street harassment issues. Some of the confronting findings include more than a third of respondents experiencing harassment for the first time between the ages of 11 and 15; those harassed on a regular basis being twice as likely to report experiencing anxiety, depression or ongoing mental health issues as a result; and alarming rates of women being harassed in front of bystanders without anyone stepping in to help. Contributions to the map have now closed, and the full results should be released shortly. Updated: June 2, 2018.
When Hollywood isn't bringing back beloved television series such as Daria and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, or spinning off huge hits like Game of Thrones, it's taking successful films to the small screen — with Lord of the Rings the next set to make the leap from the page to the cinema to your TV. As first announced late last year, a television version of J.R.R. Tolkien's novels is in the works courtesy of Amazon Studios, the Tolkien Estate and Trust, publisher HarperCollins and Warner Bros. Entertainment's New Line Cinema. After acquiring the global rights to turn the franchise into a TV series in November, the group will now move ahead, with JD Payne and Patrick McKay (writers with credits on the upcoming Star Trek 4 and Jungle Cruise) chosen to develop the series. The announcement was made at the Television Critics Association's summer press tour, which is currently underway in the US. According to The Hollywood Reporter, new head of Amazon Studios Jennifer Salke revealed that the series will be in production in the next two years, targeting an airdate of 2021. "We feel like Frodo, setting out from the Shire, with a great responsibility in our care — it is the beginning of the adventure of a lifetime," said lifelong friends Payne and McKay in a statement. Five seasons are apparently planned — while leaving room for a spinoff, of course — with the new reportedly show set in Middle-earth but exploring stories set before The Fellowship of the Ring. And as for casting, it's way too early for even rumours about who'll be eating second breakfasts, but expect them to start ramping up soon. Via The Hollywood Reporter.
No one needs an excuse to visit Tasmania, especially if you're keen to enjoy the Apple Isle's splendours in winter, but Dark Mofo has been giving us all one anyway for a decade. One of two massive festivals run by the Museum of Old and New Art alongside summer event Mona Foma, it's home to a dark and sinister music and arts program befitting the frosty June weather — and it'll be back again in 2023. The next fest will see Dark Mofo officially hit ten years, in fact — and will run from Thursday, June 8–Thursday, June 22 in Hobart, if you're already thinking about how to spend the frostiest part next year. While it'll clearly be a big birthday party, with the program to be announced in autumn, the festival will also mark Creative Director Leigh Carmichael's last at the helm. [caption id="attachment_763673" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Remi Chauvin[/caption] Carmichael will step down after Dark Mofo 2023, making way for a new Artistic Director from 2024 onwards. "I feel that after ten years curating the Dark Mofo program, it's time for new energy and new ideas to move the festival forward," Carmichael said in a statement. "Dark Mofo occupies an important place in the Australian arts landscape, and I am confident that it will continue to provide opportunities for artists and audiences to experience challenging art in the darkest weeks of the year. I will be devoting more time and energy into DarkLab's other cultural projects, and pushing for better venues and more public infrastructure for Hobart so that it can cement its place as a vibrant cultural city." [caption id="attachment_849628" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Blue Rose Ball. Photo credit: Dark Mofo/Jesse Hunniford, 2018. Image of Société Anonyme Costume Ball Hadley's Orient Hotel. Image courtesy Dark Mofo, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.[/caption] Previous years' lineups have seen a fantastical combination of musical performances, performance art and large-scale installations come together. In 2019, the program featured the likes of artists Ai Weiwei and Mike Parr, American musician Sharon Van Etten and one of the world's largest glockenspiels, for instance. In 2022, patrons were treated to performances by The Kid LAROI, and the sounds of Chernobyl and Candyman — plus rainbow installations, and signature festivities such as the Nude Solstice Swim, the City of Hobart Winter Feast, Night Mass: Transcendence in the In The Hanging Garden precinct and the Reclamation Walk. Already keen to get booking? Fancy a Tasmania trip in the interim? Our Concrete Playground Trips Hobart getaway might also be of interest. [caption id="attachment_800592" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lusy Productions[/caption] Dark Mofo 2023 will run from Thursday, June 8–Thursday, June 22 in Hobart, Tasmania. The 2023 program will be announced in autumn. Top image: Winter Feast, Dark Mofo 2021. Dark Mofo/Jesse Hunniford, 2021. Image courtesy Dark Mofo, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. 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.
We've been getting more aware of animal welfare issues, but when it comes to grain-fed versus grass-fed meat, 'huh?' is probably still the likely response from consumers. Gourmet burger chain Grill'd (whose Garden Goodness burger made it onto our top ten list) wants that to change, and to that end, they've released a controversial and mildly gory ad featuring animated cows and sheep discussing their diets, talk show-style. After covering the benefits of grass over grain, the ad ends with a sunnies-wearing bull talking about how his career was going nowhere until he started eating grass "and his agent got [him] the job on Grill'd", before being decapitated quite graphically — well, as graphically is possible in animated form. He winks, then we cut to a blood-spattered Grill'd logo. The ad, created (unsurprisingly) by Vice and animation studio Rubber House, is the first instalment of their 'Inside the grass diet craze' campaign, which, as Grill'd founder Simon Crowe told Mumbrella, aims to "put on the agenda the debate or the discussion around grass-fed versus grain-fed beef and lamb and the fact that we believe it’s of a higher quality and it’s better for the animal." Grill'd is no stranger to controversy, having previously attracted criticism for their 'Coat of Arms' kangaroo and emu burger earlier this year. Is it effective? The ad arguably does what it sets out to do: it makes you think about something you didn't know was an issue; it makes you laugh, albeit a little uncomfortably (particularly the pop-up about grain leading to "unsightly bull boobs"); and the gore isn't so in-your-face you'll never want to eat another hamburger again — which would have been a bit counterproductive for a burger chain.
After years of performing complex procedures, Dutch surgeon Lex Van Stekelenburg was suffering from enough neck, shoulder and back pain to compete with Quasimodo. But rather than retire to a bell-tower, Stekelenburg decided to take to cycling. The only problem is that, over a long period, conventional bicycles tend to exacerbate upper body problems, rather than alleviate them. Figuring out that it's natural to want to move our arms in harmony with our legs, Stekelenburg decided to design a bicycle that mobilises all four of our limbs. A patented mechanism on the handle bar enables both pedalling and steering, placing the rider in the position that a quadruped might adopt. Our shoulders and pelvis are better aligned, plus we gain speed and strength from increased power. The 4 Strike Bike requires the use of 78 muscle groups, as opposed to the 50 set in motion by a regular two-wheeler. Stekelenburg, who has spent five years experimenting with various prototypes, is convinced of the efficacy of his final model. He says it's 'healthier for heart, better for aerating the lungs and prevents undercooling of the upper body in rain and cold. You'll have more fun on this revolutionary new bike.' [Via Inhabitat]
When September 1994 rolled around, and a new sitcom about six New York City-dwelling friends first debuted on television screens, no one could've known just what would follow. It made stars out of Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer, and made seemingly everyone keen to copy Aniston's hairstyle — and it unleashed a genuine pop culture phenomenon that's still watched and rewatched by adoring fans all these years later. The setup is so very simple, and it's one that plenty of other shows have also tried. But Friends manages to distill a familiar and straightforward idea into 236 episodes of entertaining comedy. Call it 'The One with the Huge Longevity', 'The One That No One Seems to Be Able to Get Enough Of' or 'The One That Made Sitting on Orange Coffee Shop Couches and Singing About Smelly Cats Cool'.
Our team of explorers has created an exclusive Queenstown travel experience for Concrete Playground Trips – and for this one we have well and truly pulled out all the stops. The lineup includes a world-first scenic flight, gin tastings at New Zealand's leading distilleries, a world-renowned Onsen experience with views like no other, and a stay at one of Queenstown's leading boutique hotels by Lake Wakatipu. This Concrete Playground Trips package gives you VIP access to some of Queenstown's very best offerings without the hassle of organising it all yourselves. All you and your mates need to do is book your flights there and back — we've got the rest sorted. Scroll down to get the details before you book here. HELI GIN TOUR Forget touring around wine regions by bus — been there, done that. Instead, fly from gin distillery to gin distillery by helicopter, all while taking in the insanely beautiful sites of New Zealand's Crown Range. This is a world-first experience that you have to try. Once you touch down, the tour guide-meets-gin aficionado will take you to a unique cellar door and distillery serving up some of New Zealand's finest gin. You'll hit three seperate gin spots during this tour, tasting a variety of gins and learning more about how this nectar of the gods is made. You'll also feed on a smorgasbord of seasonal bites throughout your six-hour expedition so there's no need for BYO snacks. ONSEN POOL EXPERIENCE After a big day of gin tasting and flying around Queenstown, you'll need to spend another day dedicated to relaxation. Cue this luxury spa experience. You'll be picked up from your hotel and taken to the world-renowned Onsen retreat. Plunge into your private cedar-lined hot pool overlooking the surrounding mountain ranges and let the rest of the world drift away. It's the pure escapism that you deserve. THE ACCOMMODATION The Concrete Playground Trips package includes three nights at the five-star QT Queenstown hotel in the plush Alpine King Room. QT hotels are known for their high-end finishes as well as their focus on art and design. And this Queenstown version lives up to the hype. Each room is full of artwork (paintings, sculptures and more), alongside simple but bold furnishings. Everything is just that bit extra. You're also located close to town — you can easily explore the rest of Queenstown in between the pre-planned experiences. A daily full breakfast for two is also included at the hotel, so you're all fuelled up for a day of exploring. Book tickets now by visiting Concrete Playground Trips.
Follow is a new design concept store huddled in the warmth of a heritage-listed former pharmacy at 380 Cleveland Street, Surry Hills that has just opened its doors to the world. The store is the work of the same duo who produced the Finders Keepers Market, who we are very much a fan of, through which they have been supporting emerging design since they began back in 2007. At the moment, shop doors will be open Wednesday to Saturday from 11am – 6pm, and Sundays from 11am-4pm. Follow showcases a carefully curated selection of over 40 independent designers from all over Australia, featuring products from art prints, contemporary jewellery, clothing, textiles and homewares. The designs and limited edition products will be continually rotated, so you're sure to always find something new and exciting, particularly if their amazing work with Finders Keepers in anything to go by. ‘But,’ you are saying, ‘this place is all the way over in Surry Hills and that’s an entire bus ride away and not only is it raining outside but I have had three colds in two months and every time I get on a bus I get sneezed on by someone who clearly hasn’t learnt sneezing etiquette.’ (This may or may not be a projection of my state of mind on to you). However, allay your concerns - they are also working on an online store. And you know how I feel when I hear things like that? Unconditional love and a fierce impulse to accept the bank's offer of an increase on my credit card limit. Check them out below.
Sightseeing and fine dining have been combined in a joint project between the Swedish appliance corporation Electrolux and the Italian architects of Park Associati to create what has to be one of the most surreal restaurant experiences ever to be had. They've developed 'The Cube', a pop-up portable restaurant made with laser-cut aluminum for easy assembly and take-down. Like the Greenhouse, which will soon leave Australian shores for a European tour, a pair of the pop-up 'cubes' will travel around Europe and sit atop historical monuments, famous buildings or breathtaking landscapes, beginning its journey at the Parc du Cinquantenaire in Brussels on April 1. The dynamic duo will then make appearances in unexpected locations in Italy, Russia, Switzerland and Sweden. There are even rumours that one of the intended destinations has the restaurants plopped in the middle of a lake. The Cubes are equipped with eco-friendly Electrolux appliances for international chefs to whip up delectable delicacies, a single-table dining room that seats 18, which can be raised to the ceiling after dinner to create a lounge space and a 538-square foot terrace that ensures picturesque views of the surroundings. Destination dining just took on a whole new meaning.
After the enormous success of their Friday Nights series, the NGV are taking things up a notch. In a move to finally bridge the divide between gallery and all-out art party, this Melbourne institution is setting up a weekly music festival to run on every Sunday for the remainder of summer. And here's the best bit: it's all totally free. Taking place in the garden at NGV International, Summer Sundays will operate in collaboration with Mushroom Music and, because of this, all bands involved will be much-loved Melbourne locals. Everything will be kicking off on Sunday, February 1 with bluesy singer-songwriter Lanie Lane from 1-7pm. This will then be followed up by appearances from festival favourites World's End Press, indie four-piece Husky, and the always excellent Alpine. Of course, there wouldn't be any proper festival vibes with just one act. Each band will be backed up by DJs and smaller local outfits. There will also be Mambo-themed tents to chill out in courtesy of the ongoing retrospective at the Ian Potter Centre, as well as beers from local microbreweries and feeds from Huxtaburger. Summer Sundays take place in the Grollo Equiset Garden adjacent to NGV International from 1 - 7pm.
Plenty of great movies made plenty of money at the Australian box office this year. From Black Panther, A Star Is Born and Mission: Impossible — Fallout to A Quiet Place, A Simple Favour and Halloween, Aussies spent many of their trips to the cinema wisely. That said, a wealth of excellent films didn't rake in the cash. Some were small dramas that could never compete with big-budget blockbusters. Some only released on a handful of screens around the country, if that. Some, for a multitude of reasons, just didn't find an audience. Thankfully, we live in an age where watching movies is as simple as pushing a button, especially when it comes to flicks that first hit the big screen a few months back. Yesterday's overlooked cinema gems are today's streaming highlights, waiting for your viewing eyeballs to give them the attention they deserve. With that in mind, here's ten 2018 standouts to add to your watch list — we know that you probably didn't see them at your local picture palace, thanks to their box office results, but they all rank among the year's must-sees. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rsiWB-dhvg HEARTS BEAT LOUD If you didn't want Nick Offerman to be your dad already, then you will after this music-heavy charmer. The Parks and Recreation star plays Brooklyn record store owner and doting father Frank, who's worried that his only daughter Sam (Kiersey Clemons) is about to head off to college — and that, among other things, they'll no longer get to jam together. With dreams of music stardom, he uploads one of their songs to Spotify. When it finds an audience, he tries to convince Sam to take their songwriting sideline seriously. The end result is a sweet, earnest and warmly observed story about a father learning that his daughter has to make her own choices, with Clemons also stellar, the supporting cast featuring Ted Danson and Toni Collette as well, and the film's upbeat titular track certain to get stuck in your head. Rent it on Amazon Prime here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp88Nuci68c A PRAYER BEFORE DAWN Watching A Prayer Before Dawn, two things prove astonishing. The first: that this hard-hitting prison drama is based on a true story. The second: the performance of Joe Cole as British boxer Billy Moore. When Moore was arrested for drug offences in Thailand, and then sentenced to three years imprisonment, his experience was harrowing to say the very least. French filmmaker Jean-Stephane Sauvaire doesn't shy away from the violence, pain and more that comes with life inside two notorious Thai jails, in a film that doesn't let up from the moment it starts — and isn't always easy to watch as a result. As for Cole, he makes the audience feel every fierce blow, every second of claustrophobic anguish, and the enormous physical and psychological toll. Stream it on Amazon Prime here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRlUJrEUn0Y JANE Ever since Dr Jane Goodall took on a job few would — living in the Tanzanian jungle to observe chimpanzee behaviour in the wild — the wildlife activist and conservationist's story has been far from ordinary. That said, it's one thing to read about her feats and quite another to hear her look back on her life herself, with Jane offering the latter. This intimate documentary serves up more than that, however. It views her experiences as they happened, all thanks to mountains of rediscovered archival footage. As he did so commandingly with Cobain: Montage of Heck, filmmaker Brett Morgen once again tells his subject's tale in her own words, with the materials he's assembled proving endlessly fascinating. Stream it on Netflix over here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6U0T3DAyro I AM NOT A WITCH With her debut feature, writer/director Rungano Nyoni tells a tale that's both intricately related to its setting, and sadly universally relatable. An outsider in her own Zambian village, eight-year-old Shula (Maggie Mulubwa) is not only blamed for a series of minor incidents, but deemed a witch and shunned. Here, that means being taken to a camp, tethered to a stick (so that she doesn't fly away) along with her fellow witches, and gawked at by tourists. I Am Not a Witch's portrait of persecution runs deep, although Nyoni does more than make a statement. Hers is both an examination of superstition's influence (and convenient use as a scapegoat) and a portrait of a girl who defies the labels thrown at her, all in a film that's smart, satirical and also surreal at times. Stream it on SBS On Demand here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reMwL8uYXps THE ENDLESS There are two ways to watch The Endless. The first involves going into the moody and inventive movie with fresh eyes, and discovering the details of this cult-focused tale as they unravel. The second involves watching Aaron Moorhead and Justin Benson's Resolution in preparation — and don't worry, if you opt for the former, you'll still want to seek their earlier flick out later. The filmmakers direct and star in this sci-fi/horror effort about brothers who've escaped from the compound that gave them a home in their youth, but are drawn back by mysterious videotapes. That might sound like an interesting but hardly unique setup; however, where the picture goes from there is an imaginative and twisty delight. From the siblings' struggles to the way that time passes, little is what it seems in the best and most thrilling way. Stream it on SBS On Demand here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2oTWr9KL7A IN THE FADE Back at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival, Diane Kruger went home with the best actress award for In the Fade, and it's a prize that was thoroughly well deserved. The topic of grief is frequently splashed across cinema screens, as is the subject of terrorism in recent years, but the raw pain in Kruger's performance isn't shaken quickly. Indeed, the topical Fatih Akin-directed film is one that lingers long after watching, as a German woman loses her family in a bombing attack, then navigates the emotional fallout as well as the highly publicised legal proceedings that follow. Astonishingly, after becoming one of the most prominent German actresses in Hollywood, In the Fade is also Kruger's first starring role in her native language. Rent it on Amazon Prime here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Hc8tB9uhho THE DAWN WALL There's never been a better time to stare at a big screen while watching fearless folks try to scale great heights. Two recent highlights have done just that — and while likely Oscar contender Free Solo doesn't hit Australian cinemas until 2019, 2018 release The Dawn Wall is just as thrilling. Taking its name from a notoriously difficult rock face in America's Yosemite National Park, this suspenseful documentary charts Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson's world-first bid to reach the top. As well as exploring the personal impact, the film captures their extremely physical, punishing efforts with jaw-dropping cinematography that makes viewers feel like they're making the journey alongside the two determined climbers. Rent it on Amazon Prime here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqnQYsyeehA BEAST Remember the name Jessie Buckley. Based on her exceptional performance in this British thriller, she's someone you'll be hearing more about. In Beast, the Irish actor plays the initially timid Moll, who lives a sheltered Jersey life under the close supervision of her stern mother (Geraldine James) until she meets a charming stranger (Johnny Flynn). Alas, romantic bliss isn't all that it seems, especially with a series of murders blighting her island hometown. The feature debut of writer/director Michael Pearce, this is a dark fairytale, an unconventional crime flick and a psychological portrait of a woman breaking free from expectation that draws viewers in from start to finish. Rent it on Amazon Prime here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6o5WPcCgT0 FOXTROT He might only have two features to his name, but Lebanese filmmaker Samuel Moaz still boasts quite the resume. Perceptive, probing, intimate and political tales are his wheelhouse, and with Foxtrot, he shows that the tank-set Lebanon was no mere one-off. This time around, his story is broader, encompassing a young Israeli soldier's (Yonaton Shiray) experience manning a checkpoint as part of his compulsory military service, as well as his parents' (Lior Ashkenazi and Sarah Adler) plight back in Tel Aviv. Of course, it's not just the narrative that Moaz tells, but the immersive and sometimes experimental way that he tells it. Foxtrot is another testament to his directorial prowess — and a testament to the cast's acting abilities as well. Stream it on Amazon Prime here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubrquR6i0WQ SHADOW With Shadow, Zhang Yimou does what the Chinese filmmaker does best: not only commit striking wuxia scenes to the screen, but pair them with a deeply felt period drama. It's a blend of his finest traits, as previously seen in everything from Raise the Red Lantern to Hero (and it's enough to make you forget that The Great Wall is also on his resume). While the narrative follows an epic tale from China's Three Kingdoms period, about nations warring over a city and a double agent in the thick of the unrest, it's the writer/director's imagery that truly stuns. Usually known for such vibrant splashes of colour, as seen in House of Flying Daggers, Zhang switches to inky, almost-monochrome shades to visually vivid effect.
Dishing up desserts across Sydney, Melbourne, Queensland the Australian Capital Territory, Gelato Messina obviously specialises in frosty sweet treats. But, because the chain has amassed quite the following, it also has a range of merchandise. Earlier this year, for instance, you could nab one of its gelato-scented candles (and presumably give yourself a constant craving for a few scoops). Now, you can also grab yourself an item of clothing decked out with a picture of its towering ice cream cones. Messina's new 2020 merch line is now available to purchase, spanning black and grey hoodies, grey and navy sweatshirts, and t-shirts in white, navy, rust (aka a red-orange colour) and black. Each has an image of gelato on the front or back — with those pics varying between different styles of clothing and different colours. After releasing a selection of flavours inspired by fashion brands back in October, all to celebrate Incu's 18th birthday, Messina has teamed back up with the retailer on its new threads. It's also showcasing the work of artist Ella Grace, who specialises in detailed watercolour paintings and illustrations — as you'll see from the images of gelato on Messina's merch. Yep, expect it to make you mighty hungry. For those keen on wearing gelato-adorned items while eating gelato, you'll pay $45 for a t-shirt, $65 for a sweatshirt and $75 for a hoodie. All garments are unisex, and made from 100-percent cotton — and they ship Australia-wide. For tiny dessert fiends, Messina's online store also has onesies for babies — because you're never too young to love ice cream. And, you can grab Messina caps with its logo and socks with its wallpaper print as well. For more information about Gelato Messina's merchandise — and to make a purchase — head to its website.
Something delightful has been happening in cinemas across the country. After months spent empty, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, Australian picture palaces are back in business — spanning both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made, including new releases, comedies, music documentaries, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBMS85Rii5A THE GODMOTHER With the inimitable Isabelle Huppert at its centre, and a premise that owes a debt to Weeds and Breaking Bad, The Godmother strikes a crafty balance between comedy, drama and thrills. The Greta and Happy End star (and Elle Oscar-nominee) plays Patience Portefeux, a translator who works with the Paris police on narcotics cases — a job that's routine until, thanks to a big decision, it isn't. During an otherwise straightforward assignment that tasks Patience with listening to and translating wiretapped phone conversations, she holds back a few crucial pieces of information. Instead of giving her boyfriend Philippe (Hippolyte Girardot, Marseille) the details he needs to make a big bust and enhance his career, she chooses to take matters into her own hands. She's never done anything like this at work before, but she's soon redirecting the cops' attention, stealing an enormous stash of hash and taking up a side hustle as a wholesaler to street-level dealers. Her motivation: money. A long-widowed mother of two, she's attempting to secure her financial future via the only viable means at her disposable. As her fellow widow-turned-dealer in Weeds also did, she's also attempting to navigate a world that's hardly accommodating to single, middle-aged women. Adapted from Hannelore Cayre's book of the same name by the author with director Jean-Paul Salomé (Playing Dead, Female Agents), The Godmother is unsurprisingly lifted by Huppert, as everything she stars in always is. Indeed, if the film earns an English-language remake — which, undoubtedly, it will — Hollywood will be doing itself a disservice if the filmmaking powers-that-be cast anyone but the veteran French star. She plays Patience as a slippery, enterprising everywoman with hopes, dreams and a unique opportunity. More than that, she never lets a single thing about the character feel like a collection of stock-standard tropes and traits. It's due to Huppert, in fact, that The Godmother never flounders even when its script does cycle through more than a few predictable crime film cliches. Nonetheless, this is a lively and engaging caper that's helmed with a light touch, as well as a keen awareness of the material's deeper moments. It'd make a stellar double feature with 2018 heist flick The World Is Yours, too, which similarly deployed the distinctive talents of one of France's enduring leading ladies (and someone Huppert has been compared with constantly throughout her career): Isabelle Adjani. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQz1Am56-GQ DEATH OF A LADIES' MAN Tales of men known for their romantic successes — or, to be more accurate, their luck between the sheets — might just have an expiration date in today's post-#MeToo world. We should've outgrown them earlier, really, although Death of a Ladies' Man smartly chooses to grapple with the fallout when a lifelong playboy is forced to face his own end. Taking its cues from Leonard Cohen's songbook (hence the title), this Canadian-Irish co-production also opts to interrogate the idea of the blissful womaniser and drunk, rather than simply let another suave, sauced-up lothario strut across the silver screen. Poetry professor Samuel O'Shea (Gabriel Byrne, Hereditary) is about to add another ex-wife to his tally when the film begins, actually, although this time he's the one who caught her being unfaithful. That's soon the least of his problems. After the hockey players at his son's (Antoine Olivier Pilon, Mommy) latest match appear to start singing and dancing on the rink, and he then returns home to hallucinate an entire boozy conversation with his long-dead father (Brian Gleeson, Hellboy), Samuel seeks medical attention. His daily drinking habit of anywhere up to 39 drinks isn't the problem, but rather a brain tumour — and the terminal prognosis that accompanies its diagnosis gives him just months left at best. For a film about cancer, death, addiction, lingering childhood trauma, several liquor cabinets full of regrets and taking stock of an unfulfilling life complicated by male fantasy, Death of a Ladies' Man is playful rather than bleak — welcomely so. The visions that cause Samuel to imagine women with tiger heads (and sometimes entire relationships) all add a surreal touch to a movie that knows it is wading through both weighty and familiar territory. Writer/director Matt Bissonnette (Passenger Side) doesn't endeavour to thwart or dispel tropes, but to unpack them. Confronting a fatal disease and looking back at all the mistakes made to that juncture is another oft-used narrative crutch, and usually the only time someone with cancer is treated like a real person in a feature, but here it also helps Death of a Ladies' Man expose just why Samuel has clung to his image for so long, what he's been hiding from in the process and what it has ultimately cost him. Byrne is excellently cast, as he usually is, bringing both charisma and waning hubris to the film's protagonist — and Cohen's songs do what they're meant to, adding insight, beauty and melancholy to this quietly potent blend of comedy and drama. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IuL_FSoMBU TWO OF US Early in Two of Us, Martine Chevallier sports a look of such utter devastation and heartbreak that it feels as if her pain will smash the camera peering her way. The French actress (Farewell, My Queen) plays Madeleine, a retiree finally free of the husband she abhorred — a fact that her adult children Frédéric (Jérôme Varanfrain, A Wedding) and Anne (Léa Drucker, Custody) ignore in vastly different ways — and now living with the woman, Nina (Barbara Sukowa, Gloria Bell), that she has secretly been in love with for decades. Given her kids' attitude towards their father, she hasn't been able to tell them. Indeed, when the aforementioned expression darkens her face, it's because Nina publicly admonishes her for hiding their relationship. But the German expat will soon sport the same look, too, after tragedy strikes. In the aftermath, neither Frédéric or Anne know her as anything more than just a friend of Madeleine. So, she spends her days peeking through the peephole in her own front door across the hall — one of the benefits of keeping a second apartment to maintain their ruse — and trying to sweet-talk her way into new carer Muriel's (Muriel Bénazéraf, Conviction) good graces in order to even see and snatch the smallest amounts of time with her lifelong love. Largely taking place within Madeleine and Nina's flats — one warm and inviting, the other sparse and hardly used — Two of Us is an intimate film several times over. First-time feature writer/director Filippo Meneghetti stares intensely at his characters as he steps into their complex lives and, slowly and patiently, watches as they inch towards revealing their true selves to the world. The central performances, especially by Sukowa, a German acting powerhouse dating back to Rainer Werner Fassbinder's Berlin Alexanderplatz and Lola, couldn't feel more lived-in. Nor could the rapport between Madeleine and Nina, even after illness robs the former of her words. And, the same applies to the predicament that Nina finds herself navigating, circumstances she shares (with a few minor tweaks) with the protagonist in Oscar-winner A Fantastic Woman. Deeply contemplating the historical treatment of queer relationships, and the struggles that still linger today, this is both an astutely judged and overwhelmingly heartfelt drama, and one that also simmers with tension and anger. It's impossible not to feel moved and infuriated by the behaviour directed Madeleine and Nina's way, and to be moved by this tender and impassioned story in general. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGDWckiZcj8 I BLAME SOCIETY She's fired by her manager after he finally reads one of her scripts, then deems the topic of Israel "too political". When his assistant wrangles her a meeting with a couple of indie film producers in the aftermath, she's asked to lend her perspective to stories about strong female voices, breastfeeding in public, and either intersexuality or intersectionality — when it comes to the latter two, they aren't quite sure which. So, as I Blame Society gleefully posits in its savage takedown of the film industry today, it's little wonder that Gillian (writer/director Gillian Wallace Horvat) decides to follow up a leftfield idea. Three years earlier, some of her friends told her that she'd make a great murderer, a notion that she took as a compliment and has been fascinated with to an unhealthy degree ever since. Indeed, at the time, she went as far asking her pal Chase (co-writer Chase Williamson) if she could hypothetically walk through the process of killing his girlfriend. The request put a long-lasting pause on their friendship, to no one else's surprise. Now, as she resurrects the project, her editor boyfriend Keith (Keith Poulson, Her Smell) keeps reiterating that it's a terrible idea; however, with no other avenues forward, Gillian is committed to doing whatever she thinks she needs to to kickstart her career. During a mid-film conversation, an increasingly exasperated Keith reminds Gillian that no "there is no movie that is worth hurting someone for". He's endeavouring to get her to agree, but "if it's a very bad person for a very good movie…" is her quick and firm reply. I Blame Society is equally direct. While Horvat plays a fictional character — and, the audience presumes, hasn't ever flirted with or committed murder in real life — she absolutely slaughters her chosen concept. Not every line or moment lands as intended, but this biting satire sticks a knife into every expectation saddled upon women in general and female filmmakers especially, then keeps twisting. The film's recurrent gags about likeability cleave so close to the truth, they virtually draw blood. Its aforementioned parody of supposed allyship among powerbrokers and gatekeepers is similarly cutting and astute. In their canny script, Horvat and Williamson find ample time to poke fun of a plethora of industry cliches and microaggressions, the treatment of marginalised voices both within filmmaking and in broader society, and even the current true-crime obsession, all without ever overloading the 84-minute movie. And, on-screen as well, Horvat is a savvy delight. She wants viewers to both cringe and nod, and everything about her performance and her feature directorial debut earns that response. I Blame Society is currently screening in Sydney and Melbourne cinemas. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WrZU_14cxE SONGBIRD If there are any words that absolutely no one wants to see when they're watching a COVID-19-inspired movie, it's these: produced by Michael Bay. The filmmaker who gave cinema the Bad Boys franchise and five Transformers flicks isn't behind the lens of Songbird, but writer/director Adam Mason and his frequent co-scribe Simon Boyes (Hangman) have clearly mainlined Bay's work, then decided to use its worst traits as a how-to manual. Set in 2024, when a virulent mutation of the coronavirus known as COVID-23 is on the loose, their tactless thriller is gimmicky and misguided at best. It's derivative, dull and has a plot that's so stale it really should also feature a tornado full of sharks, too. Wondering what might happen if the pandemic was even more horrendous and tragic than it is — and if America's handling of it, as based on 2020's response at least, was skewed even further towards corporate interests and the rich — the film decides to opt for quarantine concentration camps and a gestapo-like sanitation department. When it's not tastelessly taking cues from the holocaust to supposedly turn a shattering event the world is still experiencing into entertainment, it also attempts to tell a Romeo and Juliet-style love story about a couple separated by lockdown. And, if you've ever wondered what might happen if a Bay wannabe remade David Lynch's Blue Velvet, Bradley Whitford's (The Handmaid's Tale) role as an oxygen-huffing record executive preying on a young singer (Alexandra Daddario, Baywatch) answers that question as well. Bicycle courier Nico (KJ Apa, Riverdale) is resistant to COVID-23, and has an immunity bracelet to prove it; however, his girlfriend Sara (Sofia Carson, Feel the Beat) and her grandmother (Elpidia Carrillo, Euphoria) aren't so lucky. The coveted wristwear can be bought on the black market, though, which is why Nico is trying to make as much cash as he can working for delivery kingpin Lester (Craig Robinson, Dolemite Is My Name). The obvious happens, of course, sending unhinged sanitation head Emmett Harland (Peter Stormare, John Wick: Chapter 2) to Sara's building — and putting a deadline on Nico's quest, which wealthy couple William (Whitfield) and Piper Griffin (Demi Moore, Rough Night) might be able to assist with. The latter are also meant to be a picture of stay-at-home disharmony, all while trying to protect their immunocompromised daughter Emma (Lia McHugh, The Lodge) from anything outside their sprawling mansion. A PTSD-afflicted ex-veteran (Paul Walter Hauser, Richard Jewell) who flies drones to experience life beyond his walls also forms part of the story, although not a single character is given enough flesh to make viewers care about their plight. Even only clocking in at 84 minutes, this thoroughly unsubtle and exploitative film overstays its welcome — and the fact that it's shot and edited like Bay's glossiest and most bombastic action fare doesn't help. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzigvG55ImQ SON OF THE SOUTH A film can tackle an always-important subject, tell a true tale about a real-life figure and their hard-fought battle for a crucial cause, and also seem caught between an adoring celebration and an after-school special. It can boast Spike Lee's frequent editor as its director — with Barry Alexander Brown splicing together everything from Do the Right Thing and Malcom X to BlacKkKlansman — and also Lee himself as an executive producer, and still feel like the most simplistic version of its narrative. And, it can pay tribute to a crusader in the civil rights movement, and note the struggles involved for a southern-born and -bred white college student with klan ties so recent in his past that his grandfather remained a hate-spewing member, and also leave viewers wondering why someone like future US Congressman John Lewis is treated like a mere footnote. Yes, a movie can do all of the above because Son of the South does. Adapted by Brown from Bob Zellner's co-penned (with Constance Curry) autobiography The Wrong Side of Murder Creek: A White Southerner in the Freedom Movement, this by-the-numbers biopic proves both earnestly well-intentioned and blandly formulaic. Even viewers unfamiliar with Zellner will find themselves knowing what to expect at each and every turn. Son of the South introduces its Alabaman subject (Lucas Till, MacGyver) in 1961, with a noose around his neck and an angry white mob at his feet, before flashing back to explain his predicament. This early storytelling choice is designed to make a statement, and to show how deep the resistance to equality burrowed at the time, but it really just acts as a reminder that such violence against Black Americans still rarely garners the same attention. Zellner found himself facing a lynching for his inability to stand on the sidelines — after Rosa Parks (Sharonne Lainer, The Outsider) made history five years earlier, after being told not to go to an event at a Black church commemorating her actions, and then after facing threats of arrest and expulsion for attending. His fiancée (Lucy Hale, Fantasy Island) warns him, too, and his grandfather (Brian Dennehy, The Seagull) says he'll shoot him, but he's soon helping Freedom Riders during riots and volunteering for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. Till's performance is as sincere as anything in Son of the South. He's also joined by scene-stealing co-stars, including Dexter Darden (Saved by the Bell) as Lewis, Lex Scott Davis (The First Purge) as a young college professor and Shamier Anderson (City of Lies) as a fellow SNCC worker initially skeptical of Zellman's involvement. And yet, they're all just tasked with sticking to a template, much to the movie's detriment. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on January 1, January 7, January 14, January 21 and January 28; February 4, February 11, February 18 and February 25; March 4, March 11, March 18 and March 25; and April 1, April 8, April 15, April 22 and April 29; and May 6 and May 13. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as Nomadland, Pieces of a Woman, The Dry, Promising Young Woman, Summerland, Ammonite, The Dig, The White Tiger, Only the Animals, Malcolm & Marie, News of the World, High Ground, Earwig and the Witch, The Nest, Assassins, Synchronic, Another Round, Minari, Firestarter — The Story of Bangarra, The Truffle Hunters, The Little Things, Chaos Walking, Raya and the Last Dragon, Max Richter's Sleep, Judas and the Black Messiah, Girls Can't Surf, French Exit, Saint Maud, Godzilla vs Kong, The Painter and the Thief, Nobody, The Father, Willy's Wonderland, Collective, Voyagers, Gunda, Supernova, The Dissident, The United States vs Billie Holiday, First Cow, Wrath of Man, Locked Down, The Perfect Candidate, Those Who Wish Me Dead, Spiral: From the Book of Saw and Ema.
Da Long Yi has amassed a cult following around the world with Asian megastars like G-Dragon and Fan Bingbing endorsing their Chengdu style hotpot. The team pride themselves on their high-quality soup bases, with options including oxtail tomato, mushroom or chestnut chicken soup. Unlike other hot pot broths, the soup here is light enough to be slurped on its own or enjoyed in a bowl with some of their thick wide noodles. Other stand-out additions include their thinly sliced M6+ Wagyu beef slices ($68.80), fresh tofu, pieces of purple corn and cucumber filled with prawn meat. Even dessert is soup-ified, with a sweet Chinese-style soup made of brown sugar jelly, red bean, sultanas and goji berries ($4.90). Appears in: Where to Find The Best Hot Pots in Melbourne for 2023
A group of mates who've worked at some of Melbourne's top hospitality spots — think: Supernormal, Lilac Wine Bar, The Kettle Black, Bluebonnet Barbecue and Blackhearts and Sparrows — have opened a new bar on Brunswick East's Lygon Street. Unlike the Carlton end of Lygon Street (best known for its slew of Italian restaurants), this stretch of pavement covers a more eclectic group of places to eat and drink. Each spot also caters more to locals rather than uni students and travellers, so you can expect a proper community feel as well. With this in mind, Maggie's Snacks and Liquor seems to be perfectly placed. This small bar is located within a Victorian-era building that's been totally gutted and decked out with mid-century modern furnishings. It has some vintage charm to it, with the fireplace and intimate courtyard out back simply adding to those cosy vibes. Drinks-wise, the new Melbourne bar is focusing on seasonal cocktails that champion local ingredients. For summer, the team has done away with the Aperol and Campari, instead creating their own signature spritz — the rockmelon spritz — made with poached rockmelon, wax flowers, sparkling wine and Aussie-made Okar Tropic amaro. You'll also find a fruity vanilla slice milk punch that's been made with passionfruit, burnt vanilla, brioche, whisky and clarified milk. The ten-page wine list is also a marvel in itself, championing small Australian and French winemakers while also featuring eight different magnum bottles for those celebrating big. A huge range of Aussie spirits, beers and ciders round out the extensive booze offerings. Food at Maggie's is all about a farm-to-table ethos, led by Executive Chef Scott Blomfield, who is deeply passionate about creating produce-led menus that are a bit fun and experimental. The dishes are mostly slanted towards the grazing side of dining, made for those days when a quick drink with a mate eventually rolls into a big night out without you even noticing. Munch on a duck and pickle corn dog, fried bread with pickled mussels and chorizo, or a crispy chicken skin sanga before launching into larger share plates. These include everything from ceviche and lamb ribs to an epic snapper pie topped with scallop mousse and roasted bone cream. These aren't your average bar snacks. And Maggie's doesn't seem like just your average neighbourhood bar, either.
Sydney has the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade, which takes over Oxford Street for a night of celebration. Melbourne has the Midsumma Pride March, its equivalent in Fitzroy Street, St Kilda. From November 2024, Brisbane will share the show of pride, but in a way befitting the River City: with the first-ever River Pride Parade as part of the new Melt Open festival. Boats will float from William Jolly Bridge to Brisbane Powerhouse, all embracing everything that a pride parade should be — just on the water. The River Pride Parade will take place on Saturday, November 9 in the afternoon, with Courtney Act leading the charge as Melt Open's just-announced inaugural ambassador. "A pride parade on the Brisbane River — what a brilliant twist on a cherished favourite! Just imagine the magic as we all come together to celebrate on the water, surrounded by the beauty of the city," said the Brisbane-bred Act. "As I lead the river parade, you can bet there'll be plenty of SPF beneath my makeup! This is truly a unique and fabulous way to honour pride and the stunning Brisbane River." "Prepare for a dazzling spectacle with the River Pride Parade fronted by the fabulous Courtney Act. Picture dykes on jetskis, drag-clad waterskiers, iconic queer boat parties and that's just the beginning. We welcome watercraft of all shapes and sizes to join the river parade and encourage everyone to get their spots along the river to view the carnival," added Pieta Farrell, Executive Producer of Melt Open. Registrations are open now for the River Pride Parade, which will help close out Melt Open's first year, with the entire fest running from Wednesday, October 23–Sunday, November 10. Don't have a boat? Organisers advise that watercraft of all shapes and sizes can take part. Melt Open was announced in 2023 as a fringe-style event to celebrate LGBTQIA+ art and performance everywhere from Fortitude Valley to Woolloongabba, showcasing queer work, talents, legends and allies. Brisbanites should already know that Brisbane Powerhouse has hosted Melt Festival for eight years and counting, with that event considered a predecessor to this newcomer. As its name makes plain, Melt Open is broadening its scope by building upon Melt's success — spreading beyond the Powerhouse, featuring more artists and venues, and operating as an open access-style shindig. The River Pride Parade is the second major program announcement for the debut Melt Open, and the second that'll make spectacular use of the fest's Brisbane location. The other: New York-based artist Spencer Tunick returning to Brisbane after 2023's Melt Festival stint, this time to close the Story Bridge to fill it with nudes for a new photography work. If you're eager to get your kit off in the name of art, celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community and diversity, registrations are still open for the installation, which will take place on Sunday, October 27 — and there's no limit on the number of participants. Melt Open 2024 will run from Wednesday, October 23–Sunday, November 10, with the River Pride Parade taking place on Saturday, November 9. Head to the Brisbane Powerhouse website for additional information, and to register for the parade. Images: Jack Martin.
When you peer at a can or bottle of Sample Brew's yeasty beverages, you'll notice the minimalistic, sleek design. In fact, you can't miss it. That's how this West Melbourne-based brand packages its brews — and, more than that, it's how it approaches making them as well. Across its pale ale, gold ale, lager and 3/4 IPA, Sample Brew is all about essential, natural ingredients (and additive- and preservative-free, too) that combine for a clean, refreshing, crisp taste. We'd call it a no-fuss beer, but that only applies to the flavour, not the brewing process. Founded in 2014, Sample Brew has fallen under East 9th Brewing's umbrella since 2019 — and you can purchase its brews online via the latter's The Daily Liquor store.
Like a wardrobe in need of a good KonMari work over, RetroStar's warehouse has reached bursting point, with its ever-growing collection of vintage threads at maximum capacity. Which is excellent news for all of us, because it means a bargain-packed warehouse sale is on the horizon. Yep, the vintage clothing superstar is this weekend holding one of its famed clean-outs, slashing the price of everything in its huge warehouse collection to under $10. Venture down to Retrostar's Brunswick headquarters on February 23 and 24 to unearth a whole swag of old-school wardrobe gems. Word is, there'll be over 20,000 retro pieces on the racks, from dresses and tees, to denim, hats and bags — all of it going extra cheap. The Retrostar Warehouse Sale runs from 8–5pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Starting out of a Geelong West shipping container in 2014, Frankie Say Relax now counts three bricks-and-mortar sites in its stable of lifestyle stores. From homewares to clothing and accessories for the whole family, each item is selected by owner and interior designer Rebecca Feldman. There's a great range of Australian brands, too, like candles by Commonfolk Collective, ceramics by Robert Gordon, and jewellery by Kirsten Ash. Can't make it into the store? Frankie Say Relax offers delivery Australia-wide. [caption id="attachment_808713" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Julia Sansone[/caption] Images: Julia Sansone
Ever since 1922, every movie that's been made about vampires owes a debt to Nosferatu. On the Malthouse Theatre stage in 2023, so does Australia's latest world-premiere theatre production. The Melbourne theatre company is taking inspiration from the cinematic masterpiece in a new drama that shares its name — but, giving the tale an Aussie twist, it's setting its horror story in a Tasmanian mining town. Hailing from writer Keziah Warner, and starring Jacob Collins Levy (The White Princess), this take on Nosferatu heads to a locale that residents are keen to restore, hoping that its glory days can return. To achieve that feat, they embrace a mysterious investor. If you've seen the film, however, you'll now that its central figure always has quite the taste for blood — no matter the other narrative details around him. People disappearing, questions no one wants to ask, getting more than one bargains for: that's how Malthouse's Nosferatu goes from there, as theatre attendees can see during its debut season from Friday, February 10–Sunday, March 5 in the Merlyn Theatre. And yes, Nosferatu has always owed its own debt, too, given that the OG version has quite the similarities to Bram Stoker's Dracula. Malthouse's date with the influential story marks its latest page-to-stage show, after adapting classic Aussie book Looking for Alibrandi in 2022. Nosferatu's world-premiere season runs from Friday, February 10–Sunday, March 5 at the Merlyn Theatre, 113 Sturt Street, Southbank, Melbourne. Head to the Malthouse Theatre website for tickets and further details. Top image: Kristian Gehradte.
UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cockatoo Island—Wareamah—is set to be transformed into a world-class public destination, under a bold new vision put forward by the Harbour Trust this week. New precincts for Sydney's largest harbour island include a new arts quarter, dining pavilion, parklands and dedicated educational spaces. The proposal also outlines the importance of preserving the island's rich Indigenous cultural heritage, with a key focus on elevating First Nations voices and respecting Wareamah's significance as a sacred women's place. Plans for Bunggal grounds, permanent First Nations public artwork and the restoration of native fauna and flora have been put forward, in consultation with First Nations communities and cultural leaders. [caption id="attachment_810573" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Artist's impression of Cockatoo Island's Creative Precinct[/caption] "We heard that more needed to be done to respectfully acknowledge the Island's First Nations' past as a sacred women's place and in identifying Cockatoo Island as a place of cultural connection," Chair of The Harbour Trust, Joseph Carrozzi said in a statement. "From these conversations with the community, we have developed an early vision that considers the Island's potential while respecting and celebrating its important past." The 18-hectare area would encompass a new creative precinct hosting live performance, exhibitions and pop-up events, while a revitalised Fitzroy Dock is promised to host a bevvy of Sydney's best dining and retail options. Wareamah Tidal Terrace will become a sprawling new parkland on the island's edge, with transformed gardens, picnic areas and a harbour boardwalk. [caption id="attachment_810574" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Artist's impression of Cockatoo Island's Harbour Walk[/caption] A large adventure and water playground, new accommodation options including high-end glamping and improved campground facilities are also outlined within the Harbour Trust's proposal. "We want to create a truly special destination for both Sydneysiders and all visitors—a destination that acknowledges the historic significance of Cockatoo Island for First Nations Peoples, and its important role in the history of modern Australia," Carrozzi said. To deliver the sprawling transformation, Harbour Trust would seek funding from both state and federal governments as well as the private sector. The vision comes after an Independent Review of the Harbour Trust last year highlighted the need for a restoration plan for the island. The Harbour Trust will seek community consultation on its draft vision, with everyone in the community invited to provide feedback. You can visit harbourtrust.gov.au to view the Draft Concept now. The consultation period closes on Tuesday, June 11.
If you haven't visited Frankston lately you may be in for a bit of a surprise. This picturesque coastal region has enjoyed a recent economic influx with more than 8,000 businesses now calling the Frankston CBD home. Much like Geelong, this satellite community offers convenient city proximity while maintaining beachside charm. But what else is attracting so many hospitality operators to the region? From its thriving arts and cultural activities to generous business support from the local council, we've teamed up with Invest Frankston to find out why exactly Frankston's hospitality scene is booming. AMPLE ACCESS TO GREEN SPACE Frankston boasts over 100 public green spaces including the Foreshore Reserve, a lush strip of Banksia woodlands opposite the ocean. Here, the famed Frankston Boardwalk hugs the coastline allowing visitors to enjoy a pre- or post-meal walk to soak in the waterfront views and enjoy time away from the hustle and bustle of Melbourne's CBD. After the boardwalk stroll, you can make your way along the Frankston Pier to check out an installation by large-scale Australian artist Louise Lavarack. Then there are the coloured flags dotted along the length of the pier, each of which contain a letter on their flagpole and together form a hidden four-word message. WATERFRONT VENUES READY FOR HOSPO TENANTS From the same architect who designed Peninsula Hot Springs (and were behind the refurb of the Sidney Myer Music Bowl), the Frankston Yacht Club is the jewel in the crown of this booming region. This $11 million project blends seamlessly into the foreshore with Kananook Creek curving gently behind it. And now it's looking for a tenant. With sweeping views across Port Phillip Bay, the Frankston Yacht Club provides a unique opportunity for a forward-thinking hospitality operator to set up shop on the first floor of this stunning venue. Interested? You can submit an expression of interest to the Frankston City Council to get in the mix before the opportunity is snapped up by someone else. A VIBRANT ARTS AND CULTURE SCENE The Frankston Arts Centre is one of the most impressive outer-metropolitan creative hubs in Australia hosting ballet, opera and orchestra performances at the 800-seat theatre. The centre also includes five gallery spaces and several adjustable venues that cater to more bespoke events, which also attract regular visitors and new residents to the region. McClelland Sculpture Park and Gallery is yet another drawcard and is home to more than 100 outdoor sculptures. This eight-hectare nature park currently features impressive works by contemporary sculptors including Louise Paramor, Reg Parker and Geoffrey Ricardo. The idyllic bushland setting also hosts a monthly music series called Sunday Soirée, with performances by jazz, classical and folk musicians. CLOSE PROXIMITY TO MELBOURNE CBD Frankston is a 45-minute drive from Melbourne's CBD, making it an easy escape from the city for a day or a weekend. While travelling on the Mornington Peninsula Link freeway, keep an eye out for towering local artworks outside your car window. This art installation project has been developed in conjunction with the aforementioned McClelland Sculpture Park and Gallery and features temporary and permanent works. Alternatively, you can make your way via the Frankston train line to Frankston Station, that runs express services during peak times. The newly redeveloped station is a convenient ten-minute walk from the beach making it an easy commute from the city to the sea for some prime destination dining with a view. A SUPPORTIVE LOCAL COUNCIL The Frankston Local Council is proud to extend their support to local businesses by providing a range of services to help entrepreneurs get started in the region. More than 54 grants have been issued over the past ten years, with eligible businesses able to access $30,000 grants via Invest Frankston. Other grant programs offer support to enhance existing shop facades or to activate shopfronts that are currently vacant, making it a great location for new business owners as well as seasoned professionals keen to expand their portfolio. The local council also provides business owners with mentoring and marketing assistance to ensure their long-term success. IT'S THE NEW 'LIFESTYLE CAPITAL OF VICTORIA' More than 142,000 people call Frankston home and more than 2.5 million passengers travel through this city each year. Frankston offers a unique combination of beach and creative culture, all within a comfortable drive from the heart of Melbourne. The past ten years has seen the population boom by 12%, with a number of startups flocking to the area. Freelancers keen for a sea change relish the chance to work remotely by the beach, with new co-working spaces available. Now that the tide has turned in Australia from a regimented five-day week in the office to a culture of flexible working, the prospect of switching up your lifestyle without having to make sacrifices is more appealing than ever — and the reason places like Frankston are on the up. Ready to invest in Frankston? To find out more or to submit your EOI for the Frankston Yacht Club opportunity, visit the website.
A couple of streets back from Hampton beach is where you'll find Frankie + Coco Lifestyle — a boutique committed to making life more beautiful. Frankie + Coco stocks a range of homewares including furniture, decor, kitchenware, wall prints, body products and fragrances. Inspired by its near-seaside location, the store is best described as coastal and eclectic; you'll find Australian-themed planters shaped as dingos, kangaroos with joeys and wombats, Frida Kahlo-inspired art and tableware, brass hooks, bottle openers and candle holders featuring flamingos, alligators, pineapples and crabs, and bright prints of beaches from around the world. If you're overwhelmed by the sheer number of options, Frankie + Coco offers a styling service to help you bring your home to life. After browsing, pop across the road to Frankie + Coco Fashion, which stocks a variety of clothing, accessories and swimwear for men, women and children. Frankie + Coco Fashion is located at 287 Hampton Street, Hampton.
Geelong may not strike you as an obvious destination for a weekend away. The small port city is currently straddling that awkward growth stage between small town and bustling metropolis. As such, it manages to feel like both. Although Geelong wears the vestments of a big place, it still treats you like a small town would. You don't feel anonymous (an odd feeling for veteran city dwellers) and people look you in the eye while genuinely questioning how you are and what you're doing in town. Nowhere is this more pronounced than the food and art scene, hidden away on the quiet side streets of the small city. The cheap and abundant studio space makes it a paradise for creatives, weirdos and anyone who errs on the side of the non-commercial — this relatively small pond attracts some remarkably big fish. Some of Melbourne's best foodies, chefs, entrepreneurs and taste-makers have forsaken the big city in favour of a smaller scene where gimmicks are left at the train station and what shines through is something surprisingly authentic. Leave all that big city pessimism at home and let V/Line (or your car down the M1) carry you to the unexpected cultural oasis of Geelong. Whether you devote your whole weekend to Victoria's second largest city or a few hours on your way down the Great Ocean Road, here's what to do when you get there. [caption id="attachment_569243" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Craft Space[/caption] EAT AND DRINK Before heading down to Geelong, you may want to fast for a few days — there is some serious eating to be done here. Your first port of call should be Craft Space on Little Malop Street. Craft Space is, as the name suggests, a cafe-craft hybrid. You'll find tubs of markers and zines strewn across the mismatched (but colour-coordinated) furniture, a mint green La Marzocco espresso machine filling the back corner and sweet ornaments lining every nook. There's no stone left uncrafted — even the pot plants have been knitted. It's a haven for people who like to occupy their hands while catching up over organic, small batch tea and boutique cakes by Melbourne's Little Bertha. It's a warm little nook and the owners operators Cathy Slarks and Loretta Davis are the kindling in the hearth. The welcoming pair also run craft workshops most weekends and make a mean, towering chocolate milkshake. [caption id="attachment_573393" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Hot Chicken Project[/caption] Once night falls it's just a hop, skip and a jump over the way to the Hot Chicken Project for dinner and a bit of atmosphere. Hot tip: undo your pants as you walk through the door (no one will judge). You may feel a sense of déjà vu as you glance the menu as HCP is owned by Aaron Turner, who previously engineered Belle's Hot Chicken on Gertrude Street. The menu is conceptually similar – a hero serve of southern fried chicken (as spicy as you can handle) and a down-home side (think turnips, greens and coleslaw) for $16. The simplicity of the menu works in its favour as the entire wine list is paired for salt, crunch and spice. It's dominated by light, fruity wines from some of Australian's most innovative winemakers — and if you're not literate in wine speak, your best bet is to ask a staff member to choose a wine for you. They know their stuff. We highly, highly recommend indulging in a side of the crispy chicken skin (drizzled in honey, hot sauce and thyme) because you will see God. The place is usually buzzing on the weekend, and with plans to expand into the next shop front, HCP can only get better with time. If you're hankering for a cold one after that, drop into the Little Creatures Geelong Brewery for one straight from the source. [caption id="attachment_569247" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Freckleduck[/caption] The final must-eat destination on your Geelong tour is Freckleduck. The sweet corner café is light, airy and — dare we say it — produces the best coffee in Geelong. The pumpkin smash, served with tortillas, roasted pepitas, fresh asparagus, onion jam and prosciutto ($17) is a salty, sweet and crunchy affair and absolute heaven on a plate. They've just announced plans for a brother venue in Belmont, so we're clearly not the only ones feeling it. [caption id="attachment_569246" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Lola's Kitchen at Boom Gallery[/caption] SEE AND DO Geelong's art scene is intimate. There aren't new openings every night of the week with free flowing Champagne and lines around the block full of hungry young social climbers desperate to be seen; instead, it's more of a community of makers, painters and creatives who quietly and rigorously curate thoughtful and provocative shows. That's what first strikes you as you enter a Geelong gallery — the exhibitions have been created by locals, for locals. And secondly, you might be a little surprised at how many of them there are. There's a lot more art galleries nestled in Geelong than meets the eye — you'll find them hidden in quiet corners, behind demure shopfronts and residing in rustic warehouses. Boom Gallery should be your first stop. From the centre of town, grab an Uber (yes, Geelong has Uber) out to the Rutland Street address and make your way down the row of warehouses to the end. The gallery itself is curated by Ren Inei, whose name you may recognise from some of the works on the walls. They just wrapped up a phenomenal show about local legend William Buckley (of the saying 'Buckley's chance') and one called PLAY, a unique exhibition by Melbourne furniture designers Dowel Jones that encourages attendees to play with their creations. Inei may be a curator, but his attitude is more docent — turn up on any day of the week and you'll likely find him getting amongst it, hanging out with exhibiting artists in the café, chatting with visitors and giving personal insights on the show. Boom also has a small, chic café attached the gallery space named Lola's Kitchen which serves up bite-sized tacos and smooth coffee. For details on current and upcoming exhibitions, go here. [caption id="attachment_573394" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Boom Gallery[/caption] The National Wool Gallery in the centre of town is another must-do. While the museum is housed in the former Dennys Lascelles wool store and chronicles the history of Australian wool in more detail than strictly necessary, the space also hosts some amazing (and random) exhibitions, including the current Wildlife of Gondwana. While you're in the city centre, make sure you stop in at the Geelong Gallery too, a stately old building which has enough clout to host the bigwigs of Australian and international fame. The current exhibition — Land of the Golden Fleece, running until June 13 — is a retrospective of one of the big names in Australian landscape impressionism, Arthur Streeton. The exhibition is beautifully curated and as much about Streeton's life as it is about his works. If you don't want to leave without a souvenir, make your way our to the Mill Markets. They're a little way out of town, but if you've got a car (or just a strong will for vintage shopping) it's well worth trekking to. It's a two-storey veritable paradise of vintage clothes, books, antiques and weird shit, and your bound to find something to at least consider buying. But if you're worn out with food, art and busyness, a picnic basket and veg out session in the lush Johnstone Park is the perfect way to round out your stay. LET'S DO THIS; GIVE ME THE DETAILS Geelong is about one hour from Melbourne. You can drive (the M1 makes it a cinch) or take a V/Line train from Southern Cross to Geelong Station. The city isn't bursting with hotels, but the Mercure Geelong is situated in the centre of town and Airbnb is (as always) your friend. Imogen Baker travelled as a guest of Tourism Greater Geelong & the Bellarine. Top image: Little Creatures Geelong Brewery.
Tasers, telephoto lenses and a new spate of crimes terrifying the beachside town of Neptune: yes, Veronica Mars is back. Everyone's favourite pint-sized TV private eye is finally returning to our screens, all thanks to the show's long-awaited, eagerly anticipated fourth season. As played with the usual pluck and determination by Kristen Bell, she's ready to sleuth her way through a whole new mystery. Of course she is. Due to release in the US in July, via streaming platform Hulu, Veronica Mars' revival follows its titular heroine as she endeavours to get to the bottom of a wave of bombings that've been blasting their way through her home town. The fictional seaside spot is quite the tourist spot — especially come spring break — and Ms Mars thinks that someone wants to blight its reputation. After dropping a very brief teaser in April, then a short initial trailer in May, Hulu has released a full trailer for the series — and, as well as showing the no-nonsense Veronica doing what she does best, it once again features a heap of familiar faces. Her dad Keith Mars (Enrico Colantoni) and on-again, off-again love interest Logan Echolls (Jason Dohring) also pop up, as do her ex-classmates Weevil (Francis Capra) and Dick Casablancas (Ryan Hansen). Also set to make an appearance: returning cast members Percy Daggs III and Max Greenfield, plus new inclusions such as Patton Oswalt, Clifton Collins Jr and Bell's The Good Place co-star Kirby Howell-Baptiste. Oh and JK Simmons, too, as an ex-con who appears to be the new season's bad guy. Check out the new full trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pt0QuaQ0huk If you've been following Veronica's story for the past 15 years, you'll know that the TV series originally debuted in 2004, ran for three seasons until 2007, and then set a crowdfunding record to get a film off the ground in 2014. Next came two novels and a web series spin-off — and now, as first confirmed in September last year, this eight-episode revival. Break out the marshmallows, obviously. The fourth season of Veronica Mars hits Hulu on July 26. Details of the show's Australian and New Zealand release are yet to be confirmed — we'll keep you posted.
In Stay of the Week, we explore some of the world's best and most unique accommodations — giving you a little inspiration for your next trip. In this instalment, we go to Mövenpick Hotel Melbourne, the spot we're putting up guests who book one of our exclusive For The Love VIP packages. WHAT'S SO SPECIAL? This central Melbourne hotel is all about luxury — from the heated pool looking out over the cityscape to the spacious rooms and glorious pan-Asian restaurant. Did somebody say it's time for a city staycation? THE ROOMS You get a king bed! You get a king bed! And you get a king bed! Everyone gets a king bed! Yup, all rooms and suites have large comfy king beds — the prime spot for stretching out and taking up all the space you'd like (whether you're sleeping alone or with someone else). But, that's not all: these luxe rooms have a bunch of other features too. Expect rain-showers, free wifi, blockout curtains, a 55-inch television and views across Melbourne's skyline. Plus, if you go for one of the suites, you're in for an even more glam stay, courtesy of ready-to-go coffee machine and fully stocked mini bar. FOOD AND DRINK Miss Mi is Mövenpick Hotel Melbourne's very own restaurant and bar, serving up pan-Asian food and drinks — that are set to take you from Bangkok to Borneo. Sit up at the benches overlooking the kitchen to watch the chefs at work or sink into one of the plush banquettes for a more intimate affair. At the bar, you'll uncover Asian-inspired cocktails that pair top-quality spirits with traditional Asian spices, fresh herbs and housemade syrups. You can opt for classic cocktails, but we recommend trying one of their own creations. [caption id="attachment_882225" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Paul Macallan (Unsplash)[/caption] THE LOCAL AREA You're in the thick of it here. From the Spencer Street location, you can head west to Docklands for shopping and waterside dining or go east into the CBD to find some of Melbourne's best restaurants and entertainment venues. You're also within the free tram zone, so there's no need to do much walking. Take the free journey to sites like Queen Victoria Market, Federation Square and Melbourne's famous arts precinct. All of Melbourne is at your doorstep. THE EXTRAS One of the most fun and unique things to do at this luxury hotel is partake in their daily chocolate hour. From 4.30–5.30pm, the chefs transform the lobby into a chocaholic's paradise. All kinds of chocolatey creations are made just for you — it's always different so be sure to go each day of your stay. Mentioning Mövenpick Hotel Melbourne's gorgeous heated pool (with views over Spencer Street) is a necessity. Head to the water for a swim and sauna, escaping life and all its stresses for a few hours. You don't even need to swim — simply grab some fluffy slippers and a robe from your closet and sit on one of the poolside lounges reading a book for the day. Feeling inspired to book a truly unique getaway? Head to Concrete Playground Trips to explore a range of holidays curated by our editorial team. We've teamed up with all the best providers of flights, stays and experiences to bring you a series of unforgettable trips in destinations all over the world.
When the weather starts to cool down, curling up with a book is a tried-and-tested way to get cosy and make the most of the indoors. Perhaps that's why autumn has also become writers' festival season in some Australian cities. Both Sydney and Melbourne's fests are returning in 2025, each in May. Melburnians can livestream along with the Harbour City's event, which announced its program earlier in March — but there's nothing like heading along in-person at home. Melbourne Writers Festival's 2025 lineup has just been unveiled, revealing the first roster of talks, panels and more under Festival Director Veronica Sullivan. In her initial year at the helm, she has curated a four-day program that'll run from Thursday, May 8—Sunday, May 11. Irish authors Marian Keyes and Colm Tóibín, Booker Prize-winner Samantha Harvey and The Ministry of Time scribe Kaliane Bradley: they're among the big names on the bill. Given their close timing, Melbourne and Sydney's festivals do share some guests. All of the above talents are doing double duty, hitting both cities, for instance. In the Victorian capital, Keyes will look back at her career, Tóibín has Brooklyn sequel Long Island to discuss, Harvey will dig into the International Space Station-set Orbital and Bradley has one of the texts of 2024 to talk about. Also on MWF's bill like SWF's, to name just a few more: Entitlement's Rumaan Alam, Discriminations' AC Grayling, The Safekeep's Yael van der Wouden and Detransition, Baby's Torrey Peters, with the latter the first openly trans woman nominated for the Women's Prize for Fiction. The theme uniting Sullivan's debut Melbourne Writers Festival lineup: magical thinking. Expect that notion to shine through whether France-based Australian Sarah Wilson is pondering living meaningfully, Argentine writer Mariana Enríque is exploring her latest collection of short stories, Irish poet Pádraig Ó Tuama is tasked with examining the state of his preferred literary medium, Butter's Asako Yuzuki or Twist's Colum McCann are behind the microphone, or fantasy is in the spotlight with Lady's Knight's Meagan Spooner and Amie Kaufman. Hannah Kent on her non-fiction debut Always Home, Always Homesick, Unsettled's Kate Grenville, The Belburd's Nardi Simpson, music icon Jimmy Barnes, a feminist walking tour, live recordings of podcasts Culture Club and The Psychology of Your 20s, a MWF session of Queerstories: you'll find them all at this years' festival, too. Then there's a panel on the Voice referendum, overseen by the fest's First Nations Curator Daniel Browning, with Ben Abbatangelo, Thomas Mayo and Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts getting chatting. The usual approach to the program applies: if you're a word nerd, no matter your preferred genre or topic, there's likely something on offer for you across the full slate. "I'm thrilled to share our 2025 program. Across four packed days this May, some of Australia and the world's most-brilliant and -incisive writers and thinkers will gather in our City of Literature to celebrate the alchemy of storytelling, and the power of imagination to open doors we never thought possible," said Sullivan, announcing the program. "At this year's Festival, audiences will encounter Booker Prize winners, inspiring memoirists, genre-defying storytellers, acute political analysts, vibrant podcasters, transcendent musicians, shimmering poets and emerging voices whose work will shape Australian literature in years to come." [caption id="attachment_994843" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Reynaldo Rivera[/caption] Melbourne Writers Festival 2025 runs from Thursday, May 8—Sunday, May 11 at a variety of venues around Melbourne. For more information and to buy tickets, head to the festival's website.
If you thought the most colourful part of tramming in Melbourne was the language used by patrons on the number 86, you're only a little bit right. Thanks to a partnership between Melbourne Festival, Arts Victoria and Yarra Trams, eight trams will be transformed into moving pieces of public art on the tracks for six months as part of the 2013 Melbourne Festival visual arts program. Melbourne Art Trams, a revival of the popular Transporting Art program that ran from 1978-1993, is calling for entries from professional artists, as well as current tertiary art and design students, to decorate Melbourne's most iconic and widely viewed canvases. The winning artists will share the company of Australian creative legends like Howard Arkley, Mirka Mora, Michael Leunig, Elizabeth Gower and Trevor Nichols. No pressure. Just don't screw it up. Expressions of interest close July 5 and winners will be announced as part of the Melbourne Festival program launch on August 13, so you'd better dust off the Textas, sharpen your grey leads and try to remember everything mum told you about colouring inside the lines. Mosey on over to www.melbournefestival.com.au/trams for further details, and if you're a winner, we would like to receive some sort of recognition for telling you about it. A large gift will be fine.
Where would we be without movies in 2020? While we'd usually say that there's no such thing as a bad year for the filmic medium, this year has been something else. Yes, cinemas have been closed for a hefty portion of the year, and have closed again in Melbourne. Yes, plenty of big blockbusters have shifted their release dates or ditched their in-cinema release for streaming instead. But the joy and escapism that watching a flick provides — even when you're in lockdown, quarantining or isolating at home — has been particularly cathartic in 2020. Still keen to queue up a big heap of movies, and a hefty dose of couch time? Enter Movie Frenzy, the week-long online film rental sale. Until Thursday, August 13, it's serving up a sizeable lineup of popular flicks from the past year, all at $3 or less per movie. On the lineup: the murder-mystery thrills of Knives Out, standout horror remake The Invisible Man, the war-torn tension of 1917 and a candy-hued take on comic book mayhem in Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). You can also spend some time with Taika Waititi's Jojo Rabbit or Guy Ritchie's The Gentlemen, watch Daniel Radcliffe with weapons nailed to his hands in Guns Akimbo, and see Kristen Stewart get scared under the sea's surface in Underwater. Jumanji: The Next Level, Sonic the Hedgehog, Just Mercy and Midway are also on offer, as are Like a Boss, Dolittle, Bloodshot and Bad Boys for Life — and while some are more worth your attention than others, we'll let you do the choosing. You can nab the cheap flicks via your digital rental platform of choice, including Apple TV, Fetch, Google Play, Microsoft Store, PlayStation Store, Amazon Prime Video, Telstra TV Box Office and YouTube — although just what's available, and the price, will vary depending on the service. And you won't need a subscription, unless you decide to join in the fun via the Foxtel Store. Movie Frenzy runs until Thursday, August 13 — with film rental costing up to $3 per movie.
Restrictions and lockdowns have meant many Melbourne art galleries have spent more time closed than open in 2020. But it seems the culture gods have smiled down and cut us a little slack when it comes to one of the biggest, most anticipated art events to hit the city in three years. The NGV Triennial is set to return for its blockbuster second iteration this summer, taking over NGV International from Saturday, December 19. Breaking Melbourne's art drought with a free large-scale exhibition of international contemporary art, design and architecture, it'll showcase 86 projects by more than 100 artists, designers and collectives. Held every three years, the Triennial made its huge debut in 2017, pulling a hefty 1.23 million visitors and remaining the NGV's most visited exhibition even today. Triennial 2020 looks set to follow suit, as artists from over 30 different countries share a diverse spread of works reflecting on a truly unique time in our world's history. Here, they're diving deep into the themes of illumination, reflection, conservation and speculation. Expect to see US artist Jeff Koons pay homage to the goddess of love Venus with a towering mirror-finished sculptural piece, while renowned interior designer Faye Toogood reimagines a series of gallery spaces with commissioned furniture, tapestries, lighting, sculpture and scenography. She'll nod to the NGV's 17th- and 18th-century collections, while playing with the concepts of daylight, candlelight and moonlight. [caption id="attachment_785399" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cerith Wyn Evans, The Illuminating Gas at Pirelli HangerBiocca, Milan, 2019. Photo by Agostino Osio.[/caption] Turkey's Refik Anadol has put together a video work, capturing digitised memories of nature with help from artificial intelligence and machine learning. Meanwhile, a showcase by Yolngu woman Dhambit Mununggurr is replete with her trademark blue hues, including a set of 15 large-scale bark paintings. Lauded Japanese architect Kengo Kuma joins forces with Melbourne-based artist Geoffrey Nees, using timber from trees that died during the Millennium Drought at Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens to construct a pavilion. The structure will then feature as part of a multi-sensory walkway delivering audiences to a new piece by South Korean artist Lee Ufan. British artist Alice Potts uses flowers and food waste to create a set of bioplastic face masks, Spanish-born designer and architect Patricia Urquiola crafts giant-sized socks from upcycled textile furnishings, and South Africa's Porky Hefer sheds some light on ocean pollution with his large-scale dystopian under-the-sea scenes. If ever there was an exhibition worthy of your post-lockdown gallery-hopping debut, it's this. The NGV Triennial 2020 will be on show at NGV International from Saturday, December 19 until Sunday, April 18, 2021. For more info and to see the full program, visit the NGV website. Top images: 1. Kengo Kuma & Associates, Tokyo and Paris, Kengo Kuma and Geoff Nees. Botanical pavilion 2020 (render), commissioned by the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. Purchased with funds donated by Connie Kimberley OAM. Copyright and courtesy of the artists. 2. Refik Anadol, render of Quantum memories 2020, commissioned by the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. Purchased with funds donated by Loti & Victor Smorgon Fund and Barry Janes and Paul Cross 2020.
This Sunday night in Los Angeles, Hollywood's top tier will come together, pat each other on the back, and go home with little gold men and $150,000 gift baskets. That’s right, the Oscars are finally upon us, set to launch their 87th ceremony on Sunday, February 22 at the Dolby Theatre (or Monday, February 23 for us). Get ready for red carpet specials, awkward presenter gaffes and all the bitter celebrity reaction shots your heart could possibly desire. This year, we’ll be rooting for underdogs like Whiplash and Wes Anderson, while keeping our fingers crossed that American Sniper wins absolutely nothing at all. We’ll also be partaking in our annual Oscars drinking game, ensuring that when our favourite film inevitably gets snubbed for Best Picture, we won’t actually remember it happened. Here are our predictions for who’ll take home the gold, as well as our own winner picks — who really should win. BEST PICTURE This year’s main list featured eight nominees, because apparently they just couldn’t get to ten. In reality, it just comes down to two: Richard Linklater’s 12-year indie epic Boyhood and Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu’s one-take showbiz satire Birdman. Both films are formally ambitious and have won their fair share of industry gongs already. We’re leaning towards Birdman based on subject matter — two of the past three Best Picture winners (The Artist and Argo) have been about the film business, so why buck the trend now? WHAT WILL WIN: Birdman WHAT WE'D LIKE TO WIN: The Grand Budapest Hotel BEST DIRECTOR Take what we wrote about the Best Picture contest and copy-paste it here. This comes down to two very different directing styles, both of which push technical boundaries in a way we rarely get to see. Again, we’re giving Innaritu a slight edge, although don’t be surprised if there’s a split between Picture and Director. WHO WILL WIN: Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu, Birdman WHO WE'D LIKE TO WIN: Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel BEST ACTRESS Of all the awards, this one’s probably the easiest to pick. It’s been quite a good year for female performances, and we’re particularly fond of Rosamund Pike in Gone Girl and Marion Cotillard in Two Days, One Night. That being said, Julianne Moore looks to have it all locked up, for her brilliant performance as an Alzheimer’s patient in indie drama Still Alice. WHO WILL WIN: Julianne Moore, Still Alice WHO WE'D LIKE TO WIN: Marion Cotillard, Two Days, One Night BEST ACTOR While the Best Actress race appears to have already been run, the men’s competition is still wide open. Birdman’s Michael Keaton appeared to be an early favourite, but has been losing steam to Eddie Redmayne as Steven Hawking in The Theory of Everything. Then there’s the matter of Bradley Cooper in controversial dark horse American Sniper. In the end, we suspect it’ll go to Redmayne. The Academy loves inspiring true stories, especially when they involve disability. WHO WILL WIN: Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything WHO WE'D LIKE TO WIN: Michael Keaton, Birdman BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Whether or not Boyhood takes home the top prize, they can take some consolation in Patricia Arquette’s likely win for Best Supporting Actress. This category is a relatively weak one, particularly when you take away the obligatory Meryl Streep nomination — although admittedly she’s one of the few good things about Into the Woods. WHO WILL WIN: Patricia Arquette, Boyhood WHO WE'D LIKE TO WIN: Patricia Arquette, Boyhood BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR This is another easy pick, and one that’s hard to argue with. 60-year-old J.K. Simmons has been a jobbing character actor for decades, popping up everywhere from Spiderman to Juno to HBO’s Oz. It’s always great when someone like Simmons gets the mainstream attention they deserve. His performance as a dictatorial jazz conductor in Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash is undoubtedly one of the best performances of the year. WHO WILL WIN: J.K. Simmons, Whiplash WHO WE'D LIKE TO WIN: J.K. Simmons, Whiplash BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY Birdman and Boyhood will both make a decent showing here, but we’re predicting this is the category where Wes Anderson gets some well deserved love. The American indie darling has previously scored writing nominations for The Royal Tenenbaums and Moonrise Kingdom, and seems like a decent chance to finally take home a win with The Grand Budapest Hotel. Note that if either Birdman or Boyhood do manage to nab it, it’ll bode very well for their chances later in the night. WHAT WILL WIN: The Grand Budapest Hotel WHAT WE'D LIKE TO WIN: The Grand Budapest Hotel BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY Maybe the hardest of the major categories to pick, the only certainly is that Paul Thomas Anderson’s baffling stoner detective film Inherent Vice has zero chance of winning (even though it’s awesome). Whiplash ended up in this category because it’s technically based on a short film by the same director, and it may have a slight edge over other nominees The Imitation Game, The Theory of Everything and American Sniper. When it doubt, we say give it to the indie movie. WHAT WILL WIN: Whiplash WHAT WE'D LIKE TO WIN: Inherent Vice or Whiplash. Watch the 87th Academy Awards this Monday, February 23. The live broadcast itself begins at 12.30pm and will be replayed in primetime at 8.30pm on GEM.
If a fresh bread roll, an expertly grilled patty and a slice of melted cheese is your idea of a perfect meal, then you might just have September 18 permanently marked in your diary. Each and every year, that's when the world's most dedicated cheeseburger lovers celebrate their favourite food. We're not saying that burgs will taste better on that date — or that it's really a legitimate day of celebration — but if you just can't get enough of the them, it's definitely worth your attention. Especially if there are cheap burgers involved. Which, this year, there are. Burger Project will be slinging $5 cheeseburgers at all three of its Melbourne stores all day on Wednesday, September 18. Head to 555 Bourke Street, St Collins Lane or Chadstone, and grab a bargain (or, depending on how hungry you are, several). For those new to Burger Project's take on an old fave, Neil Perry's eatery whips up a hand-pressed slab of Cape Grim beef, layers it with pickles, onion, mustard and cheese, then squirts on some secret sauce. Next, it's all placed between a soft milk bun. And it tastes even better when it's less than half the regular price.
Shelanous, which describes itself as a multi-sensory restaurant, takes everything you know about fine dining and degustation menus and flips it on its head. Its theatrical ways have proven so charming that there is a two-month waitlist at the Port Melbourne restaurant. So the owners have decided to expand their whimsical endeavours, announcing plans to set up their second outpost, Shelly, in Caulfield this November. Shelanous offers a 10-course degustation menu with matching beverages based around the four seasons, which plays into the five senses, plus a sixth, which they like to call fun. Customers are seated at a long communal table and taken on a multisensory adventure with bold flavours, fragrant scents, stimulating visuals, and high-energy sounds. It's about as opposite to a serious and formal white-tablecloth dining experience as you can get, which is refreshing and reinvigorating, proving that dining can be lighthearted and invoke childlike joy and excitement just for the sake of it. As you move through the four seasons at Shelanous, expect the likes of flashing clouds suspended above the table, drinks served in movie popcorn containers, waiters dressed in Hawaiian shirts shooting bubbles across the table, tiny shovels used to dig for your food, dessert dramatically splattered straight onto the table, blindfolds, headphones, pumping music and dance breaks — and thats just the start of it. Co-owner Rony Parienty says, "The demand for Shelanous since opening has been overwhelming. We're constantly booked out two months in advance, and we love seeing people enjoy the experience we deliver alongside the great food and drinks. But, with a waiting list this long, we knew it was time to open another location. Opening Shelly in Caulfield will not only allow us to meet demand but also create a whole new high-energy experience for our guests. We can't wait to welcome people when we start this new chapter." Shelly will follow a similar format to its older sibling venue, offering a 10-course degustation menu (that will be both halal-friendly and kosher certified) that is flamboyant, dramatic, and at its heart, just a lot of fun. With the consistent demand for seats at the table, Shelly will offer a 30-seat dining room, a Sense Bar, and limited walk-in availability, all under a starlight ceiling. Images: Supplied. Shelly is set to open on November 5, at 809 Glenhuntly Road, Caulfield. In the meantime, try your luck at getting a reservation at Shelanous, or check out the best set menus in Melbourne.
After years selling their delicious delights at Night Noodle Markets all over the country, the geniuses behind Hoy Pinoy’s much-loved Filipino BBQ are setting up a permanent restaurant and bar. It's called Frankie Says and you'll find it tucked behind an apartment building complex in an obscure part of Richmond. The hidden-away location has some cracking advantages. First up, it's right on the Yarra River, so you get serene water views and bush vibes with your feast. Secondly, it's just over the road from IKEA. And it's way less crowded and frenetic than most other spots in the city — at least for now. Founders Megan Phillis and James Meehan designed the eatery to make diners feel like they're walking into a private kitchen. "Opening Frankie Says is like inviting people into our home," Megan says. "This is how we love to eat, with flavour, sharing and laughter turned up high." "We want Frankie Says to be somewhere people can feel totally relaxed as they enjoy a champagne brunch, catch up with friends over an afternoon antipasto, or simply take a moment to themselves in the leafy surrounds with a cup of coffee." The cheery, light-filled, high-ceilinged venue features solid timber pillars and glass walls, which open onto a vast, sunny, outdoor area overlooking the river. Inside, the feel is chic but informal, with hardwood floors, rendered concrete walls, mosaic tiles and pendant lighting. Meanwhile, the menu is designed to encourage repeat visits. Its ever-changing selection of yumminess include antipasto boards, house-made stone-oven pizzas and tasty breakfasts, like a deep dish pancake and truffle eggs with artichoke paste. They also have their own table wines: a 2013 sauvignon blanc and a 2012 cab sav, both from South Australia. You'll find Frankie Says at 15 Acacia Place, Abbotsford. It’s open seven days a week for breakfast and lunch, from 7am - 4pm on weekdays and 8am - 5pm on weekends. Keep an eye out for dinner, which is set to happen soon.
Our Flag Means Death might be no more, after the pirate rom-com was cancelled after two seasons, but getting giggling at Rhys Darby is still on the agenda. The New Zealand comedian has hardly been away from the screen for more than 15 years, ever since Flight of the Conchords became one of HBO's best-ever sitcoms, so he's been inspiring laughs for years. For the first time in nearly a decade, however, he's returning to the stand-up stage — and he's just locked in an Australian tour. At the beginning of each year, Aussies enjoy a chuckle when comedy festival season sweeps the nation's east coast. Darby is on the Brisbane Comedy Festival and Sydney Comedy Festival lineups, and will also play Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Hobart and Newcastle. In fact, he's making nine stops around the country throughout April 2025. [caption id="attachment_915747" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Our Flag Means Death, Nicola Dove[/caption] "I'm so excited to return to the stage, a bit older, a bit wiser but mostly a bit sillier than ever before!" said Darby, announcing the tour, which kicks off from Tuesday, April 8–Sunday, April 13 at Melbourne's Athenaeum Theatre and ends on Wednesday, April 30 at the Princess Theatre in Brisbane. Fans can expect gags about AI, robots, dads wearing tight jeans and more — and the mix of absurdity and insights that have always marked Darby's brand of comedy. [caption id="attachment_980410" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gage Skidmore via Flickr[/caption] Between calling band meetings on Flight of the Conchords and finding love while swashbuckling on Our Flag Means Death, his career has spanned everything from The X-Files, A Series of Unfortunate Events and Wellington Paranormal to Sweet Tooth, SpongeBob SquarePants and Monsters at Work on the small screen. On the big screen, Darby has also been a frequent presence, thanks to The Boat That Rocked, What We Do in the Shadows, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Jumanji: The Next Level, Uproar, Next Goal Wins and plenty more. Rhys Darby The Legend Returns 2025 Tour Dates Tuesday, April 8–Sunday, April 13 — Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne Tuesday, April 15 — Norwood Concert Hall, Adelaide Thursday, April 17 — Odeon Theatre, Hobart Saturday, April 19 — Canberra Theatre, Canberra Tuesday, April 22 — Newcastle City Hall, Newcastle Wednesday, April 23 — Anita's Theatre, Thirroul Thursday, April 24 — Enmore Theatre, Sydney Sunday, April 27 — Regal Theatre, Perth Wednesday, April 30 — Princess Theatre, Brisbane Rhys Darby is touring Australia in April 2025, with pre-sale tickets from 10am on Wednesday, November 20, 2024 and general tickets on sale from 10am on Friday, November 22, 2024. Head to the tour website for more details.
Sure, it's the middle of winter and Melbourne's temperatures aren't stretching much beyond a dreary 15 degrees. But hey, free ice cream is free ice cream — and that's something we can get around in rain, hail or shine. Indeed, on Sunday, July 18, Southgate's long-standing ice cream parlour Cups n Cones is giving away hundreds of complimentary scoops. All you need to do is be one of the first 500 customers through the door from 10am and you'll score your choice of signature ice cream or gelato, on the house. Why, you ask? Well, overseas travel might be on hold right now, but Cups n Cones is offering your tastebuds the next best thing, having dreamt up 14 new internationally-inspired ice cream flavours to add to its regular lineup. There's a Greek-style baklava, a Frenchy-chic crème brûlée, a cinnamon bun creation that nods to Sweden, a Thai-accented coconut lime flavour and even a crunchy doughnut ice cream inspired by the USA. No passport required.
Forget Instagram — when it comes to peering at famous faces, portrait galleries have been serving up the goods since long before social media ever existed. Think of a well-known name not just in recent times, but going back decades, centuries and longer, and it's likely that someone somewhere once painted their likeness. The Beatles, David Bowie, Charles Dickens, the Brontë sisters, Nelson Mandela and Malala Yousafzai: they've all been given the portrait treatment, and the results — or one painting bearing their faces, at least — are now on display at Shakespeare to Winehouse: Icons from the National Portrait Gallery, London. Showing at Canberra's National Portrait Gallery, this is the type of exhibition that arises when one portrait gallery teams up with another; think of it as the Inception of portrait showcases. There's a heavy British skew, naturally, covering people who have shaped UK history, identity and culture over the past 500 years. Accordingly, other famous folks gracing the NPG's walls include both Queen Elizabeth I and Queen Elizabeth II, Kate Moss, Mick Jagger and Princess Diana, as well as Lord Nelson, Sir Isaac Newton and Ed Sheeran, Darcey Bussell. As mentioned in the exhibition's name, both the Bard and Amy Winehouse obviously also feature, in an exhibition that's sorted by theme rather than year. And, by grouping portraits around fame, power, love and loss, identity, innovation and self, Shakespeare to Winehouse: Icons from the National Portrait Gallery, London also examines how portraiture has evolved over the years — all across a season that runs from Saturday, March 12–Sunday, July 17.
