UPDATE Monday, March 27: Due to unforeseen circumstances, 'Dirty Dancing: The Immersive Cinema Experience' will no longer take place this weekend. For details, see the website. With its latest movie-fuelled event, Immersive Cinema is hoping that you've never felt like this before — and that you love Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey dancing up a storm in a much-adored 1987 romantic drama. The second part is easy. As for the first, you might've actually stepped into this interactive Dirty Dancing experience back in 2019 when it first came to Australia. Who doesn't want to have the time of their life twice, though? For its second Aussie stint, Dirty Dancing: The Immersive Cinema Experience is only heading to Melbourne, taking over the Flemington Racecourse on Saturday, April 1–Sunday, April 2, 2023. If Francis 'Baby' Houseman can take a trip to Kellerman's Mountain House in the Catskills with her family, you can hit up the venue to get whisked away to the next best thing. Here, attendees will get plunged into the world of Dirty Dancing. Taking over the outdoor venue, Dirty Dancing: The Immersive Cinema Experience won't just screen one of Swayze's biggest film roles, but will recreate the world of the popular film. That means that attendees will travel back to 1963 in spirit, check into the flick's setting, and enjoy a day of painting classes, volleyball, croquet, mini golf and — of course — dance lessons. You can probably also expect a stint of carrying watermelons, and definitely a dance showcase. And yes, it all ends with an evening screening of Dirty Dancing on the big screen. You'd be just a fool to believe that's all that's on the agenda. Actors and dancers will roam around like the wind and, food- and drink-wise, Americana-style eats will be available at 12 different dining spots, while seven pop-up bars will sling summery cocktails — all on offer for those with hungry eyes (and stomachs). Also, there'll be a dedicated watermelon stand, plus a picnic area among the rose bushes. You'll also be able to wander through recreations of Kellerman's famous fictional spaces. That includes the staff quarters where Baby Houseman gets her first taste of dirty dancing, as well as the studios where she learns all the steps from and starts swooning over Johnny Castle. Wherever you head, nobody will be putting Baby in a corner. Like the film version of Kellerman's, the event is also an all-ages affair — and everyone is encouraged to dress up like it's the 60s, but appropriate footwear for dancing is a must. Also, because no one had phones back in the 60s, it's a technology-free experience as well. The only screen that matters: the big one showing the movie, of course.
'Madchester' pioneers the Happy Mondays have just announced an Australian tour — the first time that the original lineup of one of the most influential bands of their generation have made it all the way Down Under. Alongside bands like New Order and the Stone Roses, Happy Mondays were key to the development of the Madchester sound that defined the early '90s and revitalised English music, rescuing it from the ignominy of Spandau Ballet and Duran Duran. Fusing traditional pop elements with funk, northern soul and acid house, Happy Mondays were the poster band for the explosion of rave culture in the UK and released two iconic albums — Bummed and Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches — that remain essential listening today. Supporting them will be fellow Madchester icons 808 State for a special DJ set. Formed in Manchester in 1988 by Graham Massey, Martin Price and Gerald Simpson, 808 State's first album, Newbuild, is now regarded as a milestone in UK electronica. As the NME observed, "808 State revolutionised a whole genre of music in the late-'80s, inspiring Underworld, Orbital and the Chemical Brothers in the process." Happy Mondays Australian 2013 Tour Dates Wed 5 June – Metropolis, Fremantle - tickets via www.oztix.com.au, www.heatseeker.com.au Thu 6 June – The Palace, Melbourne - tickets via www.ticketek.com.au, www.oztix.com.au Fri 7 June – The Tivoli, Brisbane - tickets via www.ticketek.com.au Mon 10 June - UNSW Roundhouse, Sydney - tickets via www.ticketek.com.au
Penélope Cruz didn't score an Oscar this year for Parallel Mothers. Her husband Javier Bardem didn't win one for Being the Ricardos, either. And, just a couple of years ago, Antonio Banderas also didn't nab a shiny Academy Award for Pain and Glory — but the three acclaimed actors are all winners at the 2022 Spanish Film Festival. The annual cinema showcase spotlights not just Spanish but also Latin American cinema, and it's back for another Aussie tour throughout April and May — hitting up Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane and Byron Bay. On the bill: 34 movies that hail from both regions, or tie into them in one way or another, including several with Cruz, Bardem and or Banderas at their centre. Kickstarting this year's Spanish Film Festival with the Cruz- and Banderas-starring Official Competition must've been the easiest programming choice in the fest's history. A filmmaking satire, it casts Cruz as a famous director entrusted to bring a Nobel Prize-winning novel about sibling rivalry to the screen, and enlists Banderas as a Hollywood heartthrob. Throw all of that together and it's clearly film festival catnip, as the movie's berths at overseas fests such as Venice, Toronto and San Sebastián have already shown — and it'll enjoy its Australia premiere as the Spanish Film Festival's opening night pick. The aforementioned — and sublime — Parallel Mothers is also on the lineup after releasing in Aussie cinemas earlier this year, if you missed it then. And, so are two Cruz-Bardem collaborations: Jamón Jamón, the pair's first film together, which marks its 30th anniversary in 2022, and 2017's Loving Pablo, which sees Bardem play Pablo Escobar. Of course, the Spanish Film Festival spans plenty of movies that don't star Spanish cinema's best-known acting names, too — with 2022 Goya-winning political drama Maixabel, fellow Goya-recipient Mediterráneo: The Law of the Sea, psychological horror flick The House of Snails, road-movie comedy Carpoolers, and the coming-of-age-focused Once Upon a Time in Euskadi also on the program. Or, there's Girlfriends, about childhood pals reuniting; dramatic thriller The Daughter, which hones in on a pregnant teen; mother-daughter drama Ama; the Himalayas-set Beyond the Summit; and The Cover, about a pop star impersonator. From the Cine Latino strand, ten films hail from the likes of Argentina, Mexico, Uruguay and the Dominican Republic — including rom-com The Big Love Picture, thriller Immersion, the footballer-centric 9 and Goya-winner (yes, another one) Forgotten We'll Be. Plus, the lineup also includes Language Lessons, which is directed by and starring Natalie Morales (The Little Things), and also features Mark Duplass (Bombshell) — with the pair navigating an online setup to play a Spanish teacher and her student. And, there's sessions of the Spanish-language version of Disney's Encanto as well. SPANISH FILM FESTIVAL 2022 DATES: April 19–May 15: Palace Norton Street, Palace Verona, Palace Central and Chauvel Cinema, Sydney April 20–May 15: Palace Electric, Canberra April 21–May 15: The Astor Theatre, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Westgarth, The Kino, Palace Balwyn and Pentridge Cinema, Melbourne April 27–May 18: Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas, Adelaide April 27–May 18: Palace Raine Square Cinemas, Luna Leederville and Luna on SX., Perth April 28–May 18: Palace Barracks and Palace James Street, Brisbane April 29–May 15: Palace Byron Bay, Byron Bay The Spanish Film Festival tours Australia from Tuesday, April 19–Wednesday, May 18. For more information or to buy tickets, visit the festival's website.
Whip out your pens, chuck on your reading glasses and pop that thinking cap on top of your noodle, because the Melbourne Writers Festival is back. Victoria's leading literary event, this year's MWF features more than 350 events, from talks and panels with famous and emerging writers, to social gatherings, book launches, walking tours and more. Standout events on the 2016 festival program include an opening night keynote address from writer and slam poet Maxine Beneba Clarke, a presentation from musician PJ Harvey and photojournalist Seamus Murphy about their travels to Kosovo, Afghanistan and Washington D.C., and a conversation with author and philosopher Damon Young hosted by actor Magda Szubanski. Anyone looking to get a bit of fresh air, meanwhile, can participate in a festival walk, where you'll learn about topics ranging from public sculpture to psychogeography. Alternatively, if sedentary activities are more your thing, ACMI will be screening a number of book-to-film adaptations, including I Am Legend and Never Let Me Go.
Love celebrating holidays — even if they hail from the other side of the world? Or are you a homesick North American looking for something to remind you of home? Then no doubt you're looking forward to US holiday Thanksgiving, which falls on November 25. Lucky for you, Cheers! Spirits From the USA is partnering with leading venues across the nation, helping us Aussies celebrate the day. This week until Sunday, 28 November, select bars in Melbourne will be turning happy hour into 'thanksgiving hour' by offering a range of thanksgiving-themed cocktails for you to cheers over. The brand has collaborated with innovative Australian bartenders to create an exciting cocktail list that showcases classic American spirits such as Angel's Envy Bourbon, Westward Whiskey and Woodford Reserve.. Head on down to Fitzroy's The Catfish for a Cranbourbon Catfizz made with Angel's Envy bourbon, cranberry, lemon and soda. Or, sip a Thanksgiving pie-inspired cocktail, dubbed Just a Slice, created by the bartenders at CBD bar 1806. There are eight more participating venues, including The Elysian Whisky Bar, The Everleigh, Heartbreaker, Ends and Means, Bar Ampere, Beneath Driver Lane, Whisky and Alement, and Que Club. Yep, there's a total of ten much-loved Melbourne bars partaking in the festive day, so you have little excuse to miss it. So, head on down, grab yourself a festive cocktail and cheers to being able to celebrate IRL with mates again. [caption id="attachment_653751" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Beneath Driver Lane[/caption] For more information on Thanksgiving Hour, head to the Cheers! From the USA website. And you can even follow the events on Instagram. Top image: The Elysian Whisky Bar
Let’s clear one thing up immediately: SPECTRE isn't nearly as bad as some critics are making out. We’re mercifully far from the nightmarish hellscape of Die Another Day or the '…...............huh?' of Quantum of Solace. It's just that SPECTRE isn’t quite Skyfall, either. Firstly, though, to the good bits. This film is stunning. Cinematographer and man with a Bond name Hoyte van Hoytema (Interstellar, Her) has crafted something magnificent here, framing every shot to perfection regardless of scale. Credit, too, to director Sam Mendes, who again proves that his dramatic background in no way hampers his ability to shoot thrilling action sequences. On that front, the film’s best is also its first: a five minute ‘uninterrupted’ tracking of Bond through the streets of Mexico during the Día de los Muertos festival. In fact, the whole first half hour of SPECTRE is so tight, its trajectory puts it on track to rival (or even surpass) its predecessor, however it's at that point where unfortunately the cracks also begin to appear. The overall viewing experience of SPECTRE might best be described as one of déjà vu. The story, to its benefit, draws heavily upon the three previous films as both an explanation for Bond’s increasingly tortured temperament and as a through-line tying the whole ‘Craig era’ together. Where things get problematic, though, is when near-identical scenes pop up from those earlier movies. Bond being fitted with an implanted tracking device in his right arm comes straight out of Casino Royale. Bond joining his beautiful French companion in a train's dining car while they discuss why he does what he does — that's Casino too. M having to the defend the 00 program from accusations of redundancy and outdatedness formed much of Judi Dench’s screen time in Skyfall, and the villain’s desert base in SPECTRE looks remarkably like the one from Quantum with a different coat of paint. Even the score by Thomas Newman feels overly familiar, with some sections essentially cut-and-paste jobs from the Skyfall soundtrack (Jellyfish to Hinx, for example). SPECTRE’s strongest scenes are its original ones, and with a reported budget of well over $200 million it’s a crime they weren’t all that way. On the performance front, Craig is reliably stony as Bond, although ‘franchise fatigue' has visibly set in. His dispassionate characterisation often slips into languor in SPECTRE, relinquishing only when opposite Léa Seydoux as his love interest Madeleine. Seydoux is the clear standout, imbuing Madeleine with every ounce of intelligence and mystery the script could provide. As the villain, Christoph Waltz receives a disappointing amount of screen time, and his character lacks much of the menace conveyed by Javier Bardem in Skyfall. Regulars M, Q and Moneypenny all hold their own (played again by Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw and Naomie Harris), while Andrew Scott of Sherlock fame puts in a nice turn as ‘C’ — the new head of MI5. Again, this is not a bad film. The confusing or absent motivations, plot holes and scene repetition notwithstanding, SPECTRE still offers up all the elements of a classic Bond. Its action scenes are gripping, its wit affords welcome chuckles and its opulence entices. Any film that came after Skyfall was always going to be like opening up birthday socks when you'd already unwrapped the new car: it was destined to disappoint. But if you can remind yourself that socks are still pretty neat too, especially $200 million dollar ones with gorgeous people, places and cars on them, then you’ll find more than enough to like about SPECTRE.
To ring in the year of the ox, dumpling master Din Tai Fung created cute masked ox buns, continuing its annual tradition of welcoming the Lunar New Year with an adorable addition to its menu (see also: its monkey buns from 2016 and pig bao from 2019). But creative dishes aren't just a once-a-year thing here. Now that Easter is almost upon us, the chain is serving up something else to tempt your tastebuds: hot cross bao. Yes, it's exactly what it sounds like — and the bao is only available for a limited time. On the outside, each one looks like a hot cross bun, but they're made with steamed bread. And, you won't find any raisins inside. Instead, they're filled with molten chocolate. The hot cross bao is available at all Din Tai Fung restaurants and food court outlets in Sydney, so you'll want to hit up its World Square, Westfield Chatswood, Westfield Miranda, Westfield Sydney, Broadway Shopping Centre, Gateway Sydney, The Star, Greenwood Plaza and MLC Centre venues. In Melbourne, you have one spot to head to, with the bao on offer at Emporium Melbourne. If you'd rather have them brought to your door, they're also available for delivery in frozen form. If you'd like to stock your freezer and enjoy them once Easter passes, that's an option as well. The only problem we can foresee with this latest hybrid dish? Wanting to devour as many as possible. They'll cost you $5.80 for two in-store, and $8 for three in frozen packs. Hot cross bun bao are available for $5.80 for two at all Din Tai Fung stores. They're also available for delivery, for $8 — plus a $10–20 delivery fee.
It's happened. The humble toastie, like the bagel and burger before it, has finally been Pygmalioned from our dreams into real life. The wondrous food is being championed by hospitality old hats Frank Rusitovski and Dean Trpeski in their new venture set to open later this month: a drive-through container café dedicated to toasties. The cafe — set to open on High Street in Preston on Monday, May 23 — also has the best name we've ever heard: Cheese and Bread. Who doesn't want to start a winter work day with a coffee in hand and cheese oozing out the sides of a fat stacked toastie? The concept (as you may infer from the name) is toasted sandies and speciality coffee. Like the perfect pairing of cheese and bread, the menu is similarly named after famous duos — there's the Bert and Ernie (roast beef, caramelised onions, spinach and house blend cheese), the Batman and Robin (American wagyu patty, crispy beef strip and house blend cheese) and the Mario and Luigi (pesto, roma tomatoes and house blend cheese). For sweet tooths, there's also the Winnie and Tigger, which is filled with Nutella, house blend cheese and sprinkles. We're not so sure about that last one, but hey — we've known stranger pairings than that. The sides menu is not too shabs either, featuring pickled onions and cucumbers, poutine fries (oh yeah) and sujuk sausage. So Preston, get those sandies in your handies — and never drive to work hungry again. Cheese and Bread will open on Monday, May 23 at 518 High Street, Preston. It will be open weekdays from 6am until early afternoon. For more info, check their Instagram.
Across four seasons and 36 episodes of Rick and Morty to date, Rick Sanchez has taken many forms. That's one of the joys of the animated show's multiverse. New universe, new Rick — and new Morty, Beth, Jerry and Summer as well. But while the labcoat-wearing, booze-guzzling mad scientist has been tiny, sported an afro and even been a wasp, one Rick stands out from the crowd. Regular Rick is great, of course; however, Pickle Rick has been an instant favourite since he was first sighted in a trailer for the series' third season. Now, Pickle Rick is taking a new journey — into doughnuts. This isn't the setup for one of the show's new episodes, but a menu item now on offer at Krispy Kreme. Taking inspiration from all things Rick and Morty, the bakery chain has launched a new R&M-themed lineup, including a Pickle Rick doughnut. It's green, obviously. It's filled with green-hued lemon creme and covered with green-coloured white chocolate. And yes, it features a picture of Pickle Rick on top. Because this is the way the news goes, Krispy Kreme's R&M doughnut range also spans Strawberry Smiggles and Simple Rick's Wafer Cookie varieties. Hope you like strawberry — the former is filled with strawberry filling, then covered with mini marshmallows, meringue pieces and confetti, while the latter is dipped in strawberry truffle and topped with a white chocolate wafer disc. There's a Fleeb Juice shake, too, which combines raspberry and vanilla, and tastes nothing like alien excretion (we hope). If you're keen to eat your Rick and Morty-loving feelings in doughnut form, you can find the new range in Krispy Kreme stores across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, the ACT, Western Australia and Auckland until March 16 — and available via UberEats as well. You won't find them at 7-Elevens or BPs, though. Clearly, a szechuan sauce doughnut was too difficult to make. Also, let's admit it — it probably would've tasted awful. If you need something to watch while you're gorging on doughnuts, Pickle Rick has that taken care of below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSqi5s3rfqk Krispy Kreme's Rick and Morty range is available until March 16.
Grammy-nominated New York duo Sofi Tukker have announced they'll be bringing their genre-blurring tunes to Aussie shores, set to take the stage in Sydney and Melbourne next month. Since releasing their debut EP, Soft Animals, early last year, Sophie Hawley-Weld and Tucker Halpern have garnered fans worldwide, snapping up chart spots in more than 20 countries and landing festivals across Europe and North America. The pair's dance-worthy beats draw inspiration from all corners of the globe, resulting in a layering of sound unlike any you've heard before. And the Sofi Tukker live show promises to be every bit as spectacular, starring the duo's own unique instrument, called 'The Book Tree'. Expect a six-foot-tall 'creature', decked out in foliage and hardcover books, each tome engineered to create a different sound when drummed, to compliment that blissful melange of guitar, bass, and bongos. Sofi Tukker plays at Sydney's Oxford Art Factory on February 17 and Melbourne's Howler on February 18. Tickets are available from Moshtix from January 12.
The buzz of January is over and if you need a little motivation to continue with those NYE resolutions, look no further than this activewear sale. Australian clothing company Active Truth is moving warehouses and, to make the move a little easier, is offering 40 percent off sitewide. Active Truth's swimwear and activewear is accessible to beachgoers and gym junkies of all shapes and sizes, with swimsuits, tights, crops, bike shorts and maternity wear all ranging from XS to 3XL. Check out these summery floral tights or this black one-piece swimsuit. As an added bonus, you'll receive free express shipping, so even though we're already more than a week into February, you'll have your new swimsuit at your doorstep before summer ends. Plus, Active Truth is committed to sustainability, supporting the The Seabin Project and making its swimwear from reconstructed recycled fibres, such as discarded fishing nets. If you're keen to snag some new togs, have a look through the catalogue and order before the sale ends at 11.59pm on Sunday, February 14. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
UPDATE, September 11, 2020: Colossal is available to stream via SBS On Demand, Google Play and YouTube Movies. It may feature a giant creature lumbering around Seoul, but Colossal isn't your typical big predictable monster movie. In fact, there are plenty of refreshing ideas scurrying around within the latest film from writer-director Nacho Vigalondo, who previously taunted Elijah Wood through a computer in Open Windows, and now saddles Anne Hathaway with a lizard the size of a building. Come for the Godzilla-scale antics; stay for an insightful exploration of the destructive tendencies that lurk within us all, as well as an unexpected celebration of female empowerment. When we first meet Hathaway's aimless, out-of-work writer Gloria, she's a partying mess. Tired of her drinking-all-night ways, her boyfriend Tim (Dan Stevens) kicks her out, sending her fleeing from New York City to her empty childhood home. Though it has been decades since she lived in the small town she grew up in, it doesn't take long for her to catch up with former school pal Oscar (Jason Sudeikis), become boozing buddies with him and his friends (Tim Blake Nelson and Austin Stowell), and take a job at his bar. Binging and benders come next, as does the news that a monster has been wreaking havoc on the other side of the world. How Colossal expands its concept from there is one of the many joys best discovered by watching, but it's hardly a spoiler to say that battling demons, both internal and external, sits at the heart of the film. Connecting a trainwreck of a character with a gargantuan reptilian critter doing more damage than a railroad disaster mightn't be the subtlest metaphor, and yet Vigalondo ensures that the link between the two does more than just hammer home an obvious point. Indeed, examining just how one influences the other inspires narrative twists and emotional revelations, giving the movie the heart and smarts to match the size of its towering central figure. Just as it does with its creature feature premise, though, Colossal takes its underlying ideas a step further. Noting that humanity – collectively and individually – can be as ruinous as a hulking kaiju is really just the beginning. It doesn't escape attention that Gloria is surrounded by a bunch of ostensibly well-meaning men who all think that they're helping; realising just how large a shadow they're casting upon her life is crucial to the story. Indeed, this movie doesn't just tear down a city. It attempts to topple gender politics as well. Monsters, male domination and manoeuvring around both provide meaty food for thought, as well as a whole heap of meaningful material for Hathaway and Sudeikis to play with. Actually, their casting is a stroke of genius. Clearly given the lead role with a knowing awareness of how polarising she can be with general audiences, Hathaway fleshes out a protagonist who initially seems a stock-standard flurry of flaws, bad decisions and grating traits. Sudeikis also gets to toy with his usual persona, dissecting a character that seems on the surface like the kind of likeable nice guy he's played many times before. Just like the creature they're dallying with, however, there's more to each of them than it first appears. It takes a particularly inventive way of thinking to weave all of the above together, and to deliver a mighty fine monster flick at the same time. Vigalondo's brain is clearly wired in just the right way. His love for all things kaiju shines through every time his creature makes an appearance, visually boasting more in common with the genre's B-movie roots than its slick Hollywood incarnations. Still, his affection for his intelligent concept and empowering message stomps harder. Talk about a colossal effort. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOMp9sscNVc
Every December, the Geminids meteor shower lights up our skies. Considered to be the most spectacular meteor shower of the year, it's caused by a stream of debris, left by an asteroid dubbed the 3200 Phaethon, burning up in Earth's atmosphere. The 2021 shower kicked off on Saturday, December 4, but it really is just getting started. While the Geminids runs through until Monday, December 20 this year, it's expected to be at its peak in Australia overnight between Tuesday, December 14–Wednesday, December 15. Christmas lights aren't the only spectacle worth peering at this month, clearly. If you fancy a stint of stargazing, you'll want to look up on Tuesday, December 14 from around 9pm in Brisbane, 10pm in Perth, 11pm in Sydney, 11.30pm in Adelaide and 12am in Melbourne. The best time to catch an eyeful will be after midnight, when the moon has set and its light will not interfere, but before sunrise. Australia is also expected to get a great vantage on the on the evening of Monday, December 13, if you'd like to double your viewing. Some years, you can catch as many as 150 meteors every 60 minutes, so this definitely isn't just any old meteor shower. [caption id="attachment_699423" align="alignnone" width="1920"] NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center, Jeff Dai.[/caption] For your best chances, it's worth getting as far away from bright lights as possible. This could be a good excuse to head out of the city to a clear-skied camping spot — and pray for no clouds. To see the meteors, you'll need to give your eyes around 15–30 minutes to adapt to the dark (so try to avoid checking your phone) and look to the northeast. The shower's name comes from the constellation from which they appear to come, Gemini. So that's what you'll be looking for in the sky. To locate Gemini, we recommend downloading the Sky Map app — it's the easiest way to navigate the night sky (and is a lot of fun to use even on a non-meteor shower night). If you're more into specifics, Time and Date also has a table that shows the direction and altitude of the Geminids. The Geminids meteor shower runs from Saturday, December 4–Monday, December 20, and will be at its peak during the night on Tuesday, December 14–Wednesday, December 15. For further details, head to Time and Date. Top image: A composite of 163 photos taken over 90 minutes during the Geminids by Jeff Smallwood for Flickr.
Ever wonder what goes on at the museum before it opens? Turns out it's less like Night at the Museum, and more like the inside of a yoga studio. That's because, from July 18, Melbourne Museum is opening its doors for a series of workout classes from 7.30–9am. Using the surrounding museum environment, exercise instructor and choreography assistant Jo Lloyd will be leading classes of 20 people through yoga, dance and aerobics. In an effort to use the museum space for more than just slow shuffling, BalletLab has developed this hour-long class for all fitness levels. A healthy breakfast is included in the $35 ticket too (if you like to be rewarded for all physical exercise — and rightly so). So you can start your day in Warrior II with the dinosaurs, climbing stairs like the insects in the Bug Lab, or stretching like the squids and sharks. Museum Moves will take place on July 18, 19, 20, 25, 26 and 27 from 7.30am. If you'd like to return after dark, the museum is also running a series of adults-only parties on Friday nights.
Excuse me. Excuse me. You need to get down to Supersmall on Friday, August 25 for a party celebrating everybody's favourite '90s MTV show. Or don't. Whatever. Hosted by the South Yarra club in celebration of the show's 20th anniversary, this Daria-centric shindig will feature music from the show and era (that is the late '90s and early '00s) along with cocktails like the Sick Sad Slushie and the *Sigh* Spritz. Plus, get there for 10–11pm and you'll be able to get in on free pizza because, as Daria wisely says, "there is no moment in life that can't be improved with pizza". Naturally, there'll also be a costume competition – so pull on your black combat boots and tap in to your inner Morgendorffer. Tickets are $10 and doors open at 10pm.
In news that'll come as little surprise to any Melburnian, given Melbourne's status as Australia's coffee heartland (and the predilection for complete coffee snobbery, too) — a barista from the Victorian capital has taken out top honours at the Australian Specialty Coffee Association (ASCA) National Coffee Championships. For the second year in a row, Axil Coffee Roasters has nabbed the title of Australia's National Barista Champion for 2023. Melbourne barista Jack Simpson beat out scores of other Aussie hopefuls in the annual competition. His winning caffinated offering consisted of an espresso, a milk-based coffee and his own coffee-based signature drink — a concoction featuring fermented raspberries, cold vacuum bergamot tea and clarified milk. [caption id="attachment_888451" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Axil coffee, James Butler[/caption] "I wanted my routine to reflect the constantly evolving nature of the coffee world and the need for baristas to always be thinking creatively in order to keep up with trends in tastes and technology," Simpson says. The newly crowned coffee king will now go on to represent Australia at the World Barista Championship, held in Athens this year between June 22–24. Last year, Melbourne's Anthony Douglas of Axil Coffee Roasters did Melbourne's notoriously coffee-obsessed city proud, taking out the title of Australia's National Barista Champion for 2022 at the Australian Specialty Coffee Association (ASCA) National Coffee Championships. Douglas went on to nab first place at the World Barista Championship in 2022. [caption id="attachment_888453" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Axil, Melbourne Central[/caption] Axil has a swag of cafe locations across Melbourne — find your local by jumping onto the website.
When it was announced back in 2016 that Moulin Rouge! was being turned into a stage musical, fans around the world thought the same thing in unison: the show must go on. Since then, the lavish production premiered in the US in 2018, then hit Broadway in 2019, and also announced that it'd head Down Under in 2021 — and if you're an Aussie wondering when the latter would actually happen after all the chaos of the past two years, the same mantra thankfully applies to its upcoming Melbourne season. Originally set to debut in August — a date that was obviously delayed due to lockdown — Moulin Rouge! The Musical will now make its Australian debut at Melbourne's revamped Regent Theatre on Friday, November 12. It'll do so as a newly minted Tony-winner, too, after picking up ten awards earlier in October, and also becoming the first-ever Aussie-produced show to win the Tony for Best Musical. Based on Baz Luhrmann's award-winning, Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor-starring movie — which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year — the stage musical brings to life the famed Belle Époque tale of young composer Christian and his heady romance with Satine, actress and star of the legendary Moulin Rouge cabaret. Set in the Montmartre Quarter of Paris, the film is known for its soundtrack, celebrating iconic tunes from across the past five decades. The stage version carries on the legacy, backing those favourites with even more hit songs that have been released in the two decades since the movie premiered. The musical is heading to Melbourne in the hands of production company Global Creatures, along with the Victorian Government. The Government is also a big player behind the Regent's upgrade works, having dropped a cool $14.5 million towards the $19.4 million project. It co-owns the site, along with the City of Melbourne. Moulin Rouge! The Musical's spectacular spectacular Melbourne season is set to stick around for a while, with tickets currently on sale until April 29. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihH1VttqMzc&feature=emb_logo Updated October 26, 2021. Moulin Rouge! The Musical image: Matthew Murphy.
Meaning 'our' in Italian, Lulie Tavern's upstairs, all-weather rooftop is welcoming Lydia Greenwood and and Chef Dane Hewson (ex-Embla, Grossi Florentino) to the family on Sunday, June 11. The rock 'n roll bar will be hosting a day of Italian dining, complete with live tunes and red-and-white checkered tablecloth. Highlights of the $59 set menu include a cacio e pepe hash brown with creme fraiche and black pepper caramel, plus the 8-hour ragu served with handmade tagliatelle. Tortellini di zucca with a brown butter sauce and slow-roasted pumpkin, a wild rocket salad and tiramisu cannoli rounds out the offering. Additional add-ons include oysters with a Bloody Mary mignonette, and a tongue-in-cheek glass of wine with biscotti wafers dubbed "take communion". The menu will be available from 12pm, and you'll find a stack of funky Italian vino options to match from Quel Vino. As always, Lulie will be dishing up a rocking soundtrack from open to close, complete with DJ Richie 1250 spinning Italian disco party vibes. Top images: Full Moon Fever, Jake Roden.
Thursday night is movie night at Point Park in Yarra's Edge, Docklands, with the return of the popular openair films series Movies Under the Stars. After a successful first season last summer, this year's program once again features a trio of recent favourites, beginning with Dawn of the Planet of the Apes followed by Skyfall and everyone favourite new-Disney guilty pleasure Frozen. Live music will while away the last few hours of daylight, and each movie will also be preceded by a short film from a local director. Dinner-wise, you can choose from a number of food trucks who’ll be cooking on site, or you can choose to BYO picnic. Best of all, unlike most of the city's favourite outdoor cinemas, entry into screenings is absolutely free. They’re even sorting out your transport for you, with a free return ferry service departing from Federation Square’s Riverside Berth at 6.30pm. As the icing on the cake, gold coins collected on the night will be donated to Melbourne-based charity Kids Under Cover. PROGRAM 26 February — Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (MIM short film preview — Miniature Melbourne) 5 March — Skyfall (MIM short film preview – Bless You) 12 March — Frozen (MIM short film preview – The Adventures of Lucy)
If you're keen to raise a glass for International Women's Day, why not make it a nice pint glass filled with a special collaborative brew crafted in honour of all the women who drink, make and appreciate beer? On Friday, March 8, Blackheart & Sparrows is set to host its third annual froth-filled celebration of women who are making the beer game their own. Held at the Co-Conspirators Brewpub, it'll double as a launch party for the latest release of The Brewer — a collaboration beer made with Co-Conspirators for the occasion. This year's brew is a boldly malty ESB (extra special bitter, otherwise known as an English-style pale ale). Female-identifying beer-lovers and allies are invited along for an afternoon spent sampling the new brew (either by tap or by hand pump), while hearing from key females in the biz at a panel chat led by Blackheart & Sparrows' beer buyer Cherry Murphy. She'll be joined by co-director of Co-Conspirators and co-Vice President of Pink Boots Society Australia, Jacqui Sacco, as well as the President of Pink Boots Society Australia, Sarah Turner, founder of Full Colour Life and co-founder of Two Birds Brewing, Jayne Lewis, and founder and head distiller at Island Gin, Andi Ross. Another women-led business, Basil & Oregano Pizzeria, will also be on hand throughout the evening, pumping out woodfired pizzas. Entry is free to this year's Future Brewer event, but you will need to reserve a spot online.
Each year we anticipate the arrival of December 25. Because of the day off, the promise of an afternoon spent dozing in a hammock — and the arrival of Messina's annual Christmas cake. And while the gelato gods last year went for a huge edible Christmas bauble-shaped creation, they've decided to make 2016's cake slightly more political. Enter The Lockout Claus. This epic ice cream cake — shaped like a round Santa Clause trying to fit down a chimney, if you didn't completely see it the first time — is Messina's delicious festive response to Sydney's lockout laws. The Sydney-founded gelato chain have been vocal supporters of the Keep Sydney Open campaign this year, and even though slight changes to the laws were announced last week, they evidently still think Santa's at risk of getting locked out on Christmas Eve. So what's in the cake? Well, cutting open Santa's jolly belly will reveal layers of salted caramel gelato with cherry sorbet, chewy caramel, chocolate mousse and chocolate sponge. Plus, it comes with a jug of vanilla brandy custard to pour over the hefty slice of cake you'll serve yourself up. The cake, which serves 12-14 (or less if you really commit), costs $90 and can be ordered for pickup between December 21 and Christmas Eve. In Sydney you can pick one up from their Rosebery, Darlinghurst, Bondi, Miranda and Parramatta stores. If you're in Melbourne you can get one from their Fitzroy or Windsor outposts — and, sweeter still, you can eat it knowing you can still go out and party all night too. The Lockout Claus is available to order at gelatomessina.com.
If there’s one thing I’ve learnt from researching Super Discount, it’s that ‘intellectual disability’ is hardly an appropriate term, because this crew seems far cleverer than I. Spawned from Geelong’s internationally acclaimed Back to Back Theatre Company (makers of the 2012 Helpmann and Green Room Award-winning play Ganesh Versus the Third Reich), Bruce Gladwin’s Super Discount will be wowing Sydney and Melbourne audiences this spring. In accordance with Back to Back’s longstanding tradition, Super Discount was written through improvisation by six actors — all but one suffering from a perceived intellectual disability — alongside Gladwin. Originally a collaboration with artist Tim Sharp, Super Discount recently underwent a name change when creative differences arose. What’s left is a production that gives voice to those who might normally be ignored and allows for diversity in their representation, “questioning how audiences read representations of disability” and stereotypical perceptions. “The general consensus in contemporary societies is that if you’re disabled it would be very inappropriate to make you [your character] evil," says Gladwin. "And really, evil is a capacity that we all have — to be evil is to be human. You know, if you can’t play evil because you’ve got a disability, you’re actually saying you’re something other than human.” If you’ve never known the disabled experience, Super Discount will clue you in. This time around the company has stripped away the scenography, leaving behind only the actors raw and exposed. "[They’re holding] what is a very detailed narrative in their hands onstage and all they have is their skill as actors," says Gladwin. "There’s nothing for them to hide behind and there’s always an element around disability that involves essentially a kind of voyeurism. In a way the actors are asking you to look at them and look only at them.” But Gladwin insists that this production is joyous, because ultimately, he says, “the piece is empowering”. Under the guise of superheroes, the performers — including Mark Deans, Simon Laherty, Sarah Mainwaring, Scott Price, Brian Tilley and David Woods — are talking some universal stuff. I mean, in spite of our perfectly staged and photoshopped Facebook pictures, even those of us fighting crime are flawed. “Iron Man has a weak heart," says Gladwin. "Thor is lame and walks on a walking stick as Doctor Donald Blake; Rogue in X-Men can’t touch anyone without killing them. Through some form of flaw or disability or mutation they [superheroes] exist as outsiders in society ... They are flawed and human despite the fact that they also have some sort of incredible superpower or access to some sort of incredible, empowering technology.” Super Discount is equal parts humorous and poignant, so expect to be “confronted, brought to tears and brought to joyous laughter” all at the same time. Maybe rewrite the dictionary's definition of 'disability' while you're at it. You can join the ensemble at the Malthouse Theatre November 13 to December 1 for something that packs more than a little ka-pow.
Melbourne's hospitality businesses have done it tough during the pandemic, with three separate lockdowns severely impacting the industry. They've also weathered some significant changes, including embracing outdoor dining in a big way. Eating outside isn't an unfamiliar concept, of course, but it has been a key part of COVID-safe operating plans for restaurants, cafes and bars (when the city isn't under stay-at-home orders, that is). And, to the surprise of no one, it isn't going anywhere soon. The City of Melbourne's current outdoor dining program was due to expire on March 31, but the local government body has just announced that the scheme is being extended for three months, running through until the end of June. So, if you've been spending time in all of those parklets that've popped up around town, you'll be able to keep doing so for a little bit longer. Since the program was set up in line with Melbourne's reopening after the city's second lockdown, nearly 1500 permits have been issued. More than 200 outdoor dining parklets have made their home on Melbourne's streets, laneways, footpaths and on-street car parking spaces, too. Permits are free, with the plan forming part of the City of Melbourne and Victorian Government's $100 million Melbourne City Recovery Fund. [caption id="attachment_667169" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Congress by Kate Shanasy[/caption] While the onset of Melbourne's chilly winter might seem like a sensible time to roll back the program, it's possible that it'll be extended again, with the city's councillors set to evaluate the scheme and consider the benefits of keeping it going beyond June. "Businesses can have confidence that outdoor dining will continue in the City of Melbourne until winter," said Lord Mayor Sally Capp in a statement. "We're looking into additional features to support outdoor dining during the cooler months such as weather protection," she continued. For more information about the City of Melbourne's extended outdoor dining permits, visit the local government body's website. Additional details about the City of Melbourne's COVID-19 response are also available on its the website. Top image: Good Times by Kate Shanasy
Back in May, when Australia started to look past social distancing and public gathering rules to a less-restricted future, Falls Festival announced it was powering ahead with plans for its New Year's festival. But a couple of months is a long time in 2020 — and today, Wednesday, August 26, the event has announced that it will not longer be taking place this year. In a statement released via Facebook, festival organisers advised that "given the current status of things and border restrictions in place, it won't be possible to hold Falls Festival in our regular New Year's timeframe". It's worth noting that the post doesn't say that the next iteration of Falls is completely cancelled, however. "Consider this a raincheck, and please know we will be back with more information as it comes to hand," the statement notes. As for what that entails, Falls will "work with government stakeholders and key agencies to get Falls Festival back in the calendar". Clearly, given the way the past few months have shaped up — including with Victoria's reimplemented restrictions — there are a hefty range of factors to navigate. https://www.facebook.com/fallsfestival/photos/a.103842988679/10158800587688680/?type=3&theater If it had gone ahead in its usual December/January slot in 2020/2021, the summer festival had planned to implement some big changes. Usually taking place at Tassie's Marion Bay, Lorne in Victoria, North Byron and Fremantle, it was set to feature an all-Aussie lineup this year — which, with Australia's borders currently closed and even travel between just Australia and New Zealand "still some time away", seemed the smart choice. It also had the added bonus of helping Aussie musicians, many of which have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 lockdown. When the festival does go ahead, it's still fair to expect that it might look a little different — at least in terms of punters numbers. Falls Byron usually has around 25,000 attendees, while Falls Lorne has 9000, for example, figures that seem particularly large in today's social-distancing world. Last year, the music festival was impacted by the bushfires, with the Lorne leg cancelled one day in because of extreme and hazardous weather. Falls Festival will no longer go ahead in December 2020/January 2021. We'll let you know if and when more details are announced.
The term 'live art' has always been a bit deliberately vague. Popping up on festival programs for years now, you never quite know what to expect going in. Some kind of experimental theatre? Will you have to participate? It could just be some kind of installation piece — something seemingly innocuous that takes on a new meaning when you stand alongside it. But as of March next year, this wild card of a genre will be stepping into the spotlight. Australia's first dedicated Festival of Live Art has been announced. It will be no small affair either. Brought to us by the talented people at Arts House, Theatre Works and Footscray Community Arts Centre, FoLA will encompass over 35 events over nearly two weeks in four suburbs around our diverse city. According to the first festival announcement there will be performances in the street, on the website, and even over the phone. An audience for each event will vary from a crowd of 200 to an intimate audience of one. Angharad Wynne-Jones of Arts House says the festival will also be a perfect opportunity to explore the direction of contemporary art as a whole. "[It's] a great way to cast a light on the art form breakers, the risk takers, the mavericks, the socially engaged and the determinedly experimental," she says. This is understandably a pretty large task, and the three organisers will be divvying up the work in curation. Opening weekend will be run by the Footscray folk and will kick off with an international keynote yet to be announced and a new annual symposium by artists Amy Spiers and James Oliver. The following weekend will be on northern turf at Arts House, and the final week will take audiences to the seaside St Kilda home of Theatre Works. Though the full program has not yet been announced, we do have some exciting work to look forward to. Performance artist Tristan Meecham will be bringing us a very special game show where 50 people with no performance experience compete on stage to win the host's own possessions. Edinburgh Fringe Festival Award winner Bryony Kimmings will be presenting a scathing satire of tween pop stars with her nine-year-old niece in Credible Likeable Superstar Role Model. Yana Alana will bring us a show from her bed (in the least dirty way possible), there will be art floating by the Yarra on your way home, and even an hourly performance event that features 24 live works over one long-haul day. Your favourites from this year's Sydney or Melbourne Festival may be popping up too. Tawdry Heartburn's Manic Cures (pictured) is already confirmed. In a 20-minute act that resembles a live-action Post Secret, performance artist James Berlyn takes audience members in one by one, paints their fingernails and exposes any secret they're keeping. Live art really is diverse. We're excited to see what else makes the cut. The full program for the first Festival of Live Art will be released on February 3.
Bangarra is a dance theatre company that uses music and movement from the contemporary urban world to explore the stories of Australia's Indigenous people. Since 1989 they have been creating extraordinarily muscular and beautifully choreographed performances; 40,000-year-old songlines and bloodlines transported to a modern context. In their latest production, Blak, the relationship between old and new — tension and possibility for change — comes under intense and uncompromising scrutiny. Composed in three movements, Blak begins as a gang of seven boys test the constantly shifting boundaries of inner-city life as they prepare for traditional rites of passage and initiation ceremonies. Wearing hooded jumpers and skinny jeans, they appear profoundly disenfranchised within a gritty city of gridlocked boundaries that plays host to their sometimes unpredictable behaviour. In the second movement it’s the women's turn to deal with the recurring conflict between city dwelling and Indigenous connection to country. The female sense of disempowerment is different in that it specifically relates to the difficulty of speaking out on fundamental issues like birth, loss, language and powerlessness. How these 'blak' women can make their voices resonate clearly for future generations is a question that lingers beyond the physical performance. In the final movement all 14 dancers take to the stage to celebrate and pay homage to their heritage to powerful, sensual and utterly compelling effect. The soundscape, composed by internationally renowned choreographer Stephen Page and electro-pop king Paul Mac, links each individual movement of the dancers into a vital whole, visibly transporting the audience. Bangarra is a Wiradjuri word meaning “to make fire” — in Blak, the burning desire for spiritual connection is rekindled. Image via Bangarra Dance Theatre
This month, one of the former grand dames of Sydney Road is set to make her comeback. The long-running, music-loving party pub The Penny Black shut its doors earlier this year, but is about to embark on a new phase of life under the helm of 100 Burgers Group (Welcome to Thornbury, Mr Burger, Hightail). Reopening in late July under the new moniker Penny's, the pub will take the form of a live music venue and beer garden, complete with late-night hours and rock 'n roll-inspired interiors. Group Creative Director Matt Lane (Mamasita, Hotel Jesus) has reimagined the sticky-floored boozer as an homage to 70s-era Japanese rock culture, all moody tones and glowing red lights. A new-look front bar, dining space and band room leads back through to Penny's legendary beer garden, which has also been revamped, and now rocks a tropical-themed turquoise deck. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Penny's (@pennysbandroom) As for the food offering, you'll find the pizzas and parmas of yesterday have been replaced by a Japanese-leaning menu courtesy of Executive Chef Sandy Melgalvis (formerly Mulberry Group and Head Chef of Three Blue Ducks). Expect a share-friendly lineup starring the likes of cauliflower katsu sandwiches, karaage chicken and hashimaki — a street food dish featuring okonomiyaki rolled around a chopstick. Penny's will aim to carry on the live music legacy of its predecessor, with the band room hosting local acts up to four nights a week and the beer garden to become a DJ-fuelled oasis each weekend. While the refreshed iteration of The Penny Black will keep its former home at 420 Sydney Road, the venue is set to merge with some of its nearest neighbours to create a multi-venue precinct dubbed Welcome to Brunswick. Penny's will join up with rear neighbour 4 Pines Brewery and Beer Garden (previously known as Welcome to Brunswick), fellow Sydney Road haunts Brunswick Mess Hall and Little Mess, and Frith Street burger joint Mr Burger. Punters will eventually able to roam freely between the adjoining venues at Welcome to Brunswick thanks to a central pathway. Find Penny's at 420 Sydney Road, Brunswick, from late July, when it'll become part of the Welcome to Brunswick precinct. In the meantime, you can access 4 Pines Brewery and Beer Garden via 1 Frith Street, Brunswick.
It's true in Baz Luhrmann's beloved movie musical Moulin Rouge!, and it's true about the Tony-winning stage version that's wowed Broadway and first hit Melbourne in 2021: the show must go on. Didn't get a chance to see this film-to-theatre spectacular during its initial Victorian run? Been regretting it ever since? Thankfully, this gorgeous production heads back to the Regent Theatre from Sunday, August 20. Yes, it's spectacular (spectacular) news. It's so exciting, you're allowed to stomp and cheer, too. Once more, Melbourne will stand in for the Montmartre Quarter of Paris — the backdrop for a heady romance between lovestruck young bohemian Christian and performer Satine, star of the legendary titular cabaret. As Luhrmann's award-winning, Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor-starring movie did before it, the stage musical spins their tale, ups, downs, joys, heartbreaks, wins, tragedies and all. Moulin Rouge! The Musical isn't just heavy on star-crossed romance, however. Also like the film it's based on, it comes with a loaded soundtrack that celebrates iconic tunes from across the past five decades. Indeed, Moulin Rouge! The Musical backs up those favourites with even more hit songs that have been released in the two decades since the movie premiered. It has now been seven years since, back in 2016 it was first announced that Moulin Rouge! was being turned into a stage musical — and this delight was always going to prove popular. Since then, the lavish production premiered in the US in 2018, then hit Broadway in 2019, and finally made its way Down Under — and also became the first-ever Aussie-produced show to win the Tony for Best Musical. Images: Michelle Grace Hunder.
Start hunting around for your dusty gumboots and stash your tinnies, the Meredith Music Festival ballot is officially open. The 24th annual Meredith Music Festival will be held from December 12-14 and as per usual, Aunty let slip the act she’s most excited about this year: War On Drugs. The Philadelphian foursome released their third studio album, Lost In The Dream in March this year to great critical acclaim — a whopping 8.8 from the Pitchfork crew is pretty solid by anyone's ranty standards. The Secretly Canadian-signed Pennsylvanians have snagged the prime time slot of Friday night; perfectly dreamy to suit your one-two step festival needs. The ballot is open from now until 9:47pm Monday, August 11. As always, there'll be two rounds of the ballot so if you’re even remotely interested in having a cracking weekend make sure you sign up. The physical size of the festival will remain the same as last year, but the team are making things a little roomier — with 500 less capacity than previous years. Tickets are $318.80 + $10 booking fee, which covers three days and two nights of music in the Supernatural Amphitheatre. Enter the Meredith ballot over here and keep those fingers and toes crossed.
Big changes are afoot for the Queen Victoria Market precinct, with the area getting an extensive (and expensive) spruce. In the latest news on the renewal, the green light has been given to a planning permit for a multi-million dollar mixed-used development that was lodged last year. Acting Lord Mayor Arron Wood revealed the final plans for the Munro site — which is the building that, up until last year, housed The Mercat — will feature a huge $70 million of community facilities, to keep up with the area's predicted growth of over 22,000 by 2040. "The City of Melbourne purchased this site from the Munro family for $76 million in 2014 to inoculate against inappropriate development and prevent a supermarket or large chain stores or franchises being built on the site, in direct competition to fresh food offerings of the Queen Vic," the Acting Lord Mayor said. The council has contracted PDG Corporation to develop the site under the provision that it will incorporate "vital community infrastructure" alongside commercial property. This means that the Munro site will include a 120-place childcare facility, 56 affordable housing units, a services centre, a gallery, new laneways, a community centre and kitchen and beefed-up customer parking. Perhaps most controversial part of the plan has been the addition of a new high-rise tower that will sit at the eastern end of the development towards La Trobe Street. PDG initially wanted this structure to be 60 storeys, but the council last year imposed a height limit of 125 metres, which would cut it down to around 40 storeys. This will most likely house residential apartments, a hotel and retail spaces. The development's approval comes after Melbourne City Council's original plans for the precinct were challenged by Heritage Victoria this March. As reported by The Age, that proposal suggested temporarily removing four of the market's historic sheds to make way for underground parking and trades service areas, though the heritage authority voiced concerns over whether the buildings could be returned in their original condition. The approved Munro build will instead see underground car parking incorporated elsewhere on the site, with the existing asphalt car park transformed into 1.5 hectares of public open space. It's pegged to be a world-class sustainable development, in keeping with other innovative City of Melbourne projects like the Library at the Dock and the Council House 2 developments. Development of the site is set to start this year.
If you've been looking for an excuse to hit the slopes this winter, the annual Transfer Banked Slalom is returning to Thredbo on Friday, August 12. Now in its eighth year, the event invites snowboarders of all ages and skill levels to compete in the race located at Thredbo's Playground Area below the chairlift. Entrants can compete in a range of categories from 12 years and under through to the open men's and women's races. Or, if you're not quite confident enough to compete yourself, you can head along on the day to watch from the YETI chill zone. There will be drinks and plenty of talent displayed on the day with some big names competing in the open categories including Olympians Tess Coady, Scotty James, Valentino Guseli, Jarryd Hughes and Josie Baff. As with all good days at Thredbo, there will also be an afterparty at the Merritts Mountain House Deck. All competitors are invited to celebrate after their ride down the mountain with Adelaide brewery Pirate Life adding to the festivities with beers and live music. Passes to compete in the event are $89 and must be accompanied by a lift pass which competitors can get a discount on.
This week, enter the charming little dream world of Lucy Folk and make her covetable candy-hued cocktail clutches and wearable works of art yours. And all for a fraction of the price, because the Melbourne-based jewellery designer is hosting a sample sale on Thursday, April 6 and Friday, April 7. Huzzah! Older styles, past collections and samples will be available at up to 75 percent off retail price. So does this mean we'll find those peppercorn earrings and caviar rings from the 2014 food-inspired Appeteaser collection? We sure hope so. Plus, even though it's a sample sale, there's no need to worry about being sample sized, because we're talking eyewear, clutches and jewellery. Double huzzah. As we move into cooler autumnal weather and shorter days, future you will thank Lucy Folk (and your shopping habits) for adding a burst of cheer to your every day outfits. The Lucy Folk Sample Sale will run from 8am–7pm both days.
Located within the historical Garden State Hotel on Flinders Lane, Tippy-Tay is Melbourne's love letter to the coastlines of Italy. Walk across the yellow and green brick-framed threshold of this stylish trattoria and be transported immediately to the Mediterranean. The menu embraces everything that we love about Italian food: simple, well-sourced ingredients and dishes designed to share. Start your meal with freshly shucked oysters, octopus 'salami' or pumpkin and goat's cheese arancini. Move onto antipasti with wagyu carpaccio, yellowfin tuna or parmesan custard with radicchio, orange, and hazelnuts. Pasta dishes include a classic spanner crab fusilli or Manjimup truffle and porcini mafaldine — or try something a little different with two-sheet lasagne verde with slipper lobster, prawn, mussels and scallops in a white sauce. Tippy-Tay is slinging pizzas like the lobster diavola with slipper lobster, 'nduja, cherry tomato, chilli and garlic alongside classics like margherita and cacio e pepe. Mains include options like grilled swordfish with golden olive caponata and fennel, roasted eggplant with chickpeas, tomato and chilli, and 250-gram Jack's Creek bavette steak with rocket and parmesan. Can't decide what to eat? Go for the 'Feed Me Menu' — there's even an option to add three paired wines and a limoncello to finish. If you're thirsty, there's plenty to choose from on the drinks menu. There is a thoughtfully curated wine list that heroes Italian grapes with a couple of vinos from South Australia, Victoria and New Zealand. The cocktail menu features the classics like negroni and margarita, as well as some house creations such as the frozen limoncello — made with Tippy-Tay's own limoncello — and frozen Malfy G&T, Tippy-Tay's OG cocktail made with Malfy blood orange gin, pineapple, citrus and tonic.
Writer, actor and queer activist Annaliese Constable stars in a one-woman comedy show about that most touchy of topics: parenthood. It's a subject she feels fairly strongly about, having grown up with a mother who once tried to take a swig from a breathalyser. Laughter is often the best way to deal with things that make us uncomfortable, and her Next Wave 2016 show Mummy Dearest promises plenty of both. Several sessions have already sold out, so make sure you get in quick.
The True Australian Patriots are fed up with all you lefties, and are here to tell it like it is. Inspired by the unintentional comedy of real life organisations like Reclaim Australia and the United Patriots Front, Anne Edmonds, Greg Larson and Damien Power have created a spot-on send-up of bigotry in modern day Australia. If you've seen any of their videos, you'll have a rough idea of what to expect. Take part in an evening of re-education at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, where you'll learn the truth about all the important issues facing our country today. Did you know that vegemite is halal? Open your eyes sheeple!
Ironically enough, this year's been another gnarly ride for Urbnsurf Melbourne. Australia's first surf park made its grand debut in January, 2020, but has endured a ping pong match of closures and reopenings ever since, thanks to the pandemic. Now, Urbnsurf is gearing up for what's hopefully its final return, announcing it'll fire up the waves once more starting from 7am this Saturday, October 23. While the park won't be open in all its glory just yet, it's kicking things off by taking up to 25 surfers per hour, across its two-hectare surfing lagoon. For now, a total of 50 guests are allowed onsite at any one time. Private sessions, surf lessons and spectator passes are on hold until restrictions ease further in early November, as is the anticipated reopening of the Three Blue Ducks restaurant. Facilities including the day beds, cabanas and skate pad will also come later, expected once Victoria hits its 80 percent double-dose vaccination target. Of course, there'll be a few new rules to follow from here on, in keeping with the Victorian Government's COVID-safe guidelines. Expect caps on numbers for lessons and surf sessions, mask rules as per current requirements, and proof of vaccination required for all guests over the age of 16. [caption id="attachment_756496" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Courtesy Urbnsurf and Ed Sloane[/caption] When you do hit the surf, you'll find a handful of brand-new wave settings to put you through your paces and test that post-lockdown fitness, including a point break-style set-up dubbed Cruiser Turns. There'll be lots more events and surfing options to follow, as metropolitan Melbourne's restrictions continue to ease. Find Urbnsurf from Saturday, October 23, near Melbourne Airport. It's usually open from 6am–10pm daily in spring and summer, with slightly varied hours during the first few weeks back. You can book in for surf sessions and surf lessons via the park's website. Images: Courtesy Urbnsurf, Ed Sloane and Adam Gibson.
Honest, home-style Italian food is the name of the game at this all-day spot. A northside favourite for over a decade, the 200-seat diner exudes a warm old-world charm, and includes balcony and bar seating as well as private rooms where you can tuck into a range of excellent prepared classics for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Come in early for the likes of zucchini and sage scrambled eggs on ciabatta with spicy pork and fennel sausage and butter thyme mushrooms, or a little later for the daily rotating range of panini. The dinner menu also changes by the day, with recent specials including a tender osso bucco with polenta, but the house-made pasta is the must-try here. Wash it down with a selection from the neat wine list, featuring a considered selection of Italian and Australian labels. Images: Hi Sylvia Photography
Residents of 88 Melbourne suburbs are being told to hold off on drinking their tap water today (unless it's boiled), after last night's storms caused electrical damage impacting some of the city's water supply. Yarra Valley Water, which is Melbourne's largest retail water utility, sounded the alert via Twitter this morning. "Some water may have entered our drinking water supply network that had not been treated to the usual standard," the company has warned. Power has since returned and it's addressed the initial issue, though some areas are still being supplied with water that's not been properly treated. https://twitter.com/YVWater/status/1299136129200017408 Until it resolves the problem, Yarra Valley Water is advising residents of the impacted suburbs to take precautions and bring any tap water to a rolling boil before using it to drink, brush teeth, make ice, or prepare food or baby formula. The company Tweeted that the risk of illness from drinking the water is low, but that people should see their doctor if they experience any gastro-type symptoms. It's expecting things to be fixed by this afternoon and says it will send out confirmation when the suburbs' tap water supply is back to normal quality. To make matters worse, Yarra Valley Water's website has been having some issues of its own today and has been down for part of the morning. But if you want to know which suburbs have been affected, here they are: Attwood Bayswater Bayswater North Blackburn Blackburn North Blackburn South Boronia Box Hill North Broadmeadows Bulleen Bundoora Burwood Burwood East Campbellfield Chirnside Park Coburg North Coldstream Coolaroo Craigieburn Croydon Croydon Hills Croydon North Croydon South Dallas Doncaster Doncaster East Donvale Doreen Eltham Epping Fawkner Forest Hill Glen Waverley Greensborough Greensborough Greenvale Heathmont Kalorama Kangaroo Ground Kilsyth Kilsyth South Kingsbury Lalor Lilydale Lower Plenty Meadow Heights Melbourne Airport Mernda Mill Park Mitcham Monbulk Mont Albert North Montmorency Montrose Mooroolbark Mount Dandenong Mount Evelyn Mount Waverley North Warrandyte Nunawading Olinda Park Orchards Plenty Research Reservoir Ringwood Ringwood East Ringwood North Roxburgh Park Silvan Somerton South Morang Templestowe Templestowe Lower The Basin Thomastown Vermont Vermont South Viewbank Wantirna Warrandyte Warrandyte South Warranwood Westmeadows Wollert Wonga Park Yallambie Yarrambat For updates on the water supply issue, keep an eye on Yarra Valley Water's Twitter account.
Mitch Jones, aka Captain Ruin of Caravan of Doom, brings to Melbourne his playful new show, One Night Stand. Having recently escaped incarceration in a Turkish jail, Ruin's stories of tragedy and misfortune provide a stepping stone for the audience into his world of thrill seeking and living life on the edge. Seductively combining song, strip tease, circus, and comedy, the show leads the audience on a journey through Ruins' experiences and adventures from around the world. Amongst this playful performer's textured web of humorous stories, eccentricity and satire, there is a deep and clear message of prevailing against the impossible. Filled with dry social commentary, satirical wit and a healthy dose of physical humour, this exuberant evening will be a mixture of both excitement and reflection. Described as raunchy, raw and a little bit dirty, Ruin's performance sounds like the perfect One Night Stand.
Hitting the indoor mini-golf course for a few holes of pop culture-themed fun and a few rounds of delightfully named beverages isn't just something Brisbanites should enjoy, or Sydney residents either. After launching in Queensland in late 2016, and announcing their first New South Wales venture just last week, Holey Moley Golf Club has revealed plans for its first Melbourne digs. Come April 20, prepare to tee off at 590 Little Bourke Street in the CBD, with 27 holes of club-swinging antics on offer across two levels. It'll be Holey Moley's biggest venue yet, which means that there's plenty of room for creative courses. How will they top Brissie's glow-in-the-dark room, Big Lebowski offering, putting versions of skeeball, pinball, eightball and Twister, and all-round mini-golf insanity? How indeed. Just what themes Melburnians will be tap, tap, tapping their way through is yet to be revealed, although everyone will be able to break out into song at the same time, with karaoke part of the antics. If you choose to work your way through the Happy Gilmore soundtrack, no one will stop you (at least not any of the staff). Drinks-wise, expect cocktails. Brisbane's Caddyshack Bar boasts a pun-laden drinks list that includes the Putty Professor, the Teeyonce Knowles and a Long Island Iced Tee (just what it sounds like, but with an appropriate name). Beer, cider and wine will also be available, but when you're aiming for a hole-in-one, it seems appropriate to be drinking from one (made from Pampero white rum, cinnamon whisky, half a banana, sugar syrup and a doughnut — yep, a doughnut) at the same time. Holey Moley Golf Club will open at 590 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne from April 20. For more info, check out their website and Facebook page.
Like karaoke? Fond of singing along to well-known songs, especially with a drink in your hand? Happy to belt out a tune in a crowd? If you answered yes to all of the above questions, then it's time to up your crooning game during Pub Choir's new Australian tour — aka the boozy sing-along that's all about giving your lungs a workout between sips. Since early 2017 in Brisbane, Pub Choir has been amassing brew-loving music fans in venues around the Queensland city. The regular event asks its attendees to learn a particular song in three-part harmonies, with talented professionals on hand each time to show everyone the ropes and lead the way. Every evening then culminates in a big boozy singing session, with the event making its way to bigger Brissie locations over the years, as well venturing around the country. Now, it's hitting up every Aussie capital across January and February 2022. The vibe: a far more organised version of exactly what happens whenever someone puts 'Wonderwall' or 'Weather With You' on the pub jukebox. And, now that communal singing in public is back after all the various pandemic-related restrictions that've come our way over the past two years, you can expect this tour to feel particularly celebratory, too. Pub Choir was a big hit during lockdowns, and as life started to return to normal as well; you might've taken part in Couch Choir in 2020, or watched the Australia's Biggest Singalong special on SBS earlier in 2021. Run by Astrid Jorgensen and Waveney Yasso, its IRL events are mighty popular, too — unsurprisingly — with tickets getting snapped up very quickly each time. So if you're keen to sing and drink with a theatre full of people, you'll want to book asap. PUB CHOIR CHEAP THERAPY 2022 TOUR: Tuesday, January 11 — The Kambri Precinct, Canberra Wednesday, January 12 — Enmore Theatre, Sydney Monday, January 17 — Astor Theatre, Perth Tuesday, January 18 — Freo Social, Fremantle Wednesday, January 19 — Adelaide Town Hall, Adelaide Thursday, January 20 — Darwin Entertainment Centre, Darwin Tuesday, January 25 — Odeon Theatre, Hobart Thursday, January 27 — The Palais Theatre, Melbourne Tuesday, February 1–Wednesday, February 2 — The Tivoli, Brisbane Pub Choir's Cheap Therapy tour runs from January 11–February 2, 2022. For further details or to book tickets, head to the Pub Choir website. Top image: Jacob Morrison.
The summer of you has arrived — now that you've finally shaken that winter cold that held on for weeks, stopped begrudgingly ordering hot toddies at the pub and are now prepared to bring out your bare legs for the first time in months. You're also now saving stacks on not having to get Ubers door to door because of the rain and cold. What can you do to celebrate? Well, there's a bunch of things going on this summer in Melbourne that won't blow the bank — send those Uber funds elsewhere. We've joined up with Bank of Melbourne to pull together a list of what you should be doing before the season's through. Start planning and read on. ROOFTOP POOL PARTY ON FLINDERS LANE It's a hidden gem usually reserved for hotel guests, but come Saturday, January 19, the sun-drenched rooftop pool above Holiday Inn Melbourne on Flinders will open to the public for a one-off summer splash session. Kicking off at noon, the hotel's sky-high astroturfed terrace and adjoining pool will play host to the sort of classic Aussie pool party you don't often find in the heart of the CBD. Switch between taking dips and lounging in the sun, while enjoying free-flowing beer, wine, cider and soft drinks, all included in the ticket price. A sausage sizzle will be doling out yet more pool party staples, while the soundtrack's set to feature a fun-loving mix of classic summer jams and new favourites. Best of all, a ticket to the two-hour rooftop party will set you back just $40. MIDSUMMA FESTIVAL X NOCTURNAL FEAT. NAKHANE Melbourne Museum is good for more than just cool history stuff. The monthly adults-only sessions, Nocturnal, have produced an intriguing lineup for this summer. On Friday, February 1, the museum will host a special event in tandem with Midsumma Festival, presenting Nakhane, the South African artist making waves with his mix of percussive house-pop and speaking up as an important voice in the LGBTQI+ sphere. Joining him will be OKENYO, the project of actor and musician Zindzi Okenyo, with her neo-soul/R&B vibes. More will be announced soon, and without a doubt, a good night is set to be in store. Tickets are $25 for early bird or $35 full price. JUGS OF SANGRIA NEXT TO THE BEACH AT REPUBLICA Dog-friendly, right next to the beach, with comfortable outdoor seating and a menu rich in fresh seafood, Republica is one of St Kilda's finest. The bar also offers cocktail jugs, done in one-litre size. Sit in their sprawling outdoor area post-swim, and order a couple sangria jugs to get you through a warm summer evening on the beach. There'll likely be a pretty good food special on, too, depending on the day of the week. Perfect for sharesies with mates, a date or just you and your pooch (don't give alcohol to dogs, though), the jugs are $35 each and also come filled with Pimm's, Stones & Soda and Traditional Lemonade. NGV FRIDAY NIGHTS: KLP AND EILISH GILLIGAN NGV's Friday Night series has once again kicked off with a bang, with this year bringing a huge lineup of artists, DJs and dancers to keep you feeling arty and cultured and gooey about how much you love Melbourne. The NGV might well be our city's calling card, and it'll be trumping it late on Friday nights through summer. Your ticket includes entry to the gallery's Escher x Nendo: Between Two World exhibition so you can 'two birds one stone' it. Head along from 6pm on January 11 to see musicians KLP and Eilish Gilligan both do DJ sets. While you're there catch live performances of Bach pieces, discover the NGV's architecture commission for 2018 and hit up the pop-up gin bars. Tickets are $28 for museum members and $35 full price. We recommend booking in advance. KIDULTING AT THE ENCHANTED ADVENTURE GARDEN Arthurs Seat's Enchanted Adventure Garden is full of activities for both big and little kids alike. At the adventure park, full-grown adult types will find themselves feeling intrepid and at one with nature as they push past kids to win at the hedge maze — just remember you are actually bigger than them. Along with the three mazes on offer, you'll also find tube sliding, canopy walks and a spooky 3D maze. All day access is $30 for adults. There's also something called tree surfing — like a high ropes course — and a zipline, available at an additional cost. BERRY PICKING AT BLUE HILLS BERRY FARM There's something to be said about food you've grown, harvested and prepared by yourself — and here you'll get two of those three boxes ticked. Head to Blue Hills Berry Farm for its 'u-pick' service, where you can pick as many berries as you can — to add to a pav, or just scoff on the car ride home. Take your pick from the two locations in Silvan (offering either cherries or other berries), don your runners and off you go. Tip: check the farm's fruit report the day before you go to see what's ripe and ready for the pickin'. Entry fee is $13.50, plus whatever you pick (price per kilo varies depending on berry). [caption id="attachment_656151" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nathan Doran.[/caption] THE ST KILDA FESTIVAL If you're a fan of tasteful tunes and exuberant summer vibes that don't bruise the budget, the annual St Kilda Festival should be at the top of your summer bucket list. The nation's largest free music festival returns to St Kilda's foreshore for its 39th year on Sunday, February 10, bringing eight stages of live music and a ton of food stalls and interactive workshops stretching from Catani Gardens to the south end of Acland Street. As well as bangin' tunes, the air will be filled with the scent of delicious eats emanating from more than 100 food vendors. There'll be everything from curry to burgers, ribs and sushi — providing plenty of sustenance for all that dancing. And since the tunes are free, you'll have plenty of cash to splash on all the good eats expected. [caption id="attachment_638897" align="alignnone" width="1620"] Brook James.[/caption] WINE AND CICCHETTI OUTSIDE AT HEARTATTACK AND VINE Opened by the owners as an homage to the small neighbourhood bars and cafes of Italy and Spain, Heartattack and Vine is a solo diner's dream as well as a place to have a red wine or four with friends. Sit outside in the warm months at the communal wooden table out the front and watch the Lygon Street traffic drizzle past. Heartattack's food speciality is cicchetti, a Venetian type of tapas, which constantly rotate — and at $4 a pop, you can't go wrong. Arm yourself with a negroni and go full Italiano. GERSHWIN AND FRIENDS AT THE SIDNEY MYER MUSIC BOWL The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra presents this ode to old mate George Gershwin, the famous composer, and his other musically inclined mates. At this free concert in the Music Bowl, bring a picnic rug and embrace listening to something this silly season that isn't thumping house music — or Christmas carols on repeat. Let the strains of some of Gershwin's most well-known compositions (Rhapsody in Blue, An American in Paris) wash over you in the 90-minute concert on Friday, February 8. 2019 will celebrate 90 years of MSO free concerts and 60 years at the Bowl so it's a good year to be choosing classical music over cooked times at Revs. Entry is $0 but first in best dressed. BRUNCH OUTSIDE AT THE STABLES OF COMO South Yarra venue The Stables of Como is a more than just a trendy brunch place. It's part of a National Trust area, it's a wedding hotspot, high tea go-to and a picnic lover's dream. The converted stables are a multi-faceted site for occasions, strolls in the gardens or an outdoor meal. So hit up the café for a pink, summery juice (watermelon, strawberries, rose, mint and coconut yoghurt) and fill up on prawn toast soldiers ($18), then grab one of the lush cakes and a takeaway coffee to have yourself a little impromptu picnic on the grounds.
Giving music lovers Splendour in the Grass, Falls Festival, Spilt Milk and Harvest Rock is a massive task and achievement, but that's not all that's on Secret Sounds' festival calendar. This summer, the team is also bringing a lineup led by Flume, Foals and The Avalanches to Melbourne for Heaps Good. To get 2023 started in style, Adelaide scored a brand-new music fest in January, with Heaps Good starting as a one-day, one-city event with Arctic Monkeys headlining. It clearly went well, because Secret Sounds announced back in August that the festival will expand its footprint, taking to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl stage on Sunday, December 31, 2023. [caption id="attachment_918622" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Zac Bayly[/caption] Having Flume and The Avalanches on the same bill is quite the homegrown feat, with Britain's Foals joining them. Also playing Melbourne: Griff, Holly Humberstone, MAY-A, Sycco and Logan. Heaps Good's Victorian stop will score a Basement Jaxx DJ set as well, and SBTRKT is also on the lineup. [caption id="attachment_912808" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dylan Minchenberg[/caption] HEAPS GOOD 2023–24 LINEUP: Flume Foals The Avalanches Griff Holly Humberstone MAY-A Sycco Logan Basement Jaxx SBTRKT Top image: Ian Laidlaw.
If you've ever been stuck with the job of throwing away perfectly good food at the end of a hospitality shift, it probably won't shock you that Australian retailers are turfing over three million tonnes of food each year. Or that 80 percent of it is being chucked out simply because it wasn't sold. Thankfully, folks across the country are tackling the issue of unnecessary food waste head-on, with groups like OzHarvest and SecondBite built around the concept of redistributing unused food to the needy. And now, you can help fight the issue and save money on grub simultaneously, thanks to a new locally born app called Y Waste. Currently operating in Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, the app helps you locate businesses in your area that have surplus food to offload at the end of the day. You can then purchase it at a discounted price, paying via your smartphone and picking it up from the venue at the allocated time. Depending on which city you're searching in, you might find sandwiches and salads from the local cafe, unsold pastries from that nearby bakery, or even freshly made pizzas, all going cheap. The only restriction is that you have to take what's left — so if you're a picky eater or have dietary restrictions, this may not be for you. Sydney's offering includes Newtown's The Pie Tin, which is serving up a box of unsold pies for $2.90, Sol Coffee Bar in Campsie, serving up a mix of sandwiches and salads for $4, and Neutral Bay's Tonic Lane, which has mixed bags of cold and hot dishes going for $5. In Melbourne, you'll find venues like Coburg's Falafel House, serving up two falafels for $7, and Richmond's Fruscolino Pizza, with a large pizza going for only $9.90, in the lineup. In Brisbane, you can snag $5 pizzas at South Brisbane's Presto Pizza and $2.75 breads, sandwiches and muffins from 3Js Cafe in Woody Point. Now you can nab a budget-friendly feed and feel good about your efforts. The Y Waste app is available to for iOS and Android. Image: The Pie Tin, Newtown
Things are heating up at The B.East on Lygon Street, the official home of the Melbourne Chilli Eating Championship. On Sunday, March 8, 24 brave souls will put their lives on the line in this searing hot contest to find Melbourne's steeliest tastebuds. Doors open at noon, with the main event kicking off at 2pm. The contest consists of three knockout rounds, with things getting progressively spicier as the competition intensifies. Participants can be eliminated by tapping out, passing out or vomiting their guts up – although, hopefully it doesn't come to that. It starts with fresh pods and spicy food, progresses to jalapeños and all culminates with the consumption of the Carolina Reaper. If you'd like to partake, you need to sign up in person at The B.East for $10. And sign a waiver, of course. If you'd like to just watch, it's free to be a spectator. In addition to the championship, there'll be a special spicy menu available from 12pm (with spicy hot dogs and burgers), Pabst beer and tequila specials, hot sauce tastings and a pop-up hot sauce shop. There'll also be live bands and DJs from 7pm once the comp has wrapped up.
Break out the waffles: Amy Poehler is coming to Australia. If you're a Parks and Recreation fan, nothing less than eating breakfast foods non-stop between now and the end of May will do to celebrate. The actor behind Leslie Knope — and Saturday Night Live legend, and voice of Joy in both Inside Out and Inside Out 2 — has a date with Vivid Sydney, heading to the Harbour City for an in-conversation event that'll see her chat through her career. Inside Out 2 releases in cinemas in mid-June, so it'll receive plenty of focus when Poehler gets talking — so much so that the Sydney Opera House evening that'll be moderated by Zan Rowe will include a 30-minute first-look at the film. But her work spans far and wide beyond the animated Pixar franchise, including to films such as Baby Mama and Sisters, writing the hilarious Yes Please and unforgettable Golden Globe hosting gigs with Tina Fey. [caption id="attachment_793108" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Photo by: Chris Haston/NBC[/caption] Poehler's session will take place on Monday, May 27, making it one of the early highlights of the festival. It comes after 2023's Vivid Sydney also featured a massive screen-focused in-conversation session, welcoming The White Lotus' Jennifer Coolidge and Mike White.
If you haven't been able to book a trip to Spain in 2019, this dinner may be a very tasty consolation — stunning St Kilda bar Pontoon is throwing a paella party by the water. Across three days — Friday, July 12 through Sunday, July 14 — the beachside bar will be serving up bottomless pans of the tasty Spanish dish. For just $25, guests will have two hours of endless access to three takes on paella. You'll be able to choose form arroz negro, with squid ink black rice, chorizo and squid; a version with chicken, green beans and smoked paprika; and finally a mussel and squid-heavy paella with lots of saffron. Guests might be able to catch Head Chef Rhys Hunter in action, too, whipping up a big pans of paella in the fiery kitchen — which you'll then be able to enjoy out on the beachfront deck. And of course, there's no chance of going thirsty — the bar's lineup of top Spanish wines and jugs of sangria are a perfect match, both to the rice dish and to those stunning beach views. While the bottomless feed will only set you back $25, you will need a minimum of two people to enjoy the deal — so call a mate and make a date ASAP. To make a booking, call (03) 9525 5445 or email ahoy@pontoonstkildabeach.com.au. Bottomless paella is available from midday. Images: Simon Shiff
Looking for another idea for date night? There are stacks of things to do in Melbourne, but coming up with something novel isn't always easy. Good news: Capitano, the cosy Carlton bar from the folks behind Bar Liberty, has come to your rescue with a brand new cocktail and pizza deal to kick off your next romantic night out. The cocktail is Capitano's take on the classic whisky highball. Forget your run-of-the-mill whisky and soda. Instead, innovative bartender and all-round hospo legend Darren Leaney has teamed up with Johnnie Walker, to take the well-loved drink to a new level. You'll be sipping on a highball, but not as you know it. It'll be made with leatherwood honey, barley tea, saline, soda and Johnnie Walker Black Label Blended Scotch Whisky. Named the 'Leatherwood Highball' ($18), this refreshing tasting drink will join the Capitano menu on Tuesday, September 17. Better yet, the restaurant's making your next night out an affordable one, too. From 5.30–6.30pm every day, you can grab a pizza (classic cheese or tomato) and a Leatherwood Highball for $30. So, you and your partner in crime can settle in for a night of great food and booze at this fun art deco spot on Rathdowne Street — without blowing the bank. Image: Kate Shanasy.
When is a dance film more than just a dance film? When it brings a celebrated real-life performance to the cinema, fills its frames with dream-like visuals, and dives into the indigenous Australian experience. That's the case with Spear, which — its sublime showcase of fancy footwork and smooth moves aside — bears little other resemblance to the bulk of the dance film genre. Saturday Night Fever, Footloose and Step Up, this is not. Indeed, in an effort concerned with origins and evolution, understanding the movie's own leap from dance piece to film is pivotal. Spear blossoms out of a Bangarra Dance Theatre presentation first staged in 2000, and marks the feature filmmaking debut of Stephen Page, the company's artistic head. His close connection with the material is evident from the outset, and not just because his son, Hunter Page-Lochard, plays the lead character and his brother, David Page composed the accompanying music. Prior to this, Page's only credits are on a segment of The Turning and choreography work on Bran Nue Dae and The Sapphires. Nonetheless, his expressive offering demonstrates what all directors hope for: the strong imprint of a distinctive guiding hand. Given that the production relies upon imagery and movement much more than words and narrative, the importance of Page's task cannot be underestimated. In fact, as Spear cycles between rocky seaside cliffs, dusty outback plains and gritty urban locations, the feature's primary aim isn't to tell a story, but to convey a feeling and channel a sense of spirituality. Enter Djali (Page-Lochard), an Aboriginal youth trying to understand his heritage, and the audience's on-screen surrogate. As the film takes him through the past and present experiences of his people, sometimes accompanied by an Old Man (Demala Wunungmurra) or interacting with Suicide Man (Aaron Pedersen), its rhythmic sights and sounds wash over him — and over the watching viewer, too. Think of Spear as a series of exquisite dance routines, each fusing the traditional and the contemporary, and representing a plethora of issues: discrimination, marginalisation, violence, homelessness, abuse, and forced assimilation among them. Think of it as a process of layering, as well. Each individual section proves an intricate, intimate and distinctive creation in its own right, as well as a crucial piece of a bigger thematic and artistic puzzle. If it sounds unique, that's because it is. In fact, with its combination of exceptional physical feats, evocative presentation and somewhat abstract content, Spear is unlike any film most audiences will have seen. It's a stunning achievement, as well as a memorable one. The end result doesn't simply engage the brain but assaults the senses — so much so that it almost feels as though the movie could dance from the screen back into reality at any moment.
Italian filmmaker Nanni Moretti is no stranger to death, or to examining the subject on film. It might be something most of us don't like to think about, however the writer-director understands the shadow mortality can cast, as well as the way that the act of mourning can overtake a person's life. After exploring the impact of losing a child in 2001's Palme d'Or winner The Son's Room, and then writing and starring in 2008's Quiet Chaos, he returns to the topic with Mia Madre. That the film's name means "my mother" in his native tongue is telling. Taking a decidedly meta approach. the film follows a filmmaker in the midst of production while at the same time coping with the hospitalisation of her mother. It's not quite as autobiographical as it sounds: the director is a woman, Margherita (Margherita Buy), while Moretti plays her brother Giovanni, and veteran Italian actress Giulia Lazzarini plays their mother. And yet, in the way that Mia Madre hones in on the stress of simultaneous professional and personal crises, there's no doubting that the tale evolves from experience. As her mother's health begins to decline, Margherita struggles to make her movie – about factory employees fighting for better working conditions – while also using it as a distraction from her troubles. Alas, her freshly arrived American lead (John Turturro) refuses to learn his lines or follow her directions, constantly derailing and delaying production. With her live-in lover in the process of moving out and her teenage daughter struggling at school, Margherita's home life offers little solace either. Depicting many a balancing act, Mia Madre swiftly proves one itself. Moretti keeps searching for the right mix between quiet and anxious, dramatic and comedic, and contemplative and freewheeling. In fact, his film is more convincing in demonstrating how frustrating that can be than it is in finding any harmony between its competing elements. Of course, that's partially the point, with grief clearly painted as a disruptive and destabilising force. And yet, as accurate and authentic as the movie's messiness feels in an emotional sense, it also makes other contrasting factors — such as the patient camerawork and energetic performances — seem slight, a little convenient and sometimes out of place. Indeed, it's always distracting when a specific actor appears as though they're in the wrong film, even when they're one of the best things about it. Turturro lights up the screen and brings a few well-timed comic moments, yet never completely fits in with his surroundings. That's not a criticism of his performance, or of the more restrained but similarly excellent efforts of Buy and Moretti. Instead, it's an acknowledgement that even in thoughtful, intimate accounts of something as complex and challenging as death, mimicking chaos and actually embodying it aren't quite the same thing.
