Melissa McCarthy is now three-for-three in collaborations with Paul Feig. The actor-director team chase down Bridesmaids and The Heat with a goofy espionage comedy that serves as a showreel for their respective talents. In Feig’s case, that means cementing his reputation as one of Hollywood’s most rock-solid comic-directors, extracting hilarious turns from a more-than-willing cast while demonstrating a surprising amount of confidence with action scenes, which bodes well for his Ghostbusters sequel next year. For McCarthy, it means delivering one of the best performances of her career, nailing both the verbal and physical comedy while steering almost entirely clear of lazy jokes about her gender or her size. McCarthy stars as analyst Susan Cooper, a desk jockey working in the CIA basement funnelling instructions via an earpiece to operatives around the world. Her primary charge, and the subject of her unrequited affections, is the revoltingly narcissistic Bond-wannabe Agent Bradley Fine (Jude Law). But things suddenly change after Fine is gunned down by a devious arms heiress (Rose Byrne), who has somehow gained access to the identity of every active spy. With their best assets compromised, the agency has no choice but to throw the untested Cooper into the field. It’s a pretty standard comedic premise, in a similar vein to other recent spy spoofs such as Johnny English and Get Smart — the one major difference being that Cooper is actually fairly good at her new job. Feig, who wrote the film as well as directing, pokes fun at all the typical spy movie cliches, from the megalomaniacal villain all the way down to the gadgets, here disguised as everyday items such as fungal cream and laxatives. For the most part the humour is fairly broad and sweary — this is, after all, the same director who had McCarthy shit in a sink. Still, as with Feig’s previous films, the material is elevated considerably by the performances. After proving the MVP in both Bridesmaids and Bad Neighbours, Rose Byrne could well consider giving up dramatic roles altogether. Her villainous turn here is a delightful caricature of upper-crust snobbery, and many of the film’s best scenes are the ones that she and McCarthy share. Law is likewise wonderfully hammy as Fine, while Jason Statham sends up his typical screen persona as a 'rogue' CIA agent a little too convinced of his own brilliance. But it’s McCarthy who’s the real hero here, throwing herself into every scene with absolute commitment. Together, she and Feig not only deliver big laughs but also manage to skewer our expectations of what someone who looks like her is capable of. Yes, there are plenty of jokes at Cooper’s expense, but more often than not they’re the result of people underestimating her. As it turns out, that’s a pretty big mistake.
UPDATE, November 6, 2020: A Cure for Wellness is available to stream via Netflix and Prime Video. When you're sitting through a bland attempt to remake a decades-old radio series, or a spate of diminishing sequels in an average-at-best franchise, you can forget that filmmakers don't just make movies — they also watch them and love them. With The Lone Ranger and the first three Pirates of the Caribbean flicks on his resume, it's rather easy to do just that where Gore Verbinski is concerned, but every now and then he does something to remind you. Back in 2011, the Oscar-winning animated western Rango did the trick, ensuring every viewer knew just how fond Verbinski is of the genre. Likewise, with A Cure for Wellness, his first horror film since The Ring, Verbinski wears his inspirations on his sleeve. And while it mightn't stand out as a landmark scary effort, it still makes for intriguingly creepy viewing. For the record, the veteran filmmaker appears to have seen and adored Rosemary's Baby, The Shining, Shutter Island and Crimson Peak, as well as countless '30s gothic fright fests, '70s Italian giallo films, '80s body horror flicks and everything Alfred Hitchcock ever made. Over the course of 146 minutes, A Cure for Wellness plays like the kind of feverish dream you might have after marathoning all of your favourite spooky movies, with your brain trying to mash everything into one over-the-top package. A labyrinthian sanitarium filled with complacent patients, eerie lullaby-like singing, ravenous eels no one else seems to see, and a history of unrest and incest: you can already spot how some of those filmic influences come into play, can't you? Along with a mysterious young woman (Mia Goth), this is what Wall Street up-and-comer Lockhart (Dane DeHaan) finds when he makes the trip to a wellness centre in the Swiss Alps looking for his company's CEO (Harry Groener). Lockhart thinks that he'll be in and out within 20 minutes, but after an accident he's stuck in plaster and unable to head home, which seems to suit the water therapy-loving doctor-in-charge (Jason Isaacs) quite nicely. There's no missing the fact that all of the folks seeking some rest and relaxation are high-flying business executives. Verbinski, who came up with the story with his Lone Ranger screenwriter Justin Haythe, isn't particularly subtle with some of the movie's ideas — and that's without even getting into a subplot involving pure bloodlines. But he's also largely unconcerned with splashing around in anything other than H20 galore, a mood of dread and tension, and gorgeously unsettling visuals in pale, icy shades. Diving deep into all three results in the cinematic equivalent of a gloriously macabre synchronised swimming routine; an intricately choreographed sight to behold that keeps the most interesting parts on the surface. And what a surface it is. Mastering a tone of unease, serving up a sleek, sinister feast for the eyes, and throwing in a wealth of affectionate nods to genre greats mostly keeps the feature afloat. Mostly. Unsurprisingly, A Cure for Wellness struggles with thin characterisations, and even more so when the predictable yet twist-heavy plot tries to wrap up its stretched-out antics. Still, if you've fallen down its well of unhinged delights you'll probably find them part and parcel of the fun. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mcVodJmBlU
It has been a busy year for Russian incompetence, on-screen at least. After Chernobyl so blisteringly explored 1986's devastating nuclear reactor explosion and its widespread fallout, Kursk jumps forward to 2000's submarine disaster, where 118 sailors lost their lives during the sinking of a nuclear-powered vessel. The arrival of both the HBO mini-series and now this film in such short succession is a clear sign of the times — as Russia's influence, especially of the covert kind, continues to loom over world affairs, interrogating the country's high-profile misfortunes is hardly an unexpected trend. Today's filmmakers can't force certain parties in power to take Russian election meddling seriously, but they can examine how the world's largest nation by area has dealt with its own catastrophes. Kursk, like Chernobyl, doesn't provide a flattering portrait. In August 2000, as part of the first major Russian naval exercise since the fall of the Soviet Union, Oscar-class K-141 submarine Kursk descended into the ocean's depths. Although it was merely participating in training, it carried live combat weapons, including practice torpedoes — and when one exploded onboard, it set off a chain reaction that would strand the vessel at the bottom of the Barents Sea. Those who survived the initial blast were stuck waiting. First, they waited for Russian authorities to realise what had happened, which took hours. Then, as water seeped in, and supplies and oxygen dwindled, they bided their time as repeated rescue efforts floundered. Ever-protective of their military technology, and just as determined to assert that they could take care of the problem themselves, the Russian Navy even refused international assistance, making the trapped men wait longer still. That's how Thomas Vinterberg tells the tale of the Kursk, with the Danish filmmaker teaming up with Saving Private Ryan screenwriter Robert Rodat to adapt Robert Moore's non-fiction book A Time to Die. For the sake of heightened drama, some facts and timelines have been massaged, however the overall premise — that a Russian submarine sank, the country was poorly equipped to handle it and people paid with their lives — remains. So too does the notion of a nation more concerned with perception than its population; one in which citizens are expected to prove their unflinching patriotism by paying the ultimate price, but where the government won't dare risk its reputation to save them in return. Understandably, this damning truth lingers over every moment of Kursk, making an already sombre story even more so. Indeed, it's as evident on-screen as the grey colour scheme, the oppressive pressure felt in the movie's submarine scenes, and the use of different aspect ratios to send an emotional message. While he's working with a budget far beyond anything he might've dreamed of, or wanted, back when he co-founded the fiercely independent Dogme 95 cinema movement with Lars von Trier, Vinterberg is in comfortable thematic territory. Boasting a resume littered with moral quandaries, including the recent The Hunt and Far from the Madding Crowd, the writer-director has always been a keen observer of folks in a bind. That's what captain-lieutenant Mikhail Averin (Matthias Schoenaerts) and his men find themselves in, to put it mildly, as the clock ticks down and the end we all know is coming inches closer. Meanwhile, Mikhail's wife Tanya (Léa Seydoux) fights for both action and answers back above sea level, numerous admirals (Max von Sydow and Peter Simonischek, primarily) either toe or flout the government line, and offers of British help by Commodore David Russell (Colin Firth) keep falling on stubborn ears. Kursk doesn't spend enough time with any one person to be called a character study, and its broad scope necessitates more than a few shortcuts and cliches. When the movie opens with the sound of gasping breaths, only to show Mikhail timing how long his pre-teen son Misha (Artemiy Spiridonov) can stay underwater in the bathtub, it's an obvious move, for example. Still, in serving up an overview of the disaster's affected parties, and cycling between them as they endeavour to weather the horrific situation, Vinterberg's film is never less than compelling and heartbreaking. While his cast helps considerably, especially Schoenaerts and Seydoux, the director paints a powerful picture of tragedy, courage and (on the part of the Russian officials) sheer arrogance. This is a story of sailors scrambling to wade through life-or-death terror, of their loved ones refusing to kowtow to the authorities, and of the conflict bubbling beneath the rescue attempts — and it's as moving and gripping as the real-life scenario and the men lost to it demands.
The vixens from the Fox and cowboys from Cavalier want you to clue-in and come hunting. It's one of the longest running events, not to mention most popular. Be prepared for challenges as you search for great beer and collect points while roaming the streets of Collingwood. You'll work up a thirst, but the lads from Cavalier will reward your efforts with a drop or two at the end. This event is part of Good Beer Week's 2015 program, running from May 16-24. For more festival picks, click here.
A staple for Melbourne comedy lovers, Quick Bites Comedy is the go-to night for checking out some of the best local, interstate and international comedians around – and it's free. Taking turns in a rapid-fire night of laughs, each comic delivers five-to-seven minutes of their funniest material, guaranteeing an evening crammed full of both up-and-coming and established performers across a variety of acts, styles and topics. Personalities and writers from many of Australia's most-loved TV shows are regularly in attendance and you're bound to discover someone who cracks you up. Held on Monday evenings at popular late-night spot Boney, the Little Collins location is perfect for getting some belly laughs in at the start of the week, ensuring the rest of your working week is just a little bit easier.
When Wonder Woman 1984 opened in cinemas Down Under at the end of 2020, it was the year's last big release. The superhero sequel was one of the very few blockbuster flicks to actually hit the silver screen since the pandemic started, too. Now, just over a month later, the Gal Gadot-starring film is doing something else notable: becoming available via video on demand while it's still showing in theatres. From Wednesday, January 27, cinephiles and caped crusader fans can stream Wonder Woman 1984 via digital movie rental services such as Google Play, YouTube Movies, Amazon Video and iTunes — to rent for AUD$29.99, or to buy for AUD$34.99. If you'd prefer to see it on the big screen, you still can at the time of writing. But if you'd like to watch it at home on your couch, that's now an option as well. The film has made over $26 million at the Australian and New Zealand box office, so plenty of folks did head out to see it in theatres — and to see what happens to Diana Prince (Gadot) in the decade that gave us parachute pants. Chris Pine returns from the first Wonder Woman movie, while Kristen Wiig and Pedro Pascal join the franchise as new antagonists. Before the pandemic, a huge movie like Wonder Woman 1984 wouldn't ever be available to view at home so quickly. Usually, films that release in cinemas don't make the jump to home entertainment for 90 days, in fact. But much has changed about the world in the past year, with Wonder Woman 1984 following in the footsteps of a heap of fellow flicks that did the same last March and April, when cinemas closed. Other features, including Hamilton, Mulan and Soul, bypassed the big screen altogether last year, too. Whether this'll keep happening in the blockbuster space Down Under is yet to be seen — but there is a growing precedent for it in overseas countries where COVID-19 case numbers remain high and either all or most cinemas are closed. Warner Bros, the Hollywood studio behind Wonder Woman 1984, announced late last year that it'd be releasing both the superhero flick and its full 2021 slate of movies in cinemas and on HBO Max simultaneously where the latter is available. That doesn't include Australia and NZ, though, because HBO hasn't yett launched in either nation. Check out the trailer for Wonder Woman 1984 below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFgnHhMLNJE Wonder Woman 1984 is currently screening in cinemas in Australia and New Zealand; however, it's also available to stream online via video on demand from Wednesday, January 27.
The Melbourne International Film Festival will donate a portion of proceeds from this year's closing night gala to charity, in honour of late Indigenous music icon Dr G Yunupingu. MIFF organisers had previously announced that the festival would close with a screening of a documentary about Yunupingu's life, but temporarily halted ticket sales following the musician's tragic passing late last month. Dr Yunupingu's family has asked that the media refrain from sharing his full name or image, raising questions over whether the closing night film should be changed. However, the documentary makers have since sought the advice of senior Gumatj elder David Djunga Djunga Yunupingu, and on his direction have confirmed that the screening will go ahead, with ten percent of ticket sales going to Dr Yunupingu's foundation, which supports Indigenous youths in remote communities around the country. David Djunga Djunga Yunupingu will introduce the screening alongside director Paul Williams. MIFF's closing night screening of the documentary of Dr G Yunupingu's life will take place on the evening of Saturday, August 19. To book tickets, go here.
UPDATE, August 27, 2021: From Friday, August 27, Cruella will be available to stream via Disney+ — and as part of your regular subscription. A killer dress, a statement jacket, a devastating head-to-toe ensemble: if they truly match their descriptions, they stand the test of time. Set in 70s London as punk takes over the aesthetic, live-action 101 Dalmatians prequel Cruella is full of such outfits — plus a white-and-black fur coat that's suspected of being made from slaughtered dogs. If the film itself was a fashion item, though, it'd be a knockoff. It'd be a piece that appears fabulous from afar, but can't hide its seams. That's hardly surprising given this origin tale stitches together pieces from The Devil Wears Prada, The Favourite, Superman, Star Wars and Dickens, and doesn't give two yaps if anyone notices. The Emmas — Stone, playing the dalmatian-hating future villain; Thompson, doing her best Miranda Priestly impression as a ruthless designer — have a ball. Oscar-winning Mad Max: Fury Road costume designer Jenny Beavan is chief among the movie's MVPs. But for a film placed amid the punk-rock revolution, it's happy to merely look the part, not live and breathe it. And, in aiming to explain away its anti-heroine's wicked ways, it's really not sure what it wants to say about her. Here, the needle drops have it. If compiling Cruella's soundtrack involved more than typing "60s, 70s and 80s hits" into Spotify, it doesn't show. A snarling rendition of The Stooges' 'I Wanna Be Your Dog' proves as blatant as it sounds. When a plan comes together to The Beatles' 'Come Together', you'll wonder if the laziest algorithm in the world made that choice. And would it really be a film about someone called de Vil — a naming choice that's spelled out with such force, you could spot it from the moon — if The Rolling Stones' 'Sympathy for the Devil' wasn't given a spin? As the Mouse House keeps exploring its antagonists' nefarious urges (see also: the two Maleficent movies), it routinely just covers the bare necessities, story-wise. Here, it takes that approach in as many places as it can. Indeed, in telling viewers that Cruella is saddled with childhood traumas, too, it seems to think that two-plus over-stretched hours of 70s cosplay will suffice. Before she becomes the puppy-skinning fashionista that remains among Glenn Close's best-known roles, and before she's both a wannabe designer and the revenge-seeking talk of the town played by Stone (Zombieland: Double Tap), Cruella is actually 12-year-old girl Estella (Tipper Seifert-Cleveland, Game of Thrones). Sporting two-toned hair and a cruel that streak her mother (Emily Beecham, Little Joe) tries to tame with kindness, she's a target for bullies, but has the gumption to handle them. Then tragedy strikes, an orphan is born, loss haunts her every move and, after falling in with a couple of likeable London thieves, those black-and-white locks get a scarlet dye job. By the time that Estella is in her twenties, she's well-versed in pulling quick heists with Jasper (Joel Fry, Yesterday) and Horace (Paul Walter Hauser, Songbird). She loves sewing the costumes required more than anything else, however. After years spent dreaming of knockout gowns, upmarket department stores and threads made by the Baroness (Thompson, Last Christmas), she eventually gets her chance — for fashion domination, as well as vengeance. It worked for director Craig Gillespie in I, Tonya, but the wry narration that guides Cruella's story quickly overstays its welcome. The knowing tone, obvious observations and taunts of a death that can't stick in a prequel all purely hit the expected beats, as almost everything here does. Co-screenwriter Dana Fox also penned Isn't It Romantic, but trades satirising one genre's tropes for leaning into another's (yes, villain origin stories are their own genre now). Fellow scribe Tony McNamara was nominated for an Oscar for The Favourite and an Emmy for The Great, so the fact that Stone often feels like she has stepped out of the former and into this — right down to her subterfuge and scheming beneath the Baroness' feet — is no surprise. The Devil Wears Prada's Aline Brosh McKenna gets a story credit, too, because Disney isn't attempting to conceal its inspirations. Cruella may stem from Dodie Smith's book, then the cartoon, then the live-action remake, but it has been cut from a clear pattern. There's zero vampishness in the end result, but plenty of botched ideas and muddled themes. When Estella is driven to succeed, rebel against being treated poorly at work and punish the person responsible for her pain, they're far more fascinating aspects of her character than the movie meaningfully examines — perhaps because they don't quite fit her journey to the monochrome side. Empathising with her plight is easy several times over. After an early incident, understanding why she doesn't love dalmatians is as well. Gillespie and company don't come close to selling the leap from ambitious and avenging to future animal cruelty, though. The latter isn't actually a part of Cruella, but in giving its central figure the Joker treatment, the film's character arc is always a stretch. It also undercuts the much more potent notion that some people are just evil, and don't need a sob story as an excuse. If, in all of their eagerness to stick to a template, Cruella's powers-that-be just wanted to pair Stone up with another English acting titan — swapping The Favourite's Olivia Colman for the on-screen treasure that is Thompson — and then let them have at it, that's understandable. It's also as a good enough reason as any for this or any movie to exist. Alongside Beavan's Vivienne Westwood- and Alexander McQueen-influenced costumes, plus Nicolas Karakatsanis' (another I, Tonya alum) constantly moving camerawork, the acerbic Oscar-winning Emmas are the reason that the film has any bite to go along with its empty barks. But the duo's gleeful cartoonishness, flamboyance and winning ability to wear the hell out of their outfits only takes Cruella so far. Even with their obvious commitment, this intellectual property-extending exercise is more filler than killer. After you give it a whirl, you'll put it back on the rack and rarely spare it another thought. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgZgFHDGHrY&feature=youtu.be Top image: Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2021 Disney Enterprises Inc. All Rights Reserved.
As a nation, Australians devour approximately 190,000 tonnes of meat per year. This equates to 120kg per person per annum, which is almost three times as much as the world average. Despite the phenomenal increase in meat consumption over the last few decades, particularly in pork and poultry, the number of pig producers in the country has reduced by 94 percent and there are only two major producers of chicken. This is largely why two-thirds of the world's meat now comes from factory farming. So what can you do about the animal cruelty and health problems this gross over-consumption is causing? Take part in Meat Free Week from March 18-24 to help spread the word and raise funds for this important issue. All money raised from the initiative goes to the animal protection institute Voiceless, who help protect factory farmed animals in Australia. And they're not trying to persuade you to become an avid vegan or vegetarian; it's simply about modifying meat consumption: limiting meat intake and only choosing free-range animal products in order to reduce the amount of factory farming in Australia. You could also improve your own health in the process as eating excessive amounts of meat can lead to heart disease, kidney failure or even cancer. Simply sign up and create your profile, read up and learn about factory farming so you can explain to others why it's so important, tell all your family and friends about it and get them to sign up as well or to sponsor you with a small donation, stock up on fresh ingredients and try out some delicious meat-free recipes designed by celebrity chefs, then go without meat for seven days and tell everyone how it's going through social media, particularly with the hashtag #meatfreeweek.
Due to the chilly weather, there are only some activities you truly feel like doing during the winter months. While cosying up by a fireplace and eating hot cheese are two of them, one involves actually going outside: ice skating. And this year Melbourne has three top-notch ice skating rinks you can practise your best Nancy Kerrigan moves on (as well as one a road trip away). If you don't think you're quite coordinated enough to imitate Kerrigan, fear not — we've got an ice activity for you, too. A giant ice slide has also popped up in Melbourne. So don your warmest winter woollies, grab your bestie, date or fam, and head to your closest ice pop-up — or jump in a car, bus or train and visit all three. You'll find them by the beach, in regional centres and in the middle of the city, decked out with stalls serving up mulled wine and cheese toasties, and alongside pop-up igloos and giant ice slides.
Staycationing in your own city? Heading interstate for a getaway? Either way, deciding which hotel to spend the night in can depend on a range of factors. Some are straightforward, such as location and price. Others span the broader experience, including amenities, facilities, ad onsite restaurants and bars — and whether the place you're bunking down in serves cocktails using spirits that it has barrel aged itself. Set to open in Melbourne's growing 80 Collins Street precinct in late March, Next Hotel Melbourne ticks the last box — and it's the first hotel in Australia to do so. It'll be home to a space called the Barrel Room, where it'll run a wood-ageing program for spirits, cocktails and herbal liquors. You'll be able to drop in, make your pick, see your choice decanted, have a taste and even make requests regarding what else should be barrel aged. Those tipples will also form part of Next Melbourne's own signature bottled cocktail lineup, which'll be stocked in the in-room mini-bars. Also on offer at the new Melbourne 24-storey spot: 225 guest rooms; design touches that span marble, eye-catching lighting and art by Jonny Niesche, Consuelo Cavaniglia and Julia Gorman; and in-suite espresso machines and cocktail-mixing stations. The site will also include a club area for working and meeting away from home, complete with its own food and drink selection, plus a fitness centre with on-call personal trainers. Overseen by Daniel Natoli and Adrian Li, Next Melbourne will feature dining and drinking venue La Madonna, too, which'll span across an entire floor. Also due to open in late March, it'll offer share plates at the bar, a lounge space for cocktails, and booth seating and large tables for meals — and it's where the Barrel Room will be located. On the site's ground floor, Ingresso by La Madonna is already open, serving up coffees to start the day, an afternoon aperitivo hour, and other drinks and bites to to either eat onsite or takeaway. Next Melbourne joins a much-talked about precinct, with 80 Collins Street also just welcoming Farmer's Daughters — and already home to opulent champagne bar Nick & Nora's and cafe Maverick. Find Next Hotel Melbourne in the 80 Collins Street precinct, with entry via 103 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, from late March.
Loving Hut may not be a secret Melbourne find — there are over 200 of them worldwide — but it certainly doesn't diminish its position as one of the city's best vegan spots. The menu is loosely based around pan-Asian cuisine and is very mock meat-heavy, with dishes ranging from 'ham' sushi, deep fried 'prawns', rainbow salads and some Southern fried 'chicken'. They also have a big grocery selection at the front of the High Street space, where you can buy up on all the mock meat and vegan oyster sauce you need to feed yourself very, very well. Loving Hut also have a second restaurant on Victoria Street, Richmond. Image credit: Jennifer via Flickr
Australia's real-time restaurant deals app, EatClub — which was launched by celeb chef Marco Pierre White — is now offering $5 takeaway dishes from a heap of inner city restaurants this week. From Monday, March 16 to Friday, March 20, you can score a $5 feed. All you have to do is redeem a takeaway deal, then use the app's ordering and payment feature to complete your order. To give you an idea of what's part of this sweet deal, you could be tucking into bao from Cooking Corner, Pelicana's fried chicken, bubble tea from Tmix, Roll'd rice noodle salads or bubble tea from King Tea— all for just a fiver. This is in addition to all the deals the eateries already offer as part of the app's aim to fill restaurant tables on quieter nights while also offering diners to eat out for up to 50 percent off. So, overall, you'll be able to score a delicious feed for less than a trip to your local chicken shop. To get involved, you just have to update the app, or download it if you're a newbie. Then claim a takeaway deal from any venue displaying a $5 icon on the map, select order and pay via the app and take your pick of a cheap treat (and anything else your heart desires). The chefs will whip it up in the kitchen, ready for you to pick up in no time. Make sure you download the EatClub app here.
The realisation that eventually comes to everyone underscores Once My Mother, one that dawned slowly upon filmmaker Sophia Turkiewicz. She grew up listening to stories her mother, Helen, would tell of her life, but could only see as far as the intersection with her involvement. More immediate family history weighed upon Sophia, driving a desire for distance as she grew from a girl into a woman. Unforgiving about time spent in an orphanage, she also demonstrated an unwillingness to look past the emotional scars of her upbringing. It follows that Once My Mother takes a universal process — that of discovering the real personality of our parents, of understanding the true impact of their past not just upon their lives but our own, and of showing compassion for any missteps along the way — and relates it to the audience in the only way possible: as a personal journey. Turkiewicz's documentary is dedicated to dissecting Helen's resilience through decades marked by difficulties of destruction, discrimination and displacement; however, it is also shaped by a daughter's burgeoning awakening to things only age and experience could help her appreciate. Read our full review here. Once My Mother is in cinemas on July 24, and thanks to Change Focus Media, we have ten double in-season passes to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=-fos7dm2inE
When it comes to creating smash-hit venues, legendary chef Andrew McConnell knows what's what. He's the mind behind favourites like Cumulus Inc, Cutler & Co, Supernormal and Marion, to name a few. And now, Melbourne's set to score another, with news McConnell's planning a new restaurant, to open in the 1920s heritage Cavendish House building at 33 Russell Street in the CBD. It'll be his first new project in five years. The restaurant is yet to be named, though McConnell has dropped some clues as to what we can expect. "The inherent design of the room made me think of a clubby European bistro that manages to be familiar and elegant at the same time," he said in a statement. Part of the space will be home to a cocktail bar, so you'll be able to pop in for an after-work or pre-dinner drink and snack combo, too. Sydney-based architecture and design studio Acme will be heading up the build, charged with creating 'a sensory experience' through a mix of marble, brass, linen and leather. The space will feature a dining area decked out with booths and banquettes, and a separate cocktail bar. Considering the studio is responsible for highly Instagrammed venues like The Grounds Of Alexandria, Charlie Parker's and Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel, you can expect it to be very impressive. As for the food, we're told to expect elements of French, Spanish and Italian cuisine, with a few flavours from the British Isles thrown in for good measure. The building — which was previously a fancy flagship for Bang & Olufsen — is located on the corner of Flinders Lane and Russell Street, only a short walk from McConnell's Supernormal and in the middle of the Flinders Lane dining action. Andrew McConnell's next restaurant will open at 33 Russell Street, Melbourne in early 2020. We'll let you know when we have more details and an opening date. Image: Google Maps.
We're in the thick of summer festivals, and organisers of Splendour in the Grass and Falls Festival have launched a brand newie: Sydney City Limits. A sister festival for Texan mega-fest Austin City Limits, Sydney's version will be a one-day all-ages event full of music, food, art and market stalls aplenty. Gracing four stages in Sydney's Centennial Park will be a serious lineup of Australian and international artists. Over 30 huge names — including international acts Justice, Beck, Phoenix and Grace Jones, and local artists Gang of Youths, Tash Sultana, Vance Joy, Dune Rats and Allday — will converge on the inner-city park for the festival. Not a bad debut lineup. You'll also be nourished by a handful of Sydney's top chefs, restaurants and food trucks, all curated by the team behind Mary's and The Unicorn. And just like the festival's American counterpart, the creative arts will get a strong representation here, too. You'll be able to explore an openair art space that showcases snapshots of the city through painting, street art, photography, video and performance art by Sydney artists. There will also be artisan markets, with the opportunity to bring home fashion, jewellery, art and merchandise.
As bushfires have ravaged Australia this summer, much of the country's wildlife has been caught in the blaze, with an estimated one billion creatures killed and significant numbers injured. Photographs and footage of fire-affected animals have become a common and heartbreaking sight, with organisations such as the Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service (WIRES) working to assist these critters in need — and your next coffee-flavoured boozy beverage can help them. To raise money for WIRES, homegrown coffee liqueur company Mr Black has released a limited-edition version of its cold-brew tipple. Buy a bottle, and 100 percent of the proceeds will be donated to the wildlife rescue organisation. Each one costs $100, with Mr Black aiming to raise $10,000 for the incredibly worthy cause. As well as getting 700ml of the brand's very popular alcoholic caffeinated beverage, you'll receive it in an adorable bottle, as made in collaboration with creative studio The Young Jerks. A koala adorns the label, clinging to a branch as part of a stylised and striking — and immensely cute — design. https://www.instagram.com/p/B7aDMi0B2KM/ Orders are open now, with bottles expected to ship in six–eight weeks. And, that shipping cost will be covered by Mr Black, meaning that every dollar you spend on the Bushfire Relief Limited Edition will be donated — and won't need to cover the cost of getting the booze to you. Mr Black's Bushfire Relief Limited Edition cold brew coffee liqueur is currently available to purchase from the brand's website, with orders expected to be shipped in six–eight weeks.
One of the greatest actors in film history is on her way to Melbourne. Well, sort of. I See Me & Meryl Streep may not technically feature the three-time Oscar winner, but word is Alexandra Keddie does a damn good impression. With a soundtrack straight out of Mamma Mia, this adoring tribute show for the Melbourne Cabaret Festival combines the most memorable moments of Meryl's magnificent career. And if nothing else, Keddie should at least be able to manage a better Aussie accent than Streep did when she played Lindy Chamberlain.
You don't normally associate the MCG with fine dining — it's more overpriced pies and eating an entire six-pack of hot jam doughnuts to yourself. But it appears that's about to change in the lead up to this year's AFL Grand Final, as some of Melbourne's best restaurants set up outside the 'G. Part of this year's pre-GF celebrations, Yarra Park will play host to a four-day Footy Festival in the lead-up to the big game, featuring music on the night before the big day, and a Taste of Footy food fest within the broader fest. Biggie Smalls, Taco Truck and Toasta are just a few of the culinary heavy-hitters — and you can expect footy-inspired spins on their typical cuisine, plus tipples at the Yak Ales pop-up watering hole. Yarra Park will also be home to the Grand Final Live Site, with activities, live entertainment and broadcasts. It will be open from 9am–6pm daily. Disclaimer: you will not be allowed to drink your wine out of a Premiership Cup. It will be a good place to get a snack if you're going to the game, however. Image: Biggie Smalls.
Next time you slather your hands with sanitiser, you could be covering them with your favourite booze as well. With alcohol a crucial ingredient in the now-essential product — especially sanitiser that's effective against COVID-19 — distilleries and breweries are doing their part to help boost supplies. To the delight of coffee liqueur lovers, that now includes Australia's much-loved Mr Black. While gin aficionados can splash their digits with Manly Spirits Co's gin-infused hand sanitiser and fans of distilled and fermented sugercane can disinfect with hand sanitiser from Queensland's Bundaberg and Beenleigh rum distilleries — and plenty of other boozy outfits are jumping on the trend, too — fans of caffeinated booze can look forward to freshening their fingers with their preferred tipple. Mr Black has whipped up its own sanitiser and is shipping it around the country. It's also donated a heap of bottles of its A-class sani to a bunch of charities, medical centres and COVID-19 testing clinics. You can grab a maximum of two 500 millilitre bottles, for $19.95 each, plus a $10 flat-rate national shipping fee. The hand sanitiser is made using a World Health Organisation recipe with 80 percent ethanol, and as bottles don't come with a pump they're designed to be used as refills. If you decide to invest in some actual coffee liqueur while you're on the site — the OG ($60), single-origin ($75) and amaro ($80) versions are all for sale, as is the most adorable 50-millilitre bottle ($5.99) — or some sweet merch, and spend over $100, you'll get free shipping. We think this hand sanitiser is going to sell out super fast, so head over to the website and order yourself a bottle quick smart if you're keen. Mr Black hand sanitiser is available for $19.95 per 500 millilitre bottle, maximum of two per person.
The spirit of cabaret is alive and well in Melbourne, with one of the world's most-celebrated chanteuses lighting up Meat Market for a month or so. Her particular mix of debauchery, dark humour and biting social commentary make this one of 2025's must-see shows. German kabarett superstar Bernie Dieter — described as "an electrifying cross between Lady Gaga, Marlene Dietrich and Frank-N-Furter in sequins" —has unleashed her infamous gin-soaked haus band and her troupe of bombastic bohemians on the Victorian capital, kicking off Thursday, April 3 and running till Sunday, May 11. Gather your fellow deviants for this one. The show encapsulates the spirit of the notorious kabarett clubs of Weimar Germany, and features a vibrant lineup of international talent. The billing includes the dangerous art of fire and sword swallowing, hand balancing, gender-bending aerial performances, and plenty of strip teasing and pole dancing. The colourful show celebrates freedom and diversity in all its forms — Dieter herself describes it as "the ultimate party at the end of the world". Select images: Matthew Gelding.
Among the many challenges that Australians have faced over the past year, our love of travel has been hit hard. Domestic border restrictions keep changing with frequency in response to new cases and clusters in different states, meaning that planning a holiday beyond your own city has been more than a little tricky. This was particularly true over Christmas and NYE, when an outbreak on Sydney's northern beaches saw many states quickly shut their borders to NSW — including Victoria. On January 1, 2021, Victoria closed its borders to all of NSW. A week ago, it reopened to regional NSW. From 6pm tonight, Monday, January 18, it's reopening to parts of Greater Sydney, too. From that time, 25 of Greater Sydney's 35 LGAs, as well as the Blue Mountains and Wollongong, will be changing from a 'red zone' to an 'orange zone', as part of Victoria's new traffic light-style system, which means travellers from those areas can enter Victoria — but they'll need to isolate on arrival and get tested within 72 hours, then when they receive a negative result they're free to leave isolation. They'll also have to apply for a permit before entry, too — like all Australians. Last week, Victoria introduced compulsory permits for anyone who wants to enter the state. If you try and enter Victoria without a valid permit, you risk being fined $4957. You can apply for one over here. Travellers who have been in the remaining ten Greater Sydney LGAs in the past 14 days, which are still 'red zones', cannot enter Victoria. Those LGAs are: Blacktown City, Burwood, Canada Bay City, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield City, Inner West, Liverpool City, Parramatta City and Strathfield Municipality. Folks who've been in a red zone can apply to receive an exemption or a specified worker permit. The former covers instances such as emergency relocations, funerals, essential medical care, and people needing to return home for health, wellbeing, care or compassionate reasons. https://twitter.com/VicGovDHHS/status/1350957562263384069 From 6pm tonight, NSW towns along the Victorian border will also move to 'green zones'. Travellers entering Victoria from a 'green zone' still need to apply for a permit, but do not need to get tested or isolate on arrival, unless they develop symptoms. These new 'green zones' include: Albury City, Balranald Shire, Bega Valley Shire, Berrigan Shire, City of Broken Hill, Edward River Council, Federation Council, Greater Hume Shire, Hay Shire, Lockhart Shire, Murray River Council, Murrumbidgee Council, Snowy Monaro Regional Council, Snowy Valleys Council, City of Wagga Wagga and Wentworth Shire. The loosened border restrictions come as Victoria records its 12th consecutive day of zero new cases of community transmission. Overnight, the state did record four new cases in hotel quarantine, all of which are linked to the Australian Open. https://twitter.com/VicGovDHHS/status/1350938786365120517 Of course, the current designated zones and regulations are subject to change, with Premier Daniel Andrews advising that designated red zones would be reviewed daily. Victoria also reclassified the LGAs of Greater Brisbane as 'orange zones' from 6pm on Saturday, January 16. For more information on Victoria's new permit system — or to apply for one — head to the Department of Health and Human Services website.
Watching Daniel Craig play legendary secret agent James Bond in Skyfall — with his guns blazing through the streets of Istanbul, seamlessly jumping from a motorcycle to a moving train — is pretty incredible. But, you could be even more impressed by the film if you watch it with a live score performed by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra this summer. The most successful film of the 007 franchise to date, Skyfall (2012), will be played at a special screening at Melbourne's legendary Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Skyfall in Concert will take place on Wednesday, December 8, and will see the MSO perform Thomas Newman's award-winning score live to film in an immersive cinematic experience that'll impress Bond fans old and new. The show will kick off at 7:30pm and you can nab tickets from $79 per person. Get in quick to be sure not to miss out on breathtaking live music with some epic 007 action. Skyfall in Concert will take place on Wednesday, December 8 at Sidney Myer Music Bowl. For more information and to secure your spot, visit the website.
What happens when the flavours of Japan and Peru go head to head, you ask? Well, you're about to find out. On Thursday, June 24, Fitzroy North South American restaurant Citrico is taking cues from the Peruvian-Japanese mash-up known as Nikkei cuisine and plating up a 10-course omakase feast. Head Chef Dave Allison will be pulling flavour inspiration from the Los Andes through to Tokyo, for this memorable, globe-trotting Good Food Month degustation. You'll get a true taste of Nikkei fare, through crafty dishes like tempura beef tongue rolls matched with panca chilli mayonnaise, squid noodle salad featuring fried enoki mushrooms, wagyu with a ponzu and rocoto chilli emulsion, and miso-glazed toothfish hot off the parilla grill. There's even a fusion flan for dessert, finished with yuzu praline and custard apple cream. You can look forward to sipping some clever sake and wine pairings throughout the night, as well as a few exclusive Nikkei-inspired cocktail creations. The whole evening comes in at $110 per person. [caption id="attachment_689022" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kate Shanasy[/caption] Top image: Kat Shanasy
No matter where you are in Australia, you've probably spent the majority of the year in your own state (if not the majority of the year in your own bedroom), with many states and territories keeping their borders firmly closed. But, the last of the interstate restrictions are starting to ease. With the exception of WA (which is currently open to only the ACT, Queensland and the NT and Tasmania, but is set to open to NSW and Victoria from December 8) and SA residents (who are still unable to visit Queensland), Australians can pretty much visit anywhere in the country without quarantining. To celebrate, Virgin Australia is selling over 60,000 fares to destinations around the country, starting from just $75 a pop. Hang on, Virgin? Yes. The same airline that, just months ago, entered voluntary administration. It has since been sold to US private investment firm Bain Capital, launched a comeback sale in early July and its voluntary administration officially ended on Tuesday, November 17. The 12-hour Happy Hour flight sale kicks off at 11am AEDT today, Thursday, December 3, and runs until 11pm tonight — or until sold out. In the sale, you'll find cheap flights on 25 routes to destinations across the country, with travel dates between December 5 and January 19, 2021. If you've been waiting to book Christmas flights home — or a summer getaway — now might be the time. Discounted flights are economy and include seat selection and checked baggage. Some of the routes on offer include Melbourne to Newcastle from $75, Sydney to Brisbane from $95, Adelaide to Sydney from $109 and Hobart to the Gold Coast from $169. [caption id="attachment_743607" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Whitsunday Beach by Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] The discounted flights are part of Virgin's relaunched weekly Happy Hour sale series, which will take place every Thursday for the foreseeable future. As we are still in the middle of a pandemic, flying is little different to normal. Virgin has introduced a range of safety measures, including hand sanitisation stations, contactless check-in and face masks provided to all passengers (but wearing them is not mandatory). Virgin is also waiving change fees and allowed unlimited booking changes between now and January 31, 2020. You can read more about its new flexible options over here. Virgin's Happy Hour sale runs from 11am–11pm AEDT on Thursday, December 3. Find out more about current interstate border restrictions over here.
Chapel Street is going off right now. In the past couple of months, the strip scored Suzie Q, Windsor Wine Room and Inca — and now Chris Lucas (Chin Chin, Hawker Hall, Kisumé, Grill Americano, Society, Yakimono and Baby Pizza) is having a go. Come this September, his two-storey Japanese-inspired restaurant and sake bar Tombo Den will open next door to Lucas' own Hawker Hall. This latest venue is inspired by Lucas' time living and working in Tokyo in the 90s, and will be a celebration of Japanese street food and izakaya culture. Head Chef Dan Chan (Supernormal and Michelin-starred Yardbird in Hong Kong) is spearheading the culinary offerings at Tombo Den, serving up dumplings, rice and noodle dishes, charcoal-barbecued seafood and meats, and sushi. When it comes to sushi, you can expect a less-formal offering than you might find at, say, your usual Japanese fine-diner or omakase haunt. At Tombo Den, the team is strongly inspired by the food's more casual beginnings as a street food staple. This more casual dining style is complemented by an approachable drinks lineup, which has been curated by Society's own Tokyo-born Master Sommelier Yuki Hirose. Society is known for its encyclopedic drinks offering — often winning international wine list awards — but Tomo Den's bev offerings won't be quite as exhaustive. This isn't meant to be a fine-diner. The aim is for it to have a more laidback izakaya feel where you don't need a sommelier to guide you through the sakes, wines and cocktails. With this in mind, the space has been designed to "transport diners from a gritty suburban storefront into an open-plan space with a moody, evocative aesthetic that nods to the city's endless labyrinth of late-night izakayas." LUCAS Restaurants venues are known for looking pretty damn cool, so we have high expectations for Tombo Den's look and feel. Those wanting to party a little can also book the karaoke room or one of the private dining spaces found within the large two-storey venue. It looks to be another winning combo for Lucas, who's built up a hugely successful Australian restaurant empire. Tombo Den is slated to open in September this year, and will be found at 100 Chapel Street, Windsor. For more details, you can check out the venue's website.
The Sydney Mardi Gras is almost upon us and, along with it, a feast of new queer cinema is about to descend upon the city. For 29 years now, the Mardi Gras Film Festival has added the latest LGBTQIA+ movies to Sydney's big celebration, and it's doing the same again in 2022 — but, as happened in 2021, it's going hybrid with both physical and online screenings. Accordingly, if you're a Sydneysider who's keen to get your big-screen queer film fix between Thursday, February 17–Thursday, March 3, you can, with the fest showing at Event Cinemas George Street, and holding one one-off sessions at Hayden Orpheum, Cremorne and Event Cinemas in Parramatta and Hurstville. But if you feel more comfortable watching from home during the current Omicron outbreak or you're a fan of LGBTQIA+ movies located elsewhere in Australia, you'll also be able to enjoy MGFF digitally as well. The fest's 2022 lineup spans 119 films from 37 different countries, covering 32 narrative features, 15 documentaries, four episodic screenings, a retrospective and nine programs of shorts — so yes, there's more than a bit to watch. That said, different flicks will play in cinemas and on-demand, as happens with hybrid fests, but more than half of the program will be available for those playing along at home and interstate. Opening the fest on the big screen is Wildhood, which is set in Canada's Atlantic Provinces and hails from MGFF's focus on First Nations filmmaking for 2022. In-cinemas only, it's joined by high-profile international film festival circuit highlights such as Great Freedom, an immensely moving drama about a man's experiences being imprisoned under Germany's former law criminalising homosexuality; and Benedetta, which follows a 17th-century nun who shocks her convent with visions, wild power plays and lesbian affairs, and happens to be the latest feature by Basic Instinct, Showgirls and Elle director Paul Verhoeven. Or, there's the Carrie Brownstein and St Vincent-starring mockumentary The Nowhere Inn, which has them both play versions of themselves, and The Novice, about a queer student on a university rowing team. Other standouts include Mexican magical realist drama Finlandia; documentaries about queer comic creators, lesbians in post-punk 80s London and American artist Keith Haring; and closing night's B-Boy Blues, which is based on the celebrated novel o the same name. Online, LGBTIQ+ cinema fans can also check out horror film The Retreat, which combines a cabin-in-the-woods setup with planning a queer wedding; Cannes-selected Taiwanese drama Moneyboys; the relationship-focused Ma Belle, My Beauty, about a long-term couple living in a scenic villa in the south of France; and Estonia's Firebird, which charts a romance against the backdrop of the Cold War. There's also documentary Coming to You, following two mothers fighting for LGBTQ+ rights in Korea; and As We Like It, an all-female version of Shakespeare's comedy As You Like It. Mardi Gras Film Festival 2022 runs from Thursday, February 17–Thursday, March 3 at Event Cinemas George Street, plus one-off sessions at Hayden Orpheum, Cremorne and Event Cinemas in Parramatta and Hurstville — and online nationally. For more information, visit the festival's website.
Victoria is currently under stay-at-home orders so, while you can't visit these pubs in person, you can still show your support with takeaway and online orders. You can stay up to date with the developing COVID-19 situation in Victoria, as well as current restrictions, at the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services. Rain, hail or shine, Melbourne's excellent pub scene is one that can be enjoyed all year round. And thankfully, many fine Melbourne watering holes are equipped with charming (and, naturally, heated) beer gardens so you can enjoy the outdoor vibes even if the cold winds are rising. We've teamed up with Guinness to put together a list of five excellent beer gardens in Melbourne to hit up at any time of the year. Pub not an option? You could always recreate the mood at home with one of these great winter recipes by star chef Colin Fassnidge. WELCOME TO THORNBURY Welcome to Thornbury is probably the most conspicuous beer garden on High Street. This is probably owing to the fact that it's essentially all beer garden. Complete with loads of high and low seating, lush foliage, adjustable awnings, outdoor heating, and licensed for up to 700 people, it's quickly become a northside favourite for a leisurely day or evening session, especially with their excellent deals (like a jug for the price of a pint during Friday happy hour, for starters). You won't go hungry, either — Welcome to Thornbury is also Melbourne's first dedicated, permanent food truck space. So far, over eighty different food trucks have rolled through the grounds on a daily rotating basis, keeping punters fuelled for regular events like movie and board game nights. Find Welcome to Thornbury at 520 High Street, Northcote. NOTTING HILL HOTEL Sadly, this pub doesn't have a charming 90s-era Hugh Grant manning the taps, but it does have arguably one of the finest beer gardens in town. Its size alone is impressive enough, but it's the long wooden tables beneath leafy boughs that give this local boozer its laidback charm, all year round. Once you're settled in, grab a pizza to share from the dedicated pizza window (open from Wednesday to Saturday), or order something larger from the taproom menu, which offers inventive takes on the usual suspects. Live music, comedy and trivia are also regularly on the bill at The Nott, so there's usually a bit of a buzz around this friendly local. Find the Notting Hill Hotel at 260-262 Ferntree Gully Road, Notting Hill. The Notting Hill Hotel bottle shop is open daily, with cocktails, growlers and snacks available. PRINCE ALFRED HOTEL This renowned Richmond venue houses one of the area's most popular beer gardens — and with very good reason. With its high, leafy trees and dedicated outdoor bar, this spacious beer garden boasts a welcoming atmosphere and plenty of standing heaters, as well as a covered area for those days when the Melbourne weather simply can't make up its mind. Daily specials, share plates and pub classics are all on offer alongside an impressive steak selection, making this Church Street spot a great pick for a reliable after-work feed or leisurely Sunday lunch. Find the Prince Alfred Hotel at 619 Church Street, Richmond. WHITEHART A former car park turns into a smart, two-level shipping container bar serving craft beer and cocktails, in an alleyway off another alleyway — does it get more Melbourne than that? CBD hangout Whitehart epitomises the city's hospo ethos of turning a nondescript industrial space into a venue that effortlessly oozes cool. The expansive beer garden and deck features exposed brick punctuated by the odd bit of greenery. Swing by for well-made cocktails, boutique wines, live tunes and a rotating food menu, which includes hearty fare from pizza (by neighbouring +39 Pizzeria) to smoked barbecue meats. Find Whitehart at 22 Whitehart Lane, Melbourne. HARDIMANS HOTEL Taking up a prime position of Macaulay Road, Hardimans Hotel's claim of being 'the best in the west' may be hard to challenge — this sleek, smartly refurbished art deco hotel not only offers a cracking selection of craft beer on tap, but also houses a great beer garden, some of which is undercover and heated. Low tables and wooden benches wrap around this courtyard bordered by planter boxes filled with lush greenery, making this a great spot to drop into for a catch-up with mates, or maybe even a low-key date. Find Hardimans Hotel at 521 Macaulay Road, Kensington. Thirsty? Find your closest place for a pint over at the Guinness Pub Finder. Top image: Welcome to Thornbury
Maybe it's the twilight glow. Perhaps it's the stars twinkling above. Or, it could be the cooling breeze, the picnic blankets and beanbags as far as the eye can see, and just seeing a movie grace a giant screen with a leafy backdrop. When the weather is warm enough Australia-wide, a trip to the cinema just seems to shine brighter when it's outdoors. That's Sunset Cinema's whole angle, in fact, and it's returning for another season across the east coast. Over the summer of 2022–23 — and into autumn, too — this excuse to head to the flicks in the open air has seven stops on its itinerary: one in Canberra, three in New South Wales, two in Victoria and one in Queensland. In each, movie buffs can look forward to a lineup of new and classic titles, and a setup perfect for cosy date nights or an easy group hangs outdoors. NSW's run gets started on Friday, December 9 at St Ives Showgrounds, screening through till Saturday, January 28 with a lineup that includes box-office behemoths Top Gun: Maverick and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Disney's Strange World, Aussie drama Blueback and Olivia Wilde's Don't Worry Darling. Also on the bill: a heap of festive flicks leading into Christmas, such as Elf, Love Actually, Home Alone and The Nightmare Before Christmas; and three dog-focused films in January, spanning Marley & Me, Scooby-Doo and 101 Dalmatians. Sunset Cinema will also head to North Sydney Oval from Wednesday, January 11—Saturday, April 1, featuring the likes of 2022 hits The Menu and Everything Everywhere All At Once, Steven Spielberg's latest The Fabelmans, Whitney Houston biopic I Wanna Dance with Somebody, throwbacks such as There's Something About Mary and Crazy Stupid Love, and more. And, at the Wollongong Botanic Garden from Thursday, December 15–Saturday, March 11, the season covers many of the aforementioned titles — the Christmas lineup included — and also Mean Girls, Freaky Friday and The Parent Trap as part of a Lohan Fest. In Victoria, Mt Martha is first on the agenda, with Sunset Cinema hitting The Briars from Wednesday, December 21—Friday, January 20. Those festive films get a run here, too, as do classics Dirty Dancing and The Princess Bride — and many of the new titles showing at other venues. Melburnians don't miss out, however, thanks to a new St Kilda run from Friday, February 1—Saturday, March 4 at St Kilda Botanical Gardens. The lineup for that spot hasn't yet been revealed. And, in Brisbane, mark April in your diaries — with the exact dates, venue and program to be announced. At all stops around the country, BYO picnics are encouraged here, but the event is fully licensed, so alcohol can only be purchased onsite. Didn't pack enough snacks? There'll be hot food options, plus plenty of the requisite movie treats like chips, chocolates, lollies and popcorn. SUNSET CINEMA 2022–23 DATES: Canberra, ACT: Thursday, November 24—Saturday, February 25 at Australian National Botanic Gardens St Ives, NSW: Friday, December 9—Saturday, January 28 at St Ives Showgrounds Wollongong, NSW: Thursday, December 15–Saturday, March 11 at Wollongong Botanic Garden North Sydney, NSW: Wednesday, January 11—Saturday, April 1 at North Sydney Oval Mt Martha, VIC: Wednesday, December 21—Friday, January 20 at The Briars, Mt Martha St Kilda, VIC: Friday, February 1—Saturday, March 4 at St Kilda Botanical Gardens Brisbane, QLD — from April 2023, exact dates and venue TBC Sunset Cinema's 2022–23 season runs at various venues around the country from November 2022. Head to the Sunset Cinema website for further details.
In the most mathematical news since boffins discovered a pattern in prime numbers, the cast and crew behind of Adventure Time, the show that straddles generational gaps like it ain't no thing, are coming to town next March. It's going to be live, it's going to be loud and it's gonna be so flippin' awesome. Making quick trips to Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, Adventure Time Live will be an interactive, audio-visual festival that includes Q&As with cast and crew, cosplay competitions, live reads of classic episodes and much more to be announced. It's not a show, it's an experience, man. The event hits Australia between March 10 and March 12 next year, which will probably coincide with the largest gathering of adults pretending to be children pretending to be adults that this country has ever seen.
For most of us, getting festive involves trees, lights, wreaths, tinsel and other assorted decorations. For the folks behind pop-up dessert museum Sugar Republic, nothing says Christmas like a ten-room pop-up absolutely brimming with end-of-year cheer. Think marshmallow-themed pools, human-sized snow globes, a lane filled with candy canes and a giant peppermint ball pit — plus a a gingerbread cottage and plenty of ugly sweaters, naturally. That's what Melburnians will find at Christmasland, which takes over the old MacRobertson's Confectionery Factory from Sunday, November 10. Basically, the Sugar Republic crew is swapping out sweet treats for all things jolly and merry, then decking the Fitzroy spot's halls and walls in the same over-the-top manner as its previous dessert-heavy installation. And, we do mean over the top. That marshmallow pool? You'll be able to slide into it. The snow globe? You'll be able to stand inside and try to catch falling snow. One space will be called Tinseltown, so you know what you'll find there. There'll also be life-sized toys, the requisite Christmas carols and even seasonal smells. [caption id="attachment_707305" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] The ball pit at Sugar Republic.[/caption] Because these kinds of installations are all about the photos, Christmasland will feature a heap of merry backdrops for your snaps and selfies — such as a giant Christmas card, a ski lift, a huge advent calendar and a forest of pink trees. And, because festive season isn't complete without indulgent snacks, you'll also be able to sample chocolates and lollies. Just how long Christmasland will run for, how much tickets will cost and what the pop-up's opening hours will be are all yet to be revealed, with general public tickets going on sale on Tuesday, October 8. This should go without saying, but if you're a known Grinch who has recurrent Christmas-themed nightmares, this probably isn't for you. Find Christmasland at MacRobertson's Confectionery Factory, 379 Smith Street, Fitzroy from Sunday, November 10. Tickets go on sale on Tuesday, October 8 from the Sugar Republic website.
It's getting easier and easier to break free from your pesky plastic bag habit, especially now that the Victorian Government has followed through with its promised statewide ban on single-use plastic shopping bags. Confirmed 12 months ago, the new legislation was introduced to parliament today and, if passed by both houses, the ban will come into effect from November 1, 2019. That means in just four months, all single-use lightweight plastic shopping bags (with a thickness of 35 microns or less) could be given the boot — even those made from biodegradable or compostable plastic. The single-use bags will be removed from all Victorian retail outlets, which includes supermarkets, corner stores and even your favourite local vintage shop. Best make sure you've got a solid collection of reusable bags ready to go. [caption id="attachment_663522" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Queen Victoria Market banned plastic bags earlier this year.[/caption] Plastic bags that won't be included in the ban include garbage bags, bin liners, animal waste bags and those thin 'barrier bags' you get with your fruit and veggies. The legislative shakeup comes off the back of extensive community consultation, which found an overwhelming number of Victorians supported a ban ban on single-use bags. Supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths enforcing their own nationwide plastic bag bans just under a year ago, while local shopping spots including The Queen Victoria Market and South Melbourne Market have also scrapped the plastic. As well as being a big win for the environment, the move brings Victoria into line with South Australia, the ACT, the Northern Territory, Tasmania and Queensland, who have all banned single-use plastic bags. NSW is now the only state that hasn't committed to a ban. If passed by both parliament houses, Victoria's statewide ban on single-use plastic bags will come into force on November 1, 2019.
After a year of travelling inside our own states (and around our own apartments), the last of the interstate borders are finally opening. Apart from WA (which is still closed to SA) and Queensland (which is opening up to SA from Saturday, December 12), Australians can visit anywhere in the country without quarantining. To celebrate, ridesharing service DiDi is offering half-price rides to airports across the country from now all the way through till Sunday, January 31 2021. This is great news if you have trips home to see the fam or summer getaways planned. You can, of course, choose from Ola, Uber or DiDi. If you go with the latter, though — you'll get a much cheaper trip. The newer of the three, DiDi is offering every rider two half-price trips (with a max saving of $20 a trip) to eligible airports, which include Melbourne Tullamarine, Melbourne Avalon, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Newcastle, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast airports. You just need to jump onto the app, use the code 'EXPLORE' and you'll get access to the discounted trips. DiDi has implemented a range of safety measures in a bid to reduce the spread of COVID-19, too, including two-person passenger limits in an Express and four in a Max, installing over 2000 in-car partition screens and distributing face masks to drivers. DiDi Chuxing launched in China in 2012 and has quickly become a huge player in the global ridesharing game — it has since bought out Uber's Chinese operations and has stakes in numerous companies, including Ola, Taxify, Lyft and Grab. To get your two half-price DiDi trips — from now until Sunday, January 31, 2021 — download the app (for iOS or Android) and use the code EXPLORE. Find out more about current interstate border restrictions over here.
What does $5 buy you in Melbourne these days? Let's see: two-and-a-half oysters at Stokehouse Pasta and Bar in St Kilda, one-and-a-half (ish) tacos at Il Mercanto Centrale in the CBD or a pot at Public House in Richmond. For one divine, budget-friendly day, your five golden coins could go much further. To celebrate National Fish and Chip Day on Friday, June 6, Hunky Dory is peddling a fish finger sandwich — and it's just a fiver. It's not just your traditional sanga. Two thick slices of soft white bread come crowded with a fillet of hand-crumbed, golden-fried Australian Rockling, plus chunky tartare, crispy lettuce and sprightly pickles. On the side, you'll find a pile of piping hot crinkle-cut chips. The catch? It's available only on National Fish and Chip Day — and once the sangas are sold out, no amount of begging, borrowing or stealing will get you one. So, arrive early. You'll find it at all of Hunky Dory's venues, except the one at Marvel Stadium.
More than a quarter-century ago, a TV sitcom about six New Yorkers made audiences a promise: that it'd be there for us. And, as well as making stars out of Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer and Lisa Kudrow, Friends has done just that. Sure, the hit series wrapped up its ten-season run in 2004, but the show has lived on — on streaming platforms, by sending an orange couch around Australia, by screening anniversary marathons in cinemas and in boozy brunch parties, for example. In news that was bound to happen someday — no pop culture entity truly comes to an end in these reboot, remake, revival and spinoff-heavy times — Friends is living on in a much more literal sense, too. First hinted at in 2019, officially confirmed in 2020 and just releasing its first teaser trailer (and announcing a US air date), the show is coming back for a reunion special on HBO's streaming platform HBO Max. Naturally, the whole gang is involved. Yep, it's 'The One Where They Get Back Together' — which is exactly how the trailer for Friends: The Reunion describes the special. That said, it's worth noting that the special is unscripted, which means that Aniston and company aren't literally stepping back into Rachel, Monica, Chandler, Joey, Ross and Phoebe's and shoes. Instead, the actors behind the characters will chat about their experiences on the show — all on the same soundstage where Friends was originally shot. And, let's face it, the fact that they'll all be on-screen at the same time in the same place celebrating the series that so many folks love is probably enough for fans. Aniston, Cox and the gang will have a few other famous faces for company. More than a few, in fact. The guest list is hefty, and spans folks with connections to the show and others that must just love it — including David Beckham, Justin Bieber, BTS, James Corden, Cindy Crawford, Cara Delevingne, Lady Gaga, Elliott Gould, Kit Harington, Larry Hankin and Mindy Kaling, as well as Thomas Lennon, Christina Pickles, Tom Selleck, James Michael Tyler, Maggie Wheeler, Reese Witherspoon and Malala Yousafzai. Initially slated to air last May — with those plans delayed due to the pandemic — the special will now stream via HBO Max in the US on Thursday, May 27. For folks Down Under, just when and where it'll surface hasn't yet been revealed; however, it's bound to be here for us sooner or later. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MedRN92V6lE Friends: The Reunion will be available to stream in the US via HBO Max on Thursday, May 27. It doesn't currently have an air date or streaming date Down Under — we'll update you when one is announced.
By this stage, there's every chance you've forgotten what a dance floor even looks like. But the folks at Untitled Group — the same minds behind Beyond the Valley, Pitch Music & Arts and Ability Fest — are here to get you reacquainted. They've just revealed a huge all-Aussie lineup for the 2021 edition of their live music series For The Love, which is headed to Perth, Melbourne and the Gold Coast in March and April. Across three dates, legendary acts including electronic duo Flight Facilities, dance floor darlings Cosmo's Midnight and Brisbane rapper Mallrat will help you dust off the cobwebs and rediscover that groove. The party kicks off at Perth's McCallum Park on Saturday, March 13, before heading to Birrarung Marr in Melbourne on Saturday, April 3. Doug Jennings Park on the Gold Coast plays host to the final event on Saturday, April 17. These three waterfront venues are set to be transformed into blissful dance destinations, heaving to live sounds from favourites like singer-songwriter Running Touch and brother-sister duo Lastlings, along with London Topaz, Boo Seeka, George Maple and Elizabeth Cambage. Punters will also have the opportunity to kick back in style in one of For The Love's VIP lounges, presented by Aussie streetwear label Nana Judy. If an evening spent cutting shapes by the water sounds like a much-needed addition to your calendar, you can now register for presale until 3pm on Wednesday, December 9. Presale tickets go on sale from 5pm that same day, with general public tickets up for grabs from noon on Thursday, December 10. For The Love 2021 hits Perth on March 13, Melbourne on April 3 and the Gold Coast on April 17. Head to the website to register for presale.
When a music festival takes place in a winery, it already has two of the three fest essentials taken care of before it even announces its lineup: an ace location and booze. But, that doesn't mean that Grapevine Gathering slouches on talent. The acts hitting its stages around the country are always chosen to impress, and 2023's fests are no different. Leading the charge: Spacey Jane, King Stingray and Vanessa Amorosi, with the latter meaning that 'Absolutely Everybody' will be stuck in your head for weeks afterwards. The Wombats and Hayden James are also on the bill, both doing Australian-exclusive shows at the wine-fuelled festival. Rounding out the list: Cannons, The Rions, Teenage Joans and Bella Amor, plus podcast duo Lucy and Nikki on hosting duties. [caption id="attachment_905845" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sam Hendel[/caption] Grapevine Gathering's 2023 tour will hit Victoria on Saturday, October 7, taking place at Rochford Estate in the Yarra Valley. Naturally, sipping wine is a huge part of the attraction. As always, attendees will have access to a heap of vino given the fest's locations, as well as an array of food options. GRAPEVINE GATHERING 2023 LINEUP: Spacey Jane The Wombats Hayden James King Stingray Vanessa Amorosi Cannons The Rions Teenage Joans Bella Amor Hosted by Lucy and Nikki Top image: Jordan Munns.
If you're of a certain age and went to school in or around Melbourne, you're probably all too familiar with Sovereign Hill — the gold rush-museum-meets-miniature-town that was the excursion spot of choice in the 90s and early 2000s. Well, fast-forward to the current day and the precinct is set to show off a much cooler, foodier side when it hosts the Heritage Harvest Weekend from Saturday, May 25–Sunday, May 26. The food festival will take you on a time-tripping celebration of sustainable cooking practices like fermenting, pickling and curing through a program of events headlined by some legendary Aussie chefs. Free interactive cooking demos will be run by Masterchef's Julie Goodwin and Tim Bone as well as Bake Off's Darren Purchese. A handful of cooking and craft sessions will also be hosted by the legendary Country Women's Association. Food producers and local artisans will set up stalls within the old-timey town where kids can also learn traditional crafts and join a bunch of activities. Visitors who purchase a standard Sovereign Hill ticket will get access to all of the Heritage Festival events, so you can do a spot of shopping, listen to some live music, have a good feed and then go pan for gold at the river. How wholesome?
Champagne, cognac and caviar. This is what Melburnians can expect from an incredibly opulent new cocktail bar that's headed for the CBD next year named Nick & Nora's. How do we know it will be opulent? Well, the bar is brainchild of the Speakeasy Group — the owners of cocktail classic Eau de Vie, Viking luxe bar Mjolner and whisky-serving Boilermaker House — for one. Secondly, like Mjolner, Nick & Nora's will be a Sydney import — the group opened its first Nick & Nora's in Sydney in October last year. Like its Sydney counterpart, the venue is inspired by Dashiell Hammett's novel The Thin Man and its fictional crime-solving team Nick and Nora Charles. If you're not familiar with the book, expect a roaring 30s vibe befitting a most glamorous party — the 240-person venue will have five distinct spaces, three balconies, art deco finishes and a whopping 400 bottles of Champagne on display. The latter will be housed in a climate-controlled display case and feature rare vintages alongside bubbles by the glass. For cocktails, the manual will be organised by taste — a Speakeasy Group signature — but with venue-themed list names like Femme Fatal, Hollywood Starlet and The Snitch. Think martinis, Champagne cocktails and sours aplenty. [caption id="attachment_691230" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nick & Nora's Sydney, by Jiwon Kim.[/caption] Nick & Nora's will be located in the high-end restaurant precinct within the 80 Collins Street building that's currently under development and set to open in early 2020. It's shaping up to house some big hospitality names, with a highly anticipated new venue from Sepia's Vicki Wild and Martin Benn and a rooftop restaurant and urban farm from Pastuso's Alejandro Saravia already locked in. The giant 80 Collins development is going up on the site of the heritage-listed Le Louvre building, on the corner of Collins and Exhibition Streets. The high-rise, along with a newly refurbished commercial tower on the same block, will boast a futuristic new office tower, a 255-room boutique hotel and a luxury retail offering alongside the hospitality precinct. The Speakeasy Group — led by owners Sven Almenning and Greg Sanderson — is also doing things a little differently this time around. Instead of raising equity for future venues through private investors, the group has started a Birchal crowdfunding campaign for public investors — and over $870,000 has already been invested since it started last month. The campaign will run through April 4 and investments can range from $500–10,000. If you have the cash to splash, all new 'owners' will receive a VIP invite to the Nick & Nora's Melbourne opening night. Nick and Nora's Melbourne will open in early 2020 at 80 Collins Street, Melbourne. Keep an eye on this space for updates. Image: Nick & Nora's Sydney, by Jiwon Kim.
So, you spent all the money during silly season last year and now feel the need to be frugal this month — cooking at home and spending most social time out in parks or at the beach. We are all for this, but you can still dine out this month without spending big. Thanks to the crew at Marameo, you can have your cake (well, pasta) and eat it too. Throughout January, the team at this CBD Italian restaurant is pumping out its famed cacio e pep for just $15 at both lunch and dinner. That's a proper bargain, with bowls of pasta often soaring well over $30 these days. Since opening its doors five years ago, Marameo has served over 26,849 bowls of its signature cacio e pepe, and the team plans to get that over 30,000 by the end of January. Why not help them get there? Images: Kristoffer Paulsen.
It's a sad day for Melbourne's cafe scene, with news yet another hospitality venture has fallen victim to the dreaded apartment development. This time, it's Brunswick East stalwart Pope Joan that's getting the boot. After eight years of operation (and many a Pope Joan brekkie roll devoured), Matt Wilkinson's Nicholson Street gem is set to shut up for good on Sunday, June 24 to make way for a seven-storey apartment building. "Of course, I would have loved for Brunswick to have remained a village of quaint weatherboard houses and small cafes like ours, but it's just the way it goes," said the owner and chef. "It's the end of an era." Having won over locals for close to a decade with its honest, locavore fare, Pope Joan's not going anywhere, but in style. For the final month of cafe operations, the cafe will tap into its catalogue of greatest hits, offering a menu of staff and customer favourites. Pop in for one last go at dishes like the pumpkin and haloumi tart, and the 'Kinda' Full English, loaded with bacon, sausage and Joan's legendary baked beans. Dinner service is also getting one last hurrah, served across four Friday evenings on June 1, 8, 15 and 22. For the nighttime menu, expect yet more Wilkinson classics, from the sesame brown rice risotto with grilled Otway shiitake, to the beloved Milawa chicken kiev. Next door sister venue The Pie Shop will remain open with Wilkinson at the helm as it's thankfully on a different land title. Pope Joan will remain open at 77–79 Nicholson Street, Brunswick East until June 24. For more info, visit popejoan.com.au.
When Die Hard first appeared on screens back in 1988, it instantly set the new gold standard against which every action movie would be held. Sparkling dialogue, an intelligent plot and enormously charismatic leads, both as villain and (anti)hero, proved top-shelf action could absolutely exist alongside conventional storytelling elements rather than at their expense. Four sequels and 25 years later, Die Hard remains that gold standard, but sadly its latest manifestation, A Good Day to Die Hard, looks decidedly dull by comparison. Set in Moscow, it sees John McClane (Bruce Willis) team up with his son Jack (Aussie Jai Courtney) to take on a corrupt oligarch and his seemingly endless supply of expendable goons. That fact alone represents both a major and perilous departure from the franchise's initial winning formula. In the original Die Hard, even the minor henchmen were defined characters with names, looks and distinctive personalities. When it comes to A Good Day To Die Hard, the only name I can remember isn't even a name; it's just 'the Dancer' — and that's about as close as we get to knowing any of its characters, both good and bad. On the action front, things do at least begin well, with a tense and heart-thumping terrorist assault to set in motion the remainder of the day's chaos. From that moment on, however, while the action never slows down, it also fails to offer even a passing nod to plausibility. Again, in the original Die Hard, all it took were a few shards of glass to seriously impede its hero and imbue him with a genuine sense of fragile mortality. Here, now in round five, characters leap unprotected from 20-storey buildings and plough through countless panes of glass with little more than dust and one-liners to show for it. All signs point to the future of this franchise resting in the hands of Jai Courtney, with his Jack McClane taking over from John as the man who repeatedly finds himself in the wrong places at the wrong times. That raises the question, though: can it survive without Willis, whose charm and playful bombast cannot be overstated. Even in A Good Day To Die Hard, Willis exudes more charisma in a largely semi-comatose state than most of the cast combined. Courtney definitely looks, acts and sounds like a conventional action hero, and he plays the role well; however, it's John McClane's disarming smirk and New York swagger that will forever underscore much of Die Hard's enduring appeal. Without Willis at the helm, it's hard not to think this latest instalment may indeed be a very good day for the franchise to lay itself to rest and whisper 'yippee-ki-yay' no more.
If there's one thing we grew up hearing from our mothers, it's "don't follow strange men you've just met in Mexico into abandoned churches in the middle of nowhere". Or something like that. In any case, you'll be shaking your head just like your mum within the first half hour of Truth or Dare, as you follow the sordid activities of a group of teenagers on spring break as they become embroiled in a ~deadly~ game. Regardless of how your mother phrased her advice, we're sure it was much more sensible and well-intended than this waste of time of a film. Somehow earning the stripe of being from Jason Blum's Blumhouse Productions team (who brought you Get Out, Insidious and Whiplash), we have a feeling this is one movie Blum deigns to forget pretty quickly – as will most people who watch it. The film follows a group of teenagers on spring break (ugh) who, after the standard montage of tequila and bars and hook-ups (uuugh), find themselves playing a game of truth or dare with a stranger who soon gets weird and jumps ship. That leaves Olivia (Lucy Hale) and a bunch of her friends to finish the game, only to realise that the game isn't finished with them. Yeah, that's right – another movie where pretty young people are killed off one by one. This time it would seem a demon curse is the culprit. Unsurprisingly, Truth or Dare is extraordinarily silly, from the setup all the way down to the ridiculous facial effects that look as though they're the result of too many pingers and one of those carnival fun mirrors. It's meant to be scary, and to indicate how dark and terrifying a demon it is we're dealing with here (spoiler alert: not very). More disturbing is how little the characters seem to care when their mates start kicking the bucket. Teens these days, huh? The only semi-interesting story element relates to one character's struggle with how to come out to his strict father. Unfortunately, most everyone is dead before it can really develop into anything worthwhile. Thin in plot, thick in bad acting and dialogue, we dare you to turn your back on this limp sponge of a film. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cgnk3MLw9TM
Melbourne's Vue de Monde might have some high-rise competition next year, with the city set to get a new 5-star hospitality venue — 140 metres off the ground. Like so many other projects, Sky Bar Melbourne was meant to launch this year, but COVID and construction delays have pushed the opening out to March, 2022. Still, we've got some early-release images and details to share with you. You'll find SkyBar on the 40th floor of Oakwood Premier in Southbank. Guests will enter via a private elevator in the main lobby. In the spirit of other ambitious, high-concept restaurants (we're looking at you, Society) the venue will feature five distinct dining areas, with seating for up to 250 patrons. There'll be a VIP room, star-like chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, a floating al fresco terrace, immersive lighting projects (courtesy of The Sequence Group) and the main event: a 5-star restaurant named Strato with seven-metre windows lapping right around the venue. Depending on where you sit, you'll get 360-degree views of Port Phillip Bay, the CBD skyline, the Yarra and the MCG. The sheer altitude of Sky Bar also means you'll be able to watch the weather sweep across Melbourne, and there'll be some pretty epic sunsets from the western side of the building. Don't be surprised if you're dining in the clouds, come winter. "We couldn't be more excited to open Sky Bar Melbourne," says Norman Khan, Managing Director of Yarra Hotel Group. "Our vision for this venue has been to show off our amazing city in all its glory. We know the past 18 months have been hard and dining out is dearly missed. We've put a lot of effort into making Sky Bar Melbourne an entire experience, and the venue has been developed by a team of people who are passionate about hospitality." It's clear the guys from Yarra Hotel Group are shooting for the moon with SkyBar. The menu concept for Strato alone promises "smoke, vapour, embers, levitation and nitrogen". It'll be interesting to see whether the CBD embraces sky-high dining, and how SkyBar figures with the city's post-COVID hospo recovery. Definitely, one to watch. Sky Bar Melbourne is set to launch in March 2022. We'll bring you more details closer to the launch date. Sky Bar Outlook: Rhiannon Taylor UPDATE: Since opening in July 2022, the sky-high venues at 202 Normanby Street, Southbank, have been rebranded as one all-encompassing bar and eatery named Strato Melbourne. Find out more at the website.
Flight sales have been a big part of 2020, ever since domestic travel started opening back up in Australia (and even with borders closing and opening with frequency). Indeed, when Jetstar offered up a heap of discounted tickets in mid-June, it sold 70,000 seats in just five hours, with Aussies keen to travel when and where they can in this pandemic-afflicted year. The airline has launched several other sales since and, until Saturday, December 19, it's hosting its big Christmas affair. So, get your clickers ready. The Jetstar Christmas sale is already running, with discounted flights on offer until 11.59pm AEDT on Saturday — if it doesn't sell out prior. In the sale, you'll find cheap flights all around the country, starting at $29. That'll get you from Adelaide to the Avalon airport in Melbourne. For $59, a Brisbanite can get to Sydney and for $99, a Sydneysider can get to Cairns, too. Other deals include Brisbane to The Whitsundays for $55, and to Darwin or Uluru for $89; Sydney to the Sunshine Coast for $59, to Hamilton Island for $99 and to Launceston for $49; and Melbourne to the Gold Coast for $69, to Ballina for $97 and to Margaret River for $99. Yes, the list goes on. Tickets are for one-way fares, for trips between January–June 2021, with exact dates varying in each region. So, if you're keen to get away, book some now and start planning. This time, before you get booking, you don't need to do as much work researching the status of interstate borders — because most of the country is now open. At present, only Western Australia has any restrictions in place, with folks from South Australia needing to quarantine for 14 days. Of course, this can change quickly depending on any new COVID-19 cases and clusters, as we've all become accustomed to seeing this year. Jetstar's Christmas sale runs until 11.59pm AEDT on Saturday, December 19, or until sold out.
Messina in a can. Nothing says novelty summer food quite like it. The ever-innovative team at Gelato Messina seem to be taking cues from Andy Warhol this season, launching their International Soup Kitchen exclusively at the Royal Croquet Club pop-up festival opening this Friday, January 16. While Warhol's original cans would send you into crippling debt, Messina's tins are little artworks in their own right that'll only set you back $9 each. Four tasty-sounding gelato sundaes will be on offer from Messina's own festival soup kitchen, adorably encased in a bespoke soup tin. Choose from Black Forest Bisque (chocolate fondant gelato, cherry jam, kirsch cream, kirsch soaked sponge), Faux Pho (Salted coconut sorbet, kaffir lime marshmallow, lychee coconut cream, chilli cashew crunch), Zuppa Duppa (Hazelnut gelato, wild strawberry preserve, pistachio crunch, amaretti biscotti), and American Chow Down (Peanut gelato, oreo custard, cream cheese mousse, pretzel crunch). You'll find the Messina International Soup Kitchen at the Royal Croquet Club, alongside fellow nosh wizards Meatmother, Mr Claws, Miss Chu and DOC. Opening Friday, January 16 and running until Sunday, February 1, the Royal Croquet Club is a pop-up food festival happening on the lower level of Birrarung Marr, Melbourne, along the banks of the Yarra River. Centred around a full-sized croquet pitch, the festival features themed bars, roving entertainment and live music from the likes of The Kite String Tangle, Norman Jay MBE, Miami Horror DJs and Japanese Wallpaper. Find the Royal Croquet Club at Birrarung Marr, Melbourne from January 16 - February 1. For trading hours and entry prices, head to the Royal Croquet Club website.
Sicario begins with an ordinary-looking slice of Arizona's desert-bordered suburbia, roving over rows of homes as far as the eye can see. As the kidnap extraction operation that will soon storm the doors of one particular house — and find much, much more than they bargained for — swiftly reveals, there’s little that’s normal behind the average facade. In a powerful start to his latest feature after Incendies, Prisoners and Enemy, director Denis Villeneuve ensures the chasm between perception and reality is apparent; indeed, it will echo throughout the feature. It's a fitting kernel of thought to plant in the minds of viewers who will witness 121 minutes of procedural tension seemingly concerned with the titular term — cartel slang for hitman in Mexico — in the context of the drug war, but actually delving into the haziness of trying to do the right thing by any means. It certainly bears remembering that Villeneuve doesn’t make films that could be considered easy viewing. As written by actor-turned-screenwriter Taylor Sheridan (Sons of Anarchy), Sicario jumps into the United States' furtive attempts to arrest the impact of the narcotics trade, then creeps through shades of grey, shimmers of complex uncertainty and slivers of necessary compromise. Accordingly, three figures earn the grim film's focus: FBI agent Kate Macer (Emily Blunt), plus government contractors Matt (Josh Brolin) and Alejandro (Benicio Del Toro). After leading the charge in the opening events, the former is asked to volunteer to work with the latter two men to bring a drug lord to justice. Their idea of how to do so, abandoning the rules in favour of operating in the shadows, differs to the by-the-book approach Macer prefers. Comparisons to Zero Dark Thirty prove apt and earned for an effort that treats its bristling violence and brutal set pieces as routine, strands its protagonist with reaching for an end result that can't be achieved by above-board means, and navigates the moral quandaries and harsh realities that spring. The striking, sunlit visuals, lensed by 12-time Oscar nominated cinematographer Roger Deakins (Skyfall) and seething with gritty texture, add to the overwhelming feeling of inevitability and despair Macer is saddled with, with as much said by the framing — often preferring to peer on at conversations from a distance, or capture action via aerial shots — as by the dialogue. Such rich imagery is matched not only by an unrelenting, rattling, bass-heavy score, but also by a trio of performances that simmer on screen. Blunt, continuing a spate of great choices of late that has included Looper and Edge of Tomorrow, finds the right mix of resilience and vulnerability as the woman at the centre of a puzzle she's being precluded from piecing together. Del Toro wears the feature's weariness, vagueness and murkiness in his gaze, while Brolin does the same thing with his sly smile and casual attitude — and becomes the film's standout player in the process. Indeed, Brolin acts as a weathervane for Sicario's end result, offering layers of quiet power that build with every exchange and altercation into an ever-troubling picture of ambiguity and unease. You're never quite comfortable with his character, nor should you be with the feature he's in, as compelling, confronting, stunning and downright exceptional as it is.
Think there's just one Hottest 100 in January? Think again. Indeed, the second important countdown of the month goes rather well with the music poll that just proclaimed Flume's 'Never Be Like You' the nation's best track of 2016. In the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers list, great brews are in the spotlight — and once again, Stone & Wood's Pacific Ale has come out on top. It's the second year that the Byron Bay brewery has been dubbed the country's best yeasty tipple, and their third win overall. With 1600 different beers in the running, winning is no easy feat. Run by GABS — or the annual brew fest also known as the 'Great Australian Beer SpecTAPular', the 'people's choice' poll is decided by booze-lovers around the country, and received its most amount of votes ever in 2016. In massive news for new bevs, 21 brews that first wet lips in the past year were included in the GABS Hottest 100, including the American Pale Ale made by Gold Coast-based, Mick Fanning-co-owned Balter Brewing. And recognising the strength of Australia's indie beer scene, a whopping 80% of drinks hailed from independent brewers. If you're thinking, "less background, more beer", here's what you've been waiting for: the rundown of the best beverages from the past year that just keep tempting tastebuds. Working your way through them isn't just a great way to show your appreciation for locally made brews — consider it research for the 2017 countdown. GABS HOTTEST 100 AUSSIE CRAFT BEERS OF 2016 1. Pacific Ale - Australian Pale Ale - Stone and Wood Brewing Co 2. IIPA - Double IPA - Pirate Life Brewing 3. Hop Hog - American Pale Ale - Feral Brewing Company 4. XPA - American Pale Ale - Balter - NEW 5. IPA - American IPA - Pirate Life Brewing 6. Little Dove - American Pale Ale - Gage Roads Brewing Co - NEW 7. Pale Ale - American Pale Ale - Pirate Life Brewing 8. Crankshaft - American IPA - BentSpoke Brewery 9. Former Tenant - American IPA - Modus Operandi Brewing Co 10. Pale Ale - American Pale Ale - 4 Pines Brewing Co 11. IPA - American IPA - Fixation Brewing Co. 12. War Hog - American IPA - Feral Brewing Company 13. Beechworth Pale Ale - American Pale Ale - Bridge Road Brewers 14. 150 Lashes - Australian Pale Ale - James Squire 15. Pale Ale - American Pale Ale - Little Creatures 16. Newtowner - Australian Pale Ale - Young Henrys Brewing Company 17. Indian Summer Ale - Australian Pale Ale - 4 Pines Brewing Co 18. Kolsch - Kölsch - 4 Pines Brewing Co 19. Barley Griffin - Australian Pale Ale - BentSpoke Brewery 20. Throwback IPA - IPA (Specialty) - Pirate Life Brewing 21. Sonic Prayer - American IPA - Modus Operandi Brewing Co 22. Taco - Specialty Beer - Two Birds Brewing 23. India Red Ale - American IPA - Prancing Pony Brewery 24. Golden Stout Time - Sweet Stout - Big Shed Brewing 25. Korben D. - Double IPA - Akasha Brewing Co 26. Single Fin - British Golden Ale - Gage Roads Brewing Co 27. Three Sheets - Australian Pale Ale - Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel 28. Cloud Catcher - Australian Pale Ale - Stone and Wood Brewing Co 29. Karma Citra - IPA (Specialty) - Feral Brewing Company 30. Atomic - American Pale Ale - Gage Roads Brewing Co 31. Coffee Ramjet 2016 - Wood-Aged Beer - Boatrocker Brewing Co - NEW 32. Tusk – Nov 2016 - IPA (Specialty) - Feral Brewing Company - NEW 33. Nail Red - American Amber Ale - Nail Brewing 34. Ramjet 2016 - Wood-Aged Beer - Boatrocker Brewing Co - NEW 35. Dark - Dark Mild - White Rabbit Brewery 36. Summer Ale - Blonde Ale - Mountain Goat Beer 37. Wild Yak - Australian Pale Ale - Yak Ales - NEW 38. Steam Ale - California Common - Mountain Goat Beer 39. Kosciuszko Pale Ale - Australian Pale Ale - Kosciuszko Brewing Company 40. Grizz - American Amber Ale - 2 Brothers Brewery 41. Small Ale - IPA (Specialty) - Colonial Brewing Company 42. Dog Days - American Wheat - Little Creatures 43. Footscray Ale - American Pale Ale - West City Brewing 44. Spearhead - Australian Pale Ale - Cricketers Arms 45. Vanilla Milk Stout - Sweet Stout - Thirsty Crow 46. Modus Pale - American Pale Ale - Modus Operandi Brewing Co 47. Furphy Refreshing Ale - Kölsch - Little Creatures 48. American Amber Ale - American Amber Ale - 4 Pines Brewing Co 49. Nail VPA - American Pale Ale - Nail Brewing 50. Californicator - American IPA - Big Shed Brewing 51. Freshie Salt & Pepper - Gose - Nomad Brewing Co 52. Mt Tennent Pale Ale - American Pale Ale - Pact Beer Co 53. Fat Yak - American Pale Ale - Yak Ales 54. Kung Foo - Pale Lager - 2 Brothers Brewery 55. KRUSH! - American Pale Ale - KAIJU! Beer - NEW 56. Windjammer - American IPA - Green Beacon Brewing Co 57. Reginald - American IPA - Blackman's Brewery 58. Pale Ale - American Pale Ale - Hawkers Beer 59. Session Ale - Australian Pale Ale - Mismatch Brewing Company 60. Calypso - Pale Ale (American-style) - Odyssey Craft Brewing Co. 61. 8BiT - American IPA - Stockade Brew Co - NEW 62. Hop Thief 8 - American Pale Ale - James Squire - NEW 63. The Chop - American IPA - Hop Nation Brewing Co - NEW 64. Sunset Ale - American Amber Ale - Two Birds Brewing 65. IPA - American IPA - Little Creatures 66. Rogers' Beer - American Amber Ale - Little Creatures 67. Watermelon Warhead - Berliner Weisse - Feral Brewing Company 68. Hop Culture - American IPA - Mornington Peninsula Brewery - NEW 69. Miss Pinky - Soured Fruit Beer - Boatrocker Brewing Co 70. Bright Ale - Blonde Ale - Little Creatures 71. Sly Fox - American Pale Ale - Feral Brewing Company 72. Hop Thief 7 - American Pale Ale - James Squire 73. Praline - Belgian Specialty Ale - La Sirène Brewing 74. Copy Cat - American IPA - Mash Brewing 75. Elsie The Milk Stout - Sweet Stout - Batch Brewing Co 76. Fancy Pants - American Amber Ale - Mountain Goat Beer 77. The Fox - Vienna-style Lager - Rabbit & Spaghetti Brewing Co. 78. Growler - American Brown Ale - 2 Brothers Brewery 79. IPA - American IPA - Hawkers Beer 80. Peanut Brittle Gose - Gose - Bacchus Brewing Co 81. Rare Breed: Pulped Fiction Blood Orange IPA - Double IPA - Mountain Goat Beer - NEW 82. Yenda Pale Ale - Australian Pale Ale - Australian Beer Co 83. Garden Ale - Australian Pale Ale - Stone and Wood Brewing Co 84. Hazelnut Brown - Brown Ale (UK-style) - Bad Shepherd 85. Bling Bling - Double IPA - Bridge Road Brewers 86. Beach Ale - Blonde Ale - Odyssey Craft Brewing Co. - NEW 87. Mornington Pale - American Pale Ale - Mornington Peninsula Brewery 88. Fred - IPA (American-style) - Murray's Craft Brewing Co 89. Imperial IPA - IPA (Specialty) - 4 Pines Brewing Co - NEW 90. F-Yeah - American Pale Ale - Big Shed Brewing 91. Session IPA - American IPA - Modus Operandi Brewing Co - NEW 92. Bling - American IPA - Bridge Road Brewers 93. Project #22: Bert (The Royal Albert Collab) - Australian Pale Ale - Colonial Brewing Company - NEW 94. Sourpuss - Berliner Weisse - Wayward Brewing Company 95. B.F.H. (Barrel Fermented Hog) - American IPA - Feral Brewing Company 96. 28 - American Pale Ale - Burleigh Brewing Company 97. Thanks Captain Obvious - American IPA - BrewCult 98. ALT Brown - American Brown Ale - Balter - NEW 99. The Chancer - Blonde Ale - James Squire 100. Hopsmith - American IPA - Akasha Brewing Co NEW — First brewed in 2016.
What do Elvis Presley, Yayoi Kusama, Pablo Picasso and Ancient Greece have in common? In the coming months, all four will have items and objects on display across Victoria. Accordingly, if you're looking for an excuse to spend the cooler months in a museum or gallery, you have several — including peering at 44 ancient works dating back to the early bronze age. Those historic pieces will hit Melbourne Museum courtesy of Open Horizons: Ancient Greek Journeys and Connections, a new exhibition that's set to open on Saturday, April 23. Co-created and presented with the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, the Australian-first showcase will feature pieces from the Greek organisation's collection — which happens to be the richest range of artefacts from Greek antiquity worldwide — all of which will be making an appearance Down Under for the first time. In the case of two of the exhibition's big highlights — the gold Theseus ring, which dates back to the 15th century BCE, as well as a 2500-year-old marble sphinx that depicts a female head with the body of a winged lion — they'll make their debut outside of the National Archaeological Museum, too. Also coming our way: a collection of artefacts depicting Greek hero Heracles, as well as pieces that date through to the Roman period. [caption id="attachment_845137" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Column krater, clay, Herakles slaying the king of Egypt, Busiris, and his attendants. B. Maenad and Satyrs. By the Cleveland Painter.Unknown provenance.About 470 BC. Credit National Archaeological Museum and Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports. Photographer Eleytherios Galanopoulos[/caption] Overall, Open Horizons: Ancient Greek Journeys and Connections will focus on not just Ancient Greece itself, but how the trade of ideas and goods influenced its culture — and how the Greeks also influenced the rest of the ancient world. "Since antiquity, the Greeks have always followed the open horizons of the sea, constantly travelling to every corner of the world. Extroversion, broad-mindedness and cosmopolitanism, as well as the ability to embrace and utilise foreign influences in a creative and original way have been integral elements of Hellenic culture," explains Minister of Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports Dr Lina Mendoni. Announcing the news, Museums Victoria CEO Lynley Crosswell said "we are excited to be collaborating with the National Archaeological Museum to bring some of the most remarkable artefacts direct from Athens for audiences in Melbourne to enjoy. This captivating exhibition will invite visitors to explore the cross-cultural connections that contributed to the formation of Ancient Greece." Open Horizons: Ancient Greek Journeys and Connections opens at Melbourne Museum, 11 Nicholson Street, Carlton, on Saturday, April 23. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the museum's website. Top image: One of a pair of antefixes Clay Representations of Chimaera and Bellerophon mounting his winged horse, Pegasus. From Thasos. 550-500 BC. Credit National Archaeological Museum and Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports. Photographer Magoulas.
UPDATE, February 15, 2024: Supernormal Brisbane is now set to open in 2024. Head to the Supernormal website for further details. Big culinary names making a move to southeast Queensland: now that's a trend that Sunshine State residents love to see. In just the past couple of months, Guy Grossi has announced plans to open an Amalfi-inspired restaurant in Brisbane, and Hong Kong's Michelin-starred cantonese restaurant T'ang Court just launched on the Gold Coast. The latest eatery that's set to join them: Melbourne's famed Supernormal. Acclaimed chef Andrew McConnell has revealed that Supernormal will launch a second location in 443 Queen Street, Brisbane, in a new residential tower that's due to open in late 2023. It'll sit on the riverfront, and boast views of the Brisbane River and the Story Bridge — and also be perched between the Queen Street Mall and Howard Smith Wharves. "There is a special combination of relationship, location, environment and architecture at 443 Queen Street that we are seriously excited to be a part of," said McConnell, announcing the news via Trader House — the collective that spans his restaurants, specialty retail stores and events. "For the past seven years, we've welcomed many interstate and international guests to Supernormal in Melbourne. Now, we look forward to contributing to Brisbane's already growing and vibrant food scene." "There's also a bounty of some of the country's best produce available. What a thrill to be able to explore this as we refine our offering," McConnell continued. Supernormal Brisbane marks Trader House's first venue beyond its Melbourne base, and will seat around 120 diners both inside and out — including in a private dining setup. While it's obviously too early to reveal the menu, the Brisbane restaurant will feature a hefty focus on Queensland produce and seafood, while plating up contemporary Australian dishes that also take inspiration from McConnell's time in both Hong Kong and Shanghai. Fingers crossed that Melbourne's marinated claims, New England lobster rolls, Hunan-style beef tartare and whole roasted flounder make the jump. On architectural and interior design duties: Vince Alafaci and Caroline Choker of Sydney's ACME, with the agency also working on the design of Melbourne's Gimlet at Cavendish House — the only Australian venue to make the longlist in 2022 for The World's 50 Best Restaurants, coming in in 84th position. Brisbanites can expect Supernormal Brisbane to link in with the Brisbane Riverwalk precinct — 'tis the location for it — and operate seven days a week, including offering an all-day dining menu. The new venue will start welcoming in patrons 22 years after McConnell opened his first restaurant, Dining Room 211, in Melbourne in 2001. And, it folds into a career that's spanned plenty of other notable Victorian sites, including Cutler & Co, Cumulus Inc, Marion, Builders Arms Hotel, Meatsmith and Morning Market. Supernormal Brisbane is set to open at 443 Queen Street, Brisbane in late 2023 — we'll update you with an exact launch date when one is announced. For more information about Supernormal Melbourne, head to the restaurant's website. Images: Supernormal Melbourne, Nikki To / Jo McGann / Kristoffer Paulsen.
