The changes of the past couple of weeks have hit Australia's hospitality industry hard. First, there were the tighter restrictions on venue numbers and spacing; then the government's closure of all non-essential businesses means hospitality venues were forced to shut their doors and rely solely on whatever takeaway service they had operating — or adapt and launch new ones. As a result, a huge number of hospitality workers have been left without jobs. According to website I Lost My Hospo Shift, as of Thursday, April 23, 2594 Aussie hospo workers had lost their jobs and 13,237 shifts had been cut, equating to around $2.1 million in lost wages this week alone. Thankfully, some industry legends are coming to the rescue, lending a helping hand in the form of a few much-needed free feeds. And they're not just helping out unemployed hospo workers either, they're providing free meals to frontline health workers, international students and those just generally doing it tough right now. In Sydney, James Thorpe — co-owner of Petersham's Oxford Tavern and The Taphouse in Darlinghurst — announced both his venues will continue serving up free takeaway meals for any struggling hospo workers. "If you are a casual hospo worker who is currently underemployed, I will pay for your meal," he said in a post on The Taphouse Instagram page last week. "Simply make yourself known at the bar with your RSA in tow (or just let us know where you work if a cafe worker) and our team will hook you up with a menu." https://www.instagram.com/p/B95Th-Np__4/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Meanwhile, Newtown restaurant Hearth & Soul made a comeback especially to throw some support behind struggling Sydneysiders. Owner Rachel Jelley closed the venue in November, but has thrown open the doors for a series of free Friday meal services, catering to both staff and employers in any industry who've lost jobs or income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Alongside a crew of volunteers, she's serving up a rotating menu of produce-focused dishes from 12–2pm each week, inviting diners to register via the website. "These are the people who have been working tirelessly to provide you with the dining-out experiences you love," Jelley explained. "They've also been cutting your hair, doing your physio, making your coffee and baking your croissants, and now their livelihoods have simply evaporated overnight, in silence. So, I want to feed them." https://www.instagram.com/p/B9-5LUHjva2/ Over in Enmore, Colombo Social is a Sri Lankan restaurant that provides employment opportunities and support to asylum seekers and refugees. But in response to these turbulent times, it's now expanded its focus, teaming up with Mission Australia and a bunch of other local charities to feed as many vulnerable community members as possible. The kitchen's being put to good use, whipping up over 4600 hot, nutritious meals for free to those who are hungry or struggling to feed their families. Italian chain Fratelli Fresh is also donating 650 meals every week to healthcare workers via its Feed the Front Line program, which is running until the end of June. You can donate a meal for $10 over here, too. Then, there's the group of Manly venues that have banded together in an effort to feed vulnerable hospitality workers. Via a new Go Fund Me campaign, spots like The Cumberland, The Hold, Hugos Manly and 4 Pines are raising money to fund free meals for those in the industry who've lost income and work. Impacted workers are invited to get themselves verified, then to register for any of the nightly-changing, home-delivered dishes. The meals are created using leftover food stocks donated by local restaurants. And Chippendale local Sneaky Possum has transformed into soup kitchens, dishing up free feeds to hard-hit hospitality staff with complimentary hospo meals from 8pm nightly. Down in Melbourne, Attica has set up its own soup kitchen. It's selling $25 Thai-inspired chicken broths, with $5 from each one sold going towards preparing food for unemployed hospitality workers on temporary visas. The crew from Brighton barbecue restaurant Coal Blooded Griller are drumming up donations to enable them to whip up free meals for those in need. Having already raised over $3500, they're able to serve hundreds of ready-to-heat, two-person food packs. https://www.instagram.com/p/B_N8a2rg0wD/ Meanwhile, Essendon burger joint Dribbles is handing out four free meals each week to people who've lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic. It's currently taking nominations for the freebies via its Facebook and Instagram. Newly-hatched non-profit event organisation The Issue X has made a mission to shed honest light on the issues and obstacles faced by the hospitality industry. And in these troubled times, it's turned its attentions to our city's hard-hit hospo staff, especially those on temporary visas who can't bank on any government support. The Issue X team knocked up a heap of nightly meals for those in need. And Brunswick's Viet-inspired restaurant Shop Bao Ngoc is giving back to its hard-hit hospo community by offering up a nightly changing meat-free dish, available for contactless delivery within three kilometres of the venue. The crew's encouraging a $10 donation for the meals — think, tofu pad thai and vegetable shepherd's pie — but say no one will be turned away for lack of funds. You can even pay it forward by donating money towards someone's future feed. https://www.facebook.com/baongocbrunswick/photos/a.439164586552477/841547599647505/?type=3&theater In the Brisbane suburb of Annerley, South Indian restaurant Sankalp is lending a hand by cooking up a swag of free vegetarian meals each Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The dishes are on offer to international students and any locals in need, to collect from the restaurant between 6.30pm and 8.30pm. Having pivoted its business in response to new public health regulations, Gold Coast eatery The Henchman is now operating as both a takeaway restaurant and food store. For as long as is possible, the owners are inviting anyone feeling the pinch to pop by and fill a bag with pantry supplies, on the house. And on the Sunshine Coast, a group of Noosa Junction venues have joined forces on a mission to support both their local hospo community and international students staying in the region. Together, eateries including Pasta Pronto, Bombetta and Moto are serving a stack of free breakfasts, lunches and dinners, across a range of daily offers. If and when you do decide to head out to get food, remember to follow the Australian Government Department of Health's social distancing guidelines. Know of any other restaurants, cafes or bars doing their bit to help the community? Let us know at hello@concreteplayground.com.
Guillermo Del Toro's original Pacific Rim knew exactly what it was: a modern day creature feature starring giant robots beating the living crap out of even bigger monsters. Everything the movie did, from the characters' backstories to the wacky scientists and even the burgeoning romance, was all there to serve a sole purpose: get us to the next massive monster bash. The entire exercise was big, silly and frequently confusing, but in the end it was all forgivable because Pacific Rim delivered the film it said it would. The sequel, by contrast, made the fatal error of having hardly any robot vs. monster fisticuffs, and – to put things bluntly – it sucked. Sadly, cinemas latest creature feature, The Meg, makes a similar mistake, proving about as big a disappointment as the shark you barely get to see. The setup, as far as sharksploitation films go, is actually pretty solid. A deep sea research project named Mana One discovers the Mariana Trench is actually deeper than first thought, with a dense cloud of hydrogen-sulfide masking a deeper world that's remained untouched since the Jurassic period. It's here the scientists both discover and then accidentally release the proverbial Meg (short for Megalodon), setting the giant shark upon a course of murderous destruction as it explores the oceans above. And wouldn't that have been great to watch! Sadly the film chooses to tell rather than show, mostly sending its cast to survey the aftermath of the Meg's mayhem rather than really showing the toothy beast in action. Much of the fault lies in decision to go for a family (and censor) friendly rating that strips the movie of almost all its gore. Truly, there's more bloody violence in a lamb ad then The Meg, robbing it of any sense of gruesome fun. In the lead human role, action man and former professional diver Jason Statham plays a deep sea rescue expert reluctantly drawn back into the world that abandoned him after a deadly incident some years prior. He's grizzled, cynical and a heavy beer drinker, yet still somehow more ripped than a carcass after a shark attack – not that The Meg would show that kind of thing. Statham, like Dwayne Johnson, is a delight to watch on screen, at once committed to his performance yet unmistakably aware of how ridiculous this movie is. Even he, though, feels underutilised in this film, relegated to delivering bad cliches in even more derivative scenarios. His co-stars don't fare much better, with the likes of Ruby Rose, Rainn Wilson and Chinese superstar Li Bingbing all trudging their way through this cheesy affair. In all, there's just not enough Meg in The Meg to justify the price of admission, let alone the title. It's not good enough to be a good film, but also not bad enough to be so bad it's good. Frankly, if it's schlock you're after, you'd be far better served by genuine B-movies like Sharknado. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGYXExfKhmo
It's the smash-hit musical that tells the tale behind The Wizard of Oz's witches. It's been a stage sensation for more than 20 years. From later in 2024, it's even getting the big-screen treatment. That'd be Wicked, of course — and, at the Regent Theatre, it's playing Melbourne right now. Even better: you can see it for the bank balance-friendly price of $45. TodayTix is doing another of its ticket lotteries. When a big musical heads to the Victorian capital, there are often two reasons to get excited: the fact that the particular stage show is reaching the city's stages, and possibly getting to catch it without defying your budget. Around the country, that cheap option has spanned everything from Hamilton and Moulin Rouge! to Mary Poppins and Tina — The Tina Turner Musical in recent years — and now for Melburnians, it's Wicked's turn. This is an enchanted opportunity to enjoy the show at a discount, with tickets costing just $45. To take part in the lottery, you will need to download the TodayTix app — which is available for iOS and Android — and submit your entry each week for the next week's performances. The lottery will go live at 12.01am AEST every Thursday morning, and is already up and running for its first week. Then, the winners are drawn after 1pm on the following Wednesday. If your name is selected, you'll have an hour to claim your tickets from when you receive the good news. If you need a reminder, you can also sign up for lottery alerts via TodayTix, too. Opening in Melbourne back in early March, and set to play until at least Sunday, June 30, Wicked is back in Australia two decades after composer Stephen Schwartz and playwright Winnie Holzman initially took a book that gleaned its influences from The Wizard of Oz, put it to music and turned it into one of Broadway's biggest hits of the 21st century. Even if you haven't seen the blockbuster show before, including on its past Aussie run from 2008–11, then you've likely heard of it. Following the Land of Oz's witches — telling their untold true tale is the musical's whole angle, in fact — Wicked has notched up more awards than you can fit in a hefty cauldron over the years. That includes three Tonys from ten nominations, a Grammy, an Olivier Award and six Drama Desk Awards. Story-wise, Wicked starts before The Wizard of Oz and continues its narrative after Dorothy Gale lands, adapting Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. The text itself has sold 5.5-million copies, including five million since the musical first opened. Here, before Dorothy blows in, two other women meet in the Land of Oz: Elphaba and Galinda. One will later be known as the Wicked Witch of the West, while the other will become Glinda the Good Witch. Exactly why that happens, and how, and the pair's relationship from rivals to unlikely friends to grappling with their new labels, fuels the show's tale. Wicked's Melbourne season is currently playing Regent Theatre, 191 Collins Street, Melbourne until Sunday, June 30, 2024. To enter the TodayTix $45 lottery, download the company's iOS or Android app, and head to the company's website for more information — and to set up an alert. Images: Jeff Busby.
Are you ready to get back on the school bus? The We and the I is a 2012 American dramedy directed by Michel Gondry, the idiosyncratic French filmmaker responsible for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. In this fictional film, Gondry recruits a handful of talented kids from the Bronx, the infamous Fort Apache neighbourhood, and fashions a script around them. These Bronx high-schoolers play out real stories on a fictitious bus line, the BX66, and as the bus shudders through real South Bronx neighborhoods old friendships shatter, flirtations begin, secrets spill over and bullies jeer. There's anger, there's profanity, and there's tenderness — all presented without teen-movie romanticism or moral judgment. The We and the I perfectly captures the freewheeling, hormonal chaos of being in high school, not to mention the joy of profanity, and the conflict between the desire to be oneself and the need to fit in. Go see it; there might be somebody in this jumbly group that you recognise.
The 2014 Melbourne Fringe Festival program has launched (gorilla in tow), and it's a predictably bursting-at-the-seams feast of live theatre, music, comedy, dance, film and art that will make for three-or-so weeks of decidedly unabashed fun. Now in its 32nd year, the Fringe is sticking to its tried-and-tested mix of emerging artists and more seasoned acts, but building on the general themes of coming-togetherness and seeing cool stuff, the festival is also launching a brand new series of site-specific works called Uncommon Places. Pairing ten artists with ten not usually arty spaces, the idea is to explore the theme of "third places" — places that aren't work or home but where you do that good old-fashioned socialising stuff, where people meet and discuss art and politics, where creative ideas are born and civic engagement is fostered. In other words, places that aren't really uncommon at all, but maybe just places you wouldn't expect to travel to for an arts festival. Nice. The program has the artists talking to the people who usually use the spaces, and telling their stories through installation. Filmmaker and human rights' advocate Emily Dalkin will take over the City Baths, investigating their social history way back to pre-colonial times, when the site was a local watering hole, while designer Danny Pettingill will bring his exploration of light in space and architecture to Pellegrini's Espresso Bar. Other festival drawcards include the dine-while-you-watch Fringe Film program, now in its second year, which showcases emerging digital artists doing boundary-crossing things with screens; Fringe Furniture, for design nerds; and the mini festival-within-a-festival for the north side at Northcote Town Hall, presented by Speakeasy. If you're an emerging artist dealing in the, erm, less prudish side of art-making, check out FECK:ART — a participatory exhibition of "socially responsible erotica" for work the curators are kinda hoping will need a content warning. And back again, of course, is the perennial Festival Hub at North Melbourne Town Hall, with three different bars in which to sit around and organise your festival shenanigans. It also boasts a continually revolving program of more than 60 events including a series of shows by lady comedians, the high-energy late-night Fringe Club, and Flash!, a showcase of dance, music, art and comedy from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. All in all, there should probably be a veto on ever saying, hearing or thinking the words "I'm bored" for the duration of the festival, which runs, by the way, from September 17 to October 5. See the Fringe Festival website for the full program, tickets, all that good stuff.
Back in 2012, when Daniel Radcliffe was initially trying to shake a certain boy wizard from his system — before everything from Swiss Army Man and The Lost City to Miracle Workers and Weird: The Al Yankovic Story firmly helped — he stepped into a different kind of supernatural thrills. His first post-Harry Potter role saw him take on The Woman in Black, a gothic-horror tale that pitted him against a curse and a ghost. And yes, the latter did have quite the fondness for wearing dark clothing. The film adapted the 1983 novella of the same name for the second time. But before The Woman in Black made it to the screen, it spooked out the theatre courtesy of Stephen Mallatratt back in 1987. Because hauntings often keep coming back, this play is doing so again, this time in a new Australian production starring John Waters (Blaze) and Daniel MacPherson (Foundation). If you don't like scary tales about sinister spirits seeking revenge for past ills, then you might want to sit this one out. If you love them, then prepare to put your nerves to the test. We're betting that the Athenaeum Theatre will be at its unsettling best for the occasion — it's not every day that it hosts a show that ranks among West End's longest-running productions, second only to Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap, after all. Melbourne's season will kick off on Thursday, June 13, spanning till Saturday, July 6. The Woman in Black is set in Eel Marsh House in England's north, which sits at the heart of a story that Arthur Kipps recounts about his stint as a young solicitor overseeing Mrs Alice Drablow's funeral. The place isn't just filled with secrets, thanks to the titular figure. Waters plays the elder Kipps, with MacPherson plays an actor who agrees to perform the role of his younger guise. Images: James Reiser.
Perth, our most westerly neighbour, has long been celebrated for its natural beauty — the sea, sand and endless sunshine. But, hey, there's a lot more to life than being really, really, ridiculously good looking. Over the past few years, Perth has switched gears and turned into a vibrant, cultural hub with the personality to back up its good looks. Now it's an ideal destination for a long weekend getaway. So you don't miss out on all that Perth has to offer, we've teamed up with the folks at QT Perth to bring you ten top-notch things to eat, see and do while visiting this magical city. The urban-chic boutique hotel is situated within the heart of Perth and boasts luxe amenities — like something called a 'signature QT Dream Bed', retro-glam black and gold furnishings, a minibar full of surprises and even complimentary pilates classes — all perfect for those explorers who relish the finer things. And what's more, this summer, you can stay at the swish hotel for free. QT Perth is giving away an epic trip to WA, which includes three nights' accommodation for two, plus flights, VIP passes to the Ice Cream Factory Summer Festival and $200 to spend at the festival bar. So, pack your bags; it's time to get acquainted with the new Perth. TUCK INTO PASTRIES AT MARY STREET BAKERY, HIGHGATE Baked goods mecca Mary Street Bakery sits just a 20-minute stroll from QT Perth. With four outposts around the city, the bakery has become a firm favourite among locals and visitors alike. Those with a proclivity for savoury can tuck into slow-cooked eggs with buttery toast ($13) or kimchi pancakes with beef brisket ($22), while the sweet tooths can enjoy some next-level treats, like pandan pannacotta with puffed rice, lime gel, almonds and mango ($16) or perfectly baked escargot ($5) — the pastries, not the snails. Wash it all down with a single origin cold brew or an organic cold-pressed green juice if you want to pretend you're healthy after that hefty dose of sugar. PERUSE THE GOODS AT FREMANTLE MARKETS, FREMANTLE Just 30 minutes from Perth's CBD, you'll find the uber trendy suburb of Fremantle. Renowned for its burgeoning art and music scene, Freo's streets are abuzz with creativity. Arguably the best way to get a glimpse of this vibrant culture is to hit up the Fremantle Markets. Running for over than 100 years, the markets have everything from Aboriginal art and Aussie opals to fresh fruit and coffee beans. There's even a shop which solely sells Barnesy t-shirts, because everybody loves Barnesy. The markets also have a regular busker schedule, so you can shop to the sweet sounds of Perth's up-and-coming musicians. GO GAMING AT PALACE ARCADE, CBD Arcade bars have been popping up all over the Eastern Seaboard — and now the neon-lit trend has spread to the west. Last September, Perth's first arcade bar opened its doors to the delight of all the kidults in WA. Boasting more than 100 machines from the 70s, 80s and 90s, Palace Arcade is a great place to go if you want to play like a kid for the day. There's nothing quite like getting a good dose of nostalgia along with your beer (or Cheat Mode cocktail). Should hunger strike, Mack Daddy's New York Pizza is available whole and by the slice. The best part? It's only a short, seven-minute stroll — or waddle depending on the pizza slices consumed — back to the hotel. CATCH A FLICK IN THE CLOUDS, NORTHBRIDGE As if openair cinemas weren't cool enough — this one's on a rooftop, six levels above the city and with panoramic views of Perth. Rooftop Movies is open now until March 30, 2019, with a program that places new films, like Bohemian Rhapsody, alongside old gems à la The Parent Trap and Romeo + Juliet. They've even dusted off 90s classic Home Alone just in time for Christmas. Grab yourself a Pimm's cup from the bar, settle into your comfy beanbag and watch as a babyfaced Macaulay Culkin physically and emotionally destroys two grown men. Oh, and even if the movie blows, you've got that skyline. [caption id="attachment_701027" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Adam Selwood.[/caption] TOUR THE LITTLE CREATURES BREWERY, FREMANTLE It'd be remiss to visit the West Coast and not have a pint of Little Creatures. The beer was born when a group of mates started brewing in a huge shed (and former crocodile farm) on the water's edge in Freo. Doesn't get more Aussie than that. Touted as the 'Grandfather of Perth's craft breweries', Little Creatures has been slinging beers since 2000 and operates like a well-oiled machine. To gain insight into the inner workings, jump on a brewery tour with a resident 'hop head' and learn about the brewing process, as well as the Little Creatures story. Tours run daily at 12, 1, 2 and 3pm, and cost $20 per person — that includes a guided tasting of the full range of beers. SNEAK INTO SNEAKY TONY'S, NORTHBRIDGE This elusive little speakeasy can only be accessed with a secret password, 'open sesame' style, which immediately makes you feel as though you're in some kind of prohibition-era gang. The bar's dim lights and moody aesthetic further adds to this 1920s underworld vibe; it's at once thrilling and mysterious. Ready yourself for a throng of punchy cocktails that make use of the bar's colossal rum collection. We suggest ordering the Sour Power, a refreshing blend of Cuban rum and watermelon, or the apple pie mojito. Just make sure to check Sneaky Tony's Facebook page to find out the magic word each Friday and Saturday night. Bottoms up, bootleggers. CATCH A FERRY AND HANG WITH THE QUOKKAS, ROTTNEST ISLAND Just look at that little guy, do we really need to convince you? Jump on a ferry to Rottnest Island and see the world's largest population of quokkas. There are thousands of them and, best of all, they're not camera shy. (Get ready for some seriously cute quokka selfies — these guys even smile for you.) Beyond the little brown floofs, 'Rotto' is a pristine, natural wonderland that's ripe for exploration. Go for a surf at one of the stunning white-sand beaches or explore the island by foot via one of the scenic hikes. Once you're tuckered out, catch the ferry back to the QT, enjoy a relaxing rain shower and spend the night curled up watching complimentary in-room movies. GET YOUR AUSSIE MODERN ART FIX AT PICA, CBD WA has a spate of great galleries — big and small — but to see some truly progressive work, head to the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts. Housed in a picturesque heritage building, smack bang in the middle of town, PICA has become a focal point for those keen to experience the very best Australian contemporary art. The program extends beyond visual arts to also incorporate performing and hybrid arts. Since it's free entry and only an eight-minute walk from QT Perth, it's a prime no-fuss activity to tackle when you need some downtime. ROTISSERIE CHICKEN AT TINY'S, CBD Perth's food and wine scene has gone into overdrive, with a spate of new venues bursting onto the city streets. And one of the best newcomers has to be Tiny's. Headed up by hospo heavyweights Paul Aron and Michael Forde — the brains behind Mary Street Bakery, Greenhouse, El Publico and Ace Pizza — the multifaceted venue features a restaurant, specialty bottle shop and bar. So, Tiny's is actually rather big. Head along for dinner and opt for the banquet ($54 per person) to sample some top-notch rotisserie meats. The chook, which takes two days to prepare and cook, is served with nduja bread sauce and potatoes roasted in chicken drippings — and it's by far the standout. Oh, and if you enter and win the QT Perth competition, you'll also get a free dinner at Tiny's. GO FOR A LATE-NIGHT BOOGIE AT LUCY'S LOVE SHACK, CBD The folks behind Jack Rabbit Slims opened this venue last September, and it's already won the hearts of Perth's late-night revellers. Lucy's is a bona fide party spot, with a generous daily happy hour, late-night pizza, live music and karaoke. The drinks menu is packed with a whole heap of beer, a few decent wines and a collection of reasonably priced cocktails (from $13). There's even Lucy's take on a Long Island iced tea available on tap. Did we mention it's only a one-minute walk from your home base? Partying has never been so easy. Spend your weekend exploring some of the very best things around Perth, and when you need a place to recoup, find your home away from home at QT Perth. Even better, enter the competition and win a trip to the city and a stay at the hotel for zero dollars. Plus, you'll get access to the most summery of events — the Ice Cream Factory Summer Festival.
Canberra coffee fiends have long been familiar with award-winning specialty coffee roaster Ona, which now has a handful of well-known cafes and coffee venues dotted across the nation's capital. Even Sydney has been given a taste, with Ona's first interstate outpost launching in Marrickville in mid-2018. Now, it's Melbourne's turn, as the caffeine maestros gear up to open the doors to their newest cafe venture, in the heart of Brunswick. Set to launch in spring 2020, the Ovens Street venue will boast a similar set-up and offering to its siblings. The team has nabbed a building with what they call a "unique history", which they'll convert into a complete "coffee sanctuary". For Ona, specialty coffee is a serious passion — in place of the standard cafe options, choice here runs to a simple trio of milk, black and filter coffee, with blends and single origins available for each. Expect a full service, open-plan coffee bar, optimised for customer interaction and with dedicated sections for espresso, milk work and filter brewing. Built-in freezers house Ona's famed frozen 'reserve' coffees, which use signature methods to vacuum-seal and store small portions of rare and expensive coffee. [caption id="attachment_673830" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ona Coffee Marickville[/caption] This 'reserve list' hints further at Ona's coffee obsession, acting a little like the high-end vino offering you'd find at a wine bar. The lineup will showcase various coffee harvests, countries of origin and processing techniques, highlighting the huge array of flavour differences. Yep – get ready to unleash your inner coffee nerd like never before. The cafe's food menu is still in the planning stages, but we're told to expect a strong sustainability focus, plenty of local ingredients, and a big contingent of vegan and vegetarian dishes. While Melbourne is not short on great cafes and roasteries, coffee fiends should be particularly excited about Ona — the acclaimed coffee brand's baristas and brews are often recognised as some of the best at the annual Melbourne International Coffee Expo. Ona Melbourne is set to open at 22 Ovens Street, Brunswick, from March/April 2020. Top image: Ona Sydney.
When Geelong's 6Ft6 launched in 2003, it only made two varieties of wine: pinot noir and shiraz. Lovers of white vino will be glad that it expanded its range in 2015, with the winery's sauvignon blanc ideal for anyone keen on a lighter — but still fragrant, of course — splash. With this drop, you'll smell passionfruit curd, and taste gooseberry and lychee. And, while you're drinking it, you'll be supporting a family-owned vineyard that's now being run by a second generation. 6Ft6 makes 100-percent vegan tipples, too, if you're looking for a cruelty-free wine. Plus, for those feeling experimental or fancying something other than a plain glass of the good stuff, 6Ft6 recommends using its sauvignon blanc in a mojito spritz or watermelon sangria. The winery doesn't currently have a physical cellar door, but if you order online and spend more than $99, you'll receive free delivery.
With the 2025 Australian Open in full swing, plenty of folks are feeling the urge to pick up a racquet and book a local court. But most of us aren't so great at full-size tennis nor do we have the gear to do it properly. Enter the National Pickleball League and its pop-up courts over at Ichi Ni Nana Izakaya. From Thursday, January 9—Thursday, February 6, you'll find a pop-up pickleball court up on level one, all set up for friendly games with mates or strangers who are also dropping by for sushi and cocktails in the sunshine. It is a first-come, first-served (excuse the pun) situation with the court, so be sure to get in early — it's open from 5pm from Thursday–Sunday each week. This is a fairly easy and fun way to get around the Australian Open mania taking over Melbourne right now — all the while dining out at one of Melbourne's best Japanese restaurants.
UPDATE, November 30, 2020: Upgrade is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Video. Watching Grey Trace (Logan Marshall-Green) is quite the sight to behold. Forget the terrible name, which sounds like it belongs to a Mad Men ad agency rather than a person — with his convulsive moves, the mechanic turned quadriplegic turned killing machine is positively hypnotic. Filmed by writer-director Leigh Whannell in a style that's somehow both twitchy and fluid, Grey dispatches with his enemies with super-human ease, combining the cool efficiency of John Wick with the technological flair of RoboCop and The Terminator. Indeed, alongside the body horror cinema of David Cronenberg and the thrilling science-fiction of John Carpenter, it's easy to spot Upgrade's action and sci-fi influences. Played with grim-faced precision by Tom Hardy-lookalike Green, Grey is not someone you'd want to mess with. But the character's flying fists aren't completely under his own control. Paralysed after a self-driving car crash and a subsequent attack by vicious thugs, he's now the recipient of a brain implant that has re-enabled his limbs. Called STEM, it's an experimental advancement designed by a young tech wiz (Harrison Gilbertson) who seems like he's up to no good, even though he's claiming he wants to assist. The fact that the secret chip has a mind of its own — or, rather, a voice (Simon Maiden) that compels Grey to hunt down the gang that killed his wife (Melanie Vallejo) — doesn't help matters. Bone-crunching, blood-splattered revenge is a dish best-served with an AI sidekick in Upgrade. Although the concept might sound more tired than wired on paper, it makes for a sharp, sleek and savage wander into genre territory. Every element that initially seems worthy of an eye-roll — pre-accident, Grey is vocal about his hatred for all things digital, for example — soon raises a smile thanks to the film's pulpy execution. Weapons immeshed into the human body? A villain that sneezes computer chips? A man virtually talking to himself for the entire flick? It all works. And while Upgrade comes from the mind of someone who has seen everything from 2001: A Space Odyssey and Blade Runner to Her and Ex Machina, Whannell has dreamed their various parts into his own new creation. There's a scene, part-way through the movie, that couldn't better encapsulate Upgrade's charms — or its savvy ability to combine its numerous sources of inspiration into an engaging vessel all of its own. It's not the most inventive of the film's many set pieces, but it makes a firm and fitting impression nonetheless. Grey awakens from an operating table, STEM freshly inserted into his spine, and Upgrade has an "it's alive!" moment. Riffing on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is hardly new — nor is taking cues from James Whale's 1931 film that brought the novel to the screen. And yet here, it really couldn't be more apt. Upgrade is a thoroughly 21st-century incarnation of the 200-year-old tale about a man reborn from cobbled-together parts, this time including both flesh and circuitry. It's also a movie put together in the same dice, splice, borrow and reuse fashion. Furthermore, Upgrade proves a much more effective use of Whannell's skills than the Insidious and Saw flicks, the two franchises that brought him to fame after initially reviewing movies on ABC TV's Recovery. Instead of serving up by-the-numbers gore and spooks, there's smarts behind this gleeful mashup of genre staples — not to mention passion, personality, a swift pace, a gorgeous red and grey colour palette, and slick yet gritty futuristic visuals. To be fair, Whannell wrote rather than directed most of his previous hits (and also co-stars in the Insidious films), with the underwhelming Insidious: Chapter 3 his only other credit behind the lens. You'd never guess that Upgrade sprang from the same person, which might just be the biggest compliment you could pay this entertainingly schlocky cyberpunk action-thriller. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEnRNIvEKu8
When yum cha hits the menu at The Grand Richmond, it doesn't show up in its usual guise. Sorry dumplings, spring rolls and pork buns, but this isn't your time to shine. Instead, this feast of bite-sized portions is going Italian. Yes, Italian Yum Cha is exactly what it sounds like. Work your way through little steamer baskets filled with everything from crab risotto to suckling pig croquettes. The list goes on — bruschetta, duck prosciutto, pork lasagne, gnocchi, roast scallops with anchovies and mini pizzas are all included — and also covers desserts such as tiramisu, lemon tarts and bomboloni. You can eat it all with chopsticks if you'd prefer (or at least attempt to). As is the custom, prices are tallied per dish, which come in multiple servings. Booking a table in advance is highly recommended, with Italian Yum Cha making its return for 2021 every Saturday and Sunday for the rest of June, and then one Sunday a month — on July 4, August 1, September 12 and October 3 — afterwards.
There was always that one kid in every primary school who was known as ‘the good drawer’. They could navigate a tray of Derwent pencils with their eyes closed, and their Wonky Vase with Sunflower still life made it into the annual school calendar three years in a row. Shaun Tan was this kid, except unlike the one from your primary school who probably didn’t sharpen their grey lead past grade six, he directed and developed one of his picture books into an Oscar-winning animated film. The logical next step from annual school calendar selection. Dealing with political and social issues illustrated in dream-like, surreal worlds, Perth-born artist and author Shaun Tan creates beloved books that delight both adults and children alike. ACMI will be hosting the world premiere of Shaun Tan’s The Lost Thing: From Book to Film, opening Tuesday, July 16, and running through to mid-January 2014. Divided into two parts, the exhibition will show Shaun's original sketches, collages and finished paintings from The Lost Thing, as well as documenting and examining the painstaking process of transforming the picture book into an animated film. I've made a few page corner flipbooks in my time, and I can tell you first hand what a laborious task this is. I assume the processes are somewhat similar.
If you're in Melbourne or southeast Queensland and you're a fan of Lin-Manuel Miranda, rejoice: your next chance to enjoy the musical talent's work is on its way in 2025. Hamilton has already done the rounds, including seasons in the Victorian capital and Brisbane. Next, it's time for another of Miranda's big Tony Award-winning shows to take to the stage locally — and his debut smash, too. Both Comedy Theatre and HOTA, Home of the Arts are set to turn into New York City's Washington Heights for seasons of In the Heights. Initially staged in 2005, then leaping to off-Broadway in 2007, then playing Broadway from 2008–11 (which is where it nabbed those 13 Tony nominations and four wins), Miranda's first stage sensation spends its time with Usnavi, a bodega owner from the Dominican Republic who dreams of going back — and who also sports a crush on Vanessa, who aspires to move out of the neighbourhood. Miranda himself originated the role of Usnavi, scoring a Tony nomination for his efforts. In Australia for this run, which began in Sydney in 2024, Ryan Gonzalez (Moulin Rouge! The Musical) has stepped into the part. When the show heads to Melbourne from Friday, August 1 and then to the Gold Coast from Friday, September 12, fellow Moulin Rouge! The Musical alum Olivia Vásquez is playing Vanessa. Alongside Gonzalez, she's joined by Richard Valdez (All Together Now — The 100) as the Piragua Guy — another character that Miranda has brought to life personally, this time in the 2021 film version of In the Heights. On the stage and on-screen, the production not only follows Usnavi and Vanessa's connection, and their respective hopes for the future, but also the residents of Washington Heights, their family ties across multiple generations and their friendships. The soundtrack — which helped In the Heights win Best Musical and Best Original Score Tonys — as well as the vibe and mood bring together salsa, soul, rap, hip hip, merengue and street dance. If you're keen to watch the movie — or rewatch — in the interim, it stars Anthony Ramos (Twisters) as Usnavi and Melissa Barrera (Abigail) as Vanessa, as well as Leslie Grace (The Thicket), Corey Hawkins (The Piano Lesson), Jimmy Smits (East New York), Stephanie Beatriz (A Man on the Inside) and Olga Merediz (Spellbound). In the Heights 2025 Australian Dates From Friday, August 1 — Comedy Theatre, Melbourne From Friday, September 12 — HOTA, Home of the Arts, Gold Coast In the Heights is playing Melbourne from August 2025 and the Gold Coast from September 2025— head to the production's website for more details and tickets. Images: Daniel Boud.
There's simply no stopping Scott Pickett. But then, you've got to agree, that's a very good thing. The acclaimed chef and restaurateur, who counts the likes of Estelle, Saint Crispin and Pickett's Deli & Rotisserie among his stable of culinary smash hits, has just unveiled his latest venture, this time taking on South Yarra. Perhaps the most striking Pickett project to date, Matilda 159 Domain has carved its home out of a soaring, two-level space beneath Domain Road's United Places Botanic Gardens boutique hotel. Sitting pretty across from the Royal Botanic Gardens, this one boasts a warm, timber-heavy fitout by creative studio Projects of Imagination, offset by an assembly of natural textures — custom designed Andrei Davidoff ceramics, dark leather banquettes, and tables crafted from Australian blackwood trees. It has an earthy vibe that's reflected in the modern Australian food offering, as Pickett pushes into new culinary territory, ditching the concept of gas cooking to focus on all things fire and smoke. The open kitchen's going in strong, with two fire pits, a rotisserie, a smoker box, a josper and a wood-fire oven — nab one of the eight covetable ring-side seats to best see it all at play. The menu itself features a roll-call of native Aussie ingredients, each dish brought to life by either coal, flame or smoke. Signature creations include the likes of Macedon Ranges duck, smoked over cherry wood and teamed with charred orange; spanner crab with flatbread and a prawn butter; and at dessert, a dish of Glenora rhubarb, burnt custard and lemon verbena. To match, a sprawling wine menu features a curation of top Aussie labels and European favourites, backed by a local-leaning contingent of spirits and craft beers. In the restaurant's basement you'll find Oscar's Bar, where a compact and creative cocktail and snacks list is soon to launch. Matilda 159 Domain is now open at 159 Domain Road, South Yarra. Images: Interiors by Tim Grey, Food by Gareth Sobey
Joining a stable of popular venues that includes the likes of Lucky Coq, Bimbo Deluxe and the Portsea Hotel in 2023, the Albert Park Hotel jumped back onto the post-COVID scene with a contemporary new look and a modern Chinese food offering. The full revamp has gifted the space with a new four-storey atrium and old-meets-new interiors bringing new life to the venue's original brickwork and historic features. A contemporary food offering from Head Chef Karloong Yee is available throughout the venue, but takes centre stage within the restaurant, Happy Valley, with a menu that fuses familiar Chinese flavours with modern technique and local ingredients. Expect dim sum aplenty, alongside the likes of san choi bao, peking duck pancakes and a kung pao chicken laced with facing heaven chilli. Char siu pork pairs with black pepper and honey, and ice cream comes with a five-spice doughnut. You can match snacks — perhaps barbecue pork buns or seafood spring rolls — with a few crisp brews and some footy in the front bar, or take advantage of the Aussie-led wine lineup and a reserve list that's at once high-end and affordable. For cocktails, signatures include spins on palomas, sours, old-fashioned's and plenty of original pours. Images: Simon Shiff Appears in: The Best Pubs in Melbourne for 2023
Whether sprawling across a Tokyo warehouse, taking over a Japanese castle, turning old oil tanks into waterfalls or even popping up in Melbourne, the digital art made by creative collective Teamlab can make you feel like you're in another world. That's a sensation we could all after the past year year, even if visiting the group's overseas sites is currently off limits due to international travel restrictions. Enter Teamlab's latest project: the online-only Sakura Bombing Home. If it sounds familiar, that's because it's a twist on Flowers Bombing Home, which Teamlab launched in 2020. The project has been updated for cherry blossom season, because Japanese students usually graduate at this time of year — but can't currently enjoy the usual festivities due to the pandemic. Like the bulk of Teamlab's work, Sakura Bombing Home is interactive; however, as its name suggests, art lovers can take part from their own couch. The collective is asking its audience to draw and colour-in pictures of cherry blossoms — either on paper or on your phone — then take a photo and upload it to the group's site. Your pics will then be added to the bright, kaleidoscopic, constantly moving and evolving piece. That's the participatory part of the project. When it comes to watching — whether you've gotten arty first, or you just want to view the piece without breaking out your colouring pencils — you can head to Teamlab's YouTube channel. Sakura Bombing Home is live streaming constantly, joining together cherry blossoms created by folks all over the world. While viewing, you'll notice petals scattering, then coming together to form new images. Unsurprisingly given the sensory nature of its physical installations, Teamlab recommends viewing Sakura Bombing Home on your television set, "or as large a device as possible". The project will be available for the foreseeable future, too, with the collective advising that it "will bloom until the end of the coronavirus" — and that it'll also stick around afterwards "for people to remember this era". For more information about Teamlab's 'Sakura Bombing Home' — or to add your own drawing — visit the art collective's website. To watch the live-streamed artwork, head to its YouTube channel.
Normally when the middle of the year hits — when Australia's weather is at its frostiest, aptly — the annual Scandinavian Film Festival rolls into cinemas around the country. In Melbourne, that timing coincided with lengthy lockdowns, so the fest is bringing back its Nordic noir-heavy lineup for another spin before the year is out. Kicking off on Friday, November 26 and running through until Wednesday, December 16, the returning showcase of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden and Norway cinema launches with a must-see new entry in the Scandi-noir genre. Hailing from Denmark, opening night's Wildland stars Sidse Babette Knudsen (Borgen, Westworld) as the head of a family crime syndicate. She's charged with looking after her teenage niece and, in a movie that instantly brings Australia's own Animal Kingdom to mind, the latter soon learns more about the family business. Also on this year's Scandinavian Film Festival lineup: Knudsen again in Copenhagen-set psychological thriller The Exception; masterful and engaging Norwegian film Disco, about an evangelical dance champion who finds her faith tested; and surreal mother-daughter drama Psychosis in Stockholm. Or, for fans of Nordic cinema's big names, relationship drama Hope co-stars Stellan Skarsgård (Chernobyl), musical comedy A Piece of My Heart sees Swedish-born actor Malin Akerman (Rampage) back on home turf, and The County hails from Icelandic filmmaker Grímur Hákonarson — who directed Rams, which was remade in Australia last year. Other highlights include Icelandic box office hits Agnes Joy and The Last Fishing Trip, the latter of which has been compared to The Hangover; Finnish biopics Helene and Tove, about painter Helene Schjerfbeck and visual artist and author Tove Jansson, respectively; and Tigers, which tells the true tale of former Inter Milan player Martin Bengtsson. Or, there's also Diana's Wedding, which isn't actually about that Diana — plus closing night's 50th anniversary-screening of The Emigrants starring Max von Sydow and Liv Ullmann.
What's better than a new must-visit gallery filled with eye-catching art? A brand-new place to scope out the best and brightest in creative works that doubles as quite the spectacular site itself. That's what's set to join Melbourne's arts scene thanks to NGV Contemporary, the upcoming latest addition to the city — and exactly what it'll look like has just been revealed. NGV Contemporary itself should sound familiar, because it's been in the works for a while now. Indeed, it has been almost four years since Melbourne's — and Australia's — next big art gallery was first announced, and also three years since it was revealed that it'll also come with a huge public garden. And, it's been nearly two years, too, since the Victorian Government committed a hefty chunk of funding to both projects, and to the revamp of the Melbourne Arts Precinct in general. Now, a multidisciplinary team led by Australian architect Angelo Candalepas and Associates has been unveiled as the folks behind NGV Contemporary's final design, as revealed by the Victorian Government and the National Gallery of Victoria. Sprawling across 30,000 square metres, aiming to add a new landmark to Melbourne, and featuring a rooftop terrace and sculpture garden with views out over the city, it's certain to stand out when it opens — and to attract both locals and tourists. In fact, the winning design has been fashioned with celebrating the role of art and design in everyday life firmly in mind; think arched entryways, a spherical hall that reaches more than 40 metres in height, and over 13,000 square metres of display space. Walking into the NGV Contemporary will feel like making quite the entrance as a result. That arresting-looking hall, dubbed 'omphalos' (the Ancient Greek word for the centre of the earth), will spiral upwards through all levels on the building, too. So, visitors will then be able to walk around it to scope out art — like New York's Guggenheim Museum — and get up to the rooftop. Outside on that sky-high terrace, in addition to perusing the sculpture garden, you'll be scoping out vistas over the CBD, parklands and the Yarra Ranges — views never seen by the general public before. Also among the highlights: a large cafe that'll connect to an expanded public parkland, a multi-level veranda on the building's eastern side, a new NGV design store, a restaurant and member's lounge, and educational spaces, studios and laboratories focused on conserving artwork. And, of course, there'll be large and flexible exhibition spaces that'll allow the NGV to host international blockbuster exhibitions — although with Chanel and Picasso showcases at NGV International in 2022, it hasn't been doing too badly in that department. And, the new gallery spaces will also enable the NGV to present programs drawing upon its permanent collection of Australian and international contemporary art and design as well. Outdoors, pathways will connect the building and its surrounding parklands to Southbank — making the most of its triangular-shaped site, and making sure both it and Melbourne Arts Precinct around it are highly accessible. So, Southbank Boulevard and specifically the corner of Kavanagh Street are about to look a whole lot different. NGV Contemporary will be part of the NGV, which includes NGV International on St Kilda Road and NGV Australia at Federation Square, but it'll also be a standalone gallery. As for the site it's calling home, that's the old Carlton & United Breweries building. Back in a previous announcement, the Victorian Government said that it'll be the equivalent in size to the MCG — but focused on outdoor performances and public art, and featuring cafes and restaurants, rather than being dedicated to sports. Exactly when Melburnians and travellers alike will be able to walk in the doors hasn't yet been finalised, so don't go making plans just yet. Still, when it does open, NGV Contemporary looks set to be a must-see — regardless of which pieces of art grace its walls and halls. For more information about NGV Contemporary, keep an eye on the NGV website. Images: Renders of winning concept design for NGV Contemporary by Angelo Candalepas and Associates, by Darcstudio and Secchi Smith.
The brand new Jurassic World exhibition at the Melbourne Museum isn't the only place you can see dinosaurs this week. For when a VHS copy of Jurassic Park goes missing just before a screening at the Lyme Regis Community Centre, it falls upon the Park family to recreate the movie themselves. A sell-out hit at Edinburgh Fringe and now in Melbourne for the International Comedy Festival, Dinosaur Park is a tale of family dysfunction and epic adventure inspired by Steven Spielberg's iconic film. Who needs a $100 million special effects budget when you've got three comedians running around the stage like dinosaurs?
In early 2018, cult-favourite gelateria Pidapipo celebrated the launch of its new Degraves Street store, off the back of its first two sweet successes in Carlton and Windsor. Pidapipo stands out for many reasons, but a physical different to other Melbourne gelato shops is that you don't actually see your scoop until it's sitting in its cone, in your very own hand. Lisa Valmorbida, the owner of the Pidapipo, brought in a stainless steel Italian-built pozzetti fridge — meaning literally under the lid — where the gelato is kept hidden away at an optimal temperature so you know you're tasting the gelato at its best. The CBD store showcases Pidapipo's signature range of traditional flavours and inventive creations, from the dreamy dulche de leche to the black sesame. And it's also home to a few exclusive, CBD-only additions, including four granitas in flavours like raspberry and blood orange. We know you're already thinking about after-work snacks. One of the new CBD-exclusive additions, launching on Sunday, December 9, is Pidapipo's new range of (super nostalgic) sundaes — or coppa gelato. Set to feature permanently on the menu, the sundaes are $11 each and come in four different flavours: Banana Split, made from fior di latte gelato and topped with a cherry (of course); a strawberry- and whipped cream-heavy Ultra Fragola; a diner-style Malt Crumble with salted caramel gelato and caramel sauce; and the Classic — with chocolate gelato, fudge and nuts. To launch the new range, the CBD store will be kicking off a new Sundae Sessions event series. From 2–6pm on Sunday, December 9, head in store for sundaes with a side of live art and music. While the sundaes are only available at the CBD store for now, Pidapipo is hoping to launch them at the Carlton and Windsor stores in 2019. The new Pidapipo is located at 8 Degraves Street, Melbourne. The free gelato will be available from 12–3pm, and the store is open from 12–11pm daily. For more info, visit pidapipo.com.
Gauchito Gil is Argentina's Robin Hood. As such, it seems fitting that Australia's own Malbec World Day has been borrowed from the South American country, where the majority of the world's malbec comes from. If this day is a donation from the grape god, it's one we're happy to accept. After a successful five years, Gauchito Gil is once again bringing Malbec Day to Melbourne with a five-hour wine bonanza at North Melbourne's Meat Market on Sunday, April 22. The event comes from the organisers of the Pinot Palooza and Game of Rhones, and mirrors the free-reign tasting set up. Your $60 ticket will include a wine glass, and from there you'll be able to move around, sampling over 90 Australian, French and Argentinian malbec varietals. Other events have been known to get a little boozy, so to soak up all that wine there will be top-notch empanadas from San Telmo and CHE — they'll be among the entrants vying for the prestigious Golden Empanada award. It really doesn't matter if you know everything there is about malbec or if you don't know much at all, because Malbec World Day is about education and celebration of the Argentine grape. And what better way to celebrate than with an bottomless glass of wine?
There is great satisfaction stumbling across District Brewer on noiseless Brewer Road. Having opened in early 2015, the brunch haven that has brought Bentleigh locals experimental yet reliable food. Over the last decade, Bentleigh has emerged as a hospitable suburb. What used to be an area filled with dry cleaners, Asian supermarkets and real estate agents, is now full of competitive cafes and restaurants. District Brewer, adds another layer of value. International influences have given the cafe's menu its edge. Chicken is crumbed in Panko, and mushrooms are topped with gremolata crème fraiche. The menu is also rich in interesting ingredient fusions; the eggs Benedict ($18) comes with a miso baba ghanoush and curry hollandaise. If that's not cultural integration, we're not sure what is. The dishes appear delicate, but are unassumingly hearty. The black forest Bircher ($13) is exactly what it sounds like: adventurous. Made up of macadamia, pistachio, cherry labneh and a chocolate soil, it's actually dessert disguised as breakfast. An avocado and feta smash with a poached egg ($17) is given a fresh twist with the addition of watercress, polenta and mint, and the option to add cured salmon. But if there's one dish the cafe should be proud of, it's the Mexican breakfast, made up of jalapeno fritters, avocado, corn salsa, queso fresco (fresh cheese) and a fried egg. What's even more pleasing is that breakfast is served all day, everyday. At the forefront of District Brewer sits a teal La Marzocco coffee machine, reiterating the cafe's liveliness. It also tells customers that coffee — made with beans from Canterbury's The Mailing Room here — is treated with the utmost respect. If you're making your way via public transport, you may build up a sweat on the 15-minute walk from Bentleigh Station. Luckily, there's an outdoor courtyard planted on synthetic turf where you can relax and sip on something refreshing. Cold-pressed juices ($6) and Vietnamese iced coffees ($6) are also on the menu to revive customers during the scorching days to come.
Back in 1988, when John Waters wrote and directed Hairspray, he couldn't have known what'd follow. The cult filmmaker's flick was a modest hit to begin with, but really became a sensation on home video in the early 90s. The film's star Ricki Lake, who made her big-screen debut playing 60s teen Tracy Turnblad, also became one of the decade's big talkshow hosts. That's a wild path for any movie to take, but Hairspray's story doesn't end there. A theatre adaptation followed in 2002, as did eight Tony Awards. Then came a new 2007 movie based on that stage musical. Yes, Hairspray has lived many lives — and in its latest, it's playing in Melbourne. In its on-stage, all-singing, all-dancing guise, it is spinning the dance-loving Turnblad's tale of teen dreams and making a difference at Melbourne's Regent Theatre from Sunday, August 7–Sunday, October 9. Turnblad has one specific fantasy, actually: to dance on The Corny Collins Show. And when she makes it, it changes her life — but she has more change to fight for, too. The story unfolds in 1962 in Baltimore, Maryland, where racial discrimination is an everyday part of life. So, Turnblad uses her newfound fame to advocate for a different future for everyone. Hairspray's Melbourne run is a local staging of the original Broadway production, and with director Jack O'Brien (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) and choreographer Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots) guiding the show. Appearing on-stage: Shane Jacobson, swapping Kenny's overalls, his numerous TV hosting gigs and appearing in seemingly every Australian movie made over the past decade for the role of Edna Turnblad, Tracy's mother (which was played by the inimitable Divine in Waters' movie, Harvey Fierstein on Broadway and John Travolta in the 2007 film). He's joined by Carmel Rodrigues as Tracy, Todd McKenney as Wilbur Turnblad, Rhonda Burchmore as the villainous Velma Von Tussle and Rob Mills as Corny Collins. Images: Jeff Busby.
The energetic and soulful Jake Bugg made a name for himself with his self-titled debut album, becoming the first male artist to debut at the top of the UK charts with a first release. His unique blend of folk, pop and rock tunes has astounded audiences worldwide, and his shows in Australia last year lived up to the hype. This April, the 19-year-old rock star in the making is bringing his act back here to show off his sophomore album, Shangri La. The album recruited legendary producer Rick Rubin, as well as other stalwarts of the music industry, including Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith. The sound is classic Bugg, with a renewed, revved up energy. Get in quick to make sure you see the prodigy who is sure to continue climbing the charts for a good while yet. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Veq6GQHU3is
At the age of 29, Daniel Tobias was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Now 40, he's made a show that translates his experiences of illness and recovery into songs and stories through the lens of his identity as a conflicted "atheist Jew". The Orchid and the Crow is impressive for its ability to find light-hearted humour in unpalatable material. But for a show that has perhaps more in common with the conventions of narrative stand-up comedy rather than solo theatre performance, it seems unwilling to commit fully to the strengths of either form. The connection Tobias draws between circumcision and the surgery is a neat conceit but not substantial enough to sustain over an hour's worth of story. And the later introduction of the figure of a messianic, contradictory Lance Armstrong during his recovery isn't quite enough to get it over the line. It's probably unfair to lump Tobias with this criticism but something grates about the ubiquitous American musical theatre style voice deployed in half the show's songs. There might be rich veins of comic possibility waiting to be mined from this kind of parody of the form, but Australian performers' insistence on this style (rather than their natural accent) always carries a vestigial whiff of cultural cringe. On the other hand, the effect actually heightens the emotional impact of the combined song and animation that embodies the show’s title sequence, which arrives with all the more devastating and surprising force as a result. With an opening-night audience packed with enthusiastic well-wishers, it's hard to gauge the effectiveness of the performer's humour. However, the personality of the aggressively endearing Tobias is enough to paper over most of the show's cracks of uncertainty, and some potent moments — especially the static that replaces a doctor's voice as Tobias is given his diagnosis — are terribly affecting. Image by Andrew Wuttke.
In past years it feels as if there's been a surge in the sub-genre of romantic comedies that revolve around the 20-something commitment-phobes. Generally they feature a host of characters more attractive than you, resisting relationships for the sake of engaging in meaningless sex. Or, the kind of films Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis did to flush the Oscar winning demons of Black Swan out of their psyches in 2011. Are We Officially Dating (released in the US as That Awkward Moment) can be lumped into this category, while also having a stab at bro comedy. The film follows Jason (Zac Efron), Daniel (Miles Teller), and Mikey (Michael B. Jordan), who after the failure of Mikey's marriage, make a pact to stay single as a gesture of solidarity. Unsurprisingly, all three violate the agreement. Whilst first-time filmmaker Tom Gormican has an admirable goal — to depict the clunky transition from dating to relationship from a male perspective — this film's insipid plot and unfunny jokes make it, dare I say, 94 minutes worth of 'awkward moments', It's essentially a male version of Sex in the City; they're snappy dressers and waltz around Manhattan, fuelling their crude humour with chai lattes. This brand of sex-positivism doesn't have the quite same punch when paired with stereotypical 'dudes' and such a flimsy premise. Venturing out of the PG13 paddle pool and into cinematic adolescence, Efron plays Jason, an apparently sharp-minded graphic designer working at a chic New York publishing house. In a feat of Don Draper-esque brilliance, he impresses a client by drawing an impromptu stiletto for a book cover. (Ah, of course. The essence of woman boils down to footwear. It's psychology 101, folks.) It's difficult to shirk the film's reductive and vacuous depiction of women. Aside from the trio 'rostering' girls to bone at appropriate intervals so they don't get attached, the female characters are poorly drawn. They merely function as narrative goalposts, as if to assure us that there is in fact, a point. Imogen Poots plays Ellie, Jason's humble, bookish and bohemian love interest. Whilst instinctively likeable, a scene in which she reveals her deepest desire — a ridiculously big house in the middle of Manhattan — feels like a contradiction of character. There's also a touch too many penis jokes. In fact, it feels as if scenes are set up specifically for the purpose of penis jokes. For example, when Jason misinterprets a dress-up party and arrives with a sex toy hanging from his fly, leading to much 'cock'tail punning. All in all, if you're planning on a Valentine's Day movie with your significant other, you may want to think about spending your money elsewhere. To impart the film's single slice of wisdom, "Relationships are about being there for the other person." https://youtube.com/watch?v=UrdI3zAnzno
Stuffing wall-to-wall ABBA songs into a flimsy rom-com story, 2008's Mamma Mia! always felt like it was mere seconds away from two things happening. "Have you met my friend Fernando?" Meryl Streep's overalls-clad hotel owner might say, before asking if he can hear the drums. Or Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan and Stellan Skarsgård's trio of long-lost exes might compare their romantic plight to history, starting with the words "my my, at Waterloo Napoleon did surrender". Neither actually occurred in the original big-screen jukebox musical, which adapted the successful stage production of the same name. But if they had, and in such a groan-inducing, eye-roll-worthy fashion, they wouldn't have felt out of place. Shameless cheesiness and trying to shoehorn in as many of the Swedish pop group's tracks as possible was the name of the game the first time around — and it's a tune that sequel Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is still blasting. Thankfully, there's slightly more nuance, plot and comedy in this repeat spin. Slightly. Crucially, as returning and new cast members alike croon and swoon against the movie's bright, breezy Greek island setting, there's also a boost in singing talent. First things first: 'Fernando' and 'Waterloo' do get a whirl in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, and in situations very close to those described above. The off-screen team is mostly new here, but it still feels like these films write themselves. In fact, while writer-director Ol Parker (Now Is Good) works with a story also credited to romantic-comedy maestro Richard Curtis (Love Actually) and Mamma Mia! playwright Catherine Johnson, he's basically rehashing the same tale. In the first movie, Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) sent wedding invitations to the three men (Firth, Brosnan and Skarsgård) that her mother Donna (Streep) had flings with when she was conceived. This time around, the movie jumps between Sophie's present-day preparations to relaunch her mum's hotel and Donna's (Lily James) amorous exploits with the guys in question (Hugh Skinner, Jeremy Irvine and Josh Dylan) 25 years ago. Here we go again, indeed. The line in 'Waterloo' about history repeating itself also springs to mind — and if you start framing your thoughts in ABBA lyrics minutes into this follow-up, then the film has done its job. Collecting fans' money, money, money, taking few chances, and asking viewers to cheer and sing along when their favourite songs pop up, the Mamma Mia! franchise does what lazy pop culture celebrations tend to do. In the most superficial, crowd-pleasing, fan-service manner, it mistakes recognising something exists for actually engaging with it. Ready Player One did the same thing earlier this year, just with a different focus — throwing sci-fi and gaming references at the screen to nod to beloved characters, movies and titles, but without ever delving any deeper. Still, in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again much more than in its predecessor, the approach hits a few melodic notes. Or rather, the exuberant James does, alongside the other series newcomers that play younger versions of existing characters, and Cher as Sophie's grandmother. It helps that the story feels a little less like dead air between songs in this second outing, that the film has a pronounced rhythm rather than just smashing tracks together, and that the song-and-dance choreography is more polished. That said, having energetic talent who can hold a tune helps even more. Battling it out with Christine Baranski (playing one of Donna's life-long best friends) as the franchise's true star, you'll thank James for the music. Courtesy of her performance, you'll also be able to somewhat overlook the fact that the flick is mostly just famous faces making ABBA music videos amidst gorgeous scenery. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcSMdhfKga4
Teacher-turned-indie goddess Alexis Krauss and waiter-turned-beats master Derek Miller will return to Australia next month. The duo's stentorian synthesis of driving riffs, shredding guitar and rhapsodic melodic hooks has been on high rotation for many a punk rock devotee since M.I.A. signed them to N.E.E.T. Recordings in October 2009. February 2012 brought the release of Reign of Terror, the follow-up to 2010 debut Treats. The sophomore album sees Sleigh Bells ascend to louder, heavier musical heights, but also carries them through deeper lyrical explorations. Krauss, a curious combination of Joan Jett street tough and Cindy Lauper airiness, croons, moans and belts her way through stories of suicide, brutality and loss. Krauss has described Reign of Terror as "innately much more melodic and guitar-oriented" and "more intimate" than their debut. As deducible from Reign's live opening track, 'True Shred Guitar', Sleigh Bells' shows are raw, feverish, dynamic affairs, powered by Krauss's relentless energy and Miller's rock-fuelled sound explosions. https://youtube.com/watch?v=YiwcUdX7XMw
Melbourne multi-instrumentalist Mark Zito, better known as Fractures, fell and fractured his neck last year — a pretty unfortunate (dare we say ironic?) incident given he was due to set off on his debut live tour at the time. (It probably hurt a bit, too.) Fortunately, Zito has made a full recovery and kicked off a short string of EP launch shows with an appearance at Splendour last week. Fractures' sounds are delicate, emotive, swoonworthy. Take a listen to his first single 'Twisted', or his most recent, the hypnotic, caramel-vocaled 'Won't Win'. Zito's is a pretty classic, oldie-but-a-goodie formula: the five-piece band, the quiet haunting melodies, plenty of emotion and an aesthetic comparable to Justin Vernon's (comparisons to Bon Iver really shouldn't be purely musical) — but one which earned him a couple of sold-out Sydney and Melbourne shows earlier this year. Zito will launch his Fractures EP at Northcote Social Club on August 9 and 13, then he'll support Vance Joy at Athenaeum Theatre One. (Fingers just crossed he doesn't fracture anything else first.) https://youtube.com/watch?v=q809aWGOsrY
Each year, the annual MPavilion design commission unveils an architect-designed temporary structure which plays host to a summer-long festival of free events. And for its 2021 edition, MPavilion returns to the Queen Victoria Gardens from December 2–April 24 2022 for a jam-packed five-month appearance. Aptly titled The LightCatcher, this year's commission is the work of Venice's MAP Studio. It takes the form of an urban lighthouse, featuring a network of steel tubes and light-reflecting mirrored panels that appear to float above the earth. You can head along to check it out for free any time during its stay, as well as digging deep into its supporting program of over 400 free talks, workshops, performances and installations. Among them, catch design-focused conversations with a swag of local and international names, the launch of Patricia Piccinini's hot air balloon sculpture Skywhalepapa, a talk centred on the ancient practice of astronomy within Indigenous Australian Nations, a slew of Melbourne Music Week events and more. Throw in furniture installations, a masquerade ball, a DJ program, and collaborations with the likes of Melbourne Fringe, TarraWarra Museum of Art and Melbourne Theatre Company, and we're anticipating many a return visit. [caption id="attachment_835347" align="alignnone" width="1920"] John Gollings[/caption] Top Images: 'The LightCatcher' by MAP Studio, MPavilion 2021, captured by John Gollings.
Restrictions and lockdowns have meant many Melbourne art galleries have spent more time closed than open in 2020. But it seems the culture gods have smiled down and cut us a little slack when it comes to one of the biggest, most anticipated art events to hit the city in three years. The NGV Triennial is set to return for its blockbuster second iteration this summer, taking over NGV International from Saturday, December 19. Breaking Melbourne's art drought with a free large-scale exhibition of international contemporary art, design and architecture, it'll showcase 86 projects by more than 100 artists, designers and collectives. Held every three years, the Triennial made its huge debut in 2017, pulling a hefty 1.23 million visitors and remaining the NGV's most visited exhibition even today. Triennial 2020 looks set to follow suit, as artists from over 30 different countries share a diverse spread of works reflecting on a truly unique time in our world's history. Here, they're diving deep into the themes of illumination, reflection, conservation and speculation. Expect to see US artist Jeff Koons pay homage to the goddess of love Venus with a towering mirror-finished sculptural piece, while renowned interior designer Faye Toogood reimagines a series of gallery spaces with commissioned furniture, tapestries, lighting, sculpture and scenography. She'll nod to the NGV's 17th- and 18th-century collections, while playing with the concepts of daylight, candlelight and moonlight. [caption id="attachment_785399" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cerith Wyn Evans, The Illuminating Gas at Pirelli HangerBiocca, Milan, 2019. Photo by Agostino Osio.[/caption] Turkey's Refik Anadol has put together a video work, capturing digitised memories of nature with help from artificial intelligence and machine learning. Meanwhile, a showcase by Yolngu woman Dhambit Mununggurr is replete with her trademark blue hues, including a set of 15 large-scale bark paintings. Lauded Japanese architect Kengo Kuma joins forces with Melbourne-based artist Geoffrey Nees, using timber from trees that died during the Millennium Drought at Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens to construct a pavilion. The structure will then feature as part of a multi-sensory walkway delivering audiences to a new piece by South Korean artist Lee Ufan. British artist Alice Potts uses flowers and food waste to create a set of bioplastic face masks, Spanish-born designer and architect Patricia Urquiola crafts giant-sized socks from upcycled textile furnishings, and South Africa's Porky Hefer sheds some light on ocean pollution with his large-scale dystopian under-the-sea scenes. If ever there was an exhibition worthy of your post-lockdown gallery-hopping debut, it's this. The NGV Triennial 2020 will be on show at NGV International from Saturday, December 19 until Sunday, April 18, 2021. For more info and to see the full program, visit the NGV website. Top images: 1. Kengo Kuma & Associates, Tokyo and Paris, Kengo Kuma and Geoff Nees. Botanical pavilion 2020 (render), commissioned by the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. Purchased with funds donated by Connie Kimberley OAM. Copyright and courtesy of the artists. 2. Refik Anadol, render of Quantum memories 2020, commissioned by the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. Purchased with funds donated by Loti & Victor Smorgon Fund and Barry Janes and Paul Cross 2020.
DesignEX has been Australia's leading architecture and design event for 25 years, and this year it's coming to Melbourne. If you're an architect, designer or anyone who works in a visual medium, it's definitely worth a visit for the inspiration and for the networking opportunities. Even if you're not in the industry, it's still a fascinating event. There are talks by design industry professionals, a Ketel One bar, as well as pop-up store Urban Larder by Sarah K selling handmade furniture, homewares and some of the most stylish 'tablewear' (as opposed to tableware) we've ever seen. If you need a caffeine fix among all that, you can head to the specially designed St. Ali Roasters Space. They'll be serving complimentary coffee and pastries in the morning while showing off their coffee art. Thanks to DesignEX, we're giving away 10 double passes to this year's event (normally $25 per person and closed to the public). To be in the running, subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already) then email us with your name and postal address at hello@concreteplayground.com.au.
Yesterday LCD Soundsystem made a surprise appearance on this year's Coachella lineup, almost five years after the band called it quits. But guess what? That is only the start of it. And proving speculation to be true, frontman James Murphy has posted a lengthy (read: really long) note on the band's website confirming that, yes, the band has officially reunited, yes, they'll be doing an "all over" tour, and they'll be releasing a new album in 2016. Holy shit. We'd almost be angry if we weren't so insanely excited right now. It seems that Murphy has anticipated some backlash from fans who have already mourned the band, and are presumably (hopefully) already on the other side of their seven stages of grief. In his apologetic post, which was also shared on the band's Facebook early this morning Australian time, Murphy acknowledges the fans who "feel very attached to the band, and have put a lot of themselves into their care of us, who feel betrayed by us coming back and playing". These fans did, of course, shell out and possibly sold a limb and/or firstborn child for their last glimpse of LCD at their final Madison Square Garden show back in 2011 — a moment that may now, according to Murphy, may feel "cheapened" by their reunion and promise to do a wider tour. He writes: "to you i have to say: i’m seriously sorry. the only thing we can do now is get back into the studio and finish this record, and make it as fucking good as we can possibly make it." An expected album release date is currently unknown, as are the details of the proposed "all over tour" — but we expect the Internet will start wildly speculating on that too. As for an Australian tour? Well, we'll be sitting here quietly, crossing all our things. Image: Matt Biddulph via Wikimedia Commons
Hamer Hall's culinary offering has scored a major boost with the arrival of Pawa Cafe and Bar, a new all-day eatery heroing sustainably produced indigenous ingredients. Named for a Gunditjmara word meaning 'to cook', it's the brainchild of a husband and wife duo: Gunditjmara and Yuin culinary entrepreneur Niyoka Bundle, plus Head Chef Vincent Manning. A permanent home for the pair's Pawa Catering brand, the venue is serving up a fresh take on modern Australian cuisine — not only celebrating native ingredients, but working closely with farmers and foragers that are dedicated to ethical and sustainable practices. Bundle's inspiration comes both from the classic Aussie comfort food of her youth, and childhood camping trips spent hunting animals like emu and kangaroo. Expect Indigenous flavours with a twist of nostalgia and a good whack of creativity. By day, Pawa plates up a cafe-style offering featuring Seven Seeds coffee alongside the likes of strawberry gum brownies, lilly pilly croissants and roo meat pies. Drop by later for grazing platters loaded with native additions like red wine kangaroo salami, paired with Victorian vino and cocktails made on Pawa's own Taka Gin — a drop infused with native lemongrass and lemon scented gum leaf. There's plenty of innovation on show along the way, from the use of lilly pilly as a tart sweetener to the substitution of saltbush or warrigal greens for salt. And you'll find scores of local suppliers championed throughout the menu, with offerings from the likes of Cobb Lane, Home Grown Cocktails and The Everleigh Bottling Co. Find Pawa Cafe and Bar at 100 St Kilda Road, Melbourne — open from 8.30am–3pm Tuesday, and from 8.30am–10pm Wednesday to Sunday. Images: Jake Roden.
When Jennifer Kent's The Babadook creeped its way across screens in 2014, it became an Australian horror classic. Now, five years later, the Aussie filmmaker is back with a completely different type of unsettling film. Prepare to feel just as uncomfortable in The Nightingale, which steps back to Tasmania circa 1825 to follow a young Irish convict (Aisling Franciosi) seeking revenge on a cruel British officer (Sam Claflin) — with assistance on her trek from an Aboriginal tracker named Billy (Baykali Ganambarr). Premiering at the Venice Film Festival last year, the movie made an instant splash, winning a special jury prize for Kent and nabbing the best young actor award for Ganambarr — a dancer from Arnhem Land who had never appeared on screen before. The Nightingale then screened at the Adelaide Film Festival, as well as at Sundance; however the bulk of Australia has been waiting for the film to finally hit cinemas. And, to even catch a glimpse of just what's in store. The just-released first trailer for The Nightingale takes care of the latter problem. "You don't want trouble, but sometimes trouble wants you," Claflin's character snarls menacingly in a particularly chilling moment, with the Hunger Games star definitely playing against type. As for when it'll release locally, the film is set to play this year's Sydney Film Festival before rolling out in cinemas around the country at the end of August. Unpacking Australia's colonial history, as well as its treatment of both women and the country's Indigenous population, it's an absolutely essential and shattering masterpiece — something we say from experience. The vengeance-fuelled film is also far from easy to watch, filled as it is with trauma, darkness, visceral shocks and deep-seated pain. Inspiring walkouts at the movie's sessions in Adelaide, Kent can't be accused of holding back. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfPxmnMAyZw The Nightingale releases in Australian cinemas on August 29, 2019.
Earlier this month we rejoiced in vintage shopping for a cause, and we're happy to say it was a pretty great turn out on the day. But if you missed out, never fear! The Conscious Closet is here to ease your woes. Also in support of Fitted for Work, The Conscious Closet offers amazing deals on new and pre-loved designer clothing and accessories from brands such as Carla Zampatti, Jigsaw, Scanlan & Theodore, Perri Cutten, Alannah Hill and Veronika Maine just to name a few. Fitted For Work is an organisation which provides support and assistance to disadvantaged women seeking secure employment. They do so through mentoring, interview preparation, outfitting and support during the transition from unemployment to working life. Since 2005, they've helped a whopping 14,500 women secure employment. It's a great cause to get behind, and really, there's no excuse not to when prices at start off at just $2. On Friday August 29 and Saturday August 30, these charitable champions are holding a massive sale with nothing over $20. We'll say that again. None of this amazing designer clothing will be over $20. Open your hearts (and your wallets) and grab a cute outfit for a good cause.
When it comes to raising funds for bushfire-affected Aussies, Collingwood music bar FeeFee's is doing what it does best and pulling together a night of live tunes from a bunch of talented locals. This Saturday, January 18, the venue's Bushfire Animal Relief Benefit will see a lineup of live acts and DJ's joining forces to raise much-needed money for Wildlife Victoria, supporting its animal rescue efforts following the state's devastating fires. Artists like Cosmic Kahuna, Ramblin' Gold and Fleetwood Mac tribute band Rumours will be hitting the stage across the day, while DJ's including Speeding Beauty, Tiny Dancer, Tuff Cuff, BLVD and Mermaid throw down some sounds of their own. All artist fees, along with 50 percent of the day's bar profits will be heading straight to Wildlife Victoria. There's also set to be a hefty raffle with a swag of prizes ranging from clothing vouchers to rare music albums, proceeds from which will also be going to support the state's affected wildlife and rescue centres.
In Encanto, the Madrigal family might not talk about Bruno, but they sure do sing about him — and, thanks to that earworm of a Lin-Manuel Miranda-composed track, everyone watching soon does, too. Just try to catch the Golden Globe-winning, Oscar nominated animated hit without getting that song stuck in your head for weeks. No matter what you do, it's impossible. In fact, even mentioning the tune in this very paragraph will cause the same result. Yes, we know that everyone reading this now has 'We Don't Talk About Bruno' burrowed into their brains again — and there's absolutely nothing that we can do about it. But when a ditty takes up residence inside your skull and won't leave, you may as well lean in. And, over at Disney+, you can stream a sing-along version of Encanto that'll get you crooning with the movie from your couch. No longer solely the domain of special cinema screenings, Disney's sing-along takes on its famous musicals are heading to its streaming service. It was always bound to happen, and the Mouse House has started with the movie of the moment. As you watch, lyrics will dance across your TV screen when it's time to belt out ballads — so if you don't know all the words yet (or if you're viewing with someone who thinks they do, but inserts their own mistaken lyrics), they'll all be there for you. While Encanto is the first flick to get the sing-along Disney+ treatment among the company's popular musicals — and it hit the service back on Friday, March 18, so it's there to watch and warble along to now — it obviously won't be the last. The Mouse House has plenty of other tune-filled movies to its name, after all, and it's planning to build up a catalogue of them on its streaming service. Accordingly, before 2022 is out, Frozen, Frozen 2, and both the animated and live-action versions of Beauty and the Beast are all set to make their way to the platform. Exact dates haven't yet been revealed, but at least you now know there'll be other chances to get different Disney tunes stuck in your head — or 'We Don't Talk About Bruno' will just have 'Let It Go' and 'Be Our Guest' for company. The sing-along version of Encanto is available to stream via Disney+ now, with Frozen, Frozen 2, and both the animated and live-action versions of Beauty and the Beast set to hit the platform throughout 2022.
There's never a bad time to have a good yarn about the community with those tasked with looking after it. And on Wednesday, October 15, you'll have the opportunity to speak directly with the men and women in blue. Held at Canteen Cafe in South Melbourne Market from 10–11am, the Coffee with a Cop initiative is all about coming together for a genuine conversation. Sit down, sip on a top-notch free coffee and get to know your local officers. Best of all, there are no bookings required or specific agendas guiding your chat. Instead, it's simply a chance to ask questions, raise concerns and share your thoughts with those who play a key role in shaping the neighbourhood. Forming part of a Victoria Police strategy, informal engagement activities like a quick brew can help officers improve their working relationship with the community and better address local talking points. Perfect for both nearby residents and market traders looking to establish a stronger connection, this relaxed session aims to support the South Melbourne community and foster a more collaborative approach. Coffee with a Cop is happening from 10–11am on Wednesday, October 15, at Canteen Cafe in South Melbourne Market. Head to Instagram for more information.
The chance to watch a comedian do stand-up in front of a dimly lit brick wall in Brooklyn is a dream out of reach for most of us. But which American is about to make that all change? It's Rick James, bitch. No wait, It's Dave Chappelle. Most known for his television series Chapelle's Show, the comedian, screenwriter, actor and television and film producer will be hitting Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth for his very first tour outside of North America. Now 40 years old, Chappelle's been performing since he was 14 and was tossed under the spotlight for his parodies of American culture, racial stereotyping and politics. Chappelle's most recent tour sold out venues all over the U.S. and Canada. So don't leave tickets to the last minute; shows like these don't often come knocking on Australian doors. Tickets for all shows go on sale 9am this Tuesday, January 28, with presale options released on Friday 24 via Live Nation.
You've got a friend in this: the latest excuse to watch a beloved movie on a big screen, and also listen to live tunes played by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra at the same time. As it has previously done with everything from Harry Potter flicks to Studio Ghibli's delights, the MSO is giving the OG Pixar gem that is Toy Story the orchestral treatment, all on the big screen at Hamer Hall this April. If the 1995 classic about talking playthings already takes your heart to infinity and beyond, prepare for your emotions to soar even little higher at Toy Story in Concert. There's never a bad time or way to watch the animated hit, of course, but there's always something extra special about the live movie-and-music combo — which draws you further into the soundtrack, obviously, and also in the picture itself. Running across three shows on Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30, these gigs will play Randy Newman's Oscar-nominated melodic compositions — 'You've Got a Friend in Me', 'Strange Things' and 'I Will Go Sailing No More' all included. They're not just the tunes that first helped bring Toy Story's heartwarming tale to life, but tracks that helped launch a franchise. Indeed, Toy Story in Concert hits Melbourne just over a month before Lightyear, Pixar's animated Buzz Lightyear origin story flick, reaches cinemas in June. After working with Newman on his 2011 orchestral tour, conductor Guy Noble will lead the concerts — adding to a resume that's included gigs with everyone from Ben Folds and The Beach Boys to The Pointer Sisters and Olivia Newton-John. And, if you're somehow new to Toy Story — because you're the one person whose childhood wasn't defined by it — then get ready for the tale of cowboy toy Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks), new space ranger plaything Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Tim Allen) and a rivalry that threatens to upset the toybox. Check out the Toy Story trailer below: Toy Story in Concert plays Hamer Hall on Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30. For further information and to buy tickets from 10am AEDT on Monday, March 21, head to the MSO website.
UPDATE, April 4, 2020: Brittany Runs a Marathon is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video. Everyone has a friend who goes on a fitness kick, then won't stop talking about it. Suddenly your brunch dates are scheduled around training sessions and optimal heart rates come up in every conversation. That isn't Brittany Forgler (Jillian Bell). The New Yorker barely has the energy to start exercising, and she certainly doesn't want to keep nattering on about it. And while Brittany Runs a Marathon focuses on the avid partygoer's highly out-of-character wellness campaign, the feel-good comedy actually sports a similar attitude — because as enormous a feat as attempting to run a marathon is, it's only one part of Brittany's life. Basing his debut feature on his best friend, playwright-turned-filmmaker Paul Downs Colaizzo spends plenty of time cheering Brittany's efforts. Flags are waved and encouragement is yelled — by her new running pals Catherine (Michaela Watkins) and Seth (Micah Stock) and, metaphorically, by the movie itself. But while the story plays out largely as every underdog sports flick has trained audiences to expect, there's a deeper, darker core to this upbeat and amusing affair. Come for a wry spin on all the usual training montages, keep watching as Brittany progresses from groaning through a slow jog around the block to willingly skipping boozing for exercise, then stay for a perceptive exploration of the tough marathon that is finding self-acceptance. Indeed, late in this likeable movie, there's a scene that sums up the film's true focus — and it makes for purposefully uneasy viewing. Seething with pain and devastation, it has nothing to do with running through the streets. At a birthday party for her sister's (Kate Arrington) husband (Lil Rel Howery), Brittany starts talking to a couple. They appear mismatched, she's had a few drinks, and so she asks an awkward, inappropriate question. It doesn't go down well, but it's clear that Brittany isn't trying to judge or be cruel to those around her. Rather, by pondering aloud how a man she deems attractive could love a woman with a fuller figure, she's voicing the harsh mindset that she has always directed internally. Charting Brittany's attempts to improve her health on medical orders, and then to put one foot after the other during New York's 42-kilometre endurance test, Brittany Runs a Marathon dives into its protagonist's damaging opinion of herself. The film is filled with humour — and many, many running scenes — but, primarily, it's the cinematic manifestation of the idea that to help yourself, you actually have to like yourself . For too long, Brittany has been the funny sidekick. She constantly cracks jokes at her own expense, whether at work, on dates, or with the doctor she's trying to convince to prescribe her Adderall. She's also fantastic at self-sabotage, as her fledgling romance with fellow underachieving twenty-something Jern (Utkarsh Ambudkar) shows. Those habits are hard to break, so Brittany Runs a Marathon confronts Brittany's flagging self-esteem one sweaty step at a time. It's a beauty and wellness industry cliché — the type trotted out to sell soap, as Brittany skewers — but loving the skin you're in is hard. It's also tricky to convey on-screen in an authentic fashion (and no, instant makeovers where someone removes their glasses to reveal they're really a bombshell don't count). Brittany Runs a Marathon turns the task into a physical slog, with viewers witnessing every grimace and struggle, then feeling the exhilaration when its reluctant protagonist gets comfortable pounding the pavement — and, of course, when she does what the title tells us she's going to do. There's a reason that writer/director Colaizzo is happy to spoil the outcome in the movie's moniker, after all: running the New York marathon isn't the film's only point. As astute as it proves in exploring Brittany's battle with her inner demons and millennial malaise in general, Brittany Runs a Marathon has its star to thank for striking such an affecting chord. A scene-stealer in 22 Jump Street, Rough Night and Workaholics, Bell puts her heart, soul and gift for witty quips into this thoughtful and funny movie — and ensures that every step that Brittany takes, both in the right and wrong directions, feels genuine. That sensation sets this crowd-pleaser apart from other recent comedies about women trying to gain confidence in their own shoes, such as Amy Schumer-starring misfire I Feel Pretty. Nothing here is calculated, cynical, exaggerated or muddled; rather, it's relatable, realistic and even inspirational. Forget running — sure, you might leave the cinema eager to jog a marathon yourself, but being kinder to yourself is the bigger achievement. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsHlvgTG1iI
Electronic super duo Canyons is collaborating with celebrated visual artist Daniel Boyd to present 100 Million Nights, a multisensory performance making its way around the country. Boyd's digital artwork is presented as a three-panel video installation, in front of which Canyons perform live as a four-piece band. Ryan Grieve and Leo Thomson of Canyons have been friends with Boyd for a while. Recently, Boyd was preparing for an exhibition when he asked the duo to create some music to complement his video works. The project was a hit and the three decided to create a much larger-scale sight and sound work. The trio have worked closely together, sharing images and snippets of music to create a unique, multisensorial experience. "The big thing for all of us was wanting to make it one united piece in the sense of a true collaboration", explains Grieve. "We didn't want it to feel like Dan's visuals were just a backing track for us. He created the visuals in response to music we would give him as a starting point and vice versa. "It was quite different in the sense that if we were writing an album, it would be a much longer process. With this, we went with the initial feeling and thought and mood that came up and felt right. If something didn't work, it didn't work, but we tried not to question it too much when something came up and felt good." In Boyd's words, "100 Million Nights is an idea, an expanse. Looking at something that connects everyone and, to me, the birth of the universe is what this was about. Acknowledging the loss of memory and not being able to fully comprehend our past." Boyd has established himself as one of Australia's most talented artists. He was initially known for his paintings but recently has moved to digital works. He exhibits regularly both domestically and internationally. In 2007, Boyd was selected to participate in the first National Indigenous Art Triennial, Culture Warriors, at the National Gallery of Australia. In 2011, he was London's Natural History Museum's artist in residence. Boyd's work is held in pretty much every major collection of art in Australia: the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra, the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia in Sydney, the National Gallery of Victoria and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. Ryan Grieve and Leo Thomson released their first EP on the duo's own label Hole in the Sky (they've also released records by Tame Impala and Pond). They've achieved a great deal of success internationally. In 2011, the New York Times described their music as "a good exercise in categorical confusion — pre- and post- disco, analog-synth ambiance and noise, drones, 1970s German experimental rock, new wave. All that, and it doesn't feel over-thought". The music of 100 Million Nights is somewhat of a musical departure from Canyons' usual style with the pair understanding it as more of a "creative side-step". At the Sydney Festival show in January, 100 Million Nights will comprise half the program. Also included is another sight and sound work by former Battles frontman Tyondai Braxton. Hive will blend modular synthesisers, sound design and percussion with custom built "architecturally designed" illuminated platforms. https://youtube.com/watch?v=P83821HGsqg
Australia’s first ever gin festival, Juniperlooza, is coming to Melbourne for a two-day bonanza where spirits will be running high and pouring fast. Held across two bars at Federation Wharf, Pilgrim and Riverland will host the weekend event, showcasing the best in Australia's gin. For too long have we sliced cucumbers, slapped mint and squeezed limes into our glasses without truly knowing the perfect combination for our G&Ts. Now, eight of Australia's best gin producers will be creating and showcasing a signature gin cocktail — as well as the classic gin and tonic — over the weekend, just for you. There will be a whole branch of flavours to try, including some from The West Winds crew, who have grown a loyal following with their bush tomato-flavoured hit, The Cutlass. Juniperlooza's gin offerings will be complemented by gin inspired menus — think an oyster shucking stand, for a start — so really it would be rude not to drop in and enjoy some of the freshest from around the country. Consider it doctor's orders. Juniperlooza will run across Saturday, November 28 and Sunday, November 29 from noon – 8pm. Grab your tickets in advance here.
Get ready to feel your age. After the definition of a runaway debut album, a couple of Grammys, a world tour, a collaboration with Disclosure and worldwide fame, Lorde is returning to Australia for a handful of shows — and she's still only 20 years old. The New Zealand artist — also known as Ella Yelich-O'Connor — has this morning announced she will tack on four Australian shows to her Melodrama world tour in November. All outdoor venues, she will play in Sydney's iconic Opera House Forecourt, the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne, Kings Park in Perth and Brisbane's City Botanic Gardens. It will be Lorde's first visit back to Australia since 2014, when she toured Pure Heroine as a wee 16-year-old. This time around, she will showcase her new album Melodrama, which is set to be released next week. General tickets go on sale at noon on Monday, June 19, but if you're a Frontier member or signed up to the Sydney Opera House's newsletter, you can access pre-sales ahead of time. Find more info on the tour here. LORDE MELODRAMA AUSTRALIAN TOUR Saturday, November 18 — Kings Park, Perth Tuesday, November 21 — Sydney Opera House Forecourt, Sydney Thursday, November 23 — Riverstage, City Botanic Gardens, Brisbane Saturday, November 26 — Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne
Ladies really knew how to dress in the 60s, 70s and 80s. Where today the fast fashion economy means an outfit spotted on the runway can be misappropriated by Sportsgirl a day later and then inevitably lumped atop the trash heap before one can say fashion road kill, once upon a time fashion was synonymous with two long forgotten words — elegance and style. Celebrity stylist and creative director Phillip Boon understands the value of both, as does super fabulous 89 year old vintage fashion collector and owner of ML Vintage, Mary Lipshut. The nostalgic pair join forces for Phillip Boon Presents : ML Vintage, an evening where two of the finer things in life — high food and high fashion — will be on offer, with all proceeds going to the very worthy Prahran Mission, a local organisation that works against mental illness, poverty and homelessness. Expect Pucci, Missoni and Courrèges, served with the best Circa has to offer — mind those sticky fingers near the frocks. Image via Pucci archive.
Love the fact or not, as far as top-notch tipples and world-class watering holes go, Melbourne just kicked a serious goal. Here to add a little more fuel to the 'which city does it best?' debate, the Victorian capital has outranked all other Australian counterparts to nab a spot in Punch's 2023 guide to the world's most travel-worthy drinking destinations. The international drinks publication has revealed its Where to Drink in 2023 wrap-up, naming Melbourne as one of just five cities worldwide. Also making the unranked list were Buenos Aires in Argentina, Portugal's capital Lisbon, Osaka in Japan and, flying the flag for the United States, Madison in Wisconsin. [caption id="attachment_787570" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nick & Nora's by Brook James[/caption] Punch's drinks connoisseurs selected their top five locations based on their ability to deftly balance long-held traditions and old-school sensibilities with fresh, forward-thinking philosophies. "The results are often surprising, sometimes frenetic, tense, even bewildering, but never boring," Punch explains. As for what specifically earned Melbourne a spot in this year's lineup, the publication cited its penchant for the unpretentious, its new-school take on casual service and the cultural diversity that continues to shape its drinks scene. That broad assortment of genres proved a wining formula, too — whether you're into divey rock 'n roll joints like Heartbreaker, sophisticated cocktail haunts like Nick & Nora's, intimate wine bars such as The Moon, or something in between, Melbourne's got a drinking den to suit. The city's commitment to sustainability and innovation also scored a shoutout, as did its famed pub culture — according to Punch, "rivalled only by the U.'s, with a diversity and familiarity that feels particularly Australian." [caption id="attachment_835092" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pearl Diver Cocktail & Oysters[/caption] The publication also shared its top three picks for Melbourne's must-drink cocktails, naming the espresso martini (no shocks there), the New York-style sazerac and the Melbourne-born Japanese Slipper. This boozy new badge of honour comes after Melbourne scored a slew of drinks-related accolades in 2022. CBD bar Caretaker's Cottage nabbed a spot in latest's edition of The World's 50 Best Bars extended 51–100 list, Pearl Diver's Alex Boon was crowned 2022 winner of the Patrón Perfectionists Australian Cocktail Competition and Nick Tesar of Bar Liberty took out the title of Australia's Best Bartender. [caption id="attachment_623310" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bar Liberty by Brook James[/caption] Check out Punch's full Where to Drink in 2023 list over at its website. Top image: The Moon.
In the words of Tyrion Lannister, it's not easy being drunk all the time. Everyone would do it if it were easy. That may be true, but you can certainly give it a go, when Game of Rhones makes a comeback for one last event. Taking place on Saturday, May 18, it will coincide with the screening of the final season of Game of Thrones. For those that haven't been to one of these before, the premise is this: a bunch of wineries featuring varietals from France's Rhone Valley come together with people who love the works of George R. R. Martin — in costume. The event will welcome heaps of wines from winemakers such as Whistler Wines, Henschke and Sutton Gorge. Tickets are $60 and include all the wine tastings from the session, which will run from 11am–3.30pm. In between goblets, ticketholders will get the chance to chat with sommeliers and snack on some themed dishes. It should also go without saying that dressing up as your favourite GoT character is highly encouraged. Zombie John Snow, anyone?
American historical drama gets so contemporaneous as to become current affairs with Zero Dark Thirty, the film about the CIA's hunt for and killing of Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden. Director Kathryn Bigelow and writer Mark Boal, who worked together on the Oscar-winning Hurt Locker, reunite for another epic about a different type of war. It starts in 2001, when two planes hit the World Trade Center, and chilling documentary footage recalls the pain caused that day. Two years later, rookie Maya (Jessica Chastain) is sent to join a specialist team at a CIA black site in Pakistan, where a detainee, following torture and deception, discloses the name Abu Ahmed. Operations come and go for the next eight years, but Maya comes to fixate on that one name, whom she believes to be Bin Laden's right hand. Zero Dark Thirty is stunningly well made, with a controlled level of tension that works on a scale of high to higher. It remains nail-bitingly riveting over two hours and forty minutes. Interestingly, the structure is almost like three films, or at least, a film with three clearly defined acts. Each passing act (complete with the appearance and disappearance of its own high-calibre cast, including Jennifer Ehle, a buff Chris Pratt, Joel Edgerton, and James Gandolfini) reinforces the intensity of Maya's perseverance, her lonely state of being in the right. The film has won widespread acclaim from critics, but from reading the news, you'd think everyone hated it. Many from the American right have criticised the film for its having supposedly improper access to classified documents and glorifying Obama, and many from the left have slammed it for advocating torture. Both stances seem an overreaction. Zero Dark Thirty does depict "enhanced interrogation techniques" — torture, to you and me — happening during the Bush administration, and it also depicts that torture was a favoured tactic of the CIA operatives you get to know here. That's probably accurate. Its attraction to these people in the field is the feeling that they're doing something and of expediting processes when delay can be fatal. The film also shows some of the problems with torture: it yields useful but also false information, and the act is viscerally depraved (even if it's not totally possible for the audience to sympathise with a tortured character whom we only see as dehumanised). The issue isn't that the filmmakers support torture, but that in Zero Dark Thirty, as in The Hurt Locker, they're concerned with hyper-positioning viewers into the perspective of American martial figures. They want you to feel their fear, sacrifice, and bravery — not for a moment the fear, sacrifice, or bravery that could be reflected back at them by the enemy. Many of us prefer to see films that have a different, more challenging purpose, but you can't deny that what Zero Drk Thirty sets out to do, it does excellently. Concrete Playground has 10 in-season double passes to give away to Zero Dark Thirty. To be in the running, make sure you're subscribed to our newsletter and then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address. https://youtube.com/watch?v=EYFhFYoDAo4
