When we take that first sip of our barista-brewed coffee on a workday morning, a lot of us can't actually imagine living without coffee. But what about living without a roof over your head or a guaranteed meal? Unfortunately, this is what many homeless people around Australia face each day, but on Friday, August 7, you can help your fellow Aussies out simply by buying a coffee as part of CafeSmart. CafeSmart is an annual event from StreetSmart that raises money and awareness for the homeless and is back for its third year running. Last year, 415 cafes and 20 coffee roasters raised $120,000 to fund 91 community projects. Not too shabby. So how does it work? From every coffee purchased on August 7 at a participating cafe around Australia, $1 will be donated towards local projects. So if your go-to local isn't participating, shake things up for a day and head to one that is. Prefer a hot chocolate? You can also donate at the counter. Simply by aiming for a bighearted cafe, you'll be helping some of our country's most in-need humans, so treat yourself to a third or fourth coffee guilt-free. Look for cafés posting this little guy today. @StreetSmartAust gives $1 from your coffee to help the homeless. #CafeSmart #drinkcoffeedogood A photo posted by Concrete Playground Sydney (@concreteplayground) on Aug 7, 2014 at 9:02pm PDT CafeSmart is happening around the country on Friday, August 7. Check the website for participating cafes near you. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
Australia is well known for having some of the best dining in the world. Melbourne is a city where people happily spend an entire weekend rambling from restaurant to restaurant; from café to cocktail, on the hunt for a new favourite. And in Sydney, whether your tastes run to Frankie's Pizza or are more on the Quay side of things, you'll find bountiful opportunity to explore this foodie mecca. It doesn't matter if you're in a major capital or dining at a hidden local gem, Aussie restaurants and cafes consistently turn out incredibly fresh, vibrant and exciting tucker — inspired by access to some of the finest meats, poultry, seafood and vegetables in the world. We have two restaurants among the Top 100 Restaurants in the world (tip your hats Attica; Brae) and Aussie coffee champ Sasa Sestic scooped the World Barista Championships in 2015. With such a heady mix of talent hailing from Australia, it makes sense that the rest of the world would want a slice of our home-grown cuisine and expertise. We've partnered with Expedia to take a jaunt around the world and explore some Australian-owned restaurants in far-flung locales. Perhaps they'll inspire your next trip — they're definitely worthy of one. HARDWARE SOCIÉTÉ, PARIS The much beloved breakfast and brunch spot of 120 Hardware Lane, Melbourne, opened up shop in Paris recently and has been providing homesick ex-pats and Parisians alike with their petit-déjeuner since late 2016. You can get your 64-degree eggs with delights like ham hock (18€) or über decadent lobster (20€) and enjoy a genuine Melbourne Padre latte to sip as you dine. Aussie visitors to Paris looking for a little taste of home, and Parisians looking for a slice of Melbourne breakfast culture, will both find what they're looking for here. 10 rue Lamarck, 75018, Paris GERALD'S BAR, SAN SEBASTIAN Melbourne's long-beloved Carlton fave for wine lovers and good-time seekers has a new location. And while it's got that same Gerald's charm it's basically on the other side of the world; 17,195km away in San Sebastián, Spain. If it weren't for the fact that we have the original right here in Melbourne (thank the gods), we'd be on a plane right now for some of that exceptional wine and unbeatable Gerald's atmosphere. Eponymous proprietor, Gerald Diffey, took over an existing restaurant space in 2014 and gave it the Gerald's flourish. Now you can dine on mountain cheeses while sipping a curated list of local and international drops. If you're in San Sebastián it's a must-do. Calle del Ángel, 10, 20003 San Sebastián RUBY'S, NEW YORK CITY Visitors to Ruby's in NYC will be greeted by many things – tastes, smells, sights – but the first thing that may greet you on sighting Ruby's is a queue to get in the door. This decidedly bijoux eatery is so damn popular that people have no qualms about lining up just to take a seat inside. Enjoy nostalgic burgers like the Coogee ($12.50) with mushroom, romesco, cress, zucchini and goat's cheese; or tuck into the Whaleys ($13.50) and enjoy a classic Aussie burger complete with beetroot, pineapple and fried egg. Don't fancy a burger? No problem – order off the breakfast menu before 1pm on weekdays and 4pm on weekends. The breakfast bowl is particularly good. If you're homesick and abroad or just want to tuck into a seriously good meal in NYC, you'll find it at Ruby's. 219 Mulberry St # A, New York DA MARIA, BALI Undoubtedly set to be one of the hottest places to see and be seen in Bali, Da Maria is the latest venture for Sydney restaurateur Maurice Terzini. He's behind Sydney classic, Icebergs, and is set to provide Bali dwellers and visitors alike with North Bondi Italian food (the website says they're bringing the Amalfi Coast to Bali) in a luxe Canggu locale. The venue has only just flung open its doors, and the tasteful interior and stunning luxe layout makes for the perfect spot to get a little bit fancy at dinner. Or, dance and drink the night away with DJs every evening from 10pm. If you're hungry at night they've got you covered with their delectable lava-oven baked pizzas available til late. Jalan Petitenget No. 170, Kerobokan Kelod, Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali CHINESE TUXEDO, NEW YORK CITY Aussies Eddy Buckingham and Jeff Lam set about with a single goal in mind: to modernise Chinese dining in NYC. Their pretty spectacular venue is housed in an ex-Chinese opera house and offers its diners a broad menu which has been carefully designed to tick all the boxes. There are traditional regional Chinese dishes on offer, creatively interspersed with exciting salads and flavoursome noodle dishes. They look set to make their mark on an exciting space, with the hope being that they'll be the go-to for high-end Chinese dining in NYC. Buckingham and Lam say that at Chinese Tuxedo the food speaks for them, so if you're in New York City we recommend you go and listen. 5 Doyers St, New York, NY PARAMOUNT COFFEE PROJECT, LOS ANGELES This industrial-chic Sydney café spread its wings to LA recently, opening up a similarly bright and airy cafe in the style of its Surry Hills sister venue, in late 2015. Los Angeles diners choose from a range of 'things on toast': soft scram ($11), avocado ($12) or local burrata ($14) – to name but a few; or other ubiquitous Aussie breakfast staples. Milkshakes run from the standard (vanilla malt, $7) to the downright awesome/weird (vegemite and butterscotch, $7) and you can rest assured that the hot drinks menu is just as impressive as the food. Discerning coffee drinkers have a veritable slew of Australian brews and other hot and cold options on offer. 456 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles ST ALI, JAKARTA The much-beloved Melbourne coffee spot and all-round brunch star, St Ali, recently exploded into Jakarta and has been making diners happy with their Melbourne-style menu. Feast on the smoked salmon omelette with a cup of their delightful coffee, or tempt yourself with a matcha chai parfait as part of your 'clean eating' kick. It won't last long when there are treats like fried chicken and slaw on offer as well, but you can try. Next time you're in the Indonesian capital be sure to pop by for a coffee at St Ali's new venue – in partnership with Indonesia's Common Grounds Roastery – to get a look in at this stunning spot. RT.6/RW.7, Karet Kuningan, Kota Jakarta Selatan, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta THE APOLLO, TOKYO Greek food and Japan aren't usually two things that would spring to your mind at the same time. But then, you were probably thinking of The Apollo — the contemporary Greek restaurant that opened in Ginza in the middle of 2016 — weren't you? The star of Sydney's modern Greek scene, The Apollo, has landed bringing the same beloved, succulent, smoky flavours of Greek cooking to the heart of Tokyo. Choose from lemony pan-fried saganaki, or dine on meltingly tender ten-hour slow-cooked Aussie lamb. Best to book — this is a popular spot with ex-pats and locals alike. Japan, 〒104-0061 Tokyo, Chuo, Ginza FRATELLI PARADISO, TOKYO One of Sydney's most beloved haunts for fine Italian food is getting a new venue mid next year in a very special location: Tokyo. Owner Giovanni Paradiso decided on Japan as the spot for his expansion after exploring the idea of another venue in Sydney or Melbourne and realising that Japan ticked all the boxes. His new 90-seat venue is on track to open its doors in late April 2017. Toshi Nakayasu will helm the kitchen as head chef and will be offering familiar Italian classics as well as special local dishes too. The wine will be sourced from around the world and will be heavily based on natural wines, something that Paradiso is especially excited about. Keep an eye out for this one. HO LEE FOOK, HONG KONG Taiwan-born chef Jowett Yu has created one heck of a Hong Kong must-visit with his modern Chinese, Elgin Street restaurant in Central, Ho Lee Fook (say it out loud, you got it). Owned and operated by the team at Black Sheep Restaurants, the name literally translates to "good fortune for your mouth" and is inspired by old school Hong Kong cha chaan tengs (tea restaurants) and late night Chinatown haunts in 1960s New York. Yu's known in Australia for his Tetsuya's training and for co-opening Sydney restaurants Mr Wong and Ms.G's with Eric Koh and Dan Hong. You won't have trouble missing this highly publicised spot — just look for one of the most Instagrammed walls in the city, a clinquant assembly of waving cats. Just try and keep tipsy passersby away from this selfie trap. Downstairs, in his dimly lit, Chinese street art-adorned basement, Yu weaves contemporary Chinese magic through street food staples like French toast (Yu hides peanut butter in his version, and casually serves it with condensed milk ), prawn toast done okonomiyaki-style, and roast wagyu short ribs with jalapeño purée. But it's the roast goose that has foodies aflutter at HLF — order that bad boy 48 hours in advance. 1 Elgin St, Central, Hong Kong Become an Expedia+ member and book your food holiday in the January summer sale— you'll have access to prices that others don't see. By Laura Dawson and Shannon Connellan.
It's hard to think of a wrong way to prepare the humble chicken — but of all the various methods, frying might be our favourite. Juicy pieces of poultry, coated in flour, salt, herbs and spices, cooked piping hot and served with tangy sauce and a cold glass of James Squire: it doesn't get much better than that. We Melburnians are spoiled for choice when it comes to this particular bird — in fact the hardest thing about putting together this list was trying not to drool over the pictures. From classic culinary contenders to some lesser-known gems, here are the best fried chicken joints Melbourne foodies should flock to. GAMI Forefather to Melbourne's Korean Fried Chicken craze, the Gami chain is now pumping out poultry at four locations (three in the CBD and one in St Kilda). While there's a small invitation of dumplings and side dishes, it's important to stay focused and keep that stomach space free for the real reason you came: fried bird bits. Honestly, there's not a great deal of decision making that needs to happen here; you either want your chicken with bones or boneless, with or without sauce. As for beer, you can get it on tap, in jugs or — our preference — in a mini keg that sits on the edge of your table. It's also advisable to request extra napkins. You'll thank us later on this one, when the sticky sweet-soy-garlic sauce drips from your fingers to your elbows, and you begin to regret the fact you brought a Tinder date along. Shop G, 535 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne (and various other locations); (03) 9670 3232; www.gamichicken.com.au DA RIN If all three of the city Gami venues are at capacity (and they often are), give newcomer Da Rin a shot. They recently entered the gauntlet by offering a similar fried chicken menu (available with or without bones, in original, sweet and spicy, and honey and garlic flavours), but stepped up the competition by throwing in a few wildcard menu contenders. Get adventurous with the dakmoraejip (a stir fry of veggies and spicy chicken giblets) or the egg tang (a savoury egg custard made with pengi mushrooms. It's better than it sounds on paper, promise). 169 Bourke Street, Melbourne; (03) 9639 0721 BELLE'S HOT CHICKEN If you're one of many seeking out the best battered chook in the city, it's hard to go past Belle's Hot Chicken, where their sole focus is just that. Chose your cut of meat (wings, tenders or dark meat), your spice level (mild, medium, hot, really hot or 'really fucking hot') and your favourite side (like coleslaw, potato salad or mac and cheese). It all comes with complimentary pickles and a slice of bread to soak up the oozing spices. This is Fitzroy's take on Nashville comfort-eating, and it's damn, damn good. 150 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy; (03) 9077 0788; www.belleshotchicken.com ROCKWELL & SONS Advance bookings are essential if you want in on Rockwell & Sons' popular fried chicken night, which only happens on Wednesday evenings. It's often booked out weeks in advance. testament not only to Melbourne's affection for a food craze but to the restaurant's ongoing success (this is no pop-up operation — they've been going strong for years). Order your bird at least three days ahead, because preparation starts early in the week with a slow-brine process, after which the poultry is slathered in buttermilk and gently tickled/served with whatever traditional accompaniments are being offered that day (such as coleslaw, mac and cheese or biscuits). 288 Smith Street, Collingwood; (03) 8415 0700; www.rockwellandsons.com.au CHICK-IN Chick-In serves similarly sticky, crowdpleasing fried favourites to Gami, albeit among more contemporary settings (rather than canteen-style decor, they've gone with a look that more closely resembles a Fitzroy single origin cafe). While the fried chicken itself is similar to that of its competitor, a major point of difference lies in the Korean-Western fusion-style accompaniments like kimchi fries, as well as the single serve, non-sharing options which cater to solo lunchtime diners during the middle-of-the-day trough-feed. Assuming you're in no hurry to return to work, try knocking back one of their soju mojitos, or relax with a bottle of One Fifty Lashes. G23/620 Collins Street, Melbourne; (03) 9973 6244; www.facebook.com/chickinmelbourne LEONARD'S HOUSE OF LOVE You'd be forgiven for thinking that Chapel Street was a rather long way away while spending some time in Leonard's House of Love. Leonard's vibe is log cabin-meets-houseparty, with an American-style menu jam packed full of poultry. You can grab original or spicy tenders, popcorn chicken, a southern fried chicken burger or a chicken and gravy roll. Even the sides are chook-based, with charcoal chicken fries and charcoal chicken nachos both totally legitimate options. 3 Wilson Street, South Yarra; 0428 066 778; www.facebook.com/leonardshouseoflove KODIAK CLUB It's said that Kodiak serve the most authentic American buffalo wings in Melbourne. Whether this is a factual claim is inconsequential — you should come here to eat, not to argue. It's an all-round pleaser of a plate, containing just enough heat to satisfy fans of vinegary hot sauce without isolating those with a lesser-trained heat palate. Order by the dozen (forget the small serve, trust us on this); your wings will arrive with wads of napkins, wet wipes, blue cheese sauce and a few stumps of celery sticks that are intended purely for garnish, not for filling up on. Don't make that rookie mistake. 272 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy; (03) 9417 3733; www.kodiakclub.com.au HOT STAR Setting up dispensaries at several hole-in-the-wall city shopfronts, the Hot Star chicken franchise comes co-located with those takeaway tea shops that always have offensive queues sprawling outside them, blocking peak hour Swanston Street foot traffic. But one can overlook such tiny faults in return for a fillet of fried chicken as big as a human head. Nobody knows what part of the bird comes shaped this way, nor do they understand exactly what goes into that addictive, crunchy coating. But after a bite, you'll probably decide it's best not to ask questions and just run with it. 231 Swanston Street, Melbourne; www.hotstarchicken.com.au FRYING COLOURS According to its website, Frying Colours is a 'Korean Eating Place', presumably for chicken you put in your mouth using your hands. But it's more than that — the restaurant's menu extends further than other Korean chicken joints that specialise in throwing just one type of animal into the deep fryer, offering a full grill service as well as traditional bibimbap, bulgogi, hotpots and dumpling dishes. A whole chook will cost $32, which seems like about the average market rate for Korean Fried Chicken in Melbourne's current economic climate. The meat is miraculously moist without succumbing to sogginess — but if you need further lubrication, the BYO policy will hold you in good stead. 520 Macaulay Road, Kensington; (03) 9939 9679; www.fryingcolours.com.au FRIED AND TASTY Sometimes, a name says it all. The birds at Fried and Tasty are just that: fried and tasty. The acronym F.A.T is probably fairly appropriate as well, given how often we chow down at this Brunswick East chicken coop. In addition to boned chunks, tenders and BBQ wings, Fried and Tasty have a whole host of different chicken burgers and a yummy selection of sides. To be honest though, if you're not ordering buttermilk waffles with chicken, vanilla ice cream and Canadian maple syrup, you're probably doing it wrong. 360 Lygon Street, Brunswick East; (03) 8560 3328; www.friedandtasty.com JUANITA PEACHES Juanita is certainly not your standard lass, with a logo that resembles the sort of tattoo you might acquire from a trip you don't remember to Surfer's Paradise. But all in all, she's got the goods, and she's worth trying. With a small menu on offer, the fried chicken — crispy on the outside and juicy in the middle — definitely tops the list of things to order at this establishment. The burros were a little on the dry side but still tasty, and with a lick of hot sauce, all ills are remedied. All the usual sides are at the party too, including chips and a zingy slaw to cut through that chicken grease. 12 Edward Street, Brunswick; (03) 8060 6664; www.facebook.com/juanitapeaches Words by Veronica Fil, Laura Dawson, Tagen Davies and Tom Clift.
If you take sashimi seriously, pop this one in the diary. Exceptional Flinders Lane restaurant Kisumé is running an exclusive series of bluefin tuna masterclasses in July and August. The night starts with an entire bluefin tuna. You'll get front row seats as one of Kisumé's master chefs breaks down the behemoth fish, piece by piece. It's a chance to sample the best cuts – akami (red meat, upper back), chu-toro (belly meat, slightly fatty) and o-toro (belly again, full fat) – straight from the chef's knife. Doesn't get much fresher than that. Bluefin tuna is one of the most hallowed ingredients on the planet – some of these fish can fetch up to $3 million at auction. Kisumé's might not reach those prohibitively expensive heights but you'll still get to experience some of the best tuna of your life. Each masterclass also comes with an accompanying five-course feast, including crispy wagyu truffle with truffled miso, king prawn tempura with black garlic and kataifi pastry, and tuna tartare with crispy nori and wasabi. A seat at the table will set you back $225. There are three sessions left: July 9, July 23 and August 6. Bookings essential for this one. Images: Supplied
A team of hospitality heavyweights is set to shake things up on the fine dining front, with their revamp of Carlton’s iconic Astor Hotel due to open within the month. The project sees head chef Hayden McMillan and restaurateur Darran Smith partnering up to introduce to us a long-planned, interactive dining concept they’re hoping will put some of the fun back into food. Borrowing from the idea that we eat with our eyes, the 50-seat restaurant (fittingly named The Roving Marrow) will feature yum cha-style food trolleys to accompany a seasonal, produce-driven menu; drawing inspiration from Europe, Australia and the head chef’s native New Zealand. "We’re a bit over tablecloths and stuffiness, but we don’t want to move away from exciting food and wine, and great service," explains McMillan. "With this approach, we’re breaking up the dining experience a little bit." We’ve seen a few incarnations of the dining trolley of late — namely, in place of a dessert menu at the likes of Epocha and The Estelle — but it’s awarded a higher billing at this new venture. As McMillan explains, their version will be serving up snack-style items from the moment you’re seated (think freshly shucked local oysters and house-baked bread) as well offering sharing dishes from both on and off the menu throughout your meal. If you’re in more of a mood to interact with a good cocktail, then you’ll feel right at home in the 50-seat front bar — where the menu has been curated by Mike Enright of Sydney's celebrated cocktail bar, The Barber Shop. With this duo at the helm, it’s a project worthy of high expectations. McMillan has been making a name for himself in kitchens across the ditch and overseas, under the likes of Michael Meredith and Simon Wright and as head chef of Auckland’s Tribeca restaurant. Meanwhile, Smith has notched up management time at some of Sydney’s hottest restaurants, including Icebergs and Merivale’s Hemmesphere. Not only do we Melburnians love a new food concept, as we’ve proven plenty in recent years, we’re also just as happy to have our high end food and wine without the side of pretentiousness. So, it seems these boys have found just the thing to whet our appetites. “In a big dining scene like this one, you need to have something different, something original,” acknowledges McMillan. “People here are keen to try new things. This is a concept where we can have a lot of fun and the guests can have a lot of fun too." The Roving Marrow is set to open at 418 Lygon Street, Carlton by mid-April.
Widely touted as Australia's most prestigious portraiture prize, the Archibald Prize is a curated collection of the year's best portrait paintings. This year, the lineup includes 58 talented finalists who were selected from a whopping 794 entries. After an obligatory stint at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the exhibition will move to Geelong Gallery. All the winning portraits and finalists will be on display from September 22 to November 18. The works depict an eclectic mix of subjects, from celebrities and politicians to artists and authors. Melbourne-born artist Yvette Coppersmith nabbed the 97th annual Archibald Prize — and $100,000 cash along with it — for her work Self-portrait, after George Lambert. No stranger to portraits or the comp, Coppersmith has been an Archibald finalist five times, finally nabbing the well-deserved win. And, being only the tenth female artist in history to have taken out the top prize, it's a win to celebrate. In addition to this piece, be sure to check out the portrait of actor Guy Pearce by Anne Middleton — it won the People's Choice 2018 and is eerily realistic. Pop-up bars and cafes, talks and weekly events will also take place throughout the exhibition. We recommend dropping in on the Little Creatures After Dark event because, beer and art, need we say more? Image: Self portrait after George Lambert, Yvette Coppersmith. Photo shot by Jenni Carter courtesy of AGNSW.
There's a new powerhouse partnership hitting Melbourne's hospitality scene, as Nic Coulter and Simon Blacher (Hanoi Hannah, Tokyo Tina) join forces with David and Michael Parker (the brothers behind Pastuso and San Telmo), on an ambitious new Windsor venture. Now open, two-level Neptune is a reimagining of the wine bar concept, sharing its focus between food, wine, and cocktails. With a considered assortment of stylish spaces and intimate nooks, the guys have created a year-round charmer that's seriously dressed to impress. We're foreseeing many a cosy night in the 'fireplace lounge', sophisticated sessions hidden away in the 'cocktail saloon', and evenings camped out downstairs, quaffing vino at the suburb's largest bar. Neptune's menu will have a Mediterranean vibe, with clever share plates backing up a solid grazing selection and a range of cured meats, fresh from the bar's slicer. Dishes like an absinthe bonito tartare and a classic 'fritto misto' will sit alongside an assortment of signature pasta creations, to be teamed with expertly-crafted classic cocktails and sommelier-picked wines. Find Neptune at 212 High Street, Windsor. Images: Steve Murray.
Tucked away from the mayhem that is Chapel Street, is David's — a Melbourne BYO restaurant with seriously good Chinese food. Shanghai-born David Zhou set up the restaurant, creating a menu using recipes favoured by his ancestors. The dishes are inspired by those of Zhouzhuang — a town about 85 kilometres west of Shanghai famous for its many canals. The menu is monstrous — we're not going to lie, it's overwhelming. So we'll break it down for you. It's made up of six sections; starters, something more, dumplings, greens, side staples and something sweet. Sharing is an integral part of Chinese cuisine, and before you freak out at having to go with other people's options, know that it's hard to go wrong with any of the choices at David's. What makes the food so spectacular is its preservation of authenticity. No lemon chicken in sight here. We suggest starting with some barbecue pork buns or some oysters with soy and finger lime caviar. Chase it up with some steamed whole barramundi with ginseng soy. And if there's one thing the Chinese do incredibly well, it's eggplant. Try the sweet and chunky sweet vinegar eggplant with sliced garlic. You'll also need some rice. Chinese eating tip: eat rice at the end of the meal to wash down the rest of the food consumed, and to rejuvenate your palate. This advice is imperative if you're planning on having dessert. To drink, there's everything from spirits and wine to premium green and jasmine lychee tea. The restaurant is housed in a beautiful, high-ceilinged building completed with white timber and white walls. It's tricky to guess that it's a Chinese restaurant just from walking in, until you see the navy blue flashes from the Chinese crockery when you take a seat.
Well, it’s official: animal-themed cafes have reached critical levels of absurdity. After cats, owls and even teacup pigs, an impending eatery in East London will pay tribute to the humble blobfish, the gelatinous sea dweller that was recently voted the ugliest animal in the world. Set to open in summer 2016, the Blobfish Cafe will be home to three blobfish specimen named Barry, Lorcan and Lady Swift. No word on how the aquatic trio are handling their newfound celebrity, although Lorcan already has his own twitter account, where he mostly tweets about Tom Cruise. Of course, running a blobfish cafe isn’t as simple a proposition as just rounding up a few stray cats. The fish reside on the ocean floor off the east coast of Australia (booyah!) at depths of around 1000 metres, where the pressure is several dozen times that of the surface. As a result, the owners of the cafe have had to construct a special tank capable of replicating the deep sea environment, a mammoth undertaking described on their website as 'not cheap'. Still, the trade-off for the blobfish community may well be worth the cost. The 2013 public ballot by the Ugly Animal Preservation Society threw the species into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, with the fleshy pink fish beat out the axolotl, the proboscis monkey and the kakapo, aka the New Zealand owl parrot, to claim the title of God’s most hideous mistake. To make matters worse, a rise in deep sea trawling is threatening blobfish populations. Do you really want to live in a world without this guy? The cafe is yet to reveal their food and drinks menu, although they’ve promised a mix of light lunches and more substantial evening meals, along with weekly gourmet nights consisting of an eight course deep sea themed tasting menu. Presumably that doesn’t include eating blobfish. A number of online retailers also sell plush blobfish toys. That piece of information doesn’t really have anything to do with the cafe, but we still thought it was worth mentioning. We’re also not entirely convinced this whole story isn’t an elaborate hoax, although if it is it’s a pretty amazing one. Via London Evening Standard.
It seems Christian McCabe and Dave Verheul have been keeping all kinds of busy since closing their much-loved eatery The Town Mouse earlier this year. In excellent news for anyone mourning the loss of the Carlton restaurant, the pair has announced it will be opening a new venture, Lesa, in August. The boys have transformed the space above their Russell Street wine bar Embla into the ultimate escape from all of that CBD hustle and bustle. Oak flooring and exposed bricks lend a warm, rustic feel, while a window at the back of the space looks through to McCabe's prized wine room, its sprawling collection heroing minimal intervention drops and Old World iterations. They'll aim to dish up a slower, more intimate sort of dining experience, with both food and a setting to linger over. A woodfire takes pride of place in the kitchen, so expect plenty of slow-cooked, grilled and smoked creations on the menu. Nab one of four seats perched along the pass for the best view of the fire-driven magic. As far as pace goes, Lesa is keeping things relaxed, forgoing an a la carte offering in favour of a four-course set menu, with a two-course option for those with a little less time up their sleeve. Here, expect to settle in and really savour, with dishes like a salted bergamot, walnut and koji île flottante (French for 'floating island'), and a semi-dried potato cacio e pepe pasta, topped with basil and pecorino. Embla was one of our favourite bars of the year when it opened in 2016, so we're looking forward to seeing what McCabe and Verheul do with Lesa. Lesa will open on level two, 122 Russell Street, Melbourne, from early August. We'll let you know when an opening date is set.
By day, it's a casual eatery, takeaway joint and source of fresh roasted chooks and high-end pantry staples. By night, it's a bar and restaurant. Sounds like our kind of place. It's not surprising then that the venue, Pickett's Deli and Rotisserie, comes from Melbourne chef and restauranteur Scott Pickett. He's already given us Estelle and Saint Crispin — and with the opening of his new Queen Victoria Market eatery, it's clear he knows what we want. Whether you're in need of some brekkie sustenance, a hot chicken to take home with you, or cocktails, cheese and charcuterie after work, Pickett's Deli & Rotisserie has it covered. Plus, they're doing some damn fin chicken and chips. Officially opening its communal tables to hungry patrons on Thursday, September 29 after a quiet test run over the weekend, it's a fresh spin on the classic market deli, that also aims to showcase the fresh produce available in the market. Indeed, Pickett's fondness for the new deli's iconic location is one of the eatery's motivating factors. "I've always been enchanted by the market's bounties and have many friends and suppliers here," he says. "It's a special moment for me to be able to now work alongside them with my own offering at this unique Melbourne destination." Plus, in good news for anyone in the area on a Monday, the deli and rotisserie won't be taking a day off at the beginning of the week. While the rest of the market around it is quiet, it'll be trading across seven days from 7am to 11pm. Pickett's Deli and Rotisserie is now open at the Queen Victoria Market, 513 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne. For more info, check out their Instagram.
There's a brand new festival coming to New South Wales, sporting a mini-Meredith lineup, an outdoor cinema and an independent record market. Plus, it's in one of Australia's prettiest coastal towns. Fairgrounds is Australia's newest boutique music festival, coming to the NSW town of Berry this December. It's just two hours out of Sydney on the south coast, so one easy peasy road trip. Pioneered by Handsome Tours, the shiny new festival fuses local food, boutique beverages, markets, movies and music in one sweet-sounding event. Taking cues from the recently-announced Meredith lineup, Fairgrounds' folk, pop and garage-focused lineup will see LA-based crooner Father John Misty headline, with Brooklyn glitchy duo RATATAT and dream pop legends Mercury Rev at the top. San Francisco's quirky characters Unknown Mortal Orchestra will be there, alongside folk-rocker Jessica Pratt, Sydney's immortal Royal Headache and the gospel dancehall blues of C.W. Stoneking. While music is your main drawcard to most festivals, Fairgrounds has given more weight to the in-between elements than many festivals do. Foodies will find a gastronomical paradise at the event, with wines and local nibbles sourced from neighbouring estates. There'll be markets and field games — sounds like someone enjoyed Secret Garden Festival — and the best bit? There'll be an outdoor cinema: Fairgrounds' Cinema Under the Stars, presented by Madman Films. FAIRGROUNDS 2015 LINE-UP (SO FAR): C.W. Stoneking Father John Misty Jessica Pratt Mercury Rev RATATAT Royal Headache Unknown Mortal Orchestra Fairgrounds Festival is happening on Saturday, December 5 in Berry, NSW. Earlybird 'Fairgrounds Founder' tickets are $110 and go on sale on Thursday 20 August at fairgrounds.com.au and moshtix.com.au. Kids under 12 enter the festival for free. You can choose to stay offsite in a B&B, or Fairgrounds offers in-site camping. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
Melbourne, we get it. You're a bunch of kidults who refuse to grow up and you can't get enough of slides. First there was the Slidestreet that toured the country in 2015. Then we were graced with Slide Melbourne on Lawsdowne Street in East Melbourne, followed by Slide the Square in Federation Square. Finally, Slide the City took us through to summer 2016. But if you thought you could go even one calendar season without hurtling down a half pipe, think again. The Eureka Skydeck have announced their winter project – a four-metre-high ice slide that'll see you slithering alongside Southbank's waterfront for 40 whole metres like a high velocity seal in a beanie. The chute is opening from June 25 to July 17 and tickets can be bought on the day. Best of all, you won't need to come dressed in your ski lodge best (although you totally can and should), as regular clothes are fine for ice sliding. The winter slide is more reasonably priced than we've come to expect from the summer slides, with three slides only setting you back $10. And when you're done dominating the slide, you can avail yourself of the food truck park to satiate you winter hunger pangs. Ahh winter, we don't know what the Starks are on about, you're not so bad after all. Ice Slide will be open daily from June 25 to July 17, 10am till late.
Sitting down for our interview with director Eva Orner, it's hard not to think about the grimly fortuitous timing. Less than 24 hours earlier, a young Somali refugee set herself ablaze on Nauru. It's the second case of self-immolation at the centre in less than a week, following the suicide of Omid Masoumali just a few days before. "I think we all need to stand up and say enough is enough," says Orner. "I just read this thing where Malcolm Turnbull said, 'Let's not get misty-eyed about offshore detention.' People are lighting themselves on fire. Children are being sexually abused. People have died." Orner is no stranger to these kinds of human rights abuses. A first generation Australian whose parents fled the Holocaust, she won an Oscar in 2008 for producing Taxi to the Dark Side, Alex Gibney's harrowing documentary about CIA torture. To say that her latest directorial effort, about Australia's hardline immigration policy, is even more confronting, speaks to just how indefensible that policy has become. Combining whistleblower interviews with shocking secret camera footage captured inside Manus Island and Nauru, Chasing Asylum reveals in no uncertain terms the consequences of offshore detention. We spoke with Orner about what motivated her to pick up the camera, and whether she believes films like this can truly make a difference. A CAMPAIGN OF PANIC AND FEAR Perhaps the hardest thing to stomach, when it comes to mandatory detention, is the fact that so many Australians seem willing to accept it — something that Orner attributes to "a campaign of panic and fear and misinformation that's been going for 15 years." "I don't think that people really know what's happening, because of this policy of secrecy that's been in operation since 2001," she says. "That's why I made the film, because I wanted to show people. Vision is so much more powerful than print. There's been some excellent journalism on this, but until you really see women and children in those conditions, it's not quite the same." "I find it particularly extraordinary today when people are self-immolating, and the government doesn't really respond with any sympathy," Orner continues. "The key to me is that we have to keep coming back to the Refugee Convention. Because it came out of the Holocaust, and it was the world's apology to the Jewish people to what happened to them... We really have to look at this policy in terms of what it says about us as a democratic country." WHAT THE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T WANT YOU TO SEE The most remarkable thing about Chasing Asylum is Orner's hidden camera footage, which lays bare just how bad the conditions on Nauru and Manus Island really are. Naturally, she's unable to reveal exactly how she acquired the footage, other than to say it was "not easy to get." "If I'd known then what I know now I probably wouldn't have done it," she admits. "I think I was a bit wide-eyed going in. I always said that I was waiting for someone else to make this film, and no one did so I thought I'd better do it. But no wonder no one was making it. It's about places you can't go, people you can't speak to, and if whistleblowers do speak to you then you have to hide their identity. Then the whistleblowing legislation came out in July last year, which says that if you speak out it's a criminal act and you can go to jail." "What's important is that no cameras are allowed in, and why," says Orner. "I think the film answers that question, because it's really grim... I don't think it's a particularly emotional film, in terms of my voice. It's really just the facts and the vision of what's been happening. But what I'm seeing now as we're starting to screen it is that people cry when they see this film. It's very upsetting... I find it very hard to watch the film." CAN A MOVIE ACTUALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE? "You have to believe that good will triumph," says Orner when asked if she thinks things will ever change. "You have to believe that good will triumph, you have to believe you can change things. You have to do something, because the alternative to that is doing nothing. You just have to stand up and scream and scream and scream." "One of the things we're doing is working with an organisation to get [the film] into the school curriculum, because that's where the power is. Getting the next generation to see the film. If we get this into schools, if we get tonnes of people to see it, if it gets seen on televisions around the world, then that can make a difference." "It's really about trying to educate people. That's what I'm saying. Come see the film, see what we're doing, and then make a decision. And I'm saying the same thing to politicians, because only a handful of politicians have been to Manus or Nauru. They're spending all of our taxpayer dollars on this, they should know what it looks like. Then maybe at night when they're sitting with their families, they can reassess how they really feel." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocgNZRIEyyY Chasing Asylum is in cinemas nationally from May 26. Eva Orner's book, Chasing Asylum: A Filmmaker's Story, is available in bookstores and online. For more information visit www.chasingasylum.com.au.
The essence of Venice has made its way to Melbourne in the form of delicious small snacks at bars and restaurants across the city. These bite-sized delicacies are known as cicchetti (chi-ket-tee, FYI), a popular dish found in the Italian canal city. The idea is you fill your tummy up throughout an evening of sipping good wine by steadily indulging in many, many of these bar snacks — which, most of the time, only cost a a couple of dollars each. So where exactly can you eat like a Venetian in Melbourne, you ask? Glad you asked. From cuttlefish arancini to pork and veal meatballs and crostini topped with all the good stuff, we've rounded up the best places for you to eat one cicchetto or many cicchetti. You can either spend your evening at any of these bars and restaurants, or bar hop them and nibble your way across the city. You can say grazie to us later.
Just when you thought this year's Melbourne Music Week program was looking very juicy indeed, along comes the final lineup announcement, bringing with it even more musical goodness to add to your calendar. To complement the array of gigs and parties organised for this year's festival hub at St Paul's Cathedral, a series of al fresco events is also set to grace the historic building's carpark. Following opening night performances by award-winning Indigenous artist Kutcha Edwards and hip hop rising star Miss Blanks, this unique outdoor space will play host to a diverse program of shows. The makeshift venue will feature acts like Kirin J Callinan, The Cat Empire's Harry James Angus, singer and saxophonist Masego, Albrecht La'Brooy, Sydney pop outfit I Know Leopard and Melbourne singer-songwriter Eilish Gilligan. This year's festival also marks the return of long-running punk celebration Live Music Safari, which will see ten of the city's most iconic live music venues open their doors for a program of free gigs on Thursday, November 23. Also back for another year is free all-ages party Live At The Steps, set to take over the steps of Parliament House on November 17 with performances by Mallrat, Skegss, Tired Lion and Baker Boy (who was one of our top picks from BIGSOUND this year). Meanwhile, the Fed Square Live showcase will celebrate the strength and diversity of local female artists, with performances by Ali Barter, Alice Skye and Hey Mammoth complemented by imagery from the Her Sound, Her Story project. Punters will once again have the chance to enjoy live music on their public transport commute as part of the ever-popular Tram Sessions, while MMW's Self-Made series will see audiences rocking out to unique music experiences at unconventional venues like North Melbourne's Meat Market and the newly launched MPavilion. These follow last month's slew of MMW lineup announcements, which includes a new all-ages event at Melbourne Town Hall, a performance by Ariel Pink and Ferdydurke and Section 8's ZOO street party. Melbourne Music Week 2017 will take place across the city from Friday, November 17 to Saturday, November 25. To buy tickets and view the whole program, visit mmw.melbourne.vic.gov.au.
Weekend mornings are made for aimlessly wandering around garage sales. But when it comes to Third Drawer Down’s annual clearout, there’s no mucking about. The Annual Third Drawer Down Garage Sale Gala Day (yes, that is quite a title) is about so much more than simply picking up a bargain. Illustrator and cartoonist Oslo Davis will be drawing portraits from 11-1pm, or you and your prized pooch, goldfish or iguana can get your photo taken by the good people from Dog Photog. Brands like Lucy Folk, Third Drawer Down Studio and Seletti will be selling their wares for up to 60 percent off — so like most garage sales, it's best to get in early to ensure you get the goods. Nab yourself a bargain, and a freshly fried spring roll from the Phamily Kitchen's Fitzroy store and you’ve officially won the weekend.
Whatever you're doing between 4pm and 5pm this afternoon, we suggest you cancel it. You now have more pressing concerns. Two words: free doughnuts. Rest assured, we would never joke about something this delicious. For one hour only, the legends at Doughnut Time really will be handing out their mouthwatering morsels, free of charge, at their Topshop pop-up stores. And we thought we couldn't love the folks that brought us burger-doughnut hybrids, vegan doughnuts and doughnut delivery any more than we already do. Those with a hankering for doughy goodness — which includes you, let's be honest — just need to head on down to Topshop in the Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane CBD once the clock strikes four. We recommend arriving early, because if there's one thing everyone loves, it's devouring sweet treats without having to pay for the privilege. Students keen on doing some shopping can also nab 10 percent off their Topshop purchases, in case you needed any more incentive to rush along. Basically, Monday just got a whole lot brighter and tastier. Free doughnuts will do that. For more information, visit the Doughnut Time Facebook page.
There's a brand new restaurant in South Melbourne called Meatworks. And yes, it's exactly what it sounds like. The latest venture from hospitality bigwig Lindsay Jones-Evans, the 100-seat eatery boasts a steampunk-inspired design, and promises to be something of a carnivore's cornucopia. We're talking fish, fowl and red meat recipes smoked, braised and roasted. You're welcome. Chef Travis Watson will man the Meatworks kitchen, and has created a menu inspired by both Eastern and Western cuisines. Mains include crusty meat pies, pork belly rolls, smoked duck pancakes and Asian noodles topped with slow-cooked braised beef, lamb, pork or chicken. Despite what you may think, they do also offer some vegetarian dishes — although given the likelihood of a vegetarian visiting a restaurant named Meatworks, we do have to wonder why they even bothered. The dessert options aren't exactly what we'd call healthy either, although they are admittedly less meaty. Choose from smoked custard, rice pudding, Turkish delight, Persian nut slices and a selection of freshly baked fruit pies and tarts. Located just a few minutes' walk from the South Melbourne Market, Meatworks can be found inside what was once a panel beating garage warehouse. Jones-Evans, who is best known for co-founding Sydney eateries Jones the Grocer and The Victoria Room, renovated the space by hand over the past 15 months, and also built the kitchen's 450kg wood smoker. Meatworks is located at 28-30 Ross Street, South Melbourne. They're currently open for lunch Monday through Friday and will be slowly expanding their hours over the next six months. For more information, check them out on Facebook. Image credit: Brook James
Melbourne likes movies. Melbourne likes rooftop bars. Little wonder then that the Rivoli Cinema in Camberwell is about to start serving cocktails at a slightly higher altitude. Set to open next month, nineteenforty will be a garden-inspired rooftop bar that offers panoramic views of the surrounding suburbs. Named for the year that the now-iconic picture palace first began operations, the east side's newest watering hole sounds like an ideal date spot, with drinks and a movie all rolled into one. The look of the bar will be designed to complement the cinema's art deco trappings, with timber cladding, potted plants and festoon lighting. Food-wise they'll offer a selection of bar snacks including wedges, veggie spring rolls, and cheese and dip platters, along with pizzas and gourmet popcorn options like salted caramel, white raspberry, maple bacon cheese and pecan pie. As for drinks, moviegoers can pick between an array of wines, beers and ciders, or sample cocktails like the Athena (apricot brandy, cloudy apple and lime) and the South of the River (Star of Bombay, St Germain Elderflower, apple, lime and mint). "We've always been enamoured by the history of the cinema," said Rivoli site manager James Zwack. "The rooftop bar seems like the perfect way to invite guests to enjoy the space as much as we do." The Rivoli isn't the only cinema to look to the sky in recent times, with the recently opened Lido on nearby Glenferrie Road offering rooftop screenings throughout summer. nineteenforty will open at Rivoli Cinema, 200 Camberwell Rd, Hawthorn East, after September 16.
Smith's Street Gasometer Hotel is teaming up with its neighbours to open a casual, Japanese-style izakaya. The recently reinvigorated pub and live music venue has invited the chefs from nearby Japanese bar and eatery Northern Light to collaborate on the new venture, which is set to take over the Gaso from August 27. Gas-Light Izakaya is the latest concept from Gasometer owners Clint Fisher (of Retreat Hotel in Brunswick) and Shannon Vanderwert (The Post Office Hotel in Coburg), who took over the venue early last year. Northern Light's sous chef Joel Baylon will oversee the kitchen, which features a pair of newly-installed binchotan white charcoal grills. As for the menu, expect popular Japanese bar snacks such as oysters, yakitori food skewers, deep-fried crumbed meat and vegetables and the universal favourite that is fried cheese. The food should all go quite nicely with their selection of local and Japanese beers on tap, including Okinawa import Orion. Of course, if you really want the full izakaya experience, you should be ordering the sake. The Gas-Light kitchens will be open for dinner Tuesday through Thursday and all day Friday through Sunday. And despite the pub's change in flavour, regulars can still expect a rock solid live music lineup in the Gasometer's 350-capacity bandroom. Gas-Light Izakaya starts cooking on August 27 at The Gasometer Hotel, 484 Smith St, Collingwood. Via Gourmet Traveller and Good Food. Image: Northern Light.
Entries have now closed. Fair is foul and foul is fair, and both descriptors very much apply to the harrowing new adaptation of William Shakespeare's Macbeth. Foul in that Australian director Justin Kurzel, who burst onto the scene with the unforgettable Snowtown, evokes the bleakness and epic sense of tragedy in the Bard's play. And fair in that Kurzel's hypnotic style, along with the incredible work of his cast, make this one of the single most compelling movies of the year. Michael Fassbender gives a thunderous performance as the eponymous Scottish thane, a good man brought low by his own overleaping ambition. Alongside him, Marion Cotillard has likewise rarely been better, disappearing into the role of Lady Macbeth. A supporting cast of UK heavyweights including David Thewlis, Paddy Considine and Sean Harris is nothing to turn your nose up at, either. But Kurzel doesn't rest on the laurels of his cast or the pedigree of the material. His visceral direction, including some absolutely mesmerising uses of colour and slow motion, makes Macbeth one of 2015's must-sees. Macbeth is in cinemas on October 1. To celebrate the film's impending release, we've teamed up with Transmission Films to host an exclusive preview on Tuesday, September 29, 6.30pm, at Cinema Nova, Carlton. To score tickets, click here.
Japanese tea rooms, erotic dance numbers and duets performed via Skype. These are just a few of the events you'll find on the program at Melbourne's second ever Festival of Live Art. Hosted by Arts House, Theatre Works, and Footscray Community Arts Centre, this two-week marathon of exciting and experimental art is perfect for people who have no interest in wandering aimlessly around a gallery. So from March 1-13, expect the unexpected. Blurring the lines between a litany of disciplines including dance, theatre, music, film, sculpture and even knitting, this year's lineup includes more than 50 different works produced by artists from all around the country and the world. Sydney artist David Capra — creator of the wet sausage dog scent — will be in town with his pet pooch to present his playful installation Teena's Bathtime, while Tamara Saulwick and Peter Knight have created an audio-visual piece titled Alter, made up of 16 carefully positioned iPads. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. So here's five events you definitely want to experience during the festival. With so many performances on the program though, we suggest you use this as a starting point from which to go forth into the wacky, wonderful world of live art. Top image: Hotel Obscura, Triage Live Art Collective, shot by Alexander Coggin
Prepare to cancel all your Wednesday night plans (i.e. laundry and Netflix) because we've got something much, much better. The Queen Victoria Market is bringing back its Summer Night Market for a 19th season of balmy tomfoolery. This means that after a day of toiling in the diamond mines or hosiery department (whatever your poison) you can cool off with a free evening of international street food, vintage fashion and handcrafted homewares. As if that wasn't exciting enough, this year they are theming the nights so that each week offers up something a little different. They'll kick off the 2016/17 season on November 16 with a 'disco funk' theme. That means free tunes from the tropical jungle-inspired Tek Tek Ensemble, funk and soul band The Gold Street Band as well as The Everymen and James Kenyon, who tells Australian stories through his music. And don't even think about eating at home because they've got food vendors to suit every whim, including pizza pockets from 400 Gradi team, gooey cheese breads from Toasta, Greek doughnuts from Taki's Balls and Moroccan food from MJR TOM. And if a face full of pizza isn't enough to take the edge off, there'll be a Pimm's Garden for, well, Pimm's jugs and, come December 7, as well as a frozen cider bar by Cheeky Rascal and a frosé bar too. There has never been a more appropriate time to exclaim 'Yassss Queeeeenn'. The Summer Night Market will run every Wednesday night from November 16 to March 8 (excluding December 28) from 5-10pm at the Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne. For more info, visit thenightmarket.com.au.
Madja and Nedim Rahmanovic have had us all on tenterhooks for the last nine months. In May last year they sadly announced their departure from North Melbourne's Twenty & Six and tantalised us with talk of a new venue, ambiguously named Host. It may have taken a bit longer than anticipated, but the couple's second Melbourne venture is finally up and running. Opening tonight, Wednesday, April 20 on Saxon Street, Brunswick, Host runs on a five-day schedule. You'll be able to sit down for dinner between Wednesday and Sunday, and lunch on Friday, Saturday and Sunday as well. The focus — and the major point of difference between Host and Twenty & Six — is on more sophisticated nighttime service. The mode of the venue is reflected in the name — a focus on hosting, hearth and home. "The space was a bare warehouse and the brief was to create a home-like atmosphere that encapsulates the definition of what is it to be a 'host'," says Madja. This is mirrored with the menu's seasonal offerings, frequently changed to keep it fresh, and a focus on shared meals and flexible dining. This comes together for what Madja describes as "a relaxed evening service, alongside minimal intervention wines, local beers and a small cocktail and amaro list". The Brunswick space is industrial and gritty but made warm by wooden finishes, imposing staghorn ferns and intimate booth dining. And, as you would expect from the pair, the food itself is thoughtful and considered, plated up artfully with a splash of colour. Welcome to Brunswick, Host, you demure delight. Host is open now at 4 Saxon Street, Brunswick. It's open for lunch Friday to Sunday and dinner Wednesday through Sunday. For more information, visit hostdining.com.au.
The team behind quintessential Melbourne cafes Top Paddock and The Kettle Black are moving ever closer to cutting the ribbon on their long-awaited new venue. Located at the Southern Cross end of Little Bourke Street, Higher Ground has been in the works for well over a year, and was originally meant to open back in October. Now it seems the gears are finally moving in earnest, with the owners setting their eyes on June. As reported by Good Food last year, Higher Ground will be a 160-seat venue, nestled in a former warehouse on the corner of Little Bourke and Spencer Street. Interior features will include exposed brick and green marble as well as a mezzanine level and open kitchen. Just look at this: First glimpse of our new space coming soon to the CBD... A photo posted by Higher Ground Melbourne (@highergroundmelbourne) on Apr 3, 2015 at 12:33am PDT As for food, the Higher Ground team have enlisted chef Nate Wilkins. We don't have a full menu as of yet, but they did tease the following dish on Instagram: Menu development for HG continues. The black waffle with peanut butter parfait honeycomb, raspberries and figs is looking good. Nice one chef @natewilkins ! A photo posted by Higher Ground Melbourne (@highergroundmelbourne) on Feb 23, 2016 at 6:49pm PST We think we speak for hungry Melburnians everywhere when we say that June can't come quickly enough. Higher Ground is set to open in June at 650 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne. The website lists their opening hours as 7am – 4pm Monday through Wednesday, 7am – 11pm Thursday through Friday 8am – 11pm, Saturday and Sunday 8am – 4pm. For more information keep your eyes glued to www.highergroundmelbourne.com.au. Image: The Kettle Black/Eat Drink Design Awards.
All good things must come to an end. While this is more of a 'ciao for now' rather than a teary farewell, Shadow Electric has indeed had a brilliant program this summer and it deserves to go out with a bang. While the last film will be screened on April 1, the screen will stay up an extra night for a bit of a showcase of cinematic visual artists teaming up with musicians. Rat & Co will work with Ollie Elmers on visuals, where Sleep D will work with AV artist Dylan Batelic for his set. The performance will be Rat & Co’s first headline show for the year, after making a solid name for themselves around Australia in 2014. DJ Jesse Fultone will be warming the crowds up, and LA Pocock will be bringing it home.
Siblings Sofia and Stefan Soltys are hitting refresh on Eastern European fare for their new Fitzroy bar and eatery, Little Odessa. Following the success of the pair's CBD cafe Frances Food & Coffee, this latest project sees them drawing on both their Ukranian heritage and their family's lengthy history in the hospitality game. The siblings' mother opened Lygon Street's Cafe Paradiso back in the 70s, while their father later founded Rathdowne Street icon The Paragon. And now Little Odessa's joined the family, launching on Brunswick Street in early February. It's a cosy space, where natural wines are the focus of the drinks list and the kitchen's plating up modern riffs on the Ukrainian fare the Soltys grew up with. Here, find yourself tucking into dishes like dill and vodka salmon tartare with rye, seared sardines teamed with a Hungarian-style tomato sauce, and a borscht to make any babka proud. Of course, classic pierogi dumplings also make an appearance, here stuffed with either potato and cheese, or pork and apple. There's also an impressive wine selection and a strong bottled lineup of Aussie craft brews, though you can always stick with tradition and grab a Czech Budvar on tap. All served, of course, with a side of warm, European hospitality. Little Odessa is now open at 274 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. For more info, visit littleodessa.com.au.
There's something so romantic about cooking food on a campfire. Something dreamy and primal about watching marshmallows blacken, and then walking away smelling like smoke for days. If smoky food and fire-starting is your jam, this class, part of the High Country Harvest program, is a must-do. You'll learn to cook campfires basics (sorry 'mallows — you don't cut it anymore) and some more exotic dishes. Expect wine and local produce a-plenty and, also, to be crowned king of the campsite every camping trip for the rest of your life. Once the learning is over, sit back and chow down on a hearty campfire lunch.
Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison and director Peter Sellars offer a radical new take on Shakespeare's Othello. Making its Australian premiere as part of the Melbourne Festival, Desdemona tells the story of the titular wife of Othello, and in particular her relationship with Barbary, the African maid who raised her (played by award winning Malawi singer-songwriter Rokia Traore). The result is a production that challenges the notoriously antiquated depictions of race and gender found in the original play, and promises to leave Shakespeare buffs – and audiences in general – with plenty of food for thought. This event is one of our top ten picks of the Melbourne Festival. Check out the other nine.
If you've been struggling to live in the teenies because you're musically and spiritually stuck in the noughties, we have some news that's going to bring you bolting straight into the present. Ministry of Sound are embarking on a super-niche tour. From mid-November, they'll be paying visits to Australia's capital cities to perform, get this, their greatest clubbing moments from The Annual 2001-2004. And that'll be all, folks. Leading the lineup will be OGs John Course and Mark Dynamix, who, between them, have placed millions of CDs in club-loving hands and ears over the past couple of decades. They're the mighty duo behind Ministry of Sound's annual compilations, on which you probably first heard Roger Sanchez, Basement Jaxx, Tim Deluxe, Cassius and Groove Armada. To each gig, Course and Dynamix will be inviting a bunch of cracking support artists. Sydneysiders will be treated to an extra-special tribute to early noughties break beat at a Clubber's Guide to Breaks Room. You can count on appearances by the UK's Plump DJs, as well as by homegrown breaks guru Kid Kenobi. MINISTRY OF SOUND 2001-2004 REUNION TOUR November 18 — The Prince, Melbourne December 16 — The Metro, Sydney December 20 — HQ, Adelaide January 13 — Discovery, Darwin January 15 — Matisse Beach Club, Perth January 21 — The Met, Brisbane Tickets are over here. In the meantime, to get yourself in the mood, have a listen to this dedicated Reunion Tour play list on Spotify.
RISING is known for boundary-pushing activations, but even by RISING's lofty standards, Spark sounds kind of insane. Inspired by the movement of fireflies and distant galaxies, Dutch artist Daan Roosegaarde has designed a 'flock of sparks' – thousands and thousands of tiny, bioluminescent particles – that he intends to unleash into the night sky above Fed Square. Each spark is made from biodegradable materials, so there's no risk to the environment, and the whole thing is free to anyone who happens to look upwards. According to the brochure, "once released, the sparks form ever-shifting clouds of light that behave like atmospheric bioluminescence, caught in a cool night breeze". Should make for a pretty special end to the evening: zillions of sparks floating over the moonlit Yarra, expanding and coalescing like a tiny universe. Spark will be taking place at Fed Square during RISING, but only for four nights. Entry is free. Set your phone cameras to night mode and get ready to be blown away. Images: Supplied
To welcome winter for another year, the team at Welcome to Thornbury is bringing back one of its most intuitive warming weekend events — a mini festival dedicated to mulled wine and hot cheese. Following successful runs last year, the party returns to the High Street food truck park from noon, Saturday, June 1, pulling together a selection of hot, gooey creations from some of the city's favourite cheese-slinging vendors. This is where all your cheesiest dreams come true — and while the food lineup hasn't been announced as yet, last year's menu included lush cheese fondue, mulled wine doughnut balls, cheesy pierogi and a raclette burger. Of course, you won't find a better drink match to all that rich, melty dairy than some hot, spiced booze, so the bar will be rounding out its usual offerings with five different mulled wines. Available all day, you'll be apple to pick from mulled wine spiked with apple pie, chilli chocolate, cherry or sticky date pudding — amongst others.
It'd be to rude not to start Melbourne Music Week with the festival's massive opening night at Fed Square. Featuring an all-Victorian and utterly danceable lineup with the likes of Ara Koufax, Sui Zhen, ALTA and DRMNGNOW, the party is all-ages and free for all. Each year, MMW takes over a new venue for its hub. This year, it's chosen ACMI — and this is where you can head after the opening night celebrations for a killer after party. Curated by Sydney-based queer party crew Heaps Gay, the night features an all-inclusive lineup of killer bands and DJs. With accompanied visuals across two stages and open till dawn, the $45 ticket seems a pretty good deal to us.
Today a brand new sleek restaurant and bar opens — but it's not where you'd expect. MPD Steak Kitchen isn't located in the CBD, or the inner suburbs. It's in the outer southeastern suburb of Berwick. And not only that, the new 200-seater has an ex-Vue de Monde chef and a former Attica sommelier on board. Not bad for Berwick. MPD — which is a nod to the Meatpacking District in New York City — is a concept from Victor and Robert Zagame, who are the same siblings behind Spice Market and that suburban family bistro chain Zagame's. As the name suggests, it's a venue with a very specific focus. Steak. Really, really nice steak. Taking charge of the kitchen at the two-storey venue is Chris Bonello, former executive chef at the Vue Group, which includes Vue de Monde and Bistro Vue. He'll be in charge of sourcing prime cuts of beef, including Cape Grim sirloin, Rangers Valley pope's eye and rump from Blackmore Wagyu. Side options range from hand-cut chips to truffle mac and cheese and honey-glazed brussels sprouts with pancetta. If, for some inexplicable reason, you don't feel like steak at a steak restaurant, other mains include John Dory with char-grilled lettuce, olive tapenade and pearl barley, and Flinders Island lamb with radish, sunflower and quince. That said, we do have to admit that we're quite taken by a couple of the dessert options, like the burnt mandarin mousse with dulce de leche, basil sorbet and dehydrated milk, and the white chocolate parfait with pistachio aero, lemon curd and bitter chocolate. The wine list includes an impressive 250+ options chosen by ex-Attica restaurant manager and young gun sommelier Banjo Harris Plane. Not into wine? They've also got craft beer and cider, a selection of bourbons and scotches, plus a number of adventurous cocktails made with liquid nitrogen. MPD Steak Kitchen is now open on the corner of Greaves Road and Clyde Road, Berwick. For more information visit mpdsteakkitchen.com.
Get outside for a little fresh air and exercise with a pack of marauding, flesh-eating zombies snapping at your heels. After pulse-racing chases around the US and Asia, undead obstacle course Run For Your Lives is headed to Sydney and Melbourne. Halfway between a marathon and a Romero movie, the rules for the event are relatively simple: participants navigate various obstacle, including a blood pit, a ropes course and even a Resident Evil-style 'laser grid', while trying their very best not to be eaten tagged. Every survivor gets three lives, represented by blood coloured flags tied to their waist. Lose all three lives and it's game over. You can also choose to play as a zombie, with a hair and makeup team on hand to help with your ghoulish transformation. Regardless of which team you’re on, don’t wear anything you won’t mind getting damaged, and make sure you bring a spare change of clothes, shoes... and a towel. And before you get any bright ideas, this is strictly a weapons free event, so leave the sawn-off shotgun at home. After the race, players will be able to attend an apocalypse afterparty, with dance music, live entertainment and zombie-themed activities. You'll probably need to let off some steam after this. Run For Your Lives hits The Dairy in the Western Sydney Parklands on Saturday September 5, before heading to a yet to be confirmed location in Melbourne on Saturday October 24. Tickets to the Sydney event are available now and start from $59. For more information, visit www.runforyourlives.com.au. View all Sydney Events.
The heat has turned up a notch and those long sunny days are stretching into balmy summer nights. What we are saying is, it's cocktail o'clock basically all the time. And while some cities scramble to the beach after work on particularly hot evenings, a Melbourne summer wouldn't be complete without prolonging your return to your hot house with a few cocktails and some top-notch bar food. Maybe you want to perch on a roof terrace with friends or retreat to an underground air-conditioned basement for some quiet time. Whatever you want, you've got it — here are the best icy-cold summer drinks and where to get them. SPECIAL CUP AT HOT SAUCE If cocktail time coincides with dinner time, then Hot Sauce is a sure fire winner. Situated down a laneway inside the new QT Melbourne, the soundtrack is a mix of 90's throwbacks, classic hip hop and a few little-known tracks you will want to Shazam for later. But what to drink? We suggest the Special Cup. Japanese caramel fried chicken with spicy chilli and black sesame sits above a specially-made cup that hides a deliciously matched cocktail of Melbourne-made Capi sparkling smoked cola and Japanese whisky underneath. Cocktail and snacks in the same vessel? This is late night dining done right. VIETNAMESE MOJITO AT UNCLE CBD St Kilda's Uncle has been dishing up modern, upmarket Vietnamese eats for the last few years and recently crossed the river to open up a sister venue in the CBD. The casual sharing menu has a mix of classic eats that will remind you of street food adventures around Ho Chi Minh City (if you should be so lucky to have had some), and the cocktail menu is very much a Melbourne interpretation of classics with a Vietnamese twist. Think lots of Szechuan pepper, pho spices, Vietnamese mint and of course plenty of Sriracha and fresh fruits. Uncle's twist on a Mojito is perfect for washing down spicy, Vietnamese pho — particularly if you crave it even on hot days. Plenty of stolen white rum, Vietnamese mint, fresh cumquats, palm syrup, lime and soda will satisfy even the most staunch of Mojito purists. [caption id="attachment_608153" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Simon Shiff[/caption] CHAMPAGNE ICY POLES AT ARBORY Icy poles and booze — they're the two staples of a quintessential long, hot Aussie summer and, let's face it, what icy treat can't be improved by the addition of alcohol? Thanks to POPS, which launched in Australia last year, these two faves come together in a genius mix of Champagne and ice served in a Calippo-like cardboard vessel. The Classic is a frozen Champers and juice icy pole and the Bellini is a mix of hibiscus, blood orange juice, peach schnapps and Prosecco. The only bar you can currently lick these frozen delights at is riverside bar Arbory. It's a damn fine choice of venue, but if it's too hot to leave the house — or you want to enjoy POPS by a pool of your choice — then booze delivery lifesavers Tipple deliver the frozen treats to you in 60 minutes. BLOODY SANGRIA AT GOOD HEAVENS Just when you thought all bar themes had been exhausted, the team behind BBQ joint Fancy Hank's opens an '80s Miami Vice-themed rooftop bar. Perfect for summer, Good Heavens has a prime position on the second level of the building that once contained Tuscan Bar with a partially-open rooftop overlooking Bourke Street. While the bar has plenty of '80s-inspired classic cocktails (including a reinterpretation of a Blue Lagoon), it's the Bloody Sangria we are most excited by. Fresh blood orange juice is shaken with Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur, rosemary syrup and fresh citrus before getting topped up with Pinot Grigio. This cocktail would make it feel like summer even if it wasn't. QUINCESS LAYER AT NIEUW AMSTERDAM Last year robbed the world of many great celebrities. To honour the late Carrie Fisher who will be long remembered for, amongst other things, her defining role as Princess Leia in the Star Wars films, comes the Quincess Layer. This cocktail is full of East London dry gin, cardamom liqueur, Mozart Dry, house-made raspberry and white cacao tonic, coffee oil and a quince paste rim. This is a perfect after-dinner cocktail — but we also recommend trying dessert. Here's to you, Princess. FROSÉ AT MR MIYAGI It wouldn't be a 2017 cocktail list without mentioning one of the most Instagrammed drinks of the summer: frosé. This is less Frankenstein's monster and more a welcome love child between adult drinks and Slurpees — and the master of this summer treat is Chapel Street restaurant Mr Miyagi. Domaine Chandon Pinot Noir Rosé, which has notes of strawberries and cream, is tossed into the restaurant's own Slurpee-style machine with a little sugar to be slushed, crushed and frozen for thirsty guests. Topped with an exotic-looking edible flower, we don't think this will be the only summer of frosé. WATERMELON PASSION AT 400 GRADI Walking past Brunswick's 400 Gradi, you could easily be forgiven for thinking it's just another pizza joint. You would be very, very wrong though. After Johnny Di Francesco's win at the World Pizza Championships — where 400 Gradi's margherita was awarded first prize — this pizza joint quickly shot to the top of every foodie's hit list. To wash down your award winning pizza, we suggest getting a sweet Watermelon Passion. Gin, fresh watermelon juice, a squeeze of lime and some sprigs of mint make this one of the most simple, yet tasty summer drinks on our list. YARRA VALLEY SOUR AT ROOFTOP AT QT Perched 11 floors above Melbourne sits one of the city's newest rooftop destinations: the Rooftop at QT. This bar is a mix of openair deck and casual indoor couches, which will come in handy when the warmer months unfortunately come to an end. The expert bartenders are capable of making a drink to your tastes, but we suggest starting off with a few of their signature tipples first. The Yarra Valley Sour is made with Healesville's Four Pillars gin, freshly squeezed lemon, orange blossom, egg white and topped off with a drop of Pinot Noir. We know what you're thinking: red wine in a gin-based summer cocktail? You'll have to trust us on this one — it's going to be one of your new favourites. With capacity for 185 people, we recommend getting here early to secure a seat. This is one of the best places to enjoy a balmy night, watching the cityscape with an ice-cold cocktail in hand. MO' MONEY AT SEOULJA BOY What kind of monster doesn't love a daggy pun? The team behind Bourke Street's new Korean-Japanese bar Seoulja Boy are not afraid to make a few. But what this bar is really about is anju — that is, the Korean version of izakaya pub food. So expect lots of smaller plates designed to be eaten, in a casual way, with friends over drinks. In honour of The Notorious B.I.G's classic lyrics, Mo'Money is a Korean-inspired cocktail made with green tea, muddled cucumber, mint, lime and Korean soju. If you're still thirsty after the Mo' Money, take the next logical step by ordering the Mo' Problems. TOKYO COCO AT HORSE BAZAAR With regular nights featuring everything from storytelling and live hip hop to traditional Japanese performances and open mic nights, Horse Bazaar has something for everyone. But for summer, they've crafted some unusual and delicious cocktails to match their menu using classic Japanese ingredients such as yuzu, Japanese whisky, pickled ginger, umeshu liqueur and green tea. Our pick though is the Tokyo Coco which mixes strawberry-infused coconut water, Diplomatico Blanco white rum, a touch of rosewater and freshly squeezed lime juice. Perfect.
The Smith Street Band have an incredibly endearing habit of looking out for the underdog. Following their November release of their third album, Throw Me in the River, the Melbourne four-piece found themselves in the news as a result of their sold-out EP titled Wipe That Shit-Eating Grin Off Your Punchable Face, which features a portrait of Tony Abbott and protests the Australian government's current treatment of refugees. Throw in a fundraising gig for refugee advocacy groups in Melbourne on Australia Day and you've got one seriously outspoken Aussie band. On their upcoming tour around Australia they're keeping up their determination not to forget anyone, with the aptly titled 'Get High, See Everyone Tour', featuring an impressive 24 dates across Australia, including regional stops like Bendigo and Maroochydore and a whole heap of all-ages gigs for younger fans. The pairing of desperate energy and youthful, emotional frenzy with surprisingly thoughtful and touching lyrics have earned The Smith Street Band a loyal fan base. And, bless them, the band is going to do their best to see every one of you.
The first thing you notice about the 14-year-old Amy Winehouse is her smile. Captured on her best friend’s home movie, it's enormous, almost all-consuming, a porthole to an as yet undiscovered virtuosity. With jagged and uneven teeth, the smile — like her accent — is imperfect and unrefined, as though everything had been hastily thrown together at the last minute. But it's also unmistakably real and a permanent fixture on the young girl's face. Over the next 90 minutes of Asif Kapadia's remarkable documentary Amy, what most stands out is not the prodigious talent, nor the substance abuse and self-destruction, but simply the steady fade of that perfect imperfect smile. Just like Kapadia’s previous documentary, Senna, Amy is an extraordinarily moving tribute to a prodigious talent whose life seemed somehow unavoidably foredoomed. With its remarkable catalogue of personal videos, voicemails and recording sessions, Kapadia lets Winehouse and her closest friends narrate her own tragic spiral in real time, taking us from the "gobby north London Jewish girl with a lot of attitude" to the death of a full-blown celebrity in 2011. It’s a masterful device, insulating the film from the inevitable accusations of bias and blame apportionment made by the very individuals who constantly comment and appear throughout. To be clear: Amy isn’t a whodunnit. Winehouse drank herself to death despite countless warning from doctors, friends and colleagues. Instead, the film reveals the extent to which almost everybody in her life failed to convert their concern into real action so long as the money continued to flow their way. "They tried to make me go to rehab,” she sang, and it’s true, but they didn’t try nearly hard enough. What’s abundantly clear from the archival footage is how well Winehouse understood her own predicament and disposition. “I’ve depression,” she explains at one point, “but so do a lot of other people. I’m just lucky because not many people can pick up a guitar for an hour or two and make themselves feel better.” True to the adage, Winehouse really was all about the music, and had she been left alone to sing jazz in small clubs, things may have played out very differently. The only person who seemed to fully grasp that was her idol, Tony Bennett, with whom she recorded a duets album shortly before her death. “True jazz performers don’t like crowds of 50,000 in front of them,” he explains, before adding in a heart-wrenching postscript, “If she were still here, I’d say ‘slow down … you’re too important’”. It’s moments like this that make Amy an overwhelmingly tragic and absorbing portrait piece, steeped in disquiet because, just as it was with Senna, you know it ends in a crash. There is, in fact, one last glimpse of a smile, right before the film ends. During her infamous concert disaster in Belgrade just weeks prior to her death, Winehouse sits down on stage, drunk and disoriented, amidst a chorus of boos from the crowd. While the band tries to get her to sing, an almost imperceptible grin flashes across her face, as though she’d suddenly heard the punchline to a joke nobody else could hear.
Both the heartbroken and the heartbreakers should take a lesson from Sharon Van Etten, heading to Australia for her 2015 Are We There tour. Renowned for embracing life's emotionally crippling moments, Van Etten has been putting her heart on a platter since her first offering 'Because I Was In Love' in 2009 — released after TV On the Radio's Kyp Malone gave her a nudge in the right direction. The Brooklyn-based, New Jersey and Tennessee-raised singer/songwriter hasn't stopped since, with four gripping albums under her belt including 2012's Tramp. Headlining Secret Garden (February 27-28) with Parquet Courts and Golden Plains (March 7-9), Van Etten is also playing sideshows for those who missed out on tickets. Supported by Tiny Ruins (NZ) + Jack Ladder + Heather Woods Broderick (USA).
No longer will ravenous souls roam the mean streets of Melbourne on a wild-eyed search for their favourite food truck. Opening today on High Street, Thornbury, Welcome to Thornbury is Melbourne's first permanent food truck trailer park, featuring some of the tastiest names in mobile food vending that the city has to offer. Dreamed up by the legends at Mr Burger, Welcome to Thornbury is located at 520 High Street, just a hop, skip and a jump from Croxton Train Station and the 86 tram line. Once a used car yard, the newly-renovated, 4000-square metre venue features both indoor and outdoor seating, and will host as many as six different food vendors and 700 hungry patrons a night. The Welcome to Thornbury calendar, which you can find on their Facebook page, promises 43 trucks in August alone, including Mr Burger, Ramen on Wheels, Caliko BBQ, Gorilla Grill, Senor Churo, White Guys Cook Thai and Sliders on Tyres. They've also got their own in-built 200-seater bar, where you can grab cocktails, wine and beer by the bottle or on tap. Welcome to Thornbury is open between 5pm – 9pm Monday – Thursday, 12pm – 10pm Friday – Saturday, and 12pm – 9pm Sunday. For more information check them out on Facebook. Via Good Food. Image: Mr. Burger.
The KitchenAid Artisan Mixer is now smaller — which means they're perfect for that infuriatingly tiny amount of bench space in your house. Whether you whip out the classic Empire Red, go for something more tropical like the Orange Sorbet, or opt for something a little newer and classier like the Matte Black – KitchenAid Artisan Minis are just as pretty as they are practical. To celebrate its launch in Australia we've got five (and one attachment) to give away. Choose your colour, and then choose from one of the fifteen KitchenAid Artisan Mini attachments available (food processor, pasta maker, spiralizer are just a few — you can do much more than bake with this thing), and enter your details below. Make sure you agree to the competition terms and conditions, and be quick, entries close at midday on Sunday, October 30. [competition]592968[/competition] Image: Samantha Hawker.
Feast on some of Melbourne's best at the fifth annual Urban Winery Project, where a whole winery will be transported to the city, allowing punters to get fully immersed, knee-deep style, in the magic of wine making. The Urban Winery Project will run over four consecutive Wednesdays this March. Creator David Bowley, from South Australian winery Vinteloper, says the event is replacing the old tannin-talking guy in a tweed jacket, and giving you a much more fun way chance to glimpse behind the red wine curtain. Over the four weeks, the event will host some of the city's top chefs, including Ryan Flaherty (Mister Jennings) and Peter Gunn (Attica, and the soon-to-be permanent IDES) who will prepare a four-course feast while you crush, press and ferment your grapes. MoVida's Frank Camorra will make an appearance in week three, treating you to a night of shared Spanish cuisine, while butcher and American barbecue maestro Scott Gould will team up with Pot & Pan's Sam and Celeste Gant to teach you the art of smoking your own meats to finish up the series. The Urban Winery Project kicks off on Wednesday, March 2. To book tickets, visit urbanwineryproject.com.
If movies are your religion, then the Shadow Electric Outdoor Cinema is the closest thing you'll find to a church. Screening a savvy mix of classics and recent essentials, their giant pop-up screen in the grounds of the Abbotsford Convent is the perfect place to catch a movie under the balmy summer sky. Things kick into gear just after New Year's, with Stop Making Sense on Friday January 2. The Talking Heads concert film is one of several musically-themed films on the program, including A Hard Day's Night, Bjork: Biophilia Live and the recent, heart-thumping jazz thriller, Whiplash. Other 2014 titles include Dan Gilroy's creepifying media satire Nightcrawler, the hilariously uncomfortable Swedish marital drama Force Majeure and the indie film phenomenon Boyhood. Also screening is Christopher Nolan's space epic Interstellar, a film that more than any other deserves to be seen beneath the stars. A couple of this year's best Australian films also made the cut, namely the slickly made time-travel thriller Predestination and the genre-transcending skateboarding doco All This Mayhem. New Zealand cinema is also represented via Jemaine Clement's gut-busting vampire movie What We Do in the Shadows and the yet-to-be-released horror comedy, Housebound. Speaking of the horrific, while it's disappointing to see that last year's regular Monday night cult film has been scrapped, the few B-movies they have managed to squeeze into the line-up look pretty bloody fantastic (emphasis on bloody). Sion Sono's Why Don't We Play in Hell? is like a Fellini film in a slaughterhouse, and really, who wouldn't want to see a movie called Kung Fu Cannibals? But it's in the retro department that this year's program really delivers. Boogie Nights, Fight Club, The Big Lebowski and Do the Right Thing are just a few of the classics that everyone should see with an audience. Wes Craven's Scream is a great fit for Friday the 13th in February, while When Harry Met Sally is a near-perfect date movie for Valentine's Day. Valentine's Day notwithstanding, most Saturdays will see the Shadow Electric take a night off from the movies for a series of live music gigs. That program is yet to be announced, but keep your eyes glued to the website for more info.
In 2018, Melbourne will be set aflame. Sort of. For years, acclaimed French art collective Compagnie Carabosse have lit up iconic public spaces from Stonehenge to The Kremlin, bringing light and warmth to the cold dark night with flaming urns and fiery sculptures. Now the artists are heading our way as part of Melbourne Festival to take over the Royal Botanic Gardens for four spectacular nights. Accompanied by an otherworldly soundtrack, visitors will traverse the vivid landscape made up of more than 6500 fire pots, along with a 120-metre-long burning river. Tickets are $25 for entry at either 7.30pm, 8.30pm or 9.30pm each night. The festival recommends that you leave an hour to explore the garden, and there will be food and drink stalls set up for you at the end. Just don't knock anything over.
