Arts Centre Melbourne will pay homage to the history, culture and country of First Nations artists and communities, with a jam-packed NAIDOC Week program from Sunday, July 3–Sunday, July 10. But you'll catch an extra big dose of creativity when it kicks things off with a special NAIDOC Week edition of its St Kilda Road Sunday market on July 3. From 10am, you'll be able to shop a curation of goodies from celebrated First Nations designers and businesses including Clothing The Gaps, Haus of Dizzy, The Koori Circle, Gammon Threads and more. Expect everything from art and fashion, to accessories and homewares. If that leaves you feeling inspired to create, you can try your hand at one of the day's free workshops — perhaps a songwriting session with composer and musician Allara, or a hip hop dance workshop led by the Indigenous Outreach Projects collective. There's even a lesson in feather-flower-making, guided by Taungurung and Dja Dja Wurrung artist Cassie Leatham, and matched with bush tucker. You can pre-register your interest and secure your spot for any class online. While you're there, be sure to check out Clothing The Gaps' eight new poster designs, which will be showcased across Arts Centre Melbourne's Hamer Hall and St Kilda Rd precincts on the day.
Imagine a night filled with eats from 40 of Melbourne's hottest culinary names, free-flowing local booze and a healthy serve of revelry. Now, that's what we call a birthday party. And you're invited to join in the fun, when Eat Street Melbourne celebrates its 20th anniversary edition later this month. It's descending upon the Sofitel on Collins on Tuesday, May 21, for an extravagant hawker-style affair, to raise much-needed funds for children's charity Variety. And it's bringing some pretty high-profile hospitality friends along for the ride. Tickets to this shindig are priced at $135. Which sounds steep — but this includes bottomless eats and drinks throughout the evening, and all proceeds go the charity. And these are some serious party snacks. There'll be a oyster shucking station, buttery serves of 400 Gradi's legendary cacio e pepe (which is served out of a cheese wheel), foie gras and chicken liver parfait doughnuts courtesy of The Botanical, and wagyu and bacon cheeseburger spring rolls served up by Red Spice Road. Andrew McConnell's bringing his Cumulus Inc stracciatella with sweet & sour peppers, while Le Petit Gateau's crew of pastry chefs will reimagine the birthday cake as a series of lavish party treats inspired by childhood classics. The drinks situation won't be too shabby either, featuring the likes of rosé from Yarra Valley winery True Colours, De Bortoli bubbles and classic cocktails by The Everleigh Bottling Co. If you fancy making a real night of it, the hotel is also offering staycation packages, starting at $650 for a plush room and Eat Street entry for two adults.
Sydney Dance Company's first show of the season presents its dancers at their most open, honest and mindblowingly athletic yet. In the words of choreographer Rafael Bonachela, ab [intra], which is Latin for "from within", is an exploration of our "primal instincts, our impulses and our visceral responses". Rather than beginning with a script, Bonachela worked backwards. While improvising and experimenting in the studio, he asked dancers to anonymously write down their emotions, ideas and questions on hundreds of yellow Post-It notes and created a narrative from them. Throughout the piece, dancers shift from portraits of intense intimacy to explosions of dynamic interaction and moments of stillness. Costumes are minimal, exposing an unsettling mix of vulnerability and power, and the original score, composed by Nick Wales, combines both classical and electronic influences. ab [intra] is Bonachela's first full-length work since 2012, when 2 One Another and a collaboration with the Australian Chamber Orchestra called Project Rameau both took the stage. This is his tenth year as artistic director of the Sydney Dance Company. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQVMpxo5UaQ&feature=youtu.be Images: Pedro Greig
If you've got a thing for both craft beer and colourful can designs, then you're probably familiar with the work of beer design studio Pocketbeagles — aka Clint Weaver. His works have graced many a tinny, but perhaps most famously the character-centric cans of Brunswick-based craft brewery CoConspirators. Well, on Saturday, October 15, Weaver is pulling together a few of his favourite things, teaming up with some beer-loving mates to host the Pocket Party at CoConspirators' Brunswick HQ. Head in from 1pm to sample four different collaboration beers made especially for the event, courtesy of Bright Brewery, Two Rupees, Brewmanity, new Sydney-based meadery Greedy Bear and CoConspirators themselves. Weaver will also be showing off his new canned cocktail line Pours, to star alongside a selection of beer cocktails, paired snacks by chef Caitlin Koether and tunes spun by DJ Tim Munro. Plus, if your look needs a refresh, local barbers Carpe Vinum will be popping up to offer cuts on the day. Best of all, tickets to the whole thing are an easy $10.
If you're after some art with a bit more bite, be sure to put Flinders Quarter on your hit-list this August. For one month, the CBD pocket's laneways and buildings will be brought to life through augmented reality, all for the Flinders Quarter Augmented Art Walk. Running from Wednesday, August 14 to Saturday, September 14, this interactive experience takes you on a self-guided art adventure — simply grab a copy of the map from participating Flinders Quarter businesses or Metro Tunnel HQ at 125-133 Swanston Street, download the supporting Eyejack app to your smartphone, hit the the 'Launch AR' button and let the tour begin. Spanning nooks and crannies all through Flinders Quarter, the art walk showcases a slew of contemporary works from the likes of Vexta, Chelsea Gustafsson, Alex Mitchell and Adele Varcoe, which are brought to life on your phone with a combination of digital animation and sound. You can revisit the history of fashion and theatre in Melbourne with the glamorous Pink Fit by The Huxleys, or catch Sutu's human-sized set of wings at DoubleTree by Hilton. Jacob Leary's work Stuff in Nature, Nature in Stuff celebrates disruption, while at Young & Jackson's, even the famed Chloe portrait will appear as you've never seen her before.
Where would we be without movies over the past 12 months? Even when cinemas were closed for a hefty portion of 2020, we all still sought out the joy and escapism of watching a flick — because when you're in lockdown, quarantining or isolating at home, or just spending more time indoors in general, it's particularly cathartic. Still keen to queue up a big heap of movies, and a hefty dose of couch time? Enter Movie Frenzy, the returning week-long online film rental sale. Until Thursday, March 11, it's serving up a sizeable lineup of popular flicks from the past year, all from $2.99 per movie. On the lineup: Tenet's mind-bending action, The King of Staten Island's blend of comedy and reflection, and the joyous laughs of Bill & Ted Face the Music. You can also opt for the murder-mystery thrills of Knives Out, check out a new version of a childhood favourite thanks to The Secret Garden, dive into a fight between Aussie sheep-farmer brothers in Rams and see Russell Crowe act as the title demands in Unhinged. Nicolas Cage's OTT latest, Jiu Jitsu, is also on the list, as are Bloodshot, Dirt Music, Honest Thief, After We Collided, The Outpost, Sonic the Hedgehog, The High Note and Trolls World Tour — and while some are more worth your attention than others, we'll let you do the choosing. You can nab the cheap flicks via your digital rental platform of choice, including Apple TV, Fetch, Google Play, the Microsoft Store, the Playstation Store, Amazon Prime Video, Telstra TV Box Office and YouTube Movies — although just what's available, and the price, will vary depending on the service. And you won't need a subscription, unless you decide to join in the fun via the Foxtel Store. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywhTeWg8970
Like the producers of expensive Swiss watches, artisanal chocolate and complicated pocket knives, Movenpick ice cream is committed to Switzerland's seemingly national standard of perfection. If you haven't yet sampled the gourmet brand's indulgent flavours, (made from real Swiss cream), then what better time to taste test than on the country's national day? On August 1, Movenpick is offering the first 250 customers to their NSW, Victoria and Queensland stores a complimentary scoop of Switzerland in a cone (or a cup, if that's more your thing). Be torn between 24 flavours, such as velvety caramelita, crunchy meringue in double cream or their famous classic Swiss chocolate. Head to the following stores for your free scoop: NSW: Bondi, Darling Harbour, Manly, Newcastle. VIC: Doncaster, Boxhill, Melbourne Central, QV Melbourne (Highpoint). QLD: Brisbane CBD, Brisbane Emporium, Portside, Surfers Paradise, South Bank, Broadbeach, Cairns, Carindale, Harbour Town, Paddington, Indooroopilly. Opening times and locations vary; see the website for details.
Thanks to a combination of early summer weather, the relatively new 25-kilometre bubble and the Melbourne Cup public holiday, some of the Melbourne's beaches have hit capacity. The City of Port Phillip Council has this afternoon announced that its beaches are at capacity, as images of a packed St Kilda Beach hit social media. At 4pm on Tuesday, November 3, two hours after the winning horse crossed the finish line, a 9 News journalist posted a photo on Twitter showing what she says is "thousands" of people relaxing on St Kilda Beach, with "at best" half of them masked. https://twitter.com/LanaMurphy/status/1323490615347146752 The City of Pork Phillip, which has been posting hourly updates on its Facebook page, announced that its beaches were "heavily patronised" at 3pm, then that the beaches had reached capacity at 5pm. "As we near 5pm, the beaches remain full and parking at capacity. As families head home over the next few hours, space may open up." the Council wrote on Facebook at 5pm. "We will do a final hourly post at 6pm but will keep you updated throughout the night if there's anything you need to know about." As we near 5pm, the beaches remain full and parking at capacity. As families head home over the next few hours, space... Posted by City Of Port Phillip on Monday, November 2, 2020 The City of Port Phillip Council's beaches include St Kilda Beach, Elwood Beach, Port Melbourne Beach, South Melbourne Beach and Sandridge Beach, Today in Melbourne, the mercury rose to 30.4 degrees, which the Bureau of Meteorology has said is the warmest Melbourne Cup Day since 1969 — and the warmest day since March 19 this year. https://twitter.com/BOM_Vic/status/1323501578465271813 If you are hoping to make it to a beach or park — in your 25-kilometre bubble — for sunset, check out the relevant council's website so you're not turned away at arrival. For more information about the status of Melbourne's beaches and parks, head to the relevant council's website. Top image: Sagar Rathod via Flickr
What begins in Milan, then heads to Puglia and the Italian Alps, plus Naples, Sicily, Tuscany, Florence and Rome, too? An impressive getaway, and also the 2023 Italian Film Festival. What dives into history, includes love and treasures, and also soul-searching journeys, stunning threads, labyrinths and great art? Again, a dream holiday, and also Australia's annual celebration of Italy's best and brightest on the big screen. Running from Thursday, September 21–Wednesday, October 18 at Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, The Kino, Pentridge Cinema, The Astor Theatre and Cinema Nova in Melbourne, 2023's IFF will open with The Last Night of Amore, which is where the fest's jaunt to Milan comes in, and one of its thrillers as well. Making its Australian premiere after a successful stint at the Italian box office, writer/director Andrea Di Stefano's (The Informer) police flick stars Pierfrancesco Favino (The Hummingbird) as it tells of an about-to-retire honest cop facing a chaotic, crime-riddled, corruption-fuelled situation. Also among the event's spotlight flicks, Kidnapped sits in the centrepiece slot, recreating the tale of the Vatican's abduction of a young Jewish boy in the 19th century, plus as the scandal that unsurprisingly followed. As part of a focus on actor, filmmaker and screenwriter Massimo Troisi, 1994's The Postman, the talent's two-time Oscar-nominated final film, will close out the fest with a 50s-set whirlwind of love and friendship. There's more where they both came from — more special-presentation and special-event movies, and more of Troisi's work. First, the features getting some extra IFF love. Starring Josh O'Connor (Mothering Sunday) and directed by Alice Rohrwacher (Futura), La Chimera heads to 80s-era Tuscany as a British archaeologist gets caught up in ring selling stolen Italian wares — while Beautiful Boy's Felix van Groeningen shares directing duties with his The Broken Circle Breakdown co-screenwriter Charlotte Vandermeersch on The Eight Mountains, which stars Luca Marinelli (Martin Eden) and Alessandro Borghi (Devils), and won 2022's Cannes Jury Prize. Also, Burning Hearts dives into crime and revenge in black and white, Carravagio's Shadow features Riccardo Scamarcio (John Wick: Chapter 2) as the eponymous painter, and documentary The Genius of Gianni Versace Alive unravels its namesake fashion designer's career. With IFF's Troisi retrospective, viewers can see three more of his films: 1981 comedy I'm Starting From Three, his debut as both a big-screen actor and director; Nothing Left to Do But Cry, where he acts opposite and travels back in time with Roberto Benigni (Pinocchio); and the cinema-adoring Splendour, also featuring the late, great Marcello Mastroianni. And, there's also Mario Martone's (Nostalgia) doco Somebody Down There Likes Me, about his exploration of Troisi's movies. Elsewhere on the bill, Nanni Moretti (Three Floors) directs himself playing a director grappling with today's streaming reality in A Brighter Tomorrow; Strangeness enlists Toni Servillo (The Hand of God) as Literature Nobel Prize-winning playwright Luigi Pirandello; The First Day of My Life also features the prolific actor, this time in the latest effort from Perfect Strangers' helmer Paolo Genovese; and both Like Sheep Among Wolves and Prophets sit among the fest's thrillers. The list goes on, including the family-friendly Supernova and The Properties of Metals, plus comedies Orlando and My Shadow Is Your Shadow. And, there's the music-focused My Soul Summer featuring Italian X Factor-winner Casadilego.
Nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film, family drama The Past is writer-director Asghar Farhadi's first film since 2011 release A Separation, one of the most critically lauded films of the past decade. It begins with Ahmad (Ali Mosaffa) arriving in Paris from Tehran to finalise divorce proceedings with Marie (Berenice Bejo). He wanted her to book him a hotel — she hasn't, the first crack in the veneer of politeness. Temporarily back at his former home after a four-year absence, he finds Marie is now living with Samir (Tahar Rahim). The home is a mess of wet paint and half-finished renovations, as though in the process of removing any trace of Ahmad's time there. Ahmad has to share a room with Samir's eight-year-old son, Fouad (Elyes Aguis), who is acting out because of his confusion about the divorce. Ahmad snipes at Marie about this arrangement and the ensuing bickering bothers Samir, who senses there is something too familiar about their disagreements, that the feuds have the tone of a couple with unfinished business. Meanwhile, Ahmad's teenage daughter, Lucie (Pauline Burlet), has become unhappy and is often absent from home, largely because of the circumstances of Samir's split with his wife and his new relationship with her mother, as well as her own guilt at a train of events she believes she has set in motion. The Past starts off being about the final dissolution of Ahmad and Marie's relationship and the messy, unsatisfying experience of formally ending their marriage, but the story soon spirals off into something else entirely. Just when one strand seems to have exhausted itself, another complication arises, adding to the tragic mess these characters find themselves in. Yet while it is a film of revelations, there is never hint of melodrama and the story unfolds with complete, compelling realism. The small details are incredibly well-observed: one scene where Samir asks Lucie to pass him a kettle and she holds it so he has to scald his hands on the hot surface speaks volumes of their relationship, as does his almost comically stoic refusal to acknowledge what is happening. Another scene places Ahmad and Samir at a table together and watches as their silence and awkward refusal to engage with each other grows into something almost painful. Berenice Bejo won the Best Actress award at Cannes for her committed performance here, but The Past is a true ensemble piece with Burlet exceptional as the shell-shocked, troubled Lucie and Rahim having some brilliant moments as his Samir develops from being a sullen figure annoyed by the arrival of his lover's ex-husband into something much more layered and complex. A film that is rarely less than compelling for its entire running time, The Past gets even better in its wrenching unforgettable final scene, which is all the more emotionally powerful for unfolding at a glacial pace. Acting as both a haunting coda to proceedings and shedding new light on the motivations of its characters, it is an overwhelming last gasp of a truly great film. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Z2-_lt4kwXE
Fiftysomethings Nick (Jim Broadbent) and Meg (Lindsay Duncan) are in a rut. He has just been terminated from his job as an academic after making an inappropriate comment to a female student. His wife, a biology teacher, is going through her own career issues. More importantly, their marriage is fraying at the seams. As a way of reviving their flagging relationship, they take off to Paris for a break, returning to the city where they honeymooned many years before. They initially arrive at a hostel which they had stayed at years ago, but Meg turns up her nose at the Spartan accommodation and they up sticks to a more glamorous hotel, where they are offered a beautiful penthouse where Tony Blair once stayed. Meg is overjoyed. Nick is less sure. "As long as you change the sheets first," he snips. Gradually, they begin to explore their new surrounds and are by turns charmed by the fabled city and agitated by old resentments and simmering tensions which have built up in their relationship. The two-hander expands when they run into Morgan (a terrific Jeff Goldblum), a slick but somewhat glib academic and author who was something of a mentee of Nick's, but who has gone on to enjoy mainstream success which eluded his older colleague. He shoehorns them into attending a dinner party with his coterie of cosmopolitan pals, a development which intrigues the vivacious Meg but leaves the anxious Nick more perturbed than ever. Le Week-End feels more like a snapshot in time than a traditional three-act story, as long-held frustrations wane as they wander through the city. The couple sense that they may have stayed together out of routine and fear of being alone rather than any great attachment. With their children having finally moved out of home, what, if anything, will keep them together? Nick suggests that he needs Meg, is hopeless without her. She wonders if a childlike dependence is a healthy basis for their ongoing relationship. Le Week-End is set in the world's most romantic city and was directed by Roger Michell of Notting Hill fame, but this is no Hollywood confection. Instead, it has a messiness, looseness and a real honesty. Paris often looks more tired than idealised. While not as flat-out brilliant as Richard Linklater's Before Sunrise trilogy, those films seem an obvious touchstone in their improvised-feeling dialogue and clear-eyed focus on the tribulations of long-term relationships. Broadbent and Duncan are tremendous as Nick and Meg, characters who are contradictory, vulnerable and at times, frankly irritating. It's rare to see older actors on screen who aren't supporting figures or comic relief, but real, flawed people. https://youtube.com/watch?v=t0jzTSKr3VY
For French teen Isabelle (Marine Vacth), sex is a huge deal, a world of fascination and dread, but her first underwhelming sexual encounter with German lunk Felix (Lucas Prisor) on a summer holiday leaves her nothing but cold. She imagines herself impassively watching the scene from a distance, completely bereft of feeling. She is next seen secretly working as a sex worker in Paris and leading something of a double life, vaguely deflecting questions about her romantic life and appearing to her friends a quiet, unremarkable student. Taking on the name Lea, she uses a website and a second phone to meet clients. There is something about the orderliness of the work that seems to appeal to her, a clarity about what will happen and what it will mean. Yet she seems to go about it with an air of dispassionate practicality, learning the tricks of the trade and methodically stashing money in her comfortable family home. As with previous Francois Ozon films (Swimming Pool, 8 Women), Young & Beautiful often uncomfortably positions the viewer as a voyeur; it begins with her brother spying on her as she loosens her bikini top at a beach and often balances queasiness with elegance. Also familiar is the structural formalism: it's presented as a story in four parts, with each quadrant focusing on a new season and matched with a Francoise Hardy tune. Neat construction aside, Young & Beautiful hangs on a breakthrough performance by the striking Vacth, a former model, who doesn't so much fill in the blanks of the essentially enigmatic protagonist but instead makes both her moments of provocation and melancholy absorbing. Working as a kind of counterpoint to the moments of finger-wagging didacticism in Lars Von Trier's recent Nymphomaniac, Young & Beautiful has no firm conclusions it wants to make about Isabelle's choices and is only cursorily interested in how or why she starts being paid for sex. Even as the story takes a darker turn as Isabelle begins being recognised by her clients and possibly becomes attached to Georges (Johan Leysen) — a mild-mannered, elderly john — writer-director Ozon largely eschews histrionics in favour of understated and gorgeously rendered ennui. There's also a pivotal cameo from Charlotte Rampling as Georges' wife, Alice, and sterling work from Géraldine Pailhas as Sylive, Isabelle's mother. It's a polished, stylishly ambivalent work, one that provides no easy answers for either its audience or its heroine. https://youtube.com/watch?v=cnaIFp_KrB4
The much-anticipated Andy Warhol | Ai Wei Wei exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria is playing host to yet another outstanding lineup of live music for Friday Nights at the NGV. A ticket to one of these evenings gets you after-hours entry to the summer’s most talked about exhibition, as well as talks, food and bars, DJ sets in the NGV Garden and live music performances in the Great Hall. For this summer's program the musical line-up consists of both Australian and International acts, covering all bases from psychedelic prog rock to synth pop, indie, folk and electronica. Performers include Neon Indian, Moon Duo, The Apartments, Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders, Luluc, Sally Seltmann, Twerps, Bertie Blackman and Regurgitator, just to name a few. To check out the full lineup, and to see who is playing and when, head to the NGV website.
Author, comedian and frequent contributor to the New Yorker, David Sedaris, has released dates for his fourth Australian tour. In line with the launch of his newest title, Theft by Finding: Diaries (1977–2002), Sedaris is putting on a number of memorable shows for his cult followers in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Canberra. Often hailed as one of the world's foremost humourists, Sedaris is known for his snappy wit and has established himself as a unique observer of life's moments, both trivial and extraordinary. Ranging from observational comedy to social critique and readings from his outrageous personal diary, his live shows regularly traverse new and unpublished material. In addition, he'll be throwing it over to the crowd for a Q&A and signing copies of his book.
In late 2008, voters in California passed Proposition 8, reinstalling a ban of same-sex marriage following its brief legalisation in the state earlier in the year. In doing so, they effectively told gay and lesbian couples — not to mention an entire generation of young people — that the love those couples felt for one another was somehow less legitimate than that of their heterosexual neighbours and friends. One of the year's most emotional documentaries, The Case Against 8 chronicles the long and personal legal battle to see the controversial ballot overturned. In a case all about public opinion, the proponents of same-sex marriage needed a face for their campaign. After an extensive search for the perfect plaintiffs, the American Foundation for Equal Rights filed a suit on behalf of Kristin Perry and Sandra Stier, and Paul Katami and Jeffrey Zarrillo, two loving couples who over the next half-decade would come to represent millions of other gay and lesbian partners around the state, the country and the world. But their aces in the hole were the two men who would argue the case. In 2000, David Boies and Ted Olsen stood across from one another in Bush vs. Gore, the trial that ultimately saw George W. Bush claim the Presidency of the United States. That the famously conservative Olsen, who went on to serve as Bush's Solicitor General, could see eye to eye with Boies and the plaintiffs on same-sex marriage provides the case, and the doco, with exactly the hook it needs. Of course as is often the case with documentaries like these, there is a distinct sense that the film is just preaching to the choir. At the risk of generalisation, anyone who feels inclined to buy a ticket to this film probably supports same-sex marriage already. As informative and rousing as the movie is, it's hard to imagine it'll win many hearts or minds, because those who might be challenged by what it says won't bother seeing it in the first place. But whether or not the film will succeed in changing attitudes, there's no denying its intense emotional effect. Directors Ben Cotner and Ryan White don't just take us inside the trial preparation, but the lives and homes of the plaintiffs. We spend Christmas with Paul and Jeffrey's in-laws, and watch Kristen and Sandra's twin boys grow up. Again, maybe it's personal bias speaking, but how can you not feel elated when a mother of four receives a call from the President telling her that she's made a difference in millions of people lives? How can you not be moved when you watch two people affirm their love for one another, after struggling for that right for so long? It may not get the opportunity to change minds, but that shouldn't stop it fro trying.
Take a deep dive into the wondrous, cinematic worlds of Wes Anderson, when The Astor Theatre kicks off its new series of weekly film screenings dedicated to the acclaimed director's work. From July 4 until August 29, film buffs can enjoy a Wednesday night serve of Anderson's distinctive visual stylings and compelling soundtracks, across a series of single and double features. First up, can catch 1996 crime-comedy Bottle Rocket, followed by the Jason Schwartzman-led hit Rushmore on July 11, and July 18's double header of The Royal Tenenbaums and The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou. Other iconic Anderson titles hitting the big screen in the coming weeks include Moonrise Kingdom (August 8), The Grand Budapest Hotel (August 22), Isle of Dogs (August 29) and a double feature of The Darjeeling Limited and Fantastic Mr Fox (July 25).
Many of us default to basic or monochromatic homewares when it comes to everyday use items, but having statement pieces that stand out with colour and form are brilliant for entertaining or simply to have on display in your home as functional works of art. The FAZEEK team champions this through their range of vibrant glassware, cutlery, tablecloths and ceramics. And all of these will be up for grabs at rare bargain prices when the brand holds its annual warehouse sale. The exclusive sale will be running for one weekend only from Friday, March 22–Sunday, March 24. Make your way over to FAZEEK's Northcote warehouse to snap up some of its vibrant wave coupes, vases, platters, linens and more with discounts of up to 70%. This sale is not online so if you want to seize the unique opportunity to inject some of these vibrant designs into your home, you'll need to visit the warehouse in person.
The program for 2018's Melbourne Food And Wine Festival has officially arrived. And even though it's more than three months until it all kicks off on March 16, you're going to need most of that time to plan your attack, because this is one chock-a-block lineup. In a fun new addition, MFWF 2018 will for the first time incorporate its own mini hotel experience, as festival hub the House of Food and Wine takes over the Hotel Lindrum. Punters wanting to really dig in deep can now opt for an overnight stay right in the MFWF epicentre, enjoying contemporary breakfast, mini-bar and room service menus designed by acclaimed chefs Jo Barrett and Matt Stone. As with its predecessors, next year's hub will also feature a bar offering curated by the city's top mixologists and sommeliers, and will play host to a series of dinners and one-off events. Highlights here include a March 25 laneway lunch dedicated to dumplings and wine, and a speed dating-style wine tasting called Vino Rapido, on March 21. The Bank Of Melbourne World's Longest Lunch returns for its annual group feasting session – though this time it'll grace the banks of the Maribyrnong River – as chefs Jerry Mai (Annam), Adam D'Sylva (Coda, Tonka) and Kay-Lene Tan (Coda, Tonka) pool their talents to deliver a multi-cultural, modern Australian lunch to 1,700 diners. There'll also be food for the mind, as the MFWF Theatre of Ideas talks series explores ideas about sustainability and community. Other festival fun might find you noshing on a Brutally Early Breakfast at Collingwood's soon-to-launch Congress; enjoying a BBQ block party starring eats from both Fancy Hanks and Smith & Daughters; embarking on a boozy trip through time with a specially curated cocktail journey at Dinner By Heston; and partying hard at Bouvier Bar's dedicated sausage festival. For the full MFWF 2018 program, and to grab tickets, go here.
There aren't many silver linings to the pandemic, but the Victorian Government's eagerness to hand out vouchers to entice everyone out of the house is one of the rare bright sparks of the past few years. If you're keen on eating out and travelling throughout the state, you've been able to score free money, basically — and now, after the lockdowns of 2021 and the impact of the Omicron wave over summer, a heap of those popular schemes are returning in 2022. Melburnians, if your autumn plans involve going out for a meal, then the Victorian Government and the City of Melbourne have great news: they're bringing back the Melbourne Money initiative. This time, it'll be funded to the tune of $10 million, and run from Monday, March 7. When you dine out in the CBD between Monday–Thursday, you'll be able to get a 25-percent reimbursement on your bill — as long as you spend between $40–500. [caption id="attachment_831545" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Emily Godfrey, Visit Victoria[/caption] Also returning: the regional and metropolitan travel vouchers, which have proven mighty popular in the past. For this new run, which'll open on Tuesday, March 22 and cover travel from April 8–May 27, there'll be $200 vouchers on offer when you spend at least $400. You will need to put that cash towards accommodation, attractions and tours, of course — and the scheme will score $30 million in funding. A few new initiatives are also being rolled out, which is great news in a heap of ways. For starters, if you'll be eating out beyond the Melbourne CBD, there'll also be statewide dining vouchers. The new $30 million program will give rebates on food and wine experiences in regional areas and in suburbs beyond Melbourne's borders, under the same rules as Melbourne Money. So, it too will reimburse 25 percent of dining costs for meals between Monday–Thursday when you spend between $40–500 — kicking off on Tuesday, March 29. Also new: a $30 million entertainment voucher scheme, which is exactly what it sounds like. Also from Tuesday, March 29, you'll score discounts for tickets to the cinema, theatre shows, live music gigs and exhibitions, plus conferences and other events. [caption id="attachment_826613" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lido Cinema[/caption] Most of the nitty gritty for each set of vouchers hasn't been unveiled as yet, so expect more news about exactly how each scheme will work — especially the new initiatives — closer to their launch dates. Announcing the overall plan today, Monday, February 21, Minister for Industry Support and Recovery Martin Pakula said in a statement that the government is "encouraging Victorians to experience the best the state has to offer by going to see a show, having lunch with friends or visiting somewhere new." "Business and consumer confidence is critical for our continued economic recovery and that's why we're investing in these programs to deliver a boost where it is needed most," he continued. Victoria's new economic incentive schemes will kick off on Monday, March 7 with the return of Melbourne Money. For more information, head to the Victorian Government website. Top image: Yakimono Dining Room.
Prepare to be creeped out all over again by the man behind one of last year's huge horror hits. Hereditary writer/director Ari Aster is back with his unsettling new movie, Midsommar — and as anyone who saw his last movie will know, this flick is certain to put everyone on edge. Story-wise, the film follows Dani (Florence Pugh) and her boyfriend Christian (Jack Reynor). Their relationship isn't so stable, but tragedy keeps them together. Then she follows him to a once-in-a-lifetime midsummer festival in a remote Swedish village; however this isn't just a carefree summer holiday in a close-knit community. Instead, it's a nightmare in daylight. Expect a whole heap of people wearing white, nothing proving quite what it seems, and The Good Place's William Jackson Harper and Black Mirror: Bandersnatch's Will Poulter also among the cast. Expect idyllic natural surroundings and flower crowns — as corrupted by chilling rituals and unnerving antics — as well. While plenty about the film is still being kept a mystery, a new trailer has dropped, following on from the first teaser earlier this year. Remember, if you're expecting another visibly dark and sinister flick from Aster, think again. Instead, Midsommar is light, bright and filled with bohemian-looking folks — even when it steps firmly into creepy cult territory Check out the latest trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_I9ZeUWXI2s&feature=youtu.be Midsommar opens in Australian cinemas on August 8.
Bottomless cocktails, brunch and beats...it's hard to think of a better way to banish a hangover on a summer's afternoon. Introducing Melbourne's first hip hop brunch. On December 10, doors will open at 11am, which is when brunch will be served. This'll give you a chance to get yourself fed before hitting the booze at midday — bottomless cocktails and Champagne will last an hour-and-a-half and help everyone warm up for an afternoon of hip hop karaoke. If the concept sounds familiar, it's because it comes by way of London; this is the first Australian offshoot. The whole thing will go down at Curtin House's Toff in Town. Even though it's called a brunch, it'll inevitably carry onto into the late, late afternoon.
Some of Southeast Asia's most acclaimed performance artists will be the subject of a new exhibition at the Arts Centre Melbourne. Running from February 11 through to May 21 as part of the inaugural Asia TOPA , Political Acts: Pioneers of Performance Art in Southeast Asia will showcase the work of preeminent artists from Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam and beyond. Featuring a mix of photographs, installations and films, the art in Political Acts acknowledges the cultural tradition of performance within the region. It also explores a wide range of social, political and environmental issues facing both Southeast Asia and the world at-large, from ethnic identity to state-sponsored violence. The free exhibition can be found in Gallery One at the Arts Centre and is open daily. Image: Moe Satt, F'n'F (Face and Fingers), 2008-09, digital print, courtesy the artist.
Melbourne has scored a new art event inspired by Europe's Night of Museums: an annual evening when leading cultural institutions stay open long after they'd normally shut their doors, welcoming in patrons for after-dark art activities. Here, it'll take the form of Art After Dark, a two-day late-night extravaganza, involving State Library Victoria, the NGV, Federation Square, Arts Centre Melbourne, ACMI and Melbourne Museum. Running from 6pm–1am on both Friday, May 13 and Saturday, May 14, Art After Dark will feature limited-time-only experiences — both free and ticketed — spanning live music, visual and performing arts, and food and drink. The aim is to get both locals and visitors to the city to play tourist at Melbourne's cultural venues. At State Library Victoria, 360-degree immersive projection Midnight at Pink Lake will light up the La Trobe Reading Room, paired with a themed program featuring mindful workshops, music, roving performers, giant chess, and food and drinks. At NGV Australia, Ron Mueck's Mass from the 2017 Triennial will return, accompanied by pop-up poetry readings, choirs and DJs. And, at NGV International, light projections will transform its bluestone exterior thanks to QUEER: Stories from the NGV Collection. Also on the bill: Hannah Brontë's video installation EYE HEAR U MAGIK 2020, as well as free after-hours access to the whole venue. Meanwhile, BRIGGS is headlining Fed Square Live, with Kee'ahn, Soju Gang and Izy in support. That's also where you'll be able to catch Aussie-first installation Constellations — which sees artist Joanie Lemercier's monochrome, vector-based aesthetics paired with an electronic soundscape by producer Paul Jebanasam. The precinct is also doing free takeaway hot chocolates, coffees, s'mores and glow-in-the-dark fairy floss. Arts Centre Melbourne is hosting live performances, DJs and food trucks, with the Australian Music Vault set to stay open late. At ACMI, catch drop-in showings of Soda Jerk's phenomenal Terror Nullius, plus free Oskar Fischinger exhibition Raumlichtkunst and a showcase of Aussie game developers done in collaboration with Collingwood's Bar SK. Melbourne Museum is letting folks see its triceratops after dark, as well as screening projections, hosting food trucks, setting up pop-up bars and spinning DJ tunes. And next door at IMAX, you'll be able to dive into the Marvel Cinematic Universe with late sessions of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. [caption id="attachment_852016" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Triceratops at Melbourne Museum. Photo by Eugene Hyland[/caption] Top image: Performers sing with Mass by Ron Mueck, 2017 on display at NGV Triennial 2017 at NGV International, Melbourne. Photo: Eugene Hyland.
Summer might be drawing to a close, but the heat hasn't shown many signs of abating. And that means it's definitely not too late for a lazy outdoor gig or two. To that end, the Bargoonga Nganjin North Fitzroy Library is hosting a series of live music happenings, to take place on its beautiful rooftop garden. It's hard to think of a spot where the mellifluous melodies of the Chrysalis Trio — who'll be appearing on Sunday 4 March, kicking off at 2.30pm — would sound better. The classical music trio is made up of Katie Yap on viola, Kiran Phatak on flute and Melina Van Leeuwen playing the harp. On Sunday 18 March, singer-songwriter Liz Mitchell will deliver original songs in her stunning falsetto. As front woman of Totally Mild, she's toured throughout Europe and supported a bunch of well-known bands, including Real Estate, Best Coast and The Chills. Both gigs are free, but you can register online beforehand.
Beach days and good weather aren't the only thing summer brings. With the return of music festival season, we're getting wind of Australian tour dates from heaps of cool bands. The latest news is from Okkervil River and Austra, who will be appearing at this year's Perth Festival and other sideshows around the country. Okkervil River Get ready, folk-rock fans, for a little something to spice up your musical repertoire from Okkervil River. The Texan-indie rockers have released their seventh full-length studio album, and you could hear it live this summer when they make their sixth tour of Australia. A nostalgic ode to the days of his New Hampshire-spent youth, The Silver Gymnasium is the autobiographical creation of frontman Will Sheff. Since the band members grew up in the 1980s, it's only fitting that the album stays true to the times with lots of pop influences. You probably wouldn't think of '80s pop and southwestern folk rock as a match, but Okkervil River makes it seem completely natural. Tracks like 'Stay Young' and 'Deep Down the Deep River' could be soundtrack-worthy of cult classics like The Breakfast Club and Sixteen Candles with their catchy tunes and reflective lyrics. You'll find yourself humming along, fondly (or not so) reminded of the glory days of your high school years. Sydney: 21 February, Oxford Art Factor Melbourne: 22 February, Corner Hotel Perth Festival Tickets available from Handsome Tours. https://youtube.com/watch?v=n7UeGBULQ7Y Austra The Canadian electro-pop group Austra caused a sensation at the 2012 Laneway Festival, with their exhilarating fusion of riveting vocals and electronic synth. That performance was just from their debut album, and since then they've added two new members and dropped a fantastic follow-up album. 2013's Olympia is the perfect combination of indie rock and new wave. Katie Stelmanis, the main songwriter, rings a bell of Florence Welch and London Grammar's Hannah Reid with her operatic voice. Her songwriting talents have shone as well in this second album, which is a beautiful collection of lyrically personal tracks. But perhaps its been her ability to expand the band's range of sounds — which encompasses many dimensions of trance, electro and pop — yet stay true to feeling of their first album that have made Austra so successful. They've recently had a crazy touring schedule, sharing the stage with big-timers such as The xx, Grimes and The Gossip. This summer, Austra will be returning to the country for Perth Festival, and making appearances at sideshows in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. Adelaide: 13 Feb, Uni Bar Sydney: 14 Feb, The Standard Melbourne: 15 Feb, Corner Hotel Perth Festival Tickets available from Handsome Tours https://youtube.com/watch?v=ODyWKkDBb4U
There are few things in life more exciting than The Skywhale. That cheeky expression, the majestic way it glides across the horizon, those enormous walloping breasts — The Skywhale is not just a novelty. It is a symbol of hope; a reminder to all well-endowed sea mammals that life can and will get better. But it is also a reminder to us: an important community service announcement that giant boobs in the sky are funny. For those who have been somehow left out of the loop on the legend of The Skywhale, the work is a hot air balloon that measures 34 metres in length and 23 metres in height. Commissioned for Canberra's centennerary celebrations in May of this year, the work was designed by Australian artist Patricia Piccinini whose work often deals with this same confluence between the natural and the artificial. Often known for her early work, Protein Lattice (more colloquially known as the one with an ear on the rat), Piccinini is well-regarded in the art world for her exploration of the surreal (see also The Carrier and The Young Family). On Monday December 2, The Skywhale will be tethered to the ACCA Forecourt from 7-9am ahead of a conversation between artist Patricia Piccinini and Creative Director of the Centennary of Canberra, Robyn Archer. Tickets are just $15 (or $8 for students), and the cost will conveniently include a breakfast pastry. While The Skywhale was unsuprisingly met with a divided reception upon its first launch — 'out of touch with community values', 'ugly', 'how is this giant-breasted mutant animal even relevant to our town of roundabouts and lakes?' — Melbourne may provide the loving environment the misunderstood beast so desires. As Robyn Archer once said, "it provokes people, it's passionate and people go 'I don't know what it is, therefore, I'm scared of it' or 'what is it', or 'it shouldn't be there', but [...] life is always about the questions not the given answers". Personally, we think The Skywhale is the breast thing to come out of Canberra for years.
It has been 65 years since Godzilla first rampaged across through Tokyo, and the super-sized creature isn't done wreaking havoc just yet. Like comic book characters and Star Wars, the king of the monsters is a cinema mainstay. The scaly critter is also asserting its place atop the kaiju food chain in the latest trailer for Godzilla: King of the Monsters. If you haven't kept track of the Japanese figure's many, many screen appearances, this is its 35th. It's also the sequel to the last American-made Godzilla film, which hit screens back in 2014 — and this time, the giant critter isn't the only behemoth rampaging through cinemas. In what promises to be quite the hefty creature feature, Godzilla: King of the Monsters sees the eponymous figure enlisted to help the planet against a heap of the beast's own enemies, including Mothra, Rodan and the three-headed King Ghidorah. At one point in the new trailer, it's mentioned that there are at least 17 monsters, which will be sure to keep Godzilla and the film's human cast — including Vera Farmiga, Ken Watanabe, Sally Hawkins, Kyle Chandler, Millie Bobby Brown, Bradley Whitford, Thomas Middleditch, Charles Dance and O'Shea Jackson Jr — rather busy. Yes, plenty of oversized creature mayhem is in movie-goers' futures come May 30 — and more next year as well. Godzilla: King of the Monsters will be followed by another monster mashup in 2020's Godzilla vs. Kong, pitting Godzilla against a certain giant ape in a film that also acts as a sequel to 2017's Kong: Skull Island. Partially shot in Queensland, it stars Alexander Skarsgård, Millie Bobby Brown, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Julian Dennison, Kyle Chandler and Demián Bichir. Check out the latest Godzilla: King of the Monsters trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW3xYYJ6NoE&feature=youtu.be Image: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.
Being abducted by a giant psychedelic bird and falling through a tripped-out realm of giant saxophones is all in a day's work for Wagons. To celebrate the announcement of a pair of Victorian shows following Wagons' recent Acid Rain and Sugar Cane album tour, the Melbourne outfit's latest single 'Chase the Eclipse' comes with a trippy new video. Featuring the super '70s claymation work of Wagons band member Si the Philanthropist, the clip is just the ticket for a boring ol' weekday afternoon. "Inspired by Gumby and the movie Jason and the Argonauts, the story is like Greek mythology meets acid trip wonderland," says Si the Philanthropist "A strange creature kidnaps Henry, then the band are transformed by its powers while trying to rescue him, until the eclipse destroys the magic and releases them. I wanted to make a strange, and colourful video to match the technicolour nature of the song. "One month, 6500 shots, all made in a home studio with a skateboard for a dolly, ten packets of modelling clay, one jumbo packet of smarties, 180 coloured paper circles, some fern trees, two guitars, a keyboard, a saxophone and Henry." Here's the clip, see you on the other side of the rabbit hole: https://youtube.com/watch?v=Hlqf43YSP1g WAGONS EXTRA AUS TOUR DATES: Fri Aug 8 at Caravan Music Club. tickets here. Sat Aug 9 at The Substation, Newport, tickets here.
Anything can be gelato, at least the way that Gelato Messina makes it. Well, any other dessert can get the the ice cream treatment, it seems. The chain has whipped up a lot of of tasty specials in its time, with plenty taking cues from other sweet treats: think red velvet cookie pies, caramel scrolls with cheesecake gelato, Golden Gaytime-inspired Viennetta and even Iced VoVo gelato. The next beloved dish getting the Messina treatment: lemon meringue pies. You can taste the tang just thinking about this gelato version, can't you? The limited-edition dessert is being dished up for the brand's Mother's Day special, but that doesn't mean that it's just for mum. If you can't spend the day with her eating this dessert, she'd want you to treat yo'self. Wondering what exactly a lemon meringue pie gelato hot tub entails? Served in an octagonal tub, this dish comes with burnt vanilla gelato, pie crust and lemon curd mousse, all topped with an intricately piped and torched Italian meringue. Obviously, it sounds delicious. If you're keen to get yourself a piece — which'll cost you $40 — they're available to preorder online on Tuesday, April 26. And, because Messina's specials always prove popular, the brand is now staggering the on-sale times. Accordingly, folks in Queensland and the ACT are able to purchase at 9am, Victorians at 9.30am, and New South Wales customers split across three times depending on the store (with pies from Circular Quay, Surry Hills, Bondi, Randwick and Miranda on sale at 10am; Brighton Le Sands, Tramsheds, Parramatta and Darlinghurst at 10.30am; and Darling Square, Newtown, Rosebery and Penrith at 11am). Gelato Messina's lemon meringue pie gelato hot tubs will be available to order on Tuesday, April 26 for pick up between Friday, May 6–Sunday, May 8. Head to the Messina website for further details.
The wonderful, knowledgeable people behind Blackhearts and Sparrows are opening up their own pop up this Spring in Collingwood. Black Market will offer a rotating wine list, along with bottled and kegged beers, and we highly suggest asking for a recommendation — they’ve never steered us wrong before. But it’s not all about the grog, folks. Raph Rashid, the legend behind Beatbox Kitchen, Taco Truck and All Day Donuts, will be supplying the tasty treats to accompany your tipple. Think tacos, fried chicken, duck-fat potatoes, and plenty of other goodies to sustain you while you sample all the wines. DJs will be spinning tunes while you sip away just as the sun is starting to come out. The best news? This pop up is going to be around for quite a while, as they plan to keep it open until the year's end.
Have you ever wondered why the Mad Hatter is so mad? No, of course you haven't. One of the wonders of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is that it doesn't try to explain the headwear enthusiast's mental state — it just accepts him for who he is and lets him get on with his tea party. Movie adaptations have done the same to date, including Tim Burton's 2010 live-action effort Alice in Wonderland. Alas, Disney is intent on sharing the origin stories of every classic literary figure it can think of, leaving Alice Through the Looking Glass to explore Hatter's background. In fact, with Alice (Mia Wasikowska) out in the real world, sailing the seas and attempting to save her mother's house, it's the plight of Hatter (Johnny Depp) that actually brings her back to the fantastical Underland. This time he's the one who's lost much of his muchness, thanks to his newfound belief that his long-gone family might still be alive. To help her truest friend, Alice visits Time himself (Sacha Baron Cohen), then goes jumping back through Hatter's history. His past isn't his alone, with his tale intertwined with the feuding antics of Red Queen Iracebeth (Helena Bonham Carter) and her White Queen sister (Anne Hathaway). As such, Alice Through the Looking Glass is both a prequel and a sequel. Given that its predecessor made more than a billion dollars at the global box office, the reason for the film's existence is obvious — as is the determination of director James Bobin (The Muppets) to follow in Burton's footsteps wherever he can. More peculiar is the decision of writer Linda Woolverton to turn Alice into a little more than an observer in the story, making her character the least interesting part of the movie in the process. As a result, Wasikowska is left largely watching on, even if she does ensure Alice seems suitably older and wiser. And while Depp receives top billing, he's carefully deployed — a little of his all-too-familiar wackiness goes a long way. With Bonham-Carter cartoonish and Hathaway mostly placid, it's left to Baron Cohen to bring the liveliness the film so badly needs. Sadly, despite his best efforts and never-ending supply of time-based puns, Alice Through the Looking Glass is never the energetic adventure it so desperately wants to be. That said, Bobin's movie is never boring — only misguided. Trying to ape Burton's over-the-top sensibilities was always going to be difficult, but simply shifting focus to the kookiest figure, throwing together similar set-pieces and asking most of the cast to repeat their previous performances isn't the way to go about it. Even the candy-coloured visuals don't shine as brightly this time around. That the film's most striking imagery stems from scenes of decay says more than it probably should.
Some colours only exist in nature, as much as paints, dyes and pixels attempt to pretend otherwise. The raging reds, blazing oranges and burning yellows seen in A Fire Inside's bushfire footage are some such hues — and, away from the safety of a cinema screen, no one should ever want to spy these specific searing tones. They're haunting enough as it is to look at in a movie. Taking up entire frames of on-the-ground footage shot during the summer of 2019–20, they're scorching in their brightness and intensity. This documentary about the national natural disaster just two years ago, when swathes of Australia burned for months, deploys those apocalyptic colours and the imagery containing them sparingly, notably; however, even when they only flicker briefly, those shades aren't easily forgotten. After everything the pandemic has delivered since the beginning of 2020, just as the 'Black Summer' bushfires were cooling, that chapter of history might seem far longer ago than just a couple of years. A Fire Inside is also an act of remembrance, though. Directors Justin Krook (Machine, I'll Sleep When I'm Dead) and Luke Mazzaferro (a producer on Girls Can't Surf and The Meddler) firmly look backwards, pushing these events back to the top of viewers' memories. That said, they also survey the situation since, as the rebuilding effort has been complicated and elongated by COVID-19. This approach also enables them to survey the lingering aftermath, including the homes that still haven't been rebuilt, the people still residing in makeshift setups, and the emotional and mental toll that's set to dwell for much longer still. Accordingly, what could've merely been a record of a catastrophe becomes a portrait of both survival and resilience. Unsurprisingly, interviews drive this Australian doco, focusing on people in two camps: the afflicted and the volunteers. Folks in each group chat about their experiences, and the lines between them frequently blur. Firefighter Nathan Barnden provides the first and clearest instance; the film's key early subject, he saved seven strangers and retained his own life in an inferno on the very first night that the fires reached New South Wales' far south coast, but also lost his cousin and uncle to the blazes the same evening. Barnden claims Krook and Mazzaferro's attention for multiple reasons, including his initial youthful eagerness to pick up a hose — following his father, who had done the same — as well as his candour about his distress in the months and now years afterwards. Often overlooked in tales of such events, that kind of emotion sears itself onto the screen with unshakeable power, too. A Fire Inside spends time with others affected, residents and volunteers alike. RFS captain Brendan O'Connor saved his community, alongside his crew, but suffered in his personal life — and his is just one of the film's stories. Krook and Mazzaferro don't loiter on the same kinds of details over and over again, but whether talking to food bank staff, backpackers helping with re-fencing damaged farms or locals who saw everything they belonged succumb to the flames, the duelling sensations of both endurance and loss remain throughout their doco. The mood: careful, caring, sensitive and poignant. This is a movie that conjures up every sentiment expected, but also one that earns every reaction. Heartbreak and hope seesaw, and recognising that back-and-forth ride is one of the film's canny touches. Just as astute, and as important, is the question simmering at A Fire Inside's core: why? That query isn't directed at the fires, with their cause naturally receiving oxygen during the movie's discussions, but is instead aimed at everyone who chose to help then and since — no matter on what scale. The answers are complex, which the documentary acknowledges in its format, structure and editing. It lets its lineup of chats all sit side by side, weaving them together and jumping between them, and the effect resembles a filmic mosaic. In interview after interview, the movie doesn't seek to come up with a definitive reason, but to present the range of responses, covering the impulses, thoughts and feelings, as well as the realities behind them. Tributes to bushfire volunteers and victims have taken many forms since 2019, such as concerts raising money and faces plastered across the Sydney Opera House sails. But A Fire Inside takes those gestures of appreciation to another level — and, as it dives so heartily into the ramifications of assisting during the fires and since, it ensures that all of that gratitude goes hand in hand with recognition. Saluting such selfless acts inherently involves noting them, of course. Still, realising that the toll keeps persisting, that the shock and trauma doesn't instantly subside when the flames are extinguished, and that volunteering is also an act of emotional labour isn't always as innate. A Fire Inside sees that as clearly as it perceives those red, orange and yellow hues, and as acutely as it finds as both grief and inspiration in the ashes.
Having chalked up an impressive 16 years on Tattersalls Lane, it's safe to say Section 8 is up there among the city's most iconic drinking destinations. So, this weekend, expect some fittingly grand celebrations, when the shipping container bar teams up with sibling and neighbour Ferdydurke to mark the milestone with a three-day birthday party. From Friday, April 8–Sunday, April 10, you'll catch a tasty program of tunes, performances, markets and bevs, unfolding across both beloved venues. The musical lineup is as dance-friendly as ever, with acts like Soju Gang, D. Matthews, Sadiva, MzRizk, Izy and DancingWater just some of the legends set to soundtrack these laneway shenanigans. From 1–5pm on both the Saturday and the Sunday, you'll also be able to browse a range of locally made wares at the pop-up laneway artist market. And to keep you sufficiently fuelled through the weekend, expect drink specials from the likes of Ray Seltzer, Atomic Beer and Baron Samedi rum. [caption id="attachment_849268" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Duncographic[/caption] Images: Duncographic
Next time you drop by South Melbourne Market, you'll have a new spot to visit. Meet The Coventry, a light-filled, greenery-splashed cafe opposite the market that looks set to become a local community favourite. Bring your friends. Bring as many as you like. There's enough space here to hold a party. In fact, The Coventry is hoping to become not just a coffee hang, but also a hub for all things communal and creative. Owner Nick Bourgaza knows the area and the hospo business well: he grew up at the markets, and has since owned Piatella and Meat in the Middle in Glen Waverley. If you swing by early, get your avocado fix accompanied by smashed feta and a healthy dose of seeds (including sunflower, pumpkin, sesame and chia) — or, for sweet tooths, opt for the French toast with a quenelle of smoked yoghurt and vanilla-infused mascarpone, berries and crumbed pistachio. Come lunchtime, even the most mammoth of appetites will find satisfaction in the Korean fried chicken and waffles: freshly-made waffles and crispy Korean-style chicken, topped with bourbon-maple syrup dressing. Alternatively, go Italian with house-made ink potato gnocchi, porcini mushrooms, chicken and pesto. Meanwhile, the coffee is a Cote Terra blend by The Flying Dutchman. Think fruity Indian tones combined with Colombian caramel. And there's also an ever-changing supply of single origins Find The Coventry at 315 Coventry St, South Melbourne. Opening hours are Tuesday-Friday, 8am-4pm, and Saturday-Sunday, 8am-5pm.
On the lush historic grounds of South Yarra's Como House, treat your tastebuds to French cheese, fresh oysters and free-flowing G.H Mumm champagne — and enjoy a night of pure, French class. In collaboration with the Paris to Provence Festival, Pique Nique en Blanc will be held in the renovated Stables of Como, which will be completely decked out in French decor. The intimate twilight event promises fine wining, dining and entertainment under the twinkling stars. We assume the romantic ambiance will be like something out of a French movie. The $139 ticket includes free-flowing champagne (for the first hour only though — drink up!) and tasty French morsels, including oysters, confit duck, macarons, chicken liver parfait and fresh baguettes. Entrance to the Paris to Provence Festival (running November 20-22) is also included. White attire is essential though — so ditch your Melbourne Black for one very French night.
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, with tickets on sale from 10am AEDT on Monday, March 21,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.
A musical about cricket? It does raise some interesting questions, but when Eddie Perfect scored and directed the entire thing, as well as staring in it, you have to stop and consider. Shane Warne the Musical can be described as a witty, satirical homage of sorts. Originally performed in 2008, the latest addition has been reworked to incorporate some of the intrigues that have happened to Shane Warne since then. The new show also comes with a new cast. Eddie Perfect (most recently known for Offspring) is joined by Lisa McCune, Shane Jacobson, Christie Whelan-Brown and Verity Hunt-Ballard. The production side of things is in the capable hands of former MTC artistic director Simon Phillips, known for Love Never Dies, Pricilla Queen of the Desert and Songs For Nobodies, and there will be a 24-piece orchestra on hand led by Iain Grandage to round off the experience. Sounds 'perfect', right? (Too much?)
I scream, you scream, we've all been screaming for ice cream — and, this February, our prayers are being answered once again. Victoria's annual Ice Cream Festival is back, taking place across three of the state's chocolateries and ice creameries: in the Yarra Valley, along the Great Ocean Road and on the Mornington Peninsula. You may want to prepare the smelling salts, because each venue will be trotting out 12 new flavours a day between Wednesday, February 8–Sunday, February 19... for 12 days. That's 144 unique flavours all up, including scoops like negroni sbagliato, buttered croissant and dulce de leche cheesecake, plus Canadian maple waffle, and yuzu and peach. For $24, you can book into a tasting session that covers 12 of the day's flavours at once — or you can just rampage around the place like a deranged, hungry Pac-Man and try to taste 'em all from $5.20 a scoop. What's more, each of the venues — in Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery in Yarra Glen, Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery in Bellbrae and Mornington Peninsula Chocolaterie and Ice creamery in Flinders — has lovely grounds for you to lounge around in while enjoying your treats. Plus, you can grab a picnic box loaded with 12 mini scoops for $24. The view may well be lost on you as you slide into a sugar-induced happiness coma, but that's okay. They aren't inventing all those flavours for you to not try them.
You've strolled through its lush expanse, you've picnicked on its grassy lawns and you've probably bent to sniff a few of its vibrant blooms. Well, now, you can experience the Royal Botanic Gardens from a whole new angle: your tastebuds. Geelong-based distillery Anther has teamed up with the historic precinct to create a new gin made using plants grown on-site. Dubbed Florescence — meaning, 'the process of flowering' or to develop 'richly and fully' — the experimental spirit was crafted exclusively on ingredients grown at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne and Cranbourne. [caption id="attachment_834807" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anther[/caption] It incorporates a slew of native Australian additions such as alpine pepper, violet kunzea and alpine baeckea, along with more familiar botanicals including juniper, orange peel and coriander seeds. Ingredients like finger lime, lemon myrtle and liquorice root also get a look-in. They've been pulled together into one delicate, aromatic sip, by award-winning distillery Anther, whose distillers worked closely with the Gardens' botanists and scientists to select the perfect botanical balance. And the resulting gin has even been given the taste-test tick of approval by the Gardens' Director and Chief Executive Professor Tim Entwisle. You can grab a bottle from Anther's online store, as well as from the distillery's usual stockists. Anther's previous creations include the Dry Gin, a cherry-infused gin and a Chocolate Gin. To get your hands on a bottle of Florescence, head to the Anther website or check out its usual stockists. Images: Anther
Robert Burns Hotel, on Collingwood's Smith Street, is dishing out authentic Spanish cuisine, and doing one hell of a job. In a nod to their inspiration and home country they are running monthly dinners, each focusing on a different region in Spain. While Catalunya saw lobster and chicken married beautifully, their next stopover is in Aragon, which is known for meat — especially lamb and pork. Think cured hams, chorizo sausage and juicy pieces of lamb. Sheep's milk cheeses and pastries are also loved there, so we will keep our fingers crossed that they too make an appearance. While you chow down on Spain's best, the crew will take you on your own tour of the region and teach you a thing or two you won't find in Lonely Planet. Complete with a thick authentic accent, making it just that little bit better. Go hungry, and thirsty, as the sommelier will match wines to the courses, keeping them as close to the region as he can. If you can't make it to Aragon, don't fret, because the tour doesn't stop there — there are two more regions to come.
In a poor UK village, two school-aged friends realise they can make money by finding discarded metal and selling it to a local scrap dealer. The more obsessed they get with finding valuable materials, the more dangerous their quest becomes. It's almost impossible to describe this film without making it sound like a bleak slog, so now that we're done with the story summary, let's get to the meat of it: The Selfish Giant is one of the best films of the year: captivating, often funny, and filled with the most naturalistic performances you're likely to see. The two kids at the heart of the story are so damn good, it's worth seeing for them alone. But everything in this film works, and we're presented with a view of a tough working class that seems accessible, familiar and genuine, regardless of your own social background. The film is directed by one of the UK's most fascinating filmmakers, Clio Barnard. Her debut feature The Arbor in 2010 was unlike anything you've ever seen before. Not quite a documentary, not quite a dramatised narrative, it challenged the idea of how stories can and should be told. Barnard is one of the few filmmakers working who seems to be reinventing film in a way that feels tremendously exciting. Barnard based the two main characters of The Selfish Giant on children she met while filming The Arbor, so it's a little curious that she named one of the kids 'Arbor'. Is there a deeper meaning there? The story claims to be partly based on Oscar Wilde's short story of the same name, a fantasy about a giant who tries to keep children out of his yard. It looks like it's a million miles away from Barnard's social realist film, but Wilde's fable is key in understanding the depths behind much of the film. It is by no means necessary — on its own, the film is a complete, satisfying experience — but by hinting at a deeper connection to literature beyond the walls of the cinema, Barnard again expands a straightforward story into something more exciting. At a tight 91 minutes, Bernard wastes no time, giving us an incredible character tale that other filmmakers might take twice as long to accomplish. Be sure to see it. https://youtube.com/watch?v=qPLRZrMflG4
Love: it’s not about the big stuff. Helping someone find their glasses, squeezing their hand when they’re getting ready for a tough situation and sharing stories of mundane days are what matters, rather than grand gestures. Most movies prefer the latter, selling the fairytale rather than reality. Love Is Strange lingers in little things because it is not most movies, for better and for worse. What the latest film from writer/director Ira Sachs (Keep the Lights On) is instead is a gentle portrait of a strong romance in a sticky situation. It’s a slow effort that meanders through a series of unfortunate but not outlandish nor appalling turns — and a gradual revelation of moments that don’t test the bond of just-wed couple of 39 years George (Alfred Molina) and Ben (John Lithgow) but do try their patience. When George and Ben finally get married, their happy times are short-lived. A music teacher at a Catholic school, George loses his job because of his marital status, but Ben’s pension isn’t enough for them to live on. Forced to sell their New York apartment, they stay separately with friends and relatives as they wait to get back on their feet. From then on, their time together is rare, precious and all-too fleeting. Their frustrations become evident as George battles with the partying lifestyle of his young cop hosts (Cheyenne Jackson and Manny Perez), and Ben begins to feel unwanted bunking in with the teenage son (Charlie Tahan) of his filmmaker nephew (Darren Burrows) and stay-at-home writer wife (Marisa Tomei). And for all the film’s elegant imagery, artfully picked shots and evocative Chopin score, their frustrations also become the viewer’s. There’s a difference between yearning and mournful, just as there are shades of grey in domestic drama. The issues Love Is Strange ponders are certainly thoughtful inclusions, such as the intertwining of identities in a relationship, the impact of ageing and the limits of privacy and generosity among friends; however, they’re not deserving of the mood of heart-wrenching tragedy the film presents more often than not. Love Is Strange also struggles in its strongest area: casting. That’s a big call for a movie easily improved by the work of its wonderful leading men, but an apt comment when it strands its strongest elements apart for the bulk of its duration. Molina and Lithgow create subtle, lived-in characters and convey a realistic long-term relationship, their performances always the right kind of earnest. It is their chemistry that enhances the ambling material, and the film — like the lovers they portray — feels every second of their absence. Of course, that’s the point of the story, albeit an unsatisfying way to get it across. Perhaps the title really does say it all: Love Is Strange, and so are small, sweet and slight movies valiantly yet not always effectively trying to capture the importance of connection in the finer details rather than bold statements.
From clowns to furry critters to dolls, 80s and 90s pop culture drew plenty of scares from childhood staples. Decades later, Hollywood is conjuring up plenty more by bringing it all back again. With the IT remake not only working a charm back in 2017, but releasing a star-studded sequel later this year, the folks behind it are reviving another old favourite: Child's Play. While the horror franchise released its last instalment, Cult of Chucky, as recently as 2017, the new Child's Play is starting all over again. Remaking the original 1989 movie, it'll re-introduce the world to the psychopathic flame-haired plaything with a lust for murder. This time, the toy will terrorise Aubrey Plaza, who plays a young mother to a son who comes into possession of the knife-wielding doll. And Chucky will be voiced by none other than Mark Hamill, who's swapping lightsabers for killer dolls. Whether you've seen any of the seven other Chucky flicks or are too creeped out by the idea to watch, you can probably guess where the story goes. This time, however, the murderous plastic moppet has been updated for today's surveillance- and technology-heavy times. Indeed, there are more than a few recognisable internet-enabled gadgets in the film's new trailer — the second sneak peek, after releasing a first glimpse earlier this year. If you're particularly excited about the character's comeback, then you'll be just as excited to know that even more is in store, with a Child's Play TV series also in the works. Check out the unsettling latest trailer for the new Child's Play movie below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeHNLikDiVw Child's Play releases in Australian cinemas on June 20, 2019.
Rum is more than just a sailor's drink. First US President George Washington ordered it by the hogshead and it's rumoured that the Kennedys were rum runners during the Prohibition. Famed writers Hemingway and Lord Byron drank it. You've probably had it from time to time, too. Coming in many forms — namely light, dark and spiced — and, with its ties to pirates and tropical islands, rum's a good thing to sip when you're feeling a bit adventurous. In preparation of many balmy nights of drinking it ahead, we've teamed up with RUM Co. of Fiji to get you across what you should know to become a rum connoisseur. Read on to discover everything from a bevvy of fun facts about the spirit to the recipe for a simple (but impressive) cocktail you can make at home. . A QUICK NIP OF RUM HISTORY Made from sugarcane byproduct, it makes sense that rum first came from the Caribbean in the early 17th century — back when sugarcane plantations were big business. Plantation slaves discovered that the molasses (the byproduct) could be fermented and turned into alcohol. Ironically, rum went on to become an integral part of the triangle between Europe, Africa and North America trade. So, its history is troubled. It's connection to seafarers stemmed from there, with sailors often being paid in the stuff. The British Royal Navy even rationed it out to prevent scurvy outbreaks. These, days rum's made in every corner of the world. However, you'll often find it distilled in tropical paradises such as Fiji, where the climate and fertile volcanic soil are perfect for sugarcane production. Handy, too, seeing as it's closer to Australia than the Caribbean. SOME FUN RUM FACTS TO IMPRESS YOUR MATES WITH It's the oldest distilled spirit in the world. Nelson's blood, demon water, pirate's drink and Barbados water are all names for rum. It was once so valuable, it was used as currency. It is said that to test if the rum had been watered down, sailors would mixed it with gunpowder. If the rum ignited, it was good. If not, they'd been ripped off. It was given to the British Royal Navy to prevent scurvy — known as the rum ration or 'tot', the practice only stopped in 1970. It was used as a shampoo by some, under the belief that it could thicken hair. RECIPE: FIJIAN DAIQUIRI Now that you've got the background knowledge down, you need to continue your education by perfecting a classic rum cocktail for the big day. And, as the weather begins to warm, we're craving a drink which is fun, tropical, zesty and a little bit spicy. The classic daiquiri, made with just rum, lime juice and sugar shaken over ice, originally comes from Cuba. It's the kind of cocktail to order when you want to pretend you're sunbaking on a tropical island somewhere. This take on the Caribbean classic uses top-quality rum — RUM Co. of Fiji's Bati spiced rum — with fresh lime, a spiced syrup and coconut water. BATI rum is part of RUM Co. of Fiji's range, made from hand-cut sugarcane and filtered through coconut shell carbon then matured in oak barrels. Made on the north western coast of Viti Levu island, RUM Co. of Fiji produces both BATI and RATU rums, which are hand crafted from cane to label and aged from two to over ten years. So, while this daiquiri may not be a far cry from the OG drink, it certainly brings its own Fijian twist. Hot tip: you'll want to serve this one cool. Ice cold, in fact. Here's everything you need to make this punchy and tropical tipple. INGREDIENTS 45ml Bati spiced rum 45ml coconut water 15ml falernum syrup 15ml lime juice ice METHOD Pour all ingredients into a boston shaker and shake over ice for at least 30 seconds. Strain. Vessel: chilled cocktail glass Garnish: lime slice Feeling Adventurous? Start planning for the warm season and learn more about the RUM Co. of Fiji range here.
You'll know it best as a place to wind down after a long work day, but for three weeks this spring, Garden State Hotel will also be helping to kick-start your morning. It's teaming up with Melbourne coffee royalty St Ali and NSW kombucha masters Bucha of Byron, to host a daytime pop-up that's sure to put a little extra pep in your step. From October 8 to 26, the pub's Flinders Lane-facing section will transform into a cafe-style operation, opening at 8am each weekday. Drop in early for a St Ali caffeine fix — they'll swing you a discount if you bring a reusable cup — along with virtuous grab-and-go breakfast treats, like gluten-free spiced banana bread and granola-topped yoghurt pots. Head in on your lunch break and you'll find a slew of fresh wraps, sandwiches and bowls — think, roast chicken breast teamed with black rice, tahini and tomatoes. For something sweet, you'll be able to grab gluten-free carrot cake, too. Take yours to-go, or take a load off and enjoy it in the pub's famed beer garden. To drink, there'll be seasonal fresh pressed juices, smoothies and Bucha of Byron kombucha, both on tap and by the bottle — and, of course, St Ali coffee.
Trolls brings its tiny, brightly coiffed creatures to the screen with plenty of baggage. You might have played with the toys that the film is based on. You probably don't have particularly fond memories of many other toy-based franchises – think Transformers, G.I. Joe and Battleship. At the very least, you've almost certainly had Justin Timberlake's inescapable 'Can't Stop the Feeling', which features in the flick, stuck in your head for months. Here's the good news: as directed by SpongeBob SquarePants veterans Mike Mitchell and Walt Dohrn, Trolls is far from the eye-roll-worthy effort it might seem like on paper. On a scale ranging from The Smurfs to The LEGO Movie, it falls firmly in the middle — even if it does little more than swap blue critters for their brightly coloured counterparts, with elements of Cinderella thrown in as well. Here, trolls are "the happiest creatures the world has ever known," and don't they like to sing, dance and hug about it. The scrapbook-loving, party-throwing Princess Poppy (Anna Kendrick) often leads the charge, and she has plenty to celebrate. Twenty years earlier, the pocket-sized folk were frequently scooped up and eaten by huge, hungry beings called Bergens, but quick thinking on the part of King Peppy (Jeffrey Tambor) saw them escape and live joyously ever after. But their idyllic existance is suddenly shattered when an evil chef (Christine Baranski) stumbles upon their habitat. Soon, a handful of trolls are destined for the plate of Bergen Prince Gristle (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), leaving Poppy with the task of saving them, and cranky survivalist Branch (Timberlake) begrudgingly lending his assistance. There's a reason that the Bergens are so keen on catching and munching on the rainbow-hued critters: when they do, they experience a burst of ecstatic contentment that's probably on par with humans eating Nutella-slathered doughnuts. That sensation, of course, ties into the lesson at the heart of the film. As Trolls works towards the song we all know is coming — and throws up various other pop covers along the way — it serves up a heavy-handed moral about finding happiness from internal sources rather than external ones. Still, somehow the movie manages to find a balance between loud, shiny and sickly sweet, and entertaining enough. Kendrick's enthusiastic voice work helps, as do the handmade-looking visuals, which make the film's CGI appear as though it's fashioned out of felt and other crafting products. On the joke front, just as many light-hearted gags and pop culture references land as languish, which is a better strike rate than many other family films. A word of warning though: it might be dressed up in fuzzy packaging in more ways than one, but Trolls also remains the kind of flick that features glitter fart clouds and cupcakes poop. Consider yourself warned.
This weekend, Congress' lockdown spin-off invites you on a culinary jaunt to the streets of Tokyo. Congress Canteen is swinging past sibling venue Future Future to host a one-off Japanese-inspired tuckshop, slinging inventive sweet treats, savoury bites and some top-notch vino to match. Drop by the Richmond pop-up on Saturday, September 11, to find crafty riffs on a bunch of Japanese canteen classics. We're talking quail karaage teamed with bergamot kewpie ($25), a vegan shokupan-inspired dish featuring curried cauliflower and crisp panko coating ($13), a katsu pork chop ($20), pickled cucumber bites with sourdough miso ($6), and the Nikuman sanga — a fluffy concoction starring house-made duck sausage ($15). Heading up the dessert offering will be a couple of Aussie takes on dorayaki (red bean pancakes), including one that matches a Milo crème patissiere with chocolate sauce and meringue ($12). You can wash it all down with one of the day's nostalgic shakes — perhaps levelled up with a shot of sake — or something from the selection of craft beer. Or, venture back to the courtyard where famed winemaker Mac Forbes will be serving up bottles of his most popular drops alongside a selection of cellar finds, all to-go. The pop-up will only be serving a limited number of each menu item on the day — jump online to pre-order. [caption id="attachment_825026" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Nikuman, by Jana Langhorst[/caption] Top Image: Jana Langhorst
