They're globe-hopping, ass-kicking, world-saving spies, but women: that's it, that's The 355. When those formidable ladies are played by a dream international cast of Jessica Chastain (Scenes From a Marriage), Lupita Nyong'o (Us), Penélope Cruz (Pain and Glory), Diane Kruger (In the Fade) and Fan Bingbing (I Am Not Madame Bovary), the tickets should sell themselves — and Chastain, who suggested the concept and produces, wasn't wrong for hoping that. Giving espionage moves the female-fronted spin that Bond and Mission: Impossible never have isn't just this action-thriller's quest alone, of course, and nothing has done so better than Atomic Blonde recently, but there's always room for more. What The 355 offers is an average affair, though, rather than a game-changer, even if it so evidently wants to do for its genre what Widows did for heist flicks. The film still starts with men, too, causing all the globe's problems — aka threatening to end life as we know it via a gadget that can let anyone hack anything online. One nefarious and bland mercenary (Jason Flemyng, Boiling Point) wants it, but the CIA's gung-ho Mason 'Mace' Browne (Chastain) and her partner Nick Fowler (Sebastian Stan, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) head to Paris to get it from Colombian intelligence officer Luis Rojas (Édgar Ramírez, Jungle Cruise), who's gone rogue and is happy to sell; however, German operative Marie Schmidt (Kruger) is also on its trail. The French connection goes wrong, the two women get in each other's ways, but it's apparent — begrudgingly to both — that they're better off together. They need ex-MI6 cyber whiz Khadijah Adiyeme (Nyong'o) to help, while Colombian psychologist Graciela Rivera (Cruz) gets drawn in after making the trip to stop Luis going off the books. No stranger to covert affairs or formidable women after penning Mr and Mrs Smith, but helming only his second movie following the awful X-Men: Dark Phoenix, director/co-writer Simon Kinberg spreads the action across several continents — including a foot chase in Marrakesh and an auction in Shanghai, which is where Lin Mi Sheng (Fan) joins the story. Scripting with TV veteran Theresa Rebeck (Smash), his big setpieces all play with the film's gender focus, mostly dissecting how women are so often overlooked in various situations; the indifference given wait staff, the invisibility of women in male-dominated societies and the way they're meant to be pure eye candy at black-tie occasions all earn the movie's ire. But these sentiments, like everything else in the feature, are blatant and straightforward at best. The mood the movie vibes with: "James Bond never had to deal with real life," as Cruz is given the misfortune of uttering. From that aforementioned opening scene through to almost every supporting part, it also never escapes attention that men still run The 355's world. That doesn't just include the obvious, because yes, that's sadly the reality we all still live in and the film is making a statement about that very fact; they're everywhere and everyone in the film, other than its central quintet. Whether to further push Chastain and co to the front or to hammer home what it's like to be a woman in this male-centric life, it doesn't leave any room for ladies who aren't these 'strong female lead'-style super spies. Also glaring: that every single one of Mace, Marie, Khadijah, Graciela and Lin's backstories are defined by men, from other halves of the boyfriend, husband or friends-with-benefits varieties to fathers, mentors, children and patients. The 355 should be better — with its dialogue, clearly; with its girl-power, girl-boss, girls-can-do-anything messaging; and at celebrating more than five women, or even showing them. (If you were going to pick five ladies to do the job, though, this casting is spot-on.) It could use a sense of style and charm beyond Nyong'o's suits and the gang's personality-matched auction outfits, and its over-edited action scenes put Kinsberg two for two with tanking a crucial part of his directorial efforts to-date. Women can star in mediocre action movies as well, however. That isn't meant to be the picture's big push for gender parity, but The 355 is also exactly what seemingly millions of bland men-led actioners have been serving up for decades upon decades. It packages it up in an Ocean's 8-meets-Bourne approach, or a more self-serious Charlie's Angels, but these run-of-the-mill flicks have long been everywhere, just without as much oestrogen. The Bond and Mission: Impossible franchises have their own, too. Great idea, winning intentions, stellar cast, generic execution: even by paying all that lip-service to how hard it is to be a woman (especially thanks to those truisms, in fact), that's also The 355. It's lucky that its pseudo–Fox Force Five are so watchable, and so committed to making the most of their thinly written parts, including in their fight choreography — and yes, if only they were gifted some of the fun that Pulp Fiction conjured up about that fictional series, or of Kill Bill, which essentially saw Quentin Tarantino bring the idea to life. A sequel mightn't eventuate for Chastain, the particularly great Kruger, Nyong'o and Cruz, and also Fan to get another spin at the worthy concept, but the groundwork is laid anyway, because that's just one espionage-movie trope in a list of thousands that's delivered here. The 355 is ordinary instead of awful, thankfully, and sometimes it's slightly better than that. But it's also haunted by all those should'ves and could'ves, and by being oh-so-basic with its killer lady spies, their battle against misogyny and their quest to claim some much-needed on-screen space.
You've watched your way through every episode of Stranger Things to date, including the show's fourth season. Thanks to your latest binge, you've now got Kate Bush's 'Running Up That Hill' stuck in your brain permanently, too. You've eaten a demogorgon burger, seen an Upside Down rift open up in Bondi and played Netflix's Stranger Things mobile game as well. Yes, there's no shortage of ways to indulge your love for the 80's-set streaming hit — but only one involves both singing and laughing. That'd be Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical, which follows in the footsteps of other satirical takes on pop culture favourites (such as Friends, Shrek and The Simpsons). Yes, everyone's favourite tale about kids fighting monsters in Hawkins, Indiana has is getting parodied — with songs. Even better: it's now venturing Down Under for the first time, bringing its tune-filled account of Hawkins' weirdness to Meat Market Melbourne from Friday, November 4–Saturday, November 19. Already an award-winner in the US, where it picked up seven 2021 BroadwayWorld Off-Broadway Awards — including Best New Musical (Off-Broadway) — Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical retells the tale we all already know, but on-stage, with amusing songs and while making fun of the whole thing. So, you'll be watching Mike, Eleven, Dustin, Lucas and the rest of the Hawkins gang navigate the wild antics that've made their town the worst place to grow up in since Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Sunnydale, and both tapping your toes to tunes and giggling along. Obviously, creepy creatures are a feature — singing and dancing ones, in fact. And, so are pop-culture references aplenty, big hair, throwback fashions, a synth-heavy soundtrack and possibly justice for Barb. Penned by Jonathan Hogue — book, music, lyrics and all — Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical will make its Australian debut thanks to Melbourne's Salty Theatre, with co-founders Ashley Taylor Tickell directing and Sarahlouise Younger assisting. Cast-wise, Ian Andew, Stacey-Louise Camilleri, Jack Duff, Guillaume Gentil, Asher Griffith-Jones, Stephanie John, Liam J. Kirkpatrick, Jess Ridler and Gabrielle Ward will be taking to the stage and taking on the sci-fi hit. Images: Bruce Glikas / Danny Hildago.
When summer's balmy temperatures take hold this year, you'll find a whole lot of frosty relief awaiting you at Fargo & Co. The team are throwing down a hefty selection of nine different frosé varieties, pouring at the Richmond bar all summer long. The Frosé Your Way menu features a stack of fun flavours, including raspberry and white peach, coconut watermelon, blue hibiscus and fraperol; which can then be pimped out with playful toppings like pineapple lollies, gummy bears and sour worms. The drinks are all going for $12 a pop, or you can settle in for a bottomless fix, enjoying two hours of free-flowing frosé for $39. What's more, the newly launched frosty sips have also been added onto Fargo's OG bottomless brunch menu, which is still happening at 12pm and 3pm every Saturday and Sunday. That's when you can match your choice of brunch plate with RnB tunes and a couple of hours of bottomless frosé (or other drink of choice) for an easy $69.
Spice Temple's coveted mud crabs are back — but only until the end of June. If you've been dreaming of this share-focused special's return or simply have been seeking out a mud crab dish to get in on the hype, here's your chance. Due to popular demand, the top-shelf in-season crustacean has made its way back onto the menu for a limited time, and is prepared to order for $99. Until Sunday, June 30, you'll be able to order a hefty mud crab that's steamed, then tossed in a flavour-packed mixture sure to warm up bellies and accompanied by your choice of XO, ginger and shallot, or black bean and salted chilli sauces. With chef Andy Evans at the helm, the venue's ethos remains at the forefront of its menu, with only the best mud crabs selected and dished up. Image credit: Jason Loucas.
Festival season is well and truly upon us, with the Woodford Folk Festival the latest event to announce its program. If you fancy seeing out 2018 and welcoming in 2019 while catching a heap of bands, wandering between arts performances and getting a little muddy across a grassy patch of southeast Queensland, the fest has you covered for its whopping 33rd year. Taking place at Woodfordia about 90 minutes north of Brisbane, this year's fest will be held for six days between December 27, 2018 and January 1, 2019 — with Electric Fields, Kimbra, Alex the Astronaut, The Cat Empire, Screamfeeder, Remi and Jen Cloher among its high-profile talent. In total, more than 200 acts will grace a lineup that features everything from music, art, circus and cabaret to yoga, dance and comedy, all in venues that range from a 25,000-seat amphitheatre to chilled-out hangout spots. Other highlights include spoken word, comedy and performances by everyone from Dr Karl to Vernon Ah Kee to Tripod's Steven Gates with Paul McDermott; arts, dance and meditation workshops; and a heap of circus and cabaret shows — plus, if you're bringing littlies, the event's Children's Festival within the broader fest is also returning. Or, you can enjoy a three-course bush food feast, catch The Spirit of Churaki about the Aboriginal man heralded as the Gold Coast's first surf lifesaver and see podcast Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids live. While the annual Queensland festival has weathered an uncertain future in recent years, it remains a staple of the state's end-of-year calendar — and visit will also boast 195 stalls around the grounds, turning the site into a mini-village for its duration. That includes everything from bars, cafes and restaurants, to an on-site doctor's surgery and two general stores. As always, camping is available at one of the fest's nine campgrounds, or you can nab a ticket just for the day. Either way, expect to have company, as around 130,000 people attend each year. The 2018–19 Woodford Folk Festival runs from December 27, 2018 and January 1, 2019 at Woodfordia on the Sunshine Coast. To view the program and buy tickets, head to woodfordfolkfestival.com Images: Woodford Folk Festival via Flickr.
Clear away your coffee table and secure your breakables because things are about to get a little wild in your living room. As part of this year's lockdown-friendly Melbourne Fringe program, the riotous Queer-aoke is returning for a special at-home edition on Thursday, October 7, and Thursday, October 14. You're invited to don your jazziest threads and join some legendary local performers in a rollicking karaoke party dedicated to music's biggest queer names and anthems. Hosted by the talented Bae Marie (Alex Morris), the evening's fun will be beamed live into your living room via Zoom, celebrating the sparkliest of sounds from icons like Lady Gaga, Elton John and Whitney Houston. Some special guests will also be along for the ride, with Tequila Mockingbird and Max Lawrence dropping by on October 7, and Nefertiti La Negra and Tash York bringing the energy on October 14. Spend the evening belting out some bangers and you're pretty much guaranteed to blast away any lingering lockdown blues. Tickets start from $10. Top Images: Simone Ruggiero
UPDATE 29 July 2021: The Melbourne podcast festival has been postponed until Friday, September 17–Sunday, September 19. The article has been updated to reflect this. If you're looking for some fresh Aussie-made material to add to your podcast library, you and your earholes are in for a treat this winter. From Friday, September 17–Sunday, September 19, Village Cinemas Jam Factory is set to play host to the inaugural Melbourne Podcast Festival. Across three days, the festival will dish up live-recorded content from over 25 of the country's hottest podcasts, spanning genres from true crime to comedy. Sink your teeth into some classic sports banter, devour some tasty food podcasts, or geek out listening to science-fun facts. The festival's live podcast program will feature a cast of familiar favourites including The Chaser Report with Dom Knight and Charles Firth, leading news podcast 7AM, the sports-obsessed AFL Exchange, Australian True Crime with Meshel Laurie and Emily Webb, and science-meets-comedy show The Pop Test. Expect chuckles aplenty sitting in on the likes of The Junkees and Somehow Related, bust some LGBTQI stereotypes with Triple Bi-Pass and join Abbie Chatfield for some real talk on her podcast It's A Lot. Tickets for live sessions vary, though most clock in around $30. Top image: It's A Lot, Abbie Chatfield.
There's a lot to be said about breaking bread. It can be a gesture of friendship, of peace and leisure, or even romance. But for Neda Rahmani, it's art. From February 28 to March 15, Neda will be opening up her Northcote home for the most literal translation of the term 'dinner and show' — a home-cooked meal accompanied by stories, song and dance about living in and leaving her Iranian homeland. The work, directed by Xan Coleman, is produced by contemporary performance company A is For Atlas and is actually in its encore season after a short run last year. Reviewers from its initial performance understandably described the piece as "nourishing", and I'm sure it will be no less satisfying this time around. In a time when immigration is such a hot topic on the political scene, a work like this couldn't be more welcome. Take a seat at the table and break some bread — there's no better place to embrace multiculturalism than in the home of a kindly stranger telling you her story. Tickets are available for purchase here.
Melbourne cyclists, double up on those locks or get yourself one of these. In new stats published by The Age, Melbourne bikes are being stolen at a rate of almost 50 percent higher than cars in some areas. Yikes. While the stats aren't exactly Amsterdam or New York City levels (closer to San Francisco's numbers), apparently over 5000 bikes have been stolen in Melbourne in the last financial year alone (or about 100 bikes a week). And that's just the reported thefts to Victoria Police — how many times have you just shaken an angry fist at the sky and let it go over a silent brewski? Obviously, thieves are cottoning on to the fact that some areas are more bike-focused than others — the trendo, fixie-lovin' bits of town. In Victoria, the postcodes where bike thefts are double the amount of car thefts are apparently Fitzroy, Carlton and Parkville/Melbourne Uni, as well as the towns of Sale, Wangaratta and Horsham. So if you're cruising home from work to these areas, bolster that security, bring your beloved inside or get a shittier bike. Melbourne's CBD isn't much better for bike nabbery; The Age reports almost 1600 bikes have been nicked in the last five years — again, double the amount of cars stolen from central city areas. But the Big Kahuna of Melbourne bike theft? Brunswick (predictably) — the suburb's apparently doubled its bike theft stats in five years. Check out The Age's map for the statewide stats to see if you should be adding padlocks in your suburb. Must be a strong lock #melburn #bikes #cosbikes A photo posted by Perry Singleton (@pjsingleton) on Oct 10, 2014 at 4:14pm PDT Victorian Police are working their butts off to reduce the number of missing bikes, and you can help out — engrave your licence number and take a photo of your bike and beware of council clean-up times (when people rummaging around your front yard with bolt cutters doesn't look suspicious to passers-by). Looks like the makers of the 'unstealable' bike have a Melbourne market on their hands. Via The Age. Image: rogerwshaw via photopin cc.
Melbourne's set to score a taste of good old-fashioned country Victorian hospitality when the long-standing Tooborac Hotel and Brewery swaggers into town. With over 160 years under its belt, the state's oldest National Trust-listed country pub is adding to the family and opening its first urban outpost in the heart of Carlton. Taking over a former scrap metal dealer warehouse on Elgin Street, Tooborac Hotel city digs are set to house a swag of offerings: a shop selling Toobarac's award-winning beers and pies, a contemporary pub and a regional food and crafts marketplace, all under the one roof. No word yet on what exactly to expect from the new project, though the original Tooborac Hotel is a well-worn favourite. Pulling inspiration from traditional beer recipes, the house brews are a nod to working class Australia with the lineup including drops like the American-style Firemans red IPA, the Stonemasons pale ale and the Shearers lager. [caption id="attachment_735686" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The OG Tooborac Hotel and Brewery[/caption] The OG hotel's dining room is known for its classic pub plates such as Angus beef burgers, beer-battered fish and chips, and nine varieties of chicken parma, while the daily baked house-made pies have a cult following of their own. We're hoping you'll be able to get your mitts on signature combinations like lamb and shiraz, beef and ale, and chicken with leek and bacon, at the Carlton pie shop, too. No opening date has been announced for the Carlton outpost just yet (we'll let you know when there is one), but in the meantime, you can make the 90-minute drive north to visit the original. Tooborac Hotel and Brewery is set to open at 137–143 Elgin Street, Carlton. Stay tuned and we'll let you know an opening date as soon as it's announced.
As gin lovers may (or maybe don't) remember, last Christmas brought us the first-ever Four Pillars Christmas (Gin) Revue. For one giddy night, Four Pillars aficionados – and newbies – drank in the festive season with an extravaganza of gin-inspired madness, from comedy, dancing and sing-alongs to gin tastings, cocktails and canapés. Well, folks, it's back for a second round. Taking over The Espy's Gershwin Room (with the hotel poised to reopen in November this year) in St Kilda, the Four Pillars Christmas (Gin) Revue 2018 will take things to the next level with the appearance of Mother's Ruin, a gin cabaret starring Sydney-based duo Maeve and Liz, which attracted much adoration at the 2017 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Meanwhile, making a comeback will be Four Pillars' Stu and Cam, whose shenanigans include slapstick, power ballads and gin nerd-ism. In between soaking up the action, you'll be sipping on Four Pillars' finest gins of 2018, transformed into cocktails by master mixologist Jimmy Irvine, and feasting on canapés. Your ticket also includes a dynamite doggy bag, packed with a 700mL bottle of the coveted 2018 Australian Christmas Gin, a jar of marmalade, a set of cocktail books and more.
If you've ever felt guilty about staying at home on a Saturday night to play video games, learn Beyoncé dance moves off YouTube or watch six straight hours of Netflix — don't. The Sydney Opera House has just announced that they'll be hosting an epic overnight 24-hour festival dedicated to binging on pop culture in a totally acceptable social setting. Think Buffy marathons, Street Fighter, Shia LeBeouf — and cats. Bingefest is a brand new festival for the Opera House (their first newbie in five years) and will pull together this year's pop culture phenomenons to discuss, celebrate and — most importantly — enjoy them for what they are when it comes to the Opera House for 24 hours (or so) this December 17 and 18. The biggest announcement is that actor and artist Shia LeBeouf — along with collaborators Nastja Säde Rönkkön and Luke Turner — will be coming along to the fest. Best known for their live performance art like Take Me Anywhere, where they posted their coordinates and waited for the first people to find them and pick them up, the trio will be creating a work especially for Bingefest. No word on what it is yet though. The program — which will run from about 3pm on Saturday until 6am on Monday morning — includes a whole range of things we consume on the Internet, from TV and video games to podcasts and viral videos. Running overnight on the Saturday will be a Buffy marathon, in which lovers of the kickass femme vampire can relive the best episodes all over again (and all night), as well as a 24-hour Street Fighter session. Those familiar with the cult '80s video game will be able to drop in at any point in the night for a go. Other highlights include a talk from The AV Club, where four of their editorial staff will take you through all the TV you should have watched by now. Community's Dan Harmon and Luke McGregor and Celia Pacquola (from the soon-to-air ABC show Rosehaven) will write a TV-show from scratch in front of an audience, Serial producer Julie Snyder will discuss binge-worthy journalism and Amrita Hepi will hold two Rihanna and Beyoncé dance clases in the Opera House's ballet rehearsal room (perfect post-Buffy binge). Redfern Convenience Store will even be holding a pop-up snack store. Also, in what could be the most captivating performance the forecourt has seen this year, the Internet Cat Festival will make its Sydney debut on the Saturday night. It will be held in partnership with the RSPCA and will be goddamn adorable. Bingefest founder and curator Danielle Harvey says the festival is an opportunity for people to consume pop culture together as a community. As something that's largely consumed personally at home, the live participation of festival makes it a whole different experience. Danielle is a co-curator of other Opera House events like All About Women and the Festival of Dangerous Ideas, but unlike the other festivals that incorporate elements of pop culture, Bingefest will be 100 percent dedicated to featuring it in a more celebratory way. Bingefest will take place at the Sydney Opera House from the afternoon of Saturday, December 17 until the morning of Monday, December 19. FOr more info and to buy tickets, visit bingefest.sydneyoperahouse.com.
Did you miss out on your annual regional getaway this winter? Do you feel like you need a little bit of the nourishing country life to get you through the next few weeks of lockdown? If that's you, and you're a gin lover to boot, we've got a lil' something that'll fill up your empty mini break cup — in more ways than one. You can experience the high country at home thanks to our pals at Glenbosch Wine Estate. Across two weeks starting September 17, you and your mates can attend an online rooibos gin tasting session with Dirk Bester from the Beechworth-based estate. The 90-minute session will include a guided tasting of four delicious gins. Plus, you'll learn how to make your own bathtub gin just like it was done in the prohibition era. To make sure you've got the right tools for the job, Glenbosch Wine Estate will send you a supply pack boasting 500ml of Glenbosch Craft Original Gin, a botanical wheel and tasting quadrant, a botanical box featuring eight botanicals, citrus and more. All you need to round up are a few household items including a cutting board, knife, glasses, tonic water, ice and tea strainer. Gin Appreciation with Glenbosch will take place at 7pm September 17, September 24 and October 1. Sound like a genius way to level up your next after-work drinks? For more information and to book, visit the website.
The 2018 Alliance Française French Film Festival might be one year short of a major milestone, but the Gallic cinema showcase is still celebrating its 29th iteration in style. As always, that means a feast of films is on the agenda at the crowd-drawing and -pleasing annual event — 47 features, two documentaries and one televisions series, in fact. Touring the country from February 27, starting in Sydney before heading to Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Perth, Hobart, Adelaide, Parramatta and Casula, this year's AFFFF will bookend its program with amusement. The festival kicks off with comedy C'est la vie! from The Intouchables duo Éric Toledano and Olivier Nakache, before coming to a close with rom-com 50 Is the New 30. In-between, everything from acclaimed efforts to star-studded dramas to the latest work from master directors will grace cinema screens around Australia, celebrating the best in French film from the past 12 months. Sitting high amongst the highlights are the AIDS activism-focused BPM and the Juliette Binoche-starring Let the Sunshine In, which will both receive a nation-wide run after screening at last year's Melbourne International Film Festival. In the high-profile camp, they're joined by a Marion Cotillard double, with the acclaimed actress featuring in last year's Cannes opening night pick Ismael's Ghosts and comedy Rock'n Roll; romantic drama The Return of the Hero with Mélanie Laurent and The Artist Oscar-winner Jean Dujardin; Isabelle Huppert in coming-of-age effort Reinventing Marvin; and Gael Garcia Bernal in If You Saw His Heart. Or fans of prominent French filmmakers can get their fix courtesy of François Ozon's Double Lover and Xavier Beauvois' The Guardians, marking the latest flicks from the respective directors of Frantz and Of Gods and Men. The Artist's Michel Hazanavicius tackles an icon, turning the life of Jean-Luc Godard into Redoubtable, while Laurent Cantet jumps from 2008 Palme d'Or-winner The Class to thriller The Workshop. Elsewhere, actor-director Mathieu Amalric helms and features in Barbara, about an actress starring in a biopic about a famed chanteuse. AFFFF 2018 will also shine a spotlight on queer cinema for the first time, to celebrate marriage equality, and also include its usual selection of family-friendly fare for younger cinephiles. And, for those keen on catching some TV on the big screen, three episodes of Paris, Etc will whisk you away to the French capital, following the lives and loves of Parisian women.
It's a yearly pattern: Halloween passes by, orange decorations are replaced with a sea of red and green, and suddenly we've all been hurtled into the throes of Christmas. To add its own taste of festive cheer, Krispy Kreme has announced that it's lighting up four of its stores with Christmas displays — and, to make the occasion even more jolly and merry, it's also giving away 4000 free doughnuts. The giveaway is running on Friday, November 29, which is when Krispy Kreme stores in Penrith in Sydney, Bulleen in Melbourne, Redbank Plains in Brisbane and Myaree in Perth will be hitting the switch on their seasonal lights. The chain calls these displays 'Krispymas', and they'll be lit up for nearly a month, shining bright until Friday, December 27. To snag yourself a signature glazed freebie (Original Glazed doughnuts are being given out), head to one of the aforementioned stores on Friday, November 29. In Brisbane and Perth, the activities start from 6.30pm, a choir will sing at 7pm, the lights turn on at 7.30pm and the free doughnuts will also be given out at 7.30pm. In Sydney and Melbourne, the fun will kick off at 7pm, carols will begin at 7.30pm, and the displays and free doughnuts will commence at 8.30pm. While 4000 doughnuts will be available nationally, that's 1000 at each of the four outlets. So, if you want to kick off your Friday night with a free sweet and doughy treat, you'll want to get in relatively early. They're on offer until close or until stocks last, whichever comes first, and there's only one available per person. Krispy Kreme's free doughnut giveaway is happening at the chain's stores in Penrith in Sydney, Bulleen in Melbourne, Redbank Plains in Brisbane and Myaree in Perth on Friday, November 29. For further information, head to the Krispy Kreme website.
Booze and brunch is a combo we can all get behind, and this weekend, it's set to be the star of the show as Welcome to Thornbury hosts Melbourne's first ever mimosa and brunch 'festival' (otherwise known simply as 'brunch', but sure). Kicking off at 11am on Sunday, July 30, this event is worth dragging your weekend butt out of bed for, featuring a tight curation of brunchtime goodness that'll put your usual smashed avo and latte to shame. In the culinary corner, expect a one-off brunch-style bun creation from Mr Burger, waffles from Let's Waffle 'n' Shake, and a punchy Indian-inspired feed from Curry Up Now, alongside morning treats from favourites like Brunetti's, Levain Doughnuts and Gorilla Grill. Of course, the booze situation will also be on-theme, for anyone keen to dabble in some classy day drinking. Liquid sustenance comes in the form of a range of different flavoured mimosas, espresso martinis, and, if you want to go hard, bourbon-infused iced tea jugs. Or, for a little extra help waking up, double down with the Morning Glory Special, an all-out $20 espresso martini and mimosa combo. Just don't make any important afternoon plans.
More than four decades have passed since a young Jeff Bridges entered the grid in a groundbreaking science-fiction classic: Tron. Back in 1982, the film followed the Bad Times at the El Royale, The Old Man and The Big Lebowski star as Kevin Flynn, who stepped inside video-game software to battle artificial intelligence. Its light cycle scene is iconic — as is its early use of CGI. Back in 2010, a sequel arrived in Tron: Legacy, complete with a masterpiece of a Daft Punk-composed score. Word has been buzzing since of a sequel to that sequel, with Tron: Ares starring Jared Leto (Morbius), Evan Peters (DAHMER — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story), Greta Lee (Past Lives) and Jodie Turner-Smith (White Noise) now in the works for a 2025 release. This franchise about the future keeps getting a future, clearly — but there's never a bad time to go back to where it all began. [caption id="attachment_904296" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Zan Wimberley[/caption] On Tuesday, September 19, RMIT Culture and Future Play Lab are joining forces for a big-screen session of the OG Tron, which forms part of the lead up to 2023's Melbourne International Games Week. Head to the Capitol Theatre at 6pm to see the flick, then stick around afterwards for a chat about games, technology and the movie's use of AI. Tickets cost $10, doors open at 5.30pm, and you'll be listening to Future Play Lab artist gamemaker Troy Innocent get talking with multimedia specialist Uyen Nguyen and RMIT PlaceLab Co-Lead Kiri Delly.
First The Basics, now Tex Perkins — this legend of the Australian music scene best known for his work with The Cruel Sea is making a bid for state parliament. Though The Basics have strong feelings about education and welfare as well as local music restrictions, Perkins has one specific goal in mind. He wants to save the Palais Theatre. Since August this year, major doubts have been cast over the future of this iconic beachside venue. Despite consistently pulling big name acts including the great Bob Dylan, the Palais has been facing irreconcilable infrastructure problems. Once these impending renovations costs were estimated to be between $25-40 million, the Port Philip Council began lobbying the state government for funding. In the past month the Council has pledged $7.5 million for repairs if the state front the remainder. And, frankly, it doesn't look great. To remedy this and potentially save the regal old St Kilda venue, Perkins plans to run as an independent candidate for the seat of Albert Park. "The neglect of such an iconic performance venue, along with all the buck-passing from both sides of politics — it's just not good enough," Perkins said in a statement. "The Palais is a state-owned heritage building and there are policies for how you maintain these buildings." Though the problem of the decaying Palais hasn't made the same headlines or drawn the same amount of protest as the potential demolishment of the Palace Theatre in the CBD, support is growing quickly. I Love My Palais is gaining traction on social media, and even Mick Jagger came out in support of the campaign this week. While playing at Rod Laver Arena, Jagger urged his audience to "give generously". "I'd just like to tell you, we played at the Palais Theatre about 50 years ago," he said. This is good news for both Perkins and the Palais. Government is unlikely to affect change without significant community outrage. "The depth of voter disillusionment presents a frightening possibility," Perkins told The Age. "I might win." Via ABC and The Age. The Victorian state election will take place on November 29.
It's been a hot and sticky start to the year; but this weekend, you can cool things down a notch with an evening of classical tunes from the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. The MSO returns to Bunjil Place on Saturday, January 29, for the next installation of the entertainment precinct's Summer Symphony series. Kicking off from 7.30pm, the all-ages concert will treat your ears to classical works from the likes of Aaron Copland, Astor Piazzolla and Johann Strauss II, interspersed with more contemporary tunes. Alongside the musical offerings, you'll also catch stunning performance pieces from diversity-focused Victorian arts group Sangam, as they deliver world premieres of two works, Encounters: Seen and Unseen and New Homes: Loss and Hope. Tickets to the evening show come in at $10, which includes a non-alcoholic drink or glass of bubbles.
The countdown to summer is well and truly on. After the year that's been, we're not going to be taking for granted the fine weather and fun events that make it our favourite season of all. To help you make the most of those special summer occasions, we've teamed up with Glenmorangie to serve up six simple drink recipes. These refreshing serves are a breeze to make and all utilise the brand-new X by Glenmorangie. This single malt scotch was specially designed for mixing and is perfect for all your summery tipples, offering tasting notes of pear, vanilla, honeysuckle, orange sherbet and chocolate fudge. FOR AN EASY BREEZY BRUNCH When you're still waking up, the last thing you want to be doing is stirring and shaking up super-complicated cocktails. Keep things simple and on theme with this citrusy tipple. Ingredients 50ml X by Glenmorangie 25ml grapefruit juice 25ml orange juice 10ml agave syrup Method Fill a highball glass with crushed glass. Add X by Glenmorangie, grapefruit juice, orange juice and agave syrup. Stir and garnish with half a grapefruit wheel. FOR YOUR BACKYARD BARBECUE Backyard barbecues are for lively conversation, grilled meats and veggies and perhaps a few games (cricket, anyone?). But they're certainly not for fancy, multi-step cocktail mixing. Keep things flowing with this three-ingredient mix. Ingredients 50ml X by Glenmorangie 50ml ginger beer limes Method Fill a highball glass with crushed glass. Add X by Glenmorangie and ginger beer. Stir, squeeze three lime wedges over the drink, then use them to garnish. FOR A SPOT OF AFTERNOON TEA Marmalade? In a mixed drink? Just trust us on this. The old-school preserve provides the perfect balance of citrus and sweet. Serve it alongside an array of sweet and savoury snacks — think finger sandwiches and cupcakes — for a pleasant afternoon tea in the sunshine. Ingredients 50ml X by Glenmorangie 20ml lime juice 3 tsp marmalade Method Pour X by Glenmorangie, lime juice and marmalade into a highball glass. Add ice, stir again and garnish with an orange twist. FOR YOUR NEXT DATE NIGHT If you're trying to impress that special someone, make a big batch of this floral, fragrant mix for your next big night together — be it a cosy evening in front of the TV or a romantic sunset picnic. Ingredients 50ml X by Glenmorangie 20ml lemon juice 20ml elderflower cordial Sparkling water Method Fill a highball glass with crushed glass. Add X by Glenmorangie, lemon juice and elderflower cordial. Stir and top with sparkling water to taste. Garnish with a lemon twist. FOR A KARAOKE PARTY There's nothing like some bubbles to get the party going. Sip this crisp, refreshing serve before belting out your best impression of Whitney or Mariah. Ingredients 50ml X by Glenmorangie 20ml lime juice 50ml sparkling apple juice Method Fill a highball glass with crushed glass. Add X by Glenmorangie, lime juice and sparkling apple juice. Stir and garnish with an apple slice. FOR A POST-DINNER PARTY TIPPLE If you want to make sure your next dinner party ends on a high note, this sweet, vibrant tipple will do the trick. Ingredients 50ml X by Glenmorangie 25ml lemon juice 12.5ml blackcurrant cordial 10ml agave syrup Method Fill a highball glass with crushed glass. Add X by Glenmorangie, lemon juice and agave syrup. Stir then top with blackcurrant cordial. Garnish with lemon wheel and a blackberry. Be prepared for all your upcoming summer events by purchasing a bottle of X by Glenmorangie at Boozebud.
If you've ever worked in hospo, you've been in this situation. And even if you haven't waited, tended bar or cooked up a storm in a professional kitchen, you can probably still relate. Finding a decent place to relax, eat great food and drink fabulous cocktails after the clock strikes midnight isn't as easy as it really should be these days. And so, with that in mind, the Late Night Harlem Supper Club became a reality. Send your thanks Nieuw Amsterdam's way — and then send yourself their way for the first event at 1.30am on October 15. And if you can't make that date, don't worry. Another one will be announced soon. Each Supper Club will see a guest chef in control of the kitchen, with Oter's Florent 'Flo' Gerardin the first candidate. Given that he has worked at venues such as Vue de Monde, Silo and Pei Modern, his three-course menu is sure to impress. Dishes will be matched with Campari cocktails created by Nieuw Amsterdam's bar manager Sean McGuire, and the whole combo will only set you back $60 as an opening special. Night owls, get booking.
Just when you thought this horrific winter would be your undoing, the clouds part ways and offer you a sliver of mercy in the form of the Yarra Valley Hot Chocolate Festival. The Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery, otherwise known as heaven on earth, will be open for festivities for the entire month of August with a new hot chocolate flavour every day. Yep, that's 31 flavours of hot chocolate in 31 days. The menus will be updated weekly, so make sure you plan your visit (or visits) accordingly. Just to get your tastebuds going, one example of the hot choccies on offer is the "The Slam Dunk," where mini doughnut balls sit skewered on top of the beverage, waiting to be immersed in cinnamon and honey hot chocolate. There are also whispers about a competition where you can win your body weight in chocolate, so if you're swooning as hard as we are right now, make sure you drop in. Image via Dollar Photo Club.
It was the sweet treat chain that rose faster than yeasty baked goods, then sunk like your stomach when you've eaten too much sugar. After closing down its 30 stores earlier this year during the collapse of then-owner Damien Griffith's hospitality empire, Doughnut Time is now set to return — imminently — under new owners and managers. Talk of a comeback has been happening for months, it was first announced in August 2018, but now it's actually happening, with four new Queensland stores opening before Christmas. Two stores have opened their mint green doors — in Brisbane City Myer Centre and on Grey Street in South Bank — along two on the Gold Coast And that's just for starters. Melbourne is expected to get three new stores, in Fitzroy and Hawthorn and on Degraves Street, and Sydney is expected to nab a new store or two in early 2019. With the chain now overseen by Queensland entrepreneur Peter Andros, Doughnut Time is eager to put the brand's past behind it — a situation that not only saw its previous stores shuttered without warning, but left many of its staff unpaid. "We think what happened to past employees is unacceptable," the company wrote on Facebook. Fans and sugar fiends should prepare their tastebuds for a dose of the old and the new when the fresh batch of stores start cooking up a storm. Hit flavours like the Cate Blanchett (a milk chocolate doughnut covered in Tim Tam pieces) have been teased on social media, as have new vegan, gluten free, high protein, low sugar and keto options. The stores launched with free doughnut giveaways. An interesting way to launch a company that has a past tainted by liquidation and unpaid wages, but let's hope, in this case, history doesn't repeat itself. Find Doughnut Time at the Brisbane City Myer Centre, 91 Queen Street, Brisbane City, and 186 Grey Street, South Bank. The Melbourne store are set to open soon — we'll let you know when they do. Updated: January 8, 2019.
We need to talk about Kevin and how hot he is. Right after that, we need to talk about Valentine's Day and how awful it is. Following an unshakable hunch that something wasn't quite street legal about this questionable day of celebration/commiseration depending on your relationship status, I made like Veronica Mars, with interesting results. Whilst mythology surrounds the legend of Saint Valentine, his actual identity remains contested. Does the man who created a day that seemingly exists purely to support Hallmark and make unpartnered people feel bad about themselves really deserve the moniker of 'saint'? Either way, it turns out February 14 marks the death of this St. Valentine fellow. Suddenly, it all makes sense— the perfect morbid marriage of love and death, played out in shades of red. There, there, everything your Mum told you is true — you will grow into your nose, there are plenty of fish in the sea, and it's not all bad this Valentine’s Day. In the city centre, activities abound, with all signs pointing to the possibility that Cupid's favourite day of the year will be more fun than your average Thursday night. If you go to all of the following events and fail to pick up, you could always try an entirely different kind of chase: one that involves looking for single shoes on power lines across the city and will bring you more happiness than any human ever could. Don't give up — as a great woman named Edna Crabapple once said, "love is a many splintered thing". The Power of Love Poetry Readings Listen to the Australian film and theatre world's answer to Kate Moss and Johnny Depp — Helen Morse and Paul English — recite love-themed poetry over a glass of merlot at one of Melbourne’s most interesting arts venues. The mind is the most active sexual organ after all. When and where: Fortyfivedownstairs, more information here. The damage: $40, $30 for concessions, including a glass of wine. Book here. Desire Lines Late Night Opening Desire, in the context of ACCA's current major group exhibition, describes the gravitational pull away from the beaten track, both literal and metaphorical, thematically explored by the artists in the show. On Thursday night, another kind of desire will be in the air, as the space stays open after dark. The night will be filled with culture to make small talk with attractive strangers over, Pommery champagne for liquid courage, and if it all goes to hell in a wicker basket, brownies by Candied Bakery to eat away your sorrows with. When and where: ACCA, from 5pm-9pm. The damage: Entry with gold coin donation, pay bar operating. The Outdoor Cinema Stranded at the drive in, branded a fool, what will they say, Monday at school? Once upon a time, cherries across the nation were unceremoniously popped in the back of a panel van (with a side of popcorn and post-mix coke, if he was a good sort). Some things never change and the movies are still the perfect date spot. The plethora of outdoor cinemas that have shot up in unlikely venues across Melbourne are basically the hipster's answer to the passion pits of the 1960s. You could try Moonlight Cinema, The Shadow Electric, or Rooftop, where The Notebook is … sold out. Whatever, Night of the Living Dead is playing on Sunday night and we have free tickets to give away — just make sure you're subscribed to our newsletter then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au to be in the running for one of two double passes. There ain’t no aphrodisiac like an imminent zombie invasion. When and where: Rooftop Cinema, Curtain House at 9.30pm. The damage: $20, $16 with concession, book here. Valentine's Night Love Story at The Toff A night out with a soundtrack chosen with the same method employed so successfully by Richard Mercer for all these years — love song dedications. With a free alcoholic bubble cup in it for you, you'd be crazy not to make a request for "that little something that has thought and costs you nothing", a song. What will it be? Nelly's 'Dilemma', Taylor Swift's 'You Belong With Me', or, perhaps, Ben Folds Five's 'Song for the Dumped'. Give me my money back, you bitch, indeed. When and where: The Toff at Curtain House from 11.30pm. The damage: Free, regardless of relationship status. Perfect Match Dating Game at Amelia Shaw A dating game themed night, hosted by a disgruntled drag queen that costs nothing and may involve cheap grog if you bring a friend of the opposite sex, with mystery prizes that might require batteries. Don't ask questions. When and where: Amelia Shaw, 280 Sydney Rd, Brunswick, from 8.30pm. RSVP by email or text to info@ameliashawbar.com.au or 0412 907 847. The damage: Free entry. Whoopa!
Every Friday night, you'll find Bibo Wine Bar's Head Sommelier Louella Mathews drinking wine with her regulars. COVID-19 hasn't gotten in the way of this tradition, either, with Mathews now recreating the experience for fans of the Double Bay bar via Zoom — with the help of some Bibo-like virtual backgrounds, of course. To help keep staff employed while the wine bar is closed to dine-in customers, Mathews and the Bibo team have launched Bibo at Home. Like many Sydney restaurants and bars, Bibo is currently offering takeaway and delivery meals — including an eight-course chef's menu for a very reasonable $50 — as well as wine and cocktails to go. But, Mathews has taken the at-home wine bar experience a step further and is now offering personalised wine boxes paired with one-on-one Zoom consultations. Called Sommelier's Choice, the personalised wine boxes with bonus human interaction were launched by Mathews in response to her "withdrawal from connecting with customers on the restaurant floor". Once you've connected with Mathews via Bibo, she'll set up a Zoom meeting (or phone call, or interview — "whatever they feel comfortable with") and "we'll have a chat about the weather, the current pandemic crisis and then, of course, to what wine they would enjoy". "The process is very natural and as if you were ordering wine in a restaurant", says Mathews. "I don't have one set of criteria, but a few basic questions include what they generally like to drink and how adventurous they would like to be." Once you've had a chat, Mathews will put together a box of six wines with tasting notes and food pairing suggestions, which you can either pick up from the wine bar or have delivered if you live within five kilometres from Double Bay. All of this will set you back $200 — about $33 a bottle. Much cheaper than you'd be paying if you were to drink six bottles at the wine bar itself. And you get access to one of Australia's brightest wine minds, too. Mathews, before working at Bibo, managed the wine list and 4000-bottle cellar at Sydney's Rockpool Bar & Grill, and is currently studying for the Court of Master Sommeliers Advanced (that's just one level under Master Sommelier, which is the focus of Netflix's Somm). What you'll get in your box, depends on your tastes, of course, but Mathews says it'll be like "taking a trip around the world, but without the fuss of border patrol". In the current COVID-19 crisis, travelling via your tastebuds doesn't sound like a terrible idea. It's been a month since bars, restaurants and cafes were forced to close their doors to dine-in customers as part of the government's non-essential indoor venue closure, and, while it looks like some restrictions could be relaxed in another month, one expert says hospitality venues are unlikely to be open again until September. Jobkeeper allows businesses to pay eligible employees a fortnightly wage, but does not cover some casual employees and those on a temporary worker visa. This has led to businesses looking for new ways to stay connected with customers and make money, such as delivery booze services, virtual happy hours and cooking classes. For customers looking for other ways to help their locals, Mathews suggests, as well as the obvious buying a meal or wine, to leave them a five-star review on the likes of Google, Facebook and Tripadvisor and to 'share, like and comment' on their posts on social media. "Small business can't afford — especially now — PR or marketing companies," she says. "So little things really do help and only take a second of your time." When it's all over though, get ready for a massive party at Bibo "to celebrate that we survived this mess". To order food, wine or cocktails from Bibo Wine Bar, head to the website. To find out more about the Sommelier's Choice box and set up a Zoom meeting, email louella@bibowinebar.com.au.
If you haven't been down to one of Belles Hot Chicken's bottomless chicken and waffles weekend brunches, that's ok. Maybe bloody marys aren't your thing. But how about beer? And spicy wings? You can have both of them in endless quantities this Wednesday, October 31, when Belles' Richmond branch goes bottomless for a special Halloween treat. For two hours from 6pm, the kitchen will be frying copious amount of wings. It's all you can eat, so there's no need to hold yourself back — unless, of course, you're going for the Really F**kin Hot ones. In that case, you better pace yourself, and balance it out with unlimited chips and beer. Only $40. No tricks here. The Halloween fiesta is only happening at the Swan Street store, though — to get in on the action, make a booking here.
What's better than one Will Smith? Two Will Smiths, apparently. That's how Gemini Man seems to feel, with the new sci-fi thriller starring the former Fresh Prince as an assassin with a very familiar-looking foe: a younger version of himself. It has been three years since his last big-screen flicks, aka the immensely underwhelming Suicide Squad and Collateral Beauty — so if you're a Smith fan that's been missing the actor's presence in cinemas of late, then consider Gemini Man a two-for-one catch-up deal. If you're particularly fond of the actor's Bad Boys, Men in Black and Independence Day-era heyday, then get ready for a CGI blast from the past. And if, for whatever reason, you've always wondered what today's 50-year-old Smith would look like if he was facing off against his own 20-something clone, then prepare to find out. Directed by Ang Lee, Gemini Man follows Smith's hitman Henry Brogan as he learns that his worst enemy really is himself — and also co-stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Clive Owen and Benedict Wong. The film hits theatres in October, after Smith goes blue in Disney's Guy Ritchie-helmed live-action Aladdin remake. See double with the first trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGTp7YVUaxQ&feature=youtu.be Gemini Man opens in Australian cinemas on October 10.
I scream, you scream, we've all been screaming for ice cream — and, for once, the gods have answered our prayers (and then some). Both the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery and the Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery are hosting their annual Ice Cream Festival from February 14–25. You may want to prepare the smelling salts because they'll be trotting out 12 new flavours a day. For 12 days. That's 144 unique flavours all up. Cue Homer-esque drooling. For $18 you can indulge in an $18 tasting session that covers 12 flavours at once, or just rampage around the place like a deranged, hungry Pac-Man and try to taste 'em all at $4.80 a pop. Compare the relative merits of flavours like gin and tonic, dark chocolate and beer, turmeric and espresso, and finger lime cheesecake and strawberry gum — all while relaxing in the grounds in either Yarra Glen or Bellbrae (or both). 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 will need to book tasting sessions at both venues — check out times for the Yarra Valley and the Great Ocean Road.
It has been almost 50 years since Philip K. Dick pondered whether androids dream of electric sheep, and 35 years since Blade Runner brought that question to the cinema. In celebration of the long-awaited big screen sequel, Blade Runner 2049, Melbourne's Cinema Nova is throwing another query into the mix: do replicants have a hankering for themed cocktails? Eagle-eyed fans of the first film will have spotted that, yes, bioengineered beings can have a beverage. And we all know that the trackers tasked with retiring them can too. Accordingly, downing a few drinks like Harrison Ford's Rick Deckard seems like a fitting way to mark his return. When Bar 2049 pops up for a month from September 28 — a week before the new movie releases on October 5 — here's hoping there's some of his booze of choice (that is, whiskey), in Cinema Nova's two new tipples: the Nexus 9 and The Offworld. Bar 2049 won't just boast drinks to match the occasion, but will transform the existing Nova Bar & Kitchen into an immersive, eye-catching Blade Runner-like space that takes its cues from both Ridley Scott's original flick and Denis Villeneuve's forthcoming, Ryan Gosling-starring follow-up. Custom wall murals from street artist Chris Hancock of Blender Creative and video installations from filmmaker Ben Helweg will create a striking, futuristic look, while an audio soundscape will blend Vangelis' iconic score with synth pop. Other touches searing themselves into your memory include neon lighting and lasers, LCD screens, floor decals, mannequins and silver unicorns. If that doesn't cause an emotional reaction that proves you're not a robot, then a 'Tastes From The Future' food menu should. The latest example of Cinema Nova's Blade Runner love — with the theatre screening the classic movie several times over the years — Bar 2049 is open from 10am daily, licensed from midday, and serves up dinner from 5pm weeknights and midday on weekends. Find Bar 2049 at Cinema Nova, 380 Lygon Street, Carlton from September 28 to October 27. For more information, keep an eye on the cinema's website and Facebook page. Images: ©2017 Alcon Entertainment, LLC. All Rights Reserved via Sony Pictures Releasing International.
Fancy prancing through fields laced with the charm of provincial France? It's just casual summer weekendery when So Frenchy So Chic is in town. The ever-popular one-day French festival is waltzing back to Melbourne's Werribee Park Mansion on Sunday, February 13, and celebrating its tenth anniversary in the process. If you haven't been before, expect an entire afternoon of French-inspired niceties, including (but not limited to) gourmet picnic hampers, tartlets and terrines, and offensively good wine — all to a chill French soundtrack. So Frenchy hinges around a solid lineup of eclectic artists, with taking cues from France as much of a focus this year as showcasing French talents. Heading the 2022 bill is the YÉ-YÉ 2.0 project, which features Australian female artists performing new interpretations iconic 60s French pop music, and will see Ali Barter and Nadeah take to the stage. In another big highlight, Mick Harvey and the Intoxicated Men — which includes JP Shilo, Dan Luscombe, Glenn Lewis, Hugo Cran and Xanthe Waite — will play the songs of Serge Gainsbourg. Also on the lineup is up French Nigerian singer-rapper Féfé, who'll be supported by Melbourne's Cookin' on 3 Burners; French Australian singer, songwriter and producer Lili Alaska; and DJ sets by Mike Guerreri, DJ Frank Rodi and So Frenchy festival founder Jean-François Ponthieux. If you're not the most organised of picnickers, So Frenchy is putting on the works again with fancy picnic hampers, cheese plates and other French food fare; think: oysters, lobster rolls, croque monsieur, crème brûlée and crêpes. In Melbourne, Frederic Bistro, Milk The Cow, L'Hôtel Gitan and chef Romu are doing the honours. And of course, there'll be plenty of Champagne Lanson, French beer, cocktails, and rosé, red and whites wines as well. Early bird tickets are now on sale for $82 a pop. If you've got kids, you'll be happy to know that the whole thing is very family-friendly, and children under 12 can get in for $22. Images: Liz Sunshine / Simon Schiff.
National Young Writers' Festival (NYWF) is the four-day writerly celebration that takes over the imaginations of young writers around the country. Directors Alexandra Neill, Jessica Alice and Lex Hirst's colourful program features familiar names like Benjamin Law, Yassmin Abdel-Magied, Clementine Ford, Lawrence Leung, Genevieve Fricker, Steph Harmon, James Colley, Patrick Lenton and more (including some other names you might not recognise now but definitely will in the next five years). As well as more serious talks on slacktivism, mandatory detention and identity, NYWF won't be holding back on the life's practical truths, informing young writers about how to get paid as a writer, how to become an astronaut, how to make a sumptuously good sandwich and how to keep a diary and still be cool. Like any good writers' festival, Breakfast Book Club will start each day with impassioned discussion on life changing books, ones that make you plain angry and ones that are so good you turn into a nocturnal creature. Over 60 panels, discussions, workshops, performances and launches will carry you through deep into the evening when you'll get to sit back and relax to late night romance, crime and dystopian readings. Did we mention the whole festival is free? Yep, all of it. Blowing out 17 candles this year, NYWF is growing bigger and wiser by the year. But a festival is never too old for an intergalactic-themed ball and a spelling bee-cross-Hunger Games-style battle of the brains, right? NYWF runs from 2-5 October. Check out the full program here. Image: Alan Weedon.
If eating your way through plenty of creative and tasty desserts is your current pandemic coping strategy, Gelato Messina has been more than willing to help over the past few months. This year alone, it has released cookie pies in choc chip, red velvet, choc-hazelnut, and peanut butter and jelly varieties; 40 of its best flavours; and full tubs of Iced VoVo gelato, Messina's own take on the classic Viennetta ice cream cake and a gelato based on Italy's famed cremino dessert. Oh, and it even whipped up a batch of sticky lamington-scroll hybrids as well. For Messina's next tastebud-tempter, it's answering a question you've probably never, ever thought of asking yourself: what would gelato inspired by fashion labels Rag & Bone, Café Kitsuné, State of Escape, Paloma Wool and Patagonia taste like? Well, although this query has likely never popped into your brain before, now you can find out. Dropping across five days from Tuesday, October 20–Saturday, October 24, the new flavours are part of a collaboration with lifestyle and streetwear hub Incu, to help it celebrate its 18th birthday. A different variety will become available each day, so if you want to try the full set, you'll either need to plan multiple desserts or head by — or order delivery via Deliveroo — at the end of the week. Arriving first is the Paloma Wool-inspired 'Island Souvenir', which is based on ensaïmadas from Mallorca in the Balearic Islands, uses brioche-like pastry as the gelato's base and then layers in chocolate custard. Next, you can lick your way through Café Kitsuné's 'Tea-ramisu', a take on tiramisu with Japanese matcha gelato and coffee-soaked biscuits. Also on offer: the State of Escape-influenced 'Wanderlust', combining mango, sherbet, coconut and lime; Patagonia's dark chocolate and honey sorbet 'Save takayna', which is named to raise awareness about Tasmania's takayna/Tarkine; and the Rag & Bone-inspired 'A Piece of Cake', as made with clotted cream gelato, layers of sponge cake and swirls of strawberry jam. If you're in Melbourne, remember that you can only venture to shops within five kilometres of your house — to get essentials, including food. The Incu x Messina range of flavours will be available for a week from Tuesday, October 20, in-store and via Deliveroo, with a new flavour dropping each day. Keep an eye on the Messina website for further details.
There's nothing else quite like watching a film at the planetarium but it's something most of us don't do all that often once our school days have passed us by. However, that's about to change because, in a celebration of National Science Week, Scienceworks is inviting grown up guests to get up close and personal with seriously cosmic content. Every Friday evening through August, once the planetarium's usual working day is done, adults can have some after-hours fun in its impressive space. That means sitting in the reclining chairs, looking up at the 16-metre domed ceiling, listening to the 7.1 surround sound system and soaking in the best the full-dome video projection system has to offer. The Planetarium's August Friday night program is dedicated to the rare — and rarely seen — workings of our cosmos, from total solar eclipses to gravitational waves. 7.30pm screening Ticket to the Universe explores rare astronomical events investigated by organisations around the world, while at 9pm, Particle/Wave will serve up a multimedia deep-dive into the concept of gravitational waves. These sessions are all 18+ which means you can grab a drink from the bar, take it into the auditorium and sip while you watch.
Aunty, you’ve done it again; the Meredith Music Festival has announced both its 2014 lineup and declared this year's lucky ballot winners. But you'll have to leave your offensive headdress at home this time, there'll be none of that at Aunty's place. While the just-announced ticket ballot only affects a lucky few this morning, the finally-revealed lineup makes some big decisions for everyone thinking of heading down to the Golden Plains Shire this December. Joining the already revealed headliners, The War On Drugs, will be Californian fuzz-fuelled rocker Ty Segall, hip hop legends De La Soul, masters of ska the Skatalites, ex-Wu-Tang rapper Ghostface Killah, the unmistakable vocals of Mark Lanegan, Melbourne sweethearts Augie March, stoner rock pioneers Sleep and electronic maestro James Holden are just the tip of the iceberg. Ohio's Cloud Nothings are joining the party as well as US total legends The Lemonheads. Like last year, there'll be 500 less tickets available than previous years; so if you’re considering going this year don’t think, just do. All the good bits are staying the same: BYO alcohol and the beloved No Dickhead Policy are firmly in place. Furthermore, offensive costumes are banned. BANNED. Looking at you headdress-wearers. They're part of Aunty's banned things list: No offensive signage, slogans, clothing, costumes. Those lucky enough to be a ballot winner first time around have until 10pm Wednesday, August 20 to snap up tickets. Second round ballot will be shortly after that, so don’t give up hope just yet if you didn't get good news this morning. Anything else you need to know can be found out at their website, or you can even e-mail Aunty if need be. Meredith Music Festival Lineup (so far): THE WAR ON DRUGS TY SEGALL THE SKATALITES MARK LANEGAN DE LA SOUL AUGIE MARCH SLEEP JAMES HOLDEN LIVE CLOUD NOTHINGS THE LEMONHEADS GHOSTFACE KILLAH PHOSPHORESCENT THE BOMBAY ROYALE FACTORY FLOOR PAINTERS AND DOCKERS MIA DYSON TINY RUINS THE PUBLIC OPINION AFRO ORCHESTRA BLANK REALM MISTY NIGHTS TEETH & TONGUE VAKULA MARLON WILLIAMS DR PHIL SMITH HARD-ONS And more to be announced. The 24th annual Meredith Music Festival will be held from December 12-14. Tickets are $318.80 + $10 booking fee, which covers three days and two nights of music in the Supernatural Amphitheatre. More details here. Image: Ben Loveridge.
Melbourne's latest COVID-19 outbreak has been escalating quickly. It was only back on Monday, just two days ago, that the first cases were identified — and now the new overnight tally has already hit double digits, restrictions and an indoor mask mandate have been reimplemented in Greater Melbourne, and the list of exposure sites keeps growing. In response, New Zealand has paused quarantine-free travel from Victoria, while Australia's states are beginning to change their entry requirements. And, although, the New South Wales Government isn't fond of shutting of borders (as everyone has learned countless times during the pandemic so far), NSW Health has just issued a public health alert warning against travelling south. Released just before 4pm today, Wednesday, May 26, the alert urges Sydneysiders to postpone all non-urgent travel to the Greater Melbourne area. It hasn't implemented a travel ban, or made any movements regarding closing the border with Victoria; however, it is also recommending that NSW residents steer clear of Bendigo as well. NSW Health has also issued a number of requests that cover folks from Victoria who have already made their way to NSW — or plan to in the future. If you're currently in the state and you've been in Victoria since Wednesday, May 12, you're asked to check the Victorian Department of Health's list of exposure sites and, if you've been to one, to take the required action regarding testing and self-isolating. You're also requested to contact NSW Health ASAP. https://twitter.com/NSWHealth/status/1397429625618243586 If you're in NSW now, have been in Victoria since Wednesday, May 12, but haven't visited an exposure site, you're asked to still monitor for symptoms, get tested and then self-isolate the moment any arise. NSW Health also requests that you avoid visiting residential aged care facilities and healthcare facilities, unless you're heading to the latter to get medical attention or for compassionate reasons. And, if you've been in the Whittlesea Local Government Area in particular — which is where the current cluster has been concentrated so far — you're also requested to limit your exposure to high-risk settings in NSW, including pubs, clubs and gyms, as well as large family gatherings and really any crowded indoor setting. That applies for a fortnight since you were last in the Whittlesea Local Government Area. Travel declarations are also now in effect, too. So, anyone heading to NSW that's been in Greater Melbourne or Bendigo in the last 14 days will have to complete an online form — via the Service NSW website — stating that you haven't been to an exposure site. As always, the usual general advice regarding hygiene and social distancing applies in NSW, as it has throughout the pandemic. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website. For further details about the status of COVID-19 in Victoria, check out the Victorian Department of Health website.
It has only been a year since Chris Lucas unveiled the last addition to his sprawling stable of eateries, with the three-storey Japanese Kisumé opening its doors on Flinders Lane last June. But the acclaimed restaurateur — behind hits like Chin Chin, Kong and Hawker Hall — is already gearing up to launch his next, announcing plans for a French bistro and wine bar to open on Bourke Street before the end of the year. Dubbed Bȃtard, the venue is set to make its home within a renovated Victorian terrace at the Spring Street end of the CBD, complete with a charming rooftop bar and basement cellar. Here, Lucas will pull inspiration from his many journeys across France, to deliver a homegrown destination for great steak, charcuterie and wine. "I've spent a great deal of my past visiting all corners of France and like many, dreamed of having my own little bistro," explains Lucas. "I'm somewhat of a nostalgic and want to bring some of that romance to Melbourne with my own touch at Bâtard. I mean, who doesn't love steak frites with a glass of Burgundy?" If Lucas's other venues are anything to go by, expect it to be big, bold and slightly crude — we're hoping for restaurant that rivals Sydney's much-loved Hubert. Bȃtard is set to open its doors at 19-21 Bourke St, Melbourne, later this year. We'll keep you posted when we get an opening date.
If you're a fan of all things garlic, you'll find yourself in excellent company with a visit out to Meeniyan on Saturday, February 15. That's when the famed annual Meeniyan Garlic Festival sees over 8000 punters descend on the Gippsland town for a jam-packed day of garlic-infused fun. This year's food program is as big as ever, with a sprawling lineup of chef appearances, markets, talks and events to tempt just about every palate. Oh, and over two tonnes of garlic. Catch garlic-driven cooking demonstrations from the likes of Hogget's Kitchen's Trevor Perkins, The Grove Gippsland's Antony Ellis and Gippsland Food Ambassador Alejandro Saravia (Pastuso), and try garlic-infused products including milkshakes, beer, scones and coffee at the dedicated garlic marketplace. The town's Main Street eateries will be getting into the spirit, too, with a slew of special festival offerings — including garlic ice cream at The Meeniyan Store — and a Garlic Feast will take place the following day on Sunday, February 16 from 12–4pm. What's more, you can load up on all sorts of knowledge with a series of talks and presentations led by the team at The Garlic Institute. They'll cover everything from garlic's many health benefits through to how to get started as a commercial grower. Meeniyan Garlic Festival runs from 9am–4pm.
These days, plenty of events have been putting the 'fun' in fun run. Some take you jogging through a winery, then let you sip wine. Others ask you to dress up like your favourite Star Wars character, or as Batman. And, you can can decked out with colour while you put one foot after another, too. They're all well and good — but if you're eager to sprint through foam, tumble down waterslides and make your way through mud pits across a five-kilometre obstacle course, you'll want to head to the 5K Foam Fest. Hitting up St Anne's Vineyards on Saturday, November 30, this event will get you running, sliding, climbing, crawling, bouncing, hurdling, hopping through tyres and slipping over tubes. In total, you'll need to conquer more than 20 obstacles. And, although this should be obvious, you can expect to get wet, muddy and foamy while you're doing so. There's a reason that we keep stressing the foam, with 2.5 million cubic feet of it used across the course. Plus, there'll be some on your beer when you have a few cold ones in the beer garden once you're done. Tickets are on sale for this one-day family-friendly affair. If you'd like to have your entry fee reimbursed, you also have the option of using the event to raise money for the Make A Wish Foundation. Image: 5K Foam Fest.
Six Catholic schoolgirls travel to Edinburgh for a choral competition. What could possibly go wrong? In Melbourne for the very first time, the National Theatre of Scotland presents Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour, a raucous production about "singing, sex and Sambuca". Adapted from Alan Warner's novel The Sopranos, with music by everyone from ELO to Bach, the show was a smash with critics and audiences in the UK, and is one of the obvious highlights in the theatre section of this year's Melbourne Festival program.
In early February every year, sweet-toothed souls celebrate World Nutella Day. The day of dessert devotion is just around the corner once again — and it's safe to say Preston Market has your feasting well and truly sorted. The northside precinct is transforming into a treasure trove of chocolatey and hazelnutty delights for the occasion on Saturday, February 5, as a stack of its traders get into the spirit with a range of special offers, free tastings and one-off Nutella dishes. Get stuck into Nutella-stuffed croissants at both Publique Bakery and Rustic Bean Cafe, treat yourself to one of Calavera's Nutella cronuts, gorge on Nutella-filled ricotta cannoli from Cannoleria, or opt for one of the more virtuous vegan Nutella smoothie bowls being served up by Super Raw. Meanwhile, Les Crepes Gourmandes will be stacking both Nutella crepes and waffles, with each of those orders also scoring a free jar of the spread to-go. World Nutella Day runs from 8am–3pm. [caption id="attachment_841133" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cannoleria[/caption]
UPDATE, February 1, 2023: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is available to stream via Disney+ from Wednesday, February 1. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever isn't the movie it was initially going to be, the sequel to 2018's electrifying and dynamic Black Panther that anyone behind it originally wanted it to be, or the chapter in the sprawling Marvel Cinematic Universe that it first aimed to be — this, the world already knows. The reason why is equally familiar, after Chadwick Boseman died from colon cancer in 2020 aged 43. At its best, this direct followup to the MCU's debut trip to its powerful African nation doesn't just know this, too, but scorches that awareness deep into its frames. King T'Challa's death starts the feature, a loss that filmmaking trickery doesn't reverse, no matter how meaningless mortality frequently proves when on-screen resurrections are usually a matter of mere plot twists. Wakanda Forever begins with heartbreak and pain, in fact, and with facing the hard truth that life ends and, in ways both big and small, that nothing is ever the same. Your typical franchise entry about quick-quipping costumed crusaders courageously protecting the planet, this clearly isn't. Directed and co-written by Ryan Coogler (Creed) like its predecessor — co-scripting again with Joe Robert Cole (All Day and a Night) — Wakanda Forever is about grief, expected futures that can no longer be and having to move forward anyway. That applies in front of and behind the lens; as ruminating so heavily on loss underscores, the movie has a built-in justification for not matching the initial flick. The Boseman-sized hole at Wakanda Forever's centre is gaping, unsurprisingly, even in a feature that's a loving homage to him, and his charm and gravitas-filled take on the titular character. Also, that vast void isn't one this film can fill. Amid overtly reckoning with absence, Coogler still has a top-notch cast — returnees Letitia Wright, Angela Bassett, Danai Gurira, Lupita Nyong'o and Winston Duke, plus new addition Tenoch Huerta, most notably — drawing eyeballs towards his vibrant imagery, but his picture is also burdened with MCU bloat and mechanics, and infuriating bet-hedging. The emotional tributes to T'Challa and Boseman hit swiftly, after the former's tech-wiz sister Shuri (Wright, Death on the Nile) agonises over not being able to save him. In a swirl of song, dance, colour, movement, rhythm and feeling on par with the first instalment, but also solemn, Wakanda erupts in mourning, and the film makes plain that the Black Panther audiences knew is gone forever. A year later, sorrow lingers, but global courtesy wanes — now that the world knows about the previously secret country and its metal vibranium, everyone wants a piece. Such searching incites a new threat to the planet, courtesy of Mesoamerican underwater kingdom Talokan and its leader-slash-deity Namor (Huerta, Narcos: Mexico). The Atlantis-esque ocean realm has vibranium as well, and it's not keen on anywhere else but Wakanda doing the same. If Queen Ramonda (Bassett, Gunpowder Milkshake), Shuri and their compatriots don't join Namor to fight back, Namor will wage war against them instead. Given Coogler and Cole's basic premise, bringing back Okoye (Gurira, The Walking Dead), head of the Wakanda's formidable Dora Milaje warriors, is obviously easy. The same applies to fellow soldier Ayo (Florence Kasumba, Tatort), and to introducing Aneka (Michaela Coel, I May Destroy You). Straight-talking tribal leader M'Baku (Duke, Nine Days) makes a seamless comeback and, although she's working in a school in Haiti, former spy Nakia (Nyong'o, The 355) does the same. Even excusing seeing CIA operative Everett Ross (Martin Freeman, Breeders) again is straightforward enough, but keeping overarching Marvel saga cogs turning means a pointless reappearance for another character familiar from the broader series but new to Black Panther movies. And, it results in the clunkiest of kickoffs for "young, gifted and Black" college student Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne, Judas and the Black Messiah), the star of upcoming MCU Disney+ TV show Ironheart, who is needlessly shoehorned in on the big-screen. Serving itself first and foremost, rather than the behemoth of a franchise it's in, was one of the OG Black Panther's many glorious delights. That picture felt alive, unique, rich and impassioned — and dedicated to standing out, including via its Afrofuturism — in a way that nothing else in the MCU has. While the colours lensed by cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw (Loki) are more muted now, befitting the tone of mourning, the grand visual spectacle and love for everything Wakanda stands for thankfully remains in the second go-around; however, 30 films in instead of 18, Wakanda Forever sadly isn't allowed just to be concerned with its own patch. Worse, that box-ticking, piece-connecting switch comes with an unwillingness to be truly bold where it matters: the future of Black Panther. The women of Wakanda get their time to shine here, and to show they deserve the spotlight. Alas, then arrives an end-credits scene that's sentimental where the rest of the flick firmly isn't, and gives Marvel a convenient way to change course if Wakanda Forever sparks a manchild backlash. Coogler knows that viewers will watch wondering what Wakanda Forever might've been if it was the movie originally intended. Indeed, grappling with that within the film itself will always be its smartest move. Accordingly, come for the meaningful musing on grief and lost possibilities, and a heartfelt tribute. Come, too, for plenty that made the initial Black Panther engaging and resonant: the cast and their stellar performances, especially Wright and Bassett; Wakanda's look, vibe and sound; and the commanding yet nuanced and fleshed-out antagonist, with Huerta nailing his MCU debut (and following capably in Michael B Jordan's footsteps). There's also the inherent commentary, this time pointing out battles over the earth's resources, and how colonial powers push people who should be aligned into conflict among themselves. And, yes, come for brief flashbacks of Boseman — although in a better all-round film, they wouldn't be as key a highlight. Staying — and with a 161-minute duration, viewers are in for an overlong sitting — heralds much that's simply standard, far less impressive, curious or a missed opportunity, though. Some examples: the workmanlike climax despite eye-catching action beforehand, shortchanging Wright and Bassett's scenes together, too many easy comic-book tropes, too many subplots, trying to do to many things, all the blue and undersea dives so close to Avatar: The Way of Water's release, and failing to give T'Challa's death a named cause. (Imagine how potent it would've been to say that cancer claimed this mighty superhero, as it does to too many ordinary folks every single day, and also to recognise the disease that took Boseman.) When Wakanda Forever is at its most by-the-numbers, too, it plays like Marvel dragging its most diverse and distinctive arm down rather than lifting it up. Of course, the film tells you how it wants you to respond to its struggles and messiness, because it acknowledges that they're a part of mourning. But forging through can resemble treading water — it does have the wing-footed villain for it.
Celebrating Japan by actually heading to the country is back on the agenda, with the Asian nation's strict border rules finally relaxing. Can't make the trip ASAP? Fancy getting your Japanese thrills in a cinema instead — or until you can hop on a plane? Then Australia's annual touring Japanese Film Festival has timed its return well. As it does every year, this year's JFF has compiled a selection of must-see recent and retro Japanese movies, and will bring its lineup Melbourne in November and December. There's two parts: a rundown the latest and greatest flicks the country has to offer, screening from Wednesday, November 30–Sunday, December 4 at The Kino; and a classics series, showing iconic films on 35mm from Friday, December 2–Sunday, December 4 at ACMI. The 2022 fest will open with historical drama Dreaming of the Meridian Arc, which hops between present-day Japan and the Edo period to tell the tale behind the man who completed the first-ever map of Japan. Also a huge highlight: the retro season's focus on filmmaker Mikio Naruse, with 1954's Sound of the Mountain, 1960's When a Woman Ascends the Stairs and 1964's Yearning on the bill — and showing for free. Back to the recent titles (and the paid part of the program), standouts include psychological thriller Lesson in Murder, which starts when a college student gets a letter from a serial killer on death row; drama In the Wake, about the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011; and the animated Blue Thermal, with the world of competitive gliding soaring onto the screen. Anime Supremacy! is unsurprisingly focused on characters who live and breath anime production; Baby Assassins gives battling the yakuza (and being hitmen) a kawaii spin, and culinary documentary The Pursuit of Perfection follows top Tokyo chefs Takemasa Shinohara (Ginza Shinohara), Natsuko Shōji (Été), Yōsuke Suga (Sugalabo) and Takaaki Sugita (Sushi Sugita). Top image: Baby Assassins Film Partners.
"Player or watcher?" Nerve asks, and it's not an easy question to answer. The query may stem from the fictional dare-based game that gives the film its name, but there's no missing the real-world parallels. In these Snapchat-sending, Vine-streaming, Pokemon GO-playing times, this tech-savvy thriller feels relevant to the minute. With our lives increasingly lived through screens, our connections and conversations more often virtual than physical, and our days whiled away either posting selfies, or watching others do the same, the question needs to be asked: where do we draw the line? These are the big issues touched upon in Nerve, a film that's hardly subtle about the negative influence the internet has had on human behaviour. Thankfully, the film never tries to lecture millennials about their preferred pastimes. Instead, Catfish directors Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman keep toying with their favourite topics via a slickly and swiftly-told tale that never fails to entertain, even if the underlying narrative doesn't always stand up to scrutiny. But hey, when you're making a film about people doing reckless things for online fame and fortune, a certain number of illogical choices are to be expected. When Venus Delmonico (Emma Roberts) musters up the courage to participate in the live-streamed game, her spur-of-the-moment decision ends up being the first of many. The studious 17-year-old is motivated in part by the prize money she could put towards attending a Californian college, but also by a desire to venture beyond her comfort zone after being rejected by her football hero crush (Brian Marc). Kissing a stranger is Vee's first task, and when she locks lips with Ian (Dave Franco) in a diner, she discovers that he's playing the game as well. At first the viewing public seems eager for them to pair up, venture into New York, try on fancy clothes and get tattoos. But as the young duo begins to lure in more eyeballs, the dares become not just more lucrative, but more dangerous as well. Much of this movie's charms come from simply watching Vee and Ian roam around Manhattan, reacting to the challenges thrown their way and letting their mutual attraction flourish. Indeed, the film's first half doubles as a different take on the usual walk-and-talk movie date scenario. That Roberts and Franco make an engaging and enthusiastic pair helps; that Joost and Schulman are just as vibrant and energetic in their pacing and style does as well. Of course as enjoyable as it is watching the two lead actors race around attempting ridiculous feats, this effort about online entertainment isn't all fun and games. When Nerve wanders deeper into darker territory more akin to David Fincher's The Game, it's not always as successful – in fact, the feature's third act is positively silly. But by then, you're a watcher, and you can't tear your eyes away.
This spring, Prahran Market is hosting its eighth annual Say Cheese Festival. But just like last year's event, this edition will be a virtual one, held across three dairy-filled days that you can enjoy without leaving the house. As always, the festival's dedicated to looking at, learning about and eating a whole lot of cheese — and buying even more to eat later. The 2021 program will feature producer-led cheese tastings, virtual chef cook-alongs and the return of the legendary Grilled Cheese Invitational toastie competition. All events are free to join online, though those located within 15 kilometres of Prahran Market can also order accompanying tasting packs for delivery. On Friday, October 15, Maker & Monger's Anthony Femia joins chef Diana Chan for an all-Victorian cheese tasting, with the 13-strong cheese lineup available to enjoy for $55. On Saturday, October 16, Hero's Karen Martini guides viewers through making a decadent gruyere, cheddar and confit garlic tart, while MasterChef alum Simon Toohey hosts a vegan cook-along where he'll share the secrets to his plant-based mac 'n' cheese. Then, on Sunday, October 17, kitchen stars such as Jessi Singh, Jerry Mai, Anthony Femia, Dani Valent and Darren Purchese go head to head in the Grilled Cheese Invitational. And, you can watch while devouring Maker & Monger's toastie trio tasting pack, which'll cost you $45. Packs are available to pre-order online up until 5pm on Monday, October 11 — or whenever they're sold out.
The top end of Collins Street is about to get a whole lot more glamorous, with London cocktail bar Kwãnt making its way to Melbourne for Negroni Week. From 5–8pm on Sunday, September 24, Kwãnt's bartender Giusy Castaldo will be taking over The Lounge at Society, mixing up three of the bar's signature cocktails that feature Campari as the star. The cocktails on offer will be the Sunflower Negroni, the High Five and the Story. The first is a contemporary take on the classic negroni, as also made with gin, vermouth and Jerusalem artichoke, while the High Five blends chilli liqueur, watermelon and Ethiopian berry tincture. Finally, the Story goes with mezcal, chilli liqueur, berry cordial and tropical mix. In addition to the cocktails, guests will also be able to enjoy bites from Society's kitchen. The event is walk-in only, so try to arrive early to avoid missing out. If you're feeling really keen and work in hospitality, you can also sign up for the Campari Academy, which will take place at The Lounge at Society from 1–3pm on the same day. It's open to all bar professionals, and will see Giusy Castaldo sharing wisdom and showing how she goes about making the three cocktails that headline the night. She'll also expand upon Kwãnt's drinks philosophy. This is a pretty rare opportunity to experience one of the world's best cocktail bars (and a regular inclusion on the World's 50 Best Bars list) in Melbourne. So, if you're a fan of negronis or simply good cocktails, you might wanna mark this one in your cal.
If an apocalypse ever brings humanity so close to extinction that there might only be two people left, one thing is certain: if that duo is together and can communicate, they'll spend most of their time nattering about nothing. They'll talk. They'll argue. They'll fill the days, months and years by talking and arguing. They'll still be human, in other words, doing what humans do. Biosphere sets up house within this very scenario, and in that exact truth. Here, lifelong pals Billy (Mark Duplass, Language Lessons) and Ray (Sterling K Brown, This Is Us) are the only folks left after the planet has met a catastrophic fate — one that, because he was the US President when things went dystopian, Billy likely had a hand in — and they're now confined to the movie's titular structure. So, they talk. Sometimes, they argue. When first-time feature-length filmmaker Mel Eslyn plunges the audience into this situation, her characters have been talking and arguing, then arguing and talking, for so long that it's just what they do. Working with a script that she co-penned with Duplass, Eslyn introduces Biosphere's viewers to a self-contained ecosystem of discussing and disagreeing. In the abode designed and built by Ray, a scientist and Billy's former advisor, this pair has no other choice. "Self-contained" perfectly sums up the sensation when the film begins flickering, too — as Ray and Billy go for their daily jog around the sphere, talking and arguing as they trot, their dynamic and their routine is conveyed with such efficiency that it feels like you've been watching for longer than you have. Biosphere doesn't drag, though. Rather, it's excellent at constructing a lived-in world with Billy and Ray as they live through what could be the end of the world. It's ace at storytelling as well, but the talking, the arguing, and the immersive and relatable air all smartly say plenty about a movie that recognises from the outset how adaptable people are. "Life finds a way", aka pop culture's go-to Jurassic Park quote about resilience and versatility, even gets a mention in Biosphere. Life has clearly found a way to keep Billy and Ray chatting and conflicting like they've always done since childhood — the fact that their banter about Super Mario Bros and other trivial minutiae could be happening anywhere is purposefully meant to linger — but that's not all that Eslyn and Duplass have that famous line of dialogue sum up. Biosphere's narrative gets its drama when tragedy strikes the pond of fish that Billy and Ray have been using for sustenance, then a surprise development makes just as much of an impact. Life again finds a way in a number of manners, in a picture that revels in taking its audience along for the ride. While the second big revelation is easy to predict after the first, Biosphere's commitment to it keeps astonishing. A question lingers at the heart of this cleverly contemplative survival comedy: if all that was left of humans really was just two buddies shooting the shit and literally running in circles as they live Bio-Dome- and Spaceship Earth-style, how would the species respond? To be accurate, that's just one of many trains of thought in a layered screenplay that gets Duplass again unpacking modern masculinity as 2009 mumblecore entry Humpday did also. Two things couldn't be more important, then: tone and casting, which Eslyn and Duplass patently know. Biosphere is a film about interactions and reactions, after all, which couldn't be more dependent upon the prevailing mood and the players involved. Over and over, the movie's creative hands express and interrogate their ideas not just through the tale they're telling, but through filmmaking's fundamental elements. Again, this is efficient cinema — and effective. Biosphere's pivotal vibe is loose and light yet tender and compassionate. As writers, Eslyn and Duplass know what to take seriously, what to joke with and about, and how to avoid plummeting their huge twist into extinction. They lean into awkwardness but also hope. With all the talking and arguing, they also understand the rhythms of chatter and silence. None of this should be underestimated, and nor should Eslyn's fine-tuned efforts in bringing this sci-fi setup to the screen. Even the slightest wrong or false move would've punctured the film irreparably. Examining friendship, anxiety, identity and the nature of existence is like erecting and then dwelling in a dome when everything beyond the plastic is always pitch black, with shattering a fragile idyll far easier than maintaining it. Directing after shorts, TV series Room 104, and producing a swag of Duplass-starring flicks (Your Sister's Sister, The One I Love, Blue Jay, Creep 2, Paddleton and Language Lessons, for instance), Eslyn seems fated to have had cinematographer Nathan M Miller (also Paddleton) and the rest of her crew peer her co-scribe's way. Duplass frequently pens the indie flicks that he's in — solo or with a partner — but he's also excellent as Billy, who starts off as the slacker goof of this two-hander despite his presidential past. Selling the character's complicated journey from there isn't a simple task, but Duplass makes it look as easy and realistic as all the conversation and quarrelling. As the serious and analytical Ray, Brown is just as superbly cast in an equally as complex part. And their chemistry? Any filmmaker with actors who gel this well would have them talking almost non-stop, too. With its confined setting, lone pair of on-screen talents and dialogue-heavy approach, Biosphere is an economical movie, too, making the utmost of limited resources. Keeping the details about doomsday's coming vague might seem a budget-driven move as a result — neither telling nor showing what happened, nor what lurks beyond other than a growing green light in the sky — but it's also the best choice for the narrative. Why Billy and Ray are in this predicament is far less fascinating than what they do after their world gets domed in. Compared to exploring how humans adapt and cope from the ordinary talking and arguing through to the downright extraordinary, it's even superficial. Diving deeper comes naturally to this end-times comedy, although it does possess a fitting worst trait: loving existing so much that it's unsure about how to end.
The just-dropped program for this year's Melbourne Writers Festival has a distinct musical edge, as it sets out to pay homage to that intersection between songwriting and literature. For its 2018 edition, with Marieke Hardy making her debut as artistic director, the festival celebrates the theme 'A Matter of Life and Death', pulling together a swag of iconic Aussie musicians to share their take on their art. In news to thrill music fiends and wordsmiths alike, Jimmy Barnes trips back in time for 'Musical Memory', getting nostalgic with a collection of seven-inch records, while rock legend Paul Kelly sets poetry to music in his event, 'Other People's Words'. You'll catch Steve Kilbey, frontman of The Church, as he performs hits from across his impressive 43-year career, US singer-songwriter Neko Case in a discussion titled 'The Book That Made Me a Feminist', and a chat with our own Sally Seltmann about women who make art. Then, there's Duets — a series of live performances and discussions curated by SLAM and Bakehouse founder Helen Marcou. Each session matches up an emerging artist with an established one, pairing the likes of Sarah Blasko with indie-folk act Ryan Downey, Jen Cloher with Brisbane rapper Miss Blanks, and Kate Ceberano with young soul artist Kaiit. Meanwhile, kicking off the fun as part of MWF18's 'You Are Here' gala, you'll find American artist Andrew W.K throwing down good vibes with a positivity coaching session, child soldier turned rap icon Fablice Manirakiza throwing down some live tunes, and legendary author Andy Griffiths turning his talents to a DJ set. A slew of authors, writers and activists who aren't musical (well, publicly) will also be talking and holding workshops, including Marwa al-Sabouni a Syrian architect and author, The New Yorker's television critic Emily Nussbaum, veteran investigative journalist David Neiwart and engineer and author Yassmin Abdel-Magied.
The opening moments of For Sama aren't easily forgotten. As journalist Waad Al-Kateab sings to infant Sama in their Aleppo home — a room in the city's only remaining volunteer hospital — in 2016, the sound of tank shells puncture her soothing tones. With her doctor husband Hamza, Waad and her daughter soon start to flee. As they rush hurriedly downstairs, a flash appears at the end of the hallway, filling the corridor with smoke. The trio make it to safety, huddling with others in the same situation. To keep Sama distracted as they wait out the attack, they play a game of peek-a-boo with the baby using their air-filtration face masks. Shot by Waad herself — For Sama's narrator, producer, cinematographer, co-director with Edward Watts and one of its subjects — this sequence kicks off this Oscar-nominated, Cannes-awarded, BAFTA-winning documentary as it means to go on. That said, in a film that doesn't shy away from the blood spilled, lives lost and bodies piled up during the ongoing Syrian Civil War, this introductory scene actually provides some of the movie's least confronting sights. Given how tough, fraught and tense the feature's first moments are, that speaks volumes about everything that follows. But difficult images and emotions are to be expected when peering into the lives of ordinary Syrians caught up in the country's seemingly ceaseless conflict, especially when detailed in such an intimate fashion. As the film's simple, personal and expressive title suggests, Waad has fashioned her documentary as a visual letter to her firstborn. A chronicle of Sama's time in the crumbling Aleppo, it's also an explanation, a time capsule and a portrait of a place that the Al-Kateabs passionately fought for. Using footage recorded since 2012 — when the Arab Spring initially sparked protests in Syria — Waad captures the war from her own viewpoint. Her skills as an activist and journalist are essential, but her role as a mother and the fact that she's a passionate, empathetic person prove even more important. Waad doesn't capture soldiers in battle, bombs being fired or buildings turning to ruins, instead focusing on her own efforts to simultaneously fight for her home, maintain a life and help many others in need. Piecing it all together via a poignant video diary, she also depicts the many others trying to do the same, as well as the casualties and consequences. Accordingly, this is a doco where children arrive at the hospital covered in blood, muck and dust from artillery fire, then leave crying as their siblings join the growing body count. It's a film where mothers scream with pain and fury, inconsolable about their losses but adamant that everything must be recorded in order to show the world what's happening. And, it's a movie where Waad is committed to battling for freedom however she can — by documenting the war, assisting at the hospital and, crucially, by refusing to run away — but still agonises over the choice to bring Sama into the world. Every second is heartwrenching. Every moment is devastating. Every frame stares into the on-the-ground nightmare, as relayed by someone experiencing it as it happens. While the conflict in Syria has understandably become a frequent cinematic topic — For Sama is just one of two films on the subject that were nominated for this year's Academy Award for Best Documentary — Waad's personal approach makes an enormously powerful impact. We watch as she evolves from economics student to married filmmaker and mother. We hear her thoughts, prayers and regrets. We feel her initial hope that Bashar al-Assad's Russian-backed dictatorship will come to an end, her fear when the shells and bombs keep raining down, and her seemingly impossible quest to balance her love of her country with her love for her fledgling family. And, we also watch as she records intimate, life-changing events around her, giving them the benefit of her eyewitness insight. In the latter category, footage of doctors working on a baby born via emergency caesarian ranks among the movie's many inclusions that audiences will want to both stare deeply at and instantly look away from. Jerky and jittery both emotionally and visually, there are no easy images here — even when Waad's handheld cinematography simply gazes at Sama's smiling face. There are no easy answers either, even though the utter horror of targeting civilians like Waad and her compatriots in war is never in doubt. A dedicated, distraught and despairing act of bearing witness, For Sama channels all of its energy into presenting a vital perspective — and one that's so routinely overlooked in tales of conflict. War is waged not just on nations, leaders and soldiers, but on ordinary people, mothers, children and babies, as this shattering film never lets slip out of view. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04BVhwx1RpA
Some days you wake up, go for a quick run, make yourself a cheeky bowl of Cornflakes. Others, you rise knowing today's the day, the glorious moment when you can shape squid ink-coloured cuttlefish into a ball, painstakingly sculpt it to look like a penguin and viciously mount it on a kebab stick for the masses to enjoy. This is that day for Hong Kong gamechangers The Drunken Pot, who have created one heck of an adorable offering for the Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival, now running on HK's Central Harbourfront until October 30. Dubbed the 'Happy Penguin Cuttlefish Ball', this little Instagrammable delight is one of the festival's so-called 'Adorable Eats', which is legitimately a series of highly cute dishes on offer at the event. While jumping a flight across to Honkers to inhale these staked Pengus isn't on the cards for everyone, sitting back and marvelling at them from your chair and knowing you won't have to eat cuttlefish should suffice. Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival runs until October 30.
Flow Athletica's super-popular silent disco yoga classes have, in the past, seen up to 800 yogis shavasana-ing together. This time, it's aiming for 10,000. Obviously, in the current COVID-19 climate, this won't feature people in one physical room, but thousands of people all logging on together for a virtual version of the class. First up, taking place at 7pm AEST on Thursday, April 9, the 90-minute all-level vinyasa class will be hosted by Flow Athletic co-founder Kate Kendall — and beamed across the world to Hong Kong, London, Singapore and New York. In true Flow style, there'll be beats from Sydney DJ James Mack. And lots of neon. Then, at 7pm AEST on Wednesday, May 6, there'll be a slower vinyasa class, focusing more on relieving stress and tension and accompanied by mellow tunes. Expect 40 minutes of flowing movement, followed by 20 minutes guided rest. Tickets are only $10, which is a bargain considering physical classes usually set you back $50. You will, however, need to BYO yoga mat.
