As well as giving popular culture some of its most beloved characters of the past few decades, the Harry Potter franchise has also conjured up a whole heap of astonishing critters. The Boy Who Lived himself studied them at Hogwarts, all thanks to textbook Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Then, to the joy of Potter-loving muggles everywhere, that tome became an actual IRL text in 2001. Every Wizarding World fan knows that that book followed the original Harry Potter novels in making the leap from the page to the screen, resulting in a first film in 2016, then 2018 sequel Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald and also 2022's Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. But if you're more interested in the actual fantastic beasts than a movie plot spun around them — and in natural history in general — exhibition Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature has you covered. First announced in 2020, then premiering at London's Natural History Museum, this is all about critters that fly, scamper and scurry through the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts realm on the page and screen; however, it's also about real-life creatures, specimens and artefacts, too. The exhibition combines beasts from the natural world, the mythical world and the Wizarding World, and was always slated for an international tour. Now, it's Australia's turn to see it, with the showcase displaying at Melbourne Museum from Friday, May 19–Sunday, October 8. Visitors to Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature will see legendary beasts placed alongside specimens and historic objects, while also venturing through elements from cinema's last two decades. Unsurprisingly, there'll also be a hefty focus on Newt Scamander, the Wizarding World's famed magizoologist as played Eddie Redmayne (The Good Nurse). You'll see items from the Natural History Museum's scientific collections, custom-made Wizarding World models, props from the flicks and original artworks from Bloomsbury Publishing. And, you'll also also wander through a celebration of real-life scientists trying to understand the planet's animal inhabitants. In London, the exhibits included a tiger, a Galápagos marine iguana and a giant oarfish (the planet's longest bony fish) alongside an Erumpent horn and the dragon skull from Professor Lupin's classroom. Patrons were also able to compare the camouflage tactics of a jaguar to those of the Demiguise. Images: Trustees of the Natural History Museum London.
Melbourne has one of the best dining scenes in the world. We're not just saying that because we're from here — the proof is in the pudding. Or rather, the tropical-themed bars hidden behind fridge doors in sandwich shops and Michelin star-worthy restaurants like Ben Shewry's Attica. Melbourne is a wonderland filled with so many culinary delights, that you'd throw your red shoes in the Yarra long before you'd ever click your heels together to go back to Kansas. With so many incredible restaurants to hit, it's never easy to narrow it down to one — especially when you've got something to celebrate. But don't worry, with the help of Citi we've done all the legwork for you and come up with four top-notch dining spots that are guaranteed to impress. All you have to do is make the booking. The best part? Thanks to the Citibank Dining Program, if you're a Citi customer and pay using your Citi card, you'll even score a free bottle of wine. Now that's a party.
When two legends from either side of the border join forces for a music-fuelled culinary collaboration, great things can happen. This is exactly what we're in for this month when Sydney's beloved US-style diner Valentina's drops by Abbotsford's Lulie Tavern for a weekend of live tunes and all-day breakfast eats. From Saturday, February 18–Sunday, February 19, the rock 'n roll bar will be extending its opening hours and maximising the good times, opening from 10am to offer locals a taste of Valentina's beloved brekkie classics. Highlights include giant pancakes, patty melts and English muffin breakfast sangas, plus the signature Tina Classic — a plate of scrambled egg, bacon and crispy home fries with either pancakes or a muffin. [caption id="attachment_887687" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Valentina's[/caption] Brekkie will be available all day long and you'll find a stack of great drink options to match. Think, coffee by Supreme, a couple of different brews from Valentina's Marrickville neighbour Grifter Brewing Co, vino courtesy of Fin Wines and boozy treats by Jameson. As always, Lulie will be dishing up a rocking soundtrack from open to close, complete with a Saturday night set from DJ Ginger Taylor and a live gig by Hana & Jessie-Lee's Bad Habits wrapping things up on the Sunday. [caption id="attachment_868486" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jake Roden[/caption] Top images: courtesy of Valentina's
Offal ain't as awful as you might think. In fact, these not-so-sexy meat cuts can be damn right delicious. Nonetheless, we get that they can make a lot of people feel uneasy. Many Aussies just aren't used to eating tripe and tendons. But if you are keen to expand your tastes — as any true Melburnian should — consider trying BKK's limited-edition beef offal soups. Every weekend for lunch and dinner until Sunday, October 6, the BKK crew is offering a build-your-own soup special starting from just $13. The Thai boat noodle soup is made with rich beef broth, rice noodles, fresh herbs and house-made crispy chilli oil. It is a delicious blank canvas on which you can create your own masterpiece. [caption id="attachment_842089" align="alignnone" width="1920"] BKK, by Parker Blain[/caption] To this base, you can add tripe, beef tendons, duck blood jelly, gai lan greens, mushrooms and bean shoots. Start off with just one new protein or go all out by tossing them all into the bowl — baptism by fire. Alternatively, you can simply go for the beef brisket and meatballs. That's definitely allowed, but this Melbourne cheap eats deal is meant to hero offal. So, trust the BKK crew at HER, and dive into something a little different on the weekend. That is unless you already love offal. If that's the case, go ham on all the wonderful protein additions and slurp away to your heart's content.
Are you feeling stressed about the end of the world? If yes, you might want head to this Next Wave event. An immersive live art experience incorporating VR technology, Bureau of Meteoranxiety by Perth-based artists Alex Tate and Olivia Tartaglia will allow participants to work through their fears of climate change by exposing them to "experimental visual therapies and sensory remedies" and providing "new language and coping strategies to help stay above the metaphorical and literal flood line". Photo credit: Michael Tartaglia
Consider yourself a pastry connoisseur? Don't miss the chance to help decide Ballarat's Best Pie, as this much-loved food event returns for its third year. Featuring 36 sweet and savoury creations produced by the city's most inventive chefs and bakers, several awards make sure the best of the best are properly recognised by filling fanatics. Running from Friday, August 1–Sunday, August 31, there are seven categories in total, with some of the returning awards including Best Pie, Best Sweet Pie and Best Bakery Pie. The 2025 competition is also adding several new accolades, including the Pie with Purpose — awarding a low-waste, innovative or local produce approach — and the People's Choice Pie, where you're invited to cast your vote. Heading up the judging is an esteemed panel featuring MasterChef Australia contestant and Ballarat local Tim Bone, and acclaimed food writer Richard Cornish. Joined by renowned cook, author and television presenter Julia Busuttil Nishimura as MC, they'll come together on Saturday, August 2, to hand out the top prizes. However, you'll have plenty more time to vote online or using the QR code at each venue. Having become a veritable hub for top-notch baking and cuisine in general, Ballarat has a huge range of flaky goodness to explore. Some of the best might just include 1816 Bakehouse's butter chicken pie, the Aussie Oggie Pastry Co's prawn and scallop pie, and the limoncello meringue pie at Kilderkin Distillery. Plan your visit to the Central Highlands and see if the winners stand up to your scrutiny.
Fancy taking your tastebuds on a flavour-packed, wok-fuelled adventure through Thailand? Forget about digging out that passport — in autumn, the Bangkok Street Food Festival is bringing it all right here to you. Dishing up the goods from Friday, March 31–Saturday, April 1 as part of Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, the event will see Bangkok's legendary one-dish eatery Phed Mark bringing its famed pad krapao (a Thai basil stir-fry) to Melbourne for the first time ever. Alongside the CBD's own Thai favourites Soi38, BKK and DoDee Paidang, the restaurant will descend on Drewery Lane (beneath BKK) for a two-night celebration of Thai street food. Expect fire, spice, smoke and bold flavours aplenty. [caption id="attachment_890857" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Phed Mark's famed pad krapao.[/caption] With limited bookings and walk-ins available, Melburnians will be treated to a showcase of signature dishes from all four venues — from noodles through to chicken curry puffs, and including gutsy larb ped with duck as well. Of course, you're going to need some cooling bevs to match, and there'll be stacks of sips to choose from. Think: smashable long necks and punchy cocktails — including BKK's gin-infused Sawadee Kha crafted on house-made lemongrass and fresh ginger tea.
After a slew of successful one-day-only takeaway offers throughout lockdown, Collingwood Yard's Hope St Radio is firing up the barbecue for a sausage sizzle this Friday, September 24, with all proceeds set to be donated to the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service and Dhadjowa Foundation. Slightly less delicate than its usual fare of beautifully presented carpaccio and plates of handmade pasta, but certainly not any less appetising, the internet-radio-turned-wine-bar will be slinging hot dogs from 12—3pm or until sold out. The delectable hot dogs will cost $10. Between a fluffy hot dog bun, you'll find Hagen's organic frankfurt, house-made sweet pepper relish, pickle, coriander and jalapeno salsa, mustard and sauce with some Chappy's hand-made potato chips on the side. You can follow Hope St Radio and its weekend lockdown takeaway offerings here.
2021. A year that began off the back of months of lockdown, with hopes for a brighter restriction-free future, is ending pretty much the exact same way. But despite the rollercoaster of a year we've had, one shining light has been the swathe of new restaurant openings popping up all over town. From creative Indo-inspired lunches at a tiny sandwich shop, to a three-storey homage to all things Gippsland, the offerings from new restaurants this year have been truly impressive and exceptionally tasty. Here are our personal favourites for you to add to your culinary bucket list and make a beeline to this summer.
With WorldPride having descended on Sydney for 17 dazzling days of celebrations, you can bet Melbourne's dishing up a few local treats of its own. And among them are a couple of Pride-themed editions of Tina's Bingo Academy — the much-loved drag bingo lunch sessions that fire up Tokyo Tina each weekend. Across multiple sittings on Saturday, February 25 (12pm and 2.15pm) and Sunday, February 26 (1pm), the Windsor hot spot will be getting into the WorldPride spirit with a little help from hostess with mostest, Valerie Hex. Guests will enjoy her sparkling repartee while indulging in a raucous spot of bingo — and trust us, this is not the kind your nan plays. [caption id="attachment_848174" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Leah Traecey[/caption] For $79, you'll spend two hours sipping bottomless tap beer, bubbly and Aperol spritzes, while feasting on your table's choice of four dishes from the brunch menu. Expect plates like miso-baked cauliflower, salmon tartare, five-spice chicken karaage, pan-fried fish with finger lime ponzu, and crispy corn fritters paired with sansho mayo. There's complimentary kimchi rice and edamame to match. And if you're only in for the eats and entertainment, a drinks-less option comes in at just $55.
Even though we're on the other side of the world, Melbourne still hosts plenty of big Fourth of July parties every year. US-style barbecue joints, pizza shops and diners all run specials and events, but new kid on the block Moon Dog Wild West is, dare we say it, trumping them all this year. This three-storey wild west-themed saloon is already heavy on the Americana, from the blues band playing each night and its free-to-ride bucking bull, to the Tex-Mex eats and Jack Daniels slushies. But on Thursday, July 4, Moon Dog Wild West will become even more American. The Headhunters will be playing classic sing-along tunes from 7pm, plus there'll even be a hot dog eating competition — you really can't get more American than that. There'll be a couple of food and drink specials available for the day, including The Americano Plate, which is loaded with smoked beef brisket, pulled barbecued pork, spiced chicken wings, smoked jalapeño and cheddar sausage, biscuits and gravy, house pickles, corn on the cob and coleslaw. A classic pumpkin pie will also be up for grabs — that is, if you have room after scoffing down that platter of meat — while Cajun-style boiled peanuts will be served up for free. Moon Dog Wild West's Fourth of July party is free to attend and walk-ins are welcome, but you can also book a table online to ensure you don't miss out on the fun.
Melbourne is buzzing. Everyone's wearing yellow and black. That means that the AFL Grand Final is almost here. It also means a public holiday on the Friday, so some of your regular spots may be shut. So if you're on the hunt for a quick brekkie before the parade, a long lunch away from the footy madness, or a few preparatory drinks this Grand Final public holiday, we've put together an extensive list of all the cafes, bars and restaurants that'll be open on Friday, September 27. There's a bit of everything on the list to suit footy fanatics and renouncers alike, from classic Italian pizzas in Carlton, Indian food in the CBD to a few craft beers down in St Kilda. [caption id="attachment_728900" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Daughter in Law by Peter Tarasiuk[/caption] RESTAURANTS Chin Chin, 11am - 11pm Mr. Miyagi, Windsor: 12pm noon–late, Satuday and Sunday Mamasita, Melbourne: 6pm–late Kisume, CBD: 12pm noon - 2.30pm, 5pm - 11pm Bistro Gitan, South Yarra: 12pm–late Daughter In Law, CBD: 5pm–10pm Jamu, Richmond: 11am–11pm Estelle, Northcote: 5pm–late Fatto Bar & Cantina, CBD: 12pm–late Hanoi Hannah New Quarter, Richmond: 12pm–11pm Lupo, Collingwood: 12pm–4.30, 6pm–11pm Matilda, South Yarra: 12pm–3pm, 6pm–10pm Neptune, Windsor: 4pm–1am Tipico, Windsor: 5pm–late Tokyo Tina, Windsor: 12pm–10pm Red Sparrow Pizza, Collingwood and Prahran: 5–10pm [caption id="attachment_735957" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bodriggy Brewing Co. by Kate Shanasy[/caption] BARS Bodriggy Brewing Co, Abbotsford: 11.30am–11pm (open till 1am Thursday, September 26) The Espy, St Kilda: 10am–2pm Bar Romantica, Brunswick East: 4pm–4am Arbory Bar & Eatery, CBD: 7.30am–1am Arbory Afloat, CBD: 11am –1am Agostino, Carlton: noon–10pm Galah, Windsor: 3pm–1am East End Wine Bar, Hawthorn East: 3pm–1am Bomba Rooftop, CBD: noon–3pm, 5pm–late Peaches, CBD: 4pm–late The Village Belle Hotel, St Kilda: 9am–3am [caption id="attachment_664216" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Good Times Milk Bar by Simon Shiff[/caption] CAFES Good Times Milk Bar, Bentleigh: 8am–3pm Code Black, Brunswick: 7am–4pm, North Melbourne: 7am–5pm (all other locations will be closed) Mörk Chocolate, North Melbourne: 9am–5pm Ascot Food Store, Ascot Vale: 7am–3pm The Crux and Co., CBD: 7.30am–2pm Industry Beans, Fitzroy: 8am–4pm (CBD will be closed) Crumpet & Co., Keilor East: 8.30am–2pm Pie Thief, Footscray: 7am–4pm Short Round, Thornbury : 8am–1.30pm Collective Espresso, Camberwell: Common Galaxia, Seddon: 8am–3pm King & Godfree Espresso Bar, Carlton: 8am–12pm Lights in the Attic, Hawthorn East: 7.30am–3pm Top image: The Espy by Alex Drewniak.
Nocturnal arts celebration White Night is embracing regional Victoria this year, with a hefty program of installations, projections, music and food to mark its return to Geelong on Saturday, October 8. And if last month's Bendigo instalment is anything to go by, this year's festival is set to be bigger than ever before. It'll all kick off with a Welcome to Country ceremony led by traditional owners, before a giant celebration of the arts parties through the night until 1am. Geelong's White Night offering will be bold and creatively-charged, as you'll agree once you see JOFMAKESART's striking performance work, which sees a car slowly crushed to oblivion, its demise soundtracked by two guitar-thrashing rock musicians. First Nations artists including Kait James, Billy-Jay O'Toole and Jenna Oldaker will illuminate Johnstone Park with their projection art, while a school of neon sea creatures are set to descend on the Geelong foreshore. Also on the evening's agenda: a sea of handcrafted flowers will take over Steampacket Gardens with a cacophony of sighs and yawns; First People's connection to the land and night sky is being captured in a City Hall projection by Matt Bonner; and a swag of performers will be popping up along Western Beach Road throughout the night. As in Bendigo, the tunes will be flowing through the night, ranging from local talent playing beneath the stars, to top Aussie drag acts taking the stage for Drag City. Top Image: White Night 2022, by Stuart Walmsley
Shane Delia's Collingwood venue Maha Bar might be small, but over the next month it's set to play host to some of Australia's biggest up-and-coming names of Middle Eastern cooking. Running weekly from Tuesday, May 18, until June 8, the Middle East's Finest series will see four rising stars each take over the kitchen for a once-off dinner event, plating up their own exclusive menu of signature dishes and new creations. Queensland-based Ben Williamson (Agnes, Bianca) kicks things off this week, paying homage to his Middle Eastern travels with plates like Turkish crumpets and grilled quail with harissa. Sydney's Paul Farag (Nour, Fish Butchery) follows on May 25 with an Egyptian-inspired seven-course spread centred around a minimal-waste approach, while June 1 sees Adam Wolfers (Gerard's Bistro) embracing his own Jewish heritage plating up dishes like short rib shawarma and a reimagined Golden Gaytime with carrot molasses. Victoria's own Tom Sarafian (Little Andorra, Bar Saracen) wraps things up on June 8 with a feast of inventive creations including a spanner crab and prawn hummus. Each dinner comes in at $85 per person, with the option to add a beverage pairing for an extra $55. [caption id="attachment_812419" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Adam Wolfers.[/caption] Images: Diego Ramirez
If golden, crunchy, juicy fried chook is your idea of a perfect meal then you probably have July 6 permanently marked in your diary. Each and every year, that's when the world's fried chicken-lovers celebrate their favourite food. We're not saying that the chook will taste better on that date, but if you just can't get enough of the trusty dish, it's definitely time to celebrate. This year, to mark the occasion, 50 restaurants across Australia are offering up to 50 percent off their take on the dish for two days via Deliveroo. On Monday, July 6 and Tuesday, July 7, you can get finger licken' good chook delivered straight to your home or office — or home office — for cheap. Lunch, sorted. Melburnians have 18 chook joints to choose from, including Hawker Chan, Seoul Hot Chicken, Oriental Teahouse, Hakata Gensuke and Carl's Jr, while Sydneysiders have 16, with the likes of Johnny Bird, Broaster, Chi Kim and Angry Tony's all getting on board. Brisbanites have six options for their half-price burger fix, including Seoul Bistro, Lord of the Wings and Cafe Etto. You can check out the full list below. To get your fix, all you need to do is jump on to Deliveroo and find your closest chook favourite and order. [caption id="attachment_659902" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Johnny Bird[/caption] WORLD FRIED CHICKEN DAY RESTAURANTS SYDNEY Angry Tony's - Darlington Rooster and Grill Inferno Grill Inferno Grill Pyrmont Chi Kim WingBoy - Bondi Junction WingBoy - Parramatta WingBoy - Eastgardens WingBoy - Macquarie It's Time for Thai Newtown Manoosh Pizzeria (Enmore) Manoosh Pizzeria (Marrickville) Manoosh Lebanese Pizza - Waterloo Manoosh Pizzeria - Caringbah Johnny Bird Broasters Fried Chicken MELBOURNE Hakata Gensuke QV Hakata Gensuke Yatai Carlton Hakata Gensuke Hawthorn - Ramen Professional Hakata Gensuke Tonkotsu Ramen Seoul Hot Chicken Chicken Episode Oriental Teahouse Little Collins Chicken Episode 2.5 Slap Burger - Editions Collingwood Angry Birds Burger Joint - Editions Collingwood Peach's Fried Chicken - Editions Collingwood Bao Wow - Editions Collingwood F.A.T - Fried & TastyCarl's Jr (Docklands) Carl's Jr - Knox Carl's Jr - Altona Hawker Chan Hawker Chan - Chadstone Hawker Chan Box Hill BRISBANE Seoul Bistro Lord of the Wings Indooroopilly Lord of the Wings Carindale Cafe Etto Brisbane Chop Chop Changs Wilde Kitchen Top image: Lord of the Wings
It's that time of year again. We've farewelled daylight savings, the temperature's getting nippier and the calendar's about to tick over to May 8 — otherwise known as the unofficial birthday celebration of Moon Dog's much-loved pale ale, the Old Mate. Or Old 'May8', if you will. As has become tradition, the Abbotsford-born brewery will be marking the occasion with a good ol' party, complete with plenty of beery giveaways. To get involved, grab your bestie and head to Moon Dog's Duke Street HQ from 12pm this Saturday, May 8. If you're one of the first 100 pairs of buds through the door, simply flash some ID, chuck staff a friendly "maaaaate!" on arrival, and you'll each score a free six-pack of the iconic orange-labelled beer. Stick around to enjoy a nice Saturday arvo mate date, sipping tap brews and feasting on dough-based delights from the pizza van. Sibling venue Moon Dog World in Preston is having some May 8 fun of its own, decked out in orange for the occasion, slinging $15 jugs of Old Mate and serving up DJ tunes from 5pm. Images: Samantha Schultz
It turns out that even Spanish snacks get their own annual day of celebration, with World Tapas Day happening this Saturday, June 16. Luckily, Melbourne has no shortage of top-notch Spanish eateries keen to help you mark the occasion with a proper flavour fiesta. Lonsdale Street's Bomba is taking this opportunity to crack open the sherry cellar, offering a range of special booze and food pairings, and the chance to taste some pretty rare Spanish drops. Head in this Saturday to try four one-off pairings — including bone marrow on toast with salted and dried wagyu, teamed with the Romate 'Don Jose' Oloroso for $14, and, for the cheese lovers, a 12-month raw milk manchego paired with a Bodegas Yuste 'Aurora' Amontillado for $16. You can find all four pairings here. Sherry fans will also be able to get their hands on two very special creations — the extremely limited Equipo Navazos No. 55 'La Bota' Manzanilla and No. 58 Navazos 'La Bota' Amontillado. Booking can be made via the restaurant's website.
Melbourne-based Harry Potter fans have clearly been muttering "accio films!" en masse. How else do you explain IMAX Melbourne's next special event? It's the very definition of movie magic. Not one, or a few, but all eight Harry Potter flicks are returning to the massive 32 metre wide, 23 metre high big screen for 11 days of Pottermania. And it's a choose-your-own-viewing-experience kind of deal, too. Maybe you're as eager as Hermione to cram all the movies into four double features over two weekends — or perhaps taking it a bit easier and seeing one per weeknight, HP and Ron Weasley-style, is more your thing. Either way, it's Pottertime — as well as the perfect lead up to the next cinematic excursion into JK Rowling's wizarding world, aka the forthcoming big screen adaptation of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. The eight flicks will screen in IMAX 2D, so the only glasses you need are your own HP-like specs. Tickets are now on sale, and cost $20 per weeknight film, $30 per weekend double, or $100 for the entire lot.
For more than two decades, Brook Andrew has challenged us to think about our place this country. An uncompromising artist whose work crosses mediums from painting to photography to video, the Sydney-born Andrew has long focused on colonialism, race and life in contemporary Australia. Now, more than 100 of his works will be on display in Brook Andrew: The Right to Offend is Sacred at the NGV's Ian Potter Centre. Open from March 3 until June 4, the free exhibition will feature iconic pieces from throughout the artist's career, including his signature neon light works and Wiradjuri word plays that explore the relationship between Indigenous communities and consumer culture, along with a number of new and never-before-seen works, including two new large-scale sculptures. Image: Installation view of Brook Andrew: The Right to Offend is Sacred at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia. Shot by Wayne Taylor.
Whether you're separated from the usual family crew, or simply weary after months of home-cooking and washing up, the restaurant Christmas lunch looks set to be more popular than ever this year. And no matter what sort of festive menu you're craving, Melbourne's dishing up a decadent December 25 feed to suit. Settle into a fine dining feast spiked with Southeast Asian touches, book a contemporary Cantonese spread complete with five-spice Christmas pud, or even enjoy a coastal-inspired Aussie seafood lunch overlooking the water. Food and festivities sorted, zero kitchen mess to deal with. Here are eight Christmas lunch situations you can book right now in Melbourne. CHIN CHIN, CBD This year, for the first time ever, you can book yourself in for Christmas lunch at legendary Flinders Lane restaurant Chin Chin. The kitchen is putting a modern Southeast Asian spin on the traditional December 25 feast, across two limited lunch sittings, with bookings available for tables of between two and 14. And you'd best wear your stretchiest pants. For $175, you will get a generous parade of dishes with those classic Chin Chin flavours, including coconut- and fennel-glazed ham served with savoury pancakes, red curry rotisserie chook with Thai basil, and a prawn and Moreton Bay bug stir-fry laced with 'hellfire' chilli oil. There's even a reimagined Christmas pud, paired with a boozy coconut whiskey custard. STATE OF GRACE, CBD For a modern twist on some of those familiar Christmas flavours, book yourself in for a festive lunch at State of Grace. On December 25, the venue's putting on an indulgent four-course sharing menu, with sittings available at either 11.30am or 2pm. Part with $120 and you'll find yourself feasting on the likes of house-cured ham served with cheddar, piccalilli and clove lavosh; turkey ballotine featuring sour cherries and a roast chicken sauce; hot smoked salmon; and crunchy duck fat spuds. Christmas pudding and brandy snaps star come dessert time, and you'll get a glass of sparkling on arrival, with further drinks available to add on. NORTHSIDE WINES, NORTHCOTE This neighbourhood restaurant, bar and wine garden won itself plenty of fans during lockdown and it's sure to gain even more with the family-style festive feast it's got planned for Christmas Day. With sittings at noon and 3.30pm, this one will set you back $150 ($45 for kids under 12), for a four-course menu filled with classic Aussie Christmas flavours. Think, goat's cheese tarts, loaded seafood platters with house-made thousand island dressing, roast turkey matched with a cranberry and native currant sauce, and mulled spice ham finished with tamarind gravy. You'll enjoy Christmas pudding and a vegan-friendly pavlova for dessert, a complimentary drink on arrival, plus access to a swag of great wine specials to pair with your lunch. SUNDA AT THE WINDSOR Sunda is famed for its inventive, Aussie-accented riff on Southeast Asian fare and that's exactly what you're in for when the restaurant takes over The Windsor for Christmas lunch with a modern, fine dining twist. Chef Khanh Nguyen has put together a luxe six-course (15-dish) tasting menu matched with free-flowing drinks for $388, to enjoy either in One Eleven restaurant or the Grand Ballroom. You'll experience the classics, reimagined — tradition-bucking dishes like a revamped prawn cocktail featuring red curry marie rose sauce, glazed ham matched with pineapple and ginger flower, and turkey done with lemon aspen and coconut sambal. Settling in is encouraged — they're recommending you leave yourself a good three hours to tackle this feast. ARBORY AFLOAT, CBD Spend Christmas Day right on the Yarra, tucking into Arbory Afloat's gin-matched four-course feast. The floating bar is teaming up with award-winning distillery Four Pillars to deliver a chic coastal-inspired spread, with three-hour sittings available from 11.30am to 9pm. You can look forward to the likes of woodfired pizzas, an array of chilled seafood, roast snapper and a pavlova with Four Pillars Christmas Gin custard. Your $250 ticket will also get you two hours of free-flowing beer, wine and bubbles, as well as a beautifully garnished gin and tonic, a White Christmas Negroni and a gin spritz. Prefer to stick to dry land? Neighbouring Arbory Bar & Eatery is dishing up a similar offering, though with three courses and drinks clocking in at $196. JIYU THAI HOT POT, CBD If you fancy breaking free from Aussie Christmas Day tradition, you'll find a worthy feasting situation awaits at JiYu Thai Hot Pot. The Chinatown restaurant is open right through the festive season, serving up authentic Thai flavours and a glorious amount of fresh seafood, across a variety of share-friendly hot pot options and banquet menus. Christmas lunch here might see you digging into the likes of prawn pancakes and green papaya salad, followed by big serves of tom yum broth loaded with your pick of meat, seafood, noodles and fresh veggies. There's even a lineup of lively cocktails, like the Mermaid & Fisherman — a refreshing blend of vodka, lychee, cucumber and rosewater. [caption id="attachment_700220" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Simon Shiff.[/caption] MYA TIGER, ST KILDA Christmas lunch gets a modern Cantonese twist, courtesy of The Espy's upstairs restaurant Mya Tiger. Here, you can soak up those dreamy bayside vistas (and conveniently avoid washing up duties) while enjoying on a special festive menu featuring the likes of char siu-glazed ham, Cantonese-style roast duck pancakes and san choy bao done with Queensland tropical crayfish. You'll even enjoy a reworking of the classic Christmas pudding, infused with Chinese five-spice. Coming in at $190, the banquet also includes three hours of beer and wine, along with a glass of bubbly on arrival to get you in the festive spirit. SHARK FIN INN, CBD If a hearty yum cha spread sounds like your kind of Christmas Day vibe, you'll find yourself in good hands at Chinatown favourite Shark Fin Inn. Come December 25, the long-running restaurant will be dishing up a classic dim sum banquet, as well as its signature yum cha offering, featuring a barbecue-themed lineup of all-you-can-eat plates. Sittings for the latter run for 75 minutes, from 12.15pm and 1.45pm. And, clocking in at just $46, it's undoubtedly of the more affordable Yuletide feasts on offer in Melbourne on the big day. See if you can nab a table in Shark Fin Inn's new streetside dining space. Top image: Arbory Afloat by Simon Shiff
Marco Pierre White is a star of kitchens and screens alike. He was the first British chef — and the youngest chef at the time — to be awarded three Michelin stars. He's popped up on everything from Hell's Kitchen to MasterChef, including in Australia. Back in 2019, he was one of Melbourne Good Food Month's huge headliners. He's also the culinary force behind cookbook White Heat, the 1990 tome that played up his "bad boy" image. He's been dubbed "the first celebrity chef" as well. And, he's trained fellow famed food figures such as Mario Batali, Heston Blumenthal, Gordon Ramsay and Curtis Stone. That's a brief run through White's resume, but you're best to hear the full details — and the ups and downs that've come with being White — from the chef himself. So, in May, the culinary whiz is touring Australia's east coast capitals with his first-ever live theatre show. Heading to Melbourne's Hamer Hall on Tuesday, May 30, White's Out of the Kitchen gigs will chat through his beginnings, his training and his stardom, plus the kind of success that led to his "enfant terrible" label. That means hearing about his arrival in London with just "£7.36, a box of books and a bag of clothes", and his tutelage under Albert and Michael Roux at renowned French fine-diner Le Gavroche. And, there's nabbing those three Michelin stars at the age of 33, of course.
If you have ever spent an afternoon building or playing with a LEGO® set, you know the storytelling power of these tiny pieces of plastic. These toys have been transforming unassuming bricks and components into intricate and beautiful designs for decades. But you've never seen a LEGO® display quite like RELICS: A New World Rises. RELICS is an exhibition at Melbourne Museum and is open until International LEGO® day — Sunday, January 28, 2024. It's not your average LEGO® exhibit, created by Alex Towler and Jackson Harvey (2020 winners of Channel 9's LEGO® Masters), it blends the iconic toys with real-world objects like you've never seen before. The premise? It's a journey through an imagined future where humanity is long gone, but remnants of our world still exist as discarded objects. [caption id="attachment_918150" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Eugene Hyland[/caption] Now, LEGO® minifigures rule and have crafted their society inside fragments of our own. Each of the 15 relics houses its society of tiny plastic denizens. From a grandfather clock reverse-engineered into a time machine to a cryogenics facility inside a vintage freezer, creativity truly ran wild with these designs so keep an eye out for familiar pieces and tiny visual stories. Almost every piece of the project was sourced secondhand to connect with the narrative and share a message of sustainability. Visitors feeling particularly inspired can take advantage of an all-ages scavenger hunt or let their creativity take flight in the new 'Build-Your-Own-Zone'. From expert craftsmanship to astounding creativity and clever references throughout — this exhibition as a whole is highly recommended for LEGO® aficionados and newcomers alike. RELICS: A New World Rises is open until Sunday, January 28, 2024. Tickets include general entry, to book or find more information, visit the website. Images: Eugene Hyland for Museums Victoria
Something delightful has been happening in cinemas in some parts of the country. After numerous periods spent empty during the pandemic, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, picture palaces in many Australian regions are back in business — including both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made, including new releases, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER 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. Read our full review. THE VELVET QUEEN "If nothing came, we just hadn't looked properly." Partway through The Velvet Queen, writer Sylvain Tesson utters these lyrical words about a specific and patient quest; however, they echo far further than the task at hand. This absorbing documentary tracks his efforts with wildlife photographer Vincent Munier to see a snow leopard — one of the most rare and elusive big cats there is — but much in the entrancing film relates to life in general. Indeed, while the animals that roam the Tibetan plateau earns this flick's focus, as does the sweeping landscape itself, Munier and his fellow co-director and feature first-timer Marie Amiguet have made a movie about existence first and foremost. When you peer at nature, you should see the world, as well as humanity's place in it. You should feel the planet's history, and the impact that's being made on its future, too. Sensing exactly that with this engrossing picture comes easily — and so does playing a ravishing big-screen game of Where's Wally?. No one wears red-and-white striped jumpers within The Velvet Queen's frames, of course. The Consolations of the Forest author Tesson and world-renowned shutterbug Munier dress to blend in, trying to camouflage into their sometimes-dusty, sometimes-snowy, always-rocky surroundings, but they aren't the ones that the film endeavours to spy. The creatures that inhabit Tibet's craggy peaks have evolved to blend in, so attempting to see many of them is an act of persistence and deep observation — and locking eyes on the snow leopard takes that experience to another level. Sometimes, pure movement gives away a critter's presence. On one occasion, looking back through images of a perched falcon offers unexpected rewards. As lensed by Amiguet (La vallée des loups), Munier and assistant director Léo-Pol Jacquot, The Velvet Queen draws upon hidden cameras, too, but so much of Tesson and Munier's mission is about sitting, watching and accepting that everything happens in its own time. Letting what comes come — and acknowledging that some things simply won't ever occur at all — isn't an easy truth to grapple with. Nonetheless, it's also one of this contemplative feature's achievements, even though it's a type of detective story through and through. Tesson and Munier follow clues to search for the snow leopard, moving positions and setting up blinds wherever they think will score them their sought-after footage. In the process, they learn a lesson as all sleuths do. As they face the possibility that they might not be successful, which Tesson's perceptively navel-gazing narration explains, The Velvet Queen becomes a mindfulness course in filmic form. It has something astonishing that all the Calm, Headspace and similar apps in the world don't, though: the film's on-the-ground recordings (well, 5000-metres-up recordings), which show why finding peace with life's ebbs and flows is all that we can really hope for. Accompanied by a stirring score from Australian icons and lifelong bandmates Warren Ellis and Nick Cave — their latest contribution to cinema on a resume that includes The Proposition, The Road, Hell or High Water and Wind River before it — it's no wonder that The Velvet Queen's philosophising voiceover also notes that "waiting was a prayer". It's similarly unsurprising that Tesson penned a book, The Art of Patience: Seeking the Snow Leopard in Tibet, based on the trip captured in the documentary. In fact, if you're the kind of person who keeps their peepers peeled for feline life in any new neighbourhood you visit, or even if you're just strolling around your own, this feature firmly understands. More than that, it one-ups you, while also connecting with the act of scouring and seeking as much as the potential joys of getting what you wish for. Read our full review. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in Australian cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on August 4, August 11, August 18 and August 25; September 1, September 8, September 15, September 22 and September 29; October 6, October 13, October 20 and October 27; and November 3. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as Bullet Train, Nope, The Princess, 6 Festivals, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, Crimes of the Future, Bosch & Rockit, Fire of Love, Beast, Blaze, Hit the Road, Three Thousand Years of Longing, Orphan: First Kill, The Quiet Girl, Flux Gourmet, Bodies Bodies Bodies, Moonage Daydream, Ticket to Paradise, Clean, You Won't Be Alone, See How They Run, Smile, On the Count of Three, The Humans, Don't Worry Darling, Amsterdam, The Stranger, Halloween Ends, The Night of the 12th, Muru, Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon, Black Adam, Barbarian, Decision to Leave, The Good Nurse, Bros, The Woman King, Sissy, Armageddon Time and The Wonder.
Dig out those once-a-year novelty gumboots, Groovin the Moo has unveiled their 2016 lineup. Taking the large-scale music festival out of the city and into regional centres for another year, GTM will kick things off on the ANZAC Day long weekend and travel through Maitland, Canberra, Oakbank, Bendigo and Townsville before finishing up in Bunbury. This year's lineup sees all the international talent come from the U.S., with rappers Danny Brown and Vic Mensa taking the stage, along with electronic duo Odesza and returning acts MS MR and Ratatat. Otherwise, it's an all-Aussie affair with locals like triple j Hottest 100 winners The Rubens, Client Liaison, SAFIA, Remi and Ngaiire making their way to the Moo. Here's the full lineup. GROOVIN THE MOO 2016 LINEUP: Alison Wonderland Boo Seeka Boy & Bear British India Client Liaison Danny Brown (USA) Drapht DZ Deathrays Emma Louise Golden Features Harts Illy In Hearts Wake MS MR (USA) Mutemath (USA) Ngaiire Odesza (USA) Ratatat (USA) Remi The Rubens SAFIA Twenty One Pilots (USA) Vallis Alps Vic Mensa (USA) GROOVIN THE MOO 2016 DATES & VENUES: Saturday, April 23 – Maitland (NSW) Sunday, April 24 – Canberra (ACT) Monday, April 25 – Oakbank (SA) Saturday, April 30 — Bendigo (VIC) Sunday, May 1 — Townsville (QLD) Saturday, May 7 — Bunbury (WA) For more info, head to GTM's website. Image: Joseph Mayers, GTM.
UPDATE, September 16, 2021: Streamline is available to stream via Stan from Thursday, September 16. Chasing a dream can feel like swimming through cool water on a hot summer's day — gliding, splashing and laidback paddling all included — with each refreshing stroke propelling you closer towards your own personal finish line. That's when everything is going well, of course, and when whatever your heart and mind desires seems as if it's waiting at the end of the pool. Otherwise, when you're bogged down by everyday minutiae and nothing seems to inch forward, working towards a set goal can also resemble treading water. It can mirror repetitively doing laps, too, when your destination seems out of sight despite all the hard work you're putting in. And, if you're tired and fed up with all the effort needed to even keep afloat — and when your heart is no longer in it — it can feel like floundering and drowning. In Streamline, all of these sensations and emotions bubble up for 15-year-old Benjamin Lane (Levi Miller, A Wrinkle in Time), as he pursues a professional swimming career, a spot in a prestigious squad in Brisbane and, ideally, an Olympics berth and all the glory that goes with it. Indeed, one of the delights of this Australian movie, which boasts Ian Thorpe as one of its executive producers, is how evocatively it sprinkles these swashes of feelings across the screen. Written and directed by feature first-timer Tyson Wade Johnston, Streamline is a sports drama as well as a small town-set family drama — and it's also a portrait of that time when you're expected to dive headfirst into adulthood, and into knowing what you want to do with the rest of your life, but you're also inescapably wracked with uncertainty and apprehension. Teenage awkwardness and angst aren't simple states to capture on-screen, although enough coming-of-age movies have been buoyed by both; however, Streamline opts to plunge deep into the existential stress that goes beyond feeling out of place with your peers or being annoyed at your parents. Its protagonist, who everyone just calls Boy, only really connects with his girlfriend and best friend Patti (Tasia Zalar, Mystery Road) at school. And, he's definitely mad at his mother and father. He resents his single mum Kim's (Laura Gordon, Undertow) efforts to keep him focused, which he sees as controlling rather than nurturing. He's doing tumble turns internally over his dad Rob (Jason Isaacs, Creation Stories), who's just been released from prison and has never been a positive influence in his life. Boy is also furious at his surrogate father figure, Coach Clarke (Robert Morgan, The Secrets She Keeps), for all the cajoling that coaches tend to give. But, mostly the swimming prodigy is unsure — about what he wants, what he's been told he wants and what to do next. Streamline takes ample cues from sports flicks and the usual formula behind them, with big races, the pressure to succeed and the push to impress the right people to score the best opportunities driving much of the narrative alongside training and its tussles. But as this emotionally astute film explores the tension and trepidation swelling inside Boy — the kind that only worsens whenever his dad is mentioned, let alone turns up, and also ramps up as he spends time self-destructing with his hard-drinking, loutish older half-brothers Dave (Jake Ryan, Savage) and Nick (Sam Parsonson, Operation Buffalo) — it taps into themes that've been washing through Australian cinema with increasing frequency over the past decade or so. In movies such as Animal Kingdom, Snowtown, Buoyancy and 1%, young men struggle to carve their own paths, or even just to survive or avoid following in damaging footsteps, all in the lingering shadow of violence. Shades of late-90s great The Boys also filter through when Streamline's Boy is with his siblings, but this measured and moving picture is never merely the sum of its influences, even as it adds more flawed and fractured males to the nation's cinematic canon. Navigating this sea of toxic masculinity, Miller manages to convey many traits that fit the mould — Boy can be arrogant, reckless, careless with other people's feelings, moody, unwilling to express what's simmering within and combative — and also show his character's pain, conflict, yearning and vulnerability. It's a stellar performance, as well as a difficult one; the best work of the young actor's career so far, it's also likely to keep the Pan, Better Watch Out and Jasper Jones star in weightier roles moving forward. There isn't a weak link among the cast, though, but the film's standout moments all come when Miller is in front of the lens. A particular sense of power emanates in his scenes with Isaacs, and therefore with the man that Boy has been devastatingly hurt by and yet still finds himself drawn to. The two actors both played the same person but at varying ages in the vastly dissimilar Red Dog: True Blue, but now they play different points on a spectrum that neither wants Boy to slide down. Contrasting the rigours of seeking perfection with the toll it takes, Streamline submerges itself in its lead character's journey visually as well. This is a melancholy movie in tone and appearance, with hues of blue hovering in frame after frame. Those shades often emanate from the water, obviously, given that it has such a pivotal part in Boy's days and dramas — but when they continue to pop up elsewhere, they also exude the sorrow of a teen who realises he doesn't know how to either keep or to stop doing what he's doing. Cinematographer Michael Latham shot the aforementioned Buoyancy, too, and gave The Assistant, Island of the Hungry Ghosts, Strange Colours and Casting JonBenet their exacting, evocative and also piercing looks, with his efforts here continuing the trend. Indeed, watching Streamline feels like plummeting into a brooding well not only emotionally, thematically and narratively, but aesthetically. Sometimes chasing a dream is like that, too, as this excellent Aussie drama also recognises.
More than 70 Australian music acts will perform by the shore this Sunday, when St Kilda Festival returns for another year. A regular feature on the suburb's cultural calendar for three decades and counting, this summer celebration of music, culture and food is all going down on Sunday – which also happens to be Valentine's Day. Not a bad date idea, if we do say so ourselves. And best of all, it won't cost you a penny. The free fun begins at 11am and runs well into the night. Briggs, The Bombay Royale, Ivan Ooze, Neighbourhood Youth, The Grates, Hayden James, The Harpoons and The Beards are just a few of the acts you can expect to see across a total of ten separate stages, stretching from Catani Gardens to the south end of Acland Street. In addition to the music, the festival will host a ton of extra events and activities, ranging from bubble soccer to disco yoga, wrestling demos and ice cream giveaways. For more information, visit their website.
While the Lunar New Year doesn't officially kick off until February 1, the Albert Park Hotel is getting into the Year of the Tiger spirit a little early. You're invited to celebrate the start of the lunar calendar with one of its sumptuous banquets, available from Friday, January 28–Tuesday, February 1. The pub's modern Chinese restaurant Happy Valley is serving an 11-course feast fit for a beast. Or at least, a very hungry tiger. You'll sit down to dishes like a new-world spin on peking duck pancakes starring smoked leeks, compressed cucumber and mandarin caramel; scallops matched with a flavour-packed mushroom XO sauce and duck crumble; and of course, plenty of house-made dim sum. You can book the elaborate banquet for lunch or dinner throughout the five-day period, though if you visit on February 1, you'll get to pair your feed with a traditional Chinese dragon dance being performed in the venue at 1pm. The feast clocks in at $110 per person, with bookings made here. [caption id="attachment_772309" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Simon Shiff[/caption] Images: Simon Shiff
Dishing up the goods all round, the Vale Bar & Eatery is what you'd call Ascot Vale's quintessential neighbourhood haunt. And, with its dapper fit-out, wide-ranging offering and cheery local charm, it's an easy one to love. For the booze-inclined, choice is in strong supply, with craft beers galore, a 150-strong wine selection and a solid crop of Japanese whisky starring behind the bar. Meanwhile, a cocktail list heroes classics, alongside modern creations that showcase oft-underrated grape-based spirits. Try the Flor-less Cobbler, blending Olorosso sherry with gin, blueberry and hibiscus. To match, you'll find a share-friendly lineup of grazing plates, loaded tasting boards and pizzas, featuring combinations like gorgonzola with hot salami, caramelised onion and bacon ($21), and pork sausage with rosemary-covered potatoes ($20). Post-dinner snacks will most likely feature cheese, thanks to Vale's late-night wine and cheese offer, which give you free cheese with every bottle of vino purchased after 9pm on Fridays. This spot's even sure to have the local pooches on side, with its specialty dog menu: a lineup of preservative-free snacks and eats from Trav's Treats, the profits of which go to support the Lost Dogs' Home.
Fun runs are often not that fun. Sure, they have events and often bars at the finish line, and a whole lot of people pleased with themselves. But at the end of the day, it's just a run. Enter The Color Run. Founded as a way to promote happiness and health, this 5km run involves a serious amount of paint to distract you from the fact that you're furiously exercising. The rules are simple. One: everyone is welcome; walkers, athletes and everything in between. Two: wear white. Three: get covered in different coloured paints thrown at you along the way and return to the finish line a wonderfully Instagrammable mismatch of colours. This is sweaty, sweaty exercise dressed up as straight-up fun. There'll be a party at the beginning, one at the end and four colour zones to hurl yourself through. This year it will be a Grand Prix edition, taking place around the Albert Park lake. And to top off the good vibes, The Color Run gives back to charity, with over $1 million going to selected causes to date. Don a white t-shirt, and get the sneakers ready. It’s Colour Run time.
The eighteenth annual Queenscliff Music Festival once again takes pride of place on the last weekend of November. This no smalltime coastal music festival boasts a big lineup of national and local talent, including The Church, Dan Sultan, D.D. Dumbo, The Delta Riggs, Dyson Stringer Cloher, Hiatus Kaiyote, Husky, The Jezabels, Tkay Maidza, Xavier Rudd and plenty more. As always, QMF knows how to create the perfect harmony between a diverse collection of musical genres, and welcomes the latest up and coming bands as well as the well-established national treasures. Camping tickets are available for those who want to make the most of their weekend by the coast, or you are welcome to sort out your own accommodation to suit your needs. QMF is also super family-friendly and kids under 14 get in for free. If you’re after a relaxed, well-organised festival with a friendly atmosphere and outstanding music, look no further.
A fresh season is as good an excuse as any to stock up on a few new threads. And on Saturday, October 1, you can revamp your wardrobe with a fresh haul of quality vintage gear without breaking the bank — Sacred Heart Mission's Chapel Street op-shop is hosting one of its huge annual sale events, in honour of National Op Shop week. Venture in from 10am to get your hands on a bumper array of vintage and pre-loved gear; from fashion and accessories to homewares and collectibles. There'll be enough shoes, bags, coats, jewellery and outfits to impress even the most avid of op-shop connoisseurs, plus a swag of art, furniture and antiques for those looking to spruce up their pad. The Sacred Heart Mission crew has been putting aside its most covetable donations from the past year, so you can expect to find some top-notch labels and premium goodies in the mix. What's more, former Leonard Joel auction house stylist Shawn Mitchell is on board once again, helping to style the store and its contents for maximum shopping pleasure. Speaking of feel-good shopping, every $4 spent at a Sacred Heart Mission op-shop can help fund a nutritious meal for a person experiencing homelessness.
UPDATE, December 18, 2020: Long Shot is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video, Binge, Foxtel Now, Google Play, YouTube Movies and iTunes. Kick arse in huge action franchises. Steal scenes in beloved sitcoms. Find dark humour in different stages of womanhood. Is there anything that Charlize Theron can't do? A decade and a half ago, she rightfully won an Oscar for transforming into a serial killer in Monster, but the biggest coup of her career just might be her ability to keep evolving on-screen. After a five-year stretch that's included Mad Max: Fury Road, Atomic Blonde and Tully, Long Shot is the latest example of Theron's chameleonic talents — a political rom-com that's as irreverent (and often inappropriate) as you'd expect of a flick that also stars Seth Rogen, and genuinely heartfelt and hilarious as well. Charlize Theron, romantic-comedy standout? You'd better believe it. With an accessible air of elegance and a can-do attitude but zero sharp edges, Theron plays US Secretary of State Charlotte Field, the youngest person to ever hold that position. When the current TV star-turned-"dumb-fuck president" (Bob Odenkirk) — the film's exact words — decides not to seek re-election because he'd rather move into movies, Charlotte secures his endorsement to run for the top job. But first, she has to win over the public. Her strategists warn that her wave is a problem, that she might want to cosy up to the attractive Canadian Prime Minister (Alexander Skarsgard), and that she should spearhead a new "bees, trees and seas" environmental initiative around the globe. Also, she needs to be funnier. Thanks to a chance reunion with Fred Flarsky (Rogen), a recently unemployed investigative journalist who she used to babysit when they were kids, she soon has a new speechwriter. He makes her laugh and this is a rom-com, so it's not long until more than jokes start flying, obviously. As well as referencing one of the film's climactic gags, Long Shot's title calls out both a cliche and a fantasy, as does its casting. Based on aesthetics alone, society has primed audiences to believe that this chalk-and-cheese pairing shouldn't work — although decades of movies have made the opposite case. As directed by Jonathan Levine (The Night Before) and written by Dan Sterling (The Interview) and Liz Hannah (The Post), Long Shot knows the status quo, but finds middle ground on a character level. There's plenty about the film's plot that's exaggerated for the sake of comedy, to make amusingly astute political parallels and even to bask in an idealised rom-com glow. However the importance of simply carving out engaging, multifaceted characters who complement each other in a messy and realistic way can't be underestimated. There's something else that can't be overlooked, and it's a pivotal factor in making Long Shot's protagonists work so well: chemistry. Forget all of the awkwardness that blights badly cast love stories, in which romantic leads gel about as well as the real-life US president and the truth — that's never the case here. The rapport between Theron and Rogen is loose and easy, and both the film and its characters are all the better for it. Theron brings depth (and grace, vulnerability, determination and humour) to her role, Rogen ensures that his part is never just a schlubby stoner stereotype, and they bounce off of each other from start to finish. They're surrounded by stellar comic talent, too, from obvious candidates such as Odenkirk, Andy Serkis (as a slimy Murdoch-like media mogul) and June Diane Raphael (as Charlotte's chief advisor), to Skarsgard's amusing turn (as a Trudeau-like figure) and an excellent O'Shea Jackson Jr (as Fred's best pal). Levine, who also worked with Rogen on poignant cancer comedy 50/50, deserves his own dose of credit — specifically for the snappy, outrageously funny film's pace and tone. While a two-hour rom-com might seem like a stretch, Long Shot never lags. And even with a Boyz II Men live performance, a drug-addled hostage negotiation in the situation room, a female-empowerment vibe, topical jokes and a Roxette-scored dance scene to fit in, the movie has room to breathe as well. With the latter sequence, the film gives an overt nod to the song's first big-screen appearance in 90s romance Pretty Woman. The Julia Roberts and Richard Gere vehicle mightn't be the best role model, but Long Shot gestures in its direction with more than nostalgia in mind. All rom-coms come with a dash of fairytale, however this refreshing flick saves its daydreams for making over (and making fun of) parts of the political sphere, while serving up its opposites-attract central pairing with relatable chaos and charm. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQ5X75F1YJw
UPDATE: May 31, 2020: A Hidden Life is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube and iTunes. As a renowned lover of rolling hills, scenic greenery, constantly roving camerawork and breathy voiceover that borders on whispering, Terrence Malick recreates the Second World War with splendour. Such an approach proved moving and powerful in 1998's The Thin Red Line, where the writer/director intertwined war's pain, suffering and senselessness with many a glimpse of nature's wonders — and while the filmmaker sticks with his usual tactics in A Hidden Life, this couldn't be a more different movie. That comment fits Malick's tenth feature in many ways, actually. All his familiar aesthetic trademarks remain in place, because there's no teaching this veteran new tricks. And yet, his highly polarising style has never felt more purposeful. Nearly half a century into his career, Malick asks the same question about life that he has since 1973's Badlands, pondering how anyone finds beauty, love and grace amid continual chaos — and yet it has never been as urgent, poignant and touching as it is here. Telling of an Austrian farmer conscripted to fight for the Third Reich, A Hidden Life's true tale is a perfect match for Malick — and for the query that's driven everything from his Palme d'Or-winner The Tree of Life to the SXSW-set Song to Song. Living quietly in the mountain village of St. Radegund in 1939, Franz Jägerstätter (August Diehl) and his wife Fani (Valerie Pachner) are happy toiling in the fields, doting on their three daughters and being part of a close-knit community. But, although their bliss remains unchanged when the war first breaks out, history dictates that it can't stay that way. While he stomachs being forced to attend military training, albeit barely, Franz won't pledge allegiance to Hitler. All Austrian soldiers are required to make that oath, so his rejection earns the attention of Nazi higher-ups. His neighbours pressure him to conform, treating him and his family as outcasts for daring to defy the status quo. Still, even when called to active service, then arrested and sent to a Berlin prison, Franz won't waver. Malick doesn't skirt around Franz's motivations, not that an excuse for resisting any brutal fascist regime should ever be required. As contemplated in long letters to Fani that are based on real texts — as well as in chats with his local mayor (Jürgen Prochnow), plus with priests and bishops (including Tobias Moretti and Michael Nyqvist) — the conscientious objector can't reconcile Hitler's ideology with his own Catholic faith. To everyone except his family, that makes him a traitor. While it shouldn't come as a surprise, it's still perturbing to see so many push for his blind adherence to such an abhorrent cause. Equally unnerving: the fury with which his village turns on Fani and their children. And, though falling into a completely different category, Franz's actions are also unsettling in their own way, because the ultimate cost of his refusal isn't just incarceration but execution. That grave truth lingers over A Hidden Life, even in the film's most idyllic moments. Spending ample time at the Jägerstätters' picturesque property, revelling in its calm surroundings, and communing with its human and animal inhabitants, Malick's feature frequently proves peaceful, harmonious and sumptuous — which only makes Franz's plight all the more devastating. Viewers should expect as much from the director, given his reliance upon his trusty stylistic flourishes. While this is a rare war movie that eschews the brutality of the battlefield, just as its protagonist does, Malick laps up every aspect of Franz's rural existence, and of his loving relationship with Fani, all to emphasise exactly what the farmer is putting at stake. It would be so easy for the beleaguered Austrian to say what he's asked, serve as he's required and return home to those he adores. Doing so would save his life, and he has such obvious reasons to acquiesce. But Franz isn't willing to put himself before his beliefs, and Fani would never make him do so. Accordingly, although its conflict remains spiritual, philosophical and existential rather than physical, A Hidden Life is as weighty as any blood-soaked account of combat — and as affecting. Thanks to its endlessly roaming, circling frames, as lensed by The Tree of Life alum Jörg Widmer, Malick's film immerses viewers in both the best and worst of Franz's experiences. Always restless in a visual sense, it's just as jittery and absorbing emotionally, which any movie about a man sticking to his principles while facing death should be. Indeed, it's difficult to see how any other approach could do such a tale justice. Amongst a cast that also includes Matthias Schoenaerts (Kursk), Franz Rogowski (Transit) and the late, great Bruno Ganz, Diehl and Pachner clearly relish Malick's freewheeling ways, with their soulful performances helping boil this story down to its lyrical, poetic core. Told with ruminative eyes and a probing heart, this isn't just an account of courage and conviction, but of truly knowing the price of everything that's worthwhile in this life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJXmdY4lVR0
It has been a couple of years since The Jungle Collective first started taking over Australian warehouses and slinging plenty of plants, all thanks to its huge sales in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney. These leafy excuses to fill your home with greenery always have a bit of a celebratory vibe, and they just keep coming, with the outfit's next Melbourne outing happening across the weekend of Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22. Gorgeous green babies are the main attraction — and more than 170 varieties of them, too. You'll pick up everything from fiddle leafs and monsteras to giant birds of paradise and rubber trees, as well as oh-so-many ferns and hanging plants. And, there'll be a special focus on pet-friendly plants, because your indoor garden and your cat and/or dog should all get along. You'll also be able to shop for designer pots and get expert advice from the horticulturalists onsite. Oh, and if you bring your pet along, you'll receive $5 off your purchase. It's all happening at 36 Stephenson Street, Richmond, with sessions held at 8am, 10am, 12pm and 2pm on Saturday, plus 10am and 12pm on Sunday. Entry is free, but you'll need to register for a ticket — which you can do from 12pm on Monday, March 16.
Rough and tumble Sydney label R.I.P. Society have been hand delivering you the grungiest garage rock, darkest experimental fuzz and DIY post-punk electronica for five whole years — so they've got a few birthday toasts to give. Fronting up a chock-a-block lineup to The Studio, the beloved label has invited some of Australia's best to party down, with some iconic neighbours on top. New Zealand's legendary trio The Dead C will arrive for an exclusive Sydney headlining spot, along with label buds Feedtime, Bed Wettin' Bad Boys, Woollen Kits, Native Cats, Rat Columns, Cured Pink, Holy Balm, Ghastly Spats, Housewives, Constant Mongrel, Half High and Wallaby Beat DJs. Kicking off from 5pm on May 24, this is sure to be one rambunctious afternoon-to-midnight affair at the House. To celebrate the countdown to Vivid LIVE week, R.I.P. Society founder Nic Warnock has put together a solid playlist to kickstart your week and gear you up for the gig; from Melbourne's dark and stormy Constant Mongrel to Sydney's garage electro favourites Holy Balm with some wise words from Warnock himself. Crank it to 11 and bring your birthday wishes to the party. https://youtube.com/watch?v=-v_TibqZYRU Constant Mongrel — New Shapes "Constant Mongrel are redefining the rules of cool. Once, it was a huge indie music no-no to wear your own band's t-shirt while performing. Now, it's all the rage in some progressive Melbourne fashion circles thanks to Tom Ridgewell. New Shapes, new styles and later this year there will be a new 7" EP from Constant Mongrel on R.I.P Society records." Rat Columns — Another Day "A new addition to the R.I.P Society family is Rat Columns, the project of David West who's also the man behind the chic electronic project Lace Curtain and one of the three guitarists in Total Control. While this label has generally been moving towards the darker or the weirder side of the Aussie underground, Rat Columns play earnest, unashamed guitar pop. That's the type of life balance I wanna promote. Their first Sydney show is at the Sydney Opera House, lucky ducks." https://youtube.com/watch?v=mAram_OVcb4 Feedtime — I Wanna Ride "Feedtime are a band that feels like rock 'n' roll whilst creating a sound that's pure and unique to them. Feedtime sound fuckin' tough and but there's also a real depth and sensitivity to their music. 'Avant-garde pub rock' people have described them as, but it's not macho caricature stuff or in any way kitsch or whacky. Their songs are precise yet profound articulations of real life stuff, heavy stuff and everyday stuff. Hearing Feedtime for the first time, reading about their existence in Sydney, as well as how Aberrant operated as a record label was really inspiring." https://youtube.com/watch?v=DJg1h-3HPf8 Holy Balm — Holy Balm Theme "Holy Balm have been a staple in my experience of Sydney music. Through a do-it-yourself attitude and not being afraid to experiment and evolve in an organic manner they've become a empowering, positive experience both live and recorded. A great intersection of DIY post-punk and dance music." https://youtube.com/watch?v=so67hFjgv-A The Dead C — Outside "This is one of my favourite songs ever. Kind has a similar quality to Brian Eno's 'Here Come The Warm Jets', although much more crude and deconstructive. Still, I think this song is really beautiful. The Dead C's music shows that experimental music can be as emotive and invigorating as your standard three minute pop ditty." Catch the R.I.P. Society crew blasting amps at the Sydney Opera House Studio from 5pm on May 24. More details and stubs over here.
Thanks to the Koorie Heritage Trust, Federation Square will transform into a bustling hub of music, market stalls and live performances from 10am–3pm on Saturday, December 14. And it's all free. On the performance front, expect Djirri Djirri and Ngargee dancers, music from the Pirritu Duo, and poetry and storytelling by Barry Gilson. You'll also expect DJ sets from ENOKiCurry, Randals Dad, DJ PGZ and Cerulean. And, of course, the market. The Koorie Krismas market is a blessing if you're after a gift for those hard-to-buy-for people in your life, with its abundance of stalls championing crafts, art, and design from the Victorian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Have a look around and enjoy the talent on show — you're bound to spot something magical to bring home. And if you're feeling crafty, you can try your hand at wreath-making, designing your own Christmas card or getting around some badge-making.
Sports fans, Christmas has arrived — the athletic version that comes around every four years (or, in this case five), that is. Events have begun at this year's delayed Tokyo Olympic Games, the opening ceremony officially kicks things off on Friday, July 23, and two-plus weeks of competition awaits. If you're fond of all of the above, there's really not much that could improve the next fortnight. Actually, one thing could make your Olympics-watching couch sessions even better. We have two words for you: free pizza. They're two of the best words that exist, especially when used together — and they describe exactly what Pizza Hut is offering Aussies during this year's games. In total, the fast food chain will be handing out up to 285,000 freebies. Exactly how many it'll dole out depends on one big thing: how many medals Australian athletes win this year. Pizza Hut will give away a heap of pizzas to celebrate the Olympics' opening and closing ceremonies, as well as a set amount each day during the games as well; however, it's also breaking some additional slices whenever an Aussie stands on the podium. That means you'll have multiple chances to grab a freebie. First up, there'll be 5000 up for grabs from 4pm on Friday, July 23 to celebrate the opening ceremony. Between Saturday, July 24–Saturday, August 7, another 1000 will be given away daily at 4pm as well. On Sunday, August 8, for the closing ceremony, Pizza Hut will bust out another 5000 at 4pm, too. And, whenever an Aussie wins a medal, it'll add 1000 more free pizzas to its giveaway at 4pm the next day for each gold we take home, another 500 for each silver and another 200 for every bronze. To score your 'za without spending a cent, you'll need to head to Pizza Hut's 'pizzas for podiums' website at 4pm each day. Unsurprisingly, you'll want to get in quick as it's a first in, first served affair. You can only enter twice per day — and, if you win, you'll be sent a voucher code for a large pizza with a pan base. You'll be able to choose from super supreme, barbecue meatlovers, pepperoni lovers, Hawaiian and cheese lovers, and you'll need to redeem before Tuesday, August 31 via a pick-up order. One entrant will also win a year's worth of free pizza — well, Pizza Hut's idea of a year's worth, with one free pizza on offer for 52 weeks — if you need any extra motivation to enter. Pizza Hut will be giving away free pizzas from Friday, July 23–Sunday, August 8 during the Tokyo Olympic Games. For further information, head to the chain's website.
The Queen Victoria Market might be celebrating its 140th birthday this month, but you can bet it still knows how to party like a young'un. Join in the fun on Sunday, April 29, as this Grand Dame of Melbourne marks the occasion with one heck of a street party, complete with live entertainment, a plethora of tasty eats and lots of free family-friendly fun. Kicking off at 10am, the festivities will play host to a hefty program of dance, comedy, magic, mime and more, with live tunes from the likes of The Mik Maks, flamenco La Rumba and gospel group Open Door Singers taking over the main stage. Also on the agenda is a pop-up silent disco, a special Traders Got Talent Variety Show and, in true Queen Vic form, a truckload of great food stalls. Fare from market favourites like Taki's Balls, George the Fishmonger and Drums Cafe promises to keep you fuelled and fired for a big day.
Each year, come August, there's one thing that Melburnians can't complain about. Say all you like about the frosty weather, the inevitable rain and the feeling that winter will never end, but don't even pretend that there's nothing to watch. The eighth month on the calendar and the Melbourne International Film Festival have long gone hand-in-hand, delivering a feast of flicks to entice you into warm, darkened rooms. In fact, this year's MIFF boasts a huge 375 titles on its jam-packed lineup. The just-announced full program spans many a highlight, including one of the year's most anticipated movies: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. If you fancy seeing Quentin Tarantino's latest before it reaches regular cinemas — and Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie on 35mm film, too — then MIFF has you covered. If you're eager to view much, much more between Thursday, August 1 and Sunday, August 18, the debut bill from first-year Artistic Director Al Cossar won't let you down there either. While opening night documentary The Australian Dream, centrepiece gala pick Little Monsters and family gala selection H Is For Happiness have all already been announced, MIFF will fill out its last high-profile slot with closing night's The Farewell — a hit at this year's Sundance, it stars Crazy Rich Asians' Awkwafina as a Chinese American woman visiting her family to say goodbye to her dying grandmother. Other standouts throughout the fest include a slew of movies from top directors arriving straight from Cannes, such as Xavier Dolan's Matthias & Maxime, Ken Loach's Sorry We Missed You, Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne's Young Ahmed, and Diao Yi'nan's The Wild Goose Lake, with the latter marking the newest release from the acclaimed Black Coal, Thin Ice filmmaker. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RofpAjqwMa8 Also worth keeping an eye out for (and then roving your eyes over) are Harmony Korine's The Beach Bum, which sees the Spring Breakers auteur keep the party going with Matthew McConaughey; Chris Morris' The Day Shall Come, his long-awaited next political satire after Four Lions; much-talked-about Chinese epic Long Days Journey Into Night, complete with its 55-minute single take in 3D; and Hong Sang-soo's regular MIFF appearance, thanks to Hotel by the River. Elsewhere, Isabelle Huppert plays a famous actress in Frankie, Jesse Eisenberg and Imogen Poots get caught in a labyrinth in sci-fi thriller Vivarium, Son of Saul's László Nemes unravels an allegorical European mystery in Sunset, Goodnight Mommy's Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala get dark and twisted again with The Lodge, and Japanese eye-opener Violence Voyager combines children's book-style paper puppetry with an over-the-top, midnight movie onslaught. On the documentary front, Wu Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men reunites all nine living members of the band to talk about their ups and downs, Memory: The Origins of Alien ponders the basis of one of the best science-fiction films of all time, and Seahorse explores a trans man's complicated pregnancy. And from the local selection, Ryan Corr and Anthony LaPaglia team up for black comedy Below, Hugo Weaving goes Shakespearean in Measure for Measure, and No Time for Quiet heads to a Melbourne band camp for girls with Courtney Barnett and Cable Ties. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuKQfEX1Xy4 Acclaimed Aussie flicks The Nightingale, Hearts and Bones, Animals, Dark Place, Emu Runner, Judy & Punch and In My Blood It Runs, which all premiered elsewhere, will also finally make their way to Melbourne. Indeed, if you felt more than a little envy when Sydney Film Festival rolled around back in June, you'll be able to see many of that fest's top picks — including must-sees like Les Miserables, In Fabric, Scheme Birds and Happy New Year, Colin Burstead, as well as favourites such as Pain and Glory, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Ray & Liz, Bacurau, Come to Daddy, Dirty God and The Dead Don't Die. Need more? How about an all-night Jeff Goldblum movie marathon, complete with The Fly, Independence Day, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou and Thor: Ragnarok. Retrospective strands focusing on filmmakers Penelope Spheeris, Agnieszka Holland and Peter Strickland help round out the lineup, as does the usual selection of fulldome shorts at the Melbourne Planetarium. Because MIFF has been dropping parts of its 2019 selection for the past few months, all of the above titles join the fest's initial batch of flicks — plus its live movie-and-music performance by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, and a screening of fantastic French drama Girlhood with an all-new live score. The 2019 Melbourne International Film Festival runs from Thursday, August 1 to Sunday, August 18 at a variety of venues around Melbourne. For further details, visit the MIFF website.
The arrival of Fitzroy's newest ramen spot Gogyo won't go unnoticed. An enormous new exterior mural, a modern interpretation of wuxing (the five Chinese elements) by celebrated Sydney-based artist Kentaro Yoshida, points to its entrance on the corner of Brunswick and Westgarth streets. And, in the kitchen, the team is shaking up the game by celebrating a gutsy style of signature ramen you won't find anywhere else in town. Japanese-born Gogyo has landed in Melbourne following the success of its Aussie debut, which launched in Sydney's Surry Hills in 2018. It's also from the same minds behind internationally revered ramen chain Ippudo and, as you might know, that equates to some serious street cred in the world of Japanese noodle soup. [caption id="attachment_760781" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kogashi ramen by Julia Sansone[/caption] Gogyo has set itself apart from the pack with its burnt ramen creation dubbed kogashi. A smoky, sweet and intense dish crafted on a charred miso or shoyu base, it is then loaded with chicken broth, pork belly chashu and half an umami egg. While it's the headline act at the new Fitzroy restaurant, the black (but not bitter) soup is backed by a strong supporting cast of alternative ramen varieties and izakaya-style snacks. The space itself is split between a minimalist front cocktail lounge and the restaurant, divided by traditional noren curtains featuring more of Yoshida's symbolic artworks. Step through into the dining room and you'll find a warm timber-filled space decked out with deep booths and a long open kitchen lined with stools. [caption id="attachment_760765" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Julia Sansone[/caption] As for the menu, it's a mix of Gogyo favourites and Fitzroy exclusives. You might kick off with elegant snacks like scampi nigiri and spring rolls stuffed with sukiyaki-style wagyu, before diving into the likes of pork katsu curry or a poke-style sashimi number. There's a cracking karaage chicken, wagyu tataki finished with shiso and yuzu ponzu, and a miso chicken teamed with sticky rice and fennel pickle. Meanwhile, in the ramen corner, the two kogashi options steal the show, though there's plenty to tempt among the rest of the lineup, including a tonkotsu ramen laced with garlic oil and a fiery chilli shoyu soup. To match, there's a tight list of Aussie wines, Suntory brews on tap and a handful of elegant cocktails, like the whisky- and bitter orange-infused Salaryman. Find Gogyo at 413 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. It's open daily from 12–3pm and again from 5.30–9pm. Images: Julia Sansone
You answer a knock at the door, thinking you’ll find a familiar face only to be met with an impromptu party. Sure, that doesn’t sound too bad — but when your expected visitor is a teenager you met in a train station the day before, arriving with his hustler friends in tow, it doesn’t sound too good, either. This is where mild-mannered, middle-aged Daniel (Olivier Rabourdin) finds himself in Eastern Boys — and where cinema finds one of its most striking scenes in years. Shy-looking Ukrainian immigrant Marek (Kirill Emelyanov) arrives at Daniel’s apartment after accepting money for sex, his pals barging in, stealing stuff and trashing the place. Unravelling against an electronic soundtrack, it’s a sight that’s both unsettling and unforgettable. The movie takes its time in showing every detail of the home invasion, not only forcing Daniel to linger, but making the audience do the same. Prepare to feel stunned and awkward. Prepare to keep watching, too, and not just taking in the visuals and following the storyline. Eastern Boys is a film of observation, making you look close and then closer, and then even closer again. You’d best be scrutinising everything you can see, from the long shots of Paris's crowded Gare du Nord and the dialogue-free glances that fill the feature’s first frames. The movie demands that you gaze from afar while trying to delve beneath the surface, which is also what it offers in its complicated character studies. Never going where anyone might predict, this isn’t a tale about trouble and revenge, but a film that’s part love story, part thriller — and neither of those sticks with convention or worries about leaps in logic. Chapters signal shifts in the story, involving Daniel, Marek and Boss (Daniil Vorobyov), the volatile but charming Russian leader of the pack, as well. Power, survival, identity, affection and belonging are all wrapped up in a movie equally personal and topical. It manages to combine the attempts of men trying to carve out a different life however they can with a broader contemplation of class and immigration, and it does so with moments of horror, hope and heartbreak. Anyone familiar with French TV series The Returned will know the kind of style writer/director/editor Robin Campillo’s favours in only his second effort as a filmmaker: slow-moving, atmospheric, precise and always showing rather than telling. Here, it’s an ideal fit for a narrative that doesn’t try to justify what is going on but instead wants viewers to witness the actions, reactions, interactions and transactions that make up its reality and draw their own conclusions. Kudos also must go to his excellent cast for their naturalistic performances, specifically veteran Rabourdin and relative newcomers Emelyanov and Vorobyov. Making a movie feel intense, involving and intimate at the same time isn’t easy, but they ensure we’re always watching. Not that you have a choice — with a tale this simultaneously tense and tender, just try to look away.
When the middle of February hits, we're all meant to be in the mood for love, but celebrating such a manufactured occasion isn't everyone's idea of romance. That's understandable; however, no matter how you feel about this time of year, everyone should be ready and raring for a big-screen session of Wong Kar-Wai's glorious Hong Kong-set masterpieces In the Mood for Love. The venue for this filmic treat: Melbourne's Immigration Museum, which is turning its Flinders Street courtyard into a cinema for three movie-filled nights. In the Mood for Love sits in the middle of the program — yes, showing on Monday, February 14 — but you can also head along to a Galentine's night session on Sunday, February 13 and a focus on African diaspora filmmakers on Tuesday, February 15. If you opt to celebrate Leslie Knope's favourite holiday, you'll be watching Sean Baker's Tangerine, as presented in conjunction with Midsumma Festival and Melbourne Queer Film Festival. At the African-focused evening, you'll feast your eyes on works by six filmmakers: Lilah Benetti, Kalu Oji, Tig Terera, Ivy Mutuku, Mimi Mukii and Abdalla Omar. Tickets range from $20–$27, sessions kick off at either 6.30pm (on Sunday and Monday) or 6pm (on Tuesday), and there'll be a bar onsite serving drinks and cinema-style snacks.
Call it a thrill, call it a joy, call it a delight: whichever you prefer, one of the key characteristics of live theatre is the fact that anything can happen. That said, the exact same show with the exact same cast usually plays out in the exact same way each and every time that it is staged. Created by Iranian playwright Nassim Soleimanpour and set to make its Australian premiere at Melbourne's Malthouse Theatre in July 2025, ECHO: Every Cold-Hearted Oxygen definitely isn't that kind of production. The international theatre hit is the opposite of a night-after-night-after-night repeat performance — and not just because its Aussie-debut season is brief, running between Monday, July 14–Saturday, July 19. Leaning as far into the stage's immediacy and ability to surprise as a play can get, ECHO unleashes a completely unrehearsed and unpredictable solo performances every time that it treads the boards. Not even each evening's lone cast member knows what's coming. Here's how it works, as audiences at London's Royal Court Theatre have been enjoying: when the night's performer takes to the stage, they're guided through the script by White Rabbit, Red Rabbit and NASSIM's Soleimanpour, plus Italian Palestinian director Omar Elerian. This happens in real time. Cold reads, as the technique is called, are Soleimanpour's signature — and he's joining ECHO's first-ever Aussie run from Berlin, aiding his latest cast via technology over 90 minutes. That lineup: actors Pia Miranda (Invisible Boys), Nadine Garner (Savage River) and Ben Lawson (Mixtape); journalists Stan Grant and Jan Fran; presenter and musical theatre veteran David Campbell; and comedian Michelle Brasier. Whatever they each bring to the stage will be unique and never repeated again. The show's Australian stars are following in impressive footsteps, given that London's 2024 season featured the likes of Benedict Wong (Bad Genius), Fiona Shaw (Echo Valley), Jessica Gunning (Baby Reindeer), Nick Mohammed (Ted Lasso) and Toby Jones (MobLand) — and 2025's includes Daniel Kaluuya (Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse), Dominic West (The Agenct), Milly Alcock (Sirens) and Lolly Adefope (The Franchise).
Melbourne's cultural ecosystem has boomed once again, with each new opening bigger, bolder and more impressive than the one before it. We're eating in the middle of 50-acre sculpture parks, drinking in multi-level karaoke joints, sipping coffee in renovated furniture showrooms and having fun in four-storey exhibitions. And the fun we're having as a city is becoming ever more inclusive. Our festivals are catering to wheelchairs and being translated into AUSLAN, our pubs and public spaces are becoming more accessible and sustainable and our restaurants and bars are catering to more dietaries and allergies. And we have, in part, these ten venues to thank. The following restaurants, bars, cafes, pubs, spaces and events have gone above and beyond. They combine originality, innovation, creativity and sustainability to bring something a little different to our city. Something that pushes us to keep being better and braver. Something that we love — and so do you. That's why they're the winners of Concrete Playground's Best of 2018 Awards. This year, we have awarded both a reader voted People's Choice and Overall award in each of the following six categories: Best New Restaurant Best New Bar Best New Cafe Best New Pub Best New Event Best New Space So, with no further ado, the winners for 2018 are... BEST NEW EVENT [caption id="attachment_702235" align="alignnone" width="1920"] LR Photography[/caption] OVERALL WINNER: ABILITY FEST This year, Australia scored its most inclusive music festival yet, with sports and radio legend Dylan Alcott hosting the inaugural Ability Fest. The festival was launched by the Paralympian's charity, the Dylan Alcott Foundation, and was co-helmed by Untitled (the entertainment group behind Beyond The Valley and Pitch Music & Arts) — and was one that catered to everyone, regardless of gender, disability, age or race. Alcott set out to both normalise disability and help boost inclusivity across all areas of the music industry. With 20 percent of Aussies living with a physical or intellectual disability, it's high time an event like this was added to the festival calendar. A massive lineup — including Zimbabwean-born singer-songwriter Tkay Maidza, disco guy Harvey Sutherland and a back-to-back DJ set with Flight Facilities and Client Liaison — took to the stage, with all artists donating their time. And, the festival managed to raise over $200,000 for the Dylan Alcott Foundation, which will be used to offer mentoring, scholarships and grants to marginalised young Australians with disabilities. [caption id="attachment_650406" align="alignnone" width="1920"] NGV/Sean Fennessey[/caption] PEOPLE'S CHOICE: THE NGV TRIENNIAL Descending on the gallery in December 2017 (until April 2018), the NGV Triennial series presents a smorgasbord of art and design, plucked from all corners of the globe and representing established artists, emerging talent, and plenty else in between. Kicking off with a bang, this year's inaugural event was nothing short of grand, with the free exhibition taking over all four levels of the gallery and hosting exciting works by over 60 artists and designers. Legendary Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama invited glimpses into the artist's mind with a work titled Flower obsession. Kusuma joined other international names like Germany's Timo Nasseri and Canada's Sascha Braunig, alongside an Aussie billing that included the likes of Ben Quilty, Louisa Bufardeci, and Tom Crago. There was an installation from Chinese haute couture fashion guru Guo Pei, designer of Rihanna's canary-yellow Met Ball gown, and an epic display of 100 oversized human skulls created by Australian artist Ron Mueck. We're eagerly awaiting its return in 2020 — the second iteration has big shoes to fill. BEST NEW SPACE [caption id="attachment_689726" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Patrick Rodriguez[/caption] OVERALL WINNER AND PEOPLE'S CHOICE: STATE LIBRARY OF VICTORIA The Grand Dame of Swanston Street has been given a makeover. Visitors of revamped State Library of Victoria will now find two new reading rooms, a dedicated events space complete with huge production kitchen and space for 220, and a new lounge off Russell Street. There's also a new Readings bookstore that eclipses the original library outpost, as well as brand new cafe Guild, helmed by the team at Almond Milk Co. When you need a break, check out the 29-metre-long original work by Melbourne artist Tai Snaith, which is bound to provide some surefire inspiration. A new entrance to the building has been opened on La Trobe Street, while the historic Russell Street entrance, closed for more than a decade, has made its triumphant return complete with a lounge and welcome area. Heading up the transformation are Australasian firm Architectus and Scandinavia's Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects. The library's Swanston Street entrance and ground floor are currently closed to the public — while the final stages of the building's $88.1 million revamp are completed — and are expected to reopen by spring 2019. BEST NEW PUB OVERALL WINNER AND PEOPLE'S CHOICE: PRINCE ALFRED HOTEL Since the 1920s, it's been a sentry guarding the corner of Grattan and Bouverie Streets. To this day, the Prince Alfred Hotel's light stone and brick façade is symbolic of its past, as a popular gathering point for uni students and hospital workers since opening in 1926. Regulars will recall the simple worn-out interior — which was all fine and well until it closed in 2015 and sat empty ever since. But the Carlton has been given a new lease on life. The 100 Burgers Group has come on board to commandeer the pub's revival. As before, it spans two levels, each with a bar, and a beer garden — and its own rooftop bar. In addition to a permanent kitchen serving traditional pub fare, there's a shipping container showcasing visiting food pop-ups. The pub pours from 60 beer taps which highlight local, Victorian and larger well-known brews. The wine list showcases solely local and Victorian wine and the cocktail menu takes inspiration from the pub's regal theme. BEST NEW CAFE [caption id="attachment_671310" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kate Shanasy[/caption] OVERALL WINNER: BENTWOOD Fitzroy cafe Bentwood proves a fitting homage to the Thonet furniture showroom that previously occupied its Napier Street home, not only named for the brand's iconic chairs, but boasting a dining room filled with them. They're set beautifully against a warm, rust-hued fit-out, where soaring ceilings, concrete pillars and walls of exposed brick give another nod to the building's industrial heritage. Here, Julien Moussi (Elsternwick's Penta and Northcote's Tinker) is delivering another stand-out cafe, where attention to detail extends well beyond the decor, into the coffee cup and onto the plate. The caffeine offering comes courtesy of Moussi's own Inglewood Coffee Roasters, with a tidy range of specialty options to satisfy the coffee connoisseurs of Fitzroy. Food here packs as much of a punch aesthetically as it does for the tastebuds, across a generous menu of brunch and lunch creations. You'll spy elevated classic like meringue-loaded hotcakes and an eggs benny with braised beef cheek, sitting alongside contemporary hits like a poke-style assembly that comes atop slices of dark rye. [caption id="attachment_697397" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kate Shanasy[/caption] PEOPLE'S CHOICE: WEIRDOUGHS A fun-loving new contender has crashed Melbourne's pastry scene and it's out to woo the sweet-toothed masses with its plant-based treats, party-ready attitude and late-night hours. Fittingly dubbed Weirdoughs, the CBD spot is 100 percent vegan, with a clear appetite for fun. The store's even open until the wee hours on Fridays and Saturdays, with DJs serving up a sparkly mix of hip hop and electronica to match. Here, the pastries are all about teaming traditional technique with innovative flair. The kitchen, helmed by former Vue Group Executive Pastry Chef Kane Neal, is out to smash those preconceptions and prove that butter's no longer a necessity for flavour-packed baked goods. It's swapping out the dairy for a special blend of cashew, macadamia and coconut oil. Expect a selection of sweet and savoury creations, like a custard 'Weirdoughnut', oozing golden turmeric custard and smothered in rhubarb sherbet sugar, a cube-shaped take on the croissant, an Aperol doughnut and even an all-vegan version of the humble ham and cheese croissant. BEST NEW BAR OVERALL WINNER: HEROES Everyone loves a hero. Some people even hold out for one. So when a bar opens with heroes as its namesake, we're, naturally, interested. And when that bar features three levels of karaoke, barbecue and a rooftop bar, we're making a beeline to its front door. As soon you step out the elevator, senses are assaulted. Your eyes by a cacophony of colours from the treasures gathered on the owners' 10-day jaunt around Malaysia. Your ears by music reminiscent of roller skating rinks from Saturday afternoons in the early 80s. Your nose by the smell of the smoky grill. And this is before you put anything in your mouth. If you like your cocktails to have qualifications, order a Doctor Jones (rum, Melbourne moonshine sweet tea, turmeric and Malaysian sour plum) and the assault on the sense will be complete. Then there's the food — all the cooked offerings come straight off the charcoal grill. PEOPLE'S CHOICE: LOVER The airy space at the end of Chapel Street — formerly home to a health food cafe — has crossed over to the dark side. Its once light and bright fit-out has been replaced by a dark and ambient decor combining recycled timbers, giant drapes of fabric hanging from the ceilings and a melange of antiques mounted on the walls. The food at this Windsor restaurant bar doesn't have a specific cultural identity, but rather draws influences from around the globe and has an overarching theme: nostalgia. Old classics you may have eaten as a child (like prawn crackers and pretzels) come out to play in modern forms. And this is done successfully by head chef Paul Turner — who hails from Cutler & Co. When it comes to drinks, cocktails are the word at Lover — all prettily picturesque and met with generous flavour. Visitors will find a blueberry and sage sour made with infused gin, as well as a coconut and elderflower margarita. Lover also sports a collection of white, red and sparkling wines from across the globe to match its diverse food offerings, too. BEST NEW RESTAURANT [caption id="attachment_659517" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jason Loucas[/caption] OVERALL WINNER: LAURA It's hard not to be impressed when you visit Laura. Sweeping vistas, thoughtful food and appropriately matched wines poured into individually hand-blown Austrian glassware. When you drive from the city, it's an overland route. Even driving into Pt Leo Estate, you are surrounded by vines with no view of the sea. So the effect of entering the front doors of the cellar door and restaurant, seeing the verdant sculpture park running off down towards Western Port Bay, is nothing less than breathtaking. Laura is an intimate dining experience where the idea is to put yourself in culinary director Phil Wood's hands and follow a six-course tasting menu. The food side of the degustation takes you on a tour of the Mornington Peninsula with each course named after the location of the main element of the dish. The matched wines, on the other hand, are more of an international jaunt, with a couple of home visits in between. At any point in your journey, your waiter will happily pour whichever wine you are drinking into a less precious glass so that you can take a digestive stroll around the sculpture park. Make sure you do a 360-degree turn around Laura, the restaurant's namesake and monumental cast-iron head from Spanish sculptor Jaume Plensa. [caption id="attachment_663232" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kate Shanasy[/caption] PEOPLE'S CHOICE: SUNDA If you learn — and respect — the intricacies of particular cuisines, you can successfully fuse them together. And that's exactly what is being done at Punch Lane's newest restaurant. Tucked behind Chinatown, Sunda marries together the flavours of Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam with native Australian ingredients with great success. Designed by award-winning architect firm Kerstin Thompson, Sunda is tastefully minimalistic, founded on a neutral palette of concrete and light timbers — allowing the true focus to fall on the food, whose vibrant colours beautifully contrast against the interiors. After having some house-made pickles to start, you could indulge in the oysters with coconut curry vinaigrette and Tasmanian pepperleaf. Or the roti with Vegemite curry diP. Yes, you read that correctly: Vegemite. It's combined with sourdough and blended to make a salty, creamy accompaniment to the Indian-style bread — the perfect intersection of cultures. The inventive cocktail list continues the same theme, uniting flavours from several countries. The Saigon puncH, for example, combines cognac, Chartreuse, lemongrass, ginger and lime; and the Sunda Sling pairs Tanqueray with andaliman pepper, Benedictine and soda. Congratulations to all the winners. Our city is a better place with you in them. Top image: Bentwood by Kate Shanasy.
On the hunt for some top-notch gifts for those cheese-loving mates of yours? Or maybe you just want to be stocked up on the good stuff for all the festive dinner parties to come. Either way, you'll find yourself in utter cheesy heaven at Cornelius Cheesemongers' Cheese Cave Pop-Up this month. Running for just three days prior to Christmas, this temporary cheese shop is where dairy dreams come true. The online cheesemonger is opening the doors to its Brunswick cheese cool room from 12–3pm on December 22, 23 and 24. Those keen to take their cheese board game to the next level will find lots of limited edition goodies, like the J.J. Sandham Lancashire Bomb cheddar from the UK and an insane truffled brie straight outta France. You'll be able to have a taste of them, too, so you can find your perfect Christmas cheese. There's also a truckload of present ideas for the cheese obsessives in your life, from a personal raclette party set, to a four-piece cheese knife collection. There's even an epic goodie pack filled with cheese slates, Champagne and cheeses that's guaranteed to win you serious brownie points on December 25. Image: Kimberley Low.
Named after a Hebrew slang term meaning 'quick-quick', Ripponlea's new Israeli street food joint Chik Chak certainly lives up to its name. Owners Adam Faigen and Rotem Papo were forced to act speedily on their plans for their second venture — their first being the newly-launched Prahran restaurant Golda — when Melbourne was hit with a second wave of lockdown restrictions. After some whirlwind preparations, Chik Chak opened its doors last week and is, for now, serving up a takeaway and delivery-only menu seven days a week. Heading up the kitchen, Papo is plating up a celebration of Israeli street eats, his menu flitting between the traditional and the contemporary. There's classic falafel — here teamed with tahini, hummus, Israeli salad and a fiery sauce — while pieces of schnitzel-style chicken come with a zesty coleslaw, house-made tomato sauce and herb aioli. You'll also recognise some instant hits plucked from the Golda menu, including the pomegranate-glazed beef cheek with pickled beetroot and that spiced cauliflower shawarma. You can have your chosen combination served in a bowl, or piled into a fresh pita pocket — maybe with some golden fries or baba ghanoush on the side. To drink, look no further than Chik Chak's line of indulgent vegan shakes. There's a blend of raspberry, oat milk and fig syrup, and a tahini and cacao number that should take pretty good care of your sweet tooth. That is, if you haven't already been tempted by the malabi, an Israeli pudding that here comes with toasted coconut and orange honey syrup. With Melburnians now under strict stage four lockdowns — and unable to venture more than five kilometres from their homes to pick up essentials — Chik Chak is offering takeaway and local delivery seven nights a week. Find Chik Chak at 54 Glen Eira Road, Ripponlea. It's currently open for takeaway, from 4.30–8.30pm Monday–Thursday and 12–8.30pm Friday–Sunday. Delivery is from 5–8.30pm nightly. Updated August 4, 2020.
I scream, you scream, we've all been screaming for ice cream — and, this February, once again, our prayers have been answered. The annual Ice Cream Festival is back, and this year it's taking place at three of Victoria's chocolateries and ice creameries: in the, along the Great Ocean Road and on the Mornington Peninsula. You may want to prepare the smelling salts, because each venue will be trotting out 12 new flavours a day between Wednesday, February 10–Sunday, February 21. For 12 days. That's 144 unique flavours all up — including scoops like parmesan and olive oil, siracha pretzels, watermelon and feta, Turkish delight pavlova, charcoal cherry ripe, spiced negroni and yuzu whisky sour. For $20 you can book into a tasting session that covers 12 of the day's flavours at once, or you can just rampage around the place like a deranged, hungry Pac-Man and try to taste 'em all at $4.80 a pop (or $6.80 for a double scoop). You can also go beyond ice cream, if you so please, and taste ice cream-topped pizzas, waffle ice cream sandwiches and giant OTT sundaes. What's more, each of the venues — in Yarra Glen, Bellbrae and Flinders — each have lovely grounds for you to lay around in and enjoy. 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. The Ice Cream Festival will take place at three venues: Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery at 35 Old Healesville Road, Yarra Glen; Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery at 1200 Great Ocean Road, Bellbrae; and Mornington Peninsula Chocolaterie and Ice creamery at 45 Cook Street, Flinders.
Barbecue and smoked meat experts Fancy Hanks are at it again — after their highly successful pop-up, Majestic Hawker, where food was cooked over an open flame, they've brought their stoveless concept back to Bourke Street. The Fancy Hanks team (Kent Bell, Mike Patrick, Daragh Kan and Myles Munro) has named this huge new Chinatown establishment Heroes. Now open, it's inspired by their travels around the Malay Peninsula, as well as their experiences dining in Singaporean and Malaysian eating houses and beer gardens. Given that it's a barbecue bar, everything edible comes off the charcoal grill, in a culinary lineup that's overseen by chef and food advisor Alicia Cheong — who grew up in the region's Singaporean and Malaysian food culture, and previously worked at both Fancy Hanks and Majestic Hawker. Expect both familiar and creative hawker-style food on the menu, including wings with chilli vinegar and lime, a daily sambal, smoked beef tongue, soybean custard with fried dough fritters, and six types of skewers (chicken satay, beef rendang, lamb, duck heart, shiitake mushroom and eggplant). Plus, the special szechuan brisket comes with smoked garlic puree and pickled radish, and is smoked up the road at Fancy Hanks. Between devouring Cheong's dishes, you can sit back with a drink in the brightly coloured, rooftop beer garden, which boasts views over Chinatown. Beverages span six rotating taps of craft and international beer, including Asahi; more than 20 other brews by the bottle; a wine list paired with the Asian barbecue flavours; and both alcoholic and non-boozy cocktails — such as the Let's Pan-dance with pandan-infused gin, the Gold Finger with both Szechuan-infused vodka and chilli and lemongrass-infused sake, and the First Time in Singapore with pineapple, preserved mandarin, cherry and lime — as curated by Oscar Eastman of Loretta's and Eau de Vie. Plus, the venue has also filled its first lower floor with private dining rooms and karaoke rooms, perfect for group hangouts. Yep, it looks like you'll be able to enjoy your entire night out here without leaving the building. Meanwhile, the decor mirrors the high-energy design the crew fell in love with on their travels — very '80s, a little Blade Runner-esque, and old world-meets-new world, too. In fact, Munro, Bell and Cheong picked up many of the bar's interior elements in Kuala Lumpur, rummaging "through dodgy junkyards, thieves' markets, pawn brokers, basement vintage flea markets — all the way to an old lady's backyard toilet," says Bell. Find Heroes at 188 Bourke Street, Melbourne.
