To celebrate World Coffee Day, Richmond's cult-favourite tart shop Tarts Anon will be giving away 100 of its newest creation — the espresso custard flan — free with coffee purchases. The one-day-only special sees croissant pastry and silky crème patisserie baked together and laced with espresso, resulting in a caffeinated twist on the traditional Portuguese tart. Whether you order a flat white, cappuccino or long black, with oat milk, almond or regular dairy, the free flan is yours — if you're among the first through the door. The giveaway will run from 8am until the first 100 pastries are snapped up, so you'll want to get in early. You'll find it all happening at Tarts Anon's light-filled flagship on Church Street. Tarts Anon's free espresso custard flans are only available on Wednesday, September 20, from 8am, for the first 100 customers.
It's been just a couple of months since the State Library of Victoria first showed off its wild side, hosting a huge week of gigs and dance parties as Melbourne Music Week's 2016 hub. Now, punters again have the chance to party in the usually grave-silent library after hours, with 3RRR transforming part of the space into a lively pop-up bar for two Friday nights this month. Set to rock the book stacks on January 13 and 20, the event ties in with the library's latest exhibition, ON AIR: 40 years of 3RRR, celebrating the history and evolution of one of Melbourne's best-loved radio stations. Each night of the pop-up will see RRR favourites like Chris Gill (Get Down), Steve Cross (Beat Orgy), and Sarah Smith (Breakfasters) spinning the tunes in the library foyer, as you knock back RRR cocktails on the Mr Tulk terrace and browse vinyl in the onsite bookstore, Readings. Even the library's galleries will be throwing open their doors, allowing a rare after-hours sneak peak at the current exhibition program. 3RRR's ON AIR pop-up bar is happening on January 13 and January 20, open 7-10pm. ON AIR: 40 years of 3RRR will run until January 29. Image: Pascal/Flickr.
While most people think of Hollywood as the movie capital of the world, in reality that title belongs to Mumbai. With an output of more than 1,000 feature films a year, India’s big-screen industry dwarfs its American counterpart, churning out comedies, dramas, action flicks and — of course — musicals, the best of which will be showcased in Australia as part of the third annual Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. Held at Hoyts Cinemas in Melbourne Central and Chadstone, this year’s festival will begin with a special 3D restoration of the 1975 action epic Sholay, introduced in person by its legendary star Amitabh Bachchan. From there the festival splits into four streams: Hurrah Bollywood focuses on the years’ biggest commercial hits, while Beyond Bollywood draws attention to smaller films produced outside Mumbai’s studio system. The New Voices section highlights independent works by fledgling directors, including Ritish Batra’s international festival favourite The Lunchbox. Lastly, From the Subcontinent features a collection of films from India’s neighbours in Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. In addition to the movies, the IFFM 2014 program contains a host of special events, including filmmaking masterclasses, guest Q&As and free screenings at Fed Square, plus a live Bollywood dance contest with a free trip to India for the winner. For the full IFFM program, visit the festival website.
Welcome to Thornbury will accommodate both your stomach and your flaming sinuses at the day-long event that is the Hot Sauce and Chilli Festival. If spice is your mate and you think you can handle some of the hottest chilli situations Melbourne can throw at you, now's your time to prove your mettle. Some you'll even have to sign a waiver to taste, so you know they'll be life-affirming. There'll be sauce offerings from stalls such as Melbourne Hot Sauce, Hells Breath and Blair's Death Sauce. If you've come for the actual food side of things, you're in luck, too — Mr Burger, The Brunswick Mess Hall and Satay Truck will set up shop, among others. And drinks? Well, the bar team will be serving 'hot pocket' shots. That's what you'll need a waiver for (and maybe some milk, too). Head along from 12–10pm on Saturday, April 27.
Step into the neon-signed, mural-adorned Mama Manoush and let Mama herself feed you a week's worth of authentic Lebanese food in one sitting. At the insistence of her kids, Elizabeth Kairouz opened her restaurant in Fitzroy in 2014, before moving to a bigger space in Brunswick East in 2017 — now everyone can try her perfectly smooth hummus, baba ganoush and labneh, skewers of charcoal-grilled meats, bowls of tabouli and fattoush, and crispy falafel and sambousik. Mama's banquet is $45 a head for a generous selection of her best dishes, including dips with traditional pickles and bread, salads, rice pilaf, charcoaled meats and more, plus Lebanese coffee and baclava to cap it all off. If you're really hungry, the mega banquet is $60 per person for an extra couple of dishes from the mezza and grill menus. Out the back in Mama's Garden, there's a smaller selection of wraps, snack packs and sides, where you can fill up for 20 bucks. There is also a full menu of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and desserts. Try the Mama Bell with Zubrowka bison grass vodka, peach liqueur, clowdy apple, passionfruit and lime juice ($18), a white chocolate, cookie and brandy dessert cocktail served with a baclava finger ($18), or a ginger beer, cinnamon and lime mocktail ($9). Desserts run from the traditional cheese-filled baked pie kanafeh ($18) and mouhalabieh (a custard-like pudding, $10) to choc-hazelnut ice cream served with popcorn and chocolate sauce ($12).
There's no denying that the United Kingdom has given the world a lot in the way of music. The nation is steeped in musical culture, from The Beatles to Bonobo; Oasis to One Direction; Elvis Costello to Elton John. It's given us The Spice Girls and 'Careless Whisper'. In short, its veins run thick with musical wealth — but there's more to it than just strolling through The Beatles museum in Liverpool. With the European summer just around the corner, we've been thinking about seminal musical experiences you can tick off your bucket list in the UK. And luckily, Contiki has launched a tour that covers exactly that. Dubbed Contiki Sounds, this ten-day journey includes stops in England's major cities — London, York, Manchester, Birmingham and Liverpool— and culminates in a VIP experience at long-running rock and pop extravaganza Reading Festival. This Aussie winter, pack your guitar (probably sacrificing some undies for space), head over the water to (somewhat) sunnier plains and prepare to pay homage to some legends. Tell your mum you love her and let her know you're off to find your inner John Lennon. ABBEY ROAD CROSSING, LONDON There's no getting around the Fab Four's reputation as paving the way for modern pop music and music fandom. Speaking of paving the way, the Abbey Road crossing in London's St John's Wood neighbourhood is certainly one of the enduring symbols of the band. The crosswalk is traipsed by countless fans of The Beatles daily in a bid to recreate the iconic Abbey Road album cover — undoubtedly frustrating traffic to no end. You can join the crowds and stroll your way across the road in tribute to the fallen members, John and George, and enduring larrikins Ringo and Paul. Sneak a peek at the current musical talent who might be ensconced inside the famous Abbey Road Studios across the way, where many of The Beatles' hits were recorded. [caption id="attachment_717739" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Image: David Dixon via Wikipedia Commons.[/caption] DENMARK STREET, LONDON Another London road worth a visit is Denmark Street. Traipsing this patch of pavement will have you walking in the boots of the ghosts of the London music scene founders. Somewhat of a musical mecca in the mid-20th century, the street is even referenced in a song of the same name by The Kinks. Here, many bands quintessential to the British music world either rehearsed or recorded, and David Bowie even lived on the street in a campervan. Bowie has passed but the street's resonance lives on. Today it's a hotspot for musical instrument sales and repairs, as well as being home to famous grungy livemusic venue Crobar. READING FESTIVAL, READING There's no greater musical experience than packing up a tent, dancing to live music in your gumboots with your best friends for a few days and coming back having had the time of your life. If you're seeking a definitive musical experience and are up for a good time, an all-in UK music festival is a must — and this is one of the best. Reading is the longest-running pop music festival in existence and serves up a jampacked lineup of pop, rock and alternative heavyweights each year in conjunction with its partner festival in Leeds. It also boasts a number of important moments in musical history, including Nirvana's first ever UK show and Arctic Monkey's launch into superstardom in 2005. And if you're going tick this musical mecca off your bucket list, you'll want to do it in style. If you hop on board the Contiki Sounds trip, the on-site crew will take care of all the logistics — from setting up your tent and mattress to making sure you've got brekkie every day — so you can concentrate on donning your boots and moshing in front of the main stage. [caption id="attachment_717914" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: travelmag.com via Flickr.[/caption] SALFORD LADS CLUB, MANCHESTER Made famous by the sleeve art of The Smiths 1986 album The Queen Is Dead, Salford Lads Club has been on the scene since 1903, when it was still a boys club. Over 100 years later, the club has had a whole fleet of musical legends as members (The Hollies also used to practise there). A decade or so ago saw some necessary refurbs, partly financed by Morrissey himself. These days, it's often used as a film and TV location for the likes of British series Coronation Street and hosts a variety of sports and talks geared towards young people. While that might sound like a far cry from The Smiths posing moodily outside, true fans need not fear — there's still an entire room dedicated to the band inside. The Salford Lads Club's musical pedigree is impossible not to acknowledge. [caption id="attachment_717753" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Image by Hens Zimmerman via Wiki Commons[/caption] CAVERN CLUB, LIVERPOOL A guide to the British music scene wouldn't be complete without Liverpool — the epicentre of a huge part of the UK's music roots. And yep, it's generally down to The Beatles. Every year thousands of people flock to the harbourside town, many wanting to explore The Beatles Story museum. The Cavern Club is equally as important and just as drenched in musical history. Step inside and take a deep breath — you'll be inhaling the atmosphere of years of musical history (along with beer). Still an important live music venue to the town, The Beatles made a name for themselves here, playing their first gig in 1961. Over the years, countless other British bands have followed suit, including The Wombats and The Rolling Stones. Pay your respects to this holy stage. Travel around the best spots in the UK with Contiki at Reading Festival. Unearth the UK's musical heritage, then experience an unforgettable party at one of the world's best and biggest music festivals. Contiki wants to take you there — all you have to do is choose from the 7- or 10-day trip. Plus, if you bring a mate, it'll give you both $200 off. Find out more here.
Melbourne Place has been in the works for a few years now, but the team behind this boutique hotel has finally announced that it will open in October 2024. The new hotel on Russell Street will be 14 stories high, have 191 luxury rooms, and house a basement bar and rooftop restaurant that are set to become destinations in their own right. When it comes to places to rest their heads, guests can choose from a number of room formations, from simple rooms to a totally lavish penthouse. The team isn't shying away from colour or multiple textures throughout the rooms, and is adding luxury elements with bespoke finishes and furnishings. Melbourne Place is also taking its drinking and dining destinations very seriously. Hatted Young Chef of the Year Nicholas Deligiannis (ex-Audrey's) has been enlisted to run the hotel's culinary program, giving particular attention to its rooftop restaurant Mid Air. When it comes to the ground-floor dining room and basement bar, Ross and Sunny Lusted (Sydney's Woodcut and Aman Resorts) are in charge. They haven't shared their concepts for these spaces yet, but we expect them to be totally luxe — like each of the other venues they've worked on. "Neighbouring the city's best restaurants, bars, nightlife and retail, [Melbourne Place] will be the place to be, providing guests with a unique lifestyle and cultural experience situated among the best offerings in the city. It is the ultimate location to experience the pinnacle of Melbourne's life and spirit," says Executive General Manager Tracy Atherton. Melbourne Place is slated to open in October 2024 at 130 Russell Street, Melbourne. For more information, visit the venue's website.
Was your New Year’s less than aspirational? If you spent the strike of midnight shoveling a regrettable kebab into your mouth whilst searching for your friends in a sweaty, heaving mosh rather than swilling champagne and high fiving on the rooftop of a penthouse apartment, Chinese New Year is your chance to do it right and save 2013 from failure. Fed Square will see in the Year of the Snake with free and fun things, beginning with a screening of cult comedy All's Well, End's Well on Saturday, February 9, at 7pm. The next day, traditional lion dancing by the Hong De Lion Dance Association will amaze/amuse/confuse from noon, followed by highlights from the Lumens Festival, a photography and video art exhibition curated by RMIT University, on the main screen. Chinese New Year also makes it permissible to wear red and not be mistaken for a lady of the night, demand envelopes filled with money from your parents, and purchase new clothes in the name of a fresh start. Just call me Confucius. Image via Hong De Lion Dance Association.
For hundreds of years, El Dia de los Muertos has been one of the biggest parties in Mexico honouring the dead. The 4000 year-old tradition's history can be traced back to Mexico's indigenous beliefs of the afterlife — that death is only the beginning. Now it's Australia's turn to delve into the underworld, as The Day of the Dead finds its way to secret warehouse locations across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane this spring. Curated by a group of Mexican visionaries and artists, Day of the Dead 3.1. takes cues from some of the world's most celebrated immersive spectacles, everything from Burning Man to Sleep No More. Find yourself immersed in a temporary world of interactive art installations, light projections, extravagant costumes, murals created by renowned street artists and an exclusive lineup of local and international DJs and musicians. Is this a Mexican-inspired fiesta or what? Where's the nosh? Pop-ups by a handpicked bunch of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane's go-to local Mexican eateries, like Playa Takeria, have been selected to create special Dia de los Muertos menus. Plus, there'll be Mexican cervezas and tequila/mezcal cocktails from Tequila Herradura and Tequila Jimador to provide you with enough sustenance to dance the night away. With instructions being sent to ticketholders just one week before the event, this is secret warehouse party business at its best. Each city's locations are more closely guarded than an abuela's special mole sauce ingredient and will only be released one day before the party. Day of the Dead will visit Sydney on October 24, then Melbourne on October 31 before ending in Brisbane on November 7. Honour the dead, celebrate the living. Get tickets early. Due to Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane events selling out within hours and hundreds of emails requesting tickets, the Day of the Dead team twisted some arms and increased the event capacity. There'll be a new and final ticket release happening on Saturday, September 26 at 12.30pm, with tickets at $95. Tickets will sell out within hours, so be ready. Get tickets here.
This cheery new Brunswick East brunch destination has proved a hit with humans and pooches alike, winning over fans with its all-day bagel menu, house-roasted coffee and one of the most dog-friendly outdoor dining spaces around. Against a dapper backdrop of white tile and navy blue accents, Bellboy is plating up an offering of contemporary cafe gems, running from the scrambled eggs cacio e pepe ($17), to a prawn and crab brioche roll laced with spicy mayo ($20). Meanwhile, a dedicated bagel lineup features crafty fillings like wood-smoked pastrami with cheese and sauerkraut ($15), vegan salad with cashew cream cheese ($13), and a classic muffuletta ($15), all served with house-cut chips. Former Golden Bean winner and coffee legend Mark Leo is roasting two signature coffee blends on site, for espresso and filter options, or you can try your caffeine married with soda water and a hit of orange in the cold brew spritzer ($8). There's also free-flowing sparkling water ($1.50), house-pressed juices ($6.50) and signature cocktails like the apple-infused elderflower gin blossom ($13). As for four-legged guests, they'll be pretty chuffed with the dedicated menu of Bender& Friends doggy treats, the custom Frank & Friends Design 'check-in' kennel and the oh-so-chic ceramic bowls by Houndsome Dog. Images: Julian Lallo
Visitors to the Sydney Opera House might soon be able to stay the night, under a bold new plan being considered by NSW state authorities. According to The Guardian, the New South Wales Department of Planning and Environment is currently mulling over a proposal that would see certain sections of the Opera House — including the Utzon Room, the Board Room, the Joan Sutherland Theatre and the Concert Hall — temporarily transformed into luxury accommodation on a small number of nights throughout the year. Under the proposal put forward by the Sydney Opera House Trust last year, the Opera House could be utilised for "two types of experiential events". The first would offer "up to two nights' accommodation for a maximum of five guests, offered five times per year". The second would offer "up to two nights' accommodation for a maximum of 100 guests, offered on a single occasion per year". According to the proposal, the activation would "provide a unique opportunity for the community to experience the iconic Sydney Opera House in new and innovative ways", while allowing corporate partners to "promote their support of the Sydney Opera House". The idea sounds cool in theory, but has caused some controversy, particularly in relation to the Opera House's corporate partnership with Airbnb. In a submission to NSW Planning, a former Opera House employee called the plan "bold and brazen marketing" and described the partnership with Airbnb "evil genius". Speaking to The Guardian, a spokesperson for the Opera House said that they did not intend to charge visitors for an overnight stay, but would instead utilise the accommodation for "ballots, visitor experiences, competition prizes or promotional activities". It doesn't sound too dissimilar to the types of competitions that accommodation sites Airbnb and HomeAway have run overseas, which have included overnight stays. It doesn't sound too dissimilar to the types of competitions that accommodation sites Airbnb and HomeAway have run overseas, which have included overnight stays in the Eiffel Tower, the catacombs in Paris and Dracula's Castle. And while it could prove a handy option if the Opera House decides to run its all-night Bingefest this year, we'll wait and see if the proposal gets the final sign-off. Via The Guardian. Image: Frances Gunn.
There are many ways that you can show love for your pet pooch, especially in these extremely dog-friendly times. Want to take Fido to a music festival? Head to a pub with Coco? Let Rex loose at a Halloween party for canines? Yes, you can do just that — and have your four-legged bestie's cute face plastered across your swimmers, too, because the list really does go on. Only one adorable pupper can get immortalised in Lego, however. We're not talking about just sticking a few bricks together at home, either. Inspired by International Dog Day, Melbourne's Legoland Discovery Centre will build a life-size replica of one lucky doggo. The celebratory date was actually this past Monday, but the competition runs until 11.59pm on Friday, September 2o. If you're already clearing a spot for your new Lego addition to the family — and wondering how your fluffball will react to their own likeness — you'll need to submit a photo of your pooch on the Legoland Discovery Centre's Facebook page, specifically to its competition post. You'll also need to explain why your dachshund or dalmatian should get the Lego treatment, which shouldn't be hard. Serve up the best answer, and a master builder (yes, that's a real thing) will recreate your dog with in tiny plastic bricks. While the contest terms and conditions don't require entrants to live in Melbourne, the winner will be unveiled there in November — and you'll need to head by in person to pick up your prize. You'll also need to like the Legoland Discovery Centre's Facebook page to enter, and include your pet's name, age, breed and one crazy fact about them with your submission. If your canine can walk on its hind legs or bark to a tune, don't keep that detail to yourself. To enter the Lego Dog Competition, visit the Legoland Discovery Centre Facebook page before 11.59pm on Friday, September 2o.
Truth is going on trial at Theatre Works this July, where acclaimed local theatre ensemble Optic Nerve is presenting a limited season of Robert Lepage and Marie Brassard's Polygraph. Billed as a mix of metaphysical thriller, murder mystery and love story, the play concerns a young man suspected of murder who finds himself caught up in the making of a movie about the crime he's thought to have committed. But Optic Nerve has put a twist on its production, transforming the text written in the 80s to reflect contemporary fears about the nature of truth in a post-truth world. The production at Theatre Works stars Grant Cartwright, Lachlan Woods and Emily Thomas, and is directed by Optic Nerve artistic director Tanya Gerstle.
Friday lunchtime is the perfect excuse to ditch that sad desk sandwich in favour of a cheeky feed and glass of wine at your local. And for the rest of Good Food Month, Poodle Bar & Bistro is offering just that. On June 18 and 25, the Fitzroy restaurant will be serving up a special Friday lunch situation, featuring an array of signature snacks, a main dish, tea and coffee, and a wine or beer for just $45. You'll kick things off with the likes of spanner crab and taramasalata vol-au-vents, and house-made coffee ground sourdough, before moving onto your pick of mains. We're talking pan-roasted garfish with clams and beurre blanc, the grilled Bundarra pork chop, or Parisian gnocchi with green goddess sauce and taleggio. Wrangled a little extra time away from the office? Add on a dessert course — like the chocolate, prune and gingerbread ice cream sandwich — and an extra glass or two of vino from Poodle's exceptional drinks list. [caption id="attachment_774766" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Poodle[/caption]
Meredith is a festival where you're guaranteed to have a good time, no matter what. But whatever your reasons for heading to the three-day December festival in central Victoria, you won't be disappointed with the acts Aunty Meredith has just announced for this year's lineup. They're absolutely spiffing awesome. Superwoman and curator of all things wacky, Peaches, will be headlining the bill, bringing her extravagant live show to The Sup. Kelela will be coming all the way from Washington to kick off the after-dark vibbes on Friday night, and Geelong boys King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard will be providing that dose of psych rock every weekend at Meredith needs. BADBADNOTGOOD will be fusing jazz and electro, while Angel Olsen will be bringing all them feels and The Triffids will be there for a shot of nostalgia. And that's not even a half of it. Aunty has really covered all bases here. You're wondering how you can get tickets to this aren't you? Meredith tickets are only available by entering the ballot. You can still do so at aunty.mmf.com. Fingers crossed that we can all hang out in The Sup on December 9, 10 and 11. But we know what you're really here for. We'll cut to the chase. Here's the full lineup MEREDITH MUSIC FESTIVAL 2016 LINEUP Peaches Sheila E King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard BadBadNotGood Angel Olsen The Triffids Kelela Ben UFO Japandroids The Congos Baroness Archie Roach Jagwar Ma Mount Liberation Unlimited Fred & Toody Cole Chiara Kickdrum Cass McCombs The Goon Sax Ross Wilson CC: Disco! Cable Ties Wilson Tanner Silence Wedge The Sugarcanes Terry Judith Lucy Sheer Mag Dungen Meredith Music Festival will return to Meredith on Friday 9, Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 December, 2016. Onsite camping will once again be available from Friday. To put your name in the ballot to win tickets, go to aunty.mmf.com.
We had a feeling this might happen. Off the back of an appearance at an already sold-out Splendour in the Grass, Kendrick Lamar will also headline six Australian shows in support of his fourth album DAMN.. Lamar is one of the most critically acclaimed and successful hip hop artists of our generation. The Compton rapper most recently became the first ever artist to take out the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for contemporary music. He's also the beholder of 12 Grammys, has clocked up more than six million album sales worldwide, and was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by TIME Magazine. Lamar will return to our shores for Splendour on the weekend of July 20–22 and six headline shows: one in Perth on July 10, two in Melbourne on July 13 and 14, one in Adelaide on July 15 and two in Sydney on July 24 and 25. Having recently taken the DAMN. tour across the UK and Europe, set lists included his extensive catalogue, including good kid, m.A.A.d city (2012), To Pimp A Butterfly (2015) and his most recent effort DAMN..
We're all very familiar with the sights and sounds of a buzzy full restaurant, the chefs behind the pass doing what they love and crowds of diners gathered to enjoy their work. But lockdown has presented a sombre flip side of this; those same restaurants emptied of life and standing eerily silent, as the hospitality world waits to return. It's these more intimate scenes that a documentary project Empty Chairs At Empty Tables has set out to capture. The compelling photographic series and accompanying film are the work of photographer Mark Chew, and his son Archie Chew and partner Alicia Easaw-Mamutil, both videographers (Alicia + Archie). With most of their regular work on hold due to lockdowns, the trio completed a pandemic pivot of their own, turning their skills towards a new project exploring the realities of a hospitality industry in hibernation. Seven local chefs and restaurateurs feature in the series, shot in Mark's signature documentary style, including Guy Grossi, Karen Martini and France Soir's Jean Paul Prunetti, each captured in striking black and white, sitting in their own empty restaurant. "I wanted to show what it's really like, what restaurants and chefs look like when they're not doing what they're destined to do," Mark explained to Concrete Playground. "We didn't want it to be too negative. We wanted to give the chefs the opportunity to talk about why it's hard for them [and] what's at the end of the tunnel." And the stories confirm that the reality of venue closures goes well beyond silent dining rooms, with each of these restaurants existing as part of its own community. "All the chefs made the point that cooking the food is a big part of it, but it's not all of it," the photographer said. "It's about the performance and the buzz. There's a little bit of theatre, there's feedback from the customers, interactions. And a lot of that is what keeps them stimulated, keeps them pushing on." The film itself captures another layer, sharing an extra dimension not always accessible by photography alone. "When Mark goes and takes these portraits, there's always these really great stories that come as a result because the actual process involves getting to know these people," explains Archie. "It's nice, with the video you get to see how the photograph is made." [caption id="attachment_826728" align="alignnone" width="1920"] "It's what I know...It's what our family knows...It's what we've done traditionally over three generations...My Dad was proud of this city...To see it on its knees...sometimes brings a tear to your eye..." — Guy Grossi of Grossi Florentino.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_826729" align="alignnone" width="1920"] "You miss the energy of service...We're cooking all this food and sending it to faceless people. It's the monotony... you pack it...it goes into a box and it's goodbye to you!" — Hannah Green & Rosheen Kaul of Etta.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_826730" align="alignnone" width="1920"] "Society needs these links....to have people happy in the head...to communicate with each other...we have basically lost all that..." — Jean Paul Prunetti of France Soir[/caption] [caption id="attachment_826731" align="alignnone" width="1920"] "In hospitality you are always presented with different challenges....and you can go up or down or around or under.... open longer...adjust your hours...adjust the menu...change the décor. You can pretty much adapt.... But there is no adapting to being told you cannot open." — Karen Martini of Hero.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_826735" align="alignnone" width="1920"] "Being in a restaurant, working in kitchen or front of house...it's kind of like a big family. And when you're not with your family...It is hard ...right?" — Khanh Nguyen of Aru.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_826726" align="alignnone" width="1920"] "Hospitably is more than just business...with the restrictions we have in place just now...hospitality becomes purely about business ...purely about staying afloat." — Daniel Leuzzi of Freddy's Pizza.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_826732" align="alignnone" width="1920"] "Without a covid pandemic hospitality is fucking hard. It hurts, its painful if you want to do it well. Perhaps it's not worth it now...that's an idea that's popped up." — Tom Giurioli of Freddy's Pizza.[/caption] While Empty Chairs At Empty Tables digs into an unfortunate chapter of Melbourne's hospitality story, it also gives an optimistic nod towards the — hopefully — not too distant future, when the industry is allowed to blossom again. And it serves as a reminder of why these passionate people are so important to our community. As Archie reflects: "It's about so much more than just food." Check out the full film here: See more of the project over at Mark Chew's website and Instagram page, and the Alicia + Archie website and Instagram. Top Images: 1) Guy Grossi of Grossi Florentino; 2) Hannah Green & Rosheen Kaul of Etta; 3) Jean Paul Prunetti of France Soir; 4) Karen Martini of Hero; 5) Khanh Nguyen of Aru; 6) Daniel Leuzzi of Freddy's Pizza; 7) Tom Giurioli of Freddy's Pizza.
When social distancing became our new way of life, the good folk at Audible released a stack of audiobooks for free, all to help keep everyone entertained while we were spending more time (read: all our time) at home and indoors. Now that things are slowly starting to return to normal, summer is on the horizon and prime road trip season is upon us, the online retailer is doing the same — so you have something ace to listen to while you're heading away for a getaway. The free audiobooks are on offer in collaboration with the tourism-focused initiative Empty Esky, which aims to support small businesses, including those affected by the Australian bushfires. So, the idea is that you'll hop behind the wheel, mosey out beyond the city limits, see the country, and patronise local retailers and hospitality venues — and that you'll listen to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald and Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia by Anita Hess along the way. Almost 60 hours of audiobooks are available for free, and they all tie into seven set itineraries, covering Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Tasmania, and both New South Wales' south coast and northern regions. Follow your chosen route, keep an eye out for Audible posters at participating small businesses, and download a free audiobook at each stop. You'll need to follow the whole process, because you'll have to scan the QR code on the poster at each place to get access to the relevant text. If you knew you wanted to hit the road this summer, but you weren't sure where to venture to, Audible and Empty Esky have basically taken care of that decision for you. The itineraries also include Audible podcasts, if you're in the mood for something other than literature. Among both the books and podcasts, you'll also find JM Barrie's Peter Pan, the Beatrix Potter Collection and Jojo Moyes' Me Before You — as well as Heist with Michael Caine, Australia's Funniest Stand-Up, and Nakkiah Lui and Miranda Tapsell's Debutante: Race, Resistance and Girl Power. They'll all stream on your phone, tablet or laptop, although you will need to either sign into your existing Audible account or create a new one to start listening. To check out the Empty Esky itineraries — and the Audible books available — head to the Empty Esky website.
Each week, Australia's cinemas deliver plenty of excuses to spend time in a darkened theatre with your eyes glued to the big screen. But when the Jewish International Film Festival returns for 2021 — after sitting out last year due to the pandemic — it'll serve up even more reasons to spend a night or several at the flicks, especially if you're keen to explore a top-notch program of movies and television shows with ties to Jewish culture. A hefty lineup spanning 29 features, 19 documentaries and episodes from three TV series is on the bill when the festival hits Melbourne between Wednesday, February 17–Tuesday, March 16 — running at the Classic and Lido cinemas. JIFF 2021 will open with Incitement, which won Best Film at the Ophir Awards (aka Israel's version of the Oscars), and steps into a young Orthodox law student's attempt to assassinate the Israeli Prime Minister in 1995. At the other end of the fest, it'll close with the first two episodes from the third season of Shtisel, starring Unorthodox breakout Shira Haas as the member of a Haredi family in Jerusalem. Also on offer: Haas again, this time as a teenager with a degenerative health condition in Asia; coming-of-age comedy Shiva Baby, focusing on a college student dealing with dramas at the titular event; and When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit, about a Jewish family fleeing Berlin in the 30s. Or, you can check out Ruth – Justice Ginsburg In Her Own Words, the latest documentary about the late, great Supreme Court Justice; Alan Pakula: Going for Truth, which pays tribute to the director of To Kill a Mockingbird, Sophie's Choice, All the President's Men and more; and The Last Vermeer, with Dracula's Claes Bang as an army officer investigating paintings taken by the Nazis and Aussie star Guy Pearce playing a Dutch art dealer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbOEtyKJ17A Top image: Shtisel, Ohad Romano.
Melbourne, clear your schedule — it's time to make some dinner plans. Melbourne's biggest gastronomic event starts this week, with food makers, wine tasters and cocktails shakers descending on the city, with you in the middle of it all. Running from February 28 - March 16, the 2014 Melbourne Food & Wine Festival is celebrating the bounty of the water and all its delicious offerings, accompaniments and possibilities. Centred around the theme of water, festival hub The Immersery will take leave from solid ground and feature as a three-storey barge anchored on the banks of the Yarra, and a range of masterclasses, street parties, dinners, lunches and wine tastings are sure to keep you busy. With over 200 events poised to take place all over Melbourne and Victoria, you're sure to be sufficiently filled to the brim — check out our top picks for the 17-day food frenzy that aren't sold out here.
Well it sounded promising. I’ll go one further, PROMPTER sounded exciting. You’ve got this out-there, experimental, multidisciplinary dance/theatre/activist company (that’s Perth’s Hydra Poesis) producing a show about online news media that’s been scripted by an actual journalist (that’s Monocle’s Australasian correspondent Patrick Pittman) and performed not just by actors on stage but by performers all around the world streaming in by internet. That’s got to be amazing, right? Even if it fails, it will at least be an interesting experiment, right? Right? Perhaps the idea of combining these elements was too full of promise for any actual show to live up to the expectation but, even allowing for this, PROMPTER is a remarkably drab theatrical experience. The story centres around an obscure fictional island which is struck by a never specified cataclysm. For some reason people around the world are invested enough in this turn of events that they go psychotic as a result. At least we’re told they go psychotic, what we see is a few people jiggle briefly. Then a couple have a tiff over the internet and some soldiers delivering aid supplies shoot some civilians, because, well, that’s just what soldiers do, at least in the histrionic world of PROMPTER. Ah well, comprehensibility of plot is not essential to enjoy experimental theatre but the performance is also a flat-out fizzle. For all the promise of multidisciplinary approach, the show has very little physical performance, dance or anything other than big slabs of monologue. It’s dreary monologue, too, thick with uninteresting details about the imaginary setting or raging with outrage about the unconvincing series of events that happens there. While the script is clearly aiming to make a statement about the media, it is too heavily laden with contrivance and conceit to deliver a meaningful message. That the monologues are mostly delivered to on-stage cameras and the video displayed, as if televised, on large overhead screens, adds little to the audience experience. If anything, the fact that the actors are almost always working in effective isolation drains much needed vitality from the performances. Likewise, the contribution from the online performers, while intriguing as a concept, brings little to the show. They seldom have anything to do other than watch blankly and their rare actions have almost no bearing on anything on stage. The show comes with many technological trappings, from actors interacting via portable monitors to projections on a billowing inflatable screen, but it all feels like effort that's been put in the wrong places. PROMPTER takes itself tremendously seriously but at no point do the audience have reason to care about any of it. We have no point of connection to the characters, they have little connection to each other and the events have little connection to reality. The cast all seem like decent performers but they look bored and exhausted, as well they might. Logistically PROMPTER must have been complex to set up, but to watch it is like typing 'paint drying' into YouTube and then being expected to be shocked by what you see. A lot's gone into making this show, but little has come out for an audience to enjoy.
What's better than a film festival that brings the best and brightest new Japanese movies to Australian cinemas each year? One that also returns a few months later with a solely digital lineup that you can check out from your couch. Yes, after the IRL Japanese Film Festival last hit locations around the country in late 2021, it's now time for the Japanese Film Festival Online for 2022, aka your next excuse to indulge in your Japan obsession without hopping on a plane. This year's online program spans 17 films over two weeks, screening from Monday, February 14–Sunday, February 27. That gives you plenty of choices, plus ample time to catch comedies, mysteries, dramas, documentaries and more — some from the past year or two, others dating back to 2008. And, in particularly exceptional news, they're all streaming for free. Highlights include the food focused Mio's Cookbook and The God of Ramen, with the former offering up a period drama about a young chef and the latter honing in on famed Tokyo figure Kazuo Yamagishi; mystery Masked Ward, which unleashes its thrills and twists in a hospital; It's A Summer Film, about a high schooler obsessed with old samurai flicks; and comedy Happy Flight, as set during an emergency flight from Tokyo to Honolulu. While you won't pay a thing to watch, you do still need to register via the fest's website.
A man struts into a diner and asks "who've I gotta kill to get a coffee?". When a woman hears the doorbell ring, she instantly grabs her gun, baseball bat and taser. The series that'll include both? Fargo, the anthology TV show inspired by the big-screen Coen brothers masterpiece, which is returning for its fifth season in November. 2023 marks almost a decade since writer, director and producer Noah Hawley leapt from Bones, The Unusuals and My Generation to diving back into crime in often-frosty American places — and always with a strong streak of black comedy pumping through its veins. The first two seasons arrived back to back in 2014 and 2015, with season three then following in 2017 and season four in 2020. Now, after another three-year gap, the show returns with a whole new story and cast, but still set in the same world as the Fargo movie. Oh you betcha there's accents, crime capers, dedicated cops, and people doing dark deeds for selfish reasons and then getting karmic comeuppance. When it arrives in Australia via SBS On Demand on Wednesday, November 22, Fargo's fifth season will do so with a stacked lineup of talent, too: Juno Temple (Ted Lasso), Jon Hamm (Good Omens), Jennifer Jason Leigh (Hunters) and Joe Keery (Stranger Things) all included, plus David Rysdahl (Oppenheimer), Lamorne Morris (Woke), Richa Moorjani (Never Have I Ever), Sam Spruell (The Gold) and Dave Foley (The Kids in the Hall) as well. Like season one, two and the movie, this season spends its time in Minnesota and North Dakota. The year: 2019. Dorothy 'Dot' Lyon (Temple) is the otherwise-ordinary person falling afoul of the law — so, when she grabs those weapons in one of the show's sneak peeks, she's clearly not an average Midwestern housewife — while Roy Tillman (Hamm) is the North Dakota Sheriff (and preacher) on her trail. In a case of spectacular casting, Keery will put his famous hair to good use as Tillman's son Gator, in a franchise that also loves unpacking the ties of blood that bind and cause chaos. Spruell plays a drifter who is enlisted to help on the search for Dot, while Rysdahl is her husband Wayne. Leigh hops on board as his mother, aka the 'Queen of Debt' thanks to being a debt collection company CEO, and Foley plays her in-house counsel. Among the cops, there's Moorjani as a deputy from Minnesota and Morris as a North Dakota counterpart. Everyone on-screen joins a saga that's seen Billy Bob Thornton (The Gray Man), Allison Tolman (Gaslit), Martin Freeman (Breeders), Kirsten Dunst (The Power of the Dog), Patrick Wilson (Insidious: The Red Door), Jesse Plemons (Love and Death), Jean Smart (Hacks), Ewan McGregor (Raymond & Ray), Carrie Coon (Boston Strangler), Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Ahsoka), Chris Rock (Amsterdam), Jessie Buckley (Women Talking) and Jason Schwartzman (Asteroid City) all feature in past seasons. Off-screen, Hawley is back as showrunner, writer and director, guiding a series that started with the hard task of living up to the masterpiece of a movie and hasn't struggled so far. Check out the teaser trailers for Fargo season five below: Fargo season five will start streaming via SBS On Demand on Wednesday, November 22. Images: Michelle Faye/FX.
UPDATE Thursday, July 29: Melbourne Museum has reopened following the latest lockdown, with tickets available now. Plus, for the next two weekends (July 31, August 1, 7 and 8) 'Treasures of the Natural World' will have extended hours, opening from 9am. For more details on Victoria's current restrictions, see the Department of Health and Human Services website. Ever wanted to see a martian meteorite? A 200 million-year-old fossil? A cursed amethyst? Come June 2021, you'll be able to see all of them when some of the oldest and strangest treasures from London's Natural History Museum arrive in Melbourne. The aforementioned intriguing objects are just a sample of the 200 specimens that'll be on show as part of Treasures of the Natural World, which will run from June 12, 2021 — with tickets currently available through until December 31, 2021, after the exhibition was postponed from 2020. The Australian-first, Melbourne-exclusive exhibition features a curation of extremely rare and mysterious objects, many of which have been invaluable to our understanding of the world. Items from Charles Darwin's personal collection, the world's largest butterfly (with a whopping 30-centimetre wingspan), extinct animals, an extremely rare 1853 cubic gold nugget and a deadly flea that carried the bubonic plague are other items you'll see at the exhibition. [caption id="attachment_755333" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cursed Amethyst courtesy of the Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London.[/caption] Oh, and back to that cursed amethyst — you might not want to get too close. Its owner Edward Heron-Allen used to keep it locked inside seven protectives boxes and once threw it into a canal, but it was, of course, returned. When Heron-Allen donated it to the Natural History Museum he did so with a note saying the gem was "trebly accursed and is stained with the blood, and the dishonour of everyone who has ever owned it". Creepy. Image two: Queen Alexandra's birdwing butterfly courtesy of the Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London. Updated March 18, 2021.
When Caper Byron Bay Food and Culture Festival debuted in 2022, Louis Tikaram from Stanley in Brisbane was on the lineup. In 2024, the chef from the standout Sunshine State restaurant has curated the program. He has ties to the area, growing up on a 110-acre farm in Mullumbimby before hopping from Sydney's Tetsuya's and Longrain to E.P & L.P. in Los Angeles and then the Queensland capital's go-to Cantonese fine-diner — and he's now doing his part for this culinary fest's second event. Caper returns with a few changes. The festival has expanded its lineup from a four-day weekend to a ten-day run, and also moved from spring to autumn, taking place from Friday, May 17–Sunday, May 26. But its focus remains on celebrating food and culture in its seaside New South Wales home and the surrounding region, whether you're keen to eat, drink, listen to live tunes, or enjoy a drag night and trivia show. "Being part of the first-ever Caper Festival as a guest chef back in 2022 was a blast, and now I'm stoked to come back home to Byron Shire and curate," said Tikaram, announcing the 2024 lineup. "With heaps of mates in the chef and supplier scene, and top-notch produce at our fingertips, we've got some cracking events lined up. Can't wait to get stuck in and show off what we've got cooking." Tikaram's program is filled with fellow culinary names, including when the opening party takes over Three Blue Ducks. On the bill just for that night alone: Dave Moyle from Salty Mangrove (who organised the first Caper), Jason Saxby from Raes on Wategos, Ben Devlin from Pipet, Matt Stone from You Beauty, Mindy Woods from Karkalla, Karl and Katrina Kanetani from Beach Byron Bay, Pepsi Nakbunchuay from Bang Bang, Robbie Oijvall from Lightyears, Bruno Conti from The Hut, Marcello Polifrone from Harvest and, of course, Darren Robertson from the host venue. At the other end of the fest, the closing-night event will see Tikaram, Hawaiian chef Kanetani, Ross Magnaye from Serai Kitchen in Melbourne and Jedd Rifai from North Byron Hotel hone in on Hawaiian buffet-style snacks. In-between, long lunches, a yakitori party and a five-course smoke-fuelled feast are all among the fellow Caper highlights. Some meals will get you eating seaside. Other events are serving up an Italian-inspired aperitivo hour or a gin garden party. With Tikaram doing the honours again, you can also tuck into east-meets-west canapés at Byron Chinese restaurant Hutong Harry's. Whatever you're heading to, the North Byron Hotel is the fest's official watering hole, hosting tunes, cooking demonstrations, and cheese and wine tastings. If you've got a ticket to the fest, you'll score a drink coupon for a complimentary beverage, too. Caper Byron Bay Food and Culture Festival runs from Friday, May 17–Sunday, May 26, 2024 at various locations around Byron Bay and the Northern Rivers region. For more information, head to the festival's website. Images: Jess Kearney / Ella Dice.
If you've ever visited Japan, you've likely made your way to the top of one of Tokyo's tall towers — Tokyo Tower, even — and tried to catch a glimpse of Mount Fuji. You might've even made the trip to the active volcano yourself, and you probably saw its shape splashed across plenty of souvenirs. And you likely spotted variations of Katsushika Hokusai's art work featuring it, too. His Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji series, which includes The Great Wave off Kanagawa, is one of the things he's best known for. Actually seeing Mount Fuji for yourself might be off the cards at the moment, but you can learn more about Hokusai and his work at Australia's annual Japanese Film Festival. It's back for its 25th year in 2021, screening at select cinemas across Melbourne from Thursday, November 18–Sunday, December 5, with biopic Hokusai kicking off the festival on opening night. Also on the 21-movie program: Oscar submission True Mothers, which sees acclaimed filmmaker Naomi Kawase spin a story about adoption; Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy, a Berlinale 2021 Silver Bear for director Ryūsuke Hamaguchi; and The Deer King, an animated film that steps into a world plagued by disease — and follows two survivors who might have the cure. Or, you can check out Under the Open Sky, about an ex-yakuza starting again after 13 years in prison; hostage thriller Masked Ward, which comes to the screen from the pages of a medical mystery novel; and comedy Not Quite Dead Yet, about a singer who wishes for her dad's demise. A number of movies by avant-garde directors Shūji Terayama also grace the lineup and, from Monday, November 15–Sunday, November 21, JFF is screening a range of titles free online — so you can keep watching even when you're not in a cinema. Want to transport yourself to Japan? Let the Japanese Film Festival whisk you away from November 18–Sunday, December 5 at select cinemas throughout Melbourne. For more information and to book your tickets, visit the website. Images: © 2021 NEOPA / Fictive and Copyright © 2020 HOKUSAI MOVIE.
Thanks to lockdowns, travel limits, and gathering and venue restrictions, Melburnians have been caught in a familiar cycle since the end of May. That's what happens when there's a COVID-19 outbreak, as everyone has become accustomed to over the past year or so. Also familiar, not to mention welcome: the further easing of the city's rules and caps now that the state has notched up seven days without any locally acquired cases. When Friday, July 9 hits (because, although the changes come into effect at 11.59pm on Thursday, July 8, we're being realistic), a heap of restrictions across Melbourne will loosen — allowing folks to spend time in more places with more people. As announced today, Wednesday, July 7, by Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley, the new rules will remain in place for two weeks at this stage. They'll also apply statewide, bringing all of Victoria under the same requirements. So, for the next fortnight, hospitality venues will be able to operate with a density cap of one person per two-square-metres — as will gyms and physical recreation venues, community facilities, creative studios and places of worship. They'll all need to have a COVID Check-in Marshal is onsite to ensure folks are checking in, though. Dance floors are allowed to make a comeback, again with a COVID Check-in Marshal overseeing the action — but they'll have a 50-person cap at any one time. At public events, crowd numbers will also increase. Outdoor stadiums can fill to 75-percent capacity up to 40,000 people — so yes, that means more people at the footy — and indoor stadiums can do the same up to 7500 people. Theatres can also open to the same capacity percentage, but up to a 2000-person maximum. https://twitter.com/DanielAndrewsMP/status/1412572978538188801 One thing that isn't changing: the at-home gathering cap. That'll remain at 15, so that's still how many people you can have over to your house per day. "Victorians need look no further than the outbreak across our border to know the risks of coronavirus spreading at big gatherings inside the home. That's why the limit on private gatherings will stay the same," the Victorian Government noted in its statement. Mask rules are getting a very slight shakeup, however. They still remain mandatory indoors in public-facing settings, but if you work in an office or a factory, you won't have to wear them — as long as you're in a workplace that doesn't interact with the public. Announcing the latest easing of restrictions, the Health Minister said that "today's changes show just how far we've come — thanks to the hard work of all Victorians we're able to once again have the same settings in place for the whole state.". He continued: "we're seeing across the country just how fast-moving the Delta strain is – which is why we need to remain vigilant and follow the directions to protect the gains we've made." Victoria currently has 24 active COVID-19 cases as at midnight last night. Melbourne's restrictions will ease again at 11.59pm on Thursday, July 8. For more information about the rules that'll be in place from that time, head to the Victorian Department of Health website. Top image: Julia Sansone.
Spend your Saturday celebrating Chinese art and culture when the NGV rings in the Chinese New Year with a full day program of workshops, tours, performances, music and food. It'll all go down on Saturday, January 25 from 12–4pm — and it's absolutely free. Start off with a guided tour of the gallery's Asian art collections at either midday or 3.30pm. The collection spans a whopping four millennia of culture and history through artist mediums such as sculpture, ceramics, jade, calligraphy and prints. A curator's tour of the Japanese Design collection will also be running at 3pm. Traditional Chinese knot making workshops will run throughout the afternoon, and you can also have a go at Tījiànzi in the Grollo Equiset Garden — a game where you have to keep an elaborate shuttlecock off the ground for as long as you can without using your hands. DJ Silky Jazz will also be spinning tunes all afternoon, too. Dumplings, noodles and steamed buns will be on offer in the Great Hall throughout the day. For the full list of events, check out the NGV International website.
Before he’d even set foot in Australia, Tim Crouch’s work had played to rapturous audiences throughout the country, from Belvoir Street to the Perth, Melbourne and Sydney Festivals. Crouch is an internationally acclaimed theatremaker based in the UK, where he creates his own work as well as directing for the Royal Shakespeare Company, and it’s Shakespeare that’s the subject of his latest show. In his one-man piece at Arts Centre, I, Malvolio, Crouch drags the “notoriously wronged” steward from Twelfth Night out into the limelight. When I, Malvolio first opened in a Brighton school as part of that city’s festival, Crouch was also asked to make an “adult” version of the same work — now he adapts the piece on the fly in every show, depending on who’s in the house. “If there’s lots of adults the level of interaction becomes more mature and complex, with a younger audience the text changes slightly," he says. "There’s quite a lot of improvisation in this piece, but there’s also quite a lot of strictly scripted words, and it’s in the spaces where the improvisation exists that the piece changes depending on the audience.” His plays for older audiences typically have a strong ideological bent, pushing against the boundaries of theatre’s capabilities. But he’s found that younger audiences are often more attuned, present and receptive. In this respect, he characterises children and teenagers in a similar way to audiences at festivals, where most if not all of his international work is produced. “Festivals are melting pots,” says Crouch, “They are meeting points, because work from around the world gathers in those places. Everyone is much more porous — the audience come back at you more deeply.” I, Malvolio is the fourth in a sequence of five works that began in 2003 with I, Caliban, but Crouch never set out to make a “series”. In these pieces, he liberates characters like Caliban, Banquo and Cinna from the margins of Shakespeare’s plots, letting them take centre stage in their own fluid, transfigured adaptations. He’s keenly aware of the responsibility these works owe to their “host plays”, but each one is still a freestanding work in its own right. “It’s important that they don’t sit in the shadow of the Shakespeare play they come from; they have to be pieces with their own integrity.” Crouch believes that this kind of balance allows an Elizabethan playwright’s distinctive voice to resonate with a modern audience, invoking Harold Bloom’s belief in Shakespeare as the inventor of understanding of what it means to be human. “A character like Malvolio is still an archetype that exists in contemporary consciousness,” he says, “and it’s good for a young audience to understand there’s a continuum from that time to now, and how we think about ourselves as human beings. We can still trace our way back.”
The impression I had of The Spectacular Now before seeing it was that it was another teen movie about a cool guy falling in love with a dorky girl — but this time genuine and refreshing. 'Not possible!', thought I, as I anticipated counting off all the ways that the film failed. Cool guys and dorky girls don't mix, and if they do, Hollywood filmmakers cannot be counted on to explain it. Now I'm forced to eat my words. The Spectacular Now definitely is that genuine and refreshing take on the cool-guy-falls-in-love-with-the-dorky-girl story. It succeeds by focusing secondarily on the romance, and primarily on the shambolic and troubled life of its protagonist, Sutter Keeley (Miles Teller). Sutter is cool not because he's a jock, a leader, a looker or a bully — he's just the most fun. He and his girlfriend, Cassidy (Brie Larsen), are the life of every party. And that's in good part because Sutter has no self-worth, no ambition and knows how to drink without cessation. The Spectacular Now is unique in its portrait of what alcoholism can look like in adolescence, beyond the usual hysteria over binge drinking. Cassidy leaves Sutter when she realises that, even though their chemistry is the stuff of legend, she wants more out of life. Sutter then meets Aimee Finecky (Shailene Woodley, last seen in The Descendants) — a quiet, swotty girl whose interests include manga and French club (the type who's going to own the college campus soon enough) — when she finds him passed out on a neighbour's lawn in the wee hours. Remember, Sutter is good and fun; he has no ulterior motive for hanging out with Aimee afterwards, besides that he likes her company. But, aided by his inebriation and her infatuation, that friendship quickly escalates. The Spectacular Now has ten times the nuance and complexity of the previous film from the writing duo of Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, (500) Days of Summer. It might be that they had strong source material in the book by Tim Tharp, or that they've simply matured as writers. The Spectacular Now is a standout achievement that makes you care for its characters and leaves you with plenty to think about afterwards. It's true the character of Aimee is sidelined, but she's not just a cipher; she's a multidimensional character who is only known to us through Sutter's eyes, because he's who the film is really about. The relationship between the two characters is strong, interesting and believable, with their complicated mothers being a particular source of commonality. Woodley and Teller really help to sell the roles with their incredible performances. "When you look at her, you really see her," Sutter tells his buddy at the halfway point of the movie, and much the same can be said of the two actors. They add so much depth with their mere presence. The Spectacular Now is a beautiful surprise package. High school has never looked so worth revisiting. https://youtube.com/watch?v=wceaLzbtuDY
If someone was to ask you to imagine a dinosaur, and to picture one type only, it's likely that the Tyrannosaurus rex would come to mind. The towering ancient creature is just that fascinating to kids and adults alike, and not solely because it's rarely far from screens. Head to any museum with a T. rex fossil on display and you'll be surrounded by crowds, whether or not they've seen King Kong, a Jurassic Park movie or Night at the Museum. Head to Melbourne Museum from Friday, June 28–Sunday, October 20, 2024 in particular and expect to have plenty of company, then. Thanks to the Victoria the T. rex exhibition, that's when the fossil of Tyrannosaurus rex Victoria will make its Australian debut in the state with the absolute best name for the occasion. The specimen dates back 66 million years, and is one of the world's largest and most complete T. rex skeletons. Showing exclusively at Melbourne Museum, it's also marks the first time that a real T. rex has ever been on display in Victoria. How big is big? Found in South Dakota in 2013, Victoria is comprised of 199 bones, including a skull that weighs 139 kilograms. The fossil reaches 12 metres in length and 3.6 metres in height. And, because the skull is so heavy, it has to be displayed separately as it can't be mounted upon Victoria's body. Victoria the T. rex will also feature interactive elements, such as multi-sensory installations that'll let you experience how the Tyrannosaurus rex saw and smelled, plus dioramas and a section where you can make your own customised 3D T. rex. Welcome to... the cretaceous period, then. The informative side of the showcase will step through recent palaeontological findings, so that you'll get an idea of what Victoria's life was like all that time ago — and also find out what brought about her end. If that's not enough dino action to make you feel like David Attenborough — or his brother Richard in Jurassic Park and The Lost World — Victoria the T. rex will display alongside Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs, which has been open at Melbourne Museum since 2022. The latter permanently features Horridus, the world's most complete Triceratops fossil, and entry to both exhibitions is included in one ticket. At IMAX Melbourne, 45-minute documentary T.REX 3D will also be showing — complete with footage of Horridus — from Friday, June 21. Images: Neon Global.
Barbecue shapes. Fried chicken. Together in a crunchy combo at last. In terrible news for aspiring dieters everyone, Arnott's has teamed up with some of the best chicken joints in the country to create a taste combination of a very different feather. For the next three weeks, hungry residents of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane can order fried foul coated in crushed Arnott's Barbecue Shapes. And before you ask, yes, they're using the original flavouring. Sydney's Juicy Lucy, Melbourne's Phat Chicks and Brisbane's Seoul Bistro have all gotten on board, with each restaurant offering their own unique take on the brief for $8–15. The whole thing is part of a promotion by Deliveroo, so you'll only be able to get the creations delivered. They'll be available via Deliveroo until Sunday October 7. No word on whether they're planning on doing a pizza shapes variant, but we'll keep our fingers crossed.
Prepare to have your funny bone well and truly tickled, because the Melbourne International Comedy Festival is upon us once again. From Wednesday, March 29 through to Sunday, April 23, hundreds of humorists from all around planet earth will descend upon dozens of venues around town to make you giggle, guffaw, snort, snicker and shoot milk out of your nose. Why you were drinking milk at a comedy show is a whole other question. This year's lineup is predictably packed, with big name international jokesters including Daniel Kitson, David O'Doherty, Jason Byrne and Paul Foot joining beloved locals including Aaron Gocs, Cal Wilson, Demi Lardner and Matt Okine. There'll also be musicals and debates and live podcast recordings, and even a silent comedy event inspired by silent discos. And that's to say nothing of the countless up-and-comers whose names you mightn't know yet, but who you'll no doubt be hearing a lot more from in festivals to come.
It's a hidden gem usually reserved for hotel guests, but come January 19, the sun-drenched rooftop pool above Holiday Inn Melbourne on Flinders will open to the public for a one-off summer splash session. Kicking off at noon, the hotel's sky-high astroturfed terrace and adjoining pool will play host to the sort of classic Aussie pool party you don't often find in the heart of the CBD. Punters will be able to switch between taking dips and lounging in the sun, while enjoying free-flowing beer, wine, cider and soft drinks, all included in the ticket price. A sausage sizzle will be doling out yet more pool party staples, while the soundtrack's set to feature a fun-loving mix of classic summer jams and new favourites. Best of all, a ticket to the two-hour rooftop party will set you back just $40.
The past year has been a bit of a disruptive one for Melbourne's public transport network, with train closures throughout 2019 and over the summer — and we're not over it yet. As construction continues on the the Metro Tunnel, more level crossings are removed and maintenance is performed, the Victorian Government has announced that sections of seven Melbourne train lines, a number of tram lines and some V/Line services will be closed at some point between March 6 and June 1. What does that mean? Replacement buses. If you travel on the Belgrave, Lilydale and Alamein, Cranbourne and Pakenham, Frankston, Glen Waverley, Mernda, Sandringham or Sunbury lines, you'll most likely have to switch from the train to a bus at some point on your commute. Here's what we know so far about what's happening on each of the affected lines. Belgrave, Lilydale and Alamein: Buses will replace trains between Parliament and Camberwell stations from March 6–9. Frankston: Buses will replace trains between Moorabbin and Mordialloc on weekdays and between Moorabbin and Frankston on weekends from March 20–27, between Mordialloc and Frankston/Stony Point from April 30–May 3, and again between Moorabbin and Mordialloc from May 23 until mid-July. Cheltenham and Mentone stations will also be closed from March 20–March 27, with Cheltenham Station closed again from April 15–August 1. Cranbourne and Pakenham: Buses will replace trains between Westall and Cranbourne/Pakenham stations from April 10–12. Glen Waverley: Buses will replace trains between Richmond and Glen Waverley stations from March 6–9 and between Burnley and East Malvern from April 3–12. Mernda: Buses will replace trains between Thornbury and Mernda from April 17–19. Sandringham: Buses will replace trains between Flinders Street and Sandringham from March 28–April 5. Sunbury: Buses will replace trains between North Melbourne and Sunshine from March 6–7 and again on May 14–20, and between North Melbourne and Sunbury on March 8. Works are already being planned into winter, as well, with buses scheduled to replace trains on the Upfield line between North Melbourne and Upfield from July 20 until October. If you're a tram traveller, you'll likely be affected as well. Buses will replace St Kilda Road trams between Commercial Road and Union Street from April 4–12, with a number of other disruptions planned throughout autumn to keep an eye out for, too. Also, V/Line services will be affected. Coaches will replace trains on the Ballarat, Ararat, Maryborough, Bendigo, Swan Hill, Echuca, Geelong and Warrnambool lines on various dates until June 1. Something to take into account before you make any big weekend plans. The train closures this time round will see crews remove three level crossings in Mentone and Cheltenham, build two new stations, remove the level crossing at Toorak Road and complete the new rail bridge. In addition, they'll upgrade the Sunbury line, start upgrading the Monash Freeway and continue works on the Metro Tunnel — building an underground pedestrian connection between Flinders Street Station and the new Town Hall Station, and impacting trams on Flinders Street in March. For up-to-date info, your best bet is to check the disruptions map on the government's Big Build website. Top image: Josie Withers for Visit Victoria.
Four years after Carl's Jr first hit Aussie shores, the cult-favourite American burger joint is at last landing in Melbourne, opening the doors to its first Victorian store in the eastern suburbs. It all kicks off on Friday, October 26, as the fast food chain — renowned for its monstrous stacked buns — sets out to prove it can stack up against our own famously good burger scene. Setting up shop within Knox Westfield's dining precinct, beside Village Cinemas, this new local edition of Carl's Jr will be dishing up its signature menu of 'American classics' that's earned it a heap of fans overseas. We're talking the aptly named Thickburger, teaming an angus beef patty with extras like portobello mushroom, or bacon and guacamole, alongside hefty chargrilled numbers such as the Double Western Bacon Cheeseburger. The Big Carl's rocks a double patty and oozy American cheese, and chook-lovers are sorted with seven different chicken dishes. Then, there are breakfast options for the early birds, salads for the virtuous and some pretty solid sundaes and shakes for dessert. The chain has also mentioned it's planning to open two more Victorian stores by the end of the year. Find the new Carl's Jr store at Westfield Knox, 425 Burwood Highway, Wantirna South. Updated: December 5, 2018.
There's nothing like watching a film at the planetarium, but it's something most of us don't do all that often. Daytime sessions cater to school groups, and the Melbourne International Film Festival's full-dome program only comes around once a year. Thankfully, Scienceworks' late-night series changes that. Every Friday evening through November, once the planetarium's usual working day is done, adults can have some after-hours fun in its impressive space. That means sitting in the reclining chairs, looking up at the 16-metre domed ceiling, listening to the 7.1 surround sound system and soaking in the best the full-dome video projection system has to offer. Reopening after lockdown, the Planetarium's November Friday night program will be peering at the stars during the 7.30pm session, thanks to a full-dome film called Starlight. Then, at 9pm, Particle/Wave will serve up a multimedia exploration of gravitational waves. Making things even better is the fact that the whole thing is boozy, so you can grab a drink from the bar, take it into the auditorium and sip while you watch.
Throw on your winter coat and head out into the night as the Glow Winter Arts Festival returns to Melbourne's southeast for its fifth year. Hosted by the City of Stonnington over four chilly nights, this after-dark arts fest celebrates the best that local creatives have to offer, with plenty of dazzling light projections to tempt you out into the cold. This year, the program is shorter but still just as solid, with Malvern East's Central Park oval set to be lit up with lasers, projections and neon flamingos — it's the east's answer to Fitzroy's Gertrude Street Projection Festival and Footscray's West Projections. If you rock up to the park between 6pm and 10pm, you'll be able to wander through a maze of lights and glowing installations. Thousands of green lasers will cover you and your surrounds in The Laser Garden, while another area will be scattered with all things neon — flamingos, umbrellas and trees included. Between the Trees lets you 'play' the trees in the garden to create a sonic nature experience, while S1T2's Revive the Reef work will make you feel as though you're underwater. Best of all? It's all free to attend.
Not everyone gets off on being packed like a sardine into a club or spending your NYE countdown in line for the bar. Beer Gypsies Matt Bywater and Dan Cerra thought that sounded awful too and will be setting up shop at the Second Story Studios warehouse with a great selection of craft beers and ciders on tap and plenty of room to move. You won’t have to drink those delicious craft brews in silence either because musicians Owl Eyes, City Calm Down, Set Sail and Tully on Tully will be playing all night. Lots of craft beer, wine and cider will be provided from Napoleone and Co. Cider, Mildura Brewery and Six Foot Six Winery.
The newly expanded Carlton Farmers Market is reopening for 2023, kicking off on March 4 with an inaugural Saturday session featuring family-friendly activities and new stallholders. Marketgoers can expect 20 market stalls boasting fresh Victorian produce, locally-made products, coffee, pastries and snacks. Market lovers still reeling from the shock loss of the Abbotsford Farmers Market can also rejoice at this news: many of the Abbotsford stallholder favourites will make The Carlton Farmers Market their new home. The Carlton Farmers Markets were paused at the end of last year, in order to rejig and revamp the long-standing community event. The markets are $2 to enter but all funds go towards donations for MFM and Carlton North Primary School. Pooches and kids are welcome.
If you see an unusual number of fictional characters roaming the streets this May 4, you're not crazy, but you are missing out: it's Free Comic Book Day. Every year on the first Saturday in May (this year it coincides with Star Wars Day, so expect a lot of Jedi robes and Princess Leia buns), comic book stores around the world give away free comics to anyone who walks in. Free Comic Book Day started in America, but it's been picked up by stores in Australia as well. Aiming to "reach out to those individuals unfamiliar with the comic book specialty market", Free Comic Book Day sees many publishers ship specially printed comic books, often previews of upcoming titles, to participating stores around the world. It's not just about the free stuff, though — most stores will have special events going on like artist signings, dress-up competitions and giveaways. The website also has a handy store locator, so you can see what stores are participating near you.
Good times are coming Down Under in October, and disco-soul hit 'Good Times', too. As well as locking in spots at 2023's Harvest Rock in Adelaide and the Melbourne International Jazz Festival, Nile Rodgers & Chic are doing their own headline tour. Ah, Melburnians, get ready to freak out at their headlining gig on Sunday, October 29 at the Forum — with tickets on sale at 11am on Thursday, September 28. Not only 'Good Times' but also 'Le Freak' is certain to get a whirl when the one and only Rodgers takes to the stage with the group that he co-founded more than five decades ago. Also on their recent setlists: Chic tracks 'Everybody Dance', 'Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)' and 'I Want Your Love'. [caption id="attachment_916215" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alex Marshall via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Mention Chic and Rodgers instantly springs to mind; however, as a guitarist, the latter is in a league of his own. You'll also know his work on Daft Punk's Random Access Memories, including single 'Get Lucky'. And as a writer and producer, he's had a hand in everything from David Bowie's Let's Dance album to Madonna's 'Like a Virgin'. Accordingly, Nile Rodgers & Chic gigs are known to bust out tracks from across Rodgers' career beyond Chic. Cue 'Get Lucky' and its earworm of a guitar riff, both 'Let's Dance' and the always-delightful 'Modern Love' by Bowie, and also a Madonna double of 'Like a Virgin' and 'Material Girl'. Because Rodgers and late, great fellow Chic member Bernard Edwards were involved in writing, composing and/or producing them, Diana Ross' 'I'm Coming Out' and 'Upside Down' also get a spin, plus Sister Sledge's 'He's the Greatest Dancer' and 'We Are Family'.
Four shows. Four sites. Four weeks. Coming to a location near you, the Site is Set mini-fest is bringing some brand spanking new visual and immersive performance shows to Melbourne that will have you gearing up to choose your own mini adventure. First up is Exposition by Lara Thoms and Jason Maling. Throughout the year Jason and Lara have visited Melbourne's best expos so you don't have to. In one glorious location, they bring everything you may have missed, creating a niche expo... of expos. Join them and guests from the cosplay community, the tattoo world or perhaps if you're feeling particularly colourful, the untapped world of scrumble in their exclusive study of these wonderfully diverse events. Bron Batten approached a hypnotist to help her write her new show. They agreed. This is the result. Use Your Illusion blurs the line between truth, performance and lies as audience members as well as Batten herself are placed under hypnosis. Is this a brilliant study of the human psyche? Is Batten just using tricks to reel in her audiences? Is it both? Astrojet is an after dark experience exploring Melbourne's forgotten and short-lived museum, The Astrojet Space Centre. Artist Zoe Meagher takes audiences on a tour of the building, incorporating multimedia, performance art and a 'disco-infused' soundtrack. With bonus bus tour, Astrojet is sure to set your senses a-tingling and your brain a-thinking. If you're a dog person, then My Best Friend is for you. But be warned; this can and will get emotional. Following the death of his family dog, Malcolm Whittaker was inspired to honour the memory of dogs past. By retracing their walking rituals, Whittaker will unravel stories of Melbourne's dearly loved best friends. Running from August 17 until September 7, Site is Set mini festival is an inherently Melbourne experience — one you should immerse yourself in, if you're game.
The past year has seen the film industry embrace streaming in a far bigger way than anyone could've imagined just 12 months ago. If you'd told even the most avid of movie buffs that a heap of cinema chains would be setting up their online viewing services, and that film festivals would be delivering their programs online, you might've been accused of wishful thinking. But, that's now the world we find ourselves in, and Event Cinemas is the latest Australian outfit to join the digital realm. It isn't turning its back on bricks-and-mortar picture palaces, of course. Neither did Sydney's Golden Age, or the teams behind the city's Ritz and Melbourne's Lido, Classic and Cameo cinemas when they did the same thing. Rather, the Aussie chain and its predecessors are all giving viewers more options, while also adapting to current movie-watching behaviour. Called Cinebuzz On Demand, Event Cinemas' service operates on a pay-per-view basis. So, it's more like YouTube Movies or Google Play than Netflix or Stan. You simply pick what you'd like to watch from its 1000-plus launch library, then pay accordingly per title — with prices starting at $4.99 per film. You won't find brand new, just-released blockbusters on the platform, or even the same movies that you can see if you head to one of Event Cinemas' physical locations and sit in a theatre. That said, the current catalogue does include plenty of flicks that have been brightening up the big screen over the past six months or so, such as Tenet, An American Pickle, The Personal History of David Copperfield, Wonder Woman 1984, Bill & Ted Face the Music, Antebellum and Baby Done. If you're particularly keen on comedies, horror movies, superhero flicks or Aussie titles, Cinebuzz On Demand lets users search by genre and theme. Or, you can simply browse through the entire library from A to Z. The service takes its name from Event Cinema's existing loyalty program, with members also earning points for their online rentals. And, viewing-wise, Cinebuzz On Demand is available on iPhones, iPads and Apple TV, plus Android and Chromecast, and on Windows and Mac devices as well. Cinebuzz On Demand is available via the service's website, with titles available to watch on a pay-per-view basis.
Look, we're a spoilt bunch. Not just content with getting food delivered — from actually good restaurants and without having to speak to anyone, no less — we want to be able to get booze to our doorstep as well. Many delivery services allow you to tack on a six-pack with your meal, but this week one of the biggest food delivery services, Deliveroo, will start delivering alcohol-only orders in Melbourne. The service already delivered booze, but only when it was accompanying a food order — UberEATS does the same thing. But now, when you open the Deliveroo app, you'll notice that bottle shops like Blackhearts & Sparrows, Melbourne Wine Store and the Grosvenor Hotel will pop up as well. You can place orders for booze from these stores between noon and 11pm and it will be delivered in 30 minutes or less. Of course, there are a few other booze delivery services operating in Melbourne, like Tipple and QuickBottle, and both Foodora and Menulog allow you to place alcohol-only orders as well. This just adds another option into the mix — here's a list of the bottle shops that will deliver through Deliveroo. Grosvenor Hotel Thirsty Camel Caufield South Cellarbrations Flinders Street Shaw Davey Slum Bar Fitzroy Social Bar Blackhearts and Sparrows Brunswick East Blackhearts and Sparrows Fitzroy Blackhearts and Sparrows Richmond Blackhearts and Sparrows Windsor Bottle House St Kilda Bottle House South Yarra Melbourne Wine Store Deliveroo will now delivery alcohol-only orders between noon and 11pm. For more info, visit deliveroo.com.au.
There's no shortage of picturesque coastal spots along the Gippsland coastline. But Inverloch is the choice port of call for many, with its beachy vibe and coastal cycling trails making the most of its enviable location. Now the region's tourism sector is getting another boost, as RACV has just unveiled plans for a multi-million-dollar upgrade to its already rather luxe Inverloch Resort. With the region becoming an increasingly popular destination for weekend escapes, the refurb features 36 premium rooms to help the resort meet demand during peak season. In fact, the expansion will allow RACV Inverloch Resort to cater for 20,000 more guests annually, making it easier to stay within touching distance of the region's most captivating scenery. "This is an investment into Inverloch and Gippsland tourism that RACV is tremendously proud to be a part of," says RACV Executive General Manager Leisure, Craig Peachey. "With regional tourism booming post-pandemic, these new premium rooms will help address a significant market gap while elevating Inverloch's status as a premium destination." The major change will welcome the construction of a striking two-level wing, complete with floor-to-ceiling windows that capture panoramic views across Andersons Inlet. Designed by leading architecture practice GHD, guests can expect the new-look resort to harmonise with the coastal landscape through sustainable materials and native vegetation. While the existing resort is often the go-to option for travellers seeking an upmarket stay in the Gippsland region, the expansion will enable the property to reach broader customer segments. The new capacity will make the accommodation more suitable for hosting larger events and conferences, while families will appreciate a greater selection of flexible room configurations. Ready to book? Construction is scheduled for mid-August 2025, with the new wing expected to welcome its first guests by December 2026. So, pencil in your plans for the summer after next — alongside world-class beaches, you'll encounter stellar local cuisine in the Radius Restaurant, plus meaningful support for Inverloch's coastal arts scene. RACV Inverloch Resort's expansion is expected to open for summer 2026 bookings. Head to the website for more information.
UPDATE, December 20, 2022: Everything Everywhere All At Once is available to stream via Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube Movies and iTunes. Imagine living in a universe where Michelle Yeoh isn't the wuxia superstar she is. No, no one should want to dwell in that reality. Now, envisage a world where everyone has hot dogs for fingers, including the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon icon. Next, picture another where Ratatouille is real, but with raccoons. Then, conjure up a sparse realm where life only exists in sentient rocks. An alternative to this onslaught of pondering: watching Everything Everywhere All At Once, which throws all of the above at the screen and a helluva lot more. Yes, its title is marvellously appropriate. Written and directed by the Daniels, aka Swiss Army Man's Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, this multiverse-hopping wonder is a funhouse of a film that just keeps spinning through wild and wacky ideas. Instead of asking "what if Daniel Radcliffe was a farting corpse that could be used as a jet ski?" as their also-surreal debut flick did, the pair now muses on Yeoh, her place in the universe, and everyone else's along with her. Although Yeoh doesn't play herself in Everything Everywhere All At Once, she is seen as herself; keep an eye out for red-carpet footage from her Crazy Rich Asians days. Such glitz and glamour isn't the norm for middle-aged Chinese American woman Evelyn Wang, her laundromat-owning character in the movie's main timeline, but it might've been if life had turned out differently. That's such a familiar train of thought — a resigned sigh we've all emitted, even if only when alone — and the Daniels use it as their foundation. This isn't a movie that stays static, however, or wants to. Both dizzying and dazzling in its ambitions, the way it brings those bold aims to fruition, the tender emotions it plays with and the sheer spectacle it flings around, Everything Everywhere All At Once is a magnificent dildo-slinging, glitter cannon-shooting, endlessly bobbing and weaving whirlwind. Everything Everywhere All At Once is the movie version of a matryoshka set, too. While Russian Doll nods that way as well, the possibilities are clearly endless when exploring stacked worlds. Multiverses are Hollywood's current big thing — the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the DC Extended Universe, the Sony Spider-Man Universe and Star Trek have them, and Rick and Morty adores them — but the concept here is equally chaotic and clever. It starts with Evelyn, her husband Waymond (Ke Huy Quan, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom's Short Round and The Goonies' Data) and a hectic time. Evelyn's dad (James Hong, Turning Red) is visiting from China, the Wangs' daughter Joy (Stephanie Hsu, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) brings her girlfriend Becky (Tallie Medel, The Carnivores) home, and IRS inspector Deirdre Beaubeirdra (Jamie Lee Curtis, Halloween Kills) is conducting a punishing audit. Then Evelyn learns she's the only one who can save, well, everything, everywhere and everyone. There's a great gag in that revelation, playing smartly yet savagely with perspective — because Everything Everywhere All At Once is all about how we choose to see things. Imagine trudging over to your local tax department, trolley full of receipts in hand and possible financial ruin in front of you, only to be told mid soul-crushing bureaucratic babble that it all means nothing since the very fate of the universe is at stake. But, at the same time, imagine realising that it's the simplest things that mean the most when space, time, existence and every emotion possible is all on the line. Although that isn't how a different version of Waymond puts it to Evelyn, it's what sparkles through as she's swiftly initiated into a battle against dimension-jumping villain Jobu Tapaki, discovers that she can access multiple other iterations of herself by eating chapsticks and purposefully slicing herself with paper cuts, and gets sucked into a reality-warping kaleidoscope. For Evelyn 1.0, everything the film throws her way is overwhelming, unsurprisingly. The Daniels have done a stellar job of ensuring viewers feel the same. Everything Everywhere All At Once splashes around more gleefully overstuffed absurdity than even a 139-minute-long movie can usually handle, but relentlessness is part of the point. When you're making Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse meets Inception meets Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind meets The Matrix meets Hong Kong marital-arts cinema, a notion few folks in any multiverse could dream up, havoc comes with the territory. As shot by Larkin Seiple (Swiss Army Man) and edited by Paul Rogers (Scheinert's solo flick The Death of Dick Long) with unfaltering flair that's 100-percent designed to overload the senses, that on-screen anarchy is what makes the movie so immersive and Evelyn's plight so relatable. And, it's essential to anchoring the feature's 'nothing matters, everything is fleeting, revel in the small stuff' mantra. While it was penned for Jackie Chan, Yeoh is the movie's chosen one well beyond the script. Her casting lets the Daniels see acting stardom in one of Evelyn's other lives, but it's her flexibility and grounding that's crucial. Everything Everywhere All At Once walks such a thin tightrope between the raucous and the ridiculous that plenty could've faltered. In another universe, it did. But always beating away at the centre of this film in this reality, amid the countless costume changes, hairstyles and all (with enormous credit due to the inventive behind-the-scenes teams), is Yeoh. She deploys the quiet ferocity that's marked her performances for four decades, and twists through everything from existential malaise and intergenerational trauma to the everyday struggle that is living a life, including as a mother and wife, that's worlds away from your hopes and dreams. Yeoh is a joy to watch in whatever is lucky to have her — including Last Christmas, Boss Level, Gunpowder Milkshake and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings recently — and her work here shakes her entire career to-date together, then lets the best, boldest and most bizarre possibilities shine. Everything Everywhere All At Once is a tribute to its lead as much as anything else, but it's also so much else: a marvellous calling card for Hsu, a glorious return for the exceptional Quan, and a movie that makes weird and wonderful use of Curtis, too. It's an anything-goes free-fall through interdimensional mania where everything does and can happen — as brilliantly choreographed — and a clear-eyed examination of the ties and troubles of family, of uprooting your existence to strive for a future that mightn't come, and of weathering the mundane and the sublime in tandem. It's a whirl, a swirl, a trip, a blast and a juggle as well and, in this universe, the Daniels wouldn't have it any other way.
Chunky Move’s brand of contemporary dance is often just as — if not more — challenging and exciting than the kind of work presented by Melbourne’s independent theatre scene. In recent years, shows like Mortal Engine at the Malthouse have well and truly outshone any other performance in the season. Now, if you’re unfamiliar with the company’s already exceptional work, gentle is the power looks like the perfect introduction. This show, presented as part of Melbourne’s inaugural Summersalt Festival is a free, bite-sized exploration of contained power, running for just ten minutes and choreographed by the company’s Artistic Director, Anouk Van Dijk. This small show comes after the blockbuster success of the company's last show Complexity of Belonging at the Melbourne Festival, but this time Van Dijk works in collaboration with just two dancers, James Vu Anh Pham and Niharika Senapati. Image by Fiona Cullen.
They're perhaps the most mystical of all sea creatures, but you probably haven't had much of a chance to get up close and personal with real-life jellyfish. Well, all that's about to change. Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium is shining the spotlight on these ocean enigmas with an interactive new $1.5 million permanent jellyfish exhibition. Spread across 300 square metres and three multi-sensory zones, and featuring thousands of jellyfish from a range of species, Ocean Invaders has made its home permanently at the aquarium. It's home to a range of exhibitions dedicated to these gelatinous critters — from lighting installations to hands-on activities and mesmerising, colourful displays of living jellyfish. Here, you can learn the ins and outs of jellyfish, watch them being cared for by Sea Life's ocean experts and even crawl through a cylindrical tank surrounded by them. In another zone, striking light projections lend even more magic to a range of living displays, including one transparent sphere that's packed full of floating creatures. Species like the blue blubber jellyfish (catostylus mosaicus), the upside-down jellyfish (cassiopea andromeda) and sea nettles (chrysaora melanaster) also feature in the Ocean Invaders collection, which also aims to school visitors on why some jellyfish populations are currently booming across our oceans. Melbourne Sea Life Aquarium has reopened as of Friday, November 13. It is currently open Monday, Thursday, Friday 10am–5pm and Saturday, Sunday 10am–5:30pm.
The Night Noodle Markets 2022 is right around the corner and we can't wait to indulge in some of the delicious hawker-style dishes we've been craving since lockdown. Ahead of the food fest, the Bumplings x Mazda stall has announced that it will give away free dumplings for the first hour after opening each day across the 18-day event. However, there's a catch. To claim your free steaming hot dumplings, you must be an owner of a Mazda or have a friend who does and physically show the Mazda car keys. A total of three flavours will be available at the stall including chicken and prawn, pork and ginger or vegetarian, which are all served with a mouth-watering Soul Red Crystal sauce. The Night Noodle Markets 2022 will run from Thursday, November 10–Sunday, November 27 at Birrarung Marr. [caption id="attachment_876727" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tristan McKenzie[/caption] Top image: Tristan McKenzie
