Spring has sprung and the flowers are beginning to bloom again, but you don't have to be in the Botanic Gardens to experience some of the magic. To celebrate the exciting new season, the NGV are exploring the world of scent. Amidst 18,000 newly-planted flowers, manmade clouds of scent will be dispersed in the gallery's sculpture garden from September 25 - November 30. Curated by former New York Times perfume critic Chandler Burr — yeah, that's a real job — Hyper-Natural will explore the little-known process of scent design. Presented as a showcase from initial scent molecule to finished synthetic product, seven perfumes will be dispersed in the area as original scent artworks. Burr claims he wants visitors to "move beyond mere emotional responses and memories to recognise and thing critically about scent design". But don't worry, no one's going to stop you from obliviously wandering around the garden taking in all the pretty smells. Time to sedate that hayfever with some Coco Chanel. Photo credit: HereIsTom via photopin cc.
It's no secret that Jerome Borazio is an ideas man, and a pretty good one at that. Not only is he the mind behind the 18-year-old Laneway Festival, he sold us all on the concept of camping in the CBD with his award-winning rooftop glamping set-up. The latter closed in April last year, but, that same sky-high space above Melbourne Central has been activated again — and is now home to a pop-up rooftop pool, bar and leisure club dubbed The Reunion Island Pool Club. Initially launching for private bookings only in October, Reunion Island will now be open to the public from Friday, January 25 — just in time for the long weekend — through till the end of May. It's kitted out with palm trees and design elements of a public pool-meets-Palm Springs resort. And while it's not the CBD's only rooftop pool bar (see: The Adelphi), it is the only one to offer classes, an infrared sauna and spa offerings. Plus, those rooftop parties will take place ten temperature-controlled plunge pools. Yes, ten. [caption id="attachment_705809" align="alignnone" width="1920"] One of the ten plunge pools by Albert Comper.[/caption] Opening from 12pm during the week (for a cheeky lunchtime dip) and 9am on weekends, it's not just the pools that are tempting punters — it's also hosting a lineup of rooftop yoga, pilates and boxing classes. They start from $20 and you can book in for an after-work session online now. If you prefer being relatively sedentary, you can stop by for a splash, or just some poolside socialising and a well-earned after-work rooftop tipple right up until 9.30pm. Prepare to spend many a steamy Melbourne evening up here. Price-wise, your sky-high waterside party will start from $10 for regular entry only. Pools are available for groups of four to 12 people, and start at $100 for an hour. You can extend your stay for $60 per hour, include a sauna session for $5 or nab a Turkish towel, visor or stubby holder. At the moment single-person swim passes aren't available (but we're promised they're coming soon) so you'll need to round up some friends if you'd like to splash around. The food and drink selection includes a five-month pop-up poolside snack kiosk from Collingwood's Easey's, who'll be slinging tacos, burgers and club sandwiches. You can pair them with Melbourne Gin Co G&Ts, cocktails, wine and Champagne and icy cold Kirin beers. The Reunion Island Pool Club will also feature a General Store, showcasing a heap of the venue's fashion partners. Find Reunion Island Pool Club at Level 3/271 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne from Friday, January 25 until the end of May. It's open from midday–9.30pm weekdays and 9am–9.30pm on weekends. Images: Albert Comper.
Melbourne musos are in for a treat next year. A massive new exhibition entirely dedicated to Ziggy Stardust himself is hitting ACMI in the middle of the year. Originally curated for the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, David Bowie Is takes visitors inside the life, career and intricate creative process of one of the most significant pop stars of the past 40 years. With hundreds of show props, rare photographs and characteristically elaborate costumes, it's a Bowie bacchanalia that looks guaranteed to be a big hit with fans. Of course, June 2015 is still quite a while away, and so in order to whet peoples' appetites, select cinemas are offering a sneak peak at the exhibition via an exclusive documentary walkthrough. Shot on the final evening of the exhibition's original showing in the UK, the 'movie' gives viewers a glimpse of some of the highlights, interwoven with interviews with various artists who have either worked with or been inspired by the big man himself. In other words, the film is basically one big, 100-minute promotional video, specifically designed to make the exhibition look amazing and convince people to buy a ticket. And in fairness, to that end, it's generally pretty successful. The exhibition does look great. On the other hand, if you're going to charge people $15 for a movie ticket, you really need to be doing more than just spruiking what's to come. Paying to be told about an opportunity to pay for something else is hardly a worthwhile investment. It wouldn't be so bad if the doco had a little bit more of that patented Bowie energy. But while the V&A curators, who act as our tour guides, are obviously knowledgeable, they're also far too dry and academic in their presentation to inspire any real level enthusiasm. Strategically placed vox pops with exhibition visitors do a better job in this regard, with many fans speaking about the personal impact the singer and his music has had on them. But there's also a distinct and, at times, rather cringe-worthy vibe of hero worship to these interviews, which ultimately just drives home the film's status as a tacky piece of marketing. Maybe just wait 'til June for the real thing.
Last year, Carl's Jr hit Victoria for the first time, opening its debut store at Knox in October, and another in Cranbourne soon after. Now, in a move that proves the cult-favourite American burger chain is here to make a mark on our famously good burger scene, it is opening its third Melbourne shop in Docklands this week. And to seal the deal, it's offering some pretty sweet freebies to its keenest city customers. Setting up shop within The District Docklands' dining precinct, where Archie Brothers Cirque Electiq is, this new city edition of Carl's Jr will be dishing up its signature menu of 'American classics' and monstrous burgers that have 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. If you think you can handle that sort of fare, for free, all year long, then start lining up at the new store ASAP. To celebrate its grand opening, the first 50 customers through the door from 9am on Thursday, February 14 (yes, Valentine's Day) will score a book of Carl's Jr coupons, to use on free menu items every week for the next 12 months. You will definitely need to get there early. The new Carl's Jr store will open at The District Docklands, 440 Docklands Drive, Docklands at 9am on Thursday, Friday 14.
Adapting Mark Haddon's Whitbread-winning novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time has finished chewing up Broadway and the West End, and is now on its way to Melbourne Theatre Company. When Christopher Boone discovers the corpse of his neighbour's dog, he immediately becomes a suspect and sets out to clear his name. But while he sees himself as a modern-day Sherlock Holmes, everyone else sees an autistic teenager asking awkward questions. Regardless, the question remains: who stabbed Mrs. Shears' poodle with a pitchfork? Haddon describes the book as "peculiarly internal", in that its protagonist struggles more than most to escape the bounds of his own head. Playwright Simon Stephens and the UK's National Theatre have made the most of this by having the audience see the world as Christopher does. A set consisting of a black grid and myriad projections evokes physical locations, as well as the ordered and fiercely logical flow of Christopher's cognitive process. A Holmesian whodunnit as investigated by an Adrian Mole-esque outsider, The Curious Incident is both a celebration of difference and a decent argument against offing yappy pooches with gardening implements.
"If any one unwarily draws in too close and hears the singing of the Sirens, his wife and his children will never welcome him home again, for they sit in a green field and warble him to death with the sweetness of their song." With The Odyssey, Homer essentially created the epic. But with the above passage, he also created something much more insidious — the femme fatale, a stock female character who tempts men with the ultimate goal of destroying them. Victorian Opera's latest project, Lorelei, shoves a cabaret skewer through this idea and roasts it over an operatic blaze. Sopranos Ali McGregor and Antoinette Halloran with mezzo-soprano Dimity Shepherd have been spicing up the classics for a while as the Opera Burlesque collective. Now, they take to a cliff-top on a tricky bend in the river Rhine to explore how women are represented in literature and opera. But wouldn't you know it — just as they're getting down to business, a ship begins to approach. And it seems to be having a little trouble on those bends. Part cabaret, part opera and with a stinging libretto by Casey Bennetto (Keating! The Musical) and Gillian Cosgriff (8 Songs in 8 Weeks), Lorelei takes its cues from the sirens of German folklore. It's happy enough to toy with the trope — but it's not going to stop until it's smashed to matchsticks on a rock. Lorelei will run from November 3–10 at The Coopers Malthouse, Merlyn Theatre. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Victorian Opera website.
What gets a new face every couple of years, and a different tone, too — and stalks stealthily through the dark but loves being projected big upon a glistening silver screen? Fans of Gotham City's famous purveyor of justice know the answer to that riddle, of course. Actually, after oh-so-many different iterations of the Dark Knight over the decades, the world in general does as well. In 2022, The Batman gave us a new version, with Robert Pattinson following in the footsteps of everyone from Adam West, Michael Keaton and Val Kilmer to George Clooney, Christian Bale and Ben Affleck. In fantastic news, the moody, brooding and gloomy end result is one of the best Batman flicks yet — and, although it only hit Australian cinemas just over a month ago, RPatz's turn in the cape and cowl has now been fast-tracked to digital. So, here's another conundrum: catch the Matt Reeves (Cloverfield, Let Me In, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and War for the Planet of the Apes)-directed, 70s crime thriller-style superhero movie on the big screen, or settle in to watch it without leaving the house? There's no right answer, because you now have options. That said, nothing beats the cinema experience — especially for a film that makes all things Batman feel new again, as this excellent effort does. Still, if that's your couch time for tonight sorted, you'll find The Batman available to rent digitally from all the usual places. In the process, you'll also find a bruised and battered take on the vigilante, a pitch-perfect turn from Tenet star Pattinson — including far more reluctance as the titular character's alter-ego Bruce Wayne than usual, and welcomely so — and a top-notch supporting cast. Also featured: Zoe Kravitz (Kimi) as Catwoman, Paul Dano (Escape at Dannemora) as the Riddler, Colin Farrell (he North Water) as the Penguin, Jeffrey Wright (The French Dispatch) as Commissioner Gordon and Andy Serkis (Long Shot) as Alfred Pennyworth. No one really needs a plot synopsis for Batman films by now, but when The Batman begins (not to be confused with Batman Begins), it's with the slaying of a powerful Gotham figure. A shocking crime that scandalises the city, it leaves a traumatised boy behind, and couldn't be more influential in the detective-style tale of blood and vengeance that follows. But viewers haven't seen this story before, despite appearances. It isn't the start of pop culture's lonesome billionaire orphan's usual plight, although he's there, all dressed in black, and has an instant affinity for the sorrowful kid. Behold the first standout feat achieved by this excellent latest take on the Dark Knight (not to be confused with The Dark Knight): realising that no one needs to see Bruce Wayne's parents meet their end for what'd feel like the millionth time. From there, The Batman follows its namesake's efforts to get to the bottom of the crime — a tricky task in Gotham, unsurprisingly. And yes, this film meant to stand completely apart from the most recent Affleck-starring DC Extended Universe version of the character. So, basically, what DC Films and Warner Bros Pictures did with Joker in 2019 — serving up a grimmer, grittier iteration of the infamous figure that has absolutely nothing to do with the rightfully hated Jared Leto version — they've done again for Batman now. Check out the trailer for The Batman below: The Batman is currently screening in Australian cinemas, and is also available to stream online via video on demand — including via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review.
If you love this French indie quintet, but aren't so keen on a full-on day at Future, we have great news! Phoenix will be bringing their undeniably catchy synth-pop to Festival Hall this March. Their fifth studio release Bankrupt! is everything you love about Phoenix, times 10. Skeptical? Give 'S.O.S. In Bel Air' a listen. While the latest release is certainly impressive, we hope lead singer Thomas Mars will be singing older favourites from previous albums too, including Alphabetical, It’s Never Been Like That and the hugely popular Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. The support act, World's End Press, could not be a more perfect accompaniment for what is sure to be an evening of bright lights, boisterous sing-a-longs and uncontrollable dancing. Their own breed of synth rock is both joyous and thoughtful; it’s certainly worth getting to the gig on time to see both tremendous acts in all their glory.
As one of comedy’s most prolific writers and performers, Aziz Ansari is set to leave Melbourne choking on overly priced pick 'n' mix on his 'Buried Alive' tour of Australia. Counting Kanye West, Jay-Z and The Flight Of The Conchords among his circle of friends, Ansari has appeared in films such as Get Him To The Greek, Funny People and School For Scoundrels, as well as putting in likeable TV performances in Scrubs, Reno 911! and Parks And Recreation. With perfectly constructed, hilarious routines and cutting edge material, Ansari focuses on aspects of his personal life in his comedy routines. “I like talking about things that are going on in my life, because that’s always going to be different and original” he says. “No one else is going to be talking about my personal experiences”.
Melburnians have a new reason to take those bikes out for a spin, with the opening of the La Larr Ba Guawa Park, near Harcourt in Victoria's Central Highlands. Boasting 34 kilometres of mountain bike trails and bordering the Mount Alexander Regional Park, the new world-class site has something for every kind of rider, from novices through to two-wheeled professionals. It's also got some cracking views to enjoy while you're cruising along. Receiving almost $2.5 million in government funding, the park is expected to boost visitor numbers to the area to 25,000, improving spending and creating 57 new jobs in the process. Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards explained that the park is a huge win for the region, saying "this project will help to put Harcourt and Central Victoria on the map as a new mountain bike destination of choice and build on the popularity of the Goldfields Track". Image: Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning.
Instagram-obsessed iPhoneographers can now turn their collection of photographs into posters, thanks to a clever new website. London-based online retailer, Firebox, allows Instagram app users to create wall-sized prints of their photo library. All you have to do is click the 'Buy' button on the Firebox website, then add your Instagram username to retrieve photos from your account. Each poster is a fixed 61cm wide, but you can add as many rows of photos as you like, so there is no need to worry about choosing just a few snapshots. When your poster reaches 1.5 metres long, Firebox will shrink your pictures to fit and you can then choose between a white or black background. Firebox are not the only ones who have other ideas for Instagram. Photo sharing app, Prinstagram, let’s you make posters from 50-400 photos, as well as mini prints, stickers and mini books. If you prefer having your photos printed rather than just leaving them in digital format on your laptop, then this is a quirky and colourful way to do it. [via Mashable]
From statement-making tropical blooms, to elegant natives, to classic bunches of long-stemmed red roses; Botanics of Melbourne sources seasonal flowers from all across the globe to create its stunning floral designs. Dose up on colour, scent and plenty of inspiration with a trip to the inviting South Yarra store, or jump online to check out the expansive selection of bouquets and arrangements available for home delivery. You can order your flowers gift-wrapped or displayed in your choice of contemporary vase, and there's the option to really make someone's day by adding extras like chocolates, candles and wine.
If you're looking to blow off some steam post-lockdown, you'll soon have a brand-new outlet for unleashing that pent-up frustration. Popular axe-throwing venue Maniax is opening the doors to its second Melbourne outpost, this time in the CBD. Launching on Friday, November 19, the new site marks the group's sixth Aussie venue, spread across a 700-square-metre subterranean space on Elizabeth Street. Boasting room for 300 punters at full capacity, it's got a series of single and double axe-hurling lanes, as well as extra space for kicking back with a drink in between throws. An on-site kitchen will be serving a menu of pizza and grazing platters, though you'll also be able to order in takeaway from nearby restaurants. And, since launching axes at targets can be thirsty work, the Maniax bar will be pouring a range of Viking-themed cocktails and craft brews to match. [caption id="attachment_830783" align="alignnone" width="1920"] One of Maniax's existing locations.[/caption] As with its siblings, the venue's designed to be enjoyed by axe-throwing junkies and total novices alike, manned by highly trained staff who'll happily coach you in the art of hurling weapons. Throwing is open to anyone over the age of 13. There are various sessions to choose from, depending on your skill level — ranging from the speedy one-hour Quick Chuck through to a date-night package featuring coaching for two. Annual memberships are also available. And once you've got a few throws under your belt, who knows? You might even be tempted to flex your newfound skills by joining the Maniax Axe-Throwing League. Find Maniax at 121 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, from November 19. Bookings are available over at the website.
But with the inclusion of occasional live music and the small cinema out back, LongPlay delivers spectacular first date conditions in which to enjoy either intense political debate or eyelash-batting and footsies. To take pressure off the situation, busy yourselves by nibbling on offerings from the European-inspired bar snack menu, which features restrained, but contemporary constructions of risotto, salad and tapas. If conversation isn't flowing, a few rounds of the relatively affordable cocktails should make time go by more rapidly. A neighbourhood favourite for Fitzroy North dwellers, the bar is best avoided if you're already a local. If not, it's the perfect place for an anonymous rendezvous.
Fall in love with movies Italian style, at the latest glamorous edition of the Lavazza Italian Film Festival. Hosted once again in Palace Cinemas around the country, this year's festival features more than 30 features and docos, plus a breathtaking restoration of one of Italy's all-time classics. The 2014 festival opens with Marina, a light biopic about singer, songwriter and world-famous accordion player Rocco Granata, produced by Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne. Other exciting titles include impressionistic Cannes Jury Prize winner The Wonders and Asia Argento's semi-autobiographical new film Incompresa. But the best of the fest will be saved until last. This year's closing night film is none other Marriage Italian Style, beautifully restored in time for its 50th anniversary. Sophia Loren is dazzling as the mistress of a wealthy Italian businessman determined to lock down a marriage proposal. A quintessential comedy about the battle of the sexes, it puts most modern-day rom-coms to shame. The Lavazza Italian Film Festival is on in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in September and October, and thanks to the festival, we have ten double passes to give away (valid at any festival session of your choice) in each city. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.auMelbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=IeD7rBVAQQo
If you're one of millions of people worldwide watching American TV series Breaking Bad religiously and needing to avoid spoilers — or perhaps you're just sick of hearing friends rave about the show on social media — then your (#firstworld) problems can now be put to ease. Popular internet streaming website Netflix has debuted a new app that can block Breaking Bad spoilers from social media feeds. Spoiler Foiler is programmed to black out "danger" words (namely, words related to plot) from your Twitter feed, maintaining the mystery and suspense of plot developments for the wildly popular television series. Once fans have caught up with the episode, they can then safely return to their regular feed with the ability to read everything people had to say. Sure, this isn’t the first solution we’ve seen to the issue of social media killjoys. But at the moment it is certainly the most effective. Browser/hashtag-filtering is time consuming and not always foolproof. And abstinence from social media? Well that's just way too extreme. The Netflix app can be easily activated by logging into the Spoiler Foiler website using your Twitter account. Surely it'll just be a matter of time before this concept is extended to other popular series. Until then, rant away! We just won’t be listening. Via PSFK.
Over the past few months, many Australians have been working from home, which means many of us are have been leaning on our bar carts a little more than usual. This has lead to a level of experimentation — whether that's ordering in cocktails, trying our hand at making our own fancy drinks or getting some fun wines delivered. Another way you could get creative is by ordering a bottle of Unico Zelo's yuzu vermouth. The tasty child of Adelaide Hills winery Unico Zelo and sister distillery Applewood, this second batch of untraditional (but ever-so-tasty) vermouth is made from a combination of Adelaide Hills merlot grapes, some native Australian botanicals (usually used to make Applewood's Okar bitter amaro) and yuzu from Mountain Yuzu — a 20-acre farm located in northeast Victoria, on the foothills of the Australian Alps. As you can see, its an all-Australian affair, unlike a lot of traditional vermouths, which are made in Italy and France. Eco-minded founders and winemakers Laura and Brendan Carter are committed to using native botanicals and sustainably produced grapes in their entire range of wines and spirits, aiming to create products that truly taste Aussie as. As it's not a traditional sweet vermouth — it's really quite far from it — we forgive you for not knowing exactly how to drink it. But, thankfully, we've done some testing for you. On the rocks? Yep. Instead of sweet vermouth in a negroni? Do it. With a splash of soda? Definitely. If you want something a little fancier, the Unico team has a couple of cocktail suggestions for you. Try your hand at the Natty-Cano, a spin on an americano, but with pét-nat instead of soda water. To make it, mix 45-millilitres of Unico Yuzu, 15-millilitres of Økar Island Bitter (or Campari) and 120-millilitres of pét-nat in a highball glass and garnish with an orange twist. Unico (the parent company of Unico Zelo and Applewood) has also been steadily dropping a heap of other exciting spirits throughout the year, too, including a pretty-in-pink coral gin. All of Unico's limited releases only available in very small batches, so if you want it, don't wait on it. Unico's Yuzu Vermouth is available to purchase via the website from Friday, July 17. Priced at $34.99 per bottle.
Alt-rockers Beach Slang and Spring King are travelling our way from either side of the Atlantic for this punk-rock, post-punk, double bill, Splendour sideshow Beach Slang, who hail from Philadelphia, smashed through ten high-powered shows at this year's SXSW, off the back of launching full-length album The Things We Do to Find People Who Feel Like Us. This will be their Australian debut, so let's show 'em a good time. Meanwhile, Spring King, from Manchester, caught the attention of Zane Lowe with 2014 single 'City'. Their debut album, Tell Me If You Like To, came out in June. There's more Splendour sideshow action where this came from. Check out our list of sideshows with tickets still available.
Whether hustling those last-minute party beers, or scouting a bottle of vino for that after-hours couch session, getting booze to your doorstep just got even easier. Alcohol delivery service Jimmy Brings, who'll deliver drinks to your door in thirty minutes until 10.30pm, has expanded its offering, this week adding a swag of new areas to its coverage. In an era of harsh lock-out laws, the platform has been embraced launching in Sydney back in 2012. But for all the buzz, its popularity's been limited by the stable of suburbs it services. Now, having entered the Melbourne market earlier this year, Jimmy Brings has again stepped things up a notch, expanding to 49 new suburbs in Sydney and an extra 31 in Melbourne; conveniently enough, just in time for the party season. In NSW, places like Collaroy, North Ryde, Mona Vale and Newport can now enjoy a slice of the Jimmy Brings action, while the likes of Thornbury, Essendon, Brighton East and the generally dry suburb of Surrey Hills have joined the party in Melbourne. To celebrate the new and improved lineup, all first-time Jimmy Brings customers can score themselves a $10 discount by downloading the free app and plugging in the code LAUNCH10 at the checkout.
Brunch is always great, and it tastes even better after a good old-fashioned sweat sesh. But, instead of collapsing into any old cafe after your spin class, on Saturday, October 26, you'll be able to do both the exercise and eating components of your morning in the one place: Chin Chin. First up, you'll get the blood pumping, pulling moves to one of Retrosweat's 45-minute 80s-inspired aerobics classes. Think, neon lycra and plenty of Olivia Newton-John 'Physical' vibes. Then, tackle that appetite with a five-course, post-workout shared brunch feast, working a few signature Chin Chin twists. You'll dig into the likes of a wok-fried spanner crab omelette with coriander and sriracha, stir-fried egg noodles starring duck, and corn fritters with shisho. And, to finish, you'll get coconut sago with lime curd and pineapple granita. Of course, your aerobics efforts deserve something boozy, so there'll be a range of retro-themed cocktails also on offer. Try the fruity watermelon Fonda Flick Kick, or maybe cool down with the Aperol-infused Lychees in Lycra. Tickets clock in at $55, which include the Retrosweat class and a shared brunch (but no drinks). Come in your activewear and with an empty stomach. Images: Steven Woodburn.
UPDATE: JUNE 20, 2020 — With the number of new COVID-19 cases increasing in Victoria, Premier Daniel Andrews has today announced that some restrictions will be tightened at midnight on Sunday, June 21 instead of eased. The below has been updated to reflect this change. From Monday, June 22, more changes are rolling out in Melbourne. But not quite as first anticipated. Victoria has seen an increase in new COVID-19 cases — with 25 recorded in the 24 hours before Saturday, June 20 — which means that some restrictions are tightening once again. You are now allowed just five visitors in your home and outdoor gatherings have been restricted to ten — instead of 20 for both. Limits for hospitality venues, libraries and museums were expected to increase to 50, but, instead, they will stay at 20. There is some good news, though: you can now go buy a pint from a pub without ordering a meal, as well as visit a gym, theatre or cinema — all which have been allowed to open from today. Victoria's State of Emergency has also been extended for another four weeks, until midnight on Sunday, July 19. So, what exactly can you do from June 22? We've broken it down. GATHERINGS The tightening of restrictions as a result of Victoria's recent increase in new COVID-19 cases predominantly impacts gatherings. You can now have only five visitors in your home and outdoor gatherings must be restricted to ten. Premier Daniel Andrews has also reiterated the importance of staying at home when you are unwell — even if you just have the sniffles. "You cannot make your own decision because it is not your decision to make. You are putting the rest of Victoria at risk," the Premier said at a press conference on Saturday, June 20. "My message is very clear. If you are sick, you cannot go out. If you are sick, you cannot go to work. If you are sick you cannot — even moderate symptoms, mild symptoms — you cannot go and visit family and friends. If you are told to isolate, you must isolate." If new COVID-19 cases continue to rise, the Premier has said lockdowns could be reintroduced in COVID-19 hotspots. [caption id="attachment_738194" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Leo's By The Slice, Kate Shanasy[/caption] RESTAURANTS, BARS, PUBS AND CAFES While you've been able to head to cafes, pubs and restaurants since June 1, there have been some pretty tight restrictions, including having to order a meal with your drink. From June 22, you'll be allowed to grab a pint, cocktail or wine without having to order food — but you will need to remain seated while drinking, no dancing on the dance floor just yet. While the capacity was set to increase to 50 punters per space from this date, too, it'll stay at 20 until at least July 12. Some venues are walk-ins only and others require bookings, so be sure to check the relevant websites before you go. [caption id="attachment_753117" align="alignnone" width="1920"] NGV, Tom Ross[/caption] ART GALLERIES AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS Victorian cultural institutions, including galleries, museums, libraries and historic sites have also been allowed to open since June 1; however Melbourne's major cultural spots will be reopening from Saturday, June 27. This includes the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne Museum, State Library Victoria, IMAX Melbourne and Scienceworks. Similarly to restaurants and cafes, their capacities were set to increase to 50 people on June 22, but, instead, they'll remain at 20 in each space. As capacity is limited, time-allotted visits will be essential, with many of the galleries and museums requiring pre-purchased tickets. Arts Centre Melbourne has postponed its partial reopened that was initially scheduled for June 27. [caption id="attachment_693396" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Thornbury Picture House by Nicole Cleary[/caption] CINEMAS, THEATRE SHOWS AND CONCERT VENUES Movie theatres have been closed around the country since mid-March, but as of Monday, June 22, projectors will be allowed to start whirring again in the Garden State. And, while that doesn't mean that it's popcorn-munching business as usual quite yet, local cinemas will gradually begin to reopen. Cinema Nova will be one of initial places to start welcoming movie buffs back into darkened rooms, opening its doors on the very first day it can, as will the Classic, Lido and Cameo cinemas, and Reading's Victorian sites. Thornbury Picture House will then reopen on June 25, followed by Palace's Victorian sites on July 2. Drive-in cinemas, including Dandenong's Lunar Drive-In, Village Cinemas Coburg Drive-In and the Dromana Drive-In will continue screenings, too. You'll be able to head to the theatre or catch a live gig, too, with the Victorian Government allowing such spaces to open, with 20 seated patrons per venue or theatre, subject to the four square metre rule. Theatres with multiple seating tiers with separate entries can have up to 20 people per tier. However, many major Melbourne theatres and gig spaces are yet to announce their opening dates. Because of the recent increase in cases, all of the aforementioned venues will be allowed a maximum of 20 seated guests per venue, unlike the expected 50. GYMS, SWIMMING POOLS AND COMMUNITY SPORT If you've missed your sweat sessions, you'll be pleased to know that indoor gyms and recreation centres can resume from June 22, with a maximum of 20 people per space or zone and up to ten people per group class. Indoor and outdoor swimming pools will still have the current 20-person limit, but there'll be no restrictions of people per lane in each pool. You'll now be able to access the change rooms and showers, too. Unfortunately, you won't be able to rejoin your local footy club just yet as only non-contact competitions can resume for all ages; however, full-contact training for adults are set to resume from July 13, followed by competitions ons July 20. [caption id="attachment_714491" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] HOLIDAYS We've been able to go on regional holidays for a few weeks now, but places — including campgrounds — with communal facilities such as bathrooms and kitchens have remained off limits. From next week, this will no longer be the case and you'll be able to go camping or stay in communal-style accomodations. Victoria's snowfields are also allowed to reopen from June 22, with Mount Buller reopening on the first day it can, followed by Hotham and Falls Creek on June 24. The resorts will run a little differently this year, though, and passes and lift tickets must be pre-purchased. To find Interstate travel is also allowed, but, at present, only NSW and the ACT have opened their borders. Queensland is working towards reopening to visitors from other states on July 10, although that hasn't been officially confirmed as yet, while the Northern Territory announced it'll reopen on July 17 — and South Australia is slated to do the same on July 20. Neither WA nor Tasmania have yet to announce reopening dates. If you're keen to plan ahead, Qantas and Jetstar are offering some crazy cheap domestic flights (as low as $19) until midnight on Monday, June 22. International travel is still off the cards, which looks likely to remain the case until 2021. To find out more about Victoria's COVID-19 restrictions, head to the Department of Health and Human Services website.
'Tis the season for dark, malty brews and Abbotsford's Bodriggy is celebrating that fact with a three-day, beer-filled fiesta. The yin to the yang that is the brewery's sour-focused Electric Kool-Aid fest, the inaugural Lunaverse will be pouring the goods from Friday, August 5–Sunday, August 7. A wintry celebration of dark beer and live music, the festival is set to showcase a delectable lineup of dark, dank drops from the likes of Hop Nation, Molly Rose, Garage Project, Sailors Grave, Mountain Culture and more. Get set for black IPAs, porters aplenty and pastry stouts in abundance. On Saturday, August 6, there'll also be a program of free beer workshops and sensory events, featuring special guests from the participating breweries. [caption id="attachment_735950" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kate Shanasy[/caption] Meanwhile, the tunes will be flowing just as easily, with a program of live gigs and DJ sets stacked across all three days. The 20-strong artist lineup includes names like Milo Eastwood, DJ JNETT, Mz Rizk, Parsnip, Alien Nose Job and Foggy Notion, with the shows taking over both the brewpub and upper-level bar Stingrays Upstairs. Entry to Friday's fun is free until 6pm, while entry on Saturday is free until 4pm and free all day Sunday. Tickets to the nighttime festivities are $10 online, or $12 at the door. Top Image: Kate Shanasy
When Robert De Niro asked his reflection who it was talking to, Joe Pesci questioned whether he was funny, and Leonardo DiCaprio crawled along the ground under the influence of Quaaludes, one man was responsible. Over a career spanning almost six decades, Martin Scorsese has brought tales of taxi drivers, goodfellas and wolf-like stockbrokers to the screen — and now an exhibition dedicated to his work is coming to Australia. From May 26 to September 18, the Melbourne's Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) will pay tribute to one of America's most iconic directors, exploring everything from his early experimental beginnings to the award-winning films that have shaped many a movie buff. If you're already a fan, you'll be in Scorsese heaven. If you've somehow resisted the charms of (or completely missed) the likes of Raging Bull, The Departed and Hugo — or his concert flicks such as The Last Waltz and Shine a Light, or even Boardwalk Empire and Vinyl on TV — then prepare to have your eyes opened. [caption id="attachment_561113" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Exhibition section "New York". Photo: Deutsche Kinemathek / M. Stefanowski, 2013.[/caption] In its only Australian stop after wowing Berlin, Ghent, Turin and Paris, SCORSESE will present a collection of more than 600 objects spanning the filmmaker's entire cinema resume, as curated by the Deutsche Kinemathek, Berlin's Museum of Film and Television. Expect storyboards, hand-annotated film scripts, unpublished production stills, costumes, film clips and more, all drawn from the private collections of De Niro, Taxi Driver writer Paul Schrader, and Scorsese himself. No ACMI exhibition would be complete without a bustling lineup of screenings, talks and other events, so expect plenty of those as well. The complete program is yet to be announced, but we'd advise blocking out a few days to delve into the influence and impact of the guy who hasn't only mastered movies, but directed the music video for Michael Jackson's 'Bad' too. SCORSESE will run from May 26 to September 18 at ACMI in Melbourne. For more information, visit the ACMI website. Top image: Ray Liotta, Robert DeNiro, Paul Sorvino, Martin Scorsese, Joe Pesci in GOODFELLAS, USA (1990). Source: Sikelia Productions, New York.
UPDATE Thursday, June 3: In light of Melbourne's snap lockdown being extended, the Doughnut Festival has been pushed back to Sunday, July 4. But in the meantime, you can score yourself free doughnuts courtesy of the Market's iconic American Doughnut Kitchen. To celebrate National Doughnut Day this Friday, June 4, simply order a bag of hot jam doughnuts for delivery or click-and-collect via Queen Vic Market Online if it's within your ten kilometer radius, and you'll receive an additional bag of the treats on the house. If you go nuts for doughnuts, there's only one place to pop on your itinerary for Sunday, June 6: Queen Victoria Market is throwing a celebration dedicated to the world's favourite holey treat. The Doughnut Festival is set to showcase a diverse array of doughnuts and other closely-related sweet treats, from old-school dough balls oozing hot jam, to choc-centred bites and sugar-coated churros. There'll be plenty of vegan and gluten-free goodies among the lineup, which is set to star names like Bistro Morgan, St Gerry's and Shortstop. A matching drinks offering will feature coffee and hot choccy, alongside nostalgic 50s-style shakes. All to enjoy while feasting your ears on the day's live tunes. If your doughnut obsession is particularly strong and your appetite large, you can try your luck in the main event — a doughnut-eating competition hosted by renowned pastry chef Darren Purchese (Burch & Purchese). Competitors will have two minutes to down as many doughnuts as possible in an attempt to win a year's worth of hot jam doughnuts from QVM's iconic American Doughnut Kitchen. That, plus complete and utter glory, of course. [caption id="attachment_812578" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Shortstop Doughnuts[/caption] Top image: American Doughnut Kitchen at the Queen Victoria Market.
Finish off your weekend with a casual cycle through Melbourne's northern suburbs, and do it without even crossing a road by following the Merri Creek Trail. 21 kilometres long, the trail extends from Dights Falls and the Capital City Trail in the south, to Western Ring Road in the north. Follow the creek and pass the Coburg Lake Reserve, the Brunswick Velodrome and CERES Community Park, as well as garden spots, horse paddocks and sports ovals. An afternoon of cycling is a surefire way to build up an appetite, and luckily there a number of charming picnic spots along the trail — why not throw down a rug at the northern end, near the lush greens of Coburg Lake? Image: Brook James
Museum lovers, we know you miss visiting your favourite galleries and taking in all the beautiful art the world has to offer, so we have some good news for you: you can now join The Museum of Modern Art's top curators every Thursday (or Friday, Down Under) to explore the famed museum's exhibitions. Different gallery tours will be uploaded to the museum's website every week, ranging from film exhibitions to deep dives into the work of some of America's most iconic artists, including Great Depression photographer Dorothea Lange and sculptor Donald Judd. If you prefer to get a bit more hands-on with your art, the gallery is also offering a heap of free online courses, covering everything from postwar abstract painting to fashion and photography. Top image: MoMA by Gorup de Besanez for WikiCommons
There are still a few weeks before the Jewish Museum of Australia reopens its doors post-lockdown. But in the meantime, you'll find its latest project gracing Birrarung Marr, in the form of a colourful sculpture from renowned architect Zahava Elenberg. Titled Sukkah, the pop-up structural work nods to the temporary huts created and used by the Israelites as they wandered the Sinai Desert. Here, Elenberg has crafted a new meeting place for Melburnians, crowned with a kaleidoscopic canopy made frpm the same components used in her new mobile distancing product Clikclax. Taking cues from popular 70s children's toy Playplax, the functional system was designed for improved social distancing in offices and public spaces, though here has been reimagined as part of a vibrant piece of public art. It's hoped the work will be a symbol of unity and hope for locals as the city crawls out of a long few months of lockdown and its residents reflect on the idea of humanity. Currently, you can visit Sukkah to admire from the outside only, though it's soon set to open further and allow visitors inside the structure itself. Images: Marie Luise Photographer
Just when you thought Melbourne had seen just about every variation of yum cha and high tea imaginable, Gazi throws something entirely fresh into the mix: a series of weekly Greek yum cha feasts. Leaning into the CBD eatery's Hellenic roots, while also staying true to those classic yum cha stylings, the Sunday lunches will see diners tucking into a parade of Greek-Asian dishes. With the kitchen firing from noon until 3pm each Sunday, you can enjoy all ten of the new menu items for $49 per person. Expect innovative fusion bites, like spanakopita gyoza, feta spring rolls with honey and sesame, and a lamb-filled char-tsoureki (Greek sweet bread) that nods to the classic Chinese pork bun. Those looking to make a Sunday session of it can add on three hours of bottomless cocktails for an extra $35 per person. We're talking summery sips like the Oolong Island Iced Tea — featuring black tapioca pearls and a 'cola' whipped up from oolong tea, muscovado and lime — and San-Grecian a concoction of Greek white wine, peach, strawberry, lemon and rose.
Winter's fallen and another truffle season is upon us, which can only mean one thing — it's time to celebrate one of the world's most coveted ingredients at Melbourne's legendary annual truffle festival. Thought to be the largest celebration of its kind outside of Europe, Truffle Melbourne is back for its 2022 edition. And as always, one of the program highlights is a truffle-filled festival weekend, which hits the Queen Victoria Market from Saturday, June 18–Sunday, June 19. In between watching some seasoned truffle hounds Trixie and Arrow doing live mock truffle hunts, you'll be able to sample a huge variety of sweet and savoury truffle-infused dishes across the weekend — think, truffle mac and cheese, truffle-topped pizza, truffled prawn rolls, truffle-infused cannoli and more. There's a decadent truffle gnocchi and truffled raclette, for those looking to sate their cheese cravings, and a new pop-up dining space where you can kick back and have truffled delights served right to your table. Even the drinks list is a celebration of this glorious fungi, with specialty espresso martinis and other truffle-charged cocktails to star alongside wine from Tasmania's Dalrymple Vineyards. Much-loved chefs including Guy Grossi (Grossi Florentino), Jesse Gerner (Bomba), Johnny di Francesco (400 Gradi), Matt Wilkinson (The Pie Shop, Montalto) and Justine Schofield will be throwing some kitchen inspiration your way as they host a hefty program of cooking demonstrations. If you're in the market for some take-home truffle, there'll be plenty of stock from the country's leading growers, along with truffle-infused pantry goodies like honey and cheese. Want more? Truffle Melbourne's pop-up shop will be slinging a vast array of fresh truffles and other products, every market day through the season. You'll find it in I Shed.
Linden Centre for Contemporary Arts is rounding off their Innovators series on a bit of a downer this year with "an exploration of time, transience, frailty and decay". Pretty challenging stuff for the beginning of summer, guys. That being said, the artwork on exhibition is anything but depressing. Off the back of her recent residency at Artspace in Sydney, Santina Amato's No Point in Time (pictured) will be leading audiences through an engaging video installation that explores the idea of ageing through a distinctive feminine lens. Alternatively, in a contemplative display of masculinity and its downfalls, Peter Thomas' Coma Country will be interrogating local sites where "young men have been killed by other young men outside licensed venues." Similar to the bold affirmations of Jenny Holzer, Michael Carolan will be drawing from the world of advertising and neon signs to examine our modern-day relationship with Elisabeth Kubler-Ross' '5 stages of grief' in 5 Stages of Grief: Choose your own (Mis)adventure. Daniel Price's sculpture in Plans will be exploring frailty and decay, and in a joint venture between curators Kim Fasher and Sarah Mosca, Mono No Aware is a group exhibitions by 12 artists looking at the Japanese concept of 'the pathos of things'. According to Fasher and Mosca, the chosen works are "about an experience of beauty and time that is heightened by an understanding of its inevitable passing. It is about the wonder of beauty in the face of decay, of happiness that cannot last, about an appreciation of light in the knowledge of darkness." Image: Santina Amato, The Garden of Instance, 2013, video, reproduced courtesy of the artist.
Recognised purveyors of a good time, the Corner Hotel and The Hills Are Alive Festival are combining their considerable "we know how to party" forces to create a banger of a time on grand final eve — and in the true spirit of Melbourne's party underbelly, it'll be in a carpark. Whether you're looking for a way to roll into the granny, or you couldn't care less about football and just want to party in a cool place with some good music, here's an event for you. Featuring Melbourne band The Bennies, Hills City will bring a dash of summer festival and a dose of sticky-floored gig to a carpark in Richmond on Friday, September 28. Running all day, other bands on the line up include Batts, Planet, Diet, Chitra, and Tones and I, with DJs and comedian Danielle Walker joining the party too. Mr Burger and Roaming Poppy Coffee will also be keeping you fed and caffeinated. Dress code is apparently op shop formal, and there'll be prizes for the best dressed — so head to the wedding dress aisle in Savers quick smart.
Gin has come a long way in the past few years. No longer confined to your gran's dusty antique liquor cabinet, this refreshing and versatile nectar has shaken off the cobwebs by quickly becoming a staple component of any summertime drinking sesh. G&Ts have officially replaced vodka sodas as your beachfront drink of choice, and now Bombay Sapphire are taking things one step further. This summer they'll be opening a dedicated gin bar in North Melbourne. From November 19 until December 6, Bombay are treating us to a world of ginny bliss in the form of Project Botanicals. Pioneering the alluring idea of 'ginstronomy', this idyllic little hideaway will be serving up a curated menu of 10 dishes from Masterchef's Gary Mehigan paired with 10 unique cocktails from brand ambassador and certified gin master Raj Nagra. Taking inspiration from the aromatic depth of Bombay Sapphire, each pairing will be inspired by a botanical extract from the gin itself. Lemon will be utilised in a citrusy twist of a classic Tom Collins paired with cured kingfish, and coriander will be replacing the usual mint in a gin-based version of the Moscow Mule, paired with Vietnamese rolls and yellowfin tuna. It's safe to say, it's time to venture beyond the classic G&T. Project Botanicals will be open every Wednesday-Sunday evening at 64 Sutton Street, North Melbourne. For just $35 per person, you'll be treated to two cocktails and matching tapas style dishes. Book your tickets here.
Don't worry if you missed out on the ballot to Golden Plains, all the A-list acts you were dying to see will also be doing the rounds at Melbourne Zoo's Twilights Series. Over six weeks of summer you can bliss out to the sounds of local classics like Sarah Blasko, Dan Sultan, Bernard Fanning as well as international artists like Conor Oberst, Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks, and the motherflippin' Village People. Making the perfect summer picnic destination, Melbourne Zoo will be pumping every Friday and Saturday evening from January 30 - March 7. Though tickets may seem steep at $70, that price not only guarantees you an amazing show but full admission to the zoo itself. All profits also go towards the fight to save the near-extinct Eastern Barred Bandicoot. Of course, you're welcome to bring along your own picnic basket with loads of food, but you'll have to leave that bottle of wine at home. The event is fully licensed, but there's no BYO — an important measure to keep rubbish and glass away from the poor little animals. In terms of the music, you'll be happy no matter what genre you like to get down to. The lineup has you thoroughly covered in the realms of indie, folk, rock, bollywood and cult '70s disco (because why not). If there's one thing to be upset by, it's the fact that we won't be seeing Belle and Sebastian like the folks at Sydney's Taronga Zoo. But, you have to admit, the once in a lifetime chance to groove out to 'YMCA' amidst some elephants and giraffes more than makes up for it. MELBOURNE ZOO TWILIGHTS 2015 PROGRAM: Friday January 30 - James Reyne and Jack Carty Saturday January 31 - Bernard Fanning and Little May Friday February 6 - Sarah Blasko and Luluc Saturday February 7 - Paul Kelly's Merri Soul Sessions with Clairy Browne, Kira Puru, Vika, Linda Bull and Hiatus Kaiyote Friday February 13 - Dan Sultan and Benny Walker Saturday February 14 - Boys In The Band Friday February 20 -The Budos Band and The Bombay Royale Saturday February 21 - Spiderbait and Jen Cloher Friday February 27 - Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks and Twerps Saturday February 28 - Conor Oberst and The Felice Brothers Friday March 6 - Village People and DJ Andee Frost Saturday March 7 - The Cat Empire and Dorsal Fins Tickets are on sale via the Melbourne Zoo website as of this morning.
There's nothing like a little dose of outdoor cinema to have you feeling summer vibes. Blade Runner maybe not so much. But, nonetheless, Fed Square will screen the definitive — and some say, superior — 'final cut' version of for free on Saturday, November 9. Hope for balmy weather and head to the precinct's Digital Facade to catch the cult classic shown in all its glory up on the outdoor big screen under the stars. And even if you've seen Ridley Scott's breathtaking 1982 sci-fi noir (and Harrison Ford as Deckard) a million times before, it's always an enjoyable watch. There'll be about 50 deck chairs up for grabs, so get there early if you want to watch the film in comfort. Otherwise, it's recommended that you bring a blanket and a pillow to see you through the film.
Melburnian burger-lovers, it just became a whole lot easier to get your mouth around an Easey's creation on your lunch break, with the Collingwood cult burger venue launching two new food pop-ups this past month. Just weeks after announcing a kitchen take-over of South Yarra's Two Wrongs, it turns out Easey's has also landed itself some new CBD digs, setting up shop within The Bottom End as part of the bar's recent revamp. The crew's working their magic out of a casual pub-style space on the ground floor, serving up burger-fuelled good times from 11.30am, five days a week. Foodwise, expect a similar offering to what you've been scoffing down at the original Easey's; from gutsy burgers and hot dog creations, through to those glorious sides, and the occasional amped-up special. There'll also be a handful of venue specific additions, including the mi goreng fried chicken sandwich (yep, that's fried chicken, coated in noodles) being given permanent residency on the menu. Of course, if Collingwood's Easey's taught us anything, it's that a can of Melbourne Bitter is the perfect accompaniment to a messy ol' cheeseburger, and they've worked the drinks list here accordingly. Backing up the eats, you'll find a range of easy-drinking tap beers and tinnies, and a lineup of low-key cocktails, with weekday happy hour specials between 4-7pm. Get your Easey's burger fix at The Bottom End, 579 Little Collins Street, CBD, from 11.30am till late, Monday to Saturday.
Can you think of a better way to spend a muggy, summer night than heading down to St Kilda for an outdoor movie? From November 22 to December 20, American Express is letting you do just that when it brings its outdoor cinema back to St Kilda. Movies on these big screens will include some of 2019's biggest hits, including Joaquin Phoenix as Joker, tear-jerker The Farewell and Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. You can also catch new releases Doctor Sleep, Charlie's Angels and Knives Out. The season will end on Friday, December 20 with a screening of Last Christmas. Fitzroy's Ladro will once again be slinging its woodfired pizza, and a bar, serving 4 Pines brews, Giesen wines and Pimm's will keep your thirst quenched all night long. You can bring your own food, but no BYO booze. Oh, and it's a dog-friendly space, so you don't need to leave part of your family at home.
Is there any social situation more painfully awkward than being in the presence of a couple having an argument? The hair-curling passive-aggression. The teeth-grinding fake smiles. The years and years of squabbles and resentment finally coming to a head. And you, sitting there, wanting nothing more than to evaporate into thin air. Imagine that experience stretched out for two whole hours, and you'll have a rough idea of what it's like to watch Force Majeure. The single worst date movie to come out of the European arthouse circuit since Charlotte Gainsbourg become intimately familiar with a pair of rusty scissors in Antichrist, Ruben Östlund's probe of a marriage in crisis is at once brilliant and impossible to bear. Part piercing relationship drama, part deliciously mean-spirited black comedy, the film follows a wealthy Swedish family on a skiing holiday in France. In the opening scene, we see them lining up on the slopes for an impromptu family photograph. Perfect husband. Perfect wife. Two impossibly perfect kids. But disaster can strike even the most photogenic of families — and in Force Majeure it quite literally does. The four are sitting down to lunch when snow begins to cascade down the mountain. A controlled avalanche suddenly no longer under control, the white wall barrels towards the balcony restaurant. Ebba (Lisa Loven Kongsli) seizes the children in her arms and looks desperately towards her husband, Tomas (Johannes Kuhnke)... just in time to see him running in the other direction. That is, until everyone realises it was all just a false alarm, at which point he slinks quietly back to the table so the four of them can finish their meal. It's an ingenious setup to one of the most uncomfortable films you're ever likely to see. At first, no-one wants to talk about what happened. So it hangs in the air, like a fart you're too embarrassed to admit to. Inevitably, though, it has to be addressed. Forced jokes lead to tight-lipped denials which in turn lead to public accusations. Östlund clearly delights in the opportunity to make his characters — along with his audience — squirm in their seats. Scenes invariably run longer than feels natural, until you're practically begging for the director to cut away. It's especially tough to watch because deep down, you can't help but wonder about what you'd have done in the same situation. Yet the film isn't so much scathing of Tomas's split-second reaction as it is of his refusal to own up to it. As a merciless, darkly comedic takedown of masculine delusion, Force Majeure would make for an ideal double feature with the recently released Gone Girl. Frankly, these Swedes make their American counterparts look positively meant-to-be. https://youtube.com/watch?v=3nTJIc_e6Ns
Noodles and gelato might be strange bedfellows, but the teams at Piccolina and Lagoon Dining see them as perfect pairs. To prove it, they're hosting a one-off Lunar New Year Lunch on Saturday, February 10, to welcome in the Year of the Dragon, during which diners will chase hand-made noodles with freshly churned scoops of gelato. For a modest $35, you'll get a bowl of cold sesame noodles served with chargrilled chicken, black vinegar and crispy soybeans, a scoop of one of the limited-edition Luna New Year gelatos (made by Piccolina and Lagoon Dining) and a fruity soda. Some of the six experimental gelato flavours will include a jackfruit, grapefruit and lime sorbet filled with coconut jellies; a creamy banana gelato with butterscotch ganache; a mango sorbet with lychee jellies; and a jasmine tea gelato with orange, caramelised figs and toasted walnuts. The flavour combos come courtesy of Lagoon Dining chefs, who are known for playfully blending Malaysian and Chinese cuisines. But if you can't make it to the Lunar New Year lunch, keep your cool. The gelatos will be available at all Piccolina stores from Wednesday, February 7 until Tuesday, February 27. It's perfect timing, as Melbourne is finally starting to heat up, and February is set to be a scorcher.
You might know Zoë Coombs Marr better by her alter ego. For years, the stand-up has performed as an unhinged male comic named Dave, raging against the femenazis and all the other bitches who for some strange reason don't think he's all that funny. Now the 2016 Barry Award winner is back — as herself. Expect Bossy Bottom to tackle gender, feminism and homophobia, as well as how all those subjects inevitably intersect with comedy in the modern age.
If you can't make Bluesfest in Byron Bay this year, fear not. A slew of the most popular artists will be playing sideshows right here in Melbourne. Be your thing blues, roots, funk, soul, rock or a good old singer-songwriter, there's a gig happening to sate your musical appetite. Among the headliners is Ray LaMontagne, who's returning to Australia for the first time in ten years, with bassist John Stirratt (Wilco), to play a series of intimate, acoustic shows. Snarky Puppy have also joined the lineup, an instrumental collective that has 25 musicians from across the world on rotation and three Grammy awards under its belt. If you're up for making shapes, then catch George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, who specialise in 70s grooves, roller skates and all-round good vibes, or The California Honeydrops, who've been touring the world with their soulful, New Orleans-influenced sounds for ten years. Also on the program are wandering troubadour Nahko Bear with Medicine For The People (US); English crooner David Gray ; and American blues-rock band Larkin Poe, who have just released their fourth studio album. Check out the full lineup of Bluesfest sideshows below: Allen Stone: Sunday, April 14 at The Corner Keb Mo': Monday, April 15 at Melbourne Recital Centre Flogging Molly: Wednesday, April 17 at 170 Russell Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real: Wednesday, April 17 at The Corner I'm With Her: Thursday, April 18 at Melbourne Recital Centre Trevor Hall: Thursday, April 18 at The Corner David Gray: Saturday, April 20 at Palais Theatre Nahko and Medicine For The People: Sunday, April 21 at 170 Russell Arlo Guthrie: Tuesday, April 23 at Melbourne Recital Centre Shakey Graves: Tuesday, April 23 at The Corner Larkin Poe: Wednesday, April 24 at The Howler The California Honeydrops: Wednesday, April 24 at The Corner George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic: Thursday, April 25 at The Forum Vintage Trouble: Thursday, April 25 at The Corner Snarky Puppy: Friday, April 26 at The Forum Ray LaMontagne: Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28 at Palais Theatre For more information and to book tickets, visit the Bluesfest website.
If you're partial to a big, cheesy serving of gnocchi, you'll be happy to know that Mamma's Boy Trattoria is once again serving bottomless bowls of the stuff. Matched with free-flowing cocktails, no less. And like last time, this is an inclusive carb party, with a stack of vegan and gluten-free options also on offer. The Brunswick restaurant has brought back its endless gnocchi feasts across a couple of two-hour Sunday sittings. Book a table for 11.30am or 2pm and you can tuck into unlimited helpings of the classic potato dumpling dish, plus bottomless drinks and garlic bread for an easy $69. If you're going for the vegan or gluten-free items, it'll cost you an extra $5 per person. As far as the gnocchi lineup goes, all palates are covered. It features Mamma's rich slow-cooked lamb ragu, alongside a simple napoli number, and a truffle mushroom and spinach bowl. With 120 minutes up your sleeve, you should be able to sample them all, no problem — along with the matched homemade garlic bread, of course. During your sitting time, you'll also enjoy unlimited cocktails, including tropical punch, mojitos and a variety of spritzes. To get in on the bottomless gnocchi deal, you'll have to book online in advance. Everyone on your table will need to partake in the bottomless action, though we don't imagine it'll be too hard to rustle up a crew of eager gnocchi-loving mates.
Monster movies have their place. Slasher films, and every horror flick about fiendish foes, too. But features about real-life atrocities — events such as the Port Arthur massacre, where 35 people were murdered and 23 others wounded — should never share the same notions of evil. Director Justin Kurzel and screenwriter Shaun Grant understand this, and demonstrate a canniness so astute that it's unnerving. They make movies that take this notion as a given, unpacking dark chapters of Australia's history guided with it as their guiding principle. That's clear in Nitram, their new film about the events preceding that tragic incident in Tasmania in 1996, just as it was in their 2011 debut Snowtown. Both movies dive into loathsome true crimes. Both films are difficult, distressing, disquieting and disturbing, understandably. Both features are also brilliant for many reasons, the fact that they're about people rather than monsters high among them. It's terrifying to contemplate something so gut-wrenchingly abominable as the bodies-in-barrels murders, which Snowtown depicts, and to face the fact that people rather than evil were behind them. Nitram courts and provokes the same response as it focuses on something equally as ghastly, and similarly refuses to see the perpetrator in shades of black and white. In their third collaboration — with 2019's bold and blazing True History of the Kelly Gang in the middle — Kurzel and Grant don't excuse their protagonist. They don't try to justify the unjustifiable, explain it, exploit it, or provide neat answers to a near-unfathomable crime. Rather, they're exactingly careful in depicting the lone gunman responsible for Australia's worst single-shooter mass killing, right down to refusing to name him. (The movie's title comes from his moniker backwards, and it's all he's ever called on-screen.) Nitram does depict its eponymous figure's mental health issues and medication, and his status as an outcast, but not as reasons for what's to come. It shows his complicated relationships, mentions his struggles as a boy and sees how he's teased as an adult, yet never deems these motives. All such things can be part of someone's life, or not, and that person can commit heinous deeds, or not — and Nitram doesn't ever even dream of seeing that as a straightforward cause-and-effect equation. In his fifth stint behind the lens — 2015's blistering Macbeth and 2016's abysmal Assassin's Creed are also on his resume — Kurzel does adopt a hazy aesthetic, though. The film isn't dreamy, instead resembling anxious memories worn and frayed from too much time looping in someone's mind. Its imagery is boxed in within a constricted frame, heightening that sensation; however, cinematographer Germain McMicking (Acute Misfortune) shoots Nitram (Caleb Landry Jones, The Outpost) as if he's roving around the space to test the boundaries. The character does just that narrative-wise. He earns his wearied mother's (Judy Davis, Mystery Road) constant exasperation, and almost everyone else's dismay. His father (Anthony LaPaglia, Below) expresses more warmth, but is just as affected. After knocking on her door attempting to start a lawn-mowing business, eccentric lottery heiress Helen (Essie Davis, Babyteeth) shows Nitram kindness and showers him with gifts, but even with her he's still pushing limits. When she sees him shooting at an old car with an air rifle in her sprawling backyard, she forbids it. It's her sternest moment. She also asks him not to lunge at the steering wheel as she's driving and, as turbulent as ever, Nitram keeps doing it. Crucially, Nitram anchors its namesake's notions of right and wrong in a childhood interview with the real-life gunman, with the archival footage opening the film. In hospital after frolicking with fireworks, the boy who'll grow up to blight Australian history forever is asked if he has learned from the experience. "Yes" is his answer, "but I'm still playing with 'em," he continues. Nitram isn't ever so overt as to echo those words throughout the movie, and it also doesn't need to. The idea ripples through every scene anyway, whether its central figure is later trifling with firecrackers at a school as an adult, lapping up Helen's affection amid her beloved brood of dogs and the constant sound of Gilbert and Sullivan show tunes, or slapping his dad out of an emotional low. Another scene — a powerhouse due to the inimitable Judy Davis, and a searing monologue delivered with festering pain — cements the idea that Nitram is cognisant of how his actions affect others, but that truth also resounds in Jones' Cannes Film Festival Best Actor-winning performance. He plays the part like Nitram knows he's testing boundaries, and knows the effect he frequently has on others. While even later still, the character tells his mother that when he watches himself on camcorder footage, he's not certain who he sees, there's never any doubt he's cognisant of how the world perceives him. Jones' work here is fragile but weighty, volatile but lived-in, boisterous but anguished, and petulant but intimidating. It's all these things at once and, even with other menacing roles in his on-screen past, it's phenomenal. Davis, LaPaglia and Davis make as much of an impression, one stiffened by time, one stripped bare through denial, one lonely and generous, and Kurzel shows that his winning way with actors is just as masterful here as in almost everything (Assassin's Creed aside) on his filmography. His love of sound and fury remains intact here as well, and it certainly signifies plenty. Every second of Nitram is designed to keep unpacking not only the lead-up to the Port Arthur tragedy — an event that's purposefully never shown itself, but inherently tints the film with foreboding, tension, horror and unease — but also the views of masculinity that've become as baked into Australia as the ochre-hued soil. Every moment is meticulously crafted to unsettle, to challenge, and to confront the reality that something this abhorrent happened at the hands of this man. Nitram doesn't trade in answers, but it does come with a message. Its gun scenes haunt, including when amassing weapons proves effortless if you have the cash and inclination. These sequences also help explain why Kurzel and Grant have taken on a clearly nerve-wracking endeavour, as the movie's post-script underscores. Australia's response to April 1996, in enacting tough gun legislation and buybacks, helped console a grieving country, but those laws have since been watered down. Now, more firearms exist across the nation than did then. That too is blood-curdling and traumatic, and making sure it resonates is another of this tremendous film's achievements.
A passionate young cast of West Melbourne actors will wear their hearts on their sleeves, with a contemporary take on Shakespeare’s Othello at the Malthouse Tower Theatre from May 7 to 9. Set inside a rat-infested boxing gym, Iago updates Shakespeare’s original text to further explore issues relevant to the modern world. Misogyny, male violence, raunch culture and pornography will all coalesce in a gritty, physical performance from the Edge Ensemble; with each young cast member calling on his or her distinctive cultural background to confront questions of diversity and sexual politics in present day Australia. The Edge Ensemble is a part of Western Edge Youth Arts, a community-focused arts company based in Footscray; so you'll be simultaneously rethinking Shakespeare and flying a flag for Melburnian theatre. For more information, visit the Western Edge Youth Arts website.
Melburnians are getting a nightmarish dose of Christmas spirit this festive season as Bar Humbug pops-up along North Melbourne's Queensberry Street from December 7–23. In true Bad Santa style, all the Christmas tunes will be on loop as you wander through a range of immersive installations — (bad) singing along to Mariah Carey is to be expected. Sit on Santa's lap in the Grotty Christmas Grotto, kiss your loved one (or a stranger) in the Mistletoe Corner and sip on naughty-or-nice-themed cocktails from the bar. Tickets get you two hours in the bar, where dress-ups, heaps of candy canes and all-levels of Christmas debauchery will add up to a (not-so-jolly) good time.
The description of this event makes it sound like the greatest thing ever. When I read that it's a "late-night haze of neon and performance, live art, and discotheque", all I could think of is this. Irish theatre dynamos THISISPOPBABY — the ones behind this enigmatic cluster of buzzwords and fluro-fantasia — look like they know their way around both a stage and a dancefloor, so something fantastic is sure to go down. I know this is a vague description, but when an event is forced to describe itself as a 'happening', it's best to go in with an open mind. That way when you walk out half-covered in spandex, sweat, and someone else's body glitter, you can aptly remark "Well, that happened." Check out the rest of our picks for the Melbourne Festival here.
James Bond might famously prefer his martinis shaken, not stirred, but No Time to Die doesn't quite take that advice. While the enterprising spy hasn't changed his drink order, the latest film he's in — the 25th official feature in the franchise across six decades, and the fifth and last that'll star Daniel Craig — gives its regular ingredients both a mix and a jiggle. The action is dazzlingly choreographed, a menacing criminal has an evil scheme and the world is in peril, naturally. Still, there's more weight in Craig's performance, more emotion all round, and a greater willingness to contemplate the stakes and repercussions that come with Bond's globe-trotting, bed-hopping, villain-dispensing existence. There's also an eagerness to shake up parts of the character and Bond template that rarely get a nudge. Together, even following a 19-month pandemic delay, it all makes for a satisfying blockbuster cocktail. For Craig, the actor who first gave Bond a 21st-century flavour back in 2006's Casino Royale (something Pierce Brosnan couldn't manage in 2002's Die Another Day), No Time to Die also provides a fulfilling swansong. That wasn't assured; as much as he's made the tuxedo, gadgets and espionage intrigue his own, the Knives Out and Logan Lucky actor's tenure has charted a seesawing trajectory. His first stint in the role was stellar and franchise-redefining, but 2008's Quantum of Solace made it look like a one-off. Then Skyfall triumphed spectacularly in 2012, before Spectre proved all too standard in 2015. Ups and downs have long been part of this franchise, depending on who's in the suit, who's behind the lens, the era and how far the tone skews towards comedy — but at its best, Craig's run has felt like it's building new levels rather than traipsing through the same old framework. In No Time to Die, Bond does need to look backwards, though — to loves lost, choices made and lingering enemies. Before Billie Eilish's theme song echoes over eye-catching opening credits, the film fills its first scenes with the past, starting with returning psychiatrist Madeleine Swan's (Léa Seydoux, Kursk) links to new mask-wearing villain Lyutsifer Safin (Rami Malek, The Little Things). There's patience and visual poetry to these early minutes amid Norway's snowy climes, even while littered with violence. No Time to Die is a lengthy yet never slow feature, and Bond first-timer Cary Joji Fukunaga doesn't begin with the pace he means to continue; however, the director behind True Detective's stunning first season establishes a sense of meticulousness, an eye for detail and an inclination to let moments last — and a striking look — that serves him exceptionally moving forward. Back in post-Spectre times, Bond and Swan enjoy an Italian holiday that's cut short by bomb blasts, bridge shootouts and other attempts on 007's life — and Fukunaga is quickly two for two in the action camp. No Time to Die segues commandingly from slow-building and foreboding to fast, frenetic and breathtaking in its two big opening sequences, setting itself a high bar. At this point, the narrative hasn't even properly kicked into gear yet. That happens five years later, when Bond is alone and retired in Jamaica (in a nice nod to where author Ian Fleming wrote his Bond stories). His old CIA pal Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright, Westworld) comes knocking, new politically appointed offsider Logan Ash (Billy Magnussen, The Many Saints of Newark) in tow, asking for the now ex-MI6 agent's help to foil the latest nefarious plan — involving a DNA-targeting virus fuelled by nanobots, of course — that's been hatched by terrorist organisation Spectre. No Time to Die has plenty of time for other magnificent action scenes, albeit fewer than might be expected; a lengthy list of characters, both new and recognisable; and the type of beats that allow Bond ruminate over his accumulated baggage, even when a few routine inclusions also pepper the script. Spectre, the film, gave 007 enough woes from the past — and actually making him grapple with it all, rather than merely throw fists, explode watches and unleash machine-gun fire from his Aston Martin's headlights as though he doesn't have a history, gives this follow-up palpable heft and resonance. In Craig's hands, Bond has become a person first and a suave action figure second. The character still falls into the second category, unsurprisingly, because that's still the gig. But in this iteration, the franchise has evolved past the kind of flicks that gave rise to Austin Powers, Johnny English and their fellow parodies — welcomely so. Indeed, the best sequence in the film takes a stock-standard Bond setup, gives it a firm update and offers Craig's Knives Out co-star Ana de Armas a killer introduction. There are no bikinis involved as per past series instalments, or double-entendre names. Instead, this team-up between Bond and fledgling CIA operative Paloma takes them to a Spectre party in Havana, lets her steal every second with devastating high kicks, fabulous timing and witty dialogue, and shows the fingerprints of Fleabag's Phoebe Waller-Bridge — one of No Time to Die's four co-screenwriters. Paloma definitely isn't a stereotypical 60s–90s-style Bond girl, either, and neither are Swan, Moneypenny (the returning Naomie Harris, The Third Day) and replacement 007 Nomi (Captain Marvel standout Lashana Lynch). Everyone is human here, not just Bond himself. In a cast anchored by Craig and his blend of gravitas, pathos, sensitivity, duty and calm, there's barely a weak link. As M and Q, Ralph Fiennes (The Dig) and Ben Whishaw (Little Joe) only pop up briefly, but leave an imprint. Malek isn't a Bond baddie for the ages, yet he makes a chilly demeanour go a long way and easily one-ups Christoph Waltz (Alita: Battle Angel). So much of what makes No Time to Die such a thrill stems from Fukunaga's perceptive choices, however — with ample help from Hans Zimmer's (Wonder Woman 1984) urgent and pulsating score, plus Linus Sandgren's (an Oscar-winner for La La Land) gorgeous globe-hopping cinematography and penchant for long takes (and one particular and glorious upside-down shot). Franchise familiarity bubbles away in the film's veins, expectedly, but Fukunaga knows what to shake, stir, change and challenge, and what makes a moving, ambitious and entertaining farewell.
Fancy a Tassie wine tasting extravaganza, but can't find the time (or cash) to make the trip? How about a quick hop over to North Melbourne instead? If you can get there on Sunday, August 13, you'll be living the Apple Isle dream. That's because one-day wine festival Vin Diemen is coming back to Melbourne for a third year. Your ticket will get you a take-home wine glass and access to the creations of a whole slew of Tasmanian winemakers, who are crossing the strait to show us what their island is made of. Expect to sample some of the best Pinot Noir in the nation, alongside top-shelf Chardonnay, Riesling and sparkling — cold climate varieties get a better go in Tassie than nearly anywhere else in Oz. And giving the wines the respect they deserve will be a bunch of tasty Tasmanian morsels, including cheeses from Bruny Island Cheese. To top it off, you'll also be able to sample some Tassie spirits and Willie Smith's Organic Cider. Tickets are $50 early bird and $60 general admission, and go on sale on June 13.
