Whether you've got a mum you'd like to spoil or you just want to treat your own damn self, Jayda's upcoming feasting series has you sorted. The CBD cocktail bar — and next-door sibling to Shane Delia's Maha — is dishing up high tea with a Middle Eastern twist. Held across two weekends (Saturday, May 6, Sunday, May 7, Saturday, May 13 and Sunday, May 14) with three sittings each day (10am–12pm, 12.30–2.30pm, 3–5pm), it's a lavish riff on the classic high tea, filled with sweet and savoury delights. You'll sit down to bites like toasted lobster buns with zaatar mayo, tarama tarts paired with salmon caviar, harissa chicken sandwiches and Turkish beef dumplings with spiced yoghurt and foraged mushrooms. Sweet treats run to the likes of handmade chocolates and Turkish delight doughnuts, and there'll be a range of tea and French-press coffee to match, too. The high tea spread comes in at $135, which includes a glass of Louis Roederer champagne to kick things off. And if you're feeling fancy, you can add on free-flowing flutes of the bubbly for an extra $100 per person.
Scienceworks' new exhibition Beyond Perception takes a look at the unseen: gravitational waves, invisible light, and the sound and aerodynamics that all surround us. While it's technically designed for teenagers, you'll still find it fun if you're into the cool stuff that science Even more adult-friendly is the accompanying Party Beyond event that will happen on Friday, June 22. With Scienceworks open late and the event only open to those over the age of 18, attendees can get a hit of adult science along with their glass of adult drinks (suck it, kids). Food and drinks will be available to purchase, and you won't be mulling over whatever you've just learnt about invisible light in silence — performances by Pillow Pro, Biscotti and Future Fosil will be featured throughout the six exhibition spaces. Plus, DJ Anton Motorik will be spinning everything from Italo-disco to proto-techno between acts. Image: Museums Victoria/Benjamin Healley.
By now, the fact that almost every beloved TV show arises from the dead at some point is hardly new news. From Gossip Girl and Saved By the Bell to Twin Peaks and the upcoming Sex and the City small-screen sequel series, plenty of programs have been doing it. The next former hit set to make a comeback: Dexter. Yes, that means that television's mild-mannered blood-splatter expert by day, serial killer by night is returning — so if you didn't like how the original series wrapped up back in 2013, that's no longer the end of Dexter Morgan's (Michael C Hall, Shadowplay) story. Eight years have passed when Dexter: New Blood kicks off, just as they have for audiences. As the just-dropped first trailer for the revival demonstrates, Dexter is now living a quiet life in the small town of Iron Lake, New York, and trying to forgo his murderous urges. He's also going by the name Jim Lindsay, which nods to author Jeff Lindsay, who penned the series of novels the show was initially based on. But, as fans saw again and again in Dexter's original eight-season run, resisting picking up a knife isn't all that easy for the program's protagonist. In fact, the trailer features plenty of blades — and all within its namesake's vicinity. In the sneak peek — the first look we've been given of the upcoming ten-episode limited series — Dexter finds his old ways calling after his new hometown is rocked by unexpected events. US network Showtime, which'll air the series in the US, obviously wants to keep the bulk of the plot up its sleeves for now; however, Julia Jones (The Mandalorian), Alano Miller (Sylvie's Love), Johnny Sequoyah (Believe), Jack Alcott (The Good Lord Bird) and Clancy Brown (Promising Young Woman) are all joining the cast. And, Jennifer Carpenter (Dragged Across Concrete) is set to return as Dexter's sister Debra, as is John Lithgow (Perry Mason) as the Trinity Killer — presumably in flashbacks, given the characters' fates in the OG series. Australian viewers will be able to check out Dexter: New Blood via new streaming platform Paramount+, which launches locally on Wednesday, August 11. The new show itself doesn't start airing in the US until Sunday, November 7, and just when it'll hit Down Under hasn't been announced — but fingers crossed that it'll be around the same time. Check out the Dexter: New Blood trailer below: Dexter: New Blood is set to stream in Australia via new streaming platform Paramount+, which will launch on Wednesday, August 11. The new series will start airing in the US from Sunday, November 7; however, an exact stream date for Australia hasn't been announced as yet — we'll update you when it is.
Few things can pull Melbourne diners quite like a kitchen manned by much-loved chef Tom Sarafian. The former Bar Saracen Head Chef has achieved cult status, lending his prowess with modern Middle Eastern flavours to countless sell-out guest chef series and kitchen residencies. And now, after a popular stint back in March, it's Cumulus Inc's turn to host once again. Sarafian returns to the Flinders Lane restaurant from Wednesday, August 3–Sunday, August 14, serving up a special dinner menu (Wednesday to Saturday), plus a barbecued Sunday lunch offering. By night, you'll enjoy a shared feast for $85 per person, starring dishes like kibbeh, Murray cod shish kebabs cooked over charcoal, barbecued lamb fatteh with tomato-braised chickpeas and tahini yoghurt, and a lemon, saffron and yoghurt cake. Add-ons might include Sarafian's famed hummus elevated with spanner crab and king prawns. Bookings are encouraged, though there'll be limited spots for walk-ins from 5pm each night. Then, on Sunday, August 7 and 14, lunch takes centre stage, with a sumptuous seafood spread clocking in at $120. Book a table to enjoy bites like anchovy tabbouleh, scallops with toum and sumac, seafood fougasse (a Provencal-style bread) and a sayadiyeh (a Lebanese fish and rice dish) done with Murray cod. The Cumulus Inc team will be heading up the matching drinks list, pouring wines from Armenia and Georgia, plus cocktails and an arak service. Images: Ben Moynihan
It's not often you get a group of designers competing to have their work set alight. But then again, being chosen as the creator of that iconic Temple — or, The Man — at Nevada's legendary Burning Man festival is a very unique sort of honour. This year, bragging rights go to Arthur Mamou-Mani from London's Mamou-Mani Architects, whose spiralled structure Galaxia beat out a swag of other entries to become the next edition of the festival's most famed installation. It was selected this week by the Burning Man Arts organisation. The Temple has been a Burning Man tradition since 2000, picking a different large-scale art work each year. Towering over the festival's centre in the temporary locale of Black Rock City, it's inscribed with personal messages from festival-goers and then ritually burned to the ground on the final day. Mamou-Mani's take on the project is an enormous, swirling design, made from twenty triangular timber trusses that form paths into the structure's centre, where there'll lie a huge 3D mandela. Word is, it's inspired by the fictional planet Gaia, from Isaac Asimov's Foundation's Edge series of sci-fi novels, with the architect saying it "celebrates hope in the unknown, stars, planets, black holes, the movement uniting us in swirling galaxies of dreams."
UPDATE, December 4, 2020: Mank is available to stream via Netflix. In 2010's The Social Network, David Fincher surveyed the story of an outsider and upstart who would become a business magnate, wield significant influence and have an immense impact upon the world. The applauded and astute film tells the tale of Mark Zuckerberg and of Facebook's development — but it's also the perfect precursor to Fincher's latest movie, Mank. This time around, the filmmaker focuses on a man who once spun a similar narrative. A drama critic turned screenwriter, Herman J Mankiewicz scored the gig of his lifetime when he was hired to pen Orson Welles' first feature, and he drew upon someone from his own life to do so. Citizen Kane is famous for many things, but its central character of Charles Foster Kane is also famously partially based on US media mogul William Randolph Hearst, who Mankiewicz knew personally. Accordingly, Mank sees Fincher step behind the scenes of an iconic movie that his own work has already paralleled — to ponder how fact influences fiction, how stories that blaze across screens silver and small respond to the world around them, and how one man's best-known achievement speaks volumes about both in a plethora of ways. Mank is a slice-of-life biopic about Mankiewicz's (Gary Oldman) time writing Citizen Kane's screenplay, as well as his career around it. It's catnip for the iconic feature's multitudes of fans, in fact. But it also peers at a bigger picture, because that's classic Fincher. The director chased killers in Seven, Zodiac, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Mindhunter, painting meticulous portraits of obsession each time. He unpacked the myths we make of our own existence in Fight Club and Gone Girl, and interrogated the societal perceptions such self-told tales play with and prey upon along the way. Naturally, with him at the helm, Mank was never going to simply serve up a straightforward snapshot of a Hollywood figure. That isn't Fincher's style, and it wouldn't suit Mankiewicz's story, either. When Mank introduces its eponymous scribe, it's 1940, and he's recovering from a car accident. In a cast and confined to bed due to a broken leg, he has been dispatched to a Mojave Desert ranch by Welles (Tom Burke, The Souvenir) and his colleague John Houseman (Sam Troughton, Chernobyl) — all so he can work his word-slinging mastery. As Mankiewicz toils, the movie wanders back to times, places and people that inspire his prose, especially from the decade prior. Dictating his text to British secretary Rita Alexander (Lily Collins), he draws upon his friendships with Hearst (Charles Dance, Game of Thrones) and the news baron's starlet mistress Marion Davies (Amanda Seyfried) in particular. And yes, as anyone who has seen Citizen Kane will spot, Mank's nonlinear structure apes the script that Mankiewicz pens. Many of the latter film's glimmering black-and-white shots do as well, although you won't spot a sled called Rosebud here. The authorship of Citizen Kane has long been a point of controversy, with Mankiewicz agreeing not to take any credit, as Mank shows. (When the screenplay won the film's only Oscar, however, it was awarded to both Mankiewicz and Welles.) Fincher's movie doesn't actually scrutinise the matter too deeply. It recognises that Mankiewicz was frequently asked to work uncredited — he's known to have polished the script for The Wizard of Oz, for example — and sides with the idea that Citizen Kane's screenplay was largely his creation. Of far more interest to the film is the role that Mankiewicz held not just for Welles, but also throughout his time in such an ambitious, ruthless, ethically dubious and uncaring industry. As such, it's impossible not to notice how, with Houseman trying to keep Mankiewicz's notorious love for a drink under control, the scribe feels trapped by his task for Welles. In flashbacks, the way that Mankiewicz is expected to ply his alcohol-addled wit to entertain Hearst and MGM studio chief Lous B Mayer (Arliss Howard, True Blood) is similarly inescapable. And so, Mank posits, it's little wonder that Citizen Kane became an epic takedown of the type of man whose success depends upon enlisting others to do their bidding. In a script by Jack Fincher — father of David, who wrote the screenplay in the 90s before passing away in 2003 — Mank suggests other factors that made Mankiewicz the person he was, and that shaped Citizen Kane's script as well. Scenes of Mankiewicz and his co-workers spitting out whatever ideas came to mind while lapping up the Golden Age of Hollywood and its studio system show the writer at his most content. His response to the use of movie-making trickery to create a fake news campaign to sway a 1934 Californian election by Mayer and film producer Irving Thalberg (Ferdinand Kingsley, Doctor Who) show Mankiewicz at his most passionate about something other than booze and bon mots. Also evident: the abundant cynicism that helps him wade through Tinseltown's trappings, the melancholy shared with Davies, and his reliance upon his wife Sara (Tuppence Middleton, Downton Abbey). Combine all of the above, and a dense and detailed movie results. That's Fincher's wheelhouse, after all. Mank is also visually ravishing and textured, and tonally cutting and icy — which, along with weighty performances, are all Fincher hallmarks. But there's both depth and distance to Mank. Its shadowy monochrome images, as shot by Mindhunter alum Erik Messerschmidt, dance across the screen. The Jazz Age score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross is just as delightful. Oldman's certain-to-be-Oscar-nominated portrayal demands attention, and Seyfried's luminous efforts prove the best kind of surprise. And yet this movie about a man observing and interrogating a particular world, made by someone doing exactly that, always feels like it should be more intimate and resonant. It peers in and pokes about, but it never wholly lures the audience in — and watching Oldman and Seyfried's rich scenes together, viewers will wish it did. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSfX-nrg-lI&list=PLsRQmb9N_1G9EZgWWwmSyr_fS0nrjZOBA
There’s nothing the Oscars love more than an inspiring true story. Every year in the lead-up to Hollywood’s most self-congratulatory night, our theatres with filled with biographical dramas: handsome, well-acted and totally inoffensive. This year’s crop includes The Imitation Game, American Sniper and The Theory of Everything, all of which attempt to rouse us with their stories of courage in the face of adversity. And yes, sure, their protagonists are all white guys. But hey, at least Alan Turing was gay. Also on the list of this year’s would-be contenders is Unbroken, the sophomore directorial effort from one Angelina Jolie. The film is a wartime biopic (of course) about Olympic marathon runner and WWII bombardier Louie Zamperini, whose B-24 aircraft crashed down in the North Pacific and who spent the last two years of the conflict as a prisoner of war in Japan. The film is based on Laura Hillenbrand’s book Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption. With a title like that, it’s hardly surprising that the story leans towards hero worship. As depicted by Jolie and actor Jack O’Connell, Zamperini is less a man as he is a pillar of bravery and virtue; a genetically engineered combination of Jesse Owens and Captain America. Flashbacks to before the war come complete with stock-standard motivational quotes. “A moment of pain,” we’re told, “is worth a lifetime of glory.” I’m not trying to diminish Zamperini’s sacrifice. But while he may have been a hero, he’s not an interesting protagonist. Tales of wartime valour have been done to death, and frankly Unbroken brings nothing new to the table. Jolie portrays America’s enemies with about as much dimension as the Nazis in Hogan’s Heroes, although admittedly they’re not nearly as funny. The only Japanese character they bother naming is the sadistic Corporal Watanabe (played by musician Miyavi), whose cartoonish villainy prevents any exploration of the psychology behind wartime abuse. And yes, atrocities were committed in POW camps, and it’s important that we continue to remember that. At the same time, this story has already been covered. Instead, why not make a movie about the 100,000 Japanese Americans forced into prison camps by President Roosevelt? Where’s the film about the moral quandary behind dropping the atomic bomb? Hell, what about telling the story of Zamperini’s life after the war, when post-traumatic stress disorder drove him to alcoholism until he became a born-again motivation speaker? Those would be interesting stories. But I guess they’re not to Oscar’s tastes. Unbroken is by no means a terrible film. Jolie is a solid director, her cast does good work and the narrative – shallow and conventional as it is – isn’t necessarily unengaging. It is, however, disappointingly safe; the sort of adequate time killer you won’t necessarily regret seeing, assuming you remember seeing it at all.
An escape to New Zealand's Waiheke Island feels miles away from the bustle of central Auckland, though it's only a quick ferry ride from downtown. It's an island of varying landscape, with the turquoise-blue waters of the coast giving way to rolling green hills inland. This gives visitors endless options, too — from bushwalks and beaches to art galleries and, most notably, the plentiful wineries on offer. The whole island is easily explored by bus or bike, and trips from the vines of one winery to the next take only a traipse through the vineyard. You could spend a week here and still not hit all of the artisanal producers dotting the island. Join an art walking tour, try your hand at archery or distil your own bespoke gin, just to name a few things waiting for you on this wine island. Here's how to spend your days on Waiheke — what to taste, what to do and where to stay on the island. [caption id="attachment_663060" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Julian Apse.[/caption] DRINK Thanks to the microclimate on Waiheke, there are close to 30 wineries and cellar doors dotted around the island. Wine excursions are one of the most popular attractions, and cellar doors can be enjoyed both with a guide or by simply following your own nose on public transport. Perched on a hill and a 30-minute walk from the ferry terminal is Mudbrick Vineyard and Restaurant. With its stunning panoramic views, the spot has always been a popular location for proposals, weddings or special weekend visits via helicopter. Wine tastings are available from the cellar door seven days a week, where you'll be guided through four of the winery's varietals across 30 minutes. [caption id="attachment_642965" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mudbrick.[/caption] Go deeper into the island, all the way to the far side, and you'll reach Man O' War. This picture-perfect winery is an excellent spot to while away an afternoon sampling flagship and single vineyard drops. When you've settled on your varietal of choice, find a spot on the grass and enjoy a casual game of lawn cricket with views across to the Coromandel Peninsula. If you're after something away from the tourist trail wineries of the island, head to Te Motu. Continue past big brother winery Stonyridge, and you'll be presented with a shed that has been transformed into a five-star restaurant where you can sample five aged red wines in the tasting room — drops that are not typically available by the glass. Other cellar doors worth checking out while you're roaming the island include Obsidian, Passage Rock, Tantalus Estate, Goldie Estate, Peacock Sky and Cable Bay. And for something entirely different, head to Rangihoua Estate for a lesson in olive oil tasting. [caption id="attachment_663061" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Matthew Crawford.[/caption] EAT While the Island of Wine is its official moniker, Waiheke has an equal measure of exceptional restaurants. Casita Miro is a glasshouse-like structure located on a rolling, Spanish-influenced vineyard. Here, order one of their Spanish wines alongside the tapas and raciones sharing menu featuring fine Iberian meats and cheeses. You can also top off the meal with a good range of Spanish sherry. The outdoor area keeps the Spanish theme going, featuring an evolving mosaic inspired by Gaudi's infamous Parc Guell. [caption id="attachment_663048" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Poderi Crisci.[/caption] Off the beaten track and on to another European country, you'll find award-winning Italian eatery Poderi Crisci. With a setting that welcomes comparisons to the Tuscan countryside, the restaurant-vineyard is owned by Antonio Crisci, the founding father of Auckland's famed metre-long pizzeria Toto's and Parnell institution Non Solo Pizza — a regular contender for the best Italian in Auckland. As well as a rustic a la carte menu, the restaurant is known for its Sunday long lunch. Set aside a good five hours for this one. [caption id="attachment_629210" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Oyster Inn.[/caption] Just up from the ferry and with a large sun-soaked balcony, The Oyster Inn has a roadside allure that draws you upstairs even if you're not in the business of having lunch. A table outside is the quintessential dining position to take in views over Oneroa village and make the most of the seafood-led menu. Not feeling seafood? Down the road, Dragonfired serves up wood-fired street food from its small black trailer. Spending most of its time sitting in the car park by Little Oneroa Beach, the food truck keeps a bustling trade through summer and is widely thought of as the best takeaway spot on the island. The pizzas, calzones and pocket breads are best enjoyed right on the beach and with a bottle of island red, of course. Other eateries to add to the list include the ever-popular Island Gelato, Ringawera artisan bakery for fresh baked goods and the Te Mataku Bay Shop for freshly shucked local oysters. [caption id="attachment_663072" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Christian Nicolson: Barebottomland; photographed by Russell Street.[/caption] DO Adventurers, art lovers and foodies can equally feel at home on Waiheke. For a bit of everything, Wild on Waiheke offers an unusual combination of archery and clay bird shooting mixed with a vineyard and craft brewery — plus, a beanbag dotted-lawn, beer garden and regular live music to boot. On the artsy side of things, the ideal way to see it all is with the Waiheke Island Art Walk. The four-hour walk begins at the Waiheke Community Art Gallery in Oneroa and proceeds through artist collectives, galleries and studios, with the tour including an artisan glassmaker, shoemaker and goldsmith. For lunch, the tour makes a stop at the home and studio of artist Gabriella Lewenz, Church Bay Studio, which boasts stunning views over the bay. Finish off among nature with the walk back along the Atawhai-Whenua Forest and Bird Reserve — just one of several walking tracks on offer throughout the island. After your epic culture walk, unwind back in town at the Waiheke Community Cinema. The 16-seat cinema consists of comfy couches rather than theatre seats and shows a mix of new and cult classic films. For a boozier way to relax, book into one of The Botanical Distillery's events that allows visitors to create their own botanical gin and handcrafted tonic, which will be distilled for you during the experience. [caption id="attachment_647794" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Flamingo Pier.[/caption] If you're looking for an extra reason to visit, there are several events throughout the year worthy of a trip over. In February, nab a doubleheader by checking out Sculpture on the Gulf coastal art exhibition and attending the Flamingo Pier annual music festival — which only takes place in London and on Waiheke each year. Over Easter long weekend, there's the Waiheke Jazz Festival; in November you can participate in the Waiheke Walking Festival; and in December, Sculpt Oneroa kicks off its ten-week art display. [caption id="attachment_605870" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Fossil Bay Lodge.[/caption] STAY From boutique hotels to cottages, vineyard stays to glamping tents, there is an overwhelming number of accommodation options to choose from on Waiheke — and a lot of them exist at many of the places you'll be venturing to already. If you're after boutique vibes, The Oyster Inn also holds three hotel rooms along with its breezy restaurant. Plus, they offer complimentary pickup from the Matiatia ferry. For wine lovers, Mudbrick's cottages offer a luxurious stay within their rolling vineyard and cellar door. The charming, two-bedroom cottages include a kitchenette and washer-dryer, plus a private barbecue and even a private spa pool. An easy walk to Oneroa, it's an ideal stay for someone who wants access to both. Getting there may be the best part of all — you can take a helicopter that lands directly on the Mudbrick estate, with three 'heli-partners' to choose from. More rustic types should opt for Fossil Bay Lodge, which offers simple cottages along with a range of glamping tents for $100–$120 per night. You won't quite be roughing it, however — each tent includes a private ensuite with hot shower, queen-sized beds, wooden floors and even a phone battery pack, as well as share facilities like a fully-equipped kitchen, lounge area and free wifi. LET'S DO THIS, HOW DO I GET THERE? Flights to Auckland from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are super short — around three-and-a-half hours on average — and Air New Zealand flies direct from all three cities and offers accessible fares. Once you arrive in Auckland, Waiheke Island is only a 35-minute ferry ride from downtown. Fullers ferries provide the most regular option, leaving about every 30 minutes, with a return adult ticket costing $38. Or, if you're looking for something a bit swankier and have the cash to spare, you can hop on an Auckland Seaplane and make the trip by sky instead of water, catching all of that breathtaking coast along the way ($400 return). Head over here to check out all of the options to reach the island. https://youtu.be/9hTMc9qm_1g Book your flights to Auckland with Air New Zealand and start planning your next long weekend away.
You've been putting in the hard yards at the office all week. It's been early starts and late nights, and you can't remember the last time you hit the gym. The days just never feel long enough. Winter is traditionally a season of hibernation, a time to say yes to staying in and hiding from the cold with a bowl of carbonara in hand. But one too many nights like this feels good for neither the body nor the mind. To get you moving and recover some of that energy, we've teamed up with M.J. Bale to put some boredom-busting activities at the top of your winter to-do list — and provided some suggestions of what to wear while you're out and about. Read on to stay active this winter and look great doing so. [caption id="attachment_721066" align="alignnone" width="2048"] Visit Melbourne.[/caption] GO FOR A BUSH WALK When the temperature dips below 18 degrees, the couch might feel like the only place to be. But trust us on this one. Hitting the trails for a day of fresh air and lush surrounds is an unbeatable way to get the blood pumping. Plus, the cooler months mean you can throw on tons of layers and still finish your hike with minimal sweat. Genius. Head to your nearest national park or scout out a lush coastal walk and enjoy some well-earned tech-free time in the great outdoors. Where: Strap on your walking shoes and try Sydney's Aboriginal Heritage Walk in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Melbourne's Great Ocean Walk, Brisbane's Buhot Creek Circuit in Daisy Hill Conservation Park and Perth's Bells Rapids Walk Trail in Swan Valley. Wear: The water-resistant and breathable Flannery Gilet ($199.00) layered over natural fibres to crush the cold. [caption id="attachment_721067" align="alignnone" width="1000"] Pasta Emilia.[/caption] TAKE A COOKING CLASS Has the new season of MasterChef sparked your inner gastronomic fire? Then wave goodbye to microwave dinners and say hello to gourmet home-cooked feasts that'll blow your mates' socks off. By joining a cooking class, you can have an expert teach you elusive techniques, like how to fold the perfect ravioli or whip up a bowl of authentic baba ganoush. Plus, on top of learning the tricks of the trade, you'll meet some new faces and enjoy the fruits of your labour over a celebratory glass of vino. Now that's how all school days should end. Where: Get cooking at Pasta Emilia's hands-on pasta making workshop in Sydney, craft heart-warming Middle Eastern dishes at Free to Feed in Melbourne, master Vietnamese soups and noodles at Golden Pig in Brisbane and learn how to make Japanese bar snacks at Salt & Company in Perth. Wear: The Depp Stain Repellent Tee ($59.95), because you don't want to carry your culinary masterpieces home on your clothing. [caption id="attachment_721068" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Handsome & Co.[/caption] GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY AT A SHORT COURSE There's no better detox from sitting at a desk all day than making something with your hands. Combine that with the task of learning a new skill, and you're guaranteed to give your brain a healthy gear-shift. Maybe this is the year you finally give pottery a crack, learn how to make your own jewellery or nail the basics of welding. And you never know where your new skills could take you. Here's your chance to explore a passion project or side hustle that could one day see you ditch your nine-to-five job. Where: Let your creative juices flow at The Pottery Shed's Basic Throwing Class in Sydney, try Handsome & Co's Introduction to Furniture Making in Melbourne, learn to throw clay like a pro at The Ceramic House in Brisbane and make your own gourmet cheeses at The Cheese Maker in Perth. Wear: The Tortuga Denim Shirt ($129.95) puts you in something durable while you hone a new craft. [caption id="attachment_721114" align="alignnone" width="2048"] B. Lucky & Sons.[/caption] PLAN SOME FRIENDLY COMPETITION AMONG FRIENDS A night of booze, banter and tasty nosh is how most of us choose to catch up with our mates. But, who doesn't love some healthy competition? Shake up your social routine and test your skills with an evening of group-friendly novelty games. Plenty of venues across the country host mini golf, arcade games and everything in between. All you need to do is gather your mates, pick your arena and get playing. Where: Bring the crew together at Maniax Axe Throwing in Sydney, try your hand at mini golf and karaoke at Holey Moley in Melbourne, revisit classic arcade games at B. Lucky & Sons in Brisbane and race a mate in your own go-kart Grand Prix at Kart World in Perth. Wear: Keep things casual and warm in the Buchanan Merino V-Neck Knit ($149.95). [caption id="attachment_721113" align="alignnone" width="2016"] SportUp.[/caption] JOIN A SPORTS TEAM No, this won't be anything like your memories of high school gym classes. Signing up to a sports club as an adult means social matches and light-hearted fitness with celebratory drinks at the pub afterwards. Grab a few mates or co-workers, and join as a team or go it solo for a chance to expand your network. The best bit? Regular matches mean you'll be held accountable for turning up to that 6am training session (yes, even when it's dark and pouring outside). But at least you'll have the rest of your team suffering alongside in solidarity. Where: Find your fitness tribe with dodgeball at Urban Rec Sydney, shoot hoops at Social Sport in Melbourne, give indoor netball a crack at Sport Up in Brisbane and go for a spot of social badminton with Badminton Buddies in Perth. Wear: The Sports Bag ($99.95) gives you both handle and shoulder strap options. Discover more action-ready wear for winter on the M.J. Bale website.
No, you're not having a stroke. Although you might be after a few dozen cheeseburgers. Everyone's favourite LA fast food powerhouse In-N-Out Burger has secretly popped up in Melbourne today. Set up at 212 Little Collins Street, these total legends are pumping out hamburgers, regular cheeseburgers and double cheese until 3pm today. Get amongst the inevitable burger-crazed mosh. This is happening right now. This isn't the first time these sneaky sneaksters have done this either. Last year, In-N-Out popped up for a one-day appearance in Sydney and stock sold out in a frantic two hour free for all. This is your time to shine, Melbourne. Get into the city immediately. There's a reason this joint is frequented by celebrities and regularly called "heaven on earth". Admittedly, it has a lot to do with cheese fries. OMG. In-n-Out pop up in Melbourne! (Not my burger, apparently couldn't do grilled cheese???????) #innout #innoutmelbourne A photo posted by j_fosk (@j_fosk) on Nov 11, 2014 at 5:15pm PST The In-N-Out burger pop up will close at 3pm November 6 or until they sell out. Move. Now.
Japan's skiing and snowboarding season is coming. Each year from December to March, people hit to the slopes in search of some of the lightest and deepest powder in the world. But you don't only come to these mountain ranges to speed down the pistes. The best of Japanese culture is at every turn up around these regions. Your après ski activities will include soaking in onsen spas, sushi tastings and omakase experiences as well as seeing local art, fashion and snow monkeys. Head to any of these resorts and mountaintop villages for the ultimate winter escape — or better yet book now. RUSUTSU You will find some of the deepest snow in the world up in Rusutsu. It's on Japan's northern island where most of the famous resorts are found, but it remains a bit less hectic than most — a big win for those who want a little more space on the slopes. As this is a quieter region, you won't find much nightlife here — those wanting to party should look elsewhere. Instead, this is for those who want to ski and ride hard during the day, and chill at night. This resort also boasts some of the most luxurious natural hot spring baths, so stay an extra day to soak your sore muscles and fully relax surrounded by stunning views. [caption id="attachment_876946" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Delphine Ducaruge[/caption] HAKUBA This terrain is great for every kind of snow sport enthusiast. You'll find super steep runs, a series of jumps, tons of dry powder, half pipes, terrain parks and a few beginner pistes — whatever your snow-loving heart so desires. And if you really can't get enough mountain action, nighttime skiing is also an option at the Goryu Snow Resort. Hakuba is also close to the famous Snow Monkey Park, where you can watch these entertaining creatures hang out in hot thermal pools like furry little mountain kings. You can also find a whole series of onsen pools around here (which are thankfully monkey-free). Editor's tip: right now, you can book the ultimate Hakuba ski and snowboarding getaway here (including a 5-day Hakuba lift pass with full access to 9 mountains in the region). [caption id="attachment_876941" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Marek Okon[/caption] NISEKO Niseko has got to be the most popular ski resort in all of Japan. And this title brings both the good and the bad with it. First off, the good. Getting here is super easy thanks to the great transport connections and it's the most English-speaking-friendly place to ski and snowboard in Japan. The slopes are also immaculately maintained (made for skiers and snowboarders at all experience levels). But the increasing fame and popularity has, inevitably, brought crowds in huge numbers. And catering to Western travellers has meant the resort has lost some of its distinct Japanese culture and charm. Affordable accommodation is also challenging to come by — you'll need to book way in advance if you want to find a budget-friendly place to stay. If you do like to balance your mountain action during the day with proper partying after dark, the nightlife here is booming. Restaurants and bars will cater to most of your tastes — from udon shops to high-end dining and bars — and you can find parties taking place every night of the week. MADARAO Located just one hour out of Nagano City, Madarao is known for punching above its weight. It's a smaller resort but has a great reputation among those in the know. It's a battler. One of the most appealing features is that this resort actively encourages people going off-piste. It is banned at most skiing and snowboarding resorts in Japan, so Madarao is made for the true powder hounds. Another popular winter activity is snowmobiling in the Yakebitaiyama ski fields (known colloquially as ' Yakebi'). You'll feel like James Bond in a chase scene when cruising around on your own snowmobile. It' also one of the best ways to see the incredible scenery of area. From Madarao it's easy to head down into Nagano City and Toyama (known for having some of the best seafood in Japan). Trains will even take you into Tokyo in a few hours. Editor's tip: book a week-long skiing adventure up in Madarao and Hakuna here (including all transfers, accommodation and lift passes). [caption id="attachment_876944" align="alignnone" width="1920"] JNTO[/caption] KIRORO Kiroro is great for those wanting a really authentic Japanese skiing and snowboarding holiday. This smaller resort has huge snowfall but much smaller crowds throughout the season. This does mean that English speakers will need to crack open the phrase book to communicate with the locals — but that's what travelling abroad is all about. Immerse yourself in Japanese ski culture up here, hitting the many long runs and traversing the stunning backcountry. It's also really well designed for those who want to ski right down the pistes and directly up to the local restaurants, bars and hotels. The non-skiing options also offer up big wins for the family, if you're taking a whole crew. They have heaps of space dedicated to tubing and the equal parts fun and terrifying activity of snow zorbing (rolling around in a Snow Bubble Ball). [caption id="attachment_876945" align="alignnone" width="1920"] JNTO[/caption] FURANO Furano is another of the more famous ski and snowboarding resorts in Japan but has retained much of its unique charm. You will get spectacular views, very reliable snowfall and huge variety of slopes. It's also caters really well to English-speaking travellers. And one of its best qualities is its proximity to the city of Furano. Take a 6km drive down the mountain to find locals and tourists kicking back at restaurants and bars, galleries and idyllic onsen spas. It's also a hugely popular region during spring and summer, when the rolling hills come alive with the colours of blooming lavender, poppies, lilies and sunflowers. This area is a nature-lover's paradise. [caption id="attachment_878190" align="alignnone" width="1920"] JNTO[/caption] KAGURA This spot is mostly unknown to the international snow sport world — which is actually one of its biggest drawcards. Come here for really honest skiing without a bunch of egos tearing up the slopes at breakneck speed. It also has some of the best backcountry for exploring and experiencing a powder-filled wilderness. Take your time going off-piste here, feeling as if you're the only person on the mountain. Kagura is also a surprisingly budget-friendly to stay, with food and drinks priced quite a bit more affordably than other resorts in Japan. You'll also get more authentic dining experiences (they won't be changing their menus for Western pallets). But be prepared for super freezing temperatures as this resort is located at higher altitude. Pack your warmest ski gear and load up on the quality thermals when heading to Kagura. [caption id="attachment_876942" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Steven Su[/caption] Feeling inspired to book a getaway unlike anything else out there? Through Concrete Playground Trips, our new travel booking platform, can you now purchase holidays specially curated by our writers and editors. We've teamed up with all the best providers of flights, stays and experiences to bring you a series of unforgettable trips at destinations all over the world. Top images: Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO).
The Ascot Lot really likes alliteration — and dogs. It has hosted days dedicated to gravy and greyhounds and Stomping Hounds and sours, and now it's opening its Ascot Vale food truck park to dachshunds and daiquiris. On Saturday, November 30, you'll be to pat many adorable sausage dogs while sipping on frozen strawberry daiquiris and frosé. Drinks will be going for $10 a pop, or you can make a solid investment of $45 and enjoy unlimited pours for a whole two hours. If you're doing the latter, you might want something to eat. Luckily, there'll be plenty of food — in the form of trucks from Burrito Bae, The Bearded Jaffle, The Pickle & The Patty, Taste of Cyprus and Dessert by Yiayia. And, for the short-legged (and long-legged) pooches, there'll be dog treats from Larrykin. Both Pupstyle and My Dachshund Online will be selling their wares from 12–5pm, too. Dachshunds & Daiquiris runs from 12–10pm.
Melbourne's trams aren't just a handy way to get from A to B. Each year, six of the city's public-transport carriages also become mobile artworks. Melbourne Art Trams gives the vehicles a vibrant revamp — and, since 2021, the designs gracing each one have hailed from Victorian-based First Nations artists. The initiative has fallen into winter arts festival RISING's remit since then, too, with the end results for 2023 now rolling around the Victorian capital. The theme for this year's Melbourne Art Trams series: Blak futurism. As well as celebrating and exploring history, Country, community and connection, that's what the latest round of artists has responded to, as curated by visual artist Jarra Karalinar Steel (Boonwurrung/Wemba Wemba) — an alumni of the 2021 trams. "This year's First Peoples Melbourne Art Trams truly embody the transformative narratives of First Peoples Artists' creative expression, and the diversity that is often overlooked when it comes to Aboriginal Art in Australia. For me, the theme this year — 'Blak futurism' — is about reclaiming and taking back space, and breaking the status quo while maintaining culture and connection to country. It' also about learning from our past and those who came before," said Steel. "Blak futurism plays with nostalgia, pop culture and the desire to see ourselves represented in a world where we feel unseen and heard. Changing the way we are seen and the way we see ourselves." "I was looking for works that truthfully spoke to how these artists saw a Blak bright future for their community, families and country. This year's Art Trams will provide a world of colour to our grey city streets, exploring themes of community, togetherness, intergenerational collaboration, protection and care for country and our animals, future folklore, nostalgia, representation, and pay tribute to our beloved city." The first art tram to start doing the rounds boasts work by Amina Briggs (Boonwurrung/Erub). It hit the streets on Tuesday, June 13, featuring a portrayal of Bunjil the creator and Waa the protector, key figures in Boonwurrung culture. Also included, in a piece that's about reclaiming land: the Australian raven and the wedge-tailed eagle, the symbolic animals for both figures, plus a diamond, which is the traditional Boonwurrung symbol. By Friday, June 23, the remaining five trams will also get zooming, giving Melbourne a moving exhibition. Rubii Red's (Lama Lama) contribution is an ode to Naarm, including its protests, music and nightlife; Charlotte Allingham (Wiradjuri and Ngiyampaa) has created a piece envisioning a future that values Blak freedom, self-expression, sustainability and innovation; and Jay Van Nus (Pibelman Noongar, and a Chilean Australian brotherboy) celebrates Indigenous knowledge and community, including diverse skills and ideologies coming together. For their tram, Lyn Thorpe (Yorta Yorta/Wurundjeri/Wamba Wemba/Wadi Wadi) and her son Coree Thorpe (Yorta Yorta/Wurundjeri/Gunnai/Gunditjmara) hone in on the Aboriginal continuum, which spans connections to ancestors and being caretakers for knowledge. And Peter Waples-Crowe's (Ngarigu) work focuses on the alpine dingo, using it as a symbol of ecosystem restoration, while contemplating restoring Indigenous knowledge. Melbourne Art Trams is a collaboration between RISING, Creative Victoria, Department of Transport and Planning and Yarra Trams, allowing local First Nations artists submit their own original tram-inspired designs — and ran as part of the Melbourne International Arts Festival before RISING's arrival. The first of Melbourne's 2023 art trams hits the tracks on Tuesday, June 13, with the rest of the fleet joining them by Friday, June 23. For further details, head to the RISING website. Images: James Morgan.
With a booming five-year stint and loyal crowd of regulars under its belt, unique party place Pawn & Co shocked plenty when it announced it was getting turfed from its Chapel Street home — at the hands of developers, no less. But, as promised fiercely to its fans, the bar-pawn shop hybrid has returned with a vengeance, moving to impressive digs around the corner, at 177 Greville Street. The new iteration is bigger and better than ever, with the original hidden bookshelf entrance now leading punters to a heftier two-level space, complete with cosy booths, a courtyard, and three separate bars. This time though, co-owner and designer Josh Lefers has dialled up the steampunk aesthetic to a whole new level, with the retro-futuristic reboot boasting such random treasures as a cryogenic chamber, a steampunk throne, and an old Victorian tram you can sit in. There's also a church organ mixing cocktails, a talking vending machine taking drink orders, and a host of bonus extra features, glimpsed only through special glasses given to patrons. Of course, Pawn & Co has stuck with the bar concept that put it on the map (it was once featured by Forbes back in 2013), so absolutely everything inside the space is up for sale. Best keep that credit card on a short leash though, unless you really want a cryogenic chamber for your house.
A favourite in Federation Square boasting views over the Yarra and the ideal people-watching spot, Taxi Kitchen remains a staple in Melbourne's hospitality scene. Offering an Asian-influenced, modern Australian menu executed by Executive Chef Tony Twitchett, the space sitting above Fed Square is worth the elevator ride, all these years on. Small plates run to the likes of tempura bug tails with sesame yuzu aioli ($28), candy pork belly with pickled papaya ($24), and Szechuan wagyu dumpling with apple soy dressing ($27). The big guns come out in the form of Szechuan duck with watercress and chilli dressing ($52), and the slow-cooked lamb shoulder with kohlrabi puree and XinJiang spices ($55). The claypot sticky rice with lup chong, shiitake and a son-in-law egg is a must-try ($22). Try the favourites of the menu with Taxi Kitchen's recently launched $45 lunch, where patrons can choose three small plates and a large plate to share. For those with a sweet tooth and a love of nostalgia, Taxi's frozen lemon meringue pie with raspberries is a solid choice ($20), while the yuzu souffle with caremelised white chocolate, burnt orange ice cream ($22) is a stronger nod to the restaurant's Asian influence. Images: Michael Pham. Updated April, 2023
It was already flying the flag for India, China, and Peru, now, the cobbled stretch of Duckboard Place and ACDC Lane has added a Danish offering to its multicultural collection of eateries. Melbourne's A Hereford Beefstouw is Australia's second iteration of the Danish steakhouse, and marks a second joint venture between local dry aged beef producer Tim Burvill and Danish restaurateur Lars Damgaard. The pair launched Adelaide's A Hereford Beefstouw back in 2011, while the Damgaard family owns 14 of the restaurants, sprinkled throughout Scandinavia. The new laneway restaurant oozes Nordic sophistication, with the smart, Danish designed fitout proof of some serious attention to detail. A Danish contingent of chippies was flown over to help with the build, while elements like cutlery, plates and furniture were designed and crafted exclusively for this dining room. It's all there to best showcase the seasonal food offering, which sees head chef Daniel Groom celebrating top-quality beef from the group's own South Australian farm, and nods to Burvill's reputation as a dry aged beef specialist. Simply handled steaks are the stars of the show, while the rest of the menu offers a modern reworking of some classic Danish flavours. "Our own dry aged beef will be the hero, raised on grass in the 'Green Triangle' of South West Victoria and South East South Australia, including Herefords from our family farm near Lucindale in South Australia's Coonawarra region," says Burvill. "Choice cuts are dry aged for between 40 to 100 days in our state of the art facility in the Adelaide Hills, then cooked simply and with restraint by our chefs." Find A Hereford Beefstouw at 22 Duckboard Place, off Flinders Lane, adjoining ACDC Lane, Melbourne CBD. Open Monday-Thursday 11.30am-2pm and 5.30 pm-11.30pm, Friday 11.30am - 11.30pm, Saturday and Sunday 5.30pm - 11.30pm.
Here's something to be thankful for: Thanksgiving isn't an Australian occasion, but Black Friday has made the jump Down Under, bringing sales upon sales with it. Maybe you're getting your Christmas shopping done early, and cheap. Perhaps you're treating yo'self to a major purchase at a discounted price. Or, you could be excited about making travel plans for the year ahead, which is where Virgin Australia's 2024 Black Friday sale comes in. A huge one-million-plus fares are currently up for grabs from the airline, covering both Aussie and international destinations. If somewhere beyond these shores beckons, Bali, Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu and Queenstown are among your options. Within Australia, so does The Whitsundays, Byron Bay, the Gold Coast, Cairns, Darwin, Uluru, Hobart and more. Internationally, return deals are on offer. From Sydney, you can get to and from Queenstown from $435, Nadi from $569 and Denpasar from $609. Melburnians can holiday in the same spots from $405, $599 and $589, respectively, while the prices from Brisbane are $515, $589 and $599. Cheap fares from the Sunshine State capital also include hitting up Port Vila from $499 and Apia from $689. One-way domestic fares start at $49, which'll get you from Sydney to Byron Bay. As always, that's cheapest route. Other discounted flights include Melbourne to the Sunshine Coast from $109, Brisbane to The Whitsundays from $79, Sydney to Hamilton Island from $115, Melbourne to Darwin from $205, Brisbane to Uluru from $129 and Sydney to Perth from $209. Are you yearning to kick off 2025 with a holiday? Perhaps you're planning an autumn, winter or spring vacation instead? Travel dates span Monday, January 6–Thursday, September 18, 2025, all varying depending on the flights and prices. As normal when it comes to flight sales, you'll need to get in quick. Virgin's discounted fares are available until 11.59pm AEST on Wednesday, December 4, 2024 or sold out, whichever arrives first. Virgin's 2024 Black Friday sale runs until 11.59pm AEST on Wednesday, December 4 — or until sold out. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
One of Melbourne's most unique venues will welcome some of the biggest names in standup, as part of an unusual collaboration with this year's Melbourne International Comedy Festival. On Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesday throughout the fest — which runs March 28 through to April 22 — the river-adjacent Arbory Bar & Eatery will once again host the Silent Comedy Festival. They assure us it will be a lot funnier than it sounds. Jimeoin, Dave Hughes, Bev Killick and Mandy Nolan are but a few of the comedians who are set to take part in an event inspired by silent discos. Each performer's microphone will be connected to headphones worn by audience members, who, from the perspective of anyone passing by, will be laughing at the sound of silence. Tickets to the Silent Comedy Festival cost $25 and include three stand-up sets.
Beers? Check. Burgers? Check. Unlimited arcade games? That's what we're talking about. Forgotten Worlds in Collingwood is teaming up with five different local breweries for five late-night tap takeovers aimed at gamers and beer nerds alike as part of this year's Good Beer Week. A $35 ticket gets you two free pots on arrival and access to all the vintage games your thumbs will be able to take. Will the beer improve your reaction time? No, probably not. And neither will playing one-handed while shovelling BurgerTime burgers into your gob with the other. Y'know what though? We reckon it just might be worth it.
Considering a foray into yoga, but feeling a little overwhelmed about where to start? Well, the folks at I Am That Yoga in Collingwood are here to make the whole thing way less daunting and a lot more fun, with their open day on Thursday, June 14. The new Emma Street studio will be throwing open its doors to host a range of free classes, giving you the chance to roadtest a few to see which styles take your fancy. Perhaps you'll give the morning Power Flow class a whirl, or maybe the yin-yasa hybrid session is just what your muscles have been looking for. All seven of the day's classes will be offered for free, including a 12.15pm guided meditation, though you'll have to book in advance to secure your spot. Studio founders Victoria Csarmann and Sébastien Nicolas will also be on hand to help you out with finding your ideal yoga style, and there'll be a pop-up wellness market from 5pm, with a range of goodies to sample and buy.
That next Japan trip might be a little further off than anticipated, but there's nothing stopping you from diving into regular bowls of hot, aromatic ramen in the meantime. And new delivery service Gomi Boys Ramen is making it even easier to score a weekly fix of that Japanese soup...minus the cooking and kitchen clean-up. Melbourne chefs Ryan Maher and Ben Reardon launched their ramen drop-off business back in June, delivering handmade, ready-to-heat soup kits to select suburbs each Thursday. They followed it with a couple of pop-ups at Thornbury bar Nasty's when restrictions eased, but are now back solely on delivery runs while the city's in lockdown 2.0. The duo's ramen skills are the result of regular travels to Japan, while their business name is a reference to the Japanese word for rubbish or trash. "We are basically nodding to the fact that we are two white boys making ramen," explains Reardon. "Hence the tag line 'rubbish humans, excellent ramen'". And, with a couple hundred orders flowing in each week, it seems that last part rings especially true. [caption id="attachment_776659" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Michael Oulton[/caption] Currently on the Gomi Boys menu, you'll find eight ramen varieties, with plenty of vegan, gluten-free and allergen-friendly options among them. All kits feature a mix of top local produce and premium Japanese ingredients, with fresh handmade noodles, toppings, broth and seasonings ready to be heated and assembled in your kitchen. The boys' signature soup is a Shinjuku-inspired niboshi tonkotsu shio ramen, starring a pork and chicken broth elevated with anchovy and fish sauce. Or, you might fancy shaking things up with the szechuan-spiced cauliflower tantanmen, featuring a mushroom-based broth with tahini and gochujang. Each kit clocks in at $19.45, with add-ons like pork belly chashu and extra noodles available for a few more dollars. While they're on the hunt for a permanent space, Maher and Reardon are operating out of West Footscray, so the Gomi Boys delivery area currently covers a range of northern and western suburbs. Kits are dropped off between 2pm and 7pm on Thursdays only, but they can be kept in the fridge to be used within three days. Orders are taken through the website between 12pm each Friday and 8pm on Mondays — or until they've sold out. Gomi Boys Ramen delivers to a range of suburbs each Thursday. Head to the website to check the delivery zone, see the menu and place an order (Friday to Monday). Delivery is free, but there's a minimum order of $38. Images: Michael Oulton
Like plenty of last year's events, Melbourne Fringe Festival 2021 suffered some lockdown-induced hiccups. But the long-running arts celebration is bouncing back like a pro, kicking off a special three-week makeup edition this month. The aptly titled Fringe Rebound is set to deliver a jam-packed serve of music, comedy, theatre, cabaret and more, taking over the Fringe Common Rooms hub at Trades Hall from Tuesday, February 22–Sunday, March 13. You'll have the chance to catch a stack of hotly-anticipated offerings that missed out on stage time last year; including raucous NYC-born variety show Blunderland, an award-winning homage to housemates titled Little Monster, and the hilarious exploration of single life that is Mad Woman. Elsewhere, a cast of differently-abled stars will impress you with their stories and talents for The Chronic Cabaret, celebrated comedian Lauren Bok delivers an unmissable ode to a sausage roll, and Isabella Perversi promises to have you feeling all the feels with her latest one-woman show Canary. Throw in some more stand-up, a spot of immersive theatre and a few eclectic performance pieces and you've got one heck of a Fringe fix to help you make up for lost time. And to tide you over until the full Melbourne Fringe 2022 edition, happening in October. [caption id="attachment_843206" align="alignnone" width="1920"] 'Sensory', Fringe Rebound[/caption] Top Images: 'Little Monster' and 'Canary'.
With International Margarita Day landing on Wednesday, February 22, bars and tequila brands across the country have received the memo that it's time to celebrate everyone's favourite salt-rimmed cocktail and run with it. In fact, they've been marking the whole of February as Margarita Month. From free margs to multi-venue festivals celebrating the drinks, there are plenty of ways patrons can get in on the action. One of the more tongue-in-cheek promotions is a cocktail giveaway popping up at two of Australia's most beloved bars, Tio's Cerveceria in Sydney and Los Amantes in Melbourne. The pair of tequila-loving venues have teamed up with El Jimador to give away free margaritas, but only to a select few. Playing on the longstanding tequila maker's name, anyone named El or Jimmy can claim one free cocktail. Just show your ID and you'll be presented with a margarita on the house. The promotion does extend to anyone with Jimmy- and El-adjacent names including James, Jim, Elle, Ella and Ellie. El Jimador has also populated a helpful map on its website to make sure you can always find a margarita around the corner. The venue finder shows partnered venues that you can hit up during Margarita Month for the cocktail of the moment. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Movember is un/fortunately coming to an end and men across the country have never felt more masculine or virile. On the other hand, women across the country are counting down the days until December when that upper lip of scuzzy peach fuzz is mercifully removed. As Nick Offerman from Parks and Recreation teaches us "Growing a moustache isn't easy. Nothing incredibly awesome ever is." And while we all know that there are thousands of grieving gentlemen out there whose poor excuses for a handlebar or Magnum PI knock-off leave much to be desired, there are certain men throughout history who give new meaning to the idea of a "lady tickler". So in the spirit of Movember and as a little inspiration for those poor fellas whose final week of furry, nose-warming bliss has fallen well-short of its glorious potential, here are thirteen of history's most magnificent mos that prove that often with great power comes a great moustache. Kaiser Wilhelm I Teddy Roosevelt Pancho Villa Genghis Khan Civil War hero Joshua Chamberlain Walter Cronkite Wyatt Earp Friedrich Nietzsche US President William Taft Salvador Dali Mark Twain US Baseballer Rollie Fingers General Ambrose Burnside
So, that 'New Year, New You' resolve has started to fade and the end of summer's left you a little lacking in the motivation department. Well, online fashion retailer The Iconic reckons it has exactly what it takes to inspire us all to jump back into the fitness game — a sweet $135,000 worth of vouchers. The vouchers are up for grabs as part of The Iconic's 2019 Sport Challenge, which kicks off today, Tuesday, February 26. Now in its third year, the eight-week digital fitness competition sees Aussie and New Zealand participants of all skill levels winning vouchers for workout threads, shoes and accessories, by simply exercising and completing fitness challenges. It's free to enter, though you'll need to connect your go-to fitness tracking app or device (there are 13 different compatible apps, including Nike Run Club and Polar Flow) to access the 17 different challenges, divided into easy, medium and hard. Expect things like the beginner-friendly Champion Challenge — where you'll need to tick off three 20-minute workouts for the chance to score a $50 Champion voucher — through to the slightly sweatier Skins Challenge, offering a shot at claiming $50 worth of Skins gear, whenever you clock a non-stop 15km run. Rack up 2km of activity in one go and there could be a $100 Fitbit voucher with your name on it. The vouchers are redeemable online at The Iconic for a bunch of big-name sportswear brands, including Mizuno, Reebok, Nike, Adidas and Running Bare. Participants have eight weeks to smash as many challenges as they can, before the competition wraps up at midnight on Tuesday, April 23. The more times you conquer one, the more chances you'll have to score a prize. Sign up over at The Iconic Sport Challenge website and start moving.
At this time of year, it's mighty tempting to rid your after-work agenda of anything that involves leaving your blanket fort. We can't blame you — the days are shorter and it's colder than most would like. But rather than disappearing when the sun does, we want you to make the most of these bonus nighttime hours. So we've teamed up with Samsung to celebrate the Galaxy S9 and S9+ (with a Super Low Light camera to capture all your nighttime antics) to bring you a guide to the best things to do around Melbourne after dark. You can see a gig, learn a new skill and eat delicious comfort food. To celebrate the Galaxy S9 and S9+ and our after dark guide, we're throwing an epic winter party, and we want you to come along. From 6.30pm on Thursday, June 28, we'll be taking over Ferdydurke for an intimate after-dark soiree. A local DJ will provide the soundtrack to the evening, as you indulge in a decadent (and picture-perfect) grazing table from Plentiful Catering and flaming cocktails from the Ferdydurke's bar team. Your winter blues will well and truly be banished. There will be Samsung Galaxy S9's positioned around the venue for you to play around with on the night, so get snap-happy and you'll go in the running to win your very own Samsung Galaxy S9, plus a voucher to one of our featured restaurants (because you'll want to take photos of every future meal with your flashy new tech). Also, photographer Cole Bennetts will be on-hand to provide tips and tricks to capturing those winning low light moments. Regardless of whether you nab the new phone, our party will leave you with the tools to up your Insta-game and with a newfound appreciation for getting out and about in winter. To enter, see details below. [competition]673602[/competition]
There are plenty of ways you could experience Sydney Harbour's world famous New Years Eve fireworks show, but here's one that'll really make all those haters jealous. The Sydney Opera House has teamed up with the crew at Airbnb to offer the ultimate bucket list New Year's Eve situation, involving exclusive VIP front-row seats, dinner by an acclaimed Aussie chef, an intimate concert and a private Opera House balcony. And all that could be yours for an easy $10. This high-flying experience will be enjoyed by just ten lucky people, with the Opera House releasing one double pass each Wednesday at midday for five weeks, starting from tomorrow, November 13. The Opera House x Airbnb New Year's Eve Experience will see those ten winning punters wrapping up 2019 in serious style, partying in their own VIP area overlooking the fireworks extravaganza. Hatted chef Karen Martini will be dropping by to whip up a fitting last supper of 2019, an Opera House expert will guide guests on an educational tour and a surprise act has a special, intimate concert planned. Then, it's off to a private balcony to celebrate the turn of the decade with possibly the best view in Sydney. Each pair of tickets will cost $20, though, as you can imagine, it'll be a challenge to beat out the competition and actually snap one up. But, for 20 bucks, it's worth a shot. Elsewhere, you have to pay a pretty, pretty penny to get a view of the fireworks. For example, the Sydney Opera House's official party costs a bomb ($795 per person), a ticket to Shark Island's festivities is $245 and even a spot on the lawn in the Royal Botanic Garden will set you back $360. To be in it, you'll need to head over to the website, and be ready and raring to go when the NYE experience appears on the page at noon. If you've been conflicted about your NYE plans, this could be an easy solution — and, even if you don't live in Sydney, it's a good reason to make the trip. Double passes to the New Year's Eve Experience will be released at midday on November 13, 20 and 27, and on December 4 and 11. Images: Ken Leanfore. Fireworks image: City of Sydney
We love a midweek dining deal. Whether that's bottomless pierogies, cheap tacos, heavily discounted lobster linguine or all-you-can-eat charcoal chicken. These deals are the perfect reason to get off the couch and into the city to support small businesses without going too heavy on the spending. And Chapel Street's Mr Miyagi is the latest spot to join the fold, slinging its flame-cooked yakitori every Tuesday night for just $5 a pop. Head down to the Windsor restaurant on its all-new Skewsday to sample pork belly skewers with teriyaki glaze, barbecue spice and lime; chicken skewers with garlic soy marinade and lemon ponzu butter; beef skewers with teriyaki glaze, barbecue spice and lime; and eggplant skewers with shio koji soy marinade and lemon ponzu butter. You can either sip and snack after work with these cheap yakitori and a few cocktails or make a feast out of these and a few other larger dishes. Dealer's choice.
UPDATE, November 10, 2020: Bunnings has confirmed that its snags will be cooking again at selected metropolitan Melbourne stores from Saturday, December 5. This article has been updated to reflect that change. It's a tradition well-known to many Australians: wake up on the weekend, make a beeline for your closest Bunnings, down a snag in bread. It's also a tradition that's been around since the 90s, and one we've been missing for eight very, very long months since Bunnings postponed its sausage sizzles back in mid-March because of rising concerns around COVID-19. In good news for Victorians, the weekend ritual is about to make its long-awaited return. First relaunching in some regional Victorian stores from Saturday, November 14, the charity sizzles are set to roll out across selected metropolitan Melbourne venues from Saturday, December 5. In a statement released today, Monday, November 2, Bunnings Chief Operating Officer Deb Poole said, "Victorians have done such an amazing job flattening the curve and we hope bringing back sausage sizzles will be yet another sign we can reclaim a sense of normality while remaining COVID-safe." Each year around 40,000 sausage sizzles are hosted at Bunnings stores, help raising much-needed funds for local charity groups and sporting teams. Community groups that had sizzles pre-booked will be prioritised, with 130 already booked in for the first weekend back. When they do return, there will, of course, be social distancing and hygiene measures in place — measures we're all very used to at this point — including spaced queues, increased cleaning and separate ordering and pick-up points. Bunnings sausage sizzles are set to return to select regional Victorian stores from Saturday, November 14, then to select metropolitan Melbourne stores from Saturday, December 5.
For 22 years, BIGSOUND has highlighted Australia's music industry, getting power players sharing their experience and advice, championing up-and-coming talents, fostering crucial connections, and celebrating live tunes and the folks that make them happen in general. Here's a few other handy numbers for the music conference-slash-festival's upcoming 2023 run: four days, 18 venues, 141 artists and 300-plus showcases. Brisbanites and music obsessives, take note: the Sunshine State capital will be Australia's music haven between Tuesday, September 5–Friday, September 8. Earlier this year, BIGSOUND announced its first speakers, headlined ROC Nation's Omar Grant — who was once the road manager for Destiny's Child and now shares the President role at Jay-Z's entertainment agency. Now, it has dropped the full list of musicians that'll be getting behind a microphone. More than 1300 applications to hit BIGSOUND's stages were received for the 2023 event, but it's the festival team's job to whittle them down to the standouts. Among those making the bill: Brisbane's own Full Flower Moon Band, Zheani, Felivand and Baby Prince; Sydney's Moss and Little Green; Melbourne's PANIA, Moaning Lisa and The Slingers; Perth's DICE and Siobhan Cotchin; and Adelaide's Aleksiah and The Empty Threats. From New Zealand comes Reb Fountain and SWIDT, while Casey Mowry and MF Tomlinson are heading to Queensland from the UK. The list goes on, complete with a significant focus on representation. Among 2023's talents, 27 percent identify as LGBTQIA+, 50 percent are female or gender non-conforming, and First Nations acts comprise 18 percent of the lineup. Indeed, 27 showcases will be devoted to Australia's Indigenous artists, including Miss Kaninna, Loren Ryan, Brady, The Merindas, J-MILLA, CLOE TERARE, Tjaka and Kobie Dee. Fancy checking out the most isolated heavy metal band in the world? That'd be Southeast Desert Metal, and they're also on the roster. As always, the huge music-fuelled shindig will do what it always does: showcase impressive acts, artists and bands while filling as many Brisbane spaces as possible with musos, industry folks and music-loving punters, all enjoying the latest and greatest tunes and talent the country has to offer. Past events have showcased everyone from Gang of Youths, Flume, Thelma Plum, Tash Sultana, Sampa the Great, Courtney Barnett and Cub Sport to San Cisco, Violent Soho, Baker Boy, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Methyl Ethel, Tones and I, Spacey Jane and The Jungle Giants, so BIGSOUND's program is usually a very reliable bellwether. "At its core, BIGSOUND needs to work for artists. It's a global music market and in 2023 we've gone far and wide to attract speakers and buyers from around the world to ensure international relationships are forged and deals are made," said BIGSOUND and QMusic CEO Kris Stewart, announcing 2023's talents. "Our definitive goal is to create a rising tide for everyone. At the end of the week, we want everyone to leave with something — someone new they've met, a deal they've made or new insight to grow their careers. We remain proactive in finding new ways to do this and can't wait for people to discover a whole stack of amazing artists from the showcase lineup." BIGSOUND 2023 ARTIST LINEUP: 1tbsp Ūla aleksiah Alf the Great Anieszka Ashli Aurateque Baby Prince Battlesnake BAYANG (tha Bushranger) Bec Stevens Beckah Amani Behind You bella amor Ben Swissa Boomchild Boox Kid CAMINO GOLD Casey Lowry Charbel Charm of Finches CHISEKO Chitra CLOE TERARE Coldwave Cult Shotta Dean Brady Delivery DENNI DICE Dr Sure's Unusual Practice Dyan Tai ECB Elizabeth Emma Volard FELIVAND FELONY. Foley Freight Train Foxes Friends of Friends Full Flower Moon Band GAUCI Georgia Llewellyn GIMMY Glenn Skuthorpe Band Good Pash Gut Health Hannah Cameron Haters Hevenshe Isaac Puerile Izy Jada Weazel J-MILLA Joan & The Giants Joey Leigh Wagtail Johnny Hunter Jujulipps JUNGAJI Kavi Khi'leb Kid Heron King Ivy Kitschen Boy Kobie Dee Komang Kristal West Kuzco Little Green Logan Lola Scott Loren Ryan MARLON X RULLA Mason Watts Matilda Pearl Mazbou Q Melody Moko MF Tomlinson Micah Heathwood Mikayla Pasterfield Miss June Miss Kaninna Moaning Lisa Moss mostly sleeping Mr Rhodes Nat Vazer Nathan May Nikodimos Oscar the Wild Otiuh PRICIE Platonic Sex POOKIE Porcelain Boy Porpoise Spit PRETTY BLEAK Proteins of Magic Ra Ra Viper RAAVE TAPES Radio Free Alice Radium Dolls REBEL YELL Riiki Reid Ruby Jackson Rum Jungle S.A.B Sachém SAHXL Siobhan Cotchin smol fish Sollyy Sophisticated Dingo Southeast Desert Metal Steph Strings STUMPS Suzi SWIDT Taitu'uga Tamara & the Dreams teddie The Empty Threats The Grogans The Merindas The Omnific The Slingers Thunder Fox Tjaka Too Birds Tori Forsyth Trophie Twine Valtozash Vixens of Fall WHO SHOT SCOTT Yawdoesitall YIRGJHILYA Yorke Zheani Zia Jade BIGSOUND 2023 will take place between Tuesday, September 5–Friday, September 8 in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. For more information, visit bigsound.org.au. Images: Dave Kan / Simone Gorman-Clark.
Among the many trends that have popped up in 2020, major film festivals streaming their programs to the online masses ranks among the better developments. It's a one that, before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, seemed rather unlikely — Australia's major film festivals want cinemagoers to head along in-person, after all, and soak in the silver screen magic in a darkened cinema surrounded by a movie-loving crowd — but with gathering and venue bans and limits in place to tackle the coronavirus, digital film fests swiftly became a reality for Aussie audiences. The Melbourne International Film Festival's 2020 online version, dubbed MIFF 68 1/2, ran from Thursday, August 6–Sunday, August 23 — and, in news that should come as a surprise to no one, it amassed quite the audience. In fact, the virtual event and its 100-plus film program nabbed the beloved Victorian fest its biggest crowd yet. Given this is the festival's whopping 69th year, that's quite an achievement. Before the closing weekend had even kicked off, Australians had streamed MIFF's films more than 205,000 times — reaching an approximate national audience of over 307,500. Around 20 percent of those viewers are estimated to have come from outside of Victoria, too. If you're wondering which flicks everyone was checking out, of the top three movies, two — documentary Looky Looky Here Comes Cooky and comedy Paper Champions — were Aussie-made titles. Also popular, accounting for 69 percent of the event's streams until the last three days of the fest, was MIFF's free lineup. It comprised almost two-fifths of the program and, up until the morning of Friday, August 21, notched up 135,000 streams of individual short films. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgwX2hvgXCI The benefits of an online film festival — or an online component to a major film festival like MIFF — are many. They're also pretty obvious. For people with disability or chronic health conditions, the digital option makes fests far more accessible. The same applies to movie buffs with children, who work shifts, or who simply can't take 18 days, even a few days or just one night off work to watch films. And, as a fifth of this year's viewers demonstrated, folks who live outside of Victoria still want to be involved as well. Of course, that Melbourne was under stage four stay-at-home conditions during MIFF's dates, and still is, would've helped. Also playing a part: the fact that Aussies have become pretty accustomed to staying in and getting their movie fix on the couch this year. MIFF isn't the only Aussie fest taking the online — and national — route in 2020. Among the others, Sydney Film Festival did the same in June, the Revelation Perth International Film Festival held its digital version in July, and the Sydney Underground Film Festival going virtual in September. The Melbourne International Film Festival is set to return in 2021 from Thursday, August 5–Sunday, August 22. Top image: Black Bear.
Add a touch of glamour to your outdoors or music festival experience with a designer tent. Designed by a diverse group of artists, photographers and illustrators, FieldCandy tents feature quirky designs ranging from a wedge of cheese to a drawing of a little old granny. There is a jelly bean tent for the sweet tooth, a galactic-themed tent for the nerd, and many more. Adorable, yes, but these tents aren't just for show--they are all rough-and-tumble ready. Appropriate for those hardcore hikers and campers, and for those of us traveling no farther than our back yard, FieldCandy tents are sure to brighten up your camping experience. Looking for a place to getaway to? Check out Concrete Playground's favourite camping destinations.
For more than a decade, a movie version of Monopoly has been mooted, but hasn't yet reached screens. There's no need to hope for a Jumanji-style big-screen take on the game, however. Instead, from Wednesday, November 15 in Melbourne, you can just head to Monopoly Dreams and enjoy playing your way through Australia's first theme park-esque Monopoly experience. Here, the property-buying family favourite is no longer just a game: it's an immersive 1700-square-metre attraction. Monopoly Dreams is already open in Hong Kong, making the Aussie venue only the second in the world. Initially slated to launch in October, it's now officially ready to welcome in Monopoly lovers. If you're wondering what happens when the game that's caused many a childhood dispute — and plenty more between adults as well — makes the bricks-and-mortar leap on Melbourne Central's lower ground level, that's as understandable as being annoyed about being sent directly to jail. The answer isn't just a life-sized version of the game that everyone has played more than once. Rather, the venue is taking a chance on bringing Monopoly elements beyond the board, building a Monopoly city that includes water works, the electric company, the bank and Mr Monopoly's mansion. Yes, there is indeed a jail. Presumably you don't go directly there upon entering, but you can get your mugshot taken within its walls. When you walk through the doors, you'll also find carnival games. It wouldn't be an attraction based on a board game if playing games wasn't a big part of the setup, of course. Expect challenges as well — and, in the mansion, there'll also be a vault and gallery, alongside a 4D cinema screening a movie about Mr Monopoly and his dog Scottie touring Melbourne locations — plus the opportunity to create your own customised Monopoly title deed. For bites to eat, patrons can hit up the Monopoly cafe. And if all this Monopoly talk has you wanting to play Monopoly or buy Monopoly merchandise, Monopoly Dreams will also feature Australia's first and only dedicated Monopoly store. Catering for audiences of all ages — so, you'll have kids for company, but it's open for adults without children in tow — Monopoly Dreams will take visitors around 60–90 minutes to enjoy the full experience. "The opening of Monopoly Dreams has been highly anticipated by Monopoly fans since the news broke that we'd be making Melbourne our home," said Monopoly Dreams General Manager Mark Connolly. "We are absolutely thrilled to now be opening the doors and welcoming guests into the incredible world of Mr Monopoly." Monopoly Dreams will open on Wednesday, November 15 at Melbourne Central, Lonsdale Street, Melbourne. Head to the venue's website for tickets and further details.
When it comes to job opportunities in the hospitality industry, options aren't limited solely to being behind the bar, on the floor or in the kitchen. There is an entire world of positions within hospitality that many don't realise exists. For example, food festivals don't just come together on their own; and if you've ever been at one of these massive events wondering what goes into the planning — or even picking up on things you would do better — you may just be thinking like an event manager without even realising it. That person behind the curtain is the one looking after every tiny detail to bring all that good food and booze together. In partnership with William Blue at Torrens University, we're asking hospitality graduates who run our favourite events in Sydney to talk about how they got started in the industry. Event management student Rebecca Wheatley is four weeks from graduating with a Bachelor of Business (Event Management), and has already earned a successful position as operations event executive at IMG Culinary. Part of her job includes helping run several of IMG's much-loved culinary events, including Taste of Sydney, Taste of Melbourne and Margret River Gourmet Escape. Just before graduation day, we asked her how she got here and for a few tips on how to be successful in the event management space. And might we add, whether events and the hospitality industry are for you or not, Rebecca gives some pretty steadfast advice no matter what field you're starting in. [caption id="attachment_632242" align="alignnone" width="1620"] Katje Ford.[/caption] GET AN INTERNSHIP "When I first finished school, I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do. I was working a million jobs, travelling a lot, and then I just started doing a few internships. They all happened to be in the event management industry, and at one of my internships, I met a few students from William Blue who highly recommended the program, so I signed up for the next trimester. It's so important to do internships and to get into the work environment. This is the way to start learning what you enjoy and what you're good at. Networking and learning how businesses work is key, and I wouldn't have my job if I didn't do that." RECOGNISE YOUR STRENGTHS "My very first uni subject was to work with a team to make an event. My team ended up doing a charity cocktail party for 130 people. And since it was for charity we had no budget; so figuring out how long to make it all work was very challenging, especially for beginners. I remember looking into ticketing platforms — which often take a percentage — and realising I had to be more creative and find other options. This first project really made me realise how detail oriented I was when looking at events. It's what really led me to the operations side of event management. This showed me the side of the business that I love and am skilled at." [caption id="attachment_632243" align="alignnone" width="1620"] Katje Ford.[/caption] JUMP AT OPPORTUNITIES "During uni, a former student came to one of my professors looking for an operations assistant for Brand Events (now IMG Culinary). My teacher recommended me, and I started off there with a three-month contract role. I kept contracting for IMG Culinary after that and now, at the start of this year, they put me on full-time as operations event executive. It's been such a great experience and a great opportunity to now graduate with a full-time role." EXPECT LONG HOURS AND HARD WORK "It's obviously a big challenge to juggle both uni and work; one that so many students struggle through. But finishing school without any job experience is even tougher, so working during uni was key to my success. Right now, I'm working [with] IMG four days per week and fitting uni in where I can. It's really hectic to do both at once, especially when there are events on. For Taste of Sydney, I had to go bump in at 7am, then run back for classes for a few hours and then head back to the event until midnight or 1am. And right now, I'm working on the program for Margaret River Gourmet Escape and managing all 150 exhibitors, as well as the contractors, schedule, council and all of the logistics. In this industry, you really devote your life to getting the event over the line. It's all you do and all you think about. You're constantly trying to come up with new ideas and ways to make it all work. Then, when the event opens and you see it all come to life, its such a rush and a moment to be really proud of yourself. You need to have that passion to keep going." [caption id="attachment_632241" align="alignnone" width="1620"] Katje Ford.[/caption] STAY DEDICATED "When you're just starting out, it's either long hours, low pay or both, but don't be afraid to work for it and get through it. If you're lucky enough to be in an industry that you love, then it all pays off. Especially when juggling school and work, it's really hard, but remember it's only temporary. Don't be afraid to stick it out. Sometimes it feels impossible to do both, but you'll get through it and be so glad that you did when you have a career at the end of it." William Blue at Torrens University offers courses in Event Management, Hospitality, Culinary Management and Tourism. Find out more about the diverse career options in hospitality, and kick-start your career at the William Blue Open Day on Saturday, August 12 in Sydney or via their website.
The cinephiles behind Yarraville's iconic Sun Theatre have announced their plans to open a second location in nearby Footscray, with the eight-screen complex set to spring to life in 2019 or 2020 as part of a major new retail and residential development. According to Star Weekly, the $70 million development at the former Forbes department store site on Albert Street will include a supermarket, shops, a 120-room retirement facility and more than 200 apartments. But it's the cinema that really has the potential to capture the imagination of the locals. "I think every part of the community will be served," says Sun Theatre co-owner Michael Smith. "In Yarraville we've got subtitled films playing alongside Fast and the Furious. Different audiences like different things. There are the films my mum wants to see and the films my kids want to see." "We're really committed to the inner west of Melbourne," he continues. "Footscray feels a bit like Yarraville did 15 years ago." Smith sees the new theatre very much as a companion to The Sun, one that will allow them to expand their filmic offering. "The really big films, we'll have on at both locations, but a lot of those smaller ones we'll have at one or the other," he says. "As time goes on we might find that one film suits one site more than the other." In terms of the décor, Smith isn't planning on recreating The Sun's art deco look, but promises a space "with its own unique style" that will reflect the surrounding suburb. He also hopes to provide "a really good community area out the front," pointing to the success of the blocked-off street garden out the front of The Sun. "It's been enormously popular," he says. "It's a focal point for the community, not just for people coming to the cinema, but to anyone coming into the village. Those things are important." With a grand opening still a few years away, Smith plans on building hype by hosting a number of outdoor screenings on the rooftop of the building next door. "Two or three screenings each summer for the next couple of years, until the cinema opens," he tells us. "It's pretty cool up there."
When it comes to gastronomic experiences in regional Victoria, Heathcote is hard to top. And at just a 90-minute drive from Melbourne CBD, it's also one of the easiest to reach. Heathcote really comes to life for its annual food, wine and entertainment festival, Heathcote on Show, held across the Queen's Birthday long weekend, Saturday, June 8–Monday, June 10. Across 30 locations, the region's leading winemakers, chefs, brewers and musicians come together to offer locals and out-of-towners alike a vibrant selection of community activities and epicurean festivities. Celebrated as one of Australia's top winemaking destinations, Heathcote has more than 25 wineries and 70 vineyards dotted throughout its picturesque hillsides. During the festival, they'll be giving you the chance to get a behind-the-scenes look at their world-class productions through masterclasses and tastings. On top of that, other creative events in the schedule mix viticulture with barbecue, burlesque or Spanish paella. Below, we've picked out seven experiences that make Heathcote on Show one of the best ways to spend the upcoming long weekend. BEER & BEAST CRAFT BEER DINNER Winter in central Victoria might be a chilly affair, but there's no better way to overcome this than by indulging in the hearty feast called Beer & Beast. It's hosted by boutique family-run winery The Shiraz Republic and its microbrewery Cornella. Acclaimed chef Justin McPhail of Flight Bar in Bendigo will serve hungry attendees an extravagant dinner, where each course is paired with one of Cornella Brewery's beers. Shuttle buses running between the winery and Heathcote or Bendigo will be available for $20. Beer & Beast will take place at 6.30pm on Saturday, June 8, at The Shiraz Republic. Tickets cost $100 and can be purchased here. BURLESQUE DE VINE DINNER AND SHOW Wine appreciation doesn't always have to be so serious. The producers of Burlesque de Vine know this well — their event brings comedy, audience interaction and some of the best burlesque performers on the planet to the grounds of the Silver Spoon Estate. Headlined by Zelia Rose — who was voted the most influential burlesque performer worldwide in a recent poll run by industry mag 21st Century — this lively party is hosted by the ever-popular Poppy Cherry, who will be joined by fellow performers Iva Grande and duo Greene Megs & Ham. And, you get to enjoy a French-inspired three-course meal alongside, all in the surrounds of a 250-acre off-grid winery and cellar door. A shuttle bus service will run between the Heathcote Information Centre and the Silver Spoon Estate, located 15 minutes from Heathcote town. Burlesque de Vine will take place at 6.30pm on Saturday, June 8 and Sunday, June 9 at Silver Spoon Estate. Tickets cost $110 and can be purchased here. WEEKEND OF MASTERCLASSES AT SANGUINE ESTATE The Sanguine Estate has developed some masterful wines since starting production in 1997. For Heathcote on Show, it'll be showing off its knowhow with series of masterclasses. Sanguine Estate winemaker Mark Hunter leads a guided tasting on Saturday, June 8 ($55), where attendees can sample and compare a distinctive selection of back vintages. On Sunday, Goldfields Farmhouse Cheese's Nardia Keene will join Mark for a journey through the pairing of wine and cheese ($49, including four cheeses to take home). Finally, join Nardia once more on Monday for a cheese making class ($145), where you'll produce three types of cheese, then enjoy lunch and wine. All in all, three lessons that will undoubtedly take your next picnic up a notch. Sanguine Estate's masterclasses will take place across Saturday, June 8–Monday, June 10. To make a booking, head over here. [caption id="attachment_721964" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bendigo Tourism[/caption] DAN KELLY, SPANISH WINE LAUNCH & PAELLA PARTY Spain's wine regions are some of the best in Europe, but you won't have to travel that far to see what makes them so special. The Shiraz Republic planted its own Spanish-style tempranillo and grenache grapes in 2018 — and now they're ready to enjoy, with this event marking the official launch of the small batch. To help the winery celebrate, South Melbourne Market's Simply Spanish will be on hand to plate up its deliriously good take on paella. That's not hyperbole — it's twice won best paella outside of Spain at the International Paella Competition. Meanwhile, musician and frequent ARIA nominee Dan Kelly will perform a solo set promising drum machines, sound effects and stories. Sangria on tap completes this rousing launch party. This party will take place from 6.30pm on Sunday, June 9 at The Shiraz Republic. Tickets cost $60 and can be purchased here. TASTINGS FROM PEREGRINE RIDGE AT THE MECHANICS INSTITUTE Situated high on the eastern side of Mount Camel, Peregrine Ridge might appear to be a relatively low-key production, but it has made some spectacular bottles of vino in the past. Founded in 2001, the family business has built a reputation for its shiraz and sparkling shiraz, which have taken home a number of gold trophies over the years. Throughout the festival, Peregrine Ridge will be heading to Mechanics' Institute to host a series of feature tastings and lessons. Head along on Saturday to get a taste of the 2009 Limited Release 'French Oak' Heathcote Shiraz, plus take part in a lesson on the intricacies of how maturation and oxidation differ between screw caps and corks. Then, on Sunday, it's extending the tasting to six vintages from the range, starting at 2005. Across both days, drop in to find out the differences between winemaking with French and American oak — and hear why the brains behind Peregrine Ridge eventually decided to use both. Free tastings will be available at Mechanics' Institute between 10am–5pm across June 8–10. HEATHCOTE TOWN FESTIVAL Head into the serene Barrack Reserve for a true celebration of the long weekend at the Wine Food and Fun town festival on Saturday`. With live music, local cuisine, farmyard animals and artisanal market stalls, this community event is a great way to introduce yourself to the flavours and culture of Heathcote. If you're looking to sample the work of many of the best local winemakers all in one spot, the 'Taste of the Cellar Doors' showcase runs from 10am–1pm and features a variety of wonderful corks being popped. Heathcote Town Festival will run from 10am–3pm on Saturday, June 8. Entry is free. HEATHCOTE WINE HUB There's no better place to taste the local vino than at the Heathcote Wine Hub, the region's year-round tasting centre. Each day there are 24 different wines to sample, so you can compare and contrast a host of quaffable bottles. It'll also be serving up live music every Saturday and Sunday from 12-2pm, and the courtyard is a great spot to rest and enjoy a glass of wine with a pizza or a steaming hot toastie. If things get a little cold, there's an open fireplace with more than enough space for everyone to gather around. Heathcote Wine Hub is open 9am–5.30pm every day. Head to the Heathcote on Show website for full event and program details.
Put down your Kit Kat, for we've discovered a break that's even better than snappable chocolate-covered wafers: smashing stuff. To be more specific, we mean smashing stuff with a baseball bat — and it's a legitimate, all above-board activity at new Collingwood venue The Break Room. Currently housed in the Collingwood Mastercraft warehouse after an initial pop-up at Brunswick's Kines, an appointment at The Break Room is a five-minute, sweaty task that puts you behind thick, plastic walls, wields you with a pink baseball bat and some protective headgear and lets you go to town on some very satisfyingly smashable items. For the moment, they're using plates and glasses as collateral. But if anyone can produce it, our 'ultimate smashable' would be a ceramic Matryoshka filled with glitter. The Break Room was born in a moment of frustration (and through the efficacy of podcasts) by founder Ed Hunter, after he realised that everybody wants to blow off steam in their own way. And while some might prefer to hit the gym, Hunter is inviting you to hit some crockery off a stool instead. Speaking of the stools, notches of pink residue from the so-coloured bats have been passionately left on them; reminders that other members of the baseball bat cathartic club (do I hear badges?) have bashed their way to sanity before you. For anyone studying their swatch patterns, the pink is Baker-Miller, and has been used in correctional facilities across America to help calm violent inmates. Yet Hunter heeds that The Break Room's goal isn't violence, but rather to reduce stress and harness those destructive tendencies in a controlled and fun way. At $50 to smash your way to calmness for five minutes, this emotional outlet may seem a bit on the spenny side, but the beauty is in the fact that you're not breaking your own stuff — and some other guy will be picking up the pieces after you. These pieces are, in fact, added to the pile that hides further out back, where both shattered crockery and snapped pink swords from liberated brethren lay, which is a good indicator that the allocated time is probably ample. So wait until the shutters go down, don your best Joaquin Phoenix impersonation and swing away at those inner aliens of yours by taking your aggression out in some organised chaos.
Valentine's Day is just around the corner and we at Concrete Playground can think of no better way to celebrate the painful plethora of schmaltz to come than with a hilarious collection of love declarations gone awry, thanks to the miracle of autocorrect. Damn You Autocorrect, the collector of texting fails, have compiled ten of their favourite Valentine's Day autocorrect blunders, proving that despite the efficiency it provides the modern lover, texting away your affection is not necessarily the best way to keep your relationship afloat. Via Mashable Image byCalypsoCrystal.
A few months ago, Federation Square's Skyline Terrace was a winter wonderland filled with pop-up igloos and an ice-skating rink. But come January 3, the openair space above Flinders Street Station's eastern railway tracks will be whacking on the sunscreen and shades, and transforming into a warm-weather paradise for the debut of Summertime Social. Sticking around until early April 2020, the huge al fresco summer playground will take over the rooftop space with whole swag of sun-soaked fun. For those after a break from their own backyard, Summertime Social's grassy communal lawn is the place to be. It'll host a stack of free lawn games, including giant Jenga, though it's also your go-to for picnics and sunny chill sessions, as you make the most of the pop-up's food and drink offering. On Sundays, punters can duke it out for prizes and glory at the lawn's weekly giant games battle, while Fridays and Saturdays promise a lineup of sunset DJs spinning from 5–10pm. More games, from bocce to shuffleboard, will be going down in the games lane. These ones you'll need to book when you're there and are $10 for a 20-minute session. For a more private summer do, nab your crew one of the comfy huts or converted caravans. The huts can be booked for up to 20 people, while the boho-style caravans have space for 10, customised with your choice of picnic eats, boozy ice cream, beer-filled eskies and board games. Pop-up bars throughout Summertime Social will be serving up tap cocktails, booze-infused slushies (including mango daiquiris and margaritas), beer, wine, spirits and even stocked mini-eskies. Meanwhile, a weekday happy hour means $6 Furphy, cocktails, rosé and prosecco from 4–6pm. As for the food, you'll be able to settle in with woodfired pizzas; Dirty Birdie's fried chicken, salad bowls and burgers; and boozy frozen treats from a pop-up ice cream cart. If you fancy making a day of it, a range of picnic baskets are also up for grabs, including the two-person Classic Basket, loaded with cheeses, party pies, chicken tenders and potato salad. On Saturdays, you can enjoy Summertime Social's bottomless brunch, offering 90 minutes of free-flowing beer, prosecco, mimosas and tap cocktails and your choice of brunch dish for $49. To eat, you can choose from a PBJ ice cream sanga, a BLT, a veggie burger or calzone. Find Summertime Social at Federation Square's Skyline Terrace. It's open from 11am–10pm Monday–Sunday.
Rarely seen and utterly breathtaking, the ambitious contemporary ballet Kunstkamer is arriving in Melbourne for a two-week run of performances by The Australian Ballet. Created by pioneering Dutch dance company Nederlands Dan Theater (NDT), the ballet had never been performed by another theatre company until the Australian premiere at the Sydney Opera House on Friday, April 29. Now it's Melbourne's turn. The work of NDT House Choreographers Sol León and Paul Lightfoot, and Associate Choreographers Marco Goecke and Crystal Pite, Kunstkamer is an eclectic, hugely entertaining and boundary-pushing two-part ballet that draws its inspiration from the 1734 book The Cabinet of Natural Curiosities by Dutch pharmacist, zoologist and collector Albertus Seba. The Australian Ballet Artistic Director David Hallberg calls this ballet "truly an immersive experience" and has even come out of retirement to perform as part of the run of shows including the Melbourne premiere. "Sol León, who's one of the four choreographers, asked me to come on board in this role," Hallberg told Concrete Playground. "It took a little enticing because obviously I have said goodbye to the stage and I wasn't looking for opportunities to return to the stage, but I found that in this role, in this experience, in this opportunity with the dancers, in this work, it was the right time." Hallberg is not the only special guest dancer to be taking part in The Australian Ballet's Kunstkamer. The ensemble has also been joined by NDT member Jorge Nozal, who is reprising his role from the 2019 world premiere season in the Netherlands for the full run of shows down under. "Jorge is the first guest artist of my directorship, and I am really excited that it will be someone unexpected for the audience and enriching for the company," explains Hallberg. "Jorge is admired by our dancers and artistic team and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to introduce him to our audience, alongside the dancers of The Australian Ballet, in the role that was created for him by Sol León." You can catch the performance at Arts Centre Melbourne from Friday, June 3 and Saturday, June 11. [caption id="attachment_852138" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Prudence Upton[/caption] Top image: Daniel Boud
Grammy-nominated New York duo Sofi Tukker have announced they'll be bringing their genre-blurring tunes to Aussie shores, set to take the stage in Sydney and Melbourne next month. Since releasing their debut EP, Soft Animals, early last year, Sophie Hawley-Weld and Tucker Halpern have garnered fans worldwide, snapping up chart spots in more than 20 countries and landing festivals across Europe and North America. The pair's dance-worthy beats draw inspiration from all corners of the globe, resulting in a layering of sound unlike any you've heard before. And the Sofi Tukker live show promises to be every bit as spectacular, starring the duo's own unique instrument, called 'The Book Tree'. Expect a six-foot-tall 'creature', decked out in foliage and hardcover books, each tome engineered to create a different sound when drummed, to compliment that blissful melange of guitar, bass, and bongos. Sofi Tukker plays at Sydney's Oxford Art Factory on February 17 and Melbourne's Howler on February 18. Tickets are available from Moshtix from January 12.
Are you feeling lost amongst the floral dresses and carnival fascinators of Melbourne Spring Fashion Week? Are you a little more Sporty Spice than Posh or Baby? Allow us to introduce you to the world of sports luxe — a recently forged mid-ground that deems it acceptable to wear a hoodie and sneakers while out on the town. If you listen closely, you can women all over the city sighing with relief and pumping their fists. To bring this effortless style to the masses, Nike have set up a cafe, studio and store at 325 Collins Street as part of MSFW. Featuring apparel from their eponymous 2013 collection, the Nike Tech Pack Studio will be a hub of activity for the next two weeks. And better yet: it's all free. Leading local stylists will be on hand to offer intimate style sessions most days, and there will also be a panel-style workshop that bring together thinkers and creators from the realms of sport, design, fashion and music. If you're more interested in the practical elements of the outfits, feel free to join in on the urban run club or free training session. Book your place here before spots run out (pun absolutely intended). The Nike Tech Pack Studio is located at 325 Collins Street from September 1-14. It will be open from 8am-6pm weekdays and 10am-4pm on weekends.
Australia and Germany aren't so different, you know. We both have a rich history of meat-eating — we take our sausages very seriously — and we wear our beer bellies with a possibly misplaced sense of pride. While we usually just celebrate both these pastimes with a piss up on Australia Day, the Germans make a whole festival out of it. Jealous? Us too. That's why Munich Brauhaus has everything you need to bring the celebrations down under. The 900-seater, authentically styled German beerhall, just a short walk from the CBD, has an enormous list of beers on tap, enough schnapps to get your Bavarian grandmother excited, and most things on the menu are in some way related to seasoned pork. Here are a few of the events they have in store for you this Oktoberfest. Get into tradition with a keg tapping First off, despite what the name may suggest, Oktoberfest officially starts in September. Get kitted out in proper lederhosen from September 19 and embrace the full experience of a Bavarian beerhall at Munich Brauhaus. Here, you can spill half your drink while participating in a bier stein carrying competition, and get it filled up again with the traditional tapping of the keg. The venue is also playing host to an array of German games. Our favourite is hammerschlagen (nail hammering) — because what could be better than copious amounts of beer and untrained people swinging hand tools? September 19 Don't even think about not drinking beer Usually we're up for a full taste test of everything on the menu, but Oktoberfest is all about the beer. Don't be the person who orders a chardonnay or a single malt scotch. Your drink is going to look strange and miniature next to the 1L steins everyone else is swaying above their heads. But, if you really have no idea what to order — especially when everything on tap is invariably spelled with an umlaut — try a traditional bier flight. You can taste a little bit of all the rare German offerings and look like a real connoisseur of the craft to all the diehard bierheads out there. Bier flights throughout Oktoberfest. Go Pro in The Oktoberfest Hunt Not only are lederhosen good at keeping your pants up and fun to obnoxiously pull at, in this case they could also win you a prize! This year, Oktoberfest venues across the country are on The Hunt for the Prince and Princess of Oktoberfest. Deck yourself out in festival garb, head down to the Brauhaus and get set to compete in basic Bavarian trivia, some traditional games, stein drinking competitions and more. For your trouble, you could be looking at $5,000 worth of prize money when the national finals are held here on October 12. Do you have any idea how many hot pretzels you can buy with that kind of money? Melbourne finals September 28, national finals October 12. Pace yourself for the Oktoberfest Long Weekend Though traditional festivities kick off in late September, be mindful not to drink yourself into a Deutsch stuper too early on; the real party hits from October 3-6. Jägermeister are teaming up with the Munich Brauhaus to start the party on Friday, and thing are bound to step up a notch. See the season off in style, while singing with an elderly oom-pah band, downing a couple of schnapps of Jäger, and swaying your free stein of freshly tapped weissbier above your head. If at all possible, please drink responsibly/stay alive. October 3-6 For more Oktoberfest shenanigans, see the Munich Brauhaus website.
Despite the fact Ichi Ni's St Kilda site closed down last month, the group's Fitzroy restaurant is ramping up to celebrate its 15th birthday on Friday, March 15, with a huge dinner party in partnership with Nikka Whisky. Ichi Ni Nana Izakaya is creating five courses of both traditional and contemporary Japanese dishes that will each be paired with one of Nikka's fine whiskies. Tickets are going for $150 per person and include an Old Fashioned and appetiser on arrival, plus five courses of food and five tasting drams of whisky to accompany each. That ain't a bad price for all of that. As for the menu, you'll start off with Ichi's classic tuna tataki before the sushi masters whip up a course that consists of freshly made nigiri, maki rolls and sashimi. Bigger bites come in the form of the team's slow-cooked pork belly with miso yakiniku sauce, sliced pear and king mushroom chips, and chargrilled lamb cutlets served with broccolini and goma mayo. Ichi's matcha tiramisu is the big finish that'll be paired with a coffey malt whisky. Once the feast is finished, guests are invited to stick around and order more drinks off the a la carte menu to keep the party going. Either stick to the whisky or opt for some Japanese beers, cocktails and bottles of sake.
After launching with an immersive, multi-sensory exploration of the works of Van Gogh, The Lume is now displaying its also-impressive second exhibition Monet & Friends Alive at the digital gallery's permanent home at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC). Taking visitors back in time to 19th-century Paris, it celebrates the paintings of impressionist icons from Monet to Renoir, and Cézanne to Manet. As with its predecessor, the exhibition presents its artworks via supersized projections splashed across its sprawling surfaces, and paired with a curation of tastes, aromas and sounds. Here, that means you'll be able to wander over a bridge and right into a recreation of Monet's famed 1899 work, Bridge Over a Pond of Water Lilies. Other interactive experiences include a studio space where visitors can have a go at creating their own replicas of Monet's best-known paintings. Further tapping into the French bohemian spirit is The Lume's own take on a 19th-century Parisian cafe, Cafe Lumiere, which will serves up a menu of small bites, share plates and desserts to enjoy after your artistic adventures.
Crossing acclaimed restaurants off your dining bucket list is a little easier when they're within touching distance of the city. But one that some have yet to check off is Wickens at Royal Mail Hotel — a lauded two-hatted restaurant situated in Dunkeld at the foothills of the Grampians National Park. However, scratch any plans you had to head west, as the Royal Mail Hotel is coming to town to host a special winter dining series at the Rippon Lea Estate. Transforming its grand ballroom into an intimate fine-dining destination across four July and two August dates, Executive Chef Robin Wickens is bringing all his garden-to-plate ideas to the table for this three-hour experience. Featuring produce harvested directly from the Royal Mail Hotel's abundant organic kitchen garden, each multi-course menu will honour the richness of the Grampians' winter cuisine. Think slow-grown root vegetables, fragrant brassicas, cool-climate citrus and bitter herbs. Prepared with a minimalist approach, Wickens and his team let the ingredients speak for themselves. Not to be overlooked — it's one of Victoria's finest estates after all — guests will also receive a Rippon Lea-inspired cocktail or mocktail on arrival, with curated beverage pairings available. "This is about bringing the essence of what makes Royal Mail Hotel special — our connection to place, season and exceptional produce — to Melbourne diners who might never make the journey to Dunkeld," says Wickens. Images: Emily Weaving / Kristoffer Paulsen.
Now and then you see a piece of theatre which is so powerful it's like taking a bullet. Grounded is like taking two — one to the head and one to the heart. A haunting depiction of modern warfare, Grounded follows a character known simply as The Pilot, a woman working for the American airforce, flying combat missions over Iraq. She is taken off active duty after becoming pregnant but that’s only the beginning. When she returns to work, she finds herself posted to a different kind of job altogether: piloting drones, remotely, from a base in America. By day she controls killing machines in the skies of the Middle East, then she commutes home to her husband and daughter. This work was written by American playwright George Brant and has rocketed him to fame. Previously, Brant’s work had been played mostly in regional America but Grounded has had an explosion of interest both in his home country and abroad, notching up some serious accolades, including being listed on The Guardian’s top 10 plays of 2013. In this, the show’s Australian premiere, you can see why. In addition to being a well-researched piece on a compelling and uniquely modern issue, it uses the scenario of robotised warfare to make broader statements about contemporary life, work and relationships. You don’t need to be working with drones to empathise with Brant’s view on modern alienation. Kate Cole as The Pilot is magnificent. Both indomitable and vulnerable, passionate and disaffected, bursting with bravado and simmering with repressed sensitivities, her performance presents a complex and highly believable weave of contradictions. It’s only her on stage for 80 minutes and she owns the audience the entire time. Red Stitch has pulled no punches in staging the show either. The lighting is like a visual art piece in its own right, Matthew Adey’s design is starkly effective. A soundtrack by Elizabeth Drake, who scored films such as Japanese Story, works on your subconscious in subtle ways, heightening both the emotion and the growing sense of disconnection. Perhaps the most striking aspect of the play is that the central emotional relationship is not really between people but between the Pilot and the sky. Her love for the open air is palpable and from the moment she is taken off active duty you feel the pain of her separation from it keenly. However much she achieves in life and work, that sense of loss won’t leave her. Progress overshadowed by the sense of loss: if any sensation epitomises modern life it is that. Unsettling and heartbreaking, yet uplifting and amusing in all the right places too, Grounded is an absolute tour de force. Photo credit: Jodie Hutchinson.
In September 2024, East Melbourne welcomed Australia's first Lanson Place outpost. The group behind this hotel already boasts eight lavish properties throughout Asia, and this Melbourne site lives up to all the luxurious hype. It's housed within and above the heritage-protected 1901 Salvation Army Printing Works by Parliament Gardens, which was totally transformed through a $80 million renovation. The historic facade remains, but the interior has been gutted and replaced with luxe contemporary finishes. The team has also included 325 commissioned pieces of art and sculpture that are said to be inspired by the building's storied past as a printing press. This includes the lobby's 40-metre-long ceiling installation which mimics both falling paper and the bark from a native melaleuca paperbark tree. As you move through the rest of the hotel, you'll find a 20-metre swimming pool, fitness centre, coworking space, and a ground-floor all-day diner and bar that champions Aussie produce. Chronicle 502 Bar & Dining serves up classic Euro-inspired fare — using top-tier local produce — but the menu does feel a little lacking. You will be spending quite a bit here to get some very simple eats. But that seems to be the point — it is inoffensive food that pleases everyone and focuses on catering for hotel guests. If you're staying here and want really superb food, we recommend heading to some of Melbourne CBD's best restaurants. But if you are leaning into the staycation vibes and don't want to leave the hotel — dinner or lunch here will surely hit the spot. If you book a room with views across Parliament Gardens and the city skyline, we suggest you have this food in your room. The floor-to-ceiling windows let you see the city in all its glory, from the MCG and St Patrick's Cathedral to Parliament House and The Princess Theatre. All up, there are 137 accommodations available, including classic hotel rooms, studio apartments, one- and two-bedroom apartments, and a couple of totally luxe penthouses. You've got all the usual five-star amenities here, plus an extensive pillow menu for those fussy sleepers. Anyone would be very comfortable staying at Lanson Place, which has a prime location right by the CBD.
In Contagion, the most prophetic film of the 21st century so far, filmmaker Steven Soderbergh didn't just chart the outbreak of a deadly pandemic or introduce everyone to the term 'social distancing'. His eerily accurate thriller also delved into the quest to find a vaccine, too, so that life could go back to normal. And, that's the reality the world has faced since COVID-19 first emerged — with pharmaceutical companies and medical researchers around the globe working furiously to come up with a solution. Several vaccines have not only been created over the past year — much faster than the usual timeline — but have started being used in countries around the world. The latter is happening in places such as the UK and the US, where coronavirus case numbers have remained at enormous levels. In Australia, where the situation thankfully hasn't reached the same scale, the federal government has decided on a different approach. And today, Wednesday, January 6, Minister for Health Greg Hunt, revealed that doses should start being rolled out locally in early March. The Minister discussed the current plan in an interview with radio station 2GB, including revealing the change to the schedule — noting that originally the government was going to start administering the vaccine in the second quarter of 2021, then moved that up to late March 2021, and has now jumped forward to the beginning of that month. In recent weeks, as case numbers have been rising in Sydney and Melbourne, the original timeline received criticism. Vaccines need to be evaluated and approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration before they can be rolled out, with that process currently underway for multiple different vaccines — including from Pfizer-BioNTech and University of Oxford-AstraZeneca. Hunt also confirmed that the first round of vaccinations will cover frontline workers — particularly those working at hotel quarantine sites and international border checkpoints — as well as health workers and residential aged care facility residents. "That's the first round, and then we'll work through it in terms of age and other priorities — which are currently being finalised by the medical expert panel, but progressively working down in age and where there are other vulnerabilities in terms of disability or certain Indigenous age groups and others, then they'll all be identified," he said. As Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced in mid-2020, vaccines will be provided to every Aussie for free when they are rolled out. Australia currently has agreements to receive ten million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which will be manufactured overseas, and 53.8 million doses of the University of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, with production of the latter already starting locally. Both require two doses per person to be effective. Obviously, it's expected that the government will provide further details about how everyone will get vaccinated — and specific dates for the start of vaccinations — before the beginning of March. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Australia, visit the Australian Government Department of Health website.
