Some pop star dreams just aren't meant to be, and The Idol's are now among them. Whether you watched some of it, the whole thing or simply read about it (because no one could avoid the latter), the HBO series has been one of the most talked-about shows of 2023 — when it started dropping sneak peeks from July 2022, too, but especially once it hit streaming in June this year. All that chatter hasn't inspired the US network to bring it back for a second season, however, and unsurprisingly. As per Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, the show has been cancelled after its first season — which ran for five episodes, and focused on singer Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp, Voyagers) and nightclub impresario Tedros (Abel Tesfaye, aka The Weeknd). "The Idol was one of HBO's most provocative original programs, and we're pleased by the strong audience response," said a HBO representative in a statement. "After much thought and consideration, HBO, as well as the creators and producers, have decided not to move forward with a second season. We're grateful to the creators, cast and crew for their incredible work." Set within the music industry, The Idol followed Jocelyn as she attempted to make a comeback, got caught up in controversy and met Tedros. It bears more than a passing resemblance to UK series I Hate Suzie, but with its own stacked cast — and with Sam Levinson, the mastermind behind Euphoria, creating it alongside The Weeknd. The Idol's packed list of on-screen talent also spanned Red Rocket's Suzanna Son, Boy Erased's Troye Sivan, Schitt's Creek's Dan Levy, singer-songwriter Moses Sumney, BLACKPINK's Jennie Kim, Only Murders in the Building's Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Hacks' Jane Adams, Bodies Bodies Bodies' Rachel Sennott and Inglourious Basterds' Eli Roth. Also appearing: Hank Azaria (Hello Tomorrow!), Hari Nef (Barbie), Steve Zissis (Happy Death Day 2U), Melanie Liburd (This Is Us), Tunde Adebimpe (Marriage Story), Elizabeth Berkley Lauren (Saved By the Bell) and Nico Hiraga (Booksmart), plus Anne Heche (All Rise) in what was one of her last performances. Controversy surrounded the show not just once it was releasing episodes, but beforehand. Prior to arriving on streaming — before it premiered at 2023's Cannes Film Festival, too — the Los Angeles-set series started with She Dies Tomorrow's Amy Seimetz directing every single episode. But back in April 2022, it was revealed that Seimetz had left the project and reshoots were underway as a result. Reports also surfaced about the working environment — and, neither the viewer nor the critical response was anywhere near glowing, making The Idol's cancellation far always likely. Check out the trailer for The Idol below: The Idol season one streams via Binge in Australia and Neon in New Zealand. Via Variety / The Hollywood Reporter. Images: Eddy Chen/HBO.
When you woke up this morning, Thursday, February 18, your Facebook news feed probably looked a little different. Instead of news about the pandemic, restaurant openings, events and all the usual things you're used to seeing as you scroll, it was filled with memes, photos from distant family members and groups you don't even remember joining. So, what on earth is going on? Well, there's been a bit of standoff between the Australian Government and Facebook and Google, because of the Federal Government's controversial media-bargaining code, which passed through the House of Representatives on Wednesday night. In response, Facebook has banned Australian users and publishers from viewing or sharing any "news articles" on its platform. And it hasn't just banned news. Everyone from embattled Sydney art institution Carriageworks to state government-run Queensland Health, which posts daily COVID-19 updates and streams press conferences, and Melbourne Food and Wine Festival have been kicked off the social media platform. And we have, too. That means, to keep up to date with all the exciting things going on in your city, you need to track us down in other spots. Like, right here on our website, over on our Instagram pages (@concreteplayground, @concreteplaygroundmelbourne and @concreteplaygroundbrisbane), or on Twitter (@concreteplay) and by signing up to one of our newsletters. If you're in Sydney, you can sign up here: Melburnians, get your fix here: And Brisbanites, discover all the best things to do right here. You can also bookmark some of your favourite content of ours. Like the best waterfalls to swim under around Sydney, the best things to do on the weekend in Brisbane and Melbourne's best boozy bottomless brunches. Just because Facebook is boring RN, doesn't mean you have to be. Top image: Kitti Gould
Five decades after it was first released, Lou Reed's 'Perfect Day' is still a perfect song. It rarely bodes well when it pops up in movies, TV shows or trailers for either, though. Take the just-dropped first sneak peek at Westworld's fourth season, for instance — where the words "you're going to reap just what you sow" feel especially eerie. Since it first hit HBO back in 2016 — and channels/streaming services such as Foxtel, Binge and Neon Down Under that bring the US network's series our way, too — Westworld has been unnerving from the get-go. It's all there in the concept, which first unfurled on-screen back in 1973 thanks to the Michael Crichton-directed movie of the same name. Here, in the eponymous android amusement park, humans pay to live out their fantasies while surrounded by supremely realistic-looking androids. What could go wrong? Everything, obviously. Across its second season in 2018 and third batch of episodes in 2020, the TV version of Westworld has built upon this premise, twisting in wild, strange, violent and surreal directions. Naturally, with season four set to start arriving from Monday, June 27, that's only going to continue. The first teaser trailer isn't big on plot, but it does set a huge mood — or reinforce the tone that Westworld fans already know and love, to be more precise. While narrative details are scarce, the show is bound to keep wading through the fallout that's been shaping its story from day one, after some of the robot theme park's electronic hosts started to break their programming, make their own decisions and question their creators. What it lacks in plot specifics, Westworld's first look at season four makes up for in atmosphere and recognisable faces, including Evan Rachel Wood (Kajillionaire), Thandiwe Newton (All the Old Knives), Ed Harris (The Lost Daughter), Jeffrey Wright (The Batman), Tessa Thompson (Passing), Luke Hemsworth (Young Rock), Aaron Paul (Truth Be Told) and Angela Sarafyan (Reminiscence). Joining them as a newcomer this season: newly minted West Side Story Oscar-winner Ariana DeBose. If you feel like you've been hanging out for new Westworld for years, that's because the show always seems to bring its android dramas back in two-year intervals. Still, it's worth remembering that the first season of the show arrived 43 years after the Michael Crichton-directed movie that it's based on, and 40 years after the film's sequel Futureworld. If you haven't done so already, both are worth viewing while you're waiting for the TV series to return. Check out the teaser trailer for Westworld's fourth season below: Westworld's fourth season will start streaming via Binge in Australia from Monday, June 27 — and via Neon in New Zealand.
Hear it on the grapevine in the Victoria this November. For one day only, Mickleham's Grapevine Estate is pairing some great drops with a music lineup that'll make your head spin. Irish indie rock band Two Door Cinema Club and Aussie electro duo Flight Facilities are two of the big acts tapped for Grapevine Gathering 2019, the latest shindig from the team behind Hot Dub Wine Machine. They'll be joined on the winery stage by Crooked Colours, Mallrat, Jack River, Touch Sensitive, Late Night Tuff Guy, Kira Puru, Lovebirds and Big Words. It's going to be a big day of tunes, folks. In addition to the tunes, punters will have access to an array of first-rate food options, including gourmet burgers, woodfired pizzas and slow-cooked smoked treats. And that's to say nothing of the drinks list, which will feature craft beers, cocktails and summery beverages. Oh, and a heap of wines, of course. The gates open at midday, and to help make commuting to-and-from Mickleham a little easier, the festival has organised return buses from Federation Square, Ringwood, Frankston and Geelong. You'll just need to add a (slightly pricey) bus pass to your ticket. Pre-sale tickets drop at 6pm on Tuesday, June 11 (you can sign-up for those here) with general tickets going on sale at midday on Wednesday, June 12.
Playing ice hockey isn't a regular part of growing up Down Under, but watching a ragtag team of underdogs try their best on the ice has been a childhood staple since the 90s. The reason: the Mighty Ducks franchise. The three Emilio Estevez and Joshua Jackson-starring films hit screens between 1992–6, and have remained nostalgic favourites ever since. The trio of movies also spanned an animated show back in 1996; however, that's not the franchise's only leap into television. Because everything old is new again — including making that observation, because it just keeps proving relevant — Disney+ is bringing Mighty Ducks back courtesy of new series The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers. If Karate Kid can live on via the small screen, then so can this other beloved sports-focused saga, it seems. And like Cobra Kai, Game Changers is bringing back a familiar face when it debuts its ten-episode first season on Friday, March 26. That'd be Estevez, who reprises his role as Coach Gordon Bombay. Sadly, Jackson isn't involved this time around — but Gilmore Girls star Lauren Graham will feature as the mother of a hockey-loving boy who helps him create his own team. Aimed at all ages — so at kids just discovering Mighty Ducks for the first time, and adults with fond memories — the show looks set to follow the underdog formula established in the films, as both its first teaser trailer and its just-dropped full trailer illustrates. The series is set in Minnesota, where the Mighty Ducks are now a big deal, 12-year-old Evan Morrow (Brady Noon) gets cut from the team, and he and his mom (Graham) bring together their own crew in response — with the help of Bombay, of course. Check out the full trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZTouNvgPCM&feature=youtu.be The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers starts airing on Disney+ from Friday, March 26. Top image: Disney+.
Playing ice hockey isn't a regular part of growing up Down Under, but watching a ragtag team of underdogs try their best on the ice has been a childhood staple since the 90s. The reason: the Mighty Ducks franchise. The three Emilio Estevez and Joshua Jackson-starring films hit screens between 1992–6, and have remained nostalgic favourites ever since. The trio of movies also spanned an animated show back in 1996; however, that's not the franchise's only leap into television. Because everything old is new again — including making that observation, because it just keeps proving relevant — Disney+ is bringing Mighty Ducks back courtesy of new series The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers. If Karate Kid can live on via the small screen, then so can this other beloved sports-focused saga, it seems. And like Cobra Kai, Game Changers is bringing back a familiar face when it debuts its ten-episode first season on Friday, March 26. That'd be Estevez, who reprises his role as Coach Gordon Bombay. Sadly, Jackson isn't involved this time around — but Gilmore Girls star Lauren Graham will feature as the mother of a hockey-loving boy who helps him create his own team. Aimed at all ages — so at kids just discovering Mighty Ducks for the first time, and adults with fond memories — the show looks set to follow the underdog formula established in the films, as the first teaser trailer illustrates. It's set in Minnesota, where the Mighty Ducks are now a big deal, 12-year-old Evan Morrow (Brady Noon) gets cut from the team, and he and his mom (Graham) bring together their own crew in response — with the help of Bombay, of course. Check out the teaser trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zryz5mHXtw&feature=youtu.be The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers starts airing on Disney+ from Friday, March 26. Top image: Disney+.
There's nothing quite like scoring some validation that your favourite local spots are also certified gems that the rest of the world is loving too. And that's exactly the kind of street cred that fans of Flinders Lane restaurant Supernormal can now lay a little extra claim to, after the venue received the coveted 2022 Hospitality Award in the annual Melbourne Awards. At a ceremony held on Saturday, November 12, Andrew McConnell's famed Japanese-inspired eatery took out top honours in the hospitality portion of the City of Melbourne-run awards, as they returned to celebrate their 20th edition. A pop-up turned perennial favourite, Supernormal first opened the doors to its current Flinders Lane digs in early 2014 and has been earning fans ever since for its crafty fusion fare — including the famous signature lobster roll. Other finalists for this year's Hospitality Award included Southbank event space Metropolis Events, and the Arbory Afloat crew's new multi-storey CBD haunt HER. [caption id="attachment_776985" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption] "We're thrilled to recognise this year's winners, who have worked hard to create positive change, inclusive communities and make Melbourne a better place to call home," Lord Mayor Sally Capp said of all the venues, organisations and people honoured as 2022 finalists. The awards celebrate the significant contributions of Melburnians across a variety of industries each year. Other 2022 winners included Antoinette Braybrook — named Melburnian of the Year for her long service to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and the first Aboriginal woman in history to win the award — and PHOTO 2022 International Festival of Photography, which scored the Arts and Events Award. Last year's Hospitality Award went to Alejandro Saravia's Gippsland-focused restaurant Farmer's Daughters, earning the title for its commitment to local sourcing and sustainability. [caption id="attachment_730326" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption] For more information about the Melbourne Awards and this year's winners, head to the City of Melbourne website. You'll find Supernormal at 180 Flinders Lane, Melbourne. Top Image: Nikki To
UPDATE: APRIL 3, 2020 — The Chapel Street spot has launched Gnocchi on the Blocky: a drive-thru and delivery service for its gnocchi, of course, and selected menu items. From 4–9pm Tuesday–Saturday, you can get lamb ragu gnocchi ($25), pretzels with smoked cheddar ($8), peanut butter brownies ($16) and cocktails ($22) delivered to your door. Order via the website. The airy space at the end of Chapel Street — formerly home to a health food cafe — has crossed over to the dark side. Its once light and bright fit-out has been replaced by a dark and ambient decor combining recycled timbers, giant drapes of fabric hanging from the ceilings and a melange of antiques mounted on the walls. What was once Uncommon is now a restaurant and cocktail bar called Lover. The food at this Windsor restaurant bar doesn't have a specific cultural identity, but rather draws influences from around the globe. But it does have an overarching theme: nostalgia. The restaurant best evokes this through its food. Old classics you may have eaten as a child come out to play in modern forms. And this is done successfully by head chef Paul Turner — who hails from Cutler & Co. Let's start with the hot hot pork crackers ($8), a rendition of prawn crackers that use pork flavours instead of traditional prawn. They are paired with a herb cream and saltbush and make for a perfectly satisfying starter — meeting diners with a crackle initially then softly disintegrating seconds after. The prawn toast ($7) may take you back to the days of family yum cha, only at Lover it's paired with chorizo, echoing the Spanish pairing of seafood and sausage. If you eat cured meat and you're only going to get one starter, let it be the pretzel ($8). It may sound ridiculous that we're recommending you order a pretzel at a restaurant, we know. But it's a freshly baked pretzel stuffed with wagyu, pickles, cheddar and mustard — so, it's is a must. To break things up, there is also a series of salads and vegetable dishes on offer. Take it easy with a cos lettuce salad with fresh herbs and ranch dressing ($8) or live on the wilder side by ordering a grilled pumpkin dish topped with curried pepitas, burnt butter miso, and pear ($16). One dish that is a touch lacklustre is the kingfish crudo ($18). Though artistically presented, its cucumber, yuzu and charred avocado counterparts are not enough to make for a memorable dish. On the other end of the spectrum, there is the gnocchi ($26) — which is absurdly generous in flavour. Simply paired with three main ingredients, zucchini, basil and cheese, the pan-fried nubs of potato are a delight to delve into. If you head in on a Wednesday, you'll be able to sample a generous bowl of gnocchi (which changes weekly) and a glass of wine for a neat $25. When it comes to drinks, cocktails are the word at Lover — all prettily picturesque and met with generous flavour. Visitors will find a blueberry and sage sour made with infused gin ($18), as well as a coconut and elderflower margarita ($18). Lover also sports a collection of white, red and sparkling wines from across the globe to match its diverse food offerings, too.
We're not sure whether Kings Domain's late trading hours are because it's so popular or vice versa. But we appreciate it either way. Where many other businesses close up shop when the sun goes down — or may just have one late-night trading — this Toorak Road joint stays open until 8pm on weekdays to give you a better chance of snagging an after-work spot and leaving your weekend free for fun times. Kings Domain is quite the small business success story in Melbourne. Celebrity hairdresser Joey Scandizzo and his former apprentice Aaron Chan opened this store in South Yarra opened in 2013 right as the trend for vintage barbershops was on the rise. Now, the duo (who have picked up a few other business partners along the way) can boast five outposts across Melbourne — and sixth in Sydney. Here, hot towel shaves and haircuts will set you back $55 each, or you can get creative with a fade for $35. Plus, if you book via the website, you can snag 25-percent off your first service.
You know that feeling after you've just had a haircut and you're feelin' slick, stylish and on top of the world? Well, Razor Smiths has just the thing to help release some of the energy and newfound confidence: a pinball machine. If that's not enough of a reason to visit this old-school barbershop on Smith Street for your grooming needs, then the whisky cart and expertise of the barbers should seal the deal. Razor Smiths' signature service is the traditional razor blade shave ($55), which, of course, will include hot towels and a mini facial. If you want to combine it with a chop off the top, you can get The Full Works — a style or clipper cut and shave — for $89.
Melbourne treasure hunters — there might not be many of you but we know you're out there — how would you like to track down some actual treasure for once? A step up from the usual weekend scavenger hunt, this Saturday, December 6, TMC Fine Jewellers is hosting a citywide scavenger hunt for a very shiny and valuable prize. TMC is opening their first Melbourne showroom and inviting Melburnians to peer 'Through the Looking Glass' and take part in a hunt that hides clues in plain sight. And what better prize to offer up to eager hunters than a bespoke ring studded with lab-grown diamonds and valued at $10,000? The hunt begins at 6am sharp, with the first clue (the showroom's location) posted on TMC's social media pages and sent to registered participants via EDM slightly earlier. The hunt official begins at 8am and from there, you'll have to follow four printed riddle clues within a 5km radius of the store. If you get confused, TMC will be posting hints on its TikTok page. Collect all four, and you'll go into the running to win the prize ring. "Melbourne has always been a city of creativity and curiosity, so it felt only fitting to celebrate our first flagship store with an experience that brings those values to life," said Makayla Donovan, co-founder of TMC Fine Jewellers. TMC Fine Jewellers, founded by young couple Makayla and Tom Donovan, strives to deliver affordable, bespoke and ethically responsible engagement and wedding rings. Part of the growing industry shift away from mined diamonds to lab-grown, TMC has gone from a passion project to an established jeweller in just four years — now we can all get involved with the celebrations and win some jewellery of our own. For more information on TMC Fine Jewellers, visit the website.
In the ultimate blend of gastronomy and performance art, dynamic duo Sam Bompas and Harry Parr are about to host the most intimate of Valentine's Day parties. The jelly-lovin' brains behind wobbling, edible houses of parliament and the lava-powered barbecue, Bompas and Parr are about to host a whisky tasting — an anatomical whisky tasting, in which guests are invited to taste 25, 30 and 50-year-old whiskies from the bodies of people born the same year the good stuff was casked up. Poured onto the natural contours of 25, 30 and 50-year-old performers, the whiskies will naturally react to the body heat and surface saltiness of each human, bringing out different flavours within each spirit. So you'll taste a 25-year-old single malt from a 25-year-old body — a predicted contrast to a 50-year-old scotch from a 50-year-old body. After you've slurped the smoky goodness from their body, the performer will then spin tales of their life story — they've been alive as long as that whisky has, so you'll add a bit of context to the matured mouthful you just downed. And any bored hesitation you have to hearing their life story, remember, you just drank whisky from the small of their back. They earned it. You'll have to book an airfare to enjoy Bompas & Parr's sensory experiment; the tastings are being held in collaboration with culture journal The Gourmand on February 14 at Shoreditch's Ace Hotel in London. Via Londonist.
It's been a little under two years since star chef Shane Delia brought his lo-fi, modernised kebab offering to Windsor, setting up Biggie Smalls on Chapel Street. But now, the hip hop tunes and crinkle-cut chips are being switched out for something a little sleeker, as the venue transforms into new culinary concept Maha East. Sibling to Delia's acclaimed CBD restaurant Maha, the reimagined Windsor space will soon be showcasing the same elevated Middle Eastern flavours and contemporary flair, only with a more relaxed edge. While the original Maha is known for its degustation-driven dining options, guests at the Chapel Street newcomer will find themselves faced with a little more choice and a slightly fatter wallet at the end of a feed. Delia and Head Chef Simon Lillico are still adding the final touches to the Maha East food offering, though we do know that both lunch and dinner will offer the option of a la carte or a share-style set menu. Whatever you choose, get set for a mix of tried-and-true favourites and creative new dishes, from slow-roasted lamb shoulder and famed turkish delight doughnuts to the likes of fried buns filled with taramasalata and topped with salmon caviar, and house-baked breads with hummus and a Persian saffron XO. [caption id="attachment_722637" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brook James[/caption] The drinks program is set to be a major focus, too, with a 120 bottle-strong wine list heroing both old-world styles and more contemporary drops, alongside Maha's full lineup of signature cocktails. Yes, that means the legendary Pomegranate Sour will be be making an appearance. Meanwhile, the design of the 40-seat restaurant will favour the timeless, pulling together a suave mix of bronze-edged stone, walnut panelling and rich green accents. If you'd still like a taste of Delia's lo-fi kebabs, fear not — you can still visit the original Biggie Smalls outpost in Collingwood. Find Maha East at 36 Chapel Street, Windsor from Thursday, June 27. It'll be open for dinner daily and lunch on Saturday and Sunday. Images: Brook James
Something delightful has been happening in cinemas in some parts of the country. After numerous periods spent empty during the pandemic, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, picture palaces in many Australian regions are back in business — including both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made, including new releases, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. SISSY Scroll, swipe, like, subscribe: this is the rhythm of social media. We look, watch and trawl; we try to find a sense of self in the online world; and when something strikes a chord, we smudge our fingers onto our phones to show our appreciation. If wellness influencers are to be believed, we should feel seen by this now-everyday process. We should feel better, too. We're meant to glean helpful tips about how to live our best lives, aspire to be like the immaculately styled folks dispensing the advice and be struck by how relatable it all is. "You saved my life!", we're supposed to comment, and we're meant to be genuine about it. The one catch, and one that we shouldn't think about, though: when it comes to seeking validation via social media, this setup really does go both ways. As savvy new Australian horror film Sissy shows, the beaming faces spruiking easy wisdom and products alike to hundreds, thousands or maybe hundreds of thousands of followers — 200,000-plus for this flick's namesake — are also basking in the glory of all that digital attention, and getting a self-esteem boost back in the process. Sissy starts with @SincerelyCecilia, an Instagram hit, doing what she does best. As played by Gold Coast-born Australian actor Aisha Dee of The Bold Type in an astute and knowing stroke of casting, she's a natural in front of the camera. Indeed, thanks to everything from The Saddle Club and I Hate My Teenage Daughter to Sweet/Vicious and The Nowhere Inn as well, the film's star knows what it's like to live life through screens out of character. She's been acting since she was a teenager, and she's charted the highs of her chosen profession, all in front of a lens. So, it's no wonder that Dee conveys Cecilia's comfort recording her videos with ease. The actor hops into the spotlight not only once but twice here, but she's just as perceptive at showing how the world crumbles, shakes and shrinks whenever there's no ring light glowing, smile stretched a mile wide and Pinterest-board background framing her guru-like guidance. "I am loved. I am special. I am enough," is Cecilia's kind of mantra. Through her carefully poised and curated videos, such words have sparked a soaring follower count, a non-stop flow of likes and adoring comments. But she's so tied to all that virtual worship that her off-camera existence — when she's not plugging an 'Elon mask', for instance — is perhaps even more mundane than everyone else's. It's also isolated, so when she reconnects with her childhood best friend Emma (co-director/co-writer Hannah Barlow) during a chance run-in at a pharmacy, it's a rare IRL link to the tangible world. Cecilia is awkward about it, though, including when Emma invites her to her out-of-town bachelorette party that very weekend. Buoyed by memories of pledging to be BFFs forever, singing Aussie pop track 'Sister' by Sister2Sister and obsessing over movie stars, she still agrees to go. Sissy's first act is a Rorschach test: if you're already cynical about the wellness industry and social media, unsurprisingly so, then you'll know that nothing dreamy is bound to follow; if you're not, perhaps the blood and guts to come will feel like a twist. Either way, there will be blood thanks to Barlow and fellow co-helmer/co-scribe Kane Senes' game efforts, reteaming for their second feature after 2017's For Now. There will be chaos as well, and bad signs aplenty, and a rousing body count. Hitting a kangaroo en route to their remote destination clearly doesn't bode well, and also kicks off casualty tally. Then the old schoolyard dynamics bubble up, especially when Cecilia's playground tormentor Alex (Emily De Margheriti, Ladies in Black) is among the fellow guests. Pre-teen taunts resurface — "Sissy's a sissy" was the juvenile and obvious jeer spat her way back in the day, and repeated now — and the @SincerelyCecilia facade starts to shatter. Read our full review. ARMAGEDDON TIME What's more difficult a feat: to ponder everything that the universe might hold, as writer/director James Gray did in 2019's sublime Ad Astra, or to peer back at your own childhood, as he now does with Armageddon Time? Both films focus on their own worlds, just of different sizes and scales. Both feature realms that loom over everyone, but we all experience in their own ways. In the two movies, the bonds and echoes between parents and children also earn the filmmaker's attention. Soaring into the sky and reaching beyond your assigned patch is a focus in one fashion or another, too. In both cases, thoughtful, complex and affecting movies result. And, as shared with everything he's made over the past three decades — such as The Yards, The Immigrant and The Lost City of Z as well — fantastic performances glide across the screen in unwaveringly emotionally honest pictures. In Armageddon Time, Gray returns to a favourite subject: the experience of immigrants to New York. With a surname barely removed from his own, the Graff family share his own Jewish American heritage — and anchor a portrait of a pre-teen's growing awareness of his privilege, the world's prejudices, the devastating history of his ancestors, and how tentative a place people can hold due to race, religion, money, politics and more. The year is 1980, and the end of times isn't genuinely upon anyone. Even the sixth-grader at its centre knows that. Still, that doesn't stop former Californian governor-turned-US presidential candidate Ronald Reagan from talking up existential threats using inflammatory language, as the Graffs spot on TV. Armageddon Time also takes its moniker from a 1977 The Clash B-side and cover; despite the film's stately approach, the punk feeling of wanting to tear apart the status quo — Gray's own adolescent status quo — dwells in its frames. Banks Repeta (The Black Phone) plays Paul Graff, Gray's on-screen surrogate, and Armageddon Time's curious and confident protagonist. At his public school in Queens, he's happy standing out alongside his new friend Johnny (Jaylin Webb, The Wonder Years), and disrupting class however and whenever he can — much to the dismay of his mother Esther (Anne Hathaway, Locked Down), a home economics teacher and school board member. He dreams of being an artist, despite his plumber dad Irving's (Jeremy Strong, Succession) stern disapproval, because the elder Graff would prefer the boy use computing as a path to a life better than his own. In his spare time, Paul is happiest with his doting, advice-dispensing, gift-bearing grandfather Aaron (Anthony Hopkins, The Father), who's considered the only person on the pre-teen's wavelength. Gray fleshes out Paul's personality and the Graffs' dynamic with candour as well as affection, as seen at an early home dinner. There, Paul criticises Esther's cooking, orders dumplings even after expressly being forbidden and incites Irving's explosive anger — and the establishing scene also starts laying bare attitudes that keep being probed and unpacked throughout Armageddon Time. Indeed, Paul will begin to glean the place he navigates in the world. Even while hearing about the past atrocities that brought his grandfather's mother to America, and the discrimination that still lingers, he'll learn that he's fortunate to hail from a middle-class Jewish family. Even if his own comfort is tenuous, Paul will see how different his life is to his black, bused-in friend, with Johnny living with his ailing grandmother, always skirting social services and constantly having condemning fingers waggling his way. And, Paul will keep spying how Johnny is at a disadvantage in every manner possible, including from their instantly scornful teacher and via Paul's own parents' quick judgement. Read our full review. THE WONDER "We are nothing without stories, so we invite you to believe in this one." So goes The Wonder's opening narration, as voiced by Niamh Algar (Wrath of Man) and aimed by filmmaker Sebastián Lelio in two directions. For the Chilean writer/director's latest rich and resonant feature about his favourite topic, aka formidable women — see also: Gloria, its English-language remake Gloria Bell, Oscar-winner A Fantastic Woman and Disobedience — he asks his audience to buy into a tale that genuinely is a tale. In bringing Emma Donoghue's (Room) book to the screen, he even shows the thoroughly modern-day studio and its sets where the movie was shot. But trusting in a story is also a task that's given The Wonder's protagonist, Florence Pugh's nurse Lib Wright, who is en route via ship to an Irish Midlands village when this magnetic, haunting and captivating 19th century-set picture initially sees her. For the second time in as many movies — and in as many months Down Under as well — Pugh's gotta have faith. Playing George Michael would be anachronistic in The Wonder, just as it would've been in Don't Worry Darling's gleaming 1950s-esque supposed suburban dream, but that sentiment is what keeps being asked of the British actor, including in what's also her second fearless performance in consecutive flicks. Here, it's 1862, and 11-year-old Anna O'Donnell (Kíla Lord Cassidy, Viewpoint) has seemingly subsisted for four months now without eating. Ireland's 1840s famine still casts shadows across the land and its survivors, but this beatific child says she's simply feeding on manna from heaven. Lib's well-paid job is to watch the healthy-seeming girl in her family home, where her mother (A Discovery of Witches' Elaine Cassidy, Kila's actual mum) and father (Caolan Byrne, Nowhere Special) dote, to confirm that she isn't secretly sneaking bites to eat. Lib is to keep look on in shifts, sharing the gig with a nun (Josie Walker, This Is Going to Hurt). She's also expected to verify a perspective that's already beaming around town, including among the men who hired her, such as the village doctor (Toby Jones, The Electrical Life of Louis Wain) and resident priest (Ciarán Hinds, Belfast). The prevailing notion: that Anna is a miracle, with religious tourism already starting to swell around that idea, and anyone doubting the claim — or pointing out that it could threaten the girl's life and end in tragedy — deemed blasphemous. But arriving with experience with Florence Nightingale in the Crimean War behind her, the level-leaded, no-nonsense and also in-mourning Lib isn't one for automatic piety. A local-turned-London journalist (Tom Burke, The Souvenir) keeps asking her for inside information, sharing her determination to eschew unthinking devotion and discover the truth, but the nurse's duty is to Anna's wellbeing no matter the personal cost. Lelio's opening gambit, the filmmaking version of showing how the sausage is made, isn't merely a piece of gimmickry. It stresses the power of storytelling and the bargain anyone strikes, The Wonder's viewers alike, when we agree to let tales sweep us away — and it couldn't better set the mood for a movie that ruminates thoughtfully and with complexity on the subject. Is life cheapened, threatened or diminished by losing yourself to fiction over fact? In an age of fake news, as Lelio's movie screens in, clearly it can be. Is there far too much at stake when faith and opinion is allowed to trump science, as the world has seen in these pandemic-affected, climate change-ravaged times? The answer there is yes again. Can spinning a narrative be a coping mechanism, a mask for dark woes, and a way to make trauma more bearable and existence itself more hopeful, though? That's another query at the heart of Alice Birch's (Mothering Sunday) script. And, is there a place for genuine make-believe to entertain, sooth and make our days brighter, as literature and cinema endeavours? Naturally, there is. Read our full review. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in Australian cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on August 4, August 11, August 18 and August 25; September 1, September 8, September 15, September 22 and September 29; and October 6, October 13, October 20 and October 27. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as Bullet Train, Nope, The Princess, 6 Festivals, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, Crimes of the Future, Bosch & Rockit, Fire of Love, Beast, Blaze, Hit the Road, Three Thousand Years of Longing, Orphan: First Kill, The Quiet Girl, Flux Gourmet, Bodies Bodies Bodies, Moonage Daydream, Ticket to Paradise, Clean, You Won't Be Alone, See How They Run, Smile, On the Count of Three, The Humans, Don't Worry Darling, Amsterdam, The Stranger, Halloween Ends, The Night of the 12th, Muru, Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon, Black Adam, Barbarian, Decision to Leave, The Good Nurse, Bros and The Woman King.
Italian mainstay Marameo has brought back its pasta-fuelled date night for you and yours. Every Wednesday night, expect an evening filled with candlelight, mood-setting tunes, half-litres of wine and a three-course menu to boot. Set in the heart of Melbourne's CBD, Marameo boasts Italian dinner party vibes and features a stunning outdoor terrace. This is not a night at nonna's; instead, the menu puts a twist on traditional Italian fare. The menu will change regularly based on seasonal availability, so you could easily make this a weekly go-to. For the launch, diners will start with house-made rosemary focaccia alongside a selection of salami, prosciutto and mortadella. For the main course, its baked cavatappi with Bolognese ragu and pecorino béchamel, paired with a garden salad topped with fennel and radish. The evening wraps with dessert, which is currently zeppole dipped in chocolate sauce. For wine, simply choose from an Italian red or white, enough to share between two. Since romance isn't just for lovebirds, Marameo is accepting reservations for tables of two, four or six. So you can grab your mates, dates or coworkers if you fancy, too. [caption id="attachment_747585" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Marameo, by Kristoffer Paulsen[/caption] Images: Kristoffer Paulsen.
It already takes the crown as Australia's biggest shopping centre, and ranks amongst the largest in the world, too. But Chadstone isn't stopping with the upgrades anytime soon. After adding a luxury hotel and a couple of new restaurants to its grounds in 2019, and enjoying plenty of upgrades in recent years, the centre today unveiled plans for its latest addition — a new entertainment and dining precinct dubbed The Social Quarter. Clocking in at over 10,350 square metres and a cool $71 million, the project is set to feature 18 new food and entertainment 'experiences', with a focus on al fresco dining. Designed for all seasons and occasions, it's gearing up to open its doors this summer. On the food side of things, you'll find new outposts from six different hospitality retailers, including New Zealand-born Asian-fusion restaurant White + Wong's and its sibling Sardine Bar, Italian eatery Cinque Terre and Melbourne's much-loved Piccolina Gelateria. The crew from South Melbourne's Half Acre is opening an all-day Euro diner called Cityfields. And there'll be a new venue from Urban Alley Brewing Co (also Docklands and Knox), complete with its own onsite brewery creating craft beer exclusively for The Social Quarter. When it comes to playtime, punters of all ages will be spoilt for choice with venues from Archie Brothers Cirque Electrique, Strike Bowling and Holey Moley, alongside a new iteration of Hijinx Hotel — Funlab's vibrant 'challenge room hotel' concept, which debuted in Sydney in winter. They'll complement Chadstone's existing Legoland Discovery Centre and Hoyts cinema complex. [caption id="attachment_868118" align="alignnone" width="1920"] White + Wong's[/caption] The Social Quarter is also set to show off some sleek design work, helmed by renowned architects Jackson Clements Burrows, along with Buchan, Decibel and Lat Studios. It's aiming for a 5 Star Green Star rating, will feature an art-covered facade with works by artist Matthew Johnson, and boast a cutting-edge louvred glass roof design made up of 468 individually glazed pieces. The precinct will also showcase views across to the CBD from its restaurant spaces. [caption id="attachment_868117" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Urban Alley[/caption] [caption id="attachment_868111" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bar Sardine[/caption] Find The Social Quarter at Chadstone Shopping Centre, 1341 Dandenong Road, Chadstone, Victoria, from a yet-to-be-confirmed date this summer.
Here in Australia, we're just about to enter what will no doubt be a gruelling winter. Well, our version of gruelling (socks and thongs weather). What makes it worse is that the Northern Hemisphere is enjoying summer, taunting us with pictures of beaches, lilos and rooftop cocktails while we huddle around an on-fire garbage bin and feel our seasonal affective disorder turn up a notch. The smartest of us, the ones not shackled to our desks and chairs, will defect to the north and torture us even more with Instagram stories from the Amalfi Coast, photos that could be compiled into an overpriced coffee-table book and sold in a snooty art shop. But you know what they say: if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. And if you don't have enough annual leave to join 'em, eat so much pizza that your cheese dreams transport you to warmer places. And then start referring to your tummy as Little Italy. And then despondently look for flights for Euro-summer next year. To help you achieve this goal, we've teamed up with American Express to find the best Italian-style pizza to counteract Euro-summer FOMO. So, grab your American Express® Card and let's head out for some of the city's best cheesy rounds, slices and rectangles. Got yourself in another dining situation and need some guidance? Whatever it is, we know a place. Visit The Shortlist and we'll sort you out.
He turned the world's most famous shipwreck into one of biggest movies in history and reinvented 3D filmmaking to make another box office behemoth — and now James Cameron is bringing the ocean's depths to Sydney. Making its world premiere at Sydney's Australian National Maritime Museum from May 29, 2018 until January 30, 2019, James Cameron – Challenging the Deep will dive deep into the Titanic and Avatar director's rather expensive hobby: deep-sea exploration. When you make a movie about a necklace called the Heart of the Ocean, becoming obsessed with the sea is understandable, and Cameron has quite the array of artefacts, specimens, underwater recordings, inventions, cinema-scale projections, and film props and costumes to prove it. They'll all be on display, in a showcase that examines the filmmaker's passion for understanding and wading through our oceans. According to the The Sydney Morning Herald, Cameron himself will be in attendance to open the exhibition — taking a break from making four (yes, four) Avatar sequels. And if you're wondering why he's launching his latest project here, it could have something to do with his custom-built Deepsea Challenger submersible, which was made in Sydney. Back in 2012, Cameron piloted the vessel to the Mariana Trench, a cool 10,994 metres below the sea and also the deepest part of the ocean, becoming the first person to venture there solo. You might've seen a documentary about his efforts, 2014's Deepsea Challenge 3D, which is just one of the many movies to chart his fascination with what lurks beneath. After kicking things off with 1989's The Abyss, he not only sent Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio running around the RMS Titanic, but made his own documentary about exploring its real-life ruins, aka 2003's Ghosts of the Abyss. Expect The Abyss and Titanic to feature heavily in the exhibition. James Cameron – Challenging the Deep will display at Sydney's Australian National Maritime Museum from May 29, 2018 until January 30, 2019. For more information, visit the exhibition website. Image:NOAA/Institute for Exploration/University of Rhode Island via Wikimedia Commons.
It seems Melbourne could be over its Asian food obsession and circling back to its European roots. In the last few months alone we've welcomed Italian joint Mr Ottorino to Fitzroy, seen A25 expand to the CBD and French bistro Ôter open up in Flinders Lane. Furthering that trend, chef Joseph Vargetto has launched his new classic Italian restaurant, Massi, on Little Collins Street. Opening last month, the venue is the little sibling of Kew favourite Mister Bianco, and offers a similar mix of coffee, cakes, cold meats and antipasti as well as pastas and Sicilian-style mains. Named after the acclaimed chef's youngest son, the restaurant is located at 445 Little Collins, between Williams Street and Queen. Open Tuesday to Friday for breakfast, lunch and dinner (on Mondays they'll be open until 6pm), the space can seat up to 50 people, and is described by Vargetto as "comfortable and welcoming". Diners looking for a quick bite can pay a visit to the "crudo antipasto corner", where they can watch chefs slice up a selection of salumi and terrines. Those after something heartier can opt for steak or pan-fried barramundi, or choose from a number of appetising pasta options such as black spaghettini with virgule, blue swimmer crab, garlic and chilli. Dessert is designed to be shared – because why would you choose between mascarpone panna cotta and orange cake with ricotta cream when you can just order both? Massi will also welcome the city's post-work drinks crowd, with Aperitivo Hour kicking off at 4.30pm each day. Behind the impressive marble bar you'll find a great selection of beer, wine and Prosecco. Alternatively, you can take your booze home with you from their fully licensed bottle shop.
A verdant oasis awaits those who visit Coburg Lake reserve, just a short stroll from the suburb's centre. The sprawling park, an erstwhile bluestone quarry worked by prisoners from the adjacent Pentridge Prison is home to many walking paths, bike trails, two playgrounds and public gym equipment, all centred around the picturesque Coburg Lake. It's also a great spot for a barbecue with a number of public grill stations dotted around the park, while a public bocce court is an ideal spot for a post-lunch activity. The reserve is home to a large colony of ibis, while you can also expect to see ducks, water hens and mallards. The reserve's range flora includes mature native and exotic trees, which provide beautiful shade along the meandering walking trails and open green spaces.
The Melbourne Marathon Festival started back in the 70s and is a favoured annual running event for many Melburnians. The races vary in length and difficulty — the shortest event being a three-kilometre walk, with five- and ten-kilometre courses coming in before and half marathon and the full slog. The track spans the Melbourne CBD and gives runners an opportunity to experience the city's famous landmarks in a different context — from the St Kilda beach foreshore to Flinders Street to Albert Park Lake. All races start at Birrarung Marr and end inside the MCG — so you can finish with the roar of the crowd. Take part on your own, as a team or with colleagues, and help raise funds for the Cerebal Palsy Education Centre, or a charity of your choice.
They don't make them like Nicholas Alexander Gray anymore. Besides having a name that sounds like an Oscar Wilde character, Gray is an artist, arts therapist, antiques buyer, grape picker, puppet maker, graphic designer and book collector. He's also working on an English translation of a series of seminal Buddhist texts, making a could be portrait of Nicholas Gray very intriguing indeed. Collingwood's House of Bricks gallery is hosting an enormous art book sale filled with over 2000 aesthetically inclined page turners acquired by Gray on the aforementioned crazy journey he calls life. Running alongside the sale is a collection of Gray's paintings and sculptures, also available for viewing and purchase. On Tuesday May 28 from 6pm-8pm the event opens with drinks and a performance by Gray's choir (yes, he has a choir). Image via House of Bricks.
Whoever said bouncy castles were just for kids clearly never encountered The Monster. Clocking in at 270-metres and boasting 30 different obstacles, this thing takes the title of the world's largest inflatable obstacle course. Oh, and it's just casually coming to Melbourne in January 2018, as part of its own three-day 18+ festival of fun. Taking over the Grand Pavilion at Melbourne Showgrounds across the Australia Day long weekend, The Monster is the bouncy castle experience of your wildest kidult dreams. Punters are invited to run, jump, dance and scramble their way through the course, with sessions running from noon–10pm each day. It'll likely take you somewhere between five and 20 minutes to complete, depending on speed, coordination and how indulgent your festive season was. What's more, the fun extends beyond the final bounce, with the festival also pulling together a program of DJs, street food vendors and pop-up bars to see you sticking around long into the night. Melbourne's just the first stop on The Monster's soon-to-launch Aussie tour, with organisers TEG Life Like Touring expected to announce more cities next year.
While it felt like this year's cultural calendar was dominated by bottomless brunches and themed high teas (and there were a lot of them) a lot of other game-changing events were also taking place. From an inclusive music festival — that was fully wheelchair accessible and translated into AUSLAN — to the first national survey of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander design and an immersive installation that took over the Royal Botanic Garden with 6500 burning pots, Melbourne has seen a influx of events celebrating the city's cultural ecosystem and bringing people together. At Concrete Playground we encourage exploration and showcase innovation in our city every day, so we thought it fitting to reward those most talented whippersnappers pushing Melbourne to be a better, braver city. And so, these six new events were nominated for Best New Event in Concrete Playground's Best of 2018 Awards.
UPDATE, Friday, June 20, 2025: 2025's First Nations Film Festival — National Reconciliation Week has been extended until Wednesday, August 6 (from its original end date of Tuesday, June 10). This article has been updated to reflect that change. As part of the flurry of streaming services always competing for our eyeballs, FanForce TV joined the online viewing fold during the COVID-19 pandemic as a pay-per-view platform. The service runs all year round, of course, but it goes the extra mile for National Reconciliation Week, which is when it hosts one leg of the First Nations Film Festival (previously known as the Virtual Indigenous Film Festival). In 2025, the National Reconciliation Week season is taking place between Tuesday, May 27–Wednesday, August 6, all solely online. The returning fest has four features and a collection of shorts on its lineup, starting with The Moogai — which sees writer/director Jon Bell (Cleverman) turn his own short into a full-length film, explore how Australia's past continues to haunt in the process, and brings back his stars Shari Sebbens (The Office) and Meyne Wyatt (Troppo) as a couple grappling with Stolen Generations trauma with their growing family. Also excellent: Like My Brother, a must-watch documentary that follows four young Indigenous women from the Tiwi Islands as they set their sights on playing AFLW at the highest level. With Blown Away, the impact of Cyclone Tracy upon Darwin is in the spotlight four decades later — and Winhanganha, which was commissioned by the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, sees Wiradjuri artist Jazz Money examine archives through a First Nations lens. To view this at-home screen celebration, you'll need to buy an all-access pass, which lets you catch everything for $38.
Back in 2019, the thought of spending August in Melbourne doing anything other than sitting in a darkened room watching movie after movie would've sounded like flat-out cinephile blasphemy. Thankfully, after two pandemic-affected years that put Melbourne International Film Festival's in-person plans on hold not once but twice, that idea won't be a reality in 2022. Yes, the city's major cinema celebration is back in its best guise this year — and it'll have you making grooves in your favourite ACMI, The Capitol, Forum, Hoyts Melbourne Central, IMAX, Kino Cinema and Cinema Nova seats again. You'd better stock up on healthy mid-film snacks now, given you'll soon have a massive 371 features, shorts and extended-reality titles to watch. You'd best start training for all that time spent sitting down, too. Hitting cinemas for the first time in three years after pivoting online in 2020 and 2021 out of lockdown-fuelled necessity, MIFF is returning to Melbourne's picture palaces with a bang between Thursday, August 4–Sunday, August 21. That's already been obvious since back in June, when the fest unveiled its first 33 flicks for this year, its 70th event — and the full 2022 lineup proves that accurate again. Among the highlights, MIFF will boast the Australian premiere of The Stranger, a true-crime thriller starring Joel Edgerton (Obi-Wan Kenobi) and Sean Harris (Spencer), as directed by Acute Misfortune's Thomas M Wright; the local debut of Aftersun, another straight-from-Cannes pick led by Normal People's Paul Mescal; a big session of Three Thousand Years of Longing, the Tilda Swinton (Memoria)- and Idris Elba (The Harder They Fall)-starring latest from Mad Max: Fury Road's George Miller; and also David Cronenberg's Crimes of the Future, the iconic filmmaker's first feature since 2014's Maps to the Stars. Also massive: the Aussie premiere of documentary Moonage Daydream. As the title instantly makes plain to fans of David Bowie, it's all about the music icon, with Cobain: Montage of Heck and Jane filmmaker Brett Morgen creating a collage that steps through the singer's life using restored and never-before-seen footage. Or, there's also Decision to Leave, a noir romance that saw Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook (Stoker, Oldboy) win Cannes' Best Director gong — and documentaries by Ethan Coen (The Ballad of Buster Scruggs), making his solo directing debut by surveying Jerry Lee Lewis; and Luca Guadagnino (Call Me by Your Name), about shoe designer Salvatore Ferragamo. In 2022, MIFF is debuting a new competition, too, which'll boast a $140,000 Best Film Award. Called Bright Horizons, it'll feature 11 movies vying for the prize — including the aforementioned The Stranger and Aftersun, Mexican drug trade drama Robe of Gems, cyber-musical Neptune Frost, Sundance Special Jury Award-winner Leonor Will Never Die, and Aussie filmmaker Alena Lodkina's (Strange Colours) second feature Petrol. The list of MIFF highlights also covers Palme d'Or winner Triangle of Sadness, which satirises the mega rich, is directed by Force Majeure's Ruben Östlund, and marks his second Palme win after The Square; and Broker, the latest from acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda, who won the Palme d'Or back in 2018 with the sublime Shoplifters. This time, the latter has made a movie in Korea — his first Korean-language film, in fact, starring Parasite's Song Kang-ho, who won Cannes' Best Actor Award — with Broker again exploring the ties that bind and the connections of family. MIFF's genre selection is always a treat, and 2022 is no different. That's where you'll find standouts such as Bodies Bodies Bodies, the A24 horror-comedy starring Rachel Sennott, Amandla Stenberg and Pete Davidson; Canberra-shot social media-skewering delight Sissy; and Something in the Dirt, the latest mind-bender directed by and starring Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead (The Endless). The fest is also dedicating its filmmaker retrospectives to Hungarian auteur Márta Mészáros and French-Bosnian writer/director Lucile Hadžihalilović — and, there's also opening night's coming-of-age feature Of an Age, a Hear My Eyes session of Chopper, the Aubrey Plaza (Best Sellers)-starring thriller Emily the Criminal, and horror-comedy Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon from A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night's Ana Lily Amirpour.
With money to burn, the folks at Crown Casino are hosting one seriously lavish party. Set up along Crown Riverwalk by the Yarra, this three-day festival includes tons of great food and cooking demonstrations, as well as music and arts and crafts. Performers will be roaming the crowd during daylight hours, while a fireworks display on the Saturday evening should guarantee you a happy and prosperous New Year.
He's had a huge hand in shaping Melbourne's cafe scene over the years, responsible for the original iterations of such gems as Three Bags Full, Top Paddock and Higher Ground. But if the likes of Hazel and Dessous are anything to go by, Nathan Toleman and his team have a knack for creating winning drinking destinations and dinner spots, too. And their latest project fits neatly into this latter camp, a sure-fire smash hit for sips, snacks and lazy feasts alike. The Mulberry Group has moved beyond the city grid for its new wine bar Lilac, taking over a converted warehouse in Cremorne's industrial heart, just opposite the site the group's own Square One Coffee Roasters calls home. Inside, Lilac's concrete and steel bones remain, softened and warmed with the help of mellow lighting and a snug corner fireplace. It's lofty and open, yet full of character. Playing to the same relaxed approach of the space itself, Lilac's oft-changing food offering doesn't zero its focus too heavily on any one genre — rather, it pulls together a melange of Aussie nostalgia, Euro sensibilities and French bistro flair. Group Head Chef Kyle Nicol (Rascal, Supernormal) is in the driver's seat here, and you'll find plenty of his own foraged ingredients and aged meats on the menu, heroed alongside wood-fired dishes and house-fermented goodies galore. It's crafty and creative, with a warm, generous edge. An instant hit has emerged in the two-bite chicken mousse eclairs with black garlic glaze, while other highlights in the smalls department might include delicate slices of beef heart paired with dandelion greens and white sauce, savoury mince toasts, and curds finished with fermented honey. Be sure to spread some of the latter onto the puffy wood-fired flatbread that everyone's been raving about. The house charcuterie is a standout, as are the rolls of lamb belly elevated with silky carrot butter, and the rum baba reimagined with pineapple and gum custard. The matching wine list proves just as exciting, especially if your drop of choice is of the organic and biodynamic variety. Trend-bucking small-scale producers get plenty of airtime here, though quality always reigns supreme throughout. And you'll find a solid spread of sake, spirits and craft beer to round it out — all up, leaning overwhelmingly local. Find Lilac Wine at 31 Stephenson Street, Cremorne. It's open from 4pm–late Wednesday and Thursday, 12pm–late Friday and Saturday, and 11am–5pm Sunday. Images: John Benedict Ryan.
It's not like you need an excuse to get stuck into some hummus, but this week, Bar Saracen Head Chef Tom Sarafian is giving you a few extra reasons to load up on his restaurant's famed chickpea dish anyway. The kitchen has been quiet at the Punch Lane venue for the past few weeks, with the doors closed to both dine-in guests and takeaway orders during this current stretch of restrictions. Which has left Sarafian with a little extra time up his sleeve. And that time's now being used to whip up batches of signature hummus to raise much-needed funds for those impacted by last week's devastating Beirut explosion. The Lebanese capital holds a special place in the chef's heart and has been the catalyst for some of his best work. "I honestly wouldn't have learnt to make this hummus (or a lot of my dishes) and share it with Melbourne if it wasn't for my trips to Beirut, and the hospitality and generosity of its people," said Sarafian in a statement. https://www.instagram.com/p/CDpx6bxjH3E/ So now, for the first time in a little while, you'll be able to get your mitts on Bar Saracen hummus by the tub, all for an excellent cause. The 300-gram serves come paired with sumac pita crisps, clocking in at $20, with all proceeds going to Lebanese Red Cross. If you live within ten kilometres of the CBD venue, you can have a tub dropped to your door for free, with complimentary home deliveries running Sunday, August 16, and Monday, August 17. Can't wait that long and live within five kilometres of the restaurant? You can swing past Bar Saracen between noon and 3pm this Thursday to Saturday, to nab some fundraiser hummus straight from the source. If that's not in your allowed radius, thankfully a stack of other venues will also be selling the hummus tubs (for $15 with no crisps) this weekend, including Baker Bleu, All Are Welcome, Wild Life Bakery, Meatsmith, Falco Bakery, Spring Street Grocer and Park Street Pasta & Wine. Check in with your closest to see when they're open and whether they've got stock. Hummus le Beirut is available to buy online now, and can be picked up from Bar Saracen from 12–3pm, August 13–15 or home-delivered from August 16–17.
UPDATE, January 8, 2021: It Comes at Night is available to stream via Netflix, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Video. When It Comes at Night begins with a man gripped by an infection, viewers are primed to expect a particular type of horror film. Something frightening is clearly in the air, which only becomes more apparent after his spluttering culminates in a wheelbarrow ride towards a fiery end. Death and devastation lurk quietly in this sparse post-apocalyptic realm, and those who have managed to survive trust no one. It's dystopian thriller 101, leaving audiences waiting for zombies or monsters to rear their ugly heads. What they'll find instead is Jean-Paul Sartre's famous phrase brought to life on screen: hell is other people. That observation might seem obvious, but writer-director Trey Edward Shults isn't done toying with common existential worries. Playing on our collective fear of the unknown, he ramps up the atmosphere of suspicion and unease by purposely leaving the details of the film's catastrophic catalyst to the imagination. Whatever it was that sparked disaster isn't nearly as important as how those who remain deal with the fallout — and yet viewers can't help but wonder. It's a smart move, with Shults not only focusing attention on the tense interactions that follow, but mirroring the characters' uncertainty about each other. Here, stoic father Paul (Joel Edgerton), his wife Sarah (Carmen Ejogo), their 17-year-old son Travis (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) and dog Stanley hole up in their boarded-up house in the woods with canned food for sustenance and weapons at the ready. Then Will (Christopher Abbott) somehow stumbles through their locked door in the middle of the night, claiming to be looking for shelter for his own wife Kim (Riley Keough) and their young son Andrew (Griffin Robert Faulkner). It's telling that Shults' first film, the family reunion drama Krisha, also brought a group of people together and then revealed their true nature through conflict. It should go without saying that forcing strangers into close quarters in a traumatic situation rarely leads to a happy outcome, so the movie doesn't say it. Rather it shows it — terse, anxious and unsettling. Cue performances (some brooding, some itching with physicality) that demonstrate just how people bristle up against each other in times of great stress. Accordingly, jumps and bumps aren't anywhere near as terrifying as furtive looks, overheard whispers and what someone else might be plotting behind closed doors. With claustrophobic cinematography and an ominous score, It Comes at Night seethes with intimacy — not of the warm and friendly variety, but foreboding, unnerving and ruthless. Paranoid and uncomfortable, the characters squirm, yearn and threaten to turn on one another. Yet even that's not the most terrifying thing about what Shults has crafted. Instead, as the film lingers in dark hallways and thuds with nervous heartbeats, it's the fact that he has managed to taunt his viewers into feeling the exact same way. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5aq1HClkq0
Windsor's Singapore-inspired Hawker Hall is celebrating Chinese New Year with the return of its weekend yum cha sessions. Every Saturday and Sunday in February, diners can feast on a whole six courses of dim sum for just $38 per person. As yum cha is traditionally a breakfast or early lunch meal, the deal is available from 11am–4pm each day. You can choose six dishes from the many bamboo steamer baskets on offer — think the requisite barbecue pork buns, spring rolls and fried rice, plus five-spiced chicken ribs, shiitake mushroom mapo tofu, fried squid and seafood-stuffed Chinese doughnuts with plenty of chilli oil. Apart from the eats, the venue is slinging four cocktails ($12 each) that have been designed to drink aside dim sum. There's the Enter The Dragon — a tropical concoction of tequila, pineapple, lime, guava and mint — as well as The Green Lantern, with jasmine-infused vodka mixed with peach, lemon and cucumber. Since it's yum cha, the courses will, of course, be on the smaller side, but the price is hard to beat regardless. Hawker Hall's yum cha runs from 11am–4pm. You can book your spot via the website.
Step into the Upside Down at Good Things this Halloween. The South Yarra bar is hosting a Stranger Things party, and all your D&D travelling companions are invited. Kicking off from 9pm on Monday, October 31 (that is, Halloween), the Netflix-inspired shindig will pay homage to 2016's favourite TV obsession, with a playlist featuring all the best tracks from Jonathan Byers' record collection. Think Joy Division, The Smiths, David Bowie and many more. There'll also be an array of Stranger Things cocktails, including Eggo martinis and the Demogorgon Spritz. And with this being Halloween, dressing up is highly encouraged, with a $100 bar tab going to the person with the best costume.
It's not a food festival without food trucks, right? Well, apparently. As part of this year's Melbourne Food & Wine Festival, the city's most-followed food trucks will congregate on the lawn of the Melbourne Convention Centre over one weekend. All your favourites will be making an appearance, including Taco Truck (phew), Beatbox Kitchen (thank heaven), Gorilla Grill and Greek Street Food. Lil Nomnoms and TOASTA will be there too, but only on Sunday. If you don't head down South Wharf-way much, this is our chance — and if it's a nice day, you could incorporate a stroll down to the South Melbourne Market too.
Bringing the beloved Mattel doll to cinemas in live-action for the first time, Barbie wasn't specifically made for concert screenings. But with a soundtrack filled with Oscar-winning and -nominated tunes, as well as tracks by Dua Lipa, Haim, Dominic Fike, The Kid LAROI, Pink Pantheress and more, it's certain to prove quite the treat when the film returns to the big screen in Melbourne with a live orchestra playing its music. Yes, Greta Gerwig's (Little Women) take on the iconic toy is returning for another movie date, this time with Billie Eilish's 'What Was I Made For?', the Ryan Gosling (The Fall Guy)-crooned 'I'm Just Ken' and more performed by the orchestra as audiences watch — all thanks to Symphonic Cinema Presents. In Melbourne, you'll be heading to Plenary Theatre at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Saturday, December 13, 2025. Expect Kenergy aplenty. It's a Barbie bonanza in the city of late, given that it is also currently playing host to the Malibu Barbie Cafe's first-ever Australian appearance until the end of summer. As viewers already know from the Margot Robbie (Asteroid City)-starring flick, Barbie can be anything. Although screenings of the film can't be President, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist, a diplomat and a Supreme Court justice, or a mermaid, doctor, lawyer and Pulitzer-winner, they can take many guises, such as movie-and-music events like this.
For lovers of fine fragrances, Peony Melbourne has been providing things that smell great for 15 years. Peony founder Jill Timms has an incredible nose for helping customers discover the ideal perfume or skincare product that matches exactly what they're looking for. In addition, the store stocks a large selection of home fragrances, so you can surround yourself with incredible aromas all the time. Featured brands range from the popular to the exclusive, including Ormonde Jayne, Eight & Bob and Urban Apothecary. Images: Tracey Ahkee.
It's been just over six months since Melbourne scored its last offering from renowned chef Jessi Singh. Last June, he opened colourful, unconventional Indian joint Daughter In Law and, the year before that, his eatery Don't Tell Aunty landed in Sydney's Surry Hills. Now, the restaurateur — who originally co-founded other hits including Horn Please, Kyneton's Dhaba at The Mill and Babu Ji in Melbourne and NYC — has opened a new wine bar and boutique booze store on Flinders Lane. Sticking with the family theme, this latest venue has been named Mrs Singh. It feels a little more grown up than its siblings — but it just as playful. Sporting a mix of textures and colours, diners are met with a heady vision of orange panelling, blue marbled flooring, rich reds, green velvet, a terrazzo-topped bar and striking gold accents throughout the 65-seat space. Singh fans will be familiar with the soundtrack of party jams and rotation of retro Bollywood flicks projected on the wall. [caption id="attachment_759088" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Coco Bunny[/caption] Drinks are the main game here, led by a 300-strong wine list from award-winning sommelier Dheeraj Bhatia (Sydney's Est.). A produce-driven cocktail lineup stars sips like the signature Mrs Singh — a fusion of mezcal, beetroot, Aperol, agave, lime and black salt — and the Coco Bunny which, with carrot juice, turmeric, ginger and gin, is basically boozy breakfast juice. A roving champagne trolley amps up the luxury and there's even a retail selection of beers and wines available to take home, complete with suggested picks. On weekdays, the bar is open for lunch, serving a simple menu of two $25 thalis: one vegetarian and one with butter chicken, rogan josh and goat curry. After work, though, the menu opens up to a longer list of drinking-optimised plates after-hours. You might find yourself tucking into flaky paratha bread with mango, chilli and 15-month comté, a lobster roll teamed with curry chips, or some sweet and spicy cauliflower. Scallop ceviche is done with lashings of coconut and chilli, and the tandoor oven pumps out serves of chicken, prawn and paneer. Or you can always settle in with the chef's selection menu for an easy $75 per person and free up more time to spend on that drinks list. Images: Peter Tarasiuk.
Six decades after first dancing its way across the big screen — and singing, too — a certain New York neighbourhood rivalry is returning to cinemas. It was back in 1961 that West Side Story first made the leap from theatre to film, and now it's repeating the feat this December. Yes, the Jets and the Sharks will be facing off again. This time around, Steven Spielberg is in the director's chair. Obviously, West Side Story's narrative will remain the same, though. In the Big Apple in 1957, a Romeo and Juliet-inspired love story will play out, as Tony (Ansel Elgort, The Goldfinch) and María (film debutant Rachel Zegler) fall head over heels despite their backgrounds — because Tony's best friend Riff (Mike Faist, Panic) leads the Jets, and María is the younger sister of Sharks head honcho Bernardo (David Alvarez). Also popping up among the cast: Ariana DeBose (The Prom), Josh Andrés Rivera, Ana Isabelle (Imprisoned), Corey Stoll (Ratched) and Brian d'Arcy James (Devs), plus the great Rita Moreno (One Day at a Time) — who also played the role of Anita, Bernardo's girlfriend, in the original movie. The film's long list of talent continues off-screen, too, with West Side Story circa 2021's screenplay penned by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winner Tony Kushner (Lincoln), and the choreography coming courtesy of fellow Tony-recipient Justin Peck. Spielberg and company are taking the original 1957 Broadway show rather than the 1961 movie adaptation as their basis and, as the just-dropped first teaser trailer shows, the results look vibrant and lively, but still with a classic old-school musical sheen. Thankfully — and unsurprisingly — it also looks worlds away from the filmmaker's last feature, Ready Player One. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6xoDxf676w&feature=youtu.be West Side Story opens in Australian cinemas on December 9. Top image: Niko Tavernise, 2020 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
UPDATE Thursday, November 10: Summer Camp Melbourne has been moved and will now take place at Coburg Velodrome instead of its original location. The following has been updated to reflect the change. Summer Camp is the country's newest pride festival — and only touring pride fest, in fact. And, finally taking place in November 2022 after being postponed from last summer, the bill of performers features a jaw-dropping lineup of queer icons and experiences. Years & Years, aka British singer and actor Olly Alexander (It's a Sin), will headline the new fest's stopovers in Sydney and Melbourne, all as part of Summer Camp's two-city debut tour of the country. Also on the bill: New Orleans' Big Freedia, plus The Veronicas, Cub Sport, Ladyhawke, Jess B, Kinder, Art Simone and Stereogamous, with more set to be revealed Summer Camp will tick a big first, too: it's set to be the biggest ticketed LGBTQIA+ music festival in the southern hemisphere as well. In addition to live tunes from all of the above across two stages, the festival will feature dance, performance art and art installations, as well as food and beverage offerings. More than 200 artists will be involved all up, including over 150 DJs, drag queens, dancers and performance artists in each city. Given the name, it's clear what kind of vibe that festival founders Kat Dopper (creator of Heaps Gay) and Grant Gillies and David Gillett (creators of Red Mgmt, and former Sydney Mardi Gras marketing and international talent managers) are going for. So, expect a cruisy summer camp-meets-arts and music playground-type atmosphere that's also all about inclusivity and supporting young diverse artists. SUMMER CAMP FESTIVAL 2022 LINEUP — FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT: Years & Years Big Freedia The Veronicas Cub Sport Ladyhawke Jess B Kinder Art Simone Stereogamous Updated April 26.
Near the 24-hour florist and the steeply priced milk bar, North Carlton Canteen is the sort of place everybody wishes they had as their local. The coffee is good, the menu is inviting, and there is a balsa wood moose head on the wall. The staff aren't bored, ironic hipsters and the service is thoughtful without being smarmy. Lounging at the window overlooking Lygon Street, you can watch trams whiffle past as you tap away on your laptop (free wi-fi!) and play footsies with your companion (or someone else's). There's a long communal table, small wooden tables which can be pushed together to accommodate larger groups, and a friendly buzz not just generated by caffeine. Raw sugar resides in old jam jars, fresh flowers and herbs adorn the tables, and a yellow wire rack of magazines and newspapers hangs next to the moose head. The NCC's food ranges from upgraded counter classics — a waygu burger on toasted brioche ($12) — to rejigged brunch staples like banana bread pancakes with whipped cream yoghurt ($13). The tasty, messy egg 'n' bacon roll comes with house-made BBQ sauce, avocado and rocket ($9.50), and the house specials currently include gooey, cheese-stuffed jalapenos. A side order of hand-cut fries and mustardy aioli is practically compulsory ($6.50). For vegans and gluten-free warriors, there are plenty of options to accommodate allergies, preferences and principles. The bacon is free-range, the muesli slice is made with agave nectar, and the walls are made from recycled wood. North Carlton Canteen is relatively new but fast becoming a reason to visit the floral end of Lygon Street. They even offer portable picnics to eat in the parks nearby. You score two paninis, two sweet treats and two bottled drinks of your choice ($30). You can get enough for four people with a wink of your ravenous eye ($56). Gabi, the lovely owner, plans to add wine to these picnic boxes. Voila! Go grab a bunch of carnations from the open-all-hours florist three doors down, and you've got yourself a perfect lunch date. Just don't bump into the customers enjoying homemade Monte Carlo biscuits in the footpath seating area — this isn't a school canteen, after all, and there's no excuse for shoving. No excuse for not supporting your local NCC, either.
January 2014 will see Sarah Blasko embark on a short but surely sweet Heavenly Sounds tour, with the singer-songwriter choosing a restrained program of just four shows in four churches across Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide. The tour will be the final round of performances celebrating her ARIA-nominated fourth studio album, I Awake. Loyal fans might have already witnessed the ideal pairing of the singer's ethereal tones and cathedral acoustics back in 2011, when her collaborative side project Seeker Lover Keeper (with Sally Seltmann and Holly Throsby) launched Heavenly Sounds. Now’s your chance to settle back amongst the stained glass and enjoy a night of pure Blasko. "These will be my last shows for I Awake, and really, what better place is there to sing (apart from the shower of course) than a beautiful church?" says Blasko. "I'll be playing songs from all four albums and it's likely to be the most intimate show of mine you'll see for some time."
The Commonwealth Games are not coming to regional Victoria. One year on from its announcement and just three years out from the event, the 2026 games are going to have to find a new host after Victorian Premier Dan Andrews announced his government had pulled the plug on hosting the global sporting event. In a press conference on Tuesday, July 18, Andrews announced the decision had been made after the reported cost to host the games had nearly tripled since it was first budgeted for back in 2022. "What's become clear is that the cost of hosting these games in 2026 is not the $2.6 billion that has been budgeted and allocated," said Andrews. "It is, in fact, at least $6 billion and could be as high as $7 billion. "[This] is well and truly too much for a 12-day sporting event. I will not take money out of hospitals and schools to fund an event that is three times the cost as estimated and budgeted for last year." The plan for the 2026 games was to share the event between four regional hubs – Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland – each with their own athletes' village and sports program. [caption id="attachment_831273" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Robert Blackburn, Visit Victoria[/caption] While the games were set to deliver billions in regional upgrades and tourism, the state government has instead announced a $2 billion+ regional fund. This will invest in sporting facilities, tourism, community sport and social and affordable housing across the state's regional areas. Included in the package is a commitment to deliver the facilities promised to these regional hubs as part of the 2026 games. As well, 13,000 new homes that will be built across regional Victoria. Andrews promised that the Victorian Government had "looked at every option", including moving the games to Melbourne. However, all alternatives far exceeded the original $2.6 billion budget. The premier said talks with Commonwealth Games authorities had been amicable and productive, but no plan for where the games would now be hosted was announced. Neither the Commonwealth Games nor Commonwealth Games Australia have made an announcement yet. Australia only recently held the games, back in 2018 on the Gold Coast and still has a massive sporting event on the horizon, with the 2032 Olympic Games already locked in for Brisbane. Bit of a long one this morning. You might have heard the news this morning that Victoria will no longer be hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games. And I wanted to tell you about the decision. — Dan Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) July 17, 2023 The Commonwealth Games will no longer take place across Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland in 2026. Head to Victorian Premier Dan Andrews' Twitter for a full run-down of why the government has pulled the plug.
It's the best action movie of this century. The best Australian flick of the same period, too. And, it's one of the very best in general as well. But, because the arid expanse that usually surrounds Broken Hill was too green when filming took place, six-time Oscar-winner Mad Max: Fury Road was actually shot overseas. That won't be the case with its follow up Furiosa, though. Focusing on a younger version of the character played by Charlize Theron in Fury Road, Furiosa is actually a prequel — and it'll begin filming in New South Wales in June this year. The Queen's Gambit lead Anya Taylor-Joy will be stepping into the formidable figure's shoes, and starring opposite Chris Hemsworth. Watchmen's Yahya Abdul Mateen II will also feature and, although no other cast members have yet to be announced, it's safe to expect that plenty of local faces will pop up as well. It has been six years since Fury Road first motored its way across the big screen, so Furiosa can't arrive soon enough. Exactly when the latter will actually hit cinemas is yet to be revealed, but it'll do so after a relatively short gap by Mad Max standards. If you feel like you've been waiting for ages to see the franchise continue, it's worth remembering that there was a 30-year gap between 1985's not-so-great Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome and Fury Road's triumphant arrival in 2015. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced the news today, Monday, April 19, noting that the shoot "is expected to support more than 850 local jobs and bring in around $350 million into the NSW economy". And while it's all good and well that the Mad Max series is continuing, that it'll be shot in Australia and that it has quite an impressive cast, that'd really mean nothing if director George Miller wasn't involved. Thankfully, he'll be back behind the lens, as he has been on 1979's Mad Max, 1981's Mad Max 2, and both Beyond Thunderdome and Fury Road as well. Obviously, a sneak peek of Furiosa won't be available for quite some time given that it hasn't even begun shooting yet, but you can relive Fury Road's glory in its trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEJnMQG9ev8 Furiosa will start filming in NSW in June. Exactly when the film will hit cinemas hasn't yet been revealed, but we'll update you with details when they're announced
Choose life. Choose celebrating a movie that defined the '90s, made Ewan McGregor a star and instantly made everyone's favourite flicks of all time list. Choose spending 2017 revelling in all things Trainspotting. Film fans already have long-awaited sequel T2: Trainspotting (which is scheduled for a February release) to look forward to, and now theatre fans in Australia can choose something else: Trainspotting Live. Choose 75 minutes of intense, immersive page-to-stage antics, as based on Irvine Welsh's 1993 novel about Edinburgh heroin addicts, and first adapted for the theatre in the UK back in 1995. Yes, that means that Harry Gibson's award-winning original stage version was written before Danny Boyle's iconic 1996 movie — and you haven't really experienced the story of Renton, Begbie, Sick Boy and company until you've seen it acted out, live and in person, right in front of you. Transporting its all-Scottish cast and their distinctive accents to Adelaide from February 17 to March 19, Melbourne's fortyfivedownstairs from March 22 to April 13, and Brisbane Powerhouse from April 19 to 22, Trainspotting Live does more than that — it also brings the audience into the show, starting with an extended rave, and even including the infamous 'Worst Toilet in Scotland' scene. It's no wonder that the production has been selling out shows in London, and earning rave reviews for its no-holds-barred approach. The fact that it's being staged by In Your Face Theatre should give you an indication of what you're in for. Welsh — that is, the man who literally wrote the book, plus a sequel, prequel and Begbie-focused spin-off, and recently floated the idea of a TV adaptation — called Trainspotting Live the "best way to experience Trainspotting", in case you needed any more convincing. Just don't go confusing it with the BBC television program of the same name, which is actually about looking at railways. Trainspotting Live plays in Adelaide from February 17 to March 19, at Melbourne's Fortyfivedownstairs from March 22 to April 13, and at Brisbane Powerhouse from April 19 to 22, 2017. For more information, visit the production website.
Minimalist Aussie clothing designer Assembly Label is currently hosting a massive online charity sale so you can upgrade your wardrobe with linen pants and a comfy woollen knit tee— and help Aussies doing it tough. With both men's and women's wear on offer, you'll find both cosy outfits for those chilly La Niña days such as denim, jumpers and jackets, plus swimwear, dresses and shorts ready for when the next summer heat wave hits. Best of all, you can nab it all at up to 50 percent off. There's a whole range of summer essentials available for cheap on the site. You could be sporting this cord drawn black dress, for example, at your next beachside brunch or sunny summer picnic for $60 down from $100. As part of the sale, Assembly Label has a choose-what-you-pay initiative raising money for the Curing Homesickness, an organisation that helps kids get home from hospital sooner. When you buy a sale item, you can choose to pay an extra $5, $10 or $15, with that amount then matched by Assembly Label and donated to Curing Homesickness. So, you can grab some new threads and feel good about it too.
Cue the fireworks: the New Year is almost upon us. And no, we don't mean those few hours of public drunkenness and poor decision-making that fall between sundown on December 31 and your hangover the following morning. We're talking about Chinese New Year, a celebration that, quite frankly, makes our piddly little Gregorian thing look about as exciting as your grandmother's birthday. The Chinese Lunar calendar officially ticks over on Monday, February 8, but that's only a fraction of the fun. With markets, concerts, parades, film screenings, parties and more, Melbourne's Chinese community are sparing no expense. Here's our list pick of the events happening this February to help you ring in the Year of the Monkey in style.
If you've ever been on a KFC mission — because you were hungry, hungover, or just hankering for the Colonel's 11 secret herbs and spices — then the fast food chain's latest endeavour will feel a lot like art imitating life. The fried chicken fiends have released a new smartphone game that's all about hunting down buckets of chook pieces. Yes, of course it is. Available for both iOS and Android, the smartphone game is called The Great Bucket Hunt — because what else would it be called? — and it's available to play now via the KFC app. And, as it uses augmented reality, it'll have you wandering the streets looking for chicken buckets. Again, that might feel a little too familiar. KFC doesn't need a reason to get playful with its marketing. Case in point: mindfulness website KFChill, which lets you bliss out to the sounds of chicken frying (and is actually immensely soothing). This time, though, there is a tangible reward. If all that staring at your phone and searching for buckets starts getting your tastebuds in a tizzy, there's chicken to be won — and cash and other prizes. Once you've tracked down buckets near you, you'll give them a spin to see what you've won. Every bucket has a prize, so you're always going to nab something. The big freebies: $50,000 in cash and free KFC for a year. Find three golden buckets, and you can win $5000, too. Yep, it's a bit like Pokemon Go, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and your drunken cravings all rolled into one — all to promote KFC, of course. Other prizes include eftpos gift cards worth between $25–200, free food (15-piece buckets, burgers, popcorn chicken, nuggets and plenty of combos), tickets to the NRL and AFL grand finals, free KFC every Sunday, KFC merchandise and cheap KFC deals. And getting in quick is recommended — once someone finds a bucket, it's out of the game forever. The Great Bucket Hunt is available to play via the KFC app between Tuesday, June 15–Monday, July 12.
For some, it's an essential meeting place. For others, it's just a patch of concrete in the middle of the city. Whatever your thoughts on Federation Square, the Melbourne site has weathered a tumultuous few years. After being named as the location for Apple's first global flagship store in the southern hemisphere back in 2017, those plans received considerable council and public backlash — including a campaign to buy the space back — before being canned. Along the way, Fed Square received temporary and then permanent heritage protection, and the Victorian Government also asked Melburnians just what should be in the site's future. Now, the City of Melbourne has announced its proposal: building a new public library at Fed Square. As part of the $15 million project, not only would a new site be erected, but the existing City Library in Flinders Lane would be relocated — a move the council says will "attract one million more visitors to the Square per year". "Making Fed Square the home of Melbourne's most popular lending library would provide Melburnians with free access to event spaces, creative technologies and world-class resources," said Lord Mayor Sally Capp in a statement. The plan has been floated as part of the City of Melbourne's proposal to partner with the State Government to take over the management of Fed Square — which, at present, is independently managed — including overseeing its tenancies, maintenance and activation. [caption id="attachment_764005" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Koorie Heritage Trust, Artra Sartracom, Visit Victoria[/caption] If the proposal goes ahead, the Council will also allocate an additional $7 million to the Koorie Heritage Trust. Those funds would "ensure the stories the Trust tells and the experiences it offers reach even more people," with a key focus on encouraging international visitors to engage with, experience and understand Aboriginal culture. Also floated: the staging of more events in Fed Square, drawing upon the City of Melbourne's track record with festivities such as Melbourne Music Week and Melbourne Fashion Week; plus efforts to link the site to the wider precinct, as well as to the MCG. The City of Melbourne's proposal has been submitted to the Victorian Government's current Federation Square Review, which is due to deliver its key recommendations sometime early this year. Top image: Robert Blackburn, Visit Victoria
It's safe to say Gami Chicken & Beer has secured its status as one of Australia's go-to fried chicken joints, slinging its signature, Korean-style chook from 23 locations across the city. After opening its seventeenth Melbourne spot, in The Glen Shopping Centre, and third Sydney store on Market Street in the CBD earlier this year, Gami is about to launch its first (super-spicy) limited-edition flavour. And, to celebrate, Gami is giving Aussies a few very good reasons to jump on board, handing out a whopping 250 pieces of its boneless fried chicken with the new sauce at every one of its stores — for free. These new fried chicken morsels come lathered in mala — a super-spicy Chinese sauce packed with sichuan peppercorns (yep, the numbing ones), chilli peppers, soybean paste and spices. As always, the chicken is also RSPCA-approved and also rocks Gami's signature blend of 17 herbs and spices. You can try the mala chicken for free from 5.30pm today, Friday, November 29, at all stores. Only the first 250 people will get a free taste, though, so don't sleep on it. Once you're hooked, you're probably going to want to schedule a return visit pretty quick, to try other Gami favourites like the chicken spare ribs, the vegetarian chicken and the aptly named Potato Heaven, featuring three layers of cheesy potato goodness — all paired with ice cold beers, of course. If you want more of the mala sauce, it'll also be available — for a limited time — with stir-fried chicken and tteok bok ki (Korean rice cakes), as well as the fried chicken. Gami will give away 250 pieces of mala boneless fried chicken from 5.30pm on Friday, November 29. Find your closest here.
It seems strange that street art comes with a press release these days. Its creation was once banished to the darkest hours of the night to be carried out by wanted dudes in hoodies and runners; now it gets its own fanfare. Is it even still a crime? Regardless, it makes sense that this one was delivered to our inbox today. After being the star of zillions of Instagram posts in downtown LA, Colette Miller's Wings installation is coming to the streets of Melbourne and Sydney. Brace yourselves, this is sure to trend in no time. Originally created in 2012, the now-famous installation was imagined as a way for people to start interacting with art in urban spaces. As it encouraged people to take photos with it, this multi-colour paste-up was a hit — an instant classic to the growing list of must-see artworks around the streets of LA. Since then, it's been brought to Washington, Nairobi and now Australia. It appears that the desire to be a giant neon angel is universal. Melbournians and Sydneysiders can experience this strange privilege for a limited time this month. Flying over to Sydney first as part of Arts Brookfield, the wings will be plastered at World Square and King Street Wharf from September 5 'til October 9. At two metres high and three metres wide, they'll be hard to miss — not to mention the crowd of happy snappers that will invariably surround them. The wings will be appearing in Melbourne from September 15 to October 15 at Southern Cross Lane near the corner of Bourke and Exhibition Streets. And, with such a central CBD location, the artist's point is pretty clear. "Cities bring humans together and Wings is accessible art that aims to capture the imagination of workers as they transverse the city," said Miller. "My Wings are a universal archetypal symbol of humanity and its divine self." While we think the latter point is reaching a little far, we wholeheartedly agree with the former. Everyone deserves some sprawling, neon art to admire on their lunch break and it's well worth taking the time for a selfie.
Over the past decade Hofesh Shechter has carved out a career as one of Britain’s most sought-after choreographers, delivering critical hits that showcase his prior talents as both a dancer and musician. Sun is the fourth show he’s brought to the Melbourne Festival, where it receives its world premiere. Before this, we spoke with Shechter from his adopted home of England. “Sun started with trying to find something a bit lighter, more positive. I was looking at my work thinking, 'It’s very dark, everything that comes out', which has a lot to do with my circumstances in life,” he said. Shechter was brought up in Israel, where he was called up for a period of national service. Form this, he somehow managed to continue his dance training but the experience forced him to question the realities of freedom. For Sun, he brought his initial ideas to the dancers and found they were transformed into something far more complex, with a sometimes awkward conflict between light and shade beginning to emerge. “In a way, this piece is dealing with a search for happiness," Shechter said. "Something very basic we all have — looking for a happy place under the sun. But there’s an undercurrent of danger and emotions that are much more difficult moving underneath.” This complexity is familiar to Shechter's work, as he draws from his talents across multiple art forms. Watching footage of his work, it’s clear that his musical background in particular informs the nature of his choreography — he creates movement born inside the music. In Sun he is combining prerecorded sound with original composition. “Having that strong connection between the music and the choreography allows for a fuller, more powerful experience,” he says. “In a way it just makes my life more difficult, because making a soundscape is extremely detailed and time consuming, and with the choreography as well it becomes a bit of a monster. But very rewarding.” He has an obvious passion for the connection between music and dance; not just because of the possibilities that stem from combining the two, but from the qualities they share closely beneath the surface. “It’s funny – when you’re making music you’re doing the job of arranging elements in time – it’s all about the relationship between one note to the other. So the two forms are very close friends and family.” Having worked constantly for the past ten years on pure dance as well as choreography for theatre and television, Shechter has been well-placed to observe the continuing evolution of his art form. But he’s reluctant to describe the ways in which that dance has changed. “As much as I want to think that dance is a unique department in an office that we’re working together, it is in effect made out of so many events – choreographers that appear and disappear. That makes it very hard to tell whether there is real progress or whether it’s just individual people. Contemporary dance is searching for itself. It’s still not clear what it is, and that puts the art form in a very interesting place.” Sun will be performed at the Melbourne Festival from October 11-16. Top image by Heather Judge.
