So Brunetti has moved home. What does this mean? Well, it means that it has moved house from Faraday Street in Carlton to the Lygon Street centre, where Borders once used to stand. Before Borders, however, Brunetti started its journey in this exact same location in 1974. With five other locations now across Melbourne, Brunetti is showing no sign of wavering. On a sunny Sunday afternoon, to say the place is filled to the brim would be an understatement. People are searching left and right for a table and the staff are working in overdrive. This, surprisingly, isn't helped by the four or five sections to the venue. A word to the wise, food comes to your table and drinks are collected from the bar. The space is no doubt beautiful. The drinks counter in the centre is a large round bar with hanging lights, while wine barrels cut and hung on the wall make for interesting dining companions. When it comes to the food, you can rest assured all the regulars are there in the cake department. Walls of glass cabinets filled with sweet treats will make you want to skip lunch and head straight to dessert. Lemon tarts, Opera slice, ricotta cannolis, oh my. Good luck choosing just one indulgence. What is a little different is the vast a la carte menu. For something simple you can go for the torchietti alla napoletana with tomato, basil and extra virgin olive oil ($19.50) or for a classic try the linguini alle vongole with clams, white wine and garlic. Pizzas range from traditional with the Margherita (tomato, fresh mozzarella, basil and oregano, $17.40) to the fried with the Di Matteo (salami, broccoli, ricotta and chilli, $20). If you're sticking to the savoury options, we suggest heading to the al la carte menu, rather than the readymade meals, as you are bound to get a fresher, more flavoursome meal if it's being make to order. We also recommend heading in on a quieter night. The sheer size of the place (400 seater) runs the risk of losing that Brunetti charm when it is packed out.
Breakfast and dessert haven't looked so cosy till now. Welcome to gelato like you've never seen it before. Brought to you by iconic gelateria Piccolina and black pepper evangelists Pep, Sunny Side Up is a fun treat that blurs the line between breakfast and dessert. Fusing Piccolina's signature artisanal gelato with the deep flavour and aromatic complexity of Pep's premium Cambodian black pepper, this is a delicious, adventurous and somewhat egg-centric dessert that looks, at first glance, like a perfectly fried egg. "We've always loved pushing the boundaries of what gelato can be," says Piccolina founder Sandra Foti. "Sunny Side Up is playful, sophisticated and unique – a true testament to the magic of exceptional ingredients." For Pep, this collaboration is a delightful foray into the wonderful, wild world of desserts. "Black pepper isn't your usual sweet ingredient, but as any pastry or dessert chef will tell you, its versatility is extraordinary," says Pep co-founder Josh Gardiner. "As long-time fans of Piccolina's inventive flare, we hope everyone gets as much of a kick out of this lively little number as we do." So, here's what you'll get: black pepper mango jam gelato topped with a coconut jelly 'egg white' and frosty fruit jelly 'yolk', finished off with many hearty cranks of freshly cracked Pep, of course. It's cold, it's delicious, it's dessert at its very best, and it's a limited edition creation that you don't want to miss. Available exclusively across all Piccolina Gelateria stores for two weeks only from Wednesday, March 5.
Armadale and wine bars go together like aged cheddar and cabernet sav, with existing favourites in the suburb including Auterra, Toorak Cellars, Otter's Promise and Albert's. Enter By The Glass, Armadale's newest vino merchant, where guests can purchase their favourite drops by the bottle or (hence the name) glass. By The Glass seats 68 patrons, which is on the rowdy side for a neighbourhood wine lounge, but the space in Kings Arcade is broken up nicely by the giant horseshoe, terrazzo bar. If you're after a midweek date venue with oysters, riesling and witty banter, this place fits the bill nicely. There's also seating outside, in the arcade, when things get busy. The wine list itself is pretty adventurous. Lots of Austrian and German rieslings, chardonnay from California, white aromatics and chablis from France, punchy reds from Spain and Portugal, plus several hand-picked local vineyards. You could drink your way around the world in a single night. Head chef and venue manager Myles Davis-Schiele isn't pulling any punches with the food, either. Expect burnt butter brioche topped with mackerel, duck and lamb pâté flying off the pass, and oysters with a sprinkle of bloody shiraz gin caviar. Big continental flavours are the name of the game here. "We've worked hard to bring something different to Armadale. By The Glass teeters on the edge of a traditional wine bar, managing to offer a sense of eclecticism through its menu and overall aesthetic. I think the local community will appreciate a place of difference on this side of the river," owner Ron Dhali says. Image: Simon Shiff, supplied.
If there's one thing that's sure in life, it's that you can never have enough plants. Luckily for us, Greener House Nursery has all of the flora you need to create a tropical nook in every corner of your home. Inside, you'll be surrounded by creeping devil's ivy and lush peace lilies, plus gorgeous pots, hanging planters and accessories that would look perfect in your bedroom. All of the plants are grown by Aussie farmers and the staff are horticulturalist hunnies that are always willing to provide helpful advice — there's even a design and maintenance service that'll help you figure out exactly where to place your plants and how to keep them alive. Keep an eye out for the nursery's regular warehouse sales to snag some bargains.
What happens when New Zealand's own Rose Matafeo (Baby Done) takes on British romantic comedies? In 2021, the answer was Starstruck. It's the rom-com sitcom that doesn't just fit the genre, but also loves it, unpacks it, and knows how to adapt its tropes in a smart and hilarious way. In fact, it was a delight in its first season, and then again in its second run in 2022. Here's hoping that when September rolls around, it'll prove the same once more in season three. One of the best of new shows of its debut year and best returning series of its second year, Starstruck was renewed for a third shot of love in London last year — and now the latest season arrives when romance is usually in the air, aka spring Down Under. This time, Matafeo's Jessie is single after breaking up with famous actor Tom (Nikesh Patel, Four Weddings and a Funeral), and now navigating what that all means. No matter who's starring in them, when and where they're set, and whether they're showing on the big or small screen, romantic comedies do adore telling tales about trying to hold onto a good thing. Two people meet, fall for each other — whether immediately or eventually — and work through whatever it takes to enjoy their romantic bliss: that's it, that's the genre's familiar formula. It's a setup that TV series Starstruck has been both adhering to and interrogating over its run so far, too, but the show is branching out narrative-wise when it returns in Australia via ABC iView from 9.30pm on Wednesday, September 6 and in New Zealand via TVNZ+ from 8.30pm on Saturday, September 2. If you're new to the series, New Zealander Jessie didn't realise that Tom was so well-known when they met. Once she was aware, that fact was inescapable as they tried to make their fairy tale relationship work. And yes, before the show entered its post-Tom era (although he still pops up) as its just-dropped season-three trailer notes, Matafeo — who stars, writes and created the series — well and truly knew that Notting Hill got there first. To-date, the series has proven a wonderful showcase for Matafeo, and also a savvily smart exploration of rom-com tropes as well, embracing and subverting them as needed. Nodding to romantic comedies such as The Graduate, Love Actually and Bridget Jones' Diary has also come with the territory, amusingly, affectionately and astutely so. Matafeo co-writes Starstruck with fellow comedians Alice Snedden and Nic Sampson, with Matafeo and Snedden also directing the third season. Check out the trailer for Starstruck season three below: Starstruck season three will stream in Australia via ABC iView from 9.30pm on Wednesday, September 6 and in New Zealand via TVNZ+ from 8.30pm on Saturday, September 2. Starstruck's first and second seasons are available to stream in Australia via ABC iView and in New Zealand via TVNZ+. Read our full review of Starstruck's first season — and our full review of its second season, too. Images: Mark Johnson/HBO Max.
Meat pies and sausage rolls will never go out of style at the footy — even if they do cost a fortune nowadays. But sports stadiums across Australia have noticed how punters increasingly desire a really decent meal before or after a game. More specifically, these venues see how there is a lot to gain from feeding fans within the stadium rather than having them hit up a local pub or restaurant before heading over to catch a match. To achieve this, GMHBA Stadium has brought out the big guns: Melbourne's forever-favourite Chin Chin. Chris Lucas' new restaurant is slated to stick around for one year as a pop-up (sadly, it isn't a permanent fixture), but we're hoping that its huge popularity might change that. Even before Club Chin Chin opened on Sunday, May 4, there was a 5,000+ waitlist. And even though it is fully booked in May, June and July reservations are now available for anyone to book — not just footy fans. Chin Chin regulars will find a stack of familiar dishes served at both the Melbourne and Sydney Chin Chin, alongside a few new bites that are exclusive to Geelong. Signature dishes only found at GMHBA Stadium include crispy prawn spring rolls and a panang curry that's packed with twice-cooked lamb. Bevs are a highly local affair, featuring beers from Blackman's Brewery and wines from Jack Rabbit, Yes Said The Seal, Leura Park, Mulline, Bannockburn and Oakdene. "From growing up in Belmont to now opening my first venue in Geelong, I couldn't be prouder", says Chris Lucas. "Launching a third Chin Chin outpost in my own hometown is a dream come true. And doing it in collaboration with my beloved football team, the mighty Cats — well, it doesn't get any better than that." Club Chin Chin can be found at GMHBA Stadium, 370 Moorabool Street, South Geelong. AFL game-goers can book a table before a match, while regular programming will see Club Chin Chin open from 5pm–late on Thursday, 12pm–late on Friday and Saturday, and 12pm on Sunday for lunch. Find more details and book a highly-coveted table via the venue's website.
While unscrewing the cap of a bottled cocktail was the closest many of us got to a bar for a large chunk of 2020, some clever Melburnians actually opened a bar this year. And they're an impressive bunch, too. Our fair city is now home to an urban winery in the north, an opulent three-balcony champagne bar in the CBD and a Miami-inspired boozer floating smack bang in the middle of the Yarra. That's just the start. As the storm clouds start to clear and we reach the end of a weird (and sometimes horrific) 12 months, we're taking a moment to celebrate the good that's come from 2020 by rounding up the best new bars to open their doors this year.
Lygon Street and its surrounds might once have been wall-to-wall, old-school Italian joints — and famously so. But a new wave of residents are slowly but surely shaking up the demographic. Tortilla and tequila bar Taquito, famed ramen joint Hakata Gensuke and even all-vegan pub the Green Man's Arms have settled happily into the neighbourhood. And, next up, it's time for modern east Asian eats, courtesy of newcomer Lagoon Dining. This one's the debut joint venture from a trio of hospitality young guns and Ezard alumni – Chris Lerch, Ned Trumble and Keat Lee – along with business partner Susan Wyles. The 80-seat restaurant has made its home right in the heart of this iconic strip, taking over the space that once housed the Lygon Food Store. The menu is grounded in traditional Chinese sensibilities, though you'll also spy plenty of other Asian influences, as well a few clever riffs on Chinese food concepts plucked from further abroad. Pull up a seat at the bar and snack your way through options like popcorn chicken teamed with white pepper togarashi and curry leaf, pork and cabbage dumplings, and xinjiang-spiced lamb ribs. Raw dishes might include the likes of a 'hot and numbing' beef tartare, while a wok selection stars combinations like mapo tofu knots with mustard greens and shiitake. Larger offerings come in the form of charcoal-roasted char siu pork matched with tare sauce and spring onion relish, and steamed market fish paired with Hunan-style salted chilli. A banquet menu clocks in at $70 per person. Meanwhile, sommelier Ben Skipper has headed up the drinks lineup, designing a broad-ranging rotation of craft beers – from local Cavalier pilsner to NZ's Garage Project White Mischief — as well as spirits and aperitifs. The wine list is a considered trip across the globe and the cocktail offering's set to change up regularly. Right now, the house sour is a blend of Plantation rum, pineapple and sugar cane, while the spritz teams umeshu, yuzu soda and sparkling wine. Find Lagoon Dining at 263 Lygon Street, Carlton. It's open from 5pm till late Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, and 12pm till late Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Images: Nikki To.
Not content with doing big business in cinemas over the past decade, Marvel is bringing its superhero tales to the small screen, as part of Disney's already-announced plans to broaden out the Marvel Cinematic Universe. That was always going to be the case once the Mouse House moved into the streaming realm. In fact, producing a slew of high-profile titles for Disney+ was on its agenda right from the beginning. But, while Star Wars fans have already been able to enjoy The Mandalorian — which aired one season in 2019, and launched its second season this year — Marvel aficionados have had to hold out a little longer to get their episodic caped crusader fix. With 2021 almost upon us, that wait is almost over. Come Friday, January 15, the six-episode series WandaVision will become Disney+'s first MCU show — focusing on Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany), as the title suggests. But it'll have company within months, with The Falcon and the Winter Soldier due to hit on Friday, March 19 and Loki dropping sometime in May. And, if you've been feeling the lack of Marvel action this year due to worldwide cinema shutdowns, the latter two shows now have their first trailers. Clearly, no one at Marvel and Disney+ has been taxing themselves while naming these series. So, you instantly know who they're about. In The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan reprise the eponymous characters and head off on a global adventure. Their exploits will span six episodes, too, and will co-star Daniel Brühl as Baron Zemo, Emily VanCamp as Sharon Carter,and Wyatt Russell as John Walker. In Loki, Tom Hiddleston is obviously back as the God of Mischief — and enjoying stepping into the trickster's shoes again, if the trailer is anything to go by. Viewers will watch his antics post-Avengers: Endgame, with Owen Wilson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Sophia Di Martino, Wunmi Mosaku and Richard E. Grant rounding out the cast. Yes, there are more shows in the works, too, with Ms. Marvel and Hawkeye due to hit sometime later in 2021, and She-Hulk, Moon Knight, Secret Invasion (about Samuel L Jackson's Nick Fury), Iron Heart, Armour Wars, I Am Groot and a Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special all slated as well. But, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Loki are the only ones to drop their first sneak peek as part of Disney's big 2020 Investor Day on Friday, December 11 Australian/New Zealand time — while a new trailer for WandaVision also hit. Check out the first trailers for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Loki, and the new WandaVision trailer, all below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkBfGvb7NzM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4JuopziR3Q https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBhlqe2OTt4 WandaVision will hit Disney+ on Friday, January 15, 2021. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will hit the service on Friday, March 19, while Loki is due on a yet-to-be-announced date in May.
Over the past decade, Sydney Film Festival's opening-night movies have included Goldstone, The New Boy and We Don't Need a Map, all Australian titles from Indigenous directors. It's too early to say what 2024's fest will launch with to mark the cinema celebration's 71st year; however, First Nations filmmaking will firmly be in the spotlight via a brand-new cash prize that joins the event's slate of awards. SFF will now be home to the world's largest cash accolade for Indigenous cinema: the $35,000 First Nations Award. Set to debut at the 2024 festival, which runs from Wednesday, June 5–Sunday, June 16, the prize will be handed out in Sydney but is open to films from around the world — shorts as well — as long as it is featured in Sydney Film Festival's annual First Nations program strand. "The First Nations Award is more than a celebration of unique storytelling; it's a crucial investment in the future of Indigenous cinema. By offering this level of support, we hope to encourage more First Nations filmmakers to share their stories, enriching the film industry with diverse perspectives and voices," said SFF's long-running Festival Director Nashen Moodley. "This award aligns seamlessly with Sydney Film Festival's long-standing commitment to fostering cultural diversity and amplifying Indigenous narratives." "It is entirely fitting that the Sydney Film Festival, which for so long has been a champion of First Nations stories and storytellers from around the world, now offers the largest single cash prize for First Nations film globally," added SFF Chair Darren Dale. "This prize will inspire, motivate and reward established and emerging First Nations filmmakers with the promise that their art is important, is valued and will be seen." The First Nations Award is supported by Australian production company Truant Pictures, and joins SFF's annual gongs alongside the annual $60,000 Sydney Film Prize, the $40,000 Sustainable Future Award, the $20,000 Documentary Australia Award and the range of Dendy Awards for Australian Short Films. If you're a First Nations filmmaker with a movie that you'd love to be considered to screen at this year's SFF, and to go in the running for the new award, you have until Friday, March 1 to submit. Sydney Film Festival 2024 takes place from Wednesday, June 5–Sunday, June 16 at various cinemas and venues around Sydney. For more information, head to the festival's website. Images: Tim Levy / Luke Latty.
Victorians, it's holiday time. After a year largely spent staring at your own four walls, you probably don't need much motivation to head out of town, but the State Government is giving you some anyway. In an effort to encourage everyone to take a getaway within the state, it's handing out $200 vouchers for regional travel. This isn't new news. The move was first announced back in mid-November — as part of a $465 million Victorian Tourism Recovery Package — and this past week, on Thursday, December 10, the exact details of what you can spend the money on, when you can spend it and exactly how you can get your hands on the vouchers have been unveiled. Also, on Friday, December 11, the first batch of 40,000 vouchers was made available. To the surprise of no one, that initial release proved mighty popular. In fact, there was such heavy demand for the initiative that, when the first vouchers were put up for grabs, there were long delays and the Business Victoria voucher registration page had to go offline for extended periods. All 40,000 vouchers released were still snapped up across the day, though, but not without plenty of frustration for plenty of folks. So, in response, the Victorian Government has announced that it is extending the scheme and adding another 30,000 vouchers. They're in addition to the 120,000 already planned — those already given out, plus two other 40,000 batches — and will be available from midday on Monday, December 14 for trips up until January 22. [caption id="attachment_772433" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Otway Fly Treetop Adventures[/caption] The scheme has two obvious aims: enticing Victorian residents to go venturing throughout the state, and helping support regional pubs, hotels, wineries and small businesses. As for when the rest of the vouchers will be handed out, there'll be two more rounds on Wednesday, January 20 and Tuesday, March 30 — for travel between January 27–April 1 and April 6–May 31, respectively. The vouchers can be spent on accommodation, tourism attractions and tours in regional Victoria, the Yarra Ranges and the Mornington Peninsula. But, there's a hefty list of things you can't spend them on, including gaming, alcohol, fuel, food and drinks (unless it's part of a winery tour, for example), groceries, personal items (such as clothing) and transport (such as rental cars and public transport). So, you can't just use the voucher to road trip to a pub, but you can use it to book accommodation at the pub, then spend your own money on food and drinks — which will still make your trip away significantly cheaper. There are some additional caveats, too: the vouchers are limited to one per household (not per person) across the entire scheme; you must first provide evidence of spending $400 on accommodation, attractions or tours before getting your $200; and you must pay for a minimum of two nights accommodation in regional Victoria. Which means, at most, half of your expenses will be covered — but, that's $200 that you won't have to fork out yourself. Yes, it's a little complicated — but the Vic Government has broken it down in more detail over here. It has also given some more examples of what you can use the vouchers on, including holiday parks, camping sites, cottages, farm stays, private holiday rentals, houseboats (yes, houseboats), winery tours, adventure tours and entry fees to regional attractions, such as. museums, water parks and adventure parks. You can apply for the bonus round of 30,000 $200 travel vouchers from midday on Monday, December 14 at business.vic.gov.au/travelvouchers. Subsequent rounds will open on Wednesday, January 20 and on Tuesday, March 30. Top image: Peninsula Hot Springs via Visit Victoria
Gone are the days of sad shopping centre food courts and the dubious contents of all-day bains-marie. This is Melbourne, and when it comes to food, we demand the best. In that light, Burwood Brickworks is more than the eastern suburbs' newest (and most environmentally sustainable) retail destination — it's also your brand new flavour hub. From now until March 28, the new Burwood East destination, located in the heart of the 'hood on Middleborough Road, is showcasing the best of dining hub Eat Street, with a range of unmissable meals at a steal. Need help narrowing it down? We've done the hard work for you — these are the nine signature dishes you should try first. [caption id="attachment_803861" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kate Shanasy[/caption] HONEY CAKE AT ACRE CAKE AND COUNTER The journey from farm to table doesn't get much shorter than this: Acre is a functioning, sustainable urban farm — complete with a garden, greenhouse and honeybees — located on the roof of Burwood Brickworks. From the team behind Sydney's two Acre sites, the elegant farmhouse restaurant and plant-filled greenhouse cafe has a seasonal menu, but don't miss the sweet stuff. Head to Cake and Counter for wholesome classics (think toasties and sausage rolls), Proud Mary coffee and indulgent treats like banoffee pie and baked cheesecake. If you're limiting yourself to just one, though, there's no going past the signature house-made honey cream cake, made with honey from the beehive farm. From now until March 28, enjoy a creamy honey cake and coffee for $10. [caption id="attachment_803881" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kate Shanasy[/caption] CHICKEN BURGER AND CHIPS AT GAMI CHICKEN AND BEER You probably know this group-friendly dining chain for its famous mounded platters of crispy fried chicken, tossed in spicy, garlicky or sweet soy sauces. But Gami's chicken burger deserves just as much airtime — after all, these guys are the fried chicken masters. Here, a juicy thigh fillet is deep-fried, sandwiched in a toasted bun and finished with Gami cheese sauce and a crunchy, refreshing apple coleslaw. Best eaten with a side of chips and one of those ice-cold beers, of course. From now until March 28, enjoy an indulgent chicken burger and chips for $10. [caption id="attachment_803864" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kate Shanasy[/caption] ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT HOT POT AT HOT HOT POT You had us at all you can eat. And no, that's not a typo in the name — Hot Hot Pot specialises in the eight-hour, 18-herbs-and-spices flavour bomb that is malatang. Book a slot for your all-you-can-eat hour and load up on all the ingredients you desire: premium meats, seafood, fishballs, tofu, mushrooms and a few greens for good measure. Choose your broth spice level (ranging from 'mild' to 'insane'), prepare your dipping sauces, and settle in for the long haul. From now until March 28, enjoy spicy, all-you-can-eat hot pot for $10. Bookings are essential. Call 0466 680 081 to make a reservation. [caption id="attachment_803866" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kate Shanasy[/caption] ASSORTED SASHIMI AT ICHIRO IZAKAYA Can't get to Japan for a while? Let Japan come to you at Ichiro. This casual izakaya, fitted out with sustainable and recycled materials, features classic bar snacks like chicken karaage, okonomiyaki and yakitori, as well as sushi, hot pot and teishoku set meals. The star of the show, however, is the fresh sashimi platter of delicately sliced scallop, salmon and kingfish, perfectly paired with a Japanese beer or sake. From now until March 28, enjoy a platter of assorted sashimi for $10. [caption id="attachment_803869" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kate Shanasy[/caption] FAJITAS AT ROSA MEXICANO If you'd like your feast to be more of a fiesta, Rosa Mexicano is the perfect spot to bring your whole crew. In addition to an impressive selection of cocktails, sangria, tequila and beer — as well as house mocktails and Mexican sodas — the sprawling menu showcases some of Mexico's most beloved flavours. The menu includes hefty burritos, loaded nachos, chargrilled corn and smoked jalapeños — but the sizzling fajita platter is the showstopper. Choose steak, chicken, fish or the veggie option, grab some extra sides like pico de gallo or sour cream, and load your tortilla just the way you like it. From now until March 28, enjoy a plate of sizzling fajitas for $10. [caption id="attachment_803871" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kate Shanasy[/caption] HUNAN-STYLE STIR-FRIED PORK AT TASTE HUNAN One of the eight culinary cuisines of China, Hunan, or Xiang, is probably lesser known here than its spicy counterpart, Sichuan. Eat Street's Taste Hunan is here to put it firmly on your radar. And there's no better place to start than the chilli-laden stir-fried pork, a classic of the region that sees sliced, tender pork wok-fried with soy, garlic, veggies, and, of course, a generous helping of aromatic chilli. In fact, most of the menu at Taste Hunan promise a spice, chilli or 'special sauce' sensation. The experience is probably best appreciated by sharing a range of dishes, so bring your cadre of spice-seekers and settle in for a feast. From now until March 28, tuck into a serve of Hunan-style stir-fried pork for $10. [caption id="attachment_803874" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kate Shanasy[/caption] SALAMI PIZZA OR THREE-CHEESE PIZZA AT NEW NORTHCOTE BREWHOUSE New Northcote Brewhouse pairs unpretentious beer with honest food. The core craft froths are from Diamond Hills' Golden Hills Brewery, with other local brews also available on tap. This ain't your average tavern, though — it's a stylish and airy space, with a very decent wine and cocktail selection to boot. On the menu you'll find refined pub classics, including a range of impressive pizzas. Our favourites are the salami with fior di latte and chilli, and the indulgent three-cheese, featuring mozzarella, ricotta and brie. From now until March 28, enjoy a salami or three-cheese pizza for $10. [caption id="attachment_803882" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kate Shanasy[/caption] SMASHED AVO AT NORWOOD CAFE Good, honest food with heart is the Norwood Cafe way, from sustainable ingredients and farming practices to a minimal-waste approach to food prep. The menu here focuses on nourishing, mindful meals and freshly baked goods, cold-pressed juices and in-house roasted coffee from sustainably sourced beans. We're suckers for the classics, and this smashed avo definitely hits the spot. It's served on seeded artisanal sourdough and topped with a poached egg, feta, dukkah and some aesthetically pleasing flashes of colourful beetroot hummus and pickled tomatoes. From now until March 28, get your smashed avo on for $10. [caption id="attachment_803879" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kate Shanasy[/caption] CHOC-DIPPED CONE AT BEN AND JERRY'S Stop in at the parlour for a scoop of America's favourite ice cream. Load up your waffle cone with one (or more) of the 24 flavours on offer, or get a freshly filled pint to take home — you can even have it topped with chocolate, sweets or a fudge layer. But there's no going past the most utterly extra cone in town, the Ben and Jerry's choc-dipped variety: your ice cream flavour (or flavours) of choice in a crunchy, chocolate-dipped waffle cone. Simple. Elegant. Glorious. From now until March 28, crunch into a regular choc-dipped cone (two flavours) for $5. Find out more about Burwood Brickworks' exclusive March dining offers here. Offers are available daily from 12–2pm and 5–8pm, until March 28. Top image: New Northcote Brewhouse
What was once an unassuming textile factory in the easter suburbs, has been transformed into bright and breezy cafe Levi. It's not so easy to miss now, though — along with a complete interior renovation, the Murrumbeena warehouse has a fresh new eye-catching blue and white facade. Sporting a chipper fit-out of bright white and blonde timber by design studio Ewert Leaf, the sprawling light-filled space now has room for a huge 170 punters both inside and outside under a retractable roof. Serving breakfast and lunch seven days a week, it has all the makings of a local favourite. Simplicity proves key across a contemporary menu from Head Chef Emma Jeffery (ex-Gilson, Mammoth). It's a diverse lineup, featuring dishes like a hot roast chicken and stuffing roll, finished with house-made gravy and curls of fried chicken skin ($19), and the Turkish-style chilli eggs matched with peri peri tomato, hot chilli butter and a whipped herb yoghurt ($19). The omelette comes loaded with XO pork, curry leaf, water chestnuts and kewpie ($20), and you'll even spy a breakfast pavlova starring poached peaches, mandarin granita and a hot white chocolate mousse ($17.50). After 11am, you can go all out with a burger ($19.50) or mushroom pappardelle ($21). The drinks offering is equally broad, headlined by coffee from co-owner Lucas Sproson's own Hallelujah Coffee label. The espresso's backed by a slew of cold pressed juices, smoothies and shakes. Due to the sheer size of the venue, there's also an added bonus for parents in the on-site kids' zone, decked out with a mini climbing wall, chalkboard, beanbags and books. Images: Simon Shiff.
Fitzroy has welcomed a new haven of 70s disco dazzle, as The Lame Duck arrives to heat things up this summer. Behind a glittering gold door and up a flight of stairs on the corner of Gertrude and Smith Streets, this newbie's rocking a retro pool room aesthetic with a definite disco edge. Cementing those old-school party vibes, expect a healthy dose of wood panelling, a shrine to the one and only Cher, a working photo booth for late-night happy snaps, and a Billy Bass presiding happily over the room. A vintage purple pool table snookers all the others in town, and enormous booths — decked out in hot pink palm trees, no less — are primed for group festivities. With a nifty 4am licence, and a couple of hospitality veterans at the helm, it's a place where letting your hair down is most certainly encouraged. The cocktail offering is embracing the very best of eras past, slinging new-school takes on some of the 70s' best-known daggy drinks. There's the daring Mezcal Sunrise ($18) with pink grapefruit juice, a piña colada-margarita mash-up ($18) and the signature Lame Fluffy Duck ($18) — a gin and Aperol sour. More retro classics pepper the snacks menu; you'll find yourself stepping back in time with bites like pickled onions, hot dogs and an oozy baked camembert fondue. Meanwhile, the DJ tunes will be spinning nightly, with residents like JNETT and Capt'n Shergz throwing down a hearty mix of disco, funk and soul jams. Be sure to bring your party shoes — dancing on the tables is a-ok at The Lame Duck. At least for the time being. Find The Lame Duck at 1/247 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy. It's open 4pm–late Tuesday–Thursday, 3pm-late Friday, and 2pm–late Saturday and Sunday. Images: Jess Middleton.
At the CBD's newest breakfast destination, Cafe Lafayette, the morning meal takes a verge from the well-worn eggs and avo on toast. But that should come as little surprise, given it's the brainchild of the same minds behind Prahran's adventurous all-day diner, Grand Lafayette. Already known for its OTT Japanese-inspired brunch plates, the cafe has spawned its first sibling and is now taking on the city from the laneway space once home to Restaurant Shik (which sadly closed its doors last April). And the 60-seater is clearly out to draw attention to itself with a dramatic design by award-winning firm Hassell. The cafe isn't light and airy by any means — the moody backlit walls and black tables are matched with shiny surfaces that reflect pink, blue and orange neon lights to create the effect that you're in a bar after work, not eating brunch at 10am. An all-day brunch offering has a soft spot for theatrics, filled with clever reworkings of the classics. And if you're going to break out of your eggs-on-toast comfort zone, how better to do it than with some bolognese-topped panko-crumbed eggplant, teamed with mounds of parmesan and a poached egg? Otherwise, stick with the somewhat familiar with Lafayette's take on eggs benny, which matches braised pork belly with a cod roe potato croquette, sautéed kale, hollandaise and a balsamic dressing. There's also fried chicken — here served with a squid ink waffle, maple syrup, cheese sauce and wild honeycomb — and an elegant bird's nest-inspired creation featuring Japanese okonomiyaki with bacon, tonkatsu sauce, yuzu mayo and a 62.5-degree egg. Or, you might want to sink your teeth into the charcoal grilled eel hotdog, starring Japanese omelette, kale, picked onion and yuzu mayo, sided with crisp seaweed chips. [caption id="attachment_757998" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The unagi hot dog[/caption] The situation gets just as wild over on the drinks list, where the signature sip is a 'technicolour latte' — essentially a full-fat white coffee jazzed up with a rainbow of colourful latte art. Elsewhere, you'll spy turmeric lattes, a series of supercharged shakes and an iced green tea latte made on top-quality Japanese matcha. Find Cafe Lafayette at 30 Niagara Lane, Melbourne CBD. It's open 10am to 3pm Monday to Friday, and 10am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday. Images: Griffin Simm.
Since late March, Australians haven't been permitted to leave the country. For much of the past few months, we haven't been allowed to travel much further than our own homes, either. But, while one of those situations won't be changing anytime soon — other than the possible implementation of a travel bubble with New Zealand — the other is starting to ease in many Aussie states and territories. Despite the political rhetoric of recent months, opening Australia back up to Australian residents isn't as easy as it sounds. Indeed, with Victoria's COVID-19 case numbers increasing drastically in late June and early July, resulting in the reimplementation of stay-at-home requirements for all of metropolitan Melbourne for at least six weeks, relaxing interstate borders is proving particularly complex. Just where you can travel to depends on where you normally live and where you'd like to head — and if you're wondering what it means for your next road trip or local holiday, we've broken down the current restrictions for you state by state. Details in this article are correct as at Friday, July 17, and will be updated as new information is announced. [caption id="attachment_775040" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Port Stephens by Destination NSW[/caption] NEW SOUTH WALES Throughout Australia's response to the COVID-19 pandemic to-date, New South Wales was one of only two states that didn't impose any border restrictions upon domestic travellers — until now. Due to the rising case numbers in Victoria, NSW has closed the border between the two states for the first time in more than 100 years (the last time was in 1919 during the Spanish Flu). Effective since midnight on Tuesday, July 7, NSW has only closed its border with Victoria. Its borders remain open with all other Australian states and territories. Victorians wishing to enter NSW must apply for a border permit to travel from Victoria to NSW. To obtain a permit — which is valid for 14 days — you need to fall into a number of set categories, such as cross-border residents, students or those employed to provide critical services. Also, permits are not available to Victorian residents who are prevented from travelling due to public health restrictions, which means everyone living in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire. Even with a permit, anyone who has been in Victoria in the 14 days before entering NSW will need to self-isolate for 14 days. You can do so at home — and the quarantine requirements apply not only to Victorians, but to NSW residents returning home. [caption id="attachment_751687" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lean Timms for Visit Canberra[/caption] AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY In the Australian Capital Territory, the border has also been closed to anyone travelling to the ACT from Victoria — unless you have an exemption. The closure came into effect at the same time as NSW's similar border restrictions. ACT residents can return home from Victoria, and must quarantine for 14 days; however, for everyone else, exemptions only apply in select circumstances: visiting a immediate family member who is critically ill or in palliative care, undertaking essential services work, attending a funeral of an immediate family member, providing urgent care to an immediate family member, receiving urgent medical care, and if you've left Victoria by air after transiting from another jurisdiction, but you did not leave the airport. The ACT does not have any restrictions in place for travellers from other Australian states and territories. VICTORIA Like NSW, Victorian has not closed its borders throughout Australia's response to the COVID-19 pandemic to-date. And, while other states and territories are closing off from Victoria, the state's borders are actually still open. That said, leaders of Australia's other states and territories have strongly advised that no one should be travelling to Victoria at present — and if you do, you may be required to quarantine on return to your home state. For Victorians looking to venture interstate, you aren't just restricted by the rules of whichever state or territory you'd like to travel to, but — if you live in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire — by Victoria's public health restrictions. As part of the reintroduced stay-at-home limits in place from 11.59pm on Wednesday, July 8, Victorians in these areas are only allowed to leave home for one of four reasons: for work or school (if you can't do this from home), for care or care giving, for daily exercise or for food and other essentials. Going on a holiday anywhere — locally, regionally in Victoria or interstate — is definitely not permitted. [caption id="attachment_743607" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Whitehaven Beach by Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] QUEENSLAND From Friday, July 10, after much debate and discussion over the past few months, Queensland officially reopened its borders to interstate visitors from all states and territories — except Victoria, which is considered a COVID-19 hotspot. On Tuesday, July 14, the state added the Campbelltown City and Liverpool City local government areas in New South Wales to its hotspot list, too, which means anyone who has been in Victoria or those two NSW areas in the past 14 days cannot enter Queensland. People visiting from South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory, the Australian Capital Territory and other parts of NSW need to complete a border declaration form to obtain a Queensland border declaration pass. On it, you need to certify that you haven't travelled to Victoria or the aforementioned NSW spots in past 14 days — and the government has advised it'll be checking these statements, and that making a false statement will be an offence. And, you will need to agree to get tested for COVID-19 if you develop any symptoms within 14 days of arriving in Queensland. With the Queensland border closing back in March, the state has had a permit in place for some time for those wishing to cross the border; however previous permits issued before noon on Friday, July 3 are now invalid. Instead, everyone wanting to enter the state must apply for the aforementioned Queensland border declaration pass. If you have been in Victoria or the Campbelltown City and Liverpool City local government areas in New South Wales in the past 14 days, the state government advises that you should not come to Queensland. In general, you are not allowed to access or quarantine in the state, and you will be turned away at the border. Whether you live in the above areas or have visited them in the last fortnight, you'll only be allowed into Queensland if you receive an exemption "for essential specialist workers, as well as for health, legal or compassionate grounds", but Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk advises that "very few exemptions will be granted". If you do receive an exemption, you will be required to go into forced quarantine for 14 days, in a hotel, at your own expense. Queenslanders returning from Victoria, or the Campbelltown City and Liverpool City local government areas, will still be able to come home, but will also be required to go into forced quarantine for 14 days, in a hotel, at your own expense. [caption id="attachment_743719" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism WA[/caption] WESTERN AUSTRALIA At the height of Western Australia's COVID-19 restrictions, WA not only implemented a statewide border lockdown with the rest of the country, but internal travel restrictions within the state, barring travel from region to region. The latter have now largely been lifted for WA residents, who can mostly travel freely within the state — other than entering remote Aboriginal regions. Western Australia's statewide border lockdown is still in effect, however, with residents of all other states and territories banned from entering WA unless they fall into an exemption category, apply for a G2G Pass and, if approved, then self-isolate for 14 days. WA's roadmap to ease COVID-19 restrictions is currently in phase four — and, while removing the state's hard border was originally under consideration for phase six, which doesn't yet have a date, that plan was scrapped due to the situation in Victoria. At present, WA advises that "when an indicative date [for ending the border lockdown] is set in the future, it will be contingent on locally acquired infection rates in the eastern states. The WA hard border will only be removed when the WA Chief Health Officer is confident the spread of infection is controlled in the eastern states". [caption id="attachment_679107" align="alignnone" width="1920"] SATC[/caption] SOUTH AUSTRALIA After initially announcing in mid-June that it'd allow travellers from all interstate locations back in from Monday, July 20, South Australia has amended its plans in response to the situation in Victoria. As of midnight on Wednesday, July 8, it implemented a hard border with Victoria — only allowing Victorian residents to enter SA if they fall into the "essential traveller" category and agree to quarantine for 14 days. SA residents returning home from Victoria are still be permitted to enter the state, but also need to self-isolate for 14 days. Travel to SA from four Australian states and territories — Queensland, the Northern Territory, Tasmania and Western Australia — is already unrestricted and doesn't require a period of quarantine, although all visitors must receive pre-approval by completing the online Cross Border Travel Registration form. Travel to SA from New South Wales and the ACT is currently permitted, but only if travellers quarantine for a mandatory 14 days of self-isolation. All visitors must receive pre-approval by completing the online Cross Border Travel Registration form, too. [caption id="attachment_722075" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Thalia Haven for Tourism Tasmania.[/caption] TASMANIA All non-essential visitors to Tasmania are already required to quarantine for 14 days at a Tasmanian government accommodation facility — and, before travel, to complete a Tasmanian Arrivals Form. Exemptions are available on compassionate or medical grounds. Tasmania has not advised when these restrictions will come to an end. New rules also came into effect from 12am, Thursday, July 9, for people travelling from Victoria. A hard border has been implemented, and "any visitors who have spent time in Victoria in the 14 days prior to travel are not permitted to travel to Tasmania. If visitors come from Victoria to Tasmania, they will be turned back". Exemptions apply for essential travellers and for compassionate reasons. Tasmanian residents who have spent time in Victoria in the 14 days prior returning to the state will also be required to quarantine in government-provided accommodation for 14 days, too. [caption id="attachment_769946" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Australia[/caption] NORTHERN TERRITORY In mid-June, the Northern Territory announced that it would end all mandatory quarantine arrangements for travellers from interstate from Friday, July 17; however, as has proven the case in other states, the NT has adapted its plans in response to the situation in Victoria and some areas of NSW. Anyone travelling to the territory from an identified COVID-19 hotspot — if you live in one, or have been to or travelled through one in the past 14 days — must still undertake 14 days mandatory supervised quarantine at your own cost. All Australians from other states, and other areas in NSW, can visit without going into mandatory quarantine for 14 days. All travellers must complete a pre-arrival border crossing application form up to 72 hours before you arrive, regardless of where you're visiting from. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. Top image: Great Barrier Reef by Tourism and Events Queensland
Yabun Festival is held annually on January 26 at Victoria Park in Camperdown, Sydney, on Gadigal Land. Yabun — which means "music to a beat" in the Gadigal language — features a wide range of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander talent. Each year, Yabun consists of Corroboree, performances from First Nations musicians, a marketplace, discussions and speeches. This year, for the festival's 20th anniversary, the festival is running little differently, with three different ways for you to experience all the action — including from anywhere you like. The first is in-person at both Victoria Park and the Seymour Centre. Over at its usual home in Victoria Park, attendees can watch Indigenous cultural performances, wander through the marketplace and grab a bit to eat at the food stalls. Across the road at the Seymour Centre, the Yabun Stage will host musicians including rapper Kobie Dee, indie-pop group Pirra, the Gomeroi Dance Company and the Sounds of Freedom musical group which features survivors of the Stolen Generation and descendants including Vic Simms, Nadeena Dixon & Johnny Huckle. If you want to attend the 500-capacity Seymour Centre event, you'll need to apply for your free tickets online. If you can't make it to the city, don't feel comfortable attending in person or you live in regional NSW or interstate, you can also watch via a live stream on the festival's website or tune into the yearly broadcast of the festival on Koori Radio 93.7fm. It all kicks off at midday and will run until 10pm.
Writer-director Sarah Polley's follow-up to the much-loved drama Away From Her, Take This Waltz follows the story of a freelance writer Margot (Michelle Williams) as she meets a rickshaw driver from Toronto, Daniel (Luke Kirby). Margot shares with him an uncontrollable sexual chemistry, and when they realise they live just across the street from each other, the bombshell is dropped: Margot is happily married to sweetheart husband Lou (Seth Rogen), a gentle and caring cookbook writer. Margot finds herself in a complex and conflicting situation, not knowing whether her comfortable routine with her husband, whom she still loves, is enough in the face of the fiery desire of her alluring neighbour. She finds herself frequently trying to bump into the young man and testing the limits of her resolve by having late night pool dips and sipping margaritas with him, yet not actually acting on the attraction. Far from being a shallow display of trivial conflicting desires, the movie poignantly illustrates the internal dilemma of whether familiarity and comfort will suffice when they come up against the temptation of exotic sex, romance and art. Williams gives a heartwarming and evocative performance, making audiences sympathise and identify with her plight. Similarly moving displays from Rogen and Kirby work to make this film a heartwarming and complex production, which is a must-see for romantics and cynics alike. Concrete Playground has five double passes to giveaway. To go in the running to win tickets to Take This Waltz, make sure you're subscribed to Concrete Playground then email your name and postal address to us at hello@concreteplayground.com.au
Ian Fleming's James Bond feasted on more than vodka martinis. Photographer Henry Hargreaves, the brains behind the No Seconds photography series (in which he recreated and photographed the last meals of famous death row criminals like Ted Bundy), is back with another series of snapped meals — this time from the literary adventures of 007, dubbed Dying to Eat. While the James Bond films like to focus more on cocktails, explosions, car chases and Daniel Craig walking slowly and triumphantly out of the surf, author Ian Fleming spent a great deal of time articulating the dinners, breakfasts and midnight snacks of Bond. But he didn't do this just to create some form of James Bond cookbook. It was a form of escapism for a postwar audience. "Ian Fleming wrote for the 1950s Englishman, whose everyday experience of the world was coloured by the devastating consequences of war," says Hargreaves. "The ‘50s post-war man could read Fleming’s Bond books and dream not only of adventure and villains in far-off lands, but of an exciting lifestyle of fast cars, beautiful women, finely tailored clothes, and exotic gourmet meals from around the world. Sadly these meals were missing from the cinematic adaptations." Dying to Eat is a collaboration between art director/food stylist Charlotte Omnes and Hargreaves, alongside graphic designer Will Vink, in which one scene from every Fleming title has been recreated detail for detail. Hargreaves' grandfather actually served with Fleming during the war and consulted on some of the tailoring details of the Bond books, so it's a project surprisingly close to home. From the eggs benedict of The Man with the Golden Gun to the spaghetti bolognaise of Thunderball and silver dishes of crab claws in Goldfinger, it's a visual essay into the 'exotic' meals only available at the time to a worldly, travelling human — one who stayed everywhere from a Swiss hotel room to a Miami beach club. But you'll notice there's a few Bond-like elements in the frame; a cufflink, a woman's purse, a ----. Hargreaves describes each meal as "more than just a detail contained within a sentence. It’s a story unto itself." “The trouble always is,” [Bond] explained to Vesper, "not how to get enough caviar, but how to get enough toast with it." Images: Henry Hargreaves.
It seems those wind turbines you've spied from atop the ridge at Meredith Music Festival could soon have a few new buddies. Victoria's latest wind farm project is one step closer to reality, with the mammoth Golden Plains Wind Farm being granted planning approval by the Victorian Government over the weekend. The decision follows a hefty environmental impacts assessment carried out last year and advice from an expert planning panel, with the project now headed to the federal government for final approval. If given the go-ahead, the $1.5 billion wind farm would cover a huge 17,000 hectares of land, about 60 kilometres northwest of Geelong. It's expected to produce almost 3000 gigawatt hours of electricity annually, or enough to power more than 400,000 homes. To put that in perspective, the project is expected to provide between 8–10 percent of Victoria's energy, according to The Guardian, with greenhouse savings of almost 3.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year. One of the farmlands expected to gain wind turbines is the one that hosts the Meredith and Golden Plains Music Festival. But festivalgoers need fret not, with a government spokesperson telling the SMH that is was unlikely the project will have any impact on the festivals. [caption id="attachment_704549" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Wind turbines on the horizon at Golden Plains by Steve Benn.[/caption] The Golden Plains Wind Farm, which, if approved, is slated for completion by 2023, would join a stack of other Victorian clean energy projects already under way in places like Moorabool, Lal Lal, Bulgana, Murra Warra and Stockyard Hill. It all comes as the government increases Victoria's Renewable Energy Target to 50 percent by 2030. In 2017, wind farms supplied 5.7 percent of Australia's overall electricity, according to the Clean Energy Council. While Victoria is currently home to the nation's largest wind farm, in Macarthur, SA has the most, but Queensland and NSW are also investing in renewable technology — as of December last year, Queensland had 27 wind and solar farm projects under construction and NSW had 23. If the Golden Plains Wind Farm is approved by the federal government, it is slated for completion by 2023. For more information about the project, head to w-wind.com.au/golden-plains-wind-farm.
Melbourne's own little pocket of New York City-style cool is firing up for Good Beer Week, hosting a rollicking block party with beers, art and tunes aplenty. On Saturday, May 22, Section 8 and Ferdydurke — and their famed laneway surrounds — will come alive for this free shindig co-helmed by the USA's renowned Brooklyn Brewery. Drop by from 2pm to catch a diverse lineup of live music from acts like Pookie, Man Made Mountain, Khiarra, Culture Evolves and more. There'll be roving entertainment, projection art courtesy of the talented Simbiotic Vision, and dance performances served up by the likes of Maggie Madfox, Lauren Drago and Peter Isaac Koh. While there, you'll be able to indulge in a spot of retail therapy at the Fresh Flames vintage streetwear pop-up. And of course, the Brooklyn Brewery crew will be on hand pouring a stack of fresh beers throughout the day — including a few limited-edition and special releases. [caption id="attachment_735400" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ferdydurke[/caption]
Australia's theatre scene hasn't had much to smile about in 2020; however, when 2021 rolls around, some venues around the country will kick back into gear with a little help from their friends. Well, with Friends! The Musical Parody to be specific — with the comedic, song-filled satire of everyone's favourite 90s sitcom touring the country next year. Initially, the show was due to hit local theatres in August and September this year. Then, when the pandemic struck, the musical rescheduled to November and December instead. But it seems that 2020 hasn't been anyone's year — or included anyone's favourite day, week or month, for that matter — so the production has now shifted its entire run to 2021. Scheduled to kick off on the Gold Coast before being there for audiences in Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Sydney, Friends! The Musical Parody will spend time with Ross, Rachel, Chandler, Monica, Joey and Phoebe, of course. Here, they're hanging out at their beloved Central Perk — and sitting on an orange couch, no doubt — when a runaway bride shakes up their day. Call it 'The One with the Loving, Laugh-Filled Lampoon', or 'The One That Both Makes Good-Natured Fun of and Celebrates an Iconic Sitcom'. Yes, no one told you that being obsessed with the Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow and David Schwimmer-starring show about six New Yorkers would turn out this way — with on-stage skits and gags, recreations of some of the series' best-known moments, and songs with titles such as 'How you Doin?' and 'We'll Always Be There For You'. That said, no one told us that being a Friends aficionado would continue to serve up so many chances to indulge our fandom 16 years after it finished airing, including via an upcoming reunion special that'll gather the TV series' main cast back together. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Friends! The Musical Parody (@friendsthemusicalau) FRIENDS! THE MUSICAL PARODY AUSTRALIAN TOUR: Gold Coast: Thursday, February 11–Saturday, February 13 at The Star Gold Coast Melbourne: Wednesday, June 16–Saturday, June 19 at the Comedy Theatre Brisbane: Thursday, Augustt 19–Saturday, August 21 at the Tivoli Theatre Parramatta: Thursday, September 2–Saturday, September 4 at Riverside Theatre Adelaide: Friday, September 24 at Her Majesty's Theatre Perth: Saturday, October 16 at Regal Theatre Friends! The Musical Parody tours the country from February–October 2021. For further details, and to buy tickets, visit the production's website.
"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." They're words famously spoken by Hippocrates, way back when, and lived diligently by so many foodies, even today. They also sum up the concept at the heart of Prahran café Market on Malvern, which opened its doors in October 2016. The brainchild of Dr Anthony Yeuong, who's also behind adjoining health practice Beingwell Healthcare, MOM was dreamt up in response to a growing number of patients with dietary dramas and allergy issues. Dr Yeuong has long been a champion of food that both tastes good and feels good afterwards, and now he's treating the good folk of Melbourne with a bit of pre-emptive edible 'medicine', Hippocrates-style. With an ex-Nobu chef helming the kitchen, MOM's catering to clean eaters and flavour seekers alike; its thoroughly-researched menu is packed full of paleo, vegan, allergen-free, and FODMAP-friendly goodness. Dishes are categorised according to their specific properties and benefits to the body. You might find yourself boosting those energy levels with the caramelised sweet potato and hemp protein hummus, or you might opt for the red rice and miso eggplant, to help soothe any digestive issues. Backing up all those healing food options, there's a slew of juices and smoothies, coffee by Allpress, and a list of caffeine-free lattes that runs from beetroot right through to mushroom.
Rohan Anderson is a man of his word. Though the terms “sustainability”, “ethics” and “green living” are slung about a lot these days, they are values that few people fully live by. But just a month ago, Anderson threw himself out of the cannon and into the unthinkable: he quit his job and started living off the land. “I was working part-time as a graphic designer,” he says. “I would go to an office under the fluorescent light and stare at the computer screen and do the work and put up with all the internal politics of the workplace. And none of it....none of it felt real. None of it made any sense at all. It was so unnatural and so unhuman.” He also, this month, launched a cook book called Whole Larder Love, based on his blog which chronicles his quest for semi-self-sufficiency in rural Victoria. Four years ago Anderson was feeding his kids frozen chicken nuggets. He now purchases “only really basic stuff: flour, sugar, salt, yeast, milk, deodorant, toothpaste. What we’ve eliminated from our shopping trolley is the cardboard packaged food, frozen food, fresh food that’s out of season and meat from supermarkets.” Anderson’s grimy-nailed, bloody-shirted, sweaty-palmed account of hunting, gathering and harvesting is miles away from the sanitised green consumerism spruiked by celebrity chefs from the safety of their stainless steel kitchens. Though the book contains epicurean delights like Rabbit with Mustard Sauce, he flatly rejects the term “foodie”. “My grandfather is from Barcelona. Imagine if you went up to him and said, ‘because you eat beautiful Spanish tapas, you’re a gourmet, you’re artisan because you love good food’. No, that’s just food. That’s just normal food. I definitely want to distance myself from being the wanker foodie that loves a bit of foam on the plate. I don’t eat out at restaurants. It’s not the reality of what food should be. Food shouldn’t be overcomplicated. Otherwise, you distance the notion of accessibility and being clever with basic ingredients.” Food for Anderson is not just a source of fuel or even gastronomical enjoyment, but a political and an environmental concern. “I hate calling Whole Larder Love a cookbook,” he says. “It obviously is a cookbook, but there’s more of a subversive intention there. I really do want to promote the idea of people going back to the old ways of growing their own food. It will dramatically reduce our reliance on supermarkets. Most people know that there are big lorries that drive all this food around and food is actually air- and ship-freighted from other countries. That takes a lot of finite resources. I don’t think that system can last much longer. We’re now in a system of food production where we’re relying on a pretty massive machine that one day could fall over. I have gone back to embracing my animalness, which means taking care of all my food with my hands as all other animals do in the natural world. I’m going back to the good life, and I grow my food and I hunt.” “The real philosophy behind it is that I want to show people that it is possible in 2012 and to marry old techniques and state of the art communication technology. Today I’ve just shovelled a trailer load of manure from Ballarat to go on the pumpkin patch. And the pumpkins will grow all summer, they'll be cured, and we'll have about forty pumpkins for winter for the six of us. Then this afternoon I’m going to go out and chuck two trailer loads of timber for firewood for preparation for next winter. Then I will sit there on my MacBook Air and write up a blogpost.” It’s a mindset loaded with idealism and a book that motivates people to pick up alternative ways of thinking, and more importantly, doing. “My lifestyle is not for everybody. But I will continue to communicate it. The best thing is when people send me photos of what they’ve harvested on the weekend, how they’ve been inspired, how they’ve bought some chooks and built a chook-house. I love that the blog has had an effect on some people.” As a result of his interactions with readers, Anderson reckons more people are bulking at the artificial delineations between the built and natural worlds. “I was in Chippendale a couple of weeks ago - they have worm farms and vegie gardens on the nature strips.” Along with growing your own produce, he says engaging with these kinds of community gardens and farmers’ markets are pragmatic ways to break down what he sees as “the boxed-in areas of nature” that typify unhealthy, unsustainable city life. And he insists that his hunting and gathering lifestyle doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing: city-dwellers can do it too. “People who even just have a balcony, a rooftop, a backyard - where-ever you are in the Western world - can grow food. In the big cities in Italy - Rome, Florence and Milan - the nonnas that live there have so many vegies growing on their verandahs. It’s like an oasis on your verandah, as opposed to your typical Aussie gas barbeque, a couple of dead ornamental plants and maybe somebody’s bike. These gardens in Italy were just full. It was so inspirational to see what could be done in very tight spaces. Someone had pumpkins on a verandah - they were massive and this person had trained these pumpkins to go vertical, diagonal, anyway in any space possible. That was a beautiful thing to see, that even in the cities, they want to grow and smell and feel fresh food. That’s such a beautiful thing.” Photos courtesy of Rohan Anderson.
You probably already know about New York's reputation for top-quality digs, so you'll be pleased to learn these high standards extend well beyond the city limits. If you're considering venturing upstate — which you absolutely should be — idyllic retreats abound. Not only will the New York holiday of your dreams have the fabulous accommodation to match, but you'll also have direct access to some of the state's underrated gems: its charming small-town communities and boundless outdoor and cultural adventures. We've teamed up with New York State to present some of the most stellar accommodation throughout the state. From scenic summer camps to beachfront escapes, here are our picks to make your next New York adventure even more special. [caption id="attachment_851092" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brooke O'Neil - Courtesy of Franklin County[/caption] WHITE PINE CAMP, PAUL SMITHS If it's good enough for a president then it's good enough for you. Set in Paul Smiths, in the heart of the Adirondacks region, White Pine Camp is the former holiday home of President Calvin Coolidge. Nowadays, it's a year-round getaway that places you right in nature's beauty. You'll have 13 stately cabins and cottages to choose from, each featuring handcrafted furnishings, stone fireplaces and stunning views. This provincial wonderland is one of the region's 'Great Camps' — a label reserved for the remarkable lakeside homes built by wealthy 19th-century families. There are endless activities to experience during your stay. You can enjoy boating, hiking, fishing and bowling. Then, when you're ready to unwind, head to the camp's Japanese tea house for a cocktail. [caption id="attachment_851090" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Buffalo Niagara, Kim Smith,[/caption] THE MANSION ON DELAWARE AVENUE, BUFFALO Buffalo is one of the most captivating cities in the United States. From the recently restored 19th- and early 20th-century architectural gems and picturesque gardens to the thriving entertainment and nightlife scenes, there are many things that make the city well worth a visit. Located in the heart of the city, The Mansion on Delaware offers an up-close glimpse of the aforementioned 19th-century grandeur. The elegance of the property is undeniable from the moment you step inside, with 15-foot ceilings and handcrafted details that ooze class. You can live out all your upper-class fantasies here, too. To complement the venue's grand allure, a team of "new-fashioned butlers" are waiting at your beck and call, whether you need the ideal restaurant reservation, day-trip suggestions or even a personal driver to whisk you to a nearby landmark. [caption id="attachment_844998" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Phillip Ennis, Courtesy of Oheka Castle[/caption] OHEKA CASTLE, HUNTINGTON Oheka Castle is believed to have inspired The Great Gatsby, so booking a stay in this sprawling mansion ensures you get the chance to live out your Roaring Twenties fantasies. Here, at the highest point of Long Island, luxury is the name of the game, with a selection of sophisticated suites offering opulent decor alongside views stretching across the pristine grounds. Downstairs, the OHK Bar and Restaurant is open for brunch, lunch and dinner, and has a distinctly European atmosphere. You're also welcome to explore the gardens, order an in-room massage, hit the gym or even attend a daily tour of this storied mansion. [caption id="attachment_851095" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Courtesy of Dutchess Tourism[/caption] THE ROUNDHOUSE, BEACON The charming town of Beacon makes for the ideal artsy escape, as this former industrial hub has evolved into a cultural destination over the last 20 years. The Roundhouse embodies this rejuvenation perfectly. The historic mill was transformed into a boutique hotel and restaurant in 2010, but many of the property's refined architectural details were preserved. The Roundhouse is perched on the edge of the fast-flowing Fishkill Creek, offering views of the adjacent Beacon Falls. This easy-on-the-eye spot has 51 guestrooms decked out with mid-century decor. Meanwhile, the acclaimed restaurant showcases goods from local farms, wineries and distilleries. [caption id="attachment_844992" align="alignnone" width="1920"] NYSDED, Darren McGee[/caption] MOHONK MOUNTAIN HOUSE, NEW PALTZ Mohonk Mountain House is another majestic stay that'll see you surrounded by the Hudson Valley's incredible scenery. This early 20th-century estate is based on the edge of Lake Mohonk and is surrounded by 40,000 acres of forest. You won't be left looking for ways to fill your time either. First of all, there are some 85 miles of hiking trails to explore. You can also go kayaking and fly fishing on the lake that sits next to the estate, or make the most of the estate's award-winning spa and top-notch recreational facilities, including tennis courts, an indoor pool, a golf course and more. Mohonk Mountain House is also known for its farm-to-table cuisine, which is served throughout its many venues. [caption id="attachment_851104" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Courtesy of Greene County Tourism & Film Office[/caption] EASTWIND HOTEL AND BAR, WINDHAM When your main priority is reconnecting with nature, eco-conscious glamping in the rugged countryside is bound to fit the bill. Eastwind Hotel and Bar, overlooking the Catskill Mountains, is a fantastic choice. The property's A-frame glamping tents and cabins will level up your outdoor encounters with their Scandinavian-style architecture and amenities. Here, you don't need to forgo the creature comforts during your stay — even the basic offering comes with wifi, lush robes and private bathrooms. Opting for an upgraded hut, meanwhile, will score you a cosy lounge area, writing nook, outdoor fire pit and shower, and a private deck to appreciate the views. Throw in a visit to the hotel's trendy cocktail bar and a sweat sesh in the wood-barrelled sauna, and this out-of-town haunt won't disappoint. THE LAKE HOUSE ON CANANDAIGUA, CANANDAIGUA The Finger Lakes is one of upstate New York's top destinations, known for its picturesque lakes, wineries and top-class recreational facilities. Sound like your sort of place? The Lake House on Canandaigua is where you should stay. Modern yet flourished with old-world charm, this peaceful location is the perfect place to base yourself when exploring the surrounding landscapes. Alongside the 125 picture-perfect rooms, dining is a clear focus at the hotel. The Sand Bar offers a laidback atmosphere and colourful cocktails overlooking the water, while Rose Tavern levels up the class with rustic decor and hearth-cooked cuisine. For activities, there's a fully kitted day spa, ice skating in winter, morning meditation sessions and much more. STARLITE MOTEL, KERHONKSON The Starlite Motel is a 1960s motor lodge that has been lovingly restored to its former glory through modern updates and fashionable touches, ranging from a kitschy pink exterior and retro tiling to vintage appliances that instantly transport you to a bygone age. When you're not exploring the many nearby hiking, biking and climbing locations, you're invited to make the most of an outdoor pool and communal firepits. There's also a lo-fi canteen serving local drinks and snacks, while a selection of barbecue grills means you can whip up your own feast beneath the stars. [caption id="attachment_851100" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Courtesy of Ulster County Tourism/Film[/caption] WOODSTOCK WAY HOTEL, WOODSTOCK Inspired by the music and counterculture that made its namesake community so famous, Woodstock Way Hotel invites guests to experience this history through rustic-chic architecture and enchanting gardens. The rooms, suites and cottages are adorned with vintage decor and artwork, so expect to feel immersed in the lush outdoors through balconies and private gardens. Although there's no on-site restaurant, the communal area offers snacks and drinks. You're also just a quick walk from the centre of town, meaning you can experience Woodstock's wealth of stylish restaurants, bars and fashion boutiques with ease. To start planning your trip to New York State, head to iloveny.com. Also, be sure to check out our recommendations for the best food and drink stops, cultural experiences, outdoor adventures and day trips from NYC. Top image: Courtesy of Oheka Castle
If you live in Melbourne and haven't lost an hour or two in Readings, then are you really from Melbourne? While Readings' Carlton bookstore is the gem of Lygon Street (and the original), the St Kilda outpost also has iconic origins (it was formerly the independent bookshop Cosmos) and has garnered our prestigious title as one of the best bookshops in Melbourne. Also, musicians Paul Kelly and Nick Cave have been known to peruse the stacks here. There's a whole range of genres to choose from here including history, art and design, travel, literary fiction and the like from both Australian and international authors. Plus, the St Kilda shop also keeps a rare and impressive range of books from independent publishers. Beyond books, the shop specialises in new release vinyl and it often hosts book launches and author talks.
Pairing movies with music is no longer new news, but the latest returning event that's serving up that combo is hoping for two things. Firstly, it's betting on a whole lot of love for Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey dancing up a storm in a classic 1987 romantic drama. Secondly, when it comes to getting excited about seeing that now 36-year-old flick on a big screen with its soundtrack performed live, it's hoping that you've never felt like this before. Obviously, Dirty Dancing in Concert wants to give you the time of your life as well — and to not only let you celebrate one of Swayze's biggest and most charming film roles, but to immerse you in the movie from the moment you take your seat. No one will be carrying watermelons or checking into Kellerman's Mountain House in the Catskills, but the digitally remastered feature will grace the big screen, and a live band and singers will perform its iconic songs as it plays. Just as swoon-worthy: the fact that those musicians will stick around afterwards to headline a party that'll naturally have you singing and dancing. If you're feeling adventurous and inspired by the movie, you might even want to try to recreate the famous lift. Here, nobody will put you or Francis 'Baby' Houseman in a corner — and you'd be just a fool to believe otherwise. Your hungry eyes will soak in Baby's first taste of dirty dancing, her eager rehearsals and her growing infatuation with Johnny Castle, as well as her parents' bitter unhappiness about the entire situation. This blast-from-the-past affair is touring Australia this winter, hitting Hamer Hall in Melbourne on Friday, September 1.
Maybe you've experienced the gothic charm of QT Sydney. Perhaps you've enjoyed slumbering at the site of a former cinema at QT Melbourne. At QT Gold Coast, you could've slept in rooftop cabins. At QT Newcastle, you might've bunked down in a clock tower. QT Queenstown comes with alpine views, while QT Auckland heroes the harbour. They're just some of the hotel chain's experiences in Australia and New Zealand, the two countries that it operates in so far — until it launches in Asia in September. Meet QT Singapore, QT Hotels & Resorts' first hotel beyond Down Under, which will open its doors from Monday, September 16, 2024. When it starts welcoming in quests, you'll be able to check into one of 134 rooms in the city-state's Eastern Extension Telegraph building, which dates back to 1927. You'll also be in a prime position: right next to the Lau Pa Sat hawker centre. Behind the striking facade, which is staying the same, the building has undergone a complete interior revamp to deck it out in QT's aesthetic. The brand's look varies from hotel to hotel, but always stands out from other places to stay. Interior designer Nic Graham is doing the honours, with reflecting the city-state's climate and evolution — and the building's location and heritage — the main aim of his approach to the site's decor. Holidaymakers can also expect a signature bar and grill, plus rooftop bar Rooftop by QT, which will sit alongside a sky-high pool for sips and splashes with a view. If you're keen on having a shindig on your getaway, private dining will also be on offer. "We're excited by the liveliness QT will bring to Singapore's diverse tourism landscape and ever-evolving metropolis later this year," said EVT Hotels & Resorts Group General Manager Callum Kennedy. "QT Singapore will be championed by QT's luxurious playful personality, from design to signature service and exciting collaborations, bringing the QT energy and vibrancy guests love from the world to be discovered by locals and travellers in southeast Asia." Leading on the charge on the ground will be QT Singapore General Manager Doron Whaite, a veteran of QT Perth and QT Sydney, who comes fresh from a stint at QT Auckland. Find QT Singapore at 35 Robinson Road, Singapore, from Monday, September 16, 2024 — and head to the hotel's website for further details.
Melburnians, if you like celebrating warm weather, adorable animation and mini golf all at once, the part-tee is just about to begin in Frankston. Everyone's favourite Pixar characters are popping up at a putt-putt course inspired by the Disney-owned studio's loveable films. Yes, Pixar Putt is returning, with the kidult-friendly course heading to Frankston Foreshore from Friday, December 16–Sunday, January 29. Designed to challenge both eight-year olds and adults, Pixar Putt features nine- and 18-hole courses that take you past childhood heroes like Buzz Lightyear, Sheriff Woody and Elastigirl. Flicks such as Monsters Inc, Onward, Finding Nemo, Up, A Bug's Life, Wall-E, Inside Out and Soul all get some putting love, too. Clearly, there's no need for a trip to Disneyland — and this year's course features new holes inspired by Pixar's recent Turning Red and Lightyear. So, if you don't think you'll beat your cousin at backyard cricket over the summer, challenge them to a match here. All you need is your hat and A-game (and no pressure if you remain defeated, there's always the nineteenth hole nearby). Pixar Putt is also open for after-dark sessions every Thursday–Saturday night — and they're only for adults. Operating from 7–10pm, the late-night putt-putt hours are perfect for those date nights when you want to do more than just have dinner and see a movie. Otherwise, head along from 10am–8pm Sunday–Wednesday, and be prepared to have littlies for company.
There ain't no burger like a Queensland burger, it seems — even if you live in Melbourne. Perhaps that's why the Sunshine State's finest purveyors of beastly burgers keep expanding down south. First it was Betty's Burgers — now, it's fellow Gold Coast-based outfit Brooklyn Depot. Of course, you can't tell the eatery's state of origin from their name, but you can tell the theme of its cuisine. Yes, everything American is on the menu here, including stacked towers of beef and cheese, a hearty list of wings, rings, strings and things, and their signature drinks — which not only includes alcohol-infused shakes, but also a rum old-fashioned or two. After gaining fans in Surfers Paradise, where they opened in 2015, Brooklyn Depot has since opened in Brisbane and Sydney — and come this Thursday, February 23, they'll be flipping burgs at 399 Lonsdale Street. As if Melbourne was wanting in the American-style burger department. But, nonetheless, we're swayed by the promise of their 'Brooklynised' fries with bacon, onion rings, cheese sauce and a side of frickles (aka battered and fried pickles). Brooklyn Depot will open at 4/399 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne at 11am on Thursday, February 23. Check out their website for more information.
Many would agree that it was Mamasita, opening her doors back in 2010, that led Melbourne's still-simmering Mexican charge. Now, six years, a couple of family additions, and plenty of location hunting later, owners Matt Lane and Nick Peters are at it again, having launched their second venue. The hotly anticipated Hotel Jesus has set up shop in the iconic Collingwood Post Office building, with the lofty, light-filled space now setting the scene for Smith Street's own Mexican fiesta. As a casual tostaderia, Hotel Jesus eschews Mamasita's well-loved restaurant formula in favour of a more easy-going drinking and dining affair. Here, you can drop by for house-made tostadas, cocktails on tap, and Mexican beers, served straight from a supersized ice trough behind the bar. With Yasser Garcia on the pans, expect a food menu that's authentic, lively and mostly familiar, running from ceviche and seafood, to tacos and those tostadas. Meanwhile, a "tacowey" (that's their way of saying takeaway) section has a more experimental edge, dabbling in a looser interpretation of Mexican cuisine. Those looking to jump on the mescal bandwagon will find plenty of opportunity to do so here. Peters is Australia's only Master Mezcalier (it's a thing), and the drinks list he's created provides a solid introduction to the agave spirit — which comes just in time for summer. Backing that up, there's an expectedly great tequila lineup, a tight selection of natural wines, and plenty of easy-drinking, imported brews. UPDATE JUNE 29, 2017: Because tacos taste even better when they're dirt cheap, Hotel Jesus has introduced $2 Taco Tuesdaze. Every Tuesday, they'll be whipping up $2 vego, chicken and beef tacos from 5–9pm. Book a table or rock up early. Images: Thomas Friml and Carmen Zammit.
Ikea have posted an interactive app on YouTube which takes all your personal information from Facebook, should you allow it to, to create a personalised 3D mock-up of your new bedroom kitted out entirely in durable and inexpensive Swedish design. Starting off like an everyday advertisement for Ikea, the video gets taken over by the app which accesses information about your life and tailors it to the smallest details, including photos from your Facebook albums hanging in the picture frames. As a nice touch they build the walls out of your wall posts, before they paint them over in solid colour and a solemn British voice accounces that the products are the definitive ones which will help you go 'happy to bed.' The app is part of Ikea's UK campaign, but it's open to anybody with a Facebook account, and is designed specifically to reflect the person's personality, lifestyle and interests. Now, having recently invested in a new bed, bedside table and bookshelf from Ikea, I was particularly intrigued to find out whether it would all match up with the predictive magic of the internet. But, sadly no. They chucked in the bed I decided against, rather than the one I bought, a narrow desk which doesn't account for the amount of junk I frequently have lying around, and they framed pictures which are nearly all of me pulling my 'I am unhappy about being photographed face.' And they forgot a bookshelf, which comprises a full wall of my room at the moment. But my complaining aside, if you always wanted confirmation that your chest of drawers were perfectly aligned to your personality, you now have an easy way to find out. https://youtube.com/watch?v=hQYe7OMoJNA [Via PSFK]
Was it invented in Belgium or France? Can you eat it and still call yourself left-wing? Which potatoes should you use? The steak frites might have inspired many debates over the years. But one thing is clear: we can't get enough of it. The folks at Dolly in Le Meridien Melbourne are well aware of this fact. And that's why they've launched Wednesday steak frites nights. That's right, you can now end hump day with a hearty plate of meat and potatoes, cooked French-style. Executive Chef Hervé Borghini has taken a refined approach to the classic dish. His steak is a 250-gram, MB2-grade porterhouse sourced from Victorian grass-fed cattle, topped with a disc of traditional Cafe de Paris butter. On the side comes a generous pile of golden, double-cooked frites. Usually $44, Borghini's steak frites is $32 on Wednesday nights. Plus, you can order matching wines at just $10 a glass. Bon appetit!
It's about to get a whole lot harder for any New South Wales driver to get away with using their mobile phone while driving — and it's thanks to a world-first move by the NSW Government, which is adopting speed camera-style technology to detect the illegal behaviour. After trialling the high-definition cameras during October — and spying more than 11,000 drivers using their phones, according to the ABC — the government has announced that a further test will take place from January. If proven foolproof, the technology will be implemented on a permanent basis. As first reported earlier this year, the legislation giving the tech the go-ahead was passed in NSW parliament back in May. And while the technology didn't actually exist at the time, the government put the call-out to companies who were interested in providing the technology. Three outfits took part in the first trial, with Australian company Acusensus selected for the January test run. Acusensus' cameras, which use artificial intelligence, will be placed on the M4 and Anzac Parade. They can operate in all conditions — day and night, and regardless of the weather — to detect folks using their phones while they're behind the wheel. It's hoped that using the cameras will have a huge positive impact on the number of road fatalities, much like when breath testing was introduced back in 1982 and slashed fatal accidents by almost 50 percent. While most drivers will probably see this as a cash grab, fines won't be issued during the January trial. If the cameras come into effect permanently afterwards, fully licensed drivers will be looking at a $330 fine and four demerit points if caught; however NSW Minister for Roads Melinda Pavey told The Sydney Morning Herald that money raised from the camera fines will go back into a Community Road Safety Fund. Via the ABC.
Blog-scanning, pub-debating Star Wars fans, put your minds and your theories to rest. Star Wars VII captain J.J. Abrams has at last lifted the lid on who’ll be appearing in the hotly anticipated episode seven. Casting announcements have dribbled out over the last few months, confirming a half-dozen irreplaceable veterans are back on board — namely Harrison Ford (Han Solo), Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO) and Kenny Baker (R2-D2). Along with our long-time favourites, the final casting announcement revealed a plethora of unknowns. So we thought we'd get acquainted with the seven newbies. Their roles and midi-chlorian counts are yet to be revealed, so you can continue your pub arguments for a while yet. ADAM DRIVER You might know him best as Girls' Adam Sackler. But, just lately, we've seen Driver tackle the Australian desert alongside Mia Wasikowska in Tracks and cheese his way through a novelty song with Justin Timberlake in Inside Llewyn Davis. What's more, Star Wars isn't the only major announcement he's been part of during the past few months. You can also expect to catch him in upcoming films Midnight Special (Jeff Nichols) and Silence (Martin Scorsese). OSCAR ISAAC Oscar Isaac hits Star Wars hot on the heels of his wide-eyed, multi-award winning appearance as hapless singer-songwriter Llewyn Davis. He's also in the credits for five films currently in post-production: In Secret, Ex-Machina, The Two Faces of January, Mojave and A Most Violent Year. MAX VON SYDOW 85-year-old Swedish-turned-French legend Max Von Sydow has been appearing on the big screen since 1949. Most recently, he scored a bunch of nominations, including one for his second Academy Award — for his role as The Renter in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. ANDY SERKIS You might not recognise him from the above mug shot, but Andy Serkis is most likely one of your noughties heroes. Through a combo of motion picture capture acting, voice and animation, he played Gollum in Peter Jackon's Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-3) and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012). He brought similar magic to the lead role in King Kong (2005), Caesar in Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) and Captain Haddock in The Adventures of Tintin (2011). DOMHNALL GLEESON Hogwarts students are most likely to be familiar with this striking Irish face. Domhnall Gleeson played Bill Weasley in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Parts I and II (2010 and 2011). Right now, he's on set for upcoming romantic comedy Brooklyn, an adaptation of the Nick Hornby novel. JOHN BOYEGA In 2012, at the age of 20, Boyega shared a set with Oscar nominee Chiwete Ejiofor in Half of a Yellow Sun (Nigeria/UK 2013). Sci-fi fans knew him before that, though, for his take on Moses in Attack the Block. DAISY RIDLEY And last, but not least (though certainly least-known) is Daisy Ridley. She's appeared in a handful of TV series, including Casualty, Mr Selfridge and Silent Witness, and played the lead in BAFTA-nominated interactive film, Lifesaver. She's now trending like wildfire.
It's a great privilege to experience the homelands of Traditional Owners — and it's even more exceptional when you have a local to guide you along the way. Tropical North Queensland is blessed with many experiences that'll allow you the opportunity to connect and learn from Traditional Custodians as they generously share their art, food, dancing and customs. We've teamed up with Tropical North Queensland to share one-of-a-kind experiences to add to your hit list if you're passionate about travelling consciously. By supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-owned businesses like those mentioned below, you're helping to preserve sacred practices that have been passed down for thousands of years. SEEK OUT SOME OF THE BEST LOCAL INDIGENOUS ART This year, the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair will be held from July 6–10. This annual festival attracts thousands of local and international visitors to the city to celebrate Indigenous artists and their latest works. The program includes a visual feast of artwork and performances, alongside fashion shows, workshops and symposiums. While it honours Indigenous culture and traditions, the event also provides economic and personal development opportunities for the artists. Some artworks are acquired by private collectors, while others are purchased for display across the world. Previous years have seen impressive buyers representing the Harvard University Art Museum and the National Gallery of Canada. TAKE A THREE-DAY 4WD TOUR THROUGH THE REGION The team at Culture Connect prides itself on providing visitors with authentic Aboriginal cultural experiences from Cairns to Cooktown. The small tour group sizes allow for an intimate opportunity to explore the region, with local Aboriginal guides who are passionate about their homeland and history. Experiences range in length from half-day nature walks to a full-day scenic flight adventure. There's also a three-day 4WD tour on offer with meals and accommodation included. Guests have the opportunity to explore ancient rock art galleries, learn traditional coastal survival skills or or learn to paint from an acclaimed local Indigenous artist. [caption id="attachment_846219" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Island Stars Cultural Experience[/caption] EXPLORE THE REGION WITH THE HELP OF AN INDIGENOUS GUIDE Hundreds of islands make up the Torres Strait region and just 17 are currently inhabited. Touring this area without local knowledge is tricky, which is where Strait Experience steps in to help. This Torres Strait-owned business offers incredible opportunities to explore remote destinations such as Thursday Island and Horn Island. Strait Experience connects visitors with exclusive accommodation options, unique beachside activities and tours focusing on historical sites and ancient traditions on some of the islands in the Torres Strait. And, if you time it just right, you might even be lucky enough to observe turtles nesting on the beach. TAKE A BOAT TOUR TO A TRADITIONAL SMOKING CEREMONY The traditional lands of the Mandingalbay Yidinji People cover an impressive 10,000 hectares, which allowed ancient ancestors to develop an impressive range of survival and conservation skills. Just a short river cruise with Mandingalbay Ancient Indigenous Tours will transport you thousands of years back in time. Departing from Cairns Marlin Marina, a 15-minute boat journey will take you from Trinity Inlet to Hills Creek. Once arriving at the destination, guests are welcomed with a traditional cleansing smoking ceremony. Other tour options include eco walks, overnight camping expeditions and dance performances. The famous 'Deadly Dinners' give you the opportunity to sample delicious local ingredients such as kangaroo, crocodile and mud crab. [caption id="attachment_829657" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] WANDER THROUGH THE WONDERS OF KUKU YALANJI COUNTRY Did you know that two World Heritage-listed sites meet in Tropical North Queensland? Yep, in Kuku Yalanji Country, you'll see where the epic Daintree Rainforest juts up against the iconic Great Barrier Reef. And you can explore all the wonders of this area on a half- or full-day tour with Walkabout Cultural Adventures. This 100-percent First Nations-owned and operated cultural tour company offers you the opportunity to learn about this unique environment and the foods and medicines that are produced here. You'll get to sample bush tucker, swim in freshwater streams and maybe even try spear and boomerang throwing. Your tour guide takes care of everything — all you need to do is wear comfy shoes. [caption id="attachment_830381" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] PLUNGE INTO THE DEEP BLUE Experiencing the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef is an irrefutable addition to any TNQ itinerary. But doing so with Dreamtime Dive and Snorkel will leave you with an even greater understanding and appreciation of this natural beauty and the connection that local First Nations people have with it. Across a five-hour tour, you'll get to hear the creation story of the Great Barrier Reef, snorkel or dive in two outer reef sites, sample native bush food and be entertained by a traditional dance. The tours are run by First Nations sea rangers whose passion for reef preservation and sustainable tourism is evident. TAKE A DIP IN AN OUTBACK POOL Update: Talaroo Hot Springs 2022 season will run from April 1-October 31. It may take about 4.5 hours to drive from Cairns to this outback pool in the heart of Ewamian Country. But boy, oh, boy is it worth it. The hot springs here formed millions of years ago with the water seeping from underground and heated by granite rocks along the way. When it reaches the pools, it's a whopping 68 degrees celsius and cools as it flows across the rippled travertine terraces. You can't directly enter the natural hot springs, but you can take a dip in one of the site's private soaking pools which can be accessed via a timber boardwalk on a First Nations-led tour. Talaroo Hot Springs also has an outback caravan park and campground if you'd like to stay a little longer (and we wouldn't blame you if you did). [caption id="attachment_842421" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Tropical North Queensland[/caption] GET A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE OF THE TROPICS Located in Burketown, Yagurli Tours is a First Nations-owned and operated tour company. With local Gangalidda and Garawa guides, these experiences offer a unique opportunity to learn about Gulf Savannah country from the Traditional Custodians of the land. Yagurli Tours offer five different immersive adventures, like Yaliya's Stories (Stargazing) on Australia's largest salt pans and the Gambumanda Sunset Cruise with dinner and drinks. Also on offer is the Marrija 4WD Cultural Tour and Aloft Hot Air Balloon flights showcasing the Albert River, salts pans and the Arafura Sea in the Gulf of Carpentaria. [caption id="attachment_845212" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Tropical North Queensland[/caption] DISCOVER HISTORY THROUGH MAGNIFICENT ROCK ART Jarramali Rock Art Tours are perfect for those wanting to avoid the crowds and experience an intimate and rugged adventure. This authentic Aboriginal cultural experience will commence with either a 4WD drive with a Traditional Owner or a scenic helicopter flight depending on if you want a day trip or would rather embark on an overnight stay. We suggest an overnight stay where you will camp in an exclusive location, only accessible to Jarramali guests. Discover the history of the Kuku Yalanji people through magnificent Quinkan Rock Art. Traditional Owners will guide you through the 20,000 year old art found among sandstone escarpments near Laura in North Queensland. You will gain a deeper understanding of Australia's Indigenous history while soaking in the beauty of the remote wilderness - making this definitely, a once in a lifetime experience. [caption id="attachment_844022" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Tropical North Queensland[/caption] FLEX YOUR CREATIVE MUSCLES WITH AN INDIGENOUS PAINTING WORKSHOP Owned by renowned First Nations artist Brian 'Binna' Swindley, Janbal Gallery offers visitors a unique opportunity to learn about Aboriginal culture through art and storytelling experiences. Binna is a local Kuku Yalanji man from Mossman and the gallery is lovingly named after his late mother. Binna hosts painting workshops on weekdays, with morning and afternoon sessions available. Choose from either a small boomerang or canvas to paint, with all paints and tools supplied. An impressive range of Aboriginal artwork is on display at the gallery, with items available for purchase, too. Ready to plan a trip to the tropics? For more information visit the Tropical North Queensland website.
Remember when your parents threw dinner parties when you were a kid? Your parents had likely planned the menu well in advance, pulled out the good crockery, and cleaned the house in a frenzy. It was gorgeous, of course, but it was also a colossal effort. Thankfully, the popularity of formal dining at home took a nosedive, and now we want the kind of easy and elevated dining experience that Pinterest has championed: relaxed, but still worthy of sharing pictures across the internet. Which brings us a new kind of challenge, when you search 'dinner party ideas' you'll get 275 million results and too many options to choose from. So to help cut through the anxiety you may be feeling about hosting your next dinner party, we've partnered with super premium French vodka Grey Goose to bring you a guide on how to host an elevated evening meal at home that won't cost you your entire pay cheque (or your sanity). Read on for some sensory inspiration. TASTE Arguably the most important part of a dinner party (aside from your guests) is the food and drink, so don't let this part trip you up. Repeat after me: delegation is key. Nobody expects you to do this on your own (and foot the expenses, too), so when people offer to bring something, assign them a dish immediately. Keep it simple with cheese, charcuterie or a salad. For drinks, rest assured that everyone will bring their own beer or wine, so flex your hosting skills by having a pre-dinner cocktail ready for when everyone arrives. So fancy! So adult! The Grey Goose Peach Spritz is an elegant cocktail that's easy to make. Simply build 40ml of Grey Goose Original with 20ml of peach puree, 10ml of lemon juice, 10ml of sugar syrup and 45ml of sparkling rose in a wine glass. Stir and top with a sprig of rosemary. Look at you go! [caption id="attachment_751536" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Creative Commons: Flickr/Eva Coudyser[/caption] SIGHT Your parents were onto something with all those candles they lit at their weekend soirees; lighting really is important. Fairy lights, lamps, tea lights = good ambiance. That dodgy fluro light in the living room = bad vibes. You don't live in a dive bar. Once you've picked out the lights that suit your home, spruce up the rest of the house. Hide any clutter, put something floral on the table, and pull out some old photos. Not only will this serve as decoration, but it'll also work as an ice-breaker for any guests that might not know each other that well. Bonus points if the photos contain questionable haircuts circa 2010. [caption id="attachment_751529" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Creative Commons: Flickr/Marco Verch[/caption] SMELL They say the smell of baking bread is used by real estate agents to attract home buyers — and it's a very comforting aroma. Rather than baking your own loaf of sourdough for the occasion (#toohardbasket), stop by one of the best bakeries in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane and pick up something ready made. Heat it up in the oven, and cut up thick slices to throw on a cheese board. Your gluten-free/low-carb/Keto friends probably won't eat it, but everyone will appreciate the smell. And if your sense of smell is chef-level impressive, see if you can pick out the notes of French baguettes in the Grey Goose vodka, as the same winter wheat is used to make the vodka as bakers use to make the country's famed pastries. [caption id="attachment_751744" align="alignnone" width="1920"] InBed[/caption] TOUCH Two words: table linen. It makes a real difference — and you can create a tactile environment really easily with one throw-over table cloth from linen purveyors like InBed (from $110) to more affordable homewares stores like IKEA (from $19.99). In a pinch, you can always use a picnic rug, or a sarong, to dress the table. Next, create an inviting environment where people can congregate after a big meal. Grab all the blankets from your bedroom, and get some hygge happening. Imagine a pillow fort, but more chic. SOUND When it comes to music, people fall into one of two categories: the effortlessly cool people who have a record player (and a well-curated vinyl collection) and those who rely on the old faithful Spotify and wireless speakers, which wins points for being totally customisable. If you choose to use a music streaming service during dinner, please abide by the cardinal rules: pay for premium (so you don't have pesky ads interrupting the mood) and use 'private session' so you don't add the tracks to your algorithm. Alternatively, rely on pre-made playlists like Front Left; the latest tracks become conversation starters. [embed]https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DX5WTH49Vcnqp[/embed] Upgrade your dinner party by choosing premium vodka Grey Goose. Each bottle is distilled in France, and the high quality vodka has a 100 percent traceable production process, from crop to cork.
The smell of scrumptious street food and the buzz of live music will soon fill the air at Queen Victoria Market as Melbourne's summer Night Market returns for its 25th season. The market will commence on Wednesday, November 19, and run every Wednesday evening until March 11, 2026, with free entry for all visitors. This milestone marks a quarter of a century since the summer Night Market first opened its doors at the turn of the millennium. What began as a small gathering has evolved into one of Melbourne's most beloved summer traditions, drawing locals and tourists alike for an openair celebration of food, music and community. For many vendors, the event has become a staple of their lives as much as the city's. Vijay Sivaraj, owner of Drums Sri Lankan Street Food, has been part of the market since its first season and says the sense of continuity keeps him coming back year after year. "The summer Night Market is flavour, family and community," Sivaraj said. "I've watched generations come through. Kids who used to eat here with their parents now bring their own families. Twenty-five summers prove what this place means to Melbourne." This year's market will feature over 50 food vendors serving cuisines from around the world. Visitors can try everything from Parisian steak baguettes and flame-grilled Brazilian meats to Cypriot souvla, buttery French snails, and fresh Portuguese custard tarts. Gelato Messina will return with its signature summer flavours, while other long-time favourites such as The Black Sheep and St. Gerry's are also back. Drinks will include locally brewed beers from Brick Lane Brewing Co., mojito slushies, and refreshing serves from Isla Vodka and Compa Tequila, offering the perfect pairing for a warm night under the city lights. Beyond the food, the market's artisan section will showcase more than 50 local makers and designers. Visitors can browse minimalist jewellery from Mecino, upcycled fashion from Grandma Funk, handcrafted stationery from The Paper and Wood Co., and textiles sourced from Japan, Nepal and Tibet. It is a space that celebrates creativity as much as cuisine, offering unique finds for anyone seeking a handmade gift or summer keepsake. Live entertainment will again be at the heart of the experience, with weekly performances by local bands, buskers and RMIT music students providing DJ sets. The rhythm of the city will soundtrack each evening, as crowds wander between stalls beneath the market's openair sheds. Visitors can also look forward to seasonal produce pop-ups like Taste of summer, highlighting fruit and vegetables from Queen Victoria Market's own traders.
While we're sorely tempted to roll our eyes when we're told that "music just sounds sooo much better on vinyl", we can't deny there's something a little bit magical about those liquorice pies. As if leafing through your mate's record collection isn't more exciting than listening to their latest Spotify playlist? So to add to your collection, or help you start one, here are Melbourne's best places to purchase records. They've all got a little something special going on for Record Store Day, so add them to your trail on Saturday, April 18.
It's been about three years since Brunetti split in two, becoming Brunetti Classico and Brunetti Oro — with brothers Fabio and Yuri Angele assuming sole ownership of each arm. Since then, both brands have maintained the same old-school Italian sensibilities that made the Brunetti name so beloved, while also expanding independently. Brunetti Oro now has sites in the CBD and Brunswick, and you can find Brunetti Classico in Carlton, Moonee Ponds, Melbourne Airport — and, as of this week, Coburg. This two-storey Newlands Road concept store is home to the brand's classic mini cakes, paninis, arancini, calzones and signature coffee. But unlike the Carlton flagship that has ample seating, this new venture is mostly a takeaway situation. Rather than easing into a long coffee and cake session with mates, drop by the new northside spot to grab a quick lunch or a box of small cakes to take back to the office or home. Alternatively, you can take your pick of large, ornately decorated cakes from the fridges that line the walls, ideal for last-minute cake-requiring events. But those seeking something more special are in for a real treat at the new Brunetti Classico store. Here, you can skip the pre-made celebration cakes and book your own cake consultation upstairs. During your session, a personal cake consultant will talk you through all the options, whether you want to keep it simple or go rogue with design and flavour combos. "This is a VIP-style service, our cake consultants are experts in their field, and can create custom cakes for any special occasion, including weddings and significant birthdays," says Fabio. Either drop by to simply nab your favourite Brunetti torta, or team up with an expert cake consultant to dream up your own delicious masterpiece. You'll find the new Brunetti Classico at 107 Newlands Road, Coburg, open 7.30am–6pm every day of the week. For more information and to book your cake consultation, visit the venue's website.
When Wes Anderson's films flicker across cinemas, their pastel hues dancing across the screen and their meticulous sense of symmetry looking like something out of an art gallery — the acclaimed director has previously curated his own art exhibition, after all — they make everyone watching want to step right into their frames. That's happened not just once or twice but ten times now, with The French Dispatch the latest example. Thankfully, to celebrate the long-delayed feature's arrival, Cinema Nova is bringing its detailed world into reality. See the film at the Carlton picture palace, or just stop by for a drink — either way, you can enter Cafe Le Sans Blague. Cinema Nova has given its bar a temporary Anderson-themed revamp, inspired by his new flick. Yes, just like in the movie, there's a prominent 'no crying' sign, as well as a pinboard plotting out the The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun's latest and last issue. So, you'll feel just like you've entered the offices of the movie's central magazine, and travelled to the very fictional French town of Ennui-sur-Blasé in the process. The cafe takes its own name from one in the movie and, to keep playing up the theming, will be pumping out a mid-century French pop soundtrack. Getting nostalgic — even for a time you weren't alive for, a country you mightn't have been to and a city that definitely doesn't exist — is firmly on the menu here, as it is in Anderson's film. Cover art from various editions of The French Dispatch also lines the walls, as does art by Benicio del Toro's character Moses Rosenthaler. And, you'll also spot other details from the movie, plus behind-the-scenes tidbits and nods to the rest of Anderson's filmography. In terms of food, you'll be snacking on pastries and sandwiches, as well as the usual cinema fare — including themed black-and-yellow coffee choc tops. Drinks-wise, the Cinema Nova's regular beverage list is on offer, which spans cocktails, beer, wine and non-boozy options. Cafe Le Sans Blague is just a pop-up, so you'll want to head in sooner rather than latter to pretend you're in an Anderson film. An end date hasn't been set as yet, but it will be sticking around at least until the new year. Plus, if you get snapping while you're there — and then share your picks on Instagram — Cinema Nova will also be giving away The French Dispatch merchandise via the social media platform for the next few weeks. Find Cafe Le Sans Blague at Cinema Nova, 380 Lygon Street, Carlton — open from 11am daily.
One great thing about street art and public art is the way they make you see your surroundings in a different way, and draw your attention to spaces you might not have noticed otherwise. French artist Julien Coquentin has captured this in Please Draw Me a Wall, a photo series that playfully blends fantasy with reality. The photos include things like a man with a fishing rod in front of a wall of painted fish, or a little girl in a red coat staring at what appears to be a wolf. Coquentin hasn't revealed the location of the images, but Paris would probably be the most likely — the city is known for its vibrant street art scene and Coquentin is currently living in France. See more of Coquentin's images on his website or on his Behance page. Via Flavorwire
A dystopian favourite reaching its end, one of the best TV shows of the past few years, the greatest small-screen effort in this very galaxy, more chestbursting horror, Glen Powell: they're all coming to your streaming queue in 2025. As the new year approaches, the networks and platforms responsible for your television viewing are dropping sneak peeks at what's in store. Following HBO's teaser trailer, now arrives Disney+'s version. Add season six of The Handmaid's Tale, season four of The Bear, season two of Andor, new Alien TV series Alien: Earth and the Powell-starring Chad Powers to your must-see list, as they're all on the way. So are Daredevil: Born Again and Ironheart, both from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Andor isn't the only Star Wars series highlighted, thanks to the Jude Law (Peter Pan & Wendy)-led Skeleton Crew. Elsewhere, season two of Percy Jackson and the Olympians gets a look in as well — and there's more where it and all of the above shows came from. As is always the case with trailers that are about a channel or streaming service's entire upcoming slate rather than one specific show, nothing receives the indepth treatment in the just-dropped trailer — but The Handmaid's Tale still gets plenty of attention. Season six is the last season of the Elisabeth Moss (The Veil)-led series based on Margaret Atwood's book, but the author's The Testaments is next set to make the leap from the page to the screen. The Bear also features prominently. Disney+ and Hulu said "yes chef!" to the fourth season before season three even aired, and gives Jamie Lee Curtis (Borderlands) one of the key lines of the clip: "sometimes your work family is closer to you than your family family," she tells Ayo Edebiri's (Inside Out 2) Sydney. With Chad Powers, audiences get a glimpse at a series that enlists Powell as a quarterback who takes on a new persona — the titular character — to play for a struggling team. And in Alien: Earth, the sci-fi/horror saga started in 1979 by Ridley Scott's (Gladiator II) iconic film heads to our own pale blue dot, with Noah Hawley leading the charge behind the scenes after also doing the same on the Fargo TV series. Andor has debut new footage ahead of its return in April 2025, while release dates for everything else — release windows, even — are yet to be revealed. Also featured in the trailer: clips from season two of Goosebumps: The Vanishing, as well as the new Paradise and Good American Family. The first stars Sterling K Brown (American Fiction) and James Marsden (Unfrosted), while the second is led by Ellen Pompeo (Grey's Anatomy). Check out Disney+'s 2025 trailer below: The shows highlighted in Disney+ and Hulu's new trailer will arrive in 2025. We'll update you with more details when they're announced.
As 2025's Sydney Film Festival announced at its closing-night gala, if you caught Jafar Panahi's It Was Just an Accident at this year's fest, then you saw the latest winner of the Sydney Film Prize. If you sat down to Songs Inside, Floodland and Wilfred Buck, you also watched 2025's recipients of the event's Documentary Australia Award, Sustainable Future Award and First Nations Award. There's more accolades where they came from, too — this time decided not by juries, but by festivalgoers. If you voted in SFF's 2025 Audience Awards at the fest's highest-selling year in its history, then you had a hand in selecting the picks for Australian feature, Australian documentary, international feature and international documentary — plus their runners up. Over 23,000 votes were received across the four fields, with the winners showcasing the breadth of flicks on offer at this year's festival. Aussie animation Lesbian Space Princess — which features The Pitt's Shabana Azeez among its voice cast — added the Best Australian Narrative Feature Audience Award to its growing haul, after collecting the Teddy Award at this year's Berlin International Film Festival. Its counterpart in the international field: All That's Left of You, about a Palestinian family in the occupied West Bank. In the documentary categories The Raftsmen and Prime Minister took out the top prizes, the first for chronicling an effort to cross the Pacific Ocean in 1973 and the second for a portrait of Jacinda Ardern. "These four films are powerful examples of the fantastically diverse kinds of storytelling that move, inspire and connect with audiences," said Sydney Film Festival Director Nashen Moodley. "Leela Varghese and Emma Hough Hobbs' Lesbian Space Princess is a singular achievement in animated cinema. This wildly imaginative feature is hilarious, heartfelt and unapologetically out there — and our audiences adored it." "The Raftsmen is a gripping and meditative exploration of adventure and human endurance. Chadden Hunter's evocative storytelling, blending archival 16mm footage with survivor testimony, brings to life one of the great oceanic journeys in modern history." "Cherien Dabis' All That's Left of You is sweeping in scope and deeply personal in its portrayal of love, loss and legacy. Tracing seven decades of Palestinian history through one family's experience, it is an emotionally resonant and beautifully crafted film that left Sydney audiences spellbound," Moodley continued. "Finally, Prime Minister offers a rare and deeply human look behind the scenes of political leadership. With unprecedented access, this nuanced portrait of Jacinda Ardern captures a leader navigating major global and national crises with empathy and resolve — clearly something that resonated with audiences in these times." Dark comedy Birthright, Sundance Audience Award-winner DJ Ahmet, the World Porridge Making Championship-focused The Golden Spurtle and Sundance Documentary Grand Jury Prize recipient Cutting Through Rocks all claimed the runner-up spots. Sydney Film Festival Audience Award Winners Australian Feature Winner: Lesbian Space Princess Runner up: Birthright Australian Documentary Winner: The Raftsmen Runner up: The Golden Spurtle International Feature Winner: All That's Left of You Runner up: DJ Ahmet International Documentary Winner: Prime Minister Runner up: Cutting Through Rocks Sydney Film Festival 2025 ran from Wednesday, June 4–Sunday, June 15 at various cinemas and venues around Sydney. The fest is screening via Sydney Film Festival's 2025 Back By Popular Demand bonus screenings at Dendy Newtown, Palace Cinemas Norton Street and Ritz Cinemas Randwick until Friday, June 20. For more information and tickets, head to the festival's website.
Less than a couple of weeks out from the anticipated grand debut of arts and culture festival Rising, organisers have announced another multi-faceted, large-scale piece set to join the packed program. I Conjure delivers a thought-provoking work by celebrated New York-based artist Jenny Holzer, in the form of soaring six-storey tall projections splashed across the historic facade of Melbourne's Queen Victoria Women's Centre. Across each night of the festival, from May 26–June 6, the text-based work will present a curation of statements plucked from Holzer's Truisms series, along with a few new works. All will be emblazoned proudly on the 19th-century building. In line with the award-winning artist's anonymous street posters, which first appeared in the late 1970s, I Conjure's proclamations are witty plays on commonly held truths and recognisable cliches. Numbering close to 300, the various texts offer thoughts on creativity, art and activism. The project's lineup also includes words from renowned artists like Tracey Moffatt, Agnes Martin, Grace Hartigan and Nikki Lam. [caption id="attachment_812428" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jenny Holzer's work You Vote 2020 (Detroit, Michigan) © Jenny Holzer, member Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY. Photo: Mark Rutherford.[/caption] A pioneer of text-based public art, Holzer's powerful messages have graced everything from baseball caps to giant LED sculptures over her decade-long art career. In recent years, the artist's statements have appeared on the likes of Switzerland's Gstaad Palace ("Hiding your motives is despicable"), New York City's Rockefeller Centre ("I feel pain with each step I take but to feel pain is better than to not feel pain at all, so above all things I am grateful") and the Wawel Royal Castle in Poland ("And now I don't know what in all that was real"). Catch I Conjure at the Queen Victoria Women's Centre, 210 Lonsdale St, Melbourne, nightly from May 26–June 6. For more details, check out the Rising website. Top images: Jenny Holzer's work A Little Knowledge Can Go A Long Way 2019 (Gstaad, Switzerland) © Jenny Holzer, member Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY. Photo: Stefan Altenburger.
Melbourne street artist Rone has completed his latest and most industrious work to date, a nine-storey portrait in Melbourne’s CBD. Sitting at 35 metres high and 23.5 metres wide, the gargantuan face of Byron Bay model Teresa Oman looms from the external wall of 80 Collins Street. Based on a photograph Rone had taken of "one of the most re-blogged models in the world" according to Nylon, the work sports the title, L’inconnue de la rue (unknown girl in the street). The colossal mural, commissioned by wall owner QIC Global Real Estate, took seven days to create, with Rone working for ten hours a day from a cherry picker until the wall was complete. "It took a lot longer than expected and was no doubt the most challenging project I had ever taken on," said the Melburnian muralist on his website. "This is one of those walls you dream of. When it was offered I took it with a grain of salt as not to get my hopes up, as there has been a few things like this talked about in the past that just never happened." Long celebrated Melbourne-wide for his signature style of tightly cropped, magnified portraits of glamorous female faces on crumbling walls, Rone’s work has expanded from local lanes to interstate spots in Adelaide and Sydney to the streets of Berlin, Port Vila, Queenstown and Miami. Rone will now return to London, where his first UK solo exhibition Wallflower at Stolen Space Gallery opens April 10. Images by Ben Wesley and Tony Owczarek. via Lost At E Minor.
Yayoi Kusama's dots, obliteration rooms and pumpkins are rarely far Australia's shores, whether via kaleidoscopic solo exhibitions, pieces in other showcases, infinity rooms popping up in multiple places or documentaries about the Japanese artist. Your next way to get your Kusama fix on home soil is going big. Huge, in fact. Towering, even. And it's putting one of her giant pumpkin sculptures in the best place possible: a garden. When this gourd is normally found among the greenery, it doesn't usually measure three metres in length. Pumpkins aren't typically red, either, or covered in black spots. The Kusama Red and Black Pumpkin that's joining Pt Leo Estate is all of those things, however, as well as a massive new drawcard for the Victorian venue. "I am very pleased to showcase my work in such a wonderful place. The magical fusion of nature and my work is something special that can only be seen in each location," said Kusama about one of her pumpkins taking up permanent residence on the Mornington Peninsula. "At three metres wide, the monumental work is much larger than Kusama's iconic Naoshima sculpture and enjoys a spectacular Victorian coastal vista as backdrop," added Pt Leo Sculpture Park Consultant Curator Geoffrey Edwards. The Naoshima pumpkin has attracted a crowd to the Japanese art island since being installed in 1994, but was washed out to sea in a 2021 typhoon. A new piece that keeps with the same yellow and black design joined the site in 2022, and still gets tourists flocking. Or, you can now head to Victoria. Kusama's Red and Black Pumpkin is made out of bronze and stainless steel, and covered with Kusama's beloved dots, a recurring motif across her work. She's been making pumpkins for decades to nod to her childhood experience on a small farm. Art lovers around the world have been feasting their eyes on the results ever since. At Pt Leo Estate, Kusama's giant and colourful work joins more than 50 fellow works across the grounds, including pieces by KAWS, Jaume Plensa, Inge King and Reko Rennie. When you're not peering at art while wandering around the 134-hectare estate, you can enjoy a meal at the Pt Leo Estate Restaurant, fine-diner Laura and the Wine Terrace, plus some vino from the cellar door and wine shop. Find Pt Leo Estate at 3649 Frankston-Flinders Road, Merricks, with Yayoi Kusama's Red and Black Pumpkin available to see from Saturday, November 25. Head to the venue's website for further information. Images: Chris McConville.
