The Social Network offered a chilling prophesy of the impact of social networking sites, foreseeing the fracturing of friendships and a disturbing shift in human interaction. But a new study by the University of Milan reveals that the cyber world is a much cosier place than we thought. According to the study, the 6 degrees of separation that lie between the Earth’s inhabitants is, by social networking standards, as intimate as the dismal attempts at on-screen chemistry between an expressionless Robert Pattinson and his wooden Kristen Stewart. For us friendly Facebookers, however, there are only 4.74 degrees separating us from any other user around the globe. Zuckerberg ain’t lying when he tells us he’s ‘connecting people’. In layman’s terms, the rather precise 4.74 degrees translates to 5 ‘hops’ between users. As Facebok continues to grow this figure has steadily diminished, first measured at 5.28 in 2008. When you limit the measurement to a single nation, which tends to contain the majority of our friendships, the world shrinks even more; most citizens of the same country are separated by only 3 degrees. But does a tight knit cyber community translate to an increase in real, flesh and blood friends with whom we communicate beyond the ‘Wall’? It could be that the smaller the degrees in the cyber world, the greater they grow in reality, as increased Facebook interaction dilutes the quality of our face-to-face relationships. Either way, Facebook has proven that it really is a small world after all. [Via Wired]
Richmond's The National Hotel is giving you an excuse to change up your average Thursday night drinks with mates. The longstanding pub has once again invited The Plant Whisperer to host a tipsy terrarium workshop. Throughout the 1.5-hour class, the host will walk you through the creation of a mini plant world, providing tips on plant selection and design, as well as soil composition and layering techniques. All terrarium materials are included in the ticket price — expect an array of tropical plants to choose from, plus a glass bowl, stones, soil, moss and figurines. And all experience levels are welcome, whether you entered the class a pro or are a repeat offender black thumb. The bar will also be slinging all its usual bevvies throughout the workshop (to help provide some liquid creativity) — along with its Thursday night $6 Cass and Korean fried chicken special ($15 for half a chook plus pickles and bao). Plenty of other bar chow is up for grabs, too, including steamed prawn dumplings, pork belly bao and five spice soft shell crab sliders. The 1.5 hour class will cost $80, with drinks and food at the bar purchased separately. Bookings are a must. UPDATE: OCTOBER 4, 2019 — With the first two workshops selling out promptly, a third one has been added on Wednesday, October 23. If you want to go, get tickets pronto.
Heartbreaker is turning three, which means we've been enjoying its jukebox-filled, neon-soaked dive bar vibes for three whole years now. To celebrate its graduation from toddlerhood, the bar is throwing a big birthday bash themed around the 80s on LA's Sunset Strip. Glam-rock and big hair are the order of the evening, and there'll even be an emergency makeup station for those who forgot (or ran out of black eyeliner). As at any great three-year-old party, there'll also be jelly — but, here it'll come in the form of complimentary jelly shots. You'll be able to buy adult slushies, too, and partygoers will be some of the first to taste the new Heartbreaker and Stomping Ground collaboration beer, Red Zeppelin. Connie's Pizza — the bar's in-house purveyor of hot, comforting, cheesy carbs — will be in celebratory mode, too, with free pizza pies doing the rounds from 7pm till 3am. With live performances by go-go dancers and DJs on the cards, too, you'll be pleasantly surprised to hear that entry is free.
Is there anything better than a burger? How about one for just a cheeky fiver? Well, we've got good news for you. Yo My Goodness, aka YOMG, is now offering its top-quality burgers, shakes, fries and frozen yoghurt to northside Melburnians at its new Moonee Ponds location. And, to celebrate its new digs, it's slinging $5 burgs. Head to the fun-loving diner from Friday, May 7 to Sunday, May 9 and you'll be chomping on cheesy burgs for cheap. The $5 deal is limited to the Yo My with Cheese, loaded with a grass-fed angus beef, double cheese, lettuce, tomato and YOMG's secret sauce. The cheese burger usually comes in at $11, so we'd say this is quite the steal. Plus, vegetarian and vegan options are available for herbivores, as well as gluten-free buns. And, if that wasn't enticing enough, by grabbing yourself a tasty burg, you'll also be in the running to score one of five YOMG Golden Tickets. The tickets will be in random burgers throughout the weekend and, should you find one, you will then receive a $500 YOMG voucher. YOMG's $5 burger weekend is exclusive to YOMG Moonee Ponds and is available online and in store. Burgers are available from 11.30am.
Each year, the National Gallery of Victoria commissions a new temporary structure to evoke a fresh perspective on the gallery. Previous years have seen a pink car wash and an openair maze pop up in the NGV's Grollo Equiset Garden, but 2018's Architecture Commission, announced today, will be a direct reflection of the gallery itself. A collaborative effort between Melbourne firm Muir and landscape architecture studio Openwork. Doubleground draws inspiration from past and present aspects of NGV International. The design is centred on a dramatic passageway that recalls the triangular patterns found within the NGV's Great Hall glass feature wall and on the gallery's roof. Elements of the NGV Garden will literally be raised up as sections of the garden become sharp embankments, creating canyon-like passageways below. The Sir Roy Grounds-designed building also provided inspiration for Doublegrounds decking area, which echoes the NGV International's foyer, while a bamboo garden reflects the building's former bamboo courtyard. Architect Amy Muir used her memories of visiting the gallery as a child to compose a blueprint for the new commission. "The 2018 Architecture Commission provides an intervention that challenges the role of the NGV Garden," Muir said of her studio's designs. "Acknowledging the intent and architectural language of the original Roy Grounds building, the Commission seeks to bring the memories of place back into play." Promoting the positive relationship between architecture, landscape and civic space, Doubleground was chosen ahead of 73 other entries from around Australia due to its collaborative and multi-disciplinary approach. As 2018 marks the 50th anniversary of the NGV International, gallery Director Tony Ellwood explained the new commission "offers visitors a unique opportunity to reflect upon and re-examine the history and design of the Gallery as an integral part of Melbourne's public realm". The 2018 NGV Architectural Commission will be free to visit in the Grollo Equiset Garden at NGV International from November 2018 until April 2019.
Ideas and inventions are usually intimately linked to the place they originate, displaying a wonderfully intricate relationship between form, function, culture and the environment. Think of the Hills Hoist in Australia, where people have the space and sunshine to use them, or the guillotine in France, where there was a severe excess of knives and nobility. If ever an idea sprang from completely the wrong place, surely it's the amphibious ice-cream truck floating around the UK. Thanks to ice-cream company Fredericks, the waterways of the British Isles are being bombarded with Rod Stewart's We Are Sailing whenever the HMS Flake 99 hoves into view to sell some ice-cream. The boat-truck is touring the UK to highlight the decline in ice-cream trucks due to rising costs, noise complaints, and childhood obesity fears. I'm sure buying a boat, blasting Rod Stewart and getting kids to eat more ice-cream will help... Jokes aside, an ice-cream boat is a great idea — it just should have been an Australian one. Wouldn't that boat look more tempting if it were cruising down our local waterways instead of under that leaden British sky! Sure, it's winter here now, but that just means you've got six months to source a boat and a freezer to make it happen. And when it comes to the music, why not announce your presence with The Lonely Island's I'm On A Boat? [via designboom]
There's less than a month left of winter. If that's reason enough to get you planning your next holiday, Virgin Australia understands. The airline is starting August 2024 with everyone's favourite excuse to book a getaway — yes, that'd be a flight sale — but you've only got three days to nab the 500,000 discounted fares. This new 72-hour sale runs until midnight AEST on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, unless sold out earlier, and focuses on domestic flights. You'll be travelling between Tuesday, September 3, 2024–Wednesday, April 30, 2025, so you'll be taking a spring, summer or autumn vacation, with prices starting cheap at $45. Where can you head? To Byron Bay, Launceston, Hamilton Island and Uluru, for starters. By now, everyone knows that the Sydney–Byron Bay route always has the lowest cost, which is $45 one-way this time around. From there, other discounts include Melbourne–Launceston from $59, Sydney to the Gold Coast from $65, Sydney to the Sunshine Coast from $69, Melbourne–Hobart from $75, Brisbane to Cairns from $89 and Melbourne to Hamilton Island from $129. Among your other options, Sydneysiders can take a trip to Cairns from $115, Melburnians to Uluru for the same price, Brisbanites to Uluru from $119 and also to Darwin from $169. This sale kicked off on Monday, August 5, 2024 — and the cheap fares, which cover both directions between each point in the discounted route, start with Virgin's Economy Lite option. With the travel periods available, all dates vary per route. Inclusions also differ depending on your ticket and, as usual when it comes to flight sales, you'll need to get in quick if you're keen to spend some, part or even most of September–April anywhere but home. Virgin's '72-hour Flight Frenzy Sale' sale runs until midnight AEST on Wednesday, August 7, 2024 — unless sold out earlier. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
Let's call it the seven-, eight- and nine-month itch: that point when a year reaches its halfway point, and as winter starts to give way to spring, when holidays, holidays, holidays is all that's on anyone's mind. Is that you right now? Been spending every spare moment dreaming of summer getaways, and also making travel plans right into 2023? Then Virgin's latest sale arrives at the right time. More than one million fares are up for grabs as part of the Bring On Summer sale, covering both Aussie and international destinations. Yes, that means that you've got options, no matter where you'd like to head. Among the domestic routes, one-way fares start at $49, which'll get you from Sydney to Byron Bay. Other sale flights include Brisbane–Whitsunday Coast from $75, Melbourne–Gold Coast from $79, Melbourne–Adelaide from $79 as well and Sydney–Hobart from $85. And if you're wondering when you'll need to travel, you can book trips between January 17–June 24, 2023. Internationally, return fares cover getaways to Bali, Fiji, Vanuatu and Samoa — from Sydney (from $489 to Fiji, $549 to Bali and $560 to Samoa), Melbourne ($549 to Bali and $579 to Fiji) and Brisbane ($475 to Vanuatu, $529 to either Bali or Fiji, and $559 to Samoa). Again, that means you've got choices, including if multiple getaways to different spots are in your ideal future. As always when it comes to flight sales, you'll need to get in quick. Virgin's discounted fares are now on offer until midnight AEST on Monday, September 5 or sold out, whichever arrives first. In total, the sale is taking up to 30-percent off Virgin's economy fares to 34 locations. Yep, best grab your suitcase now. Virgin's Bring on Summer sale runs from until Monday, September 5 — or until sold out.
The popularity of Harry Potter has proven as enduring as comparable world-beating IP like Star Wars, for which the audience's appetite for newness and further exploration of the world has no apparent ceiling. Case in point: the epic two-part production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has enjoyed a huge run in Melbourne's Princess Theatre since debuting in February 2019. The production estimated 326,500 theatre-goers experienced the show in the first year alone — not bad for a play with a five-and-a-half hour run time. The two-parter finally wraps up its run this month with the final show on March 27. But, fortunately for theatre lovers and Potter stans alike: as one Cursed Child closes, another one opens! Tickets are now on sale for the new, condensed version of the play opening at the Princess Theatre from May 4, 2022 — a one-part iteration that's currently in the midst of a hugely successful Broadway run. The run time for the reimagined version comes in at far more manageable three-and-a-half hours (including one interval) and, while a third of the length has been removed, none of the magic has. It's the same story, just streamlined. And the brilliant Australian cast from the two-parter is almost entirely the same. So, what exactly is The Cursed Child about? The story picks up 19 years after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Harry is now a Ministry of Magic employee, married to Ginny Weasley and the play focuses on his youngest son Albus Severus Potter coming of age at Hogwarts in the shadow of his famous father, as both father and son grapple with the past and the future. It's a fantastic production with plenty of heart, humour and incredibly well-executed magic, which is a credit to those pulling the literal and figurative strings (ropes?) behind the scenes. The new shorter format will mean a much wider audience can experience what is destination theatre-going. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is playing at Melbourne's Princess Theatre in its two-part form, running until Sunday, March 27, 2022. It switches to a one-session production from May 4, 2022, with tickets for the latter on sale now. For more information, head to the play's website. Top image: Tim Carrafa. Cast images by Dan Boud.
It's been an explosive year for beer and brewing in Australia. Some old hands at the craft game sold to major international corporations, while new independent brewers continued to develop and expand. From fruit-infused sours to bold, hoppy IPAs, the discerning beer drinker has never enjoyed so much choice from both local and international markets. While there will always be a time and a place for a cold tinnie of VB, the following ten brews offer a range of flavours and unique styles to help you beat the heat this summer. The best places to find these beers, aside from the locations below, are specialist bottle shops. We've rounded up our favourites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. XPA, PHILTER BREWING The XPA style is still somewhat unclear, though the acronym stands for Xtra Pale Ale, but in the case of Philter's flagship brew — a pale yellow, slightly hazy session ale — the 'Xtra' refers to both the light colour and the depth of flavour. Head brewer Sam Fuss has put the myth to rest that brewing is a man's game with her brewing prowess. Packaged in retro blue and white cans, Philter XPA opens with a delicate bouquet of floral and summer fruit aromatics, notes of rockmelon, passionfruit and mango. On the palate expect little to no bitterness with some citrus and notes of freshly cut grass, balanced out by a subtle wheat and honey flavour from its malt base. Philter XPA won Best Pale Ale at the 2017 Craft Beer Awards, after only being on the market for four months. Available in cans at Liquor Emporium, St Peters, and as Beer of the Month at The Botany View Hotel, Newtown. EARL PEAR, MERCHANT BREWING COMPANY In the height of the Australian summer, a 6.9% ABV Belgian-style blonde ale seems like a strange choice. But the boys over at Merchant have taken some bold steps to create one ripper of a beer. Blending the toffee apple malt flavour with extracts of pear and earl grey tea, this beer is inventive and exciting without being gimmicky. The beer pours slightly cloudy, is dark orange in colour and has a strong aroma of pears, apricots and a touch of citrus. The immediate flavour is pear with a hint of tart funkiness, then the sweet malt flavour gives way to a light kiss of floral citrus rounded out by the herbaceous bitterness from the tea. Incredibly well-balanced and surprisingly delicate, this beer would make a fine match for seafood or a fruit-based summer salad. Just like the monocle-sporting sloth on the label, this is a sophisticated and fun slow sipper for those looking for something a little different this summer. Earl Pear is currently available on tap at Quarrymans Hotel, Pyrmont. PASSION OF THE PUSS, WAYWARD BREWING CO Between Parramatta Road and the backstreets of leafy Annandale, Wayward Brewing Co's tap room is the perfect place for those seeking shelter from the hot days. Housed in a converted wine cellar, the brewery boasts an impressive selection of vintage 70s-style couches, a wall-mounted Royal Enfield motorcycle and a labyrinth of rooms and spaces catering to crowds of all sizes. Passion of the Puss is a new spin on Wayward's incredibly popular Sour Puss Raspberry Berliner Weisse, but this time it favours passionfruit and yuzu. The result is a a bright, aromatic brew with plenty of passionfruit notes giving way to the acidity of the yuzu to round it out. This is a great beer for those looking to get into sours as it has enough complexity and balance to remain refreshing all the way through the pint. Sitting at only 3.8% ABV, it's great for session, and a reliable hangover cure. Passion of the Puss is currently available in 640ml bombers from Wayward Brewery Co, Camperdown. WEST COAST IPA, BATCH BREWING COMPANY Pioneers of the Sydney craft beer scene, Batch Brewing Company has maintained a steady rise to prominence in inner west Sydney, the cradle of brewing culture in Sydney. While the current trend among brewers seems to be about who can brew the biggest, hoppiest and strongest IPAs, this little gem from Batch's core range is a reliable and refreshing take on the classic American style. Over the years, Batch have made many IPAs, yet this is the only permanent fixture and with one sip you'll quickly see why. The blend of three hop varieties with three base malts achieves a beer that is supremely well balanced. Pale gold and ever so slightly cloudy, this beer is dominated by tropical fruit aromas of mango and pineapple, followed by fresh citrus notes. A subtle but firm bitterness rounds out the finish and leaves you wanting more, and as it sits at an approachable 5.8%, why not have another? Batch West Coast is currently available in cans, bombers, growlers and on tap at Batch Brewery Company, Marrickville. DIPA, HOPE BREWHOUSE When getting into the boozier side of brewing, some beers tend to almost drift into wine territory. With this in mind, it's incredibly comforting to know that Hope's head brewer, Matt Hogan, is indeed a former winemaker. This training in nuance and delicacy translates in the surprising form of a double India pale ale — a style famous for its in-your-face flavour. Hope's offering, however, is a joyously well-balanced beer; it has a pale straw colour with a beautiful floral nose, citrus aromas, big tropical fruit notes and a piney, resiny mid-palate. The light malts offer some sweeter notes of honey and biscuit, while a substantial bitter finish makes this big bold beer a truly dynamic flavour experience. Sitting at 9% ABV this DIPA would be suited to fans of Pirate Life Brewing's Double IPA. Hope DIPA is currently available in cans at Liquor Emporium, St Peters, and on tap at the The Local Taphouse, Darlinghurst. SAUCY SAISON, SAUCE BREWING COMPANY Starting a microbrewery in a warehouse in Marrickville is a tried and tested idea. With the craft cradle booming, however, offering something new and exciting can be a challenge. Enter Sauce Brewing Company, a strong team of brewers covering a broad range of styles with charm and reliability. Oh, and did we mention their converted warehouse space features a large, family-friendly beer garden? This beer is a modern take on the classic French/Belgian style where the yeast is the dominant flavour. A special Belgian ale yeast gives smooth notes of banana and clove with some light fruity esters, followed by a twist of citrusy hop flavour, all wrapped up in a smooth honey malt. For those seeking a less hop-driven beer, that still has a bit of a kick to it this summer, treat yourself to something a little different, after all, 'tis the 'saison'! Saucy Saison is available from Sauce Brewing Company, Marrickville in cans and growlers, and in cans at Red Bottle, Sussex Street. SERPENT'S KISS, GRIFTER BREWING CO Pilsner is a style that many beer nerds will scoff at, as it's often thought of as a bland boring lager. In the current game, however, the ability to produce an interesting lager-style beer is one hell of a trump card to play. This is exactly what the team at Grifter has done. With five-plus years in the Sydney brewing scene, their approach to this widely loved style of beer is sure to appeal to a wide range of drinkers. This light-bodied, easy-drinking brew is the perfect, refreshing drop for a sunny afternoon, it has a low level of bitterness complemented by a delicate fruitiness from the inclusion of real watermelon. The watermelon flavour is light, natural and not overly sweet, resulting in a beautifully sessionable beer with a fruity twist. Available in cans from the Grifter Brewing Co, and currently on tap at the White Cockatoo Petersham. OXYMORON, BRUNY ISLAND Traditionally, darker beers are reserved for drinking in the cooler months, but tradition goes straight out the window with this beer made by a cheese company from Tasmania. The aptly titled Oxymoron is a sort of Swiss-Army-knife beer, in that it's perfect for a multitude of occasions all year round. The style is billed as a 'dark pale ale' so expect some robust roasty notes of smooth cocoa and a touch of spice from the use of malted rye. This is wonderfully countered by a superb blend of four Tasmanian-grown hop varieties offering floral, citrus and light peach notes, rounded out by a firm bitterness. This is a beer that will serve as a refreshing, yet smooth and rich, alternative to the plethora of American-style pales dominating the market at present. A relative newcomer to the scene, even moreso the mainland, Bruny Island's beers are most reliably sourced through its online store, but keep an eye out for them in your local craft pub, bar or bottle-o. NORMAN AUSTRALIAN ALE, YULLI'S BREWS About halfway down Crown Street in Surry Hills there's a small, unassuming restaurant with a well-deserved reputation for serving some of the finest vegetarian food in town. To make it even better, they're also responsible for one of the finest local drops on the market. Created by bar staff seeking an approachable and casual beer that could also stand alongside fine dining, Norman is a light, refreshing summer ale with notes of apple and pear, followed by a gentle, clean, bitter finish. The green and gold cans adorned with a charmingly idiosyncratic cartoon character make for a staple in any Aussie fridge this summer. Perfect for a barbecue or beachside evening picnic, Norman is a friend you want to have around again and again. Available from Yulli's restaurant, Surry Hills, on tap and in cans at The Clock Hotel bottle shop. [caption id="attachment_648241" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA[/caption] TONIC, DOCTOR'S ORDERS The Sydney brewing scene's equivalent of the eccentric cartoon mad scientist Rick Sanchez (from Rick and Morty), 'Dr' Darren Robinson has been brewing weird, wacky and wonderful styles of beer since 2009. The latest seasonal prescription from the Doc is a sessionable witbier with an impressive array of botanicals including orange peel, juniper berries, lemon myrtle and cinchona bark. This inventive blend of flavours is enough to make for a beautiful summer drop all by itself, however, it is also a brilliant mixer with your favourite gin. This is the second seasonal release of the Tonic, which was a massive success last year and sure to become a summer favourite of both gin and beer enthusiasts. Available from the The Wine Cellar, Newtown, in cans.
Here's two ways that 2025 will be better than 2024: The White Lotus will return for season three, as will The Last of Us for season two. If you've been hanging out for more holiday chaos and dystopian tension, you can now start marking your calendar. Neither show has exact return dates yet, but HBO has just gotten more specific about when each will be streaming. In February 2025, it'll be time to check in again. Your destination this time: Thailand. Walton Goggins (Fallout), Carrie Coon (Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire), Jason Isaacs (The Crowded Room), Michelle Monaghan (MaXXXine), Leslie Bibb (Palm Royale), Parker Posey (Mr & Mrs Smith) and Lisa from BLACKPINK are among the new cast of The White Lotus season three, all playing characters that are bound to learn — and the anthology series' on-screen figures always do — that getaways and bliss don't always go hand in hand. From season one, Natasha Rothwell (How to Die Alone) is also returning. HBO is planning to drop big tentpole shows a few times a year — so it'll be in 2025's second quarter, which is autumn Down Under, that The Last of Us will return. There's no exact month as yet, but Joel and Ellie will be back. In their shoes, so will Pedro Pascal (The Wild Robot) and Bella Ramsey (Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget), of course. This time around, the series' main duo have company from both familiar faces and a heap of newcomers. Rutina Wesley (Monster High) and Gabriel Luna (Fubar) return as Maria and Tommy, while Kaitlyn Dever (Good Grief), Isabela Merced (Alien: Romulus), Jeffrey Wright (American Fiction), Young Mazino (Beef), Ariela Barer (How to Blow Up a Pipeline), Tati Gabrielle (Kaleidoscope), Spencer Lord (Family Law) and Danny Ramirez (Black Mirror) are the season's additions. The US cable network revealed the timing for both shows during a Wells Fargo-hosted conference, also advising that new Game of Thrones prequel A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is set to arrive in summer in the US — which is winter in Australia and New Zealand, fittingly. And if you can't wait for more Euphoria, the long-delayed and eagerly anticipated third season is now expected to arrive early in 2026. If you're wondering what else is in store for HBO in 2025 and beyond — or even to close out 2024 — the network dropped a trailer back in November teasing the slate to come. Also on the way, and also debuting never-before-seen footage in the clip: IT prequel series Welcome to Derry, season four of Hacks, season two of The Rehearsal, a new show led by Bottoms and Saturday Night's Rachel Sennott, two-part documentary Pee-Wee as Himself, The Righteous Gemstones season four, Peacemaker season two, The Pitt with ER veteran Noah Wyle, Mark Ruffalo (Poor Things)-led FBI series Task and Tim Robinson (I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson) comedy The Chair Company. Season three of And Just Like That... and The Gilded Age also feature in the trailer, albeit without any new material, with each series joining the list for 2025. You can spot scenes from Dune: Prophecy, season three of The Sex Lives of College Girls, the animated Creature Commandos and limited series Get Millie Black, too, all of which are 2024 releases. From 2025's lineup, newcomer Duster with Lost's Josh Holloway and season two of Conan O'Brien Must Go scored a look as well. Where Australians will be watching all of the above is yet to be revealed, however, given that HBO has confirmed that its own streaming service Max will launch here sometime in the first half of 2025. Watch HBO's most-recent 2024–25 roundup trailer below: The shows highlighted in HBO's new trailer will arrive across the end of 2024 and in 2025. At present, the bulk of the network's programs stream via Binge in Australia and on Neon in New Zealand. Images: HBO.
The latest cookout at Melbourne's historic Prahran Market pays tribute to the humble snag. From noon on Friday, January 22, some of the finest butchers and poulterers in town will offer up their very best wurst at the second annual Prahran Market Sausage Fest. Yeah, we're not sure we would have called it that either. Unfortunate name aside, this pre-Australia Day grill promises to be a tasty affair. Members of the public will vote for their favourite sausage in a blind taste test at Blanco Kitchen in Harvest Hall. Will last year's winner, Gary's Quality Meats, claim the top prize once again? Or will one of the other competitors serve up a superior snag? You'll have to be there to find out. And besides, who are you to say no to free sausage?
For everyone who's yearned for a sunny, sandy, surf-filled holiday over the past few years, screens big and small have come with a warning: be careful what you wish for. In M Night Shyamalan's Old, hitting a gorgeous beach meant ageing quickly. In The White Lotus, it sparked eat-the-rich dramas. While the horror movie remake of Fantasy Island arrived just before lockdowns and travel restrictions, it unleashed terrors in scenic surroundings (and a terrible movie upon audiences). And in the Tim Roth-starring Sundown, escaping to Acapulco permanently isn't as blissful as it sounds. Come the end of July, The Resort will keep this chaotic vacation streak going, all via an eight-part streaming series that'll hit Australia via Stan from Friday, July 29. Here, Nick Offerman (Pam & Tommy), Cristin Milioti (Made for Love) and William Jackson Harper (The Good Place) star in a comedy-thriller that's also a mystery and a coming-of-age love story. Plenty can happen on a getaway, after all. Milioti and Harper play Emma and Noah, two high-school teachers who've been married for ten years and head off on a trip to the Yucatan to celebrate. But while seeking a stint of vacation bliss, as well as attempting to reinvigorate a routine relationship and life that Noah at least is content with, they stumble upon a 15-year-old mystery involving Sam (Skyler Gisondo, Licorice Pizza) and Violet (Nina Bloomgarden, Good Girl Jane) — when they were each making the trip to Oceana Vista Resort with their respective parents back in 2007, but weren't seen again. As The Resort's trailer shows, Offerman plays Violet's father, who is still looking into the mystery, too. Also making an appearance: Luis Gerardo Méndez (Narcos: Mexico) as Oceana Vista Resort's head of security a decade and a half back, Gabriela Cartol (Hernán) as the concierge where Emma and Noah are staying, and Parvesh Cheena (Mythic Quest) and Michael Hitchcock (Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar) as two Teds who are married to each other. The cast also includes Ben Sinclair (Thor: Love and Thunder) as resort owner, Debby Ryan (Insatiable) as Sam's girlfriend, and IRL couple Dylan Baker (Hunters) and Becky Ann Baker (Big Little Lies) as Sam's parents. Behind the scenes, The Resort hails from showrunner, writer and executive producer Andy Siara (Palm Springs, Lodge 49), as well as producers Sam Esmail (Mr Robot) and Chad Hamilton, and was shot throughout Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Mexico. Check out the trailer for The Resort below: The Resort will start streaming in Australia via Stan from Friday, July 29. Images: Marisol Pesquera / Peacock.
Joining vinyl records and 8-track tapes on the dusty shelf of obsoleteness, CDs have fallen by the wayside. In 2011, the number of people in the US who downloaded their music had far surpassed that of people who bought physical albums. In an era when our grandchildren won't know what a Walkman is, what are we to do with our now-digitised CD collections? As it turns out, Amazon wants them. Beginning last week, Amazon launched alterations to its Trade-in Program, which allows customers to swap their old stuff for Amazon store credit. Amazon has previously accepted pre-loved items such as Kindles, textbooks, and DVDs in exchange for credit but hasn't accepted used CDs until now. The store credit can be used to buy new, downloadable albums, or any product from the site. We can't decide which we are more excited about: an extra buck or two, or forever banishing our questionable '90s music decisions.
Fed Square is looking super pretty this month thanks to The Light in Winter program. Lighting up the night and warming the cockles of our cold Melburnian hearts is Asif Khan's work, Radiant Lines. Described as an exploration of line, rhythm, velocity and volume, the work features a large circular aluminium installation that lights up at dusk via hundreds of LED lights. These lights are triggered by and mimic the pulsing nature of bioluminescence (to save you the Google definition, it means the production and emission of light via a living organism). As you step near the sculpture, you trigger its lighting pattern and set off the pulsations to circulate the piece, orbiting around you and passing above as you move further inside. Asif Khan is a world-renowned designer. He leads an award-winning London based design practice and is perhaps best known for his work turning selfies into giant 3D portraits made of light for the Sochi Winter Olympics. We're pretty excited to see his works light up right here in Melbourne.
If you've ever dreamed of constantly being the life of the party, then this creation by Joey Andolina will be right up your alley. Instead of the standard carrying of a boombox in the hand or over the shoulder, this boombox is attached to a vest and can be worn with ease. The vest features two motorcycle speakers which protrude from the shoulders. Furthermore, an 8” Boss Audio Bass900 subwoofer is located on the back of the vest for more bass power. The whole device is powered by a rechargable battery, and volume can be adjusted from the hip. Arriving just in time for summer, this vest boombox allows you to show off your fashion prowess while blasting European hardstyle relentlessly as you walk around the block. If you're serious about partying, you know you'll have to wear the sunglasses like the model in the above picture.
Escape the hustle and bustle of the city and discover the hidden wonders of the Macedon Ranges as it plays host to the Macedon Ranges Wine and Food Budburst Festival across November 17–18. Over the weekend, uncover the region's best drops as 30-plus wineries fling open their cellar doors and put more than 100 different wine styles up for the tasting. Most of these wineries are family owned too, which gives you the chance to meet the makers behind the magic and to learn first-hand from Victoria's finest artisans of wine. Situated between 350–700 metres above sea level, The Macedon Ranges is Australia's coolest mainland wine region. The area is known for the Macedon Sparkling, which is made using only locally grown pinot noir and chardonnay grapes. But, with more than 40 vineyards located in the region, there is lots of room for variation and plenty of diverse drops for you to try. Accompanying all the great vino will also be live music and your choice of different winery lunches and dinners. From cheese platters and Turkish meze to woodfired pizzas and lamb shoulder sliders — you'll be more than covered food wise. Grab a weekend Festival Pass for just $22.50 online or $25 at the cellar doors — we recommend buying online as they are expected to sell out. This includes your own tasting glass and a Festival Passport guide so you won't miss any keys activities. The festival has pre-planned transport for you too, with a number of bus options available, so you don't have to think about logistics over the wine-filled weekend. For more spring places, spaces and events to discover in regional Victoria visit Your Happy Space.
First, Coachella excited music fans worldwide with its 2020 lineup, with Travis Scott, Frank Ocean and Rage Against the Machine topping the bill. Then, when COVID-19 started having an impact on gigs around the globe — and travel to gigs, too — the huge Californian fest postponed this year's event from April to October. Now, in a move that's hardly surprising, it's scrapping 2020's festival altogether. Instead, it'll aim to return in 2021 in its regular April time slot. Revealing the news, fest organisers announced that "Under the continuing health guidance of the County of Riverside, Coachella and Stagecoach 2020 will not take place this October as previously rescheduled". Just what'll happen with Coachella's much-anticipated 2020 lineup — and whether Scott, Ocean and RATM will feature next year — is yet to be advised, with the festival saying, "we look forward to sharing our new lineups and more information." The cancellation comes after Coachella's parent company, Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), told staff earlier this week that it'd be cutting back its workforce, including layoffs, furloughs and pay cuts, the Los Angeles Times reports. Coachella ticketholders will be able to use their passes for the 2021 festival and the company will be emailing information about refunds by Monday, June 15. https://www.instagram.com/p/CBT6AgsHdY5/?igshid=70jfi1nudmg Fallout from the coronavirus on this scale has been predicted for the music industry for months, with some experts forecasting that concerts, festivals and international touring won't return to normal until late 2021. Just this week, Australia's own Splendour in the Grass also canned its 2020 fest, after earlier announcing a move to October, just as Coachella had. Splendour will instead celebrate its 20th-anniversary event in July 2021. Of course, since Australia and New Zealand's international borders are currently firmly shut — and, if they reopen anytime soon, they only look likely to open to each other as part of an Australian–New Zealand travel bubble — music lovers from Down Under weren't going to be able to attend this year's Coachella anyway. If you had been preparing to to watch the always-popular livestream across the weekends of October 9–11 and 16–18, though, you'll need to cancel your plans. Or, you can check out the free YouTube documentary Coachella: 20 Years in the Desert, which does an entertaining — albeit highly official, and therefore highly celebratory — job of exploring the fest's origins, growth and success. The doco also includes some killer performance footage, highlighting performers who've graced the Indio stage over the past two decade, such as Jane's Addiction, Bjork, Daft Punk, Madonna, Amy Winehouse, Beyonce and Prince, plus Tupac in hologram form. Coachella will no longer take place in 2020, and is expected to return from April 9–11 and April 16–18, 2021. For further information, visit coachella.com.
Oh hi Mark! Best known for his immortal role in Tommy Wiseau's cult classic The Room, actor Greg Sestero is headed to Australia. Part of a publicity tour to promote his tell-all book, The Disaster Artist: My Life Inside the Room, Sestero's visit will hopefully shed new light on what is undoubtedly one of the worst films ever made. For the uninitiated, The Room is a low-rent romantic drama written, directed, produced by and starring the enigmatic Tommy Wiseau. Full of undercooked subplots and nonsensical dialogue, the movie made less than $2000 during its initial LA-only release but has since been resurrected by a devoted cult of fans. These days the film plays late-night engagements in theatres all around the world, loyal viewers bombarding the screen with a mix of abuse and plastic spoons. Sestero (or 'Sestosterone', as he is affectionately known) will be in Melbourne on Friday, July 11, and Saturday, July 12, for a special event at Cinema Nova that includes an interactive script reading, an audience Q&A session and a behind-the-scenes documentary that explores the making of this unintentional comic gem. Whatever you do though, be sure to leave your stupid comments in your pocket. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Eh9lC7IBJvI
Dust off your petticoat and get your doublets out of the attic, because London's historic Globe Theatre is popping up in Melbourne later this year — well, sort of. Pop-Up Globe is the world's first, full-scale replica of the historic theatre, which was built by Shakespeare's playing company and housed his greatest works. Melbourne's version will set up shop at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl from September 21 until November 12 this year. History buffs and Shakespeare enthusiasts alike will have the opportunity to soak in plays As You Like It, Henry V, Othello, Much Ado About Nothing, and a special performance titled Around the Globe in 60 Minutes, which details the theatre's colourful history (it famously burned down in 1613 and was reconstructed a year later). It will be the first time the Pop-Up Globe has travelled outside of Auckland. With the round, 900-seat, three-storey venue, no member of the audience will ever be more than 15 metres from the stage, and all performances will be conducted without the use of mics, just as it was in 1614. Also keeping with tradition, tickets will offer the "groundling" option – standing room only, directly in front of the stage for only $20 a pop. Organisers promise that Pop-Up Globe won't host 'dusty' versions of Shakespeare — rather, performances will be more like a party. Pop-Up Globe will be at Melbourne's Sidney Myer Music Bowl from September 21 till November 21, 2017. For more info and to buy tickets, visit popupglobe.com.au.
Every summer, So Frenchy So Chic is known for bringing the charm of provincial France to Melbourne with an outdoor music-and-picnic festival. In the lull before the city bursts back into bloom, the team is turning our attention to life's finest pleasures — or as the French say, l'art de vivre. And from silky Burgundies to elegant Chablis, there are few things finer than French wine. For two days only, St Kilda Town Hall becomes Le Grape Escape — a wine tasting playground. Upon arrival, guests are given a wine glass and five hours to browse the library of 110 French wines. Sommelier Pierre Stock of PS Wines has gathered the best vinos from 13 French regions, with vintage stand-outs like a rare 2015 Vin Jaune from the mountainous Jura region, an underrated wine region tucked between bigger regions like Bordeaux and Champagne. It's a balanced mix, with classic vinos showcasing natural French terroirs and minimal-intervention picks repping modern winemaking techniques. [caption id="attachment_1018311" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image supplied[/caption] No wine festival is complete without food. Local artisans will be peddling a spread of French-inspired bites to match anything in your glass. There's charcuterie, cheese and fresh oysters, alongside sweets like Basque cheesecake and macarons. If you're after something meatier (or drinking a heavy red), Entrecôte is serving mitraillette — a baguette loaded with steak frites and a herby butter sauce. [caption id="attachment_1018312" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image supplied[/caption]
Take a wild real-life story, turn it into a docuseries, then release it during a worldwide lockdown — and the result is one of Netflix's huge current hits. True-crime series Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness was always going to draw plenty of viewers, as you'd expect of a show that includes lions, tigers, eccentricity, polygamy and murder-for-hire. Indeed, the series has proven such a success that Netflix is now releasing a new special about all things Joe Exotic. The Tiger King and I will hit the streaming platform today, Sunday, April 12; however it's not merely another episode in this so-strange-it-must-be-true saga. Instead, it's an after-show special that features new interviews with many of the folks featured in the seven-part series' frames — not the incarcerated Exotic, but John Reinke, Joshua Dial, John Finlay, Saff, Erik Cowie, Rick Kirkman, and Jeff and Lauren Lowe. The one-off special is hosted by Joel McHale, who'll clearly be drawing on his time hosting pop culture show The Soup and Netflix's similar but short-lived The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale more than his time on sitcom Community. McHale will chat with the aforementioned lineup of Tiger King figures about what has happened in their lives since the series. https://twitter.com/NetflixANZ/status/1248372365542604800 If Tiger King has somehow passed you by until now, the series focuses on mullet-wearing zoo owner Joe Exotic. Obviously that isn't the name that he was born with. But given Joe's love of big cats, line of work and over-sized personality, he obviously decided that the moniker fit. Between 1999–2016, he created and ran The Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park in Oklahoma, which was home to hundreds of tigers, lions and other large felines. Joe also took his tiger show on the road and, because he just adored tigers so much, he literally sang about them as well. His first country music album was called I Saw a Tiger, because of course it was. He found time to run for Governor of the state and, in 2016, President of the US. He's fond of guns and just as fond of marrying more than one person at once. Oh, and the zookeeper tried to hire a hitman to get one of his rivals — Big Cat Rescue animal sanctuary's CEO Carole Baskin — killed. That's the jaw-dropping tale that Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness tells — and, soon, so will a new Kate McKinnon-starring TV drama that's set to recreate these events. Check out the trailer for Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acTdxsoa428 Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness is available to stream now on Netflix. The Tiger King and I will hit the streaming platform on Sunday, April 12, with new Netflix shows usually dropping at 5pm AEST. Top image: Netflix.
It's a fact that some architectural firms use Lego to privately demonstrate building layout ideas. How adorable it is to imagine a room of dashing young architects tinkering with the colourful plastic blocks of their childhoods. But now Lego has launched a sophisticated, minimalist, all-white set of bricks that can help make you an architect yourself. Maybe you could you be the next Harry Seidler. This is no children's toy; part of the adults' mini-architecture line, the Lego Architecture Studio is for ages 16+. It's a great example of how the accoutrements of playtime can become a lifelong educational tool, aimed at aspiring architects, designers and construction enthusiasts. Apart from its 1210 bricks, in lieu of an instruction booklet it comes with the true bargain of the set — a 272-page illustrated book that puts forth the fundamentals of architectural design. Christopher Turner edited the book, which was written with architecture firms including KRADS, MAD, REX, SOM, Sou Fujimoto, Winy Maas, Safdie and Tham & Videgaard. There are exercises included that will help you, poised on your living room floor with plastic blocks in hand, grasp the notions of scale, surface, texture, density, modules, voids, repetition and more. Online reviews of the Studio are packed with squeals of delight from architecture students the world over. The set even comes with sorting trays for your bricks — how advanced is that? — so invest and let your dreams of yore live anew. A world of speculative Lego layouts in tasteful Modernist white awaits. Via Hyperallergic.
The first teaser trailer for science-fiction film Jupiter Ascending has hit the web, and it looks epic. It's the first original story from the Wachowskis since the Matrix trilogy, and judging by the trailer, it will showcase more of the cutting-edge visual effects that have become the benchmarks of their films. From the streets of Chicago to far-flung galaxies, Mila Kunis is a lowly janitor who, unbeknownst to her, may hold the key to the universe. On the brink of her assassination, a genetically engineered ex-military hunter (played by Channing Tatum) charges in, kicks arse and teaches her of her genetic destiny. The first glimpse of the film is packed with jaw-dropping visuals of intergalactic warfare. There's a dark, post-apocalyptic flavour to the cinematography, with otherworldly cityscapes, futuristic demons, fractured planets, plenty of thrilling gadgets and gravity-defying fight scenes. The film also sees the Wachowskis reunite with their longstanding collaborators, including Oscar-winning cinematographer John Toll, whom they worked with on Cloud Atlas. Unfortunately, we'll have to wait until July next year to see the film. But it will be interesting to see whether they can match the high standards they've set themselves.
Start practising your royal wave: it's time to bid farewell to The Crown. Netflix's hit regal drama is wrapping up with its upcoming sixth season, which now has both a release date and a first teaser trailer. If you're wondering when to get watching, you have two dates to put in your calendar. The Crown's final season is being split into two parts, with both arriving before 2023 is out. The first four episodes will stream from Tuesday, November 16, and then the second from Saturday, December 16. As well as saying goodbye to the series overall, viewers will also be moving on from The Crown's time in the 20th century in this sixth and final season. Although the just-dropped initial sneak peek is all about the past, permanence and legacy — Claire Foy (Women Talking) and Olivia Colman's (Heartstopper) versions of Queen Elizabeth II both feature, in fact — the hit show will embrace the 21st century in its latest run. Accordingly, The Crown will cover the early days of Prince William and Kate Middleton's relationship, and focus on the man currently second in line to the throne after Queen Elizabeth II's passing in 2022. Screen debutant Ed McVey takes on the role of Prince William, while newcomer Meg Bellamy is slipping into Middleton's shoes. The show's sixth season will follow the IRL pair's first meeting at university in St Andrew's, starting the story that's played out in plenty of headlines and a ridiculous amount of worldwide media coverage since 2001. While everything that's popped up in the series draws its details from history — dramatised history, of course, but still history — this next instalment is bound to feel even more familiar. Getting closer to our current time will do that. When The Crown began, it kicked off with Queen Elizabeth II's life from her marriage to Prince Philip back in 1947. The first season made its way to the mid-50s, the second season leapt into the 60s, and season three spanned all the way up to the late 70s. In season four, the royal family hit the 80s, while season five covered the 90s. Just like in season five, Downton Abbey, Maleficent and Paddington star Imelda Staunton dons the titular headwear in season six, while Game of Thrones and Tales from the Loop's Jonathan Pryce wears Prince Philip's shoes — and Princess Margaret is played by Staunton's Maleficent co-star and Phantom Thread Oscar-nominee Lesley Manville. Also, Australian Tenet, The Burnt Orange Heresy and Widows star Elizabeth Debicki returns as Princess Diana, with The Wire and The Pursuit of Love's Dominic West as Prince Charles. News around the show's fifth and sixth seasons has changed a few times over the past few years. At the beginning of 2020, Netflix announced that it would end the royal drama after its fifth season. Then, the streaming platform had a change of heart, revealing it would continue the series for a sixth season after all. Check out the first teaser trailer for The Crown season six below: The Crown's sixth season will hit Netflix in two parts, with the first four episodes streaming from Tuesday, November 16, and then the second from Saturday, December 16. Images: Alex Bailey / Keith Bernstein / Netflix.
Whilst Twitter likes to keep things short and sweet, Facebook has rocketed in the other direction - and users can now post status updates, messages and wall posts to over 60,000 characters long. Importantly, Facebook also highlight that this is roughly one ninth of a novel. I guess this may become useful if authors begin transcribing their works to their fans over Facebook in nine segments. In September 2011, Facebook upped it's character limit from 500 to 5,000. These numbers seem miniscule and rather pathetic with today's gargantuan 60,000 character limit. The possibilities are almost endless. So if you ever break up with your girlfriend, Facebook now allows you to spill all of your emotions in one long, complex status update. Hopefully 60,000 characters will be enough for you to say how you feel. [via Mashable]
At the beginning of 2012, when the world discovered that Channing Tatum was starring in a movie about male strippers — and that it was based on his own experiences working in the field — everyone was a little sceptical. Which was understandable. Magic Mike boasts a great director in Steven Soderbergh, and a cast that also includes Matthew Bomer, Joe Manganiello, Olivia Munn, Riley Keough and peak McConnaissance-era Matthew McConaughey, but, on paper, it was hardly a sure thing. Of course, once the film hit the screens, it was a hit. More than that — it was a smart and sensitive look at men chasing the American Dream by taking off their clothes. Sequel Magic Mike XXL, which released in 2015, not only repeated the feat but added more depth, and Tatum successfully turned what could've been a forgettable chapter of his pre-fame life into a hit big-screen franchise. Actually, he's turned it into a stage and screen franchise. Yes, Magic Mike was always going to go back to where it all began. In Las Vegas, London, Berlin and Sydney so far, Magic Mike Live has been letting real-life male dancers strip up a storm for eager audiences. Not to be confused with Magic Mike the Musical — because that's something that's also happening — the "immersive" dance show is finally coming to Melbourne from June. When its Aussie leg was first announced in 2019, the show was set to debut in Melbourne — and in May 2020, too — however, then came the pandemic. After delaying those dates, Magic Mike Live unleashed its stuff in Sydney last December, and will hit Melbourne from Tuesday, June 8–Sunday, August 29, before heading to Brisbane in November. As it's doing around the country, Magic Mike Live will steam up a 600-seat spiegeltent called The Arcadia, which'll make its home at Birrarung Marr. It's the world's largest spiegeltent, because clearly this kind of show has plenty of fans. This tour marks the first time that the performance has been held in the pop-up two-storey spot, which comes with 360-degree views of the stage, a glass lobby, custom bars, a mini food hall, and a lounge area both inside and out. And while it's blazing a trail venue-wise, on the stage, the Aussie show combines elements of the Magic Mike Live's three other international productions. While Tatum came up with the idea for Magic Mike Live and co-directs the show, the Step Up, 21 Jump Street, Logan Lucky and Kingsman: The Golden Circle star isn't actually one of the performers. Instead, a cast of 20 — including 15 male dancers — showcase a combination of, dance, comedy and acrobatics. Continuing her role from the films, stage show co-director and choreographer Alison Faulk is behind the sultry moves, drawing upon a career spent working with Janet Jackson, Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, Missy Elliott, P!NK, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez and Ricky Martin. It probably goes without saying, but if you're already thinking about buying Magic Mike Live tickets, expect to have plenty of hens parties for company. Magic Mike Live comes to Melbourne from Tuesday, June 8–Sunday, August 29, 2021. For more information or to buy tickets, visit the show's website. Images: Peter Brew-Bevan.
From the mind of Englishman, Mike Bartlett, this play starts with a kind of ending. The relationship of John (Tom Conroy) and his older partner, M (Angus Grant), is in its death throes. After years spent together the two men have grown distant, and as soon as they’re apart John meets W (Sophie Ross) — a woman who gives him everything his partner had neglected. They have sex, they fall in love, but John’s stuck. He wants to go back to his partner, wants to stay with W — he wants to make a decision. What follows is a tortuous conflict between the three over his affections, ending in a passive-aggressive, farcical dinner between the 'couples' as well as M’s father F (Tony Rickards), who makes a late appearance in the piece. While this basic premise of the love triangle could seem a bit naff, the play makes some bold choices (as its name suggests), some of which overshoot their target. The cast of four deliver warm and well-rounded performances, especially Angus Grant as the uptight M — he manages to balance some of the play’s most vicious (and funny) lines with sensitivity and tenderness. And this is lucky because performance is really all you have to go on. The set is made up mostly of 250 thick pillows, which cover the floor and are rearranged by the characters in transitions between scenes. It’s in these transitions that the director's (Leticia Caceres) stark vision for the play is most transparent and at times these shifts feel laboured — although the convention it sets up is sometimes smashed to devastating effect once it’s been established, throwing the audience headlong into the middle of confrontation. Caceres’ approach is one that removes props and a representational aesthetic, foregrounding the text and the relationships between the characters. But it’s difficult to tell how important the original script’s Englishness is and what might be lost with Australian accents and an abstract setting. Some might argue it’s essential to the mannered bitchiness the text demands, but ultimately the fact that Caceres and her actors convey the story so clearly speaks to something more universal about the fraught relationships that Bartlett has captured. Some sequences spark perfectly. In particular, the sex scene between John and W — his first time with a woman — is executed with exquisite awkwardness and bravery. But, much like John himself, at times Bartlett’s play seems unsure of its identity. The love and chemistry at the heart of these moments sits uncomfortably with the play’s brutal, backbiting comedy. At times the ambiguity is thrilling; at others, it's surprisingly irritating. What’s perhaps most interesting about Cock is the way in which the central character, John, is so thoroughly unlikeable. Like an even more effete Hamlet, he’s caught up in endless prevarication and self-doubt yet still somehow strongly desired by both M and W. Conroy’s performance gives us so many opportunities to ask ourselves why anyone would find John appealing, and that speaks to the play’s central concern — we’ve got no control over who we fall in love with.
This may not be a revelation worthy of a David Attenborough doco, but after years of hotel sleuthing, boutique travel experts Mr & Mrs Smith tell us they have the check-in patterns of men and women down pat: he sizes up the entertainment system while she susses out the bathroom situation. Then, after flicking on remotes and getting a whiff of Aesop toiletries, both gather to scope the contents of the minibar. When those half serves of wine and teeny bottles of gin won’t do, we suggest checking into one of these stylish wine region stays, all within cork-popping distance of world-class vineyards. 1. MONA Pavilions, Hobart Where: 655 Main Road, Berriedale, Tasmania What: Pinot noir and aromatic whites It may be the head-scratching artworks in the museum that draw crowds to MONA, but this multi-tasking maverick has much to keep you entertained once the gallery shuts its oversized doors. Situated on the edge of Hobart’s Derwent River, MONA Pavilions mixes a serene setting with ultra-contemporary pavilions and original art from luminaries such as Arthur Boyd and Brett Whiteley. There’s also lip-smacking restaurant Source and a cellar door that offers tastings of Moo Brew beers and elegant Moorilla Estate wines, made using cool-climate grapes from Huon and Tamar Valley. Book through Smith and you’ll get a private cellar door tasting and a bottle of Muse Series wine. More info 2. Spicers Vineyards Estate, Hunter Valley Where: 555 Hermitage Road, Pokolbin, New South Wales What: Semillon and shiraz Just a two-hour drive north of Sydney, the Hunter Valley is the ultimate wine-lovers getaway. Give yourself an early mark on Friday afternoon to beat the throngs on the F3, then check into Spicers Vineyards Estate, an adults-only sanctuary set among shiraz and merlot vines. Pop open a bottle of the estate-grown wine (free if you’ve booked through Smith), before slipping into the double spa bath. After a wow-worthy dinner in the hotel’s restaurant Botanica, a country-chic space mere metres from your suite, nab a spot by the fireplace in the cosy communal lounge. The next day, after a fortifying breakfast in the dining room, let Spicers staff arrange a bespoke tasting tour to standouts such as Keith Tulloch, Tyrrell’s and Andrew Thomas. More info 3. The Louise, Barossa Valley Where: Seppeltsfield Road, Marananga, South Australia What: Shiraz and grenache The Barossa may be best known for its big, ballsy reds and Teutonic tendencies, but there’s refinement to be found in the vale, too. Boutique hotel the Louise is a case in point: 15 sleekly styled suites with spa baths and private courtyards, plus one of Australia’s finest regional restaurants, Appellation. Reception can help arrange cellar door visits to Penfolds, Henschke and other regional heavyweights – bring a high tolerance level for intellectual wine-speak as you taste the best Barossa drops (expect to hear ‘toasty’, ‘berry’, ‘liquorice’ and ‘tobacco’ used at least thrice daily). Smith bookings score a bottle of sparkling wine on arrival, the perfect pre-dinner pep-up. More info 4. Empire Retreat & Spa, Margaret River Where: Margaret River region. 1958 Caves Road, Yallingup, Western Australia What: Sem-sauv blancs and cabernet Housed in an old stone farmhouse among rows of chardonnay and cabernet vines, Empire Retreat & Spa is a soul-soothing sanctuary in the heart of Margaret River. There are 10 modern-rustic rooms located in and around the central lodge, ranging from contemporary Lodge Suites to Luxury Villas, which feature a sunken lounge area, spa bath and courtyard shower. Hop between Margaret River’s surf beaches and cellar doors, such as Moss Wood and Vasse Felix, then head back to Empire. Here, fireside couches beckon for a grazing plate and a glass of wine (you’ll nab a bottle on arrival if you book through Smith), and the decadent day spa delivers sigh-inducing treatments including the three-hour Opulence session. More info 5. North Bundaleer, Clare Valley Where: RM Williams Way, Jamestown, South Australia What: Riesling all the way There’s more than a lilting hint of Victorian luxe to North Bundaleer, a lavishly decorated homestead on a 400-acre sweep of farmland. This is a decadent, all-inclusive affair, with meals and drinks included in the room rate, including evening canapés, killer Clare Valley wines and an open bar. Oh yes. Lord it up in the Red Room Suite, home to a canopied four-posted, sitting room with open fire and a bath and shower in what was once the conservatory (how very Cluedo). Nearby, notable locals include Sevenhill, Crabtree and O’Leary Walker for refined riesling and elegant reds. If you need to work off all of that indulgence, climb to the top of Maslin Lookout for sublime sunset views. More info
Johnny Stimson is explaining through music what human men and human girls should do, The Swiss just want to connect and St. Lucia are ready to elevate your entire weekend. 1. 'HUMAN MAN' - JOHNNY STIMSON Johnny Stimson may not be a name many have heard of yet, but it won't stay that way for long if he keeps making melodies as catchy as this. 'Human Man' is groovy, there is no denying it, and the soulful vocals and hooks that Stimson lays down will have your toes tapping all weekend long. 2. 'WELL ABSOLUTELY' - BODY LANGUAGE This latest offering from Brooklyn outfit Body Language is feelgood music at its finest. The boisterous vocals and upbeat nature of this synth pop hit make it suitable for all occasions, and if this is anything to go by, be sure to keep an ear out for their upcoming album Grammar, due September 10. 3. 'CONNECT' - THE SWISS Adelaide duo The Swiss this week dropped the video for their party anthem 'Connect', and it accents the track perfectly. Every beat constructs the next step on the Japanese-animation-themed clip, and you can be sure that every beat will move your feet as soon as you hear it through the stereo. The best part is that you can download it here for free. 4. 'IMPOSSIBLE LIKE YOU' - HOLY HOLY 'Impossible Like You' is an example of excellently constructed modern rock and roll. The vintage '70s sound is perfect for a relaxing Sunday afternoon, as are the haunting vocals that add raw emotion to the newest single from Australian act Holy Holy. Just download it (another freebie), close your eyes and listen on repeat. 5. 'ELEVATE' - ST. LUCIA Whilst it may not be summer in this hemisphere, this track sure makes us wish that it was. This tropical pop number is a teaser of what to expect of St. Lucia's highly anticipated debut album, When the Night, due to drop in October this year. Whilst you may have to wait a few months for the full offering (and for summer), you can enjoy this track liberally in the meantime — just don't get too immersed and throw on your finest sun-inspired outfit only to catch a cold.
Handheld camerawork can be a gimmick. It can be distracting, too. When imagery seems restless for no particular reason other than making the audience restless, it drags down entire films. But at its best, roving, jittery and jumpy frames provide one of the clearest windows there is into the souls that inhabit the silver screen in 90-minute blocks or so, and also prove a wonderful way of conveying how they feel in the world. That's how Compartment No. 6's cinematography plays, and it couldn't be a more crucial move; this is a deeply thoughtful movie about two people who are genuinely restless themselves, after all. Finnish director Juho Kuosmanen (The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki) wants what all of the most perceptive filmmakers do — to ensure his viewers feel like they know his characters as well as they know themselves — and in his latest cinematic delight, he knows how to get it. How Kuosmanen evokes that sense of intimacy and understanding visually is just one of Compartment No. 6's highlights, but it's worthy of a train full of praise. With the helmer's returning director of photography Jani-Petteri Passi behind the lens, the film gets close to Finnish student Laura (Seidi Haarla, Force of Habit) and Russian miner Ljoha (Yuriy Borisov, The Red Ghost). It peers intently but unobtrusively their way, like an attentive lifelong friend. It jostles gently with the locomotive that the movie's central pair meets on, and where they spend the bulk of their time together. It ebbs and flows like it's breathing with them. It rarely ventures far from their faces in such cramped, stark, 90s-era Russian surroundings, lingering with them, carefully observing them, and genuinely spying how they react and cope in big and small moments alike. Pivotally — and at every moment as well — it truly sees its key duo. With their almost-matching names, Laura and Ljoha meet on a train ride charting the lengthy expanse from Moscow to Murmansk. She's taking the journey to see the Kanozero petroglyphs, ancient rock drawings that date back the 2nd and 3rd millennium BC, and were only discovered in 1997; he's heading up for work. Laura is also meant to be travelling with Irina (Dinara Drukarova, The Bureau), her Russian girlfriend, but the latter opted out suddenly after an intellectual-filled house party where mocking the former for her accent — and claiming she's just a lodger — threw a pall of awkwardness over their relationship. Making the jaunt solo is still sitting uneasily with Laura, though. Calls along the way, answered with busy indifference, don't help. And neither does finding herself sharing compartment number six, obviously, with the tough- and rough-around-the edges Ljoha. It's been 71 years now since Alfred Hitchcock gave cinema the noir thriller Strangers on a Train. It's been 27 years since Richard Linklater also had two unacquainted folks meeting while riding the rails in Before Sunrise, which started a terrific romance trilogy starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. Accordingly, the idea behind Compartment No. 6 is instantly familiar. Here, two strangers meet on a train, a connection sparks and drama ensues. Kuosmanen, who nabbed an award at Cannes for The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki and then earned the 2021 competition Grand Prix, which comes second only to the prestigious Palme d'Or, for this, is clearly working with a well-used setup. But even though this isn't a movie that's big on surprises, it's still a stellar film. It's also a reminder that a feature that's personal and raw, also attuned to all the tiny details of life in its performances, mood and style, and firmly character-driven, can make even the most recognisable narrative feel new. Laura and Ljoha are a chalk-and-cheese pair. He gets drunk almost instantly; is crude and rude to his unimpressed fellow compartment dweller from the get-go; and his hunched, agitated, me-against-the-world posture seethes with boorish anger. But the duo are also virtually trapped in close confines — wandering the train's corridors and using its bathrooms are hardly escapes, even for a few minutes, on a trip that takes several days. They're both lost, lonely and yearning, too, in their own fashions but also in a more similar manner than they each initially expect. So, they rub each other the wrong way at first, then settle into chilly animosity, then begin to thaw. Schnapps plays a part, as does the dining car. Pitstops along the way, stolen possessions and language trickery do as well. Needing love and companionship, even just fleetingly, has the biggest influence. Kuosmanen cowrote Compartment No. 6's screenplay with Andris Feldmanis and Livia Ulman, co-scribes themselves on Estonian TV show Kättemaksukontor — and adapts Rosa Liksom's novel of the same name. In the process, the director and his collaborators move the story by around a decade from the end of the USSR to the end of Boris Yeltsin's time in power. That means that Laura and Ljoha follow in Before Sunrise's Celine and Jesse's footsteps by mere years on-screen (Titanic gets a mention, helping anchor the movie in time), but they're always roaming and locomoting through their own film. Compartment No. 6 is that lived in, that astutely drawn and that naturalistically played, as aided immensely by its meticulous production design. Just as the handheld camera places viewers in the characters' headspace with precision, the immaculate like-you're-there touches that fill every frame are equally as immersive. It's easy to see Hollywood wanting to hop on Compartment No. 6's tracks, riding its way to an English-language remake. If that happens — probably more like when — good luck to whoever's behind it in repeating such casting perfection. All of the expertly and expressively deployed cinematography in the world, or even just across a 35-hour-plus trip to the top of Russia, can't bond an audience to fictional characters if they don't already feel so real that you could be them; the latter springs from extraordinary performances, of course, which Kuosmanen guides out of Haarla and Borisov. In their time together, Laura and Ljoha shift, ruminate and open up, including to themselves. That's a delicate journey, as relatable as it is, and also immensely complex to portray with emotional resonance, honesty and nuance. Compartment No. 6's untethered imagery sees that. It revels in it. That's what two strangers on a train enjoying an unexpected bond en route do with each other's company, eventually — and, again, this unconventional love story has everyone watching share the same sensation.
On New Year's Eve, Victoria's 61-day run of no new locally acquired COVID-19 cases came to an end. As a result, the Victorian Government introduced new restrictions on gatherings and masks. Thankfully, Victoria has now notched up another solid run of doughnut days — with today, Friday, January 22, the 16th consecutive day of no community transmission — and restrictions are easing again in response. Last week, the state relaxed its mask rules, making them mandatory in only some indoor settings, not all. From 11.59pm tonight, the gathering restrictions will also revert back, allowing you to have up to 30 visitors in your home, double the current limit of 15. Which means, you may be able to invite a few more people to that Saturday dinner party you're hosting. "Victorians have done an incredible job getting tested and we're happy to be able make these changes to private gatherings in time for a public holiday — so families can continue to enjoy a COVIDSafe Summer," Premier Daniel Andrews said in a statement about the eased restrictions. https://twitter.com/VicGovDHHS/status/1352361271946059788 The Premier also announced relaxed border restrictions with NSW and Queensland today. From 6pm tonight, it's reclassifying nine Greater Sydney LGAs as 'orange zones', which means travellers from anywhere in the city except the Cumberland LGA (which is still classified as a 'red zone') can enter the state, but they'll need apply for a permit, isolate on arrival and get tested within 72 hours, then when they receive a negative result they're free to leave isolation. The rest of regional NSW (apart from Greater Sydney, Wollongong and the Blue Mountains, which are all 'orange zones') and Greater Brisbane will also be redesignated as 'green zones'. Travellers entering Victoria from a 'green zone' still need to apply for a permit, but do not need to get tested or isolate on arrival, unless they develop symptoms. You can read more about these changes over here. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Victoria and current restrictions, head to the DHHS website.
What's better than eating a meal cooked up by the acclaimed chef behind the world's best restaurant? Enjoying his delicious fare... in the sky. Forget land — and forget planes, hot air balloons, or any other form of air-based transport that might've come to mind, too. This dangling dinner straps patrons into an all-in-one kitchen and table, hoists them into the air with a crane, and lets the dining fun begin. The aptly named Dinner in the Sky has been around since 2006; however, to mark its third year in Mexico, it enlisted Massimo Bottura of Osteria Francescana in Modena to help celebrate. The man behind the first Italian restaurant to be crowned the globe's number one eatery took 88 people 45 metres in the clouds over Teotihuacán to feast on a 90-minute meal on January 4 and 5, with dishes with names like "the crunchy part of the lasagne" and "oops I dropped the lemon cake" on offer. https://www.instagram.com/p/BO56cnyBf1P/?taken-by=milenayanes The concept has popped up, literally, in 45 countries so far, suspending folks over scenic sights in Monaco, Casablanca, Las Vegas, London, Paris, Sydney, Tokyo, Venice, Toronto and more for the ultimate meal with a view. The 2017 season will head from Mexico to Brussels, then around the United Kingdom and France, but it doesn't come cheap. Dinner with Bottura set patrons back US$2000 per head. Via: Design Boom / El Universal.
Summer may be done and dusted, but spritz season is kicking on strong at Richmond's Baby Pizza. In fact, the venue's serving up daily aperitivo specials to see you happily sipping through winter. From 4–6pm each day, Baby is slinging its latest seasonal spritz that's made with gin, raspberry, vanilla, strawberry shrub and prosecco, for just $9.50 a pop. Otherwise, part with $6.50 for a Peroni Rossa, $7.50 for a glass of red and $9.50 for a classic Aperol Spritz. What's more, Baby Pizza is giving away a free snack with every aperitivo. But if you're feeling extra peckish, the restaurant's usual dishes are also available during this time, from woodfired pizzas and fresh pasta, to its long selection of antipasti. The deal is only available for walk-ins, so be sure to get in as close to the start time as possible. Top image: Destination Melbourne.
If you're looking for new activewear from a local brand, look no further than Active Truth, which is offering big promotion as part of the Boxing Day sales. The Aussie retailer is offering $50 off your shop when you spend over $200, or $100 off when you spend over $300. If you order now you'll also nab free express shipping, so you'll have your activewear at your doorstep and be ready to hit the gym in no time. Active Truth is accessible to gym-goers of all shapes and sizes, with a wide range of activewear from XS to 3XL, as well as a selection of active maternity wear and swimwear. The brand is also committed to sustainable business practices, including using locally sourced Merino wool. The promotion will run up until Wednesday, December 30. Jump onto the Active Truth website to browse the catalogue and score an end-of-year deal to help motivate you to stick to your 2021 fitness regime. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
There are some marketing ideas that are so bizarre, so outrageous and so goddamn random, they're bound to work. The beloved Sydney sinners at Poor Toms Gin are currently executing one such campaign, and it's proving to be very effective. Basically, if you call 1800 GINSUS, say "Forgive me Ginsus for I have sinned,", and proceed to confess your juiciest sins to a most-certainly-non-ordained figure, Ginsus, he will bestow both forgiveness and free gin upon you (#blessed). The best/worst confessions are being anonymously published on the 1800 GINSUS website, and the winners will pick up a bottle of Poor Toms limited edition strawberry gin. Plus, the biggest sinners are in with a chance to win the mantle of best confession and a $600 prize pack — which is probably a better prize than your local church is offering for your confessions. Makes perfect sense to us. Some of the things confessed are so mouthwatering they truly deserve a bottle of gin — even if it's just to wash away the shame. Confessions published so far include "I made out with my first cousin," "I rubbed one out at work", "I got mad at my friends for suggesting my boyfriend looked like my father (he did)", "I told my sister I was too drunk to help her move [house] but I was not drunk at all", and "I made out with someone on the grass and rolled in dog shit. We went back to his tent and had sex then I stole some of his clothes to replace my dog shit clothes”. If you've got a sin to get off your chest, this really is a win-win — all those shameful experiences you've be keeping secret can now be transferred into sweet gin... which may or may not fuel the creation of more shameful experiences and so on. It's the sweet, sinful circle of life. For your chance to win some Poor Toms gin, call 1800 GINSUS and start confessing. The hotline will be open until midnight Tuesday, December 15. For more info, visit the 1800GINSUS website.
While Budapest is praised for its "courteous drivers", Savannah, Georgia for its "animated guides in seersucker suits" and Cambodia's Siem Reap for its "resiliency and kindness", Auckland and Melbourne have taken out the top spot as the two friendliest cities in the world. Run as a Reader's Choice award by Condé Nast Traveller and focused on how a visitor feels in each city, the Friendliest and Unfriendliest City in the World poll asks readers to submit reviews of each city with a focus on the overall warm fuzzies generated by their experience. "Everything from location (no one likes an airport city) and political perception (everyone watches the news) to size and basic language barriers can make a destination unattractive to tourists and be a factor in their evaluation of a place's 'friendliness'." Praised as a "friendly bunch" with a "wonderful sense of humour", Melbourne was awarded the friendly blue ribbon for being "one of the classiest cities in the world", boasting an "abundance of parks and fabulous public art." CN also gave high-fives to Melbourne's food, nightlife and hotels. Tied for the top spot, Auckland's residents were given big ups. "The people are friendly, and their humour and view on life is something to aspire to attain." Positioned as the "ideal starting place" to see New Zealand, Auckland was given the thumbs up for being a "clean, youthful, adventurous, beautiful city," and was praised for its "clear air," "fresh food," and "amazing culture." Although Brisbane and Wellington didn't make it in the top ten, Sydney came in at number five; tied with Dublin. Sydney was praised for being super friendly ("They’re always so helpful, and they love Americans!") and its ever-applauded nosh: "Sydney is also home to the best food in the world. Don’t visit without stopping by at the spectacular Quay for Chef Peter Gilmore’s nature-inspired cuisine." Here's the list of amicable cities, double numbers are ties. THE FRIENDLIEST CITIES IN THE WORLD: 1. Auckland, New Zealand 1. Melbourne, Australia 3. Victoria, BC, Canada 4. Charleston, South Carolina, USA 5. Dublin, Ireland 5. Sydney, Australia 7. Siem Reap, Cambodia 8. Cape Town, South Africa 9. Savannah, Georgia, USA 9. Seville, Spain 11. Budapest, Hungary 11. Salzburg, Austria But what of the jerks? The Unfriendliest Cities in the World side of things is a little hairier, with no Australian or New Zealand cities making the cut. Up high. Nassau in the Bahamas was dissed for feeling "unsafe... and mundane," while Morocco's Monte Carlo was called "conspicuous consumption at its worst," and "just too rich for my blood." Beijing got a bad wrap for being a "smoggy, crowded city," while Marseilles (one of three French cities in the top five) was flagged for pickpockets and Johannesburg took out the top unfriendly spot as "a city of crime and contrasts." THE UNFRIENDLIEST CITIES IN THE WORLD: 1. Johannesburg, South Africa 2. Cannes, France 3. Moscow, Russia 4. Paris, France 5. Marseille, France 6. Beijing, China 7. Frankfurt, Germany 8. Milan, Italy 9. Monte Carlo, Monaco 10. Nassau, Bahamas Via Condé Nast Traveller.
iAustralia's COVID-19 vaccination rollout has been unfurling at a snail's pace, and amid much confusion — especially regarding which jabs are available to Aussies under 40. They're not the only dilemmas when it comes to getting vaxed, however. Actually being able to access the vaccine is a big issue, obviously, but getting to and from appointments might also be causing you troubles if you don't drive and aren't too keen on catching public transport. To help make travelling to vaccination appointments easier, ridesharing service DiDi is offering discounted rides to hubs and clinics, and to GPs giving the jab — and back as well. The special will give you up to $10 off both trips, with each person getting access to two discounted fares. The discount is available in all areas that DiDi operates in, which includes plenty of places. Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra are all on the list, as are Cairns, Coffs Harbour, Geelong, both the Gold and Sunshine coasts, Newcastle, Ballarat, Bendigo, Townsville, Toowoomba and Wollongong. Also included: Bunbury, Bundaberg, Busselton, the Central Coast, Gladstone — Tannum Sands, Hervey Bay, Mackay, Port Macquarie, Rockhampton, Shepparton and Wagga Wagga. All up, DiDi is committing $1 million to the scheme, which'll equate to around 100,000 trips. Folks eager to take advantage of the discounted program — which the company is calling DiDi Vaccinate — just need to jump onto the company's app and complete a short questionnaire to get access. "The recent lockdowns across the country, particularly in Sydney, has shown that Australia's vaccination rollout needs to kick up a gear to avoid future snap lockdowns occurring," said DiDi Australia spokesperson Dan Jordan in a statement. "We're happy to be able to play our part in supporting the vaccination drive as we are aware that not everyone has easy access to a vaccination hub, so we're trying to make the process as easy as possible to support Australia's full recovery from the pandemic." DiDi Chuxing launched in China in 2012 and has quickly become a huge player in the global ridesharing game — it has since bought out Uber's Chinese operations and has stakes in numerous companies, including Ola, Taxify, Lyft and Grab. To get your two discounted DiDi Vaccinate trips, download the service's app (for iOS or Android).
After such a long wait, it's only fitting that Australia's first batch of legalised same-sex marriages be celebrated with a healthy dose of fanfare. So on January 9 — the first day that Aussie same-sex couples can formally tie the knot — Sydney Festival will play host to a massive communal wedding reception, celebrating a huge moment in Australian history. And, it's free. Setting up in the Meriton Festival Village in Hyde Park from 6-8pm, the Love Is Love Wedding Reception will be a far cry from your average wedding, featuring the likes of karaoke carousel, JOF's 10-minute dance parties and even a hot pink swimming pool. After you take a dip and belt out some of your own tunes, Sydney DJ Charlie Villas will have guests breaking a sweat on the dance floor as he spins classic wedding bangers well into the night. Of course, you can't have a wedding without some celebratory cake, so some of Sydney's best-loved dessert maestros have been busy creating their own bespoke wedding cake designs for the event. While supplies last, there'll be a five-tier rainbow pavlova from Black Star, a limited-edition salted caramel and fior di latte creation from Messina, and an epic vegan cake from My Little Panda Kitchen's Annabelle McMillan. Those rocking fabulous wedding get-ups can enjoy free glasses of Piper-Heidsieck Champagne to match, though it's first in, best dressed for both the cake and the bubbly. Celebrate the Love Is Love Wedding Reception at Hyde Park North (entry via Central Ave Walkway) from 6-8pm on Tuesday, January 9.
What's even cooler than getting around town in some personalised threads? Well, getting around in personalised Gucci threads. If you're quick on the uptake and have enough cash to burn, this could soon be your reality, as the iconic fashion house brings its DIY service to Melbourne. First launching at Gucci's flagship Italian store in June, 2016, the service is now set to pop up at the label's newly revamped Collins Street store until Sunday, November 5, giving locals the chance to customise a huge selection of mens and unisex products. Customers can select from a wide array of buttons, fabrics, monogram lettering options and silk foulard linings to jazz up a broad range of jackets and trousers, both casual and formal. There's also a swag of eveningwear options, personalised by your own selection of collars, cuffs, knit styles and prints. But to be the envy of even your most fashionable friends, look no further than Gucci DIY's covetable collection of casual jackets. The label's letting customers personalise its range of unisex silk bombers and Japanese denim jackets, with a broad selection of washes, fits and linings. The icing on the super stylish cake is the customisable embroidery and patches, pulled from Gucci's own vibrant catalogue of signature symbols. Gucci DIY is available from October 19 to November 5, at Shop 1, 161 Collins Street, Melbourne. For more info, visit the store.
Kevin Spacey finally had his moment in the Cranston-less sun, Billy Bob Thornton nabbed gold for his terrifying, terrifying role in Fargo, Boyhood quite rightly cleaned up, Keira Knightley wore a dress it took 30 people to make and Emma Stone and Lorde wore pants to make every fashion magazine have a social media kitten about. PANTS?! EGADS. But apart from the red carpet scrutiny and award-giving, here are the bits from that made the 72nd Golden Globes worth it, having just wrapped up at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. When Tina Fey and Amy Poehler Fired a Bill Cosby Joke Straight Off the Bat "We're gonna make it a party... what are they going to do fire us?" Cahmaaaahhhn, it's their third year presenting, all bets were off. When The New Yorker's Bob Eckstein Started Live Drawing the Event Even though no one really understood them, classic New Yorker. Check them out here. When Ricky Gervais Couldn't Help But Insult the Whole Audience (Again) "I wouldn't want to insult any of you rich, beautiful, overprivileged celebrities." Then does. When Prince Popped In Presenting this year's Best Original Song to John Legend and Common for 'Glory' from Selma, the legend himself dropped by with one of his fluffiest fros yet. When Everyone Freaked Out Over Jared Leto's Braid HuffPost called him 'a rockstar, award-winning actor and apparently, hairsyle maven'. FFS. When Benedict Cumberbatch Photobombed Meryl Streep and Margaret Cho Taken by Michael Keaton. Too good. When Kevin Spacey Dropped an F-Bomb Accepting Best Actor in a TV Drama "This is just the beginning of my revenge... I cannot believe I fucking won." When Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader Didn't Nail a De Niro Impersonation Remained flawless in everyone's eyes. When Wes Anderson Accepted his Globe for Best Picture (Comedy/Musical) in a Purple Velvet Bow Tie "Wes Anderson is here tonight for the movie Grand Budapest Hotel. Per usual, Wes arrived on a bike made of antique tuba parts." — Amy Poehler. When You Didn't See Any of This Because You Were Working or Eating or Something, Anything Happy Globes y'all. Forward march to the Oscars. Image credit: justingaynor via photopin cc.
Need a new lunchtime ritual? Spice Temple Melbourne might have the perfect option, putting a special spin on yum cha traditions at its refined Southbank digs. Drawing on Hong Kong's storied dim sum culture, the long-standing Crown Melbourne favourite adds its own rendition, with bold spices and vibrant ingredients brought together from China's diverse provinces, from Sichuan to Xinjiang. Executive Chef Andy Evans leads this assortment of elegant miniature servings, now available every day from 12–2.30pm. Designed for sharing, this generous spread fuses considered technique and Spice Temple flair, where the spirit of yum cha combines with communal dishes made for tight-knit gatherings. Celebrating texture, tradition and flavour, the menu is one hit after the next. Ease into the feast with cold cuts and salads like hiramasa yellowtail kingfish and bang bang Hazeldene's chicken. Then delve into six elevated dumpling options, spanning golden wagyu bao and prawn wontons dressed in aged black vinegar. Alongside a pair of pickle options, a selection of hot entrees is bound to entice. Fried silken tofu, crispy eggplant, and fried Corner Inlet calamari, finished with typhoon shelter-style dry dressing, are just some of the highlights. Whether you're heading along for a sharp workday luncheon or a weekend feast, expect to depart Spice Temple stuffed. And while this yum cha experience might not be exactly traditional, it hasn't overlooked the fundamental role top-quality tea plays in the ritual. There are eight to explore on the menu, with herbaceous options like chamomile and yuzu or classic peppermint delivering an intense finish. Remember, yum cha means drink tea, so don't skip a fresh brew. However, if you're keen to level up your lunchtime session, Spice Temple also has a stellar wine list designed to complement Chinese flavours, with 100 bottles to consider. Plus, there's a concise cocktail list, with 12 creative drinks themed around the Chinese zodiac. With 2025 being the year of the snake, now is the ideal opportunity to sample the matching cocktail, featuring an effervescent blend of house-infused Skyy pear vodka, yuzu, agave and ginger beer. Spice Temple's daily yum cha experience is available now from 12–2.30pm at 8 Whiteman Street, Southbank. Head to the website for more information.
If all you want for Christmas is a trip further than your own backyard — or city — Virgin's latest sale is here to help. Jumping in on all the Black Friday and Cyber Monday discounts set to tempt your wallet over the next few days, the airline is slinging 700,000 cheap flights for both domestic and international destinations. So, whether you're keen to see your mates interstate or head overseas on a holiday, you've got options. Among the domestic routes, one-way fares start at $49 — which'll get you from Sydney to Ballina, from Melbourne to Hobart, or from Adelaide to either Hobart or Launceston, for instance. Other sale flights include Brisbane–Launceston from $59, Sydney–Maroochydore from $65 and Melbourne–Gold Coast from $79. And if you're wondering when you'll need to travel, you can book trips between January 1–March 30, 2022. Internationally, return fares cover getaways to either Bali or Fiji — including from Sydney (from $509 to Bali and $459 to Fiji), Melbourne ($479 and $489) and Brisbane ($489). They're available for travel between March 27–June 23, 2022, with Virgin Australia set to resume its short-haul international services in the coming months, starting with Fiji flights from December 16. As always when it comes to flight sales, you'll need to get in quick. They went on sale today, Friday, November 26; however, they're only available until midnight AEST on Monday, November 29 or sold out, whichever arrives first. Only some fares cover seat selection and checked baggage, however, with the airline announcing back in August that it is now splitting its economy flights into three types. Economy Lite doesn't include checking any baggage or picking your seat, but Economy Choice does — and Economy Flex gives you extra flexibility (hence the name) if you have to change your plans later. As we are still in the middle of a pandemic, flying is little different to normal. Virgin has introduced a range of safety measures, including hand sanitisation stations, contactless check-in and face masks provided to all passengers. Wearing masks on flights also became mandatory in Australia in January. And, depending on where you're travelling to and from — both domestically and internationally — you'll obviously need to check border restrictions and any entry requirements. Virgin's Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale runs from today, Friday, November 26–Monday, November 29 — or until sold out. Find out more about current Australian border rules via the Australian Government's Health Direct website and its Smart Traveller website.
Mercedes-Benz drivers will soon be able to send text messages, listen to music, change radio channels and update their status on social networks right from the front seat of their car. The company recently announced that they will be integrating Apple’s Siri interface into the electronics systems in their vehicles, allowing drivers to access their iPhone apps using voice commands alone. Mercedes-Benz is the first carmaker to use Apple’s Siri voice command technology in their vehicles. The program, to be known as Drive Kit Plus, will translate the iPhone’s screen onto the in-car system screen, and will come with popular apps such as Twitter, Facebook and Aupeo Personal Radio pre-installed. The new in-car feature will launch next month at the 2012 Geneva auto show. [via PSFK]
When Premier Daniel Andrews announced Victoria's latest stage of eased COVID-19 restrictions, he gave cinephiles a particularly exciting piece of news. Movie theatres have been closed around the country since mid-March; however, as of Monday, June 22, projectors will be allowed to start whirring again in the Garden State. And, while that doesn't mean that it's popcorn-munching business as usual quite yet, local cinemas will gradually begin to reopen. Cinema Nova will be one of initial places to start welcoming movie buffs back into darkened rooms, opening its doors on the very first day it can. It'll relaunch with The Invisible Man, which was already screening in March when cinemas shut, as well as with new films such as The Assistant, The Wretched and Monos. Also reopening on June 22 are the Classic, Lido and Cameo cinemas, which'll show both recent releases and fresh flicks. That includes the likes of Sonic the Hedgehog, For Sama, Honeyland, Honey Boy, Jojo Rabbit, Portrait of a Lady on Fire and The Current War, plus new movies that were originally slated to hit cinemas during their closure, then switched to video-on-demand releases, and are now brightening up the big screen anyway. That means that if you haven't yet caught the Hugo Weaving-starring Hearts and Bones at home, you can now do so in a theatre. The same applies to watching Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan eat and banter their way through The Trip to Greece. And, joining the June 22 relaunching bonanza are Reading's Victorian sites. The company has announced its reopening date, but is yet to reveal what will be screening. [caption id="attachment_529488" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Charlie Kinross Photography[/caption] Come Thursday, July 2, Palace's Victorian sites will also let punters back in. And, other than The Astor Theatre, they'll do so with a lineup of brand new movies that haven't screened in Aussie cinemas or hit VOD as yet. On that date, film fans will be able to check out The Booksellers and bakery-set British drama Love Sarah. The week after, Waves and A White, White Day will follow suit, before (hopefully) Christopher Nolan's Tenet hit the following week. If Tenet does release on Thursday, July 16 as planned — which depends not only on Australian cinemas, but whether enough US and worldwide cinemas have reopened — it's safe to expect that plenty of other Victorian picture palaces will relaunch on or around then. In fact, that's the date that the local industry has been working towards. At the time of writing, big chains such as Village and Hoyts haven't revealed their reopening dates, nor has The Sun Theatre — but, again, expect that to change as mid-July creeps up. And, like attending any business reopening in the time of COVID-19, patrons can also expect significant changes to the movie-going experience — including online bookings, allocated seating, gaps between patrons, contactless payment, social-distancing requirements and extra cleaning. For more information about what's screening in Melbourne from June 22, or to book tickets, visit the websites for Cinema Nova; the Classic, Lido and Cameo cinemas; and Reading. For details about Palace's reopening from July 2, visit the chain's website — and The Astor Theatre's.
If you're reading this article, you almost certainly know about food and craft beer matching and you may know about locations and craft beer matching, but have you heard of (or tried) books and craft beer matching? There are a number of elements to this growing trend. In the US, for example, book bars are becoming part of the urban landscape. Operating on the same principle as book cafes, only with craft beer instead of coffee, these establishments have a strong craft element. The books stocked are often non-mainstream, much like the beers served to accompany them. Elsewhere in North America — Canada, to be precise — beer and book clubs are being formed "for those who like to read a good book, drink a good beer, and maybe combine the two once in a while". Meeting at various pubs within a certain area, these gatherings bring a craft beer twist to the traditional book club. And then, of course, there’s the internet — where all manner of unlikely combinations get together. You'll find blogs about the right beer to drink while following the adventures of your favourite comic book hero, or about craft beers to match to certain authors. But in sites like Book and Beer, you'll also find recommendations for a particular beer to enjoy with a particular book. (For the record, the author — Jason Hensel, a writer, musician and comedian living in Dallas — reckons American Gods by Neil Gaiman is best enjoyed with a glass of James Squire Jack of Spades Porter.) So which book (or series of books) is best suited to the various beers in the James Squire craft beer range? Get reading and sipping this summer, there's Kerouac-paired beers afoot. F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby "It’s a great advantage not to drink among hard drinking people." Pair with James Squire The Chancer Golden Ale. Joseph Heller: Catch-22 "He knew everything there was to know about literature, except how to enjoy it." Pair with James Squire Jack of Spades Porter. Ian Fleming: The James Bond series "You only live twice: Once when you're born. And once when you look death in the face." Pair with James Squire Four 'Wives' Pilsener. J.R.R. Tolkien: The Lord of the Rings "Ho! Ho! Ho! to the bottle I go, to heal my heart and drown my woe." Pair with James Squire Nine Tales Amber Ale. Fyodor Dostoyevsky: Crime and Punishment "The darker the night, the brighter the stars." Pair with James Squire One Fifty Lashes Pale Ale. Alexandre Dumas: The Count of Monte Cristo "All human wisdom is contained in these two words: wait and hope." Pair with James Squire Stowaway IPA. Jack Kerouac: On the Road "The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars." Pair with James Squire Orchard Crush Cider. Ian Rankin: The Inspector Rebus series "Rebus drank his coffee and felt his head spin. He was feeling like the detective in a cheap thriller, and wished that he could turn to the last page and stop all his confusion, all the death and the madness and the spinning in his ears." Pair with James Squire The Constable Copper Ale. Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves "Open Sesame!" Pair with James Squire Hop Thief American-style Pale Ale. Jon Cleary: The Sundowners "Do me a favour, will you? If you're gonna be a drover, look like a drover. Get rid of that silly flaming hat." Pair with James Squire Sundown Australian Lager (what else?).
Turning real-life post-September 11 events into a moving and heartwarming musical mightn't seem like an easy feat, but it looks that way when you're watching Come From Away. Dramatising an exceptional story, the production has made that very task an enormous success on Broadway and London's West End, and won Tony and Olivier awards for its efforts. It's also proven a hit already around Australia. Now, audiences in Melbourne and Sydney are set to get another chance to dive into this kind-hearted story — for the third time in the Victorian capital, and the second in New South Wales. As part of its ongoing tour of Australia, Come From Away is heading back to both cities before the year is out. If you aren't familiar with the musical's plot or the actual events that inspired it, it really does tell quite the astonishing tale. In the week after the September 11 attacks in 2001, 38 planes were unexpectedly ordered to land in the small Canadian town of Gander, in the province of Newfoundland. Part of Operation Yellow Ribbon — which diverted civilian air traffic to Canada en masse following the attacks — the move saw around 7000 air travellers grounded in the tiny spot, almost doubling its population. Usually, the town is home to just under 12,000 residents. To create Come From Away, writers and composers Irene Sankoff and David Hein spent hundreds of hours interviewing thousands of locals and passengers, using their experiences to drive the narrative — and, in many cases, using their real names in the show as well. The result is a musical not just about people coming from away (the term that Newfoundlanders use to refer to folks not born on the island), but coming together, all at a time when tensions were running high worldwide. Since being workshopped in 2012, having a run in Ontario in 2013, then officially premiering in San Diego in 2015, Come From Away has become a global smash hit. After opening on Broadway in 2017, it was still running before the theatre district closed due to COVID-19. The musical wowed crowds in the West End, too — and, when it first opened in Melbourne in July 2019, it became the Comedy Theatre's most successful musical in the venue's nine-decade history. Along the way, the show has picked up a Tony Award for best direction of a musical, six other nominations, and four Olivier Awards out of nine nominations. The local production features an impressive cast, spanning Kyle Brown, Zoe Gertz, Manon Gunderson-Briggs, Douglas Hansell, Kat Harrison, Joe Kosky, Phillip Lowe, Joseph Naim, Sarah Nairne, Natalie O'Donnell, Emma Powell and David Silvestri — as well as Kaya Byrne, Jeremy Carver-James, Noni McCallum, Michael Lee Porter, Alana Tranter and Jasmine Vaughns Come From Away also already has a Gold Coast season locked in for July. COME FROM AWAY 2022 AUSTRALIAN TOUR Gold Coast: Thursday, July 7—Sunday, July 31 at HOTA, Home of the Arts — with tickets on-sale now. Melbourne: From August 27, Comedy Theatre — with tickets on-sale from June 6. Sydney: From November 5, Theatre Royal — with tickets on-sale from June 14. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zmvy1p2FOE&feature=emb_title Come From Away continues to tour Australia throughout 2022. For further information — or to buy tickets — visit the musical's website. Images: Jeff Busby.
Whether you went for work, leisure or something in-between, if you've recently travelled to the Perth metropolitan area and Peel region in Western Australia, you were probably happy to venture further than your own city. But with the WA capital currently experiencing a three-day lockdown in response to a new COVID-19 case, state governments around the country are implementing new conditions on travel and crossing interstate borders. The situation varies state by state; however, it's the type of thing that has been happening after new cases and subsequent lockdowns of late. It last occurred in March, when Brisbane went into its most recent set of stay-at-home conditions. In New South Wales, a COVID-19 concerns notice has been issued by NSW Health, applying to the the Perth metropolitan area and Peel region from 12.01am today, Saturday, April 24. Anyone coming to NSW who has been in an affected area either on or after that time has to fill out a self-declaration form either before or upon entering the state. If you have been in either region since Saturday, April 17 and you're now in NSW, you're asked to look at a list of exposure sites issued by the WA Government. If you visited them within the time frames identified, you'll beed to follow the actions outlined and also contact NSW Health immediately. It's a lengthy list, spanning shopping centres, restaurants and an aquatic centre, all between Saturday, April 17–Friday, April 23 so far. https://twitter.com/NSWHealth/status/1385504424487882754 In Victoria, a number of changes are now in effect. With WA's lockdown coming in response to a Victorian man who tested positive upon his return to Melbourne after spending 14 days in hotel quarantine in Perth, the Victorian Government has listed both Qantas flight QF778 from Perth to Melbourne on Wednesday, April 21 and Melbourne Airport's Terminal 1 between 7–7.30pm on Wednesday, April 21 as new exposure sights. Folks who were on the plane must get tested for COVID-19 immediately, then self-isolate for 14 days regardless of their initial test result, while anyone at the terminal during that timeframe must also get tested for COVID-19 immediately and self-isolate until a negative result is received. Plus, anyone who has returned from WA recently is also asked to look at a list of exposure sites issued by the WA Government and, if you visited them within the time frames identified, to contact the Victorian Department of Health immediately. Melburnians can also keep an eye on the local list of exposure sites at the Victorian Government Department of Health website — as it may change if more sites are identified. Regarding the Victorian border, the state has classified the Perth metropolitan area and Peel region in Western Australia as red zones under its traffic light border system, which means that non-Victorian residents can't enter the state without an exception, permit or exemption. Also, anyone currently in Victoria who has been in the metro Perth or Peel region between Saturday, April 17–Friday, April 23, other than to transit through either, is required to isolate, get tested within 72 hours and stay isolated until receiving a negative result. https://twitter.com/VicGovDH/status/1385555025590509568 For Queensland, anyone who has been in the Perth or Peel regions on or since Saturday, April 17 and entered the Sunshine State before 11.59pm on Friday, April 23 is required to get tested as soon as possible and self-isolate. They'll also be under the same lockdown conditions that are currently in place in Perth until 2am AEST on Tuesday, April 27. Plus, those coming to Queensland after midnight last night who have been in the same parts of WA since Saturday, April 17 are only allowed to enter under an exemption, unless they're a Queensland resident. Either way, they now have to go into hotel quarantine for up to 14 days. https://twitter.com/qldhealthnews/status/1385569595784790017 South Australia requires anyone who has been in the Perth or Peel regions on or since Saturday, April 17 to get tested and quarantine until getting a negative result. Only returning SA residents, genuine relocations and domestic violence victims are allowed to SA from the two areas from 12.01am Saturday, April 24, and must now get tested and go into self-quarantine. In the Australian Capital Territory, non-ACT residents wishing to travel over from the Perth or Peel regions — who've been there since Saturday, April 17 — now need an approved exemption from ACT Health. You'll also have to quarantine until 2am AEST on Tuesday, April 27. For residents coming back from the two regions, you'll need to complete an online declaration form before leaving, and then to also stay home until the same time. Tasmania won't allow entry from folks who've been to the Perth or Peel regions within 14 days of their arrival, except for people deemed essential travellers — and then you'll need to quarantine for 14 days. If you've been there, arrived in Tasmania since Saturday, April 17 and attended one of the exposure sites listed by the WA Government, you need to self-isolate and contact Tasmania's Public Health Hotline. The Northern Territory now requires testing for anyone who has been to been to the Perth or Peel regions since Saturday, April 17, but only if they went to one of the exposure sites listed by the WA Government. You'll also need to quarantine until you get a negative result. 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.
It's called Ghostbusters, not franchisebusters — so, four decades after the initial supernatural comedy flick in the series proved a huge hit, of course the saga is still tackling ghouls on the big screen. There was a 27-year pause between 1989's Ghostbusters II and 2016's women-led, excellent and wrongly maligned Paul Feig-helmed Ghostbusters, but then came 2021's Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Next up: its sequel Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. As both the initial teaser back in 2023 and the just-dropped full trailer show, familiar faces are everywhere in the fifth Ghostbusters movie — and from past features both recent and classic. Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, McKenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson: they're all back, teaming up to take on an ancient force that's trying to unleash a second Ice Age. Rudd (Only Murders in the Building) returns as Gary Grooberson, while Coon (The Gilded Age), McKenna Grace (Crater) and Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things) are back as Callie, Phoebe and Trevor Spengler. Yes, they're the daughter and grandchildren of the late Harold Ramis' Egon Spengler, who became initiated in the family business when they inherited his old farmhouse in Afterlife. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire reverses the last flick's swap, which centred around that eerie abode. So, rather than unfurling in Oklahoma, it returns the series to New York. There, summer is proceeding as normal until an unseasonable chill kicks in. The reason for the plummeting temperatures isn't any old blast of cooler weather, either, which is where the Ghostbusters come in. Also in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire's cast: Kumail Nanjiani (Welcome to Chippendales), Patton Oswalt (What We Do in the Shadows), Celeste O'Connor (A Good Person) and Logan Kim (The Walking Dead: Dead City), alongside OGs Murray (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania), Aykroyd (Zombie Town) and Hudson (Quantum Leap), plus Annie Potts (Young Sheldon). A certain firehouse pops up as well, as does Slimer, an army of ghosts, possessed possessions, rising supernatural attacks and a new paranormal research centre. The latest film sees Gil Kenan (A Boy Called Christmas) directing. After helming Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Jason Reitman (Tully, The Front Runner) — who is the son of Ivan Reitman, who directed the first two movies — co-writes the script this time around. Check out the full trailer for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire below: Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire opens in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, March 21, 2024.
A new Parisian hotel designed by French artist Matali Crasset is offering travellers a completely new hotel experience. Recently opened in the trendy Rue Chardonne area, Hi-Matic Hotel is entirely internet-based and has no traditional staff. Guests are given a unique code when they make an online reservation and that code gives them access to the building. Once inside, guests are able to check in and pay for their stay on computers (that then dispense their room keys). If they become hungry or bored, guests are able to purchase organic foods, books, music and playful objects from vending machines located in the hotel. The aim of the Hi-Matic is to create a new type of hotel - something unique and luxurious but also practical and accessible. The spaces within the hotel are bright and futuristic, with eco-friendly materials such as organic paint being used throughout. The design is simple but striking and effective. All this does not come without a price, however, with rooms starting at AUD$180 a night. [Via Design Boom]
