Australians have it good. While our Northern brothers and sisters have to rug up from the cold and watch awful Christmas episodes of Doctor Who, we get our peak run of music festivals, outdoor parties and plenty of trips to the beach. It only makes sense that someone combined the best of Australian summer into one amazing night. Stokehouse are hosting a party at their beach front bar and restaurant. The beachfront stage will be blown away by favourites Miami Horror DJs and Flight Facilities with support from some great Australian artists: Elizabeth Rose, Client Liaison and Graz. Tickets include an open bar of beer, wine, cocktails, oysters and other delicious canapés.
Chunky Monkey, Clusterfluff, New York Super Fudge Chunk. These are just some of the more popular flavours of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, a leading cause of happiness around the world since 1978. While doctors in the future will no doubt tell me otherwise, I can’t think of many things better than gorging a giant tub of sweet, sweet ice-cream on a hot December day, except for maybe getting some friends together and going to the movies. Well, it turns out Ben & Jerry’s can help me there as well. Staring on December 1 and running until a few days before Christmas, Ben & Jerry’s Open Air Cinema, erected on St Kilda’s South Beach Reserve, will combine recent releases like Gravity, The Counselor and We Are The Millers with some more nostalgic picks, including Point Break, The Breakfast Club and sing-a-long screening of Grease. Festivities start daily at 6pm with live performances from local bands and DJs. The film program starts after dark, usually around 8.30pm, giving you plenty of time to suss out the bar and stock up on snacks. The exceptions are the Sunday ‘Sundae’ Sessions, which kicks off an hour earlier with additional music and free Ben & Jerry’s for all. For session times and more information, check out the website here.
Start making Easter plans: Bluesfest is returning for 2023. From Thursday, April 6–Monday, April 10, the iconic annual festival will hit up Byron Events Farm at Tyagarah for its 34th event — with Elvis Costello, Mavis Staples, Bonnie Raitt and Gang of Youths leading the bill. Also heading to northern New South Wales as part of the five-day lineup: Jackson Browne, Tash Sultana, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Jimmy Barnes with The Barnestormers, and Talib Kweli, GZA and Big Freedia as special guests of The Soul Rebels. As usual, Bluesfest's roster of talent spans a hefty array of music genres — blues and roots, obviously, but also soul, rock, hip hop, R&B and more — with Beth Hart, Buddy Guy, Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle and The Dukes, The Cat Empire and Xavier Rudd also set to take to the stage. Rockwiz Live will be doing its thing, too, in the perfect setting. And, would it be a Bluesfest without Michael Franti & Spearhead? In 2023, you won't need to find out. While all of the above and more were named in Bluesfest's first announcement, the second added Allison Russell, The Doobie Brothers, Counting Crows, Vintage Trouble, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats and St Paul & the Broken Bones. Organisers are calling the 2023 fest "the first original-style Bluesfest since the world's borders re-opened". While the event went ahead in 2022 after two years of pandemic cancellations (and a thwarted temporary move to October for the same reason), it showcased a primarily Australian and New Zealand lineup. With the return of international travel, Bluesfest can welcome top-notch acts from around the globe again. BLUESFEST 2023 LINEUP — FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT: 19-Twenty Allison Russell The Barnestormers Beth Hart The Black Sorrows Bonnie Raitt Buddy Guy The Cat Empire Chain Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram Counting Crows The Doobie Brothers Elvis Costello & The Imposters Eric Gales Femi Kuti & The Positive Force Gang of Youths Greensky Bluegrass Jackson Brown Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit Joe Bonamassa Joe Camilleri Presents: A Star-Studded Tribute to the Greats of the Blues Jon Stevens Kaleo Keb' Mo' Band King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Lachy Doley and The Horns of Conviction Larkin Poe Lp Lucinda Williams Marcus King Mavis Staples Michael Franti & Spearhead Nathaniel Rateliff & The Nightsweats Nikki Hill Robert Glasper Rockwiz Live The Soul Rebels & Friends with special guests Talib Kweli, GZA and Big Freedia Southern Avenue Spinifex Gum featuring Marliya Steve Earle & The Duke St Paul & The Broken Bones Tash Sultana Vintage Trouble Xavier Rudd
Get ready to feel insecure about your age. That dynamo 17-year-old with the Grammys and the dance moves and the best friend named David Bowie is set to hit our shores in April. Lorde has announced six shows across the country including Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Sydney, Newcastle and Brisbane. After a heartbreaking cancellation earlier in the year, this will be Lorde's first Australian stadium tour after playing smaller clubs and the Laneway circuit. And while we're sure to get the full royal treatment from her 2013 breakthrough album Pure Heroine, this 2014 tour is said to have some surprises in store. It's been announced there will be a huge light show component, but we're keeping our fingers crossed for a cameo from Ziggy Stardust. In good news for wunderkinds nationwide, every show on the tour will also be all ages. Stands to reason, really — if the main act is underage why should you have to flash ID? General tickets go on sale 9am on Friday, March 21, but if you're a Frontier member you should get excited — pre-sale is available for just 24 hours from 2pm Thursday, March 13. See the Frontier Touring website for more details. Lorde April/May Australian Tour Dates (supports yet to be announced) Thursday April 24 — Melbourne, Festival Hall (All Ages) Sunday April 27 — Adelaide, EC Theatre (All Ages) Tuesday April 29 — Perth, Challenge Stadium (All Ages) Friday May 2 — Sydney, Hordern Pavillion (All Ages) Sunday May 4 — Newcastle, Entertainment Centre (All Ages) Tuesday May 6 — Brisbane, Riverstage (All Ages)
Legendary electronic music duo Groove Armada are returning to Australia for their hotly anticipated November tour taking them across the country from Sydney to a billing on the excellent Harvest Rock festival lineup and over to Perth. The tour has completely sold out — until today with the announcement of one final show. Bringing their full live band experience as part of their 25 Years farewell tour, the British duo have added a second Sydney show on Wednesday November 16 at the Horden Pavilion. That's your last chance to catch them and experience their sensational live shows... possibly ever. If you miss out again, we might just have your back but you'll need to move fast. Groove Armada are also headlining Spring City in Auckland at the Auckland Domain on Saturday, November 26. We've got some of the only remaining tickets as part of an incredible curated trip that includes VIP access to watch the band from side of stage and entry to the VIP tent, staying in one of Auckland's most primo hotels and a gin tasting tour by helicopter. Numbers are extremely limited and are selling fast, so get your hands on one here. If you need a little music history 101, Tom Findlay and Andy Cato established Groove Armada while at university in the 90s. Since then, they've become one of the world's biggest dance acts and have gone on to have three UK Top 10 albums, three Grammy nominations, a BRIT nomination and a succession of hit singles. They've been taking their farewell tour around the UK this year. The tour comes off the back of new single 'Hold A Vibe' and the forthcoming release of GA25, a box set featuring all their iconic jams out November 11. For tickets to the final Groove Armada show in Australia head to the Secret Sounds website or preorder GA25 here.
Deerhoof's members are evidence that it pays to take risks. In a post-modern world, where it can sometimes feel as though everything that can be said has been said, they continue to come up with arrestingly original ideas. Every album reveals another sonic surprise. Their twelfth self-produced release, Breakup Song, is no exception. This time around, Cuban rhythms fuel the San Francisco noise group's unpredictable melodic adventures. According to drummer Greg Saunier, the album is about "just turning around a sort of bad mood and finding a way to turn it into a good mood." As much as a Deerhoof record can definitely beat back the blues in the comfort of your lounge room, it doesn't match up to the experience of seeing them live. Their edgy creativity takes on a whole new dimension in front of a crowd. https://youtube.com/watch?v=u7DpLne1abo
Gin lovers, rejoice. Melbourne's CBD now has its first craft gin distillery, with Little Lon Distilling Co opening its doors to the public last Friday night. Steeped in history, the distillery is named after the infamous red light district that sat between Lonsdale, Spring, Exhibition and La Trobe Streets. The notorious area — that operated around 150 years ago and had bootleggers, prostitutes and sly grog aplenty — was divided by small laneways and cottages, most of which were destroyed in the 1950s. The distillery site, on Casselden Place, is one of the few historic spaces that remain. Little Lon owner and distiller Brad Wilson said the heritage-listed cottage from the 1800s was a passion project many years in the making. "After travelling to Europe, I thought it would be great to have my own spirit brand," Wilson said. "I was inspired by a 400-year-old distillery called Wynand Fockink in Amsterdam to start a project of my own." Drinks such as the mulled apple Ginger Mick are standouts on the menu, with each batch paying homage to the real-life characters that inspired the building's name. Using Victorian Police records, and the knowledge of a Melbourne tour guide Michael Sheldon who runs crime tours in the area, Wilson became familiar with the key figures of the time. "We wanted to personify the characters that used to live and kick around these laneways," said Wilson. Maude Compton, who ran a brothel and was jailed for stealing money out of customer's pockets, and Constable Hickling are some of the characters that feature on the distillery's menu. Little Lon Distilling Co, which has the capacity for around 200–300 litres of fermentation, is churning out batches on regular rotation, featuring local ingredients and fragrant notes such as rosemary, oranges and lemons — all things which have historically grown in the area. Find Little Lon Distilling Co at 17 Casselden Place, Melbourne. Throughout July, the distillery will be open every Friday from 5–9pm alongside Madame Brussels' European Night Market. From August, it hopes to open from Thursday–Saturday from 5–11pm, but check the Facebook page for updates. Images: Julia Sansone
If you live in Melbourne's southeast suburbs, your commute is about to undergo a slight change. As of Thursday, February 15, a brand new elevated rail line will open, sending trains travelling on the Pakenham and Cranbourne lines up into the sky, bypassing traffic below. The new line will rise above Noble Park just before it heads into Dandenong. As part of the construction, Noble Park's Yarraman Station will move up into the sky too. This is set to open on Thursday along with the new route, which was being tested this past weekend. This won't just affect train-takers, either — the elevation of the rail line means that three level crossings can be abolished. The boom gates at Corrigan Road, Heatherton Road and Chandler Road will be removed, which will hopefully speed things up a bit for cars during peak hour. It's part of the Victorian Government's ongoing removal of level crossings across the city. Another six are expected to be removed along the Caulfield–Dandenong corridor this year. Image: Chandler Road concept design.
When the first Wednesday in June rolled around this year, something was missing. Usually, that's Sydney Film Festival's night of nights — the annual cinema showcase's opening night ahead of 11 more days of movies. But, due to COVID-19, that wasn't the case in 2020. Back in March, SFF cancelled its physical event, then announced an online replacement a month later. Dubbed Sydney Film Festival: Virtual Edition, the digital-only event isn't quite the same as watching film after film (after film after film) at the State Theatre or Event Cinemas George Street, of course. Still, running from June 10–21, it's a chance to watch 33 movies that you mightn't otherwise get the chance to see — and for audiences Australia-wide to join in. This time, you're just doing so from the comfort of your couch. That should be a familiar feeling thanks to the past few months; however, you're not going to find SFF's 2020 batch of films in your current Netflix queue. On the agenda: ten movies made by female filmmakers from Europe, ten Australian documentaries covering a broad range of topics and 13 shorts — including three as part of SFF's regular Screenability program that highlights the work of filmmakers and creatives with disability. That's a sizeable at-home offering, so we've watched and reviewed ten titles from the feature lineup. Now, all you need to do is nab an online pass, pop some popcorn and get viewing yourself. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFJxW46F0YQ SEA FEVER With Sea Fever, first-time feature director Neasa Hardiman gifts viewers a richly atmospheric thriller set within the claustrophobic confines of an Irish fishing trawler. It's a film with a clear cinematic lineage, tracing back to everything from Alien and The Thing to The Abyss. It's also a movie with a timely premise purely by accident, with this isolation and contagion-focused affair first premiering in 2019 long before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. More importantly, though, this is an unflinching, smart and suspenseful examination of not only extreme behaviour in close quarters, or of an attack by a monstrous organism from the ocean's depths, but of the discomfort humanity feels when easy answers aren't forthcoming. Also impressive: Hermione Corfield (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi) as student scientist Siobhan, whose arrival on the Niamh Cinn-Oir coincides with a treacherous decision by its captain Gerard (Dougray Scott). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fXQm4ZLlFg FORCE OF HABIT The most striking thing about Force of Habit, a Finnish anthology film that interweaves six shorts into one potent portrait of everyday female life, is just how commonplace its scenarios are. In one, a teenager on a bus is harassed by loutish, entitled boys. In another, a young woman is forced to fend off unwanted sexual attention from a male friend. In yet another, a husband reacts more strongly to his wife's response to being groped publicly by a stranger than to the latter altercation itself. Also examining workplace politics and gossip, legal and bureaucratic barriers, and the normalisation of women as victims that's perpetuated by entertainment, this powerful feature is so filled with recognisable situations that he overall point stressed by filmmakers Alli Haapasalo, Anna Paavilainen, Reetta Aalto, Jenni Toivoniemi, Kirsikka Saari, Elli Toivoniemi, and Miia Tervo — that, for society, instances like these have just become habitual and accepted — proves absolutely searing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-Npj2cIbYs MORGANA Many a big-screen drama has stepped into the existence of a middle-aged woman unhappy with the state of her life. But fiction couldn't conjure up anything as distinctive, empowering and intriguing as Morgana Muses' tale — with the Albury housewife leaving her husband and small town behind in favour of a feminist pornography career that's earned her acclaim and attention from Melbourne to Berlin. Indeed, it's no wonder that filmmakers Isabel Peppard and Josie Hess were eager to document Morgana's story and share it with the world, including her resolute determination to bravely put herself first, express her own desires, and create both sex-positive and age-positive erotica. Candid and complex, Morgana is the type of subject that all filmmakers wish they could stumble across, as Peppard and Hess continually show in their engaging film. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwQAqW9GW0k&feature=emb_logo CHARTER In Norwegian disaster films The Wave and The Quake, Ane Dahl Torp battled natural forces. As Alice in tense Swedish drama Charter, she battles with the natural maternal instinct to spend time with and protect her children — fighting against her soon-to-be ex-husband (Sverrir Gudnason) who, in an act of retaliation for her unhappiness, won't let her even see her distressed young son Vincent (Troy Lundkvist) or angry teenage daughter Elina (Tintin Poggats Sarri). Amanda Kernell's sophomore feature after the similarly involving Sami Blood, Charter tasks its protagonist with making drastic and difficult choices while trying to evaluate what's right for both herself and her kids. Following Alice's exploits from Sweden's rural climes to the sunny surroundings of Tenerife, this deeply felt film offers not only a blistering showcase for its lead actor, but a perceptive exploration of a parent's continual quest to do what's best even when faced with imperfect options. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roAM3tZvJvU&feature=emb_logo THE SKIN OF OTHERS Douglas Grant was an ANZAC soldier, a prisoner of the war and, during his time in Germany's Halbmondlager camp during World War I, a driving force in helping his fellow detainees. He was a draughtsman, radio journalist and human rights activist as well, fighting for the fair treatment of his fellow Indigenous Australians almost a century ago. As a child he was also taken from the scene of a North Queensland massacre during the frontier wars, brought up by a Scottish couple and, though treated well by his adoptive parents, considered an 'experiment' outside of his home. Alas, Grant's story isn't as widely known as it should be, so Tom Murray's comprehensive and informative documentary The Skin of Others recounts the crucial details — as aided by lively recreations of Grant's life starring late Australian actor Balang (Tom E.) Lewis (Spear, Goldstone, The Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith) in his final film role. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsB8RFnFFGM A PERFECTLY NORMAL FAMILY In her sensitive and affecting debut feature, writer/director Malou Reymann examines a situation that's close to her heart. Following the pre-teen Emma (Kaya Toft Loholt) as her father Thomas (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard) becomes a woman, the Danish filmmaker draws upon her own story, with Reymann standing in her protagonist's shoes when she was the same age. Dramatised on-screen, the result is a thoughtful and intimate drama that charts the sudden change to Emma's world, and to the soccer-loving girl's relationship with the now football-abhorring Agnete. As well as serving up nuanced, naturalistic performances that convey the full emotional spectrum traversed by Emma and her older sister Caroline (Rigmor Ranthe) as life as they know it changes, A Perfectly Normal Family purposefully refuses to simplify the complicated family dynamics that arise from Agenete's transition. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-m8HSGrQMM&feature=emb_logo ZANA Also informed by its director's own experiences, Antoneta Kastrati's Zana interrogates the fallout of life-shattering conflict, specifically the lingering impact left by the Kosovo War. A decade afterwards, Lume (Adriana Matoshi) still struggles to cope — particularly with the expectation that she'll bear her husband Ilir (Astrit Kabashi) more children after their young daughter was killed during the combat. Her overbearing mother-in-law (Fatmire Sahiti) shuffles Lume between various healers and mystics, blames superstitions and the supernatural, and even endeavours to motivate her fertility by encouraging Ilir to take a second wife; however, Lume's scars of loss and pain run deep. Matoshi is exceptionally moving as a woman haunted several times over — by her grief, the war, societal expectations and her lack of agency — while Kastrati and Casey Cooper Johnson's script doesn't shy away from Lume's all-encompassing trauma. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d37ZkjGDSks&feature=emb_logo WOMEN OF STEEL SFF's annual showcase of Australian documentaries often skews locally not just on a national but a more intimate level. That's the case with Women of Steel, which heads to Wollongong, to the city's steel industry and into a monumental battle for equality — with women forced to fight for their right to be employed at the steel works after being routinely told that there were no jobs available for them. Through both recent and past interviews, as well as a treasure trove of archival clips, director Robynne Murphy steps through the ups, downs, ins and outs of a movement that she was a part of forty years ago, which gives her film an impassioned and vital feel. In addition to chronicling a chapter of local history that many mightn't be aware of, her documentary also sets Wollongong's Jobs for Women Campaign in context in terms of societal norms and changes, both at the time and over the decades since. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLF2zVhsLMg A YEAR FULL OF DRAMA For theatre aficionados, being paid to watch every stage production performed over the course of a year is the stuff that dreams are made of. For 21-year-old Estonian resident Alissija, it's a job — one that specifically advertised for someone who'd never been to the theatre, that requires her to move away from her family to live in Tallinn, and that thrusts her not only into a new field but also firmly outside her comfort zone. It's easy to see why filmmaker Marta Pulk wanted to document this unique story; however she couldn't have predicted Alissija's revelatory reactions to her year-long gig, her existential malaise and her overall journey as she traipses between 224 shows in 365 days. A documentary that's intricately tied to one person, one industry and one country, yet also overwhelmingly universal in its coming-of-age themes, A Year Full of Drama more than lives up to its title. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tABY6w6py6Q&feature=emb_logo THE LEADERSHIP From gender equality to climate change, The Leadership charts a course through a sizeable array of topical subjects. While this jam-packed documentary touches upon everything from toxic workplace behaviour to the destruction of the natural world, it actually focuses on the Homeward Bound program — which takes talented women working in science, technology, engineering and mathematics on a 20-day intensive leadership course while sailing around the Antarctic, with its maiden voyage overseen by Australian leadership expert Fabian Dattner. That trip was notable in a plethora of ways, as Ili Baré's debut feature documentary lays bare. There's so much to cover, so many viewpoints to explore and such a wealth of data to share that The Leadership often feels like it could go in any direction; however when it unpacks the challenges facing Homeward Bound's first participants and facilitators, it does far more than serve up familiar messages amidst scenic icy landscapes. Sydney Film Festival: Virtual Edition runs from June 10–21, with all films available to stream online. For further information — and to buy virtual tickets — visit the festival's website.
Bon Iver is on their way to Australia for their first national tour in 14 years with the trailblazing indie rock act hitting stages across Sydney, Hobart, Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide in February and March of 2023. The tour will kick off on Friday, February 17 in Sydney at the Aware Super Theatre next to the ICC Sydney. Brisbane and Melbourne will also receive standalone shows on the tour — Melbourne's first Bon Iver show in 11 years — with shows popping up at the Riverstage on Thursday, March 2 and Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Saturday, March 4. There will also be three festival appearances on the tour — Tasmania's Mona Foma on Tuesday, February 21, Perth Festival on Sunday, February 26, and WOMADelaide Festival on Friday, March 10. [caption id="attachment_746634" align="alignnone" width="1920"] MONA/Rémi ChauvinImage courtesy of the artist and MONA Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia[/caption] Bon Iver is one of three acts revealed to be heading up next year's edition of WOMADelaide. Alongside the blissful falsetto of the Wisconsin band, Florence and the Machine and Gratte Ciel's Place des Anges will be appearing at the festival which is returning to Botanic Park in Adelaide between March 10 and 13. Florence will also be appearing in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland throughout March as part of her world tour supporting her latest album Dance Fever. It's exciting news for Bon Iver fans after the band was forced to pull out of a run of shows originally slated for 2020 due to the pandemic, as well as a headline appearance at the cancelled Bluesfest 2021. This tour will mark the first time for Australian fans to catch Bon Iver's latest album i,i live and marks the influential artist's first return to Australian shores since a run of four sold-out shows at the Sydney Opera House as part of Vivid 2016. Presale tickets are available from 9am, Thursday, August 25 with the code JELMORE. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bon Iver (@boniver) Bon Iver's Australian tour will take place between Friday, February 17–Friday, March 10. Presale tickets will be on sale from 9am, Thursday, August 25 through Handseom Tours and general sale tickets will be available from 9am, Friday, August 26. Top image:danieljordahl
Are you still, still recovering from The Red Viper versus The Mountain? Are you feeling a little nostalgic for the days when Tyrion could lay around boozing on vino? Perhaps you should be drinking your sorrows away with some like-minded Thrones fanatics. Confused? We’ll lay it down for you. Game of Rhones is a wine-tasting event that's been touring Australia since 2014. Featuring over 40 producers and 100 wines, it's a one-day, all-out trial by combat to determine the best offering of the grape varieties from the Rhone Valley in France — Shiraz, Grenache, and Viognier among others. But this isn't just a run-of-the-mill wine tasting set-up. To keep that theme solid, the Rhone Bar is where you can taste wines from ‘Beyond the Wall’ (ie: the Rhone Valley). Then, you can sign up for a blindfolded tasting in the 'torture chamber' (a highlight of previous Game of Rhones events). Suffice to say, after a few of these Rhone Valley wines, we'd probably confess to a secret or two. Of course, it wouldn't be Thrones-worthy if there weren't a few extra kickers. To accompany your wine, there will be a selection of feast-able treats available such as suckling pig and venison pie — if you’re a vego or a vegan, you've probably already guessed this is a highly meaty affair.
Best known as the voice of US cable network Comedy Central, American comedian Kyle Kinane returns to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival with a show called Terrestrial Woes. It's a fitting title for a comic whose humour tends to stem from observations about everyday misfortunes. He's a gruff but immensely likeable storyteller with a talent for making the mundane seem funny and occasionally profound. A definite standout on this year's program, he's only in town for a week, so make sure you check him out while you can.
With eateries planted across the country, the Saké stable has made quite the name for itself over the years — and it shows little sign of slowing. The newest member of the family — an establishment on Flinders Lane — launched mid-April, with two more concept venues set to be unveiled in Sydney and Melbourne over the coming months. This latest incarnation takes over the former digs of the short-lived Woody P, and looks set to steal a good chunk of Chin Chin's hungry perma-queues. The space boasts that trademark Saké wow-factor, incorporating a chic designer fit-out and sleek open kitchen. There are, however, plenty of off-script touches, so don't go expecting another Hamer Hall or Double Bay. This version has a dedicated sushi bar, where you can get a peek at some crazy knife skills, as well as a moody basement cocktail lounge. Down here, the vibes are high; with splashes of neon, an impeccable selection of house-infused shochu and weekend DJ sets, this subterranean space screams with hopes of being a late-night haunt. Throw in the fact that you can grab a great bowl of ramen up until 2am, and it looks clear that GoGo Bar is in for some stiff competition. Outside of party o'clock though, it's the Japanese fare that's the star of the show. This time around, Jean Paul Lourdes is on the pans, serving a menu that fuses modern technique with traditional Japanese flavours. Saké favourites like the chicken karaage ($17) and vegetable tempura ($16) make a cameo appearance, while newcomers include the likes of chicken yakitori ($14) and a superb beef tataki, laced with snow pea sprouts and cherry tomato ($24). Likely to charm even the most staunch of veggie haters is the house salad topped with wakame ($12). Delicate sashimi and sushi rolls are textbook perfect, while an artisanal miso, with cured egg yolk and one-year-old onion, has a depth of flavour that'll just about blow your mind ($4). Granted, most dishes are more clever than familiar — though in Lourdes' capable hands, there's no need for trepidation. To match it all, you'll find a sophisticated drinks list with a hefty selection of the restaurant's namesake spirit starring alongside clever cocktails, Japanese craft beer, whisky flights and a considered wine list. And with service as hard to fault as the food coming out of the kitchen, this one deserves to be put on high rotation, whether for smart business lunches, dinner dates or late-night cocktails and fun times down below.
We usually picture Tasmania as Australia's sleepiest state — but when they go and pull off a weekend rager in a remote meadow, you've really got to question why we think this. We probably should have realised when they upped festival standards by giving us MONA FOMA. Set in White Hills, a beautiful, forested area about 20 minutes from Launceston, Party in the Paddock brings a punchy list of international and local artists to the island state. When not at the stage, Party in the Paddock's Vibestown is the place to head for gourmet Tassie nosh, comedy, art, yoga, glitter and skateboarding. And, for its sixth year, PITP has stuck an extra day onto the festival — on Thursday night there's a Funk in the Forest psychedelic rave that will continue over to Friday and Saturday nights. PARTY IN THE PADDOCK 2018 LINEUP Gang of Youths GROUPLOVE The Avalanches (DJ Set) Meg Mac Ball Park Music Client Liaison The Preatures Tkay Maidza Holy Holy Aunty Donna Crooked Colours Tired Lion
Air. As the planet warms, there's likely to be less of it — or, at any rate, less of the healthy, breathable, life-giving kind. This is just one of the issues that RMIT Gallery's latest exhibition, Dynamics of Air, takes into its hands. Comprised of works by 25 designers, artists and researchers, the show immerses you in climate change, explores the possibility of sharing air in over-crowded cities and delves into cutting-edge research. Both Australian and international artists are involved. Look out for the four-metre-high Gradierwerk (salt breathing tower) by Austria's Breathe Earth Collective, and prepare to be carried through constantly changing microclimates via Outside In, a piece by German climate engineer Thomas Auer and Wagenfeld. Meanwhile, New York-based Natasha Johns-Messenger, has joined forces with Melbourne's Leslie Eastman to create a viewing room, where you'll experience optical illusions caused by a mechanism similar to an aeroplane propeller. To really get a literal experience of it all, Berlin's Edith Kollath will invite you to share air with fellow gallery-goers inside a glass vessel. The gallery is open from 11am till 5pm Monday to Saturday, except for Thursday, when it's open until 7pm. Image: Phil Ayres, Petras Vestartas, Danica Pistekova and Maria Teudt, 'Inflated Restraint' (2016).
At about 70 calories per shot, gin is among the lowest-calorie alcohols out there. It provides cocktail aficionados all the more reason to pair it with something comparatively unhealthy. Like, say, ice cream. With that in mind, let us introduce you to the Negroni Float, a cocktail created by the fine people at Melbourne Gin Company. The innovative drink combines the Italian stallion cocktail (that is, the Negroni), with vanilla ice cream to create what is essentially a soft drink spider, but alcoholic for adults. If you're convinced that gin is your arch-nemesis and will never grow to like the spirit — this is an excellent gateway drink. The sweetness and slight bitterness of the Campari and blood orange soda is a concoction that may just win you over. We can't promise that you'll be able to successfully order it over the bar, but you can sure make it at home. Here's how. THE NEGRONI FLOAT INGREDIENTS 30ml Melbourne Gin Company dry gin 30ml Campari CAPI blood orange soda vanilla ice cream blueberries ice (optional) DIRECTIONS Over a scoop of vanilla ice cream, add the gin, Campari and blood orange soda. Garnish with blueberries, and it's good to go.
Historically, there are many different yogic paths that emerged and influenced each other. ‘Yoga’ has changed over the centuries, and has many different techniques ascribed to it. While in Western interpretations yoga has become an increasingly mainstream and consumerist form of exercise, the mental and spiritual benefits of yoga are just as, if not more significant, than the physical. A combination of asanas (physical poses) and pranayama (breath control), the actual word ‘yoga’ comes from the root yuj, which translates as “to yoke, to unite” with the divine. Uniting with the divine is all well and good, but, let’s be honest, there’s probably some small part of you that secretly relishes the idea of having Jennifer Aniston arms or smugly crossing off the last session on your 30-day yoga challenge. I’m not judging you. Whatever your reason for pursuing yoga, we’re here to help you navigate the way between sun salutations and savasanas. FIND YOUR FLOW There are endless varieties of yoga to suit any number of different needs and intentions. MEDIUM Vinyasa yoga is a term that can cover a wide range of different yoga classes and is characterised by its dynamic flow transitions. Popular worldwide, it is relatively fast paced. Poses and sequences are connected by said vinyasa, which refers to a series of three poses — plank, chaturunga and upward facing dog. While it may seem intimidating to be in a room full of people who don’t skip a beat when a teacher instructs them to be various types of animals (pigeon? cat? cow? lizard? dolphin?!?), there are generally newbies in every class with whom you can make frenzied eye contact while trying to figure out how one is supposed to get their legs to go that way. Typically, these classes have a standing sequence and a floor sequence, followed by an inversion (varying degrees of upside down-ness) and finishing up with ‘savasana’ (if you are good at sleeping you will be wonderful at this). My personal recommendation to bring along to a vinyasa class is a small towel for hand grippy purposes (clammy palms people, you get me), a water bottle and potentially a light drapey scarf with an exotic foreign pattern on it for savasana, when the body temperature drops and you may need a little cover-up. Image: Power Living Melbourne, Fitzroy and South Melbourne. INTENSE Adapted from traditional Hatha yoga in the early 1970s by Bikram Choudhury, Bikram yoga follows the same 26 poses and two breathing exercises for 90 minutes, in a room heated to approximately 40 degrees Celsius. It’s specifically designed for its detoxifying and rejuvenating purposes, while increasing flexibility and total body strength. While initially I thought my yoga teacher was some sort of sociopath for kindly (but firmly) encouraging me to stay in the class for the full 90 minutes, adjusting to the heat is an important part of your beautiful Bikram journey*. There’s some sort of sick, addictive pleasure in making it through a full class, and it only gets easier every time you go. For your first Bikram yoga class, bring a towel or two — one to absorb the ocean of sweat that your body will expel, and the other to shower with at the end of class (highly recommended). Also bring a giant bottle of water. Take small sips during the class and drink the hell out of it afterwards. *That being said, listen to your body. If something is just not okay, you didn’t lose at yoga! Stand your ground and get the hell outta there. Image: chantel beam photography via photopin cc MODERN I’m a pretty big fan of the incense, shrines and chanting music variety of yoga, so I was a little cautious about the new phenomenon to hit our fair shores, Hip Hop Yoga. However, the combination of my great loves for both downward dog and Snoop Dogg resulted in a wonderfully unique flow that was uplifting in a totally different way. Hip Hop Yoga is exactly what it sounds like — a vinyasa flow style of yoga set to hip hop music in various degrees of intensity. While it bears similarity to more traditional styles in terms of poses and breath control, Hip Hop Yoga stands as its own kind of practice, more like a choreographed combination of dance and yoga. You’re not quite pop, lock and dropping that booty, but there’s no group chanting or gentle gong beating either. Image: Yoga 213 Studio, South Yarra. WHAT TO EXPECT Expect to feel welcome. Despite the notion of an exclusive yoga culture that both intimidates and entices newbies, you should feel comfortable at any yoga studio. Sharing the practice and community with everyone is what yoga is all about! Bow down to the joys of yoga! Expect not to be able to do everything. If you haven’t practiced before, expect poses to feel unfamiliar and potentially uncomfortable. While you are probably very good at sitting on chairs, walking up stairs and going to get coffee, our Western bodies are not accustomed to things like balancing on one leg, being upside down or standing on our heads. Be mindful of this and know that you did not lose at yoga just because you face planted while attempting crow pose. Expect to be jealous of the girl who drifts into class with an exotic scarf from a small village in India and can hold a five-minute headstand with ease. There will be one in every class and it will not be you. Be okay with that. Expect to say 'namaste'. It might feel a little cheesy and unnatural at first, but it’s how you will end every single yoga class you ever take. Don’t be alarmed if at some point in the class people start chanting OM. Despite what it may sound like at first, you are not being indoctrinated and this is not a cult. Just go with it. FROM DRISHTIS TO DOWNWARD DOG(G)S Drishti The eyes' focus point during poses, intended to keep the mind from drifting and keep you awareness inward. Downward Dog Perhaps the most frequently visited yoga pose, Downward-Facing Dog is achieved by placing the hands and feet on the floor and lifting the hips upwards to form an upside down V with the body. A traditional pose in sun salutation sequences, this pose in often used to warm up initially and reset in between sequences. Vinyasa Poses linked with breath and connected together to form a ‘flow’. Chakra The seven centres of energy or spiritual power within the bodies. These can relate to different emotional issues. Namaste This has a variety of different specific translations, but ultimately is an expression of gratitude acknowledgement to a divine power or presence, something greater than ourselves. Can loosely be interpreted as, “The spirit in me acknowledges the spirit in you”. Savasana A pose of total relaxation taken at the end of practice, or sometimes at intervals during. Chaturanga Going through a sequence of plank, chaturanga (which is kind of like the downwards part of a push up) and upward dog or cobra. This is taken in between vinyasa flow sequences. Asana The various physical postures and poses in yoga. Pranayama The flow of breath or breath control in yoga. Ujjayi breath A type of yogic breathing that is made by gently constricting the base of the throat, filling the belly first, then upper rib cage and throat, making an oceanic sound. WHERE TO PRACTICE Power Living in both Fitzroy and South Melbourne is hard to go past with their wide range of class times and options that range from basics to dynamic vinyasa. Recently opened on Napier Street in a beautiful converted warehouse is North Yoga, specialising is classical yoga and aiming to bring it back to basics. Bikram Yoga Fitzroy on Johnston Street boasts a great introductory special ($30 for 30 days) and flexible timetable options, as does Bikram Yoga Melbourne, with locations in Richmond and Prahran. Over the river, South Yarra is home to Yoga 213, the only place in Melbourne to get your Hip Hop yoga fix (owner Sammy Veall is responsible for bringing the style to Australia), as well as One Hot Yoga, a studio popular for their dynamic flow classes in heated rooms. Image: North Yoga Studio, Fitzroy. Images courtesy of The Yoga Company, Bikram Yoga Prahran and Richmond, Power Living Australia, Yoga 213 and North Yoga. Top image: Kris Krug via photopin cc
Cinderella, Mary Poppins and Beauty and the Beast have all taken to Australia's stages in recent years, bringing beloved narratives that everyone associates with Disney movies from the cinema to the theatre. For the next show that falls into that category, no one needs to grow up. The inhabitants of Neverland, where Peter and the Starcatcher is set, certainly aren't known to. A five-time Tony Award-winner for its 2012 Broadway season, the production earned theatre's coveted accolades for its costumes, sound design, scenic design and lighting, and for Best Featured Actor in a Play — but the version that's hitting Melbourne comes with a twist. For Peter and the Starcatcher's long-awaited debut Aussie season, which is touring the country Dead Puppet Society (The Wider Earth, Ishmael) is reimagining the stage favourite, which is a prequel to JM Barrie's Peter and Wendy. Accordingly, from Friday, November 8, 2024 at Arts Centre Melbourne, expect puppets helping to spin a tale that features more than 100 characters, as well as live tunes. Originally based on Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson's novel Peter and the Starcatchers, then adapted for the stage by Rick Elice (Jersey Boys), the play heads to Neverland before Peter Pan visited — before Captain Hook inspired terror, too. So, it's an origin story, complete with an island, a moustachioed pirate, an orphan without a name and Wendy's mother Molly.
If you're someone who loves chocolate and hazelnuts, and doesn't have an allergy to either, the odds are that you're rather fond of Nutella. Most folks fall into that category, which is why the world has seen everything from Nutella food trucks and dessert bars to Nutella hotels and festivals pop up — and plenty of eateries slathering the spread on and in other food stuffs, too. Your new way to get your Nutella fix? In bar form. Until now, you might've thought of Nutella bars as places that you can visit — because, as outlined above, they have definitely existed over the years. From Monday, January 4 at Australian supermarkets and convenience stores, however, Nutella bars are also something that you can buy and eat (and carry around with you in multi-packs for a Nutella-on-the-go situation). Nutella's new product is called B-ready, and it squeezes the spread into a wafer shell — with some wheat puffs as well. So, when you bite into one, you'll taste some Nutella, and get quite a crunch in the process. The Nutella B-ready bars are now available either individually, or in packs of six — if you can never seem to stop yourself when it comes to the choc-hazelnut spread. They'll cost you $2 for one, or $4.99 for a six-pack. Nutella B-ready bars are now on sale at Australian supermarkets and convenience stores.
When you need a holiday, but don't have the time, look to a staycation to get your relax on. Don't spend a night in any old hotel though, spend it in a Notel, the trailer park, boutique hotel hybrid. The speakeasy-style hotel hides atop a multi-storey car park on Flinders Lane, featuring six airstream trailers with a playful, spaceship-meets-vintage-campervan aesthetic. Brain behind the hotel, entrepreneur James Fry sought to create a space that didn't yet exist in Melbourne, so he hired architects Edwards Moore to execute his vision. Each fit-out features a bed, mini bar and ensuite with proper plumbing — plus one trailer, the 'Airstream with Benefits', even has it's own private, outdoor spa complete with hot pink underwater lighting.
Feel the grass beneath your feet and the breeze on your face, as the silver screen lights up at this multi-venue outdoor cinema. After springing to life in Portsea in 2016, Barefoot Cinema now also screens films in Mount Martha and Elsternwick over summer. It all kicks off on Boxing Day. First stop is Point Nepean National Park in Portsea from December 26 through until January 8. Films on offer include some of 2018's biggest hits, including Crazy Rich Asians and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, along with older fare such as Pulp Fiction Next it's off to the Mount Martha on the Peninsula, where movies like Grease and The Lion King will be paired with more recent films like Spike Lee's BlacKkKlansman will screen from January January 11–27. Finally, Barefoot Cinema will arrive at Elsternwick's Rippon Lea Estate with a lineup of yet to be determined titles from January 31 until February 16. In addition to movies, Barefoot Cinema will feature live music, food trucks, a candy bar, local wines, and craft beers from Gage Roads. For more information about Barefoot Cinema, go here.
Whether it's half a capsicum or a few slightly withered mushrooms, we're probably all guilty of throwing away perfectly good food. But collectively, food waste costs Australians up to $10 billion each year. To put that in perspective, about one third of what is produced ends up in landfill. Given 2 million people still rely on food relief, this is pretty baffling. Think.Eat.Save. will see Oz Harvest team up with the United Nations Environment Program to tackle the problem and advocate more sustainable solutions. On July 21, some of the nation's top chefs, politicians and celebrities will be donning aprons and dishing up a delicious free meal to thousands of members of the public. Made from surplus food, it should inspire you to switch on socially and get creative with those odds and ends at the back of the fridge. With an increasing global population and the effects of climate change expected to reduce agricultural yield by up to 5 percent in some areas, it's time to start thinking collectively and enhance efficiency. Check the website to find out where your city's free food hotspot will be.
What's better than watching a heap of top Australian talent sit around and talk about music? Watching them do all of the above while answering questions, competing for points and just generally being funny, too. That's the concept behind ABC TV show Spicks and Specks, which took a few cues from the UK's Never Mind the Buzzcocks, pit Aussie musos and comedians against each other, and has proven a hit several times over. A weekly favourite when it first aired between 2005–2011, it just keeps coming back — including its current series of new specials. When the program was first revived back in 2014, it returned with a new host and team captains. This time, it's back with its original lineup. That means that Adam Hills, Myf Warhurst and Alan Brough have all stepped back into the quiz show realm yet again. When the trio did just that back in 2018, for a one-off reunion special, it became the ABC's most-watched show of the year. Unsurprisingly, that huge response played more than a small part in inspiring this new comeback. If you're already eager to show your own music trivia knowledge and play along — we all know that's as much a part of the Spicks and Specks fun as seeing the on-screen stars unleash their own skills (or lack thereof) — then you probably lapped up the show's Ausmusic Month special last year. And, back in February this year, you probably enjoyed its 90s episode as well. Next, in April, comes a whole episode dedicated to early 00s tunes, naturally focusing on all the tracks, bangers, one hit wonders and more that released right up until 2010. Airing at 7.40pm AEST on Sunday, April 19, expect questions about the period that made Guy Sebastian, Lady Gaga, Kanye West and the Black Eyed Peas stars — and expect not just Adam, Myf and Alan, but Killing Heidi's Ella Hooper, Nic Cester from Jet, and comedians Joel Creasy and Sarah Kendall as well. The Katering Show and Get Krack!n's Kate McLennan and Kate McCartney will be on hand to take part in one of the episodes' games, old Nokia mobiles will find a new lease of life and Thirsty Merc perform as well. The 00s episode marks the third of Spicks and Specks' specials, with a fourth one still to come at a yet-to-be-revealed date. Its focus: the ten-year period we've all just lived through. And, if you need a refresher in the interim, this comedic chat about a Star Wars Christmas album will do the trick: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KNMtDu7TAY Spicks and Specks: 00s Special will air on ABC TV on Sunday, April 19 at 7.40pm. The show's Ausmusic Special and 90s Special are both currently available to stream via ABC iView.
As the arts and entertainment industry continues to climb back to its previous heights following the devastation brought by COVID-19, a welcome addition of $125 million is set to be injected into the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) fund. The extra funding was announced today, Thursday, March 25, and is aimed at supporting "around 230 projects and up to 90,000 jobs". While a further $10 million will be added to the charity Support Act, aimed at providing crisis support to artists and other workers across the creative sector. The $125 million will be available until Friday, December 31, 2021, and will effectively triple the size of the original commitment of $75 million from the government, raising the total amount of funding available to $200 million. The initial funding has already been put to good use, with Sydney's Hamilton, Melbourne's Harry Potter stage show, Tasmania's Dark Mofo and Byron's Bluesfest all scoring $1 million each. RISE has also helped fund a slew of COVID-safe music events including Next Exit, Fresh Produce and Summer Sounds. [caption id="attachment_789711" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hamilton. Image: Joan Marcus via Destination NSW[/caption] Federal Arts Minister Paul Fletcher names RISE as a driving force behind the creative industry's economic resurgence as venues re-open and shows are booked in. "Our focus has turned to stimulating activity so the work opportunities can flow," Minister Fletcher said in a statement. "This new funding comes at an important stage in the resurgence of Australia's arts and entertainment sector. The purpose of the RISE program is to get shows put on, bringing employment to performers, crews and front-of-house staff." The government has also updated RISE's program guidelines to make it easier for businesses and organisations to access the funding, and to encourage projects from as low as $25,000 to apply (the bar was previously set at a minimum of $75,000 for funding applications). Find out more about the RISE fund here. Top image: Frankies by Katje Ford.
If paying hundreds of dollars seems a bit excessive for one night of antics or you have already blown that Christmas money at Boxing Day sales then check out the very affordable Ding Dong Lounge NYE party. Ding Dong know their live music so rest assured that seven piece psychedelic group with the best name in town, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard will bring in the New Year properly. Hearty support will be coming from other Melbourne kids The Murlocs who have made some big splashes lately on the festival scene at Meredith and Harvest. Coming all the way from Adelaide and Perth respectively, Bad//Dreems and The Love Junkies are set to warm the night up too.
When the Sydney Film Festival last happened in-person back in 2019, it awarded its annual prize to the movie that everyone had been talking about since its Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or win a few weeks earlier: Bong Joon-ho's Parasite. Returning to Sydney's cinemas after a year's gap — longer, actually, after a few delays this year — SFF 2021 has declared another international festival favourite its latest Official Competition winner: Iranian drama There Is No Evil, which also nabbed Berlinale's Golden Bear in 2020. Receiving SFF's annual $60,000 award, the anthology film explores capital punishment and its impacts, with writer/director Mohammad Rasoulof examining the ripples that state-sanctioned killing has upon Iranian society. Pondering the threats and freedoms of life under an oppressive regime, it steps through the stories of a stressed husband and father (Ehsan Mirhosseini), a conscript (Kaveh Ahangar) who can't fathom ending someone's life, a soldier (Mohammad Valizadegan) whose compliance causes personal issues and a physician (Mohammad Seddighimehr) unable to practise his trade. Headed by Animal Kingdom, The Rover and The King filmmaker David Michôd, and also including actor Simon Baker (High Ground), NITV Head of Commissioning and Programming Kyas Hepworth, director and producer Maya Newell (Gayby Baby, In My Blood It Runs) and filmmaker Clara Law (Floating Life), the 2021 SFF Official Competition jury selected There Is No Evil "for its moving, multi-angled exploration of a singular theme, about the ways in which an entire culture can carry the burden of institutional cruelty." "Picking a winner from a collection of films as diverse as this one is never easy," said Michôd in a statement. "It's a movie adventurous with form and genre, beautifully performed and realised with a deft touch for simple, elegant filmmaking craft." Rasoulof has actually been banned from filmmaking in Iran, all for examining the reality of his homeland — and, after 2013's Manuscripts Don't Burn and 2017's A Man of Integrity, There Is No Evil continues the trend. "I want to thank the jury. I am really happy there is something more than a simple appreciation in this prize," the filmmaker said, accepting the award virtually from Tehran. "Being heard and understood is what keeps hope alive." In winning the Sydney Film Prize, Rasoulof's film follows in the footsteps of not only Parasite, but of other past winners The Heiresses (2018), On Body and Soul (2017), Aquarius (2016), Arabian Nights (2015), Two Days, One Night (2014), Only God Forgives (2013), Alps (2012), A Separation (2011), Heartbeats (2010), Bronson (2009) and Hunger (2008). SFF announced There Is No Evil's win at its closing night ceremony, as well as a Special Mention to fellow Official Competition title Limbo — and a number of other awards spanning the rest of the 2021 program. The $10,000 Documentary Australia Foundation Award for Australian Documentary went to I'm Wanita, a portrait of the self-described 'Australian queen of honky tonk', while producer and director Karina Holden received the $10,000 Sydney-UNESCO City of Film Award. In the Dendy Awards for Australian Short Films, Sophie Somerville's Peeps won the Dendy Live Action Short Award, Taylor Ferguson received the Rouben Mamoulian Award for Best Director for tough and Olivia Martin-McGuire's Freedom Swimmer nabbed the Yoram Gross Animation Award. As previously announced before and during the festival, filmmaker Darlene Johnson received the 2021 Deutsche Bank Fellowship for First Nations Film Creatives, while Australian documentary Burning, directed by Eva Orner, scored the first-ever Sustainable Future Award. The 2021 Sydney Film Festival ran in-person from November 3–14, with the festival's online program SFF On Demand now streaming until November 21.
Netflix's green light has just swung into action, with the streaming platform finally confirming that Squid Game is definitely returning for a second season. The compulsively watchable South Korean series was one of the best new TV shows of 2021, and proved enormously popular for the service — becoming its most-watched show ever, in fact — so this news is hardly surprising. Getting the official word is still far better than playing Red Light, Green Light with the series' killer doll, though, clearly. Netflix co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos made the announcement as part of a video call about the platform's fourth-quarter earnings, advising that there will "absolutely" be a second season of the hit program. "The Squid Game universe has just begun," he said — although exactly what that might mean in terms of future episodes beyond the now-confirmed second season, spinoff shows or even movies wasn't mentioned. Netflix also started moving into games in 2021, so perhaps digital rounds of sugar honeycombs, marbles, hopscotch and tug of war could be in the franchise's future. When a second season of Squid Game will reach your streaming queue hasn't yet been revealed, either; however, given that creator Hwang Dong-hyuk started chatting about it in 2021, fingers crossed that it occurs sooner rather than latter. Yes, if news of the show's renewal sounds familiar, that's why — but today's announcement is the first time that Netflix has officially said that it's happening. Back in November, Hwang also advised that lead actor Lee Jung-jae (Deliver Us From Evil) was set to return as main character Seong Gi-hun. As for what else the second season storyline will follow, nothing has been revealed as yet — although Hwang has chatted through possibilities, including maybe giving another character the spotlight, with The Hollywood Reporter. If you somehow missed all things Squid Game last year, even after it became bigger than everything from Stranger Things to Bridgerton, the Golden Globe-winning series serves up a puzzle-like storyline and unflinching savagery, which unsurprisingly makes quite the combination. It also steps into societal divides within South Korea, a topic that wasn't invented by Parasite, Bong Joon-ho's excellent Oscar-winning 2019 thriller, but has been given a boost after that stellar flick's success. Accordingly, it's easy to see thematic and narrative parallels between Parasite and Squid Game, although Netflix's highly addictive series goes with a Battle Royale and Hunger Games-style setup. Here, 456 competitors are selected to work their way through six seemingly easy children's games. They're all given numbers and green tracksuits, they're competing for 45.6 billion won, and it turns out that they've also all made their way to the contest after being singled out for having enormous debts. That includes aforementioned series protagonist Seong Gi-hun, a chauffeur with a gambling problem, and also a divorcé desperate to do whatever he needs to to keep his daughter in his life. But, as Squid Game probes the chasms caused by capitalism and cash — and the things the latter makes people do under the former — this program isn't just about one player. It's about survival, the status quo the world has accepted when it comes to money, and the real inequality present both in South Korea and elsewhere. Filled with electric performances, as clever as it is compelling, unsurprisingly littered with smart cliffhangers, and never afraid to get bloody and brutal, the result is a savvy, tense and taut horror-thriller that entertains instantly and also has much to say. So yes, bring on more. Squid Game's first season is available to stream via Netflix. We'll update you with a release date for season two when one is announced. Top image: Noh Juhan/Netflix.
Catch iiiiiiiiit! If summer for you was all about hitting the crease and making sure you yelled "out" as loudly as possible, you'll want to stop hitting refresh on your email and take a little break to reminisce over the good times. Together with TikTok, who ran a summer-long activation called #ClassicCatch in Australia, we've picked out five TikTok videos that have us wishing we'd spent more time perfecting our bowl. Here are five legends who did just that, showing us how to land the perfect catch on the sand to hitting a six in the sweltering Aussie heat. [embed]https://www.tiktok.com/@fairmoodz/video/6785779214101630214?lang=en[/embed] According to TikTok maker and photographer Joel (@fairmoodz), old mate Doug here has never played cricket before, yet he smashes it — only to be caught out. What a catch. [embed]https://www.tiktok.com/@harlsmalone/video/6745028181704625413?lang=en[/embed] What can we say? Harley has clearly been smashing the Weet-Bix for brekkie. No, you didn't just flip the dial to Channel Nine, @harlsmalone has only gone and given his beach cricket match an upgrade to professional level with a little audio. And why the hell not? Did you see that catch? Right between his teeth. [embed]https://www.tiktok.com/@kaybawa/video/6716017780166102277[/embed] Melbourne-based TikToker Kaybawa has opted for some truly inspired slo-mo action to show off his sweet bowling skills. He's also paired it with R Nait's beats, a stormy looking sky and the facial expression of a master. What a ledge. [embed]https://www.tiktok.com/@cricketdistrict/video/6900918387866619138[/embed] Hear that encouraging clap? These cricktokkers are not messing around. Cricket District posts hours of spins, bowls and LOLs on its page. This mid-air catch is a classic. [embed]https://www.tiktok.com/@bigmads/video/6813258573473238277[/embed] One of our personal faves, AFLW player Maddi Newman isn't just an all-rounder on the sports field but she's also a fan of Lizzo. Here, she brings three loves together in one clip (her dad, cricket and Lizzo) to show it ain't just the fellas hitting it out of the backyard this summer. Onya, Maddi. Download TikTok to watch more #ClassicCatch videos and look for TikTok's cricket themed activations in your city. Top image: Lochie Blanch; Unsplash
It's the ultimate 90s Christmas movie. It's the film that's made every kid since 1990 wish to get stranded home alone. It made Macaulay Culkin a star, features Schitt's Creek legend Catherine O'Hara and turned "keep the change, ya filthy animal!" into a festive catchphrase. And, it's never far from screens when the end of the year hits, a tradition that the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is continuing in 2024. The entire seasonal cinematic treat that is Home Alone will echo through Hamer Hall come December — again. Here's one way to relive the movie: watching it play in the hefty venue with a live soundtrack. As it did back in 2019 and also in 2022, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is bringing the film back to the big screen in the best possible way, aka in concert, and welcoming the merriest time of the year in the most appropriate fashion. Home Alone truly is the best movie there is about an eight-year-old who outsmarts two burglars while living it up without his parents and siblings — and while it charts Kevin McCallister's antics, it also boasts a rousing Oscar-nominated score by iconic composer John Williams. That's what the MSO will bust out at 7.30pm on Thursday, December 5–Friday, December 6 and at 1pm on Saturday, December 7 — and there's your essential end-of-year viewing taken care of. If your response to the above news is to hold your hands to your cheeks and exclaim, then you'll want to nab a seat. There's no need to set traps or play pranks to grab a ticket, though — they go on sale at 10am on Thursday, May 23.
When the end of the year hits, do you get 'Christmas is All Around', as sung by Bill Nighy, stuck in your head? Have you ever held up a piece of cardboard to tell the object of your affection that, to you, they're perfect? Does your idea of getting festive involve watching Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Laura Linney, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Keira Knightley, Rowan Atkinson and Martin Freeman, all in the same movie? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then you clearly adore everyone's favourite Christmas-themed British rom-com, its high-profile cast and its seasonal humour. And, you've probably watched the beloved flick every December since it was first released in cinemas back in 2003. That's a perfectly acceptable routine, and one that's shared by many. But this year, you can do one better — again. A huge success during its past tours of the UK and Australia (to the surprise of absolutely no one), Love Actually in Concert is returning in 2023 to make this festive season extra merry. It's exactly what it sounds like: a screening of the film accompanied by a live orchestra performing the soundtrack as the movie plays. To the jolly delight of Melburnians, it's heading to Hamer Hall at 3.30pm and 7pm on Saturday, December 23. Here, you'll revisit the Richard Curtis-written and -directed film you already know and treasure, step through its interweaved Yuletide stories of romance, and hear a live orchestra play the movie's soundtrack. And, yes, Christmas (and love) will be all around you.
UPDATE, April 7, 2021: Weathering with You is available to stream via Netflix, Google Play, YouTube Movies, Amazon Video and iTunes. To watch as Weathering with You roams around Tokyo, wandering through its alleys and roving beyond its well-known tourist spots, is to almost feel like you're walking through the sprawling city yourself. That's an uncanny achievement for an animated film, however it speaks volumes about the level of detail evident in Makoto Shinkai's first movie since his huge 2016 hit Your Name. The luminous lights, towering structures and Shibuya's famous scramble crossing all feature, rendered as vividly as they demand. Also present: the rows of nondescript buildings that stretch across the Japanese capital, its maze of laneways, the blue vending machines on every block, and everything from everyday cafes to love hotels to small markets. While Weathering with You serves up a mix of romance, fantasy and drama in its narrative, it is fiercely determined to steep even its most fanciful narrative leaps in a realistic setting — and that choice has an impact not just visually, but emotionally. Three years after Your Name became the second-highest-grossing Japanese animated release ever around the globe — a feat that places it behind only Studio Ghibli's beloved Spirited Away — Shinkai's latest film once more ponders love, disaster and whether some things are just meant to be. Like the director's last movie, it also pits star-crossed teenagers against forces outside of their control, and aims for something offbeat yet insightful in the process. Themes of identity and self-exploration bubble to the fore again, albeit without Your Name's body-swap gimmick this time around. Instead, Weathering with You ponders societal and environmental changes, placing its high school-aged protagonists in the middle of both figurative and literal storms. If Hirokazu Kore-eda's Palme d'Or winner Shoplifters swapped actors for anime, added teen relationships and otherworldly elements, and examined global warming as well as life on the Japanese margins, it might actually look like this. Introduced on a boat approaching Tokyo just as a typhoon hits (and just as he's saved from a grim watery end by a stranger), 16-year-old runaway Hodaka (Kotaro Daigo) is a fresh-faced arrival in the big city. He has nowhere to stay, no job and no way to scrape by, failing to even find work in seedy bars or to get a moment's rest behind bins in an alleyway. When he first crosses paths with the orphaned Hina (Nana Mori), she's a fast food employee who gives him a free burger. When they meet again, he saves her from an exploitative new gig. A connection springs, but it's Hodaka's new place of employment that intertwines their fate. Hired as a live-in assistant to the jaunty Suga (Shun Oguri), who runs an occult-focused magazine out of his house, the teen is charged with tracking down people who can reportedly control the weather — and, following an eventful visit to a rooftop shrine during a time of trauma, that's a skill that Hina happens to possess. Writing as well as directing, Shinkai soon tasks his central duo with starting their own business to make the most of Hina's gift. As Tokyo's prolonged spell of unseasonable rain just keeps falling day after day, she brings sunshine to folks needing a reprieve — in small spots, only for short periods and for a fee. Of course, as many a movie has stressed, with great power not only comes great responsibility, but considerable consequences. It's here that Weathering with You starts weaving its various threads together — and although they don't all shine as brightly as the rays that Hina commands, the film still offers a smart and moving contemplation of one's place in, and impact upon, the world. That's true when it's poking into life at street-level and taking the planet's changing weather systems in a drastic direction, and remains the case when it's exploring individual decisions and influential relationships, too. As he did with Your Name, Shinkai packages his tale with an upbeat pace, expressive character animation, delicate voice work and music from Japanese pop band Radwimps, with the group's songs given pride of place across the picture's many montages. Indeed, while the filmmaker helms his sixth movie (with Children Who Chase Lost Voices and The Garden of Words also among his credits), Weathering with You often feels like it's following closely in its immediate predecessor's footsteps. That's where the film's finessed use of detail not only proves pivotal, but makes an immense difference. Its gorgeous frames serve up more than just something vibrant to look at, although they easily tick that box. A strikingly lifelike, never-romanticised vision of Tokyo anchors the narrative's Shinto-inspired spiritual and supernatural leanings. More importantly, it gives weight to both Hodaka and Hina's sizeable struggles, and to the movie's musing on where massive weather events could take today's society. Embracing fantasy, yet always ensuring that it remains equally enchanting and grounded, the result is a dynamic, stunningly animated outsider story with a heart and a conscience. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouLO5iPc1yo
This year's Night Noodle Markets are getting a shake-up, with the food festival reimagined in a new At Home format that's set to bring all the usual flavour and fun straight to your house. Every night from Tuesday, June 1–Wednesday, June 30, the revamped event will see a lineup of eight Asian-inspired eateries offering their cult dishes — and some new hits — for home delivery. At a pop-up kitchen in the CBD, festival favourites including Puffle, Wonderbao and Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart will be cooking up their finest eats and sending them to your door, so you can recreate the Night Noodle Market magic at home. You'll be able to pick and mix food from multiple menus in the one order, with everything delivered via Doordash. Choose from the likes of Hoy Pinoy's glazed pork belly and chicken skewers, Mi Goreng-crumbed chicken ribs from Indomie and Kariton Sorbetes' boozy trifle. There'll be two weekly rotating banquets, too — a vegetarian feed for two named 'Broc 'n Roll' and the 'I Love You Soy Much' date-night feast. Night Noodle Markets At Home will service a range of inner suburbs — check here to see if yours is one of them. [caption id="attachment_745518" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Puffle is making an appearance as part of the Night Noodle Markets At Home.[/caption]
"And now you want to be my friend on Facebook? Are you fucking kidding me?" The gal who brought us the anthem to sing at exes attempting to Facebook stalk us is releasing her latest album (album number four) on March 14 and heading on tour. She'll be singing 'Lose my shit', 'Ghost' (featuring Megan Washington) and other new tunes and hitting notes that most of us could only ever dream of. O Vertigo is Kate Miller-Heidke's first independently released album. And how did she make it happen? Crowdfunding. That's one way of getting around it. She hit her target three days after launching the campaign, and some of the lucky donators will be getting a Happy Birthday phone call from Ms Triple-Octave Pipes. The rest of us will attempt to suppress our jealousy. This is one worth heading to. https://youtube.com/watch?v=X0FdR7dEAYU
Whether they riff on fairy bread or turn lamingtons into something cold and creamy, plenty of Gelato Messina's popular desserts transform other foods into a frosty sweet treat. Who doesn't love a culinary mashup? Not this chain and its devotees, clearly. And, since 2021, the brand has been taking that process a step further by whipping up a chocolates based on its already-inventive gelato flavours. With 2022 now here, Messina is kicking off the new year the way it always goes on — with a fresh batch of one-off specials, starting with a return to its gelato-inspired choccies. This time, there's four varieties available, all in one box. So yes, you'll get to try them all without having to choose which one you'd prefer. Love Messina's take on Iced Vovos, Coco Pops, lamingtons and fairy bread? They're all accounted for here. And they all look the part, because of course they do. They all look delicious, too. The Vovovroom bar comes filled with layers of raspberry cream, raspberry jam, desiccated coconut and sablé biscuit, then coated in raspberry chocolate. With the Just Like a Chocolate Milkshake bar, you're getting chocolate malt cream, milk chocolate-panned rice bubbles and chocolate sablé biscuit, all coated in milk chocolate. Obviously, the fairy bread bar is coated with 100s and 1000s — and includes layers of toasted breadcrumb cream and sablé biscuit coated in white chocolate as well. Or, for the lamington, you'll get chocolate cream, raspberry jam, chocolate-dusted desiccated coconut and chocolate sablé biscuit, as wrapped in dark chocolate. Boxes cost $40 each and you'll need to place your order on Monday, January 17, with times varying depending on your state. You can then pick up the choccies between Saturday, January 22–Sunday, January 23. Gelato Messina's chocolate box will be available to order from on Monday, January 17, from 9am local time in Queensland and the ACT, 9.30am in Victoria and between 10am–11am in New South Wales.
Think about the satisfaction of an epic growing out of the tiniest, most humble of origins. Whether it's the highbrow whiff of Proust's madeleine or the spunk'n'egg cocktail of human history, the romantic notion of 'from little things great things grow' is an appealing motif. In the case of Life and Times, the current mega work by New York-based theatre company Nature Theater of Oklahoma, the starting point was a phone conversation between co-artistic director Pavol Liska and company member Kristin Worrall. Worrall's brief was simple — tell her life story — and yet in the years since that first request in 2007, the verbatim results of her conversations with Liska have expanded into 15 hours worth of theatrical performance out of an anticipated 24. The art of conversation The casual language of phone conversations has formed the basis of two previous NTOK productions, No Dice (2008) and Romeo and Juliet (2009), and Liska and his partner, co-artistic director Kelly Copper, regularly chat with an impressive cohort of international artists in their podcast, OK Radio. The art of conversation it seems is, for now at least, a recurring principle of the company's process. "My education comes from my encounters with all different types of people," says Liska. "As a child you grow up and you meet this person and this person and this person, and I don't want to shut that process down. I know that I can't talk to everybody, so the people I do choose to talk to, I try to talk with them as deeply as possible. I use conversation as a springboard to unbalance myself, to derail myself. Ultimately, I could just lock myself in the closet and talk to myself, but there would be no resistance. So I use the other person to question my own ideas, to unbalance me and derail my own train of thought, and I do that to them as well." It is this deep process of conversation that provides the wealth of material for NTOK's Life and Times, of which Episodes 1–4 (out of an eventual ten) will be performed at this year's Melbourne Festival. Worrall's life story is not a chronologically linear autobiography, but rather a stream of recollection that fabricates a self-aware state of cause-and-effect as she links events through talking with Liska. The result is, for Liska, a kind of language that "does not belong in the theatre", and one that requires transformation before it is fit for an audience. Bringing theatre to the everyday "The more loose the text is, if it's a meandering conversation about something, the harder we have to work in the opposite direction [to formalise it], otherwise it's invisible," says Liska. A clear example of NTOK's approach to adapting conversational brain-dumping for the stage can be found in the earlier work Romeo and Juliet, which emerged from Liska and Copper calling friends and recording their attempts to recount the plot of Shakespeare's famous tragedy. "In order to make [these recordings] pop and to open them up, we felt like we needed to use a really formal mode of presentation, that over-the-top, cliched Shakespearean performance style," recounts Liska. As a contrast, after the show's curtain call the company then performed Shakespeare's original version of the balcony scene — in the dark, and understated, as the language was already so theatrical. “It just wouldn't be enough to present a phone conversation,” says Liska, “maybe some people who work with documentary theatre are okay with that, but ultimately I sit in rehearsal and I go to every performance and I have to find that it's opening something up for myself. It's not a purely humanistic effort — we're not just presenting the conversation and saying, hey, look at how wonderful people are — it's an aesthetic manifesto and an exploration.” Audiences and the clap Liska is genuine when he talks about the company exploring language through experimentation with aesthetics, and Life and Times already features a manic diversity in its presentation styles from episode to episode, including a couple that depart from traditional audience-actor theatre experiences altogether. "Obviously the audience doesn't talk back," says Liska, "but I want the exchange in the room to be a conversation, and my goal is never to allow the audience to forget that they are playing a role in the event. That's why it's so long — so that all these preconceived notions fall away. Something else happens." While Melbourne audiences will be able to see individual episodes separately, the ideal experience is to front up for the ten-hour marathon and in some way merge meaningfully with Liska, Copper and the gang. “If I have a conversation with you, I don't want you to clap for me at the end,” says Liska. Although there will be a curtain call at the end of the Melbourne marathon session, it's more because the actors end the fourth episode onstage and to not have applause would just feel weird. However, in between each episode, the cast can be found serving food in the foyer. “People can actually talk to them,” says Liska, “rather than do this — CLAP.” The Great Nature Theater of Oklahoma is calling you! There is poetic resonance in this idea of Liska's, given that the Nature Theater of Oklahoma first appeared in Franz Kafka's unfinished novel Amerika as a theatre company that had a place for absolutely anyone who came along. It also rings true with Liska's experience of Eastern European theatre-makers taking action for their community — not simply making art to be consumed. For Liska the important thing is to "stay open and playful and flexible. I wouldn't say that I'd never do a Chekhov play again, or a Greek tragedy — there just has to be a really strong reason to do something, I think that's what the audience finds inspiring.” For now such inspiration may dwell in a humble, late-night phone conversation, but it's anyone's guess under which pebble NTOK's next epic may be found. Life and Times is on at the Arts Centre Melbourne from October 22-26. Tickets are available from the Melbourne Festival website.
You love Beyonce. You love a spot of gender critique. Then you are also most definitely the target audience for All the Single Lad(ie)s, a work that juxtaposes the music of proudly feminist Queen Bey with surreal scenes laying bare various conundrums of gender and sexuality. From experimental Perthians The Cutting Room Floor, All the Single Lad(ie)s premiered at the Perth Fringe World Festival, where it won much adoration but also prompted the West Australian to say, "We were warned that All the Single Lad(ie)s was 'grotesque', but that was probably not enough of a warning for what we witnessed." Sounds like perfect Fringe material. This event was chosen as one of the top ten things to see at this year's Melbourne Fringe Festival. See the full list here.
Every now and then the opportunity comes your way that you just simply can't say no to. You find yourself coming up with all the excuses in the world into why you shouldn't take it, only to get slapped across the face and kicked in the shins by your mates asking how stupid you actually are. All the facts and figures point towards the only option. Pick up your nuts and go for it. The opportunity? I've been nominated as one of five international bloggers undertaking one of the latest regional tourism engagement campaigns, this time from Destination NSW. The campaign is called The Unmapped Roadtrip. The locals are asked to recommend where we should be going in NSW, who we should see and what we should do throughout the entire month of March. Someone has recommended already that we dive with sharks. Sceptic Kiwi right there. Anyway, I'll be on a bus, with 4 other strangers who will no doubt become good friends, travelling around the great state. This is all I know at this point. I leave on Thursday 1 March at 6am for Sydney and I believe we're heading along to the infamous Mardi Gras for our first weekend, with none other than Kylie Minogue headling. Stop it! I should be so lucky alright. https://youtube.com/watch?v=haoCgGzS0wY To be clear, I'm not really a sceptic Kiwi, but in light of the recent Air New Zealand campaign, I thought I would take this approach in order to lay down the challenge to all New South Welsh Men and Women, and say "come on, show us what you got". I arrive back on Sunday 1 April, where I will ultimately arrive at my conclusion of the Ten Best Things to do in New South Wales. In the meantime, you can follow me on our Twitter page (@PLAYGROUNDNZ) and for those that are that way inclined, I'll also be regularly posting via the Concrete Playground Instagram account. I promise to be entertaining and represent New Zealand responsibly. Is that possible? I guess you will have to find out.
With summer upon us and Christmas on the horizon, it's the perfect time to treat yourself and sort out your sleep. If you're tossing and turning at night it might not just be because of the state of the world, it could be your mattress and pillow as well. Luckily, premium homewares brand Ecosa wants to help you get a good night's sleep. All items on the Ecosa website are 25 percent off from Monday, November 23 to Monday, November 30. That's right, a whole week of deals in which you can save up to $350 on everything you need for a sleek, comfortable nights sleep. If you've been complaining about a crook neck, maybe head off to the physio and get yourself fancy new memory foam pillow. The ergonomic pillow boasts an adjustable height, a curved shape that suits side and back sleepers and a compressible foam that supports the natural shape of your head. Plus, two compression bags so you can pack it up and take it with you everywhere. Yep, it's one helluva pillow. If that's not enough, Ecosa also offers free shipping and returns Australia-wide, plus a 100-day free trial period. And, with everything on sale, get in early for some Christmas shopping. Ecosa is your one-stop sleep shop, with luxe bamboo sheets, silk pillowcases, wooden bed base, memory foam mattress and weighted blanket all available at the discounted price. So, you can treat yourself, your friends and your whole family to a better night's sleep. 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 were short-lived rumours that Melbourne's art and hospitality scene had reached peak saturation, but the city quickly put those to bed when its cultural ecosystem grew and flourished once again. It was a year of innovative new restaurants and they're not all from the big players — independent ventures are flourishing. As we continue to attempt to define Australian cuisine, chefs continue to push the boundaries. We've seen (and tasted) fermented calamari noodles and cod roe in choux pastry, we've climbed three levels to find some of the city's finest Japanese fare and we've tasted duck smoked by our favourite pasta experts. At Concrete Playground we encourage exploration and showcase innovation in our city every day, so we thought it fitting to reward those most talented whippersnappers pushing Melbourne to be a better, braver city. And so, these six restaurants — nominated in Concrete Playground's Best of 2017 Awards — are the Best New Restaurants of 2017.
We all like gelato, but sometimes the occasion calls for something other than everyone's favourite creamy dessert. Maybe it's too cold? Maybe you already have an ice cream headache? Maybe Gelato Messina is closed, or just not in the immediate vicinity? Enter the food mashup that had to happen, really — and a concoction straight out of every gelato and biscuit lover's dreams. In 2017, Gelato Messina Tim Tams became the Aussie sweet treat hybrid everyone wanted to taste. Now, in inevitable news, a second batch is on its way from February. Due in stores around the country from February 5, the new Gelato Messina Tim Tam range will come in three styles: choc cherry coconut, iced coffee and Turkish delight. "We've delved deep into our gelato flavour bank," said Gelato Messina co-founder Declan Lee, with the company coming up with the new selection after the popularity of last year's lineup. Making this tastebud-tempting news even better is the fact that, like all Tim Tams, they'll be sold in supermarkets everywhere. Yes, that means more Messina goodness more often. The biscuits are expected to set hungry shoppers back $3.65 per packet. Come on, you know you're going to buy more than one.
Love pasta, but never quite mastered the art of making your own gnocchi? Always wanted to whip up your own soap and shampoo bars — or maybe some soy candles? Perhaps you've dreamed of fashioning bangles, macrame key rings and clay planters yourself. Or, you could harbour a lifelong dream to get into calligraphy. Whether you're keen to get stitching and sewing, build a terrarium, or paint a portrait of your pet pooch, ClassBento's new Craft Box workshop series has a session for you. Moving its classes online, it's now live-streaming all manner of 30–60 minute creative seminars. They're taught by a range of artists and teachers across Australia — and you can either enrol in one of ClassBento's public classes, or round up some pals (virtually, of course) and book in for your own private session. Given the broad selection of classes on offer — including punch needle embroidery, making edible wafer paper roses for cakes and shibori dyeing, just to name a few — dates and prices vary. For the latest details on your session of interest, head to Class Bento's website. [caption id="attachment_766964" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] The Paint Bar[/caption] Plus, if you're wondering about all the different tools you'll need to learn to weave, make a kokedama hanging moss ball or create paper mache collage bowls, each class comes with a craft box. Once you've chosen your session, it'll be delivered to you in advance — so, when class time comes, you'll be ready to go.
What begins in Milan, then heads to Puglia and the Italian Alps, plus Naples, Sicily, Tuscany and Rome, too? An impressive getaway, and also the 2023 Italian Film Festival. What dives into history, includes love and treasures, and also soul-searching journeys, stunning threads, labyrinths and great art? Again, a dream holiday, and also Australia's annual celebration of Italy's best and brightest on the big screen. This year, the latest of the nation's Europe-set film fests — see also: this event's French, Spanish, German and Scandinavian counterparts — will arrive from Tuesday, September 19, running until Wednesday, October 25 on its seven-stop tour of the country. Yes, the festival goes on a trip itself, hitting up Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Byron Bay. 2023's IFF will open with The Last Night of Amore, which is where the fest's jaunt to Milan comes in, and one of its thrillers as well. Making its Australian premiere after a successful stint at the Italian box office, writer/director Andrea Di Stefano's (The Informer) police flick stars Pierfrancesco Favino (The Hummingbird) as it tells of an about-to-retire honest cop facing a chaotic, crime-riddled, corruption-fuelled situation. Also among the event's spotlight flicks, Kidnapped sits in the centrepiece slot, recreating the tale of the Vatican's abduction of a young Jewish boy in the 19th century, plus as the scandal that unsurprisingly followed. As part of a focus on actor, filmmaker and screenwriter Massimo Troisi, 1994's The Postman, the talent's two-time Oscar-nominated final film, will close out the fest with a 50s-set whirlwind of love and friendship. There's more where they both came from — more special-presentation and special-event movies, and more of Troisi's work. First, the features getting some extra IFF love. Starring Josh O'Connor (Mothering Sunday) and directed by Alice Rohrwacher (Futura), La Chimera heads to 80s-era Tuscany as a British archaeologist gets caught up in ring selling stolen Italian wares — while Beautiful Boy's Felix van Groeningen shares directing duties with his The Broken Circle Breakdown co-screenwriter Charlotte Vandermeersch on The Eight Mountains, which stars Luca Marinelli (Martin Eden) and Alessandro Borghi (Devils), and won 2022's Cannes Jury Prize. Also, Burning Hearts dives into crime and revenge in black and white, Carravagio's Shadow features Riccardo Scamarcio (John Wick: Chapter 2) as the eponymous painter, and documentary The Genius of Gianni Versace Alive unravels its namesake fashion designer's career. With IFF's Troisi retrospective, viewers can see three more of his films: 1981 comedy I'm Starting From Three, his debut as both a big-screen actor and director; Nothing Left to Do But Cry, where he acts opposite and travels back in time with Roberto Benigni (Pinocchio); and the cinema-adoring Splendour, also featuring the late, great Marcello Mastroianni. And, there's also Mario Martone's (Nostalgia) doco Somebody Down There Likes Me, about his exploration of Troisi's movies. Elsewhere on the bill, Nanni Moretti (Three Floors) directs himself playing a director grappling with today's streaming reality in A Brighter Tomorrow; Strangeness enlists Toni Servillo (The Hand of God) as Literature Nobel Prize-winning playwright Luigi Pirandello; The First Day of My Life also features the prolific actor, this time in the latest effort from Perfect Strangers' helmer Paolo Genovese; and both Like Sheep Among Wolves and Prophets sit among the fest's thrillers. The list goes on, including the family-friendly Supernova and The Properties of Metals, plus comedies Orlando and My Shadow Is Your Shadow. And, there's the music-focused My Soul Summer featuring Italian X Factor-winner Casadilego. ITALIAN FILM FESTIVAL 2023 DATES: Tuesday, September 19–Wednesday, October 18 — Palace Central, Palace Norton St, Palace Verona and Chauvel Cinema, Sydney Wednesday, September 20–Wednesday, October 18 — Palace Electric Cinema, Canberra Wednesday, September 20–Sunday, October 15 — Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas and Palace Nova Prospect Cinemas, Adelaide Thursday, September 21–Wednesday, October 18 — Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, The Kino, Pentridge Cinema, The Astor Theatre and Cinema Nova, Melbourne Wednesday, September 27–Wednesday, October 25 — Palace Barracks and Palace James Street, Brisbane Thursday, September 28–Wednesday, October 25 — Palace Raine Square, Luna Leederville, Luna on SX and Windsor Cinema, Perth Thursday, September 28–Wednesday, October 18 — Palace Byron Bay, Byron Bay The 2023 Italian Film Festival tours Australia in September and October. For more information and to buy tickets, visit the festival website.
Attention all aesthetes, athletes and aspiring Olympians: the annual Tan Ultra is back on August 11. The Tan is a familiar track to most Melbournites, and there will be 100km, 50km, 42km, 30km, 12km and 4km distances in 2013. Still need motivation to lace up your running shoes? It's a trailplus event, which supports Canteen and raises awareness of young people living with cancer. Take a look back at your own carefree childhood and think about how you can contribute to someone else's. The Tan Ultra is a great event to support and every participant will receive a certificate or a medal. Yay! Registrations close on August 6 and you'll probably experience a combination of rain, hail and shine while training, what with Melbourne's crazy weather. Remember, you don't have to bust any records — just keep the 'steady' in between 'ready' and 'go'.
The dazzling sights and insane aromas of Nepal are returning to the Coburg Velodrome for the third time this autumn. On Sunday, March 17, Momo Fest will celebrate Nepalese culture, Nepalese music and — perhaps most importantly — Nepalese food. The free event will feature more than 30 different varieties of momo (that is, Nepalese dumpling), with momo competitions, vegan momos, goat momos and even brunch momos. There'll also be live music across two different stages, including a bands DJS, roving performers and dancers. And, you can bring your pooch, too — the event is dog-friendly. Entry into the event won't cost you a penny, but you're encouraged to bring along a gold coin donation for the MIT Group Foundation's projects in Nepal, building schools and establishing hospitals in remote areas. Momo Fest will run from midday–10pm.
Demi Lardner's comedy, in one word? Strange. The young South Australian comic has a bucketload of awards to her name, including Best Newcomer at Sydney Comedy Festival and the So You Think You're Funny? Award at Edinburgh Fringe. The listing for her latest show, I Love Skeleton, doesn't offer too many clues as to what we can expect — other than "Demi Lardner is the primary source of nutrition for infant mammals...A good serve of Demi Lardner can make your bones strong and handsome" — but if you want to get a feel for her work check out her baffling performance during last year's Melbourne International Comedy Festival gala.
When Suicide Squad reached cinemas screens back in 2016, it garnered plenty of attention. Critics largely hated it, fans loved it and some folks tried to shut down Rotten Tomatoes because of it. Come awards season, it picked up an Oscar (for best achievement in makeup and hairstyling) as well as two Razzie 'worst' nominations. The divisive reactions just kept coming, although there were two things that almost everyone agreed on. Firstly, most people rightfully loathed Jared Leto's interpretation of the Joker. Secondly, the majority of viewers adored Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn. While the DC Extended Universe hasn't gotten a whole lot right in its attempts to emulate the Marvel Cinematic Universe (see Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League, for example), its powerbrokers did seem to pay attention to the super-sized Suicide Squad debate. In response, they're giving the world what it wants: more Robbie as everyone's favourite ex-psychiatrist turned antihero. In Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn), Harley Quinn has moved on from the clown prince of crime (much like DC has moved on from Leto, at least for now, with Joaquin Phoenix playing the character in the new standalone Joker film). In the aftermath of their breakup, she rounds up a crew filled with other fearsome Gotham ladies — including Black Canary (Jurnee Smollett-Bell), the Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and Renee Montoya (Rosie Perez) — to thwart supervillain Black Mask (Ewan McGregor). Directed by Cathy Yan (Dead Pigs), also co-starring Chris Messina and Ali Wong, Birds of Prey marks Quinn's first solo cinematic outing — and as the just-dropped first trailer shows, it's going big. When it hits theatres in February 2020, expect plenty of colour, chaos and formidable gals wreaking havoc, in what's been rumoured to be the first in a Quinn-focused trilogy. With Suicide Squad getting a sequel in 2021, confusingly titled The Suicide Squad and helmed by Guardians of the Galaxy's James Gunn, the pigtailed prankster definitely isn't leaving screens anytime soon. Check out the trailer for Birds of Prey below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SuGhiVLUrM Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) will hit cinemas in Australia and New Zealand in February 2020.
Two new platforms are about to join Australia and New Zealand's ever-growing streaming landscape: dedicated horror service Shudder and prestige film and TV outlet Sundance Now. Both are run by AMC Networks, the American company that's also responsible for producing and airing shows such as Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Mad Men and The Walking Dead. While Shudder focuses on all things suspenseful and spooky, Sundance Now — which, as you would've spotted, shares its name with a certain high-profile US film festival — focuses on award-winning movies, including documentaries and foreign-language flicks, plus drama, comedy and true crime television series. Exactly when they'll launch is yet to be announced, although both will be up and running in Australia and New Zealand by the end of this year. If you like paying for things upfront rather than monthly, you'll be happy to know that they're available in other countries, such as the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Germany and Austria, for an annual fee. Local pricing is yet to be revealed, but Shudder costs US$4.99 per month and $49.99 per year elsewhere, and Sundance Now costs US$6.99 per month and $59.99 per year. If you already have a Netflix or Stan subscription and you're wondering whether you really need to add another, perhaps the platforms' specific programming will tempt you — including new additions such as 80s-set horror Summer of 84, gory French effort Revenge and Indonesian supernatural thriller Satan's Slaves on Shudder, plus true crime docuseries Cold Blooded and Jonestown: Terror in the Jungle on Sundance Now. Shudder's classic horror game is also strong, should you like watching old scary movies, while Sundance Now boasts plenty of top international TV series. Given that some of the respective platforms' content already makes its way to our shores anyway — a selection of shows on Sundance Now air in Australia on SBS, for example — how existing rights deals might affect their Aussie and New Zealand lineup hasn't been revealed. For more information about the two platforms, and to keep an eye out for local launch dates, head to the Facebook pages for Shudder and Sundance Now. We'll keep you updated with news as it comes to hand.
Of all the gin pop-up bars with bespoke cocktails and seasonally crafted tapas pairings in all the world, you have to walk into this one. Bombay Sapphire, touchstone of the gin world, has returned once again with their pop-up bar and gastronomic experience Project Botanicals. The project is back following the sell-out success of last year's pop-up and will be held over three intoxicating weeks from June 24 to July 11. Where? Why, at a bespoke location of course. The newly established warehouse digs are being taken over by guest DJs and lush live botanical walls for the event at 64 Sutton Street, North Melbourne. Project Botanicals is a collaborative effort between some of the finest gin bars in Melbourne; Black Pearl, Eau de Vie, 1806, Union Electric and Gin Palace have all created unique (and devastatingly indulgent) cocktails to feature on the menu alongside ten food pairings. MasterChef's Gary Mehigan has constructed textured dishes that complement each cocktail. Catch a preview of five of the dishes and cocktail pairings in our feature. Project Botanicals will be open from June 24 to July 11 (Wednesday to Saturday) at 64 Sutton St, North Melbourne. Tickets are $45pp (plus booking fee), but we've got five double passes to give away to Concrete Playground subscribers for the 8pm sitting on Saturday, July 4. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter then email us at win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com with your name and address.
The monster team from Kaiju will be matching their full-flavoured ales to a British inspired five-course degustation menu. Just think, their IPAs could be washing down your beef Wellingtons while David Bowie is spinning out on the vinyl. It's enough to get you as heady as the brews. Let's dance, Kaiju. This event is part of Good Beer Week's 2015 program, running from May 16-24. For more festival picks, click here.
