No adult should actually want to head back in time to their schoolyard days, but sending your chocolate-loving tastebuds there is a different matter. Some flavours and snacks just transport you into your memories, offering up a blast from the past with every bite, and KitKat is making them its business — alongside releasing oh-so-many wild and delightful flavours in Japan, of course. (Cough drop KitKats, anyone?) In 2022, KitKat teamed up with Aussie favourite Milo on the chocolate bars of your childhood dreams. Now, it's giving that concept a second go — this time with Milkybars. Sure, you mightn't have had a Milkybar since you carried around a lunchbox in a backpack, but come April and May, you'll be able to get your fix via three options. The Milkybars are on this new range of KitKats, and literally — in a way that 90s TV ads never imagined. Leading the pack is a regular four-finger KitKat covered with Milkybar white chocolate, which'll hit 7-Elevens first from April. But, it has company. If you're keen to share — or save some for yourself for later — there's a big KitKat block also covered in white chocolate which arrives at other supermarkets and convenience stores from Wednesday, May 3. Or, there's a sharepack filled with small pieces which you'll only find at Coles from the same May date. No, you don't have to eat this collab with milk. Also, you don't have to enjoy them in a milk bar, if you can find one around the place. And no, you don't have to call yourself the Milkybar Kid, either — even if the character was a staple of Nestlé's Milkybar advertisements from the 60s onwards. To really ramp up the nostalgia, check out one of those old ads below: KitKat's Milkybar chocolates will hit store shelves from April and May, retailing at $2 per bar, $5 per share pack and $5.50 per block.
A few years ago, it would've been hard to imagine millions of people getting excited about watching someone sleeping in a box. But two weeks ago, we all did just that, as that most sculptural of humans, Tilda Swinton, set up in New York's Museum of Modern Art for some shut-eye under glass. The performative art work, titled The Maybe, had been exhibited previously in 1995, but this time it generated a huge level of interest — and Swinton's heightened celebrity wasn't the only driver. Performance art — these days often called live art, time-based art or just plain performance — is having a bit of a moment. Right now, thousands of Sydneysiders are queuing to experience 13 Rooms, an installation of, yes, 13 rooms, each containing a flight of performative fancy from one of 13 internationally renowned artists. Once in, they're swapping their personal belongings for those of others, negotiating a revolving door made of people and comprehending a live person floating on air. The art form is easy to make fun of (sometimes brilliantly, as in this Portlandia clip), but that's partly because it's fun and easy to engage with. So why have we entered the time of performance art? Here are a few of the factors behind the rise. 1. Art parties The last time performance art was at its heights was in the 1960s, when Andy Warhol's 'happenings' were a major way of doing cultural business. These were events at his famous Factory studio and one of history's main moments in which artists from all different disciplines were invited to mingle — along with people who just liked to party. There might be paintings on one wall, video projections on another, the Velvet Underground everywhere. "What's happening now is happenings — where music, dancing, movies, everything happens at once and assaults all the senses," wrote Newsweek in its Pop issue in 1966. Sound familiar? Minus some orgies and taboo breaking, it's not unlike the current mode for art parties like Jurassic Lounge, ARTBAR or Next Wave events. Performance art — based, as it usually is, on a strong central concept that can be communicated within minutes, if not seconds — is the sort of thing that can thrive in a hullabaloo. Even if it's a durational performance whose real meaning will only become known over days, you can still just engage for 30 seconds and move on to the next thing. It also helps that much like then, we're into interdisciplinarity at the moment — the Australia Council even has a separate funding body for it, the Inter-Arts office. More on that in point two. 2. A response to digital The internet is big, you guys. Photorealistic blending of oil paint is great, but how much can it tell us about our technologically precipitous times? Let's throw everything we have at that moral puzzle, is the thinking: film, video games, live art, big ideas. A blend of sculpture and theatre, performance is one of the quintessential interdisciplinary arts. There are two particular aspects of it that suit our ubiquitously digital times: interactivity and the idea of 'absolute presence'. Interacting with stuff is our modus operandi now, and we don't want to stop when we put down our devices. Although it doesn't usually put you on the spot in the dreaded 'public participation' way, performance art is essentially interactive. A performer and an observer (performer #2?) in one space cannot help but have an effect on each other. And then there's almost the converse quality: sometimes we just want to cut the digital tether and just be in one place, without distraction (like mindfulness. But arty). Seeing performance art is a way of having an experience that you know is personal, private, fleeting, immediate and real. It's kind of nice. 3. Marina Abramovic Marina Abramovic has been a presence in popular culture for a while now — she was on Sex and the City back in 2003, when Carrie dated an artist. But her 2010 MoMA show, The Artist Is Present, captured public attention as few art world things have. With the still-entertaining Tumblr Marina Abramovic Made Me Cry, she basically reached meme status through the act of sitting. Since then a documentary about the exhibition and her weird mutual obsession with that other interdisciplinary something, James Franco (she's apparently making a movie about him) have continued to endear and fascinate. (In the above clip, she has a surprise reunion with her ex-partner Ulay at The Artist Is Present — gah!) 4. Art gallery infiltration Sydney's MCA is about to launch a second season dedicated to performance art, this year dubbed Workout. Previously, the Dachshund UN held there was something of a live art coup. And the MCA is not alone; traditional galleries are increasingly finding space for the oft-puzzling art form that can't be hung on the wall or put behind glass (unless it's Tilda). Melbourne's ACCA will soon host Mikala Dwyer's performance project, and last year London's Tate Modern opened the Tanks, a cavern underground that plays host to a roster of performance as well as film, sound and, of course, happenings. As Laura Cumming wrote in her Guardian review, "For the moment, the Tanks are the coolest part of the whole Tate enterprise. They have an air of freedom about them, as if anything might happen, and that comes from the ever-changing relationship between the raw building, the art and its audience." With institutional support, this era of performance art could be a long one. Settle in.
Quentin Tarantino loves movies. He adores directing them, and has nine impressive flicks to his name spanning three decades to prove it. He's oh-so-fond of dropping references, nods and winks to other films in his films, as anyone who has ever seen even just one already knows. Sometimes, such as in Inglourious Basterds and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, he builds the business of making movies or screening them — or both — into his plots as well. He'll chat about them at length, too, and he turned his last flick into a book that spends plenty of time delving into film and TV history. So naturally he's about to do what every film lover seems to do at some point. Yes, he's making a podcast about movies. While sitting the Reservoir Dogs, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill and The Hateful Eight filmmaker behind a microphone and just letting him wax lyrical about cinema would've attracted listeners anyway, Tarantino's new podcast does have a specific angle. Famously, he was once a video store clerk — so he's diving back into those days. That's why you'll be listening to The Video Archives Podcast, which is named after the Californian shop that Tarantino worked at in the 80s. And, staying true to that concept, he'll be discussing films that he watches on the old store's actual VHS tapes. Because Tarantino is Tarantino, he acquired the joint's tapes back in 1995, and also rebuilt the Video Archives store in his home. Now, alongside his co-host Roger Avary — who also used to work at The Video Archives, where the pair met; also then became a director, making Killing Zoe and The Rules of Attraction among other movies; and collaborated on the Oscar-winning Pulp Fiction screenplay — he'll be pulling tapes off his own shelves, watching them and getting nattering. As outlined in the podcast's just-dropped trailer, the pair will chat about movies such as John Carpenter's Dark Star, Bond film Moonraker, Mexican supernatural flick Demonoid: Messenger of Death and horror-comedy Piranha — aka titles they recommended and rented out all those years back. They'll be joined by announcer Gala Avary, Roger's daughter, and also "expose listeners to movies they didn't know they'd love, give awards to their favourites and rate the quality of the video transfer", according to the podcast's announcement. The Video Archives Podcast is set to start dropping episodes on Tuesday, July 19, and will arrive via SiriusXM's Stitcher. And yes, of course Tarantino has something to say about it already. "We never imagined that 30 years after we worked together behind the counter at Video Archives, we would be together again doing the exact same thing we did back then: talking passionately about movies on VHS," Tarantino and Avary advised in a joint statement. "Watching movies was what originally brought us together and made us friends, and it's our love of movies that still brings us together today. So we surrounded ourselves with the original Video Archives collection, where we both worked before we became celebrated filmmakers, and time-traveled ourselves back to the golden age of VHS. We LOVE to discuss movies, and we want to welcome you into The Video Archives Podcast to hang with us and Archives' new employee Gala, and discover the hidden VHS gems on our shelves." For more information about The Video Archives Podcast, which'll start dropping episodes from Tuesday, July 19, head to Stitcher. Top image: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
A steakhouse and bar dedicated to New York-style Italian American eats has opened in the heart of the city. The two venues — Pretty Boy Italian Steakhouse and Floyd's Bar — now take up level one and two of Little Lonsdale Street's joined Novotel and Ibis hotels, and they aim to pay homage to the location's past as a gangster haunt and serves up cuisine inspired by Manhattan's Little Italy. Executive chef Michael Smith — who used to run the kitchens at Tonka and Mamasita — is in charge of the food here, and he's turning out fresh pasta made in-house daily, along with premium Australian steaks. Aged onsite, cuts include the O'Connor scotch fillet and Cape Grim ribeye on the bone, which is aged for four-to-five weeks. The menu also focuses on local produce and uses traditional techniques for curing meat — think green olive mortadella and wagyu bresaola — and making sugo. Other specialties include gnocchi with black truffle, porcini and portobello ragout; spicy kingfish crudo with orange, fennel and purple basil; and zucchini flowers stuffed with ricotta, goat's curd and Vino Cotto wine. The restaurant is open for dinner from 6pm and breakfast until 10.30am, but closed for lunch. St Ali coffee is available all day, too, and desserts include tiramisu, New York cheesecake and vanilla panna cotta with amaretto jelly. In Floyd's Bar on level two, there's a spritz menu that starts with the classic Aperol and extends to the Sloe Spritz (Sloe gin, brandy, peach liqueur, pineapple, passionfruit and prosecco). Multiple negronis also make the menu, including a Breakfast Negroni — made with orange marmalade, orange bitter, Four Pillars gin and Cinzano — and the Four Pillars Spiced Negroni. On the wine list, Australian drops using Italian grapes are the focus. Pretty Boy Italian Steakhouse is located on level one and Floyd's Bar is on level two of Novotel Melbourne Central, 399 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne. Both are open seven days a week — the former for breakfast and dinner, and the latter from 2–11pm.
It's no secret that high-level cycling attracts some pretty serious devotees, but when you come across the Bike Gallery just off Burke Road, you'll be made to feel at home with some fantastic coffee and a laidback attitude. Opened in November 2010, the shop is no slouch when it comes to high-end bicycles, stocking acclaimed cycling brands such as Pinarello, Cervelo and S-Works, and also clothing and accessories by the likes of Rapha, Pedla and Melbourne's own MAAP. With a dedicated cafe, workshop and regular shop rides, Bike Gallery is a place that most cycling fanatics can only dream of.
For a wintry weekend getaway filled with quality local beer, you can't match the annual out-of-town suds fest that is Bendigo on the Hop. And this beloved beer celebration returns to transform the Bendigo region into a haven of good brews, great food and live tunes, on Saturday, August 27. Jump in the car, head just under two hour's northwest of Melbourne and spend the day hopping between the area's best beer-slinging spots; each of which is hosting a different Victorian brewery for the occasion. You'll score tasting tokens and a souvenir glass, before making your way around the participating venues, where the breweries will each be showcasing two different brews to try. You'll be able to buy additional tasters and full-size pours from each location, too. The lineup is set to feature both core and limited-release beers from the likes of Bridge Road Brewers, Blackman's, Holgate, Shedshaker and Love Shack. On top of that, there'll be the chance to chat to the brewers as you wander, plus stacks of live tunes and top-notch eats to enjoy throughout the day. Tickets are $88, which includes your day's tasting tokens, a keepsake glass and entry to all participating venues — choose your starting venue when you buy your tickets online.
We're thinking he's back — and, if you're a fan of the John Wick flicks as everyone should be, we're thinking you're thrilled about your next night at the movies. John Wick: Chapter 4 sees Keanu Reeves bust out his on-screen assassin moves again in another action-packed onslaught. Beautiful in their balletic non-stop fight choreography, and also surprisingly heartwarming thanks to Reeves as the world's most committed dog owner, these films take the action genre to another level. The only thing better than watching a new John Wick movie? Seeing it a day before it hits general release over a three-course menu inspired by the picture. That's what Village Cinemas is serving up around Melbourne from 7pm on Wednesday, March 22, complete with bites with Japanese, New York and French influences — all settings in the movie. For $120, which includes your Gold Class ticket to the film, you'll start off karaage chicken with kewpie mayo and lime — washing it down with either a glass of sparkling wine or Kirin lager. Next comes a New York pastrami sandwich on rye with chips and dill pickle, plus either a glass of red or white wine or Brooklyn lager. And then for dessert, tuck into profiteroles filled with ice cream and topped with chocolate fudge sauce, all while sipping either a French martini or an espresso martini.
You've read the books, you've watched the flicks, you've sat through the theatre production — or you're planning to — and you've devoured your fair share of pop-up bars and themed experiences. But if you're eager to get your fill of wizard-related goodness any way that you can, here's another option: a series of immersive (and unofficial) wizard-inspired high tea events is coming your way, popping up in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. A Wizardry High Tea will grace all three cities with a run of multiple sessions each, held at top-secret locations. The dates vary from place to place, but Sydney's sessions will run between July and November, Melbourne's from May till November, and Brisbane's across the weekend of Friday, September 23–Sunday, September 25. So what sort of magical shenanigans are guests in for, you ask? Well, each city will host both daytime sessions that are open to all ages and night events reserved for adults only. There'll be appropriately themed cocktails and appearances from folks in costume, as well as immersive activities including potion-making classes. Of course, the high tea spread will stick to the theming as well, though exactly what's on the menu is being kept under wraps for now. As for where it's all happening, that'll be revealed to ticketholders before their sessions. Tickets to the 'daybreak' sessions are $70, with 'twilight' passes coming in at $95. A WIZARDRY HIGH TEA 2022 DATES: Sydney: Saturday, July 23–Sunday, July 24 and Saturday, November 19–Sunday, November 20. Melbourne: Friday, May 6–Sunday, May 8, Friday, July 8–Sunday, July 10 and Saturday, November 26–Sunday, November 27. Brisbane: Friday, September 23–Sunday, September 25. A Wizardry High Tea will hit Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane between May–November. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the event's website.
The underworld beckons: in 2025, hit musical Hadestown is set to take to the stage for the first time in Melbourne. Initially premiering as an indie theatre piece in 2006 in Vermont, then reaching off-Broadway in 2016 and Broadway in 2019, the show from musician and playwright Anaïs Mitchell plunges into the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice. Audiences at Her Majesty's Theatre can see the production give the ancient Greek myth a new spin from May. The Victorian capital is hosting the second Aussie stop, after Sydney, of the musical that spent 2019 and 2020 collecting accolades after accolades. From 14 Tony nominations, it won eight awards, including Best Musical and Best Original Score. At the Grammys, it took home Best Musical Theatre Album. If you're new to the show – which has been seen by more than three-million people and streamed over 350-million times — two love stories get Hadestown's narrative burning. Orpheus and Eurydice share the spotlight with King Hades and Persephone, as Mitchell accompanies their intertwined affairs with a soundtrack of New Orleans-inspired jazz and American folk. The production's Melbourne season kicks off on Thursday, May 8, 2025. Images: Hadestown Original London Cast.
Named for Shanghai's ancient narrow streets and alleys, the popular Hutong Group first set up shop in the CBD. The Prahran branch — specialising in peking duck and dumplings — has been around since the end of 2009 and is often as busy as its sibling. The addition of peking duck in its name supposedly indicates their specialty with the dish, however the boast that they are "the original one to make the Peking Duck since 1978 in China" is confusing as a statement and one that is not necessarily fulfilled. As in their other venues, Hutong Peking Duck & Dumpling offers Shanghainese food from eastern China, where dishes are traditionally small and designed for sharing. Their xiao long bao (also known as XLB or soup dumplings) command a rather large and dedicated following. Thin — but not too thin — dumpling skins expertly envelop the fragrant, soupy crab and pork filling ($13.50 for eight). Challenging to eat perhaps, but, having been advised by a dumpling maker that this is what you're after in a dumpling, juices running down the chin is not a problem you should worry about with these morsels. You can have the aforementioned peking duck in dumpling form, or their signature half or whole peking duck with steamed pancakes ($36.90-68.90). This is a build it yourself deal, with the menu instructing you to take a pancake, fill it with roasted and sliced duck meat, swathe this with special duck sauce, some cucumber strips and spring onions, roll it up and put it in your mouth before it all falls apart. It's a pretty dish and rather ceremonially presented with its flower adornment and bamboo steamer full of pancakes. As far as flavour is concerned though, there's just something missing. The gloriousness of the first bite of hot, crispy skin giving way to a melting mouthful of sweet, savoury, smoky duck fat and meat experienced with our previous peking duck endeavours was absent here. While the service was fast and efficient, there is little interest in conversation — or time for explanation or recommendation. You'll want to take a dumpling savvy friend and allow them to order up a storm. Otherwise you may feel a little overwhelmed by the vast menu and lack of navigation assistance. Disinterested service is often part of the deal in dumpling venues — as is a flask of complimentary Chinese tea, lots of dumplings for your dollar and laminated tables. But don't expect any of the latter at Hutong. A lot of care has been put into the décor here with its of mixture of wood, tiling, glass, contemporary art and ornaments. It's very much about the look. All of the surfaces are hard ones, which makes for some tricky acoustics once people start competing for their voices to be heard. If you're after a cheap and cheerful dinner — or a lot of dumpling bang for your buck — Prahran's Hutong isn't for you. But if you feel like mulling over a few xiao long bao and a glass of wine in a refined environment, this is the place to do it.
Art galleries often focus on making you think about what you are looking at, but not every exhibition makes you think about why you came to look at art in the first place. That's the idea behind The same crowd never gathers twice, a six-month exhibition program at Buxton Contemporary, a public art gallery on the Southbank Campus of the University of Melbourne. This exhibition, running until Sunday, October 13, uses moving images, sound, sculpture and performance to test the limits of the 'arena', i.e. the setting where humans gather to witness and participate in public life. Are you a passive spectator, watching from afar? Or do you prefer to take a more close-up and involved role? There's room for both in this program. [caption id="attachment_955100" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Installation view of The same crowd never gathers twice, Buxton Contemporary, the University of Melbourne, 2024. Featuring Cate Consandine, RINGER 2024. Courtesy of the artist and Sarah Scout Presents. Photography by Christian Capurro.[/caption] Said program includes the premiere of Ringer, a multi-channel film by Melbourne artist Cate Consandine; Assembled Audience, an Australian sound installation debut from NYC-based artist Taryn Simon; Body Loss, a performance piece from Sydney-based dancer and choreographer Angela Goh; and a site-specific commission for Buxton's heritage gallery by NZ-based artist Yona Lee and much more. 'The same crowd never gathers twice' is taking over Buxton Contemporary Gallery from Wednesdays to Sundays until Sunday, October 13. The exhibition is free to enter. For more information, visit the website. Top image: Installation view of 'The same crowd never gathers twice', Buxton Contemporary, the University of Melbourne, 2024. Featuring Riana Head-Toussaint, 'Animate Loading 1' 2022. Courtesy of the artist. Photography by Christian Capurro.
Vintage clothes + proceeds going to disadvantaged women = perfection. Dear Gladys is a not-for-profit shop that supports Fitted for Work, an organisation which supports women in hardship to secure employment through mentoring, interview preparation, outfitting, work experience opportunities and much more. This Friday, July 1, Dear Gladys will be expanding its online stock and holding a pop-up store at QV Women's Centre Melbourne. This is your chance to snap up some super cute vintage outfits and homewares while supporting a worthwhile cause. Not only will the online stock be available, but there's extra goodies and sale items being thrown in as well. Swooooon. The clothes are glorious (dibs on this.....and this), the homewares are adorable (seriously stop it), and the deals are so good you'd almost be losing money if you didn't go. Plus, it's supporting those who need it, so you have zero excuses not to check it out. Happy shopping!
Melbourne may not have many phwoar views, but you wouldn't know it perched on the terrace of Transit's Cocktail Lounge. The cool breeze off the Yarra below fans the view of the Arts Center precinct, sweeping down to the towers of Southgate. The crowd is usually a healthy mix of Southbank's after-work set with G&T's the refreshment of choice. Check out our full list of the ten best rooftop bars in Melbourne. Images: Giulia Morlando.
In Brisbane until October, a massive Chiharu Shiota exhibition is on display — and it's well worth the trip north. But Melburnians can check out the Japan-born, Berlin-based artist's pieces without hopping on a plane, all thanks to the Anna Schwartz Gallery. Until Saturday, July 23, the Flinders Lane venue features just-as-stunning works. Red and black are a big feature, colour-wise, as they always are in Shiota's work. String, yarn, wool — they all make an appearance as well. This showcase is smaller, more intimate, but still inescapably striking. Staring at a room filled with dangling, intertwined, labyrinthine threads always will be. Called State of Being, this exhibition spans both 2D and 3D pieces, including a red sculptural human figure that's being displayed for the first time beneath one of Shiota's wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling webs. Attendees can also peruse other sculptures, works on canvas and paper — and reclaimed love letters, diaries and photos picked by by the artist at flea markets. "I believe that we are all connected. Were you able to see the invisible, all human connection is one. Thread from each heart is expressed as words linking us. In the flea market I found old love letters and diaries and although I never met the writer, I felt connected," explains Shiota.
Next time you work up a sweat, you could be surrounded by neon lights, wandering through plenty of concrete and descending into a South Yarra basement. That's what's on offer at 1R Melbourne, the first Australian outpost of the UK-based fitness club chain, which has just opened its doors on Chapel Street. Spread across 800 square metres, the Melbourne venue is 1R's biggest site to-date out of its eight worldwide. But, like its sibling venues in London, it's hardly your usual gym experience. That's a fairly familiar claim these days — Melbourne has also just welcomed its first Barry's Bootcamp studio, from another company that endeavours to give your standard workout routine a twist — but 1R tackles its task with industrial-style decor, high-intensity classes, music curated by local DJs and free prosecco on Friday nights. If you're all about exerting some energy, 1R's sessions fall into three categories: 'reshape', 'rumble' and 'reformer'. The first provides a full-body workout, while the second puts the site's boxing bags to good use — and also focuses on speed, footwork and high-intensity interval training. In the third group, pilates meets cardio, with everything once again dialled up to get the blood pumping. Whether one of the above classes has already piqued your interest, or you're keen on trying them all, 1R does memberships, packages and pay-as-you-go sessions — so you can choose how much you're keen to commit. One-off visits cost $25 a pop, newcomers can sample three classes for $30 in total, or gym diehards can opt for 28 sessions per month for $320. Thanks to the fitout by Foolscap Studios, 1R's decor and design is as much of a drawcard as its fitness routines, starting with its calm, crisp ground-floor reception area. That's where you'll also find the smoothie and coffee bar — which serves up the aforementioned sparkling to end the working week — as well as a retail space showcasing local activewear designers. Downstairs, each of 1R's different workout concepts gets its own room. When the sessions start, you'll be doing so in moody lighting and to a beat timed to match your movements. Then, afterwards, you can head to the repair rooms, which stock Grown Alchemist products and Dyson hair dryers, and are designed to look futuristic but also relaxing. You can also call upstairs to order a post-workout drink from the bar, too. Find 1R Melbourne at Shop 10, 625 Chapel Street, South Yarra. For more information about its sessions and prices, visit the fitness club's website. Images: Simon Shiff.
The Noosa Eat & Drink Festival is making its grand return in 2024 with a fantastic epicurean program worthy of a journey to the Sunshine Coast. There aren't many events that bring leading chefs, acclaimed restaurants, live music and beach parties together, but this event offers all that and more in one of the country's most picturesque coastal destinations across four days from Thursday, May 30 to Sunday, June 2, 2024. From multi-course lunches at Noosa's buzziest hotspots to celebrity chef masterclasses and sunset drinks on the beach, read on for the various mouthwatering ways to experience Noosa Eat & Drink in 2024. Festival Village The heart of the Noosa Eat & Drink Festival is the two-day Festival Village across Saturday, June 1 and Sunday, June 2. Grab your tickets for one of the interactive chef-hosted masterclasses including a Bandita Masterclass with Jason Jones and Seabourne Distillery, and a dessert masterclass with sweets superstar Anna Polyviou. Then grab a wine, beer or cocktail from world-class purveyors as you explore the Producers Pavilion throughout the day to procure local honey, condiments, ceramics and more. This year's Main Stage program at the Festival Village will showcase cooking demos led by notable foodie personalities and celebrity cooking competitions. Once the sun goes down, a lineup of entertaining performers will keep the crowds warmed up, from guest DJs to six-piece live band Bermuda Social. You can regularly recharge with a bite from one of the pop-up restaurants and stalls, or unwind in style at the VIP Lounge. VIP ticket-holders can enjoy a complimentary welcome drink of Chandon Garden Spritz and catering by Lanai Noosa in lounge seating on a private lawn. They'll also get front-row seating by the main stage and priority entry. Book your Festival Village tickets here. Beach Events The festival will take over Noosa Main Beach with back-to-back twilight events and a Sunday brunch from Friday, May 31 to Sunday, June 2. These sprawling oceanside shindigs are so sought after that one of them sold out within a couple of days of tickets going on sale. That's right, tickets for the official opening party on the Friday evening have already been snapped up entirely. However, the Sunday Festival Sundowner — the beach party that caps off the weekend with tequila, dancing and revelry — is now on sale so get in quick. Earlier on the Sunday, The Minuty Beach Brunch will take place with a menu curated by George Calombaris and MasterChef alumni Sarah Todd, paired to complement the flavour profile of Château Minuty rosé which will be flowing on the day. Book your tickets now. On Saturday, June 1 Noosa Main Beach will be taken over as the Saturday Beach Club where groups can book tables or picnic rugs and enjoy Italian-style grazing platters by Locale and drinks for a leisurely hang to make the most of the gorgeous setting. Rally your crew and book in for a session pronto. Restaurants It wouldn't be a spotlight on Noosa's food scene without the involvement of beloved local restaurants. Refined classics Locale, Noosa Waterfront and Season will join fresh favourites Seabourne Distillery, Mariella Mexicantina, Bandita Mexican and Sum Yum Guys for special menus and exclusive events. Among the highlights: The Locale Long Italian Lunch presented by Cloudy Bay for which the terrific Hasting Street Italian eatery is collaborating with visiting chef Will Cowper of Otto Brisbane for a traditional Italian-style feast paired with Cloudy Bay wines. Tickets go on sale from March 14. Another option is going down a little further south at the Peregian Beach Hotel for the Local Love Lunch where guests will enjoy a four-course lunch starring the best local and native produce with beverages courtesy of Seabourne Distillery and wines from Alpha Box & Dice. Get tickets here on March 14. If a Mexican feast with mezcal is more your speed, get on board for the Bandita Late Lunch, where the Bandita Noosaville team will join forces with Mextrade — Australia's top distributor of tequila, mezcal and Mexican craft spirits. Tickets will be available here from March 14. And one of the waterfront institutions of Noosa Main Beach, Season Restaurant, is hosting a lavish Asian dining feast at the Season Restaurant x Shaw + Smith Lunch with wines courtesy of the renowned Mclaren Vale winery at which winemaker Adam Wadewitz will be on hand to guide you through each pairing. Bookmark this link to secure your tickets. There's also a special collaboration between Khanh Ong and Betty's Burgers, a gin tour, a local craft beer tour, and a laneway party at Noosa Junction. There will also be a floating dining experience on the luxe Catalina Noosa and even an island takeover. Tickets are strictly limited and sold separately per event, so make sure to get in quick. Purchase tickets and find out more at the Noosa Eat & Drink Festival website.
Melburnians, your winter plans now include a date with the biggest name in street art there is: Banksy. The mysterious artist won't be there. Or, if they are, no one would know anyway. More than 180 works will showcase Banksy's art, however, including infinity rooms and simulations that play with some of Banksy's most famous creations. The Art of Banksy: Without Limits made its Australian debut in Brisbane in 2023, and has also been on display in Adelaide and Sydney since. Next stop: District Docklands from Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Tickets are on sale from 7pm on Thursday, April 18. A massive collection of pieces by the art world's chief enigma — including the darkly satirical, overtly political work that has turned the stencil-loving artist into such an infamous icon — The Art of Banksy: Without Limits' hefty array of artworks include Banksy's certified art, prints on a heap of different materials, plus photos and sculptures as well. For an immersive experience, there's installations — physical and digital — alongside murals and mapping shows. One such installation: a simulation of Dismaland Bemusement Park. Another: that mirrored infinity room. Banksy's murals in Ukraine also get a nod, and one space is devoted to the MV Louise Michel, the 30-metre-long high-speed lifeboat funded by Banksy that patrols the Mediterranean to rescue refugees. Attendees will also be peering at reproductions of Banksy's works that have been made exclusively for this exhibition, recreating some of the artist's pieces using — of course — stencils. Flower Thrower, Kissing Coppers and sculpture Phone Booth make an appearance — and spray painting your own shirt is an option. Adding Melbourne to its list of stops alongside Istanbul, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Berlin, Bucharest, Cluj and Budapest, plus Riyadh, Vienna, Warsaw, Seoul, Atlanta, Miami, Charlotte, Chile, Seattle and Mexico City, The Art of Banksy: Without Limits will run daily and take between 45–60 minutes to wander through. And yes, you can snap away for the 'gram while you're there. The Art of Banksy: Without Limits will display at District Docklands, 440 Docklands Drive, Melbourne, from Wednesday, June 12, 2024, with tickets on sale now — head to the exhibition's website for more details.
If you like your wild creatures as much as you like your wild wines, then do we have a Queen's Birthday weekend adventure for you. Healesville Sanctuary and Yarra Valley Icons are teaming up to host Wine and Wildlife, a three day mini-festival that lets you hang about in the Sanctuary grounds, sampling local drops and tasty treats, while zookeepers casually pass by with slithery, scaly and soft creatures in hand. The event will take over six spaces between 11am and 4pm each day between June 9 and 11. When you're not meeting wildlife, you'll be warming up beside open fires and checking out local musical talent. Plus, you'll find a Four Pillars mulled wine and gin bar on the Koala Lawn. The Wine and Wildlife experience, including tastings, costs $41 — which is only a few dollars more than a normal general admission ticket. Booking in advance is recommended, with all proceeds going towards Zoos Victoria's efforts to save 21 local threatened species from extinction.
To commemorate the anniversary of the 2008 apology to Australia's Stolen Generations, the Healing Foundation is throwing a free concert on February 13 at Sidney Myer Music Bowl. The show will feature both Indigenous and non-Indigenous performers such as Archie Roach, Blue King Brown, Tim Rogers, Thelma Plumm and Claire Bowditch; and is to be hosted by Eddie Perfect (Offspring, The Beast) and Miranda Tapsell (The Sapphires). Everyone is welcome at this all ages gig, and the grass surrounds of the Bowl are prime location for picnic rugs and a basket full of snacks. Though the night will undoubtedly be a celebration, it also has an important message. As Archie Roach puts it, “What happened to the Stolen Generations can’t be erased or taken back and the anniversary is there to remind people it shouldn’t have happened, and we need to come together on that day to make sure it never happens again." Doors open from 5.30pm and the show will run until 10pm. For more information including a full lineup, check the website.
Cosmo's Midnight is the playful moniker for the much-adored Sydney-based production duo made up of twins Cosmo and Patrick Liney. The pair have been writing and producing feel-good jams since 2012, with their ever-evolving sound and clear natural talent seeing them only continue to rise in popularity across the globe. For the uninitiated, their songs are eclectic and yet instantly recognisable: dance tracks heavy on the instrumentals, floaty lyrics and sky-high vibes. After a 2022 chock-full of buzzing festival crowds and tours here and abroad, Cosmo's Midnight are getting ready to take to the For The Love stage on the Gold Coast (Saturday, February 25) followed by legs in Wollongong (Sunday, February 26), Melbourne (Saturday, March 4) and Perth (Sunday, March 5) — along with a stacked lineup. Joining them are legendary pop and dance icons Charli XCX and Duke Dumont, plus Budjerah, Sonny Fodera and Snakehips to name a few. Ahead of their tour with For The Love (curated by renowned party-throwers from Untitled Group), we caught up with Cosmo and Patrick to chat about their summer highs, creative influences and how they're feeling ahead of the waterside gigs. First up, how are you both? Enjoying summer? You've spent the warmer months hitting festival stages here and abroad — there must be some exhaustion in there! "Doing very well, it's nice to finally have a summer where we aren't dodging flood waters. After pretty extensive touring for the last half of 2022, it's been so good to recoup and hit the beach in between writing sessions. We're currently writing some of the best music we've ever put together and can't wait to show some of the stuff Pat and I have been working on." On and off the stage, what have been your summer highs? "Hitting Hobbiton in New Zealand was a massive highlight, we've been massive fans of LOTR and Tolkien as a whole our entire lives. It was so magical walking through the set and having the opportunity to get turpsed at The Green Dragon, the pub from The Shire. Also just touring with our band is so fun, they've been good mates of ours since before we started doing shows together and we spent one torrential day in Auckland go-karting in inch-deep water. No one else was on the track so the people running it just let us have free reign, trying to destroy each other and doing our best to recreate Tokyo Drift." Amazing! What's it like touring with your sibling? "It's really easy despite the fact we have little sibling tiffs every now and then — they're always quickly resolved and never spiral into something sinister. Luckily we both enjoy the same general things outside of music, so there's no massive vote required to figure out what the band is going to do when we're not on stage." You both exude such a positive energy when performing, how does it feel to be on stage? "We both love performing, as far as music goes it's the biggest payoff of writing and developing a live show. Seeing how people respond to your music is the truest review you can get in this age of music streaming, where it's hard to tell what people think immediately — where we more so just watch the play counts rack up." For The Love is about to kick off its run of music events to see out Australia's summer, how are you both feeling ahead of taking the stage? "Really excited, we're keen to debut some new music and renditions of old songs to up the ante even further. It's been a while since we've hit a national tour in Australia so it will be great to see some familiar spaces and faces!" How do you prep for a gig? Any non-negotiables in the lead up? "Always rehearse really close to show day. Despite all the touring we did last year, we made sure to go through everything again with the band before we hit a tour. We all got so familiar with our live set last year after touring through Europe, UK, USA that I think we got a bit cocky and thought it might be okay to skip it... luckily we decided against it. Always gotta break out the WD-40 even when nothing sounds rusty." Whose set on the For The Love lineup are you most excited to catch? "I'm so excited to see Charli perform, we've been big fans of hers throughout her career and the ebbs and flows she's had as she explores different genres and styles. Unfortunately we've never caught her live, so it's going to be a massive highlight to see her at FTL — I hope we get to meet her!" I have everything crossed for you! Do you have a favourite track to perform? "It changes as time goes on but currently we have a really fun extended version of CUDI that is just so satisfying and exciting to play. I feel like if your song doesn't give you tingles when you're performing it, you've got to work on it until it does and we've reached that sweet spot with CUDI." You've got a unique and recognisable sound — inherently upbeat with a little eighties-disco edge. What are you influenced by creatively? "You're entirely right, we do listen to a lot of disco for inspiration. Before every new musical endeavour we do a massive amount of listening to kind of figure out the palette and sound for our next project. These last two years, we've extended our listening into more recent decades like the nineties and two-thousands to see both how the natural progression of disco leaned to house and pop — and what we can take from those eras that is so timeless and exciting." I've had a good old internet dig, and gleaned that your third album is well on its way to ears — how are you feeling about it? What can we expect from Cosmo's Midnight in the near-ish future? "Solid investigative work you've done there! It's well on the way, some would even say its getting wrapped up soon! We're feeling really excited and confident for the new project, it's some of the most upbeat and fluid writing we've done to date and we're really looking forward to dripping them out so everyone can get across them all." Are you taking any time off after the For The Love run? "We're going to take some time off to plan the rest of the year music and touring-wise. We're also going to use some downtime to work on other artists' projects, maybe do some writing camps and holidaying! It's always a good time mid-year to see what is happening up in the northern hemisphere." And finally, what are your three favourite places to eat and drink in Sydney? "Shameless plugs for friends: I love visiting my mates over at Baba's Place in Marrickville for a bite to eat! Then Naija Jollof has really good West African food just up the street from me, which is really hearty and spicy. Cafe Nho in Marrickville has the coffee with the closest taste to that in Vietnam, if you've travelled there and miss the coffee I'd strongly recommend trying it out!" Cosmo's Midnight are set to take the For The Love stage on the Gold Coast (Saturday, February 25) and in Wollongong (Sunday, February 26), Melbourne (Saturday, March 4) and Perth (Sunday, March 5). For more info and to nab your tickets, head to the website.
If there's one thing summer has in abundance it's activities. Whether you're heading on a trip or staying local, there's always plenty to do, see and explore when the sun comes out to play. Yet, somehow, we still seem to always do the same old things: quick dips in the ocean and having mates round for a Sunday session in your backyard. Don't get us wrong, they're both great. But, after a pretty rough year, why not take things up a notch and make this one more memorable? We've partnered up with Bacardi to help you be a bit more unconventional over the warmer months. Here are seven ways you can make the most of the glorious weather, without resorting to the predictable. Think underwater art museums, camping with the crew, multi-venue festivals and cocktail parties in parks. TAKE A HIKE Sure, it might not be the most original summer activity on the list, but getting out into nature is rewarding at any time of year. You'll want to avoid heatstroke, so it's best to get going early or in the late arvo when the temperature starts to drop — which means you'll see some mighty fine sunrises and sunsets. So, put on your best outdoor shoes, slap on some sunscreen and ready yourself for an adventure. If you're in Sydney, you can cruise along one of the city's many coastal walks or hike in a national park, where you'll find some swimming holes to cool off in. In Brisbane, you can conquer epic mountains, check out rushing falls and look out over stunning vistas, without having to venture too far from the big smoke — check out five of the best walks here. Down south in Victoria, there's everything from out-of-town seaside strolls to epic multi-day hikes, boasting idyllic views of pristine beaches, sprawling countryside and serene vineyards, plus plenty of local wildlife. [caption id="attachment_784354" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Disney+ Drive-In[/caption] CATCH A FLICK AT A DRIVE-IN CINEMA Looking for an idea for a date or fun night out with mates? Forget the recliner, keep to social-distancing requirements and catch a movie under the stars, while keeping cool in your car at a drive-in cinema. Head to Skyline Drive-In in Blacktown, Sydney, where you can catch something on the big screen every night of the week, whether it's a new blockbuster or cult classic. If you grew up in Brissy, you've probably already been to old fave Yatala Dive-In and, with such a great rotating program, who could blame you? If you'd rather do something different, though, head to The Tivoli Drive-In on a Saturday. Melbourne locals, you're spoiled for choice with Dandenong Lunar Drive-In and Village Cinemas Coburg Drive-In and, come December, a pop-up Disney+ Drive-In. HOST A COCKTAIL PARTY IN A PARK Know a good patch of green near you? Then, take your next event to the park and impress your mates with an impromptu cocktail party — with a dress code encouraged, of course. Grab some picnic blankets, portable speakers and fun snacks, then get ready to whip up some next-level bevvies. For tropical tipples, you'll need a few bottles of Bacardi, then check out these four super-easy rum cocktails. We recommend batch-making some frozen strawberry daiquiris to keep things simple — just make sure your party guests know to arrive on time. And, because no good cocktail party is complete without snacks, head to a park with a barbecue so you can throw on some snags, too. [caption id="attachment_770817" align="alignnone" width="2000"] White Rabbit 'And Now' by Kimberley Low[/caption] STAY COOL AT A BLOCKBUSTER ART EXHIBITION While being outdoors when it's sunny is ace, sometimes you just want to kick back in air-conditioning. If that's the case, head to an indoor art exhibition where you can get your cultural kicks — and stay cool. Check out contemporary Chinese art at White Rabbit Gallery, the MCA's landmark summer exhibition Lindy Lee: Moon in a Dew Drop or head to Eveleigh arts and cultural institution Carriageworks. Or, step into Brisbane's Queensland Art Gallery (QAG) and Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA), with Unfinished Business: The Art of Gordon Bennett currently showing, or see some Bauhaus designs at the Museum of Brisbane. But, perhaps the most exciting of all is Victoria's NGV Triennial, running from December 19 till April next year. Expect to see marine monsters, giant mirrored sculptures by Jeff Koons and a multi-sensory walkway at this massive exhibition. The capital currently has a groundbreaking exhibition showing at the NGA, too, profiling prominent Aussie women artists. GO CAMPING WITH THE CREW No matter where you are in Australia, there's always a spot waiting nearby for you to set up camp. Whether your crew wants to be close to sandy shores or in a remote pocket of wilderness under luminous stars, camping is an awesome way to escape the daily grind. Because we're big fans of reconnecting with nature here at Concrete Playground, we've already sought out some of the top camping spots around the country, too. New South Wales has a bunch of free campgrounds — you can find our pick of the bunch over here, from riverside spots to mountainous getaways. If you're more into the high life, Queensland has plenty of luxe glaming stays. Otherwise, pitch your own tent in Lamington National Park or right by the beach at one of these ten spots. If you're keen to check out regional Victoria, there's beach camping galore as well as plenty of top-notch free grounds not too far from Melbourne. As most of us won't be travelling far this summer (or at least not overseas), many campgrounds are already starting to book out, so be sure to do your research before hitting the road. [caption id="attachment_792466" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mushroom Creative House[/caption] SEE A LIVE GIG If there's one thing Australia does well across the country, it's live music — even now amid a global pandemic. After months of catching live tunes from our living rooms, it's time to chair-dance at IRL gigs once again. Sydney's Enmore Theatre, Mary's Underground, The Vanguard and Oxford Art Factory all have stellar lineups over the next few months and the annual Sydney Festival never disappoints. If you're in Queensland, or can make it up to the Sunshine State over summer, there are a bunch of COVID-Safe festivals going ahead, including To The Point Festival, This That, The Tivoli's Open Season and Mountain Goat Valley Crawl. Although Melbourne is still waiting for live gigs to come back, punters can see a live comedy show at The Catfish in Fitzroy and be sure to keep an eye out for gig announcements likely to come to a heap of Melbourne live music venues. HIT THE HIGH SEAS There's nothing like diving into the ocean when the mercury is rising. But, rather than just splash about by the shore, there are plenty of other ways you can hit the highs seas instead. Think paddleboarding, kayaking and surfing Sydney seas, or swimming with turtles and scuba diving with manta rays, which are particularly grand on the Queensland coast. While you're there, you should check out the southern hemisphere's first underwater art museum, too. Melbourne may not be known for its beaches, but you can chase plenty of nearby waterfalls instead, or take a windsurfing lesson at St Kilda Beach. Do what moves you this summer with Bacardi. Once you've ticked off all the above adventures, check out Bacardi's competition, where you and 20 mates could win the chance to attend Australia's smallest music festival. Top image: Bec Taylor
No one loves choosing between two of their favourite foods. Also, everyone likes pies. They're two of the truths behind Banjo's Bakery Cafe's range of culinary hybrids, and it has just come up with another: the spaghetti bolognese pie. After introducing Australian tastebuds to the lasagne pie and the double cheeseburger pie — plus Tasmanian scallop pies, bangers and mash pies, and chicken parmigiana pies, too — the Banjo's team has launched another Frankenstein's monster of a snack. Pastry is a feature, as usual. This time, though, it encases angel hair spaghetti and meaty bolognese sauce, and is then topped with melted cheese and parsley. Yes, they're exactly what they sound like. Yes, your tastebuds now want to devour them ASAP. Yes, being unable to think of anything else until you eat one of these creations is completely understandable. The aim: to satisfy your cravings when you just can't bring yourself to pick between a pie and some spag bog, obviously. If you're a little indecisive when it comes to choosing what to eat in general, you're probably already a big fan of food mashups that find ways to combine two popular dishes — so this is an easy must-try. The spaghetti bolognese pies have joined Banjo's signature range, alongside the aforementioned other creative varieties — but only for a limited time. They'll be available from the company's stores from today, Wednesday, June 8, as well as via online click-and-collect orders and delivery services. In NSW, you'll need to head north to Glendale to get your fix. In Victoria, stores are located in Mornington, Traralgon and Mildura. Queenslanders can pick from ten spots, including Darra, Cleveland, Park Ridge and Redcliffe, while pie-loving SA residents can hit up Glenelg — and there's 27 stores in Tasmania. Banjo's Bakery Cafe's spaghetti bolognese pie is on the menu at the chain's stores nationally from Wednesday, June 8. To find your nearest location, visit the company's website.
Australian beaches are pretty damn beautiful whichever way you look at them, but the scene on Tasmania's northwest coast at the moment pretty much takes the cake. Not content with just being the only place in Australia to catch a glimpse of Aurora Australis, Tassie has had another inexplicably luminescent natural phenomena appear — but this time, in the sea. An appearance of bioluminescent phytoplankton (otherwise known as sea sparkle, which is much more fun to say) have caused parts of the ocean to light up in an otherworldly bright blue on parts of the coast. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the sparkle was spotted near the town of Penguin over the weekend, while this shot was taken by Leanne Marshall a few beaches west at Rocky Cape. A post shared by Leanne Marshall (@leannemarshall) on Mar 13, 2017 at 12:35pm PDT Apparently the phytoplankton turn bright blue when threatened, so it's hard to say how long they'll stick around for. If you can't go algae-chasing on the Tassie coastline, here's some photos of the phenomena. A post shared by Brett Chatwin (@brett.chatwin) on Mar 12, 2017 at 9:50pm PDT A post shared by Sarah Kubank (@sarah_the_explorer_76) on Mar 13, 2017 at 6:34am PDT Via The Sydney Morning Herald. Image: Leanne Marshall via Instagram.
Stuart Ringholt wants to get you naked. He wants a lot of people to get naked, and then he wants them all to dance. In one of the most ambitious and downright exciting artistic happenings of recent years, Stuart Ringholt is transforming MUMA into a nude, daytime disco called 'Club Purple', and we couldn't be more excited about it. If you've seen anything by this artist, you'll know this is kind of his thing. He has cheeky, naked portraits on exhibition in Melbourne Now, he led an art show at MCA with mandatory nudity for all gallery-goers, and now he wants Melbournites to get into it, drop trou, and boogie. Needless to say, this will be a pretty unique experience. There will be solo dance days, mixed events, 'ladies days'; and to accompany the disco, there will be an enormous temporarily askew clock to disorient you further while in your fleshy dancing haze. For those that wish to intellectualise the work, Ringholt claims it comes from "try[ing] to understand how fear manifests in the body and how it debilitates you”. For those that are at one with the idea — enjoy. This kind of fun usually winds you up with an awkward run-in with the cops and a fine. Image: Stuart Ringholt, Anger Workshops 2008/12, courtesy the artist and Milani Gallery. Photo: Nick McGrath.
Hurdle Creek is typically known for its gins, such as the Powder Monkey Navy Strength Gin. It's a distinctive rye character crafted from triticale, malt and barley, and loaded with locally sourced botanicals, including pink peppercorns, cinnamon and eucalyptus leaves picked from the ribbon gum outside their Milawa-based stillhouse. But we'd predict most bougie dinner party guests would welcome its local take on the iconic French aniseed aperitif, pastis. Traditionally made with the root of liquorice, star anise and oh-la-la botanicals, Hurdle Creek has adapted the classic spirit starting with its own grain spirit, and have given it a true Australian character with the addition of native aniseed myrtle and mintbush. The cellar door is open on the Milawa property every day except Wednesday.
Australians have a heap of weird traditions. We call footwear thongs despite the rest of the world telling us that's inappropriate, we think cricket is thrilling, and we have developed an inexplicable taste for the wad of black salty tar that is Vegemite. But the more damaging traditions are the those that lay under the surface. When American artists Amy Stein and Stacy Arezou Mehrfar discovered what 'tall poppy syndrome' was they were shocked. The very idea of it, the singling out and destroying of the talented and strong, goes against so much of what America and many other cultures teach from birth — if you work hard and try to succeed in life, nothing can hold you back. Setting off across NSW in 2010, the pair of photographers sought to explore the phenomenon from its source — the people themselves. Their resulting series of work on display at Edmund Pearce this month offers an incredibly striking and composed look at this troubling subject. From the young to the old, these stark photographs express a strange medley of repressed and refined emotion that gets across the complexity well. After all, tall poppy syndrome isn't just about singling out the strong, it's also about the trusted underdog.
This is one of those ideas so infuriatingly superb that it invokes anxiety at the fact you're not already signed up for it. Of course this exists! Of course! Just like the invention of the cronut or the fact that you can now order liquor to your house, the fact that there is now a class to teach us to dance like Beyonce exists means that we are moving one step closer to utopia. A utopia fairly ruled by our divine and ever-present Queen Bey. Just off Sydney Road in Broken Mirror Studios, this class is led three times a week by dance teacher Lizzy Cahalan, a lady with a completely bootylicious background having performed in Bey-themed shows at Melbourne, Adelaide and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals. With full routines being taught in six-week blocks, you will have the opportunity to not only successfully learn all the 'Single Ladies' routine to the envy of all your friends, but also get some bonus exercise. Alternatively, for those that followed the madness that was Beyonce in Brunswick, this may be a little way to let her legacy live on. Classes run on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays weekly at 8pm, 7.30pm and 8.30pm respectively. For more details, check the group's Facebook page or contact Liz via email.
All fascinating true-crime tales double as mysteries, exploring murky cases, following thorny leads, and asking questions that don't have easy or obvious answers. With ten-episode Australian podcast Blood Territory, listeners are in for all of the above, with the new Audible release not only delving into the death of 24-year-old Northern Territory man Jimmy O'Connell, but also chronicling his parents' fight to prove his convicted killer's innocence. Back in 2006, it was a murder that sparked many a headline, as you'd expect when a body is found mummified, mutilated and missing clothes in a dry creek bed in the Northern Territory — all, apparently, because of a fight over an esky. After O'Connell's best friend and fishing companion, 33-year-old Philip Mather, was tried and convicted for his death, the case sparked even more attention. Mather insists that his confession was coerced, and that he only plead guilty to avoid spending his whole life in jail. Astonishingly, O'Connell's mother and father believe him. An examination of a grisly murder that also ponders potential police corruption, as well as possible judicial prejudice against the NT's Indigenous peoples (Mather is himself an Indigenous Australian), Blood Territory isn't short on twists — or material for journalist Mark Whittaker to draw upon. Following the O'Connells' desperate quest for the truth, his podcast chats with family members, witnesses and professionals involved in the original case, sifts through new evidence, and dives deep into the legal complications surrounding Mather's conviction. It also proposes its own theory about Jimmy's death. "The Top End of Australia is notorious for hiding people, and secrets that don't want to be found — it's the perfect backdrop for such a cryptic story," explains Whittaker. "As the sequences of events and unusual characters are revealed, it becomes clear this is one of the strangest Aussie mysteries I've ever encountered." Blood Territory marks Audible's second Aussie true-crime podcast, after exploring the tale of a ghost-hunting Sydney security guard in Ghosthunter. Blood Territory is available now on Audible — for free until November 20 with an Audible account.
Comedians are among the most difficult people in the world to make laugh, which is why we always pay close attention to the winner of the Melbourne Comedy Festival's peer award. This year, the hotly contested Piece of Wood went to Anne Edmonds for her show You Know What I'm Like, which she's bringing back to the stage for a six-night-only run at Melbourne Fringe. Sharp observational humour and killer impressions are Edmonds' speciality, along with an occasional poignant anecdote pulled from her personal life. A very easy show to recommend. This event is one of our top ten picks of the Melbourne Fringe Festival. Check out the other nine here.
Calvin Seibert just took a ten-day holiday in Hawaii. The good news for us is that we now have a fresh selection of jaw-droppingly amazing sand sculptures to marvel over (we last marvelled here). The New York-based artist is gaining a bit of a following thanks to his striking geometric designs, and the staggering level of patience it takes to construct them. Sometimes his creations resemble castles, but more often they cross over into a more imaginative realm and we see strangely shaped mountains, mysterious walled cities and futuristic landscapes. "Building 'sandcastles' is a bit of a test," says Seibert. "Nature will always be against you and time is always running out ... I rarely start with a plan, just a vague notion of trying to do something different each time. "When they are successful they don't feel contained or finished. They become organic machines that might grow and expand. I am always adding just one more bit and if time allowed I wouldn't stop." Like what you see? You can follow Seibert's work at his Flickr account.
It's been less than a month since Sydney hospitality giant Merivale revealed plans to open its first-ever venue outside of New South Wales, snapping up Flinders Lane site Tomasetti House. But the next phase of the group's expansion into Victoria has already begun, with CEO Justin Hemmes announcing Merivale has also purchased the historic Lorne Hotel on Wednesday, May 19. The well-known Great Ocean Road pub has almost 150 years under its belt, with previous owners John and Paul Upham at the helm for the past 11 years. While Merivale will receive the keys in the coming months, Hemmes has indicated The Lorne Hotel will operate as normal over summer. So, if the group is planning one of its legendary makeovers, it sounds like it won't be happening until at least next autumn. "The Lorne Hotel is an iconic venue in a truly spectacular location," Hemmes said in a statement. "We feel honoured to continue [John and Paul's] legacy and help usher the pub into the next phase of its incredible 145-year history". Merivale currently operates more than 60 venues across Sydney, including popular restaurants Totti's and Mr. Wong, pub stalwarts The Beresford and Vic on the Park, and expansive bars Ivy and Coogee Pavilion. The group's growth has been especially noticeable in recent years, with high-profile purchases including the likes of The Duke of Gloucester Hotel, Hotel Centennial and most recently, Norton's Irish Pub. [caption id="attachment_705112" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Merivale's Coogee Pavilion[/caption] Last year, Merivale copped criticism locally after announcing plans to expand its Merivale at Home delivery service to Melbourne, right at the height of the city's winter lockdown. One week later, after attracting disapproving responses from many of Melbourne's local and struggling hospitality businesses, it put the plans on hold — conceding the plans were "an oversight" in a statement to Concrete Playground. Merivale will take over The Lorne Hotel at 176 Mountjoy Parade, Great Ocean Road, Lorne later this year. Further plans are yet to be announced, but you can keep an eye out for future details at the Merivale website.
One of the surprise hits of 2009 was Ruben Fleischer's offbeat black comedy Zombieland, a violent yet somehow delightful (and even romantic) parody of zombie horror movies that perhaps even bettered Shaun of the Dead. Zombieland brought together a diverse cast, a sparkling script, and gorgeous cinematography to create something quite unlike anything else seen that year. Four years later, those same ingredients seemed in place for Fleischer's next film Gangster Squad, particularly in the casting, where a covetable blend of old (Sean Penn, Nick Nolte, and Josh Brolin) and new (Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling, Anthony Mackie, Robert Patrick, Michael Pena, and Giovanni Ribisi) created a credits reel almost as long as The Hobbit. And yet, to paraphrase Jeff Goldblum in Jurassic Park, the principle of tiny variations can vastly affect an outcome. Goldblum's character called it 'chaos theory', and while Gangster Squad might not quite be chaotic, its imperfections are far more noticeable than those on Laura Dern's wrist. Moreover, and not unlike the mindless flesh-eating hordes in Zombieland, this film tends to feed off a collection of other, better, films in a desperate attempt to survive. It tells the 'based-on-a-true-story' story of '40s LA gangster Mickey Cohen (Penn), a boxer-turned-kingpin whose ambitions saw him aspiring to control all gambling operations across the entire US west coast. Cohen's power and influence rendered him altogether UNTOUCHABLE, with police and politicians either too corrupt or too afraid to stand against him. One good cop, however — war hero Sgt John O'Mara (Brolin) — refuses to lie down and watch his city fall into darkness. Deciding that Cohen represents a CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER, he LA CONFIDENTIALLY forms a secret team of vigilante law enforcers and together those MAGNIFICENT SEVEN to take on Cohen at his own game. In short, Gangster Squad apes several other great stories to tell its story of how the only honest cop in LA turns into a vicious vigilante murderer and is then lauded for it. With shootings, bashings, and blowings-up on both sides of the war, the moral compass swings around so fiercely in this film it's surprising it doesn’t wholly take off. Visually, it's a delight to behold, with elaborate set pieces, sumptuous period costumes, and grand architecture giving it a glamorous sheen; however, it can't gloss over the hammy script and one-dimensional characters whose journey only goes from A to A.
Learning the ins and outs of wine isn't for everyone — some people simply don't care to know their syrah from their shiraz. But if you're the kind of drinker willing to decode numerous bottles' terroir, vintage and tasting notes to arrive at the perfect choice, Circl's Wine Masterclass Series might be tailor-made for you. On the back of big news — the venue just won the Wine List of the Year award for 2025 — this fortnightly series takes place on Friday evenings from 4–5.30pm, with each event on the schedule exploring different grapes, regions and producers. Plus, guests can expect sharp pairings with artisanal cheeses. Guided by Xavier Vigier, two-time winner of the Judy Hirst Award, awarded to the sommelier who curated Australia's Wine List of the Year, attendees will be learning from one of the best in the business. So, before long, you'll know how to identify standout wines and maybe even impress your pals (just don't overdo it). The next session in the series kicks off on Friday, October 17, with the magical white wines of the Loire Valley. Then, on Friday, October 31, you'll discover ever-diverse chardonnays from all over the globe. Looking ahead, the series wraps with unexpected yet outstanding burgundy varieties on Friday, December 5.
If riding home late at night in the cool air is your fave, you're in luck come the Saturday, January 28. It's the chosen date for the Melbourne's Ride the Night event, where you can pedal away merrily until the cows come home (or at least you get tired). Choose a 42-kilometre or 64-kilometre route around Melbourne's landmarks, deck yourself out in heaps of bright and loud-coloured things, and off you go — it's a long ride, but there'll be a sunrise brekky waiting for you at the end. You'll be riding to raise money and awareness for Youth Support & Advocacy Service, helping make futures of disadvantaged young people better. The ride officially starts at 11pm, but the Event Village in Albert Park will be buzzing with music and colour from 9pm. Not up to the ride that far past your bedtime? You can volunteer, too, and be in amongst the action without even working up a sweat. Image: Luca Campioni.
After boasting Australia's only run of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, then playing host to a natural history exhibition based on the Fantastic Beasts films, Victoria is set to enchant wannabe wizards and witches again — and muggles, too — with a new Harry Potter-themed experience in 2024. This time, you'll be walking around an illuminated woodland filled with nods to the Wizarding World, with Harry Potter — A Forbidden Forest Experience finally heading Down Under. Accio joy, clearly. Think: Lightscape, which is returning to Melbourne in 2024, but all about the world that's sprung up around the Boy Who Lived on the page, screen and stage. So, with Harry Potter — A Forbidden Forest Experience taking over The Briars, Mount Martha from Saturday, April 6, 2024, attendees will enjoy a nighttime stroll around a 230-hectare property an hour out of Melbourne. Entering the Forbidden Forest is clearly the big attraction, as lit up with dazzling lights, all while also spying creatures from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts movies. A hippogriff will feature, as will nifflers and unicorns, plus the chance to pose for a photo mid-wand duel — and to summon up a patronus spell as well. Accordingly, you won't just be surrounded by all things Wizarding World after dark in a forest; you'll be joining in like every aspiring Hogwarts student has always wanted to. Sounds and special effects will also help bring the experience to life, as aided by award-winning behind-the-scenes folks. Expect to spend around 90 minutes being immersed in the all-ages event — plus however long you need at the onsite shop afterwards buying merchandise. That's part of the village at the end of the trail, where you'll also be able to grab a bite and something to drink. Wands crossed for butterbeer, obviously. Harry Potter — A Forbidden Forest Experience comes to Australia after seasons in the UK, Europe and the US, and a current stint in Singapore, with Warner Bros behind it just like the films and upcoming Harry Potter TV series. Also helping conjure up the fun is events platform Fever, adding to a recent Australian slate spanning Banksy and NBA exhibitions, plus the Unko Museum: The Kawaii Poop Experience. Harry Potter — A Forbidden Forest Experience will take over The Briars, Mount Martha, from Saturday, April 6, 2024, with tickets on sale from 9am AEDT on Wednesday, December 202, 2023 and the waitlist open now. Head to the event's website for further details.
Search for Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, The Jungle Book, Mulan and Cinderella on Disney+ and you don't just get one option. Thanks to the Mouse House's devotion to remaking its animated hits in live-action, viewers can watch versions brought to life with actors, too. Come April, search for Peter Pan and the same will apply, courtesy of the Jude Law (Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore)-starring Peter Pan & Wendy. The first of Disney's do-overs for 2023, arriving before The Little Mermaid, this one is heading straight to streaming. There, it'll join Lady and the Tramp and Pinocchio, too, with both also bypassed cinemas. And, this take on JM Barrie's classic hails from a filmmaker with experience bringing animated fare to live with flesh and blood, with David Lowery also behind the gorgeous Pete's Dragon. Based on the just-dropped trailer, Peter Pan & Wendy's storyline goes heavy on the latter, as she meets that other titular figure, tiny fairy Tinker Bell and the Lost Boys. With her brothers, she's spirited off to Neverland, where Captain Hook awaits — listing off her full name like she's in trouble, in fact. Cast-wise, Ever Anderson — daughter of actor Milla Jovovich and filmmaker Paul WS Anderson, and also seen in the pair's Resident Evil: The Final Chapter — plays Wendy, while Alexander Molony (The Reluctant Landlord) gets flying as Peter. They're joined by Yara Shahidi (Grown-ish) as Tinker Bell, Joshua Pickering (A Discovery of Witches) and Jacobi Jupe (Cupid) as John and Michael Darling, and everyone from Molly Parker (Pieces of a Woman) and Alan Tudyk (Strange World) to Jim Gaffigan (Hotel Transylvania 4: Transformania). With Lowery coming to Peter Pan & Wendy fresh from The Green Knight, the first trailer for the former shares the latter's love of lush greenery — and memorable villains. Indeed, don't go expecting a dashing, debonair version of Law as Captain Hook. Lowery's version of Peter Pan aims to take cues from both the novel and Disney's animated adaptation. "We wanted to invigorate our retelling with emotional sincerity, an open heart, and a grand yearning for adventure. Hundreds of incredible artists spent many years bringing this film to the screen; I'm excited for audiences to see their work, to go on this ride, and to rediscover an evergreen tale from a new perspective," the filmmaker said. Check out the Peter Pan & Wendy trailer below: Peter Pan & Wendy will be available to stream via Disney+ from Friday, April 28.
Curating the perfect wine list is an oft-underrated skill. How do you balance pleasing the crowd while also pushing the envelope? Creating something far-reaching while still carving out an identity? Well, a group of Australian venues have been recognised at the international Star Wine List of the Year awards for 2023 for doing just that, with a Sydney bar taking out the top prize in one of the categories. The Star Wine List of the Year International Final took place in Stockholm in June, with Redfern's La Salut becoming the first-ever Australian venue to ever claim gold in one of its fields. The Cleveland Street haunt that specialises in Spanish and Catalonian wines, with an onus on minimal-intervention drops, was nominated for two different awards: Best Medium-Sized Wine List and the Special Jury Prize. While London's Michelin-starred Trivet took out the top mid-sized list gong for venues offering 200–600 wines, La Salut was crowned the champion in the Special Jury Prize. [caption id="attachment_860300" align="alignnone" width="1920"] La Salut, Dexter Kim[/caption] This award recognises "a venue that has done something extra with their wine list, such as the direction, the style or the value". La Salut beat out finalists from across Europe, North America, Africa and Asia to claim the prize, being praised for the exemplary spotlight it places on Spain's best vino and the storytelling it achieves through its curation. "It often feels like Spanish wine is largely ignored by wine-focused venues in Australia, which is a huge shame considering that Spain is currently producing some of the most exhilarating wine in the world," says La Salut co-owner Matt Swieboda. "I suppose our philosophy might be different to others in that we want to really push guests to try wine styles that they may never have had the opportunity to have tried." [caption id="attachment_658147" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Embla[/caption] Elsewhere, other Australian spots received nominations but didn't claim gold. Melbourne's Embla was nominated for the Best Short List for bars with under 200 wines, Bentley Restaurant & Wine Bar was nominated in the Grand Prix for bars with over 600 wines, and Perth's Rockpool Bar & Grill received nominations for both the best wine list with Austrian wines and Best Sparkling Wine List. A couple of regional favourites also picked up nominations, with Margaret River's Setter's Tavern recognised in the sustainability-focused category and Mornington Peninsula's Ten Minutes by Tractor earning some love in the Best By the Glass List category. You can start making plans for a few wine-fuelled nights around Australia — and abroad ‚ by browsing the full list of nominees and winners. [caption id="attachment_637744" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bentley Restaurant + Bar[/caption] For more information about the Star Wine List of the Year, head to the awards' website. Top image: Nikki To.
Just because you weren't alive when Woodstock left its mark on history, doesn't mean you can't help pay homage with a good old-fashioned revival. Which is exactly what's going down this Saturday, November 26, when Moorabbin's Morris Moor dives back in time for Woodstock Relived. A one-off music party fuelled by 60s and 70s rock classics, it'll have you partying out the day to hits from Jimi Hendrix, Joe Cocker, The Who, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Janis Joplin and more. Reviving these retro tunes on stage will be a cast of local talent, including some legit legends — Frankie J Holden, Wilbur Wilde (of Jo Jo Zep and Ole '55 fame), The Two Man Band's Mike Brady ('Up there Cazaly'), Wendy Stapleton (Wendy & The Rocketts), Nikki Nicholls (Original John Farnham Band and Kylie Minogue backing vocalist) and Mick Pealing (Stars), just to name a few. Alongside the tunes, you'll catch live art installations, food trucks and pop-up bars, plus an array of market stalls to make your inner hippie swoon.
If you think it's too soon to start planning your New Year's Eve, you are sorely mistaken. There is no time to waste because nothing is as hot a commodity as a good view for NYE. You might think you have another week or two, but time is running out. So no more hesitation, no more delay. We have some inspiration for you right here, 13 venues, each with its own New Year's Eve celebration, each on sale now. Have a read to find the one for you, then get booking quicksmart. RIVERSIDE — YARRA BOTANICAL, HOPSCOTCH, THE WHARF HOTEL Should you fancy an evening by the river to close out 2023, there are three great picks by the Yarra we can recommend. First up is Yarra Botanical, the two-story eatery that quite literally rests upon the river. Book here and you'll get to enjoy four hours of bottomless bevs, canapés, charcuterie boards, live music and front-row seats to the fireworks. Tickets from $295pp. Tucked just behind Yarra Botanical is your second riverside option. Urban beer bar Hopscotch is also in a prime position to enjoy the explosive celebrations up close. Here you'll find a circus-themed soirée, with roaming canapés and charcuterie boards alongside bottomless drinks available from 8pm to midnight alongside roaming entertainment and live DJs. Tickets from $170pp. Our final pick for reveries by the river is The Wharf Hotel. Here, you'll find a truly epic riverside New Year's Eve shindig. Enjoy free-flowing drinks alongside the Yarra with a three-hour beverage package, plus roaming bites to snack on throughout the night. Feast your ears with live DJs from 9:30–12:30pm while being in a top spot to watch the fireworks. Tickets from $135pp. CBD — GARDEN STATE, STATE OF GRACE, MORRIS HOUSE, IMPERIAL BOURKE ST Away from the water but deeper into the heart of Melbourne lies institutions like Garden State — which is hosting a retro-themed party in the Rose Garden to close out 2023. With your outfit set to decades past, you'll enjoy bottomless bevvies, 90s-inspired canapés, live music and plenty of room to dance. Plus, once the fireworks have finished, you'll get VIP re-entry to boogie well into the new year. Tickets from $115pp. Head west on Flinders Street to the corner of King Street, and you'll find the State of Grace, a buzzing venue with a street-level restaurant, cellar bar and a rooftop space. The rooftop is where you'll find the celebrations. And what good is a NYE spent inside a cellar? With your ticket to festivities here, you'll enjoy a four-hour beverage package, roaming spritzes, complimentary canapés and roaming entertainment. Tickets from $170pp. Tracking northeast to Exhibition Street, you'll find Morris House, a multi-storey space that has reserved its leafy green rooftop for the evening. Doors open at 7pm, then DJs will bring the tunes all night, and free-flowing drinks will pour from 8pm. With the retractable roof, you can dance beneath the stars as the celebrations unfold. Your ticket includes four hours of selected drinks, plus a Bellini Hour from 8–9pm. Tickets from $180pp. Across the block at the Imperial Hotel is a similar arrangement. This is pub central, after all. The beloved Bourke Street pub is inviting guests to the rooftop for a front-row seat to the fireworks, a four hour drinks package of beer, wine and spirits with roaming canapés from 8pm–midnight. Listen to live music from 7–10pm, then a DJ from 10pm–1am to party like it's 2024. Tickets from $179pp. ST KILDA — HOTEL ESPLANADE AND VILLAGE BELLE Hopping across down into the bay, there are two great picks for NYE found within St Kilda that are perfect if you'd prefer to steer clear of the CBD crowds. First is Hotel Esplanade, where every corner is transforming into a haven of gourmet delights, craft cocktails, and endless entertainment. From 8:30pm to midnight, enjoy roaming snacks and unlimited drinks with the Main Bar Bites & Bevs package. Keep the night going with a stellar lineup of DJs and hit the dance floor. Tickets from $150pp. Across St Kilda is The Village Belle, the old-school bistro packed with 2020s charm. Here you can indulge in a three-hour beverage package that promises to keep your glass full and spirits high, complimented with delectable roaming canapés. And well suited to the spirit of the occasion, DJs and live entertainment will keep you partying all the way to 2024. Tickets from $89pp. RICHMOND AND SOUTH YARRA — THE SMITH, HARLOW, TERMINUS HOTEL, FARGO AND CO Heading east back into the heart of town, twin riverside suburbs Richmond and South Yarra have quite the list of offerings. The Smith on High Street might be hosting the sassiest event of the day with performances by the fabulous drag performers Jawbreakers & friends. The shows will happen in two-hour sessions at 2pm and 5pm. Enjoy a 2023-themed cocktail on arrival, then indulge in bottomless bevs and tasty tapas into 2024. Tickets from $85pp. Across the Yarra on Church Street is The Harlow, where you'll find four levels of fun for NYE. You'll get access to four hours of endless bevs and roaming canapés on the rooftop. The uninterrupted city vistas make this a top viewing spot for the fireworks. And of course, the DJ is spinning decks until 3am in the basement. Tickets from $179pp. Up on the north end of Richmond is a spot that's as classic as Melbourne pubs come. The Terminus has been serving the festive season since 1866. That celebratory spirit hasn't lost its shine over the years. Dive into 2024 with a three-hour drinks package and delicious roaming canapés from 8–11pm, sing along to live music from 7pm–10pm, and dance your way into the new year with the resident DJ. Tickets from $89pp. Finally, in the heart of Richmond, Fargo and Co, a cocktail bar with a crime caper aesthetic and killer attitude to match its namesake film (and television series). The offering to end your year with a bang stands tall at Fargo with a four-hour drinks package available from 7–11pm, giving you the chance to sip your way through the standout offering of tap beer, wines and cocktails. Tickets from $89pp. For more information on venues and events with Australian Venue Co, visit the website.
When Walt Disney Animation Studios had Dwayne Johnson sing a ridiculously catchy tune that was penned by Lin-Manuel Miranda in 2016's Moana, it gave itself the perfect response to all the love thrown the film's way. Adore the movie? You're welcome. Can't stop crooning its songs? You're also welcome. Excited about the just-confirmed sequel that'll hit cinemas in November 2024? What can the Mouse House say except... yes, "you're welcome" again. Disney has announced that Moana 2 is on its way to the big screen before the year is out, on November 27 in the US. Down Under, films usually release on Thursdays, which would make it November 28; however, the exact local date is yet to be revealed. It'll be another animated musical, and both Moana and Maui will return — and there's also a first-look announcement video. [caption id="attachment_940041" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Moana[/caption] Story-wise, the feature will see its namesake take to the seas of Oceania to answer the call from her ancestors, which is where new characters will come in. Who they'll be and who'll be voicing them hasn't yet been revealed. Neither has whether Johnson (Fast X) will be back as Maui and Auli'i Cravalho (Mean Girls) as Moana. In the director's chair: Dave Derrick Jr, who was a storyboard artist on the original Moana. And on music duties this time are singer-songwriter Abigail Barlow, composer Emily Bear (Dog Gone), Opetaia Foa'i (returning from the first film) and Mark Mancina (also back from the initial movie). Whether Miranda is involved again also hasn't been mentioned. [caption id="attachment_940042" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Moana 2[/caption] "This was originally developed as a series, but we were impressed with what we saw and we knew it deserved a theatrical release," said Disney CEO Bob Iger, announcing the sequel in the company's first-quarter earnings call for 2024. "The original Moana film from 2016 recently crossed one-billion hours streamed on Disney+ and was the most streamed movie of 2023 on any platform in the U.S." Moana 2 is one of two new Moana movies in the works, with a live-action adaptation of the first Moana also on the way — and with Johnson starring. "Along with the live-action version of the original film that's currently in development, Moana remains an incredibly popular franchise," continued Iger. Check out the announcement video for Moana 2 below: Moana 2 will release in Australian and New Zealand cinemas in November 2024 — we'll update you with an exact date when one is announced. Read our interview with Jemaine Clement about Moana.
When the pandemic started impacting events in 2020, Dark Mofo was one of the first to scrap its plans for the year. So, when festival organisers said that they'd be forging ahead in 2021, it was welcome news for fans of its weird, wonderful, distinctive and attention-grabbing programs. There's a difference between pushing boundaries and completely misjudging them, though, as the Tasmanian fest has discovered in the past few days. Accordingly, after revealing its first artwork for the 2021 festival, Dark Mofo has now announced that the piece will no longer go ahead. The backlash to the event's first program reveal for this year hasn't been surprising. In a piece called Union Flag, Spanish artist Santiago Sierra was planning to immerse a British flag in the blood of First Nations peoples from territories colonised by the British Empire. Yes, that sounds ill-thought-out, as well as immensely tone deaf and traumatic — as did the accompanying request for First Nations peoples to donate their blood for the artwork. Dark Mofo announced its plans for Union Flag on Saturday, March 20, and received calls for it to be cancelled the same day. Again, that should surprise absolutely no one. Nor should the fact that those calls have only grown since the weekend — as you'd expect given that the project asks First Nations peoples to literally spill their blood, and for a piece of art that purports to comment on a painful colonial history of being forced to do just that. Today, Tuesday, March 23, Dark Mofo Creative Director Leigh Carmichael has announced that Union Flag has been scrapped, and also issued an apology. "We've heard the community's response to Santiago Sierra's Union Flag. In the end the hurt that will be caused by proceeding isn't worth it," Carmichael said. "We made a mistake, and take full responsibility. The project will be cancelled. We apologise to all First Nations people for any hurt that has been caused. We are sorry." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dark Mofo (@dark_mofo) The news comes just a day after Carmichael issued a statement supporting the piece. Yesterday, on Monday, March 22, Carmichael said that Dark Mofo had "been overwhelmed with responses to Santiago Sierra's Union Flag by Indigenous and non-Indigenous people from around the world, but that "self-expression is a fundamental human right, and we support artists to make and present work regardless of their nationality or cultural background." Dark Mofo will announce its 2021 program — without Union Flag — in April. Dark Mofo will run from Wednesday, June 16–Tuesday, June 22 in Hobart, Tasmania. For further details, head to the festival's website. Top image: Lusy Productions.
For a country that's girt by sea, as our anthem reminds us, Australia has become rather obsessed with waves of the man-made kind of late. The Sunshine Coast was supposed to be getting a wave pool that hasn't yet come to fruition, work on URBNSURF's 2.1-hectare space near the Melbourne airport has already begun — targeting an April 2019 opening — and a 3.2-hectare Sydney spot was approved late last year. Indeed, 'who needs real beaches?' seems to be the current line of thinking. If a regional Queensland surf park that's set to become operational this year proves a success, we could all living out at Point Break dreams at more places — called Surf Lakes, it's actually a prototype facility designed to give a new kind of technology a whirl. Located near Yeppoon on the Capricorn Coast, the park is built around a central mechanism that sends waves from the middle of the 200-metre by 150-metre lake towards the edge. With the water lapping over eight distinctive breaks, it'll produce 2400 surfable waves per hour. [caption id="attachment_676066" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Surf Lakes[/caption] Surf Lakes also has some high-profile support, with Aussie surfers Mark Occhilupo and Barton Lynch the park's two ambassadors. More than just lending his encouragement to the project, Occy is lending a hand on an attraction called Occy's Peak, The Morning Bulletin reports. It's a barrelling break that'll range up to 2.4 metres high — the park record — and span across 60 metres. The full-scale demo site is currently to slated to be up-and-running around August, according to Stab Magazine; however don't go booking a trip to central Queensland just yet. At present, it'll be run as a test facility for media and folks who might be interested in licensing the idea for other parks, although there are plans to open to the public at a later date.
Summer has to come to an end at some point, and for The Queen Victoria Market's ever-popular summer series — The Night Market — that end is just a few short weeks away. The food, the tunes and the nighttime revelry will all wrap up on Wednesday, April 11, rounding out a huge 21-week season for the warm weather favourite. And, having welcomed over half a million visitors since kicking off on November 15, The Night Market is going extra large for these final two iterations. Taking the stage on Wednesday, April 4, will be family-friendly crew The Mik Maks, and seven-piece brass outfit Horns of Leroy, while on April 11, you'll enjoy sounds from both Babaganoush and singer-songwriter Cooper Lower. A swag of free activities and a dedicated play zone will keep the school holiday set entertained on both dates, while the food offering will bring back some of the season's best-loved culinary gems. Expect to chow down on the likes of Southside Smokers' pulled pork, soft-shell crab rolls from Pickett's Deli & Rotisserie, and steamed buns from Wonderbao. As always, the bar will be repping an all-Aussie lineup, pouring treats from Coopers, Melbourne Gin Company, Pimm's, Running Bull Sangria and Coldstream Apple Cider. For more information about the market's last two weeks, head to the website.
We've said it before. We'll say it again. There really is an international day for every single food, and this time around, it's International Falafel Day. In the time-honoured cuisine-celebrating manner, that means a free lunch. While the actual occasion doesn't hit until Tuesday, June 15, Just Falafs is bringing it forward by a day to pair their giveaway with the public holiday. Drop by North Fitzroy between 2-5pm on Monday, June 14 and all your dreams will come true — as long as said dream involves chowing down on a classic pita stuffed with falafel (of course), plus pickled cabbage, Israeli salad, hummus and tahini. Yes, that makes it not only a free lunch but a free vegan lunch. Yes, your wallet and your stomach will thank you for heading along.
Two friends meet for a beer. Which are you? The one who pulls out a chair, sits down and starts checking who's been 'totes amazed' by your status update since you jumped off the train ten minutes ago, or the other, looking around, feigning fascination with the pub decor, muttering passive aggressive incantations under your breath? Whether you're the connectivity addict or the addict's tortured friend, you'll be pleased to know that a remedy is nigh. It involves drinking more beer and sitting close together. Brazilian beer company Polar has invented a beer holder that not only keeps your beverage cold but also blocks any 3G or 4G signal within a 1.5m radius. 'Share a Polar Beer, not a link', suggests the ad campaign. The product of collaboration with communications agency Paim, the device employs a scaled-down version of the technology that prevents prisoners from connecting via cell from their, ah, cells. Previous attempts to discourage mobile phone obsession have included an oddly shaped beer glass (also a Brazilian invention) and the designation of 'cell phone areas' in Los Angeles restaurant Bucato. The big question is: will the Polar 'cell phone nullifier' actually boost conversation, or merely cause people to stand further apart (at least 1.5m from their beers, that is)? Via PSFK.
When Shane Delia's celebrated CBD restaurant Maha reopens this week, it'll also show off an impressive new addition. Namely, a snacks and cocktails-focused outdoor pop-up known as Layla. Yep — the stretch of Bond Street outside Maha will temporarily close to traffic and be reimagined as a COVID-safe hospitality space, playing host to this playful marquee site that's set to become Melbourne's new Mediterranean and Middle Eastern summertime haunt of choice. Slated to make its grand debut as Maha reopens next Wednesday, November 11, Layla is here to cure a few of those travel cravings, serving up the kind of vibe you'd be revelling in on some far-flung overseas holiday. Expect a different focus and energy here to the classic Maha offering, or even to siblings Maha Bar and Maha East, beginning with a fixed-price Middle Eastern brunch, served yum cha-style from 9.30am on weekends. Doing the rounds will be small plates starring the likes of kataifi-wrapped haloumi with fennel seed honey, or perhaps an assembly of fried eggs, burnt sesame butter, challah and sujuk. Eats are matched with a rotation of fresh juices and luxe picks from an impressive champagne menu, plus four-legged pals are allowed to join the brunch festivities. Outside of brunch, the revelry continues with mezze showcasing that trademark Delia flair, along with upbeat tunes and Middle Eastern-inspired cocktails. Think, hibiscus spritz, a sumac-infused pink negroni, and the za'atar margarita blending Alipus mezcal with grapefruit, lime and spices. You'll be able to book a table at Layla via Maha's website (online from Wednesday, November 4), although there'll be some space set aside for walk-ins as well. Find Layla at Bond Street, Melbourne from Wednesday, November 11. It'll open from 5pm Wednesday–Friday and from 9.30am Saturday–Sunday.
Pull out that old Discman, break out the cargo pants and start practising your smoothest early noughties dance moves — the pop tour of your wildest teenage dreams is hitting Aussie shores this summer and it's got more stars than a TV Hits sticker collection. Next January and February, the inaugural So Pop festival is set to deliver a huge serve of nostalgia to stadiums across the country, pulling together an extra juicy lineup of old-school icons, headlined by none other than Aqua and Vengaboys. Stages in Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane and Auckland will be transported back to the 90s and 00s for one glorious night each, playing host to the pop-drenched soundtrack of your youth. Heading up the show are Danish group Aqua, who promise to leave tunes like 'Barbie Girl' and 'Doctor Jones' firmly wedged in your head, and from the Netherlands, Vengaboys, with party-starting smash hits like 'Boom Boom Boom Boom!!' and 'We Like to Party! (The Vengabus)' — and none other than Lou Bega with, of course, 'Mambo No.5'. Relive more of the glory days with sounds from Irish legends B*Witched — who gifted us with the likes of 'C'est La Vie' and 'Rollercoaster' — UK heroes Blue, of 'All Rise' fame. Italy's Eiffel 65, dance pop act Mr. President ('Coco Jambo'), the USA's Outhere Brothers and The Netherlands' 2 Unlimited ('No Limit', 'Get Ready') round out the throwback showdown. SO POP 2019 DATES Perth — HBF Stadium on Wednesday, January 30 Sydney — Qudos Bank Arena on Friday, February 1 Melbourne — Melbourne Arena on Saturday, February 2 Adelaide — Entertainment Centre on Sunday, February 3 Auckland — Spark Arena on Tuesday, February 5 Brisbane — Eaton Hills Outdoor on Saturday, February 9 So Pop pre-sale tickets are up for grabs — on the concert's very retro website — for 24 hours from 11am AEDT this Thursday, October 11, while the rest are on sale from 10am AEDT on Tuesday, October 16.
Lygon Street's Heartattack and Vine has become a firm favourite of Carlton's ever-evolving food scene, equally adored for its lunchtime sangas as for its cicchetti (Venetian-style snacks) and Euro-accented drinks offering. And now, the team behind it have unleashed another certain winner on this inner-city locale, today unveiling new venue Sunhands. Gracing the nearby corner site once home to IMA Project Cafe, this one takes the form of a cafe, wine bar, deli and grocer all rolled into one. It builds on the strong sense of support for local businesses and suppliers that co-owners Ishella Butler, Matt Roberts and Nathen Doyle honed while steering Heartattack and Vine through the pandemic. To that end, Sunhands promises to be not just a laidback local's haunt, but a staunch champion of local goodness; from the ingredients showcased through the menu to the products on the shelves. You'll even find commissioned artwork by Poppy Templeton (aka Duck Ragu) and many pieces by Melbourne ceramicist Kelly Grenhalgh featured throughout the venue. Currently open from 10am–3pm with plans to expand into a dinner service later in autumn, it's a relaxed spot for brunching, snacking and everything in between. A fuss-free fitout by Toby Hudson Carpentry and Sans-Arc works to keep the spotlight on the produce, while creating a light-filled space you'll be more than happy to settle into. Head Chef Pat Drapac (Bar Romantica, Old Palm Liquor) is behind the produce-driven menu, peppered with offerings from the likes of Day's Walk Farm, Chasney Estate, sustainable seafood supplier Two Hands and the ferment pioneers at Hobart's Rough Rice. It's an oft-changing lineup that might see you starting your day with a dippy egg and sourdough soldiers, or the loaded breakfast platter, while lunchbreakers will be lured by the daily range of salads and deli-style sandwiches. There's a rotating curation of cheese and charcuterie; drink-friendly snacks such as pickled octopus, baked ricotta and oysters with a mignonette; and an Afternoon Plate piled high with house pickles, ferments, bread and various goodies from the deli fridge. Of course, the same local love spreads throughout the drinks list, with a changing selection of vino to hero drops from the likes of Mise en Place, Patrick Sullivan, Jumping Juice and Doyle's own label, Upside Wine. Sit in over a glass or two, or grab a bottle for home. There's also coffee courtesy of Wide Open Road, a handful of considered non-alcoholic sips and a tidy crop of classic cocktails rounding out the fun. Find Sunhands at 169 Elgin Street, Carlton. It's currently open from 10am–3pm Tuesday to Sunday, with hours to be extended shortly. Images: Nicholas Wilkins
