This North Melbourne corner shop is quickly becoming a community hub of love for Australian makers, crafters, artists and artisans. Boasting handcrafted contemporary ceramics and textiles that will put your IKEA homewares the shame, Guild of Objects sells one-offs perfect for the homemaker — or just for anyone who likes nice things.
This is a very dangerous place to be on payday. Housing all your favourite designers like A.P.C., Vanishing Elephant, and ACNE, Incu is every discerning shopper's dream. Founded in Sydney in 2002, this curatorial store has treated guys and girls to new designer goodies for over a decade now all across Australia. Focussing on quality craftsmanship and fashionable statement pieces, it's no surprise that Incu goods don't come cheap. Window shop at the QV on your way home from the city or commit to fully treating yourself. There's no better place to do it. Incu Women is also located at Chadstone Shopping Centre, and a second men's store is located at 274 Flinders Lane, Melbourne.
While the south-side is more famous for seafood and ice cream, Mr Wolf has carved a niche as one of St Kilda's most authentic pizzerias. It serves up an intensely Italian line-up — come with your Italian dictionary fired up because you might need to translate a few things. And while you're at it, bring your appetite because the pizza bases are chewy and handmade and the toppings are thick. We recommend the Signore Lupo ($24.5) for something a little different, with mozzarella, tomato, roast cauliflower, sausage, pancetta, and chilli. Or the No. 9 for a classic — buffalo mozzarella, prosciutto, and rocket ($24). Once your belly is full of pizza, take a stroll along the shore and, if you squint, you might be able to pretend you're in Italy and the palm trees are rows and rows of beautiful, tall Italians bringing you a nice glass of red. Ahhh. It's good to pretend.
Central to everything food-related on this side of town, the South Melbourne Market is a paradise for food lovers of every kind. Bambu is one of its headline gastronomic venues, offering visitors a fusion of modern Australian with hawker-style Asian cuisine that's oh-so-good. Soak up the lively market atmosphere as you dine inside the restaurant's stylish space or head out to explore the variety of shops on offer nearby with your food in-hand. From wok-tossed stir fry to gao baos and dumplings, no visit to South Melbourne Market is complete without a visit to Bambu.
When Sydney Film Festival looks backwards in 2025, as it does every year with a featured retrospective, it'll be following in its own footsteps several times over. The work of Iranian director Jafar Panahi has graced its screens again and again over the fest's history. More than a decade ago, in 2011, a retrospective just like this also highlighted some of his movies alongside those of his compatriot Mohammad Rasoulof, in fact. Long may this trend continue; a filmmaker this bold and daring should always be in the spotlight. Panahi's body work speaks for itself — and also speaks to his ongoing fight to chronicle contemporary Iran and the reality of life for its people, a battle that he's kept waging despite repercussions regularly coming his way. By his nation's ruling regime, the writer/director has been banned from filmmaking, and also from travel. He's been arrested and imprisoned as well. Indeed, it isn't just his movies that send a message of resistance; his quest to make them, to retain the right to do so, and the pursuit of freedom that goes with that ceaseless campaign, is also a statement. SFF's 2025 Jafar Panahi: Cinema in Rebellion program is celebrating its namesake with a program of all ten of his features, all screening across the festival's dates of Wednesday, June 4–Sunday, June 15. From 1995's The White Balloon to 2022's No Bears, audiences can witness Panahi's progression as a filmmaker — and how his exploration of existence in Iran, especially for women and others suffering oppression and censorship (including himself), has evolved and solidified over almost three decades. With every one of his titles, SFF attendees will also watching be award-winning pictures. The White Balloon gave Panahi his first Cannes accolade, for best first film. Then 1997's The Mirror took home the Locarno International Film Festival's Golden Leopard, 2000's The Circle nabbed Venice's Golden Lion, 2003's Crimson Gold earned an Un Certain Regard prize back at Cannes and 2006's Offside collected a Silver Bear in Berlin. More Cannes love came for 2011's This Is Not a Film (the Carrosse d'Or at the Director's Fortnight) and 2018's Three Faces (for best screenplay), plus more Berlin recognition for 2013's Closed Curtain (another Silver Bear) and 2015's Tehran Taxi (the Golden Bear), and more again from Venice for No Bears (a Special Jury Prize).
In need of some new procrastination material? Well, you're in luck. Google image search 'Banff' and spend a few minutes (or half an hour) taking in the gorgeous pictures of snow-capped mountains, aqua water and towering pines. It's impossible to not daydream about holidaying somewhere far-flung and exciting while ogling these picture-perfect views, as we're sure you'll agree. Thankfully, you'll have the opportunity to slip into this magical world without ever leaving Melbourne. The River City's Brisbane Powerhouse is hosting Banff Mountain Film Festival's 2025 tour — the event's latest stopover, after beginning back in 1976. Its stunning cinematography attracts film buffs and adventurers alike, making the festival mighty popular across the world today. [caption id="attachment_997959" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pierre Vieira[/caption] Each year, hundreds of films enter the competition with the cream of the crop chosen to entertain and amaze festivalgoers. Some of the featured flicks battled it out in categories including Best Film on Mountain Sport, Best Film on Mountain Environment, Best Film on Mountain Culture, Best Film on Exploration and Adventure, and more. Check out seven of them in May around the Victorian capital, in a package featuring films about snowboarding on Antarctic icebergs, wingsuit flying in the Swiss Alps, ultra-marathon running, mountain biking in the Dolomites and more. The fest heads to The Astor Theatre across Tuesday, May 13–Wednesday, May 14, then to The Capitol on Friday, May 16. Top images: Christoph Thoresen Ofa / Tamara Susa / Jerome Tanon.
What does $5 buy you in Melbourne these days? Let's see: two-and-a-half oysters at Stokehouse Pasta and Bar in St Kilda, one-and-a-half (ish) tacos at Il Mercanto Centrale in the CBD or a pot at Public House in Richmond. For one divine, budget-friendly day, your five golden coins could go much further. To celebrate National Fish and Chip Day on Friday, June 6, Hunky Dory is peddling a fish finger sandwich — and it's just a fiver. It's not just your traditional sanga. Two thick slices of soft white bread come crowded with a fillet of hand-crumbed, golden-fried Australian Rockling, plus chunky tartare, crispy lettuce and sprightly pickles. On the side, you'll find a pile of piping hot crinkle-cut chips. The catch? It's available only on National Fish and Chip Day — and once the sangas are sold out, no amount of begging, borrowing or stealing will get you one. So, arrive early. You'll find it at all of Hunky Dory's venues, except the one at Marvel Stadium.
A must for all craft-beer aficionados, this year's Great Victorian Beer SpecTAPular takes place at the Local Taphouse. Held on Saturday 14 November, the festival is your chance to get stuck into 40 different beers from breweries across Victoria, including the likes of Hawkers, Boatrocker and Mornington Peninsula. The kitchen will round out the offerings, serving up an exclusive menu built around local produce. Entry is by gold coin donation, with all proceeds heading straight to charity.
Back in 1988, a heap of Australian galleries banded together to get everyone looking at and supporting art in Melbourne. That event wasn't just a once-off. More than three decades later, Melbourne Art Fair is marking its 17th edition in 2024, this time with 60-plus galleries and Indigenous art centres taking part. At Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from Thursday, February 22–Sunday, February 25, the numbers will paint their own picture. More than 100 artists are involved. Over 50 events are on the program. The lineup includes six performances, two major new commissions and four large-scale installations as well. And, it'll all fill 7500 square metres of space — which means art everywhere you look for four summer days. Focusing on the theme "ketherba/together", 2024's Melbourne Art Fair bill has been overseen by a group of female curators that includes Tamsin Hong, Exhibitions Curator at London's Serpentine Galleries; Shelley McSpedden from Melbourne's Australian Centre for Contemporary Art; and Performance Review director Anador Walsh — and will welcome its first commissioned contemporary dance work, with Lucy Guerin Inc's one-hour performance installation NEWRETRO among the event's must-sees. Also created specifically for the event is SOMOS (Standing On My Own Shoulders), a life-sized bronze sculpture by Julie Rrap, which features a cast of the artist's own body. After its debut, it'll make the Art Gallery of Western Australia its home. Expect to spend time exploring pieces by Melbourne-born artist Howard Arkley in another of Melbourne Art Fair's big 2024 highlights. The exhibition will hone in on rare works hailing from the 70s–90s, complete with Arkley's last painting — which the public hasn't ever seen before. Other talents featured include South-African multimedia artist Buhlebezwe Siwani, plus poet and artist Jazz Money — and galleries involved span not only a wealth of Melbourne sites such as Anna Schwartz Gallery, Void_Melbourne, Station, Sutton Gallery, Neon Parc and Gertrude, but also Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Hobart, Adelaide, Lisbon, and Singapore institutions. And if you're looking for more reasons to head along, an array of video works, honeycomb-esque paper sculptures, Melbourne performance artists pushing boundaries and a series of talks should do the trick — plus a pop-up whisky bar. Melbourne Art Fair 2022 images: Marie-Luise Skibbe.
Experience the past, present and future of the circus, up close and personal. Taking over the Royal Botanic Gardens as part of this year's Melbourne Festival, Lexicon is the latest acclaimed work from No Fit State, the UK's leading large-scale contemporary circus company. From clowning and juggling to gasp-inducing, death-defying trapeze work, the show promises to both embrace and subvert 250 years of big top tradition.
At the age of 29, Daniel Tobias was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Now 40, he's made a show that translates his experiences of illness and recovery into songs and stories through the lens of his identity as a conflicted "atheist Jew". The Orchid and the Crow is impressive for its ability to find light-hearted humour in unpalatable material. But for a show that has perhaps more in common with the conventions of narrative stand-up comedy rather than solo theatre performance, it seems unwilling to commit fully to the strengths of either form. The connection Tobias draws between circumcision and the surgery is a neat conceit but not substantial enough to sustain over an hour's worth of story. And the later introduction of the figure of a messianic, contradictory Lance Armstrong during his recovery isn't quite enough to get it over the line. It's probably unfair to lump Tobias with this criticism but something grates about the ubiquitous American musical theatre style voice deployed in half the show's songs. There might be rich veins of comic possibility waiting to be mined from this kind of parody of the form, but Australian performers' insistence on this style (rather than their natural accent) always carries a vestigial whiff of cultural cringe. On the other hand, the effect actually heightens the emotional impact of the combined song and animation that embodies the show’s title sequence, which arrives with all the more devastating and surprising force as a result. With an opening-night audience packed with enthusiastic well-wishers, it's hard to gauge the effectiveness of the performer's humour. However, the personality of the aggressively endearing Tobias is enough to paper over most of the show's cracks of uncertainty, and some potent moments — especially the static that replaces a doctor's voice as Tobias is given his diagnosis — are terribly affecting. Image by Andrew Wuttke.
1 Man Debate with Simon Taylor is the exploration of one man's mid-twenties crisis. Besieged by the big questions in life – what is a “real” man? Are men becoming redundant? Will he ever meet a girl who genuinely likes Harry Potter? – Taylor is fiercely engaged in a debate with himself about what maketh the modern man. He presents both sides of the masculine and feminine argument, lightening the material with some dodgy dance moves while revealing the mismatched nuances of his personality. A psychology graduate from Melbourne, Taylor is a slick performer with skilful, self-deprecating humour and a sly wit that mesmerises his audience (he also moonlights as a magician). The boy/man really comes into his element when he takes on the role of adjudicator between his two internal squabbling selves — it's here that Taylor warms to his chosen material, expertly exploring gender stereotypes, double standards and zany Gen Y thinking. He’s the reigning Victorian Poetry Slam Champion, which lends his words a lyrical flair and perhaps contributes to the limitation of lewd material to two rudie-parts jokes in one hour. Now is a good time to see Taylor on stage before his ticket prices triple (he started writing jokes for Jay Leno last year, no comments on his masculinity here). See him question the merits of chivalry versus sensitivity, then go home and ponder it over a gourmet grilled cheese sandwich. Image via hotticketpr
One of the best things about 2021 so far? The return of live sport to sports-mad Melbourne. And we're in for a treat this weekend, when one of the fiercest rivalries in Australian sport makes its return to AAMI Park. The 34th Melbourne Derby, between Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory, is set to add another chapter to the enthralling battle between the two biggest A-League teams in the state. The match on Saturday, April 17 follows hot on the heels of last month's game between the sides which saw the Victory suffer the worst defeat in its storied history, at the hands of its cross-town rivals. With the winner set to claim bragging rights until the next instalment — the current win tally stands at 13 per team — no doubt the Victory will have extra incentive to avenge their loss. Meanwhile, City will be looking for its third consecutive Derby win and to continue its strong season thus far. With everything to play for this Saturday night at AAMI Park, there's no doubt it'll be the hottest ticket in town. Head here to buy your tickets.
UPDATE, 3 JUNE 2021: Heathcote on Show has been cancelled due to the current COVID-19 restrictions in Victoria. For more information, head to the Heathcote on Show Facebook page. With its idyllic location on the fringes of the Great Dividing Ranges (and just 90 minutes' drive from Melbourne), the central Victorian town of Heathcote is fast becoming one of Australia's most loved wine regions. This Queen's Birthday long weekend (Saturday, June 12–Monday, June 14), the town is showcasing the very best of its world-class produce at Heathcote on Show, a three-day event that includes cellar door tastings, excellent food, live music, masterclasses and more. Heathcote's artisan winemakers, chefs, brewers and musicians are putting on over 30 events over the long weekend, so there'll be plenty to eat, drink and do. Highlights include wine tastings, woodfired pizza and live music at the award-winning Condie Estate; live music, vertical wine tastings and cheesemaking workshops at Sanguine Estate; and an on-site, three-course dinner with six wine pairings at Tellurian Wines. Closer to town, Heathcote Wine Hub, which stocks Australia's largest collection of wine from the region, will feature live music all day on Saturday and Sunday, as well as southern-style barbecue, vegan treats and grazing plates, which you can enjoy in front of the open fireplace or in the expansive openair wine garden. There will also be frequent shuttle buses between major stops, meaning you don't have to worry about getting around — or having one too many. For more information and to plan your trip, head to the official Heathcote on Show website.
If your pup has its own Instagram account and you refer to yourself as a 'fur parent', we're fairly certain you'll want in on this competition. Local pet food brand Ivory Coat wants to put your dog on the small screen. The luxe brand is currently running a Dog Search, which will see 20 lucky pooches featured in Ivory Coat's next TV commercial. All you have to do is enter your details here, along with a recent, personality-filled photo of your fur baby. All breeds and cross-breeds of all ages are welcome. Along with being featured on TV, your pup could win a portrait by a professional photographer, a pet profile on the Ivory Coat website and social media pages, and a one-year supply of Ivory Coat food. There is one catch, though: your dog needs to be an Ivory Coat consumer. So, if they've never tried the stuff, it's time to grab a bag online or head to one of your local stockists. If your pooch is a little hesitant about changing brands, Ivory Coat is made in Australia using locally sourced meat with no additives or fillers. Plus superfoods, fruits, veggies and wholegrains are mixed in or there's a grain-free option if you prefer. The pet food brand also has options for dogs (and cats) of every breed, size and age. The 20 lucky winners (humans and pooches) will need to be in Sydney for shoot between July 17–19. While NSW's borders are currently open to all domestic tourists, we suggest checking the Australian Government website before booking flights or locking in a road trip. Your doggo should be well-behaved and friendly, but it doesn't need to be dog show-level trained — understanding simple commands like 'sit' and 'stay' will do. If this sounds like your pup, now's the time to make 'em a star. Head to the Ivory Coat website for entry guidelines and T&Cs. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Round two of perhaps one of the most talked about event from last year's Good Food Month, the Night Noodle Markets is back — bigger and better than before. This year it's moved across the river to Birrarung Marr, but the old favourites from last year will return, including Chin Chin, Mamak, Izakaya Den and Longrain. There will be over 50 food stalls and trucks in action from November 14-30, so you're winning on that front. DJs will be spinning tunes during those balmy spring nights, and for post-dinner treats, get yourself some Messina or a coffee from the St Ali pop-up. This year you should give one of the new kids on the block a go: Kong, Charlie Dumpling and Mr Miyagi are just a few of the exciting new additions. This was chosen as one of our top ten events of Good Food Month. See the full list here.
McDonald's has been serving up Big Macs and soft serve cones to Australians for 50 years, and it's been celebrating that fact throughout 2021. That's why the chain gave our tastebuds a Birthday McFlurry earlier this year, among other specials — and now the fast food giant is one-upping that limited-edition treat with a new Caramilk McFlurry. Macca's is no stranger to one-off McFlurry flavours, of course. So, you've probably tried both the good (apple pie) and the bad (bubblegum) varieties before. But Caramilk dessert mashups always take things up a few notches. That's why you've probably already sipped Caramilk cocktails, and eaten the Caramilk dessert jaffles and Caramilk Krispy Kreme doughnuts — and why you've now mentally scheduled in a date with a Caramilk McFlurry (or several). Obviously, this new sweet treat's ingredients are immensely straightforward. We all know what a McFlurry is. We all know what Caramilk is. Combine the two and voila! When it comes to this cult-favourite caramelised white chocolate, there's absolutely no need to overcomplicate things. You'll find the Caramilk McFlurry on the menu at all Australian Macca's outlets from Wednesday, October 13 — and for delivery, too. That said, it really is a limited-edition special, so it's only on offer while stocks last. McDonald's Caramilk McFlurries are available in stores Australia-wide from Wednesday, October 13 while stocks last.
Co-presented with Midsumma Festival 2018, QueerTech.io requires you to take a leap into the queer digital realm with an art project that presents a range of tech-based artworks from queer-identifying artists around the world. Able to be viewed online entirely from the comfort of your home, QueerTech.io will also be taking over RMIT's Spare Room and Lightscapes galleries for a physical presentation of works that push the boundaries of digital art and creative practice. As the boundaries of digital art only expand and become increasingly obscure, QueerTech.io responds to the growing interest in the practice of "queer tech" seeing local and international artists come together — both digitally and physically — with provocative artworks and online projects to enact conversation in the budding medium. QueerTech.io is on now at RMIT's Spare Room and Lightscapes galleries until Thursday, March 22 – or you can check it all out online at QueerTech.io. Image: Xanthe Dobbie, Fuchsia Rose (2001), from the series 21st Century Greatest Hits Screensaver Pack.
2019 is flying by, and if the year's hectic pace is getting you down, here is some small solace for you. Melbourne's Boho Luxe Market (their words, not ours) is determined to make you remember those times when you could dip your toes in the ocean without a care in the world, and take you to a sun-dappled place of dreamcatchers and flower crowns. This year, it'll be split into two sections: one getting into the regular boho spirit, and another that'll only sell 100-percent vegan products. For the 2019 festive run, you can treat yourself to a day of Christmas wanderlust — including of the plant-based kind — in the Atrium and at Deakin Edge at Federation Square from 10am on Sunday, December 1. As well as the usual array of fashion, jewellery, art and design items, there'll be heaps of stalls featuring ethical activewear and accessories, skincare products and lots of yummy things that will keep you sustained over a vegan Christmas. Expect snacks, live music and festive vibes.
Set amongst every food critic's favourite street is The Meatball and Wine Bar, Flinders Lane's artisan meatball venue. The past year has seen almost half a million beef, pork, chicken, fish and vegetable balls leave swilling with wine in the stomachs of satisfied customers, and now that a second venue has made its debut in Swan Street (and a third is in the works), it's time we showed thanks to the one-year-old. That's right, CityBalls has kept the ball rolling all year and is set to blow out the candles in celebration. Thursday, 26 September, will see 135 Flinders Lane in party-mode. $40 will get you through the doors from 6pm for a welcome drink and meal. But if you're lucky, you might just nab one of two double passes we're giving away. To be in the running to win tickets for you and a friend, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already) and email hello@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address. But the ball's in your court.
Written, directed by and starring Dax Shepard (Ashton Kutcher's wingman on MTV's Punk'd), Hit & Run is a romantic action-comedy that'll make you laugh just by watching dreadlocked Bradley Cooper as crazed gang member Alex Dmitri. Unable to escape their past, former getaway driver Charlie Bronson (Dax Shepard) jeopardizes his witness protection identity in order to get his girlfriend (Kristen Bell) to an important job interview. However, things don't go according to plan. Hit & Run is in cinemas from September 6. Concrete Playground has 10 double passes to giveaway to see Hit & Run. For a chance to win, make sure you're subscribed to Concrete Playground then email your name and postal address to hello@concreteplayground.com.au
Perpetually moody rockers Sonic Youth are selling some of their vintage equipment and gear in order to raise money for Shelter Box USA, a charity devoted to responding "instantly to natural and manmade disasters by delivering boxes of aid to those who are in most need." The band has already put several items up for sale on eBay with more expected to come in the next few days. For those interested there is a xylophone that was used in the recording of Daydream Nation's 'Kissability', a 1970s Rhythm Ace Drum Machine, a very odd looking glockenspiel, an array of guitar road weary guitar cases complete with band stickers and even a custom-made mixer that was built for the band and used on stage by bass guitarist and vocalist Kim Gordon. So far the best buy looks like the xylophone, which is by far the cheapest item going for just $50. But then again it is hard to go past a vintage 1970s drum machine. https://youtube.com/watch?v=rK9QkjXm0I8
The coming together of the words Shebeen and Speakeasy sounds very underground and illegal, however we have it on good authority that association with this new collaboration won’t land you in any trouble. Shebeen, the newly opened not-for-profit bar on Manchester Lane, sends proceeds to projects in the developing world, while Speakeasy Cinema seeks out the weird and wonderful of the film world, offering viewers something not on offer at the local Village. It seems to make sense that these two are coming together for Moonshine Cinema, playing four films in February and March. Blank City, screening Tuesday, February 26, gives a raw depiction of the underground filmmaking scene in New York in the '70s and '80s. The documentary features interviews with filmmakers and really captures the spirit of DIY filmmaking in a tale that shows us how No Wave and the Cinema of Transgression began. Bombay Beach, screening Thursday, February 28, follows the journey of three protagonists through southern California — each with their own story, yet bound by their shared outsider status. Music from Bob Dylan and choreographed dances by Zach Condon are featured in the film. On Saturday, March 2, Girl Walk // All Day takes viewers on an unexpected ride through dance that sits somewhere between a music video, a recital and a musical, set to mash-up artist Girl Talk. A boogie is advised and in order to encourage this, seating will be minimal. The final screening for Moonshine Cinema, on Sunday March 3, will be the Australian premiere of Valtari Film Experiment, a collaboration of 16 directors' responses to Valtari, the latest album from band Sigur Ros. With a common budget 14 directors were asked to create a film in response to the sounds. Fans were asked to do the same and out of 834 submissions two were chosen to make up the 16 films featured. Image via speakeasycinema.com.au
Feeling poorly? A wee bit under the weather? Then strap on your straight jacket and check yourself into The Asylum. For three terrifying nights only, Ormond Hall on St Kilda Road will be transformed into a haunted house on steroids, complete with sadistic surgeons, murderous matrons and maniacs around every corner. Enter at your peril. Visitors to The Asylum will be guided down the corridors of one of Australia’s oldest insane asylums. Tickets cost $25 (or $20 if you’re a student) and should be booked in advance, particularly if you’re planning on visiting after midnight. Dressing up is encouraged, naturally, although make sure you wear appropriate footwear — just in case you have to run for your life. Those of you not too traumatised by the experience will be able to kick on at The Village Bar adjacent to Ormond Hall, where they’ll be serving food and Halloween cocktails long into the night.
Victoria's 61-day run of no new locally acquired COVID-19 cases has come to an end with the state recording three new cases in the 24 hours leading up to midnight on Wednesday, December 30. As a result, the Victorian Government has introduced new gathering and mask restrictions ahead of tonight's New Year's Eve celebrations. As of 5pm today, Thursday, December 31, gatherings at private homes will be limited to 15, which is down from the previously allowed 30. Which means, you may need to quickly reassess your plans for this evening. Additionally, masks will be mandatory in all indoor settings — except from when you are eating and drinking — from 5pm. "If you are planning to leave your home at the moment, we ask people to carry their masks with them, we are now asking them to wear a mask if they are indoors in any location which is not their private home," Acting Premier Jacinta Allen said in a press conference today. https://twitter.com/VicGovDHHS/status/1344398374485843973 The Victorian Government has also announced new border restrictions, with Victorians located in Wollongong and the Blue Mountains having until 11.59pm tonight Thursday, December 31 to return to the state. On return, they will need to get tested and self-isolate for 14 days regardless of the result of the test. After this time, Victorians that have visited these areas — as well as the previously announced Greater Sydney area, the Central Coast and the northern beaches — in the last 14 days cannot enter Victoria. You can find out more about Victoria's border restrictions at the Victorian Government website. The Government has also strongly urged Victorians to reconsider plans to visit NSW. "Do not go to New South Wales, if you are in Victoria," said Minister for Health Martin Foley. "If you are a Victorian in New South Wales, well beyond Wollongong and the Blue Mountains, come back. Do not want to be caught on the wrong side of a rapidly evolving situation." https://twitter.com/VicGovDHHS/status/1344195448752406528 All three cases recorded yesterday dined at Smile Buffalo Thai restaurant in Black Rock on Monday, December 21, and anyone who visited the restaurant on that date must get tested and isolate until they receive a negative test result. The Victorian Government Department of Health and Human Services has also released a list of additional venues that have been linked to positive cases on its Twitter page and website. More locations are expected to be added across the day, too. https://twitter.com/VicGovDHHS/status/1344429850933645315 For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Victoria and current restrictions, head to the DHHS website.
While we Southern hemisphere-bound folk have been digging out our cosy coats and clinging to our winter warmers, Fremantle's San Cisco have been blitzing the UK and the US, inspiring sun-kissed comparisons from the critics. The Guardian's Paul Lester introduced them as the 'New Band of the Day' on November 1, 2012, with "meet the new beach boys and girl." And if you've haven't heard, they've been signed. As in, to a major label. Fat Possum has picked them up in the US and they're with Columbia in the UK. 'Awkward's domination of the Aussie pop charts and 4 million+ YouTube hits may have had something to do with that. The good news is that San Cisco is home, to spend May and June on their nationwide The Beach Tour. Their first Sydney gig (May 31) is already sold out, but tickets are still up for grabs for a second show on June 9. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ukNOaKeUEQY
Crip Rave Theory is a Melbourne club night that draws on knowledge from members of the disabled community to create a wildly fun and safe space for everyone to party — focusing on intersectional access, self-expression, pleasure and community solidarity. While open to all, Crip Rave Theory centres around and celebrates all those who've traditionally been marginalised and de-prioritised in commercial nightlife spaces. Allies are more than welcome, but they aren't at the core of these parties. And for its RISING rendition on Saturday, June 15, the team is taking over Newport's The Substation with live performances and DJ sets late into the night. UK-Based Aisha Mirza, the creator of MISERY — a mental health-focused club night for queer, trans, intersex and non-binary Black people and people of colour — will have their own DJ set during the night. As will BAE BAE, who also runs a club night in Los Angeles called Hood Rave, which celebrates Black femmes and queer people. They're bringing their unique own unique blend of R&B, house, jungle, garage and dancehall beats to the Crip Rave Theory. There'll also be sets from Tinika, Enter and Aquenta (the founder of Crip Rave Theory), plus a heap of live performers and hosts that have yet to be announced. [caption id="attachment_624133" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Substation in Newport[/caption] It's important to note that tickets differ depending on your intersectional background. First Nations and/ or disabled people can get tickets for $19, queer and trans people for $25, and allies for $49. Those keen to speak to the team running the club night while learning the basics of DJing can also attend Crip Rave Theory's RISING workshop on Friday, June 14.
So Melbourne Now may have late-night art, but Arts House is bringing you a sleepover. From 11pm on Saturday, March 22 till 9am the following morning, Sydney artist Sarah Rodigari will be taking a leaf out of Wendy Davis's book by performing an awe-inspiring filibuster. No, it might not be all kick-ass lady power and reproductive rights, but it will surely be a thing of beauty as Rodigari talks about love, loss, honour and hope. Cheer her on through the fatigue and BYO blankets and pillows. This event was featured in our top ten things to see at the Festival of Live Art. See the full list here.
ACMI sure know how to deliver the goods. First they set us up with unlimited Mario Kart at Screen Worlds, then they delivered a huge DreamWorks showcase that saw Flinders Street decorated with a giraffe's butt, now this — free cartoons. ACMI are playing a selection of the world's best animated shorts in their Mediatheque, free of charge and on demand. The nine short animations on offer were originally compiled by Edinburgh International Film Festival in celebration of the 2014 Commonwealth Games. As all the featured animators are from nations within the Commonwealth, this unfortunately means there's no Pixar or Dreamworks fare, but don't worry, you won't be disappointed. Featuring work from as far as Trinidad & Tobago, Singapore and South Africa, the showcase is incredibly diverse. In one sitting you are treated to a story of a cyborg chicken, a struggling musician, and a man with terrifying social anxiety. No, it's not obnoxious giraffes or kind-hearted ogres, but it sure is entertaining. Head over to the ACMI website to see the full list of shorts.
How long has Charles Boyle been dreaming of Jake Peralta and Amy Santiago's wedding? What did Rosa Diaz do before she was a cop? Who keeps swooping in and taking the Nine-Nine crew's cases? Which one is Scully and which is Hitchcock? If you can answer all of the above — and name Captain Holt's dog, Terry's twins, Gina's dance troupe and Jake's favourite movie — then you're set for Supersmall Club's latest trivia night. Yes, it's all about the hit cop sitcom we all know and love. You know, the one that was cancelled and then resurrected in the space of 36 hours. We'd keep asking Brooklyn Nine-Nine questions and dropping tidbits, but we'll save some for the big night. Last time a trivia evening dedicated to B99 hit town, places were snapped up faster than Terry can snap open a tub of yoghurt. So nab a ticket ASAP and it mat be your night to shine (and that can be the title of your sex tape if you'd like). Entry is a slightly steep $40, but it includes unlimited cocktails or beers to sweeten the deal. For two hours you can cop endless cosmos, daiquiris, espresso martinis or Furphy. Just take your enormous bottomless cocktail glass that is given to you upon producing your entry ticket back up to the bar to keep on kicking. Updated: December 2, 2019.
Having said au revoir to the French Film Festival, it's now time to slip over the border into Spain. Returning to Palace Cinemas around the country, this year's Spanish Film Festival will once again showcase some of the biggest and most critically acclaimed Spanish and Latin American films from the past 12 months. How's that for a cinematic siesta? The festival — which will feature at The Astor, Chapel Street's Cinema Como, Northcote's Palace Westgarth and Kino in the CBD — begins with the highest grossing film at last year's Spanish box office: rom-com sequel Spanish Affair 2. Other comic standouts include espionage spoof Spy Time, madcap ensemble My Big Night, and dark domestic comedy Happy 140. Of course, not everything on the program is quite so light and breezy. Critically acclaimed drama Much Ado About Nothing confronts legal and political corruption in modern day Chile, while Ma Ma stars Penelope Cruz in one of her most nuanced roles to date, as a put-upon single mother diagnosed with breast cancer.
No one celebrates the nostalgic, old-school cool of regional Australia quite like the crew at OK Motels. The group not only captures the essence of Victoria's classic motels through its dreamy Instagram shots, it's also known for transforming these oft-forgotten spaces into unlikely party destinations. And you'll catch the next of these when OK Motels returns to the Charlton Motel — about a three-hour drive northwest of Melbourne's CBD — on Saturday, November 23. The rural town, which usually has a population of around 1000, will again play host to a lively night of tunes and dancing, as the likes of Amyl and the Sniffers, Batpiss, Moaning Lisa, Moody Beaches, Pinch Points and DJ Hot Wheels descend on the Charlton's 70s-era function room. Don your finest op-shop threads, nab a primo spot beneath the disco ball and get ready to tear the town's roof off. If you're quick, you can score a stay on-site in one of the Charlton's own rooms; otherwise, there'll be a handy shuttle bus servicing nearby camping, caravan park, hotel and motel options.
'Whip' Whittaker (Denzel Washington) wakes up in a hotel room, disentangles himself from last night's paramour, Katerina (Nadine Velazquez), surveys the wreckage of liquor bottles, does a line of cocaine, argues with his ex-wife, then heads to his day job. As a commercial pilot. While his co-pilot, the straitlaced Ken Evans (Brian Geraghty) thinks something is amiss with Whip, it is smooth sailing as Whip pulls off an audacious move to get the plane through some bad weather then rewards himself with a mid-flight vodka and orange juice. Then things start to go very, very wrong. In one of the most gripping set pieces seen on the big screen in years, the plane finds itself in trouble and not responding to any of the usual fixes. It is soon plummeting towards earth and the passengers and crew resort to panic and prayer. Whip, however, remains cool and in a brilliant piece of quick thinking, inverts the plane to take much of the force out of the landing. The manoeuvre mitigates what could have been complete calamity and when the wreckage is surveyed, only six people have lost their lives. After such a bold start, the film moves into the more familiar territory of addiction drama, but there is far too much complexity and moral nuance here for the film to be anything less than intriguing. It is revealed the plane wasn't properly maintained and was an accident waiting to happen. Whip's audacious actions were not performed in spite of his state of inebriation but actually because of it. Another pilot, one free of drugs and alcohol, could not have done what he did and saved as many lives as he did. He meets heroin addict Nicole (Kelly Reilly) in hospital, and the pair are soon shacked up at a secluded cottage, hiding from the world. But when the legal ramifications of the crash ramp up after Whip has a testy meeting with Hugh (an excellent Don Cheadle), a driven criminal lawyer who is confident he can have Whip's toxicology report thrown out as evidence, he falls back off the wagon, skulling vodka with a vengeance and hatching plans to escape to Jamaica in a small plane. Whip's actions become increasingly pathetic as his supporters try to curb his powerful self-destructive streak and keep him from having a public meltdown before the hearing that will hopefully clear his name for good. Still, he insists he drinks because he wants to. He's had years of practice at getting away with it and finds himself on the brink of freedom. If Flight loses its nerve somewhat in the closing minutes, it only serves to cast the truthful and arresting drama that has come before in an even brighter light. Featuring one of the best performances in Washington's career, it's a tough and taut film which asks questions that linger long after its closing credits.
Whether you're a green thumb or a total gardening novice, you'll score great tips and tricks for growing your own food when FareShare opens its Abbotsford kitchen garden to the public on Saturday, October 14. The food charity cooks as many as 5000 free meals across Australia each day using rescued surplus food, in addition to produce harvested from its own collection of urban kitchen gardens. That includes this lush, 70-bed veggie patch by Victoria Park railway station, a one-time dumping ground that's been given new life thanks to a tribe of volunteers and support from the RACV, Gandel Philanthropy and urban food-growing initiative 3000 Acres. The Open Garden day invites locals along to have a sticky-beak and discover how FareShare is transforming disused urban plots like these into vibrant, veggie-growing wonderlands. There'll be guided tours of the gardens as well as a program of guest speakers covering topics from bee keeping and composting, through to urban agriculture. And if it all leaves you inspired to do some gardening of your own, a range of seedlings will be available to purchase for a gold coin donation.
Fitz (Jason Priestly), a devilishly handsome low-life of a used car salesman, is missing something. After years of womanising and substance abusing, he's on the hunt for his long-lost conscience. Fitz just didn't think he'd find him sitting at the office desk opposite his. Never much concerned with ending his sleazy ways, Fitz has a change of heart when, during a test-drive he is sure will secure him 'Employee of the Month' status, he crashes. The accident unleashes something with Fitz, a twinge of guilt and emotion we didn't know he had, that comes embodied in his conscience-turned-business partner, Larry (Ernie Grunwald). Now forced to face Larry each and every day, Fitz must (unwillingly) reexamine his dodgy ways. The hilarious pair and their bickering antics lend a humourous twist to this black comedy of a 'buddy' TV series. To win one of four Season One Call Me Fitz DVDs, just make sure you are subscribed to Concrete Playground then email your name and postal address through to hello@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=MKEZS6DoX3E
After a sold-out run at Perth’s Proximity Festival, theatremaker and dramaturge Hallie Shellam will be bringing her show home for its Melbourne premiere. Is This Somewhere You’ve Been Before? is, in many ways, not your average theatre piece. To start with, the performance is played out with one audience member at a time. A one-on-one discussion turns into an interrogation, in an attempt to remember an event that never even happened. Secondly, it plays with the olfactory senses, such as smell and taste, to explore where memory and imagination collide. By integrating these senses, the theatre piece takes on an unexpected dimension, as well as commenting on the effect of the ephemeral in the digital age. This part forensic interview, part dramatic reenactment is as innovative as it is interactive. Is This Somewhere You’ve Been Before? is part of Metanoia Live Works Program at Brunswick’s newest performance venue, The Mechanics Institute. Bookings are essential, so don’t delay.
Man of the moment Matt Bax is fresh from opening his cocktail concept bar Bar Exuberante and ready to teach you a thing or two about mixology at this Melbourne Food & Wine Festival Essentials Masterclass. For an hour on Saturday, March 7 Matt Bax is yours, and he'll teach you how to make a killer cocktail. Remember, this is the guy who started Der Raum; he's a cocktail legend (and all-round interesting dude), so come with a few questions ready. Can't promise that he'll teach you how to make that Hot Cold Pina Colada, but you can damn well ask. Image credit: Carmen Zammit
Following on from a killer season at Sydney Festival in 2014 and 2015 and sold-out shows in London, Edinburgh, Bogota, Auckland, Adelaide and Munich, LIMBO is making its Melbourne debut, taking up residence in the Spiegeltent during Melbourne Festival. With awe-inducing acrobatics, breathtaking manoeuvres and a serve of cheeky cabaret, LIMBO is circus with a grown-up and grungy twist. Presented by Strut & Fret (producers of La Soirée and Cantina), Underbelly Productions and Southbank Centre, LIMBO has all of the danger of — but much more sexiness than — your regular night at Cirque du Soleil. This is circus with grit, set against the funked-up, old-time jazz, oompah, rap and bossa nova of Sxip Shirey's electric live score. Look forward to performances from squirm-inducing fire eater Heather Holliday; "French gravity-defying Chinese pole master, beatboxer and clown" Mikael Bres; and a trio of acrobats whose routine has them hilariously swaying from poles into the audience. This event is one of our top ten picks of the Melbourne Festival. Check out the other nine.
Pidapipo has heard your cries: the gelateria's famed hot chocolate has been given a plant-based twist, making it perfect for vegan and non-dairy drinkers. However, it won't last long, as it's available at the Fitzroy Laboratorio this long weekend only. With the OG becoming a much-loved winter tradition for many locals in recent years, this vegan-friendly alternative remains as indulgent as ever. Hitting much the same notes as the original, this new creation replaces the dairy base with soy milk. This decadent creation also goes a step further, topping the drink with Pidapipo's ever-popular vegan pistachio gelato. Then, a light dusting of Australian pistachios rounds out this winter-warming beverage. If you're keen to get a sip, know that Pidapipo's vegan hot chocolate is available for a strictly limited time and in strictly limited numbers. Served from Friday, June 6–Monday, June 9, the team is only producing 100 cups across the long weekend. So, if you've been hanging out for a taste since Pidapipo co-founder Lisa Valmorbida and head of production Nicola Totaro created this headline-grabbing hot chocolate in 2023, head along to the Fitzroy Laboratorio early to avoid missing out. Primed for a sweet treat on a chilly Melbourne morning, warming up is made easy with this steamy plant-based drink grasped firmly in your hands. Score a cup of Pidapipo's vegan hot chocolate and satisfy your curiosity for $10.50. Pidapipo's vegan hot chocolate is available at the Fitzroy Laboratorio store from Friday, June 6–Monday, June 9. Head to the website for more information.
Not be outdone by their neighbours, whose own festival du film celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, the latest line-up at the Audi Festival of German Films is guaranteed to give the French a run for their money. Presented by the Goethe-Institut in conjunction with Palace Cinemas, the 2014 festival boasts a selection of more than 50 German language films, as well as parties, lectures, special screenings and Q&As. Just a few of the highlights include Marc Rothemund's The Girl with Nine Wigs, about a young woman struggling with a cancer diagnosis; Constanze Knoche's simmering family drama, Visitors, about the strained relationship between a father and his three adult children; and Jan-Ole Gerster's black and white, day-in-the-life dramedy Oh Boy, which scooped up the top prize at the 2013 German Film Awards. This year's program also has something of a historical focus, with 2014 marking an important centennial. As part of the Goethe-Institut's year long commemoration of the millions of lives lost during World War One, artist Justus Neumann will present a lecture on Karl Kraus's satirical play The Last Days of Mankind, followed by a screening of the acclaimed naval drama Odyssey of Heroes. A more joyous milestone is the quarter century that has passed since the fall of the Berlin Wall. The festival's evening-long celebration will include two documentaries, separated by a live multimedia performance piece by Berlin cabaret band The Beez. For the full Audi Festival of German Films program, see the festival website. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Xlyt_IRWM30
Peer through a portal and experience a whole new perspective with this immersive exhibition at NGV Australia. Located in the gallery's Federation Square foyer, this unique piece consists of five distinct works ranging from film to hand-blown glass sculpture, all housed in an intriguing architectural creation of timber and steel. Visitors make their way around the structure, peering at each work through one of five seperate portals. Each portal shaping the visitor's experience in entirely new ways, as the act of viewing becomes warped and reflected by everything from mirrors to a long timber cantilever reminiscent of a Venetian mask. A collaboration between John Wardle Architects, filmmakers Coco and Maximilian and New York based Australian artist Natasha Johns-Messenger, Somewhere Other was first shown at the 16th International Architecture Biennale of Venice, and now makes its way to Melbourne as part of the third annual Melbourne Design Week. Image: Tom Ross.
Home to the biggest pizzas in town, the team at Shawcross bring a little slice of New York City to the streets of Fitzroy — pun very much intended. These are the gents behind Phat Brats the gourmet hot dogs, so they are tried and tested in taking something old and making it new again. Pizzas are available by the whole pizza (12") or by the ‘slice’ (from a massive 22" pie). Polish off a large one by yourself, and you can win yourself a free t-shirt. The Fat Tony is a classic, with tomato, mozzarella, and fresh basil, while the Bloody Vegans is hummus, spinach, tomato, red onions, green olives, and lemon. ‘Kick-ass’ salads see the carb-conscious diners among us sigh with relief with well, due to combinations like chicken, spinach, edaname, avocado, red onion, and quinoa.
Yabun — which means "music to a beat" in the Gadigal language — is an annual festival featuring a wide range of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander talent. Held each year on January 26 in Camperdown, Sydney, on Gadigal Land, the festival consists of Corroboree, performances from First Nations musicians, a marketplace, discussions and speeches. After two COVID-impacted years, the festival is returning to its regular programming in Victoria Park. The musical lineup features a mix of up-and-coming and longstanding songwriters and performers. Heading up the musicians are Tia Gostelow, Aodhan, Denni and DRMNGNOW, who will be joined by Robert K Champion, Kyarna Rose and Matty Walker. In addition to the live music, there'll be traditional cultural performances, panel discussions and heaps of activities for adults and kids alike. There will also be a bunch of art, design and activist stalls for you to peruse. If you can't make it down, you can also watch via a live stream on the festival's website or tune into the yearly broadcast of the festival on Koori Radio 93.7fm. It all kicks off at 10am and will run until 10pm.
The Spartan Race is no joke. In a bid to transport participants back to ancient times, the race, a little sibling of the Spartan Death Race, is set on harsh terrain with obstacles of fire, water, mud and barbed wire. Spartan Races come in a few different forms: there are ‘Sprints’ of 7km, which progress to ‘Super’ of 14km and ‘Beast’ of 21km. People can fly solo or register as a team, and the Spartan Kids race allows children to experience some of the challenges. The race is followed by food, drink, and stalls.
There's no shortage of delicious Asian cuisine in Melbourne; however there's always room for more. Especially if it's street food, and even more if it dons the word 'hawker-style'. Enter Junk, a Queensland favourite that is making its first venture down south. Heading to Punch Lane from February 22, Junk is bringing its melange of flavours and styles to Victorian stomaches — and the menu looks a treat. Hungry diners will find a food lineup filled with Korean fried chicken wings, crispy Peking duck spring rolls, and four varieties of steamed bao (soft-shell crab, pork, pork gyoza and chicken katsu). Yes, one of those options really does include dumplings on bao. Dumplings. On. Bao. Crispy fried gunpowder chicken ribs and Vietnamese noodle salads will also be ready to treat tastebuds, as will Gangnam fries (covered in house-made kimchi, nacho cheese sauce, nori and spring onion, and certain to get a K-pop song stuck in your head). Basically, expect to be spoiled for choice. "Every single dish on the menu is prepared by world class cooks using only the best local ingredients available. Our sauces and curry pastes are all made from scratch in-house, and our broths are cooked for two days," says Scott Hoskins, one of the folks behind the venture. The Melbourne joint will be Junk's fourth, joining three in Queensland. Back up north, Hoskins and his business partner Tony Kelly have not only been slinging Asian street food, but doughnuts and burgers as well. They're the duo behind Donut Boyz and Hello Harry, two other brands that have made the leap to the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane and beyond. Junk opens on February 22 at 22 Punch Lane, Melbourne. For more information, check out their website.
Belgian artist Jan Fabre seems to have made a career out of being relentlessly strange, from burning money and drawing pictures with the ashes to encrusting a palace ceiling with glittering beetle shells. So it's hard to know exactly what to expect from one of his plays, but odds are it'll be, well, odd. Fabre's Wake Up Hate is being performed at La Mama by Paulo Castro, a Portuguese-born performer who has toured the show to various cities in Europe, including Berlin, Reykjavik, Lisbon and Paris. It’s a solo show, a fierce monologue from a protagonist who claims to have freshly come back from the dead. From an armchair in the ruins of a destroyed house, he launches a scathing attack on the voyeurism of contemporary society, a voyeurism he is part of because his eyes have become cameras. Yup, sounds odd alright. But perhaps, like a beetle shell ceiling, gloriously so. Image by Rodeo.
Room is by no means an easy film to watch. Based on the critically acclaimed novel by Emma Donoghue, which was in turn inspired by the crimes of Josef Fritzl, it's a tale whose existence is rooted in horror and misery, and the perverse fascination such stories tend to inspire. And yet despite its grim subject matter, Room never wallows in darkness, but instead stares defiantly into the light. It is a tale not of depravity but of resilience, and the incredible, unbreakable love between a parent and their child. Room is told from the perspective of Jack (Jacob Tremblay), a five year old boy who lives with his mother Joy (Brie Larson) in a small, dishevelled shed called Room. Jack was born in Room, and its meagre contents, including a bed, a bath, a sink, a wardrobe and a skylight, are all he has ever known. Joy tells him nothing of the outside world in order to protect him from the truth: that they are captives of a man named Old Nick (Sean Bridgers), and that Jack is the product of rape. Very few films ask as much of their lead actors as Room does of Larson and Tremblay. There's barely a frame of the film in which one, if not both, are not present, particularly during the initial harrowing hour. Larson is tipped to take home an Oscar, and it would be hard to fault the Academy for that decision. Her performance communicates with unflinching clarity both the years of abuse that Joy has suffered, and the lengths she is willing to go to to keep her son from experiencing the same fate. Tremblay is, if anything, even more impressive, capturing the optimism of a child unburdened by adult comprehension, without ever dipping into the kind of forced cutesiness that scuppers so many young performers. Tremblay's flawless performance also validates the risky decision to tell the story from Jack's point of view. In the film's bleakest moments, Jack's innocence is like a life preserver, and the only thing that keeps us from drowning in despair. Likewise, when he is finally exposed to the world outside his prison, we share in his sense of wonderment. So palpable is his emotion that it feels like we, too, are discovering the world for the very first time. Director Lenny Abrahamson is largely invisible behind the camera, and perhaps that's for the best. There's a lot he could have done, through camerawork and editing, to ratchet up the unease or foster a sense of claustrophobia, but to do so would run the risk of distracting from the performances – and ultimately, it's by the performances that the movie lives or dies. Even as the film ventures into more conventional narrative territory in its latter half, Larson and Tremblay make it impossible to look away. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C6fZ-fwDws
Come June, you'll be able to enter the gateway to the Upside Down — if you dare. Keep an eye out for demogorgons, mind flayers and, maybe even, Hopper as you head into Melbourne's latest pop-up bar. If you haven't guessed, the new themed watering hole is inspired by Stranger Things, so expect plenty of 80s pop culture references, too, when the Upside Down Bar takes over a secret location on Sunday, June 14. You'll see upturned tables, Eggos on the roof and a room inspired by Joyce Byers' house (complete with an illuminated alphabet on the wall) as you sit down for Stranger Things-themed cocktails. Sip on the likes of the Eleven's Eggos and Demorgorgon slushies, a caramelised pineapple Mouthbreather number and the Snack Pack, made with mezcal and passion fruit. While the bar's location is firmly under wraps for now, we do know that the bar will also have DJs, arcade games and even a "dark and dangerous mission" that you'll have the possibility to complete. The pop-up bar's opening is happening ahead of the much-anticipated fourth season of Stranger Things, which does not yet have a trailer or release date. But, we'll let you know as soon as it does. You can pre-register for tickets to the Upside Down Bar over here.
On Saturday, September 3 from 11am, right through until Sunday, September 4 at 9.10am, three Melbourne cinemas will become the most magical places in the city. That's when and where all eight Harry Potter films will grace the big screen again, as part of a whole day and night of wizarding wonder. BYO time-turner if you don't think you'll be able to get through it all otherwise. On the bill at the Lido, Classic and Cameo cinemas: watching Harry, Hermione, Ron and co spend their first day at Hogwarts, play quidditch, search for the deathly hallows and battle He Who Must Not Be Named. They'll navigate potions classes, bust out spells, face off against evil and their classmates, and get plenty of enchanting help, too. You know how the story goes, of course — and now, 21 years after Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone first hit cinemas, you can revisit the whole saga in one big go. Potter Party — All-Night Harry Potter Marathon does include two breaks: 55 minutes for dinner between Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and 20 minutes for breakfast to split up Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1. Dressing up in costume is always highly recommended, as is indulging in 22 hours Potter nerdery — with tickets costing $50.
Following a five-year break, the Caulfield Whisky, Wine and Fire Festival will return with a bang this winter from Thursday, July 18–Sunday, July 21. Warm up from the inside out as you are treated to a feast for the senses, with whisky and wine tastings, as well as comfort food prepared over open flames by fine food vendors. The menu highlights roasted, smoked and spiced flavours, making for a cosy dining experience by the fire. The festival will set up camp at Caulfield Racecourse, with an outstanding roster of merchants that includes Penfolds, 19 Crimes, Bellarine Distillery, Chief's Son Distillery, Moët Hennessy, The Spirits Company, Laphroaig and Paringa Estate. Tickets are already on sale for $29, which includes a glass of whisky or wine. Kids have free entry. Learn more about the Whisky, Wine and Fire Festival at the official website.
