One minute we were basking in what felt like an endless summer, the next, winter whipped in, bringing icy winds, downpours and frosty mornings. But that's no excuse to hibernate. In fact, the best way to cope with the cold is by donning your mitts, embracing it and heading outside. After all, getting out and about in winter has its advantages. Instead of sunburn, sweat and crowds, you get cool days made for bushwalking, crackling fires perfect for drinking by and moody seas for whale watching. Plus, you avoid turning into a stir-crazy, caged-up creature. All you need is your favourite winter jacket and a reason more enticing than Netflix to cross the threshold into the chilly outdoors. So, we've teamed up with Hahn to come up with a few ideas for some winter enjoyment. Do them all without leaving the city limits. WARM BEER GARDENS Going outside doesn't have to involve strenuous physical activity — or any physical activity, for that matter. Got the strength to drag yourself off your couch and to your nearest pub? Job done. You might normally associate beer gardens with long summer nights, but when winter rolls around, loads of pubs turn theirs into cosy spaces. After all, it doesn't take much — toasty gas heaters or a log fire and a few fairy lights will do the trick quite nicely. Then, of course, there's the warming impact of beer. As author Dave Barry once observed, "When I heated my home with oil, I used an average of 800 gallons a year. I have found that I can keep comfortably warm for an entire winter with slightly over half that quantity of beer." Check out Sydney's best city oasis bars and beer gardens. Check out Melbourne's best city oasis bars and beer gardens. Check out Brisbane's best city oasis bars and beer gardens. BUSHWALKS If you are keen to be active — maybe before hitting the pub — then go for a bushwalk, or three. In fact, cold days are often ideal for tackling trails, especially tough, hilly ones that send your heart rate skyrocketing, and aren't so attractive on 40-degree summer days. In winter, there's no need to worry so much about sunburn, bushfires or snakes, either. What's more, walking, like beer, warm the body and spirit. Why not take advantage of the vivifying effects of both, and pack a brew to drink at a pretty spot along the way? Did someone say winter? What winter? Discover the top walks in Sydney. Discover the top walks in Melbourne. Discover the top walks in Brisbane. NIGHT MARKETS Over the past few years, Aussie cities have developed many impressive and creative takes on the classic night market, which have helped lure the not-so winterly inclined out of their homes. It also helps that these markets celebrate our multicultural make-up, meaning they play host to a slew of chefs devoted to all kinds of deliciousness — from Asian stir fries straight out of sizzling woks, to melting French fondues, to piping-hot Greek doughnuts. At most markets, live music or performance art is on the agenda, too. So, put a pause on your hibernation, call a mate or two, and go a-wassailing around the markets for an evening. Visit the Carriageworks Night Market in Sydney. Visit the Queen Victoria Night Market in Melbourne. Visit Eat Street Markets in Brisbane. WHALE WATCHING One of the best things about being on the east coast during winter is that it's whale watching season. Fun fact: nearly 60% of the planet's whale population is found in Australian waters, and our humpback numbers are increasing by 11% per year. Also, in autumn, they head north to breed and calve in warm waters and, in spring, they return south, often with babies in tow. So, rug up in your warmies, pack a picnic (don't forget the beer) and head to the easternmost headland you can find. For an even bigger adventure, jump aboard a whale watching cruise. Find the best whale watching spots on the east coast. FOOTY GAME If you're not so interested in getting physical yourself, but find it quite warming to watch someone else red-faced and working up a sweat, then grab your mates and book some tickets to a footy game. After all, winter is footy season. Invest in your team's jersey and scarf — or choose based on your favourite colours if you're undecided — and make tracks to an official match in a major arena, surrounded by thousands of fellow fans. Alternatively, you can keep things close, and cheer on your local team at the club down the road. You never know, you might work up enough enthusiasm to sign yourself up for the next training session. Post-match drinks — be they victorious or consolatory — are a must (see Warm Beer Gardens). Watch the footy at these sports bars in Sydney. Watch the footy at these sports bars in Melbourne. Watch the footy at these sports bars in Brisbane. Grab your mates, grab some Hahn and get out there this winter.
Listening to a song, discovering a musician for the first time and feeling like they're speaking directly to you: it's a moment that everyone can relate to. It's also the premise for Blinded by the Light, a new coming-of-age movie which wowed this year's Sundance Film Festival with its enormous love of Bruce Springsteen. The Boss' tunes don't just feature on the film's soundtrack (17 of them, in fact). They actually inspired the entire flick, jukebox musical-style. It's based on the experiences of Springsteen-obsessed journalist Sarfraz Manzoor, with the Pakistan-born British broadcaster also co-writing the script, which is set in 80s-era England at the height of Thatcherism. He's no ordinary fan, either, having seen the denim-loving singer perform live more than 150 times. Narrative-wise, Blinded by the Light follows 16-year-old Javed (film newcomer Viveik Kalra), whose life changes when he's given a couple of Bruce's cassette tapes. You could say he's born to run, feels like he's on fire and is suddenly dancing in the dark — but, used to being under his strict parents' watch and being an outcast at school, he just finds hope in the music of a rocker from New Jersey. In the director's and co-writer's chair sits someone with a background in cross-culture teen-focused Brit pictures, Bend It Like Beckham filmmaker Gurinder Chadha. Plus, as well as Kalra, the film stars Hayley Atwell, Sally Phillips and Rob Bryden. If Blinded by the Light sounds a little like another feel-good, 80s-set, music-fuelled, high school-oriented British standout from a few years back, Sing Street, that's definitely not a bad thing. Tap your toes along to the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ond9SLcHX4Q Blinded by the Light screens at this year's Sydney Film Festival, then releases in cinemas around Australia on August 22.
Thirty-four-metres long, more than twice as big as a regular hot air balloon and ripped straight from Patricia Piccinini's inimitable mind, Skywhale 2013 might just be one of Australia's most recognisable recent pieces of art. And, this morning at sunrise (Monday, March 9), Skywhale took flight once again as part of the Canberra Balloon Spectacular. She'll make her second (and final) solo flight this evening at 8pm from the North Lawns — so, if you happen to be in Canberra, keep an eye on the skies. Then, as of May, Skywhale will be joined by her new companion, Skywhalepapa. The new floating sculpture is designed to form a family with Skywhale, with the second bulbous sculpture commissioned as part of the gallery's Balnaves Contemporary Series. In total, the pair will take flight six times during the nearly three-month Skywhales: Every Heart Sings exhibition — with launch locations at Parliamentary Triangle and yet-to-be-confirmed sites in Woden and Tuggeranong. [caption id="attachment_751759" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Skywhalepapa, 2019/20 (artist's sketch), Patricia Piccinini. Courtesy of the artist.[/caption] The structures' first co-flight is set to take place on Saturday, May 2 from Parliamentary Triangle. As reported by The Guardian Australia, the new balloon will be around 30 metres tall, 37 metres wide and weigh a whopping 400 kilograms. While the two were meant to take to the sky together today, Piccinini told The Guardian that it was better to have a "staggered approach" and allow Skywhale to be reintroduced to Canberra before Skywhalepapa (and the duo's attached children) take to the skies together. If you can't make it to Canberra to see the growing Skywhale clan, they will also tour the country later in the year, with locations and dates still to be confirmed. https://www.instagram.com/p/B9fIa3xHmDu/ Apart from the Skywhales: Every Heart Sings installation, the NGA is offering up a whole heap of top-notch exhibitions in 2020. It'll welcome Botticelli to Van Gogh: Masterpieces from the National Gallery, London in November, boasting over 60 works from European masters — most of which have never before travelled to Australia. Art lovers can also look forward to Know My Name: Australian Women Artists 1900 to Now, which'll shine a spotlight on the nation's female creatives; Belonging: Stories of Australian Art, a major collection of 19th-century Aussie pieces; a six-month focus on Chinese artist and activist Xu Zhen; and The Body Electric, a showcase of works by female-identifying creatives that are all about sex, pleasure and desire. Skywhales: Every Heart Sings launched today, March 9 at the National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes, ACT. Additional flight dates are planned for May 2 through July 25. For further information about the NGA's 2020 lineup, visit the gallery's website. Top image: Skywhale, 2013, Patricia Piccinini. National Gallery of Australia, Canberra. Gift of anonymous donor 2019, Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
Trying to pick the best line from Succession isn't just a difficult task; it's almost impossible. The series is one of the best-written shows on television, and best in general, in no small part thanks to how well it hurls about bickering dialogue. Before the HBO series first graced TV screens back in 2018, you mightn't have realised exactly how entertaining it is to watch people squabbling. Not just everyday characters, either, but the constantly feuding and backstabbing — and ridiculously wealthy and privileged — family of a global media baron. It's not only the arguing and power plays that make this hit compulsively watchable, however, but the witty words flung about, the scathing insults shot back and forth, and the pitch-perfect performances that deliver every verbal blow. Due to the pandemic, Succession hasn't actually been on our screens for a couple of years now. So, since 2019, we've only been able to enjoy its scheming chaos by re-binging its first two seasons. But the acclaimed drama is set to return next month — and, based on both its initial teaser back in July and the just-dropped full trailer, all those Roy family antics and the bitter words they inspire are in full swing once again. Yes, it's time to soak up your latest glimpse of a fictional family that could be Arrested Development's Bluth crew, but much, much more ruthless. And, after the big bombshell that son Kendall (Jeremy Strong, The Trial of the Chicago 7) dropped at the end of season two, the third season has plenty to dig into. Obviously, always-formidable patriarch Logan (Brian Cox, Super Troopers 2) is far from happy, and the rest of his children — Connor (Alan Ruck, Gringo), Shiv (Sarah Snook, Pieces of a Woman) and Roman (Kieran Culkin, Infinity Baby) — are caught in the middle. If you've seen the past two seasons, you'll know that this brood's tenuous and tempestuous relationship has only gotten thornier as we've all watched, and that doesn't ever look set to change. For Succession newcomers, the series follows the Roys as Logan's offspring try to position themselves as next in line to his empire. It's clearly set among the one percent, in lives that most folks will never know — but the idea that depiction doesn't equal endorsement is as rich in Succession and its brand of satire as its always-disagreeing characters. There is something different this time around, however, with Alexander Skarsgård (Godzilla vs Kong) and Adrien Brody (The Grand Budapest Hotel) joining the drama. Created by Peep Show's Jesse Armstrong — someone who knows more than a thing or two about black comedy — this Emmy, Golden Globe, BAFTA, Critics' Choice, Writers Guild and Directors Guild Award-winner is savagely smart, darkly biting and often laugh-out-loud funny about its chosen milieu. And in the words of cousin Greg (Nicholas Braun, Zola) in this year's earlier sneak peek, yes, that sounds kinda dramatic. As well as dropping the full season three trailer, HBO has also announced that Succession will return mid-October — and Foxtel, which airs the series in Australia, has revealed that the third season will start airing Down Under from Monday, October 18. Check out the full Succession season three trailer below: Succession's third season will start airing on Foxtel and Foxtel On Demand from Monday, October 18. Image: HBO.
This week the NGV takes a big jump back in time, reviving one of its most daring exhibitions — 50 years after its debut. In 1968, The Field was the opening exhibition when the gallery first moved into its St Kilda Road digs, as well remembered for its silver foil-covered walls and abstract sculptures, as for the widespread controversy it sparked. Now it's being revamped for a modern audience with The Field Revisited kicking off at NGV at Federation Square on April 27. The free exhibition will feature as many of the original 74 artworks as the curators have been able to get their hands on. Meanwhile, recreations of those named missing or destroyed have been commissioned by their original artists, including Garrey Foulkes, Trevor Vickers, Normana Wight, Col Jordan and Emanuel Raft. Other original works will be given their own homages, marked with specially designed silhouettes on the gallery walls. Images: Tom Ross.
This article is sponsored by our partners, Flickerfest. Sydney seems to have all the fun when it comes to short film festivals. Huge crowds descend on Centennial Park for Tropfest (no matter how divisive the films are), and Flickerfest runs for over a week at Bondi Pavilion. Sure, we have MIFF, but there's something great about the short form, and as the nation's self-professed culture capital we deserve at least a night of it. Thankfully, Flickerfest are bringing that night to us on Wednesday, February 12. Setting up in Palace Kino Cinemas on Collins Street, this special Flickerfest event will bring us eight Melbourne-made offerings that featured in the festival's larger Sydney showing last month (plus one very special US doco). Each film, with an average run-time of 15 minutes, will be shown in succession and the screening will be followed by a catered afterparty with drinks from the likes of Little Creatures and Crystal Head Vodka — a liquor with its own legacy of strange short film thanks to owner, Dan Aykroyd. Now in its 23rd year, Flickerfest is an institution, and the films on show are the best of the best. Chosen from over 2,300 entries, featured works such as The Kingdom of Doug and The Last Time I Saw Richard have won numerous accolades in their Sydney run and are exemplary of the most innovative work being done by our local filmmakers. The short American documentary Slomo will also be featured in the night's viewing — a film that tells the tale of a retired neurologist who now spends his days rollerblading up the Pacific Beach boardwalk in slow-motion. Such films definitely serve as a reminder that great stories can be found in small (and strange) packages. Tickets can be purchased prior to the event via (03) 9650 2100 or bought at the door on the night.
There are neither aliens nor gods to be found in the latest instalment of the seemingly unstoppable Marvel movie franchise. Instead, this is an 'enemy within' offering, and it's very much the better for it. Captain America (Chris Evans) is the Avenger in question this time round, and for a movie about the perils of extra-governmental espionage and unregulated oversight, there could be no more suitable a hero than that unfailingly honest idealist Captain Rogers. In The Winter Soldier, Cap finds himself contemplating a life beyond the military, only to be drawn deep back inside the shadowy organisation S.H.I.E.L.D following an assassination attempt on his boss, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). With the story's many twists and turns, it's risky to disclose much more, but at its heart this is a film about trust, betrayal and (inevitably) good ole-fashioned right and wrong. Fitting, then, that his holiness the pope of '70s plot-based paranoia, Robert Redford, makes an appearance as S.H.I.E.L.D's chairman Alexander Pierce. It's difficult in any film not to get excited whenever Redford embarks upon one of his trademark disquisitions on the state of democracy, freedom or peace, and in The Winter Soldier you get the full-blown triple play. Joining him in the mix are S.H.I.E.L.D regulars Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Agent Hill (Cobie Smulders), as well as the instantly appealing newcomer 'Falcon' (Anthony Mackie). Inevitably, a superhero movie with a budget as big as its leading man's pecs is going to feature the periodic sensory onslaught of explosions, car chases, plane chases and carplane chases to keep the blockbuster fans satiated. The highlights in The Winter Soldier, however, are the smaller-scale, human melees, because let's be honest — Cap's superpowers aren't all that super ("Fitter than the average man, more honest than Abe Lincoln, Chris Evans is...the Truthy Runner"). As a result, his action sequences require more imagination on the part of the writers than they might for, say, Iron Man, and where the team most often delivers is in all the creative ways Cap uses his iconic shield, both in defence and on offence. Not quite as witty as Whedon's Avengers yet more engaging than Thor 2, Captain America: The Winter Soldier offers a darker and more thoughtful superhero story than most, if not all, of its Marvel predecessors. https://youtube.com/watch?v=7SlILk2WMTI
If there's one person audiences should happily follow into a haunted house, it's Guillermo del Toro. He played with spooky spaces in the Oscar-winning Pan's Labyrinth and told ghost stories in The Devil's Backbone. Actually, the Mexican filmmaker has danced with all things dark and sinister across his career, including vampires in Cronos, Blade II and TV's The Strain; giant insects in Mimic; a demon defender in the Hellboy movies; and monsters versus robots in Pacific Rim. In Crimson Peak, del Toro dives into gothic horror territory, telling the tale of a young woman (Mia Wasikowska) seduced into confronting the secrets of the titular house. Add Tom Hiddleston, Jessica Chastain and Charlie Hunnam to the stellar cast, as well as a haunting mood and stunningly spooky imagery, and this frightening effort looks like something truly special. Plus, Crimson Peak even earned the approval of iconic horror author Stephen King, who compared it to Evil Dead. Consider us excited — and a little scared, to be honest — in anticipation. Crimson Peak (© 2015 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.) is in cinemas nationally from October 15, and thanks to Universal Pictures Australia, we have 10 double in-season passes to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter and then email us with your name and address. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au
While much of the country is slowly starting to creep back to normality — and Melbourne has a roadmap to get there — there are some basic activities that'll be looking very different post-COVID. That includes the humble music gig and festival. With large crowds seen as a potential risk for virus transmission, all Australian states and territories still have density limits in place for gatherings and events, meaning that this year's festival season is set to be in stark contrast to all those before it. While it's hard to tell exactly what the future of music shows looks like locally, plans for an upcoming Western Australian event could help shed some light. Hitting the Busselton Foreshore on Saturday, October 31, the inaugural Good Day Sunshine festival is set to debut a new COVID-safe festival format, featuring a revolving stage and four separate crowd areas. The design will allow event promoters Macro Music to safely host 5000 punters. In the plans, the aptly named Turntable Stage sits at the centre of the site, rotating between four separated audience zones, each with a reduced 1250-person capacity. The lower numbers and crowd split will allow the festival to meet the state's current density restrictions of two-square-metres per person, while improving ease of contract tracing. Each of the four areas will operate as a separate event, complete with its own entry and exit point, and own amenities including bars, toilets and food outlets. A static sound system will service the entire site, while on-stage LED screens will provide all punters with concert visuals at each point of the stage's revolution. After purchasing tickets, Good Day Sunshine patrons were required to nominate one of the four quadrants, which is where they'll remain for the entirety of the festival. Each of the zones will have its own COVID safety officer, leading dedicated teams of staff that will continuously clean shared facilities and top up hand sanitiser stations. The event is set to be closely monitored and, if it proves successful, could pave the way for future Aussie festivals. "I would be flattered if this format was to be used by other events in Australia and across the world," said Macro Music CEO and festival designer Ross Macpherson. "The sooner we can get large-scale live events back up and running, the better for everyone." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeYsTUQ9D34&feature=youtu.be The Good Day Sunshine lineup has met some issues thanks to Western Australia's hard border lockdowns and difficulties securing approval for artists to enter the state. At this stage, acts including Eskimo Joe, John Butler Trio and Xavier Rudd are set to headline the October 31 debut. Good Day Sunshine will debut at Barnard Park, Busselton, on October 31. Learn more about its new format at the festival's website.
Vampires can be slain by staking them in the heart. Werewolves aren't fond of silver bullets. But Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement's addition to the undead world can't and won't be killed — not that anyone would want that outcome. First, What We Do in the Shadows jumped from a short film to a hilarious feature-length comedy. Next, it not only inspired a US television remake, which has been renewed for a season season, but New Zealand television spinoff Wellington Paranormal. And in the latter's case, following an exceptionally amusing six-episode first season, it's returning to Australian screens for its 13-episode second season this month. We've said it before, and we'll say it again: trust a mockumentary about the undead to keep coming back in new guises. The Cops-style spinoff follows police officers Karen O'Leary and Mike Minogue, who WWDITS fans might remember came knocking at the vampire share house's door. With the help of Sergeant Maaka (Maaka Pohatu), the cop duo keep trying to keep the city safe from supernatural happenings — including not only bloodsuckers and lycanthropes, but ghosts, aliens and more. Wellington Paranormal's second season once again explores the spate of paranormal phenomena popping up in the city, with a whole heap of new spooky occurrences attracting O'Leary, Minogue and Maaka's attention. The season starts with sea monsters — and a very high-profile cameo from Clarke Gaylord, partner of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern — and stays in strange but funny and silly territory from there. In Australia, Wellington Paranormal's first batch of episodes screened on SBS Viceland and was available to stream on SBS On Demand, and that's the case again this year. Episodes will drop weekly on both the free-to-air channel and the online platform from Thursday, November 28. For those following What We Do in the Shadows' continued evolution, Wellington Paranormal's success shouldn't come as a surprise. When the show was first revealed, Waititi described it as "Mulder & Scully but in a country where nothing happens" on Twitter, after all. Wellington Paranormal's second season starts screening on SBS Viceland and SBS On Demand from Thursday, November 28.
When summer holidays seem like a depressingly distant memory, nothing recharges the soul quite like a couple of days spent exploring the very best of a city — especially when that city is considered the world's most liveable city at that. So, we've teamed up with the folks at DoubleTree by Hilton to curate your ultimate Melbourne weekend getaway. Boasting a top-notch Flinders Street location, right in the heart of all the action, the Melbourne hotel is primed for that hard-earned city escape you've been planning — plus, they'll always welcome you back with a nice, warm 'welcome cookie'. Lose yourself down laneways, feast your way through the city's many multicultural offerings and shop till you're ready to drop, knowing you've got a comfortable home away from home to land yourself at the end of the day — with a spot for a nightcap, if you should feel so inclined, at the hotel's Platform 270. Here's our guide to a cracking Melbourne weekend. START THE DAY AT HIGHER GROUND, CBD As much a feast for the eyes as for the belly, CBD cafe Higher Ground makes its home within a gorgeous, lofty space that once housed the Little Bourke Street power station. Here, award-winning designer touches and exposed brick walls create an elegant backdrop for the kitchen's forward-thinking, artfully designed fare. Pop in for breakfast and a specialty coffee to kick-start a big day of exploring, or swing by after dark to road-test the chic dinner menu on offer Thursday through Sunday. GET YOUR ART FIX AT ROSE STREET MARKETS, FITZROY Each weekend, Fitzroy's Rose Street becomes a shopping hot-spot, playing host to two vibrant weekly markets. On Saturdays and Sundays, hit the Rose Street Artists' Market to find a stellar lineup of local makers showcasing an array of art, fashion, homewares, jewellery and photography, plus an onsite cafe primed for caffeine pit-stops and brunch feeds. Just a few metres down the street there's yet more shopping goodness in store for you at Saturday's Fitzroy Mills Market. This one's got a health and wellness focus, sourcing top produce from local makers and growers — expect treats like quality fruit and veg, desserts, artisan bread, vegan eats and even fare for your four-legged friends. GO FULL MELBOURNE AT WHITEHART, CBD Tucked down a laneway, surrounded by lively street art and crafted from a couple of upcycled shipping containers, Whitehart is unmistakably Melbourne. The industrial-inspired bar slings a top-notch booze lineup of clever cocktails, boutique wines and craft brews, while food comes courtesy of a rotation of visiting food trucks. Also impressive is the soundtrack, as the decks play host to a dance-worthy mix of resident DJs and guest artists from across the world. Swing by for a sunny afternoon session, or after dark to soak up those late-night Melbourne vibes. WANDER THE NICHOLAS BUILDING, CBD A veritable treasure trove of fashion and design, art deco stunner The Nicholas Building is home to a diverse mix of studios, boutiques and galleries. Drool over beautiful heritage features like the leadlight dome above the arcade while you get some retail therapy. Highlights include a huge selection of pre-loved threads at Australia's largest vintage store Retrostar, perfume from The Powder Room, Kimono House's Japanese crafts and textiles, jewellery designs from Victoria Mason and women's fashion from the likes of Obus and Kuwaii. DIG INTO SUPERNORMAL, CBD At the sleek Asian-accented Supernormal, acclaimed Melbourne chef Andrew McConnell delivers some very memorable eats, drawing on a range of influences and serving it all with a healthy side of fun. Here, classic flavours from across Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and China are reworked into a menu of modern delights and matched with a contemporary drinks offering of sake, local wines and intriguing cocktails. Just remember, McConnell's cult classic lobster roll is a must and, when opting for the banquet menu, it pays to be within rolling distance of where you're staying. [caption id="attachment_659089" align="alignnone" width="1920"] John Gollings.[/caption] EXPLORE THE AUSTRALIAN CENTRE FOR CONTEMPORARY ART, SOUTHBANK Delivering a diverse program of bold exhibitions, performances, talks and events, the Australian Centre For Contemporary Art is a hotbed of creativity and a must for any visiting art aficionado. Boasting an award-winning building set among the arty offerings of Southbank, it features thought-provoking works from big-name artists the world over, in addition to commissioned pieces designed to change the way the world sees contemporary art. Cruise the current exhibitions at your own pace, or jump on one of the free public tours, held each Sunday during exhibition periods. CATCH SOME VIEWS AT ROOFTOP BAR, CBD An astro-turfed, open-air space perched at the very top of Swanston Street's Curtin House, Melbourne's original rooftop bar is a year-round favourite, thanks to its laidback feel and those sprawling city skyline vistas. Venture up for brews with a view and eats from The Rooftop Burger Shack, while getting acquainted with one of Melbourne's most iconic drinking spots. During the warmer months, you can even catch a flick on the outdoor big screen for the legendary Rooftop Cinema. PICNIC IN THE SUN AT ABBOTSFORD CONVENT, ABBOTSFORD Set among picturesque grounds in Melbourne's inner north, multi-arts precinct the Abbotsford Convent has a little something for everyone. Once operating as a convent and one of Australia's largest Catholic complexes, the heritage-listed, 16-acre site now boasts a colourful assortment of galleries, studios and green space — not to mention a stack of architectural gems to marvel at. Lose a day happily exploring the current offerings, from exhibitions and talks to markets and performances. Social history tours are run every Sunday afternoon, and there's a plethora of great onsite eateries to choose from come lunchtime. [caption id="attachment_649405" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jamie Durrant.[/caption] EAT TAPAS AND MONTADITOS AT BAR TINI, CBD Having won hearts across the country with his stable of MoVida restaurants, Frank Camorra's latest project is another Spanish-inspired charmer — this time, a cosy laneway haunt called Bar Tini. With its warm red accents and cheery decor, this one's a nod to the bodegas of Spain, its menu a cracking lineup of imported tinned seafood, flavour-packed tapas and montaditos, and open sandwiches. Snack your way through, while sipping vermouth on tap and revamped classic cocktails. Pop in for a daytime visit and you'll even be able to check out the iconic street art of Hosier Lane outside the front door. [caption id="attachment_658995" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Stano Murin.[/caption] LAUGH IT OUT AT THE BUTTERFLY CLUB, CBD If a culture fix is on the cards, you can bank on finding a ripper program of happenings at The Butterfly Club. The laneway theatre hosts a diverse lineup of over 1100 performances each year, from cabaret acts to side-splitting stand-up shows. You'll also find a solid mix of regular events, including Tuesday night's burlesque life drawing sessions and Friday's long-running improv comedy show, The Big Hoo Haa. The Butterfly Club's two bars make for charming pit-stops in themselves, decked out with lots of kitsch touches and slinging an oft-changing lineup of themed cocktails. Spend your weekend exploring some of the very best things around Melbourne, and when you need a place to recoup, find your home away from home at DoubleTree by Hilton on Flinders Street.
Gather your spoons and prepare to start throwing them at a screen: The Disaster Artist is nearly here. A behind-the-scenes recreation of the making of Tommy Wiseau's The Room, it's shaping up to be the best movie ever made about the worst movie ever made. Oh hi, instant cult classic (and Mark, Greg, Claudette and doggy). Based on the non-fiction book of the same name by the original flick's star Greg Sestero, and directed, produced and starring James Franco as Wiseau, the film takes almost every actor you can think of (Dave Franco, Seth Rogen, Alison Brie, Zac Efron, Hannibal Buress, Sharon Stone, Melanie Griffith, Megan Mullally, Josh Hutcherson and Jackie Weaver, for starters) on a tour of Wiseau's now infamous late-night favourite — and, in quite the change from The Room, it's garnering a massive amount of buzz and critical love. After premiering as a work in progress at this year's SXSW, it just screened at the Toronto International Film Festival, and will hit Australian cinemas on November 30. A first teaser was first released back in July, absolutely perfecting the shooting of one of The Room's many, many memorable moments, with a full trailer now providing an even bigger glimpse into Franco's take on Wiseau's world. The awkward dialogue, the odd game of catch, Wiseau's greasy locks, a sex scene that defies human anatomy, "you're tearing me apart, Lisa!!!" — they're all there, in the expected so-bad-it's-hilarious fashion. Wiseau himself has given the whole thing his 99.9 percent approval, and pops up in the movie, of course. And if you need more convincing or you've never hurled a spoon in your life, we'll let Franco's version of Wiseau say everything else that needs to be said about The Room — and why you should be interested in The Disaster Artist. "So there's this guy Johnny. A true American hero — to be played by me. He has it all. Good looks, many friends. And also maybe Johnny is vampire. We'll see." Check out the new trailer below — and the original teaser too, because more The Disaster Artist is only a good thing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMKX2tE5Luk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIXYaCWc2EM
Across its five seasons to date, Black Mirror has dedicated 22 episodes to imagining dystopian futures — and while it makes for compelling viewing, none of the sci-fi anthology series' predictions are particularly pretty. But, for all of its prognosticating, the Charlie Brooker-created show didn't foresee 2020's chaos. And now we've all endured this hectic year and are about to see it come to an end, the team behind Black Mirror has something to say about it. At 6pm AEST on Sunday, December 27, just before 2020 fades away forever, Netflix will drop a new comedy special called Death to 2020 — which is made by the Black Mirror crew. The show will look back on the year via a documentary-style special that uses real-life archival footage from the past 12 months, as well as narration from fictitious characters played by the high-profile likes of Samuel L Jackson, Hugh Grant, Lisa Kudrow, Kumail Nanjiani, Tracey Ullman, Samson Kayo, Leslie Jones, Diane Morgan, Cristin Milioti and Joe Keery. Immediately keen to see more? After revealing a teaser trailer for Death to 2020 earlier in December — when it first announced that the project even existed — Netflix has now dropped a full sneak peek. Jackson's character gets snappy, Grant's wants to make sure that a drink is close at hand, and Jones' advises she'd say 2020 "was a trainwreck and a shit show, but that'd be unfair to trains and shit". Brooker has a history of looking back at events that have just passed, as Newswipe with Charlie Brooker and his end-of-year Wipe specials between 2010–16 have all demonstrated — so satirising and savaging the year's developments definitely falls into his wheelhouse. Brooker and Netflix also love releasing new material over the holiday period, with interactive Black Mirror special Bandersnatch dropping between Christmas and New Year's Eve back in 2018. So, true to form, they're giving everyone an extra festive — and grimly funny — present this year. Check out the full Death to 2020 trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veUqfcyZ_Bo Death to 2020 will hit Netflix at 6pm AEST on Sunday, December 27 . Images: Saeed Adyani/Keith Bernstein.
Melbourne's picnic baskets have had quite the workout so far in 2021, but one of their biggest moments to shine is about to arrive for another year. When Moonlight Cinema sets up its outdoor screen in the Royal Botanic Gardens from early December, it's officially cheese, snack and openair movie-viewing season. The end-of-year mainstay returns from Thursday, December 2–Sunday, March 27 with an impressive batch of films gracing its outdoor setup. Get ready to catch a heap of recent blockbusters, a smattering of brand new flicks and a lineup of Christmas movies. You can't run an openair cinema at the jolliest time of the year without the latter, obviously. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings opens the bill, with the lineup including Cruella, The Suicide Squad, Free Guy, Black Widow, Jungle Cruise, A Quiet Place Part II, Eternals, Red Notice and The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard as well. Also screening: Edgar Wright's new movie Last Night in Soho, animated sequel The Boss Baby: Family Business, Disney newbie Encanto, stage-to-screen musical Dear Evan Hansen and the family-friendly Clifford the Big Red Dog. Among the retro fare, Dirty Dancing is on the program; it would't be a Moonlight Cinema season without it, either. And, for your merry outdoor movie-watching pleasure, the Christmas selection includes Love Actually, The Holiday, Elf, The Grinch, Die Hard and Home Alone. It's also worth remembering that Moonlight Cinema is BYO — and there'll be food, snacks, a bar and (if you'd like to pay for them) bean bags as well. And, in great news for movie-loving pooches, you can bring them along, too.
Victoria's world-famous collection of silo art is about to get even bigger, with the Labor Government announcing plans to help create five more of the large-scale, tourism-boosting artworks throughout the state. Six large-scale paintings already form part of the acclaimed Silo Art Trail — a 200-kilometre-long, regional 'outdoor gallery' project, that's been headed up by Yarriambiack Shire Council and international street art agency Juddy Roller over the past two years. Now, Premier Daniel Andrews has revealed five more silo artworks will be brought to life, having each scored funding and backing through the government's Pick My Project community grants initiative. The proposed installations were among 237 successful projects pitched by Victorians, that'll share in a hefty $30 million of government funding. New designs are set to grace silos in Colbinabbin, Nullawil, Sunshine — in conjunction with an outdoor cinema screening program — Goroke and Kaniva, near the South Australian border. It's hoped that, like with the original Silo Art Trail, the new projects will help boost visitor numbers through some of Victoria's quieter regional areas, support local business and help capture the spirit of rural life. Images: Kaffeine, Nicole Reed
It's a wine store and tasting room, but not quite as you know it. Smith Street newcomer Glou is shaking up the game, exclusively serving wine on tap, both to sip in and take away. An envelope-pushing concept from Rahel Goldmann (IDES, Hell of the North) and Ron Davis (Samuel Pepys, Le Pont Wine Store), the venue's built on a strong commitment to sustainability, though that doesn't mean it's about to go skimping on quality. If the thought of tap wine left you unenthused before, prepare to have your perceptions shaken. Having spent a collective three decades working in upscale restaurants and wine stores across the world, Goldmann and Davis are keen to help revamp the local wine game, stirring positive changes and a shift to embracing more environmentally minded practices from end to end. Doing away with single-use wine bottles, Glou instead pours all of its drops from taps, using an environmentally friendly Key Kegs system. And, rather than limiting themselves to the small pool of winemakers already offering tap wines commercially, the owners are working directly with their favourite sustainably focused wineries to keg a curation of top-notch wines straight from the barrel. Expect the likes of the Barossa's Rasa Wines, Adelaide Hills legend Charlotte Dalton, and Victoria's own Ben Haines and Noisy Ritual. At the venue, you can get the wines poured into 500-millilitre, one-litre, or two-litre reusable takeaway bottles, just as you might with beer growlers. Bring back a vessel to refill again and again, or return it for a rebate. Otherwise, pull up a seat in the minimalist space designed by Berlin artist Matthias George Koerner and Melbourne's Timmy Bourke Design, and quaff a couple of glasses alongside tapas-style Japanese bites courtesy of nearby Mono-XO. There'll be a program of industry tastings, masterclasses and winemaking events, too. Not only is Glou creating less waste, it has also drastically reduced its carbon footprint by not having to transport all that extra weight in wine bottles. Which of course translates to more wallet-friendly prices for the customer. Wines by the glass are available for $8 a pop, while half-litres start at just ten bucks and you can score two full litres from a very reasonably $40. You can check out the full menu over here. Find Glou at 310 Smith Street, Collingwood. It's open 12–9pm Tuesday–Sunday.
Time to wake your brain up from its summer slumber and get those mind grapes squeezing juice again, because the Wheeler Centre has just announced a whole slew of insanely intelligent and creative writers and thinkers will be coming to the stage in the first instalment of their 2016 program. Leading the charge will be none other than Miranda July, along with atheist author Richard Dawkins, Mona founder David Walsh and environmental activist David Suzuki. And that's just the first few months of the year. Recently read The Last Bad Man and wondered who the hell was this woman behind it? Or just fascinated by the whole persona of Miranda July? In what can't be called anything less than a coup, the celebrated writer, filmmaker, actor, artist, app maker, handbag wizard and bona fide enigma will be gracing the stage at Melbourne Town Hall for Lost Child! on Monday, March 7 — right off the back of her talk at the Sydney Opera House's All About Women. She'll be talking through her very varied and unique works, from her time as an artist in Portland to where she is now. Tackling issues of God, proof and reason will be American ethologist, evolutionary biologist and atheist, Richard Dawkins. Best known for his 2006 book The God Delusion (which understandably was a little provocative), Dawkins is apparently rigorous and remorseless in his defence of proof and reason — which should make for very interesting listening. Another interesting one will be David Walsh. The Mona founder will discuss art and why we make it on February 24, and will no doubt crack some some quotable quotes in the process. The inaugural Victorian Indigenous Literary Festival, Blak & Bright, will also be hosted at the Wheeler Centre over February 19-21, with over 20 events happening both at the centre and surrounding venues. Wheeler Centre regulars will be happy to hear that Erotic Fan Fiction is back for another year, as is current affairs series The Fifth Estate, and Question Time will be taking about the big issues of housing prices and healthcare. The Gala Night of Storytelling is also having a 2016 instalment, with All That I Am author Anna Funder, Lee Lin Chin and the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre's Kon Karapanagiotidis sharing what books have shaped their thinking. Many of the events on the Wheeler Centre program are free, but bookings are essential. For more information, visit their website.
It takes a lot to make great wine. It also takes a lot to successfully run a business and a happy family. So, what about when all three things are put together? We chat to three wineries in Victoria's north east that are managing to nail all three. Here are a few stories from their journey through wine, family, tradition and hard work. Brown Brothers Winery – Stories and Shiraz An old lady is fussing about in her kitchen, many moons ago. She takes four teacups and places them in the oven, just until they are too hot to touch. She takes them carefully out of the oven and places them on the table, next to a steaming hot pot of tea. In walk four of her sons. They take a chair at the kitchen table as their mother pours them a cup of tea in the scorching cups. The cups are too hot to touch. They stay that way for a while. The boys linger, telling storing, sharing tales of the family business — tales of the winery. The woman is happy. Her plan to keep them there long enough for their tea to be drinkable is working. The hotter it is, the longer they stayed. A brilliant plan. She is the mother of the Brown brothers and grandmother to Katherine and Caroline — the fourth generation of Browns and the next to take over the reigns of the well-known Brown Brothers family winery. Now picture this: three young, beautiful and driven Brown daughters are sent off into the big bad world. They must complete the non-negotiable task of working outside the family business for four years before being allowed to work within the winery. A beautiful clause, it encourages hard work and avoids entitlement. And it's worked. The daughters ooze with appreciation of the business and a keenness to continue the legacy. Brown Brothers have just relabeled their 18 Eighty Nine range, each fit with a different chair from their family table and a different tale of the family. This dry range includes a fruity Chardonnay, a Shiraz made in Heathcote and a savoury Cabernet Sauvignon. 239 Milawa Bobinawarrah Road, Milawa VIC 3678, brownbrothers.com.au Dal Zotto Wines – Practice and Prosecco Otto, Eleanor, Christian and Michael Dal Zotto are sitting around the large table in their trattoria in King Valley. While Italian voices are coming from one end and Australian accents from the other, there is no denying they are related. Mother, father and two sons. As the kitchen serves up divine, simple, sharing style Italian cooking, the wine begins to pour. A Prosecco to begin, of course. The two wine glasses in front of each person are instantly filled. Then the gentle bickering begins. Where are the rest of the wine glasses? After all, it is only right that each guest have the opportunity to taste all the wines on the table at once. After lunch, stuffed to the brim, they take their guests outside for a throw of the bocce ball, a run with the two dogs in the kitchen garden and to play with the many grandchildren that live just next door. What began as Otto and Eleanor's business — pioneering Prosecco in Australia — is now strongly ingrained in the lives of their children. Michael takes the reigns as the winemaker while Christian looks after the marketing. Spend an afternoon in their trattoria with them if you get the opportunity. The passion is tangible. 4861 Wangaratta-Whitfield Road, Whitfield VIC 3733, dalzotto.com.au Pizzini – Community and Chardonnay Roberto and Rose Pizzini, along with their three children migrated from the Northern Italian Alps to Australia back in 1955. Lost for what to do, digging potatoes became their bread and butter. This later turned into tobacco growing. None of these felt quite right to the Pizzinis. It was only when Brown Brothers planted their first grapes in the King Valley in 1978 that the Pizzini family began farming grapes. A collection of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Shiraz were farmed by Alfred and Katrina and sold to different winemaking companies around Australia. Over the next twenty years Alfred Pizzini began trying his hand at two relatively unknown Northern Italian red grape varieties — Nebbiolo and Sangiovese — and later the white Italian varietals Verduzzo, Picolit and Arneis. It was only in 1994 that Alfred and Katrina Pizzini began the Pizzini label with their signature chardonnay. As they began to build their business they realised they needed to help build up the local area as well. After a cellar door was created from tobacco drying kilns, the Pizzini's invested in three local hospitality venues around town. A little restaurant in Oxley, the Mountain View Hotel in Whitfield and finally they renovated a cottage on the property and turned it into a self-contained B&B. Fast forward to today, Katrina Pizzini running a thriving cooking school, the winery is one of the biggest in the area and the King Valley is never short of wine enthusiasts. The winemaking is now in the capable hands of their son Joel. 175 King Valley Rd, Whitfield VIC 3733, pizzini.com.au
Dress in your very best Aussie finery and make your way to the Grosvenor Hotel. The iconic Brighton Road pub is going all-out for the public holiday, offering free entry from midday and handing out Australia Day prizes for best and worst dressed. Just remember, there's a very fine line between wearing something ironically and just looking like a tool. Do it right. The radio will be tuned to triple j, of course, while all pints will be priced at $10. They'll also be offering deals on food, including $15 lamb burgers and $5 lamingtons.
Just look at that hair. This large-scale installation — which not-so-subtly resembles the dome of Donald Trump — is the work of Canadian-born visual artist Callum Morton. Titled Monument #32: Helter Shelter 2018, the giant protruding head is now on display along Barangaroo Wharf, and you're welcome to sit inside its cavernous fiery interior, too (if you feel comfortable doing so). Morton's thought-provoking and shelter-providing sculpture is on display along with two other works as part of Carriageworks' annual art fair, Sydney Contemporary. Joining the head is Cameron Robbins' installation Remote Sensor, which combines elements of nature, wind, the tides and light in a series of drawings, photographs and moving images that will take residence along the Barangaroo foreshore. If you visit at the right time, you might also catch Mel O'Callaghan's breath-based performance, Breath repertoire. O'Callaghan and Sydney Dance Company will perform an intense movement-focused performance that uses intersecting graphic lines as a language and musical score for the dancers at 12.30pm on September 6, 7 and 13 at Barangaroo's Exchange Place. All three installations are free to view and will be on display until September 24. Sydney Contemporary will return to Sydney for its fourth year on the weekend of September 13–16. The lineup is overflowing with performances, exhibitions, tours, talks and afterparties that celebrate both homegrown and international art. The installation works at Barangaroo for Sydney Contemporary are now open from August 31 through September 24. Check the website for more information.
On September 10, Sydney staged for a huge public rally through the city streets, flying rainbow flags (and dogs) to demand marriage equality and a 'Yes' vote. And now, on Sunday, October 22, Melbourne will do the same. It will be one last rally to urge the country to vote affirmative before the ballot closes on November 7. So send off your vote and get marching. Support group Equal Love is running the rally, urging Australians to campaign for a 'Yes' vote and support all LGBTI+ Australians. Starting at the State Library of Victoria at 1pm, the march will then snake up to Alexandra Gardens for a series of speakers and live performances. With the majority of Australians (a whopping two-thirds) supporting marriage equality, the rally should be stacked. Wear rainbow. Be loud. Images: Letícia Almeida.
Melbourne has been a real pageant queen lately, having now been crowned Miss Most Liveable City for seven years in a row. We've all seen the glossy shots of laneway cafes and Federation Square that we're known for, and it's true that Melbourne looks great under the sun. But locals know that after dark is when Melbourne truly shines. The city's nightlife is the best on offer in Australia at the moment, and with public transport running all night on weekends, you can enjoy it even more. Instead of waiting out surges, jostling for cabs or sharking innocent pedestrians in an attempt to nab a park, jump on a late-night tram, train or bus and own the night. There's so much on offer at all hours of the eve, and we've got some tips to help you get to know the darker side of Melbourne. SUNSET AT THE BEACH Start your night by jumping on the 96 tram and heading to St Kilda beach. Grab an ice cream or pastry along Acland Street (don't worry about eating dessert before dinner — there are no rules tonight) and head to the sand to sit back and watch as the sun goes down and Luna Park lights up. People-watching is the name of the game here, and dusk is the time of day when all the kookiest subjects come out to play. COCKTAILS AND JAPANESE WITH A TWIST When you've brushed all the sand out of your crevices, it's time to eat. Jump on the 5 tram to Chapel Street, get off at stop 32, and wander down Chapel Street as it comes alive for the dinner rush. Head to Mr Miyagi for dinner, a southside favourite. They don't take bookings for groups of five or less, which is excellent news for cocktail lovers. Wait for your table in their adjacent bar, Yukie's, and sample from their experimental cocktail menu — try the salted watermelon martini garnished with Midori-infused faux olives. Once you're installed at Mr Miyagi's, try their signature snack: the salmon nori taco with grilled salmon belly, sushi rice and spicy mayo, all wrapped up in a seaweed case. Excellent fuel for the long night ahead. POST-DINNER ROOFTOP FEATURE Once you're sufficiently stuffed, prepare your bod for a digestive respite. Head to Windsor Station to get the train to Flinders Street Station. From there, jump on a tram heading up Swanston Street (heck yeah, free tram zone), get off at Bourke Street Mall and head to Rooftop Cinema. For the next few months, they'll be running a cinema program on the roof of the Curtin House building. It features a good mix of cult classics, new releases, deckchairs and a killer view of the city — it's the perfect intermission for your late-night antics. POOL, CRAZY MILKSHAKES OR AFTER-HOURS BOWLS Once you've fully digested both film and food, it's time to kick it up a notch. You have a few options. Take the 86 or 96 trams out to Fitzroy and stop in at the Red Triangle Pool Hall on Argyle Street. Play a few games of pool, and to keep it interesting, make it so the loser buys the winner one of Red Triangle's disgustingly indulgent milkshakes. But if you like your balls close to the ground, stay on the tram a little longer and head up to Fitzroy Bowls Club — it stays open until 10pm and is fully licensed. We recommend booking ahead to guarantee your spot. MIDNIGHT CBD BAR HOPPING Once you're deep in the night, jump on the 86 or 96, and head back into the city. From here, you can choose your own adventure depending on how you feel. We recommend Boilermaker House on Lonsdale for excellent craft beer; Heartbreaker on Russell for pizza, dancing and more pool; Siglo on Spring Street for pure class; Gin Palace down Russell Place for quiet, sexy ambience; or New Guernica to get heavy. Or better yet, take advantage of that free tram zone and stop in at them all. LATE NIGHT KARAOKE No late night is complete without a spot of karaoke. If you need privacy to belt out your heartfelt rendition of When Doves Cry (no judgement — we respect your craft), head to KBOX on La Trobe and book yourself a booth. If you know no shame and want the world to hear your siren song, head to Jankara Karaoke. This tiny, weird karaoke bar on Russell Street is always packed full of people who have no business doing karaoke, but who do it anyway and with unbridled enthusiasm. [caption id="attachment_639262" align="alignnone" width="1620"] Anwyn Howarth.[/caption] EVENING'S END EATS When the night is wrapping up, the sun is peeping over the horizon and you're in serious need of a snack, late night food options are abundant in the city. Shujinko on Russell is 24-hours and Stalactites, everyone's favourite late-night souvas slinger, is also open 'round the clock. And if you need a pick me up, Little Bean Blue on Little Collins opens at 6am, ready to caffeinate you so you don't fall asleep on the tram home — that's definitely not a good look. Whatever you're planning for the weekend, whether it's staying out after midnight or up until dawn, the Night Network will take you wherever you need to go — and then get you home again. Lead image: Brook James.
First, the bad news for Marvel Cinematic Universe fans: the reports about the big- and small-screen franchise starting to space out its output are coming to fruition with its next big streaming series Echo. Now, the good news: the five-part miniseries just released its first trailer, and promises rage, darkness, focusing on a superhero who is deaf, bringing back Kingpin and also dropping its entire season at once come January. Echo was previously locked in for a November release, as one of two MCU shows due to stream this spring. While the first series on that list, the second season of Loki, did indeed arrive as planned, Echo has now been pushed to 2024. Hopefully good things will come to those who wait, with this Hawkeye spinoff slated for Wednesday, January 10. While Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox) is at Echo's centre — as first seen in Hawkeye, she's the gang leader who is deaf that had Clint Barton in her sights for a stint of revenge — the show's debut trailer gives narrating duties to Kingpin (Vincent D'Onofrio, Dumb Money) to set a brooding tone. "You have so much pain in you, so much rage, that you can't contain it," says the character also seen in Hawkeye, and before that in Daredevil as well. "You and I are the same," Kingpin continues amid sound design that lives up to the show's moniker. When all five instalments of Echo hit at once, the series will enjoy a first for the MCU on streaming. As viewers who've been watching along since WandaVision's small-screen arrival know, Disney+ usually drops a few episodes at once for each MCU entry, then unfurls the rest weekly afterwards ‚ but this one will arrive all at once on the same day. Story-wise, Echo follows Maya as Kingpin's criminal empire chases her down — and as the initial sneak peek illustrates, that ties in with her past. So, yes, this is an origin story. Also featuring alongside Cox and D'Onofrio: Chaske Spencer (The English), Tantoo Cardinal (Killers of the Flower Moon), Devery Jacobs (Reservation Dogs), Cody Lightning (Run Woman Run), Graham Greene (The Last of Us) and Zahn McClarnon (Dark Winds). Check out the trailer for Echo below: Echo will stream via Disney+ from Wednesday, January 10, 2024. Images: Chuck Zlotnick. ©Marvel Studios 2023. All Rights Reserved.
When you're whipping up a batch of cookies, do you spoon your creations onto the tray and pop them straight into the oven, or do you sneak a taste of the delicious, uncooked dough? We all know that we should say the former — and we all really do the latter. Eating the mushy morsels we'll call pre-bikkies is frowned upon thanks to that little thing called food safety; however New York's newest cafe has the solution. Dō makes their cookie dough from pasteurised eggs and heat-treated flour that ensures those gorging on their products won't get ill. After selling their wares online, they've branched out into the bricks-and-mortar space, setting up shop in Greenwich Village. https://www.instagram.com/p/BPfiYFHF0m4/?taken-by=cookiedonyc There, you'll find scoops of dough, served with or without ice cream, plus sundaes, ice cream sandwiches and cookie dough milkshakes. Pick from flavours such as sugar cookie, brownie batter, salty and sweet, cake batter and peanut butter snickerdoodle — from a range of five classic, eight signature and three seasonal varieties — then indulge in guilt-free gooeyness. Baked snacks such as actual cookies, cookie sandwiches, and cookie cakes are also available, but where's the fun in that? Or, try cookie dough fudge, cookie dough ice cream pie, cookie dough brownies or a cookie bomb — which looks like a cupcake, but is actually dough and frosting. Yum. Via Food and Wine.
Thought gin was just a balmy summer bev? This winter, riverside bar Pilgrim invites you to rethink that old cliche, as you sit down to one of its new gin-matched high tea sessions, primed for the crisp afternoons to come. Kicking off Thursday, May 27 in collaboration with gin festival Juniperlooza, the new high tea series is set to run Thursday–Sunday through the cooler months from 12pm–6pm each day. You'll be able to book in for an indulgent feast of sweet and savoury delights, paired with a whole slew of drinks for a bargain $65 per person. Not only is free-flowing sparkling wine promised, but in a nod to the winter temperatures, you'll also enjoy four signature tea-inspired gin cocktails. Think: warm serves of Brookies Byron Slow Gin with apple and chai, or Alchemy's Chamomile Gin finished with a touch of pineapple and lemon. Regular tea is also included in unlimited amounts for the tea-lovers out there, and you can opt for non-alcoholic gin varieties if you're taking a break from the hard stuff. The high tea sessions run for two hours each and are available for groups of two or more.
No one plays with a Barbie too hard when the Mattel product is fresh out of the box. As that new doll smell lingers, and the toy's synthetic limbs gleam and locks glisten, so does a child's sense of wonder. The more that the world-famous mass-produced figurine is trotted through DreamHouses, slipped into convertibles and decked out in different outfits, though — then given non-standard makeovers — the more that playing with the plastic fashion model becomes fantastical. Like globally beloved item, like live-action movie bearing its name. Barbie, the film, starts with glowing aesthetic perfection. It's almost instantly a pink-hued paradise for the eyes, and it's also a cleverly funny flick from its 2001: A Space Odyssey-riffing outset. The longer that it continues, however, the harder and wilder that Lady Bird and Little Women director Greta Gerwig goes, as does her Babylon and Amsterdam star lead-slash-producer Margot Robbie as Barbie. In Barbie's Barbie Land, life is utopian. Robbie's Stereotypical Barbie and her fellow dolls genuinely believe that their rosy beachside suburban excellence is infectious, too. And, they're certain that their female-championing realm — and them being female champions of all skills, talents and appearances — has changed the real world inhabited by humans. But there's a Weird Barbie living in a misshapen abode. While she isn't Barbie's villain, not for a second, her nonconformist look and attitude says everything about Barbie at its most delightful. Sporting cropped hair, a scribbled-on face and legs akimbo, she's brought to life by Saturday Night Live great Kate McKinnon having a blast, and explained as the outcome of a kid somewhere playing too eagerly. Meet Gerwig's spirit animal; when she lets Weird Barbie's vibe rain down like a shower of glitter, covering everything and everyone in sight, the always-intelligent, amusing and dazzling Barbie is at its brightest and most brilliant. This film has much to do, as a Mattel- produced affair that also skewers the brand, and both dotes on and parodies all things Barbie, must. The more askew it gets and revels in it, the better. Indeed, in a movie that not only overflows with a feminist perspective, but pokes glorious fun at the patriarchy — plus 90s male-fronted rock, car and horse obsessions, and men competing and one-upping each other (side note: do Kens have genitalless bulge-measuring contests?) — it throws in a glaring clash that couldn't serve the picture better. Barbies can be anything, be it President (Issa Rae, Insecure), a doctor (Hari Nef, Meet Cute), a diplomat (Nicola Coughlan, Bridgerton), a Nobel Prize-winning physicist (Emma Mackey, Emily), an author (Alexandra Schipp, tick, tick... BOOM!), a Supreme Court justice (Ana Cruz Kayne, Jerry and Marge Go Large), a journalist (Ritu Arya, Polite Society), a lawyer (Sharon Rooney, Jerk) and a mermaid (Dua Lipa, making her movie debut). They can also nearly have the film stolen from them by a Zoolander-esque himbo Ryan Gosling (The Gray Man) at his absolute funniest as Stereotypical Barbie's yearning Ken. Before Ken's stunning late-film, go-for-broke, 50s-musical-adoring song-and-dance number that deserves all of the awards, including for Gosling putting his crooning to use again post-La La Land and loving it, Barbie has to derail the Barbies' constant rotation of best days ever. Gerwig and her Greenberg, Frances Ha, Mistress America and White Noise helmer Noah Baumbach, who co-writes here, wouldn't have a storyline otherwise. Together and apart, the duo has a stellar pedigree in conveying the disappointments of simply being, a notion they pull back out of the box. For Stereotypical Barbara Millicent Roberts, her idyll shifts when her giant blowout party with all the Barbies, planned choreography and a bespoke song sparks thoughts about death for the first time. Next comes messy hair upon waking, burnt breakfast, a fall from her DreamHouse to her car — rather than floating down like a hand is airlifting her — and suddenly unarched feet that can't handle high heels. Only Weird Barbie has an inkling of what's going on, guiding Stereotypical Barbie to the real world to seek out whoever's playing with her, discover why they're less than blissful and fix that human to fix herself. Los Angeles, here she comes — to rollerblade in neon as everyone has known since 2022, and with Ken tagging along. Gosling's Ken is only one Ken, of course. Simu Liu (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), Kingsley Ben-Adir (Secret Invasion), Ncuti Gatwa (Sex Education) and Scott Evans (Grace and Frankie): they're other Kens. John Cena (Fast X) is a Ken mermaid. Michael Cera (Black Mirror) is Alan, and he's unique. In Barbie Land, everyone who isn't Barbie — even Midge (Emerald Fennell, The Crown) — sits in the Barbies' shadow. When, as they meet Mattel employee Gloria (America Ferrera, Superstore), her teen daughter Sasha (Ariana Greenblatt, 65) and the company's CEO (Will Ferrell, Spirited), Barbie and Ken learn that reality doesn't mirror that setup, their glossy polymer bubble bursts. Weathering a surreal existential crisis or not, and even being the butt of one of narrator Helen Mirren's (Shazam! Fury of the Gods) many wry jokes by name, Robbie is sparkling, warm and sincere. There's nothing PVC about her performance, which is equally light and heartfelt — and still gives Gosling all the room that he can thrust his spray-tanned chest into to deliver a hilarious physical comedy masterclass (and, although Robbie led Babylon, sometimes sashay like he's in Hollywood's Golden Age). Robbie, and Gosling also, keep shimmering when the film feels a touch careful, or falls slightly and briefly flatter. They're the sublime antidote when Barbie stresses that it's lampooning, rather than just doing it. And, though playing characters with painted-on fridge contents (her) and "just beach" as a job (him), they're what makes the movie feel wonderfully real and earnest even when — especially when — it's at its goofiest and silliest. Gerwig has directed a lively, zany, oh-so witty and pretty Barbie flick that's perfectly cast, a costuming showcase and, in Barbie Land, a production-design dream. With Baumbach, she's penned a knowing, mile-a-minute, meta-but-meaningful film that's a tribute and a takedown — happy celebrating Barbie's aspirational role and place in history since 1959, while calling out corporatised girl power, mainstream beauty standards, the ridiculous expectations placed upon women (basically dropping a sequel to Gone Girl's "cool girl" speech, in fact) and capitalism's intellectual property-hungry quest for control. Sometimes, the fingers that are moving Barbie's pieces are a touch too evident, pushing hard instead of just playing hard. Sometimes, they're a tad timid. Thankfully, these are minor issues, like choosing who Barbie should be when the possibilities are endless. This film's charms aren't quite infinite, but they're as ever-present as pink, pink and more pink in an ambitious, inventive and joyously entertaining movie that gave the world a fuchsia paint shortage.
Purrfect news, feline fans: everything a dapper doggo can do, a cute cat can as well. While that's an accurate statement in general, as anyone who has ever shared their life with both a pooch and a kitty will know, it's also the thinking behind Melbourne's returning animal event. From the folks behind the Dog Lovers Show comes the mouser equivalent: the Cat Lovers Show. If you wear the 'crazy cat person' label as a badge of honour, stop to pat every moggie you meet while you're walking down the street or spend your all of your spare time watching cat videos (or all of the above), then you'll want to block out Saturday, November 30 and Sunday, December 1 in your diary. Expect Carlton to come alive with the sounds of meows, with the event taking place at the Royal Exhibition Building on Nicholson Street. On the agenda: feline-focused education and celebration. Before you go thinking about adorable kitties wearing glasses and sitting at desks, or popping streamers and wearing party hats (awwwwwwwww), humans will be doing the learning and rejoicing. Really, what's more informative and exuberant than entering the Pat-A-Cat zone and getting cosy with cats of all shapes and sizes — and possibly taking one home with you? Watching a cat talent show or getting comfy at the Cat Cinema comes close, obviously. If that doesn't tickle your whiskers, attendees will also be able to take a purrfect match quiz to find out which type of cat suits them best, meet different breeds, listen to talks by experts and browse more than 120 stalls. You can get also get pampered while having a drink at the Purrfect Paws & Prosecco Parlour, and tuck into a cat-inspired food menu. Just remember: there'll be plenty of mousers in the Cat Lovers Show house, so you'll need to leave your own moggie at home.
Singapore is a haven for food lovers. You've got some of the world's finest restaurants (52 have at least one Michelin Star), plus countless hawker centres full of street food stalls serving fresh and tasty local dishes at incredibly low prices. Spectacular local restaurants and bars are also scattered all over the country. That's why we decided to create this one-of-a-kind food-filled Singapore holiday in partnership with Singapore Tourism Board and celebrity chef Nelly Robinson from Sydney restaurant NEL. It is a seriously special getaway, taking place from June 16–19. During the exclusive holiday, you'll stay in the luxurious Pan Pacific Singapore (located in the heart of the city) for three nights and spend a full day with Chef Nelly Robinson — going to some of the places which inspired his latest 'Taste of Singapore' menu. [caption id="attachment_864487" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Danny Santos[/caption] On the Saturday, you'll go on a unique three-hour food tour of Chinatown, hitting up a few local dining spots as well as the famous Chinatown Complex Food Centre — Singapore's largest hawker centre. You'll then spend all of Sunday with Chef Nelly. First off, he'll join you for a private cookery class led by Singapore cooking personality, Ruqxana Vasanwala (in her own backyard kitchen). This is an incredibly rare opportunity to cook with Chef Nelly himself. After eating your hard work for lunch, head to Mr. Bucket Chocolaterie for a special chocolate tasting. You'll try the bean-to-bar tasting set which showcases the team's sustainability efforts in using all parts of the cacao tree. What's next? After recharging back at the hotel for a short while, guests will go to Hopscotch for avant-garde cocktails before having dinner at the Michelin-starred restaurant, Labyrinth. It will be one magnificent day full of local food and drinks — with a famous chef, known for his bold and creative Sydney degustation menus, joining you for the ride. During the unique getaway, you'll also have the opportunity to explore Singapore at your own leisure, receiving a handful of recommendations from us. [caption id="attachment_892008" align="alignnone" width="1904"] Hopscotch[/caption] Head to the Concrete Playground Trips website to book your spot on this exclusive culinary journey in Singapore with Chef Nelly Robinson, taking place from June 16–19. But hurry, only a limited number of tickets are available. Images: Singapore Tourism Board
If you fancy ringing in 2018 with a classic Aussie feed and lots of locally made craft beers, then grab yourself a ticket to Stomping Ground's New Year's Eve feast. On December 31, the Collingwood Brewery will be dishing up a proper, three-course Australian BBQ dinner, to help you wrap-up the year in style. It's a bargain, too, with adult tickets $39 including a glass of celebratory bubbly, and kids tickets priced at just $15. As an added bonus, all of Stomping Ground's usual drinks lineup will be available at regular bar prices. That means you'll be partying on into the night sipping treats like the Gipps St pale ale, bubbles from Brunswick's Noisy Ritual and The Everleigh's bottled cocktails, instead of some sad NYE drinks package. There are two sittings to choose from — a family-friendly earlybird session from 5pm, or an 8pm sitting that'll let you camp out until 1am.
It's been 65 million years since dinosaurs went extinct, but they still keep roaring on screens big and small, in exhibitions dedicated to the prehistoric creatures, and in dino-loving hearts and minds. If you happened to be at Bondi Beach today, Thursday, July 27, you might've also noticed one wandering around — and a seven-foot velociraptor at that. Yes, a dino roamed around one of Australia's most famous beaches. Yes, obviously it wasn't a real dinosaur, but fans of the Jurassic franchise will be happy to go along with it. And yes, this clever girl did look supremely lifelike. Also yes: life really does find a way. The velociraptor was first spotted at Marks Park, then made its way to the beach's south end. Next, following a stint near Icebergs, it ventured up around Bondi Pavilion. That's where it was captured — or, really, where the promotional stunt for Jurassic World: The Exhibition came to an end. Letting a realistic-looking dino loose on Bondi was all about letting people know that the Jurassic World showcase that's been touring the world will hit Sydney this spring, and celebrate 30 years since the first Jurassic Park movie rampaged through cinemas in the process. Before now, the exhibition has made its way to London, San Diego, Paris, Madrid, Seoul, Shanghai, Toronto and more, complete with life-sized and lifelike versions of the movie franchise's animals. What do Bondi Beach and Isla Nublar have in common? Dinosaurs now, although Bondi didn't score its own version of the famous Jurassic Park and Jurassic World gates. That entryway will be on show at the exhibition, however, when it arrives at the 3000-square-metre SuperLuna Pavilion at Sydney Showground in Sydney Olympic Park from Friday, September 22. Tickets are now on sale for Jurassic World: The Exhibition, which is another reason for the promo stunt. Sadly, there were no sightings of Sam Neill, Laura Dern or Jeff Goldblum at Bondi today — just the raptor. Add an ancient critter to the list of attention-grabbing Bondi pop-ups in the past year, including a Stranger Things rift, a giant rainbow sand sculpture in the countdown to Sydney WorldPride and a mass installation for photographer Spencer Tunick, which briefly turned the sandy stretch into a nude beach. It's been a big few years for pop culture-themed pop-ups in Australia, too, including Borat, Nicole Kidman, Homer Simpson and the creepy Red Light, Green Light doll from Squid Game also making an appearance in Sydney. Homer Simpson's huge head made its way to Queensland, too, while Melbourne has scored an Everything Everywhere All At Once-style multidimensional laundromat and a massive Timothée Chalamet mural to promote Dune. Jurassic World: The Exhibition will display at SuperLuna Pavilion, Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park from Friday, September 22 — head to the exhibition's website for tickets.
Remember when Melbourne's new observation wheel broke 40 days after opening and took three years to rebuild? Well, that was in the past and all is forgiven, because this year the Melbourne Star is hosting one of the most inspired events of Melbourne Music Week. If you buy a ticket on Friday, November 23, a musician will be waiting for you in your cabin. Who exactly it will be isn't known, but with artists anging from acoustic guitarists to rappers and DJs, your performer could be exactly your cup of tea — or not. But that's half the fun. Tickets are $34 and will get you a complimentary drink and two rotations on the wheel.
Victoria already boasts a hefty fleet of self-charging electric buses, but the system's about to become even greener, in a win for both the environment and commuters. Off the back of an extensive trial, the state's locally made Volvo hybrid vehicles are set to score new technology that'll allow them to achieve zero emissions along certain areas of their route. Once Volvo's new Zone Management system is fitted out across the whole existing fleet of electric buses, it'll enable them to run exclusively in electric drive mode when travelling through designated zones. That not only allows for the cut in emissions, but also means passengers can enjoy a quieter ride. Plus, other road users, pedestrians and outdoor diners aren't forced to cop an earful of those loud bus noises as the vehicles drive past. The Zone Management system is a first for Australia, run using a combination of geofencing technology and telematics — so a virtual perimeter enforced via technological means. Once installed, it'll help maximise vehicle performance, without the need for pricey charging infrastructure or dipping into the state's electricity grid. Keen to check out the difference for yourself? The system is already getting a run, with nine of Victoria's hybrid buses currently using the new technology, including those on inner-city bus routes 630 and 605. The system will be rolled out across the rest of the fleet over the next four months. Victoria's 50-strong hybrid bus fleet was officially launched in 2019, with the aim of saving 1724 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year. That's the equivalent of around 365 passenger vehicles, or the annual electricity usage of around 300 homes. View this post on Instagram A post shared by CDCVictoria (@cdcvictoria) The Volvo Zone Management system is currently being installed across CDC Victoria's entire fleet of hybrid buses. You can find out more about the company's sustainability efforts at the website.
We can only hope that one day, likely in a far distant future, documentaries will stop doubling as horror films. That time hasn't arrived yet — and as Collective demonstrates, cinema's factual genre can chill viewers to the bone more effectively than most jump- and bump-based fare. Nominated for Best Documentary Feature and Best International Feature at the 2021 Academy Awards (only the second time that's ever happened, after last year's Honeyland), this gripping and gut-wrenching Romanian doco starts with a terrible tragedy. On October 30, 2015, a fire broke out at a metal gig in Bucharest, at a club called Colectiv. Twenty-seven people died in the blaze, and 180 people were injured as they tried to escape via the site's lone exit; however, that's just the beginning of the movie's tale. In the four months afterwards, as burn victims were treated in the country's public hospitals, 37 more passed away. When journalist Cătălin Tolontan and his team at The Sports Gazette started investigating the fire's aftermath and the mounting casualty list, they uncovered not only widespread failures throughout Romania's health system, but also engrained corruption as well. This truly is nightmare fuel; if people can't trust hospitals to act in their patients' best interest after such a sizeable disaster, one of the fundamental tenets of modern society completely collapses. Early in Collective, director, writer, cinematographer and editor Alexander Nanau (Toto and His Sisters) shows the flames, as seen from inside the club. When the blaze sparks from the show's pyrotechnics, hardcore band Goodbye to Gravity has just finished singing about corruption. "Fuck all your wicked corruption! It's been there since our inception but we couldn't see," the group's singer growls — and no, you can't make this up. It's a difficult moment to watch, but this is a film filled with unflinching sights, and with a viscerally unsettling story that demands attention. Nanau occasionally spends time with the bereaved and angry parents of victims of the fire, even bookending the documentary with one man's distress over the "communication error" that contributed to his son's death. The filmmaker charts a photo shoot with Tedy Ursuleanu, a survivor visibly scarred by her ordeal, too. And yet, taking an observational approach free from narration and interviews, and with only the scantest use of text on-screen, Collective's filmmaker lets much of what's said rustle up the majority of the movie's ghastliest inclusions. There's plenty for Nanau to cover, and to galvanise viewers in the way that Romanians have been since the Colective blaze. The club's lack of safety measures and the fact that it was permitted to run without fire exits were met by protests, which saw the nation's Prime Minister resign. Tolontan and his team enquired into a different matter, though. Their focus: the deaths after the tragedy, the hygiene standards in hospitals treating victims and exactly how the Romanian health system operates. First, they hear about diluted disinfectants — sold that way by a shady manufacturer, then watered down again onsite — that led to otherwise avoidable bacterial infections and then fatalities in burns patients while they were supposed to be receiving care. On that subject, the Gazette journalists discover bribes, profiteering, the government's awareness and its willingness to let the whole scheme proceed. Then, after a scandal erupts, Collective is given astonishing access to newly appointed Health Minister Vlad Voiculescu as he tackles the situation. A former patients' rights advocate and activist, he's rightly alarmed again and again as he learns how Romania's hospitals work from the inside, and vows to clean up the broken system. But the more he tries, the more corruption he uncovers, and the more resistance he's met with by folks within the bureaucracy who don't want anything to change. Collective is a dense, painstaking and information-heavy movie, and also a procedural one. Nanau follows the committed Tolontan and his often shocked colleagues as they chase leads, attend press conferences and receive information from whistleblowers. He captures their stakeouts, too, and their thorough conversations about the course and purpose of their investigations. And, when the film broadens its scope in its second half to shadow Voiculescu, it gives him the same treatment. Internal government discussions start to fill the screen, as do the Health Minister's speeches and meetings; when he admits to one group of survivors that "the way a state functions can crush people sometimes," it's an almost perturbingly candid moment. If almost any aspect of this tale was unfurled in a fictional feature, instead of in this tightly framed fly-on-the-wall style documentary, the audience would think that it's too much. A dramatisation is bound to happen, likely as a Spotlight-style Hollywood movie starring a well-known name, but it'll never be able to match the power of seeing and hearing these appalling real-life horrors. One particular shot — not of the fire, but of a patient in the months afterwards — is so potent that it's searing, in fact. Surprisingly given the strength of the Romanian New Wave, which has given rise to a spate of stellar fictional features — including The Death of Mr Lazarescu and 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days on the subject of health care, too — Collective is the country's first to garner any Oscar nods, let alone a couple. Shiny trophies don't make a great movie, of course, but this equally rousing and harrowing documentary is worthy of breaking that ground. A chronicle of cascading scandals, it's also an ode to the type of journalism that truly speaks truth to power and doggedly works to expose the cracks in society's foundations. More than that, it's a testament to the need for public scrutiny over all forms of authority, as well as a portrait of what can happen when the few are left to oversee the many unchecked and with only their own best interests at heart. Every second, and every revelation that comes with it, only adds to Collective's traumatising status. There's hope in this film too, however, because thankfully this confronting documentary and its compelling record of those toiling against entrenched corruption exists. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5kkZAKjkiw
His video collection is filled with 80s and 90s educational films. When we chat, he's staring at a Teddy Ruxpin doll. If anyone was destined to make Brigsby Bear, a delightful, insightful comedy about a fictional television show and its number one fan, it's Saturday Night Live star Kyle Mooney. With Mooney in the lead, his childhood pal Kevin Costello with him on co-screenwriting duties, and another of their friends, Dave McCary, in the directors chair, Brigsby Bear feels like it has been ripped not just from Mooney's mind, but from his heart. It's the most earnest and genuine film you could imagine about an adult discovering that his favourite show isn't quite what he thinks — one that isn't afraid to give nostalgia a hearty embrace while wading through dark terrain. It's also a perfect addition to a career that started with web sketches with his friends in comedy troupe Good Neighbour and segued into the most famous late night comedy show there is. Along the way, he's also racked up parts on Parks and Recreation, the US version of Wilfred and Hello Ladies. With Brigbsy Bear currently screening in Australian cinemas, we spoke with Mooney about turning his VHS obsession into a movie, getting the confidence to make the leap to film, and doing so with his best friends. ON FINDING INSPIRATION IN GREEK CINEMA AND 80s VHS TAPES "I don't know how it came to me — if I was just hanging around the house or in some sort of dream state or what, but I became really obsessed with this idea of a guy who watches a TV show that's being produced just for him," explains Mooney. "And I kept on thinking about that concept until eventually the story became not just that, but more about the world he explores after that, and outside of that." "There was a movie that came out a few years ago called Dogtooth. It has some similar qualities, with a family being raised in seclusion, so maybe that played a part. But generally I couldn't tell you where it came from, except from me being that obsessive myself, and watching these shows — I have a big VHS collection of kids shows, and I watch them over and over again." "It's mostly stuff that's made for kids, and mostly stuff from the 80s and 90s. I especially really like stuff that was released straight-to-video, and was produced regionally. And where there's maybe only 200 copies made. Educational films, religious videos, stuff like that. What I really like is when it has a low budget, and low production values, but you can tell that whoever's in charge of this thing is trying to do their best impression of Jim Henson or Walt Disney — and it's totally not working." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sgs81IOU0m4 ON MAKING THE LEAP FROM SHORTS, TO SNL, TO HIS FIRST FEATURE FILM "I started working on videos with Dave, our director, in my early 20s — right out of college. And with every video you learn something. And then, after a few of them you start trying new things, and you add people to the crew, or maybe start to put a little more money into the production. So it was kind of a gradual build where the stakes rise a little more each time." "By the time we got SNL — I went there with Dave and with Beck Bennett, who's a cast member who is also in our movie — again, there is a little more pressure at it, but you get used to it. And now you're working with a huge celebrity host each week! And you do that for a few years, and it has been building so that, by the time we were on set last summer shooting the movie, I felt pretty prepared." ON MAKING A MOVIE WITH HIS CHILDHOOD BEST FRIENDS "We had all of these shared experiences. With Dave and I, like, there was this very specific kid who went to middle school with us. And I can just be like, 'Jim said this in science class in 1998', or whatever it is, and we can get a laugh out of it. And there's just a level of trust that's there, I think, when Dave is directing me. He knows what I'm capable of. We have the same sensibilities, pretty much." "So it's easy for me, and I think it relieves a lot of the pressure of working on something and not knowing how it is going to turn out. We're also all in it together — and we fail together and we succeed together. But yeah, certainly like having so much history and sharing a sensibility helped." "And I had enough fun on that set that I felt like, 'if this is all we get out of it, I feel pretty good'. Even if the movie didn't turn out well, I would've just considered it a rad summer where we got to work on something together. When we weren't shooting, we would hang out in our hotel rooms or get beers or sing karaoke. It was truly a wonderful crew and cast, and it's nice that what comes through on screen is true to what the experience was like." ON THE FILM'S EARNESTNESS AND OPTIMISM "We have so much genuine love for the things we were trying to recreate. The Brigsby show that's in the movie — I love children's entertainment, and we never wanted to poke fun. I think we always really wanted to pay tribute to it." "And also, the film's underlying theme of creativity, or storytelling, or finding something that you love — we never felt like we wanted to make fun of that. We just wanted to embrace it. We just really liked the idea of playing everything earnest and honest, and hoped the laughs would come along naturally along the way." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MdrGM27yQ8 Read our Brigbsy Bear review.
If, when it comes to karaoke, you consider yourself a bit of a pro, you'll be damn pleased to hear that Melbourne is getting it's very own festival dedicated to your favourite pastime. Run by the same people who brought us last year's hugely successful Melbourne Dumpling Festival, the Melbourne Karaoke Festival is guaranteed to be a whole lot of fun — for singers and spectators alike. The festivities will kick off at 5pm on Friday, April 28, and will involve a series of sing-offs between karaoke hopefuls across three categories: solos, duets and bands. A panel of judges will award a handsome $1000 cash prize to the best competitor from each category, so start warming up your vocal chords to be in with a shot. For those who'd prefer to keep your singing skills confined to the safety of your shower (we hear ya), you can still have a chance at winning a sweet karaoke package worth over $1500. You just need to name your ultimate karaoke song and back it up in 25 words or less. Of course, liquid courage will be readily available, with Collingwood's Sample Brew at your service all night. If you're one of the first 400 to visit their pop-up, you'll even score a free beer. And what's karaoke and beer without dumplings? To complete the trifecta, take your pick from some of Melbourne's best CBD Chinese restaurants, including Tim Ho Wan, China Red, China Chilli and Dragon Boat. Follow it all up with limited edition disco doughnuts by St. Gerry's. If you don't feel like paying, don't — just hit the high notes and your dessert is on the house. The event is being held at 206 Bourke Street, which is the retail precinct Tim Ho Wan is located in and connects Bourke Street with Chinatown.
In 1961, Hannah Arendt (Barbara Sukowa) was one of the world's leading academic writers and thinkers, a rock star figure at the university she taught and a fiery leading light amongst the Manhattan intelligentsia. Having escaped from her native Germany as the persecution of Jewish people began though, the spectre of the Holocaust was never far from her thoughts. An opportunity to return to her homeland arises when the New Yorker commissions her to travel to Germany and cover the trial of Adolf Eichmann. Known as the 'architect of the Holocaust', Eichmann was a high-ranking Nazi lieutenant responsible for transporting Jewish people to concentration camps. After the fall of Berlin, he had escaped to South America before being rounded up by Mossad agents and returned to Europe for the 'trial of the century'. Instead of being struck by his coldness or inhumanity at the trial, however, Arendt instead finds Eichmann an "unimpressive" and "unremarkable" figure, who presents himself as a bureaucrat who merely followed orders. Her reaction was not the one she expected, nor one many people wanted to hear, but her bafflement at Eichmann's approach to the trial went on to inform a work which helped readers understand how an almost unfathomably dark chapter in human history had unfolded. The process of writing has long been a difficult one to capture on screen and Hannah Arendt is not immune to this problem, settling for ho-hum shots of Sukowa sitting at a typewriter, endlessly smoking cigarettes, or looking deep in thought as her magazine editors pound the phones, eager for the elusive first draft. The film's main focus, however, is not the process of thinking through the trial and writing the controversial article (it was later expanded into a book) but the fallout after it was published. Many thought it a betrayal of her own Jewish heritage or a slanderous, self-serving provocation. The university where she once received gooey-eyed affection from her adoring students asks her to justify her continued employment there and social schisms spring up as former friends and allies turn against her. Directed in solid, determinedly no-frills style by Margarethe Von Trotta, Hannah Arendt is a reminder that a work which is now almost universally accepted as a key insight into the horrors of the Holocaust and the operation of a genocidal machine was considered incendiary and worse at the time of publication. Still, it's not until a late scene where Arendt faces a hostile crowd at a public speaking engagement that this seems to really get to the heart of what made her such a vital figure. For a film centred on a fearless, headstrong character who many saw as arrogant, there's something just too polite about Von Trotta's biopic, a film likely to inspire but not really satisfy, further curiosity in Arendt's work. https://youtube.com/watch?v=WTQNWgZVctM
There’s no nice way to put it: Aloha is a mess. It's not a hot mess, despite its disorganised array of attractive actors and its scenic setting. It's not a fun mess, because it rarely entertains. Instead, it's the worst kind of cinematic clutter: an indulgent mess. Aloha is a movie that hasn't met a cliche it doesn't love — and given that its writer/director, Cameron Crowe, has met many in his past efforts (such as Jerry Maguire, Elizabethtown and We Bought a Zoo), that's saying something. It's also a feature with so little to show or say outside of its rehash of the filmmaker's usual plotline — down-and-out man is refreshed by the attention and affection of a younger woman — that it spends a fair chunk of time referencing its title in dialogue, songs and even on fridge magnets. The film's main tale focuses on former NASA worker turned defence contractor Brian Gilcrest (Bradley Cooper), who returns to the Hawaii base where he once spent the best years of his career. He's tasked with negotiating permission from the locals to move US military operations to another site, which links in with the shady work he's doing for an eccentric billionaire (Bill Murray). While there, he also confronts old issues with his ex-flame (Rachel McAdams), who's struggling with marital problems with her strong, silent-type husband (John Krasinski). Brian's every move is shadowed by an eager fighter pilot, Allison Ng (Emma Stone), assigned as his handler — and of course, soon they're flirting with becoming more than colleagues. As overly sincere as it is sprawling, Aloha exists to trade in Crowe's usual brand of rom-com optimism and self-belief, love conquering all mid-life crises and all that. Sometimes, the filmmaker doing what he does best results in flashes of corny charm, as glimpsed in the banter between Cooper and Stone, and a dance shared by the latter with Murray. Too often, however, he's content with trifles such as featuring a rotating handheld shot around Cooper, Stone and McAdams, or making a joke out of Cooper and Krasinski communicating without words, or shoehorning in a space hacking threat as the movie's climax. This seesawing between too-cute, too-contrived and too-clumsy might have been excusable if the characters immersed in such shoddy plots and shots remotely resembled people, other than physically, that is. Alas, the figures on screen never transcend their status as the idealised imaginings of a dreamer, nor do the corresponding performances. Saying that Stone steals the show is a reflection of her natural pep and flair, not of her ability to repeat the reasoning for her playing someone with partial Hawaiian heritage. Of her co-stars, Cooper is in stock-standard mode and Murray is barely glimpsed, alongside the rest of the high-profile cast, Alec Baldwin and Danny McBride included. Even the one element that typically, reliably stands out in Crowe's films — his use of music, as seen in Say Anything and Almost Famous, for example — doesn't hit the mark. When a movie has to resort to Murray announcing "everybody wants to rule the world" moments before the track is heard, it's hard to get swept away in the emotion of the scene. It's hard to get swept away in Aloha altogether; in fact, you might just want to sweep its mess from your memory.
Across Australia, tactics to stop the spread of the coronavirus are implemented at a state-by-state level, which means that different parts of the country have been navigating the situation in different ways. That's where the nation's varying, seemingly ever-changing domestic border restrictions come in — and why hopping across the country has been a rather complex task for much of the past 12 months. In Western Australia, the state initially implemented a hard border and strict quarantine requirements with the rest of the nation. WA's border system then changed late in 2020, moving to a controlled interstate border that classifies other states according to their COVID-19 risk and puts restrictions in place accordingly. But if you live in or visited a state that's deemed medium risk or higher, it has still meant that you can't go to WA unless you receive an exemption. Victoria has been in that category since January 1; however, come 12.01am on Monday, January 18, it'll revert back to the low risk category. So, as announced on Friday, January 15, Victorians and those who've been in the state in the past 14 days can now head west — although there is still a quarantine requirement. https://twitter.com/MarkMcGowanMP/status/1349997552918175746 Low-risk states have had fewer than five community cases per day across the past 14 days — but travellers from the area are still required to self-quarantine for 14 days. You'll also need to get a health screening at Perth Airport if arriving via air, and take a COVID-19 test on the 11th day of your quarantine no matter how you've arrived in WA. If you don't have somewhere to self-quarantine, you'll have to do so at a government-approved site at your own expense. And, you'll still need to apply for a G2G Pass, which is mandatory for everyone entering the state. To move down to the very low risk category, WA requires Victoria to have no community cases for at least 28 days. Currently, as at Saturday, January 16, Victoria has hit ten days. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Western Australia, and the state's corresponding restrictions, visit its online COVID-19 hub.
The Year of the Rabbit is launching with an auspicious bang right in the heart of the CBD at QV Melbourne. From Friday, January 20–Thursday, January 26, the precinct is going all out for its Lunar New Year festivities, complete with a giant luminous bunny installation. Dancing Bunnies will descend on QV Square from 10am–10pm daily, featuring eight rabbits towering at 4.5 metres tall, backed by soundscapes and decked out with glowing lights each night. You can snap a photo with the giant bunnies any time for free, while the first 50 QV customers to spend $20 onsite each day and visit the installation will be in with a shot at winning prizes via a lucky red envelope. Meanwhile, the Chinese Masonic Society will be treating audiences to traditional lion dances at 7pm on January 21, 22 and 26, handing out more lucky envelopes along the way. And as far as Lunar New Year feasting goes, you'll find a swag of options — including Old Beijing's exclusive LNY banquet menu, Korean street eats from Chunky Town, Taiwanese desserts courtesy of Meet Fresh, lively fare by Thai Town, Sura's Korean barbecue and more. You can even continue the festivities with a jam session at the multilingual Booths Karaoke. [caption id="attachment_884484" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sura Korean BBQ[/caption] Top Images: Old Beijing
UPDATE: JANUARY 30, 2020 — Sadly, for all of you who have your life jackets ready to go, this Saturday's Inflatable Regatta on the Yarra River has been cancelled. A fairly large storm — with rain, thunder and lightning — is predicted to hit Melbourne in the morning, leaving organisers with "no choice but to cancel the Yarra event" after assessing the risk it would cause to participants. If you already have a ticket, it'll now be valid for the Regatta's second event on the Maribyrnong on February 29. If you can't make that date, unfortunately your ticket won't be refunded — instead, you'll have to sell it to a friend or via Tixel. Now here's a good way to make an entrance to a party: float on in with a crew of 2000 boats. That's exactly what the Inflatable Regatta is all about. The blow-up boats will float for two kilometres down the Maribyrnong on Saturday, February 29. Solo or with a mate, you'll paddle down the river for about two hours before reaching the destination party. Should you make it to the end, beers, food trucks and live music will be waiting for you (after all, what's a regatta without a cold bev afterwards?). You can't load your boat with beer, though — you may actually sink your vessel — and you can't BYO vessel, either. Tickets cost $67 and include a life jacket and a waterproof bag for your stuff. Boats launch from 10am at Footscray Rowing Club (Feb 29) — you can choose your launch time when you book. While the Inflatable Regatta has floated into Melbourne before — three times in fact — this is the first time it'll be going west. Tickets are now on sale. Images: Eugene Hyland.
Finish off your weekend with a casual cycle through Melbourne's northern suburbs, and do it without even crossing a road by following the Merri Creek Trail. 21 kilometres long, the trail extends from Dights Falls and the Capital City Trail in the south, to Western Ring Road in the north. Follow the creek and pass the Coburg Lake Reserve, the Brunswick Velodrome and CERES Community Park, as well as garden spots, horse paddocks and sports ovals. An afternoon of cycling is a surefire way to build up an appetite, and luckily there a number of charming picnic spots along the trail — why not throw down a rug at the northern end, near the lush greens of Coburg Lake? Image: Brook James
It's official, Australia is going to be reppin' the glitter cannons, human-sized hamster wheels and furious fog machines at the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest. This morning, Australia has been announced as one of the competing countries for this year's contest, and we're even allowed back next year — if we win. Too kind. Australians will even be able to vote, probably at some whack hour of the day. Making a world stage of Vienna this time around, Eurovision is taking place from May 20 to 24, with the final exploding all over Stadthalle arena on May 23. So who's going to be our shining star, our glittering messenger to an estimated global audience of 195 million? Not Jessica Mauboy, who performed in last year's event with weird astronauts and dancers in budgie smugglers. Nope. While SBS is suggesting AC/DC and Midnight Oil (and Olivia Newtown John for some ungodly reason), we've got a few pitches of our own to make. Eurovision is about simultaneously bringing new faces to the world and earning ner-ner-ner-ner bragging rights for your country. Finland dressed up as orcs and played epic metal. Moldova danced in a circle with weird cone hats on. Germany put a disco Genghis Khan on stage. Let's show 'em. DONNY BENET If you've ever seen this Sydney maestro of groove live, you'll know Europe wouldn't be able to resist his seductive synthy basslines, sax solos and crisp white tuxedo jackets. If Benet had been the brains behind France's 'Moustache' track last year, they'd have earned a few more points. KIRIN J CALLINAN Because if we're going to meet the quirk of Eurovision halfway, we need Kirin. Things would undoubtedly get freaky. Plus, he'd give Conchita Wurst's beard a run for its money. CLIENT LIAISON Monte Morgan and Harvey Miller would 'Feed the Rhythm' inside 12 easy points from Malta with their applaudable live show. Plus, Monte wears a lot of mesh and Eurovision loves mesh. SIA The Grammy nominee would get 12 points for vocal range or oversized wig alone, but she'd probably bring along her dancetastic buddy Maddie Ziegler who would seal the deal. BLUEJUICE Get the band back together, bring the skipping ropes back on stage and channel all that newfound Boyz II Men goodness. TKAY MAIDZA Look, the kid's bloody talented, super fun live and if we could win Eurovision with a teenage rapper from Adelaide, we'd run the world. BRENDAN MCLEAN Certified king of dancing like no-one's watching, primed for the Eurostage after jigworthy escapades such as this killer video. UPDATE 11/2: Well, well, well. A dark horse joins the race. There's now a huge surge in support for a petition on Change.org, calling for the reunion of landmark Australian rock band TISM specifically to represent Australia at Eurovision 2015. "Since you left us in 2004, we've had a never ending parade of gormless depressing electro-indie, depressing indie-folk, and depressing Aussie hip-hop," say the petitioners. "We the undersigned, ask that you get on stage in front of the world and remind them of just how great Australian music is." They're up to over 500 signatures already. Want to add yours? Nominated by the Concrete Playground team.
If, this January 26, you're looking for a thoughtful way to reflect on the impact of the survival of Australia's First Nations people — and celebrate its many cultures — you should join the folks from Songlines for an afternoon of music and dance. Share the Spirit Festival — or Balit Narrun, which means 'strong spirit' — has been running since 2003, making this year its 18th. The event is presented by Songlines Music Aboriginal Corporation and, given it supports Aboriginal musicians, so you can expect to catch lots of great music throughout the day. Things will kick off at midday with a Welcome to Country and a performance by Narrm's own Djirri Djirri Dancers. Music will continue all the way through until 7pm, spanning folk to hip-hop and featuring Triple J Unearthed's Allara (aka Yorta Yorta woman Briggs Pattison) and Gamilaraay/Birri Gubba man — and Eurovision finalist — Mitch Tambo. Alongside the music, the Treasury Gardens will also be filled with market stalls, Indigenous art and lots of traditional crafts. It's free to attend, too.
Sydney will play host to the best bartenders in the world next year, when the 11th annual Diageo World Class Bartender of the Year Global Final heads Down Under. If you haven't heard of it, the competition pits the best bartenders from over 60 countries against each other. Apart from the main tournament, the competition includes a week-long festival of pop-ups, collaborations and tastings. So, while nothing has been announced just yet, expect Sydney to be buzzing with exciting one-off events come next spring. Launched in 2009, the competition boasts some notable local winners, including Bulletin Place's Tim Philips-Johansson (2012) and, most recently, Lûmé's Orlando Marzo (2018). This year's World Class, held in Glasgow, featured another Aussie finalist: Alex Boon — the lauded bar manager at the Melbourne instalment of The Speakeasy Group's famed Viking-inspired restaurant Mjolner. Bannie Kang of Singapore bar Antidote took out the top gong for 2019. [caption id="attachment_721694" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bulletin Place by Cesar Echeverri[/caption] The competition comes to Sydney at an exciting time, too, with Sydney's lockout laws set to be scrapped in the CBD early next year and the City of Sydney planning to introduce 24-hour trading in the area. The CBD is also home to an exciting lineup of new bars — including Maybe Sammy, Employees Only, Prince of York, Cantina OK! and Double Deuce Lounge — which have all opened in the last twelve months, and join world-class stalwarts like Bulletin Place, The Baxter Inn, The Lobo Plantation and PS40. The 11th annual Diego World Class Bartender of the Year Global Final will take place in Sydney in 2020. For more information and to stay up to date, head to the website. Top image: World Class 2018 winners, Orlando Marzo and Alex Boon.
From clowns to furry critters to dolls, 80s and 90s pop culture drew plenty of scares from childhood staples. Decades later, Hollywood is conjuring up plenty more by bringing it all back again. With the IT remake not only working a charm back in 2017, but releasing a star-studded sequel later this year, the folks behind it are reviving another old favourite: Child's Play. While the horror franchise released its last instalment, Cult of Chucky, as recently as 2017, the new Child's Play is starting all over again. Remaking the original 1989 movie, it'll re-introduce the world to the psychopathic flame-haired plaything with a lust for murder. This time, the toy will terrorise Aubrey Plaza, who plays a young mother to a son who comes into possession of the knife-wielding doll. Whether you've seen any of the seven other Chucky flicks or are too creeped out by the idea to watch, you can probably guess where the story goes — this time, however, the murderous plastic moppet has been updated for the 21st century. And if you're excited about the character's comeback, then you'll be just as excited to know that even more is in store, with a Child's Play TV series also in the works. Check out the unsettling first trailer for the new Child's Play movie below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFy8ZgLd574 Child's Play releases in Australian cinemas on June 20, 2019.
Bibliophiles, do you use writers festivals to hear from all of the authors that you've been reading over the past year? Are you on the hunt for your next favourite scribes? Do you see the program as a to-do list of books that you need to dig into before the fest rolls around? Whichever fits, 2024's Melbourne Writers Festival has you sorted. With some of the names on its just-announced lineup, you probably will have already devoured their work — and if you haven't with others, prepare to start poring over pages now. Set to run from Monday, May 6—Sunday, May 12, this year's MWF is the last under current Artistic Director Michaela McGuire — who has help this year from festival curators Mykaela Saunders and Ziggy Ramo. You'll find both the Koori/Goori and Lebanese writer and the Wik and South Sea Islander rapper on the program themselves, including the latter chatting about his memoir and performing live. Yes, that's just the beginning of 2024's festival frenzy. A heap of international names are making their way to the Victorian capital to celebrate words, words and more words. Before the Coffee Gets Cold's Toshikazu Kawaguchi is one such talent, in what'll be his first trip to Australia — and he's exclusively appearing at MWF. Irish novelist Paul Lynch, 2023's Booker Prize-winner for Prophet Song, is also a big drawcard. So is Ann Patchett, with the Tom Lake author heading Down Under for the first time in more than a decade. And, Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Michael Cunningham will pick up microphone as well, with The Hours just one of the topics that's bound to come up. Fancy pondering how to live your life, and also the ownership of the moon, with British philosopher AC Grayling? Hearing about Viet Thanh Nguyen's memoir A Man of Two Faces — and likely about Pulitzer Prize-winner The Sympathizer, too? Getting the inside info on being a food writer from Bryan Washington? Exploring Lauren Groff's Matrix and Fates and Furies? Add them to your schedule. If you're already feeling spoiled for choice, here's more options: Irish novelist Paul Murray has Booker Prize-nominee The Bee Sting to talk about; 2015 Australian of the Year Rosie Batty will share her memoir Hope; journalists Sean Kelly, David Marr and Laura Tingle will assess the past year; and a session called The Ghost in the Machines will contemplate AI's ability to make art. Let It Bring Hope is set to be a powerful part of the program, featuring three duos — each including an Aboriginal and a Palestinian poet — reading new works to each other. Tony Birch will team up with Samah Sabawi, Jeanine Leane with Micaela Sahhar, and Nayuka Gorrie with Sara Saleh. Don't miss MWF's workshops, too, whether you're keen for tips on putting your own personal insights to paper, taking risks, giving true-crime a spin or penning short fiction. Plus, The Gin Closet and The Empathy Exams' Leslie Jamison will be on hand to get everyone crafting on the Monday after the fest, with personal archives — such as emails, diaries and snaps — her focus, as well as the tales they help us tell. "After nine incredibly rewarding years programming writers festivals, I've never been more proud of a lineup than this one," said McGuire, announcing the 2024 program. "Old and new favourites come together in smart and surprising combinations to discuss the ghosts of history, past mistakes, past selves and the stories that haunt them. I count myself as an extremely fortunate literary citizen of Melbourne to be in the finest possible company this May." Melbourne Writers Festival 2024 runs from Monday, May 6—Sunday, May 12 at a variety of venues around Melbourne. For more information and to buy tickets, head to the festival's website.
Just when things are starting to get shivery cold, West Set 2019 will be here to warm you up. Starting Friday, June 14, the festival will fill the inner west with free live music for nine happy, happy days. More than 30 free gigs will take over pubs, bars, cafes, art houses and restaurants — all within walking distance of each other and Footscray Station. Start your day with a coffee and a singer-songwriter's soulful jams, then finish it with a craft brew and a rock concert. Kicking off all the action will be a launch party at Footscray's The Line, featuring singer-songwriter Alice Skye, whose singles 'Friends with Feelings' and '60%' have topped recent Aussie radio charts, soul-jazz infused vocal trio The Dusty Millers and hip-hopper Ziggy Ramo. Other acts slated to appear during the festival include Huntly, Gordon Koang, Donald's House, Culte, Ruby Jones and more. And, if you're a musician working toward a professional career, make sure you get along to the West Set workshop, which will cover the pros and cons of making music independently in Australia. West Set 2019 will take place around Footscray from June 14–23. Check out the rest of the program over here and keep across the updates via Facebook. Image: Culte.
If you didn't dedicate an autumn 2022 day to binging Heartstopper, then you probably weren't anywhere near your streaming queue or social media. As charming as romantic comedies, LGBTQIA+-championing tales, British series and coming-of-age stories can get, this webcomic-to-page-to-screen delight dropped all eight of its first-season episodes at once, became an instant Netflix hit and started many an obsession — regardless of whether you currently are or ever have been a queer teen trying to be true to yourself, navigating high school and riding the emotional rollercoaster that is falling in love. The great news: if you haven't seen it already, season one is obviously still there and waiting. The even better news: Netflix renewed the series for two more seasons last year because the first proved such a hit. And, the best news: the second season will arrive on Thursday, August 3. This winter, Heartstopper will be making tickers miss a beat again, and twice, with the graphic novel's author and illustrator Alice Oseman also back as the show's writer (and creator, obviously). It's easy to see why more Heartstopper is on its way — and not just because its narrative has continued past where season one stopped on both the web and in print. The first season hit the Netflix top-ten list in 54 countries, wowed audiences and earned the online attention to prove it, and made stars out of its delightful cast. Story-wise, Heartstopper heads to Truham Grammar School, where Charlie Spring (first-timer Joe Locke) was in year ten in season one. He found himself seated in his form class next to year 11 rugby player Nick Nelson (Kit Connor, Little Joe) at the start of a new term, with sparks flying swiftly and overwhelmingly — at least on Charlie's part — and a crush and then a life-changing love story blossoming. Season two will see the pair in the thick of their new relationship, and coping with exams, the prom and a trip to Paris. Also, Charlie's high-drama best friend Tao (fellow debutant William Gao) and recently out trans pal Elle (Yasmin Finney) will work through their bond, while her school friends Tara (Corinna Brown, Daphne) and Darcy (Kizzy Edgell) have their own challenges. There's currently four volumes, spanning five chapters, of Heartstopper on the page — and a fifth volume set to arrive in November 2023 — so fingers crossed there'll be even more seasons of the Netflix series in the future. Heartstopper season two doesn't have a trailer yet, but you can check out the date announcement video below: Heartstopper season two will stream via Netflix from Thursday, August 3. Read our review of season one. Images: Netflix.
