Like most FoLA events, Drift is less an artwork and more of an experience. Described as "a space for contemplation," the work itself is a dark room full of "twinkling single vessels" that offer audience members a space of tentative refuge. The work is then accompanied by music from Sydney-based creative Ashley Scott — a composition equal parts soothing and brooding that provides soundtrack to a work with obvious but important political undertones. This event was featured in our top ten things to see at the Festival of Live Art. See the full list here.
Good things are coming in big packages these days. White Night devoured the CBD whole last month, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival is right around the corner, and in the meantime we've been offered up the very first Festival of Live Art — a behemoth of a thing bustling with new and exciting work that closes the increasingly ambiguous gap between art and theatre. In a joint venture between Arts House, Theatre Works and Footscray Community Arts Centre, the festival will take place at multiple venues over the two-week period, and better yet: most events are free. Take a look at the program and plan your full experience, or drift in and out of our top ten picks. If you're up for a challenge, get stuck into the whole list — a decathlon of sorts (for us artsy types). The Festival of Live Art runs from March 14 - 30. For more information including session times and ticketing, check the website.
There's something eternally interesting about Yoko Ono. It's got a little to do with her mind-bending artwork, a bit more to do with the fact that she's a raunchy eighty-one-year-old nutjob, and a lot to do with the fact that she may have single-handedly maybe kind of broken up The Beatles. The woman is so divisive her name can be used as a verb. 'Yo.ko (v) 1. to ruin a universally loved creative endeavour'. Awkward. Regardless, we can't get enough of her. Sydney had its fill earlier this year with the amazing War is Over! (If You Want It) exhibition at the MCA, and now Melbourne's getting their turn. From April 9 - 23, Mossgreen Gallery in Armadale will be hosting the Australian launch of her new book Infinite Universe at Dawn. Documenting her most important pieces of art and activism, the book will be available for purchase, and an accompanying exhibition of limited edition artworks will also be on show in the gallery. Of the new book, which documents her life of art and activism, Ono said: "Seeds of ideas, like pebbles, were raining through my life. Genesis Publications has captured those seeds and presented them to you here, for your observation, selection and experimentation, to make their destination entirely yours.” Okay Yoko, whatever you say. Various limited edition prints will also be available for purchase from the exhibition on show April 9 - 23. Check the Mossgreen website for more information.
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is one of those truly democratic moments in our city's cultural calendar. While the Melbourne Festival always seems a little high-end, and Melbourne Music Week is just a bit too hip, MICF is a place for all — from bogans watching Dave Hughes to hipsters hanging out at the Festival Club waiting to catch the latest show you totally haven't even heard about yet. This year's lineup is a strange one. Big international names have been replaced by a cast of familiar regulars and there's a much larger focus on local talent. This is a welcome move for an industry that doesn't get much love over the rest of the year, but a devastating blow for those of us who are still waiting for the likes of Louis CK to come down under. Regardless, check out our picks of the litter — from the most innovative internationals to the stuff that downright defies classification. See the MICF website for a full program and keep an eye on Concrete Playground for more coverage in the coming weeks.
It's not every day that you're invited to play squash in a gallery. But Nick Selenitsch's latest exhibition, Play, is not your average show. In a refreshing take on the traditional gallery setting, this Melbourne-based artist has created artworks that can be both played with and observed as abstract sculptures. From the minute you step into Shepparton Art Museum, you're invited to interact with the artworks, throw a squash ball around, limbo, and get all-round handsy. Using easily available materials, Play is an exciting series of commissioned sculptures that appear to be part game and part test. Guest-curated by Danny Lacy (ex-director of SAM and current director of Westspace), the exhibition consumes the ground floor of the gallery and the sculptural forms are reminiscent of sporting games, territories and demarcated spaces. To hear more about the works, you can hear Danny Lacy in conversation with Nick Selenitsch at the SAM Out Late! artists' talk on Wednesday, March 19. But if you like your exhibitions a bit more sporadic, just turn up any time and limbo in the name of contemporary art. Image: Nick Selenitsch, Hitting the Wall, 2006 (Installation view).
Think that voting is just about which political party you want in? Well 20 Questions is here to prove otherwise. The Wheeler Centre — known for its literary exploration, will take to the streets of Melbourne with polling booths asking Melbourne about the big issues that shape our shared experience. They will also delve into the more trivial. Think questions like 'If you had to choose, would you prefer non-fiction or fiction?'; 'Happy endings or sad ones?'; 'Are you a summer person or a winter person?'; 'Do you believe in individuality or community?'; 'Gratification or anticipation?'; 'Would you rather outlive your partner or be outlived?'; 'Which is worse: war or famine?'; 'Drowning at sea or indefinite detention?' You can follow online with the hashtag #20questions if you want a piece of the action. At the end of the day — just like election day — there will be an old-fashioned election party at Melbourne Town Hall to look at the results and invite us all to think about what this means for our society. Commentators George Negus, Sophie Black, Bernard Salt and Ray Martin will be on hand to discuss the many findings. It will be an evening of comedy, thought and of course, healthy debate.
Are you an excellent dinner host? Like, 'multiple forks by the plate' good? Well, consider this exhibition a little bit of decorative inspiration. To coincide with the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, the National Gallery of Victoria have searched far and wide for the most incredible tablewares from the past few hundred years. Including ceramics, glass, cutlery and silverware, organisers claim the most impressive feats are those between the sixteenth to eighteenth century. And of course, the French did it best. While speaking of the collection, curator Amanda Dunsmore even claimed a lot of the tablewares developed at the court of Louis XIV are still used on our tables today. As magical as that thought is, and how interesting the history may be, you'll no doubt feel a little inferior when you head home to your dinner table and cutlery a la Ikea.
Fun runs are often not that fun. Sure, they have events at the finish line, and a whole lot of people, but at the end of the day it’s just a run. Well, enter The Color Run. Founded as a way to promote happiness and health, this 5km run involves a serious amount of paint. The rules are simple. One: everyone is welcome; walkers, athletes and everything in between. Two: wear white. Three: get covered in different coloured paints along the way and return to the finish line a beautiful mismatch of colours. There will be a party at the beginning, one at the end and four colour zones. We dare you not to smile as you go. This year it will be a Grand Prix edition, taking place around the Albert Park lake. And to top off the good vibes, The Color Run gives back to charity, with over $1 million going to charities to date. Don a white t-shirt, and get the sneakers ready. It’s Colour Run time.
The Shadow Electric — your favourite providers of leisurely bliss — are stepping up their game on February 23 to bring you a Bill Cosby-themed table tennis tournament. Why Bill Cosby? Well, why not? Don't be a killjoy. The tournament will be for teams of two, and you can register here prior to the day. Alright, let's do this thing. For those not entirely sold on the premise of Cosby alone, there will also be live music from Matt Radovich, No Name Nath, Nam (The Operatives), Kuya (The Operatives) and Regan Tate. This is in addition to the regular presence of food trucks, nitrus oxide ice cream from Them Bones, and $15 jugs of Pimms — ingredients for the ultimate Sunday session. Entry to the tournament is just $5 per player and, aside from the obvious awards for winners, there will be also be prizes for 'Most Enthusiastic Player Entourage' and 'Best Dressed Team'. Our hot tip is the Cosby sweater — any and all of them, forever.
In past years it feels as if there's been a surge in the sub-genre of romantic comedies that revolve around the 20-something commitment-phobes. Generally they feature a host of characters more attractive than you, resisting relationships for the sake of engaging in meaningless sex. Or, the kind of films Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis did to flush the Oscar winning demons of Black Swan out of their psyches in 2011. Are We Officially Dating (released in the US as That Awkward Moment) can be lumped into this category, while also having a stab at bro comedy. The film follows Jason (Zac Efron), Daniel (Miles Teller), and Mikey (Michael B. Jordan), who after the failure of Mikey's marriage, make a pact to stay single as a gesture of solidarity. Unsurprisingly, all three violate the agreement. Whilst first-time filmmaker Tom Gormican has an admirable goal — to depict the clunky transition from dating to relationship from a male perspective — this film's insipid plot and unfunny jokes make it, dare I say, 94 minutes worth of 'awkward moments', It's essentially a male version of Sex in the City; they're snappy dressers and waltz around Manhattan, fuelling their crude humour with chai lattes. This brand of sex-positivism doesn't have the quite same punch when paired with stereotypical 'dudes' and such a flimsy premise. Venturing out of the PG13 paddle pool and into cinematic adolescence, Efron plays Jason, an apparently sharp-minded graphic designer working at a chic New York publishing house. In a feat of Don Draper-esque brilliance, he impresses a client by drawing an impromptu stiletto for a book cover. (Ah, of course. The essence of woman boils down to footwear. It's psychology 101, folks.) It's difficult to shirk the film's reductive and vacuous depiction of women. Aside from the trio 'rostering' girls to bone at appropriate intervals so they don't get attached, the female characters are poorly drawn. They merely function as narrative goalposts, as if to assure us that there is in fact, a point. Imogen Poots plays Ellie, Jason's humble, bookish and bohemian love interest. Whilst instinctively likeable, a scene in which she reveals her deepest desire — a ridiculously big house in the middle of Manhattan — feels like a contradiction of character. There's also a touch too many penis jokes. In fact, it feels as if scenes are set up specifically for the purpose of penis jokes. For example, when Jason misinterprets a dress-up party and arrives with a sex toy hanging from his fly, leading to much 'cock'tail punning. All in all, if you're planning on a Valentine's Day movie with your significant other, you may want to think about spending your money elsewhere. To impart the film's single slice of wisdom, "Relationships are about being there for the other person." https://youtube.com/watch?v=UrdI3zAnzno
Today, you might want to set aside some time to start plotting the quickest route from your work to Coburg, because Moreland Road's newly opened Stretched Pizza is dishing up free pizza from 5pm. From the same team behind foodie hot-spots like Pizza e Birra and Long Story Short (in Brunswick and Port Melbourne), Stretched has had locals salivating since opening its doors a few weeks ago, and today — Thursday, April 19 — it's celebrating by treating its first 100 customers to a few slices of pizza, on the house. This ain't your average pizza situation either. Here, expect fluffy hand-stretched bases, many carrying weird-yet-wonderful topping combinations and cheeky names to match. We're talking creations like The Hangover, with its burger-inspired mix of bacon, ground beef, ketchup, mustard and American cheddar, and The Un-Pho-Gettable, where Vietnamese soup meets pizza in a tasty explosion of steak, sprouts, Sriracha and Vietnamese basil. Other hits include the more traditional combo of mushroom, ham, artichokes and olives, and the Lobster With The Mobster, featuring garlic prawns and peas. Stretched is destined to win over the masses too, thanks to a hefty range of vegan and vegetarian options, and the gluten-free bases that come at no extra charge. A true pizza blessing. Stretched Pizza's opening party kicks off from 5–7pm on April 19, with one free pizza going to each of the first 100 customers through the door. After 7pm, all pizzas will be priced at $10 for the rest of the evening. Find it at 53 Moreland Road, Coburg. For more info, visit stretchedpizza.com.au.
In previous years, Queen Victoria Market's Winter Night Market has proved one of Melbourne's favourite midweek winter pastimes. But the long-running event unfortunately won't be entertaining anyone in 2021, with the event series getting the axe for the second year in a row. Yesterday, Wednesday, July 29, organisers announced that the Night Market's 2021 edition has been cancelled, citing the ongoing impact of COVID-19 restrictions. The move comes after the 2020 event was also canned due to the extended lockdown that shut Melbourne down for much of last winter. In a statement, the QVM team revealed that they had hoped to push ahead with this year's Night Market, but that the ongoing impacts of the state's two recent lockdowns had crushed those plans. "The current crowd limits and ongoing delays have made it too challenging to proceed at this time, a theme sadly seen right across the Melbourne events industry," the QVM crew explained. Organisers acknowledged the cancellation news would be a huge disappointment to the many people involved, but assured punters that the decision to pull the pin had not been made lightly. Prior to the pandemic, the event had become a firm fixture of Melbourne's winter calendar, running from June to August. It usually sees hordes of locals descending on the QVM's heritage sheds each week to cosy up with serves of mulled wine, listen to live tunes and eat their way through an array of global food stalls. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Queen Victoria Market (@vicmarket) While the Winter Night Market has been scratched, QVM organisers took to Instagram to hint they'll be making up for the loss with some other fun offerings later in the year. "We are working on some exciting new events and activations that will continue to celebrate the vibrancy and culture of Melbourne and our Market, and we look forward to sharing them with you all soon," the team explained. The Queen Victoria Market's Winter Night Market will no longer take place in 2021. For more details, see the QVM website.
Miley Cyrus has cancelled her trip to Australia, and her performance at this week's World Tour Bushfire Relief, due to health concerns surrounding COVID-19. The US pop star took to Twitter to make the announcement, saying the decision was made after recommendations from "local, state, federal and international authorities, including the Center for Disease Control". Cyrus also said she'll still be making a donation to help the victims of the bushfires, and that she'll be "back soon". https://twitter.com/MileyCyrus/status/1237210910835392512 As a result, the charity concert has itself been cancelled. All ticket holders will be contacted by Ticketek shortly and receive a full refund. World Tour Bushfire Relief was due to take over Lakeside Stadium on Friday, March 13, with country music star Lil Nas X (of 'Old Town Road' fame), Aussie pop duo The Veronicas and DJ Seb Fontaine also on the lineup. Money raised would've gone to the WWF Australian Wildlife and Nature Recovery Fund, and the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal. Would Tour Bushfire Relief will no longer take place on Friday, March 13. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. Top image: Flickr via Karina3094.
There's a chance your finances have gotten in the way of your love life before. Maybe you've just matched with a cutie on your dating app of choice, arranged a date then realised you're a little tight on cash, or maybe you've scheduled a night out with your partner before realising payday isn't for another week. Don't fret. Melbourne has an abundance of romantic date ideas that are bound to impress your date and your bank account at the same time. To help you out, we've rounded up some of the best free dates in Melbourne, while our friends at CommBank have gathered some handy money tips for when you're dating or coupled up. Here are five free activities to check out this spring — happy non-spending. Spender? Saver? See CommBank's tips on how to understand your and your date's financial similarities and differences. TAKE A BIKE RIDE ALONG THE MERRI CREEK Now you can be ride-or-die partners, literally. The Merri Creek runs from Clifton Hill to Reservoir and along it lies a cycling and walking trail, perfect for a mid-morning bike ride. Jump on the track wherever is convenient for you both, and head north towards Reservoir. It's around 20 kilometres from one end to the other, so decide how far you want to go (and how sweaty you want to get) then take off. Along the trail, you'll see all sorts of sites like wetlands, an amphitheatre, a velodrome, a drive-in cinema and, if you get all the way to Reservoir, unscathed native grasslands. Once you've done a loop, head back towards Fitzroy North and down through Yarra Bend park to come to the Abbotsford Convent. In spring, the convent gardens are heavy with the scent of flowers (which will help to cover up any BO issues) and are a wickedly romantic setting for a picnic. TEST YOUR POP CULTURE KNOWLEDGE TOGETHER Finally, all those nights spent binge watching Netflix are about to pay off. Book in a session of trivia at the Palace Hotel in Camberwell for you and your date on a Monday night. It's free to play, and the questions are based on all things TV and pop culture. You'll have to decide whether to bring friends and make it a group thing or go it alone, just the two of you against the world. If the latter, you'd better study up because the stakes are high. Every week there are prizes to be won, as well as a cash jackpot. So, if you can pull it off, you might even make a profit on this date and can treat yourselves to a decadent dinner feat. oysters. Now, wouldn't that be a story to tell your future grandkids? SPEND THE NIGHT SALSA DANCING Salsa isn't just a delicious topping for corn chips; it's also a delicious way to get up close and personal with your date. Every Wednesday and Thursday, you can book free salsa lessons with the Salsa Foundation and learn to dance together. You might not be any good, but it'll surely be memorable. Plus, it's a great way to see if there's physical chemistry between you and your date. The classes are for beginners — bumbling-two-left-feet-style beginners — so don't worry about looking silly. You only need to learn three or four moves before you can hit the floor and shake your groove thing. Classes are held on Little Collins Street in the CBD and you'll need to book ahead of time on the website. Remember to wear comfy shoes, bring a waterbottle and leave your inhibitions at the door. SMASH OUT 1000 STEPS You can learn a lot about your date by observing how they handle adversity, and conditions don't get more adverse than on the challenging 1000 steps. Drive out west to Ferntree Gully and head to the Picnic Ground to kick off this heart-racing date. It's exactly as advertised: 1000 steps upwards in a sharp 300-metre ascent. It's tough going (wear good shoes and take plenty of water) but the pay off is worth it. Firstly, all that huffing and puffing will get your feel-good endorphins flowing. Secondly, you know if your date is keen for this slog, they've got plenty of grit and determination. Third, and most importantly, the stunning rainforest views and sense of accomplishment you feel when you reach the summit will make sure it's a date you'll never forget. CATCH SOME FREE LIVE MUSIC The Old Bar is an iconic establishment on Johnson Street in Fitzroy. It's a musically agnostic place and has hosted every type of musician you can fathom; from intimate quiet gigs featuring solo crooners on guitar to fully kitted-out rock bands playing at high decibels and dancing on the bar, The Old Bar has seen it all. During the week, tickets range from $5 to $20 but, since we're all a little skint by the end of the week, Sundays are on the house. From 4pm every Sunday, you can catch a rotating selection of up-and-coming musicians for free. It's the perfect place to take a date, allowing you to talk as much or as little as you feel. And, while it's usually quite chill, if the band really gets going it can be the perfect place for an impromptu boogie together, too. Don't spend a cent on your next date with the above recommendations, or, even better, enter our comp and let us pick up the bill.
If you're loving what they've been dishing up at Frank Camorra's Bar Tini, you can now recreate some of the magic at home, with the addition of a new Spanish wine and produce shop inside the Hosier Lane tapas bar. It's a bricks-and-mortar version of the chef's online retail offering Alimentaria, which launched last year, stocked with a selection of his favourite Spanish wines and artisan products. While you'll still be able to browse the range online and have goodies delivered to your doorstep, visitors to Bar Tini will now have the option of picking up gourmet supplies on their way home from work, or after that lunchtime tapas session. The selection features plenty of products used throughout Bar Tini's own menu, including tinned sardines and anchovies — that are hard to find elsewhere in Australia — artisanal jamón, and a solid range of imported Spanish wines, from the Aguila Picaro tempranillo to the Cucu verdejo. Pop in for a montadito and sherry at the bar, and leave with a little piece of Spain in your shopping bag. Find Bar Tini and its new retail offering at 3-5 Hosier Lane, Melbourne.
After closing down its Daylesford location earlier this year and replacing it with the more casual Sakana, Kazuki's is opening the doors to its new restaurant — and bringing its Japanese fine dining from regional Victoria to Melbourne. Come Tuesday, November 20, Japanese born chef-patron Kazuki Tsuya and his wife and business partner Saori will launch Kazuki's in Carlton. It's a case of new surroundings, same approach for the flagship eatery, in a split-level site that'll seat 30 downstairs and 18 on the second floor. "Although the new restaurant will look very different, our team is focused on bringing the same soul of the original Kazuki's to its new home," says Kazuki. "The kitchen will be guided by the same philosophies and the same warm Japanese hospitality will be at the heart of everything that our guests experience when they visit." Design-wise, with a calm, serene feeling all part of the eatery's vibe, the interiors will feature timber screening, rich carpets and naturalistic lighting — and an overall colour palette that heroes grey with accents of Japanese elm, granite and leather. As for the menu, it continues the fusion of Japanese and European flavours that Kazuki's is known for, paying tribute to the chef's heritage as well as his French training. Kazuki himself steps into the role of executive chef, while Anthony Hammel (ex-Pei Modern, and a Daylesford Kazuki's alum) takes the position of the restaurant's head chef. Diners can expect dishes such as kingfish sashimi with buttermilk, finger lime, white soy and ginger, plus sea urchin with russet potato chips, beluga caviar and cultured cream. The Sher wagyu flank is cooked over coals, and comes with a smoked eel and port wine reduction — while desserts include a dark chocolate tart with gianduja ganache, hazelnuts and miso caramel, as well as yoghurt sorbet with yuzu and verbena curd, and Anzac biscuit crumbing. Five and seven course tasting menus with matched beverages are also available, as well as a four-course lunch on Sundays — and if you're heading by on a Friday and Saturday evenings, you won't be able to order a la carte. Japanese sake, whiskey and spirits feature on the drinks list, as does wine from Japan and Australia among a hefty international selection. Find Kazuki's at 121 Lygon Street, Carlton from Tuesday, November 20. It'll open for lunch from Friday–Sunday from 12pm and for dinner from Tuesday–Saturday from 6pm. Images: Peter Tarasiuk
If you fancy yourself a bit of a dumpling aficionado, then prepare to have your mind blown, as the Oriental Teahouse kitchen shows just how diverse these pillowy parcels of flavour can be. Join the South Yarra dumpling masters for dinner on Monday, April 3 as they unveil no less than 25 different dumpling creations — one for each year the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival's been kicking. Sample the gamut from classic to contemporary (chocolate dumplings, anyone?), with the option of matched drinks to wash them down.
The man behind two of the smartest, sweariest shows on television will come to Melbourne to speak about spin and satire in the world of modern day politics. Armando Iannucci is best known as the creator of two of the funniest political comedies in living memory: the BBC's The Thick of It and HBO's Veep. Both shows have been lauded for their uncomfortably accurate portrayal of contemporary politics. In fact, they're so accurate that Malcolm Turnbull even accidentally adopted one of Selina Myer's slogans during last year's federal election campaign. Whoops! Both shows also beloved among fans for having some of the most entertaining profanity ever uttered on television… and for very good reason. After opening the Sydney Writers' Festival, Iannucci will be at the Comedy Theatre on the evening of Wednesday, May 3 to speak in conversation with Tony Martin. Tickets are available now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUky4_A7Zw4
Women, adventure and filmmaking go hand-in-hand, even if the world doesn't often recognise it. The best surfing and skydiving movie ever made — that is, the original Point Break — was directed by a pre-Oscar-winning Kathryn Bigelow, for example. At the Women's Adventure Film Tour, she has plenty of fantastic female company. Australia's first film festival dedicated to inspiring ladies doing exciting and extraordinary things, the cinema showcase launched in Sydney in May, and now it's hitting the road. On its national trek, attendees can expect a high-octane onslaught of documentary efforts from Telluride's Mountainfilm festival, all highlighting real stories about women. The fest's selection also draws from a variety of cultures, touches upon a range of sports from around the world, and shows ladies either going full daredevil or stepping beyond their comfort zones — because adventure means different things to different people. A collaboration between Mountainfilm and female-fronted collective She Went Wild, it stops by Carlton's Cinema Nova for two nights, but there are only tickets left for the September 21 sessions.
In sweet, sweet news for southside pastry fiends, seasonal bake sale Flour Market is finally venturing across the Yarra, set to host its next pop-up pastry showcase at the Prahran Town Hall, on April 8. It's the first southside foray for the cult event's Melbourne arm, which assembles the most coveted of the city's emerging, underground, and artisan bakers for an all-out sugar fest every three months. This Southside Slice edition will offer a condensed version of the usual bake sale extravaganza, though with debuting vendors like Penny for Pound, Shortstop, and Cremorne Street Bakers joining old favourites like Butterbing, All Day Donuts, and 5 & Dime Bagels, it looks set to be as much of a crowd-puller as ever before. As always, entry to the Flour Market will cost just $2 at the door. That said, if you're keen to avoid the guaranteed queues, grab a $10 early bird ticket for skip-the-line privileges and an extra half-hour of pastry perusal before the event opens to the general public at 9am.
Step inside the remote spaces of Fort Nepean on the Mornington Peninsula as part of an immersive music and arts experience on ANZAC Day weekend. On Saturday 22 and Sunday 23, five distinctively different music acts will perform in different sections of the historic site, in a live show unlike any you've seen, or heard, before. "During the show the audience will move through up to 5 x 15-minute live music performances — all surprising — and all starkly different," said Swell creative director Janenne Willis. "No headline and support acts. No sound checks before the gig starts. No struggle to see the musicians from the back of a room. Nothing you'd expect from a live music show." This is the third edition of Swell, although it's the first time it has been held at Fort Nepean — previous iterations have taken place at a hotel and in the basement of an abandoned hospital. Fort Nepean is located in the Point Nepean National Park and is inaccessible by car. Punters will meet at the entrance to the park and have the option of catching a shuttle or getting there via a historical walking tour. They'll also have buses running from Melbourne and Balnarring to help you get to and from the event. Image: Fort Nepean by Ottre via Wikimedia Commons.
Known for her large-scale outdoor installations and public commissions, Emily Floyd's unique style blends colourful and playful toy-like designs with challenging social, cultural and political issues facing contemporary society today. Born into a family of toymakers, the Melbourne-based artist harnesses this influence as her bright Icelandic puffins take over the Anna Schwartz Gallery. For the exhibition, Floyd has taken the innocuous puffin as a motif to explore the global financial crisis and the Icelandic government's prosecution of individuals and the collapse of three major financial institutions. Adopting what has become recognised as typically Scandinavian design aesthetics, Floyd's handmade birds see their cheerful designs juxtaposed with confrontational text, which explores the political crisis that impacted much of the world. As a MADA senior lecturer, this will be Emily Floyd's tenth solo show at the CBD gallery and is on display April 8–29. Image: Emily Floyd, Icelandic Puffins, 2017. Wood automotive paint black oxidised steel. Courtesy the artist and Anna Schwartz Gallery.
Finding even one great vegetarian dish can be tricky at some restaurants; however you won't have that trouble at Saigon Sally on May 1. That's when the Vietnamese eatery is hosting one of its regular seasonally inspired vegetarian degustation dinners. Prepare to treat your tastebuds to a whole feast of culinary fun at Sally's Garden Party. Executive chef Adrian Li will unleash his creative side — well, even more creative than their regular fare, that is — for a night of the kind of meals you don't usual find on the Windsor joint's menu. They're calling it a unique journey, and some of their offerings back that up. Come for the peach, lemongrass and burrata or salted cucumber, zucchini and fermented tofu; stay for the salt baked kohlrabi, watercress and snow peas, and yellow curry, daikon and carrot. Sally's Garden Party will host four sessions, starting at 6pm, 6.15pm, 8.15pm and 8.30pm. $65 per person gets you six courses of tasty veggie wonders, plus an "earth-inspired drink" on arrival.
There's more to going to the movies than just seeing the flicks that fill megaplexes, as Australia's thriving film festival scene demonstrates. The country's third-largest capital city might've just been robbed of its major annual cinema showcase, but our love of films beyond the mainstream can't be thwarted that easily. As far as Hollywood's addition to the movie-making fold is concerned, that's where the American Essentials Film Festival comes in. Founded in 2016 as a way to fill select Aussie cinemas with the kind of US titles that don't usually make it to our shores, the touring festival returns for its second run with another lineup of noteworthy inclusions — 31 films and 20 Aussie premieres, in fact. Making its way around the country in May, with a complete run in Melbourne at Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth and The Astor Theatre, the fest kicks off with an Oscar-nominated performance, boasts a documentary dedicated to a talent who makes films (and TV shows) like no one else, and features everyone from Greta Gerwig (twice!) to Australia's own Bond to Ewan McGregor jumping behind the camera. Prepare for a busy movie-viewing month. Fresh from earning a nod for best original screenplay at this year's Academy Awards — and garnering lead actress Annette Bening a Golden Globe nomination, too — 20th Century Women will get the festival started, marking writer/director Mike Mills' first movie since 2010's Beginners. Bening stars as a mother coping with the fact her son is growing up, and calling in pals played by Gerwig and Elle Fanning to help. As promised, Gerwig also features in Todd Solondz's Wiener-Dog, which comes to the fest after having its Australian premiere at last year's Sydney Underground Film Festival. Also on the bill, and impeccably timed given that the third season of Twin Peaks starts airing during May, is highly anticipated doco David Lynch: The Art Life, while docudrama Becoming Bond keeps the factual fun going by delving into the Aussie that once played oo7. American Pastoral is the aforementioned McGregor's first stint as a director; California Dreams explores the real folks trying to make it in LA, La La Land-style; G-Funk dives into the style of hip hop started by Warren G, Snoop Dogg and Nate Dogg; and 2016 Cannes hit The Transformation follows a 14-year-old who thinks he's a vampire. As well as highlighting new flicks, with Are We Not Cats' magical realism and Detour's crime thrills also on offer, American Essentials shines a spotlight on classic titles in its Masters & Masterpieces retrospective. That's where audiences can watch Lynch's inimitable debut Eraserhead for its 4oth anniversary, as well as his 2001 standout Mulholland Drive — plus the Carrie Fisher-written Postcards on the Edge; Andy Warhol's Bad, which is the last film the artist produced before his death; and a Charles Bukowski double of doco You Never Had It: An Evening with Bukowski alongside the semi-autobiographical, Mickey Rourke-starring 1987 favourite Barfly.
The dazzling sights and insane aromas of Nepal's annual Holi festival of colour and love are coming to the Coburg Velodrome this weekend. From midday on Sunday, March 26, M Festival will celebrate Nepalese culture, Nepalese music and — perhaps most importantly — Nepalese food. The free event will feature more than a dozen different momo (that is, Nepalese dumpling) marquees, along with food trucks and market stands galore. There'll also be rides and live music across two different stages, including performances by Jakubi, Big Words, and internationally acclaimed Nepalese folk band Kutumba. Entry into the event won't cost you a penny, but you should still register to ensure your entry. You're also encouraged to bring along a gold coin donation for the Non Resident Nepali Association's Earthquake Reconstruction Project. Image: Benjamin Vander Steen via Flickr.
An undisputed rising star of the Australian comedy scene, Becky Lucas is one of the must-watch young acts at the festival this year, with a resume most comics would kill for. She's written for Josh Thomas' Please Like Me and Matt Okine's upcoming show on Stan, and opened for the likes of Wil Anderson, Joel Creasey and Jim Norton. (She's also one of the funniest people on Twitter, for what it's worth.) Her new Melbourne International Comedy Festival show Little Bitch is about, amongst other things, drunk emailing, sharehouse living and sex while wearing a backpack. Who can't relate to at least one of those things?
Sure, you've paid tribute to your favourite Japanese animation house by watching and re-watching their films over and over again, but have you partied like you were in a Studio Ghibli movie? On May 19, Supersmall Club wants to spirit you away to a world of castles in the sky, flying pigs, talking cats and princesses grown from bamboo shoots. Just don't expect to go catching a catbus to get home — and if the house starts moving, maybe it's because you've had a drink or two. The South Yarra venue's Studio Ghibli shindig will have plenty of those: Ponyo Punch, EspressNo Face, Mononoke Mojitos, Totoro Slushies... the list goes on. Themed beverages cost $5 or $10 depending on the type; however, they're not the only fun part of the evening. Dressing up is heartily encouraged, with the best Ghibli-inspired outfit winning a $50 bar tab. You'll also be able to get a photo with life-size cutouts and face cutouts of your favourite characters, feast your eyes on Studio Ghibli visuals and pop into the Ghibli photobooth.
Literally taking on an extra dimension, Alesandro Ljubicic's floral paintings radiate emotion and colour as he densely scoops and smears oils across large-format linen canvases. Until May 20 at Armadale's Scott Livesey Galleries, the Australian artist presents Intrinsic Nature, a new exhibition that sets out to display the passion and fervour that is showcased throughout nature all around us. This new body of work sees Ljubicic find new ways to interpret the age-old humble floral painting and consider the works of several Australian and international florists. Ljubicic is a Bosnian-born contemporary artist who is based in Sydney, where he studied at the National Art School. Known for creating oil paintings that climb off the canvas with a uniquely sculptural flair, Ljubicic has exhibited at the Sydney Contemporary Art Fair, while also presenting solo shows in Melbourne, Sydney and Berlin.
Learn the secrets to becoming the ultimate modern Melbourne man at the city's annual celebration of masculinity and style. Hosted by small business association City Precinct, the Festival of Steve is a day-long event featuring designers, outfitters, retailers and more. Whether you're looking to redo your wardrobe or score a few pool tips from a champ, Steve is here to help you up your game. The fifth annual festival will be held at the Kelvin Club on Saturday, June 3. The full program is yet to be announced, but expect styling sessions, beer and wine samplings and perhaps even a whisky masterclass or two. There'll be a whole slew of exhibitors as well, specialising in everything from skincare to socks. By the time the day is done you'll be a new man top to toe.
Get your fix of free art and live music thanks to National Gallery of Victoria's Unplugged Live. The ultimate creative Sunday session takes over the NGV Ian Potter Centre in Fed Square, pairing the space's current visual trip to the '90s with an in-gallery performance. Hosted by singer-songwriter Jae Laffer, the July 23 event features Angie Hart and Kathy Temin. If the former sounds familiar, that's because she was livening up the Aussie music scene two decades ago as the voice and face of Frente — and taking a trip down 'Accidentally Kelly Street' in the process. The latter also came to prominence during the '90s, working with synthetic fur to challenge both tastes and art conventions. NGV Unplugged Live is free, but capacity is limited, so arriving early is recommended. Image: Unplugged Live at Every Brilliant Eye: Australian Art of the 1990s, The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia. Photo: NGV Photographic Services By Tom Clift and Sarah Ward.
When life gives you an Italian husband, an intriguing tale about more than meeting-cute, and a scenic backdrop, what do you do? If you're first-time Australian filmmaker Ruth Borgobello, you don't just enjoy your good fortune — you make a movie out of it. The first ever Italian-Australian co-production, The Space Between proves every bit as personal and picturesque as turning your overseas love story into a motion picture should. And while the premise might seem tried and tested, don't discount the way that sincere emotions ripped from reality can cast fresh light on even the most familiar-sounding story. Indeed, if there's one thing that Borgobello understands in drawing upon her own experiences, it's that similar events can and do happen to plenty of people. It's not the boy-meets-girl narrative that stands out here, or the globe-trotting soul searching, or the idea of two lost folks finding something they're missing. Instead, it's the honesty that The Space Between thrusts to the fore — including about the fact that life isn't always clear-cut. Avoiding the urge to sugar-coat or throw in a Hollywood ending, Borgobello embraces the messiness of heading abroad and connecting with someone new. When Italian chef Marco (Flavio Parenti) and wannabe Australian designer Olivia (Maeve Dermody) first cross paths in Udine in Northern Italy, he's working in a factory and overseeing a bookstore, and she's searching for her Italian heritage as well as her true sense of self. Sparks fly, though theirs is more a gentle journey than a whirlwind romance. He has an ailing father to worry about, as well as his own squandered culinary career. She has taken a break from her routine existence back home, but doesn't know if she has the courage to follow her heart. Thanks to first-rate casting, as well as astute writing by Borgobello and co-scribe Mario Mucciarelli, The Space Between paints Marco and Olivia as the uncertain figures they should be — and what a difference authentic characters can make. Clunky dialogue can't dampen Parenti and Dermody's ability to convey the lived-in woes and worries felt by their protagonists. Nor can a few obvious plot developments erase the central duo's chemistry. If Parenti and Dermody help ensure that The Space Between doesn't simply feel like another lovey-dovey finding-yourself travelogue, then Aussie cinematographer Katie Milwright guarantees that it doesn't look like one either. Whether it's strolling down tree-lined paths or spying gorgeous vistas, this is an eye-catching film to be sure, although there's a certain moodiness to its visuals that you wouldn't find on a postcard. Clear yet soft, the movie seems as if it is caught between a memory and real life. In fact, that's probably an appropriate description of just what Borgobello is bringing to the screen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sYLibWZrRs
These cold winter nights require a little extra incentive to leave the house. Luckily, the already warm and inviting Chato has your new midweek fix — of the all-you-can-eat variety. Every Wednesday from July 4 through September 27, you can devour plates upon plates of their signature tapas to your stomach's content from 5pm—9pm. For $30 per person, you'll be free to indulge in everything the tapas buffet has to offer — think patatas bravas, grilled spicy scallops, empanadas and fried calamari, along with all the paella you can handle and, our personal favourite, the coliflor rebozada (deep-fried cauliflower in saffron and manchego butter). Wash it all down with a glass of Spanish wine, a cocktail or both and you've got yourself one hell of a winter pick-me-up. And if you somehow still haven't gotten your fill, head to all-you-can-eat dumplings at POW Kitchen on Thursday night — you legend.
Sporting horn-rimmed glasses and a cranky hankering for complaining, Woody Harrelson is clearly having fun in Craig Johnson's Wilson. Channelling his inner Larry David, he plays the cantankerous title character with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, delivering his misanthropic lines with glee. His grouchy protagonist drips with the same attitude he displayed in The Edge of Seventeen, Now You See Me and the Hunger Games movies – and yet not once does it feel like he's following a playbook. But while you could never accuse Harrelson of going through the motions, the same cannot be said about his latest film Here, a world-weary middle-aged grump is content with spitting acid at everything around him, until a series of life-changing events threatens to interrupt his sour status quo. Alas, though it is based on Daniel Clowes' graphic novel of the same name — and as such possesses the same spirit as the cartoonist's Ghost World and Art School Confidential — this big screen adaptation could hardly be more formulaic. That the film can't quite fashion its episodic antics into anything more than obvious observations — about the state of modern society, family and the notion of making a mark — certainly doesn't help. Nor does the unconvincing seesawing between comedy and something more serious. When we first meet Wilson, he's a lanky, bearded package of conflicting impulses and disdain. When he's not admonishing people on the street for taking a shine to his cute pooch, he's annoying strangers by sidling up close and starting intrusive conversations. For a while, he's happy in his unhappiness — but after his only friends move away and his ill dad takes a turn for the worse, he finds himself yearning for a connection. Looking up childhood pals and hooking up with women in the supermarket doesn't work, so he tracks down his ex-wife Pippi (Laura Dern), only to learn that he has a 17-year-old daughter (Isabella Amara). Clowes wrote the screenplay himself, while Johnson previously — and effectively — delved into dysfunction in The Skeleton Twins. Despite this, Wilson simply isn't the winning collaboration it could've been. Instead of providing any real insights into its motley crew of miserable souls, or fleshing them out beyond easy caricatures, the film instead uses its array of characters for eccentric amusement and overt sentiment. An old man doesn't literally yell at a cloud, but it wouldn't feel out of place. The same is true of a big schmaltzy family hug. Of course, if there had been a huge hearty embrace, there's no prizes for guessing who would've been in the middle — and who would've been forced to the edges. Films about curmudgeonly men too often run loving eyes over their protagonists while pushing women to the side. Here, Dern shines brighter than the material asks, while the always-great Judy Greer is squandered in yet another thankless girlfriend role. Ultimately, their treatment is emblematic of a feature that only knows how to do one thing well. Wilson, the man, may serve up great work from Harrelson, but Wilson, the movie, soon proves that 94 minutes in the character's company are far too many. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kudZx_f7-mk
Everyone's favourite boutique CBD cinema The Kino is turning 30, and to celebrate the occasion the cinema will be showing vintage titles (and a couple of recent flicks thrown in for good measure) at vintage prices. On the weekend of June 23–25 prices will rewind to circa 1987, meaning you'll be able to grab a film ticket for $6, a choc top for $3 and popcorn for just $1. You could literally have a night out at the movies for the cost of a return trip on the train — the '80s were a wild time! They'll also be giving away vintage movie posters from the archives if you get in quick. On the docket are a few of the films that gave The Kino its arthouse film cred back when it opened in 1987, including My Beautiful Laundrette (1985), Spike Lee's Do The Right Thing (1989) and Like Chocolate for Water (1992).
Farewell, regular old hotel stays. When it comes to choosing somewhere to spend the night, we're now spoiled for choice — think the sharing economy, glamping, and now places with on-site crafting sessions. If you haven't heard of the latter, let the Art Series Hotel group enlighten you at their Etsy x Art Series sessions. Taking place across Art Series' four Melbourne locations — The Olsen, The Blackman, The Larwill Studio and The Cullen — the collaboration will see Etsy sellers and creatives run how-to classes teaching crafty new skills. Learn calligraphy with Chloe Fleming from Month of June Design, embroidery from full-time hand embroiderer Madi Astolfi, weaving with The Unusual Pear's Rainie Owen and macrame with The Middle Aisle's Maggie May. Taking place in late June and early July, each session comes with two options: drop on in just to get creative, or pair your learning with an overnight stay. Prices vary, but you'll take something away with you from every class — and, if you decide to treat yo'self, you'll get a sleepover in art-inspired digs as well.
As Dale Kerrigan in the iconic Australian comedy The Castle, Stephen Curry famously dug a hole. Twenty years later, in Hounds of Love, he's splashing blood around, kidnapping young women, and just generally digging his character into trouble. Curry has popped up in everything from Neighbours and The Wog Boy to The Cup and Save Your Legs! in the years since his breakout role, but you've never seem him quite like this. His utterly against-type turn is just one of the factors than ensures this serial killer thriller makes for extremely jolting viewing. Set in Perth during the sultry summer of December 1987, and inspired by real-life crimes in the area at the time, Hounds of Love steps inside the turbulent marriage of John and Evelyn White (Curry and Emma Booth), a couple that likes to lure teenagers into their car and house. There's no mistaking John's sinister motives, or that Evelyn is not quite as willing a participant as she pretends. When they pick up 17-year-old Vicki Maloney (Ashleigh Cummings) as she's sneaking out of her freshly divorced mother's home one evening, their new captive is quick to spot the imbalance at the heart of their relationship. Exploiting that rocky dynamic will prove crucial for the young woman after she's drugged, chained to a bed and forced to fight for her life. While Curry turns in an astonishing performance that no one will forget in a hurry, this isn't a one-man show. Booth and Cummings are even more commanding and revelatory as two women immersed in a hellish domestic nightmare not of their own making – one equally fragile and determined, the other an enterprising survivor. Together, the actresses help illustrate the film's real thematic focus. Indeed, first-time writer-director Ben Young isn't merely concerned with the sociopathic underside of a seemingly ordinary-looking man; many a movie has been there and done that before. Hounds of Love still features a few predictable twists and turns, but at its heart the film is a deeply unsettling exploration of the way that men dominate and victimise women — be it their long-term partner or a fresh-faced stranger. Violent deeds fill the movie's frames, some seen and others only hinted at. But it's the savage psychological damage brutally inflicted on Evelyn and Vicki that ultimately has the strongest impact. Of course they're not the only ones left feeling uncomfortable, and that's putting things mildly. Dread and unease seeps through the film, with Young setting out to evoke the same kind of distress in the audience. If Snowtown tested your mettle, consider yourself warned. It's a handy reference point. Like Justin Kurzel's first feature, Hounds of Love is a highly unsettling debut that heralds the emergence of a promising new Aussie filmmaking talent. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqCXqWdlKrk
One of the most critically acclaimed films of the past quarter century is getting a thunderous live score treatment courtesy of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. On Saturday, August 5 as part of this year's Melbourne International Film Festival, the MSO will take the stage at Hamer Hall to accompany a special one-off screening of Paul Thomas Anderson's There Will Be Blood. Nominated for eight Academy Awards including Best Picture, Anderson's epic drama about greed and ambition is remembered for its stunning cinematography as well as the bravura performance by leading man Daniel Day Lewis. But equally mesmerising is the film's sinister score, by Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood. The orchestra will be conducted by the UK's Hugh Brunt, who previously collaborated on Radiohead's latest album A Moon Shaped Pool. The screening will mark the first time the film has been shown in this format outside of the UK.
The Human Rights Arts and Film Festival is currently in full swing, with a program packed with stellar documentaries about issues of global importance. We've already weighed in with our picks of the litter, highlighting films about everything from poverty to political corruption. But if you'll indulge us, we'd like to submit one more entry for you to consider: a critically acclaimed portrait of the European refugee crisis that is being presented at the festival with live musical accompaniment. Nominated for Best Documentary at this year's Academy Awards, Fire at Sea takes place on a small island off the coast of Italy, one that has become a refuge for thousands of displaced people attempting to reach mainland Europe. The film will screen at ACMI on Thursday, May 11 complete with a live score performed by Evelyn Morris. She'll be joined by the band Music Yared, whose members will perform on traditional instruments from Ethiopia.
If you're walking through the aisles of raw meat, cheese slabs and miscellaneous Aussie paraphernalia at the Queen Victoria Market in June and happen to think 'gee, I could really do with some truffles', there's a chance you might be in luck. On the third weekend in June, the market will host the Truffle Melbourne Festival. No longer just the terrain of your posh great aunt and people at fancy French restaurants, truffles are more accessible that ever (albeit, with a price tag). The Truffle Melbourne Festival has been the biggest event on the truffle calendar for the last three years, and after a year at Prahran Market, they're moving across the river to take over the Queen Vic Market for two days. The free-to-attend festival will see live chef demos and all the truffle-related produce for sale you could think of. There'll also be sampling and tastings to be had — we'd be making the most of that.
Until mid-October, stepping inside NGV Australia is like stepping back in time, with Aussie art from the '30s, the '90s and by Indigenous artists in the spotlight. The gallery doesn't just want to highlight creativity from eras gone by, however — it wants to pair its Brave New World, Every Brilliant Eye and Past Legacy: Present Tense showcases with everything art lovers need to know about appreciating the exhibitions' key works. On Sundays at 1pm between September 17 and October 8, Illuminating Australian Art will teach art aficionados two important things: how artists make their masterpieces, and how audiences approach and interpret them. The weekly sessions will step through movements from modernism onwards, using artworks in the NGV's Australian collection, and combining lectures on crucial themes and ideas with floortalks throughout the gallery. Featuring artists, lecturers, and NGV educators and exhibition curators, the series kicks off with a class on 'Becoming Modern', before stepping through topics such as the ways bodies are represented in Australian art, the relationship between consumerist cultures and appreciating art, and perspectives on Indigenous art. Lock one into your diary for an informative Sunday, or book into all four to truly expand your creative horizons. Image: Thomas Dallas Watson.
If you thought that breakfast was just for mornings, boy, have you been missing out. Because — news flash — no one is stopping you from eating breakfast food after midday. All the true fans already know this, tucking into eggs Benny for lunch, smashed avo for dinner and maybe even an omelette for a midnight snack. But even they'll be diving into wild new breakfast territory, when the 206 Bourke Street development hosts a breakfast-for-dinner 'festival' on Friday, August 25. Brinner Festival will be a mealtime mash-up, with a selection of Melbourne's best-loved food vendors serving breakfast-style treats and clever fusion eats long after the sun's gone down. And while the whole thing sounds a bit naff, they've actually got some good food vendors on-board to cook up a menu worth ditching the meat and three veg for. Think Toasta's signature cheese blend toastie loaded with tomato and kale cashew pesto, Fancy Hanks' smoked bacon, egg, and pork tacos, and ice cream sandwiches studded with Coco Pops and Froot Loops from My Two Mums. Of course, there'll be plenty of classic smashed avo dishes on which to fritter away your savings, plus, 206 Bourke's own Tim Ho Wan, China Chilli, Dragon Boat Restaurant and Red China will be plating up their own take on breakfast feasting, with treats like Chinese sausage buns and deep-fried crispy avocado rolls. The brinner theme even continues to the evening's drinks offering, as the team at Liquid Infusion whips up marmalade martinis, strawberry jam coladas, and more than a few espresso martinis. If you're one of the first 50 people through the door, you'll eat and drink for free. Otherwise, dishes and drinks will be available to purchase.
UPDATE, December 23, 2021: Better Watch Out is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Video. The weather outside might be frightful, but staying indoors is far from delightful. Indeed, in Christmas slasher story Better Watch Out, the gifts and games are of the murderous kind. With his parents (Virginia Madsen and Patrick Warburton) heading out for some seasonal cheer, 12-year-old Luke (Levi Miller) and his pal Garrett (Ed Oxenbould) are left home alone in the suburbs with 17-year-old babysitter Ashley (Olivia DeJonge). If you've seen any kind of horror movie, Christmas-themed or not, you'll know that it doesn't turn out well. Far from walking merrily through familiar territory, however, writer-director Chris Peckover and his co-scribe Zack Kahn have a few surprises in store for fans of festive thrills. Their teenage trio aren't exactly setting booby traps for burglars, but nor are they simply hiding out as a knife-wielding maniac wreaks havoc. Even before the weapons come out, things aren't exactly going smoothly. Luke is soon downing champagne in his desperate attempt to seduce Ashley, despite the fact that she's preoccupied with arguing on the phone with her boyfriend. Oh, and someone is out to kill them. Someone inside the house. If Better Watch Out was a Yuletide beverage, it'd be spiked eggnog: you think you know what you're getting, but after a couple of sips it turns out to be something very different. And while it's best for viewers to experience the movie's twists and turns for themselves, savouring the performances that go with them is heartily recommended. Miller (Jasper Jones), Oxenbould (Paper Planes) and DeJonge (The Visit) embrace their multifaceted roles with relish, playing to type before suddenly veering in unexpected directions. The three local actors are a boon to the US-Australian co-production, which is set in the States but was shot in Sydney. With found footage film Undocumented also on his resume, Peckover has clearly seen more than a few scary movies, and wears his expertise on his sleeve. Better Watch Out is filled with overt nods to genre tropes — but then again, aren't most horror films these days? Here, winking at convention heightens the tongue-in-cheek vibe, although it also occasionally proves to be a crutch. In some moments, the movie's meta-references are smart, inspired and laugh-out-loud hilarious. In others, they mosey a little too close to cartoonish, particularly as the story starts to wind up. But the film fares far better when it comes to its treatment of Christmas flicks, burrowing into the darkness behind the supposedly happiest time of the year. Toxic Yuletide fantasies, toxic domesticity, toxic masculinity — Peckover and Kahn find time to poke and prod all three amidst their nasty pranks, hormonal teens and festive tunes. For fans of horror comedy, Better Watch Out is one seriously warped present beneath the Christmas tree. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b88Z3Xa9v4s
Puff, puff, no — you won't be able to smoke cannabis at this two-day convention. Well, not this year. While the legalisation of marijuana for medicinal use is still in the works, the Australian government legalised the sale and consumption of hemp food products on November 12 this year — which, alongside a huge range of other hemp products and uses, is what the Hemp, Health and Innovation Expo is all about. Over 80 exhibitors from around the globe will be selling and sampling hemp fabrics, textiles, clothing, food and beauty products. If you've spent enough time in health food shops, you won't be a stranger to hemp products — hemp protein, hemp chocolate bars and hemp milk — that were previously marketed as 'beauty products', ie — you weren't supposed to eat them. But, now you can. So, go forth and eat hemp to your heart's content. Alongside the expo, the Hemp, Health and Innovation Symposium will be taking place. Doctors, academics, entrepreneurs and activists — all specialising in marijuana and hemp products — will be holding talks and Q&A sessions. Curious about the benefits of medicinal marijuana? Want to know exactly how sustainable hemp products are? Should you actually be listening to the 'wisdom' spouted by 'that friend'? The Mary Jane masters are here to answer your questions. Hemp, for the uninitiated, is a variety of cannabis grown for its industrial use. It has really low levels of THC (the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis), so, no — you won't get high from smoking your hemp tote bag. And we really don't encourage trying it.
Din Tai Fung is known for their general dumpling prowess, creating cute, Chinese New Year themed animal dumplings and bringing those utterly ridiculous super-sized xiao long bao to Australia. If you didn't get a chance to sit down with a straw and slurp the XL XLB last year, you'll be happy to know they're coming back to Din Tai Fung's Emporium venue — as part of an 18-course degustation, no less. The dinner on Monday, August 14 is the second to be announced after the first one booked out quicker than a plate of pork buns could be demolished. The 18-course menu will put twists on Din Tai Fung dishes past and present, and feature a few new wacky creations for good measure. Along with the giant soupy xiao long bao, you can expect Peking duck spring rolls, black truffle pork dumplings (which will use squid ink for a black and white yin-yang look) and three new dessert dumps: green tea, sesame mochi and chocolate banana. Also on the menu will be Hawaiian pizza dumplings, which sound like an abomination — but, hey, we'll give it a go. The full 18 courses is surely akin to a dumpling marathon — but be sure to save room for the pièce de résistance: the giant xiao long bao. For the uninitiated, the xiao long bao is a steamed, soupy dumpling filled with a flavoursome broth and a pork and prawn filling. They usually come in mouth-sized portions but Din Tai Fung will be serving them up at seven times their usual size (hence the need for a straw). Tickets to the degustation are a very reasonable $48, with $10 from each one going to children's mental health charity Be Centre. The first one sold out in less than two hours, so, if you're at all interested, you should nab some as soon as possible.
The Melbourne International Film Festival is teaming up with Blackhearts & Sparrows for the second year of Wine Down, a day dedicated to some of the best locally made drops in town. The boutique bottle-o will take over The Forum Theatre on Saturday, August 12 for wine, chats and more wine. For $35, punters will get the chance to meet the makers and taste the booze from 15 of the region's top producers, including winemakers from Clonakilla, Jamsheed and Bobar; brewers from Mornington Peninsula Brewery, La Sirene Brewing and Sailors Grave Brewing; and liquor providore Maidenii Vermouth. The Wine Down tasting sessions will take place from 12.30pm to 2.30pm and 3.30pm to 5.3opm, with a free 'Not Serious Wine Chats' event happening from 2.30pm to 3.30pm — it deals with quality versus price of a bottle and how to tell what's worth buying. No ticket purchase is necessary for the chat, but it's not quite the same without the promise of wine before and/or after. Tickets are on sale now and prices include a fancy Riedel Ouverture Wine Glass to take home. The 2016 event sold out, so best get steppin'.
Talented pooches have been barking their way to big screen stardom since the birth of the medium, and Cannes Film Festival even gives out awards for ace pupper performances. Now, Australia has a new dog-themed cinema showcase. At the Top Dog Film Festival, doggos and puppers cement their status as humanity's favourite movie stars in a touring program of eight pooch-centric shorts. For two hours, dogs will leap across screens in a curated selection of heartwarming flicks about dog-powered sports, dogs in space, dogs hiking through the desert, senior dogs and more. The festival hits Melbourne on August 22 and 23 as part of its national run, headed for one-night-only showings at Village Crown Cinemas and Astor Theatre respectively. Rushing after tickets the way your best four-legged friend rushes after a frisbee is recommended. Given how much we all love watching dog videos online, not to mention attending pupper-centric shindigs in general, this one-night-only event is certain to be popular.
Sure, we've still got the tail end of winter to get through, but it's never too early to start dreaming about sunny spring afternoon G&Ts. And to help us get there, Brunswick-based gin producer Patient Wolf will open the doors to its Brunswick distillery for one day this Saturday, August 26. It's been just over six months since Matt Argus and Dave Irwin joined the growing ranks of Victorian artisan spirits producers, launching their first small-batch dry gin with the help of a Pozible campaign. And they've certainly been busy ones, with Cookie, Howler, and award-winning cocktail bar The Everleigh just some of the local venues quick to add Patient Wolf to their collections. But there's nothing quite like enjoying your gin-fix straight from the source, which you'll be able to do from 12–6pm, when the label's tasting bar opens to the public for the first time. Patient Wolf will deliver the full gin experience out of its Albert Street digs, where gin lovers can not only indulge in their favourite tipple, but enjoy free tastings, learn all about the botanicals that give this spirit its unique flavour and buy a bottle from the cellar door. All while marvelling at the boys' shiny 230-litre copper still, which was custom-made in Germany and takes pride of place in the distillery.
Exotic dance meets techno meets burlesque meets pop in a brand new dance work from Melanie Lane. An in-demand choreographer and performer who divides her time between Melbourne and Berlin, Lane's latest piece is billed as a sultry and transgressive effort, and is set to make its world premiere at Arts House in North Melbourne on Thursday, August 24. Lane will be joined on stage by dancers Lilian Steiner and Gregory Lorenzutti, in an hour-long show that examines "the physical experience of the nightclub". "As performers oscillate between entertainer and punter, lap dance and lip-sync, Lane shines a spotlight on the economy of entertainment," reads the event description. Nightdance will dim the lights and ask you to question how you dance the night away. Image: Jody Hutchinson.
Twenty years since Pentridge Prison last closed its doors on inmates, the infamous site is opening up discussion on crime and incarceration. Over one law and order-filled evening, criminologist and lecturer Michelle Noon will talk through subjects that continue to fascinate, chatting about public perceptions of overflowing jails, rising criminal activities and lenient sentencing — and comparing them with the research and the reality. Indeed, if you're going to chat crime and community safety, then doing so behind the Coburg site's iconic bluestone walls couldn't be more fitting. And that's the whole point of hosting the event at a place Ned Kelly and Mark "Chopper" Read once called home. The historic facility might be undergoing quite the transformation — with a microbrewery, pub, 15-screen cinema and apartments soon moving in — but the developers behind it are committed to acknowledging the former prison's past. Those keen on doing just that at How Safe Are We? Exploring Crime In Melbourne Today best get in quick, however. While the discussion is open to the public, only 40 tickets are available.
