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.
If you're going to run an annual genre festival, then you're also going to want to push some boundaries. After launching last year's fest with fantastic French cannibal flick Raw, this year's Monster Fest is jumping into creature feature territory with Aussie outback thriller Boar. Directed by Charlie's Farm helmer Chris Sun, Boar promises to put the monster into the monster pig genre – with help from actors such as Ernie Dingo, John Jarratt, Steve Bisley, Nathan Jones, Melissa Tkautz, Roger Ward and Simone Buchanan, some of whom will be there on opening night. It joins a hefty lineup that also includes local efforts The Last Hope, Tarnation, Horror Movie: A Low Budget Nightmare, Lost Gully Road, Landfall and The Viper's Hex incase you wanted to get your ravenous virus, vengeful spirit, dark weekend getaway and sinister presence-fuelled flicks close to home. Other highlights include an all-night marathon of Larry Cohen films, the sequel to WolfCop — inventively titled Another WolfCop — and the launch of new Aussie series Dragon Force X. Then, it all comes to a close with Revenge, a feminist take on the rape/revenge sub-genre from first-time French director Coralie Fargeat.
Add a dash of creativity to your Sunday, and help support and celebrate the city's creative types. That's what'll happen at Collingwood Artist Market debuts on June 18. Sure, Melbourne isn't lacking in the market department; however, more chances to browse and buy more ace artistic items is always a good thing. Plus, if you live in the area, you can do just that just by moseying on down to Langridge Street. For four art-filled hours, a big bunch of the local community's talented folks will display their wares, and you can head along to get your fill. Revel in the suburb's crafty vibrance; shop for art, jewellery, music, flowers and more; and maybe even grab yourself a gift or two. When it comes to purchasing great artist-made wares, you don't need an excuse.
Three days, nine films, one big party: welcome to Girls on Film Festival 2017. Now entering its third year, Melbourne's feminist film fest brings women-focused flicks to the fore, offering up an all-round celebration of ladies who make, star in, watch and love cinema. Forget moody explorations of middle-aged men having a mid-life crisis, yet another male superhero working out how to use his powers (please), or any of the other guy-centric movies that grace mainstream cinema screens in abundance — you won't find them at Brunswick Town Hall between October 6 to 8. Instead, the fest's 2017 lineup includes everything from '90s cult favourites to animated French-Iranian biographies to a lush retro horror-comedy that dissects movie sexism. Clueless kicks off proceedings on opening night, while The Craft, Spice World, Persepolis and The Love Witch keep the fun going. If you haven't seen the latter, we recommend adding it to your must-see list. This year's GOFF also includes an Aussie triple threat screening — that is, documentary The Baulkham Hills African Ladies Troupe, coming-of-age drama 52 Tuesdays and musical-comedy The Sapphires — shining a spotlight on homegrown girls in film as well. Throw in the emotion-filled charm of Inside Out, and it's the kind of joyous, women-oriented feast of cinema that dreams are made of. More events will be announced closer to the festival, with tickets on sale at the end of August.
Sometimes the white walls of a gallery just don't create the most welcoming space, so that's why the curators of the Yelmo-Garang exhibition have transformed the Footscray Community Arts Centre's Gabriel Gallery with couches, art supplies and tea for your enjoyment. Developed by emerging Taungurung artist and filmmaker Kate ten Buuren, and multi-talented creative Kat Clarke, Yelmo-Garang — the Kulin word for 'nest' — invites you to discover a space "where time ceases to exist". Functioning as both an art studio and exhibition space, the public is encouraged to come experience Indigenous artists creating new works, while also leaving behind your own creations. Yelmo-Garang offers a space that is open to any and all possibilities, aiming to separate itself from the bounds of your average art exhibition. Yelmo-Garang is open now and takes place at the Footscray Community Arts Centre until Saturday, July 29.
The language used to oppress, belittle and justify violence against women will be turned on itself in Alice Birch's Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again. On stage at the Malthouse Theatre from June 16 to July 9, the critically acclaimed play sees Birch construct a series of short scenes in order to challenge conventions surrounding work, sex, love, ageing and motherhood. In one, three generations of women take part in a violent family reunion. In another, two supermarket managers question a customer after she sits in a pile of melons with her dress over her head. A critic for The New York Times said the play "captures the fury of modern womanhood", which, if true, then yes please.
Open House Melbourne will again in 2017 reveal the secrets of our city's most historically and architecturally interesting spaces — but the event isn't just for checking out other people's homes. As part of it, you can head to the Living Cities Forum for a day of critical thought about Melbourne. The forum will unite architects and urban thinkers to talk about what factors make up a healthy, happy and vibrant city. Focusing on what makes a 'better' city and what role designers play in change via political and social context, the forum will bring together speakers from around the world to place Melbourne in a global perspective and encourage conversation. There'll be representatives from Rotterdam (OMA's managing partner David Gianotten), Barcelona (architect Benedetta Tagliabue), LA (critic and author Mimi Zeiger) and London (Victoria and Albert Museum curator Rory Hyde). It'll have you thinking about the future of our city and asking very important questions no doubt, so it's worth convincing your work to let you head along on Thursday.
When Woody Allen started shooting Wonder Wheel back in 2016, perhaps it seemed like a good idea. Or maybe he just picked an old script up off the pile and didn't think much more about it. Either way, there's no escaping the uncomfortable feeling that accompanies the film. For decades, the prolific writer-director has continued to work while immersed in controversy stemming both from his marriage to his stepdaughter, as well as from allegations of abuse made by his adopted daughter. That his latest movie is about a writer falling for his former actress girlfriend's stepdaughter is particularly astounding, and feels well and truly on the nose – especially at a time when Hollywood's look-the-other-way attitude to inappropriate sexual behaviour is finally starting to change. Even if Allen's own past didn't loom over the film's narrative, and even if the #metoo movement wasn't moving forward in leaps and bounds, Wonder Wheel wouldn't rank among his best work. Pumping out a movie a year has given the director more misses than hits in recent times – and his latest definitely falls into the first category. It doesn't help that Allen attempts to pre-emptively counter criticism of his approach by having his narrator highlight the movie's melodramatic nature via to-camera addresses. Calling something out yourself, via Justin Timberlake as your screen-surrogate, doesn't make it go away. Timberlake plays lifeguard and aspiring playwright Mickey. It's the 1950s, and with summer in full swing on New York's Coney Island, Mickey has a crowded beach to patrol — and, before too long, a waitress to woo. Sweating it out serving clams while she dreams of a stage heyday long passed, Ginny (Kate Winslet) warms to her younger lover easily. After all, he's certainly an improvement on her lunk of a husband Humpty (Jim Belushi), and a distraction from her fire-starting pre-teen son Richie (Jack Gore). But things are soon complicated by the arrival of Carolina (Juno Temple), Humpty's daughter from a previous marriage, who runs from her mobster husband straight into Mickey's affections. It all plays out as predictably as it sounds, but credit where credit's due: even saddled with problematic material and trying dialogue to match, Winslet knocks her performance out of the (amusement) park. In her hands, Ginny's furrowed brow is lined with both well-worn creases and years of wearying disappointment, while the glint in her eye when someone finally starts seeing her as more than a wife, waitress and mother could light up a room. Like Blue Jasmine's Cate Blanchett, the British actress knows how to find depth in a character that could've been an over-the-top joke (and, given the real-life history tying into this film, it's easy to assume Allen intended for Ginny to amuse). Though a committed Belushi does his best alongside her, with Temple proving dutifully alluring and Timberlake routine, Winslet is the movie's undoubted wonder. That said, cinematographer Vittorio Storaro (Cafe Society) comes a close second. As Wonder Wheel tries to turn fact into overheated fiction, its visuals positively glow — in sunny beachside encounters, in its use of shadows, and whenever the light of the titular attraction shines on the movie's frames. Subtly infusing the alternating red and blue hues of the ferris wheel's neon sign over the drama not only results in gorgeous images, but also mirrors the changing mood as scenes move from rosy to sorrowful. If only they belonged to a movie worthy of such eye-catching charms. Wonder Wheel might be the story of a man won over by something pretty, but viewers are unlikely to make the same mistake. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bx4Jp13Afpk
If you're a fan of northside craft beer haven Carwyn Cellars, then you're probably familiar with the hefty Day of The Dead party it serves up each November. But you've never seen an instalment quite as big as this year's event, which happens this Saturday, November 4. Not only will the party help launch two new Day of the Dead-inspired beers from good mates at New Zealand brewery Garage Project, it also coincides with the debut of the bar's freshly renovated beer garden, giving the al fresco space a fittingly beery baptism. Lubricating the celebrations, a ten-strong Garage Project tap takeover will star a habanero, rosewater and watermelon lager called La Calavera Catrina, and the Day Of The Dead chilli, cacao and vanilla dark lager, alongside a range of the label's more familiar offerings. If beer's not your thing, there'll be Paloma jugs to get you into the spirit instead. Rounding out the fun with some delicious Mexican morsels, Old El Luci will be slinging his famous taco creations, including the El Jefe, with pulled beef rib, corn and chipotle mayo, and the El Pescado, with cured salmon, guacamole and coriander. What's more, you'll get to enjoy it all from the comfort of that brand new beer garden.
Pasta and parmesan are one of Italian cuisine's perfect pairings. Eat the former without the latter, and your tastebuds will know the difference. And while sprinkling your spaghetti with fine shavings of hard, granular cheese is all well and good and delicious, that's nothing compared to devouring a bowl of pasta that has been cooked in a parmesan wheel. If it sounds like all of your culinary dreams come true, that's because it is — and it's the dish in the spotlight at Cucinetta's Parmesan Wheel Week. After a successful event in late July, the South Yarra restaurant is doubling down in mid-November, once again serving up the Italian traditional specialty pasta Cacio e Pepe straight out of a wheel of 18-month Grana Padano. Given that Cacio e Pepe is a spaghetti concoction already made with parmesan and pepper — think fancier, tastier mac 'n' cheese — the results promise quite the cheesy meal. Available for lunch and dinner, it's the kind of dish that has to be eaten to be believed. We'd tell you to arrive hungry, but we're sure you already are just thinking about it. Image: Naotake Murayama via Flickr.
The best thing about film festivals? The surprises. And boy oh boy does the 2017 Russian Resurrection Film Festival have a great one. The touring fest has plenty of ace picks, including a drama set inside the Bolshoi Theatre, aptly called The Bolshoi; Attraction, the first Russian flick about aliens landing in Moscow; and the innovative Tolstoy adaptation that is Anna Karenina: Vronsky's Story. It also has the 1989 action flick Tango & Cash starring none other than Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell. Why is this big hair-loving, US-made buddy cop movie on the bill? Because it was primarily directed by Russian filmmaker Andrei Konchalovsky, who collaborated with the great Andrei Tarkovsky early in his career, and then spent a big chunk of the '80s and '90s working in America. It's the kind of nostalgic selection that is best appreciated with retro fun in mind (and a few beverages in hand). It's not quite so-bad-it's-good, but it is something that has to be seen to be believed. In more serious offerings, Arrhythmia explores the erratic pulse of a complicated marriage, Spacewalkers jumps into the Cold War space race, and the comedic The Kitchen: Final Battle pits chefs against each other. Catch them and more at ACMI from November 4 to 19.
Last year, Fitzroy's Rose St Artists' Market teamed up with the Heide Museum of Modern Art to launch the monthly Heide Makers' Market. Now, with the weather finally starting to turn sunny again, the collaboration is back on. Taking over the lush surrounds of the gallery's sculpture park on the second Saturday of every month, the market will once again celebrate talented local makers. It'll showcase a broad range of handmade goodness, across art and design, jewellery and homewares. Visitors will get the chance to chat one-on-one with stall holders, or just saunter through the gallery's grounds with a cup of coffee in hand. While you're there, be sure to check out what's happening at the museum itself. Current exhibitions include Call of the Avant-Garde: Contructivism & Australian Art, and Albert Tucker: Australian Stories.
Seinfeld's George Costanza once wisely told Jerry: "Just remember: it's not a lie…if you believe it". And although it's unclear whether that advice holds up in a game of trivia, you're welcome to give it your best shot. Themed around everyone's favourite hapless character, George's Bar opened its doors in early 2016 and received its fair share of hype thanks to international news coverage and the man himself, Jason Alexander, tweeting about the opening. George's Bar hosts a weekly Wednesday trivia night covering everything from general knowledge to music, film, pop culture, and of course a few Seinfeld curveballs thrown in for good measure. Located at the heart of Fitzroy on Johnston Street, get your pals together and find out which one is the true Costanza, Lord of the Idiots.
If justice and equality were concepts that truly applied to everyone, I Am Not Your Negro wouldn't need to exist. In fact, it wouldn't be able to. Author and social critic James Baldwin wouldn't have lived through the murders of three of his high-profile friends, civil rights leaders Medgar Evers, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. A decade later, he wouldn't have felt compelled to put his fingers to the typewriter to capture his experiences of America, intending to write a manuscript but only jotting down 30 pages of notes. He wouldn't have been shaped by standing out in a white man's world, and spent his life rallying against it. The list goes on, and the answer remains the same: none of this would've had to happen. Alas, as filmmaker Raoul Peck so powerfully and passionately conveys in his documentary, that was not Baldwin's reality — or ours now. And, as I Am Not Your Negro also makes plain, the difference between the past that Baldwin lived through and our present is virtually non-existent. With Samuel L. Jackson's solemn, patient tones reading the essayist's probing words, the movie steps through the complicated state of American race relations. The deaths of Baldwin's friends provide the framework for not only a picture of history drawn from Baldwin's observations, but of a struggle that still continues. Indeed, when talk show host Dick Cavett asks Baldwin, "is it at once getting much better and still hopeless?" in a clip from 1968, it couldn't feel more relevant now. In a film driven by eloquent statements of harsh facts, such comments keep on coming. "The truth is that this country does not know what to do with its black population," is just one telling utterance of many. Every line feels like a lament and a curse, the former spoken with sadness for humanity's true nature, the latter evidenced by the lack of progress to this day. And yet, I Am Not Your Negro isn't a lecture, as informative as its contents are. Baldwin's writings might dictate the movie's shape and structure, but this is a documentary driven as much by images as words. Peck demonstrates the reality of Baldwin's remarks through a deftly edited array of footage, pairing voiceover with historical photographs, benefiting from archival clips of spirited speeches, and weaving in appropriate snippets from movies that deal with race both overtly and implicitly. Glimpses of King, Evers and X understandably hit home hard, though so do modern parallels and pictures of recent police shooting victims. Indeed, the entire feature lands with the full force that its harrowing, heartbreaking material demands — in sharp contrast to the elegant and poetic way it has been pieced together. Any frame could sit in a history text, and many do. However, as a blend of sights and insights, I Am Not Your Negro could hardly offer a more urgent, perceptive or illuminating viewing experience. With the wisdom of someone who lived, lost, struggled, strived for change and saw others struck down in the process, Baldwin understood that knowing something to be true and facing it aren't one and the same, and that America's history of racial trouble is as built on well-meaning folks failing to act as it is by open violence and hatred. The question that Peck and his film ask is whether the audience can understand that too. Once again, Baldwin says it best: "we are cruelly trapped between what we would like to be and what we actually are." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG6VE1BRF9I
It has been almost 50 years since Philip K. Dick pondered whether androids dream of electric sheep, and 35 years since Blade Runner brought that question to the cinema. In celebration of the long-awaited big screen sequel, Blade Runner 2049, Melbourne's Cinema Nova is throwing another query into the mix: do replicants have a hankering for themed cocktails? Eagle-eyed fans of the first film will have spotted that, yes, bioengineered beings can have a beverage. And we all know that the trackers tasked with retiring them can too. Accordingly, downing a few drinks like Harrison Ford's Rick Deckard seems like a fitting way to mark his return. When Bar 2049 pops up for a month from September 28 — a week before the new movie releases on October 5 — here's hoping there's some of his booze of choice (that is, whiskey), in Cinema Nova's two new tipples: the Nexus 9 and The Offworld. Bar 2049 won't just boast drinks to match the occasion, but will transform the existing Nova Bar & Kitchen into an immersive, eye-catching Blade Runner-like space that takes its cues from both Ridley Scott's original flick and Denis Villeneuve's forthcoming, Ryan Gosling-starring follow-up. Custom wall murals from street artist Chris Hancock of Blender Creative and video installations from filmmaker Ben Helweg will create a striking, futuristic look, while an audio soundscape will blend Vangelis' iconic score with synth pop. Other touches searing themselves into your memory include neon lighting and lasers, LCD screens, floor decals, mannequins and silver unicorns. If that doesn't cause an emotional reaction that proves you're not a robot, then a 'Tastes From The Future' food menu should. The latest example of Cinema Nova's Blade Runner love — with the theatre screening the classic movie several times over the years — Bar 2049 is open from 10am daily, licensed from midday, and serves up dinner from 5pm weeknights and midday on weekends. Images: ©2017 Alcon Entertainment, LLC. All Rights Reserved via Sony Pictures Releasing International.
If you're a fan of things that are good – including good movies, good food and good company – then you're going to be doubly happy about this particular event: a Sophia Coppola double bill at the historic Astor Theatre. They'll be showing Coppola's recent release The Beguiled followed by Lost in Translation, in a pairing that's sure to have movie-lovers salivating. But what makes this one really special is the food, with the cinema teaming up with Supernormal Canteen to celebrate the eatery's opening in St Kilda Earlier this year. FYI – Supernormal Canteen is the younger, chiller sibling of beloved establishment Supernormal. They'll be serving a cinematic variation of their famous peanut butter delight dessert. Think of a waffle cone, stuffed with parfait, slathered in salted caramel and topped with roasted peanuts. And look, we realise that a Sophia Coppola double and a gourmet choc top is peak Melbourne. But you can't deny it's damn appealing.
As one of Australia's most prestigious arts awards, the Archibald Prize presents the year's most-loved portrait paintings, with artworks typically featuring the full spectrum of celebrities, politicians, sportspeople, authors and artists. The 2017 award was taken out by Sydney-based painter Mitch Cairns, whose figurative painting depicting his wife, and fellow artist, Agatha Gothe-Snape was a near-unanimous winner. Cairns had previously been short-listed for the award four times, and was runner-up twice, but this time came away with the award — and the $100,000 prize to boot. This year's prize is exhibited exclusively in Victoria by the Geelong Gallery and presents the many engaging, and often controversial works, created by Australia's leading and up-and-coming painters. The entire 43 finalist's paintings are on display — use our handy guide to the Archibald to help you navigate it. Plus, don't miss the pop-up cafes, bars and weekly events taking place throughout the exhibition.
Flip out, circus fans — there's a new acrobatic collective in town. And, even better, the all-female collective is putting on a free, one-night-only performance that draws attendees into an immersive dystopian world. At Testing Grounds on February 23, Tons of Sense will present Stand Here. And no, you don't have to take the title's advice. In fact, as seven performers do their circus best, audience members are encouraged not only to watch and listen, but to move, touch, taste, smell and interact with the cast and the set. In short: don't expect your usual kind of show. Aiming to probe the bystander effect — that is, how people around us influence our behaviour — is one of the performance's aims according to director Latonya Wigginton, an alum of the Beijing International Art School and the National Institute of Circus Arts in Melbourne. "Stand Here is a circus show, you can expect to see flips and tricks," she explains, "but we also hope that our work leaves the audience with a sense of being involved in something greater than themselves."
If Pitch Perfect 2 taught us anything, it's that bigger isn't always better. The so-so 2015 sequel didn't exactly make the original look like a one-hit wonder, but in trying to repeat the same beats (only louder), it couldn't find quite the same catchy refrain. Still, it's a toe-tapping triumph compared to the third instalment in the a cappella-focused franchise. Like mid 2000s-era Britney Spears, whose 'Toxic' the film trots out more than once, Pitch Perfect 3 is desperately trying to recapture some old magic with very little success. Britney's track is actually the best thing about the movie, which is why it keeps popping up. As the Barden Bellas sing, dance and channel their inner pop star, they're doing what they love — and it shows. Sadly, director Trish Sie (Step Up 5), returning screenwriter Kay Cannon and franchise newbie/co-writer Mike White (Brad's Status) insist on overcomplicating matters again and again. And so it is that our heroes find themselves belting out the tune on a boat that's suddenly besieged with action and explosions. If you're thinking that the franchise has completely run out of ideas, then you're right. The singing silliness starts when record producer Beca (Anna Kendrick), pals Chloe (Brittany Snow) and Aubrey (Anna Camp), outspoken Australian Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) and the rest of the gang wrangle their way into a gig entertaining American troops — which then turns out to be a competition to support DJ Khaled at the finale of the tour. Unhappy in their adult lives now that college is but a distant memory, the experience sees the group back in their aca-element, hopping across Europe and riffing off against bands with actual instruments. Commentators John (John Michael Higgins) and Gail (Elizabeth Banks) tag along to make a documentary, while Fat Amy also has to deal with her estranged Aussie father (John Lithgow). While Britney gives Pitch Perfect 3 its high point, it heads in the opposite direction every time Lithgow opens his mouth. Like Quentin Tarantino in Django Unchained, it's another case of an American actor completely missing the mark when trying out an Australian accent — not that he seems to be trying that hard. The fact that it'll stick in your mind says just as much about the film around it, however, with the movie brightly shot and zippily paced but unable to rise above a bland screenplay. It doesn't help that the main cast seem barely interested, as they trot through the expected motions, jokes and character tics. At least they give the various jukebox-like musical numbers the requisite energy. Everything else in the film feels like exactly what it is: filler. The end product is a movie that, much like its characters, is happy just to relive past glories. Ironically, the film's message — about moving on and letting go of the past — is one that it seems incapable of taking on board. As a result, while Pitch Perfect 3 is packaged as the Bellas' last hurrah, no one will be surprised if we end up with a fourth instalment. If it forces the group onto a reality TV singing show — and, really, where else can they go? — then it really will be scraping the bottom of the barrel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rv_aNPMRv0
This month, a few of Melbourne's best chefs are joining forces, combining their talents to help raise awareness about anxiety and depression within the hospitality industry. Kitchen guns like Ryne's Donovan Cooke, Anchovy's Thi Le, Oakridge's Matt Stone and Lûmé's, Shaun Quade will be cooking up a storm on February 12, for a one-of-a-kind cocktail party aboard Arbory Afloat. At the helm is Food for Thought, a local initiative that runs annual charity dinners to help encourage conversation and break through the stigma surrounding these mental health issues. The team of chefs will be whipping up a diverse eight-course canapé menu for 350 guests. Tickets cost $100 and include all food and three hours of drinks — and all profits from the night will go straight to R U OK? and beyondblue. If you want to donate more, there will be raffles and auctions throughout the night. "In our industry we do witness the effects that long hours, high-pressure work environments and an often 'just deal with it' attitude can have, causing those suffering from anxiety and depression not to speak out," said chef and Food for Thought founder Mal Meiers. "Having personally faced this, I felt a huge importance to support this cause."
Nestled on the banks of the Yarra between Abbotsford and Kew, Studley Park Boathouse is the perfect place to escape the city chaos without actually leaving it. And this Friday, February 23, it's hosting its first ever twilight street food festival. The Boathouse isn't just offering food, either — it's also giving anyone that purchases a main meal a free turn in a rowboat. But if hopping on a boat doesn't go down well with your post-meal bloat, Furphy will be setting up a cocktail and a pop-up beer bar, which is sure to pair well with the sun setting over the river. The oldest boathouse on the Yarra, Studley Park will be a change of pace from your usual dining haunts. American hot dogs, Mexican fajitas and tacos andor a Greek gyros will all be on offer. Add live music to the mix, and this is the ultimate Friday date night. Make the most of the dwindling summer evenings — there aren't many left.
You can never have too many occasions to eat cheese, but this Melbourne cheese festival isn't just keen to shower cheese fiends with creamy goodness. A collaboration between Bruny Island Cheese Co. cheesemaker Nick Haddow and the organisers of Pinot Palooza, Mould wants dairy lovers to explore and devour the mild, hard and soft bites that Australia's best cheese wizards have to offer. Returning for a second year, the festival will paint North Melbourne's Meat Market yellow on Friday, May 4 and Saturday, May 5. Alongside unlimited tastings of Australia's best cheeses — there will be over 80 types from the likes of Bruny Island, Yarra Valley Dairy, Stone & Crowe — it'll feature flavoursome fare from toastie masters Maker & Monger, Burn City Smokers and more. Think of it as a cheese tasting trip around Australia without leaving Blackwood Street. Of course, snacking on samples and purchasing slices and slabs to take home with you are just two ways to enjoy cheese. The fest will have cooking demonstrations, masterclasses and talks so you can stretch your cheese knowledge as well as your cheese stomach. And it wouldn't be a cheese festival without beverages to wash it all down with, so expect a bar serving Aussie wines, whisky, beer and sake — all of which match nicely to a bit of cheese. There will be an evening session on Friday from 5–8pm and two sessions (from 11am–4pm and 5–9pm) on Saturday. Tickets cost $45, which includes tastings, classes, one free glass of vino and a wine glass to keep.
Garlic bread — representing the holy trinity of bread, garlic, and butter — is something created by the gluten gods to make us mortals (sans coeliacs) very, very happy. Welcome to Thornbury is aware of this, as demonstrated by its whole day devoted to your fave carbohydrate situation: the Garlic Bread Festival. But Saturday, March 10 is not just for standard garlic bread, you'll also find genius hybrids such as garlic bread burgers and garlic naan tacos as the High Street digs. So prepare thy tummy — appearances from Mr Burger, SPQR Pizzeria, Sizzling Sausage and Curry Up Now are also on the cards. There is an ATM on-site for emergency carb top-ups. Kids are welcome from noon until 8pm, doggos are welcome all day and all night, and both will probably lose their minds over the tasty scraps. Praise be to wheat.
Beer and yoga. An unlikely combination, but one that's gone gangbusters across the world. And after a few trials of the concept — including a class at Sydney's Wayward Brewing — Australia looks set to see the trend come out in full force with the launch of BierYoga. Having held weekly sessions across Berlin over the past 12 months, BierYoga has launched an Australian tour with a string of dates for their beer-focused yoga classes in Melbourne and Sydney. Each hour-long session will see punters getting bendy while knocking back brews, with beer-drinking incorporated into each classic yoga pose. Think sun salutations and reverse warriors, interspersed with sips of your favourite ale. BierYoga's team of qualified yoga instructors (and, we're sure, seasoned beer drinkers) will get you loose, limber, and having fun — whether you're a total yoga novice, or a well-practiced pro. The session's priced at a budget-friendly $10 — just bring a towel or yoga mat and you're good to go. You'll need to buy a beer at the bar separately. This class is a special Australia Day edition at South Yarra's Speakeasy Kitchen and Bar, but there's additional classes happening at The Village in February too.
If you've ever worked in hospo, you've been in this situation. And even if you haven't waited, tended bar or cooked up a storm in a professional kitchen, you can probably still relate. Finding a decent place to relax, eat great food and drink fabulous cocktails after the clock strikes midnight isn't as easy as it really should be these days. And so, with that in mind, the Late Night Harlem Supper Club became a reality. After a super successful, sold out debut event back in October last year, the CBD bar Nieuw Amsterdam is bringing back the post-midnight feast in the wee hours of Sunday morning of March 26 (or, really late on Saturday night). This Supper Club will see chefs Ved Navghare and Kay-lene Tan in control of the kitchen. Given that they are head chef and pastry chef (respectively) at Tonka, their three-course menu is sure to have an Indian undertone to it. The $70 ticket includes the three courses and an arrival cocktail, with all other drinks will available to purchase separately. Night owls, get booking.
When 11-year-old Toni (Royalty Hightower) looks at the world, she does so from a specific perspective. That might sound obvious; however The Fits doesn't just follow her journey — it embraces everything that makes the shy pre-teen who she is. When the camera isn't peering from her point of view, it's showing how her body reacts to everything around her. And with movement Toni's main way of processing her thoughts and conveying her feelings, the movie's editing tries to mirror its protagonist's distinctive presence. Indeed, if most coming-of-age films champion the universal nature of growing up, then Anna Rose Holmer's feature filmmaking debut endeavours to celebrate Toni's individual experience. The first-time writer-director understands that everyone encounters similar issues and situations at a young age, including the awkward prospects of trying something different and making new friends. But with her co-scribes Saela Davis and Lisa Kjerulff, Holmer also acknowledges that it's the unique details, rather than the broader strokes, that make each story interesting. Accordingly, The Fits burrows deep into Toni's mindset as it explores her attempts to join local dance drill ensemble The Lionesses. When the film opens, she's a tomboy happily tagging along to her older brother's boxing training sessions at the local community centre — until the cheering and chatter emanating from another gymnasium in the complex attracts her attention. Soon, she's testing out their moves when no one is around, and working up the courage to audition. Alas, as Toni moves closer to the group, something strange happens: the rest of her teammates mysteriously start fainting and convulsing. Of course, it's not an accident that The Fits' title has multiple meanings. As Toni tries to fit in, her peers are literally having fits, which the jerkiness of their chosen style of dance unmistakably resembles. Such a sense of synergy is just one of the layered touches that makes the movie so simultaneously intimate and expressive. While the film brings a particular narrative to the screen, it's more concerned with the emotional voyage that eventuates, rather than the underlying plot points. As a result, even though a number of eye-catching dance numbers feature throughout its 72-minute running time, The Fits isn't a dance film in the usual sense. Instead, it's a tale that can only be told through movement and a heightened awareness of physicality, and through the stylistic and acting choices that emphasise the difference between stepping up and communicating a psychological state. Holmer displays rare confidence behind the camera, especially when it comes to the film's immersive soundtrack, symmetrical framing and rhythmic choreography. But it's the cast of non-professional actors that ensure the film hits home. Led by Hightower, they're the reason the movie doesn't just look striking, but feels like an authentic glimpse into the mind of a pre-teen girl. The Fits is screening as part of She Speaks First, a female-focused film series presented by Grey Gardens Projects. The film will be followed by a conversation with choreographer and dancer Holly Durant and artist Clare Rae.
If you're the kind of dog owner who takes your fur baby out to dinner with you and feeds them from your plate, you'll love this event. Witchmount Winery — which is just 25 minutes outside of Melbourne in Plumpton — is hosting Doggy Winery Cinema. The name says it all: dogs, wine, outdoor cinema. On Saturday, February 11 from 6.30pm, they'll be playing Red Dog: True Blue — which is no Napoleon, but your dog will appreciate it all the same. Along with the film, the ticket price includes a healthy plate of paella as well as a glass of wine or a local brew. An endless supply of popcorn will see you through the film and Ben and Jerry's will be on hand to sate your ice cream cravings. As for your pooches, their treats can be bought from Australia's first food truck for dogs (yes, really), the Canine Wellness Kitchen Food Truck.
Sebastian the crab may have claimed "we got no troubles and life is the bubbles, under the sea", but a recently opened exhibition at Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium may just put that idea to bed. Developed by a creative tech studio in New Zealand, the digital exhibition Dive into the Deep is now open, giving museum-goers a 14-metre-long glimpse into the ocean's depths throughout the Jurassic era and subsequent centuries. While standing firmly on dry land, viewers of Dive into the Deep will get to encounter some of the ocean's most terrifying inhabitants — both alive and extinct — like the colossal squid, a manta ray and the Megalodon, the massive prehistoric shark that we last saw onscreen in the 2018 sharksploitation blockbuster The Meg. The exhibition is split into three zones, each corresponding with various ocean levels. The 'Sunlight Zone' contains some of the friendly fish and coral reef inhabitants you've probably seen in the water on summer beach sojourns: floating bell jellyfish, starfish, seahorses, and fish teeming along the coral bed. In the 'Twilight Zone' are some of the more magnificent (or disconcerting, depending on your fear levels) ocean inhabitants of further south, like a large sperm whale and Tiburonia jellyfish. Finally, in the 'Midnight Zone', you'll be plunged into the darkest depths of the ocean — and you might even catch a battle between the sperm whale and giant squid. Perfect for ocean enthusiasts, Finding Nemo fans or just those who want to learn a little more about the thing that covers 71 percent of the earth's surface, the permanent exhibition is open now and built into the aquarium's admission price so it won't cost you any extra. Go find out if it's better, down where it's wetter. (Sorry). Melbourn Aquarium's Dive into the Deep exhibition is open now on King St, Melbourne. The aquarium is open Monday, Thursday and Friday 10am-5pm, and Saturday and Sunday, 9.30am-5pm.
If you're the kind of Melburnian who dedicates the entire month of October to all things spooky, then you'll want to make a date with the latest acclaimed stage show that's heading Australia's way. Sure, Ghost Stories will start its local season in September, but it's definitely arriving at the right time of year for bumps, jumps and unleashing eerie tales. Hitting our shores for the first time, Ghost Stories will bring its thrills and chills to the Athenaeum Theatre between Friday, September 16–Saturday, October 22. And, it'll be doing so with the team behind a couple of other unsettling recent experiences: Melbourne-based Realscape Productions, who've been responsible for shipping container installations Seance, Flight and Coma, plus a number of horror audio experiences since 2020. Created, written and directed by Andy Nyman (Derren Brown) and Jeremy Dyson (The League of Gentlemen), and first staged in the UK back in 2010, Ghost Stories offers exactly what its name suggests. Leading the charge is fictional Professor of Parapsychology Phillip Goodman, who takes audiences through three of his cases. If it sounds familiar even though the production hasn't ever made it to our shores as yet, that's because Ghost Stories was turned into a film with The Office, The Hobbit and Sherlock star Martin Freeman a couple of years back — and also featuring Nyman as Goodman. This is the type of show where the less you know going in, the better. You want to experience those frightening tales afresh, after all. Audience members have been known to physically jump in their seats while they're watching, too, which is part of the point. "If people are paying their hard-earned money to see the show, we have a responsibility to give them more than they pay for," said Dyson in a statement when the show first announced its plans to hit Australia, with its initial 2021 dates postponed to 2022. "We knew that we wanted to craft a play that would deliver something of substance to an audience, some solid ground underneath the fun, that would leave a deeper, darker residue and be harder to shake off," continued both Dyson and Nyman. Yes, the show has been likened to watching a horror movie play out on stage — so if you that sounds like your ideal way to spend 80 minutes, prepare to be in your element. If you're easily scared, you probably already know to stay away. For its Aussie run — with a stint in Adelaide set to follow Melbourne — Ghost Stories will star playwright and actor Steve Rodgers (Savage River, Kenny) as Professor Phillip Goodman, and also feature Jay Laga'aia, Darcy Brown and Nick Simpson-Deeks. Check out Ghost Stories' Australian trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfabPFfTm6g Ghost Stories will hit Melbourne's Athenaeum Theatre from Friday, September 16–Saturday, October 22. For further details and to buy tickets, head to the production's website. Images: Eugene Perepletchikov.
So, you've been eyeing off all the new must-visit venues that opened within the newly revamped Continental Sorrento earlier this year — but you're not actually a Mornington Peninsula local? Well, fret not, because you can now stay right onsite, with the precinct's luxury 108-room InterContinental Hotel opening this week. The latest Aussie offering for IHG Hotels & Resorts, the new seaside hotel occupies both a reimagined section of the existing 147-year-old limestone building and a separate newly-built wing. A collection of penthouses is also to come, to be unveiled later this year. Steered by renowned firm Woods Baggot (W Melbourne, Barlow), sophisticated interiors mirror this old-meets-new energy, with plenty of modernised nods to the art deco and Victorian elements the site has rocked in eras past. There's a refined Mediterranean edge to the aesthetic, with sweeping bay vistas and, in each of the premium options, a complimentary in-room bar heroing local craft brews, vino and spirits. Of course, facilities here lean to the fancy, including the blissful cabana-ringed guest-only pool deck, with palms, water views and a look that's plucked straight from your dream Euro beach holiday. Guests also have the Continental Sorrento's full suite of offerings on their doorstep, from the public bar, to fine diner Audrey's upstairs. Gracing the walls throughout the hotel, expect to see a standout art collection, further fusing the past and the present with a broad-ranging curation of works by Aussie artists. Keep an eye out for the reimagined snaps from vintage Mornington Peninsula beach parties, capturing those cool coastal charms through the decades. There's more luxury to come, too, with the site's Aurora Spa & Bathhouse slated to launch later this year, featuring a thermal bathhouse and wellness centre. Find the InterContinental Sorrento at 23 Constitution Hill Road, Sorrento. Rooms start from $595 per night. You can learn more and book a stay over on the website.
Melbourne's inner north might be repping its fair share of the local craft beer scene, but it's not where you'll find the city's newest brewpub. That, my friends, has made its home a few kilometres southeast in the unlikely suburb of Huntingdale. Much-loved brewery and cider producer Kaiju has moved into the 'hood, set to open its own brewpub next week. After close to a decade crafting popular, award-winning drops, Nat and Callum Reeves' brewery will finally open to the public, unveiling its new beer hall and pizzeria Kaiju Cantina on Wednesday, February 9. The lofty 445-square-metre warehouse space is rocking a fun fitout by We are Humble Architects, filled with bright pops of colour and featuring large-scale hand-painted murals by Mikey Burton — the same US-based artist responsible for much of Kaiju's distinctive can art. It includes a playful, 12-metre work depicting the Melbourne city skyline complete with landmarks like the MCG and St Kilda Beach. Kaiju Cantina's 16 taps will be pouring house favourites like the Kaiju Krush tropical pale ale and Aftermath double IPA, alongside limited-edition and small-batch brews crafted on the site's own dedicated six-hectolitre brewing setup. Keep an eye out also for regular collaboration pours done with local emerging brew stars and brewing students, as Kaiju looks to share use of its equipment on days when it's not brewing its own creations. A locally-focused lineup of booze-free options, wine and spirits will also be on offer, including pours from the likes of Seaford's That Spirited Lot Gin and The Gospel Whiskey out of Brunswick. [caption id="attachment_841814" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kim Jane Photography[/caption] Meanwhile, the food menu is all about beer's true BFF, pizza. Expect seasonal ingredients, hand-stretched bases and plenty of classic Italian flavours — think, a vegetarian combination of mushrooms, parmesan and truffle oil; a classic capricciosa number topped with artichokes and olives; and even a cheeseburger-inspired creation featuring American-style cheese, beef, pickles and mustard. Snacks might include the likes of a garlic, rosemary and balsamic focaccia, while the pizza oven's got dessert sorted with sweet options like a Nutella and strawberry calzone. Find Kaiju Cantina at 27 Hume Street, Huntingdale, from February 9. It'll open from 4pm–late Wednesday and Thursday, and 11am–late Friday–Sunday. Images: Kim Jane Photography
Melbourne's various arts festivals aren't short on highlights, but fans of cinema and music can usually look forward to a Hear My Eyes session come Melbourne International Film Festival time. That's when a beloved flick comes back to the big screen, accompanied by a live — and all-new, completely original — score that's played while film lovers sit, watch and listen. In 2023, however, Hear My Eyes is heading to citywide cultural festival RISING in June first. On the agenda: a film that's not even a decade old but is already a classic, as well as just one piece of proof in a long list that Robert Pattinson makes stellar role choices when he's not playing a sparkly vampire. In 2017, heist thriller Good Time was a standout. Following one wild night in New York City as small-time criminal Connie (Pattinson, The Batman) tries to find some cash to get his brother out of jail, it's a pulsating effort from directors Benny and Josh Safdie — who went on to make the also-exceptional Uncut Gems afterwards. Usually, Good Time boasts a helluva thumping, nerve-shredding electronic soundtrack by Oneohtrix Point Never, who also did the same for Uncut Gems. But Hear My Eyes is tasking Big Yawn and Teether with coming up with a brand-new live score on Friday, June 9 at the Melbourne Recital Centre. That means rhythm and rap, as designed to suit the film's relentless pace and vibe. This movie-and-music session joins past Hear My Eyes gigs such as Pan's Labyrinth, Chopper, Two Hands, Drive, Girlhood and Suspiria. Obviously, these shows are never the same twice. It also continues Melbourne's spate of gigs celebrating cinema, thanks to orchestral screenings of everything from Toy Story and Home Alone to Frozen and Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back either recently, or to come. And, it sits on a packed RISING 2023 lineup that spans more than 400 artists over 12 days of visual art, culture, music, performance and food. A fellow highlight for movie lovers: Euphoria, a multi-screen film installation starring Cate Blanchett, which will fill Melbourne Town Hall. Check out the trailer for Good Time below: Hear My Eyes' Good Time screening with Big Yawn and Teether will debut at Melbourne Recital Centre on Friday, June 9. Head to the RISING website for tickets and further details. Also, read our full review of Good Time. RISING will descend on venues and spaces across Melbourne from Wednesday, June 7–Sunday, June 18. For the full program and tickets, head to the festival's website.
Most Melbourne eateries that create specials for Easter tend to make one showstopping treat. But the crew at Pidapipo Laboratorio are given the freedom and resources to dream up all kinds of delicious things year-round. For Easter this year that includes hot cross bun gelato sandwiches, three Easter-inspired gelato flavours and a heap of different chocolate eggs. Single-origin Dominican Republic cacao will be showcased throughout each of the Easter eggs at Pidapipo, from the milk and dark chocolate eggs to its famed filled eggs that were a huge hit last year. The dark chocolate eggs are pumped full of salted caramel, the milk chocolate filled with hazelnut gianduja and its white chocolate eggs are stuffed with almond praline and caramelised coconut. Then we have the three limited-edition gelato flavours. The most exciting creation is inspired by the classic Italian sweet bread Colomba, made with layers of raspberry curd, Colomba, stracciatella gelato and chocolate cookie crumbs that are topped with whipped cream and maraschino cherries. This beast of a gelato will only be available in a take-home tub. Punters can also try the milk chocolate gelato with amarena cherries and toasted chocolate hot cross bun crumbs, or the honey gelato with blueberry jam and toasted hot cross bun crumbs. These hot cross buns have been baked in-house and are not only used to top the new gelatos. They'll also be available either on their own or stuffed with gelato to make an epic ice cream sandwich. Choose from a chocolate hot cross bun served with a scoop of milk chocolate and amarena cherry gelato, or a spiced raisin hot cross bun chock full of honey and blueberry jam gelato. Rather eat these bad boys at home? If that's the case, the team will send you off with a pack of six fresh buns and a one-litre tub of gelato. No need to worry about them getting soggy bottoms during the drive. The easter eggs and special edition gelato flavours will be available at all Pidapipo stores in Melbourne, but the hot cross buns can only be found at Pidapipo Laboratorio. For more information and to pre-order some Easter treats, visit the venue's website.
Is Love Story the first crowd-written film? Indie filmmakers have been financing their projects directly from fans for a while, but this pseudo-documentary rom com credits “the people of New York City” as screenwriters. Affable, skinny-jeaned Kiwi, Florian Habicht, sees a beautiful young woman, Masha, on the streets of New York. He misses his chance to get her number, but can’t forget her. Armed with a steadycam and a gutload of courage, he asks regular New Yorkers what he should do. The suggestions of strangers prompt his next moves and the development of the romance. What emerges is less of a love story and more of a testimony to the fact that Americans will truly say and do anything on camera. But this film’s directive isn’t realism or even true love. It's cleverness and kitsch, of the stripey socks and frosted cupcake variety. It’s all pretty meta: in these post-everything times, Love Story takes the idea of a film within a film, and rewrites it on the fly. It doesn’t work like Hollywood and it doesn’t work all the time. But it’s so sweet and silly and earnest, and goofy Florian is such an entertaining host, that the film’s foibles are forgivable — just. Love Story is a fun and admirable cinematic experiment - the trick is not to think too much.
Parallel universes, inconsequential decisions, and the results of pure chance can change things at any moment. What would have happened if you didn't miss that train, or hadn't snoozed that alarm one more time? Unless you're Gwyneth Paltrow, you'll never know. Harold Pinter Award 2012 winner Nick Payne takes us deep into the questioning of these exact moments in his play, Constellations. A modern-day Romeo and Juliet, with logically very little reason to ever cross paths, experience a moment that alters their existence irreversibly. Originally commissioned for the Royal Court Theatre in London's West End, this play stars Alison Bell and Leon Ford and is directed by Leticia Cáceres, the newly appointed MTC associate director, in her debut on the mainstage. Let us ask, what if?
Jose James blends sexy jazz with drum 'n' bass. But stay with us — this isn't Skrillex with a saxophone; it's more like Gil Scott-Heron with turntables and a time machine. James makes jazz for the electronic and hip-hop generation, fusing '70s jazz soul with modern influences, new technology, and his own smooth vocals. Last year James made a fleeting visit to Australia to play Melbourne International Jazz Festival and Sydney's Future Now show, and this month he's returning to command the Hi-Fi. The musician will present his brand-new album, No Beginning No End, an album which has really allowed James to dust off the remains of the jazz singer tag and show him for the genre-blending spearhead that he is. If you like your jazz dirty and your DnB barely recognisable, expect only good things. https://youtube.com/watch?v=5Gz2kqOupCI
Melbourne is a cycling city. The total sum of bikes on the road has been consistently rising for the past five years, and the culture is on the rise: you can't look anywhere these days without seeing a bike nut slogging along on a sleek, fancy fixie. If you are part of the fast-growing population on two wheels, prepare for BikeFest: a truly Melburnian festival that brings cycling, food and music together. With dozens of events dotted around the city over the next three weeks, you can expect to get a workout, too. BikeFest is a sprawling umbrella encompassing events of all sorts. Some are on the intimate side of things, such as the bicycle workshops at Coburg boutique bike shop Pedal Cyclery. Restricted to four pupils at a time and run by the friendly and helpful shop owner Chris, they are a chance to get some hands-on experience with basic bike maintenance and repair that will stand you in good stead for any future mishaps. At the other end of the spectrum are several group activities, many of which begin with a big group ride and end with a slice of Melbourne culture. The Coburg drive-in cinema is overrun by bikes for a night, hordes of Superheroes on cycles take over Nicholson Street, and the Abbotsford Convent's Shadow Electric cinema is hosting a lovely picnic that marries food, cinema, and cycling. A highlight is the Full Moon Ride, a 25km group trek interrupted only by a midnight picnic. Pushy Women, meanwhile, is a more of a boisterous night out, with a panel of some of Melbourne's foremost female comedians and columnists sharing anecdotes about their long and illustrious cycling careers. Finally, rounding out the festival is Crossy's Gig, a benefit for cyclist James Cross, who was tragically killed in a cardooring incident in 2010. A host of Melbourne bands will play at the event to raise money for the James Cross Memorial Fund, which is aimed at making Melbourne's roads safer for cyclists. Whether you're a die-hard cyclist or just starting out, there's plenty to send you well on the way to taking off the training wheels at BikeFest. Image via http://aarline.info
Australia, the beautiful brown land that she is, can often be cruel. One of her many weapons, the raging bushfire, takes centrestage in Love Me Tender. In the aftermath of devastation, a community comes together in grief and confusion, as one man searches for his missing daughter. Written by acclaimed Australian writer Tom Holloway (a graduate of both Sydney's National Institute of Dramatic Art and London's Royal Court Theatre International Playwriting Studio), directed by Patrick McCarthy, and brought to us by Melbourne-based Mutation Theatre, the play can be expected to ask the hard questions and really challenge the audience. In a beautiful portrayal of modern Australian society, questions of sex, love and community come together as characters grapple with the question of what to do when everything has fallen apart.
It's true, Melbourne has a lot of festivals. Big festivals, piccolo festivals, and "why in hell is there a festival for that?" festivals. Well, we like to celebrate, alright? Just like Kimmy K, we'd go to the opening of an envelope if there was a chance of our face making it into the society pages. White Night Melbourne is another festival, but with a nocturnal twist — it all takes place over 12 hours, from 7pm until 7am (it's after my bedtime too, but worth it). Since its establishment in Europe in the early '90s, White Night has expanded all over the world, with Melbourne the latest city to join the line-up. The program is teeming with activities, spread out across eight themed areas, mostly within the CBD grid but extending to Birrarung Marr and the Melbourne Museum. Expect projection art, performance, film, lights, and live music — a bombardment of colour, noise, and merriment that will display Melbourne’s thriving cultural scene, or a concentrated, hyperactive, crack-fuelled version of it, anyway. Before you break out in a stress rash because it's all a little 'whelming, regain control in this crazy world of chaos by reading our roadmap to the festival to find out how to make the most of Melbourne's funnest night watch.
Iggy Pop is a legend's legend. The American juvenile delinquent teamed up with the only other guys in his midwest town who liked the Velvet Underground to form the Stooges. Then the Ramones and a dozen other seminal bands formed based on being the only guys in their town who liked the Stooges. Back in the day, Iggy rolled around on stage, shirtless, covered in honey, peanut butter, and glitter (or all three) and invented crowd surfing (which he did standing up ). Though now much older, the Godfather of Punk still seems largely averse to wearing shirts. This is what he and his band of legends look like rocking out nowadays, with Minuteman Mike Watt on bass. But does their music still hold up? Oh yes. The Stooges are playing the Hordern, and this may be your last chance to see them live in Oz.
Compton was the epicenter of West Coast hip-hop in the late 1980s and early 1990s. NWA and then Dr Dre were the gangsta kings of Californian rap, so it’s appropriate that Dre has lent his approval to the new kid on the block, Kendrick Lamar, who hails from the same neighbourhood in Los Angeles. Dre appears on and executively produced Lamar’s second album Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City, and although it’s unlikely Dre will land in Sydney any time soon, Lamar will perform a first show at the Palace Theatre on December 21. A member of LA collective Black Hippy, Lamar released his first album Section 8.0 last year after the obligatory run of free mixtapes. The 24-year-old rapper has already sold out some of his Australian shows, so hip-hop fans are likely to be queuing on Gumtree and round the block come December. Apparently a significant moment of Lamar’s creative life was witnessing Dre and Tupac Shakur film the video for California Love in 1995. Fast forward 17 years, and Lamar is bringing his West Coast love to Melbourne.
Important food news: Birrarung Marr is set to turn into a dumpling lover's paradise for 18 delectable days this November. That's right, Downtown Dumpling Market is coming to town, making its debut on Thursday, November 9 and running through to Sunday, November 26. The openair festival will boast an array of vendors ready to steam, fry and sizzle their way into our hearts (and stomachs). With a hefty number of choices ranging from traditional pork, Japanese gyoza and Polish pierogi through to the more adventurous butter chicken and even a white chocolate variety, there's a little something and dumpling for everyone — even your four-legged friends, as this market is dog-friendly. The market isn't just about the dumplings. There's a whole array of other dishes to dig into including noodles and Filipino chicken skewers. Pair these with a drink from the dedicated sake bar or a refreshing yuzu spritz cocktail, and you've got yourself a feast. If beer is more your vibe, there's plenty of Sapporo and Coopers to go around. As for the vendors, expect some heavyweights in the dumpling game to be on show. We're talking ShangDong Mama, Oriental Tea House and Pierogi Pierogi, to name a few. Other standouts include Bao+, Bubble Tea Story, Wonderbao, IScream & Juice Bar and Hoy Pinoy. It's a good thing the market runs for the better part of a month, as you'll definitely want to return to try it all. The market is more than just a feast for the tastebuds; it's a feast for the senses, with nightly live entertainment in one of the most picturesque parts of Melbourne. So, mark your calendars, text your mates and come hungry. And here's the best part — entry is completely free. Lovely. The Downtown Dumpling Market runs from Thursday, November 9–Sunday, November 26 at Birrarung Marr, operating from 4.30pm on weekdays and from 12pm on weekends.
