Truffle hunts, hot spas, roaring fires, incredible sunsets and pinot noir — there are so many reasons to take a winter weekender that aren't skiing. And, although Australia is synonymous with sun and surf, we're not short on mountain villages, cool climate wine regions and indulgent retreats. If you're ready to embrace the cold (but not so ready to throw your body into the snow) here are ten getaways to try — from hiking around the Blue Mountains to visiting the mineral springs capital of Australia and visiting the Adelaide Hills, where you can count on days filled with excellent wine, long lunches and vineyard strolls. [caption id="attachment_685963" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lowe Wines, Destination NSW[/caption] WINE TASTE YOUR WAY AROUND MUDGEE, NEW SOUTH WALES This pretty country town, which lies a three-and-a-half-hour drive northwest of Sydney, is home to experimental wines, friendly cafes and cosy stays. Head to Huntington Estate for big reds, Lowe Wines for spectacular views and Heslop Wines for small-batch drops in a 100-year-old cottage. The best spot for a long lunch is Pipeclay Pumphouse at the Robert Stein Vineyard & Winery. But, if you're looking for casual cafe fare, there's Alby & Esthers or Artisan on Lewis, where you'll eat surrounded by local artworks. When the time comes to rest your weary head, check into Perry Street Hotel, which is built within the converted 19th-century Mechanics Institute building that takes its design cues from Berlin, or sink into luxury at Sierra Escape, a luxe glamping retreat just outside of town, with phenomenal rural views, fire pits and outdoor baths. [caption id="attachment_726006" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Evans Lookout Blackheath, Destination NSW[/caption] HIKE AND CAFE HOP IN BLACKHEATH, NEW SOUTH WALES Get stuck into some invigorating mountain air, epic views and decadent dishes in Blackheath. This 5000-person village is in the Blue Mountains, one hour-and-forty-five minutes' drive west of Sydney. At 1000 metres above sea level, it occasionally gets snow, so pack your parka. Start by heading to Evans Lookout, where you'll find spectacular vistas and the starting point for a three-kilometre clifftop walk to Govetts Leap. Then it's time to eat. You'll find Campos coffee, an extensive tea menu and tasty brekkies at Anonymous Cafe, plus Asian-inspired hatted fare at Fumo Restaurant. If you're looking for a luxe sleepover, check into Parklands, where you'll wake up to 28 acres of landscaped gardens. For more local tips, see our weekender's guide to the Upper Blue Mountains. [caption id="attachment_669808" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hepburn Bathhouse, Visit Victoria[/caption] SOAK IN MINERAL HOT SPRINGS IN DAYLESFORD, VICTORIA Swap skis for springs in Daylesford. Found a 90 minutes' drive northwest of Melbourne, in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range, this 2500-person town is home to the biggest concentration of mineral springs in Australia. That means there are plenty of places to kick back in a piping hot, nutrient rich bath and soak your winter worries away. Get started at the Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa, where Victorians have been blissing out since 1895, or the Japanese-inspired Shizuka Ryokan. Other adventures to add to your itinerary include hot chocolate at The Chocolate Mill, mulled cider beside the fire at Daylesford Cider Company, a multi-course feast at Lake House and a stay at Clifftop at Hepburn. [caption id="attachment_692634" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Keppel Lookout, Visit Victoria[/caption] WANDER THROUGH ELEVATED VILLAGES IN MOUNT DANDENONG, VICTORIA Dead keen to getaway, but not so keen on a long drive? Make Mount Dandenong — just one hour's drive east of Melbourne — your destination. You'll be out of the big smoke before you know it — and wandering through mountaintop villages, magical forests and frost-kissed gardens. To reset as quickly as possible, head to the Japanese Mountain Retreat in Montrose, for hot springs and spa treatments. When you're brave enough to face the great outdoors, make tracks to Olinda's RJ Hamer Arboretum, where there are more than 150 types of trees, or the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden. Meanwhile, there's a cracking Devonshire tea — beside a crackling fire — to be enjoyed on at Ripe Cafe, Sassafras, and craft brews galore at Oscar's Alehouse, Belgrave. Still more time to kill? Get more ideas over here. [caption id="attachment_619823" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Fortitude Brewing Co.[/caption] SAMPLE LOTS OF CRAFT BREWS IN MOUNT TAMBORINE, QUEENSLAND Queensland is best known as a destination to escape winter, but the state isn't all tropical climes. And, among its most scenic cool spots is Mount Tamborine, in the Gold Coast hinterland, around an hour's drive south of Brisbane. Launch into your weekend with a wine tasting at Cedar Creek Estate Vineyard & Winery or a beer sampling at Fortitude Brewing Co, before tucking into a comfort food feast at Three Little Pigs Bar and Bistro. In between eating and drinking, you'll be journeying through ancient rainforest, getting to know glow worms and snuggling up in a cottage or chalet. [caption id="attachment_726033" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ridgemill Estate[/caption] STROLL THROUGH IDYLLIC COUNTRYSIDE, WINE IN-HAND, IN STANTHORPE, QUEENSLAND If your favourite winter warm-up is a good glass of red, then you ought to head to Stanthorpe. This riverside town — located three hours' drive southwest of Brisbane — is in the heart of Queensland's Granite Belt, an area of the Great Dividing Range known for its idyllic countryside, striking granite formations and wines. Visit Ridgemill Estate for shiraz, Whiskey Gully for malbec and Colombard, and Savina Lane for single vineyard drops, plus the occasional snowfall. Cheery cabins and cottages abound. [caption id="attachment_619495" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dark Mofo's Winter Feast, shot by Rémi Chauvin.[/caption] IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE DARK ARTS IN HOBART, TASMANIA Ever since Dark Mofo — MONA's annual festival of darkness, death and change — launched in 2013, Hobart has been a firm favourite for winter weekenders. If you're in town in June, you should definitely immerse yourself in some dark arts. If not — or in addition — there are stacks more adventures to be had, from whisky tasting at Lark Distillery to lunch by the water at Aloft Restaurant to local art, objects and food at the Salamanca Market. Hobart's watery surrounds are magical in winter, so try to sleep with views — both The Henry Jones Art Hotel and MONA Pavilions have them. [caption id="attachment_717921" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Grindelwald Swiss Village.[/caption] TAKE A PRETEND TRIP TO SWITZERLAND IN TAMAR VALLEY, TASMANIA Take a mini-trip to Switzerland in Tasmania's Tamar Valley. Just 15 minutes' north of Launceston, you'll find Grindelwald, a village modelled on a Swiss one, complete with gable roofs, paddle boats and an 18-hole mini-golf course. Beyond that, Tamar Valley is a world of winding rivers, green valleys and rolling farmlands that produce a cornucopia of cheese, truffles, walnuts, cherries, ciders and beers. There are also plenty of wineries to hit up here, too. Don't miss brekkie surrounded by wetlands at Stonesthrow, dinner at Stillwater Restaurant or an evening in front of your own sandstone fireplace at the Red Feather Inn. [caption id="attachment_726040" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Karrawatta Wines[/caption] MEANDER THROUGH THE VINEYARDS IN ADELAIDE HILLS, SOUTH AUSTRALIA Every year, the Adelaide Hills welcomes winter with lazy lunches, wine-inspired events and festivals, including Winter Reds: a celebration of red wine, open fires and rustic fare, happening from July 26–28, 2019. Meanwhile, in Hahndorf, Australia's oldest surviving German settlement, you can do winter as the Deutsche do: with baked goodies, chocolates and craft beer. Other spots to visit include the quirky Uraidla Hotel, built in the 19th century; Karrawatta Wines, where wine tasting takes place beside an outdoor (or indoor) fire; and Hardy's Verandah Restaurant, for hearty fare with panoramic views. [caption id="attachment_726046" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Truffle Kerfuffle, Jessica Wyld Photography[/caption] GO TRUFFLE HUNTING (WITH ADORABLE DOGS) IN MARGARET RIVER, WESTERN AUSTRALIA Like Queensland, Western Australia is famous for its warm retreats. But, stick to the southern part of the state, and you'll discover charming wintry destinations a-plenty. For lovers of wine and good food, the Margaret River is the place to go. You'll avoid summer crowds, while making the most of winter festivals, like Truffle Kerfuffle, from June 21–23; Cabin Fever Festival, going down from July 19–28; and CinefestOZ, from August 28–September 1. Plus, even when there are no special events happening, there are bucketloads of drops to drink and, on the coast, whales to watch. Top images: Hepburn Bathhouse; Truffle Kerfuffle by Jessica Wyld Photography; Sierra Escape.
Next time you venture to Kew for a feed at Chef David, you're in for some big changes. The venue, which is a sibling to the CBD hot pot destination of the same name, has relaunched following an extended pandemic-driven lockdown, embracing an entirely new direction. Introducing, Chef David Kew 2.0 — a degustation-only Asian-fusion fine diner with a penchant for the experimental. The new-look space is working a bold, futuristic fitout, with plenty of neon signage and a collection of art installations lending the feel of a contemporary gallery. A casual bar area at the front of the venue leads back through to a more formal dining space, while a ten-metre-long LED work along one wall displays dramatic projections inspired by the chefs' regional backgrounds. [caption id="attachment_855436" align="alignnone" width="1920"] by Lumea Photo[/caption] The all-you-can-eat hot pot of yesterday has gone, as has the sushi train. In their place, is a seasonal nine-dish set menu celebrating a vast spread of Chinese regions and built on ingredients sourced exclusively by the restaurant from their respective provinces. It's an innovative lineup, currently starring bites like sea urchin roe paired with yuzu dashi jelly; the confit duck marinated in 13 different Guizhou spices, finished with a plum and nitsume sauce; and a wagyu steak crowned with miso egg yolk and sea urchin 'bubbles'. Oysters come two ways, done with dashi jelly and a horseradish sauce, as well as with a Yunnan-style topping of salmon roe and yuzu vodka. [caption id="attachment_855439" align="alignnone" width="1920"] by Lumea Photo[/caption] The detailing and artistic flair continues on the dessert list, which includes an assembly of raspberry, vanilla gelato, chocolate bark and fairy floss crafted to look like a blooming cherry blossom tree. An ever-growing wine offering showcases drops from across Australia, New Zealand and Europe, with particularly impressive selections of burgundy and champagne. There's even a signature cabernet sauvignon made in collaboration with the Mornington Peninsula's Barmah Park Wines. Find the new iteration of Chef David Kew at Shop R01/140 Cotham Rd, Kew. It's open 5.30–10.30pm Wednesday to Saturday. Images: Lumea Photo
Just a few weeks after Sydney copped that 'vote no' skywriting, it appears the campaign against marriage equality has again taken to the skies, with at least three potential anti-same-sex marriage messages scrawled above Melbourne this afternoon. This time around, whoever's in charge has opted simply for the word 'NO', written in huge block letters. While it was confirmed that the Sydney Skywriting Company — the only one of its kind in city — is owned by active members of the Australian Christian Lobby, it's unclear whether yes campaigners are up against a similar situation in Melbourne. And, admittedly, the 'no' could be directed towards homophobic protestors or people who don't like puppies. Well, we can hope. Whatever its intentions, 'no' seems like a bad vibe to place in the sky. In a counter move to Sydney's 'Vote No' skywriting, marriage equality supporters banded together to raise funds for a huge rainbow flag to be pulled by helicopter above Bondi Beach on October 1. Melbourne, take note.
After unveiling a flashy new look just last month — courtesy of a new state-of-the-art LED lighting system, which forms part of the building's $100 million upgrade — Flinders Street Station is set to sport a flashy new shade, too. On Saturday, August 11, the building will be lit up in pink in support of breast cancer research. The change of hue ties in with Sunday's Melbourne vs Sydney AFL game, which will include the Breast Cancer Network's Field of Women event — and it's the first of many illuminated makeovers set for the station. Between Monday, September 3 and Friday, September 7, the building will also don a pink shade, this time for Women's Health Week. And, on Friday, August 31, it'll be bathed in purple for Wear It Purple Day, which is all about encouraging support and acceptance for the LGBTIQ community's youngest members. Featuring more than 20 kilometres of cable and 1100 lights, Flinders Street Station's new system is able to bathe the station in any colour of the rainbow, and will also be used for large-scale light shows at a range of major events. Completely automated and operated remotely, it's the first of its kind to be used on a heritage building in Australia. The lights themselves have been painstakingly colour-matched to the station's original flood lights and carefully placed to best show off the building's recently repainted exterior. They're also proving much a more budget-friendly option, using around a third of the energy of the originals. Images: HiVis Pictures
UPDATE: June 14 2023, Face The Fire has sold out, but other Fireside Yarra Valley events still have available tickets. The cooler months have many positives: cosy jumpers, nights spent by toasty fires, a greater inclination to drink bold reds — the list goes on. If you're in the mood to bask in all this winter warmth, Fireside Yarra Valley is the regional festival you want to know about. From Saturday, July 8 till Sunday, July 23, the wine-driven region will be hosting exclusive events aplenty. Over 16 days, culinary pop-ups, chef collaborations and one-off dinners will be highlighting the deliciousness of cooking with flames. Wintry menus celebrating smoky dishes, chargrilled native ingredients and woodfired cooking — all of it backdropped by Melbourne's closest wine region. One festival highlight is Face the Fire, a 60-person feast bringing together Movida's Frank Camorra and TarraWarra Estate's Joel Alderdice — delivering a duck paella to complement the winery's perfected pinot noir. Smoked kangaroo will kick off the night, with preserved beetroot and pepperberry elevating the roasted native meat. The Spanish rice will be cooked over flames for all to see, and there'll be a pine-mushroom version for any meat-averse. A washed rind encased in brioche, baked and topped with honey and quince, will see the night out — with a TarraWarra nebbiolo alongside. Tickets are $158 and are strictly limited. On Sunday, July 9, Zackary Leon Furst (head chef at the favoured Melbourne spot Bar Liberty) will be joining forces with Joel Bowers for a five-course long lunch at No. 7 Healesville. Bowers will deliver all the fiery flavours he's known for at No. 7, with Furst adding all the pickles, ferments and preserves he can. Bar Liberty's signature cocktails will be gracing the Yarra Valley digs, and there will be rare natty bottles brought out of the cellar especially. The five-course meal will set you back $110, and the wine pairing another $65. These two events are just the tip of the stellar lineup hitting the wine region this July. Grab your mates, peruse all that's on offer and get ready to lean into Yarra Valley's winter delights. Fireside Yarra Valley takes over the region (and some select inner-city venues) from Saturday, July 8 till Sunday, July 23. To discover the full lineup and secure your tickets, head to the website.
Eat, shop, dance and be merry down by Merri Creek, at 2016's CERES Harvest Festival. Held each year at the beloved community centre and urban farm in Brunswick East, the Harvest Festival helps raise money for the centre, while bringing the neighbourhood together to celebrate the natural world. This year's festival will feature a number of terrific local music acts, including 8Foot Felix, Rachel by the Stream, Tailor Birds and The Jills. There'll also be stalls selling craft products and other handmade items, as well as workshops, animal displays and the annual cake baking competition. And don't forget the community feast, after which you may have trouble standing. The whole event runs from 10am to 3pm on Saturday, March 19.
Forget been-there-done-that road trips — this is the year you start taking the road less travelled. You need something new. Something special. Something delicious worth making the turnoff and tracking down. With a little inspiration from Empty Esky and Canadian Club, we've got your next off-the-beaten-track road trip all planned — right down to the coffee stops, long lunches and one-of-a-kind gourmet country pies. Starting in Canberra, your foodie stops will take you to Braidwood, Batemans Bay and Ulladulla before finishing up in Milton. Along the way, you'll eat local, drink well and get cosy in some hidden country gems. Best of all, you'll help independent venues in communities still recovering from the bushfires — and, you know, everything else that happened in 2020. These pretty little places haven't had the easiest time lately, but still have so much good country hospitality to offer. [caption id="attachment_750222" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Canberra[/caption] BARRIO COLLECTIVE COFFEE, BRADDON We're kicking things off in Canberra, and you can't leave the capital without visiting Barrio Collective Coffee in Braddon. Industrial chic meets Japanese modernism in this friendly neighbourhood coffee shop, with an eclectic and ever-changing brunch menu. Regular additions include fancy tacos and tostadas, chazuke, gooey Spanish tortilla, big toasties and baguettes stuffed with the best seasonal produce. And there are always freshly baked sweet treats, like cardamom buns and jammy donuts, which make for excellent car snacks. There's in-house roasted coffee all day, plus fine wines in the afternoon (for your passengers). Love Barrio's brew? Grab an Aeropress and a bag of freshly roasted beans to keep you going all journey long. [caption id="attachment_802004" align="alignnone" width="1920"] crissouli, Flickr[/caption] THE ALBION CAFE, BRAIDWOOD Forget the drive-thru, go locavore. In the charming country town of Braidwood, The Albion Cafe offers healthy, seasonal specials based on the best local produce. A stylish but cosy set-up in the historic Albion Hotel building, this family business welcomes everyone with good old-fashioned country hospitality. It's wholesome through and through, and it caters for all dietary needs. That means you can expect nourishing soups and slow-cooked stews in cold weather, an abundance of salads in summer and toasties all year round. Grab some gourmet tidbits or fresh meals to-go from the little shop for a picnic later — artisanal sourdough and homemade hummus will hit the spot better than a packet of chips. CLUB CATALINA, BATEMANS BAY Congrats, you've made it to the Bay. Now, it's time to think outside the seagull-swooping chip shop. Catalina Country Club has a hundred-year history serving the folks of Batemans Bay. Don't worry, you can still hit that craving for a pub-style feed, but with a bit more refinement. Enjoy panko-crumbed chicken schnitzel and parmas, juicy wagyu burgers and artisanal pizza, served fresh from a woodfired oven, with a refreshing Canadian Club and Dry. Or, live the seaside high life and opt for the signature seafood platter and fresh oysters. [caption id="attachment_802671" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Emma Joyce[/caption] HAYDEN'S PIES, ULLADULLA What's better than a fast food cheeseburger? A gourmet cheeseburger pie. Turn off the Princes Highway for a pastry pit-stop at Hayden's Pies, which has been perfecting the pie since 2003. Choose from solid classics like chunky steak or hefty vego options like mushroom, spinach and goat's cheese — or take a chance on one of its intriguing specials. Give alpaca chilli con carne a go. Or, what about camel, chickpea and coriander? Even kangaroo, wallaby and the occasional croc make it into the oven. Stop by on Sunday for the roast-inspired pie, featuring pork or lamb with peas, potatoes and gravy. It even has dessert covered, with specials like vanilla slices and portuguese tarts. You owe it to yourself to make this epic pie pilgrimage. [caption id="attachment_801304" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Something's Wild Photography[/caption] SMALL TOWN, MILTON Celebrate the journey's end with a bit of Small Town charm. From the owners of former Milton fine diner St Isidore, this sleek bistro offers a prix fixe and a la carte menu, both designed to pair elegant snacks and share-style plates with (mainly) small-batch Aussie wines. Small Town spins clever twists on comforting classics, like yorkshire pudding with sea urchin and egg yolk sauce; delicate prawn, scallop and chicken skin dumplings; and sourdough pici pasta with corn, kale, manchego and sorrel. And, as always, it's hard to pass up a fresh lobster roll. After your meal, pop next door to Small Town Provisions, the restaurant's new deli and shop, which sells cheese, cured meat and fresh bread — basically, all the trappings for a next-level picnic. For more road trip inspiration, check out these guides from Canadian Club and Empty Esky. Top image: Barrio Collective Coffee, Visit Canberra
Thanks to its pop culture-influenced productions based on the Beatles, Adele, Miley Cyrus and Love Actually — aka Lady Beatle, Rumour Has It, Wrecking Ball and Christmas Actually — The Little Red Company has been an integral part of Brisbane's cabaret scene in recent years. For its next show, however, it's taking inspiration from a different source: these self-isolating, stay-at-home times. The IsoLate Late Show has a few purposes. Firstly, it brings together Queensland creatives in a period when gigs and performances are being cancelled all over the place. Secondly, it's raising money for performing arts professionals affected. And, last but by no means least, it's keeping you entertained while you're cooped up at home. At 8pm AEST (9pm AEDT and 11pm NZDT) on Friday, March 20, host Naomi Price and performers Luke Kennedy (The Voice Australia), Tom Oliver (Velvet), Irena Lysiuk (Sweet Charity), Jason McGregor (Lady Beatle), Scott French (Christmas Actually) and Mik Easterman (Christmas Actually) will be putting on a live-streamed cabaret show — and belting out plenty of hits. Watch along via Instagram or Facebook, and help support Queensland creatives by donating. To get you in the mood, check out a glimpse of Christmas Actually below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUkm9YzNo_4 Top image: Dylan Evans
Get ready for "the Super Bowl of stripping", Channing Tatum's latest excuse to get shirtless and the culmination of a franchise about male dancers chasing the American dream — and endeavouring to bring women pleasure — one scantily clad routine at a time. Magic Mike is back for another ride, and another stint onstage, too, courtesy of the the series' third and final flick Magic Mike's Last Dance. Initially confirmed back in November 2021, this threequel brings Tatum (The Lost City) as Mike Lane, the saga's consistent source of smooth, sultry and sweaty moves while wearing very little. As the just-dropped first trailer shows, this time around he's bartending to get by, and hiding that six-pack under the required garb, until he shows his latest love interest (Salma Hayek, House of Gucci) what he's really good at — and she convinces him to get back to what he loves. No, Ginuwine's 90s banger 'Pony' doesn't get another workout in Magic Mike's Last Dance's first sneak peek. Yes, there's another dose of art imitating life here, which has always been the Magic Mike franchise's remit. The initial 2012 hit took its cues from Tatum's own time stripping in Tampa, Florida before becoming a famous actor, and this flick nods to the fact that that movie and its 2015 sequel Magic Mike XXL spawned their own Tatum-produced live show. If you somehow missed the first movie a decade ago, it became one of 2012's most perceptive flicks. The Matthew McConaughey, Matt Bomer, Joe Manganiello and Alex Pettyfer-starring film unsurprisingly became a box-office success, too, with its combination of blue collar struggles and gyrating on-stage antics striking a chord to the tune of $167.2 million in takings. It was then followed by Magic Mike XXL, which did indeed manage to live up to its name — not merely by doubling down on what made the first movie such a success, but by also shrewdly recognising the power of the female gaze. Filmmaker Steven Soderbergh (Kimi, No Sudden Move) directed, shot and edited the initial movie, then just shot and edited the second; however, he's sitting back in the helmer's chair for Magic Mike's Last Dance. Also returning is screenwriter Reid Carolin, who has done the honours all the entire franchise so far. As for when you can see the Magic Mike series' last go-around, the bumping and grinding will arrive in cinemas Down Under in February. Savvily, it's timed just before Valentine's Day. Check out the first trailer for Magic Mike's Last Dance below: Magic Mike's Last Dance will release in cinemas Down Under on February 9, 2023.
If you've been spending every weekend hitting up Australia's reawakened music festival lately, then you might have noticed two clear trends. Firstly, live music is well and truly back. Secondly, blasts from the pasts are back, too — and the just-dropped Beyond The Valley lineup has Nelly Furtado on the bill to prove it. At other events this year, you can catch everyone from TISM and Groove Armada through to Sophie Ellis-Bextor and TLC — and now, at the three-day end-of-year fest that is Beyond The Valley, the Canadian singer behind 'I'm Like a Bird', 'Turn Off the Light', 'Maneater' and 'Promiscuous' is taking to the stage. She's doing a one-off Australian-exclusive performance at fest, as well as her first show in over five years. The Beyond The Valley bill isn't all about getting retro, of course. Also on the eclectic lineup: Denzel Curry, Dom Dolla, Kaytranada, BENEE, Yeat, Flight Facilities, Honey Dijon, Lime Cordiale, Patrick Topping, Charlotte De Witte, Diplo and more. That includes Bicep, which'll come as no surprise if you saw the video earlier in the year announcing the fest's return, which was set to the sounds of 'Glue'. This year's Beyond The Valley will take place from December 28, 2022–January 1, 2023, marking a nice dose of normality given that the beloved camping music festival has been on hiatus during the pandemic. It hosted a city-based spinoff in to see out 2021, aka Beyond The City, but is now back in its original guise to take care of New Year's Eve plans. There is one big change on the agenda: a move of venues. In past years, Beyond The Valley has typically taken place in the regional Victorian town of Lardner, but for 2022 it'll sprawl across at site at Barunah Plains. So, music festival fans will be headed 90 minutes outside of Melbourne, to a spot on Wentworths Road in Hesse that comes compete with a 100,000-square metre-natural amphitheatre. [caption id="attachment_866661" align="alignnone" width="1920"] @ladydrewniak[/caption] That's where Beyond The Valley will set up its three usual stages, the main stage, dance tent and multilevel dance spot Dr Dan's, as well as a new podcast stage featuring live and interactive recordings. The 2022 fest will also include a beach club for swims; a small space that's only accessible via secret entrance called Schmall Klüb; the Poof Doof 'pride patrol'; and speed dating, yoga, pilates, meditation, open mic sessions and a fortune teller. And, if you only want to head along for a single day — or you aren't keen on camping — Beyond The Valley is introducing a daily entry ticket. BEYOND THE VALLEY 2022 LINEUP: BENEE Bicep (live) Charlotte De Witte Denzel Curry Diplo Dom Dolla Flight Facilities Honey Dijon Kaytranada Lime Cordiale Nelly Furtado Patrick Topping Yeat Aitch Budjerah Cloonee Confidence Man DJ Boring Folamour HAAi Heidi Jay1 Jnr Choi Job Jobse Or:la Palms Trax Partiboi69 Remi Wolf Sally C San Cisco SG Lewis Shygirl Tkay Maidza Vera Blue X Club. Yung Lean Aroha Benson Caitlin Medcalf Cassettes For Kids Denim Foura Hatchie Jesswar JK-47 Jordan Brando Joy. Juice Romance Kee'ahn Laura King Memphis LK Merci, Mercy Mia Rodriguez Ninajirachi Rest For The Wicked Sam Alfred Sofia Kourtesis STÜM SWIM Teen Jesus And The Jean Teasers The Illustrious Blacks Willo Yarra Beyond The Valley will run from December 28, 2022–January 1, 2023. Ticket presale registrations are open now, closing at 3pm AEST on Wednesday, August 31 — with presales starting that same day at 6pm AEST. General sales kick off at 12pm AEST on Thursday, September 1. For more information, head to the fest's website. Top image: Mackenzie Sweetnam.
If you're craving fun like you never have before (and by now, who isn't?), the city's playful new mega-venue is happy to provide. The expansive Ballers Clubhouse has opened its doors on Coverlid Place, featuring a collection of bar sports that's sure to blow some minds. At a hefty 2500 square metres, this bar, kitchen and gaming paradise is the CBD's largest licensed venue, brought to you by Pawn & Co's Josh Lefers and Stephen Wools. Here, you're invited to leave your worries at the door and live your best, most carefree, baller life. You can unleash your competitive spirit on one of 12 ping pong tables, six social darts booths, or ten shuffleboard alleys, both classic and stand-up. There's also a dedicated VR Playhouse, where you can escape into a collection of immersive games numbering in the thousands. And, as you'd expect from the guys that brought us Melbourne's working pawn shop bar, the commitment to the theme here is strong. Elle Critchley Design has pulled together the sprawling space with an edgy, industrial look, full of gaming-inspired touches. [caption id="attachment_794218" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Michael Gazzola[/caption] Bar sports can be thirsty work, but Ballers has your back with no less than six different bars and a whopping 75 taps. There's a wide-roaming wine lis and icy cold brews from the likes of Sample, Furphy and James Squire. Meanwhile, fun cocktails, such as a reworked piña colada and the Beyoncé's Lemonade — pink grapefruit vodka, house-made lemonade and a hit of Tabasco — are sure to only sharpen those skills on the shuffleboard court. To further fuel your gaming adventures, you'll find a menu of snacks and sports bar-style fare, including pizza, pulled pork sliders, fried chicken bites and buffalo cauliflower. If you're looking to impress the crew, there's also a swag of bookable private spaces, including the Champion's Bar and the Ballers Penthouse, both with their own ping pong table and dedicated bar. Find Ballers Clubhouse at 2 Coverlid Place, Melbourne. It's open 4pm–10pm Tuesday–Thursday, 12pm–1am Friday–Saturday and 12–10pm Sunday. Images: Michael Gazzola
In Stay of the Week, we explore some of the world's best and most unique accommodations — giving you a little inspiration for your next trip. In this instalment, we go to Lomani Island Resort on the small Fijian island of Malolo Lailai. Scroll down to get a preview of what's in store once you set your clock to island time. We've also teamed up with Lomani Island Resort to create the ultimate week-long romantic Fiji getaway —with two massages, a three-course dinner on the beach and all your transfers included. Head to Concrete Playground Trips to book your spot now. WHAT'S SO SPECIAL? This small beachside resort is for adults only, meaning you can relax in total peace no matter what time of year you decide to visit Fiji's famous Mamanuca Islands (which makes our list of the best Fiji islands for a tropical escape). THE ROOMS The Lomani Island Resort has three kinds of rooms. The Deluxe Suite is the most affordable option and comes with a separate living room and bedroom overlooking the water as well as a private balcony or patio. The other options step up the luxury levels a little more. There are two kinds of beachfront bures (little bungalows) — one with a plunge pool and one without. These won't cost you that much more than the suites, but they do give you a greater sense of privacy. The large outdoor rain showers are a big win, too. FOOD & DRINK There are stacks of dining options at this Fiji island resort. The Flame Tree Restaurant serves a range of cuisine options from steak and chips to pasta and traditional Fijian Kokoda. Either dine on local dishes (always recommended) or try something a little more familiar. It's all up to you. And if you're looking for something a little extra, ask the team to set up a private dinner on the beach. It's romantic without being overly cheesy and staged — the Lomani team will place a small table out on the sand dunes and let you dine with uninterrupted sunset views. [caption id="attachment_877271" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cloud 9 by Brook Sabin[/caption] THE LOCAL AREA The Lomani Island Resort is located on one of the popular Mamanuca Islands — a small archipelago located near the main island of Fiji. From the resort, you can easily get around to all the best parts of this region by chartering a small boat for the day or jumping on a ferry. Hit up the famous Cloud 9 floating bar or simply do some island hopping, snorkelling around coral reefs and lounging beneath palm-lined beaches. THE EXTRAS Overall, this Fiji resort is for a laid back holiday full of lounging and swimming. But you can also get the best out of this tropical destination by joining a few of the resort's extra activities. There's a sunset cruise which costs less than $80 and includes your first drink as well as roaming canapés during the trip. The resort also offers a 'Sunset Serenader' for which the team will direct you to a private part of the beach where you will be serenaded by a local musician for an hour and includes a platter of canapés and a bottle of wine. We've teamed up with Lomani Island Resort to create the ultimate week-long romantic Fiji getaway —with two massages, a three-course dinner on the beach and all your transfers included. Head to Concrete Playground Trips to book your spot now.
If all goes to plan, October could be one of the last month's Melbourne spends in lockdown. And how better to celebrate the imminent end of stay-at-home orders than with a big ol' living room boogie? Fittingly enough, fan-favourite Mr McClelland's Finishing School will help you do just that as part of this year's lockdown-friendly Melbourne Fringe program. Broadcasting to a screen and speaker system near you from 9pm on Friday, October 15, the virtual dance party will see DJ Andrew McClelland working his usual magic, guiding you all through a foot-stomping, groove-inducing mix of indie, pop, soul and rock tunes. Live and loud from his own lounge room, mind you. Clear out the coffee table, put on your dancing shoes and get ready to sweat out your lockdown frustrations to hard-hitting songs from across the decades. Best of all, it's an affordable night spent cutting shapes, with tickets to the Zoom event priced at an easy $10.50. [caption id="attachment_827773" align="alignnone" width="1920"] By Duncan Jacob[/caption]
The beloved Cameo Cinema will once again showcase some of the summer's most talked-about films on its magnificent outdoor movie screen under the stars. Screening through summer, this outdoor film-watching spot will give cinema lovers the chance to relax in deckchairs and beanbags, with craft beer, homemade choc-tops and freshly popped popcorn in hand, for another year. If that's not worth the drive out to Belgrave, then we just don't know what is. Featuring on the big screen will be a selection of new flicks, including Wonka, Poor Things, Anyone But You, Ferrari, Next Goal Wins and Priscilla — and recent favourites such as Barbie. The lineup also goes classic with Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The Goonies, Spice World and The Parent Trap, as well as Die Hard to get festive. It doesn't hurt that the Cameo concessions are a cut above what you'll find at your local shopping centre multiplex. It has craft beer and boutique wines — and dogs are welcome here, too. The bar opens an hour before the film starts each night — and remember that sessions are at the mercy of the weather.
Bringing together some of the region's finest fare, the Margaret River Gourmet Escape presents a tantalising four-day festival of food, drink and merriment, all set in one of the most naturally beautiful areas imaginable. It's a packed program with over 100 boutique producers involved and highlights, including a star-studded chef's table, cooking masterclasses, coffee workshops and a buzzing village green featuring an array of local produce. Margaret River is often seen as a wine region. While that's not wrong, seeing it as just a destination for vineyard-hopping would massively underplay the charms of this picturesque spot for a multi-faceted summer holiday. Few regions of Australia are as rich in natural beauty and densely populated with world-class dining options. We've teamed up with Mazda3 to help you make the most of your trip to Gourmet Escape. Here are the best options for what to eat, what to do and where to stay during the feasting fest. [caption id="attachment_632002" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Elements Margaret River.[/caption] EAT AND DRINK If you're looking to make the most of Gourmet Escape, be sure to plan ahead — you'll find there are more than just a few fringe events and degustations you'll want to find. This year's all-star program corrals top chefs like Andrew McConnell (Supernormal, Supernormal Canteen, Cumulus Inc.), David Thompson (Long Chim), Guillaume Brahimi (Bistro Guillaume), Clayton Wells (Automata) and Paul Carmichael (Momofuku Seiobo). There is also the option to simply kick back in idyllic surrounds and sip some local tipples. Outside of the festival, Saturday mornings in Margaret River see the buzzing Margaret River Farmers' Market set up with dozens of stalls offering all kinds of local baked goods, fruits, vegetables, flowers, chocolates and wines. It's an ideal spot to stock up on supplies for a beach picnic, as is the gourmet deli located at Smiths Beach at Lamont's winery. This coastal favourite is also a great spot for a laidback brunch with an all-day menu split in two — offering brekkie eats like buttermilk pancakes and shakshuka or lunchtime bites like pork rillette and spaghettini with walnut sauce. [caption id="attachment_642075" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Margaret River Farmers' Market.[/caption] An iconic restaurant of the region, the acclaimed Cape Lodge's menu revolving around local produce attracts many to the area — everyone from Bill Clinton to Katy Perry has stopped off at this famed lakeside restaurant. On any given visit, you might find Western Australian options like marron from Donnybrook, mussels from Safety Bay or Exmouth prawns. And if you're after a more casual option, White Elephant Beach Café — who'll also be among the many local dining options in attendance at Gourmet Escape — is located ideally overlooking the boat ramp at Gnarabup beach and pumps out great coffee and classic all-day breakfast options like bircher muesli and smashed pumpkin on sourdough. [caption id="attachment_642073" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Peta Hopkins via Flickr.[/caption] DO Along with great eats, there's also plenty of entertainment on offer at Gourmet Escape. Matt Okine will do his food and comedy thing, DJ sets from the likes of Hugo Gruzman (Flight Facilities) and Triple J's Tom Tilley will be held throughout and locals San Cisco will headline the closing night party. So plan to have a boogie or two during your visit. Spending some time in the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park is also an absolute must. Named as a world biodiversity hotspot by the World Wildlife Foundation, the region's unusual climate and soil profile means it's home to a dazzling variety of colourful wildflowers, many of which are rarely seen elsewhere. Look out for the likes of blue grass lilies, spider orchids and crimson one-sided bottle brush. The very keen hikers may want to tackle the famous Cape to Cape Track, a 135-kilometre walk which hugs the coastline. For everyone else, there are many options to drop in on the track for much shorter walks. [caption id="attachment_642066" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mammoth Cave.[/caption] The area is also notable for its limestone cliff and crystal caves. You can enter a network of caves at CaveWorks, just south of Margaret River. A narrow staircase leads you down into the most spectacular of the underground hollows, the giant Lake Cave, which includes an ethereal sunken forest. A rare example of an 'actively dripping' cave, it's like something taken from the pages of a fairytale. Further natural beauty is found in the region's string of stunning beaches, which include Hamelin's Bay, a photogenic stretch of white sand and blue-green water where stingrays weave their way through bathers. The popular Smiths Beach is another gorgeous part of the coastline, while Prevelly Beach, where Margaret River meets the ocean, is home to professional surfing events. STAY Riverglen Chalets offers a range of boutique accommodation options, with everything from studios to larger chalets for up to eight people. Best of all, it's set amongst seven acres of lush, green natural surrounds with a picturesque pond and towering gum trees. In a seemingly secluded location, the chalets are only a few minutes from town proper. Grab a breakfast hamper from the festival and head back to the chalets and start the day with an al fresco feast. Old Dairy Cottage is a quirky, character-filled option, proudly wearing its heritage as a pioneering district farm, but also including all the modern amenities. The light, airy accommodation is designed to make the most of the summer sun. Hilltop Studios also splits the difference between pastoral living and pure luxury; their designed accommodation comes with an award-winning chef on site and views of rolling hills and rugged countryside from your bathtub. For something entirely different, Conto offers a range of camping options alongside the winding coastline and peppermint woodland. Whether you're looking for a cheaper option or just like the idea of waking up to the sound of roaring waves, it's perfect a way to experience a truly spectacular part of the country. Margaret River Gourmet Escape 2017 takes place in the Margaret River region from November 16 to 19. Top image: Elements Margaret River. Personalise your next adventure via The Playmaker, driven by Mazda3.
Broadcast live via YouTube from a polo field in a desert west of Los Angeles this weekend was Coachella, one of the world's truly super festivals. The massive video library created its own live-stream channel, appropriately named YouTube Live, and Coachella was the first partner to offer to broadcast live content for the channel. Among the lineup of over 100 performers include top acts The Strokes, Arcade Fire, Mumford & Sons, Kanye West, Cee-Lo Green, Kings of Leon and Duran Duran. Although most of the incredible content has been taken down, as if oft the case, we have scoured the annals to bring you five of our favourite video moments from the festival. https://youtube.com/watch?v=bj8Kd6h9TV8 1. Kanye. West. Brought it. https://youtube.com/watch?v=S3X7Zqdsuuc 2. Arcade Fire unleashed not only a killer Saturday night headline set but also an army of LED beachballs that looked more akin to a sea of globular jellyfish. Changing colours throughout their finale of 'Wake Up', the balls started shining independently red, purple, orange and green capturing (or is that diverting) the audiences attention well beyond their set. https://youtube.com/watch?v=2DxokBv_49Q 3. The Strokes rounded out an incredible set with 'Under Control', 'Gratisfaction', 'Reptilia', 'Last NIght' and 'Take It or Leave It'. Tough to beat. https://youtube.com/watch?v=XC4uK99AAWA 4. Jeff Goldblum, at Coachella? Those two names went as well together as....well they went well. For a full 90 minute set Jeff and his band, the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra performed in the campgrounds of the festival. Although a stunt from comedy website Funny or Die, funnier things have happened. https://youtube.com/watch?v=4si2JyDpCik 5. Cee-Lo Green turned up 50 minutes late, blamed it on the organisers and their poor timetabling skills and performed a lacklustre and rushed set. Getting through six songs in twenty minutes, his performance of Fuck You took on extra meaning for the aggravated and constantly dwindling crowd.
Every great movie and TV show about teenagers has three things in common. Firstly, they're all rich in relatable-yet-universal detail. Even if something clearly isn't based on reality, it's obvious that it has been made by someone who has invested their own high school experience into every second. Secondly, they each transport the audience back to their own time walking the corridors, wishing they didn't have so many textbooks to cart around and living life by the bell. And, last but not least, every one resonates not only with viewers who are still catching the school bus at present, but also with everyone who has been there, done that and kissed it all goodbye. Plenty of flicks and programs have fit the above description over the years, with high school-set fare comprising its own genre. If getting transported back to your adolescence is your idea of a great day or night on the couch, we've teamed up with streaming service Binge to pick five must-watch options that'll do just that — including via a 14-day free trial for new customers.
Queen Vic Market manages to fill just about every Wednesday night of the year with a huge food, music and shopping party, be it the Summer Night Market, the Winter Night Market or the upcoming Hawker 88 Night Market. But the latter isn't a rinse-and-repeat kind of situation. Each night is unique, embracing a different Asian-inspired theme. During 2024's autumn iteration, running from Wednesday, April 10–Wednesday, May 8, you'll find yourself immersed in a heap of other cultures and cuisines as you feast your way through a lineup of street food stalls, with live entertainment, local artisans and eating competitions rounding out the festivities. The first Wednesday spreads its love across Asia in general, so every region gets a go. There'll be a stack of cultural performances such as colourful lion dances, plus a dumpling-eating competition. If you have a mate who goes ham at bottomless yum cha, consider signing them up for this one. This will be followed by a Southeast Asia night where the divisively fragrant durian is in the spotlight. For those who love the fruit, there'll even be a durian-eating competition. Malay dancers and martial arts demos will also be on the cards. The following week, K-pop dancers will take over the QVM sheds and laneways, alongside a Japanese band and some taiko drumming. Those heading over for Island Night get the chance to participate in yet another eating contest, this time tasked with downing as many skewers as possible. Plus, there'll also be a beer pong championship, with the facing off the next week for the title. The five-week night market culminates in the Full Moon Festival on Wednesday, May 8, as DJs spin tracks and a live Filipino band gets people dancing. It's going to be one massive party to end this year's Hawker 88 Night Market. 2024's Hawker 88 Night Market will run at Queen Victoria Market every Wednesday from 5–10pm between April 10–May 8. Head to the market's website for more details.
When the weather's fine, and you want to celebrate making it through another nine-to-five, there's nothing better than sippin' a cocktail in the afternoon sun. So, we've got some good news: there's a new lush oasis in town that'll help the workday woes wash away and you'll find it right in the CBD. Tanqueray has taken over Garden State Hotel on Flinders Lane for one month, filling it with tons of hanging greenery and a bar that's slinging gin cocktails with an icy twist. The menu will feature four versions of the Tanqueray gin and tonic — using either London Dry, No. TEN, Flor de Sevilla or Rangpur — and they're all frozen. There's the classic G&T with tonic and orange ($14), the Clover Club with pomegranate and citrus ($14), a green tea gimlet with green tea and lime ($14) and the Salty Dog with pink grapefruit and salt ($15). The pop-up will be open every day from 5pm, Monday to Thursday, and from 11am, Friday to Saturday.
There's something about a speakeasy bar with a hidden entrance that gets people excited. Enter via a trick bookcase at Loch and Key. Find a secret key that unlocks the door to another bar at Trinket. Or step through a 19th-century floor-length mirror to find a themed bar with cocktails and light bites. The latter is Melbourne's newest speakeasy, Mill Place Merchants. Just off Flinders Lane, guests will have to seek out a monogrammed red door that leads them into an old dressing room filled with mannequins, rolls of fabric and a vintage sewing machine. Yes, it is a little creepy. It's also a nod to the garment workers who once called this part of the city home. Within this room lies a 19th-century dressing room mirror. Check yourself out, and then push past to find a hidden bar lined with original bluestone walls and decorated with vintage rugs, chaise lounges, antiques and leather Chesterfields couches. It's all very old-world opulence, but still with plenty of grit. Thankfully, it's not too polished. But the drinks certainly are. Award-winning Italian bartender Giancarlo Mancino has designed a cocktail menu that oozes with old-school charm, paying homage to legendary cocktail masters of the past. Try their version of a Millionaire, made with bourbon, dry curacao, absinthe, lemon and aquafaba, or opt for the Opera that comes with gin, dubonnet, mandarin liqueur and orange bitters. These cocktails are made for slow sipping in basements hidden away from the rest of the world. You won't find spritzes, spicy margs or super fruity numbers. It's all moody and hush-hush. Those not wanting a cocktail can always get some Victorian wines or craft beers. But you really go to Mill Place Merchants for the signature cocktails. Drinks are the highlight here, but Chef Deepak Mishra has designed a set of light bites that pair with the vintage theme. He's got devilled eggs, steak and ale pies, jamon croquettes, and charcuterie and cheese boards. Snack through these before heading up to some of the best restaurants in Melbourne's CBD for more substantial eats. If you're feeling mysterious, dark and moody this winter, Mill Place Merchants might be the perfect place to brood. That's if you can find it. Head behind the red door at 2 Mill Place, Melbourne to find Mill Street Merchants. It's open from 5pm–12am on Tuesday, 4pm–1am on Thursday and Friday, and 5pm–1am on Saturday. For more information, head to the venue's website.
After a little something to brighten your mood? How does a vibrant bouquet of bright yellow blooms sound? This year, Cancer Council Victoria's Daffodil Day celebrations will spreading lots more of that brightly-hued cheer as they once again transform the Rialto Melbourne's Piazza into a sea of 20,000 flowers. For its 36th annual edition, the famed fundraising appeal is set to sell thousands of daffodils at this CBD pop-up on Thursday, August 25. To jump aboard an excellent cause and buy a bouquet for yourself or someone else in need of some bright blooms, head along from 7.30am. Both small and large bunches are available, with prices starting from $7.50. If you can't make it in person, Cancer Council Victoria is also doing a daffodil delivery service, dropping small, large and extra large bunches to homes across the state this week. You can order online, up until August 25. Proceeds from all flowers sold will go to support Cancer Council Victoria's life-saving work in the field of cancer research.
Even when True Detective had only reached its second season, the HBO series had chiselled its template into stone: obsessive chalk-and-cheese cops with messy personal lives investigating horrifying killings, on cases with ties to power's corruption, in places where location mattered and with the otherworldly drifting in. A decade after the anthology mystery show's debut in 2014, almost to the day, True Detective returns as Night Country, a six-part miniseries that builds its own snowman out of all of the franchise's familiar parts. The main similarity from there: like the Matthew McConaughey (The Gentlemen)- and Woody Harrelson (White House Plumbers)-led initial season, True Detective: Night Country is phenomenal. Arriving weekly from Monday, January 15 via Binge in Australia and Neon in New Zealand, True Detective's fourth season is a return to form and a revitalisation. Making it happen after two passable intervening cases — with Taylor Kitsch (Painkiller), Colin Farrell (The Banshees of Inisherin) and Rachel McAdams (Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret) in season two, then Mahershala Ali (Leave the World Behind) and Stephen Dorff (The Righteous Gemstones) in season three — is a new guiding hand off-screen. Tigers Are Not Afraid filmmaker Issa López directs and writes or co-writes every episode, boasting Moonlight's Barry Jenkins as an executive producer. True Detective creator Nic Pizzolatto remains in the latter role, too, as do McConaughey, Harrelson and season-one director Cary Joji Fukunaga (No Time to Die); however, from its female focus and weighty tussling with the dead to its switch to a cool, blue colour scheme befitting its Alaskan setting, there's no doubting that López is reinventing her season rather than ticking boxes. Pizzolatto oversaw and penned or co-penned very True Detective episode before now, and helmed some season three instalments. In handing over the reins, his police procedural that's never been a standard police procedural is both a powerhouse again — which season two and three couldn't manage — and lives up to the potential of its concept. The commitment and cost of delving into humanity's depths and advocating for those lost in its abyss has swapped key cops, victims and locations with each spin, including enlisting the masterful double act of Jodie Foster (Nyad) and boxer-turned-actor Kali Reis (Catch the Fair One) to do the sleuthing in season four, but seeing each go-around with fresh eyes feels like the missing puzzle piece. López spies the toll on the show's first women duo in True Detective: Night Country, as well as the splinters in a remote community when its fragile sense of certainty is forever shattered. She spots the fractures that pre-date not only the investigation at the heart of the new season, but a cold case tied to it, plus the gashes that've carved hurt and pain into the earth ever since people stepped foot on it. She observes the pursuit of profit above all else, and the lack of concern for whatever — whoever, the region's Indigenous inhabitants included — get in the way. She sees that the eternal winter night of 150 miles north of the Arctic Circle come mid-December isn't the only thing impairing everyone's sight. And, she knows that not everything has answers, with life sometimes plunging into heartbreak, or inhospitable climes, or one's own private hell, without rhyme or reason. In the fictional mining town of Ennis, Foster's police chief Liz Danvers has few friends; her curt demeanour, hatred of people and long line of casual partners among the local husbands doesn't help. Reis' state trooper Evangeline Navarro certainly isn't among those who consider themselves a pal, after the two teamed up on a murder-suicide years prior. But when all eight researchers at Tsalal Arctic Research Station, all men, go missing as the polar dark spell sets in for the year, the two women are forced to collaborate. With Ferris Bueller's Day Off glitching on the base's TV and food left out, it doesn't appear that the disappeared men left by choice. A detached tongue found on the scene has Reis certain that whatever strangeness is afoot is linked to an unsolved murder of a fellow Indigenous woman six years earlier that she's determined to put to rest. There's also The Thing vibes before, during and after the glacial expanse reveals Lovecraftian horrors, and the season's supernatural thread makes its presence known. True Detective's past casts have been outstanding — the McConaughey and Harrelson season was peak McConaissance — regardless of whether the material met their talents. Recalling her Oscar-winning The Silence of the Lambs performance but as a been-there-seen-that veteran rather than a fresh recruit, Foster is the show's finest enlistment yet. As the hard-nosed, detail-driven yet secretly caring Danvers, whose mentoring relationship with her unreliable deputy Hank Prior's (John Hawkes, Too Old to Die Young) fresh-faced officer son Peter (Finn Bennett, Hope Gap) lays bare her question-driven approach and the compassionate side she'd rather hide, she's mesmerising. Beside her, so is Reis. That the latter brings unflinching passion to the part is hardly surprising for someone with just two prior on-screen credits who now co-leads Night Country with Foster, and they make a fierce and steely odd-couple pair. Crucial to López's time in charge is fleshing out the flaws, losses, hopes and yearnings that make everyone within her frames who they are. From her central duo and their law-enforcement colleagues — Christopher Eccleston (Dodger) plays Danvers' boss, who threatens to take over — to Danvers' teenage stepdaughter (Isabella Star LaBlanc, Pet Sematary: Bloodlines) and her rallying against the mine, Navarro's struggling and grief-stricken sister (debutant Aka Niviâna), and the blow-in professor (Fiona Shaw, Andor) who has gleefully left her stressful old existence behind — there's no such thing as a one-dimensional character here. Complexity snows down from every angle, including from within. While "time is a flat circle" gets a workout in one reference backwards, True Detective: Night Country's equivalent is "it's a long fucking night — even the dead get bored", but there's nothing tedious about spending six hours with its figures and mysteries. Hollywood has been embracing frosty noir heartily of late, with A Murder at the End of the World, season five of Fargo and True Detective: Night Country all arriving within months of each other. Boasting 2023 Oscar-nominee for Tár Florian Hoffmeister lensing True Detective's switch to the literally chilling, Night Country looks as sharp and biting as it feels: all gleaming snow and inky endless evening, with light and dark aesthetically warring like human impulses. This is the series' ongoing dance, but only in its first season with that famous six-minute tracking shot (by Australian Animal Kingdom, Snowtown and Top of the Lake cinematographer Adam Arkapaw) has it dazzled so visibly and hauntingly until now. Yes, True Detective is back after a five-year gap since season three — and for the first time since 2014, it's also back to its best. Check out the trailer for True Detective: Night Country below: True Detective: Night Country streams in Australia from Monday, January 15, 2024 via Binge in Australia and Neon in New Zealand. Images: HBO.
Your phone doesn't always need to be glued to your hand, but that's often easier said than done. Your nights out don't need photographic evidence to prove that they occurred, but that's also rarely the case anymore. This Never Happened is rallying against that status quo, however, via the Lane 8's record label's dance parties. The distraction-free This Never Happens Presents gigs first arrived in Australia in 2023 — and in 2025, they're returning for more evenings of shenanigans without phones and cameras. Pics or it didn't happen? Not here. You won't have a screen in your hand — or face. You won't be swiping, texting or doing anything else with the gadget that we're all addicted to, either. Attendees will have their phones taped upon arrival, because these dance music get-togethers are all about connecting IRL and in the moment. French house producer Massane and Dublin-based DJ EMBRZ are headlining the two parties, with support from Samantha Loveridge — following in the footsteps of Le Youth, Sultan & Shepard and PARIS in 2023. Whatever their sets bring, you'll just have to rely upon your noggin to remember all of the highlights afterwards. [caption id="attachment_979217" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Megan Burch[/caption] This Never Happens Presents' 2025 shindigs will hit 170 Russell in Melbourne on Friday, January 17, complete with Massane and Embrz making their Australian debuts. When it last made the trip Down Under, This Never Happened held its first shows in this part of the world, after launching in 2016, signing artists who've toured with producer and DJ Lane 8, and initially hosting parties in 2017 and 2019 elsewhere around the globe. Clearly, its Aussie visit was a hit, hence the return tour. Top image: Megan Burch.
In George Orwell’s Confessions of a Book Reviewer essay, the Nineteen Eighty-Four author describes the job as a thankless task, saying: “The prolonged, indiscriminate reviewing of books is a quite exceptionally thankless, irritating and exhausting job.” Thankless as it may be, reviewers have the power to introduce new books into the world in passionate praise or downright scathing criticism. And, as with most reviews, it really can be a matter of taste - as we’ll see here - in this list of ten early, negative reviews of literature we now consider sacred. 1. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (represented here with the baby-faced Elijah Wood from the 1993 film) was banned by the Concord public library on the year of its release, slamming the novel as “trashy and vicious”. In full support of the ban, The Springfield Republican (published again in The New York Times in 1885), said: “[The book is] no better in tone than the dime novels which flood the blood-and-thunder reading population… his literary skill is, of course, superior, but their moral level is low, and their perusal cannot be anything less than harmful.” 2. American Psycho “Numbingly boring, and [for much of the book] deeply and extremely disgusting,” said Andrew Motion in 1991, printed in The Observer. He went on to criticise Bret Easton Ellis’ most controversial novel by saying: “Not interesting-disgusting: sickening, cheaply sensationalist, pointless except as a way of earning its author some money and notoriety.” 3. Catch-22 The common idiom "catch 22" came from Joseph Heller’s famous satire and today the book is regarded as one of the best in modern times. But, for Richard G. Stern, it was “an emotional hodgepodge”. The critic said, in The New York Times Book Review in 1961, “no mood is sustained long enough to register for more than a chapter.” He does, however, go on to compliment Heller (sort of): “Its author... is like a brilliant painter who decides to throw all the ideas in his sketchbooks onto one canvas, relying on their charm and shock to compensate for the lack of design…” 4. The Catcher in the Rye J.D. Salinger’s praised coming-of-age novel didn’t sit well with James Stern, who, in The New York Times (1951) said: “This Salinger, he’s a short story guy. And he knows how to write about kids. This book though, it’s too long. Gets kind of monotonous. And he should’ve cut out a lot about these jerks and all that crumby school. They depress me.” 5. The Great Gatsby Baz Luhrmann’s movie adaptation of The Great Gatsby (pictured) is looking like 2013’s most anticipated film. However, not all first readers of the book were won over by Gatsby and Daisy. Published in The Saturday Review in 1925, L.P Hartley said: “Mr. Scott Fitzgerald deserves a good shaking. Here is an unmistakable talent unashamed of making itself a motley to the view. The Great Gatsby is an absurd story, whether considered as romance, melodrama, or plain record of New York high life.” 6. Lolita “[Lolita] is undeniably news in the world of books. Unfortunately, it is bad news,” announced Orville Prescott in The New York Times in 1958. Vladimir Nabokov’s novel about a middle-aged literary professor who retells his semi-incestural relationship with a 12-year-old neighbour, still provokes strong feelings from readers today. Prescott went on to say: “There are two equally serious reasons why it isn’t worth any adult reader’s attention. The first is that it is dull, dull, dull in a pretentious, florid and archly fatuous fashion. The second is that it is repulsive.” 7. Moby Dick In 1852, the New York United States Magazine and Democratic Review, stated: “If there are any of our readers who wish to find examples of bad rhetoric, involved syntax, stilted sentiment and incoherent English, we will take the liberty of recommending to them this precious volume of Mr. Melville’s". Ouch! 8. Ulysses Though a painful 265,000-odd words long, Ulysses has been hailed as one of the most important works in Modernist literature. James Joyce’s experimental stream of consciousness techniques, though popular with Ms. Monroe (above), were not popular with the writer at The Sporting Times in 1922. It said: “[Ulysses] appears to have been written by a perverted lunatic who has made a speciality of the literature of the latrine... there are whole chapters of it without punctuation or other guide to what the writer is really getting at.” And in a sense, quite true. 9. Where the Wild Things Are Where the Wild Things Are is a classic children’s bedtime read, written by Maurice Sendak in 1963. Generations later, Spike Jonze directed a movie version in 2009. However, in an issue of Publisher’s Weekly in the year of its release, a reviewer says: “The plan and technique of the illustrations are superb. … But they may well prove frightening, accompanied as they are by a pointless and confusing story.” 10. Wuthering Heights “How a human being could have attempted such a book as the present without committing suicide before he had finished a dozen chapters, is a mystery,” said the Graham’s Lady’s Magazine in 1848. The reviewer was clearly not as taken by Emily Brontë’s depiction of a bleak and cruel life on the Yorkshire moors as most. Suicidal or not, the relationship between Cathy and Heathcliff still resonates today as is evident from the popularity of contemporary adaptations like Andrea Arnold's 2009 movie (pictured).
Albert Park's Beach Hotel has entered a new phase of existence, and has been reborn as a classic Aussie pub. The longstanding beachside boozer has reopened after an extensive makeover, sporting a fresh look across its dining room, public bar and courtyard. It's the latest project for new owner Tom Walker, who also had a hand in revitalising other southside pubs like the Middle Park Hotel, Newmarket Hotel and Albert Park Hotel. In The Beach's new kitchen, Head Chef David Marshall (Middle Park Hotel, The French Saloon, Wilson & Market) is plating up a mix of Aussie and British pub classics, with an emphasis on honest comfort food, done well. You'll spy a chicken schnitzel teamed with minted peas, cabbage and goats cheese, a butternut squash pappardelle and a beefy cheeseburger oozing thousand island sauce. Bar snacks and small bites might include the likes of a beef and aged cheddar jaffle, or crumbed local calamari done with blood orange and fennel. And the grill gets a solid workout, turning out offerings like a spatchcock chook with green olive and chorizo, or a 1.5-kilogram two-person tomahawk with bone marrow butter and brioche crumbs. Meanwhile, the bar's also shaking things up with a reworked selection of over 100 wines, both contemporary and old-world, along with a hefty lineup of tap beers and a slew of classic cocktails. And there are more changes afoot, with plans for an external facelift and a name change back to the pub's (great) original moniker of The Bleak House Hotel — both slated for completion by the end of the year. The new-look Beach Hotel is now open at 97 Beaconsfield Parade, Albert Park. Images: Brook James.
The circus is one of those things you either love or hate. Usually around age ten or eleven you fall in love with the spectacle of it — you become enamoured of the daring feats and the glittery costumes — either that, or you swear off it completely and the smell of hay or peanuts acts as a lifelong trigger for your intense phobia of clowns. Just like Vegemite, Bjork, or Miley Cyrus; the circus is just one of those things you can't feel indifferent about. Without the tent, without the fairy floss, and without the terrifying clowns, it's entirely different though. A fact that the National Institute of Circus Arts are proving with the talent on show at this year's final showcase. Featuring 21 students — handpicked all the way from Noumea, New Caledonia to Ulladulla, NSW — this 90-minute graduate show presents an entertaining vision of contemporary circus arts that knowingly leans on farce to create something that teeters nicely between carnival and cabaret. Translated to a stand-alone stage show like this however, the relationship between performer and audience can seem a little off. You never quite know when or how much to clap as the impressive feats come in such rapid-fire succession, and because of this audience expectations go through the roof — oh, that was only one backflip so I'll save my applause 'til the end I guess. The show is also pretty disjointed as it oscillates wildly between full-blown flamboyant celebration and moments of surprisingly dark introspection. There is both a rollicking musical number to the Scissor Sisters' 2012 hit 'Let's Have a Kiki!' and a vertical rope performance over a black mattress that has unsettling connotations of teen suicide. I'm not overstating it to say the same performer boogied down in a Hawaiian shirt in one scene then snarled through a leather gimp mask in another. All in all, if you're going in with any expectation for narrative, overall theme, or cohesion, you're going to be disappointed. But this isn't really what it's about, and the novelty and precision of the acts on display far outweigh any criticisms you may have of the show as a whole. Hanne Grant and Jonathan Campos were a great source of humour while being amazingly skilled with hula hoops and the Chinese pole respectively. Daniel Price gave the first dark yet impressive performance on the roue cyr — an apparatus I didn't even know existed. Then the drama ran through the acts with Kate Nelson's seamless work on double rope and Emily Collins' graceful contortions with tissu (aerial silk). Other performances included tightwire, cloudswing, vertical rope, juggling, adagio, swinging trapeze, clowning, hand balancing, roman rings, aerial hoop, and swinging pole. Once you forgive the stark contrasts between light and dark, the show is fantastic. Directors Megan Jones and Meredith Kitchen even say with the program, the showcase "truly reflects the diverse personalities that belong to [the] graduating third year students. Quirky, sassy, fun, intense, and dynamic..." And with this, the show succeeds. It's accessible, entrancing and easy to watch — a testament to the enduring appeal of spectacle. Image: Aaron Walker.
It's not every day you see Poison Ivy making out with Captain America, William Shatner ranting about UFOs or people paying cash money for 30 seconds with Orlando Bloom, but Comic Con is truly a universe of its own. Taking over Sydney Exhibition Centre on Glebe Island this past weekend (and Brisbane's Convention and Exhibition Centre last weekend) with thousands of hardcore geeks, curious tourists and entire families all dressed as Superman, Oz Comic Con is Australia's answer to the mighty American flagship event for enthusiasts of all things nerdtastic. A truly judgement-free realm of total escapism and investment in fantasy, Oz Comic Con saw packed out panels squealing at Buffy cast members, new Nintendo Wii U consoles tested by know-it-all Rainbow Roadmasters and more corsets than the Pirates of Penzance. Here's what we took away from the two-day convention — aside from a serious swag of busty, lycra-clad costume party ideas. William Shatner Believes in UFOs Nothing says Comic Con like watching William Shatner talk about the early Star Trek days and UFOs. Trekkies came out of the woodwork to live long and prosper with the sci-fi legend, who took a moment to seriously rant about the existence of life in other dimensions. In a totally dad-like Shatner ramble, the 83-year-old spoke of a ignorant radio show host of yesteryear. "He said, 'Do you believe in UFOs?' and I said, 'Do you know who you're talking to?'" Delving into a seriously epic speech about human ignorance, Shatner preached to the Spock-eared choir on this one. "We don't know what we don't know we don't know... If we can suspend our disbelief about a Czechoslovakian bearded acrobat, why can't we suspend our disbelief about UFOs?" Image: Dark Age. Khal Drogo Goes for Port Adelaide In one of the most surprisingly great panels of the whole weekend, Game of Thrones actor Jason Momoa had the (primarily female) crowd in the palm of his giant, giant hand. Kicking off his panel session with an unexpected rant about AFL and a loud "Fuck the Sydney Swans," the 35-year-old Hawaiian powerhouse continuously ended every response with a loud, growling "PORT POWER!" and a fist pump. Also wore only a pink spotted fluffy sock for that horrific wedding night scene in Game of Thrones but changed to a white one because Emelia Clarke was laughing too much. Yeesh. Image: Javis Wong Buffy Fans Are Intense. Like, Really Intense. Whenever anyone asks a question at Comic Con, it's actually the most awkwardly adorable thing in the world — cold sweats, shaky voices, "I'm your biggest fan" pre-question rants. During a morning panel with Buffy stars Nicholas Brendon (Xander) and Emma Caulfield (Anya), one particular fan asked the pair if they'd had any freaky experiences with their fans (and let's be honest, Buffy fans tend to be more intensely hardcore Fans than most). While Brendon explained he's had limited stalker vibes or hate mail due to his character, "My character was always in the friend zone. People don't get weird over friends," Caulfield has been bullied on social media, abused in person and even cursed by a fan. Cursed. Like, Practical Magic cursed. Lightening the mood, Brendon then went on to say he'd tap co-star Michelle Trachtenberg, which got weird. "She was 14. Then she did that magazine shoot. Then she wasn't 14 anymore. I would hit... that... hard. Would you hit that?" Yikes. Image: Rob Johnston. The Army Thinks Call of Duty Fans Will Make Good Soldiers In one of the most sort-of-genius branded stalls at the event, the Army Reserve were on site for the weekend to recruit the biggest, most fearsome commandos in Sydney for the defence force: gamers? We guess this was some kind of weird hope of transforming the best Modern Warfare players into actual soldiers, but... really? Comic Con is Really Truly About Unbelievably Epic Costumes Because just look at these totally homemade creations. This is months and months of glueing, pasting, crafting — not to mention most of these punters had been awake since 4am painting themselves. Bloody legends. Finally, our personal favourite. MILHOUSE.
Upon his return from a two year stint in Southeast Asia, lapping up 50c roadside stubbies and being submerged by the infamous Chang-over, Queensland booze lover/entrepreneur Christian Gornall found annoyance in having to trudge through endless bottlos to find who had the best deal on his favourite tipple. *Lightbulb* Fravo is the result of Gornall's beer-goggled brain explosion, an app that helps users streamline their hunt for alcohol by finding which liquor store has specific varieties at the cheapest price. Free to download for iPhone and Android users, the app works by letting users apply a category search to browse different varieties of beer, wine and spirits by price range, before narrowing down results to the most cost-effective liquor joints in the area. Keywords can also be entered should the user be in need of something as commonplace as VB or as far-flung as a stout made with stag semen. For those just intent on getting the best deal for their hard earned dollars and riding the gravy train, a 'Hot Deals' tab gives insight into the best offers all-round. Fravo is currently only available in Australia, but there are apparently plans to expand across the ditch in the not-too-distant future.
Collingwood gallery Sullivan + Strumpf are launching a new exhibition this month: Tissu Tissue by acclaimed abstract artist Lara Merrett. Merrett is known for her mind-bending colour work, and these new canvases push her trademark style about as far as it can go. Imagine an ocean of soft, pulsing colour, where forms blur and merge into one another. It's trippy and soothing all at the same time, in a similar vein to US artist Arielle Austin. "As an ocean swimmer, I try to tap into, hold onto, and inject this state into the work. In thinking of landscape as an experience, I am connecting to this larger force – I am part of something bigger than myself," Merrett says. "In psychoanalysis, oceanic feeling is an expansion of consciousness beyond one's body, a limitless extension, and a sense of unlimited power associated with identification with the universe as a whole." Born in Melbourne in 1971, Merrett currently splits her time between studios in Sydney and Bendalong in regional New South Wales. Tissu Tissue is a rare chance for Melburnians to catch her latest work. The exhibition will run from July 20 to August 12, with a special launch event on Thursday ,July 20 (6–8pm). Follow Sullivan + Strumpf for all the updates. Images: Supplied
When The Sopranos came to a close with perhaps the most controversial ending in television history, it left fans with plenty of questions. If you're keen to get some closure — or simply find out more about the iconic gangster series — then open up your 2019 diary: three of the show's stars are coming to Australia next year. Touring the country between May 25 and June 1, In Conversation with The Sopranos will see Michael Imperioli, Steve Scirrippa and Vince Pastore take to the stage to chat about their time on the HBO series, including everything from behind-the-scenes stories to theories on how the eight-season show ended. That means that Sopranos aficionados can hear all of the insider details from none other than Tony Soprano's unofficial nephew, Christopher Moltisani, plus two of the mob boss' enforcers in Bobby Baccala and Big Pussy. While the man who became synonymous with the series obviously, sadly can't be there, Imperioli, Scirrippa and Pastore will also chat about the late, great James Gandolfini — including their friendship with him both on- and off-screen, and the impact that he had on their lives and careers. No word yet whether the trio will come out on stage to the sounds of Journey's 'Don't Stop Believin'; however they will indeed be answering attendees' questions at the end of their discussion. Tickets start at the $100 mark (give or take a dollar or two depending on the city), and if you're feeling flush with a spare $285 burning a hole in your pocket, you can also opt for the VIP package which includes a meet and greet. In Conversation with The Sopranos tours Australia in 2019, coming to Sydney's Enmore Theatre on Saturday, May 25, The Star Casino on the Gold Coast on Sunday, May 26, Perth's Crown Theatre on Wednesday, May 29 and Melbourne's Palais Theatre on Saturday, July 1. Tickets go on sale at 9am on Tuesday, August 21, with a pre-sale from 9am on Friday, August 16 — for more information, visit the event website.
In these days of ubiquitous mass production, unique pieces of gear are usually rare and often rather costly. However, Canada's reCycledride is changing all that. At least for cyclists, that is. By combining stylish vintage frames with contemporary parts, the Toronto-based company creates bicycles that are guaranteed to be one-of-a-kind. Their "first-ever art-on-wheels" was completed in September 2012. Featuring a 49cm racing frame, double wall wheels, coaster brakes, front brakes, a single gear system and a 52cm raised handle bar, it went up for sale for $500 Canadian Dollars. Nine months and a few 'artworks' later, Dolce & Gabbana's online magazine, Swide, selected reCycledride's 'Pennington' as one of 2013's 'Best Fixie Bikes', justifying their decision with lavish praise. "The beautiful Pennington takes a '70s Miele frame that is powdercoated in Opel Green, pairs it with a brown saddle and handle setup and completes it all with an unexpected gold-chain laced through the heart of it," Swide's description goes. "It gets its name from the fact that they wanted it to be worth every penny that the owner spent on it, in terms of style, safety and substance." 'From Paris, with Love' is the company's latest. According to their blog, the designer felt compelled to make it immediately after laying eyes upon its Raleigh frame, a 1980s relic that belonged to a Parisian businessman. To this was added a Brooks B17 Champion standard saddle, new wheels, a new handlebar grip, a cog and Continental tyres. The bike, pictured here, is currently on sale for $2000 CDN. [via PSFK]
They team behind one of Melbourne's most glorious hot chocolates has come to the inner east. Hash Specialty Coffee has been kicking goals on Hardware Street in the CBD since 2015. Recently they cut the ribbon on a second location in Camberwell — and if you find yourself in the area, you need to check it out, pronto. Located at 564 Burke Road, Camberwell, the second store has its own menu, with options aplenty both savoury and sweet. If you're feeling the former, chorizo and seared scallops with white bean puree, romesco and fried eggs should suit you nicely. Alternatively, if you're in more of a dessert for breakfast mood, almond milk panna cotta with matcha-poached pear, honeycomb, passionfruit gel and candied banana will be hard to pass up. As for coffee — it is in the name, after all — Hash Specialty Coffee Camberwell will feature the brand's signature blend that includes beans from El Salvador, Guatemala, Kenya and India, as well as rotating single origins for both espresso and filter coffees and cold drips. And yes, they will have that hot chocolate, featuring 85 percent Mork Chocolate and a healthy puff of fairy floss on top. Find Hash Specialty Coffee at 564 Burke Road, Camberwell. For more information check them out on Instagram. Photo credit: Alicia Feng.
When it comes to classic comfort food with a distinctly Aussie accent, the humble hot pie is at the head of the pack. With saucy filling wrapped in a neat package of flaky, buttery pastry — what's not to love? The pie is a versatile little beauty, just as happy being hoofed down alongside a lively footy match, as it is being scoffed barefoot after a session at the beach — a true-blue Aussie favourite. Luckily, this city of ours is dishing up some beautiful renditions of the beloved flaky treat from award-winning chunky steak bakery pies, to less traditional creations boasting innovative, chef-inspired fillings. And we've rounded up some of the standouts. Stock up on napkins, lock in your sauce strategy and check out our pick of Melbourne's best pies. [caption id="attachment_623231" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Annika Kafcaloudis[/caption] THE PIE SHOP, BRUNSWICK EAST The Brunswick East iteration of Pope Joan might be no longer, but sibling and former next-door neighbour The Pie Shop is very much alive and kicking. Another brainchild of renowned chef Matt Wilkinson (Crofter, Montalto), the store is slinging a tidy curation of crisp, golden goodies every Friday and Saturday, with both piping hot pies and heat-at-home varieties available. Signature small serves include The Brian — a blend of mushroom and gruyere, the Shazza — starring cauliflower, leek and cheddar, and a shepherd's pie dubbed The Steve. Or, challenge yourself by thinking a little bigger and grab one of the family-serve pies, filled with the likes of chunky beef and vegetable, or rich lamb casserole. PIE THIEF, FOOTSCRAY This unconventional pie shop is one of the darlings of Melbourne's west, loved for its friendly vibe, nostalgic touches and rotating menu chock full of innovative eats. Since launching in 2019, Pie Thief has been sating those pie cravings with restaurant-y signatures like the chunky steak (braised in a stout made by fellow Footscray locals Hop Nation), the Thai red chicken curry, and plant-based varieties such as a vegan spaghetti bolognese and the barbecue jackfruit with jalapeno. There's also a rotating Pie of The Week special to tempt you, though we trust you'll find it hard to leave without at least one serve of the legendary lasagne pie — a monster layered with bolognese, bechamel and pasta. COUNTRY COB BAKERY, SPRINGVALE, BORONIA AND KYNETON When a bakery consistently reigns supreme at the revered Australia's Best Pie Competition, earning multiple awards each year, you know it's got the goods. Now with three outposts, Country Cob Bakery is slinging a menu of famously good pies, ranging from traditional bakeshop favourites to inventive new-school creations. Prepare to be spoilt for choice, with numerous vegetarian options, an array of seafood-filled pastries — lobster pie, anyone? — and plenty of different chicken pie varieties. If you're after something meaty, keep things simple with the champion pepper beef pie, or go for a more gourmet combination, like caramelised pork and pepper, rich lamb ragu or chilli beef con carne. Tasting packs are also available if you simply can't decide. [caption id="attachment_809698" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Julia Sansone[/caption] A1 BAKERY, BRUNSWICK Worlds apart from the traditional Aussie Four'N Twenty, A1 Bakery's beloved baked goods are a celebration of Lebanese flavours through and through. The family-run bakeshop and grocer is renowned for its authentic Middle Eastern eats, serving up pastry-induced happiness since 1992. Here on Sydney Road, the 'pie' takes many different forms, though crisp, golden pastry and generous, flavour-packed fillings are always a given. Try the boat-shaped pie creation loaded with shanklish cheese, tomato and herbs, a dense spinach triangle crammed with cheese or perhaps one of the plump crescent pies sporting a lush cheesy centre. [caption id="attachment_824902" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Karon Photography[/caption] WONDER PIES, COLLINGWOOD AND BULLEEN With legendary chef Raymond Capaldi at the helm, local pie business Wonder Pies certainly has some chops. Capaldi works to the motto, 'you should be able to eat a pie whilst riding a bike', so expect some very good house-made pastry engineered with great structural integrity. Current menu highlights include a chunky beef with cheese and pepper, the butter tandoori chicken pie, a dense lasagne hybrid and an indulgent mac 'n cheese variety. What's more, each pie is finished with a silky double French glaze for extra flavour points. The kitchen is whipping up both small pies and family-sized beauts, along with the quintessential three-bite party pie, and there are plenty of multi-packs on offer. NORTHCOTE BAKESHOP, NORTHCOTE Stunning sourdough loaves, traditional French croissants and some standout breakfast rolls have cemented Northcote Bakeshop's status as a leader of the Northside's baked goods game. But pie-lovers will also find themselves in excellent hands here, thanks to a short but stellar lineup of savoury pastry delights. Right now, you can sink your teeth into a tarragon chicken number, finished with confit garlic and leek. Or, go meat-free with the potato and leek pie starring spring vegetables and salsa verde. Both come in solo serves teamed with a thick house-made relish, plus there's a signature beef and lamb sausage roll if you're feeling especially peckish. PURE PIE, DOCKLANDS From individual pastries you can polish off in a few bites, through to hefty family-sized pies that'll feed four with leftovers, Pure Pie has pretty much all levels of pie craving covered. The Docklands-based bakery is whipping up a sizeable array of sweet and savoury baked goods for just about every palate, with both freezer packs and ready-to-eat varieties on offer. On the current menu, you'll find options like slow-braised beef with cheddar and Guinness, a mild butter chicken concoction, the chicken and mushroom blend finished with a hit of tarragon, and a breakfast-inspired chilli bean, spinach and feta pie. If you can't make it in-store, order online for home delivery or catch Pure Pie at your local weekend market. FATTO A MANO, FITZROY It's only fair to warn you that a visit to this Fitzroy bakery will likely see you leaving with a bunch more goodies than you originally had on your shopping list. Fatto a Mano's counter is forever brimming with a tasty array of homemade treats from cakes, tarts and loaves, to freshly-baked muffins, and giant slices of the famed house pizza. Among them, you'll find a rotation of rustic solo-serve hot pies, with popular savoury fillings including the likes of an aromatic chicken curry, organic beef, and the mushroom with spinach and haloumi. Vegan options abound and there's even a range of gluten-free pies, topped with crispy shredded potato. RICHMOND PIE SHOP, RICHMOND It should come as no surprise that Richmond Pie Shop specialises in baked goods of the round, pastry-based variety. And they're premium specimens, too. Should you find yourself in Melbourne's inner-east and in search of a hot pie fix, consider yourself spoilt for choice with this bakery's extensive menu. Classic options include the likes of a cheesy beef and bacon, an Aussie-style beef and a potato-topped shepherd's pie. Or, you can step things up a notch with one of the gourmet creations — perhaps the lamb and rosemary, a Thai chicken number, or the veg-friendly cauliflower and leek pie. There's even a party pie for the snack fiends among you, priced at an easy $2 a pop. HONOURABLE MENTIONS: Fitzroy bakery Babka is serving up a tidy selection of simple, yet satisfying pies, with home-style fillings starring chicken, lamb and beef. Handmade hot pies are a passion at Keith's Pies in Richmond, where you'll find fillings like chunky steak and pepper, creamy chicken and mushroom, and even a bacon-infused brekkie blend. There's only one pie on Falco's standard menu, but it's an absolute ripper, featuring all the flavours of the famed Rockwell & Sons burger wrapped into house-made pastry. Magnum Pi is doing handcrafted pies available for delivery across Melbourne, with crafty fillings like chicken moussaka and green mac 'n cheese. Mornington Peninsula pie-slinger Johnny Ripe is best known for its sugar-dusted apple creations, but also makes a cracking savoury family pie. Top Image: Pie Thief's legendary lasagne pie.
It felt like the day would never arrive but, as of 11.59pm on Tuesday, October 27, Melbourne is slowly reopening. Under the state's new eased restrictions, thousands of bars, venues and events can now welcome back patrons — including paint-and-sip studio Cork and Canvas. If you've been indulging in arts and crafts during lockdown, you can now flex your newfound artistic skills while enjoying a glass of wine at Cork and Canvas' two South Melbourne studios. The doors are being thrown open from Wednesday, November 4, with both public paint-and-sip classes and private parties available for booking. Upon reopening, Cork and Canvas will be running sessions daily, including guided paintings of the Melbourne city skyline, as well as famous Van Gogh and Monet pieces. There's also a create-your-own-Banksy workshop. Bookings start at $55 per person and securing your place soon is recommended — as Melburnians will be eager for any public activity they can get their hands on over the next few weeks.
The next time that you see Hannah Gadsby on your screen, they'll be in feel-good mode. There's a wedding to talk about — their own, to their producer Jenney Shamash — after all. And, you'll be seeing the Australian comedian share the details, and dive into the politics around nuptials, plus homophobic bakers, queer domesticity and bunnies, too, very soon: on Tuesday, May 9, in fact. Get ready for Something Special, Gadsby's new comedy special — and their third with Netflix following smash-hit Nanette and then Douglas. Based on their recent stand-up show Body of Work, announced in 2022 and filmed at the Sydney Opera House that same year, it's being pegged as "their first feel-good romantic comedy show" — but still with Gadsby's usual wit, insights and sense of humour. "I didn't say who it's a feel-good show for," noted Gadsby's in Netflix's announcement. "I feel real good." It's been a huge few years for the Tasmanian-born talent, and they keep going from strength to strength onstage — and on-screen. Indeed, when the time came for Gadsby to initially follow up international smash-hit show Nanette, that seemed a rather difficult task. After all, the one-performer stand-up set copped serious praise on its 18-month travels across Australia and the UK, even scooping the top honours at both the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe — and, of course, spawning its very own Netflix special. But, then Douglas was born, with Gadsby returning to the stage with a performance named after a pet pooch. While Nanette pulled apart the concept of comedy itself, dishing up an insight into Gadsby's past, Douglas took comedy fans on a "tour from the dog park to the renaissance and back". It made its way across stages around Australia and New Zealand in late 2019 and early 2020, and then hit Netflix in 2020 as well. After that came Body of Work — first as a live show again, and now as Netflix special Something Special, too. It's the first release in Gadsby's new a multi-title deal with the streaming platform that is also set to span a new multi-comic special featuring gender-diverse performers. Something Special doesn't yet have a trailer, but you can check out Nanette and Douglas' sneak peeks in the interim below: Hannah Gadsby's Something Special Netflix special will be available to stream from Tuesday, May 9, 2023. Images: Jess Gleeson/Netflix © 2023.
Five nights, one familiar and comforting voice, and a time-travelling trip back 66 million years: that's the setup behind new five-part series Prehistoric Planet. Dropping one episode per evening on Apple TV+ between Monday, May 23–Friday, May 27, it's a feels-like-you're-there dive into natural history that's thoroughly remarkable. Having none other than David Attenborough narrate the daily activities of dinosaurs really seems like it should've happened already, of course; however, now that it finally is occurring — and landing in your streaming queue, too — it's always both wonderful and stunning. The reason that a show like Prehistoric Planet hasn't existed before? Given the astonishing footage that usually accompanies Attenborough's nature docos, replicating those visuals while jumping backwards to a time when dinosaurs roamed the earth was always going to be a tricky feat. But if photorealistic versions of The Jungle Book and The Lion King can bring talking animals to life — one more convincingly than the other — then the same technology can make ancient creatures look as if they're roving across the globe now. Indeed, after helming that pair of features, filmmaker Jon Favreau is one of the Prehistoric Planet's executive producers. Also, the effects company behind the two Disney movies does the CGI honours here. That task isn't a simple one. If the Cretaceous-era dinosaurs rampaging across the screen didn't appear like they genuinely could be walking and stalking — and fighting, foraging for food, hunting, flying, swimming and running as well — the magic that typically comes with watching an Attenborough-narrated doco would instantly and disappointingly vanish. Thankfully, Prehistoric Planet never looks anything less than spectacular. You won't quite forget that the creatures it surveys no longer exist, but you won't feel as if you're simply watching pixels crash into pixels (or like you're sitting down to a new entry in the Jurassic Park franchise, either). Prehistoric Planet starts each episode with the same introduction, including the only glimpse of humanity that ever graces its frames. In its opening two-minute clip, David Attenborough stands in front of a Tyrannosaurus rex fossil. Unsurprisingly, the now 96-year-old couldn't seem more excited. He doesn't ever utter the words "welcome to...", as his brother Richard Attenborough did almost three decades back in the first Jurassic Park film. The world has heard that phrase far too many times since for it to pop up here and play like anything but a gimmick. But he's as overjoyed as his sibling was at the beginning of that now-classic feature. Luckily, things turn out better in this streaming series — there's no human casualties, obviously — than they have in cinemas. Welcome to... your new insight into Tyrannosaurus rex foreplay, your latest reminder that velociraptors really don't look like they do in the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World flicks, an entertaining time spent with al kinds of animals, and your next favourite dinosaur project with an Attenborough attached. Each of Prehistoric Planet's five instalments focuses on a different type of terrain — coasts, deserts, freshwater, ice and forests — and chats through the creatures that call it home. Set to a spirited original score by Hans Zimmer, fresh from winning his latest Oscar for Dune, there's a formula at work. That said, it's no more blatant than in any David Attenborough-hosted show. Viewers watch as some dinos look after their young, others try to find a mate, plenty search for something to eat and others attempt not to be eaten. The same kinds of activities are covered in each episode, but the locations and dinosaurs involved all change. The result: as engaging a series as Attenborough has ever fronted, and one that's frequently astonishing. And yes, given the broadcaster, biologist and natural historian's impressive on-screen resume — including past shows The Living Planet, State of the Planet, The Blue Planet, Frozen Planet, Blue Planet II, Our Planet, Seven Worlds, One Planet, A Perfect Planet and Green Planet, plus Planet Earth and Planet Earth II, and documentary David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet — that's saying something. Attenborough is as careful and educational in his observations as ever here. This far into his career, with credits spanning eight decades, he could've just nattered away on autopilot — but that's never his approach. He's as respectful of the critters he's talking about as he's ever been, too. And, he's clearly as keen to provide viewers with the type of details that wouldn't resonate with anywhere near as much power and importance if they were to simply read them themselves. Sometimes, Prehistoric Planet is amusing, with Attenborough's wry sense of humour shining through. At other times, it's ridiculously cute, as watching any kind of animal can be. It's thrilling and eye-opening as well — and, a plethora of times per episode, it makes it easy to see how behaviours we see today, both in people and in the animals we presently share the earth with, have their foundation in these ancient beasts. Of course, in that repeated introduction, Attenborough stresses that Prehistoric Planet hails from scientific learnings about dinosaurs. Accordingly, the series doesn't merely look naturalistic, but actively works to serve up a meticulous nature documentary about its creatures of choice in every single way it can. That's an aim it easily achieves; no dive into the lives of dinos has felt as gloriously immersive as this. Check out Prehistoric Planet's full trailer below: Prehistoric Planet streams via Apple TV+ across Monday, May 23–Friday, May 27, with a new episode available to watch each day.
Two Chicago-based designers have come up with an entertaining and sustainable solution to their city's heavy winter snowfall. Noel Turgeon and Natalya Egon's Second Hinterlands Project proposes to turn Chicago's snow into a playground for young and old alike. The project suggests that instead of spending large amounts of money removing the snow, certain areas could be left snow covered, and the remaining snow strategically relocated to this uncleared area. In the process a unique new landscape would be created for the locals to interact with and enjoy until the weather starts to thaw. Think giant snow mountains, snow forts, tunnels and other delightful things. Whilst it has basically zero implications for Australia, both designers live in a place where heavy snowfall has an inevitably transformative quality upon the cityscape and upon its citizens' movements, and they want to make this transformation a positive one. "The experience of the city is altered overnight; for a short while the city transforms from a system of streets, transportation networks, landmarks, and nodes into a landscape of concealment and exposed void, dramatically simplified yet overtly dynamic," says Egon on her website. The project won the 2013 competition “COLDSCAPES: New Visions for Cold Weather Cities" organised by Kent State University's Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative (CUDC).
When Joaquin Phoenix and Ridley Scott joined forces in 2000, exploring a brutal (and fictionalised) slice of history in the process, it brought both the actor and the director Oscar nominations. Repeating the feat 23 years after Gladiator, they might be hoping for the same outcome — or better. The new teamup: Napoleon, with Phoenix (Beau Is Afraid) on a campaign to rule France as the movie's namesake, and Scott (House of Gucci) also returning to a period he dived into in his debut feature The Duellists back in 1977. The focus this time is clearly all there in the title, charting Napoleon Bonaparte's rise to French Emperor, then fall from the post. No, ABBA's 'Waterloo' doesn't feature in the film's just-dropped first trailer. Present instead is a whole lot of wars being waged in a quest to first fight for and then to hold onto power, as well an examination of Napoleon's relationship with Joséphine de Beauharnais (Vanessa Kirby, Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One). The hat, the determination, the military and political scheming, battle scene after battle scene: they all get a look the Napoleon sneak peek, too, in a movie that's being touted by distributor Sony as boasting "some of the most dynamic practical battle sequences ever filmed". Also accounted for: lines of dialogue, as scripted by All the Money in the World's David Scarpa, establishing Napoleon's arrogance. "I'm the first to admit when I make a mistake. I simply never do," Phoenix notes. When Napoleon hits cinemas Down Under in November, Phoenix and Kirby will be joined on-screen by everyone from Tahar Rahim (The Serpent) as Paul Barras and Ben Miles (Hijack) as Caulaincourt to Ludivine Sagnier (Lupin) as Theresa Cabarrus — plus Catherine Walker (House of Gucci) as Marie-Antoinette, whose fate opens the trailer. After a silver-screen date, the movie is headed to Apple TV+, just like another big flick with a starry cast and an acclaimed octogenarian filmmaker that's on its way before 2023 is out: Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon. Check out the first trailer for Napoleon below: Napoleon releases in cinemas Down Under on November 23, 2023.
Is there anything better on a hot summer day than a refreshing beverage? Sippin' on a 7-Eleven Slurpee is a time-honoured tradition for surviving a road trip, beach day or really any day when the mercury skyrockets. So, however your 2019 is going so far, it's time to celebrate all that is good in the world — and by that we mean limited edition Slurpee flavours that'll give you all the nostalgic feels. Slurpee has partnered with the much-loved lollipop brand, Chupa Chups, to release two classic lollipop Slurpee flavours. You can sip the strawberry and cream flavour, or lose your mind with refreshing watermelon. And if you thought the news couldn't get any sweeter, guess again, because they're completely free. Yep, zero dollars for these flavour-filled treats. There's just one small catch — you've only got four hours to hunt these babies down. The limited-edition flavours will be available exclusively from the Collins Street store this Saturday, February 23. Get in there quick. 7-Eleven's Free Chupa Chups Slurpees will be available from 12–4pm at 7-Eleven Collins Street. One free large Slurpee per customer.
There have always been similarities between art and wine. You could even call wine 'drinkable art'. To understand the merit of a piece of art — and have a deeper appreciation for it — you have to consider when it was created and what societal or contextual factors influence how you view it. Where are you are viewing the work, are you standing on the street or in a museum? Who was it created for? What is it made out of? These are similar to the questions wine critics ask when assessing wine and the questions sommeliers ask when creating a wine list. What food will guests be eating with the wine? What techniques were used to create this wine? What is the wine's terroir? Looking at wine through this lens creates a new appreciation for what's in your glass. But what about the art on the outside of the bottle? There are often hidden meanings and stories behind the images. Next time you're in a bottle shop, restaurant or even browsing online — take time to discover the stories within the labels, it adds to the sensory adventure you're about to embark upon. The five wines below are a selection of wines that are not only delicious but whose wine labels also tell a story. SHOPPING LIST (from left to right) 1. 2017 Unico Zelo 'Halcyon Days' Nero d'Avola, Riverland, SA, $35 Illustrator Ruben Ireland's images were used for all of Unico Zelo's latest releases of nero d'avola ad fiano. The above 'Halcyon Days' label is from Ireland's artwork 'Here Before'. It depicts an ethereal woman with feathers in her hair, sitting with a butterfly lightly perched on her fingertips — a visual representation of winemaking and the delicacy of the grape's style. 2. 2016 Somos 'Tintito' Grenache Blend, McLaren Vale, SA, $24 from Different Drop Behind this label is a young Australian artist from Melbourne called Eddy Sara — an absolute legend, bone cancer survivor and now, creator of amazing art. The label was originally created for a small batch syrah experiment by Somos winemakers Ben Caldwell and Maurico Ruiz. It was a big inky tannic variety, which is reflected in the label — a kraken battles with a bird of prey, representing the battle between the depth of the variety and the light, freshness of the winemaking. The label tells the story of the wine's new blend, too, with grenache being the base, like the ocean giving stability and drinkability, and then the octopus and eagle fighting it out to make the wine intriguing and interesting. 3. 2017 Yetti and the Kokonut 'Brose' Rose, Barossa Valley, SA, $25 from Different Drop Brose celebrates the bromance between the wine's founders Dave Geyer (the Yetti) and Koen Janssens (the Kokonut), who spend more time together during vintage than they do with their own partners. Drawn by the incredibly talented Emma Shearer (who is also Janssens's fiancée), the range of labels all feature the yetti and his trusty sidekick, the coconut, in various hijinks. This label has them holding long-stemmed roses in their teeth. 4. 2017 Vinteloper Pinot Gris, Adelaide Hills, SA, $29 It's no secret who creates the labels for David Bowley's entire Vinteloper range of wines, as it is stated boldly on the label — his wife Sharon (Shaz) Hong. The pair discuss the label's design (over many bottles of wine) at dinner, talking about the flavours, the senses and the seasons. Hong translates that feeling onto paper through her unique artistic style, using symbols to describe the wines characters. The label itself becomes a visual representation of not only what's inside but also what it means to share wine with your loved ones. 5. 2015 Athletes of Wine 'Vinero' Chardonnay, Macedon Ranges VIC, $44 For the Athletes of Wine label, founders Matt Brooke and Liam O'Brien wanted a caricature that would represent their alter-egos. The boys came across Melbourne street artist David Booth who had his very own alter-ego called Ghostpatrol. When Brooke and O'Brien first saw it, they knew they'd found the perfect person to create their labels. Booth created for them the Vineyard Superhero, a character holding a tool that's equal parts ancient pruning tool and equal parts a corkscrew — the superhero is a vigneron by day and sommelier by night. The Oeno Files is our new bi-weekly wine column keeping you up-to-date with the latest wine trends happening around the country. Samantha Payne is a Sydney based wine consultant, writer and sommelier who has worked in the industry for over a decade. She travels, both locally and internationally, to chat with winemakers (and occasionally lend a hand in winemaking), write wine lists and hosts wine events. Images: Lucia Braham
With Sydney in lockdown, Gelato Messina has been pumping out new specials with quite the enthusiasm. That's been great news for dessert fiends not only in the city, but wherever the gelato chain has a store. And, while Messina's latest one-off creation has a strong Sydney skew, you definitely don't need to be familiar with a beloved dish made by pastry chef Andy Bowdy of Enmore's Saga to enjoy a mouthful — or several. Bowdy's peanut butter and banana sundaes have long been considered the stuff of legend in Sydney. Now, Messina is reinventing them as a cookie pie. The gelato brand does like giving other much-loved desserts a twist, as seen with its takes on Iced VoVos, lamingtons, Viennetta, Golden Gaytimes, fairy bread and Cinnabon-style scrolls, so it has plenty of form in this area. Also, Bowdy used to make his cakes in Messina's Rosebery headquarters. This limited release has been dubbed a 'banana split kit', because there's multiple parts to it. You'll get a peanut butter and banana custard cookie pie, which comes topped with peanut crumble — and you'll also nab a one-litre tub of peanut butter and pretzel cluster gelato, a 350-gram serve of dark chocolate fudge sauce and six maraschino cherries. From there, once you've baked your pie, you can scoop gelato on top, pour the sauce and then add a cherry for maximum pie-meets-sundae fun. Like all Messina specials, this one can only be ordered online on Monday, August 30. It will set you back $55 for the kit— and, because Messina's specials always prove popular, the brand is staggering the on-sale times. Accordingly, folks in Queensland and the ACT are able to purchase at 9am, Victorians at 9.30am, and New South Wales customers split across three times depending on the store (with pies from Circular Quay, Surry Hills, Bondi, Randwick and Miranda on sale at 10am; Brighton Le Sands, Tramsheds, Parramatta and Darlinghurst at 10.30am; and Darling Square, Newtown, Rosebery and Penrith at 11am). The catch? You'll have to peel yourself off the couch and head to your local Messina store to pick up your order. They'll be available for collection between Friday, September 3–Sunday, September 5. Sydneysiders, remember to abide by lockdown restrictions when it comes to picking up your pie — with folks in most suburbs required to stick to their Local Government Area, or within five-kilometres from home, and a strict five-kilometre limit in place in LGAs of concern. Melburnians, if lockdown is extended again until then, you'll also only be permitted to travel within a five-kilometre radius to pick up food. Then, after you've got the peanut butter and banana custard cookie pie safely home, you just need to whack it in the oven for 25 minutes at 165 degrees and voila! You can preorder a Messina banana split kit from Monday, August 30, to pick up from Friday, September 3–Sunday, September 5.
When the Australian Government announced on Sunday night that pubs, bars and nightclubs would be closing the following day to help contain COVID-19, it led to the mass-buying of booze across the country. Bottle shops are not impacted by the closures, but it didn't stop Aussies stocking up just in case. Booze is just the latest item to be targeted by panic-buying, with toilet paper going first, then essential food items. Supermarkets across the country have since introduced strict two-pack-per-person limits on coveted items, such as eggs, sugar, white milk, frozen desserts and canned tomatoes, and now bottle shops are following suit. BWS and Dan Murphy's, who are both owned by the Woolworths Group, introduced temporary limits on alcohol. A statement on the Dan Murphy's website reads, "these limits are in place to ensure everyone has access to the drinks they love". Thankfully, the limits aren't quite as strict as those on food. https://twitter.com/BellTowerTimes/status/1242662405701660672 At Dan Murphy's in NSW, Vic, ACT, Qld, NT, SA and Tas, the limit per customer per day is 18 bottles of wine, three casks of wine, six bottles of spirits and three cases of beer, cider and premix. BWS has implemented similar restrictions, with all states and territories (except for WA) having per customer, per shop limits of 12 bottles of wine, three casks of wine, four bottles of spirits and four cases of beer, spirits, premix and cider. WA has stricter limits, in-line with state regulations, with customers able to buy a maximum of two from the following categories: 11.25 litres of beer, cider or pre-mix spirits; 2.25 litres of wine; one litre of spirits; and one litre of fortified wine. Both chains are also encouraging social distancing, have introduced maximum capacities at their stores, and are offering pick-up and delivery services. The temporary alcohol limits are now in place at stores across the country. To order pick-up and delivery head to the BWS and Dan Murphy's websites. 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: Stephen Dann via Flickr.
It's happening again, musical fans: Wicked is returning to Australia. That statement also applies to a mighty magical chance to see the smash-hit show for cheap. Yes, TodayTix is doing another of its ticket lotteries. When a big musical heads our way, there are often two reasons to get excited: the fact that the particular stage show is coming Down Under, and possibly getting to catch it without breaking the bank. That budget-friendly option has spanned everything from Hamilton and Moulin Rouge! to Mary Poppins and Tina — The Tina Turner Musical in recent years — and now it's Wicked's turn. This is an enchanted opportunity to enjoy The Wizard of Oz-inspired show at a discount, with tickets costing just $45. To take part in the lottery, you will need to download the TodayTix app — which is available for iOS and Android — and submit your entry each week for the next week's performances. The lottery will go live at 12.01am AEST every Thursday morning, and is already up and running for its first week. Then, the winners are drawn after 1pm on the following Wednesday. If your name is selected, you'll have an hour to claim your tickets from when you receive the good news. If you need a reminder, you can also sign up for lottery alerts via TodayTix, too. Opening in Sydney on Friday, August 25, Wicked returns to Australia two decades after composer Stephen Schwartz and playwright Winnie Holzman initially took a book that gleaned its influences from The Wizard of Oz, put it to music and turned it into one of Broadway's biggest hits of the 21st century. Even if you haven't seen the blockbuster show before, including on its past Aussie run from 2008–11, then you've likely heard of it. Following the Land of Oz's witches — telling their untold true tale is the musical's whole angle, in fact — Wicked has notched up more awards than you can fit in a hefty cauldron over the years. That includes three Tonys from ten nominations, a Grammy, an Olivier Award and six Drama Desk Awards. Story-wise, Wicked starts before The Wizard of Oz and continues its narrative after Dorothy Gale lands, adapting Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. The text itself has sold 5.5 million copies, including five million since the musical first opened. Here, before Dorothy blows in, two other women meet in the Land of Oz: Elphaba and Galinda. One will later be known as the Wicked Witch of the West, while the other will become Glinda the Good Witch. Exactly why that happens, and how, and the pair's relationship from rivals to unlikely friends to grappling with their new labels, fuels the show's tale. There's no word yet if Wicked will also hit up other Aussie cities, with only a Sydney season locked in so far. Pop on your ruby slippers and click your heels three times in hope that'll defy gravity in Melbourne, Brisbane and more afterwards — or make a Harbour City date ASAP. Wicked will open its Australian-premiere season at Sydney Lyric from Friday, August 25. To enter the TodayTix $45 lottery, download the company's iOS or Android app, and head to the company's website for more information — and to set up an alert. Images: Joan Marcus.
Sydney artist management, touring company and all round nice guys, Astral People, know where the Good Music at. Vic Edirisinghe, Lee Danilewitz and Tom Huggett apparently met at an afterparty, deciding to form their own tunes-enabling company and signing some serious local talent such as Jonti, I'lls, Collarbones, Alba, Wintercoats and Wave Racer to their management roster. After 2013's wildly successful events like OutsideIn festival and their first huge Vivid Studio party, the Astral crew are back for another round of seriously solid shindigs. They're so keen on throwing down some tunes they're cranking not one but two super hyped events during Vivid Sydney, both serious contenders for Most Love in One Sitting on the lineup this year. For their first trick, the crew have rounded up their buds with Stones Throw whiz kid Jonti to pay tribute to Melbourne electronic legends The Avalanches — in particular their seminal album Since I Left You. Celebrated as the biggest Australian album of its decade, the 2000 album was apparently assembled from approximately 3,500 vinyl samples, selling over a million copies and winning multiple ARIAs. In a project originally developed for 2013's OutsideIn Festival (gaining thumbs way up from The Avalanches themselves), Jonti will re-visualise those thousands of vinyl samples onstage on May 24 with the help of a ten piece band; including celebrated Sydney alt-pop singer-producer Rainbow Chan. If you're wanting more Astral love, check out their Studio party; with Chicago acid house pioneer Phuture's Australian debut; the collaborative project of L-Vis 1990 and Bok Bok, Night Slugs; Andras Fox playing everything live; and Sydney favourites Ben Fester, Preacha and Rainbow Chan kicking on 'til 3am. To help you ditch the past week and gear up for the weekend, Astral People have put together a solid playlist for you. So crank it loud and visit the Astral kids at the Sydney Opera House in the coming weeks. Astral People's Top Five Tunes to Start Your Weekend: Andras Fox — Running Rate https://youtube.com/watch?v=GMtqxnq-r_o Rainbow Chan — Haircut https://youtube.com/watch?v=3J4_4cv0cC0 The Avalanches — Frontier Psychiatrist https://youtube.com/watch?v=U8BWBn26bX0 Phuture - Inside Out https://youtube.com/watch?v=bA0Onpo0me4 Bok Bok - Silo Pass https://youtube.com/watch?v=4bwrO23csTs Catch Astral People turning it up at Vivid LIVE on May 24 and 30 here and here, and check out the rest of our Vivid picks over here. Images by Voena and Prudence Upton.
Pups usually get all the cafe fun, but New Yorkers have saved some coffee for the kitties. In one of the most Internet-anticipated cafe openings in NYC since Dominique Ansel's cronut shop, Purina One's pop-up Cat Cafe takes pet friendly to the next level, with cat'achinos aplenty. Populated with sixteen outrageously squeal-inducing adoptable cats from the North Shore Animal League, the Cat Cafe has everything your tabby could want in a downtown hotspot: multiplatformed towers, little mouse things on sticks, and All The Pats. You can take Duchess, Zander or Sushi to a good home after you've chilled out together over free pastries and cat'achinos with feline face latte art. Photos and bios of the adoptable fuzzies are framed proudly on the walls, or you can meet the crew over here. Sitting at 168 Bowery in lower Manhattan, the pop-up Cat Cafe is open from today for four days until April 27. Taking home a Health Department Sanitary Inspection Grade of "A", the cafe sits in its own space sectioned off from the kitty hang zone and can hold up to 65 cat-loving punters. Sure to follow the lead of Every Other NYC Opening, queues are expected down the block and to be solidly represented on Instagram. Nothing stops a New Yorker from lining up. Purina's Niky Roberts told Gothamist that the cat food company wanted to raise awareness of feline health issues and get some furry faces adopted in the meantime, simultaneously promoting their healthy cat food. With no other plans to open another cat cafe at present (or one in Australia, dayum), Purina are open to the possibility. For everyone not in NYC sipping cat'achinos and making buds with Duchess, it's going to be on Livestream a la Pandacam. Via Gothamist. Images by Tod Seelie.
In a bid to slow down the spread of COVID-19, the government has implemented a ban on non-essential mass gatherings of more than 500 people and then mandating that everyone arriving from overseas self-isolate for 14 days. On a more local level, cafes, bars and restaurants across the country are taking their own precautionary measures. As well as encouraging customers and staff to stay home if they feel unwell, increasing cleaning of their venues and providing hand sanitisers, a slew of popular coffee pit-stops are temporarily refusing to accept reusable coffee cups . Melbourne's Market Lane Coffee has revealed it's switching entirely to paper cups for all coffees served across all of its stores, saying "we want to do what we can to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19". It's also requesting customers use contactless card payment instead of cash, and has rolled out more stringent cross-contamination protocols in-store. Other popular Melbourne cafes to implement similar changes include Mayday Coffee & Food in Richmond, Carlton-born coffee roastery Seven Seeds and Beaumaris' Saska Cafe. https://www.instagram.com/p/B9sJhsTAVRA/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Meanwhile, Bonnie Coffee has rolled out similar changes across both its Sydney and Melbourne stores, saying it wants to minimise transmission as well as to avoid contamination of its own equipment. Other Sydney venues that are taking a break from reusable cups include Mecca Coffee, Sonoma, The Carpenter, Surry Hills' Artificer, Sample Coffee and Cherry Moon. Plenty of Brisbane spots are following suit, too, including the CBD's John Mills Himself, which is scrapping cash payments and pausing the use of both dine-in cups and reusable takeaway cups. "As a business where being environmentally best practice is a core value this is no easy decision," the team explained. "For now our community safety must come first." Other caffeine haunts like Pourboy and Coffee Anthology have also put a pause on reusable cups and are encouraging contactless payment instead of cash. https://www.instagram.com/p/B9vtkRugLlK/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link 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: Kitti Gould
If you're thinking of heading to Tassie for Dark Mofo this year, this could be the clincher. MONA is hosting its next big exhibition, Zero — a celebration of Germany's radical artists of the 1950s and 60s. The show gets its name from the term the artists used, collectively, to describe themselves. They didn't identify as belonging to a movement, style or group, but instead felt connected by a "vision of the things", as explained by Otto Piene, one of the founders. The show will feature artworks by original Zero artists, as well as those that have since absorbed their influence. These include Heinz Mack, Otto Piene, Günther Uecker and Adolf Luther from Germany; Lucio Fontana, Nanda Vigo, Grazia Varisco, Enrico Castellani and Gianni Colombo from Italy; with Marcel Duchamp, Yves Klein and François Morellet from France; Henk Peeters from The Netherlands; Christian Megert from Switzerland; Jesús Soto from Venezuela; and Yayoi Kusama from Japan. Given that these artworks were often ephemeral, many will be reconstructions. Expect sound effects, music, optical illusions, moving parts, shifting lights and reflective materials. There'll be a particular focus on vibration, which Mack described in 1958 as "resting restlessness…the expression of continuous movement, which we call 'vibration'…Its harmony stirs our souls, as the life and breath of the work." Taking care of curation is Mattijs Visser, founding director of the international Zero Foundation. "Zero is one of the most significant, yet largely forgotten, art movements since the Second World War...Zero needs to be discovered now, while several of their speakers are still with us," he says.
Oceans cover 70 percent of the world’s surface. With most of our population hugging the coast, Australia has a unique relationship with the water. Our beach and surf culture has evolved uniquely from the rest of the world and the sea holds an important place in most Australians hearts. Photographer Mark Tipple has set about capturing unique moments not just from the sand but from underneath the breaks. Tipple combines his documentary photography skills and his surfing background to reveal a hidden and amazing world. Always curious about what he looked like whilst duck-diving under waves, Mark tried several strategies (including helmets, cameras and weight belts) before realising the best approach would be to jump off the board. Tipple’s Underwater Project is the culmination of several years of shoots, capturing the interaction between man and the waves, and the unfolding narrative of everyday nature. There seems a natural connection between photography and surfing. Both rely on certain elements out of your control coming together at the right time in the right combination. Fortunately for us, Tipple has had plenty of luck and caught some amazing shots.
Another year in beer has come and gone and, with it, has left us with some damn impressive brews. 2016 was a massive year for the Aussie craft beer scene, with many new brewers coming to the fore around the country, making it an especially tough job narrowing down our favourite beers to a mere ten — but, after a year of beering and one massive end-of-year tasting (necessary research, we assure you), we can truly say these ten proved to be ace beers from first taste to last drop, across weeks and months, in group tastings, out at bars and solo sessions. Here, we've scored brews for their colour, aroma, balance, consistency and overall style, with a tasting panel that included CP's senior craft beer writers, experienced bartenders, craft beer fiends and even the coveted palate of Cicerone Johnathan Hepner of Marrickville's new boutique craft bottle shop Bucket Boys. Prime your palates, Playgrounders. Here you have it — CP's picks for the most notable beers of 2016. PIRATE LIFE'S, IIPA While American hop bombs known as the Imperial IPA can taste something like licking a pine cone, Pirate Life's IIPA sets itself apart from the pack. This monster in a can is everything they've been achieving in the States and we're proud to see it done so well on our side of the pond. It takes much to balance such copious amounts of hops, but the malt rides through the hop storm and holds steady, striking the ever-present need for balance between high-strength alcohol and delicate but vigorous hop flavours. It's been a massive year for the brewery, and we're looking forward to seeing what else they have in store for us in 2017. BOATROCKER BREWING CO.'S MITTE BERLINER WEISSE Boatrocker Brewing Co.'s Mitte is true to the refreshing Berliner Weisse style through and through. Aged in Chardonnay barrels, the straw yellow, cloudy sour is bright on the nose, giving way to a fresh tartness on the palate. The barrel-aged effect makes for a complex, mature beer that hits all of the senses and the Brettanomyces (a genus of yeast) is nicely blended, giving a strong backbone without the over-the-top funk that so many Brett beers develop. This brew only comes in in 750ml bottles, but, even so, you won't be sharing. HOPE BREWHOUSE'S,BLACK IPA Hope Brewhouse came out guns blazing this year. There's something about their new line of industrial black and white tinnies that just begs for drinking. Their style is backed up with an impressive range of brews, most notably the Black IPA, which is just fantastic. The full hop flavour in this beer does not detract from the malt backbone — a hard act to pull off. It may be Head Brewer Matt Hogan's winemaker approach to beer, but this brew is impeccibly balanced and a trip to their Nelson's Bay brewhouse should be on your next road trip list. MORRISON BREWERY'S JACK BARREL-AGED DOPPELBOCK Morrison Brewery is at the forefront of how bang-on Tasmanian brews are. Jack presents a cluster of flavours that somehow manage to balance one another rather than present a competing mishmash on the palate. Notes of cherry, vanilla, oak and apricot all stand hand-in-hand in this brew, and the sherry barrels it's aged in gives lingering warmth without being overpoweringly alcoholic. The beer is ideal to serve with rich foods, gamey meats or dessert, but we thoroughly enjoyed it on its own as well. Overall, it's a hard brew to get right — but get it right, they have. LA SIRÈNE'S PARADOXE La Sirène turns out some of the best farmhouse-style and wild fermented beers in the game, and Paradoxe is no different. A true saison in colour and aroma, the tropical, tangy fruits on the palate give way to a light, dry finish. The brew is reminiscent of a white wine, with notes of elderflower and melon. The local hops give the beer that all-important punch and stops it from falling flat, while a slight creaminess at the finish balances the entire brew out. This is a beer for wine lovers, beer lovers, cider lovers — you name it. A top notch beer from an ace brewery. SHENANIGANS BREWING'S DEATH BY HIBISCUS Shenanigans Brewing, though still humble gypsies, are able to continuously wow us with their brewing style. Their annual Sydney Craft Beer Week limited release was our favourite yet. Death By Hibiscus was made using a ridiculous amount of fresh hibiscus flower — we're talking one kilo per keg — and the result is a saison that is truly magenta in colour. The beer is sour without being overly so, and, despite all of the hibiscus, is only slightly floral, with a more overt, citrusy flavour on the palate from added mandarin zest. The overall complexity and creativity of this one gave it a well deserved spot on this list. LAST RITES BREWING COMPANY'S LOVE COUNTRY TASMANIAN IPA Last Rites Brewing Company's Love Country is yet another great brew from Tassie. Described as 'piña colada-inspired', the overt notes of summer fruits — like peach and pineapple — give way to rich toasted coconut from the late addition of roasted barley. This illusion of creaminess gives the beer a sense of body without any sweetness, and the intoxicating aroma will make you wish you were drinking it from a coconut shell on a beach somewhere. Whether you like piña coladas or not, this beer is hard not to love. SOUTHERN BAY BREWING CO.'S LUCIFER'S GOLD GOLDEN STRONG ALE Lucifer's Gold is, by far, the biggest offering from the Southern Bay Brewing Co. — it took us completely by surprise. The combination of Belgian yeast and European hops gives a tight nose of bubblegum, clove, and esters redolent of Beligan strains, which clamour together without once stepping out of line. It has picture perfect clarity, is beautifully carbonated and the backbone offers a malt sweetness that doesn't cloy or distract from sip to sip — a combination that is extremely rare. We imagine the brewers sitting around on a case of Belgian classics before jumping atop their own brew kit to try their hand at creating their own — and they nailed the style. Spot on. MISMATCH BREWING CO.'S NEGRONI IPA Negronis are having their time in the limelight — and while we've seen plenty of ridiculously great twists on the cockail this year, the Negroni IPA from Mismatch Brewing Co. takes the cake. A collaboration with sister company Adelaide Hills Distillery, this beer nails the taste of the cocktail in aroma, flavour and balance, and somehow manages to perfectly mimic that unmistakable Campari component. Orange on the nose gives way to a strong alcoholic flavour and the perfect bitter finish, fully accomplished by blending the beer with homemade bitters post-fermentation. This beer touches all of the elements of a true Negroni, while still being a clean, well balanced beer. BOATROCKER BREWING CO.'S RAMJET WHISKY BARREL-AGED IMPERIAL STOUT Boatrocker Brewing Co. is so nice, we couldn't help but name them twice — despite actively trying not to do so. This English-style imperial stout was aged in whisky barrels from Melbourne's Starward Whisky for six months, giving it big, bold top notes of whisky, oak and a hint of fresh toast. Pungently vinous with stewed fruits, marzipan and tobacco, the beer is then served through flavours of a port wine and coffee. At an 11.4 percent ABV, this beer is surely not a substitute for breakfast, but you want a primed palate for it. This was the last drop in a long day of tasting and it was, rightfully so, the prize. HONOURABLE MENTIONS At the risk of making this list too long, we left out some seriously impressive brews from incredible breweries, all of which are well worth seeking out and would have made a top 15. Two Metre Tall's 2016 vintage of their original and plum sours Feral Brewing Company's 2016 Tusk imperial IPA (Part II) New England Brewing Company's Hop Cannon series Bridge Road Brewers' Mayday Hill Series Akasha's Korben D If you're on the hunt for the goodies mentioned above, we recommend calling into Bucket Boys if you live in Sydney, or check out our best bottle shops for craft beer in Melbourne and Brisbane. Co-written by Marissa Ciampi and Mikey Lowe.
It's clear that every effort has been made to bring a slice of Paris to Melbourne at Bar Vue. Sitting next to Bistro Vue at Normanby Chambers, it's clustered, casual and atmospheric. With an outdoor heated terrace, chic glass panelling and opulent detailing, the hum of the city echoes a street-side ambience that would be perfectly at home in the French capital. Bar Vue's happy hour runs Monday to Friday, from 5pm until 6.30pm, and provides half priced draught pints and house wine by the glass, turning the space into a truly social hub. Great for casual group gatherings or smaller duos, Bar Vue's sleek interior gives you the ample privacy for a quiet evening or is an ideal spot as a prelude to a big night out. The bar menu is a concise selection of simple Gallic favourites, including pommes frites ($8), ham hock terrine ($12) and steak tartare ($22). Snacking to more substantial plates are taken into consideration, adding to the flexibility of the bar and its service next to Bistro Vue. Freshly shucked-to-order oysters and a classy selection of cocktails, including the White Negroni ($17), make for an experience that is assured and without fault. Attentive bartenders ensure that every need is met, exceeded and placed at the highest of importance. Such service is memorable and commendable, and — even better — highlights the impressive continuity between Shannon Bennett's other ventures. Bar Vue, although smaller in offering, is held in no less esteem than Cafe Vue, the Bistro or even Vue de Monde. For this, Bennett's food empire remains genuinely respected. For all of its French affectation, Bar Vue is a venue that remains truly iconic to Melbourne. An entertaining location to enjoy the finer pleasantries of life, it's a space to become your after-work regular or the ideal location for a more important occasion. An extravagance like no other, enjoy the impressive drinks list and hospitality at its absolute best.
