If you haven't yet had the chance to eat Macanese fare, fret not — you'll soon have an opportunity to try it for free. Macao Tourism has teamed up with with Eat Art Truck to bring Melburnians an authentic (and free) taste of the cuisine between September 14–18. A Macanese food truck will be cruising around the city during those five days, handing out free food — with no strings attached — including pork chop buns, African peri-peri chicken (a Macanese national dish, as it turns out) and serradura, a dessert made from condensed milk and cookie. You'll find the Taste of Macao Food Truck on Pier Road, St Kilda, from 12pm–3pm on September 14; at Federation Square from 12pm–3pm on September 15 and 16; at Luna Park, St Kilda, from 12pm–3pm on September 17; and at the Southbank Spillway from 12pm–3pm on September 18.
Proving you're never too old for a makeover, the 167-year-old building at 127 Brunswick Street has enjoyed a swift shake-up and hit reset, entering a whole new phase of life. Vince Sofo and Paul Adamo's three-storey site has switched out some former tenants for a couple of brand-new residents and been reborn as the multi-faceted Hotel Fitzroy, featuring an Italian accent and a kitchen headed up by the renowned Maurizio Esposito. Ground floor Japanese restaurant Ichi Ni Nana Izakaya remains, though it'll soon share its street-level space with a public bar and outdoor dining area, slated to open by the middle of the year. As for the level above, it has this week reopened as Cappo Sociale — a 150-seat modern Italian diner, complete with a bar, terrace, lounge and private dining room. As executive chef, Esposito (Cecconi's, Il Bacaro, Esposito at Toofeys, Stokehouse) is steering the contemporary Euro food offering, revamping classic Italian flavours with some modern flair and plenty of local ingredients. [caption id="attachment_801379" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Juan Plazas[/caption] Up here, you'll find yourself snacking on top-quality salumi alongside your after-work vino, or settling in to feast on plates of handmade pasta. An antipasti selection runs to the likes of seared scallops with pumpkin purée, eggplant-stuffed zucchini flowers and grilled quail wrapped in pancetta and sage. Heartier plates might include the likes of a wagyu ragu pappardelle, seared cuttlefish linguine finished with a squid ink crumble or veal cotoletta with baby capers. And there's pizza aplenty, ranging from the margherita-style La Regina to the Roman Love, which is topped with pork and fennel sausage and rosemary potatoes. To match, expect a healthy mix of local and Italian vino, a wide range of brews, and cocktails, both classic and creative. Try and squeeze out a few final summer vibes with the Venetian Sunset, blending Ballantine's, Campari, Antica Formula, orange and orgeat. Also opening its doors this week is the newly reimagined rooftop bar, where you can kick back soaking up city views while enjoying eats and drinks from any of the levels below. And stay tuned for a program of live music, entertainment and local DJ sets, kicking things up a notch on various nights throughout each week. Find Hotel Fitzroy (Cappo Sociale, Ichi Ni Nana Izakaya and The Rooftop) at 127 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. The Hotel Fitzroy Public Bar is set to open by the middle of the year. Images: Juan Plazas
If you haven't heard, it's almost Meredith Music Festival time again — although, we're betting you have. It's basically the only thing anyone musically-inclined talks about when December rolls around. The Victorian music festival will be returning to beloved Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre, near Golden Plains next weekend. Meredith's more eclectic than ever — it's the Silver Jubilee 25th anniversary after all. Following the recent major announcement of Ex-Fleet Foxes minstrel Father John Misty as this year's top headliner, Aunty's added the likes of Unknown Mortal Orchestra, The Thurston Moore Band, Tkay Maidza, Neon Indian, Big Daddy Kane, Shellac, Fatback Band, Jessica Pratt, Briggs, and many more to the bill. And in a much welcomed inclusion, Brooklyn glitchy duo RATATAT will be along for the ride as well. It's been a long five years since RATATAT brought us some new music, so it's just as well that Magnifique completely lives up to its name. Brooklynites Mike Stroud and Evan Mast have returned to their guitar-driven, electronic rock music roots and the results have been well-received by fans and critics alike. Ratatat are on their way down to Oz for a slew of festival spots and sideshows, so we asked Evan Mast about the new album, their crazy live visuals, and just where the hell is Nightclub Amnesia? How was the writing process different for your latest album, Magnifique, than your last record, LP4? Well, it was much more broken up. We did a lot of different recording sessions over several years in different places. We were at a point where we wanted to take a substantial break from making records and touring those records. We had kind of a hiatus, not really planned ahead of time. It sort of just happened. Magnifique was recorded in Long Island, Brooklyn and Jamaica — what was the benefit of the change of scene? You just get inspired by new places, it's just exciting to be in a new spot. Anything can trigger new ideas when you find yourself in a new environment — you just end up feeling more creative. Do you think it lends itself to more opportunities to be inspired by things you wouldn't usually experience? Yeah, and it's more fun! The reason we went to Jamaica is because I think it was January (in the USA) and we wanted somewhere warm to record. We used to do a lot of winter recording sessions in Upstate New York, and it was just brutal at that time of year. There is certainly a return to a more guitar-focused sound on Magnifique, something similar to Classics. What drew you back to this? Our two previous records, LP3 and LP4 we did in a studio in Upstate New York, and the studio had collected tonnes of different keyboards and drums and all kinds of things. That was our first time being in an environment like that, with all this studio equipment that we had never used before. The most exciting thing to do with those records was to experiment with all these different sounds. We did two albums like that, then the pendulum swung the other way. We simplified some aspects of the music, which kind of made the songwriting more complicated. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlcywgEMuGI I heard something like 50 tracks ended up on the cutting room floor in creating Magnifique. Could these tracks be revisited later? I'm not really sure. There’s some tracks that I still feel a little bit attached to, even if they weren't right for the record. But usually when we get together to work on a new album it's much more exciting to start something fresh. I get that. So one of the tracks on your new album is called 'Nightclub Amnesia'. Where is this place? Have you partied there? [laughs] Well the sign that's on the single cover is in Costa Rica — but I think I drove by the place and it was burned down or a field now. I don’t think it exists anymore! For your video clip for 'Abrasive', you drew 4000 pictures to make the animations. What inspired you to do that? I had this idea in the back of my head to do some hand drawn animation for a while and I just started experimenting with it and doing rotoscoping. I did one or two of the individual clips and it took all day, and I thought, "there's no way I can actually get into this, it's too time consuming". But then it became this obsessive thing to go through, and I found myself going back and doing more. It took about 2-3 months to do the whole video. You also drew all the faces for the cover of Magnifique. What's the story there? We [Mast and bandmate Mike Stroud] have both always liked drawing, and there was one trip in particular when we were recording in Long Island and we just got really into it. We'd work on our music during the day and at night we'd sit around and do drawings, flicking through magazines and newspapers and find faces to draw. Just for fun. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7wkRET0hbo Your latest live show is big on the projections and lasers. How do you come up with the visual concepts for the live show? The show we have now is a combination of a lot of things we've been working on since we started the band. It has increased in complexity, so now it's got a pretty intense lighting element to it, lots of lasers and several channels of video happening. We always wanted to make the show hypervisual, something to accompany the music. It's probably because we don't have a singer — usually when you go to a show everyone watches the singer, so we wanted to put something on the stage to fill that space. From your catalogue of albums, which ones are the most fun to play live? The new one is really fun to play live, and so is Classics. They are both more guitar-focused, but they were probably the two most difficult albums to make! Do you think we will need to wait another five years for the next album? Or is it something you've even begun to think about? We haven't really made any concrete plans yet. I think we're both really eager to get back in the studio, but I can’t really make any promises! I hope it comes a lot sooner though.
Fitzroy's Grub is teaming up with some of the sweetest folks in town for a series of extravagant weekly high teas. After a sold-out run last year, Sweet Set will again treat punters to an eight-course menu in Grub's upstairs space every Sunday afternoon in August and September. Each week will include four savoury creations from Grub head chef Ben McMenamin paired with with four sweet numbers from a rotating lineup of Melbourne's best pastry chefs. Expect French pastries from Pierrick Boyer, cakes infused with native ingredients from Sticky Fingers Bakery and some next-level baked goods from All Are Welcome's Boris Portnoy, who used to be the head pastry chef at Michelin-starred restaurant Meadowood in the Napa Valley. Vegans haven't been forgotten about, either — they'll get a look in on August 12 when Miss Ladybird Cakes and Citizen Cacao team up to do dual vegan and non-vegan menus. The whole thing costs $79 per person, and includes a glass of prosecco and either a pot of tea or coffee. Sessions will run at 11am, 1.15pm and 3pm each week, and we suggest getting your friends on board now — these pastry parties sold out last year. We promise not to tell your dentist if you promise not to tell ours. SWEET SET 2018 LINEUP August 5 — Bernard Chu, LuxBite August 12 — Gina Tubb, Miss Ladybird Cakes (non-vegan set) with Georgie Castle, Citizen Cacao (vegan set) August 19 — Cassandra Morris, Fig & Salt August 26 — Boris Portnoy, All Are Welcome September 2 — Anthony Hart and Michael Furness, Don't Lose Your Temper September 9th — Hayley McKee, Sticky Fingers Bakery September 16 — Matt Forbes, Cobb Lane September 23 — Andrea Reiss, Bibelot September 30 — Pierrick Boyer
This time last year, the world had gone more than 12 months without seeing a new Marvel movie. Just a few months back, no one had used the words 'squid' and 'game' right next to each other unless they were talking about cooking up a particularly impressive seafood dish. But 2021 has proven the year of both caped crusaders and a certain South Korean Netflix phenomenon — and we all have the Google search history to prove it. With the year coming to a close, the technology behemoth has revealed exactly what we've all been scouring the web for in 2021, and its film and TV lists provide quite the snapshot of everyone's viewing. When we were all eager to watch a flick, we went big, with franchises, familiar names and super-famous faces defining the top ten most-searched movies. When we were staying in — it was another year filled with lockdowns, after all — we threw plenty of love towards streaming platforms. Topping the film list: Eternals, Chloé Zhao's addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and her first film after winning this year's Best Director Oscar for the immensely dissimilar Nomadland. It was closely followed by the long-delayed Black Widow, Timothée Chalamet-starring sci-fi remake Dune, more Marvel again via Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and Netflix's heist-fuelled action flick Red Notice. Next came the new Australian-shot version of Mortal Kombat, the Emma Stone-led Cruella and the return of Michael Myers in horror sequel Halloween Kills, as well as monster melee Godzilla vs Kong and straight-to-streaming zombie film Army of the Dead. When it came to the globe's binge-viewing for the year, Squid Game came in at number one — likely not only because it's all anyone seemed to be watching in September and October, but because we all became so obsessed with it that, yes, we were all searching for every piece of information about it that we could find. It was followed by Bridgerton's period soapiness, WandaVision's trippy superhero dramas, Karate Kid spinoff series Cobra Kai and more Marvel (yes, again) thanks to Loki. Also placing in the top ten: Netflix's Sweet Tooth and Lupin, the latter of which probably benefited from dropping its episodes in two batches; the streamer's Ginny and Georgia; South Korean series True Beauty; and Big Brother Brazil 2021. If you haven't watched any of the above yet, consider this a catch-up list, too. For further details about Google's 2021 trend lists, head to the Google Trends website. Top image: Noh Juan, Netflix.
Finding the neighbourhood roast chook shops of your childhood seems like it's getting harder and harder. However, those living in the inner south — or those ready to travel for a good meal — will be happy to know that Hawksburn Village's latest arrival, Carvery, is a new go-to spot for roast meats, fresh salads, takeaway rolls and ready-made meals. Leaning into the nostalgia of local takeaway shops from the 70s and 80s, proud owners and Hawksburn locals, Andrew Bayley and Michael Perri (4 Cousins Supermercato) pair this concept with simple, fresh and high-quality produce. So, if you've been missing the heyday of roast chicken takeout, the duo's reminiscent offering might just satisfy your long-held cravings. "We were inspired by the carveries we grew up with that were such staples to the community, such as the Toorak Carvery that used to be out the back of the Toorak Village Car Park," says Bayley. "Most Australians have memories of those roast chook dinners our mum used to pick up or a take-away roast roll with gravy. We wanted to replicate that feeling of nostalgia, but dial up on the fresh, quality produce and deliver it in a beautiful setting with Carvery." Primed for takeaway or dine-in feasts, Carvery's permanent menu places a spotlight on Victorian produce, with occasional specials looking further afield. Of course, the bain-marie is the main event, as Bannockburn chicken is presented alongside Otway Pork, lamb from the Western District and Tassie, and Black Angus beef from the Goulburn Valley. For maximum convenience, there's also roast meat dinner packs served with salad or veggies and chips. When you need a quick feed, Carvery will also serve up roast rolls made daily in-house — like a roast roll with gravy or a porchetta roll with crackling — with plenty of hearty sides, from hot chips and seasonal veggies to scalloped potatoes with cream and cheese. Meanwhile, the salad bar is full of classics like Med salad and slaw, while a special highlight is the Stonnington Chop — Carvery's take on a chop salad. In the fridge, find grab-and-go meals like lasagne, eggplant parmigiana and traditional tiramisu. As for the design, architectural studio Nisk Design has shaped stools and stand-up benches for 18 guests, with old-world checkered tile floors, warm timber panelling and marble benches combining with European-inspired staff uniforms and disco tunes. "As Hawksburn residents, we're so excited to bring Carvery to the neighbourhood, opening the doors to locals as if they're walking into their own family kitchen," says Bayley. "We want to be your neighbourhood go-to for a nourishing meal that conveniently feeds the whole family and doesn't break the bank." Carvery is open Monday–Friday from 10am–7pm, Saturday from 9am–5pm and Sunday from 10am–4pm at 513 Malvern Road, Toorak. Head to the website for more information.
Games bars are only getting more popular in Melbourne — where you can play mini golf, do a spot of bowling, participate in carnival-style games or simply throw axes at a wall. And Melbourne's newest joint providing a space for competitive socialising (with plenty of food and bevs) is the international darts bar Flight Club. But unlike your usual bar that has a dart board located in some random corner (likely, with plenty of broken darts), Flight Club is a massive tech-filled space that offers a heap of different ways to play the classic game. These dart boards are digitally enhanced to track your scores and teach you how to play each of the different kinds of games, and they're surrounded by comfy booths that are all yours when you make a booking. Food and drinks are also easily delivered right to your booth, so you can stay focused on beating your colleagues or mates. When it comes to drinks, Flight Club will be serving up a decent selection of wine and beer, plus a slew of signature cocktails like the Passion Dart-a-Rita (passionfruit margarita) and trophy cocktails that are served in a legit trophy. Food is mostly shareable and made for the masses — think pizza paddles, popcorn chicken and sticky pork belly bites — so you can eat and play darts at the same time. One hand can hold a slice of pizza while the other chucks darts. There are already Flight Club bars in Perth and Sydney, but this will be Melbourne's very first when it opens in the CBD on Friday, November 22. Co-founder of Flight Club Steve Moore commented, "It's been an incredible journey, bringing the joy of social darts to millions across the UK and US, and we couldn't be happier to partner with NightOwl to continue this in Australia. We've had amazing receptions in Perth and Sydney, and we're expecting nothing less in Melbourne." Flight Club is slated to open on Friday, November 22, and will be located at 228 Russell Street, Melbourne. For more details and to book a dart board, you can check out the venue's website.
Over the past six years, Melbourne's famed floating bar has become a summer staple — because soaking up the warm weather and sipping cocktails on the Yarra go hand-in-hand. Thankfully, that won't change in 2021, with Arbory Afloat set to return once again. After its debut in 2015, Arbory Afloat is gearing up to reclaim its prime position in front of on-shore sister venue Arbory Bar & Eatery on the Yarra from Tuesday, October 26 — around the same time Victoria is expected to reach 70 percent vaccination coverage, which will allow venues to reopen for outdoor trade. As part of its annual revamp, the temporary bar and restaurant is taking inspiration from Turkey's Turquoise Coast. The space will be reimagined with a vision of olive trees, tasselled umbrellas, iconic Missoni prints and plenty of classic Aegean hues. To complete the picture, the 69-metre floating venue is set to boast two bars, an upper deck and an undercover dining area — read: lots of space to social distance. And, if that's not enough, the onboard swimming pool will also be making a triumphant return, with poolside daybeds and cabanas available to book. [caption id="attachment_828390" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Illustration by Jeffery Phillips[/caption] Chef Nick Bennett has again designed the menu, this time with a helping hand from Turkish-born chefs and siblings Nada Thomas (Cecconi's, Press Club) and Salim Gafayri (Bar Nacional, Cecconi's). The team's Mediterranean-inspired lineup is filled with Turkish flavours, both classic and contemporary. And would it be a visit to the floating bar without cocktails? We think not. Luckily, there'll be loads, including new house concoctions, cocktails on tap and the latest edition of the Four Pillars pink gin collaboration, along with plenty of craft beers and wines. Of course, despite the return of the annual summer pop-up bar, summer in Melbourne isn't going to be all business as usual. Capacities will be limited, bookings are recommended and there'll be plenty of ticketed events on the calendar — including Arbory Afloat's glitzy New Year's Eve party (early bird tickets are now available). Arbory Afloat is set to open at Flinders Landing from Tuesday, October 26, with opening hours from 11.30am–1am daily. It's taking bookings online, with limited space reserved for walk-ins. Images: Simon Shiff
Sydney's ever-luxurious and all-inclusive floating villa, Lilypad, has finally reopened almost two years after a fire destroyed the original build. Situated in the tranquil waters of Palm Beach in the Northern Beaches, the second iteration of Lilypad boasts plenty of additional lavish features including an onboard sauna, cosy fireplace and dreamy Mediterranean-inspired terracotta accents. After facing flooding, wild weather and COVID-induced delays, it's safe to say that Lilypad II was worth the wait. "You couldn't have picked a harder time to undertake something like this, both the weather we had in Sydney for the build period and COVID — because workforces were getting wiped out left, right and centre. Everything was hard," Founder and Owner Chuck Anderson says. Not just a pretty face, the resort-style villa runs completely off solar power energy and has been engineered to remain stable, while still embracing the natural movements and rhythms of the ocean below. An outdoor, roman-tiled shower, linen bedding by Cultiver and furniture by McMullin & Co completes the tonal, overwater escape. "What's incredible now as technology has advanced in solar and battery technology, you're not compromising on luxuries. Once upon a time, maybe ten years ago, if you were to try to attack what we've created you would have had to make some concessions in terms of what's onboard," Anderson says. Bookings include a private concierge, private tender transfers, a self-drive luxury personal vessel for exploring the surrounds, paddleboards, floating daybeds, chef-prepared meals and full access to the onboard wine cellar. But the luxuries don't come cheap, with prices starting at $1,950 per night in low season. The designer floating villa can also host events for up to 18, if you're looking for a unique space for your next special function. On the creation of both Lilypads, Anderson explains, "The intention for both Lilypad and Lilypad II was to combine innovative design with traditional craftsmanship and modern luxuries to build a unique and exceptional space. I wanted to pay homage to the unspoiled environment in which Lilypad resides and allow guests to feel totally immersed in this awe-inspiring space." Anderson also hinted at other Lilypads popping up around Australia in the future, so if you're looking for an elevated holiday in your backyard, keep an eye on this space. One-night stays are available until September, excluding weekends. Two-night stays are available from September to April and across weekends. You can book via the Lilypad website.
For cinephiles who like their movies dark, twisted, offbeat and out there, Monster Fest has been a beloved name on Australia's festival circuit for more than a decade. The event started back in 2011 as a Melbourne-only showcase of weird and wild cinema, and has expanded to hit up Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, too — because everyone deserves a strange and surreal (and sometimes chilling and horror-fuelled) night or several at the pictures. In 2022, Monster Fest is back for another whirl, although you're forgiven if that idea sounds familiar: earlier in the year, it hosted weekender mini fests to sate movie buffs' appetites. Now, it's time for the full festival experience, which unfurls over 11 days in Melbourne and four days at its other stops, all highlighting the latest and greatest in genre filmmaking. If it's a horror, sci-fi or thriller movie and it's destined for a cult following, you'll likely see it here first. When it gets things started at Carlton's Cinema Nova from Thursday, November 24–Sunday, December 4, Monster Fest 2022 will kick off with the Yuletide terrors of Christmas Bloody Christmas, which features a robotic Santa malfunctioning, then going on a murderous rampage. 'Tis the season and all that. In fact, the film will launch the fest countrywide, including when it runs at Event Cinemas George Street in Sydney, Event Cinemas Myer Centre in Brisbane, Event Cinemas Marion in Adelaide and Event Cinemas Innaloo in Perth between Thursday, December 8–Sunday, December 11. From there, other standouts include Stephen Dorff- and Emile Hirsch-starring The Price We Pay, which begins with two criminals on the run and gets deadlier from there; The Offering, about a family battling an ancient demon; and Swissploitation flick Mad Heidi, which has its namesake fight fascist rule in a grindhouse frenzy. Or, there's On the Edge, the latest from American Mary filmmakers Jen and Sylvia Soska; Subject, the sophomore release by Australian Watch the Sunset filmmaker Tristan Barr; and Ribspreader, another Aussie effort, this time about getting rid of smoking — and smokers. Closing night features Kids vs Aliens, a coming-of-age sci-fi/horror effort that sees a house party gatecrashed by visitors from another galaxy as directed by Hobo with a Shotgun's Jason Eisener. Elsewhere on the lineup, even though the idea of people fighting to survive their way through a building isn't new by any means — see: High-Rise, Dredd and The Raid, for starters — French film Lockdown Tower is giving it another go. Different cities have different exclusives, too, with more movies on the bill in Melbourne given the longer season. A must-see for everyone, however, is the special presentation of Friday the 13th Part III to celebrate its 40th anniversary, as screening in 3D and 4K. A word of warning: if you like your movies happy and chirpy, this clearly isn't your kind of festival. For everyone else, settle in. MONSTER FEST 2022: Thursday, November 24–Sunday, December 4 — Cinema Nova, Melbourne Thursday, December 8–Sunday, December 11 — Event Cinemas George Street, Sydney Thursday, December 8–Sunday, December 11 — Event Cinemas Myer Centre, Brisbane Thursday, December 8–Sunday, December 11 — Event Cinemas Marion, Adelaide Thursday, December 8–Sunday, December 11 — Event Cinemas Innaloo, Perth Monster Fest runs across late November and early December around Australia. Head to the festival's website for further details. Top image: Photo courtesy of Shudder and RLJE Films.
Nope, not a how-to for casual meth enthusiasts, the Breaking Bad cookbook is finally on shelves. Filled with 'sugar high' TV show-inspired recipes by a certain Walter Wheat (heh) and prompting "let's cook" hurrahs worldwide, now you can be the one who bakes. Several sites have leaked certain recipes from the book, Baking Bad (out November 6), featuring Walter White specialities like 'Blue Meth Crunch' (sans phenyl-2-propanone) to adorable little underpanted gingerbread men dubbed 'Mr White’s Tighty Whitey Bites' — reminiscent of Season One's epic opening scene — and a disturbingly cute nod to Jesse's gruesome, body-and-roof-dissolving bathtub: 'Jesse’s Jell-O Acid Tub'. Here's a taste of what Walter Wheat has cooked up in the RV: Meth Crunchies Jesse’s Jell-O Acid Tub Mr White’s Tighty Whitey Bites Recurring Pink Bear Bites Walt’s Buried Barrel Dessert Fring Pops Tortuga Tart And of course: Blue Meth Crunch "Let's cook." INGREDIENTS 118ml water 177ml light corn syrup 14oz/350g granulated sugar 2 tsp (10ml) peppermint extract Blue gel food colouring You will need a sugar thermometer. Do not use chili powder. It’s for amateurs DOSAGE 5 people DIRECTIONS 1. Line a baking tray with aluminum foil, or use a heatproof glass tray. Spray with non-stick baking spray. 2. Find yourself a decent accomplice. Underachieving ex-students are a good choice, though psychologically fragile. 3. In a medium saucepan, combine the water, corn syrup and sugar. Stir the mixture over medium heat until the sugar dissolves, then turn up the heat to bring to a boil. Stop stirring and insert the thermometer and use a pastry brush dipped in water to wet the sides of the pan (this will prevent crystals forming). 4. Cook the mixture until the temperature reaches 285F/140C. Immediately remove the pan from the heat and take out the thermometer. Let the mixture stand until all the bubbles have stopped forming on the surface. 5. At some point you’re going to need a distributor. But don’t worry about that now. 6. Add a few drops of peppermint flavouring and enough blue colour to give the correct ‘Blue Meth’ hue. 7. Quickly pour the mixture onto the baking tray, lifting the tray from side to side to spread the mix. Don’t worry if it’s not perfectly smooth or has holes in it. Let the candy cool to room temperature. 8 Once the candy has cooled, use a hammer to break it up. Put into little plastic baggies or serve as is, whichever your clients prefer. Baking Bad by Walter Wheat is being published by Orion on 6 November 2014 in hardback (also available as an eBook). Via Telegraph UK and Buzzfeed. Images: 'Baking Bad' by Walter Wheat, Orion Books.
Sitting on level three of the Arbory crew's new HER building, Thai barbecue canteen BKK has been winning Melburnians over with punchy flavours cooked over flame and coal. Now, there's an even better reason to visit this winter, with flame-filled $15 bowls of noodles at lunchtime throughout the week. Running from Monday through to Fridays until the end of October, the limited-edition noods menu includes innovative takes on classic Thai dishes, including a light and herbal Issan chicken noodle soup paired with mushrooms and chilli, wok-fried noodles with pork, prawn and Chinese broccoli, and a tom yum number served as a salad complete with pork, chilli and fish sauces. Vegetarians can be catered for too, with all noodles available as a vegetarian meal upon request. Up at BKK, a roomy, open-concept kitchen takes centre stage, with exposed brick played against warm orange neon and terracotta floors. You can pair lunch witha a drinks offering's designed to complement the menu's gutsy flavours and heat, via fresh, interesting wines and tropical-leaning cocktails. Images: Supplied.
It seems Melbourne's love affair with pretty pastries and supremely attractive café spaces still has plenty left in it. Opening last week, South Melbourne café and patisserie, The Crux & Co, is a shiny new neighbour for the ever-stylish Kettle Black, gracing the lower level of The Emerald apartment building across the road. It's the brainchild of Kevin Li (Lights in the Attic, 3Lives), who's teamed up with ex-Brunetti pastry maestro, Louise MK Lee, and kitchen gun Oggie Choi (also of Lights in the Attic) to create Melbourne's newest destination of culinary decadence. The chic space comes courtesy of EAT architects, its '60s-style curves, pastel hues and riot of textures reflected in the array of downright gorgeous cakes, pastries and macarons on display. No sweet tooth? No worries. The savoury offering here is equally as impressive and every bit as pretty; the modern Korean-accented menu runs from artful brunches to pure lunch break gold. Choi might be pushing a few breakfast boundaries — think squid ink garlic toast — though, generally, this is a menu for anyone who gets excited about good food. MK Lee's house-made croissants come filled with smoked salmon and ricotta, while a scotch quail egg, an arancini ball and a falafel team up for one of the most multicultural dishes going around. Some clever hands behind the coffee machine — Yutaro Mitsuyoshi (Addict Food and Coffee) and Ratchanon Theppabutra (Manchester Press) — will be working with Five Senses, offering a "wine by the glass" coffee concept (whatever that means) to round out the Crux & Co experience. This one promises to be nothing short of an all-round sensual feast, so get you sweet tooth — and your iPhone, of course — at the ready.
Mörk Chocolate has been one of the top choices in Melbourne for a stellar hot chocolate since it opened its doors to its first store in 2012. Fast forward to 2025, and the independently owned business now boasts four locations in and around the CBD — but its next move might be its most ambitious yet, in the form of a permanent residency in Chadstone's Market Pavilion. Launched by local couple Josefin Zernall and Kiril Shaginov, Mörk made a name for itself by taking a similar approach to chocolate to single-origin coffee roasters. That means being mindful of traceability and quality while sourcing ingredients from ethically minded suppliers. The result is a clean and minimally processed product that showcases the flavour of the bean while being naturally lower in sugar. For their new Chadstone store, Zernall and Shaginov teamed up with Anna Drummond from CoLab Studio. Together, they've created a concept that stands out from the brand's existing locations, where clever details like variegated terracotta and ceramic tiles reference and celebrate chocolate. The centrepiece is a cascading rope installation inspired by chocolate fountains. "I wanted to tap into the memory bank and explore how chocolate made us feel as children," says Zernell. "The excitement of opening a chocolate wrapper, the sound and scent, the colours and shapes and flavours. All of those sensory elements that make chocolate so universally loved...that's the sense of nostalgia we're hoping to trigger at our new store." Alongside Mörk's flagship range, the Chadstone store will serve its much-loved classic hot chocolates from a custom-build island, a selection of new signature drinks, as well as cocktails like whiskey-spiked hot chocolate and chocolate negronis. New highlights include the Campfire Hot Chocolate — a limited-time creation where silky dark chocolate, charcoal salt and toasted marshmallow are served with an optional wood-smoked caramel praline. Meanwhile, buns, cakes and pastries baked fresh daily at Mörk's North Melbourne kitchen are available to complement your drink. The new concept store is also fitted with a retail display, featuring small-batch chocolate bars created by Zernell in collaboration with ex-Fat Duck and French Laundry chef Ayelet Har Paz. Plus, there are chocolate spreads, freshly turned vanilla marshmallows, seasonal chocolate bites and kitchen accessories such as hand-carved chocolate scoops and ceramics from a host of top-notch local designers. Mörk Chocolate's Chadstone store is now open in the centre's Market Pavilion. It's open Monday–Wednesday from 7.30am–5.30pm, Thursday–Saturday from 7.30am–9pm and Sunday from 8.30am–7pm. Head to the brand's website for more information. Images: Kristoffer Paulsen
With everyone spending our days, weeks and months inside due to COVID-19, we're all putting that extra time at home to good use in different ways. Perhaps you're streaming your way through anything and everything you can find. Maybe you're playing board games, doing jigsaws and building Lego. Or, you could be cooking up a storm, getting a workout or being practical by learning a new skill (or several). For many folks, home renovation is on the agenda — whether you're finally painting that wall, putting up that shelf, making over your garden or doing all the odd jobs around the place that you've been putting off for far too long. That means that Bunnings Warehouse has been mighty popular, and busy. And if you're eager to pick up hardware supplies while still maintaining social distancing requirements, you're now in luck. The chain has just implemented a new drive and collect service, which is available at 250 of Bunnings' larger stores around Australia — excluding Tasmania. The contactless option is an extension of its existing click and collect option, just adapted so that you don't have to get out of your car. DIY enthusiasts just need to complete their purchase online, wait for notification that their order is ready, and select their preferred pickup date and time. Then, when you drive to the store, you'll park in a designated drive and collect bay, and text or call the store to let them know you've arrived. All you need to do next is wait for a staff member to bring out your goods and put them in your car boot. [caption id="attachment_767993" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Bidgee via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Sadly, drive and collect doesn't apply to Bunnings' sausage sizzles, which have been suspended since mid-March in response to the coronavirus. Drive and collect isn't available at smaller Bunnings stores, so check online to see if your local warehouse is participating. For further information about Bunnings' click and collect service — or to place an order — visit the chain's website. 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.
If you've been mourning the absence of Red Hill's Montalto, then dry your eyes. The fourteen times-hatted Mornington Peninsula institution has reopened as a revamped, more relaxed version of itself, with an emphasis on cooking over fire, sharing plates, enjoying long conversations and soaking up rural views. On arriving, the first thing you'll notice is that the kitchen has gone through a stripped-back redesign. The new centrepiece is an asado grill, based on Argentinian parrillas. "The grill is a modern take on something very traditional; that's how I like to cook, so there's a connection there for me," said head chef Gerard Phelan. "This style of cooking requires great care and attention, so we give the produce the treatment it truly deserves, and it brings a refined rusticity to the dishes." Providing much of this produce is Montalto's kitchen garden, now expanded to a mighty four acres. To sample its goodness, order swimmer crab and white asparagus mornay or broad bean, globe artichoke, goats cheese and dill. Meanwhile, all meat on the menu is sourced from nearby producers. These include Mount Macedon's Milla's Farm Ducks, which contributes to the half duck with preserved mandarin dish, and Trentham's Milking Yard Farm, whose wares are found in the veal rib-eye, kohlrabi and miso. The linen tablecloths have disappeared and in their place are handcrafted tables, made of recycled and sustainable chestnut by Zac Pearton of ZP Woodworks. Overall, the space has a more relaxed, open feel, making the most of Montalto Estate panoramas, dotted with vines, olive groves and sculptures. Find Montalto at 33 Red Hill-Shoreham Road, Red Hill. Visit their website for further information.
There's a new kind of passenger cruising around Melbourne's public transport network — and you might just find yourself taking one of them home with you. A new movement called Books on the Rail has seen a diverse collection of books set loose on the city's trains, trams and buses — kind of like a roving public transport library. The initiative was started back in April by two Melbourne ladies, Ali Berg and Michelle Kalus, as a local interpretation of London's Books on the Underground project. It's intended to reignite Melburnians' passion for reading and turn passengers' eyes from their iPhone to a page in a book. About 300 books have already infiltrated the transport system at the hands of local 'book ninjas', each tome bearing a Books on the Rail cover sticker and a flyer explaining the ins and outs of the initiative. Travellers who happen upon one of the books are invited to take it home and read it, and then return it to a service for the next lucky bookworm to do the same. If you find a page-turner the world (or, more specifically, Melbourne's commuters) simply needs to know about, you can become a book ninja yourself. Simply email hello@booksontherail.com to request a sticker, whack it on a book and set it free to be discovered by countless other local literary fiends. So next time you're battling it out with Melbourne's public transport system, you might want to put down that iPhone and keep your eyes peeled — who knows which well-worn tram seat your new favourite novel is hiding under? Via ABC News.
If you're the type of traveller who chooses their hotels for the perks and extra inclusions, then you might want to put Tasmania's newest place to stay on your radar. Mövenpick Hotel Hobart marks the Swiss brand's first site in Australia — and if either the chain's name or its country of origin have you thinking of sweet treats, yes, they're part of the hotel's offering. Between 4–5pm daily, Mövenpick Hotel Hobart celebrates chocolate hour. That's when you'll receive a free dessert — such as an eclair, brownie or truffle — when you purchase a chocolate-flavoured cocktail, mocktail or affogato. If you fancy tucking into something sweet at another time of day, you'll also be able to book in for a chocolate-tasting package. And, Mövenpick's hotels serve the brand's line of food and beverages, which means that Mövenpick ice cream is on the menu as well. One of more than 80 of the chain's sites worldwide, Mövenpick Hotel Hobart also boasts 221 guest rooms across levels three to 18 — because you need somewhere to enjoy its sweets. Located near the city's waterfront, the venue has been decked out with nature design-inspired interiors that take inspiration from Tasmania, with Jaws Architects doing the honours. Think: wall panelling, furniture, fabrics and colours that have all been selected to the local landscape. For guests in the mood for more than just chocolate, cocktails and ice cream, the hotel is home to Tesoro Modern Italian restaurant, and also has a big focus on nutritious breakfasts. You can start your day with a shot of juice or yoghurt blended with fresh fruit and vegetables, or with other health-focused dishes. Facilities-wise, there's also a function space that can cater for up to 100 people and a gym — and, inside some guest rooms, you'll be treated to panoramic views over Hobart, too. Find Mövenpick Hotel Hobart at 28 Elizabeth Street, Hobart — and head to the chain's website for bookings and other information.
At first it seems upsetting to be away from your family at Christmas. There's a definite lack of presents and no one's around to serve you pavlova or giant ham. Trust us, both of those things are far too depressing to eat on your lonesome. But if you are out on your own this year, there's a definite bright side: Christmas with friends is the best. With all the food and drink, and none of the persistant in-fighting, celebrating December 25 with some buds can be great. And, if you get a little bored chilling on a sharehouse couch and watching Home Alone for the 50th time, Federation Square are hosting a shindig of their own. From 9am you can swing down and score yourself a free buffet breakfast courtesy of the folks at Hopskotch, then you have the choice of settling in for a movie marathon on the big screen or burning off some of those Christmas calories with some games from Pop Up Playground. Of course, all films will be holiday themed with The Nightmare Before Christmas kicking off at 12pm, followed by The Santa Clause, and old classics like It's A Wonderful Life and White Christmas.
For much of the past two years, Victorians — and Melburnians in particular — have been asked to stay at home. But when lockdown conditions haven't been in effect, the State Government has taken the exact opposite approach. With the tourism industry doing it tough during the pandemic, a number of initiatives have popped up to encourage folks to head out of the house on local getaways, with free money given away as incentives — and the new Victorian Travel Voucher Scheme is the latest. As it has done several times before, the Victorian Government is giving away $200 vouchers, this time to folks travelling anywhere in the state. This round was announced back in February, and will open at 2pm AEDT on Wednesday, March 23. And, based on previous voucher drops, and the fact that it's a first in, first served affair, getting in quickly is highly recommended. A whopping 140,000 vouchers will be made available as part of this $30 million round, all worth $200 each. You'll need to use them for travel this autumn, between Friday, April 8–Friday, May 27 — and, to get the cash back, you'll need to spend $400 on eligible tourism and travel related services, which span paid accommodation, tours and experiences. That means that, at most, half of your expenses will be covered; however, that's still $200 that you won't have to fork out yourself. You'll also need to book in for a two-night stay at a minimum — again, in paid accommodation. Also, these vouchers are being released per household (not per person), with one available to each across the entire scheme. [caption id="attachment_845440" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Peter Tarasiuk, Visit Victoria[/caption] As every initiative like this has since the beginning of the pandemic, the Victorian Travel Voucher Scheme once again has two obvious aims: enticing Victorian residents to go venturing throughout the state, and helping support pubs, hotels, wineries and small businesses. In the past, the vouchers have been able to be used on holiday parks, camping sites, cottages, farm stays, private holiday rentals, houseboats (yes, houseboats), winery tours, adventure tours and entry fees to regional attractions, such as museums, water parks and adventure parks. While the full rundown for this drop hasn't yet been released, there is always a hefty list of things that you can't spend these State Government vouchers on, too, including gaming, alcohol, fuel, food and drinks (unless it's part of a winery tour, for example), groceries, personal items (such as clothing) and transport (such as rental cars and public transport). So, you can't use the voucher just to take a road trip to a pub, for instance. That said, you can use it to book accommodation at the pub, then spend your own money on food and drinks — which will still make your trip away significantly cheaper. [caption id="attachment_837286" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] Again, getting in asap is recommended — when the first two rounds of vouchers became available, they were snapped up quickly, so much so that another 30,000 were released after the first set to meet demand. The third round also unsurprisingly proved popular, as did a separate batch just for metropolitan Melbourne stays. As part of a broad stimulus package to encourage Victorians to get out and about, and to pump cash into the local economy, more free money is up for grabs right now if you're eating out in Melbourne — thanks to the Midweek Melbourne Money program. Also on the way: a new $30 million entertainment voucher scheme for discounted tickets to the cinema, theatre shows, live music gigs and exhibitions, plus conferences and other events. It's currently expected to kick off on Tuesday, March 29. The Victorian Travel Voucher Scheme opens at 2pm AEDT on Wednesday, March 23, with 140,000 vouchers up for grabs for travel between Friday, April 8–Friday, May 27. For more information, head to the Victorian Government website. Top image: Visit Victoria.
There's a chance your finances have gotten in the way of your love life before. Maybe you've just matched with a cutie on your dating app of choice, arranged a date then realised you're a little tight on cash, or maybe you've scheduled a night out with your partner before realising payday isn't for another week. Don't fret. Melbourne has an abundance of romantic date ideas that are bound to impress your date and your bank account at the same time. To help you out, we've rounded up some of the best free dates in Melbourne, while our friends at CommBank have gathered some handy money tips for when you're dating or coupled up. Here are five free activities to check out this spring — happy non-spending. Spender? Saver? See CommBank's tips on how to understand your and your date's financial similarities and differences. TAKE A BIKE RIDE ALONG THE MERRI CREEK Now you can be ride-or-die partners, literally. The Merri Creek runs from Clifton Hill to Reservoir and along it lies a cycling and walking trail, perfect for a mid-morning bike ride. Jump on the track wherever is convenient for you both, and head north towards Reservoir. It's around 20 kilometres from one end to the other, so decide how far you want to go (and how sweaty you want to get) then take off. Along the trail, you'll see all sorts of sites like wetlands, an amphitheatre, a velodrome, a drive-in cinema and, if you get all the way to Reservoir, unscathed native grasslands. Once you've done a loop, head back towards Fitzroy North and down through Yarra Bend park to come to the Abbotsford Convent. In spring, the convent gardens are heavy with the scent of flowers (which will help to cover up any BO issues) and are a wickedly romantic setting for a picnic. TEST YOUR POP CULTURE KNOWLEDGE TOGETHER Finally, all those nights spent binge watching Netflix are about to pay off. Book in a session of trivia at the Palace Hotel in Camberwell for you and your date on a Monday night. It's free to play, and the questions are based on all things TV and pop culture. You'll have to decide whether to bring friends and make it a group thing or go it alone, just the two of you against the world. If the latter, you'd better study up because the stakes are high. Every week there are prizes to be won, as well as a cash jackpot. So, if you can pull it off, you might even make a profit on this date and can treat yourselves to a decadent dinner feat. oysters. Now, wouldn't that be a story to tell your future grandkids? SPEND THE NIGHT SALSA DANCING Salsa isn't just a delicious topping for corn chips; it's also a delicious way to get up close and personal with your date. Every Wednesday and Thursday, you can book free salsa lessons with the Salsa Foundation and learn to dance together. You might not be any good, but it'll surely be memorable. Plus, it's a great way to see if there's physical chemistry between you and your date. The classes are for beginners — bumbling-two-left-feet-style beginners — so don't worry about looking silly. You only need to learn three or four moves before you can hit the floor and shake your groove thing. Classes are held on Little Collins Street in the CBD and you'll need to book ahead of time on the website. Remember to wear comfy shoes, bring a waterbottle and leave your inhibitions at the door. SMASH OUT 1000 STEPS You can learn a lot about your date by observing how they handle adversity, and conditions don't get more adverse than on the challenging 1000 steps. Drive out west to Ferntree Gully and head to the Picnic Ground to kick off this heart-racing date. It's exactly as advertised: 1000 steps upwards in a sharp 300-metre ascent. It's tough going (wear good shoes and take plenty of water) but the pay off is worth it. Firstly, all that huffing and puffing will get your feel-good endorphins flowing. Secondly, you know if your date is keen for this slog, they've got plenty of grit and determination. Third, and most importantly, the stunning rainforest views and sense of accomplishment you feel when you reach the summit will make sure it's a date you'll never forget. CATCH SOME FREE LIVE MUSIC The Old Bar is an iconic establishment on Johnson Street in Fitzroy. It's a musically agnostic place and has hosted every type of musician you can fathom; from intimate quiet gigs featuring solo crooners on guitar to fully kitted-out rock bands playing at high decibels and dancing on the bar, The Old Bar has seen it all. During the week, tickets range from $5 to $20 but, since we're all a little skint by the end of the week, Sundays are on the house. From 4pm every Sunday, you can catch a rotating selection of up-and-coming musicians for free. It's the perfect place to take a date, allowing you to talk as much or as little as you feel. And, while it's usually quite chill, if the band really gets going it can be the perfect place for an impromptu boogie together, too. Don't spend a cent on your next date with the above recommendations, or, even better, enter our comp and let us pick up the bill.
Most Melbourne eateries that create specials for Easter tend to make one showstopping treat. But the crew at Pidapipo Laboratorio are given the freedom and resources to dream up all kinds of delicious things year-round. For Easter this year that includes hot cross bun gelato sandwiches, three Easter-inspired gelato flavours and a heap of different chocolate eggs. Single-origin Dominican Republic cacao will be showcased throughout each of the Easter eggs at Pidapipo, from the milk and dark chocolate eggs to its famed filled eggs that were a huge hit last year. The dark chocolate eggs are pumped full of salted caramel, the milk chocolate filled with hazelnut gianduja and its white chocolate eggs are stuffed with almond praline and caramelised coconut. Then we have the three limited-edition gelato flavours. The most exciting creation is inspired by the classic Italian sweet bread Colomba, made with layers of raspberry curd, Colomba, stracciatella gelato and chocolate cookie crumbs that are topped with whipped cream and maraschino cherries. This beast of a gelato will only be available in a take-home tub. Punters can also try the milk chocolate gelato with amarena cherries and toasted chocolate hot cross bun crumbs, or the honey gelato with blueberry jam and toasted hot cross bun crumbs. These hot cross buns have been baked in-house and are not only used to top the new gelatos. They'll also be available either on their own or stuffed with gelato to make an epic ice cream sandwich. Choose from a chocolate hot cross bun served with a scoop of milk chocolate and amarena cherry gelato, or a spiced raisin hot cross bun chock full of honey and blueberry jam gelato. Rather eat these bad boys at home? If that's the case, the team will send you off with a pack of six fresh buns and a one-litre tub of gelato. No need to worry about them getting soggy bottoms during the drive. The easter eggs and special edition gelato flavours will be available at all Pidapipo stores in Melbourne, but the hot cross buns can only be found at Pidapipo Laboratorio. For more information and to pre-order some Easter treats, visit the venue's website.
Star Wars Christmas is here for 2024, and may the force be with you on May the fourth. If you're looking for a way to celebrate beyond viewing the many, many movies and TV shows in the space saga, and you're also fond of dancing like no one in the galaxy is watching, May the 4th — Star Wars Rave is your port of call. The cantina to head to in Melbourne: Ballers Clubhouse, with the party kicking off at 10pm. On the right date to commemorate the huge sci-fi franchise on the dance floor, you'll get free glow sticks and lollipops as part of your entry fee — and you'll be able to drink Skywalker Spritzes, Jedi Juice and Darth Drank. This Saturday-night shindig follows in the stormtrooper boot-wearing footsteps of Shrek and Hello Kitty raves, because every pop culture favourite can be an excuse to make shapes in an adoring crowd if you want it to be. Dressing up is encouraged, obviously. Are jedi robes comfortable to dance in? Here's your chance to find out. The best outfit on the night will win a $100 voucher.
When you're in a long-term relationship with the city you live in, you've got to actively work to keep things interesting. It's easy to get into a rut — you walk the same familiar path, eat the same familiar food and you forget to even look up to marvel at the sights which surround you. But when you take the path less travelled, it's like discovering a whole new city. Sidestep your routine and you'll discover a whole new Melbourne: a mysterious, complex place where what you see is definitely not what you get. We've partnered with Mitsubishi in celebration of its new Eclipse Cross to curate a list of experiences that will spice up your life, or your week, at least. They say change is as good as a holiday — so, even when you can't make time to get away, little changes and new experiences in old places will leave you feeling refreshed and inspired. [caption id="attachment_673756" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Giulia Morlando.[/caption] MONDAY, AUGUST 20: PIZZA FEAST Cure any case of the Mondays with a belly full of pizza pockets. There are a few things that can instantly turn that Monday frown upside down, and an Italian street food feast courtesy of Pezzo is definitely one of them. Guy Grossi's casual Flinders Lane diner is slinging a tidy menu of modern pizza pocket creations, featuring 48-hour fermented dough filled with inspired ingredient combos. Reward yourself for surviving that grizzly first day of the week by stuffing your face with one of the 'Pitzi' numbers, loaded with veal schnitzel, white sauce, pickles and slaw. Fancy extending those weekend vibes? Add on one of the legendary vanilla custard shakes, infused with a cheeky shot of rum. [caption id="attachment_682386" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Andrew Curtis.[/caption] TUESDAY, AUGUST 21: QUIET GALLERY VISIT Check out the latest exhibition at ACCA. Midweek is the best time to head to an art exhibition. If you've ever found yourself shouldering your way through the weekend crowd at the NGV or waiting for hours to get into ACMI, you should think about a Tuesday visit. The Australian Centre for Contemporary Art is currently hosting an exhibition that's perfect for a quiet, introspective visit. A Lightness of Spirit Is the Measure of Happiness is on show till September 16 and features ten installation works which explore various aspects of contemporary Aboriginal life. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22: GRAND BUDAPEST AT THE ASTOR Rewatch Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel at the Astor. You may have seen it before, but you probably haven't seen it screened in such grandeur. The Astor is hosting a retrospective of Anderson's best titles and Wednesday's viewing is The Grand Budapest Hotel, a film that looks and feels right at home in the opulent Astor. The screening starts at 7.30pm, which gives you enough time for a quick dinner on Chapel Street — it's tough to go past the cheap and cheerful Mexican at Yellow Bird cafe — as well as time to make your movie snack selection. [caption id="attachment_682388" align="alignnone" width="1920"] via Facebook.[/caption] THURSDAY, AUGUST 23: DRAG SHOW AND $5 PIZZA See one of Mollie's inclusive and celebratory Baby Drag shows. It's Thursday night and it's time to experience something beautiful, dramatic and hilarious. Head to Mollie's in Fitzroy for the fun and effusive Baby Drag. Grab some snacks at the bar — on Thursdays, there are $5 pizzas — and get ready to be entertained. The motto at Mollie's is 'spread unconditional love — and don't fuck it up' (a little Ru Paul reference there for Drag Race fans). The lineup varies week to week, but the inclusive energy is always the same. Prepare for laughs, jokes and a little bit of audience participation. [caption id="attachment_678661" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The West Projections Launch Party in 2016.[/caption] FRIDAY, AUGUST 24: A PROJECTIONS FESTIVAL Walk through Footscray surrounded by sparkling lights. The West Projections Festival is running in Seddon and Footscray from August 3– 26, with light installations bringing the suburbs to life every night of the week. On Friday, August 24 (right before the festival ends), attend the Fact or Fiction walk. The walk begins at 6pm at Footscray Station, guests are guided through festival works and given insight into each piece. The tour wraps up at 7pm at Bar Josephine. Stick around for hangs in the dog-friendly beer garden, or head to a neighbouring restaurant for dinner. Tickets are a neat $10 and we recommend bringing some wet weather gear — you never know what the Melbourne weather will do. SATURDAY, AUGUST 25: GRAB SOME CHEAP BOOKS Pick up a few cheap books at the City Library sale. Books, glorious books. Kindles might be all the rage, but there's nothing like the smell of a fresh, okay pre-loved, book. The City Library sporadically runs book sales packed with bargains so you can get your book fix for dirt cheap. Second-hand books start at 50 cents and max out at $10. The event is free and starts at 11am, so you can enjoy a leisurely Saturday morning sleep in before hitting up the sale. Grab a coffee from Dukes Coffee on Flinders Lane to give you the energy you need to get buried in books. [caption id="attachment_628485" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sweet Set, 2016.[/caption] SUNDAY, AUGUST 26: EIGHT COURSES OF DESSERT Make your way through a decadent spread of sweets. It's Sunday, and no matter what sort of week you've had, you definitely deserve an eight-course dessert degustation. Grub Food Van in Fitzroy is hosting Sweet Set, which features eight famous pastry chefs over eight Sundays, with each bringing eight serves of dessert. This specific Sunday, Boris Portnoy from All Are Welcome — a minimalist-decor, maximum-decadence bakery in Northcote — is taking charge of the treats. If you weren't already convinced, consider this: before he was brightening the northside with baked delights, Portnoy was the head pastry chef at a three-Michelin star restaurant in Napa Valley. Prepare your tastebuds for a wild and sugary ride. Where to next? Make the most of every week with Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross and navigate to your next destination here.
What's better than hosting a big arts festival in one location? Spreading the love across two different cities on consecutive weekends. That's the format that worked for Mona Foma, the Museum of Old and New Art's (MONA) key summer event, when it was last held in 2021 — so that's exactly what'll happen again in 2022. Come January, arts and music fans will be able to soak in the fest's eclectic sights and sounds in two places: in Hobart and in Launceston. Although Mona Foma was originally held in Hobart, where MONA is located, the event made the move to Launceston in 2019. So there's plenty of reasons behind splitting its program between both Tasmanian cities. Launceston will be up first, from Friday, January 21–Sunday, January 23, with Hobart getting the nod the next week from Friday, January 28–Sunday, January 30. Just what'll be on the bill hasn't been announced as yet, and won't be until Friday, December 3 — but you can start marking your calendars now anyway. Tasmania is also reopening its borders to double-jabbed visitors from Wednesday, December 15, which is great news if you now know what you'd like to do — and which huge arts fest you'd like to hit up — this summer. The border reopening applies to double-vaxxed travellers from both interstate and overseas, too, which could have some influence on Mona Foma's lineup. [caption id="attachment_784489" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Flaming Lips, Mona, Hobart, Mona Foma 2016. Photo Credit: MONA/Rémi Chauvin. Image Courtesy Mona, Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.[/caption] "Delivering a festival in two cities in January 2021 felt like nothing less than a miracle," said Mona Foma curator Brian Ritchie. "Come January 2022 we'll do it again and promise another festive burst of euphoria and unforgettable moments." In terms of what's in store, Ritchie advised that the MONA team "is working on strange new venues, indefatigable creativity, cultivation of powerful talent and the unpredictable." Mona Foma will take place from January 21–23, 2022 in Launceston, and from January 28–39, 2022 in Hobart. We'll update you when the full program is announced on Friday, December 3 — but head to the festival website in the interim for further details. Top image: Faux Mo, Mona Foma 2021. Mona/Remi Chauvin. Image courtesy of the artist and Mona, Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
Morris Jones, one of Windsor's popular restaurant-bar hybrids before closing for renovations earlier this year, has thrown open its doors again — as something a little different to what it was before. The restaurant has had a facelift, a full body reconstruction and learnt another language, too — the new version focuses on both Japanese and Californian dining. Founder Hayden Burbank wants Windsor – and the rest of Melbourne – to get to know Morris Jones all over again. "It wouldn't be Morris Jones if we didn't continue to innovate, elevate and keep it fresh," Burbank says. And fresh it is, both in terms of food and fit-out. Morris Jones 2.0 now plays host to three different bar areas – there's the central bar with a sushi station, an open-air courtyard bar and a secretive concealed "attic" bar, to be launched later on in the year. Responsible for the new look is designer Alex Zabotto-Bentley, director of AZBCreative, who has combined marble, black and bone décor with plenty of vines and foliage. Art featured throughout the restaurant is by local and international artists and curated by Zabatto-Bentley together with David Bromley. Now, to food: head chef Matthew Butcher has combined elements of Japanese cuisine with Southern Californian dining. Try crab nachos made with uni (sea urchin) queso and dashi, or a sweet braised short rib with kelp caramel mustard and watercress. Alongside these creative dishes are a range of dumplings and sashimi. Adventurous eaters will do well here, as will sushi lovers – but so will vegetarians (hello, leek, tofu and white soy dumplings). And to wash it all down? Specialty Japanese beers on tap, a whole bunch of tequila, mezcal, sake and cocktails — including he Yuzu Pina Colada, which combines yuzu sake, coconut cream and vodka. All this innovation, Burbank thinks, points to the fact that Melbourne and California share "many parallels". "[Melbourne] isn't afraid of having fun and making a splash," he says about the city. Fun and splashes seem high on the agenda, here – and judging from the sea urchin nachos alone, we think the re-opening will manage both. Morris Jones is now open at 163 Chapel Street, Windsor. It's open Tue–Thu 4pm–11pm and Fri–Sun 12pm–1am. To make a reservation, call (03) 9533 2055. Images: Kristoffer Paulsen
Game of Thrones was always going to spark spinoff shows. Indeed, when HBO started thinking about doing a prequel five years ago, before the huge fantasy hit had even finished its run, it was hardly surprising. And, when the US network kept adding ideas to its list — including a Jon Snow-focused series with Kit Harington (Eternals) reprising his famous role, novella series Tales of Dunk and Egg and an animated GoT show, to name just a few prequels and spinoffs that've been considered, but may or may not actually come to fruition — absolutely no one was astonished. So far, just one fellow GoT-related series has hit screens: House of the Dragon, which jumps back into House Targaryen's history. When it arrived in 2022, it became an instant success. Accordingly, it was quickly renewed for season two. But if you've been hanging out for the next part in its story, and hoping to see it in 2023, you might have to wait a little longer. In an interview with Variety, HBO and HBO Max content CEO Casey Bloys has advised that viewers likely won't be returning to Westeros until sometime in 2024. He said that timing for House of the Dragon season two's debut "is a good guess", and that it probably won't be eligible for the Emmys held that year — which means that new episodes might be coming in winter Down Under, fittingly. The first season also started screening and streaming during Australia and New Zealand's winter, so that'll mean a two-year gap — or thereabouts — between the show's maiden go-around and its second effort. And, it means thinking "winter is coming" to yourself all over again, amid pondering the GoT realm's relationships, flowing long blonde hair, dragons, stabbings and fights for the Iron Throne (whether or not you turn watching House of the Dragon into a drinking game, as we did). The series kicked off 172 years before the birth of Daenerys and her whole dragon-flying, nephew-dating, power-seeking story, and gave HBO its largest American audience for any new original series in its history when it debuted. Yes, House of the Dragon is basically a case of new show, same squabbles, as it was easy to foresee it would be. Yes, it's pretty much Game of Thrones with different faces bearing now well-known surnames — and more dragons. If you haven't yet caught up with the series, it dives into the battle for the Iron Throne before the one we all watched between 2011–19. Paddy Considine (The Third Day) plays King Viserys — and it's exactly who should be his heir that sparks all the Succession-style fuss. The words "succession" and "successor" (and "heir" as well) get bandied around constantly, naturally. The king has a daughter, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen (played by Upright's Milly Alcock, then Mothering Sunday's Emma D'Arcy), who is also his first-born child. But because putting a woman on the throne isn't the done thing, the King's younger brother Prince Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith, Morbius) considers that spiky iron chair his birthright. And, this wouldn't be Westeros if plenty of other people didn't have an opinion, including Ser Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans, The King's Man), the Hand of the King; his own daughter Alicent (The Lost Girls' Emily Carey, then Slow Horses' Olivia Cooke); and Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint, It's a Sin), who is married to Princess Rhaenys Velaryon (Eve Best, Nurse Jackie), who had a better claim to the throne when Viserys was named king instead. Also yes, this latest adaptation of George RR Martin's popular fantasy books is bound to continue on for more than just two seasons, but that's all that's confirmed for the moment. Check out the full House of the Dragon trailer below: House of the Dragon streams Down Under via Foxtel and Binge in Australia and SoHo, Sky Go and Neon in New Zealand. Read our full review of season one. Via Variety. Images: Ollie Upton/HBO.
The Queen Victoria Market is adding a touch of je ne sais quoi with their French-themed vintage marketplace, the QVM Brocante Marche. Hosted on the first Sunday of every month, this Parisian-style bazaar features hundreds of second-hand dealers selling clothes, jewellery, memorabilia, furniture and everything in between. The market springs to life at 9am sharp, so get there bright and early to make sure you can grab a bargain. Once you've shopped yourself beyond the point of exhaustion, you can turn your attention to the food. Crepes, croissants and coffee will all be in plentiful supply, although the more decadent among you may prefer a pot of Nutella fondue. The April market will even include an Easter egg hunt — although much to our disappointment it's meant to be strictly for kids. For more information about the QVM Broncante Marche, check them out on Facebook.
Melbourne's scored itself a swag of new must-see exhibitions this season — and now there's an extra dose of after-hours fun to add to your cultural calendar, too. Coinciding with the launch of its newest exhibition Tyama, Melbourne Museum is kicking off a fresh series of monthly after-dark parties. Launching Saturday, July 30, the new Saturday Sessions will invite punters in to explore the precinct after it's normally closed; browsing its galleries, kicking back to DJ tunes and catching special curator chats. [caption id="attachment_862677" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Museums Victoria[/caption] At this inaugural edition, you'll enjoy after-hours access to the immersive projections and special effects of Tyama, as well as the ancient Greek artefacts of Open Horizons and the world's most complete Triceratops, star of the Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs exhibition. Then, hit the dance floor to a gig by celebrated DJ and Gunai/Kurnai, Yorta Yorat and Wiradjuri woman, Soju Gang. There'll also be a program of illuminating talks tied to the Museum's current exhibitions and pop-up bars stocked with bevs to lubricate those cultural wanderings. Saturday Sessions runs from 5pm–9pm. Entry to the event is $15 for adults, though you'll need to grab an additional ticket for access to Tyama. [caption id="attachment_862678" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Museums Victoria[/caption]
Not all yoga retreats have to cost double the price of your yearly membership. Melbourne-based yoga teacher Maud Léger is launching a new Warrandyte, and instead of overly fancy lodgings, your room will be a tent. While the set-up helps to keep costs down, you will in no way rough it — this is a glamping situation, and all tents include mattresses, nice linen, lamps and rugs. The whole things will take place on the 1.5-acre estate of the incredibly designed residence Casa Warrandyte across three days in November. While your accommodation is outdoors, you'll practice twice a day on the house's undercover deck and meditate in the studio. In your downtime, you're free to go wandering around the property, swimming in the Yarra and partake in any of the mindful activities on offer. Prices start from $767 for a shared tent, which includes all your meals, snacks and tea.
One of the busiest sections of the Melbourne CBD is about to become more chaotic, with part of Flinders Street shutting down for the Metro Tunnel construction works. From September 2, eastbound lanes between Elizabeth and Swanston streets will completely close to vehicles, for a period that could last up to three years. The closure is needed so that an underground connection can be built from Flinders Street Station to the new Town Hall Station. Announcing the news, Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan advised that the works "will unavoidably cause significant disruption", which includes to pedestrians. Folks on foot and in vehicles will still be able to access local businesses and residences, however, and the existing footpath will remain open along Flinders Street past Degraves Street, as well as to the Station construction site. A new crossing will also be established west of Degraves Street, but those walking through the area won't have access to full Flinders Street footpath until sometime late in 2020. Trams will largely remain unaffected, running in both directions up and down Flinders — except for a six-day closure between October 2–7, when major construction works will be undertaken near the tram network. In good news, if you've been spotting plenty of trucks in the CBD lately, the government expects the partial Flinders Street closure to halve the number on Swanston Street during the peak construction period. That means that there shouldn't be more than around 100 trucks per day, maximum, although that still sounds like a hefty amount. Still, if you regularly walk, drive or ride down Flinders Street, you might want to prepare for a change to your routine. Of course, you might've done so already, given that one of the westbound lanes has already closed between Swanston and Russell streets, and will also remain that way until 2022. Image: Josie Withers, Visit Victoria.
Get your dancing shoes on, because one big ol' glittery party series is headed to your living room. LGBTQI+ club night Poof Doof is throwing weekly digital dance nights — so expect to get down to anthems by the likes of Gloria Gaynor, Madonna, Pet Shop Boys and Cher, 'cause this party is here, loud and (very) queer. The legendary Melbourne party collective is streaming Poof Doof Direct every Saturday from 9pm via Facebook, Twitch and YouTube. Each week, you'll be treated to pumping tunes from a range of DJs. And of course, it wouldn't be a proper Poof Doof party without some drag performances, too. Coming up on Saturday, May 2, is a massive one-off Poof Doof Sydney party live streaming straight from The Ivy. Poof Doof took up residency in the Sydney institution last November and has been dishing up a weekly dance-heavy night ever since. Not even COVID-19 can keep it completely quiet. Expect to be dancing to a packed lineup of DJs, including headlining act Sneaky Sound System, Sveta, Troy Beman and James Alexandr. Plus, catch dazzling drag performances from queens Danni Issues, Hannah Conda and Faux Fur, with Jimi The Kween hosting the entire night. For Sydneysiders wanting to take their night in to the next level, you get a Poof Doof Party Pack ($75) delivered to your door. It'll be filled with vodka, two cans of red bull, some soda water and two Hahn Super Drys. Orders can be made here prior to 9am on Saturday. To catch a glimpse of what you're in for, check out the video below. https://www.facebook.com/PoofDoof/videos/1048635328855408/
Catching public transport can be frustrating at the best of times, but there could be even more painful commutes ahead as Victoria's public transport union gears up for two big ol' strikes. The Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) has voted to proceed with industrial action, with 98 percent of members in favour of the strike, in response to ongoing, failed negotiations with Yarra Trams. A strike could see frontline and back-of-house tram staff taking industrial action for up to 48 hours, refusing to wear uniforms, make last-minute changes to timetables (including short shunting), accept roster changes or do voluntary overtime — which could lead to some serious tram chaos. https://www.facebook.com/RTBUVic/photos/a.486088274788960/2539626552768445/?type=3&theater The RTBU has been negotiating a new wage deal and improved working conditions with Yarra Trams for months, with the existing agreement expiring on June 30. "Yarra Trams have pushed drivers to breaking point to meet impossible targets, it's no wonder they are mad at their further attempts to strip away conditions," said RTBU Secretary Luba Grigorovitch in a statement. There's no word yet on when this would happen, though it'd likely take place in the next 30 days. And, if you're a public transport regular, you'll know for sure it won't be pretty — especially since it could coincide with another public transport strike. Melbourne's train network is about to be affected by its own strike, with the RTBU set to kick off industrial action on Monday, August 12. On the Monday — and the following Monday, August 19 — all train travel will be free for commuters as RTBU members keep ticket barriers open and refuse to sell, upload or check Myki cards, all day long. Commuter-facing train employees will also scrap their uniforms indefinitely from August 12, too, and workers will refuse to participate in any training for Melbourne's soon-to-launch high-capacity trains between August 12–18. Between these dates, drivers will also refuse to operate any train that doesn't have fully operational public address systems and passenger emergency intercoms. And there'll be no skipping stations, alternate services running, or announcements by drivers to alert when their trains are running late. The industrial action could carry over to V/Lines, too, with an RBTU Victoria member commenting on the above Facebook post: "V/Line has only just come to the table to start bargaining. Their day will come if they don't take the talks seriously." We'll keep you updated with that. For the moment, no date has been set for the tram strike, but we'll let you know as soon as there is. Image: Josie Withers for Visit Victoria
Unlike a certain lab coat-wearing grandfather and his nervous grandson, we can't all exclaim "wubba lubba dub dub" and zap our way to a different part of the multiverse when things aren't going our way. But, we can get schwifty, kick back and watch a couple of animated interdimensional adventurers unleash their specific style of chaos, with Rick and Morty set to return in 2021 for its fifth season. Once again, Rick Sanchez and Morty Smith (both voiced by show co-creator Justin Roiland) will do what they do best: not just aping a concept straight out of Back to the Future, but wreaking havoc in as many universes as they can stumble across. Also back are Morty's mother Beth (Sarah Chalke, Firefly Lane), father Jerry (Chris Parnell, Archer) and sister Summer (Spencer Grammer, Tell Me a Story) — and, as both the initial trailer for season five and the just-released second sneak peek both show, they're playing a big part in Rick and Morty's dimension-hopping antics this time around. Glimpses at Rick and Morty's upcoming episodes are more about the mood, look and feel than the storylines. The show's trailers tease a heap of the out-there situations, battles and general sci-fi chaos that its characters will find themselves dealing with, and leave the specifics for the new season itself. That's been the case with season five so far, naturally — with nods to and parodies of everything from Voltron to Blade bundled into the two trailers to-date, because that's the way the news goes. As for when you'll be able to watch the next batch of Rick and Morty anarchy — and rejoin the smartest Rick and Morty-est Morty in the universe, of course — the fifth season will start airing week-to-week in the US from mid-June. Hopefully Netflix Down Under will follow suit shortly afterwards. That's what happened with season four, which released its long-awaited episodes in two batches in 2019 and 2020. Watch the latest trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tks_1uCO5kA Rick and Morty's fifth season will start airing weekly from June 20 in the US. Down Under, the show airs on Netflix — and we'll update you with a release date for the new season when one is announced.
Boasting first-class wineries, coastline, bushland and surf beaches, Margaret River has more than earned its reputation as one of Australia's most beautiful places to explore. It's a region where you can go mountain biking along twisty old logging tracks, seek out Australia's megafauna fossils at Mammoth Cave and visit Busselton's eight-metre-deep Underwater Observatory — all in one action-packed day, should you choose. If it gets too much or you're due a little 'me time', Margaret River has just as much to offer those who want to wind down and experience some of the finer things in life. From sampling wines at one of the oldest wineries in the area to sitting in natural spas or simply watching a beautiful sunset over the ocean, the region has no shortage of bounties in the self-care department. From pristine beaches and bountiful wine regions to alpine hideaways and bustling country towns, Australia has a wealth of places to explore at any time of year. We've partnered with Tourism Australia to help you plan your road trips, weekend detours and summer getaways so that when you're ready to hit the road you can Holiday Here This Year. Under current COVID-19 restrictions in Australia, there are some restrictions on where you can go on a holiday. But, you can start dreaming. Bookmark this for when you can explore once again. [caption id="attachment_720253" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Western Australia[/caption] WATCH THE SUNSET AT SURFERS POINT A ten-minute drive from the main town of Margaret River, Surfers Point in Prevelly is one of the best surf beaches in Australia. But it's not only the waves that draw people to its white shores; well equipped with viewing platforms and benches, Surfers Point is also one of the best spots around for admiring the stunning pinks, oranges and reds of a sunset over the ocean. For those who want next-level sensory delights, pack a picnic basket with local wine and cheese to enjoy while you take in the views. Trust us, you won't regret it. [caption id="attachment_720296" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jarrad Seng[/caption] VISIT THE INJIDUP NATURAL SPA Nothing says serenity more than a secret natural spa. Found at the end of an unmarked gravel path, near the car park at the end of Wyadup Road in Yallingup, Injidup (or Wyadup) Spa is a natural rock pool with amazingly clear water that bubbles up like a jacuzzi as waves from the ocean are pushed through the crevasse. Now that the word is out, it's not quite the secluded spot it used to be, but if laying your tired body against warm rocks while water foams and flows around you is appealing, it's worth a visit. TREAT YOURSELF TO A MASSAGE AT BODHI J Nestled in the cliffs above Injidup Beach and offering panoramic views of the Indian Ocean is Bodhi J at Injidup Spa Retreat. Treatments range from body wraps to mineral facials and spa baths, but the Li'Tya Marta Kodo rock massage is a signature. Inspired by Aboriginal Australian techniques for realigning energy flow, the massage includes applying hot stones to your body's pressure points in a rhythmic massage that'll have you feeling so boneless you'll be floating on air long after it's over. STAY IN A LUXURY VILLA WITH YOUR OWN PRIVATE SPA AT THE LOSARI RETREAT Fancy being surrounded by 100-year-old peppermint trees while you sip champagne in a hot tub overlooking a pristine lake? Then the Losari Retreat is the place for you. Set on 26 hectares of lush greenery, the boutique hotel is only an eight-minute drive from the Margaret River town centre but makes you feel transported to a secret country escape much farther away. The four limestone villas each have their own private outdoor spaces with spa baths, as well as cosy lounge areas and fireplaces that are perfect for when the weather gets a little cooler. And, as if that wasn't enough, there are also in-villa spa treatments and massages for when you really need pampering. HIKE A PORTION OF THE FAMOUS CAPE TO CAPE TRACK White sand beaches, clear blue waters, rugged cliffs — Margaret River is filled with show-stopping scenery, and there's no better way to enjoy it than by hiking a portion of the famous Cape to Cape Track on one of Walk into Luxury's guided tours. Along the way, you'll explore the likes of surfer favourite Redgate Beach, bash through Boranup Karri Forest bush and witness spectacular ocean views at Canal Rocks. Once you've satisfied your sense of adventure, it's time to do the same for your appetite, via gourmet platters, lunch hampers and a particularly indulgent midday meal at Vasse Felix, Margaret River's first vineyard and winery. Whether you're planning to travel for a couple of nights or a couple of weeks, Holiday Here This Year and you'll be supporting Australian businesses while you explore the best of our country's diverse landscapes and attractions. Top image: Injidup Spa Retreat.
Young, scrappy and hungry Melburnians have been waiting years to see blockbuster Broadway hit Hamilton head this way — as have Lin-Manuel Miranda fans, musical theatre buffs, Tony Award devotees and everyone who became a convert after seeing the phenomenal filmed version of the show, too. Finally, that moment has arrived, with the production gracing the Her Majesty's Theatre stage since Tuesday, March 15, and also set to celebrate its offical opening night on Thursday, March 24. And if you're eager to soak up as much Hamilton as you can while you can, you'd best add Australia's first and only #Ham4Ham event to your diary. Don't throw away your shot to get a sneak peek at the musical outside the Exhibition Street venue on Tuesday, March 22 — at 10.15am, but with a 10am arrival time. That's when the full Australian cast will be taking to the pavement to sing a Hamilton number for free to whoever happens to be around and watching. Yes, you'd best plan a coffee break mid-morning — or arrange to head in late to work. If you're eager to be in the room where it happens on the offical opening night on Thursday — and not just on the footpath where #Ham4Ham is happening on Tuesday morning — there'll also be 25 double passes up for grabs. To go in the running, you'll need to get your #Ham4Ham on, take a #Hamilfan snap while you're there, upload it to Instagram, tag @hamiltonaustralia and also use the hashtags #HamiltonAU and #Ham4Ham. Top image: Daniel Boud, Destination NSW.
For locals and tourists alike, Mt Coot-tha is one of Brisbane's must-see spots, particularly if you like peering down on cities a great height. From next year, visitors won't just drive up to the lookout to enjoy the view, walk along its trails or picnic in its parklands, however — they'll also be able to glide through the treetops and soar down from the summit via a zipline. Approved by the Brisbane City Council in 2017, set to start construction later in 2018 and due to be fully operational by 2020, the Mt Coot-tha zipline will consist of three parts, each of which will open in stages. Actual ziplines comprise two of the components, and yes, there'll be more than one, with nearly three kilometres of zipline included in the entire project. Firstly, a treetop canopy tour will span 1.5 kilometres between multiple platforms, starting at the west of the summit and finishing to the west of JC Slaughter Falls. As its name suggests, it'll zip through the trees to take riders on a tour of the site's flora, fauna and indigenous cultural heritage. It'll be the first to open to the public, from sometime in 2019. In 2020, it'll be joined by a two stage 'megazip' tour that features six parallel lines between the summit and the Mt Coot-tha botanic gardens. As well as that 1.1-kilometre stretch — all in a single span, without any platforms along the way, and with users reaching speeds of around 60 kilometres per hour — there'll also be a second 340-metre run within the gardens, taking patrons zooming over the Melaleuca Lake. The final section of the project will involve a guided indigenous experience across a new 335-metre suspension bridge that'll be built above JC Slaughter Falls, connecting to the treetop canopy tour and the new arrival centre on Sir Samuel Griffith Drive. And, so that everyone can get between destinations other than via zipline, there'll also be a shuttle bus linking various points. Brisbane City Council will put $1 million towards the zipline, which will be built by Zipline Australia — and, once it's finished, it'll be the longest zipline in the country. The project has also attracted criticism, including worries about its environmental impact throughout the vegetation-heavy area. In response to concerns, "extensive independent expert studies have been undertaken as part of the project to ensure the Mt Coot-tha zipline design is sensitive to the environment, including the natural habitat and Botanic Gardens," Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk advised The Courier-Mail. Images: Brisbane City Council.
Sebastian the crab may have claimed "we got no troubles and life is the bubbles, under the sea", but a recently opened exhibition at Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium may just put that idea to bed. Developed by a creative tech studio in New Zealand, the digital exhibition Dive into the Deep is now open, giving museum-goers a 14-metre-long glimpse into the ocean's depths throughout the Jurassic era and subsequent centuries. While standing firmly on dry land, viewers of Dive into the Deep will get to encounter some of the ocean's most terrifying inhabitants — both alive and extinct — like the colossal squid, a manta ray and the Megalodon, the massive prehistoric shark that we last saw onscreen in the 2018 sharksploitation blockbuster The Meg. The exhibition is split into three zones, each corresponding with various ocean levels. The 'Sunlight Zone' contains some of the friendly fish and coral reef inhabitants you've probably seen in the water on summer beach sojourns: floating bell jellyfish, starfish, seahorses, and fish teeming along the coral bed. In the 'Twilight Zone' are some of the more magnificent (or disconcerting, depending on your fear levels) ocean inhabitants of further south, like a large sperm whale and Tiburonia jellyfish. Finally, in the 'Midnight Zone', you'll be plunged into the darkest depths of the ocean — and you might even catch a battle between the sperm whale and giant squid. Perfect for ocean enthusiasts, Finding Nemo fans or just those who want to learn a little more about the thing that covers 71 percent of the earth's surface, the permanent exhibition is open now and built into the aquarium's admission price so it won't cost you any extra. Go find out if it's better, down where it's wetter. (Sorry). Melbourn Aquarium's Dive into the Deep exhibition is open now on King St, Melbourne. The aquarium is open Monday, Thursday and Friday 10am-5pm, and Saturday and Sunday, 9.30am-5pm.
One of Sydney's leading hospitality groups is set to venture outside of New South Wales for the first time, with Merivale announcing its upcoming entry into Melbourne. The industry giant, which is helmed by CEO Justin Hemmes, will take ownership of Tomasetti House at 277 Flinders Lane in the heart of the Melbourne CBD. The historic building, built in 1853, is located just off of Flinders Street — a five-minute walk from Federation Square. Merivale currently operates more than 60 venues across Sydney, including popular restaurants Totti's and Mr. Wong, Sydney stalwarts The Beresford and Vic on the Park, and expansive bars Ivy and Coogee Pavilion. Hemmes' collection of bars and restaurants has been growing in recent years, with the purchase of venues such as The Duke of Gloucester Hotel and Hotel Centennial. Earlier in 2021, Hemmes and co purchased waterside bar The Quaterdeck on the NSW south coast, marking Merivale's first venture outside of Sydney. "Melbourne's CBD has suffered terribly from the hardships of the past year. We are committed to doing everything we can to help reinvigorate the city and support it in its road to recovery," Hemmes said in a statement. "Its local hospitality industry is one of the best in the world; brimming with creative culinary talent and supported by a passionate community of diners." [caption id="attachment_702661" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Totti's by Nikki To[/caption] Originally opened as a warehouse, Tomasetti House has operated as everything from a warehouse to a bar and nightclub across its 150-plus years. Most recently, the building has been in the hands of hospitality and tourism group Millet Group who have operated The Mill House out of the building's ground floor. Merivale is set to receive the keys to the multi-storey building late this year, with further details and plans yet to be announced. Merivale will open its first Melbourne outpost at Tomasetti House, 277 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, with further details yet to be revealed. To keep an eye out for future announcements, head to the Merivale website. Top image: The Mill House
In excellent news for locals who care about their planet, Victoria's recycling systems are set to score a game-changing transformation. As announced this week by Minister for the Environment and Climate Action Lily D'Ambrosio, an Australian-first recycling reform is set to be rolled out across the state by 2030. As you might have guessed, those much-talked-about four household bins are set to play a starring role in the overhaul. They're still in the process of being rolled out statewide, but eventually every Victorian household will have these four separate units — used for general household waste (red lid), food and garden organics (green lid), glass (purple lid) and other mixed recycling (yellow lid). It's anticipated that once the four-bin system is in use throughout Victoria, it'll have a hugely positive impact on our recycling habits. What's more, in the coming years, households will also be able to use these bins to recycle soft plastics and soiled food containers. [caption id="attachment_807584" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nick Fewings via Unsplash[/caption] Also on the agenda: the Victorian Government has announced it's dropping $1 million to fund a new facility that will turn hard-to-recycle materials — like those pesky disposable coffee cups — into sustainable building products. It's also set to spend $175,000 on another facility that'll be used to process larger green waste into organic soil additives for the farming industry. The changes are part of the Government's plan to divert up to 80 percent of waste by 2030. Our incoming container deposit scheme will also help this effort, as will the state's ban on single-use plastics, which kicks off in February next year. Find out more about the Victorian Government's recycling reform and have your say on the four-bin system before October 26, 2022 over at the website.
Considering a boozy break in the national capital? Sounds like a magnificent idea. Canberra is home to loads of top-notch bars, wineries and distilleries where you can sip on locally crafted beverages — and meet their makers, too. Among them are Australia's first bar dedicated to reisling, a speakeasy that you need geographic coordinates to find and a brewery that specialises in traditional German techniques. So, it's time to grab your mates, open your diary and start planning. To save you time and help you get started, we've scoped out six of the best venues in and around the city that serve a quality drink. Please stay up to date with the latest ACT Government health advice regarding COVID-19.
Winter is no match for Tokyo Tina. You might think you want to head straight home at five o'clock on a weeknight, but what you really want to do is get along to happy hour. As the sun goes down over Chapel Street, Tokyo Tina is just waking up. Her twilight specials are bringing you beers and wines for $9, and sake for $12. Plus, take your pick of two signature cocktails for $15 each: the Cucumber Yuzu Sour or the Toki Highball. At the same time, a bunch of moreish, extremely drink-friendly bites will be doing the rounds. Try edamame for $4, fried nigiri for $9 and a fried chicken sando for $9. The only catch is that you have only one hour per day to make the most of all this — Tokyo Tina's happy hour runs from 5-6pm Monday to Friday. Once the specials have wrapped up, you could stay on for salmon tartare with compressed nashi pear and sesame crackers, followed by prawn katsu buns.
Take a step back in time and be whisked away to the wonders of the 1960s Brazilian music scene, as Melbourne Recital Centre presents an exclusive evening of Suingue Brazuca — The Golden Years of Brazilian Music on Friday, August 11 at 7.30pm, at the renowned Elisabeth Murdoch Hall. The 1960s witnessed the emergence of an illustrious musical epoch in Brazil, where the sounds of bossa nova and the rhythms of Sérgio Mendes and Brasil 66 took centre stage. But they were just one chapter of a rich musical story. During this showcase, uncover musical gems that are relatively unknown outside of the South American country. The event will feature a carefully curated selection of vibrant Brazilian songs that were originally performed by exceptional interpreters, including Elza Soares, Elizeth Cardoso, Elis Regina and Leny Andrade. Leading this musical sojourn is the talented drummer Carlos Ferreira, whose innate rhythm and flair have been influenced by his upbringing in the heart of Rio during the 1960s. Accompanied by a talented ensemble of musicians, including Dany Maia on vocals, Lachlan Davidson on saxophone and flute, Rob Planck on trumpet, Adrian Sheriff on trombone, Steve Sedergreen on piano and Jorge Albuquerque on bass. As part of the Season Three: Haven series at the Melbourne Recital Centre, this evening of Suingue Brazuca invites you to discover and embrace Brazilian musical legacy. Tickets for this showcase start at $45. Don't miss the opportunity to embark on these extraordinary musical adventures at Melbourne Recital Centre. Each event promises an experience that will resonate long after the final note has been played. Find out more information on Melbourne Recital Centre's website.
It's the iconic charity footy match that sees local musos and radio names battle it out on field in an effort to raise much-needed funds and awareness for disadvantaged Aussies via Reclink Australia. And this weekend, 19 years after it was born right here in Melbourne, the much-adored Reclink Community Cup will return for a huge 2022 instalment. On Sunday, June 19, this year's Cup will transform Victoria Park into a community celebration of epic proportions, as crowds flock to catch the Megahertz (familiar voices from Triple R 102.7FM and PBS 106.7FM) and the Young & Jackson Rockdogs (a team of brave musicians) go head to head. This year's festivities have been given the theme of 'Let Love Rule', in honour of celebrated Gunditjmara/Bundjalung singer-songwriter Archie Roach AM and one of his best-known songs. As always, the off-field antics will be plentiful, with a stellar lineup of line tunes courtesy of Cash Savage & The Last Drinks, Ausecuma Beats, Izy, Parsnip and Private Function. At least whichever team loses can drown their sorrows in some top-notch music. Since its inception here in 1993, the Reclink Community Cup has spawned plenty of interstate versions, now running in Sydney, Adelaide, Fremantle, Hobart, Brisbane and Canberra. [caption id="attachment_857723" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Carbie Warbie[/caption] Images: Carbie Warbie
Are you ready to get out and about and make the most of everything summer has to offer? Us, too. For some, that may mean reading by the pool and for others, it's going on week-long hikes in the wilderness. Whatever your cup of tea (or cocktail), there's plenty to do this steamy season. Naturally, when you're enjoying the season with outdoor activities and spontaneous adventures, it's good to have a top-notch drink in hand. So, we've teamed up with Whitley Neill Gin to bring you seven Aussie summer scenarios with the perfect drink to match. CAMPING TRIP Hit the highway with the windows down as you head off for a weekend camping adventure to one of Australia's many diverse and beautiful nature spots. Come summertime, there are plenty of beaches, headlands, national parks and spots in the wilderness that are calling your name. But before you jump in the car, whip up a batch of Fizzy Berry Lemonade, made with Whitley Neill Raspberry Gin and lemonade (plus a few other cheeky ingredients) to enjoy when you arrive. It's a no-fuss cocktail that's sweet, refreshing and perfect for sipping while soaking in the sun around a campsite. BEACH CRICKET Is it really summer in Australia without a hit of beach cricket? Head down to your local salty spot with the bat and ball in tow. Pairing perfectly with this game is the Royalty Gin Spritz, which you'll only need four ingredients to stir up: Whitley Neill Rhubarb & Ginger Gin, soda water, lime wheels and sprigs of mint. It's a faultless, sessionable drink that's simple, sweet and a little bit spicy. You may even try to get bowled out just so you can have a drinks break. BACKYARD BARBECUE Fire up the grill, marinate the chicken (or tofu) and get the corn prepped and ready because barbecue season is back. This year, turn it up a notch and impress your friends by pairing the feast with a Queen's High Tea. Instead of getting yet another slab, this number will bring elegant vibes. As it's made in a jug, it's perfect for sharing. It's packed with fruitiness — fresh apple, rhubarb and sprigs of mint — and has notes of peppery and sweet gingery spice thanks to Whitley Neill Rhubarb and Ginger Gin. Plus, it's topped up with prosecco and we've never known a bubbly drink that hasn't been a hit around the barbecue. [caption id="attachment_796998" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Angelo Pantazis; Unsplash[/caption] BOAT PARTY Did someone say boat party? Slap on the sunscreen, fish out your best swimsuit from the back of the wardrobe and get out on the water to enjoy the breezy air with a drink in hand. To help you refresh from the inside out is the Spring Break Gin Spritz. It's just the drink to be sipping in the sun with mates after a swim. It's light and boasts fun notes of orange, rosemary and lime that complement the Whitley Neill London Dry Gin. It's incredibly simple to make, so the real challenge with this one will be sipping it slowly. CHASING WATERFALLS Despite what TLC says, chasing waterfalls can be a great summer pastime. There's nothing like getting out of the city for a weekend to escape the hustle and bustle for an adventure in nature. There are plenty of waterfalls, both to look at and to swim under, all around Australia. Once you've found the spot, and maybe taken a dip, enjoy a Raspberry Rose Gin Spritz. There's just one thing to say: it's refreshing AF. Made with Whitley Neill Raspberry Gin, the sweet, summery cocktail is topped with raspberry and rose soda, strawberries and basil. COASTAL SWIMS Bring some romance to a summer outing by heading to the seaside for a coastal swim, then sipping a Honeymoon in Sicily. Grab a SO or mate and take to the salty water for a refreshing dip before enjoying this Aperol spritz cocktail. The drink will do the heavy lifting by transporting you to Mediterranean sweet orange orchards with the inclusion of Whitley Neill Blood Orange Gin. Plus, the grapefruit and basil will make you feel like you're on the Italian coast. DAY HIKE A day hike always goes down well in summer. No matter where you are in Australia, there are plenty of places to get out in the wilderness, clear your head, reconnect with nature and get the blood flowing with a long explorative walk. Then, after you've enjoyed the great outdoors and earned some rest, kick back with a glass of Aperitivo Sunsets. This afternoon cocktail is the refreshing hit you'll be after. It's a fruity combination, made with dry gin, orange, grapefruit and cranberry juice and slices of fruit and mint, that tastes and looks like a sunset itself. For more information on Whitley Neill's innovative gin range, head to the website.
If you're just a hunk, a hunk of burning love for the one and only Elvis Presley, and you live in Australia, you've been having quite the few years. A massive exhibition dedicated to the king of rock 'n' roll came our way, Baz Luhrmann's AACTA-winning and Oscar-nominated biopic Elvis wowed fans, and a new Presley-focused stage musical is playing Melbourne's Athenaeum Theatre from Saturday, September 30. Called Elvis: A Musical Revolution, this brand-new production features more than 40 of the singer's hits, because there's just that many songs to include. Expect all of the favourites to be worked into the biographical musical, which means everything from 'Jailhouse Rock', 'Hound Dog', 'That's All Right' and 'All Shook Up' through to 'Suspicious Minds', 'Heartbreak Hotel', 'Burning Love' and 'Blue Suede Shoes'. 'Good Rockin' Tonight', 'Earth Angel', 'Don't Be Cruel' and 'Are You Lonesome' are also set to get a whirl as well, as are 'Blue Moon of Kentucky', 'See See Rider', 'Can't Help Falling in Love' and 'A Little Less Conversation'. That's what you'll be hearing. As for what you'll be seeing — what'll make the musical one for the money, naturally — the show's action will tell Elvis' tale from his childhood in Tupelo, Mississippi through to his triumphant '68 Comeback Special. If you've seen the aforementioned Elvis, none of it will be new news, but expect Elvis: A Musical Revolution to work its hip-swinging magic anyway. Starring Rob Mallett (House Husbands, Singin' in the Rain), Elvis: A Musical Revolution hails from David Venn Enterprises, which has also been behind Cruel Intentions: The '90s Musical, The Wedding Singer and Bring It On: The Musical — and arrives via a partnership with Authentic Brands Group, the owner of Elvis Presley Enterprises. Also behind the scenes, the musical's book comes courtesy of David Abbinanti and Sean Cercone — who have Saturday Night Fever: The Musical and Ghost: The Musical on their resumes — with Abbinanti also composing the orchestrations, arrangements, and additional musical and lyrics. Updated: Friday, October 5, 2023. Images: Ken Leanfore / Daniel Boud.
Something delightful has been happening in cinemas in some parts of the country. After numerous periods spent empty during the pandemic, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, picture palaces in many Australian regions are back in business — including both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made, including new releases, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. HOUSE OF GUCCI For the second time in as many movies, Lady Gaga is caught in a bad romance in House of Gucci. Yes, she's already sung the song to match. The pop diva doesn't belt out ballads or croon upbeat tunes in this true-crime drama, unlike in her Oscar-nominated role in A Star Is Born, but she does shimmy into a tale about love and revenge, horror and design, and wanting someone's everything as long as it's free. Eschewing the earthy naturalism of her last film performance and tapping into her famed on-stage theatricality instead, she's perfect for the part of Patrizia Reggiani, aka Lady Gucci, aka the daughter of a trucking entrepreneur who wed into one of the world's most prestigious fashion families, helped unstitch its hold on its couture empire, then went to prison for murder. She's exceptional because she goes big and lavish, and because she knows that's the type of feature she's meant to be in: a soapy spectacle about money and power that uses its depiction of excess as an interrogation technique. Complimenting Gaga for nailing the brief — for acing it so dazzlingly that she's sauntering down her own catwalk as most of her co-stars virtually watch from the floor — gives House of Gucci a tad too much credit, though. Ridley Scott's second film in mere months following The Last Duel, and his third in a row to examine wealth and influence after 2017's All the Money in the World, this fashion-world saga skews large, lush and luxe with each choice, too, but doesn't land every sashay with quite the outsized lustre of its crown jewel. If House of Gucci's veteran director was picking an outfit instead, he would've chosen a killer gown, then wavered on the accessories. Some of his other decisions gleam, as seen in the movie's knowingly maximalist and melodramatic air. Others prove fine, like its jukebox-style soundtrack of 70s and 80s bangers. A few moves are so cartoonish — Jared Leto's ridiculousness, and the Super Mario-style accents sported by almost everyone on-screen — that they play like cheap knockoffs. The story itself is a standout, however, as adapted from Sara Gay Forden's 2001 book The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed. When Patrizia meets law student Maurizio Gucci (Adam Driver, Annette) at a 70s-era party, mistakes him for a bartender, then realises who he is, it sparks a rollercoaster of a relationship — starting with Maurizio being disinherited by his father Rodolfo (Jeremy Irons, Love, Weddings and Other Disasters) for their marriage. Still, the newest Gucci knows what she wants: a place in the family's dynasty. She isn't the lone cause of the Guccis' unfolding, thanks to Rodolfo's brother Aldo (Al Pacino, Hunters), his penchant for watering down the brand and tax evasion, and his wannabe-designer son Paolo (Leto, The Little Things), but she's the Lady Macbeth pushing Maurizio to seize the company by any means. And, because the reason that House of Gucci even exists was written in news headlines over a quarter-century ago, she's behind Maurizio's killing in 1995. "I don't consider myself a particularly ethical person, but I'm fair," Patrizia offers partway into the movie, a moral code that still sees her order his hit after their divorce — helped by a TV psychic-turned-pal (Salma Hayek, Eternals), because that's the kind of tale this is. Interviewed in 2016, Patrizia called herself "the most Gucci of them all", an idea that Scott and his screenwriters Becky Johnston (Arthur Newman) and Roberto Bentivegna (short El otro lado) don't ever give Italian-lilted voice to, but still use as their basic pattern. In the sartorial realm, Gucci might stand for high-end indulgence, but House of Gucci sees both the allure and the cost of the brand reflected in Patrizia's status-hungry actions. Read our full review. GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE Spraying reboots, remakes, sequels and prequels across cinema screens like a spirit supposedly sprays ectoplasm — gushing reimaginings, spinoffs and seemingly never-ending franchises, too — Hollywood ain't afraid of no ghosts. It loves them in horror movies, obviously, but it adores the spectre of popular intellectual property even more. These phantoms of hits gone by can be resurrected again and again, all to make a profit. They haunt both cinemas and box-office blockbuster lists, making film-goers and the industry itself constantly feel like they're being spooked by the past. With 14 of Australia's 15 top cash-earning flicks of 2021 all falling into the been-there-done-that category in one way or another, looking backwards in the name of apparently going forwards is now mainstream filmmaking 101, and the big end of town rarely likes bustin' a money-making formula. After more than a few pandemic delays, that's the world that Ghostbusters: Afterlife floats into — a world that's made worshipping previous glories one of the biggest cash-spinners show business could've ever dreamed up. The fourth feature to bear the Ghostbusters name, but a new legacy sequel to the original 1984 film, this reanimated franchise entry certainly sports a fitting subtitle; treating its source material like it's nirvana is firmly filmmaker Jason Reitman's approach. To him, it might've been. Although he established his career with indie comedies such as Thank You for Smoking and Juno, he's the son of director Ivan Reitman, who helmed the OG Ghostbusters and its 1989 follow-up Ghostbusters II. To plenty of fans, those two initial comedy-horror flicks were something special as well; however, acknowledging that fact — and trying to recreate the feeling of being a kid or teen watching the first Ghostbusters nearly four decades ago — isn't enough to fuel a new film. To be fair, the younger Reitman isn't particularly interested in making a new movie; Be Kind Rewind's "sweded" Ghostbusters clips are more original than Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Instead, he directs a homage that sprinkles in links to its predecessor so heartily that it's probably easier to name the scenes and details that don't scream "hey, this is Ghostbusters!" as loudly as possible. And, even when Reitman and co-screenwriter Gil Kenan (Poltergeist) appear to shake things up ever so slightly, it all still ties back to that kid-in-the-80s sensation. Sure, Ghostbusters: Afterlife's protagonists aren't adult New Yorkers, but they're small-town adolescents who might as well have ambled out of one of the era's other hot properties: Steven Spielberg-helmed or -produced coming-of-age adventure-comedies about life-changing, Americana-dripping, personality-shaping escapades. Phoebe (Mckenna Grace, Malignant) is one such child, and a new inhabitant of the cringingly titled Summerville, Oklahoma at that. With her mother Callie (Carrie Coon, The Nest) and brother Trevor (Finn Wolfhard, The Goldfinch), she's made the move because the granddad she never knew just passed away, leaving a dilapidated rural property to his estranged family. The townsfolk speak his nickname, "dirt farmer", with mocking and intrigue, but his actual moniker — and all that equipment he's left behind — brings big changes Phoebe's way. While being Dr Egon Spengler's granddaughter doesn't initially mean too much to her, other than giving her love for science a genetic basis, she's soon segueing from testing out ghost traps with local teacher Mr Grooberson (Paul Rudd, The Shrink Next Door) to cracking Egon's secret efforts to stop a world-shattering supernatural event. Read our full review. NEVER GONNA SNOW AGAIN Start how you mean to go on is common-sense filmmaking advice. It's the medium's obvious first step, but it's also an elusive achievement. And, it's a feat that's usually only evident in hindsight — when a viewer can see if a stellar introduction really did signal just as sublime things to come, or vice versa. Never Gonna Snow Again perfects the concept, however. In its arresting opening moments, a man walks out of a forest and into a gated community in eastern Poland, and everything about the scene ripples with moody intrigue. The grey fog infusing the film's setting, the enigmatic look on the mysterious protagonist's face, the feeling that anything and everything could happen: filmmakers Malgorzata Szumowska (Mug) and Michal Englert (also the movie's cinematographer) deliver it all at the outset, and then back it up over their feature's 116 minutes. In Never Gonna Snow Again's initial images, that inscrutable man is Ukrainian masseur Zhenia (Alec Utgoff, Stranger Things), who walks out of a forest and into a gated community in eastern Poland. His destination is lined with lavish identical houses — the kind that the song 'Little Boxes' has satirised for almost six decades now — but he's about to be its most extraordinary visitor. His hands can help knead away physical troubles, a must for everyone with his profession. But as he works his physical magic, his touch can soothe minds as well. Trundling his massage table from well-appointed home to well-appointed home, he quickly builds up a devoted client list of well-to-do residents desperate for his help. He steps into their worlds, spying their outward gloss — the similar wreaths on each door, the doorbells chiming with snippets of classic music — and palpating away their inner pain. As that glorious opening scene establishes almost-unnervingly well, there's a surreal, seductive and otherworldly atmosphere to Never Gonna Snow Again, which Szumowska and Englert let float through their frames like a lingering breeze. There's also a devastatingly savvy interrogation of the type of rich lives that pine for Zhenia's involvement, including their complete obliviousness to him as anything more than a salve for their ennui. Much festers in the feature's McMansions. As it contemplates the everyday malaise that dulls wealth's superficial glow, as well as the vast chasm between gleaming exteriors and empty insides, much haunts Never Gonna Snow Again, in fact. Thematically, it wades into familiar territory — at a time when Succession and The White Lotus are the best shows on TV, and Parasite won the Best Picture Oscar just a year ago, it's probably easier to name movies and TV shows that don't shred the rich to pieces — but it stands out like a pink-hued home in an estate plastered with white and grey. Plenty dazzles in Never Gonna Snow Again, too, including Szumowska and Englert's confident handling, which knits together magical realism and razor-sharp observations about class — and about modern life's rubbish in general as well — with canny precision. Indeed, the movie could've easily crumbled in other hands, and likely will if anyone ever erroneously decides it needs an English-language remake. Perhaps the filmmaking duo's smartest decision is also their most visible, however, because Utgoff's performance is just that magnetic. He's the presence that all those well-to-do clients warm to, lean on and rely upon, and the source of comfort so reliable and cosy that they aren't ever challenged to shatter their bubbles to think about him as a person rather than a set of helping hands — but he has Never Gonna Snow Again's audience constantly pondering and questioning. CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG Nostalgia might be one of pop culture's most-called-upon forces — see also: Ghostbusters: Afterlife — but it can't turn every childhood favourite that reaches cinemas into a winner. Leaping from the pages of Norman Bridwell's illustrated books, the new live-action Clifford the Big Red Dog film is a huge generic slog, shoehorning its oversized, crimson-hued hound into a jumble of routine scenarios that are about as rare as wayward dog faeces in a public park. The giant scarlet woofer gallops into a by-the-numbers, family-friendly action-adventure flick that's a missive against judging things by their appearances, a cautionary tale about bullying and a takedown of nefarious corporate interests. Ron's Gone Wrong barked up all the same trees recently and, while it was hardly an instant classic, it runs circles around this. The point of Clifford the Big Red Dog, no matter what the narrative spins, is right there in the title: it's a story about an abnormally large, unusually ruby-coloured canine, and that's what people want to see. Despite 80 books to the character's name, it's a one-note idea that screenwriters Blaise Hemingway (Vampires vs the Bronx), Jay Scherick and David Ronn (Baywatch) — working with a screen story by Justin Malen (Yes Day) and Ellen Rapoport (Desperados) — unsurprisingly set about fleshing out, but also often sideline their eponymous mutt in the process. Clifford's hijinks couldn't sustain an entire feature, but he's really just a big red sidekick for the bulk of the film. He's an enormous cherry-toned sign for accepting things that are different, too, a well-intentioned message that couldn't be more glaring given that a big red dog yaps the very concept. Clifford isn't originally a giant pet when Emily Elizabeth Howard (Darby Camp, Dreamland) first makes his acquaintance in a Central Park animal-rescue tent run by the mysterious Bridwell (John Cleese, The Very Excellent Mr Dundee). He's definitely the same shade as a tomato, though, and his bond with Emily is instant — even if her mess of an uncle, Casey (Jack Whitehall, Jungle Cruise), says she can't take him home. And yet, this little critter still finds his way into his new pal's backpack. The next morning, he's also no longer a tiny pup. Plus, when he starts attracting attention around New York, he's targeted by a tech billionaire (Tony Hale, Being the Ricardos) who wants him for scientific purposes — but the already-teased Emily, who is taunted at her private school for being there on a scholarship, won't let anyone either take or victimise Clifford for standing out. The look and mood in Clifford the Big Red Dog is sunny with a side of saccharine, and it has John Debney's (Home Sweet Home Alone) relentlessly cheery score to match. With the movie's namesake blazing away in every frame he's in — not due to his hue or size, but via the terrible CGI bringing him to digital life — director Walt Becker (Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip) was never going to helm a subtle film, but everything here is exactly as nuanced as a towering vermillion puppy. The result isn't quite as doggone awful as pooch-driven buddy cop flick Show Dogs, although that's an extremely low bar. It's never as goofy as it should be, however, and it really should sport all the goofiness it can dig up (smatterings of toilet humour don't count). Clifford the Big Red Dog can also only wish it was as visually creative and emotionally endearing as the recent page-to-screen all-ages movie standard: the Paddington films, which keep being pushed into a menagerie of their own by every pale imitation. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in Australian cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on September 2, September 9, September 16, September 23 and September 30; October 7, October 14, October 21 and October 28; November 4, November 11, November 18 and November 25; and December 2, December 9, December 16 and December 26. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised), Streamline, Coming Home in the Dark, Pig, Big Deal, The Killing of Two Lovers, Nitram, Riders of Justice, The Alpinist, A Fire Inside, Lamb, The Last Duel, Malignant, The Harder They Fall, Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain, Halloween Kills, Passing, Eternals, The Many Saints of Newark, Julia, No Time to Die, The Power of the Dog, Tick, Tick... Boom!, Zola, Last Night in Soho, Blue Bayou, The Rescue, Titane, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn, Dune, Encanto, The Card Counter, The Lost Leonardo, The French Dispatch, Don't Look Up, Dear Evan Hansen, Spider-Man: No Way Home, The Lost Daughter, The Scary of Sixty-First, West Side Story, Licorice Pizza, The Matrix Resurrections, The Tragedy of Macbeth and The Worst Person in the World.
No matter which city you live in, if you have a fondness for trivia — and a head full of otherwise pointless tidbits just waiting to be scribbled down quickly — then you've likely been to one of the many nights dedicated to such knowledge. During stints at home, you've probably tested your skills virtually, too, to help fill all that time within your own four walls. In 2020, Isolation Trivia hit the scene as a lockdown-friendly trivia night. It's still running strong this year, too, which is particularly great news for Greater Sydney and Greater Brisbane residents under lockdown. No, all the questions aren't just about staying indoors — but because that's now a regular part of our lives, these trivia nights are live-streamed. Aimon Clark, from Brisbane's Man vs Bear and Not On Your Rider trivia events, plays quizmaster. As you join in, you'll jot down your answers at home — and everyone can compare scores virtually, and battle for trivia supremacy. Isolation Trivia pops up around once a week, but to keep an eye on the next sessions — and to play along — you're best to head to the event's Facebook page. Top image: Not On Your Rider
Take a step back in time at the Kyneton Springs Motel, a touch of Palm Springs without the airfare in regional Victoria. A self-described salute to the classic road trip. This regional Victorian stay comes complete with 20 rooms all lined up in a row behind pastel pink doors and aqua blue railing. Behind each door is a one-of-a-kind styled room clothed in bold wallpaper, polished concrete floor and pops of orange. Brass fixtures and retro phones (to call down for brekkie in the morning) add style to the comforts of a luxe mattress and a microwave, toaster and kettle — everything you could need in a country stay. You can enjoy in-room old-school breakfast trays or paper bag lunches to go if in need of some sustenance for your excursions in the regions. [caption id="attachment_892570" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kyneton Springs Motel. David White[/caption] Freshen up with an umbrella-topped soda from Cathie's Kiosk, which is the onsite al fresco spot giving centre place to bright cocktails and foam-topped spiders. Then, explore your new suburb. You're in the Macedon Ranges, where there are wineries, walks and waterfalls to keep you occupied. Come for the classic neon sign out front, and stay for the hospitality. Images: David White Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
When Melbourne's acclaimed 400 Gradi achieves a significant feat, it doesn't rest on its laurels. It was true when the Italian joint whipped up a 99-cheese pizza, which it then bested with a 150-cheese pizza. And it has proven true at one of the pizza industry's night of nights: the 50 Top Pizza awards in Naples. At last year's gongs, 400 Gradi claimed the title of Best Pizzeria in Oceania. This year, it's done so again. It's only the third year that the awards have been held, with the Melbourne eatery now emerging victorious two years running over all other pizza places in the region. To anoint its winners, the event secretly judges almost 1000 pizzerias in Italy and around the world. While 400 Gradi topped the list in Oceania, it had some local company in the shortlist, including Melbourne's +39 Pizzeria, Doc Pizza & Mozzarella Bar, SPQR Pizzeria and Woodstock Pizzacheria; Sydney's Gigi's Pizzeria and Rosso Antico Pizza Bar; Brisbane's Pizzeria Violetta; and The Dough Room in Perth. It has been a big year for 400 Gradi, with the pizza joint also picking up another coveted prize this year at the Olimpiadi Vera Pizza Napoletana contest. Held by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (which is also known as The True Neapolitan Pizza Association), it compiles a ranking of the best pizzerias in the world — and while 400 Gradi didn't take the top spot, it did come in second. 400 Gradi Essendon eatery was the only restaurant outside of Naples to make the top five, in fact, and was joined by 400 Gradi at Brunswick and Gradi Crown at sixth and eighth place. To check out the 50 Top Pizza awards full lineup of award-winning pizzas, visit its website. To run through the Olimpiadi Vera Pizza Napoletana contest winners, head to its website, too.
