Want to learn something new without falling into another YouTube black hole of not-quite-right how-to videos? A crafty, IRL workshop could be the answer. And The Windsor Workshop is just the place to find one. Nestled in the heart of Melbourne's inner southeast at the Windsor-end of Chapel Street, The Windsor Workshop is a creative hub for the arts, crafts and design movement. The brainchild of sisters Sarah and Bree Hankinson and friend Belinda Galloway, the idea for the workshop came after the three voiced their dreams of creating a co-working project together. So when space to rent came up in the historic Paterson's Cakes building in 2012, they decided to jump in headfirst — and they haven't looked back. But in October last year, they decided to move the co-working space next door and start doing some workshops in the original space. Now it acts as a studio for public classes, workshops and events. "It's a beautiful, inspiring space," says co-owner Belinda. "Think exposed brick wall, Japanese floorboards, lots of light." Their workshops have been described as "the craft version of a day spa", which is right on the money; the classes are just as much about gaining skills as they are about creative therapy. Their monthly Colour for a Cause nights aim to facilitate mindfulness through colouring in an artist's illustration alongside wine, snacks and good company — and a portion of each ticket sold goes to a charity of the artist's choice. They also bring in some of Melbourne's best artists to pass on to their skills in areas as diverse as Mexican Day of the Dead jewellery making, book binding, weaving and Japanese stoneware decoration. "We mainly use Melbourne-based artists who don't really need the exposure from us," says Belinda. "One of our main aims is supporting artists in pursuing their craft by providing this opportunity to share their skills with the public – and paying them correctly. We're big on treating artists right." If you've always dreamed of becoming a skilled collagist or making your own bespoke pieces of Japanese stoneware — or you didn't even know these crafts existed but want to get in on them — it's hard to not feel excited by their list of upcoming events. In April alone, they're hosting workshops on gift wrapping, watercolour illustration and beginners weaving. And the absolute cherry on top is that all workshops are accompanied by an epic food table and a glass of wine or two. Yep, that's our kind of creative day spa. The lovely ladies at The Windsor Workshop are giving one lucky CP reader a chance to join them at their Watercolour Forest Floor Workshop with Sarah. Just enter below. [competition]566104[/competition]
Left your Mother's Day plans until late? You can't go wrong with a delicate, irresistible dessert that captures the occasion. Crafted with immaculate precision, artisan cake shop and patisserie Le Yeahllow have gone above and beyond with a pair of limited-edition treats exploring the delightful Ispahan flavour profile, combining lychee, rose and raspberry. Perfect for a last-minute gift, both desserts are available now until Sunday, May 11. First up, the Blush Heart is an adorable heart-shaped petit gâteau that spoils Mum and conveys love with each bite. Finished with a Valrhona Raspberry Inspiration crumble and a touch of raspberry coulis, expect a precise balance of soft, crisp, floral and fruity flavours. Next up, the six-inch Blush Bloom is Le Yeahllow's take on a Saint Honoré — a French short-crust pastry adorned with choux pastry balls. Themed around love for Mother's Day, this playful interpretation features a ring of caramelised profiteroles, topped with rose cream to capture the essence of a floral bloom. A go-to flavour combination for Mother's Day, Ispahan is named after a blushing pink rose, offering a light and refreshing flavour imbued with Parisian class. You might be surprised to learn that this cherished pastry flavour was only invented in the 1990s by renowned French chef Pierre Hermé, who drew inspiration from the eponymous Persian city famed for its roses. As for Le Yeallow, they've quickly established themselves as one of Melbourne's most creative patisseries. Founded in 2021 by Samsky Yeung, the pandemic passion project is now beloved for its "elegantly playful" inventions, bringing a little irreverence to the high-end pastry scene. Now with three locations across Melbourne — Collins Street, Driver Lane and South Yarra — these limited-run Mother's Day treats are the ideal way to impress and delight this special day. With the day nearly upon us, place an order online to make sure you don't miss out. Le Yeahllow's Blush Heart and Blush Bloom are available for order until Sunday, May 11. Head to the website for more information.
There's much to be said about heading off the well-trodden path, but what about the trails that are popular for a reason? Victoria's High Country offers some of the best outdoor adventures in the state. Sure, they may not be new or undiscovered, but with snow gum forests, historic huts, snow-covered mountains and winding cycling paths, there's so much to see and do in the region that boredom isn't an option. Planning a trip? We've teamed up with Victoria's High Country to come up with ten epic activities you should have on your bucket list. Whether you're after heart-racing whitewater kayaking, breathtaking hot air balloon rides or stimulating walks that celebrate First Nations cultures, we've got you covered. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Rail Trail, Visit Victoria/ Josie Withers[/caption] CYCLE ALONG THE MURRAY TO MOUNTAINS RAIL TRAIL Is it even a trip to the High Country if you don't go for a cycle? Okay, maybe we wouldn't go that far, but suffice to say that missing out on a two-wheeled adventure while in the mountainous region would be a real shame. From relaxed pedals between country towns to thrilling downhill tracks in remote backcountry, there really is something for everyone. For those who want to keep the level of difficulty relatively low while still experiencing the best the area has to offer, the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail has a bit of everything. The track is more than 100 kilometres, but it's easy to cruise along a smaller stretch of it, passing lush landscapes, rolling vineyards and plenty of places to stop in for a bite. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Falls Creek, Visit Victoria/Peter Dunphy[/caption] TRY YOUR HAND AT FLY FISHING If you've never tried fly fishing before then you're in for a treat. It goes a little something like this: you wade into water until you're about waist deep, then cast a line and hope for the best. Just kidding, it's a little more complicated than that — and certainly more fun. Riverdowns Retreat, located by the historic Howqua River, is in the centre of one of Australia's renowned freshwater fisheries. So, it offers the perfect opportunity for you to experience fly fishing in a stunning environment. For newbies, there are two-hour lessons for $150 (plus $75 per additional person), which includes an introductory casting class on the grass and, of course, some time in the water. It also has half- and full-day guides available for those looking to idle longer. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria/Julian Kingma[/caption] UNWIND IN A JAPANESE-STYLE ONSEN Not all adventures have to make your heart pound. Sometimes, all you want during a trip away is a chance to kick back and relax. Enter: the Onsen Retreat and Spa at Dinner Plain. The alpine retreat is where you can truly indulge. Pick from a number of therapeutic spa treatments to help melt your stress away, including organic facials, herbal body exfoliations and volcanic hot stone massages. But the pièce de résistance is the Japanese-style, 38-degree outdoor onsen. Set amid the mountains, the steamy hot spring is the ideal spot to soak up your surroundings. [caption id="attachment_804961" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bright Adventure Company[/caption] TREAT YOURSELF TO A NEXT-LEVEL PICNIC ON A CLIFF There's something to be said about spending a sunny day lazing in the park with a picnic full of fresh produce, cheese and a few glasses of bubbly. But what if you could take such a staple pastime to great new heights, literally? We're talking about a casual snack while perched on a cliff face. Yes, you read that correctly. Set 300 metres above the valley floor, Bright's suspended picnics will see you hanging out on the side of Mount Buffalo as you tuck in to a gourmet hamper. The unique three-hour experience comes in at a cool $449 per couple — but, really you can't put a price on those views. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria/Robert Blackburn[/caption] CHECK OUT THE IMPRESSIVE STEAVENSON FALLS There are many forests and national parks to explore throughout Victoria's High Country. While you could conquer great peaks or abseil down sheer cliffs (if that's your type of thing), seeking out some natural beauties is another way to get your outdoorsy kicks. So, why not venture to some of the area's awe-inspiring waterfalls? If we had to pick only one to visit, it's Steavenson Falls. With a drop of 84 metres, this attraction's impressive height is a sight to see, especially from the viewing platform located right at the base of the falls. And, if you're interested in a challenging five-hour hike while you're there, you can tackle the Keppel Lookout Trail. [caption id="attachment_804959" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sarah Maslan[/caption] SOAR ABOVE THE CLOUDS IN A HOT AIR BALLOON It doesn't get much dreamier than floating leisurely through clouds as the sun rises.Especially if you're doing it while overlooking the Great Dividing Range. Making fantasy a reality, Goldrush Ballooning's King Valley sunrise flights (from $385) take off at the famed Brown Brothers Winery and take you high above the Ovens River, Mount Buffalo and all the rugged countryside you could ask for. When you land back at the vineyard, you'll enjoy breakfast and glasses of prosecco, too. Or, you can opt to depart from Mansfield Coffee Merchant for stunning views of Lake Eildon, Mount Timbertop and Mount Buller for $340. [caption id="attachment_806272" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bright Adventure Company[/caption] GO KAYAKING ALONG THE OVENS RIVER Whitewater kayaking is incredibly fun, even if you've never paddled before. Of course, you'll want a professional guide to help keep your head above water. Bright Adventure Company is known for its first-timer-friendly kayaking tours along the mighty Ovens River. Its whitewater tours run for two to three hours, cost $139 per person and are sure bring out your inner daredevil. Or, if you prefer something more low-key, you can hire a kayak or paddleboard ($25 per hour) and enjoy a calmer cruise down the river. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Spring Spur[/caption] EXPLORE MOUNTAIN RIDGES ON HORSEBACK Thanks to its rugged mountain peaks, wide plains and rushing rivers, the region has big 'The Man from Snowy River' vibes. Sure, it may not be The Snowies, but if you wanted to ride horseback through these parts and impersonate Banjo Paterson's famed cattleman, you can. Spring Spur has a connection to the High Country that dates back to the gold rushes of the 1850s, the property's exceptional horseback expeditions will take you on a journey through Alpine National Park. On its multi-day pack tours (from $1870), you'll traverse brumby country, come across wild rivers, sprawling landscapes and heritage huts, and have the chance to stay in secluded camps under the stars. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rural City of Wangaratta[/caption] WANDER ALONG THE BULLAWAH CULTURAL TRAIL The Bullawah Cultural Trail celebrates the traditional owners of the land in Wangaratta, the Pangerang people. As bulla means 'two' and wah means 'water', the trail's name signifies two things: the two suspension bridges crossing where the waters meet over the river as well as the coming together of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. Set along 2.4 kilometres of the Ovens River, the track has sculptures, interpretive signage, the Marmungun Rock and the Bush Tucker Garden, all of which will help you understand more about the Pangerang people, their culture and their land. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Falls Creek, Visit Victoria/Chris Hocking[/caption] RACE DOWN THE SLOPES If you're a powder chaser in Victoria then you're heading to at least one of the Mount Buller, Falls Creek, Mount Hotham resorts over winter for a bit of fun on the mountain. Sure, it's one of the most popular activities to do in the High Country — and for good reason. Between the three locations, skiers and snowboarders can access 250 downhill runs across 50 lifts and ten terrain parks. It doesn't matter if you're a total beginner just learning how to stand up or a seasoned shredder blitzing your way through backcountry trails, there's a run suitable for every snow lover. And, at the end of the day, feast at one of the many cosy lodges and restaurants nearby. Discover more and plan your next adventure at Victoria's High Country. Top image: Spring Spur
This month at Urbnsurf, you'll be able to catch both waves and live tunes, as the surf park kicks off its new series of openair waterfront gigs. Running Saturdays and Sundays from now until December 10, the Acoustic Music Series celebrates an all-Aussie lineup of musical talent, best enjoyed under the sun with a cold bev in hand. From 6–9pm each evening, settle on the lawn to hear acoustic sounds from homegrown acts like Jack Boots, Dusty Boots, Maddy May, Scott Darlow, Immy Owusu and more. Supported by YETI and Live Music Australia, it's a very affordable live music session, with spectator passes priced at an easy $5 and free access for Urbnsurf guests who are already inside the park. To match the tunes, Three Blue Ducks will be slinging drinks from their bar from 3pm each day. But of course, you can get there even earlier to make a day of it — Urbnsurf's waves are pumping from 6am daily, with a variety of surfing sessions and lessons on offer. [caption id="attachment_843078" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Urbnsurf - Supplied[/caption] Top images: Urbnsurf - Supplied
Smack bang in the middle of Melbourne's most Italian suburb, on its most Italian strip, surrounded mostly by Italian restaurants, you'll find something unexpected: a bright, modern Indian restaurant. The new venue is called Kahaani, which means 'story' in Urdu — quite appropriate when you take a closer look at the menu. It's the brainchild of Head Chef Aseem Sood (formerly of Peter Rowland and Scotland's Crieff Hydro Hotel) and business partner Kunal Bhardwaj (Le Cordon Bleu and Grand Hyatt), who cooked up the idea after COVID torpedoed Bhardwaj's popular St Kilda wine bar. Kahaani is the sort of venue where you could order butter chicken, but you probably shouldn't order butter chicken. No one's going to raise any eyebrows if you do, but you'd be missing out on some of the treasures that lie deeper into the menu. Think puffed pani puri balls with tangy tamarind sherbet, barramundi fillets with green spice rub, or moreish spiced potato buns which go down particularly well with a lager. Another highlight is the tandoor-charred cauliflower, served with kasundi and charcoal yogurt. If you can only order one dish, though, make it the Ghar Ka Ghosht goat curry. It's where Kahaani's 'story' element really shines. This particular dish can be traced all the way back to Kunal's great uncle, who owned a café in Pakistan after the British occupation in 1947, but was forced to flee to Punjab. The recipe has been passed down in Kunal's family ever since, from mother to son, and now sits proudly under the mains section at Kahaani. Ghar Ka Ghosht translates to 'home-style meat', and it'll leave your Friday night butter chicken in the dust: tender chunks of goat, simmered in an aromatic gravy, spiked with ginger, garlic, cumin, cardamon and garam masala. Kahaani itself is classic Lygon: a long, narrow dining hall, with funky industrial lighting and exposed brick down one side. The front window opens out onto the street, letting the breeze and Lygon nightlife waft in. The food implies elevated Indian fare, but the prices are reasonable, and there's a well-stocked wine board that changes each week. If you don't know where to start, just ask for the $45 'Make My Feast' menu and get your waiter to pick a bit of everything. Food on Lygon St has been hit and miss over the last 15 years, and Kahaani feels like a breath of fresh, East Indian air. "Unreasonably authentic" reads the restaurant tagline. Cheese naan this place is not. Kahaani is now open at 262 Lygon Street, Carlton, Tuesdays–Saturdays, 5.30pm–9.30pm. Images: supplied.
Just a three-hour drive from Melbourne is a region so picture-perfect you'll find it hard to believe you're still in Victoria and not in some fictional fantasy land. Welcome to Gippsland — home to vast lakes, the world's third longest beach and a host of seaside towns and lakeside villages. It's been described as a water lover's paradise and with more water-based activities than you could poke an oar at, it's a pretty apt depiction. Whether it's a wintry getaway with beach views and seafood galore or two days of fun in the sun, you can easily fill a weekend in Gippsland no matter the time of year. Here are some tips to help you make the most of the picturesque area. [caption id="attachment_641606" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ferryman's Seafood Cafe.[/caption] EAT AND DRINK To begin your day, Metung has some of the best offerings around. Stop by Effloresce Flowers and Cafe for a coffee paired with a freshly baked scone, cake or slice. The tiny space is part-cafe, part-florist, so you can even pick up a bouquet on your way out. Across the road is Nautica Restaurant serving some of the best seafood around. Enjoy a leisurely brunch on the boardwalk or indulge in a lunchtime feast of fresh scallops as you look out over the sandy peninsula. If you're lucky, you might even spot a dolphin. The restaurant also stocks beers from local brewery Sailor's Grave, a perfect pair with the fare. [caption id="attachment_641712" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Effloresce Flowers and Cafe.[/caption] If you're after a different view of the water, head over to Paynesville for a meal at Pier 70 overlooking Raymond Island. Nab a seat on the sunny deck and dig into a selection of modern Australian dishes. With seafood straight from the surrounding water, we'd recommend opting for something freshly caught like the gummy bouillabaisse with clams, mussels, potato, tomato, snow peas, radish and sesame seeds. The seafood is equally as fresh and delicious in nearby Lakes Entrance at Ferryman's Seafood Cafe, an ex-Raymond Island car ferry. The restaurant floats in Victoria's largest fishing port so you'll definitely have the best produce around. With a menu that's almost exclusively seafood paired with some of the best local beer, wine and cider around, you can't go wrong. [caption id="attachment_641704" align="alignnone" width="1980"] Lakes Entrance.[/caption] When evening comes, look to a bistro meal with a beer on the deck of the Metung Hotel. The iconic pub offers views of the bay and is the perfect spot to satisfy your classic fish and chip cravings as you watch the sun set over the water. A little further up the Ninety Mile Beach you'll find the recently redeveloped Seaspray Surf Life Saving Club also offering pub grub and views overlooking the world's third longest stretch of beach. If you find that you can't choose between beach and lake, you can have the best of both worlds at the Lake Tyers Waterwheel Beach Tavern. Overlooking both Lake Tyers and the iconic beach, the tavern offers contemporary bistro dining and a spacious bar where you can grab a beer or two to enjoy on the deck. [caption id="attachment_641701" align="alignnone" width="1980"] Gippsland Lakes.[/caption] DO Gippsland Lakes offers the perfect occasion to finally learn to surf. The Surf Shack in Lakes Entrance offers two-hour surf and stand up paddleboard (SUP) lessons from $50. And on top of being a water lover's paradise, Gippsland is also excellent for the nature lovers and adventurers among us. Home to an array of exotic flora and fauna, Ninety Mile Beach is a great spot for whale, dolphin, seal and even cuttlefish-spotting as you walk along the sand. You also may spot some weird and wonderful sponges and soft coral. If you want to get up close and personal with the marine life, Metung is your town. Hire a sea kayak and start paddling; you may even pick up some dolphin friends along the ride. [caption id="attachment_641677" align="alignnone" width="1980"] Metung.[/caption] If you prefer your wildlife land-based, you can also jump on the free ferry from Paynesville to the tiny Raymond Island, home to Victoria's largest koala population. Wander the island's Koala Trail on foot or by bike as you count the snoozing creatures in the treetops. Head back over to the mainland, and take a drive out to the Mitchell River Silt Jetties, a series of landforms that reach far into the water. To soak up the natural beauty, the jetties are best experienced by bike or on foot. [caption id="attachment_641689" align="alignnone" width="1980"] Trinculo Shipwreck.[/caption] There are countless other activities to fill your days — hire a boat and cruise off into the lakes or simply drop a line into the ocean at Golden Beach. Afterwards, jump back in the car and head along Shoreland Drive until you reach the Trinculo Shipwreck only six kilometres away. The shipwreck is a short walk through sandy bushland with a view that's well worth it. If the sea feels like your second home (and you're into extreme kitch) you can also stop by the Griffiths Sea Shell Museum, which more than 90,000 shells and sea creatures call home. Don't miss the special coral reef room displaying hundreds of corals under special lighting. [caption id="attachment_641684" align="alignnone" width="1980"] Metung.[/caption] STAY If it's a back to basics getaway you're after, consider staying at Shoreline Drive on the Ninety Mile Beach. Just a hop, skip and a jump from the seaside village of Seaspray, this campground boasts 65 pitches right on the beach. It fills up in summer and bookings aren't available, but if you miss out you can always try one of the other 20 free camping areas along the stretch. [caption id="attachment_641707" align="alignnone" width="1980"] Ninety Mile Beach.[/caption] Not interested in rugged living? Just down the road is the Seaspray Caravan Park, which offers a selection of camping options (featuring flushable toilets). The park offers stays in retro timber camping pods located close to a camp kitchen and camping amenities. You'll still need to pack for a camping trip but your dwellings will be a little more permanent and (equally as Instagrammable). If you really want to get back to nature though, book a room at Jetty Road Retreat, situated between Lakes Entrance and Metung. A little off the beaten track, these four two-bedroom self-contained units offer stunning lake views, a private jetty and an open fire pit. This tranquil retreat allows you to truly disconnect from the digital world. [caption id="attachment_641018" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jetty Road Retreat.[/caption] A little closer to civilisation, but equally as self-contained, is Captain's Cove Resort in Paynesville, which offers 18 bright and beautiful apartments overlooking the water. Nestled between lush gardens and the water, Captain's Cove puts you right in the centre of activity. Another option is the breathtaking McMillans of Metung, which combines the luxury of a resort with all the comforts of home. Select either a cottage or spa villa and soak up views of the perfectly manicured lawns and the nearby lakes. With a day spa, outdoor pool and full tennis court, you'll find it hard to venture outside the resort at all. Images: Visit Victoria. Discover more of Gippsland here.
It's a well-known fact that cleanse diets were invented as a form of modern, self-imposed torture. The human body is built to eat burgers (that's why we have two hands) and it's surely no coincidence the human mouth is just big enough to cram an entire doughnut inside. But, alas, from time to time we all need to give our bods a break and flush out the grease from our arteries. Sure, you can limit yourself to homemade meals only, but you don't want to then find yourself one day standing outside your favourite burger joint, breathing deeply every time a waft of burg floats out the door and wailing in agony like a hungry banshee. It can be tricky to eat out and be healthy at the same time, but, thankfully, Melbourne has a smorgasbord of food options. Instead of signing up to a cleanse, we've teamed up with American Express to give you the best places to eat out when you're trying to be healthy, but also can't bring yourself to suffer through another homemade kale salad with quinoa blobs and sadness dressing. At these joints, the healthiest thing on the menu isn't the blandest, and you can use your Amex to buy some grub that's surprisingly healthy. And, what's more, actually delicious. Got yourself in another dining situation and need some guidance? Whatever it is, we know a place. Visit The Shortlist and we'll sort you out.
Tenth birthdays are a big deal, especially when you're an Australian music festival that's been navigating a pandemic and the resulting difficult time for the industry for half of your run, and also grappling with the impact of La Niña. Yours and Owls has been on quite the rollercoaster ride across the past decade, clearly, so of course it's celebrating its milestone birthday with a massive lineup. Fontaines DC, Denzel Curry, The Kooks and Goo Goo Dolls lead the roster of talent taking to the stage in Wollongong across Saturday, March 1–Sunday, March 2, 2025. Orville Peck, Hockey Dad, The Jungle Giants, Peach PRC and The Veronicas are also on the bill, as are Elderbrook, Honey Dijon, JPEGMafia and Salute — and plenty more. [caption id="attachment_976058" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Theo Cottle[/caption] When Yours and Owls revealed that it wasn't going ahead in 2024, joining the long list of music festivals scrapping plans for this year, it thankfully only put its fun on hold for 2025. Returning in 2025 was always the intention — and this is a lineup worth waiting for. Yours and Owls didn't completely sit 2024 out, however. Earlier in October, it held a pre-party, aka the event you put on when you can't put on the full festival experience at your usual time of the year because it doesn't work for your headliners' calendars. So, a tunes-filled shindig still took over the University of Wollongong campus — complete with Golden Features, Peking Duk, Alice Ivy, Anna Lunoe and more — to keep things warm for next year. Affectionately labelled "Gong Christmas", Yours and Owls 2025 will feature four stages across its two-day run, plus a feast of local arts — and food and drinks — beyond the tunes. The lineup arrives just a week after the fest locked in its dates for next year. Confirmation that the event will be back next year follows locked-in details for the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025 for a heap of fellow festivals, such as Laneway, Golden Plains, Bluesfest (for the last time), Wildlands, Good Things, Lost Paradise, Beyond The Valley and Meredith. Yours and Owls Lineup 2025 Fontaines DC Denzel Curry The Kooks Goo Goo Dolls Elderbrook Hockey Dad Honey Dijon JPEGMafia The Jungle Giants Orville Peck Peach PRC Salute The Veronicas Allday Babe Rainbow Coterie Cyril Dice The Dreggs Frankie Stew & Harvey Gunn Grentperez Isabel Larosa Magdalena Bay May A Mark Blair Pond Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners Sam Tompkins San Cisco Slowly Slowly Sycco Wunderhorse Battlesnake Bean Magazine Bodyjar The Belair Lip Bombs C.O.F.F.I.N Crocodylus Keli Holiday Kitschen Boy Le Shiv Miss Kaninna Nick Ward Ra Ra Viper Satin Cali Total Tommy Y.O.G.A [caption id="attachment_906428" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jess Gleeson[/caption] [caption id="attachment_906426" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ruby Bowland[/caption] [caption id="attachment_965220" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Ian Laidlaw[/caption] Yours and Owls returns to Wollongong on Saturday, March 1–Sunday, March 2, 2025. Presale tickets start at 9am AEDT on Tuesday, October 29 with general sales at 9am AEDT on Wednesday, October 30 — head to the festival website for more details. Top image: Ian Laidlaw.
Up there on the list of good things to have come out of this crazy year is Andrew McConnell's (Cumulus Inc, Builders Arms Hotel, Cutler & Co) latest Fitzroy project: Morning Market. It started out in the early pandemic days as Marion Grocer — a temporary pop-up bakery taking over the site of his much-loved wine bar Marion — but the concept has proved such a hit that it's now getting a proper run, reborn as Morning Market with a new permanent home a few doors down Gertrude Street. In its new format, the venue takes its cues from that of a Euro-style food market, offering a tight lineup of largely local goodies. Expect a considered selection of pantry staples, seasonal fruit and veg, dairy products and specialty groceries, along with freshly cut flowers and even a tidy range of homewares. As a bonus, the fridges are also stocked with a lineup of gourmet meals for home, with options like lasagne and tiramisu saving you from the nightly kitchen slog. [caption id="attachment_786910" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jo McGann[/caption] Grab-and-go options also abound, running to the likes of Single O coffee, fresh salads, pizza slices and loaded sandwiches — like the Fitzroy Continental, sporting a mix of salami, ham, mortadella, 'nduja, provolone, mustard and pickles. And, of course, the Baker Bleu breads and pastries that stole hearts during Morning Market's first iteration get top billing once again. You'll find signature loaves, bagels, buns and a range of pastries that includes everything from buttery croissants to plump escargot. Other sweet treats might feature fan favourites like rich chocolate brownies, basque cheesecake, canelé and raspberry tarts. With picnic season in full swing and boasting a handy location near Carlton Gardens, Morning Market has got those park eats sorted, too. It's slinging curated picnic baskets for two, featuring bites like sourdough with cultured butter, roast Bannockburn chicken with tarragon mayo, and local buffalo burrata finished with a caper and parsley salsa. Prices start from $56. Find Morning Market at 59 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy. It's open 8am–3pm Tuesday–Sunday. Images: Jo McGann
Staying in with just Netflix for company might be all the rage these days, but once upon a time, the local drive-in cinema was the must-do event. Dandenong's Lunar Drive-In was first opened in 1956 but the introduction of the VCR in the 1980s crippled the drive-in industry. However, in 2002, two movie buff brothers got together and purchased the drive-in site, putting up four massive screens and modernising the experience. Showing the latest films alongside double features, family sessions and late-night screenings, load your car up with your best mates and head out to enjoy a night-time flick. Much cheaper than your regular cinema, a carload worth of tickets goes for as little as $25 on Monday–Wednesday, and $30 on Thursday–Sunday. Don't miss the Lunar Café, the on-site burger joint that serves up a typical diet of movie-going snacks and hot food to enjoy throughout your screening. Image: Thomas Hawk via Flickr.
These days, you can get a monthly subscription of pretty much anything delivered to your door, from pies to cars to plants to hard-to-find cheeses sourced from across the country. But for gin lovers, they're all bound to pale in comparison to a nifty new delivery service Gin Society, which treats its subscribers to a full-sized bottle of a small-batch artisanal gin each month. The company has just launched deliveries across Australia, kick starting the service with Italian gin Rivo, a full-bodied sip produced in Lake Como in the north of Italy with foraged botanicals. Like this one, the ongoing lineup is set to showcase a whole range of local and international gins, with a focus on drops you won't find at your local bottle shop. Each time one of these hand-picked, premium gins lands at your doorstep, it'll be accompanied by that month's edition of Gin Journal magazine, featuring expert tasting notes, suggested cocktail recipes, bartender profiles, reviews and details about the gin's origins. Everything you need to ensure you enjoy that bottle of artisan booze to its fullest. With their first order, new members will score a special Gin Society gift set, complete with crystal mixing glass, copper bar spoon, copper Hawthorne strainer and copper bell jigger — tools guaranteed to take your cocktail game to the next level. The gin subscription will set you back $95 each month, which includes a full-sized bottle of gin, the specialty magazine and exclusive invitations to Gin Society events. Sign up for your monthly gin fix at the Gin Society website.
Like your coffee but don't know the lingo? In that case, maybe book yourself in for a mini-holiday at Vacation, Melbourne's new home of specialty coffee minus the stress. "I've wanted to open up a cafe for about three or four years," co-owner Julian Bedford tells Concrete Playground. "I was working with some really nice guys at Bawa in Hawthorn and we sort of put our heads together and opened a coffee roastery... the espresso bar [is] the flagship shop for the brand." Joining Bedford in his endeavor are Kael and Matt Sahely (Bawa, Northcote's Barry, East Melbourne's Square & Compass) along with Jimmy Tjoeng (Malvern's Little Chloe). Both Bawa and Square & Compass now make their coffee with Vacation beans. Located on the corner of Flinders and Exhibition Street, the cafe doubles as a retail outlet where customers can purchase coffee not just by the cup, but by the bag. It's also somewhere you can go for a high-quality cup without being a qualified expert. "We're really aiming to be super friendly and approachable about specialty coffee, rather than making it something that's prestigious and unobtainable," says Bedford. "Everyone can have a good coffee. We don't have to talk about it, you can just drink it. But if you do want to talk about it, we're more than happy to show you some different coffees and make sure you get something that you want." In terms of food, Vacation offers what Bedford calls "home-style sandwiches", with fillings like wagyu pastrami with mustard, zucchini pickle and mayo, and turkey with alfalfa sprouts, avocado, tomato and chilli mayo. Other simple options include poached eggs with avocado, as well as your eternal favourite: Vegemite on toast. Ultimately though, coffee is the name of the game, with Bedford assuring us they're working with "some of the best equipment you can get." Find Vacation on the corner of Flinders and Exhibition Street, Melbourne. For more information, check them out on Instagram.
This one's all in the name. With a focused and easy-to-read menu that doesn't compromise on variety, I Love Pho is your go-to for a quick and no-fuss meal. Like so many of the top pho spots in Melbourne, there are topping options all across the spectrum, including brisket, meatballs, tendon, heart, liver and giblets — but notable here is a vegetarian option with tofu and veggies. Either way, you're sure to get the classic flavour and soft mouth-feel you'd expect from a top-quality pho in Melbourne. [caption id="attachment_793549" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] Top image: Abir Hiranandani
The Lunar New Year rolls around this weekend, and Federation Square is hopping right into the Year of the Rabbit with a colourful day of performances, cultural workshops and more. The free festivities are set to take over the precinct from 9.30am on Sunday, January 22. First up, you can start your day rejuvenating body and mind with a guided tai chi class in the Main Square, learning martial arts moves designed to boost strength and improve mental clarity. From 11am, the gears switch up slightly for an ancient Chinese dancing class, where you'll be guided through moves that fuse elements of traditional and contemporary dance. Led by volunteers, the one-hour session kicks off with a warm-up and stretches, leaving you limber and ready to move. Then, from 12.30pm, you can cool down with a rewarding frosty treat — a pop-up stall will be slinging free scoops of lunar-inspired ice cream. And if you drop by from 1pm, you'll catch a vibrant dragon dance performance put on by the Chinese Youth Society of Melbourne. They'll weave all throughout the precinct, delivering good luck and fortune for the Lunar New Year.
What's your idea of a perfect night out? If it's a casual wander through Melbourne's 'Paris End', stopping by the city's best cocktail bars, with a passport that gets stamped as you go, that's exactly what you'll get with the Melbourne Walking Whisky Tour. A premium bar hop experience for whisky lovers, run Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday every week by The Speakeasy Group and The Glenlivet Whisky. The night kicks off at glamorous oyster and cocktail bar, Pearl Diver, before hitting up local favourite, Nick & Nora's, and finishing at Eau-de-Vie. At each stop, you'll be treated to a Glenlivet whisky cocktail, a 15ml nip of whisky and a gourmet snack. You'll also get a special passport to guide your journey, complete with a snippet of The Glenlivet and venue history, and a stamp at each venue. Interested? There are two ways to take the tour. You can go your own way with the $120 self-guided option (perfect as a gift or a fancy date night out). Or for an extra $250 per group, you can book a guided experience for eight to 15 people and have a whisky connoisseur host your group, sharing tales of Melbourne's bar scene and expert whisky tips as you go. The Melbourne Walking Whisky Tour runs Tuesday to Thursday, starting at Pearl Diver. Self-guided vouchers are available via the Speakeasy Group website. Or call (03) 8393 9367 to enquire about a guided group experience. Images courtesy of the Speakeasy Group By Jac Kennedy
Apologies to backyard cricket, barbecues and water sports. Sure, they're ace things to do in summer in Australia, but movie buffs only have eyes for one outside activity. That'd be outdoor cinemas — and if you're keen catching a flick in Mt Martha under the stars, Sunset Cinema is returning to The Briars from Wednesday, December 20—Friday, January 20. Whether you're eager for a moonlit date night or gathering the gang in the open air, this season's program has something on the bill. That includes opening with Christmas flicks, including Elf, Love Actually and Home Alone — and also showing recent hits such as Barbie, Saltburn, The Marvels and A Haunting in Venice. Other options span an advance screening of the Mean Girls musical, Wonka, and perennial favourites 10 Things I Hate About You and Dirty Dancing. BYO picnics are encouraged, but if you want to enjoy a sparkling, cocktail or brew throughout the film, the onsite bar will be serving a range of drinks. Didn't pack enough snacks? There'll be hot food options, which you can order online and then pickup, plus plenty of the requisite movie treats like chips, chocolates, lollies and popcorn.
Sometimes they're sung. Sometimes they're splashed across the screen. Quite frequently, they adorn Dolly Parton-themed paraphernalia. That'd be the iconic Tennessee-born icon's words, which feature heavily in affectionate, entertaining and enthusiastically camp Australian comedy Seriously Red. Viewers should expect nothing less of a film about a Dolly Parton-adoring real-estate valuer who decides to pour her cup of ambition into being a Dolly Parton impersonator, obviously. There's an exact turn of Parton-penned phrase to sum up Raylene 'Red' Delaney's new gig, too: what a way to make a living. Of course, as Seriously Red's star and screenwriter, that sentiment applies to Australian actor Krew Boylan as well. For two decades now, particularly across shorts and television — a resume filled with everything from McLeod's Daughters and Wild Boys to A Place to Call Home and TV movie Schapelle — she's been chasing the performing dream. Her best part yet, though, is the one she wrote herself, and a role that harks back to watching 1989's Steel Magnolias as a child with her mum. From being wowed by a Parton-starring film to making her own Parton-obsessed on-screen ode, Boylan's fondness for the 'Joelene' and '9 to 5' singer has endured; persistence is a very Dolly trait, after all. Indeed, it was thinking about why Parton represented the pinnacle of success for her that sparked Boylan to start scripting Seriously Red in the first place in 2009. The years since have seen other projects come her way, but after getting Dolly's pivotal tick of approval — thanks to friend, executive producer and on-screen Elvis doppelgänger Rose Byrne — the movie started becoming a reality. In fact, it's the first feature by Australian independent production company Dollhouse Pictures, which Boylan and Byrne created with Seriously Red's director Gracie Otto (The Last Impresario, Under the Volcano) and producer Jessica Carrera, plus Babyteeth filmmaker Shannon Murphy. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Parton should be clearly be honoured. As well as playing a Dolly impersonator, Boylan couldn't be more effusive with praise about the entertainment legend. "She's great artist, and she's funny, and she's irreverent. She decides how to she wants to look, and she keeps it positive even when people try to bring her down about it. And she's quick-witted, and then she's also got this business side. I guess I gravitated to that whole package." It's one thing to make a movie that drips its "love, sweat and joy" for the country star through every frame, as Boylan puts it. It's another to also ponder identity, creativity, self-esteem and finding the courage to be yourself. As it follows its titular character's chaotic pursuit of all things Dolly, including exploring the celebrity impersonator scene, Seriously Red is that feature. It's no wonder that Parton read the script twice within days of receiving it, and jumped up and down exclaiming "you played me, you played me!" when Boylan met her. With Seriously Red now in cinemas Down Under, following a whirlwind year that's spanned premiering at SXSW, an Aussie debut at the Sydney Film Festival and opening the Brisbane International Film Festival, we chatted to Boylan about having a Dolly great time loving Dolly, meeting the woman herself, exploring the impersonator industry and getting Byrne to play Elvis. ON ALWAYS LOVING DOLLY "I always loved Dolly Parton. I became fixated on her really through the movie Steel Magnolias, that my mum must've showed me — I can't remember how, like at what age I saw it, but I remember sitting there with my mum and my sister and watching this movie and crying and laughing, and just falling in love with all those characters. So I did start to fixate on Dolly — not as much as Red does, but I started to gather stories about her, and where she came from and why she looks the way she looks, and watching interviews on how she handles herself with some pretty sexist interviewees back in the 70s and 80s. I just loved the way she handled herself. I loved that she was a businesswoman, and the joke was always with her and she always kept it positive. Yeah, I did become quite fixated on her. My dad was always very adamant — he's got daughters — that 'girls, you can be successful, you've got to have drive, you go for what you want'. And I started to kind of go 'yeah, I've got drive, but I'm not really getting the success that I want — and what is that anyway?'. That's when I started to write to figure that out, and the answer was pretty quickly that Dolly Parton's the top of the chain for success for me. So what is it going to look like for me, and how is that going to feel? Hence why I started to write about Dolly Parton." ON GETTING DOLLY'S SIGN-OFF "You know, Dolly was almost one of the first people to get onboard, and then it took us the rest of the time to convince everyone else… It's a complete love story to Dolly Parton, and the music is the heartbeat of the film, so it was really important to get her. "That entailed Rose Byrne taking the script, hard copy, in her car driving partway across a couple of states to get to Nashville to meet with her manager Danny Nozell, who's an executive producer on the film. And to hand it to him, and say 'this is the project, this is what we're passionate about, this is what we want to make — can you have a read?'. It was only a few days later that we got an email back saying 'Dolly loves it. She's read it twice. What should we do? How can we help?'. It was life-changing, but you couldn't quite really feel it until I met her. ON MEETING DOLLY ONCE THE FILM WAS FINISHED The first time I got to meet her was just in March in Austin, Texas at SXSW. What was weird about it, I found, was that it was so normal. I was so in my boots and so relaxed, as she was — and that's a testament to her, she really just knows how to make you feel comfortable. We had this gorgeous connection, this great little hangout, and I think I was so surprised that it was organic and normal and calm, and she was just so beautiful and giving. She launched at me, and she hugged me, and she jumped up and down holding my hand saying 'you played me, you played me!'. And I started to cry, saying 'thank you for letting me tell my story through your stories'. And she was like 'you cryin' angel? Are you cryin?' — and she started wiping away my tears. In that moment, I was like 'is this really happening? Is Dolly Parton wiping away my tears?' But she was, and she was just beautiful. I think she definitely connected with the story. She felt vulnerable reading the script, knowing that I am playing her and I disrobe — she felt a little bit vulnerable about that. I thought it's amazing — she's personified me as much as I personified her." ON EXPLORING THE IMPERSONATOR INDUSTRY "I like seeing worlds that you don't always get to experience in real life. I like seeing that in plays or in TV or in theatre. So of course I went to Vegas to meet with impersonators, watch a whole of bunch of shows and really dig into it. I've got so much respect for that industry, because you really can't be halfway in if you want to be great impersonator. You've really got to go for it. Whether or not you want to live as that person can be a fine line or a tricky balancing act, and I certainly met people who were more or less living as that person, and then other people who were like 'no, this is just strictly business'. Then there were other people who are just like 'look at me!' — and I was like 'yeah, you look exactly like Steve Tyler. No wonder.' That was sort of the end of the conversation with this one impersonator because he did, he looked exactly like him. It was really interesting and, of course, I love the duality of it. We're all often wearing masks, especially now in a social media and zoom world, where you can kind of choose who you're going to be, or how you want to be filtered, or how you want to put your life out there as it being one thing. And is it truly? This movie might just help everyone just remember who you really are, and that your identity is also constantly changing — so allow for that. ON ROSE BYRNE PLAYING ELVIS We were both living in New York City, and I remember waking up that morning thinking about how I want to play a man — just because you're an actress, you want to try to play everything. I did method at Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute, so I'm into all of those different processes. And I was thinking about how I would love to play a man, and it just clicked, and I thought 'Rose should play Elvis!'. Like, if I want to play a man, she's going to want to play a man for sure. And she was picking me up in an hour or something, so when I got in the car I was like, 'would you be my Elvis?'. And she was like, 'yes, YES'. She looks kind of like Elvis. Elvis was pretty beautiful, Rose is really one of the most beautiful people I've ever seen and it just made sense. And she is a tour de force, and such a great actress. It's one of those performances where the more I watch it, the more hilarious it becomes. I just can't stop, every time she comes on screen now I just chuckle. But I think it's one of those movies that sometimes just gets funnier and funnier — a bit like Bridesmaids. Seriously Red opened in cinemas Down Under on November 24. Read our full review.
If you're choosing to go out and support local businesses, have a look at the latest COVID-19 advice and social-distancing guidelines from the Department of Health. Launched in 2003, Chocolate Buddha has long been a fixture of Federation Square's dynamic group of residents. But now, just like neighbour ACMI, the modern Japanese spot is mixing things up. While it's still located in the same spot, Angela Mathioudakis' (Joe's Garage, Blue Train Cafe, Transit, Taxi) restaurant has undergone a hefty makeover courtesy of long-time collaborator, award-winning architect Peter Maddison. The newly reopened corner site is a study in contemporary Japanese sensibilities, from its breezy new look to the refined sashimi and big bowls of ramen. And it boasts not one, but two high-tech sushi trains — the first parading freshly made sushi, sashimi, maki and nigiri, and the other (an extra fast "bullet train") delivering hot dishes straight to your table. Step through the door and you'll now discover a bright, lofty space, decked out with handmade Japanese tiles, raw cement and Victorian ash timber. Japanese fabric screens and compressed timber acoustic panelling help to create a more intimate feel. There are separate kitchens for each part of the menu, with one open station dedicated to showcasing the talented sushi chefs at work. They're whipping up creations like soft-shell crab and avocado rolls, salmon rice paper sushi topped with spicy tobiko mayo, and panko-crumbed chicken katsu rolls. [caption id="attachment_745386" align="alignnone" width="1920"] William Watt[/caption] Elsewhere on the menu, you'll find izakaya-style plates such as steamed prawn and salmon dumplings, spicy lamb misoyaki, yakitori and a selection of seasonal tempura dishes. You can also tuck into some donburi – perhaps the chargrilled chicken with house-made teriyaki – a range of ramen and a handful of salads, including one starring crab meat, wakame and potato. A Even dessert lovers are sorted, with clever treats like a yuzu baked cheesecake and chocolate spring rolls teamed with caramel miso sauce. Meanwhile, the drinks list is equally loaded with choice. You'll find a largely Aussie wine lineup, sake and umeshu galore, and a mix of local brews and easy-drinking imports, both on tap and by the bottle. Find the new-look Chocolate Buddha at Federation Square, Corner of Swanston and Flinders streets, Melbourne. It's open from Tuesday–Saturday 11.30am-10pm and Sunday–Monday 11.30am–9.30pm. Images: William Watt
A battle of the supermarkets looks set to blow up in Victoria as German retail giant Kaufland announces plans to open a whole swag of new stores across the southern state. Earlier this year, the chain revealed plans to drop a cool $459 million in initial investment on its first three Aussie stores, to be built in Dandenong, Chirnside Park and Epping. Now, Kaufland seems set on statewide supermarket domination, announcing two more confirmed stores in Oakleigh South and Coolaroo, with another nine Victorian sites still up for approval. The proposed locations include Coburg North, Narre Warren, Geelong, Bendigo, Pakenham, Braybrook, Lyndhurst, South Morang and Warrnambool. If it all gets the green light, the company would be dropping over half a billion dollars into Victoria alone. Launched in 1984 and now with 1200 European stores to its name, Kaufland is owned by the Schwarz Group — the world's fourth largest retailer. All of this plus its quick Aussie expansion means Kaufland could be a real threat to local retailers like Coles and Woolworths. Each Kaufland Australia site is pegged to be around 4000 square metres, featuring its own onsite butcher, bakery and bottle shop, and an assortment of adjacent small businesses — think, nail salons, sushi bars and cafes. Construction has already kicked off on the Dandenong store and a state-of-the-art distribution centre up in Mickleham. Clocking in at around 115,000 square metres — or the size of six MCGs — this latter building is set to be the largest of its kind in Australia. Victoria's not the only state Kaufland has its sights set on, either — the company has plans to open sites in Morayfield, Toowoomba and the Gold Coast in Queensland. Kaufland's schtick is offering a wide choice of Aussie produce, along with well-known brands and a new high-quality signature range, all at competitive prices. Kauflands are slated to open at Epping, Chirnside Park, Dandenong, Oakleigh South and Coolaroo. With nine more Victorian sites pending approval. We'll let you know as soon as dates are announced.
So, you're a parent and a foodie. Quite the juggling act. But there comes a tipping point in every child-rearing connoisseur's journey: babysitters are an added expense to the cost of a night out, and preparing a separate meal for the rugrat(s) calls for time you can't spare right now. You're going to have to take the little treasures out with you. And the following is your key to doing so with no regrets. We've teamed up with Holden Equinox, the SUV for parents with nothing to prove, to find the Melbourne cafe and restaurants where you can indulge your foodie longings while also catering to the kids. This city's culinary reputation isn't a throwaway line; we're envied worldwide for our quality, variety and all-seeing eye. And when it comes to great food, everyone is catered for. These ten venues across Melbourne are the kinds of places plenty of people frequent kid-free, but whose extra touches make family outings that little bit more special. ILONA STALLER Ilona Staller might be named after an Italian porn star, but this fun Balaclava restaurant and bar has firmly established itself as a go-to spot for families. The food is mod-Melbourne, from tasting plates to well-executed bistro classics — try the pappardelle with slow-braised lamb shoulder. The cocktails are delightful and there's an impressive list of by-the-glass wines, while the kids' menu doubles as a puzzle page that will occupy them as they await their popcorn chicken and chips ($12 with ice cream for dessert). 282 Carlisle Street, Balaclava PANTRY Now two decades young, Pantry — a hip and happening cafe by day and stylish diner by night — is a place made for repeat visits. For parenting folk, this could mean twice in one day. True to its bayside location, the vibe is beachy and casual, with top-notch food across six menus (including one for kids), and a cocktail and craft beer list that's in the ballpark of the city's more booze-focused venues. 1 Church Street, Brighton STOMPING GROUND BREWERY & BEER HALL The rise of brewpubs has allowed more locals the chance to taste Australia's best beer straight from the source. Melbourne brewer Stomping Ground fulfils its core function with around 20 all-tastes-catering brews, but the voluminous warehouse-turned-beer hall also serves great grub (stout-braised ribs, saison-infused mussels, grilled barramundi — oh, and the beer ice cream is a must-try) and allows parents the chance to properly enjoy said food and drink by virtue of a split-level cubby house that distracts the tiddlywinks. 100 Gipps Street, Collingwood 8BIT This burger craze is getting a little tiresome, but it does offer parents ample excuse to indulge. After all, how can you go wrong bringing your kids to a place with a weekly rotating chocolate bar shake? 8bit's delicious American-style burgers are whipped up in minutes, and actually, there's a refreshingly anti-Instagram slapdashedness to them. The venue's rustic-retro feel also extends to a stand-alone arcade machine (Pac-Man, Galaga, etc) which will delight 1980s kids as much as it bores those of Gen-Z and Gen-Alpha vintage. 8 Droop Street, Footscray LONG STORY SHORT "Here comes our food — quick, get your phone out!" is a common catchcry, and even casual Instagrammers could be excused for uttering it at Long Story Short, with its Scandi-chic interior and Asian-leaning brunch menu packed with bright colours, exotic elements and some pretty nifty tricks. Case in point: the fairy floss dessert burger ($19). It's the sort of thing that helps pay for dentists' holiday homes, but your kids' eyes will light up – trust us. For early-doors drinks, there's a grab-bag of craft beer, some European bubbles and vino, and classic cocktails galore. 40 Crockford Street, Port Melbourne LEMNOS TAVERNA Lemnos Taverna owner Theo Kolliniatis transports the many childhood hours spent in his uncle's restaurant on the Greek island of Santorini into the kitchen of this bustling, wholesome High Street eatery. Each day is a lesson in organised chaos, as attentive waiters bring a succession of succulent meats, chargrilled seafood, bread and, of course, to-die-for saganaki to white-clothed tables occupied by young couples and cross-generational families. Yes, it gets loud, but, hey, can't this also be said of home? 445 High Street, Prahran GO WEST EATERY & TUCKSHOP The Village People were onto something back in 1979, if the fast-growing population — and gentrification — of Melbourne's outer-western suburbs is anything to go by. The Go West cafe in Rockbank is bright and homely, with lots of space to manoeuvre a double pram or gaggle of geese kids. The menu divides its focus between superfood breakfasts, linger-worthy brunches and tuckshop-style snacks, while the homemade sausage roll/milkshake combo is a winner for kids. Coffee comes via Rosso Roasting Co, and 'anti-coffee' options include the exquisite Calmer Sutra chai latte. 27 Woodlea Boulevard, Rockbank MR WOLF "Come early with the kids; stay late with a bottle of wine", is Mr Wolf's catchphrase. While it's hard to be both family-friendly and an after-dark destination, this stylish, Karen Martini-owned venue does it exceedingly well. Martini's kitchen effortlessly conjures the good stuff; think crispy-edged thin-crust pizzas, antipasti, slow-braised meats, and dark and daring deserts. It's this sort of high-quality, simple fare and warming vibe that sets Melbourne apart from the rest of the country. 9-15 Inkerman Street, St Kilda DONOVANS Despite a long-held reputation as a go-to bayside foodie spot, Donovans has always taken pride in its home-like vibe. The place has rebounded with a vengeance after a devastating fire in 2014, continuing to bang out the tried-and-true: charcoaled grain-fed steaks, glammed-up fish and chips, a peerless chicken pie — all washed down with Australia's best wines. The kids' menu, too, hits the spot, as does the location. Take a walk on the beach afterwards. Luna Park's toothy smile also beckons. 40 Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda PHAT MILK Phat Milk is easily missed, but beyond this Travancore cafe's small rustic frontage is a large whitewashed back room and courtyard that's equally a hit with young couples and families. The menu has a strong Middle Eastern influence. Try the excellent breakfast platter for $15 or, for a lunch that you won't forget in a hurry, the falafel burger with harissa mayo, pickled cucumber and a side of fries. Kids' options cater to junior palettes both adventurous and fussy, while their coffee rivals anything else in inner-western Melbourne. 208 Mt Alexander Rd, Travancore Drive your family on adventures in and outside of town in the Holden Equinox, the SUV for parents with nothing to prove. Find out more on the Holden website.
Kaldor Public Art has put a giant dog outside Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary art, wrapped that city’s cliffs with Christo and Jeanne-Claude and generally taken the rarified field of art into the hands-on realm of the public sphere. For its 26th outing, Kaldor is busing down to Melbourne’s gentler climes to install Stop, Repair, Prepare in the State Library of Victoria. Number 26 has been crafted by the American/Cuban alliance of Jennifer Allora and Guillermo Calzadilla with a performance piece answers the timeless question What can you still play if you cut the middle out of a piano? The artists have answered by belting Beethoven’s Ninth out the hole in their piano doughnut, which they'll be repeating on the hour for the course of the exhibition. If you want to get closer, there’s an artist talk on November 16 and Mr Kaldor himself on December 3. Performances are hourly 11–8 Monday to Thursday and 11–5 Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Image by Chloe Fan.
Bangarra Dance Theatre is returning to the stage with a striking new work — Sandsong: Stories from the Great Sandy Desert — this winter. It's the company's first new production since COVID-19 closures, so it comes with much anticipation. Set in Walmajarri Country, which spans the Great Sandy Desert and Kimberley regions of Western Australia, this powerful performance explores the displacement and survival of First Nations people in this part of Australia, particularly between the 1920–1960s. Artistic Director Stephen Page and Associate Artistic Director Frances Rings have choreographed this breathtaking new work in consultation with Wangkajunga and Walmajarri Elders, reaffirming Bangarra's place as the leading performing arts company for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. You can catch Sandsong: Stories from the Great Sandy Desert at Arts Centre Melbourne from Friday, August 27 to Saturday, September 4. For performance times and to grab tickets to this must-see new work, head here. Images: Daniel Boud
With a swag of Aussie outposts under its belt and over 1500 stores worldwide, Gong Cha is something of a bubble tea veteran. This one's named after an ancient Chinese phrase describing the act of offering tea to the Emperor — fitting, given its menu features a whole kingdom's worth of crafty tea drinks. Fruit fiends will find themselves tempted by fusions like the mango and fresh milk tea loaded with mango-flavoured pearls, or the passionfruit green tea sporting a thick crown of jellies and boba. Meanwhile, milk-based offerings might feature the likes of a unicorn-hued strawberry taro tea, a layered oat milk tea dense with toppings, or a sticky brown sugar milk blend starring a healthy serve of brown sugar tapioca pearls. Gong Cha also has nearby outposts in Sunshine and at Highpoint, as well as in the CBD, Richmond and all over the southeast suburbs.
As the world heard in brief at the 2025 Golden Globes, the path to The Brutalist becoming the acclaimed film it is — it won three awards that evening, for Best Picture — Drama, Best Director and Best Actor — Drama; since, it has earned ten Oscar nominations and nine BAFTA nods — was far from smooth, let alone guaranteed. "Once, a few short months ago, it had the odds very much stacked against it," filmmaker Corbet said in his first speech of the night. "I was told that this film was undistributable. I was told that no one would come out and see it. I was told the film wouldn't work," the actor-turned-director, who previously helmed The Childhood of a Leader and Vox Lux, added in his second stint at the microphone. "No one was asking for three-and-a-half-hour film about a mid-century designer, on 70-millimetre." When The Brutalist premiered at the 2024 Venice International Film Festival, it started lining its trophy cabinet. No shortage of five accolades went its way at the fest, including the Silver Lion for Best Direction. That debut screening was the moment that stars Adrien Brody (Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty), Guy Pearce (The Convert) and Felicity Jones (Dead Shot) realised how a movie that'd always felt epic to them also resonated deeply with audiences, they tell Concrete Playground. "You felt it, you felt it in the room," says Brody, who knows a little about the response from viewers to a feature that grapples with the Second World War's impact. In 2002 at Cannes, he went through a similar experience with The Pianist. In 2003 at the age of 29, he became the youngest-ever Best Actor Academy Award-winner for that picture, a title that he still holds. The Brutalist is epic not just in its emotions — for everyone involved in crafting it and for audiences alike — but also in its ambitions, performances, imagery, and exploration of the harrowing post-war pursuit of the American dream and immigrant experience. The same description applies to its lengthy running time, which includes a 15-minute intermission. It's the monumental feat of a committed filmmaker who worked for years to ensure that the movie came to fruition, and in exactly the way that he wanted it to. While it screens in 70-millimetre, it was shot VistaVision, a format deployed by Alfred Hitchcock on masterpieces such as North by Northwest and Vertigo, and last used in the US for an entire feature with 1961's One-Eyed Jacks. "The shortest answer is really just because it looks better," Corbet shares with Concrete Playground about using VistaVision. "Essentially, what you're doing is you are turning the negative on its side so that you're able to use the length of the celluloid, you're able to use more neg area," he continues. "I actually think it's a great alternative for independent filmmakers that want to shoot on a large format," he notes, while also recognising what every devoted movie lover does: that how a film is made and looks are crucial tools in ensuring that watching pictures on the big screen still thrives. "For me, large formats are the future of cinema. What's funny is that they're both the past and the future. They've been around for almost a century at this point … It gives folks a reason to get off their couch, and I think that's really important in this day and age." Giving the world something to behold is also a key facet of The Brutalist's narrative, with Brody playing Hungarian Jewish architect László Toth. To escape the horrors of the Holocaust, he crosses half the planet to start a new life in America, making Pennsylvania his home while waiting for his wife Erzsébet (Jones) to complete the same journey with their niece (Raffey Cassidy, a Vox Lux alum). Professionally, his past achievements in Europe mean little in the US, however, until being tasked to revamp the personal library of rich and powerful industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren (Pearce) leads to a stunning commission. For his new patron, László is to design a sprawling hilltop community centre as a memorial to Van Buren's late mother. As grand as The Brutalist is, it's also an intensely intimate movie, as the ways that the Toths are shaped by the traumas of both the Second World War and their efforts to settle in America haunt in every moment. That makes it personal for Brody, whose family made the same trip to the US. "I can relate to the immigrant experience and the hardships and sacrifice and resilience of the many people who have been forced to flee horrific conditions in hopes of finding a new land, and to be welcomed and to find a sense of home. Obviously, you must have heard me speak of my mother and my grandparents' own personal struggles of fleeing war-torn Europe in the 50s and being refugees, and coming to America and starting again, and so I can speak to that. And I can speak to how by reflecting on the horrors of the past we can hopefully gain some perspective and clarity and understanding of how to make the world better in our present. And I think that's what filmmakers are yearning to discover and open a conversation towards," he advises. Brody also sees how personal this film is to Corbet, as the feature's director and co-writer — penning the script with his partner Mona Fastvold (The World to Come) — has never held back from conveying. "If you ask Brady, the creation of this film is very much an exorcism of his experiences in the dynamic of the patronage system as an auteur filmmaker with a sense of being dominated and controlled. I'm merely an actor at this juncture of my life, and I understand that that is a somewhat par for the course. There are things worth fighting for, and the joy and the burden of being a filmmaker is that you are at the helm; however, there are other factors, as you need funding to do great work. I think the key really is just communication and respect. And when that isn't there, it leads to great differences and acrimony." "This is a very emotional work, and deeply committed work. And whenever you're that passionate about anything you have to stand up for what's important and your beliefs. So I relate to it. I also understand nature of the space," continues Brody. We also chatted with him, Corbet, Pearce and Jones about gleaning the magnitude of the film even from the script, how the polarising response to brutalist architecture influenced the movie, unpacking such layered characters, architecture as social commentary, those Venice reactions and more. On Knowing Even Just on the Page That This Was an Epic Project, Yet Also Deeply Intimate — and the Magnitude of What It Was Asking of Brody Adrien: "I think you could just re-interpolate your question into my answer. It's exactly how I feel. It was very much, it was incredibly moving to read for all those reasons. It was quite nuanced and eloquently written and sensitive, intimate and vast in scale, and unique. I mean, there was a built-in intermission and overture, you name it. It was such richly written screenplay. Of course this character has a complexity, and such a range of lived experience that any actor would would kill for this role. I was very, very moved by it. It spoke to me in many ways. It was very ambitious in scale and very challenging, and I was very impressed, and I thought it had great potential." On How the Polarising Response to Brutalist Architecture Influenced the Film — and Also How Corbet Approached the Movie Brady: "Well, two things. I suppose that I really relate to this movement because of the fact that I myself, I make films that are generally somewhat polarising, and they have a very strange construction, and an intentionally jagged one. I deliberately omit second acts and play with structure in ways that I think for some viewers, they find it incredibly frustrating. But I think that that brutalism's radical commitment to both good, clean minimalism, but they take up a lot of space and they're very unapologetic, I think that for me, that's not just what this film is but it's what my films are, and so I relate. And then finally, in terms of how to present it, the difficult thing about architecture is that architecture is inanimate, it doesn't move — and so it is very difficult to make a film on architecture, because even if it it's incredibly glorious, it's nothing like the human face. So I think that for us, we had to find ways of representing architecture, that the film itself had to be a brutalist monument. Because there's only about eight or nine minutes of brutalism in in the entire film's runtime. For me, we are representing our architecture in terms of our forced perspectives and emerging from darkness into the light, in the way that Lloyd Wright would lead people through a space. In a Frank Lloyd Wright residence, you would enter into a small room with very low ceilings and no windows, and this was a place to take off your shoes and hang up your jacket. Then you would ascend a staircase and then boom — it would crack wide open like a cathedral. That's very similar to our opening sequence with Adrien emerging onto the deck of a ship. It's a similar feeling. So we were constantly thinking about ways to represent the architectural experience." On Pearce Making Back-to-Back Films with The Brutalist and Inside Where Complicated and Hierarchical Power Dynamics Between Men Are Pushed to the Fore Guy: "It's just the most-fascinating thing to be interested in, I think. And I find it's not that I'm looking for those roles per se, but just that both the scripts came my way and I was immediately taken by them. Felicity will attest to this one as well, it's just so interesting the way with all the characters, in the way that Brady, who wrote the script with his wife Mona, has a deep interest in the connectivity and the dynamics between people, and the way in which we need each other and the way in which we use each other, and the way in which we sort of rely on each other. All that stuff is is a big part of what this story is, as well as some themes and other great stuff, too. And I think on the film Inside, which is a really emotional, beautiful movie as well — it's a prison movie, these men in prison, very particularly trying to work out who's in charge, where the power sits and shifts, and really it's just fascinating stuff to delve into. Really, as actor, it's sort of the best stuff to delve into, I think." On What Jones Drew Upon for a Film That Examines How Layers of Different Traumas Shape Us Felicity: "I find research incredibly helpful. I like to be quite forensic in terms of understanding the context of the character and the time that they're existing in. And I feel in quite a sort of scholarly way, I like to go from the outside in, so go 'what are the big, themes, ideas, in the script and the character?', and then gradually get more and more detailed as the as time goes on. But when you're actually shooting, you just have to be totally focused on that psychology and intricacy of that person. But what's so great about working with someone like Brady is that he understands the power of cinema to convey ideology. And that's really special to work with someone like that, whether the film has obviously a much bigger socio-political message than its individual components." On the Challenges of the Role, and Making Independent Films, for Brody Adrien: I think the hardest thing about this part is that it went away for a long time. I read this script five years ago and then there was an iteration of it without me and others, and then there was a long period of time and it came around, and I'm very grateful for that. It's very challenging to make independent films. Obviously you have a deficit of resources and a bounty of creative visionary ideas, and you have to make the most complex and eloquent story come to life. And you, as an actor, it really falls on your shoulders quite a bit, because the production being starved of resources pushes you to the limit. So they're constantly forcing calls, meaning there's not much turnaround time, so you're working all the time. And if you have vast amounts of dialogue or heavy emotional scenes day in and day out, it's quite draining. And there isn't sufficient time to really give everything the space that it needs, so you have to make do and be incredibly prepared, especially when you have a very specific dialect to work on and beautiful eloquent dialogue. So there are those issues, but it's not something I'm unfamiliar with. Most films that I've done have been in similar circumstances. And you just do the work. I don't look back at this with — I feel very grateful for it, and I think part of the journey is what you do with those challenges and how you can have them motivate you and, at times, even enhance your own work because of those pressures." On Corbet's Use of Architecture as a Form of Social Commentary, and Also a Metaphor for the Characters Brady: I think that the jumping off point for this film, it came from two books, each from a small press. One was called Marcel Breuer and a Committee of Twelve Plan a Church, which is a memoir that was written by a monk at Saint John's Abbey that observed a lot of the microaggressions that Marcel Breuer was facing, or was up against, when he was building that cathedral. And as a Hungarian Jew in a small American town. Then I also read a book from Jean-Louis Cohen, who's written many, many extraordinary pieces on architecture, and he did the big Corbusier book for Taschen that you see in rich people's living rooms — but he also wrote a book called Architecture in Uniform, which is an extraordinary book about the ways in which post-war psychology and post-war architecture are intrinsically linked. It's also about how buildings were employing materials that were developed for life during wartime, and so a lot of these materials that were developed for the First and Second World War had a big impact even on the construction of these buildings in a more literal way and a less allegorical way. But he also writes about his interpretation of a lot of work from that, and for him, it's a question as well: how cognisant is the artist of what it is that they are expressing, especially with these particularly radical monuments? And so that's what the film for me is ultimately really about. The sort of meaning that his niece imbues the building with at the end of the movie, it may be an interpretation — and he, at that point, he's in a wheelchair and his wife has most likely passed away, and so he's not able to speak for himself. I think that movies and architecture, they are pieces of public art, and people will do with them whatever they will. They paint on them and they will piss on them, and they cherish them and they will tear them down. And at the end of this character's life, you're left with question of 'was it worth it? Why do we do what we do?'. And I don't have the answer to that because I don't know why I continue to make films when it's so frequently an arduous and painful experience. But, you know, I'm already working on the next one." On How Pearce Approached Digging Into Van Buren's Complex Layers Guy: "I never know how to answer the question of how I approach something. I think a lot of it is instinctive. A lot of it is as a response to the script and what I felt was there in the script. There's very clear moments throughout the course of the film where the character almost contradicts himself in behaviour, but in each of those moments, I think he exhibits something that is, to some degree, true to himself — whether he's bombastic and dominating, or whether he's actually sensitive and kind of aware, whether he's being generous or whether he's controlling. All of those things tie in together, and I think that that's what was great about the script for me, was that I felt like I saw all these different elements in this man that Brady and Mona wrote. And so obviously approaching each of those scenes at individual times, it's important to be true to whatever it is that's required in a scene, but also being aware of how he is in the scene previously, and that we want to see contradictions, I think, in characters, but then it needs to feel like a believable leap from from one place to another. Here is somebody who is, I think, deeply sensitive in a way, and kind of aware, but also has a big ego and is driven by his own sense of self-creation. I just felt like I got all of that from the script and obviously in talking to Brady, so it's an internal thing that takes over for me when I'm working, that just hopefully allows me to be authentic with all those different elements." On Jones' Task in Taking Erzsébet From a Woman Who Appears Fragile to a Powerful Presence Standing Up for Her Husband Felicity: This was something that Brady and Mona were really intrigued by, this idea that when Erzsébet arrives, we see how the trauma of being in the concentration camps has manifested itself, and that manifestation is very clearly physical. She's suffering from malnutrition, and in many ways it feels as though Erzsébet has disassociated from herself physically. I think she's been through such trauma that in some ways, she's slightly watching herself in the beginning of the film. And she has such little expectation of other human beings. She decided if you don't have any expectations, then you can't be disappointed. So in that first scene when she meets Van Buren, she has just realises that in quite a Nietzschean way, that this is just a power struggle. Every human interaction to her is a power struggle. So you've just got to work out what someone is potentially, what harm they're going to do to you, and how to mitigate that. But then throughout the film we see her, conversely to Laszlo, we see her health improving. We see her flourishing. And you realise that this woman is a deep pragmatist, and in some ways she's someone who is prepared to embrace the joys of capitalism that America is advertised to offer. And you see her, in some ways, having to deny her own intellectual progression in her work just as a means of getting enough money so that they can make their lives work. By that scene that she has with Van Buren, you see someone who's just refusing for the hierarchy to be financial, that dignity does not come from in any way your perceived financial prowess — it comes from something much deeper." On the Connections That Corbet Sees Between The Childhood of a Leader, Vox Lux and The Brutalist Brady: "They're all virtual histories. The Childhood of a Leader is a post-war film as well, about the six months leading up to the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. Vox Lux is also about a post-traumatic period of a more-recent world history, about American culture after 9/11 and Columbine, which were such definitive events in the US. So I would say that the films, they all always begin or conclude from — they're all films on the theme of destruction and regeneration. One of my favourite essays is from WG Sebald. I talk about Sebald a lot because I'm really a Sebald fanatic, and I also love VS Naipaul and many, many others, but he wrote this fantastic book called on the Natural History of Destruction, and there are these extraordinary essays about regeneration and trauma, and that just is something that I've always been consumed with." On When Brody, Pearce and Jones First Realised the Impact of The Brutalist with Audiences Adrien: Only in Venice, to be honest. I wish I could say I'm cautiously optimistic. I've realised now that I'm not even very optimistic. I think it's a good defence mechanism. But I love Brady's work, and I knew the great potential of storytelling, and I knew that he had all of the elements to bring this to life. And yet it did exceed my expectations. I think it's a combination of all the creative contributions made on this movie, and how they all lift each other up and hold each other together beautifully. It's quite remarkable. To share that experience in that darkened room in Venice with an audience, and to feel — you felt it, you felt it in the room. Those are really memorable moments in one's career, when all that hard work, and it's not just the hard work of making this film. It is 20 years since I've sat in a room and witnessed that for a film that I was the protagonist in, that spoke to such complexity and touched the people around me to the point where they're weeping and looking at me and in awe of this work. And it's beautiful." Guy: "I think Venice." Felicity: "I think Venice. I think the audience response in Venice was quite a surprise. You expect a nice gentle clap, and it was quite forceful and for quite a long time." Guy: "And it didn't stop. Yeah, it didn't stop." Felicity: "And then we suddenly were going 'oh wow, this'. So yeah, it was in that moment. 'Something has happened here.'" Guy: "I think during the process of filming, of course we'd all read the script and we'd been working with Brady on the phone in conversations beforehand — and it certainly felt like we were part of something special. But I've felt that before on jobs and then the finished film doesn't necessarily live up to it. So I think knowing also Brady's style, he's somebody to be reckoned with as far as filmmaking goes. But yeah, I think Venice really was, I guess, a clear moment to go 'oh, okay'." Felicity: "Yeah, it's amazing how the festival — I mean, it's such an extraordinary festival, Venice, how much they championed this film and the people involved. And I think that gave us the kick off, really." Guy: "It helps that there's a bit of Venice in the end of the movie." Felicity: "Exactly. There's a bit self-interest in it." Guy: "Yeah, pop a bit of Cannes in your film." Felicity: "That was very canny of Brady, in fact, to put a little bit of Venice in it." Guy: "Yes, Cannes-y — Venice-y." The Brutalist opened in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, January 23, 2025.
It has been a big year for fans of The Crown, and the show hasn't even released any new episodes in 2020 so far. At the beginning of the year, Netflix announced that it would end the royal drama after its fifth season. Then, it had a change of heart, revealing it would continue the series for a sixth season. That's quite the drama — and all of this before the show's fourth season has even aired. If you prefer your royal intrigue on-screen, however, the streaming platform has now just dropped its full trailer for the aforementioned fourth batch of episodes. When the first teaser for the fourth season arrived back in August, it only ran for 46 seconds, but this trailer gives viewers a heftier — and heavier, mood-wise — look at what's in store. The focus here is on Prince Charles (God's Own Country's Josh O'Connor), his wedding to Lady Diana Spencer (Pennyworth's Emma Corrin), and the fact that their marriage will turn out to be anything but a fairytale. Also present, of course, is Oscar-winner Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth II. The trailer includes a bigger glimpse of The X-Files icon Gillian Anderson as Margaret Thatcher as well, with the fourth season takes place during Thatcher's time as Britain's prime minister. When season four hits Netflix on Sunday, November 15, it'll be the last chance for fans to see the current lineup on talent. The series' fifth and sixth seasons — which are expected to follow the Queen in the 1990s and 2000s — will switch out its cast again, as it did after seasons one and two. This time, after season four, Downton Abbey, Maleficent and Paddington star Imelda Staunton will don the titular headwear, and Princess Margaret will be played by Staunton's Maleficent co-star and Phantom Thread Oscar-nominee Lesley Manville. Also, Game of Thrones and Tales from the Loop's Jonathan Pryce will step into Prince Philip's shoes and Australian Tenet, The Burnt Orange Heresy and Widows star Elizabeth Debicki will play Princess Diana. Check out The Crown's season four trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hJ5CwsphdQ The Crown's fourth season will hit Netflix on Sunday, November 15. Image: Des Willie / Netflix
Weather: crisp. Pretzels: everywhere. Cinemas: packed to the brim. Yes, that's the Berlin International Film Festival. And while plenty of chatter about sickness filtered through the fest's landmark 70th year — and plenty of grim looks at anyone who dared to cough between February 20–March 1, too — the 2020 event marked its massive anniversary in its usual star-studded, movie-filled style. Among the highlights: Willem Dafoe's moustache beaming its gloriousness from the red carpet, while the actor promoted the most divisive film of the festival; Indigenous Australian storytelling thrust into the spotlight multiple times, showcasing standouts from both the big and small screens; and a Golden Bear winner from an Iranian director, who was banned from filmmaking and unable to leave the country to attend the festival. This year's event also commemorated a 100-year-old masterpiece via an immersive exhibition, celebrated Helen Mirren's momentous career by giving her an award, and invited plenty of filmmakers to pair up and chat about their careers — including Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon's Ang Lee and Shoplifters' Hirokazu Kore-eda. That's what happened on the ground. If you couldn't be there, don't worry — Berlinale's massive film program will keep spreading its delights over the coming months. After spending 11 days in Berlin's cinemas (and eating the city's schnitzels and spatzle, of course), we've picked ten movies to look out for. Fingers crossed they make it to a screen Down Under sooner rather than later. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRUWVT87mt8 FIRST COW Every time Kelly Reichardt steps behind the camera, something astonishing happens, as everything from Wendy and Lucy to Certain Women has shown. So the fact that First Cow ranks among the writer/director's best work is no small feat indeed. Stepping back to 19th-century America, Reichardt spins the story of a cook (John Magaro) and a Chinese entrepreneur (Orion Lee). Two outcasts among the fur-trapper community, they spark up a friendship — and, once the Chief Factor (Toby Jones) ships in the region's highly coveted first cow, they pair starts an illicit but highly profitable business making delicious biscuits using milk stolen direct from the animal in the dark of night. As always in Reichardt's features, there's such empathy, sensitivity and tenderness to this magnificently told tale, which continues the filmmaker's thoughtful exploration of characters on the margins, as well as her ongoing interrogation of the American dream. https://vimeo.com/391958174 GUNDA Move over Babe, Piglet and Porky — cinema has a new porcine star. Or several to be exact; however other than the eponymous sow, they're not given names in Gunda. Indeed, not a word is spoken in the latest engrossing, meditative and moving documentary from Aquarela's Victor Kossakovsky. Instead, the observational film devotes its black-and-white frames to watching its main subject give birth, care for her squealing and inquisitive little ones, roll around in the mud and simply go about her life. Of course, viewers know that these cute critters are living on a farm, that the piglets are destined to become meat, and that their story won't end happily. Interspersed with brief glimpses of cows and chickens — two other animals bred for human consumption — this film screams its abhorrence of eating flesh through its stunningly intimate imagery. And to the surprise of no one who saw his Golden Globes and Oscars speeches, Joaquin Phoenix is one of the doco's executive producers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBcY5-QzqTU THE WOMAN WHO RAN Alcohol. Conversation. A scene-stealing cat. Combine all three, and South Korean great Hong Sang-soo is firmly in his element. The booze flows freely as Gamhee (Hong regular Kim Min-hee, a 2017 Berlinale Best Actress winner for On the Beach at Night Alone) enjoys her first time away from her husband in five years, visiting friends around Seoul while he's off on a business trip. In the prolific director's typical fashion, much of The Woman Who Ran unfurls as his characters simply chat — about lives, hopes, dreams, problems and, with a pesky neighbour in the movie's funniest moment, about feeding stray felines. Hong's penchant for long, patient takes, playful repetition and echoes, and expertly timed crash-zooms are all used to winning effect, in a film that slots perfectly into his busy oeuvre (he's made 23 movies since 1996) and yet always feels distinctively insightful. Also, and we can't stress it enough, look out for one helluva kitty. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=El4-2zrNppA UNDINE For the second time in as many films, German writer/director Christian Petzold teams up with rising talents Paula Beer and Franz Rogowski — but you could never accuse the filmmaker of doing the same thing twice. Back in 2018, the trio turned Transit into a war-torn romance that mused on conflict's lingering scars, while here, they're reinventing a German myth about a water spirit who can only turn human through love. Undine (Beer, this year's Silver Bear winner for Best Actress) is a historian who guides museum tours about Berlin's origins. When her boyfriend Johannes (Jacob Matschenz) breaks up with her suddenly, she warns him that she'll have to kill him. Then she meets industrial diver Christoph (Rogowski), but even as their love blossoms, her previous relationship isn't easily overcome. Petzold is no stranger to pondering the impact of the past on the present (see also: Barbara and Phoenix); however in the enchanting, beguiling, beautifully shot Undine, he's at his most haunting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjw_QTKr2rc NEVER RARELY SOMETIMES ALWAYS The third film from talented American writer/director Eliza Hittman (It Felt Like Love, Beach Rats), Never Rarely Sometimes Always took home Berlinale's Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize — the festival's second most prestigious award — but it would've been a more than worthy overall winner. First premiering at Sundance, where it also nabbed a jury prize, this a heart-wrenching gut-punch of a movie that's about an ordinary teenager in an everyday situation, while simultaneously focused on a crucial topic. When small-town Pennsylvanian 17-year-old Autumn (Sidney Flanigan) discovers that she's pregnant, she only really has one option. She's certain her family (including Sharon Van Etten as her mother) won't help, and the local women's clinic advocates having the baby, so with her cousin Skylar (Talia Ryder) she hops on a bus to New York. Their experiences in the Big Apple are tense and devastating, as is this potent, compassionate and naturalistic entire film. [caption id="attachment_763961" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Mughal Mowgli Ltd, BBC[/caption] MOGUL MOWGLI Riz Ahmed not only stars in but also cowrites Mogul Mowgli — and given that he's playing a British Pakistani rapper, and the Four Lions and Rogue One actor also happens to be British Pakistani rapper himself, this incisive drama understandably feels personal. It's also electrifying from the moment when, early in the film, Ahmed's character Zed takes the stage and unleashes his politically charged lyrics about his experiences to a responsive audience. Zed is on the cusp of stardom but, just as he secures his next big opportunity in a supporting slot on a lucrative European tour, his health unexpectedly begins to fail him. Exploring the fallout, including the professional disappointment, Zed's struggles with his cultural heritage upon his return home to London and the tough reality of facing a shattering diagnosis, writer/director Bassam Tariq makes an exceptional debut, crafting a film that's as bold, dynamic and probing as its central performance. [caption id="attachment_763958" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Caroline Fauvet[/caption] JUMBO In Portrait of a Lady on Fire, one of the best films of 2019, Noémie Merlant played an 18th-century artist who fell in love with the betrothed woman she's commissioned to paint. In the neon-hued, loosely based-on-a-true-story Jumbo, she's once again falling head over heels — this time for an amusement park ride. Her character, fairground worker Jeanne, is shy to the point of being teased by everyone around her. While her mother (Emmanuelle Bercot) doesn't fall into that category, she does repeatedly try to push her out of her comfort zone, including setting her up with the park's new boss (Bastien Bouillon). But in Belgium-born, France-based writer/director Zoé Wittock's debut feature, nothing makes Jeanne feel the way that Jumbo, the theme park's new ride, does. It's a quirky, even whimsical concept, but both Merlant and Wittock treat Jeanne's love affair with sensitivity and enthusiasm — two traits the character isn't accustomed to receiving elsewhere. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgyisKVoFzY THERE IS NO EVIL The death penalty casts a dark shadow over There Is No Evil, an anthology film that explores capital punishment and its impacts. Across four segments, writer/director Mohammad Rasoulof charts the ripples that state-sanctioned killing has upon Iranian society — via a stressed husband and father (Ehsan Mirhosseini), a conscript (Kaveh Ahangar) who can't fathom ending someone's life, a soldier (Mohammad Valizadegan) whose compliance causes personal issues and a physician (Mohammad Seddighimehr) unable to practise his trade. While some sections hit their mark more firmly and decisively than others (the film's introduction sets a high bar), this year's Golden Bear winner has a lingering cumulative effect as it ponders the threats and freedoms of life under an oppressive regime. Rasoulof has actually been banned from filmmaking in Iran, restricted from leaving the country and sentenced to prison, all for examining the reality of his homeland — and, after 2013's Manuscripts Don't Burn and 2017's A Man of Integrity, There Is No Evil continues the trend. [caption id="attachment_763954" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Michael Kotschi/Flare Film[/caption] ONE OF THESE DAYS After turning in an astonishingly raw and powerful performance in 2017's A Prayer Before Dawn, British actor Joe Cole does so again in US-set drama One of These Days — albeit in completely different circumstances. In a nuanced and naturalistic performance, he plays Kyle, a small-town Texan department store employee who's overjoyed when he wins the chance to compete in the local car dealership's annual 'Hands on a Hardbody' contest. If he can outlast his fellow competitors by placing his hand on a truck for longer than anyone else, he'll drive off with the vehicle he's certain will change not only his life, but that of his wife (Callie Hernandez) and their baby. Also starring True Blood's Carrie Preston as the marketing guru in charge of running and promoting the contest, One of These Days doesn't hold back in exploring the toxic cycle that sees the struggling and desperate chase wealth at any cost, with German writer/director Bastian Günther helming a clear-eyed but immensely empathetic film. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARNPF52AZAQ HIGH GROUND A high-profile Australian cast and an acclaimed local director traipse through the country's colonial past in High Ground — and while that description applies to a growing number of Aussie films (Sweet Country and The Nightingale, just to name two recent examples), it'll never get old. Indeed, while Stephen Maxwell Johnson's (Yolngu Boy) frontier western feels like a natural addition to this growing genre, it also makes its own imprint. The setup: on what's supposed to be a routine expedition, almost an entire Indigenous tribe is wiped out by northern Australian police. Their leader, ex-World War I sniper Travis (Simon Baker), isn't responsible for the carnage, but it weighs heavily on him in the aftermath. In this gorgeously shot, deeply contemplative drama, that especially proves the case twelve years later — when Travis is enlisted by his superior (Jack Thompson) and his ex-partner (Callan Mulvey) to track down one of its revenge-seeking survivors, all while accompanied by the boy-turned-tracker (Jacob Junior Nayinggul) who also lived through the slaughter. Images: First Cow © Allyson Riggs/A24; Gunda © Egil Håskjold Larsen/Sant & Usant; The Woman Who Ran © Jeonwonsa Film Co. Production; Undine © Christian Schulz/Schramm Film; Never Rarely Sometimes Always © 2019 courtesy of Focus Features; Mogul Mowgli © Mughal Mowgli Ltd, BBC; Jumbo © Caroline Fauvet; There Is No Evil © Cosmopol Film; One of These Days © Michael Kotschi/Flare Film; High Ground © Sarah Enticknap/High Ground Picture.
Here's one for the money: a huge Elvis Presley showcase, filled with around 300 artifacts owned by the King of Rock 'n' Roll himself, all on display in Australia. Come autumn 2022, you'll want to step into your blue suede shoes and take a trip to the Bendigo Art Gallery, which'll fill its walls and halls with Elvis' clothes, vehicles and other personal items. All those jumpsuits he was so famous for wearing? A selection will be on display. The only car from his movies that was actually his? That red convertible 1960 MG, from the film Blue Hawaii, is visiting Australia for the first time. The Bendigo Art Gallery will also showing some tender love to Elvis' military uniforms, first job application and wedding tuxedo — plus Priscilla Presley's wedding dress. Plenty of the items heading to regional Victoria rarely travel beyond Graceland — so yes, calling the exhibition is Elvis: Direct from Graceland is apt. It'll serve up this hunk of burning Elvis love between Saturday, March 19–Sunday, July 17 in an Australian exclusive, as curated in collaboration with the Graceland archives. "It is a great honour to work alongside the creative team at the Bendigo Art Gallery to bring this unprecedented, detailed and comprehensive look into Elvis' life and career to Australia," said Angie Marchese, Vice President Archives and Exhibits at Elvis Presley Enterprises. "While Elvis was never able to visit Australia himself, it brings us great pride at Graceland to know that his legacy and music lives on there. We look forward to sharing a glimpse into Elvis' life with the fans in Australia," Marchese continued. [caption id="attachment_829957" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Elvis Presley strolls the grounds of his Graceland estate, 1957. Photo by Michael Ochs. © EPE. Graceland and its marks are trademarks of EPE. All Rights Reserved. Elvis Presley™ © 2021 ABG EPE IP LLC.[/caption] Other featured objects include Elvis' 1976 Red Bicentennial Custom Harley Davidson, his first grade crayon box from school and other garments from his personal wardrobe — if you're wondering what else will get the exhibition shaking, rattling and rolling. Costumes from his film career, movie scripts, jewellery worn by him and even vintage Elvis-branded merchandise will all be on display as well. Elvis: Direct from Graceland will step through all the key periods in the rock 'n' roll icon's life, from his early Mississippi days through to his Vegas years — and also peer beyond the pompadour and sequins, exploring his interest in books, karate and horses, and all things Graceland. It's Bendigo Art Gallery's latest huge exhibition to focus on style icons, after previously showcasing Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, Balenciaga and Mary Quant. When it comes to celebrating high-profile figures, it seems the venue can't help falling in love. Elvis: Direct From Graceland displays at the Bendigo Art Gallery from Saturday, March 19–Sunday, July 17, 2022. For further information or to buy tickets, head to the gallery's website. Top image: Elvis Presley in the 1968 NBC television special, Singer Presents... Elvis, later known as the 'Comeback Special'. Photograph: Fathom Events/CinEvents. © EPE. Graceland and its marks are trademarks of EPE. All Rights Reserved. Elvis Presley™ © 2021 ABG EPE IP LLC.
The cast, the filmmaking, the directors, the complicated crime tales, the fact that it informed the world that time is a flat circle (and tasked Matthew McConaughey with delivering the news, naturally) — for all of these reasons and more, True Detective is something special. It's never better than in its first season, where McConaughey and Woody Harrelson partner up on a troubling serial killer case, try to one-up each other performance-wise, and knock it out of the park. But this neo-noir thriller created by writer, producer and director Nic Pizzolatto still consistently delivers in its second and third go-arounds. In season two, the action jumps from Louisiana to California, with Colin Farrell, Rachel McAdams, Taylor Kitsch, Kelly Reilly and Vince Vaughn doing some hefty on-screen heavy lifting. And in season three, two-time Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali leads the charge, this time in the Ozarks.
The end of the year isn't just about having a few days off, feasting on too much food and generally feeling merry. It's also about devouring dystopian visions of humanity's technology-saturated future. Because Black Mirror has become as much a part of Christmas as lazing about and eating too much, the Charlie Brooker-created series has dropped its latest instalment: a choose-your-own-adventure-style movie. Called Black Mirror: Bandersnatch and available on Netflix right now, the film lets viewers decide what happens next. Yes, it's really just like the Choose Your Own Adventure books that you couldn't get enough of as a kid. At various moments during the movie, two options appear on the screen, asking you to select your preferred course of events. Picking what kind of cereal computer programmer Stefan (Fionn Whitehead) should eat, and what type of music he should listen to, is just the beginning. Set in 1984, the film follows 19-year-old Stefan as he tries to turn his favourite book, Bandersnatch, into a game — including the novel's branching pathways. His dad (Craig Parkinson) seems supportive, and so does the gaming developer (Asim Chaudhry) who gives him a job, but his programming idol (Will Poulter) keeps making comments about free will. Where the interactive movie goes from there isn't simply best discovered for yourself — it's decided by you as well. Variety reports that the multiple-choice effort features five main endings, if you're keen to see if you can work your way through them all. Black Mirror: Bandersnatch can be viewed in as little as 40 minutes, although it typically takes 90 minutes to get through. Before you start literally hitting the remote over and over, here's the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM0xWpBYlNM Black Mirror: Bandersnatch is now streaming on Netflix.
Every gig should be its own distinctive experience, even if a band is hitting city after city on a massive national or international tour. But there's unique concerts and then there's Sigur Rós' latest run of shows. While there's nothing quite like seeing the Icelandic band live in general, they'll be doing something different on their next trip to Australia: taking to the stage with live orchestras. Jónsi Birgisson, Georg Hólm and Kjartan Sveinsson will play with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and more when Sigur Rós' current orchestral tour makes its way Down Under. Across the rest of 2024, fans across the US and Nordic countries can catch the group joining forces with a 41-piece orchestra. Then, come May 2025, it's Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane's turn to witness quite a few new members temporarily join the band. Sigur Rós have a one-night date locked in in Adelaide to kick off their Australian visit, and then will play Melbourne for two nights, Sydney for three and Brisbane for one. ÁTTA, their 2023 album, will be in the spotlight, as the last time they toured Down Under was in 2022, before it was released — and it was was recorded with arrangements featuring a 32-piece orchestra. Fans can expect tracks from their 1997 debut Von onwards, however, spanning tunes from fellow records Ágætis byrjun, ( ), Takk..., Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust, Valtari and Kveikur. [caption id="attachment_974235" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alive87 via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] That last — and soldout — trip this way was part of the group's first tour in five years, but clearly they haven't left the same gap go by between then and their next tour. Sigur Rós first started doing the rounds with an orchestra in 2023, playing a limited number of gigs, before expanding the experience further. Next stop: Australia. [caption id="attachment_974239" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Goatling via Flickr.[/caption] Sigur Rós Australian Orchestral Tour 2025 Saturday, May 17 — AEC Theatre, Adelaide Monday, May 19–Tuesday, May 20 — Hamer Hall, Melbourne Friday, May 23–Sunday, May 25 — venue to be announced, Sydney Tuesday, May 27 — QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane Sigur Rós is touring Australia in May 2025, with presale tickets available from 10am local time on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 and general sales from 10am local time on Friday, October 4. Head to the band's website for further details. Top image: Kathryn Parson Photography via Flickr.
In December 2021, the City of Melbourne unveiled the latest designs for its ambitious, multimillion-dollar Greenline project, set to rejuvenate a large stretch along the north bank of the Yarra. And while it's unknown when the whole thing will be completed, we've now been given an IRL taste of what's to come, with this week's launch of the new-look Enterprize Park. Marking the first phase of the Greenline development, the riverside park's revamp has gifted Melbourne with an extra 1000 square metres of grassy public space, which is almost the size of an Olympic swimming pool. Along with the new lawns, the precinct now features upgraded pathways and wider staircases to improve accessibility, as well as additional seating along the riverbank. Plans for the Enterprize Park rejuvenation were also guided by the site's known history as a gathering place for Indigenous Australians. The hope is that going forward, the precinct can act as a meeting place for Aboriginal cultural tours. [caption id="attachment_810337" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Designs for the Greenline project.[/caption] In its entirety, the proposed Greenline project spans a four-kilometre section of riverside stretching from Birrarung Marr to the Bolte Bridge. It's expected to cost up to $300 million, delivering one of the biggest transformations of the city since the opening of Fed Square back in 2002. Greenline is set to incorporate a stack of new parkland, a new maritime heritage trail, and a series of waterside pedestrian boardwalks and bridges, in the hopes of transforming a previously underused pocket of land into a world-class waterfront precinct. You can find more details on the new-look Enterprize Park over on the City of Melbourne website.
Two Fat Indians in Berwick takes its name from the two brothers who founded it, Kush and Michael, and is a cheeky homage to their insatiable appetites. Having grown up in the kitchen with their father, chef Ajit Singh, teaching them, the two brothers learnt not just how to cook, but how to love cooking. Since 2006 they've been serving up a delicious array of traditional Indian food in an environment where the diner is encouraged to sit back, relax and go with the flow. With a casual yet elegant dining room, the atmosphere is the perfect place to eat, drink and be happy. The menu offers up a traditional banquet for groups, featuring classics such as butter chicken, lamb rogan josh and butter naan, with tea, coffee or port to accompany. Then the a la carte menu gets more experimental. Get around dishes such as sour lime chicken with mango chutney, or goat curry served on the bone. For vegetarians there is a butter kofta, a mixed vegetable korma and a chickpea curry in an onion based sauce. The desserts are laid back and fun, like the venue itself, with our pick being the drunken dumpling drowned in Kahlua. The drinks menu is as extensive as the food, which shows the vibe it's trying to create. The reds range from Pepperjack shiraz by the glass, to Wolf Blass Grey Label Shiraz by the bottle. There are whites from all over Australia, with the Henschke chardonnay standing out. All up, Two Fat Indians is exactly what the name suggests — a fun, laidback, cheeky restaurant run by chefs who are deadly serious about their food. And their wine, too.
You'd be hard-pressed to find too many Melbourne cafes that have been kicking on for a whole decade. But it seems there's just no stopping Hardware Société — the CBD gem that's gearing up to celebrate its tenth birthday. The petite Hardware Street haunt is something of an institution, its creatively charged brunch fare and top-notch coffee known to pull some pretty hefty queues, any day of the week. Now, to mark the big 1-0, co-owners Di and Will Keser have opened the doors to a second, roomier venue — spread across a whole 255-square-metres — in Katherine Place. This time around, the design work takes its cues from Denmark, teaming rattan, leather and timber finishes with the likes of marble Wrong X Hay London lighting and a palette of pastel pinks and greens. [caption id="attachment_710434" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Peter Tarasiuk.[/caption] The upsized kitchen space allows for an expanded food offering, too, with an all-day brunch menu on offer from 7.30am daily. Hardware Société's signature innovative flair shines through a new suite of certain hits, from lobster benedict teamed with citrus hollandaise on a black bun, to seared tuna mille-feuille with scallop tartare, yuzu aioli and a 64-degree egg. Old favourites like the chorizo baked eggs are sticking around, alongside classic French dishes like duck au vin and croque madame. It's all matched with Padre specialty coffee — vital for pre-work sessions — or you can dial up the decadence with a tap brew, wine or breakfast cocktail. But perhaps the most exciting addition to the Katherine Place store is Hardware Société's newly minted Friday knock-off sessions — roll in from 5pm for after-work drinks and clever snacks, like charcuterie, lobster and prawn brioche buns, and jamón and manchego croquettes. Find Hardware Société 2.0 at 10 Katherine Place, Melbourne. It's open from 7.30am–3.30pm daily and 5pm till late on Friday nights. The original cafe will remain open at 123 Hardware Street, Melbourne. Images: Peter Tarasiuk.
A gift shop with a difference, Pookipoiga is all about making socially conscious choices and making a positive impact on the world. Every quirky item inside is selected with sustainability and fair trade in mind, meaning you're bound to find some great local artists and brands that make ethical choices. Plus, for every purchase, the staff donate a meal to those in need through SecondBite. Some of the community-minded creators you'll find in store include Sabine and Sparrow (eye masks and pillows, heat packs, baby bibs and teethers), Gail C Ceramics (the cutest animal planters), Thurlby Herb Farm (insect repellants and laundry products from WA), Apiary Made (beeswax wraps, candles and beauty products) and Topheads, a Bondi-based company making sunglasses from recycled skateboards. Images: Tracey Ah-kee.
Head up High Street into Northcote, where you'll find Kitty Somerset — perfect for a comforting and cosy environment or if your cold bones forgot to bring a proper jacket to work. The bar's fireplace will have you nice and toasty in no time, while the soft vinyl on the go will soothe your Spotify-weary thumbs and the headache you have from answering 400 emails this week. Serving up classic, seasonal and signature cocktails, the bar is well stocked and reasonably priced. Food is limited to bar snacks and cheese (what more could you want?), but you can order in from nearby restaurants if you're really hungry. Have a go at the bloody Mary to forget all about work and also get one whole dose of your fruit and vegetables down for the weekend. Kitty do a good tradish version but you can also add chilli sauce if you're a Proper Maniac and really looking to go HAM on your weekend times.
"When you're in the country you're in the elements a lot more than when you're in the city," says Beechworth-born Tim Newitt. "Especially when you're in a bushfire-prone region." Newitt, head chef at Collingwood restaurant Project Forty Nine, stepped away from the elements when he moved to Melbourne eight years ago, but he harnessed them again this week when he created a sensory 'four elements'-themed dinner in collaboration with Stoneleigh Wines. The unique dinner was held at The Stoneleigh Project, a pop-up art and wine tasting installation currently located on Flinders Street in the CBD. Here, you're also surrounded by the elements. As you travel from room to room tasting Stoneleigh's wild fermented Wild Valley wines, a series of immersive artworks transport you to New Zealand's Malborough region — you'll walk through a riverbed and mirrored lightscape and pop bubbles that burst into 'smoke'. It was this installation and the wild fermented wines that inspired Newitt's sensory dinner. [caption id="attachment_641053" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chris Middleton.[/caption] The first course focused on the water element. For Newitt, using kingfish for this was a no-brainer. "Kingfish is one of my favourite things to eat," says Newitt. "It works really well raw, and we're pairing it with sweet pickled fennel and caviar, which gives the dish a pop of sodium." Each course was also paired with a Stoneleigh Wild Valley wine. Newitt has been working closely with Project Forty Nine co-owner Rocco Esposito and venue manager Will Rushford — who are both experienced sommeliers — to ensure the food and wine complemented each other perfectly. For this course, the fattiness of the kingfish was balanced out by the citric and passionfruit-notes of Stoneleigh's Wild Valley sauvignon blanc. Next, a bird's nest — complete with soil — represented earth. "We create the nest from finely sliced and fried leek, fill it with truffle foam and place a sous vide quail egg in the centre," says Newitt. "It looks just like a nest, with an egg and all." The next element, fire, was a bit trickier to transport to the small kitchen in the makeshift dining room. Newitt cooked Flinders Island lamb overnight the night before in a circulator in his restaurant, then torched the meat in the dining room just before serving to give it a pronounced smoky flavour. He also served it with volcanic salt. "It's a salt from Hawaii made using activated charcoal and coconut shells," says Newitt. "It looks exactly like pink or white salt flakes, but it's black." Both the earth and fire course was paired with a pinot noir, but Newitt says each wine features a drastically different character. The first, Wild Valley pinot noir, has a pronounced red berry taste and earthy undertones, which played off the savoury flavours of the bird's nest. Stoneleigh's Rapaura pinot noir, matched with the fire course, is bolder, with blackberry and oak notes that stood up to the strong, charred flavours of the lamb. [caption id="attachment_642525" align="alignnone" width="1715"] Project Forty Nine.[/caption] For dessert, Newitt looked to air, pairing compressed fruit, meringue and river mint essence with Stoneleigh's poached pear-tinged Rapaura pinot gris. The river mint played so well into the elements, having just been picked locally by the restaurant's forager, or He Who Shall Not Be Named. "He supplies a few restaurants as a hobby and he's already really busy, so he doesn't like to be named," says Newitt, laughing. For those of you who may have missed this unique tasting experience, you're still able to try the Wild Valley range — for free — at The Stoneleigh Project until Sunday, November 5 at 524 Flinders Street, Melbourne, weeknights 4-10pm and weekends 12-10pm. You can secure a spot here or just walk on in. Top image: Chris Middleton
In Stay of the Week, we explore some of the world's best and most unique accommodations, giving you inspiration for your next trip. In this instalment, we take you to sunny Queensland for a special stay at Mirage Whitsundays, Airlie Beach. We love this place so much that we teamed up with the resort to offer an exclusive four-night travel deal — including a sunset sailing cruise and one-hour scenic flight with spectacular views of the outer Great Barrier Reef below. WHAT'S SO SPECIAL? Queensland: Beautiful one day. Perfect the next. Which all means that while summer is an obvious time to head to the Sunshine State, we reckon a winter escape is just as good. The temps are still warm-ish, the crowds are less-ish and the general consensus is that it's a great time to visit. (Full stop. No ish). So, if you're on the hunt for a mid-year exodus, but your budget and annual leave allowance limit it to the non-European-variety, our recommendation is to book a stay at the Mirage Whitsundays. Nestled in Airlie Beach, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, the Mirage is the place to base yourself if you're all about spectacular sunrises, salty sea breezes and super easy access to the 74 tropical islands that make up Australia's most famous archipelago. THE ROOMS If you're not a fan of starting your day with breathtaking, turquoise-tinted, island-dotted views, then the Mirage Whitsundays may not be the best choice for you, and we suggest you search for an alternative. However, travellers who don't mind a hotel with a little water frontage will be pleased to hear that every single room at the Mirage promises exactly that. Whether you choose a self-contained apartment, villa or penthouse, opt for an elevated panorama or a ground-level vista, your European-style kitchen, spacious terrace and modern bathroom will always come with a side of sea breeze. We hope you can find a way to make it work. FOOD AND DRINK G&T lovers rejoice. Airlie's only gin bar, Whisper Restaurant And Gin Bar, is located smack bang in the middle of the Mirage. If you're after an excellent range of gins (more than 90) or creative cocktails that heavily feature them, or you prefer a fine wine or cold beer, then you've come to the right place. Not a drinker? Fret not. The restaurant is also home to daily breakfasts (the chia puddings come highly recommended), an Indonesian buffet feast on Friday nights, and bottomless brunches every Saturday and Sunday from 11am-1pm. There's even a free courtesy bus to get you there and back, so you don't waste precious feasting time. THE LOCAL AREA Not to point out the obvious, but if you've booked a stay at the Mirage, easy access to the beaches of the Whitsundays and maybe a day or two to check out the Great Barrier Reef probably had something to do with it. If you only had time to do one thing, we recommend you visit Whitehaven Beach, which was named the Best Beach in the World a couple of years ago. Assuming you do the smart thing though, and book our four-night travel deal, you'll have a little more time to explore more. Just for starters: take a stroll through the Whitsunday Great Walk (Conway Circuit); drive to nearby Hideaway and Horseshoe bays; visit the beautiful Cedar Creek Falls; island-hop by cruise, sail or jet ski; or snorkel among the largest coral reef system on Earth. For those who really just can't get their head around rocking a bikini or boardies between June and August, please read on for a way around this dilemma. THE EXTRAS Those who can't be convinced to embrace their inner Ariel and go 'Under the Sea' can still experience all that the reef has to offer through an above-the-ocean sunset cruise or an above-the-clouds scenic flight. Or both. Included in day four of this package, the former gives you the chance to settle in for a two-hour boat ride with complimentary welcome drink and yummy snacks, just in time to watch the sun dip below the horizon. Meanwhile the latter is an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to enjoy a private flight over amazing blue waters, white sand beaches and even a naturally heart-shaped reef. Feeling inspired to book a truly unique getaway? Head to Concrete Playground Trips to explore a range of holidays curated by our editorial team. We've teamed up with all the best providers of flights, stays and experiences to bring you a series of unforgettable trips in destinations all over the world.
Consider this a case of better late than never: if you've been hanging out to discover if there's more Yellowjackets in your viewing future, that question has now been revealed. After the show's third season wrapped up in mid-April 2025, it has taken over a month to confirm that a fourth is in the works. The survival thriller's characters know more than a thing or two about waiting in both of its timelines — so consider this a case of standing in their shoes for a short stint, too. There's no word yet as to when Yellowjackets will be back, or even when production on season four will start. Season one debuted in 2021 and became one of the best new shows of that year, then season two arrived in 2023 and season three this February. Whether there's a two-year wait as in the past between seasons, or either less or more, getting to find out what happens after season three's cliffhanger is obviously an excellent development. The renewal comes after Yellowjackets' third season became its most-watched ever — and after season three's finale proved the most-streamed Yellowjackets episode in the show's history. As created by Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson (Dispatches From Elsewhere), the series serves up the answer to a compelling question: if a plane transporting a New Jersey high school's girls' soccer team across America was to crash en route, how would its surviving passengers cope both at the time while lost in the wilderness and also a quarter of a century later back in their everyday lives? Accordingly, in its 90s-set scenes, Yellowjackets' teenagers do whatever it takes to endure. Hop to the 2020s era and the women that made it home aren't done with their trauma yet. Battling the elements, cannibalism, haunting secrets, shifting power dynamics, embracing the otherworldly, romantic tangles, fighting over whether being saved is even the best outcome: they're just some of the places that Yellowjackets has gone across its three seasons to date. Bringing that journey to life so far, the show's cast has spanned Melanie Lynskey (The Tattooist of Auschwitz), Christina Ricci (Wednesday), Tawny Cypress (Law & Order), Juliette Lewis (Opus), Simone Kessell (Critical Incident), Lauren Ambrose (Caddo Lake), Hilary Swank (Ordinary Angels), Sophie Nélisse ( L'Indétectable), Sophie Thatcher (Companion), Jasmin Savoy Brown (Dreams in Nightmares), Samantha Hanratty (Brilliant Minds), Courtney Eaton (Parachute), Liv Hewson (For Worse), Ella Purnell (Sweetpea), Sarah Desjardins (Dead Boy Detectives), Warren Kole (A Wonderful Way with Dragons), Kevin Alves (No Good Deed), Steven Krueger (Roswell, New Mexico), Joel McHale (Animal Control), Elijah Wood (The Monkey) and more. After it debuted, Yellowjackets was swiftly picked up for a second season because its first was that ace, then renewed for a third season before that second group of episodes even aired. In Australia, viewers can watch via Paramount+. In New Zealand, the series streams via Neon. There's obviously no sneak peek yet at season four, but check out the trailer for Yellowjackets season three below: Yellowjackets streams via Paramount+ in Australia and Neon in New Zealand — we'll update you with a release date for season four when one is announced. Read our review of season one and review of season two, plus our interviews with Melanie Lynskey and Simone Kessell. Images: Kailey Schwerman/Paramount+ with SHOWTIME.
Love craft beer, but also have a soft spot for a good whisky? Does the idea of drinking them together excite or intrigue you? If so, we've found your next drinking destination. The cocktail experts behind Eau de Vie have recently opened Boliermaker House on Lonsdale Street. For the uninitiated, a boilermaker is an American beer cocktail consisting of a shot of whisky and a beer chaser. There are a few ways to down this drink, but the most prevalent is to shot your whisky and then sip the beer. At Boilermaker House they recommend going in that order, but you certainly don't have to shot your whisky in haste. In fact, you're encouraged to take your time, especially with the complimentary food bites that come with your boilermaker to eat post-whisky and pre-beer. On the surface, boilermakers may look like an exceptionally efficient way to get drunk, fast. And while this may be the purpose for some drinkers, it certainly is not the aim for the Boilermaker House. The idea is that, when the two are consumed together, new flavours are created that you wouldn't find from sipping just one. We decided to try two different boilermakers: one light and bright, the other dark and sexy. The Speyside Rambler ($23) consists of a shot of Glenlivet 15 year old French Oak followed by a Red Hill Pilsner, with a skewer of apple and salted caramel for between drinks. It's described as 'a juicy apricot on a summers day', and the flavours certainly made us pine for warmer weather. This was a very drinkable combination, and a bound to be a crowd pleaser for those new to the boilermaker game. The Black Forest ($24) was, as the name suggests, a lot darker, with a shot of Aberlour 16 year old and a dark and delicious Newstead 21'7" Porter to follow. The name certainly fits the bill with this one, and the dark chocolate and date food addition enhanced the black fruit flavours that the combination created. Having something to nosh on while downing these drinks is certainly wise, if not necessary. Boilermaker House has already made a bit of a name for itself for its excellent selection of cured meats and cheeses from all over the globe, so we selected the small ploughman's platter, which, at $53, is ideal for 2-3 people. The beautiful serrano, cacciatore salami, and bresaola cuts were paired perfectly with 1,000 day gouda, chicken pâté, sweet quince and picked vegetables. There are more substantial meals on offer for those feeling more peckish, but this little nook tends to lend itself to casual conversation and grazing. In fact, we found ourselves so comfortable in our golden-lit booth we happily whiled away a few hours and another beer. The service was helpful and unobtrusive, offering suggestions when we were a bit lost and left us to our own devices once we had settled in. Weeknights are a go if you want somewhere cosy to catch up with friends rather than dealing with the hustle and bustle. The wall of whisky that surrounds their 12 beer taps is quite a sight to behold, showing that there's clearly plenty more to try — and we will be back to do so very shortly.
For Mornington Peninsula locals and regular holiday blow-ins, the Sorrento corner store and cafe known as Stringers is as much an institution as the recently revamped Continental across the road. And now, just like its neighbour, this historic site has scored a head-to-toe makeover, out to capture a fresh generation of seaside winers and diners. Stringers has been resurrected by The Darling Group (Higher Ground, Kettle Black, Top Paddock), with the Melbourne-based hospitality crew this month completing a full restoration of the building. It's seen various incarnations over the decades, but its latest role is as an all-day restaurant, pizzeria, bar and providore that aims to be a year-round go-to. [caption id="attachment_861875" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Griffin Simm[/caption] The space is rocking a breezy, coastal style with big Mediterranean energy, courtesy of designer Chris Connell. You'll find a sunny courtyard with street access, a custom woodfired pizza oven imported from Verona in the kitchen, and downstairs, a subterranean wine cellar stocked with rare and high-end drops. By day, you're in for cafe-style plates with a familiar Darling Group lean — a berry-topped ricotta hotcake, breakfast salad, chilli scrambled eggs teamed with flatbread and goat's curd, and the smoked salmon open omelette with caviar and creme fraiche. At lunch and dinner, you might find yourself digging into lobster rolls stuffed with iceberg and chilli mayo; rotisserie chook or grilled crayfish to share; or a fresh pasta like the salted ricotta and lamb ragu pappardelle. [caption id="attachment_861867" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Earl Carter[/caption] Meanwhile, pizzas nod to Napoli, crafted traditionally on dough that's fermented and proofed for 72 hours. Try toppings like salami with pickled peppers and red onion, or a decadent four-cheese number. To match, a broad drinks offering carries happily from aperitivo hour to after-dinner cocktails. And for those on the go, Stringers' sleek providore, deli, grocer and gelateria are sure to be a hit, slinging everything from grab-and-go bites to pantry staples. [caption id="attachment_861874" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Griffin Simm[/caption] Find Stringers at 2-8 Ocean Beach Road, Sorrento. Currently, the providore is open from 7am–5pm daily, with the restaurant and bar open from 8am–4pm daily. Dinner service is set to kick off shortly. Top Images: Griffin Simm and Earl Carter
Foliage-filled haven Plantsmith is the brainchild of horticulturist and landscape designer Liz Turner. It's stocked not just with a hefty array of plant life, but loads of pots, planters, books, stands, gardening tools and treatments to help really unleash your inner green thumb. Staffed by a team of qualified experts, it's also a primo spot to load up on plant knowledge and ensure you've got all the know-how necessary to keep those plant babies alive and happy. And there's lots more plant-ucation to be gained from Plantsmith's diverse program of classes and workshops — be schooled on the basics in Plant Care 101, or prep for spring with the Propagation and Potting session.
Sydneysiders — and those planning a trip to the harbour city — can get their cultural kicks IRL again, with most major NSW cultural institutions back in action. And, with Sydney home to so many galleries, museums and art spaces, there's no shortage of arty events to add to your calendar. One to bookmark for the warmer months: A retrospective exhibition on multidisciplinary artist Lindy Lee that's taking over leading contemporary gallery MCA Australia. Titled Lindy Lee: Moon in a Dew Drop, it is the most comprehensive exhibition by the artist to date — and it's opening on Friday, October 2. The celebrated Australian Chinese artist has a practice spanning over four decades and works in everything from painting to sculpture. Her Chinese ancestry underpins much of her art; Lee's works are inspired by Daoism and Ch'an (Zen) Buddhism philosophies and she often examines the connection between humanity and nature. From flinging molten bronze and burning paper to allowing ink to spill and rain to transform surfaces, Lee's process is varied, experimental and inquisitive. Expect more than 70 works, including huge installations, vibrant wax paintings and metallic structures — and rarely seen works from the artist's personal collection. You'll also spy a few new commissions, one of which will be proudly exhibited on the museum's outdoor forecourt. To mark the exhibition's launch, Lee will be giving a talk on her art practice on Wednesday, October 7, which you can catch in person or live stream from home. [caption id="attachment_782750" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] MCA Australia's exhibition Lindy Lee: Moon in a Dew Drop launches on Friday, October 2. The gallery is currently open 10am–5pm Tuesday–Sunday, with COVID-19 measures in place. Entry is free and unticketed. Top images: Lindy Lee, 'No Up, No Down, I Am the Ten Thousand Things' (1995/2020), courtesy of the artist and Sutton Gallery, Melbourne; Lindy Lee, 'The Silence of Painters' (1989), Museum of Contemporary Art, gift of Loti Smorgon AO and Victor Smorgon AC; Lindy Lee, 'Exploding Suns' (2019), installation view, photography by Ng Wu Gang; Lindy Lee, 'Book of Kuan-yin' (2002), courtesy the artist and Sutton Gallery, Melbourne; and Lindy Lee, 'Untitled (After Jan Van Eyck)' (1988), collection of The University of Queensland, gift of Mary Dwyer in memory of Paul Dane Tilley. For the latest info on NSW border restrictions, head here. If travelling from Queensland or Victoria, check out Queensland Health and DHHS websites, respectively.
Sun, surf, sand, ice cream: what a combination. As cemented in the childhood memories of most Australians, there's nothing like pairing a trip to the beach with a frosty dessert. Haven't had the pleasure of that experience lately? Keen for a sweet treat by the shore just because? Fancy enjoying one of life's simple delights for just 36 cents? Enter the ALDI ice cream truck. For one day only in each of Sydney, Melbourne and the Sunshine Coast, the supermarket chain is sending an ice cream van to the beach with cheap chilled bites. While the 36-cent price only applies to mini yoghurt sticks, nothing else on the nine-item menu costs more than $1 each. [caption id="attachment_987508" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] So, you can enjoy ALDI's take on choc-coated ice creams on a stick for 40 cents, its version of Splices for 50 cents and its Paddle Pop alternative — in both chocolate and rainbow — for 62 cents, for instance. An ice cream sandwich will cost you 95 cents, a Drumstick equivalent is 92 cents and the brand's version of a Golden Gaytime is $1. Sydneysiders will need to head to Balmoral Reserve, near the rotunda, at Mosman on Thursday, January 30. Melburnians have a date with Green Point Reserve, Brighton on Sunday, February 2, while Queenslanders should make the trip to the Alexandra Heads Surf Life Saving Club at Alexandra Headland on Saturday, February 8. At all three locations, the truck will be serving up its menu from 11am–3pm. [caption id="attachment_781735" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] The reason for the pop-ups is to spruik ALDI's in-store ice creams, which is what it's dishing up — and at the same price that you'd pay per ice cream if you were to purchase a box of each in the supermarket. Buy them individually from the truck and you'll also be helping a good cause, with 100-percent of the sales going to Camp Quality. In the past, Aldi has showcased its low prices by hosting a pop-up bar where gin, wine and cheese only cost $4.41, serving up six gyoza for $1.44 at a pop-up dumpling truck, slinging 37-cent barista-made coffee and opening a pop-up pub with beer for just $3.25. ALDI Ice Cream Truck Stops Thursday, January 30 — 11am–3pm at Balmoral Reserve (near the rotunda), 8 The Esplanade, Mosman Sunday, February 2 — 11am–3pm at Green Point Reserve, Brighton Saturday, February 8 — 11am–3pm at Alexandra Heads Surf Life Saving Club, 167 Alexandra Parade, Alexandra Headland The ALDI ice cream truck is popping up in Sydney, Melbourne and on the Sunshine Coast in January and February — keep an eye on ALDI's social media for more details.
D.O.C has played a significant role in the development of Melbourne's contemporary Italian dining scene ever since it opened its first Carlton site back in 1997. It blends warm and friendly old-school Italian hospitality with modern interiors and less-than-traditional cooking techniques and flavours — creating a roadmap for other Melbourne Italian restaurants to follow. D.O.C. has since spread across Melbourne with sites in Southbank and Mornington Peninsula, as well as a location in Sydney's Surry Hills. And now, the crew has officially fired up the pizza oven and opened its doors at their newest restaurant on The Esplanade in St Kilda. D.O.C St Kilda has set up shop across from Alfred Square and looks out over St Kilda Beach making it a mighty fine spot for spritz sipping and sunset viewings. The 100-seat restaurant has a heap of outdoor seating plus a few covetable seats by the open kitchen. Guests will catch some D.O.C favourites found across all the group's sites, including classic pizzas, veal and pork lasagna and boozy tiramisu (one of the best in town). And as this is a seaside venture, Head Chef Luca Quadri and Group Executive Chef Tom Jones-Davies have added a stack of St Kilda-exclusive seafood dishes to the offerings. Expect to find a grilled fish of the day, a platter of lightly fried fish and seafood fritti (right now, this consists of calamari, sardines and prawns), a vongole bucatini, and a regular rotation of seasonal pizzas — with seafood currently gracing one. The campanelle pasta served with duck and Montenegro ragu is another exclusive dish for those wanting to pass on the pesce. D.O.C Director Michael Costanzo says that "the menu represents a glimpse into dining in Italy's present day. I hope guests are ready to enjoy a modern take on classic Italian hospitality." Beachgoers can also easily pop in to nab some of the daily house-made gelatos that'll include flavours like balsamic and grilled peach and Frangelico and hazelnut. DOC St Kilda is the seventh notch in the group's restaurant belt and the very first with seaside views. You'll find D.O.C St Kilda at 14–16 The Esplanade, St Kilda, open 5pm–late from Monday to Thursday and 12pm–late from Friday to Sunday. For more information, head to the restaurant group's website. Images: Pete Dillon
Australia's favourite portrait exhibition, the Archibald Prize, is currently on at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. And, now, the Gallery is giving you another reason to visit — or revisit — thanks to its newly launched free program of art, music, performance and dance. Dubbed Archie Plus, it celebrates people, portraiture and the power of community after a really tough year with the aim to honour diversity, resilience and acts of care. To make it happen, the Gallery is working with New South Wales-based artists, performers and community collaborators to create an alternative experience of portraiture. The program will see dynamic portrait-inspired pieces popping up across the entire ground floor of the Gallery, as well as a lower-level corridor. You can expect to catch more than 60 ceramic sculptures by Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran gracing the grand entrance vestibule, an eye-catching mural from Studio A and newly commissioned works capturing dance, music and spoken word by likes of Nardean and L-Fresh the Lion. The project is bringing numerous artists on-site to create new work, too, so you may be lucky enough to encounter a live performance or work-in-progress during your visit. [caption id="attachment_790674" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran, 'Avatar towers' 2020 (installation view) © the artist. Photo: Mark Pokorny[/caption] For more details, check out the Art Gallery of NSW's website. Top Images (in order): Mathew Calandra, Emily Crockford, Annette Galstaun, Lauren Kerjan, Jaycee Kim, Catherine McGuiness, and Meagan Pelham of Studio 'A Love owls and mermaids singing in the rainbow pop' 2020 © the artists; 'Our superpowers' 2020, designed by children of Plunkett Street Public School, Woolloomooloo with Abdul Abdullah, and families supported by the Asylum Seekers Centre, Newtown and contributors to Together In Art Kids; Angela Tiatia 'The Golden Hour 2020' © the artist; and Peter Drew, 'Aussie' poster series displayed in the Grand Courts, Art Gallery of NSW, Thea Proctor Memorial Fund 2020 © Peter Drew.
It was once a stereotype that all people from Melbourne wore black, now it's quickly turning the other way. The pastel prints of local design icon Obus have been lighting up our city for some time now, particularly spotted around the inner-north with stores in the CBD, Fitzroy and Northcote. Known for its kooky style, block colours, and big billowing dresses, Obus strikes the perfect balance between high fashion and high comfort. Stand out from the crowd without having to squeeze into some hideous cocktail dress or bejewelled stilettos. These clothes were made to be worn loud and proud. Obus is also located at 226 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy and 285 High Street, Northcote. Images: Tracey Ahkee.
It should come as no great surprise that the next venue from the minds behind multifaceted food truck park The Ascot Lot won't be just one venue at all. Rather, Jacob Bettio, Lachlan Taylor and David Bartl are once again trying their hand at a whole entertainment precinct. The trio has taken over the Moonee Ponds site once home to the long-running Russo's supermarket, and is currently busy transforming it into a sprawling hospitality hub, complete with 400-seat mess hall, laneway bar and boutique bottle shop. The first part of the project is already open, with craft-focused beer and wine store Fizz & Hop relocating from its original pop-up space, into its permanent corner within the 500-square-metre Holmes Road building. This cosy bottle shop and lounge bar is stocked with a 250-strong selection, including drops available to drink in (for a small corkage fee) or take home. It's working a laidback living room feel, with lots of reclaimed timber, exposed brickwork and comfy armchairs to kick back in, and regular Friday night tasting sessions featuring some of the country's hottest producers. Right now, you can order in delivery from one of the nearby eateries, though a menu of toasties and charcuterie is set to drop in the coming weeks. Next up, is the headline act: Holmes Hall. Slated to open its doors this April, the roomy mess hall will see the light-filled building pared right back to its historic bones, with original brickwork and concrete flooring elevated with warm timber finishes and plush velvet booths. This one's set to be a drinker's haven for sure, boasting a hefty 25 beer taps and a solid rotation of tinnies sourced from Fizz & Hop, along with local wines, spirits and crafty cocktails. As for the food, Byron Bay chef Angus Adams (Vue de Monde) is pulling together a tapas-style menu with plenty of American influence. Alongside a slew of plant-based options, expect bites like buffalo wings, gooey truffle mac 'n' cheese balls and some modern revamps of your fave pub grub. As is the case at sister venue The Ascot Lot, Holmes Hall is set to play host to a program of regular events, parties and mini festivals, while pinball, shuffleboard and live tunes should keep you more than entertained across the rest of your visits. An adjoining Miami-themed laneway bar will also join the family, set to open in September. Find Fizz & Hop from 2–9pm Tuesday–Wednesday, 12pm–late Thursday–Friday and 11am–late Saturday at 15 Holmes Road, Moonee Ponds. Holmes Hall is slated to open at the same address in April.
Watching a Sir David Attenborough documentary means being left with two strong feelings: wanting to see the world exactly the way that the iconic broadcaster does, and wishing to always hear his narration as you walk across the planet. Consider the BBC Earth Experience the closest thing to making both happen. It takes footage from Attenborough's Seven Worlds, One Planet series, turns it into a 360-degree walk-through audiovisual event, and has the natural historian and living treasure echo while you wander. The BBC Earth Experience debuted in London in March 2023, which has been excellent news if a UK holiday was on your agenda. Here's a better development: the showcase's Down Under arrival. Melbourne is only the second city in the world to host this spectacular sight, running from Friday, October 27 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in an Australian-exclusive season. The experience uses cutting-edge digital-projection technology to surround attendees in visuals from the earth's seven continents, with everything from fireflies in North America to cassowary fathers and their chicks in Australia on display. In London, the attraction sprawls across more than 1600 square metres, featuring spaces dedicated to the planet seen at microscopic scale, via drone footage and on the ocean floor, too, as part of a self-guided tour that also heroes starfish, elephant seals, snub-nosed monkeys, hamsters and more. If you've already watched Seven Worlds, One Planet, you won't just be greeted by material you've already seen, but larger. The scale of the event's imagery is hefty — epic, even — but BBC Earth Experience also includes extended scenes from the show, plus bespoke narration by Attenborough. The mission is truly to make the audience feel like they've stepped right into the footage, all thanks to multi-angle screens. And, it's designed to cater to existing Seven Worlds, One Planet fans and newcomers alike. In Melbourne, offering up an educational experience for young patrons is also a big aim. There's a classroom space onsite, plus resources curated for teachers. Updated November 13, 2023.
Towards the grungier end of Brunswick Street you'll find a dark pub with a hearth of gold. With a band room upstairs hosting some of Melbourne's best underground rock bands you can choose between this intimate music space, or hang out downstairs chatting with the laid-back staff, enjoying a good pint or a cheeky glass of wine while soaking up the glow and warmth of the open fire. On Monday nights you can also head over for a free classic film showing and they also host local artist exhibitions. A refreshing change to the increasingly sleek and gentrified scene in Fitzroy, this pub remains comfortingly old school.
