Brisbane's Eat Street Northshore is following in the footsteps of culinary big-wigs like Brae, Biota and Dunkeld's Royal Mail Hotel, now boasting its very own onsite kitchen garden. Thought that was a little unlikely, given the precinct's lack of free space? Well, it's all thanks to Canada's Modular Farms Co, which has chosen the precinct as the first Australian location to host one of its state-of-the-art vertical hydroponic farms. With inner-city space at a premium these days, this little beauty is a bit of a game-changer, able to grow food cleanly and sustainably no matter where it's placed or what the climate might be. Eat Street's new addition will allow market vendors to tap into a consistent supply of fresh herbs and veggies from right there on site, minimising food miles and wastage in the process. It doesn't get much fresher than that. What's more, the farm's modular design fits right in with the rest of Eat Street's vibe, working perfectly against that backdrop of repurposed shipping containers. The new vertical farm will supply produce to both Eat Street Northshore and OzHarvest. Images: Chris Jack
There's always a good reason to put off that big trip. But if those cringe quotes and sappy videos that make the rounds on social media have taught us anything, it's that we should make every moment count. Don't save that annual leave and that holiday fund for 'one day'. Take advantage of your wanderlust now and treat yourself to an entirely unexpected, over-the-top adventure to somewhere brand new now. We bet you deserve it. From a romantic helicopter flight that wouldn't be out of place on an episode of a certain reality dating show or fine dining under desert skies, a trip to Central Australia is just what the doctor ordered. We've teamed up with Tourism Central Australia to give you the most outrageously decadent itinerary Central Australia has to offer. Because why not? You only live once, so live once. Want to plan your very own adventure to the Red Centre? Take a look at our handy trip builder to start building your custom itinerary now.
Welcome to the graduating class of refined gin drinkers. You might have been on this juniper-shrouded path for some time, or you may still confuse aquavit with a London dry. But no matter the maturity of your palate or knowledge of the botanical wonder that is gin, you're bound to pick up some useful notes to casually weave into conversation at your next gin tasting excursion. That's because we've brought in an expert guest lecturer: the master distiller at Archie Rose, Dave Withers. We sat down with him to discuss the latest 'ginnovations', including the new limited-edition Archie Rose Bone Dry Gin. So, pour yourself something floral and zesty and start soaking up some gin knowledge. PINE TALKIN': HOW YOU CAN TELL IF YOU'RE REALLY SIPPING A 'GOOD' GIN When it comes to deciding what to drink, do you seek out hefty price tags or let provenance guide your review? Does vintage or distilling technique give an advantage? While these factors might all affect what's in the bottle, Withers says it has to start with juniper berries. "A good gin should have the flavour of pine which is the juniper doing the talking," he says. If you're not starting with a base of these peppery orbs in the distilling process, then what's being produced is actually a flavoured vodka, not gin. But that doesn't mean you should neglect balancing other ingredients — and you should be able to spot these, too. "The flavours of gin should be clearly discernible and not muddled," Withers says. "For example, if a gin has a good amount of citrus and earthy rooty characteristics, then it will come across confused as one flavour tries to cancel the other out." WANT TO KNOW HOW GIN IS MADE? LET'S TAKE A MINI DISTILLERY TOUR If you've ever visited a gin distillery, you'll likely remember the mad scientist-like copper stills used to heat and cool ingredients. This equipment is used to redistill a neutral alcohol, usually from a grain base (similar to vodka production). Then, that product is re-distilled with botanicals to provide flavour, before being simmered down with water to bring it to a fit-for-human-consumption alcohol level. "Juniper is a very versatile ingredient that can highlight some really lovely flavours," Withers says. "That was the concept behind our Bone Dry Gin. We distilled our hand-foraged juniper from North Macedonia in a number of different ways, which allowed us to highlight citrus, woody, peppery and floral aromas." This limited-edition gin is the first to be released from Archie Rose's new Banksmeadow Distillery. Here, tailor-made vacuum stills enable more precise extraction of botanicals through hot and cold distillation, resulting in a layering of citrus and herbaceous notes that are rounded with that classic pine-dry finish. BONING UP ON DIFFERENT GIN VARIETIES If you're a seasoned drinker, you'll likely be able to differentiate between chardonnay and sauvignon blanc (having the name on the label does help), but it can be a little more complicated with gin. While there are numerous gin varieties on the market, they can be broadly categorised as 'contemporary' or 'traditional', with dry gins leading the latter. Withers says juniper invariably takes charge in traditional variations, and rides in the backseat for contemporary concoctions. "In our Bone Dry Gin we wanted to take the traditional format but add a twist. The juniper is a massive presence but we accented that with native Australian finger limes and a uniquely Australian ingredient called lemon-scented gum, which is literally a lemon-flavoured eucalyptus." A SHORT HISTORY LESSON Gin's 17th-century juniper berry-infused ancestor, genever, was developed in the Netherlands as a medicinal liquor before rising to prominence in England. Early 1800s gin-crazed London is likely where the trope of gin being an 'emotional' drink emerged, since there was little regulation around its production. This meant the alcohol content in gin could reach extraordinary levels and be distilled with unsanitary drinking water — a combination that would bring a tear to even the most gin-pickled of eyes. Right now, Withers says, we're "living in the golden age of gin." Beyond the delicious (and well-regulated) traditional bottles, you can find anything from grapefruit-infused pink gin to drams featuring green ants, and gin that magically changes colour when it meets tonic or citrus. In Australia, these creations are pumping out of more than 300 gin distilleries, a number that has grown exponentially over just the last few years. "In terms of quality and variability it has never been a better time to be a gin drinker." JUNIPER RETURNS – BUT IT'S IN SHORT SUPPLY We've already talked about it, but juniper really is the king of gin botanicals. And Withers thinks it's making a comeback. "There has been a move over the last few years to using really exotic ingredients that give big flavours. But I think drinkers are going the other way, hoping to get their juniper fix from their favourite brands." However, for the last few years gin producers and drinkers have been facing a catch-22 — demand for juniper is increasing in the face of a global shortage in supply. As well as increased demand, this shortage has been attributed to the spread of a fungal disease in some countries that can destroy juniper plants. Here's hoping for more fruitful seasons ahead. MIX MASTERS Happily, crafting an excellent gin drink is about simple combinations that let those botanical flavours shine. As for the secret to a perfect G&T, Withers says it's all about the ratio: "G&T drinkers shouldn't be afraid of using ample ice and minimal tonic. By reducing the amount of tonic and letting the ice dilute your drink, it's easier to taste the unique flavours of the gin." Withers says you can find similar refreshment from a gin and soda combo — but if you're after something stronger, you can't go past a classic gin martini. "There are so many variations on the martini that there's a whole world of nuance to be explored here," he tells us. "Visiting a local bar and asking your bartender what they recommend is a great way of seeing how small differences like a lemon twist or an olive garnish can transform your drink." FINISHING TOUCHES A squeeze of citrus can definitely elevate gin, but with so many varieties of gin to taste-test, it would be wasteful to not experiment with different garnishes. Withers recommends you try a few final flourishes that completely oppose a gin's flavour profile. "If the gin is savoury and salty then a sweet garnish like a strawberry can create a fantastic counterpoint," Withers says. "Snacking on the strawberry in between sips refreshes your palate and allows you to enjoy the distinctive flavours of the drink anew." Turns out you can have your garnish and eat it, too. For more information on Archie Rose and its brand-new Bone Dry Gin, head to the website. Want to win a case of it, as well as two bottled cocktails and a distillery tour? Just enter your details on our competition page.
Just when you'd thought you'd seen the last of flash mobs, someone makes it a '90s-inspired affair and KABLAM — they're back in fashion. Throw on some sweet kicks, overalls and flip your cap backwards with the Yo Let's Go '90s Flashmob Dance Troupe. Held every Saturday at Next Level Studios in Brunswick, Yo Let's Go is sure to help you feel like you've achieved something over the weekend, with more than a little inspiration coming from this lot. No dance experience is necessary to be part of this gang, so let your inner '90s dork run free and jump around. If partaking in a flash mob is something you vowed never to do again after the mid-'00s — but '90s pop and hip-hop beckons you to a dance floor quicker than a proverbial boom shaking the room — you're welcome to hang out just for the class. The first lesson is much like Jenny From The Block's love, it won't cost a thing. So get down, shake it loose and party like it's 1999. https://youtube.com/watch?v=TLGWQfK-6DY
For 13 years, marking International Women's Day with talks, panels, workshops and performances about gender, equality and justice has been as easy as attending All About Women. The annual festival arrives each March with a packed lineup — and it's the kind of event where riot grrrl pioneers Bikini Kill can be on the same bill as child actor-turned-I'm Glad My Mom Died author Jennette McCurdy, as happened in 2023; and where Yellowface author Rebecca F Kuang and Roman Empire scholar Mary Beard can also headline the program, as 2024 delivered. In 2025, Kate Berlant and Gina Chick are two of All About Women's big names — and two of the festival's first-announced talents. The full lineup won't release until January, but the event has dropped a few details in advance. Also included now: the fact that the Feminist Roast will return when the fest runs across Saturday, March 8–Sunday, March 9. Berlant is making her first trip Down Under, with the comedian and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Don't Worry Darling and A League of Their Own actor set to debut a new stand-up show. Alone Australia's first-season winner Chick is on the bill fresh from releasing her memoir We Are the Stars in October, and will chat about following your own path, grief and resourcefulness. Overseeing the program this time: the Sydney Opera House Talks & Ideas team, as led by Chip Rolley, alongside 10 News First's Narelda Jacobs and actor and writer Michelle Law. Their festival will open with the Feminist Roast, complete with past All About Women co-curator Nakkiah Lui, All I Ever Wanted Was to Be Hot debut author Lucinda 'Froomes' Price, comedian Steph Tisdell and Aunty Donna collaborator Michelle Brasier taking part. More international and Australian artists, thinkers and storytellers will join the lineup when the full details are unveiled — and there'll be room for plenty given that Sydney Opera House's key feminist festival is back to a two-day run, after expanding to the same length in 2022 and then to three in 2023, before returning to a one-day stint in 2024. "Everyone is in for a treat with never-before-seen comedy from Kate Berlant, an opportunity to plant our bare feet firmly on the ground and find peace of mind with Gina Chick, and the return of crowd favourite Feminist Roast — where much-loved comedians and writers celebrate, and take the piss out of, the movement we love. There's plenty more to come in the new year too, including enriching and challenging events spearheaded by our formidable co-curators," said Rolley. "There is so much power in women and non-binary folks coming together to talk about the issues we are facing, whether that's in our workplaces and homes, throughout our country or the world," added Jacobs. "The events I've co-curated are inspired by hot topics that dominate conversations with the women in my life — from the transformations women undergo at pivotal points in their lives, to the ways modern culture rejigs and repeats old stereotypes. We'll be having some cracker discussions that I'm sure will continue beyond the steps of the Opera House!" noted Law. All About Women 2025 will take place on Saturday, March 8–Sunday, March 9 at the Sydney Opera House. The full program will release in January 2025 — check back here then for further details. Tickets for the just-announced first sessions go on sale at 9am on Thursday, November 28, with pre sales from 9am on Tuesday, November 26, 2024. Head to the event's website for more details. All About Women images: Jaimi Joy, Jacquie Manning and Prudence Upton.
As the CBD slowly emerges from its 2020 hibernation, it's welcomed an especially lively newcomer in Mejico — a vibrant eatery that opened its doors this week, transforming Pink Alley into a permanent fiesta. Sibling to Mejico Sydney, which launched back in 2013, the restaurant's serving up a diverse menu of regional Mexican fare, alongside what's pegged to be Melbourne's largest selection of tequila and mezcal, clocking in at over 260 varieties. The two-storey space sports an edgy fit-out full of black and neon pink accents, with an all-weather glasshouse-style dining room on the ground floor, and a more intimate tequila bar and cocktail lounge upstairs. It's decked out with hand-drawn mandalas, striking murals by local artist Ash Keating, and a leafy vertical garden. Unlike most of the Mexican joints you've been frequenting, this one's an early riser, kicking off each day with a breakfast offering from 7.30am. Settle in with the likes of a reworked eggs benny with chipotle hollandaise, dulce de leche crumpets and mezcal-cured salmon, or grab a fresh croissant and coffee to-go. [caption id="attachment_793267" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Arianna Leggiero[/caption] Come lunch and dinner, the menu expands to a colourful lineup of street snacks — think, grilled haloumi with burnt honey, fire-glazed salmon tacos and empanadas stuffed with Daylesford beef brisket — alongside larger plates like the pasilla-spiced roast chicken and a Yucatan-style pulled pork matched with smoked eggplant. Here, the all-important guacamole element is prepared tableside in front of your eyes, served with plantain chips and customised with your choice of garnishes. Or, you can tuck into a classic ($62) or deluxe ($79) 'feed me' menu, the latter of which includes a serve of Mejico's signature margarita cheesecake. Late-night cravings are sorted, too, with a special post-11pm snack menu, featuring bites like blue corn chips with a roasted pineapple and habanero salsa, brisket empanadas, and crispy chicharrones. Tequila and mezcal reign supreme on the drinks list, though the agave-focused cocktail lineup is also set to get a solid workout. You'll find fruity creations like a jalapeño margarita and the Guadalajaran — featuring a blend of pineapple-infused tequila and passionfruit. Rounding out the fun is a tidy crop of wines, crisp beers, and sangria by the glass or jug. Find Mejico Melbourne at 1 Pink Alley, Melbourne. It's open from 11.30–11pm Sunday–Wednesday and 11.30am–3am Thursday–Saturday, plus, from 7.30am for takeaway breakfast Monday–Friday. Images: Arianna Leggiero
Things are looking a little different these days at South Melbourne's Left Handed Chef. The former breakfast hotspot has bid farewell to the AM crowd, transforming itself instead into a lunch and dinner destination. It's still chef-owner Ehud Malka at the helm, sharing the warm Israeli hospitality and Middle Eastern flavours of his heritage, only now it's all available until late, Wednesday to Monday. With its kitsch ornate cutlery and towering grandfather clock, the cosy restaurant space is like a home away from home — and those warm fuzzy feels continue when you learn Malka himself is rolling each falafel to order. The menus offer a slew of authentic Israeli fare, designed with shared feasts in mind. There's a whole range of hummus bowls (eight different ones) served with traditional pita and topped with the likes of the classic za'tar sprinkle ($14.50), fried cauliflower ($16.50) and the 'basar' blend of lamb, pine nuts and harissa ($17.50). You'll find daily changing deli salads and loaded pita wraps featuring the likes of Middle Eastern spit-roasted chicken, alongside mammoth sandwiches best split amongst a crew. One features multiple schnitzels in a whole challah loaf with matbucha (a sauce of tomatoes and roasted capsicum), chips, pickles and roast eggplant ($60). As for those freshly made falafels? They're available to add onto a dish just $1 a pop. And of course, you can round out your feed with something traditionally Israeli and decadently sweet, like classic baklava or some crescent-shaped rugelach pastries.
Launched in 2010, Blackbird and Fox is not your average homewares and gift shop. Independent owner Kate's experience in both creative arts and museum studies ensures that the space is always filled with top-tier locally sourced products. Some of our favourite bits and pieces include bright art prints from Printspace, handmade and candy-inspired bracelets by Lauren Hinkley, and Angus & Celeste's elegant vases and vessels inspired by the flora and fauna of the Dandenong Ranges. The store's range is always changing, so there's something new to be found with every visit. Images: Tracey Ah-kee.
She's one of the grand dames of Melbourne's cultural scene, having hosted countless big-name artists and theatre stars over the decades; not to mention all the audiences that have packed her seats for shows of all genres during that time. Now, Arts Centre Melbourne is set to score her next facelift, as part of the Victorian Government's $1.7-billion Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation project. Much of the works will be focused beneath the iconic spire, breathing new life into the precinct's Theatres Building and its heritage State Theatre, which was opened in 1984. The upgrades will help keep everything in top shape and kicking on strong for future cultural visitors. "Arts Centre Melbourne is a much-loved institution and destination, with a rich history and legacy," explained Arts Centre Melbourne CEO Karen Quinlan AM. "These upgrades to the Theatres Building are a major step forward in our reimagining, to ensure we are fit-for-purpose for presenters and audiences alike for the next 40 years." The theatre itself is set to score new seating, flooring and state-of-the-art lighting, as well as improvements to the sound system. Its current air-con situation will also be given a boost to help ensure audiences remain cool as cucumbers through the summer months. Accessibility is another major focus of the project, which involve building new lifts and adding more wheelchair positions, giving those patrons seating options on all three levels for the first time ever. What's more, mobility-impaired audience members can look forward to having a choice of seating rows with extra space between them, which'll make it easier to move around. The building is also getting two new hospitality venues, as well as a suite of back-of-house upgrades, such as a huge new rehearsal space and an enlarged loading dock. Head contractor for the project, Lendlease, has already started initial works, with the final product to be unveiled at some stage in 2027. [caption id="attachment_898732" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Charlie Kinross[/caption] The upgrades to Arts Centre Melbourne's Theatres Building are part of the Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation and are set to be completed in 2027. You can find out more over at the website.
When you imagine the film that would unite Aussie powerhouse actors Nicole Kidman, Mia Wasikowska and Jacki Weaver, you probably think gritty outback drama. You don't think violent neo-gothic Bildungsroman directed by renowned South Korean director Chan-Wook Park (Old Boy) and set in wealthy New England. But that's what you get with Stoker, a film that's bewitchingly stylish but anchored by an intense performance from Wasikowska. Wasikowska plays India Stoker, a somewhat sheltered loner of a girl who is deeply sensitive to small sensations — but that's where her commonalities with Amelie end. On her 18th birthday, she learns that her loving father (Dermot Mulroney) has died in a car accident. Besides being left with her less demonstrative mother, Evelyn (Kidman) in their big ol' house, India now has to deal with the arrival of her unknown and perturbing uncle Charlie (Matthew Goode). He is soon followed by his aunt Gwendolyn (Weaver), who appears to have an urgent message to impart to young India. Gwendolyn disappears and we have a movie, where Charlie obsessively draws closer to India while India tries to figure out who she really is. See Stoker for its striking imagery (including one tracking shot you won't forget) and cool mood of creepiness. Stoker is in cinemas on August 29, and thanks to Twentieth Century Fox, we have a Stoker prize pack to give away, containing a collector's poster signed by Mia Wasikowska and Chan-Wook Park and a Fox Searchlight DVD pack (including Black Swan, Ruby Sparks and Hitchcock). To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address. https://youtube.com/watch?v=NPIi5sHmkAw
Most Lego creations don't take four years to build. Of course, most Lego creations aren't real, actual, life-sized houses. In the town of Billund in Denmark, aka the place where Lego was invented by carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen nearly a century ago, the 12,000-square metre Lego House has just opened its doors. It's filled with 25 million bricks, and while it isn't actually made out of the plastic toys, it is shaped to look like 21 white Lego pieces stacked on top of each other (complete with clay tiles giving off a glossy exterior sheen). Welcoming the public since September 28, and featuring free and paid spaces, Lego House is every kid's dream come true — and every adult who was once a Lego-loving child as well. In colour-coded sections that are themed according to the types of skills they tap into (creative, cognitive, social and emotional), visitors can learn about the evolution of Lego, view Lego showcases, eat in one of three Lego cafes, play on nine rooftop Lego terraces, shop in a huge Lego store, get their own Lego mosaic portrait, and, yes, just have fun constructing their own Lego concoctions. Among Lego House's highlights is the 15-metre tall Tree of Creativity, which took 24,350 hours and 6,316,611 bricks to build, making it one of the largest Lego structures ever made. Elsewhere, the masterpiece gallery pays tribute to the impressive structures created by Lego fans, as hand-picked by the sites curators. In the history collection, the first Lego set ever produced is on display, plus other milestone pieces. A number of behind-the-scenes tours are also on offer, in a space designed by architecture firm BIG. As part of their massive feat, the top part of the building — which resembles one of Lego's iconic 2 x 4 keystone bricks — shines eight beams of light into the sky like the knobs on top of a standard piece. While general entry is free, advance bookings are required in what's destined to be quite the popular spot. Timed tickets for specific areas cost approximately AU$40, and Lego expects that more than 250,000 people will visit each year. Images: Lego.
An ode to everyone's favourite two-handed feed, East Brunswick Sandwich Parlour is the inner north's new go-to for delicious things stuffed between bread. Or more specifically, for hefty ciabattas featuring a diverse range of creative fillings. The venture comes from the same minds behind Green Acre Pizza Bar and boasts a similar commitment to sustainability. That's evident in its largely homespun fitout of recycled materials, as well as the menu's thoughtful ingredient list. Here, carnivores and plant-based diners are catered to in equal measure — you'll find the likes of a vegan beetroot reuben with Russian dressing ($13) celebrated with as much fanfare as the signature Cubano starring 12-hour orange-braised free-range pork ($16). There's also a spicy school prawn and avocado number ($16), a vegan salami sanga with plant-based fior di latte ($13), and even a breakfast option teaming cheesy omelette with chilli jam ($12). Gluten-free alternatives are available for most of the sandwiches and you can whack a side of chips onto any order for an easy $4. To match the eats, you'll find ethical blends and single origins from These Days Coffee Roasting — another project from co-owner Phil Gijsbers — along with a nostalgic lineup of cold drinks that includes classic cans of Pasito. Images: Jake Roden Appears in: Where to Find the Best Sandwiches in Melbourne for 2023
Melbourne sourdough bakery and cafe chain Rustica has just opened the doors of its fifth location in the beachside burb of Brighton. When it comes to baked goods, punters can expect all the Rustica classics — buttery flaky croissants, Portuguese custard tarts, maple glazed crullers and a heap of other seasonal sweet and savoury pastries. The sourdough loaves will also be just as good as those you've had from the CBD shop (or any of the other locations scattered across the city) because they're all made in the flagship South Yarra store. But this haunt is also big on the brunch game. The kitchen team in Brighton, led by Head Chefs Sidney Tor and Sam Tacussel, will serve up a few familiar brekkie dishes alongside some new creations made to work with the coastal location — that means light and zesty flavours throughout. The lobster and prawn eggs benny is a truly luxurious way to get your day started, as is the lemon curd french toast. Pair it all with some coffee from the First Love Coffee crew, choosing to either dine in or it take out for a stroll towards Brighton's famed beaches. The 125-seat space is serving coastal cafe realness thanks to architect Fiona Drago, who's collaborated with the Rustica team for quite some time. For this venture, she's decked out the space with light timber furniture, earthy and pastel hues and stacks of other natural finishes. A few outdoor tables out on the corner of Hampton Street and Pine Street are also ideal for Brighton people watching when the sun's out. Rustica Brighton is open from 7am-4pm, Monday–Friday, and from 8am–4pm on weekends. For more details, visit the venue's website.
Docklands boasts a strong cultural side, thanks not only to its history as an important dock but also to recent urban renewal projects that have championed creativity in all its forms. The area is home to internationally renowned public art as well as a number of contemporary design landmarks. What's more, it's just a short stroll to several of Melbourne's cultural icons, including the NGV, the Arts Centre and the South Melbourne Market. Here are the ten best spots to get your cultural fix in the area. PARK CINEMA How better to take advantage of those balmy Melbourne evenings than with a spot of open-air cinema? This summer 2018, Docklands' Buluk Park plays host to a series of free, family-friendly film screenings, featuring time-honoured selections from the noughties through to today. The movie usually starts rolling at dusk, around 8.30pm, but you can take your picnic rug over early, grab some eats from one of the nearby vendors and settle in for a pre-movie feast. Catch it on Fridays in 2018 from January 26 to March 2. EVENTS AT KNOWLEDGE MARKET Acting as a hub for sharing ideas about urban living, The Exchange at Victoria Harbour's Knowledge Market is a collaborative effort between Lendlease and RMIT's School of Architecture and Design and School of Media and Communication. With a curated program of workshops, discussions, exhibitions and events, it's a place where the community can be inspired as they engage with themes like social diversity, zero-carbon futures, digitally enabled infrastructures and urban memory and imagination. Venture in to get those mental cogs whirring. LIBRARY AT THE DOCK Welcome to the library for the new age. Worlds apart from historic counterparts like the State Library of Victoria, the Library at The Dock is a contemporary gem, featuring a swag of modern offerings and claiming the title of Australia's first six-star Green Star-rated public building. Crafted from engineered timber and reclaimed hardwood, it's become an icon of sustainable architecture. Inside, you'll find both traditional and digital book catalogues, performance and gallery spaces, creative editing suites and even a recording studio. It also plays host to a lineup of events and activities, from free tai chi and table tennis sessions through to workshops and regular 'laughter club' meetings. JAZZ SHOWS AT THE LIBRARY Need a few live tunes to help jazz up the end of your work week? The Library at The Dock's Jazz Brew Cafe series should be music to your ears. On the second Friday of each month, the space plays host to a different local musician for an intimate performance, usually kicking off at around 4pm. Taking the stage over the coming months will be the smooth sounds of Tamara Murphy, Monique Dimattina and Cristian Barbieri. Best of all? It's free. DOCKLANDS ART TRAIL There's little doubt that Docklands is alive with creative endeavours. It's currently home to an impressive 36 public artworks across its parks, promenades and architecture. And discovering them is a cinch, thanks to Development Victoria's downloadable guide and walking tour. This free resource is jam-packed with information about each of the Docklands works and their creators. The walk will take you about a couple of hours if you plan on digging in deep. Prepare to be inspired by the likes of Duncan Stemier's orbiting Blowhole, Mikala Dwyer's huge mirrored IOU and Guan Wei's Feng Shui mural. Some pieces, like the neon-lit Slipstream, are best appreciated during a nighttime visit. VICTORIA POLICE MUSEUM From convicts and bushrangers to the underworld figures of more recent times, Melbourne's got quite the criminal history. And some of the most intriguing tales of the city's crime and policing are awaiting your discovery at the Victoria Police Museum. Uncover sordid stories, see evidence from real crimes and gain a newfound appreciation for the men and women keeping our city safe. The museum is home to a diverse collection including original Kelly Gang artefacts, an array of police photographs and over 1000 prisoner records from throughout history. It's open to the public from 10am–4pm weekdays. NGV As the country's oldest and most visited gallery, the National Gallery of Victoria is a necessary addition to your cultural hit list, with a world-renowned program of exhibitions and events that are as diverse as they come. It's set across two central sites — the NGV International on St Kilda Road and NGV Australia in the heart of Federation Square. Kicking off December 2017 is the ambitious NGV Triennial, a huge free exhibition pulling together art and design from more than 100 creatives across 32 countries. For part of the year, the NGV will also host a Friday Night live music series, complete with eats, drinks and after-dark gallery access. SOUTH MELBOURNE MARKET Having recently notched up 150 years and still going strong, the South Melbourne Market is one of the city's grand dames and well worth a visit. Ever abuzz, it's a beloved destination for eating, drinking and shopping, trading Wednesdays, Fridays and across each weekend. Visit for a bit of retail therapy and to load up on fresh local produce, being sure to make a pit stop at Padre Coffee for a caffeine hit. It's also home to the SO:ME pop-up hub, featuring wares from a rotation of the city's best young talent, an on-site cooking school and a Thursday night market series every January and February. BULUK PARK AT NIGHT FOR THE LIGHT HOUSE Victoria Harbour's Light House installation illuminates a 15-storey facade with moving lights, as dictated by the weather forecast. Running on the hour from dusk until midnight, the installation reads information from the Bureau of Meteorology in real-time, then displays different moving light patterns to depict various weather events for five minutes. For the rest of each hour, abstract light movements are used to reflect the way the weather feels, as sensed by a weather station on the building's roof. It's even more spectacular during one of the curated light shows for Christmas, New Year's Eve and Chinese New Year. Artist Bruce Ramus was inspired to create it based on just how much Melburnians talk about the weather. GASWORKS ARTS PARK You'll find no shortage of ways to get your cultural kicks at Gasworks in nearby Albert Park — a dynamic arts hub set across four hectares, on the site of a former gas plant. Incorporating grassy stretches of parkland, two theatres, a trio of gallery spaces and an on-site cafe, it always has something great to sink your teeth into. Catch a performance, exhibition or outdoor film; pick up new skills and inspiration at a workshop; or spend the morning cruising the farmers' market, which happens on the third Saturday of each month. Surround yourself with everything Docklands has to offer at the new 883 Collins Street development. Top restaurants, cafes, bars and activities are just a stone's throw away.
For local music-lovers, 2022 is set to go out with a bang. You'd best clear that calendar and warm up your ticket-purchasing finger because Victoria's new statewide music celebration Always Live just dropped its bumper program spanning from late October to early December. It's dishing up a star-studded lineup of gigs and concerts, featuring everyone from Dua Lipa and Sophie Ellis-Bextor, to Yothu Yindi and Sampa the Great. The newly announced spring program features a huge 150 local and international artists playing over 90 shows sprinkled across 12 different regions. And yes, that means there's something for every kind of music fan. [caption id="attachment_811633" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sampa the Great, Lucian Coman[/caption] UK disco-pop sensation Dua Lipa will be touching down to play the only small theatre show of her upcoming global tour, hitting the Palais Theatre for an intimate 2500-capacity, Victorian-only gig. Hip hop visionary Sampa the Great will return to her one-time hometown of Melbourne to showcase her new album As Above So Below live, while multiple ARIA Award-winner Jessica Mauboy joins a lineup of emerging stars playing a concert in Bright's Pioneer Park. And Aussie rock royalty Crowded House are headed to Wodonga for a one-off show on the banks of the Murray, joined on the bill by fellow local faves Angus & Julia Stone and Boy & Bear. [caption id="attachment_864725" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Toro y Moi[/caption] The international names will be here in force, too, including US chillwave pioneer Toro y Moi and Brooklyn-based folk rockers Big Thief. Plus, UK star Sophie Ellis-Bextor — recent addition to the Summer Camp lineup — is set to play a tiny show at the NGV Garden International Restaurant, to an audience of just 100. Australia's own Yothu Yindi will headline a roll call of established and rising First Nations musical activists for Blaktivism at Hamer Hall; while The Curtin Hotel's Bad Apples House Party will showcase stacks more Indigenous talent, including Briggs, Mo'Ju and Chasing Ghosts. Bendigo is set to fire up for new three-day music fest Almost Summer, featuring the likes of Bananagun and Black Cab, and St Kilda celebration Lovely Day serves up a beachside showcase starring The Teskey Brothers, Emma Volard and New York's Emily King. [caption id="attachment_864726" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Yothu Yindi[/caption] The return of the OK Motels series sees names like Cash Savage and The Last Drinks, and Nice Biscuit descend on the regional town of Charlton; The Far Side (FKA The Pharcyde) joins the freshest acts in hip hop, soul and R&B for FLOW Festival; and Rockin' the 'Burbs invites Aussie rock legends like Magic Dirt, Wendy Matthews and The Black Sorrows to grace the stage at some of the city's most iconic suburban haunts. Of course, this blockbuster lineup is on top of Always Live's many previously announced November shows, including Billy Joel's sold-out concert at the MCG, and Nick Cave and Warren Ellis' two-date Hanging Rock appearance. [caption id="attachment_864727" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Teskey Brothers, by Nick Mckinlay[/caption] To check out Always Live's full program and to grab tickets, jump onto the website.
After a year of slinging their fried dough balls at markets and festivals around town, the operators of one of our favourite food trucks have cut the ribbon on their very first brick and mortar store. Now trading on Peel Street just a stone's throw from Queen Vic Market, Lukumades specialises in hand-made Greek doughnuts, and oh boy are they something. You can get them served in the traditional fashion, with cinnamon and honey, or opt for something a little more extravagant. The Twix Fix pack, for example, comes smothered with melted chocolate, salted caramel, crushed Twix and vanilla bean gelato. And yes, Nutella also plays a prominent role on the menu, because some things never go out of style. The shop itself was designed by Michelle Macarounas of Infinite Design Studio, who sought to blend modern sensibilities with a touch of tradition. "Through bringing old world Greek references into a modern light, we wanted to create a space that evoked memories for some but also transported those new to the experience," said Macarounas. The result of her efforts: a cozy space filled with plenty of natural light, with seating both indoors and in the alley around the corner.
This time last year Tkay Maidza received a bunch of international attention for her release of 'Brontosaurus' (ft. Badcop). But to us, she sounded just like any another artist making miscellaneous party noises reminiscent of that act who plays those festivals we try to avoid. That being said, within the year she's developed into something special. Her latest EP Switch Tape offers '90s inspired breaks, with interesting production and confident vocal performances throughout. Adelaide's answer to Azealia Banks, Maidza brings so much energy to her recordings and we can't wait to see her on stage. After touring the UK and US, she's now returning home and hitting the road with a national tour for the new EP. Hitting up Sydeny's Chinese Laundry, Melbourne's 170 Russell and Brisbane's Alhambra Lounge, Maidza's sure to bring a pretty big party. Even Adelaide is getting some love — this local kid definitely has definitely done good.
On Thursday, May 27, Acting Victorian Premier James Merlino announced that all of Victoria would be going into a seven-day 'circuit breaker' lockdown in a bid to stop the spread of Melbourne's latest COVID-19 outbreak. The outbreak began on Monday, May 24, and has seen case numbers grow daily — the state's total currently sits at 39 — and the list of exposure sites expand rapidly as well. The current lockdown is scheduled to run until 11.59pm on Thursday, June 3. Current restrictions include the reinstatement of the four reasons to leave your home, the addition of a new fifth reason to head out, bringing back the five-kilometre travel radius and requiring mandatory face masks when leaving your house. This time around, all restrictions apply to both metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. The list of restrictions can be a bit overwhelming, so we've broken down just what you can and can't do. This information is correct as of Friday, May 28. For what reasons am I allowed to leave the house? Remember those four reasons announced back in March 2020? These reasons have been reintroduced, meaning you can only leave home to purchase groceries and other essentials, for care and caregiving, for outdoor exercise and recreation, and for permitted work. You can find out more about what classifies as permitted work and restrictions surrounding those workplaces on Victorian coronavirus website. New this time, however, is a fifth permissible reason to leave the house: to get a COVID-19 vaccination. The state is also rolling out the vaccine to everyone over the age of 40 from Friday, May 28, meaning that Victorians aged between 40–49 years will be able to access to the Pfizer vaccine via the state's vaccination sites. For how long can I leave the house? You can leave to exercise once per day for up to two hours. One member of your household is permitted to leave once per day for groceries and other essentials. There are no limits on how long you can leave for permitted work or caregiving. Is there a curfew this time? No, there is no curfew. You are allowed out of your house at any hour as long as it is for one of the four permitted reasons. Do I have to wear a mask? Yes, masks or face coverings are still compulsory whenever you leave home. You can find out all the nitty-gritty in our article about the mask mandate. How far can I travel? You can only travel up to five kilometres from your home. The only reasons to exceed this five-kilometre radius is for permitted work, receiving care and caregiving, to visit your partner or someone in your 'single bubble' (we'll get to more on these in a second) or if you live in an area where the closest essential services, such as shops, are over five kilometres away. You can also leave your home in the case of an emergency or family violence. Unless you've moved house since the last lockdown, you're probably very familiar with this five-kilometre radius, but if you want to have another look at what's around, check out this handy website. Can I see friends and family? No, you can't have generally visitors to your home — or gather with friends and family in a public place during the current lockdown. You are allowed to be joined by members of your household or one other person who lives within your five-kilometre radius while exercising. You can check your five-kilometre bubble crossover on this nifty website. Partners who live separately are allowed to visit each other at home and can leave their five-kilometre bubble to see each other, though. And, as this lockdown is planned for seven days, the single bubbles are back — so you can have one other designated person over to your house (just one, and only the sole person you have nominated) if you live alone. Can I drive to a park to exercise? As long as it's within five kilometres of your home, yes. You can exercise for a maximum of two hours, once per day. Can I go to the beach? You can go to the beach for exercise if there is one within five kilometres of your home. But, you can only go for a maximum of two hours and with one other person or the members of your household. [caption id="attachment_663112" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Takeaway Pizza[/caption] How about to a restaurant or cafe? You can pick up takeaway from a hospitality venue located within five kilometres of your home, but dine-in service is off the cards. If you're looking to order takeaway, this directory lists all the takeaway options within your five-kilometre radius and Deliveroo is waiving its delivery fees throughout the lockdown. Or a gym? All gyms (indoor and outdoor), boot camps, sporting facilities and public pools are closed. Are professional sporting events permitted? Yes, professional sporting events including the AFL will proceed without crowds. Under the restrictions, professional athletes are permitted workers and are therefore allowed to leave their homes to compete in these events. Can I go shopping? For groceries and other essentials, yes. Supermarkets, food and liquor stores and pet stores are all open. But, only one person from your household can shop for essentials a day — and not all shops are open, or some will have altered hours, so check before you head off. You must also shop for essentials within your five-kilometre bubble if you can. Can I attend a funeral? Yes, however funerals are limited to ten mourners, plus those required to conduct the funeral. Can I attend a wedding? No, weddings are not permitted, except for on compassionate grounds. If you have more questions, the Victorian Government has an extensive list of FAQs on its website. Top image: Parker Blain
Nutella has a legion of fans. Peanut butter, too. But for those who are't so fond of nuts, or happen to be allergic to them, Lotus Biscoff cookie butter spread has emerged as a very worthy alternative. It's made from the crumbs of Lotus Biscoff caramelised biscuits, comes in creamy and crunchy varieties and, understandably, has picked up quite a following. Last year, Australians were also able to enjoy Lotus Biscoff cookie butter spread in their gelato, thanks to a limited-edition flavour at Gelatissimo. In 2021, another team up is bringing the spread to your tastebuds in a creative fashion — this time thanks to Krispy Kreme's new range of Lotus Biscoff doughnuts. If you've ever had trouble choosing between slathering Belgium's Lotus Biscoff cookie butter spread over bread or munching your way through a circular baked good or two, you no longer need to pick — at least while stocks last at Krispy Kreme stores around the country, and at 7-Elevens as well. Two types are available, with the 'Lotus Biscoff Ring' taking an original glazed doughnut, smothering it with Lotus Biscoff spread, and adding a swirl of Lotus Biscoff crème on top. As for the 'Lotus Biscoff Cheesecake' version, it's dipped in the spread, filled with cream cheese frosting, and then topped with Lotus Biscoff crumbs and chocolate ganache. The Lotus Biscoff doughnuts are also available via Krispy Kreme delivery, click and collect, Uber Eats, Menulog and Deliveroo. Krispy Kreme's Biscoff doughnuts are available from all stores nationwide while stocks last (including via Krispy Kreme delivery, click and collect, Uber Eats, Menulog and Deliveroo) and at 7-Eleven stores nationally.
It's hard to ignore the glistening sails of the Sydney Opera House or the star-studded sands of Bondi Beach when compiling a bucket list of must-visit sites in New South Wales. But these beloved icons are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to jaw-dropping landmarks in the state. Whether carved by hand or etched out by the elements over millennia, there is a bounty of awe-inspiring sites across NSW. A trip to these destinations could see you trekking through the desert or meditating in secluded gardens, so match your adventure to your mood and map out a mission to these ten glorious landmarks.
When John Carpenter gave the world the exceptional slasher flick that is Halloween, the iconic filmmaker also gave us all something to watch each and every October 31. No one wants to limit themselves to just one scary movie on the spookiest day of the year, though. And while the Halloween franchise has plenty of entries (some excellent, some terrible, some average), it's not the only thing worthy of your eyeballs while you're carving pumpkins, eating candy and dressing up in the most frightening costume you can conjure up. While 2020 has been unsettling all round for everyone, it has also served up a heap of unnerving flicks — especially (and fittingly) via streaming platforms. So if your idea of a perfect Halloween this year involves getting reacquainted with that groove on your sofa and binging your way through the latest and greatest horror movies that are currently offer, we've rounded up a ten-movie viewing list that'll do the trick. You'll need to supply the treats, obviously. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZHg9xcK83s THE MORTUARY COLLECTION When The Mortuary Collection begins with a kid on a bicycle making his way towards a creepy multi-level mansion in a remote part of a small town — a mortuary, as the title makes plain — you can be forgiven for thinking that it's about to step into Goosebumps or Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark-style territory. That firmly isn't the case, even though this horror flick serves up an anthology of unnerving tales all framed by an overarching narrative. In the bigger picture, as set in the 80s, Raven's End mortician Montgomery Dark (Clancy Brown, Billions) finds a young woman called Sam (Caitlin Custer, Teen Wolf) hovering around the house. She says she's enquiring about the 'help wanted' sign outside and, as they chat, he starts talking her through the histories of folks who've died in the town. Cue four separate segments that feature everything from tentacled monsters and sleazy frat boys to creepy corpses and escaped asylum patients. Each story within the bigger story tells a tale about bad choices leading to bad outcomes, and they're so richly staged that even the briefest still keeps viewers interested. Writer/director Ryan Spindell might be making his feature debut, but from his handling of the movie's equally ominous and entertaining mood to its well-executed lashings of gore, he has crafted himself quite the calling card. The Mortuary Collection is available to stream via Shudder. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Atqf47wM5Gg RELIC It's a recognisable setup: a remote house, a family haunted by decades-old troubles, a murky history that's still leaving an imprint and tension levels rising when, naturally, strange things start to happen. But Australian horror movie Relic has more than a few surprises up its sleeves as it follows three generations of women in a Victorian-based family. In fact, while the slow-burning affair is set in a nerve-shatteringly creepy house that's up there with many a horror great, and it serves up well-executed jumps, bumps and unnerving sensations, this smart, thoughtful and constantly disquieting film also uses its concept and plot to ponder the physical and emotional impact of ageing, including dementia. It all starts with the disappearances of the widowed and elderly Edna (Top of the Lake's Robyn Nevin). Her daughter Kay (Mary Poppins Returns' Emily Mortimer) arrives from Melbourne to join the search, with her own offspring Sam (Bloom's Bella Heathcote) in tow, but then Edna reappears suddenly without any explanation for her absence. In the assured feature directorial debut of Japanese Australian filmmaker Natalie Erika James, Kay and Sam still need to try to ascertain just what happened, though, and work out why Edna's house — and, increasingly, Edna too — seems so sinister. Relic is available to stream via Stan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNZQ2GG833o SHE DIES TOMORROW When She Dies Tomorrow splashes Kate Lyn Sheil's face across the screen, then bathes it in neon flashes of pink, blue, red and purple, it isn't easily forgotten. It's a vivid, visceral, even psychedelic sight, which filmmaker Amy Seimetz lingers on, forcing her audience to do the same as well. Viewers aren't just soaking in trippy lights and colours, though. They're staring at the expression beneath the multi-hued glow, which seethes with harrowing levels of shock, fright, distress and anxiety. That's understandable; this is the look of someone who has just had the most unnerving realisation there is: that she is going to die tomorrow. Yes, that's the film's premise, with Sheil's Amy believing that her life will end the next day. But it's how the on-screen Amy copes with the apocalyptic news, and how it also spreads virally from person to person, that fuels this gloriously smart and unsettling thriller. Toying with surreal Lynchian moments yet always feeling disarmingly astute, She Dies Tomorrow follows the spread of that potentially paranoid, persecution-driven delusion like a contagion, with the haunting feature's cast also including Katie Aselton (Bombshell), Chris Messina (Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)), Josh Lucas (Ford vs Ferrari), Tunde Adebimpe (Marriage Story) and Jennifer Kim (Mozart in the Jungle). She Dies Tomorrow is available to stream via VOD on Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQ8CCg1tOqc #ALIVE Train to Busan and Peninsula aren't the only recent films to wonder how South Korea might cope with a sudden zombie outbreak. The unrelated #Alive also explores the concept, focusing on a video game streamer as an unexplained disease turns most of Seoul's residents into members of the guts-munching undead. Holed up in the seeming safety of his family's apartment, Oh Jun-u (Burning's Yoo Ah-in) doesn't initially take the situation well. As shuffling hordes lurk outside, his dismal food supply rapidly declines, and he worries about the safety of his parents and sister, he attempts to survive — and to fight off the gnawing feeling that perhaps his struggle is futile. A box office hit when it released in South Korean cinemas this year, #Alive never feels as formulaic as its premise might suggest. In fact, this horror-thriller proves constantly tense, and not just because pandemic films have that effect at the moment. Making his first feature, writer/director Il Cho handles the zombie scenes with urgency and makes ample room for quiet moments; however, his best decision is casting the ever-watchable Yoo. #Alive is available to stream via Netflix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlfooqeZcdY THE PLATFORM Set in a series of confined spaces, stressing the immense disparities between the haves and the have nots, and watching as people fight over everyday items — food, in this case — The Platform couldn't be more relevant to 2020. That's a coincidence, of course, with this twisty Spanish thriller first screening at film festivals in 2019 before hitting Netflix this year. It all starts when Goreng (Iván Massagué) wakes up in a prison cell. He's on level 48 and, as his cellmate Trimagasi (Zorion Eguileor) explains, there are 47 storeys above and who knows how many below. He can see this for himself, however, because the concrete room has a hole in the centre of both the ceiling and floor. Through this opening, their daily meal descends on a platform, before moving to the lower levels. For the folks at the top, that means that a huge feast awaits. Alas, as the platform makes its way down level by level, each cell is faced with leftovers, scraps, bones and eventually nothing. Funny, furious, grim and violent all at once, The Platform is also impeccably staged and shot, stressing the claustrophobia of its setting as well as the dog-eat-dog mindset that quickly develops among its characters. The Platform is available to stream on Netflix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNlKbqHqGcY HOST Not to be confused with Bong Joon-ho's creature feature The Host, nor with the terrible sci-fi romance of the same name based on a novel by Twilight author Stephenie Meyer, Shudder's engaging horror flick Host is relevant to the absolute minute. Indeed, it could've only been made this year. The setup: bored in COVID-19 lockdown, a group of British friends (Haley Bishop, Jemma Moore, Emma Louise Webb, Radina Drandova, Caroline Ward and Edward Linard) decide to spice up their weekly Zoom catchup by enlisting a medium to conduct an online seance. Obviously, anyone who has ever seen a scary movie before knows that this is a bad plan, and that things won't end well. It's not so much what happens here that serves up the film's thrills, however, but how director Rob Savage (Strings) unfurls this creepy, timely premise. Frightening and tense features solely set on computer and mobile phone screens are by no means new — see Unfriended, Searching and Profile, just to name a few recent examples — but this is a savvy, cleverly managed and suitably spooky addition to the genre. It'll also turn you off trying to summon the dead next time you jump on Zoom yourself. Host is available to stream via Shudder. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auVZKcxV7XQ SWALLOW Some films boast a stellar lead performance, so much so that you couldn't imagine the movie without it. Some find their strength in a clever, astute and engaging premise. Swallow ticks both boxes — and combines them with a mood and look that instantly make an imprint. In the feature debut of writer/director Carlo Mirabella-Davis, young housewife Hunter Conrad (Haley Bennett, The Devil All the Time) seems to have it all. She has married into a wealthy family, her husband (Austin Stowell, Fantasy Island) has a high-flying job, they've been gifted a lavish house surrounded by countryside and she's now expecting. But, when she isn't being left home alone day in, day out, she's expected to be dutiful and doting by her controlling new family. So, to regain a sliver of power over her life, Hunter starts swallowing strange objects. Bennett is phenomenal as a woman slowly awakening to her restricted reality, fighting to break free and coming to terms with her past, putting in a quiet, nuanced yet potent performance. And the film itself walks confidently in the footsteps of masterpieces such as Safe and Rosemary's Baby, while always following its own path. Swallow is available to stream on Stan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeYWT7CnFK0 SCARE ME Written and directed by Josh Ruben, and starring him also, Scare Me doesn't just like scary movies — it flat-out loves scary stories. Indeed, this pared-back horror film understands that sometimes all that's needed to keep an audience on the edge of their seats is a great tale told well. Its characters, both writers, are all about unfurling creepy narratives. Fred (Ruben) falls into the aspiring category, while Fanny (You're the Worst and The Boys' Aya Cash) has an acclaimed best-seller to her name. With each taking time out in the mountains to get some work done, these two strangers end up in Fred's cabin telling each other disturbing stories when the power goes out (and trying to one-up each other, naturally). For its first two-thirds, Scare Me makes the most of that basic concept. Fred and Fanny perform their tales, sound effects and ominous lighting kicks in — it's a stormy night, of course — and the mood is suitably perturbing. The film also demonstrates its self-awareness, namedropping other genre titles with frequency and sending in a pizza from the Overlook. When this Sundance-premiering feature decides to ponder real-life horrors as part of its layered stories, however, it proves especially potent. Scare Me is available to stream now via Shudder. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJvKDp54YjM SPIRAL It shares its name with the next movie in the Saw franchise, which'll hit cinemas next year. But this Spiral gives a familiar premise a smart, topical and resonant twist. In the mid-90s, Malik (Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman, UnREAL) and Aaron (Ari Cohen, IT: Chapter Two) move to a small town with the latter's teenage daughter Kayla (Jennifer Laporte, iZombie), seeking a quieter, happier life away from the city. They're initially greeted warmly by neighbours Marshall (Lochlyn Munro, Riverdale) and Tiffany (Chandra West); however, in general territory traversed by many a horror film before this, things aren't quite what they seem. Indeed, when Malik comes home one day to find a homophobic slur graffitied on their living room wall, he starts to get suspicious about the cliquey community they're now calling home — fears that Aaron doesn't share. There is clearly much about Spiral that fits a template, but director Kurtis David Harder and writers Colin Minihan and John Poliquin do an shrewd job of moulding this unsettling movie into a timely statement. The result: a feature that's as much about spooky terrors as societal ones, and that possesses a considerable bite. Spiral is available to stream via Shudder. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nj6JIzrIzxk BLACK BOX Blumhouse, the filmmaking company started and run by producer Jason Blum, has quite a number of horror flicks to its name. It's responsible for Get Out, Happy Death Day, the latest Halloween and this year's version of The Invisible Man, with that list only continuing — and in 2020 it has launched a movie anthology series on Amazon Prime Video as well. Black Box is one of the flicks in the Welcome to the Blumhouse franchise, and it's the best of the four released so far. Written and directed by feature first-timer Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour Jr, the Black Mirror-esque sci-fi/horror hybrid focuses on photographer Nolan Wright (Mamoudou Athie, The Front Runner), who is struggling to regain his memory after a traumatic car accident. Then he's given the opportunity to try an experimental new treatment by brain specialist Dr Lilian Brooks (Phylicia Rashad), and this film starts toying with identity, loyalty and ethics. There aren't all that many surprises, narrative-wise, but Athie is excellent, Osei-Kuffour Jr maintains a sense of intrigue and, more often than not, the movie hits an emotional note, too. Black Box is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video.
To put it mildly, it's been a challenging year so far. And though the effects of the first half of 2020 can be felt in almost every corner of the world, small businesses are especially feeling the toll. Which is why investing your hard-earned dollars in local businesses across Australia is a great way to put your money to good use and spend consciously. To help you do just that, we've teamed up with Square to bring you a list of local businesses across Australia that can deliver ethically sourced coffee, a new leafy housemate or a cake to cheer up a friend. Square has the tools to help businesses, even when business is not running as usual, like contactless payment systems and online stores with pickup, delivery and shipping services. So, whether you choose to shop online, pop into these small businesses, or buy a voucher for a future trip, you'll be spending your money wisely and keeping the little guys in business at the same time. BUY GREEN BABIES FROM THE PLANT SOCIETY Set up by Jason Chongue and Nathan Smith in Melbourne in 2016, The Plant Society has you covered for all things green whether you live near one of its stores or not. If you're in Melbourne and Sydney, its Collingwood and Paddington stores have an extensive range of plants — from swiss cheese vines to chinese money and fruit salad plants — as well as handmade ceramics, homewares, planter kits, candles and plenty of gardening gear. But, no matter where you live, you can browse its online store to shop for ceramic planters, keep cups, plants, seeds and candles to brighten up your living space. Plus, to help deliver your goods to you safely, The Plant Society offers free delivery for all purchases over $150. You can also buy gift vouchers from $30, if you'd like to spend now to support the small business in the future. [caption id="attachment_758750" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Erik Dungan[/caption] STOCK UP ON VINO AND FROMAGE FROM THE CHEESE & WINE CO If you're a fan of wine, cheese and intimate date nights, and live in Sydney, you should pay The Cheese & Wine Co in Neutral Bay a visit. The small wine bar features a consistent rotation of the best local and international wines and cheeses, along with charcuterie and antipasto platters. The bar is open for 90-minute seatings for tapas-style dishes, accompanied with stellar drops of wine. Practising social distancing, The Cheese & Wine Co is limiting its capacity right now, so it's best to book online beforehand, and its also open for walk-ins for breakfast and lunch sittings. If you live locally, can also purchase a takeaway bottle of wine by ordering online and picking up in store. HAVE CAKE DELIVERED FROM KOI DESSERT BAR You may be familiar with the name Reynold Poernomo from MasterChef. Before he was winning hearts on national TV, he and his family created KOI Dessert Bar in Chippendale. The laneway dessert bar offers a range of savoury snacks and desserts — think pie tee tart, pumpkin with mascarpone and a guava and green apple meteor. If you're in Sydney, you can book a four-course dessert tasting menu from $95 per person, Sunday to Thursday. Or, for at-home indulgence, you can choose from a rotation of smaller desserts and cakes to take away. Visit KOI's Cake Shop for mascarpone tiramisu, passion colada and pear mousse, or a larger celebration cake, such as strawberry lychee, nomtella or mango yuzu ($55–160). Delivery stretches to Sydney's eastern suburbs, inner west, north shore and CBD, or you can select scheduled pickup at its Chippendale or Ryde stores. SEND BAKED GOODIES FROM FALCO Falco is a small-batch bakery in Melbourne's inner north that boasts a range of baked goods alongside coffee that's been roasted just around the corner. The bakery specialises in traditional methods with innovative twists; its sourdoughs range from oat porridge and toasted sesame to a classic wholemeal. For something a bit sweeter, it's hard to go past its peanut butter and miso cookies, cardamom buns, fruit danishes and jalapeño and cheddar croissants ($4–5). During lockdown, the bakery has daily pre-order and delivery options, too, making it easier and safer to get your baked goods if you're staying at home. Not in Melbourne? Send a gift to a friend, such as the Falco tote ($20) and a bag of single origin ground coffee ($19) within three kilometres of the Collingwood store. HAVE FRESH GROUND COFFEE DELIVERED FROM MARKET LANE Market Lane is a much-adored Melbourne coffee roastery and retailer. The folks here source beans from across the globe and then roast them in small batches in Brunswick East. The beans are then distributed to seven stores across the city, from Prahran to Brunswick East and through the city's CBD. If you're not Melbourne-based, or prefer to brew at home, you can purchase espresso or filter beans from the roastery's online store and enjoy free standard shipping Australia wide on all purchases over $30. There's also a fortnightly subscription (from $20), meaning you'll never run out of coffee again without having to leave your house. Planning ahead? Market Lane has a range ready for Father's Day (September 6), too, including pour over kits, a heavy duty apron, coffee subscriptions and gift vouchers. [caption id="attachment_716231" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Gould[/caption] ORDER VINYL FROM COTTONMOUTH RECORDS If you're a fan of good booze and even better tunes, you'll love what Cottonmouth Records has on offer. The record store and bar, located in Sydney's Enmore, is where you can pull up a pew and sip on a pale ale, XPA or IPA as you peruse the stacks of vinyl records surrounding the bar's walls. Here you'll find black gold from the likes of James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Beastie Boys, Blink-182, Lenny Kravitz, 2Pac and the Spice Girls, among many, many others. Not in Sydney? You can browse Cottonmouth's online record store where it sells an extensive selection of records from Blondie to Zappa, and everything between. Records start from $20, and shipping is calculated according to distance from Sydney. [caption id="attachment_741542" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Simon Shiff[/caption] BUY A GIFT CARD FROM HENRY LEE BARBERSHOP Collingwood's Henry Lee Barbershop may have its physical doors closed due to Melbourne's lockdown, but its online shop is very much still open for business — and you don't have to live in Melbourne to support this small business. Online, you'll find everything from hydrating and volume shampoo and conditioner to miracle treatment, wax, oil and hair putty by Australian brands Eleven, Fatboy and The Groomed Man. While you're there, you can also grab yourself or a mate a gift card (starting from $50) for when the barbershop reopens — after all, we'll all need a little TLC come September. To truly show your local love on your sleeve, you can order some of the barbershop's merch, too, including Henry Lee logo tees from $40. Find out how Square is supporting small businesses with the tools they need to grow, here.
Want to invest in crypto but aren't sure where to begin? Or are you already investing and want to avoid paying those pesky trading fees? Whether you're a crypto pro or total novice, you can now start investing in crypto sans trading fees via the Finder app. To celebrate the launch of Finder's new fee-free crypto-trading function, it's throwing a Bitcoin Drop Party where it'll be giving away a share of Bitcoin to everyone who signs up to the app. Once you've joined, you'll then have the chance to score even more Bitcoin via daily prize drops until the virtual party wraps up at 5pm on Monday, March 7. There's $200,000 worth of Bitcoin in total to be won, so don't worry, there's plenty to go round. Keen to join the party and to nab yourself some free Bitcoin while you're at it? The Finder Bitcoin Drop Party is happening online until 5pm, Monday, March 7. For more information and to read the terms and conditions, visit the website.
When bushfires swept through the Snowy Mountains in January 2020, Selwyn Snow Resort in Cabramurra sustained extensive damage. Unsurprisingly, the facility didn't operate during winter, spending the past focusing on clean-up and redevelopment efforts instead — and it has just announced exactly what's in store as part of its rebuild. A reopening date hasn't yet been set, but work has now started on the site, after planning approval was received last month. Also pivotal: the signing of a new 40-year lease between the New South Wales Government and the Blyton Group, the venue's owner. Accordingly, the resort is sticking around for the long haul, and it has big plans. That includes a new L-shaped Selwyn Centre, which'll house all guest facilities and services in one building — spanning ski and snowboard hire, lockers, ticketing, food and drink venues, seating and the kids club. There'll also be a new resort operations centre, where mountain staff will be based, complete with a new ski patrol setup. The staff accommodation will be moved, the chairlift will be upgraded and extended, and the snowmaking infrastructure will get a makeover. [caption id="attachment_802692" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Render of new Selwyn Centre[/caption] Also on the agenda: two new snow carpets just for perfecting turns — and, as part of a bigger and relocated toboggan park, another 150-metre snow carpet. The latter facility will also score a platform atop its slope, and the snow sports learning area will move into the toboggan park's former space, giving it more room. Mainly aimed at children but also bound to welcome the young at heart, a Winter Wonderland will join the resort, too. Taking pride of place will be a skating rink that can operate in all conditions, and also double as a bumper car arena. Visitors will be able to walk through a miniature enchanted village, and take snowshoe walking tours of Kosciuszko National Park. Strictly for the littlies, there'll be a tubing carousel and kid snowmobiles. Selwyn Snow Resort will implement a new ticketing system as well, when it's ready to reopen. Announcing the rebuilding plan, Blyton Group Chairman Kevin James Blyton noted that "in the aftermath of the fires, we committed to building a bigger and better Selwyn and we meant it. I'm very pleased that the long-term future of Selwyn Snow Resort has been secured. Selwyn Snow Resort has been the place for thousands of families to learn to ski or snowboard over the years and I'm very pleased that this will continue for generations to come". Selwyn Snow Resort is rebuilding at its existing site at 213A Kings Cross Road, Cabramurra, New South Wales. A reopening date hasn't yet been announced — head to the resort website to keep an eye on the project's progress.
Think of your favourite major events that have happened across the country — chances are Gill Minervini had something to do with them. The legendary creative director has been behind some of Australia's best festivals and parties. So, when you're wanting to bring some excitement to local communities, Minervini should be your first call. Wanting to encourage Aussies to support small, local businesses that have done it tough this year, American Express did just that. We recently spoke with Minervini about this special partnership — read on to learn about her creative process and the small businesses she loves supporting. [caption id="attachment_762640" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Winter Feast, Dark Mofo by Remi Chauvin[/caption] HER CAREER HIGHLIGHTS It's hard to play favourites when you've been at the helm of many of Australia's best events in the past two-plus decades. Minervini has been involved in Adelaide Festival, Sydney Lunar New Year and Art and About Sydney to name but a few. The ones that she seems most proud of are those that really drove positive change. "I was the first professional festival director that Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras had," Minervini says. This was in the late 80s and early 90s, which Minervini describes as the "golden era". "We were really crashing through some of those political barriers, and I'm very proud of the work I did there," she continues. Another career highlight was the birth of Dark Mofo's Winter Feast, now a beloved highlight of Tasmania's annual winter festival. "It brought together all the things I love: food, music, events, outdoor activations, community," Minervini says. "We didn't know if it would work or not. Clearly, it did." And, of course, one of her career highlights is still to come. In April 2021, Minervini was appointed one of her most exciting roles to date: Festival Director of Vivid Sydney. However, with the festival postponed till 2022, she's yet to make her Vivid debut. "I'm really looking forward to my first Vivid. We're working on programming that now" she tells us. THE SILVER LININGS OF LOCKDOWN It's impossible to discuss a career in the arts right now without acknowledging the big COVID-shaped elephant in the room. The past two years of lockdowns and ever-changing restrictions have decimated an industry already struggling. But, Minervini suggests, there are some silver linings to be found — for herself, for the industry and for audiences. "It's given me a lot more time in the planning and research phase. It's made audiences a lot more grateful in terms of the vast array of live events we have and what it looks like when they're not there," she says. "That sense of anticipation is a positive thing. It's going to take a while to recover, a lot of people have left the industry. But the renaissance is coming." HER CREATIVE PROCESS Minervini's mention of planning piques our curiosity. How does she approach the mammoth task of producing a creative event, be it a big citywide affair or a small activation? Where do you even begin? "It's really about research. It sounds boring but it's the most fascinating part of the job for me," says Minervini. "I always try to pare it back to: what is the story that we want to tell? And, most importantly, who are we trying to tell it to? It's that simple and that complicated. Finding that overriding narrative is really crucial. If you get that right, people will connect with it." Minervini also places a lot of importance on working with community members — from Indigenous leaders to LGBTQIA+ voices — to ensure their stories are central. "I try to make sure I'm as collaborative as I can be and that there's a sense of ownership and a sense of self-determination in terms of working with diverse communities. When you do that, the resulting event has a lot more power," she says. [caption id="attachment_836896" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Handsom[/caption] HER FESTIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH AMERICAN EXPRESS Minervini's creative process was practiced in her recent partnership with American Express. The brand enlisted Minervini to create spectacularly festive installations in the shop windows of Sydney's Collector Store and Art on King and Melbourne's Handsom for two important reasons. The first: to bring a dose of festive joy to local communities. And the second: to encourage Aussies to shop up a storm at small businesses that have done it tough this year. As a small business advocate, Minervini jumped at the opportunity. "It seemed like a match made in heaven," she says. She began by interviewing the business owners to understand their backgrounds, the shops' histories, the communities they operate within and their customers. The creative direction Minervini landed on was 'Great Things Come in Small Packages'. "These shops are small but there are amazing things in them. Things you wouldn't find anywhere else," she says. Designer James Dide then took Minervini's concept and put it into reality. The end result was three vibrant wreaths handmade out of paper through 3D printing — each completely unique and reflective of the shop they represent. "Each of the wreaths has elements of the area that the shop is in and elements of what they sell. For example, Art on King has some real urban elements in the wreath, everything from the local buses that run up King Street to birds of the area and telegraph poles," says Minervini. "Handsom had a really interesting take on what they love at Christmas time and what they sell in the store. The shopkeepers met in Ibiza, so some of the designs of their clothes are really inspired by Spanish summer vibes. So we really picked up on the colours, Spanish fans, stars, candles and florals." Collector Store's wreath is trying to convey the Aussie Christmas experience with florals, cockatoos, Australian natives and cocktail glasses, with Minervini saying it has "a real summery vibe". [caption id="attachment_836146" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Collector Store[/caption] HER FAVOURITE SMALL BUSINESSES Minervini's passion for small business is evident all throughout our chat. She partly attributes this to having come from a family of small business owners (publicans to be precise), but also to the unmatched experience one can expect from a small business. "If we lose those small local shops, we lose the diversity of what's on offer to us," she says. "The three shops that we're doing these installations in are a really good example of the curation of goods that you won't find anywhere else. You get an individualised experience." So, where in Sydney will she be hitting up for her Christmas gift shopping? "I'm a big reader and I love giving books, so I love Better Read Than Dead and Pentimento. And I'll be going to Collector. They have some of the most luxe towels — that's my present to myself," she says. [caption id="attachment_820890" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Casa Mia Osteria by Kitti Gould[/caption] HER SUMMER PLANS After such a busy and tumultuous year, it's safe to assume Minervini deserves a break (hell, we all do). And she has some pretty enviable plans for the next few weeks. "I will be doing a lot of swimming, a lot of reading and a lot of eating," she says. As an inner west local, she mentions a couple of restaurants that she'll be frequenting over this time: much-loved vegan pizzeria Gigi and King Street newcomer Casa Mio Osteria. "It's just brilliant," she says of the latter. She also plans to check out lots of Sydney Festival, which kicks off on January 6, and then "back to work because Vivid will be here very soon". After two long years without Sydney's favourite festival of lights and ideas, we can't wait to see what Minervini has in store for next year's program. Shop Small this festive season and spend at least $100 with a small business. This small action will help inject an additional $2 billion into the sector to help it recover. To learn about American Express and the Shop Small initiative, visit here.
Sitting down to enjoy a drink is one the simplest pleasures there is. You need the right beverage, a great space and good company, of course, but that's an easy-to-follow recipe. Monty's Bar in North Fitzroy has taken the idea to heart, with the laidback St George's Road joint all about keeping things straightforward. The star here: the experience of knocking back beverages and having a great time with your mates. Inside, you can opt for a booth beneath a gloriously 80s-style wine and fruit still life picture, or perch yourself on a stool at the bar. Outside, a brick-heavy courtyard, shady umbrellas and plenty of greenery await. Whichever you choose, you'll be steeped in a cruisy mood. And while the drinks list suits the pared-back vibe — think: spritzes, a handful of classic cocktails, two types of tinnies and beer on tap — fantastic things clearly come in small packages. Plus, food-wise, five kinds of pizza will tempt your tastebuds.
Returning for its fourth iteration, The Fork Festival sees top restaurants across the country offering sit-down meals for up to half the usual price. Yep, up to 50-percent off your total food bill, folks — think of it as the proverbial carrot luring you out of the house. Up and running as of today, Friday, April 22, the offer is a blessing for those feeling a little light-pocketed after Easter — or thanks to the spate of long weekends we're currently enjoying. To snag a half-price meal (or, in a few cases, 30-percent off), you just need to make a reservation through The Fork website or app at one of the participating eateries for any service (breakfast, lunch or dinner) during the six-week period. There are some great venues coming to the party, too. Victoria's lineup includes Brunswick Mess Hall and the Sarah Sands Hotel in Brunswick, Gasthaus on Queen, Piquancy, Amazing Graze Tea Rooms, and everywhere from Korr Jee Chicken and Lezzet to Neo Lemonade and Scarpetta. You might want to revisit an old favourite or you could get a little adventurous and road-test somewhere new. Either way, there's ample time to squeeze in a fair few discounted feasts before the festival wraps up on Sunday, May 29. [caption id="attachment_616526" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Eugene Hyland[/caption] Top image: Sarah Sands Hotel.
No one should need to cleanse their palates between Mad Max movies — well, maybe after Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome, depending on your mileage with it — but if anyone does, George Miller shouldn't be one of them. The Australian auteur gifted the world the hit dystopian franchise, has helmed and penned each and every chapter, and made Mad Max: Fury Road an astonishing piece of cinema that's one of the very best in every filmic category that applies. Still, between that kinetic, frenetic, rightly Oscar-winning movie and upcoming prequel Furiosa, Miller has opted to swish around romantic fantasy Three Thousand Years of Longing. He does love heightened drama and also myths, including in the series he's synonymous with. He adores chronicling yearnings and hearts' desires, too, whether surveying vengeance and survival, the motivations behind farm animals gone a-wandering in Babe: Pig in the City, the dreams of dancing penguins in Happy Feet, or love, happiness and connection here. In other words, although adapted from AS Byatt's short story The Djinn in the Nightingale's Eye, Three Thousand Years of Longing is unshakeably and inescapably a Miller movie — and it's as alive with his flair for the fantastical as most of his resume. It's a wonder for a range of reasons, one of which is simple: the last time that the writer/director made a movie that didn't connect to the Mad Max, Babe or Happy Feet franchises was three decades back. With that in mind, it comes as no surprise that this tale about a narratologist (Tilda Swinton, Memoria) and the Djinn (Idris Elba, Beast) she uncorks from a bottle, and the chats they have about their histories as the latter tries to ensure the former makes her three wishes to truly set him free, is told with playfulness, inventiveness, flamboyance and a deep heart. Much of Miller's filmography is, but there's a sense with Three Thousand Years of Longing that he's been released, too — even if he loves his usual confines, as audiences do as well. "My story is true," Swinton's Alithea Binnie announces at the get-go. "You're more likely to believe me, however, if I tell it as a fairy tale." Cue another Miller trademark, unpacking real emotions and woes within scenarios that are anything but standard — two people talking about their lives in a hotel is hardly fanciful, though. The tales that the Djinn relays, with debts clearly owed to One Thousand and One Nights, also dwell in the everyday; some just happened millennia ago. The Djinn loved the Queen of Sheba (model Aamito Lagum), but lost her to the envious King Solomon (Nicolas Mouawad, Mako). He then languished in the the Ottoman court, after young concubine Gulten (Ece Yüksel, Family Secrets) wished for the heart of Suleiman the Magnificent's (Lachy Hulme, Preacher) son Mustafa (singer Matteo Bocelli). And, in the 19th century, the Djinn fell for Zefir (Burcu Gölgedar, Between Two Dawns), the brilliantly smart but stifled wife of a Turkish merchant. What spirits the Djinn's time-hopping memories beyond the ordinary and into the metaphysical, and Alithea's narrative as well, is the figure first seen billowing out of blue-and-white glass, then filling an entire suite, then slipping into white towelling. Something magical happens when you pop on a hotel bathrobe — that space and that cosy clothing are instantly transporting — and while Alithea resists the very idea of making wishes, she gets swept along by her new companion anyway. As a scholar of stories and the meanings they hold, she knows the warnings surrounding uttering hopes and having them granted. She also says she's content with her intellectual, independent and isolated-by-choice life, travelling the world to conferences like the one that's brought her to Turkey and then to the Istanbul bazaar where she spies the Djinn's misshapen home, even if her own backstory speaks of pain and self-protective mechanisms. And yet, "I want our solitudes to be together", she eventually declares, and with exactly the titular emotion. Adapting this swoony affair for the screen with co-screenwriter Augusta Gore, his daughter, Miller knows that Three Thousand Years of Longing is indeed a cautionary tale, too. As Alithea is well aware, simply wishing can't genuinely make dreams come true; life is much too thorny and slippery for that. And, even when she allows herself to forget it despite her early protests, and the film lets her — Elba can fight lions on-screen in one flick, then capture hearts and dissolve defences in the next — Miller never does. It doesn't go unnoticed that every narrative within Three Thousand Years of Longing is one of captivity and power imbalances, with imagery to reinforce it. Containers and chains, physical and otherwise, envelop characters in all layers of the story. Love at times is one such prison, including when Alithea asks for it. This is a romance, but perhaps the most affecting notion it ponders is how love isn't really love if it isn't freely given. Three Thousand Years of Longing is also still a fairy tale as Alithea promises, with enchantment breezing in, lives forever changed and lessons imparted. Being so passionate and fantastical while never losing sight of life's essential truths is a complicated mix, and it often makes for a beautiful one under Miller's guidance. The intimacy and feeling when Three Thousand Years of Longing remains a superb two-hander isn't just charming — it's potent and moving. With her sharp red bob, circular glasses and thick but melodious accent, and with his calming eyes and perfect mix of charisma and sorrow, Swinton and Elba could've spent the entire movie talking and it would've been a pleasure to watch. Good Luck to You, Leo Grande has already shown how enticing a hotel room, a couple of chattering souls and laying oneself emotionally bare can be, especially with magnetic performances, and this would make a wonderful double feature with it. Human existence isn't just quiet, transformative, deep-and-meaningful one-on-one moments in plush surrounds and outfits, though, just as love isn't always bliss. Three Thousand Years of Longing is a work of two distinct approaches, recognising that, and also letting Miller bust out every stylistic yearning he has whenever his film ventures past Alithea and the Djinn conversing to its blasts from the past. The visuals swoop and slide, with Mad Max: Fury Road cinematographer John Seale again conveying his director's energy with verve and panache. The swift editing by Fury Road's Margaret Sixel, and the feature's creative transitions, do the same. Colour blazes bright, as does detail — gleaming from every surface, in fact — and spinning stories and escaping into fables becomes the most vibrant and urgent thing in the world. While watching and getting lost in Three Thousand Years of Longing, it frequently feels that way.
In real life, technology is bound to keep bringing out the worst in people, or vice versa, in 2024. If you want to see Charlie Brooker's take on how humanity's use of gadgets and innovations can go nightmarishly wrong, however, you'll need to wait until 2025. That's when Black Mirror will return for its seventh season, two years after 2023's sixth season. Given that there was a four-year gap after season five, that's positively speedy. Season seven's batch of Black Mirror episodes will also be bigger than the past two seasons, serving up six instalments — which only season three and four have done in the past. There'll be another link to season four, too, with one chapter in the seventh season set to be a sequel to its Star Trek-riffing USS Callister episode. Netflix confirmed Black Mirror's 2025 comeback, number of instalments and return dive into USS Callister's realm as part of the platform's unveiling of what's next set to hit its catalogue from the UK. If you're after more details about Brooker's huge hit, though, that's all there is for now. Cast members, other storylines, if any cast members from USS Callister — which featured Jesse Plemons (Love & Death), Cristin Milioti (The Resort), Jimmi Simpson (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia), Michaela Coel (Mr & Mrs Smith) and Billy Magnussen (Lift) — will be back: that's all still unknown, as is whether Brooker took any inspiration from his headline speaker gig at the first-ever SXSW Sydney in 2023. Still, you can start preparing yourself for next year's dose of dystopian dread, and speculating about what might get the Black Mirror treatment this time. The show's sixth season pondered streaming algorithms with Salma Hayek Pinault (Magic Mike's Last Dance) and Annie Murphy (Kevin Can F**k Himself), true crime with Samuel Blenkin (The Witcher: Blood Origin) and Myha'la Herrold (Bodies Bodies Bodies), and an alternative 1969 with Aaron Paul (Westworld), Josh Hartnett (Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre) and Kate Mara (Call Jane). Also on its list: a paparazzi tale with Zazie Beetz (Atlanta), Clara Rugaard (I Am Mother) and Danny Ramirez (Stars at Noon) — and the first Red Mirror episode, going full horror, with Anjana Vasan (Killing Eve), Paapa Essiedu (Men), Katherine Rose Morley (The Syndicate) and David Shields (Benediction). Season seven has an announcement video, which you can watch below, alongside the trailer for USS Callister: Black Mirror season seven will stream via Netflix sometime in 2025, but doesn't yet have an exact release date — we'll update you when one is announced. Read our review of season six, and our interview with Charlie Brooker. Images: Netflix.
Grab your bowling ball and swap your bathrobe for your best purple outfit — The Jesus Rolls, the two-decades-later sequel to the Coen Brothers' 1998 cult comedy The Big Lebowski, is due to hit the big screen in 2020. Instead of abiding by The Dude (Jeff Bridges), this follow-up spends time with John Turturro's Jesus Quintana, whose love of flinging gleaming balls down lanes means that he obviously isn't a golfer. Of course, if you still want to pour a white russian to celebrate this return excursion to the Lebowski universe, that's both understandable and warranted. Turturro not only stars, but writes and directs The Jesus Rolls, which was actually filmed back in 2016. Cast-wise, he's joined by a heap of familiar faces, including Bobby Cannavale, Audrey Tautou, Jon Hamm, Susan Sarandon and Pete Davidson. The movie will be released in the US early next year just in time for The Big Lebowski's 22nd anniversary — and while plans Down Under haven't yet been revealed, start crossing your fingers. As well as following Quintana's exploits post-Big Lebowski, The Jesus Rolls will also act as a remake of 1974 French film Going Places. As per the official synopsis reported by IndieWire, the picture will chart: "a trio of misfits [Turturro, Cannavale and Tautou] whose irreverent, sexually charged dynamic evolves into a surprising love story as their spontaneous and flippant attitude towards the past or future backfires time and again, even as they inadvertently perform good deeds. When they make enemies with a gun-toting hairdresser, their journey becomes one of constant escape from the law, from society and from the hairdresser, all while the bonds of their outsider family strengthen." The Jesus Rolls doesn't have a teaser just yet, but there's never a bad time to revisit its predecessor's trailer, should you need a reminder of Quintana's initial big-screen antics. If you're keen to watch the The Big Lebowski in its entirety, it's currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd-go0oBF4Y The Jesus Rolls hits US cinemas at a yet-to-be-revealed date in early 2020. We'll update you with local release details when they come to hand. Via Deadline / IndieWire.
Each year for 17 years now, Australian beer lovers have voted on their top craft brews. Only twice has the same tipple won not just for two years in a row, but in three consecutive polls. The first to manage the feat was Feral Brewing Co's Hop Hog from 2012–14. Now, Mountain Culture's Status Quo Pale Ale has also notched up the same achievement, winning from 2022–24. Emerging victorious in the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers poll for 2024, this Mountain Culture sip just keeps living up to its name, clearly. The brew from the New South Wales outfit in the Blue Mountains was anointed 2022's top drop and dubbed 2023's best tipple as well. So, yes, there is indeed a status quo among Australian beer drinkers of late — and it keeps being maintained. This yeasty poll does for beer what Triple J's huge annual music countdown for bangers — and while there's only been two threepeats in the GABS list's history so far, it sure does love repeat winners. In both 2020 and 2021, Canberra's Bentspoke Brewing Co did the honours with its Crankshaft American IPA. In 2022 and 2023, that brew came in third instead, then picked up fourth place in 2024. In second spot this time: Coopers Brewery's Original Pale Ale, taking over from 2017 and 2018 winner Balter Brewing Company, with its Balter XPA notching up third place — slipping down from second in 2022 and 2023. Gage Roads Brewing Co's Single Fin Summer Ale took out fifth spot, followed by Range Brewing's Disco in sixth, Your Mates Brewing Co's Larry in seventh place, Philter Brewing's XPA in eighth, 4 Pines Brewing Company's Japanese Lager in ninth and One Drop Brewing Co's We Jammin' to round out the top ten. Mountain Culture, which is run by husband-and-wife team DJ and Harriet McCready — and has boasted Australian cricketer Pat Cummins as its first investor since November 2024 — also placed 31st with its Cult IPA, 60th with its Be Kind Rewind NEIPA and 87th with its Scenic Route brew. And yes, it had more than a little company. 2024's hottest 100 was whittled down from almost 400 vote-receiving breweries, with 70 different outfits making the list. State by state, Mountain Culture was the best New South Wales brewery, of course, while Coopers was South Australia's top spot, Balter is the highest-ranked Queensland name and Bentspoke flies the flag for the Australian Capital Territory. Bridge Road is Victoria's top representative, while Gage Road and Fox Friday earn that label for Western Australia and Tasmania, respectively. Held by GABS — or the annual festival also known as the Great Australian Beer SpecTAPular, which returns for 2025 this autumn — the countdown is a people's-choice poll decided by booze lovers around the country. If you're thinking "less background, more beer", here's what you've been waiting for: the rundown of the best beverages from the past year that just keep tempting tastebuds. Working your way through the whole 100 isn't just a great way to show your appreciation for locally made brews, either — consider it research for the 2025 countdown. GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers of 2024 1. Mountain Culture Beer Co Status Quo 2. Coopers Brewery Original Pale Ale 3. Balter Brewing XPA 4. BentSpoke Brewing Co Crankshaft 5. Gage Roads Brewing Co Single Fin Summer Ale 6. Range Brewing Disco 7. Your Mates Brewing Co Larry 8. Philter Brewing XPA 9. 4 Pines Brewing Company Japanese Lager 10. One Drop Brewing Co We Jammin' 11. Bridge Road Brewers Beechworth Pale Ale 12. Young Henrys Newtowner 13. Stone & Wood Brewing Co Pacific Ale 14. Blackflag Brewing Rage Juicy Pale Ale 15. Pirate Life Brewing South Coast Pale Ale 16. Rocky Ridge Brewing Co Jindong Juicy 17. Capital Brewing Co Coast Ale 18. Bright Brewery Alpine Lager 19. Seeker Brewing Mystic NEIPA 20. Hawkers Beer West Coast IPA 21. Akasha Brewing Co Freshwater Pale Ale 22. Beerfarm Royal Haze 23. The Grifter Brewing Co Pale 24. Burleigh Brewing Co Burleigh Bighead 25. Black Hops Brewing G.O.A.T. 26. Hop Nation Brewing Co J-Juice 27. Blackman's Brewery Juicy Banger IPL 28. KAIJU! Beer KRUSH! Tropical Pale Ale 29. Reckless Brewing Co BX Lager 30. Fox Friday Craft Brewery Hazy IPA 31. Mountain Culture Beer Co Cult IPA 32. Little Creatures Pale Ale 33. Balter Brewing Eazy Hazy 34. Coopers Brewery Sparkling Ale 35. Mountain Goat Beer GOAT Very Enjoyable Beer 36. 10 Toes Brewery Pipeline 37. Better Beer Zero Carb 38. Hiker Brewing Co Horizon 39. Bodriggy Brewing Company Speccy Juice 40. Little Bang Brewing Co Sun Bear 41. Helios Brewing Co Dionysus Oat Cream DIPA 42. Range Brewing Lights + Music 43. CBCo Brewing CBCo Pale Ale 44. Banks Brewing Cake Eater 45. Moon Dog Craft Brewery Old Mate 46. Shout Brewing Co Mullet Pale Ale 47. Capital Brewing Co Capital XPA 48. Bad Shepherd Brewing Co Peanut Butter Porter 49. BentSpoke Brewing Co Barley Griffin 50. Matso's Mango Beer 51. James Squire One Fifty Lashes 52. Heaps Normal Quiet XPA 53. Margaret River Beer Co In The Pines 54. Moffat Beach Brewing Co Passenger Pale Ale 55. Heads of Noosa Brewing Co Japanese Style Lager 56. Green Beacon Brewing Co Wayfarer Tropical Pale Ale 57. Feral Brewing Co Biggie Juice 58. Wolf of the Willows Brewing Wolf PUP Hazy Pale Ale 59. Hawke's Brewing Hawke's Patio Pale 60. Mountain Culture Beer Co Be Kind Rewind 61. Lightning Minds Pale Ale 62. Balter Brewing Hazy IPA 63. Bridge Road Brewers Bling IPA 64. Sunday Road Brewing Cryotherapy 65. Brewmanity Mouth of Melbourne 66. Big Shed Brewing Concern Boozy Fruit 67. Coopers Brewery Australian Lager 68. Balter Brewing Cerveza 69. Capital Brewing Co Hang Loose Juice Hazy IPA 70. Coopers Brewery XPA 71. 4 Pines Brewing Company Pacific Ale 72. Black Hops Brewing East Coast Haze 73. Stomping Ground Brewing Co Gipps St Pale Ale 74. Byron Bay Brewery Premium Lager 75. Range Brewing Dreams 76. The Grifter Brewing Co Serpents Kiss 77. Wayward Brewing Co Hazy Mid 78. Curly Lewis Brewing Co Bondi Hazy Ale 79. Yulli's Brews Amanda Mandarin IPA 80. Hop Nation Brewing Co Rattenhund 81. Gage Roads Brewing Co Hazy As 82. Blackflag Brewing Affinity Tropical Pale 83. Hawke's Brewing Hawke's Lager 84. Future Magic Brewing Co Hazy Shade of Pale 85. Feral Brewing Co Hop Hog 86. Dangerous Ales Crispy Boi Lager 87. Mountain Culture Beer Co Scenic Route 88. 4 Pines Hazy Brewing Company Pale Ale 89. Gage Roads Brewing Co Side Track All Day XPA 90. Pirate Life Brewing Hazy XPA 91. Fox Friday Craft Brewery Pale Ale 92. Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel Three Sheets Pale Ale 93. BentSpoke Brewing Co Sprocket 94. Burleigh Brewing Co Twisted Palm 95. Mountain Goat Beer Tasty Pale Ale 96. Shelter Brewing Co Hazy IPA 97. White Rabbit Dark Ale 98. Jetty Road Pale Ale 99. Dainton Beer Blood Orange NEIPA 100. Bojak Brewing Calypso For more information about the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers of 2024, head to the GABS website.
When a new year starts, so does a whole new lineup of movies reaching the big screen, including at Moonlight Cinema. This summertime tradition may screen a heap of flicks that debuted a few months back, and classic titles as well, but its program is also filled with fresh releases. Take its just-announced January bill, for instance, which includes preview screenings of five big newcomers before they hit general release. Those titles: Steven Spielberg's coming-of-age filmmaking ode The Fabelmans, Guy Ritchie's latest Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre, the Margot Robbie-starring jazz age Hollywood-set Babylon, British rom-com What's Love Got To Do With It and Brendan Fraser-led awards contender The Whale. The January lineup comes after Moonlight cinema revealed its December programming back in November, and also started its 2022–23 season. As always, one piece of advice bears repeating: pack your picnic basket and get ready to watch a heap of flicks under the summer evening sky. While the outdoor cinema runs until different dates in different parts of the country — till mid-February in Brisbane and Adelaide, and the end of March in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth — this latest announcement focuses on its January films. So if you're keen to catch a movie under the stars over the break, take note. Other highlights include James Cameron's 13-years-in-the-making sequel Avatar: The Way of Water, Whitney Houston biopic I Wanna Dance With Somebody and Irish comedy The Banshees of Inisherin, as well as recent hits The Menu, Top Gun: Maverick and Ticket to Paradise. The exact roster varies per city, but the national retro programming includes Twilight, My Best Friend's Wedding, The Princess Diaries, Con Air, Magic Mike and the OG Top Gun. So, that's sparkly vampires, 90s rom-coms, royal hijinks, Nicolas Cage, barely clad men and a need for speed taken care of. Nosh-wise, Moonlight Cinema is letting you bring BYO movie snacks and drinks (no alcohol in Brisbane, though), but the unorganised can also enjoy a plethora of bites to eat from food trucks — perfect, messy treats made for reclining on bean beds. There's also a VIP section for an extra-luxe openair movie experience, a beauty cart handing out samples, and dogs are welcome at all sites except Perth — and there's even special doggo bean beds, and a snack menu for pooches. MOONLIGHT CINEMA 2022–23 DATES Brisbane: Thursday, November 24–Sunday, February 19 in Roma Street Parkland Sydney: Thursday, November 24–Sunday, March 26 in Centennial Park Perth: Friday, November 25–Sunday, March 26 in Kings Park and Botanic Garden Adelaide: Thursday, December 1–Sunday, February 19 in Botanic Park Melbourne: Thursday, December 1–Sunday, March 26 in Royal Botanic Gardens Moonlight Cinema runs through until March 2023, with dates varying per city. For more information and to buy tickets, visit the cinema's website — and we'll update you with further program details when they're announced.
Yabun — which means "music to a beat" in the Gadigal language — is an annual festival bringing a wide range of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander talent to Sydney's Victoria Park. Held each year on January 26 on Gadigal Land, the festival consists of Corroboree, performances from First Nations musicians, a marketplace, discussions, speeches and children's activities. After a few COVID-impacted years, the festival returned in full last year — and for 2024, it's serving up a huge program of beloved musicians. The lineup features a mix of up-and-coming and longstanding songwriters and performers. Emily Wurramara and Tasman Keith lead the way, alongside Velvet Trip, Fred Leone, Chasing Ghosts, Tjaka, Mi-Kaisha, Frank Yamma, GLVES, Cindy Drummond and Green Hand Band. [caption id="attachment_937421" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Joseph Mayers[/caption] A heap of dance groups will also be performing on the day, including Yangkay, Jannawi Dance Clan and Mui Mui Bumer Gedlam. Plus, you can attend panel discussions and community forums at the Speak Out tent, and shop for goods from First Nations businesses at the market. If it's a hot day, Victoria Park Pool is also right there for anyone who wants to cool off, so pack your swimmers just in case. If you can't make it down to Yabun Festival 2024 — or you want to join in from interstate — you can watch via a live stream via the festival's website.
Being a Barbie girl in a Barbie world wasn't just a 2023 trend, back when Greta Gerwig's (Little Women) Margot Robbie (Asteroid City)-starring — and Oscar-nominated — film became one of the biggest and pinkest movies to ever hit cinemas. The 2025 way to get your Barbiecore fix Down Under from Friday, June 27, 2025 through till summer 2026: by enjoying ice cream floats served in a pink Barbie convertible car at the Malibu Barbie Cafe, plus sipping fairy floss-topped cocktails at the Ken Kabana bar, all at The Social Quarter at Chadstone Shopping Centre in Melbourne. The Malibu Barbie Cafe has been popping up across the US, with New York, Chicago, Minneapolis, Miami, Austin and Houston all welcoming the venue — and the Victorian capital is hosting its debut stop beyond America. Pink hues? Beachy decor? Kicking it back to the 1970s, when Malibu Barbie initially debuted, at the onsite watering hole? A rollerskating rink lined by artwork of palm trees? A life-sized Barbie box? An installation that celebrates how Barbie as a brand has changed over the years? That's all on offer at the Malibu Barbie Cafe. So is merchandise that you won't find anywhere else, if you need a memento from your visit — although, with that in mind, we're sure that you'll fill your phone with plenty of photos. Ken's job isn't just beach here, given that his name adorns the cocktail-slinging upstairs bar in the two-storey site. On the drinks menu: that gin and lemonade concoction with spun sugar on top; themed takes on mojitos, margaritas, cosmopolitans, espresso martinis and old fashioneds; and more. If you're keen on a booze-free version, some of the tipples are available as mocktails. There's also a snack range, including fries with pink mayo, prawn cocktails, sushi and baked brie. Does putting your skates on appeal? You'll find that on the second level, too. Downstairs, Malibu Barbie Cafe's menu is an all-ages-friendly affair, with that ice cream float just one option. Sticking with sweets means choosing from doughnuts, pink cookies, cupcakes, ice cream sundaes, fruit and marshmallows. If you can't decide, the dessert sampler dishes up a mix of picks on a Barbie boat for between four and eight people. Savoury dishes span the same small bites as at the Ken Kabana, plus burgers, poke, garlic prawn linguine, beer-battered fish tacos, club sandwiches, grilled cheese, mac 'n' cheese and salads. Or, tuck into avocado toast, açai bowls, bacon and eggs, parfait or pancakes from the all-day brunch selection. Then, to drink, milkshakes, pink lemonade and pink lattes are among the options. If you're thinking "come on Barbie, let's go party", party packages are indeed a feature — including three-hour adults-only private-dining experiences from 6.30pm Thursday–Sunday.
Nightlife just got brighter with Heineken's new glow-in-the-dark beer bottle. Combining the coolness of a can with the curves of a bottle, this stream-lined aluminium packaging lights up under a black light to reveal a shooting star design. It's all part of the company's packaging refreshment, which takes inspiration from the night-club scene and aims to heighten the beer drinking experience. Mark Van Iterson, Manager Global Heineken Design & Concept said "We have a history of progressive design that has had lasting influence and changed the way people enjoy beer – from being the first to introduce green beer bottles to bringing draught beer to the home through DraughtKeg. Design is at the core of the Heineken brand." Heineken has also launched an initiative, Open Design Explorations, to source other branding and experiential ideas around the theme 'light up the night' from young designers around the globe. https://youtube.com/watch?v=R5mT2mhaKY0 [Via Cool Hunting]
Tasmania's north-west is a land of dizzying mountain peaks, ancient rainforests and rushing waterways. It's home to the Tarkine Wilderness, Cradle Mountain and the Franklin River. These wild places provide plenty of inspiration for local chefs and producers, who are spoilt for ingredients — be it pristine water, native berries, iron bark honey or fresh salmon. And the good news is, it's all too easy to spend a weekend indulging in their marvellous creations. Simply jump in your car and get yourself to Port Melbourne to board Spirit of Tasmania, which will sail you straight to Devonport and make your journey to Australia's southernmost state one to remember. Here, you can get a jump on your foodie road trip before you've even hit land. Partake in Tasmanian oysters in the ship's restaurant, indulge with ice cream from The Pantry shop, and enjoy the brews and sea views in the ship's bars. May to October there's even a Flavours of Tassie showcase, where you can sample everything from local cheeses and chocolates to wines and spirits. Here's your guide to eating and drinking once you drive off the ship in Devonport and hit the road to Launceston. SOUTHERN WILD DISTILLERY Your eating and drinking adventures begin as soon as you hit Devonport, with some gin tasting. You'll find Southern Wild Distillery on the western banks of the Mersey River. Master distiller George Burgess creates unique spirits that express Tassie's wild landscapes, using water from mountain streams and ingredients grown by locals. Meadow Gin, for example, is a heady mix of lavender, sage and oranges (alongside 12 other botanicals), while Ocean Gin features aromas of seaweed, nori, jasmine, ocean spray and rose petals. Burgess's weapon is a one-of-a-kind copper still, handcrafted for him by Stillsmiths, who live just up the road. Southern Wild Distillery is at 17 Fenton Way, Devonport SEVEN SHEDS BREWERY Now that you've tried some of Tassie's finest gin, it's time to find out how the brewers compare. Just half-an-hour's drive south of Devonport, in Railton, is Seven Sheds Brewery, Meadery and Hop Garden. Here, brewer Willie Simpson grows organic hops, which, along with mainly local malts, go into small-batch beers and Kentish ales. Meanwhile, local honey is turned into mead. Relax on a bar stool and (if you're not the designated driver) work your way through his creations, starting with Black Inca — a rich, black ale infused with cacao beans, as well as organic oats and quinoa — and working your way to Razzamatazz, a wheat ale infused with local clover honey. It also includes raspberries and blackberries from Christmas Hills Farm, your next destination. Seven Sheds Brewery, Meadery and Hop Garden is at 22 Crockers Street, Railton [caption id="attachment_666229" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] by Eugene Hyland[/caption] CHRISTMAS HILL RASPBERRY FARM CAFE Continue along Railton Road for another 20 minutes to reach the Christmas Hill Raspberry Farm Cafe, devoted to one of the best things in life: fresh raspberries. The farm cafe menu is an explosion of brilliant red, juicy goodness. Start with a raspberry daiquiri or Red Cow (blended raspberries, raspberry liqueur, Kahlua, milk, syrup), then tuck into crumbed mushrooms with raspberry chilli sauce or Petuna ocean trout with raspberry hollandaise, followed by raspberry ice cream. There's also a shop peddling jams, sauces and chocolates, letting you take some bucolic memories home with you. The Christmas Hill Raspberry Farm Cafe is at 9 Christmas Hills Road, Elizabeth Town [caption id="attachment_665957" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] by Adam Gibson for Tourism Tasmania[/caption] 41 DEGREES SOUTH By now, you could probably do with a stroll, so pop on your hiking boots and drive to 41 Degrees South, an inland salmon farm within Tasmania's World Heritage-listed wilderness. The self-guided walk takes you past the working farm and through wetlands before reaching Montana Falls. Along the way, expect to meet native birds, meandering creeks, diverse grasses, tranquil ponds and, if you're quiet and patient, maybe a platypus or two. Once you've worked up an appetite, sink into a chair at the cafe and prepare to taste some of the freshest salmon you've ever eaten. There are tasting plates, hot smoked salmon sandwiches and a mighty salmon burger, with local beers and wines to match. 323 Montana Road, Deloraine BLUE HILLS HONEY If you've time to explore further afield, head west to visit Blue Hills Honey, in Mawbanna – about 90 minutes' drive from Devonport. The Charles family have been making honey here since 1955 and, today, they sell it all over the world, from Hong Kong and Singapore to Germany and Russia. Every mouthful is created by European honey bees, who draw nectar from the flowers of leatherwood, manuka, blackberry and other Tasmanian natives. Bees wax and honey chocolate are on offer, too. 1858 Mawbanna Road, Mawbanna SLEEPING With so much eating and drinking to do, you'll need to make sure you get a good sleep. Stays don't get any more peaceful than Eagle's Nest Retreat, a luxe, totally private getaway on a rural property, with views directly over Tasmania's renowned Cradle Mountain wilderness. Expect a lush king-sized bed, floor-to-ceiling windows affording 360-degree views, your own campfire and an oversized spa. If you're really keen to float away, book a relaxation massage or a hot stone therapy session. You can also invite a private chef over to take care of dinner. THE NITTY GRITTY DETAILS HOW TO GET THERE: Sail to Devonport on Spirit of Tasmania, which departs Port Melbourne. That way, you can take your car with you, and load it up with gourmet gifts galore on the journey back — there are no weight restrictions stopping you. WHEN TO GO: Tasmania is spectacular all year round. WHAT DOES IT COST: This varies, depending on how many fancy lunches you plan on indulging in. Expect to spend anywhere between $50 and $200 a day (plus accommodation). To book your Tasmanian adventure today, head to the Spirit of Tasmania website.
Every great exhibition should make you feel like you're surrounded by the artist's work, whether or not it includes giant fairy tale forests or a towering spider. Melbourne-based outfit Grande Experiences takes that idea to heart, turning peering at masterpieces into an immersive 360-degree experience. Fancy seeing Italian Renaissance works, including the Mona Lisa, get the multi-sensory treatment? That's on the company's list in Australia next. When you've ushered the world into Vincent van Gogh's art — getting them not just peering at it but stepping through it — and Claude Monet's as well, what follows? Showcasing Michelangelo, da Vinci, Raphael, Botticelli, Caravaggio, Titian, Veronese and their peers. Van Gogh Alive proved a smash hit when it toured the country, even hitting up some cities multiple times. Monet in Paris dazzled Brisbane in 2023. Now, come 2024, Italian Renaissance Alive will become everyone's new reason to visit HOTA, Home of the Arts on the Gold Coast. The idea remains the same as Grande Experiences' other art must-sees, but the works being splashed across the walls, floors and ceilings will now hail from Italy from around the 15th and 16th centuries. And yes, that includes some of the big ones. The Sistine Chapel, The Last Supper, The Birth of Venus: they're all part of Italian Renaissance Alive in a huge way. Given the large-than-life manner in which they're presented, we really do mean huge, too. From Friday, March 29–Sunday, August 4, 2024, you'll mosey around, spy iconic art surrounding you everywhere you look, and be part of not just a showcase but an experience. So, there'll be light and colour, obviously, but also sound and scents. Providing the soundtrack: Puccini, Verdi and other Italian operatic tunes. This excuse to spend some time on the Gold Coast, whether that means taking a trip down the highway or flying up from down south (or west), is part of HOTA, Home of the Arts' just-announced 2024 program. Also on the bill: the currently showing Sneakers Unboxed: From Studio to Street, a southeast Queensland stint for Elvis: A Musical Revolution and the latest tour for Agatha Christie's stage whodunnit The Mousetrap. HOTA attendees will also be able to see catch Queensland Ballet's Coppélia, a stage version of Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach for the young and young at heart, a one-night-only performance of New Zealand's Wild Dogs Under My Skirt, Stunt Double by The Farm and more. Italian Renaissance Alive will display at HOTA, Home of the Arts, 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise Gold Coast from Friday, March 29–Sunday, August 4, 2024. For further details, head to the venue's website. Images: Grande Experiences.
If you're the sort of person who likes to eat meat until you start shaking with the meat sweats and can (m)eat no more, then a festival very relevant to your interests is coming to town. After selling out in Sydney and Auckland, Meatstock Festival, a two-day celebration of all things animal, is setting up its smoky self in the Melbourne Showgrounds on the weekend of April 22 and 23. Not just your regular food festival, bands on the Meatstock lineup include The Delta Riggs, The Davidson Brothers, The Tomahawks and Bullhorn. Sure, there'll be less music than there is at Woodstock, but there will be 200% more tasty meat-related foods. The food stars of the show are Jack The Ribber (smoky, slow-cooked goodness), and The Real Jerk (Caribbean street food). Try both, or all of the 13 food stalls and then fall into a sweaty, cholesterol-heavy heap — don't say we didn't warn you. There's more to see once you walk that off, like a live demonstration from The Sausage Queen or representatives from your favourite chilli sauces (Melbourne Hot Sauce) and knife brands. Finally, for a little old-fashioned rivalry, the festival will be running both Barber Wars and Butcher Wars, which will basically be a bunch of hopefully unbloodied people running around competing and wielding various knives. What a weekend. Meatstock will kick off on the Saturday, April 22 at Melbourne Showgrounds. Tickets are $35 per day or $55 for the whole weekend.
If you've seen the Disney Pixar film Up, chances are this picture is causing you a bit of déjà vu. As part of a new National Geographic television series, How Hard Can It Be, a team of scientists, engineers and balloon pilots recreated the scene from the hit flick in which 78 year-old Carl Frederickson escapes the ennui of his retirement home by tying balloons to his house and flying far away. Ben Howie, executive producer of the show, said the team "found it is actually close to impossible to fly a real house". After two weeks of intense planning, the team was successful in using an enormous cluster of helium balloons to lift a small, lightweight dwelling with several people inside. Each balloon required an entire tank of helium for inflation, and the house rose to a height of 3,500 metres, remaining airborne for around one hour. https://youtube.com/watch?v=C71rb-4_bOk [Via NOTCOT]
When Federation Square opened in 2002, its supporters were few and far between. But look at it now. Fifteen years later it's not only a sorta-widely acceptable piece of architecture, but it's also managed to lure in the world's biggest tech company, Apple. The Victorian Government announced today that Federation Square will soon be home to Apple's first Australian global flagship store. This two-level outpost will be bigger than its other Melbourne stores like Chadstone and Highpoint and, like its few other global flagships, will undoubtedly be architecturally significant. Apple has been extremely selective about the locations of its global flagships and there are only four others in the world, including Fifth Avenue in NYC and Regent Street in London. There isn't room for the building in Fed Square at the moment though, so the Victorian Government has agreed to knock down the Yarra Building to make way for it. This will displace the Koorie Heritage Trust, which will have to relocate to the Alfred Deakin Building across the way. Apparently the build of the Apple store will free up 500 square metres of public space. The Victorian Government's tourism body is evidently quite happy with the win, with the Minister for Trade and Investment Philip Dalidakis saying that this "reinforces Melbourne's reputation as the undisputed tech capital of Australia". Construction will start in 2019 with the build expected to be finished in 2020.
After nearly a decade of Westerosi power struggles, obsessed fans and soaring ratings, HBO now finds itself with a Game of Thrones-sized gap to fill. The network isn't completely saying goodbye to the world created by George RR Martin, with at least one spinoff confirmed, and several others possibly in the works. But it's also looking for its next big hit. Bleak superhero saga Watchmen is one of the network's options, with a television adaptation of the acclaimed graphic novel headed to screens later this year. His Dark Materials is another, as based on Philip Pullman's award-winning young adult trilogy of books of the same name. And if it sounds familiar, that's because — like Watchmen — one of them has already been turned into a movie. Twelve years after the incredibly family-oriented The Golden Compass made its way to cinemas, it's now heading to TV alongside sequels The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass. HBO is keeping things simple by sticking with the franchise name, other than individual book monikers. And, based on the just-launched first teaser, it has help from a hefty cast — with James McAvoy, Ruth Wilson, Lin-Manuel Miranda, The Wire's Clarke Peters and Logan's Dafne Keen all starring. Still on the big-name front, Academy Award-winning The King's Speech director Tom Hooper is helming the first two episodes. Keen plays Lyra Belacqua, an orphan who seems just like everyone else, but hails from an alternate universe — one where a person's soul manifests as a shape-shifting animal called a daemon. As she looks for a kidnapped friend in the Arctic, she discovers a church-run stolen children ring, learns about mysterious particles known as Dust and ventures through different worlds, including the one we all know. McAvoy pops up as a powerful aristocrat, Wilson is his ex and Miranda plays a balloonist and adventurer. While HBO hasn't announced an exact premiere date as yet, His Dark Materials' eight-episode first season will hit screens by the end of the year. Instigated by and co-produced with the BBC, the show has already been renewed for a second season before it even airs — so the US network is clearly aiming big. Check out the first teaser below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Qz8L4KaTss His Dark Materials will air on HBO in the second half of the year, with an exact release date yet to be announced. We'll keep you updated — including about air dates Down Under. Images: HBO.
For most Melburnians, much of the past 18 months has been lived in a bit of a bubble thanks to multiple stints of lockdown — including the current seven-day return to stay-at-home restrictions, which once again limits movement to within a five-kilometre radius of home. And, as a result, we've all become very good at mapping out where we can go for our daily grocery shopping and two hours of exercise. Hospitality ordering platform Mr Yum has taken the headache out of plotting your next at-home restaurant fix, too, with its handy feature: a directory listing all the eateries offering takeaway and delivery within five-kilometre radius of you. Any venue can sign up to be included in the online directory for free, regardless of whether it uses Mr Yum or another platform like UberEats or Deliveroo. And with hundreds of spots already listed, you've got a seriously comprehensive list of food options to browse, all gathered neatly in the one place and ready for some pre-dinner menu surfing. Tonka's modern Indian fare, by Tim Grey Plug in your address over on the directory's home page to access a hefty list of cafes, restaurants and bars located within five kilometres of your house, each with a quick link to its ordering system and menus. You can scroll through to see who's offering pickup, delivery, or both, and which venues are currently open or closed. No more chucking individual restaurant names into Google Maps to figure out which kitchen's serving spicy pork ramen within range. The directory has just about every kind of food craving sorted, with cafe favourites like Proud Mary and Sensory Lab listed alongside dinnertime go-tos including Tonka and Fancy Hank's. You'll even find drinking destinations like Beer Deluxe and Collingwood brewery Molly Rose, slinging a mix of food and booze. The Mr Yum's five-kilometre directory list is available to browse online. Top image: Rock Sugar.
Think there's just one Hottest 100 in January? Think again. The second important countdown of the month actually goes rather well with the music poll that just proclaimed Kendrick Lamar's 'HUMBLE' the nation's best track of 2017. In the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers list, great brews are in the spotlight. And, just like its music counterpart, a new victor has come out on top. That'd be Balter Brewing Company, the Gold Coast-based outfit part-owned by surfers Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson, Josh Kerr and Bede Durbidge. It beat Stone & Wood — the winner of both the 2015 and 2016 polls — to the number one spot, jumping up from fourth last time around in only the brewery's second year of operation. They also had five beers in total in the 2017 list. Now that's something to toast to, ideally with their winning 'XPA' American Pale Ale in your glass. Clearly, plenty of folks did just that throughout 2017. Run by GABS — or the annual brew fest also known as the 'Great Australian Beer SpecTAPular' — the countdown is a 'people's choice' poll is decided by booze-lovers around the country. Elsewhere on the list, 24 brews that first wet lips in the past year were included in the GABS Hottest 100, and 71 from indie brewers as well. If you're particularly keen on either, GABS have also released rundowns of the Hottest 100 New Craft Beers and the Hottest 100 Indie Craft Beers, plus the next 100 from the main countdown. If you're thinking "less background, more beer", here's what you've been waiting for: the rundown of the best beverages from the past year that just keep tempting tastebuds. Working your way through them isn't just a great way to show your appreciation for locally made brews — consider it research for the 2018 countdown. GABS HOTTEST 100 AUSSIE CRAFT BEERS OF 2017 'XPA' American Pale Ale (Balter, QLD)* 'Pacific Ale' Australian Pale Ale (Stone & Wood, NSW)* 'Crankshaft' American IPA (BentSpoke, ACT)* 'Newtowner' Australian Pale Ale (Young Henrys, NSW)* 'Single Fin' International Pale Ale (Gage Roads, WA)* 'Mosaic' American IPA (Pirate Life, SA) NEW 'IPA' American IPA (Balter, QLD)* NEW 'Jedi Juice' New England IPA (Hop Nation, VIC)* NEW GABS 'Beechworth Pale Ale' American Pale Ale (Bridge Road, VIC)* 'KRUSH!' American Pale Ale (KAIJU!, VIC)* 'Little Dove' International Pale Ale (Gage Roads, WA)* 'Former Tenant' Red IPA (Modus Operandi, NSW)* 'IIPA' Double IPA (Pirate Life, SA) 'Hop Hog' American Pale Ale (Feral, WA) 'IPA' American IPA (Pirate Life, SA) 'Pale Ale' American Pale Ale (4 Pines, NSW) 'Juicy' New England IPA (3 Ravens, VIC)* NEW 'Future Factory' Double IPA (Modus Operandi, NSW)* NEW 'Back To The Brewer' New England IPA (Mountain Goat, VIC) NEW 'Pale Ale' Australian Pale Ale (Black Hops, QLD)* NEW 'Sonic Prayer' American IPA (Modus Operandi, NSW)* 'One Fifty Lashes' Australian Pale Ale (James Squire, NSW) 'Pale Ale' American Pale Ale (Pirate Life, SA) 'Sprocket' American IPA (BentSpoke, ACT)* NEW 'Coast Ale' California Common (Capital, ACT)* 'Pale Ale' American Pale Ale (Little Creatures, WA/VIC) 'Barley Griffin' Australian Pale Ale (BentSpoke, ACT)* 'Trail Pale Ale' American Pale Ale (Capital, ACT)* 'Wild Yak' Australian Pale Ale (Yak Ales, VIC) 'IPA' American IPA (Fixation, NSW)* 'VPA' American Pale Ale (Nail, WA)* 'War Hog' American IPA (Feral, WA) 'XPA' International Pale Ale (Philter, NSW)* NEW 'Vanilla Milk Stout' Sweet Stout (Thirsty Crow, NSW)* 'Atomic' American Pale Ale (Gage Roads, WA)* 'Windjammer' American IPA (Green Beacon, QLD)* 'Kolsch' Kölsch (4 Pines, NSW) 'Furphy Refreshing Ale' Kölsch (Furphy, VIC) 'India Red Ale' Specialty IPA (Prancing Pony, SA)* 'The Matriarch' New England IPA (CoConspirators, VIC)* NEW 'Indian Summer Ale' Australian Pale Ale (4 Pines, NSW) 'Throwback' American IPA (Pirate Life, SA) 'Pilsner' German Pilsner (Balter, QLD)* NEW 'Korben D.' Double IPA (Akasha, NSW)* 'Golden Stout Time' Sweet Stout (Big Shed, SA)* GABS 'Cloud Catcher' Australian Pale Ale (Stone & Wood, NSW)* 'Twisted Palm' American Pale Ale (Burleigh, QLD)* 'Bling' American IPA (Bridge Road, VIC)* 'Three Sheets' Australian Pale Ale (Lord Nelson, NSW)* 'Mount Tennent' American Pale Ale (Pact, ACT)* 'The Mountie' Specialty Beer (Stockade, NSW)* NEW GABS 'Squish' Specialty IPA (Fixation, NSW)* NEW 'Wayfarer' American Wheat (Green Beacon, QLD)* 'Hopsmith' American IPA (Akasha, NSW)* 'Hornet' American IPA (Black Hops, QLD)* NEW '3 Bolt' American Pale Ale (Green Beacon, QLD)* 'Summer Hop Ale' American IPA (Young Henrys, NSW)* 'Small Ale' American Pale Ale (Colonial, WA/VIC)* 'Pale Ale' American Pale Ale (Colonial, WA/VIC)* 'Steam Ale' California Common (Mountain Goat, VIC) 'Natural Lager' Pale Kellerbier (Young Henrys, NSW)* 'Dark Ale' Porter (White Rabbit, VIC) 'Spearhead' Australian Pale Ale (Cricketers Arms, VIC) 'Fat Yak' Australian Pale Ale (Yak Ales, VIC) 'IPA' Specialty IPA (Colonial, WA/VIC)* 'Pale' American Pale Ale (Modus Operandi, NSW)* 'Dog Days' Australian Pale Ale (Little Creatures, WA/VIC) 'Evil Eye' Red IPA (Capital, ACT)* 'Pale Ale' Australian Pale Ale (Kosciuszko, NSW) 'Taco' Specialty Beer (Two Birds, VIC)* GABS 'Old Mate' American Pale Ale (Moon Dog, VIC)* 'Summer Ale' Blonde Ale (Mountain Goat, VIC) 'Garden Ale' Australian Pale Ale (Stone & Wood, NSW)* 'Hazelnut Brown Ale' English Brown Ale (Bad Shepherd, VIC)* 'Tusk' Double IPA (Feral, WA) 'Hazy Craze' New England IPA (White Lies, QLD)* NEW 'Session IPA' Specialty IPA (Modus Operandi, NSW)* 'Aftermath' Double IPA (KAIJU!, VIC)* 'TPP Strong Pale Ale' American Pale Ale (Pirate Life [SA] / Ballast Point [USA]) NEW 'Vanilla Malt Thickshake' Winter Seasonal Beer (Pirate Life, SA) NEW GABS 'The Punch' Gose (Hop Nation, VIC)* 'Juicy Banger' Dry Hopped Lager (Blackman's, VIC)* NEW 'Biggie Juice' New England IPA (Feral, WA) NEW '7 Bells' Gose (Green Beacon, QLD)* NEW 'Blood Orange New England Rye IPA' New England IPA (Dainton, VIC)* NEW 'The Swindler' Australian Pale Ale (James Squire, NSW) NEW '28' American Pale Ale (Burleigh, QLD)* 'India Pale Lager' Pale Lager (Beerfarm, WA)* 'Bighead' Pale Lager (Burleigh, QLD)* 'Black Metal Disco' Sweet Stout (Balter, QLD)* NEW 'Passion Victim' Australian Pale Ale (Two Birds, VIC)* NEW 'Robust Porter' Porter (Bridge Road, VIC)* 'Session Ale' Australian Pale Ale (Mismatch, SA)* 'Pale' American Pale Ale (Mornington Peninsula, VIC)* '8bit' American IPA (Stockade, NSW)* 'Alt Brown' American Brown Ale (Balter, QLD)* 'Sparkling Ale' Australian Sparkling Ale (Coopers, SA)* 'Bright Ale' Australian Pale Ale (Little Creatures, WA/VIC) 'Little Bling' Specialty IPA (Bridge Road, VIC)* 'Rogers' American Amber Ale (Little Creatures, WA/VIC) * — Brewed by an independent brewery. NEW — First brewed in 2017. GABS — Brewed especially for GABS Beer, Cider & Food Fest. Image: Balter Brewing Company.
Melbourne may be the place where artist Miso hangs up her boots, but her street artwork and highly-acclaimed exhibitions have taken her all over the world. Her latest exhibition at Backwoods Gallery, Bright Night Sky, features intricate maps of all the places her work has taken her, from Tokyo to New York and everywhere in between. These maps are made up from many tiny pinpricks into white paper. Rather than defining these maps around significant structures, they highlight memories of the artist, taking us off the main road to explore a more personal journey. The hammering process to create these artworks is also similar to Miso’s recent tattoo work, which you can check out in her limited release zine Miso: Home-Made Tattoos + Polaroids. The zine will be available at the gallery as part of the Bright Night Sky exhibition. The chance to see Miso’s delicate yet powerful work in her home town should not be missed.
Those who are excited by paper and stationery can't walk by South Melbourne's Paperpoint without popping their head in. More than 20 years ago, the business started out as a go-to spot for designers and printers looking for outstanding paper samples, and has since grown to include a retail store that heroes the best paper-related products. Paperpoint's brightly decorated store on Coventry Street is where you need to head when you're sending out invites to an important milestone event or crafting the perfect corporate communication that's bound to impress your boss. Images: Tracey Ahkee.
If it's summer in Australia and you're not eating something frosty yet creamy after each and every meal, then you aren't making the most of the season. In some parts of the country — hello Brisbane — it's never too cold for gelato. Actually, even when it is chilly elsewhere in the thick of winter, that statement still applies. But licking your way through your ice cream of choice really is one of the best things about summer there is. After that short ode to gelato — and lots of it — you're likely craving the good stuff. Here's something that'll help: a huge $350,000 Gelato Messina giveaway. From 6pm AEDT / 5pm AEST on Wednesday, November 8, Uber Eats is going all out to celebrate the beloved dessert chain moving its deliveries exclusively to the service. So, from now onwards, you'll be getting your Messina delivered by Uber Eats — and for 20 minutes tonight you'll want to head to the brand's Instagram page to get your hands on some freebies. It's handing out 'cow codes', which you'll then enter into the Uber Eats app to nab different prizes. As well as discounts on Messina — ranging from ten to 50 percent off — there'll be free tub upgrades up for grabs. Or, if you're a particularly lucky dessert fiend, you might score a year's supply of Messina gelato. If you'll be busy during this evening's unveiling, the codes will also be live until midnight on Sunday, December 12. And, when it comes to ordering — either after winning a prize, or next time the gelato hankerings strike — Messina will be operating 22 virtual Uber Eats storefronts across Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Brisbane. Uber Eats' Gelato Messina Cow Codes livestream runs from 6–6.20pm AEDT / 5–5.20pm on Wednesday, December 8 on Uber Eats' Instagram page, with the codes live until midnight on Sunday, December 12.
After two decades and thousands of fingerprints, Zhang Yu's 'Fingerprint Series' has expanded into a collection of paintings, installations, performances, and books. The series represents Zhang Yu's understanding of reality and of the world, and fingerprinting represents his attitude towards life. His method is simple: he dips his right thumb into red, white, or black ink, and presses it repeatedly onto rice paper. The effect, however, is an incredible sense of an infinitive pattern, created by the overlapping thumb prints. Regarded as a pioneer of Chinese experimental ink painting, Zhang Yu's works do not reveal a specific image to the viewer. Instead, they emphasise the methodical and meditative process with which they are created, making one feel quite small and insignificant in comparison.
UPDATE, MARCH 19: Due to concerns around COVID-19, David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet will no longer screen in Australian and New Zealand cinemas onFriday, April 17. At present, a new release date has not been announced — we'll update you when one has been revealed. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. David Attenborough will turn 94 in 2020, but the acclaimed broadcaster and natural historian isn't slowing down anytime soon. Fresh from narrating and presenting two new TV series last year — Our Planet and Seven Worlds, One Planet — and even appearing at Glastonbury to promote the latter, he's now bringing his latest movie-length documentary to cinemas. Called David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet, the film sees Attenborough look back on his more than nine decades on earth, the sights he has seen and the changes he has witnessed. Specifically, he reflects upon humanity's enormous and damaging impact on the natural world. Produced by wildlife filmmakers Silverback Films and global environmental organisation WWF, the resulting doco us described as "a powerful message of hope for future generations". In the just-released first trailer, Attenborough doesn't hold back. "The living world is a unique and spectacular marvel, yet the way we humans live on earth is sending it into a decline," he comments — before further noting that "human beings have overrun the world". He calls the film his "witness statement" and his "vision for the future", exploring humankind's actions over its existence and how moves can be made to address the planet's current environmental state. Naturally, Attenborough's wise words are combined with striking footage — as you'd expect of anything that the broadcaster is involved in. A Life On Our Planet will screen in cinemas Down Under for one night only, on Friday, April 17, before hitting Netflix later in the year. Head along to see it on the big screen, and you'll also be treated to footage of Attenborough from the film's London premiere hours earlier, where he'll joined live on stage by a range of guests to discuss issues raised in the doco. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLVkqjHrAzw&feature=youtu.be David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet was due screen in Australian and New Zealand cinemas on Friday, April 17, before hitting Netflix later in the year; however it'll now release on a yet-to-be-revealed date — we'll update you when one is announced. Image: Joe Fereday, Silverback Films.
