Nothing leaves you feeling quite as accomplished as greeting the world early on a weekend morning, especially if it's for an activity that's way more fun and more delicious than your usual Saturday snooze session. To find yourself simply fizzing with Saturday morning good vibes, haul yourself out of bed nice and early so you can beat even the most eager crowds to the Queen Victoria Market. Behind the storied yellow facade of Melbourne's largest 19th century market, the produce sections open as early as 6am, with the specialty shopping stalls following suit at 8am. Hit the deli hall for a strong latte from the masters at Market Lane Coffee (who are also on Collins Street), teamed with a breakfast of warm borek, courtesy of market favourite, The Borek Shop. That should leave you sufficiently fuelled for a morning spent perusing Queen Vic's many varied treasures. Image: Alpha / Flickr.
If you're looking to spice up the rest of your summer, how about a Sunday session that brings all the vibe of an Ibiza beach club to a buzzing party beneath the sun-soaked palm trees of St Kilda? Melbourne institution Riviera Beach Club (formerly Riva) has kicked off a pop-up series with everything you need for the perfect Sunday. The Café del Mar Sunday Sessions feature a rotation of top DJs including Dest, Luke McD, Rob Sama, and Chasedown — curating a chilled Sunday soundscape from 12pm until late to help wrap up your weekend. You can also expect a range of holiday-worthy cocktails, plus food from Atlantic Group and seafood connoisseurs Pinchy's. Think, fresh lobster rolls, Mediterranean barbecue eats and plenty of fruity sips. The series offers a great excuse to reacquaint yourself with the recently refurbished venue, where you can enjoy the sunset over the water and leave those Sunday Scaries far behind. Entry to the Café del Mar Sunday Sessions is free all day long, though you can reserve a spot by grabbing a ticket online.
Melbourne has added another independent cinema to its collection, with the Thornbury Picture House opening its doors. Making its home within a former garage on High Street, the art nouveau theatre and adjoining bar are the brainchild of Gus Berger, whose name you might remember as the one behind St Kilda's George Revival Cinema back in 2013 and 2014. For his latest project, Berger has created a moviegoer's dream: a 57-seat cinema rocking a big six-metre screen, a top-notch Krix 5.1 sound system and an expertly curated program of big screen gems. Open from Wednesday to Sunday each week, the venue's aims to showcase an impressive mix of documentaries, cult classics, festival favourites and international titles, with the first fortnight's lineup featuring Ai Weiwei's doco Human Flow, Oscar winner The Shape of Water, Aussie classic Death in Brunswick, New Zealand comedy What We Do in the Shadows and a session of iconic silent film The General with a live score. In addition, Thornbury Picture House will be giving plenty of screen-time to local filmmakers — it's the new home of Berger's long-running Red Hot Shorts event, and there are plans for it to host a new northside film festival in the not so distant future. Meanwhile, the site's interiors pay homage to the building's art nouveau origins, sprinkled with historic film gear and classic movie posters. The bar, too, is a nod to the good old days, with the original garage features brought to life alongside recycled wooden furniture and pops of green foliage. Here, you can chase a film with Aussie spirits, local beers from the likes of Stomping Ground and Hawkers, a tidy selection of independent wines and batch brew coffee by Padre. Of course, there's plenty of homemade popcorn to round out the moviegoing experience. Find Thornbury Picture House at 802 High Street, Thornbury, or visit thornburypicturehouse.com.au for session times and further details. Images: Tinny Tang.
If you looking to write something poignant but can't seem to get the words to form in your mind or onto the page, you may just need a bit of inspiration to kick your creativity into gear. Some words of wisdom from the mouths of some of history's best writers and poets may help you do just that. From T.S. Eliot to George Orwell, here are some creative tips to help you put pen to paper. Elmore Leonard Anton Chekhov F. Scott Fitzgerald George Orwell Ernest Hemingway Kurt Vonnegut Mark Twain Saul Bellow T.S. Eliot G.K. Chesterton Gertrude Stein Toni Morrison [Via Buzzfeed]
A photography, light, sound and dodgem car experience will take over a secret Melbourne location this month when local photographer p1xels unveils Alpha Beta Gamma. Running from August 9–16, the immersive exhibition will transport visitors to the site of Ukraine's 1986 Chernobyl disaster (without the radiation, of course). The artist visited the site of this well-known nuclear explosion in June (and even spent the night there). Located near the city of Pripyat, the disaster took place at the height of the Cold War. Tens of thousands of people were evacuated from a 30-kilometre radius to the plant, and this 'exclusion zone' is still one of the most radioactively contaminated areas in the world — with scientists expecting it to remain uninhabitable for a whopping 20,000 years. The photography on display in Alpha Beta Gamma examines nature's reclamation of the deserted town. Alongside the photographs, visitors will walk through a dodgem car installation — which mimics the images from Pripyat's abandoned amusement park — and be immersed in a light and sound show that will make you feel as if you are standing inside the exclusion zone. There'll also be a pop-up bar, so you can sip a beer or wine while exploring the immersive exhibition. If you've been extra curious about the nuclear disaster since binge-watching HBO's chilling series Chernobyl, this may be the exhibition for you. The exhibition is free to the public, however you must register over here or follow @p1xels to find the secret location — which will be released 24 hours prior to opening night on Friday, August 6 at 6pm.
As far as Australian love goes, 2016 has been an epic year for English alt rockers The 1975. They kicked off with an Australian tour in January, which sold out within minutes, while their second LP, I Like It When You Sleep For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It, smashed the charts, debuting at #1 on the ARIA and iTunes charts. Combining '80s sounds with a contemporary aesthetic, the album spawned hits 'Girls', 'The Sound' and 'Love Me'. Next up came sets at Coachella and Glastonbury, and a stack of other festivals are now lined up — from Chicago's Lollapalooza to Japan's Summer Sonic. There's more Splendour sideshow action where this came from. Check out our list of sideshows with tickets still available.
Head south of Melbourne by approximately 90 kilometres and you'll find yourself on the Bellarine Peninsula. You'll also find yourself in Oakdene Vineyards' backyard. This boutique outfit grows grapes in Mannerim and Wallington, operates a cellar door at the latter, and has been part of the local landscape since 2001. If you know anything about the area, you'll know that the weather is cool. Oakdene makes the most of it, with its grapes the product of a long growing season. Yes, it focuses on wine varieties that suit the area and climate, too, such as handcrafted chardonnay, pinot gris and sauvignon blanc, as well as pinot noir and shiraz — although you'll also find merlot, cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon on its lineup. At Wallington, at the aforementioned cellar door, you'll also sip wine in quite the interesting digs. Designed by owner Elizabeth Hooley, Oakdene is based in an upside-down A-frame house that looks like it has been blown over by a strong breeze. You'll definitely remember your visit, that's for sure.
One dollar doesn't buy much these days, but at Panama Dining Room your loose change gets you some fantastic seafood and a great location to match. Between 6–7pm every night of the week, Panama Dining Room hosts a $1 oyster happy hour — a pretty fantastic way to kick off your evening, if you ask us. Climbing the sheer staircase to the third level might seem like a struggle, but the views of the CBD and Smith Street from Panama's grand arched windows is an instant reward. Once you've consumed as many oysters as you can handle, head chef Ayhan Erkoc's Turkish-inspired seasonal menu will undoubtedly be a temptation hard to ignore. Having been bought and reopened in 2014 by chef Luke Stepsys, Panama Dining Room has become a popular post-work hangout, with the former 19th century furniture warehouse's converted loft bristling with a laid-back atmosphere and graceful interior.
Each year, the annual MPavilion design commission unveils an architect-designed temporary structure which plays host to a summer-long festival of free events. And for its 2021 edition, MPavilion returns to the Queen Victoria Gardens from December 2–April 24 2022 for a jam-packed five-month appearance. Aptly titled The LightCatcher, this year's commission is the work of Venice's MAP Studio. It takes the form of an urban lighthouse, featuring a network of steel tubes and light-reflecting mirrored panels that appear to float above the earth. You can head along to check it out for free any time during its stay, as well as digging deep into its supporting program of over 400 free talks, workshops, performances and installations. Among them, catch design-focused conversations with a swag of local and international names, the launch of Patricia Piccinini's hot air balloon sculpture Skywhalepapa, a talk centred on the ancient practice of astronomy within Indigenous Australian Nations, a slew of Melbourne Music Week events and more. Throw in furniture installations, a masquerade ball, a DJ program, and collaborations with the likes of Melbourne Fringe, TarraWarra Museum of Art and Melbourne Theatre Company, and we're anticipating many a return visit. [caption id="attachment_835347" align="alignnone" width="1920"] John Gollings[/caption] Top Images: 'The LightCatcher' by MAP Studio, MPavilion 2021, captured by John Gollings.
You know when you're travelling and you receive a red-hot tip from a local? They point you in the direction of the best fried chicken joint, a secret underground bar or an offbeat gallery — something that transforms your trip and lets you see the real city as you would've never seen it. It can really make a trip. So to help you uncover some local gems on your next Sydney visit, we've partnered with the City of Sydney to create a local's guide to the city. We've honed in on ten inner-city suburbs and pulled out experiences to take you past the Opera House and Harbour Bridget and deeper into the local's locales. [caption id="attachment_696573" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Continental CBD by Kitti Smallbone.[/caption] SMALL BARS IN THE CBD There was a time when after the hustle and bustle of Sydney CBD's nine-to-five crowd subsided, the streets turned tumbleweed quiet. But thankfully, that time has passed. Over the last ten years or so, the CBD has acquired several top-notch venues. While you may have visited some of the small bar stalwarts — The Baxter Inn, The Barber Shop, SILY, Bulletin Place (just to name a few) — there are several newcomers to discover, too. Be sure to stop by Old Mate's Place rooftop bar with a warm and welcoming library-esque aesthetic, head to Continental Deli, Bar and Bistro CBD to enjoy a mar-tinny (a martini in a can) with a plate of charcuterie and cheese at the luxe marble-top bar or seek out 1950s-inspired Maybe Sammy where cocktails come in tubes or matched with passionfruit-scented hand cream. [caption id="attachment_660514" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Paramount House Hotel by Tom Ross.[/caption] A HUB OF COOL IN SURRY HILLS The effortlessly cool Surry Hills is bursting at the super-stylish seams with must-visit bars and eateries — a few of which conveniently reside together in Paramount House. The heritage-listed building on Commonwealth Street is home to Golden Age Cinema and Bar, new natural-wine-plenty restaurant Poly, a lush boutique hotel, rooftop fitness centre complete with on-call massage therapists and a cafe which serves arguably the best coffee in Sydney. Start your day with a cup of joe at Paramount Coffee Project in the lobby of the building, then make your way up to the Paramount Recreation Centre. Even if you aren't a guest at the Paramount House Hotel, you can still grab a day pass to the gym and attend one of the classes on offer. Come evening, park yourself at Poly for pre-cinema seasonal share plates and excellent wine before making your way to a showing at the in-house cinema's petit theatre — the former Paramount Pictures screening room. [caption id="attachment_705398" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Social Outfit by Luisa Brimble.[/caption] SUSTAINABLE SHOPPING IN NEWTOWN Newtown is known for its abundance of street art, eccentric residents and overall buzzing vibe. To really do the suburb like a local, we suggest spending a day sustainably shopping along main drag King Street — before checking out one of the best bars in the area. From the top of King down, you'll come across the likes of U-Turn, Cream on King and SWOP Clothing Exchange where you'll find well-curated, secondhand fashions to dig into, plus Good Times Vintage, Vintage 585, Faster Pussycat and Retrospec'd, which house fashion, homewares, decor and plenty more from decades past. If that isn't quite enough, you can exercise your gem-finding prowess at the Red Cross and Vinnies shops, too. And if you're really after something new, check out The Social Outfit. While you won't find any vintage, the store is an ethical enterprise that supports people from refugee and migrant communities by providing training and employment in the fashion industry. You can pick up a unique piece that tells an amazing human story all while financially empowering people. It's a win-win. [caption id="attachment_652447" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ellery by Kitti Gould.[/caption] AUSTRALIAN FASHION AND DESIGN IN PADDINGTON If vintage and op shopping is not your forte (we get it, not everyone has the eye and/or patience), head for a shop in Paddington. This Australian fashion hub has a host of homeware shops and fashion boutiques to browse. If you're keen to get up close and personal with our best and brightest designers, The Intersection should be your starting point. Flagship after Australian designer flagship line the street here and pull you deeper into the suburbs via the likes of Alice McCall, Camila and Marc, Dion Lee, Ellery, Manning Cartell, Scanlan Theodore and Zimmermann (to name but a few). As for homewares and decor, independent design shop Opus will sort you out with vintage board games, quirky gadgets and retro video consoles; Dinosaur Designs will help you find some statement resin jewellery and free-form wares for your home; and Jardan will indulge any design addict with a shop full of gorgeous furnishings — you'll wish the space itself was your actual home. [caption id="attachment_664457" align="alignnone" width="1920"] White Rabbit.[/caption] ART GALLERIES IN CHIPPENDALE The suburb with more independent galleries than you can poke a paintbrush at, Chippendale is a must-visit for any art lover. Start by checking out Galerie Pompom on Abercrombie Street — a space dedicated to developing and nurturing mid-career artists from Melbourne and Sydney — and White Rabbit, a four-storey gallery showcasing a beautifully curated, impressive private collection of contemporary Chinese art. Other art spaces championing Australian (and some international) artists in the area include Wellington St Projects, Nanda/Hobbs, Harrington Street Gallery and Verge Gallery. And for an even deeper dive into the arty precinct, you can join the Chippendale and Redfern walking tour by Culture Scouts, who'll take you beyond the galleries to discover the local public artworks, architecture and street art. [caption id="attachment_705409" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Frenchies Bistro and Brewery.[/caption] A HUB OF FOOD, DRINK AND SHOPPING IN ROSEBERY If you've visited Sydney before, you've almost certainly been to The Grounds. A cafe, bakery, florist, restaurant, farm and mini market all in one, the place is a mecca for highly likeable Instagram posts. It's also a brunch mecca, with locals and visitors alike making the pilgrimage to Alexandria each weekend. If you're after something a bit more subdued, set your sites on The Cannery in the neighbouring Rosebery. Similar to The Grounds in how its helped transform this former industrial area into a food lover's haven, The Cannery is home to an even larger variety of food, drink and shopping options. It's here where you'll find Archie Rose, Sydney's first distillery to open in over 160 years Archie Rose; Frenchies Bistro and Brewery (with an on-site brewing facility); and boutique bottleshop Drink Hive, which slings natural wines, independent brews and local spirits. There are also several eateries in the precinct including the Aussie-Japanese-serving Stanton and Co, purveyors of watermelon cakes (and other sweets) Black Star Pastry and Argentinian grill masters Three Blue Ducks, to name but a few. Visit on an empty stomach, guys. [caption id="attachment_635940" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Bearded Tit by Katje Ford.[/caption] LOCAL CREATIVES IN REDFERN When a place is called the Bearded Tit, you know it's going to be good. This brazen art bar on Regent Street is just one of many left-of-centre venues in Redfern and, beyond the crocheted penises and taxidermy boar, it highlights what the suburb does best: intersect art and culture with a good drink. 107 Projects is another creative space where you can experience regular art shows, gigs and performances by local artists, musicians, comedians and theatre groups, all while enjoying a tipple or two. You can even channel your own creative energy with some locals at one of the weekly Wednesday Night Creative Hangouts or Life Drawing Socials. While in the area, make sure to pop into Indigenous-owned cafe The Tin Humpy. Run by Bundjalung woman Yvette Lever and her family, the cafe slings homemade pastries alongside coffee from The Grounds and presents a stunning Indigenous art collection to boot. [caption id="attachment_653243" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dae Jang Kum by Kitti Gould.[/caption] A CULINARY JOURNEY THROUGH ASIA VIA HAYMARKET Running adjacent to the CBD, Haymarket is a melting pot of different Asian cultures and cuisines. Whichever eats you're craving, you'll find them here (along with muchos bubble tea to wash it all down with). Keen for Chinese? Hit up yum cha favourite Marigold for a morning feast of dim sim, pork buns, rice noodles and creamy mango pancakes, or stop by the noodle and dumpling haven at the Prince Centre for some of Sydney's favourite cheap eats — there are at least four dumpling eateries to choose from but many Sydneysiders are quite partial to the spot lovingly known as 'grapes on the roof'. In the mood for Korean? Make tracks to Koreatown for barbecued sizzling meats at 678 Korean BBQ, steamy spicy hotpots at Dae Jang Kum or some finger-lickin' Seoul-style fried chicken at Arisun (a favourite spot for many Sydney chefs). Have a hankering for Japanese? Pop by Menya Noodle Bar and take your pick from 17 different types of ramen (the black garlic ramen is a go). We could continue with Thai, Vietnamese, Malaysian… but it's best you just check it out yourself. [caption id="attachment_524715" align="alignnone" width="1280"] The Old Fitzroy Hotel.[/caption] DINNER AND A SHOW IN KINGS CROSS The Cross has undergone a pretty drastic transformation. The days of teapots at World Bar and rowdy all-nighters may be gone, however, excellent restaurants and independent theatres have helped keep the neighbourhood alive. Step into the 1930s at Dulcie's basement bar and enjoy a punchy espresso martini with a side of nostalgia. The bar is a homage to the Cross's past with an art deco aesthetic and stage that hosts theatre, dance and cabaret shows after midnight. There are also several small theatres in the area conveniently located within a few blocks of each other (and some of Sydney's top restaurants), including the Griffin, Hayes Theatre Co and The Old Fitz. At the Griffin, you'll find brand new works and Australian stories; cabaret and musical theatre are the go at Hayes Theatre Co (the Monty Python's Spamalot will run from Wednesday, March 6 to Saturday, April 6 this year); and The Old Fitz, run by Red Line Productions and located inside a pub, offers quality independent productions for as little as $20 a ticket. LOCAL SOUVENIRS IN GLEBE For boho vibes, a throng of neighbourhood eateries and some of Sydney's most chill humans, head to Glebe. Before heading for this incredible burnt butter hummus at Middle Eastern eatery Thievery, pay a visit to The Works. At this three-storey space on Glebe Point Road, local creatives design, make and exhibit their work. It functions as a cafe and coworking spot, as well as a pop-up shop where local designers can showcase their wares. This is the spot to hit for some truly local souvenirs with everything from jewellery, shoes and environmentally conscious activewear to prints, greeting cards and screen-printed totes to vegan soaps and hand-poured soy candles. With an ever-changing roster of local artisans, each visit will bring something new to the table (and probably your home). Forgo the tourist traps and instead traverse the great City of Sydney like a local. Discover more around the city here. Top image: Continental CBD by Kitti Gould.
Whatever your opinion of Julia Gillard's prime ministership, national politics and gender were as inseparable as Tony Abbott and his speedos between June 2010 and June 2013. Whether it was Howard Sattler's obsession with her sex life or Grace Collier's obsession with her cleavage, none of us were allowed to forget for a moment that Gillard was, is, indeed, a woman. Of course, the nation's first female Prime Minister did not fail to air her perspective to the world with that speech that went viral. So it's fitting that in her very first public appearance since her June farewell speech, Gillard will appear in conversation with one-time head of the Hawke government's Office of the Status of Women, Anne Summers. After Gillard's exit, the author, journalist and editor wrote, "We are now, apparently unashamedly, a country where bullying, stalking, undermining and outright treachery are not just tolerated but the new way of doing business. So the next time your child comes home complaining about being bullied in the schoolyard, you will have to say, 'Suck it up kid, this is the way we are.'" Three months down the track, Gillard and Summers will spend two evenings together in the Sydney Opera House's Concert Hall and the Melbourne Town Hall, reflecting on what Gillard's experience meant, and might mean, to the story of Australian politics. According to the promo, Gillard has committed to "a candid and wide-ranging conversation", and there'll be time for an audience-driven Q & A session. It's the first event in 'Anne Summers Conversations', a series of live one-on-one interviews featuring various personalities to have appeared in Anne Summers' online magazine The Looking Glass. Julia Gillard and Anne Summers will be appearing at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall on Monday, 30 September, and at Melbourne Town Hall on Tuesday, 1 October. Tickets are available from the Sydney Opera House website and Eventbrite.
It was one of 2022's most exciting new wellness offerings — now, Alba Thermal Springs & Spa is serving up a fun new treat of the culinary variety. Onsite restaurant Thyme is kicking off a monthly high tea series highlighting top local ingredients. The aptly named Tea Thyme will make its debut on Sunday, February 26, dishing up an inviting spread of sweet and savoury goodies against a backdrop of leafy slopes and thermal pools. Running on the last Sunday of each month, the feasts will centre on a blend of native and global flavours. Expect plates like ribbon sandwiches starring Sichuan white pepper-roasted chicken; toasted brioche piled with duck liver parfait, Davidson plum and mirin jelly; beetroot and whipped feta tarts with a spiced seed praline; and sherbet madeleines elevated with a zingy yuzu curd custard. To match, you'll find an array of teas — including Alba's signature Unearthed English breakfast blend — and a cocktail crafted on Bass and Flinders' Heartbreak Pinot Noir Gin. Tickets are $190, which includes your high tea, a pack of herbal tea to take home and all-day access to Alba's bathing precinct. But with just 24 spots available at each session, you'll want to book quickly. Images: Chris McConville
Carbe diem, folks. Our favourite experts at That's Amore have announced a new run of pasta-making classes, guiding beginner chefs through the art of making gnocchi or filled pasta from scratch. Learn the secrets of both potato and ricotta gnocchi from Masterchef contestant and cookbook author Pia Gava on Saturday, May 6, before sitting down to an Italian lunch featuring your creations and a glass of wine. Potato gnocchi is paired with a rich four-cheese sauce, while ricotta-based gnocchi is laden with cavolo nero pesto. Alternatively, a three-hour tortellini and ravioli session led by Piera Pagnoni, owner of Piera Pasta Fresca, will run on Saturday, May 27. Roll up your sleeves across this in-depth, interactive workshop which will take you through the process of making, kneading and shaping two kinds of filled pasta. The first is a balanzoni, a green, tortellini-like stuffed pasta hailing from Bologna stuffed with ricotta, mortadella and parm. The second is a half-moon ravioli di pesc starring crab meat, snapper, mascarpone, thyme and lemon. A glass of wine and lunch is also included. Tickets come in at $140 per person which includes a That's Amore apron for your home kitchen. Images: Supplied.
Winter has taken hold and that's as good an excuse as any to stock up on a few new threads. And this weekend, you can revamp your wardrobe with a fresh haul of quality vintage gear without breaking the bank — Sacred Heart Mission's Prahran op-shop is hosting what's set to be its biggest designer fashion sale yet. From 10am on Saturday, June 11, hit the Commercial Road store to get your mitts on a bumper array of vintage and designer gear; from fashion and accessories to collectibles and homewares. There'll be enough shoes, bags, coats, jewellery and outfits to impress even the most avid of op-shop connoisseurs. The Sacred Heart Mission team has been putting aside its most covetable donations, so you can bet there'll be some top-notch labels in the mix — Prada, Balenciaga, Scanlan Theodore and Comme des Garcons, to namedrop just a few.
Located in a former 1950s bakery in the heart of North Melbourne, Mörk's chocolate brewhouse serves up the city's very own real-life Willy Wonka situation. It's this workshop, cafe and store that the artisan cacao brand has called home for six years, both concocting and serving its much-loved range of fine drinking chocolates and other handmade sweet treats. Now, in the lead-up to Mörk's tenth birthday, it's opening the doors to a brand new second outpost — this time taking over an old lift shaft in a CBD laneway. At just seven square metres, the new pint-sized digs in Equitable Place will work as another location to nab Mörk's signature hot — and chilled — chocolate drinks, take-home products and sweet treats, all for takeaway. It's also where you'll find the cult-favourite Swedish cinnamon buns from Söt by Mörk. [caption id="attachment_825087" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kristoffer Paulsen[/caption] The new store's range of luxe drinking chocolate trips through varying degrees of cacao darkness, all ready to enjoy with your choice of regular, oat or coconut milk. Or, if you prefer coffee, the caffeinated lineup comes courtesy of a collaboration with Patricia Coffee Brewers. That famed Campfire Hot Chocolate also gets a spin here, with its theatrical show of smoke, chocolate and toasted marshmallow. The hole-in-the-wall is turning out a range of plant-based beverages, too, including a hazelnut and almond blend, and a Bounty-inspired fusion of caramelised coconut and sea salt. And should your sweet tooth need a little extra lovin', there is of course a cabinet full of goodies from the Söt line — gooey twice-baked chocolate cake, florentines finished with Rooftop Honey, miniature pistachio bundts loaded with yuzu chocolate ganache, and the wicked dark chocolate brownie, to name a few. Find Mörk's new store at 20 Equitable Place, Melbourne CBD — open 8am–3pm weekdays. Images: Kristoffer Paulsen
Ever been shopping for the ingredients for a delicious exotic dish at a supermarket and come up short with finding all you need? With 150 nationalities spread across 200 traders, the Dandenong Market is a multicultural melting pot that will have all your shopping needs — and most unique and hard to find ingredients — sorted in one place. It's a paradise for any food lover looking to find old favourite flavours or try something completely new, and there are also plenty of other stores worth a look-in too.
It was set to be one of the biggest Australian tours of the year, but Childish Gambino fans will have to wait a little longer for some summertime magic. Promoter Live Nation has announced that the US hip hop star has cancelled his Aussie trip due to an ongoing injury. Childish Gambino was due to play solo shows at HBF Stadium, Perth on November 8; Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne on November 10; and the Sydney Opera House, Sydney on November 14 and November 15. He was also slated to be the headline act at Canberra's Spilt Milk festival, which will take place on November 17. The performer — AKA Donald Glover, AKA writer/director/star of Atlanta, if you haven't already worked that out — reportedly broke his foot at a show in Dallas last month, and was already forced to postpone the final US leg of his 'This Is America' tour as a result. In a statement posted to Live Nation's social media feeds about the Aussie cancellation, the star said, "I'm not ready to put on 100 percent shows. Apologies to the fans. I will be back soon". Live Nation is working to reschedule Childish Gambino's dates, so if you've nabbed yourself a ticket, keep your eyes on the company's website and social media for further updates. With the single 'This Is America' tearing up the US charts — and the accompanying video — racking up hundreds of millions of views, it's safe to that Australia was pumped for Childish Gambino's arrival. This would've marked his first Aussie shows since performing at Falls Festival in 2016. CANCELLED TOUR DATES: November 8 — Perth, HBF Stadium November 10 — Melbourne, Sidney Myer Music Bowl November 14 — Sydney, Sydney Opera House November 15 — Sydney, Sydney Opera House November 17 — Canberra, Spilt Milk Festival
This summer, Melbourne Zoo's animals will share the spotlight with a handful of local and international artists. Outdoor music event, Zoo Twilights, will return with a line-up that tops previous years — and they've previously been pretty solid line-ups. This time around there will be sunset performances from Cut Copy, The Preatures, Grizzly Bear, Kate Miller-Heidke, Neil and Liam Finn, Jet and more, so we recommend booking a place soon to ensure you get a place at this summer must-do event — shows are already selling out. And there's more fantastic news: it's all for a good cause. All ticket proceeds go to Zoos Victoria and their programs which help fight the extinction of 21 of Victoria's most at-risk animal species, including the Eastern Barred Bandicoot, which once thrived in Victoria and Tasmania, but is now extinct on Australia's mainland. Along with performances, there will also be food trucks and a bar set up at each event. MELBOURNE ZOO TWILIGHTS 2018 LINE-UP THE TESKEY BROTHERS - Friday, January 26 CUT COPY - Saturday, January 27 SUNNYBOYS - Friday, February 2 THE CAT EMPIRE - Saturday, February 3 THE CAT EMPIRE - Sunday, February 4 THE PREATURES - Friday, February 9 ROCKWIZ LIVE! - Saturday, February 10 BEN FOLDS - Friday, February 16 BEN FOLDS - Saturday, February 17 NEIL & LIAM FINN - Friday, February 23 NEIL & LIAM FINN - Saturday, February 24 LIAM & NEIL FINN - Sunday, February 25 HIATUS KAIYOTE and HARVEY SUTHERLAND - Friday, March 2 JET - Saturday, March 3 GRIZZLY BEAR - Friday, March 9 KATE MILLER-HEIDKE with STRING QUARTET - Saturday, March 10
You can now recreate a little of that Fancy Hank's magic at home, as the flavour masters behind Bourke Street's beloved barbecue joint unveil their very own line of house-made, small-batch sauces. Launching just in time for the season of backyard barbies and park picnics, the new range features five concoctions, including two barbecue sauces and three styles of hot sauce, packaged in nifty 200mL or 375mL bottles and made using all-Aussie ingredients. And they're already award-winners, having each nabbed a medal at this year's Australian Food Awards. You'll have encountered some of these American-style creations before — the Original BBQ is Fancy Hanks' signature sauce, best teamed with a pile of smoky pulled pork, while the Coffee & Molasses number is the go-to accompaniment for the restaurant's famed beef brisket. The trio of hot sauces dial up the flavour even more, with the gutsiest variety, Habanero & Carrot, best used sparingly in a chicken marinade or a stew. The mild and fruity Cayenne & Watermelon sauce is the entry-level option, while the Jalapeño & Peach kicks a little bit harder, boasting a sweet, tangy finish. You can pick up a bottle — or hey, why not get fancy with the whole collection? — from Fancy Hank's CBD restaurant, the online shop, Spring Street Grocer, Meatsmith (in Fitzroy and St Kilda), and three of the city's McCoppins Food Stores.
If yoga is a thing you like to do with your body on your weekends but negronis are also a thing you like to do with your body on weekends, fear not — there are ways of ticking both boxes. Howler is holding a yoga and negronis session on Sunday, September 16, proving that you can have it all, and that Sundays are for doing things good for the soul and the stomach. With yoga by yoga expert Rosie from I Live In Balance and DJ Zev Tropp on soundtrack duties, you'll be downward dogging your way to weekend bliss and whispering "shavasana" as your get-you-through-the-week mantra. The yoga class itself will be more of a fun, accessible-for-all vibe than a difficult sweaty time, and there'll be a guided full body relaxation included at the end. Tickets are $30 and include a negroni each.
It's no secret that we live in a beautiful country. Our rugged coastlines, tropical rainforests and sweeping desert plains give us plenty to brag about. But, to keep it looking so damn gorgeous, we all have to play a part in looking after the environment. And now, one way to do that is by sipping on a delicious drink. Enter C.A.N — a fresh new vodka and soda pre-mix that is committed to quenching your thirst while donating 10% of its profits to supporting conservation efforts in Australia. How good is that? C.A.N — which stands for Create Action Now — has linked up with Wild Ark and Conservation Volunteers Australia to ensure it's doing its bit to aid land, water and air conservation efforts while keeping you refreshed. To put its money where its mouth is, C.A.N has already donated $5000 to support the #SeatoSource project run by Conservation Volunteers Australia. There are two tasty flavours to try — ruby grapefruit and pineapple passionfruit — both of which are low in sugar but high in deliciousness. Want to add a lil feel good moment to the next time you crack a tin? Well, now you C.A.N. To celebrate its launch, C.A.N is giving away a prize pack to one lucky CP reader consisting of some tasty C.A.Ns and $500 cash. Plus, you'll get to choose one of C.A.N's conservation partners to cop an additional $500. Sound like something you want to support? To be in the running, tell us in 25 words or less what you're doing to help the environment during lockdown. For more information on C.A,N's initiatives, visit the website. Then, grab yourself some C.A.Ns via BoozeBud or at your local bottle shop. [competition]822930[/competition]
With another summer break over and a new year of work begun, you're likely feeling all nostalgic about those endless summers you enjoyed as a kid. So what better time for a jaunt down memory lane, courtesy of photographer Matthew Sleeth's new summer-inspired exhibition? Launching on January 20 at the Hawthorn Arts Centre, the Rosebud series captures the romance of those hot, salty summer days spent camping by the beach. Sleeth snapped these candid beauties between 2002 and 2006 during visits to the beach town of Rosebud, painting a familiar scene for any Melburnian who's ever spent a balmy January day on the Mornington Peninsula foreshore. Shot on a medium format camera and bathed in that unmistakable Aussie sunlight, the brightly-hued images are bound to stir up childhood memories aplenty. And if Rosebud was also your summer stomping ground, who knows — you might even see a few familiar faces caught on film.
Moving from the world of fashion into the pizza biz might seem a stretch, but for husband and wife duo Candice and Nick Hirons, it's simply natural progression. Once the exclusive retail licensees for G-Star in Australia and New Zealand, the pair has shifted their focus to food — and they're out to share their serious passion for pizza with Melbourne. Their latest venture is Hungry Bear pizza bar, which launches on November 24 on Menzies Alley in the CBD. Inspired by the owners' love of camping and the great outdoors, it's a cosy haunt, decked out with lots of timber logs and sporting a healthy serve of forest green. The 15-strong pizza menu is simple, seasonal and a little less naughty than others around town. Here, you'll chow down on the likes of the Paul Hogan, with marinated prawns, red peppers and chickpeas; or the Bear-saola, featuring asparagus, caramelised onion and bresaola. There's even one dubbed Holy Cheeses, made with nine different kinds of cheese, plus a dessert pizza with peanut butter, banana, strawberries, coconut, pistachio and chocolate salted caramel sauce. It's all very budget-friendly too, with pizzas starting at just $9. To wash it down, there's an all-Aussie drinks offering of boutique wines, craft beers and artisan sodas, while a hole-in-the-wall coffee bar will be slinging two exclusive blends (the Polar and the Grizzly) from 7am each weekday. Find Hungry Bear in Menzies Alley at 211 La Trobe Street, Melbourne (enter via Little Lonsdale St), open daily.
This November, the bustling Night Noodle Markets will return to Birrarung Marr for 18 nights of tasty things on sticks, bowls of noodles, bao and extravagant frozen desserts. Taking over the riverside inner city park from November 7–24, the latest iteration of the fairy light-lit markets will see a slew of Australia's favourite food stalls set up shop to serve a wide variety of street snacks. Crowd favourites — and NNM regulars — Hoy Pinoy will be back with its Filipino barbecue, and will Wonderbao's fluffy buns and Puffle's cheesy cone waffles. You can also expect to find dumplings, okonomiyaki and soba noodles, right through to pancakes and Korean-style shaved ice desserts. [caption id="attachment_645205" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The puffle by Kimberley May Moore[/caption] Gelato Messina will be back, too — its 2019 Sydney NNM menu includes Thai-style sweets like a milk tea banana cheesecake sandwich, a layered condensed milk pudding, and banana fritters with caramelised banana gelato and peanut crumble. Let's hope these make their way down here, too. Naturally, there will be plenty of booze stations as well, including a Jacobs Creek tipi wine bar, a beer garden and a 20s-inspired diner serving beer floats and spiders. So start scheduling your visits the market — and cross your fingers for good weather. The Night Noodle Markets run from November 7–24 at Birrarung Marr, Melbourne. They'll be open from 5–9pm Monday and Tuesday, 5–10pm Wednesday and Thursday, 5–11pm Friday, 4–10pm Saturday and 4–9pm Sunday. Image: Kimberley May Moore.
Melburnians will have two outdoor electronica festivals to choose from come January 1, 2019. This year, joining Werribee Park's Let Them Eat Cake is Sidney Myer Music Bowl's The First — a multi-stage music festival dedicated to live electronic, hip hop, house and techno that'll take over the Kings Domain this New Year's Day. Run by Montreal-based festival host Piknic Électronik and Australia's electronic music guru Hardware Group, the festival is a hangover party you don't need to travel out of town for. Among the festival's stages is one dedicated to Piknic Électronic and it'll kick off the brand's fifth season of weekly-mini festivals in Melbourne (the dates of which have not yet been released). The headliners for the inaugural NYD festival include heavy-hitting rap queen M.I.A, Australian dance royalty The Presets and New York hip-hop artist Action Bronson, along with Banoffee, Bloody Mary, Bob Moses, KiNK, Krystal Klear, Max Cooper, Nastia and SG Lewis. The full lineup of local and international acts hasn't been announced just yet, so stay tuned for more. While you're there, visual art, food trucks and booze-a-plenty will be on the docket, too.
Friday nights are looking a little different these days, with stage four stay-at-home orders making after-work beers at the pub a distant memory. But if moping on the couch has become your new pre-weekend ritual, this Friday, August 7, you can blow off some of that pent up steam the dramatic way — with a huge, communal screaming session. Melbourne local Tessethia Von Tessle Roberts has created a Facebook event simply titled Stand On Your Front Porch And Scream. And irate Melburnians are invited to do just that, kicking off at 7pm on Friday. Miffed about the five-kilometre exercise rule? Fed up with working from home? Ticked off about the colossal mess that is 2020 in general? Go on and release all those pandemic-induced frustrations with a big ol' holler, in unison with a few thousand other Melbourne folk. Yep, currently more than 34,000 people have either RSVPd to join in the fun, or confirmed they're interested in attending. Start limbering up those vocal chords, channel your emotions and prepare to give Jimmy Barnes a run for his money in the screaming stakes. Here's some inspo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvrZJ5C_Nwg
The global beer industry is set to descend upon Melbourne this month as two veritable talents take over the taps at Footscray's Mr West Bar & Bottleshop. New York's acclaimed hazy beer masters Other Half Brewing Company will be joined by the UK's Cloudwater Brew Co, both of which have never been showcased in Australia before. It'll all kick off at 1pm on Saturday, March 30 and go into the wee hours of Sunday. Other Half will take over 12 of the bar's taps, while Cloudwater is sending seven kegs and plenty of tinnies. Though the brews are coming from the other side of the world, all beers are being cold air freighted straight to Mr West to ensure some surprisingly fresh pours. The founders from both breweries will be in the house to chat over the brews, too. From Other Half, expect a Bagel and Schmear IPA, a Mexican Hot Chocolate stout and a collab brew with New Zealand's Garage Project — it's inspired by the banana split croissants served at New York's Supermoon Bakehouse. There will also be plenty of the brewery's signature double dry hopped brews on offer, including an 8.3-percent oat cream IIPA. Cloudwater, on the other hand, will be slinging heaps of easy-drinking brews, including a hoppy lager, pale ale and all-season IPA. Plus a märzan (strong dark Bavarian lager), a single hop Ekuanot IPA and a quadruple dry-hopped pale ale collaboration brew. The tap takeover is the second round of the Mr West's Worldwide to Westside Aviation Project. Keep an eye on this space for the next collab in the series.
Three studio albums in and tUnE-yArDs (real name Merrill Garbus) is still showing no signs of creative predictability. She might have proclaimed to have become "bored with herself" following the 2011 release of breakthrough record Whokill, but listening to new full-length Nikki Nack (released in May) you'd never guess it. Rousing tribal beats and vocal gymnastics of Olympic proportions rub shoulders with lazy Sunday afternoon reggae grooves and no-holds-barred, politicised lyrics. "I don't want to just say, 'Let's dance all night', as if there's nothing wrong with the world," Garbus told The Guardian in a recent interview. "Because that's a big old lie." She certainly doesn't preach, but she does write about things that matter: Western culpability in developing world poverty, racism and disintegrating American neighbourhoods. At the same time, she's all about seeing some serious "arse shaking" at her shows. Winging our way to play Splendour, she'll also treat us to two servings on the side: one at Melbourne's Howler on July 24 and the other at Sydney's OAF on July 28. https://youtube.com/watch?v=jbiFcPhccu8
Come 2021, you'll have one very convincing reason to book a trip to Sydney (or a Sydney staycation) — the city will be home to the first very Australian outpost of trendy US chain Ace Hotel. Founded in 1999, the boutique chain currently has its signature luxe-vintage hotels in Chicago, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Pittsburgh, Portland and Seattle. Its first international location opened in London in 2013, and its next is slated to open in Kyoto in spring next year. Known for their great bars, pools, cool branding and merch, and quirky locations — such as a converted Denny's and a historic YMCA building — each Ace Hotel is individually designed to reflect its surroundings. The Ace Hotel in Downtown LA is in a 13-storey 1920s former movie theatre, and has art deco furnishings, a rooftop pool and three bars, while the Palm Springs outpost is swathed in white, and has swim club and an attached diner. For the local outpost, Ace's in-house design team — Atelier Ace — will be working alongside an Australian firm to design the hyper-local hotel. While exactly what that will look like both inside and out is still under wraps, it'll take inspiration from the food, art, architecture, design and culture of Surry Hills when it opens in an 18-storey building (formerly Tyne House) on Wentworth Avenue. [caption id="attachment_745633" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Render of Ace Hotel's proposed Surry Hills facade.[/caption] The Ace Hotel site was purchased two years ago by Australian property development group, Golden Age Group, who will also have a hand in the hotel. As well as 264 rooms, guests can look forward to a ground-floor lobby bar, a gym, restaurant, cafe, and rooftop bar and eatery. We'll keep our fingers crossed for a potential rooftop pool, too. It's just the latest boutique hotel to open in Surry Hills, which has seen the hyper-local Paramount House Hotel — complete with rooftop wellness centre — launch in March last year, and the 35-room Little Albion House (which you can book through Airbnb) follow in July. Real estate developer Cienna Group also has plans in the works to open a 12-storey laneway hotel on the corner of Riley and Campbell Streets. The Ace Hotel Sydney is slated to open at 49–53 Wentworth Avenue, Sydney in 2021. We'll update you with a specific launch date when one is announced. Top images: Ace Hotel London / Ace Hotel Downtown LA.
In the most mathematical news since boffins discovered a pattern in prime numbers, the cast and crew behind of Adventure Time, the show that straddles generational gaps like it ain't no thing, are coming to town next March. It's going to be live, it's going to be loud and it's gonna be so flippin' awesome. Making quick trips to Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, Adventure Time Live will be an interactive, audio-visual festival that includes Q&As with cast and crew, cosplay competitions, live reads of classic episodes and much more to be announced. It's not a show, it's an experience, man. The event hits Australia between March 10 and March 12 next year, which will probably coincide with the largest gathering of adults pretending to be children pretending to be adults that this country has ever seen.
It's no surprise that foodies make very deliberate lifestyle choices. They want to learn and care about every aspect of their meal. They advocate for organic produce and healthy eating. Even TV chefs like Jamie Oliver are always tending to a sprawling herb garden and reassuringly tousling the hair of pudgy middle-school kids. But Ben Shewry and his team at Attica, Australia's best restaurant, are about to take this well-meaning philosophising to the extreme. Launching in just over a month, Shewry and co. have created a two-day 'anti-festival' designed to "inspire, energise and help people in the food community and beyond". From October 2–6, What a Wonderful World (WAW, the other W is silent?) will see some of the world's most influential chefs descend on Melbourne for a series of free public forums and a $500 a plate charity lunch that will make your mouth water in pre-emptive jealousy. Featuring LA-based Korean taco king Roy Choi, Parisian legend Inaki Aizpitarte, Bangkok's Bo Songvisava, London's Margot Henderson and San Francisco's Daniel Patterson, WAW is set to be a who's who of contemporary global cuisine. And, whether you know any of those names or not, it's a big get for the Melbourne foodie scene. Even if you don't have $500 to splash around at their no-doubt stunning charity lunch, it's going to be well worth heading along to see them talk. The free talks will take place on Saturday, October 4 and will feature an even broader array of talent from home and abroad. Non-chef types include Lucky Peach editor Chris Ying, enviro-pioneer Joost Baker and comedian Tom Gleeson. From 10am–5pm, 20 speakers will get on their soapbox at Spink St Warehouse in Brighton. The entire day will be free of charge although you will have to book a seat via the WAW website. Of course, if you do have the money to splurge, the charity lunch is a must. Hosted at Rippon Lea Estate, the feast will be prepared by a team of 30 famous chefs and all proceeds raised will go towards youth charity Helping Hoops. Shewry hopes the event will be a source of inspiration for both those in the industry and those with a simple passion for food. "[It's] a celebration of being alive," he told Good Food. "A reminder of the value of life, of the power of staying open, and the courage it takes to not only stand by your own convictions but remain open to those of others." Sure, the cause may sound a little huge and overwhelming, but it's certainly noble all the same. A touch more gourmet than the tired cry of peace, love and brown rice. For more information on the event head to the WAW website. Both the talks on October 4 and the lunch on October 5 are not yet available to book. Keep an eye on their website or Facebook page for release dates. Be warned: tickets will go fast. Via Good Food and Gourmet Traveller.
To help brighten up your newsfeed a little, Sydney's Sea Life Aquarium is live-streaming playtime with its resident dugong, the adorably named Pig. Who, yes, likes to eat a lot. Pig was found and rescued as a baby dugong in north Queensland after he'd been separated from his family. While the aquarium tried to release him back into the wild, Pig washed up on shore (again) and they decided to keep him. He's now one of only two dugongs in human care, globally. At 10.45am AEDT on Friday, March 20, you can watch Pig splash around, play with toys and hang out and with his keepers Emma and Kerrie via Sea Life Aquarium's Facebook page. It's the feel-good content we need right now. Thankfully, this isn't the only live-stream the aquarium is planning. Keep an eye on future cute (and maybe slightly scary) content, including possible shark feedings, penguin hangs and tropical fish tours. [caption id="attachment_762120" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sea Life Sydney[/caption] Live Stream: Playtime with Pig the Dugong is taking place at 10.45am via Sea Life Aquarium's Facebook page.
If you're on a sugar free diet, close out of this window right now. Trust us when we say you do not want to know what's going down at the Food Truck Park in Preston this weekend. If, on the other hand, you're ready to embrace your diabetic destiny, then by all means read on. Kicking off at 5pm on Friday, July 29 before continuing from midday on Saturday and Sunday, the Sweet Tooth Truck Festival is bringing together all of Melbourne's best mobile food vendors for a chocolate-filled, sugar-glazed, ice-cream and crushed Oreo-topped dessert extravaganza. Crepe de L'ile, Manny's Doughnuts, Nuts-About-Tella, Von's Vegan Bake House, Waffle Bar and Nee's High Apple Pies are just a few of the enablers who'll be on hand, wooing you with sweet treats left and right. Look, it's not exactly the healthiest way to spend a weekend — but there's no way we're missing out on this feast.
Girls to the front — Bikini Kill are coming to Australia. The iconic Kathleen Hanna-fronted, Washington-formed band instigated the Riot Grrrl movement, and will perform their first Australian shows in more than 25 years on a seven-date 2023 tour. On top of already-announced appearances at Mona Foma and Golden Plains, the trailblazing trio have now dropped the dates for a series of headline shows, appearing in Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney throughout March. The solo shows will kick off at Brisbane's The Tivoli on Friday, March 3, before moving onto Lion Arts Factory in Adelaide on Sunday, March 5. They, they'll hit up The Forum in Melbourne on Wednesday, March 8, and the Sydney Opera House on Monday, March 13. In good news for the next generation of riot grrrls and underage rockers, all four of these headline shows will be all ages. Plus, Bikini Kill have also been added to the Perth Festival lineup, where they'll perform previously announced headliners Bon Iver and Björk — with the latter bringing her Cornucopia tour to Western Australia for the 2023 festival. [caption id="attachment_874299" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Debi Del Grande[/caption] "The quintessential band that blends activism and extreme fun, Bikini Kill, will take their rightful place on the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall stage for one of the most anticipated shows of the year," Sydney Opera House Head of Contemporary Music Ben Marshall said. "Kathleen Hanna, Kathi Wilcox and Tobi Vail are feminist performance-art punks whose moment never went away and are arguably needed now more than ever. Mesmerising, clever and surreal, this is a rare chance to see this legendary, razor-sharp live band that will blow you away, while revealing the constant struggle that animates them." Tickets for the Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne gigs will all go on sale at 9am local time on Monday, October 31. As for the Sydney show, tickets will be available for Sydney Opera House Insiders from 9am on Tuesday, November 1, followed by a What's On pre-sale at midday on Wednesday, November 2, and a general sale at 9am on Friday, November 4. Yes, either watching or rewatching the exceptional documentary The Punk Singer, about Hanna, should be on your must-do list right now. Fun fact: when Hanna spray-painted "Kurt smells like Teen Spirit" across her pal Mr Cobain's wall, the name of a certain grunge anthem was born. And, if you're in Sydney in any point leading up to the tour, drop into the Powerhouse Museum Ultimo, where Bikini Kill is currently being featured in the exhibition UNPOPULAR. The exhibition dips into the musical archive of entrepreneur Stephen 'Pav' Pavlovic to unveil never-before-seen photographs and footage of legendary and beloved musicians taking to Australian stages. Hanna, Wilcox and Vail appear alongside other decade-defining artists like Beastie Boys, Nirvana, Sonic Youth and Hole. [caption id="attachment_875372" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Unpopular exhibition view featuring Video, No Alternative Girls, directed by Tamra Davis, 1994. Courtesy of Tamra Davis, credit Zan Wimberley[/caption] BIKINI KILL 2023 AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES: Sunday, February 26 — Mona Foma, Hobart Wednesday, March 1 — Perth Festival Friday, March 3 — The Tivoli, Brisbane Sunday, March 5 — Lions Arts Factory, Adelaide Wednesday, March 8 — The Forum, Melbourne Saturday, March 11 — Golden Plains Festival, Victoria Monday, March 13 — Sydney Opera House Bikini Kill will tour Australia between Sunday, February 26–Monday, March 13. For all the details on when tickets go on sale in each city, head to the band's website. Top image: Debi Del Grande
It's supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year. Thanks to Black Mirror, it's about to become the bleakest. A release date for the fourth season of Charlie Brooker's dystopian TV show hasn't yet been announced, but it is expected to drop on Netflix sometime this month. In the interim, the streaming platform has been ramping up the excitement by revealing episode-specific trailers. With each approximately hour-long instalment of Black Mirror standing alone in the story department — while always tying into the anthology series' satirical musings about humanity's relationship with technology — the individual sneak peeks offer a glimpse of just what's in store. Four have been released so far, stepping into areas such as the evolution of surveillance, high-tech misdeeds and dating apps. The clips join the previously revealed whole-of-season trailer, and once again, things look grim. It's likely two more will follow, given that full season will consist of six episodes: 'Arkangel', 'Black Museum', 'Crocodile', 'Hang the DJ', 'Metalhead' and 'USS Callister'. Brooker himself wrote every new instalment, while the likes of Jodie Foster, Australian filmmaker John Hillcoat (The Road, Triple 9), Peaky Blinders' Colm McCarthy and American Gods' David Slade are sitting in the helmer's chair. On screen, expect a cast that includes La La Land's Rosemarie DeWitt, Nocturnal Animals' Andrea Riseborough and Fargo's Jesse Plemons getting up to the kind of sci-fi antics that no one wants to dream of. Check out latest trailers below, and prepare for more bleak thrills before the year is out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5N_Tq1EtRQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV0J3Bq3BIc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-NCySETRIc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yef_HfQoBd8
Love and life are two areas in which many artists can't help exploring throughout their career within their medium of choice — and Dagmar Cyrulla’s no exception. Paintings featured in her latest exhibition, Amour de Vie, delve into these themes with a quiet intimacy that is both visually stunning and emotionally arresting. Cyrulla’s portraits may place her characters in ordinary situations, but she's able to convey shared experiences effectively in subtle ways. Cyrulla has recently experienced important shifts within her own family dynamic that lead her to create work that explores relationships and the emotions they stir. “My aim is to open an opportunity for self-questioning by viewers,” she explains. “Each painting reflects my love of people and their stories, including father-daughter relationships, power relationships, relationships to parents, being and having a role model, and sibling rivalry.” Along with Cyrulla’s paintings, the exhibition will feature a new song inspired by her painting A New Day, written by songwriting duo Drew Schapper and Chris Pattenden, aka Artist Proof.
When October rolls around, movie lovers turn their attention to one thing: films of the spookiest, eeriest, most terrifying and frightening variety. When Halloween is upon us, 'tis the season for bumps, jumps, screams, creepy celluloid dreams and getting scared while sitting in a cinema — but there are Halloween marathons, and then there's the Astor Theatre all-night movie-watching extravaganza. The Astor's annual Spooktacular knows how it wants you to feel while you're watching — and this year's event from 8pm on Saturday, October 28 knows that one filmmaker has been responsible for plenty of shocks and frights. So, 2023's festivities have been dubbed The Carpenter-Thon, with the program dedicated to the one and only master of horror John Carpenter. This is the director that gave the world the perfect movie for this very occasion, after all. The OG Halloween is on the bill of course, aka the film that kickstarted both Carpenter and Jamie Lee Curtis' careers. As well as spending time with Michael Myers, The Carpenter-Thon has a 40th-anniversary celebration of Christine on its lineup, plus They Live, The Fog, Escape from New York, Prince of Darkness and In the Mouth of Madness. The Astor doesn't ever give away its full Spooktacular bill, however, so expect some surprises on the program. Fingers crossed that more Kurt Russell is among the late additions, because The Thing is also ideal Halloween viewing.
Time flies when you slurping up mussels and listening to the sounds of jazz, as the folks at South Melbourne Market well and truly know. That's apt description of how quickly two days of seafood and tunes can seem to fly by, and recognition that Coventry and Cecil corner mainstays have been celebrating both for five years now. The latest will take place on March 10 and 11, with the Port Phillip Mussel & Jazz Festival returning to serve up a mollusc-focused street party. Oh, and six tonnes of mussels. It's free, it'll fill your stomach with locally sourced seafood, and it'll offer up a feast of other treats, including sweets, tipples and dance-worthy tunes. When it comes to enjoying the tasty sea creatures, Claypots, Köy, Paco y Lola, Simply Spanish and Bambu are just some of the eateries popping up — and whipping up an array of different styles. For seafood lovers who want to expand their range, Aptus Seafood will have more of the ocean's bounty. And as for other delicious delights, there'll be raclette poured over potatoes, ice cream, fruit salad and doughnuts. Drinks-wise, expect local wines, craft beer, cider and sangria. Taking care of the entertainment is Margie Lou Dyer and the Paul Williamson Hammond Combo, plus the massive inclusion that is the Melbourne Singers of Gospel. They're the City of Port Phillip's own 100-voice ensemble, taking on Gospel and Motown with a jazz-blues sound. Image: Simon Shiff.
There's nothing quite like a Saturday spent quaffing top-notch wine and gorging on cheese. Throw the spotlight on local produce and you've got something even better. As part of this year's MFWF, the locally focused Wine and Cheese Fest takes over Williamstown's Seaworks for one gooey, cheesy day by the bay, celebrating some of the state's finest cheese, wine and artisan goodies. Chat to producers as you indulge in a parade of free tastings, sit in on a couple of cheese masterclasses or even hone your squishing skills in the day's grape stomping competition. And there'll be DJ sets and live jazz providing the soundtrack to your epicurean adventures. Up for some extra indulgence? Splash out on a VIP ticket to score your fill of free-flowing local wine and cheese platters. Wine and Cheese Fest is part of Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. Check out more of the festival's events here.
Melbourne winters mightn't be known for their ice and snow (just yet, anyway), but that doesn't mean you can't slide across a frozen surface in the centre of the city. From June 22 to July 15, a spot along the Yarra will become a winter wonderland thanks to the return of the Skating At Melbourne Festival. With the event heading to Southbank for the first time, the CBD is getting a good dose of frosty fabulousness: ice skating, obviously, but also ice sliding, bouncing, rides, music, food and more. It's the next best thing to heading to Europe when Melbourne's at its iciest. Last year, the food offerings included German sausages and glühwein, so prepare to really feel like you're abroad. Entry to the area is free, but you'll have to pay for all of the fun stuff, with the fest open from 10am–9pm Monday to Wednesday, 10am–11pm on Thursday and Friday, 9am–11pm on Saturday and 9am–10pm on Sunday. The lineup of events includes not only regular ice skating, but a romance-themed 'date and skate' night each Tuesday, plus an 'Ice Ice Baby' disco evening every Thursday. And if you're over St Kilda way, you're in luck — a skating rink is popping up there too.
Melissa McCarthy is now three-for-three in collaborations with Paul Feig. The actor-director team chase down Bridesmaids and The Heat with a goofy espionage comedy that serves as a showreel for their respective talents. In Feig’s case, that means cementing his reputation as one of Hollywood’s most rock-solid comic-directors, extracting hilarious turns from a more-than-willing cast while demonstrating a surprising amount of confidence with action scenes, which bodes well for his Ghostbusters sequel next year. For McCarthy, it means delivering one of the best performances of her career, nailing both the verbal and physical comedy while steering almost entirely clear of lazy jokes about her gender or her size. McCarthy stars as analyst Susan Cooper, a desk jockey working in the CIA basement funnelling instructions via an earpiece to operatives around the world. Her primary charge, and the subject of her unrequited affections, is the revoltingly narcissistic Bond-wannabe Agent Bradley Fine (Jude Law). But things suddenly change after Fine is gunned down by a devious arms heiress (Rose Byrne), who has somehow gained access to the identity of every active spy. With their best assets compromised, the agency has no choice but to throw the untested Cooper into the field. It’s a pretty standard comedic premise, in a similar vein to other recent spy spoofs such as Johnny English and Get Smart — the one major difference being that Cooper is actually fairly good at her new job. Feig, who wrote the film as well as directing, pokes fun at all the typical spy movie cliches, from the megalomaniacal villain all the way down to the gadgets, here disguised as everyday items such as fungal cream and laxatives. For the most part the humour is fairly broad and sweary — this is, after all, the same director who had McCarthy shit in a sink. Still, as with Feig’s previous films, the material is elevated considerably by the performances. After proving the MVP in both Bridesmaids and Bad Neighbours, Rose Byrne could well consider giving up dramatic roles altogether. Her villainous turn here is a delightful caricature of upper-crust snobbery, and many of the film’s best scenes are the ones that she and McCarthy share. Law is likewise wonderfully hammy as Fine, while Jason Statham sends up his typical screen persona as a 'rogue' CIA agent a little too convinced of his own brilliance. But it’s McCarthy who’s the real hero here, throwing herself into every scene with absolute commitment. Together, she and Feig not only deliver big laughs but also manage to skewer our expectations of what someone who looks like her is capable of. Yes, there are plenty of jokes at Cooper’s expense, but more often than not they’re the result of people underestimating her. As it turns out, that’s a pretty big mistake.
Now that house parties are back on the cards — and going out isn't quite back to what it once was — it's time to get your home bar set-up in good shape. Yes, you need to stock up on liquor, nab some good-looking (but easily replaceable) glasses and work on your bartending skills, but you should also make sure your bar offering stands out above the rest. How? Well, you could add a tap machine that keeps your booze nice and chilled, for one. Lucky for you, we've partnered up with Jägermeister to give away just that, so you can save your money for the party snacks. The compact, OTT house party accessory holds one bottle and is perfect for when you want to serve up well-poured, ice-cold shots of Jäger — whether that's as your mates arrive or late into the night when you're cutting shapes on your makeshift living room dance floor. Yep, you'll be sipping the stuff at a cool -18 degrees celsius, which is apparently the ideal way to drink it. Oh, and we're throwing in three bottles of Jägermeister to help get the party started, too. Keen to take your next house party to great new heights? See details below to enter. [competition]799776[/competition]
There's a big, white container sitting in Federation Square. It looks innocent enough at first, but, like most shipping containers in the city, it's not being used to transport furniture. And the fact that the word 'séance' is written on the side in black makes it seem kind of ominous. But Séance is actually a new installation where participants take a seat inside the tiny space, put on a headset and place their hands flat on the table in front of them. The lights go out and the container enters complete darkness. For the next 15 minutes, participants are fed 'suggestible information' through their headsets. You're probably thinking that there's something dark or supernatural about the whole thing — and going by the name, we don't blame you. But the installation's organiser assures us that 'séance' is simply a French word meaning 'session' or 'sitting'. And so Séance is a sensory experience that looks at the psychology of a group sitting together. Despite not being a horror or supernatural-themed piece, it's a scary indicator of how easy it is for confusion, information overload and the people siting right next to us to affect our judgment. Artists David Rosenberg and Glen Neath (who have collaborated in other sensory deprivation projects before) are the creative masterminds behind the project, which has been described as 'disorienting' and 'deeply unsettling'. It's not recommended for the claustrophobic or the easily frightened. Séance is open daily, three times an hour between 12pm and 10pm until November 12. After its Melbourne residence, the installation will head to Sydney (November 22 to December 10) and Brisbane (dates to be confirmed) so they, too, can experience this madness.
We don't know what you have to do to be considered a 'beach expert', but after Australia's best beaches were revealed this week, we're sure we need to become one. The 2018 list details 101 of the country's most stunning beaches, but the one that's come out on top isn't Bondi or Jervis Bay — it's Nudey Beach. So where the bloody hell is that? It's located on Fitzroy Island, just off the far north Queensland coast. Now, the 'best' beach is obviously a hard one to quantify, but Brad Farmer has done a pretty thorough research job. He's the aforementioned beach expert, and for the release of the 2018 edition of 101 Best Beaches he visited, documented and rated a whole heap of beaches alongside coastal geomorphologist Professor Andy Short, who has personally visited every single beach in Oz (there's 11,761 of them, by the way). Eventually the pair landed on the tropical Nudey as number one. It's obviously insanely beautiful, and the pair have noted it as the best beach of them all due to its surrounding lush rainforest and views of the Cairns hinterland. Plus, for somewhere so special and secluded, it's super accessible — you can get there in 45 minutes on a catamaran from Cairns. Other top beaches are ones you probably haven't heard too much about either — Horrocks Beach north of Perth in WA, Dreamtime Beach at Tweed Heads on the NSW–Queensland border and Dolly Beach on Christmas Island all make the list. Tourist spots Burleigh Heads and Tassie's Bay of Fires get a look in as well. Have a look at the top ten below. BRAD FARMER'S BEST BEACHES IN AUSTRALIA 2018 Nudey Beach, Far North Queensland Horrocks Beach, WA Dreamtime Beach, NSW Cossies Beach, Cocos Keeling Islands Burleigh Heads, Gold Coast, Queensland Seal Rocks, NSW Bay of Fires, Tasmania Quobba, Red Bluff, WA Dolly Beach, Christmas Island Second Valley, SA Neds Beach, Lord Howe Island Image: Chris McLennan/Tourism and Events Queensland.
This pandemic sure hasn't dampened our appetite for booze, but it has left some of us feeling a little iffy about enclosed spaces filled with other shoppers. So, now seems like the ideal time to welcome Richmond's newest purveyor of alcoholic delights, drive-through craft bottle shop The Burnley. Launching this Friday, August 14, the venue is the work of Liquor Masters and clocks in at a hefty 1500 square metres. The site boasts a boutique bottle shop stocked with an expansive range of goodies, heroing lots of local, independent producers. There's a drive-through space for the grab-and-go crowd, as well as a tasting room that'll play host to a year-round calendar of booze-focused events, post-COVID-19. Think, cocktail making masterclasses, spirit appreciation sessions, weekend Meet The Maker tastings and more. Once gatherings are back on the menu, you'll be able to hire out this space for your own events, too. And there's plenty more to look forward to, with an onsite pizzeria and beer garden bar also in the planning stages. The Burnley is positioning itself as a one-stop-shop for all kinds of drinkers, from the craft beer aficionado hunting this season's must-try NEIPA to the novice wino looking for that reasonably priced local chardonnay. On the shelves, you'll find a diverse mix of familiar local names and international drops — beers from the likes of Boatrocker, Stomping Ground and Hop Nation; vinous treats from the Yarra Valley's Rob Dolan and low-intervention label Minimum Wines; and a spirits collection showcasing everything from some Guatemalan Ron Botran rum through to small-batch gin from Hobart distillery Taylor & Smith. Under current stage four restrictions in metropolitan Melbourne, you can only travel up to five kilometres from your home for shopping and exercise. So, if you're don't live near Richmond, you'll need to wait to visit The Burnley post-lockdown. Find The Burnley by the Liquor Masters at 161 Burnley St, Richmond, from August 14. It'll be open from 10am–8pm daily.
Heads up, Mother's Day is just around the corner. (It's happening on Sunday, May 12, in case you temporarily forgot.) You can frantically message your siblings later, there's pressie planning afoot, and we've found quite the showstopper for your dear ol' mumsie this year thanks to Gelato Messina. Never one to miss an opportunity to experiment with new ways to inhale gelato, Messina has been cooking up quite the delicate novelty dessert for Mum: a Italian-inspired chocolate box of gelato-filled nibbles. These brownie point-winners launched in 2015 — and selling out every year since — are sure to bring it home again this year. Each box comes with nine handmade, handpainted chocolate and gelato bon bons — best enjoyed with opera blaring in the background, with a strong, black cup of coffee and a shoulder massage. Go on, your mum put up with you through puberty, you owe her one massage. So which crazy tell-your-friends flavours have Messina come up with for their bitty bon bons? There are nine in total, each more decadent than the last. Ready? There's lamington, black forest, dark choc honey, banoffee pie, cremino — with Italian meringe, amaretti and that salted caramel gelato — tequila sunrise, strawberry and cream, and tea and bikkies. Yep. If you can find us something that says 'perfect Mother's Day gift' better than fragrant earl grey tea gelato and shortbread crammed into a fragile little choc-house of caramel, we'll eat this empty bon bon box. The Messina gelato bon bon boxes are going for $49 a box, and are available to order from Wednesday, April 17. They're available for collection from Bondi, Newtown, Tramsheds, Darlinghurst, Rosebery, Miranda, Parramatta and Penrith in NSW; Fitzroy in Victoria; and South Brisbane and Fortitude Valley in Queensland. Gelato Messina's Mother's Day Bon Bons area available to pre-order from Wednesday, April 17 and to pick-up between Friday, May 10 and Sunday, May 12 (Mother's Day).
Thanks to Guy Sebastian, Dami Im, Isaiah, Jessica Mauboy, Montaigne, Sheldon Riley, Voyager and Electric Fields, Australia is no stranger to heading to Eurovision. In November 2024, the iconic song contest is coming to us instead. For the first time ever since beginning in 1956, Eurovision is touring, with Aussie shows now locked in for Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney before spring is out. London, Paris, Stockholm, Madrid, Warsaw and Amsterdam are also on the itinerary before and after Eurovision on Tour's Down Under gigs, but its visit to Australia is different. This is the only country receiving multiple concerts, spreading Europop across the nation's east coast. Italian African pop star Senhit is not only on the lineup but is also the tour's spokesperson. "Eurovision has always been about bringing people together through music, no matter where in the world you are. Taking Eurovision on Tour to Australia is incredibly exciting for me because it means sharing this celebration of diversity and creativity with even more fans," she explains. "Australia has such a passionate Eurovision community, and I can't wait to experience that energy firsthand." The concept dates back to 2019, but the pandemic initially got in the way. After that, it took two years of negotiating to lock in the setup. Now that Eurovision on Tour is officially happening, it'll play The Tivoli in Brisbane on Wednesday, November 13, then The Palais in Melbourne on Friday, November 15 and The Enmore in Sydney on Sunday, November 17 with 18 performers. On the lineup: Australia's own Im and Silia Kapsis, with the latter competing for Cyprus this year. Attendees can also look forward to 1991 winner Carola from Sweden, 2013 winner Emmelie de Forest from Denmark, and everyone from the UK's Nicki French, Portugal's Suzy and Malta's Destiny to Efendi from Azerbaijan, Ovi & Ilinca Bacila from Romania, and both Rosa López and Soraya from Spain. Eurovision on Tour Australian Dates 2024 Wednesday, November 13 — The Tivoli, Brisbane Friday, November 15 — The Palais, Melbourne Sunday, November 17 — The Enmore, Sydney Eurovision on Tour Australian Lineup 2024 Senhit (San Marino) Dami Im (Australia) Carola (Sweden) Destiny (Malta) Efendi (Azerbaijan) Emmelie de Forest (Denmark) Esther Hart (Netherlands) Jalisse (Italy) Linda Martin (Ireland) Nicki French (United Kingdom) Ovi & Ilinca Bacila (Romania) Rosa López (Spain) Silia Kapsis (Cyprus) Soraya (Spain) Sunstroke Project (Moldova) Suzy (Portugal) The Roop (Lithuania) Theo Evan (Cyprus) Eurovision on Tour Australia is playing Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney in November 2024. Head to the event's website for further details and tickets.
Some actors have all the luck — or, in the case of Matthew Fox, they seem to navigate all of the on-screen quests for survival. After riding Lost's many, many ups and downs between 2004–10, the actor is returning to the small screen for the first time in 12 years in new five-part miniseries Last Light. And although he isn't stranded on a mysterious island here, and no one seems to be spouting a set pattern of numbers in the show's just-dropped first trailer, things look mighty tense and chaotic anyway. The OG Party of Five star plays Andy Yeats, a petro-chemist who gets stuck in the fallout from a problem with the world's oil supply. Actually, to be exact, the entire planet faces the same struggle, with transport stopping, deliveries ceasing as well, and law and order disintegrating fast. If the tale sounds familiar, and not just in a general apocalyptic way, that's because Last Light is based on Andy Scarrow's 2007 book of the same name. The page-to-streaming adaptation is due to hit Stan from Thursday, September 8, and shot everywhere from Prague and Abu Dhabi to Paris. Alongside Fox, the series stars Joanne Froggatt (Downton Abbey: A New Era) as Andy's wife Elena — plus Alyth Ross (Traces) as his teenage daughter Laura and TV first-timer Taylor Foy as his son Sam. Last Light focuses on the entire family's story, as Andy tries to return home from the Middle East just as his worst fears are coming true, Elena and Sam are in Paris, and Laura is home alone in London. The cast also spans Amber Rose Revah (The Punisher), Victor Alli (Belfast) and Hakeem Jomah (Rashash), as well as Tom Wlaschiha — aka Dmitri in the fourth season of Stranger Things, and Jaqen H'ghar in Game of Thrones. Behind the camera, director Dennie Gordon (Hunters, Jack Ryan) does the honours across all five episodes. And if it feels like it's been quite some time since you've seen Fox on-screen, you're right. He only has five films to his name since Lost wrapped up — the last in 2015. Check out the trailer for Last Light below: Last Light will be available to stream via Stan from Thursday, September 8.
It's been just over six months since Melbourne scored its last offering from renowned chef Jessi Singh. Last June, he opened colourful, unconventional Indian joint Daughter In Law and, the year before that, his eatery Don't Tell Aunty landed in Sydney's Surry Hills. Now, the restaurateur — who originally co-founded other hits including Horn Please, Kyneton's Dhaba at The Mill and Babu Ji in Melbourne and NYC — has opened a new wine bar and boutique booze store on Flinders Lane. Sticking with the family theme, this latest venue has been named Mrs Singh. It feels a little more grown up than its siblings — but it just as playful. Sporting a mix of textures and colours, diners are met with a heady vision of orange panelling, blue marbled flooring, rich reds, green velvet, a terrazzo-topped bar and striking gold accents throughout the 65-seat space. Singh fans will be familiar with the soundtrack of party jams and rotation of retro Bollywood flicks projected on the wall. [caption id="attachment_759088" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Coco Bunny[/caption] Drinks are the main game here, led by a 300-strong wine list from award-winning sommelier Dheeraj Bhatia (Sydney's Est.). A produce-driven cocktail lineup stars sips like the signature Mrs Singh — a fusion of mezcal, beetroot, Aperol, agave, lime and black salt — and the Coco Bunny which, with carrot juice, turmeric, ginger and gin, is basically boozy breakfast juice. A roving champagne trolley amps up the luxury and there's even a retail selection of beers and wines available to take home, complete with suggested picks. On weekdays, the bar is open for lunch, serving a simple menu of two $25 thalis: one vegetarian and one with butter chicken, rogan josh and goat curry. After work, though, the menu opens up to a longer list of drinking-optimised plates after-hours. You might find yourself tucking into flaky paratha bread with mango, chilli and 15-month comté, a lobster roll teamed with curry chips, or some sweet and spicy cauliflower. Scallop ceviche is done with lashings of coconut and chilli, and the tandoor oven pumps out serves of chicken, prawn and paneer. Or you can always settle in with the chef's selection menu for an easy $75 per person and free up more time to spend on that drinks list. Find Mrs Singh at 88 Flinders Lane, Melbourne. It's open 11.30am–2.30pm Monday–Friday for lunch, and 5–11pm Sunday–Wednesday and 5pm–1am Thursday–Saturday for dinner and drinks. The wine shop is open from 10.30am–11pm Monday–Wednesday, 10.30–1am Thursday andFriday, 4pm–1am Saturday and 4–11pm Sunday. Images: Peter Tarasiuk.
If you like your wild creatures as much as you like your wild wines, then do we have a Queen's Birthday weekend adventure for you. Healesville Sanctuary and Yarra Valley Icons are teaming up to host Wine and Wildlife, a three day mini-festival that lets you hang about in the Sanctuary grounds, sampling local drops and tasty treats, while zookeepers casually pass by with slithery, scaly and soft creatures in hand. The event will take over five spaces between 11am and 4pm each day between June 10 and 12. And, when you're not meeting wildlife, you'll be warming up beside open fires and checking out local musical talent. Plus, if you can get there on Saturday, you'll find a Four Pillars gin pop-up on the Tassie Devils boardwalk. The Wine and Wildlife experience, including tastings, is covered by any general admission ticket, which can be booked online in advance.
