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.
When you're Australia's oldest film festival and you screen hundreds of movies each and every year, how else do you keep standing out after notching up seven decades of cinema celebrations? If you're the Melbourne International Film Festival, you start your own major accolade. That was MIFF's approach in 2022, when it announced the new $140,000 Bright Horizons Award. Adding the gong to its lineup annually, the Victorian capital's major film fest has just revealed its 2023 winner: Senegalese-French love story Banel & Adama. When you're such a long-running event and you show so many flicks year in and year out, how do you highlight newcomers worth knowing about? That's the Bright Horizons Awards' remit. In 2023, 11 titles were chosen to compete again as part of the festival's full lineup, but only one could emerge victorious. That winner hit Melbourne fresh from playing in-competition at Cannes, and marks the feature debut of Franco-Senegalese writer/director Ramata-Toulaye Sy. Banel & Adama follows it titular characters (Khady Mane and Mamadou Diallo), who are happily in love in a rural village in Senegal's north. But when Adama shies away from being the future chief, their romance — which has already been complicated by Banel being married off to Adama's older brother Yero first — sparks repercussions. Sy cast her star-cross'd lovers-focused film not only with first-time actors, but with non-professionals hailing from the region she uses as her setting. She also shot her movie entirely in the Pulaar language, a variant of Fulah from the area. To take out the 2023 Bright Horizons Award, Banel & Adama competed against features such Australian efforts Shayda (MIFF's opening-night film) and The Rooster (starring Hugo Weaving, Love Me); 2023 Cannes Un Certain Regard winner How to Have Sex, about three British teen girls on a boozy getaway; Earth Mama, an A24 release by Grammy-nominated music video veteran Savanah Leaf; and Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell, which follows a musical journey across the Vietnamese countryside. Also, Disco Boy stars German talent Franz Rogowski (Great Freedom) and Animalia explores an alien invasion in Morocco. Fellow contender Tótem, which spends a single day with a seven-year-old, earned a Special Jury Mention for Mexican actor-turned-director Lila Avilés (The Chambermaid). Picking Banel & Adama as the winner, and showing Tótem some love: co-jury presidents Saul Williams and Anisia Uzeyman, who directed 2022's Bright Horizons-winner Neptune Frost; documentarian Alexandre O Philippe (Lynch/Oz, Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist); former Cannes Camera d'Or-recipient Anthony Chen (Wet Season); and Indonesian filmmaker Kamila Andini (Yuni). Announcing their selections, the jury said that Banel & Adama "is a film that speaks directly to the times with a cinematic language and landscape that challenges and confronts while drawing you into its immense beauty. A mysterious and strong first film from a young filmmaker with bright horizons". And about Tótem, it advised that "the rich subtleties and nuance of this circular story draws us in and makes us a part of its family". The MIFF jury also gives out another of fest's prizes: the $70,000 Blackmagic Design Australian Innovation Award. Also first arriving in 2022, it recognises an outstanding Australian creative from one of the festival's movies, and can span span a large number of roles, including the winning flick's director, technical or creative lead, or other craft positions. This year's recipients: Soda Jerk for their latest clip-based satire Hello Dankness, which the jury called "a clear-eyed, sharply satirical take on one of America's most troubling chapters, transformative use of existing footage, and groundbreaking manipulation thereof". The winner of 2023's brand-new First Nations Film Creative Award was also unveiled at the festival's closing night, with directors Adrian Russell Wills and Gillian Moody winning for autobiographical documentary Kindred. And, scoring 2023's MIFF Audience Award: This Is Going to Be Big, about Sunbury and Macedon Ranges Specialist School in Bullengarook staging a John Farnham-themed musical. The 2023 Melbourne International Film Festival runs until Sunday, August 20 in-person, and until Sunday, August 27 via MIFF Play, the fest's online platform.
Everyone's favourite 'candy man' hit Aussie shores in January, with the smash-hit musical production of Charlie And the Chocolate Factory hitting the stage in Sydney. And now, it's Melbourne's turn, with the announcement that the show will do a season at Her Majesty's Theatre from this August. Roald Dahl's classic sugar-dusted tale is being brought to life in its Australian debut by a collaboration between theatre producers John Frost, Craig Donnell, Langley Park Productions, Neal Street Productions and Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures. Following the worldwide popularity of both the original book and the 1971 Gene Wilder film of the same name, the musical has been confirmed a sweet success internationally, scoring rave reviews during its stint on Broadway last year and selling out a heap of shows in Sydney. With original songs like The Candy Man and I've Got a Golden Ticket featured alongside new tunes from the songwriters of Hairspray, this confection of a show promises to lure audiences of all ages into, shall we say, a land of pure imagination. It's directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O'Brien, with music by Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award winner Marc Shaiman, lyrics courtesy of Grammy and Tony Award winners Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, and choreography by Tony Award nominee and Emmy Award winner Joshua Bergasse. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory's Sydney season will kick off on August 9, 2019, with performances running on Wednesday to Sunday. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, March 15 at charliethemusical.com.au. Top image: Joan Marcus, the original Broadway cast 2017.
A staple for Melbourne comedy lovers, Quick Bites Comedy is the go-to night for checking out some of the best local, interstate and international comedians around – and it's free. Taking turns in a rapid-fire night of laughs, each comic delivers five-to-seven minutes of their funniest material, guaranteeing an evening crammed full of both up-and-coming and established performers across a variety of acts, styles and topics. Personalities and writers from many of Australia's most-loved TV shows are regularly in attendance and you're bound to discover someone who cracks you up. Held on Monday evenings at popular late-night spot Boney, the Little Collins location is perfect for getting some belly laughs in at the start of the week, ensuring the rest of your working week is just a little bit easier.
In the United States, Deadpool is officially the second highest-grossing R-rated film of all time, coming in just behind The Passion of the Christ. It's a point made directly to the audience during one of Deadpool 2's many fourth-wall-shattering moments, at once justifying the movie's own existence and letting us know that it knows that sequels usually suck. This particular follow-up, however, is definitely one fans were clamouring for. And they'll be delighted to find it once again delivers an outlandish blend of deeply meta comedy and ultra-violent action. Returning to don the Deadpool mask/burn victim makeup is Canadian newcomer and former Corrs percussionist Ryan Reynolds, whose talent for switching between dry sarcasm and affecting sincerity makes him perhaps uniquely qualified to steer such an unconventional character and film. This time round his alter-ego Wade Wilson finds himself on the cusp of parenthood, only to have the chance tragically wrenched away during the film's unexpected opening scenes (a surprise neatly reflected in the James Bond-style titles sequence featuring credits such as: 'Written By: the real villains of this film' and 'Starring: someone who clearly doesn't like sharing the limelight'). Seeking redemption, Wade first tries (and fails) to join the X-Men Who Aren't Popular Enough To Be Official X-Men, before finding himself tasked with protecting a troubled orphan named Russell (Julian Dennison) from the time-travelling assassin Cable (Josh Brolin). On paper, at least, it's a fairly conventional plot for a franchise that altogether mocks convention – to say nothing of the fact it also largely mirrors the storyline from last year's critically-acclaimed and patently better Logan (starring the unforgettable Hugh Jackman). But Deadpool 2 navigates this issue by peppering its script with literally hundreds of in-jokes, 80s references and endless winks to the audience. Admittedly they don't all land, but as the Inuit saying goes: swing at every pitch and you'll at least hit a few out of the park. Alongside Reynolds are most of the original film's key cast members, including Karan Soni, Leslie Uggams, Morena Baccarin and T.J. Miller. Opposite them, Marvel's current villain-du-jour Josh Brolin delivers the same reserved menace as Cable that he did as Infinity War's Thanos, albeit without the chin scars that make it look like he fell asleep on Roger Federer's racquet. Zazie Beetz of Atlanta fame also joins the team as the scene-stealing Domino, whose superpower is pizzas delivered fresh within 30 minutes or your money back, guaranteed. The challenge for director David Leitch (Atomic Blonde, John Wick) is to make fun of comic-book movies while still delivering one worth watching. As an exercise in subversion Deadpool 2 doesn't quite achieve the same level of success as the first film, opting too often to undermine its genre staples by prefacing them with glib one-liners. More successful are the jokes that take place during those sequences, or – even better – the darker twists this film puts on them without an accompanying gag. At one point, for example, Deadpool blocks a gun shot with his hand, only to then slide his now-gaping wound along the barrel and turn it on its handler to shoot him in the head. It's the kind of shocking violence you'll never see in a conventional Marvel movie and yet perfectly conforms to this character's unique, twisted style of problem solving. Thankfully, there are more than enough examples of this kind of gory comedy to keep Deadpool 2 comfortably in the successful column, right down to the closing credits scenes that sit amongst the movie's funniest moments. It may not be the romcom we deserve, but it's the one we need right now, and it's definitely worth your time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D86RtevtfrA
There's a Woi-wurrung phrase that we all ought to know: Burndap Birrarung burndap umarkoo, or "what is good for the Yarra is good for all." Those words guide the Birrarung Riverfest, a cultural and environmental showcase that has grown leaps and bounds since it launched three years ago. Now offering over 60 events spread across 23 days, these mostly free experiences are held along the entire stretch of the life-giving Birrarung, also known as the Yarra River. Running from Saturday, September 6–Sunday, September 28, there's no shortage of encounters that make the most of the Birrarung. Think platypus spotting and sunset paddles, upbeat live music and artist-led sensory walks. Plus, a host of family-friendly activities that bring everyone closer to nature. Presented by the Yarra Riverkeeper Association (YRKA), it's all about shaping a healthy, protected and loved river. In 2025, visitors are invited to attend numerous Wurundjeri-led events focused on First Nations knowledge and culture, like finding bush food and bush medicine at Collingwood Children's Farm. You can also plant habitat for critically endangered Helmeted Honeyeater birds or gather for a morning stroll through Healesville's Liwik Barring Landscape Conservation Area. Plus, Birrarung Riverfest culminates with a massive party at Fed Square, featuring a boat floatilla, live music and cultural ceremonies. "After a cold Melbourne winter, Riverfest comes at the perfect time to spring us back to life," says Janet Bolitho, President of the YRKA. "From educational and cultural events to outdoor adventures, the Riverfest program has something for everyone".
The Virgin Australian Melbourne Fashion Festival returns this March for 19 days of whirlwind of fashion, art and creative endeavours. So where to start? First there are the runways — this year there will be seven premium shows featuring Australian talent like Romance Was Born, Christopher Esber and Dion Lee, as well as a special dedication to Camilla and Marc, a graduate showcase, several off-site runways and David Jones hosting the largest designer lineup at the Royal Exhibition Building. Next, there's the art, culture and ideas as VAMFF takes the festival off the catwalk with a film series, workshops, exhibits, live performances, styling sessions and even a fashion hub with a wine garden and sparkling bar. Event highlights include a screening of the best fashion films of the year, a guided tour of the VAMFF arts program and A Good Evening discussing how fashion can empower women. And, finally, there are the events where you can get your hands dirty: the shopping exclusives. Activations will pop up across this city with Myer's runway and VIP event, a full weekend dedicated to shopping and runways over in South Yarra and Prahran, plus the option to shop the runways instantly from VAMFF's website. VAMFF runs from Wednesday, March 1 to Sunday, March 19. Tickets are on sale now — you can explore all the festival events and snag tickets here.
Summer may be over, but that's no reason to stop having pool parties. And Melbourne's Pool Deck, located atop Rydges in Carlton, is ringing in autumn with a poolside Sunday session. On Sunday, March 4 the rooftop venue will be open for six hours of drinks, eats and beats. From 3pm, you'll be able to sip on frosé, Aperol spritzes and summer lagers and snack on hearty eats — including a whole pig on a spit, popcorn cauliflower and spicy chicken ribs — while floating in the sun-kissed pool. Meanwhile, a host of local DJs will be on the decks, spinning hip-hop and RnB as the sun goes down. Tickets, go one of two ways: $10 or $89. Ten dollars is standard entry (and includes two free drinks) and $89 per person will get you the five-hour VIP catering package. For a minimum of five people, it includes bottomless spritzes, frosé, lager and snacks to keep you going all day.
Since 2016, Bruce Munro's spectacular Field of Light has been illuminating Uluru, giving the already-stunning Northern Territory sight an ocean of colour via 50,000 glass lights spread across a 62,500-square-metre area. The glowing multi-hued installation unsurprisingly proved popular, and instantly, first getting extended until 2020 and then being locked in indefinitely — and now the Red Centre is scoring Light-Towers, another dazzling work by the acclaimed artist. Add Light-Towers to your must-see list, and make a date with Kings Canyon to bathe in its radiance. Up and shining since April 2023, it's part of Discovery Resorts, and turns both light and sound into an immersive piece. Like Field of Light, it's also sticking around permanently. This time, Munro has constructed a heap of two-metre towers that change colour, swapping their tones in response to music that echoes from inside each structure. There's a whopping 69 towers spread across a circular pattern, all with Kings Canyon as a backdrop — giving visitors quite the visual and aural experience. Light-Towers' soundscape hails from Orlando Gough, while the work helps mark 40 years since Munro's first visit to the Red Centre. If you're keen to drop by, you can pick between three different types of sessions spanning sunrise, sunset and evening. The first two feature a local guide hosting your visit, plus a food and beverage package. For those attending by night, the Luritja Lookout will have somewhere for you to eat and drink before and after you peer at Munro's latest luminous expanse. The British-born Munro first came up with the idea for Field of Light while visiting Uluru back in 1992. When that artwork was earmarked to become one of the area's ongoing feature, he said that he is "truly honoured that the Field of Light will remain at Uluru". He continued, "the ancient landscape of the Red Centre continues to inspire my thoughts, feelings and ideas that shape my life and work." Since then, Munro has displayed large-scale installations in Darwin and in Albany in Western Australia, and has two more pieces on their way to the New South Wales–Victorian border from late 2023. Find Light-Towers at Discovery Resorts – Kings Canyon, Luritja Road, Petermann, Northern Territory — and head to the resort company's website for bookings and further details. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
For almost a decade, it's boasted one of the most unique locations of any Melbourne bar, nestled between footpath and river, halfway along the Evan Walker Bridge. And soon, Ponyfish Island will have a sleek new look befitting that quirky address, as it undergoes a dramatic makeover. While the venue is closed under COVID-19 restrictions, Owners Jerome Borazio (Laneway Festival, Back Alley Sally's), DJ Grant Smillie (Melbourne City Brewing Co, and LA's EP & LP) and Andrew Mackinnon (from marketing communication agency The Taboo Group) have kicked off a hefty raft of renovations that'll see it transformed into a chic over-water drinking destination. Adelaide's Studio Gram (whose work includes the likes of Africola and Surry Hills' Hotel Harry) is heading up a total overhaul of the space, reimagining every last corner but for the original frame of the bar. When doors open in late spring, expect a refined mix of colours, textures and curves, with additional lounge areas, new lighting, and Palm Springs-inspired custom-made shades. The front sculpture has also been given the boot, leaving room for extra seating and a bigger kitchen. Putting the latter to good use, a revamped food and drink offering is also in the works. A seafood-centric menu will feature dishes like a prawn roll, matched by crafty cocktails including a barrel-aged rum negroni. It seems the beer-line gods have also smiled down from above and the bar's set to feature draught beer for the first time ever. Ponyfish Island's makeover plans have actually been in the works for a good five years. Though, with that location in the middle of the Yarra proving challenging even for day-to-day bar operations, you can only imagine the headaches in store for any full-blown construction. Powering appliances have the potential to black-out half of nearby Southbank, flooding is all too common, and someone has to lug the entire ice supply in by hand. During the rebuild, demolition required a barge to be sent in via the river, while the current City of Melbourne works on the footbridge above have presented hurdles of their own. Ponyfish Island is slated to reopen by the end of November 2020, in time for its tenth birthday celebrations in December. We'll keep you posted with more details closer to the launch.
Gather your friends and make tracks to your favourite local green space this summer. With weather this fine, it makes sense to enjoy lunch al fresco. And you don't need to spend hours in the kitchen preparing, either — Melbourne's retail scene offers opportunity a-plenty. Curate your own gourmet picnic hampers from scratch, or, pay someone to do it for you. Here's our guide to the what's what of Melbourne's picnic-packing scene. CURED MEATS, MEATSMITH Meatsmith prides itself on sourcing the highest quality meat from dedicated, ethical farmers and specialises in skilled butchery and on-site dry-aging. The selection is what you'd expect from restaurant stalwart Andrew McConnell and butcher Troy Wheeler, whose shared insight ensures consistent quality and lots of options. Cured meats and charcuterie marry well with a wide selection of pantry items, including chutneys, relishes, sauces, olives and pickled goods. Pair some slices of wagyu pastrami and a pot of pork rillette with some house-made chermoula or sriracha, for example. Guests can also browse the wine selection, thoughtfully chosen by Leanne Altmann, sommelier and wine buyer for McConnell's Supernormal. Meatsmith has stores in Fitzroy and St Kilda. CHEESE, THE CHEESE SHOP DELI This South Yarra staple sits pretty within Prahran Market, serving a hearty selection of cheese from all over the world, as well as an impressive local assortment. The Il Forteto, a Tuscan pecorino stuffed with shaved truffle, is a best-seller, while the washed-rind L'Artisan Mountain Man raises the flag for local Victorian produce. If you like a side of conversation with your cheese, you won't be disappointed. Angelo and Diane Polidoras prefer to serve with a smile and are on a first name basis with many of their clientele — "don't brie a stranger", they say. BOOZE, BLACKHEARTS & SPARROWS Food and drink are a social experience in as much as they are a sensory pleasure, and nothing completes a warm afternoon more than a tipple with your close friends. Blackhearts & Sparrows calls itself a "purveyor of unique wine, beer and cider" and was established on the understanding that quality booze shouldn't be intimidating or overpriced. The independent chain now boasts seven stores across Melbourne (Brunswick, East Brunswick, Fitzroy, North Fitzroy, Kensington, Richmond and Windsor), each showcasing weird and wonderful alcoholic produce from local and international makers. THE TRIMMINGS, VARIOUS FARMERS MARKETS Dive headfirst into a world of local produce and pack your picnic with items from some of Victoria's finest farms. There are plenty of farmers' markets across Melbourne and its surrounding suburbs — Carlton, Hawthorn, Abbotsford, St Kilda to name a few. Enjoy fresh fruit and juices, seasonal veggies, fresh bread, artisanal jams and preserves, and sometimes even alcohol. THE WHOLE SHEBANG, THE STABLES OF COMO Settle yourself in the picturesque gardens of Como House and get stuck into a pre-prepared picnic, courtesy of The Stables. For $60 per person, your can enjoy a picnic hamper with all the trimmings — we're talking pastries and quiches, fried chicken, vegetable salads and desserts (and cotton candy). They'll also include picnic rugs, crockery and blankets. For an additional $40, they'll even throw in a bottle of house wine. We'll drink to that. ALL-IN-ONE, FITZROVIA The good folk at St Kilda's Fitzrovia are specialists in the picnic business. If you're pushed for time and can't curate your own hamper, sit back and let Fitzrovia prepare and pack the perfect picnic for you. They'll build a five course gourmet grazing lunch that showcasing items from the current Fitzrovia menu — enjoy pastries, sandwiches, salads, cheese and sweets without a hint of stress. Your hamper will also come equipped with cutlery, crockery, napkins and glassware, as well as soft drinks and sparkling water. All you have to do is return the basket the following day. Hampers cost $150 (enough for two hungry people) and it's suggested you order 24 hours in advance.
Everyone should know where their local florist is. And if you're a bayside resident, Elwood Flowers is it. The expert team behind this cute Elwood shop (FKA The Leaf Florist) can put together gorgeous arrangements and installations for any occasion, or help you pick out a fresh, seasonal bunch for your dining table centrepiece. The store also sells a number of flower-adjacent products ideal for gifts and Treat Yourself Days, including indoor plants, terrariums, ceramics, vases, candles and indoor plant care products from the Plant Runner. It does have an easy online store and delivery service, but stopping to smell the roses is half the fun of it. Images: Tracey Ah-kee.
Guillermo Del Toro's original Pacific Rim knew exactly what it was: a modern day creature feature starring giant robots beating the living crap out of even bigger monsters. Everything the movie did, from the characters' backstories to the wacky scientists and even the burgeoning romance, was all there to serve a sole purpose: get us to the next massive monster bash. The entire exercise was big, silly and frequently confusing, but in the end it was all forgivable because Pacific Rim delivered the film it said it would. The sequel, by contrast, made the fatal error of having hardly any robot vs. monster fisticuffs, and – to put things bluntly – it sucked. Sadly, cinemas latest creature feature, The Meg, makes a similar mistake, proving about as big a disappointment as the shark you barely get to see. The setup, as far as sharksploitation films go, is actually pretty solid. A deep sea research project named Mana One discovers the Mariana Trench is actually deeper than first thought, with a dense cloud of hydrogen-sulfide masking a deeper world that's remained untouched since the Jurassic period. It's here the scientists both discover and then accidentally release the proverbial Meg (short for Megalodon), setting the giant shark upon a course of murderous destruction as it explores the oceans above. And wouldn't that have been great to watch! Sadly the film chooses to tell rather than show, mostly sending its cast to survey the aftermath of the Meg's mayhem rather than really showing the toothy beast in action. Much of the fault lies in decision to go for a family (and censor) friendly rating that strips the movie of almost all its gore. Truly, there's more bloody violence in a lamb ad then The Meg, robbing it of any sense of gruesome fun. In the lead human role, action man and former professional diver Jason Statham plays a deep sea rescue expert reluctantly drawn back into the world that abandoned him after a deadly incident some years prior. He's grizzled, cynical and a heavy beer drinker, yet still somehow more ripped than a carcass after a shark attack – not that The Meg would show that kind of thing. Statham, like Dwayne Johnson, is a delight to watch on screen, at once committed to his performance yet unmistakably aware of how ridiculous this movie is. Even he, though, feels underutilised in this film, relegated to delivering bad cliches in even more derivative scenarios. His co-stars don't fare much better, with the likes of Ruby Rose, Rainn Wilson and Chinese superstar Li Bingbing all trudging their way through this cheesy affair. In all, there's just not enough Meg in The Meg to justify the price of admission, let alone the title. It's not good enough to be a good film, but also not bad enough to be so bad it's good. Frankly, if it's schlock you're after, you'd be far better served by genuine B-movies like Sharknado. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGYXExfKhmo
Every year, the Japanese Film Festival, presented by The Japan Foundation, Sydney, takes over cinema screens across Australia. But, thanks to the global pandemic, the annual cinematic event will look a little different this time around, returning for its 24th year as a digital festival called JFF Plus. So, warm up the popcorn and get ready for ten days of Japanese flicks that you can catch from the comfort of your couch. If there's one thing that Japanese cinema is known for, it's variety. So, expect everything from heartfelt anime to time travel adventures and geisha-inspired musical comedies. Overall, there'll be more than 25 films in this year's online program, covering feature-length flicks, documentaries and shorts, with a mix of new titles and cult classics. Highlights include quirky rom-com Tremble All You Want, family drama One Night, a documentary on the on the world-famous Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo and legendary director Yasujirō Ozu's 1952 film The Flavour of Green Tea Over Rice. Oh and did we mention it's free? [caption id="attachment_788623" align="alignnone" width="1920"] 'Tsukiji Wonderland', 2016 Shochiku Co., Ltd.[/caption] To check out the full program, head to the Japanese Film Festival website. Top images: 'One Night', 2019 'One Night' Film partners; 'The Flavour of Green Tea Over Rice', 1952/2017 Shochiku Co., Ltd.; and 'Tremble All You Want', 2017 'Tremble All You Want' Production Committee.
It has been a busy year for Russian incompetence, on-screen at least. After Chernobyl so blisteringly explored 1986's devastating nuclear reactor explosion and its widespread fallout, Kursk jumps forward to 2000's submarine disaster, where 118 sailors lost their lives during the sinking of a nuclear-powered vessel. The arrival of both the HBO mini-series and now this film in such short succession is a clear sign of the times — as Russia's influence, especially of the covert kind, continues to loom over world affairs, interrogating the country's high-profile misfortunes is hardly an unexpected trend. Today's filmmakers can't force certain parties in power to take Russian election meddling seriously, but they can examine how the world's largest nation by area has dealt with its own catastrophes. Kursk, like Chernobyl, doesn't provide a flattering portrait. In August 2000, as part of the first major Russian naval exercise since the fall of the Soviet Union, Oscar-class K-141 submarine Kursk descended into the ocean's depths. Although it was merely participating in training, it carried live combat weapons, including practice torpedoes — and when one exploded onboard, it set off a chain reaction that would strand the vessel at the bottom of the Barents Sea. Those who survived the initial blast were stuck waiting. First, they waited for Russian authorities to realise what had happened, which took hours. Then, as water seeped in, and supplies and oxygen dwindled, they bided their time as repeated rescue efforts floundered. Ever-protective of their military technology, and just as determined to assert that they could take care of the problem themselves, the Russian Navy even refused international assistance, making the trapped men wait longer still. That's how Thomas Vinterberg tells the tale of the Kursk, with the Danish filmmaker teaming up with Saving Private Ryan screenwriter Robert Rodat to adapt Robert Moore's non-fiction book A Time to Die. For the sake of heightened drama, some facts and timelines have been massaged, however the overall premise — that a Russian submarine sank, the country was poorly equipped to handle it and people paid with their lives — remains. So too does the notion of a nation more concerned with perception than its population; one in which citizens are expected to prove their unflinching patriotism by paying the ultimate price, but where the government won't dare risk its reputation to save them in return. Understandably, this damning truth lingers over every moment of Kursk, making an already sombre story even more so. Indeed, it's as evident on-screen as the grey colour scheme, the oppressive pressure felt in the movie's submarine scenes, and the use of different aspect ratios to send an emotional message. While he's working with a budget far beyond anything he might've dreamed of, or wanted, back when he co-founded the fiercely independent Dogme 95 cinema movement with Lars von Trier, Vinterberg is in comfortable thematic territory. Boasting a resume littered with moral quandaries, including the recent The Hunt and Far from the Madding Crowd, the writer-director has always been a keen observer of folks in a bind. That's what captain-lieutenant Mikhail Averin (Matthias Schoenaerts) and his men find themselves in, to put it mildly, as the clock ticks down and the end we all know is coming inches closer. Meanwhile, Mikhail's wife Tanya (Léa Seydoux) fights for both action and answers back above sea level, numerous admirals (Max von Sydow and Peter Simonischek, primarily) either toe or flout the government line, and offers of British help by Commodore David Russell (Colin Firth) keep falling on stubborn ears. Kursk doesn't spend enough time with any one person to be called a character study, and its broad scope necessitates more than a few shortcuts and cliches. When the movie opens with the sound of gasping breaths, only to show Mikhail timing how long his pre-teen son Misha (Artemiy Spiridonov) can stay underwater in the bathtub, it's an obvious move, for example. Still, in serving up an overview of the disaster's affected parties, and cycling between them as they endeavour to weather the horrific situation, Vinterberg's film is never less than compelling and heartbreaking. While his cast helps considerably, especially Schoenaerts and Seydoux, the director paints a powerful picture of tragedy, courage and (on the part of the Russian officials) sheer arrogance. This is a story of sailors scrambling to wade through life-or-death terror, of their loved ones refusing to kowtow to the authorities, and of the conflict bubbling beneath the rescue attempts — and it's as moving and gripping as the real-life scenario and the men lost to it demands.
The pooches of Melbourne will be on parade at this returning festival for our furriest of friends. On Sunday, May 25, Barkly Square in Brunswick will play host to the fourth Barkly Barks Dog Festival, complete with a doggy mini market, dog-friendly beers, professional trainers and more. The festival will cater to dogs of all shapes and sizes, with tons of activities for participants on both two legs and four. You can buy your pet a treat from Canine Wellness Kitchen, Melbourne's dog-friendly food truck; get some costumed pooch snaps and give your doggo a 'pupparazzi' moment; or take your pup to meet a different kind of canine: a real Aussie dingo. But the main event is the dog parade, where gongs will be given out in a whole range of categories, including most obedient, fastest floof, best costume, and dog and owner lookalike. Not sure we'd want to win that one, even if there are prizes up for grabs. Barkly Barks Dog Festival runs from 10am–3pm. Images: Brent Edwards.
The sonic cinema lovers at Hear My Eyes present a mash-up of incredible short film along with an original soundtrack to match. Taking over the Melbourne Fringe Hub on the night of Wednesday, September 28, Form as Vibration will see Melbourne musos Emma Russack and Errol Green provide the aural accompaniment to a pair of shorts, Migration and Yul and the Snake from America and France respectively. Joining them on the night will be Lucas Skinner from King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, who'll present a two-hour set from his personal vinyl collection. In the words of the programmers, films will never sound the same.
UPDATE, April 4, 2020: Brittany Runs a Marathon is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video. Everyone has a friend who goes on a fitness kick, then won't stop talking about it. Suddenly your brunch dates are scheduled around training sessions and optimal heart rates come up in every conversation. That isn't Brittany Forgler (Jillian Bell). The New Yorker barely has the energy to start exercising, and she certainly doesn't want to keep nattering on about it. And while Brittany Runs a Marathon focuses on the avid partygoer's highly out-of-character wellness campaign, the feel-good comedy actually sports a similar attitude — because as enormous a feat as attempting to run a marathon is, it's only one part of Brittany's life. Basing his debut feature on his best friend, playwright-turned-filmmaker Paul Downs Colaizzo spends plenty of time cheering Brittany's efforts. Flags are waved and encouragement is yelled — by her new running pals Catherine (Michaela Watkins) and Seth (Micah Stock) and, metaphorically, by the movie itself. But while the story plays out largely as every underdog sports flick has trained audiences to expect, there's a deeper, darker core to this upbeat and amusing affair. Come for a wry spin on all the usual training montages, keep watching as Brittany progresses from groaning through a slow jog around the block to willingly skipping boozing for exercise, then stay for a perceptive exploration of the tough marathon that is finding self-acceptance. Indeed, late in this likeable movie, there's a scene that sums up the film's true focus — and it makes for purposefully uneasy viewing. Seething with pain and devastation, it has nothing to do with running through the streets. At a birthday party for her sister's (Kate Arrington) husband (Lil Rel Howery), Brittany starts talking to a couple. They appear mismatched, she's had a few drinks, and so she asks an awkward, inappropriate question. It doesn't go down well, but it's clear that Brittany isn't trying to judge or be cruel to those around her. Rather, by pondering aloud how a man she deems attractive could love a woman with a fuller figure, she's voicing the harsh mindset that she has always directed internally. Charting Brittany's attempts to improve her health on medical orders, and then to put one foot after the other during New York's 42-kilometre endurance test, Brittany Runs a Marathon dives into its protagonist's damaging opinion of herself. The film is filled with humour — and many, many running scenes — but, primarily, it's the cinematic manifestation of the idea that to help yourself, you actually have to like yourself . For too long, Brittany has been the funny sidekick. She constantly cracks jokes at her own expense, whether at work, on dates, or with the doctor she's trying to convince to prescribe her Adderall. She's also fantastic at self-sabotage, as her fledgling romance with fellow underachieving twenty-something Jern (Utkarsh Ambudkar) shows. Those habits are hard to break, so Brittany Runs a Marathon confronts Brittany's flagging self-esteem one sweaty step at a time. It's a beauty and wellness industry cliché — the type trotted out to sell soap, as Brittany skewers — but loving the skin you're in is hard. It's also tricky to convey on-screen in an authentic fashion (and no, instant makeovers where someone removes their glasses to reveal they're really a bombshell don't count). Brittany Runs a Marathon turns the task into a physical slog, with viewers witnessing every grimace and struggle, then feeling the exhilaration when its reluctant protagonist gets comfortable pounding the pavement — and, of course, when she does what the title tells us she's going to do. There's a reason that writer/director Colaizzo is happy to spoil the outcome in the movie's moniker, after all: running the New York marathon isn't the film's only point. As astute as it proves in exploring Brittany's battle with her inner demons and millennial malaise in general, Brittany Runs a Marathon has its star to thank for striking such an affecting chord. A scene-stealer in 22 Jump Street, Rough Night and Workaholics, Bell puts her heart, soul and gift for witty quips into this thoughtful and funny movie — and ensures that every step that Brittany takes, both in the right and wrong directions, feels genuine. That sensation sets this crowd-pleaser apart from other recent comedies about women trying to gain confidence in their own shoes, such as Amy Schumer-starring misfire I Feel Pretty. Nothing here is calculated, cynical, exaggerated or muddled; rather, it's relatable, realistic and even inspirational. Forget running — sure, you might leave the cinema eager to jog a marathon yourself, but being kinder to yourself is the bigger achievement. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsHlvgTG1iI
This article is sponsored by our partner lastminute.com.au. You've seen the big ball drop in Times Square on the telly every New Year's Eve. Cue the snow, earmuffs and shots of rosy-nosed couples pashing as the clock strikes midnight, a stark contrast to our summery celebrations. If you and your mate/significant other have ever dreamt of experiencing NYE in NYC style but can't seem to scrape up enough cash to make it a reality, this could be your chance. lastminute.com.au is giving away an awesome prize package to two lucky people for an adventure in the Concrete Jungle this December. The package includes two return tickets to New York City, four nights' accommodation in midtown Manhattan's Affinia 50 hotel, two tickets to an NYE celebration in Times Square, and an elite styling session and $1000 wardrobe, courtesy of THE ICONIC. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal to us. So enter now to win NYE in NYC and share the hell out of it on Facebook, Twitter or Google+, because every friend referral earns you another entry to boost your chances of winning. Now is the time to be that annoying friend who is incessantly posting about competitions. https://youtube.com/watch?v=rxO05nQXFY8
If you haven't dreamt of quitting your job, turning off your phone, packing your bag with nothing more than a pair of thongs and some swimmers and jetting off to make a life on a tropical island, you are truly living a blessed life. But for everyone else who holds on to a skerrick of the island life dream, this next bit of news is either going to make you smile or turn you insanely jealous. A guy from NSW has just scored his own entire resort on a private island in the Pacific for the grand sum of 65 bucks. The man, identified just as Joshua, was one of the tens of thousands of people who decided to put a few dollars down to go into the draw to win the 16-room luxury Kosrae Nautilus Resort that sits on the Micronesian island of Kosrae. It was put up for grabs by Australian couple Doug and Sally Beitz, who built the resort back in 1994. After 20 years on the island, they've decided to come back home — but instead of selling the island to an investor, they wanted it to go to someone who maybe couldn't afford to buy it outright, but would give it as much love as they have. Joshua was announced as the winner last night via a post on the resort's Facebook page. So, yeah, now he owns a resort. Not bad for the cost of approx. three espresso martinis. Via ABC News. Image: Kosrae Nautilus Resort.
Time to bust out your overalls and dust off the shopping cart. A popular monthly market has returned to Canberra and is going to have you picking up way more than the usuals — a jar of local honey and a handmade soy candle, that is. Love Local Markets will take place on the last Sunday of every month between 9am–2pm at The Plot at Pialligo Estate. Here, you'll find a range of vendors offering local produce and products, including fresh food, drinks and lifestyle goods. While you're there, make sure you check out everything the estate and its neighbours have on offer, including the Pialligo Market Grocer, the Farm Shop Cafe, Wren & Rabbit Interiors, Pink Flamingo Interiors and Bisonhome. Plus, being conveniently positioned near the inner south and Fyshwick precincts, the location makes it a great way to start your day before taking on other activities in the Canberra region. Make sure you grab the loose change hanging around the house or swing by an ATM on the way as the stalls are cash only and there aren't any EFTPOS facilities. Love Local Markets will take place from 9am–2pm on the last Sunday of each month (excluding December) at The Plot at Pialligo Estate. For more information, visit the website here.
If you're of an age when you can remember burning your friend's So Fresh CD so you could stay up to date with the coolest songs of the season, congrats. You're old now. But also, congrats, because you will seriously enjoy this So Fresh shindig. The old-school get-together to end all old-school get-togethers is coming to South Yarra's Supersmall this Grand Final Public Holiday Eve, and it'll be playing bangers strictly of the 2010 vintage. You can expect a disturbing percentage of Channel 10 alums (Australian Idol winners/losers and ex-Neighbours actors) as well as way too much Nickelback for polite company. Also, just throwing this out there: we're desperately hoping for a timely comeback of the Duff sisters duet 'Our Lips Are Sealed'. Entry will set you back $10 on the door (unless you get there between 9–10pm), and of course it's obviously 18 and over — because if you're under 18 you definitely don't know what So Fresh is. Or CDs, probably.
A few people are saying the Simon Pegg/Nick Frost/Edgar Wright partnership is getting tired. There might be some truth to that, but it isn't tired yet. The World's End — the third film in their 'Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy', a series of comic genre mash-ups that also happen to feature a random Cornetto ice-cream in each one — is a whirlwind of exuberant humour it's easy to get swept up in. Sure, some of the surprise of the mash-up twist has faded since 2004's breakthrough Shaun of the Dead, but the team has also matured as actors, filmmakers and observers of the human condition. The particular human condition they're concerned with this time around is the sad state of being stuck in one's halcyon days, particularly when they're situated in high school, particularly when you're now nearing 40. Pegg plays the thusly afflicted man-child, and it's far from the loveable, self-effacing type of loser character we're used to seeing him be. As Gary King, he is a real loser, still sporting his teenage sludgy black hair and greatcoat, still driving 'The Beast' registered in someone else's name, still embarrassingly overconfident and still sleazing onto women in the loos. He's so close to being unlikeable, yet there's just enough good in him — and just a smidge of relatability — that we want him to win on his ridiculous quest to unite his high school buddies and claim the victory that should have been theirs 20 years earlier: completion of a 12-stop pub crawl known as the Golden Mile. Gary's more capably adult friends — Andrew (Frost), Steven (Paddy Considine), Oliver (Martin Freeman) and Peter (Eddie Marsan) — want out of the caper not long after arriving back in their insular home town, Newton Haven. But then they discover the place has gone Invasion of the Body Snatchers in their absence, and fighting off invading alien robot hordes takes precedence over fighting each other. All the while, following some spectacular drunk-person reasoning, they continue the course of their pub crawl to the mythic World's End bar. In some ways, The World's End doesn't feel like the final movie of the trilogy; it has the anarchic, careening, appropriately drunken energy of an early oeuvre picture, but one suspects that mood is actually harder to control than it looks. The movie is also unexpectedly mature in its human drama, teasing out the fraught relationship we have with our histories and ultimately encouraging us to go a little less hard on our past selves. There's great joy in watching The World's End, and plenty of rewards in the team's signature brand of comedy. Maybe it is time to move on from the genre mash-up, but this is a thundering way to go out. https://youtube.com/watch?v=7ibQvQUpMTg
In good news for northside Melbourne residents heading into summer — a brand new aquatic and rec centre complete with indoor and outdoor swim lanes is coming to Northcote. The Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre (fondly named NARC) redevelopment project will see the much-loved community hub transformed into a space boasting a 50-metre outdoor pool, 25-metre indoor pool and warm water area. For the little ones, a dedicated learn-to-swim pool along with aqua indoor and outdoor play areas are also promised. The fitness centre will also be home to multi-purpose spaces for group fitness classes including yoga, reformer pilates, and consulting rooms for health professionals. The new Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre is spearheaded by Clublinks, who also operate Darebin Community Sports Stadium, Bundoora Park Public Golf Course and Northcote Public Golf Course. [caption id="attachment_911917" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Images courtesy of project architects Warren and Mahoney.[/caption] "The Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre will be a true neighbourhood hub, in which all members of the community feel welcomed," Clublinks CEO Anthony Lawrence says. An inclusive design focus at the renewed Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre extends to its community event programming, which is set to include LGBTIQA+ friendly aqua aerobics and Sensory Sensitive swimming days. "The facility has been thoughtfully designed with accessibility in mind, featuring ramps providing easy access to all pools and a lift for access to the first floor. Additionally, NARC will offer well-equipped changed rooms, including dedicated spaces for accessibility, ensuring that everyone can fully enjoy the facility's amenities," Mayor of Darebin Cr Julie Williams says. [caption id="attachment_911916" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Images courtesy of project architects Warren and Mahoney.[/caption] NARC is set to open later this year, but to get the community excited, a series of events dubbed The Big Warm-Up will land in Darebin in the coming months. Free coffee and breakfast will be served between 7am-9am at Northcote station on Thursday, Aug 10, before heading to Bell station on Tuesday, Aug 15. Finally, Alphington commuters will be treated on Thursday, Aug 24 to fruit salad, housemade granola, chia pudding and muffins. Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre is set to open in late 2023. Memberships are currently open on the website, including pre-sale fitness and learn-to-swim memberships. Images: Images courtesy of project architects Warren and Mahoney, supplied.
Hotel Sorrento has just landed a new venue as part of the first stage of renovations originally announced early last year. Here, in a buzzy pocket of the Mornington Peninsula, Hotel Sorrento has sat for nearly 150 years boasting enviable bay vistas. Now, the historic sandstone building is welcoming an overhauled food and drink offering helmed by George Calombaris as part of the first stage of its redevelopment, including modern Cantonese diner Shihuishi and a 12-seat chef's table in the Dining Room. "The goal is to create dishes that not only satisfy the palate but tell a story of the region and the community's rich history," George Calombaris says. Shihuishi is the newest addition to the Hotel Sorrento family, nestled in the original, grand Hotel Sorrento ballroom. Head chef Junlin (Jerry) Yi (ex-Red Spice Road) is unafraid to stray from tradition, from prawn crackers paired with crème fraîche; to spanakopita dumplings that marry whipped feta and dill. Deeper into the menu, patrons will discover Australian-Canto cuisine that nods to the Chinese restaurant that stood onsite back in the 1980s. A prawn, lap cheong and onion stir-fry is a crowd-pleaser, along with duck pancakes and black pepper beef, served on a sizzling plate. Other classics run to the likes of steamed barra with soy, ginger and spring onion, or the ever-popular pork and prawn shumai. A generous list of cocktails, wine as well as beer and mocktails completes the offering. Don't miss the Dynasty Margarita, a playful mixture of tequila, green tea, honey, lime, jalapeños, Szechuan and rosemary salt. Meanwhile, in the Dining Room, Calombaris and Executive Chef Lucas Menezes Caporal will curate a new, rotating chef's table menu for 12 guests, who will score a front-row seat to all the culinary action. [caption id="attachment_902007" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: The Dining Room[/caption] Currently, three outdoor bars, Front Bar, Dining Room and Shihuishi are open to guests. The first stage of Hotel Sorrento's hefty makeover encompasses a new 30-metre pool, wellness retreat, day spa and new luxury suites. It is expected to be completed by the end of this year. Shihuishi is open Thursday–Sunday for lunch and dinner. The Dining Room is open seven days a week, also for lunch and dinner.
Long-standing Brunswick East haunt The B.East is known for its hefty burgers, rock 'n' roll and good times aplenty. And that should give you some idea of what to expect when its brand-new sibling dances into Fitzroy this week. The B.East of Brunswick Street makes its official debut on February 18, but you're invited to help christen the space across four huge days of opening celebrations, from Thursday, February 20, to Sunday, February 23. Across the weekend, expect a smorgasbord of DJs — including 3RRR's Annaliese Replica, Northside Records' Chris Gill and Bone Soup DJs — while the new kitchen struts its stuff with a raft of tasty specials. Think, $10 cheeseburgers all day Thursday, $2 classic and vego burgers from 12–4pm on Friday and all-day $10 recovery burgers to help your Sunday run smoothly. From 6pm on Friday, you can try your luck at nabbing $3 tinnies in a heads or tails 'Toss The Boss' coin toss, while on February 22, that competitive streak can get a work out in The B.East of Brunswick Beer Pong League. Throw in a few $2 margaritas for World Margarita Day on Saturday (6–9pm), and $10 bloody marys and caesars matched with some free pool on Sunday and you've got yourself one heck of a welcome party.
Scribbling on the walls used to be a top ten reason for grounding. Now NGV wants you to scribble all over their White Cube. Design duo Matheny Studio have created a brand new kids space at the National Gallery of Victoria called Pastello Draw Act — without a fun-quashing parent voice (or airport official) in sight. Kids can gear up in futuristic crayon-studded helmets and crayon-soled shoes and let the rainbow destruction run rife; allowed to colour, scribble, sketch, draw and obliterate every surface in the space with whatever hue's on the menu. Tables aren't safe. Walls can't run. Footstools quiver in fear. It's not every day kids are allowed to make as much mess as they want. "Pastello Draw Act is a new immersive kids space focused on transforming perception surrounding the simple act of drawing," say Matheny Studio on Vimeo. The studio designed the space and crayon accessories specifically for NGV, seeing an opportunity for unbridled artistry by our most abstract expressionist of citizens: children. Via Gizmodo and KNSTRCT. Pastello Draw Act will be open at the NGV until August 31.
All good bars should come with good secrets — cocktail recipes, ghosts, tip jar protocols. But not every bar comes with a secret bar, like Matthew Bax's brand new teeny, tiny 14-seater watering hole, Bar Exuberante — a secret, windowless cubby hole at the back of his rustic Richmond rum joint, Bar Economico. The brand new bar is apparently based on a made-up, colonial-era Latino hotel bar, the extravagant Imperial Exuberante Palace Hotel — which straight-up sounds like a Wes Anderson invention. Think the grand hotels of Old Havana in the 1960s, where businesspeople attended fancy gala dinners in the hotel ballroom, where wealthy cruise ship passengers shook off their sea legs with champagne crustas. All out the back of Economico. Bax's renowned cocktail skills have leaked into this brand new little gem, with modern, nitrogen-fuelled spins on rum cocktails, and hot/cold pina coladas. Nibbles include 'Senor Bax's Famous Cocktail Savoury Snacks'. You can't book a table, you just have to turn up and be lucky enough to nab one of the 14 seats. Find Bar Exuberante out the back of Bar Economico at 438 Church Street, Richmond. Open Tue-Thu 6pm-midnight; Fri-Sat 6pm-1am. Via Good Food.
Sometimes a movie makes a statement. Sometimes it just thinks it does. In Men, Women & Children, the impact of digital technologies on interpersonal exchanges is purportedly probed for all to see. We’re not only caught up in our daily minutiae, the film appears to posit, but our interactions are so often mediated and dictated by the online world that truly connecting with our loved ones is impossible. An interstellar framing device certainly labors this point, announced in the unseen Emma Thompson’s dulcet tones. Linking to Carl Sagan’s Pale Blue Dot, the sequence bookends the feature’s musing on modern relationships. The narration waxes lyrical about the juxtaposition of our supposed importance: we blast tokens of our species into space as if someone might care, yet given our tiny place in our universe, our daily realities can only be trivial and insignificant. Living life through the internet doesn’t matter; we’re best spending our time cultivating physical, tangible bonds with those we care about. Adapted by writer/director Jason Reitman from the novel of the same name, Men, Women & Children states its case through intertwined vignettes. Across an average American community, lives and loves are influenced by devices on desks and in hands. A married couple (Rosemarie DeWitt and Adam Sandler) seek sexual fulfilment not from each other but through an affair website and prostitution. Their son (Travis Tope) has a porn habit that means he can’t relate to his wannabe actress classmate (Olivia Crocicchia), who posts semi-clad modelling pictures online with the help of her mother (Judy Greer). Said single parent warms to an abandoned father (Dean Norris) concerned that his son (Ansel Elgort) prefers gaming to football. And so it continues, with the lapsed athlete falling for a melancholy teen (Kaitlyn Dever) constantly surveilled by her fear-mongering mother (Jennifer Garner). Then there’s the cheerleader (Elena Kampouris) with body issues and a crush on an older boy (Will Peltz) unnoticed by her father (JK Simmons). Everyone has names, but they need not; they’re symbols, a means to an end, faces placed upon narrative convenience. That the ensemble is rendered in such broad terms, with a clear lack of subtlety and satire from the maker of Juno and Young Adult, is what makes Men, Women & Children alarming to watch. Surprisingly, it’s not the messaging that grates, because the bland material constantly undermines its own aim. The characters aren’t cast adrift by their technological predilections, but by their self-involvement, both of the on- and off-line variety. The usual Reitman aesthetic polish is evident, and the performances from the largely high-profile cast are effective; however, it all amounts to a lot of sound and fury signifying nothing. With the supposed rallying against digital living too easily dismissed by inconsistent plot machinations, all that results is a soapy dramedy on the struggles of sex and secrets that has been done before and better by the likes of American Beauty and Crazy, Stupid Love.
Good thing this isn't on a school night because there's so much to celebrate here. There's Step-Panther's great new EP, Dreamcrusher. There's Bleeding Knees Club frontman Alex Wall's debut solo album, Celebrity Beatings, released under the moniker Wax Witches. There's also new Sydney label Jerko, which is the label doing all the releasing. This sounds like a lot of blood and crushing and beating crammed into one show, but these words are actually quite poor indicators of the sounds you will be hearing. Step-Panther makes bouncy NME-approved shred-rock and Wax Witches is doing youthful noise-pop with a dash of California psych. Perth garage-rockers Foam, who are supporting in both Sydney and Melbourne, are also well worth shouting about. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Rg9DsZG-rlY
If there's one thing that Ben & Jerry's loves above all else, it's the obvious: ice cream in a huge array of ridiculously named flavours. It's the brand behind Chunky Monkey, Cherry Garcia, Phish Food and The Tonight Dough — and has been responsible for Liz Lemon Greek Frozen Yoghurt, Stephen Colbert's AmeriCone Dream and Schweddy Balls, too. And, once a year to the delight of your sweet treat-loving tastebuds, it loves giving away free scoops just as much. Indeed, to share its wares with the masses for nix, these frozen confection masterminds gave the world Free Cone Day, which is exactly what it sounds like — a day where your ice cream is on the house. It ran annually until the pandemic, then took a break for obvious reasons. And on Monday, April 3, it's finally back for the first time since 2019. Here's how it works: if you adore ice cream as much as Ben & Jerry's adores ice cream, then you just need to hit up your local participating store between 12–8pm AEST. You can choose whichever flavour you like, and you can also line up for a free cone as many times as you like within that eight-hour period. Free Cone Day is happening Australia-wide — worldwide, too, in more than 35 countries — at both Ben & Jerry's Scoop Stores and its Hoyts outlets. Victorians have St Kilda and Burwood East stores, and Hoyts venues in Melbourne Central, Docklands, Ringwood, Chadstone, Greensborough, Maribyrnong and Ringwood to choose from.
American historical drama gets so contemporaneous as to become current affairs with Zero Dark Thirty, the film about the CIA's hunt for and killing of Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden. Director Kathryn Bigelow and writer Mark Boal, who worked together on the Oscar-winning Hurt Locker, reunite for another epic about a different type of war. It starts in 2001, when two planes hit the World Trade Center, and chilling documentary footage recalls the pain caused that day. Two years later, rookie Maya (Jessica Chastain) is sent to join a specialist team at a CIA black site in Pakistan, where a detainee, following torture and deception, discloses the name Abu Ahmed. Operations come and go for the next eight years, but Maya comes to fixate on that one name, whom she believes to be Bin Laden's right hand. Zero Dark Thirty is stunningly well made, with a controlled level of tension that works on a scale of high to higher. It remains nail-bitingly riveting over two hours and forty minutes. Interestingly, the structure is almost like three films, or at least, a film with three clearly defined acts. Each passing act (complete with the appearance and disappearance of its own high-calibre cast, including Jennifer Ehle, a buff Chris Pratt, Joel Edgerton, and James Gandolfini) reinforces the intensity of Maya's perseverance, her lonely state of being in the right. The film has won widespread acclaim from critics, but from reading the news, you'd think everyone hated it. Many from the American right have criticised the film for its having supposedly improper access to classified documents and glorifying Obama, and many from the left have slammed it for advocating torture. Both stances seem an overreaction. Zero Dark Thirty does depict "enhanced interrogation techniques" — torture, to you and me — happening during the Bush administration, and it also depicts that torture was a favoured tactic of the CIA operatives you get to know here. That's probably accurate. Its attraction to these people in the field is the feeling that they're doing something and of expediting processes when delay can be fatal. The film also shows some of the problems with torture: it yields useful but also false information, and the act is viscerally depraved (even if it's not totally possible for the audience to sympathise with a tortured character whom we only see as dehumanised). The issue isn't that the filmmakers support torture, but that in Zero Dark Thirty, as in The Hurt Locker, they're concerned with hyper-positioning viewers into the perspective of American martial figures. They want you to feel their fear, sacrifice, and bravery — not for a moment the fear, sacrifice, or bravery that could be reflected back at them by the enemy. Many of us prefer to see films that have a different, more challenging purpose, but you can't deny that what Zero Drk Thirty sets out to do, it does excellently. Concrete Playground has 10 in-season double passes to give away to Zero Dark Thirty. To be in the running, make sure you're subscribed to our newsletter and then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address. https://youtube.com/watch?v=EYFhFYoDAo4
An entire day celebrating cruelty-free living, this massive community-run festival showcases everything a modern vegan needs. Peruse a whole host of stalls flogging their vegan wares from beauty, natural therapies, food-turned-vegan stuffs (stock up on your fake meats and cheeses) and animal rights charities. Looking to 'Meet Your Pear'? There’ll be vegan speed dating on the day — open to vegetarians too. There'll also be food demonstrations, a vegan fashion show from up-and-coming designers, live bands and roving circus performers. For those wanting to learn a thing or two between shopping and eating, the talks area will have presentations on subjects like the importance of Meatless Monday, Amazon rainforest destruction and cattle rearing. The Fitness Zone provides bodybuilding and exercise tips for animal product-derived fitness nuts. Whether you're vegan, vego, carnivorous or simply curious, this is one open-minded event you'll have plenty to talk about after. Image: Pana Chocolate.
Set your alarms and mark your calendars, folks: Thursday, October 5 is set to be a big day for cannoli lovers (so, basically everyone). Cannoleria is opening a permanent residence at Queen Victoria Market's dairy hall, and it's celebrating in style. The first to step through their doors between 10am–12pm on opening day will be treated to free cannoli. So be quick, 1000 will quickly become 900, then 800 and so on. (We don't need to explain maths to you.) Friends, this is the stuff that ricotta-filled dreams are made of — That's Amore ricotta to be precise. Launched in 2018 by the creators of That's Amore Cheese, Cannoleria has been filling its cannoli daily with fresh ricotta and other classic (and not-so-classic) fillings ever since. Do yourself a favour and experience the rocher, as made with Nutella ricotta and hazelnut crumble. After setting up shop in South Melbourne Market in 2019, Cannoleria began popping up all over Melbourne, going so far as to establish a factory in Heidelberg West in 2020. So, in short, these babies are popular — and a new permanent location in the heart of the city is just plain good news. If you miss the initial opening, you can still go and grab yourself a cannolo or two at the permanent Queen Vic store every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 6am–3pm; on Saturdays from 6am–4pm; and on Sundays from 10am–4pm. So, whether you're a local out for your weekly shop or perusing Queen Vic for the first time, you might want to swing by and grab yourself a little taste of Italia. Ciao for now.
When spring finally arrives in Victoria, it's like an entire world of possibilities opens up in front of you. Destinations that may be difficult to appreciate in the winter, marred by wind and rain, are now ripe for exploration. And the bright, sunny days ahead are sure to make you want to get out and stretch your legs someplace new. While pretty much every regional destination has a host of new dining, cultural and adventure activities to discover, we've done the hard work for you and picked out a few of our favourites. From super traditional Japanese cuisine to sprawling hot springs and luxury glamping experiences, here are eight of the latest openings across regional Victoria for you to check out. Get out the group message, show off your knowledge of all the new places and start planning your getaway with your crew, your family or just that special someone. RELAX: PENINSULA HOT SPRINGS, MORNINGTON PENINSULA Peninsula Hot Springs has long been a go-to relaxation spot for many Melburnians looking to get away from the city and unwind. But, after years of operation, it was time for a bit of a spruce up; the hillside complex recently underwent a $13-million upgrade — its biggest expansion since opening back in 2005. The swish new facilities include two plunge pools and seven hot springs, which means there is plenty of room for spa revellers, even in the usually crowded top pool. The newly added Bath House Amphitheatre presents a host of live entertainment and the surrounding baths have an excellent view of the stage, as well as underwater speakers so you can sing along while you soak. The Hot Springs is also delving into cryotherapy with a new 'ice and fire' experience. This allows bathers to switch between hot and cold therapy — the hot being two new 30-person saunas and the cold, a new (Australian-first) ice cave and 'deep freeze' treatment room that's kept at a cool 25 degrees below freezing. The idea is that, by jumping between hot and cold, you will sweat out toxins, cleanse your skin and potentially burn calories. On top of all of this, there's now a cafe serving locally grown produce, plus a cultural meeting space thoughtfully designed in collaboration with local Indigenous elders. RELAX: THE SPA, BEECHWORTH The Spa Beechworth's relaxing effects take hold as soon as you step inside. The venue, which was previously a historic hospital, has been entirely revamped and is now equipped to create the most soothing experiences possible with screen-free rooms, expert staff and a range of specialist treatments available. The Spa Beechworth offers boutique lodging, day spa treatments and a beauty salon, plus a 'slow-living' store selling the spa's own plant-based products to keep you feeling refreshed long after you've departed. There's a wide range of treatments and self-care rituals to choose from, making this new addition one of Victoria's most serene wellbeing getaways. [caption id="attachment_684876" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sakana, Peter Tasiuk.[/caption] EAT: KUZU IZAKAYA, WOODEND AND SAKANA, DAYLESFORD Bringing the Japanese izakaya all the way to regional Victoria, Woodend's Kuzu Izakaya produces authentic and delicious Japanese food. Located an hour's drive northwest of Melbourne, the restaurant delivers delicately plated fare — highlights include wagyu beef tataki, chicken karaage and miso-cream scallops — alongside incredible local gin from the nearby Big Tree Distillery and wines from vineyards across the Macedon Ranges. If you head half an hour west to Daylesford, you'll find fellow Japanese eatery Sakana — a venue that's been impressing both locals and tourists alike since 2011. The restaurant, which was formerly known as Kuzuki's, has recently reinvented itself, pivoting from what was a formal dining experience into a casual atmosphere that's excellent for groups. The menu is designed for sharing and the best way to sample all of the pan-Asian delights is to settle in with the omakase menu ($85 a head), paired, perhaps, with one of the expertly matched wines or sakes. EAT: BISTRO TERROIR, DAYLESFORD From working in Michelin-starred Parisian restaurants, renowned Australian chef Matthew Carnell followed a long-held dream to open a high-quality French restaurant in Daylesford. Set in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range, Bistro Terroir is a bona fide Gallic bistro with exquisitely assembled dishes and a simple but sophisticated setting. Depending on when you decide to visit the bistro, the dynamic seasonal menu is sure to please. As we move from winter to summer, the menu makes the most of the available produce while showcasing a throng of distinctly French techniques and dishes. To match, there's also a carefully considered drinks menu that includes a range of Australian-made wines produced from quintessentially French grapes. The one thing that's missing from this French restaurant is the hefty price tag; it's actually quite affordable (mains are around $30). So, with your spare change, head into Daylesford and Hepburn for some more treats. Get your dose of relaxation at the Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa or drop into trendy boutiques like Sarah Conners. [caption id="attachment_693031" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ross Farm.[/caption] STAY: ROSS FARM CABIN, SOUTH GIPPSLAND Tucked away in the scenic surrounds of South Gippsland overlooking the valley sits a quaint little country hideaway that's been given a new lease on life. Prominent interior designer Andrea Moore teamed up with her father Lindsay to transform what was once a dilapidated cabin into a stunning countryside retreat. Combining raw, earthy materials with modern finishes, Ross Farm Cabin takes inspiration from both Japanese and Scandinavian design to offer guests a modest but memorable rural stay. Andrea carefully managed the cabin's entire transformation, designing most of the furniture and developing the overall concept. Meanwhile, Lindsay took these designs into his workshop, handcrafting each item with outstanding results. It was a real family effort, which makes the place feel extra special. STAY: LON RETREAT, POINT LONSDALE Set on 200 acres of picturesque parkland, Lon Retreat is Point Lonsdale's luxe new hotel and spa. Featuring seven sanctuary-like suites situated among leafy surrounds, the hilltop retreat boasts elegant contemporary artworks, hand-crafted ceramics and bespoke lighting produced by several local designers. With 360-degree views of the Bellarine Peninsula and surrounding landscape, Lon Retreat also includes a private beach area and an art gallery with exclusive access for guests — just in case you weren't feeling fancy enough already. And since no indulgent hideaway is complete without an equally lavish spa, the retreat has that covered, too. Its luxurious spa includes three distinct rooms — each with panoramic views of the coastal landscape — and utilises the purest natural mineral water, sourced from the nutrient-rich earth that sits beneath the farm. While the family-owned property might not have its own restaurant — hey, you can't have it all — guests can indulge in a well-stocked honesty minibar and a 'makers and growers pantry', featuring the finest produce from throughout the Bellarine region. STAY: UNDER THE SKY AT THE MOUNTAIN, MOUNT BUFFALO Running till Monday, December 17, Under the Sky at The Mountain is a luxury glamping experience in the foothills of Mount Buffalo National Park. Pitched at Lake Catani, this is an adventure for the type of camper that still enjoys some of life's creature comforts. The ten spacious tents come equipped with high-quality linens, comfortable furnishings, as well as gas cookers and kitchen gear to prepare your own meals. You don't even have to go without running water, the park has on-site bathrooms with hot showers to keep everybody nice and fresh. The best part is, from this serene location you'll have direct access to the sprawling landscape of Mount Buffalo — including 90 kilometres of scenic hiking trails, waterfalls and native wildlife so you can explore all day and glamp all night. For more spring places, spaces and events to discover in regional Victoria visit Your Happy Space. Top image: Lon Retreat.
Don't get mad at us for talking about hot cross buns so early. We've already been inundated by countless emails spruiking Easter treats and events — and we have shielded you as best we can. Nonetheless, Easter is coming early this year (Sunday, March 31), so let's dive in. One Easter treat hitting Melbourne that sounds the most gluttonous and over the top is coming right out of Penny for Pound's pastry kitchen. Not only has the team created three different flavour combos — traditional, double chocolate and its signature sticky date jam with caramelised white chocolate — but they have joined forces with Holla Gelato to stuff them with fresh gelato. And it's not just one flavour going into all these bad boys. The folks at Holla Gelato have paired each with their own filling. The traditional hot cross buns get a scoop of classic salted butter caramel gelato. The chocolate versions get stuffed with milk chocolate and hazelnut gelato. And the sticky date hot cross buns come with a coffee pecan crunch gelato. We're not drooling. You are. The hot cross bun gelato sandwiches are retailing for $9.50 each, or $35 for a six-pack that includes six buns and a 500ml tub of ice cream. Scoop and fill them as you like so they don't go all soggy when being transported from the Moorabbin, Camberwell or Richmond shop to your home. But you don't have to go down the gelato route. Individual buns are going for $5 each and $24 for a pack of six. Why not start your Easter snacking early? Penny for Pound and Holla Gelato's hot cross bun gelato sandwiches are already available in-store — at Penny for Pound's Moorabbin, Camberwell and Richmond locations — and can be pre-ordered through the venue's website.
Time flies when you're watching films and pretending you're on the other side of the world, which is exactly the kind of fun that Palace Cinemas' annual Volvo Scandinavian Film Festival serves up. It has been six years since the arthouse chain started giving winter-loving movie buffs a smorgasbord of films from frosty Nordic climes — timed for the Australian winter, naturally — and the cinema showcase is still going strong. Touring the country from July 9 to August 7, this year's event doesn't hold back when it comes to its strengths. If you're a fan of twisty mysteries and thrillers, brooding dramas set against a stunning snowy backdrop, and smart leaps in genres, you're in luck. Spanning the latest and greatest titles from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Finland, plus old favourites that you'll want to revisit on a big screen, this year's Scandinavian Film Festival is lineup is stellar. Here are our five must-see picks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MIlE9R00ik ANIARA The savviest sci-fi films don't simply ponder a future that may not come, they follow today's big troubles to their possible end. If environmental issues are big on your radar, add Aniara to the watch list. In this Swedish imagining of the apocalypse, earth is uninhabitable, humanity is in the process of fleeing for Mars and there's no way to repair the damage of the past. When a spaceship headed to our nearest celestial neighbour is pushed off course, there's no way to return either. It should come as little surprise that this ambitious movie contemplates our ability to ignore what we're doing to the planet, as well as our need to soothe our existential ills with nostalgia and materialism. Directors Pella Kågerman and Hugo Lilja found inspiration for the film in a poem by Swedish Nobel Prize winner Harry Martinson, and the end result is quite the trip. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8bzar3Nrjk THE PURITY OF VENGEANCE Across the Department Q movie series to date, crime buffs have watched eccentric homicide detective Morck (Nikolaj Lie Kaas) reluctantly team up with fellow cop Assad (Fares Fares). From there, fans have followed the duo's efforts to solve difficult and dead-end cases, including a political death that was initially ruled a suicide, a scandal at an elite boarding school, and a series of child disappearances, too. To wrap up the page-to-screen series, The Purity of Vengeance tasks the intrepid investigators with a particularly murky case and a ticking clock, after they discover three mummified bodies — plus space for a fourth. When this franchise is at its best, it offers up a compelling odd couple, gripping mysteries and plenty of twists and turns, which this huge last chapter promises to continue. At home, it absolutely smashed the local box office, achieving the biggest opening ever for a Danish movie. A WHITE, WHITE DAY One of the big hits of this year's jam-packed Cannes Film Festival — where it took out the best actor prize in the event's Critics' Week sidebar — A White, White Day marks the second Scandinavian Film Festival title in two years for Icelandic filmmaker Hlynur Pálmason. After the writer/director's stellar Winter Brothers last year, his sophomore feature is immediately worth a look. Given the remote location, striking icy scenery and exquisite cinematography on offer, there's clearly plenty to literally peer at, with Pálmason proving an accomplished visual storyteller. And, narrative-wise, this acclaimed drama charts a suitably thorny tale, following a grief-stricken ex-top cop (Ingvar E. Sigurdsson) who is trying to get over the loss of his wife, only to discover that their marriage might not have been as blissful as he thought it was. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ue91wuHsLIY AURORA In one of Finland's standout contributions to the program, the hard-partying Aurora (Mimosa Willamo) meets Iranian refugee Darian (Amir Escandari). Equally outcast in their Lapland surroundings, they're both at their lowest points; however, Aurora is a romantic comedy, so (naturally) their chance encounter changes both of their lives. That said, writer/director Miia Tervo doesn't stick to the usual script from there, making a movie that's passionate, lively, topical and subversive — and not only examining the plight of immigrants across Europe but unpacking the expectations placed upon Finnish women. This charming debut also proved a hit at this year's SXSW Film Festival. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlF-hk3IJQE THE MILLENNIUM TRILOGY Before Rooney Mara and Claire Foy stepped into Lisbeth Salander's shoes, Noomi Rapace got there first. She'll always be the original and best incarnation of everyone's favourite tattooed computer hacker. A decade after the Swedish adaptations of Stieg Larsson's best-selling novels first hit screens, it's easy to forget just how fantastic Rapace is in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest. While the trio of Millennium movies follows the same trajectory as the books they're based on (starting off with quite a bang, then losing their impact a little as they go along), it's also easy to forget just how involving the entire series is as a whole. As directed by Daniel Alfredson and Niels Arden Oplev, and also starring the late Michael Nyqvist (John Wick) as a journalist who makes Lisbeth's acquaintance, this franchise kicked off the world's obsession with Nordic noir for a reason. Plus, if you can't get enough of Larsson's twisted fictional world, the festival will also be screening a documentary on the late author's life. The Volvo Scandinavian Film Festival tours Australia from July 9, screening at Sydney's Palace Norton Street, Palace Verona and Palace Central from July 9 to July 31; Melbourne's Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, Palace Brighton Bay and Palace Balwyn from July 11 to July 31; Brisbane's Palace Barracks and Palace James Street from July 18 to August 7; and Perth's Palace Cinema Paradiso from July 17 to August 7. For more information, visit the festival website.
At first it seems upsetting to be away from your family at Christmas. There's a definite lack of presents and no one's around to serve you pavlova or giant ham. Trust us, both of those things are far too depressing to eat on your lonesome. But if you are out on your own this year, there's a definite bright side: Christmas with friends is the best. With all the food and drink, and none of the persistant in-fighting, celebrating December 25 with some buds can be great. And, if you get a little bored chilling on a sharehouse couch and watching Home Alone for the 50th time, Federation Square are hosting a shindig of their own. From 9am you can swing down and score yourself a free buffet breakfast courtesy of the folks at Hopskotch, then you have the choice of settling in for a movie marathon on the big screen or burning off some of those Christmas calories with some games from Pop Up Playground. Of course, all films will be holiday themed with The Nightmare Before Christmas kicking off at 12pm, followed by The Santa Clause, and old classics like It's A Wonderful Life and White Christmas.
Ah, l'Europe. Land of architectural charm and grandeur, where a staircase is never just a staircase but a work of art in itself. Surely providing one of the most gorgeous ways to scale an incline ever, Sicily's Staircase of Santa Maria del Monte in the city of Caltagirone comes alive every year with beautiful designs entirely composed of potted flowers and lights. It's a simple and elegant method of transforming a public space into a natural and versatile artistic canvas, drawing both natives and tourists together to celebrate local heritage. During the La Scala Flower Festival and the Scala Illuminata, the Staircase of Santa Maria del Monte's 142 steps, dating back to 1608, host a series of intricate floral and candle arrangements that take advantage of the steep slope to present vast perspectival images of patron saints and traditional patterns of the region. People can flock to see the designs flicker by night during the light festivals and walk up and down admiring the foliage by day during the flower festivals. Made up of thousands of decorated tiles — one of the signature products of Caltagirone, which is famous for its ceramics and terracotta industry — the Staircase of Santa Maria del Monte is already a landmark. The addition of some 2000 plants (geranium, boxwood and marigolds) took its appeal to the next level this year during the flower festival in honour of Our Lady of Conadomini, patron saint of the city, which ran from 8 May to 3 June. You can scope out more of the inventive and colourful designs here. It's certainly hard to imagine noticing any muscle fatigue in your glutes when you're distracted by so much colour. These inspiring pictures beg the question: which spots in Australian cities are ripe for this kind of ornamentation? We reckon it's time to take a cue from sophisticated Sicily and import the flower stair concept on a grand scale. Via This is Colossal.
For every popular film franchise, there must be an origin story — or that's how it frequently feels. The latest beloved series to step back into its past to provide an insight into how one of its characters became who they are: Pixar's adored Toy Story saga, which is now diving into Buzz Lightyear's history (and has a trailer to prove it). First, to answer the obvious question, this isn't a film about how the talking toy was manufactured. If anyone could make that delight, it'd be Pixar, though. Instead, Lightyear focuses on the flesh-and-blood Buzz in Toy Story's world, aka the space ranger who inspired the plaything that's been such a pivotal part of four films so far. So if you've ever wondered why there even was a Buzz figurine, now you'll find out. "My Lightyear pitch was, 'what was the movie that Andy saw that made him want a Buzz Lightyear toy?' I wanted to see that movie," explains filmmaker Angus MacLane, who previously co-directed Finding Dory, and also worked as an animator on both Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3. To tell that tale, MacLane's film follows Buzz on an intergalactic adventure — a trip that, as the just-dropped trailer for Lightyear shows, he's mighty excited about. Chris Evans swaps from wearing Captain America's spandex to voicing the spacesuit-wearing Buzz, and he's joined by a cast that includes Keke Palmer (Hustlers), Dale Soules (Orange is the New Black) and Taika Waititi (Free Guy) as new space ranger recruits. The film hits cinemas in June — reaching the big screen, unlike Pixar's past two releases Soul and Luca, as well as its soon-to-stream Turning Red — but the most adorable part of the Lightyear trailer right now belongs to Buzz's new robot cat companion Sox. Yes, you can already see how many toys that mechanical feline is certain to inspire. Check out the Lightyear trailer below: Lightyear will release in cinemas Down Under on June 16, 2022. Top image: © 2022 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
Malvern might be accustomed to welcoming new cafes, but Leah Blefari is accustomed to the difficulties of eating out with particular dietary. And this is why, perhaps, her new café Tonic & Grace will stand out from the Glenferrie Road crowd. Open now and nestled in near Malvern Station, Tonic & Grace has a menu almost entirely made up of vegan and vegetarian fare, with the option of adding a sly egg or bit of smoked salmon here and there. All inclusive of vegos, vegans, gluten-free and dairy-free folks, the cafe is doing a couple of things to the beat of their own drum — and it's a worthy drum to be banging. "80 percent [of the menu] is vegan," says Blefari. "So people that are vegan or gluten intolerant don't need to worry about what's in their food. There's still the option of adding different proteins for those who don't have dietary restrictions. The whole idea was to flip the coin — usually people with dietaries have to chop and change; how about we make it easier for them and let everyone else add on what they like?" Blefari's menu includes some of the classic brekky goodness Melburnians have grown to love and demand from their city, including — of course — the omnipotent smashed avocado. This one's vegan though, served with quinoa, beetroot hummus and a sesame crumb, and "people go crazy for it," says Blefari. There are also multiple — six — milk choices, ranging from soy to rice. The cafe's range points to inclusiveness everywhere it can, something Blefari sees as an integral focus. "We want people recognising that everyone does eat differently and that it's ok. I would love to make some waves, seeing that other cafes follow suit and have all the dietary requirements accessible for people," says Blefari. Future plans for Tonic & Grace will stretch beyond breakfast options. Blefari wants the cafe to be a one-stop, on-the-way-back-from-the-train-station effort for the folk of Malvern, and is looking at providing ready-made, fresh meals for those too busy to cook. "Clean, fresh, take home meals, sort of like Hello Fresh… on your way to or from the train station, if you want some dinner, we'll have it there waiting for you — that's the aim." With big goals (and milk selections) abounding, our interest is certainly piqued. The "Nyctophilia" certainly helps: dark chocolate and pea protein pancakes, with strawberries, walnuts, salted caramel and dark chocolate ganache — made from raw cacao — and, of course, all vegan and gluten free. Find Tonic & Grace at 63 Glenferrie Road, Malvern, or visit its Facebook page for further details.
Once again the Spirit of Jazz has come to inhabit us all during the first week of June for the Melbourne International Jazz Festival. The festival will be sprawled out all over the city, with events held in concert halls, arts venues, jazz clubs and throughout the city's streets. Now in its 17th year, the festival encourages all ages to find their groove and get down with a huge variety of events that will engage both jazz noobs and well established scatmen and women. Davi Sings Sinatra is sure to be a highlight for those who enjoy Ol’ Blue Eyes and The Great American Songbook. Robert Davi, an actor most noted for playing tough guys, will bring his swagger and classically trained pipes to St Kilda’s Palais Theatre for one night only. Here, you can expect classics such as 'I’ve Got The World On A String', 'Witchcraft' and 'Day In Day Out' pour from his lips like a smoky single malt. If jazz beckons you to get up and shake it loose, you can’t miss 774’s Swing Noir. Hosted by the effervescent Hilary Harper the evening will be filled with gypsy swing and local jazz heroes Ultrafox and Swingville getting everybody on the dancefloor. From there, the Swing Patrol instructors will teach you the classic steps of the charleston, and ABC’s dance diva DJ Miss Sugar Puss will be spinning seductive jazz throughout the night. Obviously there's plenty more to see and do at this year’s festival. With a range of free concerts, modern masters, club sessions, family events, artist workshops and films on show, you'll be able to rival the jazz knowledge of Howard Moon in no time. Melbourne International Jazz Festival is running in various venues across the city from May 30 till June 8. Check out the full program on their website.
Plans for the renewal of Fishermans Bend have been in the works for a while now, but just exactly what it is all going to look like has been uncertain. However, the Victorian Government has just released a new framework for the new suburb, and it provides the most fleshed-out vision for it yet. If you're not familiar with Fishermans Bend, that's because you probably haven't had much reason to give it a visit. As you can see from the map below, it's the space of land below South Melbourne and sandwiched between Port Melbourne and the Yarra. To the south, it's accessible from Yarraville over the West Gate. At the moment, it's largely industrial — but the Andrews Government plans to turn the 480-hectare site into a brand new suburb, complete with residential housing, commercial buildings, new schools, community centres and plenty of green open space by 2050. According to the Government's newly released Fishermans Bend Framework, when developed, 80,000 people will live in the suburb and the same amount will work there. Labor is calling it Australia's largest urban renewal project. This new framework completely reworks the previous Liberal Government's rezoning of the area, capping building heights in an attempt to stop the suburb from becoming overdeveloped. To complement this, the Andrews Government has worked a considerable amount of parks and public spaces into its plan — apparently the open space will add up to the equivalent of 60 MCGs. It will also require all new builds to include at least six percent of affordable housing. The plan is for the suburb to be largely car-free, with residents and workers using bike lanes, walking tracks and public transport instead. While the framework does mention future tram and train connections, these don't appear to be fully worked in with current transport plans yet. For this all to go ahead, the Andrews Government will have to win at next month's state election. If it does, it will then work with the community and council to develop precinct plans, with the view for the first drafts to be released to the public in the first half of 2019. You can find all the documents and more info — and have your say on the renewal — here.
There are many ways to mark the winter solstice — from swimming naked in Tasmania at Dark Mofo (which is back, by the way) to catching the legendary Belgrave Lantern Festival. But, if your favourite way to warm up on the shortest day of the year involves copious amounts of excellent wine and good food, then the Yarra Valley's Shortest Lunch might be the way to go. For two days, thirteen small, family-run wineries will join forces to bring you tastings, eats and live music. They range from winemakers like Boat O'Craigo, who've been looking after the same plot of land for generations, to young, dynamic creators like Fin Wines, who are experimenting with new ways of doing things. All in all, more than 100 wines will be available for tasting. Meanwhile, menus will range from slow-cooked ragu on parmesan polenta and baked gnocchi in vodka sauce to sticky date pudding and house-made chocolate Florentine. Three types of tickets are on offer. The entry ticket at $35 buys you free tastings at all 13 wineries, plus a glass to keep. Pay another $35 for the wine and dine ticket, and you'll also get a meal voucher and a glass of wine. Or, go all out on the VIP ticket for $100, which gives you all the above as well as a bottle of wine. Book before Sunday, June 1, to score a 10% discount.
