When a clown ponders its final farewell, what does it see? Cirque du Soleil's Corteo has the answer. When this production first hit the stage in Montreal in 2005, it won over audiences by setting its acrobatic feats within a funeral procession imagined by a jester — a carnival-like parade that muses on humanity's strengths and vulnerabilities — in a space between heaven and earth. Two decades later, it's one of the troupe's most-beloved shows. Celebrating that milestone, Corteo is heading Down Under for a six-city tour in the second half of 2025. In Australia, the hit production will debut at Perth Arena from Friday, August 8, before playing at Melbourne's John Cain Arena the same month, then Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney and Brisbane Entertainment Centre in September. Come October, Adelaide Entertainment Centre will host the spectacle, as will Spark Arena in Auckland. One of the tricks that's helped make Corteo such a success, with over 12-million audience members in 30 countries on four continents seeing it so far, is its unique stage setup. Watching this show means also watching your fellow viewers, because the action takes place in the middle of the arena, splitting it in half and causing patrons to face each other. This is Cirque du Soleil's first production with this layout. As its clown protagonist conjures up the festive parade that ushers him from this world, attendees will witness a poetic yet playful performance — one where the acrobatics are unique, too, and where angels watch over. "Corteo was the first Cirque du Soleil show created by Daniele Finzi Pasca, the same director who brought us LUZIA. Corteo is a real celebration of life that blends comedy and never-seen-before acrobatics into a unique staging arrangement," said Mike Newquist, Chief Revenue Officer of Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group, announcing the show's Australian and New Zealand tour. "Australians who fell in love with the breathtaking artistry and storytelling of LUZIA will be equally captivated by Corteo." LUZIA was the last Cirque du Soleil production that bounded this way, kicking off in 2024 — and notching up another first as the Montreal-based company company's debut touring show to feature rain in its acrobatic and artistic scenes. Before that, 2023 saw Cirque du Soleil bring CRYSTAL, its first-ever ice production on ice, Down Under. Cirque du Soleil's Corteo — Australia and New Zealand Tour 2025 Friday, August 8–Sunday, August 10 — Perth Arena, Perth Friday, August 22–Sunday, August 24 — John Cain Arena, Melbourne Thursday, September 4–Sunday, September 7 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Thursday, September 18–Sunday, September 21 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Thursday, October 2–Sunday, October 5 — Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide Thursday, October 30–Sunday, November 2 — Spark Arena, Auckland Cirque du Soleil's Corteo tours Australia and New Zealand from August 2025. For more information, or to buy tickets — with presales from 11am on Tuesday, February 18 and general sales from 12pm on Monday, February 14 — head to the show's website. Images: Maja Prgomet, Johan Persson and Aldo Arguello.
As soon as I heard the name of this place, I was already into it. Tipple is just one of those excellent words that conjures images of having one too many afternoon shandies or Pimm's cups. It lends a certain cheeky class to the act of drinking that seasoned souls like myself greatly appreciate. But there's much more to The Tippler than just the name. Setting up shop in the often overlooked streets of East Melbourne, The Tippler has the dual advantage of being incredibly accessible and close to the city, while still feeling like a little local's getaway. Tucked into a small but well-designed space on Wellington Parade, this new bar/restaurant boasts a clean wood-based aesthetic, and a detail-oriented selection of food and drink that somehow feels both innovative and unpretentious all at once. At the bar you can expect a well-chosen selection of local craft beers including Mountain Goat Steam Ale (brewed just a matter of streets away), Coburg Lager and Sydney's 4 Pines, as well as a small (and rotating) selection of classic and original cocktails. Even in their spiffy little aprons, the bar staff are well-versed in all stock, friendly, and happy to talk you through any selections. The same can be said of the wait staff too. Instead of a formal dining experience, staff on the floor offer relaxed table service to anyone that so desires and will cheerily run through the short menu with you. What could at first be overlooked as a small bar menu is in fact a nuanced and varied offering of ornate dishes with both vegan and gluten free options. Just after a few snacks to pick at while enjoying a nightcap? Try out the prosciutto with Mount Zero olives, sesame seeds, soy bean crostini and almonds ($16 or $17 with added goats cheese). After something more substantial, and not in the mood for sharing? There's the pan-fried gnocchi with sweet potato, sage burnt butter, lemon and goats chevre ($19) or the slow-braised lamb shoulder and chickpea stew ($22). But our top pick is the beef short rib. Served with sesame spinach, edamame and apple and daikon slaw (small $22, large $26), the meat in this dish was so tender it seriously just fell off the bone. It feels a little sad to write about The Tippler — I live just around the corner and can still easily get a seat on Friday nights — but credit where credit's due. So, here's the insider's tip: happy hour is from 5-7pm and cocktails are $10 all day Sunday. You're welcome.
Garden State Hotel, the reliable, always-bustling, fuss-free Flinders Lane pub, is set to get an upgrade with a new two-level rooftop bar coming soon. The massive, four-storey, sprawling venue will add to its huge digs, which already have space to host more than 800 people. Garden State is located at 101 Flinders Lane, inside a 130-year-old building that began its life as a sawmill before playing host to Rosati, one of Melbourne's top dining destinations in the '80s and '90s. In the centre of the building, punters gather at the multi-level beer garden built around several large ficus trees. Lush greenery and a seamless indoor-outdoor feeling help transport patrons away from the hustle and bustle of the CBD. The Public Bar is a favourite post-work hangout for many city workers who come here for a care-free, good time. Pub classics like chicken parmas, pizzas, burgers and fish and chips are complemented by elevated snacks such as grilled haloumi with capsicum relish and kingfish crudo with pickled zucchini, as well as dishes including oven-baked ricotta gnocchi and salmon Nicoise salad. On the basement level, you'll find The Rose Garden, a vibrant, late-night cocktail bar, accessible through AC/DC Lane and Duckboard Place. Find live music and DJs on the weekend, or consider hosting your next dynamic event here. The options really are endless at this sprawling pub. Step through the yellow-framed doorway to find Tippy-Tay, a love letter to the coastal cities of Italy. Tippy-Tay is a relaxed, eccentric and chaotically welcoming Italian restaurant that loves to see a celebration coming. Whether it's a midweek catch-up or a weekend hens party, you can't go wrong with the generous feed me menu, especially when you go for the matched wines options, which include three wines plus a Limoncello for just $50 per person. Now, Garden State Hotel is set to improve its already sprawling offering with a 300-seat, two-level Rooftop Garden to be unveiled later in 2026. With sweeping views of the CBD, the rooftop will be a natural extension of Garden State's signature upbeat, social energy. Easy-to-drink herb and floral-inspired cocktails, craft beers, approachable wines, and non-alcoholic drinks are set to draw even more post-work punters for relaxed city drinking at its best. Designed by Melbourne-based architect Telha Clarke, the new space will feature layered greenery, banquette seating and soft lighting. "The rooftop will be a true extension of what people already love about Garden State," says Garden State Venue Manager Scott Woods. "With a retractable roof, it will be the perfect place to gather all year round. Images: Supplied.
Tired of treadmills? Wearied by weights? So-so on sports or swimming laps? If your go-to exercise has lost its appeal, thankfully, there are loads of other ways to work up a sweat. If you were put off by PE class, you'll be glad to know there's a ton of fun to be had with daringly different activities all over the city (and beyond). Whether you want to have a skill-building dance session, take your workout to new heights or simply get your heart pumping in the comfort of your own home, there's something for every fitness level. All you need to do is think outside the box squats and burpees. TURN YOUR WORLD UPSIDE DOWN IN A CIRCUS CLASS Remember going to the circus as a kid? The trapeze and tricks, aerials and acrobats — all of it looking like a damn good time. Well, the National Institute of Circus Arts is helping you join in the fun via its adult term classes. Choose from a lineup of workshops — there's aerial skills, tumbling, core strength or trampoline — that are led by circus professionals and are suitable for all ages and levels. Not very coordinated? No problem. Jump into a prep or beginner class with circus enthusiasts who are just starting out, too. The class sizes are small, which fosters a supportive learning experience and allows for one-on-one time with the trainer where necessary. Once you've mastered the basics, gear up for more advanced levels next term. SHAKE IT OFF AT RETROSWEAT Depending on your age, you might not be old enough to remember the VHS home workout revolution, but that's no reason for not dialling in to the nostalgia at Retrosweat. These online videos (and weekly live classes for Sydneysiders) feature gorgeous vintage 'fits and charismatic hosts to boot. Dolling yourself up in your 80s or 90s best isn't a must, but you absolutely should if it helps you get in the groove. There's classic aerobics, choose-your-own-adventure workouts and even Retroflow yoga, all set to retro bangers. Can't choose between Kylie K-Hole, The Whitney Workout or a mixtape session? No stress, all will have you move your muscles to stand-out blasts from the past. PRACTICE YOUR PRECISION Regular resistance training just not cutting it anymore? Time to up the intensity and unleash your inner warrior. Maniax, Australia's first urban axe-throwing company, hurled onto the scene in 2014, changing both group fitness and date nights forever. Gather your mates and get comfortable handling a literal weapon, then challenge each other in a tournament to determine the ultimate axe-throwing champion. You can also book a one-person Quick Chuck, where you get one lane and one hour of throwing your heart out. BEND LIKE A BALLERINA It's never too late to fall in love with ballet. At the Primrose Potter Ballet Centre in Southbank, would-be ballerinas at all levels can join professionally led 75-minute lessons to get their dance abilities en pointe. Beginners can familiarise themselves with the barre — working on posture, coordination and strength — in casual lessons or by joining a six-week class series. Intermediate classes focus on alignment and technique, while advanced lessons aim to develop your musicality and centre work. Worried about your two left feet? There's an absolute beginner level, too. [caption id="attachment_843815" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Garry Zhuang (Unsplash)[/caption] GO WILD AT GO KARTING Racing is a sport. Sure, it might be less sweaty than the others, but you'll be bracing your core the whole time you speed around Ace Karts' 700-metre outdoor track — especially on that 105-metre straight. With an average of 18 laps in a single session, you'll have plenty of time to perfect your skills on each of the seven corners. Once you've mastered every turn and know the course like the back of your hand, reverse it and challenge yourself again. Group or solo, this adrenaline rush is a far cry from days spent playing Mario Kart. PAINT YOUR MATES Head out of the CBD and straight into battle. A colourful, paintball battle. Whether you want to play out combat stories at Hot Shots, explore the three hectares of experiences at Sniper's Den, or pop into the ultra convenient World Series Paintball in Oakleigh, right near Chadstone. Some venues offer immersive sets and full storylines (including a Star Wars-themed adventure), and others have family-friendly sessions and lower impact pellets. Do you need to be a sharp shooter to enjoy it? Not at all. But with a bit of practice on your mates, you'll work up to nailing the perfect shot in no time. [caption id="attachment_693299" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Stephanie Cook[/caption] SCALE THE WALLS Working your upper and lower body, improving flexibility, problem solving, grip and balance — rock climbing is a full body and mind workout. Luckily, there are many climbing and bouldering venues scattered throughout Melbourne for you to choose from. From Gravity Worx in Pascoe Vale to Bayside Rock in Carrum Downs and Hardrock in the CBD, each climbing gym has its own niche. Walls measure from 4.5 metres to 12 metres tall, and range from teetering angles to sky-high vertical ascents. Visit as a group or try and beat your personal best in speed or bouldering. This one is ideal if you like a bit more adventure in your fitness exploits. GET INTO POLE POSITION A workout that makes you feel powerful, skilled and maybe even a little bit sexy? Yes please. Pole is skill-based, meaning it's not about smashing out reps or beating best times. It's about learning new tricks and red-hot routines — and how to dance in heels. Build strength and flexibility while you explore pole, aerial hoop or silk skills at one of the four Melbourne Pole Room locations. The eight-week courses are progression-based, so you'll be supported as you gradually increase your abilities. Start with grips, spins and poses and advance to full routines from there. It's time to see what all the fuss is about. Are you keen to give circus training a go? For more information on NICA and to find a class that suits your schedule, visit the website.
Maybe your house needs the kind of colour and flair that only art can bring. Perhaps you're keen on supporting artists. If the first applies, the second should as well. Whichever fits, one event has you covered without requiring you to bust your budget to enjoy art on your walls. Even better: Affordable Art Fair is doing the rounds of Australia's east coast again in 2025, popping up for a four-day run in Brisbane in autumn, Melbourne in winter and Sydney in spring. Everyone should be able to fill their home with art no matter their bank balance. That's the idea behind this event, and has been since 1999. Back in the 20th century, Affordable Art Fair initially popped up in London to share eye-catching pieces with the world at manageable prices, and then started spreading its art-for-all ethos around the world. It only came to Brisbane a quarter-century later — in 2024 — but Australia is no stranger to this event, thanks to Sydney and Melbourne stops before that. Clearly Aussies are fans, given that it's returning again in 2025. Brisbanites will be heading to Brisbane Showgrounds from Thursday, May 8–Sunday, May 11. In Melbourne, Affordable Art Fair will take over the Royal Exhibition Building across Thursday, August 28–Sunday, August 31 — and in Sydney, Carriageworks is playing host from Thursday, November 6–Sunday, November 9. On offer at each venue will be original artworks by the thousands, with prices starting from $100. If you do happen to be flush with cash, however, costs will max out at $10,000 per piece. Alongside London and its three Down Under host cities, Affordable Art Fair has brought its budget-friendly wares to Brussels, Hamburg, Stockholm, Amsterdam and Berlin in Europe; Singapore and Hong Kong in Asia; and New York and Austin in the US. Unsurprisingly, democratising art has been proving the hit as Affordable Art Fair notches up the years. Up to 2024 across its stops worldwide since 1999, the event had sold 568,000 artworks at a value of over AU$820 million. In Brisbane, around 50 independent Australian galleries will have pieces up for sale this year — some new to the lineup in 2025, some back from 2024. Buying art isn't the only drawcard, though, with talks, tours, workshops, live tunes, bites to eat, drinks and live artist demonstrations all also on the agenda. "Affordable Art Fair is a fun and accessible way to view and buy art, whether you're a seasoned collector or considering buying your first piece," advises Australian Fair Director Stephanie Kelly. "The Fair offers a welcoming and relaxed space where art buyers can learn more about each piece, talk to gallerists, watch artists in action, hear from experts and immerse themselves in an array of styles, genres and mediums. Visitors also have incredible access to gallerists and experts who love to help them with every aspect of choosing art, from their budget and preferred style to selecting a space to hang it and how to frame it." "Every piece at Affordable Art Fair Brisbane is from a living artist, every artwork on display lists a sale price, and every piece can be bought, wrapped and taken home on the same day." Affordable Art Fair 2025 Australian Dates Thursday, May 8–Sunday, May 11 — Brisbane Showgrounds, Brisbane Thursday, August 28–Sunday, August 31 — Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne Thursday, November 6–Sunday, November 9 — Carriageworks, Sydney Affordable Art Fair Brisbane will return to Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney throughout 2025 — head to the event's website for tickets and more details.
Paul Manser really puts himself into his writing. When reading the self-penned adventures and misadventures of the Melbourne-based travel scribe, you experience the destination and surrounds from his singular POV. The scenes he often sets have a shambolic, gonzo feel as though something is about to go terribly awry, with Paul giving huge main character energy as both narrator and observer. Things often do go terribly awry and those breakneck narrative zags make for great stories, many of which are featured in his recently published collection of travel mini-memoirs Life Plans On Dive Bar Napkins, a series of stories that include a profane interlude at San Francisco's disgracefully under-recognised Hunky Jesus Contest, stinking out Pamplona due to an unfortunate case of missing luggage, and other incidents that imply Paul is fortunate to be alive and/or not incarcerated. If you are planning a trip to Los Angeles in the coming months and would be interested in some sound, sensible advice on what to do, please do not read the following guide that Paul Manser kindly compiled for us. [caption id="attachment_875641" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The author Paul Manser on a bike[/caption] PAUL MANSER: Los Angeles is the suggestive, shapely leg that slips out from beneath conservative Middle America's full-length skirt. It is the kind of leg that shows enough skin to let you know there are good times to be had, but that you could have your bank account cleaned out for your indiscretions. Not just a city built for good times, LA is also a magnet for aspiring movie stars who are drawn to the city like a mosquito, drunk on summer's blood, is to a caravan park's fluorescent blue bug zapper. You jump in an Uber and before you know it, you're listening to the CV of an out-of-work actor who played a lactose intolerant lifeguard in Baywatch for two episodes in the 90s, as they take you the long way from Santa Monica to West Hollywood just to make a few extra dollars. With so many people waiting to be 'discovered', it can be a little hard to find the real Los Angeles these days; the city the locals live. To help, here's my guide that you may (or may not) want to follow: [caption id="attachment_875639" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Santa Monica pier by Vincentas Liskauskas via Unsplash[/caption] WHERE TO GO On my first visit to LA I was told don't drink the tap water, avoid hiking Runyon Canyon in flip flops and don't ever, under any circumstances, be out in Downtown LA after dark unless you are so enamoured with acupuncture you're willing to let a teenager poke you with a blunt knife for the contents of your wallet. However, things have changed. These days Downtown LA is so cool the ice wouldn't melt on the sidewalk in a mid-afternoon heatwave. With some of the most innovative restaurants in the city like 71Above, amazing rooftop bars like Upstairs at The Ace, boutique designer hotels and an abundance of skinny-jeaned, bushranger bearded locals, downtown LA is now the place to go to eat, get rowdy and find a drinkable coffee the day after — which is no mean feat in America. [caption id="attachment_875643" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Upstairs at The Ace, The Ace Hotel Los Angeles via The Ace Hotel[/caption] WHERE TO DRINK If New York is the city that never sleeps, LA is where the beautiful people doze in seal-placenta face masks before spending their days doing hot yoga, discussing the latest colonic hotspot and looking fabulously bored poolside at one of the many party hotels of West Hollywood. While the city is undoubtedly glamorous, any self-respecting traveller with a thirst to quench will forgo the latest Insta-famous rooftop restaurant to trawl the city's bars of yesteryear. Sunset Boulevard's infamous Viper Room, Whisky a Go Go and Rainbow Bar and Grill have seen stars come and go and given birth to many a road trip playlist's favourite band, including Guns 'N' Roses. Don't assume that because the venues are a little less polished, that your night will be devoid of celebrities, although the high-profile patrons may be less 'washed' and more 'washed up' these days. That is not to say that you won't be rewarded for seeking out a more sophisticated drinking environment. Located in downtown LA, The Wolves is a spectacularly overindulged Parisian-style cocktail bar featuring Tiffany glass ceilings. The dark, moody bar features more wood and dark leather than you'd find in a friendly neighbourhood BDSM swingers club. The Wolves draws an eclectic crowd on the weekends with a cocktail list as long as the security line at LAX, but if you really feel adventurous let one of the bartenders guide your evening. That way at least you'll know who to blame when you wake up in the morning full of regret. [caption id="attachment_875652" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Wolves at Downtown LA, image via The Wolves[/caption] WHERE TO EAT While sucking down a wheatgrass and kale smoothie next to Billie Eilish as she chews on a raw vegan lasagne at Crossroads Kitchen might seem peak Los Angeles, you're probably going to need something more substantial (and a bit greasier) to soak up the booze. Try the ramen burger at Tatsu Ramen (if it is on the menu at the time.) A glorious artery-clogging delicious patty of beef sandwiched between to ramen noodle buns. Five stars. WHERE NOT TO STAY Last time I stayed in LA, I awoke to sunlight piercing the soft mustard surrounds of a hotel room that self-proclaimed three stars, but that would soon be on the receiving end of a biting TripAdvisor review I was penning in my mind. Four paragraphs alone were to be dedicated to reporting the hotel owner to the war crimes tribunal in The Hague over the fluorescent purple shower curtain that would burn holes into the retinas of small children. Then I decided that a negative review was not enough. No. A parody webpage dedicated to a hotel room that went missing in the 1970's was more fitting. It would include photos and satirical descriptions for how best to recognise the room. "ATTENTION: Be on the lookout for a hotel room with a burn mark in the two-tone green carpet resembling a snake making love to The Leaning Tower of Pisa. A stain that looks like the outline of where a jockey had been murdered with an ice cream scooper. And a bible with a series of stunningly accurate genitalia drawn throughout." Honestly, I'd tell you where this hotel was in LA, but I don't want to be sued. So maybe just avoid every hotel in the city to be safe and stay in an Airbnb instead. This guest house looks pretty good: WHERE TO BE SEEN LA is one of those cities where you go not only to see, but to be seen. With more instantly recognisable faces big screen packed into a few square miles than anywhere else in the world, paparazzi-dodging-people-watching can resemble a bloodsport at times. But what fun is merely watching others get all of the attention? Where can you go to not only watch others, be a part of the action yourself? Chateau Marmont is a place of celebrity legend. It's where Led Zeppelin rode motorcycles through the lobby in the 1960s and one of the first places to ban Lindsay Lohan from entry. These days drinking poolside at Chateau still offers up a decent chance of lounging next to brutally hungover, non-communicative, blood-shot eyed celebrity. If the Chateau sounds like the spot for you, maybe pack a pair of reflective Ray-Bans so you can get a good look at everybody, without coming across as some crazed stalker. AND, WHERE TO ESCAPE TO Los Angeles is a hot mess. The city is impossible to cross at peak hour and realistically you shouldn't attempt using the public transport unless contracting dysentery is on your bucket list. Sometimes it's a city you just need to get away from. But where to? While the internet is plastered with images of celebrities escaping to sun themselves on the beaches of Malibu, those looking for a piece of old Hollywood glamour should head inland to Palm Springs. A playground for the icons of Hollywood in the golden age of cinema, Palm Springs was the place that fabled celebrities like Marilyn Monroe and Dean Martin came to escape Los Angeles. A sun drenched desert Oasis, these days travellers come to Palm Springs to admire its mid-century modern architecture, for mammoth music festivals like Coachella and Stagecoach and relax and people watch poolside in one of the many impeccably styled hotels which appear to have jumped straight out of a photo-spread in a design magazine. [caption id="attachment_875657" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Palm Springs by Cody Board via Unsplash[/caption] Paul Manser's book Life Plans On Dive Bar Napkins is available from various book stores or you can order it from Dymocks. For more of Paul's travel tales visit his website. Main image by Jake Blucker via Unsplash.
From now until the end of July (there is potential for this to be extended), Dimmy Su has set up shop at The Hall at Welcome to Brunswick. Available every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, the pop-up offers unlimited dim sims, steamed buns and dumplings for just $29. Guests can reserve spots for one of two 90-minute sessions, starting at 6pm or 8pm. The unlimited feast features a range of classic dumplings like pork siu mai, prawn dumplings and pork and prawn gyoza, as well as vegetarian selections like vegan gyoza and vegetarian spring rolls. To enhance the experience, local DJs will be spinning on the decks every Tuesday and Wednesday night. Bookings are highly recommended and are now open at the venue's website.
The Queen Vic Market's massive midweek hawker market is coming back for five weeks this autumn, and it'll be the biggest edition to date. Held every Wednesday from April 9 to May 7, Hawker 88 Night Market will showcase a range of exceptional flavours from across Asia, from Manila to Mumbai and beyond. There'll also be a fascinating collection of live performances, cultural experiences and inventive cocktails bound to cause a stir. Every week features a different theme, showcasing the incredible diversity of Asian cuisine and culture while ensuring there's always something new to discover. Kicking things off on Wednesday, April 9, Pan-Asian Night highlights an eclectic mix of flavours, alongside dance performances, a K-pop dance crew, lion dancers and an Asian fusion band that ensures the vibe remains at fever pitch for this year's opening. The following week is Bali to Bangkok Night, where Southeast Asian cuisine is paired with martial arts displays, traditional dancing from Malaysian and Filipino movers and shakers, and beats provided by Indonesian gamelan drummers and a Thai band. Then, on Wednesday, April 23, Rising Sun Night presents a taste of East Asia, with everything from Japanese taiko drumming and roving geishas to Korean costume parades and traditional Chinese performances. Plus, a Filipino band is sure to keep the vibes high. Bollywood Night on Wednesday, April 30 will see the market become a colourful hub of all things Indian, featuring upbeat dance performances, live dance-offs, henna mural-making and even a curry-eating contest that will see serious spice lovers go head to head. Closing night on May 7 is Yin and Yang Night, which promises an vibrant mix of Chinese and K-pop dancing, a traditional Chinese costume parade and, intriguingly, a Squid Game-inspired DJ set. Across these five action-packed weeknights, an abundance of fresh-faced traders will join returning favourites serving up sumptuous bites that showcase the best of the continent. There'll be everything from wok-fired noodles and charcoal-cooked pork belly to Cambodian-style skewers, Thai fried chicken and Filipino barbecue. You can also get your hands around a crispy rice sandwich, a Japanese-inspired street food snack loaded with your choice of braised pork, pan-fried beef or sausage and cheese. This is also your chance to relive — or discover — the cocktails that became the talk of last year's event. As you roam from one hawker stand to the next (or it back to catch a performance), you can sip down a Flaming Mandarin Sunset, a fiery mix of sake, mandarin, grenadine and Bacardi 151 or the bright and refreshing Frozen Watermelon Shochu, featuring shochu with watermelon, lime and mint. The Hawker 88 Night Market runs 5–10pm every Wednesday from April 9–May 7 at the Queen Victoria Market. Head to the market's website for more information.
Bumps and jumps can happen at any time, but they feel extra eerie when October rolls around each year. So, when it comes to unleashing its spooky tales upon horror-loving Melburnians, acclaimed West End hit Ghost Stories has obviously chosen the exact right part of the calendar. Coming to Australia for the first time, Ghost Stories will bring its thrills and chills to the Athenaeum Theatre from this October. Exact dates are yet to be announced, but the season will run for eight weeks. And, it'll be doing so with the team behind a couple of other unsettling recent experiences: Melbourne-based Realscape Productions, who've been responsible for shipping container installations Seance, Flight and Coma, plus a number of horror audio experiences since 2020. Created, written and directed by Andy Nyman (Derren Brown) and Jeremy Dyson (The League of Gentlemen), and first staged in the UK back in 2010, Ghost Stories offers exactly what its name suggests. Leading the charge is fictional Professor of Parapsychology Phillip Goodman, who takes audiences through three of his cases. If it sounds familiar even though the production hasn't ever made it to our shores as yet, that's because Ghost Stories was turned into a film with The Office, The Hobbit and Sherlock star Martin Freeman a couple of years back — and also featuring Nyman as Goodman. This is the type of show where the less you know going in, the better. You want to experience those frightening tales afresh, after all. Audience members have been known to physically jump in their seats while they're watching, too, which is part of the point. "If people are paying their hard-earned money to see the show, we have a responsibility to give them more than they pay for," said Dyson in a statement. "We knew that we wanted to craft a play that would deliver something of substance to an audience, some solid ground underneath the fun, that would leave a deeper, darker residue and be harder to shake off," continued both Dyson and Nyman. Yes, the show has been likened to watching a horror movie play out on stage — so if you that sounds like your ideal way to spend 80 minutes, prepare to be in your element. If you're easily scared, you probably already know to stay away. Check out Ghost Stories' Australian trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfabPFfTm6g Ghost Stories will hit Melbourne's Athenaeum Theatre sometime this October, with exact dates yet to be announced. For further details, and to sign up for the ticket waitlist, head to the production's website. Top image: Chris Payne.
Watching any film by Apichatpong Weerasethakul, it's easy to pick that the Thai director is also a visual artist, even if you didn't already know going in. In every one of his features to play in cinemas, including his Palme d'Or-winner Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives, Asia Pacific Screen Awards Best Film recipient Cemetery of Splendour and the Tilda Swinton (The Room Next Door)-starring Cannes Jury Prize awardee Memoria, peering deeply is rewarded. So is soaking in imagery that no other filmmaker could conjure up, as well as being immersed in his movies at a patient, reflective pace. The above films, a trio from among Weerasethakul's four most-recent releases, all had dates with the big screen in Australia — but A Conversation with the Sun (Afterimage), his next creation, isn't heading to a picture palace. Instead, the acclaimed director has crafted the cinematic installation especially for the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia in Sydney. [caption id="attachment_1013104" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Apichatpong Weerasethakul in collaboration with DuckUnit, A Conversation with the Sun (installation), 2022, installation view, BANGKOK CITYCITY GALLERY, Bangkok, Thailand, 2022, image courtesy the artist and BANGKOK CITYCITY GALLERY, photograph: Miti Ruangkritya.[/caption] 2025 marks a decade and a half since Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives collected one of the world's most-prestigious film prizes thanks to its 2010 Cannes victory. This is also the year that A Conversation with the Sun (Afterimage) will grace the MCA, displaying from Thursday, August 14, 2025–Sunday, February 8, 2026. Musing on cinema and its emotional impact, fittingly, as well as memory, making images and time's passing, the large-scale work is a collaboration with Rueangrith Suntisuk and Pornpan Arayaveerasid, who hail from Bangkok-based collective DuckUnit. Inspired by pondering the sun while walking in nature, featuring video diaries projected onto floating fabric, and designed to provide a dream-like experience that appears to fade and return thanks to the curtain, it will take over a five-by-16-metre space in the MCA Macgregor Gallery. [caption id="attachment_1013105" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chayaporn Maneesutham[/caption] Weerasethakul calls the piece "a meditation". The same word applies to every one of his movies — the also Cannes-awarded Blissfully Yours and Tropical Malady, plus the Venice-premiering Syndromes and a Century as well. "A Conversation with the Sun (Afterimage) is a meditation on light, urging us to observe the impermanence of images as they shift, dissolve and reappear. The work explores the nature of projection and perception. Surfaces shift, and meanings transform. The projectors serve as both light sources and vehicles of memory, evoking sunlight, cinema and the passage of time," explains the filmmaker. [caption id="attachment_1013103" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Apichatpong Weerasethakul in collaboration with DuckUnit, A Conversation with the Sun (installation), 2022, installation view, How to Hold Your Breath – 2024 Asian Art Biennial, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Taichung, Taiwan, 2024, image courtesy of the artist, photograph: Apichatpong Weerasethakul.[/caption] "Apichatpong Weerasethakul is one of the world's most-innovative artists working at the intersection of visual art, moving image and cinema. It is a privilege to be presenting his new collaborative work that has been made especially for the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia. It is an exciting moment for Sydney and our visitors," said Jane Devery, MCA Australia Senior Curator, Exhibitions. Weerasethakul will also be part of an Artist in Conversation session at MCA Australia on Saturday, August 16, 2025, while a range of his short films from between 2007–24 will screen at the venue on Saturday, October 25, 2025. [caption id="attachment_1013101" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Apichatpong Weerasethakul in collaboration with DuckUnit, A Conversation with the Sun (installation), 2022, installation view, How to Hold Your Breath – 2024 Asian Art Biennial, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Taichung, Taiwan, 2024, image courtesy of the artist, photograph: Apichatpong Weerasethakul.[/caption] A Conversation with the Sun (Afterimage): Apichatpong Weerasethakul in collaboration with Rueangrith Suntisuk and Pornpan Arayaveerasid displays at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA Australia), 140 George Street, The Rocks, Sydney, from Thursday, August 14, 2025–Sunday, February 8, 2026. Head to the venue website for more details. Top image: Apichatpong Weerasethakul in collaboration with DuckUnit, A Conversation with the Sun (installation), 2022, installation view, How to Hold Your Breath – 2024 Asian Art Biennial, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Taichung, Taiwan, 2024, image courtesy of the artist, photograph: Apichatpong Weerasethakul.
The service industry is something of a crucible for millions of Australians. Ask anyone, and they probably spent some time as a teenager or student working in retail or hospitality. It's mandatory for anyone looking to gain some valuable life lessons while they're learning basic employment skills and saving some cash. Love it or hate it, we've all got to do it at some point. Gruelling as it sometimes is, the service industry is of immense importance. Who else can make the world's coffees, package their orders, cook their dinners — and do it all while putting a smile on the faces of customers? The simple act of good service makes all the difference for any business; it's a key ingredient to building up a customer base and ensuring loyalty and word of mouth to keep that base growing. Maybe what the world needs is a shortlist — a pocket guide, if you will — to the secrets of good service. If you're an aspiring business owner or an existing member of the service industry, you could probably use some tips from the pros on what good service can and should look like. We made a few calls, and we've got your good service guide right here. RULE 1: DON'T OVERCOMPLICATE IT Service, like anything, is easy to overthink and overcomplicate. But at the end of the day, it's all about the basic fundamentals. In hospitality, you might overthink the prioritisation of good food vs good service, but Alex Brawn of Cremorne's Amatrice Rooftop Restaurant and Caffe Amatrice understands that one takes precedence. "The reality is that we need to be nailing both. But going out to a cafe or restaurant is about an 'experience', and we all like to leave feeling good — and that mostly comes down to good service. Looking after our guests, making them feel good, that's what hospitality is about." "It's a common gripe for people where they try a restaurant, and the food and ambience were amazing, but the service was terrible, and they declare "I will never go again". So it goes to show that it doesn't matter how good your food is, or how expensive or beautiful your fit-out is, if you have poor service then you [as a business] just won't be successful long term." RULE 2: DON'T SHY AWAY FROM BEING PERSONAL It's absolutely key to maintain an professional attitude in any line of work, but in the case of service and hospitality, making things personal can go a long way to keeping a customer happy. It's the little things like smiling, remembering a name, or if you're able, going the extra mile in your service. Brawn, who's also a part of the team at the Williamstown waterfront spot, Sebastian Beach Grill & Bar, puts it plainly: "We keep it simple, just focusing on friendly, genuine service that makes people happy. Remembering regulars' names and having a chat about how their day is going — just those little things that make our guests feel a little bit special." "Recently, a family dined at Sebastian to celebrate an 80th birthday. The host of the dinner was telling her family how she remembered being in San Sebastian many years ago and having a special cheesecake. Our team overhead this conversation and arranged for a Basque cheesecake with a candle…looking after our guests and making them feel good is the key to good hospitality." RULE 3: GOOD SERVICE IS A PARACHUTE IF PRODUCTS FAIL The fact of the matter is this: it's hard to crack an original idea these days. If you're planning to open a bar, restaurant or café, you need something memorable. Good food and drinks are newsworthy and get tongues wagging, but if people don't have a good time consuming those products, you're going to burn out before you know it. Slipstream Brewing Co. is one of Queensland's most awarded breweries, so it is safe to say that director Elisa Stanley-Hunt knows all about the balancing act of products and services. "Great service fosters a welcoming atmosphere, encourages repeat customers, and helps build a strong reputation — especially in the early days. Even if the food isn't perfect yet, exceptional service can turn a first-time visitor into a loyal customer. That said, quality food is a close second. Once service is dialled in, focusing on a menu that's consistent, delicious and suits your brand will solidify your success. Ideally, both should go hand in hand, but if you lead with service, your customers will be more forgiving as you refine your offerings." RULE 4: LEARN TO SPOT A TELL We've already established the importance of personal service, but the ability to listen for and spot little details in a customer's preferences, routines and interests can elevate just another meal into a truly memorable experience. You likely know how good it feels to have a regular barista remember your coffee order, for example. For Andrew Garling of Fortitude Valley's Mr Valentine, that attention to detail is paramount. "Good service at Mr Valentine is anticipating a customer's needs from the moment they walk in the door, nothing more, nothing less. When you spend long enough serving people, they give you small cues as to what they need. We try and take those cues and act on them before they ask. These can be as small as taking a to-go box to a table as they are finishing before they ask, making a coffee when you see a regular walking from afar…they're all very simple things that make our customers feel important, and they cost us nothing to provide...the transaction is the last thing we think about." RULE 5: SAVE TIME ON THE TECHNICALITIES What we've learned here is that good service, above all, comes down to authenticity and human interaction. A smile, listening for special occasions, paying attention to what makes your regulars tick. What you don't want to do is take away from precious staff-to-customer contact time by having to fiddle with terminals and tablets, so having a smooth system to take care of the nitty-gritty makes a world of difference; ask any business owner. That's especially true when products like Square make things as easy for the customer as for the operator. Alex Brawn experiences that often; "the simplicity of the Square POS and EFTPOS units means we spend less time looking at a screen and more time looking after our guests." Andrew Garling agrees: "[Square] allows us to do the things we talked about before and leave the transaction as the last thing to worry about…we can tailor the use of software and [the] hardware experience so the customer has the smoothest possible transaction." Find out how Square can kickstart your business at squareup.com.
When dawn and dusk sweep over Yarra Bend Park, the rustle and flutter of grey-headed flying foxes is never far away. After all, this green expanse features Victoria's largest colony, with some estimates placing its size at 30,000. To help these bats feel a little more at home, the Abbotsford Convent is hosting Bat Massive — a nocturnal arts-meets-conservation event. Running from 5pm–12am on Saturday, August 16, this immersive experience will combine art, ecology and community to foster more awareness of the colony and how we share the ecosystem with species beyond our human neighbours. Under the cover of darkness, guests will take part in a special guided tour punctuated by sound and light installations. Renowned projection artist Yandell Walton will envelop the convent in eco-conscious images, while Japanese-born sound artist Ai Yamamoto will offer ambient textures that elevate the evening atmosphere. Acclaimed theremin composer Miles Brown will conjure sonic soundscapes, while Simona Castricum fuses her signature post-punk instincts with synth-heavy intensity. Then, guests are invited to explore Julaymba, a transformative mixed reality experience created by studio PHORIA. Led by Eastern Kuku Yalanji Elder Richard Burchill, expect an imaginative encounter that unites ecology, stewardship and storytelling through the ancient rainforest canopies of the Daintree. Then, for those keen to dig a little deeper into the surrounding environment and its wildlife, outdoor adventure collective Mappa will lead an intimate canoe tour through Yarra Bend Park just as the colony wakes for the night. As the evening unfolds, there's plenty of time to check out the top-notch selection of community food and beverage provedores, while Collingwood's own Runner Up Rooftop Bar is taking care of the drinks. With special nocturnal treats planned for the event, Bat Massive brings you closer to nature from virtually every conceivable angle. Images: Abigail Trewartha / Mappa.
The beer festival scene will look a little different in 2026, as one of the country's premier events, GABS, or the Great Australasian Beer SpecTAPular, is being paused for the year. But don't fear, the announcement comes with the assurance that it will return in 2027 with a reimagined format that does the event's legacy justice. The news was revealed by Dr Jerry Schwartz, owner of Sydney Brewery, whose Schwartz Family Company (SFC) recently followed up on a 2023 investment in GABS with a full takeover. While events in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are being restructured over the next 12 months, regional events in Canberra and the Hunter Valley are moving ahead unchanged. "The craft beer landscape has never been more challenging, but we are confident that with fresh new ideas and the support and expertise of our extensive craft beer and hospitality network, GABS will remain the benchmark for craft beer promotion in Australia," said Dr Schwartz in a statement. Founded in 2011, GABS has built a stellar reputation for showcasing the best of Australia's boundary-pushing independent brewers. Yet in recent years, some regulars have felt that the festival has lost the atmosphere that once made the event so special, not helped by numerous smaller brewers turning away due to the high cost of attending. "We have plenty of great plans, but we always listen and learn from our partners involved in our festivals. We plan to reassess the venues, timings of festivals, even the number of sessions, and possibly add cider and spirits to the events, so that we can grow the customer base and provide a memorable experience," said Dr Schwartz. As for the ever-popular GABS Hottest 100, the poll is going ahead as usual, with beer-lovers invited to vote for their favourite five breweries until Sunday, January 11, 2026. With Mountain Culture Status Quo completing the three-peak in 2024, becoming just the second brewery to do so, only time will tell if a new champion claims boozy bragging rights. GABS Festival is expected to return to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in 2027. Head to the website for more information.
Luke Mangan is well known for serving up classic French cuisine in Sydney — with restaurants in the Hilton Hotel Sydney, Kimpton Margot Hotel Sydney and the Pylon Lookout inside the Sydney Harbour Bridge. His latest venture Bistrot Bisou follows the same tried-and-tested formula. Mangan has set up a contemporary French restaurant in another city hotel — this time, Melbourne's Hotel Indigo. Here, you won't find food that challenges or feels particularly playful. Instead, Mangan and his Head Chef Rory Kennedy (Vex Dining and Bar Romantica) have stuck to nailing the classics — think: steak tartare, cheese soufflé, confit duck legs, lobster thermidor, tarte tatin and crème brûlée. There might not be any surprises, but the dishes are executed with great finesse and also showcase top local produce. The flamed-cooked steaks are a standout. These are cooked in the open kitchen over a roaring fire, which fills the room with a slight smokiness that makes the space feel incredibly cosy and welcoming. Those ready to brave the heat can even sit up at the bar and eat while watching the chefs do their thing. "We want this to feel like a second home for guests, whether they're Melbourne locals or visitors wanting a relaxed place to dine after a long day of sightseeing," says Mangan. "The French bistros of Paris have an ambience about them no matter what time of day or night it is, which is what we are creating here." [caption id="attachment_959622" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Glen Percival[/caption] And Mangan has lucked out with the 96-seat dining room, which was only fitted out a few years ago for Beso, the former Spanish restaurant that once called this space home. The kitchen is mostly the same as it was before, as is the front bar. The space is full of cream and light brown tones, accented with leather banquette seats and brass finishes. There's also a seperate nook for semi-private dining. At the front bar, which boasts floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Spencer Street, folks can also sit up on a stool while they sip and snack. Tim Davey (French Saloon) has created the impressive cocktail list for Bistrot Bisou, which includes eight martinis, plenty of signature creations, and a hefty list of French aperitifs for those wanting a little pre-dinner sip. As expected, the wine list features a great selection of French and Victorian vinos, while Taittinger Champagne is also available by the glass. If you're a fan of classic French fare in elegant yet laidback surrounds, you're in for a real treat at Bistrot Bisou. Images: Jana Langhorst.
Life in plastic may not turn out to be 100-percent fantastic in the upcoming Barbie movie, with not one, not two, but three trailers for the Margot Robbie (Babylon)-starring film showing the popular toy-turned-cinema star yearning to escape Barbie World. Life in the IRL version of Barbie's Malibu DreamHouse looks mighty spectacular, however. Decked out in pink, pink and more pink — and then even more pink after that, if you're wondering how much pink one home can feature — the playset has made the leap to reality, and it's available for bookings. Come on Barbie fans, let's go party — because Airbnb has just added Barbie's Malibu DreamHouse to its listings. Like the Ted Lasso pub, Hobbiton, the Paris theatre that inspired The Phantom of the Opera, the Bluey house, the Moulin Rouge! windmill, the Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine, The Godfather mansion, the South Korean estate where BTS filmed In the Soop and the Sanderson sisters' Hocus Pocus cottage before it, plus Japan's World Heritage-listed Suganuma Village as well, this isn't your usual stay. Rather, it's welcoming in two sets of two guests, each staying for one night: on Friday, July 21 and Saturday, July 22. If you've been obsessed with all things Barbie on the big screen even though the flick itself is still a month off, that's understandable. Enlisting Robbie as the eponymous doll and Ryan Gosling (The Gray Man) as Ken, with Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird, Little Women) directing, then stacking the rest of the cast with Issa Rae (Insecure) as president Barbie, Dua Lipa (making her movie debut) as a mermaid Barbie, Emma Mackey (Emily) as a Nobel Prize-winning physicist Barbie, Kate McKinnon (Saturday Night Live) as a Barbie who is always doing the split, and more — yes, that's enough to earn anyone's attention. So, if that's you, you'll also know that the Barbie's Malibu DreamHouse stays are timed around the movie's release, given that it hits cinemas Down Under on Thursday, July 20. While the film follows Barbie as she searches for something more than her seemingly perfect existing life, Ken is quite happy with the status quo — well, that's the tale being spun around this chance to slumber in a Barbie dream, at least. In fact, he's the host of the Airbnb stay. And no, we don't mean Gosling, but Ken. "We all have dreams, and Barbie is lucky enough to have a house full of them," said Ken in Airbnb's press release, presumably while wearing rollerblades and trying to keep up with Barbie. "But now, it's my turn, and I can't wait to host guests inside this one-of-a-kind — dare I say, one-of-a-Ken? — digs." This toy-inspired abode has been up on Airbnb before, but the site has undertaken a Barbie movie-inspired makeover since then. Yes, it really is a life-sized version of the coveted dollhouse. Yes, it's located in Malibu. The beachfront mansion boasts panoramic ocean views, too, as well as plenty of spots to enjoy the vista, including an infinity pool. If you manage to score one of the two bookings at 3am AEST / 5am NZST on Tuesday, July 18, you won't pay a cent for your accommodation. "Ken couldn't figure out how to put a price on Barbie's Malibu DreamHouse – after all, Ken's thing is beach, not maths," Airbnb advises. Included in your stay: finding a beach outfit from Ken's wardrobe, learning to line dance on Ken's outdoor disco dance floor, performing a sunset serenade on Ken's guitar, and having a "beach off" while sunbathing and enjoying a dip. You'll also get your own yellow-and-pink Impala skates and surfboards to take home with you. The usual caveat applies, of course: if you score a reservation, the cost of getting to Malibu and back again is all on you. For more information about Barbie's Malibu DreamHouse on Airbnb, or to apply to book at 3am AEST / 5am NZST on Tuesday, July 18, head to the Airbnb website. Images: Hogwash Studios / Joyce Lee. 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.
Brisbane's Premiership win over Geelong didn't just light up the MCG — it also dominated Australian screens, drawing more than 6.1 million viewers across broadcast and streaming. According to figures released by the Seven Network, Saturday's Grand Final reached a national total TV audience of 4.08 million, up on last year's numbers, with a further 969,000 streaming the match on 7plus Sport — a 48 percent increase year-on-year. The post-match presentations pulled in 5.5 million viewers, while 3.9 million tuned in for the pre-game show. The result makes the AFL Grand Final 2025's most-watched program so far, surpassing the NRL's State of Origin decider, which reached 5.7 million Australians. Seven's Head of AFL and Sport Innovation, Gary O'Keeffe, said the numbers reinforced the sport's unrivalled pull. "We want to thank every viewer who has joined us across the season. From the opening bounce at the SCG, right through to the Grand Final post-match celebrations, Australians have embraced Seven and 7plus in record numbers," he said. Chris Jones, Seven's Director of Sport, called the audience record "a fitting end" to an incredible season. With an 81.1 percent share of commercial audiences on Saturday, plus 90.9 percent in live streaming and 86.7 percent in BVOD, the AFL Grand Final sets a high bar for Seven as it moves into a stacked summer schedule that includes the Bathurst 1000, Spring Racing Carnival, AFLW Finals and a home Ashes series. You can watch the 2025 AFL Grand Final back now via 7plus. Images: Getty Images
Add Marco Pierre White to the list of acclaimed British culinary figures, such as regular visitors Nigella Lawson and Jamie Oliver, who are fond of trips Down Under. Back in 2023, the famed chef and White Heat author brought his first-ever live theatre show to Australia. On that visit, he also made a date with HOTA, Home of the Arts on the Gold Coast for a four-course dinner. The latter experience clearly left an imprint, because that's where White is heading again in 2025 — this time for an exclusive three-day stint. HOTA has announced that White is hitting the venue, and the kitchen, for a three-day culinary residency in June 2025. There's multiple parts to this visit, whether you're keen to eat or learn — or both. The luxe meal at HOTA's restaurant Palette is back, but that's just part of the program. On Thursday, June 5, White will get chatting at an in-conversation event hosted by HOTA's Executive Chef Dayan Hartill-Law. Certain to receive a mention: that he was first British chef to be awarded three Michelin stars, earning that achievement when he was just 33, making him the youngest chef to do so. Then there's his 1990 cookbook White Heat, which played up his "bad boy" image — and the fact that he's been dubbed "the first celebrity chef" as well. Also likely to fuel the chat: that White has popped up on everything from Hell's Kitchen to MasterChef, including in Australia — and that he's trained fellow well-known food figures such as Mario Batali, Heston Blumenthal, Gordon Ramsay and Curtis Stone. Or, there's his beginnings in the culinary world, after he arrived in London with just "£7.36, a box of books and a bag of clothes", as White describes, before his tutelage under Albert and Michael Roux at renowned French fine-diner Le Gavroche. At HOTA, White is also taking part in a masterclass that's part-discussion, part-demonstration — so you'll dig into his life story, plus get his tips and tricks. If you're keen to sit down for a meal, the return of the Palette x Marco Pierre White dinner involves a chat, too, plus a five-course spread. On the menu: dishes that showcase southeast Queensland produce alongside White's culinary philosophy. Or, if you're feeling flush, you can head along to the intimate White Heat dining experience, serving up five courses of dishes that scored White his three Michelin stars — and only 30 people can attend. Another five-course dinner will cap off the residency, featuring not only White but also Hartill-Law and fellow Gold Coasters Tim Stewart, Koki Anekawa and Melanie Day. Each is putting together a course, while HOTA's beverage team is picking the drinks. The setting: the venue's outdoor stage lawn. "I'm thrilled to be returning to HOTA for this exclusive Australian residency. There's something truly special about the Gold Coast — the energy, the people, the passion for food. Palette is a restaurant that understands the artistry of cuisine and experience. These events are about more than just cooking, they're about sharing stories, experiences, and creating unforgettable moments together," said White about his return Down Under. "Having Marco back in the kitchen with us is an honour. His knowledge, his storytelling and the way he approaches food is truly inspiring. This time around, we've taken it even further — from fire-fuelled outdoor events to the most intimate of dinners — and I can't wait for guests to experience the incredible lineup of flavours, talent and creativity we've curated together," added Hartill-Law. [caption id="attachment_812565" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Palette[/caption] HOTA, Home of the Arts' 2025 Marco Pierre White pop-ups are taking place across Thursday, June 5–Saturday, June 7, 2025. For more information and tickets, hit up the HOTA website. Top image: Derek Dsouza.
This South Yarra cocktail bar has a quirky library theme, elegant wood panelling and a general vibe which doesn't make you feel like you're smack bang in the middle of Chapel Street. Katuk has been mixing and shaking cocktails for locals and visitors since 2007, becoming a go-to option for those looking for a function space for a special occasion, somewhere to sip wine while overlooking the famous shopping strip, and the site of many after work drink and gossip sessions. Designed to help you finish off the working week with ease, Katuk's Friday happy hour from 5–9pm includes half price tap beer, $5 house wines and $12 house cocktails, which is about as laidback as it comes for your wallet. Give the 'Katuk's Passion' a red hot go: vodka, passionfruit, apple guava and elderflower. If you live or work locally, make sure to ask the staff about a membership card to secure yourself 25 percent off drinks.
Making a cup of barista-worthy coffee at home is an art. But, it needn't be daunting. With a combination of science and play, crafting a delectable morning brew simply takes a bit of practice. If you've decided that 2026 is the year you level up your coffee game (and stop spending six dollars every single day), we tapped the owner of Clubhouse in Nundah, Brisbane, Josh Prete, to learn how to become an at-home barista. Josh has been working in the coffee industry since 2016 and says it was the "reliability and consistency" of a good cafe that drew him in. "When you visit the same place often enough, you meet people, you hear stories, and you naturally become part of the community. That led me into the science behind making coffee well. I don't think about one perfect cup. I think about making great coffee all day, every day, and teaching people how to do the same." [caption id="attachment_1044092" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Clubhouse[/caption] What equipment do I need to make great coffee at home? To make coffee from home, the first thing you're going to need is equipment. Don't worry. You don't have to shell out for a $4000 state-of-the-art espresso machine straight off the bat. If your go-to brew is an espresso-based drink, Josh believes you can get a lot out of entry or mid-level machines. Josh notes the most important three items for barista-worthy coffee are: A good grinder, fresh, quality beans (ideally within 30 days of being roasted), and a simple scale so you can repeat your results. "Most people think the espresso machine is the hero," says Josh. "The grinder is the real engine." For the new coffee aficionado, Josh recommends investing in a 0.1g scale, a gooseneck kettle, an AeroPress, V60 or Chemex, and a good hand grinder. "They can give you an incredible cup, and you get full freedom to experiment. There are so many variables. The fun is discovering how you like your coffee." According to Josh, the pour-over method (i.e. pouring hot water over freshly ground coffee, which then drips into a mug or carafe) is the best method for making barista-style coffee at home. "It teaches you the fundamentals: grind size, flow rate, water temperature, bloom, and timing, and those skills translate into every brewing method, including espresso," Josh shares. "Pour over gives you clarity and consistency. If you learn to control flavour on a V60 or Chemex, you'll understand how coffee actually works, not just how to use a machine." What beans should I start with? Josh recommends looking for beans with a recent roast date, but make sure it's not too recent. "If it was roasted yesterday, it's still going to be degassing. This means that if you brew it too soon, it may taste overly acidic and be prone to channelling." Channelling is when water finds a narrow path through the espresso's coffee puck in a machine, creating an uneven extraction. This can result in an espresso shot that may taste weak, sour or bitter. Not ideal. Josh also recommends looking for coffee beans with clear details on origin, process, and tasting notes. "If there is a recommended brew method, and recipe that's awesome too." If you find your at-home coffee tasting less than desirable, Josh has some tips. Does your brew taste sour? It's under-extracted, meaning you need to grind your beans more finely. To fix a bitter coffee, grind more coarsely because your coffee is over-extracted. If your coffee is too weak or watery, you have to increase the amount of coffee and decrease the water. When adjusting your grind size, be sure not to change any other variables. The dose and yield should stay the same, notes Josh. "If [your shot] ran short or long, just taste it. Learn to understand what over and under-extraction tastes like." What's dialling in? While coffee jargon can be a little intimidating at first, it's simply a science. Dialling in refers to the practice of fine-tuning your coffee's variables, i.e., brew time, grind size, and water quality. "It's simply adjusting the variables to get the flavour you're aiming for," says Josh. For example, when it comes to espresso, a great starting point is a one-to-two ratio—20g of ground coffee yielding 40g of espresso in about 25–30 seconds, and using a medium or medium–dark roast that's roughly ten days post-roast. [caption id="attachment_1060672" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Clubhouse[/caption] Simply dose out 20g of coffee, brew the espresso until 40g of liquid espresso flows into a cup (i.e. one-to-two), and then time how long your shot takes to pour. If your shot takes 14 seconds to run through, the grind is too coarse, and you need to make it finer. On the other hand, if your shot takes 46 seconds or longer, the grind is too fine, and you need to make it coarser. "Keep adjusting until you're consistently hitting that 25–30 second window, then taste it," says Josh. "That alone will get you most of the way there." "Espresso is all about accuracy," says Josh. "It's a short, sharp extraction, and it can frustrate you quickly when you're learning. No machine will dial in the coffee for you, so if you buy an espresso setup, you have to take some ownership of the process. Don't blame the beans." How do I heat barista-worthy milk? Often, the difference between a cup of coffee you're willing to trade for a minimum of five dollars and a burnt, foamy brew at home comes down to its silky smooth milk. Josh's tips for creating a barista-worthy flat white or latte are all about the technique. Oh, and don't even think about latte art until you've mastered the texture. "The depth of the wand dictates the amount of air you are letting enter the milk," says Josh. "Too shallow, and you will have too much air and a big mess. Too deep and you will just heat the milk up. You want to start shallow, allowing air in, and then slowly move the wand deeper into the jug. You only need to adjust the depth of the wand. Practice makes perfect." Once you've mastered well-textured milk, you can get started on latte art. Josh's final tips Hopefully, you're feeling a bit less intimidated and more inspired to tackle your goal of crafting a barista-worthy cup of joe at home. Josh's biggest tip, however, is to start simple. "You don't need premium equipment; you just need to understand the basics. Once you get a feel for flavour, you can make incredible coffee with very little—and have a lot of fun doing it." Image credit: Clubhouse
Playing Glastonbury; sharing a stage with Foo Fighters, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and The Smashing Pumpkins; making the leap from a regional town to touring the globe: Amyl and The Sniffers frontwoman Amy Taylor has done it all. And, if you'd like to hear more about that journey, Taylor is also getting behind the microphone at 2024's BIGSOUND when it returns to Brisbane from Tuesday, September 3–Friday, September 6. The huge music event, which combines a conference with live gigs in Fortitude Valley, has enlisted Taylor to give a keynote address at this year's fest. Her involvement is part of the first lineup announcement for 2024, which also includes London-based DJ, artist manager and Butterz co-founder Elijah — and Korda Marshall, who started his record label career in 1983 making coffee and scouting talent at RCA. Casper Mills from independent record label 4AD is also on the speaker roster, as is Naomie Abergel, fka Mark Johns. When AEG/Goldenvoice Concerts Vice President Elliott Lefko gets chatting, too, there'll be Coachella and Stagecoach to talk about. "This announcement is really a calling card of what BIGSOUND represents," said Conference Programmer Tom Larkin, revealing the first 2024 details. "The cross section of global industry that will be on ground is a testament to BIGSOUND as a vehicle for connecting artists locally and internationally, and we recognise that in 2024 the need for this is greater than ever." "We're thrilled to go out of the gates with Amy Taylor as a keynote speaker as she will no doubt give a robust insight from many angles." [caption id="attachment_861894" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lachlan Douglas[/caption] As always, BIGSOUND drops its details in stages. So, more speakers will join the bill — and the full music lineup is still to come. But organisers have revealed some of the folks who'll be scoping out acts while they're here, such as Adam Ryan (The Great Escape, Lovebox and Wilderness Festival), Patrick Daniel (Reeperbahn Festival, Inferno Events) and Dev Sherlock (SXSW), plus Ben Buchanan from Creative Artists Agency and Roxane Dumoulin from ATC Live Agency. This is BIGSOUND's 23rd year, with the festival continuing to welcome in international and national buyers, agents, music supervisors, bookers and other industry decision makers to take over Brisbane. Its commitment to showcasing impressive acts, artists and bands usually sees more than 150 talents hit its stages at 20-plus River City venues. If you're a BIGSOUND regular, you'll know that this entails filling as many spaces as possible with musos, industry folks and music-loving punters, all enjoying the latest and greatest tunes and talent the country has to offer. [caption id="attachment_907800" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Simone Gorman-Clark[/caption] [caption id="attachment_851422" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lachlan Douglas[/caption] [caption id="attachment_907799" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Simone Gorman-Clark[/caption] BIGSOUND 2024 will take place between Tuesday, September 3–Friday, September 6 in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. For more information, visit the event's website. Top image: Ralph_PH via Wikimedia Commons.
Mörk has been kicking around since 2012, showing Melburnians just how good a hot chocolate can taste. Taking their cues from Melbourne's coffee culture, owners Josefin Zernell and Kiril Shaginov have grown this drinking chocolate brand to include three stores and a chocolate foundry in North Melbourne. You'll also see its drinking chocolate powders and pastries stocked at some of Melbourne's best cafes. But the owners aren't stopping there. They spent two years creating the two-storey Mörk Looking Glass concept store on Centre Place — one of the graffiti-clad laneways near Degraves Street. Here, you'll find Mörk's classic drinking chocolate blends, cinnamon and cardamom buns, chocolate spreads and morsels, pre-mixed cocktails, and its famous Campfire Hot Chocolate — served with smoke, charcoal salt and a freshly toasted marshmallow that's also made in-house. Coffee from Patricia is also available for those needing a caffeine fix instead of chocolate. Zernell and Shaginov are using this site to showcase just how fun and experimental the humble hot chocolate can be, and have even dreamt up a new drink for Mörk Looking Glass: The Layered Chocolate. For this, a dark hot chocolate base is topped with caramelised banana, saffron custard and freshly grated lime zest. And while some of these experimental creations will make their way into the main storefront, most of them will only be available upstairs in the tasting room. Experimental chocolate bars, elaborate drinking chocolates that never made it onto the menu, chocolate cocktail pairings and creative desserts will all be on show during themed tastings in this space. If you consider yourself a chocoholic, this spot best be on your hit list. Images: Kristoffer Paulsen
If you're a boutique cinema that's spent a decade showing movies, here's how you celebrate it: with a week of $5 tickets and a big-screen trip down memory lane to revisit the best of the best to grace your screens over that time. That's Lido Cinemas in Hawthorn's approach from Thursday, August 7–Wednesday, August 13, 2025. 2015 is the year that not only Lido launched, but that the world gained the Australian sci-fi/action spectacular that is Mad Max: Fury Road, so of course George Miller's fourth title in the franchise — and the movie that sparked 2024's Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga — is on the lineup at the venue's Ten-Film Anniversary Retrospective. Then, 2016's pick covers a feature that will always be remembered for its Oscars glory, no matter the mixup announcing its win as Best Picture: Moonlight from director Barry Jenkins (Mufasa: The Lion King). From 2017, the program boasts a yearning dose of Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown), and its first of two Luca Guadagnino (Queer) flicks, via Call Me By Your Name. 2018's selection goes with horror thanks to Ari Aster's (Eddington) unnerving debut Hereditary, while 2019's Portrait of a Lady on Fire from Céline Sciamma (Petite Maman) is another title on the program to swoon over. Rachel Sennott (Saturday Night)- and Molly Gordon (The Bear)-starring comedy Shiva Baby is 2020's choice, then Joachim Trier's (Sentimental Value) Renate Reinsve (Presumed Innocent)-led The Worst Person in the World from 2021. Paul Mescal (Gladiator II) makes an appearance on the lineup thanks to Charlotte Wells' Aftersun, the film that earned him a Best Actor Oscar nomination, as 2022's pick. Finally, two very different love triangles — 2023's Past Lives from Materialists' helmer Celine Song, and 2024's Challengers starring Zendaya and helmed by Guadagnino — round out the bill. Aftersun image: Sarah Makharine. Challengers image: Credit: Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures © 2023 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Got a greasy pizza box that you can't recycle? Hold on to it, as you'll soon have a chance to put it to good use. That's because Pizza Hut is hosting its first-ever nationwide free pizza exchange, taking over stores across the country from 4–7pm on Friday, November 21, and celebrating the launch of their garlic and cheddar golden stuffed crust. Representing the latest evolution in Pizza Hut's ever-popular crust upgrade, this brand-new offering features a generous blend of cheddar cheese combined with signature hot dust garlic seasoning. Making for a golden, crispy finish that adds a whole new element to your slice, expect serious cheese pulls with every bite. With the prospect of free pizza almost impossible to resist, this fun-loving exchange will be up and running in four states. In NSW, head to Pizza Hut Surry Hills and Pizza Hut Waterloo, whereas QLD fans can visit Pizza Hut Forest Lake and Pizza Hut Runaway Bay. Meanwhile, Victorians can visit Pizza Hut South Melbourne, as those in WA are invited to complete the swap at Pizza Hut Morley. "Pizza Hut has always been about fun, flavour and innovation, and we wanted to give Aussies a reason to fall back in love with our crusts," says Pizza Hut Australia's Chief Marketing Officer, Wendy Leung. "The new Golden Stuffed Crust delivers on all three." If you decide to swing by your nearest exchange, the equation is simple. Just hand over a pizza box from any rival brand and walk out with a steaming hot Pizza Hut Golden Stuffed Crust Pepperoni Pizza. Why a rival? Well, the idea is that Pizza Hut is the only place to get the real deal when it comes to stuffed crust pizza that never misses the mark. Says Leung: "The Get Stuffed Free Pizza Exchange brings that spirit to life by giving people the chance to trade in their pizza frustrations for something they'll actually love." The Pizza Hut Get Stuffed Free Pizza Exchange is happening at various store locations around Australia from 4–7pm on Friday, November 21. Head to the website for more information. Images: supplied
When Shazam first hit mobile devices in 2008, it helped iPhone users solve a minor but common and often frustrating problem. By listening to a snippet of a song, the app identifies exactly what the tune is — so if you hear some music on TV, the radio or in the background but don't know what it is, you can easily find out. That's all well and good for songs that are playing somewhere around you, of course. But it doesn't help if you've got a ditty stuck in your head, have absolutely zero idea what it is and are becoming increasingly desperate to know what has wormed its way into your brain. We've all been there, and we've all been annoyed by it, too. Via a new addition to its search functions, however, Google has just announced a feature that resolves this very issue. If you want to find out what a specific tune is called, now all you need to do is hum, whistle or sing it — and Google will listen, then tell you what it is. The feature is available via mobile devices, through the Google app, the Google Search widget and Google Assistant. On the app and in the widget, you need to say "what's this song?" or click the "search a song" button before you start busting out a melody. With Google Assistant, you'll say "hey Google, what's this song?" first. It doesn't matter if you're not quite in tune (or nowhere near the right pitch), thankfully. After listening, Google will provide search responses that it thinks matches your song, so you can learn more about it, watch music videos, listen to the song itself, find the lyrics and more. The function uses Google's machine learning algorithm, building on work the company has been doing with artificial intelligence and music recognition technology — and it's now available in English on iOS, and in over 20 languages on Android, with plans to expand to other languages in the future. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DW61PpKJGm8&feature=emb_logo To use Google's new 'hum to search' feature, either visit the search engine on your mobile device or use Google Assistant. For further details, head to Google's blog.
It has been a sparse year for Melbourne movie buffs, with the city's cinemas closing down not once but twice in 2020 due to COVID-19. But when projectors start whirring again — when the metro Melbourne area reaches the fourth step in its current five-step roadmap out of lockdown, which is currently at step two — cinephiles will have a new picture palace to frequent, with Palace Cinemas opening a new 15-screen site at the former Pentridge prison in Coburg. Originally announced back in 2016, Pentridge Cinema is set to launch in December. An exact date us yet to be revealed, but its silver screens will be getting a workout before Christmas hits. When those doors do open, the venue will be able to seat 1100 film fans across its various auditoriums (before taking social-distancing into account via a chequerboard seating arrangement). Each individual theatre will be fitted out with reclining seats with individual tables and footrests, too — and film-goers will have access to a menu of food and booze as well. Although movie release dates are constantly subject to change in 2020 — No Time to Die, Fast and Furious 9 and Dune have all shifted their plans in just the past few days, for example — the new Pentridge cinema is planning to kick into gear with some big titles. On its lineup: two Gal Gadot-starring flicks, aka Death On The Nile and Wonder Woman 1984, plus Pixar's Soul, Eddie Murphy vehicle Coming 2 America, the Ryan Reynolds-led Free Guy, and family-friendly features Peter Rabbit 2 and Connected. (There's no word yet regarding screenings of famed prison-set movies — think The Rock, Escape from Alcatraz or The Shawshank Redemption — but it sure does seem like the place for that type of retro program.) The $2 million cinema isn't the only new addition to the Coburg spot. The entire precinct spans 6.7 hectares, and it has been undergoing quite the revamp. On offer: shops, dining, entertainment spaces and public areas, including a 6500-square-metre piazza. Some heritage elements from the prison have been retained, and the site will also showcase stories about its former life in its design. Palace's new Pentridge Cinema will open at 1 Champ Street, Coburg, sometime in December — we'll update you with an exact date when it is announced.
Long before getting cosy on the couch meant living the streaming dream, not all movies made it to cinemas, just as happens now. Back then, though, that's where the term 'straight to video' came in. Then, it was 'straight to DVD'. At the moment, if a film doesn't flicker in a picture palace, it's a straight-to-streaming release. Some such movies do receive a big-screen run, but only at a film festival. Others were only ever bound for watching at home. Either way, just because they didn't light up your local multiplex or arthouse go-to for weeks on end, that doesn't mean these flicks aren't worth a look. Indeed, some of 2023's viewing highlights are straight-to-streaming films — whether you're fond of Oscar-nominated documentaries, Aubrey Plaza-led heist flicks, walk-and-talk rom-coms, unsettling horror gems or intimate portraits of famous faces. With 2023 now into its second half, we've made our picks of the year's best straight-to-streaming gems from January–June. Obviously, you can watch them all now. ALL THAT BREATHES Pictures can't tell all of All That Breathes' story, with Delhi-based brothers Nadeem Shehzad and Mohammad Saud's chats saying plenty that's essential. In the documentary's observational style, their conversation flits in and out of the film — sometimes, there's narration, too — giving it many meaningful words. Still, the images that Shaunak Sen (Cities of Sleep) lets flow across the screen in this Sundance- and Cannes-winner, and also 2023 Oscar-nominee, are astonishing. And, befitting this poetic meditative and ruminative doco's pace and mood, they do flow. All That Breathes' main pair adore the black kites that take to India's skies and suffer from its toxic air quality, tending to the creatures' injuries. As Sen watches, he adores them as well. Viewers will, too. Indeed, if there wasn't a single syllable uttered, with the movie just leaning on cinematographers Ben Bernhard (Talking About the Weather), Riju Das (14 Phere) and Saumyananda Sahi's (Trial by Fire) sights, plus Niladri Shekhar Roy ('83) and Moinak Bose's (Against the Tide) sound recording, the end result still would've been revelatory. This film trills about urban development, its costs and consequences, and caring for others both animal and human — and it says oh-so-much. It notes how everything that the earth's predominant inhabitants do has environmental impacts for the creatures that we share the planet with, including quests for economic dominance and political control. All That Breathes peers on as its subjects' tasks get harder even as they earn global attention, receive more funding and build their dream hospital. It sees how they put the majestic kites' wellbeing above their own, even as the numbers of birds needing their help just keeps growing. This is a documentary about animals falling from the skies due to pollution, two siblings trying to help them soar again, why that's so vital and what the whole situation says about life on earth — and it's vital and spectacular viewing. All That Breathes streams via Binge. EMILY THE CRIMINAL Enterprising, astute, intelligent and accepting zero garbage from anyone: these are traits that Aubrey Plaza can convey in her sleep. But she definitely isn't slumbering in Emily the Criminal, which sees her turn in a performance as weighty and layered as her deservedly Golden Globe- and Emmy-nominated portrayal in the second season of The White Lotus — something that she's been doing since her Parks and Recreation days anyway. Indeed, there's more than a touch of April Ludgate-Dwyer's resourcefulness to this crime-thriller's eponymous figure. Los Angeles resident Emily Benetto isn't sporting much apathy, however; she can't afford to. With $70,000 in student loans to her name for a college art degree she isn't using working as a food delivery driver, and a felony conviction that's getting in the way of securing any gig she's better qualified for for, Jersey girl Emily breaks bad to make bank when she's given a tip about a credit card fraud ring run by Youcef (Theo Rossi, Sons of Anarchy). Her simple task: purchasing everything from electronics to cars with the stolen numbers. Writer/director John Patton Ford makes his feature debut with this lean, sharp, keenly observed and tightly paced film, which works swimmingly and grippingly as a heist thriller with plenty to say about the state of America today — particularly about a society that saddles folks starting their working lives with enormous debts, turning careers in the arts into the domain of the wealthy, and makes even the slightest wrongdoing a life sentence. Emily the Criminal is angry about that state of affairs, and that ire colours every frame. But it's as a character study that this impressive film soars highest, stepping through the struggles, troubles and desperate moves of a woman trapped not by her choices but her lack of options, all while seeing her better-off classmates breeze through life. As she usually is, Plaza is mesmerising, and adds another complicated movie role to a resume that also boasts the phenomenal Ingrid Goes West and Black Bear as well. Emily the Criminal streams via Binge and Netflix. HUESERA: THE BONE WOMAN The sound of cracking knuckles is one of humanity's most anxiety-inducing. The noise of clicking bones elsewhere? That's even worse. Both help provide Huesera: The Bone Woman's soundtrack — and set the mood for a deeply tense slow-burner that plunges into maternal paranoia like a Mexican riff on Rosemary's Baby, the horror subgenre's perennial all-timer, while also interrogating the reality that bringing children into the world isn't a dream for every woman no matter how much society expects otherwise. Valeria (Natalia Solián, Red Shoes) is thrilled to be pregnant, a state that hasn't come easily. After resorting to praying at a shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in desperation, neither she nor partner Raúl (Alfonso Dosal, Narcos: Mexico) could be happier, even if her sister Vero (Sonia Couoh, 40 Years Young) caustically comments that she's never seemed that interested in motherhood before. Then, two things shake up her hard-fought situation: a surprise run-in with Octavia (Mayra Batalla, Everything Will Be Fine), the ex-girlfriend she once planned to live a completely different life with; and constant glimpses of a slithering woman whose unnatural body movements echo and unsettle. Filmmaker Michelle Garza Cervera (TV series Marea alta) makes her fictional narrative debut with Huesera: The Bone Woman, directing and also writing with first-timer Abia Castillo — and she makes a powerfully chilling and haunting body-horror effort about hopes, dreams, regrets and the torment of being forced into a future that you don't truly foresee as your own. Every aspect of the film, especially Nur Rubio Sherwell's (Don't Blame Karma!) exacting cinematography, reinforces how trapped that Valeria feels even if she can't admit it to herself, and how much that attempting to be the woman Raúl and her family want is eating away at her soul. Solián is fantastic at navigating this journey, including whether the movie is leaning into drama or terror at any given moment. You don't need expressive eyes to be a horror heroine, but she boasts them; she possesses a scream queen's lungs, too. Unsurprisingly, Cervera won the Nora Ephron Award for best female filmmaker at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival for this instantly memorable nightmare. Huesera: The Bone Woman streams via Shudder. ROBE OF GEMS In the very first moments of her very first feature as a director — after working as an editor on films such as 2012's Post Tenebras Lux and 2014's Jauja — Natalia López demands her audience's attention. She earns it and ensures it as well, and looking away while Robe of Gems unfurls its story is impossible afterwards. To kick things off, a patient and painterly glimpse at the rural Mexican landscape comes into sight, fading up and bringing more and more dusty grey details with it with each second. Then, without the frame moving, a frenetic man is seen bashing and slashing through the plants. Next, it becomes apparent that there's a reflection as part of the image. And, it's also quickly evident that viewers are seeing someone else's vantage as they look on at the landscape. In fact, a couple peers out, in the middle of getting intimate (and immediately before flinging wooden furniture around, strewn pieces flying everywhere). With the 'start as you mean to go on' maxim in mind, it's a helluva opening. López does indeed begin as she goes on, in a film that scored her 2022's Berlinale's Silver Bear Jury Prize. The pivotal villa belongs to Isabel's (Nailea Norvind, Julia vs Julia) family, and offers somewhat of a respite from a marriage that's splintering like that thrown-about furniture, with the clearly well-to-do woman settling in with her children Benja (first-timer Balam Toledo) and Vale (fellow debutant Sherlyn Zavala Diaz). But tension inescapably lingers, given that the onsite caretaker María (newcomer Antonia Olivares) is unsettled by the disappearance of her sister, a plot point that makes a purposeful statement. The police are investigating, the cartel has a local presence, corruption is an ever-present force, and the gap between the wealthy and not-so is glaring. Progressing carefully from that powerhouse opening, Robe of Gems quickly seeps under your skin — and as its first visuals make abundantly clearly, every second is a marvel to look at. Robe of Gems streams via Prime Video and Madman on Demand. RYE LANE When Dom (David Jonsson, Industry) and Yas (Vivian Oparah, Then You Run) are asked how they met, they tell a tale about a karaoke performance getting an entire bar cheering. Gia (Karene Peter, Emmerdale Farm), Dom's ex, is both shocked and envious, even though she cheated on him with his primary-school best friend Eric (Benjamin Sarpong-Broni, The Secret). It's the kind of story a movie couple would love to spin — the type that tends to only happen in the movies, too. But even for Rye Lane's fictional characters, it's a piece of pure imagination. Instead, the pair meet in South London, in the toilet at an art show. He's crying in a stall, they chat awkwardly through the gender-neutral space's wall, then get introduced properly outside. It's clumsy, but they keep the conversation going even when they leave the exhibition, then find themselves doing the good ol' fashioned rom-com walk and talk, then slide in for that dinner rendezvous with the flabbergasted Gia. It's easy to think of on-screen romances gone by during British filmmaker Raine Allen-Miller's feature debut — working with a script from Bloods duo Nathan Bryon and Tom Melia — which this charming Sundance-premiering flick overtly wants viewers to. There's a helluva sight gag about Love Actually, as well as a cameo to match, and the whole meandering-and-nattering setup helped make Before Sunrise, Before Sunset and Before Midnight an iconic trilogy. That said, as Rye Lane spends time with shy accountant Dom, who has barely left his parents' house since the breakup, and the outgoing costume designer Yas, who has her own recent relationship troubles casting a shadow, it isn't propelled by nods and winks. Rather, it's smart and savvy in a Starstruck way about paying tribute to what's come before while wandering down its own path. The lead casting is dynamic, with Jonsson and Oparah making a duo that audiences could spend hours with, and Allen-Miller's eye as a director is playful, lively, loving and probing. Rom-coms are always about watching people fall for each other, but this one plunges viewers into its swooning couple's mindset with every visual and sensory touch it can. Rye Lane streams via Disney+. DUAL New movie, familiar query: what would you do if you physically came face to face with yourself, and not just by looking in a mirror? Films about clones, including all-timer Moon and the recent Mahershala Ali (Alita: Battle Angel)-starring Swan Song, have long pondered this topic — and so has the Paul Rudd-led series Living with Yourself. In Dual, there's only one legal option. This sci-fi satire shares Swan Song's idea, allowing replicating oneself when fate deals out a bad hand. So, that's what Sarah (Karen Gillan, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3) does when she's told that she has a rare but terminal disease, and that her death is certain. Cloning is meant to spare her boyfriend Peter (Beulah Koale, Shadow in the Cloud) and her mother (Maija Paunio, Next of Kin) from losing her, making a difficult situation better for Sarah's loved ones. But when she doesn't die after all, the law states that, just like in Highlander, there can be only one. To decide who lives, Sarah and her doppelgänger must fight to the death in a public dual — with Trent (Aaron Paul, Better Call Saul) helping train the OG version. Even with its twist, on paper Dual sounds like a feature that any filmmaker could've made — one that any actor could've starred in, too. But this is the meaty, meaningful and memorable movie it is thanks to writer/director Riley Stearns and his excellent lead Gillan. With his penchant for deadpan, the former pondered working out who you truly are through an unlikely battle in 2019's very funny The Art of Self-Defense, and does so again here. He's also fond of exploring the struggle to embrace one's personality, and confronting the notion we all have in our minds that a better version of ourselves exists. That said, Dual plays like a sibling to The Art of Self-Defense, rather than a clone itself. It'd certainly be a lesser flick without Gillan, who sheds her Nebula makeup, wades out of the Jumanji franchise's jungles, and turns in two powerful and nuanced performances as Sarah and Sarah 2.0. And while Paul is in supporting mode, he's a scene-stealer. Dual streams via Netflix. TETRIS The greatest game in the world can't make the leap to screens like most of its counterparts, whether they involve mashing buttons, playing campaigns or attempting to sink ships. A literal adaptation of Tetris would just involve four-piece bricks falling and falling — and while that's a tense and riveting sight when you're in charge of deciding where they land, and endeavouring to fill lines to make them disappear, it's hardly riveting movie viewing. As a film, Tetris is still gripping, however, all while telling the tale behind the puzzle video game that's been a phenomenon since the 80s. Did you have your first Tetris experience on an early Game Boy? This is the story of how that happened. Starring Taron Egerton (Black Bird) as Henk Rogers, the man who secured the rights to the Russian-born title for distribution on video game consoles worldwide, it's largely a dramatised account of the fraught negotiations when the west started to realise what a hit Tetris was, Nintendo got involved, but Soviet software engineer Alexey Pajitnov had no power over what happened to his creation because that was life in the USSR. Egerton is perfectly cast as the resourceful, charming and determined Rogers, a Dutch-born, American-raised, Japan-residing game designer who stumbles across Tetris at a tech conference while trying to sell a version of Chinese strategy game Go. First, his assistant can't stop playing it. Soon, he's seeing blocks in his dreams, as everyone does after playing (and then forever). Director Jon S Baird (Stan & Ollie) and screenwriter Noah Pink (Genius) have a games licensing battle to unpack from there, something that mightn't have been as thrilling as it proves — and certainly is no certainty on paper — in other hands. Stacking up this real-life situation's pieces involves becoming a savvy takedown of shady business deals, a compelling Russia-set spy flick and an exploration of daily existence in Soviet times, plus an upstart underdog story. And, Tetris does all that while gleefully and playfully bringing in the game's aesthetic, and blasting an appropriately synth-heavy soundtrack. Tetris streams via Apple TV+. GUY RITCHIE'S THE COVENANT Announcing his cinematic arrival with a pair of slick, witty, twisty and fast-paced British heist flicks, Guy Ritchie achieved at the beginning of his career something that many filmmakers strive for their whole lives: he cemented exactly what his features are in the minds of audiences. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch made "Guy Ritchie movie" an instantly understood term, in fact, as the writer/director has attempted to capitalise on since with differing results (see: Revolver, RocknRolla, The Gentlemen and Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre). Ritchie's third film, the Madonna-starring Swept Away, has also proven just as emblematic of his career, however. He loves pumping out stereotypical Guy Ritchie movies — he even adores making them Sherlock Holmes and King Arthur flicks, with mixed fortunes — but he also likes leaving his own conventions behind in The Man From UNCLE, Aladdin, Wrath of Man and now Guy Ritchie's The Covenant. Perhaps Ritchie's name is in the title of this Afghanistan-set action-thriller to remind viewers that the film does indeed boast him behind the lens, and as a cowriter; unlike with fellow 2023 release Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre, they wouldn't guess otherwise. Clunky moniker aside, Guy Ritchie's The Covenant is pared down, gripping and intense, and home to two excellent performances by Jake Gyllenhaal (Strange World) as Master Sergeant John Kinley and Dar Salim (Tatort) as his interpreter Ahmed. As the former leads a team that's looking for IED factories, the pair's collaboration is tentative at first. Then a raid goes wrong, Ahmed saves Kinley's life, but the recognition and support that'd be afforded an American solider in the same situation doesn't go the local's way. Where Afghan interpreters who aid US troops are left after their task is complete is a weighty subject, and treated as such in this grounded and moving film. Guy Ritchie's The Covenant streams via Prime Video. STILL: A MICHAEL J FOX MOVIE Anyone who lived through the 80s and/or 90s spent a large portion of both decades watching Michael J Fox. Thanks to Family Ties on TV and the Back to the Future movies in cinemas, he was everywhere — and courtesy of Teen Wolf, Doc Hollywood, The Frighteners and Spin City as well. The list of the beloved star's work from the era goes on. Forgotten one or some? Watch Still: A Michael J Fox Movie and you'll be reminded. This intimate documentary steps through the star's life, career and Parkinson's Disease diagnosis using three main modes: splicing together clips from his resume to help illustrate his narration, chatting with Fox now in candid to-camera segments, and hanging out with him and his family as he goes about his days. Each aspect of the film adds something not just important but engaging; however, all that footage from his time as Alex P Keaton, Marty McFly and more offers firm proof, if any more was needed, that Fox was an on-screen presence like no other three and four decades back. Oscar-winning An Inconvenient Truth documentarian Davis Guggenheim both shows and tells, always letting Fox's own words do the talking. Still: A Michael J Fox Movie takes the birth-to-now route, observing that its titular figure was always a kid on the go, then a teen who found himself in acting — a place where he could be anyone, regardless of his short stature — and then an aspiring actor slogging it out in Hollywood until he scored not one but two big breaks. The film also examines the fame and success, Fox's thinking that this'd now be his status quo, the moment his life changed and everything that's followed since. Yes, it notes that this story would've been completely different if Eric Stoltz had kept his Back to the Future job. Also, as Fox's memoirs are on the page, it's supremely self-deprecating. Still: A Michael J Fox Movie is unflinchingly honest, too, especially about his relationship with his wife Tracy Pollan — who, when asked how she is, Fox replies "married to me, still". Still: A Michael J Fox Movie streams via Apple TV+. NIMONA Bounding from the page to the screen — well, from pixels first, initially leaping from the web to print — graphic novel-to-film adaptation Nimona goes all in on belonging. Ballister Boldheart (Riz Ahmed, Sound of Metal) wants to fit in desperately, and is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve it. In this animated movie's medieval-yet-futuristic world, there's nothing more important and acclaimed than being part of the Institute for Elite Knights, so that's his aim. Slipping into armour usually isn't possible for someone who grew up on the wrong side of this realm's tracks, as he did, but Ballister has been given a chance by Queen Valerin (Lorraine Toussaint, The Equalizer), who says that anyone can now be a hero. Alas, just as he's about to have his sword placed upon his shoulder with all the world watching, tragedy strikes, then prejudice sets in. Even his fellow knight-in-training and boyfriend Ambrosius Goldenloin (Eugene Lee Yang, Star Wars: Visions), who boasts family ties to legendary monster-slaying heroine Gloreth (Karen Ryan, Under the Banner of Heaven), believes that Ballister is responsible. His only ally? Nimona's namesake (Chloë Grace Moretz, The Peripheral), a shapeshifter who offers to be his sidekick regardless of his innocence or guilt. Nimona usually appears as a human girl, but can change into anything. The shapeshifter also wants to belong — but only by being accepted as she is. Unlike Ballister's feelings of inferiority about being a commoner, Nimona is happy with morphing from a kid to a rhinoceros, a whale to a shark, then between anything else that she can think of, and wouldn't give it up for anyone. Indeed, when Ballister keeps pestering her for reasons to explain why she is like she is, and asking her to remain as a girl, she's adamant. She already is normal, and she rightly won't budge from that belief. Animated with lively and colour animation that sometimes resembles Cartoon Saloon's Song of the Sea and Wolfwalkers, Nimona is a family-friendly adventure and, as penned as a comic by ND Stevenson (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power), also a clear, impassioned and sincere allegory for being true to yourself. As a film, directors Nick Bruno and Troy Quane (who also teamed up on Spies in Disguise) and screenwriters Robert L Baird (Big Hero 6) and Lloyd Taylor (another Spies in Disguise alum) ensure that it remains a thoughtful delight. Nimona streams via Netflix. PAMELA, A LOVE STORY If you weren't aware of Pamela Anderson's recent Broadway stint, bringing the razzle dazzle to a production of Chicago in 2022, Ryan White (Good Night Oppy)-directed documentary Pamela, A Love Story will still feature surprises. Otherwise, from Playboy to Playbill — including Baywatch, sex tapes and multiple marriages in-between — the actor's story is well-known around the globe. Much of it played out in the tabloids, especially when she married Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee in a white bikini after four days together. She also graced what can easily stake a claim as the internet's first viral video, after intimate footage of Anderson and Lee was stolen, then sold. And that very experience was dramatised in 2022 limited series Pam & Tommy, including the misogynistic way she was treated compared to her spouse, how her rights to her image and privacy were considered trashed due to her nude modelling days, and the unsurprising fallout within her relationship. No matter how familiar the details are, Pamela, A Love Story does something that little else on-screen has, however: it lets Anderson tell her story herself. Much of the doco focuses on the Barb Wire and Scary Movie 3 star in her childhood home in Ladysmith on Canada's Vancouver Island, watching old videos, reading past diaries and chatting through the contents. She's recorded and written about everything in her life. Sitting in front of the camera without a trace of makeup, with her sons Brandon and Dylan sometimes talking with her, she gives her account of how she's been treated during the highs and lows of her career. The film coincides with a memoir, Love, Pamela, so this is a tale that Anderson is currently on the page and in streaming queues — but it's still a powerful portrait of a woman made famous for her appearance, turned into a sex symbol to the point that male interviewers in the 90s could barely talk about anything else, then cruelly judged and discarded. She's frank and sincere, as is the movie amid its treasure trove of archival footage. Pamela, A Love Story streams via Netflix. WEIRD: THE AL YANKOVIC STORY If you've seen one music biopic, or some of the flicks that've earned actors Oscars or nominations in recent years for playing well-known rock stars — think: Bohemian Rhapsody and Elvis — then you know how this genre usually plays out. So does Weird Al Yankovic, who is strongly involved in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, co-writing, producing and even popping up on-screen. He doesn't give himself a solemn screen tribute, though. For decades, he's found pop music rife for satirising, and now his career spent spoofing hit songs gets sent up as well. The soundtrack is already hilarious, filled as it is with everything from 'My Bologna', 'I Love Rocky Road' and 'Another One Rides the Bus' to 'Eat It', 'Like a Surgeon' and 'Amish Paradise'. The casting is brilliantly hilarious as it is hilariously brilliant, too, with Daniel Radcliffe (The Lost City) sporting a mop of curls, grasping an accordion and wearing Yankovic's Hawaiian shirts like he was born to. Silly, happily self-mocking, not serious for a second: that's this joke-packed flick, which isn't quite as stuffed with gags as a typical Weird Al song, but is still filled with laughs — and still immensely funny. Unsurprisingly, much of Weird: The Al Yankovic Story plays like a collection of skits and sketches, whether visiting his childhood, showing how he scored his big break or charting his fame (which is Westworld's Evan Rachel Wood as a comical Madonna comes in), but it works. Yankovic co-writes with director Eric Appel, a parody veteran thanks to NTSF:SD:SUV, and they're joyfully on the same goofy, go-for-broke wavelength. So is Radcliffe, who keeps demonstrating that he's at his best when a certain Boy Who Lived is relegated to the past, and when he's getting as ridiculous as he possibly can. Forget the wizarding franchise — he's magical when he's at his most comic, as Miracle Workers keeps proving, and now this as well. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story streams via Paramount+. CONFESS, FLETCH Since Mad Men had Don Draper want to buy the world a Coke to end its seven-season run back in 2015, comedy has been Jon Hamm's friend. He's the ultimate TV guest star, building upon stints in 30 Rock and Parks and Recreation while Mad Men was still airing with Toast of London, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Curb Your Enthusiasm, on a resume that also includes The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret, Childrens Hospital, Medical Police, Angie Tribeca, The Last Man on Earth and Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp as well. So, casting him as the new Irwin Maurice 'Fletch' Fletcher couldn't be an easier move. Having fellow Mad Men standout John Slattery (The Good Fight) also appear in the latest flick about the investigative reporter, and the first since the Chevy Chase-led movies in the 80s, is another winning touch. Even if that reunion wasn't part of the film, Hamm is so entertaining that he makes a killer case for a whole new Fletch franchise — on whatever screen the powers-that-be like — with him at its centre. Hamm clearly understands how well he suits this type of character, and the genre; he's a comic delight, and he's also one of Confess, Fletch's producers. Superbad and Adventureland's Greg Mottola directs and co-writes, scripting with Outer Range's Zev Borow — and ensuring that Hamm and Slattery aren't the only acting highlights. Working through a plot that sees Fletch chasing a stolen artwork, discovering a dead body, and both looking into the crime and considered a suspect himself, the film also features engaging turns by always-welcome Twin Peaks great Kyle MacLachlan and Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar gem Annie Mumolo. There have been several attempts to revive Fletch over the past three decades, including separate projects with Ted Lasso duo Bill Lawrence and Jason Sudeikis — on the page, the character spans nine novels — but viewers should be thankful that this is the action-comedy that came to fruition, even if it skipped cinemas everywhere but the US. Confess, Fletch streams via Paramount+ and Binge. HUNGER Let's call it the reality TV effect: after years of culinary contests carving up prime-time television, the savage on-screen steps into the food world just keep bubbling. The Bear turned the hospitality industry into not just a tension-dripping dramedy, but one of 2022's best new shows. In cinemas, British pressure-cooker Boiling Point and the sleek and sublimely cast The Menu have tasted from the same intense plate. Now Hunger sits down at the table, giving viewers another thriller of a meal — this time focusing on a Thai noodle cook who wants to be special. When Aoy's (Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying, One for the Road) street-food dishes based on her Nanna's recipes get the attention of fellow chef Tone (Gunn Svasti Na Ayudhya, Tootsies & the Fake), he tells her that she needs to be plying her talents elsewhere. In fact, he works for Chef Paul (Nopachai Jayanama, Hurts Like Hell), who specialises in the type of fine-dining dishes that only the wealthiest of the wealthy can afford, and is as exacting and demanding as the most monstrous kitchen genius that fiction has ever dreamed up. There's more to making it in the restaurant trade than money, acclaim and status, just like there's more to life as well. As told with slickness and pace, even while clocking in at almost two-and-a-half hours, that's the lesson that director Sitisiri Mongkolsiri (Folklore) and screenwriter Kongdej Jaturanrasamee (Faces of Anne) serve Aoy. She's tempted by the glitz and recognition, and being steeped in a world far different from her own; however, all that gleams isn't always palatable. Plot-wise, Hunger uses familiar ingredients, but always ensures that they taste like their own dish — in no small part thanks to the excellent casting of Chuengcharoensukying as the film's conflicted but determined lead. A model also known as Aokbab, she proved a revelation in 2017's cheating heist thriller Bad Genius, and she's just as compelling here. The two movies would make a high-stakes pair for more than just their shared star, both sinking their teeth into class commentary as well. Yes, like The Menu before it, Hunger is also an eat-the-rich flick, and loves biting into social inequity as hard as it can. Hunger streams via Netflix. VENGEANCE When Vengeance begins with a New Yorker journalist who's desperate to start his own podcast, Soho House hangouts and relationship advice from John Mayer as himself, it begins with rich and savvy character details. Writing, starring and making his feature directorial debut after helming episodes of The Office and The Mindy Project, BJ Novak instantly establishes the kind of person that Ben Manalowitz is. He shows the East Coast world that his protagonist inhabits, too — and, by focusing on the only guy in NYC without their own audio outlet, or so it seems, plus that romantic guidance, it splashes around its sense of humour. This is a sharply amusing mystery-comedy, and a highlight on Novak's resume in all three of his guises. It's also about subverting expectations, and lampooning the first impressions and broad stereotypes that are too often — and too easily — clung to. Indeed, Vengeance bakes in that idea as many ways as it can as Ben (Novak) does the most obvious thing he can to convince his producer (Issa Rae, Insecure) that his voice is worth hearing: bursts his Big Apple bubble. The Mayer bit isn't just a gag; it helps set up Ben as the kind of person who is dating so many women that he doesn't know which one has died after he gets a bereaved phone call from Texas in the middle of the night. On the other end is Ty Shaw (Boyd Holbrook, The Sandman), brother to Abilene (Lio Tipton, Why Women Kill), who insists that Ben head southwest immediately to attend her funeral — she claimed that they were serious enough that she's his girlfriend, after all. Upon arrival, the out-of-towner initially regards his hosts as jokes, and their lives and Abilene's death as content. Ty thinks she was murdered, and Ben couldn't be giddier about getting it all on tape and calling the series Dead White Girl. The journo's self-interest is up there with his obliviousness about anything that doesn't fit into his NYC orbit; however, this isn't a culture-clash comedy — thankfully — but a clever, self-aware and ambitious satire. It's also strikingly shot and features a standout performance by Ashton Kutcher (That '90s Show) as a suave record producer. Vengeance streams via Netflix and Binge. Looking for more viewing highlights? Check out our list of film and TV streaming recommendations, which is updated monthly. We've also picked our top 15 movies that hit cinemas in the first half of 2023, as well as the 15 best new TV shows and 15 best returning TV shows of the year so far.
Since the dawn of time, we've cooked over an open flame. Yet through the centuries, a host of cultures have developed their own way of doing things. Forming part of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival's Special Events program, BBQs of the World is your chance to get a taste of barbecued goodness from varied corners of the globe. Featuring a diverse array of flavours, techniques and skills, these tantalising highlights will spoil visitors for choice. Get stuck into spicy Cambodian skewers or discover how communities from West Africa get the BBQ rocking. Then, it's time to explore churrasco from Argentina and Brazil alongside slow-cooked brisket from the US. To complement your meaty feast, there'll be a huge range of sauces, dips, marinades and chilli oils, ensuring you can create your ideal bite. Plus, MasterChef's Kishwar Chowdhury will swing by to run a live cooking demonstration while guiding you through the must-taste flavours of the day. Held in the fascinating surrounds of Dandenong Market on Sunday, March 30, the cuisine is paired with several compelling cultural encounters. Expect rhythmic African drum performances and interactive dance workshops with One Spirit Africa, a high-energy Latin drumming workshop by Speranza Entertainment and live dances by Maidens of Polynesia showcasing the traditions of Tonga, Fiji and Samoa. Finally, this feast is a family affair, with free face painting and roving entertainment for the kids.
If you're in Melbourne or southeast Queensland and you're a fan of Lin-Manuel Miranda, rejoice: your next chance to enjoy the musical talent's work is on its way in 2025. Hamilton has already done the rounds, including seasons in the Victorian capital and Brisbane. Next, it's time for another of Miranda's big Tony Award-winning shows to take to the stage locally — and his debut smash, too. Both Comedy Theatre and HOTA, Home of the Arts are set to turn into New York City's Washington Heights for seasons of In the Heights. Initially staged in 2005, then leaping to off-Broadway in 2007, then playing Broadway from 2008–11 (which is where it nabbed those 13 Tony nominations and four wins), Miranda's first stage sensation spends its time with Usnavi, a bodega owner from the Dominican Republic who dreams of going back — and who also sports a crush on Vanessa, who aspires to move out of the neighbourhood. Miranda himself originated the role of Usnavi, scoring a Tony nomination for his efforts. In Australia for this run, which began in Sydney in 2024, Ryan Gonzalez (Moulin Rouge! The Musical) has stepped into the part. When the show heads to Melbourne from Friday, August 1 and then to the Gold Coast from Friday, September 12, fellow Moulin Rouge! The Musical alum Olivia Vásquez is playing Vanessa. Alongside Gonzalez, she's joined by Richard Valdez (All Together Now — The 100) as the Piragua Guy — another character that Miranda has brought to life personally, this time in the 2021 film version of In the Heights. On the stage and on-screen, the production not only follows Usnavi and Vanessa's connection, and their respective hopes for the future, but also the residents of Washington Heights, their family ties across multiple generations and their friendships. The soundtrack — which helped In the Heights win Best Musical and Best Original Score Tonys — as well as the vibe and mood bring together salsa, soul, rap, hip hip, merengue and street dance. If you're keen to watch the movie — or rewatch — in the interim, it stars Anthony Ramos (Twisters) as Usnavi and Melissa Barrera (Abigail) as Vanessa, as well as Leslie Grace (The Thicket), Corey Hawkins (The Piano Lesson), Jimmy Smits (East New York), Stephanie Beatriz (A Man on the Inside) and Olga Merediz (Spellbound). In the Heights 2025 Australian Dates From Friday, August 1 — Comedy Theatre, Melbourne From Friday, September 12 — HOTA, Home of the Arts, Gold Coast In the Heights is playing Melbourne from August 2025 and the Gold Coast from September 2025— head to the production's website for more details and tickets. Images: Daniel Boud.
First came dalgona coffee. Then came the jam cocktails, followed by the floats — and not even humble H2O found itself immune. And now, the latest craze sweeping #DrinkTok — a drink which, to date, has amassed around 3 million views on the app — has made the jump from your FYP into your glass, with Southbank restaurant and bar Marmont now serving jalapeño-infused wine. If you're not yet across the trend, it pretty much does what it says on the tin: slices of frozen and seedless jalapeño are dropped into a glass of wine, specifically sauvignon blanc. The theory, in short, is that the spice cuts through the sweetness of the wine and the vegetal notes of the jalapeño accentuate the wine's fruity accents, resulting in a sip that's crisper on the palate. The Marmont version sees a handful of slices swimming in a glass of Motley Cru sauvignon blanc. The King Valley wine is an ideal candidate for the jalapeño treatment, thanks to its bright and aromatic nose that gives way to notes of tropical fruits, lime and gooseberries. For anybody sceptical about white wine in the cooler months, the beauty of this pairing is the slow, satisfying heat that unfolds on the tastebuds — in that sense, jalapeño wine is often likened to a spicy margarita. And by the power of TikTok, this new riff might replace the agave-based cocktail as your new go-to spicy serve. Given Marmont's Cali-cool sensibilities, it's probably no surprise that the venue has been so quick to jump on the trend. The heat-fuelled wine is a natural fit for the venue's West Coast-inspired drinks list and seafood-focused food menu. Much like a TikTok trend, Marmont's jalapeño wine won't be around forever — it is, however, being served Monday–Friday, from noon until late, making it a perfect way to spice up your next outing. Marmont is open seven days a week at Crown Riverwalk, Southbank. For more information, head to the venue's website.
We probably don't need to tell the locals about this one, as Acorn Nursery is a bit of an institution in the eastern suburbs. It's been around since 1985, and is now a go-to plant and garden centre complete with a gift shop and cafe. Alongside everything you need to make your garden pop (including seedlings, soil and fertilisers, pots, garden furniture and ornaments), the gift shop has such a wide range that it's probably possible to knock off your entire Christmas present shopping list in one go. There's clothing, homewares, jewellery, bags, lotions, raw honey, toys, books, candles and gift cards to top it off. Celebrate your purchases with a cuppa or a cheeky glass of wine at The Oaks Cafe. Images: Tracey Ah-kee.
The world is an incredible and enigmatic place that holds many secrets and wonders that we humans sometimes struggle to explain. There are places that many of us would find difficult to even dream about or conjure up in our imaginations, yet they actually exist. Ranging from popular tourist destinations to awe-inspiring sights, here are a handful to add to the bucket list of amazing ones to visit before you kick it. 1. Wisteria Tunnel [Map] This stunning and mesmerising array of purple, cream and lilac flowering trees appears as though it has sprung from the pages of a childhood fairytale. This Japanese garden contains three massive wisteria trellises that are at the height of their beauty in May and is just a four hour drive out of Tokyo. 2. Cinque Terre [Map] Located on the rugged coastline of the Italian Riviera, Cinque Terre is an historical and unfathomable sight to behold. With the almost non-existent corporate development or public transport infrastructure surrounding the area, these majestic hillside terraces are a magnet for tourists searching for an authentic taste of Italy’s most spectacular cultural destination. 3. Hotel La Montana Magica [Map] A Lord of the Rings-esque four star lodge, Hotel La Montana Magica is a breathtaking establishment in the biological reserve of Huilo, Chile. The hotel is set in the middle of a 120,000 hectare native forest and built inside a man made volcano, which actually spurts water from its peak and then flows down the side of the mountain past the windows of the thirteen rooms inside. With moss and vines wrapping their way around the structure it would be hard not to feel part of a fantasyland whilst bunking here. 4. Crooked Forest [Map] If you thought trees could only grow straight up in a linear direction, then you obviously have never been to Nowe Czarnowo in West Pomerania, Poland. The grove, known as the Crooked Forest, contains approximately 400 slanting pine trees, which were planted in the 1930s. Seemingly defying gravity, these wonder trees will be sure to awe, and quite possibly confound you, as though you were living in perpetual state of ‘opposite day’. The reason for their planting is to this day still unknown, but plain beauty is good enough for us. 5. The Tunnel of Love [Map] Dubbed the Tunnel of Love, this old train tunnel surrounded by giant trees is located in Kleven, Ukraine. In true love story fashion, it is believed that if couples visiting the tunnel share genuine love then kiss and make a wish, their wish will come true. 6. The Blue Lagoon [Map] The mystic and mesmerising geothermal spa, the Blue Lagoon is one of the most visited places in Iceland, and for good reason. With temperatures ranging from 37-39°C and having therapeutic powers to help sufferers of skin diseases such as psoriasis, this relaxing and soothing oasis would be a tough one to miss. 7. Ice Canyon [Map] The sheer beauty of the Ice Canyon in Greenland speaks for itself, as is visible in the innumerable images of this icy wonder. One of the most photographed spots in Greenland, it is also (quite literally) one of the coolest places on Earth. The canyons were carved by meltwater and can measure to be a near whopping 50m deep. The area is home to lush mountains, stunning icebergs and various flora and fauna unlike anywhere else on the planet and is also a popular sporting and recreation spot. 8. Ball's Pyramid [Map] Measuring at 562m high, Ball Pyramid is the tallest volcanic stack in the world, which formed around 7 million years ago. It is an erosional remnant of a shield volcano 20km south of Australia’s idyllic and secluded Lord Howe Island. The pyramid was discovered in 1788 but after failed attempts wasn’t successfully climbed to the summit until 1965. The ancient wonder is also home to a number of rare insect and plant species, which were previously thought to be extinct. 9. The Great Barrier Reef [Map] Australia’s own natural wonder, – only one of seven in the world – the Great Barrier Reef is the only living thing on Earth visible space. Boasting of breathtaking beauty and incredibly diverse and vibrant marine species, it contains over 3000 individual reef systems and coral cays as well as thousands of dream-like tropical islands. The marine park extends over 300km along the Queensland coast, entailing one of the most spectacular underwater experiences the globe has to offer. 10. Plitvice Lakes National Park [Map] The Plitvice Lakes National Park really demonstrates nature at its best, both in terms of beauty and natural marvels. 16 lakes can be seen from the surface of the largest national park in Croatia, which are all interconnected and arranged in cascades, yet separated by natural dams of travertine. These travertine barriers are created by the accumulation of moss, algae and bacteria and serve to retain the flow of water, causing the height of the dams to continuously grow. The luscious greens, greys and blue of the lake clusters alter depending on the minerals in the water, making this unpredictable spectacle all the more fascinating. [Via Buzzfeed]
Big pop-culture titles, big stunts: from a Stranger Things rift and Squid Game's creepy Red Light, Green Light doll to an Everything Everywhere All At Once-style multidimensional laundromat and a massive Timothée Chalamet mural for Dune, new TV shows and movies sure do love launching with a pop-up in Australia. The latest doing just that: Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, the sequel to 2018's Aquaman. For four days, the film is making its presence known in Sydney with a huge seven-metre gold trident. To see the towering, gleaming object, you'll need to head to Watermans Cove in Barangaroo from Thursday, December 14–Sunday, December 17. On display: the Trident of Neptune that gives Aquaman's namesake the power to rule the sea. It's being used to break ground of the boardwalk, and will be paired with a giant wall of water measuring nine metres high and 12 metres wide on the Friday night only. Seeing the trident is free, and you can just head along whenever suits you across the four days. If you want to catch a glimpse of the wall of water as well — which will have footage from the film projected onto it — you'll need to drop by from 7.45–10pm on Friday, December 15. As for the movie itself, it features Jason Momoa swapping the Fast and Furious franchise's roads for the ocean in that other big-budget saga he's been known to glisten through: DC's flicks. It's been five years since the first solo cinema swim for Arthur Curry arrived, with Aquaman marking just the sixth entry in the DC Extended Universe. Now the series hits 15 instalments with sequel Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, bringing back DC's wettest superhero — plus Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Ambulance) as Black Manta as well. Hitting cinemas on Boxing Day as the fourth DC feature of 2023 after Shazam! Fury of the Gods, The Flash and Blue Beetle, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom also hails from Australian director James Wan (Malignant), as the first film did — and sees Patrick Wilson (Insidious: The Red Door), Amber Heard (The Stand), Nicole Kidman (Special Ops: Lioness) and Temuera Morrison (The Book of Boba Fett) return alongside Momoa and Abdul-Mateen II. Dolph Lundgren (Minions: The Rise of Gru) and Randall Park (Strays) are back as well, all in another movie that dives into the sea, heads down to Atlantis and paddles about trying to save the world. The story this time: Black Manta is still after vengeance, but now has the Black Trident and its powers to help. So, as well as being a father and the new King of Atlantis, Aquaman has to seek his own assistance. That's how Wilson's Orm, Curry's half brother, ends up fighting by his side instead of being his imprisoned enemy. Check out the trailer for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom below: The Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom trident will be on display at Watermans Cove, Barangaroo, Sydney from Thursday, December 14–Sunday, December 17. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom opens in Australian cinemas on Tuesday, December 26.
Sweet-toothed Melburnians, rejoice. Australia's dessert museum is returning for a second round of sugary fun this February. After hitting up Victoria in June last year — and subsequently Brisbane — Sugar Republic is returning with 12 new rooms, colourful installations and a retro candy store. This time, the Melbourne pop-up is taking over the sixth floor of Myer Melbourne and features an 80,000 rainbow pall pit, a giant birthday cake, a sweets-inspired neon installation, a confetti shower and a rainbow-filled bath (the sugary list goes on and on). You're also able to bask in nostalgia inside an old-school milk bar — created by Melbourne artist Callum Preston, who's work you'll recognise from this art show — a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-inspired garden and a life-sized cookie house made from giant Arnott's biscuits. It sounds like the kind of place that Willy Wonka might own. Throughout the colourful exhibition, you'll find many edible treats, including Hubba Bubba, Halo Top, Wizz Fizz, Skittles and Starbursts, and will be able to visit a Sugar Republic cafe, which will be serving up a whole host of sugary delights. Don't tell your dentist. Worried the installation will be filled with littlies? Thankfully, this time round, it's opening on Thursday and Friday nights for adults only — so you can jump in the pit without fear of crushing a small one. Sugar Republic will pop up on the sixth floor of Myer in the CBD from February 10, 2019, and run through until May. It is open from 10am–6pm every day except Wednesday, and adults-only sessions will run from 6.30–8pm on Thursday and Friday nights. Images: Lucas Dawson.
Getting to the Yarra Valley is half the experience; trailing through those straw-yellow hills is the closest thing to Tuscany Melburnians are going to get. But there's no use driving around aimlessly. You'll need to head to the Valley with a plan of where you are going to eat, otherwise you'll be totally overwhelmed by the number of tempting wineries that spring up every couple of hundred metres. All up, there's about 160. So let us introduce Meletos. A beautiful eatery brought to you by the founders of nearby estate and restaurant Stones, the Meletos estate features a 23-room boutique guesthouse and, beside it, a restaurant and cafe. Located on a dirt path just off the gloriously straight St Huberts Road — which makes you feel like you're driving to nowhere — the stunning eatery is open for lunch and dinner every night of the week. On the weekends, the place is buzzing. Chances are you'll have to endure a wait. But it's not that bad of a place to hang around — you could certainly do a lot worse. In the heart of the Yarra Valley, you can take a stroll around the grounds, to the church, the guesthouse and take in panoramic views of the surrounding area. When that's all done, enjoy a glass of your preferred drop on the communal concrete tables that line the entrance to the restaurant or perhaps in the weathered steel-framed glasshouse. But now for the important stuff: the food. You can go down the road of sharing or going solo — either should be satisfying. The menu is made up of an appetisers section, salumi, around six mains, knockout wood-fired pizza, a few sides and, of course, dessert. Starters include European-inspired dishes such as saffron and prosciutto arancini with salsa verde ($12), and a barbecued quail from nearby Wandin with skordalia (a Greek garlic dip), mixed cress and cracked wheat ($18). The pizza menu is almost torturous to choose from. All are $25 (so not even price can determine your decisions) and a few standouts include the cotechino sausage pizza with pickled zucchini and provolone cheese and the prawn-topped pizza with confit tomatoes and feta from the restaurant's neighbour, the Yarra Valley Dairy. The wine list is a combination of the region's highlights, some New South Wales and South Australian drops and others from New Zealand, France, Switzerland and Italy. All that's left to wish for is beautiful weather.
Aunty Donna have been busy over the past few years. Since 2020, they've brought both Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House of Fun and Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe to the small screen. They've played corpses in Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves, and also dropped a $30 bottle of wine that's literally called $30 Bottle of Wine, too. The Australian comedy troupe embarked upon a world tour in 2023 as well, selling 90,000-plus tickets. If you're keen to see Mark Samual Bonanno, Broden Kelly and Zachary Ruane live, your next chance arrives in 2025. Aunty Donna have announced that they're hitting the stage again, not only in Australia and New Zealand, but also in the UK, Ireland, the USA and Canada. So far, only dates for the first four parts of the world have been locked in, kicking off in August in Hobart, then hopping to Brisbane, Sydney, Wellington, Christchurch, Auckland and Dublin before September is out. October brings gigs in the United Kingdom, while Adelaide, Perth and Melbourne get their turn in December. Audiences will enjoy the Drem experience, with Aunty Donna unveiling their brand-new live sketch show. Will everything be a drum again? Will morning brown get a tribute? How much room should you leave for Christmas pud? If you're instantly thinking about these questions, you're clearly already a fan. In the trailer for the tour, Bonanno, Kelly and Ruane are promising big things in their comedic usual way. "In 2025, Aunty Donna will be touring the greatest live comedy show ever seen by human beings," the trailer advises. "You have asked 'is it funny?'," it continues. "Leading experts in the field have made it perfectly clear that it is the best comedy show ever made." [caption id="attachment_866548" align="alignnone" width="1920"] ABC[/caption] In a statement announcing the tour, Kelly builds upon that sentiment. "We're very excited to show Drem to the world. Performing live is what we do best and we can't wait to bring this show out to everyone," he says. "It's the best thing we've ever made and it's the best thing that anyone in the world will see. It's better than anything anyone else has ever done or seen." Check out the trailer for Aunty Donna's Drem tour below — and the full Down Under tour dates, too: Aunty Donna's Drem Tour 2025 Dates Friday, August 22–Saturday, August 23 — Odeon Theatre, Hobart Monday, August 25–Thursday, August 28 — Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane Monday, September 1–Thursday, September 4 — Enmore Theatre, Sydney Tuesday, September 9 — Opera House, Wellington Thursday, September 11 — James Hay Theatre, Christchurch Saturday, September 13 — Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, Auckland Monday, December 1–Tuesday, December 2 — Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide Thursday, December 4–Friday, December 5 — Regal Theatre, Perth Friday, December 12–Sunday, December 14 and Wednesday, December 17–Thursday, December 18 — Palais Theatre, Melbourne [caption id="attachment_791048" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Netflix[/caption] Aunty Donna's Drem tour kicks off Down Under in August 2025. For further information and tickets, head to the Aunty Donna website.
An Australian classic is about to be reborn: the good ol' milkbar. Matt Wilkinson and Ben Foster, the duo behind Melbourne brunch fixture, Pope Joan, are determined to reinvent the beloved Australian after-school haunt, according to Good Food. As per tradition, the milk bar — fittingly dubbed Jack Horner — will sell a variety of household essentials, such as pantry goods, toilet paper and pet food, as well as having a deli counter, canteen and a small bottle-o. But like Pope Joan, Wilkinson's plans for the milk bar are not quite as orthodox as they first appear. Wilkinson and Foster plan to blend the best bits of the English corner shop, the Australian milk bar and the NYC deli into their newest venture — renovating the former Brunswick Tip-Top factory. Jack Horner will also operate as a modern tuckshop of sorts, where visitors can sample head chef Travis Welch's plates of seasonal pickles and housemade cheese, breakfast food, sandwiches, salad and hot dishes, to either eat in or take home. The Jack Horner milk bar will be opening in mid-April. And for non-Brunswick residents disappointed on missing out on a new local, patience; Wilkinson and Foster are planning to expand to the CBD and southside in the future. Via Good Food.
Chances are you know Daylesford-Macedon as the spa capital of Australia. Nowhere else in the country are there nutrient-rich mineral waters in such high concentration. But there's a whole lot more you can do there in addition to sitting around and soaking your worries away. Found an easy 90-minute drive north of Melbourne, the region offers a bunch of left-of-field adventures, from trekking with llamas to wandering through a lavender farm like you're in Provence. It provides the perfect backdrop to unplug from the city and find your happy place — whether that be via llama, seeing the leaves, a spa treatment or by picking your own roses. Here are seven things you didn't know you could do while you're in the area. From pristine beaches and bountiful wine regions to alpine hideaways and bustling country towns, Australia has a wealth of places to explore at any time of year. We've partnered with Tourism Australia to help you plan your road trips, weekend detours and summer getaways so that when you're ready to hit the road you can Holiday Here This Year. While regional holidays within Victoria will be allowed from May 31, some of the places mentioned below may still be closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. Please check websites before making any plans. GO TREKKING WITH A LLAMA (AND GET IT TO CARRY YOUR LUNCH FOR YOU) Trekking is fun. But carrying heavy gear isn't. Next time you're contemplating a hike through the Macedon Ranges, consider getting a llama to help you out. Hanging Rock Llama Treks will hook you up with your very own personal four-legged friend. The eco-tours range from five to 12 kilometres in length. Plus, there's also an obstacle course that you and your llama can conquer together. Before you head out, you'll be taken through all things llama from how to care for them to what order they should walk in (to respect dominance in the heard). And if you're lucky, when you return to the farm, you may even get to meet some crias (baby llamas). WADE THROUGH A LAVENDER FARM LIKE YOU'RE IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE You can disappear into a dreamy world of purple haze and super-relaxing aromas at Lavandula. This extraordinary lavender farm is like a scene straight out of the south of France with 1850s-style stone buildings, floral archways, stone pathways and sweeping views of the surrounding ranges. Depending on when you visit, the best of the season will be on show — think the amber tones of autumn and a floral sea throughout spring and summer. On top of the lavender fields, there are flourishing veggie and herb gardens, which provide produce for the onsite cafe, and a barn that houses a gift shop peddling essential oils, beauty products and more. STAY IN A TRADITIONAL JAPANESE INN WITHOUT LEAVING THE COUNTRY After your scented romp through France, make tracks to Japan. In the pretty village of Hepburn Springs, you'll find Shizuka, a ryokan. Modelled after a traditional Japanese inn often found in areas with hot springs, Shizuka will help you step out of your hectic workday routine and into a tranquil space based around silence and minimalism. When you're not relaxing on your futon, you can wander around the Zen rock garden, feast on Japanese cuisine and bliss out with spa treatments — from facials and shiatsu massage to yoga meditations sessions. HAVE A SPA BATH IN A TREEHOUSE It's difficult to visit Daylesford-Macedon and overlook the thermal baths. So, here's a way to do it differently. At The Spa at Lake House, you can treat yourself to your very own private soak — in a treehouse. Designed to blend in with nature, each bath is a masterpiece of blonde timber, surrounded by waterfalls and greenery and filled with mineral water from a local spring. Afterwards, consider a massage or wellness treatment, especially one that includes the Hydrostorm experience, which combines vichy jets and waterfall showers. There's also a fine dining restaurant with lake views attached to further your indulgent escape. STAY IN A 19TH-CENTURY COTTAGE ON A MICRO FLOWER FARM AND PICK YOUR OWN ROSES Take a trip back in time at this impossibly cute miner's cottage, built in the 1860s. When you're not soaking in your cedar hot tub filled with steaming hot rainwater or snuggling up in front of the fire, you can explore the fragrant surrounds or watch an old black-and-white film in the openair theatre room. Outside of the cottage, you'll discover that you're actually at a working biodynamic micro-farm. Dozens of heritage roses are grown here with as little interference as possible. They're powered instead by natural elements: sunshine, water, bees and compost. And during your stay, if you're keen to cook up a storm, you can help yourself to whatever produce you find. The property also hosts events throughout the year, including horticultural workshops and days when guests can pick their own roses. PICNIC ON AN EXTINCT VOLCANO AND SLEEP AMONG THE CLOUDS In need of some perspective? Spend a weekend with your head in the clouds at Sky High Mount Franklin. This next-level luxury holiday house is perched atop a ridge just next to Mt Franklin and affords 360-degree views of rolling paddocks and forests, backdropped by spectacular mountains. The sunsets are off the charts. During the day, plan a hike and picnic atop Mt Franklin, a (now extinct) volcano, and come evening, take in the stunning sunset from your outdoor saltwater plunge pool. If you'd rather get cosy, snuggle into your king-sized bed and enjoy the show via epic floor-to-ceiling windows. The home is located just a stone's throw from Daylesford, so you can indulge your lush side even further on a trip into town. TREASURE HUNT AT ONE OF AUSTRALIA'S BIGGEST INDOOR MARKETS There are many, many antique markets in Australia. But one of the biggest in the whole country is The Amazing Mill Market in Daylesford. Whatever trash or treasure you've been dreaming of, you're highly likely to find it right here. Wander among dozens and dozens of stalls, as you sift through vintage clothing, artworks, jewellery, books, records, bric-a-brac and so much more. You can do it all, from rummaging for antique furniture and homewares at Temple Antiques to picking up a unique handmade metal artwork from Beamor Fine Design. And, when you need a break, pop into the onsite cafe for a cuppa and a snack. The Amazing Mill Market is usually open every day of the year, between 10am–6pm, except Christmas Day. Whether you're planning to travel for a couple of nights or a couple of weeks, Holiday Here This Year and you'll be supporting Australian businesses while you explore the best of our country's diverse landscapes and attractions. Top image: Lavandula Lavender Farm via Visit Victoria
The Vegan Market is making its grand return this year — this time at The Edge and The Terrace in Federation Square. If you weren't able to make it last time, this indoor event promises vegan-baked goods, skincare, chocolate, grocery products and slow fashion. Dive into the flavours of top-notch vegan food trucks such as Woking Amazing, Purple Rabbit, Australian Cookie Empire, Bao Melbourne, Sfinci, Original Chai Co., Classica International, Nohadra's Kitchen, Mel Ethio Mothers Kitchen and Simply Lentils Super Raw. Adding to the vibe, a vegan DJ from Sacred Taste will be spinning tunes throughout the event. The whole family is invited to this community celebration of plant-based goodness. Rock up to Fed Square on Sunday, April 28 from 10am–4pm.
While the NSW Government attempts to improve music festival safety by introducing a tough new licensing regime and jacking up costs for event organisers, its ACT counterpart is throwing its support behind pill testing. As reported by the ABC, the ACT Government has given the green light for a pill-testing trial to go ahead at the Canberra leg of this year's Groovin' The Moo festival, held at Exhibition Park in April. It'll be only the second time Australia has seen a trial like this, allowing festivalgoers to have their illicit substances tested for dangerous ingredients. The first took place at the same festival last year, when 85 substances were tested and some potentially deadly components were found, as well as plenty of hidden extras like toothpaste, paint and lactose. Now, the government's on board for round two, with ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr Tweeting after the decision, "Governments have a responsibility to not only try and prevent drug use but also to support initiatives that reduce the harms associated with drug use." https://twitter.com/ABarrMLA/status/1097411427709509634 The upcoming trial will be headed up by harm reduction advocates Pill Testing Australia. In its ACT Drug Strategy Action Plan released last year, the ACT Government stated it would continue to support pill testing and be "examining further opportunities to expand pill testing at events in the ACT". In the wake of a spate of festival deaths from suspected drug overdoses, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and her government have remained staunchly opposed to the idea of pill-testing, despite international research and the success of last year's local pill-testing venture. Let's see if Canberra's controversial move to host a second trial makes them any more likely to change their minds. Via: abc.net.au Image: Jack Toohey.
Under current COVID-19 restrictions in Australia, there are various interstate border restrictions in place. Up-to-date information on restrictions are available at your state's health websites (click through for NSW, Victoria and Queensland). Of course, even border closures don't mean you can't start dreaming — bookmark this for when you can explore freely once again. There's something special about getting behind the wheel for a long drive, whether you're summiting Australia's soaring mountain ranges or rambling your way up the coastline. There are fascinating adventures awaiting in every corner of the country, so forget about setting a breakneck pace. Just pick out a few waypoints along the way and pull in wherever you please. When you spot a stunning hike or a sandy beach that simply has to be experienced, slide the new Sonos Roam — featuring ten hours of playtime and a drop-resistant design — into your daypack and let the perfect playlist soundtrack your adventures. Exploring Australia has never sounded so good. [caption id="attachment_728931" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lisa Kuilenburg, Tourism Tas[/caption] GREAT EASTERN DRIVE, TASMANIA Don't think that you can get away with ignoring Tassie for much longer. The entire state deserves to be explored but, if time is of the essence, the east coast boasts a particularly scenic drive overflowing with stellar restaurants, wineries and landscapes. The fun starts in the island's northeastern corner at the Bay of Fires with its striking orange lichen-cloaked boulders. Heading south, you'll find windswept delights in coastal towns like Binalong Bay, St Helens and Bicheno before arriving at Freycinet National Park and experiencing spectacular views across Wineglass Bay. [caption id="attachment_777954" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ensay Winery, Visit Victoria[/caption] GREAT ALPINE ROAD, VICTORIA Victoria offers some wonderfully diverse landscapes with the Great Alpine Road carrying you through some of the best. Stretching for 339 kilometres from Wangaratta to Metung, this adventure sees you cruise through granite mountain ranges and venture into lush rainforests — with dozens of great stops to make along the way. Consider taking a detour into Mount Buffalo National Park to experience the incredible views from The Horn or cool off in the Eurobin Falls. You can also sample eco-conscious wines at Ensay Winery or swing by Bruthen's Bullant Brewery for top-quality beers and a feed that showcases delicious regional flavours. [caption id="attachment_734990" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cape Paterson, Visit Victoria[/caption] BASS COAST, VICTORIA You don't have to travel far from Melbourne to get amongst some of the state's most scenic locations. Just an hour's drive from the CBD is the stunning Bass Coast region, which encompasses everything from Phillip Island to Inverloch. Catch views of the jagged coastline and sea-bird nesting areas from San Remo before scooting along the coast to charming towns like Kilcunda, Wonthaggi and Cape Paterson. This unforgettable coastal cruise bounces from one relaxed village to the next with outstanding spots for surfing, snorkelling and dining at every turn. [caption id="attachment_813784" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cape Tribulation, Unsplash[/caption] CAIRNS TO CAPE YORK, QUEENSLAND Completing the 1000-kilometre trip from Cairns to Cape York is a tropical adventure like no other. Featuring some of Australia's wildest landscapes, this road trip will take you on a tour of pioneering history via lowland rainforests and sweeping landscapes. Pause at Mareeba to discover why 70 percent of Australia's coffee is grown here before experiencing the reaches of the Daintree Rainforest at Port Douglas and the pristine Mossman Gorge. While much of the Cairns to Cape York route is sealed, having a 4WD to overcome some unexpected obstacles is a good idea. [caption id="attachment_743610" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] 75 MILE BEACH, QUEENSLAND Scout out the sights of the world's largest sand island — K'gari (Fraser Island) — and its breathtaking 75 Mile Beach. When the tide is right, you're welcome to take your four wheels onto the white sand beach to live out the summertime getaway of your dreams. Plus, there are more than 100 freshwater lakes found across K'gari — be sure to take a dip in the red waters of Lake Boomanjin. You can also explore the SS Maheno Shipwreck, which ran aground in 1935, before pitching a tent beneath the enormous ferns of Central Station's open rainforest. [caption id="attachment_813791" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Geoffrey Rhodes, Flickr[/caption] ANCIENT OUTBACK MOUNT ISA LOOP, QUEENSLAND Pack plenty of water and sunscreen because a multi-day drive through Queensland's remote northwest is bound to get a bit warm. This trip departs from the mining capital of Mount Isa, taking you east past the rugged Selwyn Ranges. Onwards to Richmond, you'll come across Australia's best-preserved dinosaur skeleton at Kronosaurus Korner, while Winton, about 230 kilometres to the south, is believed to be the birthplace of 'Waltzing Matilda'. Ahead of finishing the loop, experience cinematic history by stopping for a drink at Crocodile Dundee's favourite pub, the Walkabout Creek Hotel, in McKinlay. [caption id="attachment_772492" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination Port Stephens[/caption] PACIFIC COAST, NEW SOUTH WALES/QUEENSLAND The road from Sydney to Brisbane is peppered with remarkable attractions. You'll need about a week to experience the top-notch locations along the 1000-kilometre route. After leaving Sydney behind, the first unmissable stop is Lake Macquarie's sparkling rock pools and world-class fishing. Just up the coast, choose any of Port Stephens's 26 stunning beaches for an idyllic picnic and break out the snorkelling gear at Coffs Harbour's Solitary Islands Marine Park. Following a stop in Byron Bay, it's time to cross the Queensland border and experience the Gold Coast hinterland en route to Brisbane. [caption id="attachment_813795" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Broken Hill, Trevor McKinnon, Unsplash[/caption] BROKEN HILL AND THE OUTBACK, NEW SOUTH WALES See both sides of New South Wales as this sweeping road trip transports you from Sydney's bright lights to the frontier town of Broken Hill. You have a variety of fascinating backcountry communities to explore with Dubbo the first major landmark on this adventure. Prepare yourself for the wide open landscapes to come by visiting the Taronga Western Plains Zoo. After you move through historic mining towns like Cobar, Wilcannia and White Cliffs, you'll soon arrive at Broken Hill. Relish a cold drink at the famous Palace Hotel, then head out for an unbeatable sunset surrounded by the sandstone sculptures at the Living Desert & Sculpture Symposium. [caption id="attachment_746256" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Snowy Mountains[/caption] ALPINE WAY, NEW SOUTH WALES Australia might not be best known for its snow-capped mountains, but our alpine region is about as scenic as they come. The Alpine Way links one mindblowing destination to the next with this road trip beginning at the laidback community of Cooma and heading deep into the Snowy Mountains. Learn your local history by paying a visit to the Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre, then make tracks to the picturesque town of Jindabyne for a dip in the lake (weather permitting, of course). As the altitude increases, the isolated town of Khancoban provides the perfect launchpad to explore Kosciuszko National Park's hikes and adventure activities. Find out more about the new Sonos Roam at the official website. Top image: Bay of Fires, Spencer Chow.
If you can't remember a time before IKEA, that's understandable. In 2023, the Swedish giant celebrates 80 years of operation. The chain started by Ingvar Kamprad, aka the IK in IKEA's moniker, began in 1943 and moved into furniture in 1948. It then opened its first store in Sweden a decade later — and came to Australia in the 70s. Now, a task: imagine all of the different items that the brand has made and sold over the years. Also, think of the huge array of pieces that it has had customers make at home themselves. The list is lengthy, as anyone that's ever walked several kilometres through IKEA's warehouse-style shops knows — but some pieces stand out. To celebrate both the 80-year milestone and the retailer's top products over that period, IKEA is launching a new range that riffs on its past highlights. Available both in store and online from Thursday, June 29, the Nytillverkad collection showers love on everything from 50s side tables to 60s plant stands, and 70s stools and 80s quilt covers, too. Retro alert, clearly. "We know Australians love to mix vintage pieces in their homes, so it is exciting to be able to offer this retro take on Scandinavian modern, defined by bold and playful graphic expressions that celebrate some of our most famous designs from the past 80 years," said Christine Gough, Interior Design Expert at IKEA Australia, announcing the new pieces. "In new bright colours, timeless design and trademark simplicity, the Nytillverkad range is an array of carefully selected, reimagined IKEA classics ready to take on a new life in homes." IKEA is dropping its Nytillverkad pieces in stages, starting with the LÖVBACKEN side table that was first known as LOVET back in 1956, the KULTURSKOG plant stand that initially launched as BALJA in 1962, and the BONDSKÄRET hat and coat stand that was called SMED in the 1978 — and more. Items in the first release range start at $2, which covers two 30-piece paper napkin sets (HAVSKATT, using the ILEX print from 1983; and ROSTVINGE, from 1980's BLADHULT print). Also on offer: candle holders, cushion covers, trays and rugs. IKEA's Nytillverkad collection goes on sale across Australia, in store and online, from Thursday, June 29 — until stocks last. Head to the IKEA website from 9am on launch day for further details.
Supermarkets are phasing out plastic bags, venues and even McDonalds are ditching plastic straws, Hobart is eradicating plastic takeaway containers and cutlery, and a store in the Netherlands has launched a plastic-free aisle; however the world's beaches and oceans are still feeling the impact of humanity's decades-long love affair with the single-use plastic. According to a 2010 study, around 12.7 million tonnes of the substance goes into the ocean each year. That's an enormous problem that can't be cleaned up quickly, but the Surfrider Foundation Manly is joining forces with 4 Pines Brewing and a heap of Sydney cafes to do encourage folks to do their part. Running for the month of April across Manly, the Rubbish 4 Coffee Initiative gives locals an extra incentive to collect litter from the shore — if they fill a bucket and bring it to one of eight venues, they'll receive a free brew in return. Roma & Co, Hemingway's, Havana Beach, The Bower Restaurant, The Boathouse Shelly Beach, Manly Wine, Hakan's and Bluewater Cafe are the places taking part, and offering up Single O Coffee Roasters and Grinders coffee to. To get a caffeine hit without spending a cent, Sydneysiders first need to drop by one of the venues to collect a Surfrider-branded bucket. Once they've been to the beach and filled it with trash, they can return to the cafe for their free beverage. Of course, a coffee buzz isn't the only thing they'll be feeling afterwards — there'll also be the buzz of doing the environment a solid. The Rubbish 4 Coffee Initiative runs until the end of April. Visit the event Facebook page for further details.
Games bars are only getting more popular in Melbourne — where you can play mini golf, do a spot of bowling, participate in carnival-style games or simply throw axes at a wall. And Melbourne's newest joint providing a space for competitive socialising (with plenty of food and bevs) is the international darts bar Flight Club. But unlike your usual bar that has a dart board located in some random corner (likely, with plenty of broken darts), Flight Club is a massive tech-filled space that offers a heap of different ways to play the classic game. These dart boards are digitally enhanced to track your scores and teach you how to play each of the different kinds of games, and they're surrounded by comfy booths that are all yours when you make a booking. Food and drinks are also easily delivered right to your booth, so you can stay focused on beating your colleagues or mates. When it comes to drinks, Flight Club will be serving up a decent selection of wine and beer, plus a slew of signature cocktails like the Passion Dart-a-Rita (passionfruit margarita) and trophy cocktails that are served in a legit trophy. Food is mostly shareable and made for the masses — think pizza paddles, popcorn chicken and sticky pork belly bites — so you can eat and play darts at the same time. One hand can hold a slice of pizza while the other chucks darts. There are already Flight Club bars in Perth and Sydney, but this will be Melbourne's very first when it opens in the CBD on Friday, November 22. Co-founder of Flight Club Steve Moore commented, "It's been an incredible journey, bringing the joy of social darts to millions across the UK and US, and we couldn't be happier to partner with NightOwl to continue this in Australia. We've had amazing receptions in Perth and Sydney, and we're expecting nothing less in Melbourne." Flight Club is slated to open on Friday, November 22, and will be located at 228 Russell Street, Melbourne. For more details and to book a dart board, you can check out the venue's website.
The highly competitive burger scene in Melbourne doesn't make it easy for newcomers, but since opening on an unsuspecting corner in Caulfield North this July, Tuck Shop Take Away has swiftly transitioned from new kid on the block to coolest guy in school. Owned by Clinton and Karina Serex — who, between them, have worked at Attica, Vue De Monde, Chez Dre and the Fat Duck — the gossip around the playground all seems to be suggesting the same thing: this tuck shop is serving up the best lunch menu we've seen in a while. Upon arrival, there's no denying the sense of nostalgia that washes over you thanks to the retro, school-themed interior. A menu is chalked up on a blackboard, offering staples like burgers ($9.50) and chips but also novelties like jaffles (starting from $6.50) and peanut butter milkshakes ($4-$7). Large, white-faced clocks hang from the wall, and — perhaps the most charming feature of all — a traditional schoolyard water fountain bubbles away in the corner, ready to satiate thirsty patrons. No bigger than a milk bar, only 11 people can be seated at a time, and there's even less room for those lining up to order. If you'd rather not wait on the footpath it's best to avoid typical meal times, especially on weekends. As the name suggests, takeaway is often the best policy here. If you're lucky enough to score a seat, gear your stomach up for the School Meal ($19). As you demolish the salty, thrice-cooked cuts and one of the tastiest burgers in town — consisting of 100% beef patty, lettuce, tomato, American cheese, onion and pickles all on the softest of seeded, brioche buns — be prepared for the lathering of very special Tuck Shop sauce that will dribble down all 10 digits. Wash it down with an ice-cold soda and a deliciously gooey Red Skin tart — all of this served on a pastel-coloured tray. Heaven. The kind of classmate that includes everyone, Tuck Shop also caters for its herbivorous friends. The Veggie Wedgie ($9.50) substitutes meat for a beetroot, lentil and brown rice patty, but with all of the same trimmings of its signature burger. Inventive flavoured shakes and sodas not for you? Sip on locally sourced tea and coffee from Storm in a Teacup in Collingwood and Monk Bodhi Dharma in St Kilda. There's no sign of bullies or grumpy canteen ladies here; the service is cheerful and efficient. It's clear the staff are just as excited as you are about dishing up great quality food in baskets, beverages in tall glasses with striped paper straws and choc chip cookies filled with Kettle chips for that savoury punch. This is worth ditching class for. Full marks, Tuck Shop Take Away. Images: Brook James
Adding to its growing Australian portfolio, Ovolo hotel group has revealed its next location. Come early 2021, a 123-room site will open in South Yarra. Due to be built near the corner of Toorak Road and Chapel Street, the hotel will bring plenty of 70s glam to the area with a retro design by Luchetti Krelle and bold furnishings. Expect graphic wallpapers, patterned couches and lots of chrome accents, plus four Rockstar suites named after iconic musicians. With international holidays set to be off the cards for a while, you can expect to be planning lots of local holidays and staycations in the near future. And at Ovolo, you can expect the hotel chain's usual flourishes. That includes being dog friendly — so, yes, your four-legged bestie can join you on your next getaway. [caption id="attachment_776982" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ovolo Nishi[/caption] At its other Aussie hotels — such as Ovolo Laneways in Little Bourke Street in the CBD — the company offers a heap of freebies, such as a free mini bar (including a free loot bag), free breakfast with every stay, free wi-fi, free self-service laundry and a free happy hour drink each day, which are expected to be available at South Yarra, too. Also on the menu for Ovolo South Yarra: a restaurant and bar. If you've visited the chain's other on-site hospitality venues — Mister Percy in Sydney, Za Za Ta in Brisbane and Monster in Canberra — you'll know something pretty impressive is on the cards. We'll let you know as soon as more details are announced. Find Ovolo South Yarra at 230 Toorak Road, South Yarra from early 2021.
Mörk Chocolate has been one of the top choices in Melbourne for a stellar hot chocolate since it opened its doors to its first store in 2012. Fast forward to 2025, and the independently owned business now boasts four locations in and around the CBD — but its next move might be its most ambitious yet, in the form of a permanent residency in Chadstone's Market Pavilion. Launched by local couple Josefin Zernall and Kiril Shaginov, Mörk made a name for itself by taking a similar approach to chocolate to single-origin coffee roasters. That means being mindful of traceability and quality while sourcing ingredients from ethically minded suppliers. The result is a clean and minimally processed product that showcases the flavour of the bean while being naturally lower in sugar. For their new Chadstone store, Zernall and Shaginov teamed up with Anna Drummond from CoLab Studio. Together, they've created a concept that stands out from the brand's existing locations, where clever details like variegated terracotta and ceramic tiles reference and celebrate chocolate. The centrepiece is a cascading rope installation inspired by chocolate fountains. "I wanted to tap into the memory bank and explore how chocolate made us feel as children," says Zernell. "The excitement of opening a chocolate wrapper, the sound and scent, the colours and shapes and flavours. All of those sensory elements that make chocolate so universally loved...that's the sense of nostalgia we're hoping to trigger at our new store." Alongside Mörk's flagship range, the Chadstone store will serve its much-loved classic hot chocolates from a custom-build island, a selection of new signature drinks, as well as cocktails like whiskey-spiked hot chocolate and chocolate negronis. New highlights include the Campfire Hot Chocolate — a limited-time creation where silky dark chocolate, charcoal salt and toasted marshmallow are served with an optional wood-smoked caramel praline. Meanwhile, buns, cakes and pastries baked fresh daily at Mörk's North Melbourne kitchen are available to complement your drink. The new concept store is also fitted with a retail display, featuring small-batch chocolate bars created by Zernell in collaboration with ex-Fat Duck and French Laundry chef Ayelet Har Paz. Plus, there are chocolate spreads, freshly turned vanilla marshmallows, seasonal chocolate bites and kitchen accessories such as hand-carved chocolate scoops and ceramics from a host of top-notch local designers. Mörk Chocolate's Chadstone store is now open in the centre's Market Pavilion. It's open Monday–Wednesday from 7.30am–5.30pm, Thursday–Saturday from 7.30am–9pm and Sunday from 8.30am–7pm. Head to the brand's website for more information. Images: Kristoffer Paulsen
Sweet tooths, beware — it just got a whole lot easier for you to get your hands on Mörk Chocolate's dreamy creations. As well as continuing to stock the shelves of their North Melbourne cafe with baked delights, the team behind the acclaimed chocolate brew house has also launched its own wholesale cake company. Dubbed Söt by Mörk, it'll supply a new range of artisan treats to all Market Lane cafes (Collins Street, Queen Victoria Market and Prahran Market) and the CBD's Patricia Coffee Brewers, with more stockists added to the list in coming weeks. To help bring this chocolatey project to life, Mörk founder and head chocolatier Josefin Zernell has pulled together a crack team of pastry wizards, whose collective resume includes the likes of Vue De Monde, Cutler & Co and the UK's Fat Duck. In true Mörk form, the new line of cake cabinet additions will be entirely chocolate and cacao-based. Keep an eye out for old favourites like the single-origin Madagascan brownie and that decadent twice-baked chocolate cake, alongside plenty of crafty new creations.
