Ben Stiller is having a very good year. The actor has only made two movies, and neither have really proven to be a stretch for him, but when it comes to middle-aged malaise in soul-searching comedy-dramas, he well and truly knows what he's doing. The furrowed brow, the frustrated gaze, the constant passive-aggression streaming towards everyone his characters interact with: if you've seen Greenberg, While You're Young or this year's The Meyerowitz Stories, then you definitely know the type. And while Brad's Status mightn't reach quite the same heights as any of those titles, it still demonstrates Stiller doing what he does best. Playing the eponymous Brad, Stiller gets ample chances to show off his world-weary on-screen persona. Running his own non-profit organisation, married to the laid-back Melanie (Jenna Fischer) and about to see his son Troy (Austin Abrams) off to college, Brad still finds himself unhappy with his lot in life — purely because he hasn't done as well as his former friends. Nick (the film's writer-director Mike White) is a Hollywood hotshot, tech wiz Billy (Jemaine Clement) has retired to Hawaii with stacks of cash, and Jason (Luke Wilson) has a high-powered hedge fund job, a wealthy wife and a growing family. Meanwhile, the last time Brad saw author and TV political commentator Craig (Michael Sheen), he asked for a favour and didn't hear back. White's script, his third this year after The Emoji Movie and Beatriz at Dinner, uses a trip to Boston to stoke Brad's anxieties about his status. It's not really a surprising development; he's touring college campuses with Troy, and thinking about who he was when he was a student, who he is now, and the difference between his youthful dreams and his current reality. Just as Stiller isn't flirting with anything particularly fresh, but still knocks his performance out of the park, White does much same behind the camera. Having previously directed Year of the Dog and TV's Enlightened, the filmmaker is no stranger to pondering how people see their place in the world — and their reactions when they contemplate making a change. Here, of course, White has rich material to mine, especially in today's social media-obsessed world. Brad's Status shows Brad scrolling through his old pals' Facebook and Instagram feeds and fantasising about the glamorous lives he's sure they're living. Sound familiar? Far from simply serving up a Generation X riff on Ingrid Goes West, however, White also unpacks Brad's sense of entitlement as a perfectly comfortable white guy living in Sacramento (#firstworldproblems). On top of that, he probes the envy that can spring when a parent thinks their child might grow to eclipse them. It's an ostensibly straightforward, emotionally dense scenario, albeit one that overplays Brad's inner monologue a tad. There's an interesting balancing act at work here, one that Brad's Status aces more than it might initially appear. While the film's warm visuals might seem to clash with its pointed score, they encapsulate a movie that's both affectionate towards its flawed protagonist and painfully aware of his many faults. That, if nothing else, is something you don't see every day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43jt74GwBmk
UPDATE, April 16, 2021: Brigbsy Bear is available to stream via iTunes and Amazon Video. In Brigsby Bear, a grown man finds himself unable to let go of his childhood obsession. No, it's not a documentary. While farewelling beloved franchises, characters and TV shows is an increasingly rare occurrence in today's remake-, revamp-, reboot- and resurrection-centric popular culture, this sweet, insightful and genuinely moving comedy doesn't simply chronicle an adult fanboy suffering from a severe bout of arrested development. Brigsby Bear's furry heart beats with more than easy nostalgia. For the shy and awkward James Pope (writer and star Kyle Mooney, best known for his work on Saturday Night Live), his love of Brigsby Bear Adventures and its eponymous animal hero isn't driven by a wistful yearning for a past long passed. The television series might look like a relic – with its cheap sets, stilted acting and kid-friendly life lessons – and yet a new episode arrives like clockwork on VHS every week. James devours each instalment with wide-eyed enthusiasm, in his room packed wall-to-wall with Brigsby merchandise. Having spent the bulk of his life in a homely underground bunker with just his parents (Mark Hamill and Jane Adams) for company, it's literally the only escape he knows. It's also his only experience of the world beyond his contained existence. Directed by Dave McCary and co-written by Kevin Costello (two of Mooney's primary school pals), Brigbsy Bear follows James' reaction when he's thrust out of his comfort zone, forced to interact with reality and confronted with the realisation that his favourite program isn't quite what he thinks. The precise nature of the revelation is best discovered by watching, though it's not a spoiler to say that his post-Brigsby life comes as quite a shock. As he endeavours to cope, the film couldn't be more earnest or astute in exploring why we become so attached to shows and movies, or the cathartic role they play in shaping how we approach the world. Sure, it might sound like the kind of quirky concept that Mooney could satirise in an SNL skit, but empathy rather than parody proves the guiding principle here. Steeped in warmth as well as melancholy, while also flirting with darker territory, Brigsby Bear is the type of film that's cute yet never cloying, heartfelt but not schmaltzy, and amusing without resorting to caricature. It's a big bear hug of a movie, but one that ultimately makes it clear that even the most eager embraces can't last forever. Thanks to McCary's DIY-esque aesthetic, Brigbsy Bear offers viewers quite a cosy visual cuddle as well, reminiscent of Be Kind Rewind and YouTube fan films. Hey, if you're going to make a film about undying '80s-style passions, you have to make it look the part. Throw in Mooney's impressively deadpan central performance, and this is a flick that excels in hitting the right notes — in its images, its themes and its emotions alike. And, like the fictional show at its centre, it also imparts a lasting message: we're more than the things we love, but we wouldn't be who we are without them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MdrGM27yQ8
When you're celebrating Irish cinema in Australia, there's nothing like a movie made in the former with talent from the latter to connect the two together. And, if it involves one of the stars of beloved Aussie comedy Muriel's Wedding, even better. Last year, Toni Collette was in the spotlight at the Irish Film Festival, but this year it's Rachel Griffiths' turn. She's absolutely compelling in intimate drama Mammal, one of the five features on the eight-film program. Screening at the CBD's Kino Cinema from April 6–8, this year's festival boasts everything from a comedy based on a true crime tale (The Young Offenders) to a documentary about the troubles of oil and fishing at the sea narrated by actor Brendan Gleeson (Atlantic), plus plenty in between. That includes a relationship drama that tackles unplanned pregnancy with sensitivity (Twice Shy), plus a heartwarming account of two young people with learning disabilities falling in love (Sanctuary). Plus, for those who missed it at the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, the festival kicks off with the charming love and friendship-focused A Date for Mad Mary, complete with a breakout performance from Irish talent Seána Kerslake. Throw in docos about Bobby Sands' famous hunger strike (Bobby Sands: 66 Days) and two friends selling mattresses (Mattress Men), and you've got yourself a short but sweet feast of Ireland's finest filmmaking.
First it was the Cheese Festival. Then it was the Sausage Fest. Finally, Prahran Market completed the holy trio of meats, cheese and chocolate with — you guessed it — a chocolate festival. After a delicious start in 2016, the Wicked Chocolate Festival returns for another year on Sunday, May 7. As well as on-stage talks about the stuff, a kitchen where you can see how it's made and tasting events, Melbourne's finest will be pulling out their best chocolate creations at the Pop-Up Chocolate Precinct. This will include — are you ready for this? — chocolate doughnuts from Doughboys, a chocolate dessert pizza from 400 Gradi, a chocolate butter bar from King Valley Dairy, and a caravan bar serving chocolate cocktails. There'll be everything from hot chocolate to cold chocolate (read: ice cream), and rich chocolate mousse to choc salted caramel lollipops. Want more? There'll also be a chocolate fountain. The market is known for their decidedly delicious events, and this one is set to be just as epic and coma-inducing — especially if you enter the chocolate eating competition. The Weiss Chocolate Eating Comp will see seven contestants pitted against each other to see who can eat the most chocolate in two minutes. They'll win a $250 prize pack, which includes market goodies and — you guessed it — more chocolate. Contestants will be selected by ballot — so to enter, just email your name, age and phone number through to chocolate@prahranmarket.com.au before April 24. In the meantime, we suggest you start practicing with some blocks of Cadbury Dairy Milk and a few rounds of The Chocolate Game. Fingers crossed you roll a few sixes.
Once, Ned Kelly and Mark "Chopper" Read called it home. Soon, a microbrewery, pub, 15-screen cinema and apartments will do just that instead. Yes, the times are certainly a-changin' at Coburg's Pentridge Prison, with 2017 marking 20 years since the site stopped its incarceration operations — and also marking the first time they're throwing a two-day festival. What was formerly Victoria's longest running gaol will host an all-ages fest filled live music, market stalls and food trucks on April 8 and 9, in what is hoped will become a yearly event. Attendees keen to get a dose of the facility's past can break up the eating and tunes with hourly tours of the prison's B Division, exercise yards and solitary confinement cells. Music-wise, the lineup features local acts such as Big Words, Cumbia Massive, Billy Davis and Funkalleros, while meals on wheels will be served up by Mr Burger, Beatbox Kitchen, Pasta Face, White Guy Cooks Thai and Billy Van Creamy, among others. Indeed, the fest has lured the likes of Zero 95 and Fancy Hank's to turn into food truck vendors for the event, treating visitors to their tasty fare beyond their usual four walls. It wouldn't be an outdoor food festival without picnic rugs aplenty — with everyone in the vicinity encouraged to hang out on the grass in the Pentridge piazza — or a beer garden bringing some booze to the celebration. Best of all, the event is free. Unlike the site's residents from times gone by, you won't want to leave.
The publishing collective Heavy Time is back at it again, this time launching their new venture, The Heavy Time institute. The Institute is a community building exercise, based in Collingwood for now, that will build workshops, exhibitions and presentations around social and creative themes. They've got a sweet line-up of events coming up in next few months to pencil into your calendar, starting with the This Is a Song exhibition curated by Benedict Brink, which is showing at the RVCA Corner Gallery until April 9. Their residency in the space will also feature a temporary bookshop featuring a curated selection of mags, zines and pieces from local folk. If you're in the neighbourhood, stop by and check out the raw and real group exhibition while it's still there.
UPDATE, March 26, 2021: Raw is available to stream via Stan, Binge, Shudder, Google Play, YouTube Movies and iTunes. Cinematic explorations of teen sexuality are fairly common. So is finding the horrific side of adolescent desires and urges. Indeed, there are plenty of scary big screen stories about teens battling their feelings as well as a deadly figure or force, with the filmmakers practically yelling "METAPHOR!" at the audience. But pairing such tales with cannibalism? That's something a little more unusual. Here's hoping that your stomach is empty, because Raw offers quite the filling meal. First, the rotting carcass in the room. When Julia Ducournau's debut feature screened at the Toronto International Film Festival last year, an ambulance had to be called to look after fainting movie-goers. Raw isn't actually the wall-to-wall gore-fest you might have been led to believe, but red bodily fluids do flow freely, severed limbs certainly feature, and downing rabbit kidneys with vodka is one of the more tame occurrences to fill the film's frames. Basically, the film isn't recommended viewing for those who easily get queasy. Thanks to its far-from-standard take on the savagery of growing up, however, it's absolutely vital viewing for everyone else. When the quiet and studious Justine (Garance Marillier) is dropped off at veterinary school by her vegan vet parents, she's awash with both excitement about what's to come and reluctance about leaving her old existence behind. Marillier delivers an astonishingly astute and fluid performance, and you can see both emotions swirling behind her expressive doe eyes. The look remains when Justine is dragged out of bed in the middle of the night as part of a hazing ritual, and when she's forced to attend a raucous, rave-like subterranean party. It flickers strongly when she's told, despite her protests, to eat meat, receiving absolutely no assistance from her older sister Alexia (Ella Rumpf) who also attends the same college. And, when Justine breaks out in a rash soon after gulping back her first mouthful, it positively beams from her gaze. With a ravenous appetite for dissecting what it means to chew upon adulthood when you're still just a teenage girl — one that aptly matches her protagonist's new craving for human flesh — Ducournau slices through the typical cliches to create a film that is both thought-provoking and a sensory feast. Saying that the movie is meaty might seem a little bit easy, but as its writer-director cooks up a distinctive platter of body horror musings – taking inspiration from genre king David Cronenberg while carving out her own space – such an adjective really couldn't be more fitting. To put it simply, if you have the constitution for it, you're going to want to consume every last morsel of Ducournau's film. Your eyes will drink in the visceral thrills that come from the bites and the splatter. Your ears will soak in a score that knows when to keep things simple and when to season with pounding pressure. Finally, your brain will hunger for more as it gnaws upon the onslaught of emotional and physical carnage. Bon appétit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDiVGDmgsFY
Whenever a part of the country goes into lockdown due to the pandemic, businesses are hit hard. Even if the return to stay-at-home conditions is brief, cafes, restaurants and bars can't trade as normal, and neither can retail stores that aren't deemed essential. Suppliers who work in the events industry and accommodation providers are all impacted as well — including small- and medium-sized businesses, plus sole traders. When the state last went into lockdown back in February, the Victorian Government announced a $143-million support package designed to help businesses impacted. Now that another seven-day lockdown is in effect, it has launched a new $250.7 million offering. This time, the funds are designed to help around 90,000 businesses, with the new plan split into three different initiatives. More than doubling the amount allocated in February, the Business Cost Assistance Program will receive an extra $190.01 million in funding. It'll cover one-off payments of $2500 for businesses operating in industries that can't operate under the circuit-breaker restrictions — and can't work remotely. Also receiving more funding: the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund, an initiative that has been providing financial support to licensed venues impacted by COVID-19 restriction since late 2020. It'll receive $40.7 million in this new round, and offer $3500 grants per premises. And, $20 million will go to providers in the events industry, specifically to cover losses incurred as a result of the current restrictions. Exactly how the Victorian Events Support Package will work hasn't been revealed as yet, however. While accommodation providers were covered by the Victorian Accommodation Support Program back in February, this time they're asked to apply for the aforementioned Business Cost Assistance Program alongside restaurants, cafes and non-essential retailers. Event suppliers are also eligible for the latter scheme, in addition to the targeted Victorian Events Support Package. Hoping to help a Victorian business by scoring another travel voucher? This time, you aren't in luck. No announcements have been made there, either — and whether the announced Melbourne Money rebates for CBD dining will go ahead as planned from Friday, June 11 will obviously depend on whether lockdown extends beyond its current end date of 11.59pm on Thursday, June 3. The Victorian Government has announced a $250.7 million support package designed to assist businesses impacted by the state's current circuit-breaker lockdown. To find out more, head to the Business Victoria website.
Lobster has long been the fancy champagne of the seafood world. For most of us, it's the kind of dish that you can only justify having when you really feel like going all out and treating yo'self — but, for the next few weeks, the indulgent crustacean-based meal is gracing Betty's Burgers' menu. Combining fresh lobster meat, the chain's special mayonnaise, shallots, chives, lemon and spice, Betty's new lobster roll is now on offer at all of its 22 Australian stores. If your stomach is already rumbling, you can tuck into one for $19 — or combine it with fries and a glass of wine for $29. You'll need to get in quickly, though, with the lobster roll only available for a limited time. Just how long you'll be able to nab one for hasn't been revealed, but it's expected to only last a few weeks. Known for its Shake Shack-style burgs and frozen custard desserts (called concretes), Betty's is making a foray into lobster to celebrate its beachy roots. While you can now grab a Betty's burger at six Sydney outlets, four Melbourne spots, four Brisbane outposts, one Toowoomba eatery and one location in Adelaide, the company first began in Noosa, and then expanded to the Gold Coast. Betty's Burgers' lobster roll is available at all 22 Australian stores for a limited time. For more information and to find your nearest store, visit Betty's Burgers' website.
No plans for Valentine's Day and no interest in making any? You're in luck. Go about your usual business this Wednesday — that is, as far as humanly possible away from red roses, schmultzy songs and pashing pairs — and you could still be in for a nice little surprise. That's because Penguin Random House is planning on helping you to escape — by setting you up with a book, instead of a person. After all, books can't talk back and, if they end up being not what you thought they were, you can always put them back on the shelf. Said books will be dropped in bundles on trains and at various sites all over Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane this Valentine's Day. There's no way of knowing where you'll find them and what you might find yourself reading. The idea is to do away with pre-conceived ideas, promoted by particular genres, authors and cover art. The publishing house is scattering the books in partnership with Street Library, Sydney, and Books on the Rail, which launched in Melbourne in early 2016 and regularly circulates books on Melbourne's public transport. If you find one, take it home and read it — just remember to pop it back on the train when you're done.
Shannon Bennett already boasts Vue de Monde, Benny Burger and Iki-jime to his name, and is set to open music venue Geddes Lane Ballroom in the coming months. There's no rest for the chef, however, perhaps thanks to his latest caffeine-fuelled endeavour — a CBD cafe. Opening on Tuesday, October 9, Barista by Vue is the next addition to Bennett's growing portfolio, and it's taking over a familiar location. Find the coffee spot at 430 Little Collins Street, in the space that previously housed the Café Vue servery. Yes, that means it's in very close proximity to both Benny Burger and Iki-jime. The familiar elements keep on coming, with the new venture a collaboration with long-term Vue Group employee Todd Gatehouse.Vue Group executive chef Justin James will oversee the menu, executive pastry chef John Demetrios — the figure responsible for Iki-jime's dessert degustations — is on pastry and dessert duty, and the cafe has paired up with Vue's coffee regular Five Senses to create its own Vue Blend. As a result, Melburnians can expect a deli-style range of sandwiches and salads, plus a selection of sweet options that have been designed to go with coffee. And as far as grabbing a cuppa is concerned, the custom Five Sense blend will be joined by limited-release single-origin brews, special pours and bulletproof coffee. Wary of the environmental footprint that cafes can cause, Barista by Vue is also doing its part for the planet in a variety of ways. The space is decked out with as much recycled and excess materials as possible, including timber from the old Bar 20 that Bennett is currently turning into Geddes Lane Ballroom. It'll also be recycling and composting its used coffee grinds. And, in excellent news for war on waste-conscious customers, the cafe will also offer a cup exchange. You'll be able to pick up a non-single-use cup for a fee, or bring in your own. Do the latter on opening day, and you'll also nab a coffee for $1. Find Barista by Vue at 430 Little Collins Street, Melbourne from Tuesday, October 9.
Feeling a little chilly, Melburnians? There's a reason for that. But it's not just the usual wintry temperatures that's making the city shiver — rather, it's Melbourne's coldest June morning since 2015. While the mercury is set to hit a 15-degree maximum mark today, the morning started with a frosty 2.2 degrees in the city. On the outskirts of Melbourne, it was even chillier, with Coldstream starting the day at -3.6, and both Viewback and Essendon Airport dipping below 0. The dip comes after a weekend of sub-zero temperatures and frost warnings across the state. https://twitter.com/BOM_Vic/status/1269749209441472512 The last time it was this cold in June in Melbourne, was back in 2015 on June 21. Before that, the coldest day was June 23, 2013, when the mercury dropped down to just 1.3. Brrr. To put the dip in context, 15.5 degrees was June's average maximum temperature in 2019, while 8.3 degrees was the minimum. If you're not too keen on the extra dose of chilliness each morning, we're sorry to advise that minimums of nine degrees and under are forecast until next Monday, although maximums will reach between 15 and 17. While the next couple of days will be relatively dry, the weekend is set to be a touch soggy with 70 percent chance of rain across both days. We can stop saying that 'winter is coming' — yep, winter is definitely here.
This article is sponsored by our partners Red Bull. Why limit culture to bricks and mortar when you can put it on wheels? This year, we've seen a trans-American train carry masterpieces from New York to San Francisco and Melbourne Art Trams make an aesthetic journey out of our commute. Now, Red Bull is set to put Melbourne's music scene into motion. On the final day of Melbourne Music Week (November 15-24), the Red Bull Music Academy Tram Jam will transform three trams into mobile party venues. To mark summer's imminence, the carriage interiors will be redesigned as island paradises, complete with coconuts and palm fronds. Radio selectors Edd Fisher of PBS and Chris Gill and LA Pocock of RRR will be on board as afro-tropical hosts. Each tram will make a one-hour journey — with The Espy, Howler and The Corner Hotel as the three starting points — and finish up at The Residence, where Red Bull is planning to hold Melbourne Music Week's official closing party, Discolypso. Kicking off at midday, it'll feature international guests Awesome Tapes of Africa (USA) and Invisible Sound System (CANADA). The Tram Jam, which will be happening between 1pm and 4pm on November 24, is free to attend, but you do need to RSVP.
One of Israel’s most celebrated writers, Etgar Keret, is joining the Wheeler Centre to discuss his new memoir The Seven Good Years and what it’s like to raise a child in Israel today. A major voice in Israeli literature, Keret knows how to weave his surreal stories around a reader's mind — and anyone who’s fallen under his spell knows he creates a fine fabric, often laced with playfulness and poignancy. Keret’s past work manages to offer this playfulness to purgatory, where the deceased somehow manage to fall in love on a beach that’s covered in used needles and curds of condoms (Kneller’s Happy Campers for those keen to dive in). It’s this ability to explore sensitive topics with creativity — and just the right touch of black humour — that makes Keret such an insatiable scribe. During the evening, Keret will discuss his career, covering his short stories, radio journalism, film and TV, graphic novels and children’s books. He'll also talk about his work The Seven Good Years, which charts the time between his son’s birth and his father’s death, with war as a constant backdrop. True to Keret's style, the memoir questions the conflict of war with family and fatherhood in Tel Aviv, while offering enough bizarre bursts to get us through those blinding shards of truth. So we're expecting some similar magic at this talk.
Spend some time at Two Birds Brewing, who have feathered their Nest (that is, their Spotswood tasting room) for the launch of their "west-side beer". Made using all-Australian malt and hops, Two Birds will launch this one-off batch as part of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival while showcasing the artwork, furniture and timber of local artists and craftsman who worked on building The Nest. The brewery itself is in an ex-tooling and machinery factory which, amongst other things, built equipment to fabricate and fill beer cans. Now it's home to Australia's first female-owned and operated brewery. Their house chef will create something special with the grain and wort from the beer, so sit back and relax to tunes from local DJ Larrabee.
Best-selling author and humourist David Sedaris is playing a much-anticipated third tour at Hamer Hall, and it's your chance to have a laugh while putting your smug, well-read friends to shame. Sedaris, you may recall — as your friends have been telling you — is the "man who writes funny books". Books that "you should have read". He is, in fact, very funny. And yes, you should read him. The evening is a prime chance to catch up on neglected literature, as it will feature a selection of readings from Sedaris' renowned essays, focusing on new, unpublished work and diary entries. Sedaris' diary is one you'd leave out for friends to find. His stories cover all manner of topics, from a season spent working as an elf to his time committed to learning a foreign language. But his droll assessments note more than 'foot fingers' as being a legitimate translation for toes (it is, by the way) — it's also a great example of Sedaris' ability to capture the essence of the everyday and make the mundane more meaningful. It forms a social documentary that leaves your mind reeling more than a summer jetty. It's not just his essays in The New York Times that have caught the imagination of fans, or even his best-selling novels such as Me Talk Pretty One Day that offer incisive social critiques. He also lends his talents to renditions of Billie Holiday songs on This American Life, as podcast enthusiasts will know. It's this unexpected voice in particular, that can flow from jazzy vocals to softly spoken sardonic wit, that adds a whole new element to understanding David Sedaris. Remarkably, there are still a handful of tickets left to An Evening with David Sedaris. Buy yourself a present. Or, kinder yet, buy two and take one of those smug friends of yours to show you've been listening all along.
Kafka gets an appropriate reimagining in The Second Cousins' META, the final show in Malthouse Theatre's Helium program. Dragging the classic surrealist tale Metamorphosis into the modern day, Samara Hersch and co. tell the story of Gregor Samsa — a family man whose mundane world unravels into a "multi-sensory nightmare". Spoiler (because you've now had 99 years to read the original): he might turn into a giant cockroach. Now in its third year, Malthouse Theatre's Helium is a celebration of independent theatre-makers and original ideas; the realms of high and low culture coming into proper alignment. Partnering up with Next Wave and the Melbourne Fringe for certain productions like this one, this year's initiative from the highly respected Malthouse Theatre is quickly building momentum and looks to be a major player in this year's already bustling cultural program. META runs October 22 - November 1, tickets available via Malthouse Theatre. To check out the rest of the 2014 Helium program, we've got the wrap up over here.
Come Sunday, March 26, Melbourne's CBD is set to be the place to be for local seafood lovers, as Taxi Kitchen reels in diners for a one-off Melbourne Food & Wine Festival lunch celebrating some of the state's best wild-caught ocean-fresh goodness. Top Victorian fisheries will be thrown into the spotlight across a four-course feast featuring plates like freshly shucked sea urchin roe with sour plum and fried nori; San Remo octopus starring coconut, ginger and lemongrass; and crayfish rice finished with shiitake, lup chong and a son-in-law egg. There'll be snacks and a cocktail to kick things off, while the lunch is set to be paired with a curation of Victorian wines from the likes of Paringa Estate and Leura Park. You'll also be treated to tunes from a live funk and soul act as you dine. Tickets to the feast come in at $184, including matched vino, plus a glass of local sparkling wine and a cocktail on arrival. [caption id="attachment_680384" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Giulia Morlando[/caption] Top image: Carmen Zammit
The act of making a movie in Iran is saddled with restrictions; however that hasn't stopped the nation's filmmakers soldiering on regardless. From the late, great Palme d'Or recipient Abbas Kiarostami to A Separation's Asghar Farhadi to banned director Jafar Panahi, Iranian film is thriving. So is Australia's only festival dedicated to their output. For the sixth year, the Iranian Film Festival Australia shines a spotlight on the country's cinematic voices, and on contemporary life as well. Kicking off in Melbourne on Thursday, October 27, the six-day fest boasts yet another busy lineup of features, spanning opening night's highly anticipated drama Life and a Day, social-realist gang effort Lantouri and the award-winning Daughter. Elsewhere, Sound and Fury dives into the life of a pop singer who has an affair with a fan, Drought & Lies adapts a well-known Iranian play, and I follows a woman who acts outside the law under the police scrutiny. Add familiar faces and restored classics to the mix — including first Iranian New Wave feature The Brick and the Mirror — and audiences can explore both the history and the future of Iranian cinema.
If, when it comes to karaoke, you consider yourself a bit of a pro, you'll be damn pleased to hear that Melbourne is getting it's very own festival dedicated to your favourite pastime. Run by the same people who brought us last year's hugely successful Melbourne Dumpling Festival, the Melbourne Karaoke Festival is guaranteed to be a whole lot of fun — for singers and spectators alike. The festivities will kick off at 5pm on Friday, April 28, and will involve a series of sing-offs between karaoke hopefuls across three categories: solos, duets and bands. A panel of judges will award a handsome $1000 cash prize to the best competitor from each category, so start warming up your vocal chords to be in with a shot. For those who'd prefer to keep your singing skills confined to the safety of your shower (we hear ya), you can still have a chance at winning a sweet karaoke package worth over $1500. You just need to name your ultimate karaoke song and back it up in 25 words or less. Of course, liquid courage will be readily available, with Collingwood's Sample Brew at your service all night. If you're one of the first 400 to visit their pop-up, you'll even score a free beer. And what's karaoke and beer without dumplings? To complete the trifecta, take your pick from some of Melbourne's best CBD Chinese restaurants, including Tim Ho Wan, China Red, China Chilli and Dragon Boat. Follow it all up with limited edition disco doughnuts by St. Gerry's. If you don't feel like paying, don't — just hit the high notes and your dessert is on the house. The event is being held at 206 Bourke Street, which is the retail precinct Tim Ho Wan is located in and connects Bourke Street with Chinatown. The Melbourne Karaoke Festival will take place at 206 Bourke Street, Melbourne on Friday, April 28. For more information, visit their website.
Bottomless brunches are currently having a bit of a moment, with every man and his dog enjoying free-flowing Champagne and downing endless treats before midday. But Trinket is doing things a little differently with its bottomless lunches. Thank the Roman gods because now the Flinders Lane art deco haunt is serving all-you-can-eat pizza and bottomless cocktails every Saturday and Sunday. Head down on a weekend between 12:30–2.30pm and, for $49 per person, you can eat all the pizza and drink all the cocktails your stomach can muster. It's not just your average pizza either. You can make your way through 13 options, including meatballs and blue cheese, garlic sausage and mushroom, smoked eggplant and squash and smoked chicken and pesto. Of course, the classic margherita is on the menu, too. Drinks-wise, you'll be sipping on free-flowing cocktails, which will be a rotating list of four concoctions on the day — think mandarin mimosas and frozen bellinis. We recommended making a booking soon though — the place can get quite packed come the weekend. So, best make a group chat with your mates ASAP. Trinket's bottomless pizza and cocktail lunch sessions happen Saturday and Sunday, from 12:30pm–2.30pm. Bookings can be made via Trinket's website.
Jess Pryles, aka 'Burger Mary', is joining forces with the Precinct Hotel to bring America to us for the Superbowl XLVII. Burger Mary is known for her love and knowledge of southern cuisine and is designing an authentic menu to go along with the game. Inspired by the host city New Orleans, they'll be whipping up comfort food and football snacks like French fries, cheese and jalapeno dip served with tortilla chips, buffalo wings, shrimp po boys, and tater tots. New Orleans-inspired cocktails, buckets of Miller Beers, and traditional decorations will help to make it feel just like downtown America. And last but not least, the game will, of course, be played on the big screen.
If the Oppenheimer side of 2023's Barbenheimer phenomenon has you wanting to find out more about the atomic age, this year's Jewish International Film Festival has your next viewing option: documentary A Compassionate Spy about physicist Theodore Hall. His tale didn't make the cut in Christopher Nolan's blockbuster, but he was part of the Manhattan Project team at Los Alamos, and also passed intelligence to the Soviet Union, as Hoop Dreams' filmmaker Steve James explores in one of JIFF's must-see efforts at its latest fest. When the Jewish International Film Festival returns for 2023, it'll hit up Melbourne's Lido Cinemas and Classic Cinemas from Monday, October 23–Wednesday, November 29. On the full nationwide lineup is a hefty 55 Australian-premiere titles spanning both flicks and TV shows, including everything from box-office hits to new episodic efforts starring a big-name US talent. Israel's Matchmaking hits JIFF's opening night after success at home, following a Jewish Orthodox man's romantic ups and downs in a film that's been likened to Romeo and Juliet — but Haredi and a comedy. And that standout television series? Chanshi follows its namesake (Aleeza Chanowitz, Dismissed) in Brooklyn, with Barry's Australia-bound Henry Winkler as her father. Also on the 2023 program: Jack L Warner: The Last Mogul, a documentary focusing on one of Warner Bros' titular founders; The Engineer, about the manhunt for bombmaker Yahya Ayyash, as starring Emile Hirsch (Devil's Workshop); delightfully named black comedy Ducks, An Urban Legend; Tel Aviv-set rom-com Elik & Jimmy; and documentary Erica Jong – Breaking the Wall, about the Fear of Flying author. The complete Australia-wide program also includes gangster comedy Hummus Full Trailer, musicals Less Than Kosher and Victory, vino-fuelled doco Holy Wine and docudrama Munich '72 on its sizeable list. On offer in Melbourne only: a retrospective of movies based on Nobel Prize-winning writer Isaac Bashevis Singer's work, such as Barbra Streisand's Yentl. And, as is JIFF's custom, the program features a large contingent of movies that examine World War II, the Holocaust and their lingering impact. Expect to find Stella Goldschlag biopic Stella. A Life; the vengeance-laden The Jew; the Ukraine-shot, Yiddish-language SHTTL; Filip, which tells a tale of romantic pleasures amid the war; Delegation, about students visiting Poland's Holocaust sites and confronting their Jewish identity; and closing night's The Jewish Nazi?, a doco with Australian ties.
'You're a nut! You're crazy in the coconut!' Throw your head back to 2000, you're going to need all the lyrics to 'Frontier Psychiatrist' for this one. In tribute to The Avalanches' legendary album Since I Left You, Sydney's Astral People and Jonti are performing the entire thing live on stage. That might not sound like the most amazing of accomplishments, but it really needs to be put in perspective. This genius patchwork of an album was made from more than 3,500 samples. It's game-changing electronic music that was never meant to be performed live. But that won't stop these guys. Astral People and Jonti will be joined by a 17-piece orchestra. We've never been so pumped to hear some violins. This event was chosen as one of our top ten things to see at the Melbourne Festival 2014. See the full list here.
Who better to teach you the art of cooking a cracking dish of paella, than Melbourne's own maestro of Spanish cuisine? This winter, you'll have the chance to learn from one of the best, as Frank Camorra, acclaimed chef-restaurateur of MoVida, shares his passions at a special series of Spanish-inspired food events, called Mi Casa Tu Casa, From Our House To Yours. On a few dates this year, Camorra will host an intimate cooking class and lunch at MoVida sister venue, Bar Tini. He'll create a Spanish paella, offering plenty of tips and tricks along the way, before it's served up for all to enjoy, alongside a selection of classic tapas bites. Just be sure to leave room for dessert, and for the plenty of Spanish beers and wines flowing throughout the afternoon. Paella With Frank cooking classes will run from 2.30–5pm. The August class has already sold out, but there are still spots left for the October session. Image: Alana Dimou. Updated: August 4, 2018.
In excellent news for anyone who loves scouting out new tunes from fresh local talent, the folks at Rare Finds have launched an east coast touring circuit, kicking off in January 2018. The Sydney-based PR and artist management company has long been a champion of emerging Aussie artists, hosting regular showcases in Brisbane and Sydney over the past two years. Now it's teamed up with Oporto and creative collective Pilerats to bring its latest musical finds to a stage near you. Touring once a month across Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, each Rare Finds circuit will feature a curation of up-and-coming acts, providing an all-important live platform for these emerging artists. Headlining the first tour in January 2018 is Sunshine Coast songstress Ayla, off the back of her second EP Let's Talk Monday. She'll be joined by a different lineup in each city — Otious, Magnets and British India DJs will be in-tow for the Melbourne leg. Catch the first iteration of the circuit for free on January 19 at Sydney Road's Penny Black.
Contemporary dance and digital technology collide in a critically-acclaimed show from French choreographer Mourad Merzouki. An international hit, Pixel arrives at Her Majesty's Theatre in Melbourne after sell-out engagements in Europe and the U.S., and should in no way be confused with that terrible Adam Sandler movie with a very similar title. On stage for one week only from August 31 through to September 4, the immersive dance work sweeps audiences into an immersive world of light, movement and sound, as a team of dancers traverse the stage amidst breathtaking 3D projections. Influenced by circus, hip-hop and the concept of interactive performance, the 75-minute show has earned rave reviews around the globe and frankly looks absolutely stunning. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isJ9bg4ouR8
Summer might be over, but there's another bright spark of sunshine waiting just over the horizon. Namely, the grand and glorious 2021 edition of Midsumma Festival, which takes over venues, spaces and screens across Melbourne from Monday, April 19–Wednesday, May 5. The long-running annual LGBTQIA+ celebration is gearing up for its biggest and boldest run yet, thanks to a program chock full of art, music, performance, conversation and parties promising to help reignite the city's soul. Featuring over 145 events — and 100-plus open-access events made for and by queer communities — it's set to serve up a little something for everyone. The theme: the art of the possible. Highlights include the sold-out Midsumma Live At The Bowl, a free, huge two-night concert series at Sidney Myer Music Bowl, featuring a roll call of Aussie queer icons — plus A Strange Space, an openair exhibition embracing the idea of resilience over at the newly revamped Collingwood Yards. In Williamstown, The Pier Festival serves up a diverse celebration for queer women and their allies, featuring a program of food trucks, market stalls and live entertainment. And, multifaceted show After Dark will see a lineup of leading drag performers take audiences on a lively trip back through the ages of cabaret. A stack of events will be firing up nightly at the many festival hubs, too, including Arts Centre Melbourne, Theatre Works, Gasworks Arts Park and Chapel Off Chapel. Loads of return favourites are also on the event bill, such as the unique variety show that is Dolly Diamond's Star for a Night, long-running female-led music showcase Goddess Grooves, and the Midsumma and Australia Post Art Award exhibition. Those playing along at home will find a whole crop of virtual events and live-streamed goodness as well. Check out screenings of Maxie Dara's award-winning digital short play Alone Together from your couch — or opt for a hilarious online storytelling series dubbed Drag Storytime. The fun continues post-festival on Sunday, May 23, as the Midsumma Pride March hosts its supercharged 26th anniversary edition, transforming St Kilda's Fitzroy Street into a rolling parade and party. COVID-19 has ensured a few changes to this year's run, but no one need miss out — audiences can live-stream the entire thing at home, or book a spot at one of the street's venues to catch the parade up close. Midsumma Festival 2021 runs from Monday, April 19–Wednesday, May 5 at various locations across Melbourne, with the Midsumma Pride March taking place post-festival on Sunday, May 23. Jump over to the website to check out the full program and grab tickets. Top image: Midsumma Pride March by Dean Arcuri .
The Astor's latest retrospective will be served shaken, not stirred. Over five consecutive weekends starting Saturday, October 18, Melbourne's iconic repertory theatre will screen nine classic James Bond adventures featuring insane gadgets, bad puns, unfortunate chauvinism and all. The marathon kicks off back at the very beginning, in an era in which Britain's greatest secret agent still possessed a distinctly Scottish inflection. The early Connery films still stand out as some of best in the franchise, as double bills of Dr. No and From Russia with Love, along with Goldfinger and Thunderball, will attest. In comparison, Australia's own used car salesman turned actor George Lazenby never quite cut the mustard, although his sole film as Bond, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, holds up in spite of his performance. As for Roger Moore, it's safe to say that his tenure was somewhat hit and miss. The Spy Who Loved Me and For Your Eyes Only are both pretty strong. Octopussy and View to a Kill, not so much.
With its wealth of European stalls, eateries and delis, Preston Market is like a culinary wonderland for salami-lovers. And when National Salami Day rolls around on Saturday, September 7, we can't think of a much better place to locate yourself. The historic marketplace is celebrating the occasion with a one-day program of offerings and specials to delight your inner Italophile and reignite your love of the humble salami. You'll find salami specials at Slavonija, Lemnos and Farinacci Delis, embark on a salami tasting journey at Gerry's Deli, and even give vegan salami a whirl, with tastings of a plant-based version at Rhubarb Rhubarb Organics. Then, once you're done with the eating, you can have a crack at the making, as Sara Grazia from Sausages Made Simple guides a free salami-making demonstration from 11am. She'll run you through everything from meat selection, to maturing, and will be doling out plenty of tastings along the way. Still hungry? You can wrap up your day with a salami-topped pizza, from resident pizzerias Peter's or Vinnie's.
Lorde is back. After five years away from music, the New Zealand pop sensation returned in 2021 with third studio album Solar Power. And, if you've been hanging out to hear it live, her delayed tour is finally heading our way in March. The Solar Power World Tour was meant to hit in 2022, but was postponed due to New Zealand's COVID-19 situation and border rules at the time. When it makes its way to Melbourne's Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Friday, March 10–Saturday, March 11, fans will still be in for a treat, of course — and three albums worth of Lorde tunes. [caption id="attachment_816623" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Come Up Show[/caption] On the Solar Power tour, expect to have plenty of company belting out all the words to 'Ribs' and 'Green Light'. The last time that Australia was treated to Lorde's live set was her headline set at Splendour in the Grass 2018, a full-circle moment for the singer as she returned to the stage of one of her first ever performances as a last-minute replacement for Frank Ocean back in 2013. A year prior, in 2017, Lorde also toured some of Australia's largest and most iconic outdoor venues including the Sydney Opera House Forecourt. Top image: Liliane Callegari via Wikimedia Commons.
A remote alpine village more than 300 kilometres from Melbourne is about to drift into a world of shadows, murmurs and dreams. Curated by artists Madelynne Cornish and Philip Samartzis in the foothills of the Alpine National Park, Phantasmagoria is a free, site-responsive festival and exhibition incorporating video and sound works, photography, installations and interactive art. Taking place over three days in Bogong Village, the festival portion of Phantasmagoria runs from Friday, April 7 through to Sunday, April 9. Visitors will interact with technology, including QR codes and FM radio transmitters, and will walk through a sound garden of embedded loudspeakers. Many of the works will draw on the history of the region, including dreamtime stories and folklore. The Bogong Centre for Sound Culture will also play host to a 'legacy exhibition' of video and sound art over the subsequent three weekends in April. Image: Charinthorn Rachurutchata.
Last time Hunx & His Punx were here — back in 2012 — they charmed many an Antipodean heart with their penchant for getting (nearly) naked, offers to autograph genitalia and expletive-rich expressions of self-desire. In short, they delivered nothing less than what you’d expect of San Francisco’s maddest and baddest bubblegum punk band. So it’s only natural that we’ve invited them back. And this time, they’re bringing Shannon and the Clams in their suitcases for a five-date April tour that will see the two bands smashing genres at Fitzroy's Copacabana on April 17. Since their previous visit, Hunx & His Punx have been busy blending ‘80s hardcore and ‘90s grrrl sounds to create nasty yet catchy tunes for their new album Street Punk, which was released in 2013 via Hardly Art. Meanwhile, co-tourers Shannon and the Clams have lately been spending time playing SXSW sideshows and Psych Fest and hitting the road via Burgerama tours. They mash ‘60s girl group sounds with West Coast garage rock, delivering “doo woppers, bomp stompers, punk rippers, country clippers and psych-o trippers”. Trying say that really quickly five times in a row. Tickets on sale on Friday, 14 March. Tickets via Oztix.
Melbourne Park might be the buzzing heart and soul of the grand slam action right now, but come 11am on Sunday, January 29, it'll be all eyes on the CBD as Bourke Street Mall becomes a lively tennis hub of its own. It's all thanks to the inaugural Match in the Mall — a doubles tennis match played right there in front of Myer, featuring some of the game's greats. Nab yourself a free ticket to see former world number one Ash Barty and Jim Courier, as well as Alicia Molik and Casey Dellacqua, battle it out for glory in a somewhat unlikely arena. [caption id="attachment_886137" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dellacqua, Molik and Barty[/caption] After that, you'll also catch Myer Ambassador Kris Smith showing off some racquet skills of his own as he hits the court, going up against more Aussie tennis legends. There are limited spots to see the debut Match in the Mall, with free tickets available online. But even if you miss out, there's no need to smash a racquet — you can catch the livestream over on the Myer Facebook page. [caption id="attachment_886139" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Philip Mallis via Flickr[/caption]
With Victoria now in lockdown again until 11.59pm on Tuesday, July 20, home cooking and takeaway is back on the menu. Fancy the latter more than the former? Spent too much time baking during the other four similar stints at home? Eager to order in for any reason possible? If you fall into any of the above categories, and you're keen to both support local eateries and keep an eye on your bank balance, Deliveroo is ditching its delivery fees for orders from most restaurants. Until the current expected end of lockdown at 11.59pm on Tuesday, July 20, the service is doing free delivery from a range of Victoria eateries. More than 7800 places are taking part, with Royal Stacks, Misschu, Oriental Tea House and Danny's Burgers among the participating Melbourne eateries, and venues in Ballarat, Geelong and Bendigo also on the list. If your stomach is craving fast food at this chaotic time, Macca's, Guzman y Gomez, Grill'd and Oporto are all involved as well. The aim: to encourage Victorians to help local restaurants during this latest stay-at-home period and, because that's the world we live in, to help stop panic buying at supermarkets as well. To ensure that all of the eateries involved aren't missing out on revenue or left out of pocket, Deliveroo is footing the bill for the discounted amount, too. If you're suddenly hungry, you'll need to place an order via the Deliveroo app. There are usually caveats, with the free delivery deal not normally extending to bottle shops, KFC, Crust or Domino's, or to places listed in the app as 'delivered by restaurant'. When Deliveroo ditches its delivery fees, you also usually need to spend at least $10 at most eateries, $12 at McDonald's, Subway and Baskin-Robbins, and $15 if you're purchasing from Red Rooster. Deliveroo is doing free delivery across Victorian eateries until 11.59pm on Tuesday, July 20. To make an order, head to the Deliveroo app. Top image: Oriental Tea House.
Free doughnuts. There's not much else to say, really. Except that if you are anywhere near Dandenong Market (or can be) on Friday, June 2, you should make a beeline to Dandee Donuts in Market Square. That's where the free doughnuts will be. Between 8am and 4pm the soft pillowy balls of dough will be filled with hot jam and rolled in sugar and handed over with no questions asked. The only condition is that you can't be greedy — there's only one free doughnut per person.
If farewelling winter has left you feeling like a spring chicken once again, there's only one real way to celebrate and that's with a day of chook-filled frivolity at Munich Brauhaus. Next Saturday, October 6, the Bavarian-inspired venue is dishing up some extra clucking good fun, as part of its monthlong Oktoberfest celebrations. Head along early from 12.30pm to battle it out for glory at one of the day's many competitions — show off your guns at The Great Rubber Chicken Toss, get vocal for the chicken-inspired 'cluck off', or feast your way to fame in the bar's annual hot wing eating championship. To refuel after all that cluckin', you'll find an array of food specials on offer from 3pm, including chicken wings for just 10 cents a pop (from 3–4pm) and $10 half serves of roast chook, teamed with chips and slaw. Then, at 2.30pm, punters young and old will have the chance to make history, during an attempt to break the record for Australia's Largest Chicken Dance... if that's your thing.
In 1956, the Corvin Cinema in Budapest became the home base for the unsuccessful Hungarian uprising against the USSR. The rebellion was short-lived, but had long-lasting repercussions — for Europe, of course, but also for the filmmakers who were due to premiere their movie at the theatre the very next week. Billed as a "performance lecture", and featuring interviews with the exiled screenwriter and other people involved in the film's production, History History History tells the story of the making of the movie, a comedy about football that doubled as a thinly veiled satire of the communist regime. The film itself will be screened even as the performers do their thing, as theatre-maker Deborah Pearson explores questions of history, censorship and imagination. History History History will be on stage at The Substation in Newport as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival.
Dangerous thinkers, Damn the Man activists and controversial intellectuals will bring their rebellious tales to Sydney Opera House for the sixth year running, with Salman Rushie, Steven Pinkler and Pussy Riot at the fore of this year's Festival of Dangerous Ideas lineup. The annual hootenanny for controversial, groundbreaking and system-shaking thinkers, FODI annually fronts up a killer lineup of the names we consistently include in our opinionated tweets. "This year, we are looking at some of the major threats to life as we know it — mass extinction and existential risk — as well as politics, families and global issues,"says head of talks and ideas at Sydney Opera House and co-curator of Festival of Dangerous Ideas, Ann Mossop. "Our guests are both intellects and activists and this will definitely prove a lively mixture. The Festival gives audiences an opportunity to listen to some of the most important thinkers of our time. Ultimately it is the audiences who have the most interesting part to play at the Festival — the tough and absorbing task of deciding what to do with the dangerous ideas of our era." This year's lineup has drawn out some serious intellectual squeals Sydney-wide. Controversial, Booker Prize-winning Midnight's Children writer, Salman Rushdie, will speak about freedom, sticking to your guns and defiantly standing for untamed expression in his talk Freedom to Write. In one of FODI's most buzzworthy talks, dubbed Russia is a Penal Colony, former members of activist legends Pussy Riot, Nadya Tolonnikova and Masha Alekhina, will tell tales of activism, being jailed for 'hooliganism' and setting up their new not-for-profit charity, Zona Prava, while fighting for their own dangerous ideas. Russian journalist, author, and member of the democratic opposition to the regime of Vladimir Putin, Masha Gessen will delve further into Pussy Riot's activism in a predicted-to-sell-out conversation with the pair. Experimental linguist, psychologist and eternal nature-versus-nurture writer Steven Pinker will unravel the popular notion that violence is an inevitable consequence of human nature in his talk Stop Trying to Fix Human Nature — also arguing we're enjoying the most significant period of peace in our history. Challengers to underlying systems and Damn the Man enthusiasts like fearless journalist, feminist and human rights activist Lydia Cacho uncover some horrible truths in our messed up world. Cacho investigates the alive-and-well slave trade — something we see as a Civil War era past wrongdoing, but is a still a globalised, multi-billion dollar industry by way of the sex trade and international trafficking — in Slavery is Big Buisness. Writer and researcher, Kay Hymowitz will delve into women as breadwinners and the supposed decline of male culture in The Rise of Women Has Turned Men into Boys; and surrogacy as a global industry is put under the microscope in journalist, writer and activist Kajsa Ekis Ekman's talk Surrogacy is Child Trafficking. The full program is available on the website. Multipack tickets go on sale on Monday 30 June at 9am before single tickets on Wednesday 2 July at 9am. Festival of Dangerous Ideas 2014 Lineup: Salman Rushdie Pussy Riot Masha Gessen Steven Pinker Malcolm Fraser Lydia Cacho Bradley Garrett Alissa Nutting John Hewson Bettina Arndt Glenn Robbins John Pilger Jane Caro Elizabeth Kolbert Noelle Janaczewska Anne Manne Elizabeth Pisani Jaan Tallinn Ragip Zarakolu Kajsa Ekis Ekiman Dan Ilic Tim Flannery Kay Hymowitz Francesca Minerva Mark Latham David Baker Rebecca Newberger Goldstein Emily Nussbaum Huw Price A Rational Fear Festival of Dangerous Ideas runs 30 - 31 August at Sydney Opera House. Tickets available here. UPDATED WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25: Sydney Opera House have decided to remove Uthman Badar's talk 'Honour Killings Are Morally Justified' after a huge collective WTF from the public.
Winter might be on its way, but at least this year you'll have some fun new cocktails to get you there in good spirits. The legends at The Ascot Lot have been hard at work creating not one, but five new espresso martinis and they're launching them with a mini drinks festival on Saturday, April 27. Swing by the food truck park to sample all five varieties, including the coconut-heavy Bounty Hunter, the fruity Cherry Bite and, for the purists, an expertly crafted traditional version. They'll be going extra cheap at just $10 a pop, or you can grab a $40 Espresso Yourself Pass to try all of the cocktails in one sitting. As always, there'll be plenty of food trucks on hand and stacks of dogs to pat, plus DJ Lloyd Jones will be dishing up tunes from 3pm, right through till night. Espresso Yourself will run from midday till 10pm.
Because we've all been so good this year, the Melbourne Gin Company are partnering with Patricia Coffee Brewers to bring us a pop-up aperitivo bar, serving only gin and tonic concoctions. Every Friday until February 23, the MGC Summer bar will be open at Patricia from 5pm-8pm – a perfect window for wind-down drinks after a busy week at work. They'll be offering a range of four gin tipples on a rotating menu featuring mixers and syrups by local producers. They've also collaborated with Patricia to create the cold drip G&T, which we're particularly intrigued by. The point (not that a G&T pop-up really needs to justify its existence) is to teach gin lovers about the importance of garnish and tonic on the profile of your G&T. You can work out your perfect gin combo and, armed with this knowledge, never order a bad beverage again. Drinks are priced at $10 across the board.
We all know the Australian Open is the ideal time to road test your experimental sunhats, mix and match shorts and polos, and practice day drinking in a classy way. But Melbourne, being Melbourne, does the tennis a little differently. This year, you can't swing a racket around without hitting a gourmet food pop-up. A range of big culinary names are popping up in honour of the Aussie open. Shane Delia and his Collingwood fave Biggie Smalls can be found in Garden Square, George Colombaris's Gazi is popping up at the Grand Slam Oval alongside Mamasita (a mostly gluten-free modern Mexican restaurant that usually resides on Collins Street) and dessert favourite Doughnut Time. And if you want to get your fancy on, head on over to the Hisense Arena and try to nab a reservation for Neil Perry's Rockpool or Nobuyuki Matsuhisa's Nobu. Tennis has gotten a helluva lot fancier than your standard hotdog in a cardboard holder. In the same realm of fanciness, you can also book exclusive food experiences with Pastuso's Alejandro Saravia, Angela Hartnett from London's Murano, and Sydney's Peter Gilmore — but that'll cost a little more because Melbourne's doesn't mess around when it comes to fuelling up for the tennis. Start preparing your best tennis-themed food puns (anything about grand slammin' doughnuts will do just fine) and grab your tickets here.
This April, the banks of the Yarra will once again come alive for Melbourne's biggest food truck festival yet, thanks to the minds behind The Food Truck Park. Set to eclipse the collective's regular events in Preston and at the Coburg Drive-In, the Food Truck Festival will see the city's best four-wheeled food vendors descend on Birrarung Marr across five huge days. Running from April 24–28, the culinary lineup will feature the most popular food trucks from each corner of Melbourne. And you can expect to be totally spoilt for choice, with over 40 vendors slinging everything from fried chicken and Asian-inspired eats, to vegan fare and craft beers. What's more, sweet tooths will find their ultimate oasis in a precinct dedicated entirely to desserts. Rounding out the edible goodness will be a program of art, live music and other fun, with entry free across the entire festival. The Food Truck Festival will run from 5–10pm on Wednesday and Friday, midday–10pm on Thursday and 11am–10pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Sacrifice, of the kind where ideals clash with safety and responsibility, is at the heart of A Thousand Times Good Night. The film starts with a potent example, as photojournalist Rebecca (Juliette Binoche) snaps away in Afghanistan. Secreted to a secluded spot, she starts capturing a funeral; however, it is soon revealed that her subject isn’t dead. Instead, the prone pose is part of a ritual preparing a suicide-bomber for a mission that goes awry, injuring Rebecca in the process. Juxtaposing the struggle of a woman driven to chronicle the horrors of humanity with the plights of those whose daily lives exist on the precipice between life and death, this introduction makes a strong statement. The former clearly seems trivial in comparison to the latter, but both have costs and consequences. Rebecca has a husband (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and two daughters (Lauryn Canny and Adrianna Cramer Curtis) restless with worry when she is out in the field. Giving up her passion for her loved ones’ peace of mind doesn’t come easily, as she is troubled in her attempts to reconcile the need to make a difference with the comforts of home and the calling of family. Alas, following on from such a striking and tense opening was always going to be difficult. The focus swiftly shifts to an account of disturbed domesticity, and so does the A Thousand Times Good Night’s effectiveness and interest. Contemplating the professional versus personal divide is admirable, and touching upon the ethics of observing versus intervening sparks questions, although both areas have been traversed more thoughtfully in other films. Here, they’re just mechanisms to incite conflict in a marriage melodrama. In such rendering of the circumstances, much is left to rest on Binoche’s talented shoulders. Thankfully, it is never tiresome to see the actress on screen, even when a furrowed brow seems her standard expression. Coster-Waldau is sadly given little to do, other than rally against the protagonist’s choices. Instead, it is young newcomer Canny that offers the best depiction of the traumatic repercussions of living with and loving someone constantly drawn to perilous situations. A Thousand Times Good Night is inspired by the early photographer years of director Erik Poppe’s own career, as conveyed in a script co-written with his long-term collaborator Harald Rosenløw-Eeg, but it is easy to dismiss its content as fiction. Only the war-torn visuals seem taken from Poppe’s experiences; indeed, some of his own stills are used, and the handsome imagery certainly eclipses the strived-for emotion. That’s the issue: the story and performances are just too concerned with heavy-handed sentiments to ring true. It seems that the key sacrifice the film makes is in its approach, preferring the appearance of resonance to taking any thematic risks.
How do you make a fun run extra fun? Just add a whole lot of pooches, a few ice-cold brews and a rollicking after party. And that's exactly what you'll find at the annual Run to The Dog event, which returns for its fourth edition on Sunday, March 3, promising a cracking day out for humans and pups alike. This one see competitors — both the two-legged and four-legged variety — hit the Yarra Trail for a run or walk through Kew, Richmond and Abbotsford, finishing up beside the river at Flockhart Reserve. Cross that finish line and you'll score a free Moon Dog beer for your efforts (or a wine or cider if you'd prefer), before everyone congregates for a good old-fashioned park party. There'll be post-run revelry aplenty, complete with a Moon Dog pop-up bar, free cold brew coffee from Supreme, a swag of pet-inspired market stalls and food truck eats from the likes of Gringo Paella and Sliders on Tyres. Shoot the Dog will also be there with a nifty dog photo booth, raising funds for not-for-profit animal welfare organisation Save a Dog. You can enter the two-kilometre ($20), five-kilometre ($30), or ten-kilometre ($50) course, or simply play spectator and cheer on from the sidelines. The Flockhart Reserve after-party is free for all to join.
If anyone knows how to celebrate World Tequila Day in style, it's the agave experts at Melbourne Mexican joints Mamasita and Hotel Jesus, and Sydney's legendary tequila bar Tio's Cerveceria. And indeed, the three are joining forces to mark the occasion with a Tequila MiniFest this Sunday, July 22. The free 2.5-hour tasting session takes over Mamasita's Collins Street headquarters from midday, showcasing over 50 different tequila creations, most of which aren't usually available on Aussie shores. You'll have the chance to chat with some of the country's top tequila suppliers and even purchase a bottle of something rare from the pop-up 'Mamasita Tienda' tequila shop. And of course, the Mamasita kitchen will be whipping up a menu of tacos and other Mexican snacks, especially for the occasion.
Standing atop Yosemite National Park's El Capitan after scaling it alone and without ropes, harnesses or any other safety equipment, Alex Honnold cut a surprisingly subdued figure. As the Oscar-winning documentary Free Solo captured, he was obviously ecstatic, but he isn't the type to leap and scream with excitement. So, he smiled blissfully. He also advised the cameras that he was "so delighted". In the opening moments of new doco The Alpinist, however, he is effusive — as enthusiastic as the no-nonsense climbing superstar gets, that is. In a historical clip, he's asked who he's excited about in his very specific extreme sports world. His answer: "this kid Marc-André Leclerc." Zipping from the Canadian Rockies to Patagonia, with ample craggy pitstops in-between, The Alpinist tells Leclerc's tale, explaining why someone of Honnold's fame and acclaim sings his praises. Using the Free Solo subject as an entry point is a smart choice by filmmakers Peter Mortimer and Nick Rosen — industry veterans themselves, with 2014's Valley Uprising on their shared resume and 2017's The Dawn Wall on Mortimer's — but their climber of focus here would demand attention even without the high-profile endorsement. Indeed, dizzying early shots of him in action almost say all that's needed about his approach to great heights, and his near-preternatural skill in the field. Scaling hard, immovable rock faces is one thing, but Leclerc is seen here clambering up alpine surfaces, conquering glistening yet precarious sheets of ice and snow. Any shot that features the Canadian twenty-something mountaineering is nothing short of breathtaking. Describing it as 'clambering up' does him a disservice, actually, and downplays The Alpinist's stunning footage as well. Leclerc is just that graceful and intuitive as he reaches higher, seemingly always knowing exactly where to place his hands, feet and axe, all while heading upwards in frighteningly dangerous situations. As Mortimer notes, narrating the documentary and almost-indulgently inserting himself into the story, alpine free soloing is another level of climbing. No shortage of talking-head interviewees also stress this reality. Protective equipment is still absent, but all that ice and snow could melt or fall at any second. In fact, the routes that the obsessive Leclerc finds in his climbs will no longer exist again, and mightn't just moments after he's made his ascent. Simply charting Leclerc's impressive feats could've been The Alpinist sole remit; Mortimer and Rosen certainly wanted that and, again, the film's hypnotic, vertigo-inducing imagery is just that extraordinary. Some shots peer at the mountains in all their towering glory, letting viewers spot the tiny speck moving amid their majesty in their own time, before zooming in to get a closer look at Leclerc. Other nerve-shattering scenes intimately capture every careful choice, every movement of his limbs and every decision about what to hold on to, inescapably aware that these are sheer life-or-death moments. But The Alpinist isn't the movie its makers initially dreamed of, because Leclerc isn't Honnold or The Dawn Wall's Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson. While affable when posed in front of the camera, he's also silently begrudging, because he'd visibly rather just be doing what he loves in total anonymity instead of talking about it, having it filmed and earning the world's eyes. Climbing documentaries frequently unfurl in layers, pairing character studies, astonishing feats and the history of the field, as The Alpinist does. But films about this risky pastime often need to grapple with their own existence and ethics, too, and the difficulties and complexities faced when making such features. Where Free Solo mused on how the act of filming might influence Honnold as he attempted his rocky quest, either putting him in more peril or encouraging him to do that himself because he was being watched, The Alpinist ponders how recording Leclerc's climbs impacts his mental experience. As touched upon again and again, including by the man himself, Leclerc sees alpinism as a transcendent mindset. It's where he's at his most free, where his body and mind work as one, and where he's firmly in the moment. He doesn't feel that with lenses pointed his way and camera crews right there with him, unsurprisingly. So, partway through the documentary's filming, he starts ducking the directors' calls and just mountaineering for himself again. Eventually, after months of chasing — and after Mortimer and Rosen's vocal frustration at learning about Leclerc's latest alpine achievements via other climbers' social media feeds — they all agree that he'll do his thing alone first, then he'll repeat it for the cameras. The footage is no less phenomenal as a result, and the tension no less gripping. This is an affectionate movie, complete with Leclerc's mother Michelle Kuipers looking back on his childhood and free-spirited teen years, and his girlfriend and fellow climber Brette Harrington also sharing her thoughts, but it also values immersing its audience in the vivid experiences at its centre. Sweaty palms are a side effect, as they are with all the best climbing docos — which is where this film easily fits. With his mop of shaggy hair, a mountain of enthusiasm even his camera shyness can't hide, a wide grin and a complete commitment to climbing (with Harrington, he spent years living in stairwells and tents because this type of life can take you everywhere and anywhere), Leclerc is still a dream doco subject. Although that description clearly didn't apply logistically while The Alpinist was in production, his love of reaching great heights radiates across the screen. Existing fans will already know where the film has to finish, and know why it can only have a celebratory tone, but that doesn't diminish the movie's thrills, joys, goosebumps, insights and intrigue. Similarly, it doesn't temper its interrogation of alpine climbing's frozen beauty versus its inherent dangers, or its thoughtful and compelling portrait of a person eagerly embracing both extremes.
Looking for a way to ease into the week? Well, you won't find it at Nora. On Monday, October 17 they're doing dinner — but it won't be a drop-in, drop-out affair. In collaboration with three of Melbourne's most exciting restaurants, the experimental Thai eatery will be hosting a special one-off French dinner — and it will span a massive 12 courses. Nora's Sarin Rojanametin will join forces with Lûmé's Shaun Quade, Amaru's Clinton McIver and Peter Gunn from IDES for this epic feast, which will be based upon the four chefs' interpretations of French neo bistro cuisine. The event comes off the back of the quartet's dessert collaboration last month, and a recent trip to Paris that saw the Nora team get right into the new wave of French bistro food. Each chef will be creating three courses, which adds up to a very substantial 12 courses all-up. Tickets are $180 each, which is pretty hefty, but potentially worth it when you consider you're getting four top chefs cooking you dinner in an intimate space (which will be matched to French wines, no less).
The boss bitches of the local beer scene are taking over the taps of Collingwood's Fox Hotel. One of the absolute standouts on this year's Good Beer Week program, Girl Power will feature cold ones from some of Victoria's best female brewers, including the ladies from Beer Diva and Two Birds Brewing. There'll also be an all-women music lineup featuring Monique Brumby, DJ Blaberunner, Little Wise and Emma Wall and the Urban Folk. It all goes down from 2pm on Sunday, May 14, and, like the best things in life, entry is 100 percent free. Image: Simon Shiff.
Fuzzy's national electronic-meets-hip hop festival Listen Out is back for another round and this year's lineup is a humdinger, topped by California's inimitable Anderson .Paak, with his live band The Free Nationals. He's joined by UK beatsmiths Gorgon City, big trap fiend Baauer, AV-happy producer Claptone live, Harlem Trap Lord A$AP Ferg, LA young gun Jauz, grime newcomer Stormzy, Swedish rap phenomenon Yung Lean and more. There's plenty of homegrown love on the bill this year, as always, with festival favourites Rüfüs marking their final Aussie shows of 2016, alongside the likes of Cosmo's Midnight, Ngaiire, L D R U, JOY, Sui Zhen and Willow Beats. Listen Out tours nationally to four of Australia's capitals, and will make its way to St Kilda's Catani Gardens on Saturday, September 24. See the full slam dunk of a lineup below. LISTEN OUT 2016 LINEUP Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals A$AP Ferg Claptone Immortal Live Cosmo's Midnight Gorgon City DJ Set Baauer JAUZ JOY. L D R U Ngaiire Rüfüs Stormzy Sui Zhen DJ Set Tash Sultana Tchami Willow Beats Yung Lean Image: Listen Out.
