Celebrated in Mexico and the USA, Cinco de Mayo is a holiday that fits in seamlessly with our ongoing obsession with everything Mexican, so we partnered with Corona to throw Cinco de Mayo celebrations in Melbourne's best Mexican bars. Here's how the night went down.
So. You've watched all the documentaries on VICE's YouTube channel. You're up to your second viewing up just about everything on SBS's Food Network. You definitely don't want to watch A Current Affair. What's a news-hungry millennial to do? In answer to your free-to-air TV dreams, SBS and VICE today launched not only a new show, but a whole goddamn TV channel for your viewing pleasure. The new channel was announced earlier this year, but was set live at 4pm today, Tuesday, November 15, replacing SBS 2. It will be an extension of VICE's online TV channel VICELAND, and will be called by the same name. Along with some of SBS 2's news, sport and entertainment programs, VICELAND's programming will include VICE's own newscasts and doco series including Black Market (starring The Wire's Michael K Williams), Ellen Page's Gaycation, and F*ck That's Delicious with Action Bronson. VICELAND launched online earlier this year with a collection of Spike Jonze-produced docos. You can view the full schedule here or switch on your TV to SBS 2.
Everyone's favourite coffee wizards Everyday Coffee are moving up in the world and have just thrown the doors open to a second cafe in the CBD. Everyday Coffee II: The Revenge of the Coffee (or, as they like to call it, Everyday Midtown) are the newest residents of Little Collins Street. The new fit-out is as sleek, understated and effortlessly cool as their Collingwood flagship, so you can expect the same insane level of service and quality coffee we've come to expect from the OG Everyday. And Fitzroy's Donut Shop will be providing the decadent treat menu. They're calling the new venture Everyday Midtown which is cool because it implies Melbourne has a midtown, like it's some sort of New York or San Francisco. And with hip coffee joints serving up doughnuts, we might soon be. Everyday Midtown is now open at 213 Little Collins Street, Melbourne. It's open 7am - 4pm Monday to Friday and 9am - 4pm on Saturdays. For more information, visit their Instagram.
This is one for the foodies out there who love local produce and the freshest of fare. Owner of Pope Joan Matt Wilkinson has stocked Hams & Bacon with goodies from his favourite farmers and producers so you can bring something extra special to the dinner table for the festive season. Matt’s own product range, aptly named Mr Wilkinson’s, are the perfect Christmas stocking-stuffers and include relishes, chutneys and sauces. They’ve even ordered in extra Christmas stock for those who’ve left ordering the ham, turkey or prawns a little late this year, as well as some exceptional hampers that are sure to make your mouth water.
In 1977 Andrew found two boxes of books under his parents' house. He sold those books at the Wantirna Trash and Treasure Market for the princely sum of $12. Then in 1981, Andrew opened up his first shop in Ringwood, and two years later he opened this store in Ivanhoe. Now, Andrew's Bookshop is one of few independent booksellers serving Melbourne's northeastern suburbs. So, go say 'g'day', and make sure to ask about the featured author of the week (it's usually a local author).
As the apple belt of Australia, Goulburn Valley may have a place in your heart for providing all that thirst-quenching apple juicy goodness, but it's about to be known for something else too. Mitchelton Winery, one of the region's prettiest winery destinations, is launching a $16 million luxury boutique hotel so now you can indulge in that second glass and stay overnight. The hotel is nestled in a crook of the Goulburn River and surrounded acres of fertile grape land. Against a lush background, the Mitchelton Hotel and Spa is a striking slice of minimalist heaven for people who like quality, not gaudy, luxury. As well as 58 rooms on offer, they also have a 20-metre infinity pool and spa. The hotel was designed by the good folk at Hecker Guthrie and they've gone hard on the natural textures — expect a lot of divine linen and exposed timber — and tied it all together with a dark, muted colour palette. With an in-room selection of the vineyard's finest drops, you may never want to leave your suite but you definitely should, to take a stroll through the stunning grounds. The experience doesn't stop there though, you can also indulge in the decadent in-house restaurant and cellar, and a chocolate café serving up couverture chocolates and cakes. The hotel is taking bookings for summer now so if you're all about wine, minimalist luxe and imported chocolate, well, hop to it.
Just look for the big queue on Hopkins Street and you'll likely be led straight to Pho Hung Vuong Saigon. This bustling Vietnamese eatery is almost always packed and with good cause; a wide array of pho and traditional Vietnamese dishes, matched with friendly and efficient service, means the line is always full but ever moving. The rich savoury broths coming out of the kitchen can be filled with just about any combination of beef, chicken, pork and vegetables. The portions are massive and the prices low (prices start at just $12) making it an ideal pit-stop for a quick hearty lunch or a comforting spot of dinner after a long day. And it's not just pho on offer here — there's a today selection of rice and noodle dishes, as well as classic appetisers rice paper rolls and spring rolls. Images: Julia Sansone
Winter is not traditionally ice cream weather. However, when that ice cream is being served up by Helados Jauja, seasons no longer matter, only the taste and the chance to devour as much as you can, and that chance just became a whole lot easier thanks to UBER. The on-demand private driver service has teamed up with the Argentinian artisan gelateria for Friday, July 19, only to deliver their deliciousness directly to your door. UBER Ice Cream Trucks will be transporting specially prepared packs of Helados Jauja around Melbourne from 2pm to 10pm and you can enjoy this service with the simple flick of a finger. To order, download the UBER app, then just open it, move the slider to the 'Ice Cream' option and request a delivery to your door in minutes — $20 will get you a 500ml tub and some UBER merch. It's easier than serving your own ice cream at home, and definitely more delicious. You can keep up to date with all of the action on Twitter and Instagram if you want (@Uber_Melbourne and #UberIceCream) whilst devouring your mouthwatering treat but remember, this is for today Friday, July 19, only (or, as I like to call it, ice-cream Christmas), so take advantage of this offer whilst you can. Concrete Playground readers get an exclusive offer when they join Uber. Use the code CPVIP and get $20 off your first ride. The offer is available to new users only and is valid for all Black and Lux car services.
Eight years after she last toured Australia in 2005, nine-time Grammy winner Norah Jones will bring her soulful blend of country and folk-tinged jazz pop back here this February. Defying everyone who ascribed her success to genetics (she's not only gorgeous but the daughter of recently deceased sitar legend Ravi Shankar, who she collected a posthumous Grammy for just last Sunday), Jones achieved massive critical success with 2002's Come Away With Me and followed it up with 2004's Feels Like Home. Both albums were an addictive blend of jazz and pop that marked a fresh direction for Blue Note Records, the New York jazz label she released them on. Last year Jones clawed her way back to media darling status with the Danger Mouse-produced Little Broken Hearts, the first album since 2009's The Fall. This new offering mixes her smoky vocals with a comparatively uptempo beat and darker themes, "Miriam" even painting her as a murderous lover, but it's still family-friendly. By that we simply mean it defies generations, which in turn means competition for tickets will be that much tougher. https://youtube.com/watch?v=MZgkClKE6hQ
If you've ever wanted to know what Melbourne's best chefs do in the shadows, this is your chance. After a successful August debut, Ombra's ongoing monthly dinner series, Shadow Thieves has been chugging along nicely with some seriously special Monday night feeds. December is all about those magnums. They'll be opening four different bottles — a Bellavista, a Donhoff, a Moric, and a Saracco — and pouring them freely throughout the night with a four-course menu from Ombra. You can have a sneak peek at the menu here. The 'Magnum Mayhem' dinner will be held on Monday, December 7 at Ombra Salumi Bar on Bourke Street. A ticket will set you back $95 — but for forking out, you'll get a four-course meal and some generous pours from four incredible wines. The Shadow Thieves dinners are set to continue, with nights centred around cheese, crab and spirits all in the pipeline.
When it was revealed that Watchmen was returning — with the comic book series getting the HBO treatment a decade after the movie of the same name — it felt like obvious news. Caped crusaders are big business on screens both small and silver, and every old superhero becomes new again at some point. But no one could've predicted just how this nine-part series would turn out, how timely it'd feel and how it'd take on an identity of its own. Set 34 years after the events of Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons and John Higgins' graphic novels, there's a reason that it has been scooping up all the awards for the past year. This version of Watchmen is still set in the same alternate reality; however, under showrunner Damon Lindelof (Lost, The Leftovers), it turns its focus to racially motivated violence and vigilantism. It's brought to the screen with a top-notch cast (including Regina King, Jeremy Irons, Don Johnson, Hong Chau and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) and a bucket load of murky complexity.
Everyone knows the rule: when you go to someone's house for dinner, you bring something (even when they insist you shouldn't). After all, they've just spent hours slaving away in the kitchen — or ordering takeaway and putting it on nice plates to pretend they cooked it. No need to panic purchase a lame box of choccies or spend hours staring dumbly at the bottle-o shelves to end up picking something based on how nice the label is. In partnership with BWS, we've got you covered for top-notch drops to take along. Whether it's refreshing summertime favourites, easy-drinking Aussie brews or lesser-known wine varieties, this crowd-pleasing list ensures success — and we'll even let you take all the credit. KRUSH TROPICAL PALE ALE — KAIJU! BEER Dandenong brewery Kaiju! Beer has been a fan favourite for years, as has its signature Krush Tropical Pale Ale. Expect a truckload of different hop varieties — including top billers like mosaic, cascade, citra and simcoe — to be balanced by a light malt backbone. As the name suggests, it's a juicy brew with heaps of tropical fruit notes to quench your thirst. This is the beer to bring to barbecues and outdoor picnics, as its easy-going taste will mimic the laidback atmosphere. PASH THE MAGIC DRAGON — BATCH BREWING CO Never seen dragon fruit in a beer before? Well, Sydney's Batch Brewing Co is more than happy to oblige. The brewers here are always thinking up something unusual to throw in the tank — former oddball concoctions include a polarising pickle beer and another inspired by the legendary Marrickville Pork Roll. But Pash the Magic Dragon is hands down one of the brewery's tastiest creations yet. This fruity sour ale contains heaps of fresh dragon fruit and passionfruit, and the combination is just delightful. It's perfectly balanced between sour and sweet, and the peachy colour makes it just a little more fun to drink, too. It can easily be paired with fruit-based desserts like pavlova, or alongside the main course, especially if it's a spicy dish. CÔTE DES ROSES ROSÉ — GÉRARD BERTRAND Showing up at your mate's house with a bottle of rosé is a no-brainer during the warm weather months. If you want to set your summertime favourite apart from the pack, go for Gerard Bertrand's Côte des Roses Rosé. It blends floral notes with summer fruits and is full-bodied yet balanced with a dry finish. And it's just oh-so-refreshing. This French wine also looks fancy in its pretty glass bottle with a rose-shaped bottom. Plus, it won't break the bank. PHENOMENAL FIANO — ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM If you want to impress your friends with your wine knowledge, bring along a lesser-known variety that they'll absolutely love. We suggest this fiano by Elephant in the Room. This South Australian winery is known for its full-bodied drops, and the fiano doesn't disappoint. The white wine expresses notes of citrus, apple and spice, with a crisp minerality that offers the perfect finish. It's undoubtedly a bold wine and is best shared with those who want something a little different. PINOT NOIR — RAMBLING ROSES As the nights start to cool, it's just about time to get back on those reds. A decent pinot noir is a good place to start — it's lighter, it isn't too heavy for autumn evenings. If you're looking for something that'll impress, but is accessible, Rambling Roses' version is the way to go. It presents as a typical pinot noir, but, for a discerning palate, is much more than that. Expect notes of red and black currants with juicy strawberries on the nose and an overall depth of flavour. That being said, it's also exceptionally sessionable and works well paired with dinner. On warmer nights, be sure to give it a quick chill to ensure it's thoroughly enjoyed. Update: Due to the current situation, we understand that throwing or attending parties may not be a possibility right now. But there's a silver lining — you can still order all of these drinks online to enjoy at home. Head to the BWS website to browse the full range.
If you like to live like a million dollar foodie on minimum wage, this is the event for you. One of our favourite parts of the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival each year, the Restaurant Express series gives you the chance to finally try that new restaurant you've been reading about for a cool $40. Two twenty dollar bills cover a two-course lunch (including their signature dish) and a drink that will be matched to your food. And considering you can head to places like the Estelle, Albert St Food & Wine, Pei Modern, Stokehouse City and Union Dining, it's the best value in town for some of the best lunches around. See a full list of restaurants participating in Restaurant Express here.
English indietronica band Hot Chip have been helping crowds break into uncontrollable dance for the better part of two decades with numerous world tours and several critically acclaimed albums under their belt. For Melbourne Festival, Hot Chip frontman Alexis Taylor leaves the band at home to perform his third solo record – Listen With(out) Piano – a deeply personal project exploring the breakup of his parents, the first time he cried listening to music and the death of his friend, Vince Sipprell. This intimate performance will feature Taylor's iconic voice in full-flight as he performs cuts from his new album, alongside Hot Chip favourites updated for the piano.
Right now you're probably thinking about your next meal (we know we are). Will it be another Bon Appétit-inspired cook-up to impress everyone you're cooped up with in isolation, or have you earned yourself a night off from all that upskilling in the kitchen? If your enthusiasm for cooking has begun to wane, you may be reaching for your favourite takeaway app to start browsing the options for a quick fix. Before you do, check your booze stash. Trust us, there is a connection. At the moment, if you spend $50 or more on any Pernod Ricard products — such as vodka or gin for your quarantinis — you'll receive a $10 voucher to use on Deliveroo. [caption id="attachment_745926" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mary's Burgers by Nikki To[/caption] While we don't want to encourage excessive drinking during the COVID-19 lockdown, it's possible that you've already emptied your last bottle of wine and those cocktails you were shaking in week one have made your liquor cabinet look a tad dry. Pernod Ricard's range includes champagnes, cognac, gin, tequila, rum, whiskies and wines from brands like Absolut, Glenlivet, Jameson, Kahlua and Monkey 47, as well as Australian whites and reds from Jacob's Creek and St Hugo Wines. And the best part is that you can make your purchase from any online or bricks-and-mortar store, including BWS, Dan Murphy's, Liquorland, Porters Liquor, and a number of other participating stores. Just make sure you keep your receipt. Once you've made your purchase, it's easy to claim your Deliveroo voucher. Simply upload an image of your receipt to Pernod Ricard's website and, once validated, you'll be sent a discount code to your email address. You can then use the Deliveroo code for any food order — whether you're craving a hangover-busting burger, an icy Gelato Messina, or a comforting curry. Find out more about the Pernod Ricard offer here. The offer runs until the end of July, or until stocks last, and once you have your Deliveroo voucher you can use it immediately or until April 8, 2021. Find all the FAQs here.
If truth is stranger than fiction, then prepare to attend the oddest film festival around. There's nothing unusual about Hot Docs at Palace Cinemas itself; indeed, given that the brand new film fest is an Aussie offshoot of Canada's renowned documentary showcase, has been curated by former Brisbane and Melbourne International Film Festival director Richard Moore, and takes over Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney from June 14 to July 3, it's exciting for the most typical of reasons. But the real life tales the festival's features promise to tell — well, they're another matter. You just can't make this stuff up may as well be Hot Docs' catchphrase as it explores the extraordinary, uplifting, awe-inspiring and heartbreaking sides of life — and everything in between as well. In its first ever Australian edition, the festival boasts 24 films from 15 countries, which means that getting your true story fix just got a whole lot easier. If you don't know where to jump in, we've selected five must-see Hot Docs flicks as a starting point. CHUCK NORRIS VERSUS COMMUNISM We don't recommend judging a film by its title, but when it comes to Chuck Norris Versus Communism, that might be an impossible task. Years of memes and jokes about the actor and martial artist's prowess will do that. But as much as the movie's name might indicate otherwise, they're not the subject of this documentary. Instead, it explores the impact Chuck's action flicks had on Romanian viewers. When everything but propaganda was banned throughout the nation in the oppressive period that was the '80s, it was actually smuggled VHS tapes of Norris and his fellow fist-flinging heroes that helped give people hope. RAVING IRAN Whether you love it or hate it, you probably can't imagine a world without electronic dance music. Neither can aspiring Iranian DJs Anoosh and Arash — even though they're supposed to be living in one. Raving Iran charts the duo's attempts to chase their dreams and keep Tehran's underground techno scene alive in a country that punishes their chosen art form with imprisonment. Their secret raves have to stay a literal secret, but their struggle isn't just about spinning decks, scratching records and throwing all-night parties — it's about fighting for freedom. DIVING INTO THE UNKNOWN A word of warning: if you're claustrophobic, not so fond of caves or don't like spending much time in the ocean's depths, then Diving Into the Unknown mightn't be comfortable viewing. In fact, even if small underwater spaces don't usually freak you out, this account of a group of Finnish divers in a five-kilometre-long, 130-metre-deep Norwegian cave might just do the trick. It's the stuff that nightmares are made of as the team gets into life-or-death trouble under the icy surface. It's also the type of psychologically intense true tale that's bound to get made into a fictional feature — although in this case, we're betting that nothing beats the real deal. JIM: THE JAMES FOLEY STORY In a better world, no one would know Jim Foley's name — or if they did, it wouldn't be because of his kidnapping in Syria and subsequent public execution. In the Sundance audience award-winning doco Jim: The James Foley Story, Foley's childhood friend Brian Oakes shares the American photojournalist's story beyond the heartbreaking headlines and horrific video footage. Family, friends and fellow journalists explore the man behind the tragedy, and former hostages offer accounts of his courage in captivity. And then there's the footage that Foley shot himself, which offers an insider's view into one of the most awful ordeals imaginable. T-REX Forget Rocky, Creed and every other big screen boxing underdog — there's a new contender in town. In fact, saying that Claressa 'T–Rex' Shields fought her way from the streets of Michigan to the US Olympic boxing team isn't an exaggeration. Directors Drea Cooper and Zackary Canepari chart her battle to get to the top of her chosen sport, both in and out of the ring. Sure, you've seen boxing films before, but you haven't seen one as raw, resonant and real as this. Hot Docs at Palace Cinemas screens at Sydney's Palace Verona from June 21 to July 3, Melbourne's Palace Westgarth and Cinema Como from June 14 to 29. Check out the full program by visiting the festival's website and Facebook page.
Eat, drink and dance the night away in the Malthouse Theatre's courtyard this weekend. With the vibe of an 'intimate party with friends', Haiku House is a new day-night event that will fuse Japanese food and western electronic music. The first part of this equation will include Japanese nosh from Wabi Sabi, Neko Neko and Bosozoku, as well as cocktails and local and imported beers and cider. The entertainment side of things will be led by Justin Martin and Shiba San alongside Amine Edge & Dance and Latmun. What's better, the venue will be outside in the Malthouse's courtyard, there's a tram stop right outside and the venue is only a short walk from Flinders Street Station. Haiku House will kick off at 2pm and run until 10pm.
It isn't the first movie about the Tham Luang Nang Non cave incident to reach screens, thanks to the underwhelming The Cave. It won't be the last project to focus on the 12 Thai schoolboys and their soccer coach who were trapped in the Chiang Rai Province spot for 18 days back in 2018, either. Ron Howard (Hillbilly Elegy)-directed dramatisation Thirteen Lives hits cinemas next year, a Netflix limited series executive produced by In the Heights filmmaker John M Chu is also set to debut in 2022 and, to the surprise of no one, more are bound to follow. Still, The Rescue earns another worthy honour. The documentary isn't just an inspirational recounting of a miraculous effort that thwarted a potential tragedy, as told by the brave people who pulled off the feat, although it's certainly that. In addition, this gripping film falls into a genre that always needs more entries: celebrations of skilled people doing difficult things with precision, passion, persistence and prowess. If documentarians Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin have a niche, it's this. As co-directors, the married couple has now made three films, all valuing hard work, expertise and when the former leads not only to the latter, but to extraordinary achievements. With 2015 Sundance award-winner Meru, they documented Chin's efforts with two other climbers to scale Meru Peak in the Indian Himalayas. Then came Oscar-winner Free Solo, the exceptional doco about Alex Honnold's quest to free-climb Yosemite National Park's El Capitan. The Rescue swaps clambering up for diving deep, and hones in on an event that captured international headlines as it happened, but still belongs in the same company as the duo's past two releases. Here, viewers start the film with an understanding of what happened thanks to all that non-stop news coverage, but finish it in profound awe of the talent, smarts, dedication and unflinching competence involved. Vasarhelyi and Chin spotlight the divers who extricated Tham Luang's 13 unwilling inhabitants, aka the Wild Boars soccer team — and did so as the world watched, as hours became days and then weeks, and as monsoonal waters flooded the cave despite a desperate pumping initiative. Thai Navy SEALs initially attempted the task, yet struggled in the ten kilometres of sprawling and narrow tunnels. In fact, due to the murky water and the constant deluge from the fast-falling rain, they weren't able to get far. To assist, civilian hobbyists including Brits Rick Stanton and John Volanthen were brought in — experts in their field, and volunteers for the biggest diving quest of their lives. When their crew found the boys and their coach almost four kilometres from the mouth of the cave, they then faced another dilemma: how to get them back out alive. With its ending already well-known, The Rescue starts at the beginning, letting those who were there talk through each step, and also weaving in footage from the rescue mission itself. No re-enactments — not the small amount The Rescue uses, as noted in its credits; not The Cave's awful docodrama approach; and not all the future dramatisations set to flow from Hollywood — can ever be as nerve-wracking as seeing this remarkable feat actually happen. That said, the film's interviews are also significant. While the on-the-ground and in-the-water clips show the immense level of skill at work and the enormous dangers faced, the accompanying discussions offer keen insights into the thought processes involved. And, they draw out Stanton, Volanthen and their team's distinctive personalities, ensuring that these heroes are always flesh and blood. In all that chatter, much of the tension springs from one point: not just the logistics of extracting the kids and their coach from the cave, but the possibility of sedating them during the dive. The Rescue's most chilling moment comes from Australian anaesthetist and cave diver Richard Harris, who likens that option to euthanasia in his frank initial assessment — a goosebump-inducing comment, even though everyone watching knows that the boys were all rescued safely. Vasarhelyi and Chin make films about survival and endurance, too, and those notions thump away in The Rescue like a heartbeat. Still, as much as it pays tribute to the individual and collective efforts behind something astonishing, and its success, the film never forgets the stakes or cost, including the death of ex-Thai Navy SEAL Saman Kunan during an early attempt. Enthralling, suspenseful and vivid — and with more time for the moral and ethical implications of the rescue than is ever likely to be committed to the screen elsewhere — this documentary has been made to emulate its subjects. Indeed, that precision, passion, persistence and prowess shines through again and again both on- and off-screen. The Rescue's meticulous splicing is particularly finessed, for instance, with editor Bob Eisenhardt (another Free Solo alum) maintaining the movie's pulsating sense of intensity while stitching together an array of talking-head interviews, plus that wealth of archival materials. The heartstring-tugging score by Daniel Pemberton (The Trial of the Chicago 7) isn't quite as convincing, however, but it's one of the film's rare weak links. There is a gaping cavern at the heart of The Rescue, though, and one that's far wider than the rock shelf where the Wild Boars sheltered for almost three weeks. Those boys and their coach aren't among the movie's interviewees, and noticeably so. National Geographic, who produced the film, was only able to secure the rights to the divers' stories — with Netflix snapping them up for the soccer team. It leaves The Rescue absent key perspectives, but Vasarhelyi and Chin have filled that chasm savvily. Indeed, the documentary's edge-of-your-seat, ticking-clock, heart-in-your-throat tribute to skill, hard work and the global team of thousands that spanned Thais, Americans and Australians, too, mightn't have sported the same focus otherwise. Once more, the movie mimics the incident at its centre, turning sheer necessity into something stunning.
It takes a big sound to do the Sidney Myer Music Bowl justice. The grand waltzing symphonies of the MSO or a rollicking Australian classic like Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds perhaps. The site itself, with its vast spilling lawn and coveted inner city position demands the very best, and this February, The National are sure to live up to expectation. Touring their sixth album Trouble Will Find Me, The National have become an indie institution over the past few years. Captivating and cathartic, their soulful pop songs unearth a catchy kind of melancholy that was once exclusively reserved for bands like The Smiths. For this one-off show, prices sit at around the $100 mark. This may sound a little steep, even for a band of their stature, but you have to remember a gig at the Bowl is no ordinary gig. It's best to consider that $100 a down payment on your emotional wellbeing for the year. With your picnic rug laid down, and the red wine flowing, The National are sure to deliver an experience you won't forget anytime soon. https://youtube.com/watch?v=N527oBKIPMc
Kuwaii is well-known and much-loved for producing impeccably constructed garments, as well as nailing the near impossible balance between shoes that are more comfortable than slippers and totally appropriate for grown-up occasions. Designer Kristy Barber's ability to find a harmonious balance between intricate details and beautiful form is undoubtedly thanks in large part to Kuwaii's strong local base. Once holed up in their beautiful East Brunswick boutique, this local gem has now expanded into the city taking over the space in Cathedral Arcade that once belonged to Alice Euphemia. Kuwaii is also located at 37-39 Glenlyon Road, Brunswick.
If you missed out on a seat at Heston Blumenthal's highly acclaimed Fat Duck, fear not. There's a new duck in town and he's ready for a party. (A party that won't cost you a week's salary, mind you.) The Sorrento Catering Company are setting up the cheekily named Skinny Duck for one night only on January 30 at St Kilda Town Hall. For $120 you will get 14 courses of decadent canapes from five of Melbourne's best chefs, including Jacques Reymond (L'Hotel Gitan), Adam D'Sylva (Coda, Tonka) and Scott Pickett (Saint Crispin, Estelle). Plus, you'll also get wine, beer and champagne to match. You'll be sharing an evening with like-minded people, listening to great music and comedian Dave O’Neill will be there to get you laughing. And the best thing? All proceeds will go to FareShare, an innovative organisation that provides over one million free, tasty, nutritious meals a year to Victoria's hungry using donated food not needed by supermarkets, markets and farmers. It'll feed your charitable nature, as well as your tummy.
UPDATE Thursday, July 29: Melbourne Museum has reopened following the latest lockdown, with tickets available now. Plus, for the next two weekends (July 31, August 1, 7 and 8) 'Treasures of the Natural World' will have extended hours, opening from 9am. For more details on Victoria's current restrictions, see the Department of Health and Human Services website. Ever wanted to see a martian meteorite? A 200 million-year-old fossil? A cursed amethyst? Come June 2021, you'll be able to see all of them when some of the oldest and strangest treasures from London's Natural History Museum arrive in Melbourne. The aforementioned intriguing objects are just a sample of the 200 specimens that'll be on show as part of Treasures of the Natural World, which will run from June 12, 2021 — with tickets currently available through until December 31, 2021, after the exhibition was postponed from 2020. The Australian-first, Melbourne-exclusive exhibition features a curation of extremely rare and mysterious objects, many of which have been invaluable to our understanding of the world. Items from Charles Darwin's personal collection, the world's largest butterfly (with a whopping 30-centimetre wingspan), extinct animals, an extremely rare 1853 cubic gold nugget and a deadly flea that carried the bubonic plague are other items you'll see at the exhibition. [caption id="attachment_755333" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cursed Amethyst courtesy of the Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London.[/caption] Oh, and back to that cursed amethyst — you might not want to get too close. Its owner Edward Heron-Allen used to keep it locked inside seven protectives boxes and once threw it into a canal, but it was, of course, returned. When Heron-Allen donated it to the Natural History Museum he did so with a note saying the gem was "trebly accursed and is stained with the blood, and the dishonour of everyone who has ever owned it". Creepy. Image two: Queen Alexandra's birdwing butterfly courtesy of the Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London. Updated March 18, 2021.
Last year, Melbourne's Imperial Hotel transformed its rooftop into a winter wonderland. This year, it's getting magical instead. Climb up to the top level from Friday, February 8, and you'll hang out in Vertic Alley — aka the CBD watering hole's equivalent of Diagon Alley. This four-month pop-up takes its cues from Harry Potter, obviously — and the timing is right given that The Cursed Child is in town. Get comfy in themed spaces, practice saying "accio cocktail!" and just enjoy an all-round boozy celebration of the Boy Who Lived. Forget the usual Imperial booths — now you'll find six magical stores, including an owlery, a spell book depository, a wand shop, a wizarding toy store, a home of dark artefacts and WIZPAC bank. Each area accommodates 10–20 people, can be reserved in advance, and is fitted out with plenty of enchanting items to keep you feeling bewitched. Drinks-wise, a potions lineup includes Liquid Luck (fireball, vodka, orange and sparkling wine) True Love Potion (pomegranate liqueur, raspberry gin and sparkling wine), Pumpkin Juice (fireball, orange juice and pumpkin juice) and Truth Serum (rosemary-infused gin, lavender and lemon juice), while the food range spans gilliweed tacos, treacle tarts, cursed wings and 'siriously' black ice cream. If you're gathering the gang, you can drop by from 11am daily — and platter and jug deals are available for $50–85.
For more than three decades, Hayao Miyzakai has been hailed as the shining star of Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli, spinning gorgeous on-screen stories about magical worlds, buses shaped like cats, moving houses, friendly fish and more. No one can tell an enchanting tale like the masterful filmmaker — but, no one can make melodic music to match like Joe Hisaishi. First collaborating with Miyzakai on 1984's Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, the composer has provided the score to every one of the director's features since then, spanning everything from My Neighbour Totoro and Spirited Away to Ponyo and The Wind Rises. That's quite the collection of moving movie music, and it's coming to Melbourne for two nights only with Hisaishi himself at the podium. It's the latest event in the ever-growing — and awesome — trend that pairs film screenings or compilations of footage with a live orchestra accompaniment, as Star Wars and Harry Potter fans will be well aware. On April 27 and 28, Music from the Studio Ghibli Films of Hayao Miyazaki will let the sounds of Ghibli echo through Hamer Hall, with Hisaishi conducting the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. As they play, the concert will match the music to a montage of clips from the likes of Howl's Moving Castle, Princess Mononoke, and the rest of Miyzakai and Hisaishi's shared filmography. If you went along to the similar Pixar event last year, then you'll know what you're in for: an ace conductor, ace musicians and ace segments from ace films. The concert is an Australian exclusive and an Australian premiere — not to mention a completely new and immersive way to revisit the flicks you've seen and loved countless times.
Step inside the mysterious world of The Fellowship of the Aquara, in a strange, immersive theatre piece from the artists at Metanoia Theatre. Part stage production, part audience game, In The Dark forces participants to decide who they can really trust, as writer Georgia Symons and director Iris Gaillard interrogate concepts of mysticism, spirituality and faith. Information regarding the show is tantalisingly slim, although we do know that it involves the 'renewal ceremony' of an enigmatic, mantis shrimp-worshipping organisation, one based around the teachings of Head Crustacean Poseidon Maleström BFA. Not exactly a typical night out at the theatre, but you can’t say you’re not curious. In The Dark is part of the Menatoia Theatre Live Works Program, a season of interactive performances at the Brunswick Mechanics Institute that also included Hallie Shellam’s recent sold-out show Is This Somewhere You’ve Been Before?.
Melbourne might be mad about Nutella, but it's not the only nut-based spread that's worth celebrating. When it comes to versatile classics that taste good with vegetables, with jam, on bread, baked into sweets and more, you can't go past good ol' peanut butter — and at The Food Truck Park from April 20 to 22, you won't want to. For three days, the Preston hangout will be serving up all of the peanut butter you can imagine. While the food lineup hasn't yet been revealed, the possibilities are endless. And when an event calls itself a Peanut Butter Festival, you can expect them to include old favourites and inventive new creations. From PB&J onwards, one thing is certain: if you're allergic to peanuts, you'll want to stay away. Entry is free, with the nutty fun running from 5-10pm on Friday, 12-10pm on Saturday and 12-9pm on Sunday.
If you've been kicking yourself because you can't make Billy Bragg's rare solo showcase in Sydney this weekend, you can now give your legs a rest. The maverick song writer has just announced that he'll be back in March 2014. For a national tour. With his entire band. That's right, every State and one of the Territories (sorry, NT) will be treated to a show, and he'll also be popping over to New Zealand for a couple of appearances. In Sydney, he'll be playing the Opera House for the first time ever. The tour is largely about bringing Bragg's new LP, Tooth and Nail, to Antipodean audiences. Bragg's first album since 2008, it was recorded in California last year. He was invited to the basement studio of Grammy-winning producer Joe Henry, where he holed up with some of the world's most in-demand session musicians — Greg Leisz (Bon Iver), Patrick Warren (Lana Del Rey), Jay Bellrose (Regina Spektor) and David Piltch (Ramblin' Jack Eliott) — and was urged to sing live. Bragg has described the album as "the follow-up to Mermaid Avenue I never made". Influenced by soul, folk and country, Tooth and Nail is more personal than some of his previous offerings. "Most people, when they hear my name, think of polemical anthems born in struggle," Bragg says. "I often find myself having to remind people that I am also the Sherpa of Heartbreak, writing songs about the struggle to maintain our relationships with those we love the most." Tickets are on sale on Tuesday, 16 September, at 9am. The full tour dates are: Sunday 8 March – Perth Concert Hall – Perth www.ticketek.com.au Monday 10 March – Womad Festival – Adelaide www.womadelaide.com.au Wednesday 12 March – Federation Hall – Hobart www.tso.com.au Tuesday 13 March – Palais Theatre – Melbourne www.ticketmaster.com.au Sunday 16 March – Sydney Opera House – Sydney www.sydneyoperahouse.com Wednesday 19 October – Canberra Theatre – Canberra www.canberratheatrecentre.com.au Thursday 20 March – Tivoli – Brisbane www.ticketmaster.com.au
The second production on the lineup for Malthouse Theatre's 2014 Helium program, Intimacy tells the story of Michelle Ryan, a dancer diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at age 30. The show will be a fictionalised version of real life events and performed by Ryan herself. Devised by Torque Show, the piece will feature a live score by Lavender vs. Rose and will no doubt continue the hybridity of the Helium program with some inclusion of dance. 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, 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. Intimacy runs August 13 – 23, tickets available via Malthouse Theatre. To check out the rest of the 2014 Helium program, we've got the wrap up over here.
Prior to 2020, if someone told you that Chess the Musical was a very real thing that definitely exists, you could've been forgiven for being a little perplexed. But it does and, with everyone obsessed with the chess-focused Netflix series The Queen's Gambit over the past few months, it's hitting Melbourne's Regent Theatre between Thursday, April 22–Saturday, April 24. Chess the Musical actually dates back decades, first hitting London's West End in 1986. In line with that era, it's set against the background of the Cold War. Here, Soviet and American forces both try to use an international chess championship for political gain, and manipulate the outcome. The tale that also involves a love triangle, between Hungarian-born refugee Florence Vasse and two chess grandmasters. If you thought that singing about chess mightn't be all that exciting, ABBA's Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus wrote the tunes, while Ulvaeus and musical veteran Tim Rice (Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King) penned the lyrics. And, if you've ever heard 80s tracks 'I Know Him So Well' and 'One Night in Bangkok', they actually hail from Chess the Musical. Keen for a glimpse of what you're in for? Check out the video for Elaine Page and Barbara Dickson's 'I Know Him So Well' below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2SDInk6voA
Game Masters is one of the biggest exhibits ever at ACMI, containing a massive amount of content. A single modern game contains upwards of eight movies' worth of information. But this is also the downfall of the exhibit – it's literally impossible for one person to experience the whole of it. But some people come close, namely the kingpins of the whole event - the curators - who work tirelessly for months to choose games, contact designers, and arrange consoles. Come and hear Fiona Trigg, also curator of last year's Indie Game exhibit talk about some of the most inspiring game designers of the last decade. At Game Masters Curator Talks: Indies she will be discussing the people, companies and stories behind games including modern timewaster favourites Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja, postapocalyptic puzzler Machinarium, and classic platformer Another World. Image by Reinis Traidas.
Coffee and cocktails, Melbourne is known for both, so it makes sense that this year’s Melbourne Food and Wine Festival pop up the Urban Coffee Farm & Brew Bar is all about showcasing the best caffeinated drinks Melbourne has to offer. Over the two weeks of the festival, Queensbridge Square, where those giant red steps are at Southbank, has been turned into an outdoor cafe during the day, and a cocktail bar at night. Each morning a different cafe will take to the machines, while a different bar each night will whip up coffee inspired cocktails. During the morning you'll see the likes of Seven Seeds, Auction Rooms, 5 Senses and St Ali, while the night shift will be seeing Lily Blacks, Lui Bar, The Kodiak Club and rounding off with Eau de Vie. Expect anything from a chocolate pour over — pretty much the best iced coffee going round — to an espresso martini with a freeze-dried top you need a spoon to crack through. Wine, beer and snacks for all times of the day will be there to balance out the caffeine. There will also be coffee workshops running each day for those who want to learn a little more about the wonderful brew. These include 'Around the World in Eight Coffees' with the team from Auction Rooms and 'Is Coffee a Mugs Game?' with the De Clieu team. It's a lot of the good things about Melbourne, popped up with a cool set up, some beautiful greenery and by the looks of it, some hot weather. For the next two weeks, too much coffee is just not enough.
Playwright Sandra Thibodeaux interrogates Australia's controversial treatment of asylum seekers, as well as the people smugglers who ferry them across the treacherous seas, in a fantastical dark comedy at La Mama Theatre as part of the Asia TOPA festival. Combining music, video and Indonesian shadow puppetry, The Age of Bones tells the story of Ikan, a young boy who finds himself locked up in an Australian jail after he is roped into working on a people smuggling boat. But the bulk of the action takes place in an underwater courthouse, complete with shark lawyers and an octopus judge. The magical setting should add a touch of surreal humour to a troubling tale of actual injustice, inspired by the experiences of around 60 underage Indonesian boys who spent years in prison after being falsely identified as adults.
One of the most celebrated voices in American independent cinema will be the subject of a retrospective at ACMI. Beginning Tuesday, December 27, Jim Jarmusch: Rock 'n' Roll will examine Jarmusch's frequent collaborations with rock music luminaries across a career that spans more than 30 years. The season is centred on this year's Gimme Danger, Jarmusch's adoring documentary about legendary rockers The Stooges and the band's notorious frontman Iggy Pop. The doco will screen until January 18, and shapes up as a must-see for music lovers. Of course, Gimme Danger isn't the first time that Pop and Jarmusch have crossed paths. The musician also appeared as a cross-dressing fur trader in Dead Man, and as a fictionalised version of himself in Coffee and Cigarettes. The latter film saw him share the screen with fellow musician Tom Waits, who also worked with Jarmusch on Mystery Train and Down by Law. All four films will screen as part of the retrospective on 35mm film prints.
Just when you thought Laneway couldn't add much more to its already-heaving lineup, the festival addition has added a brand new 'street party' into the mix that'll recreate the energy of Laneway's early days. Presented in conjunction with I OH YOU and Red Bull Music, Block Party is set to feature at the Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Fremantle editions of the festival, showcasing a banging new lineup in each city. The exact locations of the stages are yet to be announced, though we're told the parties will channel the vibe of the very first Laneway outing that took over Melbourne's Caledonian Lane back in 2004. Which means it'll probably be super crammed. And the lineup's an absolute ripper, pulling together local acts like Sydney-based producer Basenji, hip hop star Jesswar, legendary DJ Andy Garvey, the genre-bending Haiku Hands and dance floor favourite CC:DISCO. Laneway co-founder Danny Rogers says it'll take the festival's offering to a whole new level. "There was such a creative, magic feeling at the original Laneway Festivals. I think it was because of the spontaneity they had," he explained. "I wanted to recreate that same feeling at the 2018 event and this idea just made total sense." Laneway Festival 2018 hits Melbourne on February 3, Sydney on February 4, Brisbane on February 10 and Fremantle on February 11. To buy tickets or to get more information, visit lanewayfestival.com.
It’s time to get your nails did. Work-Shop are running a nail art class with the Super Rad Nail Sisters, so you can learn how to keep your nails looking cute without having to fork out for a manicurist. Sisters Rohani and Rosalie Osman will be your nail art gurus for the evening, sharing their tricks for your fingertips. Currently the Super Rad Nail Sisters work out of their headquarters in Brunswick and also at Miss Gertrude Salon in Fitzroy, and their designs are both gorgeous and lots of fun. The techniques they cover will include ombre, leopard print, graphic eyes, confetti and galaxy. Once you’ve got these basics down, you’ll be ready to make up your own designs. The Super Rad ladies will provide you with the polish, practice nail art wheel, and all the fun bits and bobs like dotting tools and nail art pens. There’s also a goody bag to take home, which is just as well because once your friends/sisters/housemates see your super fly nail art, they’re going to want you to deck out their fingertips too. Make sure you arrive with bare nails so you can leave with something fabulous adorning your talons.
The Lion King is coming back to the big screen and the latest Toy Story film is about to hit cinemas — 2019 is proving a great year for revisiting beloved animated classics all round. Come September, The Little Mermaid will join them in its gorgeous original form, and with a rousing live rendition of its Oscar-winning music played by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. This isn't just a case of being better down where it's wetter, as cute crab Sebastian famously tells Ariel in the track 'Under the Sea' (which you'll now have stuck in your head, of course). It's also a case of being more glorious when Alan Menken's score is roaring, with conductor Nicholas Buc leading the charge. Expect to hear other hits like 'Part of Your World' and 'Kiss the Girl' echoing through Hamer Hall, all while you get nostalgic watching everyone's favourite mermaid princess fall in love with a human prince and wonder what it's like to live on land. Even better — screening three times, at 7.30pm on Friday, September 6 and at 1pm and 7.30pm on Saturday, September 7 — the event marks the movie's 30th anniversary. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here.
Homegrown Cajun-inspired seafood chain Kickin' Inn is dialling up the flavour this weekend, in support of Mardi Gras 2022 and the LGBTQIA+ community. From Friday, March 4–Sunday, March 6, all 11 of its restaurants will be breaking out the decorations and popping bottles for a three-day Mardi Gras Long Weekend celebration. Taking the sparkly crown as the weekend's special guest of honour is none other than Tik Tok star, Instagram favourite and drag darling, Carla From Bankstown. Thanks to this glittering partnership, $1 from each signature shrimp martini sold across the weekend will go towards Carla's LGBTIQA+ charity of choice, Twenty10 — an organisation that provides support services for LGBTQIA+ youth. Not only will you be dining for a great cause, but if you book your table in advance you'll score a free glass of rosé to enjoy with your meal — the tipple Carla fittingly describes as "the gayest of all the wines". Melbourne's currently home to two Kickin' Inn outposts, in Port Melbourne and Highett. [caption id="attachment_844422" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Carla From Bankstown[/caption]
Remember those childhood days sat in front of the television, watching your beloved Disney flicks over and over? Of course you do. In fact, you might even be spending some of your social-distancing time recreating that period in your life — thanks to Disney+, there are plenty of nostalgic flicks to stream. Of course, back in the day when you were binging on The Lion King or The Little Mermaid on repeat, you probably weren't thinking about your future adult self partying to 'Hakuna Matata' or 'Under the Sea'. Let Beyond Cinema blow your inner kid's mind, because even in lockdown it's putting on a virtual Disney-themed party. From Beauty and the Beast and Pocahontas to Aladdin and Frozen, if it's a piece of music from a Disney flick, you'll likely hear it at the Magical Sing-Along. A heap of Sydney performers will croon out the studio's best tunes, which'll be streamed to ticketholders — and you're encouraged to dress up, let out your best renditions, play games (including dance-offs and lip sync battles) and win prizes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GibiNy4d4gc Kicking off at 7pm on Thursday, April 30, this virtual shindig will get you dancing to your Disney faves and belting out many a tune while you do so — all in your lounge room. Tickets cost $10 per household, so you can share the fun with everyone who lives under your roof.
It's safe to say Gami Chicken and Beer has secured its status as one of Australia's go-to fried chicken joints, slinging its signature Korean-style chook from 28 locations across the country. To celebrate the opening of its latest outpost in Lilydale Village, Gami is giving Melburnians a very good reasons to jump on board, handing out a whopping 1000 boxes of fried chicken — for free. These fried chicken morsels — RSPCA-approved and rocking Gami's signature blend of 17 herbs and spices — will be up for grabs from 12–12.30pm and again from 5–5.30pm on Thursday, March 25 and Friday, March 26 at the new location. There will only be 250 free boxes available at each session — so you should head in early if you want a freebie. Once you're hooked, you're probably going to want to schedule a return visit pretty quick, to try other Gami favourites like the chicken spare ribs or the aptly named Potato Heaven, featuring three layers of cheesy potato goodness, as well as chilled Gun:bae lagers from Brunswick's Thunder Road Brewery. And if you can't make it down for a free piece, the Lilydale store is already open for lunch and dinner daily.
They say oysters are the food of love. But you don't have to have romance on your mind to enjoy the heck out of a few ocean-fresh bivalves. And on Sunday, February 13, singles and loved-up couples alike are invited to slurp freshly-shucked oysters — for free — at Preston Market. Yep, the food precinct is getting into the spirit of love a little early, with an afternoon of oyster appreciation on Valentine's Day Eve. Swing past from 12pm when resident fishmonger O Psaras will be handing out complimentary freshly-shucked oysters until they're all gone. You read that right: top-quality oysters, for nada. There's a limit of one freebie per person, but if you're a total sucker for seafood with a boundless appetite for those tasty morsels, you're in luck: the crew will also be slinging oysters by the dozen for just $20 a pop, through the afternoon.
If you love cookies, you've no doubt tried one of Butterbing's cookie sandwiches. The delicious morsels can be found in cafe cabinets across the city, but this September, Butterbing is bringing back its super-popular Flavour Frenzy pop-up to Northcote's food truck park Welcome to Thornbury. The crew has been busy whipping up a whole range of brand new flavours, which'll be showcased alongside the classics at the Flavour Frenzy pop-up this Sunday, September 15. There'll be a total of 50 tasty varieties up for grabs during the two-hour event, including a few wild and wacky concoctions. Some of the flavours you should expect to encounter include Vegemited Caramel, Movie Popcorn and Blue Heaven Milkshake. As well as the brand's famed buttercream, the one-off sweet sangas will be filled with the likes of ganache, jelly, jam and even sherbet. What's more, these beauties are freezer-friendly — so bring a bag, stock up now and have sweet treats on hand for whenever you get a rampant cookie craving. If you can't make it on the Sunday, cafes across Melbourne will be serving up some of the limited-edition flavours from Friday, September 13 until Sunday, September 15 (or until sold out). A map of the participating venues will drop on the Butterbing website on Thursday. Butterbing Flavour Frenzy Pop-Up runs from midday–2pm.
Summer is coming to an end, but — thankfully — that doesn't mean your time at the beach is. We're blessed with sunny weather for a lot of the year here in Aus, which means we need a few pairs of togs to get us through. If you're looking to snag a new pair, Jets has just launched its new collection of swimwear. To celebrate, the brand is offering Concrete Playground readers 15 percent off, too. Elysian is Jets' first collection under new Creative Director Rachel Allen. The star of the collection is the range of burnt clay swimwear. For example, this sophisticated high neck one piece and this high waist bikini. Jets also has a range of resortwear including dresses, kaftans, flowing shirts and sarongs that'll make you feel like you're holidaying in the Maldives, even if you're just enjoying a cocktail on your back porch. Jets' print collections are made using Renew Plus fabric, which utilises recycled and regenerated Econyl as a replacement to nylon. If you want the first look at the new collection, head to the Jets website and score yourself 15 percent off you order while you're at it. Just use the code CONCRETE15 before 11.59pm on Tuesday, March 30. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Do you sometimes get frustrated with your real, life-sized world? Everyone needs an escape from time to time and, if you've seen everything good at the movies, I Think I Can could prove the perfect way to relax. Terrapin Puppet Theatre are presenting a tiny world for you to navigate with a personalised figurine. Sure, it's primarily made for kids, but all of your problems look so tantalisingly small when they're 5cm tall and made of plastic. Created by director Sam Routledge and artist Martyn Coutts, this work isn't just a model train gone wild. Before playing with the set, each audience member/prospective puppet is asked to take a short personality test, the results are then used to assign them with a figurine, and they can move about the tiny world. Each puppets movements are then tracked, filmed and collated into a surprisingly entertaining online newspaper called The Tiny Times. Don't worry, this little gem can be enjoyed by adults too. It was a hit at the Perth Festival earlier this year and comes personally recommended from The Guardian. If you feel a little shy about elbowing kids out of the way to play, there's a special adult's session on Friday, October 3 from 5.30-8.3opm.
Winter has taken a toll on us the last few months. Long gone are our fond memories of summers spent on the Peninsula and Surf Coast. We can barely remember what a potato cake tastes like at this point. So, to farewell this dreaded season in style what better place to be than at the heart of Victorian sunshine itself? Lorne is holding a big party with musicians, artists and performers aplenty, and you're all invited. Lorne Festival of Performing Arts is admittedly a lesser known name on the Melbourne festival circuit. Now in its fourth year, this seaside event is characterised by cabaret, comedy, circus, dance and music, and features an eclectic group of local performers. Opening night is kicked off in the legendary Circus Oz Big Top and the acts on show include Finucane & Smith, League of Sideshow Superstars, Mighty Duke & The Lords, Trash Test Dummies, Kate McLennan & Wes Snelling, and the Flying Fruit Fly Circus. With a wealth of street performers and seaside party vibes, this will no doubt be a satisfying way to ease into the hectic festival season. Check out the festival website for the full program and ticketing options.
If you're keen on bending and flexing in Melbourne's south-east, Oakleigh has the new spot to get your stretch on: Tidal Flow Yoga. Setting up shop on Portman Street, the studio wants you to channel the ocean's power into your fitness and wellness routines — and, it wants you to give it a try for free as well. While Tidal kicks off its regular classes on April 9, if you drop by on April 7 and 8, you can get active without spending a cent. Go with the flow at sessions dedicated to meditation, alignment, slow movements and power moves — just make sure you book online in advance. Along with the free launch weekend celebrations, Tidal is also offering 14-day memberships for $39. Classes are open to all skill levels, including experienced yoga fanatics and newcomers alike.
History is just the result of a few precarious moments – at least according to the latest exhibition at the Tarrawarra Museum of Art. All that is solid… is the third instalment of the Tarrawarra International series and presents the work of five local and international artists across film, photography, video art and more. The exhibition takes its cues from Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels' seminal 1848 political pamphlet The Communist Manifesto, with the exhibiting artists producing works that imagine "connections between the past and the present". Many of the artists have chosen to reappropriate historical events and archival fragments, while others have used current social and political struggles as a starting point for these provocative pieces. The numerous works take to the creative extremes, including sewn books, automated vacuum cleaners, cremated encyclopaedias and contrasting architectural and nature sites.
Over the weekend, thousands of punters pulled on their gumboots and descended on Canberra for the annual Groovin the Moo festival. And, while they were there, many festivalgoers had their illicit substances tested at the the country's second ever pill testing trial. Taking place on Sunday, April 28, the trial was deemed "an overwhelming success" by organisers, with 171 illicit drug samples tested on the day — a huge increase from the trial's debut at the same festival last year, when 85 substances were examined. Headed up by harm reduction advocates Pill Testing Australia, again with the backing of the ACT Government, the 2019 trial tested samples from 234 participants and identified seven dangerous substances containing potentially deadly n-ethylpentylone. The punters carrying those were advised of the dangers and all turfed them in the amnesty bin provided. Among all of the day's tested substances, MDMA appeared most often, with cocaine, ketamine and methamphetamines also identified. Health warnings and safety information were given to every festivalgoer who had their drugs tested. Our second #pilltesting trial in Canberra was an overwhelming success with over 171 samples tested and 7 dangerous substances identified. All used the amnesty bin to discard these drugs. We have published our full media release here: #harmreductionhttps://t.co/yEzfcc1JtO pic.twitter.com/dYaWpYJUJm — Pill Testing Australia (@pilltestingaus) April 28, 2019 Despite a stack of international research, support from local experts and now two successful local pill testing trials, many Australian politicians — including the NSW and Victorian Premiers — have stuck firm on their anti-pill testing stance, even in the wake of a spate of deaths from suspected drug overdoses at NSW music festivals last year and a thousands-strong rally in Sydney earlier this year. In response to the deaths, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian introduced a strict new licensing regime for festivals — which doesn't include pill testing. However, according to the ABC, the pill testing trial did attract interest from Queensland Health and New South Wales Coroner's Office representatives — along with a group of Victorian crossbenchers — who visited the testing site as it was being set up on Saturday. So, while the ACT is currently the only state that allows pill testing, maybe this means we'll see pill testing once again up for debate across the rest of Australia. Especially since, just last week, according to the SMH, Premier Berejiklian gave the go-ahead for a government inquiry into illicit drug use to examine the merits of pill testing. Pill Testing Australia is also currently raising funds to roll out free trials across the country. It will need the support of the respective state governments to do so. Image: Groovin the Moo by Jack Toohey.
In life and in horror movies, don't pick up a book bound in human skin. Just don't. Anthropodermic bibliopegy is the name of that gruesome covering process, and it isn't a fictional creation of the Evil Dead world — so heeding this guidance really is sensible. Of course, there wouldn't be any films in the boomstick-waving franchise if its characters listened to such a warning. There'd be no cabin-visiting folks battling Deadites again and again, and no chainsaws coming in mighty handy, either. Evil Dead Rise, the fifth big-screen instalment in the saga that also started Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell's careers long before the OG Spider-Man flicks, Burn Notice and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, does indeed include that flesh-wrapped Necronomicon Ex-Mortis. Also, the terrifying tome is grabbed, opened and unwittingly allowed to unleash its gory chaos. The body count rises, demons hop into bodies, and shotguns and power tools become necessary weapons. That said, while Evil Dead Rise definitely knows the series it's in, it's no mere exercise in blasting expected targets. There will be blood in this addition to the Evil Dead fold, and not just inking The Book of the Dead's pages. There's gallons of it, in fact, with assistance from an elevator overflowing with crimson liquid. Writer/director Lee Cronin is clearly happy to jump from his 2019 debut The Hole in the Ground to this beloved horror franchise while giving The Shining some love as well. And yet, nods to past Evil Dead films and scary fare in general aren't the main point of Evil Dead Rise, even though they're still there — loudly when "dead by dawn", words that are also part of Evil Dead II's title, is yelled. It shouldn't feel so rare to see a feature that isn't solely kept beating by gobbling up as many pieces of its predecessors as possible, but that's these nothing-must-die times. (When intellectual property is revived repeatedly by Hollywood's intonations, bringing back Evil Dead over and over couldn't be more appropriate.) Consider this another play around with recognisable parts — and with mutilating them, with Cronin showing no signs of holding back with his setpieces, gleefully unhinged onslaught of carnage or visual compositions. Or, think of it as striding into a lived-in hut with a keenness to make something already-beloved new again. With Raimi and Campbell only involved as executive producers, the film also doesn't ever feel like Cronin wrote a different script, then just dumped in a Necronomicon here and a Deadite there. Again, it's well-aware of the path it's treading, and of what's done so before. Still, amid the ample guts, the obligatory creepy pages and the eerie incantations (which for viewers unlike the movie's characters, are well-worth listening to closely), this saga-extender finds the right balance between affectionately savouring Evil Dead's groovy history and being its own fright-inducing meal. Familiar swooping and whooshing camerawork kicks Evil Dead Rise into gear, though, knowingly so. In a clever touch, it stems from a is doing the shooting, not due to supernatural nefariousness. There's a remote abode in the woods — an A-frame shack this time, levelled up to match 2023's travel aesthetic — and unsettling things afoot; however, the bulk of the film takes place a day earlier. That's when guitar technician Beth (Lily Sullivan, Picnic at Hanging Rock) cuts out a the worldwide tour to surprise her sister Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland, New Gold Mountain). The latter is a tattoo artist and mother of three who has recently been left parenting solo, and is interrupted dying her hair 'cool mum' red when her sibling arrives. There's baggage between the pair, but there'll soon be viscera as well when Ellie's teenage son Danny (Morgan Davies, Blaze) finds a certain text — and, because he's a budding DJ, some dusty vinyl sporting words that no one in an Evil Dead movie should be saying or hearing. There's that trusty advice being disregarded. Danny's sister Bridget (Gabrielle Echols, Reminiscence) is on hand with an "I told you so" or several, mirroring what viewers are thinking. Actually, Evil Dead Rise inspires a new take on the old "don't pick up a book bound in human skin" counsel: don't go plunging into a hole in the ground when the condemned high-rise you're living in cracks in an earthquake and you spot an old bank vault in the newly opened void, then 100-percent don't pick up some literally underground tunes and the entombed, flesh-packaged tome they're buried near. But Danny does all that, thinking the volume might be worth something to help his mum's money worries. Bridget scolds and youngest sister Kassie (Nell Fisher, My Life Is Murder) is quickly scared by the aftermath. The trapped inhabitants of the about-to-be-demolished building are all unnerved, to say the least, as the Evil Dead realm's wicked spirits let loose their hellish waking nightmare. There will be splatter, too, as the 1981 original introduced on a supremely low budget. Each Evil Dead chapter loves imparting its own vibe, after the second film got funnier, 1992's third effort Army of Darkness became a dark fantasy, then 2013's Evil Dead snatched out every trace of absurdity — and, on the small screen, Ash vs Evil Dead got amusing again — but gore usually flows eagerly. Like grated cheese, there's no such thing as too much in Cronin's eyes. Like making that shredded dairy, a particular kitchen utensil gets a workout. With cinematographer Dave Garbett, an Ash vs Evil Dead alum, Cronin also frequently draws attention to the act of seeing, while making sure there's almost always something savage to lock one's peepers on. A fish-eye peephole earns some savvy use, and the overall cavalcade of mayhem just keeps mounting to the point where it's so purposefully ridiculous that you can't look away. Evil Dead Rise isn't going for a Raimi-and-Campbell mood. It isn't aiming for the pair's laughs and slapstick since the OG flick, either. But it spies that constantly ramping up the slashing, stabbing, scalping, ripping and gouging is as relentless as it is OTT, especially when paired with devilishly delivered lines like "mommy's with the maggots now". And, although its guiding force takes too long establishing the new characters' family dynamic, then does too little with the themes of trauma and parenthood it starts flirting with, the franchise's latest cast is up to the task when things get demonic. Australian trio Sutherland, Sullivan and Davies each leave an imprint, with one also giving the saga one of its best Deadite performances. No Evil Dead fan will ever want Raimi and Campbell to stray too far from this series, but this latest bite doesn't ever feel like it needs them, or leave its audience wishing it was watching Ash J Williams instead.
An evening where you surrender yourself to an immersive theme, have no hand in what lies ahead and are left to simply hope for the best? Secret Foodies, Underground Cinema, and Bright Young Things give you Decadence. Secret Foodies have been taking Sydneysiders on secret dinners for a while now — why doesn't anyone nice like that ever ask us out to tea? After partnering up with guerrilla film initiative Underground Cinema, the surprise chefs are kicking off what will hopefully be a long relationship with Melbourne with their first event, Decadence. In a secret location, revealed through a series of elaborate clues, diners will be treated to canapes, a three-course meal, free-flowing drinks, and a role in a multisensory live cinema experience. We hear the actors take to the tables. Who knows what will happen from there? The first event sold out in eight minutes flat, so those wishing to find out must act fast. Image via UGC
Following years spent on the other side of the world from each other, friends Tim and Paddy had a chance encounter at The Wandi Pub — and almost instantly knew that they would run the place together. Acquiring the place in late-2015, the boys transformed the old-school pub into a bustling joint with cocktails, craft beers and, of course, some pretty tasty nosh. It's a regional pub with just a hint of city appeal. Inside, keep warm by the roaring fireplace or, if in the massive beer garden, cosy up to one of the fire pits dotted throughout while still getting that fresh country air. With nine beer taps available to choose from and frequent gigs, The Wandi is ideal for those wanting to escape the big smoke but still want their beer extra hoppy and their food mighty tasty. Afterwards, you can walk off your feed on the two-kilometre Diggings Walk, which takes you through former goldfields and across a Chinese-style swing bridge. Then, head to Nightingale Bros to pick up some alpine cider and seasonal produce — think chestnuts and persimmons.
