If you're keen to level-up your bottomless brunch game this year, an indulgent feasting situation awaits at Melbourne's sprawling new venue dedicated to bar sports, Ballers Clubhouse. Here, you can ditch the standard smashed avo and scrambled eggs for lobster, prosecco and your own private indoor cabana. The 2500-square-metre bar has Saturdays sorted with two weekly bottomless brunch sessions, kicking off at 12pm and 2pm. For $79 per person, you'll score a Miami-inspired cabana to kick back in, plus a spread of share plates to graze your way through — think: mini lobster rolls, beetroot hummus served with pistachio dukkah and flatbread, salmon tartare and ice cream tacos. The price also includes as much shuffleboard as your competitive spirit can handle, along with two hours of free-flowing beer, rosé, prosecco and mimosas. And if you prefer to wash down brunch with something a little stronger, an extra $20 will get you bottomless espresso martinis and passionfruit martinis right through your two-hour session. Round up the crew stat — you'll need a minimum of six brunchers to book out a cabana. Images: Michael Gazzola
The happy feels might have been in shorter supply than usual this year, but that's all set to change if you lock in some laughs at Comedy Republic's Comedyish Spring Break next month. From Saturday, November 27–Sunday, November 28, the venue's serving up a full weekend of chuckles from a roll-call of Aussie favourites, in a special expanded edition of its popular new material night. Taking the stage across eight sessions to road-test their freshest jokes, will be comics like Tommy Little, Claire Hooper, Nazeem Hussain, Zöe Coombs Marr, Rhys Nicholson, Geraldine Hickey and more. From Tom Ballard, to David Quirk, to Scout Boxall, you'll get to experience the very latest material from some much-loved homegrown talent. Some of it so fresh, it'll be cooked up on stage in front of your very eyes. A session will set you back $10–15 here, or you can load up on laughs with a multi-session, day or weekend pass.
Trying to dance like Christopher Walken, pretending you're in Cruel Intentions, being transported back to the late 90s and early 00s: that's all on the agenda when Fatboy Slim, aka Norman Cook, returns Down Under in 2023. Hitting Melbourne on Friday, April 28, the British dance music legend will take to the decks to bust out a hefty range of dance floor fillers. His 1998 album You've Come a Long Way, Baby was the club soundtrack to end the 20th century — a staple of every 90s teen's CD collection, too — and responsible for hits like 'Right Here, Right Now', 'The Rockafeller Skank' and 'Praise You'. As for 2000's Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars, it gave the world 'Weapon of Choice' and its iconic Walken-starring (and Spike Jonze-directed) video. You might not be able to dance along the walls when Cook plays the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, but you'll want to thanks to his big beat sound. Indeed, alongside the Chemical Brothers, The Prodigy, Basement Jaxx, The Propellerheads and Crystal Method, he helped bring the style to mainstream fame. Cook has been making music since the 80s, but took on the name Fatboy Slim in the mid-90s, starting with 1996 record Better Living Through Chemistry. His discography also spans 2004 album Palookaville and 2013 single 'Eat, Sleep, Rave, Repeat'. If you've seen Cook live before, you'll know that this is news to get excited about right about now. His Australian tour marks Cook's return after his 2020 headline shows — pre-pandemic — with his Melbourne gig at the same venue recorded for an epic live video that's notched up more than 2.4-million views. Top image: Secretaría de Cultura de la Ciudad de México via Wikimedia Commons.
Meal subscription service MealPal launched in Melbourne last year with the goal of ending boring — and expensive — lunches for time-starved office workers. It offers weekday lunches for just $8 a day from more than 100 of Melbourne lunchtime go-tos, such as Mr Burger, PappaRich, Pokéd and Zeus Street Greek. The brainchild of ClassPass co-founder, Mary Biggins, and Katie Ghelli (formerly of ZocDoc), the meal subscription service proved a hit across the USA and UK since first launching in Miami, in January 2016. Since then, it has served over 8 million meals to workers across 16 cities around the world. Now, to celebrate its first year in Melbourne, the app is offering five days of lunches for just $1. That's 20 cents a day. You could find more than that in the bottom of an old bag, behind a couch cushion or under a car seat. To access the deal, sign up through the website or app and you'll be able to order a daily lunch meal from the huge selection of great local restaurants, schedule a convenient time to skip the queues and pick it up, and enjoy a tasty feed for blissfully minimal effort — for 20 cents a day. To get access to the deal, you need to signup before midnight on Monday, June 18, so get in quick. Image: Mr Burger
With stay-at-home orders in place, you can say goodbye to any weekend bottomless brunches, right? Wrong. The good folks at Rice Paper Scissors are whipping up a lockdown-friendly alternative to your favourite meal of the week, with its F**k Lockdown 6.0 Boozy Brunch Box. Available daily and clocking in at $45 per person, one of these bad boys comes stocked with all the trimmings required for a lavish morning feast. In it, you'll find your choice of one brunch dish per diner — perhaps some pandan pancakes or the shiitake mushroom pho — along with a DIY bellini kit complete with a 750ml bottle of prosecco. Each person will also get a signature cocktail, with a choice of Vietnamese-inspired espresso martini or the Chiang Mai bloody mary. A booze-free box with virgin cocktails is also on offer for $35 per person. What's more, you'll even score some bonus brunchtime entertainment, thanks to Rice Paper Scissors' curated playlist. Expect a soundtrack of lockdown-inspired beats to help make your at-home brunch feed feel that little bit more fun. To get your boxed brunch, order here by 4pm for next-day delivery. Top Images: Kristoffer Paulsen
Some like it hot; other milder folk prefer not to flirt with such danger. But whichever category you fall into, your tastebuds will find plenty to love when the Yarra Valley's Herb and Chilli Festival returns to spice up autumn. Descending on founders Clive and Di Larkman's Wandin herb farm from Saturday, March 19–Sunday, March 20, the flavour fest is set to deliver a fiery mix of food, entertainment and more. An 80-strong lineup of stallholders will be slinging everything from chilli plants and fresh herbs, to flavoursome pantry goods. Visit the international food court for a ready-to-eat spice hit — think, Slap Ya Mama's cajun fish fry — and sample feisty booze products like hot chilli wine and Logan's signature Thai Venom Vodka. Meanwhile, Hot Sauce Alley will offer tastings and takeaways from a range of Aussie favourites, and the live cooking stage will play host to both chef demos and fiery eating competitions — are you game to try the Stinger Wing Challenge? Luckily, you can keep your cool in between chillies with a program of live tunes, from artists including Sydney's Cajun-blues act Psycho Zydeco, Garry Marr and John Rees.
Sex and art have a lot in common. We both want them to fulfil certain needs and impulses. They have to be fun — something we can look forward to and enter into with a sense of gleeful abandon. But there has to be an intellectual side too. What did that even mean? Surely, there has to be more to it. How'd they learn to do that? Andrew Goodman's new solo exhibition at Blindside looks set to take the best of both these worlds and hit all our sweet spots. The centrepiece artwork, Orgasmatron, is a sculptural re-imagining of a comical sex-substitute machine from Woody Allen's 1973 sci-fi comedy Sleeper. What Goodman terms a "soft sculpture", the work is an inflatable structure that houses a secret world of projection, vibration and sound — an intimate show for just one or two at a time. The work, with all its obvious sexual undertones, is definitely fun. People crawling on their hands and knees into an amorphous vaguely sexual blob machine — it's funny. But it also satisfies our intellectual needs. The experience of being in there, all snug and confused, is sure to raise many questions about the nature of intimacy itself. With a comical edge, Goodman is interrogating the relationships we all have with our bodies, and our experiences of pleasure itself. If you find yourself enjoying it a little too much, take solace in the eternally wise words of Woody Allen, "I don't know the question, but sex is definitely the answer."
The San Telmo crew's new Japanese grill restaurant Robata was open for less than a week before the latest lockdown shut its doors. Thankfully, you can now get a taste of Head Chef Stephen Clark's hotly anticipated new menu delivered to your house. The restaurant has launched a lockdown-friendly Robata at Home offering available for delivery this weekend. For $75, the 'Ie De Robata' two-person meal box comes loaded with chirashi hand rolls, plenty of house-made condiments, and finish-at-home dishes like chicken thigh yakitori, yaki onigiri and leek kushiyaki skewers. There are step-by-step instructions to help you bring it all to life, plus a curated playlist to jam to while you cook. Meanwhile, the $110 'Sequel' box features an even heartier lineup — think, fresh tuna and salmon sashimi, pork katsu teamed with cabbage and a red miso sauce, and fluffy yuzu marshmallow for dessert. Other goodies available to add onto your order include Asahi beers, bottles of sake and wine, and batched serves of the signature Sakura cocktail — a traditional blend of vodka, sake, sour cranberry and cherry blossom. Only a limited number of boxes are up for grabs, so get in quick and order yours online before they're gone. Deliveries are happening this Friday, August 13–Sunday, August 15, from 9am–5pm. Order before 5pm for next-day drop-off.
Ever wanted to watch Simon Pegg recreate Eat Pray Love? Then you're in luck. It may head to China, Africa and Los Angeles in a quest for contentment, but there's little in Hector and the Search for Happiness that wasn't first seen in that well-known book turned film — other than numerous references to Tintin, that is. Pegg plays the titular therapist, living a seemingly satisfactory life with his devoted girlfriend, Clara (Rosamund Pike). He thinks he is happy, until a dream featuring Hergé's boy adventurer starts him wondering about the meaning of the word. His practice is flourishing and patients accept his guidance willingly, yet he's no longer certain his orderly existence qualifies him to dispense advice. Broadening his horizons becomes the obvious course of action, as Hector sets off around the world in the pursuit of exhilaration and enlightenment. Food, spirituality and romance ensue in the adaptation of psychiatrist-turned-author François Lelord's novel of the same name, in an effort comprised of episodic encounters with thinly drawn characters. A wealthy businessman (Stellan Skarsgård), ruthless drug lord (Jean Reno), former flame (Toni Collette) and distinguished professor (Christopher Plummer) cross Hector's path, each imparting life lessons. To ensure audiences are paying attention, every piece of wisdom Hector gleans is also emblazoned on the screen in scribbled handwriting. In a travelogue film brimming with platitudes, it feels fitting that what is seen in Hector and the Search for Happiness — scrawled statements of supposed knowledge aside — fares better than what is heard. The feature's central performances are amiable, with Pegg more earnest than usual, and Pike luminous, though barely used. From the UK to the US and everywhere in between, the far-flung settings are handsomely and brightly photographed. Alas, a likeable cast and lush images can't overcome trite and troubling material that shouts its sentiments as loudly as it can. Though poised as a warm comedy, there's little that's funny about a script sketchily espousing "be yourself" teachings likely to be found in fortune cookies and overdosing in schmaltz as Hector mingles with babies and the dying — and they're the less concerning elements. Insensitive cultural tourism reinforces stereotypical perceptions and highlights the film's privileged perspective, as does the handling of Hector and Clara's relationship, with marriage and parenthood posed as the real sources of happiness. Coming from the director of Hannah Montana: The Movie and Serendipity, Peter Chelsom, the feature plays out like a cartoonish fairytale, but the lack of serious intent and the overt adherence to formula doesn't excuse its offensiveness or laziness. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty did soul-searching globetrotting before, and better. Hector and the Search for Happiness merely wades along the shallow and sugary edges of the self-help pond. https://youtube.com/watch?v=JElca1Latos
Locking gazes across the room, staring intently with a deep fascination that feels fated, seeing oneself in the sparkle of another's eyes: when these moments happen in a movie, it's typically to fuel the first flushes of romance. When they occur early in Passing, however, it's because former childhood friends Irene (Tessa Thompson, Westworld) and Clare (Ruth Negga, Ad Astra) have spied each other in a swanky Manhattan hotel. The pair peer back and forth, intrigued and attentive. That said, it isn't until Clare approaches Irene — and calls her Reenie, a nickname she hasn't heard in years — that the latter realises who she's been looking at. It's the immaculately styled blonde bob that fools Irene, as it's meant to fool the world. As becomes clear in a politely toned but horrendously blunt conversation with Clare's racist husband John (Alexander Skarsgård, Godzilla vs Kong) shortly afterwards, Irene's long-lost pal has built an entire life and marriage around being seen as white. Passing's eponymous term comes loaded not just with meaning, but with history; adapted from Nella Larsen's 1929 novel of the same name, it's set in America's Jim Crow era. This introductory scene between Irene and Clare comes layered with multiple sources of tension, too, with Irene only in the hotel because she's decided to flirt with visiting a white establishment. Still, she's shocked by her pal's subterfuge. When she initially spots Clare, the film adopts Irene's perspective — and its frames bristle with a mix of nervousness, uncertainty and familiarity. Irene rediscovers an old friend in a new guise, and also comes face to face with the lengths some are willing to go to in the name of survival and an easier life. Friendships can be rewarding and challenging, fraught and nourishing, and demanding and essential, including all at once, as Passing repeatedly demonstrates from this point onwards. Irene can't completely move past Clare's choices and can't shake her fears about what'd happen if the vile John ever learned Clare's secret; however, she's also quick to defend her to others — to her doctor husband Brian (André Holland, The Eddy), who swiftly warms to Clare anyway; and to acclaimed white novelist Hugh Wentworth (Bill Camp, News of the World), who's her own entry point into an artier realm. Indeed, in household where talk of lynchings is common dinner conversation, Irene recognises far more in Clare's decision than she'll vocally admit. Almost everyone she knows is pretending to be something else as well, after all, including Irene in her own ways. Largely confined to Irene and Brian's well-appointed Harlem home and other parties in the neighbourhood — after that first hotel rendezvous, that is — Passing is an economical yet complicated film. It may seem straightforward in charting Irene and Clare's rekindled acquaintance, but it's exacting and precise as it interrogates both societally enforced and self-inflicted pain. Its Black characters live in a world that pushes them aside and worse merely for existing, with its central pair each internalising that reality. Their every careful move reacts to it, in fact, a bleak truth that actor-turned-filmmaker Rebecca Hall (The Night House) never allows to fade. That's one of the reasons she's chosen to shoot this striking directorial debut in elegant, crisp and devastatingly telling monochrome hues: both everything and nothing here is black and white. Hall doesn't appear on-screen here herself, but she still gifts Passing the same intensity and nuance that's always been part of her performances. In the film's lingering frames, intimate close-ups of Thompson and Negga, and all-round eagerness to see the space that surrounds them — that often separates them, too — she proves as astute a director as she is an actor. It helps that she has enlisted two leads who exude the same traits, and Passing couldn't be more perfectly cast as a result. Thanks to Sylvie's Love and Loving, both of the movie's stars have grappled with race relations in America already in their careers. They've done so to affecting and astonishing effect, too. Here, while never repeating themselves, both Thompson and Negga are just as exceptional as they've ever been. It was always going to take intricate, complex and sensitive portrayals to tell this story, and Passing's talented leads just keep delivering. The whirlwind of emotions that flickers through Irene again and again, as evident in her gaze, posture and tone far more than she's openly trying to convey, is nothing short of masterful on Thompson's part. And the determination and sorrow fighting inside Clare — the yearning to connect with the background she shunned out of what she felt was necessity, and the unwillingness to be judged for her choices as well — echoes through a hypnotic turn by Negga. Showy yet thoughtful, it's the kind of performance might've just stuck to the confident and ostentatious character's Roaring Twenties flapper-style surface notes in other hands. With meticulous assistance from cinematographer Eduard Grau (The Way Back) and editor Sabine Hoffman (Juliet, Naked), Hall also turns Passing into an exercise in looking; this is a feature about perception and authenticity, and it repeatedly pushes those concepts to the fore in every image. It observes quietly and intently, giving Irene and Clare the type of unfettered, unguarded and earnest attention that they're clearly so rarely able to enjoy as they wrestle with racial identity in their daily existence. It truly sees them, including their strengths, struggles, dreams, desires and flaws. And, it refuses to redirect its gaze when the tragedy it has always been building towards makes its presence known — an outcome that shocks and feels inevitable at the same time. The jazzy score might play things gently, but Passing uses its polish, poise and patience, and its superb performances, to pack probing and pain into every delicately rendered moment. Passing screens in select Melbourne cinemas from Friday, October 29, and streams via Netflix from Wednesday, November 10.
Melbourne's forecast is looking extra radiant to start 2023 — and much of that is thanks to the good vibes set to be served up by iconic LGBTQIA+ arts and cultural celebration Midsumma Festival, which returns for its 34th edition this summer. Hitting your calendars from Saturday, January 21–Sunday, February 12, the fest will once again be one-upping its previous efforts to deliver its biggest program yet, with this year's lineup featuring more than 200 events. Held across eight major festival hubs and many more smaller venues, you can expect a jam-packed offering of live music, performances, exhibitions, theatre, visual arts, cabaret, parties and more — all championing queer arts and culture. It kicks off in all its explosive glory on Sunday, January 22 with the legendary Midsumma Carnival at Alexandra Gardens. Then, on Sunday, February 5, the Midsumma Pride March will descend on Fitzroy Street for its annual roving celebration starring marchers in their thousands. Plus, the full-day Victoria's Pride fiesta will wrap things up on Sunday, February 12, marking more than four decades since the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Victoria. [caption id="attachment_883994" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Midsumma Carnival[/caption] In between, you'll catch a diverse array of events, including the debut of A Safe(R) Space — a program of works unpacking the concept of the 'safe space', and what that means for different artists and creatives. Expect illuminating performances, perception-bending exhibitions and a whole lotta self-love. Meanwhile, Midsumma Presents is back with another specially curated lineup championing the unheard voices of this era's queer intersectional communities. It'll serve up panel chats, theatre works, art exhibitions, a Nocturnal dance party and a whole lot in between. Elsewhere, comedian Joel Creasey and RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under legend Kween Kong will take over the Sidney Myer Music Bowl for the star-studded fiesta that is Midsumma Extravaganza. Head along to catch comedians including Nina Oyama, Rhys Nicholson and Scout Boxall, as well as a sparkling cast of musical talent such as Courtney Act, Tina Del Twist, Kira Puru and Dolly Diamond. Then, there's the swag of happenings hosted at the Victorian Pride Centre, a new festival hub. Along with a free exhibition delving into a century of Victoria's LGBTQIA+ history and the creation of the centre itself, the site will dish up events like a giant gender-diverse clothes swap, drag-led creative workshops, a queer comedy showcase, and a pop-up piano bar complete with song requests and special guests. Highlights across the other hubs include a First Nations drag festival and a star-studded drag bingo party at Pride of Our Footscray; a citywide collection of interactive installations for Midsumma x Ignite Melbourne; rope bondage workshops and cabarets about composting over at Abbotsford Convent; dance-friendly al fresco gigs in the Theatre Works garden; a stacked program of performances at Gasworks Arts Park and the Butterfly Club; and much, much more. [caption id="attachment_883999" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nocturnal x Midsumma[/caption] Midsumma Festival 2023 runs from Saturday, January 21–Sunday, February 12 at hubs and venues across Melbourne. For the full program and to book tickets, see the website.
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 29 locations across the country. To celebrate the opening of its latest outpost in Windsor, 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 3.30–4pm and again from 5.30–6pm on Thursday, April 29 at the new location. And, come Friday, April 30, they'll be available from 5.30–6pm and 8.30–9pm, too. 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 Windsor store is already open for lunch and dinner daily.
If you can find New Gold Mountain it's a reward in itself – if you're beneath the bike on the wall, you're there. The drinks here are identified only by number, which can make things tricky (read: fun surprises) after you've had a few of them, and they're talking points in themselves. We only wish we could remember the number of divine cocktail that came in two glasses, designed to be consumed in alternating sips, but by that point an entire algebra problem had been downed.
Even the most adventurous of foodies have their limits, don't they? New documentary Bugs aims to put that idea to the test — and to make audiences squirm in the process. You don't make a film about two researchers from René Redzepi's experimental Nordic Food Lab exploring the culinary value and environmental benefits of eating insects without causing a reaction, after all. The eye-opening doco is one of 10 titles set to screen at the Antenna Documentary Film Festival when it tours to Melbourne from November 2-6. Regardless of how experimental your eating habits are, the flicks unveiled should whet the appetite of factual cinema fans thanks to a wealth of thought-provoking content. When the fest isn't trying to get viewers pondering their next meal, it'll be inspiring discussions about everything from a ladies man living with HIV to the impact of nuclear waste in a small Russian town. The former comes courtesy of moving opening night film The Charro of Toluquilla, while the latter informs documentary City 40, which examines the people trying to survive in one of the most contaminated places on earth. Aussie effort A Mother and A Gun, which has its world premiere at the festival, is also certain to get attendees talking as it explores the life of Shelly Rubin, the woman who fell in love with the leader of the Jewish Defense League. Elsewhere, environmental effort The Islands and the Whales and the latest chronicle of Bobby Sands and his famous hunger strike — as previously brought to the screen in Steve McQueen-Michael Fassbender collaboration Hunger — also feature among Antenna's list of films. The fest's 2016 lineup looks as varied as it is interesting. Images: Lloyd Dirks, Tom Truong.
Belles Hot Chicken has flirted with all sorts of chook-centric creations over the years, but there's one classic Aussie chicken dish that it's left untouched. Until now. Head chef and co-founder Morgan McGlone has just gone and dropped the group's first ever chicken parma sandwich, as part of Belles' new limited-edition Italian menu, Parma di Bella. This star sanga ($13) teams a garlic-brushed Italian bun with crumbed chicken tenders, rich napoli sauce, melted pecorino and a shaved fennel and rocket slaw. And it's got a worthy accompaniment in the new chicken skin mac 'n' cheese ($6), featuring McGlone's classic macaroni side topped with crispy fried chicken skin, smoked paprika and a dusting of Italian seasoning. On offer at all Belles outposts from May 29 to June 19, the pop-up menu also showcases a couple of fittingly Italian booze matches. You'll find crisp tinnies of Peroni Red ($6), along with a special pull from the cellar: the unique Sicilian red, Frank Cornelissen Contadino ($16 a glass). Parma di Bella is available at Belles Hot Chicken Fitzroy, Collins Square and Elizabeth Street.
Take a trip along the Frankston line to the McClelland Sculpture Park + Gallery, where the curators have locked in a pair of summer exhibitions. Housed in the gallery from December 13 through to February 21, Uncommon Australians and Talking to Shadows both present work by prominent Australian artists – albeit in very different forms. Arriving in Victoria courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, Uncommon Australians: The Vision of Gordon and Marilyn Darling pays tribute to the couple whose generosity and foresight helped bring the aforementioned gallery into being. The exhibition will feature portraits of various Australian icons, from Nick Cave to Elisabeth Murdoch. Running in tandem, Talking to Shadow showcases the material work from sculpture Tim Silver. The latest in a career that spans two plus decades, the exhibition consists of a video piece alongside steel and bronze sculptures cast from trees ravaged by bushfires in Tasmania.
Calling all companions, Whovians and Time Lords: the TARDIS has materialised in Melbourne. Again Thats right, a Totally Awesome Radical Doctor Who Impromptu Shop has opened up on Little Collins Street, allowing you to purchase all of your favourite Doctor Who memorabilia and necessities to fight Daleks. The pop-up shop is touring this time to promote the new Doctor, Peter Capaldi, and the launch of series eight on ABC TV in August. It will allow Australians to purchase exclusive merchandise never before made available to them. This includes replica props and coats from the UK and Canada, as well as the Doctor Who Home range, allowing you to pour your tea from a TARDIS themed pot and pour your emotions over the deaths of past and present companions into a Dalek-themed diary. Traditional merch items will also be on sale, including DVDs, books and toys. Oh, by the way, you can get your photo taken in-store in the TARDIS photo booth. The store is open 9am-6pm daily (except Friday when it's open 9am-9pm, Saturday 9am-5pm and Sunday 11am-4pm).
It's cold in Norway during winter. That shouldn't come as a surprise — and, given that it's both set and shot in the Scandinavian nation, neither should the thoroughly frosty look of The Snowman. From the film's opening image, nearly every frame is dusted with the kind of iciness that only comes from particularly chilly climes. And yet, when a cop connects a series of seemingly random murders, her big discovery stems from the fact that it's snowing when each death occurred. Viewers can be forgiven for groaning loudly when this revelation is made. Faced with a screen full of white flakes for two long hours, if you find yourself thinking "isn't it snowing almost constantly?" then you certainly won't be alone. If you also start to wonder how observing the weather passes for smart police work in the world of the movie, or who thought that'd make an interesting plot point, that's understandable too. Then again, the hero of The Snowman goes by the name of Harry Hole, so perhaps it's best not to expect too much of the movie around him. Spied sleeping in the snow more than once, Harry (Michael Fassbender) is the type of grizzled drunk of a detective that gets away with being intoxicated and unreliable because he's supposedly brilliant — not that The Snowman dedicates any time to explaining why that is. After his latest bender, he partners up with aforementioned snow-spotter Katrine (Rebecca Ferguson) to investigate the slayings of a spate of Oslo women. When the duo aren't piecing together obvious clues, Harry is wading through his snowstorm of a personal life, involving his kindly ex (Charlotte Gainsbourg), her teenage son (Michael Yates) and her new plastic surgeon boyfriend (Jonas Karlsson). Bad storytelling, bad monikers, bland characterisation, by-the-numbers backstory, barely interesting procedural drama: there's an avalanche brewing in The Snowman, and it's of the generic and cliched kind. Indeed, the Nordic noir does come with its own intriguing case to solve, though it has nothing to do with the on-screen narrative. Rather, the mystery surrounds how such a dull flick sprang from such promising pedigree. Directed by Tomas Alfredson (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), scripted by Peter Straughan (Frank), Hossein Amini (Drive) and Søren Sveistrup (The Killing), and based on a best-selling book by Jo Nesbø (Headhunters), it's not as though the production is short on talent. A whole series of Nesbø's novels actually revolve around the unfortunately named Harry, although don't expect a whole series of films to follow suit. With Scandinavian crime a hit on the page, on TV and in cinemas, The Snowman is clearly designed to start a new detective franchise, but the final product will surely cause those hopes to melt. At least Fassbender proves suitably frosty, playing his part with a solemn demeanour and never threatening to thaw out. Alas, it's still not nearly enough to make audiences actually care about his character or anything that he does against the icy Norwegian scenery. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jBaPtX6NYY
Whey isn't just something that's mentioned in nursery rhymes. It's part of the cheesemaking process, and can be used to produce whey cheeses, too. So, it's essential to make ricotta — which you might want to keep in mind while you're attending the That's Amore Cheese Ricotta Festival. For one day, from 10am–3pm on Sunday, May 1, the Thomastown spot is going creamy with delight over all things ricotta. As you walk in, you'll get a hot serving of ricotta calda straight from the vat. Then, enjoy live music as you discover the versatility of ricotta with a menu of four-cheese ricotta gnocchi, ravioli, porchetta rolls, fresh cannoli, antipasto and more cheesy delights to feast on. Plus, there'll also be a range of local produce available for you to take home. If your stomach is already rumbling (and understandably so), you have two ticket choices. For $12, you'll get access to the festival, plus a hot ricotta on entry — and then you'll pay for whatever else you'd like to eat and drink. Or, for $40, you'll also receive servings of gnocchi, salsiccia, and a Cannoleria cannolo.
In a week that's already revealed the closure of The Commune Group's short-lived Alter Dining and celebrated fine diner Estelle by Scott Pickett, another Melbourne restaurant has announced its farewell. The latest news sees Andrew McConnell's St Kilda eatery Supernormal Canteen up for sale, 12 months after the chef transformed the space from its previous incarnation as Luxembourg. McConnell has had the Fitzroy Street site for seven years, since launching his first solo venture Golden Fields there back in 2011. Now, it's on the market as the owner moves to focus his attentions on the rest of his hefty restaurant stable. A Supernormal spokesperson confirmed the news, saying, "After seven years in St Kilda, we have decided to consolidate our focus on existing venues and projects." At this stage, no closing date has been set and the venue will kick on as usual, at least until a new buyer snaps up the site. The restaurant's CBD sibling, Supernormal will continue operating as usual. Pay Supernormal Canteen a visit while you still can, at 157 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda. Image credit: Nikki To
The yearly collection of dinners, film screenings, music and dance workshops that is Melbourne's Cultural Diversity Week is one-upping itself for 2017 by closing with a free music festival. A new event for 2017, Culture Waves will showcase young artists from diverse backgrounds that happen to be some of Australia's most talented up-and-comers. Following sold-out headline tours, Melbourne's own young gun lyricist Remi will perform his brand of soulful rapid-fire hip hop alongside producer and percussionist, Sensible J. Expect to hear tracks from his second album, Divas and Demons, which dropped last year. Gearing up for a massive 2017 with a new album and national tour, electronic R&B artist Yeo will also feature. With the release of his killer LP, Ganbaru, last year to acclaim from triple j, this funk, 'lo-fi disco' and K-pop-inspired set promises be every bit as upbeat and fun as it sounds. On top of this, keyboardist and composer Billy Davis will be joined by the Good Lords, and spoken word artist Sukhjit Kaur Kalsa will be emceeing the night.
Melbourne's no stranger to the boozy brunch concept, though this one does it a little differently to most. At modern Japanese restaurant Tokyo Tina, the ever-popular weekend brunch sessions come matched with a fun side of bingo, as hosted by the hilarious Valerie Hex. This big-energy brunch setup promises to fire up your Saturday with one of two weekly sittings — 12–2pm and 2.15–4.15pm. For $79, you'll spend two hours sipping bottomless tap beer, bubbly and Aperol spritzes, while feasting on your table's choice of five dishes from the brunch menu. Expect plates like miso-baked cauliflower, yuzu potato salad, five-spice chicken karaage, kingfish tataki with white ponzu and fennel, and the crispy avocado bao. There's complimentary kimchi rice and edamame to match. And if you're only in for the eats and entertainment, a drinks-less option comes in at just $49. The bingo itself promises a bit of raucous fun, especially those crowned bingo king or queen. Who knows — you could end this Saturday session with a sweet prize and serious bragging rights to your name. Either way, this is not the kind your nan plays. Just be sure to book online to nab a table. [caption id="attachment_848176" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Leah Traecey[/caption] Images: Leah Traecey
While Messina's main jam is crafting supremely scoffable gelato varieties, the brand's love of food extends far beyond the freezer — as it has proven plenty of times over the past few years. Sometimes, it likes to team up with other culinary hotshots. Sometimes, it just likes to whip out a creative dessert. Either way, your tastebuds always benefit. And this month, you're really in luck because from 12pm on Friday, July 9 and Saturday, July 10, Messina is busting out one of its specials. If you've sampled its famous mango pancakes before — yep, those treats that starred at its yum cha sessions — you'll already be hungry. The crepes come stuffed with mango sorbet and whipped cream, and they've proven immensely popular every other time they've popped up. After getting its hands on a new pancake machine last month, the cult gelato chain even hosted a dedicated mango pancake party at its Sydney HQ. And now, it's bringing this tasty occasion to Melbourne. The whole thing will go down at Messina's Fitzroy store, with pancakes on offer until sold out each day — so getting in early is recommended. A pair of pancakes clocks in at $12.
This week marks the return of a much-loved St Kilda local, as Prince Public Bar reopens its doors and shows off the results of an extensive nine-month makeover. It's the latest piece of a multi-faceted overhaul for Acland Street's historic Prince of Wales Hotel — now just The Prince Hotel — which also included the closure of Circa and opening of fine-diner Prince Dining Room. The sprawling ground floor space has been reimagined at the hands of IF Architecture's Iva Foschia, while still respecting the building's Art Deco roots. Expect a series of light-filled, spacious zones, with a hefty oval bar taking pride of place at the heart and a staircase offering access to the hotel lobby and Prince Dining Room above. While it's best known as a spot for sinking beers, a kitchen expansion means Prince Public Bar now has those appetites sorted as well, serving breakfast through dinner daily. Roll in from 7am to fuel up with the likes of chilli and cheese scrambled eggs, mushroom shakshuka, or perhaps the honeycomb and vanilla hotcakes teamed with vanilla mascarpone and lemon balm. A range of Niccolo coffee, superfood smoothies and fresh juices paints a very different picture to the late-night visits of old. [caption id="attachment_758268" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kristoffer Paulsen[/caption] Elsewhere, the kitchen's slinging a hefty offering of bar snacks — think, sweet and sour fried cauliflower, or homemade sausage rolls — and classic counter meals including the likes of chicken schnitzel and wagyu sausages on polenta. A woodfired grill and rotisserie turns out dishes like a share-size crispy pork knuckle and a slew of steaks, while the signature roast series offers a different cut of meat or seafood for $26, Monday to Friday. Of course, the booze situation hasn't taken a backseat — you'll find a diverse spread of brews on tap, classic cocktails like negronis and old fashioneds, and a largely Aussie wine list featuring plenty of options by the glass. Happy hour runs from 5–7pm weeknights, delivering $8 schooners, basics and glasses of wine. And February will see the last piece of the puzzle fall into place, as wine bar and underground cellar Little Prince Wine opens in the space next door. Find Prince Public Bar at 2 Acland Street, St Kilda. It's open daily from 7am. Images: Kristoffer Paulsen
Footy and classical music don't normally go together, but at Hamer Hall this Thursday that's all about to change. Inspired by one of the most memorable AFL games of the modern era — the drawn 2010 Grand Final between Collingwood and St Kilda — composer Tamil Rogeon has created a new original symphony, one befitting the heart-stopping drama of that fateful September day. Co-presented by the Arts Centre and the AFL, The Draw will be performed live by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra while the thrilling match unfolds on the big screen behind them. Every kick, every tackle, every roar from the crowd will be punctuated by the orchestra's performance, in what the bill describes as "a truly unique collision of two of Melbourne's greatest loves". Bring your tux, but don't forget your beanie. No word yet on whether they'll be serving hot pies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8isRkjvX36A
Every format, medium and type of technology has its day. Some persist, but many pass by in blink-or-you'll-miss-it fashion. If you've got a landline handset clogging up your cupboard or an old cathode ray tube television in your spare room, then you know what we're talking about. Others enjoy revival years after their initial heyday, or are adapted for a new purpose. Take the risograph, for example. The 80s high-speed digital machine was designed and marketed as a cheaper photocopier, then received a second lease on life when it became the duplication and printing method of choice of zine publishers and artists. If it sounds like the type of format quite a few of the folks who frequent The Old Bar would use. In fact, the Fitzroy bar is paying tribute to the humble riso from 8pm on Friday, September 14, with 24 artists unleashing their interpretations of and experimentations with dying media. The exhibition isn't called Dead Format II for no reason. If the exhibition inspires you, you can head to a risograph workshop run by zine publisher Helio Press. They book out quickly, so keep an eye on the website for more dates.
Thinking of hibernating this winter? Think again — the City of Melbourne and the Victorian Government have teamed up to offer a swag of freebies and giveaways over the coming weeks, aimed at enticing locals to get back out and about post-lockdown. The new FOMO Freebies program will run from June 21–July 18, with a stack of retail, accommodation, tourism and entertainment giveaways up for grabs. Craving an urban escape? The Westin Melbourne and The Sofitel Melbourne on Collins are each offering 200 overnight staycations. Keen to catch a show? Wrangle one of 200 tickets to Harry Potter and The Cursed Child, or one of 200 tickets to Frozen The Musical. You could also score double passes to the NGV's Friday Night series, to see the fish at Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium and to explore the city on Discovera's Hidden Bars & History Tour. Queen Victoria Market vouchers and tickets to Docklands' immersive playground Imaginaria are a few of the other goodies available. To get involved, stay tuned to the What's On Melbourne Instagram, Twitter and Facebook accounts. That's where details of each of the giveaways will be announced in advance over the next month. [caption id="attachment_791885" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Imaginaria, by William Hamilton Coates[/caption]
With the sunny season knocking on our door, what better time to celebrate some of the best new drops from Australia's natural wine scene? Especially when those drops are teamed with a blissed-out soundtrack and some sweet, summery Sunday arvo vibes. The folks at Abbotsford's Lulie Tavern are hosting a trio of daytime tasting parties, with natural vino and pét-nats the stars of the show. Each party will showcasing a different winery, with Adelaide Hill's Limus kickstarting the series (Nov 11), followed by Heathcote's Little Reddie (Nov 25) and Gladysdale's Amble rounding things out (Dec 2). Roll in from 4pm to try juicy, just-released pét-nats, and other nattys, with samples available by the glass, carafe or bottle. The winemakers will be around for a chat, too. You'll be able to do all this while kicking back to tunes from Liam McGorry & Friends (Dorsal Fins/Saskwatch) and making the most of Lulie's cracking new courtyard.
As Australia reflects on the Gallipoli centenary and considers the countless global conflicts that have sprung up in the hundred years since, a free exhibition at the Hawthorn Arts Centre examines the relationship between art and warfare head on. With works across a range of different media including sculpture, photography, print, painting, video and installation, Conflicted: Adversaries in Art explores humankind's propensity for violence; with a particular focus on young people caught up in the cycle of conflict. A number of pieces in the show touch on the idea of childhood and loss of innocence, from Michael Peck’s beautiful oil paintings of a young boy wielding a bow and arrow, to photographs by Siri Hayes of her son making weapons in their backyard. Conflict: Adversaries in Art runs until May 31 at the Town Hall Gallery inside the Hawthorn Arts Centre. There'll also be a series of talks with the artists in the show, in which they’ll delve further into their artwork and ideas. For more information, visit the Town Hall Gallery website. Image: Michael Peck
Anytime's a good time for oysters, but there's only one occasion where it's perfectly acceptable to gorge on them to the point of no return: the Oyster Frenzy. It's not the Oyster Frenzy — the city's longest running all-you-can-eat oyster festival, held in Circa in St Kilda — but it's a similarly serious seafood celebration. And it has bottomless booze and molluscs, too. Oyster Frenzy is going down at the McKinnon Hotel on Thursday, September 20 from 6.30pm. As well as all-you-can-eat freshly shucked oysters — yes, all-you-can-eat — there will also be other fancy seafood canapés (which you also have unlimited access to) and bottomless booze. To help wash down all those oysters, you'll be able sip on unlimited bubbles, wine and beer. So, maybe, try and get Friday off work.
"I lived in the country where the dead wood aches / In a house made of stone and a thousand mistakes / Where the glory of morning got crushed by the burden of day." I know I wasn't the only alternative teenager with these lyrics plastered on my bedroom wall. There's something gut-wrenching about the world Gareth Liddiard creates in his songs, and from his time as frontman of The Drones to his exceptional solo work, this great Australian storyteller has amassed a serious following. Though his last tour was with The Drones' 2013 release of I See Seaweed, this month brings with it a surprising solo residency at The Workers Club. Recalling his 2010 LP, Strange Tourist, Liddiard will be treating audiences to some much-needed one-on-one time with the guy behind 'Shark Fin Blues', 'Jezebel', and 'Blondin Makes an Omelette'. With a limited venue capacity of 200, these shows are for die-hard fans only. Though Liddiard's booked in for every Sunday in May (including a bonus show on June 1), every date has completely sold out. Beg, borrow, and stalk Gumtree for ticket sales — this isn't a show you can afford to miss. https://youtube.com/watch?v=aIMspValxG4
Like longer days and warmer temperatures, Tame Impala is now a thing that without which summer would potentially just cease to exist. Luckily the band has released a spectacular sophomore mind-trip just in time to help each of us switch seasons in a blissful state of cloistered delirium, and are touring it this December so we can see what all the wooziness looks like in 3D. Like the title suggests Lonerism fleshes out the themes of isolation put forward on debut LP Innerspeaker, and makes being alone and a little bit crazy seem like the ideal state to be in. In "Why Won't They Talk To Me" Kevin Parker sings about being "out of the zone", while spacey guitar riffs layered with and asphyxiated by other instrumentation adds to the listener's jonesing for marijuana, sunshine and solitary time out. However so long as everyone else is in the same mindset there's no reason why these songs should be enjoyed in that state only, especially when Tame Impala's live shows guarantee so much pretty stuff to look at. https://youtube.com/watch?v=b0jqPvpn3sY
No longer just the realms of year three excursions where your mum came as chaperone, Melbourne Zoo Twilights — the after-hours live music series that boasts perhaps one of the best summer nights out, as well as lots of adorable animals — has proven it's got some real cred when it comes to hosting outdoor gigs in the past few years. After all, the event has hosted headliners such as Kurt Vile, José González and Ben Folds over the last few years. And this summer the event will return with a series of live sets every weekend from Friday, January 25 through Saturday, March 9. After announcing headliner Cat Power, February 9, earlier this month, Melbourne Zoo has now dropped (almost) the entire Twilights program for 2019. Pastel pop duo Client Liaison kick off the program, and are joined on the lineup by other loved local acts Vera Blue, rapper Briggs and Twilight regular The Cat Empire. New Zealand balladeer Marlon Williams will fly over across the ditch for a night, while R&B singer Aloe Blacc and neo-soul group The Internet will make the journey down from the States. A few big throwbacks are also on this year's program, including an MMMBoppin' performance from Hanson, a twilight gig from famed Indigenous singer Archie Roach and a early February show from every dad's favourite singer Daryl Braithwaite. Only one more show is left to be announced, with the final performance still a secret. Picnic-bringing is encouraged, but there'll also be handy gourmet hampers available on-site, as well as a slew of food trucks to choose nosh from. Either way, it's one of the best dates in Melbourne. Plus, all proceeds from Zoo Twilights go back into Zoo Victoria's ongoing conservation work to help fight the extinction of the Eastern Barred Bandicoot. MELBOURNE ZOO TWILIGHTS 2019 PROGRAM Friday, January 25 – Client Liaison, supported by Kira Puru Saturday, January 26 – Briggs and Archie Roach, supported by Alice Sky Friday, February 1 – Sampa the Great and REMI, supported by Thando Saturday, February 2 – Daryl Braithwaite and Ross Wilson Friday, February 8 – Vera Blue, supported by Kesmar Saturday, February 9 – Cat Power, with special guests Friday, February 15 – The Cat Empure, supported by The Meldown Friday, February 22 – Aloe Blacc, supported by Kaiit Saturday, February 23 — Rufus Wainwright, supported by Mojo Juju Friday, March 1 – Hanson, with special guests Sunday, March 3 – The Internet, with special guests Friday, March 8 – Marlon Williams, supported by Laura Jean Saturday, March 9 — TBA Melbourne Zoo Twilights will return to Melbourne Zoo from January 25 until March 9, 2019. Tickets go on sale at 8am on Tuesday, October 30 at zootwilights.org.au. Image: Ian Laidlaw.
Unstoppable chef and restaurateur Andrew McConnell, whose hospitality empire includes Cutler & Co., Cumulus Inc. and Ricky & Pinky, is embarking on yet another project. This summer, for ten magnificent days, he'll be taking over the Garden Restaurant at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), and transforming it into Supernormal Natsu, a spin-off of Supernormal, his modern Japanese restaurant in Flinders Lane. The pop-up is part of Triennial EXTRA, a 10-day, one-off festival, organised to celebrate the inaugural NGV Triennial, a free exhibition featuring the works of 100 artists from 32 nations, which opens on December 15. Triennial EXTRA and Supernormal Natsu will run from January 19 to 28. Every day, from midday, McConnell's team will be creating dishes inspired by natsu, which is Japanese for summer. Many of them will be emerging from a hibachi grill, to be positioned on the restaurant's terrace. And although the details of specific dishes are yet to be revealed, we can tell you to expect fresh meats and seafood, grilled to perfection, and accompanied by summery ingredients. The dessert menu will include an array of sweet hits based on shaved ice. "The Garden Restaurant at the NGV is one of the most beautiful dining rooms in Melbourne," said McConnell. "I am thrilled with the opportunity to work with the NGV." In addition to Supernormal Natsu, Triennial EXTRA will bring a bunch of free immersive and experiential events to the NGV, covering art, music, dance, live performance, design, fashion and ideas.
You may have thought your days of hanging out in car parks were over, but this Melbourne music event aims to change that. Play On brings a unique combination of live classical and electronic music to the underground car park at the Collingwood Housing Estate and, after three successful seasons, it's back for three Friday nights on March 9, 16 and 23. The event presents classical music outside of traditional performance venues, making it both an accessible and pretty magical experience in a space that welcomes music lovers from all walks of life. The events will see the likes of Beethoven and Debussy played by the Play On Collective, followed by sets from local DJs, including Noise in My Head. Tickets are $20 presale or $25 on the door. Images: Alan Wheedon.
Melbourne could use some good news in the live music department. Just this year we've seen beloved live music venues permanently shut their doors, noise complaint surveys threatening the venues still standing, and the cessation of one of Australia’s greatest touring music festivals. But in the wake of our beloved Palace closure and tumultuous Big Day Out rises a flicker of hope, in the form of the Melbourne Music Strategy 2014-2017. According to the Victorian Live Music Census (2012) there are around 120 clubs, bars and hotels offering live music in Melbourne’s CBD as well as 17 larger theatres and concert venues. Every Friday and Saturday night around 97,000 people attend popular music performances in the city, generating an average turnover of around $5.4 million per weekend in ticket sales, door entry, food, drink and merchandising. Yes, it’s pretty clear this is an industry worth investing in. The Melbourne City Council has worked closely with members of the music industry — including venue owners, promoters and musicians — to compile this strategy, which aims to make Melbourne the undisputed music capital of Australia. Here are five of the best proposals featured in the Melbourne Music Strategy that we're looking forward to becoming a reality. Music Events to Run Year-Round, Not Just Summer Festival Time While Melbourne certainly has its fair share of gigs and festivals throughout the year, we don’t really have an anchored program running all year long. Creating steadfast events happening all year is an attempt to make music significantly more visible in Melbourne, reminding more Melburnians that music is a part of every day inner-city life. A big ask, for sure (and maybe they could stop a few venues closing to help this bullet point along). The council are targeting families with this one; they plan to implement more family-friendly music events, also potentially starting up a busking and street performance festival in the future. More all-ages and alcohol-free events have been optimistically pitched by the council too. But after all-ages event Push Over Festival was cancelled this year due to low ticket sales, the council is going to have to think long and hard about making these events more appealing to younger audiences. Make Melbourne's Music Knowledge Known Melbourne wants to be up there with the greats, as they list music Meccas like Toronto, Austin, Nashville and Berlin as inspiration for the strategy. The City of Melbourne is looking to create musical alliances with these cities to further a global reputation as a unique music destination. Closer to home, the council are looking to strengthen Melbourne’s musical culture and identity by spreading the word of Melbourne’s musical history. They’re hoping to introduce a Melbourne Music City guide and app, a super useful tool for punters looking for a good gig. Keep Melbourne Music Week Going Strong Music festival lovers, rejoice! Melbourne Music Week continues to go from strength to strength — last year certainly put on an applaudable spectacle. Capitalising on existing MMW support and attendance, the new strategy aims to build a five-year vision for the festival; supporting and celebrating our local music labels and performers. The team are looking to continue staging performances in iconic Melbourne locations and unique spaces — the IOU party at Flagstaff Station last year was pretty awesome. Melbourne Music Week is a great way to discover new music, check out new venues or simply party for nine days; we have no objections to any of that. Potential Music Hub in Melbourne CBD A dedicated space for musicians in the CBD could be on the cards. While a space has not yet been found, they’re hoping to work with other industry and state-based initiatives to examine existing research into this possibility. It’s unclear as to what sort of access the public would have to this music hub, however it could provide an excellent opportunity for musical collaboration and community building. In the meantime, Melburnian musicians and the council alike will keep searching for new spaces for meeting, rehearsal and performance spaces in the city. Create Industry Toolkits for the Music Business Community Good news for those looking to open a venue or start up their own music business venture in Melbourne. The Music Advisory Committee are considering putting their heads together to create an easy-to-use toolkit for operators, musicians and new entrants into the music industry. It will include information on funding, business mentoring, opening a new venue, applying for planning permits, obtaining acoustic advice and the rules around serving food and alcohol. In addition to this, the council are hoping to raise awareness of the funding programs that the City of Melbourne currently have in place. Basically, they want to help you help yourselves. Photographs via The Tote, Melbourne Music Week and Melbourne Festival.
Dance and classical aren't music genres you'd usually find swirling around in the same basket — unless you have a particular bent for the orchestral 'Sandstorm' covers found in the depths of YouTube. Synthony — A Generation of Dance Music is here to prove that the disciplines go hand in hand. Touring Australia since 2019, the event is returning to Melbourne from 6pm on Friday, February 17, 2023. It'll see a live orchestra join forces with a selection of DJs and onstage performers at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, all to play the biggest dance tracks of the last 30 years — think tunes by Disclosure, Eric Prydz, Flume, Calvin Harris, Wilkinson and more. Expect the venue to take a few cues from the nightclub scene, with lights, lasers and mapped video all part of the experience — and a selection of dance floor bangers note-for-note. Forming part of the Live at the Bowl summer event series, the lineup of talent includes the Synthony Orchestra; conductor Sarah-Grace Williams; and Rogue Traders' Natalie Bassingthwaighte, The Potbelleez' Ilan Kidron, Thandie Phoenix, Cassie McIvor, Greg Gould, Matty O, Mobin Master and host Aroha. Updated January 9, 2023.
Pidapipo Gelateria is at it again. Last year, the cult-favourite Melbourne gelato shop gave us this stunning range of gelato cakes. Now, it has teamed up Albert Park's Italian Artisans to bring Melburnians a stunning and delicious range of tartufo — a domed, gelato-stuffed chocolate truffle that originated in Calabria. This traditional Italian dessert is brought to you by Pidapipo owner Lisa Valmorbida and Italian Artisans owner Tony Nicolini (D.O.C Pizza and Mozzarella Bar), who are drawing inspiration from their heritage and childhood memories for this one. The collab is months in the making, and has come to fruition in the form of two classic tartufo flavours — available at just $7 a pop. The first is hazelnut gelato with a gianduja centre — a sweet choco-hazelnut spread similar to Nutella — that's been coated with a milk chocolate shell and covered in crushed hazelnuts. The second is a fior di latte gelato with a coffee centre, all covered in white chocolate shavings. These sweet treats will be available from April 5–April 12 at all three Pidapipo locations and on Uber Eats. They will also be sold at Italian Artisans Albert Park for the foreseeable future. Stocks are limited, though, so don't wait on it. The two tartufo are available from Italian Artisans at 135 Victoria Avenue, Albert Park, Pidapipo in Carlton, Windsor and the CBD and on Uber Eats.
Julian Marley will bring his dreadlocks and infectious roots-reggae to the Corner Hotel this Thursday as part of an express pitstop tour. The son of the famous Bob, who recorded his first demo at the early age of five, will showcase his soulful voice and hypnotic beats in each capital city before continuing on around the world. Marley has music in his veins and experiments with the multitude of instruments that he can play until he creates something he likes. "I don't plan the next step, somehow things seem to just come together naturally that way", he says of the impulse and spontaneity that make his live offerings worth experiencing. Chant Down Sound and Natalia Pa’apa’a of Blue King Brown fame, performing with the Rumwaropen sisters, will join Marley onstage. The night promises to be an all round mammoth serving of soul that will set hips swaying and feet shaking. Just don't request 'No Woman, No Cry'.
There'll be bottles poppin' and bubbles flowing at Northcote Town Hall come Saturday, February 23, as the space plays host to Melbourne's second edition of The Prosecco Festival. Held across two sessions — between 11am–3pm and 4–8pm — this bubbly oasis is being brought to life by a deadset expert, Melissa Brauer. She's organised a celebration to entice hardcore fans and novices alike, with a lineup of exhibitors that includes both Australian and Italian producers. Your $50 ticket will score you a goodie bag, a real crystal Plumm teardrop tasting glass and four solid hours of prosecco heaven. Sample some of the world's best-loved prosecco, chat to winemakers and importers from across the globe, and learn all about the wine's best food matches, while nibbling oysters, pizza, cannoli, gelato, cheese and arancini. Of course, there'll also be plenty of opportunity to grab a few bottles for your home collection.
The latest production from the Melbourne Theatre Company takes the groundbreaking ideas of Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House and injects them into a contemporary comedy about our views of modern motherhood. AACTA Award-winning actor Susan Prior stars as Bea, who returns to the UK after her marriage in Melbourne falls apart. At least she has her friends to support her. Or at least she does, until she reveals she wants her children to stay with their father on the other side of the world. Written by UK playwright Deborah Bruce and directed by MTC Associate Director Leticia Cáceres, The Distance probes the way in which our culture sanctifies mothers while condemning women who don't live up to our heightened expectations. The MTC season co-stars Martin Blum, Joe Klocek, Nadine Garner, Katrina Milosevic, Ben Prendergast and Nathan Page, and runs from March 5 to April 9 at the Sumner in the Southbank Theatre building.
The recently returned Aussie meme-page Brown Cardigan is celebrating all things hellish (like being kicked off Insta) this Halloween with a 'Hell-O-Ween' warehouse party in collaboration with Fireball Cinnamon Whisky. From 9pm–3am on Thursday, October 31, dancers, drinkers and sinners are invited to the twisted dance party at Melbourne's Rubix Warehouse. Barbariön will be hosting death metal karaoke and a mix of DJs — including Dunni, Yo! Mafia and Ben Hunter — will be setting the tone for the night. Sip from a hot menu of Fireball bevvies, such as cinnamon-y espresso martinis, while dancing alongside caged live performers. There'll even be an actual spinning "fire wheel of death" for those daring enough to have a go, and hidden confessional booths will pepper the dark corners of the venue for a chance to redeem your soul at this fireball inferno. To secure your spot on the grim reaper's boat, RSVP for a free ticket before the night — they won't be around for long. Keep in mind RSVPs don't guarantee you entry on the night (as the venue has a limited capacity) so make sure you arrive early to party inside one of Melbourne's fieriest Halloween parties.
The National Gallery of Victoria International is putting a spotlight on female artists with its latest large-scale exhibition. Designing Women will open on level three from September 28, 2018 to March 24, 2019. The exhibit showcases nearly 40 years of work from 1980–2018 and focuses on the ongoing role of women in contemporary design culture. It will collate the NGV International collection to highlight over 50 pieces that span multi-disciplinary creative fields — including fashion, jewellery, product design, architecture and digital breakthroughs. Works from groundbreaking designers Zaha Hadid and Neri Oxman will be joined by those by local heavy-hitters Elliat Rich and Helen Kontouris. An NGV commission will also be showcased as part of the exhibition — Lee Darroch, a Yorta Yorta, Mutti Mutti, Boon Wurrung artist from Gippsland, has designed a 25-pelt possum skin cloak that depicts the enthralling history of her family and the region. Accompanying the exhibition is a discussion titled Curator's Perspective: Modern Day Trailblazers, which will take place at 12pm on Sunday, October 14. The talk will be hosted by Simone LeAmon (NGV's curator of contemporary design and architecture) and discuss how the female artists on display have succeeded in this male-dominated industry. Image: Carlotta de Bevilacqua, Yang Metamorphosis 2000 for Artemide, Italy. Courtesy of the designer.
This is about the time of year we start to really miss the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF). Remember those nights you'd hop from show to show? The plump dumplings you'd wolf down in-between? There was that guy who serenaded you with a ukelele outside Town Hall, he pleaded for you to come to his show... What does he even do with the rest of his year? Well, he may feature at Trades Hall this weekend. There's always a bubbling undercurrent of comedic talent in our fair city, and it doesn't always take a full-blown festival to figure it out. From October 5-11, Princess Pictures and SBS2 are putting together a showcase of young Australian comics at Trades Hall. With 30 comedians performing over just five days, there will be a diverse selection of talent on show including Nazeem Hussain and Aamer Rahman from Fear of a Brown Planet, Dan Ilic from Hungry Beast and Can of Worms, and exciting newcomers such as Khaled Khalafalla and Demi Lardner. It may not be a full month like MICF, but it could be just the thing to tide you over, and with every night costing just $15, you'll have leftover money for dumplings too. Check out the full lineup here.
Well, folks, Melbourne's hitting 24 degrees this week for the first time since we can even remember — and what better time for a cheeky springtime wardrobe refresh? This Saturday, September 15, your pals at 91Vintage are coming to the party, hosting the fourth edition of their ever-popular vintage sportswear market. Head along to Fitzroy pub The Evelyn to check out this hefty haul of retro threads, sneakers and accessories, with 15 stallholders slinging old-school gems from the likes of Adidas, Fila, Nike, Fubu, Dada, Sergio Tacchini and Juicy Couture. This time around, the market's running from 10am to 5pm, with prices starting at a neat $5 and both racks and tubs filled with plenty of pieces for every budget. Grab a $1 raffle ticket at the door and you could even win a $200 voucher to spend at any stall on the day. Head over to the 91Vintage Instagram page for a sneak preview of some of the gear that's set to make an appearance and start plotting some bangers for the festival season to come.
Last week, KFC offered 25 percent off its entire menu for three days. Not one to be outdone, Korean fried chicken joint Gami has just launched its own finger licken' good offering. From now until 11.59pm on Wednesday, May 20, it's offering 20 percent off all orders of $20 or more. To get your hands on its tasty fried chicken morsels — RSPCA-approved and rocking Gami's signature blend of 17 herbs and spices — you'll need to download its app (available for both Android and iOS) and enter GAMIATHOME at checkout. And it's also offering free delivery, too, from participating venues through DoorDash. With 26 stores across Australia — including 17 in Melbourne and four in Sydney — Gami has secured its status as one of Australia's go-to fried chicken joints. As well as its signature Korean-style chook, it's serving spicy seafood soup, chicken katsu burgers, kimchi pancakes, tteok bok ki and cheesy corn. Gami's 20 percent off deal is available until 11.59pm on Wednesday, May 20. Use GAMIATHOME at checkout. You can use the code five times.
