A 30-year retrospective of one of the most dazzling pioneers of multimedia installations and experimental video art has opened at Sydney's Museum of Contemporary Art with Pipilotti Rist: Sip my Ocean. In what's being heralded as the most comprehensive exhibition of the Swiss artist's work ever held in an Australian gallery, you'll get to see pieces right from the start of her practice (including her early single-channel videos created during the 1980s) up to her most recent immersive environments and large-scale audio-visual installations. A truly unique artist whose practice explores the connection between the human body, nature and technology, Rist creates colourful, enchantingly sensual worlds for viewers to lose themselves in – such as 4th Floor to Mildness, where you'll get comfy on one of 18 beds and gaze upwards at a hypnotic underwater world projected onto massive abstract panels. It's not often you lie down on a gallery floor amongst strangers to soak up some art — and its this particular atmosphere of community and togetherness within the way you experience Rist's work that cements its charm. Taking place as part of the Sydney International Art Series, Sip My Ocean runs until February 18. Images: Courtesy of Pipilotti Rist / Ken Leanfore for the MCA.
Good Beer Week is back for its eighth year, taking over Melbourne and regional Victoria with a huge number of beer-related events running from Friday, May 11 through Sunday, May 20. It will all kick off with an opening party at the Beer Deluxe Federation Square festival hub and proceed on to the festival's craziest program yet. If you attended the Showcase Gala, you'll know they've got some big acts in store. This year, the events have been subdivided into nine categories: Beer Lover, Foodie, Beer Geek, Beer School, Good Times and Good Beer Mates, along with Pint of Origin, Festival Hub and Trade Hub. On the docket are homebrew competitions, wild ale showcases and an all-you-can-eat meat fest, along with your requisite tap-takeovers, beergustations, happy hours and collab brews. Plus, beer school classes will run out of the festival hub all week, where you can train your palate to pick out beer faults, take a blending masterclass and learn about all things barreled-aged. Yes, it's an overwhelming number of events and yes, we've got our shortlist right here. First up, there's the biodynamics and beer dinner, hosted by acclaimed chef Paul Wilson (Wilson & Market). He's teaming up with Byron Bay's Stone & Wood to showcase a feast of sustainably-sourced seafood, ethically farmed meat and wood roasted veggies — all paired with brews, of course. Stone & Wood's head brewer Caolan Vaughan is also joining forces with Three Blue Ducks' Darren Robertson, and the two interstate heavy-hitters will also showcase sustainable produce in a six-course beer degustation at Vue de Monde. Speaking of big name chefs, Blackman's Brewery is turning its Geelong restaurant over to Aaron Turner (The Hot Chicken Project, Igni), who will serve up a menu of his signature Nashville-style treats alongside the launch of a seasonal produce-inspired brew. There's plenty of Japanese-influence on the menu this year, too. You've got the Japanese craft beer and dumpling dinner at Zhou Zhou Bar and an izakaya and beer dinner at Kumo, plus Moon Dog is bringing back its drunken beer ramen event at Shizuku. Pizza lovers shouldn't miss the 3 Ravens and Lazerpig quest to find the perfect pizza beer, either. On the cultural side of things, Fempocalypse has made its way down south from Sydney Beer Week 2017 for round two, with Two Birds and Wayward Brewing showcasing women in the hospitality industries. Sydney's Wildflower Brewing & Blending will also head to Melbourne, taking over Richmond's Slowbeer for an unusual bugs and blending wild beer session. Check out the full program here. As with previous years, many of the events are free, but ticketed events are selling out fast. Best get to scheduling out your week now — along with your pre- and post-festival detox sessions.
There's nothing like a dram of scotch to keep you warm in the colder months. Thankfully, World Whisky Day (May 15) is just around the corner and, for Melbourne locals, you can celebrate the amber liquor even sooner at the launch event of The Glen Grant Elegant by Nature on Wednesday, May 5. The Glen Grant distillery is located in the Scottish parish of Rothes, right by barley fields and the River Spey. So, naturally, the label makes use of its natural environment — and engineering innovations — to create elegant and complex amber liquors. The launch kicks off at 5pm on Wednesday May 5 at Loop Project Space and Bar in Meyers Place. There'll be a living artwork inspired by the distillery's stunning surrounds as well as a tasting session where you can try The Glen Grant 10 Year Old, 15 Year Old, 18 year Old and Arboralis. If you can't make the launch, head to Loop on Saturday, May 15 to celebrate World Whisky Day. Here, you can try a dram of the new whisky while an expert guides you through the tasting notes. As capacity is limited — booking is essential. Tickets are $25 which includes the tasting session and canapés, too. Round up your mates and head to Loop on Wednesday, May 5 to try The Glen Grant Elegant by Nature range.
Not even Australia's balmy December temperatures can keep us from embracing the ironic ugly Christmas sweater trend. Christmas in July is here, my friends, and so too is a new line of OTT Yuletide-themed pullovers from the Colonel. Yep, KFC has just dropped its 2022 Christmas jumper range — and this time, there's a matching outfit for the furry mate in your life, too. Available to snap up from today, Friday, July 1, the limited-edition designs are primed for cheesy family photos, rocking a cheery red-and-white pattern and emblazoned with a cheeky nod to fried chicken: "Tis The Seasonings". Both the human sweaters and the pet versions come in a range of sizes, so you're sure to find a good fit no matter how hard you — or Murphy— have gone on the winter comfort food this year. What's more, there's zero shame to be felt in this daggy knitwear purchase, since all profits from the jumpers are going to support KFC's charity partners, The Black Dog Institute, ReachOut Australia and Whitelion. While Santa might not be squeezing down the chimney any time soon, KFC has also pulled together a new Festive Bangers playlist to get you in the mood. You can find it over on Spotify. And if the matchy-matchy outfits have left you and your pooch really wanting to cash in on that Christmas in July spirit, KFC's also releasing a limited-edition themed festive feast, featuring a family-sized feed that includes the new Christmas Cranberry and Christmas Mayo Stuffing dipping sauces. KFC's new Christmas in July sweaters are available to buy online, clocking in at RRP $59.95 (plus postage) for the human jumpers and RRP $34.95 (plus postage) for the pet designs.
Berlin in the '80s was an undeniable creative hub, drawing the likes of Nick Cave and David Bowie to the city to explore new artistic expression. The cross-genre experimentation, the use of new electronic equipment, and the swell of bands with German names and lyrics are just a few of the aspects explored in Urban Subcultures, brought to you by Goethe-Institut Australien. At the heart of Urban Subcultures is the Geniale Dilletanten exhibition, to be held at the RMIT Gallery. Geniale Dilletanten will feature an array of video and photographic material, as well as filmed interviews, audio samples, magazines, posters, and other extraordinary artefacts that encapsulates the zeal of the Berlin scene. To get schooled on this iconic artistic moment in time, Urban Subcultures will be hosting a collection of talks, lectures and panel discussions that will explore the influence and legacy of the movement. Considering Berlin in the 80s was highly influential for musicians the world over, there will be a series of concerts from the likes of Hauschka, Monolake, Robert Henke, and Automat with Shocking Pinks. For film lovers, there will be a screening of B-Movie: Lust and Sound in West Berlin, a documentary focused on the music, art and chaos of West Berlin in the 1980s. The screening is free, but bookings are required.
No one can know for certain what tomorrow will bring; however, the tales told on screens big and small, and through games and comics as well, have delivered plenty of visions of what might come. Will androids dream of electric sheep? Will a Keanu Reeves (John Wick: Chapter 4)-voiced rock star and terrorist make their presence known? Will Afrofuturist technologies transform life as we know it? These are some of the future possibilities conjured up by beloved pop-culture titles — and they're all part of the Australian Centre for the Moving Image's world-premiere exhibition The Future & Other Fictions as well. Displaying at the Melbourne screen museum across Thursday, November 28, 2024–Sunday, April 27, 2025, taking pride of place as its big summer showcase, The Future & Other Fictions is a love letter to and deep dive into futuristic storytelling. More than 180 works feature, including from Blade Runner 2049, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Cyberpunk 2077 and The Creator. Saltsea Chronicles, comic series NEOMAD and Björk's music video 'The Gate': they're all also covered. Before he was just Ken, Ryan Gosling (The Fall Guy) starred in the 35-years-later sequel to Blade Runner — and before he brought Dune and Dune: Part Two to the screen, Denis Villeneuve directed Blade Runner 2049. The Future & Other Fictions lets attendees follow in their footsteps via miniature sets, which are one of the exhibition's definite must-sees. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever gets the nod thanks to Academy Award-winning costumes by Ruth E Carter, while sketches from NEOMAD also feature — as do concept art from The Creator, Cyberpunk 2077 and Saltsea Chronicles. This showcase isn't just about well-known renderings of the future, though, thanks to work by Olalekan Jeyifous, Osheen Siva and Tāgata Moana art collective Pacific Sisters. Plus, via new commissions, DJ Hannah Brontë has her own take, and so does Liam Young and Natasha Wanganeen (Limbo). As it celebrates how screens imagine the years ahead via its array of artwork, sets, props and scripts — alongside clips, costumes and original design materials, too — The Future & Other Fictions also features a film season focusing on Björk, complete with Björk: Biophilia Live on the lineup. [caption id="attachment_974750" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mahia Te Kore[/caption]
If you like your cinema experiences shaken, not stirred, then the 2022 British Film Festival has just the thing for you. Taking its array of Brit flicks around the country between Tuesday, October 18–Wednesday, November 16, this year's fest is turning itself into a big 60th birthday party — not for the Australia-wide cinema showcase itself, which only dates back around a decade, but for all things Bond, James Bond. 2022 marks six decades since Dr No, the first movie in the 007 franchise, first graced cinemas — and yes, it'll be the British Film Festival's screens to commemorate the occasion. Also hitting picture palaces in Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Perth and Byron Bay: You Only Live Twice, because two Sean Connery-starring Bond films are better than one; On Your Majesty's Secret Service with Australia's Bond George Lazenby; and Daniel Craig doing his brooding Bond in Skyfall. They're just some of the titles among the fest's first lineup announcement, with the full British Film Festival program set to drop on Thursday, September 29. Can't wait till then? A handful of other flicks have already been announced — and, as always at this cinema showcase, they're filled with familiar faces. Arriving Down Under after wowing the global festival circuit, The Banshees of Inisherin marks the reunion of In Bruges writer/director Martin McDonagh (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) and his stars Colin Farrell (After Yang) and Brendan Gleeson (The Tragedy of Macbeth). This time around, the latter pair star in a story about two lifelong friends who go for a pint everyday until a dispute gets in the way, with their feud also impacting the entire village. Also on the bill: an Emily Brontë biopic, aptly named Emily, directed by Australia actor-turned-filmmaker Frances O'Connor (The End); more sea shanties in song-filled sequel Fisherman's Friends 2: One and All; the Bill Nighy (The Man Who Fell to Earth)-starring Living, about a terminally ill man in the 1950s; and The Lost King, which takes inspiration from the IRL discovery of King Richard III's remains beneath a Leicester car park. And, opening the fest is Mrs Harris Goes to Paris, set in the world of French fashion, with Oscar-nominated Phantom Thread actor Lesley Manville in the titular role. BRITISH FILM FESTIVAL 2022 DATES: Tuesday, October 18–Wednesday, November 16 — Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas and Palace Nova Prospect Cinemas, Adelaide Wednesday, October 19–Wednesday, November 16 — Palace Norton, Palace Verona, Palace Central and Chauvel Cinema, Sydney Wednesday, October 19–Wednesday, November 16 — Palace Electric, Canberra Wednesday, October 19–Wednesday, November 16 — Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, The Kino, Pentridge Cinema and The Astor, Melbourne Wednesday, October 19–Wednesday, November 16 — Palace James Street and Palace Centro, Brisbane Wednesday, October 19–Wednesday, November 16— Palace Raine Square, Luna Leederville, Luna on SX and Windsor Cinema, Perth Wednesday, October 19–Wednesday, November 16 — Palace Byron Bay, Byron Bay The 2022 British Film Festival tours Australia between Tuesday, October 18–Wednesday, November 16. For more information and to buy tickets, visit the festival website. We'll update you with the full program on Thursday, September 29.
One of the busiest sections of the Melbourne CBD is about to become more chaotic, with part of Flinders Street shutting down for the Metro Tunnel construction works. From September 2, eastbound lanes between Elizabeth and Swanston streets will completely close to vehicles, for a period that could last up to three years. The closure is needed so that an underground connection can be built from Flinders Street Station to the new Town Hall Station. Announcing the news, Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan advised that the works "will unavoidably cause significant disruption", which includes to pedestrians. Folks on foot and in vehicles will still be able to access local businesses and residences, however, and the existing footpath will remain open along Flinders Street past Degraves Street, as well as to the Station construction site. A new crossing will also be established west of Degraves Street, but those walking through the area won't have access to full Flinders Street footpath until sometime late in 2020. Trams will largely remain unaffected, running in both directions up and down Flinders — except for a six-day closure between October 2–7, when major construction works will be undertaken near the tram network. In good news, if you've been spotting plenty of trucks in the CBD lately, the government expects the partial Flinders Street closure to halve the number on Swanston Street during the peak construction period. That means that there shouldn't be more than around 100 trucks per day, maximum, although that still sounds like a hefty amount. Still, if you regularly walk, drive or ride down Flinders Street, you might want to prepare for a change to your routine. Of course, you might've done so already, given that one of the westbound lanes has already closed between Swanston and Russell streets, and will also remain that way until 2022. Image: Josie Withers, Visit Victoria.
Cinnabon fans were thrilled when it was announced the brand was scrollin' back to Victoria earlier this year, culminating in a long-awaited store launch at Watergardens Shopping Centre. Now, just two months later, the brand is ready to open a new location with a prime position on Friday, July 11, as Cinnabon has found a new home in Melbourne Central. It's the second of a trio of Melbourne store openings planned for 2025, and there's no shortage of sweet delights to explore for Cinnabon fanatics and newcomers alike. Indulge in caramel pecan and chocobon flavours alongside the famed frosted original roll. Plus, there are espresso-based drinks, from hot coffee to frozen Chillates, ensuring your visit is even sweeter. "Victorians proved their love for Cinnabon with a phenomenal response to the Watergardens store, but we know how many people are clamouring for a store in the CBD, so we knew the time was right to launch our second store," says Veronica Cheung, Managing Director of Always Hungry Club. "Fans have been eagerly awaiting a metro debut for Cinnabon in Victoria for a while now, so we are very excited to be opening at Melbourne Central." With the brand making its triumphant return to Victoria, devoted customers might spot the much-loved American chain looking a little different from its previous iteration. To give the stores a fresh appearance, award-winning architect and interior design firm Elvin Tan Design has been brought on board, leading the vision for both the Watergardens and Melbourne Central locations. As the Cinnabon brand continues to expand across Australia, the Melbourne Central store will represent the 25th location around the country. With crowds drawn in by the comforting caramelised brown butter notes wafting from every store, expect this grand opening to generate plenty of fanfare on the big day and beyond. In fact, getting to Melbourne Central early is a good idea, as the first 50 customers will receive a goodie bag jam-packed with exclusive Cinnabon-themed merch. "With such a positive response, we're moving quickly toward our goal," says Cheung about plans to launch a third store before the end of 2025. "With the excitement seen at Watergardens, we anticipate a bustling opening downtown." Cinnabon opens on Friday, July 11, at Melbourne Central in the lower ground food court, operating Monday–Friday from 9am–7pm and Saturday–Sunday from 10am–7pm. Head to the website for more information.
If there's one thing that Ben & Jerry's loves above all else, it's the obvious: ice cream in a huge array of ridiculously named flavours. It's the brand behind Chunky Monkey, Cherry Garcia, Phish Food and The Tonight Dough — and has been responsible for Liz Lemon Greek Frozen Yoghurt, Stephen Colbert's AmeriCone Dream and Schweddy Balls, too. And, once a year to the delight of your sweet treat-loving tastebuds, it loves giving away free scoops just as much. Indeed, to share its wares with the masses for nix, these frozen confection masterminds gave the world Free Cone Day, which is exactly what it sounds like — a day where your ice cream is on the house. It ran annually until the pandemic, then took a break for obvious reasons. And on Monday, April 3, it's finally back for the first time since 2019. Here's how it works: if you adore ice cream as much as Ben & Jerry's adores ice cream, then you just need to hit up your local participating store between 12–8pm AEST. You can choose whichever flavour you like, and you can also line up for a free cone as many times as you like within that eight-hour period. Free Cone Day is happening Australia-wide — worldwide, too, in more than 35 countries — at both Ben & Jerry's Scoop Stores and its Hoyts outlets. In New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, that means hitting up Manly, Bondi Beach, Newtown and Parramatta, plus cinemas in Blacktown, Wetherill Park, Penrith, Broadway, Phillip and Belconnen. Victorians have St Kilda and Burwood East stores, and Hoyts venues in Melbourne Central, Docklands, Ringwood, Chadstone, Greensborough, Maribyrnong and Ringwood to choose from. If you're in Queensland, head to South Brisbane, Broadbeach Waters, Burleigh Heads, Gold Coast, Mooloolaba, Noosa Heads and Cairns, or Hoyts Sunnybank. In Western Australia, Fremantle, Hillarys and Northbridge Scoop Shops are taking part, plus Karrinyup and Cannington cinemas. And in South Australia, Hoyts Norwood is your destination. Free Cone Day runs from 12–8pm on Monday, April 3, 2023 at Ben & Jerry's Australian stores. Head to the brand's website for further details.
This summer, Melbourne Theatre Company's home at Southbank Theatre invites you to escape to New Orleans' famed French Quarter, via its leafy new al fresco food and drink pop-up. Bar Botanique has set up shop in the theatre forecourt, where it'll be dishing up Cajun eats, Southern-leaning sips and even a spot of live jazz, from now until March 2023. The Fresh Collective (the crew behind Miss Pearl Bar + Dining) have dreamed up a menu of New Orleans-inspired bites; including crispy Cajun-spiced school prawns, Creole-style fries and a buttermilk fried chicken po' boy. Ideal for pre- or post-show sessions, or simply if you're rolling through the area, the matching drinks list includes drops like the NOLA Gin Fizz (crafted on The Melbourne Gin Company's finest), a Pimm's Cup, and a range of brews, vino and cider. And those wanting to treat their ears will find a program of live jazz performances soundtracking the festivities on select nights. Bar Botanique will open Monday to Saturday from 5.30–9.30pm, as well as 11.30am–2.30pm on Wednesdays, and 12–2.30pm Saturdays. Images: Arianna Leggiero
Earlier this week, we were pretty floored by the sci-fi-turned-reality that is the underwater home. Now, the latest in architecture is once again daring us to new extremes — this time in the form of the jaw-dropping Cliff House. Conjured up by Melbourne company Modscape, the five-storey dwelling clings to your regular cliff face, affording dramatic ocean views, avoiding neighbours and enabling coastal development without the dreaded high-rise skyline. It's also the most terrifying holiday home we've ever seen. We're not sure who has the cojones to live here, as this is next level extreme real estate — for example, is that last storey a pool or a ocean-accessing hole? Overall, according to the Modscape site, the design is "inspired by the way barnacles cling to the hull of a ship... visualised as a natural extension of the cliff face rather than an addition to the landscape, creating an absolute connection with the ocean." The Cliff House came about as a response to an increasing number of requests from clients wanting to inhabit Australia's more treacherous coastal sections. Obviously, the big question — how does the house not plunge perilously into the ocean? Modscape's modular design and prefabrication technologies are crucial to the concept. Several modules are stacked on top of one another and kept in place with engineered steel pins. You enter the house through a top floor carport, where you meet an elevator that descends to each of the five floors. As far as interior design goes, the mock-up emphasises minimalism, allowing for total appreciation of the location. At this stage, the Cliff House is still in concept phase, but the company is confident that given the right cliff face, it'll be totally doable — if you're game. Via Inhabitat.
Melbourne Museum's after-hours party returns next month, with an especially jazzy lineup in tow. Coinciding with the Melbourne International Jazz Festival, Nocturnal will showcase some of the country's best-loved musical talent, for its next adults-only celebration on Friday, June 7. Hitting the stage — or the museum — are New Orleans-inspired seven-piece Horns of Leroy featuring vocals from songstress Thando, along with local ensemble Jazz Party and improvising pop and soul powerhouse Tanya George. As always, the night's musical offerings will be backed by a program of guest talks and late-night museum wanderings. Catch a free session led by international music legend Don Was, dive into the late 60s with a jaunt through new exhibition Revolutions: Records and Rebels and join resident museum experts Deborah Tout-Smith and Hannah Perkins for a close-up glimpse at some covetable pieces from the jazz age and beyond. Sticking to the theme, a pop-up hair salon will also be styling beehives and The Beatles-inspired mop tops throughout the night. There'll also be pop-up bars throughout the museum, so you can explore with a cocktail in hand. Nocturnal x Melbourne International Jazz Festival runs from 7–11pm. Images: Cesur Sanli.
Footscray's Mr West is known for many things: its craft beer-packed bottle shop, its dog-friendly bar, its charcuterie boards and its espresso martini and negronis on tap. Previously, you had to visit the Melbourne bar to try said cocktails, but now you can have them delivered to your door. In 1.5-litre 'bagnums', no less. Made with Mr Black Coffee Liqueur, Boston Black cold drip coffee, stout and vodka, the Good Spirits espresso martini packs a serious alcohol- and caffeinated-punch. The Good Spirits negroni is made with Poor Toms dry gin, Campari and Mr West's house-blended vermouth. It's suggested you serve the latter over ice with an orange garnish, but straight-up in a mug is okay, too. Each 'bagnum' (a portmanteau of 'bag' and 'magnum') costs $99 and contains 12 serves of espresso martini and 20 serves of negroni, which works out to be about $8 a serve for the former and $5 for the latter (a bargain). As an added bonus, the espresso martini bag also comes with a mini Parisian cocktail shaker, so you can froth up your drink a little before serving. If you're located in surrounding suburbs in Melbourne, you can get the bagnums delivered to your door within an hour from 1–7pm daily for a $7.50 flat rate. Sydneysiders and Brisbanites can get them shipped in three-to-ten days from $12. Mr West's online bottle shop doesn't just have oversized cocktail bags, either. You'll also find a whole heap of craft beers, natural wines, local and international spirits, sakes and so much more. Those wanting to commit to more regular drinking can also sign up to Mr West's subscription service Good Booze Project, which sees boxes of three, six or 12 wines and beers delivered to your door every month. You can order a Good Spirits espresso martini or negroni bagnums via the Mr West online shop.
Netflix viewers, toss a coin to your new favourite watering hole — the only spot in Australia that'll bring The Witcher, Stranger Things, Squid Game and more to life while you're sinking a brew. For five days only, the Who's Watch Inn will pop up in Melbourne, offering fans of the streaming platform's hit shows a unique pub experience. Always wanted to throw down a beverage or several while sitting under a mounted demogorgon head? Yes, that's on the menu. Also on offer: coveting the piggy bank jackpot, reclining on Emily in Paris' Parisian garden bench and just generally feeling like you've stepped inside (and you're drinking inside) your Netflix faves. That covers the food and drinks menu, too, which'll showcase pub grub favourites and themed tipples — including the 'Emily in Parma' (taking on the old pub classic, obviously) and a Squid Ink Dark Ale. Even better: everyone who drops by the Who's Watch Inn will get a free drink on arrival (although there is just one per person). That's probably all the excuse you need to head to Carlton's Clyde Hotel across the Netflix takeover's five streaming-worshipping days, running from Wednesday, September 28–Sunday, October 2. The pub pop-up is only happening in Melbourne, which means you'll need to be in the Victorian capital this week to enjoy the fun. Whether you're a local or you'll be travelling down south, the Who's Watch Inn will also host a Netflix pub trivia night on Thursday, September 29, plus a comedy evening on Friday, September 30 featuring Urzila Carlson, Nazeem Hussain and Melanie Bracewell live — and all events are free. Bookings are recommended, and if you're wondering why the themed watering hole is happening at all, that's because it's been a big couple of days for Netflix — all thanks to a celebration that the streaming platform calls Tudum: A Netflix Global Fan Event, where the company drops details about and trailers from its upcoming slate. That's why you might've seen a sneak peek at The Crown season five, a trailer for Dead to Me's third and final season, and a clip from Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story over the past few days, for instance. Also, Netflix sure does love these kinds of pop culture-themed shenanigans. Over the past 12 months, it has given away free clothes at a Heartbreak High uniform shop, set up a barber giving out The Gray Man-style moustaches and goatees, opened a Stranger Things rift and had the Squid Game doll lurking about, after all. Find Netflix's Who's Watch Inn at The Clyde Hotel, 385 Cardigan Street, Carlton, Melbourne, from Wednesday, September 28–Sunday, October 2 — open from 7–11pm on Wednesday, 12–11pm on Thursday, 11am–1am on Friday, 12pm–1am on Saturday and 12–11pm on Sunday.
Patience isn't a virtue in The Bear, including in its sandwich-diner setting. It can't be — no one has that luxury. Everything needs preparing and cooking now, and ideally before that, with the eatery operating on the tightest of timelines as professional kitchens tend to. Everything in Carmen 'Carmy' Berzatto's (Jeremy Allen White, Shameless) life needs solving and smoothing out ASAP, too, and he has more than his fair share of troubles and struggles on the boil. But for viewers Down Under, being patient comes with a hefty reward — because, more than two months after it dropped its first season in the US, The Bear has finally made its way to Disney+ in Australia and New Zealand since Wednesday, August 31. This brilliant small-screen feast proves worth the wait, although don't expect to relief to swell now it's finally here. Tension and chaos are The Bear's base flavours, seeping into everything that's thrown into its debut eight-episode run. It joins the lengthy list of shows set in a workplace, but it also simmers up what few TV programs about the daily grind manage. While the genre is filled with all-timers, from Parks and Recreation and 30 Rock through to Mad Men and The White Lotus just to name four recent and obvious examples, feeling like you truly know exactly what it'd genuinely be like to work in the industries depicted is rare. Watch The Bear, however, and you'll broil in a restaurant kitchen's ceaseless intensity. First, an important piece of advice: eating either before or while viewing is highly recommended, and near close to essential. If you've ever found yourself ravenous while checking out a cooking show, watching The Trip films or just seeing someone on-screen tuck into a tasty-looking dish, prepare for that sensation to get blasted like it's a crème brûlée under a blowtorch. Now, two more crucial slices of wisdom: prepare to feel stressed throughout every second of this riveting, always-taut, and exceptionally written and acted culinary series (yes, it's worth emphasising again), and also to want to enjoy one of The Original Beef of Chicagoland's famous sandwiches immediately. Although the eatery is purely fictional, its signature dish looks phenomenal. Most of what's cooked up in Carmy's kitchen earns the same description, whether he's sticking to the tried-and-tested menu or experimenting with new options. The chef's resume includes Noma and The French Laundry, as well as awards and acclaim, such as being named one of the best young chefs there is. But he has taken over the family business following his brother's suicide, arriving back home after wowing the world and excelling in fine dining — and nothing is easy. Well, coveting The Bear's edible wares is. Deciding to try to recreate them yourself is as well. But whipping them up within the series, keeping The Original Beef afloat, coping with grief and ensuring that the diner's staff work harmoniously is a pressure cooker of mayhem. That anxious mood is inescapable from the outset; the best way to start any meal is just to bite right in, and The Bear's creator Christopher Storer (who also directs five episodes, and has Ramy, Dickinson and Bo Burnham: Make Happy on his resume) takes the same approach. He also throws all of his ingredients together with precision — the balance of drama and comedy (and food porn), the relentlessness that marks every second in the eatery's kitchen, and the non-stop mouthing off by Richie, aka Cousin, aka Carmy's brother's best friend (Ebon Moss-Bachrach, The Dropout), all included. The Bear isn't a two-hander by any means, but it excels in complicated one-on-one dynamics, with Carmy and Richie's bickering, bantering, sniping and flat-out fighting repeatedly floating to the top. The two men have spent their entire lives with Mikey (Jon Bernthal, We Own This City) in-between them, and his absence isn't easily filled. As well as mourning Mikey and processing his issues with Richie, Carmy has bills to pay, debts to settle, and eerie dreams and sleepwalking episodes to navigate. He hires new sous chef Sydney (Ayo Edebiri, Dickinson) on the day she walks in, too, mixing up the place with an aim to implement some of her forward-thinking ideas — none of which Richie is thrilled about. And, amid this non-stop bombardment, there's long-standing employees such as Marcus (Lionel Boyce, Hap and Leonard), Tina (Liza Colón-Zayas, In Treatment) and Ebraheim (Edwin Lee Gibson, Fargo) to keep happy. Carmy's sister Natalie, aka Sugar (Abby Elliott, Indebted), is also financially tied up in The Original Beef, and obviously emotionally affected by Mikey's death. And when their uncle Cicero (Oliver Platt, Chicago Med) comes calling, it's also because of cash. The above relationships, details, backstories, monetary issues, past glories, present concerns and uncertain futures are all peppered throughout The Bear as each episode goes on; the series doesn't have time to lay out exposition from the get-go, write down its dramatic recipe, or step its audience through the ins and outs. As an experience for viewers, it mimics Carmy being thrust into the restaurant his brother would never allow him to work in — and Sydney showing up to apply for a job, then being pushed into the kitchen immediately. In one particularly feverish episode, life in the kitchen zips by on a single take, but the show is always operating at that level of pressure with hurtling cinematography and rapid-fire editing. If it isn't, it's usually because Carmy is asleep, his stresses infiltrating his dreams and sending him wandering as he slumbers, with the cycle repeating anyway. "Yes, chef," "thank you, chef": The Original Beef's pleasantries are spat out at pace, too, and by a fantastic cast that's operating just as fast and furiously. The irrepressibly watchable White is precise, restrained but wearied amid the mania, with Carmy trying to keep his calm on the outside but wilting on the inside; this is one of the performances of the year in one of the best new shows of the year. Moss-Bachrach plays abrasive, mouthy but vulnerable just as commandingly; Edebiri brings confidence and ambition to the passionate but no-nonsense Syd; and the charismatic Boyce makes Marcus' quest to make the perfect doughnut The Bear's sensual respite among the onslaught. Every glimpse at their hustle and bustle, and the show's at every moment, is as gripping as it is appetising — and yes, binging is inevitable. Once you're done, leave room for season two — although the quickly renewed series likely won't serve out its second helping until 2023. Check out the trailer for The Bear below: The Bear streams via Disney+.
Melbourne Festival is almost upon us. That means two weeks of dance, theatre, music and art. Oh, and food. Lots and lots of food. Seventeen restaurants are partnering with the Melbourne Festival this year, and after taking a look at some of what’s on the cards this year, it’s safe to say we won’t be going hungry. State of Grace is a cute little bar up the New York end of Collins Street with a secret basement bar. They’re offering a complimentary dessert with any main meal or grill purchase, or you can dine on the pre-theatre menu between 5-6.30pm with one or two courses ($25 or $40), and both options include a glass of wine or beer. Top tip: Try the haloumi. It’s ace. Up the other end of town there’s a host of venues all within skipping distance of festival fun. Om Nom and Chocolate Buddha both have offers to keep you fed and watered — Chocolate Buddha have a $5 basic drink special and Om Nom are giving tables with a spend over $100 a free bottle of wine. Taxi Kitchen’s showbiz menu ramps things up with a beet salad with capers and goat's curd; candied pork with coconut, chilli and macadamia; and crispy soy quail as part of their festival offer. Taxi are boasting a three-course show menu for $55 per person, available from 5-7pm. Plus, if you don’t get to dessert by the time your show starts, you can pop back afterwards to finish it off. Nice. Carlton Club have a $10 cocktail with any main meal purchase, and Ramen Ya are giving festival guests 15 percent off their entire bill. There’s a lot to check out, a lot of restaurants dishing up tasty food and a lot of perks for people eating pre-show. Our advice? Pick something from our top ten festival events, and prepare by lining your stomach. For the full list of Festival Feast offers, check out the Melbourne Festival website.
What do you get the person who has drunk everything? Or someone who is partial to a sip of gin, but also likes vodka and whiskey? Just in time for the festive season, Archie Rose has launched its solution to this common Christmas dilemma: a pocket-sized collection featuring three of its most popular spirits. Now available to pre-order (with shipments despatched from Thursday, November 29), the Archie Rose 200ml Tasting Set includes mini bottles of the distillery's signature dry gin, original vodka and white rye. If you're new to the company's tipples, they're all award-winners. The gin boasts tastes of native Australian botanicals, such as blood lime, Dorrigo pepperleaf, lemon myrtle and river mint; the vodka comes with apple and mint notes; and the rye is made from rare malted rye and barley, and has a buttery, smokey flavour. Whether you're buying someone else a present — or buying one for yourself, because everyone deserves to get themselves something nice when the end of the year hits — all three come in a gift box for $89. And, they help resolve another frequent boozy problem: when you feel like a gin and tonic, followed by a martini and then a whiskey cocktail, but you don't want to buy three big bottles. To pre-order the Archie Rose 200ml Tasting Set, visit the Archie Rose website.
It's the northeastern suburbs' go-to for retail therapy, but come next year, Westfield Doncaster shopping centre will have a whole lot more to offer in terms of food, when it unveils a $30 million upgrade to its Level 2 food and entertainment hub. Developers have announced that work on the makeover is already underway, as they set out to create a contemporary and lush new rooftop precinct. An assortment of indoor and outdoor areas will complement the existing Village Cinemas site, boasting up to 14 new restaurants and eateries once complete. While the exact retailers are under wraps for now, we're told to expect a mix of "much-loved favourites" and "new culinary experiences". Other plans for the space include a sunny central courtyard accessed via a series of laneways and pathways, as well as a sculpture garden, a foliage-filled lobby area, a conservatory and a variety of leafy communal spaces. Best of all, the new rooftop precinct will be open day and night — perfect for those pre- or post-movie hangs. The space should be up and running by some time in 2020. The $30 million upgrade is separate to (but coincides with) the centre's proposed $500 million masterplan redevelopment, which was given the green light from the state government earlier this year. This half-a-billion redevelopment, which is still awaiting further approvals, includes the addition of a 14-storey tower, as extra 43,000 square metres of retail offerings and 18,000 of office space. We'll let you know when there are anymore updates on that. Westfield Doncaster's new-look level 2 food and entertainment is slated for completion in 2020. We'll let you know when the retailers are announced.
Proposals for Melbourne's long-awaited airport rail link have been flying hard and fast in the lead-up to election time. Last November, the Victorian Government announced that construction would start on the project within the next ten years, then in July updated that timeline to a start date of within four years, if Labor is re-elected. And last month saw the unveiling of Premier Daniel Andrews' ambitious proposal for a brand new 90-kilometre Suburban Rail Loop, which would link to the airport line. And now, a consortium called AirRail Melbourne has submitted a detailed plan of its own to the State and Federal governments. The plan — which was not solicited by the government — expands on its earlier project designs to create a world-class airport 'Super Train', but with intentions to kick off construction two years earlier than originally planned, in 2020. The proposed $15 billion project would see the group match the $5 billion in funding already committed by both the State and Federal governments. AirRail Melbourne's proposed link would get passengers from the city to the airport via Sunshine in around 20 minutes, with trains running 24 hours a day and departing every ten minutes during peak times. New dedicated tracks and a huge overhaul of Sunshine Station, as a major connection point, would cut travel times drastically for regional travellers. This would make the rail link private, so travellers can expect to pay up to $20 for a one-way trip between the CBD and Melbourne Airport. [caption id="attachment_688969" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The proposed Airport Rail Link path.[/caption] The project would also feature 27 kilometres of new track, two new tunnels and a fleet of custom-built airport trains. AirRail Melbourne is also claiming the proposed link would take around 15,000 cars off the road each day in Melbourne's north and west and reduce overcrowding on the existing Werribee line. AirRail Melbourne has some pretty big names — and a fair bit of money — behind it, including superannuation fund managers IFM Investors, along with Metro Trains Australia, Melbourne Airport and Southern Cross Station. It's worth noting that IFM operates Southern Cross and has a stake in Melbourne Airport, so it has a lot to gain from increased traffic to the two sites. The consortium pitched its grand designs to the government back in September, which kicked off the assessment process. It's expected that other groups in the private sector will submit plans to the government also, potentially with different route options. We're expected to know something before the end of 2018, but stay tuned and we'll let you know what unfolds. Updated: October 29, 2018.
These days you can get mostly anything delivered. You can get someone to pick up a meal from your fave restaurant, get a bottle of wine delivered on a scooter, order an emergency burrito stat and, hell, Melbourne's even getting its own bacon delivery service. But you know what's been missing from this delicious, convenient equation? Ice cream. Specifically, Gelato Messina. Well, have we got news for you. In the latest breakthrough for yummy things you don't have to leave your house for, Messina is now delivering tubs of their glorified gelato straight to your door through premium restaurant delivery service Suppertime. Yep, this summer you won't even have to leave the house (or line up in a hectic queue, for that matter) to get that crazy-good icy sweet stuff in your belly. Apparently it's been a long time coming. "We've always wanted to offer delivery to our customers (especially those lazy ones who won’t get off the couch!), but haven’t been set up for it in the past or had the right partner," says Messina co-founder Declan Lee. "We’ve known the Suppertime guys for a while and are excited to put our precious product in their hands." The delivery service will be available in both Melbourne and Sydney from today. Deliveries will be sent out from the Surry Hills, Darlinghurst, Bondi and The Star stores in Sydney, and its three Melbourne locations, Fitzroy, Richmond and Windsor. So if you live in those areas, your eating ice cream in bed dreams are about to come true. Just head to Suppertime, plug in your postcode and see if they'll deliver to your address. This is great news all-round because, if you've ever been stuck in the swarm that is a mid-summer Messina queue, you'll know that ordering your one-litre of salted caramel and white chocolate online is a wise decision. Gelato Messina will start delivering in selected areas in Melbourne and Sydney from today. To order your ice cream, go to suppertime.com.au
Year after year, St. Jerome's Laneway Festival delivers a brilliant lineup of bands that has given it the reputation of a true music nerd's festival. A complementary mix of international and local acts have been chosen for 2012; long-time lovers of this festival are sure to find a couple of bands that they've always wanted to see. Laneway's focus on up-and-coming acts means that there's a high likelihood you'll hear a band you've never heard of who will soon be a regular guest on your iPod. This summer, you can look forward to seeing New York trio Chairlift, who produce very catchy indie songs and are soon releasing their third album; Girls, a charismatic rock-pop band whose songs are laced with innocent heartbreak and joie de vivre; quirky songstress Laura Marling; synth-rock hero M83; the genre-hopping wonder that is Feist, as well as The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, The Horrors, Twin Shadow, The Panics, Yuck, Pajama Club, Active Child and many more. Laneway are also showcasing Triple J's Unearthed winners, so you may hear the Next Big Thing before they're saturating the radio. The exuberant, party atmosphere and a crowd who's more into the music that what they're wearing makes Laneway a summer staple, so make sure you nab a ticket as soon as you can (tickets go on sale October 19). Brisbane – Saturday, January 28 at Alexandria Street, Fortitude Valley Auckland – Monday, January 30 at Silo Park, Beaumont Street Melbourne – Saturday, February 4 at Footscray Community Arts Centre Sydney – Sunday, February 5 at Sydney College Of The Arts Adelaide – Friday, February 10 at Fowler's Live Perth – Saturday, February 11 at Perth Cultural Centre Singapore – Sunday, February 12 at Fort Canning (lineup announced on October 21) The full lineup is as follows: Active Child Anna Calvi Austra Bullion Chairlift (Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne only) Cults The Drums DZ Deathrays EMA Feist (except Adelaide^) Geoffry O'Connor Girls Givers (Sydney, Melbourne only) Glasser The Horrors Husky (Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne only) John Talabot Jonti Laura Marling M83 Oneman The Pains of Being Pure at Heart Pajama Club The Panics Portugal The Man SBTRKT (live) Toro Y Moi Total Control Twin Shadow Washed Out Wu Lyf Yuck https://youtube.com/watch?v=r-hMISLG8nY
Every Wednesday and Thursday night this autumn and winter, Handpicked Wines is hosting a series of Raclette Suppers at its cellar door in the CBD, bringing a taste of Europe's après-ski culture to Melbourne. Melted cheese, served fresh from the wheel, is poured over plates of potatoes, confit mushrooms, heirloom tomatoes, cornichons and rocket. Cured meats such as Prosciutto di San Daniele and Jamón Ibérico de Bellota are optional extras. With the Handpicked Wine Maker's Flight, visitors can pair their cheese with wines from some of Australia's most renowned wine regions, including Margaret River, Coonawarra and Yarra Valley. According to Handpicked's Sydney Cellar Door Manager Andrew Robinson, the events "bring our team's passion for regionality onto your plate, with cheese and meat sourced from some of our favourite producers around the world. Combine it with our incredible wines from some of Australia's best-loved wine regions, and it's a match made in heaven." The dining event runs from 5.30–8.30pm every Wednesday and Thursday until the end of winter, and costs $20 per person without any additions. Walk-ins are welcome, but bookings are recommended at the website.
You're at work. It's an ordinary day. You've been doing your usual tasks and, in a completely unremarkable incident, you happen to notice a stapler. If your first thought is "hmmm, I bet I could set that in a bowl of jelly", then you're obviously a fan of The Office. One of the rare instances where a TV remake is better than the original — it is based on the UK series of the same name, after all — this sitcom about paper company employees is far more amusing than it really has any right to be. In fact, it's downright side-splitting, and it's immensely easy to just keep rewatching. But that's what you get when you round up Steve Carell, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Rainn Wilson, Mindy Kaling, Ed Helms, Ellie Kemper and Craig Robinson in the same show, and let all of them break out their comedic best.
Concrete Playground is taking the edge off the death of daylight saving by giving you the chance to experience Sydney's best cultural events for an entire month. One lucky person will win $1500 worth of fun, including: Dinner for two at Grasshopper to the value of $150 Double passes to two Vivid LIVE 2011 shows at Sydney Opera House Double passes to Baal and Edward Gant's Amazing Feats of Loneliness at Sydney Theatre Company Double movie passes to Incendies and Source Code (plus a pack of 10 Hopscotch DVDs) A double pass to see Guineafowl play live A pass to all events and talks at the Creative Sydney 2011 festival Two cocktail jugs and entry for two to the gig of your choice at Goodgod To enter, just make sure you're subscribed to Concrete Playground then email your name to hello@concreteplayground.com.au. Entries close Friday, April 9 2011 at 5pm. https://youtube.com/watch?v=14e1507YOLs
New York may have The Sartorialist and Paris may be the home of the most recognised (albeit staged) street photo of all time, but Melbourne too has a rich collection of street photography. Posted on blogs, published in weekend newspapers, uploaded to Instagram, each photo captures a different moment in the heart of the city. Shot in the Heart of Melbourne is a curation of those fleeting images, showcasing street photography and photojournalism captured in the CBD and surrounding pockets. Back for it’s second year, the collective exhibition features the work of local artists who endeavour to capture their experience of the city in photographs. As well as the local photographers who, between them, self-curate and cooperatively manage the project, the exhibition welcomes international guest artist, Berns Gilna-Murphy. A renowned photographer on the streets of Valencia, Spain, she will share the beauty of her own city through a selection of black and white images. These photos are not just street style; they capture ephemeral moments — raw, unrehearsed and completely unique. Shot in the Heart of Melbourne is an artistic, candid homage to the people that bring this city to life each day. Image via Rhoufi
On every weekend, you'l be constantly impressed by the emerging creative talent of Melbourne at this Fitzroy market — and you can support them by buying some of their creations. This well-known market in Rose Street is where you can pick up one-of-a-kind artworks, fashion items, collectables, hand-bound books, screen prints and more. And once you're all marketed-out, have coffee or brunch in one of the many fine eateries nearby. Or if you are after more, be sure to drop by the neighbouring Fitzroy Mills Market.
UPDATE, September 30, 2022: The Dry is available to stream via Netflix, Google Play, YouTube Movies, Prime Video and iTunes. In The Dry, a man heads back to the drought-stricken town he grew up in for the first time in two decades, returning in the aftermath of a new tragedy and unearthing the still-blistering remnants of an old one in the process. An Australian Federal Police officer who left the regional farming community of Kiewarra under terse circumstances, Aaron Falk has the look of someone who long ago let the ability to display his feelings dry up — and while that isn't what the film's title refers to, Eric Bana plays the movie's protagonist as if it was. He's dogged and no-nonsense. He can shoot a glare at someone that's as severe as his profile, and often does. Twenty years after Chopper made Bana's name as a dramatic actor, rather than a sketch comedy star whose movie career began with The Castle, he's a canny pick for The Dry's lead role. As he stalks through his first Australian movie since 2007's Romulus, My Father, he silently simmers with intensity in every gaze; however, viewers already know that Bana never just plays the hard man — or, in his comic days, just one type of funny guy either. And so, the audience can also spot that his unrelenting exterior holds back a storm of Aaron's pain and loss, all lurking behind an expression as parched as the yellowed fields that stretch as far as the eye can see. Conveying that balance of steely focus and buried heartache isn't a new task; tales on the page and screen are filled with characters, typically men and often those with a badge, who fit the type. But one of the reasons that Bana is so right for The Dry is that, in his hands, Aaron isn't merely the sum of his well-worn traits. Similarly, he isn't just a cookie-cutter conflicted cop in yet another small-town murder-mystery about a community torn apart by a young woman's death, never recovering, then rehashing their woes when another trauma arises. It's lucky that Bana makes such an impact for another reason, too. When the film repeatedly stresses that Aaron was a teenager 20 years ago — with scenes starring Joe Klocek (Nowhere Boys) as a younger, more sensitive version of the character to help — that's The Dry's least convincing element. Bana is a great actor, but buying that he's playing someone who was an adolescent hanging out in a creek and pining after his crush Ellie (debutant BeBe Bettencourt) two decades ago is a stretch, and always feels that way. Those flashbacks pepper The Dry's main narrative, although both threads are intertwined. Based on the best-selling, award-winning novel by Jane Harper, the film explores Aaron's need to interrogate himself and unlock his past as much as his quest to investigate whether there's anything more to the shocking murder-suicide that brings him back. He's renowned for being outstanding at his job, with his reputation preceding him upon his return. Indeed, it's why the Hadlers (Winchester's Bruce Spence and The Dressmaker's Julia Blake) ask him to look into the death of their son and his childhood best friend Luke (Martin Dingle Wall, Strangerland) — and of Luke's wife and son. Alas, this isn't the first time that Luke and Aaron have been linked to a grim situation. To many in a place so wearied by the lack of rain that everyone has been sapped of their strength, his homecoming is far from welcome, and neither are his questions. Sitting in the shadow of recent Australian crime thrillers Mystery Road and Goldstone, The Dry is a whodunnit multiple times over, with Aaron determined to discover the truth behind not only Luke and his family's deaths, but Ellie's. For the audience, the movie itself is just as dedicated to uncovering why the teen Aaron and Luke (Sam Corlett, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) remained under a cloud of suspicion from all those years ago. Both parts of the story encompass Kiewarra's key figures, spanning everyone from Aaron's old friend Gretchen (Genevieve O'Reilly, Glitch) and Ellie's angry brother Grant (Matt Nable, 1%) to local cop Greg (Keir O'Donnell, Project Blue Book) and his pregnant wife Rita (Miranda Tapsell, Top End Wedding), plus school headmaster Scott (John Polson, acting for the first time since Mission: Impossible II). Still, even given that lineup of characters and the excellent talent behind them, it's Aaron's journey that always demands attention. One of the most intriguing aspects of The Dry is how it's clearly stitched together from familiar elements — not just regarding its central character, but throughout the entire narrative — but, through Aaron, this tale of grief, guilt, secrets, stark truths, dusty fields and emotional desolation finds a way to resonate. At first glance, it might seem as if filmmaker Robert Connolly is in vastly different terrain to 2014's Paper Planes, his last cinema release. Even with its family-friendly focus, that movie was steeped in mourning, though — and it also jumped into a well-populated realm, embraced its tropes and traded upon existing genre affection as well. That's The Dry through and through. Co-scripted by Harry Cripps (the forthcoming Penguin Bloom), it's a solid crime movie, and an engaging but rarely surprising one. It's built from recognisable parts, and stakes its own patch by choosing where and how to make an impact. Of course, with Balibo also on his resume as a writer/director, plus The Boys and Acute Misfortune as a producer, Connolly is experienced in making thorny stories stand out. The filmmaker knows how to tell an absorbing tale, however clear-cut it may be. He's skilled at splashing memorable and thematically loaded imagery across his frames, as The Dry's flaxen landscape, as shot by Stefan Duscio (The Invisible Man) shows. But viewers don't just connect with a dark narrative and eye-catching visuals — they connect with the people within both. Here, there's no choice but to connect with Bana, and with the sorrow that'd seep from Aaron and saturate the movie like a tidal wave if he'd let it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwJhS4O_IdM
Westgarth's newest cafe might be small, with space for just 46 seats, but its attention to detail is downright mighty. Called Little Flock, it's a passion project for local couple Miroslawa Kotowska and Michael Coates, named in a nod to the pair's own family of backyard chooks. This well-treated flock of feathered friends was also the inspiration when Coates and Kotowska were sourcing producers and plotting their cafe menu. It means the eggs are from Gippsland Pastured, where there are just 16–21 chickens per hectare, and the bacon's free range and traditionally smoked by the team at Uncles Smallgoods. The couple even bakes their own rugbrød, a Danish rye sourdough that takes three days to make. It's a thoughtful menu filled with things the owners like to eat themselves — think apple caramel waffles, buckwheat crepes stuffed with masala potatoes and a grass-fed Cape Grim beef burger. Coffee comes courtesy of North Melbourne's Small Batch roasters, via a customised La Marzocco or batch brew, and served in handmade cups by local ceramicist Yesha MacDonald. The space itself is equally charming, sitting on the High Street site once home to Merricote. There's sunny street seating, a covered courtyard tucked away out back, and a cheery feel throughout. Find Little Flock at 81 High Street, Northcote. For more information, visit the Facebook page.
Clear your midweek calendars and dust off your beanies — one of the bright sparks that helps us get through the city's frosty winter has made its way back onto the social calendar. Queen Victoria Market's beloved Winter Night Market is heating up your hump day schedule from June 5–August 28. From 5pm every Wednesday, QVM will once again transform into the kind of winter wonderland worth getting excited about, tempting you off the couch with a cosy program of street food, pop-up bars, live entertainment and artisan market stalls. As always, it's serving up a tantalising assortment of street eats each week, with a huge array of food vendors repping dishes from all corners of the world. Get excited for the likes of That's Amore's cheese wheel pasta, The Black Sheep's spit-roasted lamb, pork and chicken platters, Lui Boss' Korean fried chicken and corndogs, Casa Nata's famed Portuguese tarts and stacks more. They'll all be perfectly paired with warming sips like mulled wine, butterbeer, spiced Milo and hot gin toddies. As you're filling your belly with tasty winter fare, you'll be entertained with a rotation of live gigs, roving performers, Korean-style photo booths and open fires. Plus, the silent disco is also returning this year, because what better way to warm your cockles and work off a big serve of cacio e pepe than with a cheeky dance floor session? If you're a longtime fan, you'll know market stalls are also a big part of the offering here. This year, expect as vast a lineup as ever, with over 60 vendors slinging everything from jewellery and art, to vinyl records, vintage fashion and books. The Winter Night Market will return to the Queen Victoria Market, corner of Queen and Therry Streets, Melbourne, running Wednesday nights from June 5–August 28. For more information, head to the market's website.
We download movies onto tiny laptop screens and watch them hunched over in our beds, spilling Red Bull on the keyboard when Ryan Gosling says sexy things like 'Hey' and switching over to check Gmail when he's not onscreen. It's sad, it's solitary, and the suspension of disbelief is, at most, fleeting. What happened to the glory days of yore, when moviegoing was an event? When you were truly transported? Sensing the aching pit in your soul, on Sunday, May 5, World Movies is bringing its popular Secret Cinema event to a mystery CBD location in Melbourne. You don't know what film you'll be seeing, and the location is revealed by text the day of the screening. Like Punch Drunk theatre company's large-scale immersive productions in London and New York, where audiences wander through dark rooms wearing masks and are accosted by actors, the Secret Cinema initiative pushes a traditional medium into a new level of experiential entertainment. Live performance as well as themed food and drinks tie in with the world of the film. Examples of performative screenings from overseas have included London's 2010 version which re-created LA's Chinatown in 2019 for Bladerunner (two actors dangled from the ceiling during the climactic 'tears in rain' scene) and a 1950s Algerian casbah for The Battle of Algiers. In Sydney, Secret Cinema moviegoers were conveyed by ferry to Goat Island and subjected to a series of 'survival games' before seeing Japan's cult classic Battle Royale, forerunner of The Hunger Games. That event sold out in 15 minutes and drew a crowd of hundreds. What type of venue theming will be possible in Melbourne? The possibilities are quite endless. Tickets are $30 and go on sale at 9am on April 22. More info is available on World Movies' Facebook page.
Mörk Chocolate has been one of the top choices in Melbourne for a stellar hot chocolate since it opened its doors to its first store in 2012. Fast forward to 2025, and the independently owned business now boasts four locations in and around the CBD — but its next move might be its most ambitious yet, in the form of a permanent residency in Chadstone's Market Pavilion. Launched by local couple Josefin Zernall and Kiril Shaginov, Mörk made a name for itself by taking a similar approach to chocolate to single-origin coffee roasters. That means being mindful of traceability and quality while sourcing ingredients from ethically minded suppliers. The result is a clean and minimally processed product that showcases the flavour of the bean while being naturally lower in sugar. For their new Chadstone store, Zernall and Shaginov teamed up with Anna Drummond from CoLab Studio. Together, they've created a concept that stands out from the brand's existing locations, where clever details like variegated terracotta and ceramic tiles reference and celebrate chocolate. The centrepiece is a cascading rope installation inspired by chocolate fountains. "I wanted to tap into the memory bank and explore how chocolate made us feel as children," says Zernell. "The excitement of opening a chocolate wrapper, the sound and scent, the colours and shapes and flavours. All of those sensory elements that make chocolate so universally loved...that's the sense of nostalgia we're hoping to trigger at our new store." Alongside Mörk's flagship range, the Chadstone store will serve its much-loved classic hot chocolates from a custom-build island, a selection of new signature drinks, as well as cocktails like whiskey-spiked hot chocolate and chocolate negronis. New highlights include the Campfire Hot Chocolate — a limited-time creation where silky dark chocolate, charcoal salt and toasted marshmallow are served with an optional wood-smoked caramel praline. Meanwhile, buns, cakes and pastries baked fresh daily at Mörk's North Melbourne kitchen are available to complement your drink. The new concept store is also fitted with a retail display, featuring small-batch chocolate bars created by Zernell in collaboration with ex-Fat Duck and French Laundry chef Ayelet Har Paz. Plus, there are chocolate spreads, freshly turned vanilla marshmallows, seasonal chocolate bites and kitchen accessories such as hand-carved chocolate scoops and ceramics from a host of top-notch local designers. Mörk Chocolate's Chadstone store is now open in the centre's Market Pavilion. It's open Monday–Wednesday from 7.30am–5.30pm, Thursday–Saturday from 7.30am–9pm and Sunday from 8.30am–7pm. Head to the brand's website for more information. Images: Kristoffer Paulsen
Fitzroy's Rose St Artists' Market has been teaming up with the Heide Museum of Modern Art for regular instalments of the Heide Makers' Market for almost two years now. And, as 2019 pulls to a close, it's time to make tracks to the museum-market hybrid once more. Taking over the lush surrounds of the gallery's sculpture park, it'll showcase over 120 stallholders selling handmade goods, across art and design, jewellery and homewares. Basically, all the things that make for good Christmas gifts. You can chat one-on-one with stall holders, or just saunter through the gallery's grounds with a cup of coffee in hand. If you're looking for something to do that afternoon, the gallery is exhibiting an interactive virtual reality exhibition from New York-based visual artist Jess Johnson and Wellington animator Simon Ward.
UPDATE: DECEMBER 2, 2019 — Due to unforeseen events, Fed Square has had to replace its December 22 screening of Home Alone with Arnold Schwarzenegger's 96 comedy Jingle All the Way. The below article has been updated to reflect this. There's nothing like a bit of big screen movie magic to get you into the Christmas spirit, especially when that involves diving deep into some classics. This year, you can get your festive fix courtesy of The Digital Facade at Fed Square, when it screens four much-loved Christmas flicks in the lead up to December 25. For free. Happening as part of the multi-faceted Fed Square Christmas Festival, the movie fun kicks off on Saturday, December 21, with a showing of The Nutcracker and the Four Realms. Sticking with the theme, the Australian Ballet Company will also be dropping by to deliver a live performance from The Nutcracker, and there'll be complimentary popcorn and sugarplum fairy floss for those mid-movie snacks. Arnold Schwarzenegger's 90s comedy Jingle All the Way will grace the big screen on Sunday, December 22, followed by dark fantasy Edward Scissorhands on December 23, and a showing of The Santa Clause on the night before Christmas. There'll be free popcorn at these screenings, too. We suggest getting there relatively early to snag a primo spot.
Think there's just one Hottest 100 in January? Think again. Indeed, the second important countdown of the month goes rather well with the music poll that just proclaimed Flume's 'Never Be Like You' the nation's best track of 2016. In the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers list, great brews are in the spotlight — and once again, Stone & Wood's Pacific Ale has come out on top. It's the second year that the Byron Bay brewery has been dubbed the country's best yeasty tipple, and their third win overall. With 1600 different beers in the running, winning is no easy feat. Run by GABS — or the annual brew fest also known as the 'Great Australian Beer SpecTAPular', the 'people's choice' poll is decided by booze-lovers around the country, and received its most amount of votes ever in 2016. In massive news for new bevs, 21 brews that first wet lips in the past year were included in the GABS Hottest 100, including the American Pale Ale made by Gold Coast-based, Mick Fanning-co-owned Balter Brewing. And recognising the strength of Australia's indie beer scene, a whopping 80% of drinks hailed from independent brewers. If you're thinking, "less background, more beer", here's what you've been waiting for: the rundown of the best beverages from the past year that just keep tempting tastebuds. Working your way through them isn't just a great way to show your appreciation for locally made brews — consider it research for the 2017 countdown. GABS HOTTEST 100 AUSSIE CRAFT BEERS OF 2016 1. Pacific Ale - Australian Pale Ale - Stone and Wood Brewing Co 2. IIPA - Double IPA - Pirate Life Brewing 3. Hop Hog - American Pale Ale - Feral Brewing Company 4. XPA - American Pale Ale - Balter - NEW 5. IPA - American IPA - Pirate Life Brewing 6. Little Dove - American Pale Ale - Gage Roads Brewing Co - NEW 7. Pale Ale - American Pale Ale - Pirate Life Brewing 8. Crankshaft - American IPA - BentSpoke Brewery 9. Former Tenant - American IPA - Modus Operandi Brewing Co 10. Pale Ale - American Pale Ale - 4 Pines Brewing Co 11. IPA - American IPA - Fixation Brewing Co. 12. War Hog - American IPA - Feral Brewing Company 13. Beechworth Pale Ale - American Pale Ale - Bridge Road Brewers 14. 150 Lashes - Australian Pale Ale - James Squire 15. Pale Ale - American Pale Ale - Little Creatures 16. Newtowner - Australian Pale Ale - Young Henrys Brewing Company 17. Indian Summer Ale - Australian Pale Ale - 4 Pines Brewing Co 18. Kolsch - Kölsch - 4 Pines Brewing Co 19. Barley Griffin - Australian Pale Ale - BentSpoke Brewery 20. Throwback IPA - IPA (Specialty) - Pirate Life Brewing 21. Sonic Prayer - American IPA - Modus Operandi Brewing Co 22. Taco - Specialty Beer - Two Birds Brewing 23. India Red Ale - American IPA - Prancing Pony Brewery 24. Golden Stout Time - Sweet Stout - Big Shed Brewing 25. Korben D. - Double IPA - Akasha Brewing Co 26. Single Fin - British Golden Ale - Gage Roads Brewing Co 27. Three Sheets - Australian Pale Ale - Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel 28. Cloud Catcher - Australian Pale Ale - Stone and Wood Brewing Co 29. Karma Citra - IPA (Specialty) - Feral Brewing Company 30. Atomic - American Pale Ale - Gage Roads Brewing Co 31. Coffee Ramjet 2016 - Wood-Aged Beer - Boatrocker Brewing Co - NEW 32. Tusk – Nov 2016 - IPA (Specialty) - Feral Brewing Company - NEW 33. Nail Red - American Amber Ale - Nail Brewing 34. Ramjet 2016 - Wood-Aged Beer - Boatrocker Brewing Co - NEW 35. Dark - Dark Mild - White Rabbit Brewery 36. Summer Ale - Blonde Ale - Mountain Goat Beer 37. Wild Yak - Australian Pale Ale - Yak Ales - NEW 38. Steam Ale - California Common - Mountain Goat Beer 39. Kosciuszko Pale Ale - Australian Pale Ale - Kosciuszko Brewing Company 40. Grizz - American Amber Ale - 2 Brothers Brewery 41. Small Ale - IPA (Specialty) - Colonial Brewing Company 42. Dog Days - American Wheat - Little Creatures 43. Footscray Ale - American Pale Ale - West City Brewing 44. Spearhead - Australian Pale Ale - Cricketers Arms 45. Vanilla Milk Stout - Sweet Stout - Thirsty Crow 46. Modus Pale - American Pale Ale - Modus Operandi Brewing Co 47. Furphy Refreshing Ale - Kölsch - Little Creatures 48. American Amber Ale - American Amber Ale - 4 Pines Brewing Co 49. Nail VPA - American Pale Ale - Nail Brewing 50. Californicator - American IPA - Big Shed Brewing 51. Freshie Salt & Pepper - Gose - Nomad Brewing Co 52. Mt Tennent Pale Ale - American Pale Ale - Pact Beer Co 53. Fat Yak - American Pale Ale - Yak Ales 54. Kung Foo - Pale Lager - 2 Brothers Brewery 55. KRUSH! - American Pale Ale - KAIJU! Beer - NEW 56. Windjammer - American IPA - Green Beacon Brewing Co 57. Reginald - American IPA - Blackman's Brewery 58. Pale Ale - American Pale Ale - Hawkers Beer 59. Session Ale - Australian Pale Ale - Mismatch Brewing Company 60. Calypso - Pale Ale (American-style) - Odyssey Craft Brewing Co. 61. 8BiT - American IPA - Stockade Brew Co - NEW 62. Hop Thief 8 - American Pale Ale - James Squire - NEW 63. The Chop - American IPA - Hop Nation Brewing Co - NEW 64. Sunset Ale - American Amber Ale - Two Birds Brewing 65. IPA - American IPA - Little Creatures 66. Rogers' Beer - American Amber Ale - Little Creatures 67. Watermelon Warhead - Berliner Weisse - Feral Brewing Company 68. Hop Culture - American IPA - Mornington Peninsula Brewery - NEW 69. Miss Pinky - Soured Fruit Beer - Boatrocker Brewing Co 70. Bright Ale - Blonde Ale - Little Creatures 71. Sly Fox - American Pale Ale - Feral Brewing Company 72. Hop Thief 7 - American Pale Ale - James Squire 73. Praline - Belgian Specialty Ale - La Sirène Brewing 74. Copy Cat - American IPA - Mash Brewing 75. Elsie The Milk Stout - Sweet Stout - Batch Brewing Co 76. Fancy Pants - American Amber Ale - Mountain Goat Beer 77. The Fox - Vienna-style Lager - Rabbit & Spaghetti Brewing Co. 78. Growler - American Brown Ale - 2 Brothers Brewery 79. IPA - American IPA - Hawkers Beer 80. Peanut Brittle Gose - Gose - Bacchus Brewing Co 81. Rare Breed: Pulped Fiction Blood Orange IPA - Double IPA - Mountain Goat Beer - NEW 82. Yenda Pale Ale - Australian Pale Ale - Australian Beer Co 83. Garden Ale - Australian Pale Ale - Stone and Wood Brewing Co 84. Hazelnut Brown - Brown Ale (UK-style) - Bad Shepherd 85. Bling Bling - Double IPA - Bridge Road Brewers 86. Beach Ale - Blonde Ale - Odyssey Craft Brewing Co. - NEW 87. Mornington Pale - American Pale Ale - Mornington Peninsula Brewery 88. Fred - IPA (American-style) - Murray's Craft Brewing Co 89. Imperial IPA - IPA (Specialty) - 4 Pines Brewing Co - NEW 90. F-Yeah - American Pale Ale - Big Shed Brewing 91. Session IPA - American IPA - Modus Operandi Brewing Co - NEW 92. Bling - American IPA - Bridge Road Brewers 93. Project #22: Bert (The Royal Albert Collab) - Australian Pale Ale - Colonial Brewing Company - NEW 94. Sourpuss - Berliner Weisse - Wayward Brewing Company 95. B.F.H. (Barrel Fermented Hog) - American IPA - Feral Brewing Company 96. 28 - American Pale Ale - Burleigh Brewing Company 97. Thanks Captain Obvious - American IPA - BrewCult 98. ALT Brown - American Brown Ale - Balter - NEW 99. The Chancer - Blonde Ale - James Squire 100. Hopsmith - American IPA - Akasha Brewing Co NEW — First brewed in 2016.
Moors Head are not making what comes to mind when you think pizza; they are actually aiming to make 'inauthentic pizza'. These inauthentic pizzas come in the form of pides and manoushes. It's pizza given a Lebanese twist and it's good folks, it's really good. Try the Sultan Mehmet, a pide filled with tomato, lamb ma'anek, red pepper, feta, and black olives. If you and your friends and particularly hungry, you can go all in on an inauthentic feast, which comes with Turkish delight and mint tea for dessert. Images (exterior): Julia Sansone
There's a lot that's good about summer: barbecues, beach days, frozen cocktails and festivals almost every weekend. But after all that endless partying, sinking into a comfy beanbag and enjoying a good flick outdoors sounds pretty good. And if there's one thing better than sipping on beers and bubbles as the sun goes down at an outdoor cinema, it's doing it while also celebrating fierce females of the movie world — and doing it for free. Nothing screams 2019 louder than strong female leads defying the patriarchal confines of the society they inhabit. We are so on board. So, because we're loving all the tough women gracing the screens at Sunset Cinema at the moment, we've managed to get our hands on some double passes to help you celebrate them, too. You and a mate will be boogying in your beanbag as Emily Blunt takes over the role of much-loved Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins Returns on Saturday, February 16, at Commonwealth Reserve. To get your paws on a double pass, enter with your details below so you can raise a glass to these leading ladies in the glorious summer air. [competition]706476[/competition]
Melbourne is fuelled by a mix of coffee and beer, so really it makes logical sense that we've got a festival combining the two. Coming to Thornbury's 3 Ravens Brewery for the second year this Sunday, March 25, On The Bend / On The Mend will see eight local breweries team up with eight beloved coffee roasters on eight unique beers featuring coffee as a key ingredient. Collingwood's Stomping Ground (beer), neighbours Proud Mary (coffee), Preston's Tallboy & Moose (beer) and Brunswick's Industry Beans (coffee) are just a few of the collaborators to jump on board. Last year's creations included a cold brew-infused English bitter and a white stour brewed with sea urchin, cacao nibs and coffee beans — which should give you some idea of how wild things can get. Entry is free, and all the coffee, beer and coffee-flavoured beer will be available to purchase. Or, if you want to lay down $20, you can partake in a masterclass, which includes a tasting paddle of all eight brews.
The humble dimmy will make its glorious and heroic return to Welcome to Brunswick this May, as part of the sixth annual Dimmy and Dumpling Festival at the inner-north food truck park. Whether you're partial to a fried wonton or crispy gyoza, piping hot pierogi or stuffed bao bun, you'll find them at Welcome to Brunswick on Saturday, May 11. From 12–10pm, this inner-north favourite is welcoming a lineup of D&D-serving eateries. You can expect classic fish-and-chip shop dimmys, Japanese gyozas, fluffy bao buns, as well as a range of vegan and gluten-free options. The food truck lineup includes favourites such as Dimmy Su, Bao Melbourne and Doin' Dumplings. Entry is free. And although we don't recommend giving human food to dogs, your pet pupper is welcome to come along while you scoff down all of the dim sims and dumplings you can handle. Top images: Unsplash
In a city like Melbourne, no number of food precincts and dining hubs seems to be too many. Which is a good thing, seeing as we're about to score another. And this one, located in the city's west, is set to be an absolute monster. Taking over a hefty 10,000-square-metre site beside Scienceworks in Spotswood, the well-named Grazeland is on track to open early next year. It'll be home to over 50 sweet and savoury food vendors — along with market stalls slinging locally made wares, three licensed bars and an ongoing entertainment program — and operate as a sort of permanent, returning food festival that's open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the year. We're imagining something in the same vein as popular interstate food offerings like Brisbane's Eat Street, and on a smaller scale, Steam Mill Lane in Sydney's CBD. [caption id="attachment_750746" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Grazeland site.[/caption] Designed by Push Projects along with Phil Bucknell of Milieu Projects, the precinct's set to feature a playful fitout across a series of themed spaces. You'll be able to graze your way through a diverse lineup of food stalls, settle in to enjoy some live tunes, or kick back with a beer in one of the many sunny outdoor spots. A huge shipping container will boast primo views of both the West Gate Bridge and the Melbourne city skyline, and there will be plenty of cover for rainy days. The full lineup of food vendors that'll be calling Grazeland home hasn't been announced yet, though we do know that 48h Pizza & Gnocchi Bar, Cripps Family Fish Farm and Cannoleria by That's Amore Cheese have all been locked in. Grazeland will be family friendly and open from 5–10pm on Fridays, and 12–10pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Grazeland is set to open at 20 Booker Street, Spotswood from early 2020. We'll keep you posted as more details drop.
Melbourne Fashion Week is nearly upon us and it'll once again kick off with Vogue Fashion's Night Out on Friday, August 31. Since shopping-'til-you-drop can bring on the hanger, high-end shopping centre St Collins Lane is teaming up with sweets fiend Dessert Parlour to give away 500 of its much-loved donuts. Now, its dubbed these doughnuts "holographic", which they are not. They are pastel and shimmery, but no hologram is involved, sadly — so don't go thinking you'll be eating the doughnut of the future. We're not sure how edible holographs would even work, honestly. Anyway, these shimmering creations are meant to align with the night's forward-thinking theme of 'innovation and tech' and the ground floor giveaway will go down at 12.30pm and 5pm. They'll inevitably be snatched up, so you'll have to be quick. Your free doughnuts (one per person) come with store-wide discounts from noon till 7pm that day, including 20 percent-off Coach, Furla, The Kooples, Zadig and Voltaire; 30 percent-off full price items at Rodd and Gunn; and 10 percent-off at Cerrone Jewellers. The holographic doughnut giveaway will be held at 12.30pm and 5pm in St Collins Lane.
The latest of great things to happen at CERES is the Doggy Christmas Market. Not just a market where your four-legged friend is welcomed, this is a market that's is all about them. Presented by the Treasure Exchange, the market — which happens every Saturday morning at the environmental park — will have a special focus on things for pups, including dog treats, dog bandanas, blinged-up dog collars and dog kennels. Your dog can even get a massage — because they need to treat themselves too, okay? Humans aren't forgotten, and there will be snacks and an organic food market. Get yourself and your pooch there sometime between 9am and 4pm on Saturday, December 12.
Banging is the certainly word for it; when Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn begins, it's with high school teacher Emi (Katia Pascariu, Beyond the Hills) and her camera-wielding husband Eugen (first-timer Stefan Steel) having loud, enthusiastic, pink wig-wearing sex — and filming it. Romanian writer/ director Radu Jude (I Do Not Care If We Go Down in History as Barbarians) shows the explicit three-minute snippet of footage as others will see it, because others will indeed see it: the students at Emi's school, their parents and her fellow teachers among them. All genitalia and thrusting and lustful talk (and shouted queries through the door from whoever is looking after the couple's child), this graphic opening also makes a bold and firm statement. So many people within the film's frames will take issue with it as vocally as Emi and her partner are enjoying themselves — and they're unmistakably enjoying themselves — but Jude definitely isn't one of them. 2021's Berlinale Golden Bear-winner, Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn also starts with a gleeful provocation — not just to those seeing Emi and Eugen's home video within the movie, but to Jude's viewers. It's a jolting opening that's exactingly orchestrated to make audiences react, then unpack their own instant reflexes in tandem with the rude on-screen posse that may as well be waving pitchforks. The underlying question: to those who object, what makes this raunchy romp between two consenting adults so shocking? Worse exists on the internet en masse all the time, so is it its unexpected arrival? Within the picture, is it the fact that Emi is a teacher, a woman or that she's unapologetic, too? Both queries speak to ideas long internalised about what we see where, who we allow to do what, and the power that comes from enforcing arbitrary and hypocritical judgements about supposed immorality and obscenity. Indeed, loving, animated, costumed and sex toy-aided intercourse between a married couple in the privacy of their own home is the nicest thing that graces Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn — until the feature's glorious climax, that is. What follows the intimate clip is a razor-sharp satire of a world that's so indifferent to so much ghastliness and so often, yet remains so unaccepting of carnality and so quick to use it as a reason to unbridle our worst sniping impulses. The film wields that notion as a weapon, all as Emi and Bucharest's other residents also navigate the pandemic. Jude could've set his scorching feature at any time, but overtly drawing attention to the daily behaviour that's been accepted while the globe battles a decimating virus — and the fact that some here would rather fixate on a different and trivial kind of viral spread — makes a blunt but perceptive point. Accordingly, in the cinema verite-style first section, Emi rushes around the city on foot, going about an ordinary day that morphs into anything but. Actually, given that she learns of the sex tape backlash while surrounded by everyday hostilities and vulgarities, this chapter reinforces an ugly truth: that the performatively horrified responses from the parents of Emi's students are all too routine. As she traverses the streets, Bucharesters yell and argue bitterly — swearing at each other in the grocery store, purposely hitting pedestrians with cars and otherwise uttering language that'd be at home in porn. Emi is one of them as she tries to get sedatives from the chemist and drops by her school headmistress' (Claudia Ieremia, I Do Not Care If We Go Down in History as Barbarians) home, but the mood and intent is to lay bare a city heaving and brawling in its natural state. In this portion of the film, Jude and his regular cinematographer Marius Panduru observe intently and patiently, while also spying ample evidence of Romania's transition from communism to capitalism peppered around town. That helps anchor Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn's second act, which unleashes scathing and playful cine-essay snippets about the country's past, the planet's present, human behaviour — often at its most atrocious — and how porn is used as both a scapegoat and an anaesthetic. Again, subtlety isn't in the feature's wheelhouse here, nor need it be. Compiled from factual sources, such as news and social media, Jude badges this section 'A Short Dictionary of Anecdotes, Signs and Wonders' — and, in both providing context for so many of the movie's musings and exemplifying its experimental approach, it is certainly a wonder. Lastly, a mask-wearing Emi is interrogated and publicly humiliated by parents and teachers, their punitive savagery and blatant sanctimoniousness on full display. It's the picture's first brilliant, biting and bleakly hilarious climax — what would a film about a sex tape be without more than one peak? — and it initially plays out as anticipated. Yes, "Fox News" is shouted, because Jude's commentary isn't only limited to his homeland. Still, while the kangaroo court-style inquisition Emi faces overflows with foreseeable revelations, they're still shrewd and sizzling, and the movie also saves some of its final knee-weakening thrusts for its last few twists. It also uses this segment to showcase the filmmaker's skilled handling of farce, his adaptability through the course of this free-wheeling feat, and Pascariu's exceptional performance. Trying to glean deeper expressions and emotions from above a strip of face-covering fabric is a pandemic reality; however, Pascariu turns it into tour de force. Among the sights that Jude peers at in Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn's walk-and-witness section is a closed cinema, a 'for rent' sign on its window, which punctuates a chapter filled with incident after incident of antagonism — abuse and selfishness so common that it's clearly an engrained mindset. Losing even a single space to see art, connect with something bigger than oneself, and become immersed in different stories and perspectives alters any society, and it's easy to draw a line from there to Emi's arrogant and entitled tribunal of accusers. In a film designed to galvanise when watched communally thanks to its explicit opening, it's also easy to ponder how those censorious and bumptious parents would react if they were viewing this very movie. They'd likely be the type to desecrate the darkened theatre by loading the porn video on their phone mid-flick, only to then attack and insult anyone who asked them to pay attention to the feature in front of them and stop ruining the big-screen experience for everyone else. Jude could easily make a searing and stinging film about the state of Romania and the world out of that, too.
Sometimes, we're all looking onwards, upwards and forwards because we're thinking about the future. Given how normality as everyone knows it has changed and evolved rapidly over the past couple of years, that's hardly surprising. But don't forget to look up literally, too — especially when must-see sights keep gracing the night sky. When it comes to vibrant astronomical visions, this is the latest in the space of a few short weeks, after the Lyrids meteor shower lit up the night back in April. Every autumn, the Eta Aquarids meteor shower sets the sky ablaze, too — and it's that time now. This year, the shower will be at its most spectacular early on Saturday, May 7 — very early, in fact. If you're eager to catch a glimpse, even from just your backyard or balcony, here's how. WHAT IS IT The Eta Aquarids might not be as famous as Halley's Comet, but the shower is actually a distant relation — because the bits and pieces you see flying around were on Halley's path a really, really long time ago. And, rather than only being visible every 76 years (the next Halley's Comet sighting is in 2061), the Eta Aquarids come around every year, usually between April 19–May 28 every year. The shower's name comes from the star from which they appear to come Eta Aquarii, which is part of the Aquarius constellation. So, that's what you'll be looking for in the sky. Luckily, being in the southern hemisphere, we get some of the best views in the world. On average, you can see up to 20–40 meteors per hour. [caption id="attachment_769233" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] WHEN TO SEE IT The shower will reach a peak in the early morning of Saturday, May 7, but will still be able to be seen for a few days on either side. The best time to catch an eyeful is just before dawn after the moon has set, so around 4am — but between 2am–6am is also recommended. At that time, you'll be in the running to see as many as 50 meteors every 60 minutes. Each will be moving at about 225,000 kilometres per hour, shining extraordinarily brightly and leaving a long wake. The shower's cause is, essentially, the Earth getting in the comet's way, causing stardust to fry up in the atmosphere. HOW TO SEE IT Usually, when a meteor shower lights up the sky, we'd tell city-dwellers to get as far away from light pollution as possible to get the best view. If you can't venture out of town at the moment, you can still take a gander from your backyard or balcony. To help locate the shower, we recommend downloading the Sky Map app — it's the easiest way to navigate the night sky (and is a lot of fun to use even on a non-meteor shower night). If you're more into specifics, Time and Date also has a table that shows the direction and altitude of the Eta Aquarids. It has been updating this daily. The weather might get in the way of your viewing, though, depending on where you live. Melbourne is set for showers until next Monday, and Adelaide is as well until Saturday — fingers crossed that the wet weather takes a break during the early hours. It's also forecast to be wet in Brisbane until Friday, so here's hoping that any rain doesn't hang around till Saturday. In Sydney and Perth, however, sunny conditions await.
Time warp into the new year at our favourite cinema in Melbourne. A cult movie classic of the highest possible order, The Rocky Horror Picture Show has long occupied the December 31 slot on the iconic Astor calendar. It's the kind of movie that everybody needs to see in a theatre at least once. Dress up, sing along and get yourself warmed-up for the night of revelry that lies ahead. If you're lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of Duke the Astor Cat. And to think that just twelve months ago they were on the verge of closing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ov8yLJkknY
Renowned Malaysian brand Tealive has 500 stores located around the world, but its latest Melbourne venture is a little different. Opening today in the site of a former Swanston Street ATM, it's set to be one of the smallest bubble tea stores in the world. Clocking in at just 4.4 square metres, the cashless venue has room for just two staff at any one time. Despite its size, Tealive's new hole-in-the-wall is slated to dish out over 500 bubble teas a day and it's kicking things off strong by giving away a whole stack of freebies for opening day. Swing by the space across from the State Library Victoria from 12–4pm today, February 18, and you'll nab yourself a complimentary signature pearl milk tea. [caption id="attachment_761812" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Eugene Hyland[/caption] Unsurprisingly, this store's working a smaller menu than the rest of the brand's 500 international outposts, celebrating Tealive's best-selling bevs. Roll past for drinks like the silky roasted milk tea loaded with grass jelly, an iced matcha latte featuring warm pearls, the strawberry custard smoothie and a range of fruity iced teas, along with a milk tea soft-serve dessert. It's an entirely cashless operation, so you simply order and pay via the electronic display out front. And while this store's got a tiny physical footprint, Tealive is also making moves to up its environmental game across all global outposts. It's swapping out plastic straws for paper alternatives and even sells its own range of reusable bubble tea tumblers. Find Tealive's new store at 335–339 Swanston Street, Melbourne. It's giving out free signature pearl milk teas today, Tuesday, February 18, from 12–4pm. Images: Eugene Hyland
Almost four years after officially launching its streaming platform in Australia, Amazon Prime Video has expanded its range of viewing options — by bringing the company's online video store Down Under, too. Now, cinephiles can rent or buy a movie via the service's video-on-demand shop. And, you can access its lineup without signing up for a subscription membership. If you're eager to rent the likes of A Quiet Place, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, Bohemian Rhapsody, Sonic the Hedgehog, The Lion King, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, you'll find them all available — with a focus on recent release and blockbuster titles. That means that next time you're looking to check out a new-ish flick, you can add Amazon to the list of places to watch it digitally on a pay-per-title basis, alongside Google Play, YouTube and iTunes. Amazon's VOD selection spans films from big studios such as Disney, Warner Bros, NBCUniversal, Sony, Paramount and Lionsgate, as well as Australian distributors Transmission and Madman. Accordingly, if you're not in the mood for Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, you can go local and check out Mystify: Michael Hutchence instead. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRIFR3hkIpo Rentals start from $3.99, and remain valid for 30 days — although you'll only have 48 hours to watch once you press play. As for purchases, they start from $12.99. Australia joins France, Italy, Spain and Canada in receiving the VOD service, with Amazon's online video store already up and running in US, UK, Germany and Japan. Viewers can access the Prime Video Store via the service's website, or through the Prime Video app on televisions, Android mobile devices and game consoles. If you're eager to check out Amazon's original movies and TV series, though — such as Hunters, The Boys, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel and Tales from the Loop — you'll still need to subscribe to the streaming platform. To rent or buy a film via Amazon Prime Video, visit the Prime Video Store website.
Whether your Sunday sesh is all about recovery or keeping the party going, The Rochey has a new series set to level up your gathering. Held upstairs every fortnight from Sunday, July 6, LOFTS is bringing electronic day parties to Fitzroy from 2–8pm. Focused on timeless house anthems and wave-making bangers, each stacked instalment features a stellar lineup ready to keep the grooves going all Sunday long. For the debut event, catch local talent Trey, Texas, Bones, AK97, and Love, Jess serving up non-stop tracks spanning techno, breaks, IDM and big room tunes. A necessity for any solid Sunday session, The Rochey's bar is also keeping everyone refreshed with $16 negronis throughout the arvo. Meanwhile, happy hour specials from 4–7pm include $9 pints, $8 wines and selected $14 cocktails, like margs and espresso martinis.
There are a few different ways you could celebrate the start of summer. But if you fancy ringing in the new season with a couple of glasses of something fruity, fizzy and free, then we've got just the thing. On Sunday, December 1, the good folk at Moon Dog are treating fans to the ultimate summer starter: free serves of its Fizzer alcoholic seltzer varieties. Roll into either Moon Dog World or Moon Dog Wild West on the first day of summer with a BYO vessel in tow, and you can have it filled for free with takeaway Fizzer poured fresh from the taps. These two sites will also be hosting DJs throughout the arvo, making both of them damn good Sunday sesh destinations. And again this year, there's a heap of other Melbourne venues participating in the BYO Cup Day. You can also grab your free seltzers from Arcadia Hotel in South Yarra, The Pinnacle in Fitzroy, Railway Club Hotel in Windsor and more. In total, 16 Melbourne venues will join the Brew Dog crew for the giveaway. You can bring any old drinking vessel you fancy to the spots, be it a watering can, water bottle or, heck, even a hollowed-out upside-down pineapple — but keep in mind they'll only fill it up to 1140 millilitres (a standard jug amount). You'll also want to ensure your container is clean and water-tight to avoid any nasty leaks. Check out the venue's website to find all the participating venues where you can score some free seltzer on Moon Dog's Fizzer BYO Cup Day.
