You know the part in The Wizard of Oz where Dorothy first enters the Land of Oz and everything transforms into glorious technicolour? That's what it feels like when summer hits the UK. Every single corner of the country pulls out all stops to make the most of the sunshine and clear skies which, let's face it, don't last long. Suddenly, everywhere from teeny country villages to the massive cities are abuzz with markets, festivals, live performances and general merriment. With so many festivities to choose from, it's hard to know where to start. To make sure you don't miss out, we've partnered with Contiki to scope out ten of the best things to see and do in the UK this (Northern Hemisphere) summer. We've covered everything from age-old classics, like wandering among the prehistoric mysteries of Stonehenge and seeing a play at Shakespeare's Globe in London, to rocking out to your favourite musicians at one of the country's biggest music festivals. We hope you know where your passport is — you're going to need it very soon. [caption id="attachment_719400" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Andrew and Annemarie via Flickr.[/caption] CATCH 'MACBETH' AT SHAKESPEARE'S GLOBE Opened in 1997 on the banks of the River Thames, Shakespeare's Globe is a replica of the original theatre, which was built just 250 metres away in 1599 (and then demolished in 1644). Each year, from April to October, the stage fills with larger-than-life actors, performing Shakespeare's works. There are 700 standing room ('groundling') tickets available to every show for just £5. So, even if you're travelling on a budget, you don't have to miss out. Afterwards, take a stroll along the river to visit the Tate Modern and South Bank — a hub of theatre, live music, talks and more. [caption id="attachment_719453" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Martie Swart via Flickr[/caption] DISCOVER A NEW ACT AT EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL Edinburgh Fringe Festival is the biggest arts event in the world. To give you an idea of the scale, 2018 saw 55,000 performances of 3548 shows across 317 venues over 25 days. Yep, it's absolutely huge. Whatever you're into — from cabaret and comedy to storytelling and live music — it's on the program. You can even put on a show of your own. Quite a few legends cut their teeth here — Rowan Atkinson, Billy Connolly and Tim Minchin, among them. If there's a show you need to see, book tickets in advance. But, if you're open-minded, it's just as fun to turn up and see what happens. As you wander down the street, burgeoning performers will hand out tickets to their shows for free. It's a great way to discover some up-and-coming talents — we know how everyone loves to proclaim "I saw them before they were famous". DANCE ALL NIGHT AT READING FESTIVAL Since the inaugural event in 1989, Reading Festival has become a major happening on the UK's musical calendar. Every August, it takes over Little John's Farm for three days of live music. Some of the musical heavyweights to have played there over the years include Nirvana, The Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Radiohead and Arctic Monkeys. Head along this year and you'll be grooving to the likes of Foo Fighters, The 1975, Post Malone, Billie Eilish and loads more. To make the most of this epic musical experience, hop on board Contiki Sounds. This ten-day (or seven-day) tour will be like a roaming musical education with visits to the country's best towns and cities (and their most historically important musical sites) and will finish with a VIP camping experience at Reading. [caption id="attachment_719456" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gary J. Wood via Flickr[/caption] GRAZE YOUR WAY THROUGH BOROUGH MARKET For more than 1000 years, farmers, fishers, bakers and cheesemakers have been gathering at Borough Market to peddle their wares. It's London's oldest market. You'll find it just south of London Bridge, which for hundreds of years, provided the only river crossing into the city. Grab a coffee from the ever-popular Monmouth Coffee Company, located just outside the market entrance, and spend a morning roaming through the stalls and filling up on samples. Prepare for a cornucopia of bread, baked goodies, fruit, veggies, olive oils, cheeses, meats and much more. There's a busy events program, too, covering workshops, talks and tours. The market is open Monday to Saturday — the best days to go are Wednesday to Saturday when it's in full operation. WANDER AROUND STONEHENGE One folk story goes that the devil bought the stones in Ireland, wrapped them up and carried them to their present position. Another says that Stonehenge was created by Merlin the wizard in the age of King Arthur. Many mysteries still surround the history of Stonehenge, but historians are now fairly convinced it was built 5000 years ago by thousands of hardworking Neolithic humans. This World Heritage-listed site lies around 140 kilometres west of London near the village of Amesbury. EAT FISH AND CHIPS BY THE SEA IN CORNWALL No summer in the UK is complete without at least one serving of fish and chips (with a liberal dousing of vinegar) by the sea. And one of the prettiest places to partake is Cornwall, England's most southwestern county. If you're in the north, head to the coastal village of Padstow for Rick Stein's Fish & Chips. For a longer feast, visit The Seafood Restaurant — Stein's flagship — which opened over 40 years ago. If you're in the south, go to Looe and eat at The Catch, a chippy run by celebrity chef James Tanner and his brother Chris, who serve only premium quality, sustainably fished seafood. [caption id="attachment_719446" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Shawn Spencer-Smith via Flickr[/caption] IMMERSE YOURSELF AT BRISTOL HARBOUR FESTIVAL This entirely free festival attracts 250,000 people to Bristol every July. Now heading into its 48th year, it's a cornucopia of live bands, dancers, circus acts, spoken word, street performers and food stalls, all backdropped by Bristol's sparkling harbour. In 2019, the party is slated for the weekend of July 19–21. While you're in town, be sure to explore the cobbled laneways of Bristol Old Town, walk over the Clifton Suspension Bridge — built in 1864 to span the dramatic Avon Gorge — and swing by 6 O'Clock Gin for an exceptional G&T. [caption id="attachment_719840" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Image via The Fat Duck Restaurant[/caption] SPLURGE ON DINNER AT THE FAT DUCK Heston Blumenthal has cooked all over the world, but his adventures began in Bray, a village on the River Thames situated around 50 kilometres west of London. In 1995, he took over a 16th-century building formerly called The Bell Pub and transformed it into The Fat Duck restaurant. By 2004, it had earned three Michelin stars. Dinner here isn't so much a meal as a journey into the unexpected, so kick back, relax and let the chefs take over. Reservations aren't easy to get, especially in the height of summer, so be sure to book in advance. EAT YOUR WAY AROUND A HUGE FOOD FESTIVAL Foodies Festival was founded in Edinburgh in 2006 and has since grown into a nationwide celebration of good food. Between May and August, events take place in Brighton, Bristol, London, Birmingham, Cambridge, Tatton Park, Edinburgh and Oxford. So, wherever you are heading, there's bound to be a festival there at some point. Count on an array of food stalls, masterclasses, live music and a chefs theatre, where Michelin-starred chefs and MasterChef champions take to the stage. This year, Foodies Festival is teaming up with Musicians Against Homelessness, which will coordinate hundreds of performers across the country to raise money for UK charity Crisis. [caption id="attachment_719451" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rozsagab via Flickr[/caption] DRINK A PINT IN A PROPER BRITISH PUB British pubs have been imitated all over the world, but there's quite like drinking a pint — or two — in an original. On a sunny day, seek out one on a river or canal, like The Angel on the Bridge in Henley-on-Thames or The Grain Barge in Bristol (yes, it used to be a barge). To mix history with your beverage, visit one of the UK's oldest pubs, like Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem — which is rather spectacularly set into a sandstone cliff in Nottingham and claims to have been established in 1189. Check out this list for more inspiration. Travel around the best spots in the UK with Contiki at Reading Festival. Unearth the UK's musical heritage, then experience an unforgettable party at one of the world's best and biggest music festivals. Contiki wants to take you there — all you have to do is choose from the 7- or 10-day trip. Plus, if you bring a mate, it'll give you both $200 off. Find out more here.
Looking for something to fill your time (in between binging all 86 episodes of The Sopranos, of course)? TAFE Victoria is offering a heap of courses — for free. There are currently 46 free 'priority' courses on offer at Victorian TAFE institutions, running from a Diploma of Nursing to an Advanced Diploma in Accounting and a Certificate IV in Cyber Security. Exactly what courses are available at what time varies with what jobs are currently in demand in Victoria. The free TAFE for priority courses initiative isn't new — with the first free courses on offer from January 1, 2019 — but is particularly important right now, as Melbourne enters its second lockdown. Thanks to a $163 million boost from the Victorian Government, 10,000 more free TAFE places have been created for the second half of the year and new (free) courses have launched, including certificates in Mental Health Peer Work, Health Services Assistance and Civil Construction Plant Operations. According to the State Government, the free courses will not only help Melburnians who have lost a job during COVID-19, but will also help the state rebuild post-lockdown. "We're giving Victorians workers and industry the skills they need to help us rebuild from coronavirus," Minister for Training and Skills and Higher Education Gayle Tierney said in a statement. To be eligible for a free priority TAFE course, you'll have to be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or a permanent Australian resident and fit one of the extra criteria. This may be you if you're under 20 years old, if you will be upskilling (that is, enrolling in a higher qualification than you've previously attained), or you're a Victorian who requires additional support — ie, you're unemployed or have recently been retrenched. If you're looking to change careers, you may also be considered for one of the free places. To find out more about the free TAFE courses and enrol, head to the TAFE Victoria website.
"Justin Bieber is the future of rock music." Iggy Pop It may sound like the start of a Tui billboard is actually part of a new Amnesty International Belgium anti-torturing campaign featuring Karl Lagerfield, the Dalai Lama and Iggy Pop. Stop Torture quotes these celebrities saying the unlikeliest statements of their careers while looking like they've just been 240/242d pretty badly. Amnesty International Belgium director Philippe Hensmans explains, "For us it was a quirky but not sloppy way to attract public attention to [the] tragic reality [of torture], which often happens in the greatest secrecy." In addition to being inhumane, torture is also ineffective. "The history has shown that tortured people are often willing to say anything for the pain to stop – the whole truth, only a part or its opposite... Torture a man and you can get him to say anything." The UN adopted the Convention Against Torture in 1984, but many governments like the US, Mexico, North Korea, Philippines and Nigeria are still torturing today. "Governments around the world are two-faced on torture - prohibiting it in law, but facilitating it in practice" says Salil Shetty, Amnesty International's Secretary General. Check out the campaign posters below. "The summit of elegance is a hawaiian shirt with jandals." Karl Lagerfield "The future of rock and roll is Justin Bieber." Iggy Pop "A man who doesn't own a Rolex watch by the time he's 50 has failed in life." Dalai Lama Article via The Independent
With free trams, great coffee, even better bearded men and now a potential smoking ban, Melbourne's really upping the stakes in its claim to become Australia's most progressive city. Melbourne City Council have today announced plans to make the CBD completely smoke-free by 2016. This would make Melbourne the first city in the world to implement such comprehensive measures. Of course, it would also make us home to the most disgruntled business types — sitting forlornly on a milk crate on Degraves just won't look the same if you don't have a durry in hand. This news comes after a successful bid to make The Causeway — one of the cheeky laneways between Bourke and Little Collins — smoke-free, alongside six similar bans."I think there's overwhelming support to progress smoke-free areas given the great success we had with The Causeway," city councillor Richard Foster told Fairfax Radio this morning. "I think we're going to actually attract people to Melbourne by being one of the first in the world to go smoke-free." Though Cr Foster maintains he has majority support on the idea, not all politicians are on board. Premier Denis Napthine strongly opposes the proposition, deeming it "totally unworkable" and "totally unreasonable". Similar disdain can also be heard from the city's street traders. After all, smokers still flock to outdoor seating in our city's cafes for the iconic coffee and cigarette combo. In its current imagining the plan would ban smoking for both pedestrians and footpath diners in the areas between Flinders Street, Spencer Street, Spring Street and Queen Victoria Market; though there would be designated smoking areas most likely in the form of shelters. Smokers seen breaking the ban would be met with on-the-spot fines, though the prohibition would be understandably difficult to police. The plan is similar to that which has recently been implemented in our inner-city universities. Both RMIT and the University of Melbourne are currently smoke-free and offer rather meagre designated areas for insistent smokers. The issue was debated widely by students as both a move towards a safer and healthier environment and an infringement on smokers' civil liberties. Of course, should the issue be taken city-wide the debate would only intensify. So far, public reaction on social media has been fairly positive. Even Lord Mayor Robert Doyle is on board so long as the changes are "incremental". If there's ever been a time to quit, this is probably it. Life as a smoker is getting more and more outlawed by the day. Via The Australian. Photo credit: Orin Zebest.
Germany takes its public transport seriously. When Berlin boasts a pair of sneakers designed to match the subway system, and the nation's state-owned railway company is looking to create a 'train of the future', that's pretty clear. The country's next idea not only stresses the point, but does the environment a solid and is certain to prove a hit with commuters: free public transport. As reported by Die Welt, according to a letter penned by German ministers and seen by German media, the government is proposing to trial the concept in five particular cities — all places considered heavily polluted. Bonn, Essen, Reutlingen, Mannheim and Herrenberg are set to put the plan into action, with the move coming as Germany faces legal action from the EU over its breach of air pollution levels due to vehicle emissions. Just how it would work — in terms of additional buses, trains and trams needed, and the budget required to finance them — is still under consideration, as are exact implementation timing and plans. Still, it's a smart, sensible and certain-to-be-popular idea, as well as an excellent incentive to leave the car at home. And, it's one that we'd all clearly love to see closer to home, even with Sydney and Brisbane's rail issues of late. Via Die Welt. Image: Shankar S. via Flickr.
Four years after Carl's Jr first hit Aussie shores, the cult-favourite American burger joint is at last landing in Melbourne, opening the doors to its first Victorian store in the eastern suburbs. It all kicks off on Friday, October 26, as the fast food chain — renowned for its monstrous stacked buns — sets out to prove it can stack up against our own famously good burger scene. Setting up shop within Knox Westfield's dining precinct, beside Village Cinemas, this new local edition of Carl's Jr will be dishing up its signature menu of 'American classics' that's earned it a heap of fans overseas. We're talking the aptly named Thickburger, teaming an angus beef patty with extras like portobello mushroom, or bacon and guacamole, alongside hefty chargrilled numbers such as the Double Western Bacon Cheeseburger. The Big Carl's rocks a double patty and oozy American cheese, and chook-lovers are sorted with seven different chicken dishes. Then, there are breakfast options for the early birds, salads for the virtuous and some pretty solid sundaes and shakes for dessert. The chain has also mentioned it's planning to open two more Victorian stores by the end of the year. Find the new Carl's Jr store at Westfield Knox, 425 Burwood Highway, Wantirna South. Updated: December 5, 2018.
Working from home has its perks, like more snacks on-hand and wearing your comfy clothes. By now though, wearing the same baggy tee and pyjama pants day-in, day-out might be growing a little old. Plus, as we move into cooler autumn days, a new cosy jumper and some non-threadbare trackies are pretty much essentials. Online shopping go-to The Iconic has put together a collection of its best loungewear and accessories, so you can upgrade your wardrobe without leaving the house. Because dressing up with nowhere to go is the new norm — and you might as well be comfy. For clothes, you'll find a bunch of Aussie labels all known for their super-comfy athleisure and loungewear. Camilla and Marc and its elevated streetwear label C&M currently have some super-warm knitwear and pullovers available via The Iconic, alongside wardrobe staples such as t-shirts, denim and tailored pants. Sustainable brand AERE has a bunch of flowy linen items for both men and women, including shorts, shirts and dresses. And menswear labels Staple Superior and Academy Brand have a range of hoodies, tees, chinos and track pants. If you're wanting to stock up your own balcony-gym or living room-yoga wardrobe (or another WFH outfit, if we're totally honest), you'll also find a bunch of fashionable activewear. Expect leggings, shorts, crops and more from local labels such as P.E. Nation, eco-conscious label Nimble, Jaggad and Cotton On Body, plus international brands Champion and Puma. And, if you've recently taken up running (or plan to), you can buy some running shoes here. You'll also find everything from slippers to sleek sneakers. Ultimate cosy shoe brand UGG has several styles of slippers, including some extra-fluffy yellow ones, as does Birkenstock. Sneaker-wise, there's an extensive selection of Veja and Puma designs, from simple white leather to multicoloured ones. Or, if you feel like walking around in a pair of stilletos for whatever reason, there are those, too. Best of all, The Iconic is giving Concrete Playground readers $30 off on all orders of $120 or more. All you have to do is head here then enter CPLOUNGE at checkout. The Iconic's loungewear range can be found here. For $30 off your order, enter CPLOUNGE at checkout (offer available until Sunday, April 26). FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
What if a bomb had taken out Adolf Hitler in 1939? That's the question that haunts Georg Elser (Christian Friedel) after his assassination attempt fails due to timing. He hatched a plot, built explosives and set a timer, but it all went off too late. As the English-language name of the film that unfolds his story foreshadows, just under a quarter of an hour proved the difference between the past everyone knows and a World War II-free alternate timeline. In telling his tale, those titular 13 minutes are influential; however this measured, methodical feature is more concerned with the state of affairs that led Elser to such drastic deeds, instead of a well-worn account of what happened next. How did a mild-mannered pacifist and seemingly ordinary German citizen become the would-be killer of the 20th century's most despised figure? What injustices did he witness? What paved his path towards trying to save his country through a potentially revolutionary act of violence? Again, many of the broad strokes of life at the time are known, but 13 Minutes filters a familiar situation through one man's experience. After the blast, Elser is detained, interrogated and tortured by the Gestapo, his brutal treatment intercut with his preceding years. First, he's a carefree musician; then, he's a carpenter trying to save his family farm; next, he's fooling around with a married woman (Katharina Schuttler). Around him, society and sentiment changes under the Nazi party's influence. Best known as the director of Downfall, the Hitler film that launched a thousand memes, Oliver Hirschbiegel has explored this chapter of history before. That he does so again in meticulous detail isn't surprising, nor are the handsome images he works with. Though his last feature — the abysmal Diana — might indicate otherwise, the filmmaker shows an assured hand with conflict-riddled, based-on-real-life material. Indeed, 13 Minutes looks, sounds and feels the part. Yet it's never anything more than interesting, rather than gripping. Workmanlike best describes Hirschbiegel's effort, hitting all the right notes but playing a standard tune rather than a truly affecting melody. Given the rollercoaster ride his last decade of filmmaking has provided, perhaps he's just happy to play it safe. To the director, splitting the difference between the intense heights of his biggest hit and the considerable lows of his most recent biopic probably doesn't seem like such a bad outcome. Thankfully, the committed, charming Friedel is marching to his own beat, his performance as impassioned as the rest of the movie is restrained. That the film around him is just competently going through the motions of an important story doesn't seem to sway his complex portrayal. Of course, shining a bigger spotlight on a figure barely remembered in the official record, let alone seen in cinema (with a 1989 film called Seven Minutes Elser's only other big screen depiction), is a feat worth applauding regardless of the muted end result. And that's what lingers in 13 Minutes: the true tale surrounding the greatest act of WWII heroism that never was.
After three years of envelope-pushing dishes and rule-breaking dinner degustations, Carlton's small-but-mighty Nora has completed its last-ever service. Owners Sarin Rojanametin and Jean Thamthanakorn have announced they'd shut the doors to their Elgin Street eatery in December, and have drawn the curtains on one of Melbourne's most innovative food offerings of recent years. Nora first opened its doors as an experimental, Thai-inspired cafe back in 2014, hitting reset in 2016 to reopen as degustation restaurant, giving the owners more scope to flex their creative muscles. But there's one last chance to eat Nora's food. In a last hurrah, Rojanametin and Thamthanakorn will cook a final meal at Collingwood's The Moon on Sunday, January 7. The $95 ticket includes a taste of Nora's full menu, plus an aperitif and digestif. Wines will be available to purchase. 2018 will find the pair venturing back to their roots, tapping into new inspirations and setting their sights on fresh challenges. We hope to see a new venture from them in the near future.
For us device-addicted youths, consuming content on non-back-lit material (otherwise known as paper) has become somewhat of a novelty. So, Australian publisher Pantera Press has decided to help change that by dedicating themselves to getting the digitised back into analogue. Its newest imprint, Lost the Plot, is aimed at publishing titles by millennials for millennials. Launching with a curated but diverse selection of books, Lost the Plot instils Pantera Press's longstanding mission to support the next generation of writers and readers. And with titles like The Quit Smoking Colouring Book and Space is Cool as Fuck, they've also found that the book series even appeals to those who were way into adulthood when the popularity of books on good ol' fashioned paper began to decline. Along with helping smokers quit mindfully and admiring the amazing 'AF' properties of the next frontier, the series brings writings on being #single: Dating in the 21st Century, as well as the complementary Just the Tip: Sex Tips for Chicks by Gay Dudes. They've got modern 21st-century living covered. To celebrate the series' launch, we're giving away five book sets with all four titles included, so you can get back into the papery-stuff (without forgetting your friends at Concrete Playground, of course) and live your best millennial life. For your chance to win (and give your phone a break), see entry details below. [competition]645082[/competition]
How often do you get the chance to eat as much as you like until you have to physically ask for the food to stop? How often is stuffing your face with an unlimited amount of food for a fixed price socially acceptable? Not often enough, we say, which is why we're pretty happy that we've found a place that makes all-you-can-eat a very suitable Sunday night dinner. Every Sunday night at La Svolta Prahran the normal menu is replaced by a stop sign. The laminated red sign — printed with the words 'a dire basta', meaning 'enough!' — is there for you to hold up when you're too full to eat any more. Otherwise, for $30 a person, the Italian feast will continue, with a never-ending circulation of antipasti, sharing plates, pizza and pasta. The menu changes weekly, but expect plates along the lines of freshly-sliced prosciutto, calamari salad, meatballs, risotto, gnocchi and dessert. Plus, some seriously good pizza (of the thin, chewy kind!). A dire basta runs every Sunday night at La Svolta Prahran from 5.30pm.
If you've been dreaming of a white Christmas in July, this isn't for you. This year, The Kraken Black Spiced Rum is turning tradition on its head by transforming Melbourne haunt A Hereford Beefstouw into a deep, dark, mysterious wonderland for one evening only. On arrival, you'll immersed in the sounds of a violin being played live within a giant snow globe. You'll then be met with a warming Spiced Egg Fogg. The cocktail is a take on traditional eggnog, spiked with orange marmalade and — you guessed it — The Kraken Black Spiced Rum. Next up is an enigmatic feast, featuring dishes infused with black or blackened ingredients. Among A Hereford Beefstouw's offerings, you'll find rum-cured gravlax with squid ink mustard; blackened turkey with an orange, chestnut and black breadcrumb stuffing; and ash pavlova with rum-marinated blackberries. Three adventurous cocktails — a Sucker Punch, Sea Spector and Kraken Espresso Martini — will be available to enjoy with dishes. And they're not the only surprises. The plan is to keep you entirely ensconced in The Kraken's wintry abyss with a scattering of unexpected events. We can tell you, however, to look out for snow and listen for a cappella carollers. Your ticket includes absolutely everything: cocktails, the feast, live happenings and a farewell gift to take home. Kraken Kristmas in July will take place on Wednesday, July 25 from 7pm-10pm. This is an 18+ event and you can snag a ticket here.
Built in 1974 by a group of likeminded artists, the Footscray Community Arts Centre has long provided a safe and encouraging space for progressive works that balance social justice issues with creativity. The Centre has a collection of spaces that host various artistic programs, offering a platform for the Indigenous, LGBTQIA+, migrant, refugee and disabled communities that make their home in the west. The art ranges in style and medium but you can expect to see anything from sculpture to performance, plus collaborative projects and events, all aimed at stirring community involvement. The space itself encompasses a series of different heritage-listed buildings and open-air sites spread along the Maribyrnong River, and plays host to a diverse array of classes, workshops and exhibitions all year round.
It might sound like some sort of lunar identity crisis, but the rare super blue blood moon proved a pretty spectacular addition to last night's skies. Stargazers across Australia had prime position to view the celestial phenomenon, which hasn't occurred anywhere in the world in over 35 years. The event combined the first total lunar eclipse since 2015, with a blue moon, or the second full moon of the calendar month. Clouds might have made for sketchy viewing in some parts of the country, though, as always, social media is chock full of impressive snaps from folks lucky enough to catch the astronomical treat. Here are some of the best shots of 2018's blue blood moon from around the planet. A post shared by Ken Perkes Photography (@perkesken) on Jan 31, 2018 at 11:44am PST A post shared by Jenny Herron (@jenniferherronn) on Jan 31, 2018 at 9:15am PST A post shared by Justin DeLand (@aperture_of_the_soul) on Jan 31, 2018 at 1:15pm PST A post shared by +15⚓🌴🍀🌊 (@cristian_perrone) on Jan 31, 2018 at 1:24pm PST A post shared by Jeff Morris (@itwasthelight) on Jan 31, 2018 at 8:33am PST A post shared by Landscapes-Astro-Cityscapes (@bay.photography) on Jan 31, 2018 at 9:58am PST A post shared by Senai Senna (@sennarelax) on Jan 31, 2018 at 1:13pm PST A post shared by Carlos Sanchez (@officialcarlossanchez) on Jan 31, 2018 at 7:14am PST A post shared by Maria Heni (@henimaria) on Jan 31, 2018 at 5:38am PST A post shared by @harsha_taurus on Jan 31, 2018 at 2:41pm PST
The latest effort from RoboCop, Showgirls and Starship Troopers director Paul Verhoeven, Elle is a rape-revenge film — or a rape-anti-revenge film, perhaps. It's also a movie calculated to conjure some laughter, as surprising as that may seem given the topic at hand. The narrative's focus on a sexual assault victim's behaviour after her attack, and the incredulous reaction audiences may have thanks to more than a few awkwardly comedic moments, are closely linked. Bringing the aptly named novel Oh... to the screen, Verhoeven not only unpacks unpleasant experiences, but makes viewers confront the urges such experiences can awaken, and the instant, often inappropriate responses that come with them. It's an ambitious aim, particularly in a thriller steeped in sexual exploits both forceful and consensual, not to mention one heavily reliant upon perfecting the right mood and tone. Peppered with the kind of chuckles that sometimes spring from nerves and discomfort, it's one that the movie achieves on an intellectual rather than an emotional level. Elle will get you thinking and reacting, but not always feeling. And while that might be fitting given the psychological realm the movie willingly plays in, it's also unintentionally distancing. The film's title refers to Michèle (Isabelle Huppert), an executive at a video game company readying a new erotically violent release. After an intruder forces himself upon her and then flees, Michèle goes about the rest of her day. When the subject of her attack comes up, she steadfastly, matter-of-factly refuses to go to the police. Being plunged into the depths of physical assault, however, leaves her intrigued and even somewhat emboldened as she embarks on a mission to track down the perpetrator. While Elle isn't as violently or sexually excessive as some of Verhoeven's earlier efforts — and definitely proves more restrained in its visual style — the Dutch filmmaker has sly fun with subverting the expected in his first French-language feature. From the moment the movie opens with heated grunts that could just stem from energetic lovemaking (though they don't), he toys with content, with convention and with his audience. It's not quite a case of nothing being as it seems. Instead, everything that happens inspires many, many questions. That includes Michèle's behaviour and backstory, the several other complicated relationships involving her friends, her son and her ex-husband, and Verhoeven's ability to combine nuance in some moments with a sledgehammer lack of subtlety in others. Huppert clearly relishes the loaded territory she's playing in, and proves the real reason Elle demands attention. Although the film itself often lets its interesting perspective do the heavy lifting, its star is an absolute revelation. Or she would be, were it not for the five decade's worth of incredible performances in her ledger already. Still, operating at her absolute best, she's the complex, commanding core of a movie that's purposefully challenging in a number of senses — sometimes successful, sometimes not.
Want to be beside the sea in the heart of St Kilda? Pick The Prince Hotel, which happily sits just a short tram ride away from the Melbourne CBD and a quick stroll from the sand. Here, you'll find comfortable yet polished modern rooms that look to be pulled straight out of a design magazine, with the hotel rocking an upscale beach vibe while also highlighting the building's art deco architecture heritage. This helps make it one of our favourite hotels in Melbourne. There are six different suite styles available at The Prince, decked out with elegant pops of colour and specially commissioned photography works by Tom Blachford and Kate Ballis. On-site wining and dining options are in strong supply between the Mediterranean-accented Prince Dining Room, the recently-revamped Prince Public Bar and the boutique wine bar Little Prince Wine. And if you're up for a night out on the town, all you have to do is head to the hotel's iconic Prince Bandroom, where some of the city's best live acts have been known to frequent. Top image: Tom Blachford Appears in: The Best Hotels in Melbourne
It is often with trepidation that I go to see a play by Anton Chekhov. His signature tragicomedic tone can be tricky to get right and I get fearful a production will play it too straight and drown the comedy in an excess of melodrama. This is apparently what Stanislavski did to Chekhov's chagrin when directing the very first production of The Cherry Orchard in 1904, but I'm pleased to report that MTC's current production has hit the tone pitch perfectly. The story of a Russian aristocratic family unable to abandon their profligate ways in the face of financial ruin offers plentiful opportunities for both humour and drama as Lady Andreyevna Ranevsky (Pamela Rabe) returns to her family's country estate after years of living the high life in Paris. Too crippled by nostalgia to take action to save the estate from its impending ruin and too proud to accept help, Andreyevna and her eccentric family, along with their motley remaining staff of servants, live out the last days of their doomed aristocratic lifestyle like students pretending the summer holidays won’t end. This production isn't a straight rendition of the play but rather an adaptation by director Simon Stone. Stone, founding artistic director of The Hayloft Project and recent director in residence at Sydney's Belvoir, is about as exciting a young gun in theatre as could set sights on an old master like Chekhov. This is appropriate perhaps for a play in which the clash of old and new is such a dominant theme. In addition to modernising the social context, Stone's script playfully elaborates on the original text, keeping true to the essential content and emotional tone while ramping up the impact for contemporary audiences. Andreyevna's Parisian lifestyle, for instance, is updated from 1900s definitions of outrageous to more contemporary standards — orgies rather than hot air balloon rides. Minor characters may be expanded upon, such as the family's clerk Yepihodov (Gareth Davies), whose tendency to being accident prone is exploited to at times clownish extent. There's also a lot more swearing and innuendo. At times this feels a little overdone and not always necessary but for the most part the adaptation is true to Chekhov's spirit. Rabe's magnificently frazzled Andreyevna is a powerful centrepoint in a suite of strong performances. The production also really shines in its visual design. The set is towering and stark. Though the characters constantly try to fill the space below the looming white walls with objects and activity, the starkness is overpowering — symbolic of their efforts to find cheer in the face of inevitable loss. The weight of nostalgia is cunningly evoked through retro stylings in props and costume and a soundtrack that may well stir memories of your last Blue Light Disco. While purists might get nostalgic for more traditional takes on Chekhov, this is one case where the coming of the new may be given a warm welcome. This Cherry Orchard is irresistibly stylish, frequently funny and, when it comes to the punch, powerfully emotionally affecting. Image by Jeff Busby.
What it means to leave and live up to a legacy comes up often in Creed. Ryan Coogler's boxing drama resurrects the Rocky saga, bringing back the aging fighter synonymous with the series and introducing the offspring of another beloved character. No surprises there. But what is less expected is how well the feature succeeds in doing all three. That, and just how rousing the drama proves, both as the next instalment in a series and as a movie in its own right. Cast 2006's lacklustre Rocky Balboa from your mind: this is a continuation that fans can warm to, as can those without four decades of fondness for the franchise. That, on its own, is no easy feat. As the last jump back into Sylvester Stallone's knockabout world confirmed, revisiting the Italian Stallion in the years since the 1976 original can be rather hit-and-miss. Enter director Ryan Coogler and leading man Michael B. Jordan to show that the sixth sequel/spinoff can be the charm. The Fruitvale Station duo reteams to bring the writer-director's passion project to fruition, and in doing so gift the young actor with another knockout part. Jordan plays Adonis "Donnie" Johnson, a boxing wannabe with a pedigree he's struggling with. Though his early years were spent in foster care and juvenile detention, he's the illegitimate son of famed fighter Apollo Creed — and while he shares the same sporting ambitions, he wants to make it on his own terms. Heading from Los Angeles to Philadelphia, he seeks out his dad's repeated opponent turned pal Rocky (Stallone), eventually convincing him to become his trainer, and tries to follow in his father's footsteps. Cue the story of an underdog scrapping his way to the top despite several setbacks, more than a few montages and inspirational speeches, some high stakes and blistering bouts, plus an on-again, off-again relationship between Adonis and his neighbour, aspiring singer Bianca (Tessa Thompson), as well as a surrogate father-son bond blossoming with Rocky. Little happens in Creed that isn't easily foreseen. And yet the film doesn't feel like another formulaic follow-up. In fact, just as it sprinkles the familiar score from the original offering throughout its soundtrack and references events from movies gone by, Creed finds the right balance between looking backwards and starting a new future. Combining sincere nostalgia with a clear path forward, the feature achieves exactly what its protagonist is aiming for as he endeavours to do justice to his predecessor while making his own way. Coogler's direction – emphasizing the grit of the streets and the urgency of the ring, and shooting every fight close and tight for maximum tension – is certainly influential. His indie stylings are an ideal fit for the material, and for enlivening a genre seen so many times before that much of its content has become cliched. And yet, his technique often takes second place to the stars that grace the screen. That's not a criticism of Coogler — it's just a reflection of how engaging both Jordan and Stallone prove. The former once again demonstrates his charisma, complexity and versatility, while the latter benefits from stepping away from the main fray, and the rapport they share is moving. With mentor-protégé tales common movie fodder, it's rare for such an on-screen pairing to really hit the emotional marks. Crucially, Creed isn't a comeback for Stallone, but a film that keeps him connected to the iconic series he started. It plays upon his ambling acting strengths and passes on the baton to a worthy successor. And yes, it both leaves and lives up to a legacy.
For more than 100 years, Richmond's Prince Alfred Hotel has been a popular local hang. It's the kind of place you can take a hot date, a bunch of mates, your grandma or even your dog — the beer garden welcomes all furry friends. To reward its loyal locals, the pub is offering a cracking Monday night special. Get down there with 15 bucks in your hand and you can treat yourself to a hearty main for a fraction of the usual price. The food menu is a selection of classic pub favourites — think beef burger with bacon, pie of the day and fish and chips. But locals' night isn't the only special on the Prince Alfred calendar. Wednesday nights are devoted to Meat Club, letting you nab a 300-gram porterhouse for $15, and come Friday, happy runs from 4pm–7pm offering $7 drinks. When the weekend hits, Prince Alfred is slinging free bottles of bubbles for table bookings of four or more before 4pm on Saturdays, and a $25 roast on Sundays, soundtracked by live acoustic music. Whether you're actually a local or just masquerading as one, secure a table for Locals' Night via Prince Alfred's website.
CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice is a global bubble tea player that now has a bunch of stores all across Melbourne, including this outpost on Flinders Street. The menu is broad, with options to suit bubble tea veterans and novices alike, and new seasonal offerings being rolled out all the time. Here, milk tea creations range from a classic bubble cup crowned with pearls, to a supercharged version loaded with egg pudding, grass jelly and boba. Familiar flavour infusions including chocolate and caramel sit alongside Asian classics like red bean, or you can ditch the dairy in favour of fruit-based sips like a mango green tea (topped with a hefty scoop of those house pearls, of course). As well as four in the CBD, CoCo Fresh has shops in Box Hill, Springvale, Glen Waverley, Footscray and Chadstone. Image: Allan Ran via Flickr.
We all have a family story to tell, but we can't all tell it like Sarah Polley. The actor known for such films as Dawn of the Dead and Splice and director of quietly acclaimed features Take This Waltz and Away From Her has turned her hand to documentary with Stories We Tell, and it's been demanding attention from festival audiences around the world. Unfortunately, it's one of those films that it's best to know as little of as possible when you go in, so there's going to be little in the way of synopsis here. Suffice to say, Polley's primary interest is her mother, Diane Polley, a casting agent, thwarted actress and extrovert who relished the escape from home life that came with roles on the stage. She died in 1990, when Sarah was 11, leaving behind a web of secrets that lay hidden for many years — until her daughter grew up and started to pull at the threads. How a film with such an ostensibly narrow focus can be so compelling to so many viewers is one of those wonders of cinema. It just is. Polley has a great cast of characters in her life to work with (every member of her family is interviewed, at length), but the magic of this movie is ultimately in her storytelling. The film is wittily edited, warm and sensitive to all parties. It has a lightness of touch as might be expected of a distant observer, but all the unguarded reflection that comes from being intimate with her subject. There's a lot of technique to it. Polley reminds us of her own directorial presence constantly: Her father Michael is also the narrator, and we see her barking commands at him in the audio booth. The grainy '80s Super 8 footage that runs throughout cannot be trusted. The nature of 'truth' is being examined, and not just because it suits postmodern obsessions — in this case, it matters to people's lives. And yet (thankfully) these intellectual enquiries don't crowd out the human drama. The result is simply the most enthralling, idiosyncratic and entertaining family memoir around. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ytq4VZ2Nyxg
Give your festive season a Frenchy twist at Alliance Francaise de Melbourne's annual French Christmas Market, which is set to take over the organisation's St Kilda mansion on Saturday, December 7 and Sunday, December 8. It's assembled a lineup to tempt Francophiles, gift hunters and market fiends alike, showcasing a vibrant array of French homewares, jewellery, artisan goods, food, wine and even secondhand books. There'll be lots of activities for kids, plus ample adult fun with demos, workshops and lots of French food and drink. If it all leaves you feeling extra inspired, you can even get a taste of Alliance Francaise's language lessons at one of the weekend's free trial classes. Entry to the market is free all weekend as well, with the fun running from 10am to 5pm on both days. Image: Alliance Francaise.
In the same week that Aussie supermarket giant Woolworths finally banned single-use plastic bags, Melbourne's Crown Complex has also dished up some good news for the future of our planet, announcing it has started cutting down on single-use plastics. Coming from the largest casino complex in the Southern Hemisphere, that's no small feat. Crown Melbourne is kicking things off by joining the global Plastic Free July initiative, which sets out to raise awareness about the impact of pesky, single-use plastics and challenges people to do something about it. For the whole month, the entire Crown Casino Complex will crack down on disposable plastics, promising to remove all single-use plastic "where possible" and to "encourage consumers to change their attitudes and behaviours". Straws will only be available on request, plastic bags have been replaced with paper alternatives in all Crown outlets, and various biodegradable and compostable products are currently being tested, with the aim of phasing out plastic cutlery as well. A spokeswoman for Crown told Concrete Playground, "Crown recognises that the process to phase out single use plastics will take several years, and that we are at the start of our journey." The intention is to continue the plastic crack-down long after the month of July, as more testing's carried out and better alternative products are found.
Eandearingly known by those who love it as the Folkie, this is a great festival for the whole family in a relaxed coastal location. These guys have been putting on wonderful festival after festival since 1977, and all the kinks are well and truly ironed out to give you the best time imaginable. Local legends playing include The Stray Sisters (of The Waifs), Mama Kin, Ash Grunwald, Archie Roach, as well as a strong collection of international acts. If you want to chill out over the Labour Day Weekend, we reckon this is the festival for you.
The ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet to Come are set to descend upon Australia — just as things are getting merry, of course. After haunting Ebenezer Scrooge on the page since 1843, and sparking the miserly Charles Dickens-penned character's change of attitude on stages for almost as long, they'll work their magic Down Under courtesy of The Old Vic's version of A Christmas Carol, which is heading our way for the first time. While A Christmas Carol itself has been delighting theatre audiences for close to two centuries — the first stage production reportedly debuted in the UK mere weeks after Dickens' novella was published — this new take on the tale initially premiered in London back in 2017. It has proven a huge smash since, including picking up five Tony Awards for its Broadway run. Next stop: Melbourne from November. Just in time for festive season, A Christmas Carol will enjoy its first Aussie season at the Comedy Theatre, kicking off on Saturday, November 12 and playing till Saturday, December 24 (of course). Whether it'll also hit up other Australian cities yet hasn't been revealed — but tickets to see it in Melbourne would make a mighty fine early Christmas present. This version hails from two Tony-winners, too: director Matthew Warchus (Matilda the Musical) and playwright Jack Thorne (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child). The list of impressive talent involved also includes Aussie actor David Wenham, with the Lord of the Rings, Seachange, Goldstone, Lion, Top of the Lake and Elvis star playing Scrooge. "A Christmas Carol is a ripping yarn, this production is as compelling as it is surprising. I'm counting the days to get back on the stage in the role of Scrooge. It's a story of hope, redemption and community. I guarantee the audience will leave the theatre feeling better about themselves and the world at the end of the show. A perfect story to be told at Christmas time," said Wenham, announcing the show's Australian debut. The rest of the local cast is yet to be revealed — and, story-wise, the production obviously still focuses on its selfish and greedy central character that's become synonymous with curmudgeonly behaviour, his Christmas-hating ways, and his journey of compassion and redemption with help from the spirits of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet to Come. Not only does the play work through that beloved story, but it also incorporates 12 Christmas carols, including 'Joy to the World' and 'Silent Night'. The words you aren't looking for: "bah humbug!", unless you truly do despise Christmas — and haven't yet been given your own ghostly reasons to rethink your stance. A Christmas Carol will host its Australian premiere season in Melbourne, playing the Comedy Theatre, 240 Exhibition Street, Melbourne, from Saturday, November 12–Saturday, December 24, 2022. Tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday, September 16 — for more information, or to join the ticket waitlist, head to the musical's website.
Hordes of imitators have spilled ones and zeros claiming otherwise, but the greatest move The Matrix franchise ever made wasn't actually bullet time. Even 22 years after Lana and Lilly Wachowski brought the saga's instant-classic first film to cinemas, its slow-motion action still wows, and yet they made another choice that's vastly more powerful. It wasn't the great pill divide — blue versus red, as dubiously co-opted by right-wing conspiracies since — or the other binaries at its core (good versus evil, freedom versus enslavement, analogue versus digital, humanity versus machines). It wasn't end-of-the-millennia philosophising about living lives online, the green-tinged cyberpunk aesthetic, or one of the era's best soundtracks, either. They're all glorious, as is knowing kung fu and exclaiming "whoa!", but The Matrix's unwavering belief in Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss is far more spectacular. It was a bold decision those two-and-a-bit decades ago, with Reeves a few years past sublime early-90s action hits Point Break and Speed, and Moss then known for TV bit parts (including, in a coincidence that feels like the product of computer simulation, a 1993 series called Matrix). But, as well as giving cinema their much-emulated gunfire-avoidance technique and all those other aforementioned highlights, the Wachowskis bet big on viewers caring about their central pair — and hooking into their chemistry — as leather-clad heroes saving humanity. Amid the life-is-a-lie horrors, the subjugation of flesh to mechanical overlords and the battle for autonomy, the first three Matrix films always weaved Neo and Trinity's love story through their sci-fi action. Indeed, the duo's connection remained the saga's beating heart. Like any robust computer program executed over and over, The Matrix Resurrections repeats the feat — with plenty of love for what's come before, but even more for its enduring love story. Lana goes solo on The Matrix Resurrections — helming her first-ever project without her sister in their entire career — but she still goes all in on Reeves and Moss. The fourth live-action film in the saga, and fifth overall counting The Animatrix, this new instalment doesn't initially give its key figures their familiar character names, however. Rather, it casts them as famous video game designer Thomas Anderson and motorcycle-loving mother-of-two Tiffany. One of those monikers is familiar, thanks to a surname drawled by Agent Smith back in 1999, and again in 2003 sequels The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions. But this version of Thomas Anderson only knows the agent from his own hit gaming trilogy (called The Matrix, naturally). And he doesn't really know Tiffany at all, instead admiring her from afar at Simulatte, their local coffee shop. Before Reeves and Moss share a frame, and before Anderson and Tiffany's awkward meet-cute, The Matrix Resurrections begins with blue-haired hacker Bugs (Jessica Henwick, On the Rocks). She sports a white rabbit tattoo, observes a scene straight out of the first flick and helps set the movie's self-referential tone. As a result, The Matrix Resurrections starts with winking, nodding and déjà vu — and, yes, with a glitch, with Lana and co-screenwriters David Mitchell (author of Cloud Atlas) and Aleksandar Hemon (Sense8) penning a playful script that adores the established Matrix lore, enjoys toying with it and openly unpacks everything that's sprung up around it. Long exposition dumps, some of the feature's worst habits, explain the details, but waking up Anderson from his machine-induced dream — again — is Bugs' number-one aim. The Matrix Resurrections' main task: reteaming Neo and Trinity, and getting them to realise that they even are Neo and Trinity. Once more, Wachowski knows where the saga's heart resides, that its existential dramas are about people, and that the bonds that bind us are our lifeblood. But now that Neo and Trinity inhabit a realm where a game series with the exact same plot as the first three Matrix movies is Anderson's livelihood, the path to simulation-dismantling love is unsurprisingly paved with difficulties. Here are three: the demands by Anderson's business partner (Jonathan Groff, Hamilton) for a sequel to the games, the blue pills prescribed by Anderson's analyst (Neil Patrick Harris, It's a Sin), and Tiffany's husband Chad (played by the John Wick franchise's director Chad Stahelski, who was also Reeves' stunt double in the first Matrix flick) and all he represents. Reviving a romance last seen on-screen 18 years ago, raising its main players from the dead, bringing back other characters in altered guises, liberally weaving in clips from past films — stitched together as it is from oh-so-many familiar parts, you could call The Matrix Resurrections a Frankenstein's monster of a movie. Wachowski has found a rare way to make that a positive more often than not, however, because deprogramming the notion that anything is just one thing alone couldn't be more crucial here. That truth pulsates through the film's action, too, which can't live up to the original and doesn't particularly seem to try. Enough of the movie's fights and chases and sci-fi trickery still look stunning, but The Matrix Resurrections wants audiences to go "whoa!' over its ideas, emotions and meta-philosophising above all else. Even the warmer colour scheme — sorry, fans of futuristic green — casts this new tumble down the rabbit hole in multiple lights. A film can be daring, evolve its franchise while mining nostalgia with care and savvy, and make the utmost of its biggest strengths — Reeves and Moss, clearly, who could melt faces with their chemistry. It can be both fun and funny, and also skewer the company resuscitating it (that'd be Warner Bros, with The Matrix Resurrections doing a superior job of making the joke than the studio's horrible Space Jam: A New Legacy). It can offer a sincere ode to love, human connection and perseverance, too, and transform old parts to make them feel different in the process. Still, while so much about The Matrix Resurrections dazzles — Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Candyman) joining the fold and rocking magnificent suits among them — sometimes it's just clunkily new and clumsily self-referential rather than fresh. Believing in Reeves and Moss remains its biggest superpower, though. If the energy from their timeless on-screen romance can help the world forget how underwhelming The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions both proved, it can fuel this mostly thrilling, almost-always-entertaining look back in the sci-fi mirror.
In the mood for seafood by the sea? This summer, you can get your fix when the much-loved Apollo Bay Seafood Festival returns to deliver a huge weekend of ocean-fresh goodness from Friday, February 17–Sunday, February 19. The Great Ocean Road food fest kicks off with a Friday night program of local feasts — including a dinner at Sandy Feet heroing seafood and bush tucker, and a nine-course degustation teamed with sensational views at The Perch Lavers Hill. The famed Harbour Day celebrations return from Saturday morning, descending on Apollo Bay Harbour for a jam-packed serve of food pop-ups and cooking demos — led by the likes of sustainable seafood chef Peter Hilcke and Rosa Mitchell of Rosa's Canteen. A seafood market will be slinging everything from abalone sashimi and octopus skewers to paella and piping hot scallop pies, while live tunes will have you kicking on until late. And passionate seafood aficionados will find themselves in great company on Sunday, as Richard Cornish and Hilary McNevin host the Conversations On the Edge panel. Hear from fishermen, chefs, ocean activists, First Nations experts and more as they share big ideas around how we can live more harmoniously with the ocean and its creatures. The day's chef lineup in particular is a cracker, featuring names like Brae's Dan Hunter, Jerry Mai (Pho Nom) and River Cottage Australia star Paul West.
When we take that first sip of our barista-brewed coffee on a workday morning, a lot of us can't actually imagine living without coffee. But what about living without a roof over your head or a guaranteed meal? Unfortunately, this is what many homeless people around Australia face each day, but on Friday, August 4, you can help your fellow Aussies out simply by buying a coffee as part of CafeSmart. CafeSmart is an annual event from StreetSmart that raises money and awareness for the homeless and is back for its seventh year running. This year over 500 cafes will aim to raise more than last year's total of $160,523. So how does it work? From every coffee purchased on August 7 at a participating cafe around Australia, $1 will be donated towards local projects. So if your go-to local isn't participating, shake things up for a day and head to one that is. Prefer a hot chocolate? You can also donate at the counter. Simply by aiming for a bighearted cafe, you'll be helping some of our country's most in-need humans, so treat yourself to a third or fourth coffee guilt-free. There are a heap of cafes participating across the country, but some include: SYDNEY The Grounds of Alexandria The Boathouse Bills Artificer Coffee Tea and Me Single O Three Blue Ducks Brewtown Newtown Daisy's Milkbar MELBOURNE Seven Seeds Assembly Proud Mary Top Paddock Tivoli Road Bakery Dr Morse Barry Axil Earl Sensory Lab BRISBANE Felix for Goodness Campos Mylk and Co Grinders Dovetail on Overend
If you haven't tasted a tub of Piccolina, you've been severely deprived of some of Melbourne's best natural and authentic Italian-style gelato. But, come this weekend, you'll have double the opportunities to try it — the much-adored Hawthorn gelateria will open a flagship store in Collingwood this Saturday, October 14. Arriving just in time for summer (whenever it gets here), gelato lovers will be able to pick up all the Piccolina favourites from the Smith Street store including pistachio, Better than Nut-lla and salted caramel. The creamy creations will be prepared in a dark green open kitchen, which sits in the centre of the gelateria. The design is a collaboration between Hecker Guthrie, Projects of Imagination (they've overseen a huge rebrand) and owner and ex-designer Sandra Foti. "It's really fun and fresh, but it's traditional at the same time," Foti explains. The design takes inspiration from both 1950s southern Italy and the historic building in which it lies; Hecker Guthrie has retained pressed metal ceilings and original terrazzo floors and has used a traditional Italian colour palette. The star of the space is the large pozetti bench, which holds 24 shining silver containers. This traditional Italian storage method protects the product from light and air. At the flagship store, the bench has been fully clad in rustic green Italian tiles, which curve around the bench. After tasting and choosing a flavour, gelato-lickers can grab a seat at the bar and enjoy some behind-the-scenes action at the open kitchen. "They'll be able to see nuts roasting, chocolate sauces being stirring, ganaches and jams being made from scratch — everything," says Foti. Using wholesome natural ingredients is what Piccolina is all about — there are no premixes and certainly no artificial colours or flavours anywhere near this gelato. And that's not about to change with the launch of the new store. "Our focus is still on traditional gelato," says Foti. "We don't want to do what everybody else is doing. It's about remaining true to our vision, which is traditional, Italian gelato made using authentic production methods." It will certainly provide an alternative to Gelato Messina, which will be just a 200 metres down the road. Piccolina Gelateria will open at 296 Smith Street, Collingwood on Saturday, October 14. The gelateria will be open from 12-11pm daily. For more info, visit their Facebook page.
Sydney Airport's next public art installation is a colourful reminder of Australia's roots, in a place where cultures and people from all across the globe converge daily. The work United Neytions by Kamilaroi artist Archie Moore will set a pretty striking scene, hung from the 17-metre-high ceiling of T1 International Terminal's Marketplace. Featuring 28 distinctive flags to represent the diversity of our country's Aboriginal cultures, the piece was chosen by The Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) and Sydney Airport for their latest art commission, edging out works from seven other leading Aussie artists. According to MCA Director Elizabeth Ann Macgregor OBE, the work, by "one of our nation's most important contemporary artists", is a fitting one to be shared with the 15 million passengers that flow through this part of the airport annually. "Archie Moore has approached this exciting opportunity with great flair and his visually striking installation will no doubt intrigue, engage and capture the imagination of the millions of passengers passing through the airport's International terminal every year," she said. Moore himself explained that the flags would help draw attention "to the histories, voices and presence of local Indigenous people on which land the airport – an international zone/'no man's land' – lies, but also the passages of cultures, pasts, territories, ages and cultural knowledges that airports foster." United Neytions is set to be completed and unveiled at Sydney Airport in 2018.
Whether you're a Marshmallow or just a soul naturally curious about one of the most high-profile Kickstarter success stories around, you'll be happy to learn that the new Veronica Mars movie will be made available to rent or buy online on March 14 — the same day it hits cinemas in the US. Usually, there's at least a 90-day window between theatrical and DVD or VOD releases, but Warner Bros. is in a position to bypass it this time around, since they don't have a standard distribution deal and are instead renting the theatres that will screen the movie. They see a big market in couch-dwelling non-cinemagoers for this TV-to-film crossover, and they're tapping it. It's just one more way Veronica Mars is doing things differently. After becoming the most widely supported Kickstarter campaign in history with more than 91,000 backers, it has kept fans involved in the process throughout and will make its world premiere at SXSW on March 8. The Australian digital release date has not yet been confirmed, but it seems possible it'll be March 14 here too, and Moviehole is reporting it as so. You can preorder the movie on iTunes, or wait for a definite date before you plan your downloading strategy. As for whether anyone else is listening to consumer requests for timely, legal, convenient access to content, it's not looking so good. https://youtube.com/watch?v=wq1R93UMqlk
Environmentalists from the Sierra Club teamed up with Pact underwear brand to form a bare-skinned project to lessen the use of coal, especially on university campuses where green-minded students are trying to be friendly to the environment. Beyond Coal is the resulting collaboration that sells a collection of comfy underwear with the goal of educating the public about the negative effects of coal on the environment, with hopes of changing the habits institutions that overuse the harmful substance. The ash released into the environment from coal is one of the leading causes of acid rain, smog, global warming and air toxins. 10% of the proceeds from the purchase of Beyond Coal undies goes to protests and petitions to convince universities to reduce their ever-increasing carbon footprint by minimising the supply of coal to power campuses. This generation of students is more conscious of the human impact on the environment, and the project simply points out that it is quite hypocritical for schools to be using so much coal power for students who are constantly searching for green alternatives. Help Beyond Coal prevent the dangerous effects of coal emissions by rocking a pair of pollution-fighting panties, starting at $20 for both men and women.
The first of Harvest's headline shows has now been announced, following the festival's cancellation last week. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club will tour in November, playing Billboard in Melbourne, The Hi-Fi in Brisbane and Sydney and the Metro Fremantle. After weeks of speculation, AJ Maddah announced the official cancellation of Harvest 2013 on September 16. "I am very sad to confirm that Harvest 2013 is cancelled. All tickets will be 100% refunded (incl. all charges) by Oztix in the next week," the promoter tweeted. Later he mentioned that his partner, Jo Ward, had had "a nervous breakdown" over it. The event was scheduled to happen in mid-November in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. With Massive Attack and Franz Ferdinand already established as headliners, the festival announced the addition of Volcano Choir just a fortnight ago. Maddah did manage to offer some relief to devastated ticket holders when he stated that most of the (now ex-) Harvest artists would perform their own headline shows. "Will be announcing headline shows by most of the Harvest artists in the next 10 days," he tweeted. "Those who have purchased Harvest tickets will be given priority access to these headline shows. Please stay tuned for details." According to theMusic.com.au, "industry sources have confirmed" that the outspoken promoter, who was named the most powerful person in the music industry earlier this year, has purchased Ken West's sizeable share of the Big Day Out (the rest of which is owned by US promoters C3 Presents). Watch this space for more news of Harvest artists' headline shows. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Wednesday, November 13 – Metro Fremantle, Perth Friday, November 15 – Billboard, Melbourne Saturday, November 16 – The Hi-Fi, Sydney Sunday, November 17 – The Hi-Fi, Brisbane
If life has you travelling regularly between Melbourne and Geelong, here's a little win for you: you could get a free ferry between the two cities next month thanks to Port Phillip Ferries. The four free services will run for Geelong-based commuters on July 24 and 31. The 300-person capacity ferries will depart for Docklands from Corio Bay at 6.15am, before making the return trip to Geelong at 5.30pm. The trip takes around one hour and 45 minutes, which is a bit longer than the train journey, which typically takes an hour and a half. However, it might be quicker than driving in peak hour traffic — especially if you work in or near the harbour. Either way, with the added bonus of free wifi, heated cabins, phone charging stations and a free coffee or juice (on a gold coin donation), the ferry ride sounds a whole lot more picturesque than the train journey — and much more tempting than a peak-hour crawl over the West Gate Bridge. If you don't get seasick, that is. The free trips usually cost $36 return and are part of Port Phillip Ferries' trial of commuter services between Melbourne and Geelong. It has already been running a daily service between Portarlington and Melbourne for the past two years, and if the Geelong trials prove a success, the route will be considered as a permanent fixture for commuters. Port Phillip Ferries will run four free services on July 24 and 31. Seats can booked here. Update, July 12, 2018: If you've been looking for an excuse to explore (or re-explore) Geelong, you're in luck. Port Phillip Ferries has just announced that it will also be running free ferries between the Docklands and Geelong for day-trippers on Tuesday, July 24 and 31. The ferries will depart Victoria Harbour, Docklands, at 8.30am each morning and head back to the Docklands from Geelong's Corio Bay at 3.15pm — giving punters five hours to explore the area.
In early September, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews unveiled how the metropolitan Melbourne area will gradually ease out of its stage four COVID-19 lockdown. On the cards is a five-step removal of restrictions. We are currently in the third step of the plan, with an additional easing of this step's restrictions coming into place as of 11:59pm on Sunday, November 8. Thanks to this latest rollback of restrictions, Melburnians can now travel to regional Victoria, pubs and restaurants can have increased capacities and gyms, cinemas and theatres can reopen. With the 'ring of steel' gone, the restriction levels are now the same for metro Melbourne and regional Victoria. If you're wondering exactly what you now can and can't do under these new restrictions, that's understandable — they're are a lot to take in. So, we've detailed the basics. This information is correct as of 11:59pm Sunday, November 8. Is there still a curfew? No, the curfew for metropolitan Melbourne has been scrapped. It was lifted for the last time at 5am on Monday, September 28. For what reasons am I allowed to leave the house? You can now leave your house for any reason your heart desires as long as you are still following all other social-distancing and gathering rules. The four reasons to leave your house implemented back in March are no longer in place. Do I still have to wear a mask? Yes, masks or face coverings are still compulsory whenever you leave home in compliance with the definition of a mask outlined in step two. Bandanas, scarves and face shields are not acceptable. How long am I allowed to be out of the house for? As long as you want. The two-hour limit on time spent out of the home has now been lifted. [caption id="attachment_711300" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] How far can I travel? There is no longer a restriction on how far you can travel within Victoria. The ban on metropolitan Melbourne residents travelling to regional Victoria (aka the 'ring of steel') has been lifted as of 11:59pm Sunday, November 8. Which means, it's time to organise day trips, getaways and visits to regional restaurants. As of Monday, November 23, Victorians will also be able to travel to NSW. Can I see friends and family? Yes, you can gather outdoors in groups of up to ten people from any number of households. The rules around home visits have stayed relatively the same. Two people plus their dependents are allowed to visit you in your household once a day. Those two people can now come from separate households, though, and they can now come at separate times. This does not include your intimate partner. From Sunday, November 22, indoor private gatherings are set to increase to up to ten people. You can also meet at a bar or restaurant in groups of up to ten, which we'll get to. [caption id="attachment_701878" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bluebonnet by Kate Shanasy[/caption] Can I go to the pub? Yes, pubs can open with a capacity of 40 patrons inside and 70 outside. What about a cafe or restaurant? Yes, the same restrictions apply. With capacity limits still pretty small, we recommend making a booking before heading out. Can I attend a concert? Seated live music events are permitted outdoors, subject to the same rules as hospitality venues. Indoor music venues have now been given the go-ahead to open as well with a capacity of 20 people. We'll let you know when the first live music events in Melbourne begin to be announced. [caption id="attachment_636254" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bec Taylor[/caption] Can I book a hotel? Yes, accommodation is open as of 11:59pm Sunday, November 8. You can go on a holiday — or book a staycation — with the people you live with, your intimate partner and up to two other people and their dependants. Can I go to the gym, see a personal trainer or play sport? Yes, but with several restrictions. Let us run you through them. Gyms can reopen with a maximum of 20 people per facility and ten per class. Personal training sessions with up to ten people (and the trainer) can also go ahead. Outdoor non-contact sport is allowed for adults, and those under 18 can play both contact and non-contact sport. Tennis courts, skate parks and golf courses are all also open. Can I go to a pool? Yes, indoor pools are open with a 20 person limit, while outdoor pools have a limit of 50 people subject to the size of the pool. Can I have a picnic in a park? Yes, as long as it's with up to ten people. [caption id="attachment_786853" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Goboat by Lean Timms[/caption] Can I have a picnic on a boat? Lucky you asked, because yes you can. Melbourne's BYO pet-friendly picnic boats have returned to the Yarra. We highly suggest booking over here. Can I visit a regional town? Yes, the ban on metropolitan Melbourne residents travelling to regional Victoria has been lifted as of 11:59pm Sunday, November 8 Can I go shopping? Yes, retail has reopened. Just make sure you wear your face mask. Can I go to a movie theatre? Yes, indoor entertainment venues including cinemas, theatres, museums, galleries and libraries are now able to open with a capacity of 20 people. But check before heading in because not all have reopened just yet. Classic, Lido and Cameo outdoor cinemas have been open since Monday, November 2. Can I go to the beach? Yes, you can go to the beach solo or in a group of up to ten people. [caption id="attachment_750757" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Urbnsurf by Adam Gibson[/caption] Can I go to a surf park? You sure can. Urbnsurf, Victoria's only surf park, has started pumping out waves again. Once again, bookings are essential and you can make one right here. Can I get my haircut? Yes, hairdressers and barbershops are open with mandatory masks. What about other beauty services? As long as it is a service that can be conducted with a face mask on. So, nail salons and waxing are good to go, but facials not quite yet. When will restrictions be further eased? With Victoria recording its tenth day in a row of no new COVID-10 cases, the state is on track to reach the fourth and final step in the roadmap towards COVID-normal on Sunday, November 22. Some of the changes set to be announced include pubs and restaurants increasing to a capacity of 100 indoors and 200 outdoors, and outdoor events of up to 500 people being allowed. If you have more questions, the Victorian Government has an extensive list of FAQs on its website. Top image: Grampians National Park by Visit Victoria
What do board shorts, obnoxiously colourful Hawaiian shirts, Reg Mombassa (of Mental As Anything fame) and surrealist art all have in common? They have all participated in the evolution of Mambo, one of Australia's iconic clothing brands. Famed for injecting humour and artistic expression into a surfing apparel industry more preoccupied with the branding of products than creating memorable designs. This year marks the 30th year of the Australian surf brand, which was dreamt up by Dare Jennings by the pool of a Redfern motel, over a slab of beer and some Jatz crackers. Not limited to clothing, Mambo has slapped their designs onto surfboards, posters and ads. Over the years the brand has churned out some pretty iconic designs. From the contentious Aussie Jesus at the football, to the oddly enduring farting dog – the designs have continued to shock and delight Aussie audiences throughout time. Dancing on the line between political incorrectness and social awareness, Mambo frequently used their designs to grapple with issues such as religious intolerance, racism and commercialism. In 1995, they protested French nuclear weapon testing in the Pacific with the 'Chirac' t-shirt, donating $40,000 of the profits to Greenpeace. In 1998, they released the 'redneck' design, to protest the racist tenets of the One Nation Party — with proceeds going to National Aboriginal and Islander State Development Association, an organisation that would have been threatened by a victorious One Nation Party. Proudly Australia, the brand has harnessed local talent during its tumultuous 30-year trajectory. From designing the Australian Olympic uniforms in 2000 to financial insecurity in 2008, the brand still stands strong today as a pioneer of Australian design. Celebrating this, The National Gallery of Victoria will be showcasing the Mambo: 30 years of shelf-indulgence exhibition. Curated by T-shirt devotee, Eddie Zammit, original art director Wayne Golding and the current owner of the brand, Angus Kingsmill, the exhibition will feature the largest collection of Mambo works to date, incorporating all the unique Australianisms that defines the brand. Mambo: 30 years of shelf-indulgence will be on display at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia at Federation Square in the NGV Studio from December 6, 2014 until February 22, 2015. Entry is free.
It can be hard to keep up with the latest 'thing', but that's where we come in. Keeping you up-to-date with the best and most unique happenings in art, culture, design and technology is what makes us tick. And now we want to celebrate some of the people making these exceptional things happen — so we've partnered with Miller Genuine Draft to create the Miller Design Lab. Across six special nights, the Miller Design Lab will showcase projects from a bunch of creatives at Chapel Street's SoHigh Gallery, with food, Miller Genuine Draft and live music also on offer — and it's all completely complimentary. We'll be wrapping things up with an epic closing party on Saturday, March 30. The designer behind clothing label NANA JUDY is hosting the event — and the brand will be offering one lucky attendee a $1000 gift voucher to spend on its wares. Plus, Total Giovanni will be DJing on the night. The NANA JUDY x Miller Design Lab party will run from 7–10.30pm. We have just 25 double passes left to give away — to be in the running, enter your details below. And if you want to check out the rest of the Miller Design Lab events, head this way. [competition]714193[/competition] Follow @millergenuinedraftaus for more details.
Solar power helps save the world and is one of the easiest renewable energy sources to tap, and now you can source it from the comfort of your own home, office and even on a plane. Designers Kyuho Song and Bao Oh have created the Window Socket, a plug socket that harnesses solar energy to charge your appliances. Just attach it to any window that receives sunlight using the suction plate, and the solar panels on its rear will start collecting energy from the sun, which is then transformed into electrical energy via an in-built converter, which is then stored on an internal battery for immediate or later use. The socket takes 5-8 hours to charge completely and will last up to ten hours once fully charged. The greatest thing about the Window Socket is that it was designed for portability to allow electronic accessibility everywhere. So once charged you can carry it on the move and rejuvenate the iPod in your bag or take business outside and power your laptop in the park. This revolutionary technology is an evolution of pre-existing solar battery backup technology and will transform the accessibility of solar power for everyday users. However, the product is still in its concept phase, with the designers wanting to further improve its storage capacity and product efficiency before placing it on the market, so keep an eye out. [Via PSFK]
You have to hear Noisy Jelly to believe it. This science project-esque game, imagined by Raphaël Pluvinage and Marianne Cauvard, allows you to create your own musical instrument out of jelly. Using water, agar agar powder and a set series of molds (contained in Noisy Jelly's mini chemistry lab) players can create their own set of jellies. The jellies are then placed on the included game board, where they may be touched and manipulated to create sound. If you don't quite get the jelly-to-music correlation either, Noisy Jelly includes a scientific diagram to explain what is actually happening. The game board functions as a capacitative sensor, and the final sound it produces all depends upon the shape and salt concentration of the jelly. The distance and strength of the finger-to-jelly contact can create different sounds, as well.
It's December, so summer has been steaming up Australia for a week now. It's also predicted to be a particularly warm and wet season. So, you might think that snow is off the agenda for a few months. That's a reasonable view to hold. It's sensible, in fact. But it seems that the weather has other ideas, with New South Wales and Victoria's alpine regions getting more than a little frosty this week. Yes, it has been snowing in places such as Perisher and Mount Hotham. The former got down to -0.8 degrees overnight last night (as Monday, December 7 became Tuesday, December 8), as recorded by the Bureau of Meteorology. It's also forecast to hit a -1-degree minimum on Wednesday, December 9. At the latter, the mercury is only tipped to hit 7 degrees maximum on Tuesday, December 8, while Weatherzone reports that it got down to -1.4 degrees overnight. Numbers are all well and good, but if you want on-the-ground details — and images — a number of places in both areas have you covered. Perisher Resort and Hotham Alpine Resort have each posted videos to their social media showing the conditions. If you haven't seen snow in summer before, well, consider that a new 2020 achievement. https://twitter.com/PerisherResort/status/1336068906327318528 https://twitter.com/_hotham/status/1336079287091269632 As the Bureau of Meteorology in both NSW and Victoria have reported, wintry conditions are indeed on the cards in both state's alpine regions this week. Perisher is expected to have minimums between -1–3 degrees until Monday, with maximums between 9–17. At Mount Hotham, the corresponding ranges span -1–7 in terms of lows and 7–17 degrees in top temps. https://twitter.com/BOM_NSW/status/1335690118133321729 https://twitter.com/BOM_Vic/status/1335766642475880456 As for Sydney and Melbourne, it won't be anywhere near that frosty, unsurprisingly. But Sydney's maximums are due to stay mild, between 22–25, for most of the week. In Melbourne, the city isn't predicted to top 18 degrees either today or Wednesday — although temps will rise over the weekend, leading to a 32-degree maximum on Monday, December 14. Top image: Mount Hotham, Rob Blackburn.
It's only had the doors open for a few short weeks, but Holmes Hall — the latest venture from The Ascot Lot crew — has big plans for ringing in the new year. The Moonee Ponds bar and restaurant invites you to let your hair down and farewell the crazy year that was with an evening of eats, drinks and party tunes. On Thursday, December 31, the kitchen will be offering its regular dinner menu from 6 to 9pm — we're talking top-notch gastropub dishes like the chicken parma served with buttery mash and green beans, and a scotch fillet with wattleseed butter — followed by a snack lineup from 9 to 11pm. Meanwhile, local DJ Fragile Future hits the decks from 6pm, spinning you through until after midnight. And at the bar, you'll find the usual range of tap brews, local-leaning wines and seasonal cocktails, all at the regular prices. Cool down with a Peachy Summer Spritz, or perhaps embrace some New Year's fizz with a prosecco from the Murray Darling's Zilzie Wines.
No longer a mere science-fiction movie concept or a gag in The Simpsons' Stonecutter's song, electric cars have slowly been riding their way into greater use. Last year, Tesla started production on its first mass-market electric vehicles — and, for those planning a road trip in Queensland, Australians now have an 'electric super highway' to drive them along. While the name sounds like something your grandparents might say — and will likely bring back cringeworthy memories of calling the internet the 'information super highway' — the idea itself is worth getting buzzed about. Over the past six months, the State Government has installed 17 electric vehicle charging stations between the Gold Coast and Cairns, enabling electric car drivers to trek the length of the state. Apart from the fact that the highway is the longest in one state in the entire world, as Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey announced, it mightn't sound like that big a deal; however, one of the crucial aspects of using an electric car is being able to juice them up. Regular cars need petrol, electric cars need power — it makes sense. That's all well and good if you're only driving close to home, but if you want to take your electric ride further afield, you need somewhere to plug them in. A network of fast-charging stations, which will power up vehicles in around 30 minutes, solves that issue. For those dreaming of an electric road trip, stations are located in Cairns, Tully, Townsville, Bowen, Mackay, Carmila, Marlborough, Rockhampton, Miriam Vale, Childers, Maryborough, Cooroy, Brisbane, Coolangatta, Springfield, Gatton and Toowoomba — with an 18th to come in Helensvale after the Commonwealth Games. They're also available for free for an initial phase, in an even bigger attempt to encourage more car owners to make the switch.
The past two months have been big for Melburnians, and for Victoria as a whole as well. The state has now clocked up 23 consecutive days without any new COVID-19 cases, and restrictions keep relaxing — with even more set to ease tonight, Sunday, November 22. When Premier Daniel Andrews announced the last coronavirus roadmap changes back on Sunday, November 8, he also outlined plans for the next stage, which comes into effect at 11.59pm this evening. Of particular interest: rules around venues and gatherings, so prepare to spend some more time in more places with more people. In the hospitality sector, bigger venues will be able to welcome in up to 100 people indoors and 200 outside (with one person per four square metres), up to a cap of 300 in total. Smaller venues, under 200 square metres of floor space, will be have up to 50 people at once (with a less-strict density cap of one person per two square metres). And, regardless of size, all venues will need to use QR codes to track patrons. Both seated and non-seated entertainment venues (such as cinemas and galleries) will be able to welcome in up to 150 people per space. For larger sites, such as the National Gallery of Victoria, they'll be able to operate at a density up to 25-percent of their capacity. Drive-in cinemas won't have any caps, and community venues and libraries will be allowed 150 people inside and 300 people outside. Public outdoor gatherings will increase to 50 and private gatherings — so, folks coming over to your house — will increase to 15 from any number of other households. The latter is a daily limit, however, so you can only have 15 people over across one whole day, even if they come at different times in various-sized groups. Also, travel-wise, you'll be able to head out of town in line with the private gathering cap (so in groups of 15 people from any number of other households). https://twitter.com/DanielAndrewsMP/status/1330294526653685760 Gyms and fitness studios will increase to a maximum of 150 people per venue in groups of 20 people, with one person per four square metres. Indoor pools can have 150 people, while outdoor pools can host 300 people. And religious gatherings will be able to have 150 people indoors and 300 outdoors. Weddings will also be able to have 150 people in attendance. Regarding masks, the rules are changing there as well. You'll need to keep wearing them indoors and on public transport, and also where you're unable to maintain social distancing. Otherwise, if you're outdoors and you can keep a safe distance, masks will no longer be compulsory. Premier Andrews also announced a few future dates of importance — and revealed what's in store on each date. The first, on Monday, November 30, is when office staff can start heading back to working onsite. That's capped at 25 percent of workers, and only applies to the private sector, with public sector employees continuing to work from home. On Sunday, December 6, the next stage of eased restrictions will be unveiled, getting the state closer to the step it's calling 'COVID-normal'. But it has already been revealed that, from 11.59pm on Sunday, December 13, Victorians will be able to host more people in their homes. Yes, it's timed for Christmas gatherings — and the cap will go up from 15 to 30. Again, that's a daily limit, so you can only have 30 people over across one whole day, even if they come at different times. Running through all of the above, Premier Andrews noted the enormous change in Victoria's COVID-19 situation in the past few months. "Three months ago, Victoria had 4293 active cases. Today we have one. It's an incredible achievement. And the clearest evidence there is of our determination to not only get on top of this virus – but to squash it." For more information about the status of COVID-19 and the current restrictions, head over to the Department of Health and Human Services website — and for further details about Victoria's steps for reopening, head to the roadmap itself. Top image: Kate Shanasy.
Bluesfest has lifted the lid on its first artist announcement for 2018, and heading the stampede is a pair of legendary musical figures: Lionel Richie and Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant, who will play with his band The Sensational Space Shifters. Plant's performance at the five-day Easter long weekend festival just outside of Byron Bay will mark 50 years since he first performed with Led Zeppelin, so the gravity of the performance is sure to be pretty huge. Other acts taking to the stage Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm over the weekend include Aussies Tash Sultana and John Butler Trio, Swedish duo First Aid Kit and what will surely be a captivating set by José González. Bluesfest returnees Joe Louis Walker, Dumpstaphunk and Eric Gales are on there too. Anyway, here's the full lineup. Better start making Easter plans because tickets are already on sale. BLUESFEST 2018 LINEUP Robert Plant and The Sensational Space Shifters Lionel Richie The John Butler Trio Tash Sultana The New Power Generation Chic Featuring Nile Rodgers First Aid Kit Jose Gonzalez Morcheeba Gov't Mule Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real The California Honeydrops Eric Gales Bobby Rush Dumpstaphunk Joe Louis Walker Rick Estrin & The Nightcats + more to be announced. Bluesfest 2017 will run March 29 to April 2 at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, Byron Bay. More details and ticket info here. Image: Andy Fraser.
Don't you hate it? You finish carving it up on the black run, having linked together some pretty sweet tricks, only for your buddy to claim his jumps were airier and his landings smoother. If only you had some way of objectively measuring just who was the more extreme… Perhaps you can. Nokia have teamed up with leading snowboard company Burton to develop Push Snowboarding, adding sensors to the board and rider that track your every action. Motion data and biometrics such as heart-rate and skin conductivity are collected wirelessly by the phone sitting in your pocket, allowing you to back up your bragging, or just monitor your progress. The development of 'connected' products can sometimes be an unnecessary gimmick, but in the sports world performance data is priceless for elite athletes. Innovatively, rather than keep the tech in-house and hush-hush, the platform is open to the boarding world, allowing the end-users to hack their own uses for the technology. It's a clever strategy from Nokia, effectively crowd-sourcing their customers to help develop ideas for the product. It could lead to purely entertaining uses, such as loading real runs up to video games, or improved safety features that aid in search and rescue. Whether it ends up as the next must-have accessory for the slopes, or is consigned to the tech junk heap along with the internet fridge, now rests in the hands of the boarders themselves. [via PSFK] https://youtube.com/watch?v=1y8nMUAUeKM
Sammy J and his purple puppet friend Randy are getting back together for a couple of musical comedy shows this week. The duo are famous for their topical comedy — which was a huge part of their popular ABC TV show Sammy J & Randy in Ricketts Lane. Various side projects have kept them apart — like Sammy J's ABC TV show Playground Politics, in which he teaches toddlers and adults the ongoings of Australian politics in a Play School style. It's not actually for kids. The pair have been nominated for awards at the Edinburgh Fringe, released a few comedy albums and their various television shows screen on Netflix UK and NBC in the USA. Their current comedy show focuses on the pair opening their own theme park called 'Sammy J & Randy Land'. They'll be at the Athenaeum Theatre from Thursday December 15 - 17. Get your tickets here and have a laugh.
It's getting cooler in Melbourne, and while that might mean hiding away indoors for some, Fitzroy's Provincial Hotel is putting forth a pretty convincing argument as to why you should get outside. Partnering with Wild Turkey American Honey, the rooftop is offering up a special brunch this season that'll help you channel some warmer climates. The food menu is inspired by America's Deep South — think honey and apple smoked chicken drumettes, waffles with bourbon barrel-aged honey and cheesecake with warm honey whiskey and ice cream. In a bid to support sustainability, all ingredients are sourced directly from local producers in the Yarra Valley. The brunch costs $60 per person and includes all your beverage needs such as beer, wine and three specialty American Honey cocktails, which you can garnish yourself with trimmings from the onsite garden. First up, there's the B&H Old-Fashioned (smoked bacon-washed whiskey, peach liqueur and apple juice), the Sweet and Sour Iced Tea (honey water, triple sec, kombucha and lemon) and the American Honey John Collins (cassis, lime and ginger ale). The Provincial Hotel's winter rooftop will be open for the duration of winter. The special brunch will run from 11am–1pm every Saturday and Sunday. Bookings are essential and can be made via the website.
Bottle shops. You know the drill; hovering wistfully in front of an arsenal of bottles, hand stroking chin, staring at the labels and hoping the one with the nice font is a surefire winner. But as soon as your cluelessly-picked vino makes its way to the glass, that shit's way too woody man. Too dry. Too fruity. High damn acidity. It's all wrong. You know what you like, when you get it, but you can never quite pick it. Luckily, a brand new app is about to hook you up with your perfect match — using science. Next Glass is a brand new app which acts as a 'matchmaker' between humans, wine and beer, hoping to Cupid you straight to your favourite new drop according to your tastes. Ditch the wine diary, these guys are using science. The Next Glass team have analysed ingredients from microbreweries and vineyards across the globe — and even taste-tested them, in what sounds like the most applauseworthy 'research' excuse for throwing back bucketloads of drank we've heard yet. App developers George Taylor and Stephen Pond have been analysing up to 200 bottles of beer a day through a project called The Beer Census, attempting to hoard every beer in America and rate their chemical makeup in the lead-up to Next Glass's release. Party at George and Stephen's lab y'all. So how do you use it? To start with, users build a profile by finding wines and beers they already like through the app and give them a rating out of four. Kind of like Spotify for booze, the app gives better recommendations the longer you use it and the more flags you raise on what you like and don't. Then, when you find a shiny new Pinot Noir to try, all you have to do is scan the bottle and the wine's profile will be matched to your preferences. You'll be given a percentage rate of how the wine fits in with your tastes and if the score's over 90 you've got a pretty great match. Like all apps nowadays, users can share their findings and connect with other Next Glassers (as well as giving vital stats to beer and wine distributors, always). Plus, if you and your buds all scan the same bottle you can get a few more scores to see how you all compare — Max might be a Savvy-B type of guy, while Lisa might get all up in Riesling, but this cheeky wine might suit them both. And if trying out an app is excuse enough to 'scan' multiple bottles of wine among friends, we're in. While the app's only available in the US so far, fingers crossed for an Australian taste-testing team call-out. Next Glass is available for free on the App Store and Google Play — but only works in the US so far. Via Springwise and Grub Street. Image credit: djwtwo via photopin cc.
Spend your Saturday celebrating Chinese art and culture when the NGV rings in the Chinese New Year with a full day program of workshops, tours, performances, music and food. It'll all go down on Saturday, February 9 from 10am–4pm — and it's absolutely free. Start off with a guided tour of the gallery's Chinese and Asian art collections — it spans a whopping four millennia of culture and history through artist mediums such as sculpture, ceramics, jade, calligraphy and prints. They'll be running throughout the day, with a curator's tour at 11am. Traditional paper cutting and good luck couplet making workshops will also run in the morning, with no booking necessary. Musical acts DJ Small Fry and The Film School Collective will each perform, too — the latter combines contemporary electronic music with traditional Chinese acoustic instruments in a performance that's a mix of composed and improvised work. In the afternoon, relax outdoors in the Grollo Equiset Garden and learn the ancient art of tai chi in an introductory class. Then chow down on dumplings, noodles and desserts, which will be on offer in the Great Hall throughout the day. For the full list of events, check out the NGV International website.
Nothing says luxury like a stay on your own private island. Fraser Island Retreat in Victoria (no, not Queensland) boasts beautiful seaside views, a fully-equipped house decked out with 11 bedrooms and endless outdoor activities, including a pool, nine-hole golf course, two tennis courts, and even a private beach. Perfect for an indulgent summer holiday with your crew, the 65-square-metre homestead sleeps a whopping 38 guests in the generously sized rooms. Located in the Gippsland Lakes region, the 30-hectare island paradise is home to an incredible range of wildlife — nearly 50 different species of mammals, to be precise — so you can expect plenty of serenity. In terms of getting there, a private ferry from Kalimna or Lakes Entrance is part of the package, or you could really flex and arrive in a light aircraft thanks to the on-site airstrip. Image: Fraser Island Retreat
