Easter and fish have always gone hand in hand. But this year, you can really up the ante thanks to Cappo Sociale and its luxurious lobster offering. The Fitzroy Italian restaurant is ensuring seafood fans have a very, very happy Easter, with not one, but two limited-edition lobster dishes hitting the menu from Friday, April 15–Sunday, April 17. Both are a nod to Head Chef Davide Amato's own Italian family Easter traditions. First up, there's the 'aragosta (lobster) gratin', starring a half WA rock lobster that's been grilled over charcoal and finished with a Sicilian-style crumble and lashings of lemon garlic butter ($45). Or, if you're a diehard pasta fiend, go for a serve of the special fettuccine, pairing half a rock lobster with fresh pasta, confit tomato and gremolata. It clocks in at $60 and is more than generous enough for two. While you're there, you'll be able to get your mitts on the rest of Cappo Sociale's regular menu, too. It's a long weekend — treat yo'self. [caption id="attachment_850468" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Arianna Leggiero[/caption] Images: Interiors by Arianna Leggiero
When Suicide Squad reached cinemas screens back in 2016, it garnered plenty of attention. Critics largely hated it, fans loved it and some folks tried to shut down Rotten Tomatoes because of it. Come awards season, it picked up an Oscar (for best achievement in makeup and hairstyling) as well as two Razzie 'worst' nominations. The divisive reactions just kept coming, although there were two things that almost everyone agreed on. Firstly, most people rightfully loathed Jared Leto's interpretation of the Joker. Secondly, the majority of viewers adored Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn. While the DC Extended Universe hasn't gotten a whole lot right in its attempts to emulate the Marvel Cinematic Universe (see Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League, for example), its powerbrokers did seem to pay attention to the super-sized Suicide Squad debate. In response, they're giving the world what it wants: more Robbie as everyone's favourite ex-psychiatrist turned antihero. In Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn), Harley Quinn has moved on from the clown prince of crime (much like DC has moved on from Leto, at least for now, with Joaquin Phoenix playing the character in last year's standalone Joker film). In the aftermath of their breakup — an explosive event, as the film's just-dropped new trailer shows — she rounds up a crew filled with other fearsome Gotham ladies. Prepare to spend time with Black Canary (Jurnee Smollett-Bell), the Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and Renee Montoya (Rosie Perez) as they try to thwart supervillain Black Mask (Ewan McGregor). Directed by Cathy Yan (Dead Pigs), also co-starring Chris Messina and Ali Wong, Birds of Prey marks Quinn's first solo cinematic outing — and as the both the first sneak peek and the new trailer demonstrates, it's going big, bold and over-the-top. Bright, vibrant, fun and frenetic are all terms that apply, too. When it hits theatres next month, expect plenty of colour, chaos and formidable gals wreaking havoc, in what's been rumoured to be the first in a Quinn-focused trilogy. With Suicide Squad getting a sequel in 2021, confusingly titled The Suicide Squad and helmed by Guardians of the Galaxy's James Gunn, the pigtailed prankster definitely isn't leaving screens anytime soon. Check out the new trailer for Birds of Prey below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygzqL60kvwU&feature=youtu.be Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) will hit Australian cinemas on February 6, 2020.
It may sound like a cliché, describing a filmmaker as courageous. But when it comes to Jafar Panahi, it really is the only word that fits. For years, Panahi's films, including The Circle and Offside, drew the ire of censors in his native Iran for their frank depictions of the hardships felt by people, and particularly women, under the nation's conservative regime. This came to a head in 2010 when he was arrested on propaganda charges and later slapped with a 20 year ban from filmmaking – a ban he has been defying ever since. Tehran Taxi, which won the top prize at the Berlin Film Festival back in February, is Panahi's third film to be made under these restrictions, following This Is Not A Film in 2011 and Closed Curtain in 2013. Those films were shot in secret in his apartment and beachside villa, respectively. This time he's a little bolder, shooting surreptitiously from the inside of a cab as he drives it around the city, capturing his conversations with various passengers – including a schoolteacher, a lawyer and a thief – with a small dashboard camera. Whether these characters are real people or actors (or a combination of both) is intentionally left unclear, as Panahi playfully blurs the line between documentary and fiction. It's this playfulness and good humour that is key to the movie's success. In Panahi's previous two films, you can sense his frustration and feelings of helplessness – and given his situation, you can hardly hold that against him. They're fascinating works, and important, but more by virtue of their existence than their content. They feel like therapy, not films. Tehran Taxi, on the other hand, plays like a movie in its own right. Here, Panahi mixes the meta elements of his recent output with the shrewd social commentary of his pre-arrest work, all buoyed by a lightness and a cheekiness that makes it accessible to audiences far beyond the arthouse. Indeed, much of Tehran Taxi plays like a straightforward comedy. In one segment, a friendly vendor of pirated DVDs attempts to partner up with Panahi, reasoning that more people will buy his wares – including copies of Midnight in Paris and The Big Bang Theory – if he's working with a famous filmmaker. In another segment, Panahi must ferry two panicked, superstitious old women across town, so they might return their goldfish to a sacred spring in order to buy themselves another year of life. But the most delightful scenes belong to Panahi's young niece Hana, whose lively repartee with her uncle – after he picks her up an hour late from primary school – will leave you smiling from ear to ear. Of course even beneath the humour, Panahi's rebellious spirit shines through. Hana, we soon learn, wants to make a film herself, but she's baffled by the instructions of her school teacher, who insists that movies mustn't discuss political or economic issues, and that the students should remove anything dark or unpleasant. "There are realities they don't want shown," explains her uncle. In another scene, they give a ride to a friend of Panahi's, human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, who is on her way to visit the family of a woman who has been imprisoned for trying to sneak into a volleyball game. Yet even the film's more more serious moments, or in its abrupt, unsettling ending, Tehran Taxi leaves viewers with a sense of hope. It's a film that throws the hypocrisy of oppressors back in their face, and does so with a wry sense of humour. We'll end this review with a quote from filmmaker Darren Aronofsky, who headed the Berlin Festival jury that awarded Panahi top honours. "Instead of allowing his spirit to be crushed and giving up, instead of allowing himself to be filled with anger and frustration, Jafar Panahi created a love letter to cinema. His film is filled with love for his art, his community, his country and his audience." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOAOxsHVTYk
If you're one of the scores of Aussie teens who devoured smash-hit flick 10 Things I Hate About You when it first came out — and then about a million times on VHS since — prepare to feel positively elderly. The 1999 movie is about to celebrate its 20th anniversary. Yep, the modern day retelling of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew that had us all swooning over Heath Ledger is a whole two decades old. And what better way to mark that occasion, than a special outdoor screening of the timeless high school tale? Moonlight Cinema has added a special throwback showing of 10 Things I Hate About You to its schedule, set to grace the Royal Botanic Gardens' Central Lawn this Friday, March 15. Prepare to revisit all those late 90s feels, as you catch those classic movie moments, from the cheer-worthy smashing of Joey Donner's car to that pre-formal pregnancy suit. You can pack your own picnic and booze for this BYO session — Ms Perky would definitely recommend bratwurst — or make the most of Moonlight Cinema's food truck and pop-up bar.
When Kendrick Lamar was announced as Spilt Milk's 2025 headliner, festivalgoers had all the right words to say courtesy of the man himself. "DAMN" and "LOVE" also apply to his other Australian gigs this summer. Not content with taking to the stage Down Under in Ballarat, Perth, Canberra and on the Gold Coast, the acclaimed hip hop artist has also locked in solo stadium shows on his next Australian trip, as part of his Grand National tour. After making its way around North America and Europe, Lamar's latest string of live dates is heading to Melbourne and Sydney. In the former, he's playing AAMI Park on Wednesday, December 3–Thursday, December 4, 2025. [caption id="attachment_1008775" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gregory Shamus/Getty Images[/caption] December clearly suits Lamar for a jaunt Down Under — that's when the Pulitzer Music Prize-winning musician also made the trip in 2022. Lamar is one of the most-critically acclaimed and successful hip hop artists of our generation. He currently has 22 Grammys to his name, plus an Academy Award nomination for one of his contributions to the Black Panther soundtrack. He won the 2017 Triple J Hottest 100 and, when he nabbed his Pulitzer in 2018, he also became the first ever artist to take out the prestigious award for contemporary music. GNX, his most-recent studio album, dropped in November 2024 — with his extensive catalogue also spanning 2011's Section.80, 2012's good kid, m.A.A.d city, 2015's To Pimp A Butterfly, 2017's DAMN and 2022's Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers. Updated Wednesday, August 6, 2025.
When Winnie-the-Pooh moseyed into a slasher movie in Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey, the film endeavoured to prove that there's room in the pop-culture honeypot for multiple takes on AA Milne's beloved bear. More horror flicks are coming, because of course they are. But, embracing the usually cuddly figure's sweet and innocent side, so is a supremely nostalgic, family-friendly stage musical from Disney. Winnie the Pooh: The New Stage Adaptation debuted back in 2021 Off-Broadway, then took the Hundred Acre Wood and its famous felt residents to Chicago, back to New York, on a tour of the US and to London. The next stop on the Mouse House-created show's itinerary: Australia, including Melbourne's Comedy Theatre from Thursday, September 21–Sunday, September 24. Hailing from American Australian producer, writer and director Jonathan Rockefeller, Winnie the Pooh: The New Stage Adaptation brings Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, Rabbit, Owl and Tigger to life with puppets — life-sized versions, which look as cuddly and fuzzy as anthropomorphic stuffed toys should. Also joining them is Christopher Robin, in a production that brings together a heap of songs from past Winnie-the-Pooh movies. Again, this is a firmly all-ages affair, so expect plenty of young Winnie-the-Pooh devotees in attendance.
After a whole lotta lockdown, it's safe to say we're all searching for a little bit of escapism these days. And that's something you'll find plenty of right now, in one particular room at the DoubleTree by Hilton Melbourne. The hotel has loaded up on cosy additions and transformed one of its finest rooms into a Christmas winter wonderland, available for guests to book from now until the end of December. The King Flinders Street Station View Room is now a vision of furry soft furnishings and twinkling lights designed to transport you to winter somewhere in the Northern Hemisphere. DoubleTree's team has gone hard on the White Christmas theme — with some help from Aussie sheepskin accessory retailer Ugg Express — decking out the space with furry rugs, cosy slippers and a faux Christmas tree covered in sparkling lights. Guests can dig even deeper into the holiday spirit with local Mork hot chocolate and toasted marshmallows to greet them on arrival to their winter escape — a fitting match to the signature cookies DoubleTree serves warm to all its guests. You can even enjoy a festive winter-themed feed while you're snuggled in there, thanks to a special-edition room service menu. The full three-course affair comes in at $70, featuring plates like barramundi and red pepper croquettes, the Dolce & Gabbana spaghettini done with sugo and pecorino, and a cherry and kirsch tart with Valrhona chocolate. The accommodation package includes a one-night stay in the White Christmas oasis, featuring arrival gifts, a special Ugg Express present and breakfast for two, with prices starting from $309. Find DoubleTree by Hilton Melbourne at 270 Flinders Street, Melbourne. Book your stay online, using the promo code "PR04M" when opting for the King Flinders Street Station View Room, which is available to book up until December 31. You can also call the hotel on (03) 9654 6888.
If the Venice Film Festival can dedicate an entire island to virtual reality, and Brisbane can host its own VR festival, then Melbourne's year-round cinema hub can make the interactive technology a permanent part of its collection. As well as launching a new limited-offering VR commission, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image is adding a VR Lounge to its screen-filled spaces. Come September 23, ACMI will not only say hello to Prehistoric VR, a free two-week step back in time, but will also ask visitors to get comfy in their newest addition. The former, called the first 360-degree VR puppetry experience of its kind, comes from performing arts company Erth Visual & Physical Inc and award-winning visual artist and filmmaker Samantha Lang, while the latter will showcase a rotating array of VR works. The third ACMI commission that has asked established performing artists to turn a live stage work into realistic 360-degree virtual reality, where Prehistoric VR is headed isn't a surprise — when it comes to interacting with creatures that no longer roam the earth, life finds a way. Until October 8, the immersive experience dives onto the ocean floor, and back 200 million years, to encounter the aquatic critters from the Ediacaran to the Cretaceous periods. On the permanent front, ACMI's new ongoing VR Lounge will form part of its free Screen Worlds exhibition, kicking off with mystical fairy tale The Turning Forest. Created by Melbourne-based VR company VRTOV, who also have space at ACMI's co-working space ACMI X, it premiered to rave reviews at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival, even earning comparisons to The NeverEnding Story. ACMI's commitment to virtual reality isn't new, with the centre premiering the spooky Ghost, Toast and the Things Unsaid and immersive dance experience Stuck in the Middle With You in 2016. As ACMI Director and CEO, Katrina Sedgwick explains, "as the national museum for film, TV, games digital culture and art, ACMI is fascinated by the rapid evolution of VR and the new ways practitioners are engaging audiences through this platform." Image: Renee Stamatis Photography.
UPDATE, Friday, December 1: Talk to Me is available to stream via Netflix, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. An embalmed hand can't click its fingers, not even when it's the spirit-conducing appendage at the heart of Talk to Me. This is an absolute finger snap of a horror film, however, and a fist pump of a debut by Australian twins Danny and Michael Philippou. As RackaRacka, the Adelaide-born pair have racked up six-million-plus subscribers on YouTube via viral comedy, horror and action combos. As feature filmmakers, they're just as energetic, eager and assured, not to mention intense about giving their all. Talk to Me opens with a party that's soon blighted by both a stabbing and a suicide. It segues swiftly into a Sia sing-along, then the violent loss of one half of the Aussie coat of arms. A breakout hit at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, where it sparked a distribution bidding war won by indie favourite A24, it's constantly clicking, snapping and ensuring that viewers are paying attention — with terror-inducing imagery, a savvy sense of humour, both nerve and the keenness to unnerve, and a helluva scary-movie premise that's exceptionally well-executed. The picture's outstretched mitt is the Philippous' Ouija board. That withered and scribbled-on paw is also a wildly unconventional way to get high. In a screenplay penned by Danny with fellow first-timer Bill Hinzman, but based on Bluey and Content executive producer Daley Pearson's short-film concept — yes, that Bluey — shaking hands with the distinctive meat hook is a party trick and dare as well. When the living are palm to palm with this dead duke, in flows a conjuring. A candle is lit, "talk to me" must be uttered, then "I let you in". Once heads are kicking back and the voices start, no one should grasp on for more than 90 seconds. Those are the rules as told by Hayley (Zoe Terakes, Nine Perfect Strangers) and Joss (Chris Alosio, Millie Lies Low), who've been getting the ultimate buzz by letting supernatural interlopers take over their bodies, and are also passing that sensation around to their mates at gatherings. When Mia (Sophie Wilde, The Portable Door) learns about Talk to Me's urban legend-esque possession parties, it's via internet videos. On the anniversary of the worst day of her life — her mother's death, seemingly self-inflicted — she's already fled the silence that lingers with her father Max (Marcus Johnson, Irreverent) for her best friend Jade's (Alexandra Jensen, Joe vs Carole) family, and she's equally up for escaping further. Jade's no-nonsense mum Sue (Miranda Otto, The Clearing) knows that Jade and Mia are sneaking out. What she doesn't glean is that they're taking Jade's younger brother Riley (Joe Bird, First Day) with them, or that they're headed to a haunted hoedown. Here, being consumed by sinister spirits, not consuming booze, is the main thrill. That, and filming whatever twisted chaos happens when they connect with the otherworldly. It isn't all fun and frights and games, though; when 14-year-old Riley takes part, traumatic consequences spring. There's a touch of Flatliners to Talk to Me, but the Philippous summon up something far more eerie, powerful and engaging than that average 90s effort and its terrible 2017 sequel/remake. Both perturbing and entertaining to watch, their séances understand why that exact blend — unsettling yet absorbing — appeals to Mia and her friends, and why they're so speedily addicted. These altercations with the beyond aren't just a way to push the limits. They're a rush for both the possessed and their pals, who laugh hysterically while bearing witness, record every moment, share it all instantly and, when it's their go, try to one-up every prior spooky visit. As RackaRacka, the Philippous have captured plenty of eyeballs with raucous vids; now they ponder what the next step is for today's teens who've already seen everything online, are used to living their lives and setting their reputations digitally, and are as desperate for a jolt out of their daily routine as everyone in adolescence. Even better: sharing directing credits, and benefiting from lively cinematography by Aaron McLisky (Mr Inbetween) and sharp editing by Geoff Lamb (another The Clearing alum), Danny and Michael know how to convey that try-anything-once response to teen malaise. Talk to Me starts with a bang — with banging on a locked door, then a freakout, then a gutwrenching turn — but its feverish montage of possessions is one of its best and most immersive moments. Mia and company, even including Jade's pious boyfriend Daniel (Otis Dhanji, June Again), are spirited off on a trip, and the Philippous stage and shoot it as such. No one watching will've gotten deliriously blitzed by giving some skin to the creepiest limb you'll ever see (with the biggest of kudos to the production design team), then becoming a vessel for ghosts, but Talk to Me perfects the feeling of being young, partying, reckless, thinking you're invincible and being up for giving something absurd a shot. Playing those devil-may-care/devil-may-flow-through teens, but also always playing recognisably messy and relatable Aussie high schoolers, is quite the committed cast. Everyone gives their physical all to the hauntings — getting taken over by ghouls isn't just a unique experience, but a corporeally demanding one — as aided by pitch-perfect practical effects, including the canny use of dark contacts to turn each actors' eyes black. But thanks to Mia's backstory and the grappling with grief that comes with it, Wilde wades through the most emotionally complex territory. The more that her character keeps taking the hand's portal to limbo, the more that the paranormal bleeds into Mia's daily life, and the weightier that Wilde's performance gets. Talk to Me battles survivors' guilt, carting around baggage and internal demons alongside its shadowy forces, with Wilde consistently thoughtful at the heart of it all. When Riley joins the party antics despite Jade's protests, Bird is just as crucial. Ghouls gnaw, and so does Talk to Me. The Philippous swirl unease, angst and ominousness together with every tool at their disposal — including Cornel Wilczek's (Clickbait) menacing score — then let the end result chomp on their viewers. As deranged sights scamper and shock, and Mia's complicated feelings with them, Talk to Me gets its alarm, panic and distress burrowing deep, yet never stops having warped fun. The film's finale couldn't better embody that tricky mix: it's smart and satisfying to the point of inspiring clapping, and it's as disquieting as everything that precedes it. This won't be the end for the movie's directors, of course, or likely for Talk to Me's world. Indeed, this instant cult-classic flick might too leap into reality: once you've taken this horror ride, people clutching a hand and freaking themselves out with the next Ouija-style board game feels destined to cross over.
If you'd like this lockdown to run a little more smoothly than the previous four, we've found your solution: a timely care package of lasagne and lube. It's the ultimate stay-at-home set-up and it's coming at you this weekend only, courtesy of two Melbourne-based businesses supremely well-versed in the art of a good night in. Cult-favourite pasta delivery service 1800 Lasagne has teamed up with the minds behind Figr — a new Aussie-made water-based lubricant that's changing the game. Together, they've concocted one heck of a colluberation (sorry). "It was a no-brainer," 1800 Lasagne's Joey Kellock told Concrete Playground when asked about the pleasurable partnership. "The perfect union — love, lasagne and lube!" This Saturday, July 24 and Sunday, July 25, the first 20 customers to pick up a food order from 1800 Lasagne's Thornbury HQ will also score themselves a free bottle of Figr's signature lube. Orders are made as usual over at 1800 Lasagne's website, then you'll just need to request your side serve of Figr from the friendly staff when you head in to pick up your tasty meal. "We all need a little love from time to time," Kellock says. "And with people during lockdown having a whole bunch of 'extra time on their hands', Figr and I thought we'd just help facilitate that love a little. Love yourself, love someone else — it's lockdown." Figr's co-founders Eloise McCullough and Eloise O'Sullivan share the sentiment of this match made in heaven. "1800 Lasagne are the pros when it comes to slinging endorphins around in the back of a beat-up old car. Figr was designed for when endorphins are getting flung around in the back of a beat-up old car," the pair says. [caption id="attachment_820408" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bianca Lamont[/caption] In the interests of a truly loved-up weekend, 1800 Lasagne will also have plenty of extra goodies available to order alongside your lasagne-and-lube combo, including garlic bread, creamy serves of tiramisu and bottles of Uggiano chianti. Figr launched into the local sexual wellness scene in May this year, with its natural, vegan lubricant made with native Australian extracts. They're on a mission to normalise lube, as the founders explain: "We want people to be comfortable seeing lube at their local deli, beauty shop or on your friend's nightstand." If you miss out on this weekend's lasagne lube, you can always stock up over here. The 1800 Lasagne x Figr lockdown offer is available to the first 20 customers who order and pick up their meal from the restaurant this Saturday, July 24, and Sunday, July 25.
You can never have too many occasions to eat cheese, but this returning Australian cheese festival isn't just keen to shower cheese fiends with creamy goodness. A collaboration between Bruny Island Cheese Co cheesemaker Nick Haddow and the organisers of Pinot Palooza, Mould wants dairy lovers to explore and devour the mild, hard and soft bites that Australia's best cheese wizards have to offer. Returning for a fourth time in 2022 — after a chaotic couple of years, as all fests have endured — the cheesy event will paint Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney yellow for a couple of days in each city this winter. And there won't just be a few cheeses on the menu. More than 75 artisan cheeses from around the country will be ready and waiting for you to devour, spanning dairy from 27-plus producers. That lineup includes Bruny Island Cheese Co, naturally, plus Grandvewe, Milawa Cheese, Yarra Valley Dairy and Stone & Crow. There'll also be wares from Section 28, Red Cow Organics, Nimbin Valley Cheese, and newcomers such as Dreaming Goat, Long Paddock Cheese and Second Mouse Cheese. The 2022 events will span multiple days in each stop — running over three days in Brisbane and Melbourne, and two days in Sydney. For the first time ever, Mould is also headed to Hobart in October, if you feel like a cheese-eating trip to the Apple Isle this spring (with exact festival dates still to be announced). Alongside unlimited tastings of Australia's best cheeses, Mould will also feature flavoursome fare from cheese specialists that've been created just for the fest, too. Think of it as a cheese tasting trip around Australia without leaving the city. Of course, snacking on samples and purchasing slices and slabs to take home with you are just two ways to enjoy cheese. The fest will have cooking demonstrations, masterclasses and talks so you can stretch your cheese knowledge as well as your cheese stomach. And it wouldn't be a cheese festival without beverages to wash it all down with, so expect a bar serving Aussie wines, whisky, vodka, gin, beer, cider, cocktails and sake — all of which match nicely to a bit of cheese. Unsurprisingly, Mould is rather popular. Last year, attendees tucked into a one million samples across the fest's three cities, and also took home over 3.5 tonnes of Aussie dairy products. So, if this the kind of event that your cheese dreams are made of, you'll want to nab a $45 ticket ASAP. MOULD — A CHEESE FESTIVAL 2022 DATES: July 1–3 — John Reed Pavilion, Brisbane Showgrounds, 600 Gregory Terrace, Bowen Hills July 22–24 — The Timber Yard, 351 Plummer Street, Port Melbourne August 12–12 — Carriageworks, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh October TBC — Hobart TBC Mould — A Cheese Festival tours Australia from July. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the event's website.
Wherever you are in Australia, you're never far from nature. But, when you really need to unwind, your best bet is to find somewhere remote — preferably, a place where emails, phone calls and bosses can't reach you. Plus, you should find some serious natural beauty on which to feast your weary eyes. To that end, we've taken a good look around the nation at some of the most spectacular spots — from the coral-filled waters of Queensland's Heron Island to the empty beaches of NSW's Mimosa Rocks National Park to the granite boulders of Tasmania's Bay of Fires. And just like us, Stoneleigh Wild Valley is all about celebrating the wondrous work of nature. The New Zealand winery follows a wild fermentation process for its wines resulting in flavours that are rich in complexity. So, together, we've scoped out five spots around the country where you can unwind — perhaps even with a glass of vino in hand. Next time you're planning a weekend getaway, make tracks to one of these beauties. Your overworked body and fatigued brain will thank you. [caption id="attachment_728904" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland.[/caption] HERON ISLAND, QLD 72 kilometres off Gladstone lies Heron Island, one of the Great Barrier Reef's most unspoilt islands. Just 800 metres long and 400 metres wide, it's mostly national park — fringed with white sands and, beyond that, coral reef. Between November and March every year, green turtles and loggerhead turtles (both threatened) nest here and you're welcome to watch them, as long as you stick to turtle watching guidelines. Any time of year, expect to meet seabirds a-plenty, plus many a sea critter if you go on a snorkelling or scuba diving excursion. There's just one place to stay: the eco-friendly Heron Island Resort, where you can choose from private rooms surrounded by pisonia forest, suites with incredible sunset views and a beach house with room for up to four guests. [caption id="attachment_728989" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Aragunnu Walking Track via Destination NSW.[/caption] MIMOSA ROCKS NATIONAL PARK, NSW Found on the NSW South Coast, around five-and-a-half hours' drive south of Sydney, Mimosa Rocks National Park is a land of empty beaches, rocky headlands and forests filled with wildlife. If you're keen to immerse yourself in nature, pitch your tent at a beachside campground, such as Aragunnu or Picnic Point. Prefer the comfort of four walls? Book the heritage Myer House. Either way, be sure to take a dip at Moon Bay, go for a stroll along Middle Lagoon Walking Track and check out the surf at Nelson Beach. [caption id="attachment_728931" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lisa Kuilenburg.[/caption] BAY OF FIRES, TAS Bay of Fires takes its name from its flaming colours. Granite boulders covered with bright orange lichen frame the coastline and, in contrast with the deep blue of the sea, create an extraordinary effect. The bay stretches for 50 kilometres along Tasmania's northeast coast, from Binalong Bay in the south to Ansons Bay in the north. Get back to nature in a tent at a free campground, sleepover at a luxe glamping site or sink into comfort at a B&B. Wherever you sleep, make sure you spend some time exploring on foot — whether you conquer the four-day Bay of Fires Walk or stick to day hikes. [caption id="attachment_688566" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trevor King via Destination NSW.[/caption] LORD HOWE ISLAND, NSW Take some time off the mainland at Lord Howe Island, a rugged paradise that's a two hours' flight east of Sydney with a population of just 382. To spend your entire break wrapped up in nature, embark on the Seven Peaks Walk, a five-day, 45-kilometre hike that takes in banyan forests, coastal cliff faces and magical beaches. If that sounds too long, there's a bunch of day walks to try, too. Alternatively, go snorkelling in clear waters, laze about on beaches or paddle board around. And forget all about crowds: no more than 400 visitors are allowed on the island at once. [caption id="attachment_719735" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria.[/caption] THE GRAMPIANS, VIC Clear your head with some invigorating mountain air in The Grampians, a mountain range three hours' northwest of Melbourne dotted with waterfalls, wildflower meadows and dizzying peaks. Begin your adventures at MacKenzie Falls, one of Victoria's biggest waterfalls, before heading to mystical Silverband Falls, surrounded by lush ferns and flowers. For views that go on forever, drive to Boroka Lookout, Reeds Lookout or Mount William, which, at 1167 metres, is the highest peak in the range. Or, if you're keen to get moving, take a hike. A good place to start is The Pinnacle, accessible by a variety of walking tracks, which range from 2.1 to nine kilometres. Enhance your adventure through nature with Stoneleigh Wild Valley, whose 2017 sauvignon blanc recently won gold at the New York International Wine Competition 2019. Top image: Lord Howe Island.
At first glance, this brand new cocktail created by Melbourne bartender Kayla Reid might look a little fancy for drinking at home on the sofa during lockdown, but that's exactly what it's made for. "I wanted people to be able to buy a few ingredients, shake it up at home and make themselves a delicious drink," says Reid, bar manager at Nick & Nora's on Collins Street. "All the ingredients are things you can find at a bottle shop, and I didn't want to create something that would be stressful for anyone to make at home." The Mi-To Shakerato is Reid's take on both a Milano-Torino (Mi-To) and a Shakerato. The Milano-Torino cocktail being an older sibling to the more commonly known Italian aperitif, a negroni. "I wanted to keep it as simple as a negroni, which is just three ingredients but still really complex," she says. "The Milano-Torino came before the negroni and it is just equal parts Campari and sweet vermouth. A Shakerato is essentially Campari and some people add saline solution, others add orange bitters. You shake it, then strain it out so it's nice and chilled, aerated and crisp." Reid's drink combines those two cocktails — with the classic negroni in mind — to make something altogether new: a rich but light aperitivo drink with a bubbly effervescent finish. The Mi-To Shakerato is one of 50 new takes on the classic bittersweet negroni featured in the new Negroni Cocktail Book, compiled by Campari for Negroni Week. Alongside other leading bartenders in Australia, Reid has played with the history and provenance of the negroni to craft something refreshing for Australians to make for themselves at home while bars wait patiently to serve customers again after lockdown. One of the ingredients likely to raise eyebrows is the Becherovka, which Reid says is "like a gingery, warm baking spice kind of liqueur" and it's nothing to fear. One other key difference is that you're shaking this cocktail, whereas you would traditionally stir a negroni. Her tip for home bartenders is that "anything that seals can be a shaker. You can use a tupperware container with some ice and shake it up." Though the drink is designed so that you don't have to work too hard to create it, one bartending tool that Reid recommends is a fine strainer. "You can use a lot of things to strain off ice in a drink, but if you want to have more clarity in your drink, without little shards of ice, it's good to invest in a fine strainer. Aside from that, if you've got a spoon and a glass to stir down ice, you don't have to spend an arm and a leg to get a good bar kit." For those without a decade of bartending experience under their belt like Reid, to make a saline solution, simply mix water and salt to your preferred ratio (80/20 is a good guide). Or, "just add a crack of salt to the cocktail and it'll give you a pretty similar outcome." To make it look as graceful as Reid's version, choose a coupette or stemmed glass for that golden era elegance. It's also a chic way to retain the bubbles in your drink for longer. HOW TO MAKE A MI-TO SHAKERATO 30ml Campari 20ml Cinzano Rosso 10ml Becherovka (herbal bitters) 3 small mint leaves 3 drops of saline solution 40ml sparkling wine Shake all ingredients (except for the sparkling wine) with ice. Strain into a coupette. Add sparkling wine. Express the essential oils of a lemon peel. Twist the peel into a fancy garnish. Best enjoyed as an aperitif. Negroni Week runs from September 14–20. Download the free Negroni Cocktail Book for 60 different negroni recipes to try at home. Remember to Drinkwise.
It's been a heck of a long time between drinks, but iconic container bar Section 8 is back and ready to party. And to celebrate its return, it's firing up your Melbourne Cup Eve with a good old-fashioned, tune-filled laneway shindig. From 6pm on Monday, November 1, the beloved bar will be cruising into the public holiday with some sonic treats, cool drinks and general good vibes in abundance. Taking over the decks, you'll catch a lineup of musical mates, including Mrs Wallace, Naoto and Kgomotso, spinning through until 1am. The bar will be slinging its usual selection of liquid treats to match. And as always, Section 8 will be taking walk-ins only, with free entry — so you don't even need to worry about wrangling a booking. Images: Julia Sansone
St Kilda's newest hospitality addition will quickly make you forget that we're deep into another icy Melbourne winter. Overlooking the beach from the ground floor of The Esplanade's new Saint Moritz precinct, LOTI leans into its seaside location with breezy looks and a fire-driven Mediterranean-inspired offering. The moniker is an acronym for Lady of the Ice and a nod to the neon signage of a female skater that stood atop the nearby St Moritz ice rink until 1981. But unlike its namesake, there's nothing frosty about LOTI. Statement curves are a staple of the Mitchell & Eades interiors, backed by natural materials, and soothing hues of sand, peach and soft green. It's a warm, serene space, imbued with the energy of a coastal holiday. With a resume that includes names like Lûmé , NOMA Australia, Aria and Quay, Head Chef Elijah Holland is heroing the art of cooking over flames, along with ancient techniques like curing, fermenting and preserving. Native ingredients star throughout a seafood-heavy menu that's largely inspired by the local coastline. Down the lighter end, you'll spy bites like scampi skewers — butter-poached, grilled and finished with a kelp glaze — along with house-made seafood and meat charcuterie, yellowfin tuna mousse cornettos, and an artichoke tarte tatin. Barley-fed beef tartare features Davidson plum molasses, river mint and mustard greens; wild venison is matched with juniper and mountain pepper; and the rigatoni pasta with baked clams, bower spinach and gruyere promises one heck of a side dish. Led by co-owner Cameron Northway (founder of Cocktail Porter and owner of Bondi's Rocker) and developed in conjunction with World Class Bartenders from his drinks agency Sweet&Chilli, the drinks offering is equally strong. A cocktail lineup focuses on locally-accented interpretations of the classics — think, the Dirty Martini with uni butter vodka and vermouth, and the Cooler pairing cacao and white rum that's infused with river mint. Meanwhile, the wine list showcases a wealth of biodynamic and organic Aussie producers, giving special love to those making varietals that hail from the coastlines of Europe. Find LOTI at 14 The Esplanade, St Kilda. It's open 11am–late Wednesday to Sunday. Images: Parker Blain
Chapel Street has welcomed another burger joint into the fold, this time it's part of the internationally renowned RocoMamas stable. The Windsor restaurant marks the South African group's Australian debut, with the space boasting an edgy combination of neon lighting, polished concrete and street art by Sabine Kahwati. Here, RocoMamas is treating locals to their first taste of its signature 'smashed burgers', where each meat patty is rolled into a ball and then squashed flat onto the grill to lock in the juices. Choose yours crafted from beef, chicken or a meat-free ensemble. House iterations include the Rock Star, with swiss cheese, barbecue relish and RocoMamas' own mayo, the Old Skool combination of tomato, onion and special sauce, and the no-holds-barred Chilli Cheez Bomb, loaded with bacon, cheddar, mozzarella, fresh chilli and a house-made cheese croquette. Otherwise, go the DIY route and customise your ultimate smash creation from a sprawling list of burger additions. Elsewhere on the menu, you'll find all the usual suspects — flame-grilled pork, beef and lamb ribs, loaded fries, onion rings, and chicken wings in varying degrees of mouth-burn. To match, there's a full bar offering — with local beers, wine and cocktails — as well as a line of decadent custard shakes. Find RocoMamas' Australian store at 156 Chapel Street, Windsor.
In news as certain as Han Solo's swagger, C-3P0's disapproval and Leia Organa's leadership prowess, another orchestra-scored Star Wars screening is making its way to Melbourne — this time Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi will be unleashing its full force onto a fanatic audience with the power of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. What was originally the final flick in George Lucas' space saga is headed to Melbourne's Plenary, MCEC on Thursday, November 7, Friday, November 8 and Saturday, November 9, 2019. If you've been hiding out on Tatooine and aren't quite sure what's in store, this climactic instalment features a second Death Star, a tribe of Ewoks on Endor, Han Solo imprisoned by Jabba the Hutt, plenty of family baggage, and one heck of a father-and-son battle — so, classic Star Wars thrills all round. And, it's all set to John Williams' memorable score, which the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra will recreate for your eager eyes and ears. Last year saw the MSO perform Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and, back in 2017, Star Wars: A New Hope also had a run, so we've got a good feeling about this combo of movies and live music. Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi will screen at Melbourne's Hamer Hall on Thursday, November 7, Friday, November 8 and Saturday, November 9, 2019. To buy tickets, head here.
Culture and cocktails collide this month as a new limited-edition pop-up bar arrives on Gertrude Street. Namely, The Melbourne Gin Company is joining forces with the strip's Oigåll Projects gallery space to deliver an after-hours art fix matched to signature gin-infused sips. From 4–7pm each Friday night from November 18–December 9, the duo promises to elevate your usual end-of-week knock-offs. Visitors can explore the gallery's current showcase of works from contemporary Australian artists and designers while sipping seasonal concoctions courtesy of the renowned Yarra Valley-based distillery. On the menu, you'll find the likes of a Gin & Grapefruit Soda, the spicy Gin-ger Smash and a G&T crafted on MGC's award-winning Single Shot Gin. And if you're hoping to inspire some warmer weather, there's the Negroni Float — a negroni spritz reimagined with vanilla ice cream and blood orange dust to garnish. As for what you'll be looking at, the exhibition roster changes, but Billy Vanilli, Michael Giittings, Eryca Gree and Kate Rohde are just some of the names to grace Oigåll Projects in recent weeks.
After bringing Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban back to the big screen with a live orchestra soundtrack, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is giving the fourth film in the franchise the same movie-and-music showcase. Across four sessions from Thursday, January 31 to Sunday, February 3, Hamer Hall will come to life with the sights and sounds of the Yule Ball, the Triwizard Tournament and the return of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, because JK Rowling's boy-who-lived and his pals are never far away from a theatre — or a concert hall. This time around, viewers can expect something a little different. While the event will run as usual, it's the score itself that'll stand out. After doing the honours on the first three HP flicks, veteran composer John Williams stood aside for the fourth film, with two-time Oscar nominee Patrick Doyle (Hamlet, Sense and Sensibility) in charge of whipping up a wondrous wizarding soundtrack. Tickets start at $99 for C Reserve seats, with restricted view and music-only options available from just $29. To purchase tickets, visit the website.
After bringing hobbits, dwarves and walking trees to life in The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films, New Zealand's Weta Workshop has their sights set on something smaller for their next project: bugs. Forget sending creepy crawlies scurrying across cinema screens, however. A creative collaboration between the five-time Academy Award-winning special effects wizards and the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington, Bug Lab: Little Bugs, Super Powers will be scampering through the Melbourne Museum. With its Australian premiere season due to infest the Nicholson Street institution between 23 June and 15 October, the immersive exhibition gives little critters a big stage — and a boost in size as well. Visitors can get up close and personal via ultra-detailed large-scale models that look like a cross between colourful bug art and everyone's giant bug nightmares, with six particular specimens in the spotlight: the orchid mantis, bombardier beetle, jewel wasp, dragonfly, Japanese honeybees and katipō, aka New Zealand's most dangerous native spider. If you're easily spooked by insects, you might want to stop reading. Or, perhaps going along and getting a bug's-eye view of the world will help? Physical and digital adaptive stations will allow attendees to explore bugs' abilities in detail, test their own against them, and probably inspire a few folks to pretend to be Spider-Man. Elsewhere, bug chambers will showcase their adaptive skills, delving into camouflage, mind control, super speed, swarm intelligence and deadly venom. A section dedicated to the ways in which the creatures in question are influencing new technologies — think fly-like collision-tolerant drones, nanotechnology based on butterfly wings and 3D printed objects created from silk — will also be included, in what promises to be much, much more interesting than any bug-related science lessons you took at school. And if you just can't get enough, the attached IMAX theatre will be screening Bugs: Mighty Micro Monsters 3D during the exhibition's run. Bug Lab: Little Bugs, Super Powers comes to the Melbourne Museum from 23 June and 15 October, 2017. For more information or to buy tickets, head to their website.
Dig out those once-a-year novelty gumboots, Groovin the Moo has unveiled its 2018 lineup. Taking the large-scale music festival out of the city and into regional centres for another year, GTM will kick things off on Friday, April 27 in South Australia and travel through Maitland, Townsville, Bendigo and Canberra before finishing up in Bunbury on May 12. This year sees local talent new and established taking the stage, with the lineup spanning up-and-comers like Alex Lahey, Baker Boy and Winston Surfshirt right through to favourites Flight Facilities and Australian legend Paul Kelly. International talent like Portugal. The Man, Royal Blood and Duke Dumont will make their way to the Moo too. Here's the full lineup. GROOVIN THE MOO 2018 LINEUP Alex Lahey Aminé (USA) The Amity Affliction Baker Boy Ball Park Music Claptone (Ger) Confidence Man Cosmo's Midnight Dean Lewis Duke Dumont (UK) Flight Facilities Grinspoon Lady Leshurr (UK) Mallrat Ocean Alley Paul Kelly Portugal. The Man (USA) Public Service Broadcasting (UK) Royal Blood (UK) Sampa The Great Skegss Superduperkyle (USA) Tkay Maidza Vera Blue Winston Surfshirt Image: Jack Toohey.
By this point, chances are you've had your fair share of tasty packages delivered to your door. But probably none quite like the signature parcels from Melbourne's new Mexican food business, Más Tamales. As the name suggests, these guys are specialising in traditional tamales — a classic dish featuring corn dough and fillings folded neatly into a little corn husk pocket. The delivery service is the brainchild of Etai Alves, who moved to Australia from the USA seven years ago. Here, he's out to recreate the kind of Mexican eats so readily available in his homeland: food that's tasty, authentic and affordable. Alves is sticking firmly to tradition every step of the way, from the 24-hour process involved in soaking and grinding the corn to making the 'masa' (maize dough) and hand-wrapping each individual corn husk parcel. As far as fillings go, it's sweet and simple, with a choice of either slow-cooked pork shoulder 'carnitas', or a vegan-friendly mushroom edition. The tamales are sent out frozen to ensure maximum fluffiness whenever you're ready to heat and eat. Simply slather on some of the house-made pico de gallo and salsa roja included with each order, and you've got yourself some solid at-home Mexican feasting. Alves has been whipping up batches of his signature snacks for a growing crowd of fans, delivering to a bunch of inner-north suburbs every Friday afternoon. Just out of reach? Order over $60 worth of food and the team can probably be persuaded to expand that delivery radius to fit you in. Más Tamales is delivering to select inner-north suburbs between 12–5pm Fridays. Order by midnight on Thursday by heading to the website.
There's no doubting who Bob Marley: One Love is about, but the Reinaldo Marcus Green (King Richard)-directed biopic also brings two other big-screen portraits of music superstars to mind. There's always a dance through a legend's history flickering somewhere, or close to it, with the initial dramatised look at the reggae icon arriving after Bohemian Rhapsody and Elvis both proved major hits in recent years. Where the first, which focused on Freddie Mercury, had Live Aid, Bob Marley: One Love has the One Love Peace Concert. Both are gigs to build a movie around, and both features have done just that. Baz Luhrmann's portrait of the king of rock 'n' roll wanted its audience to understand what it was like to watch its namesake, be in his presence and feel entranced by every hip thrust — and, obviously without the gyrating pelvis, Bob Marley: One Love also opts for that approach. Enter Kingsley Ben-Adir as Bob Marley, in a vital piece of casting. Although it may not earn him an Oscar as Bohemian Rhapsody did Rami Malek (Oppenheimer), or even a nomination as Elvis scored for Austin Butler (Masters of the Air), the British actor turns in a phenomenal performance. He's worlds away from being a Ken in Barbie. He isn't in wholly new territory seeing that he played Malcolm X in One Night in Miami and Barack Obama in TV series The Comey Rule. He's also magnetic and mesmerising — and, in the process, expresses how and why Marley was magnetic and mesmerising. Ben-Adir's vocals are blended with Marley's. Accordingly, you're largely listening to the singer himself. But there's a presence about Ben-Adir in the part, perfecting Jamaican patois, getting kinetic and uninhibited in his movement while he's behind the microphone, radiating charisma, but also conveying purpose and self-possession. It's a portrayal that's as entrancing and alive as the music that's always echoing alongside it; with Marley's discography, that's saying something. Ben-Adir shares the part with Quan-Dajai Henriques, the acting debutant who gives the movie its younger version of Marley. That comes via sporadic flashbacks, which means that Lashana Lynch (The Marvels) also shares her role as Bob's wife and backup singer Rita with Nia Ashi (another feature first-timer) as the teen version. Green and his co-scribes Terence Winter (an Academy Award-nominee for The Wolf of Wall Street), Frank E Flowers (LeBron James biopic Shooting Stars) and Zach Baylin (Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story, and returning from King Richard) ground their picture in the elder Marley's life, though — not that, because he died at the age of 36, he could ever truly be deemed elder. The bulk of the feature is set between 1976–78, and between two Kingston concerts. Both were designed to help address Jamaica's political unrest, with two parties clashing and the impact of British colonialism still felt. Not only that peace and freedom were instrumental in Marley's message, but why, is a core element of the film. "Do you believe music can end the violence?" Marley is asked in Bob Marley: One Love's opening, where he's fronting the press days out from 1976's Smile Jamaica show. Green signals one of the movie's fundamental musings at the outset, then, as well as his intent to unpack how his subject aimed to counter not just political but human turmoil through his music and Rastafarian beliefs (his initial embrace of the religion, as well as his early courtship with Rita, fuels most of the film's jumps backwards). Marley is also queried about whether he harbours any fears about putting on the gig. He says no and soon demonstrates it, after an attempt is made on his life at his home studio two days out from the concert. Rita was among the victims shot, and survived. The show goes on, then Marley goes into exile in London, while Rita takes the kids to the US. To get to Bob Marley: One Love's second big Jamaican performance involves charting the defining aspect of Marley's career during that period: 1977 album Exodus. Recorded in the UK, and home to not just its own titular track but the flick's (and also 'Jamming', 'Turn Your Lights Down Low' and 'Three Little Birds'), it's as influential as albums get — and, again, unfurling the trains of thought driving it is one of the feature's motivations. There's few surprises in how Green brings this to the screen, complete with recording sessions, producer Chris Blackwell's (James Norton, Happy Valley) fingerprints and montages of the finished product flying off shelves, plus the rapturous response as it's toured. That there's several established templates in giving a star's story the filmic treatment reverberates through Bob Marley: One Love, in fact, even as it avoids the dutiful birth-to-death timeline. But the movie always has Ben-Adir imparting energy and vibrancy, and Lynch as well — and a determination to make this Rita's tale, stepping into the complications in their marriage, as well as Bob's. Notably unrelated to One Love: The Bob Marley Musical, the stage production about the legend — even if it uses plenty of the same Bob Marley and The Wailers songs, such as 'Get Up, Stand Up', 'War', 'Redemption Song', 'No Woman, No Cry', 'Is This Love' and 'I Shot the Sheriff' — Bob Marley: One Love unavoidably hits familiar beats. Enlivening those predictable moves are its tunes, compelling story and powerhouse central performances. This is a deeply respectful effort: Rita is among the producers, alongside her and Bob's children Ziggy and Cedella; Stephen, their third-born, is the music supervisor. Love was always going to shine through. The tunes were always going to resound with power and affection. The tale itself was always certain to prove inherently absorbing. Its casting couldn't be more important, however. After a lengthy search to find its Bob, Ben-Adir is a force of warmth, calm and potency — gifting the picture the kind of portrayal that it couldn't live without — while Lynch is formidably fierce as Rita. For a movie about someone so revolutionary, Bob Marley: One Love mightn't earn that description itself, but it does deliver the tribute it's striving for, celebrate Marley's message as much as his music and contextualise one helluva record. Indeed, where Bohemian Rhapsody was the silver-screen equivalent of a greatest-hits album and Elvis took its cues from concert spectaculars, Bob Marley: One Love is a jam-session type of flick. When it briefly recreates live shows, it does so with verve, as aided by cinematographer Robert Elswit (also back from King Richard). And yet, while Smile Jamaica and the One Love Peace Concert are pivotal — including structurally to the narrative — they aren't the primary way that the film lets its audience experience Marley's impact. When Bob Marley: One Love dives into Bob's creativity and just enjoys being in the moment with its take on the singer, it cuts deeper; no one is merely jamming in making this movie, but it hopes its viewers like jamming with Marley, too.
It's been a while in the making but planning for the 'adult Triple J' is now well underway, with Myf Warhurst at the helm. After taking control of digital music channel Dig in October last year, Triple J today announced that the over-30s station will be rebranded as Double J and officially launched on April 30 with Warhurst as regular presenter. The new station name is a throwback to Triple J's early days as Double J — a time when listeners were introduced to The Ramones and Joy Division and the station became a landmark in Australia's music history. Now, Double J will focus on the nostalgia of the '80s and '90s "celebrating the iconic music you grew up with" (N.B. This means a lot of Nick Cave, Nirvana and INXS), while adding in some palatable new sounds. "We have wanted to build a station like this for a number of years and now, with your help, we are really proud to deliver Double J," says Triple J manager Chris Scaddan. "While it won’t be a throwback to the music of the original Double J, it will be a station that takes the best elements of triple j’s past - a name, a presenter and the incredible archives, thrown headlong into the future with the best new sounds around." The reaction on Twitter has been positive with a touch of needling. — Callum Wilson (@Cal___) April 8, 2014 HEY! Gen X (old people) stop listening to @triplej its sad & you're making it uncool.We made you another thing over here #DoubleJ #TripleJ — Michael Davis (@MikeyMikeD) April 8, 2014 Regardless, the move is a necessary step to satisfy those who have felt disconnected from the national youth broadcaster of late. Alongside the usual complaints — "The Doctor sucks"; "Dubstep sucks"; "I hate hipster music and banjos" — Triple J has courted some controversy in the past few months about the homogenisation of their playlists. Faced with the familiar, high-rotation airplay of young indie acts like San Cisco, upcoming bands and old favourites alike have been reportedly feeling pressure to conform to a specific sound. Double J will hopefully help to quell this unrest and provide a bit of diversity to the listening landscape. "One of the best things any of us working in the media can do is to deliver something that audiences genuinely want," says ABC director of radio Kate Dundas. "We recognise people want to stay connected to music and discover new artists as they go through life — that’s the simple aim of Double J." Double J will launch at midday on Wednesday, April 30, with a live broadcast from Warhurst. The former Spicks and Specks favourite will present a daily show from 11am–3pm weekdays. The full list of programs and presenters will be revealed on air and you can listen in via the ABC radio app, online at www.doublej.net.au, or on your digital radio or TV.
We've been quaffing its cider for over a decade, both from the bottle and on tap at venues across Australia, and now, finally, you can enjoy Napoleone's drops straight from the source, at the Yarra Valley cidery's brand-new on-site tasting bar. Having whipped up its first batch of cider back in 2008, this historic family-run fruit producer has opened the doors to its Orchard Bar, hidden among the fruit trees of the Napoleone Family Orchards in Coldstream. Here, a smartly repurposed shipping container bar by local designer Simon Wightwick is pouring a menu of fruit-driven libations, with signatures like Napoleone's classic apple and pear ciders, and the pear methode traditionelle taking centre stage. There'll be limited-run creations breezing through the tap rotation — currently, the barrel-fermented Sherry Pie — while a lineup of guest ciders might include drops from the likes of Normandy's Eric Bordelet and Lost Pippin out of Tasmania. Harder apple-based delights come by way of an impressive calvados collection and 'field to shaker' cocktails like the Negroni di Napoleone — a riff on the classic starring Château de Breuil calvados from France. And of course, there's also fresh-pressed juice, straight from the farm. Enjoy it all while kicking back in the Orchard Bar's lush, tree-fringed al fresco space, soaking up views through the orchard. As long as Coldstream sits within your government-approved 25-kilometre travel bubble, of course. There's no kitchen, but you will find a rotation of food trucks visiting every Saturday and Sunday, kicking off with the likes of Rai Thai and raclette stars Frencheese. Find The Orchard Bar at Napoleone, 10 St Huberts Road, Coldstream. It's open from 10am–5pm Thursday–Monday.
Fine Italian liqueur Disaronno is popping up across Melbourne at Palace Cinemas from May 27 to July 31 with $15 amaretto sour cocktails. Head to Palace Cinema Como, Palace Cinemas Balwyn, Palace Westgarth, Palace Penny Lane, Pentridge Cinema or The Kino to sample a classic amaretto sour made with Disaronno alongside the latest movies. As an extra treat, July 10 features a special screening of Fly Me to the Moon, starring Channing Tatum (Dog, The Lost City) and Scarlett Johansson (Asteroid City, Marriage Story). With the amaretto sour rising to popularity throughout the 1960s, the film's space race setting provides the perfect backdrop for the free Disaronno cocktail you get on arrival with your booking. If one isn't enough, a selection of Melbourne's top cocktail bars are also taking part in Disaronno's amber-coloured activations. In Southbank, sip amaretto sours made with Disaronno overlooking the city's skyline from Soho Restaurant and Bar's 14th-floor vantage point. Just a few steps away, Left Bank offers a stellar late-night spot to soak up the riverfront. If the beach is more your vibe, Republica is on hand to serve the beverage on the shores of St Kilda Beach. Score a complimentary authentic amaretto sour made with Disaronno at select Palace Cinema screenings of 'Fly Me To The Moon'. For more information, check out the website.
When someone special needs a stunning gift, don't settle for a present that lacks sentiment. Instead, find something a little more meaningful at The Holiday House, a curated showroom guided by Katherine Denton Jewellery and Aretae Gifting. Featuring elevated jewellery, ceramics, homewares and more, now is the perfect time to slash your Christmas to-do list while indulging in much-loved Holy Sugar creations as you shop. Held in Armadale from 9am–3pm on Friday, November 28–Sunday, November 30, expect a luxe edit of premium pieces ideal for gifting or making a thoughtful addition to your own space. With the team shaping a festive space that feels more like a home than a marketplace or shop, step inside to encounter this inaugural Christmas showcase, filled with refined keepsakes and timeless presents that your friends and fam will actually cherish. View this post on Instagram A post shared by YIAGA (@yiaga.au) So, what does this high-end edit include? Guests will discover the work of Australian ceramicist Rachel Disalvo, whose entwined vases are crafted entirely by hand in her NSW studio. For those seeking body care, shop Morris Motley's Melbourne-made hand wash alongside exclusive sets from LUI Body — a female-first razor and personal care brand. Meanwhile, The Holiday House is stocking IKKARI's natural and botanical skincare products. Alongside new season pieces from Katherine Denton Jewellery and Aretae's ever-popular photo frames, your festive shopping spree might also include sculptural homewares from Fourth Street Home or striking tableware, like La Casa Homewares' Balthazar Oyster Dish. Gifting for a new mum? Phile's striped playmats and quilts will do the trick, while the boutique stationery of Écrire will add a little more colour and personality to virtually any space.
In the eyes of many, it's already among Abbotsford's top-tier drinking destinations. But this spring, Lulie Tavern is stepping things up a level — quite literally. The team has been hard at work transforming the space above its Johnston Street digs into the suburb's newest rooftop bar. On track to launch in November, the upstairs space will go by the name of Full Moon Fever — a tribute to music legend Tom Petty who, as you might have noticed from the photos and music programming downstairs, is an absolute Lulie idol. The all-weather rooftop will feature both a retractable roof and outdoor wood fire, kitted out with lounge seats and plenty of roomy booths. Beams and bricks from the former factory's original roof have been repurposed, and the space will be rocking a similar laidback, rock 'n' roll, memorabilia-filled aesthetic to its downstairs counterpart. Expect a warm, lively spot for after-work bevs, weekend hangs and everything in between. Full Moon Fever's menu is still being finalised, though we're told you can look forward to staple sips, done well and at locals' prices. Get set for summery sessions settled in over chilled tinnies, top-notch margaritas and peach iced teas — with some cracking tunes on the speakers to match, of course. Lulie Tavern has been an Abbotsford mainstay even since before it opened the doors to this current address in 2018. Prior to that, it was slinging cold tins and good vibes out of its previous home around the corner on Lulie Street. Find Full Moon Fever upstairs at 225 Johnston Street, Abbotsford, from November. We'll share more updates as they drop. Images: Jake Roden
Earlier in the year, when Victorians were asked to stay at home and the city's venues were forced to close, the State Government launched a digital entertainment portal to both help support local creatives and keep everyone connected. Now, with the state in the midst of its second lockdown — including stage-four restrictions in Melbourne — that online hub is getting a big boost. As announced today, Saturday, August 15 by Premier Daniel Andrews, Victoria Together will score a new range of virtual experiences, such as streamed comedy performances and live music. If you've already worked your way through your Netflix queue and played every board game in your house, this will be welcome news. If you're eager to do whatever you can to help Australia's arts industry, which has suffered greatly during the country's fight against COVID-19, it's fantastic news as well. Once again, the Victoria Together platform is hosting everything from cute animal videos from Melbourne Zoo to ACMI's film screenings, wellbeing resources, workout routines, recipes, digital art exhibitions and theatre shows — you get the idea. Basically, where all of the above is concerned, it's a one-stop-shop for the state's already exisiting online content. Best of all, it's completely free. Looking for something completely new? The hub also features freshly made content, with more coming in its rebooted form. The state government has once again partnered up with independent music and entertainment company Mushroom Group to continue the popular The State of Music weekly live-stream music series, which'll support and champion Victoria's developing artists this time around. This iteration is called The State of Music — Introducing, and will feature four episodes kicking off from 7.30pm on Friday, August 21. Expect to see Paul Kelly introducing Jess Hitchcock, The Chats' Eamon Sandwith introducing Clamm and The Teskey Brothers' Josh Teskey introducing Gena Rose Bruce, for instance. [caption id="attachment_737415" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Cybele Malinowski[/caption] Also coming soon: an eight-part stand-up comedy series which'll be hosted by Nazeem Hussein, and boast the likes of Frank Woodley, Em Rusciano, Rhys Nicholson and Geraldine Hickey behind the microphone; the second season of cooking series Big Night In; and, in partnership ACMI, a new 'Victoria on Film' series that'll showcase locally made movies such as Ride Like a Girl, Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears, The Dressmaker, The Australian Dream, and Romulus My Father. As proved the case the first time, the aim isn't just to give Victorians something new to watch, but to keep a sense of connection going between artist and audience, and venue and punter. And, as Premier Andrews explained, to support "our musicians, filmmakers and others in the creative industries who are doing it tough". To visit Victoria Together, head to the online hub. The State of Music — Introducing will kick off at 7.30pm on Friday, August 21 and will run every Friday for four weeks — and for details on the rest of the online platform's content, keep an eye on its website.
When your nine-to-five plays out like a well-oiled machine, it can sometimes feel like each week is a little same-same. But Melbourne is brimming with a fine bounty of things to experience and explore each and every day. So aside from casual laziness and a little lack of inspiration, there's really nothing stopping you from squeezing some adventure and spontaneity into your schedule. We've teamed up with Mazda3 to help you celebrate the little things that bring a sense of adventure to life. Shake things up, as we give you seven different detours to take each week in Melbourne. From Monday to Sunday, enrich your everyday with one completely achievable activity that inspires you to take the scenic route as you go about your daily routine. This week, sip a vegemite milkshake (if you dare), learn to navigate around without sight and eat burgers in a train in the sky. Plus, we've got your future detours sorted for the new few weeks here. All require no more effort than a tiny break from the norm — what's your excuse for not trying them all?
Maxibon are teaming up with lunch legends Hugo's Deli to celebrate the triumphant return of the much-loved Maxibon Peanut Jams with Butter. Loyal fans can snag one of 10,000 free ice creams when they drop in to the Richmond sandwich store between 10am–5pm on Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28. If you can't get enough of the iconic peanut butter and jelly flavour combination, a limited-edition sandwich will also be available at Hugo's Deli for the weekend. This stacked PBJ Sanga features Southern fried chicken with peanut butter and a cherry and pepper berry glaze. "It really is a tale of two sandwich legends coming together, and we can't wait to see thousands of Aussies turn out to share the experience with us," said Maxibon Brand Manager Stephanie Chosich. Make sure you grab one of these delicious treats before they run out. Beyond the event, PBJ Bons are available in single serves and four-packs at various retailers.
How many of you can thank MasterChef Australia for your culinary awakening? Remember the first time you laid eyes on that glorious croquembouche and thought, "hot damn, I suddenly know what I want for my birthday and all birthdays evermore"? Even after ten seasons, MasterChef Australia continues to surprise us with weird flavour combos (thank you, Mystery Box) and increasingly wacky contributions by competitive guest chefs. So, in honour of the series that launched a thousand wonky dessert towers, we've rounded up ten of Melbourne's most unexpected dishes for those times when you want a culinary experience but don't want to demolish the kitchen. MEAT FRUIT, DINNER BY HESTON BLUMENTHAL A list of unexpected dishes would not be complete without Heston Blumenthal, the world's kookiest cook. The meat fruit has been around since the 1500s. And Heston's modern Meat Fruit has been around for a while, too, persisting in spite of the vulgar images conjured by its name. But, we digress. The Meat Fruit at Dinner by Heston is a wad of chicken live parfait and mandarin jelly, served with grilled bread ($38). Somehow, he makes it work — though how we could not say. And the thing is, the controversial Meat Fruit is only an appetiser, so that's really only the first surprise of many. [caption id="attachment_671355" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ben Shewry[/caption] ANT LAMINGTON, ATTICA Ben Shewry of Attica, one of MasterChef Australia's favourite guests, keeps you on your toes. Sure, it might look like he's just serving you up a lamington sprinkled with chocolate bits — but don't think you'll get off that easily. Those chocolate bits are actually spicy ants. Interesting? Yes. Delicious? You betcha. Likely to turn up anytime soon on your Krispy Kreme? Don't count on it. To experience a mouthful of ants, you'll have to nab a sitting at Attica in Ripponlea, which isn't that easy. Bookings open at the start of every month, and if you manage to get in, it's handy to bear in mind that an ant lamington isn't even the weirdest (or tastiest) thing you'll experience at chef Shewry's hands. LAMINGTON JAFFLE, BAD FRANKIE If you're after a spin on the lamington with fewer ants involved, turn to Bad Frankie in Collingwood. From its cute little bar just off Smith, it's serving up childhood favourites with a twist. The humble jaffle is transformed into a legitimate culinary delight and one of the most unexpected combos is the lamington dessert jaffle ($8). It has jam and cake filling, wrapped up in bread, fried, and coated in chocolate and coconut. Special mention also goes to the butter chicken jaffle ($8) that comes minus the chicken, too. While it's not super crazy, the kitchen has done what all of us dream to do — getting rid of the solids and drinking the sauce. [caption id="attachment_598217" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Jo Rittey[/caption] ROAST CRICKET NOODLE SALAD, JETHRO CANTEEN Jethro Canteen famously made headlines last year for its alternative menu featuring cricket salad and camel's milk (among other things, of course). If you want something a bit different on your eggs benny, head over to Richmond and grab a side of crickets ($6) with your eggs. Or try the Vietnamese roasted cricket noodle salad as a main ($19), made with glass noodles, wombok, cucumber, crushed peanuts and tomatoes. Insect eating, officially called entomophagy, will only get more mainstream, so get ahead of the trend and put all thoughts of A Bug's Life out of your head. And for the record, the crickets are crunchy and delicious. [caption id="attachment_637921" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption] DESSERT, SUPERNORMAL Don't let the name trick you — Supernormal is anything but normal. But while the entire Japanese menu is outstanding, we'd like to draw your attention to its dessert offering for maximum gasp-factor. It's chock-full of odd combinations of flavours from both east and west. We recommend the Japanese shaved ice (called kakigori, $16), served with toffee apple and hibiscus — what does hibiscus taste like? You'll soon find out. Alternatively, try the kakigori ($16) at sister restaurant Supernormal Canteen, here it comes with crème caramel, dulce de leche and popcorn. There are no rules for these desserts, so it's best to just sit back and trust. After all, Supernormal is home to one of our city's famous desserts – the peanut butter parfait. GREEN MATCHA BURGER, MATCHA MYLKBAR Matcha Mylkbar already has a reputation for its colourful menu and rainbow coffees. Blue algae, green matcha, pink beetroot, and yellow turmeric lattes aren't so unexpected on the outrageous Melbourne coffee scene. But, what's unexpected about Matcha Mylkbar's colourful creations are that they actually taste good. It's not a novelty that'll fizzle out, but a genuinely delicious alternative drink for people who don't do caffeine (or dairy). The algae latte ($9) is our favourite but only if you like sweet drinks. And the Matcha burger ($22) is in a league of its own — the salty, crunchy protein patty is the perfect companion to the slightly sweet matcha bun and generous slices of avo. CRAB CRUMPETS, HOLLA For most people, crustaceans and breakfast don't logically pair. Our sensitive western tastebuds and unsettled pre-coffee stomachs aren't ready for the the strong flavours of the sea. But hear us out on this: the crab crumpets at Holla are a stroke of genius. The crunch, the rich flavours, and the protein are a great way to start the day. And Holla's crumpets are not your on-special supermarket Golden six-pack. The crispy morsels come with soft shell crab, two poached eggs, avo and bacon crumb ($24) — it isn't what you might expect on to turn up on your crumpets, but it's so tasty we can suspend our disbelief. SAUTÉED PEARL MEAT, FLOWER DRUM Flower Drum is one of Melbourne's fanciest Chinese restaurants, so make sure you dress for the occasion. The menu is packed with traditional meat and seafood dishes that will boggle your noggin with unfamiliar combinations. But the pearl meat ($28 per person) appetiser is as unexpected as it is delicious. It's a simple dish of pearl meat sautéed with spring onions, garlic chives and asparagus. What makes it interesting is the texture of the pearl meat — it's like an oyster but with more substance. If you've never eaten it before, this is the place to do it. OYSTER ICE CREAM, BRAE Speaking of molluscs, Brae's oyster ice cream has rocketed to near-iconic status over the last few years — well, as iconic as an oyster can get. In an ever-changing environment that changes with seasonality, this item is always on the menu. Listed officially as the Iced Oyster, the dish comes immaculately presented and sprinkled in a rich green powder. The ice cream itself is sweet and salty and weird and will genuinely make your taste buds say, "wait, what?". The oyster ice cream is one of the more unlikely combos in Dan Hunter's repertoire, but the rest of the menu has a few surprises, too — the biggest one being that you won't know what you're eating until you get there. After all, a magician never reveals his secrets (or his menu, apparently). [caption id="attachment_625090" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tim Grey[/caption] HOKKAIDO BAKED CHEESE TART, HBCT This savoury-sweet dish is a three-cheese shortcrust-encased tart. The cheese, while made with local produce, is based on the distinct taste and texture of the dairy products of Hokkaido. What cheese Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tarts uses exactly, is a trade secret. Whether you should eat this dish as an appetiser or for dessert, is also up for debate. But what's known for sure is these tart's popularity. Malaysia has gone nuts for it, and, since it launched its first store here in late 2016, Melbourne has been, too. Catch the latest season of MasterChef Australia from Sunday to Thursday at 7.30pm on Channel Ten.
When it comes to picnics, as with all al fresco gatherings involving great food, company and libations: sharing is caring. Joining your besties for a communal feast of cheese, snacks and cocktails is one of life's simple pleasures we've been missing out on lately — and we're keen to make up for the lost time. So, if you've been put in charge of drinks for your next get-together, it's time to think big. Luckily, there's a stack of local bars and labels whipping up supersized liquid creations you'll be proud to share with your mates. To prep you for the season ahead, we've rounded up some of the best locally-made large-format cocktails going around from fruity spritzes made on native botanicals, to blockbuster-sized bloody marys. All are ready-to-pour with minimal packaging taking up precious room in your esky. After all, not all good things come in small packages. HOME GROWN'S SPRITZ COCKTAILS Spritz season is upon us, but before you reach for the Aperol, you might want to check out the crafty renditions made by local hospitality incubator Worksmith. The Home Grown label currently features three Aussie-inspired, ready-to-pour spritzed cocktails, served in 750-millilitre glass wine bottles ($45). There's the Creamy Soda Highball boasting hints of sarsaparilla and a touch of whisky, a Ginger & Mango Spritz starring Anther Gin, and the Strawberry & River Mint Spritz — a dry, yet fruity fusion of Grainshaker Rye Vodka, Økar Island Bitters and aromatic berries. Coming in at around the 9 percent ABV mark, they're ideal served over ice for sunny afternoon sips on the grass. Stock up: Solo bottles and three-packs are available online for regular shipping. You'll also find them at select local independent bottle shops. ZONZO ESTATE'S BELLINI DI CRISTINA The bellini is the ultimate boozy brunch sip, but thanks to all these lockdowns, the two of you are probably disastrously overdue for a catch-up. So make up for lost time with a generous shared serve of this classic Italian peach-infused aperitif, hand-crafted by a Yarra Valley winemaker. Zonzo Estate's new Bellini di Cristina is a fruity, refreshing blend of prosecco and peach nectar, starring chardonnay grapes grown in the Murray Darling. Full of bright peachy aromas and boasting a gentle fizz, it's a treat that's perfect for the picnic hamper, served in a classic 750-millilitre wine bottle ($25). Stock up: Order online to get a bottle — or a box of six or twelve — shipped to your door. Otherwise, find it at select boutique bottle shops around Melbourne. MR WEST'S BAGNUMS If you're a booze connoisseur located in the west, chances are you're already acquainted with Mr West's foray into the large-format drinks market. The bottle shop and bar earned itself plenty of new fans with the release of its 1.5-litre 'bagnums' ($99), featuring pre-batched house cocktails served in easy-pour bladder packs. Containing 12 serves, the espresso martini version is crafted on Mr Black coffee liqueur, cold drip coffee, stout and vodka. Or, if aperitivo hour's on the cards, there's the signature negroni made with Poor Toms gin, which packs enough for between 16 and 20 serves. Oh, and with no glass or cardboard to worry about, these are the perfect esky choice. Stock up: Jump onto Mr West's online store to order one of these bad boys for delivery or click-and-collect. ZSA'S MEGA MARY If you prefer your cocktails to be full of tomato and with a bit of a fiery kick, we'd like to inform you that Zsa's is currently whipping up your ultimate share-friendly park sip. Behold, the Mega Mary — a one-litre pop-top bottle of rich, truffle-infused bloody mary. A recent release from the Northcote bar and bistro, this feisty cocktail already has something of a cult following among northside spice fiends. It's made to a secret house recipe, with lashings of Truff hot sauce elevating it well beyond your basic bloody mary situation. One of the giant serves will set you back $60, though there's also a combo pack featuring twelve freshly-shucked oysters for $96. Stock up: The Mega Mary is available for pick up — order online. MR MIYAGI'S COCKY BOXES Fun-loving modern Japanese restaurant Mr Miyagi has put a cheeky, new-school spin on the humble goon box, starring blended house cocktails instead of cheap wine. Each of the $55 Cocky Boxes comes filled with six serves of drink (750 millilitres), with a tap for easy pouring and Mr Miyagi's signature black-and-pink branding signalling good times ahead. You can choose between the Charlie Does Tokyo — a blend of gin, umeshu, yuzu and lime — or the Sanchez Does Kyoto, featuring a gutsy fusion of tequila, yuzu and agave. All boxed up in easy-to-transport cardboard, ready to take from fridge to park. Stock up: The Cocky Boxes are available to pre-order for pick up and delivery from the Windsor restaurant. CAPITANO'S NEGRONUS MAXIMUS The drinks maestros at Italian bar and restaurant Capitano have created a supersized negroni pour with a beefed-up name to match: the Negronus Maximus ($90). Only serious cocktail-sippers need apply. Clocking in at a hefty 750 millilitres, this bottle of goodness features seven and a half serves of the venue's signature negroni blend, ready to infuse your picnic with all the Italian aperitivo vibes you could want. Just add one of the kitchen's pizzas or vodka pastas for full effect. If you're looking to downsize, the bar's also serving smaller pre-batched sips, including an olive oil martini and the Tiramisu Milk Punch. Stock up: A selection of Capitano cocktails are available for click-and-collect and local delivery — order here. Top Image: Mr Miyagi Cocky Box
That's right — Kabir Singh and GJ's love letter to Fitzroy is trading in its humble abode for a bigger (and better) venue. Following its wildly successful run at its current locale for the past three years, the dynamic duo have jointly reached the decision that it is time for Mukka to move on. Just a few strides away from its original location will be the much-loved Indian eatery's brand-new spot, still residing in the familiar surrounds of Brunswick Street – and this shiny new outpost is decked out to impress. Mukka will reopen in its new home on Saturday, December 2, with a grand unveiling followed by a party worthy of the Bollywood big screen. And the celebrations won't end there — the restaurant will also be doing a week-long deal offering 50 percent off of your bill when dining in. But what can you expect from the new-and-improved Mukka? Following its relaunch, the now 100-seat venue will feature more vibrant decor, a sleek charcoal grill for Mukka's newest menu item — chargrilled kebabs, a five-metre-long feasting table, a dedicated function space and Melbourne's first-ever Bollywood-themed bar. The returning restaurant will don (not to be confused with Don, the popular Shah Rukh Khan-starring Bollywood film) a colourful fit-out starring 1300 kilograms of carefully selected decor from India, as well as a mural dedicated to honouring the iconic Bollywood film, Sholay, attached to its extravagant bar. As for its menu, you'll find all of the punch-packing dishes that Mukka is known for — including its hearty curries and enticing street eats — alongside inventive spiced cocktails and some new chargrilled specials. Plus, there will be an additional slow-cooked champaran meat curry available only for pre-orders, as well as two individual lunchbox-style tiffin boxes (a Tradies Tiffin and Sheila's Tiffin) reminiscent of the ones popular across India. You'll find the new-and-improved Mukka at 366 Brunswick Street in Fitzroy, open from 5:30pm to 9:30pm every Monday to Thursday and 5:30pm to 10:30pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with a lunch service from 12pm to 3:30pm on weekends.
Call this 'The One with Familiar But Still Exciting News': Friends! The Musical Parody is bringing its comedic, song-filled take on a certain 90s sitcom to Melbourne in 2022. Yes, this announcement has been made before, and more than once. The show has even opened its umbrellas in some parts of the country already. But we all know how the past two years have turned out — so the fact that the production is doing the rounds again should still make your day, week, month and even this year. This time around, Friends! The Musical Parody will be there for audiences at the Athenaeum Theatre from Wednesday, November 23–Saturday, December 17. So, get ready to spend time with the show's versions of Ross, Rachel, Chandler, Monica, Joey and Phoebe — hanging out at their beloved Central Perk, of course, and sitting on an orange couch, no doubt. The musical starts with caffeinated catch-ups, but then a runaway bride shakes up the gang's day. From there, you'll get to giggle through a loving, laugh-filled lampoon that both makes good-natured fun of and celebrates the iconic sitcom. Yes, no one told you that being obsessed with the Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow and David Schwimmer-starring show about six New Yorkers would turn out this way — with on-stage skits and gags, recreations of some of the series' best-known moments, and songs with titles such as 'How you Doin?' and 'We'll Always Be There For You'. And no, no one told us that being a Friends aficionado would continue to serve up so many chances to indulge our fandom 17 years after it finished airing, either.
A blissful weekend afternoon spent sipping your way between wineries and cellar doors sounds pretty flawless — until you remember that you've got to organise a designated driver to be able to pull it off. Luckily, Victoria's wine regions have no shortage of tour crews and hop-on-hop-off-style operators that'll handle all the driving for you. And one of these just added an entire region's worth of new tour routes to its roster. Already a firm fixture in the Yarra Valley and on the Mornington Peninsula, Hop It has broadened the scope of its popular hop-on-hop-off bus service, making its first foray into the Bellarine Peninsula from Saturday, April 1. Brimming with wineries big and small, the region is an ideal fit for the local tourism operator. Dubbed the Blue Route, Hop It's newest schedule gives punters another low-stress option for exploring Bellarine wine country, located just southeast of Geelong. Running every Saturday to start with, the timetable will incorporate a slew of much-loved wine destinations such as Terindah Estate, Oakdene, Jack Rabbit Vineyard, Scotchmans Hill and Leura Park Estate. For those after something other than vino, it's also set to also stop by the likes of Drysdale distillery The Whiskery, Flying Brick Cider's Wallington cellar door and the family-run FarmDog Brewing at McGlashan Estate. You'll have three options to experience the Blue Route, depending on where you're setting off from. Melburnians will take a ferry ride from Docklands to Portarlington before hopping on the bus to their chosen destinations (from $109.95), while Geelong-based guests will depart on the bus from Cunningham Pier (from $94.95). And Bellarine locals can jump aboard at any of the designated stops along the route, with tickets from $89.95. Best of all, your wine-hopping adventure is fully customisable — simply take a look at the route map and timetable, decide which spots you want to hit and when, and devise a plan of attack. Hop It's new Bellarine Blue Route will run Saturdays commencing April 1. Jump over to the website to check out the full timetable and buy tickets.
Mid-April 2018 was a great period for Beyoncé fans, with the superstar singer taking to the Coachella stage and making it her own across two huge sets. Bey isn't playing the festival in 2019, but she's still staking a claim on this part of the year. After simultaneously releasing a Netflix documentary about the epic show and a 40-track live album just this week, it looks like more Beyoncé specials are heading to the streaming platform. As part of the deal for Homecoming: A Film By Beyoncé, Netflix signed on for three Beyoncé projects, according to Variety. Just what the other two will be and when they'll land is yet to be revealed; however the streamer has been growing its music library in recent years — it also has concert and music docos about Bruce Springsteen, Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake and Quincy Jones in its catalogue. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB8qvx0HOlI For now, Homecoming: A Film By Beyoncé remains the concert documentary you definitely knew you needed, but didn't know existed until recently Picking up where the most-watched live-streamed performance of all time, the film follows all of the on-stage and behind-the-scenes action, including the 100-plus dancers, the show's powerful homage to America's historically black colleges and universities, and "the emotional road from creative concept to cultural movement". Like the real-life performance, the film clocks in at 137 minutes, so expect a lengthy and intimate tour through the festival set everyone has been talking about for 12 months, including behind-the-scenes footage and candid chats that delve into the preparation process and Bey's stunning vision. You know what else is lengthy? The 40-track live album Bey also dropped on Spotify. As well as live renditions of 'Sorry', 'Crazy in Love' and 'Soldier' — the latter which was performed with former Destiny's Child group mates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams — from Coachella, the album, also called Homecoming, features a song by Blue Ivy (Bey's daughter) and two bonus tracks. It's also doubly exciting that the album is available on the easier-to-access Spotify, as Bey dropped her most-recent album Lemonade exclusively on Tidal, her husband Jay-Z's streaming service. Head to Netflix to watch Homecoming: A Film By Beyoncé and listen to the album below: Images: Courtesy of Parkwood Entertainment
A two-week exhibition at Melbourne Town Hall will shine the spotlight on nine unique women who helped shape Australia as we know it today. From the heroic exploits of WWII nurse Vivian Bullwinkel to the compassionate work of homeless and youth activist Rebecca Scott and the groundbreaking achievements of Deborah Lawrie (who became the country's first ever commercial pilot), the Her Place Pop-Up Exhibition will combine numerous multimedia platforms in order to celebrate the enormous accomplishments Australian women have made. In addition to the nine profiles, the pop-up will provide a home base for a number of public talks, on topics ranging from women in sport to the impact of domestic violence. Visitors will also get their chance to share their ideas for a Her Place museum, an educational women's space the organisers hope to set up permanently in Melbourne.
If your commute to work usually involves a bus, we're sorry. Melbourne bus drivers with transport outfit CDC Victoria will today — Tuesday, July 10 — strike for 24 hours as part of their negotiations with the Transport Workers Union, leaving many routes delayed or just not running at all. The main areas to bear the brunt of the strike are the city's west, inner east and southeast. Services running in Ballarat and Geelong will also be impacted. The industrial action will run from the last bus on Monday, 9 July until the first bus Wednesday, 11 July, which will see crowding on alternative transport such as trains, trams and bus drivers. Public Transport Victoria has assured that metropolitan and regional trains, trams and bus services not operated by CDC will be running as normal, with the company saying it is working to maximise the number of alternative services available for passengers. These are the metropolitan bus routes affected. For more details, impacted regional routes and updates, check the Public Transport Victoria website. 150 151 153 160 161 166 167 170 180 181 190 191 192 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 414 415 417 418 419 421 423 424 425 439 441 443 461 494 495 496 497 498 601 605 606 612 623 624 625 626 630 To keep up-to-date with service times, visit the PTV and CDC Victoria websites. Image: CDC Victoria.
If you wanted to use Studio Ghibli's name as an adjective, it could mean many things, including beautiful, playful, moving, heartwarming, thoughtful and bittersweet. Thanks to the overwhelmingly delightful combination of these traits in the company's work to-date, everyone knows a Ghibli film when they see it, as has proven the case for almost four decades. But, seven years after When Marnie Was There, its last solo production — and five years since its French co-production The Red Turtle — the beloved Japanese animation house has released a movie that doesn't slide instantly and easily into its gorgeous and affecting catalogue. The studio's first film made solely using computer-generated 3D animation, Earwig and the Witch immediately stands out thanks to its plastic-looking visuals. And, despite the fact that it's about a determined young girl, features a witch, and even includes a talking cat and other helpful tiny critters, it never completely feels like a classic Ghibli film either. Earwig and the Witch boasts plenty of other ingredients that link it to the studio's past. It's based on a novel by English author Diana Wynne Jones, who penned the book that Howl's Moving Castle was based on. It's directed by Gorō Miyazaki, who helmed fellow Ghibli films Tales from Earthsea and From Up on Poppy Hill, and happens to be the son of the great Hayao Miyazaki. Also, the elder Miyazaki initially planned the project, even if he didn't ultimately write the script or step behind the camera. On-screen, the eponymous Earwig (Kokoro Hirasawa) follows in the footsteps of Spirited Away's Chihiro and Kiki's Delivery Service's titular figure. The witch referred to in the film's name recalls Spirited Away's Yubaba, too, and the movie's food-fetching little demons bring My Neighbour Totoro and Spirited Away's susuwatari to mind as well. Indeed, despite eschewing hand-drawn animation for CGI, almost everything about Earwig and the Witch is designed to scream Ghibli — calculatingly so — but that isn't enough to give the movie the depth or heart that has become synonymous with the company's cinematic output. Viewers first meet Earwig as a baby. After trying to shake off the dozen other witches chasing them along a highway, her mother (Sherina Munaf) leaves her on an orphanage's doorstep, promising to return after her never-explained troubles subside. Ten years later, Earwig still roams the facility's halls. She brags to her offsider Custard (Yusei Saito) that she knows how to get its staff and its residents to bend to her will — and whip up shepherd's pie on demand — and she actively doesn't want to be adopted by the couples who stop by looking to expand their families. But when Earwig is chosen by witch Bella Yaga (Shinobu Terajima) and sorcerer The Mandrake (Etsushi Toyokawa), she has no option but to relocate to their enchanted cottage. Bella Yaga doesn't want a daughter, however. Instead, she's after an assistant to cook, clean and crush rat bones for her spells. And so, seeing a chance to learn magic herself, Earwig isn't willing to acquiesce easily. A by-the-numbers Ghibli movie is still better than many other films, especially of the family-friendly variety. Earwig and the Witch is average rather than awful, too, but there's no escaping that the picture is trying to do two competing things at once. Ticking off as many of the studio's recognisable traits as possible is one of the movie's clear aims. Trying to squeeze Ghibli's sensibilities into the broader anime mould is the other. Accordingly, even with so much of Earwig and the Witch drawing upon the company's own earlier work, the picture's pace, energy and heavy use of theme song 'Don't Disturb Me' seem inspired by recent non-Ghibli hits such as Your Name, Weathering With You and Ride Your Wave. It's an odd mix, as is the feeling that the studio is both treading water and chasing its competitors, rather than blazing forward and carving its own path. Also doing Earwig and the Witch few favours is its thin narrative, which is as straightforward as it sounds, including in the simplistic message of acceptance that's geared towards its younger audience members. Indeed, this might be Ghibli's most child-oriented film yet — skewing firmly to one end of the all-ages spectrum, rather than layering in the texture and detail that has regaled the studio's works to adults as much as kids. Interesting plot points arise but go nowhere, for instance. A backstory involving a witchy rock group begs for more attention, as does Bella Yaga's business selling spells to townsfolk to stop rain and win hearts, and The Mandrake's secret but never sinister activities in his hidden den. There's no faulting Earwig and the Witch's fondness for talking cat Thomas (Gaku Hamada), who becomes Earwig's ally, but the movie frequently teases far more than it's willing to deliver in its 82-minute running time. It also comes to an end abruptly, making its storyline feel half-finished. That said, when Earwig and the Witch does shine, Ghibli's usual magic starts to peek through. Viewers just have to look harder than normal to uncover the film's modest charms, rather than be gifted with a non-stop, free-flowing array of the studio's wonders. More vivid and hyperreal than the company's regular nature-inspired palette, the movie's colour choices prove a highlight. So do the short flirtations with darkness and weirdness, which all centre around The Mandrake, a character who could've used more screen time. Its central tune is a welcome earworm, and when the picture leans into its sense of humour, it's all the better for it. Perhaps those joys are harder to notice, though, because so much of watching Earwig and the Witch involves spotting how different it looks. The smooth, glossy animation couldn't sum up movie better, however, appearing as generic as almost everything in this slight, bright, likeable but rarely memorable addition to Studio Ghibli's filmography. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZg2iEf-fTA&feature=youtu.be
Melbourne came nail-bitingly close to losing another legend this year, as Carlton's famed live music venue The Curtin Hotel very nearly had to shut up shop for good. After the Lygon Street building was sold in April, operators were faced with uncertainty about its future, with the venue's closure scheduled for Wednesday, November 30 — when the existing lease was up. But now, in advance of that cut-off, it's been confirmed that The Curtin will live on. Its current publicans the Russell family just signed a ten-year lease on the inner-north beloved haunt. "Not many people know this, but we have been running The Curtin on a year-by-year basis, since first taking over in 2012, [and] taking on an extraordinary financial risk because I love what I do and I love the community we have built," publican Benjamin 'Rusty' Russell explained in a statement. "This is a really exciting day, for what has been a really stressful time since the building was sold," he said. Saved from the brink of non-existence, The Curtin now looks set to continue in all its former glory as a live music venue, with the new lease enabling much-needed improvement works to be carried out. Heritage listing status would further help cement the pub's future, with operators expecting a final ruling from the Heritage Council to be handed down in February. "I am hopeful that if the building is placed on the heritage register, we can work closely with Heritage Victoria to make the necessary changes the venue so desperately needs," Rusty said, regarding what's next on the agenda for the pub. Since news of The Curtin's impending closure first broke, there's been a whole swag of rescue attempts made — from a joint statement by the National Trust of Australia, Victorian Trades Hall Council, Music Victoria and MEAA through to a union-led campaign focused on improving heritage protection. For now, the venue's current live music program wraps up with a sold-out Floodlights gig on Wednesday, November 30. The historic pub is also home to some damn fine fried chook courtesy of Sonny's Fried Chicken & Burgers, which remains open as before. [caption id="attachment_880474" align="alignnone" width="1920"] RVG at The Curtin, copyright The Music Is Talking[/caption] Find The Curtin at 29 Lygon Street, Carlton. For the latest details, head to the venue's website. Top Image: Dr Sures at The Curtin
In 2014, the ultimate celebration of French cinema in Australia will mark its silver anniversary with one of its most impressive programs yet. Lighting up Palace Cinema locations around the country, the 25th annual Alliance Française French Film Festival has film-faring Francophiles covered, with light hearted comedies to searing dramas, as well as hat-tips to two of France's most legendary filmmakers. The festivities kick off on opening night with a screening of Nils Tavernier's inspiring sports drama The Finishers followed by a post-film cocktail party. Other big tickets include the bloody Palm d'Or nominated epic Michael Kohlhaal, Bruno Dumont's lauded biopic Camille Claudel 1915 and the Monaco-set espionage thriller Möbius starring The Artist's Jean Dujardin. Lighter options can be found in the festival's romance and comedy streams. Stylish indie ensemble 2 Autumns, 3 Winters has garnered plenty of positive buzz internationally, while Bright Days Ahead offers something for the older crowd, recounting the tale of a newly retired senior who strikes up an affair with a much younger man. Patrons can also preview the works of France's future filmmaking elite, with a program of short films from renowned Parisian film academy La Fémis. At the other end of the spectrum, fans of the classics might enjoy a retrospective of the works of new-wave pioneer François Truffaut, including his medium-shifting masterworks Jules and Jim and The 400 Blows. Closing night serves up another iconic slice of French cinema, in the form of Jacques Tati's wonderful 1958 comedy Mon Oncle. For the full Alliance Française French Film Festival program, visit www.affrenchfilmfestival.org. We have six double passes to give away to the Alliance Française French Film Festival in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au
You don't normally associate the MCG with fine dining — it's more overpriced pies and eating an entire six-pack of hot jam doughnuts to yourself. But it appears that's about to change in the lead up to this year's AFL Grand Final, as some of Melbourne's best restaurants set up outside the 'G. Part of this year's pre-GF celebrations, Yarra Park will play host to a four-day Footy Festival (presented by Foxtel) in the lead-up to the big game, featuring music, movies and some seriously good food. Let us list them for you; Estelle, Fancy Hanks, Biggie Smalls and Tokyo Tina are just a few of the heavy-hitters – and you can expect footy-inspired spins on their typical cuisine. Think a kebab-burger hybrid from Biggie, and a meat pie taco (!) courtesy of Lady Carolina. The team from South Yarra's decadent Burch & Purchese Sweet Studio will take care of dessert with their salted caramel footy pops. Clearly Foxtel has at least one foodie on the payroll. You can also have a tipple in the Yaks Ale Watering Hole, the Bulmer's Cider Garden, or Wolf Blass' pop-up wine bar, The Nest. Yarra Park will also be home to the Grand Final Live Site, with activities, live entertainment and broadcasts, plus all 112 past Premiership Cups on display. Disclaimer: you will not be allowed to drink your wine out of a Premiership Cup. The AFL Footy Festival will take place from Wednesday, September 28 to Saturday, October 1 (Grand Final day). For more info visit afl.com.au/footyfestival.
Replacing traditional gin ingredients with homegrown delights such as Australian lemon myrtle, pepperberry, lavender and cassia, the Fossey's team can be found hand-foraging and hand-bottling its gins in Mildura, the largest settlement in the Sunraysia region (aka the land of grapes and oranges). Fossey's Navel Strength Gin Elixir has won awards at the Australian Distilled Spirits Awards; it's a drop that's packed full of juniper berries, ginger and — you guessed it — citrus. It has four times the amount of citrus than the distillery's regular gin: a nod to how historically, navy sailors would sip, squeeze and scrounge for oranges to keep scurvy at bay. Mark this one down on your 'someday' map — you might be somewhere near Mildura at some point and the bar would make a welcome pitstop, what with its gin and whisky tasting paddles, and its impressive lineup of cocktails. Otherwise, you can order a bottle of Fossey's online from $75.
After making an impressive debut in 2017, One Night in Footscray is returning this Friday, November 23 with an even bigger and more expansive program. From 5pm, the streets of the inner-west suburb will be brought to life with an array of interactive art installations, live music and exhibitions. And it's all free. Visitors are encouraged to take a self-guided journey through the suburb, engaging in various cultural experiences along the way. Keen Fred Astaires can take to a pop-up LED dance floor, while others can get up close and personal with the giant puppet troupe Snuff Puppets. There's even a makeshift photo studio to get your family portrait taken, so don't leave pooch at home. Hungry punters will no doubt make a beeline for the walking degustation tours. You'll be able to skip between eight local eateries to devour everything from crispy Vietnamese spring rolls from Thien An, fresh Turkish burek from Double Degree Kebabs, and pies from boozy bakery Bad Love Club. Leave work on time so you don't miss any of the action.
You don’t have to be a science fiction fan to know that Doctor Who is having a moment right now. The 50th anniversary episode in December last year was a global event, and 2014 brings in the twelfth Doctor, to be played by Peter Capaldi. But while you wait for season eight to kick off, the MSO will be tiding your over with a performance of the Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular at the Plenary. Back by popular demand, the MSO will perform music from the hit series composed by Murray Gold. The show will feature edited footage of the eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith, as well as looking back at some of the past Doctors. The concert hall will also be overrun by the Silence, Daleks and Cybermen, so park the Tardis close by if you need to make a quick escape. Intergalactic adventures await you, so don’t forget to pack your sonic screwdriver.
Even after 112 years, creating a musical comedy about a disaster that claimed more than 2200 lives could feel tone deaf. So it's important to note that Titanique is not about a historic tragedy. Not really. This raucous and rib-tickling show began its life as an in-joke between three Broadway luminaries — performers Marla Mindelle and Constantine Rousouli and director Tye Blue — who wanted to pose the question: what if the true hero of James Cameron's Titanic was, in fact, Canada's greatest icon, Céline Dion? The result is 90 minutes of pure joy, underpinned by the belting power ballads of Québec's most famous daughter and a shade of outrageous humour bluer than the Heart of the Ocean. Much like its humble off-Broadway origins, the Australian premiere of Titanique has been staged in one of Sydney's smaller theatres, The Grand Electric in Redfern. While packing a larger auditorium would have been an easy task for such a feel-good show, producers Michael Cassel and Eva Price's decision to place this production in such an intimate space is a master stroke. In these close quarters, where the performers are within touching distance, there are even more opportunities to bulldoze the fourth wall and amp up the camp extremes of the show's bawdy zingers. But Titanique doesn't just deliver laughs. While the bizarre plot — a fever dream retelling of Cameron's cinematic epic from the perspective of Céline Dion, via the songs of Céline Dion — offers comedy of the silliest kind, the singing prowess on display is no joke. Marney McQueen delivers a forensically detailed impression of Dion, backed up with astonishing vocals all but indistinguishable from the real thing. Indeed, the entire cast wow with their voices, which only acts to make the narrative absurdities even more hilarious — it's a truly unique experience to hear McQueen, Abigail Dixon as the "unsinkable" Molly Brown and Georgina Hopson as Rose, flawlessly nailing the chorus of 'Tell Him' while suggestively rubbing an eggplant. Much like The Book of Mormon (which is returning to Sydney next year), Titanique taps a rare yet potent duality: the guilty pleasure of gutter humour and the soaring thrill of a virtuosic performance. Through this double-dose of serotonin, peppered with crude one-liners, pop culture references (with some fresh Australian content added for local benefit) and a generous drenching of fabulosity, this is a show that will leave your heart full and your sides split. Images: Daniel Boud
2013 is drawing to a close, and it’s safe to say that it’s been a pretty big year. We’ve had three prime ministers, a royal baby was born, there was a huge doping scandal in national sport, and of course, Miley Cyrus. So who better to reflect on the year that was than some of Australia’s finest writers, comedians, and musical talents? Casey Bennetto will be at the helm of this one night only cabaret performance. His sophisticated wit will be setting the tone for the evening, with guests jumping in with a song, a story, or some slam poetry about what 2013 has meant for them. Guests include Trevor Ashley, Maxine Beneba Clarke, Tony Birch, Alan Brough, Catherine Deveny, Hannah Gadsby, Sammy J, Lally Katz, George Megalogenis, Tripod, Maude Davey, Chloe Hooper and Henry Wagons.
Whether you're devoted to the inner north or firmly believe that west is best, it's easy to get stuck in either bubble. But with the opening of the Metro Tunnel and new stations like Parkville and Ardern, commuting between Carlton and Footscray is more convenient than ever. And with free travel available until the end of January, it's also cheaper. Celebrating this newfound link, much-loved bar and bottle shop Mr West has fizzed up Northwest Connect — a self-guided beer-soaked safari that invites guests to travel between four standout venues across the two precincts. Held every weekend until the month rounds out, transport nerds and beer lovers will find themselves in heaven. Plus, if you collect a stamp from every spot, you'll get into the running to win awesome prizes. [caption id="attachment_902357" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Credit: Georgia Verrells[/caption] So, who's getting involved? Participating venues include Good Measure and The Lincoln in Carlton, while Mr West and Bar Thyme represent Footscray. What's more, each venue will serve a Metro Tunnel food and drink special, thanks to the support of Never Never Distilling Co. and Hop Nation Brewing Co. For instance, Mr West will serve the Never Say Never cocktail, featuring ginache gin, Italian bitters and fermented rhubarb, alongside loaded chips — think Chappy's Pickled Onion chips, smoked chorizo, pickled beetroot and guindillas. Meanwhile, Hop Nation has created the limited-edition Met-Pale just for the occasion, a hazy pale ale with a nostalgic Melbourne transport-inspired design. Time to catch the train? We think so.
After a successful debut last September, the Flour Market's sweet, doughy spinoff for vegans, coeliacs and lactards is back again. The market will take place on Saturday, July 1 with the best local vendors of wholefood, raw, organic, vegan and gluten free treats. Let the face stuffing commence. So what's going to be going begging? ACE's raw cookie sandwiches will be making a return, along with Storm in a Teacup's artisan loose-leaf teas. The Cedar Store — new to vending at Wholey Day — will also be there with their vegan, dairy- and gluten-free donuts, along with raw treats from Lady Rawsome and stuffed cookies from Butterbing Cookie Sandwiches. Naturally, there'll be many more vendors than that — but you'll have to head along to find out who they are. The mostly flour-free fanaticism will take place at Collingwood's Schoolhouse Studios. All we can say is: get there early. These goodies are set to sell like gluten free hotcakes. Images: Greg Holland.
