There are very few names in world cinema today as exciting as Xavier Dolan. Bold, prolific and monumentally talented, the Montreal-born prodigy already has five critically acclaimed features under his belt, including I Killed My Mother, Heartbeats and the recent Cannes Jury Prize Winner, Mommy. It's a resume that would make any veteran filmmaker proud. For Dolan, aged just 25, it borders on the revolting. Tom at the Farm is technically Dolan's fourth film, made in between the epic length transgender love story Laurence Anyways and the yet-to-be-released Mommy (we caught the latter at the Sydney Film Festival and can confirm it's a bona fide masterpiece). An adaptation of Michel Marc Bouchard's play Tom a la Ferme, at first glance the film seems to be a significant departure for the French-Canadian director; a gripping, single-location thriller more heavily indebted to the works of Alfred Hitchcock than his own earlier romantic dramas. Look a little closer though, and you'll have no trouble locating Dolan's signature thematic hang-ups. Twisted love. Sexual prejudice. An uncomfortable obsession with his mother. Dolan himself plays the Tom of the title, a young copywriter who travels out to rural Quebec for the funeral of his boyfriend Guillaume. When he arrives, however, Tom discovers that no-one in Guillaume's family knew that he was gay, save for his hyper-masculine brother Francis (Pierre-Yves Cardinal), who will do anything to keep his grief-stricken mother (Lise Roy) from finding out. Trapped on the family's dairy farm, Tom is forced to help maintain the fiction of Guillaume's life while resisting Francis's twisted mental games. But as the days slowly pass and Tom learns more about the family, the dynamics on the farm begin to change. The isolated locale proves the perfect backdrop for the film, one that plays simultaneously like a psychological horror story and an examination of abusive relationships, homophobia and gay self-loathing. The film's sparse colour palette — mud browns, fog greys and dead cornfield yellows — evokes a stomach-lurching sense of menace and unease. Likewise, the Bernard Herrmann-inspired score from Oscar-winner Gabriel Yared, full of gorgeously eerie string compositions that foreshadow danger at every turn. The introduction of a fourth character late in the second act diffuses some of the film's claustrophobic tension. Like everything in Dolan's filmography, Tom at the Farm works less as a narrative and more as an exercise in crafty emotional manipulation. In this case, that emotion is disorientating dread. https://youtube.com/watch?v=GLOJpY6DfAE
He's back! It's been eight long years since we first heard Thom Yorke's glitchy solo grooves in The Eraser now, out of nowhere, he's dropped a sneaky surprise album overnight. Tomorrow's Modern Boxes sees Yorke return to his trademark sound with a full LP of sneaky sneakster electronica. But you won't find this album in stores just yet. As always, Yorke has something else in mind. Similar to the release of Radiohead's In Rainbows where fans could pay whatever they wanted for an online download, Tomorrow's Modern Boxes has been released via BitTorrent. It's a bold move. Seeking alternative methods of distribution, Yorke has chosen to embrace the technology the music industry struggles with the most. The album, in fact, is the world's first paygated BitTorrent bundle. "It's an experiment to see if the mechanics of the system are something that the general public can get its head around," reads a statement on the Radiohead website. "If it works well it could be an effective way of handing some control of internet commerce back to people who are creating the work." By releasing the music direct to the public, artists are able to keep a much larger share of the profits. For each album sold, BitTorrent reportedly takes a 10 per cent cut and Yorke gets the remaining 90. This combined with the savings on production and publicity means they are able to set the price at a mere US$6. Score. "It it works, anyone can do this exactly as we have done," the statement reads. "[This would enable] those people who make either music, video or any other kind of digital content to sell it themselves. Bypassing the self elected gate-keepers." BitTorrent's CCO Matt Mason told Mashable that this is a system many artists will soon be employing. And, why not? Unless you work at a record company, it seems like a win-win situation. Tomorrow's Modern Boxes is available for download via BitTorrent now. You can listen to the first single 'A Brian in a Bottle' prior to downloading. But don't be stingy, give this legend his $6 for the full thing.
Based out of the architecturally textured Albury Library Museum, Write Around the Murray (WAM) is now celebrating a decade of reading, writing and storytelling. The five-day festival will return from September 13 through 17 and with it comes over 30 events featuring authors from around the country. This year's featured events include a Poetry Slam Bootcamp for a crash course in performance prose and Designing Stories For Games, a look at narrative for all you gamers out there. There will also be book sales and launches, round tables and even fabric painting classes for kids. The festivities aren't limited to reading and writing, either. Expect festival dinners and literary lunches to accompany poetry slams, workshops, author talks, performances, panel discussions and writing competitions.
Melbourne has just scored a sparkly new beachside day party, where the headline act is none other than 'inclusivity' (and Seth Troxler). The charmingly named All Sorts is one big, vibrant celebration of diversity, set to grace the beachfront at Riva St Kilda for the first time on Sunday, January 27. It's run by the team behind Melbourne's beloved gay rave Poof Doof, along with Untitled Group — who's organised hits such as Beyond The Valley, Ability Fest and Pitch Music & Arts — which should give you some hint of the multi-sensory, inclusion-focused fun to come. A dance-worthy All Sorts music lineup is headed by US DJ Seth Troxler, along with the likes of Robin S — yep, the songstress behind that classic 90s jam 'Show Me Love' — Poof Doof resident DJs Casey Leaver, Argonaut, Gay Roberto and Ben Renna, Ministry of Sound favourite John Course, and Sydney legend DJ Sveta. But this event is about much more than just the tunes, too, also dishing up a dazzling lineup of performances by some of the country's best-loved LGBTQI+ artists. You'll catch drag superstar Art Simone, award-winning cabaret act Yummy, performance art duo The Huxleys and even an appearance by Poof Doof's own drag hostess crew, Doofettes. All Sorts will take place at Riva, St Kilda on Sunday, January 27. Pre-sale tickets are available from 6pm Thursday, January 17, and you can sign-up for them here. Images: Poof Doof and Beyond the Valley.
It's Friday, the sun's a-shining, and Pidapipo's doing you a solid, giving out a stack of free gelato in the CBD from 12pm today. The cult favourite gelateria is celebrating the launch of its new Degraves Street store, off the back of its first two sweet successes in Carlton and Windsor. The new store's set to showcase Pidapipo's current range of traditional flavours and inventive signature creations, from the dreamy dulche de leche to the black sesame. And in exciting news for city-based gelato fans, it'll also be home to a few exclusive, CBD-only additions, including four granitas in flavours like raspberry and blood orange. We know you're already thinking about after-work snacks. But if you fancy checking out the new digs and enjoying a sweet treat for free, we'd recommend a lunchtime visit today — Pidapipo's city store is handing out those free scoops of gelato between noon and 3pm. The new Pidapipo is located at 8 Degraves Street, Melbourne. The free gelato will be available from 12–3pm, and the store is open from 12–11pm daily. For more info, visit pidapipo.com.
The big screen is going green at the seventh annual Transitions Film Festival, Australia's leading showcase of socially-conscious cinema. In Melbourne from February 22 to March 9, this year's festival lineup is once again jam-packed with deep-diving documentaries about some of the biggest social, environmental and geopolitical issues facing the world today. Standout films include Food Fighter, about the battle against food waste in Australia; Chasing Coral, a look at the disastrous effects of bleaching on our reefs; and Guardians of The Earth, which glimpses behind closed doors during the negotiations for the Paris Climate Agreement. Other highlights include personal Kenyan farming doco Thank You For the Rain; Albatross, the latest film to explore the impact of plastics in our oceans; and Big Dream, about seven young women pursuing their passions in science, technology, engineering and maths. For the full Transitions Film Festival lineup, visit transitionsfilmfestival.com.
Everyone loves a good food collaboration, especially when it involves a couple of longtime favourites. And Melbourne's latest joint culinary creation is a doozy; the brainchild of Mexican-accented restaurant group Fonda and the masters of soft, fluffy bao at Wonderbao. They've joined forces on a new limited-edition bao-centric menu to star at all Melbourne and Sydney Fonda stores until the end of July. On it, you'll find two pillowy steamed bao varieties; loaded with your pick of crunchy zucchini ($9) or crisp fried chicken ($10), along with chipotle aioli, cabbage, pickled carrot and onion. Also on offer is the newly launched Mexi-bun, which features classic Mexican flavours piled into a pillowy Asian-style bun. With a filling of Fonda's beef chilli con carne, these beauties are deep-fried until golden, then teamed with a queso dip and the Jane Fonda Salsa. A serve of two Mexi-buns will set you back $17. The Fonda x Wonderbao menu is only available for dine-in — you can make a booking at your local Fonda eatery online.
Brunswick East mainstay The B.East is known to put as much creativity into its vegan eats as it does its meat-based fare; while Hamsa Hummus Bar is the joint credited with dreaming up Melbourne's first ever vegan shawarma. And if any duo is set to impress when it comes to a plant-based feasting collab, it's this one. The two have teamed up to help get your week off to a ripper start, kicking off their new Meat-Free Mondays series on Monday, September 26. Swing by The B.East between 12–9pm each week to banish those post-weekend blues as you tuck into this limited-edition menu of Middle Eastern street food. Among the all-vegan lineup, you'll find bites like house-smoked hummus served with chilli butter and chargrilled potato bread; Hamsa's famed signature shawarma featuring smoked hummus, fermented jalapeño and pickled shallots; and a VSP loaded with vegan cheese, shawarma, Franks hot sauce and lashings of garlic sauce. The B.East's usual offering of local brews, vino and cocktails is available to match, including the much-loved slushie margarita. Images: Duncographic
Melbourne's latest lockdown is set to end at 11.59pm tonight, Thursday, June 10 — and, when it does, a heap of new restrictions will apply across the city. But, before that even happens, the Victorian Government has advised that one rule isn't actually changing, with one of the eased conditions outlined yesterday no longer coming into effect. Yesterday, Acting Premier James Merlino said masks would no longer be needed outside if you can social distance and maintain a space of 1.5 metres away from other people. But, based on new public health advice, that change is being scrapped. So, face masks will remain compulsory both indoors and outdoors for the time being, including after 11.59pm this evening. The mask mandate came back into effect in late May in response to the city's latest COVID-19 outbreak, and has remained in place during the city's two-week lockdown — and will now stay in place even when Melburnians are permitted leave the house for any reason they like from this tonight. Explaining the change in his daily press conference today, Thursday, June 10, Acting Premier Merlino said that "the clear advice from the public health team is we need to continue with wearing masks outdoors." He continued: "it is inconvenient but an easy thing to do. We are used to it, we know it works, and as we come out of this period and lockdown, while we are driving these new cases to ground, I think it is a logical and common sense step to take, and it allows all of the businesses we have outlined yesterday that they can open. Movements can happen. Students can go back to school. This is a small price to pay to make sure that we can proceed with this careful easing out of lockdown with the continuation of this." Accordingly, those strolls you were planning to take within 25 kilometres of your house — they'll need to involve masks. So will any trip beyond your home in general, both indoors and outdoors, given that you'll now be permitted to venture out for any reason. The news that the mask mandate will remain in place both outdoors and indoors comes as Victoria reported four new local cases in the 24 hours to midnight last night. Two other new cases have been linked to the state as well, after two Victorian residents travelled through New South Wales to Queensland, and have since tested positive while staying on the Sunshine Coast. If you're wondering where to grab a fitted mask, we've put together a rundown of local companies making and selling them. For more information about the status of COVID-19 and the current restrictions, head over to the Department of Health and Human Services website.
Mainstream arts and culture events can be good fun, but the annual Melbourne Fringe Festival is all about showcasing artists who play within, well, the fringes. You won't find your usual ballad-belting musicals or classic comedy gigs here. Instead, you'll be treated to boundary-pushing experiences in the performing arts, music, dance and cabaret spaces. But it won't all be entirely random, as the 2024 Melbourne Fringe Festival — running from Tuesday, October 1–Sunday, October 20 — is focusing most of its events around the theme of 'Eat Your Art Out'. Artists will be playing with the relationship between art and food at venues across the city, through over 470 different events. Some of these have been curated by the festival's team and others are more or less random. There is an open access component to the Melbourne Fringe Festival, which means that anyone can sign up and put on a show during the three-week program. [caption id="attachment_969684" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cooked at Fed Square[/caption] So, what can you expect this year? Firstly, you'll find the COOKED event series at Federation Square, which is centred around a pop-up hot plate stage. The amphitheatre will become a dual dining and performance space, with visitors encouraged to grill free food on the working barbecues as a diverse range of artists and chefs perform all kinds of shows around them. It kicks off on Tuesday, October 1, with the free event Seasoning the Grill. For this one, First Nations artists light up the public barbecue for an evening of smoke, dance, DJs, art and great eats. Traditional and contemporary practices of food and art come together for this one-off performance. As this year's Melbourne Fringe Festival is all about food and art, it makes so much sense for Queen Vic Market to be involved as well. [caption id="attachment_969690" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Huxleys[/caption] Most notably, it will host the Fringe Flavours Night Market, which sees a stack of Fringe artists take over the weekly night market. This will run beyond the main festival dates, from Wednesday, September 18–Wednesday, October 16, and is an absolute must for foodies. The market will host a stacked lineup of food and drink vendors, have a pop-up stage for all kinds of shows, and give way for roving performers to surprise diners every Wednesday. It's taking the beloved night market to all-new heights. [caption id="attachment_969691" align="alignnone" width="1920"] TOMATO[/caption] The Festival Hub at Trades Hall is also returning for 2024, hosting over 100 large and small events throughout the historic building. Most notably, this is where you'll see Finucane & Smith's Global Smash Club, an ode to 20 years of the international smash-hit Burlesque Hour from Melbourne Fringe mainstay Moira Finucane. You'll then find Pony Cam, the team behind Rising's popular show Burnout Paradise, premiering its new work FEAST at Substation. Here, performers reimagine the idea of dinner and a show, by combining it all into one big food-filled party. This one will be fairly interactive, so only go if you're willing to have a little fun with the audience participation elements. There's also the Pulse program, which includes Flames Danced in Their Hair But Did Not Burn Them and Body of Knowledge — both exploring ideas of consent and gender. [caption id="attachment_969688" align="alignnone" width="1920"] FEAST[/caption] This year's Fringe Focus Taiwan program boasts two contemporary dance works that focus on bodily exploration. There's TOMATO, a playful work of sex, lust, and a box of tomatoes, and Girl's Notes, which sees a dancer and a live pianist take inspiration from a 1990s book that instructs women on how to behave. We could go on and on with this epic Melbourne Fringe Festival 2024 lineup, but we'll leave that for you to explore via the festival's website. There are so many ways to Fringe, but we love to check out a few big highlights and then also go to a handful of smaller shows we know nothing about. This annual festival is all about challenging yourself and trying new things. If you've missed it in the past, don't let it happen again. [caption id="attachment_969685" align="alignnone" width="1920"] COOKED at Fed Square[/caption] The 2024 Melbourne Fringe Festival is running across he city from Wednesday, September 18–Wednesday, October 16. For more details, you can head to the festival's website. Top Image: FEAST.
Everyone's going wild these days, at least as far as films are concerned. Cameron Diaz caused chaos in the classroom, Seth Rogen and Zac Efron demonstrated how not to be neighbourly on two separate occasions, and now the one group you probably thought was immune to displays of errant behaviour has joined in on the inappropriate fun. Yes, Bad Moms shows just what happens when some over-stressed, under-appreciated mothers let loose. It's as raucous as you might expect, and as formulaic too — but thanks to its warm message and committed cast, it has both heart and spirit. With a happy family and a cool job at a coffee company, on the surface it looks like Amy (Mila Kunis) is the type of woman who has it all. She doesn't quite view it that way, though – in fact, she sees her life as a constant struggle. When she's not looking after a husband (David Walton) who doesn't appreciate her, she's appeasing her younger boss (Clark Duke), ferrying her kids (Oona Laurence and Emjay Anthony) to their extra-curricular activities, and attempting to avoid the wrath of the bossy PTA president (Christina Applegate) at their school. But after one particularly hectic day, she decides to stop trying to be everything to everyone. Instead, with fellow outsiders Carla (Kathryn Hahn) and Kiki (Kristen Bell), she determines to unleash her own kind of mothering. As written and directed by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, Bad Moms is mainly an excuse to make a party flick about ladies trying to find a way to cope with their considerable responsibilities. That the pair also helmed 21 & Over and wrote the script for The Hangover is telling. Thankfully, while giving Kunis, Hahn and Bell an excuse to act like teenagers, the film also unpacks the many expectations placed on women who have children – and women in general for that matter –, including the standards they impose on themselves and the scathing judgments they level at each other. The combination makes for a movie that's funny, thoughtful, and offers the kind of non-schmaltzy ode to motherhood that the interminable Mother's Day showed no signs of mustering. Though it trades in a few too many stereotypes and straightforward situations, the film does at least manage to subvert the former on occasion, while finding plenty of jokes in the latter. Like women-centric comedies Sisters and Bridesmaids before it, it's the cast that keeps Bad Moms moving. The rapport between the three leads brightens up every scene they share. That said, as she has repeatedly in television series such as Parks and Recreation and Transparent, it's Hahn that really steals the show. Not only does she nail the blend of irreverence and affection Lucas and Moore are aiming for, but she also makes the movie's most outrageous character more than just the source of laughs. The end result is a film that, although outwardly about the kind of behaviour your own mum might not encourage, ends up playing as an amusing and empowering tribute to being the person you really want to be.
A great trailer does two things: makes you want to run to the cinemas to see the film in question, and makes you hit replay on the preview itself the moment it's finished. Or, thanks to the rise of TV trailers, it inspires your next date with your couch. You'll want to get as comfy as possible to binge-watch the next season of your favourite show, after all. Indeed, in the US, plenty of folks have been lounging around on their sofas today — and watching trailers. When the Super Bowl rolls around each year, the US gets immersed in one of the country's favourite sports, American football fans around the world join in the fun, and so do movie buffs. With so many eyes glued to the screen during the game, it's a prime slot to premiere the latest film previews during the commercial breaks. The biggest match of the year meets the biggest flicks of the year, naturally. This year's batch certainly kept to the theme, particularly where new instalments of long-running series are involved. Want to catch your first glimpse of Solo: A Star Wars Story? The next Jurassic Park movie, aka Jurassic World: Forbidden Kingdom? Mission: Impossible — Fallout, the sixth title in the Tom Cruise-starring franchise? The latest Cloverfield effort, which will then start streaming on Netflix once the game is over? Keen on some superhero action with Avengers: Infinity War? They're all here. Also on the agenda: The Rock versus a tall building in Skyscraper (because why not?), and a sneak peek at the second season of Westworld (which now has a US release date — April 22). There's also the John Krasinski-directed apocalyptic thriller A Quiet Place, which he also features in opposite Emily Blunt, plus the new Krasinski-starring Jack Ryan TV series. Plus, another look at Jennifer Lawrence getting her spy game on in Red Sparrow and the Castle Rock clip we were all watching just a few days ago aired as well. Check out the full slate below, and add them to your viewing list. SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Szts88zY4o In Australian cinemas May 24. JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NooW_RbfdWI In Australian cinemas June 7. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE — FALLOUT https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wb49-oV0F78 In Australian cinemas August 2. SKYSCRAPER https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THWBs0_khNs In Australian cinemas July 12. THE CLOVERFIELD PARADOX https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8brYvhEg5Aw On Netflix today. AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVxOVlm_lE8 In Australian cinemas April 25. WESTWORLD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUmfriZoMw0 Australian airdate TBC A QUIET PLACE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8Q6ma2sfJQ In Australian cinemas May 10. JACK RYAN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V69XYIRjKww On Amazon August 31. RED SPARROW https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9VqmPX8m2k In Australian cinemas March 1. CASTLE ROCK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwmhiqUPa28 Australian airdate TBC.
Festivals have evolved. Nowadays, they're almost unrecognisable from the pits of despair we experienced in our teens — and there's a festival to suit almost everyone. If your bag is being terrified until you poop your pants, Horror Movie Campout is the festival for you. Last year they debuted in Sydney and Melbourne, and this year it's not only coming back, but spreading further. Brisbanites had their chance back in September, and Adelaide residents can embrace all things scary in late October. Basically, it's the Meredith of monstrosity, the Splendour of spookiness…kind of exactly like Stereosonic ain its current zombied state. So what goes on at a horror festival? Well, it's full of horrifying spectres and hair-raising scenes of horror (aka, your blood will literally curdle). We've had some clues from last year: yep, survivors camped out overnight in the woods (first mistake right there, seriously). They reported roaming zombies, all the classic pop-culture murderers you can shake your pathetic choice of weapon at and of course, menacing clowns. Not only do the organisers hire actors to scare the bejesus out of you, but everyone comes to event dressed in costume. So get down to your local stuff shop before they sell out of 1920s nightgowns, fake blood and Kabuki masks. You can expect a horrifying 'death chamber' maze, as well as a main stage with live music (will it be horrifying? They haven't specified but probably). Then, the main event is a series of curated horror shorts followed by two headliners, decided by you, the victims. The Melbourne campout is happening on December 3 and 4 (giving you just enough time to recover from Halloween) at the very remote and haunted Point Cook Homestead. Hint: old Point Cook has seen its fair share of murders. Melbourne Horror Movie Campout is happening on December 3 and 4; book your tomb online. Adelaide is on October 29 and 30 — and pencil it in, Sydney, because your event is happening next year on March 11 and 12. Grab your one-way ticket to poop town through the website a little closer to the date.
Welcome to Thornbury will accommodate both your stomach and your flaming sinuses in a two-day event that is the Hot Sauce and Chilli Festival. If spice is your mate and you think you can handle some of the hottest chilli situations Melbourne can throw at you, now's your time to prove your mettle. Some you'll even have to sign a waiver to taste, so you know they'll be life-affirming. There'll be sauce offerings from Melbourne Hot Sauce, Grumpy Gary's, Marley's Soul Sauce, Changz Hot Sauce and Señor Chilli. If you've come for the actual food side of things, you're in luck too — YOMG, Mr Burger, Roadrunner Fried Chicken, Yo India and Let's Waffle 'n' Shake will set up shop over the weekend, among others. And drinks? Well, the bar team will be serving 'hot pocket' shots. If you can drink it without sipping another drink to wash it down for two minutes post-shot, you get your photo on the wall (and eternal glory, we guess).
There aren't a whole lot of Melbourne bars that have managed to notch up 15 years slinging beers, tunes and good times. So it's only fitting that shipping container haunt Section 8 celebrates turning that big milestone this week with some rather grand festivities. The much-loved laneway bar is taking advantage of the Easter long weekend to host a huge four-day birthday fiesta, kicking off this Thursday, April 1. And it's celebrating in true Melbourne fashion, with a jam-packed program of art, projections and music, championing over 55 local creatives. Fort Heart and Fitzroy's BSIDE Gallery will serve up some unmissable live art from the likes of Creature Creature, Maya Irving, Gonketa and Section 8 favourite Simbiotic Vision. Meanwhile, a diverse array of sounds comes courtesy of live sets from acts like Afro-funk stars Cool Out Sun, hip hop producer Sensible J, Melbourne-based DJ and radio presenter MzRizk, Tokyo-born violinist Elle Shimada and stacks more. The tunes will be rolling right through the weekend and entry will be free, so drop by any time. Rounding out the fun until Sunday, April 4, there'll be plenty of birthday beers by Kaiju Brewing — plus a special drinks menu put together by Bombay Sapphire.
After being cancelled just days out from its usual Easter slot, then postponed to October, Bluesfest has announced its new 2021 lineup. The festival's first event in more than two years will once again take over Byron Events Farm (formerly Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm) just outside Byron Bay. And, on- and off-stage, it won't be lacking in company. Leading the bill between Friday, October 1–Monday, October 4: Midnight Oil, Paul Kelly, Tash Sultana and Jimmy Barnes. They'll each headline a different night of the now four-day fest, and will be joined by a lengthy list of familiar homegrown names. Ocean Alley and Ziggy Alberts will also be taking to the stage, as will everyone from Xavier Rudd, Kate Ceberano and The Church to Barnes' Cold Chisel bandmate Ian Moss, Briggs and Kate Miller-Heidke. A number of the newly announced acts were initially due to play at the festival in April, until a COVID-19 outbreak saw NSW Health sign a public health order to cancel the event. This is the second year that Bluesfest has been forced to adapt its plans, after its 2020 fest was completely scrapped due to the pandemic. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bluesfest Byron Bay (@bluesfestbyronbay) Season tickets to the rescheduled 2021 festival will go on sale at 9am on Thursday, May 20, with one- and three-day passes set to follow at a yet-to-be-announced date. Folks with tickets for the April festival will be contacted by Moshtix with all the necessary information about the new dates, rolling your existing tickets over and getting a refund if you can no longer attend. BLUESFEST OCTOBER 2021 LINEUP: Midnight Oil Paul Kelly Tash Sultana Jimmy Barnes Ocean Alley Ziggy Alberts John Butler Xavier Rudd The Cat Empire Pete Murray Mark Seymour & The Undertow Kate Ceberano Kasey Chambers The Waifs The Church Jon Stevens Ian Moss The Living End The Angels Ross Wilson And The Peaceniks Russell Morris Troy Cassar-Daley Briggs Tex Perkins The Man In Black Hiatus Kaiyote Kate Miller-Heidke Weddings Parties Anything The Black Sorrows The Bamboos Chain Backsliders Ash Grunwald Melbourne Ska Orchestra Vika & Linda Jeff Lang Nathan Cavaleri Mick Thomas' Roving Commission Kim Churchill Henry Wagons JK-47 Garrett Kato Mama Kin Spender Dami Im Pierce Brothers Emily Wurramara The Buckleys Fiona Boyes & The Fortune Tellers Ray Beadle Pacey, King & Doley All Our Exes Live in Texas Hussy Hicks Roshani Declan Kelly Daniel Champagne Little Georgia Lambros. Round Mountain Girls The Regime Electric Lemonade Palm Valley Byron Busking Competition Bluesfest 2021 will now run from Friday, October 1–Monday, October 4 at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, Byron Bay. Season passes will go on sale at 9am on Thursday, May 20, with one- and three-day passes set to follow at a yet-to-be-announced date. For further information, head to the Bluesfest website. Top image: Andy Fraser
So, you've managed to talk yourself out of your plan to move to the Bahamas and become a famous Instagram influencer. Bummer. Sure, taking staged pics of your legs with palm trees in the background might've been a nice life for a while, but it would've become boring in due course — and think of the sunburn. To help fill that void, satisfy your wanderlust and populate your feed, we've partnered with Mitsubishi to find the best new experiences to keep you entertained. The beauty of it, you won't even need to stray too far from your city. In celebration of the new Eclipse Cross, we've curated a list of activities for each day of the week and best of all, they're easily accessible. Leave the Bahamas for next year, hey? MONDAY, OCTOBER 22: THE WORLD OF WESTWOOD Unleash your inner fashionista and learn about style icon Vivienne Westwood. Cinema Nova has long been the place for cheap movies and Monday is discount day. There are killer choc tops — tiramisu, we see you — and surprisingly good coffee on offer, plus the cinema gets a nice mix of big Hollywood bangers and smaller arthouse films. In October, the new Vivienne Westwood doco will be on show, Vivienne Westwood: Punk, Icon, Activist, summing up the life and times of a fashion icon from the Brit punk times of the 70s. Still relevant as ever, go learn about the boss lady at Nova for a chill $10 on a Monday evening. Book your tickets first, so you don't miss out. And, no, unfortunately, you can't reserve a tiramisu choc top. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23: ALL THE CHEESE Hit up the Holey Cheese Festival and sample fromage from all over. If what's missing in your week thus far is a huge dose of cheese, look no further. The Holey Cheese Festival comes to town from Tuesday, October 23 to deliver you a spectacle of the stinky, creamy delights we so love. The Queen Vic Market will host this week-long cheese bonanza featuring fromage from all over, wine and live music. Tastings will take place en masse, and bigger bites will be available from food trucks, Melbourne chefs and market traders. If you're keen to delve a little deeper, there are cooking demos, too. Discovering is the name of the game here, that, and cheese. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24: GAMES NIGHT Hang with your old mate Donkey Kong at this retro arcade bar. Bartronica is Melbourne's answer to an old-school games arcade, albeit with a grown-up twist. The underground video parlour and bar — along a lane, past an unmarked door, down some stairs and in a basement because Melbourne — has everything from retro pinball machines to Donkey Kong, and even Nintendo 64s to really placate those craving a throwback. Keep in mind tournaments are played on the reg, so get working on your finger and wrist dexterity and gain gaming glory. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25: AUTHENTIC CREPES Do as the French do and enjoy a crepe in the park. Oh, crepes — those buckwheat slices of pure joy that we would wrap ourselves up in forever if we could. While that may not be possible, you can still get your hands on these bébés at Breizoz French Creperie. The Fitzroy eatery has the goods, in both savoury and sweet form, right on Brunswick Street. Grab one of each, then stroll over to Carlton Gardens and pretend you're in a Parisian park. The imagination works best when it's stimulated by hot, thin, cheesy pancakes — it's a proven fact. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26: INTERSTELLAR SHOWING Check out a flick about astronomy to learn about the galaxy and beyond. Planetarium Nights have hit Scienceworks and it's the perfect alternative to a boozy Friday night out. Let's face it, super loud music and $20 drinks can get a little tired. This is a much more wholesome way to kick-start your weekend. The adults-only nights at Spotswood's science museum will broadcast two screenings each night: one to do with astronomy and what's going on up in the sky, the other an art film about voyages into unseen worlds. You can get drinks from the bar, so you can mull over the big questions of the universe while sipping on a nice pinot. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27: FLOWERS AND CHOCOLATE While away the day in the Rhododendron Gardens then treat yourself to some choccie. Brace the day, get out of bed early and drive up to the Dandenong Ranges — that way, you'll beat the rest of the tourists (the road up is only one lane so it can be a slow crawl). Head to the National Rhododendron Gardens, where it'll be especially beautiful now that it's spring, for a walk around the 103-acre gardens. Keep your eyes peeled for colourful rosellas and lyrebirds, too. Then, once you've done the hard yards, treat yourself to a feast at new Olinda cafe and chocolate factory Only Mine. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28: TATTOOS FOR CHARITY Wind up the week with a spontaneous Sunday tattoo — hey, it's for charity. Always wanted a tat? Be spontaneous and get one this Sunday. Okay, so it might be wise to put a little more thought into it than that, but if you've had one on your mind hit up the Not Just A Girl Flash Day on Sunday, October 28. This charity tattoo day will be held by Australia's leading female-identifying tattoo artists, who will each have a sheet of original designs ready for walk-ins. The event will be cash only and all proceeds will go towards three charities supporting women in need: Women's and Girl's Emergency Centre, Stars Foundation and Full Stop Foundation. Where to next? Make the most of every week with Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross and navigate to your next destination here. Top image: Letícia Almeida.
This year has been a bit of a disruptive one for Melbourne's train network, with train closures in January, April and July — and we're not over it yet. As construction continues on the the Metro Tunnel, the Victorian Government has announced that sections of three Melbourne train lines (and six V/Line services) will be closed at some point between September 21 and October 27. What does that mean? Replacement buses. If you travel on the Sunbury, Cranbourne or Pakenham lines, you'll most likely have to switch from the train to a bus at some point on your commute. If you travel on the Sunbury line, you'll be the most affected as buses will replace trains between Flagstaff and Sunshine for almost two weeks. The Cranbourne and Pakenham lines will have five days of interruptions. Here's what we know so far about what's happening on each of the affected lines. Sunbury: Buses will replace trains between Flagstaff and Sunshine stations from September 29 – October 11. Cranbourne and Pakenham: Buses will replace trains between Westall and Cranbourne/Pakenham stations on the weekend of September 21–22, and between Dandenong and Cranbourne/Pakenham stations from September 23–25. Plus, V/Line services will be affected as well. Coaches will replace trains on the Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat, Warrnambool, Traralgon and Bairnsdale lines at various points throughout September and October. Something to take into account before you make any big weekend plans. The line closures this time round will see platforms extended at all stations between Footscray and Sunshine, as well as new cabling and signalling installed. For up-to-date info, your best bet is to check the disruptions map on the government's Big Build website.
Have you made plans to dial up the romance with your partner on Valentine's and shower your friends with love on Galentine's? But what about your four-legged bestie? Enter the Lonely Barks Club — a free pop-up event hosted by Kip to reduce your pets' loneliness and separation anxiety this V-Day. From Monday, February 12 to Friday, February 16, you can drop off your pooch at Kip's doggy daycare in Brunswick, where they'll be treated to activities ranging from a cuddle corner and dog-themed movies to romantic storytime and a Yappy Hour speed-dating event on Thursday, February 15 from 6.30—7.30pm. Kip is on a mission to transform dog daycare with pick-up and drop-off services, daily activities and state-of-the-art facilities so you can trust that your loved ones are in good hands. Attendance to the Yappy Hour is free with registration, but in order to ensure a safe and fun experience for other dogs, all pups will need to pass a temperament test and complete a profile before entry. If you can't make it to the event but still want to check out Kip's doggy daycare, Kip has a limited-time offering for first-time customers: a deal of three visits for $78. The Lonely Barks Club runs from Monday, February 12 to Friday, February 16 at Kip's Brunswick Doggy Daycare. Register your spot and find out more at Kip's website. Images: Ruthless Photos
In the face of the increasing cynicism and self-self-self-referentialness of art, thank god for the Italians. They still like romance in their films the way they insist on full fat milk in their coffee. Now in its 14th season, the Italian FIlm Festival promises to return "like the lingering embrace of a cherished lover". Twenty-seven films will deliver stories in which uncontrolled passions run high. Highlights include A Five Star Life (Viaggio Sola), the tale of a jetsetting hotel critic who knows her five stars from her four but whose analytical faculties let her down when it comes to her own life; A Perfect Family (Una famiglia perfetta), a comedy about a rich but lonely man who 'rents' a family for Christmas and even writes a script for each member; and Ali Blue Eyes, a Romeo and Juliet-esque drama driven by a taboo love affair and a stabbing. Both opening and closing nights will feature films that'll make you want to go to Rome: Paolo Sorrentino's The Great Beauty, starring Toni Servillo as a renowned journalist and ladies man who once dreamed of becoming a novelist, and Fellini's 1972 classic Roma. Young European star Clara Ponsot will be making guest appearances in Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and Brisbane, presenting her new film, Cosimo and Nicole. Image: The Great Beauty https://youtube.com/watch?v=m2bcwSwNgOQ
Get wrapped up in the latest exhibition at the Ian Potter Museum of Art. Curated by Dr. Andrew Jamieson of Melbourne University's School of Historical and Philosophical Studies, Mummymania takes visitors back to the tombs of Egypt, exploring the role of the mummy in ancient funeral practices, their importance in archaeological and medical research, and their lasting place in pop culture thanks to their representation in Hollywood films. Running until mid-April next year, the exhibition includes a number of mummified objects, along with other artefacts, that paint a picture of ancient Egyptian customs and beliefs. In particular, the exhibition will shed light on how the study of mummies has helped shaped our understanding of ancient diseases. Mummyophiles can also catch a free floor talk on the afternoon of Thursday, October 15 with Egyptologist Janet Davey, researcher Petronella Nel, and horror film expert Ben Buckingham.
If you're a true sweet tooth, you'll know that one course of dessert is never enough. The cacao masters at Mörk Chocolate Brew House are on the same page, and they're hosting a series of dessert-focused degustations where the sweet stuff reigns supreme from first course to the very last. Running each Friday in October, Mörk's four-course dessert nights offer Head Pastry Chef Kate Robertson (ex-Cutler & Co. and London's St John) the chance to indulge her experimental side, transforming high-end cacao into all sorts of clever, thought-provoking dessert creations. If you've ever experienced one of Mörk's mesmerising campfire hot chocolates, you'll know these guys aren't afraid to push the boundaries when it comes to chocoalte. One course of the degustation will hero a range of native Australian ingredients, while another is crafted around the unique, double-fermented Itakuja chocolate, which is built on passionfruit pulp. Each night will have two sittings of just 18 seats, so you'll want to be quick to snap up tickets — the earlier seating has already sold out. Reservations are open now, with tickets priced at $45. Mörk Nights will take place on the four Fridays of October at the Mörk Chocolate Brew House, 150 Errol Street, North Melbourne. For more info and to book a seat, visit morkchocolate.com.au. Updated: September 26, 2017.
Melbourne may not have Mardi Gras, but we do know a thing or two about festivals. Since 1988, Midsumma has been the go-to destination for LGBTIQ festivities, and this year is no exception. Over 85 different venues across the city, there are hundreds of events on offer including art, theatre, music, and parties that include all three. Whether you're after Eurythmics nostalgia, puppets, drag shows, serious contemplation, or Kylie Minogue-themed cocktails — this is the festival that celebrates all types. Get amongst the madness from January 12. Confetti People don't dance enough these days. It's a problem. To go out on the town increasingly involves people mashing their bodies together with a total lack of synchronicity while splashing waves of vodka raspberry on your white shoes. Melbourne nightlife needs a revamp, and this — the official dance party of the festival — may be just the thing to do it. On January 12, the regal Palace Theatre will be fitted out in true technicolour Midsumma style to house some amazing dance music. The Presets head the top of the bill alongside New York act Cakes Da Killa and Melbourne's own World's End Press. These bands will then be joined by no less than nine DJ acts marking all the trappings of an epic night out. There could be no better way to kick off this fresh and exciting festival. Tickets are on sale here, or if you prefer your technicolour fun in daylight hours, check out the Carnival on the same day. Palace Theatre; January 12; $86 - 96. It's That Sometimes You Move Too Loud This exhibition at Edmund Pearce Gallery embraces its defiance to categorisation. Curator Sharon Flynn wrangles some disparate responses to the themes of rupture and identity by seven artists whose work operates across a vast spectrum of forms – from lens-based media to live art. It is also the first time this gallery has allowed the use of live bodies and performance within the space. Edmund Pearce Gallery; January 15 – February 1; Free. Thank You For Being A Friend The idea behind this stage show is pretty straight forward — it's The Golden Girls, but with puppets. Like a zanier, later-life version of Sesame Street, these ladies have been slaying audiences in sold-out shows in Sydney and are now making their way south for crowds at Midsumma. Since airing in 1985, The Golden Girls always had a bizarrely devoted following with gay men; Dorothy, Sophia, Rose and Blanche seemed to strike accord with many gay fans, either a result of the excellent life lessons or stinging one liners that they delivered regularly. One can only think that the comedic pleasures of the whole thing will be doubled by the presence of a creepy Betty White puppet, but time will tell. Tickets for Thank You For Being a Friend are available via Theatre Works. Theatre Works; January 7 - 18; $40 - 47. Sweet Dreams: the Songs of Annie Lennox One of the musical highlights of this year's festival, Sweet Dreams is a one-man vehicle for the prodigious talents of Michael Griffiths — one of the stars of smash-hit Jersey Boys — that’s played to raptured audiences all over the world. The show, written and directed by Dean Bryant, reinterprets the work of Eurythmics songstress Annie Lennox into a modern-day cabaret performance with improvised dialogue. So much of the show is about Griffiths though, and in a testament to his abilities (and stamina!) the show is even double-billed with his own (In Vogue: Songs of Madonna). fortyfivedownstairs; January 15 - 26; $30 - 39. Miss Gay and Miss Transexual Australia 2014 Beauty pageants can be a tired business. More and more, the women end up looking eerily similar, everyone seems to be an expert at baton twirling, and then eventually someone mentions world peace and the audience's eyes roll out of their heads with boredom. Miss Gay and Miss Transexual Australia is exactly the alternative we might need. Now in its fourth year, this show is providing a fresh take on the medium featuring the most beautiful and stylish gay men, cross-dressers, drag queens and transexuals from across Australia. This year's theme, 'Dreams and Fantasy', may sound familiar, but with this new take the average show may be in for a much-needed shot of diversity. Yarraville Club; February 1; $30 - 75. Tell Me A Story Spoken word events are few and far between these days. Haunted by a sometimes cringeworthy past of beat poetry and undergrad creative writing workshops, storytelling is close to becoming another lost art form. But with Tell Me A Story recently selling out shows in Sydney, this new oral phenomena is a welcome addition the Midsumma program. For one night only, under the theme of 'GLBTI Family', comedians, experienced storytellers, and tenacious beginners will share personal experiences over ten minute blocks with a relaxed audience at Gasworks Arts Park. The event on January 17 will be hosted by Kathryn Bendall and will feature Adam Richard, Em Rusciano and Joel Creasey among others. For more information check out the website. Gasworks Arts Park; January 17; $25 - 28. From the Ilk Hello Sunshine is a collective of three Melbourne creatives — Erika de Vos, Jessie Ford and Stacey Bennett — whose illustrations interrogate notions of love, beauty, and queer culture. Like previous work, their exhibition From the Ilk is designed as a provocation to the viewer; one that asks questions about the boundaries that govern our behaviour. Norm Warehouse; January 17 – February 7; Free. No One Likes Me The creator of No One Likes Me, Darren Vizer, is best known for his extensive experience as a choreographer for companies like Sydney Dance Company and Opera Australia. But this play at the iconic La Mama Theatre — where it emerged from its Explorations Season last year — sees Vizer flex his theatrical muscles, creating a tightly interwoven piece that explores the interconnected impact of bullying upon our identity. La Mama Theatre; January 23 – February 2; $15 - 25. Battle on the Bent Track One of several sporting events on offer throughout Midsumma, Battle on the Bent Track sees teams from Queensland, Victoria, NSW, ACT, SA, WA and New Zealand duke it out in Australia’s only queer roller derby tournament. The Battle’s an offshoot of the Vagine Regime Australia, an international queer league founded in 2008. As well as enjoying a sport that’s high-stakes and fiendishly difficult you’ll be supporting the Regime’s work with LGBTI charities, with an afterparty to boot! Puckhandlers Roller Sport Stadium; February 1; $22.50 - 33.50. Bar Kylie This may just be the most exciting part of the entire festival. It's pretty distant from the art or the theatre or the important discussion-type events but it is an entire bar devoted to all things Kylie Minogue. It's going to be glitzy and kitsch and fabulous. Open for just four days in the middle of January this special bar, housed in The 86 on Smith Street, has a jam-packed lineup prepared for Kylie-lovers young and old. Wednesday, January 15 will kick off the festivities with free Gelato Messina from 6pm, special $10 Kylie Kocktails and a top secret act yet to be announced (everyone surely has their fingers crossed for the diva herself!); Thursday will bring with it a lip-synching competition; Friday night will host an entire ball devoted to Ms Minogue, and Saturday will be 'Kylie Nation' — an elaborate dance party featuring Brendan Maclean, Millie Minogue and a stage full of drag superstars. Already, it's being hailed as a place for "screaming queens, queers, butch bears, bis, femmes and confused straights," or in other words, the average Kylie fan. The 86, 185 Smith Street; January 15 - 18; Free Wednesday - Friday, $20 on Saturday. Written by Eric Gardiner and Meg Watson.
Forefather to Melbourne's Korean Fried Chicken craze, the Gami chain is now pumping out poultry at four locations (three in the CBD and one in St Kilda). While there's a small invitation of dumplings and side dishes, it's important to stay focused and keep that stomach space free for the real reason you came: fried bird bits. Honestly, there's not a great deal of decision making that needs to happen here; you either want your chicken with bones or boneless, with or without sauce. As for beer, you can get it on tap, in jugs or — our preference — in a mini keg that sits on the edge of your table. It's also advisable to request extra napkins. You'll thank us later on this one, when the sticky sweet-soy-garlic sauce drips from your fingers to your elbows, and you begin to regret the fact you brought a Tinder date along.
Suffering a bit of brunch boredom? Well, to help free you from the monotony of avo smash and egg scrambles, Rice Kitchen — the crew that delivers DIY Vietnamese feast boxes to your door — is holding a series of Vietnamese Sunday brunch pop-ups this October. It's for a great cause, too, helmed by Australian chef Tracey Lister (Made In Vietnam, Vietnamese Street Food), and co-hosted with Know One Teach One, a social enterprise that provides hospitality training to disadvantaged youth. Held every Sunday in October at a North Melbourne warehouse location, each of these brunch sessions will feature a unique, Hanoi-meets-Melbourne spread. Food will be served as it is in Vietnam, rolling through a parade of small dishes — though they'll be plated up with a sprinkling of that Melbourne brunch flair. To that end, expect plates like xôi (a glutinous rice dish) with coconut braised pork belly and soft boiled eggs, pork terrine and prawn lettuce wraps, savoury sticky rice, and sweet potato, taro and turmeric croquettes. Of course, no Melbourne brunch is complete without some tasty mid-morning sips, so these feasts will also include liquid treats like matcha lattes and traditional Vietnamese egg coffee. There'll be three brunch sittings each Sunday (10.30am, 12pm and 1.30pm), with a Hanoi street food menu on October 8 and 15, and a Hanoi home cooking menu on October 22 and 29.
If you're keen to level-up your bottomless brunch game this year, an indulgent feasting situation awaits at Melbourne's sprawling new venue dedicated to bar sports, Ballers Clubhouse. Here, you can ditch the standard smashed avo and scrambled eggs for lobster, prosecco and your own private indoor cabana. The 2500-square-metre bar has Saturdays sorted with two weekly bottomless brunch sessions, kicking off at 12pm and 2pm. For $79 per person, you'll score a Miami-inspired cabana to kick back in, plus a spread of share plates to graze your way through — think: mini lobster rolls, beetroot hummus served with pistachio dukkah and flatbread, salmon tartare and ice cream tacos. The price also includes as much shuffleboard as your competitive spirit can handle, along with two hours of free-flowing beer, rosé, prosecco and mimosas. And if you prefer to wash down brunch with something a little stronger, an extra $20 will get you bottomless espresso martinis and passionfruit martinis right through your two-hour session. Round up the crew stat — you'll need a minimum of six brunchers to book out a cabana. Images: Michael Gazzola
The happy feels might have been in shorter supply than usual this year, but that's all set to change if you lock in some laughs at Comedy Republic's Comedyish Spring Break next month. From Saturday, November 27–Sunday, November 28, the venue's serving up a full weekend of chuckles from a roll-call of Aussie favourites, in a special expanded edition of its popular new material night. Taking the stage across eight sessions to road-test their freshest jokes, will be comics like Tommy Little, Claire Hooper, Nazeem Hussain, Zöe Coombs Marr, Rhys Nicholson, Geraldine Hickey and more. From Tom Ballard, to David Quirk, to Scout Boxall, you'll get to experience the very latest material from some much-loved homegrown talent. Some of it so fresh, it'll be cooked up on stage in front of your very eyes. A session will set you back $10–15 here, or you can load up on laughs with a multi-session, day or weekend pass.
Trying to dance like Christopher Walken, pretending you're in Cruel Intentions, being transported back to the late 90s and early 00s: that's all on the agenda when Fatboy Slim, aka Norman Cook, returns Down Under in 2023. Hitting Melbourne on Friday, April 28, the British dance music legend will take to the decks to bust out a hefty range of dance floor fillers. His 1998 album You've Come a Long Way, Baby was the club soundtrack to end the 20th century — a staple of every 90s teen's CD collection, too — and responsible for hits like 'Right Here, Right Now', 'The Rockafeller Skank' and 'Praise You'. As for 2000's Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars, it gave the world 'Weapon of Choice' and its iconic Walken-starring (and Spike Jonze-directed) video. You might not be able to dance along the walls when Cook plays the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, but you'll want to thanks to his big beat sound. Indeed, alongside the Chemical Brothers, The Prodigy, Basement Jaxx, The Propellerheads and Crystal Method, he helped bring the style to mainstream fame. Cook has been making music since the 80s, but took on the name Fatboy Slim in the mid-90s, starting with 1996 record Better Living Through Chemistry. His discography also spans 2004 album Palookaville and 2013 single 'Eat, Sleep, Rave, Repeat'. If you've seen Cook live before, you'll know that this is news to get excited about right about now. His Australian tour marks Cook's return after his 2020 headline shows — pre-pandemic — with his Melbourne gig at the same venue recorded for an epic live video that's notched up more than 2.4-million views. Top image: Secretaría de Cultura de la Ciudad de México via Wikimedia Commons.
A huge dose of flower power is set to descend on the NGV this autumn, as the sumptuous Art of Bloom transforms the gallery's Great Hall into a multi-sensory floral wonderland. Hosted by the NGVWA and featuring the work of more than 20 Aussie artists and creatives, this striking installation is set to bloom brightly from Wednesday, May 3–Friday, May 5. [caption id="attachment_895068" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Victoria Whitelaw.[/caption] Art of Bloom sees each artist create their own floral (or floral-inspired) masterpiece, reimagining artworks from the esteemed NGV Collection with petals in place of paintbrush strokes. Among them, you'll spy stunning sensory designs from the likes of Steven Gabriel Maccora, Acid Flwrs, xxflos, Paper Couture and Victoria Whitelaw, plus Flowers Vasette, Hiromi Tango and many more. The installation will make its grand public debut at a gala cocktail party on May 3 (tickets are $295, available online), before the exhibition ($40) opens across three sessions over the following two days. As you can imagine, these living artworks will be here for a good time, not a long time. [caption id="attachment_895066" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Vivien Hollingsworth.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_895064" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Acid Flwrs, by Claire Mueller[/caption] Top image: Flowers Vasette
Meal subscription service MealPal launched in Melbourne last year with the goal of ending boring — and expensive — lunches for time-starved office workers. It offers weekday lunches for just $8 a day from more than 100 of Melbourne lunchtime go-tos, such as Mr Burger, PappaRich, Pokéd and Zeus Street Greek. The brainchild of ClassPass co-founder, Mary Biggins, and Katie Ghelli (formerly of ZocDoc), the meal subscription service proved a hit across the USA and UK since first launching in Miami, in January 2016. Since then, it has served over 8 million meals to workers across 16 cities around the world. Now, to celebrate its first year in Melbourne, the app is offering five days of lunches for just $1. That's 20 cents a day. You could find more than that in the bottom of an old bag, behind a couch cushion or under a car seat. To access the deal, sign up through the website or app and you'll be able to order a daily lunch meal from the huge selection of great local restaurants, schedule a convenient time to skip the queues and pick it up, and enjoy a tasty feed for blissfully minimal effort — for 20 cents a day. To get access to the deal, you need to signup before midnight on Monday, June 18, so get in quick. Image: Mr Burger
With stay-at-home orders in place, you can say goodbye to any weekend bottomless brunches, right? Wrong. The good folks at Rice Paper Scissors are whipping up a lockdown-friendly alternative to your favourite meal of the week, with its F**k Lockdown 6.0 Boozy Brunch Box. Available daily and clocking in at $45 per person, one of these bad boys comes stocked with all the trimmings required for a lavish morning feast. In it, you'll find your choice of one brunch dish per diner — perhaps some pandan pancakes or the shiitake mushroom pho — along with a DIY bellini kit complete with a 750ml bottle of prosecco. Each person will also get a signature cocktail, with a choice of Vietnamese-inspired espresso martini or the Chiang Mai bloody mary. A booze-free box with virgin cocktails is also on offer for $35 per person. What's more, you'll even score some bonus brunchtime entertainment, thanks to Rice Paper Scissors' curated playlist. Expect a soundtrack of lockdown-inspired beats to help make your at-home brunch feed feel that little bit more fun. To get your boxed brunch, order here by 4pm for next-day delivery. Top Images: Kristoffer Paulsen
Not be outdone by their neighbours, whose own festival du film celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, the latest line-up at the Audi Festival of German Films is guaranteed to give the French a run for their money. Presented by the Goethe-Institut in conjunction with Palace Cinemas, the 2014 festival boasts a selection of more than 50 German language films, as well as parties, lectures, special screenings and Q&As. Just a few of the highlights include Marc Rothemund's The Girl with Nine Wigs, about a young woman struggling with a cancer diagnosis; Constanze Knoche's simmering family drama, Visitors, about the strained relationship between a father and his three adult children; and Jan-Ole Gerster's black and white, day-in-the-life dramedy Oh Boy, which scooped up the top prize at the 2013 German Film Awards. The Audi Festival of German Film is in Sydney and Melbourne from March 27 to April 11, and in Brisbane from March 28 to April 3. Thanks to the festival, we have six double passes to give away in each city, valid for a session of your choosing. 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 For the full Audi Festival of German Films program, see the festival website. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Xlyt_IRWM30
Riveting dissections of realistic situations: that's where siblings Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne have made their careers. Continuing in the same finessed, naturalistic vein, Two Days, One Night compels by rendering relatable circumstances without sentiment but with surprises. It follows the attempts of Sandra (Academy Award-winner Marion Cotillard) to convince her co-workers to save her job. To do so, they would need to forgo a cash bonus they've been offered and in many cases need. The precision with which the filmmakers present a feature almost solely comprised of conversations cannot be underestimated, nor can Cotillard's expert efforts in illustrating the fragility of her striving but uncertain protagonist. Small in stature yet striking in its statement, Two Days, One Night took out the Sydney Film Prize at this year's Sydney Film Festival. Two Days, One Night is in cinemas on November 6. Thanks to Madman Entertainment, we have two Dardenne Brothers DVD prize packs to give away, each including a double in-season pass to see the new film. Eight runners up will also get double in-season passes. 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 https://youtube.com/watch?v=qxLqaEGZiDY
Lawn bowls is one of those games — a bit like table tennis or Guitar Hero — that you always think you're better at when you're a little bit drunk. It's highly unlikely that you actually are, but the important thing is that it feels like it. Taking place at the Flemington and Kensington Bowling Club as part of Good Beer Week, this high-rolling affair will see brewers from Funk Estate, Blue Elephant Cider, Riverside Brewing Co. and more captain teams of thirsty punters in a cut-throat bowls tournament (note: it will not be remotely cut-throat). Your ticket entitles you to a pair of beverages, plus one of a number of tasty burgers. For those who aren't quite as competitively-minded, there'll also be free barefoot bowls all day.
To the dismay and disbelief of some (and to the giggles and chuckles of others), the recent Anthony Weiner sex scandal in American politics is producing some very interesting coverage. For instance, today's New York Post headline has created plenty of controversy as it brazenly proclaims 'Obama Beats Weiner'. The headline relates to President Obama's comments about Weiner's resignation, and while many are growing tired of the constant double entendres others are enjoying watching how far the joke can be pushed. The House Majority Leader, John Boehner, made comments earlier today calling for Weiner's resignation. Potential suggestions from Twitter for tomorrow's headline include 'Boehner Hard On Weiner'. While some suggest that this kind of childish joke-making is degrading American politics, it is hard not to laugh when you consider other recent political news. Fox Business host Eric Boilling yesterday remarked "What's with all the hoods in the hizzy?" after President Obama hosted rapper Common and Gabon President Ali Bongo at the White House recently. Boilling later apologised for "getting a little fast and loose with the language" but not for his comments about Obama "chugging 40s". And of course who could forget Sarah Palin, who continues travel around the United States on her One Nation tour, obviously inspired by her Australian political counterpart Pauline Hanson's One Nation party. Let's just hope the entire presidential campaign continues to be this much fun. https://youtube.com/watch?v=0XnLjDaREXs
The CBD's much-loved Korean BBQ joint, Mansae, has made its way into the suburbs — with a new sibling venue landing in Burwood East earlier this month. To celebrate the opening of Mansae's second location, the team is hosting a meat-filled happy hour every weekday between 5pm-6pm, until Wednesday, May 31. Offering an expanded menu and bigger dining space for KBBQ lovers, patrons that head in from 5pm can nab a plate of $10 Australian wagyu beef belly. Other wagyu highlights on the menu include the buttery 9+ marble striploin ($43) and fan-favourite thinly-sliced short ribs ($43). Further down the menu you find free-range pork belly ($24), ox tongue ($28) and Wagyu yukhoe ($29), the Korean version of beef tartare. Hot pot ($45) is also available for those craving something seasonal to suit Melbourne's current arctic weather. Images: Griffin Simm.
Given the hefty backlash copped by Lost Picnic's 2017 edition in Sydney, you'd be forgiven for thinking the boutique festival might not live to see another day. But organisers have announced the event will return this October, promising to address last year's raft of issues and even throwing a debut Melbourne date into the mix. Taking over the Nursery at Flemington Racecourse on October 7, Lost Picnic 2018 is out to dish up a family-friendly serve of live entertainment and top local eats. Taking the stage this year will be legendary young-gun Tash Sultana, off the back of releasing her debut album, joined by Meg Mac, New Zealand singer-songwriter Marlon Williams, Sydney's Odette and brass ten-piece Hot Potato Band. A finely-tuned food offering will include Burn City Smokers and Pho Nom. Lost Picnic's last outing suffered more than a few hiccups, with punters complaining of lengthy wait times, food and drink stalls running out of stock early, and a somewhat disastrous forced recycling system. But this time around, Simon Beckingham — co-founder of Finely Tuned, the group that organises both Lost Picnic and NYE bash Lost Paradise — says festival goers can expect a much smoother affair. "Since last year's event wrapped up, we have been working hard to vastly improve the customer experience for 2018," he told Concrete Playground. After taking "all feedback on board", Beckingham had confirmed that there will be double the food stalls and an increased number of toilets, bar staff and tills — and those keen to skip the food queues altogether will be able to bring in their own picnic snacks. It's unclear if the capacity of the festival has been reduced or not. And instead of last year's compulsory recycling system, which forced punters to put down a $1 deposit for cups and then line up again to get a refund, there'll be a more user-friendly $10 cash-back incentive for those recycling their empty wine bottles. Tickets are going for the same price — $89 a pop — so here's hoping all the changes make the ticket price worth it.
To celebrate World Coffee Day, Richmond's cult-favourite tart shop Tarts Anon will be giving away 100 of its newest creation — the espresso custard flan — free with coffee purchases. The one-day-only special sees croissant pastry and silky crème patisserie baked together and laced with espresso, resulting in a caffeinated twist on the traditional Portuguese tart. Whether you order a flat white, cappuccino or long black, with oat milk, almond or regular dairy, the free flan is yours — if you're among the first through the door. The giveaway will run from 8am until the first 100 pastries are snapped up, so you'll want to get in early. You'll find it all happening at Tarts Anon's light-filled flagship on Church Street. Tarts Anon's free espresso custard flans are only available on Wednesday, September 20, from 8am, for the first 100 customers.
Some like it hot; other milder folk prefer not to flirt with such danger. But whichever category you fall into, your tastebuds will find plenty to love when the Yarra Valley's Herb and Chilli Festival returns to spice up autumn. Descending on founders Clive and Di Larkman's Wandin herb farm from Saturday, March 19–Sunday, March 20, the flavour fest is set to deliver a fiery mix of food, entertainment and more. An 80-strong lineup of stallholders will be slinging everything from chilli plants and fresh herbs, to flavoursome pantry goods. Visit the international food court for a ready-to-eat spice hit — think, Slap Ya Mama's cajun fish fry — and sample feisty booze products like hot chilli wine and Logan's signature Thai Venom Vodka. Meanwhile, Hot Sauce Alley will offer tastings and takeaways from a range of Aussie favourites, and the live cooking stage will play host to both chef demos and fiery eating competitions — are you game to try the Stinger Wing Challenge? Luckily, you can keep your cool in between chillies with a program of live tunes, from artists including Sydney's Cajun-blues act Psycho Zydeco, Garry Marr and John Rees.
In the world of floral artistry, Kate Hill has earned a reputation as a master of luxury and queen of the special occasion bouquet. So if it's some wow-factor you're seeking, her namesake Southbank studio is the place to start your hunt. Just ask the many celebrities, upscale boutiques and high-end hotels for whom she's created works. Up your gifting game with a signature arrangement or vase-held design, or let the team put together a custom piece crafted around your preferred colours and style. Or hey, why not treat yourself to a sweet-smelling bouquet, orchid or peace lily to brighten up your own pad?
Maybe you've been to a great comedy show, had a delicious meal in Chinatown or seen a flick at your local cinema and, for whatever reason, you're not quite ready to head home. Luckily, when you don't feel ready to call it a night, Melbourne has heaps of places you can duck into for a well-made tipple and a lengthy chat to extend your evening. To help narrow down where to go next, we've partnered with Maker's Mark to bring you seven cocktail bars across the city where you can order an old-fashioned and find a cosy spot to park yourself as you keep the good times rolling. AFTER A FEED IN THE CITY, STEP INTO EAU DE VIE'S COSY BOOTHS When you want a night out in the city to last a little bit longer than just your dinner reservation time, make a beeline for speakeasy-style bar Eau De Vie. The Malthouse Lane venue has plenty of intimate space and private booths to slink into, as well as shared high tables and a hidden bar behind a bookcase dubbed the Whiskey Bar. But it's not just about the atmosphere here; it has an extensive cocktail list drawing from theatrical inspiration, including Shakespearean, operatic, burlesque- and carnival-inspired concoctions. [caption id="attachment_684904" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brook James[/caption] AFTER DINNER IN CHINATOWN, ORDER A TOUSSAINT TANG AT 1806 Chinatown is a favourite dining spot for many Melburnians. The eastern end of Little Bourke Street is filled with Chinese eateries serving up dumplings, peking duck and seafood and plenty of noodle and rice dishes. After filling up on noods, head to cocktail bar 1806, just a stone's throw away from Chinatown on Exhibition Street. We recommend the venue's popular cocktail, the Toussiant Tang, made with Maker's Mark, Bowmore 12, Amaro Montenegro, mango and lemon. Or, go the simpler mint julep, made with Maker's Mark, fresh mint and syrup. [caption id="attachment_639976" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Black Pearl[/caption] AFTER A FITZROY FEAST, SLINK INTO A COUCH AT BLACK PEARL Brunswick Street is teeming with stellar places to grab a bite, including the likes of Smith & Daughters, Naked For Satan, Rice Queen, Ichi Ni Nana and Shawcross Pizza. The bustling street also has many places to dip into to quench your thirst after you've satisfied your hunger. When you want to extend your night out, we recommend heading to the lounge room-style cocktail bar Black Pearl. It has been shaking and stirring tipples for over 18 years, so you can trust the bartenders here to make you a classic old-fashioned or whiskey sour. Best of all, you can keep the good times rolling up until 3am here. [caption id="attachment_708330" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Josie Withers/Visit Victoria[/caption] AFTER A SHOW AT MELBOURNE TOWN HALL, HEAD TO LUSTRE BAR Located on the corner of Swanston and Collins Streets, Melbourne Town Hall is a cornerstone of the city's cultural calendar and it has been putting on exhibitions, shows, functions and festivals for over 135 years. After an evening in the historic building — whether it's to catch some comedy or for a black-tie event — head to Lustre Bar along Flinders Lane for a late-night sweet fix. Here, you can enjoy the likes of a house-made brownie served warm with fresh cream and strawberries for a cheeky $12. Wash it down with a whiskey sour, made with Maker's Mark, lemon juice, sugar syrup and egg white. AFTER A NIGHT OF BELLY LAUGHS, ROLL INTO BOILERMAKER HOUSE If there's one thing the city knows how to put on, it's a comedy show. After seeing a big name at the Forum or having been entertained in a more casual setting such as Crab Lab or The Catfish, you're going to want a good cocktail afterwards. Head to Boilermaker House, located in the heart of the city on Lonsdale Street. It is a blues-filled bar renowned for its quality malt whiskey and cocktails — and the cheeseboards aren't too bad either. We recommend ordering an old-fashioned made with Maker's Mark to finish off the night. AFTER A FLICK AT PALACE KINO, DEBRIEF AT NICK & NORA'S Palace Kino Cinemas features a slew of local and international new releases, feature films, old classics and documentaries over seven big screens. It's also a popular spot during international and domestic film festivals and is in close quarters to a range of cocktail bars. One of these is the speakeasy-style cocktail bar Nick & Nora's. Sporting golden era vibes, from the glamorous light fixtures down to the geometric patterned carpet, the venue is perfect for some after-flick charcuterie, cheese and cocktails — and there are plenty of hideaways to relax into to carry your post-film discussion on into the evening. [caption id="attachment_662764" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kate Shanasy[/caption] AFTER A CITY SHOPPING SPREE, SWING BY MJOLNER There's lots to do around Melbourne Central, including seeing a movie at Hoyts, grabbing a bite at Asian Beer Café or Nosh, or browsing the shops. After a day on your feet in the city, you're going to want to find somewhere for a respite. Step into Mjolner, a Viking-themed bar with contemporary Scandinavian design. It's also a good spot for a post-shopping spree cocktail. Order yourself an aptly named Battle Axe, made with Maker's Mark, rum, chicory, walnut leaf, maple and bitters. It'll help get you into the seafaring warrior spirit. Find out more about Maker's Mark and how to make an old-fashioned, here. Top image: Nick & Nora's, Brook James
Sex and art have a lot in common. We both want them to fulfil certain needs and impulses. They have to be fun — something we can look forward to and enter into with a sense of gleeful abandon. But there has to be an intellectual side too. What did that even mean? Surely, there has to be more to it. How'd they learn to do that? Andrew Goodman's new solo exhibition at Blindside looks set to take the best of both these worlds and hit all our sweet spots. The centrepiece artwork, Orgasmatron, is a sculptural re-imagining of a comical sex-substitute machine from Woody Allen's 1973 sci-fi comedy Sleeper. What Goodman terms a "soft sculpture", the work is an inflatable structure that houses a secret world of projection, vibration and sound — an intimate show for just one or two at a time. The work, with all its obvious sexual undertones, is definitely fun. People crawling on their hands and knees into an amorphous vaguely sexual blob machine — it's funny. But it also satisfies our intellectual needs. The experience of being in there, all snug and confused, is sure to raise many questions about the nature of intimacy itself. With a comical edge, Goodman is interrogating the relationships we all have with our bodies, and our experiences of pleasure itself. If you find yourself enjoying it a little too much, take solace in the eternally wise words of Woody Allen, "I don't know the question, but sex is definitely the answer."
The San Telmo crew's new Japanese grill restaurant Robata was open for less than a week before the latest lockdown shut its doors. Thankfully, you can now get a taste of Head Chef Stephen Clark's hotly anticipated new menu delivered to your house. The restaurant has launched a lockdown-friendly Robata at Home offering available for delivery this weekend. For $75, the 'Ie De Robata' two-person meal box comes loaded with chirashi hand rolls, plenty of house-made condiments, and finish-at-home dishes like chicken thigh yakitori, yaki onigiri and leek kushiyaki skewers. There are step-by-step instructions to help you bring it all to life, plus a curated playlist to jam to while you cook. Meanwhile, the $110 'Sequel' box features an even heartier lineup — think, fresh tuna and salmon sashimi, pork katsu teamed with cabbage and a red miso sauce, and fluffy yuzu marshmallow for dessert. Other goodies available to add onto your order include Asahi beers, bottles of sake and wine, and batched serves of the signature Sakura cocktail — a traditional blend of vodka, sake, sour cranberry and cherry blossom. Only a limited number of boxes are up for grabs, so get in quick and order yours online before they're gone. Deliveries are happening this Friday, August 13–Sunday, August 15, from 9am–5pm. Order before 5pm for next-day drop-off.
In just the past year, Fred Armisen has popped up on Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, returned briefly to Saturday Night Live, played multiple characters on Documentary Now! and launched new Spanish-language horror-comedy Los Espookys. He has also co-starred with Maya Rudolph in existential dramedy Forever, voiced a hormone monster on Big Mouth and said goodbye to Portlandia. It's safe to say that he's had a busy 12 months or so. Next up for the hardworking actor and comedian is his first Australian tour, with Armisen bringing his latest show to our shores this August and September. No, he won't be donning wigs and different outfits, and pretending to be various residents from everyone's favourite Oregon hipster city. Sketch comedy does feature in this new show, however — and, this time, musicians are his target. Combining gags, songs and impressions, Comedy for Musicians But Everyone Is Welcome finds plenty of humour in the music industry, and, as Portlandia fans will know, Armisen is no stranger to combining tunes and laughs. While he's now best known for all of the aforementioned series, others like 30 Rock, Broad City and Parks & Recreation, plus as films as varied as Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Battle of the Sexes and The Dictator, Armisen actually started out in Chicago punk band Trenchmouth. He also played drums for the Blue Man Group and, since it launched in 2014, he's been the bandleader and a frequent drummer for Late Night with Seth Meyers. As a result, Comedy for Musicians But Everyone Is Welcome isn't a case of a comedian poking fun at a different industry — Armisen knows what he's joking about. Heading to Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Sydney, Comedy for Musicians But Everyone Is Welcome follows on from Armisen's Netflix special Fred Armisen: Standup for Drummers, which nabbed him a Grammy nomination for Best Comedy Album. If you need some amusement until Armisen hits the country, check out the Standup for Drummers trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAhvJMcLShU Fred Armisen's Comedy for Musicians But Everyone Is Welcome will play at Melbourne's Athenaeum Theatre on Thursday, August 29; Perth's Astor Theatre on Sunday, September 1; The Tivoli in Brisbane on Tuesday, September 3; and Sydney's Enmore Theatre on Wednesday, September 4. Tickets go on sale at 10am on Monday, July 15 — for further details, visit the promoter's website.
Ever wanted to watch Simon Pegg recreate Eat Pray Love? Then you're in luck. It may head to China, Africa and Los Angeles in a quest for contentment, but there's little in Hector and the Search for Happiness that wasn't first seen in that well-known book turned film — other than numerous references to Tintin, that is. Pegg plays the titular therapist, living a seemingly satisfactory life with his devoted girlfriend, Clara (Rosamund Pike). He thinks he is happy, until a dream featuring Hergé's boy adventurer starts him wondering about the meaning of the word. His practice is flourishing and patients accept his guidance willingly, yet he's no longer certain his orderly existence qualifies him to dispense advice. Broadening his horizons becomes the obvious course of action, as Hector sets off around the world in the pursuit of exhilaration and enlightenment. Food, spirituality and romance ensue in the adaptation of psychiatrist-turned-author François Lelord's novel of the same name, in an effort comprised of episodic encounters with thinly drawn characters. A wealthy businessman (Stellan Skarsgård), ruthless drug lord (Jean Reno), former flame (Toni Collette) and distinguished professor (Christopher Plummer) cross Hector's path, each imparting life lessons. To ensure audiences are paying attention, every piece of wisdom Hector gleans is also emblazoned on the screen in scribbled handwriting. In a travelogue film brimming with platitudes, it feels fitting that what is seen in Hector and the Search for Happiness — scrawled statements of supposed knowledge aside — fares better than what is heard. The feature's central performances are amiable, with Pegg more earnest than usual, and Pike luminous, though barely used. From the UK to the US and everywhere in between, the far-flung settings are handsomely and brightly photographed. Alas, a likeable cast and lush images can't overcome trite and troubling material that shouts its sentiments as loudly as it can. Though poised as a warm comedy, there's little that's funny about a script sketchily espousing "be yourself" teachings likely to be found in fortune cookies and overdosing in schmaltz as Hector mingles with babies and the dying — and they're the less concerning elements. Insensitive cultural tourism reinforces stereotypical perceptions and highlights the film's privileged perspective, as does the handling of Hector and Clara's relationship, with marriage and parenthood posed as the real sources of happiness. Coming from the director of Hannah Montana: The Movie and Serendipity, Peter Chelsom, the feature plays out like a cartoonish fairytale, but the lack of serious intent and the overt adherence to formula doesn't excuse its offensiveness or laziness. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty did soul-searching globetrotting before, and better. Hector and the Search for Happiness merely wades along the shallow and sugary edges of the self-help pond. https://youtube.com/watch?v=JElca1Latos
Darkness of Noon, a collaboration by photographer Derek Henderson and illustrator Kelly Thompson showcases the delicate and subtle beauty of model Zippora Seven. Edmund Pearce Gallery — a small, photography-centric gallery with just three modest rooms — provides the ideal backdrop for this unassuming and calm body of work, as the intimacy of the environment aligns with the art. The images were driven by Zippora's natural interactions with the camera and this obvious sense of freedom gives the photographs and subsequent illustrations an air of realness. The viewer becomes part of the intimate world of this beautiful woman, her unattainable figure so close it is almost touchable in what appears as relaxed as the habitat it was born into. The coming together of photography and illustration again has an inclusionary effect, making the viewer sense some of the process behind the works. Allowing us to see these two mediums together showcases the many elements that are involved in the artistic process. The exhibition showcases a handful of pieces from a larger body of work that can be found in the coffee table style book designed by Australia-based Fabio Ongarato, who has worked with the likes of Baker D. Chirico and Country Road. Only 1000 copies have been printed. Image credit Derek Henderson and Kelly Thompson.
Put away the gadgets, turn off the Netflix, round up the family and lace up your (and the little guys') joggers. Victoria's variety of scenic walking trails offer the perfect opportunity to get some fresh air with the whole family — all the while surrounded by the pristine natural landmarks that make this state a hiker's dream. To help you get out there with the entire fam, we've teamed up with our mates at Macpac to track down getaways perfect for all ages. Load up that picnic basket and head to these coastal adventures and lakeside saunters that everyone will love. These family-friendly hikes are well within reach of the city, so the kids won't get bored in the car — and you'll make it home for dinner. [caption id="attachment_717127" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Visit Victoria.[/caption] MORNINGTON DOG-FRIENDLY WALK The Mornington Foreshore offers everything from stunning camping spots and sandy beaches to great quality food and drinks. Featuring a dog-friendly path and modern playground, the walk begins in native bushland and includes many vantage points to glimpse a spectacular water view. Along the way, you'll get to explore Mothers Beach and its vibrant boat houses before arriving at the popular Mornington Pier. Don't forget to bring your fur baby along, too — the Royal Beach is leash-free, and the water and rock pools provide a great spot to rest. Pack this: Kahuna 18L Urban Backpack ($71.99) [caption id="attachment_717128" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Visit Victoria.[/caption] YOU YANGS BIG ROCK WALK Set between Melbourne and Geelong, the You Yangs Regional Park is a great place to visit if you want to get back to nature but not too far away from the city. Home to towering granite rock formations that rise out of the volcanic soil, this place is most popular among rock climbers and mountain bikers. The Big Rock Walk is a leisurely 30-minute stroll winding its way between thick vegetation, eventually arriving at said 'big rock'. The name may lack some imagination, but you'll be inspired by the view from the top. On those cooler Victorian days, the rock soaks up the sun and makes for a pleasant picnic spot with incredible scenery. Pack this: Soft Touch Water Bottle 1L ($24.49) [caption id="attachment_717130" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Visit Victoria.[/caption] WADAWURRUNG COUNTRY WALK Beginning at Point Impossible, the Wadawurrung Country Walk showcases incredible white-sand beaches and coastal shrubbery that attract visitors from near and far. Plus, you can learn about the traditional Wadawurrung people that lived there for thousands of years as you journey along its path. The Torquay Sundial is another highlight and, set near the playground, is a great spot for the kids to discover. Designed by local artists Claire Gittings and Glenn Romanis, the sundial's art combines flora, fauna and oral stories significant to the local community. As you make your way along this 90-minute walk, make sure to stop off at the likes of Whites Beach Playground and the Elephant Walk Park to keep the kids entertained and their energy high. Pack this: Summit Ridge 22L Daypack — Kids ($80.00) [caption id="attachment_703508" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Brianna Laugher via Flickr.[/caption] LERDERDERG GORGE Only an hour's drive from the CBD, Lerderderg State Park is a sprawling spot that spans 14,250 hectares. Begin your descent into the gorge from MacKenzies Flat, then follow the well-signed track towards the river that carves through the landscape. Roam the sandstone and slate rock formations of this 300-metre deep gorge and spot some of the beautiful flora and fauna dotting the area. The kids will have fun leaping across the stepping stones and splashing around int he shallows. Pack this: Cub 10L Daypack — Kids ($54.99) [caption id="attachment_717125" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Visit Victoria.[/caption] LAKE ELIZABETH WALK The Otway Ranges are home to some challenging climbs, but this walk is accessible for the whole family. Take a relaxing stroll around Lake Elizabeth and find out why this tiny section of the Otways is so beloved. Located just a ten-minute drive from the tight-knit community of Forrest, the Lake Elizabeth Walk offers the opportunity to wander through the ferns and even spot a platypus or two. Towering trunks burst from beneath the lake's surface, remaining from when the valley was flooded more than 50 years ago. There's also a small jetty where you can bring a dingy and paddle your way across the water. Pack this: Possum Child Carrier V2 ($239.99)
Chamomile gin, quinoa vodka and moonshine are among the spirits now available for tasting just outside of Melbourne in Healesville, following the opening of distillery Alchemy. The business has taken over a century-old bakery, which you'll find hidden away up a laneway, off the main street. And not only is there a cellar door, there's a cocktail bar and accommodation too. At the centre of Alchemy's operations is a hybrid pot still with a 100-litre capacity. This mighty machine enables founders Evan Kipping and Jannick Zester to experiment with a variety of left-of-field flavours and ideas. While the aforementioned chamomile gin, quinoa vodka and moonshine are Alchemy's core products, there's also a bunch of small-batch spirits on the go at all times. You're invited to taste Alchemy's offerings and/or settle in for a signature cocktail, craft beer or local wine — either indoors, at the bar, or out in the sunny beer garden splashed with greenery. If you want or need to sleep over, there's a two-bedroom apartment overlooking the main street that'll sort you out. To get more deeply involved, join Alchemy's barrel-ageing program. The crew is giving 100 people the opportunity to own their own 20-litre barrel. You'll start by going through the whiskey-making process, including mashing, distillation and fermentation, then, throughout maturation, make return visits to sample your creation. Two years down the track, choose to release the whiskey, stick with it as it continues to age or pop it in a bottle and take it home.
Have you ever wondered who the people on our money actually are? Sure, the Queen's pretty obvious. Okay, we seem to be a little enamoured with our native animals. But wouldn't if be great if you could actually relate to the people proudly emblazoned on our currency? Imagine if you could pay for a cold beer with a few cheeky Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. That's a world I want to live in. So to does German-based designer Andre Levy. Working on an popular Instagram turned Tumblr project called Tales You Lose, this skilled artist has been altering currency from around the world to suit this great idea. He's transformed politicians, royalty and cultural icons into the likes of Princess Leia, Amy Winehouse, Flash and Apu from The Simpsons. "I never collected coins," he told Hyperallergic. "What initially made me accumulate a few was the fact that I keep forgetting them in my pockets ... I saw those coins as massively reproduced sculptures, and felt they could be turned into templates for something richer." Though the act is inherently a kind of defacement, Levy says his intentions aren't political. His subjects are instead decided by convenience. For instance, he often chooses to colour over Queen Elizabeth because of her easily manipulated silhouette. He especially like the Italian 'Vitruvian Man' because you can sneak in a whole standing figure. As far as we can tell, he hasn't yet tackled any Australian currency, though he's always thinking up new ideas for artworks. Right now, he's actually looking for a coin to transform into RuPaul. Seeing as our only pictured person other than the Queen is an Aboriginal elder, I don't think Australia can help him out. Via Hyperallergic.
