Taste of Melbourne, one of the best restaurant festivals in the world is landing in Albert Park on 15 November, and running until Sunday 18 November. It brings together great restaurants and producers under the one roof. This year Taste of Melbourne is taking things outdoors to Albert Park taking over the lakeside Pelican Lawn. 15 of Melbourne's top restaurants including Taxi Dining Room, Albert Street Food and Wine, Mamasita, Movida and The Alyesbury, just to name a few, will be there creating entrée sized portions of some of their signature dishes. The producers making an appearance include Dal Zotto Wines, Stone & Wood, Cacao Fine Chocolates, and too many more to name. Evening sessions will run on all four days of the festival and lunch sessions will run on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The festival is quite sizable and if your anything like us you will want to try every thing. To make things a little easier for you here's Concrete Playground's top ten festival picks. 1. Acqua Panna Experience There is something romantic about Italy. The wine, the food, the vespas. The Acqua Panna Experience will bring you the finest of Italy for the whole four days with an authentic Italian café experience. Sample pizzas from Remo Nicolini, sip Sanpellegrino and Ketel One vodka cocktails will even be whipped up using the best Sanpellegrino has to offer. When in Rome, right? 2. Sensology presents The Art of Cocktail Making Cocktails, they are delicious creations and those sneaky bartenders make it look much easier than it actually is. The expert mixologists from Sensology will help you out in their fun and very informative cocktail making classes. With a range of different drinks being taught over the four days including the espresso martini, the mojito and the whisky sour, you'll be sure to find something you enjoy. 3. Sustainability Living Pop Up Sustainable Living, hosted by the team at Dirty Girl Kitchens is here to teach us all a thing or two about sustainable practices. Each day a different restaurant will take over with Matt Milkinson's Bishop of Ostia and Pope Joan taking the reigns on Saturday and Darren Robertson's Three Blue Ducks featuring on Sunday. 4. Plumm Wine Theatre It is great to know your stuff when it comes to wine, but it isn't always that easy. Gournet Traveller WINE is bringing us the Plumm Wine Theatre along with a series of interactive and fun wine sessions. There will be some of the best wine buffs in the industry there to guide you and Nick Stock, one of our best wine critics, will be hosting two wine tastings in each session. Matt Skinner, wine writer and presenter will also be running one tasting per session where he will teach you all about the right glassware for your wine. Apparently we only need five different glasses? Other sessions will include Summer of Riesling, Sake Samurai School and Pinot Peninsula. 5. Best in Taste Awards On Thursday night, Taste will be holding a Best in Taste Awards where we hear some big names will be on the judging panel. Think food writers, producers; these guys know their stuff. International guest chef for 2012 Nuno Mendes of Viajante will be joining the stellar judging panel. The highly sought after title of “Best in Taste 2012" is making its Australian debut right here in Melbourne. With all the delicious dishes on offer here, we are just glad we don't have to make the deciding vote. 6. Jaguar Champagne and Dessert Bar Champagne and dessert, two of our favourite things. Taste is putting them together in the Jaquar Champagne and Dessert Bar where The Botanical will create delightful petit fours just to you, including truffles and financier griotte. It's a little classy and the perfect way to take a moment to put your feet up in style. 7. Dilmah Chef's Skillery An exciting line up of chefs including Peter Kuruvita from My Sri Lanka will bring a unique skill to each session. Chefs will teach guests everything from knife skills to filleting a fish. Peter Kuruvita will be creating dishes utilising Dilmah Tea itself. Guests will also get to chat to the chefs after the presentations and ask those questions you've always wanted to ask yourself. 8. Malaysia Kitchen Adding a little bit of heat to the festival will be the Malaysia Kitchen Australia which will take guests on a journey of the senses. Guests will enjoy a range of dishes that will showcase the diversity of Malaysian cuisine with a number of Melbourne's loved Malaysian restaurants on board with dishes including Laksa and Char Kway Teow on the menu. Don't miss Poh from Masterchef as she whips up Prawn & Pineapple Curry on both the Saturday and the Sunday. 9. Rekorderlig Cider Bar It's spring and that means cider drinking weather has arrived. Rekorderlig take cider to the next level with weird and wonderful flavours from Strawberry-Lime to Wild Berry. At Taste of Melbourne you will be able to head on over to their bar, sample all of their exciting flavours and take a little time out from the hustle and the bustle of the festival. Some of Melbourne's top bartenders will also be on hand to show you how to best serve your Rekorderlig. 10. Laurent-Perrier Champagne Masterclass Hosted by Kyla Kirkpatrick aka the Champagne Dame this is a masterclass for all you Champagne lovers out there. Kyla will take guests on a tour of Champagne educating on grape varietals, production techniques and a little history thrown in there as well. There will then be the all important tastings of Laurent Perrier's range including some exclusive offerings for this occasion only. We hear there will be some food and flower matching involved in what's shaping up to be a very unique event. There will be 11 sessions run over the Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For all ticketing information and timetables head to www.tasteofmelbourne.com.au
Melbourne dwellers take breakfast (and brunch) very seriously. We like to be able to have it when and where we want and have come to have pretty high standards. While there are too many topnotch cafes serving up delicious morning menus to name them all, here are ten of our favourite spots to grab breakfast, no matter what time you decide to have it. 1. Top Paddock Top Paddock, the newest cafe from the team behind Three Bags Full, Two Birds One Stone and Liar Liar could be said to be the best of the bunch. Open plan, huge windows and a nice grassed area to look out on; Top Paddock is a place you enjoy being in. Try the three mushroom omelette with bean sprouts on toast ($16) or, for something different, go for the kingfish with a chilli fried egg, avocado, salsa and lime with blue corn tortilla ($17.50). If sweet is your thing, check out the ricotta hotcakes with blueberries, maple syrup, seeds and organic mascarpone ($15.50). 658 Church St, Richmond, (03) 9429 4332, www.toppaddockcafe.com/ 2. St Ali Feeding north-siders and south-siders alike, St Ali is a favourite brunch spot for many. If you're after simple poached eggs with avocado and feta smash ($15) or maybe an ancient grain salad with quinoa, spiced cauliflower and pomegranate ($14.50), they've got you covered. The My Mexican Cousin ($21.50) has been on the menu forever and is going nowhere. If corn fritters and haloumi sound like a solid combination to you, this is a must. Though it's packed out most days, the staff still manage to serve with a smile. They also roast and sell all their own coffee, under Sensory Lab, and are open 365 days a year. That's a win. North: 815 Nicholson St, Carlton North 03) 9380 5499. South: 12-18 Yarra Pl, South Melbourne, (03) 9686 2990. stali.com.au 3. Little Big Sugar Salt New kids on the block LBSS are gathering fans fast. Bringing something a little different to Victoria Street in Abbotsford — no pho or needles in sight — they're filling a much-felt gap. Sip on People's coffee from Wellington and choose your dish by savoury or sweet, big or small. The Health — avocado, tomato, beans and herbs on sourdough with vegemite ($11) — is perfect for the health conscious among us, while the crumpets served with either lemon curd and mascarpone or blue cheese, maple syrup, banana and peanut butter ($8) are a great sweet treat. 385 Victoria Street Abbotsford, (03) 94278818, www.lbsscafe.com/ 4. Cumulus Inc Good old Flinders Lane. It really does have some winners. One of those being Cumulus Inc. Whether you want breakfast, a fancy dinner or a glass of wine and nibbles at their wine bar upstairs, they've got you covered. They dial things back a little at breakfast time and nail simplicity. Go for the Cumulus Inc breakfast of boiled eggs, toast, preserves, yoghurt, organic orange juice and coffee or tea ($16), or perhaps the smoked bacon sandwich with gentleman's relish ($14). And the little lemon curd-filled madeleines ($2.50) can always be squeezed in at the end. 45 Flinders Ln Melbourne VIC 3000, (03) 9650 1445, cumulusinc.com.au 5. Industry Beans Found just off the ever-busy Brunswick Street, Industry Beans once simply housed a roastery but has now added cafe to the offering. These guys are serious about coffee; think single origins, filters, blends, cold drips, latte pearls; they have the lot. They are also churning out some top-notch food with a little edge. Muesli comes in the form of smoked dark chocolate, cranberry and pistachio muesli ($11) served with chai-infused milk, while the omelette is served alongside house-cured salmon, chard, lemon thyme, Spanish onion and sweetened beetroot relish ($17). They decor takes industrial one step further, with exposed walls and a shipping container-like outdoor area. It's fun. Warehouse 3, Cnr Rose & Fitzroy Streets, Fitzroy, (03) 9417 1034, industrybeans.com 6. Birdman Eating Gerturde Street is a bit like the quiet, reserved little brother of its neighbouring haunts Brunswick and Smith. There are gems to be found, but no one is yelling. Birdman Eating is one of these gems. For something on the lighter side, start with some coco pops ($5) or perhaps the house-made crumpets with leatherwood honey ($9). If you're in the market for something bigger, try the Birdman braised beans and toast ($15) or the brioche French toast with marmalade, glazed kaiserfleisch, orange pekoe and maple syrup ($15.50). 238 Gertrude St Fitzroy, (03) 9416 4747, birdmaneating.com.au 7. Duchess of Spotswood If you're heading out west, or not, Duchess of Spotswood is worth a stop over. People travel for the Duchess, and so they should. It would be rude to ignore the royals here. The Duchess of Pork comes out as crispy pig's jowl with fried eggs, rich truffle sauce and sourdough ($18.50) while The Prince of Wales sees house-smoked salmon served up with fennel yoghurt, poached eggs, potato and brioche ($19.50). If this is sounding all too heavy, stick to the poached seasonal fruit with puffed grains and vanilla yogurt ($14.50). 87 Hudsons Road, Spotswood, 03 9391 6016, www.duchessofspotswood.com.au 8. Friends of Mine This cafe, found on the somewhat cafe-starved area of Richmond feels a little like a warm hug. They understand you're often hungover and always hungry. Start your day with a bloody mary ($13), a glass of Moet Chandon NV Champagne ($18 a glass) or, of course, you can stick to coffee. Their favourite friends, as their menu suggests, is certainly where you'll find the winners. The smashed avocado with thyme buttered mushrooms, marinated feta and torn basil on wholewheat toast ($17.90) was around before smashed avo was cool. Or, if you're really struggling, go for the HUNG Over: herb and cheesy toast, poached eggs, bacon and smashed avocado ($18.90). That will cure anything that ails you. 506 Swan St, Richmond, (03) 9428 7516, www.friendsofmine.com.au 9. Three Bags Full Abbotsford is pretty cool, and it's getting cooler. This may mean the line for Three Bags Full is getting longer, but, thankfully, the wait is worth it. Over two rooms, the staff, up to their eyeballs with hungry patrons, never fail to deliver a smile and some spot-on service. The space itself is light, wooden, with kooky details like the old bowling alley-turned-tabletop. For the cooler months, try the triticale and oat porridge with almond and soymilk, cherry compote and chia seeds ($13) or the Three Bags scrambled eggs with herbs, crushed peas, grilled leg ham and salted ricotta ($15.50) — divine. Nicholson St Abbotsford, (03) 9421 2732, www.threebagsfullcafe.com.au 10. Dead Man Espresso Dead Man, as it is affectionately known, is a little South Melbourne gem that fuels the many surrounding offices. Cute wooden decor and a great takeaway cabinet just add to the appeal. The menu is small and ever changing. The herb and potato rosti, avocado and a poached egg with a side of bacon (or smoked salmon, whichever you prefer, $18.50) is spot on, while the buttermilk pancakes, sometimes served with rooftop honey and white chocolate crumb ($14), are a decadent option. 35 Market St South Melbourne, (03) 9686 2255, www.deadmanespresso.com.au Images courtesy of Amy Collins, Cumulus Inc, Duchess of Spotswood, Birdman Eating, Three Bags Full and Friends of Mine. View all Melbourne Cafes.
Envision the music of Bach in dance form and what you get is probably not a nine-headed b-boy crew pulling off head spins and power moves. But that's what artistic director Christoph Hagel and choreographer/mastermind Vartan Bassil have done with Red Bull Flying Bach: an explosive streetdance driven by the music of the visionary 18th-century composer. The dancers are Berlin-based breakdance crew Flying Steps, formed by Bassil and Kadir 'Amigo' Memis almost 10 years ago. While their moves are normally driven by urban sounds, this time head spins are inspired by piano keys and b-boy freezes by Bach's fuges. Though that might be putting it too simply; what they're really doing is interpreting Bach's music rather than dancing to it. Different dancers represent different notes, and electronic beats fuse the gaps between the two disparate worlds without at all bastardising the original score. If there was any way Bach could have seen this coming 300 years ago, he'd no doubt approve. We have two double passes to give away to Red Bull Flying Bach in Sydney on March 8 and Melbourne on March 15. To be in the running, subscribe to our newsletter (if you haven't already) and then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address.
Gird your livers, all your beer lovers out there, for Melbourne's annual celebration of all things hoppy and gold. Announced earlier in the week, the program for this year's Good Beer Week features more than 270 free and ticketed events across Melbourne and Victoria, from workshops to tastings to food and brew degustations, and even an honest to God fashion show. In fact there's so much happening that they've tacked on three extra days, bringing the total to ten. Hardly a traditional week...not that we're complaining. Running from Friday May 13 to Sunday May 22, the sixth annual Good Beer Week is split into various different streams. For those who like a drink with their dinner, the Foodie section features a number of enticing events, including a Vietnamese degustation at Uncle in St Kilda, a four course Louisiana beer dinner at Ding Dong Lounge in the CBD, and a Beers, Bikes and BBQ Feast at Kustom Kommune motorbike workshop in Fitzroy. The party-packed Good Times section includes the opening and closing night shindigs, both of which will be held at Beer Deluxe on Flinders Street. Other standout events include a showcase of female brewing talent at The Fox Hotel in Collingwood, and an afternoon of beer, Reuben sandwiches and 90s hip-hop at 5 Points Deli in Carlton. The remaining sections are divided based on your level of beer expertise. For those looking to expand their knowledge, Beer 101 features various workshops and presentations, including a hands-on cider making class at The Arbory on the Yarra, and an 'Australian tour' held at Pilgrim in Fed Square featuring six different beers from six different states. The Beer Geek and Beer Lover sections, on the other hand, are best suited to the beer swilling alcoholics veterans. Learn the ins-and-outs of nano-brewing courtesy of the folk at Henry Street Brewhouse in Kensington, or throw yourself into the annual Pint of Origin showdown at bars and pubs all over the state. Good Beer Week 2016 runs from May 13 to May 22. For more information including the complete program, visit www.goodbeerweek.com.au.
True to form, Melbourne Music Week has crafted one heck of a lineup this year. Kicking off Friday, November 13, the festival is championing this glorious city's best music offerings, as well as bringing in some seriously hypeworthy international artists. The Former Royal Women's Hospital in Carlton is where the majority of this year's action will unfold, with Melbourne's best venues, bars and artistic hubs getting in on the action too. While live music is obviously on the agenda, MMW provides an extensive range of panel discussions, parties, industry events and free films. Whatever you're preferred genre, there'll be something for you in this year's program. Support Melbourne’s bloody awesome music scene and get along to one of our top ten MMW picks. Melbourne Music Week will run from November 13-20. You can view the full program here.
The Animals Dancing collective are responsible for some of Melbourne’s best club nights out, so it makes total sense they'd be throwing an excellent day rave for New Year's Day. This is their fourth NYD party, so rest assured you're in safe hands when it comes to all-day partying. The lineup includes the hugely influential DJ Alfredo, Maxmillian Dunbar (one half of Beautiful Swimmers), the Australian debut for Pender Street Steppers, and Glaswegian Scott Fraser Tornado Wallace, Otologic and Andee Frost will be supporting, so get down to Mycelium Studios and get your dance on.
Call it fate, call it destiny, call it feeling so deeply that you were always meant to cross paths with another person that no other outcome could ever be conceivable: in Korean, that sensation is in-yeon. Call it having a connection that sprawls yet binds like an endless piece of string, always linking you to someone no matter how far apart you each wander: stretch that out over many, many lifetimes and, yes, that is in-yeon as well. Watching Past Lives, which references the kismet-esque concept both in its three-part story and its title, gives viewers a brush with in-yeon, too. Writer/director Celine Song's feature debut is that affecting; that vivid, evocative and haunting; that alive with been-there-lived-that energy. Wading through layers of love, identity, roads taken and not, and the versions of ourselves that we are at each fork, Past Lives is that acutely able to make a very specific experience mirror everyone's experiences. Partway through the film, aspiring playwright and writer Nora (Greta Lee, Russian Doll) talks through in-yeon with fellow scribe Arthur (John Magaro, The Many Saints of Newark). She shares that in-yeon lingers with everyone that you meet, the very act of making one's acquaintance signifying that you've done so before — and if two people become lovers, it's because they've kept falling into step in life after life. As Nora speaks, Past Lives' audience are well-aware of an unshakeable truth, as is the movie's central figure: that she knows in-yeon in her bones. Indeed, this is what Song's sublime feature is about from its first frames to its last in every way that it can be. With Arthur, Nora jokes that in-yeon is something that Koreans talk about when they're trying to seduce someone. There's zero lies in her words, because she's working that move right there and then, and she'll end up married to him. But with her childhood crush Hae Sung (Teo Yoo, Decision to Leave), who she last saw at the age of 12 because her family then moved from Seoul to Toronto, in-yeon explains everything. That one perfect term sums up Nora and Hae Sung's firm friendship as kids, as chronicled in Past Lives' first third. As pre-teens, the duo (Voice of Silence's Moon Seung-ah and Good Deal's Leem Seung-min) are virtually inseparable — walking home from school together daily, competing over grades, bantering with effortless rapport — until half a globe separates them. Then, when they reunite in their 20s via emails and Skype calls after 12 years without each other, Past Lives' crucial word also describes their instant spark and pull. The latter is so magnetic that they're basically dating without saying it, and while he's still in South Korea but she's now in New York. Next, it captures the complicated emotions that swell when Nora and Hae Sung are finally in the same place together again after decades. Arthur is in the picture by then and, ever-adaptable, in-yeon even encapsulates that development. If Past Lives didn't leave its viewers certain to their core about its emotional authenticity, that'd be a greater surprise than how strongly and tenderly it resounds. The Korean-born Song also emigrated to Canada with her parents at the same point in her life as Nora. While she hasn't made a strictly autobiographical work, there's fact dwelling behind this fiction. Her picture would pair astoundingly well with Minari and Aftersun, in fact. In its way, leaping in souls and minds rather than through realms, it's a multiverse tale and companion to Everything Everywhere All At Once also. Feeling so intimately applicable to the characters loving, living, immigrating, yearning and growing within its frames, and yet echoing so universally, is that always-sought-after holy grail of storytelling feats. Although her film hones in on the heart — on-and off-screen alike — as it gets poetic and philosophical (and delivers a Big Apple-set Before Sunrise/Before Sunset/Before Midnight sequence), that Song studied psychology and once planned to become a therapist isn't astonishing to learn. Each time that Nora and Hae Sung slide back into each other's existences, a dozen years have passed, but it feels no time at all for both. Still, that sentiment can't and doesn't smooth their way onwards. Fittingly, Past Lives is crafted to resemble slipping into a memory, complete with patient looks and visuals (Skate Kitchen and Small Axe cinematographer Shabier Kirchner lenses) and a transportingly evocative score (by Christopher Bear and Daniel Rossen of Grizzly Bear, which gives the picture a bond with the also-heartwrenching Blue Valentine and its own knotty romance). This feature knows every emotion that springs when you need someone and vice versa, but life has other plans. It feels the weight of the trails left untrodden, even when you're happy with the route you're on. It understands what it's like to be see your past, plus the present and future it could've influenced, shimmering in front of your eyes. Past Lives is a film about details — spying them everywhere, in Nora and Hae Sung's lives and in their faces, while recognising how the best people in anyone's orbits spot them as well. Of course every second appears meticulous, then, but also equally dreamy and ripped from reality. Of course Lee, Yoo and Magaro are each magnificent, as is this entire sensitive, blisteringly honest and complex masterpiece. Lee charms Nora's two love interests and Past Lives' viewers in tandem, in a sincere and sharp performance as a woman who is as witty as she is wistful while grappling with who she is. Yoo hops from the best movie of 2022 to what'll be difficult to beat as the best of 2023 with quiet dedication and potency. And Magaro plays adoring, accepting but never elementary; Arthur knows how intricate the situation is, so his way through is just that, through, gleaning his part in helping Nora and Hae Sung be who they need to. Contemplating what's written in the stars also involves contemplating beginnings and endings, even when in-yeon has cycles and reincarnations all a-fluttering. Again, Song fashions Past Lives to embody all that it muses on, including via an opening that's utterly immaculate and a closing scene that's breathtakingly divine. Both are also unforgettable. To start, jumping forward before going backwards, Nora, Arthur and Hae Sung sit at a bar. Her body language is all about her lifelong friend, as fellow drinkers peering on comment on; regardless of how things appear, though, only Nora, Arthur and Hae Sung can ever truly grasp their own full story. To wrap up, simply walking and waiting is so impeccably considered and staged, down to the direction that events flow in across the screen, that they say everything about advancing, retreating and wishing you were doing one while going through the other. Past Lives is a movie to lose yourself in, and gloriously; a film to fall head over feels for, and fast; like it feels fated to be, it's also just extraordinary.
The MCA's Anna Davis has curated this survey exhibition of leading Australian artist Jenny Watson, which features works from the 1970s up to the present day ranging from her early realist drawings and paintings to several series of works on fabric. Evidencing Watson's naive, unaffected style, The Fabric of Fantasy showcases her special ability to blend autobiography and psychology with imagination, wit and deadpan delivery to explore her dreams and desires. Based in Brisbane but an avid traveller, Watson often incorporates textiles purloined during her adventures into the surface for several of her paintings — which could be anything from sequins to horsehair to magazines. Influenced by punk and the feminist movement, a significant part of Watson's work involves self-portraits or alter egos — think longhaired Alice in Wonderland-like figures in dresses, ballerinas, rock guitarists, plus the odd horse or cat — and often uses hand painted text alongside distilled imagery to bring to life an unusual interior world. Whether you're a fan or not, don't miss this chance to see over four decades of work from a truly fascinating conceptual painter. Image: Jenny Watson, 'The Pretty Face of Domesticity' (2014).
Batman Market is celebrating the Year of the Pig with its annual Chinese New Year night market. Taking place on Saturday, February 9 from 3.30–9.30pm, the usual market lineup will be replaced by Chinese-inspired eats, tunes and entertainment. Expect the likes of xiao long bao, pan-fried dumplings, wok-fried dishes and Chinese-style barbecue to be on offer. Plus local acoustic acts will take the stage throughout the day, with a special focus on traditional Chinese music and other cultural entertainment. Batman Market favourites will also be in tow — think stalls selling crepes, gelato and plenty of Chinese fare to snack on, along with a full stocked bar. And the usual local makers will sell art, cosmetics and boutique fashion items, too. All ages and doggos are welcome and entry is free, as always.
As Good Food Month kicks off in Melbourne, one of the top events we're looking forward to is the Night Noodle Market. But after consuming your weight in noodles, dumplings and other Asian fare, we're guessing you'll be looking for something to quench that soy sauce-induced thirst. Cue the pop-up Tanqueray Gin Garden, where Night Noodlers can sit back amid the interactive light installation and sample some of the brand's world-class gin. Not much of a gin connoisseur? With the spirit having experienced a dramatic resurgence over the past five years (and so finally broken out of its stereotype as a mature-aged lady's drink of choice), now is the time to make its acquaintance. And how better to do so than with a selection of Tanqueray Gin? Each gift pack we're giving away will include two Tanqueray drinking glasses, one bottle of Tanqueray No. 10 (700ml) and a bottle of the original Tanqueray London Gin (700ml) — the one with the 180-year-old recipe that's still kept a closely guarded secret. To be in the running for one of three Tanqueray gift packs, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address at win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au.
If you're looking for new activewear from a local brand, look no further than Active Truth, which is offering big promotion as part of the Boxing Day sales. The Aussie retailer is offering $50 off your shop when you spend over $200, or $100 off when you spend over $300. If you order now you'll also nab free express shipping, so you'll have your activewear at your doorstep and be ready to hit the gym in no time. Active Truth is accessible to gym-goers of all shapes and sizes, with a wide range of activewear from XS to 3XL, as well as a selection of active maternity wear and swimwear. The brand is also committed to sustainable business practices, including using locally sourced Merino wool. The promotion will run up until Wednesday, December 30. Jump onto the Active Truth website to browse the catalogue and score an end-of-year deal to help motivate you to stick to your 2021 fitness regime. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Dust off your sombreros, amigos. The latest international excuse for a good time to reach our shores is Cinco de Mayo — a celebration of all things Mexican (which, if we’re being nit-picky, is really more of an Americanisation than anything but shh, let us party). In celebration, the folks at Corona and Beach Burrito Company Fortitude Valley are putting together a fiesta, complete with face painting by local street artists and the first ever Taco Time Trials Eating Contest. For the less competitively inclined but equally taco-happy, Cinco de Mayo falls conveniently on a Tuesday, and Beach Burrito Co’s regular $3 taco deal applies, so your pesos’ll stretch further. With what you’ve got left, you can sip salt-rimmed margaritas, down trays of tequila shots (not recommended) or share a bucket of ice-cold Coronas. And, of course, come prepared to smash and whack your way to glory, because they wouldn’t be doing Mexico right without pinatas.
Beer festivals are becoming increasingly common, but there aren't many that match the lofty standards set by Melbourne's Brewers Feast. Held in the lush surrounds of the Abbotsford Convent, Brewers Feast takes place over the February 3–4 weekend and will take your tastebuds on a hoppy tour with its expansive range of beers and ciders. There'll be over 80 different brews to try from across Australia and highlights include Sydney's Stockade Brew Co, Victorian brewer Prickly Moses, well-loved Stone & Wood, the brightly-labelled Kaiju! and lots more. In addition, there'll be 12 beers brewed exclusively for the festival, made using rare ingredients and brewed in collaboration with malt, hops and yeast supplier, Bintani. The festival starts in the best possible way, with all attendees enjoying a free glass of 'Duel Hoppy Lager' from Stockade Brew Co on entry. When it's time to pause drinking for a well-earned feed, you can choose from Bigger than Texas BBQ, Twisted Mac's cheesy delights, the solid burgs at St Kilda Burger Bar and sweets from Jamm'd. For all you vegan and vegetarian beer-lovers, don't fret — most stalls will be serving up meat-free options. Alongside food and drink, there'll be a stellar lineup of local music talent to keep you entertained throughout the festival. Local artists, performing across two stages, will take the novel approach of recommending a beverage to enjoy alongside their tunes. To celebrate the launch of Brewers Feast 2018, we're offering up the ultimate VIP experience. Enjoy two nights accommodation at Abbotsford's Playhouse Serviced Apartments (a short ten-minute drive from the festival) a double pass to each session of Brewers Feast, beer and food vouchers to use at the festival and a case of great craft beer to take home. To enter, see details below. [competition]653614[/competition]
Jesse Eisenberg, Dakota Fanning and Peter Sarsgaard are an unlikely but very compelling band of environmental radicals in Night Moves, from director Kelly Reichardt (Meek's Cutoff). The trio collaborate in an intense operation to blow up a dam in Oregon, as a protest against industrialism and resource exploitation. Night Moves is a suspenseful thriller that explores the concept of political radicalism and the consequences of your actions, despite good intentions. The film has had some great reviews since its premiere at the Venice Film Festival last year, currently sitting on 85 percent certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. Night Moves is in cinemas in Brisbane and Melbourne on September 11. Thanks to Curious Distribution, we have ten double in-season passes to give away. 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=4OQ7jjkY3tE
You've watched your way through every episode of Stranger Things to date, including the show's fourth season. Thanks to your latest binge, you've now got Kate Bush's 'Running Up That Hill' stuck in your brain permanently, too. You've eaten a demogorgon burger, seen an Upside Down rift open up in Bondi and played Netflix's Stranger Things mobile game as well. Yes, there's no shortage of ways to indulge your love for the 80's-set streaming hit — but only one involves both singing and laughing. That'd be Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical, which follows in the footsteps of other satirical takes on pop culture favourites (such as Friends, Shrek and The Simpsons). Yes, everyone's favourite tale about kids fighting monsters in Hawkins, Indiana has is getting parodied — with songs. Even better: it's now venturing Down Under for the first time, bringing its tune-filled account of Hawkins' weirdness to Meat Market Melbourne from Friday, November 4–Saturday, November 19. Already an award-winner in the US, where it picked up seven 2021 BroadwayWorld Off-Broadway Awards — including Best New Musical (Off-Broadway) — Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical retells the tale we all already know, but on-stage, with amusing songs and while making fun of the whole thing. So, you'll be watching Mike, Eleven, Dustin, Lucas and the rest of the Hawkins gang navigate the wild antics that've made their town the worst place to grow up in since Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Sunnydale, and both tapping your toes to tunes and giggling along. Obviously, creepy creatures are a feature — singing and dancing ones, in fact. And, so are pop-culture references aplenty, big hair, throwback fashions, a synth-heavy soundtrack and possibly justice for Barb. Penned by Jonathan Hogue — book, music, lyrics and all — Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical will make its Australian debut thanks to Melbourne's Salty Theatre, with co-founders Ashley Taylor Tickell directing and Sarahlouise Younger assisting. Cast-wise, Ian Andew, Stacey-Louise Camilleri, Jack Duff, Guillaume Gentil, Asher Griffith-Jones, Stephanie John, Liam J. Kirkpatrick, Jess Ridler and Gabrielle Ward will be taking to the stage and taking on the sci-fi hit. Images: Bruce Glikas / Danny Hildago.
How long has Charles Boyle been dreaming of Jake Peralta and Amy Santiago's wedding? What did Rosa Diaz do before she was a cop? Who keeps swooping in and taking the Nine-Nine crew's cases? Which one is Scully and which is Hitchcock? If you can answer all of the above — and name Captain Holt's dog, Terry's twins, Gina's dance troupe and Jake's favourite movie — then you're set for Welcome to Thornbury's latest trivia afternoon. Yes, it's all about the hit cop sitcom we all know and love. You know, the one that was cancelled and then resurrected in the space of 36 hours. We'd keep asking Brooklyn Nine-Nine questions and dropping tidbits, but we'll save some for the big day. Each time a trivia session dedicated to B99 hits town, places get snapped up faster than Terry can snap open a tub of yoghurt. So book a free table ASAP for 2pm on Sunday, September 8, and it may be your time to shine (and that can be the title of your sex tape if you'd like). And, if you need any liquid encouragement, the bar will be serving $5 mulled wines and $15 jugs of beer.
Walking around Brisbane is a great way to enjoy your own backyard, see the local sights and get in some exercise. For a 17-day period between Friday, March 12–Sunday, March 28 in 2021, doing just that will also allow you to engage with a series interactive installations. They're called 'curiocities', and they're part of the returning Curiocity Brisbane festival, which focuses on the interaction of science, technology, innovation and the arts. Spread around town — across a 6.8-kilometre circuit that links the City Botanic Gardens, South Bank, the Cultural Precinct and the Brisbane CBD, in fact — these hubs will serve up both physical and virtual experiences. One, Platonic Volumes & Cosmologies by Bits to Atoms, is a large scale-translucent matrix of recycled plastic beams, while another, Evanescent by Chimera Atelier and Pineapple Design Studios, will use colour-changing film that'll make it look like a huge bubble. Or, you can check out two augmented reality works, either venturing back to Brisbane on the day prior to First Settlement or working with other folks to build a digital ecosystem. Also on the bill: a chat-fuelled program called Curious Conversations, where Benjamin Law will host a range of speakers to talk about the future; a giant vertical kaleidoscope in the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens; and The Party Button, an interactive artwork on the Goodwill Bridge that plays party tracks and turns on flashing lights when pressed. And, a number of other big events fall within the program also — such as World Science Festival Brisbane and GOMA's Up Late sessions as part of its new motorcycle-focused exhibition.
It has played host to a staggering array of gigs and been the backdrop for countless different live music memories, but we reckon you've never seen the Sidney Myer Music Bowl quite like this. From May 26 to June 6, the inaugural Rising festival will see the iconic precinct transformed into a multi-sensory supernatural forest, inviting punters to immerse themselves in a captivating fusion of ice, art, sound and light. Held nightly throughout the festival's duration, The Wilds is set to deliver an interactive feast for all the senses. Traipse through its bamboo forest, marvel at large-scale sculptures and video works, and trip yourself out through mazes of mirrored illusions. In a nod to winter's past, the stage itself will once again become a working ice-skating rink (yes, that really was a thing), where visitors can glide around beneath the giant glowing orb that is Luke Jerram's Museum of the Moon installation. And when the appetite's piqued, you'll find both a fine dining offering in the atrium and a menu of snacks to enjoy fireside, under the stars. A pop-up restaurant and once-off culinary collaborations will also be set against The Wilds. [caption id="attachment_810754" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Museum of the Moon (2017) by Luke Jerram, courtesy University of Bristol[/caption] Yep, it's quite the lineup — organisers are recommending you set aside at least 90 minutes in order to properly experience the whole thing. General entry to The Wilds will set you back $15, or you can grab a $35 ticket to include a session on the ice at Rinky Dink.
Next time you work up a sweat, you could be surrounded by neon lights, wandering through plenty of concrete and descending into a South Yarra basement. That's what's on offer at 1R Melbourne, the first Australian outpost of the UK-based fitness club chain, which has just opened its doors on Chapel Street. Spread across 800 square metres, the Melbourne venue is 1R's biggest site to-date out of its eight worldwide. But, like its sibling venues in London, it's hardly your usual gym experience. That's a fairly familiar claim these days — Melbourne has also just welcomed its first Barry's Bootcamp studio, from another company that endeavours to give your standard workout routine a twist — but 1R tackles its task with industrial-style decor, high-intensity classes, music curated by local DJs and free prosecco on Friday nights. If you're all about exerting some energy, 1R's sessions fall into three categories: 'reshape', 'rumble' and 'reformer'. The first provides a full-body workout, while the second puts the site's boxing bags to good use — and also focuses on speed, footwork and high-intensity interval training. In the third group, pilates meets cardio, with everything once again dialled up to get the blood pumping. Whether one of the above classes has already piqued your interest, or you're keen on trying them all, 1R does memberships, packages and pay-as-you-go sessions — so you can choose how much you're keen to commit. One-off visits cost $25 a pop, newcomers can sample three classes for $30 in total, or gym diehards can opt for 28 sessions per month for $320. Thanks to the fitout by Foolscap Studios, 1R's decor and design is as much of a drawcard as its fitness routines, starting with its calm, crisp ground-floor reception area. That's where you'll also find the smoothie and coffee bar — which serves up the aforementioned sparkling to end the working week — as well as a retail space showcasing local activewear designers. Downstairs, each of 1R's different workout concepts gets its own room. When the sessions start, you'll be doing so in moody lighting and to a beat timed to match your movements. Then, afterwards, you can head to the repair rooms, which stock Grown Alchemist products and Dyson hair dryers, and are designed to look futuristic but also relaxing. You can also call upstairs to order a post-workout drink from the bar, too. Find 1R Melbourne at Shop 10, 625 Chapel Street, South Yarra. For more information about its sessions and prices, visit the fitness club's website. Images: Simon Shiff.
he high priestess of dark rock is coming to Australia — PJ Harvey has announced her first Australian/New Zealand tour since 2012. Hitting epic venues like Sydney's shiny new $1.5 billion International Convention Centre for Sydney Festival, Melbourne's Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Brisbane's Tivoli and Auckland's Logan Campbell Centre, Harvey will be backed by her ten-piece band for a career-spanning set. It's been a while between drinks — Harvey hasn't performed in Australia or NZ since 2012. It's a new live show for the UK indie rock legend, one that's already toured Europe and the US and features all your favourite early classics and newer material.
What happens when two meat-loving mates from two much-loved Melbourne kitchens team up for a one-off takeaway pop-up? You'll find out exactly this Saturday, October 16 and Sunday, October 17, when Dale Kemp (Head Chef of Terror Twilight) and Tom Johnson (Executive Chef of Meatmaiden) combine their talents to host a special protein-fuelled kitchen takeover. Descending on Collingwood's Terror Twilight from 10am each day, the chefs will be whipping up a limited-edition takeaway menu celebrating premium pasture-fed meat from Gippsland's O'Connor Beef. Expect dishes like a hot-smoked brisket sandwich finished with coffee and bourbon barbecue sauce ($18), and another with fried dry-aged rib-eye teamed with salsa verde and smoked buffalo mozzarella ($20). There'll be crispy lobster mac and cheese croquettes ($8), and a vegetarian-friendly eggplant schnitty situation starring smoked tomato and provolone ($16). A $15 mint julep will also be on offer, which — thanks to the newly eased mask-and-alcohol restrictions — you can now enjoy while you're out and about. [caption id="attachment_828473" align="alignnone" width="1920"] @myfriend_tom[/caption] Images: @myfriend_tom
Learn the tricks of the trade when it comes to tequila, as Chin Chin Melbourne's Executive Chef Benjamin Cooper joins forces with Herradura Tequila for a one-day-only cooking class on Sunday, June 22. Expect wall-to-wall agave, as the session kicks off with a lychee paloma — made with Herradura's finest — paired with kingfish ceviche and puffed rice crackers. Next, guests indulge in a tequila tasting and a hands-on Thai margarita and garnish tutorial, where you'll make this delightful cocktail and accoutrements like the best in the business. Suitably boozed up, it's time to head into the kitchen. Watch carefully as Cooper delivers a live cooking demonstration featuring his signature Northern Thai braised beef cheek curry. Follow his instructions to the tee and see if your dish measures up. Once class is complete, the feast doesn't stop. Instead, you'll gather for a post-lesson feed me session, with dishes like barbecue scallops with curry-spiced corn, chilli egg fried rice, and a chocolate and coconut panna cotta sending you home stuffed. Of course, this feast also comes with a tequila cocktail to match.
Hard to believe Melbourne fromagerie Milk The Cow (MTC) turns ten this year. What did we do for deep-fried camembert before this place? To mark the occasion, Milk The Cow is running a special $10 for Ten Years Winter Menu at its flagship St Kilda outpost. It features a range of past favourites and new dishes, including a croque monsieur that MTC fans have been demanding for a long, long time. "We've always resisted adding a sandwich to the menu, despite everyone telling us we should. We wanted to be very true to our wine bar sensibilities, but after a decade, it finally felt like the right time to put on this classic French sandwich – just don't call it a toastie!" says owner Daniel Verheyen. The $10 menu has a bunch of options, including two-cheese cheeseboards, goats cheese madeleines with Meredith chevre, and Dutch Bitterballen (croquettes stuffed with a three-cheese mix, camembert, Provolone Piccante and Parmigiano Reggiano). You'll also be able to get $10 Glühwein (mulled wine), French onion soup and Kronenbourg on tap. Milk The Cow's $10 menu is available weekdays between 3–6pm until Thursday, August 31. Images: Supplied
Michel Gondry, the famed creator of dreamlike spectacles such as Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind and The Science of Sleep and critically-acclaimed music videos for the likes of Bjork, The White Stripes and The Rolling Stones is about to make his mark on Melbourne. On Saturday November 9, ACMI is hosting Release Your Inner Gondry: an all-day collaborative workshop guiding you through each of the production steps for a music video — from conception to final cut. In a day full of creativity and imagination, this intensive workshop will feature hands-on animation and cardboard constructions, channeling Gondry's uniquely vivid approach to filmmaking. By the end of it, you may just end up something to that trademark Gondry standard. Don't worry if it doesn't turn out as amazing as this or this though.
Brunswick East's The B.East has long been known for its OTT burger creations and decadent vegan eats, and now its new city sibling Beast CBD is following in the same footsteps. So you can expect to find a very amped-up, burger-inspired menu being plated up as part of the latter's new take on yum cha. Launching February 3 and running every Thursday night (6pm and 7.45pm), Bun-Cha is the new offering paying homage both to the venue's Chinatown location and The B.East's well-documented love of things in buns. Each week, $50 will get you a 90-minute yum cha-style roving feast of dishes like cheeseburger sliders and buffalo fried chicken sliders, along with jambalaya arancini, mac 'n cheese croquettes, poutine, wings and southern fried cauliflower. Maple bacon chocolate brownies make for a fittingly lavish dessert, while the soundtrack is set to celebrate the golden era of hip hop. If you're thirsty, you'll find a menu of specialty bubble tea cocktails to add on; from the Paradisco made with green tea, vodka and passionfruit, to the mango-spiked Gin & Joosh.
On the hunt for some top-notch gifts for those cheese-loving mates of yours? Or maybe you just want to be stocked up on the good stuff for all the festive dinner parties to come. Either way, you'll find yourself in utter cheesy heaven at Cornelius Cheesemongers' Cheese Cave Pop-Up this month. Running for just three days prior to Christmas, this temporary cheese shop is where dairy dreams come true. The online cheesemonger is opening the doors to its Brunswick cheese cool room from 12–3pm on December 22, 23 and 24. Those keen to take their cheese board game to the next level will find lots of limited edition goodies, like the J.J. Sandham Lancashire Bomb cheddar from the UK and an insane truffled brie straight outta France. You'll be able to have a taste of them, too, so you can find your perfect Christmas cheese. There's also a truckload of present ideas for the cheese obsessives in your life, from a personal raclette party set, to a four-piece cheese knife collection. There's even an epic goodie pack filled with cheese slates, Champagne and cheeses that's guaranteed to win you serious brownie points on December 25. Image: Kimberley Low.
If you ever made it along to one of Donny Benet's dinner-and-show affairs back in 2013, you'll know that the man has an eye for extraordinary talent. Wanting to immortalise the creative collaborations that emerged from those nights, he invited his favourite guests to the legendary Donnyland Studios to write and record an album. Dubbed Weekend at Donny's, it's an epic, multi-dimensional LP featuring some of Sydney's hottest songwriters and performers: Jack Ladder, Kirin J Callinan, SPOD, Geoffrey O'Connor, Isabella Manfredi (The Preatures) and Elana Stone. According to Donny, the album was put together over the course of a year. "Amongst international touring, recording, television appearances and small business openings... love, despair, hope, risk, chivalry, incarceration, marital aids, admiration, love triangles, European fashion and libraries are played out." Weekend at Donny's will be launched in Melbourne with a huge show at Shebeen. The Donny Benet Show Band will lead the evening, with guest slots from Jack Ladder, SPOD, Geoffrey O'Connor and Elana Stone. https://youtube.com/watch?v=6WFOWcqwgH4
Father's Day is coming up, meaning it's time to gather the family together and find a spot that'll fit and feed you all. There are stacks of restaurants that cater for big groups, but Molly Rose is gunning for the top spot this year with its Steins and Pork Knuckles Sunday roast. The Father's Day set menu will only cost you $45 a head, and it comes packed with hearty roast favourites — with plenty of Molly Rose's signature Southeast Asian influences. The crew will start you off with rice crackers, spring onion pancakes and betel leaves, before serving a huge pork knuckle to each diner (there are also vegan and vegetarian options available). This bad boy comes with a stack of condiments — a must for any good Sunday roast — including fermented chilli, ginger and garlic mustard, green onions in oil, and papaya with spring onions and daikon. This will be served alongside steamed rice and barley crumble, and a farm salad dressed with a sour beer and ginger dressing. A cheeky pandan sticky date pudding can also be added for an extra $5 per person. But this stacked set menu ain't all that up for grabs. This is a brewery after all, so you best expect some beer specials. First off, you and your dad can get $22 steins of the team's Lager #3 throughout the day, or two schooners of beer and a glass of wine for just $30. There's also a special kids menu available for the little ones who aren't interested in the massive pork knuckle.
UPDATE, December 21, 2021: Black Christmas is available to stream via Netflix, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Video. A fun, feisty remake with a female perspective and a refreshing sense of sisterhood, Black Christmas is a college-set slasher flick for the #MeToo era. The latter gets thrown around a helluva lot of late — with Unsane, Ocean's 8, Booksmart and last year's latest Halloween instalment among those recently earning the label — but with this updated version of a 1974 cult movie, writer/director Sophia Takal (Always Shine) firmly leans into the term. Indeed, Black Christmas circa 2019 lives and breathes its #MeToo mindset, particularly in its story and characters. Here, a masked predator stalks women as the festive season swings into gear, specifically targeting sorority sisters at a stately university. There's a mounting body count, but these gals aren't merely a parade of powerless, disposable victims. It all starts with a setup that's familiar by design: a silent night, an empty street and a woman walking home alone. Hawthorne College student Linday's (Lucy Currey) pace quickens when her phone starts jingling with creepy messages from someone using the 200-year-old school's founder as an avatar — and, when a man pops up right behind her shortly afterwards, she even threads her keys through her fingers. This all happens in Black Christmas' opening reel, so it's no spoiler to say that she's soon making snow angels in a rather gruesome way. But the winter break carnage is just beginning, ramping up after MKE sorority members Kris (Aleyse Shannon), Marty (Lily Donoghue), Jesse (Brittany O'Grady) and the very reluctant Riley (Imogen Poots) attend a Christmas party held by fraternity DKO — and sing a traditional ditty that's been rephrased to call out campus sexual assault. In too many by-the-numbers horror films gone by, the way in which women are killed and the perpetrators behind their deaths are given more attention than most of the ladies themselves, but not in this new take on Black Christmas. From the moment that Takal introduces MKE's sisters, they're lively, interesting and sport distinctive, sometimes clashing personalities — especially when debating the best way to address the college's historic male leanings, such as petitioning for the inclusion of women authors on literature Professor Gelsen's (Cary Elwes) reading list. Kris is fearless about fighting for equality and empowerment, and about making as much noise as possible while doing so; however Riley has seen firsthand what speaking up can bring. Earlier in her studies, she was attacked by a DKO frat boy, but her assertion that she was raped fell on deaf ears. Accordingly, before these MKE ladies even twig to the psychopathic ho-ho-horror in their midst, Takal and co-writer April Wolfe fill Black Christmas with different renderings and facets of modern womanhood that are all highly relevant to the broader conversation today. The constant battle against societally entrenched misogyny, the quest to be seen as more than an object for male gratification, the fact that victims are routinely disbelieved — these notions all find a place among the film's multi-faceted key characters. Also pondered strongly and thoughtfully is the pain and terror of falling prey to shattering violence, then attempting to pick up the pieces afterwards, a struggle that Poots conveys with weight and substance in a textured and engaging performance. This is a movie that's keenly empathetic towards those usually treated like fodder by the savage and entitled, and Poots' Riley is far more than just a final girl. In a film that throws a hatchet through the idea that women constantly compete and squabble amongst themselves, too, she has plenty of company. Still, this is unashamedly a slasher movie. And while it's based on an ahead-of-its-time example of the genre — just forget the dire first 2006 remake with Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Katie Cassidy and Lacey Chabert — Black Christmas has tropes to play with and conventions to toy with. The mood is knowing and winking, with the film not quite venturing into Scream territory, yet clearly deploying well-worn elements on purpose and with a smile. So, when cliched lines of dialogue are shouted by various women in states of duress (including old favourites like "there's someone inside the house!"), this slick flick knows what it's doing. It knows that audiences might roll their eyes briefly as well, but reshaping the slasher formula to make a statement requires a hearty bout of nodding to all the genre's usual components. Admittedly, taking a few cues from forgettable 2000 horror film The Skulls doesn't prove the best move, but it's one of the picture's few mis-steps. Well-executed bumps and jumps, including inventive slasher scenes and creative use of Christmas decorations; a smart reworking of a classic with an incredibly timely message; fleshed-out female characters with flaws, complexities and agency played by a great cast — thanks to all of these, Black Christmas overflows with entertaining festive horrors. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gF4yRYbo1WE
A romantic candlelit dinner? Boring. A late-night movie and an ice cream cone for two? Nah. A stroll through the park, hand-in-hand while being serenaded by buskers? Um, gross. Classic dates are about as cliche as Emily Cooper's collection of berets (if you know, you know). So we've taken the liberty to piece together an adventure-packed date itinerary if you and your partner aren't big on the ick-factor. The folks at Adrenaline were nice enough to offer some suggestions, too. [caption id="attachment_711645" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Josie Withers, Visit Victoria[/caption] START YOUR DAY WITH A WALK OR CYCLE ALONG A WATERSIDE TRAIL If you're into adventure, we'll take a gamble and say you're also into exercise. If that's the case, may we suggest starting the day nice and early with a walk, run or bike ride along The Bay Trail? This track takes in the very best views of the bay and Melbourne CBD, plus you can perve at the beautiful mansions dotted along the coastline and discuss which one you and your partner would buy if money were no object. If you aren't into exercise (we feel you), then a coffee by one of the many beautiful beaches also makes for a relaxing start to an action-packed day with your boo. TREAT YOURSELF TO A BAKED GOOD BREKKIE This itinerary heads from the southside to the north, so we suggest making your way across Melbourne via Falco Bakery on Smith Street, Collingwood. Opening every day at 8am, it makes for the perfect pit stop for coffee and baked goods — and, believe us, you'll need a full stomach for the rest of your adventure-filled day. Right now, Falco Bakery is getting into the Christmas spirit with fruit mince pies. But if you're after something more classic may we suggest a mince pie of the meat variety or a flaky croissant? Whatever you grab, it will be freshly baked and perfect for sharing with a special friend. [caption id="attachment_750758" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Adam Gibson[/caption] CATCH SOME WAVES AT MELBOURNE'S FIRST SURF PARK Now for the main event of your adventure-packed date itinerary: Australia's first high performance, world-class surf park, Urbnsurf. If you and your SO have never surfed before, try out a beginner lesson with Adrenaline where you're almost guaranteed to stand up thanks to the highly controlled environment, perfectly sized waves and freedom not worrying about sea creatures with sharp teeth. If you consider yourself a bit of a Mick Fanning in the making, level up to their cruiser, intermediate, advanced or expert sessions where the sets are always pumping and there's no need to fight over waves. There are plenty of opportunities to lounge around, sunbake, or grab a bite to eat at the recently opened and highly coveted Three Blue Ducks restaurant, too. This is sure to be one of the most unique and fun dates you and your partner will ever experience. KEEP THE WATER-BASED ACTIVITIES GOING WITH A DIP IN A SWIMMING HOLE Crowned by Concrete Playground as one of the most unusual swimming holes to try around Melbourne, Laughing Waters will keep the water-based fun going once your surfing experience is over. Located just a 40-minute drive from Melbourne's CBD, this section of the Yarra River is perfect for lilo-drifting and cooling off in summer. Hidden by native bushland, Laughing Waters offers small rapids and rock pools that are well worth exploring. Add it to your date if you like the idea of a peaceful setting and a unique experience that's sure to impress your fellow adventurer. REFUEL WITH LUNCH AT THIS WEST MELBOURNE CAFE If you aren't big on romantic dinners, you probably aren't big on romantic lunches, either. That's OK, because Operator 25 is currently offering delicious picnic lunches to enjoy at the neighbouring Flagstaff Gardens for those of you who can't stand the idea of being stuck inside and staring deep into each other's eyes. Instead, grab a Picnic Box complete with mixed grain salad, chicken sandwiches, seasonal fresh fruit and coconut yoghurt, scones, and the cafe's much-loved ube waffle soldiers, and head to the park. Oh, and if you're into 'gramming your lunch, this one is sure to get you a lot of likes with its vibrant aesthetics. Extra points for a selfie with your main squeeze. TAKE IN THE SUNSET OVER A BEVERAGE After you've worn off that lunch with a sneaky nap at the park, make your way to Marquis of Lorne for a well-deserved sunset tipple. A true adventurer prefers their sunset bevvies on a rooftop (we don't make the rules) and Marquis of Lorne has one of the best rooftops in Melbourne for an intimate date experience. Treat yourself to a hard yuzu lemonade or a local craft beer and, if you're feeling peckish, try fresh oysters or some classic pub grub — not exactly adventurous, but always delicious. [caption id="attachment_791887" align="alignnone" width="1920"] William Hamilton[/caption] END THE DAY IN A MULTI-SENSORY PLAYGROUND Finish your action-packed day with a multi-sensory experience at Imaginaria. Part game, part gallery, part journey, Imaginaria offers an hour-long walk-through experience where imagination and technology collide in an audiovisual experience for the senses. Immerse yourself in shimmering light sculptures and inflatables, weave through the multi-dimensional light maze, or step inside a giant infinity bubble. It's perfect for all ages but offers a unique end to a huge day of adventures for you and your cutie. Check it out before January 31. To explore all of the Adrenaline experiences available in Melbourne and beyond, head over here. Top image: Urbnsurf by Adam Gibson
You know those Recently Travelled Friends of yours. The insufferable show-offs that come back from Europe all like, "... and there were these gooooooorgeous Christmas night markets and everything was adorable and it was sahhhhh European, you wouldn't understand." Well now you can earn a few bragging rights and shut 'em up a tad; Madame Brussels Lane has brought you your own little European night market, right here in Melbourne. Leaving out the slushy snow and negative temperatures, the European Night Market offers pretty much the same experience as its overseas inspiration — all snuggled into one laneway. Featuring delectable European goodies such as German beer and sausages, Italian bomboloni (YES), mulled wine and... wait for it... freshly baked pretzels, the market has your hearty Euro-dinner covered. On top of this delicious smorgasbord, there will also be plenty of pop-up stalls from local retailers and an array of live music and performances to keep you well entertained. Running every Friday night from July 18 for four weeks, the night market is a perfect wind down after a long week of not being European.
Looking for a way to make hump day a little bit more bearable? The team at the Melbourne Cinematheque have got you covered. With weekly Wednesday night screenings at ACMI, this longstanding film collective are serious about their cinema, showing obscure and exotic movies from all around the world. The 2015 program is split into numerous thematic seasons, each of which highlights the work of a director, actor or movement. February is earmarked for Michelangelo Antonioni, whose movies La Notte, Zabriskie Point and Identification of a Woman are among the most important in Italian film history. March, meanwhile, belongs to American Paul Thomas Anderson, with screenings of Hard Eight, Boogie Nights, Magnolia and There Will Be Blood lining up nicely with the release of his latest movie, stoner detective story Inherent Vice. Other standouts in the seriously comprehensive lineup include a Mikio Naruse retrospective in July and an Ingrid Bergman showcase in October. There will also be team-ups with a number of specialty film festivals, including the Human Rights and Arts Film Festival in May and the Czech and Slovak Film Festival in September. Entry into Melbourne Cinematheque events is reserved for members only. You can pick up a mini-membership for $28, which gains you access to three consecutive screenings. True film buffs will get better value out of the restriction-free yearly membership, which comes in at $150.
Lovers of cinema and hummus-fuelled picnics rejoice: this year's Moonlight Cinema season has finally arrived and it’s looking mighty good. The lineup features some of this year’s biggest new Hollywood releases alongside more demure titles, family favourites and age-old classics, so you can guarantee you’ll find something that piques your interest. Let’s start with the bigwigs. What better way to see the big releases of summer than outdoors on a balmy night? Star Wars: The Force Awakens, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part Two and SPECTRE are all showing and (we’d imagine) best viewed under the stars. We’re also thrilled to see a fair whack of female-centric films in the lineup too, as well as an array of movies that cover hitherto taboo topics in the popular cinema circuit. Joy, starring everyone’s favourite human Jennifer Lawrence, follows the unconventional story of a mother of three as she builds a business empire in the ’90s; Suffragette is an important historical period drama about women’s fight for the vote in pre-war Britain and appropriately features a dreamy cast of unique and unapologetic women including Meryl Streep, Carey Mulligan and Helena Bonham Carter. We’ve also got The Danish Girl, featuring Eddie Redmayne and Alicia Vikander, which explores the life of transgender artist Lili Elbe. Closer to home on Australia Day, we’ve got The Dressmaker, a montage of Kate Winslet looking hot and Liam Hemsworth looking filthy hot (maybe other things happen in the plot too but why would they bother?). And at the other end of the spectrum is the lighthearted comedy Sisters, featuring unstoppable duo Amy Poehler and Tina Fey. But don’t think the gentlemen miss out. The Revenant, Leonardo DiCaprio’s latest Oscar bid, was directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu (of Birdman fame) so you can guarantee it’ll be equally beautiful, dramatic and weird. And if you miss The Martian or missed Jurassic World in cinemas, you can catch them at Moonlight sessions too. As always Moonlight Cinema will be throwing back to classics: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Top Gun, Dirty Dancing andGrease. Tickets are on sale now for the summer sessions so get booking lest you get stuck in front of Dirty Grandpa(yes, a film where you can see Robert Deniro making out with April Ludgate while Zac Efron wears a vast array of golfing sweaters — that is apparently showing too :/).
There are a million mobile apps out there to help you take better care of your body. But what about one that helps you take better care of your planet? That's the idea behind TODAY, an app that'll let users "track and share the positive impact they have on the world". The homegrown app, which is currently being funded via a crowdfunding campaign, will provide users with information about their environmental footprint, and offer tips on how they can reduce it. It'll tell you how much clean air you create every time you walk to work. It'll tell you how much natural land you conserve every time you eat sustainable food. It'll even tell you how much pollution you save by cutting back on disposable coffee cups. "TODAY exists to inspire you and every single one of us to make the small changes, both individually and collectively, to create a better future for all," reads a description on the app's Start Some Good page. The plan is for the TODAY team to work with ethical businesses, "and engage with awesome environmental initiatives". For more information about TODAY, check out their website. If you like what you see, you can donate to their crowdfunding campaign here.
There's something great about a neighbourhood bar. Generally speaking, the staff are friendly and the owner can be found behind the bar, or just chatting to their guests about the food or drinks that excite them. The vibe is relaxed (and the music at conversation levels), and when you realise you've been having a really good time, for a little too long, you're probably not very far from home. In recent days, Thornbury locals have had a few reasons to rejoice in the idea of a local. Those reasons are a crop of new bars set to elevate the Thornbury section of High Street into a bona fide Melbourne 'destination'. Like, for people from all over town – not just the locals (although we will always know who got there first). Here is a rundown of what's new — and great — in High Street, Thornbury. Northern Git Four out of the five listed here are bars, so it seemed the responsible thing to do to encourage dinner first. And, that's pretty easy to do when you have an option such as Northern Git. While the name for some might invoke thoughts of an old Geordie chav, you can rest assured the experience here is much more refined. Share plates abound (the asparagus dish, $16.50, was light, well-balanced and a fresh and tasty way to begin), there is a selection of beef cuts to be ordered by weight (the porterhouse, $13.50 per 100gm, was a melt-in-your-mouth delight, sliced and served simply with garlic sautéed spinach and red wine jus) and there's wine on tap. Literally, on tap, out of a keg — and served in various carafe sizes up to a litre. That 'responsible' beginning suddenly went downhill. 757 High Street, Thornbury, (03) 9484 6389, facebook.com/NorthernGitRestaurant Trumpy The newest of the bunch, Trumpy, also offers dinner, but serves just as well for a drinking spot, or date place. It's cosy, warm and intimate (hence the date suitability), despite being a warehouse conversion with lofty ceilings and exposed beams. I was, however, left wondering how they might water the plants, sitting by the dozen up in the pitch of the roof. Trumpy is a purveyor of beer, wine, cocktails and tapas. A pretty standard affair, but that's perfectly fine with us – especially in Thornbury, where the standard has previously been cafes, takeaway joints and op shops. The food is modest in selection, but confident in execution. Fancy fish fingers ($18), Hangar Steak ($19), taro chips and pumpkin with dukkah and labne are a perfect complement to the drinks list, from which the cocktails are the hero. 646 High Street, Thornbury, (03) 9480 0012, trumpybar.com Carwyn Cellars Back Room For anyone feeling thirsty in Thornbury on a Monday or Tuesday night, Carwyn Cellars' new Back Room is your saviour. The only one in the area that's open every night, this small bar has the heart of a cavernous beer hall: 16 taps span the length of the bar, cocktails are absent from the menu (save for a negroni on tap — yes, on tap!), and huge outdoor tables are prime spots for a group gathering. The enthusiasm for good booze is obvious. Some might call the 'two Bens' (owner Ben Carwyn and manager Ben Duval) fanboys. Craft beers rotate constantly on the taps, the wine list changes with the wind, and there's more than 100 whiskeys on offer. How else would those who grew up on wineries, enthuse profusely over whiskey and run a local cellar filled with craft beer want to do things? When it all starts to go to your head, you can have some cheese, or order a delicious Middle Eastern style pizza from The Moor's Head nearby, and have it delivered straight to your table. 877 High Street, Thornbury, (03) 9484 1820, carwyncellars.com Joanie's Baretto The longstanding success of Umberto a few doors down inspired the owners to open Joanie's in the same strip. A charming, rustic haven with the necessary modern sleekness, this bar transports you to the heart of Italy. A courtyard with flower boxes, pictures on the walls, Aperol bottles on the shelves and various pieces hanging from the ceiling set the scene, while the drinks menu and antipasti options round it out. Start with an Aperol spritz or negroni at the bar, take some olives and prosciutto to a booth with a glass of Chianti, and once you've worked out the Pinocchio taps in the bathrooms, finish with a grappe or amaretto digestivi. Joanie's is an authentic European drinking spot that will simply charm the pantaloni off you. 832a High Street, (03) 9480 5774, joaniesbaretto.com.au Pallino There's something really inviting about Pallino. Maybe it's the warm, modern European fit-out filled with marble, dark wood and brass features. Maybe it's the inviting courtyard (complete with astro turf and Bocce games in summer), or maybe it's the humble drinks list (five regulars on tap plus a couple of rotating specials, modest and largely local wine list, and standard cocktail offerings). Or it could be the welcoming bar staff who stand at the divine marble bar and ask you how your day's been? Whatever it is, Pallino — the longest running business in this list — attracts a friendly, yet trendy local crowd and strikes the perfect (and oft misplaced) balance between sophistication and neighbourhood warmth. 790 High Street, Thornbury, (03) 9484 7968, pallino.com.au What's next? Rumour is that an enormous concrete space on High Street, south of Thornbury Village is to be become a permanent home for a collection of food trucks, 'Trailer Park' style. The space has been acquired by a Melbourne hospitality giant — now all we can do is wait. Trumpy image credit: Danielle Chau
There's a universal expectation that docos are meant to run the gamut from confronting all the way to absolutely horrifying. In its 97 minutes of screen time, The Family manages to traverse the whole scale, leaving you absolutely chilled to the bone. Rosie Jones's poetic documentary is about one of Australia's most notorious cults, known as 'The Family'. It operated in and around Melbourne from the mid 1960s, under the leadership of a bizarre woman whose look appears to have been modeled on Yzma from The Emperor's New Groove. Anne Hamilton-Byrne drew power and money to herself, wielding her impressive charisma, emotional manipulation, and yoga to amass new followers. Before long they were snatching babies directly from hospital wards and were administering LSD to adults and children in order to convince them that Anne was their God. Dramatic panning drone shots of Lake Eildon, eerie piano music, and old footage of children in matching outfits running through the woods creates a very True Detective aesthetic that matches the horror of the events. The film churns your guts, growing more and more tense as events unfold, leaving you shaken when it finally ends. But where the documentary differentiates itself is with the surfeit of interviews with survivors. Many of the children who grew up at the cult's residence at Lake Eildon (a two-hour drive from Melbourne) are adults now, with children of their own, and they each speak candidly and emotionally about the toll their childhood had on them and how they now relate to their new families. The story of the cult itself is fascinating and grotesque, but the humanity and candour of the victims is absolutely redeeming. Jones doesn't always succeed in translating a messy chain of events and conflicting accounts into a digestible, linear format. At times it can feel as though the film circles back on the same events – although even then, the story is so consuming that you'll be willing to forgive the repetition. Moreover, unlike many documentaries, The Family hits close to home, with the familiar sites and sounds of country Victoria compounding the sense of unease. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_KeVkZ_JhM
The Melbourne art world has been thriving recently and it doesn't look like it's losing any momentum.From September 12, Obscura Gallery will be playing host to Time Flies — a collaborative group exhibition featuring the work of creative collective Studio615. A group of artists – hailing from as near as the inner suburbs of Melbourne and as far as Brooklyn, New York – Studio615 aim at seeking personal motivation through an ethos of togetherness; forever conceptualising, creating and collaborating.The result? A spectacular combination of mural, installation, video and publication spanning across an impressive variety of mediums and disciplines. Time Flies features examples of illustration, graffiti, photography, design and creative direction. Gathered in this space will be Melbourne-based artist, illustrator and graphic designer, Sahil Silk Roy as well as photographer Michael Danischewski. Melbourne’s Sam Octigan provides dynamic illustrations, while Newcastle designer Marcus Dixon and edgy American muralist Doug Aldrich have also jumped on board. Tucked in amongst the bustle of East St Kilda’s Carlisle Street, Obscura is a gallery boasting a unique blend of art deco and contemporary minimalism. Working to fill the gap existent between artist, artwork and art enthusiast, the gallery provides the perfect home to Time Flies: a personal insight into how the artist works, both as an individual and as part of a collective project. They say the best work is done collaboratively, with people that you like. Check out Time Flies to see if you agree.
DesignEx is Australia's leading design exhibition, and this year the Office for Good Design has curated a unique seminar series called 7 Kinds of Happiness to open an otherwise industry-focused event to the general, design-loving public. Seven seminars with major industry heavyweights explore how happiness impacts the practice of leading local and international designers. Each seminar is held within the 'Happy Place', an area created specifically for this seminar series constructed entirely of doonas. Sounds like our sort of lecture. Concrete Playground has a double pass to giveaway to each of the seven seminars. To win, just make sure you're subscribed to Concrete Playground then email us at hello@concreteplayground.com.au with your preference of seminar from the list below. Happiness 1: Alice Rawsthorn, Monday 14th 12.30pm Happiness 2: Ilse Crawford (UK), Monday 14th 5pm (digital) Happiness 3: Stefan Sagmeister (USA), Tuesday 15th 10am (digital) Happiness 4: Broached Commissions, Tuesday 15th 12.30pm Happiness 5: Rotor (Brussels), Tuesday 15th May 5pm (digital) Happiness 6: Work AC (USA), Wed 16th 10am (digital) Happiness 7: Australian Creative Directors of the Venice Architecture Biennale Anthony Burke and Gerard Reinmuth with TOKO (Panel Discussion) Wed 16th 12.30pm
In Brisbane until October, a massive Chiharu Shiota exhibition is on display — and it's well worth the trip north. But Melburnians can check out the Japan-born, Berlin-based artist's pieces without hopping on a plane, all thanks to the Anna Schwartz Gallery. Until Saturday, July 23, the Flinders Lane venue features just-as-stunning works. Red and black are a big feature, colour-wise, as they always are in Shiota's work. String, yarn, wool — they all make an appearance as well. This showcase is smaller, more intimate, but still inescapably striking. Staring at a room filled with dangling, intertwined, labyrinthine threads always will be. Called State of Being, this exhibition spans both 2D and 3D pieces, including a red sculptural human figure that's being displayed for the first time beneath one of Shiota's wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling webs. Attendees can also peruse other sculptures, works on canvas and paper — and reclaimed love letters, diaries and photos picked by by the artist at flea markets. "I believe that we are all connected. Were you able to see the invisible, all human connection is one. Thread from each heart is expressed as words linking us. In the flea market I found old love letters and diaries and although I never met the writer, I felt connected," explains Shiota.
For French teen Isabelle (Marine Vacth), sex is a huge deal, a world of fascination and dread, but her first underwhelming sexual encounter with German lunk Felix (Lucas Prisor) on a summer holiday leaves her nothing but cold. She imagines herself impassively watching the scene from a distance, completely bereft of feeling. She is next seen secretly working as a sex worker in Paris and leading something of a double life, vaguely deflecting questions about her romantic life and appearing to her friends a quiet, unremarkable student. Taking on the name Lea, she uses a website and a second phone to meet clients. There is something about the orderliness of the work that seems to appeal to her, a clarity about what will happen and what it will mean. Yet she seems to go about it with an air of dispassionate practicality, learning the tricks of the trade and methodically stashing money in her comfortable family home. As with previous Francois Ozon films (Swimming Pool, 8 Women), Young & Beautiful often uncomfortably positions the viewer as a voyeur; it begins with her brother spying on her as she loosens her bikini top at a beach and often balances queasiness with elegance. Also familiar is the structural formalism: it's presented as a story in four parts, with each quadrant focusing on a new season and matched with a Francoise Hardy tune. Neat construction aside, Young & Beautiful hangs on a breakthrough performance by the striking Vacth, a former model, who doesn't so much fill in the blanks of the essentially enigmatic protagonist but instead makes both her moments of provocation and melancholy absorbing. Working as a kind of counterpoint to the moments of finger-wagging didacticism in Lars Von Trier's recent Nymphomaniac, Young & Beautiful has no firm conclusions it wants to make about Isabelle's choices and is only cursorily interested in how or why she starts being paid for sex. Even as the story takes a darker turn as Isabelle begins being recognised by her clients and possibly becomes attached to Georges (Johan Leysen) — a mild-mannered, elderly john — writer-director Ozon largely eschews histrionics in favour of understated and gorgeously rendered ennui. There's also a pivotal cameo from Charlotte Rampling as Georges' wife, Alice, and sterling work from Géraldine Pailhas as Sylive, Isabelle's mother. It's a polished, stylishly ambivalent work, one that provides no easy answers for either its audience or its heroine. https://youtube.com/watch?v=cnaIFp_KrB4
During its three years in Preston, The Food Truck Park hosted just about every flavour of food festival — from Greek to anchovy and peanut butter to hummus. Now, one of Melbourne's most loved food truck destinations is set to farewell its northside digs. The Food Truck Park will shut up shop next weekend, though it's not goodbye forever. The minds behind it have their sights set on bigger and better things, with plans to launch the city's most impressive food truck park yet, at a new site in the near future. That's all still under wraps for now, though we're told to prepare for something big. The current Preston site will have its last hurrah from August 3 to 5, with the return of its popular Asian Street Food Weekend. It'll feature a culinary tour of Asia's best street food snacks, as imagined by some of Melbourne's favourite food vendors. Before that, it'll play host to the Indian Street Food Festival taking over the park from July 27–29. Over the years, The Food Truck Park's weekly events have become a staple of Melbourne's culinary calendar, drumming up over 900,000 Facebook event responses. Stay tuned — we'll let you know more details about the team's next food truck adventures as they drop.
Melbourne has scored a new art event inspired by Europe's Night of Museums: an annual evening when leading cultural institutions stay open long after they'd normally shut their doors, welcoming in patrons for after-dark art activities. Here, it'll take the form of Art After Dark, a two-day late-night extravaganza, involving State Library Victoria, the NGV, Federation Square, Arts Centre Melbourne, ACMI and Melbourne Museum. Running from 6pm–1am on both Friday, May 13 and Saturday, May 14, Art After Dark will feature limited-time-only experiences — both free and ticketed — spanning live music, visual and performing arts, and food and drink. The aim is to get both locals and visitors to the city to play tourist at Melbourne's cultural venues. At State Library Victoria, 360-degree immersive projection Midnight at Pink Lake will light up the La Trobe Reading Room, paired with a themed program featuring mindful workshops, music, roving performers, giant chess, and food and drinks. At NGV Australia, Ron Mueck's Mass from the 2017 Triennial will return, accompanied by pop-up poetry readings, choirs and DJs. And, at NGV International, light projections will transform its bluestone exterior thanks to QUEER: Stories from the NGV Collection. Also on the bill: Hannah Brontë's video installation EYE HEAR U MAGIK 2020, as well as free after-hours access to the whole venue. Meanwhile, BRIGGS is headlining Fed Square Live, with Kee'ahn, Soju Gang and Izy in support. That's also where you'll be able to catch Aussie-first installation Constellations — which sees artist Joanie Lemercier's monochrome, vector-based aesthetics paired with an electronic soundscape by producer Paul Jebanasam. The precinct is also doing free takeaway hot chocolates, coffees, s'mores and glow-in-the-dark fairy floss. Arts Centre Melbourne is hosting live performances, DJs and food trucks, with the Australian Music Vault set to stay open late. At ACMI, catch drop-in showings of Soda Jerk's phenomenal Terror Nullius, plus free Oskar Fischinger exhibition Raumlichtkunst and a showcase of Aussie game developers done in collaboration with Collingwood's Bar SK. Melbourne Museum is letting folks see its triceratops after dark, as well as screening projections, hosting food trucks, setting up pop-up bars and spinning DJ tunes. And next door at IMAX, you'll be able to dive into the Marvel Cinematic Universe with late sessions of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. [caption id="attachment_852016" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Triceratops at Melbourne Museum. Photo by Eugene Hyland[/caption] Top image: Performers sing with Mass by Ron Mueck, 2017 on display at NGV Triennial 2017 at NGV International, Melbourne. Photo: Eugene Hyland.
It has been 20 years since The Wedding Singer delivered its dose of 80s-themed comedy. That's two decades of retro laughs, hearing Adam Sandler's 'Somebody Kill Me', and enjoying one of the actor's better broad comic roles — and loving the movie's period fashions, as well as its Bowie, The Smiths and New Order-filled soundtrack, too. Already serving up plenty of nostalgia when it originally hit screens, the flick is now inspiring one mighty nostalgic night at Howler come Friday, February 15. At the Brunswick bar's The Wedding Singer Reception, you'll step back to two eras gone by: the 80s, obviously, and the late 90s, when this movie took over the box office. The whole party is planned like a wedding reception, so prepare to dance to the requisite hits of the time — and to the sounds of a wedding band covering them, obviously —while wearing your best old-school bridal party-themed outfit.
As far as folklore villains go, Baron Samedi is one of the most mysterious. He's an ancient spirit (or Loa) of Haitian Voodoo, the leader of the Guédé, guardian of the afterlife, and associated with magic and death. He's got a skull-like face and donned in a top hat, black tail coat, dark glasses (prepared for burial, Haitian-style). Now, he's returned from the underworld. Baron Samedi Spiced has arrived on Australian shores — and this new spicy spirit has a few parties in store. There's a reason that the beverage — made with Caribbean rum and spices such as vanilla, cacao, cinnamon and native Haitian spice Vetiver — takes its name from Loa; it's a dash of cheekiness and mystery, all rolled into one. It's the spirit that sums up yours, and it's also the reason to head to Brunswick's Penny Black during June and July. Kicking things off on Friday, June 3, is a huge party with local band Dallas Frasca playing live tunes. Can't make it on the first night? They'll be serving up vanilla, cacao and cinnamon-flecked cocktails for just $8 every night until the end of July, and if you rock up on Friday, June 24 or July 1 from 7pm, you'll also get a free sample of Baron Samedi on arrival.
Artistic inspiration comes in many forms. A fantastic view can do the trick — or a refreshing beverage could get your creative juices flowing. Or, at Cork and Canvas' new 'Champainting' sessions at Sea Life Melbourne, you can try both. Putting a paintbrush in your hand and seeing what a dose of liquid courage brings out is hardly a new concept, and these folks have the history to prove it. But, between 6–9pm from Thursday, March 18 and Friday, March 19, Cork and Canvas is setting up shop somewhere other than its usual South Melbourne studio, and hosting two sessions not only with quite the bubbly accompaniment, but also surrounded by sea life. Your $140 ticket includes the class — where you'll whip up something arty on a canvas, inspired by the setting and its sharks, stingrays, penguins, seahorses, jellyfish and turtles — plus two hours of bottomless sparkling, wine and beer, and a grazing platter as well. Tickets are on sale now, but places are limited — so this is a get-in-quickly kind of affair. And yes, the price includes spending an hour touring the aquarium after-hours with your mates, too.
It felt like the day would never arrive but, as of 11.59pm on Tuesday, October 27, Melbourne is slowly reopening. Under the state's new eased restrictions, thousands of bars, venues and events can now welcome back patrons — including paint-and-sip studio Cork and Canvas. If you've been indulging in arts and crafts during lockdown, you can now flex your newfound artistic skills while enjoying a glass of wine at Cork and Canvas' two South Melbourne studios. The doors are being thrown open from Wednesday, November 4, with both public paint-and-sip classes and private parties available for booking. Upon reopening, Cork and Canvas will be running sessions daily, including guided paintings of the Melbourne city skyline, as well as famous Van Gogh and Monet pieces. There's also a create-your-own-Banksy workshop. Bookings start at $55 per person and securing your place soon is recommended — as Melburnians will be eager for any public activity they can get their hands on over the next few weeks.
Isabella Rossellini has finally added a Melbourne date to her 2014 Australian tour, where she'll be dressed as a praying mantis and talking about sex. Set to perform her critically acclaimed, one-woman comedy show Green Porno, Rossellini will hit Australian shores in March next year with her hilarious take on the fascinating sexual habits of land and marine animals. The playful stage show, based upon Rossellini's short film series and subsequent book of the same name kookily exploring mating in the natural world, will first premier in Los Angeles this November. The screen icon — who is currently studying animal behaviour at Hunter College in New York — says that she's always been interested in animal behaviour: "...and I certainly know a lot of people that are interested I sex. So here you have the three elements that make the core concept of Green Porn." The show first originated in 2008, when Robert Redford asked the Italian actress to create short, environmental films for his Sundance TV Channel. Rossellini then wrote the stage production, alongside Jean-Claude Carrier —well-known author, actor, opera librettist and director. Expect a mix of live performance along with some of Rossellini's short films. The actress dresses up in a variety of ridiculous insect and sea-creature costumes, while providing a storyline that is completely scientifically accurate. https://youtube.com/watch?v=BckqviVaWl0
Don't sweat it. Just don't. That's a great sentiment, but putting it into action isn't always so easy. Humanity has long wanted to care less about all of the things that really don't matter, including since before self-help was a book genre — and since before there were books. Nothing else has quite summed up that concept quite like The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, though, even just in its title. It sits among a seemingly endless array of texts about living your best life and forgetting pointless strife, but Mark Manson's 2016 hit perfectly captured the idea that we should all devote less attention to matters that simply aren't worth it. First came the book. Then came the film version of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck. Since Manson's famous tome hit shelves, he's also popped up to chat about it and offer his brutally honest self-help advice — and he's returning Down Under in November 2024 to do exactly that again. Consider heading along to this The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck live tour as the next step in pursuing the ultimate goal: giving less fucks. More than 20-million copies of the book have been sold, so you're probably familiar with Manson's take on living more contented and grounded lives already, but there's something to be said about hearing about it in person. Couldn't be arsed reading the text? Then this is another way to soak in its contents. Of course, Manson's spin isn't about never giving a fuck. Rather, he knows that it's wise to choose where to direct our fucks, what to give a crap about and what genuinely bloody matters. The book's chapter titles are as telling as its overall moniker, boasting names such as 'Don't Try', 'Happiness is a problem', 'You are not special', 'You are wrong about everything (But so am I)', 'The importance of saying no' and 'And then you die'. Also the author of Everything Is F*cked: A Book About Hope, Manson will be onstage exploring this train of thought at the Melbourne's Hamer Hall on Wednesday, November 6. Attendees can expect a deeper dive into the principles stepped through in his book, plus practical tips and stories from real life. This is an event to give a fuck about, clearly.
Sweet tooths looking for the ultimate Instagrammable treat should look no further, brand new CBD ice cream parlour Aqua S is bringing your candy-fuelled search to an end. Now open at QV Melbourne, Aqua S is a soft-serve specialist — and one that could give Caulfield's Tuck Shop Take Away a run for its money. They've been cranking out $8 soft serve cones for Sydneysiders since January 2015 — and we know, that's a price point that may steer any punter right back to Micky D's. But hold up a second, this little ol' dessert escapade comes filled with sea salt-flavoured soft serve, topped with a pillowy bed of fairy floss, sweet popcorn, popping candy and a grilled marshmallow. And looks like an actual cloud. Take. Our. Money. Sea salt soft-serve is obviously not a new thing — you can thank Okinawa, Japan for it. If you're not down for sea salt soft-serve, you can choose from two others on tap — changing every two weeks. Who knows, you could be inhaling biscotti soft-serve (!), lemon squash, pandan, mint tea, mocha, peach iced tea, lemon cheesecake — anything. Keep things simple with a single soft-serve 'scoop', or blend up those flavours with mixed 'scoops' — and you can pick and choose from those ridiculous-sounding toppings.
