If there's one thing that a film about Adam Driver fighting dinosaurs shouldn't be, it's average. Only ridiculously entertaining or ridiculously terrible will do, and those two outcomes needn't be mutually exclusive. The appeal of 65 is right there in that four-word premise, as it was always going to be, because getting the intense White Noise, House of Gucci, Annette and Star Wars actor (and BlacKkKlansman and Marriage Story Oscar-nominee) battling prehistoric creatures is that roaringly ace an idea. He should brood, and his dino foes should stalk, snap and snarl. That is indeed what happens thanks to writer/directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, who penned the first A Quiet Place, plus have horror movies Nightlight and Haunt on their past helming resumes. But for a flick that isn't required to offer anything else and knows it — well, other than laser guns to shoot at said dinosaurs, because not even the man who plays Kylo Ren can confront a Tyrannosaurus rex or pack of raptors barehanded — 65 doesn't possess enough B-movie energy. Beck and Woods have taken the very B-movie path story-wise, though. As 65's trailer made plain, this is a Frankenstein's monster of a film mashup, stitching together limbs from a stacked pile of other sources to fuel its narrative. The Jurassic Park and Jurassic World franchise, the Predator series, the Alien and Prometheus saga, Logan, The Last of Us, The Man Who Fell to Earth and, yes, A Quiet Place: they each earn more than a few nods, and never with subtlety. So too does Planet of the Apes, but the fact that 65 is set on earth all along isn't a late-picture twist. What else would the title refer to? That said, Beck and Woods begin their movie elsewhere, taking time-travel 65 million years backward out of the equation. Instead, Driver's pilot Mills ends up on our pale blue dot from a civilisation out there in space, and one more advanced during earth's Cretaceous period than humankind is today. Again, these aren't surprises. Text on-screen points all of this out from the get-go or close enough. When the title card arrives bearing the number-slash-moniker 65, that the film takes place all those years ago, and that Mills is now on the third rock from the Milky Way's sun, is written out on-screen as well. Kudos to the filmmakers for not focusing their movie on the tease; a lesser flick, and not in the so-bad-it's-good way, would've been fine with wholesale ripping off Planet of the Apes but just journeying in the opposite temporal direction. Rather, even with the Rod Serling-esque concept — The Twilight Zone creator and presenter also penned the OG Apes' screenplay, as loosely adapted from the page — 65 is about what happens next with full knowledge of where it's set. The narrative from there is obvious, with or without any other context. Whatever you think will happen in 65 sight unseen, or from the trailer, does. Mills tries three things: to survive, to fend off those pesky dinosaurs and to get home. But, he isn't alone. He's transporting others as part of a long-range mission when his ship crashes on what's to him an unknown planet, and young Koa (Ariana Greenblatt, In the Heights) also lives post-impact — after their vessel is hit by an undocumented asteroid, sending them plummeting in the first place, and then after it smashes into earth, tearing apart and scattering its two halves 12 kilometres apart. The piece that Mills and Koa are in can't blast off, of course, and the planet's most frightening-ever residents are keen on a meal as the duo of interlopers attempt to use their wits and weaponry while walking from one section to the other. If you know earth's basic history and how things turned out for the dinosaurs, as we all do, there's no prizes for guessing what else occurs in 65. With startling its audience off the cards, ample pressure falls on the film's ability to engage through character, chaos or both — too much pressure, it proves. Everything is passable. Everything is firmly by the numbers. Nothing is wild, weird or wonderful. That applies to the family thread that runs through the film, after Beck and Woods showed their fondness for the ties of blood, monsters and the end of the world with A Quiet Place. Mills' well-paying gigs have long spirited him away from his wife (Nika King, Euphoria) and daughter (Chloe Coleman, Avatar: The Way of Water), the latter of whom has serious health conditions, making 65's protagonist a Star Wars-esque absent dad. So, when he's tasked with caring for Koa out of proximity and necessity, that job sparks an emotional reaction and connection. Movies about crashing somewhere strange and scary, being ushered into new worlds filled with threats and endeavouring to adapt all work as birth metaphors — we've all been there — an idea that lingers in 65's quiet moments. What does it mean to be thrust into an unfamiliar realm, learn of its ever-present perils and try to endure? How do we learn resilience, resourcefulness, who we are and what's truly important? These questions aren't unrelated, and they're also at the core of this feature. 65 doesn't dig fossil-level deep, however. It's always a dinos-versus-people sci-fi thriller. Actually, make that dinos-versus-humanoid aliens, given that Mills and Koa hark from a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away (no, not the George Lucas-started ones) as they're grappling with beasts brought to the screen with standard-at-best (and never Prehistoric Planet-standard) CGI. 65 would be a far worse film without Driver; switching out its star wouldn't make it an extinction-level event, but the whole 'Adam Driver fights dinosaurs' concept is alluring for a reason. Since singing "please don't shoot me into outer space" in Inside Llewyn Davis, he keeps being shot there, or from there, on-screen — and approaches each instance, as he has everything from Girls and Frances Ha to Paterson and The Last Duel, with blistering commitment. If this was a grander, gorier or sillier movie with Driver's performance at its centre, it might've been something special. There's glimmers here, glistening like a dinosaur's teeth. The version that treads forth is watchable, but also the most basic version of what it is, what viewers want and why it exists: yes, Adam Driver fighting dinosaurs.
Just a few short months ago, no one could've predicted that the Queensland border would become one of 2020's most debated topics. It's a subject that has inspired plenty of comments, especially among interstate and federal politicians calling for Queensland to open back up — with the state closing its border to help stem the spread of COVID-19, then keeping it shut while other restrictions have been easing. Come mid-July, all that chatter could finally stop, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confirming Friday, July 10 as Queensland's target date for reopening to interstate visitors. As initially outlined in Queensland's COVID-19 roadmap, that's the date that the state's third stage of loosened coronavirus limits is due to come into effect. Included at that step: allowing interstate travel, which means opening up the border. While this isn't new news, just whether Queensland would forge ahead with — or consider — reopening the border in its next phase of eased restrictions has been far from certain over the past month. Premier Palaszczuk even suggested that the border could remain closed until September. After the last national cabinet meeting on Friday, June 12, however, Queensland officials have been quoting July 10 as the date the state is aiming for. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, June 15, Premier Palaszczuk said that "our roadmap clearly says July 10". She confirmed that the state government "will review at the end of the month, but it is our clear intention that July 10 would be the date for consideration". [caption id="attachment_743610" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] A day earlier, at a press conference on Sunday, June 14, Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young also stated July 10 as the target date, as dependent upon a review at the end of June. "At the end of this month, we will review all of that epidemiology — not only us here in Queensland, but across the country — to make those decisions about our border," she said. Young explained that just when Queensland opens back up depends on a number of factors, including the ongoing levels of community transmission in southern states, while advising that the target date would only change if "something was very different either way". Expanding upon that further, Young noted that "if something were to happen interstate, I'm sure everyone would expect that we then push that date out". In good news, she also advised that "if things were a lot better, then of course we could bring that date forward, as did happen for this month's stage two." Initially, Queensland's second stage of eased COVID-19 restrictions was due to kick off on June 12, but was then brought forward to June 1. At the same Sunday press conference, Deputy Premier Steven Miles also said that opening up to New South Wales but not Victoria is a possibility — depending on community transmission levels — and that some work had been done in exploring the logistics, although it's not a favoured option. "Our preference would be to lift the borders all at once, hopefully on the 10th of July," he noted. If you're a Queenslander hoping to hop over the border for a mid-year holiday — and come back home without any hassle — the confirmation of July 10 as the target border reopening date will be a welcome development. If you're a resident of the rest of the country eager to soak in the Sunshine State's splendours during winter, it will be as well. At the federal level, the Australian government has also been aiming for July as the date the country's internal borders are lifted, as noted in the national three-step roadmap out of COVID-19 lockdown announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison in May. But, like all coronavirus restrictions — whether being implemented or eased — each step has to be put in place by every state individually. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. Top image: Tourism and Events Queensland
We often need to give ourselves a reason for a day at the zoo. Whether it be some friends from out of town visiting, or a babysitting gig you're unprepared for — it's rare we just allow ourselves the pleasure of eating fairy floss and staring at some monkeys. Now, to lure you in, Melbourne Zoo has announced a series of high-profile musical acts to perform in their beautiful grounds over summer. If you didn't already have a reason to go to the zoo already, you definitely do now. Over a six-week line-up, Melbourne Zoo will play host to a variety of performers including Xavier Rudd, Josh Pyke, Fat Freddy's Drop, Something For Kate, Dick Diver, Dan Kelly and Neko Case. With a recurring theme of dreamy summertime tunes, the Twilight Series will be a perfect destination for hot and lazy nights with the option of bringing your own picnic along and chilling out on the lawn. There will also be a number of food trucks and takeaway options to supply those who may be less prepared. Of course, your ticket cost also gets you entry into the zoo's exhibits and you'll have plenty of opportunity to roam wild among the animals. You can do so with a clear conscience too, as all proceeds from the shows go towards the zoo's work to fight wildlife extinction. For a full lineup go to the Melbourne Zoo website, and remember, don't bring any alcohol or glass in your picnic baskets.
The Abbotsford Anglers are a lousy, Saturday morning, suburban cricket team, led by Ted (Stephen Curry), a sweet but kinda hopeless guy who lives in a mate's garage and works at a sports store. When his best mate, Rick (Brendan Cowell), announces his plans to marry and have children (which, to the boyish Ted, amounts to no less than treason), Ted can see his beloved cricket team will be overtaken by nappies, wives and all the other dreadful trappings of manhood. Oblivious to the inevitable fact that the times and the nature of his friendships are a-changing, Ted leads his D-grade team into the depths of India for a tour of glorified park cricket. It's here that tensions arise, friendships are frayed, life lessons are learned and Ted must finally man up, grow up and fondly leave his teenage dreams behind. Underlying all the beer and bravado, Save Your Legs! is about mateship and coming of age, with an affectionate portrait of everyday Aussie battlers that puts it in the same cinematic bracket as The Castle and Kenny. Cowell and Curry give endearing performances as man-boys who are forcefully and finally shoved out of adolescence and into adulthood at the ripe old age of thirty-five. As a lighthearted, nostalgia-drenched film, Save Your Legs! hits a six. Courtesy of Madman Entertainment, we have 15 complimentary in-season passes to give away to Save Your Legs, in cinemas February 28. 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. You can read our full review here.
Advertising all the new films and TV shows coming our way, trailers are designed to get audiences excited. If you're seeing them in a cinema, they're telling you what you should be heading back to watch next. If you're checking out sneak peeks for new television and streaming releases, they want you to add them to your viewing list. Sometimes, however, a trailer stands out because it has fun with the concept — and the sneak peek at Netflix's new Cowboy Bebop series is one such example. Not only does it send its three central characters on a lively bounty and drop plenty of snarky, quippy dialogue, but it also gets them playing with a split-screen setup in quite the slick, vivid and eye-catching way. Hopefully, that's a sign of visually inventive things to come when the show hits the streaming platform on Friday, November 19, and of the tone that both existing fans of the cult Japanese anime of the same name and newcomers can expect as well. Like its source material, this live-action series is filled with space western hijinks — it wouldn't be Cowboy Bebop otherwise — all as bounty hunters Spike Spiegel (John Cho, The Grudge), Jet Black (Mustafa Shakir, The Deuce) and Faye Valentine (Daniella Pineda, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom) chase down all of the most dangerous criminals in the solar system. Obviously, Netflix's algorithm told it that everyone loves the original animated 90s series — and that everyone loves Searching, Gemini and Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle star Cho as well. When it's right, it's right, clearly. Alex Hassell (The Boys), Elena Satine (Twin Peaks) and New Zealand actor Rachel House (Cousins, Thor: Ragnarok, Hunt for the Wilderpeople) also feature on-screen, while the High Fidelity remake's André Nemec leads the charge behind the camera as Cowboy Bebop's showrunner. Check out the Cowboy Bebop trailer below: Cowboy Bebop will be available to stream via Netflix from Friday, November 19. Top image: Geoffrey Short/Netflix.
If you want to learn to dance, you may as well learn from the masters. And now the Australian Ballet can get you Nut-Cracking, even if you're not a trained dancer. The organisation is running drop-in classes at the Primrose Potter Australian Ballet Centre in Melbourne. And it's not just ballet that's on the agenda. Sure, you can don your tutu and get a-pirouetting if that's your calling. But there are lessons in pretty much every other genre too, including contemporary and Broadway-style dancing. Also on the program is Pilates and yoga, so you can keep yourself stretchy and calm in-between dance sessions. All classes are casual, cost $15 per pop and run the year through. So, you can turn up — or not — at your leisure. Right now, there's even an intro offer that scores you a week's worth of lessons for free too. Don't forget to send us a vid if you manage to master that curbside scene in Singin' in the Rain or score a role in La La Land Vol. II. The Australian Ballet runs casual classes Monday to Thursday at the Primrose Potter Australian Ballet Centre, 2 Kavanagh Street, Southbank. For more info or to book-in to a class, visit australianballet.com.au.
You probably recognise the above image of Daniel Kaluuya's terrified face, it's been floating around the internet in meme form over the past couple of weeks. It's also a still from Get Out—the highly anticipated new film from Universal Pictures released in cinemas on May 4. Watch the truly terrifying trailer if you haven't yet. The film has accrued a rare 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and critics around the world are biding time until they get the chance to see this gripping thriller, also a timely, provocative commentary on the world's current state of race relations. The story follows a young, African-American man (Daniel Kaluuya) as he meets his white girlfriend's (Allison Williams) parents at their family estate. At first, Chris believes that the family's welcoming behaviour is a nervous attempt to deal with their daughter's interracial relationship, but as the weekend progresses he discovers a number of disturbing things to make him think otherwise and becomes suspicious of the real reason behind his visit. Somewhat surprisingly, the gripping film is written and directed by Jordan Peele (one half of Key and Peele, the comedy duo known for classic skits such as Text Confusion and Continental Breakfast). We're hosting three advanced screenings of Get Out exclusive to Concrete Playground readers. The Melbourne screening will be at Village Cinemas, Jam Factory at 6.30pm on April 19. Fill in your details below to go into the draw to win one of 100 double passes. [competition]614566[/competition]
Youth of Australia are having wins across the board this week. For Sydneysiders, renowned party pooper Mike Baird has announced his retirement from politics. For Melburnians, a new government-funded inner city arts space. The City of Melbourne has announced it will transform 1000 square metres of vacant retail space in Southbank into a brand new hub for artists and creatives through their Creative Spaces program. Those among you who freelance will no doubt know of Creative Spaces. They began as a broker for leasing studio and co-working spaces for the creative sector. Which is jargon for 'their Australia-wide website lists all the studios and co-working spaces, big and small, that cater to artists and aren't overrun with money-grabbing suit-wearing corporates'. So they know what creative studios need to function, and have put all this wisdom into the new project, dubbed Creative Spaces: Guild. As well as your standard offices and boardrooms, the new space at 152 Sturt Street — located in the arts precinct right near the Malthouse, ACCA and the VCA — will offer a rehearsal space, a co-working space for theatre producers and creatives, a public gallery, and (of course) a cafe to fuel it all. The National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA) and Melbourne Fringe are already on-board as tenants. The aim of the hub is to guarantee affordable (and central) spaces for small to medium creative teams, and will be designed by architects Archier. No word yet on an ETA for the project yet, but in the meantime you can check out the Creative Spaces site to find yourself a sick work studio.
If you've ever had a sneaky little go with some small person's Lego blocks once they're all tucked up in bed, LEGOLAND sees you, tips you their hat… and raises you an adults-only night at its Melbourne Discovery Centre. While the venue holds these nights pretty regularly, their next one comes with a twist — yes, it's all about Christmas. With no children to get in the way (or outdo your creations), you'll be able to have free reign of LEGOLAND to check out the 4D cinema and rides, take a factory tour, and build to your heart's content in the brick pits. Challenge yourself by taking on the master builder or a speed build and vie for the prizes up for grabs — there'll even be a scavenger hunt so you can go full inner child mode. Tickets cost $32.50, and it all takes place from 6.30pm — and BYO shameless excitement, taste for glory, and creativity to enter the model of the month competition. It'll be a fierce one. Plus, you can go full kidult with face-painting, a visit by Santa, as well as a heap of Christmas-themed treats. Think gingerbread lattes and mini-brick burgers, alongside hot dogs, popcorn, cupcakes and cookies — and festive-themed non-alcoholic mojitos.
Almost a quarter-century has passed since Keanu Reeves uttered four iconic words: "I know kung fu". The Matrix's famous phrase was also the entire movie-going world's gain, because watching Reeves unleash martial-arts mayhem is one of cinema's purest pleasures. Notching up their fourth instalment with the obviously titled John Wick: Chapter 4, the John Wick flicks understand this. They couldn't do so better, harder, or in a bloodier fashion, in fact. Directed by Keanu's former stunt double Chad Stahelski, who helped him look like he did indeed know wushu back in the 90s, this assassin saga is built around the thrill of its star doing his violent but stylish best. Of course, The Matrix's Neo didn't just know kung fu, but gun fu — and Jonathan, as The Continental proprietor Winston (Ian McShane, Deadwood: The Movie) still likes to call him, helps turn bullet ballet into one helluva delight again and again (and again and again). The John Wick movies — the first blasting into cinemas in 2014, John Wick: Chapter 2 hitting the target in 2017, John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum shooting straight in 2019, and now this striking four years later — seem like they should be oh-so simple. Slip Keanu into a black suit, let his 90s grunge-style hair frame his face, get him next to an array of dazzling backdrops, let him raise hell against whoever is thrown his way: that's the basic formula. And, wanting nothing more than a quiet life with the dog left to him by his deceased wife, then the pets that've replaced that pooch since, the eponymous Wick doesn't like to overcomplicate anything. Witnessing a John Wick film, though, means seeing how much stunning action choreography, energetic cinematography, lightning-fast editing and stellar production design goes into making these pictures flow so smoothly. Reeves is so in his element that he'll always be remembered as John Wick (and Neo, Bill & Ted's Theodore 'Ted' Logan and Point Break's Johnny Utah), but the John Wick movies are spectacular technical achievements. All that gun-fu mastery spins through a story — one that is similarly straightforward, but also meticulously constructed to look and play that way. Initially, the happily retired but recently widowed John got dragged back into the hitman life over that aforementioned puppy and a full-hearted quest for revenge. Since then, that move keeps sparking consequences in an action franchise that mixes the western genre's gunslingers and crusades for vengeance, plus their strong, silent types and scenic use of backgrounds, with a musical's rhythm, steps and set pieces. So, Jonathan tried to stay out of the game. Then, he endeavoured to escape the death-for-hire business after its powers-that-be, aka the High Table, started meting out punishment for breaking their rules. Summing up the situation brings another epic crime saga's words to mind: "just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!". Picking up where its immediate predecessor left off, John Wick: Chapter 4 saddles its namesake with the Marquis (Bill Skarsgård, Barbarian), the High Table's emissary, as his new adversary. After Wick puts the assassin realm's head honchos on notice during an early trip to the Middle East, the series' latest nefarious figure wants rid of him forever, wasting no time laying waste to the few things left that John loves. The Marquis has company, too — seeking a big payday in the case of the mercenary known as Tracker (Shamier Anderson, Son of the South), who has his own devoted dog; and due to a familiar deal with Caine (Donnie Yen, Mulan), a martial-arts whiz who is blind, and an old friend of John. That said, Wick has pals in this clash between the hitman establishment and its workers, which doubles as an eat-the-rich skirmish, including Winston, the Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne, All the Old Knives), and the Osaka Continental's Shimazu (Hiroyuki Sanada, Bullet Train) and Akira (Rina Sawayama, Turn Up Charlie). Retaliating against the High Table, and just trying to stay alive, involves jumps to Japan, Berlin and Paris — starting from New York, naturally — and shooting, stabbing, slicing and battling through hotels, nightclubs, apartment blocks and more. In the latter category sits two of the saga's most ambitious locations yet, where two of its most glorious fight scenes take place: the traffic circle around the Arc de Triomphe and the 222 steps up to Montmartre's Sacré-Coeur Basilica. Indeed, with Stahelski a four-film John Wick veteran, cinematographer Dan Laustsen (Nightmare Alley) up to three, and editor Nathan Orloff (Ghostbusters: Afterlife) dropping in seamlessly as a newcomer, all 169 minutes of John Wick: Chapter 4 is an action marvel. More John Wick has long been a good thing, whether more movies or more in those movies; the last hour here, as Wick and the Marquis' conflict sprawls across Paris, is the franchise's pièce de résistance. With frenetic frays such a focus, and so expertly and inventively executed — doorbell sensors and bulletproof vests have significant parts, gun fu becomes car fu, and filming flats from above is mesmerising — it'd be easy for anyone new to the ways of John Wick to assume that the plot is secondary. Or, that screenwriters Shay Hatten (returning from Chapter 3) and Michael Finch (American Assassin) have built John Wick: Chapter 4's narrative around the onslaught of carnage, not vice versa. These are lovingly crafted films, however — and layered and thoughtful, as seen when Winston name-drops Ned Kelly and his supposed last words "such is life". The John Wick series is deeply steeped in its own mythology, which swirls around John aka the Baba Yaga, the High Table's workings and love of retro tech, the various Continentals, and all the regulations that underscore the to-ing and fro-ing that leads to such a massive body count, so referencing an IRL figure also steeped in myth is a smart and knowing move. Casting has always worked comparably, drawing upon McShane's Deadwood standing, Lance Reddick's The Wire pedigree, Franco Nero's history as the OG Django in Chapter 2 and Skarsgård's time as Pennywise, for instance. No one is as immaculately cast in the John Wick universe as Keanu, who continues to invest everything into his stoic-faced character by playing it just right — never adding anything superfluous, never undercooking his performance, and always dancing through the franchise with the weight and agility it needs. Still, Yen is his absolute equal, to zero astonishment given that he's Donnie Yen. Physical feats so fleet that they stand out even in this highly physical flick, charm and wit in spades, pitch-perfect doses of comedy: they're all on show. Yen also delivers a gleaming Point Break nod, and owns John Wick: Chapter 4's debt to Japan's swordplay-heavy Zatoichi pictures (a homage he knows well thanks to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, but he's not repeating himself). No matter how a John Wick movie finishes, it ends with viewers wanting more — and this is no exception, including more of Yen as Caine alongside Keanu.
It seems that 2020 is the year of staying local, although you don't need us to tell you that. For months so far — and for months to come — we're all making the most of our own backyard. We're eating local, and supporting local businesses. And, whether you prefer a yeasty brew to cap off your week, a full-bodied wine with dinner or a few cocktails whenever the mood strikes, you can drink the state's finest tipples as well. We're always keen to highlight local folks doing great things, of course — and, to showcase homegrown winemakers, brewers and distillers, we've teamed up with our mates at BWS to celebrate a few of the best. Here are six must-try Victorian drops that you can pick up at your nearest BWS.
Thirteen months after Australia's borders closed and international travel was banned due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Aussies can finally enjoy an overseas holiday again. The destination: New Zealand, with the long-awaited trans-Tasman travel bubble now up and running as at 11.59pm on Sunday, April 18. A quarantine-free travel bubble between Australia and NZ has been floated and discussed plenty of times over the past year. A one-way arrangement has actually been in effect since mid-October 2020, with New Zealanders able to visit some Australian states. But it has taken quite some time for a reciprocal plan to kick into gear, so if you feel like you've been hearing about the bubble for months and months (and months), that's definitely accurate. Here's how it works: Australians can hop on a flight, which have been dubbed 'green zone flights', and soar across the ditch as they would've pre-pandemic. To avoid quarantine, you'll need to have spent 14 days in either Australia or New Zealand before you travel — and you'll only be onboard with folks who fall into the same category. The crew on those flights won't have flown on any high-risk routes for a set period of time, too. To qualify to enter NZ, you'll need to also meet the usual meet immigration requirements, not have had a positive COVID-19 test result in the past 14 days and not be waiting for the results of a COVID-19 test taken in the last fortnight. And, you'll have to complete a travel declaration and a pre-departure health declaration; however, getting tested for COVID-19 before departure is not a requirement. At the airport and on the plane, you'll need to wear a face covering. That'll remain the case when you land in NZ, too. Travellers from green zone flights will then be taken to their own arrival area, away from folks landing from other parts of the world that are going into managed isolation and quarantine facilities. Random temperature checks and health assessments are part of the on-ground process as well. Then, once you're out of the airport, you're asked to download and use the NZ COVID Tracer app to keep track of your whereabouts, to abide by the usual social distancing and hygiene measures that've become commonplace in Australia, and to keep an eye on NZ's COVID-19 alert levels. You'll also need to be prepared in case the travel bubble arrangement is disrupted due to new COVID-19 cases in either NZ in Australia. If an outbreak arises in an Aussie state, there'll be three options. Firstly, if the case is clearly linked to a border worker in a quarantine facility and is well contained, travel will likely continue. If a case isn't linked to the border and the relevant state went into lockdown, NZ will likely pause flights from that state. And, if there are multiple cases of unknown origin in a state, NZ will probably suspend flights for a set period of time. Australia's international border still remains shut to most global travel, although a similar travel bubble with Singapore is currently under discussion for a potential July start. If you're keen to start planning your NZ jaunt, we've rounded up some of our favourite glamping sites, wineries, sights and restaurants in NZ. To learn more about the trans-Tasman bubble, head to the NZ Government website. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. To find out more about the virus and travel restrictions in New Zealand, head over to the NZ Government's COVID-19 hub.
Singaporean-inspired Hawker Hall is getting into the Lunar New Year spirit just as you'd expect: with program of delicious fun. Not only is it hosting a special yum cha offering, complete with booze specials, but also a series of lavish Chinese banquets. Available for lunch right up until Monday, January 27, the limited-edition yum cha menu clocks in at just $33 per person. That'll see you feasting your way through six shared dishes, with creations like crispy chicken wontons matched with green chilli soy, curry duck bao, and steamed pork and water chestnut dumplings teamed with oyster sauce. Add on extras like crispy coconut prawns, or fried rice with crab and wood ear mushroom, for an easy $9.50 each. What's more, you'll find five different brews from Wolf of the Willows on tap, available to match for just $3 each. Things step up a notch across Chinese New Year weekend, with a special celebratory banquet on offer each night from Saturday, January 25 until Monday, January 27. This one features four shared courses, heroing the classics. Think Peking duck noodle soup loaded with wontons, a signature riff on sesame prawn toasts done with house made sweet and sour caramel soy sauce, and Xinjian-style lamb ribs teamed with pickled cucumber and smoked yogurt. And you can end it all on a sweet note with some Chinese doughnuts and toasted coconut sorbet. This one's $68 each and can only be booked from 6pm for dinner.
Power your house with a bottle of water. It's a claim reminiscent of the glory days of cold fusion. Like cold fusion, creating an artificial leaf and hacking the natural process of photosynthesis has long been a scientific holy grail. Unlike cold fusion, it seems someone has attained it. Daniel Nocera, a professor at MIT, has created a 'leaf' of silicon and a proprietary mix of cobalt and phosphate, which when placed in a jar of water can produce electricity more efficiently than modern solar panels. The yet-to-be-published findings will be a major scientific breakthrough, and a game-changer in the question of global power supply. India's largest business conglomeration, the Tata Group have bought the tech and plan to develop it to serve the "bottom of the pyramid" — being small, cheap, and able to run on even waste water, it is hoped that this will provide a clean and affordable way to power the developing world. Homes without access to power will be able to generate their own, foregoing the need to develop large power stations and electric cable infrastructure. As well as powering the development of the "bottom of the pyramid" the technology could change the face of power production and consumption worldwide. Nocera estimates that it will be possible to meet the world's power demands with little more than a swimming pool of water every day. [via Fast Company] https://youtube.com/watch?v=WD9yr-Bf-Kw
Enjoy the charms of the French countryside right in your own backyard, when So Frenchy So Chic in the Park rolls back into town. This massive annual picnic will once again bring the sights, sounds and flavours of France to revellers at Werribee Park. Ooh la la. This year's musical lineup features four unique artists. Moroccan-born folk blues singer Hindi Zahra has earned comparisons to Patti Smith and Billie Holiday; duo Brigitte bring a mix of lounge pop and retro folk disco; chanteuse Lou Doillon makes her So Frenchy debut; and Balkan electro collective Soviet Suprem will have you dancing all afternoon long. Food offerings will include an array of delectable hampers and cheese plates — although, if you want to get in on that action, you'll need to reserve one pronto. Don't worry if you miss out though, as you can BYO food, and they'll also be serving up a banquet of seafood, crepes, macaroons and ice cream, along with beer, wine, champagne and cocktails.
From dead characters to killer plants, M Night Shyamalan's films are known for veering off in out-there directions, as everything from The Sixth Sense and The Village to The Happening and Split have shown. So, when a trailer for one of his movies drops, you can expect that it'll tease a strange twist — and the first look at his latest flick, Old, doesn't disappoint. This initial sneak peek only runs for 30 seconds, so it doesn't have time to give too much away. Still, it manages to convey the film's basic premise and establish an eerie tone. A family led by Gael García Bernal (Ema) and Vicky Krieps (Phantom Thread) are enjoying a beachside holiday, and everyone seems to be lapping up the secluded setting. Then, the couple's kids disappear behind a few rocks, only to return looking much older than they did mere seconds ago. If you're wondering where Shyamalan will take the concept from there, you'll have to wait until the thriller releases in cinemas in July. The filmmaker has penned the movie's script, too; however, he's based it all Pierre Oscar Lévy and Frederik Peeters' graphic novel Sandcastle. Hoping that it turns out more like Unbreakable and less like The Visit is understandable. As well as Bernal and Krieps, Old has amassed a hefty cast, although most don't appear in the teaser. However the premise plays out, though, it'll involve Rufus Sewell (The Man in the High Castle), Ken Leung (Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens) and Alex Wolff (Hereditary), Australian actors Abbey Lee (Lovecraft Country) and Eliza Scanlen (Babyteeth), and New Zealand's Thomasin McKenzie (Jojo Rabbit). None of them say "I see old people" in the trailer, and hopefully that'll remain the same in the movie itself. Check out the teaser trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB1m-WogYeg Old opens in Australian cinemas on July 22. Top image: 2021 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
That's right, it's already November. And after the year we've had, mental health amongst men, both young and old, definitely needs some attention. Whether it's an ironic 70s pornstar moustache or a cracking handlebar, sporting a bit of luscious lip hair for Movember is not just a fun way to be involved but it's also a great way to raise money and awareness for men's health. But if your ability to grow a mo is a little, well, lacking, there are plenty of other ways to get involved — from pledging to walk 60 kilometres to hosting a get-together with your mates. If you opt for the latter, you're going to want to brainstorm some creative ways to get your mates to cough up some cash, so we've put together some suggestions to get you started. HOST A NOSTALGIC KIDS' BIRTHDAY PARTY So what if you or your friends don't have kids? Eating fairy bread, getting your face painted as Spiderman, whacking a piñata and play a few rounds of good ol' pass the parcel never gets old. And after the year we've had, switching off and pretending we're little kids just playing with our friends sounds pretty good to us. Something else we loved doing when we were younger? Playing dress-ups. So combine your kids' party with Movember's Shit Shirt Saturday on November 28. Rally the troops, ask everyone for a donation to the cause, then hit the op shops and find a shit shirt to party in. [caption id="attachment_783596" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anna Shvets[/caption] HOST A (VIRTUAL) TRIVIA NIGHT Everyone loves a good pub trivia night. And it's much easier to be the host because you have all the answers written down. Invite a couple of mates round, divide them up into teams, grab a slab and put your thinking hats on. If iso has afforded you plenty of time to research a particular subject or subjects, now could be your time to shine. Be it film, music, history, general knowledge or sport, everyone is bound to have a good time flexing their brains and either showing off or learning new facts. Movember even has a six-round, mo-themed trivia guide ready to go. Recreate the pub atmosphere at home, or, like we did many a time in lockdown, host your trivia night online, so you can involve your mates from across the country (or globe). And, get creative. Award extra points for the best (or worst) mo of the evening — or get your mates to donate a certain amount of money for every wrong answer. HOST A BEACH GAME TOURNAMENT Summer is (almost) upon us, and after what feels like an eternity of being cooped up inside, we're finally allowed out to see each other. So why not take advantage of the countless beautiful beaches Australia has to offer and plan an oceanside hang? Recently-free Melburnians could make a trip to Brighton (don't worry, we're pretty sure Karen has moved) or St Kilda Beach. Sydneysiders are blessed with Manly, Redleaf or the quaint harbourside Balmoral. And Brisbanites could venture to Suttons, Margate or Pandanus for a day of beachside fun. And to get your mates donating cash, plan some beach games with a buy-in. Beach cricket, beersbie, and Finska in the sand are just a few games to while away a day in the sun and surf — or even a sandcastle building competition. If you're not near the beach or don't fancy braving the hordes of people flocking to them, host a barbecue. Most of these games can be easily adapted to suit a backyard or local park, too. HOST A PAINT AND SIP CLASS If you're after a great socially distanced event idea, grab a few friends to a smash few wines while flexing your artistic side to raise contributions for Movember. If the gang is feeling particularly confident and comfortable, try life or figure drawing. For something a bit more accessible you could do the classic bowl of fruit, or think outside the box and capture the fine detail and intricate angles of a case of your favourite beer. Or, of course, paint your mates' kooky Movember moustaches. The list goes on. If you can assemble some really talented friends, try a low-key art auction with the proceeds going to Movember. Even if you think you can't paint, you can still get involved, particularly on the 'sip' side of things. There's still time to sign up to Host a Moment for Movember, and change the face of men's health. To learn more or register as a host, visit the website.
The Night Noodle Markets 2022 is right around the corner and we can't wait to indulge in some of the delicious hawker-style dishes we've been craving since lockdown. Ahead of the food fest, the Bumplings x Mazda stall has announced that it will give away free dumplings for the first hour after opening each day across the 18-day event. However, there's a catch. To claim your free steaming hot dumplings, you must be an owner of a Mazda or have a friend who does and physically show the Mazda car keys. A total of three flavours will be available at the stall including chicken and prawn, pork and ginger or vegetarian, which are all served with a mouth-watering Soul Red Crystal sauce. The Night Noodle Markets 2022 will run from Thursday, November 10–Sunday, November 27 at Birrarung Marr. [caption id="attachment_876727" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tristan McKenzie[/caption] Top image: Tristan McKenzie
Chunky Move’s brand of contemporary dance is often just as — if not more — challenging and exciting than the kind of work presented by Melbourne’s independent theatre scene. In recent years, shows like Mortal Engine at the Malthouse have well and truly outshone any other performance in the season. Now, if you’re unfamiliar with the company’s already exceptional work, gentle is the power looks like the perfect introduction. This show, presented as part of Melbourne’s inaugural Summersalt Festival is a free, bite-sized exploration of contained power, running for just ten minutes and choreographed by the company’s Artistic Director, Anouk Van Dijk. This small show comes after the blockbuster success of the company's last show Complexity of Belonging at the Melbourne Festival, but this time Van Dijk works in collaboration with just two dancers, James Vu Anh Pham and Niharika Senapati. Image by Fiona Cullen.
Everyone has petty feuds. That's one of the truths behind Beef, which brought squabbling strangers into everyone's streaming queues in 2023 and became one of the best new shows of the year in the process. So, although the series was initially meant to be a once-off, plenty more people could disagree, argue and hold grudges on-screen — and, soon, more might. Netflix hasn't renewed Beef for season two yet, but word keeps circling that more could be on the way. And if the Golden Globe-, Emmy-, Gotham, Screen Actors Guild Award-, Independent Spirit Award and Producers Guild Award-winner does make a comeback, Jake Gyllenhaal (Guy Ritchie's The Covenant), Anne Hathaway (Armageddon Time), Cailee Spaeny (Priscilla) and Charles Melton (May December) could be taking over from Steven Yeun (Nope) and Ali Wong (Paper Girls). [caption id="attachment_849830" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ambulance[/caption] Deadline is reporting that all four actors are being circled for the Beef's second season, making the show an anthology series by switching to a completely different storyline. The plot favoured is about two feuding couples — and that's it in terms of details so far, other than that Netflix and A24, which are behind the program, are keen for the season two to start shooting before 2024 is out. Gyllenhaal and Hathaway would reunite not only after Love & Other Drugs, but also Brokeback Mountain. Spaeny and Melton are fresh off spectacular performances in the aforementioned Priscilla and May December, with both shock omissions from 2024's Oscar nominees. [caption id="attachment_936946" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Priscilla[/caption] If you missed season one of the Lee Sung Jin (Dave)-created Beef, it followed Danny Cho (Yeun) and Amy Lau (Wong) after they got in a fender bender, then neither handled it well. Cue a feud that they can't shake, infiltrating their lives and relationships. If their quest for revenge each other just fizzled out, there obviously wouldn't be a series. Part of Beef's ongoing beef in season one stemmed from a comedy staple: putting opposites together and seeing what springs. Danny is struggling as a contractor and isn't happy about it, while Amy lives a seemingly idyllic life thanks to her success as an entrepreneur. They both share a need to get back at each other, though — and to see through their clash to the end. Check out the trailer for Beef season one below: Beef season two hasn't been officially announced, and doesn't yet have a release date — we'll update you when more details are locked in. Beef season streams via Netflix — read our review. Images: Netflix. Via Deadline.
There’s a lot of hype surrounded Ryan Trecartin in the art world these days; the young American artist who's installations and video projects have many curious and enthralled. So it's pretty exciting stuff that the NGV has snapped up Trecartin’s work for their latest exhibition Re’Search Wait’S. The NGV has also acquired Trecartin and Lizzie Fitch’s collaborative 2011 piece Available sync — now showing as part of Transmission: Legacies of the Television Age at NGV. The pair first met when they began studying together at Rhode Island School of Design in 2001. The rest, as they say, is history. Re’Search Wait’S will be comprised of four film works: Ready, The Re’Search, Roamie View : History Enhancement and Temp Stop. Together they form an immersive and cutting essay on consumerism and identity. The films contain multi-linear narratives, where the characters endure having every action studied. This exhibition is a wonderful chance to see an exciting, hyped-up young artist reflect on our world today, make time for it.
Just when you thought drowsy Sunday afternoon grill-ups couldn’t possibly get any more deliciously lazy, Lynx comes up with a voice-activated barbecue, aka Smart Grill. That’s right, all you have to do now is kick back on your banana lounge and tell the barbie how you want your steak done. Well, that’s a slight exaggeration. But the MyChef interface promises to take a whole chunk of guesswork out of the process. No more black-on-the-outside-scary-pink-on-the-inside culinary disasters. Instead, the system links you to an online database providing all the information necessary for grilling perfection. Simply answer a couple of questions and MyChef advises you on the big decisions — when to turn, when to season and when to call it. At this stage, you'll have to stop resting on your laurels and do some flipping, salting and peppering, but the voice-controlled system does have the power to take care of other major jobs, such as getting the burners to optimum temperature. Plus, MyChef can keep you informed of developments via text messages and audiovisual cues through the companion app, so you can hang out by the pool, mix some cocktails and see to your guests without having to worry about messing up the steaks. And, just in case you indulge in one too many mojitos, misplace your phone and forget all about your feast, there’s an automatic safety shutdown mechanism. Having previewed at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, Smart Grill is currently in prototype stage. Lynx is hoping to have it on the market next year. ViaGizmag.
For many of us, the prospect of sitting through reams of photos from our recently-returned-from-travelling friends can be a little scary. Unless you happen to be friends with independent film maker Rick Mereki, that is. Then it is something else entirely. Mereki has created three short films taken from footage of a trip with two mates, covering 11 different countries and over 38 thousand miles in 44 days. Each film is only about a minute in duration and is based on a theme; in Move we follow as one of Mereki's friends walks through a series of stunning landscapes, in Learn we see the skills he attempts to acquire along the way (soccer, pizza making, wine tasting, weaving, guitar) and in Eat we see a smorgasboard of international delights. It's a simple idea, as the brilliant ones usually are. The themes are clear, the images strong and it is all held together by a lovely little soundtrack. Move, Learn, Eat are beautiful reminders of the joys of travelling, the fun of learning and the delight of food. They also remind you of the shortcomings of your own travel snaps.
If you fancy yourself a bit of a cocktail connoisseur, Lûmé is about to jump to the top of your must-visit list. Last night, bartender Orlando Marzo, from the South Melbourne restaurant, was crowned the world's best bartender. Which means Melbourne is now officially home to some of the tastiest cocktails in the world. Marzo took out the gong at the World Class Bartender of the Year competition in Berlin, where he beat more than 10,000 other bartenders from around the world for the prize. World Class, which is in its tenth year, is the biggest bartending competition in the world and culminates in four days of finals, during which Marzo impressed judges with a particularly notable Zapaca rum aperitif in a challenge called 'Before and After'. You might see this pre-dinner tipple pop-up on Lûmé's menu one day very soon. Before Marzo heads back Down Under to join the ranks of Australia's bartending elite — which includes Maybe Frank's Andrea Gauldi, who took out best bartender in Australia at last year's competition — he'll be travelling the world, making cocktails and judging competitions. When he's back, we'll let you know what drinks has plans to serve up at the South Melbourne restaurant and what pop-ups he plans to host. Who knows, he may even follow in Gauldi's steps and open a bar. You can check out the full list of past and present winners at the World Class website. Image of Lûmé: Josie Withers, Visit Victoria
Yarra Valley winemakers Giant Steps are pairing up with French-inspired gastro pub L'Hotel Gitan to throw one of the the fanciest dinners in the Aussie Wine Month rotation. Hosted in the intimate and elegant Alfie's Bar (a function space within the Prahan-based L'Hotel Gitan), chef Jacques Reymond will be serving up four-course French feast. Giant Steps will pair the meal with an immaculate wine list curated by their chief winemaker Steve Flamsteed, who will simultaneously school you on wine tasting.
If simultaneously puffing and munching away is your idea of a meal, we have some bad news for you. Falling into line with neighbouring Australian states, Victoria has enacted new anti-tobacco legislation that bans cigarette smoking in all outdoor dining areas and some outdoor drinking areas. Announced in 2015, but only coming into effect on August 1, smoking is now prohibited in all outside spaces where food is available for consumption — and the list of spots impacted is hefty. Stubbing out is now on the menu at restaurants, cafes, take away shops and licensed premises, and spans both courtyard dining areas and footpath dining. The new laws also apply to food fairs and festivals, street and community events, and other organised outdoor gatherings where food is on offer. In addition, the legislation places restrictions on outdoor drinking areas too. Puffing away with a pint outside is now banned if the space is within four metres of an outdoor dining area — whether at the same venue or a neighbouring one. There's also a stipulation about actual versus notional wall surface area. Given that no one wants to be doing maths while they're enjoying a drink, checking each venue's rules is going to become a regular part of every smoker's routine. If you're wondering what separates a dining area from a drinking area, the former involves food that requires preparation prior to serving, while the latter is primarily for knocking back tipples — though pre-packaged nibbles such as nuts, chocolates and packets of potato chips are allowed, but not sandwiches, hot chips or anything more substantial. There are exceptions to the new legislation, however, including venues that boast at least four metres of space to separate diners and smokers, and places that install 2.1-metre-high cafe blinds to do the same. Individuals caught breaching the new laws will face a fine of five penalty units, or $792.85 for the 2017-18 financial year — and venue fines are heftier. To put the long-awaited changes in national context, New South Wales made the same move in July 2015, while Queensland did so back in 2006.
For the past four years, gin lovers across the country have tripped over themselves to get their spirit-loving fingers on a bottle of Four Pillars' Bloody Shiraz Gin — and that's before they've even had a sip of alcohol. The limited edition shiraz-infused concoction really is that good, so we thought you'd like to know that the next batch goes on sale this Saturday, June 1. If you haven't come across the gin before, it's basically what it says on the label: gin infused with shiraz grapes. This gives the spirit a brilliant deep cerise colour and some sweet undertones (without a higher sugar content). That, along with its higher alcoholic content — 37.8 percent, compared to an average 25 percent in regular sloe gin — makes the Bloody Shiraz Gin a near-perfect specimen. It can be used in cocktails where you'd usually use your regular gin, but we reckon it's best if you keep it simple with a G&T. Four Pillars created the game-changing gin back in 2015 when it came into a 250-kilogram load of shiraz grapes from the Yarra Valley. Experimenting, the Victorian distillers then steeped the grapes in their high-proof dry gin for eight weeks before pressing the fruit and blending it with the gin, and hoping like hell it would turn out well. It did. This year — after selling 50 percent of the company to beer behemoth Lion in March — Four Pillars has acquired more grapes from other Victorian wine regions to make more of the gin than ever before. Still, you'll need to move fast — last year's batch has completely sold out. The gin will go on sale for $85 this Friday, June 1 at selected bottle shops, in the Four Pillars online store and its Yarra Valley distillery (where the bar will be doing tastings). If you're lucky, you'll also be able to find it served at bars around the country. Godspeed. The 2019 Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz Gin will go on sale around the country for $85 on Saturday, June 1. Head to the Four Pillars website to buy a bottle.
Melbourne's favourite all-vegan pizza joint has clocked up half a decade and it's celebrating with a big night of specials at both its OG Collingwood and Prahran outposts. This Friday, February 11, join Red Sparrow to cheers five years as the festivities take over each restaurant from 5pm. The drinks will be flowing, with a selection of beers and wine going for $5 a pop, all night long. Of course, the main event here is those famed plant-based pizzas and sure enough, you'll also be treated to some specially priced pizza — specifically, $10 pepperoni beauties on offer until 7pm. If you're yet to try Red Sparrow's signature treats, you've really been missing out. The wood fired pizzas, crafted on hand-stretched dough that's been fermented for 48 hours, are some of the best in town — vegan or otherwise. [caption id="attachment_677657" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Red Sparrow Collingwood[/caption] Top Image: Simon Schultz
The meat industry is on the chopping block in this thought-provoking dance piece at the this year's Melbourne Fringe. Presented by New Zealand company Dance Plant Collective in collaboration with Dutch choreographer Tui Hofmann, MEAT invites audiences to chew on the social and environmental implications of meat consumption through the medium of contemporary dance and physical theatre. Hope you're feeling hungry. Dance Plant won the Best Newcomer Award at the Auckland Fringe Festival back in March, and will stage the show in Melbourne for three nights only on September 28, 29 and 30.
Melbourne’s very own international biennial festival dedicated to contemporary video practice has come around once more to thoroughly bend our minds. This year, Channels Festival will host a series of exhibitions, screenings, talks, performances, and workshops that will disrupt your reality, challenging the historical context of video and make suggestions as to where the future lies for this artform in an increasingly tech-saturated world. The official opening night kicks off on September 18, at Screen Space. The night will feature international festival guest Same Smith's new exhibition Slow Fragmentation downstairs, as well as a selection of contemporary video work from Australian and New Zealand artist-run initiatives, curated by Screen Space, upstairs. Some highlights from this year’s program include In the Epoch of the Near and Far exhibition, featuring works from Petra Cortright (USA) and Heath Franco (AUS) and curated by Amelia Winata, and Jessie Scott’s exhibition/lending library, Miraculous Ribbon. The festival will run for ten days in total in venues across the CBD, Fitzroy and Collingwood, as well as online.
After what has felt like an endless, unrefreshed eternity, the boycott of Carlton United Breweries and their products can finally come to an end. It was announced by the Australian Unions on Twitter this morning that the workers at the heart of the bitter feud had "won all their demands" and would be heading back to work for the brewery. A statement released by the Australian Council of Trade Unions this morning confirms that the 55 workers who were effectively sacked from the Abbotsford brewery would be returning to their jobs under "fair and decent union terms and conditions, which provide job security to the workers". BREAKING: #CUB55 just WON all their demands and will RETURN TO WORK! No matter how strong a multinational corp, we can fight them. And win. pic.twitter.com/PtRYs9cI3h — Australian Unions (@unionsaustralia) December 7, 2016 The whole debacle kicked off in June, when 55 maintenance workers were told that their contracts would be handed over to a new company, and that this new contract would include a pay cut that the workers, and the unions behind them, deemed unfair. This led to worker strikes in both Sydney and Melbourne, a national boycott by many members of the public on Carlton United products, and even attracted the ire of respected political commentators, The Simpsons Against the Liberals. Although Carlton United Breweries have publicly denied any allegations of wrongdoing, it appears that the brewing giant behind some of Australia's most treasured beers and beer ads has caved to the pressure applied by the workers, the unions and the general public. Lauded by secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, Dave Oliver, as a win for the 'little guy', he's clear about leaving the past in the past — although called on the Federal Government to introduce changes to labour hire and subcontracting laws. "We hope that the unqualified success of this campaign is a clear indication to all employers that sham contracting and abuse of the labour hire system will not be tolerated," he said in a statement. "We are glad to finally be able to end the boycott on CUB products, which are once again proudly union made at Abbottsford." So, now that the system has actually worked, we can let bygones be bygones and enjoy the first guilt-free Reschs in six months.
World, say hello to the ultimate marriage of fashion and fine dining: a Gucci restaurant helmed by none other than Massimo Bottura, chef and owner of three-Michelin-starred Osteria Francescana. That's right, the internationally renowned high fashion label has forayed into the world of food, yesterday opening Gucci Osteria in the heart of Florence, Italy. Just as you'd expect, the 50 seater is a study in luxury, housed in the centuries-old Palazzo della Mercanzia building and with views across Piazza della Signoria. It forms part of the just-revealed lavish Gucci Garden, which also features a cinema room, a bazaar-style fashion boutique and exhibition spaces curated by fashion critic Maria Luisa Frisa. Diners at the all-day restaurant can expect to sit down to globally-inspired dishes like pork belly buns, Peruvian-style tostadas and Parmigiano Reggiano tortellini, dropping about €20–30 ($30–46 AUD) per plate. While it's hard to say how much he will be on the pans at this new location, Bottura says he drew inspiration from his travels when developing the lineup, mixing classic Italian flavours with clever, new-school twists. "Travelling the world, our kitchen interacts with everything we see, hear and taste," the chef explained. Gucci Osteria is the latest in a string of luxury fashion house food ventures, following the opening of Tiffany & Co's Blue Box Cafe in New York, and the announcement of parent company LMVH's plans for a second outpost of its gourmet Parisian grocery store La Grande Epicerie.
We open on a hotel party, all the horrors of the world: a Hawaiian-themed engagement bash. Upstairs in her room, a single woman in her mid-thirties takes a swig of wine, stares into a mirror and convinces herself to join in… only to immediately abort and instead order room service, don her tracksuits pants and settle in to watch Silence of the Lambs. This is Nancy (Lake Bell), a sarcastic, self-deprecating and utterly cynical romantic train wreck. The following day, however, mistaken identity lands her on a blind date with Jack (Simon Pegg), and — against all odds — they hit it off. What follows is a sort of ‘un-romantic comedy’ transpiring entirely over the course of one evening, and while its outcome is formulaic, the journey is novel enough to warrant viewing. To its credit, Man Up dispenses with the ‘will he find out?’ subplot a lot faster than expected, focusing instead on Jack's subsequent outrage as its primary source of tension and drama. It also boasts some of the most realistic family writing in years, with Nancy’s parents, sister and brother-in-law providing a charming mix of laughs and tear-jerkers in practically every one of their scenes. Pegg and Bell hold the lion’s share of screen time, however, and their obvious chemistry keeps everything cracking along at a jolly pace. Man Up offers an amusing and — at times — honest perspective on modern dating, complete with drunken sobbing, burdensome baggage and unforgettable exes. With its “fuck the past!” mantra and enthusiasm for risk taking, the script's none-too-subtle critique of self-help books ultimately ends up proffering a fairly pronounced message of its own — but it’s not a bad one, and neither is the film.
UPDATE Thursday, August 5: Josh Niland's Take One Fish Butchery Masterclass has been postponed until Monday, November 15 Saint Peter and Fish Butchery's Josh Niland has spent the past half-decade spreading his love for sustainable seafood around Australia. The neighbouring Sydney spots have grown a cult following since opening and built Niland a reputation that landed him on the list of the world's top 50 next-generation hospitality leaders. With a new charcoal fish restaurant set to open next month, Niland is going on tour to preach the benefits of cooking with sustainable seafood. The masterclass will cover the how-tos of preparing, storing and cooking with fish, in support of his new book, Take One Fish. It's the follow-up to his The Whole Fish Cookbook, which snagged the James Beard Book of the Year award. Niland was the first Australian author to win the converted award last year. "I am looking forward to the evening and offering complete transparency around our work and to unpack all that we have learnt to date. I hope that people will leave having enjoyed a great night out, and take away practical solutions for how we can approach fish differently, not just at home but when ordering fish on a menu or in a market," Niland said. Hosting the evening is author and ABC Culinary Correspondent Alice Zaslavsky who is kicking off her new series of 'in conversation' events with acclaimed culinary professionals, dubbed Here's One I Prepared Earlier. The tour is beginning at the Sydney City Recital Hall on Monday, October 25, before moving on to Melbourne's Hammer Hall on Monday, November 15 with each evening running two 45-minute sessions and a short intermission. Pre-sale tickets are on sale now. [caption id="attachment_739656" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Fish Butchery[/caption]
We've seen some pretty amazing accommodation locations in our time (caves, catacombs and ski jumps included), but none quite take the cake like atop one of the world's most recognisable and romanticised landmarks: the Eiffel Tower. Yep, the Eiffel Tower. This new accommodation option (way better than the Montmartre apartment you rented in 2014, sorry) comes from holiday rental website, HomeAway. They've created a casual luxury apartment up there that can fit you, five of your closest friends and only the one of the best views in the goddamn world. Airbnb, you've been one-upped. Of course, you can't actually book this on the site — you'll have to win your way in. In what promises to be the most epic of all Paris holidays, the winner and five friends will receive airfares from their nearest city to Paris and one night (as well as dinner and brekkie) in the luxury Eiffel Tower digs. They'll also chuck in another three nights accommodation in another HomeAway apartment so you don't have to fly to Paris just for one night — but, let's be honest, it's only going to be a letdown after your Tower stay. The trip must be taken from July 2-6, but unfortunately it's only open for US residents. Boo. The promotion follows a slew of similar competitions from Airbnb, the latest of which gave punters a chance to spend a night in a Parisian shark tank. So for our next holiday, accommodation booking companies, we'd like to request a bed in the Statue of Liberty's torch.
The quest of Neil Young to revive the magic that has been squeezed out of digital music has now been realised with the launch of his portal listening device and digital music service called Pono [meaning righteous in Hawaiian]. Young has been working on the service and music player for last several years, chasing the goal of restoring music to its original artistic quality – as it was in the studio. The 128GB triangular, touchscreen gadget named PonoPlayer makes use of zero-feedback circuitry, a minimum phase digital filter and a whole lot of other technical stuff to eliminate the “unnatural pre-ringing” that can often be heard on digital tracks. The PonoPlayer comes alongside the online music store PonoMusic.com , which will offer downloads of songs formatted from artist-approved master recordings. Young officially launched both products at the South by Southwest music conference in Austin, Texas with a Kickstarter campaign complete with video endorsements from a plethora of music stars and offering preorders of the PonoPlayer at a discounted price. Pledgers are given the option to purchase a special edition “Artist Signature Series” PonoPlayer with autographs from the likes of Young himself, Arcade Fire, Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, as well as being pre-loaded with the artist’s all-time favorite two albums. Just don't ask Mr Young about what cut he gets, things will just get awkward.
West Elm are teaming up with Etsy this weekend to bring you an afternoon of crafty goodness from your favourite online designers. From 1pm to 6pm on June 21, you'll be able to track down and purchase unique items made by local artisans. Better yet, there's no need for postage fees or waiting periods. Etsy has curated a stellar line-up of 16 sellers, offering everything from nifty jewellery and funky stationary through to re-purposed timber homewares and hand-poured soy candles. There will be a broad range of handmade products oozing with style and personality. Plus, you'll get to chat to your local innovators over treats and tunes. In recent years, the Brooklyn-based retailer and the online marketplace have turned from competitors into unlikely collaborators, citing the common goal of injecting a bit of integrity and authenticity into the crafts and homewares market. On the whole, it's pretty cool that this mega-brand is giving shelf space to indie crafters. But don't forget, this pop-up is on for one day only! You snooze, ya lose. Photo credit: Kimberly Chau Lee.
If you're planning to attempt a dry January, this event probably isn't for you. For the first time, independent artisan wine producers One Block are holding four cellar door events throughout the month. Each Sunday, Chestnut Hill Vineyard in West Gippsland — about an hour and a half from Melbourne — will play host to One Block for its new Summer Series. The event will give you the opportunity to sample popular and soon-to-be released drops from One Block and winemaker Jayden Ong's other ventures La Maison de Ong, Moonlit Forest and NAS (preservative-free). And what is a wine tasting without some paired snacks? Enter Yarra Valley Dairy, who'll be there to fulfil your fromage needs, while Meatsmith Specialty Butcher will be getting the wood-fired grill going. The first three weeks are free, but the finale on January 28 is ticketed. At $49 per person, the ticket includes admission, a reserved table, lunch by Meatsmith and entertainment. Anyone who has tasted a One Block drop at Cumulus Inc. (which Ong co-owns) knows it's worth lifting the New Year's resolution drinking ban for. If you're thinking of making the journey, check out our Weekender's Guide to West Gippsland to plan your adventure.
Are you the kind of person who starts plotting your next meal before you've even finished the last? Love eating more than anything else? Well, you can get right to the guts of our global food obsession when culinary legend Nigella Lawson returns to Aussie shores for her new show, An Evening with Nigella Lawson. One of the most successful food writers of all time, cooking up more than ten million book sales worldwide with her 11 culinary bibles, Lawson was in the country last December for a series of talks discussing the concept of food and its link to pleasure, creativity and belonging, and now she's back — direct from London's West End. An Evening with Nigella Lawson is a new show where the celebrity chef shares her own culinary story, live on stage. The show has been floated as interactive and intimate. Culinary questions will be taken from the audience, while Nigella shares her thoughts about the role food plays in life, plus what she is eating and cooking. Before becoming a household name, Nigella worked as a book reviewer and restaurant critic, going on to become the deputy literary editor of The Sunday Times. She is responsible for numerous award-winning books, including How to Eat, How to Be a Domestic Goddess, Nigella Bites and At My Table. AN EVENING WITH NIGELLA LAWSON 2019 DATES Perth — Riverside Theatre, January 29 Sydney — Sydney Opera House, February 2 Canberra — Royal Theatre, February 4 Melbourne — Hamer Hall, February 9 Brisbane — QPAC Concert Hall, February 10 An Evening with Nigella Lawson tickets go on sale Monday, October 29. You can signup to be notified when they're released here.
A quarter of a century ago, M Night Shyamalan started coaching audiences to associate his surname with on-screen twists. Now that The Sixth Sense writer/director's daughter Ishana Night Shyamalan is following in his footsteps by making her first feature, decades of that viewer training across Unbreakable, Signs, The Visit, Split, Glass and more laps at The Watchers' feet. The question going in for those watching is obvious: will the second-generation filmmaker, who first worked as a second-unit director on her dad's Old and Knock at the Cabin — and also penned and helmed episodes of exceptionally eerie horror TV series Servant, on which her father was the showrunner — turn M Night's well-known and -established penchant for surprise reveals that completely recontextualise his narratives into a family trademark? Viewing a Shyamalan movie from The Sixth Sense onwards has always been an exercise in piecing together a puzzle, sleuthing along as clues are dropped about how the story might swiftly shift. It's no different with The Watchers, which Ishana adapts from AM Shine's novel and M Night produces. The younger filmmaking Shyamalan leans into the expectations that come with being her dad's offspring and picking up a camera, making a supernatural mystery-thriller horror flick and living with his brand of screen stories for her entire life. That said, while it's easy to initially think of The Village when The Watchers sets its narrative in isolated surroundings where the woods are filled with threats, and also of Knock at the Cabin given that its four main characters are basically holed up in one, Ishana demonstrates her own prowess, including by heartily embracing her source material's gothic air. This is a tale with a Mina at its centre, after all, because Shyamalan isn't the only name attached to The Watchers that means something in horror. As gothic stories in the genre long have told, it's also a tale of being haunted — here, by the monsters that lurk among the trees in a mysterious patch of western Ireland, and also by the kind of loss and sorrow that reshapes entire lives. As Ishana dials up the foreboding while dancing with fantasy, too, The Watchers proves a reckoning with identity as well. Yearning for the ability to define your own sense of self is another familiar gothic notion (Mary Shelley's Frankenstein puts it among the ideas at its centre), and also a fitting theme and statement for a person who's leaping into a field where they're immediately standing in someone else's shadow. Hours from Galway, shade also looms as The Watchers kicks off. As captured with a moody gaze by cinematographer Eli Arenson — and an eye for the claustrophobia that can simmer in expansive natural spaces, as he also splashed around in 2021's Lamb — warm rays barely filter through the forest even when the sun is high in the sky. In a state of near-perpetual twilight, the woodland possesses an otherworldly and ominous feel. A man (Alistair Brammer, Ancient Empires) is spied trying to flee its sprawling cover; however, the signs about not being able to turn back keep proving accurate. Birds flutter in a swooping and circling flock, the thicket buzzes with its own noise — both with unease as dense as the canopy above — and the picture advises that this location is absent from maps and a beacon for lost souls. A command of atmosphere bubbles through the movie from the outset, then, even before Mina (Dakota Fanning, Ripley) wanders through the same grove. She's entering rather than trying to leave — at first. An American artist working in a pet shop in a biding-her-time fashion, the 28-year-old is tasked with a normal albeit time-consuming delivery, but then her car breaks down and her phone dies shortly after driving into the greenery. Prior to Mina hitting the road, The Watchers dapples her everyday existence with a disquieting vibe. In her life in the Irish city, she's plastering literal wigs and metaphorical masks over her unhappiness while avoiding calls from her sister Lucy and grappling with the death of their mother 15 years earlier. En route to being stranded in a bunker called The Coop, which is sat in a tract where no one should go down to the woods by dark, she's also already feeling as caged as the parrot that she's about to try to ferry to a Belfast zoo. The Coop is no ordinary cabin in the woods, not that many on-screen are, with kudos deserved by The Watchers' production designers. Mirrored glass lines one of its walls, letting interested eyes peer in unseen (their audible reactions provide a soundtrack as well) as the motley crew that is Madeline (Olwen Fouéré, The Tourist), Ciara (Georgina Campbell, Barbarian), Daniel (Oliver Finnegan, We Are Lady Parts) and now Mina navigate their new routine. Each strangers going in and each trapped, they're all endeavouring to survive the creatures that demand to observe them eating, watching an old dating-style reality TV series and sleeping every evening — and, without their captors realising, to ascertain how to escape a place that appears impossible to exit. There are rules to enduring. There are grim consequences for not abiding by them. No one has made it out to seek help and returned, the stern Madeline cautions. When a reflective surface plays such a pivotal part, it's hardly astonishing when a film trades in parallels, including with an IRL world that's frequently becoming one giant online performance (to stress the point, one of The Watchers' most-striking shots shows how Mina and company inhabit a stage for their keepers). As well as absorbing her father's fondness for spinning unsettling tales, Ishana has inherited his ambition, clearly, as she also works in Celtic lore and the impact of colonialism. While it's one thing to aim big and another to thoroughly wrestle everything that you're eager to explore and touch upon into one movie, her directorial debut sports an instantly intriguing premise that draws viewers in effectively, a flair for imagery and tension, and an excellent lead. When Fanning is playing the feature's protagonist as someone who can't see anything but her own pain — who can't see the forest for the trees, aptly — she wears Mina's fragility and vulnerability like a second skin. When her character is forced to confront being put on display, she's just as mesmerisingly relatable.
Meredith is a festival where you're guaranteed to have a good time, no matter what. But whatever your reasons for heading to the three-day December festival in central Victoria, you won't be disappointed with the acts Aunty Meredith has just announced for this year's lineup. They're absolutely spiffing awesome. Superwoman and curator of all things wacky, Peaches, will be headlining the bill, bringing her extravagant live show to The Sup. Kelela will be coming all the way from Washington to kick off the after-dark vibbes on Friday night, and Geelong boys King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard will be providing that dose of psych rock every weekend at Meredith needs. BADBADNOTGOOD will be fusing jazz and electro, while Angel Olsen will be bringing all them feels and The Triffids will be there for a shot of nostalgia. And that's not even a half of it. Aunty has really covered all bases here. You're wondering how you can get tickets to this aren't you? Meredith tickets are only available by entering the ballot. You can still do so at aunty.mmf.com. Fingers crossed that we can all hang out in The Sup on December 9, 10 and 11. But we know what you're really here for. We'll cut to the chase. Here's the full lineup MEREDITH MUSIC FESTIVAL 2016 LINEUP Peaches Sheila E King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard BadBadNotGood Angel Olsen The Triffids Kelela Ben UFO Japandroids The Congos Baroness Archie Roach Jagwar Ma Mount Liberation Unlimited Fred & Toody Cole Chiara Kickdrum Cass McCombs The Goon Sax Ross Wilson CC: Disco! Cable Ties Wilson Tanner Silence Wedge The Sugarcanes Terry Judith Lucy Sheer Mag Dungen Meredith Music Festival will return to Meredith on Friday 9, Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 December, 2016. Onsite camping will once again be available from Friday. To put your name in the ballot to win tickets, go to aunty.mmf.com.
Victorians are preparing to say goodbye to plastic bags as the Victorian Government last night announced it will clear everyone's cupboards of single-use plastic carriers via a statewide ban. Premier Daniel Andrews announced the ban last night on The Project, saying that "we know this is really important for the environment, particularly for our waterways, for landfill [and] for waste management". This comes in direct response to a #BanTheBag Change.org petition run by the nightly Ten current affairs program. Premier @DanielAndrewsMP announces Victoria's plan to #BanTheBag! What say you, @GladysB? #auspol #TheProjectTV pic.twitter.com/J9u26wa5xr — The Project (@theprojecttv) October 17, 2017 The move brings the state into line with South Australia, the ACT, the Northern Territory, Tasmania and Queensland, who announced it will next year ditch lightweight single-use plastic bags in September. It follows the news that Woolworths and Coles will also be doing the same nationwide. NSW is now the only state that hasn't committed to banning single-use bags. Victoria's ban might seem like a long time coming — but, well, better late than never. It's unclear whether the ban will cover just lightweight plastic bags or both degradable and biodegradable options. Further details are expected to be announced by Environment Minister Lily D'Ambrosio today.
There's a change ahead for South Yarra's food scene, with the announcement that Ramblr — the beloved restaurant from Nick Stanton, Guy Bentley, Mark Catsburg and Jon Harper — is calling it quits, set to close its doors for good on Saturday, March 2. The owners broke the news yesterday via Instagram, thanking both crew and fans for two great years as part of the Chapel Street family, and saying that the restaurant had far exceeded their expectations. "We would like to thank everyone who has been involved with Ramblr - it has been such an amazing experience," it said. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs7RgFsAfRi/ It has been a busy few months for the four, who launched their latest venture Leonardo's Pizza Palace in Carlton, just last December. Stanton, Bentley, Catsburg and Harper first opened Ramblr at the end of 2016, off the back of their ever-popular debut joint venue, Leonard's House of Love. The Chapel Street restaurant has been pulling in the crowds ever since, famed for its detail-driven fare and polished, yet casual vibe. And, of course, those pig's head fritters. It's not all bad news, however — the boys have hinted at some fun things ahead for the current Ramblr site, with plans for an "exciting new concept" to open there soon. Find Ramblr at 363 Chapel Street, South Yarra until Saturday, March 2. Images: Jo Rittey.
One of the most significant films in the history of Greek Cinema will be screened under the stars in the inaugural 2014 MPavilion, now located in the courtyard of Melbourne's Hellenic Museum. Released in 1962 to widespread acclaim — including a win for Best Cinematic Transposition at the Cannes Film Festival and an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film — Michael Cacoyannis' Electra brings the Euripidean tragedy to the silver screen. Part of the Hellenic Museum's ongoing summer cinema series, featuring a different iconic picture every week, the event will also feature mouthwatering Greek-style BBQ lamb, ancient grain salads, a Greek coffee version of the classic movie choc top, plus a wide selection of Hellenic beverages. Food and drink starts at 7pm, giving you plenty of time to fill your stomach before the movie begins at sundown.
Everyone needs a hobby — and if adding to your gin shrine is how you pass the time, Four Pillars has launched yet another tipple to boost your collection. After recent collaborations with Melbourne venue Arbory Afloat and the national QT Hotels chain, the award-winning distillery has teamed up with Qantas on a celebratory drop called QF100. The reason: last year, the Australian airline turned 100, so this new gin is designed to mark that hefty milestone. And, to reflect the carrier's ties to Longreach in Queensland — where it was born, and where the Qantas Founders Outback Museum is based — QF100 is made with botanicals sourced from the central western Queensland spot. Accordingly, when you say cheers to Qantas' centenary with you next cocktail, you'll be tasting lemongrass, macadamia and lemon myrtle. The botanicals were foraged in the area under the guidance of local Indigenous elder Suzanne Thompson — and lemongrass features heavily because it was growing in the region in abundance at the time. Like Four Pillars' other collabs, this one is a limited-edition affair — and, its 700-millilitre bottle bottles have already sold out via the distillery's online store. But, Qantas is still selling it online, and serving it in new signature centenary cocktails at its lounges. You can sip the 'Longreach Fizz' at its Qantas International first lounges in Sydney and Melbourne, the Brisbane International lounge and the brand's six domestic chairman's lounges. Four Pillars and Qantas' QF100 gin has sold out via Four Pillars' online store, but it's still available to buy via Qantas for $90 for a 700-millilitre bottle.
It's a common peeve for many Melburnians: the fact that catching the train to another part of town often means hauling all the way into the CBD before you can switch routes and travel back out. Well, that headache could potentially be removed, if the Victorian Government's ambitious plan for a huge underground suburban rail network comes to fruition. In August last year (before he ran for and won the state election), Premier Daniel Andrews released a proposal for a brand new 90-kilometre Suburban Rail Loop, which would link all of the city's major radial rail lines with an intersecting orbital one, from the southeast in Cheltenham all the way to the west in Werribee. So how will it all work? Last year, Premier Daniel Andrews posted this video that details how and where the project will operate. The proposed new line would run a loop around Melbourne's outer suburbs, connecting the existing train lines at a point outside of the CBD. The current plans have it starting at Cheltenham on the Frankston line, connecting to the Cranbourne/Pakenham line at Clayton before running through Glen Waverley and to Box Hill on the Lilydale/Belgrave line. From there it will go underground to connect to Heidelberg on the Hurstbridge line, Reservoir on the South Morang, Fawkner on the Upfield and Broadmeadows on the Craigieburn before heading to the new Melbourne Airport station that we'll supposedly have by then. From there it will head down to Sunshine, which is on the Sunbury line, before finishing up at Werribee. Here's a new version of the map Daniel Andrews posted last week. All this work could include up to 12 new underground stations and would provide train services to suburbs that don't currently have them, like Monash, Burwood and Doncaster. If all goes as planned, the new network would carry 400,000 people a day, which the government hopes will reduce congestion on both roads and existing train lines. It's a huge undertaking, and one that's largely unfunded at the moment. Although the Andrews Government was re-elected in November, the project now has to find funding and be passed by parliament to begin on the proposed start date of 2022.. The State Government has only committed $300 million to it so far — but if a Shorten Labor Government gets elected at this year's federal election, it has pledged to match that amount. That takes the total to a potential $600 million, but, at the moment, the government only has $300 million to put towards a business case, design and pre-construction work. The Age has reported that, all up, the thing will cost around $50 billion; for comparison, the current Metro Tunnel project has been estimated at costing around $11 billion. So there is still a lot of work to go to prove that the project is viable (and that's not to mention finding the extra $49,700,000,000). It's not something you want to hold your breath for. That said, the Andrews Government has been the administration to actually make the Metro Tunnel happen, remove multiple level crossings in the city's east and commit to an Airport Rail Link (although that one's not quite confirmed yet), so we'll wait to see what happens in next 18 months. We'll keep you updated.
UPDATE, NOVEMBER 18, 2016: After a successful first weekend, Bon Fromage has had to postpone the second weekend of the festival due to permit issues. They plan to bring the festival back, bigger and better, in early 2017. Melburnians have always liked cheese, but in recent years things have gotten serious. Dedicated fromageries have popped up across our fair city and we've enjoyed at least three dedicated cheese festivals in recent memory. Our stomachs are working overtime to digest all the lactose — and, honestly, we've never been happier. And the love affair continues with this latest cheesy announcement. France (or more specifically, a Parisian centre for cheese, which is a real thing) is bringing us Bon Fromage, a ten-day cheese festival celebrating European cheese. The whole thing will happen in a laneway behind Carlton's King and Godfree from the November 11. First and foremost is cheese — the venue will be transformed into a cheese marketplace and wine bar for two weekends, alongside pop-ups from Melbourne cheese royalty Shifty Chevre, Milk the Cow and Harper and Blohm. But the cheese festival isn't just about eating so much cheese you puke. Anthony Femia of Prahran Market's Maker and Monger and Johnny Di Francesco from 400 Gradi will be there too, holding masterclasses in, we assume, the correct way to draw a cheese fondue bath for yourself. The festival is supported by the European Union, presumably to get Australians on board with the European cheese industry. To us, this seems like a bit of a misfire because we're already very on board with cheese (from Europe or elsewhere), but whatever — we'll be there front and centre with our bibs on regardless. Bon Fromage: Festival of European Cheeses will run from Friday, November 11 until Sunday, November 20 in Faraday Lane, Carlton, behind King and Godfree. For more info, visit the Facebook event.
Who'll win orb-topped trophies? Who'll wear what? Who'll make the best, funniest and most rambling speeches? Whenever January hits and the Golden Globes approach for another year, they're the standard questions. Here's another: where can Australians watch the red carpet action and the ceremony? In 2023, the answer to that last query is streaming — and, to be specific, Stan. The Aussie platform has nabbed the exclusive broadcasting rights to this year's Golden Globes, covering both the pre-show and the awards themselves. Both will be streamed live on Wednesday, January 11, starting at 11am AEDT / 10am AEST for the arrivals and 12pm AEDT / 11am AEST for the gongs themselves. [caption id="attachment_884053" align="alignnone" width="1920"] CleftClips via Flickr[/caption] This'll mark the first time that Stan has aired the Golden Globes, which be beamed into your streaming queue from the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. On hosting duties: comedian Jerrod Carmichael. Nominated: a hefty list of the past year's best movies and TV shows, because these awards cover both. Among the big-screen contenders sits everything from Everything Everywhere All At Once and The Banshees of Inisherin to Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery and Elvis. On the small screen, The White Lotus, Severance, Only Murders in the Building, Abbott Elementary, Wednesday and more are vying for accolades. Australians have also earned a hefty showing among the nominees, including Baz Luhrmann's Best Director nom for Elvis, and Cate Blanchett, Margot Robbie, Hugh Jackman and Elizabeth Debicki all picking up acting nominations (for Tár, Bablyon, The Son and The Crown, respectively). If you're wondering who'll be presenting awards rather than trying to win them, expect to see Ana de Armas (The Gray Man), Billy Porter (Cinderella), Colman Domingo (Euphoria), Jamie Lee Curtis (Halloween Ends), Natasha Lyonne (Russian Doll), Nicole Byer (Nailed It!) and Quentin Tarantino (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) among the folks taking to the stage. Of course, the fact that the 2023 Golden Globes take place on a Wednesday isn't the best for parties — although they will hopefully liven up the middle of your week. The 2023 Golden Globes will be announced on Wednesday, January 11 Australian time, streaming via Stan from 11am AEDT / 10am AEST for red carpet arrivals and 12pm AEDT / 11am AEST for the ceremony itself. Wondering who's nominated? Read our rundown of this year's nominees.
If you're anything like us, you have an endless list of places you want to visit and things you want to do when you're there: have a whiskey in the Park Hyatt Tokyo, float along Venice's canals, get into Berghain in Berlin, eat fresh seafood on the beach in Sri Lanka (just to name a few). But, sometimes, your bank balance won't allow it. We understand, and we've teamed up with Intrepid Travel so you can tick one off your list — for free. The long-time purveyor of taking you off the beaten track, putting you outside of your comfort zone and providing A-plus travel stories, Intrepid Travel is giving you a chance to win an (almost) all-expenses-paid trip to Sri Lanka. As well as return airfares for two, you and your chosen loved one will also get to join a 15-day extensive tour of the country. Get ready to tell some cracking travel yarns in the future. The Circle Sri Lanka trip will take you from Negombo, in the east and will travel clockwise all the way round to the island nation's capital, Colombo. Throughout the two weeks, you'll have the chance to explore ruins, climb Sigiriya Lion Rock, learn to cook traditional Sri Lankan fare, explore bustling bazaars and trek through tea plantations. And all accommodation, ten brekkies (and some lunches and dinners) are included, as well as more activities than you can count on your two hands. The island is full of vibrant culture, incredible food, ancient citadels and idyllic beaches on all sides. Regardless of whether you're the lucky winner, it should be high up on your travel bucket list anyway. To enter, see details below. [competition]669353[/competition] Top image: Sigiriya Lion Rock
Zeus Street Greek has been rolling hot, fulfilling pitas off its spits and into your stomaches since 2014. Providing traditional Greek food with more of a 'healthy nourishing meal' feel than a '3am greasy food' vibe, Zeus cooks up street food that covers several important food bases: meaty pitas, healthy salads and sides, traditional Greek desserts and, of course, chips. The eatery's tag is #foodhonestly, and there's nothing more honest than a big pile of crispy hand-cut fries. To celebrate World Fries Day on Friday, July 13, Zeus Greek Street is offering a very chip-tastic giveaway. Knowing that fries were an integral part of Yia Yia's kitchen has meant that they've ended up a big part of the Zeus menu — and a bonanza of them will be given away. One lucky person can win a year's worth of chips, with 365 vouchers to be redeemed at any store across the country. Zeus offers Yia Yia's fries seasoned simply with rock salt and oregano making them the perfect accompaniment to your pita or Spartan box, or — if you're a big fry fan — on their own. You'll also nab a winner's party at your chosen branch of Zeus Street Greek, with a $100 voucher to share with your hungry pals. Just pause for a moment and think about what this will do to your overall comfort levels throughout winter. To enter, see details below. [competition]674243[/competition] Image: Dominic Loneragan
