After a big, busy week at work, a little complimentary entertainment surely doesn't go astray. Especially when it comes in the form of some free Friday evening wine. New organic, vegan wine company Minimum is a collaboration between Matt and Lentil Purbrick (Grown & Gathered) and Tahbilk Head Winemaker Alister Purbrick. And it's launching in style this Friday, September 13, with a free after-work wine tasting session in the Mercedes Me store mezzanine. You're invited to swing by and sample first-release drops like the 2018 sangiovese syrah, 2018 chardonnay and the 2019 sangiovese rosato, while chatting all things organic vino with Matt and Alister. They'll share their own story and the secrets to making wine with a minimal footprint, while a lineup of local talent throws down some live tunes to round out those pre-weekend vibes. Clock off early and head in from 5pm. Images: Hilary Walker
Whatever Frightened Rabbit are afraid of, we should all be glad that it clearly isn't being excellent at making music or coming to Australia. Having graced our shores last year for Groovin' the Moo and a run of sold-out sideshows, the Scottish indie rockers are back again to continue their festival-sideshow combination. After performing their heartfelt anthems at St. Jerome's Laneway Festival, the band will be performing Sydney and Melbourne sideshows that are not to be missed. Make sure that you pack your singing voices as well as your dancing shoes as the band's choruses demand to be chanted until the Hi-Fi transforms into a cavern of uplifting sound. With such a short gap between their last two visits, it could be a while until we see them again. Even if that wasn't the case, don't be a frightened rabbit and miss this. https://youtube.com/watch?v=KY4j8Ow-CTs
For more than three decades, Hayao Miyzakai has been hailed as the shining star of Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli, spinning gorgeous on-screen stories about magical worlds, buses shaped like cats, moving houses, friendly fish and more. No one can tell an enchanting tale like the masterful filmmaker — but, no one can make melodic music to match like Joe Hisaishi. First collaborating with Miyzakai on 1984's Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, the composer has provided the score to every one of the director's features since then, spanning everything from My Neighbour Totoro and Spirited Away to Ponyo and The Wind Rises. That's quite the collection of moving movie music, and it's coming to Melbourne for two nights only with Hisaishi himself at the podium. It's the latest event in the ever-growing — and awesome — trend that pairs film screenings or compilations of footage with a live orchestra accompaniment, as Star Wars and Harry Potter fans will be well aware. On April 27 and 28, Music from the Studio Ghibli Films of Hayao Miyazaki will let the sounds of Ghibli echo through Hamer Hall, with Hisaishi conducting the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. As they play, the concert will match the music to a montage of clips from the likes of Howl's Moving Castle, Princess Mononoke, and the rest of Miyzakai and Hisaishi's shared filmography. If you went along to the similar Pixar event last year, then you'll know what you're in for: an ace conductor, ace musicians and ace segments from ace films. The concert is an Australian exclusive and an Australian premiere — not to mention a completely new and immersive way to revisit the flicks you've seen and loved countless times. Music from the Studio Ghibli Films of Hayao Miyazaki takes place on April 27 and 28 at Hamer Hall, Melbourne. For more information, and to buy tickets from 10am on February 12, visit the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra website.
After a year spent getting very familiar with our own homes, it's safe to say we're all craving a bit of wow-factor from any future holiday escapes. And there's plenty of that to be found at Victoria's new alpine eco-glamping site, which has launched on the slopes of Mt Hotham, around 4.5 hours northeast of Melbourne. The latest offering from award-winning tourism operator Alpine Nature Experience, the new accommodation set-up features a series of comfy treetop tents, suspended above the ground. Here, you can sleep in luxury beneath the starry skies and wake to stunning sunrise vistas over the mountain. There are tents to fit two people (from $189 a night), as well as a family-friendly option with space for three, or for two adults and a couple of children (from $289 a night). Or, you can splash out a little extra for an indulgent stay in the two-person Premium Vista Tent, overlooking one of Mt Hotham's most impressive lookouts and featuring its own private outdoor bath ($289 a night). Each tent comes kitted out with cosy sleeping bags and insulated mattresses, as well as a phone charger and head torches. And yes, there's ample phone reception up here, in case you're a little wary about unplugging completely. In addition to the unique sleeping situation and premium views, eco-village guests can enjoy cooked breakfasts, activities ranging from hiking to bike rides, an assortment of outdoor games, a fully licensed bar offering and woodfired feasts for dinner. What's more, it's sustainably built and entirely off-grid, so you can rest easy knowing your getaway is being easy on the planet. All supplies are taken in and out by foot to minimise impact, plus Alpine Nature Experience is a member of global environmental initiative, 1% for the Planet. Find Alpine Nature Experience's Summer Eco-Village on Great Alpine Road, Hotham Heights. It's now open Thursday to Sunday — book your stay here. Images: Kate Hanton
Twelve months ago, if you uttered the words 'doughnut day', you were probably using them in the literal sense between mouthfuls. Thanks to the chaos of 2020, however, the term now refers to a day without any new COVID-19 cases — and, when it comes to locally acquired cases, both New South Wales and Victoria have just notched up that milestone. Both states have been dealing with a rise of coronavirus numbers since before Christmas, starting in Sydney's northern beaches suburbs, and including cases in Melbourne as well. As a result, festive plans were thrown into disarray around not only both states but the entire country, as new restrictions on borders, gatherings and mask usage came into effect. So, zero new locally acquired cases in NSW and Victoria is the good news that everyone needs in 2021. Today, Thursday, January 7, NSW Health sent out its daily Tweet with yesterday's numbers and it's what we all want to see: a big fat zero. It spans the period up until 8pm on Wednesday, January 6; however, there were six new cases acquired from overseas, in hotel quarantine, during the same timeframe. In today's press conference, NSW Acting Premier John Barilaro did note that one local case has been identified today, in the northern beaches, but that'll feature in tomorrow's numbers. In total, NSW currently has 114 active cases. https://twitter.com/NSWHealth/status/1346970806476161025 The Victorian Government Department of Health and Human Services also sent out its own daily Tweet, and also served up a nice round numeral. In the southern state, in the period until midnight last night, there were also zero new cases acquired from interstate or from overseas, too. That gives Victoria 38 active cases at present, with 32,767 tests conducted in the past 24 hours. https://twitter.com/VicGovDHHS/status/1346929086896238594 Of course, this doesn't mean the war is over in either state, or around Australia — but it is some very welcome news after a few weeks with rising numbers. To keep an eye on the situation in Sydney, you can check out an interactive map that plots places that positive COVID-19 cases have visited, which takes data from the state's venue alerts. There's also a map that shows cases by postcode. If you're in Victoria, you can head to the state's own interactive map, which displays cases by postcode or local government area. For more information about COVID-19 in NSW and current restrictions, head to NSW Health. For more information about COVID-19 in Victoria, head over to the Department of Health and Human Services website.
There are squillions of ways you could celebrate 2018's International Women's Day, but if partying with Camp Cope sounds like your kind of jam, there's only one event you need to know about. On Thursday, March 8, the kickass all-girl trio is joining a stack of other well-loved artists to help community radio station PBS celebrate all the great women rocking Melbourne's music scene. From 5-7pm acts including rock legend Adalita, garage-punk five-piece Lazertits and guitar duo Hospital Pass will take over PBS' regular broadcasting for a two-hour studio session of live tunes and female-focused festivities, at the station's Collingwood headquarters. If you're one of the first to RSVP, you could score a front row seat as part of the live studio audience. Otherwise the musical goodness will be broadcast across the country via the Community Radio Network.
Just because you weren't alive when Woodstock left its mark on history, doesn't mean you can't help pay homage with a good old-fashioned revival. Which is exactly what's going down this Saturday, November 26, when Moorabbin's Morris Moor dives back in time for Woodstock Relived. A one-off music party fuelled by 60s and 70s rock classics, it'll have you partying out the day to hits from Jimi Hendrix, Joe Cocker, The Who, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Janis Joplin and more. Reviving these retro tunes on stage will be a cast of local talent, including some legit legends — Frankie J Holden, Wilbur Wilde (of Jo Jo Zep and Ole '55 fame), The Two Man Band's Mike Brady ('Up there Cazaly'), Wendy Stapleton (Wendy & The Rocketts), Nikki Nicholls (Original John Farnham Band and Kylie Minogue backing vocalist) and Mick Pealing (Stars), just to name a few. Alongside the tunes, you'll catch live art installations, food trucks and pop-up bars, plus an array of market stalls to make your inner hippie swoon.
Covering a whopping 1000-square metres, Lost and Found Market can easily eat up a whole afternoon. Though it has since moved from its iconic space on Smith Street, the market is still replete with knick knacks, bric-a-brac, retro homewares, and vintage fashion in its new Brunswick home. Composed of 60 individual stalls at any one time, the market is curated by a collection of top scavengers. No more rustling around the racks at the local op shop — all the good stuff is already conveniently under this huge, warehouse roof.
Take a deep dive into the wondrous, cinematic worlds of Wes Anderson, when The Astor Theatre kicks off its new series of weekly film screenings dedicated to the acclaimed director's work. From July 4 until August 29, film buffs can enjoy a Wednesday night serve of Anderson's distinctive visual stylings and compelling soundtracks, across a series of single and double features. First up, can catch 1996 crime-comedy Bottle Rocket, followed by the Jason Schwartzman-led hit Rushmore on July 11, and July 18's double header of The Royal Tenenbaums and The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou. Other iconic Anderson titles hitting the big screen in the coming weeks include Moonrise Kingdom (August 8), The Grand Budapest Hotel (August 22), Isle of Dogs (August 29) and a double feature of The Darjeeling Limited and Fantastic Mr Fox (July 25).
Scouting out top-notch plant-based eats just got even easier, especially if you're kicking around Richmond. The suburb's welcomed its own outpost of St Kilda's legendary meat-free spot Sister of Soul, and it's a haven of upbeat energy and feel-good food. Opening five years after the original, the new Swan Street venue embraces animal-friendly eating even more so than its sibling, with an offering that's all vegan, all the time. The relaxed, intimate space is the work of architects Pierce Widera, and features bright, minimalist interiors and cheery al fresco seating beneath a sprawling tree. You'll spy a few old favourites within the menu, including hits like the green gyoza dumplings, the gnocchi with house-made almond feta and roasted capsicum sauce, the polenta 'Jenga' and that decadent chocolate tart. There are new dishes, too, such as a slow-cooked jackfruit burger rocking Asian slaw and a charcoal bun, a spicy Thai green curry and a burrito bowl loaded with chipotle, black beans and charred corn. If you needed proof that vegan eating could be fun and tasty, all at once, look no further. Meanwhile, the drinks offering is an impressive one, headlined by a selection of (once again, all-vegan) classic cocktails, like the G&T crafted on orange marmalade, rosemary and dry gin. You'll also find vegan wines and craft beers, cold-pressed juices and specialty sips like the Magic Mushroom — almond milk blended with maca, cacao, mesquite, cayenne pepper and 15 different medicinal mushrooms. As with the St Kilda venue, Sister of Soul Richmond has teamed up with local community gardens to repurpose its food waste and used coffee grinds, helping to grow herbs, fruit and vegetables. Find Sister of Soul Richmond at 77 Swan Street, Richmond. It's open from midday till 10pm, Wednesday to Sunday. Images: Kate Shanasy.
Japanese fare might be the traditional match for sake, but this tasting series is approaching the rice wine differently. Taking over Arlechin across six nights this February and March, the Tanuki Sake Pop-Up will see the Melbourne Sake crew team up with Italian favourite Grossi, to show punters just how versatile this spirit can be. Both Grossi alumni themselves, the label's founders Matt Kingsley Shaw and Quentin Hanley are out to share their passion for sake ahead of the imminent launch of their own debut batch. They're hosting various sittings for the pop-up on March 5, 6, 12 and 13. Guests can choose between the one-hour Quick Tanuki experience ($45) — enjoying a special menu of sake-optimised snacks from the Grossi kitchen and a sake on arrival — or dive in deep with the The Grand Tanuki ($90), which also includes a guided premium sake flight. You'll be able purchase more sake by the glass, along with a range of beers, cocktails and Japanese liquors. And if you taste something you like, there'll be a retail sake selection to stock up that home bar, too. Sittings are available from 5–11pm each night of the pop-up.
Two courses for $35 without going any further than Fitzroy North sounds almost to good to be true, and — to be honest — it almost is. Lucky for us, the only catch here is that you'll be helping out some young hospitality trainees whilst enjoying some delectable food at the same time. Doesn't seem like much of a compromise. Scarf Dinners are back, and for spring they are taking over Fitzroy North's Jorg every Monday until October 16. While the venue would usually be closed on Mondays, Scarf trainees (marginalised youth who otherwise may not be able to get the hospitality experience they need) are given the opportunity to open the restaurant to the public for an otherwise normal night of dining. Jorg Head Chef Bryce Bernhardt will be designing and cooking a modern European seasonal menu, which will be served by Scarf front-of-house trainees and their mentors. Dinners have previously been held at Top Paddock, Epocha and Three Bags Full — many of which have sold out, and all have been successful. The first Scarf Dinner was held this Monday, and the following dates are still to come over the next month: Monday, September 23 Monday, September 30 Monday, October 7 Monday, October 16
Melbourne is fond of a good light show, particularly when the temperatures drop and the nights start to get a little darker. Here to add to the city's illuminated winter calendar is newly-announced Rialto Aglow. The free, after-dark lights festival will take over the Rialto Piazza, nestled in an intersection of Collins, Flinders and King Streets in the CBD. Head down from 5pm between 19 July–29 July to see the public precinct transformed with interactive light installations, large-scale projection artwork and appropriately themed food and bevvies. Highlights include Amigo & Amigo studio's Accordion, comprised of six interactive, oversized archways inspired by the instrument of the same. The same studio will pay tribute to the cycles of the moon with Lunar Lamp Posts, a brand-new large-scale installation with over 40 different sounds and illuminated animations. Beloved Melbourne-based neon light artist Carla O'Brien, whose previous works appeared at Burning Man and White Night, will also pop-up throughout the ten-day festival. Rialto Aglow will host works including Neon Play The Music, a fun and playful live instrument installation, and Double Rainbow Love Heart Archway, set to be an irresistible social media snapping opportunity. The Rialto Aglow Winter Lights Festival is part of the Melbourne City Revitalisation Fund, granting funding for after-dark activities to all to give the night-time economy a hefty boost. [caption id="attachment_897494" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Amigo & Amigo's Affinity at Illuminate Adelaide[/caption]
UPDATE, Friday, July 7: Limbo streams via ABC iView from 8.30pm on Sunday, July 9. When Ivan Sen sent a police detective chasing a murdered girl and a missing woman in the Australian outback in 2013's Mystery Road and its 2016 sequel Goldstone, he saw the country's dusty, rust-hued expanse in sun-bleached and eye-scorching colour. In the process, the writer, director, co-producer, cinematographer, editor and composer used his first two Aussie noir films and their immaculately shot sights to call attention to how the nation treats people of colour — historically since its colonial days and still now well over two centuries later. Seven years after the last Jay Swan movie, following a period that's seen that character make the leap to the small screen in three television seasons, Sen is back with a disappearance, a cop, all that inimitable terrain and the crimes against its Indigenous inhabitants that nothing can hide. Amid evident similarities, there's a plethora of differences between the Mystery Road franchise and Limbo; however, one of its simplest is also one of its most glaring and powerful: shooting Australia's ochre-toned landscape in black and white. Going monochrome in a place that's so connected with a red-, orange- and clay-heavy palette is a visually spectacular choice. Doing just that in a film made in Coober Pedy, the globally famous "opal capital of the world" that's known for its underground dwellings beneath the blazing South Australian earth, is a bold decision, too. Sen strips away the colour to heighten the details — and also makes an emotionally and thematically loaded move. In every second, in every image that Limbo has flicker across the screen, there's no escaping the contrast that lingers plain as day as the audience watches on. There isn't meant to any reprieve, of course. As a stranger once more rides into town western-style within one of the auteur's movies, this is another rich, impassioned and affecting feature about the vast chasm between being Black and white in Australia, and it refuses to see hurt, pain and unspeakable loss with anything but the clearest of eyes. Limbo's setting: the fictional locale that shares its name, unmistakably sports an otherworldly topography dotted by dugouts to avoid the baking heat and hasn't been able to overcome the murder of a local Indigenous girl two decades earlier. The title is symbolic several times over, including to the visiting Travis Hurley (Simon Baker, Blaze), whose first task upon arrival is checking into his subterranean hotel, rolling up his sleeves and indulging his heroin addiction. Later, he'll be told that he looks more like a drug dealer than a police officer — but, long before then, it's obvious that his line of work and the sorrows he surveys along the way have kept him hovering in a void. While he'll also unburden a few biographical details about mistakes made and regrets held before the film comes to an end, this tattooed cop with wings inked onto his back is already in limbo before he's literally in Limbo. Travis has been dispatched to give Charlotte Hayes' vanishing a fresh examination; her brother Charlie (Rob Collins, The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson) is quick to say that exactly that should've happened 20 years prior. Back then, the investigation was brief, with fingers pointed swiftly and lazily at Limbo's First Nations men — sometimes even by each other simply to get the law off their own backs. "I don't talk to cops, especially white ones," is the initial response now. When Travis approaches Charlie's estranged sister Emma (Natasha Wanganeen, The Survival of Kindness), she's equally unwelcoming. But as the detective's line of cold-case questioning also draws in Joseph (Nicolas Hope, Black Snow), the brother of the now-dead prime suspect from all that time back, Charlotte's siblings and the new badge in town have no choice but to keep crossing paths. In the movie's deeply biting script, there's no doubting that Charlotte's case would've been handled differently from the outset if she was white — and that the racially motivated blame directed towards Charlie and Limbo's other Indigenous scapegoats has left irreparable scars. As in Mystery Road and Goldstone, Sen unpacks what such disdain for First Nations lives means in outback Australia; the fractures its causes in lives and locations; the impact upon generations that follow; and the way that this horrific state of affairs haunts at a personal, community and national level alike. Actually, perhaps it's more accurate to say that Limbo dwells with these ideas and truths, steeping in and sitting in purgatory beside them. There are some answers to be found in the film's narrative, but also no easy answers. Not just because Travis gets caught in Limbo longer than he expects or wants due to car troubles, there's no straightforward route out, either. With his layered, pointed and soul-searing stories that make perceptive use of silence (and make every word of dialogue count), Sen is an exceptional screenwriter. That's true when he's returning to familiar parts but never merely retracing his own footsteps; Limbo is the cinema equivalent of stopping on another trail in the same desert to Mystery Road and Goldstone, rather than hitting the next town in line. The auteur is one of Australia's foremost talents at every skill he plies behind the camera, in fact — and his way with actors is among them. Under his gaze, Baker is in career-best form, which is no minor feat given the actor's extensive career, plus his impressive fellow recent homegrown turns in 2017's Breath, 2020's High Ground and 2022's Blaze. Beneath close-cropped hair and wire-rimmed glasses, there's such weariness and heaviness to his portrayal, all while playing a man whose investment in the case and connection with Charlie, Emma and the former's son Zac (expressive first-timer Mark Coe) manages to surprise himself. Again shooting in Coober Pedy, as they both did for TV series Firebite, Collins and Wanganeen also give weighty performances that say so much even when they're uttering little, including about the yearning that everyone has to be seen, recognised and appreciated for who they are. Limbo's cast is contemplative in a film that's purposefully meditative — and for a filmmaker unwilling to shy away from the toll that racism constantly has, plus grief and Australia's inequitable justice system, as he ruminates. As a cinematographer, Sen's work is just as meticulous, motivated and moving. As an editor, he's exacting while knowing when to savour the moment. And Limbo is indeed a breathtaking feature to savour, staring intently as it does at harsh realities turned into a strikingly crafted and stunningly performed Aussie crime thriller.
Melbourne has really thrown itself into Halloween festivities this year with a range of parties, gigs, film events, comedy and burlesque shows all being put on in honour of the spooky non-holiday. For most of us, Halloween is something we’re glad to get involved with, but rarely plan for. It always seems like a last-minute effort pulling together a costume or a happy accident that your favourite bar is throwing a horror-themed party. Whether you're putting the final touches on your ornately-crafted spooky outfit or have only just realised Halloween is actually this week, here are a few options. Gigs and Parties All right, ghosts and ghouls it’s time to bust out the bandages, pour on the fake blood, and work on your Count Dracula accent because the witching hour is nearly upon us. Our pick of the Halloween gigs for this year would have to be The Halloween Ball at The Forum, featuring local country lads Graveyard Train. For the uninitiated, Graveyard Train only sing horror-themed song such as 'Ballad for Beelzebub' and 'Even Witches Like To Go Out Dancing', which makes them the perfect choice for All Hallow's Eve. One band member even plays a hammer and chain for goodness sake. If you're after something a little more modern head down to the Liberty Social for I OH YOU & Converse Present: Halloween House of Hell. The night will feature indie bands and DJs including Straight Arrows, Sable, Bad//Dreems, UV Boi, City Calm Down, and Two Bright Lakes. It’s only 15 bones for entry, but there are no presales, so make sure you drop in at a decent time. Prizes are also up for grabs for best dressed so don’t hold back. While there are plenty of Halloween parties happening at bars all over the city, there are also a select few who have decided to celebrate the Mexican version, Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). As part of Good Food Month, Howler will be transforming their beer garden with calaveras and piñatas for Howler Day of the Dead Mexican Takeover. Think tapas with a modern twist, slow-cooked meats, and cocktails. DJs and bands will also be pumping Mexican tunes to keep you in the festive mood. If you want to combine the best of both worlds, head to Fitzroy Beer Garden for Halloween VS Day Of The Dead. A dual celebration, Friday will be all about Halloween and Saturday will be Dia de los Muertos. Doors are open from midday both days, with $2 tacos, $2 tequila shots, face painting and plenty of DJs playing all weekend long. Even if you don’t come dressed like a zombie, you’re going to feel like one after this two-day bender. Movies, Comedy and Burlesque If you like to keep your festivities a little more low-key, there are plenty of shows you can attend without going the whole nine yards costume-wise. Cinema Nova are running fantastic movie marathons with Cultastrophe, and this Friday will bring the Halloween Creature Triple Feature. It includes John Carpenter’s In The Mouth Of Madness, '80s creature-feature Critters and Wes Craven’s cult classic Deadly Friend. There will also be a haunting pre-show, door prizes and scary movie trivia for those who know all about things that go bump in the night. Beyonce and Halloween finally come together at last with ZomBey Dance Fest. The night will feature Bey Dance girls doing their Mrs Carter thang for a spooky showcase and The Real Hot Bitches dance posse Yo Let’s Go '90s Dance Troupe. To keep the good times rolling, comedians Claire Hooper, Harley Breen, Luke McGregor, Backwards Anorak and Aunty Donna will also take the stage for some creepy comedy. If you feel like turning this night into an all-out rager, stick around for Andrew McClelland’s Finishing School and pull out your best Michael Jackson’s Thriller dance moves. Ticket money for the night will go to the Bey Dance crew finally funding the studio space of their dreams. For those looking to laugh until their sides spit, Joel Creasey’s Halloween Party at Newmarket Hotel is where it’s at. This is the fourth year Creasey has hosted a horror-infused comedy night for Halloween, and although costumes are optional there are prizes for best dressed. Halloween is notorious for bringing out the devil in all of us, so it’s no surprise there are a few burlesque events to coincide with October 31. The 86 are hosting two horrifyingly good things on Friday night, starting with Halloween Trivia at 7pm with Cherry Bites. At 10pm is Blood and Grind, a gore-filled burlesque show featuring Kerry X, Raven, Betty Blood, and plenty more. House Party Tips and Tricks Halloween house parties are the greatest for getting in the ghostly spirit without having to run around the CBD in your gory rags. If you need to organise a costume, or add the final touches, don't fret. There are a bunch of amazing places still stocked up to get you sorted. Rose Chong on Gertrude Street always has a fantastic selection of costumes and vintage pieces for any fancy dress occasion. If you have got an idea in your head tell the amazing team and they will help you assemble an outfit. Added bonus: on October 31, nail art whiz kids I Scream Nails will even be popping up in store to add that extra something to your scary/sexy outfit. If you're further up north, Centre Stage Costumes in Brunswick have accessories and makeup available as well as full costumes. They've put together some Zombie Make Up Kits with all the goods to make you look truly messed up. Alternatively, you can go nuclear at Costume Factory Melbourne (previously known as Fancy Dress Melbourne). These guys have everything from the kitsch to couture. Tucked away in Hardware Lane in the CBD, this is an excellent place to pick up a quick costume on the go. Once you've got the outfit sorted, it's time to turn to the haunted house. We suggest kicking it off with some bright green potion party punch. Mountain dew, lime cordial or Midori will start you off, everything else that goes in there is your call. Next is a killer playlist: don’t be afraid to get super cheesy and throw on 'Monster' by Kanye West, 'Ghost Town' by The Specials, the Ghost Busters theme song and of course, 'The Monster Mash'. Finish it off by splattering around some extra face paint, fake blood capsules and toilet rolls to make impromptu costumes for those who came unprepared. No one is too cool for Halloween. No one. Photo credits: danhollisterduck, the cherry blossom girl and --Mark-- via photopin cc.
You don't normally associate the MCG with fine dining — it's more overpriced pies and eating an entire six-pack of hot jam doughnuts all to yourself. But it that's about to change in the lead up to this year's AFL Grand Final, as some of Melbourne's best restaurants set up outside the 'G. Part of this year's pre-GF celebrations, Yarra Park will play host to a four-day Footy Festival in the lead-up to the big game. As well as lots of activities and the Grand Final Eve concert (which is headlined by Bird of Tokyo this year) on Friday afternoon, the best part of the fest is the food offering. Seek out the Taste of Footy area for food from culinary heavy-hitters Biggie Smalls, Taco Truck and Bluebonnet Barbecue — that's along with other multiple bars and vendors selling everything from jaffles to fried chicken to bubble tea. Yarra Park will be pumping with live entertainment, kids' activities and broadcasts from 10am–6pm Wednesday and Thursday, and 9am–6pm Friday and Saturday. Disclaimer: you will not be allowed to drink your wine out of a Premiership Cup. It will be a good place to get a snack if you're going to the game, however. Images: Kelly Defina.
As well as being strikingly shot with neon hues aplenty, British thriller We Hunt Together boasts quite the memorable concept. Its title refers to two sets of characters. Firstly, detectives Lola (Eve Myles) and Jackson (Babou Ceesay) are trying to track down a couple of murderers terrorising London. If that sounds rather standard, the series also spends a significant amount of time with former child soldier Baba (Dipo Ola) and his new girlfriend Freddy (Hermione Corfield) — who go on a revenge-seeking, kill-happy spree, sparking the police's investigation. Consequently, this is a show that willingly lurks in murky terrain — especially where Baba and Freddy are involved. He's trying to gain asylum in the UK to avoid being sent back to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and their first encounter involves him saving her from an attempted sexual assault.
In 3000 Nights, a pregnant schoolteacher finds herself imprisoned after being falsely accused of collaborating with terrorists. In The Curve, an unlikely set of companions travel across Jordan in a VW van. And in Villa Touma, three Christian sisters caught in a metaphorical time warp find their lives thrown into disarray with the arrival of their orphaned niece. Such are the stories — of adversity, companionship and transformation — that you'll find on the program at this year's Palestinian Film Festival. Returning to select cinemas in capital cities around the country, including Cinema Nova in Melbourne from November 25–27, the latest edition of this vibrant film festival boasts a handful of features along with a selection of short films than run the gamut from documentary to science fiction. For the full Palestinian Film Festival program visit palestinianfilmfestival.com.au.
One of Melbourne's most unique venues will welcome some of the biggest names in standup, as part of an unusual collaboration with this year's Melbourne International Comedy Festival. On Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesday throughout the fest — which runs March 29 through to April 23 — the river-adjacent Arbory Bar & Eatery will host the Silent Comedy Festival. They assure us it will be a lot funnier than it sounds. Jimeoin, Dave Hughes, Bev Killick and Mandy Nolan are but a few of the comedians who are set to take part in an event inspired by silent discos. Each performer's microphone will be connected to headphones worn by audience members, who, from the perspective of anyone passing by, will be laughing at the sound of silence. Tickets to the Silent Comedy Festival cost $25 and include four stand-up sets.
One glance through the floor-to-ceiling glass window at this South Melbourne homewares boutique will surely win you over. The best-selling collections are inspired by owner Tracey Ellis' travels both abroad and locally, and they feature an eclectic range of charmingly understated pieces. Primarily known for contemporary elegance in bedwear, Aura also has myriad options to kit out every room in the house, or find that one piece to really bring the room together. And, when it comes to gifts, this boutique has you sorted. Set your mate up for summer with a chic striped cooler tote or a luxe fringed beach umbrella; treat your mum to the pamper session she deserves with an Alive Skin Ritual Gift Set; upgrade your boyfriend's WFH set-up with a Maison Balzac carafe and glass set; and treat your very good boy to the throne he deserves with a luxe velvet cushion.
The product of a range of musical influences, Papa Pilko & the Binrats are taking their enormous sound around the country and and stopping in at The Workers Club for one night only. The Papa himself, frontman Cyrus Pilko, is a ball of kinetic energy on stage who is ably supported by his versatile cast of horns, drums, strings and guitars. The band throw themselves into their uniquely Australian country, blues and rock n' roll sound and their performances never drifts from the cowboy-boot-wearing image of bumpkins (in the best possible sense of the word) rockers that they cultivate. This swagger is then injected, like a lively pulse, straight into the audience, leaving them howlin' for more. Cherrywood and Max Savage & the False Idols will be joining in this aural feast so prepare yourself for a good ol' fashioned, barnstorming afternoon of Australian country rock and roll at its finest.
Whether it's breakfast in bed or a cafe feast, celebrating Mother's Day usually means kicking off the festivities with a thoughtful spread. This year, Pidapipo has teamed up with long-time friend, renowned cook and mother of two, Julia Busuttil Nishimura, on a limited-edition sweet treat that riffs on this idea. Drawing from Nishimura's much-loved Around the Table cookbook, together they've put a spin on her Roman maritozzi recipe. Traditionally enjoyed by Italians for breakfast, Nishimura's method sees these soft, cream-filled brioche buns infused with lemon and orange zest, vanilla and honey. However, Pidapipo is getting a little creative, swapping the cream for two gelato flavours. Baked by hand at Pidapipo's Fitzroy Laboratorio, these pillowy Mother's Day treats are available in panna (cream) and mochaccino (coffee and chocolate) flavours, topped with fluffy whipped cream before being finished with a drizzle of mocha fudge sauce. Finally, an Amarena cherry completes the dessert — a symbolic reference to matriarchs everywhere. Served on a gold Italian-style pastry tray, this touch hints at the pastry's Roman origins. "It's always such a pleasure working with Julia, and her recipes are always incredible," says Pidapipo Chef and Co-Founder Lisa Valmorbida. "This collaboration with Lisa, a fellow mum, reimagines that breakfast in bed ritual through a delicious dessert that celebrates the wonderful women in our lives," adds Nishimura. Available in-store only at Pidapipo locations from Friday, May 2–Friday, May 16, this collaboration goes beyond whipping up a one-of-a-kind dessert. For one extraordinary session on Saturday, May 10, Nishimura and Valmorbida will host an intimate maritozzi cooking class in the Fitzroy Laboratorio. Spanning two hours of hands-on fun, guests will learn the traditions behind the dessert before kneading, baking and assembling their own. Then it's time to dig in. Throughout the class, you'll learn about Pidapipo's gelato-making process and watch how the panna and mochaccino are churned to perfection using fresh ingredients. Priced at $160, each ticket also includes a Pidapipo hot chocolate on arrival and a copy of Nishimura's newest cookbook, Good Cooking Every Day. Plus, you'll score a copy of Valmorbida's cookbook, Pidapipo: Gelato Eight Days a Week and a 500ml take-home tub of gelato. Julia Busuttil Nishimura's Mother's Day Maritozzi is available in-store at all Pidapipo locations from Friday, May 2–Friday, May 16. The Pidapipo Maritozzi Cooking Class with Julia Busutill Nishimura is happening Saturday, May 10, from 10am–12pm. Head to the website for more information.
This winter has already served up an array of art-filled festivals that transform outdoor precincts into immersive after-dark galleries filled with glowing sculptures. And the next one to add to your calendar is Emerge, which descends on the Mount Waverley Community Centre gardens this week. Illuminating the parklands each night from Friday, June 24–Tuesday, June 28, the free festival will see you wandering through a showcase of dazzling light works, projections, installations and performance art. Among them, catch a flock of large-scale lantern sculptures created by The Lanternist — 45 luminous likenesses of Aussie animals, from possums and platypuses, to echidnas and butterflies. There'll be performers twirling LED hula hoops, flashing mirrored suits, trailing bubbles and captivating audiences with breathtaking fire shows. And throughout the festival, a lineup of musicians will soundtrack the after-dark celebrations, including Jazz Party with their new-school take on RnB. [caption id="attachment_843754" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lantasia by The Lanternist[/caption] Emerge will run from 5–9.30pm each night. Images: The Lanternist
Fast food — the term used to describe meals you can eat with your hands which are comparatively pretty quick to arrive — is back at a level of peak public approval. Entire festivals dedicated to hot chips, sell-out high end degustations inspired by KFC and a rolling influx of hyped international burger joints are proving that Australia's love for this pleasurable style of eating is as impassioned as ever. Have we reached our absolute apex of this culinary genre? Why is Melbourne a breeding ground for venues doing it better and more thoughtfully than any other Australian city? What is the new definition for what makes 'fast food' fast? How has the genre innovated and evolved — and what's next? We're turning to some of Melbourne's food personalities who represent the best in the biz to get their firsthand takes on those questions and chat through the past, present and future of this pleasurable eating pastime — and you're invited to join. In partnership with Uber Eats, Hot Takes & Takeaways is a panel series where our host, Concrete Playground's Courtney Ammenhauser, chats to some of the most fascinating, experienced and opinionated members of Australia's food community to tackle the big questions, live and uncensored. Swears are likely and no topics are off-limits. You'll also have the chance to win a bunch of UberEats vouchers by showing off your best food trivia. On Tuesday, May 31 at 1pm, block out your lunch break and join Concrete Playground's livestream event where you can watch and interact in real time, live from Small Print Pizza. THE LINEUP SANDRA FOTI - Owner, chef and creative driving force behind all-natural gelato empire Piccolina. JIMMY HURLSTON - Burger baron and entrepreneur behind Easeys and its ubiquitous burgers and his much-followed Jimmy's Burgers Instagram account. ADAM CHAPMAN - Founder and co-owner of sustainable 'slow dough' pizza joint in Windsor, Small Print Pizza. Throughout the show, we'll test your food trivia knowledge so you could nab a $20 Uber Eats voucher. Head to our Facebook event and hit attending to get a reminder just before it kicks off. In the meantime, check out Uber Eats' Enterprise Hub if you'd like to learn more about what restaurants are doing. Top image: Kitti Gould
The humble chicken nugget will make its glorious and heroic return to Welcome to Thornbury this March, as part of the fourth annual Chicken Nugget Festival at the inner-north food truck park. If you often rue the day in your adolescence that chicken nuggets became an unacceptable item to eat for dinner, then this is the judgment-free festival for you. Welcome to Thornbury is assembling some of its favourite vendors to deliver one crunchy day dedicated to the nug. Expect a vast array of iterations too, including vegan, teriyaki or spiced-up butter chicken nuggets from the likes of Mr Burger, Maria Taqueria, Philly Cheese Steaks and more. For the little ones and big kids at heart, special Nuggie Boxes featuring three or six-piece nuggets, chips and a suitably themed toy are also on offer. Of course, a wide range of dipping sauces to accompany and coat your nuggs will also be available on the day. And as always, Welcome to Thornbury will be serving up a slew of cocktails and beers to pair with your chicken feast. Live music, a nugget eating competition lovingly dubbed 'Nuggetthon' and nugget merchandise round out the day's lineup. The festival kicks off at midday, bookings are available online — and kids and dogs are welcome. Top image: Supplied.
"My plan was to die before the money ran out, but I kept and keep not dying — and here I am." When asked about her strategy as she faces financial ruin, that's Manhattan socialite Frances Price's (Michelle Pfeiffer, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil) frank response. Her fortune has dwindled, the banks are about to repossess everything she owns and she doesn't know what her now-precarious future holds; however, she's most annoyed about having to answer her financial advisor's exasperated questions. Conveying Frances' reply with little else but spikiness otherwise, Pfeiffer turns this early French Exit scene into a deadpan masterclass. The character's candour, irritation and sharp edges are all personality traits, rather than specific reactions to her current predicament, and Pfeiffer makes it clear that she'd still be spitting out acerbic retorts with the same poker face if Frances had been queried about absolutely anything else. She frequently does just that afterwards, in fact, and she's a caustic delight in this wry exploration of a familiar topic: weathering life's many disappointments. Widowed for a decade, and happy to keep cultivating an eccentric reputation as the years go on, Frances hasn't dedicated even a second to tangibly preparing for her present lack of funds. That said, she soon has another plan. Surreptitiously selling off her belongings as her accountant advises — and viciously haggling over commission rates in the process — she rustles up what cash she can and absconds to Paris, where a friend's empty apartment awaits rent-free. There, she reverts to her old approach. Once her remaining money has been frittered away on wine, coffee, and oversized tips to anyone and everyone, she doesn't see the point of going on. But her dysfunctionally codependent relationship with her twentysomething son Malcolm (Lucas Hedges, Waves), his on-and-off romance with his secret fiancée Susan (Imogen Poots, Black Christmas), and a new friendship with the lonely and besotted Madame Reynard (Valerie Mahaffey, Dead to Me) all add unexpected chaos to Frances' scheme, as does a cruise ship fortune teller (Danielle Macdonald, Unbelievable) and a runaway cat who just might be her reincarnated husband. French Exit doesn't watch on as Frances tries to live a modest life and adjust her extravagant ways. It doesn't follow the unapologetically venomous woman as she learns to reassess her choices and attitude, either. Rather, it unfurls a keenly observed character study that's wrapped up in an oddball comedy — and while mining the loss of extreme wealth for chuckles has served Schitt's Creek well, too, French Exit proves as distinctive as its protagonist. It's a film about a woman called Frances who was once married to Franklin, owns a cat called Small Frank and relocates to France, after all. She leaves suddenly and without informing New York high society of her departure, of course, as the movie's title suggests. That's the type of humour pulsating through this light yet still probing picture, as directed with a fluid touch by Azazel Jacobs (The Lovers), and scripted by author Patrick deWitt from his own 2018 novel. Indeed, the fact that Frances' son isn't called Frankie, and that no one called Fran also pops up, is actually disappointing once French Exit establishes its absurdist wavelength. A haunted sensation hovers over this portrait of privilege undone, though, and not just because of Small Frank's possible backstory. Casting Pfeiffer is the movie's best choice, and must've been far too delicious to pass up — seeing the former Catwoman chase a mouser around Paris is amusing, naturally — but it's easy to see how French Exit could've and probably would've crumbled without her. Finding the perfect person for a part that no one else would've done justice can do that. This film belongs to its equally slinky and scathing star, who adds another commanding performance to a resume filled with them, but she's the overwhelming reason that Frances' wounding one-liners, larger-than-life demeanour and all-round cattishness strike a chord. Equally icy and vulnerable even when she's playing for laughs, she also ensures that Frances never feels like a caricature, or as if she has simply stepped out of a Wes Anderson or Noah Baumbach picture. (In its pithy dialogue and idiosyncratic family dynamics, French Exit overtly resembles both The Royal Tenenbaums and The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected), and even offers a gender-flipped accompaniment to Sofia Coppola's On the Rocks as well). Thankfully, Pfeiffer is truly magnificent and magnetic, and the film's embrace of farce is just as compelling. The latter is refreshing, too, ignoring the usual poignant life lessons, and instead embracing the mess and mania Frances seems to cultivate every time she opens her mouth. Jacobs and deWitt haven't starved their feature of canny insights, especially in Pfeiffer's barbed words. A trace of unshakeable melancholy lingers over every sentence as her character tries to do what everyone must: figure out how to go on. But, paired with a lively pace, scenic but never gratuitously touristy Parisian cinematography, and a willingness to get silly and whimsical, French Exit bubbles rather than wallows — and while it doesn't quite find its mark consistently enough, it's a gem whenever it does. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0UbkJD2KDY
More than four decades have passed since a young Jeff Bridges entered the grid in a groundbreaking science-fiction classic: Tron. Back in 1982, the film followed the Bad Times at the El Royale, The Old Man and The Big Lebowski star as Kevin Flynn, who stepped inside video-game software to battle artificial intelligence. Its light cycle scene is iconic — as is its early use of CGI. Back in 2010, a sequel arrived in Tron: Legacy, complete with a masterpiece of a Daft Punk-composed score. Word has been buzzing since of a sequel to that sequel, with Tron: Ares starring Jared Leto (Morbius), Evan Peters (DAHMER — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story), Greta Lee (Past Lives) and Jodie Turner-Smith (White Noise) now in the works for a 2025 release. This franchise about the future keeps getting a future, clearly — but there's never a bad time to go back to where it all began. [caption id="attachment_904296" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Zan Wimberley[/caption] On Tuesday, September 19, RMIT Culture and Future Play Lab are joining forces for a big-screen session of the OG Tron, which forms part of the lead up to 2023's Melbourne International Games Week. Head to the Capitol Theatre at 6pm to see the flick, then stick around afterwards for a chat about games, technology and the movie's use of AI. Tickets cost $10, doors open at 5.30pm, and you'll be listening to Future Play Lab artist gamemaker Troy Innocent get talking with multimedia specialist Uyen Nguyen and RMIT PlaceLab Co-Lead Kiri Delly.
If you were planning on catching an Uber to a lunchtime meeting or a late morning uni class, you may find yourself waiting longer than usual. Drivers in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane will simultaneously log off the app at 10.30am — on Wednesday, May 8 — and deliver letters of demand to Uber head offices as part of a worldwide strike protesting the mistreatment and underpayment of drivers. The strike comes ahead of Uber's Initial Public Offering (IPO) — where members of the public can buy shares in a company for the first time — for which it's reportedly expected to make close to $9 billion. The unions organising the strikes, Rideshare Drivers United in the US and the Transport Workers Union (TWU) and the Rideshare Driver Co-Operative in Australia, say that while the company is set to make a heap of money, it continues to "reduce driver rates, deactivate drivers with no notice or right to appeal and refuse to support drivers". The TWU also reports that rideshare drivers make on average $16 per hour, less than Australia's minimum wage, before fuel, insurance and other costs. So, we could see Uber fare hikes in the near future — or drivers jump to other providers, such as Ola and Taxify, both which take a smaller commission cut compared to Uber — Taxify takes a 15 percent cut compared to Uber's 25 percent. While drivers in the US are expected to strike for 24 hours from midnight on Wednesday, May 8, Aussie drivers will deliver letters of demand on mass at 10.30am — so expect some delays and surges around then.
You'll find the Royal Mail Hotel at the foothills of the Grampians National Park, within the town of Dunkeld. But these guys don't offer up your usual hotel room accommodation. Instead, they have a super diverse range of places to stay on the property. Their timber clad semi-attached rooms look out over the mountains and are relatively close to the Royal Mail Hotel's restaurant and pool area (these are the most hotelly). They then have a few small apartments, a grand colonial homestead and the newly renovated bluestone cottages. These cottages are located three kilometres from the main property (within the 91-hectare Mount Sturgeon Biodiversity Reserve), offering up a totally secluded stay in the Victorian countryside. The 1850's bluestone cottages are the perfect blend of country charm and modern style. But they have left the modern tech out on purpose. You won't find a television on the property. Instead, sit out in the courtyard with a cup of tea (or bottle of wine) and take in some Aussie nature. Wugarri (Mount Sturgeon) dominates the scenery, while wallabies and kangaroos wander all about this area too. It's easy to forget that you're actual staying in a hotel. That is until you tuck into the daily in-room breakfast, take the complimentary transfers to and from the main hotel property and let the team organise both nature feeding experiences and local wine tours. Either use Royal Mail Hotel as a base to explore the region, or just live it up on their properties — relaxing in the surrounds of nature, dining at their award-winning Wickens restaurant or paddling about the pool all day long. Dealer's choice. Images: Emily Weaving.
Being stuck in isolation can take its toll and Melburnians are the last people in Australia that need to be reminded of that. If you've found yourself back in iso for the umpteenth time, do all those home-based activities that help you unwind and de-stress so once you're released back into the wild you'll be raring to go. Whether you're jumping on a meditation app or getting some locally-made bath products delivered to your door, these self-care ideas will hopefully get you feeling somewhere north of 'fine'. And, if you've got got a mate who's been hit by the iso fairy, these items would make a thoughtful gift (hint hint, nudge nudge). SOOTHING CANDLES Want to transform your pad into an aromatherapy haven? If that candle collection is in need of some fresh talent, you'll find some absolute gems being created by Melbourne fragrance house SOH. These bespoke candles feature scents like the fig-heavy Green House and the Mediterranean-inspired Libertine. Meanwhile, Gather & Harvest's natural soy wax candles are housed in glass that's hand-cut from recycled bottles in Bali. Jump online to order scents like basil and cucumber, rose geranium and cafe mocha, shipped to your door. The candle jars are reusable and refillable, too. [caption id="attachment_814441" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Monstera via Pexels[/caption] LUXE BATH ADDITIONS If you've got a bathtub, you've got a luxurious makeshift spa treatment right there in the bathroom. Light a few candles, throw on your favourite tunes and make that next bath a proper event. Local skincare label Dindi Naturals will level-up bath time with products like a relaxing plant-based bubble bath blend, and bath salts infused with native lemon myrtle and kunzea. Geelong's Planet Fizz sells a mix of fun bath salts, soaks and bubble bath blends online including the lolly-inspired Fizzy Bath Crumble, which you scatter into your bath water. Or get a taste of the Peninsula Hot Springs at home with its signature products available to buy via the online store — from mineral magnesium bath salts to a range of rejuvenating natural clay blends. DECADENT BODY SCRUBS If your ideal self-care routine involves a clean slate (and by slate we mean epidermis), a good body scrub is a requirement. Slough away stress (and dry skin) with some body products from one of these Victorian brands that deliver to your home. Sustainability-focused Ocean Road has an all-vegan range, featuring a nourishing body scrub made on rainforest fruits and coconut shell. Babe Australia's dry scrubs boast rejuvenating ingredients like green tea, coffee and Himalayan pink salt. And if you check out the high-end spa-inspired products from Salus, you'll find a purifying eucalyptus and rosemary scrub created with bamboo and pumice. They also offer free shipping Australia-wide. MEDITATION Meditation has a stack of physical and emotional benefits. Among other things, the practice is thought to help reduce depression, alleviate stress, manage anxiety and improve sleep, so it's a worthwhile addition to your daily iso cycle. If you aren't already a zen lord and could use a bit of guidance, the widely-used Headspace app simplifies things with a simple beginners course that teaches the basics of meditation in just a few minutes a day. Award-winning app Calm has its own variety of meditation lessons, along with expert-taught masterclasses, guided exercises and relaxing soundscapes you can use in your future meditative endeavours (you can also listen to Harry Styles soothingly discuss his dreams). And more in-depth online meditation courses are offered by the likes of Melbourne Meditation Centre and the Zen Room. [caption id="attachment_814161" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Christin Hume via Unsplash[/caption] ESSENTIAL OILS As wellness experts will tell you, essential oils can have a whole swag of benefits for your health and mind — including some that can prove especially handy during a stressful stint in iso. And if you want to give them a whirl, there are lots of local companies slinging their therapeutic oils online. Nunchi has game-changing products including an uplifting Sunny spray, a calming yoga blend and the new Golden interior spray — designed to boost the welcoming energy of your home. Castlemaine's Mimosa Botanicals offers a range of oil blends that'll help elevate your home space (with free shipping on orders over $39.95). And if you're battling iso insomnia, the sleep savants at The Goodnight Co have a whole variety of oils and other products aimed at helping you get some much-needed shut-eye. [caption id="attachment_814443" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Manki Kim via Unsplash[/caption] A STASH OF QUALITY TEA Whack on the kettle, raid the pantry and cosy up with one of your favourite tea brews, or shake things up by trying something new from a top Victorian producer. The Yarra Valley Tea Co has a hefty assortment of certified organic goodies available on its online store, including the concentration-elevating Think Straight blend. Indigenous-owned cafe and food business Mabu Mabu has some tasty loose-leaf tea varieties in its line of signature pantry products — jump online to get the spiced chai infused with native botanicals, or an aromatic strawberry gum and wild hibiscus blend delivered straight to your door. Love Tea is another local brand specialising in organic teas, with a huge range of options available for shipping across Australia. [caption id="attachment_765411" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hello Botanical[/caption] PLANT LIFE Get a fresh dose of nature into your living space with a new plant — no nursery visit necessary. There are plenty of delivery plant stores that can get a new leafy mate sitting on your doorstep ASAP. Online plant and gift retailer Vine Boy is slinging an affordable curation of potted indoor plants and accessories, with prices starting from $39. It has also got a tidy range of extras to add on — think, candles and coffee — with free shipping available on orders over $85. Meanwhile, Hello Botanical offers same-day delivery (Melbourne and Geelong) when you order from its extensive online plant store before 12.30pm (11am for Geelong). [caption id="attachment_745750" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Unyoked, by Luisa Brimble[/caption] A FUTURE OFF-THE-GRID HOLIDAY Any stretch of isolation is improved with a light at the end of the tunnel. So give yourself something great to look forward to and book 'future you' a getaway with plenty of wide open spaces. If you want to stick with a mindful escape, start the search with Unyoked, which has a collection of tiny house stays located on secluded properties across Victoria and interstate. Each micro-retreat features comfy amenities like bedding, a hot shower and a bar fridge, though you can look forward to being offline — and one with nature — for the duration of your stay. Your tiny house might be nestled by a wooded creek, perched on a working farm, or set high on a mountain overlooking rolling hills. Either way, you'll only find out the exact location after you book; which just adds to the excitement and anticipation. Top image: Mindspace Studio via Unsplash
Do you live in a dog-friendly house? Do you have some spare time on your hands? Do you fantasise about hanging around at dog parks with an actual dog? The good folk at Vision Australia need you. As part of the organisation's seeing eye dog program, they have puppies running around the place quite often, and they're in need of volunteers to raise them. In other words, they're giving away puppies — but you will need to give them back. If you put up your hand to become a puppy carer, you'll get a puppy for about a year — from around its eight-week birthday to when it turns turns between 12–15 months old. During that time, you'll be responsible for introducing the sights, sounds and smells it'll meet when it starts working as a seeing eye dog (and giving your new friend heaps of cuddles). Of course, it's not all just fun, games and cuteness. You'll have to be responsible enough to take care of regular grooming, house training and exercise, and be available for regular visits. A fenced-in backyard is mandatory, too. In return, the organisation provides a strong support network, and all food, training equipment and vet care. You'll also need to be home most of the time — so you won't be leaving the puppy alone for more than three hours a day, sat in front of Dog TV — and to be able to put effort into training and socialising the pup. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Seeing Eye Dogs Australia (@seeingeyedogsaustralia) Vision Australia is looking for people in a few of Melbourne spots: in the east to the Yarra Ranges; in the southeast to Portsea; and in Kensington, Flemington, North Melbourne, Ascot Vale and West Melbourne. They're also looking in the Bendigo and Geelong regions, too. In Queensland, the north Brisbane and Sunshine Coast areas are the current priorities. Once the pups reach 12-15 months old, they'll return to Vision Australia — and complete their journey to become four-legged companions for people who are blind or have low vision. Keen? You can apply online right now. For more information about Vision Australia's puppy carers, and to apply for the volunteer roles, head to the organisation's website.
Not quite ready to say goodbye to summer? Well, neither is the team at the Brunswick Baths, so on March 11, they'll play host to Brunswick Music Festival's first-ever pool party, High Tide. Punters are invited to enjoy a sunny Sunday afternoon of poolside fun, complete with great tunes and good vibrations — all for just the standard price you'd shell out for entry to the Baths. Taking care of the soundtrack, there'll be two sets each from electro-soul trio Silver Linings and DJ Shio Otani, featuring the kind of blissed-out tracks that summer was made for. Never mind that it's just ended. Also on the bill are a couple of special performances by The Eastern Sirens synchronised swim team, to enjoy in between dips.
Section 8 is throwing down a celebration of Melbourne's diverse and vibrant LGBTQIA+ community this Monday, October 31. Dubbed Hella Queen, the free-entry evening will see burlesque, dance and music performances taking over the openair CBD spot. We know what you're thinking…. Monday? But this will be the day before the Melbourne Cup, so it's expected to be a big one. From 3pm till late, some of the biggest names in Melbourne's LGBTQIA+ community will take to the Section 8 stage. This will include live performances from Jamaica Moana and Julai, R&B dancer Tony Oxybel and a burlesque show from Gina Stirling. DJ sets from MzRizk, Top Hun, Gay Roberto, 3rd Orbit and Chaotic Good will also keep the party going until late. And, if you're heading to Hella Queen, be sure to don your best frock. Make it as bright and beautiful as you can, because they'll be awarding the best-dressed patron with a gift pack from local streetwear label, Homie. [caption id="attachment_849269" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Duncographic[/caption]
Melbourne's baking scene has gone from strength to strength over the past few years. While stalwarts such as Baker Bleu keep expanding, newbies such as Cheri in South Melbourne have launched to rave reviews. And the very best of the them all are gathering for a massive, one-day-only bake sale. Get along to Bechamel Studio in Northcote on Saturday, April 12, to discover their latest, greatest and tastiest creations. Look out for Akira Toyama of Collingwood's Japan-inspired Papirica Cafe; Audrey Allard of Northcote's Holy Sugar, famous for its delectable cakes; and Giorgia McAllister Forte of Monforte Viennoiserie in Carlton North, who's trained with some of the world's best bakers. Also on the program are Alice Bennett, Alisha Henderson, Grego Montalbán Sánchez (aka the Invy Baker), Michael James and Raymond Tan. What they have in common is an appearance in The Baker's Book, a brand new publication that celebrates Melbourne's bakers, featuring more than 30 chefs and 80 recipes. The bake sale will double as its launch, giving you a chance to recreate what you see (and taste) in the comfort of your kitchen. Entry is free but bookings are essential.
For the fifth time since the start of the pandemic, Victoria is going into lockdown in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19 throughout the state. The new stay-at-home conditions will come into effect at 11.59pm tonight, Thursday, July 15, and will last for five days at this stage, running through until 11.59pm on Tuesday, July 20. If this was Sesame Street, five would be the number of the day, obviously. Announcing the news, Premier Daniel Andrews said "you only get one chance to go hard and go fast. If you wait, if you hesitate, if you doubt, then you will always be looking back wishing you had done more earlier." He continued: "I am not prepared to avoid a five-day lockdown now only to find ourselves in a five-week or a five-month lockdown. That is why we are making this very difficult decision and why I know Victorians will, despite the pain and difficulty of this, know and understand there is no option." The lockdown comes as Victoria recorded ten new locally acquired COVID-19 cases yesterday, as well as another four cases so far today — with two of the latter announced at a briefing this morning by the state's COVID-19 Commander Jeroen Weimar, and two more revealed this afternoon. Three of those new positive cases for today are linked to an AFL game at the MCG this past weekend, with the venue named yesterday as one of the latest exposure sites. Victoria now has 75 exposure sites, 1500 primary close contacts and 5000 secondary close contacts. "That is how fast this moves," the Premier said. At present, Victoria's outbreak is linked to cases that have filtered down from Sydney — which has been under lockdown for almost three weeks now, and will remain under stay-at-home rules for at least two more weeks. https://twitter.com/DanielAndrewsMP/status/1415566543077793793 Victorians will be familiar with the rules and restrictions from previous lockdowns, including the last one in May and June. Just like a month or so back, you'll be able to leave your home for five reasons: shopping for what you need, when you need it; caregiving and compassionate reasons; essential work or permitted eduction that can't be done from home; exercise; and getting vaccinated against COVID-19. Exercise must be limited to two hours a day with your household members, your intimate partner or one other person who is not from your household or your partner. Once again, though, Victorians must stay within five kilometres of their homes, unless you're leaving for permitted work or you're shopping for essentials if there are no shops in your radius. Masks are also mandatory everywhere outside of your home — and private gatherings are banned, as are public gatherings. But, while you can't have any visitors enter your home in general, there will be single bubbles, and intimate partner visits are allowed. So, if you live alone, you can form a bubble with another person or see your other half. Weddings are not permitted, unless on compassionate grounds, while funerals are limited to ten. Hairdressing and beauty services, indoor physical recreation and sport venues, swimming pools, community facilities including libraries, entertainment venues and non-essential retail venues will all close again during the five-day period — and hospitality venues will once again revert back to takeaway-only. Supermarkets, bottle shops and pharmacies will remain open — and professional sports can proceed, but without crowds. https://twitter.com/VicGovDH/status/1415078069413371905 Last time that Victoria went into lockdown, the stay-at-home period lasted for one week in most of the state, and for two weeks in Melbourne. Since then, the state has been living under COVID-19 restrictions regarding gatherings and venues, as always happens after a lockdown. All of Victoria will revert back to stage four restrictions from 11.59pm on Thursday, July 15 until the same time on Tuesday, July 21. For more information about the rules, head to the Victorian Department of Health website.
Everyone has a type of food that they just can't get enough off. We all have several if we're being completely honest. So, perhaps you adore sausages — or maybe you've never met a schnitzel that you can say no to. You could get salivating over meat platters, fancy feasting on ribs or get in a flap about chicken wings as well. If one of the above dishes is your favourite, so much so that you're keen to tuck into all that you can manage, The Bavarian has you covered Monday–Friday between Monday, March 20–Friday, March 31. Each weekday, it's serving up a different bottomless deal. Arrive hungry, whichever you pick — and especially if you opt for all of them. So, Mondays are all about non-stop snags (frankfurters, kielbasas and cheese kranskys with mash, rye bread and bier jus) for $28, while Tuesdays go all in on schnitties for $32 (with parmigianas, classic schnitzels and one with mushroom sauce to choose from). On Wednesday, the regular $35 all-you-can-meat platter special is still on — aka a glorious way to spend hump day. Come Thursday, there's ribs, ribs and more ribs (slow-cooked and coffee-and-spiced barbecue pork ribs, in fact, with coleslaw and fries) for $56. And on Friday, $20 gets you non-stop wings with either hot buffalo or barbecue sauce. In terms of caveats, you'll need to note a few, including the need to buy a full-priced drink to get each deal. The Bavarian also has a five-percent service fee, and you can't combine your chosen special with another offer, get it to take away or bring any leftovers home with you after your sitting. In Melbourne, you'll find The Bavarian at Knox and Highpoint.
Keeping up a healthy lifestyle can be challenging, especially when work gets busy, 4pm cocktails roll around, and your lovely boss just bought a box of choccies to thank you for all that overtime. We've all made goals to lead a healthier life at work, whether it's incorporating more exercise, eating fewer snacks or saying no to midweek drinks once in a while — but sticking to those resolutions is another story. Our daily slip-ups — whether it's ditching your homemade salad for a takeaway slice of pizza, or skipping the gym because you're just too exhausted — can all add up over time. But some of the simplest improvements to your health don't have to come with revolutionary lifestyle changes. Whether you start your day with a walk or swap your morning toast for a fibre-rich crispbread, there are quick ways to kickstart (or restart) your 2020 health resolutions. In partnership with Ryvita, we've come up with six healthy changes that you can adopt into your working day. EAT A HEALTHY TREAT TO AVOID INDULGENT SNACKING LATER We're all guilty of mindless snacking, especially when trying to focus on a task at work. When 3pm hits, it's easy to reach for the nearest sugary hit to give us more energy or to plug the gap our bland salad lunch left behind. By planning ahead — and knowing your trigger times for not-so-great habits — you can master those cravings by preparing a healthier, more satiating snack ahead of time. Health experts say Australians aren't getting enough fibre in their diets, and so packing in a high-fibre snack can help you make a healthier snacking choice in your week. Eating Ryvita crispbreads is an achievable way to contribute to the dietary fibre target of 30 grams per day, and you can get creative with your toppings — think pea and mint hummus, scrambled eggs, wasabi mashed avo and more. Ryvita has high-fibre recipe ideas, here. [caption id="attachment_748260" align="alignnone" width="1920"] City of Sydney[/caption] ENJOY SOME CULTURE AT LUNCH Getting out and about to enjoy the city you live in shouldn't be something restricted to weekends or before and after work. There's plenty of things to do to stimulate your mind, and it's a far more exciting lunchtime break than eating your sandwich in the staffroom. For keen readers (or anyone who needs to escape for a little while), why not head to the local library and find a quiet corner for a short break? Or, if you only have ten minutes, go to your nearest bookshop and browse the new releases to read on your commute. Prefer to keep moving? Take a wander around an art gallery or museum (just for a short while) and you can distract yourself from spreadsheets and see artworks or learn a snippet of history. If you can't escape the office, use your break to flex your creative side — story writing tasks or colouring books are just as engaging when you want to take your mind off work. TAKE YOUR MEETING FOR A WALK Why catch up in a stuffy, fluorescent, lifeless boardroom when you could walk and talk? The walking-talking catch up can transform your personal and professional energy — research by Stanford University has shown that walking leads to an increase in creative thinking, plus it allows for more honest and open exchanges if you feel like you can't speak your mind in front of other colleagues. While not all meetings are suitable for walking (tough negotiations or ones with presentations), they're great for consulting with your team or exploring solutions. You're also increasing that step count while you're at it. [caption id="attachment_762267" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jopwell[/caption] TAKE MINI STANDING BREAKS Repeat after us: taking a break at work is not a waste of time. Walking away from your desk once in a while is hugely important to help boost your performance. Taking mini breaks throughout the day improves your energy, relieves stress and drives your productivity. Whether it's setting up a yoga mat in an empty room and doing some meditation or actually listening to your watch when it tells you to stand up every hour, these small breaks help you focus when you return to the work task at hand — and they make you feel better, too. Mini breaks are an easy (and free) positive change you can make to your workday. [caption id="attachment_762289" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Helena Lopes[/caption] DO SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE ELSE Doing something for your colleagues is another way to get your body moving, with the bonus of supporting your work Significant Others. Go on a coffee run, empty the dishwasher, reach out to a colleague you don't usually interact with. By doing something for someone else — without doing it in exchange for a promotion or other perceived benefit to you — can create wonders for your sense of wellbeing and community. Take a moment to bond with your new friend at work and you'll notice the difference in how you feel. [caption id="attachment_762291" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Christina Morillo[/caption] LISTEN TO A PRODUCTIVE PODCAST OR PLAYLIST There are thousands of podcasts out there, providing countless episodes on how to become a more productive individual, and there are plenty that focus on health and wellness, too. Slate Magazine's Political Gabfest or The Saturday Paper's 7am will have you brushing up on international and domestic politics that'll help you elevate your kitchen chat; ABC's The Pineapple Project, hosted by journalist Jan Fran, and Ladies We Need to Talk, hosted by Yumi Stynes dive head-on into financial and lifestyle advice and queries that can feed into your work/life balance goals. And, The Tim Ferriss Show interviews successful people at the top of their game, giving you something to aspire towards. For more high-fibre recipe ideas from Ryvita, head here. Top image: Jopwells from Pexels.
Morning brown, morning brown, this bit of news is better than a cup of morning brown — because Aunty Donna is returning to your TV. After gifting your streaming queue one of the best new shows of 2020, aka Netflix's Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House of Fun, the Australian comedy group is teaming up with one of the country's national broadcasters on a new sitcom. Yes, Mark Samual Bonanno, Broden Kelly and Zachary Ruane are heading to the ABC. The fact that the network is also known as Aunty is obviously incredibly apt — and it isn't the first time that the two have joined forces, with Aunty Donna's Fresh Blood hitting iView back in 2014. This time, Bonanno, Kelly and Ruane are headed to the ABC for a show called Aunty Donna's Untitled Project, a half-hour series that'll see the trio star in a Melbourne-set comedy. The premise: three best mates run a cafe in one of Melbourne's laneways. Their coffee-slinging establishment is trendy, but the stretch of pavement it's in on isn't. You can expect cups of morning brown to be served. Hopefully, the song about them will get a whirl. Will the cafe be open on Christmas and serve up a little bit of pud, too? You'll have to watch to find out. As soon as Neighbours ended it opened a lot of doors for us. — Aunty Donna (@AuntyDonnaBoys) August 24, 2022 This new show will be replacing the highly rated ABC @BreakfastNews show — Aunty Donna (@AuntyDonnaBoys) August 24, 2022 Announcing the news, Aunty Donna said: "we make show, you will love." Hey, it worked with Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House of Fun. Fingers crossed that Aunty Donna's Untitled Project proves just as absurd — although Aunty Donna seem incapable of creating anything else, hilariously so. [caption id="attachment_791048" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House of Fun, Netflix[/caption] "ABC audiences first got a taste of Aunty Donna in 2014 in Fresh Blood, so we couldn't be more excited to have them back where they belong and to be the home of their first narrative comedy series. Strap yourselves in... this is going to be a wild ride," said ABC Head of Comedy Todd Abbott. Aunty Donna's Untitled Project is set to air on ABC TV and ABC iview sometime in 2023, with exact dates yet to be announced. In the interim, you can check out the announcement video for the series below: Aunty Donna's Untitled Project is set to hit ABC and ABC iView sometime in 2023 — we'll update you when an exact release date is announced.
Every Thursday between November 30, 2023–January 11, 2024, the Classic and Lido cinemas will become the dreamiest places in Melbourne. Across a seven-week period, the two picture palaces are paying tribute to the filmography of Sofia Coppola — melancholic sisters, cake-eating monarchs and Los Angeles teens breaking into celebrity houses all included. It all kicks off exactly where the second-generation filmmaker's feature directorial career began, aka with The Virgin Suicides and its ethereal score by Air. From there, viewers will play tourist in Tokyo with the Oscar-winning Lost in Translation, head to 18th century France with Marie Antoinette and laze around an LA hotel with Venice Golden Lion recipient Somewhere. The real-life tale of The Bling Ring and the civil war drama of The Beguiled also get a run — and wrapping up the lineup is Coppola's brand-new Priscilla. Showcasing Coppola's films also means showcasing a fantastic array of performances — including Kirsten Dunst in three of Coppola's flicks, Bill Murray singing karaoke and befriending Scarlett Johansson, and everyone from Nicole Kidman to Colin Farrell proving a treat. Screenings start at 7pm each week at both cinemas.
Maybe you've spent much of 2020 glued to the small screen, viewing your way through this year's lockdown periods. Perhaps, as cinemas have been reopening around the country, you've flocked to the big screen to get your movie fix. Either way, if you've been thinking and supporting local — as has been the trend all-round in 2020 — then you've had plenty of Australian films and television shows to watch. And, from this hectic year, the best of the bunch have just been named 2020 AACTA Award nominees. The AACTA Awards — which were previously called the AFI Awards, before changing their name — span multiple types of screen content, so there's a hefty number of local productions vying for a gong when the winners are announced on Monday, November 30. From the initial rundown of nominees — with more set to be revealed on November 12 — three of the year's best Aussie movies rank among the top film contenders, with teen cancer drama Babyteeth scoring 12 nods, the blistering True History of the Kelly Gang picking up ten and the latest version of The Invisible Man receiving eight. Other movie nominees across directing, acting and cinematography categories include the family-friendly H is for Happiness, horror flick Relic, zombie movie Little Monsters, sheep farming comedy-drama Rams and Helen Reddy biopic I Am Woman. In terms of stars, everyone from Hugo Weaving, Richard Roxburgh, Russell Crowe and Ben Mendelsohn to Eliza Scanlen, Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Essie Davis and Deborah Mailman are in the running — as well as overseas actors such as Elisabeth Moss, Lupita Nyong'o, Sam Neill and George MacKay. On the TV front, if you've been watching Mystery Road's latest season and mini-series Stateless, they each picked up seven nods a piece. Comedy-wise, series nominees include At Home Alone Together, Black Comedy, The Other Guy, Rosehaven and Upright. The 2020 AACTA Awards will take place on Monday, November 30. Here's a rundown of the major nominations — and you can check out the full list of nominees as they're announced on the AACTA's website: AACTA NOMINEES 2020 FILM AWARDS: BEST FILM Babyteeth H is for Happiness I Am Woman The Invisible Man True History of the Kelly Gang Relic BEST INDIE FILM A Boy Called Sailboat Hot Mess Koko: A Red Dog Story A Lion Returns Standing Up for Sunny Unsound BEST DIRECTION Shannon Murphy, Babyteeth John Sheedy, H is for Happiness Leigh Whannell, The Invisible Man Justin Kurzel, True History of the Kelly Gang Natalie Erika James, Relic BEST LEAD ACTOR George MacKay, True History of the Kelly Gang Sam Neill, Rams Richard Roxburgh, H is for Happiness Toby Wallace, Babyteeth Hugo Weaving, Measure for Measure BEST LEAD ACTRESS Tilda Cobham-Hervey, I Am Woman Laura Gordon, Undertow Elisabeth Moss, The Invisible Man Lupita Nyong'o, Little Monsters Eliza Scanlen, Babyteeth BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Fayssal Bazzi, Measure for Measure Russell Crowe, True History of the Kelly Gang Aaron Jeffery, The Flood Ben Mendelsohn, Babyteeth Wesley Patten, H is for Happiness BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Emma Booth, H is for Happiness Essie Davis, Babyteeth Bella Heathcote, Relic Deborah Mailman, H is for Happiness Doris Younane, Measure for Measure BEST SCREENPLAY Rita Kalnejais, Babyteeth Abe Forsythe, Little Monsters Leigh Whannell, The Invisible Man Natalie Erika James and Christian White, Relic Shaun Grant, True History of the Kelly Gang BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY Andrew Commis, Babyteeth Brad Shield, Bloody Hell Geoffrey Hall, Escape From Pretoria Bonnie Elliott, H is for Happiness Stefan Duscio, The Invisible Man BEST DOCUMENTARY Brazen Hussies Brock: Over the Top Looky Looky Here Comes Cooky Firestarter — The Story of Bangarra Slim & I Suzi Q TELEVISION AWARDS: BEST DRAMA SERIES Bloom Doctor Doctor Halixfax: Retribution The Heights Mystery Road Wentworth BEST TELEFEATURE OR MINISERIES The Gloaming Hungry Ghosts Operation Buffalo The Secrets She Keeps Stateless BEST COMEDY SERIES At Home Alone Together Black Comedy The Other Guy Rosehaven Upright BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A TELEVISION DRAMA Fayssal Bazzi, Stateless Bryan Brown, Bloom Jai Courtney, Stateless Ewen Leslie, Operation Buffalo Aaron Pedersen, Mystery Road BEST LEAD ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION DRAMA Jada Alberts, Mystery Road Rebecca Gibney, Halixfax: Retribution Asher Keddie, Stateless Pamela Rabe, Wentworth Yvonne Strahovski, Stateless BEST COMEDY PERFORMER Milly Alcock, Upright Anne Edmonds, At Home Together Luke McGregor, Rosehaven Tim Minchin, Upright Celia Pacquola, Rosehaven BEST GUEST OR SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A TELEVISION DRAMA Rob Collins, Mystery Road Darren Gilshenan, Stateless Damon Herriman, The Commons Callan Mulvey, Mystery Road Ed Oxenbould, Bloom BEST GUEST OR SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION DRAMA Cate Blanchett, Stateless Jacqueline McKenzie, Bloom Ngaire Pigram, Mystery Road Tasma Walton, Mystery Road Jacki Weaver, Bloom
If you're looking to kick off this next turn around the sun with a healthy session of live tunes and a good old-fashioned New Year's Day boogie, be sure to put Coburg Velodrome on your radar. The northside's legendary open-air party destination will launch into 2022 with the next iteration of Sun Cycle. The respected music heads at Crown Ruler (Duke Street Block Party, Freedom Time), Untitled Group (Beyond the Valley, Pitch Music & Arts, Ability Fest) and WAT Artists are back to deliver another tasty start to another new year, featuring a top-notch gathering of local and international acts, as well as striking visual installations. Helping to ring in 2022 with a well-deserved bang will be Japanese electronic legend Soichi Terada, New Zealand brother duo Chaos in the CBD, London-based DJ Bradley Zero and our very own Roza Terenzi. Sounds from Aboriginal rapper Briggs and rising soul-pop star Akosia are also in the mix, along with diverse sonic offerings from other homegrown acts like Sleep D, Tornado Wallace, Jennifer Loveless, Zjoso and Surprise Chef. Visual thrills from the likes of Alchemy Orange, Rhys Newling and Mikaela Stafford will round out the day's fun. You can register here for presale tickets, which go on sale at 6pm on Thursday, November 4. General public tickets will then be on sale from 12pm on November 5. Images: Natalie Jurrjens
In wrestling – of the competitive rather than staged variety – combatants trade in proximity, physicality and supremacy. They come in close, sizing up each other’s strengths through grabbing and grappling, and then exploiting weaknesses for their own glory. Sudden moves may be made, but little happens quickly. It takes time to push and shove into positions of power, and to feel out avenues for domination. Telling a tale of violence and sought-after victory that can only be ripped from reality, Foxcatcher mimics the sport at its centre, progressing slowly yet never relenting from its atmosphere of tension. Three men jostle for the spotlight: the Olympic Gold medal-winning Schultz brothers Mark (Channing Tatum) and Dave (Mark Ruffalo), and wealthy and eccentric wrestling aficionado John E. du Pont (Steve Carell). Though both siblings shared success at the Los Angeles games in 1984, the awkward, lonely Mark remains in the shadow of charismatic family man Dave, their training sessions the highlights of his daily routine. Du Pont’s unexpected offer to finance his – and the American wrestling team’s – repeat shot at the top spot is the opportunity Mark has been waiting for, but his second chance serves his benefactor’s ego, not his own dreams. As Dave asks when Mark tries to convince him to come along at du Pont’s urging, “What does he get out of all this?” The outcome is the stuff crime reenactments are made of; however, 2014 Cannes Film Festival best director recipient Bennett Miller heightens the simmering anxiety of clashing personalities and motivations over the sensationalist result. Those familiar with the filmmaker’s previous two efforts, fellow true crime feature Capote and the baseball-oriented Moneyball, will be well versed in his approach. Once more, Miller’s film is studied and sparse on the surface but explosive underneath; inspired by history but unafraid to shape events to fit its own statement on masculinity, capitalism and America; and coloured by the purposefully unsettling shades of a chilly, blue visual look. Patient pacing — particularly in long shots framing each of the trio against the surroundings of busy training room, claustrophobic apartment and expansive country estate — allows the pressure to build, though what really blossoms is the Foxcatcher’s troika of obsession and aggression-laced character studies. Details are drip-fed horror-style, not only in the script’s unraveling of psychological unease, but in the intensity of the performances. With Oscar nominations apiece, Carell and Ruffalo command attention, albeit in vastly different ways. The affectations of the former, perfecting the control of the privileged yet paranoid, clash with the naturalistic caution of the ever-agreeable latter. It is Tatum, however, who steals every scene, lumbering, vulnerable, and always with the air of the loser even when Schultz is winning. His character might be an innocent initially easily manipulated, but his layered, internalised portrayal ascends to the apex of the against-type cast. Perhaps it is fitting that he has been eclipsed in the awards chatter — overlooked once again as life imitates art depicting real-life circumstances.
Social enterprise café and caterer Kinfolk is expanding, adding another venue to its name and making the love it spreads stretch a little further — launching a café called Sibling by Kinfolk in Carlton North. The organisation strives to create an inclusive community, counteracting social isolation via a volunteer-run, self-sufficient café, which donates all profits to its charity partners: Cathy Freeman Foundation and Asylum Seekers Resource Centre. The waitlist to volunteer at Kinfolk is long — some positive news in a world often overwhelmed with negative headlines — there are so many people wanting to join that prospective volunteers are often waiting for months. Currently, Kinfolk has 60 weekly volunteers, from more than 30 different countries, including those living with a disability, transitioning from prison, or seeking asylum. With the launch of Sibling, they'll be able to double the size of their volunteer program — providing guidance, support and a shared friendly space. Before the team launches Sibling, however, it needs the community's help to get it off the ground. What help exactly? It's crowdfunding $60,000 for the cause. $60K seems like a lot — well, it is — but the team has already passed the half-way mark, and is hoping to reach target by August 29. Also, you don't just get warm fuzzies in return for your donation — you get coffee, masterclasses, hampers, dinner and warm fuzzies. Donate $30 and you'll get a bag of Small Batch coffee, $50 will get you a composting masterclass, and $80 will get you a meal for two. Have more cash to splash? $465 will get you a handmade ceramic cup and three months of bottomless coffee at either venues. The crowdfunding campaign for Sibling by Kinfolk will wrap up on Wednesday, August 29. To donate, head to startsomegood.com. Image: Kinfolk
With apologies to William Shakespeare, all the world isn't just a stage in French farce Murder Party. Instead, it's a game, then another one, then yet another after that. This candy-coloured murder-mystery takes perhaps the ultimate high-concept setup and hones in on a crucial fact: that audiences love whodunnits, whether they're watching them on the screen or reading them on the page, because charting the unravelling details entails sleuthing along. In other words, when we're wondering who killed who in which room and why (and with what weapon), we're playing. The board game Cluedo also nailed this truth, as have murder-mystery parties, plus the increasing array of other interactive shows and events that thrust paying participants into the middle of such puzzle-laden predicaments. And while Murder Party acknowledges this idea in a variety of manners, here's the first and simplest: it's set among a family famed for making best-selling board games themselves. First-time feature writer/director Nicolas Pleskof and his co-scribe Elsa Marpeau (Prof T) kickstart the film with a killer setup: that eccentric crew of relatives, their brightly hued home on a sprawling country estate, an usual task given to a newcomer and, naturally, a sudden passing. Architect Jeanne Chardon-Spitzer (Alice Pol, Labor Day) is asked to pitch a big renovation project to the Daguerre family, transforming their impressive abode so that living there always feels like playing a game (or several). Patriarch César (Eddy Mitchell, The Middleman) already encourages his brood to enjoy their daily existence with that in mind anyway, including dedicating entire days to letting loose and walking, talking and breathing gameplay. But he's looking for a particularly bold next step. He's unimpressed by Jeanne's routine proposal, in fact. Then he drops dead, the property's doors slam shut and a voice over the intercom tells the architect, plus everyone else onsite, to undertake a series of challenges to ascertain the culprit among them — or be murdered themselves. Also thrust into the high-stakes game, which'll dispense with anyone who refuses to take part or guesses incorrectly: César's son Théo (Pablo Pauly, The French Dispatch), daughter Léna (Sarah Stern, Into the World) and nudgingly named youngest boy Hercule (Adrien Guionnet, Le Bazar de la Charité). Yes, sibling rivalry complicates the hypothesising, as well as the attempts to stay alive. Théo is particularly friendly towards workaholic Jeanne, adding another complexity to the already-chaotic situation. Similarly at hand is the dead man's younger wife Salomé (Pascale Arbillot, Haute Couture) — a mystery writer herself — and his no-nonsense offsider sister Joséphine (Miou-Miou, The Last Mercenary). And, because a home this immense was always going to have some help hovering around, butler Armand (Gustave Kervern, Love Song for Tough Guys) gets drawn in, too. If Amelie and Knives Out combined, the end result would look like Murder Party. If Wes Anderson and Agatha Christie joined forces, the outcome would be the same. It's highly unlikely that Pleskof was ever going to call his feature Murder in the Game-Filled Mansion or Death While Rolling the Dice, but that's the overwhelming vibe. There's an escape room element, too — thankfully, though, nodding towards the Escape Room franchise isn't on the agenda. Murder Party's characters get stuck in intricately designed locked spaces and forced to piece together clues to secure their freedom, and are only permitted to remain breathing by keeping their wits about them, but no one's in a horror movie here. There's also a penchant for twists upon twists, including toying with the film's premise. Those zigs and zags are obviously best discovered by watching, but Pleskof and Marpeau know the genre they're diving into — and its tropes, customs and drawcards. They know the kind of flicks they're parodying as well, nodding and winking at everything from Alfred Hitchcock's thrillers to cutesy Gallic comedies. That isn't the same as making the most of their influences, or thoughtfully satirising stereotypical on-screen French quirkiness, however. It doesn't result in a game-changer of a mystery-comedy, either. To Murder Party's misfortune, the small screen has been awash in excellent comic whodunnits in the past year, spanning Only Murders in the Building, The Afterparty and The Resort. If you've seen even just one of those three shows, it'll linger in your mind while watching Jeanne navigate the Daguerre family's mayhem. Still, there's an enticing air to Murder Party's aesthetic, with production designer Jérémy Duchier (Perfumes), art director Jean-Baptiste Rodet (Agatha Christie's Criminal Games) and costume designer Dorothée Guiraud (Portrait of a Lady on Fire) showering the featuring in a rainbow's worth of shining shades. The film colour-codes its characters just as Cluedo always has — in their outfits, rather than their names — and also turns its vibrantly decorated labyrinth of a mansion into the game-playing version of Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. Visually, Murder Party is exactly what it's meant to be: a sweet treat. And, just like in Roald Dahl's beloved book and the movies that've brought it to the screen, exactly who endures and who gets eliminated is guided by personality, and by riddles and quests that know their players' strengths and weaknesses. Fluffy, flashy, sugary, elaborate — yes, Murder Party is the dessert of whodunnit flicks in several ways. In-depth characterisations aren't a particular murder-mystery strength (see: the recent versions of Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile), but for everyone except Jeanne, the film remains especially light. There's a reason behind that, linked to the plot's biggest twist of all. Still, in the overall puzzle, that's also too much of a telltale sign. Murder Party wants to ponder the fun and escape of moving tokens, shuffling cards, making guesses and other frivolous trivialities, but getting immersed in the sleuthing, and also invested in each character's fate, proves a slipperier and trickier prospect when it's instantly clear that almost everyone is just a pawn.
He's directed a mockumentary about sharehouse-dwelling vampires in Wellington, one of the most offbeat and adorable fugitive films there is, and the best big-budget blockbuster about a certain cape-wearing, hammer-wielding Norse god- turned-superhero that's reached screens so far. Now, after winning hearts and laughs with not only What We Do in the Shadows, Hunt for the Wilderpeople and Thor: Ragnarok, but New Zealand comedies Eagle vs Shark and Boy too, Taika Waititi has turned his attention to making fun of Hitler. His latest movie is called Jojo Rabbit, with the beloved filmmaker not only writing and directing, but starring as the Nazi. It's a satire, obviously, following a bullied but nationalistic young German boy called Jojo (newcomer Roman Griffin Davis) who discovers that his mother (Scarlett Johansson) is hiding a Jewish girl (Thomasin McKenzie, Leave No Trace) in their attic. He doesn't quite know what to do, so he asks the obvious person for help: his imaginary friend Adolf Hitler. World War II-set films are a very common sight on the big screen, so if you feel like you've seen every possible take on that period of history, Jojo Rabbit is here to change your mind. As the movie's initial teaser and its just-released full trailer both show, this isn't your usual grim, serious war flick. Premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival this month, and based on the book Caging Skies by Christine Leunens, it's being badged as an "anti-hate" comedy, should you need more of an idea of the tone that Waititi is going for. As well as the writer/director himself, the film co-stars the high-profile likes of Sam Rockwell, Rebel Wilson, Stephen Merchant and Alfie Allen. It's not the only project that Waititi has in the works — it was just announced last week that he'll be directing the next Thor film, Thor: Love and Thunder — but it is the only one where he gets Hitler to call himself a lunatic and a psycho. Check out the new trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tL4McUzXfFI Jojo Rabbit releases on December 26 in Australia.
No one should need to cleanse their palates between Mad Max movies — well, maybe after Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome, depending on your mileage with it — but if anyone does, George Miller shouldn't be one of them. The Australian auteur gifted the world the hit dystopian franchise, has helmed and penned each and every chapter, and made Mad Max: Fury Road an astonishing piece of cinema that's one of the very best in every filmic category that applies. Still, between that kinetic, frenetic, rightly Oscar-winning movie and upcoming prequel Furiosa, Miller has opted to swish around romantic fantasy Three Thousand Years of Longing. He does love heightened drama and also myths, including in the series he's synonymous with. He adores chronicling yearnings and hearts' desires, too, whether surveying vengeance and survival, the motivations behind farm animals gone a-wandering in Babe: Pig in the City, the dreams of dancing penguins in Happy Feet, or love, happiness and connection here. In other words, although adapted from AS Byatt's short story The Djinn in the Nightingale's Eye, Three Thousand Years of Longing is unshakeably and inescapably a Miller movie — and it's as alive with his flair for the fantastical as most of his resume. It's a wonder for a range of reasons, one of which is simple: the last time that the writer/director made a movie that didn't connect to the Mad Max, Babe or Happy Feet franchises was three decades back. With that in mind, it comes as no surprise that this tale about a narratologist (Tilda Swinton, Memoria) and the Djinn (Idris Elba, Beast) she uncorks from a bottle, and the chats they have about their histories as the latter tries to ensure the former makes her three wishes to truly set him free, is told with playfulness, inventiveness, flamboyance and a deep heart. Much of Miller's filmography is, but there's a sense with Three Thousand Years of Longing that he's been released, too — even if he loves his usual confines, as audiences do as well. "My story is true," Swinton's Alithea Binnie announces at the get-go. "You're more likely to believe me, however, if I tell it as a fairy tale." Cue another Miller trademark, unpacking real emotions and woes within scenarios that are anything but standard — two people talking about their lives in a hotel is hardly fanciful, though. The tales that the Djinn relays, with debts clearly owed to One Thousand and One Nights, also dwell in the everyday; some just happened millennia ago. The Djinn loved the Queen of Sheba (model Aamito Lagum), but lost her to the envious King Solomon (Nicolas Mouawad, Mako). He then languished in the the Ottoman court, after young concubine Gulten (Ece Yüksel, Family Secrets) wished for the heart of Suleiman the Magnificent's (Lachy Hulme, Preacher) son Mustafa (singer Matteo Bocelli). And, in the 19th century, the Djinn fell for Zefir (Burcu Gölgedar, Between Two Dawns), the brilliantly smart but stifled wife of a Turkish merchant. What spirits the Djinn's time-hopping memories beyond the ordinary and into the metaphysical, and Alithea's narrative as well, is the figure first seen billowing out of blue-and-white glass, then filling an entire suite, then slipping into white towelling. Something magical happens when you pop on a hotel bathrobe — that space and that cosy clothing are instantly transporting — and while Alithea resists the very idea of making wishes, she gets swept along by her new companion anyway. As a scholar of stories and the meanings they hold, she knows the warnings surrounding uttering hopes and having them granted. She also says she's content with her intellectual, independent and isolated-by-choice life, travelling the world to conferences like the one that's brought her to Turkey and then to the Istanbul bazaar where she spies the Djinn's misshapen home, even if her own backstory speaks of pain and self-protective mechanisms. And yet, "I want our solitudes to be together", she eventually declares, and with exactly the titular emotion. Adapting this swoony affair for the screen with co-screenwriter Augusta Gore, his daughter, Miller knows that Three Thousand Years of Longing is indeed a cautionary tale, too. As Alithea is well aware, simply wishing can't genuinely make dreams come true; life is much too thorny and slippery for that. And, even when she allows herself to forget it despite her early protests, and the film lets her — Elba can fight lions on-screen in one flick, then capture hearts and dissolve defences in the next — Miller never does. It doesn't go unnoticed that every narrative within Three Thousand Years of Longing is one of captivity and power imbalances, with imagery to reinforce it. Containers and chains, physical and otherwise, envelop characters in all layers of the story. Love at times is one such prison, including when Alithea asks for it. This is a romance, but perhaps the most affecting notion it ponders is how love isn't really love if it isn't freely given. Three Thousand Years of Longing is also still a fairy tale as Alithea promises, with enchantment breezing in, lives forever changed and lessons imparted. Being so passionate and fantastical while never losing sight of life's essential truths is a complicated mix, and it often makes for a beautiful one under Miller's guidance. The intimacy and feeling when Three Thousand Years of Longing remains a superb two-hander isn't just charming — it's potent and moving. With her sharp red bob, circular glasses and thick but melodious accent, and with his calming eyes and perfect mix of charisma and sorrow, Swinton and Elba could've spent the entire movie talking and it would've been a pleasure to watch. Good Luck to You, Leo Grande has already shown how enticing a hotel room, a couple of chattering souls and laying oneself emotionally bare can be, especially with magnetic performances, and this would make a wonderful double feature with it. Human existence isn't just quiet, transformative, deep-and-meaningful one-on-one moments in plush surrounds and outfits, though, just as love isn't always bliss. Three Thousand Years of Longing is a work of two distinct approaches, recognising that, and also letting Miller bust out every stylistic yearning he has whenever his film ventures past Alithea and the Djinn conversing to its blasts from the past. The visuals swoop and slide, with Mad Max: Fury Road cinematographer John Seale again conveying his director's energy with verve and panache. The swift editing by Fury Road's Margaret Sixel, and the feature's creative transitions, do the same. Colour blazes bright, as does detail — gleaming from every surface, in fact — and spinning stories and escaping into fables becomes the most vibrant and urgent thing in the world. While watching and getting lost in Three Thousand Years of Longing, it frequently feels that way.
Melbourne cyclists, double up on those locks or get yourself one of these. In new stats published by The Age, Melbourne bikes are being stolen at a rate of almost 50 percent higher than cars in some areas. Yikes. While the stats aren't exactly Amsterdam or New York City levels (closer to San Francisco's numbers), apparently over 5000 bikes have been stolen in Melbourne in the last financial year alone (or about 100 bikes a week). And that's just the reported thefts to Victoria Police — how many times have you just shaken an angry fist at the sky and let it go over a silent brewski? Obviously, thieves are cottoning on to the fact that some areas are more bike-focused than others — the trendo, fixie-lovin' bits of town. In Victoria, the postcodes where bike thefts are double the amount of car thefts are apparently Fitzroy, Carlton and Parkville/Melbourne Uni, as well as the towns of Sale, Wangaratta and Horsham. So if you're cruising home from work to these areas, bolster that security, bring your beloved inside or get a shittier bike. Melbourne's CBD isn't much better for bike nabbery; The Age reports almost 1600 bikes have been nicked in the last five years — again, double the amount of cars stolen from central city areas. But the Big Kahuna of Melbourne bike theft? Brunswick (predictably) — the suburb's apparently doubled its bike theft stats in five years. Check out The Age's map for the statewide stats to see if you should be adding padlocks in your suburb. Must be a strong lock #melburn #bikes #cosbikes A photo posted by Perry Singleton (@pjsingleton) on Oct 10, 2014 at 4:14pm PDT Victorian Police are working their butts off to reduce the number of missing bikes, and you can help out — engrave your licence number and take a photo of your bike and beware of council clean-up times (when people rummaging around your front yard with bolt cutters doesn't look suspicious to passers-by). Looks like the makers of the 'unstealable' bike have a Melbourne market on their hands. Via The Age. Image: rogerwshaw via photopin cc.
Gelato fans have a couple of fun new things to look forward to this month — and it's all thanks to the dessert aficionados at Gelato Messina and their latest collaboration. First, the chain has announced that it's teamed up with Sundae Body to drop a new range of ice cream-flavoured shower foams. Available in four varieties — strawberries and cream, lemon meringue pie, raspberry sorbet and lamington — the body washes have just hit the shelves at Aussie Priceline stores, as well as Messina and Sundae Body's websites. And what's more, to celebrate the arrival of these limited-edition shower treats, Messina is slinging a bunch of signature gelato scoops for free — for one day only. If you're in Melbourne, simply head down to Priceline's Chapel Street store on Saturday, April 22 to nab a free scoop of Messina while you're stocking up on your favourites from the new line of shower foams. They'll be scooping all four of the above Messina flavours that inspired the new body products — but you'll want to get in early as there are only 500 freebies up for grabs.
