This July sees the return of a packed IRL program from Open House Melbourne, after a two-year switch to the digital realm. If you're not familiar with the annual event, it opens up some of the city's most iconic buildings, new structures and urban environments for the public to explore and appreciate. And this year, it's back to regular programming, hosting a slew of in-person events, tours, exhibitions and talks, from Saturday, July 30–Sunday, July 31. You're invited to scope out architectural gems from across the Melbourne region, as the festival digs into the theme 'Built/Unbuilt'. This year's tour program will afford punters a rare stickybeak into spaces like the new Victorian Pride Centre, Collingwood Yards, the Melbourne Quakers Centre, the newly-rebuilt La Mama Theatre and the grand expanse of Studley Park's Villa Alba — an 1880s Italianate mansion bearing some of this country's most significant examples of late nineteenth-century decoration. [caption id="attachment_855968" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Melbourne Quakers Centre, Nervegna Reed Architecture and pH architects, captured by John Gollings[/caption] You'll also have the chance to explore the recently completed Melbourne Holocaust Museum, designed by Kerstin Thompson Architects, and to walk through the site of the new library planned as part of the Queen Vic Market precinct's Munro development. Meanwhile, new exhibition Take Hold of the Clouds transforms the city into a gallery, with a curation of responsive works displayed across seven sites, each sharing their own stories about the urban landscape. Elsewhere, you'll hear from some of our leading spatial and creative practitioners as they hit The Capitol to share their ideas for speaker series This Is Public, architect and housing advocate Tania Davidge leads a series of events exploring the issues around affordable housing in Australia, and you can catch a short flick celebrating the life and work of award-winning architect Peter Elliott. [caption id="attachment_775300" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Villa Alba Museum by Russell Winnell[/caption] Top Image: Collingwood Yards, by Stefan Postles
Want to bunker down in Bunker Bay with easy access to the ocean, spa treatments, infinity pools – and, of course, nearby wine regions? The Pullman Bunker Bay Resort is ticking quite a lot of those boxes and others, as it serves as a mighty luxurious base for exploration of the Margaret River Wine Region. A bit of a drive from Perth, Bunker Bay is worth the petrol for the clear waters alone, and the rest of Margaret River's attributes additionally. From here, you can head out on a group tour of the region's more than 150 cellar doors — famous wineries in the area include Xanadu, Cape Mentelle, Voyager and Leeuwin Estate — or get your own car or bike and follow an itinerary of your invention. Several of the estates also boast restaurants, so you're guaranteed to be both well fed and watered. On the other side of Margaret River's rolling hills, you've got that inviting ocean and a brilliant coastal walking track that will take you past Cape Leeuwin and its Instagram-ready lighthouse. The Mediterranean climate means there's never a bad time to holiday here, but come between June and November if you've always wanted to try a spot of whale-watching. Humpback, southern right, minke and even blue whales have been known to migrate past this coastline each year. Back in the comfort of the Pullman Bunker Bay Resort, studio or bungalow-style villas house guests here, and all villas have lake or garden views and a boardwalk to the beach, so it's an easy stroll towards fulfilling your holiday hit-list. Vie Spa occupies the side of your vacation that is "lying down and utterly relaxing", with their beachfront location and couples suites a very valid option for honeymooners. Kinks in your back all worked out? You can head to the Bunker Bay Resort's restaurant – Other Side of the Moon is its name, and utilising fresh and sustainable local produce in share plates is its tasty game. Eat well but don't forget to explore the wines too – you're in the Margaret River region after all.
Fitzroy's Poodle Bar and Bistro is gearing up for a buzzy event next weekend to commemorate the launch of its recently renovated courtyard. Renowned winemaker and award-winning journalist Mahmood Fazal will be taking over the restaurant's wine list for a one-off lunch banquet on Saturday, April 27. Fazal's debut shiraz will be available, among other excellent vinos. The superb wines will be paired with a delicious $65 lunch, featuring torched bonito, the terrine du jour, a grilled black heart and guanciale skewer, and a hanger steak with pepper jus and fries. This special event takes place from 1pm–late on Saturday, April 27 at the bistro's new patio. Book your spot while tickets are still available at the website.
As Melbourne plots its emergence from yet another lockdown, the city has also got a new major arts festival to look forward to this year. As announced this week, disability arts festival Alter State is set to make its debut this spring, celebrating a diverse program of contemporary art and live performance by artists from across Australia and New Zealand. Alter State will host a launch event this coming November, before returning for its full festival appearance in September 2022. Presented in conjunction with Arts Centre Melbourne and Arts Access Victoria, the festival aims to highlight the fierce talent of local artists with disabilities and to share and celebrate a diverse array of stories. It's hoped it will also ignite some fresh conversations that'll help to shape the future of accessibility in the Australian and New Zealand arts space. [caption id="attachment_820804" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mark Gambino[/caption] The festival's foundation artists include celebrated names like dancer and performer Rodney Bell, writer and appearance activist Carly Findlay OAM, and experimental performance artist Joshua Pether. "I don't see the festival as only being a platform to showcase performances by artists with a disability," said Pether. "But rather, and importantly, a place where we can have conversations and spark dialogue about what we want to see for the future in our community." More details about November's launch event will be revealed in the coming months, though it's set to include two significant commissions: one presented in collaboration with the Metro Tunnel Arts Program and another as part of the UK/Australia Season initiative (a joint project by the British Council and the Australian Government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade). Alter State will debut with a launch event in November 2021, with a full festival program to take place in September, 2022. Further details are set to be revealed in the coming months — keep an eye on the website for the latest. Top Image: 'Meremere' by Movement of the Human, captured by Tom Hoyle
No longer just the realms of year three excursions where your mum came as chaperone, Melbourne Zoo Twilights — the after-hours live music series that boasts perhaps one of the best summer nights out, as well as lots of adorable animals — has proven they've got some real cred when it comes to hosting outdoor gigs in the past few years. After all, they got José González to headline the series last year — and this summer, they're back with a brand new lineup playing spesh live sets every weekend from Friday, January 27 through Saturday, March 11. Considering it includes the likes of Kurt Vile and Tegan and Sara and then Killing Heidi and george, it's probably their most diverse yet. Yep, this year there's a definite throwback to late '90s/early '00s Australian music, with both Killing Heidi and george playing reunion shows, and The Living End playing a 'stripped back' show with a string quartet. Random. In a complete 180, Kurt Vile will casually grace the stage on March 4, Warpaint will herald their new album on a Friday night, and Canada's Tegan and Sara are sure to draw some hardcore fans. Also taking over the lawns of Melbourne Zoo's fully-licensed lawns will be the likes of The Rubens, Martha Wainwright, Ball Park Music, The Jungle Giants and The Specials. Plus, you can dag it up with ABBA tribute act Bjorn Again, who will be once again returning due to popular demand after the last two years. The feathered, furred and finned have plenty to choose from this summer. Plus, all proceeds from Zoo Twilights go back into Zoo Victoria's ongoing conservation work to help fight the extinction of the Eastern Barred Bandicoot. Picnic-bringing is encouraged, but there'll also be handy gourmet hampers available on-site, as well as a slew of food trucks to choose nosh from. Either way, it's actually the one of the best dates in Melbourne — lock those tickets down. MELBOURNE ZOO TWILIGHTS 2017 LINEUP Friday 27 January – JO JO ZEP & THE FALCONS and THE SPORTS Saturday 28 January – PETER GARRETT & THE ALTER EGOS and KEV CARMODY Friday 3 February – HOODOO GURUS with special guests Saturday 4 February – THE RUBENS supported by Bec Sandridge Friday 10 February – BALL PARK MUSIC and THE JUNGLE GIANTS Saturday 11 February – BJÖRN AGAIN Friday 17 February – PAUL DEMPSEY supported by Melody Pool Saturday 18 February – george supported by Felix Riebl (Cat Empire) Friday 24 February – WARPAINT (US) supported by Big Thief (US) Saturday 25 February – KILLING HEIDI supported by Abbe May Friday 3 March – THE LIVING END 'TWANGIN' AT TWILIGHT' featuring special guests, supported by Gabriella Cohen Saturday 4 March – KURT VILE (US) supported by Mick Turner Wednesday 8 March – TEGAN AND SARA (CAN) with special guests Friday 10 March – MARTHA WAINWRIGHT (CAN) supported by Margaret Glaspy (US) Saturday 11 March – THE SPECIALS (UK) with special guests Melbourne Zoo Twilights will return to Melbourne Zoo from January 27 until March 11. Tickets go on sale at 9am on Tuesday, October 25 at zootwilights.org.au. By Lauren Vadnjal and Shannon Connellan. Image: Ian Laidlaw.
Midsumma Festival returns to Melbourne in the new year, bringing together the LGBTQI+ community and artists from across the state for its annual queer arts and cultural festival. It spans from January 19 through February 9, with 194 events taking place in venues all over Melbourne. The massive program kicks off with a bang at the Midsumma Carnival, on Sunday, January 19, in Alexandra Gardens. There'll be 11 hours of live music and entertainment on the main stage, heaps of food stalls and bars, plus the return of the ever-popular Midsumma Dog Show. Once the sun starts to set, the park is transformed into one enormous dance floor, with DJs and artists performing well into the night. And it's 100 percent free. The festival continues with a heap of talks, performances, installations, exhibitions and parties, all aimed at celebrating the diverse stories of the queer arts scene. In the 2020 major project, Queen Unsettled, unheard voices and marginalised communities are front and centre in a multidisciplinary attack on colonisation. Attend a Lunar New Year Disco with Drag Race Thailand stars after hours at Melbourne Museum; hear from Pacific womxn of colour and Indigenous femmes in BLOW and FAMILI; and be entranced by The Sky After Rain, a video installation exploring three queer Iranian diasporas. Other Midsumma highlights include the Midsumma and Australia Post Art Award exhibition, a music festival of queer women and non-binary musicians, the Midsumma Extravaganza showcase at Hamer Hall, and the 25th annual Midsumma Pride March on Sunday, February 2. Images: Midsumma Carnival, Jackson Grant/Suzanne Balding.
Maybe it's a budget thing. Perhaps you can't get time off work. Your diary just mightn't be able to spare a whole three days in Byron Bay, plus travelling there and back. Can't make it to Splendour in the Grass in 2023? There are plenty of reasons why that might be the case, but the festival's official sideshows are here to help cure your FOMO. This year, everyone from Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Lewis Capaldi to Little Simz and Tove Lo are hitting stages around Australia outside of their Splendour sets — and Loyle Carner, Rainbow Kitten Surprise and Noah Cyrus as well. Keen to see your favourite act do their own show? They might be on this list, albeit with the usual Sydney- and Melbourne-heavy focus. As is almost always the case with sideshows to Byron-based fests, Brisbane doesn't get a look in. If you're located in the Sunshine State and you're keen, Splendour or a trip to the New South Wales and Victorian capitals is in your future. Sam Fender's only sideshow is in Perth, however, and Lewis Capaldi's already on-sale sideshows only have tickets remaining for his Perth stopover. For folks in Adelaide, Loyle Carner is coming to South Australia, and Capaldi as well, but his solo gig is already sold out. That said, Secret Sounds, the crew behind Splendour, is also bringing its winter festival Spin Off back to the City of Churches, complete with SiTG acts Hilltop Hoods, Pnau, Tove Lo, BENEE, iann dior and Noah Cyrus. Yeah Yeah Yeah's sideshows come after the band was meant to make the trip to Australia for 2022's Splendour, complete with their own concerts, but had to drop out. Lizzo's Australian arena tour isn't on this list given that it was announced before Splendour, but that's another way to see the fest's talent without a trip to Byron. SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS 2023 OFFICIAL SIDESHOWS: YEAH YEAH YEAHS With Automatic Thursday, July 20 — MCA, Melbourne Monday, July 24 — Hordern Pavilion, Sydney SAM FENDER Thursday, July 20 — HBF Stadium, Perth LITTLE SIMZ Wednesday, July 19 — MCA, Melbourne Friday, July 21 — Hordern Pavilion, Sydney TOVE LO With Blusher Wednesday, July 19 — Forum, Melbourne Tuesday, July 25 — Roundhouse, Sydney LOYLE CARNER Saturday, July 22 — Enmore Theatre, Sydney Tuesday, July 25 — Hindley Street Music Hall, Adelaide Thursday, July 27 — Palais Theatre, Melbourne IANN DIOR Wednesday, July 19 — 170 Russell, Melbourne Saturday, July 22 — Metro Theatre, Sydney RAINBOW KITTEN SURPRISE Thursday, July 20 — Metro Theatre, Sydney Friday, July 21 — 170 Russell, Melbourne NOAH CYRUS With PJ Harding Sunday, July 9 — Metro Theatre, Sydney Sunday, July 16 — 170 Russell, Melbourne SUDAN ARCHIVES Saturday, July 22 — Liberty Hall, Sydney Tuesday, July 25 — 170 Russell, Melbourne DEL WATER GAO Friday, July 21 — Howler, Melbourne Saturday, July 22 — Oxford Arts Factory, Sydney LEWIS CAPALDI (on sale now) With Noah Cyrus Friday, July 7–Saturday, July 8 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney — SOLD OUT Tuesday, July 11 — RAC Arena, Perth Thursday, July 13 — Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide — SOLD OUT Friday, July 14–Saturday, July 15 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne — SOLD OUT Splendour in the Grass will take over North Byron Bay Parklands from Friday, July 21–Sunday, July 23, 2023. The festival's sideshows are popping up across Australia in July, with tickets on sale from 9am, Tuesday, May 9 — and presales from Monday, May 8.
When global media giant Condé Nast Traveler releases its annual Readers' Choice Awards lineup, it's usually guaranteed to instantly have you dreaming of far-flung holiday destinations. But this year's award winners, which were unveiled yesterday, might just foster a newfound appreciation for what's in your own backyard, with both Melbourne and Sydney ranking among the world's top ten in the Best Cities in the World list. The awards are significant as they always pull a high number of votes — this year, 429,000 readers participated. n fact, they scored so much feedback that the Best Cities list has been split into two. For the first time, the list covers the top 20 small cities, as well as their top 20 'big city' counterparts. Chalking another win in the indulgent age-old Melbourne vs Sydney debate, the Victorian capital ranked third best big city in the world — coming in behind Tokyo and Kyoto (first and second, respectively). The Condé Nast team described Melbourne as having "all of the traits you'd want in a friend" (naww), praising its arts scene, giving a thumbs up to both Heide and Gertrude Contemporary, and advising a daily flat white to take advantage of its reputation for banging coffee. We just hope no one flies in especially for the Urban Scrawl street art tour mentioned in the article, as it's currently on hiatus. In the latter, Sydney took out the number six position, praised as "an ideal getaway no matter the season". The magazine suggests visitors hit the beach during summer and explore the arts scene in the cooler months, specifically giving a shout-out to Paddington, Manly and the "cool kid 'hood" of Surry Hills. In all, this probably won't make the two cities any more affordable — they both rank as some of the most expensive cities in the world — but this ranking might help ease Melbourne's insecurity about losing its top place as the most liveable city in the world.
If a rollicking rooftop party is on your NYE wish-list, but you'd rather not go up against the hectic CBD crowds, here's one to put on your radar: a good-times extravaganza at Carlton haunt Johnny's Green Room. From 7pm on Saturday, December 31, the rooftop bar is wrapping up 2022 with an openair fiesta full of great tunes, snacks and drinks — plus, top-notch views across the city and those fireworks. Guests can kick things off with two hours of free-flowing canapes and bevs (8–10pm) included with their $130 ticket; from beer and vino, to spirits and house-made pizza. Further drinks can then be bought from the bar. Meanwhile, the tunes will be thumping, courtesy of an expert lineup of selectors curated by the legends at Hope St Radio, with the party kicking on until the wee hours of 2023. Best of all, with limited tickets available, you won't be fighting huge crowds just for a peek at the NYE fireworks — consider Johnny's your rooftop party haven. [caption id="attachment_883029" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sarah Pannell[/caption] Top Image: Sarah Pannell
With the threat of increasing noise complaints hanging over Melbourne’s live music scene, campaigners, venue owners, musicians and councils have been taking action. In early September, the implementation of Agent of Change laws put the responsibility for soundproofing firmly on the shoulders of residential developers. And now, the City of Yarra is offering financial assistance to venues, to help them with acoustic-related works. All in all, the Council has plans to serve up $25,000 worth of funding under the banner ‘Live Music Venues Grants’. Each successful venue will receive an independent grant of $2,000 or a matching grant of $5,000. Of the 500 licensed premises in the City of Yarra, about 50 host live music regularly. “Of concern to all has been the increasing tension between residents living in dense housing close to major activity centres, and licensed venues disturbing the peace with loud music and noisy patron behaviour,” states the Council’s website. “There is also a growing appreciation of the Live Music Industry and the contributions it makes to the economy and to the cultural fabric of the community.” To be eligible for grants, venues must be situated in the City of Yarra and must adopt the Best Practice Guidelines for Live Music Venues, which were created by the Live Music Roundtable in collaboration with the Victorian Government. Applications are open now. Via Music Feeds.
This month, Swanston Street live music venue The Toff In Town is dishing up a big dollop of diversity, with a series of Wednesday night showcases starring musicians who don't identify as male. Each week local grassroots community Melbourne Music Girl Gang will host Girl Gang Wednesdays, promising to get you dancing to a huge variety of local artists. You've got two more chances to catch the girl power in action this month, with tickets just $10 on the door. Gracing the stage on Wednesday, December 20, will be electronic pop act Emah Fox, indie rocker Freya and the baroque pop stylings of Wroclaw, while on December 27, the residency wraps up with performances by trip hop producer Sault, four-piece Hoi Polloi and future soul act Maya.
At Concrete Playground, we know the makings of a great trip when we see one. Our team of writers and editors is made up of hardcore travel enthusiasts — myself included. We're the ones who make detailed spreadsheets of recommendations for friends heading to a destination we've visited. Day-to-day for work we cover the best new hotels, travel-worthy experiences, and carefully craft itineraries and guides to the most fantastic places in Australia and abroad. Now, we're translating that passion and experience into a brand new travel inspiration and commerce platform called Concrete Playground Trips. From there, you can purchase trips that are exclusively curated by our editorial team, featuring experiences you genuinely can't find anywhere else, exclusive deals to places you hadn't considered, and trips that do justice to the spots that have long been on your bucket list. We do the groundwork so you don't have to. You just book and go. First up is an incredibly luxe (and fun) trip to Auckland to coincide with dance music festival Spring City, headlined by Groove Armada. You'll get exclusive VIP access and stay in New Zealand's hottest hotel with a couple of extraordinary dining and drinking experiences in the mix. Take in the full itinerary here. There's so much more to come and we're thrilled to get it out into the world and, hopefully, inspire your next great adventure. Happy trails. Discover more at Concrete Playground Trips. Image credit: Pietro de Grandi
Ever thought your yoga class would be more entertaining if there was some good dance music cranking? Maybe you've been dissatisfied with a night clubbing because you felt disconnected from your chakras? Either way, this yoga class come dance party has all your unspoken prayers answered. That's right — it's a yoga dance party. Punters are advised to come dressed in lycra, stretch valour and the same colour clothing as your star sign (just go with it), and all other instructions will be given at the door. Though no yoga or dance experience is necessary, participants should be willing to let loose in the LED mayhem. After all, what is a yoga dance party if not the perfect place to relax? This event originally appeared as one of our top picks for the 2014 Next Wave Festival. See the full list here.
Rough and tumble Sydney label R.I.P. Society have been hand delivering you the grungiest garage rock, darkest experimental fuzz and DIY post-punk electronica for five whole years — so they've got a few birthday toasts to give. Fronting up a chock-a-block lineup to The Studio, the beloved label has invited some of Australia's best to party down, with some iconic neighbours on top. New Zealand's legendary trio The Dead C will arrive for an exclusive Sydney headlining spot, along with label buds Feedtime, Bed Wettin' Bad Boys, Woollen Kits, Native Cats, Rat Columns, Cured Pink, Holy Balm, Ghastly Spats, Housewives, Constant Mongrel, Half High and Wallaby Beat DJs. Kicking off from 5pm on May 24, this is sure to be one rambunctious afternoon-to-midnight affair at the House. To celebrate the countdown to Vivid LIVE week, R.I.P. Society founder Nic Warnock has put together a solid playlist to kickstart your week and gear you up for the gig; from Melbourne's dark and stormy Constant Mongrel to Sydney's garage electro favourites Holy Balm with some wise words from Warnock himself. Crank it to 11 and bring your birthday wishes to the party. https://youtube.com/watch?v=-v_TibqZYRU Constant Mongrel — New Shapes "Constant Mongrel are redefining the rules of cool. Once, it was a huge indie music no-no to wear your own band's t-shirt while performing. Now, it's all the rage in some progressive Melbourne fashion circles thanks to Tom Ridgewell. New Shapes, new styles and later this year there will be a new 7" EP from Constant Mongrel on R.I.P Society records." Rat Columns — Another Day "A new addition to the R.I.P Society family is Rat Columns, the project of David West who's also the man behind the chic electronic project Lace Curtain and one of the three guitarists in Total Control. While this label has generally been moving towards the darker or the weirder side of the Aussie underground, Rat Columns play earnest, unashamed guitar pop. That's the type of life balance I wanna promote. Their first Sydney show is at the Sydney Opera House, lucky ducks." https://youtube.com/watch?v=mAram_OVcb4 Feedtime — I Wanna Ride "Feedtime are a band that feels like rock 'n' roll whilst creating a sound that's pure and unique to them. Feedtime sound fuckin' tough and but there's also a real depth and sensitivity to their music. 'Avant-garde pub rock' people have described them as, but it's not macho caricature stuff or in any way kitsch or whacky. Their songs are precise yet profound articulations of real life stuff, heavy stuff and everyday stuff. Hearing Feedtime for the first time, reading about their existence in Sydney, as well as how Aberrant operated as a record label was really inspiring." https://youtube.com/watch?v=DJg1h-3HPf8 Holy Balm — Holy Balm Theme "Holy Balm have been a staple in my experience of Sydney music. Through a do-it-yourself attitude and not being afraid to experiment and evolve in an organic manner they've become a empowering, positive experience both live and recorded. A great intersection of DIY post-punk and dance music." https://youtube.com/watch?v=so67hFjgv-A The Dead C — Outside "This is one of my favourite songs ever. Kind has a similar quality to Brian Eno's 'Here Come The Warm Jets', although much more crude and deconstructive. Still, I think this song is really beautiful. The Dead C's music shows that experimental music can be as emotive and invigorating as your standard three minute pop ditty." Catch the R.I.P. Society crew blasting amps at the Sydney Opera House Studio from 5pm on May 24. More details and stubs over here.
As part of developer Lorenzo Grollo's promise to revitalise that notoriously sketchy stretch of King Street, a former strip club has been reincarnated as a sprawling live music venue, now dubbed Geddes Lane Ballroom. First announced back in September and opening properly to the public this week, the revamped 170-year-old bluestone building makes just enough reference to its past. Downstairs, it's all heavy timber, chandeliers and red carpet, with a couple of the building's old stripper poles still intact in front of the public bar. The lofty space above has been transformed into a 400-capacity band room, complete with its own bar, rows of booths and a stage that hasn't changed too much since its past life. The music lineup is in excellent hands, helmed by Ben Thompson and Ashlea O'Loughlin — the duo behind such hit live music venues as 170 Russell, the Corner Hotel and the East Brunswick Club. A swag of shows are already in the diary and selling fast, including two performances by indie pop rockers Augie March in late November, and a Melbourne Music Week Live Music Safari featuring Krakatau and Fabulous Diamonds. Back downstairs, renowned Vue De Monde chef-owner Shannon Bennett is heading up the food side of things, which includes classic Vue snacks like hot pretzels, Asian fried peanuts and BBQ spiced popcorn, and his own Benny Burger food truck slinging buns in the front entrance laneway. Stay tuned also for special custom vending machines imported from Japan — as a quirky touch, they'll be serving made-to-order 'fast food' options. To match, there's a hefty lineup of beers, both on tap and in the fridge, a tight, largely Aussie wine selection, and bottled cocktails by Vue's Lui Bar. Find Geddes Lane Ballroom at 46 King Street, Melbourne.
SOPA and PIPA are two bold acronyms have been flashed consistently over media channels for the past few days, and yet many of us have little to no idea what they actually mean for us as global citizens. The Stop Online Piracy Act and Protect Intellectual Property Act are two bills that are currently being discussed in Congress in the United States. As their names suggest, these bills attempt to prevent piracy by granting Intellectual Property owners greater powers against copyright-infringing websites. It does this by attacking a website's appearance on search engines and hyperlinking through other websites, as well as its advertising and payment methods, which largely fall within the country's jurisdiction. This is an attempt by the US government to gain some substantial control on foreign websites which have transgressed legal boundaries rapidly. Piracy and online media sharing have completely overturned traditional revenue streams within the music and film industry, and this is why such legislation is receiving so much support from major labels and companies within these arenas. However, many argue that these bills are a great threat to free speech and innovation, as the Internet has become the greatest forum for global communication and access to information. Therefore, they are seen as a direct threat to the democratic ideals which underpin our society. Indeed, how are larger websites going to ensure that none of their content is hyperlinked to another website that supposedly breaches the bills? Unsurprisingly, many of the world's largest and most influential websites have expressed concern over the SOPA and PIPA propositions. Here are some of our favourite online reactions to the world's most controversial bills. Wikipedia Blackout The world's most useful website shocked users when it underwent a blackout for 24 hours. A link on Wikipedia has highlighted the mammoth effect of this relatively short shutdown, as it became the subject of 7,200 articles on Google News. Furthermore, SOPA has accounted for 250,000 tweets every hour after the blackout began. Indeed, Wikipedia have highlighted how this United States legislation will have an enormous global effect. It is estimated that a further 7,000 to 10,000 websites also jumped in on the blackout bandwagon. Buzzfeed's "25 Angry Kids Who Can't Do Their Homework Because of the Wikipedia Blackout" Wikipedia has become a mandatory initial source of information for pretty much any topic in life, and nothing highlights this more than this great compilation from the guys over at Buzzfeed. Collecting the tweets of numerous pissed off primary schoolers and teens, this is a nice summary of how we all felt when we couldn't extract some basic facts from our favourite online encyclopedia. Highlights include a tweet from @JetSetAmbee_, which reads "I'm tryna tell y'all if they take away Wikipedia, I'm gonna fail hella classes. No bullshit." Google's Censored Logo By now we're all used to Google's themed banners, but this time it wasn't as cute as the Christmas cartoons we usually see wrapped around the logo every year. In support of the claims that these bills would effectively amount to a censorship of the World Wide Web, the logo's familiar colourful letters were hidden behind a black bar that had been slapped on top. They say a picture tells a thousand words, and this definitely made its point. David Drummond of Google explained the dangers of SOPA and PIPA in this blog post. Free Bieber This website is actually about S. 978, another bill concerning copyright, but it has gained further attention in wake of the SOPA and PIPA bills. It argues that if it is passed, someone as harmless as Justin Bieber could go to jail because he initially gained fame through uploading YouTube videos of himself singing copyrighted tracks. A banner of the website proclaims that "Justin faces 5 brutal years in prison." You can even purchase Free Bieber t-shirts and stickers, and also fake tattoos that should be applied on your face and/or neck for that true inmate feel. Behind all the laughs there is an online petition for you to stop these bills. CloudFare's Stop Censorship App This app is to be added to your own personal website, and censors every word that is longer than five letters upon initial visit from a browser. As you can probably imagine, this makes for a very frustrating experience. When you click on a censored word a pop-up box appears which tells you about the effects of SOPA and PIPA. From there, the box allows you to tweet about it or even get the contact details of your local Senator to lodge a complaint. Furthermore, this app only takes under a minute to take effect on your site. Update: SOPA shelved
The ingredients you will need The dough250g flour12g waterPinch of table salt Pork mince filling1 thumb sized portion grated ginger3 pieces green shallots100ml water300g Chinese cabbage300g pork mince2 tbsp soy sauce1 tbsp sesame oil1 tsp sugar2 tsp corn flour How to make the dough Mix water, flour and salt together to form dough then knead for 3 minutes or until firm and elastic. Spray or drizzle with vegetable oil and cover with plastic. Let the dough rest for 30 minutes. Ideally, the dough should be thinker in the centre and thinner around the edges. When you fold the edges together it shouldn't be too think. The Chinese usually roll the dough individually by dividing it into smaller portions. It is generally easier, however, to roll the dough out with a pasta machine or rolling pin to 2mm thick before cutting it with a round pastry cutter on a floured workbench. How to make the filling Grate the ginger and finely chop the shallots. Mix these ingredients into 100ml water and rub the shallots between your fingers to extract the juice. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes. Blanch the cabbage leaves for 1 minute in boiling water then strain. Dice the cabbage. Mix cabbage, soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, corn flour and the ginger shallot mixture into pork mince. To finish Put 1 full teaspoon of filling in the middle of the portioned dough and wet edges with water to prevent sticking. Fold the dough working outwards in. Dust dumpling with flour to prevent sticking. To cook, simply boil for 5 minutes. Serve hot with combination of vinegar and soy sauce. This recipe is based on the traditional Jiao-zi dumpling originating in northern China, interpreted by Zachary Ng. Image: Andrea Nguyen.
Asking someone what they're going to do at Good Beer Week is sure to elicit one unanimous answer: drink beer, man. But there are so many ways to drink beer and enjoy it that the answer, my friends, is never simple. Certainly not when it's Good Beer Week and you can do everything from downing a pot on the Colonial Tramcar to licking liquid nitrogen beer ice cream from the schooner (if this is a thing, can someone get N2 onto this?). So how do you go about planning for Good Beer Week? If you've picked up a copy of the program you'll notice that there is a lot happening and, as always, the more popular events have been sold out to people more organised than you. Running from May 17-25, it's a week of enjoyment and discovery of our favourite golden drink and we aren't going to let it pass by without a few ales passing through our lips. Here's our guide to the best of Good Beer Week. Add beer to your cocktail A good friend of mine once ordered me a beer cocktail that featured, amongst other things, the tangy taste of tabasco and Maggi beef noodle seasoning. Things have never been the same since. That's why I recommend — if you're willing to go down the road of the beer cocktail — being inaugurated by the experts. Join the guys at 1806 for a Beer Cocktail Degustation and for $50 you'll get a three-course medley of food bites, beer cocktails and a bit of insight into how they're put together. Don't want to go the whole hog? Try one out at Lily Blacks, who will be serving special beery cocktails throughout the week of the festival — just let them know what you like and hopefully Maggi doesn't make an appearance. Beer Cocktail Degustation, various dates during the week, 7.30pm, $50, 1806, 169 Exhibition Street, Melbourne, goodbeerweek.com.au Head to your local As well as a load of special events, Good Beer Week also infiltrates into a large list of pubs and bars — your local is probably one of them. The Grace Darling's Tap Takeover will see the local boutique brews on tap matched with food and live music in the band room. Beers and a band make so much sense, this night out is just a little more curated. As well as this, Little Creatures will be turning their Fitzroy dining hall into a leafy hops farm and a tonne of other venues such as Cookie, The Tramway Hotel, The Local Taphouse and Two Row are holding weeklong specials and stocking boutique brews. The Terminus Hotel in Fitzroy North is the official GBW Hub, and will host pop up events and be open late every night. Tap Takeover, week long, 12pm-late, $10, The Grace Darling Hotel, 114 Smith Street, Collingwood, goodbeerweek.com.au Taste all the beer Whether you know your beer like a boss or just know that you like drinking beer (no sweat), a beer tasting is a good way to develop your taste for the stuff and work out what you like. Plus, you get to drink, like, four beers minimum. Take the chance to head into The Kelvin Club (a members only bar) for an evening to taste a selection of boutique beers with matched canapes, play billiards and maybe even get your hair cut (there's an in-house barber). The Penny Black in Brunswick is also offering a three sample tasting paddle and a 10" pizza for $10 all week. Behind Closed Doors, Friday 23 May at 6pm, $25, The Kelvin Club, 14-30 Melbourne Place, Melbourne, goodbeerweek.com.au Learn something Make up for all those brain cells you're losing by learning something at Good Beer Week, too. And by something, I mean how to make beer yourself so you don't even have to leave the house to buy it. The Preston Shire Hall are holding a free workshop, teaching beer enthusiasts how to brew beer in a bag. A bag! This might not exactly set you up to start your own microbrewery, but if you can make beer in a bag, you're basically self sufficient. Brew in a Bag Workshop, Saturday 17 May at 12pm, free but bookings essential, Preston Shire Hall, 286 Gower Street, Preston, goodbeerweek.com.au Party with booze, tunes and burgers After you've done the civilised stuff (learning, listening, sipping politely out of shot glasses), it's time to get a bit loose. Micro brewery Doss Blockos are celebrating their Pale Lager being on tap for the very first time at Trunk and are throwing a party: taste test their brew in 1 litre take-home bottles, devour Trunk's wagyu burger and enjoy the beer garden's live street artists and DJ's. The following week, Howler are hosting a night of Kooinda craft beer and music, with sets from Total Giovanni, Banoffee, Martin King, Speed Painters, Two Bright Lakes and Andras Fox. Big Trunk, Sunday 18 May at 2pm, $33, Trunk, 275 Exhibition Street, Melbourne, goodbeerweek.com.au Howler & Kooinda Brewery Presents, Sunday 25 May at 7pm, $20, Howler, 7-11 Dawson Street, Brunswick, goodbeerweek.com.au Image credits: Jess Shaver and Moving Pixels
It's that time of year when sweet tooths unite to pay homage to the holiest of treats. Yep, National Doughnut Day is upon us and one northside food precinct is celebrating the occasion with one heck of a giveaway. On Friday, June 3, Preston Market's famed Hot Jam Donut Van will be handing out free doughnuts to the masses — over 800 free doughnuts, to be exact. The signature sweet treats will be up for grabs from 8am until they've all been snapped up. And what a great accompaniment to your weekly grocery shop, right? If you miss out on a freebie, it's not all bad news. You'll still be able to enjoy a doughnut-filled day, with those hot, jammy, cinnamon-dusted balls available to buy by the half-dozen for an easy $6.50.
Many of us default to basic or monochromatic homewares when it comes to everyday use items, but having statement pieces that stand out with colour and form are brilliant for entertaining or simply to have on display in your home as functional works of art. The FAZEEK team champions this through their range of vibrant glassware, cutlery, tablecloths and ceramics. And all of these will be up for grabs at rare bargain prices when the brand holds its annual warehouse sale. The exclusive sale will be running for one weekend only from Friday, March 22–Sunday, March 24. Make your way over to FAZEEK's Northcote warehouse to snap up some of its vibrant wave coupes, vases, platters, linens and more with discounts of up to 70%. This sale is not online so if you want to seize the unique opportunity to inject some of these vibrant designs into your home, you'll need to visit the warehouse in person.
Whether you're into the whole loved-up Valentine's Day stuff or not, chocolate is always a good idea. And a creamy chocolate gelato cake that pays homage to a classic Italian dessert? Well, that's even better. So, Piccolina Gelateria is sure to win hearts with its latest limited-edition creation: a giant frozen 'baci'. The Bacio di Piccolina is a nod to the original Baci, featuring a ball of lush handmade hazelnut and chocolate gelato crowned with hazelnut praline and toasted hazelnuts. The whole thing has a base of rich chocolate fudge and comes covered completely in smooth dark chocolate. And the silver foil wrapping even hides a cute love note, in case you're gifting the dessert to a (sweet-toothed) someone special. Or, for a little self-love infusion while you're scoffing the V-Day present you bought yourself, of course. Clocking in at $20 each, the Bacio di Piccolina's designed to serve two — though we're sure that's just a rough guideline. The Bacio di Piccolina is available at to order online and at Piccolina's Collingwood, Hawthorn and St Kilda stores until sold out.
Shelly is a normal girl. Normal enough, that is, until she finds herself starting to become more and more fish-like every day. Staying true to her piscine transformation, she takes refuge in the sea, alone. But the sea is no place for a human girl — even a scaly, gilled amphibian-type one who's taken a liking to blowing bubbles. The Sound of Waves is a fictionalised account of performer Jodie Harris' true story of losing her hearing and getting a cochlear implant. Written bespoke for her to perform solo by Gareth Ellis, the production is a whimsical, affirming tale six years in the making. Harris, a deaf actor, admits she was worried about performing it. But the oh-so-precious, encouraging words of the Weedy Seahorse — one of her multitudinous characters in the play — got her through that: "I can do this, and that — check it out! I can do this."
It's the kind of coastal getaway everyone dreams of: ocean views as far as the eye can see, decadent suites climbing 48 storeys into the sky, and five on-site restaurants manned by world-class chefs. Throw in an Asian street-style food market, a rooftop open-air cinema, more than a couple of bars and even karaoke, and it's shaping up to become Australia's new must-visit place to stay. Meet the Gold Coast's next drawcard, and Australia's first six-star beachfront hotel. The as-yet-unnamed site is slated to join the Queensland tourist spot's abundance of accommodation options, with Aquis Australia lodging a development application with the local council for the $440 million project. If approved, construction is slated to start in 2018. Taking over the space at 3464 to 3466 Main Beach Parade, Surfers Paradise, and designed by architects Woods Bagot, the new hotel will also include 580 rooms, an atrium lobby spread over three levels, and a $2.5 million custom art installation. And, if swimming somewhere other than the adjacent seaside takes your fancy, it'll boast a glass bottom pool that can be viewed from within the hotel. Plus, it's the only new, large-scale south-east Queensland hotel that isn't linked to an integrated resort or casino. And yes, we know what you're wondering — just what makes a six-star hotel so special? It's a fair question, particularly given that anything above five isn't officially recognised; however the key is the level of indulgence on offer. "Our goal was to create a hotel that would become a destination in itself, something that is instantly recognisable and synonymous with luxury," says Aquis Australia chairman Tony Fung. "We will be targeting travellers that want to experience the best restaurants, the best beaches, the best accommodation away from the hustle and bustle".
Melburnians are pretty darn adventurous when it comes to food. They'll eat crickets on a salad, try salt-flavoured soft serve and even broccoli lattes. But, the city's new dumpling house takes things a few steps further. Setting up shop on Bourke Street, the neon-drenched Drumplings is the brainchild of Deon St. Mor, the mind behind beauty brand MOR Cosmetics and the now-closed rooftop glamping hotel St Jerome's. And it has more than a few surprises in store for local dumpling lovers, with a menu filled with some pretty wild, globally-inspired inventions. Here, classic Chinese creations like prawn and chive har gow, and soup-filled xiao long bao, sit alongside dumplings stuffed with fillings riffing on chilli con carne, cheeseburger, truffle mushroom and beef rendang. A chicken laksa version features braised meat, lemongrass, tamarind and coconut; while the 'fish n chips' number lists hoki, roasted chips, beer batter and vinegar salt among its ingredients. Team yours with a craft beer or alcoholic icypole, as you soak up the vibe of the equally bold space — think, palm fronds, hot pink floors and loads of high-energy prints. Drumplings is open at 227-229 Bourke St, Melbourne from 11am–8pm Monday–Wednesday, 11am–10pm Thursday–Saturday and 11am–6pm on Sunday.
Richmond's The National Hotel is giving you an excuse to change up your average Thursday night drinks with mates. The longstanding pub has once again invited The Plant Whisperer to host a tipsy terrarium workshop. Throughout the 1.5-hour class, the host will walk you through the creation of a mini plant world, providing tips on plant selection and design, as well as soil composition and layering techniques. All terrarium materials are included in the ticket price — expect an array of tropical plants to choose from, plus a glass bowl, stones, soil, moss and figurines. And all experience levels are welcome, whether you entered the class a pro or are a repeat offender black thumb. The bar will also be slinging all its usual bevvies throughout the workshop (to help provide some liquid creativity) — along with its Thursday night $6 Cass and Korean fried chicken special ($15 for half a chook plus pickles and bao). Plenty of other bar chow is up for grabs, too, including steamed prawn dumplings, pork belly bao and five spice soft shell crab sliders. The 1.5 hour class will cost $80, with drinks and food at the bar purchased separately. Bookings are a must. UPDATE: OCTOBER 4, 2019 — With the first two workshops selling out promptly, a third one has been added on Wednesday, October 23. If you want to go, get tickets pronto.
Joey Scandizzo Salon has long been an iconic feature of Toorak Road, its gorgeous black facade inviting every passerby to peek through the windows and see what magic is happening beyond. Inside, you will find it is equally luxurious and beautiful — both in its innovative design and its consistently gorgeous hair results. The Joey Scandizzo team all strives to work with highly individualised care, not following the latest trends, but instead working with clients to find something that works for their personal needs. Personal consultations are part of the experience with every client, ensuring everyone leaves the salon feeling like the best version of themselves. Blow-dries start at $80, while up-dos start from $150 depending on the style and stylist. The best part? First-time visitors get $25 off the service of their choosing — just head to the website to redeem the offer.
Under the most recent changes to the coronavirus roadmap for Victoria, you're allowed to have up to 15 visitors in your home per day, which is very welcome news as we move into the season of festive catch-ups, backyard barbecues, pool hangs and picnics. We're sure seeing your family and friends in the flesh for potentially the first time in months is exciting enough. But if you want to put a worthy spin on your next catch-up, you can also use it to raise money for Movember. While the charity is best known for encouraging blokes to grow silly mos throughout the month of November to raise money for men's health, it also has an option to host an in-person or virtual event. And this weekend will be the perfect opportunity to get involved with its Shit Shirt Saturday party. This Saturday, November 28, Movember is encouraging you to invite your mates around to your place (or to your local park). Everyone will need to pay $20 entry (for charity, obvs) and wear the best worst shirt for a bit of fun. Movember is providing the entertainment with a lineup of 45-minute DJ sets to stream throughout the afternoon and evening. The tunes will kick off at 3pm with Eric Sidey, followed by Matt Jones, Nick Kennedy and Spacey Space. At 6pm, Airwolf will perform and Torren Foot will wrap things up at 6.45pm. To get involved, sign up to be a host at Movember's website and then, on the day, head here for the live-stream. Just remember to keep your shit shirt socially distanced from others.
It's been a long time since anyone last enjoyed a session in City Wine Shop's buzzy streetside dining space, quaffing wine by the glass and nibbling on Euro-style snacks. And while we don't know exactly when you'll be able to do so next, the Spring Street venue is serving up a consolation prize to see you through the interim. Say g'day to the City Wine Shop's new takeaway schnitzel window. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the pop-up is slinging a picnic-friendly menu of loaded pork neck and chicken schnitzel rolls. Both options come paired with Italian-style slaw and mustard in a crunchy baguette, sided with crisps for an easy $16. They'll be available from 11am daily, until sold out. To match, you'll find a range of takeaway cocktails, from a classic margarita and negroni, to the caffeine-charged Dionysus' Cup — a blend of coffee, ouzo, Averna and orange. And if vino's your preferred picnic accompaniment, there's the venue's famed wall of wine, filled with even more boozy takeaway offerings. A friendly reminder that metro Melburnians can only travel within five kilometres of their home at the moment. You can check if City Wine Shop is in your bubble over here. https://www.instagram.com/p/CGGcPKujgGa/ Image: Tess Kelly
Technology is now a player in how we carry out one of the bare necessities of life: eating and drinking. We've lately been enraptured by the thought of being able to 3D print our food (the 3D chocolate printer is already among us, while the 3D pizza printer is just around the corner). And the excitement isn't just based on our own appetite for novelty foodstuffs; these are technologies with the capacity to help us through the global food shortage. Yet the internet and mobile technology that's ubiquitous right now has already changed the way we eat — in some very positive ways. We take a closer look at the apps and websites that are helping people reduce waste, save time and be better informed. We Can Make Less Waste According to the 2009 study, What a Waste! from the Australia Institute, Australians throw out 4.45 million tonnes of food every year, or in dollar terms, $5 billion. If this makes you wince a little, but not enough to start composting or dumpster diving, the internet may be your saving grace. Websites such as Germany's Foodsharing.de are harnessing the web to connect individuals who would prefer to share their excess food than turf it. Their only rule is that you offer food you would eat yourself. Here in Australia similar sites like Fare Share and Second Bite, aimed at collecting food from supermarkets and farmers to be redistributed to those in need, are reducing this inefficiency. Taking a different tack, Sydney's HelloFresh, a new online service, is making judicious grocery shopping easier. With new menus each week, they deliver only those ingredients required for a particular meal. As Tom Rutledge from HelloFresh put it to us, "By packing precise amounts of ingredients we supply only what is required for the recipes. Gone is the need to buy a big jar of capers when you only need a tablespoon. The customers save money and there are no nasty surprises lurking at the back of the pantry when it comes time for a spring clean." Aussie Farmers Direct makes a good case for the internet's role in reducing waste, as their buying is done after customers' orders are placed online. Internet grocery shopping in general wins over bricks and mortar outlets, because perishable products are not simply displayed on the off chance that a shopper is making leak soup this week. We Pay with No Money Apps such as Beat the Q allow queue-averse customers to pre-pay for their coffee en route. They simply pick it up and go. CLIPP app allows barflies to run a tab from their phone without ever flashing cash or card. While this may be extremely convenient, it will also encourage higher spending — a phenomenon called hyperbolic discounting means people are likely to buy more if they don't have to pay until the end of the night. Apps such as these, along with Paypal's payment processor and Square.com are making a cashless future not only possible but, according to Adam Theobald of Beat the Q, inevitable. "In coming months, consumers will be presented with a large number of e-wallet alternatives," he told us. "Imagine your bank, telco, ISP, Google, Apple, Mastercard, Visa, Amex all offering you a great incentive to use their mobile wallet." Though the payment interaction is being reduced to the touch of a screen, Theobald doesn't think that technology is taking away from the human interaction. "I'm not sure about you, but I am much better to talk to if I haven't waited, and have a coffee in my hand!" he says. He figures the 10,000 customers registered with his app must feel the same way. We Know All the Things And then, of course, technology is giving customers better access to information. The internet is allowing smaller ventures to succeed by connecting with punters to let them know their changing hours and locations. Hungry Mondays is a collection of Sydney restaurants (started by El Capo) who slow cook meat on a Sunday and offer vacuum packed meals the following Monday for pickup from a range of changing venues (the Hollywood Hotel, the Lord Wolseley), which are spruiked on Facebook. The nomadic food trucks of Sydney rely on their online communities to advertise times and locations, as do pop-up venues. While bloggers and review sites such as Urbanspoon and Eatability may strike terror in the hearts of restaurateurs, they give a fuller picture of a venue for diners. As well as advice on where to eat, technology is helping customers with what to eat. The Traffic Light Food Tracker app, released by Cancer Council Victoria, allows consumers to scan the barcode of a product and immediately receive a red, orange or green light from the app according to the product's nutritional value. Prevailing ideas about the future of food culture tend to polarise into either a fast food dystopia of mindless Cheezel consumption or a slow food utopia in which we harvest quinoa each morning from our organic hobby farm in Tasmania. But there is a happier medium, where technology speeds up boring activities like shopping and paying and gives us more time to enjoy food. Top image by Binpress.
Hang out on Puffing Billy this winter and you'll be treated to something extra special — an immersive, illuminated light show spearheaded by the team that has led projections for White Night and VAMFF. Running from Friday, June 24 to Sunday, July 10, the historic steam train will be transformed with a first-of-its-kind light show, projected directly onto the Wright Forest. Dubbed Train of Lights, passengers will be immersed in colours, patterns and native wild animal projections that spectacularly leap from Puffing Billy onto timber trestle bridges, into trees and onto the distant open countryside. The Puffing Billy team has partnered with Resolution X to deliver the unique light projections. The acclaimed lighting company's little black book of clients includes White Night, Vivid events and Melbourne Fashion week runways. One of the best-preserved steam railway lines in the world, Puffing Billy departs Emerald Lake Park on a 24-kilometre journey through the Dandenong Ranges to Gembrook, before returning to Lakeside. A photographic art exhibition, visitor's centre and Railway Cafe are all available from the departure point if you want to extend your trip. 'Train of Lights' will run from Friday, June 24–Sunday, July 10. There are a limited number of tickets available, with many dates already sold out. Head to the Puffing Billy website to book a spot.
At the beginning of 2012, when the world discovered that Channing Tatum was starring in a movie about male strippers — and that it was based on his own experiences working in the field — everyone was a little sceptical. Which was understandable. Magic Mike boasts a great director in Steven Soderbergh, and a cast that also includes Matthew Bomer, Joe Manganiello, Olivia Munn, Riley Keough and peak McConnaissance-era Matthew McConaughey, but, on paper, it was hardly a sure thing. Of course, once the film hit the screens, it was a hit. More than that — it was a smart and sensitive look at men chasing the American Dream by taking off their clothes. Sequel Magic Mike XXL, which released in 2015, not only repeated the feat but added more depth, and Tatum successfully turned what could've been a forgettable chapter of his pre-fame life into a successful big-screen franchise. Actually, he's turned it into a stage and screen franchise. Yes, Magic Mike was always going to go back to where it all began. In Las Vegas, London and Berlin, Magic Mike Live has been letting real-life male dancers strip up a storm for eager audiences. Not to be confused with Magic Mike the Musical — because that's something that's also happening — the "immersive" dance show is coming to Australia in 2020. When its Aussie leg was first announced last year, the show was set to debut in Melbourne in May 2020; however, then the pandemic hit. After delaying those dates, Magic Mike Live will now unleash its stuff in Sydney from Thursday, December 17. It'll then head to Melbourne from Tuesday, June 8, 2021, with Brisbane and Perth seasons set to follow at yet-to-be-revealed dates. In each city, Magic Mike Live will steam up a 600-seat spiegeltent called The Arcadia. It's the world's largest spiegeltent, because clearly this kind of show has plenty of fans. This is the first time that the performance will be held in the pop-up two-storey spot, which comes with 360-degree views of the stage, a glass lobby, custom bars, a mini food hall, and a lounge area both inside and out. And while it's blazing a trail venue-wise, on the stage, the Aussie show will combine elements of the Magic Mike Live's three other international productions. While Tatum came up with the idea for Magic Mike Live and co-directs the show, the Step Up, 21 Jump Street, Logan Lucky and Kingsman: The Golden Circle star isn't actually one of the performers. Instead, a cast of 20 — including 15 male dancers — will showcase a combination of, dance, comedy and acrobatics. Continuing her role from the films, stage show co-director and choreographer Alison Faulk is behind the sultry moves, drawing upon a career spent working with Janet Jackson, Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, Missy Elliott, P!NK, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez and Ricky Martin. It probably goes without saying, but if you're already thinking about buying Magic Mike Live tickets, expect to have plenty of hens parties for company. MAGIC MIKE LIVE AUSTRALIAN TOUR Sydney — Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park, from Thursday, December 17, 2020 Melbourne — Birrarung Mar, from Tuesday, June 8, 2021 Brisbane — TBC Perth — TBC Magic Mike Live tours Australia from Thursday, December 17, 2020, when it kicks off its shows in Sydney. It'll then hit Melbourne from Tuesday, June 8, 2021, with Brisbane and Perth seasons set to follow at yet-to-be-revealed dates. For more information, or to buy tickets for the Sydney leg, the website. Top image: Jerry Metellus.
Two years ago The Saint Hotel was a regular haunt for young club kids, now it's all grown up. After extensive renovations and a huge shift in focus, the newly branded St Hotel is set to launch within the month. With a new devotion to Thai cuisine and quality service, this enormous site is set to be the next Chin Chin — a place where people get suitably rowdy over a coconut curry and a cocktail rather than a few vodka raspberries. Headed up by Paul Nguyen and Simon Blacher, the owners of Saigon Sally and Hanoi Hannah, St Hotel looks set to expand upon Melbourne's enduring love of Asian cuisine. Distancing themselves from their signature Vietnamese style, the owners have turned to a Thai master to take charge. Their new head chef, Sean Judd, has comes straight from the kitchens of Longrain and Chin Chin; he's even worked under David Thompson of award-winning Thai favourite Nahm. Just like at Chin Chin, most dishes will be made to be shared, but we won't judge you if it's so good you eat the whole thing. So far we know the menu will include a crispy caramel pork hock, coconut braised lamb shoulder, Chian Mai hotdog, and stir-fried mud crab. Judd says the menu will be "a mixture of traditional Thai dishes ... and contemporary dishes with authentic Thai flavours and ingredients." And better yet, nothing will be over $25. But it's not just the kitchen that will delight. This huge double-storey venue is being transformed into a huge multi-purpose space. The dining room, sunken dining space and supper club will seat a combined total of 200 people, but there will also be a public bar, private event space and nightclub that fits a further 200. Time to ditch the scungy clubs and late-night kebab stops, St Kilda is growing up in style. Though there's no launch date set in stone, you can expect St Hotel to be open by the end of October. Keep your eyes glued to their Facebook. Fitzroy Street is about to get a new favourite.
FBi Radio's boots are getting bigger, better and shinier by the day — for the first time ever, Sydney's independent radio legends launched an Australia-wide competition. Extending their Northern Lights competition nationwide (in which FBi flies two above-and-beyond newbies to Iceland Airwaves Festival in Reykjavik), the team looked for talent across the country this time. After trawling through this year's entries, FBi have announced their ten finalists. The 2014 Northern Lights competition finalists are: Shunya (VIC) Jasia (NSW) Hubert Clarke Jr (NSW) LUCIANBLOMKAMP (VIC) Kucka (WA) GL (VIC) Airling (QLD) WZRDKID (VIC) The Walking Who (NSW) White Hex (VIC) A hotly-anticipated date on the music festival calendar, Iceland Airwaves has seen everyone from Bjork to Omar Souleyman, Savages to Harpa Silfurberg playing to packed halls of Icelandic and international fans. FBi competition's now in its third year, offer two winning spots to join the Airwaves lineup — one solo producer/artist, one band. With the help of philanthropist Mitchel Martin-Weber and the federal government, this marks one of FBi's biggest-scale competitions to date, kicking another goal after the recent FBi Click launch. Winners of the first Northern Lights, Oliver Tank and Rainbow Chan, have seen super success following their Icelandic escapade (with Tank supporting Lorde on her recent national tour and Chan joining the lineup for Vivid LIVE's recent Avalanches tribute Since I Left You, no biggie). "It really changed my life that whole trip. It was so incredible," says Tank. "I got to play music overseas before I’d even done that many gigs in Australia. And there were people over there that were interested in my music and that just blew my mind. It was like a dream come true. It was such an experience." As always, the finalists feature on a special edition compilation put together by FBi Radio, yours to download free here. Northern Lights winners will be announced at the end of August, and will head over to perform at Iceland Airwaves in early November.
The glowing Apple emblem on the cover of your Macbook has far surpassed 'icon' status. But in a sea of identical Apple laptops, how will yours stand out? With our list of 10 quirky Macbook decals, we can guarantee that your laptop will no longer remain anonymous in the coffee shop or library. 1. Banksy-esque An ode to the king of street art. 2. The Last Supper Perhaps a little irreverent, but hilarious nonetheless. 3. Moustache Parade Disguise your Apple logo in an array of dapper 'taches. 4. Typewriter Bring it back with a vintage-vibe typewriter. And then be thankful you can write that essay on your Mac. 5. Harry Potter 'Dark Mark' Join the dark side, Potterheads, with the Macbook mark of He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named. 6. Apple Bottom Apple Bottom jeans, boots with the fur. Everyone was looking at...your Macbook. 7. Marilyn Monroe Carry a little of Marilyn's effortless sex appeal in your briefcase. 8. The Giving Tree Recall the tear-jerking children's book with this too-cute-to-handle decal. 9. Bullet Simplistic, and a little cheeky, this decal will make everyone look twice. 10. Lego Man For all the little Lego men that your mum stepped on or vacuumed up.
Celebrating ten years since Danny Rogers and Jerome Borazio decided to fill a Melbourne alleyway with tunes in 2005, Laneway Festival returns with one of its biggest lineups yet. Kicking off in Singapore on Saturday, January 24 in The Meadow, Gardens by the Bay, Laneway will run through seven dates (including Sydney's Sydney College of the Arts on February 1 and Melbourne's Footscray Community Arts Centre and River's Edge on February 7) finishing up at its new home in Fremantle's Esplanade Reserve and West End on Sunday, February 8. But if you can't make it to the whole festival, sideshows are your go-to. On sale from Wednesday 5 November, sideshows for Banks's Heavenly Sounds show, Benjamin Booker, Highasakite, Lykke Li, Mac DeMarco, Raury and Sohn are now in pre-sale phase. Here's all the details for your 2014 Laneway sideshow ticket sales: BANKS — HEAVENLY SOUNDS Start: Wednesday 5th November (12PM AEDT) End: Thursday 6th November (12PM AEDT) SYDNEY PRE-SALE GENERAL PUBLIC TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY 7TH NOVEMBER (9AM AEDT) Tuesday 3rd February St. Stephen’s Uniting Church, Sydney BENJAMIN BOOKER Start: Wednesday 5th November (12PM, local time) End: Thursday 6th November (12PM, local time, or until pre-sale allocation is exhausted) SYDNEY PRE-SALE | MELBOURNE PRE-SALE GENERAL PUBLIC TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY 7TH NOVEMBER (9AM LOCAL TIME) Monday 2nd February Newtown Social Club, Sydney Thursday 5th February Northcote Social Club, Melbourne HIGHASAKITE Start: Wednesday 5th November (12PM, local time) End: Thursday 6th November (12PM, local time, or until pre-sale allocation is exhausted) Password: TREATMENT SYDNEY PRE-SALE | MELBOURNE PRE-SALE GENERAL PUBLIC TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY 7TH NOVEMBER (9AM LOCAL TIME) Tuesday 27th January Metro Theatre, Sydney Wednesday 4th February Corner Hotel, Melbourne JUNGLE Starts: Wednesday 5th November (9AM AEDT) Ends: Thursday 6th November (8AM AEDT) SYDNEY PRE-SALE | MELBOURNE PRE-SALE GENERAL PUBLIC TICKETS ON SALE THURSDAY 6TH NOVEMBER (9AM AEDT) Thursday 29th January Metro Theatre, Sydney Wednesday 4th February 170 Russell St, Melbourne LYKKE LI LANEWAY FESTIVAL PRE-SALE DETAILS Start: Wednesday 5th November (12PM, local time) End: Thursday 6th November (12PM, local time, or until pre-sale allocation is exhausted) Password: GUNSHOT MELBOURNE PRE-SALE GENERAL PUBLIC TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY 7TH NOVEMBER (9AM LOCAL TIME) Thursday 29 January Forum Theatre, Melbourne MAC DEMARCO Start: Wednesday 5th November (12PM, local time) End: Thursday 6th November (12PM, local time, or until pre-sale allocation is exhausted) Password: SALAD SYDNEY PRE-SALE | MELBOURNE PRE-SALE GENERAL PUBLIC TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY 7TH NOVEMBER (9AM LOCAL TIME) Friday 30th January Metro Theatre, Sydney Wednesday 4th February The Hi Fi, Melbourne RAURY Start: Wednesday 5th November (12PM, local time) End: Thursday 6th November (12PM, local time, or until pre-sale allocation is exhausted) Password: INDIGO SYDNEY PRE-SALE | MELBOURNE PRE-SALE GENERAL PUBLIC TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY 7TH NOVEMBER (9AM LOCAL TIME) Monday 2nd February Oxford Art Factory, Sydney Tuesday 3rd February Howler, Melbourne SOHN FRONTIER PRE-SALE DETAILS Starts: Wednesday 5th November (12PM AEDT) Ends: Thursday 6th November (12PM AEDT) For exclusive Frontier pre-sale info visit frontiertouring.com GENERAL PUBLIC TICKETS ON SALE MONDAY 10TH NOVEMBER (10AM LOCAL TIME) Thursday 29th January Oxford Art Factory, Sydney Friday 30th January The Corner Hotel, Melbourne Find the whole lineup and more info over here.
Unroll your posters, dust-off that secret diary and get ready to rock your body right: the Backstreet Boys are bringing their latest world tour Down Under. Get ready for another hefty dose of 90s nostalgia, too, given that you can now see the huge boy band at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne on Tuesday, February 28–Wednesday, March 1. Backstreet's back — alright. Get ready to belt out the lyrics to 'Everybody (Backstreet's Back)', 'As Long As You Love Me', 'I Want It That Way', 'Larger Than Life' and 'Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely' when the famous five — aka AJ McLean, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter, Howie Dorough and Kevin Richardson — head our way for a very nostalgic arena tour. The Backstreet Boys will also be performing songs off their 2019 album DNA, which debuted at number one on the charts when it was released and features Grammy-nominated single 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart'. Fingers crossed that they also break out tracks from their new festive record A Very Backstreet Christmas, even though it won't quite be the season. Either way, we know you'll most likely be there for the 90s and early 00s goodness — and to break out your 'Everybody' moves.
Moon Dog's sprawling Preston brewery and bar has fast become a go-to for boozy catch-ups, celebrations and beer sipping sessions. But now, it also has your morning feed sorted, too. The 700-capacity Moon Dog World is firing up the kitchen early, offering a dedicated breakfast menu from 8–11am every Saturday and Sunday. It's a family-friendly affair, with a diverse spread of options you wouldn't normally expect from your local brewpub. Punters might be tempted by some smashed avo toast ($20), caramelised banana waffles ($18), or a smoked salmon poke bowl ($17). A Breakfast in Bread roll comes stuffed with scrambled eggs, bacon, cheese, onion jam and hickory smoked barbecue sauce, teamed with crunchy potato gems ($22). And you'll even spy a loaded brewer's breakfast, starring house-made beans, lamb merguez, potato gems, mushrooms, fried eggs and sourdough ($24) or a vegan version for $22. Unfortunately, you won't be able to match your feed with a brekkie brew, as Moon Dog World's weekend booze service doesn't kick off until 11am. Though you will find a lineup of Coffee Supreme espresso, teas and fresh juices on offer instead. Or, for a dose of nostalgia, try the flavoured 'cereal milk', in either Rice Bubbles or Cornflakes. [caption id="attachment_744586" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Moon Dog World by Kate Shanasy[/caption] Images: Samantha Schultz
Knowing how to advance your career isn't always easy. If you're in the early-to-mid career stage and are looking to further your success, you may not even know where to begin. Feeling a bit clueless? Us too. That's why we've teamed up with Open Universities Australia (OUA) and Sydney career expert and psychologist Suzie Plush, because there's no need to jump in headfirst without any help. Plush talked us through five simple steps you can take to help you excel at your job — whether it be seeking further education, figuring out your strengths or getting out of your comfort zone. Her advice will have you feeling more confident by the second, so here's what we found out. [caption id="attachment_732002" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Suzie Plush[/caption] CULTIVATE A GROWTH MINDSET The term 'growth mindset' is just a fancy way of saying "push yourself to learn more". Being a continuous learner is important in many aspects of life, and especially so when you're looking to advance your career. "Success or intelligence is not a fixed thing," says Plush. "Make sure you're not stagnant in your learning by being really proactive and continuing to develop yourself." One way to do just that is to sign up for further education, whether it be an undergraduate or postgraduate degree. Through OUA, there is also the option of enrolling single subjects from leading Australian universities, if you haven't already got a degree under your belt or just want to dip your toe in before committing to a full degree. There are heaps available via online study — spanning skills such as leadership, digital media, communication, management, finance and marketing. If you continue to cultivate new skills and put your hand up for further learning within your company and outside of it, you're more likely to have an edge and take your career to the next level. GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE It is easy to become complacent once you know a role well, but it's always worth leaving room for feeling some discomfort in your career. "As the saying goes, 'it's insanity to do the same thing and expect a different result'," says Plush. "It's so important to do things differently to what you've done before — to continue to innovate, change things up and stretch yourself for greater opportunities." This means you shouldn't be waiting around for the next job, opportunity or project to land on your lap. You'll never feel 100 percent ready, but getting out of your comfort zone means taking those steps and leaping in even when you're a little bit scared. That might include developing a new skill set — just a few degrees to consider include a Master of Marketing Management with the University of Tasmania, the Graduate Certificate in Finance with Griffith University and a Bachelor of Arts (Internet Communications) with Curtin University. Plus, you can undertake any of these degrees online through OUA so you can make study fit around your current lifestyle — and not the other way around. Remember that a little bit of anxiety and adrenaline can be a good thing. To help stop that anxiety from escalating, you can also check out these tips for taking on part-time study. INVEST IN RELATIONSHIPS In an age where everything is digital and online, face-to-face networking is more important than ever — but is all too often neglected. "It's crucial, now more than ever, to have authentic connections with people," says Plush. "It will make a big difference and really give you that competitive edge. We often feel we are too busy to build relationships, but even little moments like grabbing a coffee are so powerful." So, the next time your co-worker invites you out for lunch or a hot cuppa, take them up on it instead of always leaving it off to next week. Those little interactions can be game-changing for your career. It is important to continuously keep up your network throughout your career, too — not just when you're looking for a new job. People often underestimate the power of those relationships, though. Many opportunities will come through your network. PLAY TO YOUR STRENGTHS This concept may be the simplest of all, but it too gets overlooked. You just need to build a better awareness of yourself. "Understanding what you're naturally gifted at, and how you can leverage those gifts for greater success, is key," says Plush. "Make sure you are spending more time cultivating your strengths, rather than working on your weaknesses." No matter what field you work in, there are plenty of courses to help further develop your strengths, including the Graduate Diploma in Project Management with the University of South Australia and a subject in Design Thinking for Business with RMIT University. There are also these Graduate Certificates in Clinical Leadership with Griffith University and Investment Analytics with Curtin University. Griffith University also offers a number of worthwhile single undergraduate subjects including Organisational Communication and Management Strategy and Decision Making. These degrees and subjects, along with many more, are all available to study online through OUA. Going forward, choose positions and projects that leverage your strengths while taking reference courses that keep building on these. If you want to stand out in your industry, you have to harness it. [caption id="attachment_732003" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Suzie Plush[/caption] EMBRACE THE CONCEPT OF GRIT Finally, we chatted with Plush about the budding concept of 'grit', which is described as perseverance and passion for your longterm goals. "Out of all the research, 'grit' is the strongest predictor of success," says Plush. "It's actually not the smartest or most popular or most affluent person who gets ahead; instead, it's the person with the most grit, who has the ability to keep going despite challenges, that most often sees career success." Grit is all about playing a long game and chipping away at your goals like its a marathon, not a sprint. If you consistently work at your career and don't give in to difficulty or adversity, you're much more likely to achieve a significant level of success. This goes hand-in-hand with making sure you have a good balance in your life, and that you're looking after your mental health and stress levels, too. "In order to look after that long game view, you have to pace yourself, look after your health and know when to prioritise work — but also when to not get too caught up in it." Explore hundreds of degrees from leading universities, available online through Open Universities Australia. You'll be working your way up the career ladder before you know it.
Cult UK comedian Daniel Kitson knows how to tell a story. True to form, his latest show is less a stand-up act than it is a play, or rather an elaborate radio production. With somewhere in the realm of 20 different actors recorded in isolation and played back on tape, Polyphony promises to be Kitson’s magnum opus, described by the comic himself as “a real humdinger”. Notorious for avoiding the press, he's kept the plot of the show strictly under wraps, but early reactions from audiences in the UK have been unsurprisingly stellar.
"Your nose like a delicious slope of cream / And your ears like cream flaps / And your teeth like hard shiny pegs of cream." Dîner en Blanc — like Howard Moon's poem — will have you in all white. But sorry Booshers: the third edition of this annual Melbourne event is just for the sophisticated. Dîner en Blanc began in Paris back in 1988 thanks to François Pasquier and friends. This year, 2800 of Melbourne's most dedicated dinner party guests will once again dress in all white on Saturday, February 24 for the event, which will be held at a suitably stunning location. That detail remains secret until the very last moment, but over the last few years, the Docklands waterfront and riverside in front of the Convention and Exhibition Centre have proved welcoming venues. Guests have to bring their own wares though — it's BYO table, chairs, glassware, dinnerware and white tablecloth as well as picnic (although you can order a hamper for pick-up on arrival). After the evening of fine dining and live music, the foodies then pack up their crystal, dinnerware, tables and litter. Like ghosts (white 'n' all), they leave behind no sign of their rendezvous — but don't get any ideas, a white sheet thrown over your figure will not do for an outfit. Ticketing happens in three phases. If you've attended a previous Dîner en Blanc, you can go right ahead and purchase one, otherwise you must be invited by a member from the previous year. Total newbie? Get on the ol' waiting list. Image: Mark Peterson.
When you've won over one of television's most cynical characters with a serenade, what comes next? Taking the tunes on the road. During his time on beloved and hilarious Emmy-winning sitcom Schitt's Creek, Noah Reid did far more than sing Tina Turner's 'The Best' to Dan Levy's David Rose, of course. When he joined the show from season three onwards as Patrick Brewer, he helped bring balance to the Rose family's fish-out-of-water antics, and became one half of its big love story. But the series kept finding ways to get Reid singing, including having Patrick star in the comedy's version of Cabaret — and now he'll be taking to the microphone Down Under. Off-screen, Reid is indeed a musician, releasing his first album Songs From a Broken Chair back in 2016 before joining Schitt's Creek. Since then, he's dropped two follow-ups: 2020's Gemini and 2022's Adjustments. Next, he's bringing his live gigs to Australia for the first time ever. Yes, 'The Best' usually features on his setlists overseas. Beyond that, the Canadian actor and musician will be playing tracks from across all three of his records when he heads Down Under this spring. In Melbourne, Reid will play The Forum on Monday, October 2. Since Schitt's Creek, Reid has popped up on sci-fi western Outer Range — and also has past appearances on Degrassi: The Next Generation, Alphas and House of Lies on his pre-Schitt's Creek resume.
While seeing fruit mince pies in your local shopping centre in October feels downright disturbing, there's one Christmas treat that no one ever minds arriving early: Four Pillars annual Christmas Gin. The latest iteration of the Healesville distillery's seasonal sip is coming in strong, set to hit shelves on Saturday, November 2. It's the delicious result of a yearly tradition that sees a bunch of Christmas puddings handmade with distiller Cameron Mackenzie's mother's recipe — the 1968 Australian Women's Weekly recipe, in fact — distilled with various festive botanicals to create a sought-after tipple that pretty much screams December 25. The flavours of an Aussie Christmas are captured in notes of cinnamon, star anise, juniper, coriander and angelica. The Christmas gin is then blended with some earlier gin that's been carefully ageing in 80-year-old muscat barrels. It's all finished with a hit of Rutherglen muscat for a bit of added richness and complexity. Each year, a new unique label is chosen to wrap up this Christmas creation, setting out to evoke that same festive spirit. The 2019's bottle design is the work of artist Tim Summerton, who lives on a property in the Southern Highlands where he grows hundreds of Indigenous Australian plants. The bottle is decorated with one of them: vibrant red Illawarra flame trees. The distillers recommend you sip the limited-edition gin straight over ice, mix it with ginger ale or whip up a Christmassy martinez with gin, vermouth, Benedictine and Angostura bitters. Or you can just splash a bit of it on your own Christmas pudding. If you want to nab a bottle, have your fingers poised over the 'buy' button when they go on sale online on November 2. Alternatively, you can stop by the Four Pillars HQ in Healesville, Victoria. Bottles are $100 a pop and would make stellar Chrissy pressies, if you're already thinking about that. Four Pillars Christmas Gin is available from November 2, in selected retail stores and online. But you'd best be quick — there's only a limited amount of bottles.
For decades, Australians have been told that a hard-earned thirst needs a big, cold beer. In Iceland, a well-deserved soak also needs just that — and a whole tub full of brews. Helping keep the Scandinavian nation on the top of everyone's travel bucket list, it now boasts its first ever beer spa. Yes, that involves sitting in yeasty goodness while drinking it. Just opened in Árskógssandur in the country's north, Bjórböðin features nine tubs just waiting for beer lovers to take a dip in their favourite beverage. Seven two-person baths, made from Kambala wood, can be found inside, while two larger hot tubs capable of seating 8 to 10 people take the brew-soaking action outside. Each is filled with beer, water, hops and yeast, and don't worry — while you can knock back a few draughts while they're there, drinking the bathwater isn't on the agenda. Visitors steep themselves in the warm brew for 25 minutes at a time, then head for a 25-minute spell in a relaxation room. To get the most out of the soak (because bathing in beer is all about boosting your skin and hair, not just sitting in the tasty amber liquid), showering for a few hours isn't recommended. For those keen on making the trek, there's also a restaurant on site, helping everyone pair their drinking with a meal. And if you're eager to bathe in brews in more than one place, plan an Iceland-US round trip, with a beer hotel planned in Columbus, Ohio. Image: Bjórböðin.
It’s going to be a big year for exotic cuisine in Melbourne. We the people are a little tired of same-same Mexican food, don't really want to see another modern Vietnamese restaurant open, and, unfortunately, it's starting to feel like diner-style American fare has done its dash. Instead we're seeing an increase in Ethiopian, Eritrean and Moroccan restaurants serving their traditional dishes — and it’s an absolute delight because really, guys, there’s only so many times you can eat a cheeseburger without getting bored. Spencer Street’s newest establishment Pretty Mama is keeping the dream alive by bringing traditional Caribbean eats to the CBD. Officially called Pretty Mama Caribbean Grill Island Bar, the venue is set to open for business tomorrow, Tuesday, February 16. The restaurant-bar comes from an A+ team of Melbourne foodies, including Michael Cotter (of Gumbo Kitchen and Po' Boy Quarter), ex-Der Raum bartender Shae Silvestro and Warren Wu, who's worked at Rockpool and London's Pied a Terre. Chef Clinton Gresham (ex-Mamasita and Cobb Lane) has created a menu that captures the essence of Caribbean food and pays tribute to the influences from around the globe — think African, Spanish, French and English all rolled into one. Don’t expect a whole menu of various jerked meats; there’s a big influence on the grill and seafood, with complex and subtle flavour palates such as the wood-grilled lobster doused with champagne and saffron butter. But there's also jerk chicken. The drinks menu, as you may have guessed, is heavily influenced by rum. Caribbean rum (which is called rhum and distilled from sugar cane juice as opposed to molasses), French rum, Spanish rum — the whole gang's here. As well as your favourite rum-based cocktails, of course, like piña coladas and mai tais. If you're wondering how to get there — and how to get there quick — you'll have to trek down the Spencer Street end of the city, right across from Southern Cross Station. Pretty great, Pretty Mama. Pretty Mama opens Tuesday, February 16 at Watertank Way, 220 Spencer Street, Melbourne CBD. For more info visit prettymama.com.au.
Melbourne's landmark Greenline project is one step closer to reality, with a fresh suite of design ideas revealed for the game-changing riverside development. Helmed by the City of Melbourne, the revitalisation project was first announced back in mid-2021, with various plans unveiled throughout the two years since. While some elements of the development have already started to take shape, including the new-look Enterprize Park, these latest designs are now gearing up to be released for public feedback ahead of the draft Greenline Project Masterplan being finalised in the coming months. Greenline is set to rejuvenate the four-kilometre northern riverside stretch between Birrarung Marr and the Bolte Bridge, reimagining it as five new precincts. They'll feature a collection of promenades, parks, cultural activations and open space, with plans for environmental renewal projects to be incorporated and lots of native plants added, too. The overall development is also set to include significant elements recognising and celebrating the culture and heritage of the Wurundjeri People. The work of landscape architects TCL and Aspect Studios, the new design proposals include ideas for each of the five Greenline precincts, drawing inspiration from international projects including Brooklyn Bridge Park in New York and Paris' Park de Docks. So what's in the works, you ask? The Birrarung Marr Precinct would score a new and improved riverside promenade, with terraced steps for lounging by the water, and performance spaces that would host cultural events throughout the year. A wetland habitat, a new park and a collection of rooftop venues above the Banana Alley Vaults have been proposed for the Falls Precinct, while the River Park Precinct would include a new space for activities constructed beneath the Flinders Street viaduct. The Maritime Precinct looks set to feature new maritime-inspired artworks and improved boat access, and at the Saltwater Wharf Precinct, you can look forward to an expanded promenade and another brand-new park. "Our landscape architecture and design experts have crafted an incredible vision for what the Greenline Project could look like – with stunning boardwalks, event spaces, native vegetation and outdoor dining," explained Lord Mayor Sally Capp. The new plans are now up for endorsement by City of Melbourne Councillors, before they're opened up to community consultation. You can find more details on the Greenline Project over on the City of Melbourne website.
Size matters. So too, does timing. It's safe to say that in the wake of the sprawling Avengers: Infinity War, Ant-Man and The Wasp is precisely the kind of modest, self-contained movie the team at Marvel needed to make. Set shortly before The Avengers' dust-up with Thanos, the film acknowledges its place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe yet cleverly distances itself from intergalactic conflict by instead focusing on three very intimate human stories. The first concerns Scott Lang, aka Ant-Man, played again by the seemingly ageless Paul Rudd. Thanks to his exploits in Captain America: Civil War, he now finds himself subject to house arrest and attempts to while away his two-year sentence by both establishing a security consultancy company and creatively entertaining his young daughter. The second picks up with Lang's two (now former) partners: Hope van Dyne aka The Wasp (Evangeline Lily) and her father Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) as they attempt to rescue Hope's long-lost mother from the mind-boggling Quantum Realm. The third follows a pair of villains: superhuman Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) and black marketeer Sonny Burch (Walton Goggins), each of whom seeks to steal Pym's quantum tech for themselves. That's the sum of it. There are no aliens here, no space ships or wormholes. There aren't even many lives at stake. Instead, Ant-Man and The Wasp mostly concerns itself with the preservation and/or restoration of fading relationships. The small-scale (no pun intended) storytelling proves a welcome reprieve from the MCU's growing complexity, while the filmmakers also smartly retain the innovative action and laugh out loud comedy from their character's first big screen outing. The danger for this franchise was always going to be the Honey I Shrunk The Superhero dynamic getting old. Thankfully, the creative minds behind Ant-Man and The Wasp continue to deliver the unexpected in almost every major sequence, tinkering with the size of everything from cars to buildings to Pez dispensers. As Lang, Rudd very much holds court again, his disarming awkwardness acting as the perfect foil for the more stern performances of Lily and Douglas. Not every joke lands, and a few of the one-liners seem crowbarred in, but the tone remains impressively consistent throughout, almost to the point of feeling like a straight-up comedy (thanks in no small way to another scene-stealing turn from Michael Pena). Goggins, too, is as reliable as ever as the Southern Gentleman rogue, while John-Kamen's Ghost offers the film its necessary dramatic streak without ever descending into two-dimensional villainy. Later appearances by some other big names (whose identity we'll preserve for the sake of surprise) lend additional gravitas to an already impressive cast, and even Stan Lee's inevitable cameo brings a laugh instead of the usual eye roll. Unsurprisingly, Ant-Man and The Wasp also addresses the shocking finale to Infinity War, although it does so in a neatly inconclusive way, allowing for much speculation and very little certainty. In all, it's a well calculated step by Marvel and a timely reminder that superhero movies can tell compelling human stories without resorting to world-ending CGI chaos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_rTIAOohas
If you're kicking yourself for missing this year's Big Fashion Sale, which took over Five Easey Upstairs back in March, you're about to get a second chance to amp up your wardrobe on the cheap. The always-popular designer sale will again return to Melbourne — but this time it will operate as a pop-up store, setting up shop on Flinders Street for four days. The shop will house over 1000 items, including past collections, samples and one-offs from 50 highly sought after Australian and International designer brands. As with the March sale, you can expect big names like Kenzo, Marni, Phillip Lim and The Row to be joined by brand new sale additions including Opening Ceremony, Sol Sana shoes, White Story and Shona Joy. Again, discounts will be up to 80 percent off, so you can nab some well-made (and otherwise rather expensive) threads without emptying out your bank account. The pop-up will be open on Thursday from 8am–6pm, Friday from 8am–8pm, Saturday from 10am–6pm and Sunday from 10am–5pm.
For a glorious month this winter, the Matildas were everywhere. When the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup took place Down Under in July and August, Australia's national women's soccer team made history on the pitch and on TV screens, and the country revelled in every moment. Been missing that time, living and breathing all things Sam Kerr and Mackenzie Arnold, being on calf watch, and donning green and gold? For the next week, the squad is back on home turf to play three matches. The Tillies' players have been busy since August, of course, thanks to their regular club seasons around the world. Some of the Matildas ply their trade year-round in England, in the Women's Super League; some hit the turf on home soil; and others are in teams everywhere from France and Spain to Sweden and Mexico. But, kicking off on Thursday, October 26 — and then also taking to the field on Sunday, October 29 and Wednesday, November 1 — this is the first time that the squad is back together since their Women's World Cup campaign. [caption id="attachment_912896" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Disney+[/caption] The reason? Qualifying matches for the 2024 Paris Olympics, with the Tillies playing all three games in Kerr's hometown of Perth. First up at 10pm AEDT / 9pm AEST / 7pm AWST on Thursday is Iran, followed by The Philippines at 6pm AEDT / 5pm AEST / 3pm AWST on Sunday and then Chinese Taipei at 10pm AEDT / 9pm AEST / 7pm AWST on Wednesday. If you're in the Western Australian capital and want to go along, or you're keen to head over, you'd best already have tickets as all three games are sold out. The match against The Philippines had already been moved to the 60,000-seat Optus Stadium to fit more fans in. The other two games are being played at the 20,000-capacity HBF Park — so that's 100,000 seats sold, a feat that's given the Matildas 11 soldout games in a row. [caption id="attachment_913693" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rovena Rosa/Agência Brasil[/caption] To watch along from home, 10Play, 10Bold and Paramount+ are your destinations — plus Network 10 on regular TV. As for the squad, Kerr, Arnold, Alanna Kennedy, Ellie Carpenter, Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Katrina Gorry, Hayley Raso, Cortnee Vine, Emily van Egmond and Tameka Yallop are among the team. After this, you have a few more chances to get your Matildas fix this year. The team will play two friendlies against Canada in Canada on Saturday, December 2 and Tuesday, December 5 — and, in Sydney, Arnold, Fowler and Kennedy are doing a live fan stadium event on Thursday, December 21. MATILDAS OLYMPIC QUALIFYING MATCHES IN PERTH: Thursday, October 26 — versus Iran at 10pm AEDT / 9pm AEST / 7pm AWST Sunday, October 29 — versus The Philippines at 6pm AEDT / 5pm AEST / 3pm AWST Wednesday, November 1 — versus Chinese Taipei at 10pm AEDT / 9pm AEST / 7pm AWST The Matildas' Olympic qualifiers in Perth take place from Thursday, October 26–Wednesday, November 1 — and you can watch via 10Play, 10Bold and Paramount+.
Something delightful has been happening in cinemas in some parts of the country. After numerous periods spent empty during the pandemic, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, picture palaces in many Australian regions are back in business — including both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made, including new releases, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. SEE HOW THEY RUN As every murder-mystery does, See How They Run asks a specific question: whodunnit? This 1950s-set flick also solves another query, one that's lingered over Hollywood for seven decades now thanks to Agatha Christie. If this movie's moniker has you thinking about mouse-focused nursery rhymes, that's by design — and characters do scurry around chaotically — however, it could also have you pondering the famed author's play The Mousetrap. The latter first hit theatres in London's West End in 1952 and has stayed there ever since, other than an enforced pandemic-era shutdown in COVID-19's early days. The show operates under a set stipulation regarding the big-screen rights, too, meaning that it can't be turned into a film until the original production has stopped treading the boards for at least six months. As that's never happened, how do you get it into cinemas anyway? Make a movie about trying to make The Mousetrap into a movie, aka See How They Run. There's a clever-clever air to See How They Run's reason for existing. The same proves true of its narrative, the on-screen explanation about how The Mousetrap sits at the centre of this film's story, and the way it details those rules around adapting the play for cinema. Voiced by in-movie director Leo Köpernick (Adrien Brody, Blonde), that winking attitude resembles the Scream franchise's take on the horror genre, but with murder-mysteries — and it also smarts in its knowing rundown about how whodunnits work, who's who among the main players-slash-suspects and what leads to the central homicide. First-time feature filmmaker Tom George (This Country) and screenwriter Mark Chappell (Flaked) still craft a film that's enjoyable-enough, though, albeit somehow both satirical and by the numbers. Keeping audiences guessing isn't the picture's strong suit. Matching its own comparison to Christie isn't either. But the leads and snappy sense of fun make this a mostly entertaining game of on-screen Cluedo. Was it actor Richard Attenborough (Harris Dickinson, Where the Crawdads Sing), his fellow-thespian wife Sheila Sim (Pearl Chanda, War of the Worlds), big-time movie producer John Woolf (Reece Shearsmith, Venom: Let There Be Carnage) or his spouse Edana Romney (Sian Clifford, The Duke) getting murderous in the costume shop at the backstage party celebrating The Mousetrap's 100th show? (And yes, they're all real-life figures.) Or, was it the play's producer Petula Spencer (Ruth Wilson, His Dark Materials), the proposed feature adaptation's screenwriter Mervyn Cocker-Norris (David Oyelowo, Chaos Walking) or his Italian lover Gio (Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, The Queen's Gambit)? They're among See How They Run's other enquiries, which Scotland Yard's Inspector Stoppard (Sam Rockwell, Richard Jewell) and Constable Stalker (Saoirse Ronan, The French Dispatch) try to answer. After the death that kicks off the film, the two cops are on the case, working through their odd-couple vibe as they sleuth. Naturally, everyone that was in the theatre on the night in question is a suspect. Just as expectedly, convolutions and complications abound. Plus, possible motives keep stacking up — and there's plenty of in-fighting among the stage and screen in-crowd who might've done the deed. In other words, even with equally parodying and paying homage to all things murder-mystery chief among See How They Run's aims (alongside showing off that it thinks it knows the basics as well as Christie), it isn't blind to following the standard formula. The guiding narration, which notes that it's always the most unlikeable character that gets bumped off, takes a ribbing approach; "seen one, you've seen 'em all" it advises, because Köpernick was charged with helming The Mousetrap's leap into movies, wasn't so impressed with the source material, then advocated for violence and explosions to spice up the whole thing. Yes, viewers are meant to see parallels between what he's saying and what they're watching. Yes, being that self-aware and meta truly is a feature-long commitment. Read our full review. SMILE If high-concept horror nasties get you grinning even when you're squirming, recoiling or peeking through your fingers, then expect Smile to live up to its name — in its first half, at least. A The Ring-meets-It Follows type of scarefest with nods to the Joker thrown in, it takes its titular term seriously, sporting one helluva creepy smirk again and again. The actual face doing the ghoulish beaming can change, and does, but the evil Cheshire Cat-esque look on each dial doesn't. Where 2011's not-at-all spooky The Muppets had a maniacal laugh, Smile does indeed possess a maniacal, skin-crawling, nightmare-inducing leer. In the film, the first character to chat about it, PhD student Laura Weaver (Caitlin Stasey, Bridge and Tunnel), explains it as "the worst smile I have ever seen in my life". She's in a hospital, telling psychiatrist Rose Cotter (Mare of Easttown's Sosie Bacon, daughter of Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick), who clearly thinks she's hallucinating. But when the doctor sees that grin herself, she immediately knows that Laura's description couldn't be more accurate. Toothy, deranged, preternaturally stretched and also frozen in place, the smile at the heart of Smile isn't easily forgotten — not that Rose need worry about that. Soon, it's haunting her days and nights by interrupting her work, and seeing her act erratically with patients to the concern of her boss (Kal Penn, Clarice). Rose upsets a whole party at her nephew's birthday, too, and makes her fiancé Trevor (Jessie T Usher, The Boys) have doubts about their future. There's a backstory: Rose's mother experienced mental illness, which is why she's so passionate about her work and her sister Holly (Gillian Zinser, The Guilty) is so dismissive. There's a backstory to the diabolical frown turned upside down also, which she's quickly trying to unravel with the help of her cop ex Joel (Kyle Gallner, Scream). She has to; Laura came to the hospital for assistance after her professor saw the smile first, then started beaming it, then took his own life in front of her — and now Rose is in the same situation. It springs from debut feature writer/director Parker Finn's own 2020 short film Laura Hasn't Slept, but given how quickly Smile's nods to other horror flicks come — and how blatant they are — it's hardly astonishing how little in its narrative comes as a surprise. A malignant terror spreading virally on sight? A single-minded pursuer that can hop bodies, but always chases its new target with unyielding focus? Yes, as already mentioned, a J-horror franchise and its American remake are owed a huge debt, as is David Robert Mitchell's breakout 2014 hit. And yes, there's no way not to think of a certain Batman adversary each time that eerily exaggerated smirk flashes (given how many times the Joker has featured on-screen, it's downright inescapable). But when Smile is smiling — not just plastering that unnerving grin far and wide, but frequently directing it straight at the camera (and audience) — the fear is real. It's an odd experience, the feeling of knowing how obvious every aspect of a movie's narrative is, yet still having it spark a physical reaction. Finn deploys jump-scares that do genuinely invite jumps. His film goes dark and grim in its look and atmosphere, tensely so, and with cinematographer Charlie Sarroff (Relic) adoring soft, restrained lighting that one imagines the realm between life and death could have. He knows when to let a moment and a shot hang, teasing out the inevitable but still making sure the payoff is felt. And, among all of that, the mood is Ari Aster (Hereditary, Midsommar)-level bleak. The biggest kudos goes to (and the biggest responses come from) that hellish expression that could pop up anywhere on anyone, though. When Smile stops smiling, it's a blander movie — and although the fact that much of it is spliced together from elsewhere, and what isn't is largely generic, doesn't ever slip from view, that's also when the feature gets heftier. Read our full review. ON THE COUNT OF THREE What happens outside an upstate New York strip club at 10am on an ordinary weekday? Nothing — nothing good, or that anyone pays attention to, at least — deduces the unhappy Val (Jerrod Carmichael, Rothaniel) in On the Count of Three. So, he's hatched a plan: with his lifelong best friend Kevin (Christopher Abbott, The Forgiven), they'll carry out a suicide pact, with that empty car park as their final earthly destination. Under the harsh morning light and against a drably grey sky, Carmichael's feature directorial debut initially meets its central duo standing in that exact spot, guns pointed at each other's heads and pulling the trigger mere moments away. Yes, they start counting. Yes, exhaustion and desperation beam from their eyes. No, this thorny yet soulful film isn't over and done with then and there. There are many ways to experience weariness, frustration, malaise and despair, and to convey them — and On the Count of Three surveys plenty, as an unflinchingly black comedy about two lifelong best friends deciding to end it all should. Those dispiriting feelings can weigh you down, making every second of every day an effort. They can fester, agitate, linger and percolate, simmering behind every word and deed before spewing out as fury. They can spark drastic actions, including the type that Val and Kevin have picked as their only option after the latter breaks the former out of a mental health hospital mere days after his last self-harming incident. Or, they can inspire a wholesale rejection of the milestones, such as the promotion that Val is offered hours earlier, that everyone is told they're supposed to covet, embrace and celebrate. On the Count of Three covers all of the above, not just with purpose but with confidence, as well as a much-needed willingness to get messy. It knows it's traversing tricky terrain, and is also well-aware of the obvious: that nothing about considering taking one's own life is simple or easy, let alone a laughing matter. Working with a script by Ramy co-creators Ari Katcher (also a co-creator of The Carmichael Show) and Ryan Welch, Carmichael doesn't make a movie that salutes, excuses or justifies Val and Kevin's exit plan. His film doesn't abhor the emotions and pain behind their choices either, though. Instead, this is a complicated portrait of coping, and not, with the necessities, vagaries and inevitabilities of life — and a raw and thoughtful piece of recognition that the biggest standoff we all have is with ourselves. Rocking a shock of dishevelled bleached-blonde hair, and looking like he hasn't even dreamed of changing his wardrobe since the early 00s, Abbott could've wandered out of Good Time as Kevin — he and Robert Pattinson could/should play brothers some day — including when he's staring down Val with a gun. First, On the Count of Three jumps from there to the events leading up to it, including an earlier attempt by landscaping supply store worker Val in the work bathrooms, his response to hearing about that aforementioned climb up the corporate ladder. In hospital, Kevin is angry; "if any of you knew how to help me by now, you would have fucking done it!" he shouts. But when the time to shoot comes, it's him who suggests a reprieve to take care of a few last items — revenge being his. Read our full review. THE HUMANS Movie buffs who like to theme their viewing around the relevant time of year — holiday-related, primarily — are always spoiled for choice. Christmas films, spooky flicks at Halloween, Easter-relevant fare: you can build a binge session or several out of all of them. The same applies to Thanksgiving, all courtesy of the US, and The Humans is the latest addition to the November-appropriate list. This A24 release ticks a few clearcut boxes, in fact, including bringing a dysfunctional multi-generation family together to celebrate the date, steeping their get-together in the kind of awkwardness that always stalks relatives, and having big revelations spill over the course of the gathering (the calendar-mandated time for such disclosures, pouring out before the tryptophan kicks in). That said, even with such evident servings of underlying formula, The Humans is far creepier and more haunting than your usual movie about America's turkey-eating time of year. A hefty helping of existential horror will do that. Based on Stephen Karam's Tony-winning 2016 Broadway play — a Pulitzer Prize finalist as well — and adapted and directed for the screen by Karam himself, The Humans is downright unsettling, and for a few reasons. There's the tension zipping back and forth between everyone in attendance, of course — as crucial an ingredient at every Thanksgiving party as food, booze and warm bodies to consume them, at least if films are to be believed. There's also the bleak, claustrophobic, run-down setting, with the movie confined to a New York apartment close to Ground Zero, which aspiring composer Brigid (Beanie Feldstein, Booksmart) and her student boyfriend Richard (Steven Yeun, Nope) have just moved into at significant expense. And, there's the strange sounds emanating from other units, and perhaps this creaking, groaning, two-storey abode itself, which couldn't feel less welcoming. As a result, seasonal cheer is few and far between in this corner of Manhattan, where the Blake family congregates dutifully rather than agreeably or even welcomely. Also making an appearance: parents Deirdre (Only Murders in the Building's Jayne Houdyshell, reprising her Tony-winning part) and Erik (Richard Jenkins, DAHMER — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story), Brigid's lawyer older sister Aimee (Amy Schumer, Life & Beth), and their grandmother Momo (June Squibb, Palmer), who has dementia and uses a wheelchair. No one is happy, and everyone seems to have something that needs airing — slowly and reluctantly when it's a matter of importance, but freely and cuttingly when it's a snap judgement directed at others. Watching The Humans, the audience hopes that no one has truly had a Thanksgiving like this, while knowing how well its fraught dynamic hits the mark. Thanks to Richard, film first-timer Karam has a straightforward way to start doling out backstory — a time-honoured function of fresh attendees to on-screen family dos, and not just in movies about Thanksgiving. Erik chats, filling the newcomer in, although the talk between everyone dishes out plenty of handy details. Religious and political affiliations cause strains, as do booze and money. The clash between the big city, where the Blake family daughters now live, and their hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania also informs the discussions. Health woes, relationship struggles, generation clashes, expecting more both from and of each other but getting less: that's the baseline. Brigid stews about not being given enough cash by her parents, and therefore jeopardising her career dreams; Aimee frets about treading water at work, being alone and a medical condition; Deirdre's conservative leanings bristle against her daughters' decisions; and Erik clearly has a secret. Read our full review. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in Australian cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on June 2, June 9, June 16, June 23 and June 30; and July 7, July 14, July 21 and July 28; August 4, August 11, August 18 and August 25; and September 1, September 8, September 15 and September 22. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as Mothering Sunday, Jurassic World Dominion, A Hero, Benediction, Lightyear, Men, Elvis, Lost Illusions, Nude Tuesday, Ali & Ava, Thor: Love and Thunder, Compartment No. 6, Sundown, The Gray Man, The Phantom of the Open, The Black Phone, Where the Crawdads Sing, Official Competition, The Forgiven, Full Time, Murder Party, Bullet Train, Nope, The Princess, 6 Festivals, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, Crimes of the Future, Bosch & Rockit, Fire of Love, Beast, Blaze, Hit the Road, Three Thousand Years of Longing, Orphan: First Kill, The Quiet Girl, Flux Gourmet, Bodies Bodies Bodies, Moonage Daydream, Ticket to Paradise, Clean and You Won't Be Alone.
