Mondays can be rough. We know it. You know it. And the folks behind Newtown Social Club know it better than anyone, which is why they've devised a plan to make the start of your week that little bit easier to swallow. Kicking off on Monday, May 29, the bar is launching Wind It Up, a brand new free weekly Monday night live music session to help you cruise through the start of that week like a total boss. Just as you'd expect from one of northside's favourite live music haunts, there'll be tunes — and lots of 'em, with a trio of homegrown heroes taking the stage from 8.30pm each week. First up, it's Ausmuteants, The Faculty, and garage trio Constant Mongrel. Future lineups will be announced closer to the date. And in case you burnt through a little too much coin over that weekend, entry is totally free. Plus, there's also a few cheeky specials to get into, including $15 parmas of both the eggplant and the chicken variety. Throw in a couple of $15 jugs on the heated deck and those Mondays won't be looking too shabby at all.
It was only in the '90s that the sage Cher Horowitz said "So, okay, I don't wanna be a traitor to my generation and all, but I don't get how guys dress today. I mean, c'mon, it looks like they just fell out of bed and put on some baggy pants and take their greasy hair (ew) and cover it up with a backwards cap and, like, we're expected to swoon? I don't think so!" Although these were years with many charms (grunge, Yoho Diablos, etc), we feel blessed to now be into the 2010s, where men are free and willing to shower, blow the occasional pay cheque on dapper duds and experiment with wacky sartorial choices, like colour. There are plenty of shopping destinations in Melbourne to encourage your haberdashery habit, but a few do it more stylishly than others. These are our picks of the best menswear boutiques fit for a new-age dandy, an old-fashioned brute and something in between. Incu If you live in Melbourne you're probably already a frenzied Incu evangelist, likely to froth at the mouth and start speaking in tongues at the very mention of twin brothers Brian and Vincent Wu, the men behind the myth, who as it stands are actually far too normal and nice to be cult leaders in the weird, non-fashion sense of the word. What might come as news to you is that late last year the Flinders Lane store was joined by a new outpost that took up residence right across the way from the QV women's store. Now the two siblings can stare out lovingly at one another all day as numbed office workers walking by shovel sushi into their mouths and drool at the window displays featuring the likes of A.P.C, Norse Projects, Saturdays Surf and Incu's in-house label, Weathered. Shop 6A, 247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, 03 9663 9933; Shop ACL9, QV, Albert Coates Lane, Melbourne, 03 9662 3730; incuclothing.com Up There This one might not be number one, but it's, you guessed it, Up There! Calling a clothing store what you say when you see sky writing made sense for the original store, which was situated above ground on McKillop Street, but since the South Melbourne sibling, which opened late last year, lies firmly on street level amidst the steaming dim sim enjoying locals, it’s just downright silly. Forgive them that small oversight and the charming shop boys (who also double as fashion bloggers) will woo you with literal fancy pants (and other items of clothing) by Yuketen, Norse Projects, Bleu De Paname, Monitaly and more. Heck, they'll even repair your pants when you inevitably split them in a humiliating fashion. Level 1, 15 McKillop Street, Melbourne, 03 9670 6225; 224 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne, 03 9690 5226; uptherestore.com Customer Just like Incu's Wu brothers, Alexander and Tim Britten-Finschi are super-stylish siblings who live, socialise, design and run a menswear store together. Heck, they may as well have been born conjoined, although that may have hindered the sewing process somewhat. The duo's Flinders Lane store is filled with a hi-lo blend of wares by Pageant, Christopher Esber, Song for the Mute and the boys' own label From Britten, which recently received the coveted L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival's National Designer Award. We presume that as children, their mum, fashion designer Linda Britten, dressed them in threads so fine they'd make Suri hang her head in shame — fashion's in their blood. Level 6, 289 Flinders Lane, Melbourne; customerstore.com.au Aussie Disposals Although it's not exclusively a menswear store, there is something that really gets the pheromones going about a chap decked out in a military jacket who looks like he could yield a Swiss army knife like Bear Grylls whilst pitching a tent with his spare hand. Approach this store with caution though, as the overzealous shopper is likely to emerge wearing a legionnaires hat, zip-off pants and a high-visibility vest that screams 'unhinged' rather than the desired 'doing camo with aplomb'. You have been warned. Multiple locations; aussiedisposals.com.au Handsom According to their website, Handsom "make nice clothes" — plain and simple. While that statement is true, it kind of sells the label's artfully speckled chambray shirts, slim-cut woollen slacks that cannot be described as anything less than dapper and delightful cardigans that look fit for Paddington Bear himself and make you want to snuggle into them and breathe in the wearer's presumably oaky scent short. They make flipping fantastic clothes (for the fairer sex, too) is more like it! 163 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, 03 9078 7306; handsom.com.au Someday Store Stumble into Someday and you could be forgiven for thinking you've teleported to a leading flagship concept store in Tokyo or New York, until you wander to the nearby stairwell to be slapped in the face with the heady scent of fish and stale beer wafting upstairs from the Toff. No such luck, you're in Curtin House, princess. That doesn't seem so bad when you’re surrounded by a superbly curated selection of wares by the likes of Neighbourhood, White Mountaineering, Visvim and of course PAM, the fashion label by the store's co-owners and real-life partners in crime and covetable items, Misha Hollenbach (Perks) and Shauna Toohey (Mini). Not a pair to be limited in anything they do, alongside menswear the duo has filled Someday with girls' get-up, rare books, music and miscellaneous collector's items. Level 3, Curtin House, 252 Swanston Street, Melbourne, 03 9654 6458; somedaystore.com Images via incuclothing.com, uptherestore.com, From Britten, handsom.com.au, somedaystore.com
UPDATE: AUGUST 12, 2020 — Cannoleria is currently offering its ricotta-filled treats — including DIY cannoli kits — for pickup from some of its stores, as well as delivery across most of metro Melbourne. To order, head over here. Fans of cannoli rejoice, because Melbourne is home to a massive dedicated cannoli factory by way of the Cannoleria crew. Yep, the much-loved dessert producer has moved into spacious new digs at Heidelberg West, setting up shop a couple of suburbs away from sibling company That's Amore Cheese. The space means there's a whole lot more room — 500 square metres, to be exact — for the team to pump out those signature Sicilian sweet treats, featuring crunchy pastry tubes piped full of fresh ricotta. The factory expansion comes as demand for Cannoleria's cult Italian treats continues to boom, with people flocking to get their mitts on the all-natural, preservative-free desserts. The group's got four other popular retail stores under its belt — at South Melbourne Market, Preston Market, Watergardens Shopping Centre and Highpoint Shopping Centre — in addition to regular pop-ups and a catering arm. As well as allowing Cannoleria to up production, the factory allows for even more experimentation, too. There are also plans to open an on-site eatery, which'll serve up lunches, coffee and, of course, plenty of that freshly-made cannoli. We'll be sure to keep you posted.
It has been 65 years since Godzilla first rampaged across through Tokyo, and the super-sized creature isn't done wreaking havoc just yet. Like comic book characters and Star Wars, the king of the monsters is a cinema mainstay. The scaly critter is also asserting its place atop the kaiju food chain in the latest trailer for Godzilla: King of the Monsters. If you haven't kept track of the Japanese figure's many, many screen appearances, this is its 35th. It's also the sequel to the last American-made Godzilla film, which hit screens back in 2014 — and this time, the giant critter isn't the only behemoth rampaging through cinemas. In what promises to be quite the hefty creature feature, Godzilla: King of the Monsters sees the eponymous figure enlisted to help the planet against a heap of the beast's own enemies, including Mothra, Rodan and the three-headed King Ghidorah. At one point in the new trailer, it's mentioned that there are at least 17 monsters, which will be sure to keep Godzilla and the film's human cast — including Vera Farmiga, Ken Watanabe, Sally Hawkins, Kyle Chandler, Millie Bobby Brown, Bradley Whitford, Thomas Middleditch, Charles Dance and O'Shea Jackson Jr — rather busy. Yes, plenty of oversized creature mayhem is in movie-goers' futures come May 30 — and more next year as well. Godzilla: King of the Monsters will be followed by another monster mashup in 2020's Godzilla vs. Kong, pitting Godzilla against a certain giant ape in a film that also acts as a sequel to 2017's Kong: Skull Island. Partially shot in Queensland, it stars Alexander Skarsgård, Millie Bobby Brown, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Julian Dennison, Kyle Chandler and Demián Bichir. Check out the latest Godzilla: King of the Monsters trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW3xYYJ6NoE&feature=youtu.be Image: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.
Since the first Iron Man film in 2008, Marvel has trained superhero fans well. Notching up 33 movies in its enormous cinematic universe with 2023's The Marvels and showing zero signs of stopping, the comic book company has basically taken over the big screen, with this year delivering Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, too — and, as always, there's plenty more flicks on the way. Marvel hasn't just taken over picture palaces. Via Disney+, the small screen is also home to many a MCU story, including Secret Invasion and season two of Loki in 2023. Keen to see your favourite spandex-clad crime-fighters try to save the world in person as well? Along with splashing Marvel's heroes and villains across every screen it can find, that's also coming — and soon. Marvel Universe LIVE! is exactly what it seems — and if it sounds familiar, that's because it was meant to head Down Under in 2020, but then the pandemic hit. So, when it makes the trip to Australia in April 2024, it'll be unveiling its show to Aussie audiences for the first time. The production takes more than 20 characters such as Spider-Man, The Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy, teaming them up on stage and letting audiences marvel (pun intended) at their exploits. Featuring everyone from Iron Man, Thor, Black Panther and the Hulk to Captain America, Doctor Strange and Black Widow, it tasks the beloved superheroes with facing off against some of Marvel's infamous villains, including Nebula, Loki and Green Goblin. And, it packages their antics with video projections, special effects, pyrotechnics, martial arts, and both aerial and motorcycle stunts. The performance is aimed at all ages and, in news that's about as unsurprising as most wisecracks that Tony Stark ever uttered, the show has proven a massive success in the United States, Latin America and Europe. As a result, it was only a matter of time until it hit Australia after its pandemic delay. Obviously, attendees won't be watching Robert Downey Jr (Oppenheimer), Chris Hemsworth (Extraction II), Benedict Cumberbatch (The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar), Scarlett Johansson (Asteroid City) and Tom Hiddleston (The Essex Serpent) — or any of the many, many other high-profile stars who feature in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, because that list truly seems endless. But, if you're happy to get your Marvel fix however you can, then you can do just that in arenas and stadiums around the country in 2024. Marvel Universe LIVE! will premiere its Aussie run in Brisbane, before heading to Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide. "Our tremendously talented creative team and a nearly superhuman cast have created a show that brings the grandeur of Marvel to life," said Marvel Universe LIVE! producer Juliette Feld Grossman. "This production creates an experience that immerses families in non-stop action, creating movie-style thrills and jaw-dropping stunts that showcase the powers of your favourite superheroes right before your eyes." MARVEL UNIVERSE LIVE! 2024 DATES: Thursday, April 4–Sunday, April 7 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Friday, April 12–Monday, April 15 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Friday, April 19–Monday, April 22 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Friday, April 26–Sunday, April 28 — Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide Marvel Universe LIVE! is touring Australia in April 2024 — head to the event's website for more information, and pre-sale tickets, with general tickets available from 10am on Tuesday, November 28, 2023
Need to find your way from The House That Jack Built to Hotel California? Or maybe you got lost on the Highway to Hell trying to find Penny Lane? This is what the world would look like if you could build a city from your iTunes library. A map of song titles, made by the creative collective Dorothy, is more than worthy of hanging on your wall. Song Map
If this pandemic has given you a newfound appreciation of speedy grab-and-go options, then, boy, does Market Lane Coffee have a treat for you. The specialty roaster has taken cues from our ever-efficient Japanese mates and installed a new vending machine out the front of its Brunswick East Roastery. Instead of Boss Coffee and Pocari Sweat, it is stocked with coffee filter papers and various packs of Market Lane beans, ready to take home and be transformed into your morning cuppa. The concept for this new addition has been brewing for a while, but it as the recent lockdowns — which forced the city's hospitality venues to close to dine-in customers and change to takeaway-only — that accelerated its creation. "We loved the idea of people being able to come to our roastery at any time of day and being able to load up on freshly roasted coffee beans or last minute filter papers for their brewers," explained Market Lane Co-Founder and Director Fleur Studd. "When COVID-19 hit, this idea felt even more relevant and urgent, as it enables people to buy our coffees in a contactless manner, at whatever time is convenient to them." [caption id="attachment_780486" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Abigail Varney[/caption] So, there's no need to restrict your caffeine fix to conventional cafe hours — this beauty is open for business 24/7. Just don't forget about that stage four curfew (from 8pm–5am daily) and five kilometre travel limit in your rush to get top-quality beans. The Weston Street vending machine is slinging a range of freshly roasted coffee beans in 250-gram and one-kilo bags, with options to suit both espresso and filter brews. Maybe you fancy the dark chocolate and orange notes of the seasonal espresso roast, or perhaps you like the blueberry and caramel finish on the Ethiopian aroresa espresso. Prices start from $16, running up to $68 for one of the big guys. The machine's also got a selection of filter papers for pour over, Aeropress and Moccamaster machines, ranging from $6 to $10. Find Market Lane HQ and its coffee bean vending machine at 126 Weston Street, Brunswick East. Images: Abigail Varney
The wickedly weird and wild Dark Mofo lineup has been announced for 2023, and culture lovers all over Australia are poised to fight over tickets on Wednesday, April 5. But the most popular events and accommodations in Hobart are expected to book out ASAP — most local hotels tend to be fully booked even before tickets are released. That's why we've gone ahead and reserved a stack of rooms for those who book our totally unique Dark Mofo travel package, only available through Concrete Playground Trips. We'll put guests up in Hobart for two nights — with brekkie included — while throwing in a bunch of tickets to events. [caption id="attachment_895365" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dark Mofo/Rosie Hastie, 2021. Image Courtesy Dark Mofo, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.[/caption] First off, you'll get access to the Winter Feast — a food-, art- and music-filled winter solstice celebration. Gather around the fire pits and long communal tables, grabbing drinks and food from local vendors while checking out live music, art installations and roaming theatrical performances. We've also organised your tickets to one of Dark Mofo's late-night parties, better known as Night Mass. While just about anything can happen here, you can expect debaucherous art experiences and an epic lineup of musical performances and DJ sets that'll keep you dancing into the wee hours. These infamous parties sell out really quickly, so thank us later for your entry being sorted already. [caption id="attachment_854707" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dark Mofo's In the Hanging Garden[/caption] And to keep you busy during one of the afternoons, we have organised your entry to Mona itself. Arrive in style, via the ferry's Posh Pit and explore the gallery's eccentric exhibitions. This package hits most of the best bits of Dark Mofo, giving you the ultimate Hobart getaway without the need to do heaps of planning and separate bookings. It's also a bargain, coming in at just under $600 per person. [caption id="attachment_895370" align="alignnone" width="1921"] Winter Feast, Dark Mofo 2022. Photo credit: Rémi Chauvin, 2022[/caption] Head to Concrete Playground Trips to book one of the exclusive (and strictly limited) Dark Mofo travel packages. Top image: Jesse Hunniford (Winter Feast, Dark Mofo 2021)
UPDATE Tuesday, July 20: Yarra Valley visits are off the cards for now, but you can get a taste of the region delivered to your door with Rochford Wines' lineup of covetable hampers. There are booze packs, cheese-and-charcuterie kits, and at-home feasting options galore — including a three-course dinner starring hickory-smoked beef ribs and a bottle of Rochford wine. Melbourne deliveries will arrive within two business days of placing your order, which you can do here. For more details on Victoria's current restrictions, see the Department of Health and Human Services website. Arguably one of the Yarra Valley's best-known wineries, Rochford boasts a stunning lakeside cellar door, restaurant and some seriously great pizza. The rolling green expanse of the property is pretty much heaven for greenery-seeking humans and their pups (the winery is dog friendly). If you visit earlier in the year during the harvest, you can go on a guided tour of the vineyard, sampling the as-yet unharvested grapes straight from the vines or head straight to final produce at the cellar door where you can sample the vintages before settling on your take-home bottle or, for a more relaxed experience, set yourself up with a tasting flight at the on-site Isabella's Restaurant. Opt for some charcuterie including nduja, fennel and garlic salami or the terrine with rhubarb jam to pair, or if hunger has truly set in, go for one of the medium, large or 'enormous' dishes, each offered with the sommelier's wine recommendation. What's suggested? Can you really go past a 16-hour oyster blade of beef with the 2017 single vineyard 'Garrigue' Heathcote syrah or the saffron and orange-glazed chicken with the 2017 single vineyard 'Dans les Bois' chardonnay — both of which we're sure your pooch will enjoy a scrap or two from. If you'd prefer pizza though, head over to Il Vigneto, which is located on the Rochford property. Here, it's all about the dreamy, authentic Neapolitan-style pizzas and top-notch serves of pasta. A range of antipasto, sides, desserts and cocktails rounds out the fun.
When Indigenous Australian artist Archie Moore made history at the 2024 La Biennale de Venezia, aka the Venice Biennale, in April by winning the event's coveted Golden Lion for Best National Participation, he also did Brisbane's major art galleries proud. When the First Nations talent earned Australia the top gong at the Olympics of the art world for the first time ever, he did so with an exhibition curated by Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art's Ellie Buttrose, and with a date with the Brisbane sites as part of their 2025–26 program. kith and kin will open in South Brisbane in August 2025 — and it's also being gifted to QAGOMA permanently. The Australian Government has just announced that it has acquired the work to give it to the Brisbane art institution, as well as the UK's Tate, its acquisition partner. Accordingly, gallery visitors both in Australian and the United Kingdom will be able to explore kith and kin after its current Venice run. In Italy, the work is on display until Sunday, November 24, 2024. "I am so grateful for this generous donation that enables kith and kin to be seen both here in Australia and overseas, in the near and distant future," said Moore of the news. "Encountering Archie Moore's kith and kin at the Venice Biennale was a spectacular and moving experience that resonated with the weight of history and ancestry. In its unimaginable endeavour to map a personal genealogy through more than 2000 generations, Moore has summoned up an extraordinary image of human connection through deep time," added Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art Director Chris Saines. "kith and kin has that rare power to still you into silence and reflection. We are profoundly grateful to be the joint custodians of this historic work and we look forward to showing the project, curated by QAGOMA's Curator of Contemporary Australian Art Ellie Buttrose, in Brisbane from August 2025." kith and kin didn't just make history with its Venice Biennale accolade. A hand-drawn genealogical chart that spans back 65,000 years, the piece also chronicles it. Both a personal and a political work, kith and kin steps through Moore's Kamilaroi, Bigambul, British and Scottish heritage across the installation's five-metre-high, 60-metre-long black walls. More than 2400 generations are covered. The exhibition uses chalk on blackboard, with a reflective pool sitting in the middle of the room and 500-plus document stacks suspended above it. Every aspect of kith and kin makes a statement. With its size and scale, it speaks to Australia's Indigenous peoples being among the world's longest-continuous living cultures. The use of black is also designed to look like a celestial map, and therefore nod to the resting place of First Nations ancestors. Highlighting the decrease in Indigenous Australian languages and dialects since colonisation, the fragility that stems from not being able to pass down knowledge and injustices such as deaths in custody are all also part of the work — with the aforementioned piles of paper primarily from coronial inquests. "The phrase 'kith and kin' now simply means 'friends and family'. However, an earlier Old English definition that dates from the 1300s shows kith originally had the added meanings of 'countrymen' and also 'one's native land', with kin meaning 'family members'," notes Moore's explanation of the work. "Many Indigenous Australians, especially those who grew up on Country, know the land and other living things as part of their kinship systems — the land itself can be a mentor, teacher, parent to a child. The sense of belonging involves everyone and everything, and for First Nations peoples of Australia, like most Indigenous cultures, is deeply rooted in our sacred landscapes from birth until death." "I was interested in the phrase as it aptly describes the artwork in the pavilion, but I was also interested in the Old English meaning of the words, as it feels more like a First Nations understanding of attachment to place, people and time." kith and kin will display at Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art, Stanley Place, South Brisbane, from August 2025. We'll update you with more details when they're announced. kith and kin is on display at the Australia Pavilion, Giardini di Castello, 60th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, until Sunday, November 24, 2024 — head to the exhibition website for further details. Images: Archie Moore / kith and kin 2024 / Australia Pavilion at Venice Biennale 2024 / Photographer Andrea Rossetti / © the artist / Images courtesy of the artist and The Commercial.
Having almost faced its final curtain call when a fire ripped through it in May, Carlton's La Mama Theatre is set to be reborn, thanks to a tidy $1 million grant from the Victorian Government. The money will back up the independent theatre's own fundraising efforts as it works to rebuild, as well as an earlier $150,000 rescue package provided by Labor in the wake of the incident. Restoration of the Faraday Street site will involve repurposing as much of the original building as possible, respecting its heritage while also making it fully accessible for the first time and setting it up for future generations. Architect Meg White and local firm Cottee Parker will head up the rebuild, which is slated to begin next year and be completed by 2020. La Mama is a non-profit theatre and stalwart of Melbourne's art scene, having been established back in 1967. Founded by Betty Burstall, the theatre has seen the likes of Cate Blanchett, Judith Lucy and Julia Zemiro pass through it and hosts many alternative and experimental shows. The theatre will continue to operate out of nearby sister venue La Mama Courthouse, until it returns to the city's arts scene in full capacity. If you'd like to lend a helping hand, La Mama is also accepting donations from the public. Image two: La Mama Theatre before the fire.
It's with a seemingly devil-may-care attitude that A Bigger Splash indulges in the dreams of many, as Tilda Swinton channels her rock star-like essence into actually playing one, and Ralph Fiennes writhes, dances, swims and just generally throws about all of his charms. With Matthias Schoenaerts and Dakota Johnson, they form a smouldering quartet holidaying on an island off of the coast of Italy, eating, drinking, partying and enjoying the kind of sun-drenched, picturesque vacation most can only fantasise about. Of course, situations that appear relaxed and people who come across as carefree rarely remain that way under scrutiny. In loosely remaking the 1969 Italian-French film La Piscine for his English-language debut, director Luca Guadagnino (I Am Love) teams with writer David Kajganich (True Story) to present a picture of ostensible bliss, then breaks down its many moving parts. Swinton's singing superstar Marianne Lane is recovering from a vocal injury that has left her speaking only in whispers, with her cameraman boyfriend Paul (Schoenaerts) keeping her company. Enter Fiennes' Harry Hawkes, Marianne's ex-producer, ex-lover and whirlwind of a friend who has shared in many of her personal and professional ups and downs. His arrival is unexpected, as is the fact that he has his newly discovered adult daughter Penelope (Johnson) in tow. The movie flirts with a dark, devious tone, teasing the desire-fuelled tension that simmers between the four characters, particularly in light of Marianne and Harry's shared past, as well as the obvious attraction Penelope quickly harbours towards Paul. Still, there's little that's surprising in A Bigger Splash. The best movies manage to present insights into human behaviour that feel inevitable, relatable and still revelatory, which the movie manages at times. Yet it's equally as fond of simply luxuriating in the company of its characters, and in their lush backdrop, as it is dissecting their relationships. With cinematographer Yorick Le Saux (Clouds of Sils Maria) ensuring every image looks like it could have been lifted from a postcard or glossy magazine spread, and the main cast as ablaze as the visuals, the feature's affection for both is understandable. The combination of Swinton and Fiennes proves mesmerizing — and while the always-enigmatic former is in her element in a largely non-verbal role, it is the latter that steals the show. If ever an actor could capture the all-round force-of-nature that is Harry, it's Fiennes. That Schoenaerts and Johnson seem somewhat subdued in his shadow is more a reflection of his prominence than of their individual performances. Accordingly, A Bigger Splash is a film filled with standout, cast-fuelled moments that dare you to try to peel your eyes away: Harry letting loose to the Rolling Stones' aptly titled 'Emotional Rescue', the glimpses of Marianne's past glories, and the glances shared between Penelope and Paul chief among them. It's also a feature in which the triumphs linger, overpowering the less effective aspects, though never quite erasing them. Given the importance of music to the four main players, the end result comes to resemble an album that can't find the right balance between its smash hits and its non-single tracks, but keeps you listening over and over again regardless.
Sculpture in the Vineyards brings an artistic bend to the Hunter Valley with its annual arts and cultural festival, held throughout four independent vineyards in the Wollombi Valley from October 28 through December 3. This free public exhibition features site-specific, large scale sculptures which transform the boutique vineyards into exhibition parks. The celebration combines art, food and, of course, wine throughout the month, with tastings happening at each of the vineyard cellar doors. Visitors can also take guided tours, attend artist talks and workshops, learn about local Aboriginal history and feast at a wine and food degustation. Events will also take place at the nearby historic Wollombi Village. Entry into the exhibitions along the Wollombi Valley Wine Trail is free and open daily from 10am–6pm, with additional special events happening across the month.
When Federation Square opened in 2002, its supporters were few and far between. But look at it now. Fifteen years later it's not only a sorta-widely acceptable piece of architecture, but it's also managed to lure in the world's biggest tech company, Apple. The Victorian Government announced today that Federation Square will soon be home to Apple's first Australian global flagship store. This two-level outpost will be bigger than its other Melbourne stores like Chadstone and Highpoint and, like its few other global flagships, will undoubtedly be architecturally significant. Apple has been extremely selective about the locations of its global flagships and there are only four others in the world, including Fifth Avenue in NYC and Regent Street in London. There isn't room for the building in Fed Square at the moment though, so the Victorian Government has agreed to knock down the Yarra Building to make way for it. This will displace the Koorie Heritage Trust, which will have to relocate to the Alfred Deakin Building across the way. Apparently the build of the Apple store will free up 500 square metres of public space. The Victorian Government's tourism body is evidently quite happy with the win, with the Minister for Trade and Investment Philip Dalidakis saying that this "reinforces Melbourne's reputation as the undisputed tech capital of Australia". Construction will start in 2019 with the build expected to be finished in 2020.
A few years ago I invented a drinking game for people wanting to give up booze. It was very simple: you only drank when Johnny Depp played an American. Almost overnight, global alcohol consumption dropped to near-prohibition levels, even when many of Depp's non-American roles were actually inclined to drive people to drink. So far down the zany Tim Burton/Jack Sparrow character hole had Depp descended that the very notion of him playing a serious role again seemed as ludicrous as his daily jewellery selections. Then, from out of nowhere, came the chilling Black Mass trailer, and it was as if all might suddenly be right in the world again. To hell with the drinking game, we wanted to see Depp actually act and it looked like that might just be what was happening. Yes, he was still in some intense makeup (complete with vampiric blue eyes and slicked back white hair), and yes, there was a thick Boston accent at play, but at its core this looked like gritty, dramatic Depp back to his legitimate best. Thankfully, the trailer wasn't lying. Black Mass is the true story of Boston’s infamous crime lord James ‘Whitey’ Bulger (Depp) and his astounding protected status as a secret tier-one informant for the FBI. The more you learn about Bulger, the more remarkable his tale becomes. For one, his brother William (played by Benedict Cumberbatch) was the longest-ever serving senator from Boston, and Bulger's childhood friend John Connolly (Joel Edgerton) became a key figure in the FBI’s anti-mafia division. The short of it was that Connolly convinced Bulger to rat on his competition (primarily the Italians) in exchange for what amounted to a free run from police and the FBI regarding his own illegal operations. That arrangement saw Connolly rise in the ranks, but also allowed Bulger to transform from small-time hood to a national player in organised crime, and for years there seemed to be nothing anyone could do to stop him. The strength of Black Mass is in its cast, which — along with its leads — boasts the likes of Kevin Bacon, Dakota Johnson, Adam Scott, Corey Stoll and Peter Sarsgaard. There’s no weak link on the acting front, and even the bit parts turn in solid performances (Juno Temple’s brief appearance as a naive hooker the standout). Instead, it’s the story where the film is found lacking. For such a remarkable tale of corruption and secret allegiances, the focus on Bulger’s crimes feels wasted and misdirected, if only because the 'Boston gangster saga' has already been done many times over, and — it should be said — better (The Departed topping that list). Arguably the most intriguing dimension to the entire Bulger story is the Bulger dimension — the brothers, one a gangster and the other a powerful politician — yet it barely rates a mention, and Cumberbatch’s screen time is among the smallest in the film. How, in the modern era, one brother's affairs did not bring down the other’s raises compelling yet frustratingly unanswered questions that would have given the story a meatier emotional narrative and greater momentum. Still, take nothing away from the performances and please, raise a glass to the long overdue return of Johnny ‘Dramatic' Depp.
Mitzi began as an alias for two guys from Brisbane to make some music under so that nobody knew they were two guys from Brisbane. Now there are four guys, one EP and one era-defying single, and anonymity is pretty much a thing of the past. Mitzi are at the forefront of an Australian electro-dance tidal wave propelled by acts like Cut Copy and Midnight Juggernauts, except they're doing it with disco. Mitzi will support Foals at their sold-out Oxford Art Factory shows before joining Lindstrøm and Classixx at Future Classic's Sydney Festival bash. Future Classic will also release their debut album Truly Alive on February 15 (you can pre-order it here). In the interim we pulled drummer Cale Suesskow aside to talk about what it's like to be one of the most exciting things happening in Australian music right now. You had a well-received eight-date single tour at the end of last year to promote single 'Who Will Love You Now'. How did you spend Christmas and New Years? Did you manage to get some time off? Yes, time off was welcomed with a few celebratory drinks. We spend Christmas and New Years with friends and family, did some writing (without any pressure) and have also been DJing quite a bit. Now that were all refreshed, we're pretty keen to get out there and play some more shows. You've performed sets at Parklife, Splendour and Stereosonic, and supported acts including Neon Indian, Little Dragon and Whitest Boy Alive. What have been some of the highlights? Neon Indian support was our third ever show and the first time we played to a packed room, there was such an energy that night and I think it really helped cement the thought that we might be onto something good. The Whitest Boy Alive tour was incredible, we are all massive fans of their music and it was great to see how they work close-up. The best thing about being given the opportunity to support great acts is learning things from people that are more experienced than we are. Sydney's electronic/dance scene has been swelling lately. Have you seen similar things happening in Brisbane or do people still associate it with Brisvegassy clubs? There isn't really much of a scene for good house music in Brisbane and people don't go crazy for it, but there are a few places where tasteful bangers like Disclosure go down a treat. We went and saw Todd Terje before Christmas, playing a small club to a half full dance floor, which pretty accurately portrays dance music in Brisbane. How did you come to work with Jono Ma on 2011's EP All I Heard? His new project Jagwar Ma just signed to Future Classic too, which is pretty cool. We had all known Jono before Mitzi started, he's a talented guy and we wanted him to mix our EP so we asked him, not much of a story, sorry. But yeah, it's great they're releasing through Future Classic, more good music to welcome to the family. What local artists/tracks have you been vibing to lately? Jagwar Ma, hahah. Oh, and new Seekae with vocals. Your music draws from a wide range of influences. What acts were you listening to while you were making the new album? Nothing out of the ordinary really, stuff like Fleetwood, Chic, Fela Kuti, lots of house music and electronica, a little bit of Hip Hop and RnB. The Kindness album dropped last year and we were pretty blown away by the production. The Blood Orange album also came out while we were in the studio and it showcased, in our opinion, some pretty awesome songwriting. How do you achieve that familiar retro sound while also creating something new and something that has longevity? I guess that comes from the way we record, which stems from our musical influences. We like to record the core elements of the band in a way that is true to the 70's style, that is, with vintage pre-amps and mics, lots of compression and lots of muffling things up. But then we add lots of synths and effects that stems from our house and electronic influences. Sometimes these sounds can be quite spatial and reverberated, which is a nice contrast to the retro sounding drums and bass. How did you come to work with Ash Workman on the upcoming album? How has that, and signing with Future Classic, influenced your sound? Another boring story here, basically we loved Metronomy's The English Riviera and emailed Ash's manager to ask if he'd be up for working with us. We had already finished the songs, so I don't think these factors influenced the sound, rather the sound influenced who we wanted to mix and release the album. We've been with Future Classic since the E.P and we haven't made any acute changes in direction so its only fitting that we would wish to continue the relationship. You're also known for putting on great DJ sets and doing cool mix tapes. What are some of your favourite venues to DJ at? For us, Djing can be great fun, especially places where we can play the club music we love and the audience vibes just as hard. Spice Cellar is always a good time, and we played a place called Moloko Night in Townsville just before Christmas that went pretty crazy, contrary to what we had assumed it would be like. We've also had some good nights at Bowler Bar in our hometown too.
Think about the satisfaction of an epic growing out of the tiniest, most humble of origins. Whether it's the highbrow whiff of Proust's madeleine or the spunk'n'egg cocktail of human history, the romantic notion of 'from little things great things grow' is an appealing motif. In the case of Life and Times, the current mega work by New York-based theatre company Nature Theater of Oklahoma, the starting point was a phone conversation between co-artistic director Pavol Liska and company member Kristin Worrall. Worrall's brief was simple — tell her life story — and yet in the years since that first request in 2007, the verbatim results of her conversations with Liska have expanded into 15 hours worth of theatrical performance out of an anticipated 24. The art of conversation The casual language of phone conversations has formed the basis of two previous NTOK productions, No Dice (2008) and Romeo and Juliet (2009), and Liska and his partner, co-artistic director Kelly Copper, regularly chat with an impressive cohort of international artists in their podcast, OK Radio. The art of conversation it seems is, for now at least, a recurring principle of the company's process. "My education comes from my encounters with all different types of people," says Liska. "As a child you grow up and you meet this person and this person and this person, and I don't want to shut that process down. I know that I can't talk to everybody, so the people I do choose to talk to, I try to talk with them as deeply as possible. I use conversation as a springboard to unbalance myself, to derail myself. Ultimately, I could just lock myself in the closet and talk to myself, but there would be no resistance. So I use the other person to question my own ideas, to unbalance me and derail my own train of thought, and I do that to them as well." It is this deep process of conversation that provides the wealth of material for NTOK's Life and Times, of which Episodes 1–4 (out of an eventual ten) will be performed at this year's Melbourne Festival. Worrall's life story is not a chronologically linear autobiography, but rather a stream of recollection that fabricates a self-aware state of cause-and-effect as she links events through talking with Liska. The result is, for Liska, a kind of language that "does not belong in the theatre", and one that requires transformation before it is fit for an audience. Bringing theatre to the everyday "The more loose the text is, if it's a meandering conversation about something, the harder we have to work in the opposite direction [to formalise it], otherwise it's invisible," says Liska. A clear example of NTOK's approach to adapting conversational brain-dumping for the stage can be found in the earlier work Romeo and Juliet, which emerged from Liska and Copper calling friends and recording their attempts to recount the plot of Shakespeare's famous tragedy. "In order to make [these recordings] pop and to open them up, we felt like we needed to use a really formal mode of presentation, that over-the-top, cliched Shakespearean performance style," recounts Liska. As a contrast, after the show's curtain call the company then performed Shakespeare's original version of the balcony scene — in the dark, and understated, as the language was already so theatrical. “It just wouldn't be enough to present a phone conversation,” says Liska, “maybe some people who work with documentary theatre are okay with that, but ultimately I sit in rehearsal and I go to every performance and I have to find that it's opening something up for myself. It's not a purely humanistic effort — we're not just presenting the conversation and saying, hey, look at how wonderful people are — it's an aesthetic manifesto and an exploration.” Audiences and the clap Liska is genuine when he talks about the company exploring language through experimentation with aesthetics, and Life and Times already features a manic diversity in its presentation styles from episode to episode, including a couple that depart from traditional audience-actor theatre experiences altogether. "Obviously the audience doesn't talk back," says Liska, "but I want the exchange in the room to be a conversation, and my goal is never to allow the audience to forget that they are playing a role in the event. That's why it's so long — so that all these preconceived notions fall away. Something else happens." While Melbourne audiences will be able to see individual episodes separately, the ideal experience is to front up for the ten-hour marathon and in some way merge meaningfully with Liska, Copper and the gang. “If I have a conversation with you, I don't want you to clap for me at the end,” says Liska. Although there will be a curtain call at the end of the Melbourne marathon session, it's more because the actors end the fourth episode onstage and to not have applause would just feel weird. However, in between each episode, the cast can be found serving food in the foyer. “People can actually talk to them,” says Liska, “rather than do this — CLAP.” The Great Nature Theater of Oklahoma is calling you! There is poetic resonance in this idea of Liska's, given that the Nature Theater of Oklahoma first appeared in Franz Kafka's unfinished novel Amerika as a theatre company that had a place for absolutely anyone who came along. It also rings true with Liska's experience of Eastern European theatre-makers taking action for their community — not simply making art to be consumed. For Liska the important thing is to "stay open and playful and flexible. I wouldn't say that I'd never do a Chekhov play again, or a Greek tragedy — there just has to be a really strong reason to do something, I think that's what the audience finds inspiring.” For now such inspiration may dwell in a humble, late-night phone conversation, but it's anyone's guess under which pebble NTOK's next epic may be found. Life and Times is on at the Arts Centre Melbourne from October 22-26. Tickets are available from the Melbourne Festival website.
If you like your live tunes just as much as you enjoy sipping vino and tucking into top-notch eats, then here's one for the calendar: a brand-new festival combining food, drink and entertainment set against the picturesque backdrop of Albury. From the minds that gave us BeerFest Australia, Sip & Savour Albury is set to make its debut from Saturday, February 4–Sunday, February 5. Headlining the musical side of things, you've got renowned acts like Kate Miller-Heidke, Josh Pyke, Lisa Mitchell and Telenova, treating audiences to tunes both new and classic. Enjoy the sounds from the comfort of your picnic rug or while kicking back in one of the al fresco lounge zones. [caption id="attachment_884250" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Josh Pyke[/caption] There's a whole lotta sipping to be done, too, with producers like Bridge Road Brewers, Michelini Wines, Bright Brewery and Brown Brothers showcasing their finest, and even pouring complimentary tastings. Adult tickets to the QEII Square fest start from $55.35, including three hours of tastings — and you'll savour the region's diverse food scene, too, as you graze your way through an array of local produce and restaurant fare. There'll also be plenty of take-home goodies for those keen to stock their pantries. MasterChef Australia alum Hayden Quinn will be making a special guest appearance, hosting a series of demos and masterclasses heroing some of those top local ingredients. And if you want to get even more hands on, check out the program of workshops and classes led by local experts. Top Image: Jo Duck
There's a line of dialogue, right towards the end of Obvious Child, when Donna (Jenny Slate) bemoans the overabundance of romantic comedies on TV. "I just hate that kind of film," she quips. "I just don't connect." In that moment, it's as if writer-director Gillian Robespierre is talking to the camera herself. A smart, candid, foul-mouthed and thoroughly charming subversion of sugary romantic fantasies and stereotypical representations of women on screen, Obvious Child ranks among the very best in the much maligned rom-com genre. It's also the funniest movie about abortion you're ever likely to see. Indeed, Robespierre's script feels largely like a response to the weirdly conservative position espoused — intentionally or not — in pregnancy comedies like Juno and Knocked Up, in which abortion is quickly brushed over for a more conventionally heartwarming alternative. In stark contrast, when Donna finds out she's pregnant a few weeks after a drunken hook-up, the best course of action is clear. An aspiring stand-up comic in her late-twenties with no steady source of income and no real sense of direction, there's just no way on earth Donna's ready to have a child. What's refreshing about Obvious Child isn't just the path that our heroine takes, but how resolutely she sticks to it. There no handwringing or moralising about her decision, because it's obviously the most responsible thing to do. The frank, open-minded approach with which the film treats not just pregnancy, but sex and female sexuality in general, is the sort of thing that mainstream movies could use more of. Which isn't to say that the film is preachy. Save for a frustrated rant from Donna's roommate (Gaby Hoffmann) about the "weird old white men in robes [who] get to legislate our cunts," Obvious Chid avoids the prickly politics of abortion. This movie is primarily a comedy, and a pretty hilarious one at that. Best known for her recurring role on Parks and Recreation and a short-lived stint on SNL, Slate gives what is easily one of the breakout comic performances of the year. It's clear from Donna's stand-up that she's a person who says whatever's on her mind — which tends to mean a lot of talk about sex and bodily functions. And yet, somehow, the film also manages to be sweet. Even as Donna prepares to terminate the pregnancy, she finds herself growing closer to the baby's father, the endearingly white-bread Max (Jake Lacy). They don't make for the most conventional pairing, admittedly. But then again, not being conventional is what makes the movie so great in the first place. https://youtube.com/watch?v=r2GN3wdfqbA
While hot and smoky Korean barbecue (fondly known as KBBQ) might seem like an ambitious couch experience at first, thanks to new local venture Kravin Korean — you can now enjoy this culinary endeavour with a click of a button. The niche food delivery service was born during lockdown, out of nostalgia for the inimitable smoky KBBQ experience. Since launching in February this year, Kravin Korean has been busy sating barbecue cravings by delivering its signature meal kits across Melbourne. The kits are designed to feed two or four diners, each stocked with four 'banchan' (side dishes), three different meat cuts, a trio of sauces and loads of veggies. If needed, you can even rent out a portable gas stove and grill, which you simply leave on your doorstep the next day for contactless collection. On the menu, expect a curation of Korean classics; from ready-to-grill meats like pork belly and soy beef bulgogi, to sides including spicy fish cake and corn salad. House-made dipping sauces include a traditional ssamjang, sesame oil and a special soy creation. But of course, as fans will know, the KBBQ experience goes beyond just the food — and Le and Kim are keen to help diners recreate all those other key aspects, too. Each kit comes with a QR code that scans through to a series of how-to guides and videos showing you how to set up and prepare your Korean feast authentically. You'll get access to a curated K-Pop playlist to groove to while you eat, as well as fun, easy-to-follow tutorials for a selection of popular Korean drinking games — stock up on some soju and make a night of it. [caption id="attachment_824031" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jess Moses[/caption] Images: Jess Moses and Levi Andrew Momo
The concept of free fried chicken is always cause for excitement, but especially so when it's coming at you hot, courtesy of an international cult favourite. And this weekend, that's exactly the kind of finger-lickin' goodness headed our way, when Korean-born chicken joint Bonchon celebrates the opening of its first ever Australian store with a generous fried chook giveaway. This Saturday, January 15, swing past the new Bonchon outpost at Craigieburn Central between 2–5pm and you'll be rewarded with a three-pack of crunchy house wings. It's good stuff, too, with the brand famed for its signature sauces — spicy and soy garlic — and original recipe crispy chicken that's double-fried to order. Having launched in Busan, South Korea, in 2002, Bonchon now has over 370 global outposts under its belt. Its new Melbourne restaurant is set to be the first of many Aussie stores launching in the coming years.
It's safe to say Gami Chicken and Beer has secured its status as one of Australia's go-to fried chicken joints, slinging its signature Korean-style chook from 26 locations across the country. Now, it's set to launch four stores in Melbourne's west, kicking off with one in Werribee. And, to celebrate, Gami is giving Melburnians a few very good reasons to jump on board, handing out a whopping 1000 pieces of its boneless fried chicken — for free. These fried chicken morsels — RSPCA-approved and rocking Gami's signature blend of 17 herbs and spices — will be up for grabs at midday and again 5pm, on both Tuesday, December 15 and Wednesday, December 16 at the new location. The chain has yet to mention any restrictions, such as one piece per person, but there will only be 250 pieces available at each session — so you should head in early if you want a freebie. Once you're hooked, you're probably going to want to schedule a return visit pretty quick, to try other Gami favourites like the chicken spare ribs, the vegetarian chicken and the aptly named Potato Heaven, featuring three layers of cheesy potato goodness, and chilled Gunbae lagers from Brunswick's Thunder Road Brewery. And if you can't make it down for a free piece, the Watton Street store is already open for lunch and dinner daily. Gami Fried Chicken Giveaway runs from 12–12.30pm and 5–5.30pm each day.
Thanks to the Koorie Heritage Trust, Federation Square will transform into a bustling hub of music, market stalls and live performances from 10am–3pm on Saturday, December 14. And it's all free. On the performance front, expect Djirri Djirri and Ngargee dancers, music from the Pirritu Duo, and poetry and storytelling by Barry Gilson. You'll also expect DJ sets from ENOKiCurry, Randals Dad, DJ PGZ and Cerulean. And, of course, the market. The Koorie Krismas market is a blessing if you're after a gift for those hard-to-buy-for people in your life, with its abundance of stalls championing crafts, art, and design from the Victorian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Have a look around and enjoy the talent on show — you're bound to spot something magical to bring home. And if you're feeling crafty, you can try your hand at wreath-making, designing your own Christmas card or getting around some badge-making.
From a flaky raclette cheese and bacon croissant tart to a light honey-hojicha number, Head Chef Gareth Whitton is always dreaming up new specials for the pastry cabinet at Tarts Anon. His latest creation is herbaceous and comes from an unlikely source of inspiration — the forest green Birkenstock kitchen clogs that he's worn throughout most of his career. This weekend, Tarts Anon's Richmond bakery has joined forces with Birkenstock to create an exclusive $12-per-slice thyme, chocolate and verjus tart. The tart nods to Whitton's Birkenstock Boston clogs in Thyme with swirls of thyme-chocolate mousse and dusted with cocoa in Birkenstock's signature tread pattern. It also mirrors the green found throughout the venue — a fit-out designed alongside Nathan Toleman, the hospo heavyweight behind gems like Top Paddock, Lilac Wine Bar and Hazel. Plus, three Golden Tickets will be hidden beneath lucky slices, each worth a $250 Birkenstock Australia online voucher. Tarts Anon will be serving up its limited edition thyme, chocolate and verjus tart with the chance to win a $250 Birkenstock online voucher from September 12–14. Images: supplied
I scream, you scream, we've all been screaming for ice cream — and, this February, our prayers are being answered once again. Victoria's annual Ice Cream Festival is back, taking place across three of the state's chocolateries and ice creameries: in the Yarra Valley, along the Great Ocean Road and on the Mornington Peninsula. You may want to prepare the smelling salts, because each venue will be trotting out 12 new flavours a day between Wednesday, February 8–Sunday, February 19... for 12 days. That's 144 unique flavours all up, including scoops like negroni sbagliato, buttered croissant and dulce de leche cheesecake, plus Canadian maple waffle, and yuzu and peach. For $24, you can book into a tasting session that covers 12 of the day's flavours at once — or you can just rampage around the place like a deranged, hungry Pac-Man and try to taste 'em all from $5.20 a scoop. What's more, each of the venues — in Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery in Yarra Glen, Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery in Bellbrae and Mornington Peninsula Chocolaterie and Ice creamery in Flinders — has lovely grounds for you to lounge around in while enjoying your treats. Plus, you can grab a picnic box loaded with 12 mini scoops for $24. The view may well be lost on you as you slide into a sugar-induced happiness coma, but that's okay. They aren't inventing all those flavours for you to not try them.
Fancy hitting the road for a camping adventure, but don't have quite the right wheels for it? Before you fork out the big bucks to hire from a rental company, meet Camplify — a new Aussie sharing platform for campervans and RVs that works a bit like Airbnb. Using the peer-to-peer rental platform, owners can rent out their vehicles when they're not in use (read: gathering dust in the garage). As for hirers, they can get a taste of caravanning life whenever they like, without actually having to own one themselves. Each party has a Camplify profile, owners approve each hire and reviews are exchanged via the platform. The prices are reasonable too, starting at around $30 per night for a standard camper trailer. A caravan will cost you about $80, while that top-of-the-line luxury motorhome you hire for a romantic weekend getaway might see you stretching to $500. For minimal effort, you can even have the vehicle and gear set up for you at a campsite or holiday park, so it's holiday-ready as soon as you rock up. Insurance is covered in the cost, as well as Australia-wide roadside assistance from Camplify's mates at NRMA. Share your own caravan, or start planning that camping trip, over at Camplify.
Melbourne's longest running improv comedy night, The Big HOO-HAA! have long been putting audiences in stitches thanks to their virtually unmatched wit and punchlines. Founded in Perth in 2002 by comedian Sam Longley, since 2010 The Big HOO-HAA! have been providing Melbourne audiences with an alternative way to get their laughs. Pitching two teams, The Hearts and The Bones, against each other, they fight it out for the biggest laughs with only a few props and audiences suggestions to draw from. With the audience choosing the winner by popular vote, the team's are made up of the city's comedic geniuses who put their combined talents together for a fast paced night of comedy. Tucked away off Little Collins Street at The Butterfly Club, the quirky surrounds provide the ideal eccentric environment to match the on-stage outrageousness.
Get fancy with canapés and matching frothies at Good Beer Week's Hopped High Tea. Hosted by The Metropolitan Hotel, this decadent affair will feature an array of delectable treats, including fried chicken ribs with jalapeño mayo, cocktail sandwiches with blue swimmer crab, chilli fried prawns with lime and mint, and chocolate and cardamom tarts with pecan toffee shards. The team from Mountain Goat will take care of the drinks, which will include a number of beer cocktails. Of course, it wouldn't be high tea without freshly baked scones, served here with Imperial Stout cream and lashings of blackberry jam.
2020 didn't bring much that sparked joy, but it did let Sydneysiders wander through a large-scale, multi-sensory Vincent van Gogh exhibition that projected Dutch master's works onto walls, columns and floors. In 2021, art lovers will be able to repeat the feat, this time with a heap of French Impressionist masterpieces — because Monet & Friends — Life, Light & Colour is heading to town from March. The idea behind Monet & Friends is the same as its predecessor. It stems from the same team as well. As you wander around the Royal Hall of Industries in Moore Park from Friday, March 12, you'll feast more than just your eyes on huge projections of Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne and Edgar Degas' work. Light, colour, sound and fragrance are also all part of the exhibition, which is designed to make you feel as if you're walking right into the hefty array of paintings. The list of 19th- and early 20th-century artists showcased goes on, too, including Édouard Manet, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Berthe Morisot, Alfred Sisley and Mary Cassatt. Also featured are Gustave Caillebotte, Armand Guillaumin and Henri-Edmond Cross, plus Paul Signac and Georges Seurat. Once more, the project is the brainchild of Melbourne-based Grande Exhibitions, which, for the past 16 years, has hosted immersive exhibitions and gallery experiences in over 145 cities around the world. The company also owns and operates Rome's Museo Leonardo da Vinci. For Monet & Friends, it's once again using state-of-the-art technology that combines 40 high-definition projectors to create multi-channel visuals, all while a classical musical score accompanies the vibrant colours in cinema-quality surround sound. When you're peering at pieces by the 15 featured artists, you'll be doing so in a socially distanced setting — with visitor numbers restricted to maintain enough space (which will exceed the one person per four-square-metres required by New South Wales' COVID-19 rules). So, that means that you'll have less company than you'd usually expect at a big exhibition of French Impressionist art. It also means that sessions are probably likely to get booked out quicker than normal, though.
If you're guilty of assuming the so-called 'rock star lifestyle' is one of grandeur, dolla dolla bills and Nyan Cat-emblazoned Purraris, or have ever accused a band of 'selling out' for working alongside a commercial brand, you might want to see this. The Truth About Money in Music is a brand new mini-doco featuring the likes of Remi, James from Violent Soho, Hey Geronimo, Millions, KLP, The Cairos and many other Australian artists who are doing tremendous work on minimal budgets. Brisbane-based film director, Dan Graetz, is at the helm of this operation. The idea came to life after Graetz pitched the idea to Jack Daniels, who were looking to support creative music projects. "I pitched this documentary around musicians, brands and honesty," says Graetz. "It was great they liked it and even better that they gave me the freedom to stay true to the concept. This is the result." https://youtube.com/watch?v=XR-RA-vpm8s Graetz knows the musician's financial struggle all too well, not only through working closely with artists on music videos but also through his own creative pursuits. "In creating music videos over the past four years, my team and I have made fireworks, gutted cars, cloned humans and more — usually on a shoestring — to help new talent stand out against cute kittens, dancing babies and big budgets," Graetz says. The film interestingly sees artists like Kate Miller-Heidke talk about her move from a major label and the restrictions that came from it, in comparison to working with brands who facilitate collaboration and creative possibilities. The overarching message seems to be that if a company wants to back you because they like what you're about as you are, then why the hell not let them give you a hand. Obviously, no one was born yesterday and a JD-shaped product is being plugged here, but it's hardly 'selling out' when the bigwigs don't want you to change a thing. This is just the first chapter for the Jack Daniels Future Legends project. Expect to see the likes of Bloc Party's Kele Okereke, Sable, Motorik, The Griswolds, and The Cairos feature in instalments further down the track. JD is encouraging trailblazers and creative to get in touch if they have a bold and independent music idea that needs support. Pitch your project in 300 words or less to jackdaniels.au@gmail.com. For now, watch The Truth About Money in Music right here and hold off on those rants: https://youtube.com/watch?v=MgZJFu3SHVs
This Mornington Peninsula institution (that's been hatted 16 times, no less) reopened in 2018 as a revamped, more relaxed version of itself. And now, celebrated chef Matt Wilkinson is at the helm as Culinary Captain, steering Montalto's emphasis on sharing plates, enjoying long conversations and soaking up idyllic rural views. On arriving, the first thing you'll notice is the kitchen's stripped-back redesign. The new centrepiece is an asado grill, based on Argentinian parrillas. Providing much of the produce is Montalto's kitchen garden, now expanded to a mighty three acres. To sample its goodness, order the likes of roasted Jerusalem artichoke with crème fraîche and chives ($7), or the bagna cauda with fresh crudités ($12). Meanwhile, all meat on the menu is sourced from nearby producers; from the slow-cooked pork chop teamed with lentils and braised greens ($38), to the grass-fed sirloin featuring pumpkin, and a parsley and cucumber salad ($49). The linen tablecloths have disappeared and in their place are handcrafted tables, made of recycled and sustainable chestnut by Zac Pearton of ZP Woodworks. The restaurant is open Friday through Monday, while the all-weather outdoor piazza is a daily affair, serving produce-driven pizzas, along with Mediterranean-style plates like a prawn gnocchi ($36) and chicken liver parfait with house pickles ($22). Overall, the space has a more relaxed, open feel, making the most of Montalto Estate panoramas, dotted with vines, olive groves and sculptures. While you're there, be sure to check out the cellar door, open each day from 11am–5pm. Images: Karon Photography.
What Maisie Knew is an adaptation of the classic Henry James novella of the same name. Set in modern-day New York, it tells the story of Maisie (Onata Aprile), a seven-year old girl caught in the middle of a game of custody one-upmanship between her divorced parents, rock star Susanna (Julianne Moore) and art dealer Beale (Steve Coogan). Through Maisie's point of view, we see her parents resort to increasingly immature measures for full custody, as Maisie somehow manages to stay calm amongst all the chaos going on around her. Some more positive parental influence comes via Susanna and Beale's new partners, Lincoln (Alexander Skarsgard) and Margo (Joanna Vanderham). (In fact, the True Blood hottie and child star Onata have such a genuine bond it will hit your ovaries hard.) Brought to you by the producers of The Kids Are All Right, What Maisie Knew is touted as "an enchanting drama that explores the tangled complexity and often humorous aspects of contemporary relationships and family life." To celebrate the release of What Maisie Knew on August 22, Madman Entertainment and Papillionaire are giving one lucky reader the chance to get in touch with their inner seven-year-old, on The Sommer, a stylish, fully custom, Boston red, single-speed bicycle with basket, valued at $553, as well as a double in-season pass to see What Maisie Knew. Ten runners up will also receive double passes to the film. To be in the running, all you need to do is email hello@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address.
Melburnians, if shopping and hitting up Christmas events is on your agenda this festive season — and visiting galleries, seeing a show, playing tourist in your own city and heading out for a bite to eat over the summer, too — then you just might be able to travel into the CBD from home for free. The Victorian Government has just announced a huge public transport giveaway, handing out 250,000 vouchers for free travel into the city if you're making your way in for a number of specific purposes. All of the things mentioned above are covered, with the scheme set to run throughout December and January. There'll be 50,000 vouchers available in five different categories: for festive events, to hit up galleries and attractions, for dining, to go to performing arts shows, and for shopping. And, they'll be able to be used on Melbourne's trains, trams and buses, as well as on all regional trains, coaches and buses heading into the city. The aim: to get people out and about, just like all the different vouchers and rebates that've popped up in Victoria after lockdowns over the past two years. To nab a free public transport voucher, you'll need to head to the Public Transport Victoria website from Thursday, December 16. They'll be made available on a first in, first served basis. Your voucher will then be emailed to you and, to show station staff while you're travelling, you can either print it out or display it on your phone — on the date it's valid, of course, from Saturday, December 18. The free public transport vouchers will be available via the Public Transport Victoria website from Thursday, December 16. For further information, head to the Victorian Government website. Images: Josie Withers/Visit Victoria.
Hawker-style dining is nothing new for Melbourne, but it has finally made its way to the Bayside suburbs, with Ms Elwood opening her doors this week. Helmed by Dan Dixon (of Elwood cafe The Joinery), this newcomer takes over the Ormond Road space originally destined to become a second Hanoi Hannah outpost. Opening yesterday, it's promising all the fun, buzziness, and double entendres of Melbourne's other mod-Asian offerings, along with a covetable list of new-school cocktail creations. The bold-flavoured food menu invites punters to 'stay saucy' with its mix of well-loved classics and inventive delights. Soft shell crab pancakes and brisket banh mi head up a selection of quick hits, while the likes of a kombu kingfish bowl, Cape Grim flat iron teriyaki, and shichimi chicken tempt heartier appetites. At the pointy end, sweet treats like matcha doughnuts with yuzu curd and chocolate chilli sauce, and banana sticky rice with honeycomb, offer a modern interpretation of those Asian dessert flavours you know and love. But perhaps most exciting for thirsty Baysiders this summer is Ms Elwood's very nifty cocktail list, a collaborative effort with Yarra Valley's Four Pillars Gin that'll make the whole frosé trend seem so 2016. Expect a genius mash-up of Aussie botanicals and oriental ingredients that stands up beautifully to those bold flavours on the menu. Here, they're upping the ante with a watermelon-laced gin and tonic number, infusing their frosé with gin, and throwing down a frozen G&T creation that'll see you battling those summer sweats in style. Ms Elwood is now open at 24 Ormond Road, Elwood. For more information, visit mselwood.com.
Once again, the City of Darebin is set to be transformed into a playground of creativity and performance, as biannual multi-arts festival Fuse launches into the new season with its spring edition. Descending on streets, parks, venues and galleries across the inner north region from Friday, September 3–Sunday, September 18, the fest will serve up a sparkling program of music, art and more. This instalment kicks off with a free celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island culture known as Ganbu Gulin (meaning 'One Mob'). You'll be welcomed with a sunset Walk on Country, before settling in for an evening of tunes and performance from names like Bumpy, Djirri Djirri and DRMNGNOW. [caption id="attachment_867267" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Djirri Djirri, photo by Wild Hardt[/caption] On September 10, catch a screening of Things Will Be Different — a community documentary project about the now-demolished Walker Street housing estate — complemented by a guided walking tour. A commissioned work by The Parallel Effect will send you on an illuminating journey into another dimension with a chatbot as your guide, while artists Ai Yamamoto and Dan West will be showing off new music at a pop-up immersive AV performance space within the Neon Parlour art gallery. You can catch an exhibition of contemporary Australian-Muslim artists; hit the Northcote Social Club for live tunes from the likes of Sapho, Keli Holiday, and Eliza and the Delusionals; enjoy some laughs at the multi-act comedy night; and unearth fresh talent at a poetry slam. Madam Nightingale delivers an ethereal fusion of sound, art and spoken word; and social enterprise Bridge Darebin hosts a mini-market dedicated to sustainability, featuring zero-waste craft workshops and tasty zero-waste fare. The fun wraps up on Saturday, September 17, with the Fuse Block Party — a free outdoor fiesta featuring live bass tunes, a flea market, costume-making workshops, live mural art and installations, plus a dance sesh courtesy of the No Lights No Lycra crew. [caption id="attachment_867268" align="alignnone" width="1920"] DRMNGNOW, photo by Wild Hardt[/caption] Top Image: Bumpy, photo by Wild Hardt. The Parallel Effect, supplied.
Got a hankering for hot cinnamon doughnuts? The colder weather will do that. Luckily, you can get your hands on a free sweet treat in the coming days, as Donut King is giving away free hot cinnamon doughnuts for National Donut Day on Friday, June 6. There's no catch to speak of — all it takes to score a free doughnut is to head along to your nearest participating Donut King store on the day. There are over 200 locations nationwide, so finding a store filled with tantalising sugary aromas shouldn't be too hard. "The magic of our hot and fresh cinnamon doughnuts bouncing along the conveyor belt and landing in a delicious carousel of sweet cinnamon is the moment we seek to share with our loyal fans every day," says Raquel Hine, Marketing Manager at Donut King. As for what else Donut King is getting up to for National Donut Day, check out the 'Hot Cinni Hotel' — a limited-time collaboration between Donut King and Ovolo Hotels. Taking over suites and several spaces at Ovolo Woolloomooloo in Sydney, expect cinnamon-coloured walls, spice-led cocktails and doughnut-inspired bites for guests and visitors alike.
A good night's sleep is one of life's pure joys — and what better way is there to enhance your year than with a new set of bed sheets or a new mattress. Melbourne-designed Eva Mattress is here to help up your comfort level with its Easter sale. It's doing $50 off sheets and more than $100 off mattresses — and that's just the start. Up until 10am on Tuesday, April 6, the local Aussie retailer is offering big discounts so you can ensure you're nice and cosy each night before winter rolls around. Expect $125 off its Eva mattress, $50 off the Eva pillow, $50 off Eva hemp linen and $50 off timber bed frames. The brand's award-winning mattress-in-a-box has been engineered as a hybrid, which means it combines the comfort of memory foam with the support of pocket springs. The memory foam pillow uses activated charcoal to keep you cool and dry throughout the night. The timber bed frame, winner of a 2020 Good Design Award, has been certified by the Forrest Stewardship Council, meaning it's made from sustainably sourced timber. If you do spring for the mattress, sheets, pillow or bed frame, they come with a 120-night free trial, so you can be sure they'll help you get a good night sleep before you commit. Also, all mattress orders come with a 12-year warranty, ensuring you'll be sleeping pretty for years to come. Browse the store and pick up a discount. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Are you feeling stressed about the end of the world? If yes, you might want head to this Next Wave event. An immersive live art experience incorporating VR technology, Bureau of Meteoranxiety by Perth-based artists Alex Tate and Olivia Tartaglia will allow participants to work through their fears of climate change by exposing them to "experimental visual therapies and sensory remedies" and providing "new language and coping strategies to help stay above the metaphorical and literal flood line". Photo credit: Michael Tartaglia
Beer festivals are becoming increasingly common, but there aren't many that match the lofty standards set by Melbourne's Brewers Feast. Held in the lush surrounds of the Abbotsford Convent, Brewers Feast takes your tastebuds on a hoppy tour with its expansive range of beers and ciders. There'll be over 80 different brews to try from across Australia and highlights include Sydney's Wayward Brewing Co, Jamieson's Wrong Side Brewing and the well-loved Stone & Wood. In addition, there'll be 16 beers brewed exclusively for the festival, made using rare ingredients and brewed in collaboration with malt, hops and yeast supplier, Bintani. When it's time to pause drinking for a well-earned feed, you can choose from Bigger than Texas BBQ, the solid burgs at Ron's Hand Burger and greek donuts from Honey Dee Loukoumades. Alongside food and drink, there'll be a stellar lineup of local music talent to keep you entertained throughout the festival. Local artists, performing across two stages, will take the novel approach of recommending a beverage to enjoy alongside their tunes. The festivities will run from 11am–8pm on Saturday and 11am–5pm on Sunday. You have to pay for general entry ($37.50 on Saturday and $22.50 on Sunday), and you'll have to pay for all your food and drinks on top of that.
For 13 years, marking International Women's Day with talks, panels, workshops and performances about gender, equality and justice has been as easy as attending All About Women. The annual festival arrives each March with a packed lineup — and it's the kind of event where riot grrrl pioneers Bikini Kill can be on the same bill as child actor-turned-I'm Glad My Mom Died author Jennette McCurdy, as happened in 2023; and where Yellowface author Rebecca F Kuang and Roman Empire scholar Mary Beard can also headline the program, as 2024 delivered. In 2025, Kate Berlant and Gina Chick are two of All About Women's big names — and two of the festival's first-announced talents. The full lineup won't release until January, but the event has dropped a few details in advance. Also included now: the fact that the Feminist Roast will return when the fest runs across Saturday, March 8–Sunday, March 9. Berlant is making her first trip Down Under, with the comedian and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Don't Worry Darling and A League of Their Own actor set to debut a new stand-up show. Alone Australia's first-season winner Chick is on the bill fresh from releasing her memoir We Are the Stars in October, and will chat about following your own path, grief and resourcefulness. Overseeing the program this time: the Sydney Opera House Talks & Ideas team, as led by Chip Rolley, alongside 10 News First's Narelda Jacobs and actor and writer Michelle Law. Their festival will open with the Feminist Roast, complete with past All About Women co-curator Nakkiah Lui, All I Ever Wanted Was to Be Hot debut author Lucinda 'Froomes' Price, comedian Steph Tisdell and Aunty Donna collaborator Michelle Brasier taking part. More international and Australian artists, thinkers and storytellers will join the lineup when the full details are unveiled — and there'll be room for plenty given that Sydney Opera House's key feminist festival is back to a two-day run, after expanding to the same length in 2022 and then to three in 2023, before returning to a one-day stint in 2024. "Everyone is in for a treat with never-before-seen comedy from Kate Berlant, an opportunity to plant our bare feet firmly on the ground and find peace of mind with Gina Chick, and the return of crowd favourite Feminist Roast — where much-loved comedians and writers celebrate, and take the piss out of, the movement we love. There's plenty more to come in the new year too, including enriching and challenging events spearheaded by our formidable co-curators," said Rolley. "There is so much power in women and non-binary folks coming together to talk about the issues we are facing, whether that's in our workplaces and homes, throughout our country or the world," added Jacobs. "The events I've co-curated are inspired by hot topics that dominate conversations with the women in my life — from the transformations women undergo at pivotal points in their lives, to the ways modern culture rejigs and repeats old stereotypes. We'll be having some cracker discussions that I'm sure will continue beyond the steps of the Opera House!" noted Law. All About Women 2025 will take place on Saturday, March 8–Sunday, March 9 at the Sydney Opera House. The full program will release in January 2025 — check back here then for further details. Tickets for the just-announced first sessions go on sale at 9am on Thursday, November 28, with pre sales from 9am on Tuesday, November 26, 2024. Head to the event's website for more details. All About Women images: Jaimi Joy, Jacquie Manning and Prudence Upton.
The weather is getting warmer, and we all know what that means: the outdoor cinema season is here. Movie lovers in Melbourne are spoiled for choice when it comes to open-air screens — and from the looks of things that doesn't appear to be changing any time soon. Located at the Gasworks Arts Park in Albert Park, this year's Sunset Cinema kicks off on Wednesday, December 27, and will run until Saturday, January 13. The program skews towards more recent films including Murder on the Orient Express, Justice League, Thor: Ragnarok and Bad Moms 2. They've also put together a top-notch food and beverage offering, in order to keep your stomach from grumbling during the film. Dinner will be taken care of by the folks from the La Revolucion food truck. As for liquid refreshment, the site will have a fully licensed bar, serving 4 Pines craft beers and MadFish wines.
In 2020, we all started paying extra attention to where we've been, in case venues we've visited were also attended by confirmed COVID-19 cases. And, with Victoria now facing another bout of locally acquired cases, frequently checking the state's list of exposure sites is once again a regular part of Melburnians' routines. The state's Department of Health maintains a register of places that positive COVID-19 cases have visited, and urges Melburnians to get tested and/or self-isolate if they've also visited at specific times. But, you can also see all of the venue alerts across the state on an interactive map. Called COVID-19 Near Me, the statewide map gives locations specific hues depending on the action visitors are being urged to comply with, making it easy to see whether or not you must get tested and self-isolate or just monitor for symptoms. For example, red-coloured venues are T1 close contact locations and, therefore, visitors are to get tested immediately and self-isolate for 14 days, even if they receive a negative test. Orange is used for T2 spots, with visitors urged to get a test and self-isolate until receiving a negative result — whereas blue shows lower-risk T3 locations that require visitors to monitor for symptoms and get tested should any appear. At the time of writing, the map was last updated early on Thursday, August 5. Unlike the Victorian Government's pre-existing map for COVID-19 cases by local government area and postcode, this map is not run by the government, but is instead powered by its official data. So, Victorian residents are urged to also check the official Victorian DHHS website if they have any concerns about venues they may have visited. As has proven the case throughout the pandemic, everyone in the state with even mild cold and flu symptoms is encouraged to come forward and get tested for COVID-19. You can check out all existing COVID-19 venue alerts at covid19nearme.com.au. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Victoria, head to the Victorian Department of Health and Services website. Images: COVID-19 Near Me as of Thursday, August 5.
There's a new gin in town and it's pink. And when we say pink, we mean really pink — like, Grease girl gang pink. This delightful concoction will be in glasses for spring and its creators are the master distillers at Bass and Flinders, which you'll find on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria. Dubbed Cerise, the gin gets its pinkness from a blend of cherries and raspberries, which is layered with hibiscus and orange blossom aromas. These ingredients are sourced from farms at nearby Red Hill. All bottles are made in small batches, to keep the gin's high quality and delicate flavour profile. Apparently it will have a slight sweetness, similar to Turkish delight. As with all Bass and Flinders gins, the spirit is based on grapes. "Using grape spirit for gin provides another dimension to the gin's botanicals and adds to the viscosity, texture and flavour — this, combined with seasonal produce, produces extraordinary spirits," says head distiller Wayne Klintworth. The gin will go on sale on September 12. It'll be available for a limited time, only at the cellar door and via the distillery's website. Bass and Flinders have been making unusual gins and other spirits, including vodka, limoncello, grappa and a five-year-aged brandy called Ochre, since 2009.
The dazzling sights and insane aromas of Nepal are returning to the Coburg Velodrome for the third time this autumn. On Sunday, March 17, Momo Fest will celebrate Nepalese culture, Nepalese music and — perhaps most importantly — Nepalese food. The free event will feature more than 30 different varieties of momo (that is, Nepalese dumpling), with momo competitions, vegan momos, goat momos and even brunch momos. There'll also be live music across two different stages, including a bands DJS, roving performers and dancers. And, you can bring your pooch, too — the event is dog-friendly. Entry into the event won't cost you a penny, but you're encouraged to bring along a gold coin donation for the MIT Group Foundation's projects in Nepal, building schools and establishing hospitals in remote areas. Momo Fest will run from midday–10pm.
There are few things in life more exciting than The Skywhale. That cheeky expression, the majestic way it glides across the horizon, those enormous walloping breasts — The Skywhale is not just a novelty. It is a symbol of hope; a reminder to all well-endowed sea mammals that life can and will get better. But it is also a reminder to us: an important community service announcement that giant boobs in the sky are funny. For those who have been somehow left out of the loop on the legend of The Skywhale, the work is a hot air balloon that measures 34 metres in length and 23 metres in height. Commissioned for Canberra's centennerary celebrations in May of this year, the work was designed by Australian artist Patricia Piccinini whose work often deals with this same confluence between the natural and the artificial. Often known for her early work, Protein Lattice (more colloquially known as the one with an ear on the rat), Piccinini is well-regarded in the art world for her exploration of the surreal (see also The Carrier and The Young Family). On Monday December 2, The Skywhale will be tethered to the ACCA Forecourt from 7-9am ahead of a conversation between artist Patricia Piccinini and Creative Director of the Centennary of Canberra, Robyn Archer. Tickets are just $15 (or $8 for students), and the cost will conveniently include a breakfast pastry. While The Skywhale was unsuprisingly met with a divided reception upon its first launch — 'out of touch with community values', 'ugly', 'how is this giant-breasted mutant animal even relevant to our town of roundabouts and lakes?' — Melbourne may provide the loving environment the misunderstood beast so desires. As Robyn Archer once said, "it provokes people, it's passionate and people go 'I don't know what it is, therefore, I'm scared of it' or 'what is it', or 'it shouldn't be there', but [...] life is always about the questions not the given answers". Personally, we think The Skywhale is the breast thing to come out of Canberra for years.
If you're after some art with a bit more bite, be sure to put Flinders Quarter on your hit-list this August. For one month, the CBD pocket's laneways and buildings will be brought to life through augmented reality, all for the Flinders Quarter Augmented Art Walk. Running from Wednesday, August 14 to Saturday, September 14, this interactive experience takes you on a self-guided art adventure — simply grab a copy of the map from participating Flinders Quarter businesses or Metro Tunnel HQ at 125-133 Swanston Street, download the supporting Eyejack app to your smartphone, hit the the 'Launch AR' button and let the tour begin. Spanning nooks and crannies all through Flinders Quarter, the art walk showcases a slew of contemporary works from the likes of Vexta, Chelsea Gustafsson, Alex Mitchell and Adele Varcoe, which are brought to life on your phone with a combination of digital animation and sound. You can revisit the history of fashion and theatre in Melbourne with the glamorous Pink Fit by The Huxleys, or catch Sutu's human-sized set of wings at DoubleTree by Hilton. Jacob Leary's work Stuff in Nature, Nature in Stuff celebrates disruption, while at Young & Jackson's, even the famed Chloe portrait will appear as you've never seen her before.
There's no way you've ever had omakase like that at Ronin. Most Melbourne omakase joints are traditional fine-dining experiences where you delight in multiple courses of artful, meticulously crafted — but seemingly simple — seafood-centric Japanese dishes. The most intimate let you chat with the master omakase chef about the culinary techniques, produce and cultural significance of each dish. It's all about hushed tones and sophistication. At Ronin, Chef Patrick Kwong has no time for such formality. From the moment you sit down at the ten-seat omakase bar, the young chef will beckon you to "get lit" with him and every other guest. He'll likely join you in shooting some tequila and sake throughout the night while the tunes of Taylor Swift, Natasha Bedingfield and Miley Cyrus play in the background. And if you're able to join the second nightly sitting at 8.30pm, it's likely to get pretty rowdy. Vibe-wise, it almost feels like you're at a uni house party. But despite Kwong's friendly laidback attitude, he's incredibly serious about his food. He learned his craft from a Japanese sushi master (who championed the traditional Edo period of omakase) in Malaysia before heading to Sydney, where he worked in several Japanese restaurants. He learned the traditional techniques and customs but had no intention of losing himself within strict codes of how he should behave and what kinds of ingredients he should use. Like Ronin — a type of samurai who had no lord or master — Kwong went on to play by his own rules, deciding when to stick to convention and when to get playful. He started Ronin as a pop-up in Docklands, having to build and dismantle his omakase bar each night. There, he fully honed his rule-breaking style of omakase and became hugely popular. Now Ronin has a permanent location on Little Collins Street (as of December 2023) and it almost immediately books out every time new dining slots are released. If you're lucky enough to get a reservation you'll be treated to 13 courses of outstanding food and, if you're an experienced omakase patron, you'll see how Chef Kwong doesn't just break the rules when it comes to service. He regularly infuses his own Malaysian heritage into dishes — like adding laksa butter to nigiri — while also bringing more contemporary Australian flavours to the experience. For theatrics, he'll even throw glitter on nigiri. But don't let this playful attitude to food fool you. The technique here is next level. And the flavour combos perfectly balanced. Even when he purposely numbs your palate with Sichuan peppers, you'll be keen for more. We could roll through each of the courses and name all the ingredients, but a huge part of the fun at Ronin is just rocking up and going along for the ride, getting a surprise each time Kwong plates up a dish for you. This rising star of Melbourne's food scene takes big swings. And he's absolutely smashing it. If you get the chance to get lit with Kwong, don't miss it. You'll find Ronin at 445 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, open from Tuesday to Saturday. Book a seat at either the 6pm or 8:30pm sittings via the restaurant's website.
Here in Melbourne, we sure love our food and our booze, happy to celebrate some great cooking and a top-notch cocktail list any night of the week. But we're also a city with a strong sense of style and penchant for design, which inspires the creation of some truly stunning spaces; from beautiful bars and luxury hotels, to restaurants as revered for their interiors as for their food. And 2021 has gifted us with some absolute beauties, including an art-filled rooftop hideaway, the long-awaited opening of 80 Collins' most glamorous resident yet, and a hotel pool and lounge bar with million-dollar views. We've pulled together a list of our six favourite spaces that have emerged in Melbourne this year. These are the settings that'll win you over with breathtaking visuals, award-winning design work or exciting new areas to explore.
Steak is one of those meals that, no matter what state you might be in, will leave you feeling just a little bit better. Responsible for sating hunger, dealing with low iron issues and just generally making meat-eaters feel like they're in their happy place, a good steak can be just the fix for a cold winter's night (or any other night — or day). Not just the fare of fancy, upmarket places with lush wagyu offerings, steak is more accessible than you think. Many pubs around town do decent steak specials, with trimmings and sides thrown in, too. Luckily for us, our pub food cravings are easily dealt with in Melbourne, with myriad venues cooking up fresh, tasty and non-pretentious pub grub from north to south. If you've a hankering for pub food in the way of hot hunks of meat, we feel you. Along with our mates over at American Express, we've put together a bit of a nightly guide to realise your carnivorous dreams throughout the week. And what's more, you can tap that American Express® Card and reap those points benefits later on, post-beef coma. Got yourself in another dining situation and need some guidance? Whatever it is, we know a place. Visit The Shortlist and we'll sort you out.
We've all been there. It's a 40-degree day and you're hanging out for a cold beverage but you're fresh out and the bottle shop feels like miles away. You can venture out in the hot sun, risking heatstroke or you can sit back, unwind and summon your own personal delivery driver to deliver a chilled frothy right to your door. Alcohol delivery service Jimmy Brings is making that second option a reality that won't break the bank, with $2 delivery throughout summer. Jimmy Brings offers delivery on a range of alcohol, including summer standards like Furphy, Corona and Four Pines, an expansive wine list, plus gin, vodka, whisky and Aperol just to name a few. The beverage that's all the rage right now, seltzer, is also available if you find yourself in need of an on-demand White Claw. If you're out of snacks or need a bag of ice for your esky, Jimmy Brings can save you a trip to the servo, too, by delivering Red Rock Deli chips, Lindt chocolate, Red Bull, limes, Berocca and ice to your door. It's a great solution to keep in your back pocket for the inevitable time when you forget to bring ice to a barbecue or are out of Red Bull before a night out. To get cheap delivery, you'll need to download the app and enter the code 'summer' — then your delivery fee will fall to just $2. To check if delivery is available in your area, browse the menu and download the app, head to the Jimmy Brings website. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
