A time-capsule within touching distance of Melbourne CBD, Como House is an elegant example of the aristocratic lifestyle of the 1850s. Immaculately preserved following the National Trust of Australia's acquisition of the property in 1959, nowadays Como House and its stunning gardens is one of the best places to enjoy a relaxing Sunday picnic in the sun. Located high above the Yarra River in the backstreets of South Yarra, don't forget to take a break in the shade and explore the opulent interior of the house. The Armytage family owned the property for 95 years and much of their personal furniture remains on display around the house. Taking a stroll through Como House and around the extensive gardens provides a rare insight into the lives of the wealthy elite throughout the 19th century – a stylish backdrop to any bone-idle Sunday layabout. Image: Letícia Almeida.
A new specialty Japanese tea shop has opened up in Collingwood and is equipped for all your tea-related needs. Leading Japanese tea retailer Harvest Index has partnered with Melbourne-based brand designers, Benjamin Wright and Lachlan Sinclair to bring its teas — and tea drinking ways — to Melbourne for the first time. With tea ceremonies and expert pouring tastings, this 40-square-metre store is more of a laboratory than your traditional tea shop. The interiors, with hints of stainless steel, hardwood and the significant stone bar, are intentionally minimalist — like something you'd find in Tokyo, or around the corner at Cibi. The muted whites and huge forest-green velvet curtain (hiding 150 kilograms of rare Japanese tea) work together to achieve the Japanese concept of yuttarri — that is, to feel relaxed. Harvest Index's first collection offers six certified organic varieties of Japanese tea from the Uji region in Kyoto: matcha, hojicha, sencha, genmaicha, mizudashicha and wakocha. You can sample all of them from the shop's large tasting bar or take some home from dispensers lining the opposing wall. The studio is keen to educate the public on the importance of tea and even flew in Harvest Index's tea ceremony specialist, Rie Ohnuki, to co-manage the studio, demonstrate brewing techniques and bring the spiritual pastime of tea ceremonies to Melbourne. The shop also sells hand-crafted ceramic tea cups, bamboo teaspoons and speciality brewing equipment from Hario Japan — basically, everything you need to get started. If you're a tea aficionado or new to the whole thing be sure and go for a tasting experience at Harvest Index to find the perfect tea for you. It's free, you just have to book here.
Once you've tried a Turkish-style ice cream sandwich, you may never go back to a "regular" one. Using stretchy Maras ice cream (the stuff can be eaten with a knife and fork) Northcote cafe Cuppa Turca serves the icy treat between two slices of crispy hand-rolled baklava. It's then topped with hot pink Persian fairy floss. For those who are after something a little less extra, there's a more tame version served between two thin wafers. Or you can just have a scoop on its own. Whatever you pick, order it with a cup of coffee made on hot sand.
There's a reason the suburbs are such great fodder for writers. The suburban street is a meeting point of public and private. It's a place where we recognise faces, but don't remember names; a place where new picket fences, flaking weatherboards, and unkept gardens work to keep our stories separate but end up uniting us in small and incidental ways. Neighbourhood Watch is grounded in these dual ideas — a story of lives once lived parallel colliding in small, incidental, and often meaningful ways. Understandably, Neighbourhood Watch is first and foremost a character study. Once the barricades of suburban isolation are broken with a few awkward trips to the curb for bin night, we're let into the private lives of two purposefully opposing protagonists. There's Catherine (Megan Holloway), a struggling young actress and altogether flimsy stereotype of the troubled millennial. Then Ana (Robyn Nevin), a headstrong Hungarian migrant who lives alone with her ravenous German Shepherd, Bella, after surviving a World War and outliving two husbands. No prizes for guessing who steals the show. Ana, based on a real acquaintance of the playwright Lally Katz, is a spectacularly loveable character. Always giving advice and sharing stories, her broken English and obtrusive confidence give dark humour to a character with a sad and familiar story. Ana is the neighbour we have all had at one time. The old lady across the street that wants to have "just one" coffee with you. As Catherine deals with her own personal trauma she forms an unlikely friendship with Ana, becoming the child (or grandchild) she never had. Tales of Ana's past are then told expertly through the aid of minimal sets or props and a revolving stage which is utilised for dynamic shifts between scenes and great tension in one particular moment of conflict. More so, the lighting design by Damien Cooper is superb, creating both intimate moments of focus, and surreal looming shadows that linger above the figures as reminders of Ana's past oppressors. In comparison to such grandeur, Catherine's back story seems underdeveloped and, due to no real fault of Holloway, the young character gets lost alongside the magnificent presence cast by both Nevin and her feisty alter-ego. Nonetheless, the relationship between the women feels both genuine and unique and the story is rich with the injection of Ana's stories. The remainder of the cast, too, add various forms of comic relief and authenticity through their varied portrayal of characters past and present. The main problem, if you are going to have one, is with the obvious trajectory Katz shoots for here. The unlikely friendship of the main characters and the obvious focus on lesson learning will be heartwarming to some, and overwhelmingly twee for others. Though, even if you leave unsatisfied with the story, the masterful creation of character will make up for it. Nevin's bittersweet and fierce portrayal of Ana is undeniable — a show unto itself.
For 69 years, the Sydney Film Festival has screened and celebrated the latest and greatest in international cinema in the Harbour City. Since 2009, it has also handed out a prestigious award to the absolute best of the best. The list of flicks that've won the fest's Sydney Film Prize for "audacious, cutting-edge and courageous" movies is impressive, including everything from Nicolas Winding Refn's Bronson and Only God Forgives through to Bong Joon-ho's Parasite. Now, at the 2022 festival, Lukas Dhont's Close has joined them. Fresh from nabbing the Grand Prix at this year's Cannes Film Festival, Dhont's sophomore feature has picked up this year's SFF $60,000 gong from a lineup of 12 contenders. Close dives into a teenage friendship between two 13-year-olds that's tested when they're teased and taunted about their closeness by their classmates — and also marks the filmmaker's second movie to screen at the Sydney fest, after Girl in 2018. "I want to express my incredible gratitude for the recognition that our film Close receives at this year's Sydney Film Festival. Thank you to the festival for expressing its love for the film, the jury for choosing it among all these outstanding pieces, and its first Australian audience for opening hearts and spirits to a film that comes from deep within," said Dhont. "We wanted to make a film about friendship and connection after a moment in time where we all understood its necessity and power. I decided to use cinema as my way to connect to the world. And tonight I feel incredibly close and connected to all of you." This year's Sydney Film Prize was decided by a jury comprised of Australian actor David Wenham (The Furnace), the SFF Official Competition Jury President, plus Jennifer Peedom (director of River and Sherpa), Mostofa Sarwar Farooki (the Bangladeshi filmmaker behind No Man's Land, which screened at SFF 2022), Semih Kaplanoğlu (the Turkish director-producer of Commitment Hasan, also screening at this year's SFF) and Yuka Sakano (Executive Director of Tokyo's Kawakita Memorial Film Institute). In winning the Sydney Film Prize, Close follows in the footsteps of the aforementioned Parasite, the 2019 recipient, as well as fellow past winners There Is No Evil (2021), The Heiresses (2018), On Body and Soul (2017), Aquarius (2016), Arabian Nights (2015), Two Days, One Night (2014), Only God Forgives (2013), Alps (2012), A Separation (2011), Heartbeats (2010), Bronson (2009) and Hunger (2008). Announced as the Sydney Film Prize-winner at SFF's 2022 closing ceremony, Close is just one of this year's award recipients. The street dancing-focused Keep Stepping won the $10,000 Documentary Australia Foundation Award for Australian Documentary, while Filipino doco Delikado nabbed the fest's second-ever $10,000 Sustainable Future Award. Also, the $20,000 Deutsche Bank Fellowship for First Nations Film Creatives went to filmmaker and performer Kylie Bracknell (Fist of Fury Noongar Daa), and film composer Caitlin Yeo (Wakefield, Valerie Taylor: Playing with Sharks) received the $10,000 Sydney-UNESCO City of Film Award. And, in the Dendy Short Film Awards, Donkey won the Yoram Gross Animation Award and the AFTRS Craft Award, while The Moths Will Eat Them Up scored the Dendy Live Action Short Award and the Rouben Mamoulian Award for Best Director. Four shorts were highly commended, too: 2166 in the Yoram Gross Animation Award field, Ghosted in the Dendy Live Action Short Award category, and Stonefish and Yao Yao Goes to Little Bay for the Best Director prize. The 2022 Sydney Film Festival ran from Wednesday, June 8–Sunday, June 19, with the festival screening four days of encores until Thursday, June 23.
Summer may be well and truly done and dusted, but spritz season is kicking on strong at Richmond's Baby Pizza. In fact, the venue is serving up a fresh series of daily aperitivo specials to see you happily sipping through autumn. From 4–6pm each day, Baby is slinging serves of Aperol and sbagliato rosa for $9.50 a pop. Otherwise, part with $6.50 for a Peroni Rossa or $14 for a glass of Castelli Mt Barker pinot grigio instead. If you're also feeling peckish, you'll find plenty to love about the aperitivo food menu: house-made focaccia with mortadella, buffalo mozzarella and green olive; fritto di polenta (parmesan-crusted polenta with aioli); gnudi di ricotta with roasted red pepper and sage; and pizzette with anchovy, San Marzano tomato and basil. Walk-ins are welcome, though you can make a booking online if you want to be sure of nabbing a table.
White Night's hustle and bustle is back again — and, because one evening isn't enough, it's tripling its duration. Called White Night Reimagined, the revamped festival will take over the city with installations, music, performances and other one-off cultural happenings, including a subterranean bar underneath Federation Square. Fancy joining in the fun, but avoiding the huge crowds? From Thursday, August 22 to Saturday, August 24, you can climb down to Fed Square's depths, all as part of its second Sensory Underground pop-up. The first one, an immersive restaurant scheduled for the end of July, has proven such a hit that it'll return as a bar. Think futuristic lights, sensory installations and plenty of drinks, all beneath street level. With its feast of sights, sounds, scents, textures and tastes, the White Night Reimagined Asahi After Dark Bar also forms part of Fed Square's Anything But Square Festival, so you won't be lacking in things to do over the jam-packed three days. To find the space, you'll need to enter through Platform 13 at Flinders Street Station. Then, once inside, you'll sip brews surrounded by light installations by artist Kit Webster, listen to music by English electro musician Rival Consoles, watch performances by Paul Findlay and immersive yourself in a virtual reality wellness spa by local tech studio Phoria. Tickets cost $20 per person for a two-hour visit, with the White Night Reimagined Asahi After Dark Bar running three sessions each evening: from 7–9pm, 9–11pm, and 11–late. Images: courtesy Kit Webster.
It's been home to David Lynch's eerie filmscapes, Yayoi Kusama's infinity and obliteration rooms, Gary Carsley's projected jacarandas and Patricia Piccinini's forest of flowers that aren't quite flowers. Soon, it'll welcome a riverbed, a snowman and a suspended installation that visitors can climb through, too. Yes, Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art loves an immersive installation — and it has more in store for 2020. Fancy wandering through a labyrinth of red and black wool? That's on next year's agenda. As part of its just-announced 2020 lineup, GOMA revealed it'll host Chiharu Shiota: The Soul Trembles, a showcase focusing on the Berlin-based Japanese artist and her work over the past quarter-century. In an Australian exclusive, the exhibition comes to Brisbane after recently premiering in Tokyo — and while it won't sit 53 storeys up or come with panoramic views of the city, like it did in Japan, Shiota's string-heavy installations are certain to garner more than a little attention. Fashioned from millions of strands, they resemble weaved, maze-like webs and take up entire rooms. The Soul Trembles is the largest-ever solo exhibition by the artist — and although GOMA hasn't revealed just how much of the Tokyo lineup is coming to Brisbane, art lovers can expect an array of sprawling installations, sculptures and video footage of Shiota's performances, as well as photographs and drawings. Highlighting her fascination with intangible concepts, such as memory, anxiety, dreams and silence, the ticketed display will run from June 27–October 5, 2020. [caption id="attachment_750700" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Chiharu Shiota. b.1972, Kishiwada, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. Uncertain Journey (2016/2019). Courtesy: Blain | Southern, London/Berlin/New York. Installation view: Shiota Chiharu: The Soul Trembles, Mori. Art Museum, Tokyo, 2019. Image courtesy: Mori Art Museum, Tokyo. Photograph: Sunhi Mang.[/caption] After the already-announced Water, which launches this December, The Soul Trembles is the second huge exhibition set to deck GOMA's walls next year — but, as always, there's more to come. In tandem with the Shiota showcase, the gallery will also pay tribute to pioneering Queensland artist Gordon Bennett, hosting the first large-scale display of his work since 2007. And, just a stone's throw away, sibling venue Queensland Art Gallery has two big exhibitions slated for 2020. First, it'll feature a four-month showcase of Mavis Ngallametta's work, highlighting large-scale paintings by the Putch clan Elder. Then, spanning from late 2020 to early 2021, QAG will exhibit an almost five-month survey of documentary photography by acclaimed Queensland-born, Sydney-based photographer William Yang. QAGOMA 2020 PROGRAM: Water at GOMA — December 7, 2019–April 26, 2020. Mavis Ngallametta: Show Me the Way to Go Home at QAG — March 21–August 2, 2020. Chiharu Shiota: The Soul Trembles at GOMA — June 27–October 5, 2020. Unfinished Business: The Art of Gordon Bennett at GOMA — June 27–October 5, 2020. William Yang at QAG — September 19, 2020—February 7, 2021. Chiharu Shiota: The Soul Trembles displays at Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art, Stanley Place, South Brisbane from June 27–October 5, 2020. For further details — or to find out more about the gallery's full 2020 slate — visit its website. Top image: Chiharu Shiota b.1972, Kishiwada, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. In Silence (2002/2019). Production support: Alcantara S.p.A. Installation view: Shiota Chiharu: The Soul Trembles, Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, 2019. Courtesy: Kenji Taki Gallery, Nagoya/Tokyo. Image courtesy: Mori Art Museum, Tokyo. Photograph: Sunhi Mang.
After opening eight Queensland locations in the past two years, announcing plans to launch 50 more Australian stores over the next three years and finally swinging open the doors on its first Victorian Taco Bell just last weekend, the Tex-Mex chain is doubling its Melbourne footprint a mere week later. The second Victorian store is welcoming in hungry patrons on Glenferrie Road from Saturday, December 14. Menu-wise, the usual Taco Bell range will be on offer, complete with burritos, quesadillas, nachos and, of course, tacos. For those dining in, frozen margaritas and a range of craft beers will also be available. https://www.facebook.com/tacobellaus/photos/a.1463337403754522/2632105830211001/?type=3&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARBE3WQojP42qvV9wxvs2Mym4D4ZzhGO8bsYBPPOcOxwVjji3Jg9_vtcyJZSNfHpRZII0Bo-lZKK4KSk2laC-YAgJg7FGV4Lfye3N7xpJIr0o9DB7f73Uz2GhYmqhdxe3j2hdGqcCCit2mZfhmhEZsee0RkgtLJ7ZGVEgN-XrvB0cPp0BP7INRhj4vbE01psyXiLSRImOxGZdC23e71g5R75SDNU-RAI2HqmJd9mfmvM9tkyBGHkROOVEzty56JBU9mvHhvYgBzFEFa30EYWBA6Vhg39UUaJzUVgINmkzw2wKu049mm7iuuyqHf-BfeOtkqSI-LKILUFq86A3PaFVhkItVNf&__tn__=-R Taco Bell's Australian arm has been busy of late. As well as its Victorian outposts, its range of local stores now spans Annerley, Cleveland, North Lakes, Robina, Southport, Logan Central, Townsville and Ipswich in Queensland, plus Newcastle and a soon-to-open site in Blacktown in New South Wales. Given its promises to launch more than 50 across the country, we can expect a few more to open in Melbourne in the upcoming months and years, too. This is, however, Taco Bell's third attempted foray into the Australian market. The chain tried to launch here in 1981 (and was then taken to court by Sydney store Taco Bell's Casa) and again in 1997 — but both attempts were unsuccessful and the brand withdrew. Find Taco Bell at 650 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorne, from 10am on Saturday, December 14.
When Sex and the City scored a sequel series back in 2021, it let fans of the HBO hit reunite with its beloved New York-based characters; however, not everyone was present and accounted for. Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon all returned, as did many of the men in their lives. But Kim Cattrall has been sitting out And Just Like That... — until season two arrives this winter. Variety reports that Samantha Jones is a part of the show's new batch of episodes, albeit just in a cameo. Cattrall (How I Met Your Father) will only be in one scene, chatting with Carrie (Parker, Hocus Pocus 2). And, it's believed that she shot her contribution solo, without interacting with her longterm co-stars. [caption id="attachment_791681" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sex and the City[/caption] As well as dropping that news, And Just Like That... has just released its full trailer for season two. Unsurprisingly, there's no sign of Cattrall. But the sneak peek does explain why John Corbett (To All the Boys: Always and Forever) is reprising his role as Aidan Shaw, adding to the series' parade of Sex and the City faces. Cosmos at the ready, obviously. Your next excuse to sip vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice and lime juice will arrive from Thursday, June 22 on Binge in Australia and Friday, June 23 on Neon in New Zealand. If you've spent any part of the past two-and-a-half decades dreaming about being a fabulously dressed Big Apple writer who seems to do very little work but can still afford a fantasy wardrobe — or if you've just filled it drinking a lot of pink-coloured cocktails — then you'll already be excited. And, you'll know that when the first season of And Just Like That... arrived, it did so 17 years after Sex and the City wrapped up its HBO run. Two years later, the show will explore more of Carrie, Miranda (Nixon, The Gilded Age) and Charlotte's (Davis, Deadly Illusions) lives and friendships in their 50s, when things are even more complicated than they were two decades ago. Season two will also feature Sara Ramírez (Madam Secretary), Sarita Choudhury (Ramy), Nicole Ari Parker (Chicago PD), Karen Pittman (The Morning Show), Mario Cantone (Better Things), David Eigenberg (Chicago Fire), Evan Handler (Power), Christopher Jackson (Space Oddity), Niall Cunningham (Poker Face), Cathy Ang (My Best Friend's Exorcism) and Alexa Swinton (Old), all similarly returning from season one. A reminder: due to Kim Cattrall's absence so far, And Just Like That... has been badged as a "new chapter' in the Sex and the City story, rather than an additional season of the existing 1998–2004 program. Parker, Davis and Nixon are also executive producers on And Just Like That..., alongside Michael Patrick King, who worked as a writer, director and executive producer on the original (and on the two terrible 2008 and 2010 Sex and the City movies). Check out the full trailer for And Just Like That..., season two below: And Just Like That... season two will start streaming via Binge in Australia from Thursday, June 22 — and from Friday, June 23 on Neon in New Zealand. Images: HBO.
Art galleries don't just showcase great works by renowned talents on their own walls. They also loan out their collections, touring them to other sites around the globe. That's great news for Australians, who've been able to check out pieces from London's Tate Britain and New York's Museum of Modern Art in recent years, all without leaving the country. Come 2021, you'll also be able to feast your eyes on two big collections of European masterpieces from two different overseas institutions: from New York's The Met, which is heading to Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art, and from London's National Gallery, which'll take over the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra. The latter, called Botticelli to Van Gogh: Masterpieces from the National Gallery, London, has just been announced — and will hit the Australian Capital Territory from March 5–June 14, 2021. If you were looking for a reason to take a local holiday interstate next year, the NGA has not just one but 60, because that's how many works this huge exhibition will feature. The gallery isn't joking about the showcase's title, either. When you'll be exhibiting Van Gogh's Sunflowers, you can throw around the word 'masterpiece' as much as you like. Other high-profile works include Rembrandt's Self Portrait at the Age of 34, plus Vermeer's A Young Woman seated at a Virginal. And, artist-wise, Titian, Velázquez, Goya, Turner, Renoir, Cézanne, Botticelli, El Greco, Constable, Van Dyke, Gainsborough and Gauguin are all also on the bill. [caption id="attachment_792837" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Vincent van Gogh, Sunflowers 1888, National Gallery, London, Image courtesy the National Gallery, London[/caption] When peering at the exhibition's pieces, art aficionados will be taken through seven important periods in Western European art history, from a range that spans 450 years. That means exploring work from the Italian Renaissance, checking out the Dutch painting of the Golden Age, and feasting your eyes on British portraiture — as well as scoping out pieces from the 17th- and 18th-century Grand Tour, Spanish art from the 17th century, works that focus on landscape and the picturesque, and examining the birth of modern art. When Botticelli to Van Gogh: Masterpieces from the National Gallery, London hits our shores, it'll mark a big milestone, too — as the largest batch of works to venture beyond the United Kingdom in National Gallery's 192-year history. Announcing the exhibition, National Gallery of Australia Director Nick Mitzevich mentioned exactly what you're probably now thinking — that is, that the showcase is a nifty way to see the world in a period when we can't venture far physically. "At a time when Australian audiences are unable to travel overseas, we are thrilled to be able to welcome visitors to Canberra to see this exclusive showcase of world-class art," he said. Botticelli to Van Gogh: Masterpieces from the National Gallery, London exhibits at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra from March 5–June 14, 2021, with tickets on sale now. Top images: Installation view, Vincent van Gogh, Sunflowers, The National Gallery, London © The National Gallery, London; installation view, Anthony van Dyck, Lady Elizabeth Thimbelby and Dorothy, Viscountess, The National Gallery, London © The National Gallery, London; installation view, Giovanni Giralomo Savoldo, Mary Magdalene (far left), The National Gallery, London © The National Gallery, London.
If you know anything about the golden era of Hollywood, then you'll have heard of Edith Head. Today celebrated as the single most significant costume designer in the history of cinema, she spent nearly 50 years working at Paramount Pictures and Universal Studios, dressing the stars and starlets of the era in nearly 1000 movies. She also holds the records for the most Academy Awards won by a woman (eight, by the way — no big deal). The Costume Designer exhibition at Bendigo Art gallery draws from the archives of Paramount, the Collection of Motion Picture Costume Design and private collections, collating over 70 costumes designed by Head from the 1930s to the 1960s. You'll see designs from classic films like Vertigo and Sunset Boulevard and costumes worn by iconic performers including Veronica Lake, Gloria Swanson, Olivia De Havilland, Dorothy Lamour, Jane Russell, Hedy Lamarr, Fred Astaire and Yul Brynner. Costume lovers should definitely make the trip for this rare opportunity to see these seldom-displayed designs. Image: Edith Head and Hollywood, 2017, installation view, courtesy Bendigo Art Gallery.
The King is dead, but his voice lives on. Presented by SPARC Theatre, an ensemble made up of adults living in unstable housing around the City of Port Phillip, Are You Lonesome Tonight? mixes songs with personal stories about loneliness and love in a show inspired by the music of the one and only Elvis Presley. This unique show will run for just three nights, starting Friday, November 20, at St Kilda's Greyhound Hotel. With more than a touch of Vegas cabaret glamour, members of the company will draw on personal history throughout the performance, showcasing their diverse range of experiences and talents. According to artistic director Katie Lockett, SPARC helps to "celebrate and give voice to people who are not often seen or heard...connecting our ensemble to their community, and allowing their creativity to shine". Image: Danny Quinlivan, photo by Rachel Edward.
Keanu Reeves is one of cinema's treasures, and should never be far away from our screens. Since the mid-1980s, across a career that's spanned everything from the Bill & Ted movies and stone-cold masterpiece Point Break through to The Neon Demon and Always Be My Maybe, he thankfully rarely has been. And, seeing him in lean, slick, no-nonsense action-star mode, dispensing with whatever troubles and struggles come his way via impressively choreographed displays, is one of the biggest movie-watching pleasures there is. But only two film franchises have served up just that again and again: The Matrix and John Wick. In the film saga where Keanu knows kung fu, viewers have already been treated to four instalments. In the movies where he plays the hitman that other hitmen fear, the fourth flick is on its way. During San Diego Comic-Con, John Wick: Chapter 4 just dropped its first trailer, in fact. Yes, we're thinking that the assassin is back — again. As all John Wick movies have so far — the first in 2014, John Wick: Chapter 2 in 2017 and John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum all included — this one will follow the formidable killer as he takes on his ever-growing list of adversaries. There's still a huge bounty on his head, and plenty of foes want to collect. That hasn't stopped Wick yet, though, after he got dragged back into the assassin life when a past batch of enemies messed with his dog. If you're thinking that Wick's luck might run out at some point, the new film — which is set to hit cinemas Down Under in March 2023 — understands. "No one, not even you, can kill everyone," Wick is told. But proving that wrong has always been at the heart of this stunt-filled saga. Well, that and increasingly upping the ante on all those action scenes, with Reeves' former stunt double-turned-filmmaker Chad Stahelski at the helm. In the first sneak peek at John Wick: Chapter 4, both Reeves and Stahelski keep doing what they do best, and spectacularly so. That includes hopping around the globe, with Wick seen walking through Paris in winter with the Eiffel Tower looming large, and also getting into sword fights in Japan — and the film also heading to New York and Berlin. On-screen, Reeves is joined by a roster of returning and new John Wick faces. Fellow franchise mainstays Ian McShane (American Gods) and Lance Reddick (Godzilla vs Kong) are back, and so is Reeves' The Matrix co-star Laurence Fishburne after appearing in the past two movies. And, Donnie Yen (Mulan), Bill Skarsgård (Eternals), Hiroyuki Sanada (Mortal Kombat), Shamier Anderson (Son of the South), Rina Sawayama (Turn Up Charlie) and Scott Adkins (Triple Threat) are all set to feature as well. In also excellent news, a fifth John Wick movie is already in the works, because more ass-kicking Keanu is always a great thing. Check out the first trailer for John Wick: Chapter 4 below: John Wick: Chapter 4 will release Down Under on March 23, 2023.
Folks can't stop talking about Christy Tania. Not only is the renowned dessert chef set to bend minds with her 'Floating Ice Cream' creation on tonight's episode of MasterChef, she's also preparing to launch her own permanent dessert shop, Glacé, in Melbourne's Windsor this August. And, as a teaser for the sweetness to come, Tania's treating both Sydney and Melbourne to a sneak peek, hosting dessert pop-ups in each city, from May 25–28. Across four days, sweet tooths will be able to get their hands on two variations of that magical Floating Ice Cream number — one vanilla and cherry cognac, the other chocolate and cherry cognac — when Tania takes over the Omega and Neil Perry Kitchen at the Prahran Market. The chef first popped up in 2013, after famously steering Melbourne dessert bar Om Nom into its first chef's hat within just two months of heading up the kitchen. Since then, her inspired sweet treats have continued to dazzle and astound, both out of the Om Nom kitchen and during a host of MasterChef guest judge appearances, making jealous messes of audiences across the country. As Tania's first permanent solo venture, Glacé promises to be every bit as impressive as the rest of her artisan treats, the contemporary space set to offer a hefty range of frozen desserts and innovative ice cream flavours, crafted with local ingredients. Make a date with Tania's trademark ice cream push pops, with their layers of cake sponge and ice cream. Find Christy Tania's Glacé pop-up from May 25 until May 28, at the Omega & Neil Perry Kitchen, within The Prahran Market, 163 Commercial Road, South Yarra. The Floating Ice Cream will be available each day, from 11am until sold out. Sydney details are yet to be confirmed.
When you think about getting some culture, your first thought might be to dust off the ol' passport and hop on an eyeball-drying flight across the globe. But with tens of thousands of years of rich and complex Indigenous history in Central Australia, it's high time we appreciate the culture present in our own country. We've teamed up with Tourism Central Australia to highlight ten of the most soulful experiences the majestic Red Centre has to offer, from dot-painting against a backdrop of sheer red cliffs to candid conversations with First Nations artists. Want to plan your very own adventure to the Red Centre? Take a look at our handy trip builder to start building your custom itinerary now.
Okay, so it's actually a statue of King Joffrey. But still! Think of the satisfaction! Everyone wants to see that smarmy little ferret face smashed into the ground and now you finally have the means with which to make it happen. Do it for Ned Stark! Do it for Sansa! Do it for that little kid in Batman Begins who had no idea of his evil destiny. The marketing geniuses over at Sky (New Zealand's equivalent of Foxtel) have set up a statue of King Joffrey in the middle of Auckland's CBD and, using the power of social media (for realsies) you can help topple the unlawful ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. Each tweet including the hashtag #bringdowntheking will contribute to a rope around the statue's neck tightening — a slow but inevitable means with which to bring the statue down. The public execution, which is estimated to take around five days, is available to watch via livestream here. Although, it may be a little dull until the final moments. The more entertaining things to keep an eye on at the moment are people's emotive tweets. The North remembers. Filthy Joffrey. #bringdowntheking #GOT — a little bit of ???? (@_magiciscoming) April 3, 2014 You bastard Joffrey!!! #bringdowntheking — Sam Pascoe (@PascoeSam) April 3, 2014 Something tells me these kind of fans really didn't need a marketing stunt to remind them to tune in to the season premiere on April 6.
When the ABC announced that Spicks and Specks would return in 2024 after sitting 2023 out, it was big news, as anything to do with the hit Australian take on the UK's Never Mind the Buzzcocks always is. IRL, here's something just as exciting: the Brisbane-born and -based Not On Your Rider is also back for this year, although it didn't take a year off. On the agenda: playing a music quiz show filled with well-known faces live — and yes, the audience gets to play, too, including in Melbourne in April. You'll be peering at a stage, rather than a screen. You'll be answering questions, of course. And if it has you thinking about pub trivia nights, they don't include The Creases' Aimon Clark — who is also behind Isolation Trivia — hosting, or Patience Hodgson from The Grates and Jeremy Neale from Velociraptor captaining the two teams, let alone a heap of entertainment-industry guests. At past events, guests have included Murray Cook from The Wiggles, Broden Kelly and Mark Samual Bonanno from Aunty Donna, Boy Swallows Universe author Trent Dalton, Agro, Cal Wilson, Ben Lee, Steven Bradbury, Kate Miller-Heidke, Robert Irwin, Ranger Stacey, Craig Lowndes and Tim Rogers. Among the other musicians who've featured, Powderfinger, Dune Rats, DZ Deathrays, Ruby Fields, Ball Park Music, The Jungle Giants and The Go-Betweens have all had members take to the stage. Melburnians can join in on one 2024 date: Thursday, April 18 at Brunswick Ballroom. The event is coming to town for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Here's how it works: Not On Your Rider takes something that everyone loves — showing off their music trivia knowledge — and dials it up a few notches. While the two on-stage teams are always filled with musos, comedians, drag queens and other guests, anyone can buy a ticket, sit at a table and answer questions along with them. The quiz element is accompanied by chats about the music industry, plus other mini games involving attendees. Images: Dave Kan / Bianca Holderness.
Three months have passed in 2023, but Marvel fans have only enjoyed one chance to get their caped-crusader fix so far. The ever-sprawling Marvel Cinematic Universe is reportedly set to keep spreading at a slower rate from now on, in fact; however, both Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Secret Invasion are on their way — and soon. The latter joins the MCU's small-screen slate, alongside WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki, Hawkeye, Moon Knight, Ms Marvel and She-Hulk. The focus: Samuel L Jackson's Nick Fury. The Director of SHIELD and creator of the Avengers Initiative acted as the connective tissue between most of the big-screen franchise's early instalments — if Jackson didn't show up in a Marvel movie back then, was it really a Marvel movie? — but it's taken 15 years since first appearing in the post-credits scene of the original Iron Man for him to gain the spotlight in his own adventure. Secret Invasion itself has been in the works for some time, after first being announced back in 2020, and also dropping a debut trailer in 2022. Now, it finally has a release date: Wednesday, June 21. Mark your diaries, then get excited by checking out the show's latest trailer, which goes heavy on the looming war. The six-episode show will reteam with Fury as a battle is imminent with the shapeshifting Skrulls, Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders, How I Met Your Mother) keeps asking help and his popularity within the MCU is waning. Plenty of other familiar faces pop up, too: Australia's own Ben Mendelsohn (Cyrano) returning as Talos after Captain Marvel and Spider-Man: Far From Home, Don Cheadle (The Wonder Years) as War Machine and Martin Freeman (Breeders) as the CIA's Everett Ross. Will their characters really show up? Or will we really be seeing Skrull impersonators? Obviously, that'll only be answered when Secret Invasion arrives. Because every actor ever has to fit into the MCU at some point, the above cast is joined by a few other huge names as well: Olivia Colman (Empire of Light), Emilia Clarke (Last Christmas) and Kingsley Ben-Adir (One Night in Miami). The story clearly ties into Captain Marvel, which is proving a launching pad for more than a few recent and upcoming MCU chapters, such as streaming's Ms Marvel and big-screen release The Marvels — which teams up Captain Marvel (Brie Larson, Just Mercy), Ms Marvel (Iman Vellani) and WandaVision's Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris, Candyman), and also arrives this year, in November. Fury, and therefore Jackson, did appear in two episodes of the Agents of SHIELD TV show in 2013 and 2014, so this isn't the character's first small-screen outing. Behind the scenes, Kyle Bradstreet (Mr Robot) created Secret Invasion, and writes and executive produces. Check out the latest trailer for Secret Invasion below: Secret Invasion will stream via Disney+ from Wednesday, June 21. Images: Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2022 MARVEL.
Ever watched a film, then wanted to spend more time with the characters? Maybe there’s more to their story you’d like to glean, or events you’d like to see fleshed out. Perhaps you’d prefer one person’s point of view over another. In deconstructing a relationship tinged with tragedy, that’s a choose-your-own-adventure experience The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby can offer. That, and getting a certain Beatles’ song stuck in your head, even though it doesn’t feature on the soundtrack. Writer/director Ned Benson’s first feature is actually three features, with fitting subtitles: Them, Him and Her. The individual parts came first, showing love consumed by grief in a he-said, she-said fashion. Combining and condensing them into one movie was an attempt to make the project more mainstream-friendly. Benson has advised that they can be watched in any order, but only Them is screening in Australian cinemas, with Him and Her available on video on demand. The tale the films tell is that of Eleanor (Jessica Chastain) and Conor (James McAvoy), a couple whose happy days seem long gone. To escape their troubles, she disappears from their apartment, moves in with her parents (Isabelle Huppert and William Hurt) and goes back to college. He searches for her then tries to win her back, while struggling to keep his bar open. Though shot and edited like memories of the past rather than living in the present, it’s a simple, emotional story of fading romance and misfortune seen many times before — “all the lonely people, where do they call come from?” and all that. Them works fine as a standard, standalone relationship drama, its mood of melancholy leaving a firm imprint, and its excellent lead performances by Chastain and McAvoy — both close to their career-best — lifting the well-worn material. What’s missing is anything more than broad strokes, in the narrative and about the characters. Them tells us very little, other than the obvious: she’s unhappy, he’s lost without her, they love each other but can’t find a way to move forward together. Supporting players such as Eleanor’s sister (Jess Weixler) and college professor (Viola Davis) and Conor’s best mate (Bill Hader) and father (Ciarán Hinds) also seem flimsy, each just someone to lean on. The merged film sketches an outline of everyone and everything, leaving Him and Her to fill in the gaps. Also absent in the abridged package are differences in perception and perspective. Here, more is more; it is difficult to see Eleanor and Conor’s varying takes on their marriage and its downfall when it’s all smashed together. Not the broad strokes, of course, but the detail. Showing how they each view the same events, exchanges and conversations in distinctive ways isn’t just a gimmick — it’s crucial in understanding the characters and the scenario. In that respect, perhaps Them does exactly what it is designed to do: whet the appetite, spark fascination and inspire viewers to seek out the rest of the story. That’s certainly our recommendation. There’s a familiar tale told well, shot stylishly and acted with aching insight in The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby, as long as you get the whole picture.
Two of our city's most dynamic arts organisations — Carriageworks and Sydney Dance Company — are joining forces again to give up-and-coming choreographers a platform to showcase their work. Running every year since 2014, New Breed is an initiative supported by philanthropic organisation The Balnaves Foundation and is an ongoing collaborative commitment to nurturing Australia's next generation of performers and artists. Now in its sixth year, it boasts a successful track record of recipients going on to do national and global tours, picking up many awards along the way. So, this is your chance to catch the new wave of talent before the rest of the world. This year's program features a powerhouse lineup of independent choreographers: Josh Mu (Melbourne), Lauren Langlois (Melbourne), Arielle Casu (Sydney) and Davide Di Giovanni (Sydney). These four dancers, who have decades of training and dozens of accolades between them already, were selected to create original works and were also given the opportunity to work at Sydney Dance Company's studios with some of Australia's best contemporary dancers to bring these creative pieces to life. And now, you get to enjoy the fruits of their labour with an evening of stunning and wildly diverse performances. New Breed 2019 will run nightly at Carriageworks from Thursday, November 28 to Saturday, December 7. Tickets cost $35 per person and can be purchased here. Images: Pedro Greig.
Summer has finally arrived — and Melbourne Museum is set on making the most of those warm days and long, balmy nights. From Saturday, December 24–Sunday, February 26, its Plaza will come alive for Summer of Play, complete with a jam-packed program of fun for young and old. You can take a nostalgic trip back to childhood with a ride on the dazzling Light Seesaw or the luminous swings emblazoned with the words 'I Believe'; both the work of art and technology studio ENESS. Challenge your mates to games of handball and ping pong, with equipment available from the Plaza Play Concierge. And once you've worked up a sweat, hit the ice cream truck, which is scooping museum-inspired treats from 11am Wednesday to Sunday. Meanwhile, weekend evenings are kicking on late for Plaza Nights (January 6–28). From 5pm Friday and 2pm Saturday, nab a spot in the al fresco lounge to enjoy pop-up bars, DJs, food trucks and plenty more ping pong matches. You can also score after-hours access to the museum's Tyama exhibition, book a twilight tour of the newly revamped Dome Promenade (atop the Royal Exhibition Building) and hit a late-night IMAX screening of Avatar: The Way of Water. [caption id="attachment_864171" align="alignnone" width="1920"] 'Tyama', by Eugene Hyland[/caption]
The Sydney Opera House invited Irish singer-songwriter Glen Hansard to sing inside the structure of its iconic sails and the result is stunning. Standing on a metal platform and surrounded by the strikingly brutal concrete ribs of the sails, Hansard sings a beautifully raw version of his acoustic song 'Stay the Road'. Written just across the harbour in the Rocks, 'Stay the Road' is the last track on Hansard's 2015 album Didn't He Ramble, which he's in Sydney at the moment to tour. He's playing – this time inside, rather than above, the Concert Hall – on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 October. The video is part of a series called Nooks and Crannies produced with Intel Australia to showcase the inside of the Opera House. Image: Teresa Tan.
Despite its sleek exterior, Circl Wine House has a warmth that makes it actually feel like home. It opened last year with the goal of making wines accessible to Melburnians and delivers a range of 150 by-the-glass wines. This August, the kitchen serves nostalgic comfort food from the childhoods of its team every Wednesday. Executive Chef Elias Salomonsson usually steers the menu with a Scandinavian focus, but the team members have been adding diverse flair from their heritages all month long. Past weeks have nodded to a Welsh-style Sunday roast, a Hong Kong staple of steamed barramundi and a wintry Swedish plate of braised cabbage and roast pork. [caption id="attachment_1018835" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Pete Dillon[/caption] This week's special turns to Italy: a risotto alla milanese from section waitress Anna Ludovica Miller's childhood in Milan. Expect a sunny, saffron-infused dish that gets its depth of rich and creamy flavours from bone marrow. It's the last of the series for August, but Circl will be releasing September's dishes soon. [caption id="attachment_1018832" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image supplied[/caption]
In A Wrinkle in Time, a giant-sized Oprah towers over the world like a goddess, arching her bejewelled eyebrows, wearing glittering outfits and dispensing advice. Mindy Kaling offers wisdom in quote form, cribbing as much from age-old sages as current popular culture. Meanwhile, Reese Witherspoon is full of goofiness and good cheer — when she's not turning into a flying lettuce leaf. With names like Mrs. Which, Mrs. Who and Mrs. Whatsit, the three actresses play magical beings intent on helping 13-year-old Meg Murry (Storm Reid) find her missing astrophysicist father (Chris Pine). They're also pivotal to this fantastical film. Make no mistake: A Wrinkle in Time is Meg's movie. Based on the 1962 novel of the same name, it's the story of a girl who's not only uncertain in her own skin, but is uncertain about her place in the world since her dad disappeared. When the three Mrs arrive in her life — claiming to know where her father is and eager to spirit her away to a parallel dimension — Meg is instantly wary, even when her super-smart younger brother (Deric McCabe) tries to quell her fears. Meg has other things on her mind as well: she's being bullied by the girl next door (Rowan Blanchard), particularly about her hair, and she's not quite sure why her cute classmate (Levi Miller) suddenly wants to be her friend. Still, she's intrigued by her new celestial pals (as odd and otherworldly as they clearly seem), largely because they're also so sincere and genuine. That's the kind of film that Meg and the Mrs are in, after all: earnest from start to finish, and unashamed to wear its heart on its sleeves and every other piece of multi-coloured clothing in sight. It's the type of movie that really isn't made all that often these days — a movie that owns its brand of sentimental optimism, doesn't try to be anything else, and doesn't really try to appeal to adults either. While A Wrinkle in Time has garnered significant attention thanks to its high-profile stars, it's ultimately an upbeat and affectionate kids' sci-fi/adventure flick through and through. Filled with child-friendly messages about believing in yourself and your intelligence, choosing hope over darkness, and trusting that good will prevail over evil, the film is basically an Oprah-style empowerment lesson for everyone under the age of 15. Pre-teen and teenage girls will be wrinkling their faces with happiness. For those familiar with the book, this shouldn't come as a shock. The source material has been considered unfilmable for decades, with the only other attempt coming courtesy of a 2003 TV movie. Given that the episodic narrative toys with time travel, hops between wondrous planets, and tasks Meg with evading a tentacled monster, it shouldn't surprise anyone who hasn't read the novel either. That said, A Wrinkle in Time proves a nice throwback to the live-action family fare that Disney used to pump out in the '60s, '70s and '80s, including on television. Indeed, even if you're not in the obvious target market, the fact that the movie is so committed to its old-school, old-fashioned vibe is admirable. Jumping from powerful civil rights drama Selma and race-relations documentary 13th to something completely different, director Ava DuVernay hits the mark in more places than just the film's all-ages vibe. She gets the best out of her diverse cast, especially the younger players, with Reid a picture of relatable, youthful awkwardness, and Aussie actor Miller (Jasper Jones, Better Watch Out) continuing his great run of late. From the bright costumes to the overall explosion of special effects, DuVernay also ensures that everything looks and feels like a larger-than-life fantasy in every frame. Her quest to make a big-thinking, big-hearted kids' flick is always apparent, but like A Wrinkle in Time's gossiping flowers — yes, there's a field of flowers that literally gossip — the movie's beauty and its limitations go hand-in-hand. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwlZ1r-BiQA
The animals at Victoria's Werribee Open Range Zoo haven't had a whole heap of visitors of late, with zoos some of the many venues forced to shut their doors as the state raced to contain the pandemic (twice). But, in the not-too-distant future, the zoo's giraffes, ostriches, rhinos and bison will have plenty of two-legged folk gawking at them, as the venue prepares to undergo an $84-million makeover in a bid to make it Australia's leading open range zoo. Located 35 kilometres southwest of Melbourne's CBD, Werribee already offers a heap 'animal experiences', including giraffe feeding, bus safaris and sleepovers, but none are quite as fancy as what it's about to get: a treetop Sky Safari gondola. The 1.6-kilometre tour will have 360-degree views of the zoo and the You Yangs. [caption id="attachment_788817" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Werribee Open Range Zoo by Visit Victoria[/caption] The zoo's makeover will also include a 22-hectare home for the six Asian elephants currently located at Melbourne Zoo, a new rhino and bison site, and a waterhole precinct for humans. Construction on the zoo is expected to kick off this year. In the meantime, it remains open to those who live within 25 kilometres — and, from November 9, hopefully everyone in Victoria. To encourage local to visit, both Werribee Open Range Zoo and Melbourne Zoo are keepings their doors open until 8pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. So, you can head there for a socially distanced picnic and watch the animals at sunset. With limited capacities, bookings are essential and can be made at the zoos' websites. Find Werribee Open Range Zoo at K Road, Werribee South. We'll let you know when the new features open.
Combining the savage and the sublime, On Body and Soul enters a slaughterhouse to tell an unconventional love story. Here, animals become meat for humans to consume, while people become animals to live out their deepest fantasies. The first part is literal, as depicted in stark abattoir scenes that don't shy away from blood and butchering, and might make carnivores think twice about their eating habits. The second part doesn't really involve the movie's characters turning into actual critters, but to the film's star-crossed protagonists, their animal transformation might as well be real. Human resources manager Endre (Géza Morcsányi) and new hygiene inspector Maria (Alexandra Borbély) work at the facility in question, with chopped-up cattle an ordinary aspect of their everyday routines. Both are unfazed about the gory nature of their workplace, although neither are particularly happy in general, gravitating towards each other because they're each a little lost and more than a little lonely. During the day, their conversations are polite and restrained, but loaded with unspoken emotions. By night, it's another matter entirely. In their own beds and their own apartments, they both dream of deers running around a snowy forest, doing what deers do. More than that, they dream that their respective deers are frolicking together in a shared dreamscape. Everyone has had the experience of waking from their slumber feeling like they've just lived another life. Everyone has felt a bond with someone else that they couldn't quite explain. Everyone has felt detached from reality and much more at home in their own head. Combine all of the above, and that's still just the beginning of On Body and Soul's surreal, slow-building romance — the relatable starting point for a weird and wonderful exploration of what it means to be human. If the narrative had appeared to writer-director Ildikó Enyedi in her own dreams, that wouldn't be a surprise, but her blend of beauty and brutality burrows deep into weighty existential matters. Forget androids pondering electric sheep (sorry Blade Runner); this thoughtful movie wants to know if mankind can ever truly get a reprieve from our unforgiving world, or if becoming animals in our dreams is the closest we'll come to real happiness. The questions keep flowing, seeping into the audience's mind like a well-deployed Laura Marling track, although Enyedi is refreshingly unconcerned with serving up answers. Furthermore, her on-screen lovers are just as uninterested in finding them. While a contrived development takes Endre and Maria from colleagues to something more in their waking life, there's nothing convenient or artificial about their yearning to belong — or about the performances that breathe life into these restless souls. Quiet and unflashy yet nonetheless compelling, first-timer Morcsányi and the more experienced Borbély achieve what every actor strives for, offering a window into their characters' inner worlds. Of course, the film's entire premise does exactly that in its dreamy deer sequences, but its stars are crucial in making the fantastical concept work. If this moody, musing movie belongs to anyone, however, it's Enyedi. Nearly three decades after nabbing the Cannes Film Festival's Golden Camera award for her first feature, she has scooped up a spate of shiny trophies for On Body and Soul, and it's easy to see why. The winner of the 2017 Berlinale Golden Bear and the Sydney Film Prize, as well as a nominee at this year's Oscars, Enyedi's latest feature mightn't suit everyone's tastes, but it's an immersive, distinctive deep dive into familiar basic themes — love, life and loneliness — that looks and feels like it couldn't have been conjured up by anyone else. Pay particular attention to the director's exacting images, with every splash of blood, frosty field and clinical workspace making a statement both visually and emotionally. The way the film contrasts the horrors of slaughter with the serenity of nature, and uses them both as metaphors for life's difficult extremes, might all seem obvious on paper. And yet it couldn't be more affecting or arresting on the screen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoQAm-E85bY&feature=youtu.be
Well, it's happening. After months of hostility from taxi drivers and general confusion about what the future of the taxi industry should look like, the NSW government looks set to announce some pretty big state reforms — which, according to reports, will legalise the much loved and lauded ride sharing, ice cream delivery, kitten appreciation service, Uber. The Daily Telegraph last night reported that, in reforms to be announced today, Uber drivers would be required to pay a licence fee for the first time, and would be subject to criminal record checks and vehicle inspections. Basically, they'd be forced to operate under same regulations as regular taxi drivers. In an attempt to compensate regular cab drivers for suddenly losing their monopoly over the market, the cost of taxi plates would become significantly cheaper. They'd also retain the sole right to use taxi ranks and be hailed on the street. How exactly existing drivers will be compensated for the drop in value of their plates is not yet known, and would be decided by Cabinet next month. The decision to legalise Uber seems like it was inevitable, if not a little surprising — especially considering the New South Wales Road and Maritime Services effectively put the company on notice in September. It comes two months after the ACT made the move to legalise and regulate Uber and its drivers, and if the same does indeed happen in Sydney and NSW, it will surely see the rest of the country look towards integrating the ride sharing service into their taxi system. Via The Daily Telegraph.
You don't often get a story about Melbourne City Council being really cool. But from this Wednesday, October 1 the council has agreed to change the name of the city's much-loved ACDC Lane to AC/DC Lane, an important distinction made to appease the iconic rock gods and their devoted fans. This move comes on the exact ten year anniversary of the street's initial name change. And, of course, laneway locals Cherry Bar are having a big party to celebrate. Observant Melbournians may remember that this has kind of happened before. In 2004, street artist Knifey installed a cheeky street sign over the original that not only included the soon-to-be-official slash, but an actual lightning bolt in trademark council blue. Unsurprisingly, this was stolen by a diehard fan soon after. Now, the artist (Jayszun Vanderwerff) is working with Melbourne City to officially re-install the sign. "Melbourne City Council has demonstrated time and again its commitment to showcase both the city’s laneways, and the street art that brings so many to visit the City of Melbourne," Knifey said. "They have seen the benefit of encouraging legal street art in the city, and have been incredibly supportive of this project." Of course, this is a win for all fans of both rock and grammar, but it's also a victory for Cherry Bar. The venue owners James Young and Patrick Donovan were the driving force behind the initial name change. Now they're holding a big party to celebrate its official completion as well as the recently implemented Agent of Change principle that transferred soundproofing responsibilities from live music venues to surrounding properties. Head down to Cherry on Wednesday, October 1 to raise a glass to this new era of grammatically correct, noisy, thunderstruck bliss. The beers are on them from 6pm-3am. Via Beat and Blabbermouth.
So you might remember that the Keystone Group — the sprawling empire behind Australia's Jamie's Italian restaurants, Sydney's The Winery, Gazebo, Manly Wine, Cargo Bar, Bungalow 8, alongside multi-city venues Kingsley's and Chophouse — got into a real jam recently after being unable to settle on their financial structure with lenders of their multi (multiiii) million dollar hospitality empire and went into receivership. Then, earlier this week, Melbourne-based Dixon Hospitality swooped in and bought up a bunch of their properties. Well, even if you don't (it can be hard to keep up with the wheelings and dealings of hospo hotshots), that's about where we were all up to. But in the latest twist in the story, Jamie's Italian (which was one of the venues not saved by Dixon), has been bought by the man himself: Jamie Oliver. Yep, he has bought back his own restaurant chain, which includes six restaurants across Australia, including Sydney, Perth, Canberra, Brisbane, Adelaide and Parramatta. He'll manage the Australian venues under his Jamie Oliver Group, which are, despite the receivership, reportedly going quite well. So, it's okay everyone: Jamie's back to set it all right and cook us a nice, creamy pasta. Via The Sydney Morning Herald.
So you missed out on one of the free Love Is Love tees. And one of those bloody adorable pup raincoats. But all hope of fulfilling your Gorman dreams is not lost. This weekend, the Aussie brand is holding a huge two-day sale at Fitzroy Town Hall. That means you'll be able to nab a massive 80 percent off those instantly recognisable prints and geometric patterns. There will be pieces, accessories and shoes from previous seasons — apparently starting at as little at five bucks. Here's hoping you can nab a hard-to-find human polka-dot raincoat or a dress that's been hanging around from the Atelier Bingo collab. The sale will run from 8am–6pm on Saturday, June 23 and 9am–4pm on Sunday, June 24.
They're sticky, cinnamon scrolls, drenched in glaze and famous all across the USA. And at the end of 2019, they finally became available Down Under when Seattle-born chain Cinnabon opened its first Australian store in Brisbane. The company has launched two more stores in Queensland in the year or so since, which has been great news for folks up north. But, if you're a Melburnian looking to get your fix, you've been left wanting — until now. Come March, Westfield Southland will be home to the Cinnabon's first Australian store outside of Queensland — and, obviously, its first ever in Melbourne. So, get ready to head to Cheltenham to pick up plenty of sticky baked goods. When it opens on Wednesday, March 3, Melburnians will be able to grab a scroll on level one, near Coles — but be prepared to queue. The Brisbane stores attracted lengthy crowds for quite some time, even months after opening. Expect the lines to be a little longer in this time of social distancing, too. Just like the chain's other Australian shops, this one will sling a trio of Cinnabon cult classics, including the classic cream cheese cinnamon roll, the popular chocolate-drizzled Chocobon and very extra Caramel Pecanbon. They're available in both mini and large sizes, along with packs featuring either four or nine 'minibons'. There's coffee and lots of sugary drinks to pair with your snacks, too, including a cinnamon bun frappe. [caption id="attachment_755764" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Cinnabon Toombul[/caption] If you're yet to get acquainted with the decadent dessert creations, prepare yourself for aromatic, cinnamon-spiked dough made to a long-held recipe, decked out with stacks of signature cream cheese frosting and loaded with extras. They're notoriously tough to replicate. The Australian launch was first announced in January 2019, when family-run Queensland company Bansal Foods scored the Aussie rights to Cinnabon. Cinnabon has been going strong in America since 1985, so it has already picked up plenty of Aussie fans along the way. But, for Melburnians, this'll be the first time that we're able to get our hands on those sticky, cinnamon-infused baked goods on home soil. If you're super keen right now — and your tastebuds are well and truly tempted — the chain is already taking online orders for pickup packs that you can collect once the Westfield Southland store officially opens. Cinnabon will open at 8.30am on Wednesday, March 3 on level one of Westfield Southland, 1239 Nepean Highway, Cheltenham.
For the dessert fiends at Gelato Messina, it isn't enough to sit in the chain's brand-new Marrickville headquarters in Sydney and dream up every kind of wild and delicious ice cream flavour that anyone could possibly think of. The Messina crew do that, and often, of course. But they also apply their sweet treat-loving minds to creating next-level limited-edition specials, often taking a beloved dish, adding gelato and then giving it another twist. Here's the latest: Messina's Vovovroom, aka its frosty version of Iced Vovo biscuits, which it has indeed made before. This time around, it's adding mango. Why? The better question is: why not? So, first everyone's favourite childhood biscuit is getting the gelato treatment — again. But because that's already been on Messina's menu, it's now adding in a flavour that most folks love just as much. Wondering what exactly the end result entails? It comes filled with layers of toasted coconut and mango gelato, plus mango salsa and shortbread. Then, it's topped with piped Italian meringue and desiccated coconut. Yes, the end result looks like the bikkies you know and love — but in a mango hue, obviously, and in a scoopable form. Messina's mango Vovovroom gelato tubs can only be ordered online on Monday, April 17 for collection between Friday, April 21–Sunday, April 23 Messina now opens its orders at various times for various places, so you'll want to hop online at 9am for Queensland and Australian Capital Territory stores, 9.15am for Victorian shops, and at either 9.30am, 9.45am or 10am depending on where you are in New South Wales. Gelato Messina's Mango Vovovroom gelato tubs will be available to order on Monday, April 17, for pick up between Friday, April 21–Sunday, April 23 — head to the Messina website for further details.
There's little that's normal about 2020 so far, and that includes film festivals. Many of the biggest cinema showcases on the annual international calendar have been forced to cancel, postpone or rethink their plans for this year — spanning heavy hitters such as Tribeca Film Festival and Cannes Film Festival, and even Australia's very own Sydney Film Festival. At present, we can't all gather in a darkened room and watch movie magic light up the silver screen. That doesn't mean that there isn't anything to watch, though. In fact, thanks to We Are One: A Global Film Festival, you can still enjoy a festival experience — one curated by some of the best big-screen events in the world, too — all while sitting on your couch. For ten days between Thursday, May 29–Sunday, June 7, 20 of the globe's standout film fests are joining forces to program a free online festival, which'll show features, shorts, documentaries and more via YouTube. More than 100 films will screen at set times, including 13 world premieres. That means that you can look forward to films such as Ricky Powell: The Individualist, about the eponymous street photographer; Eeb Allay Ooo!, a satire about monkey repellers in India; and Crazy World, an OTT action flick out of Uganda's Wakaliwood. There's also Australia's own Mystery Road and Mabo, Japanese rom-com Tremble All You Want and documentary The Iron Hammer, the latter of which follows Chinese volleyball star "Jenny" Lang Ping. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stttLXh7yu4 If you're after something more than just watching a movie, a range of archived talks will also screen, alongside new, festival-exclusive content. Listen to chats by Jackie Chan, The Shape of Water filmmaker Guillermo del Toro and Rogue One: A Star War Story's Diego Luna, or watch Tessa Thompson talk with director Jane Campion, Francis Ford Coppola and Steven Soderbergh discuss Apocalypse Now, Viggo Mortensen and David Cronenberg explore Crash, and Ang Lee and Kore-eda Hirokazu delve into their thoughts on filmmaking today. Selecting the program is a who's who of the film festival game, with Tribeca, Cannes and Sydney joined by the Berlinale, Sundance, Toronto International Film Festival, Venice Film Festival, New York Film Festival, BFI London Film Festival and Annecy International Animation Film Festival — and fests in Guadalajara, Macao, Jerusalem, Mumbai, Karlovy Vary, Locarno, Marrakech, San Sebastian, Sarajevo and Tokyo, too. [caption id="attachment_768770" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Berlinale, Jan Windszus[/caption] While cinephiles don't have to spend a cent to watch along, We Are One: A Global Film Festival is encouraging donations to the World Health Organisation, as well its partners in each region. Top image: Sydney Film Festival, Luke Latty. Updated May 27.
Even if you know Bendigo inside out, you'll experience it in a whole new light during Bendigo Uncorked Week. For ten delicious days, the town's historical buildings will host an array of creative events dedicated to foodies and winos looking to try something new. Bendigo is known for its robust shiraz and cabernet sauvignon drops thanks to deep soil and high sun exposure. But the festival seeks to highlight the region's full and distinct offering which also includes chardonnay, riesling, sauvignon blanc and sangiovese. Get started at Bendigo Heritage After Dark on Friday, October 12. This intimate experience will see you head into the Fortuna Villa's Gold Crushing Room to try 40 wines from the Bendigo region to the sweet sounds of live music. The following day, you can spend a few hours wandering through seven heritage buildings in central Bendigo, where several local vineyards will be serving boutique drops alongside a selection of tasty bites. After dark, settle in at Burnt Acre Vineyard for a six-course banquet with matching wines, including the sold-out 2015 Burnt Acre shiraz. Once you sip it, you'll know why it sold out (and won best shiraz at last year's Bendigo Uncorked Week). Other escapades planned across the festival include an evening of traditional north Italian fare and a night at the movies hosted by Sandhurst Ridge Wines. Check out the rest of the program here. To discover more events and spring experiences in regional Victoria visit: Your Happy Space.
When you're sitting at a bar, sipping a cocktail and enjoying its delicious flavours, you're usually just thinking about how great it tastes. Something you're probably not pondering is what happens to the fruit that makes your beverage so zesty. Once you're done drinking, what's next for those slices of lemon, wedges of orange and other edible cocktail ingredients and garnishes? Wonder no more, cocktail lovers — New Zealand-based vodka company 42BELOW can not only answer that question, but they're helping make your favourite concoctions more sustainable. Rounding up many a lemon, piece of fruit and even a few olives, they're turning yesterday's cocktail waste into today's hand washing liquid. Prepare to lather up with 42BELOW Recycled Cocktail Lemons Eco Soap, aka the world's first hand soap made from recycled cocktail fruit. The initiative first launched in December last year, with 13 venues in Sydney, two places in Melbourne and a further two on the Gold Coast jumping on board. Fast forward two months and drinkers at the likes of Darlinghurst's This Must be The Place, Melbourne CBD's The Carlton, Surfer's Paradise's elsewhere and Auckland's Mea Culpa, your cocktail habit is now environmentally friendly. To date, they've already collected 400 kilograms of fruit waste, then transformed those discarded morsels then into soap. In just a few weeks, 20,000 sachets and 400 bottles of liquid soap have been created — or 3200 cocktails, because that's everyone's preferred method of measurement. 42BELOW is in the process of signing up more bars around Australia and New Zealand, with those that join the fold then receiving their soapy goodness for free. Yes, pubs, watering holes and boozy hangouts can recycle their fruit wastage and keep patrons' hands lemony-fresh for zilch, while everyone downing cocktails can feel extra great about ordering their next fruity beverage.
Few could deny that Matt Bax's cocktails are akin to works of art. The mind behind standard-setting bars such as Bar Americano and the now-closed Der Raum and Bar Economico is known for whipping up incredibly clever liquid treats — and, as it happens, he's also an artist. But for his next project, the celebrated barman-artist is blurring the lines even more, as he sets out to overhaul the commercial art gallery model and give Melbourne something it's never seen before. Slated to open on November 22 in Clifton Hill, Grau Projekt will be part concept bar, part gallery space. It'll offer what Bax has dubbed "artist-curated drinking", guided by a program of exhibitions. Each new art show will see Bax's team collaborate with the exhibiting artist on an exclusive cocktail, designed to perfectly complement the mood and the work. Guests will be able to sip this innovative concoction on opening night, while browsing the artworks as they wander through Grau Projekt's huge 1050-square-metre warehouse. In effect, it'll bridge that gap between cocktail bar and exhibition on opening night and offer something more considered, holistic and refined. It's clear Bax is keen to inspire a new generation of art collector, both with this venue and the purchasing model. Each show will see a select number of works held in reserve until the exhibition's opening, and offered at a heavily subsidised price. The plan is for the gallery to open to the public Thursdays through Sundays, with the curated cocktails offered as part of the ticketed events coinciding with each show's public opening. No word yet on what the inaugural exhibition will be, but we'll let you know the details once it's been announced. Grau Projekt will open at 2–12 Alexandra Parade, Clifton Hill on November 22. Images: John Laurie.
Unfolding over 200 kilometres, the country's largest outdoor gallery will soon play host to the new Silo Art Hotel — a luxury, street art-themed pop-up getaway located in Sea Lake, near the northwest corner of the art trail's looped route. Announced today, Monday May 17, the Silo Art Hotel will give visitors an opportunity to spend the night just a short hop away from the trail's many spectacular visual offerings. Located beside the vivid pink waters of Lake Tyrrell, the hotel is crafted from three repurposed shipping containers, two of which have been transformed into luxe suites. The third has been reimagined as a heated open-air swimming pool, ideal for weary travellers after a long day spent exploring the region. It's all appearing for just one month, from June 11–July 12 this year. A joint effort from Visit Victoria and street art collective Juddy Roller, the Silo Art Hotel will offer some visual splendours of its own with the Matt Adnate Suite and Drapl & Zookeeper Suite each kitted out with never-before-seen artworks from their respective namesake artist. Adnate concepted and created the mural on the Sheep Hills silos in 2016, while Drapl & The Zookeeper are behind the collaboration that has graced the Sea Lake silos since 2019. A colourful mural by Rosebery silo artist Kaff-eine will adorn one side of the pop-up swimming pool. [caption id="attachment_812361" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Sea Lake silos, featuring artwork by Drapl and The Zookeeper.[/caption] The Silo Art Hotel design is the work of Contained — the same crew behind The Wine Down pop-up winery hotels. The two self-contained hotel rooms boast high-end features including fancy Cultiver linen and robes, Australian-made toiletry products and a mini bar stocked with local goodies. Each room will also boast a private deck, ensuite bathroom and reverse cycle heating and cooling. The Silo Art Trail has been slowly and steadily expanding since its conception in 2016. It currently features 10 large-scale artworks, painted onto towering silos dotted across the state's Wimmera Mallee region. The Silo Art Hotel will pop up at Sea Lake from June 11–July 12. Rooms are $275 per night Sunday through to Thursday, and $375 per night from Friday to Saturday. Head to the website to book your stay.
If you've ever visited Japan, you've likely made your way to the top of one of Tokyo's tall towers — Tokyo Tower, even — and tried to catch a glimpse of Mount Fuji. You might've even made the trip to the active volcano yourself, and you probably saw its shape splashed across plenty of souvenirs. And you likely spotted variations of Katsushika Hokusai's art work featuring it, too. His Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji series, which includes The Great Wave off Kanagawa, is one of the things he's best known for. Actually seeing Mount Fuji for yourself might be off the cards at the moment, but you can learn more about Hokusai and his work at Australia's annual Japanese Film Festival. It's back for its 25th year in 2021, screening at select cinemas across Melbourne from Thursday, November 18–Sunday, December 5, with biopic Hokusai kicking off the festival on opening night. Also on the 21-movie program: Oscar submission True Mothers, which sees acclaimed filmmaker Naomi Kawase spin a story about adoption; Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy, a Berlinale 2021 Silver Bear for director Ryūsuke Hamaguchi; and The Deer King, an animated film that steps into a world plagued by disease — and follows two survivors who might have the cure. Or, you can check out Under the Open Sky, about an ex-yakuza starting again after 13 years in prison; hostage thriller Masked Ward, which comes to the screen from the pages of a medical mystery novel; and comedy Not Quite Dead Yet, about a singer who wishes for her dad's demise. A number of movies by avant-garde directors Shūji Terayama also grace the lineup and, from Monday, November 15–Sunday, November 21, JFF is screening a range of titles free online — so you can keep watching even when you're not in a cinema. Want to transport yourself to Japan? Let the Japanese Film Festival whisk you away from November 18–Sunday, December 5 at select cinemas throughout Melbourne. For more information and to book your tickets, visit the website. Images: © 2021 NEOPA / Fictive and Copyright © 2020 HOKUSAI MOVIE.
Food is usually the gift you give when you can't think of anything else. Come on, you know it's true. That said, anyone getting their dad Gelato Messina's latest special Father's Day creation can't be accused of that. If you're giving someone something that you're fighting the urge to just order for yourself, you're definitely giving a thoughtful present — and who doesn't want to tuck into three of the gelato chain's favourite desserts in chocolate bar form? Chocolates are Messina's Mother's Day go-to — and this year they're on the brand's Father's Day menu as well. The new three-pack marks the first time that Messina has ever made chocolate bars and blocks itself, however, with the team at its Rosebery headquarters doing the honours. Each kit actually contains nine items, but of three different types of chocolate. Loved Messina's recent cone-ception cookie pies? It has turned the concept into mini 105-gram chocolate bars, which combine sable biscuit, waffle cone spread and cone crunch, then cover it all in caramelised white chocolate. Your dad will get four of those, plus four mini milk chocolate Messinatella hazelnut bars featuring sable biscuit, Messinatella choc hazelnut spread and roasted hazelnuts. And, taking the final spot in the kit is the neapolitan chocolate block — and yes, it's made with milk chocolate, white chocolate that features Heilala vanilla, and strawberry chocolate infused with freeze dried strawberries. This gift will set you back $45, and it's being shipped, which is handy for folks in lockdown. Also, delivery won't cost you extra. Like most Messina specials, it's going on sale on a Monday morning — at 9am on Monday, August 23, to be exact. Then, it'll get brought to your door, with orders shipping on or before Friday, August 27. Gelato Messina's Father's Day chocolate three-packs will be available to order from 9am, Monday, August 23.
Melbourne's one-to-watch designers will be hawking their wares this Sunday, November 8, at the latest edition of the much-loved Melbourne Design Market. Launching into its second decade, this twice-yearly showcase of intelligent design is the perfect destination for savvy shoppers, or anyone just looking to drop some hard-earned cash. Hosted once again in the Federation Square carpark, this year’s market will welcome a wide variety of local merchants selling everything from clothing and fashions accessories to high-end stationery and furniture. We’ve got our eye on the super nifty A6 memobottles that fit in your pocket.. But with a total of 50 stallholders, it looks like we may be spoiled for choice. On the off chance that you have any money left over after your shopping spree, there’ll be fair trade coffee for sale, along with food from some of Melbourne’s favourite food trucks. For more information including updates on stallholders, head on over to the Melbourne Design Market website. Image: memobottle.
Fancy scoring some new Aussie-made threads at the price of your choosing — and earning some much-needed funds for an eco charity in the process? Well, for the next few days, you can, thanks to a clever new initiative by local brand Assembly Label. The Sydney-based brand is best known for its minimalist aesthetic, but now it's also hoping to help minimise ocean pollution by adding a 'choose what you pay' option to its online store between June 20 and 23. It works like this. A range of Assembly's designs (both womens and mens) are currently available at up to 50 percent off. When you go to add something to your cart, you have the option of adding on a donation — you can pay what's on the pricetag, or add on $5, $10 or $15 more. Any extra amount is then donated to the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS), with each customer donation matched equally by Assembly Label. So, if you fork out an extra $15 for those linen pants, $30 will go to the charity. View this post on Instagram Beachside essentials, our Crossover Pool Slide will be included in our Choose What You Pay promotion alongside a selection of men's and women's apparel and accessories. Online tomorrow from 9am and proudly supporting @marineconservation.au A post shared by Assembly Label (@assemblylabel) on Jun 19, 2019 at 12:21am PDT AMCS is an independent charity focused on the big issues affecting the sea, from improving the sustainability of Australia's fisheries, to protecting threatened species. The extra funds raised through the 'choose what you pay' program will go towards supporting its campaign against plastic pollution in the ocean. The sale is the latest in a number of moves Assembly Label is making to reduce its environmental impact and encourage others to jump on board. It's now using 100 percent biodegradable material for its packaging, has cut down on plastic waste wherever possible, and is working towards full transparency with all of its manufacturing processes. Assembly's also aiming to become a certified B Corporation, which'll require hitting the highest standards of ethical measurement across all aspects of its business. Needless to say, if you're in need of some new basic tees or a labelled sweater, now is the time to grab them. Assembly Label's Choose What You Pay sale will run from June 20–23 through its online store.
The South Island is known for its breathtaking scenery. However, if you're a culture junkie, there's no end to the beautiful experiences you can have — and not just in a gallery. Whether you're into history, art, language or music, you're bound to find something (and often with a good feed to go with). We've curated a selection of experiences in the South all cultural but none that require the four walls of a gallery. THE SHERWOOD This little hotel is a gem in Queenstown's tourismscape. Perched on three acres of spectacular alpine hillside, with views over Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables mountain range, The Sherwood is a true community hotel, built with the express intention of letting its guests connect with each other and with nature. Kitchen gardens service the holistic, natural dishes in its restaurant and the hotel has a community events schedule to boot. During your stay, attend a poetry slam, take a jewellery class or stretch it out at one of the regular yoga classes. With resident artists and writers and almost nightly live music, here, the culture comes to you 554 Frankton Road, Queenstown. FUSH Fush is not your ordinary fish and chippie. This family-owned eatery in Wigram aims to help diners integrate te reo Māori, one of New Zealand's official languages, into their conversations, by offering bilingual menus and using te reo phrases with customers. The fish and chips joint has even started offering free te reo Maori classes, accessible to anyone with the will to learn. What about the food? It's awesome — the fish comes pan-fried, coated or crumbed; hand cut chips are made from quality Canterbury spuds and the place is fully licensed, too. Have a sparkling with your order or a gin and tonic, and order a plate of shucked oysters or a smoked fish pie. It's all good. 104 The Runway, Wigram Skies. CHRISTCHURCH ARTS CENTRE A phenomenally beautiful space, the neo-gothic former home of the University of Canterbury is the heart of the arts in Christchurch. A community centre with events, stores and exhibitions, the Christchurch Arts Centre has something for everyone. If you're after some pieces for your home, visit Frances Nation, a beautifully considered homewares store inside the centre. Owner Tessa Peach stocks quality goods made from natural materials; they're New Zealand-made, functional pieces you will love forever. It sums up the ethos of the centre, really — full of heart and authenticity. 2 Worcester Boulevard, Christchurch. THE MUSSEL INN Golden Bay isn't really Golden Bay without The Mussel Inn. Worth the trip to the northwest Nelson region, this is a beloved watering hole for locals and visitors alike. After a day lounging on the beach, sink in for a night of live music and bevs. While there's no knowing who's going to show up on the bill, every week brings a new lineup of artists to the place. That's one of the beauteous things about the Inn. The team also brews its own beers, ciders and soft drinks. We'd recommend the feijoa cider if it's on tap. 1259 State Highway 60, Onekaka, Golden Bay. THE CHRISTCHURCH FARMERS' MARKET Luxe porridge? Fresh produce? People watching? You'll find it all at the Christchurch Farmers' Market, one of Aotearoa's first markets. The best way to experience a new place is to go where the people are — and on a Saturday, they're all in Riccarton buying wholesome seasonal goodness. Held on the doorstep of Christchurch's founding family's home, Riccarton House, and perched beside the Avon River, the market boasts over 80 stalls selling everything from veggies to coffee, cakes to organic dog biscuits. 16 Kahu Road, Riccarton, Christchurch. LARNACH CASTLE If history is your thing, head to New Zealand's only castle. Nestled in the beautiful Otago Peninsula, the castle was built in the 1870s by bank manager and cabinet minister William Larnach to house his large family. Restored to its former glory by the Barker family, the home and grounds are open every day of the year. While it may be considered a 'mock' castle, it's a magnificent site to see with Italian marble, Welsh slate, English floor tiles, Venetian and French glass, Kauri ceilings, rimu floors and honeysuckle panelling featured throughout. 145 Camp Road, Dunedin. MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS MAILBOAT Come summer, there may be no cruisier way to explore the Marlborough Sounds than aboard the Picton Mailboat. Hop aboard and join in on mail day, with commentary from your skipper on the history of the Sounds, the people who have lived there and those who call the area home today. Each journey is different, depending on where the post bags, groceries and freight need to go. Keep an eye out for dolphins and other wildlife, and make a stop at Ship Cove, where Captain James Cook stopped to replenish The Endeavour. Start planning your trip to New Zealand's south with our guide to the South Island journeys to take here.
The sun might be setting a tad early at this time of year, but that's no excuse for packing up and going home yourself. Hell, the best times you'll have in Melbourne tend to take place after dark. From late-night gigs to late-night mini golf, this city is home to all manner of awesome activities that stretch deep into the moonlit hours. To bring them to your attention, we've partnered with Samsung, whose new Galaxy S9 and S9+ has a camera with real low-light abilities, so your late-night-moments photograph as good as they look. Here are five of our favourite places to visit for a little after-dinner fun. Grab your mates and get ready for an epic night — and an epic Instagram story to go with it. HOLEY MOLEY Okay, we get it. Axe throwing is a little bit intimidating. Why don't you try Holey Moley instead? You'll still have the chance to get bragging rights over your buddies, without the risk of chopping off a toe. This multistorey mini golf bar smack bang in the middle of the CBD boasts 27 different holes, with themes ranging from The Wizard of Oz to "Barbie's Scream House". Throw in karaoke, great grub and a selection of mini-golf-themed cocktails (our personal favourite is the Happy Gilmoreo with vodka, Chambord raspberry liquor, Baileys, crushed Oreos and whipped cream), and suddenly your night looks like a hole in one. Hole in one? Get it? I'll see myself out. LOOP BAR When it comes to bars, galleries and music venues, Melburnians have plenty to choose from. But at how many venues can you catch a DJ set, watch a movie, take in some visual art and participate in a forum on human sexuality all in the same week? Tucked away in Meyers Place between Bourke Street and Little Collins, Loop Bar is a watering hole, screening room and exhibition space all rolled into one. And that's to say nothing of Loop Roof, their rooftop cocktail bar and beer garden. Replete with outdoor heaters, hanging plants and views of the city you'll want to save to your phone, it's one of our very favourite spots for a late-night tipple. BARTRONICA Stepping through the doors at Bartronica is like stepping back in time — and we mean that in the best possible way. From Daytona to Mortal Combat to the original Donkey Kong, this subterranean venue in the CBD is home to iconic arcade and old-school console games preserved from the 80s and 90s. They even run video game tournaments, in case you want to test your Smash Brothers skills against the very best. Combine all that with a well-stocked bar serving craft beer and on-theme cocktails (try the Mario Mai Tai!) and it's safe to say that you and your inner child will never want to leave. MANIAX Get set for a wild night of axe throwing. That's right, we said axe throwing. Maniax in Abbotsford is Melbourne's official home of this little-known pastime, an activity everyone needs to try at least once. Over the course of a two-hour session, an instructor will take you and your friends through the basics (safety is paramount, obviously!), and before you know it, you'll be hurling hatchets like a pro. Maniax is open until 10pm (9pm on Sundays) and offers group sessions, monthly 'date nights' and even an axe-throwing league to satisfy your competitive streak. If nothing else, you'll be able to snap some truly spectacular action shots. RED TRIANGLE Not into golf either? How do pool, snooker and billiards take your fancy? Located just off Brunswick Street in the heart of Fitzroy, Red Triangle is a local institution, and with damn good reason. Open till 2am every day of the year, there's never a bad time to climb the stairs and pick up a cue. The staff are friendly and welcoming no matter your level of ability — as long as you don't pester them for their secret milkshake recipes. Seriously, these guys make some of the best shakes in Melbourne. They're so good you won't even care that the place doesn't serve booze. Instead of spending your winter nights on the couch, discover all the after-dark happenings in your city here — and don't forget to document it all on the new Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+, designed especially for low light so you can capture your best moments no matter what. Images: Cole Bennetts.
Elizabeth Richter is used to expounding the benefits and tastiness of vegan food, having run her vegan meal delivery service, The Veggie Chef, for quite a few years now. Her next venture builds on what she loves — she has opened a vegan cafe called Ubuntu on Hawthorn's Burwood Road. Richter opened Ubuntu in response to feedback she was getting from her Veggie Chef customers, who would complain that there was no tasty, nutritious vegan fare in their area. The cafe has a compact menu of sweet and savoury dishes, and plenty of gluten-free options. While the menu makes mention of many 'cheeses' and 'meats', Richter promises that everything is strictly vegan and plant-based. Dishes include french toast with berry compote, pistachios and maple syrup; a croque madame with vegan bacon and 'cheese'; loaded sweet potato fries; and a triple cheeseburger with tempeh and 'haloumi' on a charcoal bun. Richter has also done a bit of experimenting when it comes to the 'eggs', too — there's a hyper-realistic vegan egg on the go, which yolks just like a real yolk; an impressive feat. Accompanying the food, and not to be forgotten, is the colourful superfood latte menu. The point of interest here is the butterfly pea flower latte. A teal-coloured coffee alternative that uses monk fruit (a fruit native to southern China and northern Thailand) juice, dates and cinnamon as natural sweeteners, it looks just as pretty on your table as it does on your Instagram feed. Richter says opening the restaurant hasn't been easy — she jokes that she has been sleeping at the cafe at night – but that it will pay off, as she's bringing Hawthorn something a little different (even if the eggs do look just like eggs). Ubuntu Vegan Cafe is open at 460 Burwood Road, Hawthorn, from 7am–4pm Tuesday through Sunday.
Melbourne's restaurant scene is vast and varied. But what do the Meatball and Wine Bar, Circa The Prince, Little Hunter, The Estelle, Izakaya Den and Jacques Reymond have in common? Their plates, that's what. Behind this homewares evolution is Glenn Tebble Homewares, from Unique Pottery, who create tableware and tailor-made designs for restaurants and chefs. Made from stoneware, each piece is designed and created right here in Melbourne and embraces the unique, ever-changing nature of the food scene. Through his time working with chefs and restaurateurs, Glenn Tebble, the man behind Glenn Tebble Homewares, came to find that people were looking for items that just didn't exist yet. And so, their bespoke range was born. Together with chefs, Glenn designs and creates products on a need-by-need basis. Collaborating with some of Melbourne's best restaurants, Glenn tells us how some of these ideas came to fruition. Scott Picket and Ryan Flaherty – The Estelle "Long-time customers and all-round good blokes from The Estelle Scott Pickett and Ryan Flaherty have always been a good source of inspiration. With their history in Michelin star restaurants overseas, the boys were often coming to us with ideas, and not just from the design side of things. The boys suggested what we now call the splatter range. "We developed a new colour option by using two kinds of glazes, whether it was a two toned colour or an abstract kind of finish. It opened a gateway for a whole new line of products — some of the glazes also present a textured look and feel." Meatball and Wine Bar "The team at Meatball And Wine Bar were on the hunt for a specific bowl for their balls. As I had worked with their management team previously, they approached me. We designed what is currently our most popular bowl. It was made it to the specifications, and managed to streamline it with our existing larger bowl, creating a new range. As you can see, the gents at Meatballs are very happy with the result." Simon Denton – Izakaya Den "Some time back now, I approached Simon Denton, from Izakaya Den. Simon loved our range and went on to purchase a large quantity for his underground gem. Simon also liked our large sushi plate, but he also wanted one a little smaller. Again, I got the design team onto it and it was in his restaurant within six weeks. We must have made an impression, as when Denton launched his revamp of the old Verge site, now Numa Numa, he came to us for his bespoke noodle bowls." Paul Wilson – Melbourne Pub Group "Paul Wilson came to me with a plastic shaped taco holder that they had been using — just as the taco scene went crazy in Melbourne. He wanted something similar but a lot sexier! We made two versions, one that could hold two tacos and another that could hold four. The end result surpassed his expectations. We have since seen more chefs use their creative flair — with Guy Grossi using it as a panini holder and, thinking outside the square, other ideas have been for mini hotdogs, souvlakis and as a vessel for a cheese display." Tony Twitchett – Taxi Dining Room "Tony Twitchett from Taxi Dining Room in Melbourne loved our range, but at the time we had nothing that suited his needs. He required a large rippled square platter for his signature duck dish and their amazing sashimi. So, we put a conservative spin on his idea and we came up with one of the very few square plates that we have in our range.”
With the fifth and final season of the much loved cult series Broad City on its way, Melburnians are getting a very special surprise when co-creator and yas queen Ilana Glazer heads to Melbourne's Hamer Hall for a one-hour stand-up gig on Saturday, June 9 — and tickets are on sale right now. If you've already left this page to book, we understand. Glazer's hilarious portrayal of Ilana Wexler on Broad City has launched her into comedic fame since the show first aired back in 2014. Since then, you may have also have seen her alongside Scarlett Johansson and Demi Moore in Rough Night, as well as recognised her voice in the Netflix animated series BoJac Horseman. Most recently, Glazer has been busy on an 11-city comedy tour with comedian Phoebe Robinson, who hosts the podcast Sooo Many White Guys (also produced by Glazer). This means her stand-up act will be well primed for her one-off Australian gig. Presented by the Arts Centre Melbourne and Penny Drop, Glazer is the headline act of MEL&NYC, a new winter program of multi-disciplinary events that showcase the influence that New York City has on the Melbourne arts and culture scene. The program will take over the city's best cultural venues from June through August and see leading New Yorkers and Australians share their everyday experiences in a series of conversations, music, performances, educational talks and community outreach events. Other gigs include shows by Regina Spektor and Exo-Tech featuring Kimbra and Sophia Brousa, plus a live-to-film performance of West Side Story and a John Cameron Mitchell musical performance. Broad City's Ilana Glazer is performing stand-up at Melbourne's Hamer Hall for one night only on Saturday, June 9 at 8pm. For tickets, or to check out more events in the MEL&NYC program, head over here.
It used to be that the best bars and restaurants were hidden down dark laneways with no signs out the front (sah chic, sah Melbourne). Now, they're huge bustling creatures taking over bridges and riversides. From February 28 till March 16, the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival will be setting up their hub, The Immersery, on the banks of the Yarra River. In a beautiful feat of innovation it will include not only a restaurant and bar but a raingarden that stretches over the disused Sandridge Rail Bridge. What's a raingarden, you ask? It's actually exactly what it sounds like. As part of the 202020 Vision project, The Immersery will be making the most out of Melbourne's horrible weather with a series of PVC pipes that funnel all our unexpected showers into small garden beds. A big project in the name of sustainability, and a stunning sight to behold. Water will take a main role in the dining experience too, as local chefs such as Florent Gerardin (Silo), Daniel Wilson (Huxtable and Huxtaburger) and Jesse Garner (Añada and Bomba) have created menus inspired by it. Over The Immersery's 17 nights, you can expect diverse offerings such as Japanese eggplant miso dumplings or Mexican-inspired spiced Wessex saddleback pork empanadillas. The MFWF is nothing if not open to experimentation. The same can be said for its bar options. Eleven of the country's best bartenders have been commissioned to create new cocktails inspired by the three states of water — solid, liquid and gas. Though none of the drinks have been announced yet, there will be offerings from Tom Kearney (Mechanics Institute, Perth) with the team from Lily Blacks; Tim Phillips (Bulletin Place, Sydney) with Black Pearl; and bar staff from both Eau de Vie Melbourne and Sydney squaring off against one another. The Melbourne Food and Wine Festival is one of those things you always kick yourself for forgetting. Hidden around trendy pockets of the city, it's easy to mark in your diary and never get around to. Now, with its bridges and riversides and pipes and world-class cocktails, it's going to be pretty hard to miss.
Mirik Milan knows what it takes to keep the pulse of a city racing long into the night. For the past few years he's held the office of the Night Mayor of Amsterdam, a title given to the head of an advisory NGO tasked with building bridges between various stakeholders, including business owners, residents and government officials, to ensure the hours between sundown and sunup can be enjoyed by one and all. Sounds nice huh? Incidentally, if you're in Sydney right now, sobbing softly into your keyboard, please trust us when we tell you: we feel your pain — especially one day after the NSW Government has decided to 'relax' the lockout times by a mere 30 minutes. For the record, Milan feels your pain too. The former club promoter turned after-dark crusader was in the Harbour City last week as a guest of the annual Electronic Music Conference — and yes, he had plenty to say about the lockouts. [caption id="attachment_578891" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Night Mayor, Mirik Milan[/caption] "The lockouts are a symptom of an undereducated State Government," Milan tells Concrete Playground. "If you want to create behavioural change it needs to come from the grassroots up. If the idea is that you'll create behavioural change by imposing stricter laws on operators, you're blaming operators for a societal problem." "In my opinion, the reason why governments find it easier to clamp down on nightlife and just blame the operators is because that's the cheapest way to deal with it," he continues. "Starting a bunch of initiatives to inform people how to behave and to encourage people to drink less is much more expensive, and the risk of failing is much higher." Nevertheless, Milan believes the rewards of a bustling nightlife are well worth the effort. "Why is it important to have a vibrant nightlife?" asks Milan. "Because it will attract a lot of young, creative people. When you have a lot of young, creative people in a city, you have a lot of creative industries, and this is an engine for economic growth." So what would it take for Sydney to turn its nocturnal fortunes around? Below, Milan shares his tips on how to create a safe, prosperous and energetic nightlife. Let's just hope Mike Baird subscribes to our newsletter. TAKE CUES FROM INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVES THAT HAVE ACTUALLY WORKED Both the NSW and Queensland lockouts were introduced to stamp down on alcohol-related violence. But wouldn't it be nice if there was some way to do this without punishing those of us who can have a drink without throwing a punch? In Amsterdam's bar-filled Rembrandtplein district, the answer came in the form of so-called 'square hosts', whose job it is stop confrontations before they start. "They walk the street every Friday and Saturday night in the nightlife area and they try to de-escalate situations when there's something going on," explains Milan. "Unfortunately, when people have something to drink and they see the police, they see [them] as an aggressor. These square hosts are non-aggressive." Meanwhile, the City of Amsterdam has also developed an app that allows people to report antisocial behaviour to nearby community officers. "It means that complaints are dealt with really effectively," says Milan. "We understand that it can be super frustrating for residents that live around the nightlife square, and every weekend you have the same complaints and problems. With this system, you can [be in] direct contact with the community officer… and [it] really gives the residents the feeling that their problem is being listened to." But according to Milan, the biggest accomplishment of the project has been the introduction of 24-hour licenses. "What was really radical about this process was that for the first time in Amsterdam, licenses were given out not on the basis of whether you had four walls, a roof and a bouncer in front of the door, but on the basis of content," he says. "And when you focus on content you get a different kind of audience. These venues are all multidisciplinary. They have a bar, restaurant, live music, gallery space, some venues even run kindergartens." [caption id="attachment_602520" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Night Mayor Summit, nachtburgemeester.amsterdam[/caption] WORK WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS When it comes to making positive changes, Milan understands that collaboration is key, having discussed countless stakeholder viewpoints in community meetings, one-on-one talks and even at a dedicated Night Mayor Summit, the first of its kind, held in Amsterdam in April 2016. "Bring all the stakeholders together and try to come up with a solution and find a middle ground where everyone can benefit," he says. "Bridge the gap between the municipality, policy makers, small business owners and city residents. We always say by having a dialogue you can change the rules of the game." Milan also recommends fighting opposition with evidence instead of emotion. "We deal with [opposition] by making people aware that the baby steps that we make are reasonable," he tells us. "We like to run pilots, to see if [an initiative] works, to see if it doesn't have too much of an impact on residents, and then [we can make] an educated decision. Often these [initiatives] are tailor made for a certain area, because cities are becoming more and more complex… it's really about working together, and bringing operators and residents together, and seeing what works for your area." Ultimately, it helps that the economic incentive is there. "The value of the nighttime economy has become much more important for cities around the world over the last 10 to 15 years," says Milan. "I've never heard of mayors or city councils who want to kill jobs." [caption id="attachment_560788" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Kimberley Low.[/caption] GIVE PEOPLE THE RESPECT THEY DESERVE While you're never going to be able to get rid of every dickhead, in Milan's experience most people who go out at night want to do the right thing — especially when you treat them like grown-ups. "Send out a positive message," he suggests. "[Tell people] you can go out later, but you have to take care of your community." "For example, the Amsterdam Dance Event attracts 375,000 people to the city in five days," says Milan. "When people come into the airport, the first thing they see [are signs] saying, 'Welcome to ADE, be safe and have a great time.' And I get so many good responses from people saying, 'Wow, I feel so respected, I feel so welcome here, I will take care.''" "Give people the responsibility to take care of themselves," asserts Milan. "Of course, you have to have good legislation in place as well, but give them the right to take care of their community. This is a community that is open minded and willing to listen to these kinds of messages." Top image: Bodhi Liggett.
