Melbourne might be mad about Nutella, but it's not the only nut-based spread that's worth celebrating. When it comes to versatile classics that taste good with vegetables, with jam, on bread, baked into sweets and more, you can't go past good ol' peanut butter — and at The Food Truck Park from April 20 to 22, you won't want to. For three days, the Preston hangout will be serving up all of the peanut butter you can imagine. While the food lineup hasn't yet been revealed, the possibilities are endless. And when an event calls itself a Peanut Butter Festival, you can expect them to include old favourites and inventive new creations. From PB&J onwards, one thing is certain: if you're allergic to peanuts, you'll want to stay away. Entry is free, with the nutty fun running from 5-10pm on Friday, 12-10pm on Saturday and 12-9pm on Sunday.
If you've been kicking yourself because you can't make Billy Bragg's rare solo showcase in Sydney this weekend, you can now give your legs a rest. The maverick song writer has just announced that he'll be back in March 2014. For a national tour. With his entire band. That's right, every State and one of the Territories (sorry, NT) will be treated to a show, and he'll also be popping over to New Zealand for a couple of appearances. In Sydney, he'll be playing the Opera House for the first time ever. The tour is largely about bringing Bragg's new LP, Tooth and Nail, to Antipodean audiences. Bragg's first album since 2008, it was recorded in California last year. He was invited to the basement studio of Grammy-winning producer Joe Henry, where he holed up with some of the world's most in-demand session musicians — Greg Leisz (Bon Iver), Patrick Warren (Lana Del Rey), Jay Bellrose (Regina Spektor) and David Piltch (Ramblin' Jack Eliott) — and was urged to sing live. Bragg has described the album as "the follow-up to Mermaid Avenue I never made". Influenced by soul, folk and country, Tooth and Nail is more personal than some of his previous offerings. "Most people, when they hear my name, think of polemical anthems born in struggle," Bragg says. "I often find myself having to remind people that I am also the Sherpa of Heartbreak, writing songs about the struggle to maintain our relationships with those we love the most." Tickets are on sale on Tuesday, 16 September, at 9am. The full tour dates are: Sunday 8 March – Perth Concert Hall – Perth www.ticketek.com.au Monday 10 March – Womad Festival – Adelaide www.womadelaide.com.au Wednesday 12 March – Federation Hall – Hobart www.tso.com.au Tuesday 13 March – Palais Theatre – Melbourne www.ticketmaster.com.au Sunday 16 March – Sydney Opera House – Sydney www.sydneyoperahouse.com Wednesday 19 October – Canberra Theatre – Canberra www.canberratheatrecentre.com.au Thursday 20 March – Tivoli – Brisbane www.ticketmaster.com.au
The second production on the lineup for Malthouse Theatre's 2014 Helium program, Intimacy tells the story of Michelle Ryan, a dancer diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at age 30. The show will be a fictionalised version of real life events and performed by Ryan herself. Devised by Torque Show, the piece will feature a live score by Lavender vs. Rose and will no doubt continue the hybridity of the Helium program with some inclusion of dance. Now in its third year, Malthouse Theatre's Helium is a celebration of independent theatre-makers and original ideas; the realms of high and low culture coming into proper alignment. Partnering up with Next Wave and the Melbourne Fringe for certain productions, this year's initiative from the highly respected Malthouse Theatre is quickly building momentum and looks to be a major player in this year's already bustling cultural program. Intimacy runs August 13 – 23, tickets available via Malthouse Theatre. To check out the rest of the 2014 Helium program, we've got the wrap up over here.
Prior to 2020, if someone told you that Chess the Musical was a very real thing that definitely exists, you could've been forgiven for being a little perplexed. But it does and, with everyone obsessed with the chess-focused Netflix series The Queen's Gambit over the past few months, it's hitting Melbourne's Regent Theatre between Thursday, April 22–Saturday, April 24. Chess the Musical actually dates back decades, first hitting London's West End in 1986. In line with that era, it's set against the background of the Cold War. Here, Soviet and American forces both try to use an international chess championship for political gain, and manipulate the outcome. The tale that also involves a love triangle, between Hungarian-born refugee Florence Vasse and two chess grandmasters. If you thought that singing about chess mightn't be all that exciting, ABBA's Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus wrote the tunes, while Ulvaeus and musical veteran Tim Rice (Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King) penned the lyrics. And, if you've ever heard 80s tracks 'I Know Him So Well' and 'One Night in Bangkok', they actually hail from Chess the Musical. Keen for a glimpse of what you're in for? Check out the video for Elaine Page and Barbara Dickson's 'I Know Him So Well' below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2SDInk6voA
A new Italian pop-up has appeared in Brunswick East at Lygon Street establishment Bouvier Bar. Dubbed Pasta Bambino, the takeover is led by chef Adrian Richardson, who is known for his inventive cuisine at La Luna Bistro. "Some of my fondest food memories are helping my Italian grandparents in the kitchen and making pasta from scratch. That's how I first got my feeling for food," shares Richardson. "We're going back to basics with good food at an honest price — and what is more comforting than a bowl of pasta at this time of the year? The menu is rooted in Richardson's Italian background, with mains such as rigatoni beef ragout, pappardelle with mushroom cream sauce and casarecce bolognese. For a light prelude to the main course, choose from appetisers like fried mozzarella, bruschetta with tomato, anchovies and baslamic, or stuffed arancini. Classic Italian desserts like cannoli and tiramisu complete the menu, served with a carefully chosen cocktail list that includes house favourites like the amaretto espresso martini and limoncello spritz. You can find Pasta Bambino this autumn and winter at 159 Lygon Street, open from 4pm–12am Wednesday–Thursday and 4pm–2am Friday–Saturday.
It's no secret Melburnians are a passionate bunch about sport. So, when the Stars Derby descends on the MCG on January 4, it's bound to be a raucous affair both from the stands and on the pitch. With the underdog Renegades claiming two wins from two last season, the Stars are itching for a victory against their bitter rivals. Live entertainment at the event is none other than Synthony, the dance anthem act fantastically colliding a live orchestra with DJs, vocalists, and the biggest EDM bangers you know and love. With a huge crowd catching all the action, getting your closest friends organised and showing your loyalties in fiery Renegades red or bright Stars green means you're bound to get caught up in the excitement.
The espionage antics. The shaken-not-stirred martinis. The suits. The theme song. Think James Bond, and all four come to mind. Indeed, they've all played a part in the long-running franchise, which first started back in 1962 — and they're all now coming to Hamer Hall with a live score. Following in the footsteps of the Star Wars and Harry Potter films, Bond is bringing one of its spy instalments back to the big screen with help from the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. It's the first time in Australia that the franchise has been shown in this way, and it'll hit Melbourne on Thursday, May 23 and Friday, May 24. Audiences will relive Daniel Craig's 007 debut while hearing the music behind as they've never heard it before, all as part of Casino Royale in Concert. For those in need of a refresher on the 2006 flick, it takes the franchise back to the beginning of Bond's career. He's newly licensed to kill, and he's soon falling in love with Vesper Lynd (Eva Green) while trying to hunt down terrorist financier Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen). Directed by Martin Campbell, it was a huge hit — the biggest Bond film, box office-wise, ever released at the time, a mantle that was later overtaken by 2012's Skyfall. As the film hops from the Bahamas, to Montenegro to Venice's Grand Canal, the MSO will perform composer David Arnold's music. Yes, the classic theme track that's served the franchise so well for more than half a century now also features.
This promotion of Faber Castell is amazing. Watch an entire portrait being drawn in one single, circling stroke right before your eyes. It's incredible, isn't it, the things an ordinary person can do if they just have the appropriate felt-tip pen [tongue planted firmly in cheek].
Game Masters is one of the biggest exhibits ever at ACMI, containing a massive amount of content. A single modern game contains upwards of eight movies' worth of information. But this is also the downfall of the exhibit – it's literally impossible for one person to experience the whole of it. But some people come close, namely the kingpins of the whole event - the curators - who work tirelessly for months to choose games, contact designers, and arrange consoles. Come and hear Fiona Trigg, also curator of last year's Indie Game exhibit talk about some of the most inspiring game designers of the last decade. At Game Masters Curator Talks: Indies she will be discussing the people, companies and stories behind games including modern timewaster favourites Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja, postapocalyptic puzzler Machinarium, and classic platformer Another World. Image by Reinis Traidas.
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.
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.
Why give Melbourne one massive winter festival when you can stack another within the main event? If that's the question that the team behind RISING asked for 2024, then Day Tripper is the answer. This fest-within-the-fest is a huge block party that's using Melbourne Town Hall as a hub, and spanning to the Capitol Theatre and Max Watt's as well. If it sounds big, that's because it is. Taking place on Saturday, June 8 from 12–8pm, Day Tripper boasts Yasiin Bey, who was formerly known as Mos Def, leading the lineup in the first of his two RISING gigs. While his second show the next day will be devoted to playing his 2009 album The Ecstatic, he'll initially be taking to the stage during this Melbourne visit to pay tribute to MF Doom. [caption id="attachment_959867" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Melanie Marsman[/caption] Also on the Day Tripper bill: Bar Italia, Asha Puthli, HTRK, Richard Youngs, Surprise Chef, MEMORIALS, JLIN, Alastair Galbraith, ACID BRASS, The Tubs, Sarah Mary Chadwick, WET KISS, POSSESHOT and Scott & Charlene's Wedding, and that's just at Melbourne Town Hall. Head to Max Watt's for HTRK's 21st birthday and you'll also be treated to Astrid Sonne, CS + Kreme with James Rushford, Emelyne, Pandora's Jukebox, Still House Plants and YL Hooi. You only need one ticket for the lot — and to get priority entry to 24 Hour Rock Show. How many music documentaries can you watch in an entire day, from midday to midday? You'll find out here. [caption id="attachment_959868" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Louise Mason[/caption] Day Tripper 2024 Lineup: Melbourne Town Hall ACID BRASS Alastair Galbraith Amber McCartney Asha Puthli Bar Italia Candela Capitán — The Death at The Club Harrison Ritchie-Jones — Clubble JLIN MEMORIALS Polito POSSESHOT Richard Youngs Sarah Mary Chadwick Scott & Charlene's Wedding Surprise Chef The Tubs WET KISS Yasiin Bey (FKA Mos Def) performs MF DOOM HTRK 21st Birthday at Max Watt's Astrid Sonne CS + Kreme with James Rushford Emelyne HTRK Pandora's Jukebox Still House Plants YL Hooi Top HTRK image: Frankie Casillo.
If you're looking to host a house party soon, you might want to enlist the help of Behringer. The German electronics company has just revealed the iNuke Boom - a 700 pound, four-foot tall, eight-foot long dock and speakers for the iPod. While these speakers are wildly disproportionate to the device, they'll have a sound to match their size, with the capability of cranking out 10,000 watts. They are being released in January and will set you back a cool $30,000. The iNuke Boom is unusual given that electronic companies are constantly trying to make everything more minuscule and compact. Behringer are reminding everybody that size does matter. Dust off your old Snoop Dogg and NWA records, upload them onto your iPod and see how the old classics sound coming out of this absolute beast. Just keep your fingers crossed that the bass power doesn't cause the iNuke Boom to collapse and crush somebody. [via Gizmodo]
Drawing in nine million viewers in the US for the final episode of season two, The Walking Dead is breaking ratings records all over the world. Fast-tracked to Australian fans, The Walking Dead season three is already available to download from iTunes for $49.99. As the fight for survival continues, Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and friends attempt to take refuge from the 'walkers' in an abandoned prison and in a (possibly too good to be true) town of survivors run by The Governor (David Morrissey). To mark the launch of season three, Concrete Playground has the ultimate catch-up giveaway: seasons one and two on DVD. Get up to speed with the action or simply indulge in a thrilling undead bloodbath marathon! Concrete Playground has five sets of DVDs to giveaway. To be in for a chance to win, make sure you're subscribed to Concrete Playground, then email your name and postal address to hello@concreteplayground.com.au
When we take that first sip of our barista-brewed coffee on a workday morning, a lot of us can't actually imagine living without coffee. But what about living without a roof over your head or a guaranteed meal? Unfortunately, this is what many homeless people around Australia face each day, but on Friday, August 9, you can help your fellow Aussies out simply by buying a coffee as part of CafeSmart. CafeSmart is an annual event from StreetSmart that raises money and awareness for the homeless and is back for its eighty year running. This year over 700 cafes will aim to raise as much as they can, with totals reaching more than of $1 million over previous years. So how does it work? From every coffee purchased on August 9 at a participating cafe around Australia, $1 will be donated towards local projects. So if your go-to local isn't participating, shake things up for a day and head to one that is. Prefer a hot chocolate? You can also donate at the counter. Simply by aiming for a bighearted cafe, you'll be helping some of our country's most in-need humans, so treat yourself to a third or fourth coffee guilt-free. There are a heap of cafes participating across the city — head to the event's website to find your closest.
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.
Coffee and cocktails, Melbourne is known for both, so it makes sense that this year’s Melbourne Food and Wine Festival pop up the Urban Coffee Farm & Brew Bar is all about showcasing the best caffeinated drinks Melbourne has to offer. Over the two weeks of the festival, Queensbridge Square, where those giant red steps are at Southbank, has been turned into an outdoor cafe during the day, and a cocktail bar at night. Each morning a different cafe will take to the machines, while a different bar each night will whip up coffee inspired cocktails. During the morning you'll see the likes of Seven Seeds, Auction Rooms, 5 Senses and St Ali, while the night shift will be seeing Lily Blacks, Lui Bar, The Kodiak Club and rounding off with Eau de Vie. Expect anything from a chocolate pour over — pretty much the best iced coffee going round — to an espresso martini with a freeze-dried top you need a spoon to crack through. Wine, beer and snacks for all times of the day will be there to balance out the caffeine. There will also be coffee workshops running each day for those who want to learn a little more about the wonderful brew. These include 'Around the World in Eight Coffees' with the team from Auction Rooms and 'Is Coffee a Mugs Game?' with the De Clieu team. It's a lot of the good things about Melbourne, popped up with a cool set up, some beautiful greenery and by the looks of it, some hot weather. For the next two weeks, too much coffee is just not enough.
Many would agree that it was Mamasita, opening her doors back in 2010, that led Melbourne's still-simmering Mexican charge. Now, six years, a couple of family additions, and plenty of location hunting later, owners Matt Lane and Nick Peters are at it again, last week launching their second venue. The hotly anticipated Hotel Jesus has set up shop in the iconic Collingwood Post Office building, with the lofty, light-filled space now setting the scene for Smith Street's own Mexican fiesta. As a casual tostaderia, Hotel Jesus eschews Mamasita's well-loved restaurant formula in favour of a more easy-going drinking and dining affair. Here, you'll drop by for house-made tostadas, cocktails on tap, and Mexican beers, served straight from a supersized ice trough behind the bar. With Yasser Garcia on the pans, expect a food menu that's authentic, lively and mostly familiar, running from ceviche and seafood, to tacos and those tostadas. Meanwhile, a "tacowey" (that's their way of saying takeaway) section has a more experimental edge, dabbling in a looser interpretation of Mexican cuisine. Those looking to jump on the mescal bandwagon will find plenty of opportunity to do so here. Peters is Australia's only Master Mezcalier (it's a thing), and the drinks list he's created provides a solid introduction to the agave spirit — which comes just in time for summer. Backing that up, there's an expectedly great tequila lineup, a tight selection of natural wines, and plenty of easy-drinking, imported brews. Hotel Jesus is now open at 174 Smith Street, Collingwood. For more info, visit hoteljesus.com.au.
Playwright Sandra Thibodeaux interrogates Australia's controversial treatment of asylum seekers, as well as the people smugglers who ferry them across the treacherous seas, in a fantastical dark comedy at La Mama Theatre as part of the Asia TOPA festival. Combining music, video and Indonesian shadow puppetry, The Age of Bones tells the story of Ikan, a young boy who finds himself locked up in an Australian jail after he is roped into working on a people smuggling boat. But the bulk of the action takes place in an underwater courthouse, complete with shark lawyers and an octopus judge. The magical setting should add a touch of surreal humour to a troubling tale of actual injustice, inspired by the experiences of around 60 underage Indonesian boys who spent years in prison after being falsely identified as adults.
UPDATE, December 23, 2022: Barbarian is available to stream via Disney+ from January 4, 2023. "Safe as houses" isn't a term that applies much in horror. It isn't difficult to glean why. Even if scary movies routinely followed folks worrying about their investments — one meaning of the phrase — it's always going to be tricky for the sentiment to stick when such flicks love plaguing homes, lodges and other dwellings with bumps, jumps and bone-chilling terror. Barbarian, however, could break out the expression and mean it, in a way. At its centre sits a spruced-up Detroit cottage listed on Airbnb and earning its owner a trusty income. In the film's setup, the house in question is actually doing double duty, with two guests booked for clashing stays over the same dates. It's hardly a spoiler to say that their time in the spot, the nicest-looking residence in a rundown neighbourhood, leaves them feeling anything but safe. Late on a gloomy, rainy, horror-movie-101 kind of night — an eerie and tense evening from the moment that writer/director Zach Cregger's first feature as a solo director begins — Tess Marshall (Georgina Campbell, Suspicion) arrives at Barbarian's pivotal Michigan property. She's in town for a job interview, but discovers the lockbox empty, keys nowhere to be found. Also, the home already has an occupant in Keith Toshko (Bill Skarsgård, Eternals), who made his reservation via a different website. With a medical convention filling the city's hotels, sharing the cottage seems the only option, even if Tess is understandably cautious about cohabitating with a man she's literally just met. Ambiguity is part of Barbarian from the get-go, spanning whether Keith can be trusted, what's behind their double booking and, when things start moving overnight, what's going on in the abode. That's only the start of Barbarian's hellish story. Canny casting plays a considerable part in Barbarian's early unease; if you rocked up to a place that's meant to be yours alone for the evening only for Pennywise from the recent big-screen version of IT and its sequel lurking within — sans red balloon, luckily — you'd be creeped out. Skarsgård's involvement isn't the only reason that the movie's first act drips with dread and uncertainty, but it's a devastatingly clever use of him as a horror-film talent, and the Swedish star leans into the slippery and shifty possibilities. Still, after taking a photo of his ID and being wary of drinking beverages he's made, Tess warms to Keith over wine and conversation. He's having a loud nightmare on the couch, too, when her bedroom door opens mysteriously. When she gets stuck in the locked basement the next day, he's out at meetings. Then he returns, and they'll wish that a reservation mixup really was the worst of their troubles. Clearly made with affection for old-school horror, especially films by genre great Wes Craven, Barbarian feels like a well-crafted take on a familiar premise while it's laying its groundwork. Foolish is the viewer who thinks that they know where the movie is heading from there, though — or who ignores the instant bubblings of potential to zig and zag, plus the lingering inkling that something beyond the easily expected might stalk its frames. Indeed, watching Barbarian recalls watching scary flicks from four and five decades back for the first time, a rite of passage for every horror-loving teen no matter the generation, and being gripped by their surprises. Cregger bundles in twists, but he also establishes a vibe where almost anything can shift and change. Two cases in point: when Justin Long (Giri/Haji) shows up as a smug and obnoxious Hollywood player with #MeToo problems, and when the 80s isn't just an influence in scenes lensed in a tighter aspect ratio. Keeping audiences guessing is chief among Barbarian's games, and one it plays with glee and skill on Cregger's part. That's true when the film is nodding to other horror greats, as also seen in its Psycho nudges (side note: Skarsgård would make a great Norman Bates if anyone was to try remaking Alfred Hitchcock's classic again). It's also accurate when Barbarian is going all in on unnerving frights and inducing fear — the moment you think you know where the plot sits, it careens sharply, and the moment you think you know when the next shock or source of apprehension will arrive, and how, it flips just as boldly. He's co-helmed Miss March and The Civil War on Drugs before, but it's the filmmaker's background in sketch comedy (as a cofounder of New York-based troupe The Whitest Kids U' Know, in fact) that might underline his ability and willingness to turn wildly, and to make each pivot and leap pay off. Jordan Peele took a similar jump and that's going swimmingly, as Get Out, Us and Nope attest. But Cregger opts for what might seem an unusual choice in these elevated horror times: he flirts with topical subjects and helms a movie with things to say, but layers in his many points rather than makes any one the main focus. It isn't by accident that Barbarian is set in Detroit, or in its Brightmoor area. The way suburbia can boom, change and falter under capitalism is firmly in the film's sights, as are the inequities in income in general, and at the heart of the short-term rental market — plus the fact that such services can virtually snap up entire neighbourhoods, price plenty of folks out of them, and see homes turned into cash cows at the expense of any sense of community. Cregger also muses just as savvily and bitingly on toxic masculinity and the roles it forces women into, such as victims, villains and simply constantly being on high alert, as Tess always is. Splashing around an eagerness to keep challenging itself — including visually, with cinematographer Zach Kuperstein (The Eyes of My Mother) rarely using the obvious shot, and also ensuring every frame is taut and precise — Barbarian is deeply, gloriously and entertainingly sinister. It's meticulously and impressively executed, and also innately unsettling. It knows all the tropes and horror conventions that've filled films both spectacular and terrible before, and it knows how to toy with and subvert them, when to let them run their course, and how to make a movie that feels fresh no matter which of the above it's doing. And, in the process, it deserves to boost not only Cregger's career, but also the excellent Campbell's. Playing a memorable potential final girl takes fortitude (see: Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode again and again), and playing a character that's smart, determined, resourceful but keeps making questionable horror-movie decisions for understandable reasons requires commitment. Believing in Campbell as Tess, and in the attention-grabber of a flick she's in: now that's a move that's safe as houses.
If you are ordering pizza for home delivery, there is generally one mood you are in: a lazy one. There's nothing like laying on the sofa after a hard day at work, turning on some trashy TV, and sinking your teeth into slice after slice of your favorite pizza. But, folks, pizza delivery just got better. Red Tomato Pizza in Dubai has introduced one-button pizza delivery. Simply press the button on your Red Tomato fridge magnet, and your favorite order will be delivered to your door. Impressed yet? Each magnet can be synced to your smartphone via Bluetooth and set up with your order. Every time you push the button, your phone will notify the pizza company. You do still have get up and answer the door when the delivery guy arrives, unfortunately. https://youtube.com/watch?v=AU0KYo8_9Zs [via Gizmodo]
An entire month of winter-friendly activities is set to take over East Gippsland in June, when the fifth annual Winter Festival comes around. Whether you head to the shores of Gippsland Lakes for a day trip, or drive all the way to the High Country for a night, you'll find tasty bites, mulled wine, surprising art and live music. A bunch of festival favourites are making a return. Swing by Bruthen on Saturday, June 21, for the Medieval Winter Fire Festival, which will transport you back in time with sword fights, bonfires, medieval costumes and fireside feasting. Then, on Saturday, July 5, visit Metung for Fire & Ice, a spectacular of live ice sculpting and fire displays on Bancroft Bay. You can also look forward to a host of brand-new events. Cann River is inviting you to don your best-ever op shop outfit for the Op Shop Ball, an evening of food, music and dancing in the mud-brick Monaro Centre. Meanwhile, Lakes Entrance will host an epic après-ski party, featuring mulled wine, hot toddies, loads of comfort food, a roaring fire and DJs — all brought to you by Eight Acres in collaboration with Albert & Co. The East Winter Gippsland Festival will take place all over the region between Friday, June 20–Sunday, July 20. Check out the rest of the program over here.
When winter hits — and you know when it really hits — pressing command+A and delete on all your iCal entries seems like a rational thing to do. But hold your horses, cold one — there are a few festivals happening that you won't want to miss out on. In recent years, Australia has developed quite the winter events calendar. With Vivid's lights hitting every visible surface in Sydney, Melbourne's White Night moving to August for the first time, and hedonistic shenanigans happening down in Hobart for Dark Mofo, there is plenty to inspire a break from hibernation. So pull your calendar back up and block out a weekend to have a winter adventure out of town or interstate.
One of the most celebrated voices in American independent cinema will be the subject of a retrospective at ACMI. Beginning Tuesday, December 27, Jim Jarmusch: Rock 'n' Roll will examine Jarmusch's frequent collaborations with rock music luminaries across a career that spans more than 30 years. The season is centred on this year's Gimme Danger, Jarmusch's adoring documentary about legendary rockers The Stooges and the band's notorious frontman Iggy Pop. The doco will screen until January 18, and shapes up as a must-see for music lovers. Of course, Gimme Danger isn't the first time that Pop and Jarmusch have crossed paths. The musician also appeared as a cross-dressing fur trader in Dead Man, and as a fictionalised version of himself in Coffee and Cigarettes. The latter film saw him share the screen with fellow musician Tom Waits, who also worked with Jarmusch on Mystery Train and Down by Law. All four films will screen as part of the retrospective on 35mm film prints.
Boaz Yakin's 'Safe' follows the two-headed mission of former special forces operative Luke Wright (Jason Stratham) as he sets out to outwit Chinese Triads and the Russian Mafia. 12-year old Mei (Catherine Chan) is Wright's unlikely sidekick: a girl who holds potentially deadly knowledge. Mei has been gifted with mathematical genius, a skill which enables her to memorise the code to a coveted safe containing $30 million. Her secret cannot remain under wraps for long, however. Once word gets out that Mei is the only person who knows the safe's code, the underbelly of the crime world comes clamouring. Wright must protect Mei as together they attempt to outwit the Triads, corrupt NYC officials, and Russian Mafia. From the producer of 'Kill Bill' and 'Inglourious Bastards', this breakneck-speed crime thriller will keep you on-edge, hoping that Wright can successfully complete his trickiest and most important mission yet: to keep Mei safe. To win one of ten double passes to see Safe, just make sure you are subscribed to Concrete Playground then email your name and postal address through to hello@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=Mv2VZi5RD6c
Just when you thought Laneway couldn't add much more to its already-heaving lineup, the festival addition has added a brand new 'street party' into the mix that'll recreate the energy of Laneway's early days. Presented in conjunction with I OH YOU and Red Bull Music, Block Party is set to feature at the Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Fremantle editions of the festival, showcasing a banging new lineup in each city. The exact locations of the stages are yet to be announced, though we're told the parties will channel the vibe of the very first Laneway outing that took over Melbourne's Caledonian Lane back in 2004. Which means it'll probably be super crammed. And the lineup's an absolute ripper, pulling together local acts like Sydney-based producer Basenji, hip hop star Jesswar, legendary DJ Andy Garvey, the genre-bending Haiku Hands and dance floor favourite CC:DISCO. Laneway co-founder Danny Rogers says it'll take the festival's offering to a whole new level. "There was such a creative, magic feeling at the original Laneway Festivals. I think it was because of the spontaneity they had," he explained. "I wanted to recreate that same feeling at the 2018 event and this idea just made total sense." Laneway Festival 2018 hits Melbourne on February 3, Sydney on February 4, Brisbane on February 10 and Fremantle on February 11. To buy tickets or to get more information, visit lanewayfestival.com.
Do you remember how Nokia got us feeling all nostalgic by re-releasing its iconic 3310 handset earlier this year, only to crush our dreams by making it available only in 2G? Well now owner HMD is righting its wrongs, last night relaunching the much-loved phone in 3G, complete with the device's hit game, Snake. That's right, the best-selling handset is set to make a proper comeback, Snake and all. It will be released in Australia from mid-October. A new-school riff on a handset first released back in 2000, this little guy comes in two distinct matte colours (azure and charcoal), retails at just $89.95 and boasts a six-and-a-half-hour talk time. It also features a new-and-improved customisable user interface, with an online browser that has Facebook and Twitter capabilities. Best of all, it's got an extra long battery life — just like they used to make 'em back in the day. So you'll be able to text your mates and play Snake all night. The reborn Nokia 3310 3G will be available this October from JB-Hi Fi, Harvey Norman and on pre-paid through Vodafone and select Optus retailers. For more info visit nokia.com.
If you're looking to launch yourself into spring with some sweet new threads in your wardrobe, Melbourne minimalist fashion label Nique has your back. The celebrated brand is treating locals to a mammoth warehouse sample sale, taking over Balaclava's Red Scooter from Friday, August 23, to Sunday, August 25. Here, you'll be able to get your mitts on a stack of one-off samples and current pieces from Nique's collections, famed for their contemporary, gender-neutral aesthetic and clean, tailored lines. The racks will feature bargains of up to 80 percent off, with plenty of sample garments not to be found anywhere else. And, in excellent news for anyone keen to kick off spring with some money still left in their bank account, sale prices will be starting at a tidy $10. Nique Warehouse Sale is open on Friday 8am–6pm, Saturday 9am–5pm and Sunday 1-am–5pm.
It’s time to get your nails did. Work-Shop are running a nail art class with the Super Rad Nail Sisters, so you can learn how to keep your nails looking cute without having to fork out for a manicurist. Sisters Rohani and Rosalie Osman will be your nail art gurus for the evening, sharing their tricks for your fingertips. Currently the Super Rad Nail Sisters work out of their headquarters in Brunswick and also at Miss Gertrude Salon in Fitzroy, and their designs are both gorgeous and lots of fun. The techniques they cover will include ombre, leopard print, graphic eyes, confetti and galaxy. Once you’ve got these basics down, you’ll be ready to make up your own designs. The Super Rad ladies will provide you with the polish, practice nail art wheel, and all the fun bits and bobs like dotting tools and nail art pens. There’s also a goody bag to take home, which is just as well because once your friends/sisters/housemates see your super fly nail art, they’re going to want you to deck out their fingertips too. Make sure you arrive with bare nails so you can leave with something fabulous adorning your talons.
The Lion King is coming back to the big screen and the latest Toy Story film is about to hit cinemas — 2019 is proving a great year for revisiting beloved animated classics all round. Come September, The Little Mermaid will join them in its gorgeous original form, and with a rousing live rendition of its Oscar-winning music played by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. This isn't just a case of being better down where it's wetter, as cute crab Sebastian famously tells Ariel in the track 'Under the Sea' (which you'll now have stuck in your head, of course). It's also a case of being more glorious when Alan Menken's score is roaring, with conductor Nicholas Buc leading the charge. Expect to hear other hits like 'Part of Your World' and 'Kiss the Girl' echoing through Hamer Hall, all while you get nostalgic watching everyone's favourite mermaid princess fall in love with a human prince and wonder what it's like to live on land. Even better — screening three times, at 7.30pm on Friday, September 6 and at 1pm and 7.30pm on Saturday, September 7 — the event marks the movie's 30th anniversary. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here.
Is there any better way to spend summer than with an ice-cold gin cocktail in hand? The folks at Auburn Hotel certainly don't think so — and they've transformed the beer garden into a botanical oasis to prove it. Grab a friend or loved one and pop down to the bustling pub in the heart of Hawthorn to treat yourself to a GinBrella package ($110). Packages are designed for two — but additional guests (up to four guests) can be accommodated for an additional $55 per person. As you kick back and relax on your very own daybed, you'll be served all the goods necessary for a luxe summer afternoon: two Hendrick's cocktails (or a jug to share) and a decadent seafood platter featuring mini crab tarts, oyster yuzu and gin shots, swordfish skewers and more. And for dessert, there's a gin sorbet or gin and blueberry ice cream to choose from. If you're not up for the package, you can still beat the heat with the range of gin cocktails and gin-infused snacks on offer — the Hendrick's Gin popsicle ($6) is a must in this department. The Botanical Garden is open every day until the end of February, giving you plenty of time to plan that gin-soaked session in the sun. Bookings are essential and can be made through the website.
The last of Red Rock Deli's Secret Suppers in Sydney has been and gone, with Lotus' executive chef Chris Yan creating a feast in Darling Harbour's Chinese Garden of Friendship. The exclusive supper series saw some of Australia's most talented chefs whipping up mouth-watering, three-course feasts inspired by Red Rock Deli's new limited-edition range. And when we say exclusive, we mean it — only 20 lucky guests got to tuck into each lavish dinner. On Thursday, August 8, Shanghainese chef Chris Yan put up a feast. After guests were picked up from Central Station's Grand Concourse entrance and whisked away to a mystery location, Yan's dished up plates inspired by Red Rock Deli's Thai red chilli and creamy coconut chips. In the first two courses, Yan made both chilli and coconut heroes in with his crispy pork hock with Thai chilli and red braised beef brisket with Thai chilli and coconut cream. While his dessert of jasmine tea sago with rhubarb and pink grapefruit incorporated the creamy texture of coconut. Sounds like a meal that shouldn't have been missed but, if you did — or you went and want to recreate the magic at home — check out Yan's recipe for the crispy pork hock here. Images: Kimberley Low
Homegrown Cajun-inspired seafood chain Kickin' Inn is dialling up the flavour this weekend, in support of Mardi Gras 2022 and the LGBTQIA+ community. From Friday, March 4–Sunday, March 6, all 11 of its restaurants will be breaking out the decorations and popping bottles for a three-day Mardi Gras Long Weekend celebration. Taking the sparkly crown as the weekend's special guest of honour is none other than Tik Tok star, Instagram favourite and drag darling, Carla From Bankstown. Thanks to this glittering partnership, $1 from each signature shrimp martini sold across the weekend will go towards Carla's LGBTIQA+ charity of choice, Twenty10 — an organisation that provides support services for LGBTQIA+ youth. Not only will you be dining for a great cause, but if you book your table in advance you'll score a free glass of rosé to enjoy with your meal — the tipple Carla fittingly describes as "the gayest of all the wines". Melbourne's currently home to two Kickin' Inn outposts, in Port Melbourne and Highett. [caption id="attachment_844422" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Carla From Bankstown[/caption]
Remember those childhood days sat in front of the television, watching your beloved Disney flicks over and over? Of course you do. In fact, you might even be spending some of your social-distancing time recreating that period in your life — thanks to Disney+, there are plenty of nostalgic flicks to stream. Of course, back in the day when you were binging on The Lion King or The Little Mermaid on repeat, you probably weren't thinking about your future adult self partying to 'Hakuna Matata' or 'Under the Sea'. Let Beyond Cinema blow your inner kid's mind, because even in lockdown it's putting on a virtual Disney-themed party. From Beauty and the Beast and Pocahontas to Aladdin and Frozen, if it's a piece of music from a Disney flick, you'll likely hear it at the Magical Sing-Along. A heap of Sydney performers will croon out the studio's best tunes, which'll be streamed to ticketholders — and you're encouraged to dress up, let out your best renditions, play games (including dance-offs and lip sync battles) and win prizes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GibiNy4d4gc Kicking off at 7pm on Thursday, April 30, this virtual shindig will get you dancing to your Disney faves and belting out many a tune while you do so — all in your lounge room. Tickets cost $10 per household, so you can share the fun with everyone who lives under your roof.
It's safe to say Gami Chicken and Beer has secured its status as one of Australia's go-to fried chicken joints, slinging its signature Korean-style chook from 28 locations across the country. To celebrate the opening of its latest outpost in Lilydale Village, Gami is giving Melburnians a very good reasons to jump on board, handing out a whopping 1000 boxes of fried chicken — for free. These fried chicken morsels — RSPCA-approved and rocking Gami's signature blend of 17 herbs and spices — will be up for grabs from 12–12.30pm and again from 5–5.30pm on Thursday, March 25 and Friday, March 26 at the new location. There will only be 250 free boxes available at each session — so you should head in early if you want a freebie. Once you're hooked, you're probably going to want to schedule a return visit pretty quick, to try other Gami favourites like the chicken spare ribs or the aptly named Potato Heaven, featuring three layers of cheesy potato goodness, as well as chilled Gun:bae lagers from Brunswick's Thunder Road Brewery. And if you can't make it down for a free piece, the Lilydale store is already open for lunch and dinner daily.
They say oysters are the food of love. But you don't have to have romance on your mind to enjoy the heck out of a few ocean-fresh bivalves. And on Sunday, February 13, singles and loved-up couples alike are invited to slurp freshly-shucked oysters — for free — at Preston Market. Yep, the food precinct is getting into the spirit of love a little early, with an afternoon of oyster appreciation on Valentine's Day Eve. Swing past from 12pm when resident fishmonger O Psaras will be handing out complimentary freshly-shucked oysters until they're all gone. You read that right: top-quality oysters, for nada. There's a limit of one freebie per person, but if you're a total sucker for seafood with a boundless appetite for those tasty morsels, you're in luck: the crew will also be slinging oysters by the dozen for just $20 a pop, through the afternoon.
Much-loved beer festival Pint of Origin is back for another round. For ten days, 23 venues around Melbourne will host tap takeovers, each showcasing beers from a different region, state or country. While some are staying close to home, others are venturing to the other side of the world. Head to Freddie Wimpoles in St Kilda to try an array of drops brewed south of the Yarra, or Heartbreaker Bar in the CBD to sip your way through neighbourhoods north of Yarra. Looking for a more exotic adventure? You'll find Scandinavian beers at Collingwood's Beermash, a mix of Japanese and Korean brews on the taps at West Melbourne's Benchwarmer, and Canadian crafties at the CBD's Whitehart. Then head to the Catfish Bar in Fitzroy for a New Zealand showcase or Mr West in Footscray for a bunch of beers from the UK. Wherever you go, you won't run out of new drops to try. All in all, Pint of Origin, which is organised by independent online magazine The Crafty Pint, will see more than 800 beers from more than 200 breweries hit taps across the city. It's one of the biggest beer collections at a single festival anywhere in the world.
For most of us, a block of chocolate rarely goes astray. However, if you're the kind of chocoholic who takes their sweet treat seriously, the Australian Chocolate Festival is bound to earn its place in your calendar. Back for a second year at Seaworks in Williamstown, this expansive two-day event showcases some of the best in the business through an immersive bean-to-bar experience. Running Saturday, July 5–Sunday, July 6, expect wall-to-wall chocolate bliss as the festival presents 35 ethical chocolate-making experts from 10 countries. With genuine masters making the trip from as far as Japan and Ecuador, the Australian Chocolate Festival might just be the only place where you can meet the people producing the cacao beans that make each nibble such a pleasurable experience. With over 70 samples to compare and contrast throughout the festival, this year features a host of well-known craft chocolate names, with the likes of Mörk Chocolate, Cuvée Chocolate and Wellington Chocolate Factory setting up stalls for the event. Joining these renowned brands are up-and-comers on the bean-to-bar scene, like Spencer Cocoa — handmade in Mudgee, NSW — and Living Koko, a small-batch, guilt-free treat using cacao from the Samoan Islands. While this all sounds rather indulgent, the Australian Chocolate Festival is stepping things up even further by presenting an optional Chocolate & Wine Tasting Session. Offering visitors the chance to mix and match their ideal flavour combos, tickets for this tantalising upgrade cost $80. Hosted by Finn Doyle of Cacao About Town, you'll get to take home your favourite bar from the pairing.
If you love cookies, you've no doubt tried one of Butterbing's cookie sandwiches. The delicious morsels can be found in cafe cabinets across the city, but this September, Butterbing is bringing back its super-popular Flavour Frenzy pop-up to Northcote's food truck park Welcome to Thornbury. The crew has been busy whipping up a whole range of brand new flavours, which'll be showcased alongside the classics at the Flavour Frenzy pop-up this Sunday, September 15. There'll be a total of 50 tasty varieties up for grabs during the two-hour event, including a few wild and wacky concoctions. Some of the flavours you should expect to encounter include Vegemited Caramel, Movie Popcorn and Blue Heaven Milkshake. As well as the brand's famed buttercream, the one-off sweet sangas will be filled with the likes of ganache, jelly, jam and even sherbet. What's more, these beauties are freezer-friendly — so bring a bag, stock up now and have sweet treats on hand for whenever you get a rampant cookie craving. If you can't make it on the Sunday, cafes across Melbourne will be serving up some of the limited-edition flavours from Friday, September 13 until Sunday, September 15 (or until sold out). A map of the participating venues will drop on the Butterbing website on Thursday. Butterbing Flavour Frenzy Pop-Up runs from midday–2pm.
Summer is coming to an end, but — thankfully — that doesn't mean your time at the beach is. We're blessed with sunny weather for a lot of the year here in Aus, which means we need a few pairs of togs to get us through. If you're looking to snag a new pair, Jets has just launched its new collection of swimwear. To celebrate, the brand is offering Concrete Playground readers 15 percent off, too. Elysian is Jets' first collection under new Creative Director Rachel Allen. The star of the collection is the range of burnt clay swimwear. For example, this sophisticated high neck one piece and this high waist bikini. Jets also has a range of resortwear including dresses, kaftans, flowing shirts and sarongs that'll make you feel like you're holidaying in the Maldives, even if you're just enjoying a cocktail on your back porch. Jets' print collections are made using Renew Plus fabric, which utilises recycled and regenerated Econyl as a replacement to nylon. If you want the first look at the new collection, head to the Jets website and score yourself 15 percent off you order while you're at it. Just use the code CONCRETE15 before 11.59pm on Tuesday, March 30. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
If you think you've experienced immersive art before, perhaps think again. One of the multi-sensory works set to grace the program of Melbourne's inaugural Rising festival invites audiences to (literally) submerge themselves deeper than ever before. The brainchild of sound artists Sara Retallick and Amanda Roff, Flow State takes the form of a sonic bathing experience, set beneath the stars against the tranquil backdrop of Herring Island — that wedge of land in the middle of the Yarra near Como Park. As a guest, you'll be boated to the island, where you'll slip into a private heated tub for your sonic bath, letting the curation of soundwaves and vibrations transcend your body and mind. Because of this conduction process, the work's designed to be enjoyed nude, though you'll have the option of keeping those togs on if you're a little freaked at the thought of stripping down fully. Of the unique project's conception, Retallick explains: "I came to this idea of making a bathtub where a solo audience member could take part in a constructed listening experience outdoors while submerged in water and sound." She and Roff then spent a lot of time visiting Herring Island and researching its troubled colonial history, to inform their artwork's deep connection to place. Only a handful of lucky people will be able to partake in Flow State, with two-hour bathing sessions running throughout each night from May 26–30 and again from June 2–6. This select audience will be chosen via a raffle, which is being drawn on Monday, May 17. You can enter the ballot up to ten times, at $10 a pop — try your luck here.
Do you sometimes get frustrated with your real, life-sized world? Everyone needs an escape from time to time and, if you've seen everything good at the movies, I Think I Can could prove the perfect way to relax. Terrapin Puppet Theatre are presenting a tiny world for you to navigate with a personalised figurine. Sure, it's primarily made for kids, but all of your problems look so tantalisingly small when they're 5cm tall and made of plastic. Created by director Sam Routledge and artist Martyn Coutts, this work isn't just a model train gone wild. Before playing with the set, each audience member/prospective puppet is asked to take a short personality test, the results are then used to assign them with a figurine, and they can move about the tiny world. Each puppets movements are then tracked, filmed and collated into a surprisingly entertaining online newspaper called The Tiny Times. Don't worry, this little gem can be enjoyed by adults too. It was a hit at the Perth Festival earlier this year and comes personally recommended from The Guardian. If you feel a little shy about elbowing kids out of the way to play, there's a special adult's session on Friday, October 3 from 5.30-8.3opm.
Winter has taken a toll on us the last few months. Long gone are our fond memories of summers spent on the Peninsula and Surf Coast. We can barely remember what a potato cake tastes like at this point. So, to farewell this dreaded season in style what better place to be than at the heart of Victorian sunshine itself? Lorne is holding a big party with musicians, artists and performers aplenty, and you're all invited. Lorne Festival of Performing Arts is admittedly a lesser known name on the Melbourne festival circuit. Now in its fourth year, this seaside event is characterised by cabaret, comedy, circus, dance and music, and features an eclectic group of local performers. Opening night is kicked off in the legendary Circus Oz Big Top and the acts on show include Finucane & Smith, League of Sideshow Superstars, Mighty Duke & The Lords, Trash Test Dummies, Kate McLennan & Wes Snelling, and the Flying Fruit Fly Circus. With a wealth of street performers and seaside party vibes, this will no doubt be a satisfying way to ease into the hectic festival season. Check out the festival website for the full program and ticketing options.
If you're keen on bending and flexing in Melbourne's south-east, Oakleigh has the new spot to get your stretch on: Tidal Flow Yoga. Setting up shop on Portman Street, the studio wants you to channel the ocean's power into your fitness and wellness routines — and, it wants you to give it a try for free as well. While Tidal kicks off its regular classes on April 9, if you drop by on April 7 and 8, you can get active without spending a cent. Go with the flow at sessions dedicated to meditation, alignment, slow movements and power moves — just make sure you book online in advance. Along with the free launch weekend celebrations, Tidal is also offering 14-day memberships for $39. Classes are open to all skill levels, including experienced yoga fanatics and newcomers alike.
History is just the result of a few precarious moments – at least according to the latest exhibition at the Tarrawarra Museum of Art. All that is solid… is the third instalment of the Tarrawarra International series and presents the work of five local and international artists across film, photography, video art and more. The exhibition takes its cues from Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels' seminal 1848 political pamphlet The Communist Manifesto, with the exhibiting artists producing works that imagine "connections between the past and the present". Many of the artists have chosen to reappropriate historical events and archival fragments, while others have used current social and political struggles as a starting point for these provocative pieces. The numerous works take to the creative extremes, including sewn books, automated vacuum cleaners, cremated encyclopaedias and contrasting architectural and nature sites.
UPDATE, November 02, 2020: Your Name is available to stream via Netflix, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Most mornings, when her younger sister comes to wake her up, Mitsuha (voiced by Mone Kamishiraishi) is fondling her own chest. It becomes an ongoing joke between the siblings, but there's more than awkward teenage self-exploration at play. Most mornings, you see, her body is actually inhabited by someone else. Mitsuha is a high school student from the quiet town of Itomori, and when she asks the universe for a more exciting life, that's actually what she gets. Swapping bodies with the city-dwelling Taki (Ryunosuke Kamiki), she's soon working his shifts in an Italian restaurant, while he's fumbling through her classes and forgetting to make breakfast. It's a premise straight out of a body-swap movie — think Freaky Friday, Dating the Enemy and The Change-Up, to name a few. Mitsuha and Taki change bodies on alternating days, but they can't remember each other's names. To navigate the chaos of suddenly becoming someone else, they communicate via notes left in their phones, gradually settling into a routine. Alas, just as they start to feel comfortable switching into each other's skin, learning from their escapades and forming a growing connection, fate once again intervenes. In his fifth feature Makoto Shinkai (The Garden of Words, Children Who Chase Lost Voices) dives head-first into the offbeat yet insightful adventure that comes with literally putting his protagonists in someone else's place. However, taking inspiration from the traditional Japanese tale Torikaebaya Monogatari, Your Name proves more than just a quirky comedy. Starting with a meteor shower accompanied by narration about "that day when the stars came falling, like a dream…a shared dream," Shinkai flirts with everything from star-crossed romance to impending disaster, as well as notions of identity, gender, the ever-changing reality of life, and the difficulty of reconciling many everyday contrasts. It's telling that Shinkai highlights the dream-like nature of the material from the outset. An ethereal air infiltrates each scene, while the gorgeous, glistening animation makes every moment feel both hyper-realistic and like a fond memory. Indeed, the script's numerous charms are matched by endless visual delights. Full of montages and catchy pop songs, the film plays out in a recognisable world – particularly for anyone who has ever visited Tokyo. Yet it feels just as magical as it would were Mitsuha and Taki being spirited away to another realm. That's one of the reasons that the M word keeps being thrown around: 'Miyazaki', that is. Thanks to the film's phenomenal popularity in Japan, Shinkai has been dubbed the spiritual successor to the Studio Ghibli great — and while that's high praise, it also fails to capture just what makes the film such a treat. Part teen rom-com, part sci-fi contemplation of weighty concepts, the anarchy and confusion of life has rarely felt so vivid, honest or enchanting.
For more than 100 years, Richmond's Prince Alfred Hotel has been a popular local hang. It's the kind of place you can take a hot date, a bunch of mates, your grandma or even your dog — the beer garden welcomes all furry friends. To reward its loyal locals, the pub is offering a cracking Monday night special. Get down there with 15 bucks in your hand and you can treat yourself to a hearty main for a fraction of the usual price. The food menu is a selection of classic pub favourites — think beef burger with bacon, pie of the day and fish and chips. But locals' night isn't the only special on the Prince Alfred calendar. Wednesday nights are devoted to Meat Club, letting you nab a 300-gram porterhouse for $15, and come Friday, happy runs from 4pm–7pm offering $7 drinks. When the weekend hits, Prince Alfred is slinging free bottles of bubbles for table bookings of four or more before 4pm on Saturdays, and a $25 roast on Sundays, soundtracked by live acoustic music. Whether you're actually a local or just masquerading as one, secure a table for Locals' Night via Prince Alfred's website.
Over the weekend, thousands of punters pulled on their gumboots and descended on Canberra for the annual Groovin the Moo festival. And, while they were there, many festivalgoers had their illicit substances tested at the the country's second ever pill testing trial. Taking place on Sunday, April 28, the trial was deemed "an overwhelming success" by organisers, with 171 illicit drug samples tested on the day — a huge increase from the trial's debut at the same festival last year, when 85 substances were examined. Headed up by harm reduction advocates Pill Testing Australia, again with the backing of the ACT Government, the 2019 trial tested samples from 234 participants and identified seven dangerous substances containing potentially deadly n-ethylpentylone. The punters carrying those were advised of the dangers and all turfed them in the amnesty bin provided. Among all of the day's tested substances, MDMA appeared most often, with cocaine, ketamine and methamphetamines also identified. Health warnings and safety information were given to every festivalgoer who had their drugs tested. Our second #pilltesting trial in Canberra was an overwhelming success with over 171 samples tested and 7 dangerous substances identified. All used the amnesty bin to discard these drugs. We have published our full media release here: #harmreductionhttps://t.co/yEzfcc1JtO pic.twitter.com/dYaWpYJUJm — Pill Testing Australia (@pilltestingaus) April 28, 2019 Despite a stack of international research, support from local experts and now two successful local pill testing trials, many Australian politicians — including the NSW and Victorian Premiers — have stuck firm on their anti-pill testing stance, even in the wake of a spate of deaths from suspected drug overdoses at NSW music festivals last year and a thousands-strong rally in Sydney earlier this year. In response to the deaths, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian introduced a strict new licensing regime for festivals — which doesn't include pill testing. However, according to the ABC, the pill testing trial did attract interest from Queensland Health and New South Wales Coroner's Office representatives — along with a group of Victorian crossbenchers — who visited the testing site as it was being set up on Saturday. So, while the ACT is currently the only state that allows pill testing, maybe this means we'll see pill testing once again up for debate across the rest of Australia. Especially since, just last week, according to the SMH, Premier Berejiklian gave the go-ahead for a government inquiry into illicit drug use to examine the merits of pill testing. Pill Testing Australia is also currently raising funds to roll out free trials across the country. It will need the support of the respective state governments to do so. Image: Groovin the Moo by Jack Toohey.
Set in the backstreets of suburban Brisbane, Trent Dalton's award-winning 2018 novel Boy Swallows Universe is destined to become an Aussie classic. It follows a young boy, his prophetic brother and his jailbreaking best friend as they navigate the heroin-filled underworld of 80s Queensland. And it's about to come to life on the stage. Between Monday, August 30–Saturday, October 9 this year, the stage version of the novel will world premiere in Brisbane. Originally slated to debut in 2020 before the pandemic postponed much of the year's events, it'll now arrive this year instead. It's a co-production between Queensland Theatre and Brisbane Festival, with the former's ex-Artistic Director Sam Strong directing the adaptation, which is written by playwright Tim McGarry. When it was first announced, Brisbane-born author Dalton said in a statement it was only fitting that the stage show should premiere in his hometown. "It was the people of Brisbane who took that wild, strange book and ran with it first and that book belongs to them now and this production will belong to them, too." Boy Swallows Universe has snagged a slew of local awards, including Book of the Year, Literary Book of the Year and Audio Book of the Year at the 2019 Australian Book Industry Awards. The novel, which has sold 160,000 copies in Australia alone, was also been longlisted for Australia's most prestigious literature prize, the Miles Franklin Award in 2019. Fans of the novel will be excited to hear that it won't stop at the stage, either — Boy Swallows Universe is also destined for the small screen. Harper Collins had sold the television rights to the novel, with Australian actor and director Joel Edgerton (who recently wrote, directed and produced Boy Erased) set to produce the show alongside Dalton as executive producer. Tickets for Queensland Theatre's production of Boy Swallows Universe are currently on sale — and they've been proving popular. In fact, the show's end date has just been extended to October 3 — the second time it has been extended — to meet demand. Top image: David Kelly. Updated September 29.
Tuesdays mean different things to different people. Another day closer to the weekend, almost hump day, the day you wish you could sleep through — they're all on the list. But, at The Bavarian each week, the day after Monday also means tucking into $9.95 schnitzels. It's one of the tastiest ways to celebrate any day, and to also save your pennies while doing so. There's no occasion, other than just because — but cheap schnitties for the sake of it is what any Schnitzel Tuesday should be about. For a bargain price, The Bavarian will serve you up a chicken schnitzel with fries and lemon, but you do have to also buy a full-priced drink to get the deal. Fancy another schnitty? That's completely fine — just get another drink. Available all day every Tuesday, this is some good schnitz. To get your fix, you can head to The Bavarian venues around town — there are two in Victoria, at Highpoint and Westfield Knox, so you've got options. You can also level-up your schnits for an extra $10, getting a 'Godfather' (a giant schnitzel, ham, cheese, kielbasa, napoli sauce and cheese) or a 'Matterhorn' (a schnitzel mountain, cheese spätzle, three layers of Alpen cheese and bacon).
