"When you see the movie Deep Throat, you are watching me being raped," Linda Boreman (aka Linda Lovelace) told a 1986 official inquiry into the sex industry. "It is a crime that movie is still showing. There was a gun to my head the entire time." When Deep Throat — one of the first 'skin flicks' to feature a plot and characters — hit cinemas in 1972, porn crossed over into the mainstream. Linda Lovelace, a willowy contrast to the voluptuous blondes that had dominated American erotica, with an out-of-the-ordinary capacity for fellatio, became the face of 'porn chic' and a symbol of sexual liberation. Eight years later, however, her third autobiography, Ordeal, revealed that her entry into the porn industry had been anything but a fling with freedom. Beaten, raped and threatened at gunpoint by her husband and manager Chuck Traynor, she was, she wrote, a prisoner "just as much as if I was in Alcatraz". While the creators of Deep Throat — possibly the most profitable feature film ever made — divvied up their $600 million, she limped away with just $1250. Lovelace, directed by the award-winning Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, tells the Deep Throat tale in two halves. The first is more or less the real-time, 'public' version; the second depicts the harrowing inside story of Boreman's private life. It's a structural decision with the potential to devastate. However, too much is given away in the former chapter to allow the latter to deliver the shock intended. We hear alarm bells ringing within the first ten minutes of meeting Traynor (Peter Sarsgaard), and it's obvious from the outset that the naive Boreman (Amanda Seyfried) is putty in his hands. That's not to say Lovelace doesn't have its disturbing moments. Sarsgaard, who did the parent-charming sleaze-bag so well in An Education, brings an unnerving edginess to the psychopathic Traynor, and Seyfried, a wide-eyed and prettier-than-real-life Lovelace, is believably vulnerable. Her severe Catholic mother, played by a hard-faced, domesticated Sharon Stone, so changed in the role that even Hollywood heavyweight Harvey Weinstein failed to recognise her, and her complacent father (Robert Patrick), succeed in provoking our frustration and anger. However, a simplistic script lets this strong cast down. The characters are drawn as types, demonstrative of one or two traits, lacking meaningful development. We walk away, having once again been witness to the exploitative nature of the porn industry and the horrors of domestic violence, but none the wiser when it comes to either their implications or the life of Linda Boreman. https://youtube.com/watch?v=HPJY-g-WoQo
For the latest exhibition at No Vacancy, 14 artists have been asked to create a print inspired by the famous quote by Bertholdt Auerbach: "Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life”. The resulting artworks will display the diverse interpretations of the phrase, where some artists focus on the words and the questions it raises, and others create their work intuitively. To learn more about each individual artists creative method, Ingrid Wilson has made a short film about the process of this collaborative project to accompany the series of prints, giving viewers a chance to look in on a typically private practice. The exhibition offers a fascinating insight into the many different creative interpretations that can be derived from one original thought. Artists featured include Alexis Beckett, Steph Bolt, Louise Donovan, Kate Gorringe-Smith, Deanna Hitti, Hilary Jackman, Mon Keel, Andrej Kocis, Helen Kocis Edwards, Roz Rogers, Andrew Sinclair, Anna Topalidou, Ingrid Wilson and Jess Wong.
Devised in residence at The Australian Tapestry Workshop, Yarn is an evocative, site-specific piece of theatre that combines physical performance with poetic language. The work was created by Lily Fish (Inside A Mime's Compact, Alone, Isobel and Installation A), a member of the award-winning Fringe favourites The Dig Collective, who tease apart the mythology of the past to ground old stories in the here and now. Read the rest of our top ten picks of the Melbourne Fringe Festival here.
Ever-popular mod-Japanese spot Tokyo Tina is jumping into its next year of life with a bang, transforming its dining room into a party den to host its all-important fourth birthday celebrations, on Saturday, March 23. Guests are in for an all-inclusive, good times affair, complete with booze, tunes and plenty of the kitchen's signature eats throughout the afternoon. There'll be roving canapés, as well as a dedicated bao station slinging pillowy buns stuffed with punchy flavour combinations. Current Tina bao hits — like the crispy avocado and bulgogi beef rib — should give you some idea of what's to come in that department. Meanwhile, the yakitori grill will be firing up a poultry-driven menu of skewers, featuring quail, chicken skins and just about every bird in between. On top of that, you'll be able to enjoy free-flowing drinks (beer, bubbly and whisky highballs) and a party-ready soundtrack, with ample opportunity to belt out some of your own jams in a karaoke sesh.
It can be hard to keep up with the latest 'thing', but that's where we come in. Keeping you up-to-date with the best and most unique happenings in art, culture, design and technology is what makes us tick. And now we want to celebrate some of the people making these exceptional things happen — so we've partnered with Miller Genuine Draft to create the Miller Design Lab. Across six special nights, the Miller Design Lab will showcase projects from a bunch of creatives at Chapel Street's SoHigh Gallery, with food, Miller Genuine Draft and live music also on offer — and it's all completely complimentary. We'll be wrapping things up with an epic closing party on Saturday, March 30. The designer behind clothing label NANA JUDY is hosting the event — and the brand will be offering one lucky attendee a $1000 gift voucher to spend on its wares. Plus, Total Giovanni will be DJing on the night. The NANA JUDY x Miller Design Lab party will run from 7–10.30pm. We have just 25 double passes left to give away — to be in the running, enter your details below. And if you want to check out the rest of the Miller Design Lab events, head this way. [competition]714193[/competition] Follow @millergenuinedraftaus for more details.
UPDATE, August 26, 2020: Bumblebee is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video, Foxtel Now, Google Play, YouTube Movies and iTunes. According to journalist and author Christopher Booker, there are seven basic story archetypes. According to the writers of the Michael Bay Transformers movies, there are none. Thank goodness, then, for screenwriter Christina Hodson, whose new film Bumblebee manages to be both a Transformers spinoff and a coherent story at the same time. This is, put simply, a franchise reborn. Rebooted. Resurrected. It dispenses with all the bombast of the Bay cacophony machine – the inexplicable explosions, one-dimensional characters and hyper-sexualised teenagers – in favour of a small scale story about a teen girl and her first car. Yes, a girl, and instead of miniature ripped shorts and extreme push-up bras, this one's prone to wearing grubby overalls, Smiths tour t-shirts and a spanner in her back pocket. Even better, her characterisation doesn't feel contrived: her late father was a grease monkey and fixing cars was their special father/daughter thing. Now that he's gone, it's all she has left. Played by Hailee Steinfeld, Charlie is an instantly appealing lead to get behind. She loves her family but feels detached and alone because of her reluctance to move on and accept the new man in her mother's life. She's independent, but not wealthy enough to forge a new life for herself. She's pretty, but not in the 'rich girl' way like the cruel queen bee from across town who torments her at every opportunity. When Charlie eventually finds Bumblebee, an injured alien robot hiding on earth disguised as an old yellow VW beetle, the instant bond they form is as touching as it is (strangely) believable. Together they will help each other find what they're looking for, with their bond far more integral to the story than the intergalatic robot war that provides the film its backdrop. Does that mean Transformers fans will feel shortchanged? Absolutely not. The opposite, in fact, because everything about Bumblebee treats its mechanical stars with the love and respect of someone who grew up watching the cartoons in the 80s (the film itself is set in 1987). The robot design and colour palette is admirably faithful to the source material, the voice work is spot on, and *that* sound effect (aka the transformation garble) is used with gleeful abandon. Even better, the action is entirely comprehensible, even at its most frenetic. Take nothing away from the Bay-era special effects – they were utterly groundbreaking. But there was just so much of it going on at all times that keeping track of who was fighting what became an exercise in nausea. In Bumblebee it's rare to see more than two transformers on screen at any one time, and the agile direction by Travis Knight allows you to enjoy every punch, blast and transformation. In the scenes involving the other human characters, principally John Cena's robot-hunting soldier Agent Burns, the story does tend to lose its momentum, flicking between goofy comedy and comic-book villainy without ever properly nailing either. Thankfully, though, the focus remains squarely on Charlie and 'Bee' for the majority of Bumblebee, and it's a better film for it. A delight in its own right, Bumblebee is also the perfect pivot point for a welcome franchise reset. On that front, the future looks bright. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcwmDAYt22k
After spooking participants in Queen Victoria Market in July, the unnerving Séance installation is returning to Melbourne. The big, white container — with dark curtains and black letters splashed across its side — is popping up at the Market for one last (terrifying) hurrah this January. If you're not familiar with the installation, and didn't have the chance to visit early this year, a word of warning: its aim is to mess with your senses. Participants take a seat inside the tiny space, put on a headset and are told to place both hands on the table. The lights go out leaving the container in absolute darkness and, for 15 uneasy minutes, participants are taken on an immersive journey led only by touch and sounds. Expect to feel confused, repulsed and struck with temporary claustrophobia. According to organisers, numerous participants bailed halfway through sittings during the recent Melbourne sessions. You're probably thinking that there's something dark or supernatural about the whole thing — and going by the name, we don't blame you. But the installation's organiser assures us that 'séance' is simply a French word meaning 'session' or 'sitting'. Did we mention that the velvet seats date back to 1913 and were pulled from an abandoned theatre? And so Séance is a sensory experience that looks at the psychology of both sensory deprivation and the dynamics of a group sitting together. It's a scary indicator of how easy it is for confusion, disorientation and information overload to affect our judgment. Artists David Rosenberg and Glen Neath of Darkfield (who have collaborated in other sensory deprivation projects before) are the creative masterminds behind the project, which has been described as 'disorienting' and 'deeply unsettling'. We're serious when we say it's not recommended for the claustrophobic, the easily frightened or those afraid of the dark. Séance will be held on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights between 6–8pm.
Fans of smoky agave spirits — and Mexican eats — should block out this Sunday afternoon ASAP, 'cause Mezcal Mini-Fest is heading back to Melbourne — for the second time ever. Smith Street eatery Hotel Jesus will once again host the festivities on Sunday, March 24. The evening will celebrate the spirit that — despite popular assumption — is more akin to whisky than tequila. It all kicks off from 1pm with a three-hour tasting session where you can try over 50 notable mezcals selected by Hotel Jesus and Mamasita. The tasting is free so we recommend heading there early to secure a spot at the bar. There'll be plenty of experts on hand, too, so you can find out what really is the difference between tequila and mezcal. There'll also be plenty of Mexican eats (to help line your stomach) available for purchase, as well as many rare mezcals by the bottle — so you can continue the good times back home. Mezcal Mini-Fest runs from 1–4pm.
The future of advertising is here. You see a billboard for beer. You walk up to it. You pull a lever. Voila — you now have a freshly poured brew in your hand. While you won't find this boozy marketing magic on every street corner any time soon, you will find it at Federation Square between 2–8pm on Saturday, February 2 and Sunday, February 3. It comes courtesy of Furphys, who've set up a 20-foot sign in the middle of the public space. And yes, it comes with a novelty-sized tap handle, which triggers the billboard to pour a glass of Furphy Refreshing Ale. Once you've grabbed a drink, you can also hang out in a designated area to enjoy your brew — and marvel about the wonders of technology, obviously. Given that Melbourne is in for some toasty temperatures this weekend, hitting 35 and 39 degrees respectively, a free cold one in the middle of the CBD is sounding extra refreshing
Christmas is behind us, summer is in full swing and the gifts are (mostly) forgotten, but that doesn't mean the part-tee is quite over. To keep the holiday feeling going, our favourite Pixar characters are popping up in St Kilda at a new mini golf course inspired by some of our favourite Disney films. After setting up its (temporary) home in Fed Square for a month in January, the kidult-friendly course is now heading to the St Kilda Triangle from February 15 till March 31. Designed to challenge both eight-year olds and adults, Pixar Putt features nine- and 18-hole courses that take you past childhood heroes like Buzz Lightyear, Sheriff Woody and Elastigirl. Hit a few balls with Darla and Marlin from Finding Nemo, and flick one past Princess Atta from A Bug's Life. No need for a trip to Disneyland. So, if you didn't beat your cousin at backyard cricket over the holidays, challenge them to a rematch at Federation Square in February. All you need is your hat and A-game (and no pressure if you remain defeated, there's always the nineteenth hole nearby). Pixar Putt is also open for after-dark sessions every Friday and Saturday night — and they're only for adults. Running from 7–10pm, the post-work putt-putt hours are perfect for those date nights when you want to do more than just have dinner and see a movie. Pixar Putt is open from February 15 to March 31, 2019, with tee-off times every 15 minutes between midday–8pm, Monday–Thursday; midday–10pm, Friday; 10am–10pm, Saturday; and 10am–8pm, Sunday. From 7–10pm on Friday and Saturday nights, sessions are for adults only.
Move over, craft beer — it's craft spirits' time to shine. Everyone's been to a day dedicated to the former, but on Sunday, March 31 you can spend an afternoon with all the whisky, gin and vodka you could ever want with more than 40 exhibitors and master distillers showcasing over 150 craft spirits at 2019's Indie Spirits Tasting. For the first time, the Indie Spirits Tasting folks are bringing their spirit celebration to Melbourne's Craft & Co for the type of event that whiskey, gin, rum, vodka and tequila-lover's dreams are made of. We'd keep listing different kinds of spirits, but we're getting thirsty. Tickets to each session — either 12–2.30pm or 3–5.30pm — are $59 and not only include samples of the best Aussie and international indie brands on offer, but free bar snacks plus access to seminars across the afternoon, too. And for those particularly eager, early bird tickets are available until February 15 for the discounted price of $38.
There are a lot of reasons to get your passport out and make the short trip across the ocean to Singapore — Universal Studios, Gardens by the Bay and the cuisine (several of its hawker stalls are Michelin-recommended). But perhaps the most exciting is the nightlife. To give you a little taste of what's on offer, Singapore Tourism is taking over a Melbourne bar for two nights and transforming it into a hub of Singaporean after-dark culture with world-class cocktails, food and music. The Albion Rooftop will play host to the Singapore Social for two blasts on Saturday, February 23 and Sunday, February 24. Stop by to sample some flavour-packed street food prepared by Masterchef 2018 winner Sashi Chelliah including chicken rendang, crispy skin pork and chilli crab sliders. Alongside these tasty bites, you can sip cocktails from two of Singapore's (and the world's) best bars. Vijay Mudaliar, owner of Native (ranked 13th in the world), and Luke Whearty, founder of Operation Dagger (ranked 23rd), have been flown out specially for this pop-up and will be slinging inventive mixes for $16 each. Some of the top-notch drinks on offer include Native's Forager's Garden, with gin, blue pea flowers, pandan kombucha and ginger, and Operation Dagger's Pork Soda, with vodka, roast pork belly, apple and creamed soda. Plus, don't think you'll be leaving without hearing some Singaporean bops, with two musicians providing the beats to accompany your eats — DJ KoFlow will perform at 9pm on Saturday and 3.30pm on Sunday, while singer Tabitha Nauser will perform at 9.30pm on Sunday only. Singapore Social will be open from 12pm on Saturday, February 23 and Sunday, February 24. Food will be served until 9pm (or until sold out) and cocktails will be available until midnight. For more information, head this way.
Sweet tooths, assemble. Pastry chef Pierre Roelofs and his team of wicked enablers are resurrecting their legendary dessert evenings, shattering our halfhearted plans to cut down on the sweet stuff. Oops. After five years at Cafe Rosamond in Fitzroy and a few pop-ups around the traps last year, Roelofs' dessert extravaganzas are making a return to Collingwood's Mina-no-ie in 2018. The cafe will turn all things sweet for three nights in February — which are all sold out — and three nights in May. Luckily, there's still spots left for the latter. If you haven't been to an evening before, you can expect a four-course degustation — the catch being that all four courses are dessert. The menu is top secret and changes every time. We can tell you that previous evenings have involved ridiculous concoctions of mascarpone, strawberry, honey, orange, cardamom and speculaas, as well as a deconstructed bread and butter pudding served in one of Roelofs' famed dessert test tubes.
If you're a Harry Potter fan keen to relive the wonder of your favourite book-to-film series, you don't need to cast a spell or wind your time turner to get some wizarding fun. Pottermore, Fantastic Beasts spinoffs and The Cursed Child might've followed the original franchise, but JK Rowling's boy-who-lived and his pals are never far away from a big screen — or a concert hall. After doing the honours with Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, it's hardly surprising that this piece of prime movie and music magic for muggles has now turned its wand to the third flick in the series. Across November 8–10, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban will be heading to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, with the film screening while the score is played live by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Prepare for John Williams' Oscar-nominated music to echo through your ears as you watch Harry, Hermione, Ron and company meet Sirius Black, realise that they shouldn't believe every dark tale they hear, learn something new about their new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher and tussle with Peter Pettigrew. That means dogs, wolves, rats and Dementor's Kisses are all part of the action, plus Buckbeak the hippogriff, and trips to The Leaky Cauldron and the Shrieking Shack. It's arguably the best movie in the series, as directed by a pre-Gravity Alfonso Cuarón, and it's certain to prove even more enchanting with live music. We've said it before and we'll say it again — will sell like pumpkin pasties, so get in quick or spend eternity griping about it like some Moaning Myrtle-type character. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban™ — in Concert will run from Thursday, November 8 to Saturday, November 10. For more info and to purchase tickets, visit the MSO website.
Abbotsford's Aviary Hotel are again teaming up with the folks from Young Henrys for their latest Backyard Boogie – and this one looks like a doozie. Kicking off at 3pm in the venue's sunny beer garden, this epic Sunday sesh will see PBS' Rick Howe, Mohair Slim and Miss Goldie serving up "the best and rarest reggae-blues-soul-rocksteady-funk-titty shakers you've ever heard". Now that's a hell of a promise. In additional to the tunes, there'll be all sorts of drinks specials, including $6 pints of Young Henrys Newtowner and $5 tinnies of Young Henrys Cloudy Apple Cider, plus 2 for 1 espresso martinis to keep you dancing. The backyard barbecue will also be firing, because you deserve to make the weekend last as long as it possibly can.
Melbourne's iconic street art scene is about to be outdone. Over three days this April, the township of Benalla in northeast Victoria will be hosting one of Australia's largest street art festivals. The annual Wall to Wall Festival, now in its fourth year, will bring together 20 a (gender-equal) lineup of local and international artists to create new murals around the town. Along with the live painting will be an exciting program featuring various workshops, guided street art tours, a cinema, after-dark projections and a work from Adnate in a church of the small town of Goorambat. You'll also be able to unleash your inner Banksy by participating in the Paint by Numbers community mural, which entails the creation of a permanent, large-scale town mural with the help of one of the festival's artists. Image: Nicole Reed.
Jump on the #19 tram and head up to Sydney Road as the Brunswick Music Festival returns for its 30th year. This year's lineup is an absolute cracker, with more than 40 shows across two incredible weeks, featuring artists from all across the city, the country and the world. The needle drops on Sunday, March 4 with the Sydney Road Street Party, a massive event with more than 200 artists performing across six stages, plus market stalls, food and more. Other standout events on this year's program include the inaugural High Tide Pool Party on Sunday, March 11. Djs, live performers and synchronised swimmers will take over the Brunswick Baths for a day of tunes and dance. There'll also be an International Women's Day concert on Thursday, March 8 — featuring a lineup of local and international female singers — and a host of music-led talks, workshops and dance parties. For the full Brunswick Music Festival program, go here.
Dig out those once-a-year novelty gumboots, Groovin the Moo has unveiled its 2018 lineup. Taking the large-scale music festival out of the city and into regional centres for another year, GTM will kick things off on Friday, April 27 in South Australia and travel through Maitland, Townsville, Bendigo and Canberra before finishing up in Bunbury on May 12. This year sees local talent new and established taking the stage, with the lineup spanning up-and-comers like Alex Lahey, Baker Boy and Winston Surfshirt right through to favourites Flight Facilities and Australian legend Paul Kelly. International talent like Portugal. The Man, Royal Blood and Duke Dumont will make their way to the Moo too. Here's the full lineup. GROOVIN THE MOO 2018 LINEUP Alex Lahey Aminé (USA) The Amity Affliction Baker Boy Ball Park Music Claptone (Ger) Confidence Man Cosmo's Midnight Dean Lewis Duke Dumont (UK) Flight Facilities Grinspoon Lady Leshurr (UK) Mallrat Ocean Alley Paul Kelly Portugal. The Man (USA) Public Service Broadcasting (UK) Royal Blood (UK) Sampa The Great Skegss Superduperkyle (USA) Tkay Maidza Vera Blue Winston Surfshirt Image: Jack Toohey.
One moment Dominika Egorova (Jennifer Lawrence) is the pride of Russia. The next, she's being bundled off to "whore school". They're her words, all but spat at the shady uncle (Matthias Schoenaerts) responsible, and they say plenty about Red Sparrow. She's a Bolshoi prima ballerina cut down in her prime by envious colleagues, he's a high-ranking honcho with one of the country's intelligence agencies, and their entire relationship consists of him exerting power over her with a lecherous glint in his eye and no qualms about resorting to violence. Unfortunately, this muddled and murky film is all too happy to follow his lead. With her dancing dreams dashed and the her mother's (Joely Richardson) health insurance under threat, Dominika has little choice but to take her uncle's career advice. After agreeing to meet a suspected traitor and bearing witness to his assassination, her only option is to become a 'Sparrow' — a highly trained spy enlisted to seduce and manipulate using everything at her disposal. When she's subsequently put into the field to procure the name of a Russian mole from an American CIA agent (Joel Edgerton), our heroine is quickly forced to give her new skills a workout. Thanks to Lawrence's typically committed and uncompromising performance, Dominika possesses an indefatigable air and quite the formidable stare. But Red Sparrow isn't an ass-kicking female-driven flick in the vein of Atomic Blonde, Haywire or La Femme Nikita, or even the action spin on Black Swan that it nods to in its name. Nor is it a pulpy revenge story, an icy espionage thriller or a rousing tale of a victimised woman using her feminine wiles not only to survive, but to bring down the system that's stacked against her. Based on a novel by retired CIA operative Jason Matthews and directed by three-time Hunger Games helmer Francis Lawrence (no relation), the film is simply a routine array of predictable twists packaged with a particularly problematic approach. Specifically, there's nothing empowering or entertaining about a movie that constantly wears its heroine down just because it can. Red Sparrow tries to frame its treatment of its protagonist as an example of an entire country's corruption ("your body belongs to the State!" Dominika is told in one of the film's more blatant moments), but that rationalisation fails to convince. At the same time, the screenplay touches briefly on themes ranging from toxic sexual politics to the treatment of women in the workplace, but that social commentary falls flat as well. It's hard to take seriously any statement on the objectification and exploitation of women when your female protagonist spends most of the movie being raped, beaten, pushed around and bled dry, often while naked or close to it. Frequently, it feels like Red Sparrow is putting Lawrence in the same situation as Dominika, using her for the audience's gratification. Still, Red Sparrow does have some saving graces — all of which come courtesy of the film's stacked supporting cast. There's Charlotte Rampling as Dominika's no-nonsense trainer, Jeremy Irons as a slippery Russian general and Mary-Louise Parker doing some excellent drunk acting. A better movie could be made about any of their characters, and mightn't need to include cringeworthy dialogue like "the West has gone weak, drunk on shopping and social media!" As we see demonstrated again and again, that kind of overcooked writing really does speak volumes about this troublesome film. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFpJAIy-cow
She was once one of the most famous movie stars in the business, with an Oscar to her name and roles in everything from It's a Wonderful Life to Oklahoma! to The Big Heat. But in 1981, Gloria Grahame (played here by Annette Bening) was worlds away from her '50s Hollywood heyday. Preparing to take to the UK stage in a version of The Glass Menagerie, she collapsed in pain just before the curtains opened. Refusing medical treatment, Grahame instead asked to recuperate in Liverpool, at the family home of her younger ex-boyfriend and local actor Peter Turner (Jamie Bell). Adapted from Turner's memoir of the same name, Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool doesn't play shy with its narrative. Even for those unfamiliar with this particular chapter in tinseltown's history, there's no prizes for guessing where it's all heading. And yet, much like the movie's multifaceted protagonist, first appearances soon prove to be misleading. Grahame was known for her brash femme fatales in the days of black-and-white cinema, but her on-screen persona only told part of her story. Directed with period flair and eye-catching scene transitions by Paul McGuigan (Victor Frankenstein), the film that charts her final years likewise does more than just combine a tear-inducing tale of sickness with an unlikely romance. Both love and illness feature prominently in Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool, with Grahame and Turner's time together unfolding in flashbacks while she's convalescing under the care of his mother (Julie Walters). In sequences from their early days together, she's spirited and sultry, and he's instantly smitten — whether they're trading lines to help her rehearse, catching a showing of Alien, or enjoying a sensationally seductive disco session in her London living room. Later, as she tries to ignore her worsening condition, she's defiant and he's doting, even as her impending demise hangs between them. From these contrasting glimpses, a touching portrait forms not only of a fading star, but of a fascinating, complicated woman and an equally intricate relationship. As such, those eager for a full rundown of Grahame's career would do well to read up before (or after) they hit the cinema. Matt Greenhalgh's latest celebrity-focused screenplay (after Control, Nowhere Boy and The Look of Love) is more a character study than a cradle-to-grave biopic, evoking a entrancing sense of the actress' presence and personality rather than dwelling upon her work. In Grahame's contemplative backstage moments, her flirtatious looks and her all-round fighting spirit, the film serves up a multi-layered portrayal of a multi-layered figure. In doing so, it says as much about its subject as it does the industry's disdain for ageing, and society's lack of regard for older women in particular. With all that in mind, it's hardly surprising that Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool benefits enormously from Bening's stellar performance. Despite missing out on well-deserved awards acclaim for both this and last year's 20th Century Women, the four-time Academy Award nominee just keeps going from strength to strength. Digging beneath glamour and vanity, and painting Grahame as vibrant and vulnerable all at once, Bening's work makes it easy to understand why Turner melts in her company. For his part, in his best role (and with his best dance scene) since Billy Elliot, Bell delivers a tender and textured performance. But when Bening shines, the whole bittersweet film shines with her. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnE7jdOfp3E
The Conservation Ecology Centre of Cape Otway has some very worthy green goals, and you can help the environmental organisation get a little bit closer to fulfilling them — you'll just have to offer a set of hands this weekend. Running yearly, the Great Otway Tree Plant aims to re-green Cape Otway for the local wildlife, providing homes and habitats for future koalas and birds and protecting the ones that are already there. You can make a weekend of it, too — Bimbi Park has offered up its grounds, and all volunteers can camp there for free. There will also be a meal served on Saturday evening for those giving up their time to put a little green goodness back into the world. But, really, knowing you're making koalas safe and happy is enough of an incentive in itself. Before you head down to the Otways, make sure you RSVP here.
For one day only, Melbourne Town Hall will become the city's must-visit shopping spot, especially if you're keen to pick up some pre-loved and vintage threads. From 10am-5pm on Saturday, June 16, the Australian Red Cross will be bringing a treasure trove of clothing and accessories to the CBD spot, as part of their 2018 pop-up shop. Expect outfits, shoes and more for women, men and kids alike — including ace secondhand wares, pieces donated by fashion bloggers and new designer pieces. And expect your wallet to thank you, because there's nothing like secondhand prices. And, as always, shopping with the Red Cross doesn't just help restock your wardrobe — it also helps those in need, with the proceeds going towards the organisation's ongoing work. Entry is free, and we'd recommend arriving early to scope out the best finds.
Bangarra Dance Theatre's new work Dark Emu is an exploration of the relationship between Australia's Aboriginal people and the land — and their extraordinary knowledge of Australia's plants, animals, landforms and climate. It's also a portrait of the harrowing impact European settlement had on this bond. The show takes inspiration from Bruce Pascoe's nonfiction book of the same name, which covers the complexities of indigenous farming, fishing and landcare techniques. "Before colonisation, Aboriginal people were one with the land and respect for earth, sky and ocean was central to life," says director Stephen Page. "We want to make people aware of the strength and resilience of Aboriginal people and celebrate their profound knowledge of agriculture and aquiculture, which belongs at the epicentre of Australian history." Coming to Arts Centre Melbourne from September 6-15, Dark Emu is Page's 25th project for Bangarra. In putting together the 70-minute, four-part show, he worked closely with dancers and collaborators Yolande Brown and Daniel Riley, as well as the Bangarra troupe. Image: Daniel Boud.
Section 8, Melbourne's original shipping container bar, is clocking up an impressive 12 years of life. And it's not letting the milestone pass without a proper knees-up, in the form of a free five-day Easter long weekend party. From March 29 until April 2, the famed CBD beer garden will become celebration central, playing host to a huge lineup of 28 great musical acts, with each day's sets curated by a different guest selector or local label. The bar will open at 12pm every day, with live music acts kicking off at 5pm on Thursday. Entry is free across the whole weekend, and gets you you front row seats to Melbourne-based favourites like Rui, Chiara Kickdrum, Salvador Ricardo, Chris NG and A13, as well as international guests like Blaze The Emperor and Smutlee. Also on board for the al fresco festivities are our mates at Hendrick's Gin, Mornington Peninsula Brewery, Monkey Shoulder and Sailor Jerry. This is one twelfth birthday party you don't want to miss.
Danielle Walker is one of the rising stars of the Australian comedy scene — she won RAW Comedy at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival two years ago, before backing it up with a stellar set as part of The Comedy Zone 12 months later. Her delivery veers from adorable to vaguely maniacal — and yes, we mean that as a compliment. Bush Rat is her first big solo show and we can't wait to see what she comes up with.
Masters of late night snack fuel Ben & Jerry's have been dishing out pop culture-riffing flavours like Liz Lemon Greek Frozen Yoghurt, Stephen Colbert's AmeriCone Dream and, of course, Schweddy Balls for years. Then the masters of frozen confection go and create something called 'Free Cone Day', an annual event which defies haters. You can score an ice cream on the house, as part of the company's yearly, worldwide tradition thanking its fanbase for all the gluttonous support. On Tuesday, April 10, Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shops around Australia are hosting the seventh annual Free Cone Day — scooping out free ice cream from 12pm until 8pm. Suss out your nearest Scoop Shop purveyor of frozen dairy heaven here, and rock up on April 10 to claim your cone. Check out Ben & Jerry's Facebook page for updates.
If your end-of-week routine involves sinking a few cold ones, then we have your next Friday afternoon destination — and it comes with free beer. No, that's not a joke or a trick. We wouldn't tease when it comes to something as important as welcoming the weekend with a few drinks. From 5pm, The Craft & Co is the place to be as part of their Free Keg Fridays. They'll tap a random keg each week and pour free beverages until it's empty. It's a bit of autumn fun, which means you've got two-and-a-half months to head along (or two-and-a-half months to make the most of it). Located on Smith Street in Collingwood, The Craft & Co is the kind of place that's part bar, part everything else — an onsite micro-brewery and distillery, cured meat and cheese making rooms and coffee roastery, as well as a retail store, drinking spit and eatery. That means that there's plenty to snack on while you're knocking back a few bevs, plus a cellar door if you want to take a few tipples home with you.
If a hefty stack of pancakes is your brunch of choice, there's a new Saturday session in town that's guaranteed to be right up your alley. From April 7, Saturdays will see Carlton's Prince Alfred Hotel — which has just reopened all shiny and new — host a weekly session of bottomless pancakes and booze on its newly minted rooftop. From 11.30am each week, head up to the top of the Carlton pub for unlimited stacks of pancakes, loaded up with your choice of toppings for just $25. But why stop there? The pub's also offering a bottomless booze package to complement those fancy-pants stacks, priced at $65 for unlimited eats and drinks. Sip bloody marys, mimosas and pints of Hoegaarden to your heart's content, up until the session wraps up at 2.30pm. Live tunes each week will round it all out. Images: Giulia Morlando.
The Jungle Collective has just returned from Sydney and, after a big Easter sale, it's set to open its Abbotsford warehouse for the fourth time this year. Like previous iterations, hundred of plants will be on sale to the public on Saturday, April 14 from 9am. While other Melbourne sales have previously brought in a range of species, this one will focus on monstera — you know, the ones with big split leaves that you often see in designer homes. For those who have a hard time keeping their new friends alive, the on-site horticulturist will again be in attendance to help answer all of your plant-based woes. As usual, the team will have jungle tunes and vibes going from 9am till 4pm, along with themed dress-up specials — including five bucks off if you wear red and white stripes. No ticket or registration is required for this sale, but takeaway boxes will be limited, so plan ahead and bring your own. Image: Mooikin.
Melbourne fashion lovers sticking to a budget, rejoice — the biannual Magic Designer Sale is back for its first sale of 2018. For one weekend a massive amount of end-of-season stock and samples will be available from local designers such as Witu, Verner, Kuwaii, Handsom, Kloke, Seb Brown and Dress Up. With reductions running across the three days, your purchases are guaranteed to be investments. So cancel your weekend plans, empty your piggy bank and race over to Johnson Street. We suggest getting there early for the good stuff. The sale will run from 9am–6pm on Friday, 10am–6pm on Saturday, and 11am–4pm on Sunday.
If you're of an age to remember burning your friend's So Fresh CD so you could stay up to date with the coolest songs of the season, congrats. You're old now. But also, congrats because you will seriously enjoy this festival — So Freshtival. After rocking the '00s twice already, So Freshtival is returning on May 5 at the Gasometer Hotel in Collingwood for an autumn edition. A slick line up of millennial DJs will be playing bangers strictly of the 2000-2009 vintage. You can expect a disturbing percentage of Channel 10 alums (Australian Idol winners/losers and ex-Neighbours actors) as well as way too much Nickelback for polite company. Also, just throwing this out there: we're desperately hoping for a timely comeback of the Duff sisters duet 'Our Lips Are Sealed.' DJs include Cookie vs Small Fry, Dianas B2B DJ BOT, Jade Zoe, mixed messages, Shelley B2B Aperol Skitz, Slick Slazenger, Tranter and Yeo. Tickets will set you back 15 dollarydoos and of course it's obviously 18 and over, because if you're under 18 you definitely don't know what So Fresh is. Or CDs, probably.
Speedsters of Australia, it's time to don your best red cap, slide into a pair of overalls and jump behind the wheel. If you want to take part in Mushroom Racing, the outfit isn't optional — although, if that's not your style, you could pick a green hat or a dinosaur costume instead. Not content with zipping through the streets of Tokyo and causing quite a stir, a real-life version of Mario Kart is headed to Melbourne. On five Sundays in Melbourne, participants will dress up as their favourite character, get cosy in a go-kart, race till their heart's content and collect stars to win prizes. While Tokyo's MariCar lets racers zoom along the city's actual roadways (yes, really) that won't be what will happen here — while the location is still a secret, the organisers stress that it won't be on the street. We're certain that throwing shells or bananas at your opponents won't be happening either. Sure, that's all well and fun when you're mashing buttons and trying not to fall off the Rainbow Road while you're playing one of Nintendo's many console versions (or counting down the days until the first Mario Kart smartphone game is released), but it's definitely not cool in real life. Tickets are $85 and include your zooming, costume hire, a snack and transport to and from the CBD. It's all happening on Sunday afternoons in May, June and July, with sessions running at 2.30pm, 4.30pm, 9pm and 10.30pm, with an after party to follow. Do note that the pick-up time is 4.5 hours prior to race time, so it'll be a long day. Organisers are calling it "the rally of a lifetime", and while that's definitely overstating the significance of driving around pretending you're Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Wario or whichever other character you like, you know you're eager to give the novelty a go. And, let's face it, it's not quite as ridiculous as human bowling.
It has been 28 years since the first Jewish film festival reached Australian screens, and the annual cinema showcase is still going strong. If a movie hails from Israel or explores Jewish culture, it's likely to end up in the Jewish International Film Festival's program — including opening night's Yiddish-language drama Menashe, Orthodox community-set screwball romantic comedy The Wedding Plan, the intimate exploration of grief and connection (and baked goods) that is The Cakemaker, and the Kevin Spacey and Nicholas Hoult-starring JD Salinger biopic Rebel in the Rye, which closes out the fest. They're just some of this year's JIFF's highlights, and there's more where they came from. In fact, the complete 2017 lineup boasts 65 films from 26 countries, including features and documentaries from Israel, Australia, Argentina, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, the UK and the USA. If you're a fan of Jewish-themed cinema, prepare to settle in for the long haul when JIFF does the rounds from October. Melburnians can get their fix at the Classic Cinemas in Elsternwick from October 25 to November 22, and at the Lido Cinemas in Hawthorn from October 26 to November 21 as well.
Neighbouring CBD bars Section 8 and Ferdydurke have teamed up with New York's Brooklyn Brewery for Good Beer Week's free Brooklyn Block Party. From 2pm on Saturday, May 20, Tattersalls Lane will be pulsing with the sounds of local and international musicians, including New York turntablist Total Eclipse and Melbourne hip-hop/soul collective ESESE. There'll be BBQ by Brass Knuckles and plenty of beer, including Brooklyn Brewery brews you'll rarely find in Australia. There'll even be barbers dishing out $5 cuts from up on Ferdydurke's balcony.
Prepare to stuff yourself full of the tastiest donuts in town — Day of the Donut is back. Those baking aficionados at Flour Market are at it again from 5pm on May 17, and this time they're offering sugar-glazed, jam filled, coronary-inducing wonders by twilight. As always, the event will unite some of the best and most ambitious bakers in Melbourne under a single, sprinkle coated roof. Be warned: although it's due to run until 7pm on the Melbourne Central Level 2 Link Bridge, these doughy delights may sell out earlier. BYO wheelbarrow. A full list of the specific doughnuts on offer hasn't been released, but based on the lineup, you can be certain to find something that you'll want to eat as a post-work snack, for dinner and for dessert afterwards, too. Ahhh Donuts, All Day Donuts, Ascot Vale Food Store, Baker D Chirico, Bistro Morgan, Candied Bakery, Cobb Lane, Doughboys, Shortstop Melbourne, St Gerry's, Uncle Donuts and Penny for Pound will be bringing their best fare, and you can be there feasting on them.
When Amy Schumer starred in Trainwreck back in 2015, audiences may have felt a sense of niggling deja vu. If you'd watched Inside Amy Schumer or any of her standup shows, you knew exactly the kind of character you were getting — not that that was a big problem, necessarily, since seeing the comedian and actress take her usual persona to the big screen was part of the appeal. But even the funniest folks can only coast on the same material for so long. That's not to say that Schumer doesn't throw herself into her latest film with gusto, but rather that her character, the aimless, self-absorbed, recently single Emily, offers very little that's new. The same is true of the film in which she resides, which plays out exactly the way you expect it to. Drunken pick-up attempts? Tick. Gags about intimate personal grooming? Tick. One-liners that only work thanks to Schumer's delivery? Keep ticking. A hard-partying character suddenly forced to address her messy existence? Of course that's what Snatched is about. The film kicks into gear when Emily's cat-loving mother Linda (Goldie Hawn) discovers, via Facebook, that her daughter has been dumped. Emily, for her part, is upset, although seemingly more about her impending, non-refundable vacation to Ecuador than the breakup itself. After trying and failing to find a friend to accompany her on her adventure, Emily discovers an old photo album filled with snaps of a once-carefree Linda travelling in her younger years. So she decides to invite her mother along instead. With a title like Snatched, it's not a spoiler to say that the duo soon find themselves kidnapped by local criminals. Frankly, it's hard to spoil much about this film, given how formulaic it all feels. From the predictable interplay between mother and daughter to the uncomfortable stereotypes about South America and its inhabitants, the uninspired script by Ghostbusters scribe Katie Dippold leaves one person with a huge job. And no, it's not director Jonathan Levine – the man behind The Night Before, Warm Bodies and 50/50 stays mostly on auto-pilot here. Instead, it's Hawn who does the bulk of the heavy lifting. It has been 15 years since the actress was last on screen, but the comic force of the '80s and '90s has lost none of her flair. A committed supporting performance by Joan Cusack aside, it's hardly surprising that Hawn's rapport with Schumer is far and away the best thing about this routine jaunt through the jungle. If all Snatched does is inspire you to seek out some of her earlier work, then at least it will have achieved something of value. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcyeYFXdHNQ
For whatever reason, Vin Diesel and the gang have yet to take their globe-hopping Fast and Furious franchise to New Zealand. But if they do, they'll be racing in the tyre tracks of a couple of Mini-focused homegrown films. Back in 1981, Goodbye Pork Pie saw a ragtag bunch of misfits careen across the country's two islands in a tiny yellow vehicle. Driving into remake territory with a newer model, Pork Pie takes the idea out for another spin. When struggling novelist Jon (Dean O'Gorman) fails to win his girlfriend back at a pal's wedding, he decides to try again after she heads down south to Invercargill. Luckily, he crosses paths with Luke (James Rolleston), who's driving a stolen car and fleeing a troubled past. Recently unemployed fast food worker and animal rights activist Kiera (Ashleigh Cummings) soon hops in as well, and the trio of strangers are suddenly on the road to adventure – albeit with the cops hot on their trail, the media going mad, and the entire nation seemingly watching their every move. Will they all become friends, learn life lessons and grow into better people on their journey? Will you see so many shots of a glistening Mini that you'll think you're watching a car commercial? Will the film showcase just as many scenic New Zealand sights as the Lord of the Rings films? The answer to all three of these questions is a resounding yes. Still, what Pork Pie lacks in surprises, it endeavours to make up for in jovial road trip vibes. Put it this way: if you were stuck travelling for a couple of hours with nothing but this movie for entertainment, you wouldn't mind. Even if they don't always prove the best long-haul companions on-screen, it helps that the three central performers make the most of their roles. None of their characters are particularly well-developed, but the genuine rapport between the energetic O'Gorman, charismatic Rolleston and spirited Cummings more than helps pass the time. Writer-director Matt Murphy boasts a significant connection to the original — it was helmed by his father Geoff Murphy, and Matt was part of the crew. It shouldn't be surprising then that the remake focuses on two things that made the first outing memorable: stunts and humour. In terms of the former, prepare for a standout dash through Wellington that happens to involve a coffin, and cars and trains colliding (but not in the way you might expect). As for the latter, it's more warm smiles and light chuckles than belly laughs. The gags are mostly conventional, but then that's Pork Pie to a tee: affable, enjoyable, but not quite as freewheeling and frenetic as it thinks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPJpLfKG1AI
After a little time off to rest those weary limbs, Sydney Dance Company and artistic director Rafael Bonachela are back in business with the world premiere of Ocho, created by Bonachela, and Full Moon, choreographed by Tapei-based Cloud Gate 2 artistic director Cheng Tsung-lung. The two acts, exploring the mysteries of the universe and the deep connections between all of us, come together to form Orb, an ethereal exploration of mystery, myth, and mankind. Ocho, which celebrates Bonachela's eighth season with the company, will feature eight dancers working with a hypnotic, electric score and dreamlike stage design to look at the ways in which humans form unseen connections. The act will be followed by Tsung-lung's Full Moon, which explores the power of our celestial satellite, and how humans are affected by it. Orb asks the audience to step outside their bodies and explore the intangible realm of the non-corporeal, and, as Cheng Tsung-lung has said, "uncover the mysteries of the unconscious world which I do not know, yet I feel exist." Images: Pedro Greig.
If you're one of the many Melburnians who hate waiting but love Mexican food, prepare to rejoice. For the weekend of May 6 to 7, you'll be able to sample Mamasita's best cuisine without schlepping into the city or through the notorious queues. The famous Mexican CBD staple will be joined by their sister restaurant Hotel Jesus (which is permanently located in Collingwood) at Welcome to Thornbury to celebrate Cinco De Mayo. Mamasita will serve up their famous corn, fish and ceviche tostadas alongside never-ending margaritas. And the gluten-wary amongst you can chow down, safe in the knowledge that Mamasita's menu is very gluten-friendly If you can't make it over the weekend, on Friday May 5 a host of Mexican food truck vendors will occupy the same too. So stop by, grab a bite and celebrate the culture that brought us two of life's greatest joys: beer and tacos.
Ten days. 27 venues. 400+ artists from around Australia and the world. The Melbourne International Jazz Festival is turning 20 years old, and, boy, do they know how to celebrate. Running from June 2-11, this year's festival features countless highlights, from big-ticket events to intimate club sets to collaborative performances with KAGE Physical Theatre and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. The festival begins with a concert by legendary guitarist Bill Frisell, who'll be performing a unique interpretation of iconic American film scores from movies including Psycho, The Godfather and Once Upon a Time in the West. Frisell is but one of a number of international guests on the program, along with Dianne Reeves, Kenny Barron and the Carla Bley Trio. Other events worth checking out include the Second Line Street Party at Federation Square, the Jazz on Film program at ACMI, and Bridging the Divide, a free panel discussion about the under-representation of women in jazz. For the full program, visit their website.
The Makers and Shakers Market will visit Melbourne at the end of April, bringing with it the whole kit and caboodle of bespoke ceramics, homewares and jewellery (as well as tasty food to rejuvenate you when you get the oh-no-I-just-spent-all-my-money sweats). Kick things off at 10am with a coffee, spend a few hours browsing, and then chow down on a toastie or a gourmet pie. The market gives space to local makers to sell their handmade wares, with everything from resin rings to tomato chutney to be found. Stallholders this time round include botanical-themed resin wares by Nanna Woo, vegan treats by Von's Vegan Bakehouse, dreamy pastel ceramics from Alison Willoughby and crochet goodness from Full Tilt Nanna. And that's just the crust of the pie — there are many more to choose from when you take a full bite. Images: Alana Dimou.
After a successful debut last September, the Flour Market's sweet, doughy spinoff for vegans, coeliacs and lactards is back again. The market will take place on Saturday, July 1 with the best local vendors of wholefood, raw, organic, vegan and gluten free treats. Let the face stuffing commence. So what's going to be going begging? ACE's raw cookie sandwiches will be making a return, along with Storm in a Teacup's artisan loose-leaf teas. The Cedar Store — new to vending at Wholey Day — will also be there with their vegan, dairy- and gluten-free donuts, along with raw treats from Lady Rawsome and stuffed cookies from Butterbing Cookie Sandwiches. Naturally, there'll be many more vendors than that — but you'll have to head along to find out who they are. The mostly flour-free fanaticism will take place at Collingwood's Schoolhouse Studios. All we can say is: get there early. These goodies are set to sell like gluten free hotcakes. Images: Greg Holland.
If you're going to fork out an arm and a leg for candy bar concessions, the food may as well be good. That's the thinking behind the ever-popular Coburg Drive-In Food Truck Festival, which is back for a July run. On July 12 and 13 you can sit back in your car and enjoy the latest Hollywood releases while chowing down on delectable offerings from Melbourne's leading mobile food vendors. Look to the big screen for Spider-Man: Homecoming and Baby Driver, and to the meals-on-wheels lineup for the likes of Yo India, C'est Chick, Real Burgers, Mamma Van, Sweet Forbidden Journey, Bites on Wheels, Mary and a Little Lamb, Poncho Mexican, Ron's Handburgers and Street Crepes. Plus, your pooch is welcome to come along too.
One of the best known and most important figures in Australian history is Woollarawarre Bennelong, a senior Eora man who was captured by Governor Phillip in 1789, but then escaped, later becoming an interlocutor between Indigenous Australians and European settlers. His curiosity, diplomacy and humour were legendary, and played a major role in ensuring his community survived the trauma of invasion. Now Stephen Page, Bangarra's artistic director, has put Bennelong's story into an epic new dance piece that's about to tour the nation. Expect to be immersed in powerful soundscapes, stunning design and extraordinary movement. Bennelong will premiere at the Sydney Opera House in June before heading to Melbourne from September 7–16. Check out the trailer below. Image: Vishal Pandey.
The adorable Finders Keepers Markets have been home to Melbourne's most creative and quirky designers for ten years now. Keeping with tradition, the independent hip-fest returns to its home at Carlton's Royal Exhibition Building for 2017, this time kicking off earlier than before on Friday at 5pm, so you have more time to shop and explore. The autumn/winter edition of the market will take place over three days this July — just in time for the snuggly season. The biannual, designer-centric, come-one-come-all mini-festival has managed to bridge the gap between local market and exclusive exhibition, creating a space for independent designers to engage with the wider community. You'll be able to nab some marvellous treats difficult to find anywhere else. From bespoke, handmade leather goods by the likes of Truso to unique stationery by new comers Darling Paper Co., Blackbrail Atelier's wearable art and all manner of cute and kooky knick-knacks — like the Merchants of Nonsense 'impractical goods for the modern aesthete' — every stall will be a unique shopping experience that combines innovative design with grassroots feel-goodery. And even if you're a Finders Keepers regular, you're sure to discover something new. As usual, there will be live music, a cafe and heaps of other Melburnians celebrating independent art and design. Feeling a little overwhelmed? Finders Keepers are aware this cornucopia of new design can be a little large to navigate. So, they've got their own app with interactive maps to help you find out more info about stallholders, a personal itinerary tool and notifications to keep you looped in to what's happening on the day. You can download the app from the App Store or on Google Play. Finders Keepers A/W 17 market hours: Friday, July 14: 5–10pm Saturday, July 15 : 10am–6pm Sunday, July 16: 10am–5pm Entry is $2 for adults, and free for kids under 12.
Hear it on the grapevine in the Yarra Valley this November. For one day only, Rochford Wines is pairing its very best drops with a music lineup that'll make your head spin. The Preatures, Bag Raiders, Claptone, George Maple, Running Touch, Cub Sport and London Topaz are just some of the acts tapped for Grapevine Gathering 2017, the latest shindig from the team behind Hot Dub Wine Machine. In addition to the tunes, punters will have access to an array of first-rate food options, including gourmet burgers, wood-fired pizzas and slow-cooked smoked treats. And that's to say nothing of the drinks list, which will feature craft beers, cocktails, a wide array of wines and that most summery of beverages: ice cold frose. For more details and ticketing information, head over here.
If you're of an age to remember burning your friend's So Fresh CD so you could stay up to date with the coolest songs of the season, congrats. You're old now. But also, congrats because you will seriously enjoy this festival – So Freshtival. So Freshtival is going down on Sunday, August 6 at the Gasometer Hotel in Collingwood. A slick line up of millennial DJs will be playing bangers strictly of the 2000-2009 vintage. You can expect a disturbing percentage of Channel 10 alums (Australian Idol winners/losers and ex-Neighbours actors) as well as way too much Nickelback for polite company. Also, just throwing this out there, we're desperately hoping for a timely comeback of the Duff sisters duet 'Our Lips Are Sealed.' DJs include Dr. Phil Smith, Flex Mami, Slick Slazenger, Sharon Von Mueller, Rottwield, DJ Crystal Ball Emoji (great stage name, mysterious friend) and Leni & Tobi. Tickets will set you back 10 dollarydoos and of course it's obviously 18 and over, because if you're under 18 you definitely don't know what So Fresh is. Or CDs, probably.
Grab your specs, all you book worms and literary nerds out there, because the program for this year's Melbourne Writers Festival is a good 'un. Running from August 25 until September 3, this year's festival lineup is packed cover-to-cover with authors, journalists, activists, historians, bloggers, playwrights and more. The festival will begin with an address on Australian Identity by two-time Miles Franklin Literary Award winner Kim Scott. The evening will continue with an opening night party featuring music by Indigenous and Torres Straight Island artists curated by DJ Sovereign Trax. Scott is one of a number of prominent local guests; others include ABC journalist Stan Grant, social commentator and writer Jane Caro, author and journalist Benjamin Law and engineer and author Yassmin Abdel-Magied. Major international guests, meanwhile, include journalist and transgender activist Janet Mock, National Book Award winning author Joyce Carol Oates, young adult writer Angie Thomas and former UN Under-Secretary-General Shashi Tharoor. The festival will wrap up with a talk from Robert Fisk, a journalist for The Independent who has reported from battlefields in Syria, Iraq, Algeria, Afghanistan and Lebanon. Plus, there will be a glorious day filled with free Harry Potter activities, including readings, performances and a Sorting Hat. It says it's "for families" but we doubt they'd kick you out. "Literature has always been a platform for revolutionary ideas and a way to escape the politics of despair," festival director Lisa Dempster said. "Melbourne Writers Festival will explore the darkness of discrimination, oppression and war, but the program is threaded through with hope. We're listening to voices too long shut out, searching for the ideas that can bring us out of dark places and into the light."
The Yarra Valley Chocolaterie's Hot Chocolate Festival is back again this August. And it's just in time, too. To save Melburnians from these blustery days, they'll be churning out 31 hot chocolate flavours over 31 days. Eight new flavours will be introduced each week of the month, so make sure you plan your visit(s) carefully as to not miss out on the best. Fan favourite flavours like triple chocolate brownie and Nutella will return to this year's menu, along with the more adventurous likes of spicy pumpkin chai and smashed avocado with white chocolate. Other highlights include the Piping Pistachio, a rich dark hot chocolate that comes complete with pipe-your-own pistachio paste; the Hot Croissant, a mini French pastry filled with warm chocolate and skewered with a straw for slurping; and the Cookie Monster, a hot chocolate with a cup made entirely from cookies. There's also the Hot Gaytime — aka a combination of caramel toffee and milk chocolate, topped with crushed honeycomb and served with a vanilla ice cream popsicle. The Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery creates over 6000 hot chocolates per year, so newcomers can trust they know their way around this winter-warmer. You can book a 45-minute tasting session, which includes a sample of eight hot chocolates for $18.
You don't normally associate the MCG with fine dining — it's more overpriced pies and eating an entire six-pack of hot jam doughnuts to yourself. But it appears that's about to change in the lead up to this year's AFL Grand Final, as some of Melbourne's best restaurants set up outside the 'G. Part of this year's pre-GF celebrations, Yarra Park will play host to a four-day Footy Festival in the lead-up to the big game, featuring music, movies and some seriously good food. Fancy Hanks, Biggie Smalls, Taco Truck and Gelato Messina are just a few of the heavy-hitters – and you can expect footy-inspired spins on their typical cuisine. You can also have a tipple at one of the pop-up bars, and UberEATS will also be setting up their first restaurant on-site. Clearly the AFL has at least one foodie on the payroll. Yarra Park will also be home to the Grand Final Live Site, with activities, live entertainment and broadcasts. It will be open from 10–6pm on Wednesday and Thursday, and 9am–6pm on Friday and Saturday. Disclaimer: you will not be allowed to drink your wine out of a Premiership Cup. It will be a good place to get a snack if you're going to the game or just to the free Killers gig afterwards. Image: Fancy Hanks.
