It has been over three years since Australia's most ambitious outdoor cinema held its first pop-up, letting movie lovers catch a flick under the stars while getting cosy in one of its beds (yes, beds) on the beach. After four fast-selling seasons in Sydney, Mov'In Bed has announced its first national tour, bringing its comfy setup to Melbourne in 2020. Melburnians, it's your time to hop into one of 150 beds and stare up at the silver screen. Mov'In Bed will make its Melbourne debut at St Kilda Beach in on Saturday, January 4 and run right through summer until Saturday, March 7. Grab a buddy you're comfortable to share a blankie with (or make a bold first date move) and book one of the 150 beds — which are located literally on the sand. There will be new movies (Joker, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Hustlers), old movies (Jaws and Dirty Dancing, of course), and Last Christmas in case you are still hanging on to festive cheer. There'll also be an American-style diner on-site to bring you pizza, burgers and milkshakes directly to your bed. It's not BYO so you'll have to purchase all drinks at the bar. Films will run from 8.45pm every night except Mondays. Tickets are $73.80 for a couple and $93.90 if you can fit three in the bed. If you don't want to shell out for a bed, you can grab a grass ticket for $12 — just remember to bring a picnic blanket and book your spot before you rock up. Updated: November 13, 2019.
If you believe that bigger is better, then it has been more than a decade since Melbourne boasted one of the most important claims to fame in the country. From 1991 to 2005, the city was the home of Australia's tallest building — but soon, after temporarily losing the crown to the Gold Coast, everyone will be looking up again in the Victorian capital. Thank a just-approved 323-metre, 90-storey tower for thrusting Melbourne back to great heights, with the giant structure destined to change the skyline at Southbank. Called One Queensbridge, it'll form part of the Crown precinct, and will feature a six-star hotel with 388 rooms, 708 residential apartments and the kind of other reasons to drop by (most likely shops and restaurants) that have been dubbed "visitor attractions". The development will also see Queensbridge Square get an upgrade that includes landscaping and new cafes, a new bike strip installed on Southbank Boulevard, and street furniture and additional trees placed along Queensbridge Street. And as for the building itself, it has been designed by WilkinsonEyre, who got the gig by winning an international design competition. Don't expect to see the massive complex towering over the city just yet, though, with construction not expected to start until 2018 — or finish for five or six years after that. Until then, Queensland's Q1 will keep winning in the big building stakes, with Melbourne's Eureka Tower in second spot.
The festive season might be one of the happiest times of year for many, but there's no denying it can come with an all too heady financial hangover in the new year. And that's a shame because summer's most unmissable events do waggle a price tag. That's why we've teamed up with American Express, which offers a solution for Amex Credit Card card members to split a big cost into manageable sections. That's the idea behind Plan It® Instalments, a feature that allows you to split payments into instalments with no interest to be paid over 3, 6 or 12 months — T&Cs apply. But how can you use Plan It Instalments to live your best life? All over Australia's east coast, there are headline events you can secure a ticket to right now. [caption id="attachment_978661" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade on March 2, 2023[/caption] Sydney The Harbour City rarely has a shortage of things to do. Many summer events take place in the prettiest (and busiest) parts of town, which only increase ticket prices. For a more relaxed but oh-so-luxurious alternative that's just as close to the water, a Sydney must-see is the Westpac OpenAir Cinema. With a program of indie films and blockbusters alike and food supplied by three on-site eateries from top Sydney chefs against a backdrop of the Sydney skyline and harbour, this isn't your average cinema experience. The pricing is worth it and easily broken down with Plan It Instalments. Finally, one of Sydney's biggest events returns in February to round out the season: Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival. This citywide celebration runs from Friday, February 14 to Sunday, March 2 and has a whole host of offerings. Sure, some events, like the main parade, are free — but many of Mardi Gras' most fun experiences are ticketed. Be it drag brunches, boat parties, concerts and more; you can secure a spot for yourself and any fellow partygoers today. [caption id="attachment_913351" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Daniel Boud[/caption] Melbourne Down south in Melbourne, the offering is as stacked as ever in the heat of summer. Don't let the adverse weather stop you from having a good time. Melbourne is kicking off 2025 with a culture-heavy events program and Plan It Instalments will prevent the headline items from denting your savings when you need them. A truly fabulous event is at the top of the cards, TINA: The Tina Turner Story. The musical tells the story of an icon beloved by Australians and is so much more than just a biography. It's a toe-tapping dive into the life of the queen of rock 'n' roll and includes 20 of her most popular songs. Book using Plan It Instalments and get some seats before the show leaves Melbourne for good on Sunday, March 2. If you fancy heading further afield, up in Falls Creek is Feastival. Sure, this alpine town is generally a winter destination, but this three-day festival at the tail end of February will bring a new level of festivity outside of peak season. What's on the cards? Feasting (duh), comedy shows, paint and sips, pilates, heritage walks and a massive weekend of music featuring The Cat Empire, Budjerah, Azure Ryder and more. Make it a great getaway that goes steady via Plan It Instalments. Brisbane Up north in the River City, summer is the season of concerts. The regular summer offerings go on in force, but some of the hottest tickets in town are courtesy of artists stopping by on global tours. Then, on Tuesday, February 25, comes the long-awaited return of The Goo Goo Dolls to Australian shores. On their first visit in 20 years, they'll be joined by Thirsty Merc as they blow the roof off of the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre with banging ballads like 'Iris', 'Slide', 'Just the Way You Are' and more. Finally, an icon among icons, Kylie Minogue, is playing two shows at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre as a part of the Tension Tour on Wednesday, February 26 and Thursday, February 27. Plan It Instalments is available for American Express Credit Card Holders for plans over $100. For more information, visit the website. Plan It Instalments Terms and Conditions: You can create an Instalment Plan as long as your account is in good standing. We may withdraw this offer, prevent you from creating any new Instalment Plans or cancel any of your existing Instalment Plan(s) at any time if your Card Account is overdue, or if you do not comply with your Card Conditions. The minimum Plan amount is AUD$100. We may also limit the amount that can be transferred to an Instalment Plan. You will be charged a Monthly Plan Fee for each Instalment Plan created. This fee will be charged each month your Instalment Plan is active and will be disclosed to you at the time of creating your Instalment Plan. Each Instalment Plan will begin from the date it is successfully created, as communicated to you in your Online Account. Payment of your first Monthly Instalment will be due in your next payment cycle. You may request to cancel your Instalment Plan(s) at any time through your Online Account or the Amex App. Any billed Monthly Plan Fees will remain payable, but no further Monthly Plan Fees will be billed after cancellation is effective. As cancellation can take 24-48 hours to process ("Processing Time"), you may be charged a further monthly plan fee after requesting cancellation if the Processing Time occurs on your payment date. View the full Plan It Instalments Terms and Conditions here. American Express Consumer Credit Cards are offered, issued and administered by American Express Australia Limited ABN 92 108 952 085, Australian Credit License No. 291313.
Lined with leafy streets, Kensington's quiet village-like atmosphere belies its proximity to Melbourne CBD. Yet this peaceful pocket makes the neighbourhood prime for top-notch cafes rich in community spirit. While there's no shortage to choose from, Local Folk has become a beloved favourite in the area. Although the constant throng of customers highlights Local Folk's credentials, the cafe recently received the VIC Toby's Estate Local Legends 2024 award. Established by the coffee roaster to give communities the chance to vote on their favourite cafes brewing Toby's Estate beans, Ashley and his wife Belinda are chuffed to claim the title after a decade in business. With Ashley plying his trade in hospo venues across Melbourne since he was a teenager, this on-the-job education helped ready him for owning his own spot. With his family having roots in Kensington for years, it was the ideal choice to build something that could become a long-standing member of the community. Serving incredible coffee alongside modern cafe cuisine, a morning flat white or espresso goes down sweet with the brekky gnocchi or a spring salad. To celebrate Local Folk's award, we've chatted with owner Ashley to get to know his cafe better and what the Kensington community means to him. Tell Us About the Inspiration Behind the Name 'Local Folk' came from the Kensington community's interest in our business from the early days of renovating the premises. We had lots of families, dog walkers, and community members keen to hear what we were up to and planning. The local community showed us kind support and encouragement from the beginning. Given this was our first business, the name seemed to suit the local people and what we hoped to achieve. How Did You Get Into the Hospitality Industry? I've worked in the hospitality industry as a chef since age 17, starting as an apprentice in a French restaurant where I developed a love of cooking and hospitality. After working in various restaurants and cafes across Melbourne, I took the plunge in opening my own business in 2014. What's Your Go-To Coffee Order? A soy latte brewed with fresh beans (Toby's Estate, of course!) and Bonsoy Milk. From Your Menu, What's the Perfect Pairing With a Morning Coffee? Our Kenso brekky roll. It's our most popular menu item for on-the-go customers. Made with egg, bacon, house-made relish, jack cheddar and spinach in a toasted pide – delish! What Made You Choose to Open in the Area You're in Today? We had family connections to Kensington, as my father grew up in the area and attended the local primary school across the street from Local Folk. My brother also lived in the area a few years ago, so I know it well. We love the village feel of Kensington with its community vibe and felt that the weatherboard charm of our former corner store was the perfect site for a local cafe. What Future Plans Do You Have in Store For Your Cafe? We would like to continue to improve the facilities for our customers. In particular, we are meeting with our local council regarding our outdoor dining area and hope to make the area more comfortable in summer. We might even open on some summer nights. Where's Your Favourite Local Spot to Grab Dinner and a Drink After Work? Being a busy family with kids in school, going out for dinner and drinks after work is rare these days. However, when we have time, we try to support other local venues like Hardimans Hotel. What are Some Other Local Small Businesses You Think People Should Support? I believe in supporting local businesses, especially the Flemington & Kensington Bowling Club. They have hosted our staff Christmas parties on many occasions and we appreciate how they sponsor local sporting teams. Why Do You Use Toby's Estate? We chose Toby's Estate because of their ethical standards when sourcing beans from around the world. It's important to support the origins of the beans for sustainability and longevity. Toby's is a great coffee partner for their passion for quality coffee and support for small business. What's Your Favourite Toby's Estate Roast? Brunswick blend is our go-to roast. We love it for its dark chocolate and toffee notes. It's a blend perfect for Melburnians and is unique to the area. Local Folk is the Toby's Estate Local Legends winner for VIC in 2024. For more information on it or other cafes that serve Toby's Estate, visit the website.
On your next getaway in southeast Queensland, head up in the world, then stay there. Located 45 minutes out of the Gold Coast in the Scenic Rim region — which Lonely Planet named one of the best places in the world to visit in 2022 — Tamborine Mountain is the area's lofty tree-change go-to. From December 2024, the scenic site will also be home to a new boutique motel. The latest accommodation option from the team behind Cassis Red Hill in Victoria's Mornington Peninsula, The Tamborine boasts 23 rooms in its 80s-style abode, which takes its design cues from haciendas. When you're getting cosy, you'll be doing so in king-sized beds — and with mountain views no matter which room you're in, including from either a private balcony or a terrace. If you're keen for a splash as well, there's a heated mineral pool and spa. The Tamborine will also include a lounge and bar area, where complimentary continental breakfast is served each morning, hosted aperitifs are on the menu each afternoon, and drinks and bar snacks can be ordered to enjoy poolside. The drinks focus: locally sourced sips. But if you're eager to use the motel as a base to explore the rest of the mountain, the crew here understand — and have a curated array of experiences beyond the site's doors to suggest. "Whether it be immersing oneself in nature, enjoying a tipple at one of the many and emerging microbreweries and distilleries, or exploring the artisan wares the mountain is famous for, The Tamborine will be the perfect escape for our guests. We want guests leaving feeling enriched and connected, and eager to return," advised co-owner Nina Aberdeen. "We are beyond excited to open the doors to The Tamborine and share this special place with our guests. The hotel is designed to offer a seamless connection between our guests, our hosts, the natural surrounds and the local community," added co-owner Gina McNamara. "Every detail has been crafted to ensure that when guests arrive, they feel a deep sense of relaxation and belonging. We can't wait to see them experience the stunning views, unwind by the pool and explore everything the Scenic Rim has to offer." Find The Tamborine at 99 Alpine Terrace, Tamborine Mountain, Queensland, from early December 2024. Head to the motel's website for bookings and further details.
Before the Titanic collided with an iceberg, became one of modern history's most famous tragedies and inspired one of cinema's biggest box-office hits, a different cross-Atlantic liner sailed into chaos. So says Jantje Friese and Baran bo Odar, with the German pair's new — and wholly fictional — Netflix series 1899 taking place onboard the steamship Kerberos 13 years before the sinking that everyone knows about. This vessel is travelling from England to America with 1400 crew and passengers, filling everywhere from stately rooms to jam-packed halls, when it receives word of a missing craft. Owned by the same company, the Prometheus took the same route four months prior, and was thought to have disappeared without a trace until that distress signal beckons. Friese and bo Odar love a mystery, and 1899 has a hefty one right from the outset. Friese and bo Odar also love making labyrinthine puzzle-box shows that keep dropping clues, twists, and philosophical ideas about the meaning and point of existence in aid of the bigger picture — aka an approach that made their 2017–20 German-language effort Dark such a massive and deserving success. Over its three-season run, that series probed fate and destiny in a woodland town, not only diving into its residents' deepest secrets but charting the looping consequences backwards and forwards in time. Friese and bo Odar love grand ambitions as well, clearly, and Dark didn't just have them but fulfilled them, proving one of Netflix's best originals yet. How do the TV-making duo — Friese writes and co-writes, bo Odar directs and they both produce — ensure that sparks ignite twice? By diving even deeper into their favourite themes, tactics and flourishes, all in a series that couldn't spring from anyone else. If anyone familiar with Dark started watching 1899 without knowing their shared origins, they'd guess immediately. Everyone unacquainted with the former should end the latter desperate to seek it out ASAP. The one sizeable departure: inconsistent pacing, with 1899's first four season-one episodes glacial in setting the scene, and its last four busy to pack in as many revelations as possible. Still, taking the voyage comes with a boatload of thrills, suspense and intrigue; if Dark met Titanic, Snowpiercer, Black Mirror and Lost, and showed a ship's worth of love for the Alien franchise, it still wouldn't be close enough. Extra-terrestrials aren't the answer to this sci-fi/horror/mystery series, but the first Alien film started in the exact same way as 1899. Cue an unexpected transmission interrupting a trip, the crew committing to investigate, a derelict ship awaiting and a surprise making its way over from the abandoned vessel. Back on the Kerberos, like the Nostromo before it, cue crawling through passageways in search of answers, away from threats and to escape the discontent festering in the craft. In more than just the name of its other key ship, 1899 nods to the Alien saga's Prometheus as well — and for fans of the iconic Ridley Scott-created big-screen series, spotting the references adds a whole other game to a show that already has viewers sleuthing from the outset. Chasing clues is a prime pastime on the Kerberos, too — 1899's two ships draw their monikers from myth, aptly — with everyone from doctors, captains and sudden interlopers to enigmatic children and relocating Europeans trying to solve the show's puzzles. Chief among them are Maura Franklin (Emily Beecham, The Pursuit of Love), a rare female medical practitioner at the time; Kerberos' leader Eyk Larsen (Dark alum Andreas Pietschmann); and Daniel Solace (Aneurin Barnard, The Goldfinch), who climbs aboard while everyone's focusing on the Prometheus. As well as being perplexed by their situation, Maura and Eyk are haunted by their respective pasts; her brother is missing and her father (Anton Lesser, Andor) provides a firm presence in her dreams, while the captain can't stop thinking about, and believing he's seeing, the family he lost in a heartbreaking fashion. Traumatic histories are a common thread among the other passengers, too, as 1899 explores by beginning its early episodes honing in on a different character. Also onboard: Spaniards Ángel (Miguel Bernardeau, Everything Else) and Ramiro (José Pimentão, Teorias da Conspiração), one flouting wealth and the other posing as a priest; Ling Yi (newcomer Isabella Wei), who dresses like a geisha but speaks Cantonese with her travelling companion Yuk Je (Gabby Wong, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story); and Virginia Wilson (Rosalie Craig, The Queen's Gambit), who has more than a passing interest in the ship's Asian commuters. Then there's French couple Clémence (Mathilde Ollivier, A Call to Spy) and Lucien (Jonas Bloquet, Marie Antoinette), newlyweds hardly in the throes of marital bliss; stowaway Jérôme (Yann Gael, Saloum) and stoker Olek (Maciej Musial, The Witcher), found among the vessel's bottom levels; and a Danish family that includes religious fanatic Iben (Maria Erwolter, Outlaw), her husband Anker (Alexandre Willaume, The Wheel of Time), their pregnant daughter Tove (Clara Rosager, Morbius), scarred son Krester (Lucas Lynggaard Tønnesen, Borgen) and youngest child Ada (Vida Sjørslev, Carmen Curlers). And, thanks to the Prometheus, there's a mute boy (Fflyn Edwards, The Snow Spider) as well. With Friese and bo Odar pulling the strings, Dark and now 1899 instantly grab attention with their riddles, nightmarishly brooding mood and — as one series put right there in its name — their willingness to get and stay dark. Throw in the pair's penchant for existential musings, trippy setups and premise-shattering revelations, and both shows are catnip for mystery lovers. This one sports a heavy eat-the-rich vibe as well (although nowhere near as strong as 2022's also ship-set Cannes Palme d'Or-winner Triangle of Sadness), and contemplates how the unwanted turns that everyones' lives take shape our future choices and selves. With a moniker from the past, 1899 understands that no one can ever truly evade theirs, with our own personal histories causing not just ripples but waves and tsunamis. Friese and bo Odar have another crucial skill, however: casting. 1899 features an international collection of characters, each speaking their own tongue, all adding to the show's exploration of immigration and played by a stellar lineup of actors. The series has its on-screen talent act against a virtual studio, with special effects-created sets and locations made during the shoot — crafting 1899's effects in-camera, rather than afterwards — and the resonant performances that result bear the benefits. A Cannes Best Actress Award-winner for 2019's excellent Little Joe, Beecham is always potent to watch, but alongside fellow leads Pietschmann and Barnard she helps ensure that this mind-bender is as emotional as it is cerebral. All aboard, obviously. Check out the trailer for 1899 below: 1899 streams via Netflix.
Some would say it's a waste of a perfectly good piano, but what Canadian artist Maskull Lasserre does to wood is worth every unused inch. Lassere explores the unexpected potential of the everyday, unassuming wooden object, and with his exceptional carving skills, transforms them into incredible works of art. He reveals strange creatures and skeletons that seems to have been fossilised inside common inanimate objects such as pianos, doors, books or axes. The artist says his work is a demonstration of how once something ceases to be, it becomes something else: "When the remnants of life are imposed on an object, and that’s true especially with the carving work that I do, it infers a past history or a previous life that had been lived, so again where people see my work as macabre, I often see it as hopeful, as the remnants of a life. Despite the fact that the life has ended, at least that life had a beginning and middle as well, so often by imparting these bodily elements to inanimate objects it reclaims or reanimates them in a virtual way." Yes, his name is Maskull Lasserre. What a dude. via Viral Nova explore the unexpected potential of the everyday
Do you remember the first time that you saw a pastel-hued facade, ornate interior detailing, or something gloriously symmetrical indoors or out, then thought "that looks like something out of a Wes Anderson film"? For almost three decades now, we've all done it. Since his feature debut Bottle Rocket, the Asteroid City and The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar director has firmly established his stylistic trademarks, ensuring that a Wes Anderson movie is always immediately recognisable as a Wes Anderson movie no matter which of the filmmaker's regular actors is in front of the camera. Brooklyn-based husband and wife Wally and Amanda Koval shared this line of thinking to the point of creating an Instagram account around it in 2017. Accidentally Wes Anderson now has 1.9-million followers. The social media feed is a curated selection of images from real life that look like Anderson has staged, styled and shot them, but hasn't — and after taking films as inspiration for an online compilation of images, Accidentally Wes Anderson has taken the IRL route itself via an exhibition. At Accidentally Wes Anderson: The Exhibition, 200-plus images await — and they're all coming to Australia for the first time. Following past runs in Tokyo and Seoul, and present seasons in London and Los Angeles, the immersive art experience will make its Down Under debut in Melbourne from Wednesday, September 18, 2024, complete with ten rooms. Some of the exhibition's walls feature facades that Anderson must covet, others find landscape that'd make the perfect Anderson backdrop, and plenty highlight either vintage vehicles or enchanting hotels. Yes, pastel tones pop up frequently. So does symmetry, including in the exhibition's presentation. The idea is to make you feel like you're stepping into Anderson's flicks by showing how the world beyond his frames often conjures up that sensation anyway. To borrow from a different filmmaker, is this the Wes Anderson version of Inception? Attendees enter an exhibition of real-life pictures inspired by an Instagram account that's inspired by Anderson's moving pictures, particularly his aesthetic within them that takes cues from real life. Accidentally Wes Anderson has also been turned into a book, too, plus a website with a map spanning almost 2000 spots across the planet that fit the theme. At Accidentally Wes Anderson: The Exhibition, patrons arrive via the lobby, then explore a space dedicated to portals, then embrace an array of facades. Checking out sections devoted to coastal scenes, planes and trains (and automobiles, of course), sports, accommodation and nature is also on the agenda. There's a space that'll get you watching big-screen travel adventures, too — and, just for Australia, one about Aussie spots that evoke Anderson. For souvenirs, you'll exit through the Accidentally Wes Anderson shop. The place will clearly look the Wes Anderson part. As for visitors, wearing a blazer and red beret, an Adidas tracksuit, a purple lobby boy uniform or khaki while you're spending an hour wandering around is up to you. There's no word yet if Accidentally Wes Anderson: The Exhibition will display elsewhere across Australia, or if folks outside of Melbourne will need to pack their matching Louis Vuitton suitcases for a trip to the Victorian capital to see it. Accidentally Wes Anderson: The Exhibition displays at 360 Bourke Street, Melbourne from Wednesday, September 18, 2024. Head to the exhibition website to join the waitlist, with tickets on sale from 6pm on Tuesday, July 30, 2024.
Everyone has different priorities when it comes to planning a holiday. For some, it's a jam-packed itinerary of outdoor adventures. Others may be looking for a place to kick back and relax. But for you, it may be all about seeking out good food and drinks. Hey, we don't blame you. You've got to keep fuel in the tank for that sightseeing. Canberra is one city that delivers all of the above on a silver platter. A weekend here can be filled with wondrous epicurean delights, plus a hell of a lot of life-affirming tasty vino. You'll find everything from fine dining establishments and cosy wine bars to bustling markets and top-notch wineries. Throw in a few more unique food experiences that you're unlikely to find in your city and you've got yourself a pretty amazing food-filled weekend. If you're guilty of planning every single meal in advance, right down to the dishes you (and your travelling companion) will order, we've got you covered. Read on to discover five spots around the capital that you must make a stop at on your next trip. Please stay up to date with the latest ACT Government health advice regarding COVID-19.
This Is Spinal Tap set the benchmark for mockumentaries way back in 1984 and has reigned supreme ever since. Now it may finally have an equal with What We Do In The Shadows, a collaboration between writer/directors Taika Waititi and Flight of the Conchords' Jemaine Clement. Billed as "a couple of interviews with a couple of vampires", it's a fly on the wall 'documentary' about four vampires sharing a flat in present-day New Zealand and is, quite simply, hilarious. Key to its appeal is the way What We Do In The Shadows presents the needs, problems and activities of vampires as entirely commonplace. The flatmates cruise the clubs of Wellington seeking victims like others seek a one night stand, they jeer each other on when a back-alley argument descends into a 'bat fight', and they projectile vomit blood when they absentmindedly eat actual food. Yes, they've their share of 'vampire' problems (sunlight, vampire hunters, etc), but also more normal ones, like having to tell your best friend you're the undead and suppressing the unceasing desire to kill him. What We Do in the Shadows is in cinemas on September 4. Thanks to Madman Entertainment, we have a What We Do in the Shadows prize pack to give away, with a double in-season pass and DVDs of Submarine, Bernie and Prince Avalanche. Eight runners up will also get double in-season passes to see the film. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Read our full review of the movie here. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=Cv568AzZ-i8
POOF DOOF, GiRLTHING, Thursgay and CLOSET are all coming together for the ultimate Midsumma blowout at St Kilda's iconic Luna Park. From 3pm until late, Yass Pride! will see an all-star lineup of DJs, dancers and drag performers working their magic across multiple stages beneath the rickety Scenic Railway. Oh, and if that weren't enough, once 8pm rolls around, ticketholders will be given unlimited ride access. If your inner child isn't screaming with glee right now, then we just don't know what to say. First release tickets have already sold out, so snap up second release tickets while you still can.
Don't underestimate the potato, especially at the Great Trentham Spudfest where this humble staple takes the spotlight. The annual festival will be hitting Trentham, a region known as spud country, to celebrate the production of Australia's finest potatoes thanks to the area's ochre-coloured volcanic soil. Now in its 16th year, the Great Trentham Spudfest is bigger than ever, with around 6000 potato lovers flocking to the small town (with a population of. just 1200 people) each year, a testament to the spud's well-deserved popularity. Most experiences are free to attend, so you can save your money for the many market stalls, farm-fresh produce, and food trucks serving the spud in its many delicious forms. But the Spudfest fun doesn't stop at food. The festival offers a range of activities, from classic games like potato sack races and a potato peeling competition, to a unique spud scavenger hunt where visitors can solve potato-themed clues to win prizes. Live music and food and farm tours tours are also part of the lineup, with local pubs and eateries hosting their own events and spuddy specials. [caption id="attachment_771084" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption]
When all seven chapters of S-Town were released in one mighty swoop on March 28 this year, podcasting entered a new realm. Ten million episodes were downloaded in four days, obliterating records. And now, series creator Brian Reed is coming to Australia to talk about how he did it. At two different evenings, titled 'Mysteries, Mazes and the Making of S-Town' at Melbourne's Wheeler Centre and We Need To Talk About S-Town at Sydney Opera House, he'll be chatting about telling stories, combining reporting with literariness, leaving things unsaid and, of course, John B. McLemore, the podcast's eccentric, obsessive, unforgettable protagonist. Along the way, you're likely to hear him touching on all the big themes that found their way into S-Town: greed, poverty, mental health issues and prejudice. And, if you've been plagued by questions of journalistic ethics, this would be the time to dig them out. Tickets are already selling fast to the Melbourne show, and tickets for Sydney go on sale Monday, May 29. So, you'd better be quick. BRIAN REED'S AUSTRALIAN DATES: Wednesday, July 26 — 'Mysteries, Mazes and the Making of S-Town' at Melbourne's Wheeler Centre. Tickets here. Saturday, July 29 — 'Brian Reed: We Need to Talk About S-Town' at Sydney Opera House. Tickets here. Image: Andrea Morales.
There's not a whole lot that can't be fixed with a big serve of carbs, especially when that involves diving headfirst into a generous bowl of pasta. A slurp of spaghetti or forkful of fettuccine and life suddenly looks very sweet indeed. So, with American Express, we've picked out some of Melbourne's finest pasta-slinging spots (that'll also accept that Amex you've been trying to earn more points with), to ensure no gnocchi craving ever goes unanswered again. While Melbourne's strong Italian heritage means the city's not short on Nonna-worthy pasta dishes, this hand-picked lineup sticks to the kinds of places you'll happily land in after a tough day — comfy spaces with atmosphere aplenty and some super-skilled pasta masters working their magic in the kitchen. Next time you've got pasta on your mind, let one of these restaurants sort you out in style. Got yourself in another dining situation and need some guidance? Whatever it is, we know a place. Visit The Shortlist and we'll sort you out.
It's time to make the pilgrimage to the Supernatural Amphitheatre once again, because Golden Plains has opened the ballot for 2018. Taking place over a long weekend under a full moon, Meredith's other beloved festival returns for March 10–12, 2018. As always, the lineup will appear on one stage in the Supernatural Amphitheatre, but Aunty is keeping quiet about the details for now. Expect the full lineup to drop soon. Standouts from last year included Neil Finn, Kurt Vile, Nicholas Jaar and Chain and The Gang. Meanwhile, Golden Plains is set to be the same festival you know and love — no dickheads, no need to hide your goon sacks, no commercial sponsors. If you can't wait until next year, best get yourself a ticket to Meredith in December as well Golden Plains will take over the Supernatural Amphitheatre in Meredith on March 10, 11 and 12. The ballot for GPXI is open now until 10pm on Monday, October 16. Visit goldenplains.com.au for details. Image: Theresa Harrison.
Northcote Pottery Supplies is hosting a twilight market for all your ceramics needs and wants. On Wednesday, December 13, there will be a plethora of stalls showcasing works by studio residents, staff, tutors and emerging makers. Featured makers include Alterfact, Dawn Vachon, Acardia Scott and many, many more. It's out with the old and in with the new as 2017 reaches a close — so stock your shelves and dress your home with unique pieces. Pop over anytime between 5 and 8pm to peruse the displays and even grab yourself (or a loved one) a Christmas present.
Suddenly, it's not enough to enjoy craft beer, locally-made sourdough and bespoke flavoured oils anymore — now it's all the rage to actually make them yourself too. How do you do that, you ask? Enter The Craft and Co., the newest venue on Smith Street. They can help you out. The Craft and Co. vision is to teach through demonstration. They’re a retail and hospitality space that hosts in-store demonstrations and workshops to help you understand how your food is made — and maybe even give it a crack yourself. It's big space that incorporates an onsite micro-brewery and distillery, cured meat and cheese making rooms and coffee roastery, as well as a retail store, bar and eatery. And their also hoping to develop their own farm and vineyard. Talk about ambitious. The plan is to hold workshops, demonstrations and events — so if you ever wanted to try your hand at making your own mozzarella, curing your own salami or whipping up some home-brew, this is your place. And if you simply can’t be bothered with DIY, you can just always just EIY (eat it yourself). The lunch and dinner menu is stellar and — best of all — won't break the bank, which is a necessary consideration in this post-Christmas world we now live in. The menu is a mixture of tapas-style nibbles and meaty, filling mains, but the breakfast menu really has us intrigued. A zucchini and mint omelette, wagyu minute steak and chips (for breakfast?!) and the cacao pops — activated buckwheat, cacao and coconut served with milk — are just experimental enough that we'll happily concede to The Craft and Co.’s expertise in this department. The Craft and Co. is located at 390 Smith Street, Fitzroy. For more information and opening hours, visit thecraftandco.com.au.
Back in the '60s and '70s, country Aussie pubs didn't just house on-site bistros — they boasted their own Chinese restaurants on the premises. Trust Andrew McConnell to revive the trend. In fact, he's revamped Fitzroy's Builders Arms Hotel to reintroduce pub-goers to the idea of eating dishes like drunken chicken before, after or while they're having a drink themselves. Gone is the chef's previous eatery, Moon Under Water, with Ricky & Pinky taking its place. As well as a completely fresh culinary focus courtesy of its Hong Kong-style Chinese food selection, the new restaurant looks remarkably different, too. Think colourful and open, with a more than a few knocked-down walls, a now-visible kitchen run by ex-Cutler & Co, Golden Fields and Supernormal alum Archan Chan, and that traditional staple: fish tanks filled with swimming market seafood, crustaceans and molluscs. Menu-wise, Ricky & Pinky mightn't call its delicious range Asian fusion; however it is rather keen on mixing classic and innovative cooking in its dishes. When you're twirling around the lazy Susan sitting in the middle of your table, you might just share the likes of mapo tofu, fried rice with preserved vegetable and salted duck egg, fried prawn and chicken wontons with sweet and sour sauce, or pippies and XO sauce with fried doughnuts. To cap things off, end your meal with an extra-large fortune cookie or banana semifreddo with chocolate caramel and crisp batter. If you've been known to grab at pint or a bite in Builders Arms' trusty front bar, don't worry. There, you'll still find good ol' choices like burgers and whipped cod roe. Everything else might've changed, but some icons just keep in keepin' on. Find Ricky & Pinky at the Builders Arms Hotel, 211 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy. For more information, visit their website. Images: Harvard Wang.
Launching the third edition of biannual video art celebration Channels Festival, Future Tense combines video, installation and new technology to create hypothetical stories and explore issues of contemporary politics, histories and national identity. Taking place at The Substation, Future Tense currently features the works of Antoinette J. Citizen, Hannah Brontë, Yael Bartana (ISR) and Rachel Mason (US) — with more artists soon to be announced. Founded in 2012, this year's Channels Festival program features 90 Australian and international artists across 14 varied events including exhibitions, screenings, workshops and online programs. The 2017 festival's theme 'futures' invites a range of experimental and innovative artists to "explore the uncharted territory of histories yet to be established". Future Tense is open from Friday, September 1 until Saturday, October 28 at Newport's The Substation.
Feeling an urge to witness some rollicking rock 'n' roll? Sydney dudes Gang of Youths will sort you out. Earmarked with that buzzed-up title of 'ones to watch' last year when they formed, Gang of Youths have since played a sizeable bunch of headline shows, tangled amongst support gigs for the likes of The Jezabels, Frightened Rabbit, Vampire Weekend and most recently Foster the People. The ferocious five-piece are back this month with a few more dates up their sleeves for the riff-starved, showing off their latest single, 'Poison Drum'. In the accompanying music video, Gang of Youths power through the colourful streets (and supermarket aisles) of LA armed with their instruments and some succulent-looking noodles. Did we mention they're yet to release their debut album? Fear not, Gang members. Recorded with Kevin McMahon (The Walkmen, Real Estate, Titus Andronicus), the group's first LP is in its final stages and due for release sometime this year. https://youtube.com/watch?v=yqi2dT5rRtw
Brisbane-based circus outfit Company 2 presents a dark and quirky new work at this year's Melbourne Fringe. Created and performed by David Carberry and Chelsea McGuffin, who'll be joined on stage by circus artist Alice Muntz, Sediment draws inspirations from Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground, and aims to bring into focus humanity's natural curiosity. This circus-dance hybrid will be accompanied by a live original score performed on a number of unusual instruments, including crystal bowls, a theremin and a typewriter.
Since selling out two of Sydney's Oxford Art Factories in less than ten 10 minutes back in January, Foals have relased their third studio album, Holy Fire — a sweeping follow up to their sophomore effort Total Life Forever. Holy Fire is an uninhibited mix of emotion and instrument, and should give Yannis Philippakis and the crew plenty of juice with which to fuel their notoriously savage live sets. But while it doesn't stray far from Foals' addictive sound, a blend of riffy math rock and danceable electronics, the album does sound more cohesive than anything the band has released previously. Tickets for Foals Palace Theatre show go on sale Monday, 18 March at 9am. https://youtube.com/watch?v=qJ_PMvjmC6M
So, we survived the whole of White Night, and we were pretty smug about it. Just when we thought there was no cultural event we couldn’t conquer, The 24 Hour Experience announced itself. And if you’re thinking that means 24 hours of arts happenings around locations in Melbourne, you’d be right. Break out the caffeine and Red Bull, stat. From noon on March 29 until noon on March 30 a handful of Melbourne locations will be transformed into living artworks with 24 shows spanning the city streets. Think the State Library, the Magistrates’ Court, Melbourne City baths, Malthouse Theatre, the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, Princes Bridge, the Queen Victoria Gardens and of course more. Intimate and experiential works characterise the whole experience, and audience members will be drawn on from time to time. Things will kick off at noon on Saturday with an interactive wheelchair based navigation of Melbourne’s CBD. Gather at midnight in Federation Square where a series of videos explore changing states and passing time will ring in the new day. At 11am on Sunday, the last show will begin. In the Alexandra Gardens audience members will be given a mobile headset, listening to pre-recorded love scenes from undisclosed movies as they watch two actors interacting with one another. The show demonstrates our ability to project love narratives onto any situation. What a romantic ending. If you buy a 24-hour pass, you’ll be given the inside scoop on food and drink and possible napping locations. 12-hour passes are available for those who prefer sleeping between art excursions. See the website for more details.
Keen for a relaxing Sunday session at the sauna? Well, this Melbourne Design Week you can do just that — sort of. This weekend, a prototype 'sauna' in the shape of a translucent white cabin will pop up at Fairfield Amphitheatre. Atmosphere is 24-hour design experiment that looks at the long-standing social tradition of going to the sauna and how it can have a place in our community. It will see a sauna suspended on an opaque body of water, with misty hot steam filling the floating structure. Visitors will be encouraged to enter the sauna and immerse themselves in the space, which will offer a variety of sensory experiences both inside and outside the structure — the program includes performances, soundscapes, tea ceremonies, scented infusions and 'mindfulness experiences'. Participant interaction with the installation will form the basis for this social research experiment, which will examine how a sauna-like environment can affect the dynamics of a communal space. The experiment hopes to demonstrate a form of public design that enhances shared wellbeing, which the creators see as a potential 'antidote' to the heightened anxiety and social isolation of our time. What about the sauna makes it a beneficial community space for so many cultures? That's what this collaboration between local creative practices Fresh Prince, Collective Futures and Studio RJM hopes to discover. The installation aims to improve communal welfare through the design of shared spaces, starting with this sauna prototype. The exhibition will open in the Fairfield Amphitheatre on Sunday, March 17 from 9am-5pm. All booked sessions have unfortunately sold out, but access to the sauna is open to the public from noon until 1pm and between each scheduled session.
Two men stare directly at the screen and tell their stories. Their expressions are open, their tone is matter-of-fact, and they speak of fact, not fiction. They are Palestinian Mosab Hassan Yousef and Israeli Gonen Ben Yitzhak. The tales they share start on opposite sides of the still-raging Middle East conflict, but don’t end there. Modest and unassuming perhaps best describes writer/director Nadav Schirman unfolding of a narrative that could easily furnish a Hollywood blockbuster. The director recognises, however, that the most powerful plots speak for themselves, presenting his film largely unadorned and unembellished. No bells and whistles, nor fancy footage or special effects, dress up a scenario already simmering with thrills and suspense. As the duo interweave their versions of events into one complete, complementary account, Schirman offers sparing glimpses of archival, re-enactment and surveillance vision as a break from talking heads — but in The Green Prince, it is the truth that matters, not the packaging. Mosab is the son of Sheikh Hassan Yousef, one of Hamas’s co-founders and most outspoken leaders. Gonen Ben Yitzhak was a Shin Bet agent for the Israeli military, charged with cultivating intelligence and recruiting informants. When the former was a teenager, filled with anger at the treatment of his father in fighting for a cause he believed in, he was detained and approached with an offer to assist the other side. The latter was his handler during much of his decade-long stint colluding with the enemy. Mosab’s nickname in his undercover work: 'The Green Prince'. As the Errol Morris-style documentary relates their combined experiences, it focuses on the micro rather than the macro; this is a film about the impact of lives lived in the war-torn climate, and the deeds done in the name of survival, rather than the broader circumstances. Accordingly, the feature hones in on shame and subterfuge as recurring themes — the fear of disgrace that fuels actions and attitudes on both sides (most notably in driving Mosab to betray his upbringing and struggle with the aftermath) and the duplicity employed by him and Gonen alike. Plenty of questions are raised in The Green Prince, and never does it make the mistake of pretending to present all the answers. To say the film never satisfies is to recognise the unease that drives its real-life details, as Schirman astutely captures. Perhaps the inevitable fictionalised movie version will bring everything together neatly; reflecting actuality, the documentary couldn’t, shouldn’t and doesn’t.
Next to scoffing our weight in chocolate, one of our favourite things about Easter in Victoria is heading to Bruzzy’s farm in Tallarook for Boogie. Trade your coin for Boogie bucks, bring a beanie, BYO for when the bar closes, and let the good times roll. This year’s lineup, as per usual, has a little something for everyone and a healthy dose of emerging acts. From the USA, there's Pokey LaFarge, Justin Townes Earle, Tony Joe White and Strand of Oaks. Closer to home, some local hell-raisers we’re looking forward to include Drunk Mums, The Murlocs, ScotDrakula, The Peep Tempel and the brilliantly named Fuck The Fitzroy Doom Scene. For all the Bollywood fun times, check out The Bombay Royale, or hit up Los Chicos for some Spanish vibes.
Do you live and breathe art but feel totally fed up with not being able to afford things to adorn your sad, white walls? With the first ever Supergraph: Contemporary Graphic Art Fair coming to the Royal Melbourne Exhibition Building this Valentine’s weekend — yep, we just made it an entire weekend of love — all your woes are about to disappear. A celebration of art and design in all its lovely forms, Supergraph aims to display leading artists alongside the best emerging talent, while making sure these limited edition works are available for every taste and budget. With a program that also includes drawing throwdowns and expert masterclasses, this explosion of paper and cardboard might just be the most fun thing to happen to you all year. For more information, check out our interview with Director Mikala Tai.
Recently relocating to Windsor, the MARS gallery has undergone a renovation and the first artist to occupy the main space of the new gallery is Australian sculptor Jud Wimhurst. A year and a half in the making, the Safe/Sound exhibition features a series of handcrafted helmets, which Wimhurst constructed in his iron-shed studio in Kyneton. He utilises the helmets to grapple with notions of security and safety — the helmet signifying the false sense of security that comes with physical protection. The use of literal props is not uncommon in Wimhurst's artistic approach with previous exhibitions featuring objects such as skateboards and guns to make statements about consumerism, pop-culture and design.
In a city of great food, no Melburnian is hard-pressed to find an excellent feed. But as the battle of the cost of living crisis rages on, it is getting harder and harder to find an affordable one. Enter Melbourne Quarter, the inner city precinct that has heard our cries for a reasonably priced feed and is answering them with MQ Eats and Beats. From Tuesday, April 2 until Tuesday, April 30, Melbourne Quarter retailers will be offering $10 meals and offers to any and all diners alongside a pop-up MQ Beats Diner soundtracked live by local DJs and edible giveaways (while stocks last) across the dates of Thursday, April 4, Wednesday, April 10, Tuesday, April 16 and Wednesday, April 24. Those $10 deals include either the Dandenong Grammar beef burger or the divine Patrice chicken burger from Royal Stacks, vegetarian or spicy Salsiccia Ragu arancini from family-run salami and panini bar Saluministi, two hand rolls with a miso soup or bottle of water from Sushi Sushi, a coffee and danish of your choice from Peddler and much more. And, the best news? You can go in the running to win* a one-night stay at Hotel No, plus a Saluministi breakfast package and a restaurant voucher to Garden State's popular (and colourful) Italian restaurant, Tippy Tay. For more information on MQ Eats and Beats or to view the terms and conditions of the giveaway, visit the website. *Terms and conditions apply
By now, it's probably been a good, long while since you last enjoyed an IRL booze tasting. And we can't think of a better way to make up for those lost months than having a crack at breaking the Guinness World Record title for the world's largest gin tasting. Yes, that's an actual thing that's happening this Sunday, November 22, at more than 60 distilleries and gin bars across the country. Helmed by online gin hub and retail store Gintonica, the record attempt will aim to see thousands of Aussies simultaneously enjoying an afternoon of tastings and other gin-related revelry. The world record is currently held by the Brits, who managed to wrangle a crowd of 796 gin-lovers back in 2016. If you fancy being a part of Australia's attempt this weekend, you'll find a handful of Melbourne venues getting their gin on, including Brogan's Way Distillery in Richmond, the CBD's Little Lon Distilling Co, and Patient Wolf's new South Melbourne HQ. Pick a favourite, nab a $75 ticket and head along for the ride. Not only will you experience an expert-led tasting of three craft gins with a selection of StrangeLove tonics, but you'll score a commemorative Spanish style 'Copa de Balon' gin glass, 30 percent off your next Gintonica order, and a host of other offers and discounts from your favourite gin brands. There'll be various other happenings unfolding at each venue, and you'll receive an official certificate of participation to prove your boss-level gin aficionado status, of course. [caption id="attachment_753566" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Patient Wolf by Dean Schmideg[/caption] Gintonic Ginormous Gin Tasting runs from 3–5pm. Image: Patient Wolf by Julia Sansone
Getting engaged isn't meant to be bloody, but that's how Fair Play starts: with joy, love, passion and bodily fluids. What is and isn't supposed to happen is a frequent theme in writer/director Chloe Domont's feature debut, an erotic thriller set both within the heady relationship between Emily (Phoebe Dynevor, Bridgerton) and Luke (Alden Ehrenreich, Oppenheimer), and also in the slick, fast-paced, high-stakes world of New York finance — familiar territory for its Billions alum filmmaker, who also has Suits and Ballers on her resume. The blood arrives via a bathroom tryst at Luke's brother's (Buck Braithwaite, Flowers in the Attic: The Origin) wedding. He pops under her dress, she has her period, he drops the ring that he was going to propose with, she says yes, and next they're betrothed and fleeing out the window to go home. Staged to feel woozily, authentically romantic, the occasion seems perfect to this head-over-heels pair anyway, even if it leaves their clothes stained. Yes, Domont is playing with symbolism from the outset. Lust isn't a problem for Emily and Luke, clearly, but they've become experts at keeping everything about being together away from work out of necessity. The duo each chases big dreams at the same hedge fund, which has a firm no-dating policy for its employees. So, when they wake up, dress and step out the door the next day, they go their separate ways to end up at the one place — and Emily's finger is glaringly bare. Then something that they've both been hoping would happen does: a portfolio manager sitting above their analyst positions is fired. Next comes a development that they've each felt was meant to occur, too, with the word spreading around the office that's led by the icy Campbell (Eddie Marsan, Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre) and his yes-man flunkey Paul (Rich Sommer, Minx) that Luke is in line for a promotion to fill the new vacancy. Domont and cinematographer Menno Mans (Forever Rich) want viewers to watch Dynevor and Ehrenreich closely within Fair Play's glossy, steely frames, with the film taking on the cold and corporate hues of its main office setting, and also peering at its leads slowly and carefully. This isn't a strict two-hander, but frequently plays that way — and observing Emily and Luke's every reaction is crucial. One case in point: when Emily receives a 2am phone call from her higher-up Rory (Sebastian De Souza, Pixie), has no choice but to agree to his command that she meet him at a bar, but finds a life-changing conversation with Campbell over a whisky awaiting instead. Here's another: Luke's reaction when she returns home with stunning news for her, but a revelation that he visibly thinks wasn't meant to happen. That climb up that ladder is hers, not his, and he'll be working beneath her. Dynevor and Ehrenreich each possess a savvy talent for cycling through a storm of clashing emotions in mere seconds — and making the swift change feel not just understandable but believable — as Fair Play captures unblinkingly in its pivotal moments. She can go from dutiful to determined, caring to calculating, and cautious to confident; him from loving to withdrawn, supportive to passive-aggressive, and charming to menacing. Emily and Luke's relationship changes just as swiftly, its steamy days fading into sexless territory all thanks to that coveted job. Resentment seeps from Ehrenreich's pores, and exasperation from Dynevor's. Fair Play doesn't neatly box either Emily or Luke into easy categories, however. When everything shifts in an instant, the film's excellently cast stars ensure that viewers see every iota of complexity. At each point from popping the question onwards, the same proves true, and not just frame to frame and scene to scene. Domont's Sundance-premiering feature — Sundance bidding war-sparking picture, too, selling to Netflix for $20 million after getting the film festival buzzing — soon becomes an erotic thriller without that much physical slipping between the sheets. While the look is pure now and Donna Summer's 70s classic 'Love to Love You Baby' gets the soundtrack started, there's an 80s and 90s air to the movie, recalling the genre's heyday. That said, this isn't Fatal Attraction (which was just remade as a TV series, and reframed) or Disclosure meets Wall Street. Rather, the entire flick thrums with the heat and charge between its two protagonists, knowing that its psychological duel is all the more knotty because sex, intimacy and love are involved, while also pulsating with the pressure and stress of its high-rolling realm. The tension is palpable and unrelenting, as aided by Brian McOmber's (Hail Satan?) nervy score. Fair Play doesn't pretend that gender power imbalances don't exist in workplaces otherwise, beyond couples mixing the professional and personal in a cut-throat world and keeping it clandestine. Indeed, it shows that fact, too, and in grim detail. It's there in the salacious whispering by the other male analysts about how Emily got the job from, the strip club drinks and flat-out calling her a "dumb fucking bitch". This isn't a film that's afraid of getting uncomfortable. Fair Play also effortlessly carves into this wealth-chasing field's general soullessness, including with golf clubs being swung around in anger, public dressing-downs and humiliating begging. Still, it never escapes notice that square at the picture's centre sits the type of guy that's doting, encouraging and a dream until he doesn't think that he's on top. There's no one that's perfect in Fair Play's gaze, as its main performances superbly portray — the ever-reliable Marsan is also chillingly effective — but how men react to women doing well earns extra attention. Seeking power, losing it, trying to retain or reclaim it, forcing it back in the absolute worst way possible: this all bubbles up as well, and viciously. As the gripping film unpacks sexual politics in the workplace, it lays bare insecurities, jealousies and infuriatingly age-old rumours. Domont's movie is sharp, even when it's obvious. It's assured from its libidinous start to its increasingly lurid end, and riveting — even if it's never as gleefully OTT as its genre was famously known for back when Michael Douglas (and only Michael Douglas) would've been playing Ehrenreich's part. Fair Play screens in select cinemas from Thursday, September 28, and streams via Netflix from Friday, October 6.
Forget every "find someone who looks at you" meme you've ever seen. When it comes to gazes that'll make you dream of being adored in the same way, Loving just can't be beaten. Jeff Nichols' latest film is affectionate by name and by nature, and so is its central couple. From the moment that the movie opens with the life-changing words "I'm pregnant", Mildred (Ruth Negga) and Richard Loving (Joel Edgerton) are clearly head over heels. The looks that they direct at each other at every chance possible, make the extent of their feelings obvious. Neither gets weak at the knees; they're not that kind of people. They easily could though, as could those of us sitting in the audience. Of course, for anyone who has seen Shotgun Stories, Take Shelter, Mud or Midnight Special, it won't come as a surprise that Nichols pays such keen attention to their glances. As he's demonstrated in all his films over the past decade, he's a filmmaker who trades in intimate tales that bubble with big emotions. What's more personal, devoted and overflowing with feeling than sending a yearning look someone's way or silently locking eyes? As you watch Negga and Edgerton watch one another, you'll know the answer: nothing. Indeed, as Nichols' delves into the details of the Lovings' real-life romance, it's soon apparent that his quiet, patient approach really couldn't be more appropriate to such an important story. Falling in love in the segregated state of Virginia in 1958 where interracial marriage was against the law, the pair made history with their fight to be together. That said, despite the threats of imprisonment and legal persecution, Loving isn't a big, fist-pumping courtroom drama, although it probably would've been in lesser hands. Instead, taking its cues from the couple at its centre, it's a contemplative, considered, sensitive and sincere account of a relationship attacked from the outside, but never under threat from within. That leaves Negga and Edgerton with a considerable task, though it's one they achieve with the same grace and tenderness that marks the movie from start to finish. Nominated for an Academy Award for her performance, Negga imbues Mildred with growing resolve — not about her marriage, which she never doubts, but about doing what she needs to live the modest life she wants with her husband. One of the many pleasures of the film is seeing Mildred grow more and more confident about taking action against inequality, and witnessing Edgerton's hard-working, plain-spoken Richard grow increasingly enamoured with her passion. They never discuss this, and they don't need to. As with everything in Loving, it's all there in their eyes. Throw in Nichols regular Michael Shannon in a brief but memorable part as a photographer, plus Nick Kroll leaving his usual comedic antics behind in his roll as a civil rights lawyer, and Loving couldn't be more convincingly cast. Add honeyed tones that layer the film's gentle sights with a warm glow, and it couldn't look any better, either. Both help make a subtle yet sweeping effort even more rich and resonant. Ultimately though, it's in conveying the power and significance of Mildred and Richard's love that Nichols' latest movie really shines. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7YeyiNVHXY
It's time to press play for Melbourne's new, biannual celebration of video art, which will officially occupy our screens and streets from September 18-21. Directed by Jessie Scott (Tape Projects), Rachel Feery (Short Play) and Eugenia Lim (Assemble Papers), with program input from Ghita Loebenstein (Speakeasy Cinema), this artist-led collaboration provides an opportunity for more than 70 Australian and international video creatives to interact with a diverse audience, through a program of screenings, talks, workshops and forums. Highlights of the three day program include Memory Screens: an exploration of the convergence of live and on-screen performance by artists Hannah Raisin, Emile Zile, and Salote Tawale; the Video Art in the Internet Era forum which examines the field of video art within a world dominated by smartphone technology; and the Videodromes closing party: a feast of audio-visual performance, projections, installations and good tunes. Channels will kick off with an opening party at Screen Space on September 18.
After closing out this year's Melbourne International Film Festival, one of this year's big Sundance hits is making its way to Australian cinemas next month, and the Lido is marking the occasion in the appropriate fashion. Starring Awkwafina, The Farewell tells the tale of a family who gather around their beloved matriarch when she's diagnosed with terminal cancer, but decide not to tell her so that she can enjoy what time she has left. If that instantly makes you want to spend more time with your own nanna, the Melbourne venue not only wants you to bring her along to see the movie — it'll let you do so for free. That's what this BYO grandma advanced screening is all about. Buy a single $21.50 adult ticket, and nab another one for your nan without spending a cent. You do need to select the appropriate package on the cinema's online ticketing page — and your gran will need to present a valid seniors card, or equivalent, when you collect your tickets — but that's all there is to it. Make a date in your diary for Saturday, August 24, with a free afternoon tea on offer from 1.30pm and the film kicking off at 2pm.
Maybe you've always wanted to hone your artistic talents, but have never found the right opportunity. Perhaps you have fond memories of your high school art classes. Or, you could find drawing the human form an expressive outlet — or simply just want to learn a new skill. Whatever your motivation, Melbourne's Ladies of Leisure is hosting Life Drawing Sunday Sessions that'll satisfy all of the above aims, all in a cosy, sunny room with a body-positive model. Even better — it doesn't matter how much practice you've previously had, or even if you've had none at all. Similarly, whether you own a whole stash of art supplies or don't know where to start, you'll still be in the right spot. Melbourne and Los Angeles-based artist Lani Mitchell will guide you through the process, with the freestyle drawing session celebrating creativity, flow and finding new perspectives. The class will also provide all the materials you'll need. Three more sessions are scheduled for August, at 2.30pm on Sunday, August 11, 18 and 25. The classes run for 90 minutes, and nabbing a $25 ticket asap is recommended — the last batch proved popular. Image: Bri Hammond.
It's safe to say Gami Chicken & Beer has secured its status as one of Melbourne's go-to fried chicken joints, slinging its signature, Korean-style chook from 16 locations across the city. After opening in Chadstone late last year, it's about to launch its seventeenth Melbourne spot, opening in The Glen Shopping Centre this week. And, to celebrate, Gami is giving Melburnians a few very good reasons to jump on board, handing out a whopping 1000 pieces of its boneless fried chicken — for free. These fried chicken morsels — RSPCA-approved and rocking Gami's signature blend of 17 herbs and spices — will be up for grabs from 12pm and again from 4.30pm, on both Thursday, August 8 and Friday, August 9 at the new location. The chain has yet to mention any restrictions, such as one piece per person, so we suggest heading in with an empty stomach. Once you're hooked, you're probably going to want to schedule a return visit pretty quick, to try other Gami favourites like the chicken spare ribs, the vegetarian chicken and the aptly named Potato Heaven, featuring three layers of cheesy potato goodness — all paired with beer from Brunswick brewery Thunder Road. Gami will giveaway 250 pieces of fried chicken giveaway at 12pm and again at 4.30pm on both Thursday, August 8, and Friday, August 9.
The Bastille Day weekend might see some Melburnians scoffing French cheese, croissants and Champagne, but if you like things a little more fiery, make a beeline for some modern Indian eats at Hawker Hall. This winter, the Windsor food and beer hall is backing up its usual pan-Asian hawker fare with a limited-edition 'Little India' menu, helmed by new head chef Nabila Kadri. On Saturday, July 13, she'll be joined by Mischa Tropp (We Are Kerala, The Rochey) to deliver a flavour-packed lunch feast that celebrates their respective Indian backgrounds. For $49.50, you'll enjoy a shared spread of modernised classics, including onion and chickpea pakoras, persimmons matched with chilli salt, and curry leaf and turmeric-spiced chicken pastry parcels. Dig into mains like Mischa's mum's stir-fried coconut cabbage and a slow-cooked Keralan-style beef curry, then cool things down with a few crisp Kingfisher beers or wines by Avani. This one's a one-off, lunchtime-only affair, with bookings available from 11am. Tickets include all your food, while drinks are available from the bar.
Melbourne's newly opened independent cinema Thornbury Picture House is teaming up with Four Pillars Gin for a mini booze and film festival. On Thursday, July 25, the 57-seat High Street spot is hosting a double bill of The Fog and Suspiria paired with Bloody Shiraz gin cocktails. For the uninitiated, the former is an 80s supernatural horror flick by John Carpenter (Halloween) set in a fictional Californian coastal town. The latter, is Dario Argento's spooky and bloody 77 Italian masterpiece, which has recently been remade by Call Me By Your Name's Luca Guadagnino. To pair with these dark cult flicks will be The Nightshade, made with Four Pillar's highly coveted Bloody Shiraz gin, Campari and carrot juice. The screenings kick off at 6.30pm and 8.20pm but we suggest you get there a little earlier for drinks and to hear the pre-film entertainment: local band Tangerine Green. Tickets are $18.50 for each flick. Image: Nicole Clear
When Peninsula Hot Springs unveiled its revamped facilities last year, the acclaimed Fingal spot added something extra exciting — especially if you're keen to pair your soak with some entertainment. At the Mornington Peninsula getaway's outdoor Bath House Amphitheatre, you can now not only relax in the 39-degree geothermal pool in the evening air, but direct your eyes at a movie on the big screen while you're there. The Peninsula Hot Springs bathe-in cinema is all about getting blissful in warm water while watching movies that explore themes of connection, nature and laughter. A different film plays at 7.30pm every Friday night until October 4, and it's a smartly curated lineup — you can giggle at The Dish under the stars, embrace the waves with Whale Rider, enjoy the classic boy-and-pelican friendship of the original Storm Boy or take The Castle straight from the pool room to the pool. Even better — catching a flick is included in the regular Bath House bathing price, which'll set you back $45 per person.
2019 is nowhere near over, but it has already been a standout year for South Korean cinema. Not only is Bong Joon-ho's Parasite one of the best films of the year — and one of the most talked about — but it earned the Asian nation its first Palme d'Or from the Cannes Film Festival. No wonder director Bong was greeted by a crowd at the airport when he arrived back from the south of France after the glitzy event. Parasite is also one of the movies on this year's Korean Film Festival in Australia lineup; however the smash hit isn't the only great flick on offer between Thursday, September 5 and Thursday, September 12. If you're keen to dive deep into the exciting and eclectic films produced by the country — which celebrates 100 years in the movie business this year — then you're in the right spot. Screening at The Capitol Theatre, this year's KOFFIA features everything from blockbusters to indies and dramas to comedies, but recent favourites you might've missed elsewhere. Catch cop flick The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil before it's remade in the US; laugh at body-swap comedy The Dude in Me, revel in Korean War tap-dance musical Swing Kids, giggle at the undead with The Odd Family: Zombie on Sale and see the lighter side of law and order with Extreme Job — or step into tensions with North Korean in The Spy Gone North and explore a real-life tragedy with Birthday. And, while you're feasting your eyes on all of the above, you'll also help commemorate KOFFIA's huge 10th year.
It has been a couple of years since The Jungle Collective first started taking over Australian warehouses and slinging plenty of plants, all thanks to its huge sales in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney. These leafy excuses to fill your home with greenery always have a bit of a celebratory vibe, and its next Melbourne outing is all about ramping that up a few levels to mark the outfit's second birthday. Gorgeous green babies will be the main attraction — and there will be more than 150 varieties of them, too. It's happening twice, across the two days of Saturday, October 12 and Sunday, October 13. Going by previous sales, you'll be able to pick up everything from fiddle leafs and monsteras to giant birds of paradise and rubber trees, as well as many ferns and hanging plants. You'll also be able to shop for designer pots, get expert advice from the horticulturalists onsite, listen to jungle tunes and even nab a $5 discount if you wear something birthday-themed, such as a hat, shirt or badge. It's all happening at the Yarra Sculpture Gallery, Abbotsford, with sessions held at 9am, 10.30am, 12pm and 2pm on Saturday, plus 10am and 12pm on Sunday. While entry is free, you'll need to secure a ticket from Monday, October 7 to head along.
Twenty years after releasing their ninth and most celebrated record, The Soft Bulletin, Oklahoma rock legends The Flaming Lips are heading back Down Under. They're coming to Melbourne to play the highly acclaimed album in full, as well as some of their greatest hits. Taking over Hamer Hall as part of Melbourne International Arts Festival, The Flaming Lips will bring their signature technicolour shows to life two nights. Expect elaborate costumes, confetti cannons and even neon unicorns to fill the stages as the seven-piece band performs hits such as 'Waitin' for a Superman', 'Race for the Prize' and 'A Spoonful Weighs a Ton'. Released in 1999, The Soft Bulletin is widely accepted as the band's greatest album, named by NME as the Album of the Year and by Pitchfork as a 'masterpiece' and the third best album of the 90s. As well as playing this seminal album in full, The Flaming Lips will also perform some of their other greatest hits, including 'Do You Realize??' and 'Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 1'.
If seasonal change has left you in a dizzy headspin of new colours and fabrics and prints and jackets — or if, y'know, you just like some fancy new clothes now and then — you'll be pretty pleased to know that the Big Fashion Sale is coming back to Melbourne for four days this September. The name pretty much says it all. This thing is big. You'll find thousands of lush items from past collections, samples and one-offs from over 50 cult Australian and international designers, both well-known and emerging, including Phillip Lim, Lanvin, Romance Was Born, Isabel Marant, Stella McCartney, Kenzo and more. With discounts of up to 80 percent off, this is one way to up your count of designer while leaving your bank balance sitting pretty too. Prices this low tend to inspire a certain level of ruthlessness in all of us, though, so practise that grabbing reflex in advance. This is every person for themselves. The Big Fashion Sale will be open 9am–6pm Thursday, 9am–8pm Friday, 10am–6pm Saturday, and 10am–5pm Sunday.
On the hunt for some fresh reading material? Or maybe you're keen to get a jump-start on that Christmas present shopping? Either way, you're sure to find a few winners at the Penguin Random House annual charity book sale. The event's 2019 edition descends on Collins Square's Walker Lane on Thursday, October 24, offering a smorgasbord of literary delights and all for an excellent cause. Entry to the mammoth sale is by gold coin donation, which, along with proceeds from the day's book sales, will go straight to supporting charity partner the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. It'll help the non-profit continue to spread the love of reading to children in remote Indigenous Australian communities — and help the communities to tell and publish their own stories. Last year's event saw book-lovers raising more than $17,000 for the cause. The sale is set to be stocked with an enormous range of bargain titles, covering a hefty spread of genres and with prices starting from as low as $5. Bring a bag and stock up.
If there's one way to top just about any situation, it's to add a bunch of very good doggos into the mix. Which makes this particular Christmas party one to trump them all. Pet accessories label Sebastian Says is swinging into the festive season with a bingo, beer and pizza party for hounds and humans alike. It's all happening at Port Melbourne's dog-friendly Italian restaurant Ciao Cielo on Sunday, December 15. You'll be able to unleash your competitive streak at the huge game of bingo, with the first 40 punters to register on the day scoring a Sebastian Says gift bag of goodies. The game itself promises a stack more giveaways, plus prizes ranging from pet grooming sessions to tasty dog treats. Humans can order modern Italian eats from the full Ciao Cucina menu, while their four-legged counterparts can snack on a range of bone broth doggy "beer" ($5) and gluten-free woodfired pizzas crafted especially for pooches ($8). During the day, you'll also be able to able to try and buy spiffy pieces from Sebastian Says' latest range of dog shirts, bandanas, collars and leads. Summer wardrobe, sorted — well for you pooch at least. Sebastian Says' Bingo Christmas Party runs from 11am–3pm.
When it rolls around each October and November, Palace Cinemas' British Film Festival, presented by MINI, serves up Australia's starriest cinema showcase. Take 2019's program, for example, which includes Keira Knightley playing a real-life whistleblower in Official Secrets, Helen Mirren facing off against Ian McKellen in The Good Liar, The Theory of Everything's Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones re-teaming for The Aeronauts, and Liam Gallagher getting the documentary treatment in Liam Gallagher: As It Was. Coming to our shores fresh from opening the London Film Festival, The Personal History of David Copperfield also ranks among BFF's highlights, too — as you'd expect from a witty flick based on Charles Dickens' novel, directed by Veep, The Thick of It, In the Loop and The Death of Stalin's Armando Iannucci, and starring Dev Patel, Tilda Swinton, Hugh Laurie and Ben Whishaw. Elsewhere, British movie buffs can catch moving social-realist drama Sorry We Missed You, with I, Daniel Blake's Ken Loach directing his take on the gig economy; Happy New Year, Colin Burstead, the latest darkly comic film from High-Rise's Ben Wheatley; and Hope Gap, starring Annette Bening, Bill Nighy and God's Own Country's Josh O'Connor. Running in Melbourne from Wednesday, October 30 to Sunday, November 24 at The Astor Theatre, Palace Balwyn, Kino Cinema, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Cinema Como and Palace Westgarth, BFF's 2019 program also features a six-film retrospective paying tribute to Helen Mirren's stellar career, plus a 4K restoration of horror classic Don't Look Now. The list goes on, including the latest unsettling documentary from acclaimed documentarian Alex Gibney (Going Clear: Scientology & the Prison of Belief) — with Citizen K focusing on Russian oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky and his exile in London.
Someone else's old designer threads could become your new favourite outfit, all thanks to Melbourne's latest secondhand clothing pop-up. Running as part of this year's Garage Sale Trail, and taking place from 10am–4pm on Saturday, October 20, Coveted Closets will fill Brighton Town Hall with pre-loved fashion and accessories. Even better — it all comes from the wardrobes of local fashion bloggers, stylists and industry figures, so you'll be picking up items and outfits from folks known for their style. They include The Fashion Advocate founder Claire Goldsworthy, designer Corinne Pettersen, The Age national fashion editor Melissa Singer, vintage lover Yahav Ron and personal stylist Sally Mackinnon. And as for brands and labels, you can expect everything from Fendi and Chanel to Camilla and Gorman. You'll also need to pay $2 for entry, but once you're inside you can browse and buy until your heart's content. Coffee and sweet treats will also be onsite, so you can keep up your energy while you're shopping.
You oughta know, Alanis Morissette is heading Down Under. The famed 90s singer will perform in Melbourne as part of her world tour celebrating the 25th anniversary of her chart-topping 1995 album Jagged Little Pill. So, get ready to sing along to 'Ironic', 'You Oughta Know' and 'All I Really Want' at Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday, April 14 and Wednesday, April 15, respectively. That first date was actually just added to the tour due to demand — because Melbourne clearly loves Alanis head over feet. The 90s icon will be supported by Australia's own Julia Stone. Stone has released two solo albums, with a third due out later this year — plus four together with her brother Angus, including Down the Way, which won Album of the Year at the 2010 ARIA Awards. Morissette's own collection of music awards is hefty, and includes seven Grammys and 12 Juno Awards. While her 1995 album Jagged Little Pill is the most critically acclaimed, the Canadian singer has released eight albums and is set to drop her highly anticipated ninth, Such Pretty Forks in the Road, in May. In the meantime, though, hype yourself up for the Aussie tour by belting out the following banger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jne9t8sHpUc
UPDATE, March 19, 2021: Children of the Sea is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Video. It's not the first animated film to attempt the feat — or achieve it — but Children of the Sea turns the delights of the ocean's depths into a dazzling spectacle. Where everything from The Little Mermaid and SpongeBob SquarePants to Ponyo and Song of the Sea first swam, this gorgeous Japanese movie follows, although comparing this striking animation to its great underwater predecessors doesn't paint the whole picture. Directed by Ayumu Watanabe and adapted from Daisuke Igarashi's manga of the same name by the author, Children of the Sea also paddles in 2001: A Space Odyssey and Akira's slipstreams. If that sounds like a wild ride, then strap yourself in for more to come. An eco-conscious tale about a lonely 14-year-old girl and two boys raised by dugongs that makes a connection between the ocean's vibrance and outer space's infinite expanse, this is an ambitious movie to say the very least. Ruka (voiced by Mana Ashida) is Children of the Sea's aforementioned teen outcast. School is out for the summer but, after a violent incident gets her shunned by her peers in her coastal town, she's at a loose end. Only her mother's (Yu Aoi) day-drinking awaits at home, so Ruka ventures to the local aquarium where her marine biologist father (Goro Inagaki) works. It's here that she not only re-ignites an affinity for the water that she's felt since she saw something glimmering in the tank as a small child, but where she also meets kindred spirits Umi (Hiiro Ishibashi) and Sora (Seishū Uragami). Her new pals have a definite advantage over Ruka in the sea-worshipping stakes, though; until they came to live at the aquarium, where they're taken care of by scientists, the siblings dwelled among the ocean's marine life — and they have exceptional underwater abilities to prove it. Ruka connects with the cheeky, impish Umi and the pale, ethereal Sora just as a series of environmental anomalies start gaining attention — including whale sightings near Manhattan, a meteor crash in the water, and an otherworldly song that's drawing the sea's creatures to one specific spot for a once-in-a-lifetime gathering. Also pertinent: the fact that Umi and Sora seem to be fading, perhaps even dying, thanks to their new life on land; and the possibility that Ruka's link to the duo just might be stronger than anyone imagines. Children of the Sea could've combined the above components into a somewhat straightforward story — awkward teens, the natural world and supernatural elements have been doing big business in Japan's animated fare of late, including Your Name, Weathering with You and Ride Your Wave — but that's not what Watanabe and Igarashi have in store. They're thinking big, bold and existential, as filtered through the experiences of Ruka and her friends. And, in pondering how everyone has a responsibility to the planet, while also recognising that each individual is a speck in a world far vaster than any one of us will ever encounter, the film's creative talents aren't afraid to dive into seemingly conflicting notions. Marrying the ecological with the cosmic, Children of the Sea's wide-ranging aims do occasionally threaten to exceed its reach (that Igarashi's manga was published in five volumes between 2007–12 won't come as a surprise). Accordingly, anyone hoping for a linear and logical progression through the feature's narrative, rather than many a flight of fantasy and a last-act burst of mind-bending imagery, is watching the wrong movie. But through its vivid visuals, this eye-catching, heart-swelling gem always conveys a sense of of awe and wonder — and a feeling that, no matter what a certain big entertainment studio keeps telling us, animation has its unique charms. This film could never be remade as live-action, or be used as template for a version with photo-realistic animals. Indeed, all the special effects in the world can't replicate Children of the Sea's intricate watercolour renderings of the ocean, which look complex, glorious and larger than life. The same applies to the movie's kaleidoscopic array of pictures and hues, the energy and liveliness of its marine ecosystem, and even its detailed human characters, who are clearly animated but never resemble cartoons. Plus, matching its audio to its imagery, Children of the Sea boasts quite the finishing touch. A score by Studio Ghibli veteran Joe Hisaishi (Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle — the list goes on) layers the movie with suitably swirling emotion, and the end result easily sweeps audiences away. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ymJvqelwXE&feature=emb_logo
