Dark matter and dark energy make up 95 percent of the universe, yet we're still not exactly sure what it actually is. Not knowing has never stopped humanity from imagining and probing through art, though — which is exactly what Melbourne University's Science Gallery is doing with the great minds at European particle physics lab CERN through new exhibition Dark Matters. Co-curated with Monica Bello, Head of Arts at CERN and running until Saturday, December 2, the exhibition presents a range of art and science projects, including from the organisation's international artists' residency program. Their combined purpose: exploring dark matter. Witness Yunchul Kim's awe-inspiring 50-metre-long sculpture Chroma V, which responds to invisible forces and finds subatomic particles. Or, enter the world of quantum magnetic levitation with Julijonas Urbonas' When Accelerators Turn Into Sweaters, featuring replicas of a section of CERN's Large Hadron Collider transformed into levitating knitting. UK artists Ruth Jarman and Joe Berhardt's The View from Nowhere combines theoretical physics discussions with footage filmed in CERN's workshops, and Suzanne Treister's Scientific Dreaming showcases science-fiction stories written by CERN and University of Melbourne scientists. Australian talent also shines with Jon Butt's µ Muography, a DIY particle detector and art generator that gets cosmic particles creating delicate artworks and soundscapes — plus, there's In This Room. Everywhere from writer Alicia Sometimes and engineer Andrew Watson, which immerses through sound while pondering dark matter's mysteries. Images: Science Gallery Melbourne.
It's been 100 years since the art world welcomed an icon with the birth of Jeffrey Smart, who went on to become one of Australia's most celebrated artists. And this summer, the National Gallery of Australia is paying homage to his life and work when it hosts a retrospective exhibition, aptly dubbed Jeffrey Smart. Running from Saturday, December 11–Sunday, May 15, the exhibition will dig deep into the renowned artist's legacy through a major survey of his works. Greatly inspired by the urban environment and the age of industrial modernity, Smart was known for his hyperrealist streetscapes, theatrical stylings and penchant for geometric composition. Vehicles, highways, factories and water towers are common motifs within Smart's art, as are eerily empty streets occupied by solo travellers. The National Gallery of Australia's centenary showcase will feature pieces from throughout his illustrious career and highlight the many varied themes Smart explored via his painting, as well as chronicle his evolution as an artist. Book your timed visit to check out Jeffrey Smart here — it'll be open daily (except Christmas Day). [caption id="attachment_834494" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jeffrey Smart, Wallaroo, 1951, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, purchased 1959, © The Estate of Jeffrey Smart.[/caption] Top Images: Jeffrey Smart 'Self portrait, Procida', National Gallery of Australia, copyright The Estate of Jeffrey Smart. Jeffrey Smart 'Corrugated Gioconda', National Gallery of Australia, copyright The Estate of Jeffrey Smart.
If there's one event in Sydney that's turned speed dating into a fun, no-pressure affair that doesn't even feel like dating, it's Dear Pluto. And, now, you lucky, lucky Melbournians, it's coming your way. So, if you're single, you'd best get ready to mingle. "The atmosphere is super-casual," said Emma Daniels, founder of Dear Pluto. "There's a real focus on having a fun night – having a few drinks and talking to a bunch of people you've never met before." One of Daniels' tricks is the use of unconventional venues – from Dear Pluto's Sydney headquarters, which is a former coach house, to warehouses, rooftops and old theatres. In Melbourne, the host will be One Thousand Pound Bend in Little Lonsdale Street, which Daniels describes as her "dream speed dating venue". "It's down a lane way, with a big painted frontage and huge industrial doors. There's a café, which opens into a warehouse space with skylights and a bar, and out the back is a little old chapel with a disco ball." There'll be two speed dating events there – the first, on Wednesday 5 October, will be for straight singles and the second, on Thursday 6 October, will be for LGBTQI. Dear Pluto's crowd is usually made up of young creatives, aged between 20 and 35. "There's a half-hour arrival window, then I explain how it all works, which doesn't take very long," Daniels said. "Then, everyone sits down and you have ten dates, each of four minutes." After that, you take a 15-minute break, which gives you a chance to hit the bar or get some fresh air, before going in for a second round of dating. "Afterwards, we encourage people to stick around and listen to the DJ. If we're in a venue where we can't stay, we move onto a nearby bar." Previous DJ guests of Dear Pluto include Future Classic, Shantan Wantan Ichiban and Ariane Halls. Dear Pluto has been around since 2008. Daniels started out with the hosting of monthly vintage sales in Sydney's Hibernian House and has since expanded to makers' markets, workshops, exhibitions and talks, in addition to speed dating. The aim is to "promote a slower way of living, making thoughtful purchases and ditching the swipe, whilst keeping everything we do accessible, novel and, most importantly, fun." Dear Pluto pops up in Melbourne from October 5. For more information, visit their website.
Can you remember what Homer sells his soul to the devil in exchange for? If you answered a doughnut you might have a shot at Bartronica's Treehouse of Horrors Simpsons trivia night. The Treehouse of Horrors episodes have featured some of the most memorable moments throughout the show's 29 and counting seasons, and this trivia evening sets out to test your Simpsons knowledge with a deep-dive into the first ten episodes of the Treehouse of Horrors series. Tucked away in a discrete Flinders Lane basement in Melbourne CBD, Bartronica is one of the city's best gaming arcades and is home to some downright classics like Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, Time Crisis II, NBA Jam and – of course – The Simpsons arcade game from way back in 1991. There's also a room dedicated to pinball machines, plus Nintendo 64 and Super Nintendo to round out the retro goldmine.
As a second-generation gelato maker, with a family whose roots share gelato's own birthplace of Sicily, Lilly Stuckings knows a thing or two about whipping up Italy's favourite frozen summer treat. And you can try them for yourself at her Preston dessert spot Gelato Papa. The electric blue Gilbert Road venue is serving all-natural gelato in a range of flavours both traditional and inventive, along with a line of decadent cakes made from scratch. A strong focus on locality means you'll often find the ingredient list peppered with the likes of prickly pears and lemons foraged no further than a neighbour's garden. Stuckings also has a knack for reimagining nostalgic Aussie favourites with a modern, Italian twist, as you'll see with the Violet Crumble cake — a concoction featuring fior di latte and milk chocolate gelati with a vivid purple chocolate coating, jazzed up with crystallised violet petals and fresh, handmade honeycomb ($35). There's even a riff on a Golden Gaytime ($35) and the classic lemon meringue pie, starring homemade lemon curd and shortbread ($45). The seasonal gelato range (from $5 a scoop) might feature creations like pink chocolate, coffee choc chip and dulche de leche, alongside a rotation of vegan-friendly editions like mandarin, blood plum and almond maple crunch. But if you're popping by for a visit this festive season, you'll want to check out Gelato Papa's trio of limited-edition, Christmas-inspired flavours, up for grabs until December 24. Sink your teeth into a cone — or share tub (from $14) — filled with gingerbread gelato, a vegan chocolate candy cane version, or the mince tart and Italian egg nog flavour. This last one's got chunks of Northcote Bakehouse's signature fruit mince scattered through Gelato Papa's creamy custard and marsala gelato.
In great news for cat-loving cinephiles, 2019 is shaping up to be a huge year for felines on film. Photorealistic big cats prowled around the remake of The Lion King, and they'll soon be joined by a bunch of singing, scurrying street mousers in the silver-screen adaptation of stage musical Cats. For nearly four decades, Andrew Lloyd Webber's acclaimed production has pranced across stages everywhere, turning a tale inspired by poems from T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats into an award-winning theatre hit. But, while plenty of other popular musicals have made the leap to cinemas, this one hasn't until now. The trailers for the new flick might just explain why. The first trailer dropped back in July and inspired much talk about its strange CGI decision to combine cats with human faces. Terrifying? Maybe. Entertaining? Definitely. If you've recovered from the first 2.23 mins of Cats madness, you'll be happy to know a second, equally bizarre, trailer has just dropped. [caption id="attachment_751620" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Judi Dench as a cat[/caption] Ever wanted to see Taylor Swift pouring cat nip on a crowd of cats from a suspended gold moon? Keen to soothe your disappointment over the fact that Idris Elba isn't James Bond by spotting him with whiskers, fur and a tail? Perhaps you've always dreamed of watching accomplished actors such as Judi Dench and Ian McKellen channel their inner feline? Have you ever hoped for all of the above, and for the actors to all play cat-sized cats? That's what's on offer in the just-dropped second trailer, as well as a heap of dancing and singing. In terms of story, Cats zaps Swift, Elba and company down to feline height to spin a narrative about the Jellicle cat tribe, who spend a night deciding just which four-legged moggy will get to leave their group, ascend to the Heaviside Layer and come back to a new life. The movie comes with a significant pedigree, with Les Miserables' Tom Hooper in the director's chair, Webber on music duties, Hamilton's Andy Blankenbuehler doing the choreography, and the cast also spanning James Cordon, Jennifer Hudson, Jason Derulo, Ray Winstone and Rebel Wilson. And yet, it all looks a little odd. But we'll let you decide for yourself. You check out the second Cats trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNTDoOmc1OQ Cats opens in Australian cinemas on December 26.
Born in London in 1964, the same year his Turkish-Cypriot parents immigrated to Australia, Mutlu Çerkez was an influential, but often overlooked artist who's work had a lasting impact on the Australian and international art worlds. Based in Melbourne until his untimely death in 2005, Çerkez's work combined elements of printmaking, installation, minimalism and conceptual art in a style that defied any singular genre. A graduate of Melbourne's Victorian College of the Arts, Çerkez's reputation increased throughout an extensive career, holding exhibitions across Australia and internationally. Inscribing each of his creations with a future date signalling when he would remake his own artworks, Çerkez explored notions of time, the past and future across abstract designs and symbology. Held at Monash University's MUMA gallery, Mutlu Çerkez: 1988–2065 is the first career-survey of the artist's work. Image: Mutlu Çerkez, Dead 4 August 2027.
Sibling and next-door neighbour to northside cafe Mixed Business, Clifton Hill's Fowlers Flowers is a little haven of a shopfront, filled with colourful blooms and certain inspiration for that special arrangement. A neighbourhood favourite for over ten years, its expert florists are just as skilled at creating hand-tied, custom bouquets, as they are decking out events with a litany of vibrant blooms that are guaranteed to impress. Here, seasonality is always celebrated and there's a strong commitment to sustainable practices. And if you're after a gift that's a little more lasting, there's the long-life dried posies, available in a range of colour palettes, depending on what flowers are in stock.
If you thought the ballet was already a magical experience, just wait until you catch those arabesques and pirouettes by moonlight, when The Australian Ballet takes its popular Ballet Under the Stars session to regional Victoria to the very first time. The company will bring its full-length starlit production of Giselle to Gippsland's Lardner Park on Saturday, October 26. It'll be hosted by ARIA Award-winning Australian songstress Megan Washington and, best of all, it's free. Be swept up in the romance of Giselle's timeless love story, worlds away and decades after it first hit the stage in Paris in 1841, telling the tale of a young rural girl and a Count who disguises himself as a peasant to win her heart. Recreated for The Australian Ballet by Maina Gielgud in 1986, it's a whirlwind story of love, heartbreak, death, revenge and forgiveness. You can't BYO booze, but you there'll be plenty of snacks, meals and alcohol available to purchase from a range of food stalls, including local wines, cheeses, Gippsland Diary tiramisu and Baw Baw Organics hazelnut brownies. Hampers for $50 are also available to pre-order. While the performance is free, capacity is limited, so you'll want to register on the waitlist to be sure to nab a spot. 'Giselle' Images: Kate Longley
So, you love a good pub trivia night but you're also a fan of the thrilling murder mystery concept. Well, you'd better round up your best sleuthing mates and book in some midweek whodunit action, when the National Hotel returns with another brain-tickling session of its popular Murder Mystery-themed trivia. On Thursday, June 2, the Richmond pub invites you to put on your thinking cap and battle other teams for a taste of sweet, Sherlock Holmes-style glory. You'll navigate four rounds of pop culture questions while staying tuned for cheeky clues that'll help you crack the night's overall murder mystery puzzle. And you might want to play a few games of Cluedo to brush up those sleuthing skills in the lead-up — not only are there round prizes and jugs of beer up for grabs, but the winner will score a hefty $100 bar tab. Entry is free, with bookings made via the website, and you can have between four and six players on your team. [caption id="attachment_678307" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The National, by Gareth Sobey[/caption]
Last time Hunx & His Punx were here — back in 2012 — they charmed many an Antipodean heart with their penchant for getting (nearly) naked, offers to autograph genitalia and expletive-rich expressions of self-desire. In short, they delivered nothing less than what you’d expect of San Francisco’s maddest and baddest bubblegum punk band. So it’s only natural that we’ve invited them back. And this time, they’re bringing Shannon and the Clams in their suitcases for a five-date April tour that will see the two bands smashing genres at Fitzroy's Copacabana on April 17. Since their previous visit, Hunx & His Punx have been busy blending ‘80s hardcore and ‘90s grrrl sounds to create nasty yet catchy tunes for their new album Street Punk, which was released in 2013 via Hardly Art. Meanwhile, co-tourers Shannon and the Clams have lately been spending time playing SXSW sideshows and Psych Fest and hitting the road via Burgerama tours. They mash ‘60s girl group sounds with West Coast garage rock, delivering “doo woppers, bomp stompers, punk rippers, country clippers and psych-o trippers”. Trying say that really quickly five times in a row. Tickets on sale on Friday, 14 March. Tickets via Oztix.
The World's 50 Best has just unveiled its long list, ranking the best restaurants in the world from 51 to 120 (expanding, for the first time, beyond 100). And there are quite a few dramatic changes. Melbourne's Attica — which was last year's top ranking Aussie restaurant at number 20 — has dropped 64 places, coming in at 84. Fellow Victorian Brae, which last year ranked 58, has this year missed out on the top 100, coming in at 101. The surprising changes don't seem to have just affected Australia's entries, either, with Eater noting that Thomas Keller's famed NY restaurant Per Se had dropped 35 places, down to 115 from last year's 81. This could mean, in seemingly sad news for Australia, that no national restaurants will feature in the top 50. But, hope is not completely lost. Seeing as it hasn't made an appearance in the long list, the 50 could, possibly, feature Sydney fine-diner Quay. This year will be the first time the restaurant, which has previously featured in the top 100 list nine years in a row between 2009 and 2017, has been reviewed by the World's 50 Best since its extensive renovations in 2018. [caption id="attachment_677791" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Quay by Nikki To[/caption] While the World's 50 Best is exceedingly popular, it's not without controversy. The awards have copped much criticism for prioritising "expensive European-esque tasting-menu restaurants run by men", as stated by Eater, and for its separate 'Best Female Chef' award. Famed chef Dominique Crenn, of the acclaimed Atelier Crenn in San Francisco, won the award in 2016 and has long been critical of the list's lack of diversity. Crenn slammed the female-specific award in an interview with the Washington Post, saying, "It's stupid. A chef is a chef." The late and great Anthony Bourdain also questioned the award's modern-day relevance — way back in 2013. https://twitter.com/Bourdain/status/319441022688051200 The World's 50 Best will be announced at a ceremony in Singapore next Tuesday, June 25. Get ready for some big changes here, too — this year, there will be an equal gender balance across the award's 1000-plus global voting panel for the first time. Plus, the awards have this year barred any former winners from being on the list, so there'll be no Eleven Madison Park nor Osteria Francescana. You can check out the full list of the World's 50 Best top 50–120 restaurants here. The top 50 will be announced on Tuesday, June 25. Top image: Attica
While Melbourne boasts no shortage of primo wineries located right on its doorstep, you'll also find plenty of reasons to take your vinous wanderings a little further afield. And the latest of these comes courtesy of All Saints Estate — a family-owned, heritage-listed winery in the heart of the Rutherglen region. Set amongst the rolling hills of Wahgunyah around three hours northeast of Melbourne, the longstanding estate has just unveiled its new flagship restaurant. It's named KIN in a nod to the relationship tying All Saints co-owners, siblings Eliza, Nick and Angela Brown. The trio has been at the helm of the winery's multimillion-dollar redevelopment, with the new 120-seat restaurant the latest part of the project to be completed. It makes its home within a 159-year-old heritage-listed castle, the indoor-outdoor space transformed into a light-filled dining oasis courtesy of acclaimed firm Technē. The views from here and the adjoining cellar door are pretty spectacular, too. With stints at the likes of Jackalope and Bistro Guillaume under his belt, KIN's Executive Chef Jack Cassidy is plating up a menu that champions regional produce and the estate's own wines, drawing inspiration from long-held Brown family recipes. It's also brimming with produce grown onsite. You'll experience it all via a two- or three-course set spread of modern Australian flavours. Perhaps you'll tuck into a kangaroo tartare elevated with black garlic and rye, rainbow trout paired with dill and smoked chilli, or an assembly of roast eggplant, bush tomato and kale. Bone marrow might be served alongside a top-quality piece of striploin with a marble score of four, while pumpkin is teamed with caramelised whey and ricotta salata. And dessert fiends can look forward to creations like the compressed strawberry matched with sorbet made on the All Saints Estate Durif. Wines come courtesy of All Saints' renowned catalogue, as well as fellow Brown family winery St Leonards Vineyard. A crop of local beers and booze-free drops rounds out the fun. Find KIN at All Saints Estate, 205 All Saints Road, Wahgunyah. It's open from 12–3.30pm Thursday–Sunday, and from 6pm Saturday. Images: Kate Shanasy
Coachella FOMO is no longer a thing. With its biggest livestream yet, YouTube is solving it in 2023. Sure, you can still wish that you were heading to the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California across April 14–16 and April 21–23. Yes, there's nothing quite like being there in person. But if you're all about seeing the fest's impressive lineup — seeing as much of it as possible, too — this year's Coachella and YouTube collaboration is beaming the entire event around the world. One of the globe's biggest music festivals has been teaming up with the video site for 11 years now. Earlier in 2023, they announced that they've locked in their arrangement till 2026, in fact. So expanding exactly what the Coachella livestream shows, and when, is the next logical step — with 2023's fest covering all six stages across both weekends. This is the first time ever that YouTube's Coachella footage has played the whole fest as it's happening, upping its feeds from three to six. Whoever you want to see — and if you want to catch their sets twice — you now can. 2023's bill is worth getting excited about, with Bad Bunny headlining the Friday nights, BLACKPINK doing the Saturday nights and Frank Ocean on Sunday nights. Down Under, you'll be tuning in on Saturday, Sunday and Monday to catch each, so mark your diaries now. Also on the lineup: a stacked array of acts that also spans everyone from Calvin Harris, Gorillaz, The Chemical Brothers, ROSALÍA and Blondie through to The Kid LAROI, Björk, Fisher, Charlie XCX, Porter Robinson and Idris Elba. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Coachella (@coachella) In-between sets, YouTube will fill its feeds with more on-the-ground coverage, so you'll be able to scope out the art and installations around the fest, head behind the scenes, see how the acts get partying before the hit the stage and more. 2023's set times haven't yet been announced, but keep an eye on Coachella's Instagram feed in the lead up to the festival — and, obviously, bookmark its YouTube channel ASAP. Coachella runs from April 14–16 and April 21–23 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. To watch the livestream, head to YouTube from 9am AEST on Saturday, April 15 Down Under.
What happens when two legendary vegan restaurants from different sides of the Pacific Ocean get together? Find out at the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. South Yarra's beloved Mexican restaurant Lona Misa is joining forces with West Hollywood Latin hotspot Gracias Madre for eight excellent nights. You'll have a choice of two tantalising tasting menus; five courses at $85 or seven at $105. Either way, you'll be feasting only on non-GMO, all-organic produce. Look out for madre ceviche with lime and Aleppo pepper, crunchy coconut calamari with salsa roja and hibiscus chilli flautas topped with pumpkin-seed parmesan, and charcoal-grilled lion's mane steak with chimichurri. Either way, on arrival you'll be met with one of Gracias Madre's signature Palomas (a bold, bright concoction of Volcan De Mi Tierra Tequila Blanco, house-made grapefruit soda, butterfly pea flower, lime and salt), before taking your pick of the bespoke, largely-tequila-inspired cocktail list. Or you can opt for a pint (or two!) of the Balter Cerveza, a Mexican-style lager brewed here at home. This epic event is bound to be one of the highlights of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, which means tickets will probably sell out at lightning speed. Do rush in.
As Melbourne's hospitality scene starts to reboot and doors reopen across the city, another groundbreaking player has entered the food scene. In fact, it's Australia's first zero-carbon street food kitchen and it's made its home in Federation Square. Named Atiyah and run by Therese Helou and her son-in-law Ben Armstrong, the Lebanese kiosk made its debut on Monday, November 2. Not only does the minimalist venue serve up a menu of top-notch Lebanese eats, but it's doing so without a carbon footprint. Atiyah's 100-percent renewables-run kitchen is the first of its kind in this country, with an on-site rainwater filtration system, solar panels, a Tesla battery and a generator powered by waste cooking oil. Sustainability has been the focus for every element, from the ingredients through to what the final product is served in. Carbon-neutral, compostable packaging is used and all of Atiyah's food waste is transformed into nutrient-rich soil for local community gardens. Flying from the kitchen, expect to see a range of traditional dips and manakish (handmade flatbreads) grilled to order with various sweet and savoury toppings. Pick from the likes of za'atar with salad, akkawi (an Israeli cheese) and sesame, and a gluten free and vegan choc-hazelnut dessert number. There'll be served alongside the likes of Two Boys Brew kombucha poured from a keg. When you take a peek at the menu, you'll also notice numbers showing the carbon emissions being saved with each dish and drink. Not only is this food doing good things for the planet, but you can actually calculate the difference being made with each bite. Find Atiyah at Federation Square, corner of Swanston and Flinders streets. It's open from 11am–9pm daily.
Most of us have spent more time indoors this year than any other year. Which means, you might have been dreaming about upgrading your home — with a slightly comfier couch, perhaps, or a sleek dining table. Luckily, with Black Friday just around the corner, fancy furniture retailer Castlery is taking up to 35 percent off its range of furnishings for the rest of the month. At Castlery's online Black Friday sale, you can find beds, couches, rugs, tables and a whole range of goodies to help spruce up your home and achieve the aesthetic you've been envisaging in your head. Some of Castlery's best-selling items are included in the sale, such as the comfy Adams chaise sectional sofa, Theo round dining table and the Luna sideboard designed by award-winning Polish designer Krystian Kowalski. The sale runs from Monday, November 16 until Monday, November 30 and you can jump on now and start crafting a wish list of your favourite items as you plan your perfect pad. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Regional holidays aren't back on the cards in Victoria as yet, but if you're looking forward to leaving your house for an evening once that's permitted, you can still treat yourself to a fancy staycation. And, if you're in need of the kind of fun that only singing in public, mashing buttons, hanging out in an igloo and watching movies on a big screen can bring, Element Melbourne Richmond Hotel has just the prescription. From Monday, November 2, the eco-conscious Westin brand hotel will be offering up a new 'ultimate sleepover' experience, which will be available to everyone staying onsite. You'll spend the night in one of the hotel's rooms and, because you probably feel like you've already done everything you can within any four specific walls, you'll be able to make the most of the site's new entertainment options — with everything from karaoke and playing PacMan to catching a flick included in your room rate. Element Richmond isn't skimping on these extras, either. Available until early 2021, operating from 11am–10pm daily and able to be used as guests please — while adhering to social distancing requirements, of course — the roster of activities on offer is hefty. In fact, the entire top floor is set to be transformed, turning guest rooms and a meeting room into places for everyone to hang out. The hotel's public spaces will be taken over, too, including the lobby lounge, restaurant and outdoor laneway. For those eager to belt out a tune, you can book a two-hour slot in a karaoke room. Two additional rooms will be packed with classic arcade games such as Space Invaders, Donkey Kong, Galaga and Star Wars. There's also a dedicated Super Mario room, which features a huge TV, Nintendo Switch, and all the relevant gaming accessories accessories so you can play Mario Tennis Aces, Mario Kart, Super Mario Party and more. For those who'd prefer a bit of sport — but indoors — you can also head to the air hockey and foosball rooms, as decked out with the relevant tables. And, if you're visiting the hotel with little ones in tow, there's a kids' room as well. Movie-wise, the pop-up cinema will screen classic flicks on rotation, in gold class-style digs, and serve up freshly made popcorn to go with it. Elsewhere around the hotel, guests will find a 3D car-racing simulator, pool and table tennis tables, and igloos — although you will need to purchase anything you'd like to eat or drink in the latter separately. And wine tastings, cocktail masterclass and cooking demonstration with hotel chef Paulson Xavier are also on the agenda. If you're wondering about that topic that's been at the top of everyone's mind for most of the year — cleaning and hygiene — all areas will be cleaned hourly. Guests will also be asked to sanitise all equipment before and after use with the wipes provided, and room capacity limits will apply. Element Richmond also has a hand sanitiser bar — with sannies from the likes of Mr Black, Archie Rose and Four Pillars — that you can peruse. Currently, the 'ultimate sleepover' experience is timed to kick off when COVID-19 restrictions next ease in the metro Melbourne area, which is presently slated for 11.59pm on Sunday, November 1. That's when the four reasons for leaving home will be scrapped, and the new 25-kilometre rule as well — but if that date moves, so will the start date for Element Richmond's plans. It's important to note that your four-legged friend can come along for this staycation, too, as Element is a pet-friendly hotel. Comfy dog beds are available for any four-legged guests, though there is a maximum of two dogs per room and they can't weigh more than 20 kilograms each — apologies to all those particularly leggy hounds and hefty pooches. If you are bringing along your canine mate, there's an $80 pet cleaning fee per room, per stay. Element Melbourne Richmond Hotel's 'ultimate sleepover' experience will be available from Monday, November 2 until early 2021. To book a room, visit the hotel's website.
Melbourne Park might be the buzzing heart and soul of the grand slam action right now, but come 11am on Sunday, January 29, it'll be all eyes on the CBD as Bourke Street Mall becomes a lively tennis hub of its own. It's all thanks to the inaugural Match in the Mall — a doubles tennis match played right there in front of Myer, featuring some of the game's greats. Nab yourself a free ticket to see former world number one Ash Barty and Jim Courier, as well as Alicia Molik and Casey Dellacqua, battle it out for glory in a somewhat unlikely arena. [caption id="attachment_886137" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dellacqua, Molik and Barty[/caption] After that, you'll also catch Myer Ambassador Kris Smith showing off some racquet skills of his own as he hits the court, going up against more Aussie tennis legends. There are limited spots to see the debut Match in the Mall, with free tickets available online. But even if you miss out, there's no need to smash a racquet — you can catch the livestream over on the Myer Facebook page. [caption id="attachment_886139" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Philip Mallis via Flickr[/caption]
Victoria by Farmer's Daughters has been delighting diners with its crafty exploration of local produce since opening its doors, and it makes afternoons lounging in the restaurant's leafy Terrace Bar overlooking the Yarra that much better. The al fresco space is launching into spring with a new weekly series that'll soak up the best of Melbourne's flower-blooming season. Running Sundays from September 3–October 29, Spring Sunday Sessions is presented in partnership with Healesville favourites Four Pillars. Dedicated to wrapping up your week in style, the event features seasonal grazing platters and Four Pillars cocktails across two sittings. Each week, the kitchen will be showcasing house favourites from the restaurant, built on top-notch Victorian ingredients — think, O'Connor beef skewers with a salsa verde sauce, BBQ lamb cutlets elevated with hand-cut chips and smoked mayo, fried Bannockburn chicken, and housemade pavlova and macaroon's to finish. Vegetarian options are also available on request. To match, you've got bottomless gin cocktails crafted on Four Pillars, plus free-flowing Victorian beer and wine, along with a range of non-alc options. There are two two-hour sittings each Sunday — 11.30am and 2.30pm — with tickets clocking in at $90. Images: supplied.
Before entering the exhibit, a timeline of Sue Ford’s life leads you to the door. Though this may seem a little formal for anyone else, you can't help but find it appropriate. The documentation of change over time was something that Ford devoted much thought too; it's a concern that's echoed in almost all her works. Divided into four rooms, this retrospective exhibition brings together an impressive collection of works that include photographs, digital prints, collages, films and archived work previously unseen by the public. The works are displayed thematically not chronologically, allowing viewers to marvel at the vast array of influences and significant events that marked the life of one of Australia’s most iconic female artists. For those that don't know, Sue Ford was a prominent photographer from the 1960s until her death in 2009. Her works focus on notions of personal identity, gender issues, social discourse, politics and Australia’s Indigenous history. In this NGV show we're spoilt for choice — the collection covers all these ideas. Art as a visual timeline is a prominent concept in the first room as Ford uses numerous portrait series to create narrative; from a 12-day documentation of a friend’s beard growth to the video installation Faces which affectionately documents 20 years of ageing in subjects' faces. The exhibit also features Ford’s surrealist experiments in photograms, video installations and collage. Collage and digital print appear to be her preferred medium from the 1990s onwards, and she uses these works to signify the colonisation of Australia. These works in particular are eerie and ghostlike as she cuts and pastes portraits of colonial Australians into her own work as well as stills of fuzzy television screens. Ford used photographic documentation not as an educational tool, but as a mediated landscape for experience. Rather than printing shots of significant events in Australian history as a political record, Ford blows them up, frames them and puts them on a wall. These works are asking us to reconsider what we know about Australian life. A must see for photography lovers, or those with a keen interest in our political, social and artistic history.
In the months since hell decided to casually freeze over and see Donald J. Trump installed on the Iron Throne, things have seemed bleak for the future of American tourism. And they probably are! Now to add insult to injury: Canada has been voted as this year's best travel destination by not only Lonely Planet, but NY Times and Conde Nast too. America's northern neighbour is finally getting the recognition it deserves for being, well, mostly stable while Canada's Pants goes off the rails. No seriously. Canada's comparable safety and stability have been cited as big contributing factors to why the maple syrup capital of the world has won the prestigious title. The Great White North really does have all the tasty stuff you may once have sought out in the US: vast, punishing wilderness, vibrant capital cities (from big ol' Toronto and Ottawa to film-loving Vancouver and French havens Montréal and Québec City), Grammy-winning artists and ridiculously decadent national cuisines (wassup, poutine) — with a relatively much less controversial leader. Colombia, Chile and Croatia all feature in the top lists too, as well as oft overlooked but bountiful Scandinavian countries Finland, Sweden and Norway. Look, if the US election outcome has given us anything (other than a golden era of SNL) it's the chance to temporarily give up on the American road trip dream for four years and set our holiday sights on neighbouring, Drake-raising destinations. Via AFR.
Dealing with some kid-sized meltdowns because of playground closures? Or perhaps you're a fully grown adult whose own inner child is in desperate need of a little pick-me-up. Either way, Brunswick East's Bellboy has whipped up the ultimate solution with its latest (and greatest) meal pack release: the Homeschooling Lunch Box. Clocking in at $45, one of these little beauties comes packed with a whole swag of goodies — a toasted ham and cheese bagel (cut in half for easy sharing), the Chop Chop Salad, a large serve of fries, two house-made crumpets with Nutella and a couple of small milkshakes. As the name suggests, it was primarily designed as a fun, easy lunchtime option for kiddos who are stuck doing their learning at home during lockdown. But we're betting there are also plenty of certified grown-ups out there who'd happily share one of these on their WFH lunchbreak. Of course, you could always opt for the Bellboy Brunch Box instead and leave with your adult pride intact. All of Bellboy's takeaway options are available to pre-order here for pick up (7.30am–3pm daily). [caption id="attachment_797125" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bellboy, by Julian Lallo[/caption]
Since Australia started easing out of COVID-19 lockdown, the country's internal border restrictions have earned plenty of attention. With tactics to stop the spread of the coronavirus implemented at a state-by-state level, each Aussie state has navigated the situation in its own way when it comes to letting non-residents visit. In Tasmania, that has meant some strict quarantine requirements — which, for non-Tassie residents who weren't classified as essential travellers, entailed spending 14 days in government-designated accommodation. But, for most of the country, quarantine is no more. Travellers from Queensland, the ACT, SA, WA, the NT and New Zealand, which are deemed low-risk areas, have been allowed to hop on a plane and head across the Strait since Monday, October 26. Sydneysiders followed suit soon after, being granted access to the state from Friday, November 6. Victoria remains the last state required to quarantine when entering Tasmania, however, this is all set to change later this month. An estimated date for Victoria to be marked low-risk and granted access to Tasmania was previously set for Tuesday, December 1. This date has now be pushed forward to Friday, November 27 — "subject to matters remaining on track in Victoria," Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein announced in a press conference on Wednesday, November 11. During this press conference, Gutwein also revealed that from Friday, November 13, Victorians entering Tasmania will now be allowed to complete their 14 days of quarantine at home or a "designated residence" instead of a government-mandated hotel. The announcement came after Victoria's 12th — now 13th — consecutive day without a new case of COVID-19. Gutwein's press conference also included some exciting news for Tasmanians (and those visiting the southern state), confirming that from Friday, November 13, Tasmanian venues will be permitted to serve standing patrons — or 'vertical drinking' as it's been labelled — and that gatherings in Tasmania households can increase from 20 to 40 people. All travellers to Tasmania are still currently required to fill out a Tas e-Travel form before they depart for the state. New Zealand residents are also legally required to complete at least 14 days of managed isolation or quarantine when returning to New Zealand. Keen to start planning an adventure south? Mona Foma has announced it'll return to Launceston and Hobart in January — and we've pulled together this list of exciting food and drink spots in the state's northeast. Visitors from low-risk areas (currently Queensland, the ACT, SA, WA, the NT, NSW and NZ) are allowed to visit Tasmania without quarantining. You must fill out a Tas e-Travel form a maximum of three days before you arrive. The state is set to open to Victoria from Friday, November 27. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Tasmania and the state's corresponding restrictions, visit its online COVID-19 hub. Top image: Bay of Fires via Lia Kuilenburg for Tourism Tasmania.
Self-described as the 'food lovers market', Prahran Market is the oldest continuous running market in Australia and is your go-to place for gourmet delights and fresh, heritage fruit and vegetables, local fish and meat. While the marketplace is open during the week, the real bargains are on Saturday after 3pm when $1 bags of fruit and veg are up for grabs. The market also hosts regular demonstrations and food festivals, celebrating delicious edibles like cheese, chocolate, sausages and more. Market Lane Coffee via Flickr.
With Victoria now in lockdown again until 11.59pm on Tuesday, July 20, home cooking and takeaway is back on the menu. Fancy the latter more than the former? Spent too much time baking during the other four similar stints at home? Eager to order in for any reason possible? If you fall into any of the above categories, and you're keen to both support local eateries and keep an eye on your bank balance, Deliveroo is ditching its delivery fees for orders from most restaurants. Until the current expected end of lockdown at 11.59pm on Tuesday, July 20, the service is doing free delivery from a range of Victoria eateries. More than 7800 places are taking part, with Royal Stacks, Misschu, Oriental Tea House and Danny's Burgers among the participating Melbourne eateries, and venues in Ballarat, Geelong and Bendigo also on the list. If your stomach is craving fast food at this chaotic time, Macca's, Guzman y Gomez, Grill'd and Oporto are all involved as well. The aim: to encourage Victorians to help local restaurants during this latest stay-at-home period and, because that's the world we live in, to help stop panic buying at supermarkets as well. To ensure that all of the eateries involved aren't missing out on revenue or left out of pocket, Deliveroo is footing the bill for the discounted amount, too. If you're suddenly hungry, you'll need to place an order via the Deliveroo app. There are usually caveats, with the free delivery deal not normally extending to bottle shops, KFC, Crust or Domino's, or to places listed in the app as 'delivered by restaurant'. When Deliveroo ditches its delivery fees, you also usually need to spend at least $10 at most eateries, $12 at McDonald's, Subway and Baskin-Robbins, and $15 if you're purchasing from Red Rooster. Deliveroo is doing free delivery across Victorian eateries until 11.59pm on Tuesday, July 20. To make an order, head to the Deliveroo app. Top image: Oriental Tea House.
Free doughnuts. There's not much else to say, really. Except that if you are anywhere near Dandenong Market (or can be) on Friday, June 2, you should make a beeline to Dandee Donuts in Market Square. That's where the free doughnuts will be. Between 8am and 4pm the soft pillowy balls of dough will be filled with hot jam and rolled in sugar and handed over with no questions asked. The only condition is that you can't be greedy — there's only one free doughnut per person.
Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, took to the small screen on Tuesday with his new talk show, The World Tomorrow. Assange and his first interviewee, the Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, chatted companionably (with the aid of of translators) via video chat. Nasrallah spoke from an undisclosed location in Lebabnon, and Assange from the UK, where he is under house arrest. The interview marked Nasrallah's first Western interview since 2006. The World Tomorrow is carried by Russia Today (RT), a Kremlin-backed English-language news network and website with an anti-American undertone. Created by Vladimir Putin in 2005, RT aims to promote the Kremlin line abroad; it is also broadcast in Spanish and Arabic. Assange is noted for his involvement in a 2010 mass release of secret government documents. Though he was supported by the cooperation of several news organisations (including the New York Times), Assange was the only one involved to fully disclose the documents' details, names and all. He published the documents on his website, and has since become a target of controversy. Though no TV host natural, Assange covered a wide range of interesting topics, including issues in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel, with Nasrallah on Tuesday night. The interview was thought-provoking and fresh, leaving audiences guessing what could be coming up in future episodes. https://youtube.com/watch?v=GDLXPpooA18 [via Pedestrian]
If farewelling winter has left you feeling like a spring chicken once again, there's only one real way to celebrate and that's with a day of chook-filled frivolity at Munich Brauhaus. Next Saturday, October 6, the Bavarian-inspired venue is dishing up some extra clucking good fun, as part of its monthlong Oktoberfest celebrations. Head along early from 12.30pm to battle it out for glory at one of the day's many competitions — show off your guns at The Great Rubber Chicken Toss, get vocal for the chicken-inspired 'cluck off', or feast your way to fame in the bar's annual hot wing eating championship. To refuel after all that cluckin', you'll find an array of food specials on offer from 3pm, including chicken wings for just 10 cents a pop (from 3–4pm) and $10 half serves of roast chook, teamed with chips and slaw. Then, at 2.30pm, punters young and old will have the chance to make history, during an attempt to break the record for Australia's Largest Chicken Dance... if that's your thing.
Our beloved Aussie environment is still feeling the impacts of last summer's devastating bushfires. But there's a nifty new way you can help support our native animal friends through the recovery stage, involving bunches of beautiful local blooms. Wildlife Victoria has teamed up with flower delivery service Daily Blooms to launch the Natives Bouquet — a lush, seasonal floral arrangement filled with native foliage and flowers. Not only do they look good, but $2 from each bouquet sold will go towards the rescue organisation's animal protection and conservation efforts. With loads of animal habitats lost during last year's fires, this work is as important as ever. The hand-crafted arrangements are available for same-day delivery across Melbourne and Geelong, up until Saturday, January 30. They'll set you back $50 a pop, supporting local farmers as well as our precious Victorian wildlife.
This Melbourne after-hours pop-up isn't at a pub, an underground club, or even some repurposed warehouse space. Nope, the Nocturnal event series is happening at a venue you've probably only ever seen in the light of day: Melbourne Museum. The first Friday of each month will see the museum's exhibition spaces transformed into an after-dark playground, as Nocturnal swaps the school-uniformed tour groups for crowds of music-loving partygoers. Expect a space primed for Friday night revelry, complete with pop-up bars slinging cocktails, roving entertainers and spot talks from some of the museum's curators. Plus, there will be plenty of killer tunes, with a main stage set up in front of the Forest Gallery. This month, Nocturnal is inspired by Harlem and the current Mel&NYC festival happening across Melbourne. On Friday, August 3, the pop-up will feature live performances from New York's Rakiem Walker Project (who are heading to Aus for the very first time), Melbourne's DRMNGNOW and colourful dance duet Glitter and Snatch. Wander through the gallery, and you'll encounter more, too, including The Cook Island Drummers in the Te Vainui O Pasifikia gallery. You can also join in a dance-off in the Plaza, refuel at the Gumbo Kitchen, then explore large-scale projections of images by Camilo Vergera, a famed Harlem photographer.
If you've seen director Joe Wright and Keira Knightley's subtle and affecting period dramas Atonement and Pride and Prejudice, you might think you know exactly what you're in for with Anna Karenina. And you could not be more wrong. This is an Anna Karenina full of risks. It's a melodrama with the zippy editing of a Guy Ritchie film, the Gallic filigree of Jean-Pierre Jeunet, and, above all, the flourish and symbolism of a work of theatre. In fact, pretty much the whole film has been transplanted to within the confines of a theatre, a conceit that brilliantly suggests a society ruled by pretence and observation. In this world, society balls play out on stage, affairs unfold within the wings, and when a character visits the poorer part of town, he climbs three storeys into the shaky rafters. When the St Petersburg elite sit down to watch a piece of theatre, the curtain lifts on the next scene in their lives. Does it hammer you over the head with this metaphor? Absolutely. Are we bothered? No. Anna Karenina is knowing in its heavy-handedness, and all power to it for embracing the brashness of what is, after all, culture's most populist medium. It doesn't always succeed, but where it takes you is mostly great and always interesting — and that's the bigger achievement. It's kind of extraordinary to read that the whole world-within-a-theatre idea only came 12 weeks before the shoot, because it's a striking marriage of theme and methodology. Wright already had two names known mostly for their imposing stage work attached to the project — screenwriter Tom Stoppard (indeed, many of the scene changes call to mind Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead) and choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, whose expertise informed the smallest gestures as well as an expressive waltz — alongside ever-intense film composer Dario Marianelli, and they each play their part in taking the movie one bold step further away from the expectedly realist to the dizzyingly theatrical. Leo Tolstoy's famously vast novel has of course been whittled down, so that everything that happens on screen elucidates the central theme of infidelity and whether it is an impulse "of the animal or the soul". By the time Anna (Knightley) dives into the arms of besotted military officer Count Vronsky (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), desire and repercussion has been examined from every angle, and we feel for both the lovers and Anna's betrayed, dispassionate husband, Karenin (Jude Law, who's excellent here). It's also still a tale of two cities (St Petersburg and Moscow, in a Sydney-Melbourne-type rivalry) and the country, with their contrasting characters and morality. It's easy to conclude that this Anna Karenina is a superficial portrait of a superficial society, but that would be to dismiss how emotionally powerful it is in key moments, particularly an intricately choreographed society scene that communicates the oppressiveness of gossip. At other times, mainly when the campiness loses its originality and grabs at cliche, the film goes off the rails, and it sadly detracts from Anna's fate. Wright and co. should be applauded for having the guts to do things differently and birth an Anna Karenina unlike any of its predecessors. It's worth watching, and more than once.
In news that has ironically prompted outraged profanity worldwide, Vladimir Putin has signed a bill which prohibits the use of swear words in Russian film, theatre and live music performances. This legislation is just the latest in a long line of gradual moves against freedom of expression in the country. With the much-protested bills passed against the "promotion" of "non-traditional sexual relations", the increasing moves towards internet censorship, and the ruling in April this year against profanity in the media, the whole situation seems a bit fucked. Coming into effect on July 1, this most recent bill will ban four specific words from Russia's art and performance. All hailing from the lexicon of mat: khuy (cock), pizda (cunt), ebat (to fuck), and blyad (whore) will be prohibited from appearing in any new work, while books and printed materials containing such words will be sold in sealed packaging with warning labels. If artists refuse to abide this new ruling, not only will their works be refused distribution, they will be charged up to 50,000 rubles ($1,510). To further confuse matters, though the ban will include live performance and events, it will reportedly only affect products of "popular culture" and not "art". "The law is not aggressive," said a representative from the Culture Ministry to the Moscow Times. "Its only aim is to regulate this sphere, so that swearing will have its purpose." Though the difference between the two realms of production has not yet been specified by the Ministry, artists across the world can finally feel some sense of relief — who would have thought this man would be the one to pin down the elusive definition of art? Many in the Russian art world are unsurprisingly outraged by this recent move and take particular issue with its effect on literature. Mat has in fact had a rich history in Russian poetry and prose, as seen in the seminal Romantic work of Mikhail Lermontov and Alexander Pushkin. The banning of such words, pivotal to the language of the working class, will undoubtedly limit the range of character and emotion in much of Russia's cultural work. Unfortunately, I'm not that well-versed in Russian film or literature, but just imagine a world where American Psycho is illegal; a place where this iconic scene from Planes, Trains and Automobiles could never have reached its audience. In a worldwide exclusive, we've actually obtained a copy of the upcoming Russian Wolf of Wall Street re-release. It may not have the glamour or excitement of Scorsese's original, but its does 100 percent comply to the standards of the Culture Ministry. Enjoy. Via the New Yorker.
2020 might've temporarily taken away our ability to head overseas, hit up big events and, for portions of the year, leave our houses; however, it hasn't robbed us of our collective fascination with Christmas lights. Luminous festive decorations really shouldn't cause such a fuss. They pop up everywhere every year, after all, and we're all well and truly aware of how electricity works. But those twinkling bulbs are just so hard to resist when it's the merriest portion of the calendar — especially after a 12-month period with a noticeable downturn in joy otherwise. Perhaps you're a casual Christmas lights fan, and you're completely fine just checking out whichever blazing displays you happen to pass in your travels? Maybe you have a few tried-and-tested favourite spots, and you return to them every year? Or, you could want to scope out the best and brightest seasonal-themed houses and yards? Whichever category you fall into, an Australian website called Christmas Lights Search is likely to pique your interest. It's as nifty and handy as its name suggests, and it covers festive displays all around the country. To locate all the spots that you should head to, it's as easy as popping in your postcode or suburb — or those of places nearby — and letting the site deliver the relevant options. Christmas Lights Search also rates the lights displays, if you want to either go big or stay home. And it's constantly being updated, so, like the best combos of glowing trees, sparkling bulbs and oversized Santas, you might want to check it out more than once. When you pick an individual address listed on the site, you'll be greeted with some key information, too. The level of detail varies per listing, but expect to peruse photos, the ideal hours to swing by, a date range, a description of what's on offer and even COVID-19-safe info. All that's left is to get searching, plot out where you'll be heading every night between now and Christmas Eve, and get ready to see oh-so-many reindeer, candy canes and snowmen. Check out the Christmas Lights Search online now.
Over the past week, we've been hurtled into the throes of winter. While Australia sweltered through a warmer-than-average autumn, it's now appropriately windy and rainy. The gloves and beanies are out of storage and it's time to start loading up on sweets and carbs. To help us do this, Krispy Kreme has announced it's giving away an extremely excessive number of doughnuts. How many? 100,000, to be exact. The giveaway is running in conjunction with 'World Doughnut Day', and while we're not a big fan of food 'days' we are big fans of free food. Especially free doughnuts. To snag yourself a signature glazed freebie (Original Glazed doughnuts are being given out) head to your closest store in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth. Sydneysiders have ten stores — stretching from Penrith to the CBD — to choose from, while Victorians have eight, including a Collins Street store. Queenslanders can pick from five different doughnut shops, with the most central in the CBD Myer Centre, and Perthians can head to one of three Krispy Kreme stores or some Jesters. The 100,000 doughnuts will be spread across all Aussies stores, which means there'll be about 3000 free 'uns available at each. So, you'll want to get in relatively early if you want to kick off your Friday with a free sweet and doughy treat. Most stores open around 7am and there's a limit of one glazed doughnut per person. The free doughnuts are not available at BPs or 7-Elevens. Krispy Kreme's free doughnut giveaway is happening nationwide on Friday, June 7. To find your closest store and check its opening hours, head to the Krispy Kreme website.
Nuanced, enigmatic and thought-provoking, Young & Beautiful, the latest film from renowned French director François Ozon (Swimming Pool) is a portrait of 17-year-old Isabelle, a Parisian student. Set over a year and divided into four seasonal chapters, the film chronicles Isabelle's sexual journey from the awakening of her desires to embarking on a secret life. Driven by a transfixing performance from the incandescent Marine Vacth, Young & Beautiful is both psychologically probing and unerringly graceful in its nonjudgmental restraint. It fuels our emotions, captivates our intellect and leaves us wondering whether our motivations can ever truly be known. Young & Beautiful is in cinemas on May 1, but we're offering 66 competition winners the chance to see it with a friend at an exclusive preview screening we're hosting together with Incu on Wednesday, April 30, at 7pm at Kino Cinemas (45 Collins Street, Melbourne). To enter, click here. https://youtube.com/watch?v=cnaIFp_KrB4
Here's your chance to thank a major enabler of your binge TV habit. The man responsible for bringing you 3720 hours of glee, revulsion, frustration and satisfaction, Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan, is coming to Australia. He'll be making one exclusive appearance at the Sydney Town Hall as part of the Sydney Writers' Festival (an early part; he's here May 1 while the rest of the festival kicks off May 19). The discussion will zero in on Gilligan's creative process and presumably provide a platform for all your Better Call Saul-related questions. Even though Gilligan might be the most 'read' writer at the festival, there's plenty else in the program announcement to warrant attention and ticket-getting. Big international names include that other confounding New Zealand prodigy, 2013 Booker Prize winner for The Luminaries Eleanor Catton (who is, we're constantly being reminded, 28). There's also right-of-passage author Irvine Welsh, journalist/press freedoms fighter Jeremy Scahill, Super Sad True Love Story writer/famous blurbist Gary Shteyngart, and Eimear McBride, who in 2013 threw out the laws of grammar and emerged with the bizarrely comprehensible A Girl Is a Half-Formed Thing. Artistic director Jemma Birrell doesn't appear to be trying to reinvent the wheel or tweet the wheel or performance art the wheel; the 2014 Sydney Writers' Festival is geared towards solid programming that mixes interesting minds. "Over 400 writers will bring their insight and knowledge, their creativity and contemplation, to help us see life from a different perspective," she says of the festival. Bondi Beach and Bowral are new venues, and there's a fun-looking series putting the spotlight on Literary Friendships (it generously counts siblings as friends, so writers Benjamin and Michelle Law are included). Now a fixture of the festival, the Chaser-run Festival Club is where things will get relaxed and sweary at the end of the day. The Sydney Writers' Festival is on May 19-25 (apart from lone wolf Vince). Tickets are on sale from 9am on Friday, April 4, via the festival website.
We normally associate Boxing Day releases with feelgoodery, dogoodery, comedy and special effects. Which is why it seems sort of hilarious when a film like Short Term 12 pops up at that time of the holiday season, determined to make its quiet realism heard. The SXSW Film Festival winner was number one on Buzzfeed's list of 'movies you probably missed in 2013 but definitely need to see', so if you get in quick, you can make it the no.1 movie you outsmarted Buzzfeed on instead. Short Term 12 is the kind of film that feels like a well-edited version of real life — though probably not a life that is familiar to you, if you grew up in safe, loving circumstances. Compulsively watchable and super emotional, it revolves around the kids and their barely adult supervisors at a temporary foster care facility. The plot is nebulous, but the anchor is social worker Grace, played by Brie Larson, who you probably remember from United States of Tara and who puts in an incredible, name-making performance here. Short Term 12 is funny, heartbreaking and brave filmmaking. Writer and director Destin Cretton is able to leap tall towers of everyday humour and humanity and then drop you into a pit of total, gut-wrenching sadness in a single bound. A definite must-see — so you may as well see it on us. Short Term 12 is in cinemas on December 26, and thanks to Madman Films, we have ten double in-season passes to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=rETaWDZ57v0
20,000 Days on Earth is a documentary that's fiction. Though it's by no means the only documentary to question the form and take things meta, it is one of the most boldly experimental ones out there. It's a work that's highly constructed from start to finish — and since it's constructed with and about Nick Cave, there's plenty of fun to be had. The film imagines the 20,000th day on earth of the Australian-born, UK-based singer and raconteur. It's a day that includes him talking to his shrink, recording an album, helping archivists make sense of his historical record, lunching with his pals, driving Kylie Minogue around Brighton, and playing at the Sydney Opera House. A pretty great day, really, particularly for its impossibilities. Running throughout is, naturally, Cave's own music, rumbling out of the studio and guiding his path through the world. Instead of clarity and chronology, what you get in 20,000 Days on Earth is a fragmented sense of biography that is sometimes deeply insightful, sometimes electrifying and sometimes frustrating. Major characters in the life of Nick Cave, such as collaborator Warren Ellis and The Proposition star Ray Winstone, appear without context or label, meaning that to really follow this winding ride, you have to be au fait with the life of Cave. If you're not, just let it go; there are plenty of moments here that are plain entertaining regardless, while a live performance montage set to a frenzied, ever building version of 'Jubilee Street' is near rapturous to witness. The conversation between Cave and Minogue feels painfully intimate and revealing, despite all the scripting that frames it. Artists-turned-directors Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard have basically conjured a new format here, one that's wondrously poetic and imaginative. There's a sense that it could be applied to tell nearly anybody's fragmented, personal tale, though having the flair and flamboyance of Cave certainly helps. Eavesdropping on a conversation with Cave is right up there with the high points of cultural consumption. 20,000 Days on Earth gets points for pure brio. It's not like anyone would want every documentary to be made this way, but it sure is an interesting divergence. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Ap0_y5EGttk
While Melbourne's been patiently waiting for a taste of post-lockdown freedom, Joey Kellock has helped keep many of those tastebuds happy and satisfied with crowd-pleasing pasta, courtesy of his 1800 Lasagne delivery service. But what tastes even better than both of those things? Some glorious free serves of 1800 Lasagne's finest, that's what. Yep — to celebrate World Pasta Day on Monday, October 25, Kellock has teamed up with Toyota Australia to deliver free, fresh lasagne slabs to the masses. Or at least, to those located in 1800 Lasagne's usual delivery zones. Kellock will be firing up his delivery vehicle for a special Monday run, delivering the pre-ordered lasagne freebies to addresses across the city's north, south, east and west, for one day only. A generous, but limited number of serves are up for grabs — get in quick and nab yours online from 12pm Thursday, October 21.
For a while there, it seemed like every hip hop tour to Australia was doomed to fail. Poor ticket sales, high-profile artists that don't show up, lazy and greedy managers and a general lack of any business savvy whatsoever have conspired to kill off a handful of festivals and some major tours in just the last year or two. But in the midst of all that, Rap City has not only gone ahead, it has thrived. Since its inception in 2010 the single-stage mini-festival has brought out some of the all-time greats of the game, from Ghostface Killah and DOOM to The Beatnuts and Masta Ace. This time around, Rap City will be headlined by none other than Talib Kweli, one of the most thoughtful, socially aware and lyrically gifted MCs around. His 1998 collaboration album with Mos Def — Mos Def and Talib Kweli Are Black Star — remains a masterpiece of politically and socially conscious hip hop, but over 15 years and half-a-dozen albums Kweli has proved time and again that he is one of the most gifted lyricists of his generation. With a new album, Prisoner of Conscious, recently released featuring Miguel, Curren$y, Kendrick Lamar, Marsha Ambrosius and Busta Rhymes, Kweli is sure to be at his energetic, eloquent best. Joining Kweli will be Homeboy Sandman, the rapidly rising star signed to Stones Throw Records (home to the likes of DOOM, Peanut Butter Wolf, Madlib, Australia's own Jonti and the late, great J Dilla). His praises as a lyricist and intellect have been sung by XXL, The Source, NPR, Rolling Stone and everyone in between, but his beats have a groove so good you almost don't notice that Homeboy's lyrics challenge almost every thought you have ever had. And if that weren't enough, these twin lyrical titans are being joined by Trademark 'Da Skydiver', the next big thing from the Jet Life Crew label — home to the likes of Curren$y, Smoke DZA and Sir Michael Rocks (formerly of The Cool Kids). With a handful of rapturously received mixtapes under his belt, Trademark is currently putting his finishing touches on his highly anticipated album Flamingo Barnes 2, which is due on the eve of his Australian Rap City tour. If anyone ever told you hip hop was dead, make sure you drag them along to Rap City and shut them up. MELBOURNE – Thursday October 3 @ The Hi-Fi PERTH – Friday October 4 @ Villa BRISBANE – Saturday October 5th @ The Hi-Fi SYDNEY – Sunday (Long Weekend) October 6 @ The Hi-Fi Tickets go on sale on Monday, 12 August, via Moshtix and OZTIX.
We all have a family story to tell, but we can't all tell it like Sarah Polley. The actor known for such films as Dawn of the Dead and Splice and director of quietly acclaimed features Take This Waltz and Away From Her has turned her hand to documentary with Stories We Tell, and it's been demanding attention from festival audiences around the world. Unfortunately, it's one of those films that it's best to know as little of as possible when you go in, so there's going to be little in the way of synopsis here. Suffice to say, Polley's primary interest is her mother, Diane Polley, a casting agent, thwarted actress and extrovert who relished the escape from home life that came with roles on the stage. She died in 1990, when Sarah was 11, leaving behind a web of secrets that lay hidden for many years — until her daughter grew up and started to pull at the threads. How a film with such an ostensibly narrow focus can be so compelling to so many viewers is one of those wonders of cinema. It just is. Polley has a great cast of characters in her life to work with (every member of her family is interviewed, at length), but the magic of this movie is ultimately in her storytelling. The film is wittily edited, warm and sensitive to all parties. It has a lightness of touch as might be expected of a distant observer, but all the unguarded reflection that comes from being intimate with her subject. There's a lot of technique to it. Polley reminds us of her own directorial presence constantly: Her father Michael is also the narrator, and we see her barking commands at him in the audio booth. The grainy '80s Super 8 footage that runs throughout cannot be trusted. The nature of 'truth' is being examined, and not just because it suits postmodern obsessions — in this case, it matters to people's lives. And yet (thankfully) these intellectual enquiries don't crowd out the human drama. The result is simply the most enthralling, idiosyncratic and entertaining family memoir around. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ytq4VZ2Nyxg
Admittedly, raw chocolate is not the first thing most people reach for when they're looking for a treat. But Pana Barbounis, founder and chocolate maker at Pana Chocolate is trying to change that — and he's doing a pretty darn good job. Available Australia-wide and in some international countries, Pana is taking his love of slow-cooked, raw foods and health-conscious sweet treats to the masses. It's all about making that indulgent moment a guilt-free one for both your body and the planet — the packaging is 100 percent Australian made and recyclable. Pana Chocolate has been selling its chocolate bars for a while now, mostly into health food stores and some supermarkets. Think flavours like vanilla and sour cherry, mint, orange, and cinnamon. Now, they've taken their raw chocolate secrets and opened a beautiful space on Chapel Street in Richmond, acting as a shopfront for their kitchen where all the Pana Chocolate is made. The space is small, but has a few seats in the window for those who want to linger and enjoy their cacao treats on gorgeous pale blue plates. If you're on the run, get your goodies to go and enjoy them back at the office or as an after-dinner dessert. What makes Pana so special is that the entire range is raw and plant-based, free of gluten, dairy, and refined sugar. Their ingredients are sourced from all over the world, including cacao beans from the Amazon, coconut oil from the Philippines and dark agave nectar from Mexico. An international treat. Speaking of treats, you can indulge in one of the many dainty delights that sit erect on display. They range from individual chocolates, 'cheesecake' pops, raw cakes, and individual creations like the Vespa Wheel: a buckwheat wafer biscuit with coconut marshmallow, raspberry chia jam and raw cacao. The cakes rotate, but can be anything from raspberry, rosem and pistachio, white choc berry, caramel fig, mandarin pistachio, kiwi mint lime, strawberry vanilla or choc fudge. Single chocolates and fudges are also on display, making the raw line-up a very impressive one indeed. And you can sip on a cacao almond milk hot chocolate, just in case you haven't quite met your sweet quota for the day. This is not a drill folks, this is raw chocolate that tastes as good — if not better — than the real thing.
In 1956, the Corvin Cinema in Budapest became the home base for the unsuccessful Hungarian uprising against the USSR. The rebellion was short-lived, but had long-lasting repercussions — for Europe, of course, but also for the filmmakers who were due to premiere their movie at the theatre the very next week. Billed as a "performance lecture", and featuring interviews with the exiled screenwriter and other people involved in the film's production, History History History tells the story of the making of the movie, a comedy about football that doubled as a thinly veiled satire of the communist regime. The film itself will be screened even as the performers do their thing, as theatre-maker Deborah Pearson explores questions of history, censorship and imagination. History History History will be on stage at The Substation in Newport as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival.
This post is presented by the All New Toyota Corolla Sedan. There's plenty of fun to be had in this city each week, but there's only a small handful of truly fresh urban adventures to be had. We've partnered with Toyota to find the very best of these shiny-new experiences in Melbourne. Presented by the All New Toyota Corolla Sedan, these are our picks to put you on the road to a life of goodtimes. Now your only challenge is getting to them all. This week is all about the highest heights, the surreality of the animal kingdom, and the easiest, most delicious way to do good in the world. Eat: Feast of Merit When you find the coming together of good coffee and a good conscience, great things usually follow. Feast of Merit, the newest venture from youth social enterprise YGAP, proves this to be true. Not only does this place donate all their profits to youth education in Malawi, Ghana, Rwanda, Bangladesh, Cambodia and Australia, they also focus on seasonal produce, raw foods and locally sourced drinks. The breakfast menu caters to a range of tastes with the sweeter side of things looking like Bircher muesli, coconut water, apricot, pistachios, and hung yoghurt ($11.50) and the savoury path providing beetroot (pickled, raw and roasted) with wild rice, candied walnuts, salted ricotta and za'atar spice ($13.50). 117 Swan Street, Richmond Drink: Loop Roof Opening high above the city's favourite video bar, Loop, this new venue — officially named Loop Roof but affectionately dubbed Looptop (see what we did there) — is a new gem in Melbourne's rooftop crown. Looptop's drinks menu features a huge range of topnotch cocktails, but it's the hard iced tea selection that stands out. Our pick is the awkwardly named but delicious-tasting Sparkle Motion ($19), made with Wyborowa vodka, Pomme Verte, T2 Lychee Sunrise tea syrup, fresh lemon, grapefruit peel and an edible gold spray giving it the advertised sparkle. Each hand-crafted tea syrup is created in-house using tea from T2, and features a different ice cube full of delicious ingredients that are designed to melt and release more flavour into the drink as you go. Level 3, 23 Meyers Place, Melbourne See: Isabella Rossellini's Green Porno This playful stage show, based upon Isabella Rossellini's short film series and subsequent book of the same name, kookily explores mating in the natural world. The screen icon — who is currently studying animal behaviour at Hunter College in New York — says the show came naturally to her because she has always been interested in animal behaviour, and she "certainly knows a lot of people that are interested in sex". The actress dresses up in a variety of ridiculous insect and sea-creature costumes, while providing a storyline that is somehow both absurd and scientifically accurate. March 26; Arts Centre Playhouse, 100 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne Do: Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival The difficulty with VAMFF is always the same — where to begin? With countless runways that are set to dazzle, an exciting cultural program, and some serious networking opportunities for those in the business, there’s something for all who are fashionably inclined. If innovation is what you’re after, we recommend heading to either the National Graduate Showcase or Independent Runway. But if you're just heading along for a taste, get along to the Premium Runways. March 17-23; all around Melbourne
If there's been a big, White Night-shaped hole in your social calendar since the famed Melbourne after-hours fiesta wrapped up its last edition in February 2018, you'll be happy to know it's making a return this August. Just be prepared for a very different experience, as the immersive festival makes some serious changes to its programming and farewells part of the late-night fun. As well as making the move from summer to the deep of winter, organisers have revealed that White Night Reimagined will swap its previous one-night format for an expanded three-night affair. Interestingly, it's also scrapping the all-nighter aspect in the process. Instead of the usual 7pm–7am program, which has been in place since the festival's inaugural 2013 edition, White Night will this year run from 7pm until midnight on Thursday, August 22, and again on Friday, August 23, followed by a 7pm until 2am session on Saturday, August 24. The new curfew means punters will no longer get to experience what some might argue is one of White Night's biggest pulls — the adventure of roaming around town soaking up art and installations, right through until the wee hours. Although, frosty August probably isn't the best time of year for pre-sunrise wanderings, anyway. [caption id="attachment_728542" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pollution Pods by Michael Pinsky[/caption] The new-format event will also expand in scope, held across three key precincts with each boasting its own distinct theme. Treasury Gardens will take the form of the 'Sensory Realm', showcasing dazzling projections, lighting and audio installations, and interactive artworks inspired by the five senses. Here, you'll find British artist Michael Pinsky's immersive Pollution Pods, which represented the different environments of global cities; a musical and calming SongCloud; a colourful light and audiovisual installation called Cluster; as well as a giant floating Cocoon made from 1000 lights tied together by ropes. Carlton Gardens will be transformed into the mystical 'Spiritual Realm', featuring a huge ten-metre lion puppet by Melbourne artist Joe Blanck, along with illuminations sharing the stories of Indigenous Australia. And the 'Physical Realm' descends on Birrarung Marr, showcasing the Aussie debut of internationally acclaimed street theatre performance Globe, from a troupe of 41 acrobats, aerialists, singers and actors. [caption id="attachment_728540" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Globe by Gerard Dubois[/caption] Other famed Melbourne spots coming to the party include the Melbourne Museum, the National Gallery of Victoria and the State Library Victoria, all hosting their own programs of art, food and music. The rest of White Night Reimagined's extended program, including the music component, is set to be revealed in the coming weeks. Starting from 2020, White Night will also form part of a new and bigger winter festival, in conjunction with the Melbourne International Arts Festival (MIAF). White Night Reimagined runs from Thursday, August 22 to Saturday, August 24. Top images: White Night 2018, SongCloud by Amigo & Amigo and Cluster by Playmodes Studio.
If you're a sucker for all things Halloween, be sure to catch the ultimate fright night film festival, when The Astor Theatre hosts its annual 24-hour Halloween Spooktacular. Kicking off at 2pm on Saturday, October 28, the hit movie marathon features a whole 24 hours of back-to-back horror screenings with which to scare yourself silly. Grab some popcorn (and someone to cuddle during the really grisly parts) and settle in with films like The Hills Have Eyes on 35mm, A Lizard In A Woman's Skin, Halloween 2 and The Monster Squad on its 30th anniversary.
Dangerous thinkers, Damn the Man activists and controversial intellectuals will bring their rebellious tales to Sydney Opera House for the sixth year running, with Salman Rushie, Steven Pinkler and Pussy Riot at the fore of this year's Festival of Dangerous Ideas lineup. The annual hootenanny for controversial, groundbreaking and system-shaking thinkers, FODI annually fronts up a killer lineup of the names we consistently include in our opinionated tweets. "This year, we are looking at some of the major threats to life as we know it — mass extinction and existential risk — as well as politics, families and global issues,"says head of talks and ideas at Sydney Opera House and co-curator of Festival of Dangerous Ideas, Ann Mossop. "Our guests are both intellects and activists and this will definitely prove a lively mixture. The Festival gives audiences an opportunity to listen to some of the most important thinkers of our time. Ultimately it is the audiences who have the most interesting part to play at the Festival — the tough and absorbing task of deciding what to do with the dangerous ideas of our era." This year's lineup has drawn out some serious intellectual squeals Sydney-wide. Controversial, Booker Prize-winning Midnight's Children writer, Salman Rushdie, will speak about freedom, sticking to your guns and defiantly standing for untamed expression in his talk Freedom to Write. In one of FODI's most buzzworthy talks, dubbed Russia is a Penal Colony, former members of activist legends Pussy Riot, Nadya Tolonnikova and Masha Alekhina, will tell tales of activism, being jailed for 'hooliganism' and setting up their new not-for-profit charity, Zona Prava, while fighting for their own dangerous ideas. Russian journalist, author, and member of the democratic opposition to the regime of Vladimir Putin, Masha Gessen will delve further into Pussy Riot's activism in a predicted-to-sell-out conversation with the pair. Experimental linguist, psychologist and eternal nature-versus-nurture writer Steven Pinker will unravel the popular notion that violence is an inevitable consequence of human nature in his talk Stop Trying to Fix Human Nature — also arguing we're enjoying the most significant period of peace in our history. Challengers to underlying systems and Damn the Man enthusiasts like fearless journalist, feminist and human rights activist Lydia Cacho uncover some horrible truths in our messed up world. Cacho investigates the alive-and-well slave trade — something we see as a Civil War era past wrongdoing, but is a still a globalised, multi-billion dollar industry by way of the sex trade and international trafficking — in Slavery is Big Buisness. Writer and researcher, Kay Hymowitz will delve into women as breadwinners and the supposed decline of male culture in The Rise of Women Has Turned Men into Boys; and surrogacy as a global industry is put under the microscope in journalist, writer and activist Kajsa Ekis Ekman's talk Surrogacy is Child Trafficking. The full program is available on the website. Multipack tickets go on sale on Monday 30 June at 9am before single tickets on Wednesday 2 July at 9am. Festival of Dangerous Ideas 2014 Lineup: Salman Rushdie Pussy Riot Masha Gessen Steven Pinker Malcolm Fraser Lydia Cacho Bradley Garrett Alissa Nutting John Hewson Bettina Arndt Glenn Robbins John Pilger Jane Caro Elizabeth Kolbert Noelle Janaczewska Anne Manne Elizabeth Pisani Jaan Tallinn Ragip Zarakolu Kajsa Ekis Ekiman Dan Ilic Tim Flannery Kay Hymowitz Francesca Minerva Mark Latham David Baker Rebecca Newberger Goldstein Emily Nussbaum Huw Price A Rational Fear Festival of Dangerous Ideas runs 30 - 31 August at Sydney Opera House. Tickets available here. UPDATED WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25: Sydney Opera House have decided to remove Uthman Badar's talk 'Honour Killings Are Morally Justified' after a huge collective WTF from the public.
Winter might be on its way, but at least this year you'll have some fun new cocktails to get you there in good spirits. The legends at The Ascot Lot have been hard at work creating not one, but five new espresso martinis and they're launching them with a mini drinks festival on Saturday, April 27. Swing by the food truck park to sample all five varieties, including the coconut-heavy Bounty Hunter, the fruity Cherry Bite and, for the purists, an expertly crafted traditional version. They'll be going extra cheap at just $10 a pop, or you can grab a $40 Espresso Yourself Pass to try all of the cocktails in one sitting. As always, there'll be plenty of food trucks on hand and stacks of dogs to pat, plus DJ Lloyd Jones will be dishing up tunes from 3pm, right through till night. Espresso Yourself will run from midday till 10pm.
North Fitzroy Italian diner Lagotto is turning its attention to the sweeter side of life — and a good cause — by collecting funds for bushfire relief with a good old fashioned bake sale. On Sunday, February 2, it's firing up the oven and rounding up a couple of well-known foodie friends for a special fundraiser that'll send 100-percent of proceeds to Country Fire Authority Victoria and Wildlife Victoria. Lagotto's chefs will be staying on theme as they whip up an assortment of classic Italian treats, from biscotti and crostoli to bomboloni and stuffed cannoli. Meanwhile, local bakeries Loafer Bread, Dench and To Be Frank are coming in hot with some baked goods of their own. They're donating goodies like buttery croissants, biscuits and French-style baguettes. Even Lagotto's siblings are coming to the party — expect homemade sausage rolls from wine bar Congress and serves of yuzu custard mochi courtesy of modern Japanese restaurant Future Future. No one's going thirsty, either, with caffeinated sips donated by Vacation Coffee and native bush bellinis made in collaboration with the folks up the road at Pinotta. [caption id="attachment_723464" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Parker Blain[/caption] Both the espresso machine and the tunes will be pumping, so your freshly baked goodies are best enjoyed out on Lagotto's sunny terrace. Word is, there'll even be some cheeky dog treats on hand for very good boys and girls. PSA: bring your change — this is a cash-only sale. Top image: Kate Shanasy
