Spring is dating season. Winter's gloom has lifted, the air is noticeably lighter and the glorious sunshine has both flowers and people blooming. In celebration, we're giving away a bunch of $250 Mastercard cards to ensure that you lovebirds have a suitably romantic springtime soirée. It's entirely up to you how you splash the cash, you can splurge on one opulent night out — indulge in dozens of oysters at a top-notch fine diner — or opt for a more conservative approach and spread those five (virtual) pineapples across multiple dates. After all, you don't have to spend big to make a big impression. The late, great Robin Williams once said, "Spring is nature's way of saying, 'Let's party!'". Well, enter the competition below and your springtime parties for two are on us. [competition]695105[/competition] If you're looking for inspiration in the meantime, check out our top five dates for less than $50 in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney and consider splitting the bill easily in under a minute with PayID (which uses the Osko payment service). Find out more here.
Known for serving tasty pub meals with a few modern twists, Auburn Hotel has been a favourite among the stacked Hawthorn pub scene for many years. This winter, the venue is keeping things cosy, filling its beer garden with igloos. To celebrate this snug arrangement, Auburn Hotel has teamed up with much-loved Healesville brewers White Rabbit to host a party on Saturday, June 23, from 5pm. Attendees will get a free White Rabbit Pale Ale and a selection of delicious canapes between 7–8pm. You'll also get to watch an ice sculpture come to life, plus Melbourne acoustic outfit Tom Tuena will be in attendance to keep things lively until late. But if you can't make it on the night, never fear: the igloos will be hanging around all season. Availability is limited, though, so we recommend rounding up the crew for mid-week catch-up in this most unique setting. Each igloo houses up to eight people, and for $40 per person, you'll get a chef's tasting plate, chocolate fondue, plus your choice of an espresso martini, house wine or a frosty pint of White Rabbit Pale Ale. Decked out with fairy lights, plush cushions and blankets, these transparent igloos give stargazers a chance to check out the night sky — minus the winter chill. Secure your spot in the igloo here.
Running from October 16 through January 31, 2021, the annual Tarnanthi program brings together the best of contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art from around the country and showcases it across multiple Adelaide venues — with the largest exhibition taking centre stage at the Art Gallery of South Australia. The guiding theme for this year's edition is Open Hands, which pays tribute to the role of senior artists who share cultural knowledge with the younger generations; it also calls attention to the unseen cultural work of women in Indigenous communities. Including works from 87 artists, the exhibition features mother-daughter collaborations, grand installations, talks and tours — all of which aim to fully immerse visitors in the rich culture of Australia. Online art sales and other AGSA activations are on the docket, too. [caption id="attachment_792442" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Saul Steed[/caption] Images: Tarnanthi: Open Hands installation by Saul Steed
Melbourne's western suburbs are too often neglected. And it is a damn shame because the area is flooded with superb cafes, restaurants, pubs and bakeries. To combat this lack of love and attention, Western Melbourne Tourism has teamed up with Melbourne Food & Wine Festival to run a stacked program of events from Friday, March 15–Friday, March 22. There are 22 individual events running throughout the week (many of which have already sold out) that champion food and beverage venues and producers across the western suburbs. One key part of Eat Drink Westside is a series of moveable feasts known as Westside Wanders. For these, an MFWF guide will take foodies on a tour around one suburb, hitting up three different venues along the way — from markets and grocers to cafes and cake shops. You'll get to know the lay of the land and try some great eats from the multicultural area's hospo venues. Pretty much each of the places you visit will be a 'hidden gem' as so few Melburnians venture out west. Many of these have already sold out, but there are still tickets available for Ascot Vale, St Albans, Werribee and Caroline Springs. Beyond the walking food tours, a stack of venues are also hosting their own unique experiences as a part of Eat Drink Westside. Shadowfax Winery is working with The Lancemore Mansion Hotel in Werribee to host some tastings and a four-course dinner with paired vinos. Pizza d'Asporto and Vino Intrepido have also teamed up to host a concurrent wine tasting and pasta- and focaccia-making class. This means you'll be learning the art of Italian cookery while sipping on wines. And there's really no better way to learn how to cook than with a glass of wine in hand. There's also a honey-themed dinner at The Vic Hotel and a farm-to-plate lunch at Wyndham Harbour, celebrating west Melbourne produce and local chefs. If ever there was a reason to head west, this is it. Just get in quick before everything is sold out.
Brisbane is a foodie city. It has that perfect mix of vibrant new restaurants (it seems like there's another popping up every weekend) and the tried and true favourites of long-time locals. There's never been a more exciting time to dive headfirst into the Brisbane hospo scene. Not sure where to start? We've got eight must-try dishes that'll change the way you think about Brisbane as a food destination. Here, chefs are slinging some wild flavour combos, pulling no punches and adding signature flourishes that make it utterly Queensland — and delicious. Wear your stretchy pants. We're going on a gourmet adventure.
This April, the banks of the Yarra will once again come alive for Melbourne's biggest food truck festival yet, thanks to the minds behind The Food Truck Park. Set to eclipse the collective's regular events in Preston and at the Coburg Drive-In, the Food Truck Festival will see the city's best four-wheeled food vendors descend on Birrarung Marr across five huge days. Running from April 24–28, the culinary lineup will feature the most popular food trucks from each corner of Melbourne. And you can expect to be totally spoilt for choice, with over 40 vendors slinging everything from fried chicken and Asian-inspired eats, to vegan fare and craft beers. What's more, sweet tooths will find their ultimate oasis in a precinct dedicated entirely to desserts. Rounding out the edible goodness will be a program of art, live music and other fun, with entry free across the entire festival. The Food Truck Festival will run from 5–10pm on Wednesday and Friday, midday–10pm on Thursday and 11am–10pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Doublethink — a term coined by George Orwell to describe the state of believing, with equal conviction, two contradictory pieces of information. Ironically, it's perfectly encapsulated by those people who try to convince you that Orwell's sci-fi classic, 1984, is coming true, all the while checking their phones with an addict's fervour. Visual artist Matto Lucas is offering a hyper-exaggerated example of this concept. Taking cues from Orwell's dystopic masterwork, Lucas' Department of Total Freedom has announced its inaugural COMPLETELY UNMONITORED NORMAL HUMAN SOCIAL GATHERING EVENT #0001 at the Braybrook Community Hub as part of Melbourne Fringe. Lucas claims the free event, running across September 22–23 and 29–30, is an attempt to better understand the way we socialise in the current digitised climate. A way to 'celebrate our complete and obvious freedoms'. Audience members will participate in a speed-dating style round of dictated discussions, with an unknown fate awaiting those who deviate. Anyone who's not bluffing about having read 1984 will recognise this as a government exercise from miles away — it's being hosted by Maribyrnong City Council, after all. It's claimed to merely be an 'interactive performance'. Or is that Big Brother-speak? Guess there's only one way to find out. Two plus two is four. Remember that as you walk smiling into the arms of your oppressors this September. This interactive event will take place between 12–2pm and 6–8pm on September 22, 23 and 29 plus 12–2pm on September 30.
A memoir in one's 20s — not an unprecedented move. But with a majority of Australians participating in the mass autobiography project known as social media, one that also might be written off as millennial brattiness. It's not that Natalie Yang doesn't have a good story to tell, it's just not the one rural Victoria was expecting…or particularly wants to hear. Natalie's book Banana Girl is kind of about her migrant experience. But it's mainly concerned with her many and varied sexual experiences. It's also not selling particularly well. After hearing her read an excerpt, the residents of the small town of Nagambie are scandalised, bemoaning her omission of the clichés of more famous migrant stories. Stricken with the myopia of the critically scorned, Natalie sets out to consolidate her position with a new book entitled 100 Cocks in 100 Nights. The process is unforgiving, the way marked by dissipating friendships and noses pushed out of joint. Originally conceived as a culturally diverse riff on Sex and the City, Going Down is also writer Michele Lee's attempt to deepen our understanding of what it's like to leave one country for another. "There is more to my story than what happened to my parents," she says. But the show is foremost a comedy in the vein of Girls or Broad City. If you're keen to see how conservative Victorians respond to being read a detailed description of a penis, The Malthouse is the place to be this month.
Underling, you have been summoned. This April, Secret Squirrel Productions — the c̶a̶b̶a̶l̶ c̶o̶v̶e̶n̶ group responsible for Underground Cinema — are tearing open a portal to hell with an immersive dining experience at a secret location in Melbourne. Dinner will be six courses. Pray you aren't one of them. Secret Squirrel, Melbourne's kings of immersive theatre and film experiences, have flung previous audiences back in time to ancient Rome, flogged them through a crash-course in zombie apocalypse survival and set them free inside Hannibal Lecter's debauched mind-palace. And, after a sold out launch in September last year, they are once again creating — in the words of creative director Tamasein Holyman — a "world of raw, dark beauty and absinthe-fuelled dreams" with a six-course banquet. The Feast of the Deceiver is an ancient and secret ritual — but here's what would-be acolytes of the Order should know. The feast will run over three nights on June 15, 16 and 17 with b̶l̶o̶o̶d̶l̶e̶t̶t̶i̶n̶g̶s̶ performances lasting from 7-10pm. The six-course degustation will combine game-play, problem-solving and live theatre. The dress code is black formal. The location is secret and will only be revealed 24 hours prior to the event. If you've been looking for a way to make the voices stop, this could be your chance. But remember — the demon is a liar. He will lie to confuse you. He will try to trick you. Don't listen to him. But do go to dinner. Editor's note: This event was initially scheduled to take place in April, but has since been pushed back to June. Images: Daniel John Bilsborough.
At a train station in India, a young girl begins to sing while a man watches, rapt. He is a tea seller, but no one seems to notice the small stall where he brews chai. He begins to tell a story — an Indian fairytale. The station is crowded, but the stage contains only one performer. Guru of Chai is the latest work by New Zealand theatre company Indian Ink. Jacob Rajan performs the show solo, adopting 17 different characters and a good deal of shadow puppetry to tell the tale of seven daughters plotted against by their stepmother. This one's been doing the rounds for a few years now and picking up glowing reviews all along the way. Diving through layers of truth narrative and style, Guru of Chai is pure storytelling and by all accounts a completely transporting experience. Image: Robert Catto.
As so many excellent documentaries have before it, Baby God tells a tale so astonishing it can only be true. It also steps through a story that's harrowing, horrifying and downright nightmarish. For more than three decades, couples eager to start a family went to Dr Quincy Fortier, seeking his help to have children when they couldn't conceive. Alas, the Las Vegas-based fertility specialist assisted them in a thoroughly unwanted way: by secretly inseminating women hoping to become mothers with his own sperm. Directed and produced by documentarian Hannah Olson (whose next project is about the Diamond Princess cruise ship and its COVID-19 outbreak), Baby God really has to be seen to be believed. It dives into shocking circumstances, and isn't always easy to watch as a result, but it's gripping from start to finish. Olson explores her subject's history and the details of his crimes, and also surveys the aftermath through his biological children.
2021 isn't over just yet, and none of us have worked through all the new shows currently sitting in our streaming queues. Still, 2022 is already shaping up to be a huge year in television. Stranger Things will finally return, for instance, and The Crown will also unleash its new cast. Oh, and HBO will debut a little prequel to one of its biggest hits ever. Given how successful Game of Thrones proved for HBO — even after its eighth and final season caused plenty of uproar — the on-screen world inspired by George RR Martin's books was never going to simply disappear. Indeed, before GoT even finished, there was chatter about what would come next, with the network first announcing that it was considering five different prequel ideas. It then green-lit one to pilot stage, scrapped it and later decided to adapt Martin's House Targaryen-focused Fire & Blood for the small screen as a show called House of the Dragon. Next, it opted to give novella series Tales of Dunk and Egg the TV treatment, too, and to work on an animated GoT show. And, it's been reported that another three prequels are also under consideration. Of course, all of the above announcements have been happening for so long that it's easy to forget that new GoT-related fare will eventually grace the small screen — starting next year. Although an exact premiere date hasn't yet been announced, we won't merely be talking about House of the Dragon in 2022. We'll also be watching its ten-episode first season. And, thanks to the just-dropped teaser trailer for the series, we can get a glimpse of what's in store right now. HBO released a few images from the show earlier this year, but now they've gone one better. Yes, dragons are mentioned. Yes, everyone looks suitably broody. Yes, the Iron Throne shows up, because of course it does. While the trailer really is just a teaser, viewers can expect to spend more time with flame-breathing scaly creatures and the family that adores them when House of the Dragon arrives in 2022. If you thought the Targaryens were chaotic already, delving into their history — and their love of using dragons to wage wars and claim power — is certain to cement that idea. We all know what happened to the last surviving members of the family in GoT, including Daenerys and her boyfriend/nephew Jon Snow; however, House of the Dragon, like Fire & Blood, jumps back 300 years earlier. Cast- and character-wise, House of the Dragon stars Emma D'Arcy (Misbehaviour) as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, the first-born child of King Viserys; Matt Smith (His House) as Prince Daemon Targaryen, the King's brother; Rhys Ifans (Official Secrets) as Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King; Olivia Cooke (Pixie) as Alicent Hightower, Otto's daughter; and Steve Toussaint (It's a Sin) as Lord Corlys Velaryon, aka 'The Sea Snake', a nautical adventurer from a Valyrian bloodline as old as House Targaryen. These Westerosi folk will all grace a tale that harks back to Aegon I Targaryen's conquest of the Seven Kingdoms — which is what started the hefty 738-page first volume in Fire & Blood's planned two-book series — and then works through the family's history from there. Aegon I created the Iron Throne, hence the returning favourite's prominence. And you don't have to be the Three-Eyed Raven to know that this tale involves plenty of GoT's staples: fighting, battles for supremacy and bloodshed. Also set to pop up on-camera: Paddy Considine (The Third Day) as King Viserys, Eve Best (Nurse Jackie) as Princess Rhaenys Velaryon and Sonoya Mizuno (Devs) as Mysaria, Prince Daemon's paramour. Behind the scenes, Miguel Sapochnik and Ryan Condal are acting as the series' showrunners. Sapochnik has a hefty GoT history, winning an Emmy and a Directors Guild Award for directing 'Battle of The Bastards', helming season eight's 'The Long Night', and doing the same on four other episodes. As for Condal, he co-created and oversaw recent sci-fi series Colony, and co-wrote the screenplay for the 2018 film Rampage. Check out the first teaser trailer below: House of the Dragon is due to start airing sometime in 2022 — we'll update you with further details when they're announced. Images: Ollie Upton/HBO.
Sacrifice, of the kind where ideals clash with safety and responsibility, is at the heart of A Thousand Times Good Night. The film starts with a potent example, as photojournalist Rebecca (Juliette Binoche) snaps away in Afghanistan. Secreted to a secluded spot, she starts capturing a funeral; however, it is soon revealed that her subject isn’t dead. Instead, the prone pose is part of a ritual preparing a suicide-bomber for a mission that goes awry, injuring Rebecca in the process. Juxtaposing the struggle of a woman driven to chronicle the horrors of humanity with the plights of those whose daily lives exist on the precipice between life and death, this introduction makes a strong statement. The former clearly seems trivial in comparison to the latter, but both have costs and consequences. Rebecca has a husband (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and two daughters (Lauryn Canny and Adrianna Cramer Curtis) restless with worry when she is out in the field. Giving up her passion for her loved ones’ peace of mind doesn’t come easily, as she is troubled in her attempts to reconcile the need to make a difference with the comforts of home and the calling of family. Alas, following on from such a striking and tense opening was always going to be difficult. The focus swiftly shifts to an account of disturbed domesticity, and so does the A Thousand Times Good Night’s effectiveness and interest. Contemplating the professional versus personal divide is admirable, and touching upon the ethics of observing versus intervening sparks questions, although both areas have been traversed more thoughtfully in other films. Here, they’re just mechanisms to incite conflict in a marriage melodrama. In such rendering of the circumstances, much is left to rest on Binoche’s talented shoulders. Thankfully, it is never tiresome to see the actress on screen, even when a furrowed brow seems her standard expression. Coster-Waldau is sadly given little to do, other than rally against the protagonist’s choices. Instead, it is young newcomer Canny that offers the best depiction of the traumatic repercussions of living with and loving someone constantly drawn to perilous situations. A Thousand Times Good Night is inspired by the early photographer years of director Erik Poppe’s own career, as conveyed in a script co-written with his long-term collaborator Harald Rosenløw-Eeg, but it is easy to dismiss its content as fiction. Only the war-torn visuals seem taken from Poppe’s experiences; indeed, some of his own stills are used, and the handsome imagery certainly eclipses the strived-for emotion. That’s the issue: the story and performances are just too concerned with heavy-handed sentiments to ring true. It seems that the key sacrifice the film makes is in its approach, preferring the appearance of resonance to taking any thematic risks.
From 11.59pm on Wednesday, July 1, until at least Wednesday, July 29, stay-at-home orders have been reintroduced in ten Melbourne postcodes, which means their residents can only leave for one of four reasons: work or school, care or care giving, daily exercise or food and other essentials. For more information, head to the DHHS website. While Melburnians are encouraged to continue working from home if possible, the City of Melbourne is getting ready for residents to start hitting the road once again. To help make it a little easier to get to and from work in the near future, the Council is constructing 40 kilometres of new protected bike lanes in and around the CBD. Part of the previously announced ten-year Transport Strategy 2030, the bike lanes' construction is being fast tracked so that Melburnians will be able to more safely travel around the city. "By fast-tracking the delivery of bike lanes on key routes, we're creating streets that people can feel confident riding along, which in turn will free up space on our roads, buses, trams and trains," Lord Mayor Sally Capp said in a statement. The bike lanes will help better connect Carlton, East Melbourne, North Melbourne, Brunswick and West Melbourne with the CBD and will be rolled out in two stages. The first stage, slated for completion in late 2020 or early 2021, features the following five routes: Exhibition Street stage one (Flinders Street to Bourke Street) Rathdowne Street (Victoria Street to Faraday Street) William Street (Dudley Street to Flinders Street) Abbotsford Street (Flemington Road to Queensberry Street) Swanston Street (Grattan Street to Cemetery Road) [caption id="attachment_773090" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Click to enlarge[/caption] The protected bike lanes will be physically separated from cars and constructed using a combination of plastics, rubber and recycled materials. To construct the lanes, 228 car parking spots will need to be removed, according to The Age, but the Council is expecting this to have a "minimal impact" as it's a fraction of its total 23,500 metered and unmetered spaces on the streets. Between the hectic traffic, overcrowded tram stops, the clogged-up footpaths and all the construction going on at the moment, Melbourne's CBD can sometimes feel like a big pile of stress. But things are (hopefully) changing. As well as the Transport Strategy 2030, and the new bike lanes, the city is getting ready to welcome the new Metro Tunnel project, which will be finished by 2025, bringing a new underground line and five new stations to help people get in and out of the CBD. For more information about the City of Melbourne's new planned bike lanes and Transport Strategy 2030, head to the council website.
A long time ago, in this very galaxy, brass instruments sounded, a text crawl started and the first Star Wars film burst onto the screen. Thanks to director George Lucas and composer John Williams, it's one of the most iconic movie openings in history — and, in all of its force-wielding, Death Star-destroying, orchestra-scored glory, the sci-fi classic is making a kriffing special return. Star Wars movies have been getting the concert treatment for years now, but that doesn't make their presence on the big screen with a live orchestral soundtrack any less special whenever it happens. In 2023, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is doing the honours once more in the Victorian capital, starting with the flick that began the whole franchise. It's also busting out another Disney favourite — and something very different. First, the film that every jedi, wookiee, droid and even sith around the world has obsessed over for almost five decades now: Star Wars: Episode VI — A New Hope. It'll grace the silver screen on Saturday, January 28 as part of the movie's 45th-anniversary celebrations (with that milestone hit in 2022, but hey, what's an extra month?). The feature will roll in The Plenary at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre at 1pm and 7.30pm, MSO will perform Williams' Oscar-winning compositions and, if you're there, you'll burst with a Millennium Falcon's worth of happiness. Whether you're a huge Star Wars buff eager to ride a wave of excitement in-between Andor season one finishing and The Mandalorian season three arriving, just have a casual interest, or have no idea what the term R2-D2 means, this is the way to see A New Hope. Conductor Nicholas Buc will lead the charge, as the city's finest provide the soundtrack to Luke Skywalker meeting Obi-Wan Kenobi, Princess Leia sending a message for help, Han Solo oozing his usual attitude and Darth Vader just being a power-hungry jerk. If you just can't let any kind of pop-culture love go, then an in-concert session of Frozen might also be your dream come true. That's MSO's second big movie gig for 2023 — and, yes, it's happening in winter. Taking place on Saturday, June 17 at 1pm and 7pm, these screenings will celebrate ten years since the animated hit first built a snowman, and unveiled the tale of sisters Elsa and Anna. If you like big occasions, it'll also mark 100 years of the Mouse House. Jessica Gethin is on conducting duties for Frozen, and everyone already knows the story as well as the soundtrack. Here, Anna has to embark on a trek to find Elsa, who gets trapped the kingdom of Arendelle due to her icy powers. Yes, you now have 'Let It Go' stuck in your head. Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope will screen at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Saturday, January 28, while Frozen will screen at the same venue on Saturday, June 17. Head to the MSO website for further details, and for tickets from 10am on Wednesday, November 16.
If you're one of the scores of Aussie teens who devoured smash-hit flick 10 Things I Hate About You when it first came out — and then about a million times on VHS since — prepare to feel positively elderly. The 1999 movie is about to celebrate its 20th anniversary. Yep, the modern day retelling of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew that had us all swooning over Heath Ledger is a whole two decades old. And what better way to mark that occasion, than a special outdoor screening of the timeless high school tale? Moonlight Cinema has added a special throwback showing of 10 Things I Hate About You to its schedule, set to grace the Royal Botanic Gardens' Central Lawn this Friday, March 15. Prepare to revisit all those late 90s feels, as you catch those classic movie moments, from the cheer-worthy smashing of Joey Donner's car to that pre-formal pregnancy suit. You can pack your own picnic and booze for this BYO session — Ms Perky would definitely recommend bratwurst — or make the most of Moonlight Cinema's food truck and pop-up bar.
The lofty space once home to Port Melbourne's courthouse has been given a healthy dose of Italian flavour — and a $1.5 million makeover — as fine diner Ciao Cielo and casual sister bar and eatery Ciao Cucina move in. The modern Italian restaurant, which used to reside down Bay Street in a smaller location, moved into the historic 1860s building in late May. Here, both the warm, contemporary design and the generous menu offer a modern spin on Italian tradition. Atelier Wagner Architects' David Wagner worked closely with Ciao Cielo owner Kate Dickins to take the historic building into its next phase of life, the soaring ceilings and heritage features now offset by New York-style booth seating, striking marble bars and cosy fireplaces. Take the fine dining route and you'll discover a menu of modern classics, like the king prawn risotto with bisque and marjoram gremolata, a Sardinian-style goat leg with polenta, and the Tuscan-inspired, 1kg grass fed 'bistecca a la Fiorentina', made for sharing. They're backed by plenty of old favourites, with the kitchen's flair for house-made pasta shining through in dishes like the squid ink linguini and a bolognese ragu with tagliatelle. Meanwhile, Ciao Cucina is dishing up a more casual affair within a 150-seat Amalfi-inspired marquee covered in fairy lights, which is next to the main dining room. It's your go-to for more handmade pasta, traditional woodfired pizzas and a lineup of signature spritzes. Ciao Cielo and Ciao Cucina are now open at 115 Bay Street, Port Melbourne.
How do you make a fun run extra fun? Just add a whole lot of pooches, a few ice-cold brews and a rollicking after party. And that's exactly what you'll find at the annual Run to The Dog event, which returns for its fourth edition on Sunday, March 3, promising a cracking day out for humans and pups alike. This one see competitors — both the two-legged and four-legged variety — hit the Yarra Trail for a run or walk through Kew, Richmond and Abbotsford, finishing up beside the river at Flockhart Reserve. Cross that finish line and you'll score a free Moon Dog beer for your efforts (or a wine or cider if you'd prefer), before everyone congregates for a good old-fashioned park party. There'll be post-run revelry aplenty, complete with a Moon Dog pop-up bar, free cold brew coffee from Supreme, a swag of pet-inspired market stalls and food truck eats from the likes of Gringo Paella and Sliders on Tyres. Shoot the Dog will also be there with a nifty dog photo booth, raising funds for not-for-profit animal welfare organisation Save a Dog. You can enter the two-kilometre ($20), five-kilometre ($30), or ten-kilometre ($50) course, or simply play spectator and cheer on from the sidelines. The Flockhart Reserve after-party is free for all to join.
When it comes to costumes, there are a few simple rules. Have fun. Be creative. Don't act like a twit. Unfortunately, some people still have trouble with that last one, with Native American headdresses and other culturally inappropriate garments still an all too common sight at festivals and dress-up parties alike. Thankfully, the team at Sydney's Secret Garden is here to clear up the confusion. Ahead of next weekend's festivities, they've released a short, helpful video about their costume policy, which you can check out below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJ9Bhv1iJAk "Our happy place is in some elaborate costume, with a face full of glitter," festival director Clare Downes told Concrete Playground. "There are a ridiculous amount of costume ideas out there. We just want to make sure everyone feels welcome." Secret Garden takes place February 24-25, but bad luck if you don't have tickets because they're sold out.
If anyone knows how to celebrate World Tequila Day in style, it's the agave experts at Melbourne Mexican joints Mamasita and Hotel Jesus, and Sydney's legendary tequila bar Tio's Cerveceria. And indeed, the three are joining forces to mark the occasion with a Tequila MiniFest this Sunday, July 22. The free 2.5-hour tasting session takes over Mamasita's Collins Street headquarters from midday, showcasing over 50 different tequila creations, most of which aren't usually available on Aussie shores. You'll have the chance to chat with some of the country's top tequila suppliers and even purchase a bottle of something rare from the pop-up 'Mamasita Tienda' tequila shop. And of course, the Mamasita kitchen will be whipping up a menu of tacos and other Mexican snacks, especially for the occasion.
Celebrate youth in filmmaking at Melbourne's Bayside Film Festival, hosted over five days at the Palace Dendy in Brighton. Curated by former MIFF executive director Richard Moore, this year's — happily acronymed — BFF boasts a couple of seriously impressive titles, as well as director Q&As and short-form programs aimed at promoting up-and-coming talent from Australia and beyond. The festival begins on August 27 with the opening night screening of Texas-set crime thriller Cold in July; a pulpy, unpredictable flick that premiered nationally at the Sydney Film Festival in June and proved extremely divisive with audiences. French period romance A Promise and Argentinean dramedy The Mystery of Happiness stand out as other must-see sessions, as does Moore's selection of World Animation Shorts. In addition to the animated program, the Jump Cut line-up highlights the works of emerging filmmakers, with short form narratives submitted from all around the world. In a similar vein, albeit with a more local focus, the Youth Documentary Project screens short works from secondary school students across Victoria. Image: Cold in July.
Are you the kind of person who starts plotting your next meal before you've even finished the last? Love eating more than anything else? Well, you can get right to the guts of our global food obsession when the Sydney Opera House streams its 2018 chat with culinary legend Nigella Lawson. Streaming at 3pm AEST on Sunday, April 19, the talk has a fitting topic of conversation: home cooking. Lawson's Aussie visit followed the publication of her book At My Table: A Celebration of Home Cooking, which celebrates the joys of comfort food. The famed cook will be in conversation with SBS Food Safari's Maeve O'Meara and they'll be discussing everything from frozen peas to food trends. One of the most successful food writers of all time, cooking up more than ten million book sales worldwide with her 11 culinary bibles, Lawson started out as a book reviewer and restaurant critic, going on to become the deputy literary editor of The Sunday Times. She is responsible for numerous award-winning books, including How to Eat, How to Be a Domestic Goddess, Nigella Bites and At My Table. The talk is part of the Sydney Opera House's three-month digital program From Our House to Yours, with free content streamed nightly from Wednesday–Sunday. While you wait for the full talk to stream on Sunday, you can watch some highlights below. https://youtu.be/P-Ua3wrT3o8
Based on the classic novel by Jack Kerouac, On The Road follows Sal Paradise (Sam Riley), an aspiring New York writer, and Dean Moriarty (Garrett Hedlund), a young and dangerously seductive ex-con, as they hit the road in pursuit of freedom and life's greatest teacher: experience. Directed by Walter Salles (The Motorcycle Diaries) and starring Kristen Stewart, Amy Adams, Kirsten Dunst, Viggo Mortensen and Steve Buscemi, the film is in cinemas from September 27. Concrete Playground has 10 double passes to giveaway to see On The Road. For a chance to win, make sure you're subscribed to Concrete Playground then email your name and postal address to hello@concreteplayground.com.au
The newly relaunched Bimbo is as colourful as ever, so it's proved a fitting home for the northside's huge new weekly LGBTQI party, Queer Deluxe. Transforming the humble Sunday session into an inclusive riot of DJ tunes, performances, drink specials and frivolity, the new offering is geared to become one of Melbourne's liveliest queer parties. Each week, legendary drag queen Lady Diamond will play hostess with the mostest, while the DJ lineup is set to showcase some of the queer community's top acts, including Jason Conti, Duchess Kay and Popchops. Kicking off at 3pm each week, Queer Deluxe will also feature plenty of party fuel, in the form of cheap food and $20 cocktail jugs. Grab a share-size serve of bloody mary, spritz or margarita, match it to one of the kitchen's famed $4 pizzas, then hit the d-floor for a boogie. That's how you wrap up your weekend in style.
Get up close and personal with some of Australia's biggest YouTube stars in this multi-venue video installation taking over the shopfronts of North Melbourne. As part of Next Wave 2016, artists Xanthe Dobbie and Tiyan Baker have collaborated with six YouTubers — including Andrew Ucles, Damielou Shavelle and Shyamali Sinha of Foodie's Hut — on a series of intimate video portraits showing a side of the internet celebrities that their subscribers don't usually get to see. The videos will be on display Tuesdays through Saturdays across the duration of the Next Wave Festival. Dobbie and Taker will also hold a walking tour on Saturday, May 7 and a YouTube workshop on Sunday, May 8. INSTALLATION LOCATIONS Kenny & the Sunshine Girls – 113 Errol Street Counter – 104 Errol Street Quirk & Co. – 466 Victoria Street Casa Verde Flowers – 40 Errol Street Crumbs Organic Bakehouse – 16 Errol Street North Melbourne Library – 66 Errol Street Joe Taylor – 7 Errol Street
Victoria's strict rules surrounding social distancing and public gatherings have been extended until at least midnight on Sunday, August 16, with the government announcing the extension of its COVID-19 State of Emergency. First made in March and due to expire at midnight on Monday, April 13, the State of Emergency has already been extended until May 11, June 20 and July 19. With the new extension, the state's current restrictions — which include a new mandatory requirement to wear masks and facial coverings in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire, areas that are also presently under stay-at-home requirements — will now be in place for four more weeks. The move comes after an ongoing rise in Victorian coronavirus case numbers over the past few weeks, with "the majority of our outbreaks are now coming from settings where people are working closely together," the government said. The State of Emergency declaration allows the state's authorised officers to "act to eliminate or reduce a serious risk to public health" as directed by Victoria's Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton. That means restricting movement, preventing entry to premises and venues, and detaining people — measures that have been in place over the past four months as the state responds to the coronavirus. https://twitter.com/VicGovDHHS/status/1284383562125410304 Announcing the extended State of Emergency in a press conference today, Sunday, July 19, Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos noted that it was necessary "given that we continue to see rising case numbers, increasing numbers of people being hospitalised and sadly also increasing fatalities". Fines continue to be handed out to folks who breach the restrictions, with the state's financial penalties spanning up to $1652 for individuals and up to $9913 for businesses. Under the State of Emergency, people who refuse to comply can also be taken to court, where the fine imposed could reach up to $20,000 for individuals and $100,000 for companies. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Victoria and how to protect yourself, head to the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services website.
Last year, Melbourne lost its beloved cake shop Beatrix Bakes, resulting in hundreds of devoted fans lining up around the corner to get their last slices during its final week. But owner Natalie Paull promised to return in one form or another. And while she is working on her new cookbook and making plans for 2024, she's also teamed up with one of Melbourne's best ice cream joints Pidapipo — the famed gelato chain in Melbourne that's celebrating its tenth birthday this year — to dream up a new ice-cold cake creation. For the new dessert, the Beatrix Bakes' Peach Alabama sponge cake has received a gelato makeover. It includes delicate layers of peach jam, mascarpone zabaione gelato and poached peach sorbetto — all encased within a marsala-drenched sponge cake. It's then topped with whipped mascarpone cream, slices of poached peaches and a sprinkling of crunchy amaretti biscuits. Peach perfection. This sweet summer treat will set you back $120 and can serve ten to 12 people. But if you want to try a slice of The Peach Alabama Gelato Cake before buying the whole thing, you best take advantage of the upcoming giveaway event. From 5pm on Wednesday, December 6, Pidapipo will be offering free slices of the new dessert to the first 300 customers who visit its Laboratorio in Fitzroy. These will be handed out by Natalie Paull herself, as well as Pidapipo co-owner Lisa Valmorbida. It's your chance to grab some free cake and meet two legends in Melbourne's dessert world. The Peach Alabama Gelato Cake is available for pre-order from Wednesday, November 15, or can be purchased in Pidapipo stores for pick-ups and walk-ins from December 7–31. Find more info at the venue's website.
Gertrude Street go-to Rocco's Bologna Discoteca is heading south of the river this month to throw pop-up parties at two of Melbourne's best-loved wine bars, Toorak Cellars and The Alps. For the one-day-only events, Rocco's will take over the kitchens of these cherished locations and prepare its famous meatball sub and melanzane parmigiana focaccia. You'll be able to pair your sandwich with a selection from each of the venues' considered wine lists. The takeover at Toorak Cellars will happen on Sunday, May 19, while those wanting to head to The Alps will have to wait until Sunday, May 26. Both events kick off at midday, and will continue until sold out.
Take your protein pills and put your helmet on. After months of anticipation, the highly acclaimed David Bowie is exhibition has arrived at ACMI. Created by London’s Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), the exhibition is a Bowiephile’s dream — an unprecedented collection of over 50 stage costumes alongside handwritten set lists and lyric sheets, rare live and interview videos, musical scores and diary entries, photographs and album artwork. The exhibition comes to Australia under a furious amount of buzz — its world premiere last March in London became V&A’s fastest selling exhibition ever, recording record numbers of over 311,000 visitors. And as the exclusive venue for David Bowie is, ACMI have crafted a specially-curated program of talks, screenings, live performances and special events to pair with the Major Tom-a-thon. Basically, if you’re a Bowie fan, this is next level squealworthy material. For more information visit www.acmi.net.au/bowie
Landlocked surfers of Melbourne, rejoice — Australia's first surf park is finally filled with water and almost ready to start makin' waves. And it's a lot closer to the city than Torquay or the Peninsula. Urbnsurf Melbourne will open in Tullamarine, near the airport, just 16-kilometres north of the CBD. Plans for the park first surfaced way back in 2016 and, while the team was initially hoping for a spring opening, Urbnsurf has today revealed that the park is now filled with water, will start pumping out surf in the coming weeks and is set to open its doors to the public by summer this year. At the moment, the site is a very still lagoon — but when it opens, the two-hectare space will power up to 1000 waves per hour, day and night. And you'll get a choice of waves. Want to ride nothing but perfectly-formed right-handers for an hour? Or would you prefer a random selection, like what you'd experience in the ocean? You'll be able to take your pick. According to Urbnsurf founder Andrew Ross, "every wave has six different take-off spots", which equates to 3600 surfable positions every hour. [caption id="attachment_744979" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Courtesy Urbnsurf and Ed Sloane[/caption] So how does it work? Basically, the waves come from an 85-metre pier that runs down the centre of the lagoon. A series of pistons located on the pier then push the water to the left, then to the right, to create the waves. Ross likens the movement to "moving your hand back and forward like a shark's tail". The ability to create waves means that the park will be built for both pros who are looking for steep, barrelling waves and novices looking for a safe place to get their start in the surf. At Urbnsurf, Ross predicts, most novices will stand on their board within an hour and ride across the green face within two. And not only will you get guaranteed waves — you won't be fighting for them. The park holds 84 riders per hour. And, should you get seriously hooked, you'll be able to enter amateur competitions, maybe with (or against) your mates. If you need a break between sessions on the water, Urbnsurf will also be home to hot tubs, beach cabanas and a new two-storey restaurant by the owners of Sydney's Three Blue Ducks. And it's hoping to host a heap of live gigs, art shows and cultural experiences, too — we'll let you know when any are announced. If you're not in Melbourne, you'll be happy to know that a second Urbnsurf is set to open at Sydney Olympic Park in 2021. Urbnsurf is due to open in this summer near Melbourne Airport. You can sign up to test out the surf park before it opens on the website. Images: Courtesy Urbnsurf and Ed Sloane
Hip hop used to be associated with overt displays of machismo, but there has been a steady evolution since those days. Arguably, this advancement and modernisation is represented nowhere better than with the rise to prominence of Cakes Da Killa. Originating on New York's queer rap scene, Cakes Da Killa has earned plaudits for his fusion of hip hop, house and dance over the last decade, alongside acts such as Mykki Blanco and Le1f. With the beats from his latest album, Killa Essentials (2021), in tow, the game-changing creative's impending trip to Sydney is sure to bring an unforgettable evening to Oxford Art Factory. Images: Ebru Yildiz
Think your old rusty bicycles belong in the dumpster? Think again. Yes, that old bike can indeed be reincarnated if it falls in the right hands. Carolina Fontoura Alzaga's hands to be exact. Alzaga transforms bicycle chains into beautifully rustic looking chandeliers. Her passion is repurposing castoff materials, and she does it well. Since medieval times, chandeliers have been used as elaborate decorations associated with wealth and power. Alzaga shatters this concept with her warm and elegant designs. Using aspects of her cultural past from Mexico, Brazil, and the U.S., she is able to create unique and appealing artwork. She aims to combine the idea of discarded and forgotten items with the power and influence associated with chandeliers. Using her creativity and visions of a healthier planet, she gives 'trash' a second chance. Below is a video that describes Alzaga's mission to preserve our world. You can order your own chandelier here. Alzaga handcrafts each one upon order. Take a look at these pieces from her ongoing series titled CONNECT.
It's not like you need any great excuse to indulge in some cocktail appreciation for World Gin Day. But Richmond distillery Brogan's Way has one, anyway — it's marking the occasion with a globe-trotting tasting event celebrating an international lineup of sips and snacks. On Saturday, June 11, head along to dive into a special menu of gin cocktails, each matched carefully to a sweet or savoury bite. You'll find pairings like the UK-inspired Gin Summer Cup with a jam and cream scone; a riff on USA's Pan Am Clipper sided with a mini Philly cheesesteak slider; and a gin-based sangria with a fittingly Spanish snack of baked chorizo and olive. Flying the flag for Australia is the genius pairing of Brogan's Way's signature Cold Brew Gin Martini and a classic Tim Tam. There'll be six cocktail-snack matches available on the day (1–11pm), starting from $18 per pairing. The distillery's usual food and drink menus will also be on offer. [caption id="attachment_856734" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Will Linstead[/caption] Images: Will Linstead
With its crisp pastry shell and hot, tasty filling, it's not too hard to see why the humble pie is a dead-set favourite Melbourne winter treat. And now, it's got a brand new home, in Footscray's small but mighty Pie Thief. This little spot is the work of Bar Josephine owner Aaron Donato, along with friend and regular, chef Scott Blomfield (Supernormal, Mighty Boy), who set out to create their own solution to Melbourne's lack of good urban pie shops. The duo has taken over the space next door to Bar Josephine, added a healthy dose of colour and cheer, and is now fuelling pie obsessions all over the west. The menu is heavy on the nostalgia, too, promising to fill you up, please your taste buds and give you a few warm and fuzzies in the process. Boosting the throwback feels, the pair also stirs hot and cold Milos and slices trays of creamy vanilla slice. [caption id="attachment_729466" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lasagne pie[/caption] Thanks to Blomfield's background, the food is created using a restaurant approach, so expect top-notch ingredients and a bit of technique to the buttery pastry and crafty fillings. The pie menu currently features six core creations, including a steak and cheese, a thai chicken curry and a classic egg and bacon number that you can match with Code Black coffee. The lasagne pie — yes, a pie filled with lasagne — has proved a big hit already, too. It boasts rich bolognese, creamy béchamel and even a cheesy piece of lasagne sheet. A Pie of The Week option rotates through clever creations like nacho, and cauliflower cheese, and there's a solid vegan option in the pumpkin and tofu cheddar combination. Oh, and they haven't forgotten about the sausage roll, either – here, you'll find an old-school pork and fennel, along with one inspired by the humble chicken parma. Find Pie Thief at 297 Barkly Street, Footscray. It's open from Monday to Saturday 7am–4pm and Sunday 9am–4pm.
Unless you somehow haven't looked at a screen, billboard or newspaper in the past few weeks — or listened to the radio, heard any streaming ads or had a TV on in the background, either — you'll know that Black Friday is upon us for another year. Absolutely everything is on sale, or so it seems, including bargain holidays. Whether you're keen to explore Australian destinations or fancy a getaway further afield, Virgin's addition to the 2023 shopping frenzy has you covered. A whopping 500,000 fares are currently up for grabs as part of the airline's Black Friday, Bright Holidays sale, covering a heap of Aussie and international spots. Sticking with home turf, you can head to Byron Bay, the Sunshine Coast, Cairns, Hamilton Island, Alice Springs, Hobart and more. And, if you're eager to journey overseas, you can hit up Bali, Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu, Tokyo and Queenstown. One-way domestic fares start at $49, which'll get you from Sydney to Byron Bay. As always, that's cheapest route. Other discounted flights include Melbourne to Launceston from $59, Brisbane to either Cairns for $105 or Hamilton Island for $115, Adelaide to the Gold Coast from $125 and Perth to Hobart from $239. Internationally, the return deals start with Sydney to Queenstown from $435, Brisbane to Fiji from $509, Melbourne to Bali from $629 and Cairns to Tokyo from $679. If you're wondering when you'll need to travel, there's a range of dates from Wednesday, January 10–Thursday, June 20, 2024, all varying depending on the flights and prices. As usual when it comes to flight sales, you'll need to get in quick. Virgin's discounted fares are now on offer until midnight on Tuesday, November 28 or sold out, whichever arrives first. Virgin's 2023 Black Friday, Bright Holidays sale runs until midnight AEST on Tuesday, November 28 — or until sold out. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
If you didn't know that The Outsider was based on a book by Stephen King, you'd guess rather quickly during the show's first episode. A child is found dead, a town is understandably shocked and scandalised, and all of the evidence points detective Ralph Anderson (Ben Mendelsohn) towards local Little League coach Terry Maitland (Jason Bateman) — except that just as much evidence also shows that Terry was miles away at the time the murder took place. Throw in a strange hooded figure who keeps hanging around the Maitlands' house, plus a private detective (Cynthia Ervio) with preternatural deductive abilities, and The Outsider combines crime and horror in an instantly absorbing fashion. It's a must for King fans, whether you've read his 2018 novel or not. It's also absolutely essential for Mendo lovers, with the Aussie actor breaking away from his recent villainous blockbuster roles and putting in quite the performance.
Vivid Sydney today let loose their second major program announcement with their plans for Vivid Creative Sydney 2011. Creative Sydney will run from 30 May to 12 June, with over 50 global and local creative leaders coming together to explore the power of creative industries to transform society. And like everything else under the Vivid banner, it aims to bring the best of the world's ideas to Sydney and inspire the hell out of you. This year Creative Sydney is expanding to include more free sessions and for the first time a presence at the Opera House. The program includes short and snappy show and tell presentations, in-depth conversation sessions, and creative futures, where artists and entrepreneurs present their vision of the ideas that will shape society in the future. Over the next week the full range of live music showcases, debates, film screenings and parties will be unveiled, but already the lineup of speakers looks pretty awesome. Key speakers include Matthew Stinchcomb, EU director of Etsy, and will mark Etsy's first official engagement with their third largest market, and Fabian Rigall, founder of Future Shorts and Secret Cinema. Also lined up are Murray Bell and Andrew Johnstone, the founders of the internationally successful Semi-Permanent conferences, swimwear brand We Are Handsome and Ben Briand, winner of the Cannes Young Director Award and Best Narrative Video at the 2010 Vimeo Awards. Registration for the events opens 9am on Monday 2 May, and it's recommended you get in quickly with over 15,000 people expected to attend.
This November, you can score a bottle of vino for as little as $8.50 a pop thanks to Vinomofo's epic Black Friday Sale. Running from 10am Thursday, November 26 till 10am Monday, November 30, the sale will see up to 70 percent off a heap of local and international wines — and it'll all get delivered straight to your doorstep for free. If you haven't already heard the word, Vinomofo is an online wine-slinger for those who love wine, but without all the pretension that sometimes comes with viticulture. The Melbourne-based company delivers wine to thousands of people around the world — so it's safe to say it knows what it's doing when it comes to grape juice. The sale will include more than 100 wines, with Vinomofo adding additional daily wine deals over the weekend, too. Think delicate pinot noir, easy-drinking rosé, celebratory bottles of sparkling and full-bodied shiraz for a steal. And, to top it off, shipping for all orders purchased in that time period will be free. Score epic wine deals via Vinomofo's Black Friday Sale — for a limited time only.
At the start of 2023, Cate Blanchett scored her seventh Oscar nomination for conductor drama Tár. Next, she'll be towering over Melbourne. The Aussie acting giant will grace a historic space built in 1867, across a film installation spanning an array of huge screens, and in one mighty impressive 360-degree display. As part of RISING, Melbourne's major annual arts festival, Blanchett features in her latest starring role for artist and filmmaker Julian Rosefeldt. The duo reteams for Euphoria after working on 2015's stunning installation Manifesto together. Taking over Melbourne Town Hall from Friday, June 2–Sunday, June 18, their new multichannel work doesn't just focus on the acclaimed Australian actor playing multiple parts, however, instead honing in on the weighty topic that is capitalism. The Berlin-based Rosefeldt tackles his current topic — aka two thousand years of greed and the effect that unlimited economic growth has — via a spiral of screens that'll sit throughout the venue. On the ground floor, 24 screens will showcase a life-sized choir of Brooklyn Youth Chorus singers, while five jazz drummers will duel on the screens above them. There'll also be five theatrical vignettes looping above, too, which is where Blanchett playing an anthropomorphic tiger stalking supermarket aisles comes in. Those drummers? They include Grammy Award-winning drummer and composer Antonio Sánchez, who also composed the score for 2014 film Birdman. And those vignettes? They'll also feature Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul favourite — and recent Kaleidoscope star — Giancarlo Esposito among a cast that'll speaking thoughts penned by economists, writers and thinkers like Warren Buffett, Ayn Rand, Angela Davis and Snoop Dogg. As well as Blanchett as a jungle cat, RISING's first major international commission — which hits this year's fest as an Australian exclusive, and enjoyed its world premiere at the Park Armory in New York back in November 2022 — features homeless men chatting about economics, executives getting acrobatic in a bank lobby, and an all-round unpacking of capitalism via its own excess. Paired with it, Euphoria's original score by Canadian composer Samy Moussa and British saxophonist Cassie Kinoshi goes big on jazz, the tunes sung by the children's choir and those uttered ideas. Befitting the theme, the installation will run with a pay-as-you-can pricing model, and welcome in visitors for free on Fridays during its season.
Looking to unleash your creative side? This August and September, head to Ferdydurke to get arty at a life-drawing class — with a twist. The CBD bar is hosting more of its candlelit Drag 'n' Draw sessions (August 9 & 23, September 6 & 20), this time featuring none other than the newly-confirmed star of RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under Season 2, Aubrey Haive. There won't be any nudity, but there will be artistic fun in abundance. The drag legend will model two different custom couture gowns on the night, created in collaboration with local fashion designer Bryn Meredith. Participants can show off their art skills as they sketch the dazzling costumes — while sipping a spot of vino, of course. Artists are encouraged to BYO their own gear if they've got some, otherwise, basic art materials will be provided. You'll also get a glass of wine on arrival, to help loosen those creative muscles.
Victorians, it's holiday time. After a year largely spent staring at your own four walls, you probably don't need much motivation to head out of town, but the State Government is giving you some anyway. In an effort to encourage everyone to take a getaway within the state, it's handing out $200 vouchers for regional travel. The idea has two obvious aims: enticing Victorian residents to go venturing throughout the state, and helping support regional restaurants, pubs, hotels, wineries and small businesses. The move was announced today, Wednesday, November 18, by Premier Daniel Andrews as part of a $465 million Victorian Tourism Recovery Package — with $28 million dedicated to the voucher scheme in the 2020–21 Victorian Budget. That $28 million figure will cover up to 120,000 vouchers, although there is a caveat. To receive one, you'll need to spend at least $400 on accommodation, attractions or tours in regional Victoria. So, at most, half of your expenses will be covered. Still, that's $200 that you won't have to fork out yourself. Unsurprisingly, the Victorian Government is planning to get the scheme up and running before Christmas — in December, just as summer and holiday season both hit. [caption id="attachment_746191" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] How you'll receive the vouchers hasn't yet been announced. Neither have any other caveats and rules that might apply. But add this to the list of much-needed great news this year— and news aimed at getting you after the house, too, after metropolitan Melbourne's curfew, 25-kilometre rule and four permissible reasons to leave home were all ditched, and the 'ring of steel' separating the city from regional parts of the state as well. Top image: Split Point Lighthouse via Visit Victoria.
What's better than a film festival that brings the best and brightest new Japanese movies to Australian cinemas each year? One that also returns a few months later with a solely digital lineup that you can check out from your couch. Yes, after the IRL Japanese Film Festival last hit locations around the country in late 2021, it's now time for the Japanese Film Festival Online for 2022, aka your next excuse to indulge in your Japan obsession without hopping on a plane. This year's online program spans 17 films over two weeks, screening from Monday, February 14–Sunday, February 27. That gives you plenty of choices, plus ample time to catch comedies, mysteries, dramas, documentaries and more — some from the past year or two, others dating back to 2008. And, in particularly exceptional news, they're all streaming for free. Highlights include the food focused Mio's Cookbook and The God of Ramen, with the former offering up a period drama about a young chef and the latter honing in on famed Tokyo figure Kazuo Yamagishi; mystery Masked Ward, which unleashes its thrills and twists in a hospital; It's A Summer Film, about a high schooler obsessed with old samurai flicks; and comedy Happy Flight, as set during an emergency flight from Tokyo to Honolulu. While you won't pay a thing to watch, you do still need to register via the fest's website.
Bringing a touch of 1920s glam to East Melbourne, Hemingway's Wine Room has made its post-lockdown return, following a short-lived launch of less than two weeks back when the doors first opened in June. After cementing itself in the hearts of local residents with its elegant delivery offering — Maisonette by Hemingway's — the venue's now getting to make a proper debut. A double shopfront on Wellington Parade has been transformed into a chic, vintage-inspired wine bar and brasserie that nods to the classic 20s-era haunts of New York and Paris. Art deco features abound, while a bold colour palette of black and red rounds it out in unmistakably French style. In the kitchen, Head Chef Patrick Dang (Sydney's Salt, Kyneton's Royal George and his own much-hyped Hong Kong venue Saam) has drawn on wide-roaming experience to create a sophisticated, Euro-accented menu, with two-to-five course prix fixe options also available. Aussie produce is celebrated throughout, across dishes like the scallop tartare starring foie gras rillette, roast Aylesbury duck teamed with charred turnip and caramelised pineapple, and a sweet corn agnolotti with cheddar fondue. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, a $109 per person long lunch offering will see you unwinding over a two-course feed matched with free-flowing wine poured from magnums. Assembled by Co-Owner and Sommelier Glen Bagnara, the rest of the wine list celebrates both the old world and the new, with a thoughtful range of bottles alongside an oft-changing rotation of premium pours by the glass. Meanwhile, a cocktail lineup showcases five favourite sips of Ernest Hemingway himself, reimagined with modern, high-end ingredients. Settle into a banquette and tumble back in time with help from the rye- and mezcal-based Spice Racket, or perhaps the Dame Blanche — a decadent sour blending Four Pillars Rare Gin, apricot brandy and lemon myrtle syrup. Find Hemingway's Wine Room at 150 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne. It's open Wednesday to Sunday for lunch, and Tuesday to Saturday for dinner. Venue images: Filip Konikowski
Action Bronson is one MC in Queens you might actually want to take home to meet your mum. Not only can he rap, he can cook. Before gaining attention of hip hop aficionados with his 2012 Party Supplies-produced mixtape, Blue Chips, he spent hours searing ahi tuna and whipping up frittata napoletana for New York gourmets. While you can still keep up with Action Bronson's culinary adventures in Action in the Kitchen, you'll be more likely to find him on a stage somewhere these days. In August 2012, he signed to Vice Records, who also have Snoop Lion on their books. Having released studio LP Rare Chandeliers in November, Action Bronson will bring his verbal agility, gonzo-style wit, and titanic vocabulary to Melbourne on January 18. https://youtube.com/watch?v=J2AHvZWojSc
Your next year of cheat days just got sorted. To celebrate its new Moonee Ponds location, we've teamed up with Yo My Goodness, aka YOMG, to give one lucky Concrete Playground reader the chance to win free burgers every week — for 12 whole months. That's right, once a week you can tuck in to a delicious, 100 percent grass-fed Aussie angus burger, sandwiched in a YOMG signature handmade bun, absolutely free of charge. Or, opt for one of its excellent chicken burgers, slow-cooked pulled pork or veggie options. Whatever you choose, there's no chance of getting bored. Each week, the winner will get a $20 YOMG credit to spend at the burger and frozen yoghurt expert's Pratt Street outpost. So, you'll have enough cash to pair your buns with a side of cheesy or loaded fries, a next-level thickshake or even an OTT froyo from the self-serve station. Sound too good to be true? Enter your details below to be in the running. [competition]804555[/competition]
Here at Concrete Playground, we thrive on bringing you the very best of Sydney's cultural happenings. So much so, we decided to get in on the action. To celebrate the start of summer — and the good times that come with it — we're throwing a one-day festival of music, food, drink and sun. On Saturday, November 16, we're taking over a luxe beachside location for a massive summer party, marking the beginning of many balmy nights ahead. Best of all? It's all going down by one of Sydney's most picturesque beaches: Manly. We've partnered up with BATI & RATU by RUM Co of Fiji, too, who'll be bringing a touch of Fijian paradise to our Aussie shores. So, expect plenty of sea breeze, lush decorations, dance-worthy live tunes and, naturally, lots and lots of rum. And, seeing as rum is the drink of pirates, mavericks and seafarers alike, we've decided to keep this summer shindig a bit of a secret. So, while there'll be no 'X marks the spot' business, we're keeping everything under wraps for now. We will, though, be giving away double passes to the party — head this way to be in the running. So, buckle up, beachgoers, because this party will be bringing summer vibes in spades.
Sydney trio Little May could be Australia's answer to folk warblers First Aid Kit. They've certainly been compared to the Swedish duo, and to New Zealand's Tiny Ruins, but at the moment they are carving out their own path. They've recently put out their debut, self-titled EP and just wrapped up an Australian tour with the legendary Rodriguez. But there's no rest for the wicked (or the wickedly charming, in this case). Little May are about to embark on a 12-date national headline tour to promote the EP. With hype following Little May wherever they wander — from appearances at Splendour and Laneway, to an intimate showcase in London, a string of shows at CMJ in New York, and now this tour back home — the trio know a thing or two about being on the road. With summer road trip season coming up, we thought we'd check in with Liz Drummond, Hannah Field and Annie Hamilton to get us all geared up for hittin' the ol' frog and toad. What's been your best road trip so far, whether with the band or on your own steam? Annie: When I was in Mexico a couple of years ago I hired a car and drove through the desert for a few days to a tiny town called Xilitla, where there is a magical rainforest filled with surrealist scultpures, towers, pools and waterfalls. I got lost in a maze and slept in a teepee that had teapots hanging from the ceiling. It was crazy and weird and amazing. Liz: The trip up to Splendour was probably the best. I always love road trips up to Byron, but having the excitement of playing Splendour was pretty unreal. Hannah: I went on a six-week road trip with my best friend, Kandis, when I was 19. We did a big chunk of Australia's East Coast in my old Nissan Pulsar 'Bruce'. At one point Kand vomited in her handbag, lost her wallet, replaced wallet, withdrew all her money from the bank as she didn't have an ATM card, then had said wallet stolen from the caravan park we were staying at in Coff's. It was so fun. Where are you heading on your road trippin' tour this time around? Liz: I think we will probably be flying to most places on this tour in November. On our last tour we drove everywhere. It was a bit touch and go at points, we left Brisbane and arrived in Melbourne just in time to go on stage. I think that was what was the most fun about it though. We will be driving down to Wollongong and Canberra though, which is always fun. Looking forward to any stop in particular? Annie: I've never been to the Sunshine Coast before, so definitely looking forward to that! We're up there in early December so will hopefully have a bit of spare time to go to the beach. Liz: I'm looking forward to driving down the South Coast, it's so beautiful. I love visiting Wollongong and playing there, and seeing friends and other bands we haven't caught up with in a while. We always play at Yours and Owls (it's now called Rad), which is the smallest but coolest venue. Hannah: I'm excited for Perth. We have a day off in between shows, so it will be really great to just hang out at the beach, explore and have adventures. https://youtube.com/watch?v=HwV2GCooJlg What do you drive on the road? Annie: Our amazing bass player, Mark, has a pretty awesome yellow troopie van from the 90s. He let us borrow it for the last few road trips, so fingers crossed we can use it again this time round! Then again, it has no air-con or radio, so we may not be too happy with it after a month-long summer tour... Hannah: It's the best. It hurts your bottom after a while though. What's on your road trip playlist? Liz: Cloud Control, Thom Yorke's new album, The National, Fink, Father John Misty. Hannah: You can't really go past Springsteen. He's my only necessity. Annie: At the moment it's the new alt-J album on repeat. What's your preferred road trip snack? Liz: Apples. And lollies. I am addicted to sugar. Hannah: Frosty Fruits and/or Nerds. Annie: After several long drives to Melbourne and Brissy earlier this year we all got pretty over Maccas and started packing hummus and carrots as car snacks. This is a great idea until you lose the lid and end up with warm hummus all over everything... Watch out for that. Know any good car games? Liz: We make up a lot of stupid games. Mark usually inspires something absurd. We have spent a lot of road trips listening to him make up characters, and then interviewing them. He is an awesome actor, so it can get really weird at times. It's not always funny — sometimes his characters are really sad, and we asked them really intense questions. Hannah gets really wigged out by it, it's pretty funny. Annie: All the classics. I Spy never gets old. If you're a tragic holiday Instagrammer like the best of us, got a favourite filter for roadies? Liz: I am pretty bad at taking photos, I don't take enough. But in all honesty, if I'm in the photo, I basically just go through the filters until I think I look the best. Everyone is guilty of doing that. Hannah: I am really bad at social media… But I think there is one I have used called Amaro? Quite nice. Nice vibes. Annie: After just browsing through all of the filters trying to decide I'm going to say anything except Kelvin (sorry Kelvin). Where would you like to road trip in the future? Hannah: Would love to do the States, that would be incredible. Annie: I would love to do a road trip around Europe. I've never been there before so hopefully we'll get a chance sometime in the future to tour there! https://youtube.com/watch?v=A1nnYFgidnI Catch Little May on their national tour this November/December: Fri 21 Nov Northcote Social Club, Melbourne With Winterbourne and HOWQUA. Tickets $15 through Northcote Social Club or 1300 724 867. Sat 22 Nov The Front Gallery & Cafe, Canberra With Winterbourne and HOWQUA. Tickets $15 through Oztix or 1300 762 545. Thurs 27 Nov Newtown Social Club, Sydney With Winterbourne and HOWQUA. Tickets $15 through Newtown Social Club or 1300 724 867. Fri 28 Nov Newtown Social Club, Sydney With I Know Leopard and HOWQUA. Tickets $15 through Newtown Social Club or 1300 724 867. Sat 29 Nov Gorgeous Music Festival, McLaren Vale Tickets through Oztix or 1300 762 545. Fri 5 Dec Solbar, Sunshine Coast With Winterbourne and HOWQUA. Tickets $15 through Oztix or 1300 762 545 Sat 6 Dec Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane With special guests Winterbourne and HOWQUA. Tickets $15 through Oztix or 1300 762 545 Little May's debut EP is available digitally now via Dew Process and UMA Recordings. Words by Jessica Surman. Interview by Shannon Connellan.
Highlighting stunning, smart and savvy creations is what Melbourne Design Week is all about; however, that doesn't just apply to the pieces on display, exhibitions gracing walls and other crafty bits and pieces in the program. Expect the same ideas to be put into action at the city-wide showcase's venues too, including their pop-up Collingwood hub. At 296 Smith Street, what once was a historic watchmaker's shop has been transformed into a mirrored space to house six of the week's standout events. It's reflective of MDW's spirit, and it's reflective in the literal sense. The walls and floors are covered in panelling that everyone can see themselves in, and offer quite the contrast with the otherwise rough and crumbling interiors. That's where attendees will find 26 Original Fakes, which steps through unique versions of widely-copied furniture designs, as well as Undervalued, which will help you reevaluate the beauty of usefulness of objects that you might see every day. Or, opt for Apparatus 4's, randomly rising and falling inflatable surface, Ovoid's egg-focused photographs or short film Untitled (with Gelato). Plus for those who like to gather, collect and keep things that they come across on their travels, The Found Object is a must-see. Put together by the Victorian Government and the National Gallery of Victoria, MDW features more than 100 events between March 16 to 26. While every venue mightn't boast such dazzling design, everything in the lineup will. Find Watchmaker at 296 Smith St, Collingwood. For more information about Melbourne Design Week, head to their website — or run through our ten picks of the program. Images: Installation view of 26 Original Fakes presented by Friends and Associates for the National Gallery of Victoria's Melbourne Design Week 2017 at Watchmaker, Collingwood. Photo: Wayne Taylor. // Installation view of The Found Object presented by Hub Furniture for the National Gallery of Victoria's Melbourne Design Week 2017 at Watchmaker, Collingwood. Photo: Wayne Taylor // Christie Petsinis and Tim Wilson of Folk Architects for the National Gallery of Victoria's Melbourne Design Week 2017 at Watchmaker, Collingwood. Photo: Wayne Taylor.
Standing atop Yosemite National Park's El Capitan after scaling it alone and without ropes, harnesses or any other safety equipment, Alex Honnold cut a surprisingly subdued figure. As the Oscar-winning documentary Free Solo captured, he was obviously ecstatic, but he isn't the type to leap and scream with excitement. So, he smiled blissfully. He also advised the cameras that he was "so delighted". In the opening moments of new doco The Alpinist, however, he is effusive — as enthusiastic as the no-nonsense climbing superstar gets, that is. In a historical clip, he's asked who he's excited about in his very specific extreme sports world. His answer: "this kid Marc-André Leclerc." Zipping from the Canadian Rockies to Patagonia, with ample craggy pitstops in-between, The Alpinist tells Leclerc's tale, explaining why someone of Honnold's fame and acclaim sings his praises. Using the Free Solo subject as an entry point is a smart choice by filmmakers Peter Mortimer and Nick Rosen — industry veterans themselves, with 2014's Valley Uprising on their shared resume and 2017's The Dawn Wall on Mortimer's — but their climber of focus here would demand attention even without the high-profile endorsement. Indeed, dizzying early shots of him in action almost say all that's needed about his approach to great heights, and his near-preternatural skill in the field. Scaling hard, immovable rock faces is one thing, but Leclerc is seen here clambering up alpine surfaces, conquering glistening yet precarious sheets of ice and snow. Any shot that features the Canadian twenty-something mountaineering is nothing short of breathtaking. Describing it as 'clambering up' does him a disservice, actually, and downplays The Alpinist's stunning footage as well. Leclerc is just that graceful and intuitive as he reaches higher, seemingly always knowing exactly where to place his hands, feet and axe, all while heading upwards in frighteningly dangerous situations. As Mortimer notes, narrating the documentary and almost-indulgently inserting himself into the story, alpine free soloing is another level of climbing. No shortage of talking-head interviewees also stress this reality. Protective equipment is still absent, but all that ice and snow could melt or fall at any second. In fact, the routes that the obsessive Leclerc finds in his climbs will no longer exist again, and mightn't just moments after he's made his ascent. Simply charting Leclerc's impressive feats could've been The Alpinist sole remit; Mortimer and Rosen certainly wanted that and, again, the film's hypnotic, vertigo-inducing imagery is just that extraordinary. Some shots peer at the mountains in all their towering glory, letting viewers spot the tiny speck moving amid their majesty in their own time, before zooming in to get a closer look at Leclerc. Other nerve-shattering scenes intimately capture every careful choice, every movement of his limbs and every decision about what to hold on to, inescapably aware that these are sheer life-or-death moments. But The Alpinist isn't the movie its makers initially dreamed of, because Leclerc isn't Honnold or The Dawn Wall's Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson. While affable when posed in front of the camera, he's also silently begrudging, because he'd visibly rather just be doing what he loves in total anonymity instead of talking about it, having it filmed and earning the world's eyes. Climbing documentaries frequently unfurl in layers, pairing character studies, astonishing feats and the history of the field, as The Alpinist does. But films about this risky pastime often need to grapple with their own existence and ethics, too, and the difficulties and complexities faced when making such features. Where Free Solo mused on how the act of filming might influence Honnold as he attempted his rocky quest, either putting him in more peril or encouraging him to do that himself because he was being watched, The Alpinist ponders how recording Leclerc's climbs impacts his mental experience. As touched upon again and again, including by the man himself, Leclerc sees alpinism as a transcendent mindset. It's where he's at his most free, where his body and mind work as one, and where he's firmly in the moment. He doesn't feel that with lenses pointed his way and camera crews right there with him, unsurprisingly. So, partway through the documentary's filming, he starts ducking the directors' calls and just mountaineering for himself again. Eventually, after months of chasing — and after Mortimer and Rosen's vocal frustration at learning about Leclerc's latest alpine achievements via other climbers' social media feeds — they all agree that he'll do his thing alone first, then he'll repeat it for the cameras. The footage is no less phenomenal as a result, and the tension no less gripping. This is an affectionate movie, complete with Leclerc's mother Michelle Kuipers looking back on his childhood and free-spirited teen years, and his girlfriend and fellow climber Brette Harrington also sharing her thoughts, but it also values immersing its audience in the vivid experiences at its centre. Sweaty palms are a side effect, as they are with all the best climbing docos — which is where this film easily fits. With his mop of shaggy hair, a mountain of enthusiasm even his camera shyness can't hide, a wide grin and a complete commitment to climbing (with Harrington, he spent years living in stairwells and tents because this type of life can take you everywhere and anywhere), Leclerc is still a dream doco subject. Although that description clearly didn't apply logistically while The Alpinist was in production, his love of reaching great heights radiates across the screen. Existing fans will already know where the film has to finish, and know why it can only have a celebratory tone, but that doesn't diminish the movie's thrills, joys, goosebumps, insights and intrigue. Similarly, it doesn't temper its interrogation of alpine climbing's frozen beauty versus its inherent dangers, or its thoughtful and compelling portrait of a person eagerly embracing both extremes.
When Cinnabon shut up shop in Victoria a few years ago, fans of their hot, sweet-frosted rolls were left looking on as other states enjoyed plenty of spots to get their fix. It was enough to leave you feeling as glum as Gene in Better Call Saul. Yet a long-awaited return has finally arrived, as Cinnabon has a brand-new Melbourne location landing at Watergardens Shopping Centre on Saturday, May 10. Marking the 23rd Cinnabon location to open in Australia since the iconic brand arrived on our shores in 2020, the news gets even better for fans. This announcement is just the first of three stores expected to open this year in Victoria, meaning getting your hands on scrolled goodness will soon be easier than ever. "We know Victorians have felt left behind," said Veronica Cheung, Managing Director of Always Hungry Club, the hospitality outfit with the rights to the brand in the state. "We're sorry it's been a few years, but the spotlight is officially back on Victoria, and we are very excited to be rolling out a new store." For those who made the American chain their go-to spot for a sweet treat in the past, things might just look a little different than they remember. Entering a new era, the brand has partnered with award-winning architect and interior design firm Elvin Tan Design to give the store a fresh new look ahead of its arrival. The announcement marks the beginning of a new era for the beloved bakery brand, following years of passionate pleas from fans who've watched other states get their cinnamon fix while Melbourne missed out. "All I can say is that we are upping the game with this store and want buying a Cinnabon roll to be a true experience for customers," says Cheung. To celebrate its relaunch, the first 50 customers to arrive at the new location on Saturday, May 10, will receive a limited-edition Cinnabon goodie bag filled with exclusive merch, like a reversible scarf, a portable takeaway cup and fridge magnets. Then, you can stock up on the brand's world-famous cinnamon rolls, made fresh daily and swapped out every 30 minutes to ensure maximum freshness. Cinnabon Watergardens opens Saturday, May 10 at Watergardens Shopping Centre. Head to the website for more information.
