Part of the appeal of this big, buzzing, wonderful city of ours comes from the constant parade of activities, restaurant openings, festivals and cultural fun it's got on offer. But with only 24 hours in a day, how are we supposed to cram it all in and keep the #fomo to a minimum? No, the answer is not to stop sleeping. You can get out there and enjoy this fine city while still maintaining the routines of everyday life (like, y'know, sleeping eight hours a night and rocking up to work in the morning). Melbourne life can be pretty hectic, which is why we're here to help you harness the power of a coffee break — be it in the morning, at lunchtime of when you knock off work. Take the break you, as a hardworking human being, deserve. GET A MASSAGE (ON THE CHEAP) Suffering from that classic desk-hunch stiffness, but can't afford to shell out for a visit to some fancy-pants day spa? Victoria University's King Street Student Clinic will help relieve your tension, without relieving you of too much cash. Sessions are run by massage students, supervised by qualified therapists. An hour massage will cost you just $25 and you can rest easy knowing your tight muscles are in capable hands. Squeeze one into your lunch break and head back to the office feeling super fresh. BOOK A SESSION AT THE YOGA SOCIAL Avoid the after work peak hour at your yoga studio and get bendy in your lunch break instead. The Yoga Social is a sweet little space on King Street, with a class to suit every skill level and timetable options to fit even the most hectic of schedules. City workers will especially love their Express Flow Align classes — short and sweet 45-minute sessions, which kick off at either 12.15pm or 12.45pm. They've even got the equipment side of things covered, which means no lugging that awkward yoga mat around on your morning commute. Jump on the website to book your spot in advance. FIND YOUR INNER CALM WITH A FREE MEDITATION CLASS Amidst all of Melbourne's hustle, bustle and background noise, a little slice of peace can do you wonders. Especially if you've got the skills to conjure it up whenever you need. Learn all the tips and tricks of meditation, at Sahaja Yoga Victoria's free weekly lunchtime classes. From 1pm every Thursday, the Sue Healy Room at Ross House is transformed into an oasis of solitude, as experienced teachers guide you through an hour-long meditation session. They'll share simple techniques and load you up with take-home wisdom, so that you can learn to revisit that peaceful bubble of calm, any time you like. TAKE YOURSELF ON A STREET ART TOUR Melbourne's colourful, street art-laden laneways are right up there with its biggest tourist attractions, but you don't need to be a visitor to appreciate some kick-ass artwork. How about grabbing lunch to go and setting out on your own DIY midday art adventure? The folks at Walking Maps have created a four-kilometre Melbourne city street art tour which will guide you around 20 of the best street art hot-spots in town. GET CULTURED AT FORTYFIVEDOWNSTAIRS Art-lovers, there's no need to block out a whole Saturday to go gallery hopping. Embrace the art-spaces and exhibitions hidden in the city and squeeze a quick cultural fix into your lunch break. Whether you're a photography fan, a modern art aficionado or you dig a bit of thought-provoking sculpture, Melbourne will surely have an exhibition to float your boat. Throw your support behind some talented independent artists and spend a lunch hour soaking up some culture at fortyfivedownstairs. The not-for-profit theatre and gallery boasts a cracking program, with upcoming exhibitions including Marco Luccio's aerial glimpse of New York City, and a powerful series of interpretive portraits by Lisa Minogue.
Preston's much-loved street food haven, The Food Truck Park, is hitting the road this October, joining forces with the Frankston City Council to see the return of the Seaside Street Food Festival. The gorgeous Frankston waterfront provides the backdrop for this massive food coma-inducing festival, which takes place over five consecutive days with a rotating line-up of Melbourne's favourite food trucks. As you cram in the finger lickin' selection of chow, there's some eclectic live entertainment from local musicians and performers taking place, while a twilight market is a must to get your hands on some awesome clothing, records, homewares and more. Last year's festival saw 40 food trucks take part throughout the festival, with more than 35,000 hungry patrons turning out for the foodie fantasy and putting the trucks to the test.
The impression I had of The Spectacular Now before seeing it was that it was another teen movie about a cool guy falling in love with a dorky girl — but this time genuine and refreshing. 'Not possible!', thought I, as I anticipated counting off all the ways that the film failed. Cool guys and dorky girls don't mix, and if they do, Hollywood filmmakers cannot be counted on to explain it. Now I'm forced to eat my words. The Spectacular Now definitely is that genuine and refreshing take on the cool-guy-falls-in-love-with-the-dorky-girl story. It succeeds by focusing secondarily on the romance, and primarily on the shambolic and troubled life of its protagonist, Sutter Keeley (Miles Teller). Sutter is cool not because he's a jock, a leader, a looker or a bully — he's just the most fun. He and his girlfriend, Cassidy (Brie Larsen), are the life of every party. And that's in good part because Sutter has no self-worth, no ambition and knows how to drink without cessation. The Spectacular Now is unique in its portrait of what alcoholism can look like in adolescence, beyond the usual hysteria over binge drinking. Cassidy leaves Sutter when she realises that, even though their chemistry is the stuff of legend, she wants more out of life. Sutter then meets Aimee Finecky (Shailene Woodley, last seen in The Descendants) — a quiet, swotty girl whose interests include manga and French club (the type who's going to own the college campus soon enough) — when she finds him passed out on a neighbour's lawn in the wee hours. Remember, Sutter is good and fun; he has no ulterior motive for hanging out with Aimee afterwards, besides that he likes her company. But, aided by his inebriation and her infatuation, that friendship quickly escalates. The Spectacular Now has ten times the nuance and complexity of the previous film from the writing duo of Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, (500) Days of Summer. It might be that they had strong source material in the book by Tim Tharp, or that they've simply matured as writers. The Spectacular Now is a standout achievement that makes you care for its characters and leaves you with plenty to think about afterwards. It's true the character of Aimee is sidelined, but she's not just a cipher; she's a multidimensional character who is only known to us through Sutter's eyes, because he's who the film is really about. The relationship between the two characters is strong, interesting and believable, with their complicated mothers being a particular source of commonality. Woodley and Teller really help to sell the roles with their incredible performances. "When you look at her, you really see her," Sutter tells his buddy at the halfway point of the movie, and much the same can be said of the two actors. They add so much depth with their mere presence. The Spectacular Now is a beautiful surprise package. High school has never looked so worth revisiting. https://youtube.com/watch?v=wceaLzbtuDY
One is best known as the chef and co-owner behind former South Yarra Turkish restaurant Yagiz, and the other for his involvement in Italian pizzeria i Carusi II. Now, Murat Ovaz and Serge Thomann are pooling flavours and inspiration for their new joint project, a Mediterranean-inspired eatery in the heart of Southbank. Chessell & Clarke has taken over the space last home to Square and Compass, reimagining it with a bold fitout of marble, mahogany and maroon leather led by Flack Studio (Sydney's Ace Hotel). It's a multi-layered, colourful nod to Italy's architecture icon Carlo Scarpa, with room to seat 50. Debuting with a daytime-only menu with plans to add a dinner service in May, the venue's embracing a range of influences. Its culinary direction is driven both by the Turkish flavours of Ovaz's heritage and the Italian cuisine that's been honed by Head Chef Frank Berardi (The Melbourne Club) over the years. The end result is a simple yet lively menu heroing freshness and a splash of creativity, which works just as hard at breakfast as it does at lunch. And it's all showcased on porcelain plates foraged by Ovaz himself from local op shops. There's a Middle Eastern riff on PB & J featuring date syrup and tahini, Turkish-style eggs done with brown butter and hung yoghurt, and a brekkie roll that pairs apple and cabbage slaw with house-cured roast pork belly. You'll find a brioche burger teaming harissa lamb with a red onion and mint marmaletta, gnocchi dressed in a honey-roasted parsnip purée, and house-made pork and gremolata snags matched with salsa verde and saffron caramelised onions. Vegetarian options abound; think: prosecco-battered zucchini flowers stuffed with lemon ricotta, plus quinoa-crusted chickpea patties served with a cashew cream. Also, the deli bar is brimming with a hefty array of fresh salads, dips and sweet things. Coffee comes courtesy of Piazza D'Oro, soon to be complemented by a vinous offering that'll trip through Australia, Turkey, Italy and France. That's launching next month alongside Chessell & Clarke's incoming dinner menu. Find Chessell & Clarke at 31 Chessell Street, Southbank. It's open daily from 7.30am–3pm, with hours to extend in May. Images: Hugh Davison.
Maybe you love nothing more than telling simulated people what to do. Perhaps a fantasy universe is your favourite place to escape to when you're mashing buttons. More than a quarter-century back, virtual critters might've been your go-to pastime. The Sims, World of Warcraft and Neopets have all made an impact on the gaming world, and on audiences. All three are also scoring plenty of love when Game Worlds takes over the Australian Centre for the Moving Image in Melbourne. For five months from mid-September 2025 till February 2026, this video-game exhibition will shine a spotlight on 30 iconic titles — and make attendees feel like they're stepping inside some of them, too. Expect everything from original concept art and never-before-seen designs to rare objects to fill the Federation Square site's Gallery 4. Expect to be able to get playing, rather than just peering, as well. [caption id="attachment_997869" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Blizzard Entertainment[/caption] Although the full lineup of games featured hasn't been revealed as yet, they'll span from the 70s until now, and 20 of them will be playable. Demos, games from years gone by, trying to break speed records: they're all part of the setup, which will include international hits, new Australian releases and everything in-between. "As the home of videogames in Australia, Game Worlds celebrates the continuous evolution of this century's defining artform. It builds on ACMI's multi-decade experience in making video-game exhibitions, and our long-term support of the Australian video-game sector through preservation, education, industry partnerships and our dedicated Games Lab," said ACMI Director & CEO Seb Chan, announcing the exhibition. "Whether you love games as much as we do or have never picked up a controller, Game Worlds gives fresh insight into video games and their cultural impact." [caption id="attachment_997868" align="alignnone" width="1920"] World of Neopia[/caption] As Chan referrenced, ACMI has staged major video-game showcases before. This is its third, in fact, following 2008's Game On and 2012's Game Masters. Since the latter, the venue has also hosted smaller gaming exhibitions, such as 2017's Code Breakers — where women in the industry were the focus — and 2024's Honk! Untitled Goose Exhibition. Earlier in 2025, it celebrated 25 years of The Sims across one nostalgic weekend. As it regularly does with its showcases, the gallery will pair Game Worlds with talks, film screenings and other events, family-friendly activities among them. [caption id="attachment_997870" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Blizzard Entertainment[/caption] [caption id="attachment_997871" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Blizzard Entertainment[/caption] Game Worlds displays at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Federation Square, Melbourne, from Thursday, September 18, 2025–Sunday, February 8, 2026. Head to the venue's website for more details. Top image: Electronic Arts.
German agency Jung von Matt has given some of the world's most iconic cartoon characters a wonderful makeunder by recreating them with Lego blocks. With a distinct minimalist approach to these creations, Jung von Matt have used height and colour to cleverly mould these creations. Nothing displays this better than Marge Simpson's signature towering blue hairstyle. However, some of the other cartoons aren't so easy to make out. But once you find out the answer, you'll kick yourself for not spotting them earlier. Furthermore, your ability to name these characters will be a good indicator of how much time you spent in front of the television as a kid. Have a look at the images below, and score yourself on how many you can guess. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles The Smurfs Asterix and Obelix South Park [via Flavorwire]
It mightn't be the perfect time to open up a restaurant, but one Melbourne chef has done it anyway, launching a brand-spanking-new sandwich shop and deli on Gertrude Street. Chef Josh Fry (Marion and Cumulus Inc) was originally meant to be the head chef at a new dine-in restaurant and bar set to open in the Fitzroy space over the Easter long weekend, but plans swiftly shifted when restaurants, bars and cafes had to close their doors in a bid to contain COVID-19. So, instead, Fry opened the unapologetically kitsch pop-up, Rocco's Bologna Discoteca. The Italian-inspired menu features an epic lineup of sangas. There's a saucy NY-style meatball sub; Rocco's Originario Bologna with fried bologna (a mortadella-like meat), green olives and plenty of cheese; the spicy Picante, featuring fried bologna, pickles and provolone; a vegetarian crumbed eggplant one; and the Bobby Baccala, which is a salted cod melt. Other dishes include bone marrow garlic bread, antipasto platters, pine mushroom lasagne, a Chook Foot cacciatore and ricotta cavatelli with chicken, sugo and peppers. There's also Rocco's Dinner Box, which includes one sandwich per person, salumi, olives, Sardinian-style flatbread, salad, fries and tiramisu and is available for two ($65) or four ($85) people. As Rocco's is also a deli, you can pick up freshly baked bread, eggs, house-made pastas, Nonna's red sauce, Mt Zero olives, cured meats, tins of sardines and, of course, heaps of cheese, too. Plus, you can buy a Rocco's t-shirt, should you need some new WFH threads. You can either pop down to pick up the goods in person or, if you're an inner north local, you can get them delivered for free. You can check out the full menu and order via Rocco's website. Otherwise, you can get it delivered through DoorDash. Rocco's Bologna Discoteca is located at 81–83 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy and is open from 5–10pm Wednesday–Friday, 12–10.30pm Saturday and 1–7pm on Sunday.
If you've found yourself hankering for an Italian beef sandwich after watching The Bear or been inspired to devour a damn-fine slice cherry pie thanks to Twin Peaks, then you'll know that TV shows and movies can influence your culinary choices. You mightn't have expected Yellowjackets to be on that list, however. When a series follows a group of teenage girls stranded in the wilderness after a plane crash, then forced to get creative — and cannibalistic — to survive, then IRL menu options don't normally jump out. Trust Sydney's NEL to challenge that perception with its latest imaginative 11-course degustation. The Harbour City fine-diner has taken inspiration from pop culture before, including via its popular Disney-inspired feasts and its Moulin Rouge!-themed spread. Among the restaurant's other limited-time degustation menus as well — KFC-inspired dinners, Christmas meals, heroing native Australian ingredients and more — taking cues from Yellowjackets certainly stands out, though. On offer: dishes that dig into the wild and primal reality that the hit show's characters find themselves in. The fact that NEL has dubbed the four-day-only pop-up menu 'Eat Your Heart Out' says plenty. [caption id="attachment_991129" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kailey Schwerman, Paramount+[/caption] "To be approached to create a Yellowjackets-inspired menu just felt like the perfect next venture for NEL Restaurant," said Chef Nelly Robinson about whipping up an inventive feast that aims to plunge diners' senses into Yellowjackets' world — not just via sights and sounds, but also via tastes. "For anyone that knows us, they understand we are about pushing the boundaries of what is possible, and getting to ask the questions of 'how do we make an ear appetising?' or 'how can we get someone to dig into a brain?' was a very exciting quest. The answer is obviously in the flavours, and while it might not be visually 'conventionally appetising', the flavours and aesthetics will most definitely leave you speechless." Across a three-hour experience that'll be on offer between Tuesday, March 4–Friday, March 7, 2025, think: digging for truffles, then tucking into the aptly named Salmon over River Misty (a moss- and salmon-heavy dish) and also seeing how NEL comes up with its own take on the show's darker survivalist scenario. Some dishes will nod to the diet consumed in the series, whether via heart-shaped servings, working in liver or plating up "something a little more ear-y". If you're feeling adventurous enough, you will need to try your luck not only in terms of testing your tastebuds, but to score a seat. Sittings are only available via entering for a chance to win on the NEL website between now and 11.59pm AEDT on Wednesday, February 26, 2025. So, attending is free — but only if your name is selected. If you're not located in Sydney, travelling there is at your own expense, but the Yellowjackets dinner at NEL will be on the house. For those who haven't dived into the series so far or need a refresher, Yellowjackets instantly proved one of the best new shows of 2021 when it debuted courtesy not just due to its killer setup — but it does tell a tale that fascinates from the outset. The thriller hops between the 90s and 25 years later. Across two seasons until now, life and friendship have proven complex for Yellowjackets' core quartet of Shauna (The Tattooist of Auschwitz's Melanie Lynskey as an adult, and also No Return's Sophie Nélisse as a teenager), Natalie (I'm a Virgo's Juliette Lewis, plus Companion's Sophie Thatcher), Taissa (Law & Order's Tawny Cypress, and also Scream VI's Jasmin Savoy Brown) and Misty (Wednesday's Christina Ricci, and also Atlas' Samantha Hanratty). The trailers for season three also put it this way: "once upon a time, a bunch of teenage girls got stranded in the wilderness ... and they went completely nuts." The full setup: back in 1996, en route to a big match in Seattle on a private aircraft, Shauna, Natalie, Taissa, Misty and the rest of their teammates entered Lost territory. The accident saw everyone who walked away stuck in the forest — and those who then made it through that ordeal stuck out there for 19 months, living their worst Alive-meets-Lord of the Flies lives. Season three starts streaming in Australia via Paramount+ on Friday, February 14, 2025. Check out the trailer below: NEL's Eat Your Heart Out degustation will be available from Tuesday, March 4–Friday, March 7, 2025 at 75 Wentworth Avenue, Sydney. For more information or to go in the running for a seat — which is only available to competition winners, with entries open till 11.59pm AEDT on Wednesday, February 26, 2025 — head to the NEL website. Yellowjackets season three starts streaming in Australia via Paramount+ on Friday, February 14, 2025.
In a dimly lit room in a grimy train station, a capuchin monkey sits at a table. In walks a detective, who then starts smoking a cigarette and interrogating the animal in front of him. They chat, bantering back and forth as the cop asks questions and the primate answers. At one point, the monkey even sings. Queries range from "do you know anything about birds?" to "you ever ride the rodeo?", all in a quest to solve a murder. A chicken also pops up, and a waitress. If the above scenario sounds more than a little surreal, that's because it is — especially given that it's part of David Lynch's new 17-minute short film. Called What Did Jack Do?, the black-and-white piece also stars the inimitable Lynch as the detective. At this stage of the acclaimed director's career, that just sounds natural, really. Intrigued? If you're a fan of the filmmaker's work — spanning everything Eraserhead and Blue Velvet to three seasons of Twin Peaks across nearly three decades — then of course you are. And thanks to Netflix, you can now spend a small chunk of your day watching the latest unique, delightful and inescapably odd work by one of the most distinctive auteurs to ever stand behind a camera. While first screened at Paris' Fondation Cartier pour l'Art Contemporain back in 2017, and then playing Lynch's own in Festival of Disruption in New York in 2018, What Did Jack Do? hadn't been widely seen until now. And although Netflix isn't known for stacking its catalogue with shorts, when it adds one, it's worth checking out — like last year's also far-from-ordinary Paul Thomas Anderson and Thom Yorke collaboration. Check out a clip of What Did Jack Do? below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Crzwq4CjhvA What Did Jack Do? is currently available to stream on Netflix.
Something delightful has been happening in cinemas in some parts of the country. After numerous periods spent empty during the pandemic, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, picture palaces in many Australian regions are back in business — including both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made, including new releases, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. THREE THOUSAND YEARS OF LONGING No one should need to cleanse their palates between Mad Max movies — well, maybe after Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome, depending on your mileage with it — but if anyone does, George Miller shouldn't be one of them. The Australian auteur gifted the world the hit dystopian franchise, has helmed and penned each and every chapter, and made Mad Max: Fury Road an astonishing piece of cinema that's one of the very best in every filmic category that applies. Still, between that kinetic, frenetic, rightly Oscar-winning movie and upcoming prequel Furiosa, Miller has opted to swish around romantic fantasy Three Thousand Years of Longing. He does love heightened drama and also myths, including in the series he's synonymous with. He adores chronicling yearnings and hearts' desires, too, whether surveying vengeance and survival, the motivations behind farm animals gone a-wandering in Babe: Pig in the City, the dreams of dancing penguins in Happy Feet, or love, happiness and connection here. In other words, although adapted from AS Byatt's short story The Djinn in the Nightingale's Eye, Three Thousand Years of Longing is unshakeably and inescapably a Miller movie — and it's as alive with his flair for the fantastical as most of his resume. It's a wonder for a range of reasons, one of which is simple: the last time that the writer/director made a movie that didn't connect to the Mad Max, Babe or Happy Feet franchises was three decades back. With that in mind, it comes as no surprise that this tale about a narratologist (Tilda Swinton, Memoria) and the Djinn (Idris Elba, Beast) she uncorks from a bottle, and the chats they have about their histories as the latter tries to ensure the former makes her three wishes to truly set him free, is told with playfulness, inventiveness, flamboyance and a deep heart. Much of Miller's filmography is, but there's a sense with Three Thousand Years of Longing that he's been released, too — even if he loves his usual confines, as audiences do as well. "My story is true," Swinton's Alithea Binnie announces at the get-go. "You're more likely to believe me, however, if I tell it as a fairy tale." Cue another Miller trademark, unpacking real emotions and woes within scenarios that are anything but standard — two people talking about their lives in a hotel is hardly fanciful, though. The tales that the Djinn relays, with debts clearly owed to One Thousand and One Nights, also dwell in the everyday; some just happened millennia ago. The Djinn loved the Queen of Sheba (model Aamito Lagum), but lost her to the envious King Solomon (Nicolas Mouawad, Mako). He then languished in the the Ottoman court, after young concubine Gulten (Ece Yüksel, Family Secrets) wished for the heart of Suleiman the Magnificent's (Lachy Hulme, Preacher) son Mustafa (singer Matteo Bocelli). And, in the 19th century, the Djinn fell for Zefir (Burcu Gölgedar, Between Two Dawns), the brilliantly smart but stifled wife of a Turkish merchant. What spirits the Djinn's time-hopping memories beyond the ordinary and into the metaphysical, and Alithea's narrative as well, is the figure first seen billowing out of blue-and-white glass, then filling an entire suite, then slipping into white towelling. Something magical happens when you pop on a hotel bathrobe — that space and that cosy clothing are instantly transporting — and while Alithea resists the very idea of making wishes, she gets swept along by her new companion anyway. As a scholar of stories and the meanings they hold, she knows the warnings surrounding uttering hopes and having them granted. She also says she's content with her intellectual, independent and isolated-by-choice life, travelling the world to conferences like the one that's brought her to Turkey and then to the Istanbul bazaar where she spies the Djinn's misshapen home, even if her own backstory speaks of pain and self-protective mechanisms. And yet, "I want our solitudes to be together", she eventually declares, and with exactly the titular emotion. Read our full review. ORPHAN: FIRST KILL What's more believable — and plot twists follow: a pre-teen playing a 33-year-old woman pretending to be a nine-year-old orphan, with a hormone disorder explaining the character's eerily youthful appearance; or an adult playing a 31-year-old woman pretending to be a lost child returned at age nine, again with that medical condition making everyone else oblivious? For viewers of 2009's Orphan and its 13-years-later follow-up Orphan: First Kill, which is a prequel, neither are particularly credible to witness. But the first film delivered its age trickery as an off-kilter final-act reveal, as paired with a phenomenal performance by then 12-year-old Isabelle Fuhrman in the pivotal role. Audiences bought the big shift — or remembered it, at least — because Fuhrman was so creepy and so committed to the bit, and because it suited the OTT horror-thriller. This time, that wild revelation is old news, but that doesn't stop Orphan: First Kill from leaning on the same two key pillars: an out-there turn of events and fervent portrayals. Fuhrman (The Novice) returns as Esther, the Estonian adult who posed as a parentless Russian girl in the initial feature. In Orphan: First Kill, she's introduced as Leena Klammer, the most dangerous resident at the Saarne Institute mental hospital. The prequel's first sighted kill comes early, as a means of escape. The second follows swiftly, because the film needs to get its central figure to the US. Fans of the previous picture will recall that Esther already had a troubled history when she was adopted and started wreaking the movie's main havoc, involving the family that brought her to America — and her time with that brood, aka wealthy Connecticut-based artist Allen Albright (Rossif Sutherland, Possessor), his gala-hosting wife Tricia (Julia Stiles, Hustlers) and their teen son Gunnar (Matthew Finlan, My Fake Boyfriend), is this flick's focus. Like their counterparts in Orphan, the Albrights have suffered a loss and are struggling to move on. When Leena poses as their missing daughter Esther, Allen especially seems like his old self again. As also happened in Orphan, however, the pigtail- and ribbon-wearing new addition to their home doesn't settle in smoothly. Orphan: First Kill repeats the original movie's greatest hits, including the arty doting dad, the wary brother, taunts labelling Esther a freak and a thorny relationship with her mum. Also covered: suspicious external parties, bathroom tantrums, swearing to get attention and spying on her parents having sex. And yes, anyone who has seen Orphan knows how this all turns out, and that it leads to the above again in Orphan, too. Thankfully, that's only part of Orphan: First Kill's narrative. Twists can be curious narrative tools; sometimes they're inspired, sometimes they're a crutch propping up a flimsy screenplay, and sometimes they seesaw between both. Orphan: First Kill tumbles gleefully into the latter category, thanks to a revelation midway that's patently ridiculous — although no more ridiculous than Orphan earning a follow-up in the first place — and also among the best things about the movie. It's a big risk, making a film that's initially so laughably formulaic that it just seems lazy, then letting a sudden switch completely change the game, the tone and the audience's perception of what's transpired so far. That proved a charm for the thoroughly unrelated Malignant in 2021, and it's a gamble that filmmaker William Brent Bell (The Boy and Brahms: The Boy II) and screenwriter David Coggeshall (Scream: The TV Series) take. Working with a story by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick (The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It) and Alex Mace (who earned the same credit on the original), it's one of their savviest choices. Read our full review. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in Australian cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on June 2, June 9, June 16, June 23 and June 30; and July 7, July 14, July 21 and July 28; and August 4, August 11, August 18 and August 25. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as Mothering Sunday, Jurassic World Dominion, A Hero, Benediction, Lightyear, Men, Elvis, Lost Illusions, Nude Tuesday, Ali & Ava, Thor: Love and Thunder, Compartment No. 6, Sundown, The Gray Man, The Phantom of the Open, The Black Phone, Where the Crawdads Sing, Official Competition, The Forgiven, Full Time, Murder Party, Bullet Train, Nope, The Princess, 6 Festivals, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, Crimes of the Future, Bosch & Rockit, Fire of Love, Beast, Blaze and Hit the Road.
Something completely new is set to join Australia's skyline: a Skystand overlooking the Brisbane Cricket Ground, aka the Gabba. Located atop 20-storey development Silk One in Woolloongabba's Trafalgar Street, it's exactly what it sounds like: a rooftop terrace that peers over the stadium, allowing residents to see whatever might be happening on the ground — namely Brisbane Lions AFL matches during winter and cricket games over summer. A handful of concerts also take place at the Gabba, with Adele playing there in 2017 and Taylor Swift slated for later in 2018. The idea is that people who live one of the complex's 178 apartments (or people who are friends with people who live in the apartments) will get access to these events without really leaving home, all while hanging out on a sky-high timber deck, underneath a pergola, with a big screen TV and a dining and barbecue area at their fingertips. The rooftop will also include a gym, pool, spa and sun lounges, in case whatever's on in the stadium doesn't pique your interest. Of course, an obvious question has to be asked: how much will you really be able to see from 20 levels up? Sure, there'll be a television on hand so that you can watch all of the ins and outs of the game in detail, and you'll save yourself the cost of a ticket. But the Gabba is more likely to provide a glossy backdrop as you hang out in the Skystand, rather than letting you actually enjoy the game or concert. Still, we're guessing the sound of the crowd, or whoever is on stage crooning, will echo up that far. Given that the area around the Gabba is currently filled with both new high-rises and construction sites in the process of erecting new high-rises, it wouldn't be surprising if other buildings follow suit. That said, the folks behind Silk One say their Skystand has been "strategically designed to maximise the birds-eye views of the Gabba stadium". Silk One in Woolloongabba and its Skystand are slated for completion in mid-2020.
The New Look, Apple TV+'s ten-part series about Christian Dior and Coco Chanel, hasn't chosen its points of focus because they were frequently in each other's company; as depicted here, at least, they weren't. Instead, it's a portrait of rivals, but it isn't that concerned with why the two Parisians might be adversaries beyond their shared field. That said, they're tied by more than both being French fashion figures who were working at the same time, made pioneering haute couture choices and started labels that retain household recognition today. And, when the show opens in 1954, it does so with Chanel (Juliette Binoche, The Staircase) offering harsh words about Dior (Ben Mendelsohn, Secret Invasion) to the press as she's about to unveil her first post-war collection. Her chatter is crosscut with his at the Sorbonne, where he's being honoured — and asked by students why he kept working during the Second World War while Chanel closed her atelier. Dior's answer: that such a description of the two designers' actions during WWII is the truth, but that there's also more truth behind it. Unpicking the reality — and stitching together Dior and Chanel's plights at the same time — is the series' mission from Wednesday, February 14. The garments that its two couturiers make might be pristine in their stylishness, but neither's history can earn the same term. Creator Todd A Kessler (Damages, Bloodline) makes a drama about choices, then. Again, it isn't fuelled by the pair being in close physical proximity, which only happens twice in the show — or even acrimony between them — but by comparing and contrasting the moves that Dior and Chanel each made during Nazi-occupied Paris and immediately afterwards. Kessler takes the series' title from words uttered by Harper's Bazaar editor-in-chief Carmel Snow (Glenn Close, Heart of Stone) upon seeing Dior's debut collection in 1947. The New Look also takes its overarching perspective from the notion that haute couture's impact in assisting to revive French culture following the war was revolutionary and "helped humanity find beauty and the desire to live again" (to quote how Dior is introduced as he's being feted at his big retrospective). With Dior and Chanel's prowess treated as a given, the bulk of its frames, handsomely shot as they are — and filled intermittently with gorgeous gowns designed by Dior and his previous employer Lucien Lelong (John Malkovich, Billions) — hone in on the personal. (Atelier antics are weaved in and out, but never at the level of detail delivered by 2014 documentary Dior and I, about Raf Simons' first collection for the House of Christian Dior 65 years later.) The 1950s are pure framing for The New Look. The majority of its narrative charts Dior and Chanel from 1943–47, with the fact that he'll be so successful that he's celebrated mere years later and she'll eventually return to fashion instantly already established. Indeed, while the series charts their professional journeys over the period, work is rarely the source of its tension. Rather, Dior's difficult decision to leave Lelong to start his own fashion house, and the also tricky choices in getting established, help flesh out his character. For Chanel, so does her angling over the perfume side of her business, legal battles included. Everyone watching already knows the names Dior and Chanel, after all, and that both labels endure today, even if they've never donned clothing or scents bearing either's monikers. Dior keeps his needle in hand in Vichy France — for Lelong, as a nobody with no fame of his own, and under spirited protest if he ever gets wind of who'll be wearing his dresses. His justification, as he tells fellow designers such as Cristóbal Balenciaga (Nuno Lopes, Les derniers hommes) and Pierre Balmain (Thomas Poitevin, Encore vous?): that his paycheque helps support his younger sister Catherine (Maisie Williams, Pistol). She's fighting the occupation as part of the French Resistance. When Catherine is captured by the gestapo, tortured and sent to a work camp, Christian becomes a picture of guilt as he desperately endeavours to find her, or even just discover if she's still alive. The New Look's Dior is a man haunted, always, in a softer part for Mendelsohn and it suits him. The already-renowned Chanel has downed tools, but relies upon Nazi links to first secure the release of her captured nephew André (Joseph Olivennes, Deep Fear), a French soldier, and then help herself. The Hotel Ritz, where she lives, is a German base. Spy Hans Günther von Dincklage (Claes Bang, Bad Sisters) is soon in her bed. A dinner with Heinrich Himmler (Thure Lindhardt, Hammarskjöld), using antisemitic laws to her advantage and a stint of active collaboration — roping in her old friend Elsa Lombardi (Emily Mortimer, The Pursuit of Love) as well — all follow. Lombardi has been fictionalised, but the ins and outs of Chanel's choices haven't. The New Look doesn't even dream of sewing in a defence of Chanel. Where Mendelsohn plays vulnerable with potency and depth, Binoche's part is all calculated and self-serving opportunism. If their characters were dresses, his would sport elaborate lace and hers flashy sequins. Their performances are equally impressive, though. In what might be the least typically Mendo role of his recent career, the Australian Animal Kingdom, Starred Up, The Outsider and Cyrano actor is quietly masterful. In ensuring that Chanel's complications are on full display but also never excused, Binoche threads the needle expertly. Similarly superb: Game of Thrones' Williams, including in making the case that Catherine deserves to be more than a supporting player; Bang, again excelling at villainy; and Mortimer, who makes the show's most erratic character feel as real and lived-in as its protagonists. With Kessler himself, Station Eleven alums Jeremy Podeswa and Helen Shaver, and 2021 Palme d'Or-winner Julia Ducournau (Titane) in the director's chairs, there's no faulting The New Look's technical handiwork as it spins its fascinating, complex story. Opulence abounds visually, intricacy thematically. Learning more about the craft of haute couture isn't the show's remit, however — as glaringly apparently whether you're a fashion diehard or only know Dior and Chanel's names — but contemplating the decisions behind some of fashion's biggest labels, and the choices made when life is anything but cut to a pattern, is ready to wear. Check out the trailer for The New Look below: The New Look streams via Apple TV+ from Wednesday, February 14, 2024.
It's bingo, but not as you know it. On the first Wednesday of every month, Wingo Bingo spectacularly takes over The Beast's CBD spot on Swanston Street. Hosted by the fabulous Gloss, you are in for raunchy laughs, shimmering costumes and, of course, people shouting "Bingo!" To sweeten the deal — even though it's pretty sweet already — there's food, too. At just $25 per person (with a two-person minimum), you'll be feasting on the spot's popular Dorito-crusted chicken wings — and yes, there's a vegan option — plus chippies and a booze-free bev. There are prizes to be won as well, party people — so grab your gang, wear something glittery and strap on those heels for a night out where the name of the game is shameless fun.
By now, you're hopefully well into the swing of National Margarita Month, with venues all over the city offering drink deals to celebrate the classic tequila tipple. Sure, we may have hit a little five-day bump in the road. Thankfully, Hotel Esplanade is planning to ramp things up post-lockdown and bring the month of margs home with a bang. St Kilda's legendary seaside pub is bringing a little taste of Mexico to our shores with a lineup of Mexican-inspired food, mariachi band performances and, of course, plenty of tasty margaritas. Make tracks to any of the venue's bars between Friday, February 19 and Saturday, February 27 to try a range of margaritas, all made with Herradura tequila. In addition to The Espy's signature Double Barrel Margarita and Mya Tiger's makrut lime version, the bartenders will also be shaking up three fruity twists on the classic: watermelon, yuzu and pineapple. To pair with these tropical concoctions is a selection of tasty bites from chef Ashly Hicks — think coal-grilled corn with smoked paprika sour cream, cauliflower tacos with avocado and jalapeño and al pastor tacos with roast pineapple and coriander salsa. Plus, if you want to check out the mariachi band, they'll be performing between 7–9pm on Friday, February 19 and 5–7pm on Saturday, February 20 and Sunday, February 21. Bookings are recommended during peak times, which you can do via The Espy's website. Images: Alex Drewnik
This time back in 2020, no one even dreamed of the possibility of a new Borat movie. No one expected that they'd be watching it before the year was out, either. Also among the things that not a single soul could've guessed: that it'd be one of the most unflinching political movies of the year, that it'd win two Golden Globes (including Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy and Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy), and that it would score actor Maria Bakalova an Oscar nomination. Clearly, a lot has happened over the past year that zero folks among us anticipated. Here's something new for this year, too: a Borat special. Due to hit Amazon Prime Video on Tuesday, May 25, Borat Supplemental Reportings Retrieved From Floor of Stable Containing Editing Machine basically takes a heap of unused footage from Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan and turns it into a couple of a couple of different parts. It's the type of thing that might've once been relegated to DVD extras, and it's another chance to dive into Borat Sagdiyev's latest escapades. Once again, you'll find out what Sacha Baron Cohen's fictional Kazakh journalist makes of both COVID-19 and the 2020 US election, as last year's 14-years-later sequel to 2006 mockumentary Borat! Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan also covered. One part of the special, called Borat: VHS Cassette of Material Deemed "Sub-acceptable" By Kazakhstan Ministry of Censorship and Circumcision, will include unseen footage from Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, while the 40-minute Borat's American Lockdown will chart the character's five days spent living with conspiracy theorists. And then there's six Debunking Borat shorts, which get experts to dive into — and debunk, obviously — the ideas spouted by Borat's new roommates. If you haven't yet watched Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, it follows Borat as he travels to America again. Once more, he traverses the country, interviewing everyday people and exposing the abhorrent views that have become engrained in US society. Where its 2006 predecessor had everyone laughing along with it, though, there's also an uneasy and even angry undercurrent to this sequel that's reflective of these especially polarised times. Also a big part of the story: Borat's attempt to gift his 15-year-old daughter (instant scene-stealer Bakalova) to then-Vice President Mike Pence and ex-New York mayor Rudy Giuliani to help get Kazakhstan's own leader into then-President Donald Trump's good graces. Check out the trailer for Borat Supplemental Reportings below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctHMZ-MC4y4&feature=youtu.be Borat Supplemental Reportings Retrieved From Floor of Stable Containing Editing Machine will be available to stream via Amazon Prime Video from Tuesday, May 25.
The much-loved mash-up of art, music and food that is the NGV's Friday night parties is back for a huge summer season from Friday, December 16–Friday, April 14. And it's got a truly tempting lineup of artists in tow. While Aussie-first exhibition Alexander McQueen: Mind, Mythos, Muse graces the gallery's spaces with an exploration of one of fashion's greats (from December 11–April 16), Friday nights will respond with a fittingly glittery, creatively-charged program of after-hours fun and live tunes. On the stacked bill, expect renowned Aussie neo-soul star Nai Palm, as well as Electric Fields, Banoffee, Emma Volard, Kee'ahn, C.FRIM, The Belair Lip Bombs, Billy Davis, Zepherin Saint and stacks more. As always, Friday Nights guests will score late-night access to the NGV's current exhibitions — this time around, that'll involve swooning over more than 110 garments and accessories designed by McQueen himself, plus numerous more artworks that drove his inspiration. [caption id="attachment_879196" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tobias Titz[/caption] Friday Nights will also feature screenings of some of the fashion legend's most dazzling runway shows, during which you'll spy many of the gorgeous designs currently being exhibited. Meanwhile, the Moët Champagne Terrace Bar will be pouring Moët Impérial and Moët Rosé Impérial; the Great Hall's Yering Station Wine Bar will be offering wine tastings and a tidy range of Yarra Valley vino; and gin-lovers can get their fix with classic G&T's and signature sips courtesy of the the Four Pillars Gin Bar. And in the NGV Garden, don't miss the DJ sets being played live within the 2022 NGV Architecture Commission, Temple of Boom. [caption id="attachment_882159" align="alignnone" width="1920"] 'Alexander McQueen: Mind, Mythos, Muse' at the NGV, by Sean Fennessy.[/caption] Top Images: Tobias Titz
Ever been so caught up in work, sleep or staring blankly into space that you've missed a huge piece of breaking news, only to discover something big has happened when you later log onto Facebook and notice everyone's changed their profile picture and talking about something you definitely do not understand? Those are the times you wish a mate had just sent you a little nudge to say that, "hey, X world event is happening right now — you probs need to know about it" or "X is doing a free gig tonight" to save you looking like a fool at the water cooler the next morning at work. Well, ABC News is now that friend. All you have to do is start up a convo with them on Facebook Messenger and they'll keep you updated on the latest news through some sneaky text messages. It's called ABC News on Facebook Messenger (fitting, really), and it's the broadcaster's newest way to deliver personalised news to its audience on mobile. All you have to do is find ABC News on Messenger (you can just search for them) and start up a conversation. Then, they'll send you the latest news updates through short, snappy messages in a conversational format — just like a really, really informed friend. It's very similar to the Quartz's news service, which does basically the same thing but through their own dedicated app. The best thing about having a personal convo with the ABC — the news is put together by their digital editorial team and the service is powered by a third-party bot Chatfuel — is that you can choose what news you want to get notified about. If you want a summary of what's happened while you've been sleeping, you can choose to get one sent to you as your alarm goes off. Or, perhaps you just want to get alerts when the really big stuff happens? You can opt in for the too. You can also choose alerts for sport teams you follow, long-form news or stories that involve puppies. You can also just start up the convo at any time to see what's happening. The service was rolled out yesterday after a successful trial. You can find out more and sign up here.
Not all that long ago, the idea of getting cosy on your couch, clicking a few buttons, and having thousands of films and television shows at your fingertips seemed like something out of science fiction. Now, it's just an ordinary night — whether you're virtually gathering the gang to text along, cuddling up to your significant other or shutting the world out for some much needed me-time. Of course, given the wealth of options to choose from, there's nothing ordinary about making a date with your chosen streaming platform. The question isn't "should I watch something?" — it's "what on earth should I choose?". Hundreds of titles are added to Australia's online viewing services each and every month, all vying for a spot on your must-see list. And, so you don't spend 45 minutes scrolling and then being too tired to actually commit to watching anything, we're here to help. From the latest and greatest to old favourites, here are our picks for your streaming queue from January's haul of newbies. BRAND NEW STUFF YOU CAN WATCH IN FULL RIGHT NOW https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UQamk0b0k8 ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI Pondering the conversations that might've occurred between four pivotal historical figures on one very real evening they spent in each other's company, One Night in Miami boasts the kind of talk-heavy concept that'd clearly work well on the stage. That's where it first began back in 2013 — but adapting theatre pieces for the cinema doesn't always end in success, especially when they primarily involve large swathes of dialogue exchanged in one setting. If Beale Street Could Talk Oscar-winner and Watchmen Emmy-winner Regina King doesn't make a single wrong move here, however. The actor's feature directorial debut proves a film not only of exceptional power and feeling, but of abundant texture and detail as well. It's a movie about people and ideas, including the role the former can play in both bolstering and counteracting the latter, and the Florida-set picture takes as much care with its quartet of protagonists as it does with the matters of race, politics and oppression they talk about. Given the folks involved, there's much to discuss. The film takes place on February 25, 1964, which has become immortalised in history as the night that Cassius Clay (Eli Goree, Riverdale) won his first title fight. Before and after the bout, the future Muhammad Ali hangs out with his equally important pals — activist Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir, High Fidelity), footballer Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge, The Invisible Man) and musician Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr, Hamilton) — with this equally meticulous and moving certain future Oscar-nominee ficitionalising their time together. One Night in Miami is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga0iTWXCGa0 LUPIN Few actors are as charming on-screen as Omar Sy. Ever since the French talent started making a big-screen splash in films such as Micmacs and The Intouchables, he has been a delight to watch. Consequently, the Mood Indigo, X-Men: Days of Future Past and Jurassic World star couldn't be better cast in Lupin — the Paris-set mystery-thriller series inspired by Maurice Leblanc's 1907–36 novels and novellas about the fictional gentleman thief of the same name. Sy plays Assane Diop, who is first introduced as a cleaner working at the Louvre. In flashbacks to recent events and to the character's childhood, viewers learn just why he's at the famous museum, and what has inspired his life of crime as well. The son of a Senegalese immigrant (Fargass Assandé, Eye of the Storm) who once worked for the wealthy Pellegrini family, Assane has a complicated history, plus a mystery to solve, Marie Antoinette's diamond necklace to steal and vengeance to exact. Each chapter of his on-screen tale is slick, engrossing and swiftly-paced, as all heist and espionage affairs should be. Based on his engaging performance, they should probably all star Sy, too. Also influential here, though, is filmmaker Louis Leterrier. His resume has more misses than hits, spanning the first two Transporter movies, The Incredible Hulk, Clash of the Titans, Now You See Me and Grimsby, but he brings a deft touch to this series — as he did to the vastly dissimilar The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. Lupin's first five episodes — which comprise the first of the series' two parts — are available to stream via Netflix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uC7_PFQgCc THE QUEEN OF BLACK MAGIC Remaking the 1981 film of the same name, Indonesian horror movie The Queen of Black Magic takes three men back to the remote orphanage they grew up in. Naturally given the setup and the genre, more than just memories await. Friends Hanif (Ario Bayu, The Bridge), Anton (Tanta Ginting, Hit & Run) and Jefri (Miller Khan, Foxtrot Six) all return to pay their respects to the man who raised them, the ailing Mr Bani (Yayu AW Unru, Brata), and they've each brought their families and spouses along — but when they arrive at the facility, there's no mistaking the eerie feeling that permeates. Hanif, his wife Nadya (Hannah Al Rashid, The Night Comes for Us) and their three children are already a little rattled after an incident during their drive. Soon, the kids are exploring the property and unearthing secrets that have long haunted their father and his pals. Just as swiftly, filmmaker Kimo Stamboel demonstrates that he isn't going to hold back on the bumps, jumps or gore, although fans of his work as part of the Mo Brothers — including Macabre, Killers and Headshot — won't be surprised by his unflinching approach. The writer/director of Satan's Slaves and Impetigore, screenwriter Joko Anwar also helps shape a picture that leans on more than a few horror tropes, but never feels like a by-the-numbers haunted house movie. And, if you'd like to compare it to the original, that's joining this new version on Shudder as well (with the current flick available now, and the initial film arriving on the platform in February). The Queen of Black Magic is available to stream via Shudder. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqT77bdfEaA HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY: THE REN & STIMPY STORY When August 2021 rolls around, it'll mark 30 years since a psychotic chihuahua and a kindly cat first brought their chaos to the small screen and changed the way people think about Nickelodeon's animated shows. At the time, there was simply nothing like The Ren & Stimpy Show — and that applies to its dark humour, willingness to shock and often grotesquely detailed visuals, as well as its characters, storylines and jokes. The 52-episode show also proved immensely influential. Without it, SpongeBob SquarePants probably wouldn't exist, in fact. But the history of Ren & Stimpy is filled with both highs and lows, as documentary Happy Happy Joy Joy: The Ren & Stimpy Story explores. More than just a nostalgic look back, this chronicle by first-time directors Ron Cicero and Kimo Easterwood covers the series' origins, evolution and success, as well as its behind-the-scenes struggles and eventual demise. It chats with the folks who made it happen to examine why it struck such a chord, and to also make plain the reality of making such a hit. And, it doesn't shy away from the accusations levelled at John Kricfalusi, Ren & Stimpy's creator and the voice of Ren, including not only the difficult working environment that sprang under his watch, but the allegations of sexual abuse and grooming that came to light in 2018. Indeed, the latter could fuel its documentary, but here it adds another layer to the tale of a TV show unlike anything else, and the ego that both made it happen and caused its downfall. Happy Happy Joy Joy: The Ren & Stimpy Story is available to stream via Docplay. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XByiHpUvrj0 THE HISTORY OF SWEAR WORDS Listening to Nicolas Cage utter profanity is a beautiful thing. Witnessing him on-screen always earns that description, of course. Whether he's running maniacally through the streets because his character is convinced he's a vampire, or he's flirting with subtlety while also playing identical siblings, he's a pleasure to behold — which is why Netflix's decision to task cinema's undeniable king of the unhinged with hosting The History of Swear Words is a smart moves. He opens and closes each episode, and pops up intermittently as an array of comedians and language experts offer their thoughts. He doesn't appear as often everyone watching would like, but he's the comedy series' best feature. He screams "fuck" like no one else, makes jokes about his career, and paints in front of a picture of a peach that nods to Face/Off and one of the most outlandish scenes he's ever been in, too. Without him, The History of Swear Words would've been interesting, rather than entertaining. The fact that it sticks to a very brief exploration of its selected curse words (fuck, shit, bitch, dick, pussy and damn) would've been more obvious. But Cage makes the show as delightful as it can be in its chosen form, even as viewers are left wanting more not only from him, but from the series' examination of profane terms. Of course, deploying The Wire and Da 5 Bloods' Isiah Whitlock Jr. on one specific episode is a pitch-perfect move as well. The first season of The History of Swear Words is available to stream via Netflix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiTFFr5PTJk BUMP Thanks to The Secret Life of Us, Love My Way, Spirited, Puberty Blues and The Time of Our Lives, Australian TV hasn't lacked Claudia Karvan's presence over the past two decades. Bump joins them, with Karvan co-creating, co-producing and also co-starring as schoolteacher Angie Davis. The narrative focuses on Angie's teenage daughter Oly (Nathalie Morris, Black Christmas), though. An overachiever attacking Year 11 with gusto and dreaming of a career working for the United Nations, Oly isn't sure what's going on when she starts feeling pangs of pain one morning; however, after throwing up in the school toilets and being taken to hospital via ambulance, she's soon a mother to the baby she didn't even know she was expecting. That all happens in Bump's first episode, with the Stan series' ten-part first season then charting the aftermath — including the massive changes to Oly's life, to Angie and her estranged husband Dom's (Angus Sampson, No Activity), and to Oly's brooding classmate Santi Hernandez's (Carlos Sanson, Little Monsters) as well. Set in Sydney's inner west, filled with characters who actually act and talk like teens, and offering a refreshingly multicultural view of Australia, Bump finds time for both big and small moments. It doesn't shy away from melodramatic plot developments, but it's also filled with complex, well-written and excellently performed characters, Oly and Angie especially. And, it'll fill the Heartbreak High-sized hole in your life before the new version hits. Karvan did star in The Heartbreak Kid, the movie that series was spun off from, after all. The first season of Bump is available to stream via Stan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGdcTUMGxB0 THE RENTAL If you've ever felt a little unsettled upon checking into a holiday property, Dave Franco and Joe Swanberg understand. The Bad Neighbours, Nerve and The Disaster Artist actor turns filmmaker for the first time with The Rental, co-writing the script with Drinking Buddies, Win It All and Easy director Swanberg — and the horror-thriller that results preys upon the uneasy suspicion that we could be under surveillance when we pay to stay in someone else's house. Charlie (Dan Stevens, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga), his wife Michelle (Alison Brie, Happiest Season), his brother Josh (Jeremy Allen White, Shameless), and his business parter and Josh's girlfriend Mina (Sheila Vand, Snowpiercer) all decide to head to a picturesque seaside spot for a weekend getaway. Searching online, they find what seems like the perfect place; however, upon arrival, Mina is quickly creeped out by Taylor (Toby Huss, Halloween), the house's caretaker. The vacation goes downhill from there, not only due to Mina's lingering anxiety about their remote abode, but because the two couples' underlying struggles are thrust out into the open. Unpacking the situation, Franco doesn't always find the best balance between the narrative's horror story and its relationship dramas, but he could've focused the film on either element and it still would've proven engaging. The excellent cast help immensely, and so does the commitment all-round to ensuring this isn't just a cookie-cutter cabin-in-the-woods effort. The Rental is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video. NEW AND RETURNING SHOWS TO CHECK OUT WEEK BY WEEK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBhlqe2OTt4&t=19s WANDAVISION From Iron Man to Spider-Man: Far From Home, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has notched up 23 big-screen instalments in its 13 years so far, firmly establishing a franchise template in the process. The characters in the spotlight change from film to film, but a clear formula is at work — which is why the mould-breaking goofiness of the Thor and Guardians of the Galaxy movies (Thor: Ragnarok especially) has stood out. New Disney+ series WandaVision also sits apart from the crowd. It's Marvel's biggest swing so far, in fact. It's also the company's first TV show from a hefty upcoming roster of series about characters already established in the MCU (including Loki, Falcon, the Winter Soldier and Hawkeye), and it relies upon viewers knowing Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen, Sorry for Your Loss) and Vision's (Paul Bettany, Solo: A Star Wars Story) history; however, its eagerness to do something different is worth applauding. Set after the events of Avengers: Endgame, it follows its titular couple in their home life. Just how it's able to do that given details already established in the MCU is one of its mysteries. So is the reason behind its approach, with the show aping classic sitcoms such as Leave It to Beaver, Bewitched and The Brady Bunch, as well as the involvement of Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris, If Beale Street Could Talk), daughter of Captain Marvel's Air Force pilot Maria Rambeau. So far, WandaVision doesn't always hit its marks — in fact, despite Olsen, Bettany and Kathryn Hahn's (I Know This Much Is True) comic performances, it can be inescapably clunky — but it keeps its audience not only intrigued and invested, but guessing. The first four episodes of WandaVision's first season are available to stream via Disney+, with new episodes releasing each Friday. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FGq5rZi1Pc SERVANT In its first season, which debuted in 2019, psychological horror series Servant introduced a distinctively disquieting scenario. Philadelphia newsreader Dorothy Turner (Lauren Ambrose, Six Feet Under) and her chef husband Sean (Toby Kebbell, Bloodshot) hire teenage nanny Leanne Grayson (Nell Tiger Free, Game of Thrones) to move in and care for their baby son Jericho — but she's really looking after a doll that Sean has been using to replace the infant, after the boy died at 13 weeks old and Dorothy couldn't cope. That's just Servant's setup, too. Initially, it gets its tension from the efforts by Sean, Leanne and Dorothy's brother Julian (Harry Potter's Rupert Grint) to maintain their ruse, and it makes ample use of the concept. Then Leanne's past comes into play, and the show shifts in different narrative directions while also maintaining its focus on grief, secrets, unhealthy family bonds and the way that darkness can fester in close quarters. M Night Shyamalan is the show's executive producer and has directed multiple episodes, but the series takes far more time to explore its creepy tale — and its sprawling claustrophobic brownstone setting — than Shyamalan's twist-heavy features. Servant's just-started second season picks up where it first left off and continues in the same engrossing fashion, all while investigating mysteries old and new. Its first two episodes also benefit from the work of Raw filmmaker Julia Ducournau behind the lens, while Ishana Night Shyamalan keeps things in the family by following her dad into the director's chair on a couple of episodes as well. The first three episodes of Servant's second season are available to stream via Apple TV+, with new episodes releasing each Friday. CULT CLASSICS TO REVISIT AND REDISCOVER https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFHjOfgMstE DINOSAURS Sometimes, sitcoms about families unfurl their tales via animation, as seen in everything from The Flintstones and The Jetsons to The Simpsons and Bob's Burgers. More frequently, they fall into the live-action category, which the likes of Family Ties, Full House, Fresh Off the Boat and Modern Family can all attest. But only one family-focused TV sitcom in the television history has focused on animatronic dinosaurs. That'd be Dinosaurs, of course. The big early-90s hit is set 60,000,003 years BCE, when earth was home to the supercontinent Pangaea, and it follows the day-to-day lives of the Sinclair family. Patriarch Earl works as a tree pusher for the Wesayso Corporation, which gives you an idea of the show's satirical leanings. His youngest son Baby spouts catchphrases like "not the mama" and "I'm the baby, gotta love me", which is indicative of the series' broad humour and easy gags. The whole concept was conceived by Jim Henson, his company also produced it, and it was as kooky when it first hit screens as it now sounds. It's also a show that everyone who was a kid in the 90s has strong memories of, and it has quite the finale. And, although your much-younger self couldn't have known all that time ago, Dinosaurs also sees Jessica Walter voice one of her many TV matriarchs — before fellow family-focused sitcom Arrested Development and spy spoof Archer, that is. All four seasons of Dinosaurs are available to stream via Disney+. Images: The History of Swear Words, Adam Rose/Netflix; Lupin, Emmanuel Guimier/Netflix.
Thumbing through designer clothing while scoffing down a buttery biscuit has never really been a socially acceptable thing to do. But Henne has decided to throw caution to the wind, teaming up with Baker D. Chirico to set up an Italian bakery within its own Greville Street boutique. From Friday–Sunday, up until Sunday, December 24, shoppers can wander into the La Panetteria Italiana pop-up in Prahran to find Henne's holiday edit sold alongside loaves of bread and some of Baker D. Chirico's famed panettone and panforte. The collaboration is a nod to Henne's and Baker D. Chirico's shared Italian heritage, aiming to bring a little fun and imagination to Christmas shopping this year. Note: we do recommend you save eating all of the baked goods until you've finished trying on clothes.
Despite his youth, prodigious culinary talent Hugh Allen is an established name in Melbourne's culinary scene. In 2021, he became the youngest chef ever to be awarded three hats in the Good Food Guide while heading up the kitchen at Vue de Monde when he was just 26 years old. Following formative stints at Copenhagen's Noma and that landmark role at one of Australia's most awarded restaurants, where he has been executive chef since 2019, the time has come for Allen to forge his own path with the launch of his debut restaurant, Yiaga. Six years in the making and set to launch in spring 2025, the story this restaurant will weave begins with its deeply historic location, tucked within the leafy Fitzroy Gardens. With a hospitality legacy stretching over a hundred years, the space Yiaga will occupy was initially known as the Kiosk Refreshment Rooms, a half-timbered tea room that opened in 1908. The space was ravaged by fire in 1960 and replaced with a solid brick structure that was home to various hospitality business, most recently The Pavilion Cafe, before being left vacant for nearly a decade. During his hunt for a restaurant location, Allen just happened to wander past its disused remains and knew it was exactly what he'd been looking for. View this post on Instagram A post shared by YIAGA (@yiaga.au) Working closely with renowned architect John Wardle, Allen originally intended to reimagine what remained of the existing building. Yet it was soon discovered that much of the structure was too derelict to keep. Fortunately, The Pavilion Cafe's familiar black slate pyramid-shaped roof will continue the location's enduring story, while distinctive design additions like a figure-of-eight-shaped entrance will welcome guests into this retreat hidden amid expansive greenery. In bringing Yiaga to life, Allen and Wardle have committed to creating a dynamic space that harmonises with Fitzroy Gardens' natural surroundings. For instance, the restaurant will be built almost entirely from materials gathered from across Victoria, from the burnt earth clay tiles that line the dining room wall, to exterior bricks inspired by bark from the surrounding trees. There's even ceramics made using the same clay as the cricket pitch at the MCG, which lies just a short walk away. View this post on Instagram A post shared by H U G H A L L E N (@hughsallen) A similar level of care and sophistication will resonate through Yiaga's cuisine. Across a multi-course tasting menu spotlighting Australia's abundant culinary landscape, you can expect dishes that feature the likes of top-tier local seafood, wild game and rare native berries. The 40-seat venue aims to be more than just a restaurant, with its longer-term vision including hosting talks, workshops and more — Allen envisions the venue to evolve into a "vibrant campus of gastronomy". "Being born and raised in Melbourne, I've always known that one day I wanted to open a restaurant here. Working and traveling around the world has only deepened my connection to this city," says Allen. "This project has already been an incredible journey, and I'm deeply grateful for the support of so many talented individuals. I can't wait to share more as the build progresses." View this post on Instagram A post shared by YIAGA (@yiaga.au) Yiaga is planned for a spring 2025 opening in the Fitzroy Gardens, East Melbourne. Head to the venue's website for more information. Top image: Jason Loucas.
Do you live in a dog-friendly house? Do you have some spare time on your hands? Do you fantasise about hanging around at dog parks with an actual dog? If the answer to any of these questions is yes — and especially if the answer to all of them is yes coming into Christmas — then the good folks at Vision Australia's Seeing Eye Dogs need you. As part of the organisation's dog-training program, it has puppies running around the place quite often, and it's in need of volunteers to raise them. That includes right now, with 45 pooches requiring homes before the merriest day of the year. In other words, Vision Australia is giving away puppies — although you will need to give them back. If you put up your hand to become a puppy carer, you'll get a puppy for about a year, from around its eight-week birthday to when it turns turns between 12–15 months old. During that time, you'll be responsible for introducing the sights, sounds and smells it'll meet when it starts working as a seeing eye dog (and giving your new friend heaps of cuddles). Of course, it's not all just fun, games and cuteness. You'll have to be responsible enough to take care of regular grooming, house training and exercise, and be available for regular visits. A fenced-in backyard is mandatory, too. In return, the organisation provides a strong support network, and all food, training equipment and vet care. You'll also need to be home most of the time — so you won't be leaving the puppy alone for more than three hours a day, sat in front of Dog TV — and to be able to put effort into training and socialising the pup. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Seeing Eye Dogs Australia (@seeingeyedogsaustralia) Seeing Eye Dogs Australia is looking for people across the majority of local government areas across metropolitan Melbourne, as well as Geelong, Bendigo and Ballarat. In Queensland, Brisbane's north and Sunshine Coast areas are the current priorities. Once the pups reach 12-15 months old, they'll return to Vision Australia — and complete their journey to become four-legged companions for people who are blind or have low vision. Keen to help? You can apply online right now. If you're eager but can't commit to the full year, there's also a six-month caring option. Or, for workplaces, there's corporate caring, too. For more information about Seeing Eye Dogs Australia's puppy carers, and to apply for the volunteer roles, head to the organisation's website. Top image: Nicola Cotton.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has taken us from New York skyscrapers to the far reaches of space, but for one weekend this year, it's landing right here in Sydney. Under the direction of Conductor Benjamin Northey, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra is bringing Marvel's Infinity Saga to life at the Sydney Opera House with a brand-new film concert experience featuring the biggest moments from 23 movies, with every heroic (and villainous) note performed live to screen. You will hear a selection of heart-pounding themes live at the Sydney Opera House, including Academy Award-winning scores by Ramin Djawadi, Alan Silvestri, Ludwig Göransson, Danny Elfman and a taste of the Guardians of the Galaxy mixtape. To celebrate hearing the soundtracks of MCU's biggest personalities in our own backyard, we've rounded up the ultimate Marvel-inspired list of places to visit in the city. From rooftop cocktails fit for a billionaire inventor to Viking-worthy feasts, here's where you can hit up to feel like you're the main character of your own movie. Iron Man If Tony Stark is your vibe, you don't just book any old dinner reservation; you expect sky-high views, sleek interiors and a drinks list as inventive as your tech. At O Bar and Dining, you could sip a martini while surveying the city from its revolving perch. For something moodier, Joji offers the kind of minimalist design and premium whisky selection Stark would absolutely approve of. And for sunset cocktails with harbour views? Zephyr ticks all the boxes: luxury rooftop elegance with a modern feel. Thor Sydney may not have Asgard's golden towers, but it can still offer a feast worthy of the God of Thunder. Mjolner is an obvious choice — not only for its Viking-inspired decor and meat-heavy menu, but for its weekly 'ThorsDay' all-you-can-eat night. In between bites, you can burn off some energy at Throw Axe Penrith, showing off your hammer-throwing skills. And since Thor's not one to shy away from mingling with other gods, dinner at Olympus Dining would be a fitting nod to his Greek counterparts. Captain America Steve Rogers is a man out of time, but luckily, Sydney has spots that speak to his 1940s nostalgia and all-American charm. Kittyhawk (named after a US fighter jet) is a perfect choice for its vintage wartime and aviation theme. For something more casual, Surly's American Tavern serves up classic barbecue and cold beer that would feel like home for Captain America. But before a feed, you can make like Rogers by doing sets at One Playground Gym, keeping your superhero conditioning in check. Hulk Bruce Banner might prefer the quiet life, but when the Other Guy takes over, it's all about big energy and bigger portions. At Smash Room City, you can release some Hulk-sized tension — no collateral damage to Sydney's buildings required. Wings and Tins might be next, where the beer-can smashers at each table would make for a very on-brand dinner ritual. And for a calmer Sunday, The Lord Dudley offers a classic roast feast in a cosy pub. Bonus points for the building's green facade that gives a subtle nod to his alter ego. Captain Marvel Carol Danvers may have been born on Earth, but her powers deserve a Sydney itinerary that's a little… otherworldly. Bar Planet is the aptly named Newtown favourite where even a soldier of the Kree might feel at home. The 81st-floor Infinity Bar gives you panoramic views of the city (and perhaps a moment to check in on other galaxies). And for a rush without leaving the atmosphere, Indoor Skydiving Sydney offers the pure adrenaline hit of flight powers. Whether you're team hero or villain, the Marvel's Infinity Saga Concert Experience is your chance to relive the best moments of the MCU in an entirely new way. Relive the most iconic moments from these beloved films in this unforgettable concert experience live at the Sydney Opera House. Book tickets now. Presentation Licensed by Disney Concerts © Disney
The citywide celebration of hops, malt and yeast that is Good Beer Week descends on Melbourne for its 11th edition from Saturday, May 20–Saturday, May 27, delivering yet another program packed full of hoppy, frothy festivities. This year's lineup has more than 70 events catering to beer lovers of all persuasions, including return favourites like the expert-led Hair of the Dog Breakfast at Beer DeLuxe Fed Square and The Fox Hotel's always-raucous GBW scavenger hunt. Mabu Mabu's Nornie Bero is hosting a Torres Strait Island feast infused with native flavours, storytelling and immersive performances, and featuring a special collab beer crafted on Indigenous ingredients. Meanwhile, Deeds Taproom & Kitchen invites beer-loving sweet tooths to whip up clever dessert creations using its own signature brews for beery bake-off to remember. [caption id="attachment_894583" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Carmen Zammit[/caption] Victoria by Farmer's Daughters will be spreading their love for all things Gippsland with a feast showcasing produce from Bonnie Brae's Farm alongside a swag of exclusive pours from Good Land Brewing. And beloved Collingwood beer joint Bar SK will return to its former Smith Street digs, joining new tenant March for a one-off shindig featuring sips by Edge Brewing and snacks courtesy of neighbour Ides. Denmark and Australia will go head to head for an indie craft beer dinner, Bad Shepherd Brewing Co is hosting a showcase dedicated to the breweries of Melbourne's southeast, and Bodriggy is heading skyward for Good Heavens' annual GBW Oyster Fest. Meanwhile, Hop Nation will be throwing a party in honour of its new dog-friendly beer, Molly Rose joins forces with Mjolner for a viking-worthy feast, and the folks at Moon Dog are back with their beloved GBW banquet dedicated to barrel-aged drops. [caption id="attachment_744574" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Moon Dog, by Kate Shanasy[/caption] Top image: Hopheads
Grief. Asking for forgiveness. Moving forward. Thematically, that's the initial three-season plan for Shrinking, Apple TV+'s Jason Segel (Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty)-, Harrison Ford (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny)- and Jessica Williams (Road House)-starring comedy series about therapists endeavouring to help their patients while rarely having all of the answers to their own problems. Audiences will get to see at least that journey from this kind-hearted gem, which was co-created by TV veteran Bill Lawrence fresh off Ted Lasso's success, teaming up with the soccer-themed hit's Brett Goldstein, aka Roy Kent, as well as Segel. Just as Shrinking's second season started airing in mid-October 2024, the show was renewed for a third season. "That is the beginning, middle and end of this story, without a shadow of a doubt. And I think people know from what I do that there has to be an undercurrent of hope and optimism in there," Lawrence tells Concrete Playground. "I'm not going to say everything would be nicely cut and dried, but I'm not sure people would ever watch my shows again if the end of this was 'Jimmy moved into the mountains and decided to be sad and alone forever'. You know what I mean? 'Don't even bother trying!'." Lawrence, who was also behind Spin City in the 90s, Scrubs and Cougar Town in the 00s, plus 2024 newcomer Bad Monkey, isn't saying that's all there'll be to Shrinking's on-screen journey — there's a way forward if, once season three rolls around, it earns another renewal again from there. "We knew that that was the end of this particular story. I think that's what's fun about television now, is you tell stories with a beginning, middle and end. Doesn't mean that the show can't go on, it just means if we go beyond these three seasons, I treat it like a book," he advises. "Bad Monkey, there's another book by Carl Hiaasen with some of the same characters, at least the ones that aren't dead. It's a completely new story, with a completely new inception point, and I love it just as much as the previous one. So I love the idea of doing that with a TV show like this, hopefully." Since its early 2023 debut, Shrinking has spent its time with Segel's Jimmy Laird, Ford and Williams as his colleagues Paul Rhoades and Gaby Evans, plus Jimmy's teenage daughter Alice (Lukita Maxwell, AfrAId), best friend Brian (Michael Urie, Goodrich), patient Sean (Luke Tennie, CSI: Vegas), and neighbours Liz (Christa Miller, Head of the Class) and Derek (Ted McGinley, The Baxters). When the show began its tale, Jimmy was consumed by loss and pain after the death of his wife in a car accident. With Alice, he'd largely been absent since tragedy changed their lives forever, and his friends had been picking up the slack. With the folks paying him for his professional assistance, Jimmy then began trying to push them out of their comfort zones. "I think one of the things that actually was a real breakthrough for me from participating in the show is understanding that one of the real pitfalls of therapy is getting caught in a weekly loop of talking about your problems, but not actually trying to change them. I hadn't really thought of that," Segel explains. "You have people who've been in therapy for years and years and years, but haven't really made any progress. And so I think that that's one of the things that was frustrating Jimmy, is feeling like his patients were caught in a rut — and 'what do I start doing to change your behaviour? What do we do that's actionable today?'. So that's been really cool, and I think it's been cool for the viewers, too, to think about it in that way." Shrinking is another of Lawrence's series with hug-inducing levels of warmth at its core, as Ted Lasso was so welcomely. As with Scrubs, it finds both deep emotion and humour in healthcare's vicinity. And as everything on his resume since Spin City has been, it's about the families that we make not just through the bonds of blood. Vulnerability sits at its heart, too, which Segel appreciates, especially as the Freaks and Geeks, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, How I Met Your Mother star's concept of what that means has evolved over his quarter-century-plus acting career. "I think that my idea of vulnerability has become more sophisticated as I have gotten older," he notes. "When I was a young man, to me the most-vulnerable thing was doing full-frontal nudity during a breakup, and that's just literally vulnerable. But I think that in this show, I've started to realise more and more that real grown-up vulnerability is saying 'I'm afraid' or saying 'I'm struggling and I need help'. Asking for help, what a vulnerable thing. And so I think that you'll see a lot of characters committing real acts of vulnerability and bravery by asking each other for help." Shrinking's 12-episode second season picks up with Jimmy being confronted with consequences from his new strategy for therapy, and Alice — and everyone else — concerned that he'll return to his self-destructive spiral. As it digs into seeking not just assistance but forgiveness, it also brings Goldstein (The Garfield Movie) in front of the camera, and forces its characters to begin reckoning with what it truly means to even think about allowing yourself to forge a path beyond past sorrows, mistakes and fears. How does Lawrence approach his now-trademark mix of emotional complexity and comedy, including while championing kindness? How crucial is Segel's involvement, especially in conveying details that don't need to be written on the page? And how did Ford come to be onboard? What does Segel learn working beside the acting icon — and how does he tackle a project when he's so intricately involved off-screen? We chatted to Lawrence and Segel about all of the above and more. On Making Sitcoms with Emotional Complexity, Including Ted Lasso and Shrinking Both Heroing Kindness, Self-Belief and Asking for Help Bill: "Everybody that you get to talk to that does what I do, they without a doubt had influences and idolised different shows and writers when they grew up. And for me, I grew up on that type of TV. People forget, because they aren't as old as I am, M*A*S*H was this show that was like the biggest show in America — a sitcom that would be broad and silly and goofy, and it would turn on a dime and you would find yourself sobbing about a patient that passes away or a story that you didn't see coming. You'd just get blindsided. And I always gravitated to TV like that. Even The Office, which I think is so brilliant and silly, and Michael Scott is a ridiculous character, they somehow found ways that he could still turn on a switch and hit you emotionally. I like shows like 30 Rock and Veep, which are a testament to amazing joke-writing, and sardonic and satire, and I wish I could do them — I can't. But I got very lucky. I knew with the show Scrubs that I wanted to try and do this, and see if you could do shows with big comedy that then would maybe sometimes have hairpin curves into emotional depth. And I remember when I tried to sell Scrubs, one of the executives that I sell to said 'I'm not sure you can do broad, silly comedies and then make people care — like, a fantasy, and then make people care if a patient lives or dies or not'. And I used to say 'I think you can, if you just turn the lights down and play some indie music'. I was joking, but it turned out to be right. I think there's a lot of people out there that laugh their way through pain, and I think that's why maybe sometimes these shows work, hopefully." On Shrinking's Focus on a Therapist Trying to Help Others While Needing Help Himself Jason: "I think that just on its face, the premise of somebody practising therapy while they themselves are going through a nervous breakdown is an electric idea. That's what comedy is, right? It's setting up these two opposing walls, and comedy is the space in between. Forgetting Sarah Marshall's about a guy trying to get over a breakup and running into his ex and her new boyfriend. It's these things in opposition to each other. So someone trying to help other people get well while they themselves are not well, it's just a great place to start." On the Balancing Act Between Silly Comedic Moments and Deep Emotion That Touches Audiences Bill: "It could be disastrous. I'll tell you right now, the stuff I've done in my career that's failed, have failed because of our inability to navigate those moments, and it just ends up seeming inauthentic. And without patting myself on the back, because I have very little to do with it, there's a chemistry to a TV show. Shows like this work often because the cast, there's actors and actresses top to bottom on Shrinking and on Ted Lasso and on Scrubs that have the ability to be making you laugh and being goofy and silly one second, and then to literally gather themselves and take a breath, and be pulling at your heartstrings the next. It's a special talent for actors and actresses. One of the great gifts of this stage of my career is getting to watch Harrison Ford do that. I knew what a great actor he was. I didn't know how funny he was. And I certainly didn't know how smooth he'd be at making the turn from one spot to another." Jason: "I think that we try to stay, if this makes sense, as true to life as possible, because my experience of life is it's not a whole bunch of hugging and learning. It's clunky and awkward, and the great thing about having friends you really trust and believe in is, yeah, there's some hugging and learning, but there's also a whole lot of 'get off your ass, we're going out to dinner'. There's a lot of 'dump that guy, he's a you-know-what?', as opposed to sitting around moping. 'Let's get revenge on him', you know. This is the way I think we actually behave — we make each other laugh and we hold each other by the hand and drag each other along. And so I actually think it's easier than it might seem, that the more honestly you write, the funnier it is." On Getting Harrison Ford for His First Main Role in a TV Comedy — and Learning From Him Bill: "I gave him my soul. He's a mystical creature and I signed my soul away. No, he's not. It's still crazy. When I was 25, I created the show Spin City with my mentor with Gary Goldberg, and the fact that Michael J Fox was doing it, I couldn't comprehend it. It was the first big job I ever had and he turned out to be exactly the type of person that you would hope he would be being a fan. And I did not expect to have that experience again as a guy in my 50s. And Harrison, to his credit, he's like 'yo, man, I'm trying new stuff. I've never done a TV show. I've never done a comedy'. A couple months ago he's like 'I've never done a Marvel movie'. I'm like 'you work harder than anybody I know, and you're 82'. It makes you almost feel guilty if you're ever complaining about being tired. It's been a career highlight for me that I did not expect to have at this point in my life." Jason: "Harrison and I both want this thing to turn out great, and we both work really hard and do our prep and all that stuff. But one of the things I learned from Harrison is that I really feel a sense of ownership and stress about it turning out well. And I think one of the things that I've learned from Harrison is 'hey kid, you've earned the right to trust knowing that you're good at this, and it's going to be good. You don't have to be scared until it's good. You know it's going to be good. You've done all the work. You know you're good at this. Do your prep. Show up. Nail it. It's going to be good'. That has been really helpful for me, because I'm sort of holding my breath until the finished product comes out and I like it. And I would enjoy myself a lot more in this job and in this life if I just had a little more ease about it always seems to work out. I still haven't bought that lesson yet. 'What if this time it doesn't?', you know." On the Importance of Segel's Casting — and What He Can Convey with His Face That Doesn't Need to Be on the Page Bill: "We talked a little bit about what the prototypes for my shows are. And he's such an inherently likeable actor. I'll tell you something I haven't told everybody. We made it a joke in the writers' room. He's playing some heavy stuff, and the tendency for writers is to overwrite it, to have characters say 'I'm really sad' or to say 'that thing that you did hurt me'. And Jason, one time, one time only, we said 'do we have to write this line or can you do it with your face?' — and he's like 'oh, I can do it with my face'. That has become shorthand in the writers' room. He's so good that we're like 'do we have to, can we go home, or do we have to write something here? It depends whether or not Jason can do it with his face'. But even though it's a joke, I watch some of these stories play out on his face and see what he's doing. Man, he's so good. He's so good and such a talented writer and just a good guy. Don't tell him I said it, but I really like him." On Segel Co-Creating and Co-Writing Shrinking, as Well as Acting Jason: "It's interesting because that's been actually the majority of my career, is writing something and shepherding it from the beginning, and so I'm very comfortable and familiar with that idea. I think that one of the benefits it has, for this show in particular, is that I get to quarterback the scenes when I'm on set that I'm in, knowing what we're trying to accomplish from a more bird's-eye view than you have when you're an actor for hire. I also love just being an actor for hire on projects where I do that. There's something very relaxing about it, because you're like 'most of this is somebody else's problem'. But I think that when I'm on Shrinking, I feel very protective of it. And I want it to be great and I want to help my castmates shine, and I just love it very, very much." On Families of Circumstance Sitting at the Heart of Lawrence's TV Shows, From Spin City and Scrubs to Ted Lasso and Shrinking Bill: "Found family, definitely. Mentorship, definitely. Oh shoot, I just do the same thing over. No, I'm joking. I cherish it in my own life. I was an only child. I built worlds around me of people that I loved and loved spending time with, and a family as well. And I think one of the things that maybe lay people don't know about Hollywood, because Hollywood's got a bad rap — deservedly so in some cases — but the positives are most people got in due to mentorship, and the best experiences people have involved found family and building a community on a show or a play or a movie. I still spend time with the cast and crew of Scrubs, not because we're working together, but because I sincerely love them. And I'm only good at writing what I know. So it's either writing about that or writing about a guy who's deathly afraid of his wife. She's so good. I'm just kidding. I'm just trying to get a laugh. She's awesome, man." On Segel Always Drawing Upon His Personal Life, Whether He's Writing, Acting or Both Jason: "I would say that everything that I participate in the writing process, or act in, is drawn from my personal life. It's the only way I know how to make art. I don't think we manifest it out of nowhere. I think it's more about transmutation. Like, what comes in and then what do you turn it into? I don't think that the kind of grief that we're exploring needs to be specifically about having lost a partner. I think it's the same kind of grief we experience from a big breakup. I think it's the same kind of grief we felt after COVID when there was lost time, when all of a sudden two years of our lives were gone and we'll never get them back. And so, yeah, there are moments in the exploration of Jimmy getting over losing his wife when I think about breakups, or I think about paths of my life that could have been taken that I didn't take, things that will never be that I really believed were going to happen. So I think it's all personal. That's the only way I know how to do it." On Segel's Favourite Shrinking Character Jason: "It may be surprising, but my favourite character is Derek, Ted McGinley's character, because to me, he is the best of us. He represents being unencumbered by doubt. He's just a guy who wants everyone to be having a good time. Don't sweat the small stuff. I wish my life felt more like that. I wish that my life felt more like how Derek feels on a day-to-day basis. Like 'oh hey great, we get to take a drive today? Oh, hot dogs — great!' What a way to live, right?" On What Gets Lawrence Excited About a New Project After Making TV for More Than Three Decades Bill: "I think that the day that I'm not excited to get paid to write stories for a living, I will go teach and hang it up, because I don't need any extra juice to get me going. I'm so lucky to do this. The only other job I ever had was painting the houses, and I wasn't that good at it. And so I hope people know that I'm grateful every day. I think the thing that makes me excited to do it now is I get to work with young people that want to get into this industry. I get to work with people that still show up and are like 'wow, a TV show!', and it's impossible to be cynical and jaded when you get to be around that. I get to talk to people like yourself that, I would argue, would not be doing this unless they grew up as TV and movie nerds like I did, and wanted to talk about all this stuff. I didn't expect to have a career renaissance in my 50s, but I'm going to ride it out as long as I can, and until people realise that they've made a grave mistake, and just keep having fun and working with friends." Shrinking streams via Apple TV+. Read our review of season one.
Australians really love prawns — and Ballina Prawn Festival knows it. They've dedicated an entire day in honour of everyone's favourite crustacean, and that day is November 11. Set in Ballina's Missingham Park on the banks of the Richmond River, the day will be marked by parades, music, rides and all the prawns you can eat. The festival stalls will be sizzling prawns of all sizes while events happen in every direction, including a prawn shelling competition and a signature dish competition. There will also be a boat parade celebrating the prawn industry, fireworks, amusement rides, live music and sand castle building. Yeah, it'll be the truest form of an Aussie-as day.
Among the latest list of temporarily shuttered venues to drop a revamped online offering for the sanity of us isolated locals, are the Museums Victoria stable of cultural institutions: Melbourne Museum, Immigration Museum and Scienceworks. The three sites can now be experienced from any screen, whenever you fancy, thanks to newly launched virtual programming Museums at Home. Museums Victoria's digital channels will now play host to a suite of videos, live streams, online events and other experiences, to keep you connected and indulging that curiosity while cooped up at home. You can take a virtual tour of Melbourne Museum, hitting exhibitions like Phar Lap: A True Legend, Dinosaur Walk, and brain-focused collection The Mind, seeing and learning plenty along the way. There'll be regular Q&A videos with the museum experts, too, where you can jump online and ask your own burning question about something that's got you stumped. Meanwhile, Scienceworks' new online offering is sure to inspire a few at-home scientists, packed with virtual tours of its own exhibitions, research videos and links to loads of fascinating science stories. You can journey to Pluto with NASA's Alice Bowman and watch a hilarious video of 'things you shouldn't put in a microwave'. Don't try and recreate at home, folks. And the Immigration Museum will have you embracing Victoria's multicultural roots, exploring personal stories and historic photos on a virtual tour of the current exhibitions. Identity: yours, mine, ours questions what it means to belong in Australia, while video footage captures award-winning First Nations artist and choreographer Amrita Hepi taking over the Immigration Museum's Long Room for a special performance last year. Or, you take a peek at much of the Museum's extensive Migration and Cultural Diversity collection, while reading up about the colourful history of migration in Australia. Check out the full Museums at Home offering at the website and each of the museums' social channels. Top image: Scienceworks, 'Beyond Perception' exhibition courtesy of Museums Victoria. Photo by Benjamin Heally.
The Dandenong Ranges has welcomed a newcomer to town, and it's serving up Mexican-inspired cafe fare and fine cuppas. Maria Cafe is run by partners Josh O'Brien and Omar Viramontes, who are also responsible for the nearby Lorna Cafe. While the duo's first venue is named after Josh's grandmother — and features her homemade crumpet recipe on its menu — Maria Cafe takes inspiration from Omar's grandmother. Drawing upon her Mexican heritage, the new cafe finds its culinary cues in Central and South American influences. Specialty dishes include pulled beef brisket tacos with Oaxaca cheese and salsa verde ($17), lamb or grilled tempeh tostadas with beetroot slaw and marinated feta ($19.50), and the incredibly decadent sounding churros waffles — served with chocolate fudge sauce, sugared hazelnuts, strawberries and mascarpone ($18.50). Other especially tasty sounding brekkie items include huevos rotos (fried eggs, chorizo ragu and potatoes with avocado lime crema and fried bread, $19.00) and croquettes benedict (panko-crumbed sweet potato and chorizo croquettes topped with red capsicum jam, poached eggs and hollandaise, for $19.50) — or the pina colada taco (made from fried dough taquitos, then filled with white rum custard, pineapple compote, coconut and salted caramel popcorn, for $18.50). For drinks, the cafe uses Industry Beans and offers a rotating selection of single origin roasts, alongside specialty beetroot, turmeric and matcha lattes, organic teas and Mexico's Jarritos soft drinks. The cafe is also licensed and offers wine, beer and specialty cocktails to boot.
I've always thought of Utah as just another landlocked American state — a puzzling enigma of deep conservatism and desert monuments. Little did I know that a recent visit to America's most underrated state would unearth a skiing and mountain community steeped in beauty, history and epicurean experiences that wouldn't feel out of place in Australia. You'll find Park City — the ski town you've probably never heard of — a short 45-minute drive from Utah's capital. After leaving Salt Lake City International Airport, it's not long before the lights of the city's historic Main Street (as well as the headlights from the army of snowcat groomers on the hill) emerge on the horizon, as if glints of silver have been etched from the bowels of a mine shaft. [caption id="attachment_893649" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Park City, Utah.[/caption] In fact, it was rare minerals like silver which first had people rushing to these mountains in the 1860s in the first place. At one point, there were more than 300 mines in the Park City area. But the industry's collapse catalysed its rebirth as a skiing and tourism destination, and thus was born the allure of some of the greatest snow on Earth. In fact, the phrase: 'The Greatest Snow on Earth' was officially registered by the state in 1975. But geography and science help lay a solid claim to back this up. Giddy up, because this is America's most remarkable ski town. [caption id="attachment_893650" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Salt Lake City, Utah.[/caption] What makes it the Greatest Snow on Earth? Utah's geography to the mountains in the west makes it an arid state compared to its northern neighbours. The typically dry conditions, cool winters, and high altitudes (Park City's altitude is over 2,000 metres) allow the snow crystals that fall in the region to be thicker and more symmetrical in their structure; therefore, they accumulate fluffier powder. [caption id="attachment_893663" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Park City, Utah.[/caption] What's it like skiing at Park City Mountain? It's brisk at the top of the Super Condor Express chair lift (a balmy minus 24 degrees celsius), and while my face is frozen, I can't help but smile. "That was awesome. Do we go again?" I ask our guide Halle from Park City Mountain Resort. "Absolutely!" she replies, and within a few seconds, we're hurtling down Upper and Lower Boa for a second time. I'm not cold anymore because my legs are burning from another three-kilometre, nine-minute journey and nearly 550 metres of vertical descent. [caption id="attachment_893648" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Deer Valley Resort, Park City, Utah.[/caption] The terrain at Park City Mountain Resort is enormous. Technically made up of two individual ski areas of, Park City Mountain and Canyons Mountain, which were merged by Vail Resorts in 2014 and subsequently were joined by a gondola in 2015. With almost 3,000 hectares of terrain, there are 43 lifts, six terrain parks, and ski-in-ski-out access to Main Street. There are 330 named trails, but chatting to Halle (once a former Ski Patroller), that number is closer to 800 if you're in the know. There is a required proximity between 'resort' and 'town' when it comes to North American ski destinations. And that distance is what defines the culture of the town itself. Park City manages the balance of both on and off mountain activities better than anyone. Whether you ski down to Mountain Village for brunch and espresso at The Bridge Cafe or, carve your way right to the bar at High West Saloon, the only ski-in-ski-out distillery in the U.S. [caption id="attachment_893639" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Deer Valley Resort, Park City, Utah.[/caption] Where you also sleep matters. The new YOTELPAD Park City in Canyons Village is as Instagram-able, a hotel as they come. The reception and common spaces are filled with neon, and as the newest mid-range option on the mountain, it comes with all the expected mod-cons: spa, sauna, games room, and heated outdoor patio for afternoon Apres-ski. But the most significant novelty is the retractable Murphy beds in each room, which are a welcome addition on a luggage-heavy ski holiday. [caption id="attachment_893647" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Salt Lake City, Utah.[/caption] What about Deer Valley, Park City's quieter cousin? Like an expensive, out-of-reach necklace dangling just over a ridge is where you'll find the exclusive Deer Valley Resort (still technically within Park City.) It's one of only three resorts in the United States that does not permit snowboarders, often considered the riff-raff of the snow sports world. Both old money and the nouveau riche choose Deer Valley over Park City Mountain, not just because the skiing is quieter (lift ticket sales are regularly capped) but because the on and off-mountain service is exceptional. Skiers at Deer Valley are referred to as "guests" and not "customers", plus there's complimentary overnight ski valet for your gear. [caption id="attachment_893640" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Deer Valley Resort, Park City, Utah.[/caption] The Resort also offers a complimentary service with 25 luxury Cadillac Escalades. Don't be fooled; this is well and truly earned in your $500 daily lift pass. As a snowboarder, I'm used to being looked down upon by skiers at most other U.S. mountains. But here, I have no choice but to don a pair of skis for the first time in 20 years and set off with Uros, my Slovenian personal guide, for the next 48 hours. We ski together for hours through untracked Aspen tree runs. We wait only minutes in lineless lifts while ogling together from above at his favourite gated community. He points out to me the house where he was invited to a dinner with Steve Jobs and Al Gore after a day on the slopes. [caption id="attachment_893662" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Park City, Utah.[/caption] On the deck at the prestigious Stein Eriksen Lodge, the final pieces of the Deer Valley puzzle are assembled once inside their temperature-controlled Alpen Globes. It's only 3 pm, but in the fading afternoon sun, Après-ski well and truly has begun, and I'm handed a wine list by the Lodge's Sommelier with a cost price of over $4,000,000. Pioneers, distillers, hunters, snowboarders, paddlers, and mountain bikers. Like their world-class ski resorts, Utahns are in a class of their own. They're genuine outdoor people who personify a bygone and future America, and I'm happy to confirm them as the rightful custodians of the Greatest Snow on Earth®. Images: Jeremy Drake, Park City Chamber/Convention & Visitors Bureau & Deer Valley Resort. 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.
Before Dolly Parton's own musical about her life makes its theatre debut, premiering on Broadway in 2026, always loving the music icon on stage is easy thanks to Here You Come Again. Telling the story of a massive fan of the legend and their imagined version of a star like no other, this fellow song-fuelled production is filled with Parton's tunes. It has her stamp of approval, too, and it's playing Melbourne in 2025. Here You Come Again will enjoy a stint at Comedy Theatre from Saturday, July 12–Sunday July 20. Get ready to hear 'Jolene', '9 to 5', 'Islands in the Stream' and 'I Will Always Love You', among other tracks, as the show's protagonist navigates the ups and downs of life with his own fantasy of Dolly by his side. Playing the pivotal Parton part, so slipping into the rhinestones and blonde hair, is Here You Come Again co-creator Tricia Paoluccio — and yes, she's also a lifelong Dolly fan. In the US and UK, Here You Come Again has played soldout seasons — and expect it to prove popular Down Under, too. Alongside Paoluccio, Australian Dash Kruck (Little Shop of Horrors, Jesus Christ Superstar) stars, with the local run also featuring an all-Australian ensemble, plus a live band helping to bring Parton's music to life. And if you can't make it in July, the show will be back in the Victorian capital from Thursday, October 23–Sunday, November 2. Images: UK production, Hugo Glendinning.
Even Polyphemus the Cyclops needs sunglasses. Just because Polyphemus doesn't exist shouldn't stop us from dreaming up eyewear for him. That's what Italian artist Giuseppe Colarusso appears to be suggesting in one of the images from his ongoing series of reality-defying Improbabilita. The uniting theme of all the 50+ whacky visual concepts in this project? Unlikelihood. Sourced entirely from Colarusso's skewed yet strangely logical imagination, his bizarre inventions aim to draw a double-take from the viewer. At first glance these might be real things — until your improbability reflex kicks in. How about a set of cutlery with limp rope handles that totally negate their functionality? A sink without a plughole? Dice denuded of their dots? A hieroglyphics computer keyboard? A mix of real-life construction and Photoshopping, there are over 50 such concepts live on Colarusso's very entertaining website. Each item is easily worthy of the International Chindogu Society — chindogu being, of course, the Japanese art of the 'un-useless invention', a tradition which over the years has brought us such hilarious ingenuities as the butter gluestick. Funnily enough, like chindogu, Colarusso's surreal images more often than not raise the question of "Why doesn't this exist?" If you stop and think of the physical logistics of such a thing — for example, spaghetti in an ice cream cone — during that whimsical moment of pause before you realise why the object's existence is totally unlikely, for the briefest fraction of a second there, it's likely. Via Colossal.
Melbourne, the biggest day on the footy calendar is here. On Saturday, September 27, the AFL Grand Final takes over the MCG. Whether you've scored yourself a seat at the game or you're just soaking up the city's incredible atmosphere, there's one stop to make before the bounce: a free facial hair trim inspired by some of Australia's best sports stars. To celebrate the day, Philips is setting up in Fed Square with a pop-up facial grooming experience. From 10.30am–6.30pm, the OneBlade Barbershop will be open for walk-ins, with two barbers on hand to give your beard or moustache a trim, edge or close shave using the Philips OneBlade. You'll get to choose from a board of iconic styles worn by AFL, Rugby, NRL, UFC and Cricket stars to inspire your cut, from Honeybadger and Nick Kyrgios, to Bailey Smith and Volk. There's no need to book ahead, just drop by and scan the QR code to secure your spot on the day. While you're there, you can also spin the prize wheel for instant giveaways. And if you share an Instagram story of yourself at the activation using the hashtag #OneBladeAU, you'll also go in the running to win the grand prize: a $2,000 summer holiday package for two, including flights, accommodation and experiences. The winner will be announced live at Fed Square just before the game kicks off. Whether you want to head to the game looking sharp, score a big win, or just want to try the OneBlade for yourself, this is your chance. Catch the OneBlade Barbershop pop-up in Fed Square on Saturday, September 27 from 10.30am–6.30pm. For more info, head to the website.
If you thought that the White Lotus resorts in Hawaii and Sicily were luxe, Thailand's counterpart has news for you: "our hotel is the best in the world," guests are told upon checking in, as viewers can see in the just-dropped full season-three trailer. A new batch of travellers is making the chain their temporary home away from home, and a new round of chaos is certain to ensue. Also exclaimed in the latest sneak peek: "what happens in Thailand stays in Thailand". The acclaimed series returns for its third run in mid-February 2025 — and while a vacation at an opulent hotel is normally relaxing, that isn't what folks find in this show. It was true in the first season in 2021, then in season two in 2023, each with a largely different group of holidaymakers. Based on the various glimpses at season three over the last few months, that's of course set to be accurate again in the eight-episode run that arrives from Monday, February 17 Australian and New Zealand time. Walton Goggins (Fallout), Carrie Coon (Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire), Jason Isaacs (The Crowded Room), Michelle Monaghan (MaXXXine), Leslie Bibb (Palm Royale) and Parker Posey (Mr & Mrs Smith) are among the vacationers hoping to enjoy a White Lotus stay this time, alongside Sam Nivola (The Perfect Couple), Patrick Schwarzenegger (Gen V), Sarah Catherine Hook (Cruel Intentions) and Aimee Lou Wood (Sex Education). Families, couples and friends on getaways: they're all covered by the above cast members. From season one, Natasha Rothwell (How to Die Alone) is back Hawaii spa manager Belinda, who advises that she's there on an exchange program to take some knowledge back to Maui. Season three also stars Lisa from BLACKPINK, Lek Patravadi (In Family We Trust), Tayme Thapthimthong (Thai Cave Rescue), Nicholas Duvernay (Bel-Air), Arnas Fedaravičius (The Wheel of Time), Christian Friedel (The Zone of Interest), Scott Glenn (Bad Monkey), Dom Hetrakul (The Sweetest Taboo), Julian Kostov (Alex Rider), Charlotte Le Bon (Niki), Morgana O'Reilly (Bookworm) and Shalini Peiris (The Ark). Bad feelings, seeking pleasure but finding pain, threatening to drink oneself to sleep, wanting to always live like this, family reunions, angry rich men, possible prison sentences, protecting the hotel: alongside guns, dancing, judgemental pals, missing pills, snakes, swims, monkeys, ambulances, complaints about gluten-free rice and a body bag, they're all featured in the clips from season three, which takes place over the course of a week. Where the Mike White (Brad's Status)-created, -written and -directed satire's first season had money in its sights and the second honed in on sex, eastern religion and spirituality is in the spotlight in season three. What'll be in store after this? While the third go-around is 2025's must-see viewing, HBO has already renewed The White Lotus for its fourth season. Check out the full trailer for The White Lotus season three below: The White Lotus returns on Sunday, February 16 in the US, which is Monday, February 17 Down Under. At present, the series streams via Binge in Australia and on Neon in New Zealand. Images: HBO.
Those who tuned into MasterChef last night, Tuesday, May 19, would've watched with bated breath as contestants attempted to construct a wildly difficult dessert. Those who didn't should maybe stop here — and go watch it — as there will be, yes, spoilers. You have been warned. The aforementioned dessert is called The Black Box and is a fixture on the menu at Peter Gunn's Collingwood restaurant Ides. While the restaurant is currently closed to dine-in customers — like the rest of Melbourne's hospitality businesses — it is offering takeaway and delivery. And on that to-go menu? The Black Box. https://twitter.com/masterchefau/status/1262678713004679169 It might look unassuming, but this small dessert is actually made from 11 different elements, which include a black box of tempered white chocolate, yoghurt pearls, gingerbread biscuits, chocolate soil, grilled mandarin custard, isomalt wafer, chocolate-dipped mandarin, honeycomb and sherbet. Unless you want to spend 45 minutes attempting to temper said chocolate — and have a dry ice guy handy — we don't suggest you try and make this one at home. Well, not from scratch, anyway. When you order the $25 dessert from Ides, you are warned that 'assembly is required' — hopefully not so much to induce a Sarah Tiong-like panic, but just enough to make you feel like the MasterChef champion you could be. If you'd like to get fancy, the restaurant also offers a paired cocktail with the dessert for $17, which is called Vines in the Orchard and is made with umeshu, calvados and topaque. Elsewhere on the to-go menu: oysters, mandarin cake, baby cos salad and a four-course set menu for $65, which changes weekly but currently includes The Black Box. All of the dishes need some level of preparation, including cooking, reheating and plating. With the recent announcement that Melbourne's restaurants, cafes and pubs are allowed to reopen their doors for up to 20 customers from June 1, Ides is planning to reopen from Thursday, June 4. You can make a reservation over here. To order takeaway from Ides, head over to the website. The restaurant is offering same-day delivery within 10 kilometres of Collingwood for orders placed before 12pm.
Another vaccination milestone, another loosening of COVID-19 rules: that's becoming an end-of-week tradition in Victoria. The metropolitan Melbourne region just came out of lockdown a couple of days back, at 11.59pm on Thursday, October 21, after the state hit the 70-percent double-vaccinated mark — and now, with the 80-percent double-jabbed threshold set to be reached in the coming days, more rules will ease across Victoria at 6pm on Friday, October 29. All those restrictions you've been abiding by for the past few days? Yes, they're about to change. And while Victoria has an existing roadmap for easing back to the pandemic version of normality, the new requirements that'll kick in at the 80-percent double-vaxxed mark have been fleshed out in further detail. Also, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews advised what's in store when the state hits 90-percent double-vaxxed among those aged 12 and over, too. "Thanks to the hard work of millions of Victorians who turned out to get vaccinated in recent months, the Victorian Government has today been able to outline what life will be like as we hit our 80 per cent and 90 per cent double dose targets," said the Premier in a statement. "Victoria will reach its 80-percent double-dose vaccination milestone almost a week ahead of schedule, on Friday 29 October. When we reach our 90-percent double-dose milestone — predicted to be as early as 24 November — a significant easing of all major restrictions will occur," Andrews continued. Victoria will hit 80% double dosed this week, and the Chief Health Officer determined that at 6pm on Friday 29 October more restrictions will be eased - and Victoria will all come together under the same restrictions. pic.twitter.com/XJvxbPel2n — Dan Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) October 24, 2021 Accordingly, when 6pm arrives on Friday, October 29, public outdoor gatherings will go up to 30 people (including dependents). At-home limits won't change, however, so that remains at up to ten people (including dependents) per day. With both, vaccination is listed as "strongly recommended" by the government. Retail can reopen, and gyms as well — both to double-jabbed folks. In most indoor settings in public — which includes restaurants, pubs, retail, gyms, hairdressers and beauty services — there'll be no set limit on the number of people if all staff and patrons are double-vaccinated, although the one person per four-square-metre rule will still apply. And outdoors in these same types of locations, there'll be a 500-person cap up to one person per two-square-metres if all staff and patrons are double-jabbed. Plus, these rules will also apply to weddings, funerals and religious gatherings, again if everyone is double-vaxxed. In great news for everyone sick of their streaming queues, indoor entertainment venues can finally reopen. With seated venues — with spans cinemas and theatres — there's a 75-percent capacity limit, or the one person per four-square-metre rule up to a 1000-person cap, but only if both staff and patrons are double-jabbed. Non-seated non-seated indoor entertainment venues won't have to abide by a set number, but the one person per four-square-metre requirement applies, again if everyone is double-vaccinated. [caption id="attachment_788042" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Google Maps[/caption] Outdoors, both seated and non-seated entertainment venues — so stadiums, zoos and tourism attractions — can open with the one person per two-square-metres restriction up to 5000 if staff and patrons are double-vaxxed. Also, events such as music festivals can also hit the 5000-attendee mark, but there might be other restrictions depending on the venue. The new rules state that the Chief Health Officer can allow larger crowds "for significant events and venues under the Public Events Framework, " too. The requirements around masks are changing as well, and will only be mandated indoors — not outdoors. That said, it's still highly recommended that Victorians keep masking up outside in busy streets, outdoor markets or anywhere you can't physically distance from other people. Plus, you can get ready to mosey around all of Victoria again. The entire state will be under the same rules at the 80-percent double-vaxxed mark, which means that travelling from metropolitan Melbourne to regional Victoria will be permitted. Interstate travel will be allowed as well, although that obviously depends on other states' border rules. Still, Victoria has already dropped its quarantine requirement for double-vaccinated folks entering the state from places deemed 'red zones'. Also, as previously announced, there'll be no quarantine for double-jabbed travellers returning from overseas from Monday, November 1, either. [caption id="attachment_818582" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Le Bajo, Julia Sansone[/caption] Then, at the 90-percent double-jabbed threshold — so around Wednesday, November 24, with the exact date obviously yet to be confirmed depending on vaccination numbers over the next month — even more rules will relax. The Premier said that this stage would see "all major restrictions will ease and we'll get back to something resembling our pre-COVID lives." So, this is when all caps and density quotients will be ditched — covering everywhere, including at-home, outdoors and at venues. Indeed, there'll be no restrictions for indoor and outdoor events at all, as long as they stick to COVID-safe rules, which includes vax requirements. At this stage, you'll also only have to mask up in a few high-risk settings indoors. So, your face will only need to be covered in places such as hospitals, aged care and public transport. Yes, after enduring the city's sixth lockdown of the pandemic, the next few months in Melbourne are now looking a whole lot different. Today's announcement comes as 1935 new local COVID-19 cases were reported. Victoria's COVID-19 restrictions will relax again at 6pm on Friday, October 29. For further information about Victoria's reopening roadmap, head to the Victorian Government website. For more information about the status of COVID-19 and the current restrictions, head over to the Department of Health website. Top image: Josie Withers, Visit Victoria.
Almost three decades ago, before he had the world saying "thank you, thank you very much" to Elvis, before he explored the birth of American hiphop in Netflix's The Get Down, and before gave The Great Gatsby a spin and made Moulin Rouge! spectacular (spectacular), too, Baz Luhrmann achieved two not-too-insignificant things with his film version of Romeo + Juliet. Not only did the Australian director's vibrant take on the classic tragedy completely change the way everyone thinks about Shakespeare adaptations — it also delivered one of the killer soundtracks of the 90s, and one that many a movie has tried and failed to top since. The track list speaks for itself, really, featuring everything Garbage's '#1 Crush' to The Cardigans' 'Lovefool' to Radiohead's 'Talk Show Host'. Everclear, Butthole Surfers, Des'ree and Quindon Tarver's 'Everybody's Free (To Feel Good)' also pop up, with Luhrmann turning the greatest love story ever told into the greatest soundtrack ever sold. If you were around and of a certain age back in 1996, you definitely owned a copy. You probably still do. Even if you weren't loving it before the turn of the century, you should now as well. It's no wonder, then, that not just the picture but the tunes keep being celebrated as Romeo + Juliet nears its 30th anniversary in 2026. In London for more than a decade, concert screenings of the movie with a live choir and band have been wowing audiences and selling out. More than half-a-million filmgoers have attended. Now, Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet: A Cinematic Experience is finally coming to Australia. Young hearts run free to The Astor Theatre in Melbourne, which is playing host to the Australian debut of this live experience from Tuesday, September 23–Sunday, September 28, 2025. New sessions have already been added due to demand. Images: Andrew Ogilvy Photography.
Moon Dog may have some brand spanking new digs in Preston, but its OG home is still welcoming punters on Duke Street, Abbotsford. The Brewery Bar might take on a pretty lo-fi appearance — it looks a little like the hard rubbish-filled shed out the back of your mate's Reservoir share house — but don't mistake it for a small-time operation. Moon Dog is already pumping out millions of litres of beer each year, and it's constantly growing. Sink into the thrift store couches and get comfortable because there are a lot of great drinks to sample. There are ten taps on offer, pouring classics like Old Mate pale ale and Love Tap double lager, and seasonal favourites like Cake Hole black forest stout, Splice of Heaven pine-lime ice cream IPA and Thunder Lips yuzu red IPA. Not to mention a wide-ranging, and ever-changing, selection of specialty brews and single kegs, plus cider, wine, spirits and cocktails for those after something that's not beer. Meanwhile, there's always free popcorn, a van serving (really good) woodfired pizza out the front, and regular free events like bingo nights and brewery tours. If this is the exact vibe you're after for a little shindig, the bar also has a Ballroom Oasis right next door that's available to be booked out for functions — to make all your hipster warehouse wedding dreams come true.
The Daughter might be the latest local film to reach cinema screens, but it's no typical Aussie movie. Writer/director Simon Stone and the bulk of the film's cast — including Geoffrey Rush, Ewen Leslie, Anna Torv, Miranda Otto and Odessa Young — ensure that the feature's Aussie credentials remain intact, as does its New South Wales shoot. However the drama of family secrets and lies actually finds its basis in Henrik Ibsen's The Wild Duck. Accordingly, Stone transports a 19th century Norwegian classic to modern Australia, and not for the first time. As theatre fans will no doubt know, the stage wunderkind turned filmmaker earned rave reviews for his stripped-back take on the tale, which played in Sydney, Oslo, Vienna and London. Now, he endeavours to do so again with his film version. In fact, it seems like his involvement in The Daughter was meant to be, though the same could be said for rising talent Young as well. In the titular role of Hedvig, the Looking for Grace star plays her second complex, compelling teen character in as many movies, and holds her own against an accomplished cast. So what drew Stone and Young to the story, how did they approach its characters, and how did Stone craft more than just the usual Aussie movie? With The Daughter now screening in Australian cinemas, we spoke to the duo about the film. ON THE APPEAL OF HENRIK IBSEN'S THE WILD DUCK Simon: "I guess the beautiful thing about the story is that it's a whole heap of people who have made various mistakes in their life, and it is [about] the vulnerability and the attempt to do the right thing. I'm very attracted to stories where you can't find the villain. So I love constellations of characters with a tragedy that kind of evolves out of the mistakes that the people are making — it doesn't evolve out of being able to blame anyone, it is just people falling into the traps that fate has set them, kind of. And it's the random confluences, confluences of various different people's motivations that are in conflict with each other. That creates the tragedy. You know, if you can blame anything, you can just blame bad luck." Odessa: "I was really attracted to the story by the integrity with which Simon wrote the character, and the insight that he seemed to have on her teenage personality and emotions, and just the complexity with which he wrote the teenage character. Because, I mean, I've read a lot of teenage characters — as you can imagine being a teenager auditioning for roles — and it's so rare that you actually come across a character that isn't just used as a buffer for the adult characters to take anger out on. Or they're quite often used as scapegoats. It is a really interesting kind of thing when you read something that isn't like that — when it is actually creating some autonomy for the character. That's really what gripped me about the role in the first place." ON ADAPTING THE STORY FOR A SECOND TIME Simon: "I had a series of instincts about the way I thought that it should look, but those instincts changed as I changed, in my mind, what kind of genre of movie it should maybe be in order to be most successful. I mean, if it had been just an incredibly realistic portrait of these events happening to this family like it was in my stage play, in a kind of inner-city environment like it was set in in my version of the play, then I think it would've been inconceivable at certain points. People would've gone, 'Actually, if you're pretending that all of these coincidences just take place in Surry Hills in a casual week in the casual lives of these people, then I'm not going to buy that.' "So I started looking for a genre for the movie that was going to be take advantage of the kind of mythological nature of the story in Ibsen's original play. It was just about finding the right genre, the right kind of references for myself, because I'm in love with every single genre of cinema. I love everything, so it kind of could've been anything." ON THE COMPLEX CHARACTERS AT THE HEART OF THE FILM Simon: "I don't believe in that moral absoluteness. I don't actually think it exists in the real world. I think it is a storytelling motif that people invented to express the fighting within someone's own soul. I think the classic villains and the classic gods versus devils stories that have existed in all the mythology since the beginning of religions, and in spiritual storytelling since humans painted stories on caves with pictures, the source of that was actually an expression of human instinct. The instincts within a human person, and the personification of those people was the kind of way of literalising and turning that battle into a figurative battle of two sides of the human personality. And I think people have kind of forgotten that." Odessa: "Even after I got the role, it was really heavy for me. I didn't know whether I could do it. I didn't know if I had the skills and the knowledge to play a character like this — that was so far opposite to what I am. So much of my character development was Simon's direction. We created a very important, easy shorthand quite early on in the process where it was all about paring back my own experiences as a teenager, not letting them filter through into the character, and creating a new set of experiences that would influence Hedvig's decisions and decision-making and her actions." ON MAKING A MOVIE THAT'S MORE THAN JUST THE SUM OF ITS AUSTRALIAN PARTS Simon: "I wanted the film to reflect all of the Australian stories that are not the clichéd Australian stories. Australia seems to have this real love of the idea of white working class stories or Asian stories or indigenous stories. But [I like] the idea of melding of all of the influences, the idea of actually taking a Scandinavian story, making it a little bit Australian, keeping it a little bit Scandinavian, and letting it be universal. Getting rid of the notion of what is the Australian-ness of this project, other than that it is being made by a whole heap of Australians. "And so the source material is part of the canon that Australia is kind of stealing from everywhere in the world, always. Because other than the indigenous stories and the dreaming, there is no Australian canon. It is just a series of other people's work, other culture's work, that kind of magpie culture where we are of just pilfering and making a beautiful and mangled mess. That's the kind of aim of the movie. And its a celebration to a certain extent that maybe we can eventually stop needing to ask questions about Australian-ness at some point." The Daughter is currently screening in Australian cinemas. Read our full review.
Because you're reading this, we know you're not someone who received a pet for Christmas, only to decide it wasn't for you. We know you're one of the good folks. You're probably wishing that you did receive a loveable animal as a gift, even if you already have one — or several — that you adore. We understand your yearning, and so does the RSPCA. And, to find permanent homes for pups, cats, bunnies, guinea pigs and even pigs surrendered into its care from all over the country, it's lowering the adoption fee to $29 this weekend. The weekend-long initiative is called Clear the Shelters and will run from Friday, February 22 until Sunday, February 24. Although you can't put a price on the happiness a new four-legged friend will bring, it's hoped that the low adoption fee will encourage people who have been thinking about adding a pet to their fam (and have considered it thoroughly) to make the commitment this week. Last year, the RSPCA found new homes for 2792 pets Australia-wide. [caption id="attachment_708671" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Heidi is available for adoption in Sydney, Animal ID 345082.[/caption] This year, Clear the Shelters will run across Australia in all states and territories except NT and Tasmania. The adoption fees — which usually range from $20–600 — help cover some of the costs of vaccines, training, desexing and microchipping for the animal. Whether you're in NSW, Victoria, WA or Queensland, there are hundreds of animals that need a new home full of love and pats. There's more to pet adoption than overdosing on cuteness, of course, with making the commitment to care for an animal is serious business. Top image: Han is available for adoption in Sydney, Animal ID 441478.
The Crown fans, it's time to say goodbye to the 20th century. You'll also be farewelling the show's leaps back several decades, too. When season six of Netflix's royal drama arrives later in 2023, the hit series will embrace the 21st century, including the early days of Prince William and Kate Middleton's relationship. Netflix has confirmed that The Crown will return this year for another dose of regal intrigue, although no exact release date has been announced. Based on past patterns, it's safe to expect it to arrive in November. For now, the streaming service has unveiled its first sneak peek at the next batch of episodes, however — images, not a trailer — which does indeed focus on the man currently second in line to the throne after Queen Elizabeth II's passing in 2022. Screen debutant Ed McVey takes on the role of Prince William, while newcomer Meg Bellamy will slip into Middleton's shoes. The Crown's sixth season will follow the IRL pair's first meeting at university in St Andrew's, starting the story that's played out in plenty of headlines and a ridiculous amount of worldwide media coverage since 2001. While everything that's popped up in the show draws its details from history — dramatised history, of course, but still history — this next instalment is bound to feel even more familiar. Getting closer to our current time will do that. When the series began, it kicked off with Queen Elizabeth II's life from her marriage to Prince Philip back in 1947. The first season made its way to the mid-50s, the second season leapt into the 60s, and season three spanned all the way up to the late 70s. In season four, the royal family hit the 80s, while season five covered the 90s. Just like in season five, Downton Abbey, Maleficent and Paddington star Imelda Staunton dons the titular headwear, while Game of Thrones and Tales from the Loop's Jonathan Pryce wears Prince Philip's shoes — and Princess Margaret is played by Staunton's Maleficent co-star and Phantom Thread Oscar-nominee Lesley Manville. Also, Australian Tenet, The Burnt Orange Heresy and Widows star Elizabeth Debicki returns as Princess Diana, with The Wire and The Pursuit of Love's Dominic West as Prince Charles. News around the show's fifth and sixth seasons has changed a few times over the past few years. At the beginning of 2020, Netflix announced that it would end the royal drama after its fifth season. Then, the streaming platform had a change of heart, revealing it would continue the series for a sixth season after all. There's no trailer yet for The Crown season six, but you can revisit season five's trailer below: The Crown's sixth season will hit Netflix sometime before 2023 is out — we'll update you with an exact release date when one is announced. Images: Keith Bernstein / Netflix
Tina Fey hasn't starred in, created or executive produced a bad sitcom yet — and when the first season of Girls5eva dropped back in May, it continued that trend. In its own way, it's another workplace comedy like 30 Rock and Great News. And, albeit in a completely different manner to Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, it also follows a group of women trying to navigate new lives years after they were thrust together under extreme circumstances. The setup: more than two decades after they split up, the four remaining members of a late 90s girl group decide that it's time to get the bad back together. Now in their forties, they're all at different points in their lives, but rekindling their dreams is too enticing to ignore. Sara Bareilles (Broadway's Waitress), Busy Philipps (I Feel Pretty), Renée Elise Goldsberry (Hamilton) and the great Paula Pell (AP Bio) play Girls5eva's reunited members, Fey pops up as a fantasy version of Dolly Parton, and the comedic takes on 90s pop tunes are all both 100-percent spot on and so ridiculously catchy that they'll get lodged in your head for weeks. Also pitch-perfect: everything about this immensely funny take on stardom, fame and the way that women beyond their twenties are treated. In great news for everyone who has already streamed their way through the show's eight-episode first season and instantly found themselves wanting more — and for anyone who is yet to go through that process, too — Girls5eva has just been renewed for a second season. So, expect more earworm songs and jokes about the entertainment industry, although exactly when the next season will drop hasn't yet been revealed. Like its first season, Girls5eva's next batch of episodes will stream in Australia via Stan whenever they do release. For now, you can check out the trailer for the show's first season below: Exactly when the second season of Girls5eva will drop hasn't been announced, but the show's first season is available to stream now via Stan.
First, Black Mirror's Twitter account broke a four-year silence back in April. Next, Charlie Brooker's dystopian sci-fi hit dropped a sneak peek at its next batch of technological nightmares — aka the first trailer for the show's long-awaited sixth season — and confirmed that the show would return sometime in June. Now, the Netflix series has unveiled more details about what's in store, including which new technological nightmares it'll be spinning. It might be a streaming smash, but that doesn't mean that satirising streaming is off the agenda. Indeed, one of season six's five episodes, Joan Is Awful, will focus on an average woman who discovers that a global streaming platform has adapted her life into a prestige TV drama. Playing her on-screen? Salma Hayek Pinault (Magic Mike's Last Dance). This instalment will be packed with familiar faces, too, including Annie Murphy (Kevin Can F**k Himself), Michael Cera (Life & Beth), Himesh Patel (Station Eleven), Rob Delaney (The Power) and Ben Barnes (Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities). Also on its way: Netflix seeing the darker side of nature documentaries — which, like biographical dramas, it's mighty fond of making itself. In upcoming Black Mirror instalment Loch Henry, a sleepy Scottish town welcomes in a young couple, who are keen to follow in David Attenborough's footsteps. Then they learn of a shocking local story, in an episode with Samuel Blenkin (The Witcher: Blood Origin), Myha'la Herrold (Bodies Bodies Bodies), Daniel Portman (Game of Thrones), John Hannah (The Last of Us) and Monica Dolan (Empire of Light) in its cast. Viewers looking forward to Aaron Paul's (Westworld) return to Black Mirror after first being involved in 2017 will been keen on Beyond the Sea, where it's an alternative 1969, two men are on a high-tech mission and dealing with a tragedy's big consequences, and Josh Hartnett (Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre), Kate Mara (Call Jane), Auden Thornton (This Is Us) and Rory Culkin (Swarm) co-star. In Mazey Day, the paparazzi hounds a troubled starlet who is coping with the aftermath of a hit-and-run, with Zazie Beetz (Atlanta), Clara Rugaard (I Am Mother) and Danny Ramirez (Stars at Noon) featuring. And in Demon 79, it's 1979 and a sales assistant in Northern England is informed that she has to commit terrible acts or a disaster will occur — with Anjana Vasan (Killing Eve), Paapa Essiedu (Men), Katherine Rose Morley (The Syndicate) and David Shields (Benediction) starring. Brooker has penned all five new chapters, co-writing Demon 79 with Bisha K Ali (Ms Marvel). This season is being teased as "the most unpredictable, unclassifiable and unexpected season yet", which is saying something given everything that Black Mirror has thrown at the screen in past seasons (and in choose-your-own-adventure-style movie Black Mirror: Bandersnatch). And yes, Brooker does have quite the challenge this time around: making something that manages to be even more dispiriting than reality over the past few years. That's increasingly been one of the show's dilemmas — and noting that something IRL feels just like Black Mirror has become one of the cliches of our times — but this'll be the mind-bending effort's first round of episodes following the pandemic. Check out the first trailer and latest teaser for Black Mirror's sixth season below: Black Mirror season six will stream via Netflix some time in June. We'll update you when an exact release date is announced. Images: Nick Wall/Daniel Escale, Netflix.
There are days when that childhood nostalgia hits especially hard. If it's one of those Fridays, gather the mates for a night of retro fun at Pixel Alley, Fitzroy's arcade bar. The latest offering from the team behind Mr Wow's Emporium, the '80s-style space has walls covered in original pixelated art, Donkey Kong-themed cocktails, and retro arcade games aplenty. While we're personally Street Fighter fanatics, there are over 100 other games to choose from, including Pac-Man, Daytona, and Buck Hunter, so you'll be sure to find your childhood fave amongst the vast selection. Friday plans, sorted.
In the glut of Melbourne's cafe scene, a small joint in Newport is trying something a little different. Rather than shoeing away the pram pushers and dog walkers, they welcome them. What results is a space that is both warm and inviting (dog or no dog) from every angle. After havoc wreaked by a storm, Leroy's reopened in July with a revamped menu, new fit-out and direction in what feels to be a complete makeover, while still retaining that local, neighbourhood feel. The interior is cosy and bright, with a garden, decking, an undercover area, booths and a playground for kids due to be completed out back. The menu has been spruced up and celebrates seasonal and local produce. Anyone with a sweet tooth and eyes larger than their stomach will be drawn to the towering stack of OMG Pancakes ($16.90) finished with whipped ricotta and coffee cream, piled high with popping candy, chocolate fairy floss and burnt fig ice cream (which surprisingly adds a much-needed balance). There are a few tweaked classics, such as their take on eggs Benedict, the Newport Hollen Daze with hash browns and your choice of bacon or smoked trout ($16.90), and Melbourne staple the soft shell crab burger ($17.50) post-noon. Plus, there's a healthy smattering of salads, smoothies and juices, and grub for the kids. Coffee hails from Campos in Carlton and tea is by Teadrop. In a time where more and more cafes tip towards the masses of Instagrammers and photo snappers, it's pleasing to see a cafe like Leroy's that chooses to embrace many of the Melbourne staples and traits that we now come to expect, but in a unique and soulful way. Melbourne cafe culture has its roots in this, after all.
Get ready to chow down on mouthwatering Neil Perry hamburgers. Since opening in Sydney's World Square in October 2014, the celebrity chef's high-end fast food joint Burger Project has become a favourite with Sydney foodies, serving up a variation of his iconic Rockpool beef burger at a fraction of the price. Now, after last year announcing plans to open five additional restaurants in Melbourne and Sydney, Perry has cut the red ribbon on his first Melbourne burger joint. The Melbourne Burger Project is the third one to open in Australia, and is located in the old Australia on Collins building, which is now luxury fashion precinct St. Collins Lane. The licensed restaurant will operate between 11am and 9pm, and will seat around 120 people. So, what exactly do they serve at The Burger Project, anyway? Well, Perry is sticking closely to the winning World Square formula, so you can expect a variety of tried-and-tested tasty burgers including the Magic Mushroom, the spicy fried chicken katsu and of course the classic American cheeseburger. Side options include chips with salt or chipotle chilli, and crispy hot wings with Sichuan pepper. And for dessert, dive into one of their decadent ice cream creations such as the Blueberry Pie or The Bounty Hunter with vanilla bean ice cream with chocolate sauce, toasted coconut and crushed meringue. Don't act like you're not impressed. Another Burger Project will open at Chadstone on September 30, with another three confirmed to open in Sydney this year, and another six slated for the east coast in 2017. Phew. Burger Project is now open in The Aviary on Level 2 of St. Collins Lane at 260 Collins Street, Melbourne. For more info, visit burgerproject.com.
For most of us, hitting the gym and hitting the club are two very different propositions. But at Ascot Vale's newest workout destination, F*IT, they've been thrown together into one very unique, high-energy hybrid. A multi-sensory space where fitness meets clubbing, the Mt Alexander Road newbie offers 'high intensity group workouts in a nightclub-inspired environment'. There are five different sweat-inducing classes to get involved in, each session thumping to the kind of tunes you'd usually hear from the DJ booth at 1am on a Sunday morning. But strangely enough, the soundtrack's not the only thing at F*IT reminiscent of a weekend dance floor session. In an Aussie first, this fitness club also boasts its own fully-stocked, onsite bar, licensed and ready to booze. By day (6am-8.30pm, Monday to Saturday), you can charge up with a protein-packed signature smoothie, in flavours like Pina Covado and Gettin' Wheysted, or an espresso coffee (available in the coming weeks). Then from 7-10.30pm Fridays, members can opt for something a little stronger, when the bar starts slinging the hard stuff. On the menu is a range of cocktails, a weekly changing beer special and a tight selection of wine and spirits, plus there's a sleek, low-lit nightclub space in which to enjoy them. Just don't get too indulgent, or you'll undo all the hard work you put away in that strength training class. Find F*IT at 544 Mt Alexander Rd, Ascot Vale. Prefer to head outside for both your workout and that recovery tipple? Here's where to train for a marathon and have cool-down brew after.
This promotion of Faber Castell is amazing. Watch an entire portrait being drawn in one single, circling stroke right before your eyes. It's incredible, isn't it, the things an ordinary person can do if they just have the appropriate felt-tip pen [tongue planted firmly in cheek].
What's huge, oval-shaped, usually confined to the realms of fiction, belongs to a creature that's played a key part in the biggest TV series of the past decade, and currently sitting in Melbourne this very instant? A dragon egg, of course. What can you mosey over to Federation Square to see for the next two days in all of its four-metre-tall glory? What's surrounded by dragon eyes and the flying, fire-breathing critters' silhouettes across buildings around the Victorian capital? That very egg — to the joy of wannabe Targaryens, naturally. Always felt like you belong in the Game of Thrones House with an affinity for scaly beasts? Keen to live out your George RR Martin fandom in any way you can? Need something to do before the Iron Throne visits Melbourne in September? Just so excited about GoT prequel House of the Dragon that you don't know how to cope until it starts airing on Monday, August 22?Here's your answer. If you live elsewhere in the country, though, you'll want to do one of two things: plan an impromptu trip this weekend, or get one of your mates to go along so you can live vicariously through their photos. Either way, the towering egg is only on display at Fed Square from 10am–7pm on Friday, August 19 and 8am–7pm on Saturday, August 20. And, as well as seeing it, taking snaps next to it and peering upwards to spy signs of dragons around Melbourne, you'll want to keep your ears pricked as well — there's a soundscape filled with the calls and noises of dragons echoing around the place, too. The reason for this ovoid pop-up? Promoting House of the Dragon, of course. The series is finally coming after years of speculation, development and announcements about various spinoffs are under consideration (including a Jon Snow-focused sequel) — and this egg is here to prove it. If you've somehow missed all the House of the Dragon news, the show is set 200 years before the events of GoT, and focuses on House Targaryen. Yes, that means that dragons are obviously part of the series — again, hence this giant egg. Also pivotal: a Succession-style battle over who should sit on the Iron Throne, because it wouldn't be a Game of Thrones prequel without it. Anyone in the vicinity of Fed Square can head over to see the egg for free, and get a taste of Australia's latest pop culture-themed installation — after a barber giving out The Gray Man-style goatees and moustaches also did the honours in Melbourne recently, and an Everything Everywhere All At Once-inspired multidimensional laundromat before that. Cinema Nova also decked itself out The French Dispatch-style last summer, while Sydney has seen the giant 'Red Light, Green Light' doll from Squid Game made an appearance by the harbour, and a Stranger Things rift open up on Bondi Beach. This isn't the dragon egg's first local stop, actually. It first arrived at Anglesea, on the beach, on Thursday, August 18 — which clearly would've made quite the sight. Then, it travelled along the Great Ocean Road to Melbourne, ready for two days of GoT devotees in Fed Square. Check out the full House of the Dragon trailer below: Find the House of the Dragon dragon egg at Federation Square, the corner of Swanston and Flinders streets, Melbourne, from 10am–7pm on Friday, August 19 and 8am–7pm on Saturday, August 20. House of the Dragon will start airing on Monday, August 22 Down Under via Foxtel and Binge. Images: Aaron Walker Photography.
Expect native ingredients, beef dry-aged in-house, woodfired flavours and nostalgic cocktails on Blackbird Melbourne's modern-Australian menu. The three-level Flinders Lane venue is the interstate expansion of Ghanem Group's award-winning Blackbird Brisbane, offering a striking cocktail bar and lounge, a split-level dining space and a private events floor. Quartzite backlit bars, mirrored ceilings and dramatic chandeliers (curated by Space Cubed Design Studio) bring the group's intention — to establish a sophisticated dining experience that is "unmistakenly Melbourne" — to life. Manning the charcoals on the Josper Basque Grill are Ghanem Group Executive Chef Jake Nicolson, Executive Chef Melbourne Tim Menger (formerly of Entrecôte) and Blackbird Head Chef Josh Moroney (formerly of Nomad). Nicolson invites Melburnians to "experience one of the best steaks in the country" with showcase premium Australian cuts such as the chocolate-fed Mayura Station one-and-a-half to two-kilogram full-blood wagyu tomahawk headlining the menu. Dishes such as paté with lilly pilly jam, Paroo kangaroo with toasted pepperberry and riberry jus, and wood-roasted rock lobster with warrigal greens and native herb butter speak to the focus on foraged native ingredients. So too does the cocktail list, with concoctions like the Pacific Highball pairing Glenmorangie Original with Davidson plum apera and black walnut bitters. Beverage Manager Aaron Clark injects the drinks list with Aussie nostalgia, creating whimsical cocktails such as the Pavlova Punch, Mango Weiss Colada and the Tim-Tam Slam. The drinks offering is bolstered by a 650-bin wine list, so you're unlikely to leave thirsty. Images: supplied
If you've ever caught a train here in Victoria, you've probably got an opinion on which stations are good and which ones are...well, horrendous and to be avoided at all costs. But now, RACV has gone and dropped a definitive list of the state's best and worst performing train stations, based on results from its biennial On Track survey. The transport company collected feedback from over 24,500 locals, in an effort to identify which train services and stations cause the biggest headaches across the network, based on accessibility, convenience, comfort and safety. And then it ranked the whole lot of them. Poor ol' South Kensington station, which is on the Werribee and Williamstown lines, took out the unenviable title of worst performer across the board, scoring a rating of just 2.48 out of ten. Probably something to do with the fact a whopping 64 percent of respondents said they didn't feel safe there at certain times of the day. Other stations without many fans include the likes of Broadmeadows, Aircraft, Donnybrook and Mernda line's Ruthven, which each scored of less than four. And all of those were repeat offenders, having featured in the survey's bottom ten on at least two other occasions. Commuters' main gripes included things like annoying cancellations and bus replacement services; inadequate car park spaces, toilets and shelter at stations; and infrequent or overcrowded train services. Up the happier end, Hawkstowe station on the Mernda line nabbed the survey's top ranking spot, with a hefty score of 9. Fellow Mernda line stations Middle Gorge and Mernda also ranked among the top players, and Frankston line had three high scorers, too: Bentleigh, Southland and Ormond. Interestingly, top ten performers Carnegie, Rosanna, Bentleigh, Ormond, Bayswater and Gardiner were all recently revamped as part of the government's level crossing removal program — seemingly cementing their status among Victoria's best-loved train stations. As for the services themselves based on "on-train experiences", the Upfield line ranked worst, with four different mentions in the bottom ten. Mernda again proved the golden child of the bunch as the top-ranked train service, closely followed by the Sandringham line. Check out the full survey results and see where your local ranked at the RACV On Track page.
The 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup is over. Sadly, the Matildas didn't win. But the Sam Kerr-led squad just kept making history, including scoring Australia's best-ever placing by coming in fourth and notching up the country's most-watched TV event since 2001 — and likely ever. Those are all phenomenal feats. They're statue-worthy achievements. Also, they're the kind of accomplishments that've deservedly had the whole nation talking. And, in great news for fans of the world game, captain Kerr isn't done inspiring everyone yet. No one will ever forget the champion striker's stunning goal against England. No one will ever forget the entire Australian national women's soccer team's efforts throughout the whole competition. And, plenty of Aussies now want to be just like Kerr, Mackenzie Arnold, Caitlin Foord, Katrina Gorry, Steph Catley, Hayley Raso and their fellow footballers. Enter Kerr's own football school for kids. First, the key point for all Kerr-adoring adults: this football academy is only for children, both girls and boys, aged 3–14. Of course, seeing an Australian sporting champion helping to bring about the next generation of football heroes is truly excellent. Every kid is probably trying to recreate that spectacular goal now anyway — and now they can learn how to at Kerr's own academy. If Kerr did decide to lend her name to a version for women, it'd be huge. Who wouldn't sign up? Unsurprisingly, the replies to the Matildas and Chelsea star's Instagram post announcing the venture are filled with adults wanting their own Kerr academy. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sam Kerr (@samanthakerr20) "Sam Kerr Football will provide players with a world-class program to be delivered by high-quality coaches, all with a focus on ensuring that young players fall in love with football the same way I have," said Kerr in a video announcing the school. Participants will not only level up their soccer skills, using training plans and sessions that've been whipped up by top Aussie soccer experts, but will take part in a holistic initiative that also covers health and wellbeing. Developing self-awareness, learning to overcome adversity, regulating emotions and understanding the importance of mindset will all be covered, as well as nutrition, rest and recovery, and injury management. There'll also be digital and media training — age-appropriate, of course — including preparing players for the kind of off-field press attention that Kerr has become used to. [caption id="attachment_913581" align="alignnone" width="1920"] LittleBlinky via Wikimedia Commons.[/caption] The program will launch for enrolments in 2023, with a 2024 start date. Exactly where it will operate is yet to be announced, but there'll be multiple sites. Right now, the academy is open for expressions of interest for players — and for coaches, partners and franchises, with the latter meaning that you can own your own Sam Kerr Football School. If you have or know a child that'd love to be involved, the academy will do free trial sessions — one lesson only — and charge a fee after that. Kids will also need to don a Sam Kerr uniform, which might be the easiest uniform to get them to wear. Training days are yet to be finalised, and will vary per school, but some centres will offer holiday programs. [caption id="attachment_913019" align="alignnone" width="1920"] LittleBlinky via Wikimedia Commons.[/caption] And if your child wants to meet Kerr — don't we all? — the school advises that "Sam's expertise and oversight is an integral part of Sam Kerr Football; however, as a star athlete, opportunities for her to meet young players are limited". "There may be some events and opportunities through your child's journey with Sam Kerr Football where Sam will be available to participate. Details of these occasions will be shared as they are known." Sam Kerr Football will open for enrolments later in 2023, and launch in 2024. To register your interest or for more information, head to the Sam Kerr Football website.
