Step into the films of one of world cinema's greatest icons, with Australia’s favourite curmudgeonly critic as your guide. Screening at ACMI over two and a half weeks, Essential Bergman will showcase ten iconic titles from the oeuvre of Swedish master Ingmar Bergman, carefully selected by former At the Movies co-host David Stratton. Expect 35mm film prints, plenty of existential angst and not a handheld camera shot in sight. Even if you haven’t seen any Bergman films in full, odds are you’re at least unconsciously familiar with his work. Whether it’s Max von Sydow playing chess with the Grim Reaper in The Seventh Seal or the haunting dream sequence from the beginning of Wild Strawberries, Bergman has been responsible for some of the most indelible images in cinematic history. Other titles in the program include Persona, Cries and Whispers and Fanny and Alexander. Stratton himself will present a lecture on Bergman on Thursday, June 18, as well as an hour-long reviewing masterclass for aspiring critics aged 15 to 25. For the full Essential Bergman program, visit the ACMI website.
You don't need to go far to find creativity in Melbourne. Each suburb is brimming with street art, independent boutiques and quirky food vendors. But the smaller guys — those with side hustles, passion projects and small businesses in their garage — are a little harder to find. That's where The Melbourne Collective comes in. The design market brings all of these local creatives together to showcase products — and this year, it's partnering with the Queen Vic Market for a special Christmas edition. The market's festive outing will take place across three weekends: November 17–18, December 1–2 and December 8–9. Running from 8am–3pm on Saturdays and 9am–4pm on Sundays, the market will offer everything from home decor and ceramics to stationery and fashion. There'll also be food and prosecco on tap for your inevitable realisation that you've been shopping for a whole day without sustenance. Entry is free so you can save your dollars for gifts for all your mates.
The year was 2005. The album: Hold Your Colour. That's when Pendulum hit the big time, and also why. The Perth-born drum-and-bass group not only became a homegrown sensation with their debut record and its tracks 'Slam', 'Tarantula' and 'Fasten Your Seatbelts', but made it into the UK Top 40 Singles Chart as well. Now, the year is 2023. Almost two decades after that breakout album, the Perth-born electronic favourites are breaking out their latest Down Under tour. Five stops, two countries, plenty of echoing arenas: that's what's in store when Pendulum play Australia and New Zealand in October, including on Saturday, October 7 at John Cain Arena in Melbourne. This'll be the first time that the band has performed across either country since 2021. Pendulum won't just be giving Hold Your Colour's tunes a whirl, but also songs from 2008's In Silico and 2010's Immersion. Expect to hear new single 'Halo' featuring Bullet for My Valentine singer Matt Tuck get a spin, too. Currently comprised of Rob Swire, Gareth McGrillien, Peredur ap Gwynedd and KJ Sawka, Pendulum heads home with experience playing huge overseas festivals such as Glastonbury, Creamfields, Coachella, Rock Am Ring, Reading and Leeds, and also recently headlining Ultra Miami. The band went on hiatus from early 2012, with Swire and McGrillien focusing on side project Knife Party, before starting to reunite in 2015. Joining Pendulum on their latest Aussie and Aotearoa tour: fellow Perth-bred drum and bass talent ShockOne, aka Karl Thomas. Images: Luke Dyson.
Two sit-down courses for $40 in the inner north sounds almost to good to be true, and — to be honest — it almost is. Lucky for us, the only catch here is that you'll be helping out some young hospitality trainees whilst enjoying some delectable food at the same time. Doesn't seem like much of a compromise. Scarf Dinners are back for 2016, and for their first season of the year, they'll be taking over Collingwood's Rupert on Rupert every Tuesday evening until May 24. While the venue would usually be closed on Tuesdays, Scarf trainees (marginalised youth who otherwise may not be able to get the hospitality experience they need) are given the opportunity to open the restaurant to the public for an otherwise normal night of dining. Rupert head chef Megan Morgan will be designing and cooking a special seasonal menu, which will include dishes like heirloom tomato with goats' curd, spicy jerk chicken and a chocolate kingston tart, served with gelato from Pidapipo. All food will be served by Scarf front-of-house trainees and their mentors. Previous dinners have been held at Top Paddock, Green Park and Three Bags Full. The autumn Scarf Dinners will be held on Tuesday nights from April 5 until May 24. You can make a booking on their website from 6pm onwards.
When 11.59pm hit on Thursday, June 10, Melbourne's latest lockdown came to an end. You can now leave the house for whatever reason you like, gather outdoors for ten-person outdoor activities and travel up to 25 kilometres away from your house. So, if you're now scrambling to plot out exactly where you can catch up with your mates, that's understandable. And, as it turns out, it can prove a little time-consuming to compare your travel bubble to those of all your friends', then input addresses to cross-reference possible parks. Thankfully, we've now got a nifty way to speed up that whole planning process, thanks to the COVID Overlap Finder website. It's simple but effective, promising pain-free picnic scheduling — or working out where you and your mates can meet up for whatever other reason you like. Simply plug in your home address and that of your mate, and it'll show each of your 25-kilometre radiuses highlighted on the map. And the all-important crossover zone shows all the places that you can meet up for government-approved social-distanced interaction. Do remember, though, that you cannot currently enter regional Victoria under the new restrictions — even if it is in your bubble. Fingers crossed we won't have to rely on it for too long — the Victorian Government has already flagged that more changes are likely to come into effect next week. To work out where you and your mate can exercise together, head to the COVID 25-kilometre overlap finder website. For more information about the current rules, head to the Victorian Department of Health website.
Loving Melbourne is easy — the high-calibre coffee, the burgeoning food and wine scene, the motley street art and those famous laneways. It's a city which hooks you with its effortlessly cool edge, which makes it mighty hard to leave. But, we're here to tell you, Victoria's culinary and cultural scene extends well beyond this buzzing metropolis. In fact, there's a multitude of exciting events happening far outside of Melbourne's perfect grid. To help you out, we've curated a list of the very best things to eat, see and do in regional Victoria this spring. Take it from us — the air is crisp, the undulating hills mighty relaxing and this lineup of events is super enticing. From blockbuster art exhibitions to food and wine festivals of mammoth proportions, you'll easily find your happy space away from the bustling city streets. So, jump in the car, chuck on your regional Vic Spotify mix — be sure to include Cut Copy, The Avalanches, Crowded House and other Victorian musicians — and get ready to discover a different side of this wonderful state.
With music videos becoming ever more complex and expensive, entrepreneurs in India are providing aspiring musicians with film clips at a reduced cost. One such musician is Drew Smith, who recently outsourced the video services to a dancing school in Bangalore, India. With a distinct Bollywood feel and guys in Hindu masks, it's quite bizarre but certainly interesting and unique. Smith stated that he turned to India after realising that "the last thing the world needed was another low-budget singer songwriter video." Furthermore, he received the video after just a few emails and phone calls. If you're looking for your big break and sick of recording videos on your iPhone and webcam, India might be your next option for some stimulating visuals. Take a look at Smith's finished product below and see if it caters to your musical style. https://youtube.com/watch?v=DkurGf0e5MU [Via PSFK]
Based on Leslye Headland's play, Bachelorette is a comedy that tells the story of three best friends from high school turn bridesmaids. Their less-attractive friend, Becky (Rebel Wilson), is getting married, and the competitive Regan (Kirsten Dunst) accepts her role as maid of honour. Gena (Lizzy Caplan) is on a mission to confront her high school ex after he left her bitter with a broken heart, whilst Katie (Isla Fisher), the last of the bridesmaids, adds some extra laughs with her sometimes ditzy personality and impulsive sass. Bachelorette combines humour, drunken romance and the dynamic of female relationships in a raunchy and intoxicated weekend that these women will certainly never forget. The film will be released in cinemas November 1. Thanks to Hopscotch, Concrete Playground has ten double passes to giveaway. To go in the running just subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already) then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au
If you've ever had a sneaky little go with some small person's Lego blocks once they're all tucked up in bed, LEGOLAND sees you, tips you their hat… and raises you an adults-only night at their Melbourne Discovery Centre. It's not just any evening for more mature Lego fans, but a LEGOLAND birthday party to mark the centre's first year of operation. With no children to get in the way (or outdo your creations), you'll be able to have free reign of LEGOLAND to check out the 4D cinema and rides, take a factory tour, and build to your heart's content in the brick pits. Challenge yourself by taking on the master builder or a speed build and vie for the prizes up for grabs — there'll even kids' party games, such as pass the Lego parcel, pin the tail on LEGOLAND mascot Bertie, so you can go full inner child mode. BYO shameless excitement, taste for glory, and bustling creativity, as well the eagerness to wear a birthday crown and devour a Lego cupcake. The party takes place from 7pm on April 21, with tickets costing $32.50. As for LEGOLAND's regular adult nights, more will be announced so watch this space.
Before Christmas, after two lockdowns throughout the year, Victoria had settled into its version of what Premier Daniel Andrews has repeatedly dubbed a 'COVID-safe summer'. Then a cluster of cases in Sydney spilled over to the state, and caused harsher restrictions to come back into effect just before 2020 wrapped up. And, earlier in February, another rise in cases linked to Melbourne's Holiday Inn saw a five-day snap lockdown implemented. In other words, Victoria's coronavirus rules have tightened and eased several times in recent months, with the last set of changes coming into effect back on Tuesday, February 16. On that date, Premier Andrews did flag that more rules could ease on Friday, February 26 if case numbers remained low. That latter day is now here, and the Premier has indeed announced that Victorians will be able to do more things in more places with more people from 11.59pm this evening. Those settings that were in place before Christmas? They're coming back. So, the state will revert to the rules that everyone was abiding by before restrictions were implemented in the lead up to New Year's Eve. That means that Victorians can host more people in their houses, with the cap going up to 30 folks from any number of other households. That's a daily limit, so you can only have 30 people over across one whole day, even if they come at different times in different groups — and your home also includes your front and back yards. Fancy heading outdoors with your nearest and dearest elsewhere, beyond your own patch of land? In good news, public outdoor gatherings will increase back to 100. So your next trip to the beach or the park with your mates can now feature quite the crowd. https://twitter.com/DanielAndrewsMP/status/1365100784828837888 After AFL fans watched the bulk of the 2020 men's season take place either outside of the state or without crowds in Victoria (including the AFL Grand Final), the news that the MCG and Marvel Stadium will both be able to increase to 50-percent capacity will also be welcome. Also, from midnight tonight – but more realistically coming into effect on Monday — 75 percent of both public and private sector workers will be able to head back to their offices. If you're wondering about masks, the rules are changing there as well. You'll need to keep wearing them only in certain situations, such as large and busy indoor indoor shops, and on public transport. You will always need to carry one with you, though. Rules for hospitality and retail businesses aren't changing at the moment. For restaurants, cafes, bars and eateries, the one person per two-square-metres rule remains in effect both indoors and outdoors, but only once 25 people are onsite. And, for shops, the one person per two-square-metres rule applies, with no other caps. At entertainment venues, more folks will be allowed in the door. Seated indoor venues, including cinemas, can now max out at 75-percent capacity — up to a total of 1000 people. Indoor non-seated venues such as galleries will have a 50-percent cap up to 1000 people, as well as the one person per two-square-metres rule if they're using electronic record keeping to track attendees (and one person per four-square-metres otherwise). Both seated and non-seated outdoor venues can continue to host 75-percent crowds, with the same rules on density and record keeping applying. As always, the usual hygiene and social distancing practices remain in place, as does the request to get tested if you exhibit even minor COVID-19 symptoms. Victoria currently has 17 active coronavirus cases, as at midnight on Thursday, February 25. Restrictions in Victoria will change again at 11.59pm on Friday, February 26. For more information about the rules moving forward, head to the Victorian Department of Health website.
After doing a roaring trade during last year’s festivities, Madame Brussels is once again opening up their laneway to host a European Night Market. And in even better news, this is not a once off event, but instead will take place every Friday from July 24 to August 14. For those of you lucky enough to have been in Europe during winter, these markets are designed to be similar to what you would find in Austria, Germany and Switzerland around Christmas time. Some of the tasty delights you can begin to look forward to include German pretzels from Bretzel Biz, Polish dumplings from Eastern Bloc, French creme brulee from The Brûlée Cart and crepes from Les Crepes de Marion, as well as Praline almonds and macadamias from Chooh La La. Of course, all of these foodie offerings go splendidly with a piping hot cup of mulled wine and little live entertainment. Arrive hungry and thirsty to make like you’re having a white Christmas.
Did you know Australia is the world's seventh-largest market for champagne? And, because we never do anything by halves, we're also the largest consumers of champagne per person outside Europe. We also seek quality over quantity, with drinkers choosing sparkling and champagne from vineyards with high quality vines. Avid champagne drinkers may have noticed an increasing number of rosé champagnes in their favourite bars and bottle shops, too. This is thanks to a rosé revolution — a surge in popularity for not only still pink wines but also for sparkling and champagne rosé — which is why we've partnered with Moët & Chandon to bring you a quick guide to the complex drink that can range from amber to hibiscus pink in colour, and from red currant to strawberry in flavour, and pair surprisingly well with sashimi and roast chicken. Read on to find out why your next glass of champagne should be pink. [caption id="attachment_760242" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pinot meunier grapes; Fred Laures[/caption] PINK CHAMPAGNE IS MORE COMPLEX THAN YOU THINK It's also drier and has layers of flavour. Winemakers use red wine grapes pinot noir and pinot meunier as the basis for rosé champagne; they take the intensity and structure of the pinot noir and combine it with the opulent flavours of meunier — think wild strawberry and cranberry characters — which creates a champagne that has freshness as well as layers of flavour. [caption id="attachment_758615" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lasseter Winery[/caption] IT'S THE ONLY TIME WINEMAKERS ARE PERMITTED TO BLEND RED AND WHITE WINES No, really. Making rosé champagne is the only time when it is permitted to blend still red wine and still white wine together to make rosé. The process is called rosé d'assemblage and winemakers combine a percentage of red wine (usually pinot noir or meunier) with the cuvée. Taking it a step further, Moët & Chandon trains its winemakers to master the specific techniques necessary to make red wines, giving them a devoted space, amenities and resources to allow them to focus on the nuances of crafting red wine. No other rosé champagne producer in the Champagne region has taken comparable steps. ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE DATES BACK TO THE 1700s The first documentation of rosé champagne was on March 14, 1764. It was discovered in entries from historic champagne house Ruinart's accounts book, which detailed a shipment of "a basket of 120 bottles", 60 bottles of which were Oeil de Perdrix ("Eye of the Partridge"), refers to "a delicate pink coppery colour." Some champagne houses like Moët & Chandon are celebrating their 43rd vintage of rosé champagne. IT PAIRS WITH MORE THAN JUST OYSTERS Rosé champagne comes alive with food. There's a common misconception that both champagne and rosé champagne should only be drunk at the beginning of a meal (with oysters or as an aperitif), but ask any sommelier or champagne lover and they will tell you that the vibrancy and delicate lines of acid are perfect for freshening the palate after foods like roasted pork, cured meats, or even after devouring a delicious burger. It makes the ideal brunch wine alongside fruit platters, which highlight the wine's natural fruit characters, and its minerality and acidity pairs well with a smoked salmon blini. Get creative and come up with a few unusual pairings at home. [caption id="attachment_762305" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anna Kucera[/caption] THE POP PRESSURE IS INTENSE The pressure in a bottle of rosé champagne (or any champagne for that matter) is equivalent to three times the pressure in your average car tyre (around 96psi) — which is why you should never take your hand off the cork when opening a bottle. This pressure is created through the process of fermentation within the bottle; when the yeast eats all the natural sugar in the grapes to produce alcohol, carbon dioxide is the by-product of this process and it gets trapped within the bottles of champagne. In rosé champagne the result is delicate pink bubbles that dance on your tongue. TWENTY PERCENT OF MOËT & CHANDON CHAMPAGNES ARE PINK One in five bottles (or around 20 percent of champagne production) from Moët & Chandon House is rosé. It takes the crafting and production of the blend very seriously. Its focus on higher quality champagnes shines through in the wine, which shows various vinous characters in different vintages with each new release. The non-vintage (NV) styles are made to a 'house style' and are consistent from year to year. [caption id="attachment_760219" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Moet and Chandon Vineyards at the Loge Mont Aigu[/caption] IT'S (SURPRISINGLY) EXCEPTIONAL VALUE FOR MONEY Truly. Hear us out. Only the most outstanding pinot noir grapes, harvested from the House's own highly rated premier crus and grands crus vineyards (read: highly rated in French classification terms), are made into the red wines to be blended into Moët & Chandon's Grand Vintage Rosé Champagne. So you're always guaranteed incomparable quality every time you pop a bottle open. Moët & Chandon's Rosé Impérial is a fruity and elegant champagne with gooseberry, raspberry and wild strawberry notes. Find out more here. Top image: Boudewijn Boer.
They nailed the contemporary wine bar brief with their Collingwood corner gem, Congress, then delivered design-driven mod-Japanese at Richmond's Future Future. Now, the siblings behind Milieu Hospitality have their shifted focus to Italy, for their new all-day Northside haunt Lagotto. In the space below the group's newly hatched residential development Nth Fitzroy by Milieu, Katie and Michael McCormack have created a destination for all occasions and just about every hour of the day. With an influence that's undeniably Italian, it's a contemporary cafe, wine bar and food store that slips happily from morning to night, all week long. Inside, design work by Flack Studio nods to those European sensibilities, boasting a charming assembly of glossy burgundy accents, sweeping curves, marble-topped benches and blush-hued terrazzo flooring. [caption id="attachment_723476" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Parker Blain[/caption] Mornings here see espressos and bellinis matched to the likes of a cavalo nero and asiago omelette, or cacio é pepe eggs with pancetta. The breakfast lineup is on offer until noon. Roll in at lunchtime for plates including a crisp pork cotoletta with slaw, a rich chicken cacciatore on soft polenta, and creamy buffalo mozzarella paired with pine nuts and caponata. Sandwiches, perhaps loaded with a combination of porchetta, cime di rapa and salmoriglio, are primed for lunch on the go. But after a hefty day at work, it's the aperitivo offering that has locals flocking in to the York Street spot. From 3pm, settle in for a spritz and a grazing session, tucking into the likes of four-cheese arancini, a serve of meatballs and focaccia, or the selection of cheese and charcuterie. Classic cocktails star alongside a considered list of wine, on offer by the glass or the bottle. And, if you'd like to take home more than just memories, check out the the food store selection. Affectionately known as Lagotto To-Go, the retail corner is filled with pantry essentials, take-home feasts and reasonably priced wine. Find Lagotto at 1 York Street, North Fitzroy. It's open from 7am–7pm Monday–Wednesday, 7am–late Thursday–Friday, 8am–late Saturday and 8am–6pm Sunday. Images: Parker Blain.
Dance parties are back on the menu for 2021, with Untitled Group pulling together the tastemakers and boundary-pushers of the Australian dance music scene for the return of their famed day parties. Headlined by Coachella and Splendour in the Grass alumni Willaris.K, the Day Party will see the cream of our local DJ crop converge on the Coburg Velodrome come Saturday, March 20. Former Triple J House Party presenter KLP, Late Nite Tuff Guy, Torren Foot and Made In Paris are among the other acts billed to perform in the Velodrome. Untitled Music has been putting together virtual day parties in lockdown, with Hayden James, Dom Dolla, and Willaris.K all performing live-streamed sets over the last six months. Now, following the rolling back of Melbourne's restrictions, the event organisers have announced they'll be bringing back the audience and taking the day party to the people. The announcement gives Victorians hope that live music could be back to some level of normality next year. Tickets start at $69. Pre-sale starts at 5pm on Thursday, October 30, with registration closing at 3pm. General sale kicks off at 12pm on Friday, October 31.
Releasing her debut album, Alas, I Cannot Swim at the impressive age of 18, Laura Marling has held the world in her palm over the past decade with her contemporary, understated take on folk music. From the uptempo songs of her debut LP to the rich and inventive tracks peppering her latest album — Semper Femina, which was released earlier this year — Marling has demonstrated a true mastery of her craft. Multiple Mercury Prize nominations during her career can't be wrong. Marling will do a single performance at The Forum before heading to Sydney for a special appearance at the Opera House as part of Vivid Sydney. And, as one of the UK's best current songwriters, she's sure to make them both gigs to remember.
Can a dream ever exist for more than a fleeting moment? That isn't just a question for oneirology, the field of psychology focused on studying the involuntary visions of our slumbers, but also applies whenever tales of motorcycle clubs rev across the screen. Stories of hitting the open road on two wheels, finding camaraderie and community in a group of likeminded outsiders, and perhaps discovering a purpose along the way are stories of chasing dreams — of freedom, of belonging, of mattering, of meaning in a world seemingly so devoid of it if you don't fit in the traditional sense. So it was in TV series Sons of Anarchy and in Australian film 1%, two titles set within the roar and rush of biker gangs in recent years. So it was in The Wild One, 1953's Marlon Brando-starring classic that immortalised the query "what are you rebelling against?" and the reply "whaddaya got?". Now, so it equally proves in The Bikeriders, about a 60s and 70s leather- and denim-wearing, motorbike-riding crew formed after infatuation got motors runnin' when founder Johnny (Tom Hardy, Venom: Let There Be Carnage) saw The Wild One on TV. A family man, Johnny has a dream for the Vandals MC out of America's midwest — and so does Benny (Austin Butler, Dune: Part Two), the closest thing that the club has to a spirit animal. The latter is introduced alone at a bar wearing his colours, refusing to take them off even when violence springs at the hands of unwelcoming patrons. He won't be tamed, the sixth feature from writer/director Jeff Nichols after Shotgun Stories, Take Shelter, Mud, Midnight Special and Loving establishes early. He won't be anyone but his smouldering, swaggering, rebel-without-a-cause self, either. Courtesy of the Vandals, he not only has the space to stand firm, but the assurance. He's a lone wolf-type, but knows that he has the devoted backing of the pack anyway. Johnny has fashioned the gang as a tribe and a place to call home for those who can't locate it elsewhere, and is open about how his fellow bikers need Benny — and how he does as well — to look up to. The Bikeriders is the story of Johnny and Benny, and also of the Illinois-accented Kathy (Jodie Comer, Killing Eve), whose outsider-upon-outsider perspective comprises the movie's narration (and gives it a Martin Scorsese-esque, Goodfellas-style angle). She's wary when on her debut encounter with the Vandals, also at a bar. Still, the way that Nichols and his regular cinematographer Adam Stone (Waco: American Apocalypse) shoot it, Kathy has no choice but to fall for the brooding Benny from the instant that she locks eyes on him at the pool table that night. Moments after she leaves the watering hole, she's clutching him close as they thunder off on his bike. Five weeks later, they're married. As she talks through the tumultuous and absorbing details to Danny (Mike Faist, Challengers) — Lyon, that is, the IRL photojournalist with the 1968 book that shares The Bikeriders' name, inspired the film and provides its basis sometimes on an image-by-image level — what springs from there is a love triangle of sorts, as Johnny and Kathy both see different routes for Benny, and for their respective dreams and futures. Making a much-appreciated return to filmmaking eight years after Loving — in-between, an Alien Nation remake didn't come to fruition, and he dropped out of helming A Quiet Place: Day One — Nichols fictionalises fact with The Bikeriders. Lyon snapped and spent time with Chicago's Outlaws Motorcycle Club. Its name doesn't remain in the feature, but the monikers of plenty of folks in its orbit, including Kathy, Benny and Johnny, plus other Vandals members Cal (Boyd Holbrook, Justified: City Primeval), Cockroach (Emory Cohen, Blue Bayou) and Zipco (Michael Shannon, The Flash), all do. The vibe as The Bikeriders hums is of a picture and the team bringing it to life each stepping into history, into photos that immortalised it and into a mood just as firmly, then spinning the results into a movie. That's a pivotal and purposeful sensation when the line between dreams and reality is being examined. While actuality rarely feels illusory when you're in it, the ultimate that anyone is ever pursuing — rebellion, authenticity and acceptance here, for example — so often proves ephemeral. Little in the way of surprises might fuel The Bikeriders' narrative, especially if you've watched past biker fare — Lyon's book predates Easy Rider by a year — but twists and turns are never the point. Instead, the anticipated cycles keep turning as Nichols prods whether the dream that he's capturing, as his photographer inspiration did before him, was ever destined for more than transience. Johnny's version of the club — and the solace that someone such as the scruffy Zipco, who gives voice to securing a niche he isn't otherwise afforded in a speech about being turned down for Vietnam enlistment, is seeking — withers as the Vandals grows. Rides and hangouts erupt in scuffles and fights over power. Attitudes among newcomers make the OG crew seem positively gentle. Benny struggles, too, caught between two sets of the last thing that he wants from anyone: expectations. As it gets the wind ruffling Butler's hair and the bouffant of Comer's locks defying gravity, Nichols has crafted a film that plays so eagerly like a throwback with such a lived-in atmosphere, but also with probing intentions pumping through every second. It presents. It unpacks. It motors along with the throbbing and the cruisiness alike of an engine letting rip on long Sunday-afternoon drive, digging into this slice of countercultural Americana and the hopes it stands for in the process. As its director did with Shotgun Stories almost two decades ago now, The Bikeriders also has tortured masculinity in its sights, another realm where visions of perfection are fated to crash. And as Nichols constantly returns to in his filmography, how desperately someone — everyone — attempts to hold onto what they love and dream about also slicks this intimate flick like oil. The longer that The Bikeriders goes on, the heartier that the initial Vandals tussle with their expanding roster, as more and more faces and agendas join its ranks. The feature itself has no such regrets, including when Norman Reedus (The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon), Karl Glusman (Civil War), Toby Wallace (The Royal Hotel) and Damon Herriman (The Artful Dodger) help flesh out the cast. Mirroring the club with Benny, the movie benefits from having Butler at its heart, though. In a strong on-screen year to rival 2022's Elvis whirlwind, which nabbed him a BAFTA and a Golden Globe, plus an Oscar nomination, he follows Dune: Part Two and Masters of the Air with a magnetic, layered, revealing and committed performance while so frequently uttering little aloud. The also-exceptional Comer and ever-commanding Hardy aren't stuck in their co-star's shadow, as their characters happily are with Benny, but this film about the allure of the ideal knows how to make that exact notion its vista. Unlike everything that the Vandals aspires to encapsulate, however, Butler never falters.
The Northern Territory is gearing up to host its annual explosion of light and colour as Parrtjima — A Festival In Light returns to set Alice Springs aglow from Friday, April 7–Sunday, April 16. But first, it's bringing a taste of its luminous, immersive installations down south. For the first time ever, the blockbuster event is hosting a spinoff showcase outside of the Red Centre, with one of the fest's regular installations, Grounded, appearing at Melbourne's Federation Square from Friday, March 10–Saturday, March 11. Grounded features an animated sequence displayed via large-scale projections, blending Indigenous artworks and storytelling with enveloping soundscapes. Usually projected over red dirt at Alice Springs Desert Park when it features for Parrtjima, it's a captivating fusion of ancient culture and modern technology. Here in Melbourne, it'll bring the Parrtjima concept to life in a very different — and urban — space. Visitors will be able to step right through the interactive installation as it's splashed across Fed Square's sandstone surfaces, immersing themselves in the visuals and Dreamtime stories as they flow. You'll catch works from 12 artists showcased in Grounded, all of them previous Parrtjima participants. The bill includes names like Anne Dixon, Roseanna Larry, Marina Pumani Brown, Corban Clause Williams, Isaac Girrabul and Hannah Nungarrayi, with a range of art centres represented. And prepare to be equally swept away by the matching soundscapes, composed by artists including Sydney-based hip hop act Wicked Beat Sound System and Filipino Aboriginal rapper Rhyan Clapham, aka Dobby. Grounded will be free to experience, showing after dark each night. A free, public celebration of Aboriginal art, culture and storytelling, Parrtjima heroes First Nations people via a bumper program of music, film, talks and workshops each year. Alongside dazzling installations, its lineup of musical acts is worth making the trip to the NT for alone, including Docker River Band, Emily Wurramara, JK-47 and KAIIT. Grounded will appear at Federation Square from Friday, March 10–Saturday, March 11, showing from 8–11pm each night.
With temperatures already stuck in the teens, Melbourne's cooler weather is settling in, which means that outdoor cinema season is long behind the Victorian capital for another year. Looking for a cold climes-appropriate alternative for seeing classic flicks on a big screen, other than the city's wealth of picture palaces? Meet Cozy Cinema Club, which has a feast of flicks headed to Abbotsford Convent for winter. Settling into the site's Magdalen Laundry on Wednesdays–Sundays between Wednesday, June 11–Saturday, August 2, 2025, Cozy Cinema Club is all about getting comfortable and keeping toasty while you watch a film — with everyone sinking into bean bags, and free blankets on offer to borrow and snuggle up in while you're there. Also available to warm you up: cocktails and wine. Movie snacks will be on the menu in the lounge as well, while heartier meals are an option at select sessions. To set the mood, there'll also be fairy lights. The lineup of flicks will equally help. Beloved movies aplenty are on the bill, curated into themed streams such as comforting classics, cult films, horror favourites, rom-coms and romance fare, and all-ages delights. Cozy Cinema Club is showing two pictures per night, one at 6.30pm and the other at 8.30pm. If you notice a nostalgic skew to the program, that's also by design from Arclight Event Co, who are also behind Sunset Cinema, Laneway Cinema and Botanica Festival. You don't call your movie pop-up Cozy Cinema Club if you don't want that vibe to seep through all aspects, including the roster gracing the silver screen. For its opening night, a Wes Anderson double of The Grand Budapest Hotel and The Darjeeling Limited will get the cinema started — and if that's not enough pastels and symmetry for you, The Royal Tenenbaums is on the lineup later in the season. Other highlights span Clueless before it gets a small-screen sequel series; Studio Ghibli's Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro and Ponyo; Ari Aster's Midsommar; and the 80s likes of Labyrinth, The Breakfast Club, Dirty Dancing, The Princess Bride and The Goonies. For its Christmas in July programming, Die Hard, Elf, Home Alone and Love Actually will all score a spin. Prefer a taste of the surreal and bittersweet with Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind? A Heath Ledger serenade in 10 Things I Hate About You? The walk-and-talk charms of Before Sunrise? Or everything from Donnie Darko, Moonlight, The Fifth Element, the OG Mean Girls and Almost Famous to Lost in Translation, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Brooklyn, The Shining and The Big Lebowski? They're also among your viewing options. Cozy Cinema Club runs Wednesdays–Sundays between Wednesday, June 11–Saturday, August 2, 2025 in Abbotsford Convent's Magdalen Laundry at 1 St Heliers Street, Abbotsford. Head to the event's website for more details and tickets. Top image: Redtree21 via Wikimedia Commons.
Thanks to Taronga Zoo, you can already spend your days staring at capybaras, seals, meerkats, otters, sumatran tigers, lions and elephants, all without leaving your home. With Sydney back in lockdown, the famed venue has relaunched its online TV channel, where it livestreams its adorable critters all day and all night. All those animals are all well and good. They're great, and they're very easy to spend too much time staring at, actually. But if you'd like to scope out some penguins as well, now you can. Yes, penguin cam is now part of Taronga's live-stream lineup, with its 45 little penguins and four Fiordland penguins being caught on camera 24/7. Melbourne's zoos have been live-streaming their penguins during the pandemic also, so this isn't the first time you've been able to gawk at black-and-white creatures while they go about their business — but when it comes to watching animals, the more the merrier, obviously. There's your background viewing sorted. Popping the stream on in the background while you work from home suits these kinds of feeds, in fact, because sometimes the critters in the spotlight aren't in view. The online television station was established by Taronga Zoo Sydney and Taronga Western Plains Zoo Dubbo in 2020, and it is back now for obvious reasons. Taronga is also releasing regular videos across its Facebook, Instagram and YouTube channels, and making keeper talks and other clips available online as well. Or, you could always take a peak at its new Southern hairy-nosed wombat joey via our own website. It's just as adorable as you'd expect, naturally. To check out Taronga TV, head to the channel's website — or keep an eye on its videos on its Facebook, Instagram and YouTube pages. Top image: Rick Stevens
Over the past year, The Griswolds have scored every Australian band's dream trifecta: a gig at Parklife, a successful European tour and a global record deal. "It feels like a dream come true," they said in an April interview with FBi, "but to be honest, it's been a really trippy twelve months, and we still can't believe what is happening." As you're reading this, the Sydney-based group's cheeky lyrics, fine-tuned harmonies and idiosyncratic percussion are hitting airwaves in the Northern Hemisphere, via the US release of their debut EP. The boys themselves, however, have been on home soil of late, recording a new track with 2012 Unearthed Artist of the Year nominee Chance Waters. Having done their time in the studio, they're now about to hit the road together on a lightning-fast, four-date east coast tour, More than Just Friends. https://youtube.com/watch?v=58iSZlM_8hY
Summer is right around the corner, and we're looking for every excuse we can find to spend our weekends outdoors. So when we heard that this Sunday was The Rose Hotel's annual street party, you can imagine we were pretty excited. Food, friends, music and beverages in the sun. What more could you possibly desire? For those not in the know, The Rose Hotel Street Party is something of a tradition. Every year, this iconic Fitzroy pub pulls out all the stops to raise money for a local community project. This time, they're hoping to help build the kids at Fitzroy Primary a new playground. So really, it's your duty to get drink. Think of the children! The fun starts at 11.30am and stretches on until dinner time. Expect live music, raffles, charity auctions and good vibes all day long.
In celebration of National Reconciliation Week, Melbourne Quarter will be showcasing the work and stories of First Nations creatives, businesses, and individuals. From May 30–June 1, the lobby at One Melbourne Quarter will play host to a market stall pop-up showcasing threads and homewares from celebrated First Nations businesses, retailers and creatives. Meanwhile, the lobby at Two Melbourne Quarter will feature a captivating lobby installation of remarkable weaving pieces curated in partnership with Ngali, a First Nations fashion retailer. Some of the woven pieces were recently been featured at Afterpay's Australian Fashion Week in Sydney. Be immersed in the art of weaving led by First Nations artists. These three weaving workshops delve into the diverse applications of First Nations' weaving, including jewellery making, headwear, and basket weaving. This series offers limited spaces, so be sure to register on the website. Experience the transformative power of art at Gunpowder Walk, where the work of Alinta Koehrer takes centre stage with this year's art mural. Alinta, an up-and-coming artist and young Woi-Wurrung Wurundjeri and Yorta Yorta woman infuses the space with her unique artistic vision — her mother, Simone Thomson, contributed to the National Reconciliation Week art mural for Melbourne Quarter in 2022. Sergy Boy will be recognising National Reconciliation Week by offering First Nations beverages during its happy hour specials on June 1, from 4–7pm. Explore the flavours of Jarrah Boy, brewed on Kabi Kabi country in Queensland by founder Dale Vocale, a proud Monero Ngarigo man from East Gippsland, Victoria. Or sip on Sobah Non-Alcoholic Beverages, Australia's first non-alcoholic craft beer company founded by Dr Clinton Schultz, a proud Gamilaraay man from Queensland. Live music will enhance this vibrant atmosphere. Join Melbourne Quarter in celebrating National Reconciliation Week, as it honours the rich tapestry of First Nations cultures and contributions that enrich the community. Images: Melbourne Quarter
This weekend as part of their ongoing showcase of the sick, the sinister and the surreal, Cinema Nova invites audiences to a twisted game of big-screen one-upmanship, one that poses the simple, arresting question: how far would you go for the right amount of cash? A smart, disturbing, thriller-cum-morality play with excellent performances and liberal lashings of dark humour, EL Katz’s Cheap Thrills is a rare genre film that delivers on all the shock and horror of its premise, while also providing far more brains than its title might initially suggest. Pat Healy plays Craig, a mild-mannered husband and father in dire straits after being “downsized” out of a job. Drowning his sorrows in a bar, Craig happens across Vince (Ethan Embry), a long-lost buddy from high school. They get to talking, but are soon interrupted by Colin (Anchorman’s David Koechner), a coked-up, middle-aged party-animal with a bored young wife (Sara Paxton) and more money than he knows what to do with. Before long, Colin starts offering his new friends cash in exchange for dares. At first its little things: $100 to provoke a woman at the bar into slapping them, for example. But as the night goes on and the amount of money increases, so too do Colin’s challenges grow more and more extreme. Katz relies heavily on his actors, none of whom let him down. Koechner, in particular, seems to relish the chance to work with darker material than his normal comedic roles, shifting from overbearingly friendly one moment to cold and calculating the next. As his wife, Sara Paxton likewise subverts our expectations, her stunning looks and air of amused indifference soon giving way to something far, far more intense. Embry and Healy, meanwhile, capture the confusion and turmoil of two very different men, both driven by desperation to lengths they never thought possible. Indeed, Katz’s script contains a delightful sense of escalation, as he slowly pushes his two unsuspecting protagonists into increasingly twisted territory. At the same time, even the film’s most outlandish and repellent moment possess an uncomfortable plausibility. As Craig and Vince demean themselves for the amusement of their wealthy benefactors, one can’t help but sense the spectre of the global financial recession. Ultimately, for all its moments of depravity and violence, the most shocking thing about Cheap Thrills may be the realisation as to where we would draw the line for ourselves. Cheap Thrills screens as part of Cinema Nova’s late night Cultastrophe stream and will be introduced by Katz and Healy via video. Other highlights on the current program include New York underground curio The Telephone Book and an Easter inspired, family friendly screening of the 60s stop motion classic Mad Monster Party.
Remember back in the '90s when people went crazy for Tamagotchis? They'd take them around in their backpack, forget about them for a couple of hours only to be greeted with a screen full of faeces and a terribly unhappy looking electronic friend. The Domsai is like a Tamagotchi for your desk, minus the annoying electronic beeps and constant need for attention. Designed and created by Matteo Cibic, each Domsai has its own personality. Handmade, blown and individually created to suit your aesthetic needs, they come in both white and gold, and are available for adoption now. Although they will set you back €100, the cactuses within require practically no upkeep and are so Art Deco right now.
In an age of MacBook Air and SmartCars, the most recent exhibition at Fehily Contemporary comes with a fitting brief. All artworks on display have be made within a space constraint. 30cm by 40cm to be precise. Up against the spectacularly huge work on display at NGV's Melbourne Now, this is quite novel — a welcome readjustment of our perspective that allows us to take in the smaller details or hidden gems. That being said, there are lots of familiar artists' work on display, many of which actually have pieces you may have seen in Melbourne Now. Ash Keating has been getting a lot of press recently for his amazing large-scale work with the use of paint-injected fire extinguishers, but with his name on the lineup for this exhibition it will be interesting to see what he comes up with under the brief. Other work you may recognise includes the photography of Georgia Metaxas who is well known for her Mourners' series, and Abdul Abdullah who had work in Next Wave's fundraising exhibition last week. The responses to the brief include photography, sculpture, drawing and tapestry, and all are conveniently priced under $2,000 for those that want to take the pieces home. For a full list of participating artists and further examples of work on display, check out the website.
Mary Eats Cake celebrates the timeless tradition of pairing a nice cuppa with some delicious small bites, calling it a "high tea" and making you feel just that little bit fancy. With two teahouses — one in Brunswick and one in Montrose — Mary has hosted countless high teas, and now she's upping the ante by serving them alongside plenty of gin. Running on six spring Saturday afternoons between October 5 and November 9, the gin-fuelled high teas will be hosted in collaboration with Yarra Valley distillery Four Pillars. They're happening at the Montrose venue, over a two-hour period between 4–6pm. The gin high tea will set you back $74 a head and $78 if you have dietary requirements (with Mary's catering for vegetarian, vegans, gluten free, gluten free and vegan, halal, nut free and pregnant people). Your indulgent afternoon out includes a gin and tonic on arrival, a full high tea menu of sweet and savoury treats matched to two more Four Pillars gin cocktails, and teas designed by a tea sommelier. And, in perhaps the most important news, you'll also have access to unlimited scones with endless jam and cream. Four Pillars Gin High Tea runs from 4–6pm.
If you're a fan of Chinese-Australian artist Zhong Chen, here's some good news. As of November 2017, you'll be able to sleep with his works. The Art Series Hotel Group has just announced their latest venture and it's a five-storey, 100-room number dedicated to him. Named The Chen, the hotel is in Box Hill, 14 kilometres east of Melbourne, within Whitehorse Towers, which, at 36 storeys, is the tallest development outside of the Victorian capital's CBD. Architects Peddle Thorp have taken care of the design, inspired by Chen's King Fu series and, as you'd expect, fun, bold, bright colours rule. There's a bunch of digital archival fine art editions of Chen's works, as well as a stack of originals, including Rooster, fitting because Chen was born in the Year of the Rooster (1969) and the hotel will open in the Year of the Rooster (that's this year). There'll be four in-hotel spots for eating and drinking, including a yum cha restaurant, as well as a gym, events space and rooftop pool. You can also count on the Art Series' usual arty facilities and activities, including tours, libraries, television channels and documentaries, as well as Art Series-branded smart cars and Lekker bicycles available for guests. "I have lived and worked in Box Hill for nearly a decade," said Chen. "I am passionate about my community and its emergence as a cultural powerhouse outside of Melbourne. To have a hotel of such significance, opening in the year of my birth sign, is a true honour. I look forward to meeting guests and seeing how they interact with the hotel and my artworks. It is sure to be a surreal experience." The Chen is due to open in November 2017.
Doing your bit for the environment has never looked quite so good as it does with Frank Green's colourful range of reusable cups. The durable containers are not only helping to quash Australia's single-use coffee cup waste problem, they're also super stylish and beautifully designed. And you've got the perfect excuse to add a couple to your collection (or someone else's) with Frank Green's Virtual Warehouse Sale, offering up to 50 percent off a heap of Frank Green products. From Thursday, March 18 until Sunday, March 21 you'll be able to treat yourself, a friend or your family to a stylish and sustainable cup on the cheap. Head to the website to browse all the sale items and find the best deals. Frank Green is best known for its reusable cup and bottle range featuring the brand's recognisable pastel colour palette and in-built tap-to-pay feature, but its range of stylish and sustainable goods doesn't stop there. The brand also produces homewares like ceramic reusable containers, tea, coffee and stylish ceramic french presses, as well as Disney and Minions-inspired cups and bottle for kids. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Already one of the most scenic areas in Australia, the Whitsundays is giving visitors something else to look at: an installation of underwater and inter-tidal art. As part of the Whitsundays Reef Recovery and Public Art Project, six artists have created six artworks that sit beneath the sea, with the first four sculptures now in place. If you're heading to Blue Pearl Bay, Manta Ray Bay or Langford Spit, you can now check out the new attractions, as created by artists Brian Robinson, Col Henry and Adriaan Vanderlugt. Set up on Manta Ray Bay, Robinson's Migration of the Mantas is made from concrete and stainless steel, spans four metres by six metres and depicts six large manta rays, while Henry's Turtle Dream fashions a hawksbill turtle out of 15 tonnes of stainless steel at Langford Spit. As for Vanderlugt, he has two pieces in place: Maori Wrasse, which towers nearly four metres high in Blue Pearl Bay, and Manta Ray in Manta Ray Bay featuring indigenous markings from the Ngaro people, the Whitsundays' traditional owners. They'll soon be joined by another sculpture from Robinson, called Bywa, with the intertidal piece retelling a Dreamtime story about the reef, creation and marine life. It'll be put in place in Horseshoe Bay in Bowen later this month. Completing the set is a collaboration by Caitlin Reilly, Jessa Lloyd and Kate Ford, from the Arts Based Collective. Dubbed Anthozoa and headed to Blue Pearl Bay by late September, it "not only performs aesthetically in its sculptural form, but importantly doubles as a site for reef restoration," Lloyd explained when their piece was commissioned last year. "As the underwater form matures, visitors snorkelling and diving the site will see a sculpture festooned with a myriad of coral species, tentacles encrusted with soft and hard corals, marine animals sheltering in and peeking from small holes." [caption id="attachment_631230" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Lauren Vadnjal[/caption] Selected from 73 expressions of interest, the sculptures all sit in spots accessible to snorkelers and scuba divers — should you need something else to look at, other than marine life, on your next underwater adventure. Other than celebrating creativity, the Whitsundays Reef Recovery and Public Art Project aims give the region a new attraction, unsurprisingly. "This artwork will provide a new experience for people travelling to the Whitsundays and will help the marine tourism industry recover after Cyclone Debbie," said Queensland Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones in a statement in 2018. "Around the world — from the Caribbean, to the Maldives, Spain, Bali and Australia's west coast — underwater art has been used to lure visitors." Top image: Tourism and Events Queensland.
First it was toilet paper. Next up was flour. Then, Australian panic-buyers found a new object of affection: seedlings. With restrictions starting to ease and new COVID-19 cases dropping, the country's hoarding days are hopefully behind us — but, that doesn't mean you should give up on your new veggie patch. To help with this endeavour is a new stall at the Queen Vic Market. Robbo & Sons Seedlings is selling fresh veggie seedlings — including broccoli, cauliflower, celery, silver beet and boy — for a bargain: five seedlings for just $10. Whether you want to start a small edible garden on your balcony or fill every inch of your backyard with fruit, vegetables and herbs, Robbo will be able to help you out. It's, conveniently, located in the I Shed opposite The Eggporium and American Doughnut Van — incase you want to grab something to eat right now while you're there. Shopping for food and other essentials is a valid reason to leave your home under Victoria's stay-at-home restrictions, but if you'd like to avoid as much interaction as possible, the Queen Vic Market is also offering a preorder and pick up service from over 40 different traders. Just head over to the website, order your cheeses, croissants and cookbooks, pay and then choose what time you'd like to pick it all up. Pickup is available from 8am-2pm on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and from 8am-3pm on Saturday and Sunday. The Queen Vic Market is open from Tuesday–Sunday. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Victoria and the current restrictions, head to the Victorian Government website.
From its little pocket in The Rocks in Sydney, Maybe Sammy has been making some big noise. The innovative cocktail bar is not just a regular on the World's 50 Best Bars list, but is currently Australia's highest ranked, last year coming in at number 22. And now, this legendary drinking spot is shaking and stirring its way down to Melbourne, for a one-off takeover of W Melbourne's cocktail bar, Curious. From 5pm on Tuesday, July 12, you'll catch three of Maybe Sammy's finest mixologists descending on the glam hotel bar, whipping up five of their signature sips as they show off their theatrical flair. [caption id="attachment_860285" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Maybe Sammy team[/caption] To match, expect carefully paired tunes courtesy of W Melbourne's Music Curator Rachel Phillips, aka DJ Minx. Plus, Curious' usual high-quality snack offering will also be up for grabs — think, tuna tataki, tempura bugs, scallop tostadas with truffle ponzu and ssamjang lamb tacos. Entry to the takeover is free, though you'll need to book a table online to secure your spot. [caption id="attachment_799205" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Curious[/caption]
We've all seen films where star-crossed lovers ride the rollercoaster of romance. And we've all seen films where aspiring artists weather the ups and downs of chasing their dreams. Starting with a series of awkward encounters, and focusing on a struggling actress and a jazz pianist, La La Land offers both. But the thing that makes writer-director Damien Chazelle's musical follow-up to his breakout hit Whiplash shine isn't the familiar path it wanders down. Rather, it's how it takes audiences on that journey. When Mia (Emma Stone) and Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) first meet on the streets of Los Angeles, they're hurling ire at each other in traffic. When they finally get the chance to chat at a party, there's teasing in the air, with a romantic connection soon blooming. As their relationship continues, Sebastian inspires Mia to break free of the soul-crushing audition cycle and write her own one-woman play. In turn, he keeps working towards opening a jazz club, while also taking up the opportunity to pursue something more lucrative and concrete. So far, so straightforward. But all isn't fair when you're simultaneously trying to find love, seek your chosen career and carve out a fulfilling life. While it might not feature J.K. Simmons screaming "not my tempo" a la Whiplash, Chazelle's latest effort certainly doesn't shy away from the costs and consequences of trying to succeed. Nor does the film pull its punches when personal and professional matters fail to align. Instead, erupting with gorgeous colour and energetic choreography one moment, then taking time to brood and contemplate the next, La La Land offers a delicate balance of dreaming big while realising that not every wish can or will come true. Moreover, it does so while celebrating the Hollywood musical genre, and at the same time fashioning its trademarks and style into something bittersweet and melancholy. The traditions of grand song-and-dance flicks gets their time in the spotlight, though in truth they're only one part of the story. As characters shuffle through the streets and float through the air in '50s-style numbers, churn out '80s covers, play contemporary jazz, and croon mournful ballads, audiences will find themselves swept along the entire musical and emotional spectrum. For that, a fair share of the credit should go to co-stars Stone and Gosling. In their third on-screen pairing after Crazy, Stupid, Love and Gangster Squad, both are in stellar, swoon-worthy form. Whether they're belting out a tune, tapping their toes, or quietly expressing the feelings that lurk beneath, the duo navigate the melange that comprises La La Land with the same flair and thoughtfulness as their director, while sharing in his not-to-be-underestimated task. After all, at the heart of the luminous and lively film sits a stark truth: fantasising is easy, but embracing reality is hard. It's no surprise that the movie that results is clearly crafted with this in mind as it soars high but dives deep, evoking affectionate wonder, heartfelt tears and the knowledge that life usually lurks somewhere in between.
Unlike the movie, we'll keep this short and to the point. A Million Ways To Die In The West is not a good film. Not unless, that is, you're a 15-year-old boy, in which case, it's the best goddam movie you've ever goddam seen! Consider the ingredients. This is 116 minutes of hot girls talking about sex and their 'great tits', fart sound effects aplenty, semen finding its way onto faces, characters swearing like it's going out of style and Neil Patrick Harris's character emptying his gastro-afflicted bowels into a stranger's hat for a full 45 seconds, before then farting some more and repeating the deed into another man's hat. Soiler Alert: he then kicks it over so that you get to see the liquid faeces in all its comedic glory. The man behind it all is Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane, whose voice is the median strip between Brian and Peter Griffin, and whose last (and first) film Ted was a surprise hit. Here, he's upped his involvement. A lot. MacFarlane wrote, directed, produced and starred in A Million Ways To Die in the West, and to say he's overreaching is beyond generous. This is pure self-indulgence, particularly given the extraordinary amount of screen time he occupies despite having a top-shelf cast around him (Liam Neeson, Charlize Theron, Giovanni Ribisi, Sarah Silverman, Amanda Seyfried and, of course, Doogie). The most frustrating thing is that scattered throughout the film are pockets of oustanding comedy. Early on, MacFarlane and Ribisi 'assume the position' and pretend to fight during a bar brawl so as to discourage anyone else from coming their way in what is a terrific moment, and a recurring gag about nobody smiling in the newly invented 'photo' experience is as amusing as it is astute. The problem is, these moments are so scarce than can be counted on one hand. Like, a leprous hand...with two fingers, and maybe a thumb stub. There's no denying MacFarlane's talents, but here they were stretched beyond their means. The supporting cast does its best to do exactly that, but can do only so much with so little screen time and a script that requires more cursing than acting. Again, this is not a good film. Save your money — even if you're a 15-year-old boy. https://youtube.com/watch?v=2sOa-2EhbTU
In a week where sweet treats are already on everyone's mind, one of Melbourne's much-loved pastry heroes has gone and stoked the fire, announcing it's adding to the family with a brand-new store. And we don't have to wait too long at all for a first taste. Black Star Pastry is set to open the doors to its third Melbourne outpost on Drivers Lane this Saturday, April 8, even coinciding the arrival with the launch of a new line of signature treats. The Sydney-born brand best known for its cult Strawberry Watermelon Cake has settled into the former Money Order Office, where it's playing the building's heritage features against a gleaming futuristic store design by Studio MKZ. You'll recognise the designers' work from other Black Star stores including St Kilda and Sydney's Newtown. Venture down the laneway and into a bright, bold hideaway, with a minimalist fitout that takes an unapologetic departure from its historic setting. There's a giant, halo-like light installation hanging above, a central island counter made of stainless steel, big custom fridges showcasing the goods, and a colour palette heavy on silver and white used throughout. In honour of the shiny new space, Black Star has unveiled a new range of creations to be showcased here before anywhere else. Head on in to be among the first to try the pina colada croissant loaded with a creamy blend of caramelised pineapple and coconut, the petal-topped rose and pistachio croissant, and a chocolate and hazelnut number that's filled with a rich whipped ganache and garnished with delicate chocolate stars. There's also a couple of savoury newcomers: the matcha ceremony with its kintsugi-style gold decorations and layered matcha filling, and the umami brioche that fuses punchy flavours of miso, bechamel and mushrooms. Of course, all the usual sweet suspects will be getting a run here, too, gracing the cabinets alongside grab-and-go options like Japanese-style chicken pies, and ham and cheese croissants. Find Black Star Pastry Melbourne CBD at Shop 4, 8 Driver Lane, Melbourne, from Saturday, April 8. It'll open 8am–6pm Monday–Thursday, 8am–7pm Friday, 9am–7pm Saturday and 9am–6pm Sunday.
Just because you're not heading to the snow for the first weekend of ski season, doesn't mean you have to miss out on all the fun. St Kilda's Pontoon Bar is bringing the mountain vibes to you, with its annual Snow Party, this Sunday, June 9. The beachside hot-spot is set to heat up the long weekend, as it transforms into a cosy winter chalet, complete with powdered snow, all-you-can-eat paella and a swag of food and drink specials to warm those cockles. You can kick things off early from 12pm, with $25 per person bottomless paella from the venue's new Basque-inspired menu on offer throughout the day (bookings essential). Otherwise, roll in from 3pm, nab a spot by the crackling outdoor fire and settle in with some well-priced drinks — there'll be $5 wines and pots, $10 espresso martinis and mulled wines, and a cosy Cherry & Cinnamon Sour, also for just a tenner. Throw in half-price tapas and some DJ tunes and you've got yourself a pretty good antidote to those winter blues. Entry is free, though if you RSVP via Pontoon's website, you'll be in with a shot at winning a Mt Buller lift pass for two.
When a band is just starting out, with just one album to its name, you're treated to most — if not all — of it live in the early days. To get the full-record experience again, though, you normally have to wait for big anniversaries. Bloc Party are celebrating two on their 2025 tour of Australia: two decades of the group and the same since their debut album Silent Alarm. Hitting up Melbourne's John Cain Arena on Sunday, August 3, Bloc Party will play Silent Alarm from start to finish. 'Banquet', 'Helicopter', 'This Modern Love', 'Like Eating Glass': yes, they'll all be on the setlist on this seven-city trip. The band aren't leaving their other tunes out, though, with the tour featuring not just Silent Alarm's tracks but the group's greatest hits. They do have five other albums to their name, after all: 2007's A Weekend in the City, 2008's Intimacy, 2012's Four, 2016's Hymns and 2022's Alpha Games. If you're a fan, you'll know that it has been more than 20 years since the band first formed, and since the British group scored some hefty approval in 2003 via Franz Ferdinand's lead singer Alex Kaprano — but 20 is a nice round number to commemorate. This makes two Aussie tours in a row now with a point of difference for Bloc Party, after 2023 trip with Interpol. Before that, they last rocked Aussie stages in 2018. Supporting Kele Okereke and company this time are Young The Giant, who'll be playing Australia for the first time in 14 years. Live images: Bruce Baker via Flickr.
Haven't had time to check out Copper Pot Seddon yet? How about Luxsmith? Well, this Tuesday, July 12, you'll have the opportunity to tick the two much talked-about Seddon venues off your list as they collaborate for a one-off feast. Because it's far too hard to get to every new opening in this town, the two westside restaurants are teaming up for a four-course progressive dinner. The first two courses will be served at one of the two eateries, before you get moved on to the second venue for the third and fourth. How they'll seamlessly merge Copper Pot's European menu with the Asian fare at Luxsmith is a mystery to us — but we trust that they'll pull if off. A place at the table will cost you $95 per person, which quite reasonably includes four courses with matched wines. Whether you live in the area or on the other side of town, it's a great way to get a gobful of Seddon's burgeoning dining scene. Plus, we gave Copper Pot a five star review.
What would you say to pinot noir with a possum? Shiraz with a snake? Or cabernet sauvignon with a cockatoo or two? If you'd like your next wine experience to be a little wilder, Healesville Sanctuary has a Queen's Birthday weekend (Saturday, June 8– Monday, June 10) treat for you. The annual Wine & Wildlife event will see the best vino producers in the Yarra Valley gather for three days of food, wine and good times amid the stunning sanctuary's bushland and fauna. Whether you're a serious gourmet foodie, wine enthusiast or dedicated koala fan, this is the perfect opportunity to get away from any winter woes with a mini-retreat unlike any other. Plus, we're giving away a VIP experience at Wine & Wildlife. Your prize will include entry to Wine & Wildlife (including general admission entry to Healesville Sanctuary) for you and three mates. You'll also score four passes to a kangaroo close-up encounter, giving you the chance to personally meet some of Australia's finest native animals. THE FINEST WINES IN THE VALLEY The Yarra Valley is renowned for a number of stand-out wines and top-notch vineyards. This long weekend will be a wine lover's paradise, with select wineries offering an all-day tasting selection included as part of the event. You can sample a drop (or few) from a range of celebrated wineries such as De Bortoli, Boat O'Craigo, Oakridge and the award-winning Rob Dolan vineyard, as well as unique low-intervention producers Payten & Jones. Whether you know your terroir from your tannins or you just like that magical grape juice, these passionate creators will happily talk you through their products and processes — or, if you'd prefer, just pour you a glass and let the wine do the talking. WILDLIFE (NATURALLY) Of course, the attendance of the furred, feathered and scaled residents of Healesville Sanctuary is the really special (creature) feature that makes this wine and food event a cut above your regular weekend tipple. Over this three day mini-fest, keepers will be roving among the guests with animal pals in tow. It's an opportunity to get up close and personal with various native fauna, as keepers chat about Healesville Sanctuary's animals and programs. In addition to being an adorable and delightful photo op, it's also a chance to ask questions and to learn, much like the wine tasting. MULLED, MIXED AND CRAFTY BEVS It's not all shiraz and chardonnay. If you prefer something steaming to warm you from the inside out, a mulled wine and gin bar will have just the tonic to cure a chill. The sweet mulled wine will chase away the cold and leave you rosy-cheeked and warmed through and through. For those who want to keep it cool, it'll also be slinging the refined garden party staple, the G&T. Be sure to also swing by the stalls of Yarra Valley beer and cider producers such as St Ronan's Cider and Napoleone brewery. Cherryhill Orchards is also offering an array of beverages, with its cherry wine, cherry porter and cherry cider. AN EPICUREAN DELIGHT OF FOOD POP-UPS All those spontaneous wildlife encounters will surely build up an appetite, so the on-site cafe, Sanctuary Harvest, will be cooking up a storm. Banish the winter shivers with hearty dishes such as a rich beef bourguignon, pork burgers, barbecue ribs and sausages, with all meats from local supplier K&B. Vegetarians aren't forgotten either, with jackfruit burgers, soup and some luxuriously loaded potatoes on offer. If you'd prefer to graze, they'll also be serving up steamed buns and dim sum as well as hot buttered corn. With food this good, you can satisfy your hungry bellies and highly-attuned gourmand taste buds all in one go. INDULGENT TASTINGS TO RAISE YOUR CHOC-APPRECIATION GAME For dessert, head straight to the Kennedy & Wilson chocolate bar. It's been crafting artisanal chocolate in the Yarra Valley for 25 years now — the longevity a testament to Kennedy & Wilson's skill and quality. Sample a range of unique-flavoured varieties or stick to its award-winning couverture, including a 48 percent milk chocolate which is rich enough to compete with that bold shiraz you picked up. You'll still be discussing texture, mouthfeel and aftertaste, but also melt, snap and gloss — qualities you can only judge in freshly made chocolate of the highest quality. Word of warning: after flavours like this, you'll never go back to supermarket chocolate again. PICNIC BY A FIRE You probably can't spend the whole time chowing down on gourmet goodies and drinking fine wine (joking — you can). And maybe you even need a break from interacting with fuzzy animal friends (again, joking — who could get tired of koalas?). For a bit of downtime, you can set up a picnic rug on the grass and cosy up by one of the roaring fires, melting away the June chill. If a convivial campfire isn't enough to keep you occupied, there will also be some live (non-wildlife-based) entertainment, with acoustic musical performances taking place throughout the afternoon. A HEART-WARMING GOOD CAUSE If you need a delightful winter's day out that also warms your soul, look no further. All proceeds from the Wine & Wildlife long weekend go towards saving the Tasmanian devils. Tassie devils are officially an endangered species and are facing a dangerous decline in numbers due to the devastating devil facial tumour disease and road mortality. There is already an 80 percent reduction in devils being sighted across Tasmania — so we could end up losing these special critters forever. Healesville Sanctuary is part of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, which includes a captive insurance and breeding program that raises healthy little devils for eventual release into disease-free wild locations. When the cost of your ticket can help save one of our native pals, the delicious food and local wine are really a wonderful bonus. Wine & Wildlife will take place across Saturday, June 8–Monday, June 10. To purchase tickets, visit the website.
While its doors remain shut through another extended lockdown, celebrated South Melbourne restaurant Lume is helping to add some fine dining flair to your at-home routine. Famed for its innovative, seasonal fare, it's just launched a new ready-to-eat take-home menu on offer every Thursday through Sunday, for as long as the current lockdown continues. Give yourself a break from the stuck-at-home rut by whipping out the good tablecloth and diving into clever dishes like house-baked sourdough with black artichoke butter, the wild venison short loin teamed with homegrown kimchi and thrice-cooked veggie chips, and a salted kelp caramel cheesecake. Each multi-course shared feast for two comes in at $240, including a 200-millilitre pour of sommelier-selected wine from Lume's cellar. There's also a full plant-based set menu on offer, starring the likes of a whole-poached globe artichoke with desert lime mayo, and a roasted millet risotto finished with pumpkin and wild garlic. The same menus will run for the next few weeks, though with some small tweaks depending on what seasonal ingredients the kitchen gets their hands on. Lume Take-Home is available for both click-and-collect and delivery each week — order here. [caption id="attachment_824056" align="alignnone" width="1920"] By Duncographic[/caption]
This December, you can score a bottle of vino for as little as $8.50 a pop thanks to Vinomofo's Boxing Day Sale. Running from Friday, December 25 till Thursday, December 31, the sale will offer up to 70 percent off a heap of local and international wines — and it'll all get delivered straight to your doorstep for free. So, get ready to stock up on vino to help ring in the New Year. Vinomofo is an online wine company for those who love wine, but without all the pretension that sometimes comes with it. The Melbourne-based company delivers wine to thousands of people around the world — so it's safe to say it knows what it's doing when it comes to grape juice. The Boxing Day sale will see some of the biggest price drops from Vinomofo yet and will include more than 100 wines. It'll be adding additional daily wine deals over the week, too. Think celebratory champagne, epic-value prosecco and plenty of summer-suitable rosé, plus a huge range of white and red varieties — all for a steal. And, to top it off, shipping for all orders purchased in that time period will be free. Score epic wine deals via Vinomofo's Boxing Day Sale — for a limited time only.
We're about to farewell winter and jump right into another season — and if that's put you in the mood for a wardrobe shakeup, well, you're in luck. The treasure trove of vintage threads that is the Round She Goes Fashion Market returns to Melbourne this month, taking over Coburg Town Hall on Sunday, August 28. This time around, the ever-popular market is treating shoppers to over 55 stalls heaving with quality pre-loved designer fashion, vintage pieces and retro accessories. And these wares start from just $10. Get your stylish self along from 10am to score covetable finds from big-name labels ranging from Carla Zampatti to Christian Dior, and from Balenciaga to Bianca Spender. Grab yourself some Gucci, pick up some Prada, and splash out on some Romance Was Born, Jean Paul Gaultier or Gorman. There'll be specialty coffee and baked treats from Coffee on Cue to fuel your rummaging, too.
Most of us associate printers with ink and paper, but a new 3D printer has more to do with chocolate cupcakes and other delicious desserts. Using syringe technology, the Imagine 3D printer from Essential Dynamics can be filled with a vast array of elements, including plastics, silicone, concrete, and most importantly, chocolate. A representative from the company claims that a cupcake can be made before your eyes in one minute. If you're more of a savoury type, never fear. The Imagine 3D printer can also be filled with cheese. Regular fondue parties will seem tame when compared to the wonders you can create with this. 3D printing has undergone a rise in popularity in the last decade, but I predict that this revelation will soar it into supstardom. Standing at $3000, the Imagine 3D Printer will soon accompany the fridge and the stove as a quintessential kitchen applicance. https://youtube.com/watch?v=_27rOWq61hk [vis PSFK]
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? The good folk at Seeing Eye Dogs Dogs Australia need you. They have 50 puppies running around the place at the moment, and they're in need of volunteers to raise them. In other words, they're giving away puppies — but 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 — 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 in several Melbourne areas: in Kensington, Flemington, North Melbourne, Ascot Vale and West Melbourne; in the east to the Yarra Ranges (anywhere south of the eastern freeway); and southeast to Portsea (anywhere south of the eastern freeway). They're also looking in the Bendigo region and surrounding suburbs, too. In Queensland, the Sunshine Coast and north Brisbane are the priority areas. Once the pups reach 12-15 months old, they'll return to Seeing Eye Dogs Australia — and complete their journey to become four-legged companions for people who are blind or have low vision. Keen? You can apply online — and, at 10.30am on Friday, April 23, you can also virtually peek behind the scenes at one of Seeing Eye Dogs Australia's puppy centres. For more information about Seeing Eye Dogs Australia's puppy carers, and to apply for the volunteer roles, head to the organisation's website.
Everyone needs a holiday to look forward to. With 2025 now officially into its second month, and everyone's Christmas breaks feeling like a lifetime ago, planning your next getaway is a self-care essential. Fancy heading overseas, but not too far, to either laze around on a beach or see some mountainous sights? Enter Virgin's latest sale, which focuses on short-haul international flights. Trips to Bali, Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu and New Zealand this year just got cheaper — and you've got five days to grab a bargain. So, get your suitcases ready and book that annual leave. Fares start at $439 return, and are available until midnight AEST on Friday, February 7, 2025, unless sold out earlier. The cheapest option is Melbourne–Queenstown return, but you can also head there and back from Sydney for $469. Next comes Brisbane to Port Vila in Vanuatu from $479, while trips to Bali from Melbourne start at $499 and kick off at $509 from the Gold Coast. Or, get to Queenstown and back from Brisbane from $549 — or to Fiji from Sydney for $569, from Brisbane for $589 and from Melbourne for $599. Other deals include Sydney–Bali from $619, Brisbane–Bali from $659 and Brisbane–Samoa from $689. This sale began at 12.01am AEST on Monday, February 3, 2025, with prices covering Virgin's Economy Lite option. If you're wondering when you'll need to travel, these deals are for periods between Monday, February 17, 2025–Friday, December 12, 2025, with all dates varying per route. As always, inclusions also differ depending on your ticket — and, as usual when it comes to flight sales, you'll need to get in quick. Virgin's February 2025 international flight sale runs until midnight AEST on Friday, February 7, 2025 — unless sold out earlier. 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.
Boozy brunches in Melbourne are hugely popular. But the later-in-the-day bottomless lunch is on the up and up. These are for those of us who don't necessarily want to down a heap of mimosas with breakfast while surrounded by hen's parties. Sometimes we just prefer to eat a more grown-up meal paired with a good wine, beer or spritz. Enter NOMAD, one of the best restaurants in Melbourne. Here, the crew is showing us exactly what the boozy lunch should look like with its latest Lunch & Linger experience. Every Saturday and Sunday, from 12.30–2.30pm, starting Saturday, April 6, lunchtime diners in the CBD can get a selection of mezzes and a dessert paired with 90 minutes of free-flowing booze for $110. The exact dishes will change each week, but it will include a loaded platter of the restaurant's famed Middle Eastern snacks — think dips, falafels, stuffed zucchini flowers, its signature woodfired flatbread and a bunch of meats. Prefer to pass on the alcohol? All good. The option remains to simply get the mezze platter for $65 per person and order non-alcoholic bevs throughout the arvo. But those who do get on the booze will be treated to unlimited house red, rose and white wine as well as beer and spritzes. We all know bottomless drinks can get messy, but at a place like NOMAD we expect patrons will be fairly well-behaved…
Good news, North Melbourne locals, the old Courthouse Hotel is back, and it's been lovingly restored by four hospo pros who actually know what they're doing. You'd be forgiven for forgetting about The Courthouse. It was a popular pub in the early 2000s, with celebrated chefs like Zoe Birch and Stephen Burke running the restaurant pass. But popularity kind of waned over the years, and COVID put the final nail in the venue's coffin. But now, the Courthouse is officially back, having quietly reopened earlier in May. The new team are the same minds behind Parkville's Naughtons Hotel: Ryan Moses and Rusty Sturrock, along with Ryan and Laura Berry. And we have to say, these guys have really nailed the refurbishment. The Courthouse hasn't been gutted, just lovingly restored, bringing the venue up to modern gastro pub standards. Architect Alana Cooke and Blueprint Commercial handled the refurb, and they've managed to keep the old wooden panelling — stripped and sanded by hand — the floorboards, and the classic art deco features. The result is North Melbourne's hottest new pub, and it's fair to say locals are stoked. "Some of us remember eating at The Courthouse in the mid-noughties when it was serving some of the best gastropub fare in Melbourne," says Moses, who just signed a whopping 30-year lease. "We hope to recapture some of the essence of what made it special. Apart from the fond memories, we have fallen in love with the character and charm of the place, and Alana has gone to great lengths to preserve this in the refurbishment." So what about the food? Well, Rusty Sturrock has designed the menu, and he cut his teeth in some of London's finest gastro pubs, so expect UK classics with a Euro-Australian twist: Lancashire hotpot with lamb shoulder and Brussels sprouts, whole-roasted leatherjacket, Coq au Vin, kangaroo carpaccio and an excellent crowd-pleasing wiener schnitzel with chips. The guys have even installed an old-school hand pump behind the bar, which will be pouring English-style ale from Two Metre Tall and Love Shack. Aussie beer fans, don't worry, they've also got Hop Nation and CBCo brews on tap. The cherry on top? The crusty old rooms upstairs have been transformed into two boutique hotel rooms, so you can now stay overnight at The Courthouse. Prices start at $325 per night. You can find The Courthouse at 86-90 Errol St in North Melbourne, open seven days a week from 12pm. If in doubt, just follow the crowd of hungry punters. Images: Supplied
Being a sports fan involves taking every opportunity you can get to show your love for your chosen team. Attending matches, nabbing all the merchandise, decking yourself out in the appropriate hues: they're some of the easy ways to go about it. If you're particularly dedicated, so is naming a pet after your favourite player or squad. We can't all call a koala joey Matilda, however, like the folks at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary have to celebrate the 2023 Women's World Cup. Over the past few weeks, the fortunes of Australia's national women's soccer team have been the best conversation topic there is. How is Sam Kerr's calf? How many goals can Hayley Raso kick? How stunning was that game against Canada? Here's the latest question: how cute is this Gold Coast koala that now shares the Matildas' name? The answer: very. Matilda the koala is now 12 months old, about 25 centimetres in size and has been given her moniker to honour the Aussie squad. "The real Matildas are achieving great things, and many of the staff and volunteers at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary have been following their journey closely," said Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Koala Specialist Sarah Eccleston. "When discussing a name for the newest addition to our Koala nursery, Matilda was a clear favourite and seemed very fitting." "Matilda is very sweet but also a bit cheeky. She is already making herself known in the nursery, just like the Matildas in the FIFA Women's World Cup tournament," Eccleston continued. At Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Matilda was born from the breeding and conservation program, and will soon join it to help the endangered species' future. The wildlife haven is home to more than 50 of its own fluffy-eared marsupials, which visitors can see on a trip to the park or via a daily behind-the-scenes tour, breakfast with koalas sessions five days a week and regular grazing experiences in its koala habitat. [caption id="attachment_912105" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Shiftchange via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Find Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary at 28 Tomewin Street, Currumbin — head to the venue's website for further information. The FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 runs until Sunday, August 20 across Australia and New Zealand, with tickets available from the FIFA website.
From fine dining to boozy brunches, the past 18 months have seen plenty of classic culinary experiences turned on their heads and swiftly reimagined to suit the eating-at-home schtick. While hot and smoky Korean barbecue (fondly known as KBBQ) might seem like an ambitious couch experience at first, thanks to new local venture Kravin Korean — you can now enjoy this culinary endeavour with a click of a button. Just remember to open a window. Kravin Korean is the work of civil engineer David Le; and Korean restaurant owner and head chef Dong Hyuck Kim. The niche food delivery service was born out of nostalgia for the inimitable smoky KBBQ experience during last year's lockdown. "I remember talking to a friend during lockdown and we were asking each other, 'what is the first thing you would go [out to] eat when lockdown lifts?' — and we both said Korean BBQ," explains Le. "It was at that point I was thinking: 'Why can't we just bring KBBQ to [the people]?'" Since launching in February this year, Kravin Korean has been busy sating barbecue cravings by delivering its signature meal kits across Melbourne. The kits are designed to feed two or four diners, each stocked with four 'banchan' (side dishes), three different meat cuts, a trio of sauces and loads of veggies. If needed, you can even rent out a portable gas stove and grill, which you simply leave on your doorstep the next day for contactless collection. [caption id="attachment_824034" align="alignnone" width="1920"] By Jess Moses[/caption] On the menu, expect a curation of Korean classics; from ready-to-grill meats like pork belly and soy beef bulgogi, to sides including spicy fish cake and corn salad. House-made dipping sauces include a traditional ssamjang, sesame oil and a special soy creation. But of course, as fans will know, the KBBQ experience goes beyond just the food — and Le and Kim are keen to help diners recreate all those other key aspects, too. Each kit comes with a QR code that scans through to a series of how-to guides and videos showing you how to set up and prepare your Korean feast authentically. You'll get access to a curated K-Pop playlist to groove to while you eat, mirroring the bold tunes that would normally soundtrack a meal out at your local KBBQ restaurant. And those keen to really bump up the party vibes will find fun, easy-to-follow tutorials for a selection of popular Korean drinking games — stock up on some soju and make a night of it. There's an extra win here for the planet, too. Mindful of the mountains of waste and packaging that can often go hand-in-hand with food delivery services these days, Kravin Korean's owners have opted to use only sustainable biocompostable and reusable products to package their kits. Kravin Korean is delivering at-home KBBQ kits to a (growing) range of suburbs every weekend, with order cut-offs at 5pm each Thursday. Head to the website to learn more and place an order. Images: Jess Moses and Levi Andrew Momo
With interstate borders now almost all reopened, it's not like you need much of an excuse to get out of town and scratch that travel itch. But if you've got your newly broadened sights set on the Mornington Peninsula, you will find a pretty strong reason to lock in a visit to the renowned Pt Leo Estate. The property's ever-evolving sculpture park has just scored a very high-profile new addition: a 5.5-metre-tall work by acclaimed New York artist KAWS. Not too long after the much-hyped KAWS: Companionship in the Age of Loneliness exhibition wrapped up at the NGV earlier this year, KAWS has unveiled a new bronze-cast figure gracing the manicured grounds of Pt Leo Estate. Titled SHARE 2020, the artwork features a towering figure imagined in the Brooklyn-based artist's distinctive style, though this time he's used a muted colour palette of grey and brown that's contrasted by the backdrop of verdant lawn and blue ocean. The main figure holds a smaller, bright blue character or BFF, dangling by one hand. [caption id="attachment_641337" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pt Leo Estate by Anson Smart[/caption] Making its home in the foyer, overseeing the route to the cellar door, is a second new acquisition for the estate, titled Shrive II. This one's a new piece by Turner Prize-winning UK sculptor Antony Gormley, whose renowned works pull inspiration from the human form. Of course, there's plenty more to keep you busy on a visit to this 134-hectare estate, including the Pt Leo Estate Restaurant, the cellar door and wine shop, and the full sculpture park. The site's Wine Terrace and fine diner Laura currently remain closed, but are expected to reopen their doors soon. Find Pt Leo Estate and its new sculpture works at 3649 Frankston-Flinders Road, Merricks.
It sure is tough to farewell another stretch of daylight savings — even if it does mean getting a bonus hour of sleep when those clocks turn back on Sunday morning. Thankfully, one St Kilda spot will help soothe any Monday morning fragility by handing out free coffee for an excellent cause. The Prince Hotel is teaming up up with Niccolo Coffee to run the caffeinated pop-up, serving up complimentary coffees from its Acland Street entrance from 7–11am next Monday, April 8. The coffee cart will be sticking around the rest of the working week, too, offering two-buck coffees up until Friday, April 12. All of the profits from these will be heading to Sacred Heart Mission's St Kilda Dining Hall, which dishes up over 400 hot and nutritious meals daily to those experiencing disadvantage and homelessness — people for whom the end of daylight savings means even tougher times ahead.
