Looking for a rainy day activity? Here are five. Five of the most electric and immersive exhibitions to hit Aussie shores, and they're all happening this winter. From 100 artworks by Picasso to a showcase of MoMa works — featuring Dalí, Andy Warhol and more — and a field of 3000 flowers to an electric ode to the radical artists of post-war Germany, it's all happening down under. The only catch is that they're spread across the country, so keep an eye on cheap flights or plan an epic road trip and hit them all up. It'll cost you much less than flights to Europe, but will still transport you to an alternative world — whether that's New York, post-war Germany, a fictional flower-filled land or Alice's Wonderland.
Luke Mangan is well known for serving up classic French cuisine in Sydney — with restaurants in the Hilton Hotel Sydney, Kimpton Margot Hotel Sydney and the Pylon Lookout inside the Sydney Harbour Bridge. And his latest venture Bistrot Bisou follows the same tried-and-tested formula. He has set up a contemporary French restaurant in another city hotel — but this time, in Melbourne's Hotel Indigo. Here, you won't find food that challenges or feels particularly playful. Instead, Mangan and his Head Chef Rory Kennedy (Vex Dining and Bar Romantica) have stuck to nailing the classics. You've got your steak tartare, cheese soufflé, confit duck legs, lobster thermidor, tarte tatin and crème brûlée. There might not be any real surprises, but the dishes are executed with great finesse and also showcase top local produce. The flamed-cooked steaks are a standout. These are cooked in the open kitchen over a roaring fire, which fills the room with a slight smokiness that makes the space feel incredibly cosy and welcoming. Those ready to brave the heat can even sit up at the bar and eat while watching the chefs do their thing. "We want this to feel like a second home for guests, whether they're Melbourne locals or visitors wanting a relaxed place to dine after a long day of sightseeing," says Mangan. "The French bistros of Paris have an ambience about them no matter what time of day or night it is, which is what we are creating here." [caption id="attachment_959622" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Glen Percival[/caption] And Mangan has lucked out with the 96-seat dining room, which was only fitted-out a few years ago for the Beso, former Spanish restaurant that once called this space home. The kitchen is mostly the same as it was before, as is the front bar. The space is full of cream and light brown tones, leather banquette seats, brass finishes, and a seperate nook for semi-private dining. At the front bar, which boasts floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Spencer Street, folks can also sit up on a stool while they sip and snack. Tim Davey (French Saloon) has created the impressive cocktail list for Bistrot Bisou, which includes eight martinis, plenty of signature creations, and a hefty list of French aperitifs for those wanting a little pre-dinner sip. As expected, the wine list features a great selection of French and Victorian vinos, while Taittinger Champagne is also available by the glass. If you're a fan of classic French fare (with a slight modern edge), you're in for a real treat at Bistrot Bisou. Bistrot Bisou is located at 575 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, open for dinner from 5.30pm–late, Tuesday–Saturday. For more details and to book a table, visit the venue's website. Images: Jana Langhorst.
Music, bicycles, and good coffee. Sounds like a Melbourne dream, right? But wait, it gets better. Add to that the fact that this event is carbon neutral and that the speakers the music will be played on will be powered by guests peddling bikes and you have Muscyle. Set up outside St Ali North, this gathering of earth conscious minds will include performances from Vika and Linda Bull, Brian Ritchie (Violent Femmes/curator MONA FOMA), The Alan Ladds, The Black Jesus Experience and Wang Zheng Ting. If you lend a hand in keeping the music a-pumping, you could also win yourself a bike. It’s a free event, there will be great food and music, they're doing the planet a favour, and you might just get some exercise out of it as well. Not bad. There will also be valet bike parking and tune-ups from Velo Cycles next door.
The residents of Box Hill should be very pleased with themselves. Not only do they have some of Melbourne's best Cantonese food (among other cuisines) on their doorstop, but they've also just landed a brand new, insanely cute café — and we're already planning a pilgrimage to try it out. After operating as a takeaway coffee pop-up in the area, The Penny Drop last week opened a permanent 100-seat cafe-restaurant in the newly refurbished ATO building on Whitehorse Road. And hot damn is it good looking. We can't decide which part we like more — the experimental menu or the Pinterest-worthy interior, which has been seriously decked out by interior designers We Are Huntly. It manages to find a balance between minimalism and warmth (with the help of some pastel pink tones) and has a large circle feature that reminds us of The Kettle Black. But let's talk about the menu. At first glance it may look like your standard offering, but that's the charm — the menu puts an Asian-inspired take on your favourite staples. Breakfast dishes like plain old pancakes sound like heaven (buttermilk pancakes with coconut foam, black sesame and pistachio dukkah, raspberry compote and palm sugar caramel), and don't even get us started on the potato and garlic chive waffle with poached eggs, ham, hollandaise and wakame. Some dishes don't fit any breakfast stereotype but still make our mouths water, like the tea-smoked salmon with spring onion pancake, bean shoot salad, avocado and son-in-law eggs. The lunch menu (available from 11.30am till 3pm) is sparser, but burgers are prominent — the soft shell crab burger with Kewpie tartare, coriander, cucumber and lime takes our fancy — but the dinner menu (available after 5.30pm) really sparkles. Try the fried chicken wings with mandarin sauce and sesame ($13) or the coconut beef short rib with sweet fish sauce, pomelo and soft herbs ($39) and drift away to dream land. The Penny Drop is open for brekkie, lunch and dinner all week as well as servicing all your takeaway coffee needs. Another cute, tasty reason to spend more time in the 'burbs. The Penny Drop is located at 913 Whitehorse Road, Box Hill and is open 7am till 10pm Monday to Saturday and 7am till 3pm on Sunday. For more info, visit thepennydrop.com.au.
Tina Fey hasn't starred in, created or executive produced a bad sitcom yet — and when the first season of Girls5eva dropped back in May, it continued that trend. In its own way, it's another workplace comedy like 30 Rock and Great News. And, albeit in a completely different manner to Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, it also follows a group of women trying to navigate new lives years after they were thrust together under extreme circumstances. The setup: more than two decades after they split up, the four remaining members of a late 90s girl group decide that it's time to get the bad back together. Now in their forties, they're all at different points in their lives, but rekindling their dreams is too enticing to ignore. Sara Bareilles (Broadway's Waitress), Busy Philipps (I Feel Pretty), Renée Elise Goldsberry (Hamilton) and the great Paula Pell (AP Bio) play Girls5eva's reunited members, Fey pops up as a fantasy version of Dolly Parton, and the comedic takes on 90s pop tunes are all both 100-percent spot on and so ridiculously catchy that they'll get lodged in your head for weeks. Also pitch-perfect: everything about this immensely funny take on stardom, fame and the way that women beyond their twenties are treated. In great news for everyone who has already streamed their way through the show's eight-episode first season and instantly found themselves wanting more — and for anyone who is yet to go through that process, too — Girls5eva has just been renewed for a second season. So, expect more earworm songs and jokes about the entertainment industry, although exactly when the next season will drop hasn't yet been revealed. Like its first season, Girls5eva's next batch of episodes will stream in Australia via Stan whenever they do release. For now, you can check out the trailer for the show's first season below: Exactly when the second season of Girls5eva will drop hasn't been announced, but the show's first season is available to stream now via Stan.
Melburnians, it's roadmap time — yes, again. It's also time to start getting ready to leave the house whenever you like. Today, Sunday, October 17, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced that the state's current (and sixth) lockdown officially has an end date. So, come 11.59pm on Thursday, October 21, the city's sixth stint of stay-at-home conditions will finally lift. In a press conference, the Premier confirmed that the state will hit the 70-percent double-vaccinated mark among over 16s earlier than expected, which is why lockdown will lift earlier than initially outlined in the state's previously announced roadmap. And, that's why the state's roadmap has been given a few tweaks, too, loosening a couple of extra restrictions at that 70-percent double-jabbed mark. "Today I am very pleased to announce that from 11.59pm this Thursday, when we get to the 70-percent mark, the lockdown lifts, there will be no restrictions on leaving your home or curfew. The roadmap will be delivered in full and there are a number of things we are adding to the road map as of 11.59pm this Thursday. Things we can bring forward, additional things, extra things we can do because the Victorian community has done so well in getting vaccinated so fast and in such great numbers," said Andrews. Bring forward the haircut and tell Mum you'll be round for dinner. Lockdown will end at 11.59pm on Thursday. 5 million Victorians have had a first dose, and we're well ahead of where we thought we'd be - meaning we can make the changes we promised in the Roadmap, and go further pic.twitter.com/17qohsFX6A — Dan Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) October 17, 2021 Accordingly, as already outlined in the original plan, the reasons to leave home and the nighttime curfew will be completely ditched. Plus, that'll now be paired with scrapping the travel radius, after the initial roadmap included a 25-kilometre limit. You won't quite be able to go wherever you like, however, with movement between metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria only allowed for permitted reasons. Also, having visitors over to your house will now be allowed, with up to ten people (including dependents) per day able to visit homes in both regional and metropolitan Melbourne. This is a big change to the initial plan, which didn't permit visitors to homes at all at this stage — and the new roadmap highly recommends that these visitors are all double-jabbed. Plus, 15 double-vaxxed people will be allowed to gather outdoors (up from the proposed ten), and pubs, clubs, restaurants and cafes can open to 20 double-jabbed folks indoors (up from zero) and 50 double-vaccinated patrons outdoors (which was in the original plan). Outdoors, that covers not just cafes and sports facilities such as pools, but also outdoor cinemas. Weddings and funerals will operate under the same 20-person and 50-person indoor and outdoor limits, and the five double-jabbed people cap at hairdressers will kick in as initially outlined. And, masks will still be required both indoors and outdoors at the 70-percent double-jabbed stage. With Victoria reaching the 70-percent double-jabbed threshold earlier than expected, it'll also hit 80-percent double-vaxxed among over 16s earlier than initially planned, too, which Andrews advised will happen sometime around Melbourne Cup day (Tuesday, November 2). Exactly when the next phase of eased restrictions will kick in around then hasn't been confirmed as yet, but everything already announced in the roadmap for that 80-percent mark is still earmarked to happen. So, that's when groups of 30 fully vaxxed people can gather outdoors. Dining indoors at hospitality venues will go up to 150 double-vaxxed folks, and the cap outside will go up to 500. Instrastate travel will be back with no limits, indoor community sport will return as well, there'll be no cap on hairdressing for the fully vaxxed, and all retail stores will reopen. Also, entertainment venues, plus weddings and funerals, will follow those 150 and 500 caps mentioned above. And, masks will only be required inside from this point. In the final phase of the roadmap — which is still expected sometime around Friday, November 19, when 80 percent of Victorians over 12 are double vaccinated — the state will align with the rules under Australia's new 'National Plan to transition Australia's National COVID Response' that was announced in July. That's when double-jabbed Victorians are expected to be able to travel overseas again without restrictions, when there's set to be no lockdowns, and when vaxxed Aussies will be free from domestic restrictions anyway. The Federal Government is still expected to fully flesh out these rules in the coming months. Also, Victoria remains committed to letting 30 people inside homes for Christmas, . Exactly when that'll kick in — obviously before December 25 — hasn't been revealed. Wondering where you can currently get vaccinated? There's a handy online map that helps you find your nearest clinic. Keen to keep an eye on vaccination rates? A heap of online resources will help you do that as well. Metropolitan Melbourne's lockdown will lift at 11.59pm on Thursday, October 21. For further information about Victoria's reopening roadmap, head to the Victorian Government website. For more information about the status of COVID-19 and the current restrictions, head over to the Department of Health website. Top image: Ponyfish Island, Julia Sansone.
Next time you crack open a can of BrewDog's Punk IPA, you might find yourself motivated to welcome a new four-legged addition into your family. Teaming up with Animal Welfare League Queensland, the Scottish brewery has brought its Street Dog initiative to Australia — profiling adorable dogs that are currently available for adoption across its cans. If you're the type of person that pats every pooch you see, and takes a daily walk past the local dog park just so you can get a glimpse of those adorable canines and their little faces, then you're also the kind of person who'd love to see pictures of puppers while you're sinking a brew. The photos adorn select Punk IPA packs, which have been badged 'Street Dog'. And yes, if you fall in love with the little fluffball staring back at you from the can, you can give it a home. By picking up a few Street Dog brews — which are on offer in eight- and 16-packs — you'll also be helping doggos in need another way. BrewDog is also donating all of the profits from sales of the beer to Animal Welfare League Queensland. And, although it's brewed at the company's Australian base in Brisbane, it's only making the beer available via its new online store, so everyone nationwide can stare at these canine cuties over their next cold one. Street Dog actually started in the UK earlier this year, as inspired by comedian Ricky Gervais. The comedian tweeted about his genuine fondness for Punk IPA, while also noting that businesses in general were better off giving their money to charities than paying for celebrity endorsements — and, taking his words to heart, BrewDog decided to start supporting homeless dogs, a cause that Gervais has been vocal about. Cue BrewDog cans covered with photos of dogs, which, when they launched in Britain, helped all of the pups featured on the tinnies to find homes. If you're wondering about the timing of bringing the Street Dog initiative to Australia, it's designed to help give the profiled pooches a permanent home before Christmas hits. The 375-millilitre cans will be available to purchase online until sold out. BrewDog's Street Dog limited-edition version of its Punk IPA beer is available to buy as an eight-pack for $40 and a 16-pack for $70.
Your local takeaway spot might be convenient when you've been stuck at work all day, but it's far from kind on the environment — or your wallet, for that matter. With the right know-how, you can spice up your midweek meals without too much hassle. We've partnered with Glad and its Glad to be Green range to bring you six simple, eco-conscious dinner ideas that'll not only keep more cash in your bank account, but also see fewer takeaway containers ending up in landfill. Roll up those sleeves and get ready to whip up feasts every night of the week. ADD MEAT-FREE MONDAYS TO THE DIARY After an indulgent weekend, you'll want to put your best foot forward when the new week comes. Regardless of whether you're consciously looking to go full vegan, starting the week off a plant-based dinner means you're cutting back on one of climate change's biggest contributors: the meat industry. If you're someone who likes numbers, according to this study beef has a carbon dioxide equivalent of 59.6 kilograms. To compare, tofu has an equivalent of three kilograms. These days, about 12.1 percent of Aussies eat a fully or mostly vegetarian diet. Don't know where to start? Treat yourself to a couple of cookbooks. Some go-tos include Hetty McKinnon's To Asia, With Love and Neighbourhood; Smith & Daughters' Shannon Martinez's cookbook Vegan with Bite; and, of course, Ottolenghi's newest title Flavour (or any from his Plenty series). Once you've cooked up your veg-packed feast, simply cover any leftovers with Glad to be Green cling wrap — made from 50 percent sugarcane and with a smaller carbon footprint — and consider tomorrow's lunch sorted. HAVE POTLUCK DINNERS WITH MATES Next time you're having mates round, organise a potluck dinner rather than hitting up the local pizza shop for a mediocre slice (and subsequent greasy box that can't be recycled). First up, it's a gamble as to what everyone will bring and, therefore, you'll be tucking into all sorts of delicious dishes. Plus, it's likely to save everyone some cash and your friends get to flex their kitchen skills. With everyone bringing a plate — and some quality stories — to share, this is a great way to add some more home-style cooking and community to your life, too. And, there'll be a lot of food going around the table, which means no one will go hungry. SLOW ROAST AS YOU WFH Many of us have come to know the pros and cons of WFH life. But one undeniable benefit of working from your home office (or couch) is that you can slink away from the computer to prepare a glorious dinner. Whether you're cooking for your partner who has to go into the office or prepping a feast for your friends, slow roasting is super easy — when you actually have the time to do it. So, as time is on your side when you're commute-less, you can try out new roast dinners each week. Whether you prefer sticky pork, rosemary-covered lamb shoulder or bourbon- and honey-glazed brisket, these slow-roasted meats are heartwarming meals for when the cold weather hits. Just be sure to layer your roasting pan with Glad to be Green compostable baking paper to cut down on the messy cleanup. It's certified home compostable, and it even breaks down in a worm farm. KEEP THINGS SIMPLE WITH ONE-POT WONDERS Replace the convenience of takeaway with an even more practical one-pot dinner. Although your meal might not get delivered straight to your door, there's not much cleaning involved when you throw all the ingredients into the same cauldron. Which, let's be honest, is a big reason why we often turn to delivery apps in the first place. From quick 'n' easy stir-fries and soups to veggie laksas and casseroles, there are plenty of one-pot wonders out there. Plus, you can put any leftovers in Glad's new plant-based resealable sandwich bags, which are made with 50 percent sugarcane (a renewable resource). These bags are also freezer safe, so you can store leftovers for longer, ensuring you have a quick, fuss-free dinner for the next time cooking from scratch is too much of a chore. MAKE A HOUSEMATE ROSTER Coming up with homecooked dinner ideas doesn't have to be harder than picking something on Uber Eats. But, sometimes inspiration is lacking after a day at your nine-to-five, we get it. If you live with others, why not come up with a roster? That way, it's easy to plan for, everyone gets a night off the pots and pans, and you don't have to cook those sad dinner-for-one meals. After all, food is better when shared, right? To make your new schedule a success, it's a good idea to liven up each night of the week with some broad themes, too. It'll also help ensure no one is stuck for ideas. Of course, you'll want to take into account your housemates' culinary and dietary preferences to avoid encountering any awkward dinner conversations. COME TO LOVE LEFTOVERS Leftovers are a godsend when you've got an itch for cheeky takeaways. Instead of having to dip into your savings (and even possibly impact your chances of a future homeloan), you can swing open your fridge or freezer and pull out a tasty creation cooked by yours truly. Not to mention, you're doing your bit for the planet, too. In fact, you can store your leftovers in Glad's plant-based snack and sandwich size resealable bags if you want to divvy them up into perfect portions. So, when you CBF to cook next week, you've already got yourself covered. Go green and visit the Glad website for more tips and tricks.
Is there a fluffy, cat-shaped hole in your life? Have you been looking for an excuse to fill it? If so, consider this your calling. With the annual kitten season in full swing and an influx of rescues on its hands, the Cat Protection Society of Victoria (CPSV) is putting the call out for feline-friendly homes, mainly for kittens, but also some Mama cats. Most of the animals are either surrendered as kittens or rescued by Council rangers and in need of TLC, medical attention and loving new homes. If you're keen to adopt one of these furballs, it'll cost you $120, which includes all the necessities — microchipping, desexing, vaccinations, parasite treatment, a full vet check and a two-week health cover. Recently desexed cats will also get free follow-up vet care and CPSV will be on hand to help out with questions and follow-ups long after each adoption is complete. You'll also need lots of toys for them to play with, proper food for them to eat and plenty of attention to give. In return, you'll score a new best mate and a whole lotta cuddles. "Kittens are highly interactive and playful so make a great new addition to the family," said Natalya Dundovic, Animal Behaviour Consultant at CPSV. "As they're easy to toilet train, are small, need less formal exercise and eat less than dogs, they can make the perfect pet." With the local kitten season running from September through to April, and cats able to give birth to as many as three litters in that time, the CPSV needs your help big time, hoping to find homes for more than 700 kittens this season alone. For more information on adopting and to see some of the animals that need rehoming, jump over to the CPSV website.
'Tis the season for many things, though at one particular pop-up Christmas market, the festivities are entirely, deliciously gin-related. The Craft & Co's inaugural Gin Market is a one-stop pressie shop with a very distinct flavour. Taking place at The Craft & Co in Collingwood across the first weekend of December, expect a careful curation of delights from nine Aussie gin distilleries. As it's a sit-down event, they'll be going from table to table, speed dating style, so you can hear all about the passion for their product, while maintaining a safely distanced environment. Exclusive specials are promised on the night, so if you're a real ginthusast you'll want to stock up on presents. And, you know, a few treats for yourself. Just don't forget to eat something during all that sampling — the bar will be open for snacks downstairs, but bookings are recommended.
Things are getting chilly at ACMI cinemas, and we're not just talking about the air-conditioning. Presented as part of the Art + Climate = Change festival, which aims to draw attention to environmental issues through art, Poles Apart will showcase four stunningly photographed documentaries set at the two coldest and most unforgiving places on earth. The season begins on April 18 with Anthony Powell’s Antarctica: A Year on Ice. Ten years in the making, and presented mostly in timelapse, this mesmerising doco reveals not only the stark beauty of the Antarctic environment, but delves into the everyday lives of the community workers who man the continent's remote research stations. On the other side of the globe, meanwhile, Last Days of the Arctic follows famed Icelandic photographer Ragnar ‘Rax’ Axelsson, as he chronicles the tangible effects of climate change in the white wilderness of Iceland and Greenland. Rounding out the program, Art from the Arctic and Expedition to the End of the World both follow groups of artists and scientists as they travel deep into the frozen waters of the Arctic Circle. For exact screening dates, visit the ACMI website.
Pacific Overtures is one of Stephen Sondheim's most rarely performed musicals — this production at Theatreworks by Melbourne outfit Watch This is actually the work's first professional premiere in Australia. Perhaps its because it's set in 1853, with America and Japan on the brink of conflict, a story that demands the kind of diverse casting that mainstage musical theatre has traditionally done quite badly. The music, too, is challenging. Even if Sondheim himself rates some of its songs as those he's proudest of composing, the conflict between East and West is reflected in the score and setting, a fusion of chamber opera and Japanese kabuki theatre. What's refreshing about the work's outing at Theatreworks is that it's Sondheim on an independent scale, with none of the bells, whistles, and revolving stages of a commercial theatre. After the success of the group's 2013 production of Assassins at fortyfivedownstairs (which will reappear on tour later this year) Pacific Overtures looks like a chance for Watch This to stake their claim on a brand of music theatre that's full of risk.
Just months after one Melbourne proposal claimed to be constructing the country's tallest building, another towering skyscraper has popped up to snatch its lofty crown. The latest super-tall contender is the $2 billion Green Spine, with UN Studio and Cox Architecture emerging victorious in the international competition to design the new addition to Southbank, all for developer Beulah International. Winning out over five other shortlisted proposals, the 356.2-metre-high Green Spine is actually two cantilevered towers that sport a noticeable twist — that is, the structures both physically twist in their geometric design. Terracing and glass also feature prominently, as does greenery. Indeed, as well as plant-filled public spaces along the ground and stepped lower levels, the building will include a 'future botanic garden' at its peak, which will basically be a garden in the sky that's accessible to everyone. Before you start looking up, however, The Age reports that a building application hasn't yet been submitted for the mixed-use development, which plans to feature apartments, offices, a hotel, retail spaces, an entertainment centre, restaurants, bars, a BMW showroom, a school and even a cinema. If it does come to fruition, Green Spine could possibly eclipse the previously announced Magic, also in Melbourne, which will span between 330 and 362 metres. The city's current tallest building is the 297.3-metre tall Eureka Tower, however the 319-metre Australia 108 residential tower at Southbank is in progress, and the 323-metre-tall One Queensbridge tower is also slated for the Crown precinct. Around the rest of the country, the Gold Coast's Q1 presently reaches 332.5 metres, with the new 328m Orion Towers in Surfers Paradise in development.
If you're ever uncertain about the massive contribution Italians have made to Australian society, just stop for a minute and think about your favourite foods. Pizza. Pasta. Salumi. Gelato. And don't even get us started on the booze. The good news is you'll find all that and more at the Italian Wine + Food Festival this weekend. Taking over the Royal Exhibition Building this Sunday, May 29, this day-long gastronomic bonanza will welcome the proprietors and chefs from some of most beloved Italian eateries in town. We're talking Bar Idda, 400 Gradi and Rosa's Kitchen, to name but a few. There'll be cooking demonstrations, pasta-making classes and workshops with Victoria's top sommeliers. Those looking to put what they learn into practice can swing by the festival food market and find all the ingredients they need to cook an Italian feast at home. And once you're done shopping you can kick back with a glass of vino — or perhaps an Italian aperitif of choice from the pop-up bar — and enjoy live Italian jazz in the wine garden.
As Melbourne's legendary food scene embarks on a necessary shake-up to suit the post-lockdown age, we're set to see plenty of clever and out-of-the-box events landing on our culinary calendars. That includes Everleigh-After — a multifaceted, art-filled dining experience from new culinary concept SSIXX, which hits Melbourne from Friday, February 5 till Sunday, February 28. This envelope-pushing event serves up a multi-sensory fusion of visuals, sonic delights, food, drink, art and aromas, in a collaborative effort between famed cocktail haunt The Everleigh, Ides' renowned chef-owner Peter Gunn and SSIXX's founder Philip Bucknell (who has imagined creative experiences for the likes of The Met Costume Gala, MOMA and New York Fashion Week). Taking place across a limited run of sittings Tuesday-Sunday evenings, Everleigh-After features a series of intimate 14-person communal dinners, held within a futuristic cube at Fed Square. Yes, it's set to be an immersive, otherworldly affair, offering a simultaneous feast for all the senses. And, while it comes in at a cool $260 a pop, this one aims to blow all your previous food experiences out of the water. While the visual splendour, bespoke scents and aural offerings unfold, guests will also enjoy a lineup of specialty Everleigh cocktails, carefully matched to a four-course feast. Much is being kept under wraps for now, though you can expect to taste a masterful reworking of Gunn's iconic Black Box dessert somewhere along the way — a much-loved Ides creation made famous after an appearance on MasterChef Australia. It seems that Melbourne is just the beginning, too. The minds behind Everleigh-After have confirmed the concept is a "travelling experience", imagined "in collaboration with culinary experts, artists and designers Australia wide."
Located just a stone's throw from Footscray Park and the banks of the Maribyrnong River, this haven of green space offers a slice of tranquility away from the buzz of Melbourne's inner west. Over the past few years, the former quarry has been steadily transformed into a lush public open space complete with picnic areas, rolling green slopes and some top-notch views of the city skyline. But it's perhaps Quarry Park's mountain bike facilities that have earned it the strongest following of late, with a series of bike trails, a dedicated skills park and pump tracks for junior riders all completed in late 2019. A slew of other improvements and additions are also in the works including plans for a Korean War Memorial, which will honour the Australians who served in the Korean War from 1950–53.
Surfing and gig-going have always been two of Australia's best-loved pastimes, and in 2018 we scored a festival celebrating the best of both worlds. After returning this year, it's back for its third round of autumnal beachside festivals. Returning from February–April 2020, The Drop festival will cruise around the country as it once again follows the Aussie leg of the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour — and it's bringing a banging little lineup of musical gold along for the ride. Surfing the festival wave are dance music legends The Presets, Aussie indie-rock chart-toppers Boy & Bear and Brisbane's Ball Park Music, along with other local acts Allday, DZ Deathrays, Kita Alexander and Graace. Held on the first weekend of each area's surfing event, The Drop is set to grace some of the Australia's most iconic surf spots, each outing featuring a locally focused offering of food, drink and culture, to match the tunes. As well as heading to the official WSL events in Torquay, Margaret River and Coolangatta as it has since 2018 — and forming part of WSL Qualifying Series events Surfest Newcastle and Vissla Sydney Surf Pro in Manly, as it did in 2019 — the fest will also hit Noosa as part of the WSL Noosa Longboard Open. [caption id="attachment_753214" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Ian Laidlaw[/caption] THE DROP FESTIVAL 2020 LINEUP The Presets Boy & Bear Ball Park Music Allday DZ Deathrays Kita Alexander Graace THE DROP FESTIVAL 2020 DATES Noosa, Qld — Dolphins Rugby Club, Sunshine Beach, Saturday, February 29 Newcastle, NSW — Empire Park, Saturday, March 7 Manly, NSW — Keirle Park, Saturday, March 14 Coolangatta, Qld — Queen Elizabeth Park, Saturday, March 28 Torquay, Vic — Torquay Common, Saturday, April 11 Margaret River, WA — Barnard Park, Busselton, Saturday, April 25 The Drop tickets go on sale from 6pm AEDT on Wednesday, December 4, with pre-sales available from 6pm, Tuesday, December 3 for folks who register in advance (prior to 6pm, Monday, December 2). For more info, visit thedropfestival.com.au. Images: Walk Wild Studio/ Miranda Stokkel / Ian Laidlaw.
Vegans, hold onto your tempeh — the team behind beloved vegan eateries Smith & Daughters and Smith & Deli are releasing their top-secret, work-of-genius recipes to the world. The Fitzroy restaurant and deli announced yesterday via Facebook that they'll be releasing their first ever cookbook, featuring a whole heap of Smith & Daughters' crazy how-did-they-do-that? creations from head chef Shannon Martinez. This might be your chance to get your hot little hands on their vegan doughnut recipe. Details about the cookbook are few and far between, although we know that it'll be released through Hardie Grant Books "later on this year". The reaction to the news has been predictably ecstatic, with the Facebook announcement garnering more than 500 reactions in less than half a day. It's the moment we've been waiting our whole lives for... It's really really really happening! Smith & Daughters, the... Posted by Smith & Daughters on Tuesday, 5 April 2016 Co-owners Martinez and Mo Wyse do a roaring trade in Fitzroy, and having launched lunchtime spinoff Smith & Deli around the corner from their Brunswick Street restaurant last year. They're one of our favourite vegan joints in Melbourne, so naturally we're pretty amped to try their recipes at home. We've got our fingers crossed for the recipe for their vegan mac 'n' cheese. The Smith & Daughters cookbook is slated to be released through Hardie Grant Books later this year. For more information as it develops, keep your eyes on their Facebook page.
Games of Thrones is the world’s most pirated TV show, The Avengers made more than $1.5 billion at the box office and even the President of the United States once collected Spider Man comics. In other words, it’s pretty cool to be a nerd these days. Just ask avid Dungeons and Dragons player Vin Diesel. The ultimate celebration of everything geeky, the Supanova Pop Culture Expo hits the Melbourne Showgrounds April 11 - 13. From cosplay comps to comic book signings and photo opportunities with sci-fi and fantasy icons, it’s a three-day mecca of uninhibited, unironic nerdiness that attracts thousands of eager pilgrims every year. Of course such an event can seem overwhelming, especially to the uninitiated. So, whether you’ll be attending in your fully functioning Iron Man costume, or experiencing the convention for the very first time, here are our recommendations for getting the best out of Supanova 2014. Shop around for the zombie apocalypse A huge part of any convention experience is simply walking the floor and perusing the vendor booths. Browse through rare and classic comic books, hunt down elusive collectables, or arm yourself for the impending zombie apocalypse with custom designed swords and machetes. Just be sure to give the expo's weapons policy a read first. That’s right, there’s a weapons policy. Show your competitive side While it’s easy to stereotype con-goers as a mostly sedentary group of people, it turns out Supanova offers plenty of opportunity for rigorous physical exercise. Join an epic game of laser tag in a special inflatable arena, or get a crash-course in Harry Potter’s favourite pastime courtesy of the athletes at the Australian Quidditch Association. A pinball tournament probably doesn’t offer quite the same workout, admittedly, but an iPad to the winner is certainly nothing to sneeze at. Live out your '90s dream of meeting Xena Meet the men and women behind some of the biggest characters in geekdom. Faces on this year’s guest list include Xena’s Lucy Lawless, Game of Thrones’ Finn Jones, Doctor Who companion Freema Agyeman, Whedonverse alum Ron Glass and Tom Lenk, plus authors, voice actors and comic book artists aplenty. Just be aware, when it comes to a lot of the bigger names, autographs and photos don’t always come free. For a full list of guests and their signing fees, go here. Learn the creative side of things Although we all know names like Gandalf and Dumbledore, the true wizards of science fiction and fantasy are the unsung visual effects artists. The Imagineer’s Playground will be present to give fans a close up look at the craft of costuming, special effects makeup, video game design and more. You can even get some 'how-to' tips and compete in the Supanova Fan Art Competition. Come in character (if you've got the guts) At the end of the day, it’s easy to separate the hardcore fans from the nerd-curious newbies by a quick glance at what they’re wearing. Anyone sporting Jedi robes, a Super Saiyan hair cut or any kind of jetpack has probably done this before. Whether you’re game enough to dress up yourself, there are sure to be plenty of elaborate costumes on display, with the very best on the catwalk for the Madman National Cosplay Championships. For more information on the Melbourne Supanova Pop Culture Expo, visit www.supanova.com.au. Image credits: David Chau, Ruben Schade and Jessica Truscott via Creative Commons.
When it comes to picnics, as with all al fresco gatherings involving great food, company and libations: sharing is caring. Joining your besties for a communal feast of cheese, snacks and cocktails is one of life's simple pleasures we've been missing out on lately — and we're keen to make up for the lost time. So, if you've been put in charge of drinks for your next get-together, it's time to think big. Luckily, there's a stack of local bars and labels whipping up supersized liquid creations you'll be proud to share with your mates. To prep you for the season ahead, we've rounded up some of the best locally-made large-format cocktails going around from fruity spritzes made on native botanicals, to blockbuster-sized bloody marys. All are ready-to-pour with minimal packaging taking up precious room in your esky. After all, not all good things come in small packages. HOME GROWN'S SPRITZ COCKTAILS Spritz season is upon us, but before you reach for the Aperol, you might want to check out the crafty renditions made by local hospitality incubator Worksmith. The Home Grown label currently features three Aussie-inspired, ready-to-pour spritzed cocktails, served in 750-millilitre glass wine bottles ($45). There's the Creamy Soda Highball boasting hints of sarsaparilla and a touch of whisky, a Ginger & Mango Spritz starring Anther Gin, and the Strawberry & River Mint Spritz — a dry, yet fruity fusion of Grainshaker Rye Vodka, Økar Island Bitters and aromatic berries. Coming in at around the 9 percent ABV mark, they're ideal served over ice for sunny afternoon sips on the grass. Stock up: Solo bottles and three-packs are available online for regular shipping. You'll also find them at select local independent bottle shops. ZONZO ESTATE'S BELLINI DI CRISTINA The bellini is the ultimate boozy brunch sip, but thanks to all these lockdowns, the two of you are probably disastrously overdue for a catch-up. So make up for lost time with a generous shared serve of this classic Italian peach-infused aperitif, hand-crafted by a Yarra Valley winemaker. Zonzo Estate's new Bellini di Cristina is a fruity, refreshing blend of prosecco and peach nectar, starring chardonnay grapes grown in the Murray Darling. Full of bright peachy aromas and boasting a gentle fizz, it's a treat that's perfect for the picnic hamper, served in a classic 750-millilitre wine bottle ($25). Stock up: Order online to get a bottle — or a box of six or twelve — shipped to your door. Otherwise, find it at select boutique bottle shops around Melbourne. MR WEST'S BAGNUMS If you're a booze connoisseur located in the west, chances are you're already acquainted with Mr West's foray into the large-format drinks market. The bottle shop and bar earned itself plenty of new fans with the release of its 1.5-litre 'bagnums' ($99), featuring pre-batched house cocktails served in easy-pour bladder packs. Containing 12 serves, the espresso martini version is crafted on Mr Black coffee liqueur, cold drip coffee, stout and vodka. Or, if aperitivo hour's on the cards, there's the signature negroni made with Poor Toms gin, which packs enough for between 16 and 20 serves. Oh, and with no glass or cardboard to worry about, these are the perfect esky choice. Stock up: Jump onto Mr West's online store to order one of these bad boys for delivery or click-and-collect. ZSA'S MEGA MARY If you prefer your cocktails to be full of tomato and with a bit of a fiery kick, we'd like to inform you that Zsa's is currently whipping up your ultimate share-friendly park sip. Behold, the Mega Mary — a one-litre pop-top bottle of rich, truffle-infused bloody mary. A recent release from the Northcote bar and bistro, this feisty cocktail already has something of a cult following among northside spice fiends. It's made to a secret house recipe, with lashings of Truff hot sauce elevating it well beyond your basic bloody mary situation. One of the giant serves will set you back $60, though there's also a combo pack featuring twelve freshly-shucked oysters for $96. Stock up: The Mega Mary is available for pick up — order online. MR MIYAGI'S COCKY BOXES Fun-loving modern Japanese restaurant Mr Miyagi has put a cheeky, new-school spin on the humble goon box, starring blended house cocktails instead of cheap wine. Each of the $55 Cocky Boxes comes filled with six serves of drink (750 millilitres), with a tap for easy pouring and Mr Miyagi's signature black-and-pink branding signalling good times ahead. You can choose between the Charlie Does Tokyo — a blend of gin, umeshu, yuzu and lime — or the Sanchez Does Kyoto, featuring a gutsy fusion of tequila, yuzu and agave. All boxed up in easy-to-transport cardboard, ready to take from fridge to park. Stock up: The Cocky Boxes are available to pre-order for pick up and delivery from the Windsor restaurant. CAPITANO'S NEGRONUS MAXIMUS The drinks maestros at Italian bar and restaurant Capitano have created a supersized negroni pour with a beefed-up name to match: the Negronus Maximus ($90). Only serious cocktail-sippers need apply. Clocking in at a hefty 750 millilitres, this bottle of goodness features seven and a half serves of the venue's signature negroni blend, ready to infuse your picnic with all the Italian aperitivo vibes you could want. Just add one of the kitchen's pizzas or vodka pastas for full effect. If you're looking to downsize, the bar's also serving smaller pre-batched sips, including an olive oil martini and the Tiramisu Milk Punch. Stock up: A selection of Capitano cocktails are available for click-and-collect and local delivery — order here. Top Image: Mr Miyagi Cocky Box
For this year's Good Beer Week festivities, Taxi Kitchen invites punters to indulge in a little escapism at its sumptuous banquet inspired by a post-hunt feast. Think: long communal tables, merriment in abundance and a menu centred around a giant whole beast. On Wednesday, May 19, the Fed Square restaurant hosts its Good Swill Hunting dinner, celebrating hearty winter fare and some cracking beers from across Australia and New Zealand. Diners will be treated to a grand spread from executive chef Tony Twitchett, running from canapes and terrine, to a whole pig — with crackling — and an apple tart to finish. Each dish will be carefully matched to a tasty beer (or two), with the likes of Brooklyn Brewery's Pulp Art Hazy IPA, Panhead's Sucky Mon Mon Japanese lager and the golden sour ale by White Rabbit just some of those in the lineup. Craft Beer Ambassador Ryan Loft will play MC for the evening's festivities, and brewers from each label will be there to talk you through what you're drinking as you're drinking it. [caption id="attachment_680384" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Giulia Morlando[/caption]
When March arrives, the Murray River transforms into a wonderland of reds, oranges and golds. It's the ideal season to visit. While outdoorsy types can walk, cycle and paddle, wine aficionados can linger over autumnal releases, with rolling vineyards and river sunsets as their backdrop. Here are five dreamy ways to enjoy the Murray's changing colours, from drifting down the river on a houseboat to cycling along share paths scattered with sculptures and cantering on horseback through red river gum forests. SLEEPOVER ON A HOUSEBOAT To completely immerse yourself in the river – from dawn till dusk – stay on a houseboat. All you have to do is sit back, relax and watch the day roll by (unless, of course, you're captain). Or, you can get as adventurous as you like, mooring at riverside villages, stopping by wineries for tastings, embarking on kayaking escapades, jumping in the water for dips and trying your hand at fishing. Most vessels come with a variety of spaces, including sunny decks, glass-walled lounge rooms and outdoor spas. If you've cash to splash, go for a luxury model, such as Magic Murray Houseboats' Magic or Murray River Houseboats' Decadence, which each feature four queen or king bedrooms, luxurious linen, TVs galore, a spa and sun deck. Meanwhile, Mildura Houseboats' fleet ranges from back-to-basics to total extravagance, so there are options for any budget. Stacks more boats are listed on the Wander Victoria website. JUMP ON A BICYCLE It's possible to ride the entire length of the Murray, from its source on the slopes of Mount Kosciuszko to its mouth in Coorong, about 75 kilometres southeast of Adelaide. However, if you don't have weeks to spare (and Amazonian legs), then there are plenty of shorter cycle paths to explore. In Echuca, the Food and Wine Trail takes in numerous cellar doors and local producers, including Morrisons Winery and Cape Horn Vineyard, which both afford expansive views of the river. If you're heading to Albury, conquer the Wagirra Trail, a six-kilometre roll dotted with river-inspired sculptures created by local Indigenous artists. And in Mildura, you'll find several options, including the 12.5-kilometre Riverfront Highlights route, which passes Mildura Arts Centre, Old Mildura Homestead and Ornamental Lakes. PADDLE A CANOE, KAYAK OR STAND-UP BOARD Another way to see autumn from the water – apart from hiring a houseboat – is by canoe, kayak or stand-up paddleboard. For red river gums, koalas and cockatoos, make tracks to Barmah National Park, where there are four paddling trails, between 2.7 and 17.4 kilometres long. Nearby lies Murray Valley National Park, home to the Edward River, a tranquil tributary of the Murray sprinkled with picnic areas and swimming spots. You'll find hire facilities in many riverside towns, including Echuca (Echuca SUP and Echuca Boat and Canoe Hire), Cohuna (Murray River Adventours) and Albury-Wodonga (Canoe the Murray). If you're not confident paddling on your own or would like someone else to take care of the organising, book an adventure with Southern Side Eco Tourism, who'll take you to remote terrain and put you up in a bell tent, or River Country Adventours, whose canoe safaris run on the Goulburn River. HORSE RIDING THROUGH RED RIVER GUM FOREST If reading Black Beauty changed your life forever, then make your equine dreams come true at Billabong Ranch. This 390-acre property just ten minutes' drive from Echuca is an adventure park, where you can jump on a horse's back and canter alongside rivers and through red river gum forest. There are four journeys to choose from: a one-hour bush and creek ride, a two-hour journey beside Goulburn River, a three-hour escapade taking in the Goulburn and the Murray, and a winery ride, which carries you to a local cellar door. If you're feeling particularly adventurous, then the latter can be turned into an overnighter, with extra activities, such as a longer ride to a local pub, a mini cattle muster, a cruise on a paddle steamer and a tour of the Great Aussie Beer Shed. GO WINE TASTING What better way to admire dazzling autumn leaves than with a glass of wine in hand? There are several places to sip and sample along the Murray. If you're Mildura-bound, then begin your explorations at the Sunraysia Cellar Door, where more than 250 wines await your review. Just 15 minutes' drive away in Trentham Cliffs is Trentham Estate, a family-owned winery and restaurant on the banks of the Murray. It's one of many waterfront wineries along the river. Drive southeast for two hours to reach Piangil, where you'll find Andrew Peace's cellar door, then another two-and-a-half to Echuca Moama, home to Cape Horn Vineyard and Morrisons Winery. While you're in the area, get off the beaten track with a trip along the Backroads Trail, stopping at The Old School to try some small-batch meads and Restdown for organic drops. For more ideas on how to spend your autumn getaway in the Murray River region and across the state, check out the Wander Victoria website.
Mecca, aka the Melbourne-born beauty and cosmetics chain that has won fans the country over since it launched in the 90s, has been opening stores around Australia for the last 20 years. And it's currently hosting a huge online sale with 50 percent off a heap of products. That's good news for everyone, including your bank balance. If you haven't jumped on the Mecca bandwagon yet, then prepare to nab all those prestigious international brands you can't get elsewhere — as well as its own line of products. It's a makeup mecca, and more than a 100 different products are currently on sale. You can nab half-price Urban Decay highlighter, Nars eyeshadow, Too Faced concealer and Bare Minerals products — just to name a few of the items on sale. If this is the excuse you needed to boost your makeup bag, the sale runs online — on both Mecca Australia and Mecca NZ websites — from 7am on Tuesday, June 30 until 6.59am on Tuesday, July 14 (or till stocks last).
Two quintessential Aussie summertime treats are coming together in delicious harmony — and if you're quick, you can taste-test the clever fusion for free. The gelato maestros at Messina have once again teamed up with celebrated wine label Brown Brothers, this time creating both a limited-edition strawberries and cream moscato, and a gelato flavour inspired by the new wine. The new scoop captures all the same fruity dessert notes of the vino, featuring vanilla clotted cream gelato that's mingled with chunks of strawberry pound cake and layers of strawberry purée. The end result is a cooling, creamy gelato blend that's primed for a balmy summer's day. And, since the gelato itself has no alcohol content, it's a treat everyone can enjoy. But like most Messina creations, this beauty is here for a good time, not a long time. If you're keen to get your mitts on the moscato gelato, you'll find complimentary scoops being handed out at Westfield Doncaster only from 12pm this Saturday, February 18. Free tastings of the new wine are also on offer for visitors over the age of 18. Missed out on your freebie? The strawberries and cream moscato gelato will be available to buy from all Messina stores nationwide from Saturday, March 4–Friday, March 10 (or until sold out). Images: Phoebe Powell.
The Melbourne weather gods have finally started to answer our post-winter prayers and the season of weekend escapes is well underway. And now you've got another great reason to round up the crew and get out of town: the return of A Weekend With, an out-of-town music, food and wine festival. This one's going down about three hours north of Melbourne, taking over a historic winemaking facility in Victoria's Rutherglen region from November 1–4. The 120-year-old venue on Mount Ophir Estate is set to host a thoughtful program filled with the good stuff, from tunes and art to great local booze. The weekend kicks off on Friday night with a Welcome to Country with Yorta Yorta artists, before a huge communal feast for 500 people. Hosted by the Social Food Project, it'll come complete with wine tastings, booze from local labels and live music by Chapter Music. Wake up the next morning to free coffer from Everyday, while DJs and local musicians play chilled, ambient tunes. In the afternoon, livelier live music will be paired with captivating installations and artworks. Throughout the day, you'll be able to head to the bar for more free wine tastings or to pick up a glass from the likes of Trutta Wines and Scion — or a pint from Bodriggy Brewing Co. It'll all culminate at a big pét-nat party on Sunday afternoon before spending a final night on the historic property. The festival's capped at just 500 punters and you've got the opportunity to stay on-site, either camping, glamping or in one of six properties. First release tickets are currently on sale for $230.
If it's ethereal indie folk you're after, Dustin Tebbutt is your man. His music is described by his record label as "the music for your autumns and winters" which, in our opinion, couldn't be more accurate. The haunting isolation that comes through his high echoey vocals and crisp acoustic guitar certainly create feelings of isolation and introspection. Well, it's a good thing he's coming to town as the temperature is starting to drop. Tebbutt's latest national tour is for his latest EP, Bones, and it's gorgeous. First single 'Bones' is much like what we saw on debut EP The Breach; incredibly entrancing music that has the ability to transport its listeners far away from anyone or anything. If you enjoy the thoughtful sounds of Bon Iver or Sigur Rós, then Dustin Tebbutt is a local boy you definitely shouldn't miss. https://youtube.com/watch?v=OysNiYXWga0
Bright Brewery is a mountain town brewery, so, naturally, it only uses fresh mountain water in its brews. Being able to say your brews are 'mountain crafted' is pretty badass, not to mention extremely picturesque. The brewery door is open daily and features a 24-tap bar, which is especially impressive — even for a brewery. The Fainters Dubbel or Razor Witbier are our recommendations. Take them out onto the brewery's sprawling terrace, where you can settle in for the afternoon with a pizza or snack from the bar's extensive pub menu. The brewery's proximity to Mount Buffalo and Alpine National Park also means you can make this one a double road trip and sneak in a hike between pints.
Imagine if your quick trip to the convenience store was even faster and more convenient? Well, this could soon be a reality, as 7-Eleven Australia launches its new cashless, cardless concept store, where transactions are all processed via smartphone. The app-based technology was first trialled alongside the regular point-of-sale system at the group's Exhibition Street store in the CBD, but this new Richmond store will be the first in Australia to rely on it entirely. Operating similarly to Amazon's groundbreaking, fully automated grocery store, which opened in Seattle last year, 7-Eleven's new process ditches physical checkout counters in favour of a smartphone app. Customers scan barcodes of their selected items as they move through the store, then pay via the 7-Eleven Mobile Checkout App, which is linked to their credit card. 7-Eleven launches Australia's first cashless and cardless convenience store in Melbourne's inner suburb of Richmond where customers use their smartphones to complete their transactions. https://t.co/AH8jNCtwjU pic.twitter.com/szMtsszQG9 — 7-Eleven Australia (@7ElevenAus) May 29, 2019 According to 7-Eleven, the payment process has been honed to be as quick and user-friendly as possible. And with zero queues, it means means less time waiting to sink your teeth into that late-night sausage roll. Like Queen Lizzie, we're guessing people will cheat the self-service system — putting pricey Ben & Jerry's tubs through as $1 Slushies — but 7-Eleven says there'll be plenty of staff on hand to greet, assist and keep an eye on the customers. While no more check-out free stores have been in Melbourne or interstate just yet, the company says it is exploring more "ultimate convenience" options, such as delivery and micro store formats. We'll let you know if it decided to launch any more. You can find 7-Eleven's new app-driven concept store at 2/658 Church Street, Richmond. You'll need to download the 7-Eleven store app from the Apple Store or Google Play before you shop.
Fancy an art experience that extends beyond looking at works on a wall? Then prepare to be impressed by Melbourne's new 3000-square-metre, 11-metre-high immersive digital art gallery. THE LUME Melbourne has opened the doors to its new permanent home at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), where some of the world's most celebrated artworks will be projected in large-scale format. Until October 9, THE LUME Melbourne's inaugural experience will be celebrating the work and life of Vincent van Gogh, allowing you to literally walk through his renowned masterpieces. The swirling hues of The Starry Night will be illuminated around you, and a mirrored infinity room filled with bold yellow blooms will have you immersed in Sunflowers. You can expect a reimagined Café Terrace at Night and a life-size recreation of Van Gogh's The Bedroom, too. A carefully curated fusion of colour, sound, taste and aroma will see you experience the works of the famed Dutch artist like never before. The exhibition is closing soon, so nab your tickets, stat! Van Gogh at THE LUME Melbourne is on until Sunday, October 9. Head to the website to secure your tickets.
It's been a while in the making but planning for the 'adult Triple J' is now well underway, with Myf Warhurst at the helm. After taking control of digital music channel Dig in October last year, Triple J today announced that the over-30s station will be rebranded as Double J and officially launched on April 30 with Warhurst as regular presenter. The new station name is a throwback to Triple J's early days as Double J — a time when listeners were introduced to The Ramones and Joy Division and the station became a landmark in Australia's music history. Now, Double J will focus on the nostalgia of the '80s and '90s "celebrating the iconic music you grew up with" (N.B. This means a lot of Nick Cave, Nirvana and INXS), while adding in some palatable new sounds. "We have wanted to build a station like this for a number of years and now, with your help, we are really proud to deliver Double J," says Triple J manager Chris Scaddan. "While it won’t be a throwback to the music of the original Double J, it will be a station that takes the best elements of triple j’s past - a name, a presenter and the incredible archives, thrown headlong into the future with the best new sounds around." The reaction on Twitter has been positive with a touch of needling. — Callum Wilson (@Cal___) April 8, 2014 HEY! Gen X (old people) stop listening to @triplej its sad & you're making it uncool.We made you another thing over here #DoubleJ #TripleJ — Michael Davis (@MikeyMikeD) April 8, 2014 Regardless, the move is a necessary step to satisfy those who have felt disconnected from the national youth broadcaster of late. Alongside the usual complaints — "The Doctor sucks"; "Dubstep sucks"; "I hate hipster music and banjos" — Triple J has courted some controversy in the past few months about the homogenisation of their playlists. Faced with the familiar, high-rotation airplay of young indie acts like San Cisco, upcoming bands and old favourites alike have been reportedly feeling pressure to conform to a specific sound. Double J will hopefully help to quell this unrest and provide a bit of diversity to the listening landscape. "One of the best things any of us working in the media can do is to deliver something that audiences genuinely want," says ABC director of radio Kate Dundas. "We recognise people want to stay connected to music and discover new artists as they go through life — that’s the simple aim of Double J." Double J will launch at midday on Wednesday, April 30, with a live broadcast from Warhurst. The former Spicks and Specks favourite will present a daily show from 11am–3pm weekdays. The full list of programs and presenters will be revealed on air and you can listen in via the ABC radio app, online at www.doublej.net.au, or on your digital radio or TV.
When October rolls around each year, there's really only one appropriate thing to watch. That'd be horror movies, horror movies and more horror movies — all leading up to Halloween, obviously. Australia's A Night of Horror International Film Festival clearly loves the genre no matter the time of year; however, in 2021, it's showcasing its lineup of fear-inducing flicks in the two weeks right before the spookiest day of them all. So, from Monday, October 18–Sunday, October 31, you can get your scares at its virtual fest. And yes, by jumping online, that means the event is accessible nationally as well. This is A Night of Horror's 13th fest, fittingly, and it comes with an unsettling program of shorts and features. From the full-length titles on the bill, highlights include the UK's Lair, about an occult expert and skeptic with a pal who thinks he's possessed; New Zealand's The Turn of the Screw, the latest big-screen adaptation of Henry James' novel; and the Aussie-made My Cherry Pie, which nods back to 80s slasher fare — plus dreamlike Austrian effort Memory, and the supernatural and sinister Sunod from The Philippines.
UPDATE, March 14, 2022: Sizzlefest will no longer be hosting an evening session on Friday, March 18 due to staff shortages. This article has been updated to reflect that change. Barbecue eats are set to reign supreme this month, when the annual Sizzlefest returns to the Prahran Market. The free event fires up the southside food precinct from Saturday, March 19, to Sunday, March 20, for two big days of flame-driven celebrations. Across various sessions — Saturday (12–5pm) and Sunday (12–3pm) — Market Square will come alive with pop-up stalls slinging an array of grilled delights from the likes of Berbeo Bros, Hoy Pinoy and The Que Club. Meanwhile, the Mezzanine plays host to a pop-up beer garden by Deeds Brewing, complete with live tunes and lawn games. And if you fancy levelling up your own skills, catch a program of workshops and cooking demos led by seasoned grill experts like Danish-born chef Bente Grysbaek (Pope Joan). As for the famed Sausage Tasting Competition, it'll make its return on the Sunday, once again seeing some of the market's top butchers battle it out for the title of champion snag, as voted by the public. To help pick the winner, grab a $5 ticket and you'll score a sample plate featuring each of this year's sausage creations, plus a Prahran Market shopping bag. All proceeds from these tickets will go to support food rescue organisation SecondBite. Hit the Prahran Market website for the full program and to buy tickets.
The Dromana 3 Drive-In is worthy of a trip down the Peninsula at any time of year, but it's busting out the big (and truly spooky) guns this year for Halloween. The cinema and the gang at HauntZone have built two mazes: 'Infected' and 'Darkness Manor'. It's probably safe to assume this won't be a casual amble through a hedge maze. From Wednesday, October 30, you can catch Halloween-appropriate flicks each night including a special 40th anniversary screening of The Amityville Horror, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, Zombieland Double Tap and Ready Or Not. Come down with a carload, head into the two mazes before your flick and prepare to scream your guts out — bring a mate you feel comfortable holding on to for dear life because there's a whole list of disclaimers that come with maze entry. The haunted attractions will set you back $18, in addition to film tickets, and are only around until November 4.
Films about the holocaust will never be considered easy viewing. Revisiting one of the darkest chapters of human history is a confronting experience, as is facing the specific details of the atrocious deeds committed. Some movies try to temper their bleakness by honing in on unlikely heroism, like Schindler's List, or the comedy of tragedy, like Life is Beautiful, or offering a child’s view of events, like The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. Hungarian filmmaker László Nemes does none of this. Son of Saul doesn’t just contemplate challenging material — it is designed to immerse viewers in the horrific ordeal that was life in a concentration camp. While charting the daily misery of Jewish prisoners might sound familiar, it's the inner workings of the Sonderkommando that are thrust into the spotlight here. Those unacquainted with the term may be startled to discover its meaning, referring to a unit of detainees that assisted the Nazis with the very worst aspects of their final solution. Sonderkommando workers escorted their fellow inmates into the gas chamber, then cleaned up the aftermath. Their compliance was coerced, unsurprisingly; by hastening the deaths of others, they avoided their own for a few months. In a film fictional in its specifics but inspired by actual testimonies in the book The Scrolls of Auschwitz, Saul Ausländer (Géza Röhrig) is one of many men caught in this unfortunate situation — but when he tries to help a boy that crosses his path, he stands out from the rest of the group. Over the course of a turbulent 24 hours in 1944, he attempts to find a rabbi to give the child a proper burial. As he's searching, endeavouring to evade the camp's guards in the process, other members of the Sonderkommando plot their own larger acts of rebellion. Though there's no doubting the powerful nature of this story, Nemes' stylistic choices prove just as potent as the predicament he explores. It is impossible not to notice the feature's boxed-in aesthetics and constrained atmosphere, nor its concerted efforts to ensure the audience feels as trapped and claustrophobic as the on-screen characters. The filmmaker shoots in the Academy aspect ratio of 1.375:1, and keeps the camera as close as possible to his protagonist. The parallels he's trying to cultivate might be obvious, but that doesn't lessen their intensity. For viewers and Saul alike, there is simply no escape. Nemes isn't the feature's only standout, however — and while the writer-director is forceful in his approach, his leading man offers an understated counterpart. In his first film role, and in a performance conveyed through mannerisms more than dialogue, Röhrig makes Saul's struggle seethe beyond its historical context. Striving to aid another, even in difficult circumstances; putting someone else's needs before our own; choosing empathy, not just endurance. Ultimately, aren't these the things that make us human?
Unfolding over 200 kilometres, the country's largest outdoor gallery will soon play host to the new Silo Art Hotel — a luxury, street art-themed pop-up getaway located in Sea Lake, near the northwest corner of the art trail's looped route. Announced today, Monday May 17, the Silo Art Hotel will give visitors an opportunity to spend the night just a short hop away from the trail's many spectacular visual offerings. Located beside the vivid pink waters of Lake Tyrrell, the hotel is crafted from three repurposed shipping containers, two of which have been transformed into luxe suites. The third has been reimagined as a heated open-air swimming pool, ideal for weary travellers after a long day spent exploring the region. It's all appearing for just one month, from June 11–July 12 this year. A joint effort from Visit Victoria and street art collective Juddy Roller, the Silo Art Hotel will offer some visual splendours of its own with the Matt Adnate Suite and Drapl & Zookeeper Suite each kitted out with never-before-seen artworks from their respective namesake artist. Adnate concepted and created the mural on the Sheep Hills silos in 2016, while Drapl & The Zookeeper are behind the collaboration that has graced the Sea Lake silos since 2019. A colourful mural by Rosebery silo artist Kaff-eine will adorn one side of the pop-up swimming pool. [caption id="attachment_812361" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Sea Lake silos, featuring artwork by Drapl and The Zookeeper.[/caption] The Silo Art Hotel design is the work of Contained — the same crew behind The Wine Down pop-up winery hotels. The two self-contained hotel rooms boast high-end features including fancy Cultiver linen and robes, Australian-made toiletry products and a mini bar stocked with local goodies. Each room will also boast a private deck, ensuite bathroom and reverse cycle heating and cooling. The Silo Art Trail has been slowly and steadily expanding since its conception in 2016. It currently features 10 large-scale artworks, painted onto towering silos dotted across the state's Wimmera Mallee region. The Silo Art Hotel will pop up at Sea Lake from June 11–July 12. Rooms are $275 per night Sunday through to Thursday, and $375 per night from Friday to Saturday. Head to the website to book your stay.
When blissed out, soon-to-be-married American couple Nica (Hani Furstenberg) and Alex (Gael Garcia Bernal), set off on a hiking adventure in Georgia's remote Caucasus Mountains, they have little idea that their seemingly idealistic world is about to be profoundly challenged. To all appearances, the two share an unshakeable connection — spiritually at ease yet sexually charged. Nica is spirited and independent, and Alex adores her. They toy with language games, compete playfully over who is fastest or strongest, and are in free pursuit of their mutual wanderlust. Local guide Dato (Georgian actor and real-life expert mountaineer Bidzina Gujabidze) leads them through one breathtaking scene after another. Then, halfway through the film, a single event (not to be delineated here, for fear of giving too much away), corrupts the couple's bond, raising questions of trust, betrayal, and guilt. The Loneliest Planet, loosely based on Tom Bissell's short story Expensive Trips Nowhere, continues the minimalist style established in Russian-born, American-raised director Julia Loktev's second feature, Day Night Day Night(2006). Dialogue is sparse and we learn next to nothing of the specific details that conventionally define character — history, family, education, career, values and so forth. Nearly everything that we do know, we discover through action and we interpret through the camera's positioning. Loktev is a big fan of the long shot. Numerous scenes portray Nica, Alex and Dato "together alone", united by their common journey yet divided, both spatially and emotionally. The deeper the trio move into Georgia's rugged, unpredictable wilderness, the more vulnerable and exposed they appear. Cinematographer Inti Briones successfully captures the striking undulations of the landscape, contrasting shadowy valleys with verdant grassy hills and creating ominous campfire scenes through single source lighting. Loktev's intention is to carry us into the film's mental and physical world, one in which time seems to stretch on forever and all conviction has been thrown into doubt. We identify Nica and Alex as representative of a 'type' — the earnest backpacker, keen to escape insular Western existence but overwhelmed when 'the wild' presents them with more than they'd bargained for. Nica demonstrates the behaviour of a self-sufficient, modern woman, yet Alex's failure to meet her expectations causes bitter disappointment. The film explores some of the grey areas arising from the breakdown of traditional dichotomies: West versus Other, male versus female, impulse versus duty. However, while Loktev's aims are admirable, her approach is risky. The limited development of the characters threatens to undermine our emotional engagement and the snail-paced tempo can seem laboured at times. Just as lovers ensconced in a romantic affair might potentially struggle with the vagaries of reality, a filmmaker engrossed in a concept may run the risk of occasionally losing sight of the viewer's experience at the point of reception. https://youtube.com/watch?v=SIIMFHcC1Fc
Which do you love more: picking up a haul of new plants at bargain prices or enjoying that much cherished weekend sleep-in? If your answer is both, you'll be pleased to know you can have your cake and eat it too when Ellis Street Studio plays host to a couple of after-dark plant sales later this month. Greenery-loving pop-up Wandering Jungle invites punters to drop by after work, pick up some lush new foliage for their collections and then party on into the night. Kicking off at 6pm on both November 28 and 29, the event will showcase a variety of indoor plant species for you to browse and buy, from devil's ivy to ponytail palms to the good ol' fiddle leaf fig. To round out the late-night shopping experience, the bar will also be serving a selection of tasty libations, while local DJ favourites work their magic on the decks.
At first glance, this brand new cocktail created by Melbourne bartender Kayla Reid might look a little fancy for drinking at home on the sofa during lockdown, but that's exactly what it's made for. "I wanted people to be able to buy a few ingredients, shake it up at home and make themselves a delicious drink," says Reid, bar manager at Nick & Nora's on Collins Street. "All the ingredients are things you can find at a bottle shop, and I didn't want to create something that would be stressful for anyone to make at home." The Mi-To Shakerato is Reid's take on both a Milano-Torino (Mi-To) and a Shakerato. The Milano-Torino cocktail being an older sibling to the more commonly known Italian aperitif, a negroni. "I wanted to keep it as simple as a negroni, which is just three ingredients but still really complex," she says. "The Milano-Torino came before the negroni and it is just equal parts Campari and sweet vermouth. A Shakerato is essentially Campari and some people add saline solution, others add orange bitters. You shake it, then strain it out so it's nice and chilled, aerated and crisp." Reid's drink combines those two cocktails — with the classic negroni in mind — to make something altogether new: a rich but light aperitivo drink with a bubbly effervescent finish. The Mi-To Shakerato is one of 50 new takes on the classic bittersweet negroni featured in the new Negroni Cocktail Book, compiled by Campari for Negroni Week. Alongside other leading bartenders in Australia, Reid has played with the history and provenance of the negroni to craft something refreshing for Australians to make for themselves at home while bars wait patiently to serve customers again after lockdown. One of the ingredients likely to raise eyebrows is the Becherovka, which Reid says is "like a gingery, warm baking spice kind of liqueur" and it's nothing to fear. One other key difference is that you're shaking this cocktail, whereas you would traditionally stir a negroni. Her tip for home bartenders is that "anything that seals can be a shaker. You can use a tupperware container with some ice and shake it up." Though the drink is designed so that you don't have to work too hard to create it, one bartending tool that Reid recommends is a fine strainer. "You can use a lot of things to strain off ice in a drink, but if you want to have more clarity in your drink, without little shards of ice, it's good to invest in a fine strainer. Aside from that, if you've got a spoon and a glass to stir down ice, you don't have to spend an arm and a leg to get a good bar kit." For those without a decade of bartending experience under their belt like Reid, to make a saline solution, simply mix water and salt to your preferred ratio (80/20 is a good guide). Or, "just add a crack of salt to the cocktail and it'll give you a pretty similar outcome." To make it look as graceful as Reid's version, choose a coupette or stemmed glass for that golden era elegance. It's also a chic way to retain the bubbles in your drink for longer. HOW TO MAKE A MI-TO SHAKERATO 30ml Campari 20ml Cinzano Rosso 10ml Becherovka (herbal bitters) 3 small mint leaves 3 drops of saline solution 40ml sparkling wine Shake all ingredients (except for the sparkling wine) with ice. Strain into a coupette. Add sparkling wine. Express the essential oils of a lemon peel. Twist the peel into a fancy garnish. Best enjoyed as an aperitif. Negroni Week runs from September 14–20. Download the free Negroni Cocktail Book for 60 different negroni recipes to try at home. Remember to Drinkwise.
fortyfivedownstairs is one of the best performance venues in the city, and with a name like that, it's easy to find. It's hosted hundreds of exhibitions, music recitals, theatre performances and other exquisite events since 2002 and now the art of seduction is coming to this versatile and grungy space with The Burlesque Hour: The Glory Box. Oh my. Hold onto your knickers because Glory Box features jaw-dropping acts by Moira Finucane, Yumi Umiumare, Holly Durant and Ursula Martinez, the latter of whom performed at Salman Rushdie's stag night. Paul Capsis, Pamela Rabe and Rhonda Burchmore will also make appearances on select nights only. Within the unpainted brick walls of fortyfivedownstairs, a seductive spectacle will sweetly unfold. Produced by Finucane & Smith, the multi-award winning Australian company, Glory Box is going to present paradise like Pandora never knew it.
Last month we found out that Melbourne Music Week was planning to take over Queen Victoria Market, now we know their full plan: they want the whole city. Released this morning, the full MMW program will see 250 artists take part in 110 events over 10 days of festivities in 40 locations. While your usual bars and bandrooms are all accounted for, this year you'll also be seeing music in laneways and trams, at Rooftop Cinema, the NGV, MPavilion, and power stations. It'll even be in elevators. No kidding — elevators. This enormous reach comes in an effort to showcase not only Melbourne's music, but the city itself. "Melbourne is one of the world's greatest music cities," said Councillor Beverley Pinder Mortimer from the City of Melbourne. "[In this festival] the city becomes the stage." Kind of like in that film with Kiera Knightly and Mark Ruffalo... but better. This morning's announcement saw local favourites Midnight Juggernauts, Remi and The Harpoons added to a lineup that already included Architecture in Helsinki, Cut Copy, Tangerine Dream, The Church and World's End Press. Further international artists like longstanding Detroit techno collective Underground Resistance, German dance duo Pachanga Boys and Oneohtrix Point Never were also added to the bill. The latter are definitely shows you should jump on quick. Underground Resistance are presenting a night of techno jazz with label founder Mike Banks, and Oneohtrix Point Never is lighting up Queen Vic with the help of local legend Robin Fox. If you don't have the time to comb through the program for gems like that, we suggest heading along to the Live Music Safari on Thursday, November 20. Back for another year, this marathon event will offer you a whole night of amazing free gigs in 14 venues across the city. Or, if you're hesitant about heading out on a school night, there's always the Self-Made series. With impromptu performances popping up on trams and elevators, you might just encounter something great on your way to work. Whether you're having a quiet drink or simply walking around the city at night, music is bound to find you in one way or another. And, with over half the events in this year's program free of charge, there's no reason to not get involved. Even 90 per cent of the ticketed events are under $50. If you'd like to get your hands on some, ticket sales have just opened. Melbourne Music Week runs from November 14-23. Check out the festival website to see the full program.
Melbourne is a bit partial to a good citywide festival, as you might have noticed from the likes of White Night, RISING and Melbourne Fringe. The latest festival to join the party is Now or Never, a huge 17-day event that's set to make its debut this winter, serving up a bumper celebration of creativity, innovation and big ideas. Originally announced in November last year, Now or Never has just revealed the first of its hefty lineups, descending on Melbourne's historic Royal Exhibition Building. Underneath its spectacular cathedral ceilings, the World Heritage listed site will play host to some of the festival's biggest events. Excitingly, Now or Never's festival lineup will mark the first large-scale live music performances in the iconic building in over 20 years. [caption id="attachment_902936" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Ayebatonye[/caption] "For the first time in more than two decades, Now or Never will bring large-scale live music back to the spectacular Royal Exhibition Building — with an unmissable line-up that celebrates our incredible homegrown talent, alongside ground-breaking work from international artists," Lord Mayor Sally Capp says. Topping the bill: a cutting-edge club night co-hosted by Untitled Group, the same crew behind Beyond the Valley, Pitch Music & Arts and Ability Fest. This high-energy twilight party will be headlined by German house and techno producer Âme, along with renowned DJ, producer and creative director of Irregular Fit, Ayebatonye. Joining them: Stockholm's tech and house producer Axel Boman, Melbourne native CC:DISCO!!, and Brisbane mainstay and Yuggera woman, dameeeela. [caption id="attachment_902935" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: dameeeela[/caption] There is also an Australian-exclusive performance by legendary singer, songwriter and producer Kelela, who will be supported by R&B musician serpentwithfeet. Plus, a night of live electronic music in pitch-black darkness with English duo Autechre, joined by electronic music duo Actress and bass-heavy innovators Giant Swan. Finally, Orchestra Victoria is partnering up with avant-garde composer Steve Reich to deliver an intricate performance. In more huge news, the southern hemisphere's biggest and longest-running festival of ideas, Semi Permanent, is dropping into Melbourne for a one-day iteration dubbed Never Permanent. Expect a collection of industry-leading thinkers and doers, across creativity, tech and design. [caption id="attachment_902934" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Kelela[/caption] "Never Permanent brings together the best creatives and innovators from around the globe," Semi Permanent Founder Murray Bell says. "This lineup for Never Permanent is shaping up to be one of our best yet, and we're thrilled for this to be a part of Now or Never." This is Now or Never's first lineup announcement, which run from Thursday, August 17–Saturday, September 2. Further details are expected to drop in late June, with Now or Never teasing a hefty program of free and ticketed events spanning a diverse array of experiences, art, talks, installations, music, culinary delights and more. Expect a calendar of happenings running both by day and into the night, including everything from virtual reality experiences, live tunes and digital exhibitions through to multi-sensory feasts, thought-provoking talks and captivating visual art. Now or Never will run from Thursday, August 17–Saturday, September 2 at venues across the city. Tickets for the first lineup announcement are on sale now. We'll share more details as they come. Top image: Supplied.
How many bricks of Lego does it take to build a bar? It probably wasn't the first Lego-related question we were going to ask (or test for ourselves) but The Brick Bar is proof that there are tangible answers to life's most ambitious questions. According to the creators of Australia's first bar made entirely out of Lego, it's a million bricks. And while we don't actually know if anyone counted a million bricks, you can try and fact check this point it when it pops up in South Wharf between September 13 and 16. You can expect elaborate Lego sculptures placed around the adults-only space, including a Lego bath, a Lego water feature and a Lego throne. There will be DJs playing across the afternoon and night, and you can try your hand at Lego table tennis or a Lego building competition. And there's a ball pit for some reason. Brick-shaped burgers will come courtesy of Common Man chef Malcolm Williams, and bevs will be served in Lego keep cups. Punters will also be able to make use of a huge pile of surplus bricks to fashion their own Lego creations, in public, with no shame at all. Just don't walk around barefoot. Updated: September 14, 2018.
Celebrate the start of the four-day weekend by travelling back to the '90s. On Good Friday Eve, Ding Dong Lounge will ride a wave of nostalgia until the wee hours of dawn, with live DJs, dancing and lots of terrible, terrible music you’ve retroactively convinced yourself is great. Expect Aqua, Nirvana and maybe a little Vanilla Ice. Entry is $5 at the door. Fresh Prince-style Dungarees are optional, but highly recommend (although maybe that's just us).
Over the past year, things have been a little quieter than normal over at the Heide Museum of Modern Art and its famed sculpture garden. But the precinct is starting 2021 with a bang, launching a brand-new nine-week music and culture festival. Kicking off this Sunday, January 17, the inaugural Heide Summer Festival will see the parkland grounds come alive with a series of live tunes, performances and dance, held in collaboration with a range of local cultural organisations. A program of January Sunday sessions is being put together by the Melbourne International Jazz Festival, with gigs from the likes of star saxophonist Solomon Sisay (January 17) and Yorta Yorta musician Allara Briggs Pattison (January 31). Then, there'll be a two-week program by Songlines Music Aboriginal Corporation (February 7 and 14), featuring Emma Donovan and The Putbacks, the all-female Djirri Djirri Dance Group and local Aboriginal storyteller Uncle Larry Walsh. A Midsumma collaboration rounds out February with an interactive dance experience by All The Queens Men! LGBTQI+ Elders Dance Club (February 27), and an afternoon of sounds from Diimpa and Forest Collective (February 28). And the festival wraps up with a dose of contemporary Balkan brass courtesy of Opa! Bato, on March 7. Some festival events are free, though you'll still need to register for all tickets via the Heide website. [caption id="attachment_796599" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Uncle Larry Walsh, by Beata Mazur, courtesy of NITV.[/caption] Top Image: Heide x Midsumma, courtesy of Heide Museum of Modern Art
The Baroque Room is one of the multiple venues located within The Carrington Hotel, the Blue Mountains institution on Katoomba Street. Soon, it will play host to Ngaiire. The singer is undoubtedly a creative force of nature, as well as the first Papua New Guinean to feature in Triple J's Hottest 100. Since her Australian Idol appearance back in 2004, Ngaiire has been working on her unique brand of R&B and neo soul, which has seen her tour alongside acts as diverse as Flume and Alicia Keys. Her live performances are renowned for their theatricality, attention-grabbing costumes and incredible vocals — it's no exaggeration to say the mountains won't know what's hit them this spring. If you're keen to head along, you best get in quick as her later performance has already sold out. For the latest info on NSW border restrictions, head here. If travelling from Queensland or Victoria, check out Queensland Health and DHHS websites, respectively.
Got a thing for a good cuppa tea? The folks at South Yarra's contemporary tea bar Yugen sure do; which is why they're celebrating International Tea Day (May 21) with not just one event, but a whole swag of them. If tea is your cup of…well, tea…you won't want to miss this program of workshops and tasting events paying tribute to the world's most widely consumed bev. On Wednesday, May 18, Yugen's expert sommeliers will share their passion via a 90-minute Tea 101 session ($75), complete with tastings, sweet treat pairings from the pastry chefs and take-home goodies. On Thursday, May 19, you can celebrate two great loves at the Tea and Cheese Pairing, hosted in collaboration with Maker & Monger ($85). If rice-based booze is your thing, head along to the May 20 Tea and Sake Pairing, where you'll dive into the origins and intricacies of both drinks under the guidance of sake specialist Simone Maynard ($85). And on Saturday, May 21, Yugen is teaming up with Kyneton's Animus Distillery for a full-blown tea-matched feast ($150), which'll see you sit down to a six-course spread, with each dish paired carefully with either a fine tea or a signature cocktail made on Animus' Tea Gin. [caption id="attachment_853773" align="alignnone" width="1920"] By Sean McDonald[/caption] Images: Sean McDonald and H. Trumble
Despite the many different varieties of margarita available, only one is the undisputed best — no matter which tequila-soaked flavour it actually is. That type of marg: a free marg. And for three weeks from Wednesday, February 15–Tuesday, March 7, 10,000 of them are up for grabs around New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia. International Margarita Day is upon us for another year, hitting on Wednesday, February 22, and tequila brand Altos is celebrating. That's where the hefty giveaway comes in, but starting early and running for a couple of weeks after the date itself. Days commemorating different foods are really just an excuse to sell more dishes, drinks and/or ingredients, but this is an occasion — and stack of freebies — worth saying cheers to. Exactly how many bars are pouring free 'ritas across the three-week period varies per state, but Sydneysiders can head to Employees Only, Watsons EQ, Coogee Beach Club, Marrickville Bowling Club, Club 77, Chula, Mejico, Kid Kyoto, Applejack Group's venues and more. For Melburnians, you'll want to make a date with places like Maeve Fox, Death or Glory, Fitzroy Beer Garden, Fable, Mejico, Public House and Common Man. Brisbanites, pop Emporium, Southbeach Social, Victoria Park, Brooklyn Standard, Pig 'n' Whistle West End and others on your list — and Adelaide residents, you're heading to Republic. [caption id="attachment_698575" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Employees Only[/caption] There are a few caveats, as always comes with these types of giveaways. You do need to sign up online first, which'll get you a voucher for that free marg and entry into a competition to win a trip to Mexico. Altos is calling the promo a Mexican wave, because if you get a friend to sign up as well, you'll score an extra entry in that contest. That — and those free cocktails — is excuse enough to get clicking and sipping. [caption id="attachment_869703" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mejico[/caption] Altos Tequila's margarita giveaway runs from Wednesday, February 15–Tuesday, March 7. For more information, to register for your free drink and to find your nearest venue, head to the brand's website.
Blue miles for the ocean, green miles through the palm trees, and yellow miles over sandy stretches. No, that’s not the tagline of my indie-beach-poetry fusion Tumblr blog; it's the title of Bus Projects' upcoming July exhibition, which brings together seven artists in conversation about the role that colour plays in their work and practice. From the sensual to the sensible, each artist has evaluated unique reasons behind the interaction with and use of colour through ongoing discussions, games and information sharing. The result is a mixed palette of styles and explorations in this group show, featuring work from experienced Australian artists including Jeremy Eaton, Minna Gilligan, Georgina Glanville, Jethro Harcourt, Annabelle Kingston, Cheralyn Lim and Max Lawrence White. The exhibition runs July 3–20, with the opening event at the Collingwood gallery on Wednesday, July 3, from 6–8pm. It might be a good idea to brush up on the Pantone Colour of the Year for appropriate banter purposes (it’s Emerald, FYI).
