The striking black and white cover image of Bat For Lashes' Natasha Khan standing naked with a man dragged over her frame sets the scene for her most personal (and best) record yet, The Haunted Man. Stripping back the lush ornamentation of previous pop fantasias for a more intimate sound, these tunes foreground her beautiful, breathy voice and ability to inject a shivery, otherworldly drama into every song. Apparently the product of a harrowing writing and recording process, The Haunted Man reaches for a stark beauty and retains the enchanting pull of previous work despite its more emotionally direct approach. As well as headlining Laneway Festival, Bat For Lashes will play a more intimate sideshow at the Palais. Her last tour was one of the best of the year, with inspired reinventions of Radiohead's 'All I Need' and The Cure's 'A Forest' featuring alongside classics like 'Daniel' and 'Pearl's Dream'. With the promise of stunning new songs like 'Lillies' and stirring single 'Laura', there's no doubt this tour will be every bit as magical. https://youtube.com/watch?v=EXK0Ejzin4c
Attention all wannabe heroes: something big is coming. This March, much-loved comic company Marvel will bring its world-class Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. exhibition to Melbourne. The immersive exhibition, held at Federation Square, will give would-be caped crusaders the chance to delve into the history, engineering, genetics and technology behind Captain America, Hulk, Thor, Iron Man and the rest of their superhero team. Visitors will also undergo training, as if they were learning to become agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and can explore bespoke equipment and costumes including the Hulkbuster suit, Captain America's uniform and shield, Iron Man's MK armor and Thor's hammer, Mjölnir. Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. combines complex science and technology, developed by Marvel to help bring the successful film franchise to life. Space agency NASA have also contributed to the interactive experience, helping to enhance its scientific authenticity. After successful stints in cities including New York, Seoul and Paris, the exhibition will now head down under for the very first time. Organisers hope it will be an epic fan experience as well as a way to pique visitor interest in real-world science and technology. Earlier this year Marvel broke records when it brought its Creating the Cinematic Universe exhibition to Brisbane, drawing in close to 270,000 fans. Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. is expected to be even bigger. Marvel's Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. will open at Federation Square in March 2018. More information on ticketing will roll out in the coming months – you can sign up for updates here.
Last time James Blake jetted our way, in 2013, he won our hearts — and eyes and ears. Two Sydney Opera House shows sold out before you could say Overgrown and the folks at Tone Deaf got so excited, they awarded him best International Tour of the Year, over Bruce Springsteen. Now, he's back with a third, full-length album, The Colour In Anything, released unexpectedly (to fans, at least) on May 6. Lasting 76 minutes, it sees Blake go more collaborative than ever before, with Frank Ocean and Justin Vernon making frequent appearances, and Rick Rubin taking care of production. "I wanted to open up and be more outgoing," he told The Guardian. "The record became a commentary on my life rather than me becoming part of the rest of the world." There's more Splendour sideshow action where this came from. Check out our list of sideshows with tickets still available.
UPDATE, November 20, 2020: Jumanji: The Next Level is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video, Foxtel Now, Google Play, YouTube Movies and iTunes. History would suggest that Jumanji: The Next Level is perfectly placed to be a spectacular failure. Beyond the obvious point that sequels almost always fare poorly, there's the fact that its enjoyable predecessor, 2017's Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, falls into the one-trick category — aka kids zapped into a video game and trapped in bodies different to the ones you'd expect. Then, there's the absolute deluge of publicity preceding this follow-up's release, which is generally a bad sign. On paper, the only real source of hope seems to stem from Dwayne Johnson, who rarely makes bad career decisions. But then you remember the horror show that is the Baywatch movie, and you think maybe not even that is true anymore. And yet, to its credit, Jumanji: The Next Level manages to forge new ground directly atop the old one, all thanks to an inspired twist in its tale. It doesn't quite capture lightning in a bottle again, but boy does it come damn close. Yes, the young same cast (Alex Wolff, Ser'Darius Blain, Morgan Turner and Madison Iseman) is back. Yes, they're again pulled into the video game world of Jumanji — and yes, as their in-game characters (Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan and Jack Black), they must once again find a rare jewel to secure their release. Had the sequel merely switched which avatars the four college kids landed in, the gimmick would've been over before it began, but here's where The Next Level gets clever. While the original quartet plan to enter Jumanji, it doesn't exactly work out that way. Instead, some are pulled in, but so too are curmudgeonly grandpa Eddie (Danny DeVito) and his former business partner Milo (Danny Glover). For anyone who has ever tried to explain a video game or even just a remote control to a grandparent, the struggle that ensues will be painfully and hilariously relatable — and the film exploits it beautifully. As a result of that narrative twist, returning leads Johnson, Hart, Gillan and Black all play host to new personalities, adding unexpected flavour to the already amusing gender and identity scramble of the original. Johnson and Hart are the standouts, with both offering note-perfect impressions of DeVito and Glover. It's a particular delight to see these actors play so enthusiastically against type — especially Hart, who eschews his fast-talking wisecracks to serve up the vocal equivalent of a car doing 20 kilometres per hour in an 80 zone. Johnson, too, clearly relishes the opportunity to move beyond his traditional 'good guy in a muscle suit' routine, playing someone both unlikeable and entirely out of his element. There are other key changes, too. The quest within Jumanji isn't the same as last time, meaning that even the veteran players find themselves desperately trying to make sense of it all before their three lives are spent. Like all good video games, the next level is also considerably more difficult. From the get-go, the threats are multiplied and the challenges are more complex. Whether via a flock of deadly ostriches, a bottomless ravine or a jealous lover named Switchblade, death can (and does) come at any moment — and, in this instalment, the characters get down to just one life far sooner. These action sequences are inventive in the vein of the best Pixar films, and the accompanying soundtrack evokes the kind of exhilaration and adventure usually found in an Indiana Jones picture. Then there's Spencer (Wolff), the awkward and nervous teen who previously became Johnson's Dr. Smolder Bravestone. His desire to regain the confidence that came from that transformation is what leads the gang back inside Jumanji in the first place. Once he's there, he instead finds himself sporting a new avatar: pickpocket Ming Fleetfoot, played by Awkwafina. The actor/rapper puts in a terrific performance, serving up precisely the kind of new character the film needed to build upon the original. Elsewhere, Nick Jonas and Colin Hanks also reprise their roles, while the funniest body swap involves cheerleader Bethany (Iseman) — although we'll leave just what she swaps into as a surprise. Once again directed by Jake Kasdan — who took over the Jumanji franchise from Joe Johnston, the filmmaker behind the original 1995 movie — perhaps the biggest change is the defter touch with which The Next Level handles its quieter moments. In particular, the unresolved conflict between Eddie and Milo simmers neatly below the surface throughout, and its ultimate resolution proves surprisingly tender for an action-comedy. Without ruining the ending, the film leaves it all but settled that another sequel will be in the works, which seems especially likely after The Next Level set box office records for Sony on its opening weekend in America. As long as the series can maintain the same level of inventiveness and surprise, that's not a bad thing at all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBxcF-r9Ibs
Even though it has been 140 years since Gioachino Rossini's opera William Tell was staged in Australia, the story is a familiar one. William, a young man and brilliant archer who lives in a small country town in Switzerland, gets sick of submitting to tyrannical Austrian rule – and decides to dissent, by refusing to obey orders. What follows is a dramatic David-versus-Goliath standoff, a tangled love story and the famous William Tell trick: the shooting of an apple off his son's head. Befittingly, Victorian Opera is promising that this will be its most epic production yet. Think costumes inspired by The Handmaid's Tale and The Hunger Games, a set design evocative of the Swiss Alps and three hours of some of the most dynamic music ever written for opera. The colossal performance will be brought to the stage by international opera director Rodula Gaitanou (Royal Opera House, Opera Holland Park), and designed by London-based Simon Corder and acclaimed local costume designer Esther Marie Hayes. There'll be a bunch of international and Australian singers involved and a powerful, 48-strong chorus, too. One of William Tell's most famous tunes is "Call to the Cows", based on a traditional melody played by Swiss cowhands as they send their cattle out to graze. Another highlight is, "Sois Immobile", the aria sung before the iconic apple shot, and the show's finale, which is widely accepted as one of the best opera finales every written. William Tell is showing at St Kilda's Palais Theatre on Saturday, July 14; Tuesday, July 17; and Thursday, July 19, at 7.30pm.
It feels like we only just farewelled the last one, but here we are in another COVID-19 lockdown. And while the latest stay-at-home orders have many sucky aspects, one of the worst is not being able to spend time with your nearest and dearest. With restrictions dictating how far Victorians can travel with just five reasons to leave home, it might be a minute before you can enjoy IRL hangs with your crew. So, we've rounded up a few ways you can get in some quality mate time without leaving your house. Get them on board for a virtual dance party, take to your respective kitchens for a Masterchef-style cook-off, or belt out some classic tunes at an old fashioned karaoke session. Book in one of these mate dates and inject a little happiness into your lockdown stint. OUTSMART A VIRTUAL ESCAPE ROOM Beat the boredom, use a few brain cells and hang with your mates by having a crack at an online escape room. These days, you'll find a whole swag of these interactive puzzles online, with most requiring little more than a couple of willing participants and a decent internet connection. Local crew Experios has six different self-guided digital escape rooms to choose from, with prices starting from an easy $30 per team. Race the clock with a classic bomb-dismantling scenario in Time's Ticking, flex your theft skills in Ben's Big Heist, or reminisce about the good old days of bar hopping in the Jack's Hangover challenge. Brunswick-based escape room studio Ukiyo is also offering a couple of captivating virtual games that'll see you ditching lockdown life in favour of some cleverly crafted alternate realities. This one even has a mini quiz you can do to help pick your perfect escape room match. [caption id="attachment_770182" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jason Briscoe via Unsplash[/caption] COOK THE SAME MEAL — AND DECIDE WHOSE IS BETTER Now we've got extra time on our hands, we can work on levelling up those at-home cooking skills with a competitive virtual cook-off. Here's how it works: First you agree on a meal you both enjoy and can round up the right ingredients for. You can order boxes of groceries from plenty of your local restaurants, food stores and markets. Or, try Co-Lab Pantry for a broad range of restaurant-made pantry staples and gourmet Victorian grocery products, delivered to your door. Once you've got everything you need, FaceTime your mate, crack open a bottle of wine and get cooking. You'll be able to watch each other in action and have entertaining company while you whip up dinner. Once your gourmet creation is ready, enjoy a virtual dinner date while you determine who's the better cook. Did someone say MasterChef? [caption id="attachment_760387" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hot Dub Time Machine, by Pat Stevenson[/caption] THROW AN AT-HOME DANCE PARTY The clubs are closed (again), but your living room dance floor is always open and ready for business. Tee up a Zoom session with your bestie (or the whole gang), to enjoy an at-home, virtual dance party. The best part? This club's closing time is whenever you decide. Of course, you'll need some great jams to set the mood and keep those party vibes rolling. And happily, the folks behind time-travelling dance party Hot Dub Time Machine have you more than covered in that department. Check out the #hotdubathome section of its website to find a whole stack of groove-busting DJ sets recorded during last year's lockdowns. They'll have you dancing through tunes of the past few decades. Also no stranger to a living room boogie is DJ Andrew McClelland of long-running dance party series Mr McClelland's Finishing School. While IRL events are on hold, he's curing those lockdown blues with a special virtual DJ set this Friday, May 28, streamed via Twitch. Check it out here. BINGE A SHOW TOGETHER While streaming content through a shared screen might be a little ambitious, the two of you can coordinate playing and pausing whatever you're watching while you video chat. Right now we recommend checking out The Serpent on Netflix if you're after a stranger-than-fiction true crime tale set in the 70s, or taking a look at Stan's binge-worthy comedy Rutherford Falls, from Brooklyn Nine-Nine co-creator and producer Michael Schur. You could also turn to cult classics you never had time to watch, like Peaky Blinders on Netflix or Breaking Bad on Stan. Looking for something lighter? Check out this list of comedies. In these uncertain times, it's nice to get lost in another world — and even nicer with your buddy (virtually) by your side. BLOW OFF STEAM WITH AN ONLINE KARAOKE PARTY There's no room for lockdown blues when you're belting out bangers with your besties. Even if the sing-along requires internet connection and a web cam. Video chat platforms are now social go-tos after 2020's strange age of isolation but, in case you may have missed it, they're also happen to be perfect for hosting rousing virtual karaoke parties. Set a date, invite the crew and start working on your best lung-busting material. Themes and dress-ups are encouraged, and if you're stuck for ideas, you'll find plenty of online karaoke catalogues to browse and inspire. All of Victoria is in stage four restrictions from 11.59pm on Thursday, May 27 until the same time on Thursday, June 3. For more information about the rules, head to the Victorian Department of Health website.
That pup of yours (or that pup you've been thinking about getting) could soon score a whole bunch of new places to sniff, socialise and play, with the Victorian Government announcing plans to create five new off-leash dog parks and 13 new 'pocket parks' in Melbourne. The new green spaces are included in the second round of the Government's $154 million Suburban Parks Program, which will see a total of 6500 hectares of new parkland, walking trails and bike trails, as well as a number of pocket parks and off-leash dog parks, created across the city. The first round of the program, which was announced in 2020, initially included nine new spaces for pooches and 15 areas for humans throughout the city — with those numbers then boosted by 17 across the state, as also announced last year. Victorian Environment Minister Lily D'Ambrosio revealed plans for the next batch of parks today, Sunday, January 24, saying: "the pandemic has brought into sharp focus the importance of open green space close to home, and these new parks will deliver just that." No opening dates have been given for the parks just announced in the program's second round; however, the five dog parks will be located in Elwood, Ringwood North, Balwyn North, Mitcham and Essendon West. The pocket parks will be popping up in Prahran, Eltham, Montmorency, Oakleigh South, Footscray, Dandenong, Glenroy, North Melbourne, Frankston, Sunshine North, Notting Hill, Moonee Ponds and St Albans. According to the Government, the locations have been chosen based on accessibility by public transport, road or walking and biking trails. When they open, the pocket parks will feature areas for community events, seating, play areas, shaded areas, drinking fountains, landscaping and greenery — obviously — while two- and four-legged visitors to the purpose-built dog parks will find seating, designated play areas, rockeries and agility equipment. For more information about Melbourne's new pocket and off-leash dog parks, head to the Victorian Government website.
Spring has most definitely sprung. It's time to start thinking about how you're going to get the most out of this year's blooming daffodils, fluffy lambs and balmy evenings. One city that's gearing up for a fresh, fun season is Bendigo. Come early October and through to November, it'll be hosting an array of spring happenings — from a vegetarian festival at the biggest stupa in the western world to a ten-day food and wine extravaganza. Situated just under two hours' drive north of Melbourne, Bendigo is an easy-peasy weekender. So, to ensure your weekend is suitably entertaining, we've partnered with Bendigo Tourism and pulled together seven spring-time events to keep you smiling big in Bendigo.
The CBD space once home to long-standing pub Collins Quarter, has had a full-blown multicultural makeover, reimagined as not one, but two new distinctly different restaurants. You already know about the Mexican-accented Mejico, which took over the northern half of the building in late 2020. Now, it's been joined by sibling Indu — a sumptuous eatery dedicated to bold Sri Lankan and southern Indian flavours, also from Sydney-born Sam Prince Hospitality Group. Six years after the launch of Indu Sydney, founders Ian Hicks and Dr Sam Prince have reworked their concept for this Melbourne iteration, transforming the Collins Street site into a moody, atmospheric haven. It's a cosy space, with a front lounge area primed for pre-dinner drinks, an intimate dining room flanked by secluded curtained booths and terracotta pots filled with spices lending a heady aroma throughout. The food offering sees the kitchen drawing both on Prince's own Sri Lankan heritage, and his experiences travelling and working through the regions later in life, inspired by the warmth of the locals who'd welcome him into their homes. It's an evolved take on homely village fare, featuring classic flavours, some modern technique and even a couple of long-held recipes from Prince's own mum. [caption id="attachment_800039" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Arianna Leggiero[/caption] Hoppers are a Sri Lankan staple and a must-order from this menu. One version featuring the classic pancake shell topped with a soft fried egg and ringed with pomegranate, eggplant pickle, goat's curd and a punchy coconut sambal. You'll find a cooling dish of cured kingfish, teamed with young coconut and cucumber, and crispy besan flour fritters matched with a cardamom aioli. Heartier options might include the signature Great Lamb Raan, featuring slow-cooked meat and a fresh mint chutney, a barramundi fillet bathed in a lively tamarind rasam (stock), or the pork belly curry that comes topped with shards of crackling. And you can finish just as strong, with dessert options like the vegan chocolate and cardamom mousse. To match, a considered drinks offering stands up well to those big flavours and spicy notes. Gin reigns supreme across a selection of signature serves and G&T flights, sitting alongside a global wine list and plenty of crisp beers. Crafty cocktails include the likes of a makrut-infused mojito and a smoked chai old fashioned, though an impressive lineup of booze-free options proves just as fun, starring sips like the signature salted mango lassi. Of course, during Melbourne's five-day snap lockdown, Indu is takeaway-only. It's serving up feasts to-go until it's allowed to reopen, which can be ordered by calling (03) 9671 4376 or emailing melbourne@mejico.com.au. Find Indu Melbourne at 86a Collins Street, Melbourne. It's open from 12pm Monday to Friday, and from 5pm on Saturday. Images: Arianna Leggiero
World Vegan Day is rocking around again on November 1, and CBD Korean eatery Paik's Bibim wants you to celebrate by digging into a big, vibrant bowl of goodness. And a free bowl, at that. From Saturday, October 29–Tuesday, November 1, the Spencer Street restaurant will be handing out hundreds of signature plant-based bibimbap bowls for free, celebrating veganism while also giving diners a sneak peek at its newly expanded menu. Head in once the doors open at 11.30am and choose from three different vegan bibimbaps — one featuring marinated tofu, another teaming soy-seasoned plant-based protein with mushrooms, and a spicy 'bokkeum' bibimbap with stir-fried kimchi for an added hit. There'll be around 300 vegan bowls up for grabs across the weekend, on offer until stocks last each day. Launched earlier this year, Paik's Bibim is the Melbourne outpost from South Korean celebrity chef Baek Jong-won.
With all these 'Rocket Man' and wild weather events going on, the apocalypse sometimes feels like it's just around the corner. In this witty and deeply sardonic two-day event at Arts House, a series of Australian artists come together to present the ultimate survival guide to helping their fellow creatives outlast the rest of society when the world finally meets its demise. Hosted by some artists who've just about seen it all – including Lois Weaver, Lawrence Leung, Alice Pung and Sarah Jane Pell – audiences will receive a DIY guide to surviving off weeds, living on the moon and disappearing off the grid once and for all.
If Scenes From a Marriage hadn't already been taken, it would've made a great title for most of Asghar Farhadi's movies to date. From 2003's Dancing in the Dust to 2011's Oscar-winning A Separation and his 2013 follow-up The Past, the Iranian writer-director has filled his resume with features about the struggles of not-so-harmonious domesticity. Now you can add The Salesman to the pack, just as Farhadi can add another Academy Award to his mantle. Still, a shiny new statuette can't mask his fondness for repetition. Farhadi is a master of observing just how the bonds of matrimony can unravel, but seven films in there's no avoiding the feeling that you've seen some of it before. The Salesman opens on the set of a play, with husband and wife Emad (Shahab Hosseini) and Rana (Taraneh Alidoosti) staging a revival of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman. As Farhadi demonstrates rather unsubtly by cutting from a bed on stage to their crumbling real life home, all isn't well for the couple. That's especially true after they move into a friend's flat and Rama leaves the door unlatched, only to be attacked by a stranger. Understandably she's shaken. Just as understandably, he's driven to track down the perpetrator. Their conflicting responses sit at the heart of Farhadi's latest film, with the writer-director eager as ever to wait and watch as the couples' fraught emotions slowly but surely rise to the surface. Indeed, pumping seemingly ordinary spaces full of the kind of tension that can only spring from fraying intimate bonds is one of the things he does best. Dissecting how even a mere word, look or gesture can completely reshape, change or ultimately unravel a relationship is another. Both talents are on display as Rama takes the reserved and ultimately forgiving route, while the increasingly frantic Emad can't shake his wounded pride — or his need for vengeance. Cue a situation rife with drama, which Farhadi carefully heightens. As he's done before, he makes plain the gender lines driving the divide between husband and wife, as well as the cultural reasons for their behaviour. Here, he also stresses the fact that Iranian society will applaud a man bent on revenge but blame a woman who's a victim and judge another that's made untraditional choices, making hefty material even meatier. Throw constrained yet probing visuals into the mix alongside nuanced and multifaceted performances by Hosseini, Alidoosti and the pivotal Babek Karimi, and The Salesman can only be described as classic Farhadi territory. Still, there's a difference between ticking the usual boxes and expanding them, and here the Oscar-winning filmmaker manages one but not the other. As a result, the movie feels less like an involving effort in its own right and more like a greatest hits package. Many a director has made a successful career out of playing the same cinematic notes over and over again, but just as many have eventually stretched their usual tendencies too far. While The Salesman proves engaging, particularly in its later stages, there's a distinctive sense that next time Farhadi needs to show us something new.
The Vegan Market of Melbourne (previously the Vegan Mini Market) has been our go-to for animal-free goods over the past year — and it's rightfully dedicating its September market to a job well done. The anniversary event will take place during the market's regularly scheduled programming on Saturday, September 1 — but the celebration will kick on with extended hours from 11am–7pm. Stall-wise, it's bringing out a brand new sausage sizzle that's slinging bacon and egg 'mock muffins', while claiming to give Macca's a run for its money. Other stalls range from dog treats to fashion items, along with your typical market array of eats and sweet treats. Some of the most popular stands are back-in-action too, including Bomba's wood-fired pizza and the Asian-inspired Woking Amazing — think meat-free chilli cheese nachos, Taiwanese eggy rolls and peking 'duck' pancakes. Live music is also on the docket, with local vegan artists playing an unusual set using a harp and steel drums. If you're planning to bring the young ones along, there's a kids activity corner to keep 'em busy. And they're still firming up possible yoga and qi gong sessions, so keep an eye on this space for further updates. Going forward, the market will continue to operate on the first Saturday of every month, bringing Melburnians all its plant-based goodness.
Historic Melbourne cinema The Astor is hosting their Great Astor Spooktacular again for 2017, and they're going big. This year, more than 12 movies will be be shown in a 24-hour-long horror marathon — right in time for Halloween. Directed by "the devil" and featuring a cast of "hell itself", some of the films include Wes Craven's The Hills Have Eyes — the original 1977 version, to mark its 40th anniversary — as well as slasher sequels Halloween 2 and Halloween 3 (aka the return of Michael Myers), and cult comedy The Monster Squad, a 1987 flick about teen pals doing battle against Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, The Mummy and more. The historic cinema, known for its presentation of classics and cult films, is the perfect venue for the all-night horror marathon. It all kicks off at 2pm on Saturday, October 28 and runs overnight. With a few dark and twisted flicks on the bill — and a few surprises — needless to say, this one isn't for the faint of heart.
It's hump day, which means it's time to start thinking about the weekend (if you're not already). And, excitingly, the weekend coming up is a long one. With all states, territories and capital cities copping an absolute scorching over the past couple of weeks, we thought we'd take a look at what's on the menu for the Australia Day long weekend. Our capital is going to be bearing the brunt of the heat with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting Canberra will remain in the near-40s from Friday through Saturday, with Sunday dipping to 35 with 30 percent chance of rain. We suggest hitting the sand in the early morning before it gets too hot (and before the UV peaks). Down the coast in Melbourne, Friday is expected to be a fiery 41 — luckily this all-vegan gelateria is giving out 1000 free ice creams to make it slightly more bearable — but Saturday's only hitting a max of 26, with 40 percent chance of showers. Sunday and Monday will also hover around the mid-20s, with minimal showers predicted, so it'll be perfect weather for a hike or splash around in a body of water. There'll be no near-40 temperatures in Sydney, instead just mid-to-low 30s across the board, with little chance of rain. Our mates at BOM are predicting extremely high UV during the day on Friday and Saturday, so do cover up (with clothes, zinc or sunscreen) if you plan to head outdoors to the beach or to Yabun Festival, an all-day celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Brisbane is expected to be equally subdued, with 33 degrees predicted all weekend. If this sounds like perfect gin-drinking weather to you, you'll be happy to know that two juniper-heavy parties will, in fact, be taking place across the weekend, as well as GABS' much-hyped top 100 craft beer countdown. Across the country, Perth is expected to be dry and balmy, sitting in the mid-20s, while Darwin should expect rain and thunderstorms every day for the next week. Adelaide folk will be cranking their air-cons with 45 predicted tomorrow, before it eases off to the mid-30s for the rest of the week. Hobart will be ten degrees cooler, with mid-20s expected across the weekend. To help you plan your beach trips, we've rounded up our favourite ten spots in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Images: Lorne by Robert Blackburn; Manly by Paros Huckstepp; Currumbin via Flickr.
If you need to head to the CBD to pick up essentials or for medical needs — two of the times when the Prime Minister says it is OK to leave the house, as well as for work, to provide support and to exercise in small groups — you have one less thing to worry about: parking fines. The City of Melbourne announced it's easing up on issuing parking fines for minor infringements for the time being. Taking to Twitter yesterday, the Council said, "given these exceptional times, we will use our discretion and only issue fines when vehicles are parked unsafely". So, while you can probably get away with overstaying your backstreet meter session a little, you'll still cop a fine for blocking driveways, clearways or lanes, parking in a resident permit zone, parking too close to an intersection or parking in a disability bay without the proper permit. https://twitter.com/cityofmelbourne/status/1242248440341344258 The council also said, "We ask everyone to be mindful of the importance of vehicle turnover to support people needing to access essential services and businesses." While there are now less people out and about, and fewer cars on the streets, it's certainly not a time to be a carpark hog. That said, if you're heading out, ensure you're following the Australian Government's social distancing guidelines. For more information about the measures the City of Melbourne is taking to contain COVID-19, head to the website.
Three days of BBQ goodness will descend upon Melbourne in the first weekend of March for the inaugural Redheads Gourmet BBQ Festival. After earning its perfectly chargrilled stripes in Adelaide last year, the festival will offer locals more food than one will ever need, craft beers to drink, blues music to dance to, and competitions and masterclasses to attend. Award-winning international BBQ pit master Andy Groneman will be on hand for judging duties over the three days, joined by Chris Girvan-Brown and representatives from Melbourne’s own southern food outpost BurgerMary, who will also throw their hats in the judging ring. If you come to the epiphany that since you’re so good at eating the stuff, you too want to be a BBQ master, all the tools of the trade will be available for purchase over the weekend.
The Meatball and Wine Bar empire is built on two, equally weighty, premises — Melburnians love their meat and they especially love it in ball form. Those two truths have seen the MAWB phenomenon slowly take over the city, one quarter at a time, from before meatballs were popular right the way through until now now. And the meatball keeps rolling, this time all the way across the Yarra. They've just opened their new location on Windsor's Chapel Street, and while the venue isn't a completely new ball game, the menu has been tweaked. You can expect some new additions to the meatball menu and an emphasis on meatball salads. But don't worry, you'll still be able to order your fave pan-fried creamy gnocchi. The new venue occupies a heritage-listed building that previously inhabited by San Churro, with the reno carried out by ball-busters Techne Architects (who are responsible for Garden State, Prahran Hotel, Biggie Smalls and Jimmy Grants Eastland). And yes, they really went balls to the wall with this one. The redone site features seating for up to 60 with private dining booths, an outdoor area and cool marble benches. No sweat dripping down your balls in this venue, no sir! Ball doesn't sound like a word any more. Sorry for all the ball jokes. Anyway, there's now another Meatball And Wine Bar in Windsor and we really hope they keep opening them up because we've got so, so many more ball-related puns to get through. Find The Meatball And Wine Bar at 150 Chapel Street, Windsor, or visit their website for more information.
Two inner-city Melbourne favourites are joining forces this weekend to help elevate your lockdown feasting game. East Melbourne's Hemingway's Wine Room is teaming up with good mates at CBD Italian spot Pentolina for a one-off finish-at-home banquet, available for pick up and delivery this Friday, October 15. A generous four-course feed for two, the $129 dinner pack features a roll-call of soul-warming Euro-accented dishes, plucked from the kitchens of both restaurants. You're in for the likes of a wine-poached chicken salad, Pentolina's spinach 'swallow's nest' pasta, whole rainbow trout en papillote (in a bag) teamed with green pea and jamon fricassee, and a rich tiramisu starring dulce de leche and almond praline. Pre-orders are open here until 10am on Thursday, October 14, unless they sell out earlier. You can arrange click-and-collect from either venue, or order for delivery across metro Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula, Gippsland, Geelong and Torquay.
If you need to visit the CBD to pick up essentials or for medical needs — two of the reasons that Melburnians are allowed to head out under the city's current stage four stay-at-home restrictions, but only within five kilometres of home — you have one less thing to worry about: parking fees and fines. The City of Melbourne has announced that it is easing up on parking restrictions and costs in green sign parking bays, in line with State Government advice. The move will be in effect for the duration of the city's stage-four lockdown. That said, fees and restrictions will still apply to red sign parking bays — which includes disability parking spaces, if you don't have a permit; no stopping areas; tow-away clearways and loading zones. Enforcement will also apply in any other situation where a vehicle creates a risk to public safety or access, regardless of whether the car is in a green sign or red sign parking bay. So, while you you will be able to park without paying a cent in plenty of places, you'll still cop a fine for blocking driveways, clearways and lanes, parking too close to an intersection or parking in a disability bay without the proper permit. https://twitter.com/cityofmelbourne/status/1294119991696961537 The council also said, "We ask everyone to be mindful of the importance of vehicle turnover to support people needing to access essential services and businesses." While there are now less people out and about, and fewer cars on the streets, it's certainly not a time to be a carpark hog. That said, if you're heading out, ensure that you're following the stage-four requirements — and that you're wearing a mask. For more information the City of Melbourne's stage-four parking enforcement changes, head to its website.
It's possible that as much has happened in the last few weeks for The Rubens as it has in their entire musical career, but that's not a bad thing — they've only been a band for two years after all. As well as heading inland for a slot at Groovin' the Moo and being whisked off to a mystery regional location for the triple J One Night Stand festival (at which they'll headline along with Flume), April will see The Rubens head off on their biggest Australian tour to date. The shows come off the back of their debut self-titled album released in September last year, containing the catchy Black Keysish rambler 'My Gun'. New singles 'Never Be The Same' and 'Lay It Down' effortlessly layer that same backcountry clang over slower, more soulful foundations. If this is where they are after only 24 months, we can't wait to see where they're headed next. https://youtube.com/watch?v=eKrVHMTcEuc
Cumulus Up's City Cellar Door series returns for 2018, once again featuring a revolving door of Australian wine producers all keen to show off their top-notch drops. The event is the perfect opportunity to taste delicious wine, chat directly to the makers and grab your fave bottles at cellar door prices — all without leaving the CBD. And, while Victorian producers will once again sit in the spotlight, the series will also showcase Tasmanian wineries for the first time. The year's first instalment — which will run on the first Saturday of every month until October — kicks off at midday on May 5, this month paying homage to the Mornington Peninsula. Wine enthusiasts will be treated to stellar tipples from the likes of Main Ridge Estate, Prossimo, Allies and Avani, alongside matched snacks available from the Cumulus clan. And what's wine without snacks? To make sure the event has all the trimmings, there'll be plenty to eat, including the bar's suckling pig. Entry is by gold coin donation, with all proceeds going to OzHarvest. This is a not-to-be-missed event for anyone who loves wine.
This year, spend January 26 hanging out with some of the newest, hoppiest local brews as Beer Deluxe showcases a whole swag of homegrown talent at its annual Hop Quest showdown. Descending on the Federation Square beer oasis from 11am will be 20 of Australia's hottest craft breweries, each with a brand-new, hop-tastic beer release in tow. We're talking beers so fresh, their details will remain top secret until the big day. Guests will have a chance to sample all of these never-before-seen creations and to chat with reps from each brewery, enjoying $5 beer tasters throughout the day, before casting their vote for Hop Quest 2019's reigning champ. All of your favourites are coming to the party, including CoConspirators Brewing, KAIJU Beer, 3 Ravens Brewery, Wolf of the Willows, Mr.Banks Brewing Co, Sailors Grave and more. Entry is free, though you'll want to book a table to guarantee a chance to try these much-hyped new release brews. Images: Giulia Morlando
While going outdoors at the moment is mostly restricted to outdoor recreational activities, work and grabbing essentials, you'll need to throw on an extra jumper and bring an umbrella to do just that for the rest of this week, with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting rain, thunderstorms and frosty temperatures across most of Australia. A series of cold fronts are set to sweep the country and have, in fact, already hit Victoria. Last night, Tuesday, May 19, Melbourne copped damaging winds, heavy showers and hail, with a second cold front set to bring more showers and even snow to the Alps from later today. The rest of the week is looking, well, wet and cold. Temperatures are expected to hover around 13–14 until Saturday — which is three degrees under the average maximum of 16.7 for May — and there's a medium–high chance of showers every day for the foreseeable future. https://twitter.com/BOM_Vic/status/1262585286254567427 Moving slight north to Sydney, today's clear skies will be swapped for a high chance of rain and fog tomorrow, with the rains expected to persist for the foreseeable future, too. Temperatures are expected to sit around the average for May 19.5, with low 20s predicted until next Tuesday. So, if you're going to get wet anyway, now might be the time to go and swim a couple of laps at one of the newly-reopened ocean pools. https://twitter.com/BOM_au/status/1262568843853139968 Queensland is already getting a soaking, with 100-300 millilitres falling between Cairns and Ingham. The rains are set to continue for the rest of today and tomorrow, but will clear on Friday, ready for a cloudy but mostly dry weekend. The mercury isn't planned to rise as high as usual, though, with the BOM predicting temperatures six–ten degrees below average for parts of the state. If you go out on a hike or a day trip, pack a couple of extra layers. As is usually the case when rain and winds are predicted, keep an eye out for flood watches and severe weather warnings on the BOM website. For latest weather predictions and warnings, head to the Bureau of Meteorology website.
Looking to shake things up with a bit of spicy teamwork fun this Valentine's Day? Well, seek and you shall find. Literally. Couples-focused sexual wellness brand We-Vibe is here to make things a little interesting, with a good ol' sex toy scavenger hunt you can tackle with your boo. Yep — this Saturday, February 12, the label is hiding five of its signature We-Vibe Sync couples vibrators in secret spots around the city. Pleasure-seeking sleuths are invited to track them down using clues posted to We-Vibe's O Diaries blog that morning. Find one of the blue vibrators and you'll win yourselves an entire year's supply of sex toys, totalling a cool USD $1000 — obviously, the V-Day prezzie to trump all others. The hunt kicks off at 9am and will run for 48 hours. And you should word up your overseas mates, too — We-Vibe's also hosting similar scavenger hunts in 12 other international cities this weekend, including Paris, London, Singapore, Barcelona and New York.
This winter, Melbourne's surfside diner is embracing a new passion — premium Gippsland lamb. Overlooking the breaks of Urbnsurf, Three Blue Ducks is adding a slew of meaty menu additions, as it invites you to raise a fork for Lamb Month. From Friday, July 22–Monday, August, 22, the restaurant is firing up the barbecue and the spit to showcase a stack of new lamb-based creations at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Head in to feast on plates like the pulled lamb and mashed potato cakes with poached eggs and harissa yoghurt; spiced lamb ribs teamed with burnt eggplant and tabouli; and barbecued lamb starring celeriac, hazelnuts, radicchio and lashings of Bodriggy stout gravy. What's more, to wash the new specials down, Three Blue Ducks has teamed up with mates at Abbotsford brewery Bodriggy, offering their oatmeal stout as the perfect wintry lamb pairing. Three Blue Ducks is open for breakfast Friday to Sunday, and for lunch and dinner Wednesday to Sunday.
It has been almost ten years since Franz Ferdinand released their game-changing track 'Take Me Out' and got the world banging their heads and shaking their hips to their guitar disco sound. Now almost a decade on they are still going strong, releasing their fourth studio album Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action in August to critical acclaim. Franz Ferdinand were once one of the hottest bands on the planet and whilst their live performances have always remained electric, they have never quite musically matched their debut — until now. Their new LP has truly rediscovered the energy and sound that enthralled us all on that initial release and has set them back on the path towards greatness. Now the Glaswegian quartet are taking the right action and bringing themselves to Australia. Whilst originally slated to be here for the now-cancelled Harvest Festival, the band have thankfully elected to stay on for an East Coast tour that will be stopping in Melbourne at the Forum Theatre on Thursday, November 14. So why not head down and see what all the renewed fuss is about?
It's cold — freezing in fact — but that won't do anything to stop Melbourne's flour fiends flocking to Collingwood Town Hall this Saturday, August 14 for the Flour Market's winter bake sale. After a string of pop-ups at Melbourne Central in June and a doughnut festival in Sydney last month, the baked goods bonanza is back for another seasonal instalment. The main drawcard for this market is Sydney's Black Star Pastry, who will be travelling down south with their famous strawberry watermelon cake just for the occasion. But aside from the cake (which you're probably going to get anyway), there'll be doughnuts from Cobb Lane and All Day Donuts, classics American-style pies from Bakewell & Co, coffee from Everyday and some dreamy-sounding gooey caramel brioche bites from Boris Portnoy. A photo posted by Flour Market (@flour_market) on Aug 6, 2016 at 11:51pm PDT In the past the Flour Market has drawn huge crowds lining up halfway around the block to get their mitts on some cream-filled, jam-glazed, artisan patisserie, so we recommend getting there early. Entry is $2. If you prefer your pastries guaranteed, you can buy an Early Riser ticket for $10 from Wednesday, August 10. Check their Facebook page for more details as they announce them.
Pasta doesn't get much better than this – even in Italy. Three of Australia's best Italian chefs are getting together to throw a Pasta Party. For one evening only, they'll be sharing their knowledge of old world traditions and new world innovations, in between serving up a four-course, decadent dinner with, of course, matching wines. Two members of the trio will by flying in from interstate for the occasion. They are Sydney's Mitch Orr of Acme fame and Perth's Joel Valvasori-Pereza, who heads up Lula La Delizia. Joining them will be Melbourne's Andreas Papadakis (Tipo 00). On arrival, you'll be greeted with a glass of rosé, before sitting down to your feast, during which each creation will be introduced by the chef who made it. Among the dishes planned are stracciatella with shiitake and brown butter; smoked garganelli with pork and fennel sausage and broccoli; and cacao tortellini with pine mushrooms. Dessert? Absolutely. Panna cotta vera with toasted walnuts and burnt orange syrup. All matching drops come from Brand's Laira, a multi-award winning winery in Coonawarra, South Australia, with the exception of the sticky, which is a Peter Lehmann botrytis semillon. The Pasta Party will take place at Melbourne Palms, a Palm Springs-inspired restaurant set to pop up in Fed Square throughout Good Food Month. The most delicious news of all is that we're giving away two tickets, worth $140 each. To check out Melbourne Good Food Month's full program and buy tickets, head to goodfoodmonth.com. To enter, see details below. [competition]670925[/competition] Images: Nikki To
The Melbourne Festival will shine a light on the works of Wang Bing, Cyprien Gaillard, Ila Beka and Louise Lemoine, as part of their free Capitol Film Works program, running every weekend during the festival. On October 12 and 13, Living Architectures mixes the mediums of cinema and architecture, with Parisian filmmakers Beka and Lemoine taking viewers through the everyday lives of some of Europe’s most beautiful buildings, including the Guggenheim Museum and the Jubilee Church in Rome. The epic's of Chinese documentarian Wang Bing will screen at two different locations. On October 19 and 20, the Capitol Theatre will project his two magnum opi: the nine hour long West of the Tracks, about a dying industrial district in Shenyang, as well as the even longer Crude Oil, a 14-hour, real time portrayal of oil workers in Qinghai. Melbourne’s Chinese Museum will also screen Fengming: A Chinese Memoir and Man with No Name on a loop throughout the duration of the festival. Shot on an iPhone in war-torn present day Iraq, Cyprien Gaillard’s experimental Artefacts will play on repeat across October 26 and 27, bringing the Capitol Program to a close. Gaillard will also be present for a Meet the Artist Q&A, as will Beka and Lemoine.
So much about The Many Saints of Newark is a matter of when, not if: when familiar characters will show up looking younger, when well-known New Jersey locations will be sighted and when someone will eat ziti. This all occurs because it must; it wouldn't be a prequel to The Sopranos otherwise. Servicing fans is a key reason the movie exists, and it's far more resonant if you've already spent 86 episodes with Tony Soprano and his mafia and blood families while watching one of the best TV shows ever made. This is a film with a potent air of inevitability, clearly. Thankfully, that feeling reaches beyond all the obligatory nods and winks. That some things are unavoidable — that giving people what they want doesn't always turn out as planned, and that constantly seeking more will never fix all of life's woes, too — pulsates through this origin story like a thumping bass line. And yes, on that topic, Alabama 3's 'Woke Up This Morning' obviously gets a spin. Penned by The Sopranos' creator David Chase and series alum Lawrence Konner, and helmed by veteran show director Alan Taylor, The Many Saints of Newark doesn't merely preach to existing devotees, even if they're the film's main audience. Marking the last of the big three 00s-era prestige US cable dramas to earn a movie spinoff — following El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie and Deadwood: The Movie — the feature is aware of its own genesis and of gangster genre staples in tandem. Casting Ray Liotta, who'll forever be associated with Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas, was always going to show that. Travelling back to the 70s, when The Godfather franchise electrified cinema, does also. Indeed, The Many Saints of Newark plays like a hybrid of pop culture's three most influential and essential mob stories. A bold move, it also explains what works and what falters in a film that's powerful and engaging but firmly baked in a well-used oven. The first detail that Sopranos fans should've picked up when this flick first got a title: in Italian, many saints translates as moltisanti. While The Many Saints of Newark spends time with young Tony as a pre-teen in the late 60s (played by feature first-timer William Ludwig) and a teen in the early 70s (when The Deuce's Michael Gandolfini, son of the late, great James Gandolfini, steps into the character's shoes), its protagonist is Dickie Moltisanti (Alessandro Nivola, The Art of Self-Defense). He's seen as an uncle and mentor by Tony, who'll eventually hold the same roles for Dickie's son. The Sopranos mainstay Christopher Moltisanti (Michael Imperioli, One Night in Miami) turns narrator here, in fact, offering knowing voiceover that occasionally channels the show's dark humour — calling out Christopher's death at Tony's hands, for instance. Dickie was recalled with reverence in the series, yet threw a shadow over Tony's middle-aged mob-boss malaise — as seen in his duck obsession, panic attacks and reluctant chats with a psychiatrist. Here, Dickie falls into a similar pattern with his dad 'Hollywood' Dick (Liotta, No Sudden Move), who returns from Italy to subject his new, much-younger bride Giuseppina (Michela De Rossi, The Rats) to domestic violence. One of The Many Saints of Newark's finest traits is its layering, honing in on cycles that keep echoing through generations as it examines Dickie's role in turning Tony into the man viewers watched from 1999–2007. Its greatest stroke of casting plays with the same notion as well, and the younger Gandolfini is a soulful yet primal revelation. To call his performance lived-in is the epitome of an understatement, and it's never a gimmick. Nivola is equally masterful, especially given that Dickie is torn in almost every way he can be. He abhors his father's treatment of Giuseppina with Oedipal fury, but also has a psychopathic temper. Part of the DiMeo crime family, he runs numbers in Newark with help from his football pal Harold (Leslie Odom Jr, Music), but all his cronies — Tony's father Johnny (Jon Bernthal, Those Who Wish Me Dead) included — couldn't be more overtly racist. The Many Saints of Newark uses the 1967 Newark riots about systemic prejudice as a defining event, too, although it's often treated as window dressing. One particularly spectacular shot sees Tony spy the resulting flames from his bedroom window, and Harold is mobilised to start his own gambling racket afterwards, but that's about as deep as the movie delves on the subject. It has other things to ponder in its tale about family, crime, loyalty, life and death, as Dickie is just as conflicted about Tony's future. Regarding the latter, The Many Saints of Newark takes a few cues from Breaking Bad prequel series Better Call Saul, with its origin story also a tragedy because we know the only place it can lead to. That's one reason the film blisters with emotion, even if the same standard gangster narrative could've easily been told without any ties to The Sopranos. It's also why all of the expected references feel a bit like a game of spotting the nudges in the moment — including Vera Farmiga (The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It) as Tony's mother Livia, Corey Stoll (Scenes From a Marriage) as his uncle Junior, and John Magaro (First Cow) and Billy Magnussen (Made for Love) as his future sidekicks Silvio and Paulie — but ultimately add authority. Still, in a world where The Sopranos changed TV forever — every television drama has been indebted to the groundbreaking HBO series for the past two decades — The Many Saints of Newark is also the most basic version of the film that plenty have dreamed about since a certain fade to black. It delivers what it sets out to, not just in resurrecting Tony by venturing backwards, but also in fleshing out backstory, grappling with recognisable themes and musing on generational repetitions. It serves up two stellar core performances, as set against handsome period staging. It's a fine-looking movie all-round, and its blue palette conveys a sense of sorrow that perfectly suits its task. But it treads in heftier footsteps and knows it — and while that's part of its message, it's a bit like snacking on gabagool after a hearty, life-changing serving of pasta.
What if a trio of old guys robbed a bank? That'd be funny, wouldn't it? That seems to be the only line of thinking behind Going in Style, which remakes a 1979 flick of the same name and brings together a thoroughly likeable cast of elderly actors, but doesn't rise above "aren't geriatrics hilarious?"-style humour. Attempting to bulk up its premise with a hefty tug at the heartstrings and a weak statement about ruthless financial institutions proves about as effective as chewing steak with dentures. Sure, you can give it a shot, but everyone knows that it's not going to work. Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Alan Arkin play old friends Joe, Willie and Albert, who toiled away for decades together at a Brooklyn steel works, only to find themselves stripped of their pensions after a corporate takeover by an overseas company. But after Joe witnesses a slick holdup at his uncaring bank — an establishment that tricked him into a loan with a nasty interest rate, is now threatening to take his house away, and happens to be handling the pension debacle — the three hatch a plan to reclaim their entitlements via a caper of their own. Given the talent the film puts on screen, Going in Style probably could've worked quite well without throwing in the sob stories. Alas, the script by Hidden Figures writer-director Theodore Melfi is determined to justify the characters' newfound criminal urges in the most blatantly sappy and cliched ways that it can. Accordingly, Joe has to save the home where his daughter and granddaughter also live, while Willie is in dire need of a new kidney. Former musician Albert takes longer to warm to the stickup idea, probably because he isn't blighted with his own sad tale; instead, he's more preoccupied with his new romance with a grocery store clerk (Ann-Margaret). The fact is, Caine, Freeman and Arkin are all much, much better than the material they're saddled with. If there's any fun to be had here, it's in watching the three Oscar winners sit in a diner bickering and bantering. Any time they're tasked with supposedly comic hijinks, you're left wishing they were all in a better film; a horribly executed sequence in which they attempt to shoplift from a local supermarket as a practice run for their big heist is a prime example. Still, they fare much better than their poor co-star Christopher Lloyd, whose hammy performance might make you exclaim "great Scott!" in horror. Although he's helmed two movies already, in Garden State and Wish I Was Here, Actor-turned-director Zach Braff is still best known for starring in the small screen hospital comedy Scrubs. Perhaps it's not a coincidence, then, that his latest effort feels more like a bland, formulaic sitcom pilot than it does a feature film. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6Qq3pIWMHk
UPDATE, AUGUST 9: Due to recent COVID-19 outbreaks and lockdowns, The Empire Strips Back's 2021 season has been postponed to 2022. The Melbourne show will now take place on Saturday, February 12. This article has been updated to reflect that change. In 2011, in this very country and galaxy, a pop culture favourite gained a singing, stripping burlesque parody. It's the mash-up that was bound to happen. Who hasn't looked at George Lucas' space opera, its sprawling drama and ample spectacle, and wondered what a steamier, funnier version with more visible butt cheeks would look like? Russall S Beattie clearly did, and had a good feeling that other people would give it a shot. The Empire Strips Back was the end result. It became a hit around Australia, then took itself overseas to much acclaim. Now it's returning home for a 2021 tour — once again showing local audiences that lightsabers aren't the hottest thing in the Star Wars galaxy. The saucy show promises "seriously sexy stormtroopers, a dangerously seductive Boba Fett, some tantalising Twi'leks, a delightfully lukewarm Taun Taun, a lady-like Skywalker [and] the droids you are looking for", according to its website. Apparently Yoda doesn't get the sexed-up treatment, but there is plenty of song, dance, acrobatics and — because it's burlesque — the removal of clothing. A dancing Chewie and Han is just the beginning of this cheeky take on Star Wars cosplay. Given that it's got an upbeat soundtrack, the costumes are extremely detailed and the show throws out lots of references to George Lucas' original plot, it's not surprising that local audiences — presumably the same ones that pack out Star Wars parties and large-scale screenings with a live orchestra — have latched onto the production. Heading to the Palais on Saturday, February 12, The Empire Strips Back sits alongside Dame of Thrones in Beattie's pop culture parody stable — so if you've already seen one of your fantastical screen obsessions get the burlesque treatment, then you know what you're in for. Tickets go on sale on Thursday, March 12 — so not too far away, and obviously in this very galaxy. If you're super keen, you can also nab a Wookieerotica magazine online: a 116-page, 70s-style men's mag, just casually featuring all of your favourite jedis, siths, ewoks and other Star Wars characters. Either way, it could be a great introduction to burlesque or Star Wars, depending on which way you're coming at it. Images: Jon Bauer, Leslie Liu and Josh Groom.
Things are heating up at The B.East on Lygon Street, the official home of the Melbourne Chilli Eating Championship. This Saturday, 26 brave souls will put their lives on the line in this searing hot contest to find Melbourne's steeliest tastebuds. Doors open at noon, while the main event kicks off at half past three. The contest consists of 12 knockout rounds, with things getting progressively spicier as the competition intensifies. Participants can be eliminated by tapping out, passing out or vomiting their guts up – although, hopefully it doesn't come to that. It all culminates with the consumption of the Carolina Reaper, which Guinness World Records considers the hottest chilli in the world. All competitor spots have already been filled, although there's always a chance someone chickens out on the day. In addition to the championship there'll by live music throughout the day, including sets by the Davidson Brothers, DJ Johnny El Pájaro and Iaki Vallejo & The Hits.
It's been over a decade since we first got hooked on the rough and rowdy antics of these boys from the deep South. Peddling fast-paced garage rock and loveable ratbag tunes like 2007's 'Bad Kids' or 2011's 'Modern Art' and 'Family Tree', Black Lips have been a staple of all your recent summer road trips. Now they're back in town peddling their seventh studio album (count 'em). Released early last year, Underneath The Rainbow and its lead singles like 'Boys In The Wood' and 'Justice After All' see the four-piece staying true to their roots with those iconic raw vocals and all-round messy musical style. Despite being partly produced by The Black Keys' Patrick Carney, the album does however lose some of the hooky melodies you know and love from their past hits. But even if you're not so keen on the new stuff, their live show is always worth the money on the door. Best to come with covered shoes and loose morals: Black Lips are known for intense crowd-surfing, regular nudity and a few disturbing moments where band members have spit into each other's mouths. Though they're coming off the back of a busy festival season in the US, Europe, the Middle East — they were actually the first American band to tour there since The Grateful Dead in 1978 — Falls, and soon Laneway, they're sure to deliver not only a good show but a great story too.
After suffering months of protest about the controversial East West Link, Victorian Premier Denis Napthine today announced plans to invest $70 million in new cycling and pedestrian pathways in Melbourne's north and north-east. Claiming the East West Link was "never just about a road", Napthine hopes the project will provide increased safety and enhance Melbourne's reputation as a city for cyclists. But the changes won't be as far-reaching as you might think. While the idea of $70 million worth of bike paths makes us want to head over to Spring Street right now and forcibly high-five everyone in state parliament, the main thrust of the project is geared towards access to the Mornington Peninsula. With bridges and pathways connecting to the Chandler Highway, the North East Bike Link will supposedly knock ten minutes off the 80km trip down south. "You'll be able to get to Mornington for your coffee after about an hour peddling on this 80-kilometre ring," said Premier Napthine today (to the non-existent humanoids who happily ride 80km in one hour just to get a coffee). It's great news for those who spend their weekend in lycra visiting their holiday house in Sorrento, but kind of underwhelming for the rest of us. That being said, the new infrastructure closer to the city will be helpful for those commuting from the inner-east. New bridges have been proposed over the Yarra and Merri Creek, and a 3km path would run from Alexandra Ave to the Main Yarra Trail. The first contracts for the project were signed last week, but opposition leader Daniel Andrew claims its future will be decided by the outcome of the November state election. Leave your lycra onesie aside for the moment; even if it does go ahead, the date of completion is scheduled for 2019. I guess we can awkwardly ride on the footpaths for a few more years. Via The Age and ABC. Photo credit: Looking Glass via photopin cc.
The team behind one of South Melbourne's most decadent cafes is heading to the CBD. Opening mid-October on Little Collins Street, Crux & Co Patisserie will focus on the sweeter things in life, serving up macaroons, éclairs, cakes and assorted other pastries that'll make your teeth rot just by looking at them. Might be time to preemptively punch another hole in your belt buckle, huh? The 40-seat patisserie will be open 7am to 4pm Monday through Friday, making it the perfect place to satisfy your hankering for a pre-work coffee and salted caramel éclair. Or maybe you'd prefer double vanilla? Or passionfruit? Or bitter chocolate, or raspberry, or lemon meringue? Best get one of each, just to be safe. Alternatively, you'll be able to grab a box of meringues, which come in flavours such as lychee, oreo and wasabi. The sweet treats will all be crafted by Crux's head pastry chef MK Lee, and transported from South Melbourne to Little Collins Street each day. Your caffeine fix, meanwhile, will come courtesy of local roasters, including Five Senses Coffee. Crux & Co Patisserie is set to open on October 10 at 25 Little Collins Street, Melbourne. In the meantime, you can find their original cafe at 35 Albert Road, South Melbourne, and perv on pastry photos via their Facebook page.
"I kneel before no one," says Teth-Adam, aka Black Adam, aka the DC Comics character that dates back to 1945, and that Dwayne Johnson (Red Notice) has long wanted to play. That proclamation is made early in the film that bears the burly, flying, impervious-to-everything figure's name, echoing as a statement of might as well as mood: he doesn't need to bow down to anyone or anything, and if he did he wouldn't anyway. Yet the DC Extended Universe flick that Black Adam is in — the 11th in a saga that's rarely great — kneels frequently to almost everything. It bends the knee to the dispiritingly by-the-numbers template that keeps lurking behind this comic book-inspired series' most forgettable entries, and the whole franchise's efforts to emulate the rival (and more successful) Marvel Cinematic Universe, for starters. It also shows deference to the lack of spark and personality that makes the lesser DC-based features so routine at best, too. Even worse, Black Adam kneels to the idea that slipping Johnson into a sprawling superhero franchise means robbing the wrestler-turned-actor himself of any on-screen personality. Glowering and gloomy is a personality, for sure, but it's not what's made The Rock such a box office drawcard — and, rather than branching out, breaking the mould or suiting the character, he just appears to be pouting and coasting. He looks the physical part, of course, as he needs to playing a slave-turned-champion who now can't be killed or hurt. It's hard not to wish that the Fast and Furious franchise's humour seeped into his performance, however, or even the goofy corniness of Jungle Cruise, Johnson's last collaboration with filmmaker Jaume Collet-Serra. The latter has template-esque action flicks Unknown, Non-Stop, Run All Night and The Commuter on his resume before that, and helms his current star here like he'd rather still directing Liam Neeson. That said, Black Adam, the character, has much to scowl about — and scowl he does. Black Adam, the film, has much backstory to lay out, with exposition slathered on thick during the opening ten minutes. As a mere human in 2600 BCE in the fictional Middle Eastern country of Kahndaq, its namesake was among an entire populace caught under a cruel ruler hungry for power, and for a powerful supernatural crown fashioned out a mineral called 'eternium' that said subjects were forced to mine. Now, 5000 years later, Black Adam is a just-awakened mortal-turned-god who isn't too thrilled about the modern world, or being in it. Bridging the gap: the fact that back in the day, one boy was anointed with magic by ancient wizards to defend Kahndaq's people (the word "shazam!" gets uttered, because Black Adam dwells in the same part of the DCEU as 2019's Shazam! and its upcoming sequel), but misusing those skills ended in entombment until modern-day resistance fighters interfere. The above really is just the preamble. Black Adam is freed by widowed professor Adrianna (Sarah Shahi, Sex/Life), who is trying to fight the Intergang, the mercenaries who've been Kahndaq's new oppressors for decades — and, yes, Black Adam gets caught up in that battle. But being out and about, instead of interred in a cave, gets the attention of the Justice Society. The DCEU already has the Justice League and the Suicide Squad, but it apparently still needs another super-powered crew. Indeed, Suicide Squad and The Suicide Squad's Amanda Waller (Viola Davis, The First Lady) even shows up to help put this new gang together. That's how Hawkman (Aldis Hodge, One Night in Miami), Doctor Fate (Pierce Brosnan, The Misfits), Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell, Voyagers) and Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo, the To All the Boys movies) don their caped-crusader getup and try to stop Black Adam, or convince him to stop himself. Another blatant act of kneeling on this film's part: its new team. The Justice Society isn't new on the page, and some of its number pre-date their patent Marvel counterparts — but reaching the screen now, after the MCU and the X-Men movies, makes this bunch seem like a rehash. Wings like the Falcon, seeing the future like Dr Strange, controlling the weather like Cyclone, changing size like Ant-Man: that's all covered here, and it's impossible not to make comparisons. That Hawkman, Doctor Fate, Cyclone and Atom Smasher are also given little personality doesn't help. The cast behind them visibly commit, and there's a better flick to be made with far more Brosnan waving around a golden helmet in it (a welcomely sillier one, too), but character development clearly wasn't high among screenwriters Adam Sztykiel (Scoob!), Rory Haines (The Mauritanian) and Sohrab Noshirvani's (also The Mauritanian) priorities. As often proves the case in this genre, because superhero movies have been their own genre for years, the main aim of Black Adam is laying the groundwork for more to come. The titular figure gets an origin story, then an entryway into the broader DCEU, then sets up future franchise appearances, then teases the next step via the obligatory post-credits sting — stop us when this doesn't sound familiar. It's little wonder, then, that everyone around Black Adam feels like filler, including Adrianna's son Amon (Bodhi Sabongui, The Baby-Sitters Club), as well as the villain of the piece. And it's hardly surprising that any attempts at thematic relevance or resonance are thinner than Black Adam's smile. This tries to be a picture about the great responsibility that comes with great power (yep, again), choosing to do the right thing, and the thorniness of being an anti-hero, and also about the merits (or not) of throwing American force around (or not) in other countries; 'tries' is the key word. Collet-Serra does give Sabongui the best action sequences, though, all involving sneaking out of, skateboarding around and skirting attacks in his apartment/building. There's a tactile sense to these moments — as lively and as lived-in as the film gets, too — that's thoroughly absent in the bland, generic look and feel elsewhere. That Black Adam kneels before and could simply be mashing up parts of 300, Clash of the Titans and Tomb Raider for much of its running time, especially visually, just makes a dull movie duller (the DCEU really can't move on from Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League director Zack Snyder, so it seems). When the feature busts out The Rolling Stones' 'Paint It Black', because of course it does, it's both as obvious a choice as there is and a rare dose of energy. And when it shows iconic spaghetti western The Good, the Bad and the Ugly on a TV screen, wishing you were watching that instead comes swiftly — or watching Aquaman's gleeful ridiculousness, Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)'s rampant flair, or the non-DCEU weightiness of Joker or The Batman, actually.
If you'd said five years ago that Matthew McConaughey was one of the finest actors of his generation, you'd have been a laughing stock. As it turns out, you'd also have been right. After spending most of last decade taking his shirt off in rom-coms and exhibiting poor equilibrium in film posters, the Texan has undergone a total reinvention in recent times, stringing together a series of scene-stealing supporting turns in films like Killer Joe, Magic Mike and The Wolf of Wall Street, along with more serious dramatic performances in Mud and HBO's True Detective. His role in Dallas Buyers Club, however, is his most transformative yet. With Christian Bale-like commitment, the actor is down to skin and bones as Ron Woodroof, a real-life AIDS patient who, at a time when the legally permitted treatments were proving totally ineffectual, ruffled the feathers of the Federal Drug Administration by smuggling unapproved medicines in through Mexico. Even more emaciated than McConaughey is Jared Leto, nigh unrecognisable as an AIDS-suffering transgender woman named Rayon. Together, she and Woodroof thumb their noses at the medical bureaucracy by forming the 'Dallas Buyers Club', providing patients with imported drugs in return for a $400 monthly fee. Even discounting their weight loss, both actors are in phenomenal form. McConaughey brings a rough-around-the-edges humanity to his character, an outlandish, hustling, often flat-out unlikable man, whose gradual transition from homophobic swindler to altruist is handled with a refreshing degree of nuance. Leto, meanwhile, disappears completely into his part, creating a kind, funny, heartbreaking character whose unlikely friendship with Woodroof gives the movie its beating heart. French-Canadian director Jean-Marc Vallée does excellent work behind the camera, adopting a considerably less flashy approach than he used in his earlier films Café de Flore and C.R.A.Z.Y., while nonetheless crafting a subtly distinctive aesthetic. Screenwriters Craig Borten and Melisa Wallack likewise deserve credit for avoiding false sentiment and typical biopic cliches. Where Dallas Buyers Club runs into trouble is in its relationship with real life. Many have disputed the film's claim that the FDA approved drug AZT was poisonous, while also questioning the effectiveness of Woodroof's unregulated alternatives. Others have accused the filmmakers of distorting the history and spirit of AIDS activism by sidelining gay characters in favour of a heterosexual protagonist. Like any movie claiming to be based on real life, viewers would be wise to engage in some post-film research, to separate facts from fiction. At the same time, Dallas Buyers Club also deserves credit for being the first Hollywood film with significant LGBTQ themes since Brokeback Mountain in 2005, and the first significant AIDS film since Philadelphia in 1993. As problematic as the movie's approach may sometimes be, it cannot be worse than not addressing these subjects at all. Nor can it detract from the strength of Vallée's direction, nor the sensational work of his actors. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ety5kOjlXoU
No one wants to live in a world where Parasite, the best movie of 2019, doesn't exist. But if it didn't for some reason, it's highly likely that Corpus Christi would've been this year's Best International Feature Film Oscar-winner, rather than just a nominee. This Polish drama also focuses on people pretending to be something they're not. As directed by Warsaw 44 and The Hater's Jan Komasa, and written by the latter's screenwriter Mateusz Pacewicz, it casts a wry eye over much about life in their homeland today, too. And it isn't afraid to call out hypocrisy, societal divisions and greed, either — literally in the latter case, via its protagonist's speech at the local sawmill. There are few other similarities between Corpus Christi and the movie it lost to, but perhaps the only one that really matters is how potently, blisteringly and rousingly it unfurls its on-screen gifts. Well that, and how striking every second of the film looks, pairing its ashen, almost-hazy aesthetics with its complicated account of an ex-juvenile delinquent who poses as a small-town priest. The imposter's name is Daniel and, as played with soulful intensity by star-in-the-making Bartosz Bielenia, he's a complex figure. First seen serving the final days of his reform school sentence, he has made a fan out of the facility's head priest, Father Tomasz (Lukasz Simlat). In fact, if Daniel's criminal record didn't preclude it, he'd desperately love to follow in the elder man's footsteps and join the seminary. While the correctional centre's hierarchy means that he has to take on look-out duties when his fellow inmates brutally rough up one of their own — lest he be on the receiving end instead — the look in the 20-year-old's eyes whenever he's reminded that his past choices have stripped away his preferred future is haunting. There's much about Bielenia's exceptional performance that sears itself into memory, but that firm, mournful gaze that adorns his face again and again is unshakeably powerful and poignant. When Daniel is released to work at the aforementioned sawmill in rural Poland, it's better than incarceration. Of course, it's hardly what he has dreamed about. Call it fate, call it divine intervention, or call it either good or dumb luck, but he's soon given the chance to pursue his calling. Through a series of events that never feels convenient or strained, Daniel claims that he's a priest — and that contention largely goes unquestioned. In a close-knit community of devout but struggling souls, with the area rocked by a recent tragedy that still lingers, locals eagerly welcome him as their new spiritual advisor. Daniel's devotion to the task helps to mask his youthful years. With those around his age, he's particularly at ease. He also genuinely has faith and believes in the job, so the jump from jailhouse scraps and drug-addled post-release parties to assisting his surprise congregation is both easy and natural. Corpus Christi is loosely inspired by real-life details, but even though this is a movie about an unconventional priest, it isn't the type of religious true tale that might instantly spring to mind. It couldn't be further from the dutifully pious standard, which remains the case even as it gifts its young protagonist with an unexpected second chance — an unlikely opportunity to follow his heart and make a difference to an insular yet divided town, too — and demonstrates that he's not the only one within the movie's frames with a troubled past to overcome. Whether he's attempting to convince the locals that an old grief-fuelled grudge reflects badly upon their character or getting closer to parishioner Marta (Eliza Rycembel) to an ungodly degree, Daniel is a wiry and magnetic bag of contradictions. Much the same can be said of his potential absolution, too. His motives are sincere, but his shot at vindication springs through subterfuge — well-meaning subterfuge that's purely a result of grasping an opportunity, rather than any misdeeds or maliciousness, but subterfuge all the same. Crafting a film that starts with grey hues, grim visuals and a mood to match, and never buffers out or prays away the grit in its aesthetics, Komasa uses Daniel's situation to veer down an important path. Benevolence and redemption are key tenets of Catholicism, and of many faiths, but there's a difference between speaking of them and putting them into action — which Corpus Christi explores in every reaction that comes its central figure's way. The film doesn't deify its protagonist, nor shy away from his mistakes and woes, but it clearly sees and accepts his desire to aid others. And, in the process, it asks what might be considered a sacrilegious question to some: if people can find the solace, warmth and comfort they yearn for in biblical characters who teach compassion and charity, why can't they in a tattooed, scarred, street-smart ex-criminal standing in front of them, getting to know them, willingly dedicating his time to helping them, and driven by the same kind intentions and aspirations? If that train of thought sounds thorny, tricky and even anxiety-inducing, that's Corpus Christi. When he's lost in prayer, Bielenia's face may look angelic; however, nothing else about this movie is ever so blissful or simple. As a film about a rehabilitated crim-turned-masquerading cleric, tension and foreboding unsurprisingly seethes through every second. First, Daniel wonders how he'll ever be seen as anything other than "scum", as he's called. Next, he worries about maintaining his deception and keeping the position he treasures. As it bubbles and broods, Corpus Christi doesn't ever offer simple answers — to audiences or to its lead character. That's to be expected; this is a feature that spends its entire time rallying against easy solutions, after all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EU-Z90SEqGQ&t=20s
While much of this year's Australian Open action is going down at Melbourne Park, one special Grand Slam-themed celebration is descending on Melbourne's inner north instead. The Distiller, the new bar from local vodka label Grainshaker, is serving a whole lot of aces with its one-off tennis-inspired bottomless brunch. On Saturday, January 29, the new Northcote digs will fire up for the Get Served brunch, clocking in at $85 per person. For that, you'll enjoy two signature cocktails and a brunch grazing platter, plus two hours of free-flowing beer, wine, and basics and mixed drinks from the Grainshaker line. Guests will also have the chance to sample the distillery's new Australian Open creation, Fortylove — a summery vodka blending notes of mango, passionfruit, finger lime, Geraldton wax and eucalyptus, and coming in at 40-percent ABV. Stick around post-brunch to catch the AO women's finals on the big screen, while enjoying tastings and drinks specials. [caption id="attachment_839874" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Distiller[/caption]
For Melbourne jazzers still lamenting last year's announcement that Bennetts Lane will be closing this June, here's some consolation. On March 1, a brand new venue, named Bird's Basement, will open its doors. The program is already littered with big names, including saxophonist Ravi Coltrane and guitarist Lee Ritenour, both from the U.S., as well as local pianists Mike Nock and Joe Chindamo. The club will be located in the CBD, in a purpose-built performance venue just off LaTrobe Street. Concerts will happen twice a night — at 6pm and 9.30pm — and head chef Luigi Buono, who has previously worked at Italian institutions Caffe e Cucina, Thirty Eight Chairs and Enoteca Sileno, will be taking care of the kitchen with an Italian a la carte menu. The owner of this shiny new jazz club is Albert Dadon AM. As founder and chairman of the Australian Jazz Awards Limited and a prominent jazz musician himself, he seems like the absolute best person for the job. "I hope to create a permanent music festival in the heart of Melbourne," he says. Ravi Coltrane — the son of jazz musicians John and Alice Coltrane — will take over the club throughout its opening week, playing six consecutive nights, from March 1-6. During his 20-year career, he inspired Grammy nominations, released numerous albums and founded RKM, an independent record label. Following Coltrane's mini residency, the John Montesante Quintet will perform with vocalist Rebecca Mendoza on Wednesday, March 9, followed by vocalist Chris McNulty and her quintet on the Thursday night, and Joe Chindamo will perform his Romantic Project on the Friday. While jazz will form the backbone of Bird Basement's schedule, there'll also be side-trips into folk, rock and blues. Other artists performing during March include Wendy Matthews, Joe Camilleri and the Black Sorrows, Brian Mannix (as one member of the Brat Pack) and The Young'uns, an acappella trio from the UK. Bird's Basement will open on Tuesday, March 1 at 11 Singers Lane, Melbourne. For more information and the full program, visit birdsbasement.com.
With The Girl in the Spider's Web, the Dragon Tattoo saga becomes a franchise that mashes up other franchises. It's a little bit Bond, thanks to the series' happy switching of actors playing Lisbeth Salander. It has a dash of Bourne, courtesy of its returning protagonist and her ongoing crusade against many an unseemly conspiracy. And, with violent vengeance firmly placed centre stage in this more action-packed instalment, it nods to John Wick as well. However, blending all of these parts together, there are a few things that The Girl in the Spider's Web definitely isn't: entertaining, thrilling, or anything other than bland and generic, narrative-wise. Even if you haven't read the book that the film is based on, The Girl in the Spider's Web comes with a sense of deja vu. It's a case of new star, new director and new author, but business as usual otherwise. For the uninitiated, Stieg Larsson's initial three novels were published after his death, then adapted into a Swedish film trilogy starring Noomi Rapace. David Fincher remade the first movie in the franchise, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, in 2011 with Rooney Mara as his lead. Then, in 2015 and 2017, writer David Lagercrantz penned two more books that continued the series, starting with The Girl in the Spider's Web. With Claire Foy stepping into Lisbeth's black and leather outfits, the hacker-slash-vigilante once again punishes men who harm women, tries to unravel a murky scheme and finds herself immersed in a plot with links to her past. This time, she's hired by an ex-National Security Agency operative (Stephen Merchant) to steal a computer program he wrote that can access the world's entire nuclear arsenal. Lisbeth's cyber skills get the job done, but another NSA expert (Lakeith Stanfield) is soon making his way around Stockholm and trying to retrieve the software. He's not the only other interested party, thanks to a shadowy group called The Spiders — who also make Lisbeth face her tragic history, including her estranged sister Camilla (Sylvia Hoeks). Franchise devotees will also spot investigative journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Sverrir Gudnason) and his publisher and lover Erika Berger (Vicky Krieps), although that side of the series takes a backseat to Lisbeth's latest antics. Indeed, while it boasts similar story elements, this film isn't really a mystery-thriller with a detective bent like its predecessors. Rather, it uses the same packaging to place Foy's version of Lisbeth in the kind of chasing and fighting situations that are stock-standard in action flicks. There's an uncomfortable sense of conflict within The Girl in the Spider's Web as a result — a sense that what it's saying and what it's doing don't quite work together. The film presents its protagonist as a fiercely individualistic feminist avenger, but fashions the movie she's in after plenty of other action franchises. Whether she's virtually retracing her own footsteps or stepping into those of other no-nonsense on-screen heroes, this iteration of Lisbeth always feels like she's going through the motions. That doesn't give Foy much room to make an impact. Instead, she's largely tasked with mimicking Rapace and Mara – the latter of whom earned an Oscar nomination for her performance in the role. The Girl in the Spider's Web also squanders much of its supporting cast, most of whom have impressed elsewhere, such as Gudnason in Borg vs McEnroe and Krieps in Phantom Thread. Get Out's Stanfield fares best based on his innate talent and charm, rather than as a result of the material that he's working with. Still, the film soars in one area: its visuals. With both his Evil Dead remake and Don't Breathe, writer-director Fede Alvarez demonstrated a distinctive command of style, which translates here to evocative and moody shades of black, white and grey. Other movies in the series have sported a suitably grim, gloomy sheen, but Alvarez makes it look and feel new here. If only the rest of The Girl in the Spider's Web had managed the same feat. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QTmNtRpnbU
Anthony Femia's Maker & Monger might be a dairy-filled treasure trove, but the Prahran Market store is about to up its vegan game. The acclaimed cheesemonger has teamed up with Melbourne's plant-based maestro Shannon Martinez to deliver two new vegan jaffles, hitting the menu on Friday, January 24. An animal product-free alternative to Maker & Monger's oozy, cheesy toasties, the vegan jaffles will be up for grabs until the end summer, with punters invited to vote for their favourite via Instagram over the coming weeks. The winning creation is set to become a permanent fixture on the menu. [caption id="attachment_757540" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sarah Pannell[/caption] You can sink your teeth into the Little Carmine ($15) — a hefty concoction of vegan bolognese, mushrooms and house-made cashew mozzarella, finished with garlic, oregano and vegan butter — or, for something more fiery, the Mapo Magic ($15): a punchy combination of vegan cheddar and parmesan, and sichuan pepper mapo tofu. And, if you want to stock up on some of that vegan cheese for home, a selection of Martinez's preservative-free plant-based products will also be gracing the Maker & Monger retail counter from here on out. Maker & Monger is open 7.30am–4pm Tuesday, 7.30am–4.30pm Thursday–Saturday and 9am–3pm Sunday. Images: Sarah Pannell
For truffle aficionados, the tastiest time of year has arrived. And this truffle season, funghi fans can get extra excited for the long-awaited return of South Melbourne Market's ever-popular celebration, A Truffle Affair. Running twice daily (11am, 2pm) on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from July 22–31, the festival invites punters on a flavour-packed roving degustation, enjoying truffle-infused creations from a lineup of market vendors. The self-guided food tour will see you sampling bites like Cobb Lane's potato, brie and Australian truffle danish; mushroom gyoza with a truffle black bean sauce from Bambu; Proper & Son's truffled cheese toastie; truffle-topped chips from Marko; and even a truffle and choc chip dessert courtesy of Cannoleria. There are ten tour stops all up, kicking off with an introduction at Georgie's Harvest, where you'll precede your truffle hunt with some education and cooking tips. A Truffle Affair tickets are $100, which gets you a signature truffle dish from each vendor. And if you want to continue the truffle appreciation at home, there are goodie bags available to add onto your ticket for an extra $80. [caption id="attachment_857417" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Little Hof's truffle raclette[/caption]
Next month, you'll have the chance to dig deeper than ever before into the city's architectural past and present, as Open House Melbourne returns with its biggest, broadest July program yet. Headlining the bill is, of course, the annual Open House Melbourne Weekend, which gives visitors the chance to get up close and personal with some of the city's most interesting and iconic structures. This year, a huge 224 buildings will be opening their doors to the public on July 28 and 29, including 87 appearing on the program for the first time. You'll be able to explore the likes of City of Casey's new $125 million cultural and entertainment precinct Bunjil Place, fresh off the back of its International Design Awards 2017 win, and Monash Clayton's Learning and Teaching Building, designed by John Wardle Architects. Behind-the-scenes guided tours are also being offered through the site of the Australia 108 tower, which, once complete, is set to become the Southern Hemisphere's 'tallest building by roof height'. The rest of the month also has plenty of Open House goodness in store, including major new exhibition The Australian Ugliness, which sees Aussie artist Eugenia Lim pay homage to acclaimed modernist architect Robin Boyd, through a three-channel video installation. Running at the Melbourne School of Design's Dulux Gallery from July 23 until August 25, the work sets out to explore the diversity of 'The Australian Dream'. It traverses over 30 sites and spaces across the country, with Lin herself swapping between the roles of student, tourist, property investor, client and resident. Another highlight of Open House Melbourne's jam-packed July program sees the 2018 Heritage Council of Victoria's Annual Heritage Address delivered by acclaimed comedian Tim Ross on July 17. He'll be asking the big question, "Why does Modernism matter?", exploring the threats to Melbourne's modernist buildings, and offering insights into how we can all better appreciate this oft-overlooked slice of Aussie architectural history. Meanwhile, ACMI's jumped on board to present the Modernism at the Movies screenings, featuring a trio of critically-acclaimed films devoted to the period, and a lineup of architecture and environment experts will take the stage for the annual speaker series, Design City: Built Melbourne! Catch the full July program over at the Open House Melbourne website.
A trio of female photographers will tackle issues of migration, xenophobia and privilege, in a new photographic exhibition as part of this year’s Human Rights Arts and Film Festival. Presented by HRAFF in association with Chapter House Lane, and hosted in an unlikely pop-up gallery inside St. Paul’s Cathedral, I Am, You Are, We Are will explore what it means to be an outsider in contemporary Australia. Curator Anna Louise Richardson has tapped a trio of photographers: Olga Cironis, Eva Fernández and Marziya Mohammedali. Each artist will draw on personal experience, using their photography as a way to consider alternative notions of home in the face of Australia’s highly politicised attitudes towards ethnicity and migration. The exhibition runs from May 7 until the end of the month, and will be included as part of the HRAFF Visual Arts Walking Tour on Saturday, May 16. It's open Sunday to Friday 8am– 6pm, and on Saturdays 9am– 4pm (and you won't be able to see the exhibition during cathedral services. For more information about I Am, You Are, We Are as well as the full HRAFF program, visit the festival website.
In today's unpredictable world of infighting, internets and readily available guitar tabs, it's more probable than ever before that the biggest fan of a band will end up actually in the band. Ron Wood joining the Rolling Stones, Robert Trujillo joining Metallica, and now Jon Davison joining English progressive rock legends Yes (that's right, Yes) as their latest vocalist. "I'm still a Yes fan," he says from somewhere in Los Angeles. "I can't help it, these things happen. In instrumental sections where I'm holding back, I get caught up in thinking 'wow, here are these amazing musicians I've always admired just a few feet away from me — and I have a better view that anyone in the audience!'" With the sprightly American as frontman, the 50-million selling princes of prog are heading to Australia to perform their two finest releases, Fragile and Close to the Edge, from start to finish. I've played with bands for which these albums were like holy texts, and Davison doesn't dispute it. "Close to the Edge is, I think, based on the teachings of Siddhartha — a soul's journey through many lifetimes. It's very beautiful but there's a lament in it, about what the soul must endure, the challenges and the hard lessons we face as we go on. That's how I interpret it." There has been a "touch of the metaphysical" in most of Yes' output, and Davison still decodes their evocative and often cryptic lyrics from the stage. "It's not always a clear meaning. I approach the lyrics more emotionally I guess, but there are parts of songs that I very much relate to. 'And You And I' is heart-expanding, and I love 'Starship Trooper'. Those uplifting ones." Dotted throughout Fragile, meanwhile, are tracks focused on individual band members, the vocal showcase being 'We Have Heaven' — a gloriously overdubby affair. "I'm working on my own version of it now actually, in my home studio. I won't do any of [founding member of Yes] Jon Anderson's tracks, but I'll loop my voice a lot, and possibly Steve and Chris will do some other vocals too. We're going to make it as much of a live track as it can be." Anderson was an expectedly huge influence for Davison while he was finding his own voice, though they haven't become acquainted at any Yes parties yet. "I haven't had the privilege of actually meeting him, but a few who know him quite well say we would be good friends. I hope it happens eventually." The upcoming album will be the band's first with Davison, and they're champing at the bit to keep being, well, progressive. "I was very much encouraged by the others not to try to reference anything in the past, because then you compare and end up restricting yourself creatively. We've been aiming to only move forward and break new ground. Even in their heyday the band were making mindblowingly distinct albums, and we're aiming for that now. There's a real freshness to it; it moves in a new direction and accurately reflects this five-member line-up, just as it should." Despite being the lone American in a band comprised of people old enough to be his English dads, Davison is unfazed. "It's surreal but I seemed to fit in right away. They're very accommodating. What we share in common, of course, is the music — we both speak that language, despite our ages." And in a perfect world, would he sing in any other of his favourite bands? "I'd love to be a part of early Genesis. I wouldn't mind being Freddie Mercury for a day either, that would be pretty exciting." https://youtube.com/watch?v=_RJYxDfsvdg
