Even if politics isn't your favourite topic, there's been no avoiding a certain name since the mid 2010s, ever since Donald Trump announced that he was running for US President. Over that time, he's been voted into America's top office, then voted out. Saying that he didn't take the latter well is an understatement. He got kicked off Twitter, too, and announced another bid for the gig in 2024. Much, much, much more has happened, of course — and much, much, much more again — but everyone has seen the constant stream of headlines already. One person who's been forced to observe all of the above from a unique position is Mary Trump, the former US President's only niece, as well as an outspoken critic of him and their family. You might've heard of or read the trained clinical psychologist's 2020 book Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man, which explores the obvious. Now, in winter 2023, you can see Mary chat about her thoughts and clearly chaotic life live onstage in Australia. That tome sold almost a million copies in a single day. Plus, with the next US elections two years away, that T word — Trump — isn't fading from view anytime soon. Accordingly, Mary will head to Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney to talk about it with Ray Martin, dishing the details from her firsthand experiences. [caption id="attachment_880176" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Matt Wade Photography via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Attendees can expect to hear about her uncle's impact upon the world's health and economic security, plus society in general. And, about the ideas and American history — the American Civil War, slavery and the Founding Fathers all included — that've helped lead to his position of influence. Mary will also give an insider's view into how the US works, the rise of the MAGA movement and what a future with Donald Trump in power, or even out of it, could hold. Taking to the stage at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Melbourne's Hamer Hall and Sydney's State Theatre, she'll add insights into her childhood and family dynamic in detail as well. Clearly, this won't be the kind of in-conversation session that anyone gets to see everyday. And, if you're a US politics junkie, it'd make quite the double — albeit spaced out by a few months — with Barack Obama's 2023 Aussie speaking tour. MARY TRUMP: LIVE ON STAGE — AUSTRALIAN 2023 TOUR: Saturday, June 17: Great Hall, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane Tuesday, June 20: Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne, Melbourne Thursday, June 22: State Theatre, Sydney Mary Trump's Australian speaking tour will take place in June 2023. To join the waitlist for tickets — which will go on sale in February — head to the tour's website.
Located just a taco's throw from Queen Vic Market, Hello José is serving up beachside Mexican, minus the beach. It's not often you find an establishment that can comfortably blare the best of the 90s while serving the best of Mexico on plastic plates, but Scott Witham and Andrew Wilson have managed to do just this. You know you're having a good Thursday when you order a Spicy Margarita (made using just a dash of the potent jalapeno pickling juice) only to find that margaritas are $10 during the week, and then 'Emotions' by Mariah Carey comes on. Well done Hello José, you've got me feeling e-mo-tions, alright! Just when Mariah is almost done rolling out the upper limits of her whistle register, your tacos arrive ($5 each — bargain!) and it's a positively musical experience. With a menu that is still being tested and shaped by the Hello José crew, the current offering is a classic lineup ticking off all the major animals and pulses, including pork, fish, chicken, beef and black beans. The tortillas used on the premises are all hand-pressed daily. And while the tacos are the main event, the menu also includes tostaditas (tasty, two-bite morsels of deliciousness), a quinoa salad and churros for dessert. The interior is a sensory overload to say the least. At first it feels disarming, but it only takes a cup of house-made horchata to settle into your surrounds and see that Scott and Andrew have taken special care to make this little taqueria feel as authentic as possible. Inspired by a trip to the beachside haven of Tulum, Mexico, the boys decided that Melbourne was in need of a kitschy and unpretentious taqueria that was reminiscent of the Mexican taco huts where coca-cola memorabilia and disco balls are in rich supply. The walls are adorned with hand painted artwork that adds to the mishmash, yet comfortable appeal of the place. As the warmer months roll in, the guys are planning on expanding outdoors to ensure that everyone can take advantage of their well-stocked tequila cabinet. Until then, Hello José is well worth a visit to bask in the warmth of fairy lights, disco balls and a bit of Mexican-inspired hospitality. Image credit: Crooked Photography
The big screen is going green at the seventh annual Transitions Film Festival, Australia's leading showcase of socially-conscious cinema. In Melbourne from February 22 to March 9, this year's festival lineup is once again jam-packed with deep-diving documentaries about some of the biggest social, environmental and geopolitical issues facing the world today. Standout films include Food Fighter, about the battle against food waste in Australia; Chasing Coral, a look at the disastrous effects of bleaching on our reefs; and Guardians of The Earth, which glimpses behind closed doors during the negotiations for the Paris Climate Agreement. Other highlights include personal Kenyan farming doco Thank You For the Rain; Albatross, the latest film to explore the impact of plastics in our oceans; and Big Dream, about seven young women pursuing their passions in science, technology, engineering and maths. For the full Transitions Film Festival lineup, visit transitionsfilmfestival.com.
At the heart of Japanese hospitality there seems to be something so culturally inherent that, when you come face to face with it, you just can't grasp what 'it' is. The gracious interactions, the gentle presence — the exchange of goods using both hands. It's meticulous, considered and downright beautiful. Ocha has been bringing a slice of this generosity to Melbourne for over 15 years and, with it, has built a name synonymous with some of the best Japanese fare in town. Recognised as a one-hat restaurant for thirteen years by The Age Good Food Guide, Ocha focuses on a traditional Japanese offering with a contemporary twist. With the height of popularity forcing them out of their old digs in Kew (now home to Ora) the restaurant sits within the Bee Hive Hotel building in Hawthorn. For all good reasons the space is larger, with chic shimmering curtains creating private dining areas, while the white fit out brings a sense of modernity. Despite more tables bookings are still essential. Ocha's menu runs as a homage to shared dining. Traditional techniques are combined with sublime imaginative touches to make for a truly memorable meal. Don't be surprised if your sushi (starting from $16.50 for eight pieces) arrives at your table like it's been turned inside out or upside down. This playfulness extends to crowd favourites including the beef tataki ($18.50) and vegetable tempura ($22), with the gyoza ($15) finishing off a list of delectably light dishes. This aesthetic sensibility is what separates Ocha from the crowd; Japanese cuisine demands high quality ingredients and scrupulous attention to detail. For this, Ocha remains acutely serious, culturally relevant and as contemporary as ever. The restaurant also runs a ten-course degustation menu ($120 per person) on the last Monday of every month. For more casual occasions, little sister Ocha2Go (at 64 Burwood Road, Hawthorn) offers the full Ocha experience within Japanese canteen surrounds. Ocha offers a fine dining experience that is both lively and unforgettable. Handled with absolute ease of control but nowhere close to resting on its laurels, Ocha will impress with its finesse and modernity. Elegant Japanese fare never looked so good.
To the German monks who started brewing beer in the Middle Ages: we wholeheartedly salute you. Without those first monastery based breweries, we would all be living in a world without our favourite golden nectar. Dark times, indeed. Luckily, those wily monks started tinkering with wild hops around 1150, and as a result we have the beer that we know today. History lesson aside, you can sample the best of brews at the European Bier Cafe. Soaring high on the east side of the CBD, this triple-level bar is conveniently located just a short walk from Parliament train station. Best of luck trying to narrow down your first pint: these guys have 40 local and international beers on offer. For non-beer drinkers (we've heard they exist) there is an impressive cocktail list available, with share-style carafes also popular. The all-weather rooftop is ready for Melbourne's inclement weather, with a roaring fire in the winter and water misters in the summer. The entertainment roster is similarly impressive, with comedy nights, trivia comps and plenty of live sport. Prost! Images: Giulia Morlando.
Ask a cyclist why they risk death on two wheels to get around town, and their response might mention the green credentials of biking: infinite miles per gallon, fewer resources used in manufacturing, no resources required to repair the damage to roads caused by bikes... But what if you wanted to take your eco-cycling to a whole new level? What about all that CARBON in the carbon fibre? One of the world's leading bike manufacturers has come up with a solution. Trek have a recycling program using waste carbon fibre products to make new bike frames, and keeping the waste from landfill. If that's not green enough for you, you could opt for a bike made from nature's own carbon fibre: wood. Audi have partnered with specialist bike manufacturer Renovo to create a range of luxury bikes with hardwood frames. But if you prefer to have an eco-bike that's not associated with a car company, why not grow your own? Bamboo bikes have been around for a while as a cycling curio, and are now getting the full cycle-bling treatment by the likes of Calfee. Or, if you're into DIY, there's even an instructables page on how to build one yourself.
Those hobbits will go on. In JRR Tolkien's pages, they went on perilous Middle-earth adventures. On screens big and small for decades so far (and into the future, with more movies on the way), they've trekked, ate second breakfasts and attempted to project precious jewellery. Onstage in Australia in 2025, they're also marking an eleventy-first birthday, receiving a gold ring, taking a quest to Mordor and attempting to fight evil, all in The Lord of the Rings — A Musical Tale. Dating back to 2006, just after the original live-action movie trilogy, this stage musical was revived in the UK in 2023, opened in the US in July 2024 and hit New Zealand in November 2024. After that, it's taking the hobbits to Australia, including to Melbourne's Comedy Theatre. The Exhibition Street venue's season kicks off on Saturday, April 26. Lord of the Rings fans, take note: you'll want to go there and back again to discover what happens when Middle-earth gets melodic. Your guides for the show are the hobbits, of course, as Frodo and company celebrate Bilbo Baggins, then depart The Shire upon a life-changing journey. Thanks to Tolkien, what occurs from there has enthralled audiences for 70 years now, with The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers initially hitting bookshelves in 1954. There's been no shortage of ways to indulge your Lord of the Rings love since Peter Jackson's features — including his Hobbit trilogy — helped fan the flames of pop culture's affection for Frodo, Samwise, Pippin, Merry and the franchise's many non-underground-dwelling characters. Cinema marathons, visiting the Hobbiton movie set, staying there overnight, hitting up pop-up hobbit houses, sipping hobbit-themed beer: they've all been on the agenda. Only The Lord of the Rings — A Musical Tale is combining all things LoTR with tunes and dancing, however, in a show that sports a book and lyrics by from Shaun McKenna (Maddie, La Cava) and Matthew Warchus (Matilda the Musical, Groundhog Day the Musical), plus original music by Slumdog Millionaire Oscar-winner AR Rahman, folk band Värttinä from Finland and Matilda the Musical alum Christopher Nightingale. Images: Liz Lauren.
A cracking view is usually pretty high on the priorities list when booking a sweet holiday pad, but you probably don't go into it expecting one quite like what Oman's newest accommodation has to offer. Luxury hospo and hotel group Anantara has just opened the doors to an epic new five-star resort, Al Jabal Al Akhdar — and, boy, does it have views. Sitting at a lofty 2000 metres above sea level on the edge of a canyon in Oman's mountainous north (about four hours from Dubai), it's the Middle East's highest retreat. It towers over the Saiq Plateau in a way that's sure to cause a few goosebumps on the drive up. Just look at it. Basically the height of luxury, Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort is definitely worthy of a spot on the old if money was no object bucket list — the designer interiors reflect that eye-poppingly rugged terrain and each of the 115 luxury rooms lay claim to panoramic views. Of course, there's a price to pay for such luxury — rooms start at around 720 AUD a night and go up to 4000 AUD. Along with the rooms, there's six different restaurants and lounges, and the culinary situation sounds as interesting as the location. You can even get the best of both at Dining by Design, which sits on a cliff-edge platform named Diana's Point, after its most famous royal visitor. And if a peek from your room's window, or your dinner table, doesn't provide enough of an adrenaline rush, the resort also offers a 'via ferrata' climbing route, where you can boss up and actually scale the side of the cliff. If that's too much, you can always just take a dip in the canyon infinity pool, go mountain biking or get one of the hotel's 'mountain gurus' to take you on a hike of the area. Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort is located in the Al Hajar mountains, about 30 minutes from the ancient city of Nizwa in Oman. For more information on the hotel, visit jabal-akhdar.anantara.com.
Master sommelier Madeline Triffon describes Pinot Noir as 'sex in a glass', while winemaker Randy Ullom calls it 'the ultimate nirvana'. One of the most challenging grapes in the world of vinification, it's also one of the most surprising and rewarding. No wonder Bottle Shop Concepts — the good folk who bring Game of Rhones our way — are coming back to town with Pinot Palooza, an epic travelling wine festival celebrating all things Pinot Noir. For just one day, Melbourne wine connoisseurs will have the chance to sample more than 100 drops, direct from the Southern Hemisphere's best producers. Think Ata Rangi, Curly Flat, Marlborough's Greywacke, Yabby Lake, Shaw + Smith, Mount Difficulty — and that's just the first few leaves on the vine. Whether you're a newbie who wants to start with something light and inviting, or a Pinot pro ready for the biggest, most complex mouthful on the menu, there'll be an abundance of selections at either end — and plenty along the spectrum, too. You'll even be able to vote for your favourite. If, at any point, you need to take a pause in your tasting adventures, you'll be catered for. There'll be food from Burn City Smokers, Ladro, Belles Hot Chicken and Meatsmith, beer from Sample, and the epic Burgundy Bar – a kind of Pinot Noir mecca where you'll be able to sample some seriously good (and spenny) bottles at cost price. Expert sommeliers will also be on hand to help you make selections. What's more, those keen to fuel their brains (as well as their tastebuds) can spot $95 for a VIP pass. For that you'll get pre-event access (two hours before those pesky crowds), a food voucher, a tasting at the Burg Bar and a one-on-one with one of the event's sommeliers, who will personally curate your Pinot experience for you. Pinot Palooza will hit Melbourne Showgrounds on Saturday, October 15. Tickets are $60, which includes tastings and a take-home Plumm Vintage glass.
Piccolina is known for its playful gelato-stuffed creations. Working alone, the team has created chocolate Easter eggs filled with all kinds of ganache and gelato, and Mother's Day bonbons packed with similar fillings. It also regularly teams up with chefs all over Melbourne to create unusual limited-edition flavour combos. And now, for Father's Day, Piccolina has joined forces with Rocco's Deli in Yarraville to serve up a special pistachio gelato sandwich. This old-school Italian delicatessen and grocer has been around since 1977, and is best known for pumping out cheap and incredibly tasty deli sandwiches. Rocco's is the perfect candidate for a gelato sandwich collaboration. And what a beauty this sanga is. The Father's Day treat features pistachio gelato, pistachio fudge blondie and dulce de leche, all covered in milk chocolate and Iranian pistachios. These bad boys cost $20 a pop, which might seem exorbitant for an ice cream sandwich. But the Festa della Papà Pistachio Gelato Sandwich is an incredibly decadent handmade dessert that's far greater than your usual supermarket version. If your dad is a pistachio gelato fan, seriously consider ordering one of these before they sell out. The gelato-filled, chocolate-covered sandwiches are available at Piccolina stores and via its website from Wednesday, August 7–Thursday, September 5. And for a little extra fun, Piccolina is popping up at Rocco's Deli from Thursday, August 22–Thursday, September 5, so you can get one of these Father's Day creations while also grabbing a meatball sub, two litres of olive oil and an antipasto platter. Because, why not? These gelato sandwiches are available at Piccolina stores and via its website from Wednesday, August 7–Thursday, September 5. You can also can pick them up at Rocco's Deli from Thursday, August 22–Thursday, September 5. For more information, head to Piccolina's website.
Everyone loves a good food collaboration, especially when it involves a couple of longtime favourites. And Melbourne's latest joint culinary creation is a doozy; the brainchild of Mexican-accented restaurant group Fonda and the masters of soft, fluffy bao at Wonderbao. They've joined forces on a new limited-edition bao-centric menu to star at all Melbourne and Sydney Fonda stores until the end of July. On it, you'll find two pillowy steamed bao varieties; loaded with your pick of crunchy zucchini ($9) or crisp fried chicken ($10), along with chipotle aioli, cabbage, pickled carrot and onion. Also on offer is the newly launched Mexi-bun, which features classic Mexican flavours piled into a pillowy Asian-style bun. With a filling of Fonda's beef chilli con carne, these beauties are deep-fried until golden, then teamed with a queso dip and the Jane Fonda Salsa. A serve of two Mexi-buns will set you back $17. The Fonda x Wonderbao menu is only available for dine-in — you can make a booking at your local Fonda eatery online.
With a soft spot for the greener things in life, Folia House is a much-loved destination for plant-aholics, stocked with a hefty range of seasonal and indoor varieties. Inside, you'll find a lush assortment of hanging plants, cacti, succulents, ferns and other potted greenery, as well as all the bits and pieces you'll need to knock together your own terrarium. There's also a neat collection of pots and planters to help keep those plant babies looking schmick. Keep an eye on the Folia House Facebook page to see when new goodies land in store — and to catch the store's regular indoor plant sales.
Chances are, you wrapped your mouth around one of Theo Tzavaras' California Burgers creations long before they found their current home on Chapel Street. After all, the USA-inspired eats have been winning fans since way back in 2009, when they first starred on a secret menu at Tzavaras' souvlaki shop. But now — with proper digs to its name — the California Burgers concept remains the same: fresh LA-style burgers that you'll remember long after the last bite. Here, a short-but-sweet menu pays homage to America's cult classics, so expect renditions like The Compton, with spicy fried chicken and Sriracha, The Malibu with a smashed turkey patty, and the beefed-up LAX, which doubles down on the meat and cheese. A little slice of California dreaming, right here in Melbourne.
Bayside beauty Pontoon is diving headfirst into winter this Queen's Birthday long weekend, with an après-ski snow party on Saturday, June 9. The St Kilda spot is set to transform into a full-blown winter wonderland, which'll should help ease the pain of transitioning into the chilly season. There'll be ski accessories and dustings of snow throughout the venue, as you enjoy DJ tunes, beer pong and a winter-perfect lineup of warming eats and drinks. Head chef Rhys Hunter has put together a one-off menu of chicken wings, chilli dogs and pipping hot doughnuts, and you'll even have the chance to roast your own s'mores over one of the roaring open fire pits. Wash it all down with some mulled wine, a boilermaker, or one of Pontoon's winter-inspired cocktails, including the classic hot toddy. The bar's even slashing beer prices by half for the first hour — which means $3.5 pots and $6.50 pints — kicking off when the doors open at 3pm.
Brunswick East mainstay The B.East is known to put as much creativity into its vegan eats as it does its meat-based fare; while Hamsa Hummus Bar is the joint credited with dreaming up Melbourne's first ever vegan shawarma. And if any duo is set to impress when it comes to a plant-based feasting collab, it's this one. The two have teamed up to help get your week off to a ripper start, kicking off their new Meat-Free Mondays series on Monday, September 26. Swing by The B.East between 12–9pm each week to banish those post-weekend blues as you tuck into this limited-edition menu of Middle Eastern street food. Among the all-vegan lineup, you'll find bites like house-smoked hummus served with chilli butter and chargrilled potato bread; Hamsa's famed signature shawarma featuring smoked hummus, fermented jalapeño and pickled shallots; and a VSP loaded with vegan cheese, shawarma, Franks hot sauce and lashings of garlic sauce. The B.East's usual offering of local brews, vino and cocktails is available to match, including the much-loved slushie margarita. Images: Duncographic
A much-loved corner cafe with a Turkish and Middle Eastern edge, Babajan has been a Carlton North staple for the past four years. Now, it's spreading the love a little further, opening the doors to a pint-sized pop-up store just up the road in Brunswick East. This latest addition to the Babajan family is set to be a hot-spot for locals on the move, stocked with a hefty range of the restaurant's signature grab-and-go goodies. You'll find a swag of fresh salads, takeaway breakfast options and plenty of those famed pastries, from boreks to pides and haloumi pies. But you won't find chairs — it's strictly takeaway-only here, so if you don't want to go home, pack a blanket and head for a picnic at Methven Park (a short five-minute walk away). [caption id="attachment_759293" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ben Christensen[/caption] Grazing platters are also sorted, thanks to a range of house dips, Turkish bread and simit (a sort of Turkish-style bagel). A window cabinet is stocked with sweet treats — including brownies and the restaurant's famed Persian love cakes — while one wall is brimming with a retail selection of pantry staples, preserves and more. You can swing by for a Proud Mary coffee in batch brew format, though the store's also pouring traditional Turkish coffee and iced teas. And Babajan will even take care of all that dinner drama, with a cracking range of homemade, ready-to-eat meal options. Babajan Pop-Up is open 10am–6pm Tuesday–Saturday. Images: Ben Christensen
If you're looking to kick off this next turn around the sun with a healthy session of live tunes and a good old-fashioned New Year's Day boogie, be sure to put Coburg Velodrome on your radar. The northside's legendary openair party destination will launch into 2020 with a brand-new music festival offering, fittingly dubbed Sun Cycle. The respected music heads at Crown Ruler (Duke Street Block Party, Freedom Time) and WAT Artists have teamed up to deliver a very tasty start to the new year, featuring a top-notch gathering of local and international acts, across three stages. Helping ring in the new decade with a bang will be US rapper Freddie Gibbs, UK electronic star Floating Points and our own Sampa The Great. Meanwhile, DJ sets come courtesy of a slew of dance-floor favourites including CC:Disco!, Jayda G, DJ Seinfeld, Andras, Elle Shimada Collective and 6AM At The Garage. Sun Cycle Festival will run from midday–10pm. Image: Freedom Time by David Smiley
The celebrated sculptor and perpetual made-you-look artist has revealed his latest installation as part of the first Kochi-Muziris Biennale in India. Set in a gallery floor at the Aspinwall House in Fort Kochi, Anish Kapoor's Descension sees a caged vortex of black water furiously frothing and swirling, slowly receding into an bottomless abyss. Looks like Kapoor hopped out of the bath one day, pulled the plug and got well freaked out. The Kochi-Muziris Biennale is India's first biennale for contemporary art held in Kochi — with Kapoor's work one of the major drawcards for both local and international visitors. Created especially for the Kerala capital by the artist who gave Chicago Cloud Gate in Millennium Park, Descension is located in a seaside corner room of the Aspinwall gallery, looking out to the harbour and freaking out gallery visitors looking for a peaceful stroll through Nice Art. I mean, look at this GIF: Terrfiying. Check out Kapoor talking to the Biennale team about the work here. Via Designboom and Colossal.
Getting married just after meeting, grappling for power, bloody coups, assassination plots: welcome to supposed wedded bliss The Great-style. For two seasons now, the nuptials between Catherine the Great (Elle Fanning, The Girl From Plainville) as Catherine and Peter III (Nicholas Hoult, The Menu) have been anything but ordinary in this historical satire, and rarely worth exclaiming "huzzah!" about (although viewers know how much the series loves saying that very word). So, it should come as no surprise that the royal couple have enlisted professional help in the just-dropped trailer for the show's upcoming third season. The Great was renewed for season three after its second batch of episodes streamed late in 2021, and will arrive Down Under on Saturday, May 13. This time around, after season two threw everything from attempted murders to mass imprisonments at the pair — and kept disrupting their dynamic as Catherine continued to work towards the name that's a part of history, and also inspires the show's title — its main duo is trying to make things work. Hence the couples therapy, but obviously resolving all of their issues won't be quite that simple. So, expect more of Peter figuring out what it means to play First Husband, and Catherine expanding her influence and reputation beyond just Russia. That, and visions of Peter's late father (Jason Isaacs, Mrs Harris Goes to Paris), life lessons, attempts to build a new country and the usual scheming. The show's all killer, no filler concept since season one: following Catherine's rise and reign, with a heavy focus on what that means for her marriage to Peter. It does so with only the slightest regard for the actual facts and with a big reliance upon hilarious wit, which is one of the reasons that it's such a delicious watch. While The Great has always been supremely confident in its blend of handsome period staging, the loosest of historical realities and that savage sense of humour (it does spring from Oscar-nominated The Favourite screenwriter Tony McNamara, after all), it felt even more comfortable in its skin during its second season. And smoother, too, yet just as biting. So, hopefully that will remain the case in season three as well, all while it keeps seesawing tonally and proving as sharp as a shot of vodka — or several. Fanning and Hoult will be joined by returning co-stars Phoebe Fox (The Aeronauts), Adam Godley (Lodge 49), Gwilym Lee (Top End Wedding), Charity Wakefield (Bounty Hunters), Douglas Hodge (I Hate Suzie Too), Sacha Dhawan (The Prince), Bayo Gbadamosi (War of the Worlds) and Belinda Bromilow (Doctor Doctor), too, because this is a show with a phenomenally great cast. Check out the trailer for The Great season three below: The Great season three will be available to stream in Australia via Stan and in New Zealand via Neon from Saturday, May 13.
Beylesque. Beyonce burlesque. Just let that sink in for a second. All good? Now that the blood has settled back in your head we'll give you the details. As if Yonce isn't raw and sexual enough, this burlesque-themed six-week course is set to the Fifty Shades of Grey remix of 'Crazy In Love', a slow and sensual remix of a Bey classic. The Beylesque course will run in Brunswick from February 25 to March 31, and is designed for intermediate dancers. And of course, sexy heels are encouraged to help the moves pop — this is a burlesque class after all. There is also a distinct possibility this combination will devolve into sex riots, but that's the risk we take. If this seems a bit intense for you, Bey Dance also run courses for beginners – check out their upcoming calendar for a course to suit your skill level and the ferocity of your swag.
Originally, Scarlett Johansson (Asteroid City) and Chris Evans (Pain Hustlers) were set to reteam for Fly Me to the Moon, sans Marvel heroes but with championing America — the country rather than the Captain — still on the itinerary. Every movie can play the "what if?" casting game, whether through attached stars that left for various reasons (scheduling conflicts after the director changed here) or via audiences simply offering their own picks, yet this one isn't helped by the shadow of what might've been. On paper, Johansson and Channing Tatum (Magic Mike's Last Dance), who are also reuniting after the Coen brothers' Hail, Caesar!, are a winning pair. One succeeds more than the other in this 60s-set space-race screwball rom-com that's also about selling US exceptionalism, and joins Operation Avalanche and Capricorn One among cinema's fake missions into the heavens, too. The picture's entertaining-enough fate runs in parallel to its plot: there, for the shadowy government operative who pushes Johansson and Tatum's characters into each other's orbits, a good-enough approximation of the moon landing over the real thing will do. A delight as ever in comic mode with depth, Johansson turns in the type of charming performance that Hollywood could build a series around, on screens either big or small. She's Kelly Jones, a Manhattan advertising executive with the gift of knowing how to pitch whatever she needs to get the client, and then to also get the masses to consume. Director Greg Berlanti (Love, Simon) and first-time screenwriter Rose Gilroy, working with a story by Bill Kirstein (Mean Girls circa 2024's cinematographer) and Keenan Flynn (a producer on Beyoncé's Lemonade), introduce her putting on the whole show. Kelly has dismissive and misogynistic automotive executives in her sights, who think that she's present for refreshments. Aided by a baby bump that augments the act, she has soon convinced them on the merits of spruiking seat belts in sports cars. With backing from the very top of the country, aka Nixon, Moe Berkus (Woody Harrelson, Suncoast) has other plans for Kelly: serving her nation by gifting NASA her spin. Fondness for the fat stacks of cash being spent on all things astronomical are falling out of favour with politicians and the public alike, hence the request — a demand that she can't refuse, really — for Kelly's services. Johansson gleams in Fly Me to the Moon, nailing the boldness that keeps driving her character forward and the banter no matter who she's talking to, while also ensuring that impact of Kelly's shady backstory feels genuine. With Party Down, Hacks and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia alum Anna Garcia as supportive assistant Ruby Martin, she scores her best double act of the movie. But even when he's not breaking into the tune that everyone has stuck in their head just from reading this feature's title, Harrelson is having a ball, far more so than Tatum. As Cole Davis, the straight-arrow hero war pilot-turned-mission commander at Cape Kennedy as the Apollo 11 launch nears, Tatum is instantly in a more-serious register than his co-stars. The job on-screen is literally rocket science — and Cole too has baggage, the details of which crib from actuality with a near-flippancy that borders on tasteless. Sincerity shimmers when Cole initially crosses paths with Kelly at a diner, telling her that she's the most-beautiful woman he's ever seen, and also that she's on fire (again, literally), but there's little room for it when they start butting heads as new colleagues with different agendas. Tatum plays his part like he'd be far happier in a romance without the comic battle. In contrast, Johansson relishes channelling Doris Day against Rock Hudson in the repartee. If this was a TV series, there'd be time for Cole to warm up and settle in; however, the film doesn't boast it even clocking in at a lengthy-and-feels-it 132 minutes. Thankfully, there's still an inherent spark just by getting Johansson and Tatum in the same frame, which keeps Fly Me to the Moon rolling although never soaring. If the idea by Berlanti, Gilroy and company was to make the plot busy to compensate for anything that doesn't fully ignite, they've committed to the concept with thruster-level gusto as the narrative unfurls. Kelly doesn't just have to weave her PR wonders with Cole zipping between glowering and flirting — a gig that's filled with faux engineers and astronauts stepping in for interviews (Henry Smalls, played by Bupkis' Ray Romano, is one scientist who's replaced) and product placement galore — or merely help schmooze naysayers who might scrap the space agency's budget. In secret, in a ploy that she's told to keep that way from Cole, she's also tasked by Moe with the stuff that conspiracy theorists' fantasies have been made of for 55 years: going all Tinseltown, complete with the egomaniacal "Kubrick of commercials" Lance Vespertine (Jim Rash, Loot), to stage the events of July 20–21, 1969 in case history doesn't happen the way it's meant to. It's clear why the movie has magicked up a movie-magic angle, and not only because cinema loves paying tribute to itself. Without it, there's no tension in a will-it-won't-it riff on Apollo 11. Viewers know how the attempt to make one giant leap for mankind eventuated, so whether or not Kelly can retain NASA's funding isn't a suspenseful section of the story. With its showbiz farce, Fly Me to the Moon does more than add drama beyond Kelly and Cole's own will-they-won't-they, though — it has a blast executing the chaos that springs. That said, Berlanti also cements the sensation that he's smashing together competing tones, and also making huge jumps between them. It's easy to see how Fly Me to the Moon would've fared solely with an inside-filmmaking spoof vibe, as 2024's Down with Love or just following opposites-attracting affairs of the heart against a shooting-for-the-moon backdrop, for instance, but its array of elements are haphazardly duct-taped to each other. There's a dream at the heart of the film, of course, which Kelly knows that she's slinging and the feature's dialogue isn't afraid to utter with frequency: the dream of hope, of aiming high and even of dreaming itself, given the realities of the era's wars and political situation. Half a century later, in a world just as uncertain, these notions aren't relics of the past. To those watching, Fly Me to the Moon tries a similar feat as it peers upwards with plenty of Dariusz Wolski's (Napoleon) glossy cinematography — and as Johansson's outfits prove a sight to behold, and also her Saturday Night Live-star husband Colin Jost pops up briefly — by asking audiences to buy into the dream of being affably swept away. While saying that something is so isn't the same as making it so, as the narrative is well-aware, Johansson's efforts come closest to securing liftoff.
When it comes to sun, surf and sand, Australia's prowess is widely recognised. But, as any wine lover is well aware, we have something else to be just as proud of. Made in sprawling vineyards around the country — including in Victoria — our local vinos are simply top-notch. And, they're worth championing and celebrating at every possible opportunity. This isn't news to Victorians, of course. Mornington Peninsula, the Pyrenees and the Yarra Valley's wineries have strong reputations, as do others across the rest of the state. Indeed, we're betting their tipples already rank highly on your must-drink list. When such excellent wines are made so close to home, there's nothing better than to pair one with dinner, a cheese platter or a seafood lunch, obviously. In case you need a few extra suggestions, are looking for a couple of other local drops to try, or you could just use a reminder about brands you adore, we've teamed up with our pals at BWS to highlight five Victorian-based winemakers that you should definitely know and support. You might already love their tipples. You may have heard of them, but never had the pleasure of trying their wares. Either way, these wines will help you drink local.
The Atlantic Group is known for setting up some of the best seafood restaurants in Melbourne — most notably The Atlantic. So, it was no surprise to see its takeaway sushi joint Sushi Baby do so damn well in Brighton immediately after opening in mid-2023. Riding this wave of success, the crew went ahead and set up a new dine-in restaurant in early 2024 with a bright pink and green dining room and a courtyard filled with greenery and pink blossom garlands. This fit-out is starkly different from most of Melbourne's sushi joints, which tend to keep the colour scheme muted and furnishings traditional. But Sushi Baby isn't your classic sushi shop, and the design reflects the kitchen's contemporary stylings and playful approach to Japanese cuisine. The nori tacos — filled with raw salmon, avocado, teriyaki sauce and furikake — are a brilliant representation of this. The classic flavours and ingredients are presented differently without being unusual just for the sake of it. The sushi purists out there shouldn't be scared off, as the Sushi Baby crew isn't messing around too much. Traditional nigiri, maki rolls and inari are all up for grabs, plus there's a daily changing sashimi platter for those wanting to really treat themselves. Katsu sandos and some larger sharing plates help the venue transition from day to night. Upgrading the space hasn't meant that it has totally abandoned its takeout sushi roots. Most of the dine-in goodies can be made to take away, plus the 62- and 85-piece sushi boxes are still as stunning as always, coming in a bright pink box with the brand's signature laughing baby face printed under the lid. Now that is indeed sushi, baby. Images: Jake Roden
Melbourne's latest lockdown is set to end at 11.59pm tonight, Thursday, June 10 — and, when it does, a heap of new restrictions will apply across the city. But, before that even happens, the Victorian Government has advised that one rule isn't actually changing, with one of the eased conditions outlined yesterday no longer coming into effect. Yesterday, Acting Premier James Merlino said masks would no longer be needed outside if you can social distance and maintain a space of 1.5 metres away from other people. But, based on new public health advice, that change is being scrapped. So, face masks will remain compulsory both indoors and outdoors for the time being, including after 11.59pm this evening. The mask mandate came back into effect in late May in response to the city's latest COVID-19 outbreak, and has remained in place during the city's two-week lockdown — and will now stay in place even when Melburnians are permitted leave the house for any reason they like from this tonight. Explaining the change in his daily press conference today, Thursday, June 10, Acting Premier Merlino said that "the clear advice from the public health team is we need to continue with wearing masks outdoors." He continued: "it is inconvenient but an easy thing to do. We are used to it, we know it works, and as we come out of this period and lockdown, while we are driving these new cases to ground, I think it is a logical and common sense step to take, and it allows all of the businesses we have outlined yesterday that they can open. Movements can happen. Students can go back to school. This is a small price to pay to make sure that we can proceed with this careful easing out of lockdown with the continuation of this." Accordingly, those strolls you were planning to take within 25 kilometres of your house — they'll need to involve masks. So will any trip beyond your home in general, both indoors and outdoors, given that you'll now be permitted to venture out for any reason. The news that the mask mandate will remain in place both outdoors and indoors comes as Victoria reported four new local cases in the 24 hours to midnight last night. Two other new cases have been linked to the state as well, after two Victorian residents travelled through New South Wales to Queensland, and have since tested positive while staying on the Sunshine Coast. If you're wondering where to grab a fitted mask, we've put together a rundown of local companies making and selling them. For more information about the status of COVID-19 and the current restrictions, head over to the Department of Health and Human Services website.
Melbourne's arts scene might have copped some big blows over the last two years, but one new inner-city venue is determined to make sure that 2022 doesn't follow in the same footsteps. Set to open its doors on Carlton's Elgin Street from Thursday, January 20 with an evening of artistic and theatrical treats is The Motley Bauhaus, an independent multidisciplinary arts venue with capacity for 350 punters. The original Motley Bauhaus launched in Fitzroy North in 2018 as a space dedicated to promoting skills-based art practices. Now, it's making the move to a bigger home in Carlton, complete with an expanded suite of creative spaces and facilities. While the crowning jewel is a 75-seat black box theatre, the site is also home to a spacious gallery, full-sized recording studio, dedicated cabaret stage, plus a dark room and four working artists' studios. There's also two separate bar areas and a courtyard for those pre- and post-show hangs, as well as a workshop program featuring regular classes guided by local independent artists. The new site has been in the works for a while, although its launch faced extensive delays due to Melbourne's ongoing lockdowns and restrictions. It's now opening this month with the hope of giving the city's arts scene some much-needed revitalisation. "It's been a tough, tough time for artists, for the industry as a whole," explained founder Jason Cavanagh. "This is a massive investment in our arts community at a time when it is desperately needed. I think art thrives in adversity and I'm really keen to explore and support that." The new venue is kicking things off with an evening of live performances, exhibitions and more for its Thursday, January 20 launch, with free tickets available online. The opening celebrations then continue throughout the month, with the stage firing up for the likes of a brand-new stand-up show from comedian Emily Tresidder, a one-act song cycle diving into the ups and downs of singledom, and Eleven O'Clock Theatre's debut musical theatre production The Breaths in Between. The original Scotchmer Street site will remain operating as a collection of artist studios while The Motley Bauhaus' full public event program relocates to the new venue. Find The Motley Bauhaus' new site at 118 Elgin Street, Carlton, from Thursday, January 20.
Tasmania's sinister winter music and arts festival Dark Mofo scrapped its 2020 festivities due to the pandemic, but that cancellation has turned out to be a one-off. The event returned in 2021 — amid controversy over an artwork that was announced and then ditched — and it has just confirmed that it'll be back again in June 2022, too. Next year's festival will run between Wednesday, June 15–Wednesday, June 22 in Hobart, if you're already thinking about how to spend the frostiest part of 2022. Run by the Museum of Old and New Art, it'll be funded by $2.5 million from the Tasmanian Government, plus another $2.5 million from MONA owner David Walsh. And, it'll also receive dedicated marketing support from Tourism Tasmania. The event's program won't be announced until sometime in autumn — usually it drops in April or May — but it's set to explore "the ideas of rebirth, reincarnation, and new life". "After the death of the 2020 festival, and a near-death experience in 2021, we're beginning the next era of Dark Mofo," said Dark Mofo Creative Director Leigh Carmichael. "As the world emerges from the darkness of COVID-19, we're hoping Dark Mofo 2022 will provide opportunities for us to reconnect and celebrate winter in the manner we'd become accustomed to prior to the health restrictions around travel and events." [caption id="attachment_800592" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lusy Productions[/caption] Previous years' lineups have seen a fantastical combination of musical performances, performance art and large-scale installations come together. In 2019, the program featured the likes of artists Ai Weiwei and Mike Parr, American musician Sharon Van Etten and one of the world's largest glockenspiels, for instance. In 2021, the program included a vibrating chamber filled with light, guided night walks through Hobart led by teenagers, 49 search lights beaming up into the sky and multiple performances by Sonic Youth founder Thurston Moore. Dark Mofo will run from Wednesday, June 15–Wednesday, June 22 in Hobart, Tasmania. The 2022 program will be announced in autumn. Top Image: Jesse Hunniford.
If ever there was a time that Melbourne needed a nice, strong drink, it's now, as the city settles into its second stretch of lockdown and another big dose of social isolation looms ahead. Thankfully, bars and bottle shops across town are ensuring that thirsty locals are spoilt for choice in the booze department, offering a plethora of top-notch takeaway and delivery options. For beer lovers, that lineup just grew even bigger, with the launch of the brand-new Cellar Shop from craft beer haven Beer DeLuxe in Federation Square. For the first time, the venue is offering the public a taste of its long-nurtured cellar collection, which lives under lock and key deep beneath the bar's Flinders Street beer garden. This curation is a treasure trove of beery goodness, featuring stacks of rare, hard-to-find drops sourced from all across the globe. And it's now yours to raid — virtually — for your own drinking pleasure. Up on the newly hatched online shop, you'll find a selection of these boutique brews to browse and buy, with delivery available to a bunch of Melbourne metro suburbs from 3–5pm Thursday–Saturday. Or, you can pick up your purchase direct from the bar, between 1–6pm Thursday–Sunday. There's something a bit special here for just about every palate, from Mikkeller's Danish wild ale aged in wine barrels for 14 months, to a range of funky farmhouse creations by acclaimed Texan brewery Jester King. Expect to find saisons, sours, stouts infused with sea salt and chilli, and even a super rare three-brew blend from the USA's AleSmith, crafted for its 20th anniversary. Beer DeLuxe is also doing growler fills (500 millilitre, one litre and two litre), with a tap lineup that currently includes the likes of a witbier from Future Mountain and Hop Nation's 'Hazed & Confused' hazy IPA. And as always, there's a tidy selection of tinnies from familiar favourites like Stomping Ground, Fixation and Garage Project rounding out the fun. The Beer DeLuxe Fed Square Cellar Shop launches online from noon on Saturday, July 18. Deliveries run to select local suburbs from 3–5pm Thursday–Saturday. And from 1–6pm, Thursday–Sunday, you can pick up in-store from Beer DeLuxe Fed Square, The Atrium, Federation Square.
Mainstream arts and culture events can be good fun, but the annual Melbourne Fringe Festival is all about showcasing artists who play within, well, the fringes. You won't find your usual ballad-belting musicals or classic comedy gigs here. Instead, you'll be treated to boundary-pushing experiences in the performing arts, music, dance and cabaret spaces. But it won't all be entirely random, as the 2024 Melbourne Fringe Festival — running from Tuesday, October 1–Sunday, October 20 — is focusing most of its events around the theme of 'Eat Your Art Out'. Artists will be playing with the relationship between art and food at venues across the city, through over 470 different events. Some of these have been curated by the festival's team and others are more or less random. There is an open access component to the Melbourne Fringe Festival, which means that anyone can sign up and put on a show during the three-week program. [caption id="attachment_969684" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cooked at Fed Square[/caption] So, what can you expect this year? Firstly, you'll find the COOKED event series at Federation Square, which is centred around a pop-up hot plate stage. The amphitheatre will become a dual dining and performance space, with visitors encouraged to grill free food on the working barbecues as a diverse range of artists and chefs perform all kinds of shows around them. It kicks off on Tuesday, October 1, with the free event Seasoning the Grill. For this one, First Nations artists light up the public barbecue for an evening of smoke, dance, DJs, art and great eats. Traditional and contemporary practices of food and art come together for this one-off performance. As this year's Melbourne Fringe Festival is all about food and art, it makes so much sense for Queen Vic Market to be involved as well. [caption id="attachment_969690" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Huxleys[/caption] Most notably, it will host the Fringe Flavours Night Market, which sees a stack of Fringe artists take over the weekly night market. This will run beyond the main festival dates, from Wednesday, September 18–Wednesday, October 16, and is an absolute must for foodies. The market will host a stacked lineup of food and drink vendors, have a pop-up stage for all kinds of shows, and give way for roving performers to surprise diners every Wednesday. It's taking the beloved night market to all-new heights. [caption id="attachment_969691" align="alignnone" width="1920"] TOMATO[/caption] The Festival Hub at Trades Hall is also returning for 2024, hosting over 100 large and small events throughout the historic building. Most notably, this is where you'll see Finucane & Smith's Global Smash Club, an ode to 20 years of the international smash-hit Burlesque Hour from Melbourne Fringe mainstay Moira Finucane. You'll then find Pony Cam, the team behind Rising's popular show Burnout Paradise, premiering its new work FEAST at Substation. Here, performers reimagine the idea of dinner and a show, by combining it all into one big food-filled party. This one will be fairly interactive, so only go if you're willing to have a little fun with the audience participation elements. There's also the Pulse program, which includes Flames Danced in Their Hair But Did Not Burn Them and Body of Knowledge — both exploring ideas of consent and gender. [caption id="attachment_969688" align="alignnone" width="1920"] FEAST[/caption] This year's Fringe Focus Taiwan program boasts two contemporary dance works that focus on bodily exploration. There's TOMATO, a playful work of sex, lust, and a box of tomatoes, and Girl's Notes, which sees a dancer and a live pianist take inspiration from a 1990s book that instructs women on how to behave. We could go on and on with this epic Melbourne Fringe Festival 2024 lineup, but we'll leave that for you to explore via the festival's website. There are so many ways to Fringe, but we love to check out a few big highlights and then also go to a handful of smaller shows we know nothing about. This annual festival is all about challenging yourself and trying new things. If you've missed it in the past, don't let it happen again. [caption id="attachment_969685" align="alignnone" width="1920"] COOKED at Fed Square[/caption] The 2024 Melbourne Fringe Festival is running across he city from Wednesday, September 18–Wednesday, October 16. For more details, you can head to the festival's website. Top Image: FEAST.
Think of all the best things in life: the beach, beats and booze. They're all essential to a pre-game beach party (and, coincidentally, all start with B for some reason). So last weekend we teamed up with Sonos and got a pretty little beach house in Byron, loaded up on Stone & Wood beers, set up Banoffee on the balcony and got her to sing out towards the bay. It was Concrete Playground's own Beach Break. Duo-to-watch Kllo were there too, and we got to listen to their sweet electronic tunes with the Saturday arvo sun sky-high over Byron Bay. While Banoffee played 'Let's Go to the Beach' — and we basked in the glory of the fact that we were indeed already at the beach — we sipped on wines from Jacob's Creek and Stoneleigh Wild Valley and G&Tea cocktails made with Four Pillars gin, Earl Grey tea and Fever Tree soda. Also being shaken and stirred was Baron Samedi spiced rum punch and an Aperol and watermelon concoction that made it feel like summer all over again. Here's some snaps we took of the festivities. We're keeping these on-hand for gloomy days stuck in the office. Video: Andy Fraser.
Everyone's going wild these days, at least as far as films are concerned. Cameron Diaz caused chaos in the classroom, Seth Rogen and Zac Efron demonstrated how not to be neighbourly on two separate occasions, and now the one group you probably thought was immune to displays of errant behaviour has joined in on the inappropriate fun. Yes, Bad Moms shows just what happens when some over-stressed, under-appreciated mothers let loose. It's as raucous as you might expect, and as formulaic too — but thanks to its warm message and committed cast, it has both heart and spirit. With a happy family and a cool job at a coffee company, on the surface it looks like Amy (Mila Kunis) is the type of woman who has it all. She doesn't quite view it that way, though – in fact, she sees her life as a constant struggle. When she's not looking after a husband (David Walton) who doesn't appreciate her, she's appeasing her younger boss (Clark Duke), ferrying her kids (Oona Laurence and Emjay Anthony) to their extra-curricular activities, and attempting to avoid the wrath of the bossy PTA president (Christina Applegate) at their school. But after one particularly hectic day, she decides to stop trying to be everything to everyone. Instead, with fellow outsiders Carla (Kathryn Hahn) and Kiki (Kristen Bell), she determines to unleash her own kind of mothering. As written and directed by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, Bad Moms is mainly an excuse to make a party flick about ladies trying to find a way to cope with their considerable responsibilities. That the pair also helmed 21 & Over and wrote the script for The Hangover is telling. Thankfully, while giving Kunis, Hahn and Bell an excuse to act like teenagers, the film also unpacks the many expectations placed on women who have children – and women in general for that matter –, including the standards they impose on themselves and the scathing judgments they level at each other. The combination makes for a movie that's funny, thoughtful, and offers the kind of non-schmaltzy ode to motherhood that the interminable Mother's Day showed no signs of mustering. Though it trades in a few too many stereotypes and straightforward situations, the film does at least manage to subvert the former on occasion, while finding plenty of jokes in the latter. Like women-centric comedies Sisters and Bridesmaids before it, it's the cast that keeps Bad Moms moving. The rapport between the three leads brightens up every scene they share. That said, as she has repeatedly in television series such as Parks and Recreation and Transparent, it's Hahn that really steals the show. Not only does she nail the blend of irreverence and affection Lucas and Moore are aiming for, but she also makes the movie's most outrageous character more than just the source of laughs. The end result is a film that, although outwardly about the kind of behaviour your own mum might not encourage, ends up playing as an amusing and empowering tribute to being the person you really want to be.
Good news for those sick of scrolling through your mate's Euro trip on Insta: you can get your very own slice of Italia this weekend, right here in Melbourne. Family-run Middle Eastern bakery Oasis will be hosting a Pistachio Papi pop-up at three locations to celebrate the arrival of the pistachio spread at its stores. Head to Mornington, Fairfield or Murrumbeena Oasis this Saturday and Sunday anytime between 9am (8am for Murrumbeena) and 7pm to grab a taste of Sicily yourself. Lebanese doughnuts, tiramisu and baklava — with a Pistachio Papi twist — will also be on offer. The brainchild of Sicilian native "Papi", Pistachio Papi was born out of a desire to share the joy of Sicilian pistachios with the world. After moving to Australia, Papi was shocked to discover that there was no pistachio spread available, so he set about creating his own. The result? A rich, creamy spread with a deep, nutty flavour, achieved by roasting 100% Italian pistachios, known for their high quality and flavour. The spread is also vegan and gluten-free, which is nice. "Bringing Pistachio Papi to our Oasis family is a momentous occasion," Oasis Owner Marwa Makool says. "The fusion of Sicilian heritage and Middle Eastern enthusiasm merging in Australia encapsulates the essence of our pop-up collaboration. Pistachio Papi's journey from Sicily to our customers' homes is a true celebration of flavour and connection."
When you plaster giant, ornate portraits of beautiful women across the walls of nine-storey buildings, you're bound to get a name for yourself. Accordingly, Melbourne street artist Rone has become quite the sensation. Since bursting onto the local scene in the early 2000s, his work has been shown in London, New York, San Francisco, Miami and Hong Kong. Now, he's returning to where it all began for his first Australian show in two years. From October 24, Rone will present 11 new, large-scale portraits in — and on — an abandoned office building on Little Collins Street. The exhibition, Lumen, will be created with the help of lighting designer John McKissock, as the artworks will be illuminated from the building's decrepit, black walls. The artist will also create a 12-metre high mural on the building's ventilation tower. Adding to the creepy feel of the whole thing, the building has actually been slated for demolition, and it will presumably still be knocked down once the exhibition is over. Rone has an ongoing interest in transforming these kind of derelict and forgotten places. He's initiated similar projects in Mexico, Louisiana and New Orleans in the past. "Each of these places have, in recent times, been deeply affected by natural disaster, crime or debilitating economic situations," said the artist. "There is a genuine sense of community in these places, people embrace and appreciate what I'm doing." While Little Collins Street is a far cry from the Mexican city of Juarez, it's just as easy to understand Rone's fostering of local community in this latest Melbourne project. His mural at Rue & Co is still a much-loved icon of the CBD; people converge on it to take photos, drop their jaws in awe and meet friends for delicious Korean fried chicken. This support for the artist is evident in his other projects too. He's just been hand-selected by Jean Paul Gaultier himself to create installation works for the NGV's latest exhibition, and the Melbourne Festival has just plastered his art across one of the city's trams. Make sure you get a chance to check out this epic exhibition while it lasts — this guy's in high demand. Lumen will be on show on Level One, 109 Little Collins Street, Melbourne from October 24 to November 9. For more information, see the website.
If you, like us, long to spend every evening in the cinema but also need to preserve your doubloons to pay rent, this is the competition for you. To celebrate the release of Suburbicon, we're giving away 110 double passes to an early screening of the film. Suburbicon, just to pique your interest, is a film about dirty deeds happening in idyllic 1950s suburban America. In true Clooney style, it's not heavy, but more a dark comedy (that would be the influence of the Coen brothers, with whom he co-wrote the film). Matt Damon and Julianne Moore play a family who get in over their heads with with mob and are forced to navigate their way through some comically dark situations. They're supported by Josh Brolin and Oscar Isaac, all set against a vintage backdrop. Even though it's a little heretic to put George Clooney (silver fox and everyone's favourite Nespresso advocate – sorry Penelope Cruz) behind a camera, instead of dancing in front of it, the man has directing chops. And a double pass (for you and a lucky date) will let you watch his latest offering before the rest of Australia at the iconic Palace Kino cinema on Collins Street at 6.30pm on October 25. Truly, a very swanky way to spend a Wednesday night. To enter, see details below. Suburbicon is out in Australian cinemas from Thursday, October 26. [competition]640996[/competition]
A great trailer does two things: makes you want to run to the cinemas to see the film in question, and makes you hit replay on the preview itself the moment it's finished. Or, thanks to the rise of TV trailers, it inspires your next date with your couch. You'll want to get as comfy as possible to binge-watch the next season of your favourite show, after all. Indeed, in the US, plenty of folks have been lounging around on their sofas today — and watching trailers. When the Super Bowl rolls around each year, the US gets immersed in one of the country's favourite sports, American football fans around the world join in the fun, and so do movie buffs. With so many eyes glued to the screen during the game, it's a prime slot to premiere the latest film previews during the commercial breaks. The biggest match of the year meets the biggest flicks of the year, naturally. This year's batch certainly kept to the theme, particularly where new instalments of long-running series are involved. Want to catch your first glimpse of Solo: A Star Wars Story? The next Jurassic Park movie, aka Jurassic World: Forbidden Kingdom? Mission: Impossible — Fallout, the sixth title in the Tom Cruise-starring franchise? The latest Cloverfield effort, which will then start streaming on Netflix once the game is over? Keen on some superhero action with Avengers: Infinity War? They're all here. Also on the agenda: The Rock versus a tall building in Skyscraper (because why not?), and a sneak peek at the second season of Westworld (which now has a US release date — April 22). There's also the John Krasinski-directed apocalyptic thriller A Quiet Place, which he also features in opposite Emily Blunt, plus the new Krasinski-starring Jack Ryan TV series. Plus, another look at Jennifer Lawrence getting her spy game on in Red Sparrow and the Castle Rock clip we were all watching just a few days ago aired as well. Check out the full slate below, and add them to your viewing list. SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Szts88zY4o In Australian cinemas May 24. JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NooW_RbfdWI In Australian cinemas June 7. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE — FALLOUT https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wb49-oV0F78 In Australian cinemas August 2. SKYSCRAPER https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THWBs0_khNs In Australian cinemas July 12. THE CLOVERFIELD PARADOX https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8brYvhEg5Aw On Netflix today. AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVxOVlm_lE8 In Australian cinemas April 25. WESTWORLD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUmfriZoMw0 Australian airdate TBC A QUIET PLACE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8Q6ma2sfJQ In Australian cinemas May 10. JACK RYAN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V69XYIRjKww On Amazon August 31. RED SPARROW https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9VqmPX8m2k In Australian cinemas March 1. CASTLE ROCK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwmhiqUPa28 Australian airdate TBC.
A plug nickel is a five cent coin where the "plug", or centre disk, has been removed to decrease its value. The guys from Dr Morse may have named their new hole-in-the-wall café after one of them because, well, it's not much more than a hole punched into the wall — but while Plug Nickel is definitely small, it's by no means short of value. Located just off Smith Street a few doors up from Lazerpig, Plug Nickel only has ten seats. The reasoning behind this bare bones layout is that this pocket of Collingwood already has Proud Mary and Major Major; it didn't need another sit-down speciality coffee café. Plug Nickel instead focuses on takeaway food and coffee — and you don't need many seats for that. So how do they produce edibles in a space so small? Well, food is prepared at Dr Morse on Johnston Street every morning and brought over to the Peel Street space. It's then placed, on request, into their high-tech Turbo Chef oven, which heats up food in three minutes and takes it from cold, to hot, to crispy. "Our whole thing is to have food and coffee out the door within three minutes," says Lucien Kolff, one of Plug Nickel's owners. "It fits with our whole ethos of getting things out as fast and efficiently as possible. But it's not like we're just chucking it in the microwave. It's good food." A small takeaway menu features breakfast roti, pork sandwiches, sausage rolls, pies, noodle salads and soup. They also have two cold coffee taps installed on the back bar. One pours Nitro Black, a single origin espresso infused with nitrogen that tastes like a creamy, fizzy cold coffee. The other serves Sparkling Cascara, which sees dried berries from the coffee plant brewed like tea for 48 hours. It tastes like iced tea, but is still highly caffeinated. There might not be a kitchen at Plug Nickel, but there is a hairdresser and a bike shop. After acquiring the heritage space, the owners decided it would be too disjointed to have seating in the other rooms. So they rented it out to their hairdresser friend Ginger Light, who has opened her one-seat salon Ginger Hair. Bike shop Northside Wheelers plan to be open and running in the next room soon.
Festivals have evolved. Nowadays, they're almost unrecognisable from the pits of despair we experienced in our teens — and there's a festival to suit almost everyone. If your bag is being terrified until you poop your pants, Horror Movie Campout is the festival for you. Last year they debuted in Sydney and Melbourne, and this year it's not only coming back, but spreading further. Brisbanites had their chance back in September, and Adelaide residents can embrace all things scary in late October. Basically, it's the Meredith of monstrosity, the Splendour of spookiness…kind of exactly like Stereosonic ain its current zombied state. So what goes on at a horror festival? Well, it's full of horrifying spectres and hair-raising scenes of horror (aka, your blood will literally curdle). We've had some clues from last year: yep, survivors camped out overnight in the woods (first mistake right there, seriously). They reported roaming zombies, all the classic pop-culture murderers you can shake your pathetic choice of weapon at and of course, menacing clowns. Not only do the organisers hire actors to scare the bejesus out of you, but everyone comes to event dressed in costume. So get down to your local stuff shop before they sell out of 1920s nightgowns, fake blood and Kabuki masks. You can expect a horrifying 'death chamber' maze, as well as a main stage with live music (will it be horrifying? They haven't specified but probably). Then, the main event is a series of curated horror shorts followed by two headliners, decided by you, the victims. The Melbourne campout is happening on December 3 and 4 (giving you just enough time to recover from Halloween) at the very remote and haunted Point Cook Homestead. Hint: old Point Cook has seen its fair share of murders. Melbourne Horror Movie Campout is happening on December 3 and 4; book your tomb online. Adelaide is on October 29 and 30 — and pencil it in, Sydney, because your event is happening next year on March 11 and 12. Grab your one-way ticket to poop town through the website a little closer to the date.
The party is set to restart in Collingwood this week with iconic club venue New Guernica reopening in a brand new location — and it's putting on free bevvies to celebrate. The original New Guernica held the hearts and livers of many a Melbourne raver for over 12 years in its original CBD location, before shutting its doors in September thanks to lockdown pressures and a proposed area redevelopment. Owners Steve Costa, Dominic Lococo, Jaff Tzaferis and Kyle Bush hunted for a new location in the following weeks, and just last month announced they had found the perfect address in a historic venue on the corner of Smith and Langridge Streets. The storied site was the previous home to much-loved Foresters Beer and Music Hall, but its history dates back to 1868. View this post on Instagram A post shared by New Guernica (@newguernica) This week is set to hold the opening night festivities, and it's fair to say if you've missed a boogie with music pulsing under your feet this year — this will be the place to re-enter the fold. Seven-metre high ceilings, a balcony high above the dance floor to both see and be seen, and a world class lighting setup are all promised in the new locale. The best part? The chance for free drinks for excited partiers on Thursday. Those keen on a few Guerns Ales and Moon Dog Fizzer Seltzers — as well as being the first to party in the new space — just need to sign up on the official website. In coming weeks, the club's 12-year-running regular rave will continue on Thursday nights, with Friday night parties being hosted by independent organisers. Basically, it will be the place to be all weekend. "We can't wait to welcome Melbourne to our new home and to bring back the parties we've become known for, as well as to launch our new events," said co-owner Kyle Bush in a statement. "It's been a long, difficult 18 months, but the future is bright at New Guernica once more!" For more information about the newly reopened New Guernica, including how to win the chance of free drinks on Thursday night, visit the club's website.
Sydney ambient electro darlings Seekae have just dropped news of their third album and a national tour in August. Luckily they haven't done so silently. They've also gifted us with a new single, 'Test & Recognise'. Picking up the tempo and embracing the power of the synth, it could signal a new direction for the group — from classic chillout sessions to the dancefloor. With past releases, The Sounds of Trees Falling on People and +DOME, Seekae have made a name for themselves in the past few years, playing local festivals like Harvest and Golden Plains. Known for hypnotic electro-pop such as 'Void', 'Crooks' and 'Blood Bank', their name is synonymous with late night drives through the city or relaxed midnight hangs with friends. In the bigger picture, their debut was named one of the albums of the decade by FBi Radio, and their follow-up earned them four nominations at the Australian Independent Music Awards. Since then they've been touring internationally and even took to the stage at this year's SxSW. Seekae's third album, The Worry, is openly described as their most ambitious work to date. Bringing vocals to the fore and losing some of that distinctive ambient haze, it definitely marks a departure from their past sound that may not win over all fans. However, the shift will make for an entertaining live gig. Caught somewhere between blissful oblivion and classic electro these new tracks are sure to get people awkwardly shuffling around the dance floor nationwide. Seekae National Tour Dates: Saturday, August 9 - Darwin Festival, Darwin* Tuesday, August 12 - The Zoo, Brisbane Friday, August 15 - The Gov, Adelaide Saturday, August 16 - The Villa, Perth Friday, August 22 - 170 Russell St, Melbourne Saturday, August 23 - Metro Theatre, Sydney Tickets are on sale this Friday, June 30. *Tickets for Darwin Festival go on sale June 26.
We hope you're feeling hungry because the Christmas morning of culinary events is back. The legendary Melbourne Food & Wine Festival returns to whip the city into a feeding frenzy — and certain food coma — from Friday, March 15–Sunday, March 24. This year's program is as hefty as ever, with special guest chefs flying in from around the world, local legends hosting unmissable dining events, and all kinds of parties, pop-ups and food-focused festivities happening in-between. But if you dropped the ball on sorting out tickets and still want to get your MFWF fix, fear not because it's never too late. We've rounded up a bunch of the best Melbourne Food & Wine Festival events you can still book a spot at — or that you can simply rock up to enjoy at your leisure. From dessert degustations and Michelin-starred feasts to huge communal dining experiences, here's all the food fest inspiration you need. Recommended reads: The Best Things to Do in Melbourne This Weekend The Best Restaurants in Melbourne The Best Things to Do in Melbourne This Month The Best Wine Bars in Melbourne
For the first time, the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art is presenting Cities of Architecture — a series of talks exploring the world's most fascinating and beautiful cities — once a month from February to October this year. The series will begin with a broad (and free!) launch talk at MPavilion which will discuss using cities as a means for exploring architecture and urbanism. The lectures on individual cities — which will cover Tokyo, Venice, Huston, Madrid, Shanghai, Barcelona, Isfahan and Guadalajara — will expand on this in greater depth. The talks are being given by experts in the field — think professors of architecture and the directors of Melbourne's most notable architectural studios such as LAB, the studio that designed Federation Square. Stuart Harrison, co-host of 3RRR's The Architects, will give the Venice talk on April 10, and the executive architect and researcher at the Sagrada Familia basilica, Mark Burry, is set to give the Barcelona talk on Monday, August 14. Altogether, it looks like a stellar lineup. Each talk even includes a custom-made cocktail to suit the city, designed by the people at the Melbourne Gin Company and Starward Whisky. Image: SBA73 via Flickr.
Welcome to Thornbury will accommodate both your stomach and your flaming sinuses in a two-day event that is the Hot Sauce and Chilli Festival. If spice is your mate and you think you can handle some of the hottest chilli situations Melbourne can throw at you, now's your time to prove your mettle. Some you'll even have to sign a waiver to taste, so you know they'll be life-affirming. There'll be sauce offerings from Melbourne Hot Sauce, Grumpy Gary's, Marley's Soul Sauce, Changz Hot Sauce and Señor Chilli. If you've come for the actual food side of things, you're in luck too — YOMG, Mr Burger, Roadrunner Fried Chicken, Yo India and Let's Waffle 'n' Shake will set up shop over the weekend, among others. And drinks? Well, the bar team will be serving 'hot pocket' shots. If you can drink it without sipping another drink to wash it down for two minutes post-shot, you get your photo on the wall (and eternal glory, we guess).
This is the X-Men movie for X-Men aficionados; a filmic Grange Hermitage, Stradivarius and Cohiba Behike rolled into one. That's not to say newcomers won't enjoy themselves, but X-Men: Days of Future Past is a considered, intricate and devoted film that rewards both the audience's fidelity to, and memory of, its predecessors. It's set (initially) in the future, where earth's mutants — good and bad — have all but been exterminated via an unstoppable army of adaptive, mutant-seeking robots named 'Sentinels'. With one last throw of the dice available, the survivors send their own indestructible spork, aka Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), back in time to 1974 to attempt to alter the course of history. Wolverine's principal task is to reunite a young Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) with the man responsible for putting him in a wheelchair — the metal-manipulating champion of mutants known as Magneto (Michael Fassbender). Xavier, however, has become an addict of alcohol and painkillers whilst Magneto has been buried in a cement prison for participating in a tricky little incident in Dallas, 1963. Together, they must all reconcile their grievances and work collectively towards stopping an embittered Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) from attacking the inventor of the Sentinels, Bolivar Trask (Peter Dinklage). Back in the director's chair is Bryan Singer, whose first two X-Men films were by far the strongest in the franchise. The key to their success was focusing on stories bolstered by special effects, rather than delivering 'special effects movies' for the sake of special effects. They were rip-roaringly fun and exciting pictures that also represented compelling parables on prejudice and discrimination. One or two space-time continuum hiccups notwithstanding, X-Men: Days of Future Past rediscovers that balance and the result is a complex and comprehensive film that ingeniously marries the old Singer cast with the younger, First Class one. It also introduces some fantastic new mutants, including a Portal-esque character named Blink and the lightning fast Quicksilver (Evan Peters), whose keynote slow-mo scene is the film's undisputed highlight. X-Men: Days of Future Past is a delightful reboot of a series that was in danger of losing its way. Full of subtle yet instructive allusions to future moments from past films (remember: time travel), it refreshingly keeps things relatively small-scale amid a growing compliment of contemporaries that now deem city-wide devastation par for the course. Dark, enthralling and undeniably exhilarating, it's an elegant and accomplished thrill-ride for both new fans and old. https://youtube.com/watch?v=pK2zYHWDZKo
Is it possible to make a heist movie that's inspired by detective fiction but takes some cues from reality, including riffing on the director's own mother's experiences and her work as a filmmaker? Then, can such a flick become a charming crime caper that's effortlessly fresh and oh-so French, and yet also could've been made during both the French New Wave and American cinema's glorious 70s era? With his latest feature The Innocent, consider actor, writer and helmer Louis Garrel 100-percent guilty. Consider the film itself an utter delight, too. And, consider it gorgeously shot (by César-nominated Les Misérables cinematographer Julien Poupard), smartly penned (by Garrel, gumshoe novelist Tanguy Viel and Garrel's The Crusade co-screenwriter Naïla Guiguet) and winningly cast, with the latter including Little Women's Garrel himself opposite Portrait of a Lady on Fire's Noémie Merlant, plus Roschdy Zem (Other People's Children) and Anouk Grinberg (The Night of the 12th). Actually, in his fourth stint as an actor-turned-filmmaker following 2015's Two Friends, 2018's A Faithful Man and 2021's The Crusade, Garrel hasn't just assembled a stellar core quartet of actors. In addition to that, he has them anchoring a movie that overtly explores the role of acting in everyday life. Sylvie Lefranc (Grinberg) is a theatre thespian and teacher, as initially observed showing imprisoned men the tricks of the board-treading trade. In her class is Michel Ferrand (Zem), who she swiftly marries — with Sylvie's thirtysomething son Abel in attendance but hardly approving, especially because this isn't her first set of jailhouse nuptials. He's worried about his mom and suspicious about his new stepdad, which gives him a distraction from grieving for his recently deceased wife and hearing about her best friend Clémence Genièvre's (Merlant) tumultuous love life. He knows that Sylvie's head-over-heels infatuation isn't a performance, but is the just-released Michel's claim that he's now on the straight and narrow all for show? To answer that question, Abel gets a-tailing throughout Lyon with the game and eager Clémence's help. This couldn't be a heist film if they found nothing amiss, of course, with ex-con Michel's plans linked in with the cute little florist shop he's opened to make Sylvie's dreams come true — claiming that a friend had rented them the space for free, which is obviously far too good to be accurate. So, Abel is faced with his own spate of acting to protect his mum. Michel can't do the job without assistance from him and Clémence playing decoys, and his mother will suffer if he doesn't aid and abet an armed robbery pilfering lucrative Iranian caviar. Yes, as well as being a heist movie, a romance, and a drama about parents, children, love, loss, moving on and second chances all in one, The Innocent is a delicious and hilarious farce. There's a clear contrast at the heart of The Innocent: women who love quickly and deeply, as Sylvie and Clémence do, and men who are hesitant and guarded, as Abel and Michel prove. In much lesser hands, that juxtaposition might be dated and cliched, not to mention needlessly and gratingly stereotypical. Thankfully, adding to the lengthy list of things that The Innocent manages to be, and breezily, it's also an intelligent, textured and savvily scripted character study. Even when they're overtly acting a part — for work, for each other and, in the widowed Abel's case, often with himself — Sylvie, Abel, Michel and Clémence are each lived in to the point of seeming ready to walk right off the screen. Crucially, every move they make is steeped in their fleshed-out stories and backgrounds, rather than mere convenience, too. Garrel, Viel and Guiguet have penned these characters with nuance, intricacy, and realistic emotions and motivations. Thoughtful touches abound around The Innocent's stars; see: Abel's job as a marine biologist at a local aquarium, where Clémence also works, which nicely stresses the difference between analysing and diving in — and also provides a dazzling setting for pivotal scenes and shots. The film makes wonderful use of Sylvie and Michel's florist in a comparable way, the space literally blooming with colour and life but its roots not what they seem. The Innocent's casting can't be underestimated, though, as particularly seen in Grinberg, Merlant and Zem's efforts. Grinberg steps into Garrel's IRL mother Brigitte Sy's shoes, given she too is an actor who got married in prison, and does so with a gregarious and yearning spark. With a sense of lightness here, Merlant keeps showing her exceptional range, boosting a growing resume that also includes Jumbo, Paris, 13th District and Tár. And Zem, a director himself — including of 2011's Oscar-shortlisted Omar Killed Me and 2016's Monsieur Chocolat — is sincere, determined and charismatic, and also helps turn a bit with a bowtie into something special. As for Garrel, he enlists himself for the fourth time as the fourth character called Abel (although in A Faithful Man and The Crusade, they're the same figure), and he's again ace under his own direction. When your godfather is Jean-Pierre Léaud, one of the faces of the French New Wave ever since starring in the movement's seminal film The 400 Blows, perhaps being drawn to spirited and soulful movies about emotional chaos just comes with the territory. Garrel keeps writing, directing and performing in them, with The Innocent his most entertaining instance yet. Cinema was always in his blood as well as his orbit, seeing that his father is French filmmaker Philippe Garrel, whose pictures he often features in (such as 2013's excellent Jealousy); Sy clearly has an acting history (including 2018's Invisibles); his sister Esther also pops up on-screen (as seen in Call Me By Your Name); and his grandfather is the late actor Maurice Garrel (César-nominated for La Discrète and Kings and Queen) — and it shows. As conveyed in celluloid dreams, heists, crime capers, mysteries and noirs frequently involve throwing an array of moving parts together in high-stakes circumstances, then seeing what fits, sticks, struggles and leaks. French greats Rififi and Bob Le Flambeur, both of which The Innocent feels tied to, knew this. US highlights The Long Goodbye and The Last of Sheila, which it similarly brings to mind, capitalised upon it as well. In all of their many guises, these narrative setups and mainstays strike a chord because they so vividly reflect life's mess, just in heightened circumstances — and Garrel is equally well-aware of that. The Innocent's French pop-synth soundtrack gifts the already fast-paced film with a marvellous sense of bounce, but also reflects exactly what the movie is: a supremely finessed, funny, endearing and engaging flick that echoes for everyone.
Two decades ago, Bill Nighy won two BAFTAs in the same year for vastly dissimilar roles: for playing a rock 'n' roll singer belting out a cheesy Christmas tune in Love Actually, and also for his turn as a journalist investigating a political scandal in gripping miniseries State of Play. The beloved British actor has achieved plenty more across his career, including collecting an eclectic resume that spans an uncredited turn in Black Books, a pivotal part in Shaun of the Dead, and everything from Underworld and Pride to Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I (plus stepping into David Bowie's shoes in the TV version of The Man Who Fell to Earth). Somehow, though, Nighy made it all the way into his 70s before receiving a single Oscar nomination. He didn't emerge victorious at 2023's ceremony for Living, but his recognition for this textured drama isn't just a case of the Academy rewarding a stellar career — it's thoroughly earned by one of the veteran talent's best performances yet. Nighy comes to this sensitive portrayal of a dutiful company man facing life-changing news with history; so too does the feature itself. Set in London in 1953, it's an adaptation several times over — of iconic Japanese director Akira Kurosawa's 1952 film Ikiru, and of Leo Tolstoy's 1886 novella The Death of Ivan Ilyich, which the former also takes inspiration from. That's quite the lineage for Living to live up to, but Nighy and director Oliver Hermanus (Moffie) are up to the task. The movie's second Oscar-nominee, Nobel Prize-winning screenwriter Kazuo Ishiguro, unsurprisingly is as well. Also the author of The Remains of the Day and Never Let Me Go, he's at home penning layered stories with a deep focus on complicated characters not being completely true to themselves. When those two novels were turned into impressive pictures, Ishiguro didn't script their screenplays, but he writes his way through Living's literary and cinematic pedigree like he was born to. A man of no more words than he has to utter — of no more of anything, including life's pleasures, frivolities, distractions and detours, in fact — Williams (Nighy, Emma.) is a born bureaucrat. Or, that's how he has always appeared to his staff in the Public Works Department in London County Hall, where he's been doing the same job day, week, month and year in and out. He's quiet and stoic as he pushes paper daily, overseeing a department that's newly welcoming in Peter Wakeling (Alex Sharp, The Trial of the Chicago 7). It's through this fresh face's eyes that Living's audience first spies its central figure, adopting his and the wider team's perspective of Williams as a compliant and wooden functionary: a view that the film and its sudden diagnosis then challenges, as Williams does of himself. As Ikiru was as well, and as The Death of Ivan Ilyich's name made so apparent, this is a tale of a man dying — and, while confronting that fact, finally living. In Hermanus and Ishiguro's hands, sticking close to Kurosawa and his collaborators before them, this story gets part of its spark from a simple request by local parents for a playground. Before learning that he has terminal cancer, Williams behaves as he always has, with the women making their plea sent from department to department while he does only as much as he must. Afterwards, grappling with how to capitalise upon the time he has left, he wonders how to leave even the smallest mark on the world. Living isn't about a big, impulsive response to one of the worst developments that anyone can ever be saddled with during their time on this mortal coil, except that it is in Williams' own way; when your reaction to hearing that you have mere months left to live is "quite", any break from routine is radical. This isn't a cancer weepie, not for a second. It also isn't an illness-focused film where someone's health struggles come second to the feelings and changes experienced by those around them. Williams' colleagues notice his absence when he stops showing up to the office, of course. One, the young Margaret Harris (Aimee Lou Wood, Sex Education), accompanies him on unexpected away-from-work outings and advises that she'd nicknamed him 'Mr Zombie'. Living is about those instances — the fancy lunches that Williams treats himself to, the nights out drinking with new pals (Tom Burke, The Wonder) he never would've contemplated before, the flouting of his lifelong monotonous routine, and the efforts to go above and beyond that he's now willing to take — rather than about an ailing man's family and acquaintances facing loss. Indeed, given that Williams doesn't want to interrupt his son (Barney Fishwick, Call the Midwife) and daughter-in-law (Patsy Ferran, Mothering Sunday) with his condition, Living is firmly invested in someone navigating their swansong on their own terms. At the heart of this ruminative film, and Williams' post-diagnosis behaviour, sits one of the most fundamental existential questions there is. Knowing that death is looming so soon and so swiftly, what can possibly provide comfort? That's a query we all face daily, most of us just on a longer timeline — context that makes Williams' way of coping both resonant and highly relatable. Life is filling each moment with anything but reminders that our here and now is fleeting, albeit not in such a conscious and concerted manner. Living's boxed-in imagery, constrained within Academy-ratio frames and gifted a handsome, period-appropriate but almost-wistful sheen by Hermanus' Moffie and Beauty cinematographer Jamie Ramsay (also the director of photography on See How They Run), helps visually express a crucial feeling: of being anchored within a set amount of space and discovering how to make the most of it. When Rashomon, Seven Samurai, Throne of Blood, Yojimbo and Ran great Kurosawa stepped through this terrain, he did so with one of his frequent players: Takashi Shimura. There's a particular sense of potency in telling this tale with a familiar figure, as Nighy also is, hammering home how truly universal this plight is no matter the specifics. Nighy's performance toys with what viewers have come to know and expect from him, however. He's in reserved rather than twinkling and instantly charming mode — still, muted and melancholy, too — a facade for his character that says oh-so-much about the dedicated life that Williams has weathered, the solace he's found in it, his handling of his current situation and also the film's post-World War II setting. Conveying the difference between being and relishing so effortlessly and also so heartbreakingly, Nighy is a marvel, and one that the movie around him lives for.
Victorian distilleries have made quite the splash at the 2021 Australian Distilled Spirits Awards, claiming half of the trophies handed out at this year's award ceremony, held overnight at the Melbourne Showgrounds' Victoria Pavilion. An impressive nine trophies were awarded to local makers at the prestigious ceremony on December 1, while McLaren Vale's Never Never Distilling Co took out the top gong, awarded Champion Australian Distiller. It's been a rough couple of years, but testament to the industry's fighting 'spirit', this year's awards saw a hefty 765 entries from 191 distilleries, with 90 gold medals handed out and hundreds more silver and bronze. Among the Victorians to claim victory was Eltham's Naught Distilling, whose Australian Dry Gin scored both the Champion New World/Contemporary Gin and Champion Victorian Gin trophies. The Mornington Peninsula's Jimmy Rum was named Champion Victorian Distillery, while its Jimmy Rum Silver nabbed the brand-new award for Champion Cane Spirit. North Melbourne's Cap & Bells earned gongs for its Marionette bitter orange curacao and dry cassis, and an exciting cask collaboration from Chief's Son and Mornington Peninsula Brewery was awarded Champion Australian Small Batch Spirit. Never Never — whose name you might recognise from the recent oyster shell gin collaboration with Lucas Group restaurant Society — also took out the trophies for Champion Navy Gin (the Juniper Freak) and Champion London Dry Gin (Triple Juniper Export Strength Gin). [caption id="attachment_761553" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Archie Rose's Rye Malt Whisky[/caption] Unsurprisingly, the New South Wales spirits scene also represented, with big wins for Archie Rose's Rye Malt Whisky, Regal Rogue's Lively White vermouth, and Mobius Distilling Co's Apple Pie Liqueur and 38 Special Vodka. Meanwhile, fresh trophies for Bundaberg and South Australia's Ginny Pig Distillery now offer a few extra incentives for that boozy interstate trip you've been plotting. Running since 2015, the Australian Distilled Spirits Awards is the country's largest national spirits competition. They're hosted by not-for-profit organisation Melbourne Royal, and judged by some of Australia's top distillers, booze retailers and spirits writers. For the full list of 2021 Australian Distilled Spirits Awards winners, check out the website. Top Image: Jimmy Rum, by Chris McConville
Give your festive season a Frenchy twist at Alliance Francaise de Melbourne's annual French Christmas Market, which is set to take over the organisation's St Kilda mansion on Saturday, December 7 and Sunday, December 8. It's assembled a lineup to tempt Francophiles, gift hunters and market fiends alike, showcasing a vibrant array of French homewares, jewellery, artisan goods, food, wine and even secondhand books. There'll be lots of activities for kids, plus ample adult fun with demos, workshops and lots of French food and drink. If it all leaves you feeling extra inspired, you can even get a taste of Alliance Francaise's language lessons at one of the weekend's free trial classes. Entry to the market is free all weekend as well, with the fun running from 10am to 5pm on both days. Image: Alliance Francaise.
We've all been living through the sweats and the naps, the lying in front of the fan and the UberEats-ing ice cream. Summer isn't kind sometimes, and even the most motivated among us find it easy to come up with excuses to not exercise during the hottest months (e.g., it's a million degrees outside and you'll die = valid). What we've decided is that finding fairly active pursuits to spend your time on counts just as much; as long as your blood is pumping and you're schvitzing a bit, you've ticked the box and can sit down to a nice cold beer(s). Have a go at some of these this summer — your morning jogs are a thing of the past. ROWBOATING Rowboating is A+ for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to, upper arm strength, teamwork, enjoying the water and re-enacting scenes from The Notebook or Bridget Jones Diary. It's also very accessible, with boats available to hire all over Melbourne and Sydney, and a nice alternative to land-based activities this summer. Take a picnic in with you and when your arms tire, hang up your oars and drift around eating cheese and sinking a few cold ones. Up north in Brisbane, the waters are more friendly for kayaking, which is also a perfect shenanigan for two — and everyone looks great in a yellow life jacket. Where? Lane Cove Boatshed in North Ryde, Sydney; Fairfield Park Boathouse in Melbourne; and Kayak Hire Brisbane, in Scarborough. DANCE CLASS The broadness of this one means you'll be able to tickle your fancy no matter what floats your dancing boat. Dancing is one of the most effective forms of fitness out there, mostly because you're often having so much fun you don't even realise that you're exercising your coordination, strength and flexibility, as well as hiking up your energy levels and mood. Take a salsa class with your significant other, a contemporary class to flail around to Sia like you've always wanted or get yourself into a street dance situation if it's Step Up feels you're after. There are studios around Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane which offer all these choices and more. They say "dance like nobody's watching" and even if there are people watching, it's chill — you're doing a noble thing by being active in the first place. Where? Sydney Dance Company in Walsh Bay, Sydney; The Space in Prahran, Melbourne; and Mad Dance House in Brisbane. CIRCUS FIT Circus Fit has been marketed as the new gym class for people who hate gym classes, and as such it's something a little bit different: it's a combo of both strength and flexibility training, with a healthy dose of aerial work thrown in there, too. Just head along and jump on your trapeze (low-hanging, luckily) and after a warm-up, you'll work through a variety of exercises that target core strength and stability — and, you'll have a whole bunch of fun doing it too. Try it at Fitness Playground in Sydney, but in Melbourne and Brisbane, you can head along to a short course in aerials at NICA or Flipside Circus, respectively. If you've ever had that urge in you to run away and join the circus, well, you probably can't because of life responsibilities and the fact that it's hard to touch your toes and all that, but you can feel like it isn't such a distant possibility for 60 minutes during class. Where? Fitness Playground in Marrickville, Newtown and Surry Hills, Sydney; NICA in Prahran, Melbourne; and Flipside Circus in Alderley, Brisbane. ROCK CLIMBING Rock climbing may not seem like the ideal hot weather sport at first — but you can easily avoid the elements by just heading to an (air-conditioned) indoor climbing centre where you can climb to your heart's content and not get overheated or intense sunburn. It's a win/win. Go on a date because rock climbing is the perfect duo activity: one person climbs while the other belays (holds the rope beneath them) so it's all romantic because your date's life is in your hands — nothing says 'second date' more than not letting someone fall off a really high rock wall, right? If you're flying solo or don't quite trust your entire life with that special someone, bouldering is an excellent alternative — no ropes necessary and no extreme heights either. Notoriously good for upper-body and arm strength, a climb up one of the numerous rock climbing centres around the country is definitely a valid option for those wanting to remain active this summer but who turn their noses up at high energy circuit training. Where? 9 Degrees in Alexandria, Sydney; Cliffhanger Climbing Gym in Altona North, Melbourne; and Urban Climb in West End, Milton and Newstead in Brisbane. ULTIMATE FRISBEE The thing about throwing a Frisbee around is that it's actually very difficult to catch (and often, throw smoothly). A game of Ultimate Frisbee could easily lull you into a false sense of security before you realise your calves are burning and you're sweating up a storm; miles have been run trotting around after that thing as it catches the wrong wind and ends up in someone else's picnic. Before you even notice, you've had a medium to hectic workout and it's time for a bit of a sit-down and a cold brew. Game-wise, the rules of Ultimate Frisbee are simply that you have to pass the Frisbee to a teammate at the opposite end zone of play and that — similarly to netball — you can't step while holding the disc. Pick a nice quiet beach and you can cool off in the water once you're done too (plus running on sand makes for an extra workout). Where? Collins Flat Beach in Manly, Sydney; Elwood Beach in Elwood, Melbourne; and Flinders Beach on North Stradbroke Island. Forgo the trip to the gym and get your exercise in a new way, then reward your workout success with a ice cold Hahn, because you deserve it.
Hotel stays might be off the cards for now, but boutique hotel group Lancemore is helping to fill that void with a new series of at-home experiences. Or at least, it's got the culinary side of things sorted, anyway. Amongst the multi-venue offerings is an at-home edition of the famed high tea from Joseph's Restaurant & Bar at the stunning Lancemore Mansion Hotel Werribee Park. Primed for a fancy lockdown backyard picnic, this indulgent spread features an array of sweet and savoury morsels to feed two adults ($120), or a family of four ($165). You'll enjoy bites like freshly baked earl grey-infused scones with clotted cream, and a rhubarb, strawberry and pepper jam; roast chicken and tarragon sandwiches finished with crisp chicken crackling; dainty chocolate madeleines; macaroons; and Champagne-macerated strawberry cream puffs. There's also a kid-friendly menu starring fun things like chocolate crackle cake and gingerbread men. The high tea menu is available every Friday and Saturday, with pre-orders taken online up until 12pm the day prior. You can click-and-collect from the hotel, or opt for $20 home delivery if you live within 25 kilometres. From September 18, the high tea will also be available to pre-order and pick up from the Lancemore Crossley Street Hotel in the CBD every Saturday afternoon. Order via the same online menu. [caption id="attachment_825279" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rhiannon Taylor[/caption] Images: Rhiannon Taylor
A man walks into a bar. Ouch. When it comes to comedy, some people have it and others simply do not. The good news is you'll only (mostly) find the first kind on the jam-packed program at this year's Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Striding into its third decade with all the energy of a clown on their first day of college, MICF is one of the largest annual collections of jokesters, satirists and goofballs on the face of the earth. Running for three and a half weeks from March 23 to April 17, this year's program is once again packed with a plethora of talent from both home and abroad. You've got returning favorites like Rich Hall and Ross Noble, festival debutants such as Hal Cruttenden and Penny Arcade, and local legends like Hannah Gadsby and Celia Pacquola, all of whom will be trotting out their best material in an attempt to bring some laughter into our cold, miserable lives. Also, Dave Hughes will be there.
