The young foodies at the Youth Food Movement are hosting a crowdsourced community dinner, featuring fresh produce from all over town. Drawing on community gardens and small producer farms, the Urban Forage and Feast dinner will showcase the incredible range of food grown right here in our own backyard, and promises to be a night of "scrumptious food, home-grown stories and edible conversations". This outdoor feast will take place on the evening of Friday, December 2, at Siteworks on Saxon Street in Brunswick. Among the homegrown producers showcasing their wares will be Day's Walk Farm, That's Amore! Cheese, Maria of My Green Garden and many more. They even put out a call for locals to donate produce from their garden, from lemons to leeks. Tickets to the Urban Forage and Feast are available via Eventbrite. Naturally, the spread will be vegetarian.
The team at Metanoia Theatre have curated a series of special live art pieces as part of the Metanoia Live Works program at the Mechanics Institute in Brunswick. The live art showcase will feature six original productions, combining dance, theatre, visual art and a whole lot more. First up in the program is Speculative Subject, a dance work by Amanda Betlehem and Phebe Schmidt that will be performed in a number of unconventional spaces. Premiering at the same time will be Paula van Beek's Copy, Cut, Paste, described as a day-long workshop and public exhibition that explores female identity in the age of social media. Other works on the program include the performance installation Milk Bars, Lauren Simmonds' Unseen and a durational live performance inspired by Eugene Ionesco's absurdist play The Chairs. Its full title? The Spectre of Death Looms Large Despite the Variable Messages Being Inevitable (aka The Chairs). Find the full Metanoia Live Works program here. Top image: Lauren Simmonds, Unseen.
When 11-year-old Toni (Royalty Hightower) looks at the world, she does so from a specific perspective. That might sound obvious; however The Fits doesn't just follow her journey — it embraces everything that makes the shy pre-teen who she is. When the camera isn't peering from her point of view, it's showing how her body reacts to everything around her. And with movement Toni's main way of processing her thoughts and conveying her feelings, the movie's editing tries to mirror its protagonist's distinctive presence. Indeed, if most coming-of-age films champion the universal nature of growing up, then Anna Rose Holmer's feature filmmaking debut endeavours to celebrate Toni's individual experience. The first-time writer-director understands that everyone encounters similar issues and situations at a young age, including the awkward prospects of trying something different and making new friends. But with her co-scribes Saela Davis and Lisa Kjerulff, Holmer also acknowledges that it's the unique details, rather than the broader strokes, that make each story interesting. Accordingly, The Fits burrows deep into Toni's mindset as it explores her attempts to join local dance drill ensemble The Lionesses. When the film opens, she's a tomboy happily tagging along to her older brother's boxing training sessions at the local community centre — until the cheering and chatter emanating from another gymnasium in the complex attracts her attention. Soon, she's testing out their moves when no one is around, and working up the courage to audition. Alas, as Toni moves closer to the group, something strange happens: the rest of her teammates mysteriously start fainting and convulsing. Of course, it's not an accident that The Fits' title has multiple meanings. As Toni tries to fit in, her peers are literally having fits, which the jerkiness of their chosen style of dance unmistakably resembles. Such a sense of synergy is just one of the layered touches that makes the movie so simultaneously intimate and expressive. While the film brings a particular narrative to the screen, it's more concerned with the emotional voyage that eventuates, rather than the underlying plot points. As a result, even though a number of eye-catching dance numbers feature throughout its 72-minute running time, The Fits isn't a dance film in the usual sense. Instead, it's a tale that can only be told through movement and a heightened awareness of physicality, and through the stylistic and acting choices that emphasise the difference between stepping up and communicating a psychological state. Holmer displays rare confidence behind the camera, especially when it comes to the film's immersive soundtrack, symmetrical framing and rhythmic choreography. But it's the cast of non-professional actors that ensure the film hits home. Led by Hightower, they're the reason the movie doesn't just look striking, but feels like an authentic glimpse into the mind of a pre-teen girl.
When it comes to expressing emotion, don't underestimate the power of fancy footwork. Whether on the stage or on the screen, there's a reason that dance performances and musicals frequently build up to a frenzied display of moving and grooving: sometimes, words just won't do. As choreographers, Dancenorth's Stephanie Lake and Ross McCormack put that theory to the test on a daily basis — and now they're going to do so once more in their new combined show. Fresh from a premiere season at Brisbane's Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts, IF______WAS______ investigates their chosen profession, their lives to date and their unique responses to their lived experiences in four performances at The Substation. Raw and stripped back to just the essentials, the end result is a sensory representation of Lake and McCormack's existence and knowledge thus far, and it's also the solution to a puzzle. Dancenorth artistic director Kyle Page only allowed them to work with one sound score, one costume pattern and one source of lighting each, and to a set duration — and in doing just that, the duo not only convey their inner thoughts and feelings, but their individuality.
Throw on your winter coat and head out into the night as the Glow Winter Arts Festival returns to Melbourne's southeast for another year. Hosted by the City of Stonnington over 11 chilly nights, this after-dark arts fest celebrates the best that local creatives have to offer, with everything from comedy acts to dazzling light projections to tempt you out into the cold. With more than 50 free and ticketed events stretching from Windsor to Malvern, figuring out an itinerary is no easy feat. The Glow Comedy Club will feature performances from Tom Gleeson, Geraldine Hickey and many more, while the Flicks 'n' Feasts outdoor cinema pairs classic movies with matching cuisine. Art lovers, meanwhile, will have plenty to discover, with street performers and performance artists on the prowl each and every night. Glow has even teamed up with the folks behind the Gertrude Street Projection Festival, for a night of breathtaking light and colour on Greville Street in Prahran. For the complete Glow Winter Arts Festival program, go here.
See the films of Alfred Hitchcock the way they were meant to be seen, as part of a cinematic tribute to the Master of Suspense. Beginning Thursday, July 21 at Cinema Nova in Carlton, the Alfred Hitchcock Film Festival will feature more than a dozen of the beloved filmmaker's most celebrated titles by putting them up on the big screen once more. Film fans, you'd be psycho to miss it. Spanning two full decades of spine-tingling masterworks, standout titles on the festival program include Vertigo, Rear Window and North by Northwest, as well as the film that made an entire generation afraid to take a shower. You can also catch a special 3D screening of Dial M for Murder or watch Hitch's personal favourite, Shadow of a Doubt. Accompanying the retro program will be the Australian premiere season of Hitchcock/Truffaut, a new documentary inspired by François Truffaut's famous book of the same name, featuring new interviews with modern legends including Wes Anderson, David Fincher and Martin Scorsese.
If there's one thing better than seeing your fave musician, it's seeing said musician in an intimate, top-secret location with a glass of Pinot Noir in hand. That's where Cloudy Bay comes in. The acclaimed winemaker from New Zealand's Marlborough region has teamed up with Parlour Gigs — an online platform that connects punters with local musicians so they can throw small invite-only gigs in their own home or backyard — to bring you a brand new series of exclusive live music sessions in magical places. The first, to take place on Sunday, August 14, will feature an acoustic set from local band Fractures, ahead of the launch of their debut album, which is slated for October. We can't tell you exactly where they'll be playing, but we can tell you it's a rustic secluded spot just outside of Melbourne. Worried about this wintery weather? Rest assured you'll be cosying up beside an open fireplace and, needless to say, there'll be no shortage of premium quality drops and tasty, tasty eats. It's the ultimate Parlour Gig. To celebrate the launch of their Secret Sessions, Cloudy Bay and Parlour Gigs are giving away ten double passes. You can enter by posting an image on Instagram or Facebook, tagging #SecretSessionsGigs and tell us your dream gig location in 25 words or less. Entries open to VIC locals only. Find more info here.
If you've ever turned up at a house party and been sorely disappointed by the lack of crocodiles and free flowing booze, this is the event for you. The Melbourne Sea Life Aquarium are throwing a series of aquarium parties throughout winter because why the heck not? The series kicks off with a party a month from July 29, through to October 28 and is the perfect opportunity to stare down a fish right in his slimy eye while sipping a cocktail. Tickets are a bit exxy at $78 a pop, but the price includes a cocktail on arrival and unlimited sparkling, red and white wine, beer, soft drink, juice and mineral water as well as canapés and grazing dishes served all night. Entry into the aquarium is obviously included as well which means you'll get to see the world's largest saltwater crocodile (probably the only time in your life you might be pleased to see a crocodile at a party).
Embrace the icy weather at Madame Brussels Lane, which, for the third year running, will transform itself into a bustling European-style night market. Inspired by the picturesque Christmas markets in places like Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the UK, the market will feature some of Melbourne's most decadent food vendors, serving tasty European goodies to warm your insides and satisfy your sweet tooth. Kicking off on July 22, there'll be Polish dumplings from The Eastern Bloc, cheese fondue from Frencheese, crepes from Les Crepes de Marion and — our personal fave — crème brûlée from The Brûlée Cart. That's in addition to the live music and entertainment, and, of course, many, many mugs of piping hot mulled wine. Short of actually taking a holiday to Europe, there aren't many places we'd rather be at the end of a busy working week.
In Denial, a man downplays the atrocities committed by Adolf Hitler during the Second World War. No, it doesn't tell the tale of the current White House Press Secretary — but it does sound unnervingly familiar, doesn't it? Filmed before the rise of Trump, no one could've guessed just how relevant this movie would feel when it finally hit screens here in Australia. Sadly, fake news, racism and idiots with microphones aren't particularly new. We have long lived in a world filled with people willing to champion inaccurate takes on past events as fact. That's the truth at the heart of Denial, which recounts Deborah Lipstadt's (Rachel Weisz) courtroom battle with David Irving (Timothy Spall). In 1996, she was an American professor who had published a book about the Holocaust denial movement. He was a British historian named and shamed as a denier in her pages – and despite eagerly sharing his views whenever he could, he wasn't happy about it. So Irving sued Lipstadt for libel, taking advantage of the UK legal system, which placed the onus on her to prove that he was falsifying history. Adapted from Lipstadt's book "History on Trial: My Day in Court with a Holocaust Denier", Denial is an understandably serious and sombre affair. Restrained in its emotion, which is no easy feat considering the subject matter and its mid-movie trip to Auschwitz, the film lets the reality of the situation do the talking. Watching just how Lipstadt's defence team — including no-nonsense solicitor Anthony Julius (Andrew Scott) and dedicated barrister Richard Rampton (Tom Wilkinson) — tackles the task of exposing Irving's lies without giving him a platform to put the Holocaust on trial makes for fascinating viewing. Director Mick Jackson might be worlds away from his '90s hit The Bodyguard, but his film still sings with drama, albeit it in a completely different way. Screenwriter David Hare remains in more familiar territory given that the Oscar-nominated script for The Reader is also on his resume. Together, the two carefully but commandingly step through the weighty material, giving the story the clear-headed retelling it deserves. It takes immense strength and poise to play a woman forced to fight to ensure that history doesn't become a matter of opinion, but Weisz proves more than up to the challenge. It takes just the same, of course, to play a man with despicable beliefs without ever judging him; as a result, it's hard to tear your eyes away from Spall. Sadly, it's also hard to deny how scarily timely his portrayal feels, as indeed does the film as a whole. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7k7Z6S39Zc
Looking for animal product-free cakes, ethically made jewellery and sustainable homewares? Look no further than Melbourne's new Compassionate Living Vegan Pop-Up Market. If it's kind to the planet — and to all creatures great and small — there's a very good chance you'll find it here. Taking over the Balla Balla Community Centre on July 1, the new browsing and buying get-together is a small, curated, boutique experience; however, what it lacks in size, it makes up for in impact. Supporting emerging vegan micro businesses, showcasing cruelty-free products and services, flying the environmentally friendly flag and just encouraging sustainability all round in the market's mission — and helping you do all of the above while stocking up on eats, apparel, accessories and more. Whole and raw foods, pre-loved clothing, vegan Vietnamese cuisine... yes, the list goes on, so don't expect to leave with either empty hands or an empty stomach. Entry is free but a gold coin donation is more than welcome, with proceeds going to Big Sky Sanctuary, Hear No Evil Australian Deaf Dog Sanctuary and Animal Liberation Victoria.
When you're making a movie about a well-known historical figure, how do you let audiences know you're not just traipsing through familiar territory? In Churchill, it's as easy as letting the breeze knock a hat from an old man's head. With the film's central figure famous for his headwear, Australian director Jonathan Teplitzky (The Railway Man) wastes no time sweeping away Winston's favoured homburg with a stiff gust of wind. It's an obvious move designed to dispense with the war-time British Prime Minister's usual image. Still, it's an effective one. The hat, the silhouette, the cigar — yes, they're all here in this World War II-era examination of Winston Churchill. And yet this isn't a cradle-to-grave biopic or an applauding portrait of a political icon. You could say that Churchill asks audiences to trust in its approach in much the same way that Winston himself asked the public to believe in him, and you'd be right. Neither always take the standard path; however, when they hit the mark, they well and truly command attention. Set in lead up to the D-Day landings in June 1944, and featuring Brian Cox as the leader in question, Churchill is a film of discussion rather than action. In conversations with King George VI (James Purefoy), US army general Dwight D. Eisenhower (John Slattery), his Boer war pal Jan Smuts (Richard Durden), his dutiful wife Clementine (Miranda Richardson) and his new assistant Helen (Ella Purnell), Churchill talks and tussles with the impending mission in Normandy. His colleagues deem it necessary to stop the advancing Germans. But haunted by the First World War, all Churchill can foresee is the possibility of needlessly sending men to die. What follows is an anxious, depressed and struggling vision of the man once named the greatest-ever Briton. Teplitzky and screenwriter Alex von Tunzelmann are unconcerned with depicting the broad scope of the man's life and legacy. It's mentioned, of course, but on the whole the film prefers to focus on this particular moment in time – and all the contemplation and turmoil that came with it. While plenty of other biopics have done the same thing, revealing the complicated thoughts, choices and emotions plaguing historical icons, Cox's towering performance makes Churchill feel as though it's stepping into fresh territory. Everything around him is competently shot and handsomely staged in the typical historical drama manner. But the veteran actor is the bolt of electricity the film really needs. Inhabiting rather than simply impersonating, Cox falls on the Daniel Day Lewis as Lincoln side of the spectrum, rather than Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady. Audiences can expect to be captivated by his bluster-filled speeches, even though much of his screen-time involves chatting and looking grim. At least, that's how it appears at first, but then that's the other thing about Cox's turn in Churchill: look closer, and a world of complexity lurks within. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCxUDHY0iWQ
More than 80 prominent female writers, artists, educators and activists will take part in this year's Women of the World Festival in Footscray, celebrating the achievements of women everywhere, as well as the challenges they still face today. Taking place at the Footscray Community Arts Centre from Thursday, March 23 to Saturday, March 25, this annual event will combine critical conversations with performances, film screenings and networking events, as it welcomes speakers from across the country as well as the US, UK, India and Bangladesh. The event has been held in Brisbane and Katherine in previous years. This year's festival in Melbourne will be headlined by a keynote address from Elaine Brown, former leader of the Black Panther Party. Other subjects up for discussion range from mental health to leadership to LGBTQI rights. The festival will close on Women of the World MAKE NOISE, a free concert featuring music by Sampa the Great, Mojo Juju, DJ MzRizk and more.
If you're one of those people who love working out heavy emotions in a strenuous yoga class but feel super uncomfortable with all the spiritual accoutrements, we have just the thing for you: Fury Yoga. It's a new monthly yoga concept that encourages you to lean in to your rage — all in the process of releasing it, of course. Hosted at Bar Open, Fury Yoga lets you give chakras the finger, say FU instead of namaste, and rage against the whatever machine is pissing you off (all while listening to a badass soundtrack and practising some powerful vinyasa). The class will tap into your fury, let you scream and stretch it out, and finish up with a bev or two at the bar. The ticket price is a tad more expensive than those of its calm counterparts at $25, but it includes a post-workout pot (and use of a yoga mat). Plus, it's run by the instructors who brought you Bey Yoga, so you're in safe hands.
Every time one of Australia's many cultural film festivals rolls around, viewers are taken on a journey to another country. Celebrating its 20th event, the 2017 Spanish Film Festival is embracing that idea — and they have the perfect movie for it. This year's festival will close with The Trip to Spain, the third instalment in the Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon driving-and-dining series following 2010's The Trip and 2014's The Trip to Italy. Of course, the Spanish Film Festival has put together a hefty program that showcases more than two British comedians trading Michael Caine impressions while seeing gorgeous Spanish sights and ticking off the country's fine dining spots, with the full lineup boasting 38 features. In Melbourne from April 20 until May 7, the festival will kick off with Kiki, Love to Love, which actually has an Australian connection. Telling five comic tales about the passionate lives of Madrid lovers, it's based on Hoges actor Josh Lawson's 2014 directorial debut The Little Death. The film's star Natalia de Molina will be attending the opening night festivities too. Elsewhere at The Astor, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth and Kino Cinemas, expect a vibrant cross-section of Spanish-language cinema, including moving coming-of-age effort Summer 1993, the Penelope Cruz and Cary Elwes-starring The Queen of Spain, and tense dark comedy The Bar, all heading to our shores after screening at the Berlinale. Or, viewers can catch the Goya-winning revenge flick The Fury of a Patient Man, bank robber thriller Escape Plan, secret agent spoof Heroes Wanted, literary-focused Venice Film Festival hit The Distinguished Citizen, or social realist musical At Your Doorstep. Plus, the program also features walk-and-talk romance The Reconquest, Smoke & Mirrors' true tale of corruption from the makers of 2015 festival standout Marshland, and Spain in a Day — the latest crowd-shot time-capsule companion piece to 2011's Life in a Day, joining fellow efforts made in Britain, Japan, Italy and India. This year's festival selections don't stop there, with four films embracing the joys of flamenco, spanning both dance and music. For those keen on looking back as well as catching the latest cinematic fare, three retrospective screenings will showcase the work of actress, singer and filmmaker Ana Belén, who has more than 35 albums, 40 films and 30 theatrical productions on her resume.
If you're like us, you're probably still not over the opening scene in Up. Or the closing scene in Toy Story 3. Or, to be honest, your weird but real crush on Sully from Monsters Inc. (how do they make the monsters so human?). But prepare to feel all the feelings all again because the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is putting on a Pixar-themed evening chock-full of your favourite moments, rendered spectacular by a live orchestral performance. You can expect montages from Finding Nemo, Wall-e, Toy Story, Ratatouille, A Bug's Life, Monsters Inc, Cars and Brave. The event will take place in Hamer Hall on April 7 and 8 and include a multimedia show of your fave Pixar gags (hello cheeky Pixar lamp, your exploits never cease to amuse us), along with a score that features music by the greats, including Randy Newman, Patrick Doyle, Thomas Newman and Michael Giacchino. Just remember to bring a backpack full of tissues for the when the You've Got a Friend In Me tears start to flow.
Step into the Upside Down at Good Things this Halloween. The South Yarra bar is hosting a Stranger Things party, and all your D&D travelling companions are invited. Kicking off from 9pm on Monday, October 31 (that is, Halloween), the Netflix-inspired shindig will pay homage to 2016's favourite TV obsession, with a playlist featuring all the best tracks from Jonathan Byers' record collection. Think Joy Division, The Smiths, David Bowie and many more. There'll also be an array of Stranger Things cocktails, including Eggo martinis and the Demogorgon Spritz. And with this being Halloween, dressing up is highly encouraged, with a $100 bar tab going to the person with the best costume.
Gone but not forgotten, the stars of yesteryear are rising from the grave at this creepifying Halloween party at Nieuw Amsterdam. Forget generic vampires, wolf men and sexy nurses. This shindig is all about the rich and famous…or what's left of them, anyway. Running from 7pm on Saturday, October 29 until first light the next day, the Dead Celebrities Halloween Party is a costumed affair where A-listers go after they die. You can be an actor, a musician or a world politicians — it really doesn't matter, as long as rigor mortis has set in. Alternatively, come as a living celebrity you'd like to see shuffled loose. Just a guess, but we reckon we might see a few zombie Donald Trumps. Like all good Halloween parties there'll be prizes for best dressed, along with various other spooky surprises. Entry is free, meaning you'll have plenty of cash to spend on your costume.
As Pedro Almodóvar sees it, every aspect of life is filled with emotion and mystery. Sentiment and suspense ooze through his movies – although it's not just his narratives that inspire intrigue, or speak volumes about desire, loss, longing and guilt. With a command of style that matches his storytelling abilities, each shade of colour, each textured surface, each intimate close-up and each patient pause reveals and teases, too. The writer-director asks audiences to do more than watch; he wants viewers of his films to probe, to question and — above all else — to feel. It's little wonder, then, that Almodóvar's career has been built upon affairs of the heart and matters weighing on the mind, with his twentieth feature sticking to familiar territory. After sky-high camp comedy misfire I'm So Excited, Julieta unpacks the life of its eponymous figure with hints of the darkness that made the horror-tinged The Skin I Live In so thrilling, and with ample doses of the contemplation and inner drama that have served the Spanish filmmaker so well. First glimpsed in middle age, Julieta (Emma Suárez) is preparing to leave Madrid with her boyfriend (Darío Grandinetti) when she crosses paths with an old friend of her now-estranged daughter. Memories of other times swirl up, derailing her plans and motivating a move into a building the two inhabited years earlier. There, as she comes as close as she can to living in the past, she puts pen to paper to recount her tale. The film brings her recollections to the screen, as a younger Julieta (Adriana Ugarte) meets fisherman Xoan (Daniel Grao) on a train, settles in a seaside village, and forges a happy but short-lived existence. Complex relationships, contentment stolen away by a painful fate, and previous tragedies colouring future decisions – yes, Julieta proves a classic Almodóvar effort through and through, as it fuses three separate short stories from Alice Munro's 2004 book Runaway into one vivid and involving whole. Of course, from the moment the movie opens with the sight of the red fabric of one of Julieta's dresses, its visuals fall into the same category. And while there's little about Julieta that challenges its director or will surprise his fans, it still offers an evocative example of a craftsman doing what he does well. That Julieta largely unravels as expected in both its narrative and in Almodóvar's approach doesn't dampen its vibrancy. Indeed, appearing to so closely follow his own formula might just be by design. That increasingly seems the case whenever the film's performances capture attention, with both Suárez and Ugarte demonstrating devastating nuance. Not only do they provide two different takes on the titular character, but, in the process, they also represent the present and past of Almodóvar's long line of on-screen women. He's long been recognised for exploring female-centric stories and drawing potent performances out of his actresses. As he lets his two leads energise and complicate the film as necessary, he showcases their talent as well as the quiet evolution of his various heroines.
On Saturday, October 22, Prahran Market will host the Say Cheese Festival. For uninitiated (or those who didn't attend last year's debut event), it's essentially an entire day of eating cheese (and buying even more to eat later), featuring free cheese tastings, cheesy dish demonstrations, and stalls from cheese providores. Throughout the day, renowned chefs will take over the kitchen to demonstrate cooking techniques using cheese, including mozzarella stretching and how to make Brazilian cheese puffs. Once their demonstrations have your mouth watering, head to the Cheesy Pop-Up Precinct for lunch – perhaps some charcoal gnocchi with gorgonzola from 48 Hours Pizzeria and Gnoccheria, mac 'n' cheese from Meatmaiden or wood fired margherita pizzas from A25 Pizzeria? If none of those tickle your fancy, there will also be offerings from Professeur Crepe, That Arancini Guy, Wicked Spud and Raw Trader, who'll satisfy even non-dairy-eating cheese lovers with their raw vegan cheese. If you're not too full from all of that, the traders are also offering food to take home or eat there. Some of the highlights include Noisette's croque monsieur, twice-baked goats' cheese soufflés from Kook's Kitchen, and Fritz Gelato's four cheese-inspired gelato flavours, including lemon cheesecake. There will also be many, many cheese plates.
There's no time like Easter for embracing your inner child, and there's no place better to do it than at Luna Park. The beloved Melbourne theme park will be open all long weekend, and is celebrating the holidays with a spectacular chocolate egg hunt. An astounding 15,000 Darrell Lea eggs will be hidden around the park. Are they behind the Ghost Train? In the Pharaoh's Curse? Atop the Great Scenic Railway? Visitors to the park can participate in exchange for a gold coin donation, or gain free entry with an unlimited ride ticket to find out. Now, back off kids — that chocolate is ours!
Want to experience a slice of Jamaica in Melbourne? There's a rum-inspired adventure happening in the city this April that you should lock into your diary. Fine purveyors and makers of rum for over 265 years, Appleton Estate are launching The Appleton Trail in Melbourne — three delicious pop-up stops brimming with rum-tasting, storytelling and celebration of Jamaica's long-loved spirit. The Appleton Trail is taking over three Melbourne bars over three weekends from April 7, kicking off at Loop Roof in Melbourne's CBD from April 7-10, moving to Rochester Hotel on April 14 and 15, and concluding at Nieuw Amsterdam in the CBD on April 22 and 23. Expect a Jamaican-themed pop-up hideaway with specially-created rum cocktails, paired with bespoke Jamaican food menus, and hosted by a Jamaican dancer — all to make you feel like you're finally on that well-deserved island holiday. There'll even be a Jamaican music DJ accompanied by a steel drum player. You'll be able to try the Appleton Estate Signature Blend – the original Appleton Estate rum — alongside the Reserve Blend and Rare Blend 12 Year Old. Plus, Appleton have taken it upon themselves to create four signature cocktails for the event.
Mischief and merriment are on their way to fortyfivedownstairs. Marking 400 years since William Shakespeare's death, local theatre company Nothing But Roaring present their take on the bard's romantic comedy The Merry Wives of Windsor, a tale of seduction gone farcically awry. The play concerns the misadventures of Sir John Falstaff, an old, fat, down-on-his-luck knight attempting to woo a pair of married women and separate them from their fortunes. Unfortunately for him, the two women are best friends, and the plan soon begins to collapse around his ears. Now before you book tickets, you should know that The Merry Wives of Windsor is widely considered to be one of Shakespeare's weakest plays. Then again, that's a bit like talking about one of the world's weakest Michelin-starred restaurants. The Nothing But Roaring production opens April 19 and runs until May 1.
Who would have guessed that Dudley Dursley would grow up to be a playwright? And yet that's exactly what has happened. Peddling is the debut play by actor turned writer Harry Melling, best known for playing Harry Potter's odious on-screen cousin. A one-man show about class and generational divide, the play premiered in London back in 2014, and will be performed in Australia for the first time this week in a strictly limited season at the MTC. Actor Darcy Brown plays our unnamed protagonist, a teenage boy selling household cleaning goods door to door. Supposedly he's part of the Mayor's Young Offenders Scheme, but we soon learn that's just a scam. Described by critics as "a must-see experience" and "an accomplished debut", Peddling shapes up as a highlight of this year's MTC calendar.
View the work of this year's Linden Art Prize finalists on display at the Linden New Art Gallery starting Friday, March 4. Encompassing painting, sculpture, photography, video and a number of other mediums, the two-month exhibition at the Acland Street gallery will showcase the talents of six postgraduates competing for the award, which comes with a specially tailored mentorship and a $10,000 top prize. This year's finalists cover a wide array of disciplines and backgrounds. Ink prints pressed using the metal from road signs, an installation made of misshapen knitted jumpers, and a series of camera-less photographs are just a few of the works you'll see on display from artists Emma Coulter, Simon Crosbie, Jenny Peterson, Julie Shiels, Deborah White and Elizabeth Wallace. The winner will be announced on the first night of the exhibition, which will remain open until Sunday, May 1.
Take in the flavours of country Victoria at a day-long culinary cavalcade that foodies would be mad to miss. On Sunday, April 17, the team at the Lake House in Daylesford are hosting their annual Regional Producers Day, featuring butchers, bakers, farmers, makers, brewers, distillers, producers and cooks from all around the region. As far excuses to get away for the weekend go, that is a pretty damn good one. We just hope you're feeling hungry. Ticketholders will get the chance to view demonstrations by local chefs, or stop by the Alquimie Tasting Tent to try wines from great Australian winemakers. As for food, you can sample your way through the various market stalls, or grab something hot from the wood oven or BBQ grill. Once you've eaten your fill, you can sit back, enjoy some live music, and congratulate yourself on your legendary decision to get out of the city.
Now here's a good way to make an entrance to a party: float on in with a crew of 1000 boats. That's exactly what the Inflatable Regatta is all about. 1000 blow-up boats will take to a two-kilometre stretch of the Yarra on Saturday, February 11. In a single or double vessel, they'll paddle down the river for about two hours before reaching the destination party. Should you make it to the end, beers and food trucks will be waiting for you (after all, what's a regatta without a cold bev afterwards?) — and the ticket price includes your boat, so you can even take it home with you. There are some rules though: you can't load your boat with beer (no booze on the river, and you may actually sink your vessel), no DIY vessels and you should wear shoes that can stand to get a bit wet. Boats launch from 9.30am and you can choose your launch time when you book. Tickets cost $60 for a single boat and $110 for a double, and include a life jacket, sunscreen, a bailer (for emptying your boat of water) and a waterproof bag for your stuff. Boats launch from Yarra Bank Reserve in Hawthorn from 9.30am — you can choose your launch time when you book.
Make the most of the balmy weather forecast for Melbourne this Saturday night with a twilight visit to the Heide Museum of Modern Art. To mark the final weeks of their Making Modernism exhibition, the gallery is extending its opening hours until 9pm and hosting a laidback shindig after sundown. From 5pm, visitors will be able to scope out the exhibition, wander through Heide's beloved sculpture park, and enjoy beats by 3RRR's John Bailey. There'll also be food and wine available to purchase, because no jaunt through a gallery is truly complete with a glass of bubbly in hand. That's just a straight-up fact. Entry in Art by Twilight starts at $12 for Heide members, $18 for concession holders and $22 for adults. Image: Jeremy Weihrauch.
Germany in the 1890s doesn't exactly seem like the most obvious time or place to set a rock opera. But try telling that to the creators of Spring Awakening. A folk rock-infused musical about burgeoning sexuality and the tumultuous journey from adolescence to adulthood, the original production took home eight Tony Awards back in 2006. Now, more than a decade later, the show is on its way to Chapel Off Chapel for its Victorian professional premiere. Running from May 19 to June 10, the StageArt production will feature a plethora of local talent, including director Robbie Carmellotti and actors Jessie-Lou Yates, Ashley Roussety and Brent Trotter. "Spring Awakening transports us to a time and place which is almost unrecognisable to today's society," said Carmellotti. "Yet, remarkably, the show's contents still strike a resonating chord in all."
Is there anything better than a simple cup of tea? If leaves rather than beans comprise your preferred kind of hot beverage, you'll know its pleasures: smelling the wafting aroma, feeling the heat radiating from your cup and tasting the hearty flavour. Most tea-lovers experience all of that several times a day; however, expect to do so a few times more on May 20 — it's Melbourne Tea Festival time. Returning for 2017, this celebration of specialty loose-leaf tea boasts two main components: a workshop program that'll teach you about everything from Indigenous sun tea ceremonies to blending your own brews, and a tea market. At the latter, you'll wander around Melbourne Exhibition Centre with your porcelain tasting cup in hand — it's included with every ticket — and sip your way through dozens of stalls. Experience the flavours of artisan teas from all around the world; pick up some homemade tea pots, cups and other wares; or grab something edible from an array of food trucks. Whatever you spend the day doing, one thing is certain: you'll always have your favourite warm bev on hand.
Gelato Messina is about to become a place both wonderful and strange. With Twin Peaks finally happening again in the form of an eagerly anticipated third season, the gelato kings are getting in on the action by turning two of their stores — one in Sydney and one in Melbourne — into the show's iconic Double R Diner for one day. Naturally, there'll be themed frozen goodness aplenty, as well as free scoops. It's going to be damn fine indeed. In what will be Messina's first ever store transformations, the Double R Diner is set to take over the Richmond store on May 25. There mightn't be staff called Norma and Shelly on-hand, but there will be custom-made cherry gelato 'pie'. If that's your idea of dessert heaven, then here, the ice cream is what it seems. This must be where pies go when they die. In addition to the limited edition pie — there will only be 50 slices available per store — Messina has created three custom Twin Peaks flavours. They'll be served up for free (yes, free) between the hours of 12pm and 4pm, and then again from 5pm to 10pm. Just what those varieties will be, if they'll be wrapped in plastic, and whether there'll be a jukebox on-site playing tunes you just want to click your fingers to — well, you'll have to head along to find out. You can probably expect good, hot, black coffee too. Let's just hope there isn't a fish in the percolator. Unless you've been trapped in the Black Lodge for the past 25 years, you'll know that the whole thing is timed to coincide with the start of new Twin Peaks season, which will drop on Stan in Australia at 2pm on Monday, May 22. All 18 episodes have been directed by David Lynch, so we're in for quite the treat. Celebrating with pie and gelato is something Special Agent Dale Cooper would approve of — remember his wise words of advice: "every day, once a day, give yourself a present".
"I know it's only rock 'n' roll, but I write about it," sang no one, officially — though if anyone was going to paraphrase the Rolling Stones to describe the relationship between writing and music, it's probably someone at Australia's only literary festival dedicated to the two. After launching in Brisbane in 2016, A Rock & Roll Writers Festival returns is coming to Melbourne for the first time to tackle tune-inspired text on Sunday, April 9 at Abbotsford Convent. Crooning, scribbling: both are encouraged at the weekend-long event; however it's chatting about both and how they intersect in panel and interview sessions that proves the fest's catchy refrain. Here, authors, artists, journalists and musicians come together to discuss the relationship between art and freedom, stereotypes of rock 'n' roll stardom, the role of music criticism and the way that a picture can convey the vibe of a live gig, among other topics. And, not only will they trade words about songs in what are certain to be energetic and melodic conversations, but you can head along to watch. The lineup features everyone from musician Jess Ribiero, to radio journalist Dom Alessio, to writers Jenny Valentish and Kate Hennessy from a speaker list that just keeps on keeping on. If you're looking to get your toes tapping before all their talking, the festival has also put together a handy compilation of playlists from this year's guests to really put you in the rock 'n' roll mood.
A Secret Service agent-turned-bodyguard falls for the superstar singer he's been hired to protect. It's pegged as one of cinema's most iconic love stories, with Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner first tugging at our heartstrings back in 1992. And now, The Bodyguard is set to come alive for the Australian stage, with producers David Ian, Michael Harrison and John Frost bringing their award-winning musical show Down Under this year. Kicking off in Sydney in April 2017 before coming to Melbourne in August, this local production of The Bodyguard — which follows the just-as-awesome news that Moulin Rouge! will finally be made into a stage show — comes off the back of a wildly successful and star-studded run in London theatres, and record-breaking UK tour, which commenced in February this year. Paulini (of Australian Idol fame) will play Houston's Rachel Marron. Based on the eponymous Warner Bros. film and adapted for the stage by Academy Award winner Alexander Dinelaris, The Bodyguard musical features all those epic Houston tracks that audiences fell in love with the first time around. According to co-producer Frost, the emotionally-charged storyline, along with those "soaring ballads" — like 'Queen of The Night', 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody' and the legendary 'I Will Always Love You' (you know the ones) — were simply destined for the stage. The album is still the biggest selling movie soundtrack of all time. Yep. Still.
A brand new film program at ACMI is shining the spotlight on the heroines in Japanese animation. Running from December 14-23 at the cinema in Fed Square, Essential Anime: Heroines will showcase six outstanding films featuring female protagonists, including multiple Studio Ghibli classics. Unsurprisingly, the films of Hayao Miyazaki featuring prominently in the lineup, with the epic Princess Mononoke, the magical Spirited Away and the heartwarming My Neighbour Totoro all included. You'll also find on the slate a more recent Ghibli gem, in Hiromasa Yonebayashi's Arrietty. The program also features a pair of films from acclaimed animator Mamoru Hosoda, in Summer Wars and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time. Each film in the Essential Anime lineup will be shown multiple times throughout December, with some available in both English and Japanese with English subtitles. For the full schedule, go here.
In the CBD, there's one bar that's amping up the festivities in the name of Christmas. After last year's popular festivities forced Bar Americano to turn away some festive folk in search of a seasonal skull, this year, the small venue is spreading the joy across 12 days of Christmas. From December 12 through to December 24, Matt Bax's Bar Americano will become Bar Yuletide, and will serve up all kinds of festive drinks to fit the silly season. Christmas concoctions include the ominous-sounding Ghosts of Christmas Past cocktail selection and the bar's own oak barrel-blended glühwein. With the spirit of giving in the air, the vintage reds infused with summer fruits, winter spices, and artisan teas of the glühwein might just make you glow, too — all profits from the sale of the drink will be donated to the UNICEF Christmas Appeal. Bar Yuletide's 12 Days of Christmas starts at 5pm on Monday, December 12 and will run right up until Christmas Eve.
Learn the secrets to becoming the ultimate modern Melbourne man at the city's annual celebration of masculinity and style. Hosted by small business association City Precinct, the Festival of Steve is a day-long event featuring designers, outfitters, retailers and more. Whether you're looking to redo your wardrobe or score a few pool tips from a champ, Steve is here to help you up your game. This year's festival will be held at Taxi Riverside in Fed Square. Expect styling sessions, beer and wine samplings and gin and whisky masterclasses, along with a pool tournament hosted by Triple World Champion Robby Foldvari. The festival will also host a series of talks in conjunctions with ACMI's new Martin Scorsese exhibition, exploring the recurrent themes of masculinity in the movies of one of America's greatest filmmakers. There'll be a whole slew of exhibitors as well, specialising in everything from skincare to glassware to socks. Yes, socks. By the time the day is done you'll be a new man top to toe.
Sister Akousmatica is radio like you've never heard it before. For this year's Next Wave Festival, over seven hours seven female musicians from around the country will perform on the banks of the Yarra. But that's not where you'll listen. Instead, you'll join curators Julia Drouhin and Pip Stafford as they lead a procession through the streets of Melbourne with an arsenal of portable radios, stopping at various landmarks along the way to tune in to each performance. The pair will leave from Signal, Flinders Walk at 11am on Sunday, May 8, but you can join them at any time and stay for as long as you wish. And don't worry if you can't make it into the city — you can still listen in on 3CR 855AM, or via stream at 3cr.org.au.
It has been a rough couple of months for Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. The wave of popular support in the wake of his ousting of ol' onion breath has dissipated, leaving the PM struggling with a divided party and an unimpressed Australian public. It's hard to even imagine what would be going through his head at the moment. Fortunately, playwright and journalist Ross Mueller has done it for us. Taking over the stage at the Beckett Theatre for four performances only, this Malthouse Theatre production promises to deliver the kind of upfront political address that voters so desperately want to hear. Actors Louise Siversen and Rhys Muldoon will take turns playing Turnbull depending on the night. We'll try not to read too much into the fact that the man in charge of our country is being depicted as literally having two faces.
For the penultimate day of Good Beer Week 2016, Brooklyn Brewery will team up with Australia's first communal motorbike workshop for an epic afternoon of barbecue and beer. Feast on slow-cooked meats paired with ice cold brews, before taking a tour of Kustom Kommune's Easey Street workshop. Stick around from 3pm for the Brooklyn Block Party, a free event featuring more meat, more booze, and live music until late.
Pile into the Pussy Wagon with 88 of your craziest friends, and make your way down to 24 Moons Bar for the second annual Tarantino Ball. Inspired by everybody's favourite blood-spattered film geek auteur, this all-night costume party will see Northcote overrun with femme fatales, inglourious basterds and katana-wielding killers. We also suspect we might see a couple of guys in black suits wearing skinny black ties. Kicking off at 8pm on Saturday, May 14, this is more than just your run-of-the-mill costume party. The organisers have gone all-out with the Tarantino theme, with everything from a Jack Rabbit Slims Twist Competition to foot massages from the Foot Fucking Master, and $5 Sailor Jerry Shakes (of course). There'll also be Death Proof, Kill Bill and From Dusk 'Til Dawn tribute shows, along with live musical performances from Jukebox Racket and the aptly-named Tarantinos.
For four days this week discover the hidden masterpieces of artists living and working in Melbourne's inner west with Maribyrnong City Council's Open Studios in the West. Through a self-guided tour, you'll be able to wander in and out of the studios, galleries and workshops of some of Melbourne's most interesting artists, performers and designers in Footscray, Yarraville, Maidstone and Braybrook. These artists will welcome you into their studios — be it their backyard shed, a warehouse, or even their own lounge room. It's a great opportunity to experience the inspiration and working spaces of a diverse range of the city's creatives. Alongside the artistic wandering, the Maribyrnong City Council will be hosting two accompanying events: a screen-based arts instillation called Dangerous Deeds, and exhibition This Empty Chair. For the full program, visit the website.
Located right by the water on St Kilda Beach, Ben & Jerry's Openair Cinema is one of our favourite summer hangouts. This year's program kicks off in late November, with recent releases including The Accountant, Nocturnal Animals and Arrival alongside a smattering of classics such as Elf and Love Actually. Festivities start while the sun is still shining, with live music squeezed in before the film (plus plenty of time to suss out the bar and stock up on snacks). Head along to one of their Sundae Sessions (you guessed it, on a Sunday) to enjoy a great film, live music, and free Ben and Jerry's. No, you didn't hear wrong, that's free ice cream. The Ben and Jerry's Open Air Cinema has a much shorter run than Melbourne's other outdoor cinemas, so if you're keen on catching great film and indulging on some Peanut Butter Half Baked heaven, make sure you lock something in by December 18.
It's the kind of music event every pet lover dreams of, and it's back for another year of cute puppies and pumping sounds. That'd be Dogapalooza, of course. It does have a rather excellent name — and that merry moniker is just the beginning. After wowing crowds with their first fest last year, the dog-friendly shenanigans are bound to get tales wagging again at Richmond's Burnley Park. Expect everything from ethical eating options (including Dogapalooza's own in-house vegan barbecue) to boutique dog product vendors. Even though the music lineup isn't announced until August 26, we're betting that won't find the likes of Bow Wow and Snoop Dog on the bill, as on-theme as they would've been. That said, we're sure that the roster of acts will get your toes tapping regardless — and the paws of your furry best friend too. Dogapalooza isn't just about a day of music-oriented bliss in the sun with your pet pooch, though. All proceeds go raised will go towards helping canines in need via Oscar's Law and Melbourne's dog rescue groups Stafford Rescue Victoria, Melbourne Animal Rescue and Puppy Tails Rescue.
Global warming, renewable energy, sustainable farming and animal rights — these are just a few of the big topics on the agenda at this year's Environmental Film Festival Australia. Beginning in Melbourne on September 29 before touring around the country (including stops in Sydney and Brisbane), the seventh edition of this green-themed film fest shapes up as the biggest one yet. Standout films on this year's program include Sonic Sea — about the effects of noise pollution on marine life — and Time to Choose, a climate change documentary by Oscar winner Charles Ferguson (Inside Job). Those of you with iron stomachs might also want to check out Bugs on the Menu, a sustainable food doco about exactly what it sounds like. In Melbourne they're even pairing it with a special gourmet dinner at Grub Food Van. Yum!(?)
This is a public service announcement for anyone who bakes, eats or lives and breathes cake. One of the biggest dessert shows in the country returns to Melbourne this October, featuring everything and anything in the world of baking and cake decorating. Running for three days from October 21-23 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the event will include live demonstrations across a number of theatres, as well as shopping, challenges and — of course — lots and lots of epic, out-of-this-world cakes. From MasterChef 2016 winner Elena Duggan to international cake artist Danielle Gotheridge to Movida's Frank Camorra, the 2016 Cake Bake & Sweets Show will host a huge lineup of expert bakers. International chocolate sculptor Paul Joachim (known for his huge chocolate pieces, including a huge Harry Potter sculpture he made for J.K. Rowling's birthday) will be there too, teaching punters how to carve 15-kilogram blocks of chocolate into works of art. Visitors can make their way through the Producers' Marketplace, the temporary home to Victoria's best pastry, macaron, pie and cake makers. Visitors will also have the opportunity to purchase the latest and greatest in baking equipment, ingredients and tools. The show will run from 10am until 5pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Tickets start from $28 for single-day general admission.
If you've ever used a public bathroom in this town, you could be forgiven for feeling sceptical about this particular Melbourne Fringe installation art piece. A (presumably) tongue-in-cheek tribute to Melbourne's status as a UNESCO City of Literature, The Stalls combines light, sound and video, bringing some of the city's strangest and most revealing toilet stall graffiti to a single lavatory in the Fringe Hub, which is this year located at North Melbourne's Arts House. No need to bring a magazine — there'll be reading material all over the walls.
Hophaus Bavarian Bier Bar Grill is hosting its annual charity dachshund race this week — and, frankly, you shouldn't need any more information to understand why that's a thing you should care about. Returning to the Southbank German restaurant, the teckelrennen is an Oktoberfest tradition, and will see sausage dogs from far and wide pumping their stubby little legs for gold and glow. The first heat kicks off at 11am on Saturday, September 24, with the grand champion expected to be crowned at around 2.30pm that afternoon. There'll also be a costume competition, because the only thing better than dachshunds is dachshunds in tiny adorable outfits. Entry is free for spectators, while all money raised from entry fees paid by competitors will be donated to Dachshund Rescue Australia. https://player.vimeo.com/video/139814129
Hop on board the Route 19 tram and make your way north to the Coburg Carnivale. Part of Melbourne Fringe, this annual street festival will once again take over Victoria Street Mall — as well as the nearby Coburg Library — for five days of performances, workshops, music, food and more. Kicking off on Wednesday, September 21, this year's Carnivale will feature a number of free and ticketed events, including the interactive storytelling experience The Little Wooded Caravan, a pair of performances by comic songwriter Justin Heazlewood (aka The Bedroom Philospher), and the world premiere of General Fiasco's Circus Spectacular. In-between shows, punters can pay a visit to the pop-up park, open every afternoon and long into the night, before grabbing a bite and kicking back under the stars.
For a long while, people have been raising issue with the lack of gender diversity in the music festival scene. Women often occupy tiny stages and small percentages of festival lineups. Up-and-coming female and LGBTIQ musicians struggle to achieve non-gendered recognition. But finally, there's a local collective taking action. Sydney-based record label Sad Grrrls Club is launching their first Melbourne showcase at the Reverence Hotel in Footscray on Saturday, October 1 — and they've pulled together a stellar non-male lineup. The event is designed to be a safe space, free from the kind of harassment that can make festivals so draining for those that don't identify as males. The event motto is: "Be good to each other and have fun". Right on. Check out the full lineup below. SAD GRRRLS FEST 2016 LINEUP Jaala Jess Ribeiro CAMP COPE Simona Castricum Alex Lahey MISS DESTINY Dark Fair Kt spit Claws & Organs Beloved Elk The Girl Fridas Shiny Coin CHELSEA BLEACH Denim Owl Dogood Plus Acoustic Artists: Rin McArdle (SA) Stellar Addiction (NSW) Rachel Maria Cox (NSW) Samara Cullen Sandy Hsu Eli Cash Jo Neugebauer Image: Matt Warrell.
Hightail it down to Bruzzy's Farm in Tallarook and shake it all weekend long. Returning to add lots of boogies to the Eater weekend for the 11th year, this fittingly named boutique music festival is back for three straight days of dancing under the stars. The lineup is as eclectic as ever, with legendary Melbourne band Cosmic Psychos headlining, and playing alongside locals Tyrannamen and Jen Cloher. They'll be joined by US bands Strand of Oaks, Sonny & The Sunsets and Endless Boogie, among others.
