This summer, the Heide Museum of Modern Art is celebrating the works of famed British artist Barbara Hepworth through its new In Equilibrium exhibition. Dame Barbara Hepworth is known for being one of the greatest modernist sculptors during the 20th century, and the first female sculptor to achieve international recognition and accolades. The Heide Museum has curated more than forty of them for this exhibit, many of which have never been seen in Australia. [caption id="attachment_874063" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Eidos, 1947, Barbara Hepworth, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. © Bowness[/caption] They will take over the main galleries of the Heide Museum from November 5, 2022, to March 13, 2023 and will trace Hepworth's career, including her early figurative carvings, forming a complete retrospective of her life's works. Much focus will be on her inspirations, too. Nature was one of Hepworth's main influences, with the artist inspired by the coastal landscape of St Ives in Cornwall, where she lived and worked for much of her artistic career. From the movement of tides to Cornwall's magnificent and towering ancient standing stones, the artist's later sculptures are a nod to much of the patterns and shapes found naturally formed in nature. In Equilibrium offers up a rare opportunity for Australians to experience Hepworth's sculptures and learn more about Hepworth herself — who was one of the leading British artists of her generation. [caption id="attachment_874064" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Drawing for sculpture—Santorin, 1955, Barbara Hepworth, Image courtesy The Hepworth Wakefield. © Bowness[/caption] Tickets to Barbara Hepworth: In Equilibrium cost $22 (+ booking fee) for adults, $17 (+ booking fee) for concession holders and are free for Heide Museum of Modern Art members. Top image: Sculpture with Colour and Strings, 1939, Barbara Hepworth, Ingram Collection, London. © Bowness
Sometimes, it can feel like there's a new high-rise building popping up in Melbourne every week. But, the city's newest urban development is a welcome respite from all that height. Dubbed simply Park Melbourne, the street-level retreat is the latest venture from Maz Salt, director of Cast of Falcons (Section 8, Ferdydurke, Belleville). And it's made its home in a former Chinatown car park. After Salt won a lengthy battle with Melbourne City Council over plans and permits, the 40-year-old car park was transformed into an openair bar and public space, with an ever-evolving arts program and an indefinite lifespan. The once bitumen-filled space has been reimagined at the hands of Baracco & Wright Architects, the minds behind 2018's Australian Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale. Soil and bark cover the ground, and a swag of native tree have been arranged throughout, planted into recycled plastic bags in a nod to Park's temporary nature. You'll spy indigenous grasses, red gums, acacia and sheoaks, referencing what this space might have been like decades before. [caption id="attachment_748697" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Julia Sansone[/caption] In the centre of Park, you'll find a shiny silver Airstream serving up refreshments from morning till night. Opening at 8am with coffees from Brunswick roaster Founder and a rotating iced Tea 2 special, it transforms into a bar at night with tinnies of Furphy and 3 Ravens Acid sour beer, and couple of local wines. To eat, there's a selection of fresh baguettes and Pie Thief pastries. Expect regular appearances from Melbourne food truck favourites, too, like T-Rex BBQ. As for the entertainment, Park's main aim is to deliver a diverse, ever-changing program of free events, while supporting local talent. Think, resident DJs spinning tunes, a broad lineup of creative workshops, installations and live art projects. Also on the agenda: a community radio station in a pop-up greenhouse at the front of the space. Keep an eye on Park Melbourne's Instagram for upcoming events. Find Park Melbourne at 132–138 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne. It's open from Thursday–Saturday 8am–1am, Sunday–Wednesday 8am–11pm. Images: Julia Sansone
Memories don't just dwell in the mind — they also linger in places. Gazing at a piece of furniture may inspire recollections of younger, wilder days, just as playing a particular record in a specific room can conjure up visions of times gone by. In Aquarius, as retired music critic Clara (Sônia Braga) battles to save her seaside apartment from developers, this is what she's fighting for. Her home, where she raised her three now-grown children, is more than simply a lucrative piece of real estate in an area undergoing gentrification. As she's reminded with every glance, it's where her life has unfolded. Understanding that sentiment is easy in Kleber Mendonça Filho's second fictional film. Or, to be more accurate, the Brazilian writer-director makes it look easy. Named after the structure at its centre, Aquarius starts with a flashback to the 1980s, ensuring that viewers will already appreciate just what Clara's home means to her once developers come calling. "This is a generous offer," she's told when her doorbell rings in the present. But you can't put a price on what Clara has, and what she wants to hold on to. Before long, they begin to push harder, and even her kids start chiming in. Still, our protagonist remains unfazed, embracing her quest to save her very own castle. In truth, Clara's fight for her right to live where she wants is tied to and heightened by several other factors. Focusing on a beloved, rough-around-the-edges building that's being cast aside for supposedly bigger and better things, the film's statement on the current climate of upheaval in Brazil is inescapable. And then there's Clara herself: an older woman who refuses to be ignored or bulled by a younger generation that thinks they know better, or to behave in a more 'age-appropriate' way. In short, Clara is a force to be reckoned with – and that goes more than double for the magnetic actor portraying her. Spying parallels between Aquarius' protagonist and its main place of interest aren't hard, and nor are they meant to be. But what would have likely been clumsy and clichéd in most other hands proves complex and nuanced here, largely thanks to Filho's leading lady. A stock-standard crank well past her prime Braga's character most definitely is not. After spending much of her recent career popping up in American TV shows such as Luke Cage, Alias and Sex and the City, the veteran actress couldn't be more commanding, whether Clara is flirting with the young lifeguard across the street, dancing in her living room to Queen's 'Fat Bottomed Girls' or reminding her nemesis at the construction company that she won't be pushed around. The movie might be given room to grow and breathe over the course of 142 minutes, but Braga ensures that her performance is memorable from the outset. From the steely glint in her eye to the confident swagger in her walk, she makes Clara the passionate and determined 65-year-old everyone wants to grow up to become. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Zln78CcFkA
Nothing says summer like ice cream and ice cold ciders, and you'll find both — along with a variety of other tasty morsels — at the Point Lonsdale Surf Life Saving Club Summer Pop-Up. Open from Boxing Day to the Australia Day long weekend at the Surf Club House at 52 Ocean Road, Point Lonsdale, the month-long multi-storey pop-up restaurant and bar will feature food and beverages from local vendors perfect for munching under the sun. Savoury snacks will come courtesy of Fodda Food Truck — think summer tacos, BBQ prawn skewers and sweet potato cakes. Dessert, meanwhile, will be provided by The Scandinavian Ice Cream Company, who've created a special chocolate and honeycomb 'bumblebee' flavour just for the occasion. For their part, The Flying Brick Cider Company will keep punters thoroughly hydrated, sponsoring the pop-up's downstairs lawn bar featuring cider as well as beer and a selection of local wines.
If life has you travelling regularly between Melbourne and Geelong, here's a little win for you: you'll soon be able to do so via ferry. After trials in July 2018, Port Phillip Ferries will run a regular service between the two cities from December this year. Transporting commuters between Central Geelong, adjacent to the Cunningham Pier, and Victoria Harbour, the ferries will run twice daily. While times haven't yet been announced, the test runs ran departed Corio Bay for Docklands at 6.15am, then made the return trip to Geelong at 5.30pm. Last year's trip took around one hour and 45 minutes, aka a bit longer than the train journey, which typically takes an hour and a half. That said, it might be quicker than driving in peak hour traffic — especially if you work in or near the harbour. Thanks to a new 'fast ferry', it could be speedier still — although those details haven't been revealed either. Built by Tasmanian-based company Incat, the new route will be sailed by a purpose-built Geelong Flyer catamaran, which'll boast indoor and outdoor spaces, and can seat 400 people. Either way, with the added bonus of free wifi, phone charging stations, bike racks and an on-board licensed cafe (perfect for that post-work tipple), the ferry ride sounds a whole lot more picturesque than the train journey — and much more tempting than a peak-hour crawl over the West Gate Bridge. If you don't get seasick, that is. Committing to the route continues the expansion of Port Phillip Ferries' commuter services. It has already been running a daily service between Portarlington and Melbourne, the Bellarine Express, for the past three years, and promised that the Geelong route would be considered for a permanent fixture if trials proved successful. Port Phillip Ferries' new Geelong Flyer will hit the water from December 2019. For further details, visit the Port Phillip Ferries website.
The National Gallery of Victoria International is putting a spotlight on female artists with its latest large-scale exhibition. Designing Women will open on level three from September 28, 2018 to March 24, 2019. The exhibit showcases nearly 40 years of work from 1980–2018 and focuses on the ongoing role of women in contemporary design culture. It will collate the NGV International collection to highlight over 50 pieces that span multi-disciplinary creative fields — including fashion, jewellery, product design, architecture and digital breakthroughs. Works from groundbreaking designers Zaha Hadid and Neri Oxman will be joined by those by local heavy-hitters Elliat Rich and Helen Kontouris. An NGV commission will also be showcased as part of the exhibition — Lee Darroch, a Yorta Yorta, Mutti Mutti, Boon Wurrung artist from Gippsland, has designed a 25-pelt possum skin cloak that depicts the enthralling history of her family and the region. Accompanying the exhibition is a discussion titled Curator's Perspective: Modern Day Trailblazers, which will take place at 12pm on Sunday, October 14. The talk will be hosted by Simone LeAmon (NGV's curator of contemporary design and architecture) and discuss how the female artists on display have succeeded in this male-dominated industry. Image: Carlotta de Bevilacqua, Yang Metamorphosis 2000 for Artemide, Italy. Courtesy of the designer.
Arc One Gallery are kicking off 2014 with a bang, hosting the work of seven prominent Australian artists in this impressive new group exhibition. From the end of January till the start of March, you may stumble across some local greats such as Julie Rrap, Anne Zahalka, Peter Callas, Pat Brassington, Peter Daverington, or Rose Farrell and George Parkin; and though there's no solid theme to the show, it seems each work may well end up subtly complementing the next. Though renowned in different mediums and styles, each artist Arc One represents seem enthralled in an exploration of different kinds of dissonance. Whether that be a conflict of cultures as in Peter Callas' work Japanese Uncle Sam, or a convergence of styles as in Anne Zahalka's photographic appropriation of Jan Van Eyck's Arnolfini Portrait, The Marriage of Convenience (pictured above). In fact, a tension between the new and old seems to be a recurring theme exhibited especially in Peter Daverington's cheekily titled oil painting Miniature Self Portrait #Selfie. With all this in mind, the show's title seems somehow spot on — exploring the differences and divides in our shared histories these artists are all in some way trying to unite these things which at first seem a world apart.
Summer is here and with it the holy trinity of sun, sand and surf — and conveniently long days to enjoy them. But before you book your annual leave and leg it to the beach, plan your suncation. Now is the time to invest in sun safe essentials so you don't come out the other side of summer looking like a shrivelled raisin. And one of the most overlooked sun-safe accessories is a beach tent. "A beach tent?" you shriek. "Good grief, I'm not 85!" Well, hold up now. Yes, beach tents may have started as a gaudy, fluorescent nightmare dotting the shore but the logic behind them is sound. And they've evolved way past the beach tents we remember as kids and they're the best way to keep the sun off. We've found some super cute ones that won't ruin your beach cred while you avoid the UV. BYRON BAY BEACH LIFE As if those gorgeous, vintage tropical prints weren't sweet enough, these tents by Byron Bay Beachlife have clearly been designed by someone who spends a lot of time on the beach. How can we tell? They're designed to cast shade but also give you a clear, 360-degree view of the beach so you can stay out of the sun but keep track of any fire hotties that wander past. And isn't that the whole point of lazing on the beach? They've been designed to be assembled in a few different ways too, so you can customise your set-up. GINGER AND GILLIGAN If you're looking to spend big bucks on your beach swag (we're talking $249 each) and be voted 'Most Opulent Beach Goer 2016', look no further than Ginger and Gilligan. We recommend their tie-dyed beach tipi because it's just so damn pretty. It's also a bit more contained than most beach tents, giving you some privacy while ocean-side, just in case you need to change. Each tent is hand-dyed so you can guarantee no one else on the beach will have a tent like yours. LOVIN' SUMMER Minimalist beach tents look incredible. You can rig your beach set-up to look like it's straight out of a photoshoot. But how do minimalist beach tents hold up against the elements? Pretty well apparently. The gorgeous tents from Lovin' Summer are only minimalist in look. They block out 99 percent of UV protection and come with specially-made pegs that anchor deep in the sand. They've also been designed to be easily assembled by a solo beachgoer, making them genuinely 'pop-up'. SOMBRILLA BY HOLLIE AND HARRIE The Sombrilla tent by Hollie and Harrie, similar to the Byron Bay Beach Life design, lets you gaze over the whole beach while staying in the shade. They come in a variety of pop colours and designs, bringing to mind the famous beach boxes of Brighton Beach. And best of all, they're versatile — you can put it up in the standard symmetrical formation for shade coverage or set it up more like a windbreaker for when the sun dips low. They also sell windbreakers, for those days when you just can't have the wind up in your business. SUNNY JIM When we say Sunny Jim tents are designed to make #beachlife easy, we really mean it. They've thought of everything you could possibly need to execute the perfect beach tent seamlessly. The cute tents fold away into an easy yoga bag and/or handbag and they come with a mallet. A mallet! Useful not only for banging in pegs but also for passing official judgements on your friends. Best of all, the shade material is made from UPF50+, the highest shade rating available. The Sunny Jim really isn't messing around here. CANCER COUNCIL The range of tents available from the Cancer Council might be a bit more in line with your original ideas about beach tents. They're the classic beach pod, closed in on three sides (no sunlight getting in here, no sir) in bright blues and yellows. They each boast the highest UPF rating (50+) and very high nostalgia factor. We'd also like to give an honourable mention to the 'Sunshade Chair', a fully shaded chair, with a drink holder included. Now that's how you stay sun safe with raditude. SPORTBRELLA Now, here us out on this one. The Sportbrella might look a bit whack, being a Frankenstein combo of beach tent and beach umbrella, but it's actually pretty useful. It's rocking that UPF 50+ rating, so you know no UV is getting in. The Sportbrella (but feel free to use it for leisure) combines the sturdiness of the umbrella staked into the sand with the privacy of an enclosed beach tent. Plus they're huge, at 2.45 metres wide and perfect for big groups. Stay tuned for our wrap-up of the summer's best beach umbrellas, coming soon.
Melbourne’s very own international biennial festival dedicated to contemporary video practice has come around once more to thoroughly bend our minds. This year, Channels Festival will host a series of exhibitions, screenings, talks, performances, and workshops that will disrupt your reality, challenging the historical context of video and make suggestions as to where the future lies for this artform in an increasingly tech-saturated world. The official opening night kicks off on September 18, at Screen Space. The night will feature international festival guest Same Smith's new exhibition Slow Fragmentation downstairs, as well as a selection of contemporary video work from Australian and New Zealand artist-run initiatives, curated by Screen Space, upstairs. Some highlights from this year’s program include In the Epoch of the Near and Far exhibition, featuring works from Petra Cortright (USA) and Heath Franco (AUS) and curated by Amelia Winata, and Jessie Scott’s exhibition/lending library, Miraculous Ribbon. The festival will run for ten days in total in venues across the CBD, Fitzroy and Collingwood, as well as online.
1980s Brisbane is coming to your streaming queue, and one of Australia's iconic novels along with it. It's been four years since Harper Collins sold the television rights to Boy Swallows Universe in 2019, then a year since Netflix announced its involvement in bringing the tale to the screen in 2022. Now, when 2024 hits, the wait to see what Trent Dalton's beloved award-winner looks like as a streaming series will be over. Boy Swallows Universe has won a swag of awards, including the Book of the Year, Literary Book of the Year and Audio Book of the Year at the 2019 Australian Book Industry Awards — and was longlisted for Australia's most prestigious literature prize, the Miles Franklin. It sold a heap of copies and been turned into a play. The Brisbane-set story trod those boards in Brissie, too, and now it's a Netflix series that was shot in the River City. After releasing behind-the-scenes glimpses of the production, initially advising that it would arrive in 2023 and dropping a first teaser trailer, the TV adaptation has now locked in its release date and unveiled its full sneak peek. First, mark Thursday, January 11, 2024 in your diary. Then, check out what's in store for this coming-of-age story on-screen via the new trailer. Dalton's novel and now the television show that follows spin a tale about a young boy, his prophetic brother and his jailbreaking best friend as they navigate the heroin-filled underworld of 80s Queensland. Also included: Eli Bell's (Felix Cameron, Penguin Bloom) attempt to understand how to be a good person, with his plight spanning a lost father, a criminal for a babysitter, a mum recovering from addiction, a mute brother, a stepfather who deals and a red telephone. Netflix's Boy Swallows Universe adaptation features eight episodes, running as a self-contained limited series, as it plunges into the space between childhood's magic and adulthood's reality. Travis Fimmel (Black Snow) also stars as Lyle Orlik, while the cast includes Simon Baker (Limbo) as Robert Bell and Phoebe Tonkin (Babylon) as Frances Bell — plus Lee Tiger Halley (The Heights) as Gus Bell. Also appearing: Bryan Brown (Hungry Ghosts) as Slim Halliday, Anthony LaPaglia (Nitram) as Tytus Broz, and Sophie Wilde (Talk to Me) as Caitlyn Spies, plus Christopher James Baker (Ozark) as Ivan Kroll, HaiHa Le (Spooky Files) as Bich Dang and Deborah Mailman (The New Boy) as Poppy Birkbeck. And, you'll see Ben O'Toole (Barons) as Teddy, Zachary Wan (Never Too Late) as Darren Dang, and Millie Donaldson (Jack Irish) and Eloise Rothfield as Shelley Huffman (aged 17 and 13, respectively). Boy Swallows Universe is directed by Bharat Nalluri (The Man Who Invented Christmas), Jocelyn Moorhouse (The Dressmaker) and Kim Mordaunt (The Rocket), and scripted by screenwriter John Collee (Master and Commander, Happy Feet, Hotel Mumbai). The impressive names involved extend to the show's executive producers, too, which include Joel Edgerton (The Stranger), Troy Lum (The Water Diviner, Saving Mr Banks, Mao's Last Dancer), Andrew Mason (The Matrix, The Water Diviner), Sophie Gardiner (Howard's End, Chimerica) and Kerry Roberts (Foe, Boy Erased). Check out the full trailer for Boy Swallows Universe below: Boy Swallows Universe will stream via Netflix from Thursday, January 11, 2024. Images: courtesy of Netflix © 2023.
Back at the beginning of December, life in Australia seemed like it was largely returning to normal after a tough year spent coping with the COVID-19 pandemic. Then Sydney experienced a cluster of cases in the northern beaches region, cases popped up in Victoria as well, and now Brisbane is responding to the country's first local case of the new, more contagious coronavirus strain. Due to the latter situation — with a hotel quarantine worker testing positive to COVID-19 — the nation has been reacting at both the state and federal government levels. The Greater Brisbane area is going into lockdown for three days, and New South Wales is requiring anyone who has been in the region since January 2 and is now down south to also stay at home under the same conditions for the same period. In the latest announcement on the news-filled day that is today, Friday, January 8, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has made a similar statement, covering the whole country. Firstly, following the first Australian national cabinet meeting for 2021, the Prime Minister revealed that the Greater Brisbane area has been declared a COVID-19 hotspot at the commonwealth level. That applies to the Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton and Redlands local government areas. Secondly, the PM has said that anyone who is in the rest of Australia but has visited Greater Brisbane should "treat yourself as if you are in those places". "Our message to Australians who are in those areas is — stay where you are," the Prime Minister said. "Don't go anywhere. Don't go home to another state or any other part of your state. Over the next few days, stay where you are. If you're somewhere else and you are planning to go there, don't. You should get tested. You should monitor your symptoms. And until you've gone through the testing process, you should remain isolated." https://twitter.com/ScottMorrisonMP/status/1347311954625396737 Queensland Health has made a similar statement about travellers from the state itself, announcing that anyone from Queensland who has been in the Greater Brisbane area since January 2 but is now elsewhere must quarantine wherever they are. They'll also need to wear a mask when they leave their homes — for one of the four reasons permitted during Greater Brisbane's lockdown. Other states and territories around the country have also been implementing their own restrictions on folks from Greater Brisbane, or who've visited there recently — and on the entirety of Queensland in some instances. As has been the case for much of 2020, the rules vary depending on the state and territory. As today's development's have shown, they're changing fast. At the time of writing, Victoria's Department of Health and Human Services advises that anyone who has arrived in Victoria from Greater Brisbane since January 2 should get tested, and remain at home or wherever they're staying until Monday, January 11, when a further assessment about the situation will be made. Tasmania has declared the Greater Brisbane region a high-risk area. Anyone who has arrived in Tasmania after spending time in Greater Brisbane since January 2 must immediately self-isolate and contact the state's Public Health Hotline, while anyone who has been in the area and intends to travel to Tassie won't be allowed to enter, unless they receive an exemption. In the Northern Territory, travel limits have also been put in place, affecting folks from the Greater Brisbane area. The hotspot declaration came into effect this morning, on Friday, January 8, and means anyone entering the NT from the region will have to go into quarantine for two weeks. South Australia is bringing in a quarantine requirement, too, from midnight as Saturday, January 9 begins, which means that arrivals from Greater Brisbane will need to isolate for two weeks. Anyone currently in SA who has been in the Greater Brisbane area since January 2 must get tested immediately. The Australian Capital Territory will require anyone who has been in the Greater Brisbane area since January 2 to go into isolation for 14 days from when they were last in the area. That comes into effect from 3pm on Friday, January 8. https://twitter.com/MarkMcGowanMP/status/1347373468585660417 Over in Western Australia, a hard border has been brought back in with all of Queensland. At midnight tonight, the border will close to anyone who has been in the Sunshine State since January 2, and anyone who receives an exemption to still enter WA will have to go into quarantine for 14 days and undertake COVID-19 testing at two different points. Those currently in WA who have been in Queensland since January 2 must self-isolate until they have spent 14 days in WA, and must get tested by January 12 and then have another test on day 11 of their quarantine. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Australia, visit the Australian Government Department of Health website.
In a week that's already revealed the closure of The Commune Group's short-lived Alter Dining and celebrated fine diner Estelle by Scott Pickett, another Melbourne restaurant has announced its farewell. The latest news sees Andrew McConnell's St Kilda eatery Supernormal Canteen up for sale, 12 months after the chef transformed the space from its previous incarnation as Luxembourg. McConnell has had the Fitzroy Street site for seven years, since launching his first solo venture Golden Fields there back in 2011. Now, it's on the market as the owner moves to focus his attentions on the rest of his hefty restaurant stable. A Supernormal spokesperson confirmed the news, saying, "After seven years in St Kilda, we have decided to consolidate our focus on existing venues and projects." At this stage, no closing date has been set and the venue will kick on as usual, at least until a new buyer snaps up the site. The restaurant's CBD sibling, Supernormal will continue operating as usual. Pay Supernormal Canteen a visit while you still can, at 157 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda. Image credit: Nikki To
Coburg Night Market, the much-loved northside summer pop-up, is back for a 23rd time, taking over Bridges Reserve from Friday, December 15–Sunday, December 17. Whether you're stocking up on prezzies or just want to soak up the start of those long summer nights, the free, dog-friendly market promises three nights and two days jam-packed with good stuff. Not least of which are the live tunes that go well beyond your stock standard neighbourhood p festival lineup. Pull up a picnic rug and treat your ears to sounds from the likes of Pirritu, Hooper Crescent, Muma Ganoush, OUZO!, Fonzie, Sunny Morris, Sunfruits and DJ Jas Moore from Triple R. The Coburg Night Market is also introducing the Mindful Mob Healing Market for the first time. First Nations songwriter and producer Maylene Yinarr has curated a stacked program featuring performances, a children's mindfulness workshop, cultural healing sessions, Elders stories and more. Visitors will be encouraged to enter this cultural space within Coburg Night Market of the broader market to learn more about the local First Nations community and their connection to land and Spirit. Shoppers will also find an impressive curation of 68 market stalls from local creatives and businesses. This will include a heap of food and drink vendors slinging a diverse range of eats throughout the weekend. The market will run from 5–10:30pm on December 15, 12–10:30pm on December 16 and 12–8:30pm on December 17. Images: Nic Cleary and Coburg Night Market
After one of the hottest summers on record and heading back into the cooler months, the thought of throwing on a suit is just becoming bearable. And, in perfect timing, menswear label M.J. Bale has announced a huge archive sale. Running from Thursday, March 21 to Sunday, March 24, at 255A Chapel Street, the sale will get you sorted for the season ahead (and maybe a few after that, too). Since Matt Jensen founded the quality menswear brand in 2009, it's become a staple in many of Aussie men's wardrobes. From quality office attire to special occasion wear, the label prioritises maintaining a close supply chain between Australian wool growers, Italian weavers and Japanese tailors, so you're guaranteed to find clothing that is stylish, breathable and top quality. Along with suit wear, the brand also offers laidback linen, knitwear, cotton and lightweight flannel styles, plus a great selection of accessories. And you'll be able to score some of it for up to 75 percent across the four-day sale. The M.J. Bale Archive Sale will be open 8am–8pm on Thursday, March 21 to Friday, March 22 and 9am–5pm on Saturday, March 23 and Sunday, March 24 — head to the event page for more.
No longer confined to children's birthday parties, bouncy castles, inflatable obstacle sources and blow-up labyrinths are currently hot property for adults (and their inner kids, of course). And the next blow-up event to hit Australia is big. Really big. Dubbed 'The Big Bounce Australia', it's an inflatable theme park made up of Guinness World Records-certified world's biggest bouncy castle, a 300-metre long obstacle course and a three-part space-themed wonderland. You're going to need a lot of red cordial to bounce your way through all of this. Set to hit Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth in early 2020, The Big Bounce is open to both littl'uns and big'uns, but there are a heap of adults-only sessions, so you don't have to worry about dodging toddlers on your way through. Tickets for adults will set you back $55, which gives you a whole three hours in the park — you'll need it. Inside, you'll encounter the aforementioned bouncy castle — aptly named The World's Biggest Bounce House — covering a whopping 1500 square metres and, in some spots, reaching ten metres off the ground. In this house, you'll encounter a heap of slides, ball pits, climbing towers, basketball hoops and (if you can believe it) a stage with DJs, confetti cannons and beach balls. Then, there's The Giant, with 50 inflatable obstacles, including giant red balls and a monster slide. [caption id="attachment_749668" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Big Bounce AirSpace[/caption] Before you hit the final, three-part section of the park, you may need to pause, down some red frogs and maybe even have a nap. Or not, you do only have three hours to explore it all. Next up, is AirSpace, where aliens, spaceships and moon craters collide with a five-lane slide, some more ball pits and an 18-metre-tall maze. Now, you'll certainly need a nap. This extremely OTT theme park is hitting Melbourne's Flemington Racecourse first (January 3–19), before heading to Sydney's St Ives Showground (January 24–February 9). After that, it'll head to Adelaide (February 14–March 1), Brisbane (March 6–22) and Perth (April 3–19) — locations haven't been announced for these ones yet, but we'll let you know when they are. Tickets for The Big Bounce Sydney and Melbourne are on sale now. We'll update you when the rest drop.
A party can always be made better with pinot, so one with nothing but the ancient red grape is sure to be a wild one. But who throws such decadent gatherings? That'll be Pinot Palooza. And judging by the last two bashes they've thrown, this years instalment is sure to be a party indeed. Since launching in 2012, the Palooza has become the biggest date on any pinotphiles calendar. The event only keeps on growing, and this year pinot producers from around the world will take their wines to a bigger venue, the basement car park of Circa, The Prince, this Saturday, October 4 from 1pm. So here's the deal: 150 wines, $60, unlimited tastings. If you break it down, that's just 40 cents per tasting glass. Whatta bargain! We don't know if anyone's actually managed to try all 150 varieties within five hours, but we'd encourage you to give it a red-hot crack. If there's any event where you're allowed to get a little boozy, it's this one. More than just a straight-up wine tasting, the Palooza will have music, local food offerings and even a selection of craft beer (just in case). So whether you're a pinot pro, or you just know that you like the stuff, Pinot Palooza is the best way to learn a few things and sample more wines than you can poke a wine glass at. Although, we can't promise you won't wake up with the red wine sweats the next day.
St Kilda Festival, Melbourne's long-running celebration of live music, is officially returning this February for its 42nd edition. Scheduled to run from Saturday, February 18 to Sunday, February 19 at the iconic St Kilda Foreshore and surrounds, the jam-packed summer event will see a lineup of big-name acts and emerging talents alike playing across multiple stages. And, as always, it's free, and welcomes visitors of all ages. Saturday go-ers are invited to join First Peoples First, a celebration of First Nations music, culture and community, with performances from the likes of Christine Anu, Jem Cassar-Daley, Lady Lash, Dean Brady, Jungaji and more performing at O'Donnell Gardens and the St Kilda foreshore main stage. The Archie Roach Foundation has curated a good chunk of the lineup — and that same evening, the late Uncle Archie will be further honoured with a musical tribute featuring a range of special guests. [caption id="attachment_885113" align="alignnone" width="1920"] www.nathandoranphotography.com[/caption] On Sunday — also known as Big Festival Sunday — Aussie musical legends Hoodoo Gurus and electro-pop act Confidence Man will take the main stage, so be sure to get in early to nab prime position. Genesis Owusu, Yothu Yindi, Hatchie, Alice Ivy, Mick Harvey, Ashwarya, Phoebe Go, THNDO, Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers, JK-47, Jen Cloherand and more will also be showcasing their talents throughout the day. Both days of the festival will also see plenty of family entertainment, sports demonstrations, market stalls, local community group activations and street performers popping up around St Kilda to add to the festive vibe. For more information and to check out the full lineup, head to the St Kilda Festival website.
Collingwood has quite a few streetwear stores tucked amidst its back alleys but there's one place in particular that stands out from the crowd. Focusing on small independent labels and tough-to-find limited runs, Spares stocks a broad selection of menswear and unisex items, from labels you've never heard of, to favourite streetwear brands like Carhartt, Patagonia and Passport, as well as its own in-house collection. The store also hosts bi-monthly exhibitions of local and international artists in its gallery space, and has a curated selection of zines and books to flick through.
Nestled behind a service station, down some cobblestone alleys, past a greasy mechanic and hidden snugly behind huge red stable doors is arguably one of the most secret and unique cafes in Carlton. Named after a 1960's handbill advertising the medicinal and therapeutic properties for coffee, Vertue of the Coffee Drink is all about the black brew. It's no surprise then that founder, Mike Cracknell, and his team of passionate (and highly caffeinated) staff are putting the coffee first. Operating as an in-house micro roaster, cafe and coffee paraphernalia retail outlet, the space is full of sunlight and warmth. Natural timbers, copper light fittings, high ceilings and a leafy green wall garden enrich the place with a relaxed and inviting feel, perfect for large groups and solo coffee drinkers alike. The open kitchen window allows a glimpse of what's to come to your table with an all-day breakfast offering of the usual favourites, and a few surprises. For something a little more adventurous, order the chickpea chips with charred asparagus, preserved cherry tomato with poached egg ($18), or the scotch eggs with onion marmalade, crispy pig skin and brioche ($21). And with the kitchen open until 3pm daily, the lunch offerings are just as tempting; eight hour lamb shoulder with dukkah, baby broccoli and tabbouleh ($22) and a heirloom tomato and stone fruit salad with feta-stuffed zucchini flowers and hazelnut vinaigrette ($18) take the top spots. As well as the exceptional pour overs, batch brews and espresso there are some stronger adult drinks available with a neat selection of beers, cider and wine. For those looking to get away from bustling Lygon Street for a great coffee and bite to eat, Vertue is well worth hunting down and checking out. Image credit: Tomas Zagoda & Greg Curio via Instagram
Pirates of Australia: prepare to panic and startle the parrot perched on your rough, sea dog shoulder. The Pirate Bay, the worst enabler of petty criminality in Australia (probably), will be blocked in the next 15 days. According to ABC News, in a case before the Federal Court of Australia, Foxtel and Village Roadshow have asked for five major torrent sites, including The Pirate Bay, to be blocked by major internet service providers. Other sites include Torrentz, TorrentHound, IsoHunt and SolarMovie. It'll be up to the ISPs to decide how to do the blocking. In what is presumably favourable news for piraters, the ISPs haven't been granted a rolling injunction, which means new sites can't be added to the block list as they spring up. This means mirroring can (and most probably will) spring up, making the whole legal exercise a little redundant. One commenter on the ABC post offered their experience of similar legal orders in the UK. What the lack of rolling injunction means is that if a site like TorrentHound (which doesn't actually exist anymore), closes down and restarts under a different name, they will have to go back to court to shut it down. It's been noted (again and again, mind you) that VPNs are an easy and cheap way around the blocks, but Graham Burke — co-chief executive of Village Roadshow, who, as well as being one of the copyright-holding applicants, have also proposed a plan to fine illegal downloaders — told the ABC he doesn't think they are a significant issue. "The experience overseas is not many people use VPNs because they cost money as well," he told ABC News. Sure thing. While the outcome of this court case doesn't worry most people — and there's nothing in the act that mentions any fines or penalties for people who try to access the blocked sites — the precedent has been set, so it'll be easier in future to litigate. In a live Facebook video chat, ABC journalists Will Ockenden and Jake Sturmer note that piracy rates have dropped since sites like Presto, Netflix and Stan have become widely available in Australia, so it's possible a solution is out there. What did they expect, though? Australia was colonised by a steady stream of low-key crims from the start. If they could have downloaded bread in the 1700s, you know the convicts would have been racing home every Monday to download the latest tastiest loaf from HBO. Via ABC News.
When the annual World's 50 Best Restaurants announced its picks in 2023, Australia was completely absent, missing out on spots in both the top 50 itself and the 51–100 longlist. Which eateries have made the cut in 2024 is only just starting to be unveiled, beginning with the tail end of the choices — and trust Josh and Julie Niland to help get Aussie hospitality back among the rankings. Saint Peter has taken out 98th place on the 2024 51–100 longlist, and it's the only Australian restaurant named so far. The top 50 itself will be unveiled on Wednesday, June 5, so there's still hope that some more love will be sent Down Under. The last time that there was an Aussie showing in the full 100 was in 2022, when Andrew McConnell's Melbourne diner Gimlet at Cavendish House came in at 84 for its World's 50 Best debut. [caption id="attachment_952313" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Christopher Pearce[/caption] Named ahead of its move in July into The Grand National Hotel, Saint Peter is similarly a new entry, earning praise for the Nilands' famed nose-to-tail approach to the ocean's finest. That ethos has already seen Josh's applauded The Whole Fish Cookbook win him the prestigious James Beard Book of the Year Award back in 2020, becoming the first Australian to ever take out the prize. In 2022, he was the only Australian chef to feature in The Best Chefs Awards for 2022 — aka the list of the top 100 best globally — too. The same year, both Josh and Julie picked up the Game Changer Award from France's La Liste. "Not every restaurant can legitimately claim to be spearheading a movement. Yet this cool concept from Josh Niland takes the great Australian seafood tradition to previously unexplored heights," said the team behind 2024's World's 50 Best Restaurants 51–100 list in this year's rankings. "Known as 'the fish butcher', Niland favours techniques typically associated with meat. With a gill-to-fin approach, he utilises as much of the fish as possible, from eyes to organs, bones to scales – and everything in between. The innovative menu changes daily to reflect that morning's catch," the shoutout went on. [caption id="attachment_952314" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Christopher Pearce[/caption] Australia's hospitality scene hasn't ever dominated the World's 50 Best Restaurants gongs, but not placing at all for 2023 didn't escape attention. Just two Aussie restaurants claimed spots in 2021's awards, both of them Victorian, with Dan Hunter's Brae placing 57th and Ben Shewry's Ripponlea fine diner Attica coming in at number 97. There were no awards in 2020, but Brae and Attica also placed in the longlist in 2019. In 2018, Attica came in 20th and Brae 58th. Australia has had up to four restaurants in the top 50 before, including three when the awards debuted in 2002. The World's 50 Best awards are chosen by a panel of over 1000 culinary experts, guided by a strict voting procedure. They're now hosted by a different country each year, with Melbourne playing host city back in 2017. In 2023, Central in Lima, Peru acme in first. The year's other picks included Disfrutar in Barcelona in second, Diverxo in Madrid in third, Atxondo's Asador Etxebarri in fourth and Copenhagen's Alchemist in fifth. Next came Maido in Lima, Lido 84 in the Gardone Riviera, Atomix in New York, Quintonil in Mexico City and Table by Bruno Verjus in Paris to round out the top ten. Wondering about the best places to eat Down Under, regardless of what the World's 50 Best Restaurants chooses? Check out our picks for the best Sydney and best Melbourne restaurants. [caption id="attachment_811440" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption] To check out the World's 50 Best Restaurants 51–100 list, head to the awards' website. The top 50 will be announced on Wednesday, June 5 — and we'll update you then. Top image: Christopher Pearce.
If you're a pet owner, you'll know if can be difficult getting your dog/cat/iguana/parrot/rat from A to B — especially if you don't own a car. Example A: your friend has given you and Fido a ride to the park, then bailed and left you and the fluffy boy stranded. Fido's too big for a box on a bus or a tram, you're nowhere near a train, so you book a taxi, but the drive takes one look at muddy Fido and says no. Thankfully, this type of scenario will be left in the past now Uber Pet has launched in Melbourne today, Thursday, June 25, after successful trials in Sydney and Brisbane. Now available in your Uber app as a separate option — alongside UberX, Comfort and Pool — Uber Pet will match you with a driver who's happy to pick up pets. It'll cost an extra $6–7 per ride, with some of that passed onto the drivers, too. While the cat below may not agree, it's really a win-win scenario. It has been now been rolled out nationally as a permanent option on the app. So, you can plan more trips to dog-friendly pubs, beaches and parks. And get to the vet a little easier (don't tell your cat). While Uber expects cats and dogs will be the most common passengers, it allows any kind of domesticated animal use the service — at the driver's discretion. Assistance and service animals are still allowed in regular Ubers, as they are on all forms of public transport. You can read more about travel for assistance animals in Melbourne here. Uber Pet is now available nationally.
What's huge, oval-shaped, usually confined to the realms of fiction, belongs to a creature that's played a key part in the biggest TV series of the past decade, and currently sitting in Melbourne this very instant? A dragon egg, of course. What can you mosey over to Federation Square to see for the next two days in all of its four-metre-tall glory? What's surrounded by dragon eyes and the flying, fire-breathing critters' silhouettes across buildings around the Victorian capital? That very egg — to the joy of wannabe Targaryens, naturally. Always felt like you belong in the Game of Thrones House with an affinity for scaly beasts? Keen to live out your George RR Martin fandom in any way you can? Need something to do before the Iron Throne visits Melbourne in September? Just so excited about GoT prequel House of the Dragon that you don't know how to cope until it starts airing on Monday, August 22?Here's your answer. If you live elsewhere in the country, though, you'll want to do one of two things: plan an impromptu trip this weekend, or get one of your mates to go along so you can live vicariously through their photos. Either way, the towering egg is only on display at Fed Square from 10am–7pm on Friday, August 19 and 8am–7pm on Saturday, August 20. And, as well as seeing it, taking snaps next to it and peering upwards to spy signs of dragons around Melbourne, you'll want to keep your ears pricked as well — there's a soundscape filled with the calls and noises of dragons echoing around the place, too. The reason for this ovoid pop-up? Promoting House of the Dragon, of course. The series is finally coming after years of speculation, development and announcements about various spinoffs are under consideration (including a Jon Snow-focused sequel) — and this egg is here to prove it. If you've somehow missed all the House of the Dragon news, the show is set 200 years before the events of GoT, and focuses on House Targaryen. Yes, that means that dragons are obviously part of the series — again, hence this giant egg. Also pivotal: a Succession-style battle over who should sit on the Iron Throne, because it wouldn't be a Game of Thrones prequel without it. Anyone in the vicinity of Fed Square can head over to see the egg for free, and get a taste of Australia's latest pop culture-themed installation — after a barber giving out The Gray Man-style goatees and moustaches also did the honours in Melbourne recently, and an Everything Everywhere All At Once-inspired multidimensional laundromat before that. Cinema Nova also decked itself out The French Dispatch-style last summer, while Sydney has seen the giant 'Red Light, Green Light' doll from Squid Game made an appearance by the harbour, and a Stranger Things rift open up on Bondi Beach. This isn't the dragon egg's first local stop, actually. It first arrived at Anglesea, on the beach, on Thursday, August 18 — which clearly would've made quite the sight. Then, it travelled along the Great Ocean Road to Melbourne, ready for two days of GoT devotees in Fed Square. Check out the full House of the Dragon trailer below: Find the House of the Dragon dragon egg at Federation Square, the corner of Swanston and Flinders streets, Melbourne, from 10am–7pm on Friday, August 19 and 8am–7pm on Saturday, August 20. House of the Dragon will start airing on Monday, August 22 Down Under via Foxtel and Binge. Images: Aaron Walker Photography.
Proof that a smart, snappy brunch menu needn't always mean going OTT, Bridge Road's Otto is heroing originality and technique, without going too nuts in the flamboyancy stakes. The space itself is a bright, minimalist edit of clean lines, strip lighting and metallic accents, inspired by the sleek fashion boutiques of New York. Taking pride of place on the counter is a state-of-the-art Slayer Espresso Steam LP coffee machine, which is serving Padre Coffee's chocolatey Daddy's Girl blend. Meanwhile, the food offering features interesting ingredients and clever reworkings of familiar brunch classics. A croque madame swaps bread for a croissant and is loaded with smoked ham hock, fried egg, bechamel and a celeriac apple salad ($18.90), while Otto's version of smashed avo ($18.50) is brought to life with white miso, torched cucumber, freeze-dried peas and gomashio (a salty Japanese seasoning). There's a hand-crumbed wagyu scotch fillet teamed with sauce gribiche, apple slaw and puffed wild rice ($26); a smoky dish of twice-cooked salmon with vongole and mussels in a tom yum broth ($25); a french toast with mango-soaked brioche, wine-poached peaches and frozen nougat ($18.90); and a fluffy hotcake with butterscotch sauce, blueberry gel and mascarpone ($18.50). Brought a date (or a mate)? Go for the share-friendly breakfast platter, starring a sprawling assortment of french toast, kaiserfleisch, fritters, soba noodle salad, scotch egg and mushrooms with egg custard.
The reformer pilates wave isn't slowing down in Melbourne. Ever-new spins in the flexible exercise practice are always arriving, like disco-themed sessions with eucalyptus-scented cool-down towels. Or classes at ultra-luxe wellness clubs that grant access to futuristic recovery facilities. Amidst the high-end hype, a different trend is on the come up — affordable movement. Coming to Richmond on October 5, Reformer Space is shaking up the scene with classes as low as $5. At first glance, the studio looks bright and airy like the rest, except for one key difference: crystal-clear cues and demos are delivered from a screen mounted on the studio's brick walls. The fitness industry has been moving towards tech-driven solutions for years now — with instructor-led workouts at home taking off during the pandemic era, now coalescing into a space dedicated to virtual workouts, complete with all the equipment you need (and don't want cluttering up your living room). These virtual instructions are best for seasoned pilates goers who don't need their form corrected — but don't think that it's easier than a regular class. The physical absence of the pilates instructor doesn't mean that someone isn't counting down your holds excruciatingly slowly (and far too cheerily), if Guardian writer Michael Sun's encounter with the screen-led format is anything to go by. There are over 20 classes at Reformer Space daily (including lunchtime sessions), all accessible via four membership plans. Intense hobbyists can opt for the $118 unlimited monthly plan, which works out to five bucks a pop even if you pace yourself. The priciest (and least frequent) caps off at $14 per class — still a steal from the $25–35 you'd usually pay. And plans run month-to-month, so you can take a break when life gets busy. With a focus on flexibility and affordability, Reformer Space looks like a genuine cost-of-living win. Reformer Space will open on Sunday, October 5th. For more information or to sign up for a membership, visit the website.
This time last year, the Brisbane Street Art Festival was in full swing, with creative folks brightening up the Queensland capital with their artistic work. While the fest ranks among the many, many events changing their plans in 2020, you can still watch street art come to life before your eyes this weekend — via a two-day live stream. Teaming up with Brisbane art space Superordinary, BSAF is unleashing 19 artists on the building. Naturally, they'll be painting up a storm. Every inch of the space will be transformed, and everyone can see it happen. That doesn't just cover street art-loving Brisbanites, either, because online streams are handy that way. The weekend-long event runs across Saturday, May 16–Sunday, May 17, with the action streamed via Twitch. As well as oh-so-much painting, there's also interviews, Q&As and roving performances — all while social distancing. https://www.facebook.com/BrisbaneStreetArt/photos/a.10150176402908346/10158102825878346/?type=3&theater Top image: Gus Eagleton.
It has been 12 years since RuPaul's Drag Race first premiered in the US, and its mission to unearth the next drag superstars shows no signs of stopping. Currently, the original series is reaching the pointy end of its thirteenth season, while international versions also exist in the UK — also hosted by RuPaul — plus Thailand, Holland, Chile and Canada. Next, it's finally making the leap to Australia and New Zealand. RuPaul's Drag Race already airs locally, but now it's being made here as well. The eight-part RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under will focus on Aussie and NZ drag queens battling for supremacy, and will air on Stan in Australia and TVNZ OnDemand in New Zealand. That was announced back in January, with the show's debut set for Saturday, May 1. If you've been wondering exactly what's in store, though, you've probably hanging out for a trailer. And, just a couple of weeks out from the show's arrival, a proper sneak peek is finally here — complete with drama and eye-catching outfits, naturally. While not all overseas iterations of Drag Race are hosted by RuPaul, RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under definitely is. RuPaul is also taking on judging duties, alongside show veteran Michelle Visage and Australian comedian Rhys Nicholson. Ten contenders will strut their stuff for drag supremacy, spanning seven Australians and three New Zealanders. So, prepare to see plenty of Art Simone from Geelong, Melbourne's Karen from Finance, and Sydney's Coco Jumbo, Etecetera Etcetera and Maxi Shield. Newcastle's Jojo Zaho and Perth's Scarlet Adams round out the Aussie queens, while Auckland's Kita Mean, Anita Wigl'it and Elektra Shock comprise the NZ contingent. Fans already know the format, which features fashion challenges, workroom dramas and lip sync battles aplenty. If you're a newcomer to all things Drag Race, you'll watch these Australian and NZ competitors work through a series of contests to emerge victorious, and join the likes of US contenders Jinkx Monsoon, Sasha Velour and Sharon Needles in being crowned the series' winner. Check out the RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdcgf5I6Qb8&feature=youtu.be RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under will start streaming via Stan and TVNZ from Saturday, May 1, with new episodes airing weekly. Top image: RuPaul's Drag Race.
The pursuit of the American Dream at any cost has long been a fertile device for screenwriters. Just recently, both American Hustle and The Wolf of Wall Street showcased the extraordinary true stories of money-hungry shysters determined to rise above their humble or inauspicious beginnings, no matter the consequences. Similarly, Margin Call and The Big Short offered portraits of success attained by comparably distasteful (if rather more legitimate) means. In the context of these films, Gold, by writer-director Stephen Gaghan falls somewhere in between. Based on the real life events of the 1990s Bre-X Minerals fiasco, the film chronicles the rise and fall of a simple American prospector turned overnight millionaire named Kenny Wells (Matthew McConaughey). Balding, overweight and down to his last dime, Kenny's a third generation mining prospector staving off foreclosure of his family business, a predicament that renders him more than willing to embrace all that wealth and power can provide once they're suddenly within his grasp. Where the film departs from the norm, at least notionally, is that Kenny always maintains that his drive and determination is grounded in the discovery of gold, not the money that it provides. Gold hence finds itself in the peculiar position of framing the story as one of 'us versus them' in which both the us (simple prospectors) and them (hedge fund managers and mining companies) are ludicrously wealthy. Money itself is not the point of distinction but rather how that money was acquired: 'dirt in the nails grit' versus 'manhattan investment', so to speak. McConaughey delivers a committed and captivating performance; one for which he gained a full 18kgs to ensure his sizeable beer gut required neither special effects nor prosthetics. Gripped by a fever determined to kill him, and grappling with a Hail Mary mining prospect in the jungles of Indonesia that refuses to yield even a hint of gilded hope, McConaughey's performance oozes doggedness and desperation in equal measures. Opposite him, Édgar Ramírez puts in a far more reserved turn as Wells' geologist and business partner Michael Acosta. Together they make a likeable duo, and it's a crying shame how little of the film Ramírez actually occupies. Unfortunately, despite the fine work of the cast, Gold feels like a story unsure of how best to be told, flicking between Scorsese-esque drama and quirky irreverence. None of the characters feel entirely fleshed out, and are instead presented more like passengers on a plot line that prioritises events over individuals. The movie's eventual 'twist', meanwhile, is legitimately surprising to those unfamiliar with the Bre-X story, however its reveal so close to the end renders the remaining few minutes far too rushed to sufficiently deal with its impact and implications. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdLXPv5NsA4
Things are starting to get pretty frosty in Melbourne, so the team at Welcome To Thornbury are heating up a plan to help warm your weekend — a mini festival dedicated to mulled wine and hot cheese. The party's set to take over the High Street food truck park from noon, this Saturday, May 27, pulling together a selection of hot, gooey creations from some of the city's favourite cheese-slinging vendors. This is where all your cheesiest dreams come true, chowing down on lush cheese fondue from Frencheese, The Cheese Rebels' decadent haloumi sausages, a raclette burger from the folks at Mr Burger, and other treats from the likes of That Arancini Guy, Crepes for Change, and Sparrow's Philly Cheesesteaks. Of course, you won't find a better drink match to all that rich, melty dairy than some hot, spiced booze, so the bar will be rounding out its usual offerings with a special mulled wine, available all day long.
The world contains a vivid tapestry of diverse countries and cultures, each woven with its own unique traditions and celebrations. What better way to immerse yourself in the culture of a region than joining in with the festivities? From the rhythmic beats of Carnival to the kaleidoscopic lights of Diwali, take a step beyond the typical tourist trail with Intrepid Travel. Discover the heartbeat of a place through the lens of its most enchanting festivities. It's time to pack your bags, strap on some comfy shoes and create memories that transcend borders. Diwali The festival of lights is celebrated worldwide, but experiencing it in India itself is something else entirely. Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights. It symbolises the victory of light over darkness, goodness over evil and knowledge over ignorance. There are variations across the region and the different local religions of the country. Some things are always included: lots and lots of candles, lights and delicious food. The festival happens in the first weeks of November to tie in with the darkest days of the year (in India). Time your adventure to this stunning country to coincide with the festival so you can see the magic of the celebrations with the locals. Dia De Los Muertos Feel the mystical vibes of the weird and wonderful Dia de los Muertos, the annual Day of the Dead festival, in Mexico City. Participate in a traditional Day of the Dead ceremony and see elaborate altars dedicated to those who have passed. Enjoy delicious tacos and other street food at the openair Mercado Jamaica, and venture outside the city to see the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon at Teotihuacan. If you are passing through the capital on your exploration of Central America, time your travel so you can be there for this iconic festival. [caption id="attachment_969162" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Heejin Yu via iStock[/caption] Kwita Inzina If you're all about nature conservation, attend the Kwita Izina ceremony in Rwanda to see the on-the-ground efforts of those fighting the good fight for Mother Earth. That's exactly what you can do with this on-the-ground tour in Rwanda. It puts you in the middle of the ceremony, an adaptation of a traditional Rwandan naming ceremony where locals name and celebrate newborn local gorillas. The festival includes a mix of formal speeches from conservationists and celebrity guests, plus music and dance performances. Prepare to go with the flow and be whisked into the celebrations, as participation is encouraged. The entire region comes together to celebrate the festival and conservation of these beautiful animals. Halloween Bram Stoker may not have intended it, but thanks to the setting of his novel, Dracula, in Transylvania, locals now celebrate his creation based on local legends with a next-level celebration on All Hallow's Eve. Head to central Europe to Bucharest, Romania and explore the haunting beauty of Sighisoara (the birthplace of the infamous creature of the night) and spooky Bran Castle (aka Count Dracula's castle) in Brasov. Break out your scariest costumes for a spooky Halloween party in Cluj-Napoca — the former capital of the historical principality of Transylvania. Christmas The Christmas season just hits different when it's in Europe. Snow falls on rooftops of buildings and market stalls on narrow cobbled streets as stallholders give out mulled wine, chimney cakes, hot cider, pretzels, hot chocolate and sweet treats to the tourists and locals meandering from stall to stall. If a trip to Central Europe is on the cards, be sure to time it so you can explore the famous Christmas markets from Munich to Budapest. And the best way to travel in Europe? By train, of course. Carnival Bright colours, headdresses and more feathers than you can count — Carnival is the world's greatest party on the streets of Rio de Janeiro, just waiting for you to rock up. Witness an elaborate parade of floats and dancers in the Sambadrome, which stretches into the wee hours. Samba your way through non-stop action, join the conga line with the locals and move to the rhythm of the drum-fuelled street fiestas. Whether you're journeying through Brazil on an epic adventure or specifically going to Rio de Janeiro for the fest, it's definitely not to miss. Naadam While the Greeks have the Olympics, the Mongols have Naadam. This festival might not be well known, but it is the best time of the year to see Mongolia. The annual colourful festival is a centuries-old tradition that dates back to the Khans and their dynasties. Expect archery, wrestling and horse racing — the primary skills a Mongol warrior requires. While in the area, explore the stunning natural landscapes of central Mongolia, such as Baga Gazriin Chuluu (granite rocks worshipped by locals), the Bayanzag Flaming Cliffs and the dunes of Khongoriin, called the 'singing sands' by locals for the whistling sound made by small avalanches of sand on a windy day. Get out, explore, dive into adventure and find your WOW with Intrepid Travel. Find out more on the website.
Aunty Donna have been busy over the past few years. Since 2020, they've brought both Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House of Fun and Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe to the small screen. They've played corpses in Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves, and also dropped a $30 bottle of wine that's literally called $30 Bottle of Wine, too. The Australian comedy troupe embarked upon a world tour in 2023 as well, selling 90,000-plus tickets. If you're keen to see Mark Samual Bonanno, Broden Kelly and Zachary Ruane live, your next chance in Melbourne happens in 2025. Aunty Donna are hitting the stage again — and in the Victorian Capital, the Palais Theatre is their destination, playing nightly between Friday, December 12–Sunday, December 14 and Wednesday, December 16–Saturday, December 20. This time, audiences will enjoy the Drem experience, with Aunty Donna unveiling their brand-new live sketch show. Will everything be a drum again? Will morning brown get a tribute? How much room should you leave for Christmas pud? If you're instantly thinking about these questions, you're clearly already a fan. In the trailer for the tour, Bonanno, Kelly and Ruane are promising big things in their comedic usual way. "In 2025, Aunty Donna will be touring the greatest live comedy show ever seen by human beings," the trailer advises. "You have asked 'is it funny?'," it continues. "Leading experts in the field have made it perfectly clear that it is the best comedy show ever made."
Flipping through a newspaper, feeling the flimsy paper in your hands and finding your fingerprints smudged with ink might by a dying ritual; however The Wall Street Journal is hoping that people still want to take the time to sit, peruse and consume the news at a leisurely pace. Instead of hanging out at a cafe rifling through physical pages, readers can now enter an architect-designed virtual New York apartment to get their news fix thanks to the publication's just-launched VR news app. WSJ VR is the newspaper's new virtual reality app for Google's Daydream platform, ushering news junkies into a different kind of reading experience. Now available to download via Google Play, it allows users to view a wall filled with a live feed of breaking news, watch interactive 360-degree videos and see a visualisation of real-time market data, all in swanky digs designed by architecture firm Michaelis Boyd. Interactive storytelling is the WSJ's main focus, particularly allowing "the Journal's reporters and editors to take readers and viewers of our journalism anywhere in the world," said Andy Regal, WSJ's Global Head of Video, in a statement. Whether that's something anyone actually wants is yet to be seen, but it's certainly quite different to scrolling through newsfeeds on a smartphone screen. Users can do more than read, watch and see the news while they're using the app; they can also engage with the space — which is based on a mix of the firm's real-life residential projects — on a 360-degree axis. Accordingly, even if you're not keen on staying up-to-date on global events and financial developments in the most immersive way possible, the app also offers views of the New York City skyline — and it's cheaper than a plane ticket. Via Dezeen.
If the thought of holidaying with three other couples sends a sense of dread through your system, imagine running a business like that. But for the eight people behind Fitzroy's recently opened Sir Charles, that's their chosen reality. Stephen and Angela McGinness's old bagelry near the corner of Brunswick and Johnston streets has been transformed, and they are joined at the helm of this new space by Axil Roasters' Dave Makin and Zoe Delany, hospitality pros Andy and Kat Smith, and chef Tyler Preston and his interior designer wife Georgina Lee. That's a lot of cooks — so it's lucky they seem to have figured out how not to spoil the broth. The result is a clean, expansive and contemporary space; it's the type of cafe we've come to expect and rely on in this city. The breakfast and lunch menus are similarly streamlined, and both served until 4pm daily. The food carries modern flavours and Asian sensibilities (thanks to Preston's time in the Chin Chin kitchen), with the breakfast menu in particular offering some interesting surprises. Think granola with chai milk and citrus labne ($9.50), eggs benedict with panko-crumbed eggs and Sriracha hollandaise ($18) and miso scrambled eggs ($17). At dinnertime on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, Sir Charles offers small, medium and large plates — from Korean fried chicken wings ($11) and kingfish sashimi ($16), through to sticky pork belly with apple and herb salad and green nam jim ($21.50) and pan fried duck breast with pickled watermelon and lychee salad ($23.50). You're pretty covered no matter what your hunger level — especially when there's sticky black rice with sweet coconut and bruleed banana on hand fill any remaining gaps. Whilst it's easy to appreciate the white/blonde/copper decor palette, enjoy a menu with an Asian twist and find merit in any place that serves wine or beer (or indeed a flat white) alongside Korean fried chicken and Wagyu sandwiches at 3pm in the afternoon, this is nothing revolutionary. Sir Charles could be described as an all-round very pleasant experience. And that's no bad thing — it's just not mind-blowing either. Unless, of course, you spend the whole time thinking about running a business with three other couples. Or being on holiday with them all.
Keeping the romance alive can be difficult when your girlfriend is thousands of miles away and sometimes phonecalls, frequent visits and even video chat don't cut it. But Walter C. May has officially upped the ante on romantic gestures with this viral love letter. With his roommates, who just happen to be a band called the Daylights, May wrote a song called "I Hope This Gets To You", filmed silvery hands coming together to form faces that mouth the lyrics and unleashed it upon the Interwebs. It's already been tweeted by Katy Perry. May is hoping this video reaches his girlfriend, who's on the other side of the country at grad school, solely through the power of the viral internet, because he wants to show his lady that they "can feel close without having to be close every day." All together now: Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. https://youtube.com/watch?v=EjgtxVxE14A [via Gizmodo]
First, the bad news: if you don't already have a ticket to Laneway Festival 2025 in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to see Charli XCX, Djo, Beabadoobee, Clairo, Barry Can't Swim, Remi Wolf and more, they've completely soldout. Now, some good news: in each of the three east coast cities, Laneway has just announced official afterparties. The small club shows will feature STÜM, RONA. and Fcukers, plus others, with the lineup varying per location — and it's your next chance to get in on the Laneway action. The dates for the three shindigs are obviously the same as the Laneway dates in each destination. Accordingly, Brisbane's turn comes on Saturday, February 8, then Sydney's on Sunday, February 9 and Melbourne's on Friday, February 14. As for venues, River City revellers are headed to The Brightside, Harbour City residents to Oxford Art Factory and folks in the Victorian capital have a date with The Night Cat. In Brissie, STÜM, DJ Ivan Berko, nate sib and Cyber DJs will be taking to the stage. Sydney's gig features RONA., Fcukers doing a DJ set, DJ Ivan Berko popping up again, and both Loosie Grind and BEMAN. And in Melbourne, RONA. and DJ Ivan Berko are back, as is nate sib, alongside Laneway Festival's own DJs. Tickets are limited — so, like all things Laneway, getting in fast is recommended. As for the festival itself, if you've been lucky enough to nab tix, its lineup also features BICEP doing their CHROMA AV DJ set, Olivia Dean, Eyedress, Skegss, Hamdi, Joey Valence & Brae, 2hollis, Ninajirachi, Julie, Girl and Girl, and more. For its 2025 season, the event started by Danny Rogers and Jerome Borazio in the mid-00s is also headed to Bonython Park in Adelaide and Wellington Square in Perth in Australia — but without afterparties. Laneway Festival 2025 Afterparties Saturday, February 8 — The Brightside, Brisbane, with STÜM, DJ Ivan Berko, nate sib and Cyber DJs Sunday, February 9 — Oxford Art Factory, Sydney, with RONA., Fcukers, DJ Ivan Berko, Loosie Grind and BEMAN Friday, February 14 — The Night Cat, Melbourne, with RONA., DJ Ivan Berko, nate sib and Laneway Festival's DJs Laneway Festival 2025 Dates and Venues Thursday, February 6 – Western Springs, Auckland / Tāmaki Makaurau Saturday, February 8 — Brisbane Showgrounds, Brisbane / Turrbal Targun Sunday, February 9 — Centennial Park, Sydney / Burramattagal Land & Wangal Land Friday, February 14 — Flemington Park, Melbourne / Wurundjeri Biik Saturday, February 15 — Bonython Park, Adelaide / Kaurna Yerta Sunday, February 16 — Wellington Square, Perth / Whadjuk Boodjar [caption id="attachment_975321" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Harley Weir[/caption] Laneway Festival 2025 Lineup Charli XCX Beabadoobee Clairo Barry Can't Swim BICEP present CHROMA (AV DJ set) Djo Remi Wolf Olivia Dean Eyedress Skegss STÜM RONA Hamdi Joey Valence & Brae 2hollis Fcukers Ninajirachi Julie Girl and Girl + Triple J unearthed winners [caption id="attachment_975961" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Guido Gazzilli[/caption] St Jerome's Laneway Festival is touring Australia in February 2025. Head to the festival's website for further details and tickets. Afterparties are being held at the fest's east coast stops — with tickets on sale for Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane's events now. Laneway festival images: Charlie Hardy / Daniel Boud / Maclay Heriot / Cedric Tang.
With Irma Vep, French filmmaker Olivier Assayas (Wasp Network) retraces his own footsteps, turning his cult-favourite 1996 movie of the same name into an Alicia Vikander-starring HBO miniseries. There's more to that act both on- and off-screen, and Assayas couldn't be having more fun with the whole concept. But first, David Lynch's Twin Peaks deserves a mention. No, not just because it's always worth thinking about. When that cult-favourite series returned in 2017 after a quarter-century gap, it ended its 18-hour run by asking "what year is this?". That query made complete sense in the show's narrative with its Lynchian logic; however, it's also as perfect a comment on the state of entertainment today as anything could utter. In Lynch's hands, Twin Peaks was never going to feel like slipping cosily back into the past to rehash old glories. Almost everything else that's hit screens of late can't make that claim, though. Among 2022's big box-office successes so far sits the latest Batman flick, the 28th Marvel movie, a 36-years-later sequel, the 11th Wizarding World instalment, yet another Spider-Man film and more Ghostbusters; what year is this indeed? Irma Vep doesn't belong in their company, however. It slides into streaming queues knowing the everything-old-is-new-again status quo, and probing, challenging and satirising it. It also jokes about whether an episodic project aired on TV can really be a movie, playfully riffing on the chatter about Twin Peaks' third season — and it's one of the best things to reach television since that masterpiece. Streaming weekly in Australia via Binge since Tuesday, June 7, and in New Zealand via Neon from Tuesday, June 14, Irma Vep also requires some unpacking. The term 'layered' has rarely ever applied to a show quite as it does here. So, Assayas remakes his own film — and the resulting series follows a director remaking one of his own past flicks as a TV project, too. In all versions of Irma Vep, the movies and shows being made are also remakes of 1915–16 French crime effort Les Vampires. It was a ten-episode, seven-hour cinema serial, and it's supremely real. Indeed, by first helming a feature about remaking Les Vampires, and now a series about remaking a movie that remakes Les Vampires (which, IRL, is also a remake of a movie that remakes Les Vampires), Assayas keeps remaking Les Vampires in his own way. The nested dolls that are Irma Vep's meta setup just keep stacking. The 1996 Irma Vep starred Maggie Cheung, who'd later become Assayas' wife, then ex-wife — and the 2022 Irma Vep haunts its on-screen filmmaker René Vidal (Vincent Macaigne, Non-Fiction) with visions of his ex-wife Jade Lee (Vivian Wu, Dead Pigs), who, yes, led his movie. If you're a fan of word puzzles, you might've also noticed that Irma Vep is an anagram of vampire; that said, Les Vampires isn't actually about bloodsuckers, and nor is any iteration of Irma Vep. To add to the list, while Cheung played a version of herself, Vikander (Blue Bayou, The Green Knight) plays fictional American star Mira — a name that's an anagram of Irma. You can also take that moniker literally, because mirroring is patently a pivotal aspect of Irma Vep in every guise. This lengthy roster of links, nods and connections isn't done yet, with René clearly a fictionalised version of Assayas, and the latter finding inspiration for Mira elsewhere in his career. Two of his recent gems, the sublime duo that is Clouds of Sils Maria and Personal Shopper, both starred Kristen Stewart — and spotting similarities between her professional and personal lives and Mira's is oh-so-easy. In fact, Mira signs up for René's new Irma Vep after leading huge Hollywood hits, then yearning for more complex and substantial work. She also has a famous actor ex, Eamonn (Tom Sturridge, the upcoming The Sandman), and moved on with her now-former personal assistant Laurie (Adria Arjona, Morbius). As delightful as it is for diehard cinephiles, knowing all of the above isn't essential before watching Irma Vep 2.0. It helps put viewers on its wavelength, though — and this is a show that's all about wavelengths. René can't find his, with the production plagued by insurance woes, actors demanding either big sex scenes (Sorry Angel's Vincent Lacoste) or crack (Proxima's Lars Eidinger), and a financier who only stumped up the cash to get Mira to front his new perfume line. Amid that chaos, and after finishing promotional duties on her last blockbuster (and running into the now-married Laurie in the process), Mira attempts to plunge as deeply as she can into her role. She adores the black velvet catsuit that costume designer Zoe (Jeanne Balibar, Memoria) has fashioned — almost as much as Zoe visibly adores her — and, even under her new assistant Regina's (newcomer Devon Ross) watchful eye, immerses herself in playing Irma Vep far more than the script requires. Everyone's sinking their teeth into something here, or trying to, just as Assayas bites into a smart and savvy satire about the entertainment industry. Everyone's feasting on something, too, including Hollywood's insatiable need to devour itself one sequel and remake at a time. Irma Vep tackles these ideas, and parodies the incessant lust for more and more screen content, the perils and perks of fame, on-set antics and plenty of online discussion about cinema over the past decade, all while musing on the lines between art and reality as well. Oh, and while throwing in a wonderful Emily in Paris gag. But Assayas is an arthouse auteur above all else, and he's always grounded and naturalistic rather than campy and farcical — even when Irma Vep is hilarious, which is often. In contemplating why we consume art, or make it so that others can (and for others still to capitalise upon), he also revels in both dissecting and simply hanging out among behind-the-scenes shenanigans. If that wasn't all phenomenal enough — and equally thoughtful, playful and savagely clever — Irma Vep is hypnotically lensed like it belongs on the big screen. It also shimmers with the full force of Vikander at her absolute best (yes, better than her Oscar-winning turn in The Danish Girl). There's such an earthiness to her performance that it hardly feels like watching a performance at all. She's acting, of course — Irma Vep doesn't add that layer to its pile — but she inhabits Mira with relaxed effortlessness, whether she's projecting the cool, calm and collected movie-star persona, showing the character's vulnerabilities, or diving into the allure that the series-within-a-series version of Irma Vep holds. Macaigne, the always-impressive Lacoste and Eidinger, and Balibar and Ross also do their utmost, because this show isn't short on standouts. But that key combination of Assayas, Vikander and all things Irma Vep is what dreams are made of, as is one of 2022's most glorious new TV shows. Check out the trailer for Irma Vep below: Irma Vep streams week by week in Australia via Binge since Tuesday, June 7 — and in New Zealand via Neon from Tuesday, June 14. Images: Carole Bethuel/HBO.
The inner-city pocket of West Melbourne is slated for quite the reawakening, as part of a vision by The City of Melbourne to manage and steer expected population growth over the next decade. The plans have been pulled together and laid out in the council's new Municipal Planning Strategy — a comprehensive blueprint for the city's future that was put before councillors at the Future Melbourne Committee meeting earlier this week. The council outlined six key goals underpinning the overall Municipal Planning Strategy, which spans the next 10-20 years and includes considerations like celebrating First Nations culture and identity, as well as preserving Melbourne's distinctive places, people and culture. [caption id="attachment_717296" align="alignnone" width="1920"] West Melbourne cafe 279.[/caption] The blueprint covers multiple districts across Melbourne, outlining various changes for different parts of the city municipality, depending on their current vibe and existing level of development. While the plan stretches from South Yarra up to Parkville and Flemington Racecourse, West Melbourne and the CBD's north (that northwest corner of the CBD) is one of the areas that has been flagged for significant revamps. The strategy plots West Melbourne's evolution into one of "Melbourne's distinct inner urban neighbourhoods", aka a truly happening little spot. As part of the proposed plan, the top stretch of Spencer Street would be transformed into a lively shopping, commercial and creative precinct. It'd also score a mix of converted warehouses, Victorian shop fronts and heritage corner pubs, as part of an overall bid to encourage the retention of heritage and 'special character' buildings. Elsewhere in the suburb, there are plans for new walking and cycling routes, improved pedestrian access to surrounding areas, and a boost for public transport in an effort to minimise car traffic. There'd also be a stack of new trees and public green space added, including a new linear park along Hawke Street. In a post to Facebook following this week's Future Melbourne Committee meeting, Councillor Rohan Leppert indicated that the Municipal Planning Strategy would now be given a few tweaks during the amendment process. Once they've been made, the blueprint will be put on a public exhibition in the coming months so people can provide feedback and community consultation can begin. For more info about the Municipal Planning Strategy, see the City of Melbourne website. Top Image: Michelle Maria via Wiki Commons
As Melbourne's legendary food scene embarks on a necessary shake-up to suit the post-lockdown age, we're set to see plenty of clever and out-of-the-box events landing on our culinary calendars. That includes Everleigh-After — a multifaceted, art-filled dining experience from new culinary concept SSIXX, which hits Melbourne for seven weeks this summer. This envelope-pushing event will serve up a multi-sensory fusion of visuals, sonic delights, food, drink, art and aromas, in a collaborative effort between famed cocktail haunt The Everleigh, Ides' renowned chef-owner Peter Gunn and SSIXX's founder Philip Bucknell (who has imagined creative experiences for the likes of The Met Costume Gala, MOMA and New York Fashion Week). Taking place across a limited run of sittings from Tuesday, January 12, Everleigh-After features a series of intimate 14-person communal dinners, held within a futuristic cube at a secret inner-city location. Yes, it's set to be an immersive, otherworldly affair, offering a simultaneous feast for all the senses. And, while it comes in at a cool $250 a pop, this one aims to blow all your previous food experiences out of the water. While the visual splendour, bespoke scents and aural offerings unfold, guests will also enjoy a lineup of specialty Everleigh cocktails, carefully matched to a four-course feast. Much is being kept under wraps for now, though you can expect to taste a masterful reworking of Gunn's iconic Black Box dessert somewhere along the way — a much-loved Ides creation made famous after an appearance on Masterchef Australia. It seems that Melbourne is just the beginning, too. The minds behind Everleigh-After have confirmed the concept is a "travelling experience", imagined "in collaboration with culinary experts, artists and designers Australia wide." SSIXX presents Everleigh-After will host a limited run of sittings every Tuesday–Sunday from January 12–February 28, 2021. The location will be revealed to guests closer to the date of their dinner. To learn more and book a spot, head to the website.
No one needs an excuse to get stuck into a big bowl of gnocchi. But as winter steadily creeps closer, cravings for those pillowy potato dumplings tend to strike a whole lot more regularly. Luckily, the team running The Ascot Lot's beloved Gnocchi Festival is well aware of this fact. The event has been a fan favourite since 2019 — when over 10,000 pasta enthusiasts streamed in across the weekend. Now, the much-loved festival is back for another round, with a slew of the city's gnocchi-loving vendors invited to plate up their unique versions of the classic potato dish on Sunday, May 7. Only this time, the event's grown so popular, it's had to move to an expanded space in the carpark of sibling venue Holmes Hall. Head in from noon to devour a range of gnocchi-inspired creations from the likes of Cafe Merenda, Pasta Face, Hole in the Wall and Gnonnas Gnocchi, with vegan and gluten-free options also in the mix. Meanwhile, the outdoor Gnoch-Tail bar will be whipping up Italian-accented cocktails in a nod to gnocchi's roots, alongside a slew of other libations. A program of live tunes will soundtrack your gnocchi-scoffing right through the afternoon. And, as is always the way over at The Ascot Lot, pooches are more than welcome to join in the fun.
In his guise as Benoit Blanc in both 2019's Knives Out and 2022's Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Daniel Craig has pointed the finger at an array of well-known faces. With third film Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery officially on the way, that list is set to grow. The first three folks joining it: Andrew Scott (Ripley), Josh O'Connor (Challengers) and Cailee Spaeny (Civil War). If you weren't already excited about Blanc's next case, which is set to arrive on Netflix in 2025, then you should be now. The news that Wake Up Dead Man is on its way still relatively fresh, with the sleuthing saga's writer and director Rian Johnson announcing it via social media on Saturday, May 25 — and casting details have started arriving mere days later. [caption id="attachment_868527" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Courtesy of Netflix © 2022.[/caption] As reported by Variety, there's no word yet as to who Scott, O'Connor and Spaeny are playing opposite No Time to Die's Craig. But joining Wake Up Dead Man's suspect pool comes in a big year for fans of all three Down Under, with Scott's All of Us Strangers, O'Connor's La Chimera and Spaeny's Priscilla all reaching screens this year — plus the aforementioned Ripley, Challengers and Civil War, too. With the third Knives Out flick locking in a date with the small screen next year, the series continues its three-yearly pattern. Who else the filmmaker that also brought audiences Brick, The Brothers Bloom, Looper, Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi and TV's Poker Face (which has been renewed for a second season) will get Blanc investigating hasn't been revealed, and neither has much else about the movie. "I love everything about whodunnits, but one of the things I love most is how malleable the genre is. There's a whole tonal spectrum from Carr to Christie, and getting to explore that range is one of the most exciting things about making Benoit Blanc movies," Johnson did note. [caption id="attachment_951454" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Challengers, Niko Tavernise © 2024 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc.[/caption] Exactly when in 2025 the flick will hit, and also whether it will reach cinemas before arriving on Netflix, also hasn't been announced. But, the streamer is teasing that this will be Blanc's "most dangerous case yet". So far, Johnson has plunged his detective into a familiar scenario twice, but always ensured that the end result was anything but routine. His trusty setup: bring a group of people together in a family home, mode of transport or lavish vacation setting, then watch on when one thing that always occurs in a whodunnit happens. That'd be a murder, in a formula that Agatha Christie also loved, as book-to-film adaptations Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile and A Haunting in Venice have shown. The author's play The Mousetrap and recent flick See How They Run, which riffs on it, make the same point. And, so does this clearly Christie-inspired franchise. [caption id="attachment_936946" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Priscilla[/caption] The cast across Knives Out and Glass Onion has been impressive. Chris Evans (Pain Hustlers), Ana de Armas (Ghosted), Jamie Lee Curtis (Haunted Mansion), Michael Shannon (The Flash), Toni Collette (Mafia Mamma), Don Johnson (The Collective), Lakeith Stanfield (The Changeling), Christopher Plummer (Departure), Katherine Langford (Savage River) and Jaeden Martell (Mr Harrigan's Phone) all featured the first time around. In the second flick, Edward Norton (Asteroid City), Janelle Monáe (Antebellum), Kathryn Hahn (Tiny Beautiful Things), Leslie Odom Jr (The Exorcist: Believer), Jessica Henwick (The Royal Hotel), Madelyn Cline (Outer Banks), Kate Hudson (Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon) and Dave Bautista (Dune: Part Two) all co-starred. If you saw either — or any murder-mystery involving a motley crew of characters brought together in one location when someone turns up dead — then you'll know how this movie series works from there. There's a standout setting, that big group of chalk-and-cheese folks, threats aplenty and just as much suspicion. Check out the title announcement video for Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery below: Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery will release sometime in 2025 — we'll update you with an exact date when one is announced. Read our reviews of Knives Out and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. Via Variety. Top image: All of Us Strangers, photo by Chris Harris, courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2023 Searchlight Pictures.
Will Dune movies just keep getting better and better? Here's hoping that's as natural an outcome as spying sand as far as the eye can see across Arrakis. When Denis Villeneuve (Blade Runner 2049) followed in David Lynch's footsteps with 2021's Dune, he made a new version of one of the most unfairly maligned sci-fi films ever crafted, and managed what Alejandro Jodorowsky sadly couldn't (see: excellent documentary Jodorowsky's Dune) — and a new science-fiction cinema classic arrived and stunned. Villeneuve's picture, which scored ten Oscar nominations and six wins, only told part of Dune's story. Cue Dune: Part Two to keep the tale going. War has arrived on the franchise's spice-laden planet, and Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet, Bones and All) and the Fremen are ready to fight. The former doesn't just want to face off against the folks who destroyed his family, but for the sandy celestial body, with Zendaya's (Euphoria) Chani at his side. That's the tale teased in not one but two trailers for the Dune sequel, with the second just dropping and filled with swirling tension. "This world is beyond cruelty," says Paul in the latest sneak peek, surveying the grim status quo. But he has a plan: "he who can destroy a thing has the real control of it." The first film had Paul head to Arrakis because his dad Duke Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac, Moon Knight) had just been given stewardship of the planet and its abundance of 'the spice' — aka the most valuable substance in the universe — and then get caught up in a bitter battle with malicious forces over the substance. It also saw Paul meet the population of people known as the Fremen, including Chani, plus Javier Bardem's (Lyle, Lyle Crocodile) Stilgar, which is who he and his mother Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson, Silo) are with in Dune: Part Two. Expansive desert landscape, golden and orange hues (again, Villeneuve helmed Blade Runner 2049), sandworms, the director's reliable eye for a spectacle and Hans Zimmer's (The Son) latest likely Oscar-winning score: they've all shown up in the new film's two glimpses so far. So have some of the franchise's new players, with Austin Butler ditching his Elvis locks as Feyd Rautha Harkonnen, the nephew of Stellan Skarsgard's (Andor) Baron Harkonnen. Christopher Walken (Severance) and Florence Pugh (The Wonder) also join the saga as Emperor Shaddam IV and his daughter Princess Irulen. From the first film, Josh Brolin (Outer Range), Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3), Stephen McKinley Henderson (Beau Is Afraid) and Charlotte Rampling (Benedetta) return, while Léa Seydoux (Crimes of the Future) also joins the cast. Off-screen, Villeneuve has brought back not just Zimmer, but Oscar-winning Australian director of photography Greig Fraser (The Batman), Oscar-winning production designer Patrice Vermett (Vice), Oscar-winning editor Joe Walker (The Unforgivable), Oscar-winning visual effects supervisor Paul Lambert (First Man) and Oscar-nominated costume designer Jacqueline West (Song to Song). Check out the latest Dune: Part Two trailer below: Dune: Part Two will release in cinemas Down Under on November 2, 2023.
The shock of unkempt hair, the Irish brogue, the misanthropic attitude: there's no mistaking Dylan Moran for anyone else. It was true in beloved British sitcom Black Books, when his on-screen alter ego abhorred mornings, ate coasters and claimed that his oven could cook anything (even belts). And it's definitely true of the comedian's acerbically hilarious live shows. Moran is no stranger to Australia, and last headed our way in 2019. Whether you've guffawed at his bleak wit live or you've always wanted to, you'll be able to see him on Saturday, May 8, too — thanks to a streamed version of his Brisbane show from his last visit. Expect the kind of deadpan gags, wine-soaked insights and blisteringly sharp one-liners that've kept him in the spotlight since 1996, when he became the youngest-ever winner of the Edinburgh Fringe's Perrier Award. Dr Cosmos once again features Moran's grumpily lyrical musings on love, politics, misery and the everyday absurdities of life, which you can watch for $18 from your couch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMfRpM5PJRw
If there's one thing the eastern suburbs do well, it's wine bars. It doesn't matter if you're slogging it down Chapel Street or staying away from the crowds in a quiet leafy pocket of Kew, chances are, there'll be a nice little wine bar nearby. The ones of this list stock a nice selection of traditional and new-age natural drops, and most have a kitchen or at least a good selection of cheese so you can snack while you taste a few of the open bottles. Quite a few even allow you to take away — so once you've taste tested a few, you can take a bottle home with you to drink at your leisure.
They've taken us through the streets of Japan with Tokyo Tina, sent our tastebuds tripping across Vietnam with their Hanoi Hannah stable and, most recently, immersed us in modern Chinese flavours at their Balaclava diner Moonhouse. Now, the Commune Group is gearing up to hit the next stop on its global food tour, announcing plans for its latest project, Studio Amaro — an Italian bar and eatery to open in Windsor this spring. The team's diving into unchartered territory in more ways than one, with this Chapel Street venue set to be its largest yet. It'll boast a 100-seat dining room at ground level, leading down to a DJ-fuelled, subterranean drinking den with space for an extra 60. Open from lunch through dinner and on into late-night revelry, this big corner site will be celebrating the classic flavours of Italy across an offering that's bright and lively, yet steeped in simplicity. "Studio Amaro is our interpretation of Italian dining done in a very Melbourne way: communal, casual dining," explains the group's Creative Director Simon Blacher. "I can't wait to see tables filled with spilled wine, pasta sauce and lots of laughter." There'll be more to come on the menus soon. Alongside the eats, the venue's set to dish up a considered music offering, with a diverse lineup of artist residencies to grace the downstairs DJ decks and plenty of focus given to the overall sonic experience. Meanwhile, Bergman & Co (La Fantaisie, Poodle, Chancery Lane) are looking after the interiors, delivering a warm, nostalgic setting complete with yellow corduroy banquettes. Find Studio Amaro at 168 Chapel Street, Windsor, launching this spring. It'll open daily from 12pm–late. Images: Julia Sansone
Melbourne's no stranger to the boozy brunch concept, though this one does it a little differently to most. At modern Japanese restaurant Tokyo Tina, the ever-popular weekend brunch sessions come matched with a fun side of bingo, as hosted by the hilarious Valerie Hex. This big-energy brunch setup promises to fire up your Saturday with one of two weekly sittings — 12–2pm and 2.15–4.15pm. For $79, you'll spend two hours sipping bottomless tap beer, bubbly and Aperol spritzes, while feasting on your table's choice of five dishes from the brunch menu. Expect plates like miso-baked cauliflower, yuzu potato salad, five-spice chicken karaage, kingfish tataki with white ponzu and fennel, and the crispy avocado bao. There's complimentary kimchi rice and edamame to match. And if you're only in for the eats and entertainment, a drinks-less option comes in at just $49. The bingo itself promises a bit of raucous fun, especially those crowned bingo king or queen. Who knows — you could end this Saturday session with a sweet prize and serious bragging rights to your name. Either way, this is not the kind your nan plays. Just be sure to book online to nab a table. [caption id="attachment_848176" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Leah Traecey[/caption] Images: Leah Traecey
While Messina's main jam is crafting supremely scoffable gelato varieties, the brand's love of food extends far beyond the freezer — as it has proven plenty of times over the past few years. Sometimes, it likes to team up with other culinary hotshots. Sometimes, it just likes to whip out a creative dessert. Either way, your tastebuds always benefit. And this month, you're really in luck because from 12pm on Friday, July 9 and Saturday, July 10, Messina is busting out one of its specials. If you've sampled its famous mango pancakes before — yep, those treats that starred at its yum cha sessions — you'll already be hungry. The crepes come stuffed with mango sorbet and whipped cream, and they've proven immensely popular every other time they've popped up. After getting its hands on a new pancake machine last month, the cult gelato chain even hosted a dedicated mango pancake party at its Sydney HQ. And now, it's bringing this tasty occasion to Melbourne. The whole thing will go down at Messina's Fitzroy store, with pancakes on offer until sold out each day — so getting in early is recommended. A pair of pancakes clocks in at $12.
