Melbourne has scored itself a new haven of good, honest food with the cheery arrival of Stan's Deli & Sandwiches in Malvern. A vision of green and white both inside and out, this modern riff on the classic New York deli and diner comes courtesy of some pretty familiar hospitality faces, with Guy Bentley (Leonardo's Pizza Palace, Leonards House of Love) and Todd Vanneste (Frankie's Tortas & Tacos) teaming up with Alex Gavioli (formerly Moby 3143 and Lenny 3206) and Aaron Trotman of wine label NON. At the Glenferrie Road spot, Vanneste's Weekdays Design Studio has created a bright, smartly-dressed diner-style space for morning coffees and lunchtime sandwich pit-stops alike. And yes, Stan's is taking the concept of deli coffee to a whole new level, with Small Batch supplying both the house blend and a rotation of single origin offerings. As for the food menu, it serves up a finely tuned celebration of simplicity, heroing straightforward flavours and featuring a stack of elements crafted in-house. You'll find 5 & Dime bagels loaded with the likes of whipped ricotta, lemon and dill, or with pastrami, bread and butter pickles, sauerkraut and mustard. The sandwich game is strong, including the roast chook sanga with Swiss gruyere, herb mayo and green tomatoes that are salted overnight. Pork and fennel sausage comes housed in a muffin alongside curried egg and cheese, while the eggplant parm sandwich features a mix of napoli, mozzarella, peppers and rocket. Everything is available to go, as well as to enjoy in — and while you're there you'll find a deli section stocked with the likes of Chappy's chips, Birdsnake chocolate, Nice Pickles, Strange Love sodas and NON's booze-free wines. Stay tuned for a line of house-made sauces, preserves and other goodies, hitting the shelves soon. And, once Stan's liquor license comes through shortly, there are plans to host monthly dinner parties featuring fresh pasta and natural wine, and shining the spotlight on various regions and producers. Find Stan's Deli & Sandwiches at 248B Glenferrie Road, Malvern — open from 6.30am–3pm Monday–Saturday and 8am–3pm Sunday.
Run, jump and roll your way into the Melbourne Arts Centre on select dates this week to see a brand new stage work from the champions of Western Sydney's underground parkour scene. Straight from the streets of Fairfield, Jump First, Ask Later combines the fluid movement of free running and contemporary dance in an explosively physical performance that explores "violence, migration, redemption and the collective freedom these artists discovered by mapping their city through dance". On stage at the Arts Centre on August 2, 5 and twice on August 6, this troupe of six young performers from one of the most culturally diverse parts of Australia will traverse the theatre, springing and vaulting over obstacles in a 50-minute performance produced by Sydney's Powerhouse Youth Theatre and dance company Force Majeure. Expanding your understanding of both athleticism and dance, the show shapes up as a must-see for fans of either. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekt4QkjKnEw
Bill Murray playing the world’s worst babysitter; Michael Keaton washing up in a cinematic ballet; Timothy Spall muttering his way through an artist’s biopic; the Bolshoi doing real ballet — there are loads of reasons to hurry along to the cool retreat that is Palace Cinemas before summer cuts the ropes. Good news is, to make sure you don’t miss out, we’re giving away five double passes to a film of your choice at your preferred Palace location. What’s more, the movies needn’t be your only motivation. A brand new, uber-refreshing, summery drink has jumped onto the Palace menu: Appleton V/X and ginger beer with fresh lime wedges. It’s built in a tall glass, with plenty of ice, to make sure that it keeps you cool throughout any feature. V/X is a special blend of no fewer than 15 aged rums, hand-mixed by master blender Joy Spence, who’s been making rum for more than 20 years. It’s one of Appleton Estate’s favourite rums for mixology because of its sophisticated, multilayered flavour profile. To be in the running for one of five double passes to Palace Cinemas, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter and then email win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address.
Burgers. Giver of life. Mana from heaven. We're pretty keen on this most glorious of food groups — and given how many new burger joints we've seen pop up around town, it seems like you are too. Hell, Hank Marvin Market's last two Burger Biannuals drew more than 6000 and 7000 hungry punters respectively. So, really, it's little wonder they're gearing up for round three. Firing up from 11am on the Thursday, September 28 and Friday, September 29 of the AFL Grand Final long weekend, the event will feature more than a dozen of Melbourne's best burg merchants, including Mr Burger, Gorilla Grill, Sliders on Tyres, St Kilda Burger Bar and Sparrow's Philly Cheesesteaks. There'll also be vegan and vegetarian options. Burgers truly are for everybody. Assuming you have room for dessert, you'll also have the run of a number of sweet options from the likes of Billy Van Creamery, Whoopies Cookies and Pop-Up Crepes, and Collingwood's Stomping Ground will be pouring beers. Point is, you probably won't need to eat for the rest of the week. After its St Kilda stint, the Big Burger Biannual will hit the road to visit Watergardens, Ballarat, Wodonga and Shepparton before the end of the year. Image: Shara Henderson.
On the lookout for a dope new denim jacket? Or do you want to be rid of that weird-looking lamp taking up space in the living room? Then, by golly, you're in luck. The Garage Sale Trail works with local council partners Australia-wide to get as many trash-and-treasure troves happening on the same day as possible. More than 10,000 garages are expected to open their doors to bargain hunters, selling two million items, when the event returns for its eight time — and it's first two-day, weekend-long stint — on October 21 and 22. Aside from the retro goodies up for grabs, the Trail is all about sustainability. Instead of ending up in landfill, unwanted clutter becomes a fantastic find. So get that tight pair of sunnies for peanuts and help the environment at the same time. The Garage Sale Trail began humbly in Bondi in 2010 and is growing bigger every year. There'll be a right slew of sales happening all around Melbourne, so keep your eyes on the event website — or register online to make a quick buck from your old junk and hang out with the friendly folks in your hood.
Descending on the cube-like Melbourne Music Week hub in Alexandra Gardens, the Sunset Jamboree invites you to shake off your serious side and get a little bit wild, as you embark on a multisensory adventure of queer delights. Helmed by legendary LGBTQI+ party-makers Poof Doof and Rock City, and backed by 3RRR, it'll see the temporary structure transformed into a dusk-time oasis of sound, colour and memorable costumes, on Sunday, November 17. As part of the fun, you'll catch a live drag show featuring fan favourites like Karen From Finance, Polly Filla, Jimmi The Kween and award-winning duo The Jawbreakers. More hard-hitting energy comes in the form of a diverse soundtrack served up by yet more local legends. Think big pop tunes from Zoe Badwi, a dance-worthy serve of techno from Argonaut and a healthy dose of hip hop courtesy of Duchess Kay. As for your own get-up, just remember that nothing's too OTT for this one.
This month, Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre is turning the big 2-1, and all locals are invited to join in the festivities, with a day of sporty birthday fun on Saturday, August 25. If you've ever fancied checking out the Albert Park site's huge array of sports, health and wellness facilities, this jam-packed open day is your chance to do it for free. Uncover some new talents at a range of sports demonstrations and clinics, have a crack at some hot yoga or a pilates class, and even enjoy a complimentary session in the spa, steam room and sauna. Aussie sporting legends joining in the day's fun include Olympic gold medallist freestyle swimmer Mack Horton, former national netball star Bianca Chatfield, and the entire Melbourne United basketball team. There'll be a host of food trucks, DJ tunes and plenty of kid-friendly activities, even body composition scans for those wanting to kick off some new fitness resolutions. What's more, visitors on the day who aren't already members will each score a free MSAC 21-day pass.
Following 14 months of restrictions, postponements and cancellations, Australia's arts sector is in need of support. Arts institutions have struggled with capacity caps, and with restrictions on dancing and singing — as well as snap lockdowns and continued last-minute cancellations. In response, the Federal Government has announced nearly $300 million worth of financial support for the arts sector as part of the 2021–22 Budget. As announced last night, on Tuesday, May 11, the government will direct funds to the art, music and film industries through several programs across the next two years. The Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) fund will receive $125.6 million over the next two years. So far, RISE has helped fund an array of the country's major COVID-era arts and entertainment events including Summer Sounds, Jurassic World by Brickman and Synthony. The fund is also helping to support upcoming cultural events like Rising Melbourne, Next Exit, Fresh Produce, Moulin Rouge! The Musical and Dark Mofo, plus some yet-to-be-announced events including a new mini festival from the team behind Laneway Festival and the return of The Tivoli's Open Season this winter. The $125 million investment is expected to help fund around 230 new projects. Mental health and crisis relief organisation Support Act, which works with artists, crew and music workers, will receive $10 million — alongside the landmark $2.3 billion investment in mental health services included in the rest of the Budget. [caption id="attachment_779827" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Golden Age Cinema, Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] The film industry is set for a boost as well, with $20 million dedicated to supporting independent cinemas, $50.8 million set to go to the local film and television sector to fund productions, and $3.3 million allocated to Ausfilm in order to continue to attract international film productions to Australia. And, regional arts and tourism will be supported through an $11.4 million investment in the Festivals Australia's Regional Arts Fund and the Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support program, plus an additional $5 million towards performing arts touring through Playing Australia. Head to the Australian Government's website for more information about the 2021–22 Federal Budget and the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand fund.
Thirty years, hundreds of films and thousands of minutes spent staring at the silver screen — that's what the Alliance Française French Film Festival is celebrating in 2019. Three decades since first launching in Australia, the event is marking its mammoth milestone with a particularly huge festival. And like all of the best big birthday bashes, the fest has assembled quite the on-screen guest list. When AFFFF hits Melbourne's theatres from March 6–April 10, it'll not only screen 54 movies across a month-long period, but also showcase a heap of French acting greats. Think Juliette Binoche, Audrey Tautou, Isabelle Adjani, Vincent Cassel, Catherine Deneuve, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Mathieu Amalric, plus Vanessa Paradis and her daughter Lily-Rose Depp. The list goes on (obviously). With acclaimed French directors Claire Denis and Jacques Audiard each making their English-language filmmaking debuts over the last 12 months, this year's AFFFF also boasts a bit of Hollywood star power. Robert Pattinson and André Benjamin (aka André 3000) join the aforementioned Binoche in Denis' stellar dystopian space effort High Life, while Joaquin Phoenix, John C. Reilly and Jake Gyllenhaal star in Audiard's western, The Sisters Brothers. Both titles have been gathering praise on the international festival circuit since late last year, and will hit Aussie screens for the first time at AFFFF. From opening film The Trouble with You to closing night's Kiss & Tell — both comedies — the full lineup boasts plenty of other features to get excited about. Intimate drama A Faithful Man steps into the complications of romance, with Louis Garrel both in front of and behind the camera; César award-nominee Amanda follows a twentysomething forced to bond with his niece; and doco fans can get a fashion fix with both Celebration: Yves Saint Laurent and Jean-Paul Gaultier: Freak & Chic. Elsewhere, famed director François Ozon returns with By the Grace of God, which comes our way after premiering in Berlin in February, and Olivier Assayas is back with his thoughtful latest offering, Non-Fiction. While the trio of The World Is Yours, Knife + Heart and Sorry Angel have already played on Australian screens, specifically in Melbourne last year, they're also worth looking out for — the crime caper, campy slasher and queer romance all made our best of MIFF list for a good reason. Finally, if you're keen on both old and new French talents, they're both in the spotlight in a considerable way. The former comes courtesy of a restored screening of Alain Resnais' classic 1961 effort Last Year at Marienbad, and a dedicated program strand highlights the latter, including emerging filmmakers such as Coralie Fargeat (Revenge), Cécila Rouaud (Family Photo) and Dominique Rocher (The Night Eats the World).
Having firmly established itself as one of the country's best art and design markets, Finders Keepers is shaking things up when it returns to The Royal Exhibition Building this July. One of two yearly events (the other will drop in summer), the autumn/winter season will have more of a 'festival' vibe with the introduction of an extensive food and entertainment program. The focus remains on supporting independent and up-and-coming artisans, but the market is also ramping up its food, drink and entertainment offerings. Expect a whole host of food trucks to be on standby when the post-shop hunger strikes — covering everything from curry and falafels to coffee and loukoumades. Various musical acts will provide the soundtrack as you wander the stalls including DJ sets by Mojo Juju and former Triple J host Alex Dyson. On the art and design side of things, many of the usual suspects are set to return, including Bridget Bodenham's gold-embellished porcelain and quirky candles from You, Me & Bones. Plus, there'll be debut exhibitions from the likes of jewellery brands Little Fear and Kitsu and artist Design Pulp. As part of its ongoing commitment to supporting emerging artists, Finders Keepers has introduced a new Artist Program. As the autumn/winter 2018 recipient, textile label Magpie Goose's Tiwi Bird design, in collaboration with Bede Tungatulum, is featured across all market collateral for the season. Prepare to spend a good chunk of time foraging for artsy finds for yourself or a loved one. Luckily, this year's trading hours have been extended to give you maximum shopping time, with things kicking off at midday on Friday, July 13. And, if you're the type to experience non-buyer's remorse, never fear: tickets are $5, available at the door and valid for the entire weekend, so you can always make a return visit. Start creating your shopping list now and head to the Finders Keepers directory to see the full scope of vendors. Finders Keepers Autumn/Winter Melbourne will run from July 13–15, 2018; 12pm–9pm on Friday, 10am–6pm on Saturday and 10am–5pm on Sunday. Images: Mark Lobo.
Take Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and add it to the rare list of sequels that transcend their predecessors. Picking up the story around ten years after Rise of the Planet of the Apes, the opening titles paint a bleak picture of a world brought to the brink of extinction via the so-called 'Simian Flu'. Brink of extinction for humanity, that is, because the apes, by contrast, have flourished. Under the strict yet compassionate leadership of Caesar (once again made inconceivably lifelike thanks to Andy Serkis's performance and the remarkable team at WETA), the apes have now adopted a number of human traits and habits: communication through sign language, horse riding, spear wielding and even the establishment of some rudimentary written rules — chief amongst which is: APE NOT KILL APE. Given the descent into murderous anarchy by the scattered human survivors of the virus, that proclamation is intended as a critical point of difference for Caesar, a mark of pride and proof of primate primacy. It's also, unfortunately, delusory, and it is in that realm of 'innocence lost' that Dawn spends most of its time. With rivalries and jealousies brewing between both father and son and leader and lieutenant, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is something of a modern-day Richard III. What makes it so compelling is that none of the villains — ape or human — are without their justifiable reservations and prejudices. Koba, for example, is Caesar's unfailingly loyal friend and bodyguard, yet he bares the scars of cruel human testing and holds no affection for the survivors. On the human side, the leader of the survivors' colony (Gary Oldman) sees only the faces of his dead wife and children whenever confronted by apes, and his determination to restore power to the city has no room for the kind of simian compassion shown by his lieutenant (Jason Clarke). Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is smaller in both scale and ambition than Rise yet feels so much bigger and more satisfying. It's an 'us and them' tale, a prelude to war where neither side is as unified as they might think. The direction by Matt Reeves (Cloverfield) is technical and delicate, aided by sumptuous cinematography and special effects that are nothing short of exquisite, with even the most intense closeup failing to betray even the tiniest flaw in design. If anything, the CGI apes outperform the humans in almost every scene in which screen time is shared. Tender, tense, intelligent and morally complex, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is an outstanding film and a genuine contender for blockbuster of the year. https://youtube.com/watch?v=3sHMCRaS3ao
The Yarra Valley and the Great Ocean Road boast scenic sights as far as the eye can see, but that's not their own attraction. Both areas are also home to a combined chocolaterie and ice creamery. Exploring the countryside, snacking on hand-crafted chocolates, licking your way through an array of gelato flavours — what's not to love? Come Wednesday, December 26, the Mornington Peninsula will also join its regional counterparts, welcoming its very own purveyor of sweets. It's the third venue for Ian and Leanne Neeland, who've created a petite-sized sibling to their Yarra Valley and the Great Ocean Road stores. As well as serving up chocolate and ice cream in the seaside town of Flinders, their new location will also feature a brownie bar. Taking over the space formerly occupied by Mornington Peninsula Chocolates on Cook Street, the similarly named but Mornington Peninsula Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery will combine a bit of the old and the new — although, regarding which is which, it depends on how you look at it. The store will continue to make truffles in flavours made popular by the site's previous owners, such as chilli and tequila, blood orange and tonka beans, and tangy lime caramel. Indeed, it'll focus on truffles in a big way. And, it'll sell 180 unique chocolate varieties made by Belgian and French chocolatiers Thomas Wierinck and Anna Guinet, who also provide the sweets for the Neelands' other spots. Among the chocolate range, nut clusters, rocky road, giant chocolate freckles, and choc-coated ginger, honeycomb and nougat will all be on offer. At the ice creamery, 16 styles of Italian gelato will be available, too. And as for the brownie bar, it'll bake up a revolving menu that includes triple choc, mint, Cherry Ripe, Nutella and Baileys varieties. Milkshakes, hot chocolates and barista-made coffee will also be on the menu. If you're super keen on chocolate (who isn't?), you'll also be able to enjoy a 20-minute hosted tasting session, which'll take place at 10am, 12pm, 2pm and 4pm each day. Or, you can book into a chocolate discovery class, where you'll not only taste a few choccies — you'll also make some. Find Mornington Peninsula Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery at 45 Cook Street, Flinders — open Monday to Sunday from 9am–5pm.
One of the UK's most versatile and interesting directors, Michael Winterbottom, is a hard man to pigeonhole. Teaming again with Steve Coogan, whom he collaborated with on 24 Hour Party People and the wonderful The Trip, his latest is a biopic of Paul Raymond, the controversial figure who became the 'King of Soho', pulling crowds with risque theatre at his nightclub and successfully branching out into the world of magazines with his bestselling lad's mag, Men Only. The action opens with a shaken Raymond (Coogan) pondering tragic events involving his daughter and driving around the district of London he rules with a small child, pointing out the business he owns, markers not just of his great wealth but also his striving for respectability. His rise was marked by his audacity and knack for turning setbacks to his advantage — when a newspaper condemns one of his theatrical productions for including "arbitrary displays of naked flesh", he slaps the quote on the promotional poster as a selling point. After leaving his family for his mistress, Richmond finds himself on the wrong end of an expensive divorce settlement ("I think you'll find it's the most expensive divorce settlement in UK history" he corrects reporters), but remains focused on empire building. Along the way he reconnects with his daughter Debbie (an excellent Imogen Poots), whose ambitions of stardom are not accommodated by the public and whose frail confidence is boosted by lashings of champagne and cocaine. Moving from the swinging sixties to the darker onset of disco, Raymond continues to show an unerring sense for what the public want and gleefully pushes the boundaries with his magazines and live shows. He intuited what the public wanted was a taste of his hedonistic, womanising lifestyle. Yet behind the glamorous facade, there was a melancholy underside to his life, with Raymond's inability to let go of his humble beginnings and his unusual relationship with his daughter forming the wounded heart of this impressive biopic. Impeccable in its period detail and scored by the sweeping melodrama of Burt Bacharach songs, The Look of Love gives the always watchable Coogan meaty, complex material to wrestle with. Some will be disappointed at the way it brushes over the darker corners of his porn empire; Raymond had a way of deflecting difficult questions that the film also uses. Whether Raymond deserves such a sympathetic biography is debatable, but there is no questioning the aplomb with which Coogan and Winterbottom have brought this contradictory and ultimately quite sad figure to life. https://youtube.com/watch?v=t3OxrgrD0VI
The National Gallery of Victoria has today revealed its summer centrepiece: a bold new world premiere exhibition pairing the work of Dutch artist M.C. Escher and Japanese design studio Nendo. Much like the NGV's 2016's Andy Warhol and Ai Weiwei show, Between Two Worlds celebrates two very different creators, bringing them together in an assembly of immersive art and design. More than 150 of Escher's prints and drawings created between 1916 to 1969 have made their way to Melbourne from the Gemeentemuseum in The Hague for the artist's first ever major exhibition in Australia. Optical illusion is what he's best known for — his intricate pieces use patterns and design to warp space and perception. You'll need to take second, third and fourth looks at pieces like Day and night and Drawing hands. To really mess with your mind, Nendo — led by designer Oki Sato — has created an immersive gallery space that's just as trippy. The studio has taken inspiration from Escher to manipulate geometry and space to warp perception, giving you an imagined sense of what it would be like to enter Escher's mind boggling world. Expect lots of mirrors, shrinking corridors and projections that will mess with your brain (in a good way). The exhibition will officially open tomorrow with the gallery's exclusive black tie NGV Gala. Then it opens to the public on Sunday, December 2 and will run until April 2019 alongside a public program of talks, workshops and the NGV's Friday night parties. Escher x Nendo: Between Two Worlds will run from December 2 until April 2019 at NGV International. Images: Eugene Hyland and Sean Fennessy.
With a PM whose foot seems permanently lodged in his mouth and an opposition leader who has less personality than a drawer full of mismatched spoons, Australian federal politics is in desperate need of new blood. Enter Tom and Sam, a pair of ambitious, forwarding-thinking, all-singing, all-dancing candidates looking to bring some much needed pizzazz to Parliament House. Like House of Cards but with more accordions, this two-man musical production picked up the People’s Choice Award at Sydney’s Short + Sweet Cabaret Festival.
Starting out as a late-night snack stop for nightclub punters in Perth, Pretzel has just opened the doors to its first two Melbourne outposts making baked-to-order pretzels loaded with tasty toppings. The biggest and brightest of the two is in South Yarra — and you definitely won't miss this vibrant store as you make your way down Chapel Street. Pink from floor to ceiling, the colour blocked shop plays with velvet chairs, neon signs and numbered doors with a wall of retro motel-style keyrings (that, yes, you can purchase). Inside, you'll see staff swiftly rolling dough and shaping them into pretzels that are cooked to order and topped with the likes of cheese, bacon, chilli and chocolate (thankfully, not together). After making pretzels for five years, owner and founder Brittany Garbutt decided to venture out and expand the flavour horizons of this humble snack. [caption id="attachment_758354" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Julia Sansone[/caption] While the classic cinnamon is a crowd favourite, flavours like The Lot with three cheeses, pepperoni and bacon ignite the taste buds in a similar way to a cheesy pizza, but with the added layer of enjoying it on more soft, doughy pastry. Those looking for something slightly more adventurous can try the Chipotle & Cheese pretzel loaded with a jalapeños and a smoky chipotle sauce. Or, if sweet is more your thing, order the salted caramel, coconut or mint slice glazed numbers. [caption id="attachment_758364" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Julia Sansone[/caption] If you're thinking these salty, doughy numbers would go down a treat after a beer or two (or ten), you'd be right. And, thankfully, they're available late, with the shop opening till 2.30am on Friday and Saturday. While pretzels are popular food overseas, the team at Pretzel say they hope to popularise the oft-forgotten-about soft pretzel here in Australia. If you're not down south side often, Pretzel also has a newly opened store in ELLA Melbourne Central. Find Pretzel at 397 Chapel Street, South Yarra. It's open from 10am–9pm Monday, 10am–10pm Tuesday–Thursday, 10am–2.30am Friday–Saturday and 10am–10pm. Images: Julia Sansone
Ah, the mysteries of the cosmos. Stargazers everywhere, both sciencey and romantic, can rejoice at this exciting time because the Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2013 competition exhibition is showing at the Royal Observatory Greenwich in London through 23 February next year. We've come an awfully long way from the first photo of the moon taken ca. 1826, what with our insanely high ISOs these days, and our tripods and our knowledge and our penchant for standing around all night while our Canons painstakingly track the path of the stars. Now in its fifth year, the competition received more than 1200 entries from 49 countries. Turns out, it's not only nerdy Hubble astronomers and National Geographic lensmen training their eyes on the skies — all manner of enchanting and mind-bending space images are being made by inspired amateurs year-round (even a 14-year-old's work has earned some laurels this year). You're sure to deeply enjoy pondering the beauty of infinity as you check out these selects. So who's been judged the ultimate astrophotography kingpin? Australia's Mark Gee with his photo 'Guiding Light to the Stars' — and we just happen to have the Concrete Playground Bluffer's Guide to Astronomy Photography on hand, featuring all the advice you could need from Mr. Gee himself. It's not so easy making sharp and correctly-lit images of the night sky (Lord knows I've tried and failed), which makes Gee's wisdom, and the shots in the exhibition, even more impressive. Soundtrack while you are shooting meteors? 'Constellations' by indie quirkster Darwin Deez. The Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2013 book is out now, and the Flickr pool has all the submissions for your viewing pleasure. Top image: Hi.Hello photographed by Ben Canales (Runner up – People and Space Category) Guiding Light to the Stars by Mark Gee, winner of the Astronomy Photographer of the Year “Snowy Range Perseid Meteor Shower” shot by David Kingham (Highly Commended – Earth & Space Category) The Waxing Crescent Moon by 14-year-old Jacob Marchio (Highly Commended – Young Astronomy Photographer Category) Green Energy by Fredrik Broms, capturing the Aurora Borealis (Runner Up – Earth & Space Category) Moon Silhouettes by Mark Gee (Winner – People and Space Category) Celestial Impasto Sh2-239 by Adam Block (Winner – Deep Space Category) Floating Metropolis – NGC 253 photographed by Michael Sidonio of Australia, showing the rare appearance of a starburst galaxy, with many stars being born at once (Highly Commended – Deep Space Category) Via Hyperallergic
Since March, a selection of normal, everyday activities have been off the cards. Now, with Victoria's first stage of relaxed restrictions introduced earlier this week, Melburnians can enjoy the great outdoors again. You can go for a hike, play golf, head out on a boat and have a picnic in a park with up to ten people — all while social distancing, of course. And for those who want to picnic while cruising around the Yarra, you can do that, too — even if you don't own a boat. From today, Friday, May 15, GoBoat's eco-friendly picnic boats are once again setting sail from Banana Alley, near Flinders Street Station. Aimed at making the whole boating caper more accessible for everyday folk, the outfit's Scandinavian-designed vessels are slow-moving, a breeze to operate and don't require a boating licence, making for fuss-free sailing sessions. In a win for the planet, they also run on silent, pollution-free, electric engines, and are crafted from a mix of reclaimed timber and recycled PET bottles. Oh, and did we mention they're pet-friendly? Surely you've got a very good boy who deserves a river jaunt. However, due to COVID-19, it'll be doing things a little differently. While the vessels have an eight-person capacity, you'll only be hopping aboard with up to five people from your family or household — and all your delicious snacks, of course. There'll also be contactless check-in and hand sanitiser available on all boats, plus they'll be sanitised before every use. Each of the contemporary GoBoats clocks in at 18-feet long, boasting a central picnic table with room for all the necessary snacks and booze. And despite what you might be thinking, they're pretty affordable — simply BYO food and drinks, round up enough of your housemates to jump aboard and a GoBoat session will cost you less than $22 per person, per hour. That's $109 hourly in total, or $189 for two hours, $269 for three hours, $349 for four hours, $429 for five hours and $509 for six hours. Yes, you can really make a whole day of it. For more information about GoBoat, or to make a booking, visit the service's website. Images: Lean Timms
You wouldn't be blamed for being a little more budget-conscious when it comes to your shopping habits lately. Fortunately, the much-loved Round She Goes fashion market returns to Melbourne from 10am–3pm on Sunday, September 21. Taking over Coburg Town Hall with the full range of high-quality, preloved women's fashion, there are over 60 stalls to rummage through, each jam-packed with stylish secondhand designer labels, chic vintage finds and quality handmade accessories. Hidden among the big names and cult-followed labels, you'll find designer fashion and vintage gems from the likes of Aje, Gorman, Zimmermann and Scanlan Theodore. And the styles up for grabs are as eclectic as the brands, with in-vogue finds ranging from the 1940s to the Y2K era. You're also bound to discover some must-have accessories, with Round She Goes offering Hermès and Liberty scarves alongside mid-century brooches and attention-grabbing jewellery. Prices start from $5, so staying on top of your budget is made easy.
It's time to charge your glasses for some grape-based festivities, because one of Victoria's best-known winemaking regions just scored a brand new 10-day wine festival. The inaugural PULP fest descends on the Yarra Valley from Friday, November 11–Sunday, November 20, for an extended celebration of local winemaking goodness. Unfolding across multiple regional venues — and a few inner-city spots, too — PULP's jam-packed program is stuffed full of tasting parties, feasts, showcases, gigs and more, paying equal homage to the scene's legends and its emerging stars. [caption id="attachment_877737" align="alignnone" width="1920"] FIN Wines[/caption] Highlights include a rollicking 90s-themed party launching Rob Dolan's latest retro-leaning range (November 19), and a collaborative DJ-fuelled shindig by wineries Jayden Ong and Timo Mayer, featuring skinsy vino, barbecue eats and mezcal negronis (November 18). You can catch one of Chandon's sparkling-matched, out-of-the-box high teas; team wine tastings with tacos at a lively event at FIN's cellar door (November 12); or swing past your local Wine Republic store for a taste of all the Yarra Valley wines that should be on your radar (November 11–19). [caption id="attachment_877738" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Giant Steps[/caption]
In Finland in 2015, British Turner Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller unveiled a rock show. No, he didn't pick up an instrument. Rather, he staged a 24-hour movie marathon filled with music documentaries playing all day and all night. In 2024, it's Melbourne's turn to dance through this cinema endurance test (or remain seated, if you can resist the urge to do more than just tap your toes). 24 Hour Rock Show is making a trip Down Under for RISING 2024, and also linking in with the Day Tripper music festival. Both that fest-within-the-fest and this feast of films kick off at 12pm on Saturday, June 8. You'll get priority access to 24 Hour Rock Show if you're hitting up Day Tripper, but entry to the screenings at The Capitol are free either way. Deller will be on hand to get things started with a speech — and then movies upon movies (upon movies upon movies) will roll. The iconic Stop Making Sense, 2023's ONEFOUR: Against All Odds and Glastonbury the Movie are just some of the flicks getting a whirl. The Judas Priest- and Dokken-focused Heavy Metal Parking Lot, No Fixed Address on Tour in the UK, Johnny Cash live at San Quentin and Grace Jones: Private Life are also on the bill. And, amid clips from the archives at the ABC and Rage, unreleased fan footage of Warumpi Band playing live and more, Aussie concert film Australian Made features INXS, Divinyls, The Triffids and Jimmy Barnes, while DOA: A Right of Passage heads on Sex Pistols' last tour, complete with Iggy Pop, The Clash and Billy Idol as well. Top Stop Making Sense image: Jordan Cronenweth, A24.
Prepare yourself for a serious case of house envy. The winners of the 2017 Houses Awards have been announced and, well, it's easy to see why they won. Taking out the gong for House of the Year is the Auchenflower House in Auchenflower, Queensland. Designed by the team at Vokes and Peters, the deceptively simple dwelling was described by the jury as "the result of the architecture practice's sustained investigations into the Queensland vernacular, and the straightforward application and sensory qualities of utilitarian materials." The Auchenflower House also won the award for House Alteration and Addition Under 200m², an accolade it shared with Branch Studio Architect's A Pavilion Between Trees in Balnarring, Victoria. The Melbourne-based practice also took home the chocolates for Best New House Under 200m² with Balnarring Retreat, while Best New House Over 200m² went to Edition Office's Fish Creek House in Foster, Victoria. Check out the full list of House Award winners, below.AUSTRALIAN HOUSE OF THE YEAR – Auchenflower House by Vokes and Peters (Auchenflower, QLD) NEW HOUSE UNDER 200m² – Balnarring Retreat by Branch Studio Architects (Balnarring, VIC) NEW HOUSE OVER 200m² – Fish Creek House by Edition Office (Foster, VIC) HOUSE ALTERATION AND ADDITION UNDER 200m² – Auchenflower House by Vokes and Peters (Auchenflower, QLD) and A Pavilion Between Trees by Branch Studio Architects (Balnarring, VIC) HOUSE ALTERATION AND ADDITION OVER 200m² – Street House by ME (Burleigh Heads, QLD) APARTMENT OR UNIT – Bobhubski by March Studio (Falls Creek, VIC) OUTDOOR – Waterloo House by Anthony Gill Architects with Budwise Garden Design (Waterloo, NSW) SUSTAINABILITY – Fish Creek House by Edition Office (Foster, VIC) and Garden Pavilion by BLOXAS (Brunswick, VIC) HOUSE IN A HERITAGE CONTEXT – Jac by Panov Scott Architects (Dulwich Hill, NSW) EMERGING ARCHITECTURE PRACTICE – ME (QLD)
Melburnians have always liked cheese, but in recent years things have gotten serious. Dedicated fromageries have popped up across our fair city and we've enjoyed at least three dedicated cheese festivals in recent memory. Our stomachs are working overtime to digest all the lactose — and, honestly, we've never been happier. And the love affair continues with this latest cheesy announcement. France (or more specifically, a Parisian centre for cheese, which is a real thing) is bringing us Bon Fromage, a ten-day cheese festival celebrating European cheese. The whole thing will happen in a laneway behind Carlton's King and Godfree from the November 11. First and foremost is cheese — the venue will be transformed into a cheese marketplace and wine bar for two weekends, alongside pop-ups from Melbourne cheese royalty Shifty Chevre, Milk the Cow and Harper and Blohm. But the cheese festival isn't just about eating so much cheese you puke. Anthony Femia of Prahran Market's Maker and Monger and Johnny Di Francesco from 400 Gradi will be there too, holding masterclasses in, we assume, the correct way to draw a cheese fondue bath for yourself. The festival is supported by the European Union, presumably to get Australians on board with the European cheese industry. To us, this seems like a bit of a misfire because we're already very on board with cheese (from Europe or elsewhere), but whatever — we'll be there front and centre with our bibs on regardless. Bon Fromage: Festival of European Cheeses will run from Friday, November 11 until Sunday, November 20 in Faraday Lane, Carlton, behind King and Godfree. For more info, visit the Facebook event.
This Saturday, February 8, Melbourne Recital Centre is turning five and they're throwing you a pretty sweet party to celebrate. From 10am-6.30pm, this beautiful goliath will be opening its doors for a full day of performances, talks and tours. The vacant lot next door will even be converted into a multi-purpose space to relax in featuring food trucks, local bands and miniature horses for kids (or everyone) to play with. Both the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Melbourne Chamber Orchestra will be filling up the Elisabeth Murdoch Hall alongside local folk, indie, and jazz outfits. The Salzer Suite will be the intellectual heart of the operation with lectures, Q&As and panels with the industry professionals such as Gillian Howell, Richard Mills, and Benjamin Woodroffe. Then, from 4.30pm Jonathon Welch will be directing a 1,200-person choir to bring the day to a grand and extravagant close. For more information and a full timetable of events, check the website.
If you'd like to pull up a seat and spend a couple of hours watching the best short films the world has to offer, you'll love Flickerfest Short Film Festival. Australia's most respected (and oldest) short film festival is celebrating 26 years and appearing at Kino Palace Cinemas from February 15-16. This year, the hardworking peeps behind the festival have watched over 2,400 entries from around the globe and whittled the options down to a select few that you can feast your eyes on. Australia's only Academy-accredited and BAFTA-recognised short film festival is the best spot to see the freshest and most innovative film talent from around the world. Among the full programme is Timecode — a Spanish film about a dancing security guard which has been nominated for an Academy Award. Other highlights include Messiah — starring David Gulpilil, a hapless Irishman and his Parisian girlfriend encounter a mischievous stranger in the Australian wilderness — and Crush — the story of a 16-year-old girl whose best friends are wanted for murder. On Wednesday February 15 it's the 'Windows on Europe' programme, featuring moving, award-winning shorts drawn from the European Union countries. On Thursday February 16 the 'Best of Melbourne' programme is on — a specially curated selection of shorts from Victorian filmmakers. The exclusive after-party gives you the chance to mingle with the next wave of Aussie filmmakers over catered food and drinks. After spending ten days at Bondi Beach in New South Wales, the festival has ventured on to a 52-date national tour, spreading the Flickerfest love Australia-wide.
A real life Willy Wonka has come to Melbourne. Catalan designer Martí Guixé has made a name for himself at the intersection of food, art and design, with works ranging from flavoured postage stamps to breathable cuisine. Now the so-called father of food design will present his first major Australian exhibition at NGV International, in the form of a colourful, custom-designed kitchen designed to teach kids and families about their attitudes to what they eat. Running from mid-June until mid-September, the free interactive exhibition, entitled Fake Food Park: Martí Guixé for Kids, will consist of "hands-on activities and digital design challenges" that encourage visitors to "sprout new ideas for food concepts and flavours" — and create their very own 'Fake Food Park' menu. The exhibition will also feature a selection of Guixé's drawings and illustrations as well as his famous fruit-and-vegetable wallpaper, which has previously been featured in galleries including MoMA, Design Museum London and the National Art Centre Tokyo. "We are delighted to bring the ground-breaking ideas of Martí Guixé to the NGV Kids exhibition space," said NGV director Tony Ellwood. "Guixé is a pioneer in his field; designing, innovating and challenging notions of how we eat in often whimsical and surprising ways... Fake Food Park will ask budding young designers to think about the future of food and reconsider familiar food items
Melbourne's got no shortage of top-notch bottomless brunch options these days, though sometimes that can leave you feeling a bit like the fabled Goldilocks when it comes to choosing one that's juuuust right. Luckily, one of the city's OG rooftop bars is ticking all the correct boxes with its brand-new weekend offering, pairing Asian fusion fare with free-flowing drinks. Perched above Swanston Street, Goldilocks' new Three Bears Boozy Brunch series is running from 1–2.30pm every Saturday and Sunday through autumn. Book a table, venture on up and for $75 you'll enjoy an enviable session of brunch bites, bevs and city views. Guests can look forward to 90 minutes of free-flowing drinks, including Hawkers beer, wine by Tarot and cocktails ranging from a classic espresso martini to the house Goldie's Spritz. Vibrant fusion dishes from Goldilocks' regular bar menu prove a perfect match, with options like spring onion pancakes, salt and chilli chicken ribs, and dumplings galore. Plus, the all-weather roof will ensure Melbourne's unpredictable autumn weather doesn't ruin your fairy tale brunch session.
Winter's taken hold and truffle season is upon us, which can only mean one thing — it's time to celebrate one of the world's fanciest ingredients at Melbourne's huge annual truffle festival. Thought to be the largest celebration of its kind outside of Europe, Truffle Melbourne is back for its eighth edition this month, hitting the Queen Victoria Market's J and K Sheds from Saturday, July 10 to Sunday, July 11. In between watching some four-legged friends doing live mock truffle hunts, you'll be able to sample a huge variety of sweet and savoury truffle-infused dishes across the weekend — think, truffle mac and cheese, truffle-topped pizza, truffle cannoli and more. There's even a four-cheese truffle gnocchi served hot from a parmesan wheel. Or, get your truffle fix in liquid form, thanks to the bar's specialty truffle-charged lineup of espresso martinis, G&T's, beers and ciders. For kitchen inspiration, much-loved chefs including Guy Grossi (Grossi Florentino), Joseph Vargetto (Mister Bianco), Eileen Horsnell (Napier Quarter) and Jesse Gerner (Bomba) will host a program of cooking demonstrations covering everything from pork and truffle dumplings to a black truffle tiramisu. And if you're in the market for some take-home truffle, there'll be plenty of stock from five of the country's leading growers, along with truffle-inoculated trees for planting at home.
Much-loved nerdy white guy and Seth Cohen-endorsed musician Ben Folds is bringing his upbeat brand of piano pop back to Australia at the end of this year. Though you might remember his music best from the battered walkman you rocked in the late '90s, rest assured that this talented US Adelaide enthusiast is still a force to be reckoned with. And nothing proves this more than the fact that his backing band will be the nation's best symphony orchestras. From mid-November, Folds will be touring all of Australia's major cities (except Brisbane, oddly enough) performing with each state's respective orchestral talents. Taking both excerpts of his new Concerto for Piano and Orchestra as well as jazzed up versions of his old pop hits, this dynamic musician will be creating an exciting and unique show in some of the nation's best venues. Of course, this is a tour Folds is familiar with. He's performed with some of the world's best orchestras over the past decade, and before he gets to our shores this year, he'll be taking the Ben Folds Orchestra Experience all around Europe. Hardcore fans might even remember that Australia was the site of his first orchestral work — this performance with the Western Australia Symphony Orchestra was immortalised on film in 2005. But you don't need to know all that to enjoy the show. Whether you have a long history with 'Brick' and the rest of his early work, or just really like that Triple J Like A Version he did of 'Such Great Heights' — this is a show not to be missed. Ben Folds tour dates: November 14 and 15 — Sydney Opera House with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra November 28 and 29 — Perth Concert Hall with the Western Australia Symphony Orchestra December 5 — Festival Theatre with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra December 10 — Wrest Point Entertainment Centre with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra December 19 and 20 — Arts Centre Melbourne with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Ticket prices range from $50-$129 and will be available through each orchestra's website from July 4 at 9am.
The striking black and white cover image of Bat For Lashes' Natasha Khan standing naked with a man dragged over her frame sets the scene for her most personal (and best) record yet, The Haunted Man. Stripping back the lush ornamentation of previous pop fantasias for a more intimate sound, these tunes foreground her beautiful, breathy voice and ability to inject a shivery, otherworldly drama into every song. Apparently the product of a harrowing writing and recording process, The Haunted Man reaches for a stark beauty and retains the enchanting pull of previous work despite its more emotionally direct approach. As well as headlining Laneway Festival, Bat For Lashes will play a more intimate sideshow at the Palais Theatre. Her last tour was one of the best of the year, with inspired reinventions of Radiohead's 'All I Need' and The Cure's 'A Forest' featuring alongside classics like 'Daniel' and 'Pearl's Dream'. With the promise of stunning new songs like 'Lillies' and stirring single 'Laura', there's no doubt this tour will be every bit as magical. https://youtube.com/watch?v=EXK0Ejzin4c
Some film festivals take audiences to corners of the globe they won't visit in the multiplex, shine a spotlight on different cinematic voices, and showcase the wealth of talent working beyond the English-speaking realm. That's not the British Film Festival's remit. Here, you'll find recognisable names and faces aplenty as the best new movies Old Blighty has to offer embark on a tour of the antipodes. Taking place between late October and early November at Palace Cinema Como, Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay and The Astor Theatre, this year's lineup includes Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy in opening night film Breathe, which marks the directorial debut of The Lord of the Rings star Andy Serkis, as well as Nicole Kidman and Elle Fanning in the eagerly anticipated How to Talk to Girls at Parties. The former tells a true tale of a couple striving to overcome a death sentence from polio, while the latter is a queer sci-fi rock-punk comedy based on a Neil Gaiman short story and directed by Hedwig and the Angry Inch's John Cameron Mitchell. Yep, this program might speak the same language as Australians, but it's serving up a variety of stories. If you're going to put one flick to put on your must-see list, make it The Death of Stalin. It's the latest from The Thick of Itand Veep creator Armando Iannucci, and features everyone from Steve Buscemi to Jeffrey Tambor to Michael Palin. Other highlights include Fanning again in Mary Shelley, a biopic about the writer behind Frankenstein that's helmed by Wadjdadirector Haifaa Al-Mansour, as well as England is Mine, with Dunkirk's Jack Lowden playing none other than Morrissey. Elsewhere, Saoirse Ronan stars in On Chesil Beach, her latest Ian McEwan adaptation after coming to fame in Atonement, while true story 6 Days recreates the 1980 storming of the Iranian embassy in London with Mark Strong, Jamie Bell and Abbie Cornish. BFF also boasts docos about Manolo Blahnik and Eric Clapton, a biopic about AA Milne and the genesis of Winnie the Pooh, and one of the last films to feature the late John Hurt in That Good Night. Looking back as well as forward, a selection of Agatha Christie adaptations round out the lineup. Timed to coincide with the new version of Murder on the Orient Express, the program includes the 1974 take on the same tale, plus three other classics.
In the canon of Star Wars movies, there are now essentially four chapters: The Originals, The Prequels, The Sequels and The Spinoffs. The Originals (Episodes IV-VI) are, and perhaps always will be, the best of the bunch; a genre-defining, special-effects revolutionizing space saga of such epic proportions they remain, to this day, some of the most spectacular blockbusters ever made. The Prequels (Episodes I-III) are, and hopefully always will be, the worst of the bunch; a childish, CGI-heavy money spinner that played more like hastily written video games than films worthy of their iconic opening credits and characters. The Sequels (Episode VI-IX) are only one film in (with the second now in post-production), but it's safe to say The Force Awakens gave us exactly what we needed; a thrilling if rather familiar-feeling reboot with a talented, multi-dimensional and engaging new trio of stars to pick up where Luke, Han and Leia left off. That brings us to The Spinoffs, beginning with Rogue One and soon to include the untitled Han Solo origin story. In a way, while it's not given its own Roman numeral, Rogue One is a sort of Episode III-point-V – a nifty prelude to one of the most iconic please explains in cinema history: the Death Star's infamous design flaw. In Rogue One, audiences get the answer to two important questions: why the moon-size battle station had such an exploitable Achilles' heel, and how the Rebel Alliance found out about it. The former and weaker of these two revelations occupies the first two-thirds of the movie, whilst the latter gives it its much needed closing momentum. Leading the film's magnificent ensemble is Felicity Jones as Jyn Erso, the abandoned daughter of Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen), a famed Imperial scientist whose work proves pivotal to both the inception and design of the Empire's new super weapon. Unfortunately, Jones's dialogue does little to showcase her ability – frankly, much of Rogue One's screenplay leaves a lot to be desired. The two big exceptions are Forest Whitaker's eccentric character Saw Gerrera, and the Alan Tudyk-voiced droid K-2SO. In particular, the latter character's deadpan honesty helps cut through the film's often overwhelming sense of gloom. On the positive side, though, we again find in the Star Wars universe a film where gender holds zero stock as either an insult or a differentiator. Whenever a character's abilities are called into question, it's because of their experience or upbringing, not their reproductive organs, and Jyn is no exception. Alongside her, Diego Luna plays a conflicted assassin whose scenes repeatedly address the film's preoccupation with the hazy moralities of war, whilst the villain in Rogue One is a ruthless egotist named Director Krennic – played magnificently by Australia's Ben Mendelsohn. Though the film's various additional characters are too numerous to mention, one does command further attention – although in the interest of avoiding spoilers, we won't mention them by name. Suffice it to say, Rogue One reintroduces a key figure from the original Star Wars film, and does so by digitally recreating the deceased actor's face and voicing him with an impersonator. Sadly, the momentary joy experienced upon first seeing this familiar face quickly gives way to disappointment as the CGI falls short. An ultimately needless piece of fan service, the character's depiction pulls you out of the moment with such intensity that it takes several minutes to draw you back in each time he appears. As The Force Awakens proved, a tangible, human actor will always be preferable to a computer-generated one, and actors should sleep soundly in that knowledge. Nevertheless, Rogue One is overall an impressive and engaging exercise in nostalgia, full of delightful nods to the original trilogy. The movie's pacing, especially at the beginning, feels well off, jumping from character to character and location to location with surprising clumsiness. Fortunately, spectacular action sequences largely make up for this issue, most notably the climactic final battle and the scenes showcasing the Death Star's destructive capabilities – which even on their lowest power setting prove legitimately unsettling. Many Bothans may have died to bring us word of Death Star 2.0, but now, at long last, we can give names to those who did the same for the original – and it's definitely worth the price of admission. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frdj1zb9sMY
Like music? Like art? Then, head down to Boney for the official launch party of SUGARYAMA — a new international music and arts partnership program. You’ll get performances from Chela, Andee Frost (The House Defrost), Edd Fisher (Tomorrowland/PBS), Jamie Bennett (Red Bull Music Academy) & Julien Love (DJ/ Producer), Bryce Lawrence/Louis McCoy/ Glyn Hill (Out Of Focus) plus a secret headline act. [UPDATE: Melbourne six-piece No Zu have been revealed as headliner.] As the little sister of Melbourne’s Sugar Mountain Festival, SUGARYAMA is designed to facilitate cross-cultural artistic exchanges between visual artists and musicians, in the process getting Aussie artists out there into the international scene. First project up will see artist and creative director Pete Keen take a handpicked bunch of Melbourne musos and artists to Mexico, where they'll undertake a guest curatorial role at independent art and music Festival NRMAL next year. Proceeds from the launch party will fund the transport of Keen and fellow artists all the way from Melbourne to sunny Monterrey. Oh, and the first 100 guests to arrive get a goodie bag so get in early. Tickets are $10 at the door (no pre-sales).
Australia's about to embark upon an entire month of parties, gigs and backyard shindigs, all raising sweet, sweet money to fight poverty around the world. Having run successfully in the UK for about ten years, Oxjam is a month-long, nationwide music festival aiming to raise money for Oxfam. Now it's launching in Australia, with goodhearted gigs coming to venues, garages and backyards nationwide. Even you can throw one. One of those star-studded fundraisers which has seen the likes of Hot Chip, Fatboy Slim, Coldplay and T.E.E.D. crank out a set for a good cause, Oxjam has been a long time coming for Australia. Teaming up with MTV Music and MTV Dance, Oxfam are launching the festival in August; with the main events happening across Sydney and Melbourne. Local venues, collectives and labels like I Oh You, Noisey, Goodgod Small Club, One Day, Motorik, UNDR CTRL and more are holding some of the official gigs — where of course, funds raised will go directly to Oxfam. But you don't have to be near a major gig, you can also host your own party wherever you are. Literally anyone can hold their own Oxjam, from existing venues to local bowling clubs, big time clubs to your very own home. So if you're deep house DJ in your crew you could set up the decks in your garage, put a collection tin at the door and throw down one humdinger of a fundraving do. (And if your neighbours complain, give 'em hell until they donate too.) First time at the event-throwing rodeo? MTV Australia are hosting an official event at MTV HQ in Sydney (date TBC), where budding venue managers, club promoters and regular shindig starters can get tips on throwing their own Gig For Good during Oxjam. If you can't make it to the how-to, Oxjam's website has a bunch of handy tips and DIY guides for party planners. Oxjam is happening Australia-wide over August 2015, with the main gigs happening in Melbourne and Sydney. But with one in three people around the world living in poverty, Oxjam's probably one of the best reasons to throw a local backyard gig we've ever heard. Head over here for more info and start planning. Image: Goodgod Small Club.
Since 2011, DJ Tom Loud's travelling dance party Hot Dub Time Machine has ripped up stages the world over, offering a rolling crossfade of the last six decades of pop-music. Now, ready to sink his teeth into a new chapter of music-infused revelry, Loud's announced his latest project, Hot Dub Wine Machine — a series of al fresco get-togethers that'll take over four of the country's best-loved wine regions. This Australia-wide tour follows the raging success of Hot Dub Wine Machine's inaugural event, which saw over 6000 wine and music lovers flock to McLaren Vale's Serafino Winery in December last year. This time around, the scenic vistas and rolling hills of wineries Australia-wide will play host to the festivities, including the Yarra Valley's Rochford Estate on Saturday, March 25. The boutique event will run from early afternoon through to after dark, and feature a hand-picked smorgasbord of Australian musical talent. This will all lead into one of Hot Dub's signature sets, which will see audiences dancing their way from 1954 to today, as the DJ mixes an iconic song from each year. Backing up the tunes, expect a careful curation of locally-sourced gourmet eats, craft beer, cocktails, and of course, some sensational vino from these iconic Australian wine regions. Safe to say, it's probably the rowdiest event these wineries will host all year. Images: Pat Stevenson.
Who knew ballet and rock music make such a beautiful team? The newest production from the Australian Ballet, Chroma, features four contemporary works and proves that ballet is not just classical orchestration and frou-frou. The White Stripes combine with contemporary costume and minimalist set design to make this not your mum’s ballet. The quadruple bill takes its title from one of the works within, Chroma, a legendary piece originally created by Wayne McGregor for The Royal Ballet of London and using the aforementioned music from the Whites. McGregor’s ballet differentiates itself from the classical style, with jerky movements meant to push the limits of the dancers’ bodies. “The movement can be freaky at times and shows off every joint our bodies have, sometimes all at once," says Daniel Gaudiello, the male lead in Chroma. "The body is such an amazing instrument and you witness it at its limits." Also slated for performance are twin pieces choreographed by Jirí Kylián, Petite Mort (also featuring Gaudiello) and Sechs Tanze, as well as a new original work, Art to Sky, by the Australian Ballet's resident choreographer Stephen Baynes. The contemporary dances by Kylián and Baynes are paired with the classical music of Mozart and Tchaikovsky, creating a blend of old and new ballet styles. Both Chroma and Kylián's works will feature dancers in all white or neutral costumes, highlighting the motions of the dancers. “We are in these little camisole-like chiffon outfits that are designed to complement our skin tones," says Gaudiello. "The result I think is an inside-out view of ballet through an androgynous lens.” The intensity of ballet, particularly when paired with the music of The White Stripes, shows off the pure athleticism of the dancers. “I feel Australia is such an athletic country and so is the ballet," says Gaudiello. "We all feel so lucky to have the chance to try such a coveted work and I really believe we will strive in every show to put in the raw intention, attack and groove that such a difficult piece like Chroma demands." As for the stories the choreography conveys, Gaudiello tries not to sway us. “That is the beauty of contemporary ballet, sometimes the ending is up to you,” he says. Chroma is on at the Arts Centre from June 6-14. Tickets can be purchased through the Arts Centre website.
Laughter: it’s what separates us from the animals. Well, that and the ability to comprehend our own mortality, but that’s hardly the best way to open a story about a comedy festival. LOL! We’re all going to die! So ignore that. Just shy of 30 years old, this year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival will be the biggest in its history, with more than 550 shows across 145 venues. Of course there’s no guarantee that all of them will be funny, which is why we’ve trawled through the lineup to bring you our hand-picked recommendations, from big names to intriguing newcomers. Honourable mentions go to MICF staples including The Gala, RAW Comedy, The Great Debate and Upfront — consider our thumbs up there implied.
Renowned Champagne house Mumm is set to release its glamorous Mumm Grand Cordon bottle across Australia this month. It'll launch this new Champagne with an exclusive VIP event in the Melbourne CBD on April 19 — and we're giving away passes to the whole shebang. Mumm Grand Cordon takes the house's iconic red sash to the next level, creating the world's first Champagne bottle with no label. Instead, a real red ribbon is sculpted into the glass — a technique created in partnership with avant-garde designer Ross Lovegrove. The bottles will be available exclusively in select bars, restaurants and hotels, with the release following the Mumm Grand Cordon's theatrical launch night. The exclusive event — which is not open to the public, only VIP guests and lucky Concrete Playground readers — will take place at Melbourne's beloved Garden State Hotel on Flinders Lane and will be a high-energy night of Champagne flutes and cocktails, confetti canons, DJs, dancers and canapés prepared by Garden State Hotel's head chef Ashly Hicks. Guests will also have the chance to learn how to sabrage a Champagne bottle (open the bottle using a sword). The event will take over an underground space of the venue, so expect moody vibes with dim, red lighting and plenty of surprises in store. Lucky for Concrete Playground readers, we're giving away two VIP packages for you and three friends to attend the event. Competition winners will have access to every bit of the lavish fun and all of that luxurious Champagne. To enter, see details below. [competition]662986[/competition]
Organised Chaos explores how the line between graffiti and fine art is becoming increasingly blurred. What was once exclusively “urban” has become somewhat domesticated — Banksy pieces sell to Brangelina for over $400,000. The sterile white walls of a classic gallery seem as far as possible from street art's chaotic, guerrila origins, making us wonder if graffiti loses its meaning when viewed out of context? AWOL is a collective that embraces both sides of the scene, throwing up pieces and gallery shows in equal measure, often on an impressively large scale that is demonstrative of the striking talents of each of the collective's artistically diverse members. The crew's founder is Slicer, who has previously proven his ability to singlehandedly carry a whole exhibition with RTIST. Slicer's work dips into abstraction, but always remains unmistakably rooted in graff. Brash colour schemes and extreme, slashing geometry combine to create exciting and engaging work. This exhibition is as eloquent an argument as you'll find against those who claim street art belongs only in the open as Slicer proves it can be just as effective when bordered by four walls. Image credit Slicer via awolcrew.com
In news that every Victorian has been waiting to hear, Premier Daniel Andrews has confirmed that the state's five-day snap lockdown will come to an end at 11.59pm tonight, Wednesday, February 17. The city's residents will be allowed to leave their homes for more than just the familiar four reasons, and to travel more than five kilometres from their houses; however, with nine days still remaining as part of the usual 14-day COVID-19 incubation timeframe, some rules will stay in place for the near future. The lockdown came into effect in a bid to contain Melbourne's Holiday Inn COVID-19 cluster, and has seen all of Victoria revert back to stage four restrictions since Friday, February 12. It proved a case of deja vu, after the state underwent two lockdowns in 2020. Thankfully, as at midnight on Tuesday, February 16, Victoria currently only has 25 active COVID-19 cases, and reported no new cases in the past 24 hours. It's due to those low numbers that lockdown will finish, and that most restrictions will revert back to the conditions that were in place before the five-day stay-at-home period. Not all of them will, though. You'll only be able to have five visitors to your house per day, for instance, which is a reduction from 15 pre-lockdown. Outside gatherings in public will also be limited to 20 people. https://twitter.com/DanielAndrewsMP/status/1361823417121468416 These new rules will remain in place until at least Friday, February 26, and the Premier doesn't expect any other changes to occur between now and then. Masks will also remain compulsory everywhere indoors except at when you're at home — including at the supermarket, the office and at hospitality venues — and you'll also need to keep wearing them outside if you can't maintain social distancing. Hospitality and retail businesses can reopen and welcome in customers, but there will be capacity and density limits. For restaurants, cafes, bars and eateries, the one person per two-square-metres rule will be in effect both indoors and outdoors, but only once 25 people are onsite. There's no requirement for seated service, though, and dancefloors are allowed — with one person per four-square-metres, up to a cap of 50 people. And, for shops, the one person per two-square-metres rule applies, with no other caps. https://twitter.com/DanielAndrewsMP/status/1361823864712400896 Entertainment venues will be back in action, too, but they'll have limits as well. Seated indoor venues, including cinemas, will have to max out at 50-percent capacity — up to a total of 300 people. Indoor non-seated venues such as galleries will have the same caps, as well as the one person per two-square-metres rule if they're using electronic record keeping to track attendees (and one person per four-square-metres otherwise). Both seated and non-seated outdoor venues will be able to welcome in 75-percent crowds, with the same rules on density and record keeping applying. Weddings and funerals can occur with no attendee limits, but density quotas of one person per two-square-metres will be in effect if electronic record keeping is used to track attendees. Indoor exercise, including at gyms, is back with the one person per four-square-metres rule applying, as well as class caps of 50 people. And, in terms of heading to the office, workplaces will be able to have 50 percent of their employees onsite. As always, the usual hygiene and social distancing practices remain in place, as does the request to get tested if you exhibit even minor COVID-19 symptoms. All of Victoria will come out of stage four restrictions at 11.59pm on Wednesday, February 17. For more information about the rules moving forward, head to the Victorian Department of Health website. Top image: Taquito by Julia Sansone.
It was a sad day when Polaroid announced it was going to stop producing film. The iconic camera was used by artists Andy Warhol, Chuck Close, Helmut Newton and Robert Mapplethorpe and nothing quite matches the simplicity and beautiful graininess of Polaroids. But now, you don't have to feel glum whenever you look at your photo wall - it's not all over yet. The clever clogs at Polaroid have found a way to keep the camera alive without using the traditional film. Meet the Polaroid Z340. It is a 14MP camera with a 2.7-inch LCD display and an integrated printer that produces 3x4-inch color prints. The printer uses inkless printing technology from Zink Imaging where special print paper has embedded dye crystals which are activated by heat to form the image. It's not cheap at $299.99, and a pack of 30 photos costs $19.99. But hey, instant gratification is priceless. Fingers crossed that the images will still have that dreamy imperfection that makes them unique.
The beloved Cameo Cinema will once again showcase some of the summer's most talked-about films on its magnificent outdoor movie screen under the stars. Kicking off for the 2021–22 season the moment it can — that'd be on Friday, October 22, when Melbourne comes out of lockdown — and screening through the rest of spring and summer, this outdoor film-watching spot will give cinema lovers the chance to relax in deckchairs and beanbags, with craft beer, homemade choc-tops and freshly popped popcorn in hand. If that's not worth the drive out to Belgrave, then we just don't know what is. Featured on the big screen will be a selection of new flicks, starting with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Free Guy, Nitram and The Last Duel — and throwing in a Halloween session of Candyman, too. From there, you can look forward to Marvel's Eternals, new Bond instalment No Time to Die and Disney's latest animated effort Ron's Gone Wrong. More flicks, both recent and classic, are set to be added to the lineup as well as spring and summer go on. It doesn't hurt that the Cameo concessions are a cut above what you'll find at your local shopping centre multiplex. It has craft beer and boutique wines — and dogs are welcome here, too. In line with current COVID-19 restrictions, masks are mandatory and capacities are limited.
Ever wish you could teleport out of the office and into, say, the idyllic surrounds of the Versailles Palace? Well, that need no longer be the stuff of dreams. Using Street View technology, Google has launched the World Wonders Project, an initiative that aims to bring the world's most breathtaking heritage sites directly to you. In a virtual experience like no other, users will be able to access high resolution photographs, 3D imagery and YouTube videos of up to 132 landmarks and architectural sites from 18 countries around the globe. Partnering with Getty Images and UNESCO among others, the World Wonders Project is part of Google's mission to preserve ancient and modern heritage sites, and to make these cultural landmarks accessible for future generations in an ever-expanding digital archive. Whether you're an avid traveller or average procrastinator, Google's highly interactive application is designed to virtually transport you into new, exciting worlds from the convenience of your desk. The Project site has a range of user-friendly functions to navigate your chosen destination. To embark on your virtual globe-trotting experience, you can access information compiled about the site, flick through albums of stunning photos, or for the more adventurous - click on the 3D modelling option and experience the wonders of navigating your dream location in all its 360 degree, street-level glory. Visit Google World Wonders
[Via Mashable]
'Do one thing and do it well' used to be a mantra of many successful businesses. Google did search. Car makers made cars. Hotels gave you a place to sleep. But now, following the diversification model others have set, Vibe Hotels are releasing music. Vibe: The Chillout Suite is the fourth in the series featuring local talents such as Angus & Julia Stone, Lior and Washington, as well as international acts like Florence + The Machine and Gomez. There's even room for a few classics like Mazzy Star's Fade Into You and Jeff Buckley's Last Goodbye. To celebrate the launch of the album, Vibe are offering one lucky Concrete Playground reader a chillout accommodation package valued at $490 including a one night stay for two people at any of their hotels in Sydney, Melbourne or the Gold Coast, including buffet breakfast, a copy of Chillout Suite, and a late check-out so you can really relax. To enter, just make sure you're a CP subscriber then email us at hello@concreteplayground.com.au by 5pm on Friday, July 8.
A huge taste of Bavaria is coming to Melbourne's west next month, as Oktoberwest takes over Seaworks for a lively local riff on Germany's famed annual celebration of beer. Don your best dirndl or lederhosen and join 4000 festive punters raising steins, shouting 'prost' and polishing off pretzels. Just like the real deal, there'll be long communal tables filled with people sipping their way through a menu of imported German brews, beneath blue and white banners repping the colours of the Bavarian flag. Local Bavarian-style craft beers will be flowing just as freely, as will bubbly from the dedicated champagne bar. Steins will be sunk as you soak up the sounds of the day's live acts, including Furnace & The Fundamentals, 19-Twenty and The Black Curtains — plus oompah bands aplenty, of course. As always, German food stalls will be slinging classics ranging from bretzels to bratwurst; and in between bites, you can try your luck at traditional Oktoberfest games including the Pretzel Pass, the Barrel Roll and a Schuhplattler (a style of folk dance) competition. General admission tickets start from $45, with VIP tickets at $105.
Street art already has a magical quality about it. It pops up in laneways, on buildings, and on forgotten street corners every night; in a single sleep your city can be transformed. But now, one artist has taken things a step further. Spanish photographer and motion designer A.L. Crego enriches these creations with even more intrigue — he brings them to life. Utilising the almighty power of the GIF, Crego expertly animates the street art he finds on his daily travels. In an attempt to boost the meaning of each work, he spends between a couple of hours and two days creating each animation. "Some of them are easier than others because the painting was made with a few elements, but other ones were made with a lot of techniques and elements," he told Pixable. Though GIFs are usually there to be laughed at or shared in addictive listicles, over the past few years they've really taken off as a legitimate art form. There are a number of artists using the medium in incredible and unexpected ways. Far from their most common use as vehicles for Lena Dunham quotes, GIFs (or cinemagraphs, if we're being fancy) can actually be quite beautiful. Take a stroll through A.L. Crego's collection below. Your imagination will thank you for it. Via My Modern Met and Pixable.. All images: A.L. Crego.
This week, enter the charming little dream world of Lucy Folk and make her covetable candy-hued cocktail clutches and wearable works of art yours. And all for a fraction of the price, because the Melbourne-based jewellery designer is hosting a sample sale from April 19–21. Huzzah! Older styles, past collections and samples will be available at a reduced price. So does this mean we'll find those peppercorn earrings and caviar rings from the 2014 food-inspired Appeteaser collection? We sure hope so. Plus, even though it's a sample sale, there's no need to worry about being sample sized, because we're talking eyewear, clutches and jewellery. Double huzzah. The sale will run from 8am–7pm on Thursday and Friday, and 10am–5pm on Saturday at the Lucy Folk studio in Windsor. As we move into cooler weather and shorter days, future you will thank Lucy Folk (and your shopping habits) for adding a little bit of colour to your everyday Melbourne black.
