If you've ever had a sneaky little go with some small person's Lego blocks once they're all tucked up in bed, Legoland sees you, tips you their hat… and raises you an adults-only night at its Melbourne Discovery Centre. With no children to get in the way (or outdo your creations), you'll be able to have free rein of Legoland to check out the 4D cinema and rides, take a factory tour, and build to your heart's content in the brick pits. Challenge yourself by taking on the master builder or a speed build and vie for the prizes up for grabs — there'll even be a scavenger hunt so you can go full inner child mode. This adults-only evening also doubles as a preview for Lego's new augmented reality sets, which promise haunted worlds and plenty of ghosts. It all takes place from 6–9pm on Thursday, August 1 — and BYO shameless excitement, taste for glory, and creativity to enter the model of the month competition. It'll be a fierce one.
For hundreds of years, El Dia de los Muertos has been one of the biggest parties in Mexico honouring the dead. The 4000 year-old tradition's history can be traced back to Mexico's indigenous beliefs of the afterlife — that death is only the beginning. Now it's Australia's turn to delve into the underworld, as The Day of the Dead finds its way to secret warehouse locations across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane this spring. Curated by a group of Mexican visionaries and artists, Day of the Dead 3.1. takes cues from some of the world's most celebrated immersive spectacles, everything from Burning Man to Sleep No More. Find yourself immersed in a temporary world of interactive art installations, light projections, extravagant costumes, murals created by renowned street artists and an exclusive lineup of local and international DJs and musicians. Is this a Mexican-inspired fiesta or what? Where's the nosh? Pop-ups by a handpicked bunch of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane's go-to local Mexican eateries, like Playa Takeria, have been selected to create special Dia de los Muertos menus. Plus, there'll be Mexican cervezas and tequila/mezcal cocktails from Tequila Herradura and Tequila Jimador to provide you with enough sustenance to dance the night away. With instructions being sent to ticketholders just one week before the event, this is secret warehouse party business at its best. Each city's locations are more closely guarded than an abuela's special mole sauce ingredient and will only be released one day before the party. Day of the Dead will visit Sydney on October 24, then Melbourne on October 31 before ending in Brisbane on November 7. Honour the dead, celebrate the living. Get tickets early. Due to Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane events selling out within hours and hundreds of emails requesting tickets, the Day of the Dead team twisted some arms and increased the event capacity. There'll be a new and final ticket release happening on Saturday, September 26 at 12.30pm, with tickets at $95. Tickets will sell out within hours, so be ready. Get tickets here.
With the sunny season knocking on our door, what better time to celebrate some of the best new drops from Australia's natural wine scene? Especially when those drops are teamed with a blissed-out soundtrack and some sweet, summery Sunday arvo vibes. The folks at Abbotsford's Lulie Tavern are hosting a trio of daytime tasting parties, with natural vino and pét-nats the stars of the show. Each party will showcasing a different winery, with Adelaide Hill's Limus kickstarting the series (Nov 11), followed by Heathcote's Little Reddie (Nov 25) and Gladysdale's Amble rounding things out (Dec 2). Roll in from 4pm to try juicy, just-released pét-nats, and other nattys, with samples available by the glass, carafe or bottle. The winemakers will be around for a chat, too. You'll be able to do all this while kicking back to tunes from Liam McGorry & Friends (Dorsal Fins/Saskwatch) and making the most of Lulie's cracking new courtyard.
Nothing clears your head like an escape to the country, and Healesville Sanctuary is offering an opportunity to get back to nature while listening to live tunes and sipping on fine wines. Running from 12–4pm across four days, Acoustic Afternoons will see the wildlife centre's lawns filled with live music, snacks and a pop-up bar. Roll out your picnic blanket and listen to the likes of The Tuck Shop Ladies (on February 15 and 16) and Anita George (on February 22 and 23) while surrounded by gorgeous bushland. The bar will be serving local wine, beers and ciders, and cocktails starring Four Pillars gin, with charcuterie and a BBQ available to buy and eat, too. When you're not listening to the music — or visiting the sanctuary's many koalas, platypuses, dingos and other native animals — you can play giant lawn games. The live music afternoon is free with entry to the sanctuary, which you can book online in advance. Images: Zoos Victoria
Forget grey. Come October-November, the Northern Rivers of New South Wales will be covered in 50 shades of purple when the historic town of Grafton gives off big main character energy through its annual showcase of violet-hued blooms. With roots as the oldest floral festival in the country, the Grafton Jacaranda Festival really knows what it takes to celebrate one of Australia's most-loved flowers. And, for one week between Friday, 27 October and Sunday, 5 November, visitors and locals alike will line the main street of Grafton to watch the annual float parade, settle in for a round of drag queen bingo (complete with lavender eyeshadow), enjoy a lazy long lunch underneath a floral lilac canopy or watch the beautiful trees of See Park illuminated as the sun goes down. While the fest will feature a mix of ticketed and free activities, if there's one event which we recommend committing to, it's Jacaranda Thursday. On this day Grafton's main street will close down as people meander throughout the CBD, soak up the atmosphere and simply stop and smell the jacarandas. The Grafton Jacaranda Festival will run from Friday, 27 October and Sunday, 5 November 2023. For the full event program visit their website.
When clouds start gathering in the sky, rain keeps pouring and storms hit, ever wonder what life would be like if something other than water streamed down from above? Everyone has — and now that idea has become a reality. Meet the world's first tequila-dripping rain cloud. Yes, this visible mass of minute droplets really is made of tequila, unleashing its boozy goodness first as a mist and spray that condenses inside a plastic container, and then as rain that drips down from the whispy structure. All anyone keen for a drink needs to do is stand by with a shot glass in hand. Bring your own lemon and salt. https://www.instagram.com/p/BRa17gCjyiW/?taken-by=visitmexico Unsurprisingly, you won't find the tequila cloud in sky — instead, it's located in a Berlin gallery as part of a promotional campaign devised by creative agency LAPIZ to entice German tourists to Mexico. Sure, it sounds like something out of Parks and Recreation; however it doesn't come with vodka in the form of a flash of light or whisky turned into lotion. Synchronised with the weather outside, the cloud actually starts raining showers of tequila when its natural counterparts in Berlin do the same with good old fashioned H20. The project follows in the footsteps of the agency's melting billboard, which turned ice into snow with the simulated power of the Mexican sun to show Berliners what they were missing (and to try to convince them to book a holiday). Via Food & Wine / The Huffington Post.
Somehow music artists seem to look even cooler in their music videos than they usually do - which is saying something. Their level of chic can seem daunting to us fans, mere mortals that we are. Regardless, online fashion retailer SSENSE wants you to buck up and give the whole rockstar thing a go. With their new 'shoppable music video', SSENSE makes that unattainable level of swagger...well, attainable. Collaborating with Iggy Azalea, Diplo, and FKi on their latest video 'I Think She Ready', the retailer breaks down the outfits of each artist for potential buyers. When the artist appears on the screen, a small 'S' logo will hover over their outfit. Click on it, and a new page will open, complete with information on each component of the outfit. Each featured piece is from the Spring/Summer 2012 collection of a variety of high-end designers. Whether you are lusting after Iggy's Alexander Wang cat-eye sunglasses, or envying her J Brand snow leopard jeans, simply click and purchase. SSENSE CEO Rami Atallah says, "The integration we are introducing between technology, entertainment and retail with this video not only creates a unique experience for the audience, but also has utility." Watch, sing along, and shop like a rockstar? All from the comfort of our desk? We're in. [via PSFK]
As Australia reflects on the Gallipoli centenary and considers the countless global conflicts that have sprung up in the hundred years since, a free exhibition at the Hawthorn Arts Centre examines the relationship between art and warfare head on. With works across a range of different media including sculpture, photography, print, painting, video and installation, Conflicted: Adversaries in Art explores humankind's propensity for violence; with a particular focus on young people caught up in the cycle of conflict. A number of pieces in the show touch on the idea of childhood and loss of innocence, from Michael Peck’s beautiful oil paintings of a young boy wielding a bow and arrow, to photographs by Siri Hayes of her son making weapons in their backyard. Conflict: Adversaries in Art runs until May 31 at the Town Hall Gallery inside the Hawthorn Arts Centre. There'll also be a series of talks with the artists in the show, in which they’ll delve further into their artwork and ideas. For more information, visit the Town Hall Gallery website. Image: Michael Peck
Baywatch. The name alone is insanely evocative, conjuring up images of bronzed bodies, bouncing breasts and David Hasselhoff blasting his way through "some people staaaaand in the darkness, afraid to step intooo the light!" For a time it was one of the most widely syndicated and watched TV program in the entire world – despite its altogether preposterous premise about impossibly attractive lifeguards solving crimes and stopping diamond smugglers with the same regularity that they prevented a casual drowning. The show was ridiculous and it was gratuitous...but it worked, and it was great TV. Fast forward twenty-odd years and Baywatch now finds itself the latest victim of a visionless Hollywood system forever sucking the life out of cinema by simply rehashing old ideas and formats rather then gambling on something new. TV to film has admittedly seen a handful of notable wins (21 Jump Street, for example), but the vast majority of these reboots fall harder and faster than the abysmal jokes they attempt to deliver (think Power Rangers, CHiPS and the disastrous Absolutely Fabulous). The new Baywatch movie is sadly no exception. This is puerile comedy at best, where the laughs are so infrequent they almost feel accidental. It is a film without purpose, failing to even entertain at the most basic level. There's no finesse to be found; no craft on display or subtlety to admire. It's a stupid and pointless movie whose only aim seems to be to rob you of both your time and your money. If that seems unfair, consider that the longest scene in the film centres largely upon Zac Efron's character having to fondle and examine a dead man's flaccid penis and scrotum while his partner laughs and takes photos on his phone. As for the second longest scene? Another man's penis (erect, this time) is wedged in a park bench and needs to be extricated while onlookers laugh and take photos on their phones. In amongst it all is Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson – and it's a credit to the man's charisma and star power that he almost singlehandedly keeps this stinker afloat. With penetrating eyes and a big beaming grin, Johnson treads that appealing line between physically intimidating and loveably huggable (something we've not really seen since Schwarzenegger's iconic turn in Kindergarten Cop). His onscreen rapport with Efron is not without its appeal, although there's absolutely no plot or script to back it up. As the film's antagonist, Bollywood superstar Priyanka Chopra lends her class and talent to a project that otherwise has none. Meanwhile, the supporting cast grimaces and stumbles their way through scene after scene without any clear idea why they're there or what they're doing. Sometimes self-aware and other times bizarrely serious, Baywatch is a film entirely out of its depth, slipping beneath the waves and in no way worthy of rescue. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyKOgnaf0BU
When a cafe serves up a perfect baked eggs for under $20, you can't really be blamed for using a little aggression to get through its doors. Fortunately, to get a seat at Foxtrot Charlie all you have to do is stand and smile, but you can bet your bottom dollar this won't be the case for long. If its impending talk of the town status is anything to go by, the crowds will come — and the baked egg-lovers will be ruthless. It isn't super tricky to find this Sydney Road cafe, just jump off the 96 tram on Albert Street, and take a few paces back. Its shopfront is deceptive — only a few scattered tables lay out front — and from the outside it looks a little too cosy, but this space is about as wide and open as cafes get, with noise never exceeding a bother. From food, to architecture, to drinks, there's a fantastic balance of the familiar and obscure at Foxtrot Charlie. The walls are a grey, rendered cement; every wall is a feature with doses of brick, columns and textured wood panelling. A plane hangs strung from the ceiling and a large bouquet of lilies play centrepiece on their large, wooden communal table. The cafe's design combines futuristically foreign with the cosy and traditional — some of it could be plucked from The Matrix, the rest from your nanna's house. Food wise, the baked eggs in tomato sugo ($15.50) is the star dish of the menu. There are few surprises in the egg, tomato and cheese combo, and even less components, but it's simple, rich and tummy hugging, at a portion size that's hardly stingy. The eggs are bio-dynamic and the bread is organic, so eat away guilt-free. The sesame cod toast ($17) and sticky gingerbread brioche ($15.50) may not sound appealing on paper, but are just as beautiful to look at as they are to eat. And the baked goods will have you thinking there's a show off in the room — but, really, when it comes to sweets, a show off is never a bad thing. If you've got a full wallet, convert your breakfast into a three course feast: a pastry, a main and a treat to take home. And maybe some blood thinners to safeguard your cholesterol. You'd be brave not booking a table at Foxtrot Charlie now this not-so-secret addition is on just about foodie's to-do list. And you'd be even braver to come here for just a coffee — as far as indulging goes, gluttony is something you'd best befriend if you want to take full advantage of this star-laden menu.
In showbusiness, nepotism is as inescapable as movies about movies. Both are accounted for in The Souvenir: Part II. But when talents as transcendent as Honor Swinton Byrne, her mother Tilda Swinton and writer/director Joanna Hogg are involved — with the latter working with the elder Swinton since her first short, her graduation piece Caprice, back in 1986 before Honor was even born — neither family ties nor filmmaking navel-gazing feel like something routine. Why this isn't a surprise with this trio is right there in the movie's name, after the initial The Souvenir proved such a devastatingly astute gem in 2019. It was also simply devastating, following an aspiring director's romance with a charismatic older man through to its traumatic end. Both in its masterful narrative and its profound impact, Part II firmly picks up where its predecessor left off. In just her third film role — first working with her mum in 2009's I Am Love before The Souvenir and now this — Swinton Byrne again plays 80s-era filmmaking student Julie Harte. But there's now a numbness to the wannabe helmer after her boyfriend Anthony's (Tom Burke, Mank) death, plus soul-wearying shock after discovering the double life he'd been living that her comfortable and cosy worldview hadn't conditioned her to ever expect. Decamping to the Norfolk countryside, to her family home and to the warm but entirely upper-middle-class, stiff-upper-lip embrace of her well-to-do parents Rosalind (Swinton, The French Dispatch) and William (James Spencer Ashworth) is only a short-term solution, however. Julie's thesis film still needs to be made — yearns to pour onto celluloid, in fact — but that's hardly a straightforward task. As the initial movie was, The Souvenir: Part II is another semi-autobiographical affair from Hogg, with Swinton Byrne slipping back into her on-screen shoes. This time, the director doesn't just dive into her formative years four decades back, but also excavates what it means to mine your own life for cinematic inspiration — aka the very thing she's been doing with this superb duo of features. That's what Julie does as well as she works on the film's film-within-a-film, sections of which play out during The Souvenir: Part II's running time and are basically The Souvenir. Accordingly, viewers have now spent two pictures watching Hogg's protagonist lives the experiences she'll then find a way to face through her art, all while Hogg moulds her two exceptional — and exceptionally intimate and thoughtful — movies out of that exact process. Julie's graduation project is also an escape, given it's patently obvious that the kindly, well-meaning but somehow both doting and reserved Rosalind and William have been pushed out of their comfort zone by her current crisis. Helping their daughter cope with her heroin-addicted lover's passing isn't something either would've considered might occur, so they natter away about Rosalind's new penchant for crafting Etruscan-style pottery instead — using small talk to connect without addressing the obvious, as all families lean on at some point or another. They provide financing for Julie's film, too, in what proves the easiest part of her concerted efforts to hop back behind the lens and lose herself in her work. Elsewhere, an array of doubt and questions spring from her all-male film-school professors, and the assistance she receives from her classmates is quickly steeped in rivalries, envy and second-guessing. More than once, queries arise about why Julie makes particular choices — and seeing how Swinton Byrne responds under Hogg's meticulous direction is one of the key reasons that The Souvenir: Part II is as powerful and compelling as it is. Like everything in the film, it's a revelation in layers, which unpeel far deeper than merely asking Swinton Byrne to be her director's on-screen surrogate. An introvert, Julie is visibly unaccustomed to the scrutiny that comes with her ambitious project, and with needing to handle her inner hurt under a spotlight. Swinton Byrne makes that plain quietly but repeatedly, all while conveying how Julie's self-hesitation slowly dissipates the longer she goes on, the more she struggles with, and the more mistakes she makes and solves. How this process echoes through her work, shaping both it and Julie herself, ripples through to a disarmingly intense degree — and with crucial aid from cinematographer David Raedeker (Swimming with Men) and production designer Stéphane Collonge (God's Own Country). There's no shaking the grief of it all, of course. As a musing on mourning, plus a perceptive glimpse at how the bereaved are expected to soldier on despite placating words offered otherwise, The Souvenir: Part II is shattering. Amid movie-within-movie sequences that'd owe thanks to David Lynch and Charlie Kaufman if they weren't so clearly diffused through Hogg's own lens — and after the other glimpse at the industry that comes via Richard Ayoade's (The Electrical Life of Louis Wain) returning Patrick, now successful, pompous AF, helming a huge movie musical and an enormous scene-stealer — the all-encompassing chaos that loss begets is laid bare. It's what drives Julie into bed with one of Patrick's stars (Charlie Heaton, Stranger Things), and sees her place perhaps too much on her own film's leading man (Harris Dickinson, The King's Man). In another of the feature's standout moments, it's also what causes her to misunderstand the sympathies of her editor (Joe Alwyn, Mary Queen of Scots) when support becomes hard to find. The Souvenir was a fated romantic tragedy. It was a vehicle for its director to work through her memories, too, and immortalise what she's now decided to keep; yes, that title is oh-so-telling. The Souvenir: Part II is a meditation upon loss, heartbreak and life's worst existential and inevitable woes, and also a way for Hogg to sift through her memories about all those memories, not to mention the new ones she conjured up when she first turned them into a movie a few years back. It's as smart, sensitive and stacked as an immensely personal piece of cinema can be, and it's also thrillingly savvy about how subjective everything it shows and interrogates needs to be by necessity. Cinema isn't short on memoirs, many of them wonderful — recent Oscar-winners Roma and Belfast, for example — but The Souvenir and its just-as-phenomenal sequel are in a bold and brilliant realm all of their own.
Over the past four months, Melburnians have become accustomed to wearing face masks, with donning the coverings made compulsory back in mid-July. From 11.59pm tonight, Sunday, November 22, that'll change — but only outdoors, and if you can maintain social distancing. Premier Daniel Andrews made the announcement about masks as part of his latest press conference, where he unveiled a whole heap of other changes — largely also coming into effect tonight and revolving around easing venue and gathering caps, while also earmarking future changes to come. Regarding masks, he noted that they have "played a very important part in delivering these low numbers, and containing the spread of the virus", but that it's now appropriate for the rules to ease. First and foremost, Victorians will be required to keep wearing masks indoors and on public transport. You'll also need them in a few specific situations that have been outlined in the latest changes — when waiting at stations to catch public transport, when using ride shares, at hospitals and care facilities, and while shopping. And, you'll have to wear them anywhere you're unable to maintain social distancing. You'll also always need to be carrying one with you. Otherwise, if you're outdoors and you can keep a safe distance, masks will no longer be compulsory. Premier Andrews gave a couple of examples, saying that "you'll still need to keep your mask on if you're at a busy outdoor market — or in line for a snag at your local Bunnings". But, "if you're headed for a quiet stroll around the neighbourhood, you won't need to wear a mask — but you will need to carry one, in case the situation changes". https://twitter.com/VicGovDHHS/status/1330325414439497730 The change to mask rules reflects Victoria's 23 consecutive days without any new COVID-19 cases, and comes after Premier Andrews had previously noted that the state's residents would likely be donning them for at least the rest of 2020. "Masks need to be with us across the whole state for some time to come," he advised back at the end of October. As has been the case since late September, the only face coverings that are currently acceptable — even with the rules easing outdoors — are fitted face masks that cover the nose and mouth. Although bandanas, scarves and face shields were previously allowed, that's no longer the case. If you're still wondering where to grab a fitted mask, we've put together a rundown of local companies making and selling them. For more information about the status of COVID-19 and the current restrictions, head over to the Department of Health and Human Services website.
Artists might be born rather than made, and great art might be the product of all of life's experiences, but that doesn't mean the creatively inclined have to be in a hurry to put brush to canvas. Don't believe us? Well, late Bentinck Island artist and senior Kaiadilt woman Mirdidingkingathi Juwarnda Sally Gabori certainly wasn't. Gabori might be the subject of the National Gallery of Victoria's latest retrospective; however she only started painting in 2005 at the age of 81. Of course, every year of her existence infuses her bold, bright pieces — from large-scale collaborative works produced alongside other senior Kaiadilt women, to pieces on paper created toward the end of her life. Dulka Warngiid – Land of All showcases more than 30 of Gabori's efforts (on loan from the Queensland Art Gallery), as well as shining a light on the place — an island in the southern Gulf of Carpentaria, off northwestern Queensland, in northern Australia — she was linked to. For those keen to know more, a schedule of tours and talks dives deeper into the exhibition, and into a fascinating, late-in-life art career. Image: Mirdidingkingathi Juwurnda Sally Gabori et al, Makarrki - King Alfred's Country (2008), synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 200 x 600 cm, Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane. Purchased 2009 with funds from Professor John Hay, AC, and Mrs Barbara Hay through the Queensland Art Gallery Foundation (2009.195) © The artists. Licensed by Viscopy.
If there's one food group Melburnians take seriously, it's pizza. Most of us already know exactly what we like — we've got our go-to pizza joints sussed, and we rarely budge on either count. Until now. Northsiders, prepare to make some changes to those all-time top five lists, because Primo has arrived in Northcote to steal your heart. The brainchild of Loren and husband Jamie McBride (both of Mammoth and nearby Barry), and former Shawcross owners Iza Dawkins and Jemma Richards, this baby's got some serious foodie street cred and it's living up to all of the hype. With an offering that sits neatly in the middle of classic and creative, Primo's plating up the best of two worlds. The space is fresh and modern, without being too over the top; picture comfy booths and leather banquettes in front of an open kitchen. Out front, a neon hand spinning pizza dough beckons you inside. The menu's strong from beginning to end and, even if you've got pizza on the brain, the starters are well worth a look. Kick things off with some fried baby mozzarella ($3), or the zingy arrangement of balsamic-crusted calamari and mint ($18). A tight but balanced drinks list offers a handful of local craft brews and a solid assembly of Aussie and Italian wines, including an on-trend orange number from the Murray-Darling ($50 bottle). But it's the Italian-leaning pizzas that steal the spotlight. The bases are chewy, charry and crisp, made with all-organic flour and loaded with just the right quota of quality, local ingredients. Some lean to the traditional, some are more contemporary — all are photogenic and completely droolworthy. The Homer is equal parts hearty and fresh, topped with slab bacon, mozzarella, yellow tomato, and onion, then scattered with radicchio and shavings of Grana Padano ($22.50). Meanwhile, the plant-based Tutto Bene ($20) proves as much a hit with the carnivores as it is with vegans. This beaut features three kinds of mushroom — in various forms — with lush potato cream doing a stand-up job of replacing the usual cheese. In the lineup, you'll also spy a couple of creations inspired by some overseas pizza-spinning legends. The Roberta ($22), topped with rooftop honey, cream, and chilli, pays homage to the cult Brooklyn pizza joint of the same name, while the Jon & Vinny's ($22) riffs on a Hawaiian-style combo the owners spied in L.A. And to top it off — as if having that level of pizza goodness on your doorstep wasn't enough — Primo treats its locals to free pizza and booze delivery. Yup, if you're rocking the right postcode, they can hook you up with pizza, vino, and even a cheeky bottled Negroni, without you ever leaving your couch. If that's not a way to win over even the most loyal of pizza-loving locals, we don't know what is.
Stellar LGBTQIA+ celebrations, the Sunshine State capital and sparkling spring weather: that's the Melt Festival formula every year, including in 2025. Brisbane's annual ode to "queer joy, protest and pride", as Melt Executive Producer Emmie Paranthoiene dubs it, is taking over the River City between Wednesday, October 22–Sunday, November 9. On the lineup: 18 days packing more than 60 venues with hundreds of performances and events. Getting excited about 2025's Melt Festival has been easy for a few months now. First, the Brisbane LGBTQIA+ fest announced that Broadway icon Bernadette Peters was making the River City her only Australian stop just for the event. Then, it also confirmed that the River Pride Parade would float its boats for another year. After that came news of 1000 Voices, uniting singers from queer and pride choirs en masse. Next came its initial big program drop. Now the full bill has been unveiled — one that Paranthoiene describes as "celebrating the full spectrum of LGBTQIA+ voices, from bold new talent to iconic artists who continue to break boundaries with this diverse program. Melt is a love letter to our community and everyone's invited to the party." Think: pageants, parades, musical theatre, comedy, choral installation, burlesque, visual arts, theatre, films such as Lesbian Space Princess and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and plenty more. The fringe-style celebration of queer arts and culture fills Brisbane Powerhouse, and also spreads further across the city. Sugar by Tomáš Kantor is one new highlight, with the cabaret taking cues from Pretty Woman and boasting tunes from Chappell Roan, who has been on the Melt lineup herself in the past. Or, catch the return of BRIEFS with Jealousss, plus the Briefs Bus doing guided tours that explore Brisbane's queer history. Comedian Urzila Carlson is on the program, too, as is actor and activist Zoe Terakes (Ironheart, The Office, Talk to Me) doing an in-conversation session. 2025 newcomer Melting Pot is giving Brisbane Powerhouse a pop-up venue each week, featuring the likes of QUIVR DJs, Miss First Nation heats and queer line dancing — plus Melt artists putting on showcases and other surprises. Theatrical performance Rhythmology digs into factory resets as a theme, while daytime disco Play Date is designed for families. [caption id="attachment_1017773" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Atmosphere Photography[/caption] Reuben Kaye, the full Miss First Nation drag contest, a queer wrestle party, Femme Follies Burlesque: they're all on the lineup from past announcements. Kaye is heading to the fest to give his cabaret show enGORGEd, which'll feature Camerata — Queensland's Chamber Orchestra, its Sunshine State premiere. Shining the spotlight on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander drag queens, Miss First Nation is also making a date with Brisbane for the first time, bringing the finale to the city after putting on state heats around the nation in the lead-up. The Tivoli is your go-to for Melt's high-energy queer wrestle-party, while Femme Follies Burlesque will bring its sapphic moves to The Wickham. Or, you can catch The Lucky Country, a new musical about what it means to be Australian — and the myths and contradictions that come with it — in 2025. Malacañang Made Us and Whitefella Yella Tree are also treading the boards, the first about the Filipino Australian experience and the second telling a love story. There's also a queer boat party on floating venue Oasis; the return of Queer PowerPoint; and a drag Scream Queen shindig with Naomi Smalls and Yvie Oddly, plus Drag Race UK's Kyran Thrax. Or, check out a heap of instruments and performers suspended by rope to pay tribute to Brisbane's punk history, Gerwyn Davies' series of portraits in collaboration with Open Doors Youth Service's trans and gender-diverse young people, and Instagram imagery given a new life in Micah Rustichelli's Demon Rhythm. [caption id="attachment_1007544" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Claudio Raschella[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1007548" align="alignnone" width="1920"] David Kelly[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1007545" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Markus Ravik[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1007547" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gregory Lorenzutti[/caption] Melt Festival 2025 runs from Wednesday, October 22–Sunday, November 9. Head to the festival website for more details. River Pride Parade images: brizzypix.
Anytime's a good time for oysters, but there's only one occasion where it's perfectly acceptable to gorge on them to the point of no return: the Oyster Frenzy. It's not the Oyster Frenzy — the city's longest running all-you-can-eat oyster festival, held in Circa in St Kilda — but it's a similarly serious seafood celebration. And it has bottomless booze and molluscs, too. Oyster Frenzy is going down at the McKinnon Hotel on Thursday, September 20 from 6.30pm. As well as all-you-can-eat freshly shucked oysters — yes, all-you-can-eat — there will also be other fancy seafood canapés (which you also have unlimited access to) and bottomless booze. To help wash down all those oysters, you'll be able sip on unlimited bubbles, wine and beer. So, maybe, try and get Friday off work.
Baffled by bubbly? Us too, so we thought it best to enlist the help of an expert to get the fast facts right. To bring you our Bluffer's Guide to Champagne, Concrete Playground caught up with acclaimed journalist and Champagne educator, Champagne Jayne who taught us just how damn special the bubble drop actually is. Let us share with you why ... Champagne 101 Champagne is exclusive to the Champagne region in northern France. Due to the cumulative effects of soil, climate and the cultivation practises, the three types of grapes used (chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meaner) are married together to produce the world-famous bubbly drop. The Champenois (master Champagne makers) use the lengthy and arduous traditional method that involves the bottle going under a second process of fermentation to create the fizz. Champagne first gained world eminence through its connection with the baptism of French kings, and consequently royalty spread the word throughout Europe about this exotic wine, awarding it status of opulence and nobility. Nowadays, it is the natural partner for any event where celebration, luxury and romance are themes. Popping, Pouring and Drinking Temperature plays an integral part in Champagne appreciation. "Bubbles are part of the pleasure. Serving champagne anywhere between 4.5 degrees celcius to 7 degrees celcius is perfect. If it is too cold it will suppress the aromatics and if it is too warm, the wine will froth up and then go flat," says Jayne. To open the bottle with the proper pomp, hold the bottle at a 45 degree angle (preferably aimed away from your compatriots) and keeping the cork still, gently twist the bottle. Pour a little bit into clean glasses to let the foam die down, and then top up leaving adequate space to get a whiff of its excellence. Matching Champagne with Food Champagne is the ideal drink as an aperitif, encouraging conversation that can be somewhat stale at the beginning of the night. However, because it is blended from numerous base wines, Jayne says that it's like an orchestra of flavour in your mouth and matches well with food. "Anything goes, from prawns to pizza!," she says. There are many types of Non-Vintage, but the general rule of thumb is that they're easy on the palate (and pocket), and best to serve with canapés. Vintage Champagnes have a slightly richer and heavier palate weight making them ideal with a more intensely-flavoured dish and are "also an unparalleled match for any cheese and delicate dessert". Is Champagne only for Special Occasions? "Rubbish! It's like a holiday in a glass!" exclaims Jayne. Champagne is most frequently associated with exclusive affairs, but why should we be such scrooges and reserve this esteemed beverage for memorable moments? Jayne believes it is the ultimate icebreaker for any audience and guaranteed to make anyone smile. "It isn't about being snobby, posh or saving up to celebrate a job or a wedding, it's actually the affordable luxury in life! Everyone can afford the small indulgence of enjoying a really decent glass of fizz on a Friday night." Hear, hear. We'll cheers to that. Champagne on the Cheap This is a toughie because unless you're Gina Rinehart, spending your bucks on Vintage champagne might not be so simple. Jayne says that the best value choice on the market at the moment for something exceptional is currently the world's favourite, Moet & Chandon which can be found for around $85. For Champagne at the start of a meal, Jayne recommends Pierre Gimonnet. "The delicious crisp blanc de blanc is approachable in style and accessibly priced," she says. "For everyday bubbles, Lanson or Duperrey are an affordable option at around $40," Jayne adds. For those who want a James Bond themed beverage, don't look past his favourite tipple Champagne Bollinger. The full-bodied classic (much like the man himself) can be spotted for $60. And don't forget to ensure that the label actually says 'Champagne' as well as France. If it doesn't, you've been well bluffed. Famous Champagne Drinkers Madame de Pompadour, King Louis XV's favourite mistress, is credited with bringing champagne to the French royal court in the eighteenth century. She is also famously quoted as saying, "Champagne is the only wine that leaves a woman beautiful after drinking it." We're certainly willing to road test that. Winston Churchill was also notorious for enjoying the tipple. And Napoleon was known to take large stocks for the army wherever they campaigned. Want to get even more serious? If you've got a spare 308 bottle handy, why not simulate Marilyn Monroe's habit of bathing in the bubbly stuff every night? And left we forget to remind you that it was American author and humorist, Mark Twain, who had it right all along. It was he who said, "too much of anything is bad, but too much Champagne is just right." Where to Drink Champagne in Sydney Most hotels, restaurants and bars in Sydney are stocked with the big names like Mumm, Moet & Chandon and Veuve Clicquot. Conversely, if you’d like to go all out and grace yourself with boutique grower champagnes, Jayne recommends seeking out obsessive enthusiasts. "Places like Veluto, The Bentley, One Moncur, Monopole and Ananas have the best champagne for a bar situation," she says. After something notably remarkable for that down-on-one-knee occasion, perhaps? Jayne suggests knocking your socks off and booking into Quay, Marque or Est. for the ultimate sensory experience. "These places stock prestige champagne, with perfectly matched food and a refined atmosphere." Champagne Alternatives Crémant: is what you should look out for when after French bubbly on a budget (pronounced ‘cray-mawn’). This sparkling wine is made in France using the same traditional methods, however falls outside the borders of the Champagne region. Cava: this white or pink sparkly number is produced mainly in the Penedés region in northern Spain. Like crémant, Cava is made using the same method, but with different grape varieties. Cava is a part of Spanish tradition and like Champagne is often consumed at special occasions. Prosecco: this is the Italian aperitif of choice. Light and fresh, the aromatic bubbly has an apple-and-pear sweetness. Prosecco is the original base ingredient of the Bellini cocktail.
A four-layer slice of Italian flavour and sophistication has just carved out a home on Chapel Street — and your summer sipping and pasta-twirling plans will be all the better for it. The multi-storey Stella has opened in a heritage-listed corner building in South Yarra, with a whole assortment of offerings awaiting you between the basement level and the sun-drenched rooftop bar. Here, owner Ali Mousavi is dishing up a contemporary Aussie take on the classic Italian trattoria, inspired by childhood years spent in and around his family's own Italian eatery. Stella is also the name of his daughter. [caption id="attachment_872163" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kate Pascoe[/caption] Inside, an elegant fitout by Projects of Imagination and SUM Design Studio has lent each space its own identity while tying it back in seamlessly to the rest of the building. First, you've got the historic bluestone walls and back-lit cabinets of cellared vino gracing the subterranean private dining room. Up on the ground floor, a light-filled restaurant space makes a statement of the kitchen's impressive Golden Onyx Marana Forni pizza oven; while above sits a moodier lounge bar lined with emerald banquettes and sporting a hand-crafted light installation hung with hundreds of glass bottles. Make your way one floor further to find the all-season openair rooftop terrace, with its lush vertical garden and vistas across the inner-south. You'll spy more of that onyx gleaming the length of the terrace bar, too. [caption id="attachment_872171" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Parker Blain[/caption] It's a choose-your-own-adventure kind of venue, with a food offering — by Executive Chef John Park (Vue de Monde, 400 Gradi) — to match. Sipping and snacking types will be happy lounging in the bar or kicking back on the rooftop, over salumi boards, mushroom arancini, beef tartare on toasted schiacciata, and perhaps some oozy burrata served with grilled bread and a pesto dressing. Deeper in, house-made pasta proves a highlight, running to options like lamb ragu tagliatelle with orange pangrattato, truffle mascarpone-laced pappardelle funghi, and a blue swimmer crab tagliolini elevated with a prawn bisque and avruga gremolata. Meanwhile, pizzas might come laden with classic toppings like pork sausage, fennel and hot salami; or marinated prawns and cherry tomatoes. [caption id="attachment_872167" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Parker Blain[/caption] If you're already dreaming of the rooftop knock-offs, you'll be just as happy with Stella's drinks situation, which is headlined by a mix of Italian wines and local varietals curated by sommelier Myron Kloppers (Omnia, Ike Jime). Of course, the Mediterranean-leaning cocktail lineup has plenty of terrace-worthy inclusions of its own — including the Stella Royale spritz starring blackberry liqueur, hibiscus syrup and fizz; and the Violetta's sophisticated blend of tequila, Cointreau, lavender bitters and house-made lavender tea. [caption id="attachment_872151" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kate Pascoe[/caption] [caption id="attachment_872170" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Parker Blain[/caption] [caption id="attachment_872165" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Parker Blain[/caption] Find Stella at 427 Chapel Street, South Yarra. It's open daily from 12–4pm and again from 6pm–late. Images: Parker Blain and Kate Pascoe
If you want to deck yourself out in all your favourite designer brands, but don't quite have the coin to justify not eating for the next week, Mio Tesoro can help you out. The Chapel Street store opened in 2005, and since then founder Elaine Yeow has put to good use years of experience working at Louis Vuitton, where she developed an incredible eye for fashion. Operating as a luxury consignment store, Mio Tesoro helps sellers of exclusive brands find a buyer. Fortunately, this also happens to be your ticket to land a bargain on some rarely seen pieces from the likes of Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Hermes and Dior. Plus, you're helping the environment by buying less new and fast fashion pieces. Images: Parker Blain.
If you've been digging the retro vibes of late, we've found the ultimate activity to see you through the end of summer: cruising along the St Kilda foreshore on a pair of roller skates, with some old-school tunes pumping and the wind in your hair. That's the very energy that Rolla Bae wants to hook you up with this season. The crew's distinctive vintage caravan is once again open at St Kilda Beach, offering roller skate hire and a healthy dose of zippy al fresco fun every Saturday and Sunday. Rolla Bae welcomes skaters of all skill levels, celebrating the good feels and serotonin boosts over tricky moves and competitive showdowns. You can rent out a pair of roller skates, roller blades or even a skateboard, starting from an easy $25 per hour. The team will even impart their wisdom while you're lacing up, offering training in the basics and plenty of helpful skate tips to see you sailing off into the distance in style. Also available to hire, you'll find protective gear and bum bags to complete the look, and portable speakers to soundtrack your skating adventures. The Rolla Bae van is open from 12pm until sunset (weather permitting), Saturdays and Sundays until the end of March.
Ever been to an exhibition where you just really really wanted to play with the art? Maybe that fluorescent blob-like sculpture looked just like Play-Doh. Did it feel like Play-Doh too? Why would they deny you of knowing? Perhaps a particularly burly hipster gave you the death stare for simply interacting with the piece. This new exhibition by Anna Varendorff might be just the therapy you need. Varendorff is mainly known as a jeweller. If you've ever gushed over a pair of geometric metal earrings at Alice Euphemia, chances are they were hers. But for this interactive installation she has channelled her skills into 50 hand-made brass structures for an audience to play with. Between 20cm and 1m squared, the objects are like an enormous high-stakes game of lego that ushers in the start of an artistic process. Once you are done playing, Varendorff states she "will then draw onto the white painted walls and covered floor the shadows created by the 'room jewels''. With this, Things to Play With will in fact be a statement on the nature of ephemerality, space and time. Accompanied by sound elements from local producer Haima Marriott, the work may well be as much performance as playtime. Photograph: Isobel Knowles
For the first time ever, the Art Gallery of New South Wales brings to Sydney masterpieces from the golden age of Dutch painting — a culturally confident, powerful era when the art of painting flourished. It was during this time that artists including Rembrandt van Rijn and Johannes Vermeer produced vivid works depicting the world around them, with subjects ranging from intense portraits and dramatic seascapes to tranquil scenes of domestic life and careful studies of fruit and flowers. Exclusive to Sydney, the exhibition features 76 artworks sourced from Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum, including seven pivotal paintings and 16 etchings by Rembrandt presented in a room dedicated solely to the celebrated artist. The exhibition also brings a rare and celebrated piece by Vermeer, Woman reading a letter (1663). Jacob van Ruisdael, recognised as one of the most important landscapists of the era, and Jan Davidsz de Heem, the revered flower painter, also take their place among many other masters of this golden age. Meticulously painted, these artworks remain as vital and fresh as they were 400 years ago. What's more, to celebrate the launch of the exhibition — and help reduce the strain the return of summer puts on your wallet — we're giving away ten double passes to the exhibition so you can enter the world of rich paintings and celebrated works for yourself. To enter, see details below. [competition]641676[/competition]
Slow living and handmade craft has metamorphosed from bewitching alternative trend to a totally plausible way of life. In what seems to be some kind of conscious resistance to the speed and churn of internet culture, mass production and memes, there's an uptake in the kind of hands-on activities all about a quality time investment and a quality result at the end. Think sourdough starter, knitting, home ceramics kits... hell, even elaborate cocktail-making all fall into this category. Nonna's Grocer, an online concept store that popped up this year is the brainchild of Wollongong-based designer, Madeleine Hoy, and it's all about embracing the 'perfectly imperfect' principles of hand made. Right now, the hero produce on Nonna's Grocer's virtual shelves is a range of beautiful candles made the size, shape and appearance of the fruit and vegetables from your local fruit shop. Lemons, oranges and a family of heirloom tomatoes look so realistically juicy you'd be forgiven for being duped into taking a bite (Madeleine told us that no one's admitted doing that yet). For her next addition to the store, she's teamed up with Marrickville-based studio Defy Design on a fresh product line made from recycled plastic. Tell us a bit about the inspiration behind Nonna's Grocer and the ethos behind the store. Nonna's Grocer evolved about a year and a half ago, the day I learned that my Great Grandparents ran a grocery store in Daylesford Victoria. My dad was showing me these beautiful images of my Great grandfather Giuseppe in front of his shop and I was so inspired by this moment in time, and couldn't believe I hadn't known about it sooner. I immediately began thinking about a way I could combine my design background (I was a set designer) with this beautiful business that was a part of my family history. Thus Nonna's Grocer was born, a conceptual studio where I develop designs that harness the era of a simpler time with a modern twist. A 'Perfectly imperfect' handmade aesthetic is my focus, as well as creating special pieces for humans to encourage them to slowww it down. Whether that's having a bath, a dinner date with your dog, or stretching a hammy, light a candle and enjoy the moment. Your current range is a selection of incredibly true-to-life fruit shaped candles. How do you make them look so life-like? I found a maker in Sydney who casts objects for sculptures and pitched the idea of getting them to cast fruit. We were a bit unsure at the time how well it would work as fruits decompose quickly when encased, so we had to be smart about which fruits could work well. (Turns out peeled fruits don't work well, just so you know). I then started hitting the supermarkets (back in the day when one could tread slowly) and would study 100 lemons at a time to find the perfect one, and my range grew from there. I've got to ask: have you encountered any instances of people accidentally taking a bite? Oh ha, look no one has informed me they have tried to eat one as of yet, but is that really something you would tell people if you accidentally ate a candle? What kind of shopper do you want Nonna's Grocer to appeal to? I like to think Nonna's Grocer appeals to anyone that is interested in quality produce and a slower paced lifestyle. Particularly people that appreciate craftsmanship, design, and looking for creative ways to make their day more playful. What are the craftspeople, brands or concept retailers that you admire and take inspiration from? Oh dear, I love homeware stores that scream 'good quality'. The Provider Store in Surry Hills is pretty special as it celebrates the history and craftsmanship of Japan. Delicious! The New Zealand store KauKau [based in Wellington] is also beautiful, highly recommend checking them out. I am a big fan of designers like Sabine Marcelis and Gustaf Westman who design various pieces in their own aesthetic, never following a trend. I take inspiration from a million different places, but Stephanie Stamatis the art director began styling food in a way that really resonated, and the interior designers from Paris called Studio Classico have a lovely touch when it comes to materials. Oh, and the cheese shop Formaje in Madrid, their packaging and cheese selection is to die for... Honestly, I could go on and on. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Stephanie Stamatova (@stephanie_somebody) You've started with fruit but you've hinted at 'more to come'. What else can we expect to see hit the virtual shelves of your store? I am so excited to share with you what is coming next, but they are all at the back end of development so I am not quite ready to spill the cannellini beans just yet. I can give you a sneaky hint though: one of my pieces will be manufactured at Defy Design in Marrickville, who collect local plastic waste, hand separate them by colour, and then melt them down into new objects. I'm very excited! Discover more about Nonna's Grocer and have a browse at the website or follow on Instagram.
Hip Hop Hooray, it's nearly 2015 and to celebrate another year of trials, tribulations and triumph, the Prince is throwing a block party. Performing on the night will be a mix of up-and-coming as well as established hip hop acts from all over Australia, including The Funkoars, Briggs, Vents, Joelistics, K21, Daily Meds, Mathas and hosted by Reason. At $44.90 it's one of the cheaper NYE options, and perfect if you prefer live entertainment over DJs spitting out the latest club banger.
Do you remember the first time that you saw a pastel-hued facade, ornate interior detailing, or something gloriously symmetrical indoors or out, then thought "that looks like something out of a Wes Anderson film"? For almost three decades now, we've all done it. Since his feature debut Bottle Rocket, the Asteroid City and The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar director has firmly established his stylistic trademarks, ensuring that a Wes Anderson movie is always immediately recognisable as a Wes Anderson movie no matter which of the filmmaker's regular actors is in front of the camera. Brooklyn-based husband and wife Wally and Amanda Koval shared this line of thinking to the point of creating an Instagram account around it in 2017. Accidentally Wes Anderson now has 1.9-million followers. The social media feed is a curated selection of images from real life that look like Anderson has staged, styled and shot them, but hasn't — and after taking films as inspiration for an online compilation of images, Accidentally Wes Anderson has taken the IRL route itself via an exhibition. At Accidentally Wes Anderson: The Exhibition, 200-plus images await — and they're all coming to Australia for the first time. Following past runs in Tokyo and Seoul, and present seasons in London and Los Angeles, the immersive art experience will make its Down Under debut in Melbourne from Wednesday, September 18, 2024, complete with ten rooms. Some of the exhibition's walls feature facades that Anderson must covet, others find landscape that'd make the perfect Anderson backdrop, and plenty highlight either vintage vehicles or enchanting hotels. Yes, pastel tones pop up frequently. So does symmetry, including in the exhibition's presentation. The idea is to make you feel like you're stepping into Anderson's flicks by showing how the world beyond his frames often conjures up that sensation anyway. To borrow from a different filmmaker, is this the Wes Anderson version of Inception? Attendees enter an exhibition of real-life pictures inspired by an Instagram account that's inspired by Anderson's moving pictures, particularly his aesthetic within them that takes cues from real life. Accidentally Wes Anderson has also been turned into a book, too, plus a website with a map spanning almost 2000 spots across the planet that fit the theme. At Accidentally Wes Anderson: The Exhibition, patrons arrive via the lobby, then explore a space dedicated to portals, then embrace an array of facades. Checking out sections devoted to coastal scenes, planes and trains (and automobiles, of course), sports, accommodation and nature is also on the agenda. There's a space that'll get you watching big-screen travel adventures, too — and, just for Australia, one about Aussie spots that evoke Anderson. For souvenirs, you'll exit through the Accidentally Wes Anderson shop. The place will clearly look the Wes Anderson part. As for visitors, wearing a blazer and red beret, an Adidas tracksuit, a purple lobby boy uniform or khaki while you're spending an hour wandering around is up to you. There's no word yet if Accidentally Wes Anderson: The Exhibition will display elsewhere across Australia, or if folks outside of Melbourne will need to pack their matching Louis Vuitton suitcases for a trip to the Victorian capital to see it. Accidentally Wes Anderson: The Exhibition displays at 360 Bourke Street, Melbourne from Wednesday, September 18, 2024. Head to the exhibition website to join the waitlist, with tickets on sale from 6pm on Tuesday, July 30, 2024.
Break out the waffles: Amy Poehler is coming to Australia. If you're a Parks and Recreation fan, nothing less than eating breakfast foods non-stop between now and the end of May will do to celebrate. The actor behind Leslie Knope — and Saturday Night Live legend, and voice of Joy in both Inside Out and Inside Out 2 — has a date with Vivid Sydney, heading to the Harbour City for a just-announced in-conversation event that'll see her chat through her career. Inside Out 2 releases in cinemas in mid-June, so it'll receive plenty of focus when Poehler gets talking — so much so that the Sydney Opera House evening that'll be moderated by Zan Rowe will include a 30-minute first-look at the film. But her work spans far and wide beyond the animated Pixar franchise, including to films such as Baby Mama and Sisters, writing the hilarious Yes Please and unforgettable Golden Globe hosting gigs with Tina Fey. [caption id="attachment_793108" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Photo by: Chris Haston/NBC[/caption] "I'm really looking forward to taking part in Vivid Sydney this year, a place that welcomes Joy in every way," said Poehler about her impending session in the Harbour City. "I can't wait to share a little of Inside Out 2: a movie that lets Joy and Sadness, Anxiety and Envy all try to work together in hilarious and touching ways." [caption id="attachment_925839" align="alignnone" width="1920"] © 2023 Disney/Pixar.[/caption] Poehler's session will take place on Monday, May 27, making it one of the early highlights of the festival. It comes after 2023's Vivid Sydney also featured a massive screen-focused in-conversation session, welcoming The White Lotus' Jennifer Coolidge and Mike White. "Amy Poehler is comedy royalty and the perfect person to join us as part of Vivid Ideas for this year's Vivid Sydney. We're so proud to add her to the growing list of guests set to captivate visitors throughout 23 nights of the festival," said Vivid Sydney Festival Director Gill Minervini. "Amy's new film Inside Out 2 ties in perfectly with the theme of this year's festival, humanity, with an accessible take on how the human mind makes decisions and processes emotions. Allowing audiences to have an insight to how one of the world's great writers and performers operates is sure to be a great thrill." Check out the trailer for Inside Out 2 below: In Conversation with Amy Poehler takes place on Monday, May 27, 2024 at the Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House, with tickets on sale now. Vivid Sydney runs from Friday, May 24–Saturday, June 15 at various locations around Sydney. Head to the festival website for further details and tickets.
Pipes blow gently. The camera swirls. Rows of plants fill the screen. Some are leafy and flowery as they reach for the sky; others are just stems topped with closed buds. Both types of vegetation are lined up in boxes in an austere greenhouse. Soon, another shoot of green appears among them. Plant breeder Alice (Emily Beecham, Cruella) is cloaked in a lab coat far paler than any plant, but the symbolism is evident — and, although audiences don't know it yet, her cropped red hair resembles the crimson flowers that'll blossom in her genetically engineered new type of flora, too. "The aim has been to create a plant with a scent that makes its owner happy," she says. She explains that most research in her field has involved cultivating greenery that requires less human interaction; however, her new breed does the opposite. This species needs more watering and more protection from the elements, and responds to touch and talk. In return, it emits a scent that kickstarts the human hormone oxytocin when inhaled. Linked to motherhood and bonding, that response will make everyone "love this plant like your own child," Alice advises, beaming like a proud parent. So starts Little Joe, which shares its name with the vegetation in question — a "mood-lifting, anti-depressant, happy plant," Alice's boss (David Wilmot, Calm with Horses) boasts. She's borrowed her son's (Kit Connor, Rocketman) moniker for her new baby, although she gives it more attention than the flesh-and-blood teen, especially with the push to get it to market speeding up. The clinical gaze favoured by Austrian filmmaker Jessica Hausner (Amour fou) is telling, though. The eerie tone of the Japanese-style, flute- and percussion-heavy score sets an unsettling mood as well. And, there's something not quite right in the overt eagerness of Alice's colleague Chris (Ben Whishaw, Fargo), and in the way that everyone dismisses the one naysayer, Bella (Kerry Fox, Top End Wedding), who has just returned to work after a mental health break. Making her first English-language feature, Hausner layers this tension across every image, sound and interaction within Little Joe. Dread, too. Agitation blooms inescapably in a movie that quickly becomes a disquieting sci-fi/horror masterwork. Like many features in the genre, this is a film about possibilities and consequences, creation and costs, and happiness and sacrifices. It's about both daring to challenge and dutifully abiding by conformity as well, and about the societal need not just to thrive and survive, but to prosper and propagate by creating order out of chaos. And yet, as recognisable as these themes and ideas are, Little Joe is always its own beast. Aspects of Frankenstein are at play, and The Day of the Triffids, and even Side Effects. The film also has much to say about motherhood, the expectations that come with it, and the way that women are supposed to acquiesce to everything around them. But as anyone familiar with Mary Shelley's iconic work knows, combining familiar elements can give birth to an intriguing new entity that's much more than just the sum of its components. Little Joe, the plant, is alive — obviously. As it scent wafts through nostrils, it evokes change. Like Frankenstein's creature, it yearns for love and attention. It doesn't scream, but it still clamours to be cared for. As Alice notes in the aforementioned opening scene, her creation is specifically designed to respond to human affection. It reacts when it's nurtured, though, rather than rankling against its absence. And, as Alice begins to discover slowly but noticeably, that response has repercussions. Co-scripting with Géraldine Bajard, who she also worked with on Amour fou and Lourdes, Hausner tinkers with a classic tale to make several statements. She ponders the advertising-reinforced need for bliss that we're all meant to covet, and the way we're conditioned to accept progress and advancement — and to actively work towards it — no matter the ramifications. She also interrogates wellness bandwagons, purportedly easy cures and profiting from the quest for happiness, as well as the notion that normality and being like everyone else is worth striving for. The more that Little Joe examines the impact that Alice's work has upon her home life, too, the more it explores the pressures and demands that come with balancing personal and professional spheres. As a science fiction film, this savvily unnerving creation has much germinating within its frames. As a horror movie, it unpacks existential and primal worries with slickness and smarts. Hausner also calls upon aspects of The Little Shop of Horrors and The Invasion of the Body Snatchers — and, although it premiered at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, before the pandemic, Little Joe slides into the cohort of contagion-focused flicks that contemplate the way infections spread, evolve and reshape everything in their image. Plus, this is a feature about awakenings, as Alice cottons on to exactly what she's created. Its aesthetic might be sparse — whites, greys and glassy surfaces punctuated by small bursts of colour, including from Little Joe's petals and the pink lights needed to make them blossom — but its musings and impact are anything but. Indeed, if there's any stylistic flourish that epitomises the film overall, it's Martin Gschlacht's exacting and controlled cinematography. In his camera placement and shot composition, he peered just as meticulously in the exceptional Australian horror film Goodnight Mommy, and he demonstrates the festering unease that lingers in icy restraint here once again. Watching Alice navigate all of the above, it should come as no surprise that Beecham has earned awards for her performance — the Best Actress prize at Cannes, in fact. She plays a creator forced to face the reality of her dreams, achievements and choices; a mother confronted with changes in both of her children; and a woman weathering the world's expectations. As Alice's status quo crumbles, Beecham's quiet distress and sprouting doubts are palpable, and she couldn't be more crucial to the film. Hers isn't an overt portrayal, though. Its power grows, fittingly, in a movie that's constantly striking in its premise, tone, look, emotions and concepts. Little Joe's audience won't need a plant to alter their mood — this distinctive and beguiling standout manages that all by itself.
If you're looking for a classic American-style cheeseburger served up with onion rings and a nice cold beer, Burger Boys might be just what you're after. Inside the kitchen at CBD laneway bar, Saving Grace is where you'll find Burger Boys, pumping out burgers, obviously, plus fried chicken and sides for the hungry drinkers at the dive and blues bar. As well as deluxe fried chicken, beef patty and pulled pork numbers, there are a couple of vego options. The Vegan Burger ($18) offers a unique soft and fluffy pumpkin bun with fillings of a plant-based patty and vegan cheese, along with all the classic burger favourites: sliced pickles, American mustard, ketchup, tomato, red onion and lettuce. For those in the know, there's a secret menu with even more flavour combos to be discovered.
For three decades, Hank Azaria's voice has echoed from the TV screen in almost every possible variation imaginable. Being one of The Simpsons' six main cast members will do that. He's gotten gruff as perennially short-tempered bartender Moe Szyslak, especially when answering prank phone calls. He's cheerfully announced "hi, everybody!" as Dr Nick Riviera. He's hardly bothered with police work as Chief Wiggum, oozed beer-loving self-importance as Duffman, been nerdy as Professor Frink and uttered many a stern reprimand as Super Nintendo Superintendent Chalmers. The list goes on, including characters he no longer voices — such as Kwik-E-Mart owner Apu Nahasapeemapetilon — and everyone from Frank Grimes to Disco Stu. Azaria hasn't just been heard, and often, since The Simpsons' debut episode in 1989. He's virtually synonymous with the long-running animated sitcom, but his resume isn't short on other highlights. His first film role came courtesy of Pretty Woman, and he's featured in fellow flicks such as Heat, the 1998 American version of Godzilla, Mystery Men, Shattered Glass and Lovelace from there. On the small screen, he's stepped in front of the camera in Herman's Head, Mad About You, Friends and Ray Donovan, too — and led excellent two-season drama Huff, plus sportscaster comedy Brockmire. Now, he's stealing scenes in Apple TV+'s Hello Tomorrow!, a retrofuturistic sci-fi dramedy set in an alternative version of the 1950s where The Jetsons-style technological advancements are commonplace. Also an ordinary part of life, amid the hovering cars and robot waiters: everyday folks relocating to the moon. A workplace comedy as well, the series focuses on BrightSide Lunar Residences, specifically regional manager Jack Billings (Billy Crudup, The Morning Show) and his door-to-door salesmen crew. They head from town to town on earth selling timeshares on the planet's only natural satellite. Azaria's Eddie doesn't just sling getaways to whichever customers are willing to pay, either; he's desperate to take the trip north himself. Azaria uses his own vocal tones in Hello Tomorrow!, but his acting is just as elastic as his voice has repeatedly proven in his best-known gig. Eddie makes a living selling the American dream and, despite seeing that his customers' launches keep getting pushed back, he's bought into it himself. He's also as cynical as they come, and has the kind of gambling addiction that has physical consequences, yet remains hopeful of saying hello to his own better tomorrow. It's a powerful performance in a show filled with them, including from Crudup — who Azaria has always wanted to work with. "I chased this job down. I've always wanted to work with Billy. I know Billy, I love him as a performer and a person, and I wanted to be a part of this," Azaria tells Concrete Playground. Also part of our chat: what else appealed to him about Hello Tomorrow!, the show's many layers, the kinds of roles he looks for beyond The Simpsons and busting out his voice work on salesmen himself. ON HIS FIRST REACTION TO HELLO TOMORROW! "I imagined a gritty, realistic, Glengarry Glen Ross take on it. I was very surprised by this retrofuturistic element, that to me almost feels like an episode of The Twilight Zone from the 50s that we've expanded into a series. It's this kind of low-tech but high-tech high-concept idea in a morality play playing out in the context of a futuristic sci-fi premise. It reminds me of a Rod Serling-type idea. And then [there's] the heightened language of the thing, the kind of Damon Runyan sort of 1950s heightened speak that we all engage in. So it was more of a stylised thing than I had imagined." ON HELLO TOMORROW!'S EXPLORATION OF THE AMERICAN DREAM "It's this metaphor of the American dream being out of reach. Is it or isn't it? What's hope? What's delusion? What really struck me about Billy's character Jack is he's this really pretty ruthless conman who is believing, I think — it could be hope, it could be delusion on his part. But the hope he's giving people, even though it's an utter lie, [he believes] is good for them. And in many cases, it is. It's kind of what saved his life, and he wants to pass that along. Billy also refers to the pursuit of money as almost religious zealotry in this world we're in. These folks, there's a religious fervour around their pursuit of the American dream and the capitalist vision that these folks have — like even more than our current society has that we live in. So it's making that extreme version of what these ideals were and holding it up as satire." ON PLAYING THE GAMBLING-ADDICTED, LUNAR-DREAMING EDDIE "That's interesting isn't it? He's the most cynical. I think he believes he's bought into what they're selling, but he doesn't need to do that to sell. He's happy to con people — and knowingly con people, if that's what he's doing. But it speaks to, I think, the potency of that dream that Billy's character is selling — if even a cynic like Eddie, a gambling-addicted, negative, maladaptive, self-destructive person like Eddie, buys into this. He doesn't need it to sell. I don't think it affects his selling style at all. But even Eddie sees his dream of love and happiness, [living] happily ever after with his beloved Shirley [BrightSide's office manger Shirley, played by Truth Be Told's Haneefah Wood], as happening up there. It speaks to the power of that delusion, that dream." ON THE RESEARCH THAT GOES INTO PLAYING A LUNAR TIMESHARE SALESMAN "There aren't too many travelling salesmen around these days to talk to. There's a brilliant movie called Salesman, a documentary — I believe from the 60s — about bible salesmen that we all watched, and that really affected me a lot. Just the lives of these guys and their attitudes going door to door. The movie Tin Man is a great other piece of source material, [about] these conmen salesmen who were just that kind of bottomline, have to sell, really living or dying by whether you sell or not types. And then, as an actor, just wrapping your mouth and mind and heart around the language, the way these guys are talking — which is so much fun, but challenging at times. This is more the mind you apply to [Glengarry Glen Ross writer David] Mamet or [The West Wing creator Aaron] Sorkin or Shakespeare, where that's not how I would express myself, and I have to transpose my truth, what's real to me, to how this guy's expressing it. Which takes like a little bit of practice. It's almost like a skill, like a language you learn — or not as hard as that, but related to that. It is a rhythm thing, though. You find that there's a rhythm and a way of speaking that's sells it, but finding what that is takes a little bit of practice at first." ON THE TYPE OF ROLES HE LOOKS FOR BEYOND THE SIMPSONS "It's always different but always the same. Honestly, it's good writing. If I could write, I would. I can write, but I'm sort of a C+ writer. The stuff I write I guess gets made, but I probably would turn it down if I were offered it, if writer me came to me, with rare exception — Brockmire being one that I helped develop, which I loved, it was an idea I'd had since I was a teenager. But it's really writing, whether it's comedy, drama, this role, that role. Once you weed out what you really respond to in writing for whatever reason, there's not all that much left. And if you're fortunate enough to not have to work, then there's not much — to me anyway, there's not that many things that come along that I go 'oh, I could see doing that'. This was one of them." ON HOW HIS PENCHANT FOR VOICES COMES IN HANDY WITH TELEMARKETERS "It's rare that you run into a travelling salesman anymore, let alone one that's offering you up on the moon — you'd be crazy not to be immediately suspicious. But we're all barraged by telemarketers if you still have a home line, or even if you don't! You just get spam calls, and we're all pretty familiar how we usually react to those. I usually adopt a different voice and try to engage, and turn it around on the folks that call me up at dinnertime. It's one of the fun little perks of being a voice guy." Hello Tomorrow! streams via Apple TV+. Read our full review.
California's endless sunshine and awe-inspiring scenery helped establish it as the home of US filmmaking. Nowadays, just about every nook and cranny in the state has appeared on the silver screen, with Hollywood productions making the most of dynamic landscapes and architectural wonders. Ready to see some of pop culture's most iconic scenes in person? We've teamed up with Visit California to highlight ten of the best attractions to visit when you want to geek out on cinematic history. [caption id="attachment_960577" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Hang Tran via iStock[/caption] Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles Perched on the side of Mount Hollywood, Griffith Observatory offers incredible views across Los Angeles stretching from downtown to the Pacific Ocean. After dark, it becomes a buzz of activity as free telescopes give visitors glimpses into deep space. Inside, cosmos-related exhibitions dazzle guests. A go-to spot for directors, Griffith Observatory has been the setting for hundreds of productions. You might recall the opening shot of The Terminator, featuring a stark-naked Arnold Schwarzenegger, or a mesmerising musical number in La La Land. Don't miss the James Dean busk to celebrate the observatory's role in Rebel Without a Cause. [caption id="attachment_960579" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Travelview via iStock[/caption] Union Station, Los Angeles Few train stations have appeared on camera more than Union Station. Although it typically serves as LA's major rail terminal, its fascinating combination of art deco and Spanish colonial revival architecture gives it an undeniable gravitas that makes for a powerful scene. In the original Blade Runner, Union Station stands in for Los Angeles Police Station, while The Dark Knight Rises sees it transformed into a kangaroo court overseen by the Scarecrow. Although surprisingly rare, Union Station was simply a train station in Pearl Harbor. [caption id="attachment_961524" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Ross G Perry[/caption] Fox Plaza, Los Angeles You might still debate whether Die Hard is a Christmas flick, but there's no doubting where it all began for Detective John McClane. Better known as Fox Plaza, or 2121 Avenue of the Stars, this LA skyscraper is where villainous mastermind Hans Gruber met his match. Yet McClane isn't the only cop to roam this building. In Brooklyn 99, Jake makes the team detour to the fictional Nakatomi Plaza, quoting McClane every step of the way. You can also catch Fox Plaza's exterior in Lethal Weapon 2, connecting more made-up cops to the building's legacy. [caption id="attachment_960584" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Michael Overstreet via iStock[/caption] Bodega Bay, Sonoma County North of San Francisco, Bodega Bay is one of the top spots on the West Coast for whale-watching, peaceful hiking trails and day spas. It's also a must-visit on a cinema-inspired road trip along the coast. Though you might not get that impression from Alfred Hitchcock's 1963 classic, The Birds. After socialite Melanie Daniels follows lawyer Mitch Brenner to Bodega Bay, mysterious bird attacks terrorise the townspeople. Head along to discover how the reality is far more tranquil. [caption id="attachment_961526" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Marie Beschen[/caption] Museum of Western Film History, Lone Pine Western films had a defining role in the development of American cinema, with the desolate surroundings of Lone Pine central from the beginning. Over 400 feature films were shot across the Alabama Hills, the Sierra Nevada and the Owens Valley since 1920, starting with the silent film, The Round Up, starring Roscoe Conkling "Fatty" Arbuckle. Iconic films like Gunga Din, High Sierra and The Lone Ranger have featured the same vast landscape. For a true movie-buff experience, the Museum of Western Film History offers a diverse collection of frontier film memorabilia. [caption id="attachment_960608" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Olga U via iStock[/caption] Alabama Hills, Owens Valley On the outskirts of Lone Pine, the Alabama Hills is where numerous seminal western genre films were captured. Surrounded by towering rock formations and seemingly endless desert, traversing Movie Road with the Sierra Mountains adorning the horizon is a great way to get introduced. Films new and old were shot along this barren stretch, with the likes of The Lone Ranger, Iron Man and Gladiator just some of the best-known. Discover landmark geological wonders rising from the desert like the Mobius Arch, Nightmare Rock and Cyclops Arch. Kansas City Barbecue, San Diego Belt out 'Great Balls of Fire' just like Maverick and Goose in Top Gun at Kansas City Barbecue — the setting for the iconic diner scene. It was discovered by Paramount Studios' location scout ahead of production who liked the atmosphere so much that he returned with director Tony Scott. Situated in the harbour district of San Diego, Kansas City Barbecue serves up jam-packed meat dishes and hearty sides. If the classic diner vibe wasn't enough, the walls are adorned with assorted Top Gun memorabilia and the real piano used in the movie is still there. [caption id="attachment_960613" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Damien Verrier via iStock[/caption] Death Valley National Park, Southwest California Tatooine might seem like a galaxy away in Star Wars Episodes IV and VI, but these otherworldly scenes were shot in the dunes and canyons of Death Valley National Park. Wander into Artist's Palette — a colourful collection of volcanic deposits — just like R2-D2 does in A New Hope. The movie also used one of Death Valley's most impressive vantage points, Dante's View, to capture a panorama of Mos Eisley, a spaceport town filled with scum and villainy. [caption id="attachment_961525" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Courtesy of Flickr[/caption] Hillard House, San Francisco Featuring a masterclass in comedic performance by Robin Williams, Mrs Doubtfire remains an essential childhood film for millions. Many of the jokes might have gone over your head as a youngster, but this 90s classic still has much to say when you watch as an adult. Located in the upmarket Pacific Heights neighbourhood of San Francisco, Hillard House, featured throughout Mrs Doubtfire, still looks much the same. Although the interiors were shot on a soundstage, it's well worth climbing the hills to visit. Plus, the bay views are incredible. [caption id="attachment_960618" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Rebecca Todd[/caption] Muir Woods, San Francisco Bay Delve into Muir Woods to discover a fascinating old-growth coastal redwood forest. With some of these towering trees dating to over 1,000 years old, this ancient landscape is bound to leave you feeling in touch with nature. Throughout the Planet of the Apes series, Muir Woods becomes home to a super-intelligent colony of apes. Although these scenes in the films were captured in Vancouver with the help of a little old-fashioned movie magic, the in-universe setting is a stunning location, easily driven to from San Francisco, and it makes for an unforgettable detour. Start planning your tour of California, America's ultimate playground, today. Header images: B Alberts via iStock, Visit California
Japanese artist Ryosuke Fukusada has created a wooden light bulb using an ancient technique called 'rokuro'. By wrapping an LED light bulb in a thin layer of wood, Fukusada's bulb was launched recently at New York Design Week. The bulb's LED lighting creates only a small amount of heat, meaning it will not catch alight. A recyclable aluminum socket works with the wood to create a sleek, modern and sustainable design, which recently received an award at the Kyoto Design competition. The bulb is currently being developed.
If you haven't tasted a tub of Piccolina, you've been severely deprived of some of Melbourne's best natural and authentic Italian-style gelato. But, come this weekend, you'll have double the opportunities to try it — the much-adored Hawthorn gelateria will open a flagship store in Collingwood this Saturday, October 14. Arriving just in time for summer (whenever it gets here), gelato lovers will be able to pick up all the Piccolina favourites from the Smith Street store including pistachio, Better than Nut-lla and salted caramel. The creamy creations will be prepared in a dark green open kitchen, which sits in the centre of the gelateria. The design is a collaboration between Hecker Guthrie, Projects of Imagination (they've overseen a huge rebrand) and owner and ex-designer Sandra Foti. "It's really fun and fresh, but it's traditional at the same time," Foti explains. The design takes inspiration from both 1950s southern Italy and the historic building in which it lies; Hecker Guthrie has retained pressed metal ceilings and original terrazzo floors and has used a traditional Italian colour palette. The star of the space is the large pozetti bench, which holds 24 shining silver containers. This traditional Italian storage method protects the product from light and air. At the flagship store, the bench has been fully clad in rustic green Italian tiles, which curve around the bench. After tasting and choosing a flavour, gelato-lickers can grab a seat at the bar and enjoy some behind-the-scenes action at the open kitchen. "They'll be able to see nuts roasting, chocolate sauces being stirring, ganaches and jams being made from scratch — everything," says Foti. Using wholesome natural ingredients is what Piccolina is all about — there are no premixes and certainly no artificial colours or flavours anywhere near this gelato. And that's not about to change with the launch of the new store. "Our focus is still on traditional gelato," says Foti. "We don't want to do what everybody else is doing. It's about remaining true to our vision, which is traditional, Italian gelato made using authentic production methods." It will certainly provide an alternative to Gelato Messina, which will be just a 200 metres down the road. Piccolina Gelateria will open at 296 Smith Street, Collingwood on Saturday, October 14. The gelateria will be open from 12-11pm daily. For more info, visit their Facebook page.
While plenty about taking a holiday has changed over the past year or so, flight sales keep coming — and Australians keep snapping up tickets. Unsurprisingly, we're all keen to travel when and where we can in these pandemic-afflicted times. And if you're constantly thinking about your next getaway, Jetstar is dropping yet another batch of cheap fares. The Limited Time Only sale will kick off at 9am on Friday, April 23. As the name suggests, it's only on offer for a brief period. You'll need to nab your discounted tickets before 11.59pm AEST on Monday, April 26, although fares might sell out earlier. In the sale, you'll find cheap flights across a heap routes from destinations right across the country. That's a regular part of these specials, so there are no surprises there. But this time, because the trans-Tasman bubble is open and zooming across to New Zealand is now possible — and allowed — you can also pick up discounted tickets to NZ. Domestically, fares start at $33 for flights from Sydney to Avalon, with Sydneysiders also able to head to Hobart from $69, either Uluru or Hamilton Island from $99, and Perth from $159. Melburnians can book trips to Launceston from $45, Adelaide from $49, and Ballina and Byron Bay from $59, while Brisbanites can zip to Newcastle from $49, and Cairns or Melbourne from $69. Yes, the list goes on. For flights to NZ, tickets kick off at $175, which'll get you from the Gold Coast to either Auckland or Wellington. From Sydney and Melbourne, it'll cost you $195 to Auckland and $225 to Queenstown. [caption id="attachment_808728" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Artist: David Hilliam[/caption] Tickets in the sale are for trips from May 2021–January 2022, with exact dates varying in each region. And there are a few caveats, as is always the case. The discounted flights are one way, and they don't include checked baggage — so you'll need to travel super light, or pay extra to take a suitcase. And, as always, keeping an eye on both interstate and New Zealand border requirements is recommended. To promote the sale, Jetstar has also commissioned three large-scale artworks, all emblazoned with the words "available for a limited time only". One 90-metre-long piece by artist Edward popped up in the sand along the Great Ocean Road, another took over a Sydney rooftop and a third also got sandy at Piha Beach in Auckland. Jetstar's Limited Time Only sale runs from 9am AEST on Friday, April 23 till 11.59pm AEST on Monday, April 26, or until sold out.
UPDATE Tuesday, September 14: Indu — along with sibling venue Mejico — is currently serving a rotation of ready-to-heat meal boxes for delivery and takeaway. The packs are built around hero dishes like the potato curry and the slow-cooked lamb raan, with lots of dish and drink add-ons also available. Jump onto the website to see the menu and order. In one half of the former Collins Quarter pub, you'll now find Indu — Sam Prince Hospitality Group's sumptuous eatery dedicated to bold Sri Lankan and southern Indian flavours. Launching six years after sibling Indu Sydney, it's a moody, atmospheric haven, with a food offering inspired by co-founder Dr Sam Prince's own Sri Lankan heritage and travels through the homeland. The menu plates up an evolved take on homely village fare, fusing classic flavours with modern technique and even a few family recipes. The staple Sri Lankan dish of hoppers gets a workout, of course, starring the likes of pomegranate, eggplant pickle, goat's curd and a punchy coconut sambal ($15). You'll find a cooling dish of cured kingfish, teamed with candied beets and puffed wild rice ($22), and crispy besan flour fritters matched with a cardamom aioli ($12). Heartier options might include the signature Great Lamb Raan, featuring slow-cooked meat and a fresh mint chutney ($45), an excellent devilled pumpkin ($24), or the pork belly curry that comes topped with shards of crackling ($32). Desserts like the vegan chocolate and cardamom mousse promise a strong finish, while a considered drinks offering stands up well to all those big flavours and spicy notes. Expect a strong gin lineup, a global wine selection and crafty cocktails such as the smoked chai old fashioned. [caption id="attachment_800035" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Arianna Leggiero[/caption] Images: Arianna Leggiero
There are few more anxious moments in our lives than the wait we must endure for Korean fried chicken. Our mouths can't help but water, our hands can't help but fidget. Chris Lucas has inflicted a slightly torturous wait upon us, but thankfully it's also nearly over. Kong BBQ will officially be open for business in its permanent Richmond home this Friday, May 30. For those that haven't yet been swept up in this BBQ bonanza, Kong is the brainchild of famed restauranteur Chris Lucas — the guy behind Chin Chin and Baby Pizza. After the announcement of Kong's imminent arrival in December last year, Lucas has been hard at work. Kong has been built from scratch, taking advantage of the best in Korean BBQ cuisine; plus it has already been trialled as a pop-up in the much-loved CBD street food park Rue & Co. Now the dress rehearsal is over, everyone is sufficiently tantalised and the real thing is nearly upon us. With Chin Chin's Benjamin Cooper on board as executive chef, Kong will be taking up residence in what was once Church Street's Pearl Cafe. Taking inspirations from traditional Asian smoking techniques, the restaurant will specialise in BBQ favourites like ribs and wings while using chemical-free charcoal and sustainable Australian hard wood. Unsurprisingly, it will also take on Chin Chin's infamous walk-in only policy. Kong will not take bookings and with this amount of hype, we suggest you get there very early to secure a table. Luckily they'll also offer a takeaway menu. With menu items characterised by kimchi, soy and sesame, at least this is takeaway food you can feel semi-okay about scoffing. Kong will be open from 11am-late from Friday, May 30. It's located at 599 Church Street, Richmond.
In 2018, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced a controversial change to the Oscars: creating an award for most popular film. The backlash was strong and swift, with the category quickly put on hold — and the fresh slate of Oscar nominees show why the new gong really isn't needed. From the Lady Gaga-starring fourth take on A Star Is Born, to Black Panther's comic book antics, to Bohemian Rhapsody's love letter to Queen, plenty of last year's huge box office hits are now multiple nominees for the 91st annual Academy Awards, which will be held on Monday, February 25 Australian time. They're joined by a heap of critical and audience favourites from 2018, including Alfonso Cuarón's highly personal drama Roma, deliciously dark historical effort The Favourite and Dick Cheney biopic Vice, plus two very different films about race relations: BlacKkKlansman and Green Book. By the numbers, Roma and The Favourite lead the charge with ten nods apiece, while A Star Is Born and Vice each scored eight, Black Panther received seven, BlacKkKlansman nabbed six, and Bohemian Rhapsody and Green Book took five each. Of course, the figures only tell part of the story — some of the biggest highlights from the list of nominees are hidden behind the numbers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fp_i7cnOgbQ For only the sixth time in 91 years, a black filmmaker has been recognised in the best director category, with Spike Lee picking up his first-ever nomination across his lengthy career. Plus, for the first time since 1977's ceremony, two of the five best director contenders are for flicks in languages other than English — with Cuarón the favourite for Roma and Cold War's Pawel Pawlikowski a deserving but unexpected inclusion. Among the best picture field, Black Panther became the first Marvel movie to ever score a nod for the coveted award. And a movie star was born in Lady Gaga, who made history by becoming the first person to nab noms for best actress and for best original song in the same year (the latter of which, for A Star Is Born's heart-swelling banger 'Shallow', she's a shoo-in to win). On the surprise front, among Roma's huge haul, sit nods for two of its main on-screen talents, with Yalitza Aparicio in the best actress category and Marina de Tavira in the best supporting actress field. The Netflix title wasn't the streaming platform's only big contender, with the Coen Brothers-directed western anthology The Ballad of Buster Scruggs also picking up three nods. Of course, there are always gaps. After Greta Gerwig became just the fifth woman to be nominated for best director last year, the category went with an all-male lineup this time around — and among the exclusions, Can You Ever Forgive Me?'s Marielle Heller directed stars Melissa McCarthy and Richard E. Grant to acting nominations, but didn't make the Oscar cut herself. And the list is light for Australian talents, with The Favourite landing the country's only contenders in the form of screenwriter Tony McNamara and production designer Fiona Crombie. The 91st Academy Awards will take place on Monday, February 25, Australian time. Here's the full list of nominations. OSCAR NOMINEES 2019 BEST MOTION PICTURE Black Panther BlacKkKlansman Bohemian Rhapsody The Favourite Green Book Roma A Star Is Born Vice BEST DIRECTOR Alfonso Cuarón, Roma Yorgos Lanthimos, The Favourite Spike Lee, BlacKkKlansman Adam McKay, Vice Pawel Pawlikowski, Cold War PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE Yalitza Aparicio, Roma Glenn Close, The Wife Olivia Colman, The Favourite Lady Gaga, A Star Is Born Melissa McCarthy, Can You Ever Forgive Me? PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE Christian Bale, Vice Bradley Cooper, A Star Is Born Willem Dafoe, At Eternity's Gate Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody Viggo Mortensen, Green Book PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE Amy Adams, Vice Marina de Tavira, Roma Regina King, If Beale Street Could Talk Emma Stone, The Favourite Rachel Weisz, The Favourite PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE Mahershala Ali, Green Book Adam Driver, BlacKkKlansman Sam Elliott, A Star Is Born Richard E. Grant, Can You Ever Forgive Me? Sam Rockwell, Vice BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY The Favourite First Reformed Green Book Roma Vice BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY The Ballad of Buster Scruggs BlacKkKlansman Can You Ever Forgive Me? If Beale Street Could Talk A Star Is Born BEST ORIGINAL SCORE Black Panther BlacKkKlansman If Beale Street Could Talk Isle of Dogs Mary Poppins Returns BEST ORIGINAL SONG 'All the Stars', Black Panther 'I'll Fight', RBG 'The Place Where Lost Things Go', Mary Poppins Returns 'Shallow', A Star Is Born 'When a Cowboy Trades His Spurs for Wings', The Ballad of Buster Scruggs BEST FILM EDITING BlacKkKlansman Bohemian Rhapsody The Favourite Green Book Vice BEST FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM Capernaum (Lebanon) Cold War (Poland) Never Look Away (Germany) Roma (Mexico) Shoplifters (Japan) BEST ANIMATED FEATURE Incredibles 2 Isle of Dogs Mirai Ralph Breaks the Internet Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE Free Solo Hale County This Morning, This Evening Minding the Gap Of Fathers and Sons RBG BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY Cold War The Favourite Never Look Away Roma A Star Is Born BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN Black Panther The Favourite First Man Mary Poppins Returns Roma BEST VISUAL EFFECTS Avengers: Infinity War Christopher Robin First Man Ready Player One Solo: A Star Wars Story BEST COSTUME DESIGN The Ballad of Buster Scruggs Black Panther The Favourite Mary Poppins Returns Mary Queen of Scots BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING Border Mary Queen of Scots Vice BEST SOUND MIXING Black Panther Bohemian Rhapsody First Man Roma A Star Is Born BEST SOUND EDITING Black Panther Bohemian Rhapsody First Man A Quiet Place Roma BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT Black Sheep End Game Lifeboat A Night at the Garden Period. End of Sentence BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM Animal Behavior Bao Late Afternoon One Small Step Weekends BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM Detainment Fauve Marguerite Mother Skin
While you can get a simple and classic cheeseburger at Burger Road, it's certainly not what the Fairfield shop is known for. That'd be sky-high burgers oozing with cheese in a coloured bun. And ridiculously OTT freak shakes. Between epic meat-filled options (like the Sheriff's Burger with beef, double cheese, a chilli cheese kransky, bacon, jalapeños, black truffle mayo and hickory barbecue sauce, $16.90) and gourmet chicken burgers (think grilled pesto Chicken, provolone cheese, roasted peppers and pesto mayo, $13.90), there's a decent offering of vego stacks. Beyond Meat — the plant-based meat substitute that has the texture and mouthfeel of beef patty — has been a saving grace for many ex-meat-lovers gone vegan. And Burger Road has taken this saving grace product and turned it up a fiery notch with its Beyond 'Hot'ness Burger ($19.90). Here you'll find a beyond meat patty, vegan cheese, green oak lettuce, tomato, red onion, jalapeños and vegan Sriracha mayo. The menu also covers wings, onion rings, mac 'n' cheese bites, loaded fries, sweet potato fries, cheesecake shakes and waffles.
Not content with hosting the Brisbane Comedy Festival, queer culture fest Melt, and a jam-packed calendar of other events all year every year — and just adding a new outdoor venue, too — Brisbane Powerhouse is gifting music and art fans a brand-new boundary-pushing celebration of sound, tunes and performance. Meet ΩHM (pronounced "ohm"), a fresh venture that's all about getting adventurous. The New Farm venue has dubbed the event a "festival of other music", with a growing lineup that includes Peaches, Future Islands and Hear My Eyes doing Pan's Labyrinth to back up that statement. Across February and March 2023, ΩHM will take over the riverside spot with a program curated by Room40's Lawrence English alongside Brisbane Powerhouse Arts Program Director Brad Spolding, serving up a mix of big-name international headliners and emerging local acts — and gigs, cutting-edge shows and immersive installations. Peaches does the honours while she's in the country for Mona Foma, and Future Islands hits the fest as part of their first Aussie tour since 2017. Those two impressive headliners are part of ΩHM's previously announced first lineup drop, which also spans Monolake + Electric Indigo and The Chills, as well as Kae Tempest, Nakhane and black midi. There's more where that list of acts came from, too, with ΩHM turning its second program announcement into its big launch. Just announced today, Tuesday, November 29, ΩHM is screening Guillermo del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth like viewers have never seen it before — with a brand-new live score by Sleep D. This premiere performance marks Hear My Eyes' return to Brisbane, and continues its spate of stunning film-and-music combos (see: its take on Chopper in 2022 in Sydney and Melbourne, plus past tours of No Country for Old Men with Tropical F*ck Storm and Suspiria with King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard). Also joining the bill are audiovisual artist Robin Fox, Los Angeles-based composer Yann Novak and Iranian sound artist mHz, who'll serve up a triple bill of audiovisual performances. ΩHM will host the Australian premiere of Fox's Triptych straight from UNSOUND KRAKOW, featuring three RGB laser projectors working in synchronicity. If you've seen his past works — Night Sky for Brisbane Festival, Aqua Luma for Mona Foma 2021, BEACON for Mona Foma 2022 and MONOCHORD for Rising Festival 2022, for instance — you'll know you're in for something special. As for Novak, he'll be using sound and light to explore how both can focus one's awareness on their experiences, as informed by his partial colour blindness and dyslexia. And, New Zealand-based Iranian sound artist mHz will take inspiration from material and architecture to hone in on sound and light production. [caption id="attachment_880277" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Robin Fox, Single Origin, Diego Figueroa.[/caption] Also, Swiss artist Zimoun will present two installations, both Australian premieres and exclusive to Brisbane. His ΩHM berth marks his debut exhibiting to Aussie audiences in general, and will showcase his work with everyday and industrial materials to mix sound and architecture. "Works like Zimoun's kinetic sound sculptures, Robin Fox's expansive audiovisual laser environments and Hear My Eyes: Pan's Labyrinth x Sleep D exist at a special nexus of sight, sound and space," said English, announcing ΩHM's new additions. "These dynamic pieces capture intensity and energy matched with a fearless sense of focus. The works are simply mind-blowing." ΩHM runs throughout February and March at Brisbane Powerhouse, 119 Lamington Street, New Farm. For more information and to buy tickets, head to the Powerhouse website. Top image: Hadley Hudson.
The team that in May transformed Howler into The Black Lodge from Twin Peaks is heading back to the Brunswick venue with another immersive screen experience. This time, it's paying tribute to the one and only Bill Murray with a beanbag cinema program showcasing some of the actor's most iconic films. Presented by Howler and Tastemakers along with Hawkers Beer, the marathon – sorry, Murraython – begins on Wednesday, January 3 with Groundhog Day. The fun continues the following night with Wes Anderson's Rushmore, before Ghostbusters on Saturday, January 6 and Lost in Translation on Sunday, January 7. You can buy tickets individually, or grab a Murray Maniac four film pass.
In Nosedive, the first episode of the third season of Black Mirror, life's ups and downs are dictated by social media. Everything Lacie (Bryce Dallas Howard) does is rated by those around her, and she rates them in turn. Those rankings contribute to an overall score, out of five, which influences where she can live, hang out, travel, shop and more. Being Black Mirror, it's both a bleak and creepy vision of the future, and an idea that's not all that far removed from reality. If you watched the episode and thought "wouldn't that make a great game?", then you're not the only one. Five stars to you and to American game publisher Asmodee Group, we guess. The latter has turned Nosedive into a game that requires players to "create a 'perfect' life by collecting Lifestyle cards, while avoiding any dings to your Social Score that could cause everything you've worked for to come crashing down," according to its sale listing on the US version of Target's website. The strategy game is designed to be played by three to six people, and also has an app component. Each person's Social Score is based on how much other players like the experiences you give them via the app, with more than 1000 available. Nosedive will cost US$19.99, and whether it'll make the jump to Australia is yet to be seen. It's not the first off-screen chance that Black Mirror fans have had to feel like they're in one of the anthology series' episodes, thanks to an immersive London exhibition dedicated to the show last year. Via The Wrap.
Streaming service turned production house Netflix has announced its next big TV show project — and this time, it's animated. Voiced by Will Arnett of Arrested Development fame, BoJack Horseman is the lead in a new 12-part series of the same name. A former star of Horsin' Around — a '90s sitcom within the program — BoJack is galloping toward failure, dealing with alcoholism and is, er, a horse. Alongside Arnett is Strangers with Candy’s Amy Sedaris, playing Princess Caroline, BoJack’s ex-lover and agent who's also a cat, while none other than Breaking Bad's Aaron Paul plays his human buddy, Todd. And there's every chance Aaron will get to say 'bitch' just as much this time around, because BoJack Horseman is an adult animated series that's said to be darkly humorous. Netflix is surely hoping Bojack will continue their hit parade, following on from 2013's Arrested Development Season 4, House of Cards and Orange Is the New Black. LA-based studio Shadow Machine (Robot Chicken, Moral Orel) is behind the animation for the program that's set premiere in mid-2014. The design will come from acclaimed graphic artist Lisa Hanawalt. Discussion is already underway for a second season, which leaves us thinking this stallion of a program is pretty sure to be a runaway hit. Via Rolling Stone.
Malvern East's brilliant bakery, Breadcetera, is a testament to the difference it makes when the owners of a venue truly know, love and want to provide the best for their beloved community. The baked goods are irresistible, the produce is beautifully curated, and the service is warm. Most of all, Breadcetera fills what was a noticeable gap in the suburb. Co-owners Frank Ciorciari and Anthony Silvestre are familiar faces around Malvern East. They have spent nearly a decade building friendships with the community through their restaurant, Riserva, on Wattletree Road. They noticed their suburb was missing a local hang-out where you could grab premium pantry staples, fresh bread, deli items, flowers, and grab-and-go food. So, Breadcetera was born. "Breadcetera is basically a collection of the things we use and love most. It's personal, but we've always believed the personal can be universal. We didn't want to overcomplicate it — somewhere to grab good bread, a coffee, something for dinner, or even just a great pantry item you didn't know you needed. It's not a supermarket and it's not a cafe - it's something in between. It's the sort of place we wish already existed around the corner," says Ciorciari. Breadcetera sells produce from some of Melbourne's most loved suppliers, such as pastries from Austro Bakery, coffee from Allpress and bread from Blanc Bakery. Riserva's head chefs, Gabriele Garro and Dino Mohsin, prepare fresh sandwiches and crisp paninis each day. The weekly specials include the likes of focaccia with porchetta, braised onion, artichoke cream and Comté, a three-cheese toastie with shaved truffle, and a panini with fried eggplant, basil, red pesto and mortadella. Breadcetera is more than just a bakery. It is a buzzing hub of the local community where you can pick up anything from gelato to boutique liqueurs, a thoughtful gift or a take-home meal when you don't feel like cooking. Its bright and vibrant aesthetic makes it hard for passersby not to pop in for a coffee, a chat, a crisp croissant, and some gourmet take-home goodies. Images: Michael Pham.
Victoria is currently under stay-at-home orders so, while you can't visit these pubs in person, you can still show your support with takeaway and online orders. You can stay up to date with the developing COVID-19 situation in Victoria, as well as current restrictions, at the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services. Cosy pub vibes are great at any time of the year. And the vibes are even cosier with live music added to the mix. With live entertainment pretty much thrown out the window over the last year, we've come to really appreciate simple, old-school pleasures. Like heading to the pub and catching a live gig. Melbourne is home to not just great pubs, but also great musos — combine the two and you're on to a winner. We've teamed up with Guinness to put together a list of local boozers that play host to live tunes — from midweek open mic nights to rollocking country sessions. Consider this our post-lockdown hit list. [caption id="attachment_817247" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Julia Sansone[/caption] THE BROTHERS PUBLIC HOUSE Irish expats — and brothers — Pat and Eamonn McKernan bring the craic to Johnston Street. After making his mark on Melbourne's Irish music scene, Pat enlisted his accountant brother to join him in creating a place where they could do what the Irish do best: booze and music. With live tunes on Wednesday through to Sunday, perfectly poured pints of Guinness and a grand selection of Irish whiskeys, The Brothers Public House is a great spot to catch an intimate gig on a cold winter's eve. It's also a TV-free pub, so you can enjoy the tunes with minimal distraction. Find The Brothers Public House at 42 Johnston Street, Fitzroy. [caption id="attachment_818704" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Supplied[/caption] THE CORNERSTONE Named for the historic 1860s cornerstone that remains in tact to this day, the exterior of this Port Melbourne pub gives way to a smartly refurbished indoor area. Swing by on a Tuesday night for open mic night, which is a great way to check out up-and-coming local performers (or even have a go yourself). Fridays see booked artists performing from 7pm, so pop on down, grab a pint and settle in to one of the comfy booths whilst the tunes and good times flow. Find The Cornerstone at 1 Crockford Street, Port Melbourne. [caption id="attachment_817250" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Julia Sansone[/caption] THE FIFTH PROVINCE A proper Irish-style tavern with hearty pub fare and a great beer selection, this St Kilda local is always a good shout. Four nights a week, The Fifth Province plays host to all manner of musical acts in its charming, old-world setting. As you'd expect from an Irish pub, this Fitzroy Street spot has a laidback charm that makes it a great spot for a drink and a show — and, with regular food and drink specials, there's no surprise that this is a home away from home for much of St Kilda's Irish population. Find The Fifth Province at 3/60 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda. The Fifth Province is open for takeaway on Friday (11am–9pm) and weekends (10am–9pm). [caption id="attachment_817251" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Julia Sansone[/caption] STEAM PACKET HOTEL The heritage-listed building this Williamstown pub calls home has existed in a number of incarnations in its time, and its current identity maintains much of its old-school character, with a few modern spins. With exposed brick and a toasty open fireplace, The Packet is one of the best spots in the west to grab a pint thanks to the 16 beer taps and great pub grub. You can enjoy your cold one with live music most Friday nights and Sundays, while Tuesday night is open mic night — so, if you're game, you can level up from karaoke. Find the Steam Packet Hotel at 13 Cole Street, Williamstown. YARRA VALLEY GRAND HOTEL This historic hotel is in the heart of Yarra Glen, in terms of both physical location and its role in the local community. This public house poured its first pint in 1888 and maintains much of its Victorian charm, and remains a go-to for Yarra Valley locals. The regular music lineup ranges from moody acoustic to rollocking country, which you can enjoy with a hearty counter meal or creatively topped pizza. If you're looking for a wee road trip — complete with live tunes and a warming pub feed — then be sure to put this one on your list. You can make a night of it by taking advantage of the pub's stylish and affordable four-star accommodation. Find the Yarra Valley Grand Hotel at 19 Bell Street, Yarra Glen. Thirsty? Find your closest place for a pint over at the Guinness Pub Finder.
What sits at the heart of European storytelling? That's a question that one of Australia's must-attend film festivals has been pondering for three years. It was back in 2022 that Europa! Europa initially started showcasing the breadth of cinema from across Europe — surveying as many countries as it can fit into each annual program, and swinging from the latest to the greatest pictures from across the continent. 2025's event kicks off in February to explore that idea again. Attending Europa! Europa's opening night this year means discovering what makes a French box-office hit, for starters. A Little Something Extra, directed by comedian and actor Artus, was its nation's highest-grossing homegrown movie of 2024. When it kicks off this Australian film fest in Sydney and Melbourne on Wednesday, February 12, it'll start the celebration of cinema with a tale about jewel thief and his son at a summer camp for young adults with disability. Returning to Ritz Cinemas Randwick in Sydney, plus both Classic Cinemas Elsternwick and Lido Cinemas Hawthorn in Melbourne — both for a month, running until Wednesday, March 12 — Europa! Europa has compiled a roster of 44 movies from 26 countries. Accordingly, its latest program lets viewers dig into what drives filmmaking from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark and Estonia, and also Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Spain, Switzerland and Ukraine. Titles from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Georgia, Montenegro, Norway, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom are on the list, too. Unsurprisingly, the largest contingent comes from France. Indeed, Gallic cinema provides Europa! Europa with its centrepiece film as well — and it's an Australian premiere, with Once Upon My Mother stepping back to the 60s. The festival's headliners bring big-name talents, as well as touching documentaries to Sydney and Melbourne. In Another End from The Wait director Piero Messina, Gael García Bernal (La Máquina) plays a mourning widower exploring tech-enhanced ways of facing grief, with Renate Reinsve (Presumed Innocent) and Bérénice Bejo (Under Paris) co-starring. The Dardenne brothers (Tori and Lokita) co-produce the Belgian tennis academy-set Julie Keeps Quiet, while Sweden's 2025 Oscar submission The Last Journey hails from Swedish journalists and TV hosts Filip Hammar and Fredrik Wikingsson, and focuses on a trip to France with the former's father. Still on familiar faces, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan Academy Award-nominee Maria Bakalova (The Apprentice) leads the satirical Triumph, French standouts Daniel Auteuil (An Ordinary Case) and Sandrine Kiberlain (November) get farcical in Love Boat, and Mélanie Laurent (Freedom) and Guillaume Canet (All-Time High) portray Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI in their final days in The Flood. Other highlights from the fest's slate of new titles include Spain's I Am Nevenka, about an IRL MeToo case; U Are the Universe, a Ukranian sci-fil film made during the current war; the Sundance-premiering Sebastian, about a writer who is also a sex worker; Anywhere, Anytime, a modernisation of Italian masterpiece Bicycle Thieves; and Loveable, from the producer of The Worst Person in the World — and the list goes on. Europa! Europa's annual retrospectives keep proving a drawcard, too. After shining the spotlight on Poor Things and Kinds of Kindness director Yorgos Lanthimos in 2024, the festival is jumping back into French film history by heroing the iconic François Truffaut. Four of the French New Wave filmmaker's movies are on the lineup, all showing as new 4K restorations: Shoot the Piano Player, The Soft Skin, Two English Girls and Finally, Sunday!. Europa! Europa Film Festival 2025 Dates Wednesday, February 12–Wednesday, March 12 — Ritz Cinemas Randwick, Sydney Wednesday, February 12–Wednesday, March 12 — Classic Cinemas Elsternwick and Lido Cinemas Hawthorn, Melbourne Europa! Europa will screen in Sydney and Melbourne from Wednesday, February 12–Wednesday, March 12, 2025. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the festival's website.
Running events in the arts and hospitality industry can be tough enough at the best of times, let alone when your city is drifting in and out of restrictions and lockdowns. But despite the challenges served up by 2021, the year had plenty of shining lights. There was an avalanche of exciting new restaurant and bar openings to sink our teeth into outside of lockdowns, and some adventurous, thought-provoking and all-round joyous events took place over the last 12 months. From ground-breaking exhibitions to huge concerts, 2021 still managed to deliver the goods — and we've pulled together a list of six of the year's most memorable events. While many fantastic gigs, festivals and shows were cancelled due to the pandemic, these are the ones that managed to go ahead and fill our year with good food, music, art and culture.
Situated on the edge of the Great Dividing Range, Lexton is home to mind-boggling natural beauty. To experience the variety of landscapes in one place, a 30-minute drive to Mount Buangor State Park is your best bet. With its 15 kilometres of interconnected trails, this is the place to explore mountain peaks or delve deeper into the valley floor. If you're looking for a low-intensity hike, the Waterfalls Nature Walk trail should be at the top of your to-do list. Taking just 45 minutes to complete, this return journey sees hikers wander through blue gum forests on their way past three waterfalls, including the stunning Ferntree Falls and Cascade Falls. Image: Elliot Kramer
You'd be forgiven for assuming your best bet for vinyl records was somewhere in Fitzroy or St Kilda, where live music venues and record stores have been heavily influencing Melbourne's music scene for decades. Stay with us when we tell you to get out of the city and give Discrepancy Records in Mont Albert North a shot. The store proudly boasts more than 15,000 LPs in stock, and is happy to order in anything you can't find. Sure, there's an online shop, but that can't replace the fun of flicking through dozens of record sleeves in person to find your next cheeky purchase. You'll also find a growing range of turntables, equipment and accessories that will help you on your journey towards an epic vinyl collection. Images: Tracey Ah-kee.
Mirik Milan knows what it takes to keep the pulse of a city racing long into the night. For the past few years he's held the office of the Night Mayor of Amsterdam, a title given to the head of an advisory NGO tasked with building bridges between various stakeholders, including business owners, residents and government officials, to ensure the hours between sundown and sunup can be enjoyed by one and all. Sounds nice huh? Incidentally, if you're in Sydney right now, sobbing softly into your keyboard, please trust us when we tell you: we feel your pain — especially one day after the NSW Government has decided to 'relax' the lockout times by a mere 30 minutes. For the record, Milan feels your pain too. The former club promoter turned after-dark crusader was in the Harbour City last week as a guest of the annual Electronic Music Conference — and yes, he had plenty to say about the lockouts. [caption id="attachment_578891" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Night Mayor, Mirik Milan[/caption] "The lockouts are a symptom of an undereducated State Government," Milan tells Concrete Playground. "If you want to create behavioural change it needs to come from the grassroots up. If the idea is that you'll create behavioural change by imposing stricter laws on operators, you're blaming operators for a societal problem." "In my opinion, the reason why governments find it easier to clamp down on nightlife and just blame the operators is because that's the cheapest way to deal with it," he continues. "Starting a bunch of initiatives to inform people how to behave and to encourage people to drink less is much more expensive, and the risk of failing is much higher." Nevertheless, Milan believes the rewards of a bustling nightlife are well worth the effort. "Why is it important to have a vibrant nightlife?" asks Milan. "Because it will attract a lot of young, creative people. When you have a lot of young, creative people in a city, you have a lot of creative industries, and this is an engine for economic growth." So what would it take for Sydney to turn its nocturnal fortunes around? Below, Milan shares his tips on how to create a safe, prosperous and energetic nightlife. Let's just hope Mike Baird subscribes to our newsletter. TAKE CUES FROM INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVES THAT HAVE ACTUALLY WORKED Both the NSW and Queensland lockouts were introduced to stamp down on alcohol-related violence. But wouldn't it be nice if there was some way to do this without punishing those of us who can have a drink without throwing a punch? In Amsterdam's bar-filled Rembrandtplein district, the answer came in the form of so-called 'square hosts', whose job it is stop confrontations before they start. "They walk the street every Friday and Saturday night in the nightlife area and they try to de-escalate situations when there's something going on," explains Milan. "Unfortunately, when people have something to drink and they see the police, they see [them] as an aggressor. These square hosts are non-aggressive." Meanwhile, the City of Amsterdam has also developed an app that allows people to report antisocial behaviour to nearby community officers. "It means that complaints are dealt with really effectively," says Milan. "We understand that it can be super frustrating for residents that live around the nightlife square, and every weekend you have the same complaints and problems. With this system, you can [be in] direct contact with the community officer… and [it] really gives the residents the feeling that their problem is being listened to." But according to Milan, the biggest accomplishment of the project has been the introduction of 24-hour licenses. "What was really radical about this process was that for the first time in Amsterdam, licenses were given out not on the basis of whether you had four walls, a roof and a bouncer in front of the door, but on the basis of content," he says. "And when you focus on content you get a different kind of audience. These venues are all multidisciplinary. They have a bar, restaurant, live music, gallery space, some venues even run kindergartens." [caption id="attachment_602520" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Night Mayor Summit, nachtburgemeester.amsterdam[/caption] WORK WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS When it comes to making positive changes, Milan understands that collaboration is key, having discussed countless stakeholder viewpoints in community meetings, one-on-one talks and even at a dedicated Night Mayor Summit, the first of its kind, held in Amsterdam in April 2016. "Bring all the stakeholders together and try to come up with a solution and find a middle ground where everyone can benefit," he says. "Bridge the gap between the municipality, policy makers, small business owners and city residents. We always say by having a dialogue you can change the rules of the game." Milan also recommends fighting opposition with evidence instead of emotion. "We deal with [opposition] by making people aware that the baby steps that we make are reasonable," he tells us. "We like to run pilots, to see if [an initiative] works, to see if it doesn't have too much of an impact on residents, and then [we can make] an educated decision. Often these [initiatives] are tailor made for a certain area, because cities are becoming more and more complex… it's really about working together, and bringing operators and residents together, and seeing what works for your area." Ultimately, it helps that the economic incentive is there. "The value of the nighttime economy has become much more important for cities around the world over the last 10 to 15 years," says Milan. "I've never heard of mayors or city councils who want to kill jobs." [caption id="attachment_560788" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Kimberley Low.[/caption] GIVE PEOPLE THE RESPECT THEY DESERVE While you're never going to be able to get rid of every dickhead, in Milan's experience most people who go out at night want to do the right thing — especially when you treat them like grown-ups. "Send out a positive message," he suggests. "[Tell people] you can go out later, but you have to take care of your community." "For example, the Amsterdam Dance Event attracts 375,000 people to the city in five days," says Milan. "When people come into the airport, the first thing they see [are signs] saying, 'Welcome to ADE, be safe and have a great time.' And I get so many good responses from people saying, 'Wow, I feel so respected, I feel so welcome here, I will take care.''" "Give people the responsibility to take care of themselves," asserts Milan. "Of course, you have to have good legislation in place as well, but give them the right to take care of their community. This is a community that is open minded and willing to listen to these kinds of messages." Top image: Bodhi Liggett.
Do you guys ever think about watching the biggest movie of 2023 in the comfort of your own home? Barbie is a pink-hued dream on the big screen, where everyone should see it once — and it'll beam just as brightly via streaming from Tuesday, September 12. That's when the highest-grossing box-office hit of the year will hit digital, arriving on premium video on demand to rent and buy in Australia and New Zealand. By now, thanks to the pandemic, we all know the fast-tracked drill: these days, films make their way to home entertainment far faster than they used to before 2020. In Barbie's case, like everything from Dune, The Matrix Resurrections and Everything Everywhere All At Once to Elvis, Nope and Don't Worry Darling before it, it'll be both screening in cinemas and shining Kenergy onto your TV at the same time. You'll find Barbie available to stream via all the usual platforms — think: Google Play, YouTube Movies, Apple TV, Prime Video, Fetch, Foxtel Store, Microsoft and Telstra TV Box Office — in Australia and New Zealand. And, of course, you'll find a Greta Gerwig-helmed, Margot-Robbie-starring smash that sports rosy colours, does indeed bring the popular doll to screens, but couldn't be more smart and meaningful about it. Marking actor-turned-director Gerwig's third solo stint behind the camera after Lady Bird and Little Women, Barbie gets its namesake (Robbie, Babylon) struggling with life's big questions — and, when the film's key Barbie and Ken (Ryan Gosling, The Gray Man) drive through Barbie Land's gates to discover what's on the other side, struggling with Los Angeles as well. Splashing as much humour as pastel tones throughout its frames, Barbie is scripted by Gerwig and fellow filmmaker Noah Baumbach — her helmer on Greenberg, Frances Ha, Mistress America and White Noise, and real-life partner — and boasts a cast that's a gleaming toy chest of talent. All those on-screen stars help fill the feature with Barbies, including Issa Rae (Insecure) as president Barbie, Dua Lipa (making her movie debut) as a mermaid Barbie, Emma Mackey (Emily) as a Nobel Prize-winning physicist Barbie, Alexandra Schipp (tick, tick... BOOM!) as an author Barbie and Ana Cruz Kayne (Jerry and Marge Go Large) as a supreme court justice Barbie — plus Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton) as diplomat Barbie, Kate McKinnon (Saturday Night Live) as a Barbie who is always doing the splits, Hari Nef (Meet Cute) as doctor Barbie, Ritu Arya (The Umbrella Academy) as a Pulitzer-winning Barbie and Sharon Rooney (Jerk) as lawyer Barbie. There's also a whole heap of Kens, including Simu Liu (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), Kingsley Ben-Adir (One Night in Miami), Ncuti Gatwa (the incoming Doctor Who) and Scott Evans (Grace and Frankie). And, Michael Cera (Arrested Development) plays Alan, Emerald Fennell (The Crown) plays Midge, Helen Mirren (Shazam! Fury of the Gods) is the narrator, America Ferrera (Superstore) and Ariana Greenblatt (65) are humans, Jamie Demetriou (Catherine Called Birdy) is a suit, Will Ferrell (Spirited) wears a suit as Mattel's CEO and Connor Swindells (also Sex Education) is an intern. We expect that you know all of the above already given how well Barbie has been doing in cinemas, where it has also cracked the top 15 of all time — and become the first movie by a solo female director to make $1 billion at the global box office. And yes, we expect that you'll now get 'I'm Just Ken' stuck in your head again (and again and again). Check out the Barbie trailer below: Barbie will be available to stream from Tuesday, September 12 via platforms such as Google Play, YouTube Movies, Apple TV, Prime Video, Fetch, Foxtel Store, Microsoft and Telstra TV Box Office in Australia and New Zealand. It's also still showing in cinemas Down Under. Read our review.
