Hawthorn hasn't always had quite as much pull for beer-lovers as some of Melbourne's other brewery-filled locales. But that could all be set to change this year, after the inner-east suburb welcomes a huge new brewhouse. New independent brewery Ramblers Ale Works has made its home in a former mechanics garage on Riversdale Road, transforming the hefty industrial site into a relaxed space in which to enjoy its signature craft brews straight from the tanks. It's the brainchild of mates Ben Leslie and Ben Cumming, who've had dreams of launching their own brewery ever since starting their home brew club together a few years back. Slated to open its doors in a matter of weeks, Ramblers will be brewing a globally-inspired range of house beers onsite and serving them on tap. A food offering is set to follow a little later — it's still currently in the planning stages, though we're told the menu will feature plenty of beer elements, from pork rolls starring meat cooked in a beer and peri peri broth, to a line of sweet and savoury bar snacks made from the brewery's spent grain. Once brewing operations hit their peak, a central coolroom will feature six taps pouring seasonal and specialty beers directly from kegs, while six more taps are set to showcase Ramblers' core range of hop-driven brews. You can get excited for drops like the dry-hopped Riversdale XPA, a West Coast-style IPA dubbed On The Fritz and a malty Irish red ale to see you happily into the cooler months. There'll be plenty of guest beers on offer, too, celebrating local mates like Burnley Brewing, Watts River Brewing and La Sirene. The roomy, open space has a comfy, DIY feel, featuring lots of recycled timber with the bar and much of the furniture made by the owners themselves. There won't be any TVs or loud music, rather, Leslie describes it as "a place for people to commune". You'll find lots of seating both indoor and out, including an alfresco beer garden. Plus, fridges will be stocked with a range of canned beers to take away. Find Ramblers Ale Works at 96 Riversdale Road, Hawthorn, from late May.
The CBD's Straight Outta Saigon is relaunching its weekday lunch menu, and is tempting customers down to the restaurant with a fairly fun three-day dining deal. From Wednesday, September 4–Friday, September 6, you can order a lunchtime bowl of pho and pay whatever you like — be it with money, a shoe or whatever else you fancy. Although, if you can afford to pay a decent price for your pho, we recommend you do — don't be an ass. Three different phos are up for grabs (including a vegan version) during the Pay 'Pho' What You Want deal, each cooked for over ten hours. The full lunch menu, which includes bites like bao buns, rice paper rolls, crispy chicken, fried rice and stir-fried dishes alongside the pho, will then officially launch on Monday, September 9. Images: Pablo Diaz.
This review was written following the show's Sydney performance at Spiegeltent. Spiegelworld's EMPIRE premiered in New York in 2012 in Times Square, and it's certainly an all-American circus, beginning with Miss A in a Bubble (Lucia Carbines) clad in stars and stripes doing illicit contortions within a treacherously split Perspex dome. If, like me, your nerves are about as steely as a feather duster, you'll be squirming with joyful terror from the start. Odd-pair hosts Fanny (Anne Goldmann) and Oscar (Jonathan Taylor) interrupt the string of terrifying acts with gauche antics that are mostly shocking and sometimes funny. They haul a lovely man up on stage and do things to him. If you have a meek, amiable face, either sit up the back or change it — unless, of course, you think you'll enjoy salacious entreaties from a pair of strangers in front of other strangers. The pair squabble throughout and reach their artistic pinnacle in an episode involving an unholy exchange of masticated banana. A trio of Gorilla Girls (Kateryna Rudenko, Alona Stekolnikova and Alina Reutska) transport acrobatics to the strip club, making Olympic rhythmic gymnasts look like a bunch of squares. A pair of rollerblading daredevils, Polka Dot Woman and Blue Tarpoleon (Mariia Beseimbetova and Denis Petaov) proves that it is in fact possible for a man to roller-skate at lightning speed in a small circle whilst a woman swings from him by the neck without anyone dying. Who knew? Accompanying the action on stage is the voluptuous Miss Purple (Casey Jamerson), who belts out pop ballad after pop ballad, all attended by her trusty Brooklyn hipster on guitar, Moondog (John Shannon). Her rendition of Leonard Cohen’s First we Take Manhattan is great. EMPIRE will be running until April 20 at the Crown rooftop. Book a ticket and brace yourself.
Be transported to a neo-Tokyo laneway, complete with street food vendors, yakitori BBQ, Harajuku girls, live graffiti art and a pop-up bar featuring craft beer and Japanese cocktails. The izakaya-inspired menu, put together by Sake's executive chef for the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, will feature Victorian produce prepared using modern Japanese cooking techniques, reminiscent of street food vendors in Tokyo. Cocktails will be shaken and stirred at the laneway bar, where you can garnish Japanese creations with locally-grown herbs, flowers and leaves. It’s the very best of Tokyo's street food and craft beer scene. Kampai!
Your mouth has never been more important in determining what other people should eat, thanks to The Village who are hosting a Food of Origin series over five weekends in August, showcasing cuisines from different continents. Each weekend, The Village (formerly the Belgian Beer Garden) will bring together some palate-packing delights from North America, Central & South America, Europe and Asia. Your role? Go famished. Get fuelled up. Then vote for your favourite. The weekly winner will be invited back for the final Trailer Park showcase in the last weekend in August. Week 2 is all about Central and South America. Latin street food vendor La Revolucion are serving their Cubanos along with their Mexican corn and herby thick-cut fries. Taco Truck are bringing a little taste of Mexico with the likes of their beans donned with salsa habanero and a fried egg. Ever thought about adding pumpkin to your beef burrito? Iv's Burritos has, and can slip you one off their hotplates. Once you've filled yourselves silly on the savoury fare, Señor Churro has your Argentinian sweet-tooth sorted with their Nutella-filled donuts. Piping hot and gooey, they're vegan friendly to boot. Drink specials (including The Village Moonshine) will also be served in undercover bar, The Arbor. Want more? Whet those appetites further with these trucks that will be parked and waiting for you over the five weekends: August 1-2 - North America: Mr Burger, Smokin Barrys, TOASTA, Jay's Yogurt. August 8-9 - Central & South America: Taco Truck, Iv's Burritos, La Revolucion, Señor Churro. August 15-16 - Europe: Greek Street Food, Happy Camper Pizza, Jakob's Kitchen - Gourmet Sausages, The Brûlée Cart. August 22-23 - Asia: White Guy Cooks Thai, Hammer & Tong Food Truck, Nuoc Mama's, Gorilla Grill. August 29-30 - Best Of: The four chosen weekly winners will come back for the Trailer Park Showcase.
Rockwell and Sons are switching their usual meaty suspects for a lush multi-course of vegetables. It's a chance to treat your favourite fussy eater to lunch where Garage Project Brewery will be nailing the beers to accompany this meat-free delight. These New Zealand lads are renown for their experimental brewing so don’t be surprised if you find toasted coriander, smoked chipotle and raw cacao nibs are part of the drinking, and not the eating. This event is part of Good Beer Week's 2015 program, running from May 16-24. For more festival picks, click here.
Ever wished your Manhattan would come with a hint of bacon and walnut bitters? Well, now you do. And you'll get the chance to try one with all-Americana joint The B.East mixing up Big Mama Thorntons for this year's Melbourne Food and Wine Festival: a crispy, bacon-infused Buffalo Trace Bourbon bastardised take on the classic cocktail. With the help of Istra Smallgoods, they’ve also created three smokey courses of bacony glory. We're talking maple bacon donuts with free-range pork crackling, bacon and sage-stuffed pork belly with bacon bone gravy, and a decadent bacon and dulce de leche ice-cream. PBS Radio Funk and Soul DJs will be spinning tunes with live bands keeping the party rolling from late.The menu will be available all day on Saturday, March 5. You can just rock up or buy a ticket beforehand for $53, which will get you all three courses of bacon goodness and a beer or cider.
Your mouth has never been more important in determining what other people should eat, thanks to The Village who are hosting a Food of Origin series over five weekends in August, showcasing cuisines from different continents. Each weekend, The Village (formerly the Belgian Beer Garden) will bring together some palate-packing delights from North America, Central & South America, Europe and Asia. Your role? Go famished. Get fuelled up. Then vote for your favourite. The weekly winner will be invited back for the final Trailer Park showcase in the last weekend in August. For the North American instalment of the series, TOASTA will be taking their homemade sodas and gourmet toasties (think Brussels sprouts and candied walnuts) and going up against the likes of the big orange guy, Mr Burger. Beef, falafel, jalapeno and mayo – whatever your bun of choice may hold – make sure you splurge for the Trucker Chips, which come with bacon, cheese and special sauce. More in the mood for a soft bread roll? Smokin Barrys has got you covered. They're smoking some mean beef briskets and nailing the slow-cooked salty ribs. Cool down after your feast with a touch of Jay's Yogurt. Their winter menu includes the likes of poached pear on tangerine frozen yogurt. Seriously. These cups are getting the big spoon. Drink specials (including The Village Moonshine) will also be served in undercover bar, The Arbor. Want more? Whet those appetites further with these trucks that will be parked and waiting for you over the five weekends: August 1-2 - North America: Mr Burger, Smokin Barrys, TOASTA, Jay's Yogurt. August 8-9 - Central & South America: Taco Truck, Iv's Burritos, La Revolucion, Señor Churro. August 15-16 - Europe: Greek Street Food, Happy Camper Pizza, Jakob's Kitchen - Gourmet Sausages, The Brûlée Cart. August 22-23 - Asia: White Guy Cooks Thai, Hammer & Tong Food Truck, Nuoc Mama's, Gorilla Grill. August 29-30 - Best Of: The four chosen weekly winners will come back for the Trailer Park Showcase.
This bakery, based in Croydon, is not about doing things by halves. Each doughnut is visually pleasing: they're big, glossy and topped with crazy things like gold leaf, rose petals and fairy floss. But the painstaking presentation does not overshadow the more important job of pleasing those taste buds. Which they do - very, very well. The filled variety include crowd-pleasing flavours like cookies 'n' cream, Golden Gaytime and Milo. What really put Goldeluck's on the radar is their take on a croissant-doughnut hybrid. Goldeluck's 'dossant' sandwiches a creamy filling, be it honeycomb custard or chocolate cream- between flaky, sugary pastry. It leaves the conventional cronut in its (sugar) dust.
Making its Australian debut as part of the Midsumma Festival, Douglas Rintoul's Elegy recounts a powerful human story inspired by the work of photojournalist Bradley Secker. Drawing on interviews with gay refugees, the play explores themes of love and shared humanity that are so often lost in the rhetoric surrounding both immigration and LGBTQ rights. A timely and unabashedly political piece of theatre, Elegy debuts on Tuesday, January 19 at Gasworks, with MTC and Bell Shakespeare alumnus John Kachoyan at the helm.
Urban dwellers are usually more accustomed to seeing copious amounts of neutral tones around our cities than bright splashes of colour. It's argued that colour makes people feel happier, so wouldn't it be nice if our city looked like one big rainbow, or perhaps an array of different shades of blue or pink? Many charming little towns throughout the world have put this idea into practice, painting their buildings in bold and bright colours. The bursts of colour add an artistic ambiance to older buildings and bring a source of life to cities during the colder months, and become popular tourist destinations in the summer. Here is a collection of the best examples of places around the globe where colour reigns supreme. La Boca, Argentina Jodhpur, India Bo-Kaap, South Africa Guanajuato, Mexico San Francisco, USA Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles St John's, Canada Riomaggiore, Italy Wroclaw, Poland Salvador, Brazil Jaipur, India [via Environmental Graffiti]
On just about any given day, taking a stroll down Chapel Street is bound to reveal some pretty chic looking people. But if it's the stylish gents that are catching your eye, there's a good chance they've paid a visit to Jay Dillon. Presenting a selection of classic designs for fashion-conscious men, this long-standing store is ideal for those who look to make a statement with what they wear. Jay Dillon stocks statement menswear from high-end brands such as Cutler & Co, Bugatti, David Smith and Pearly King, as well as a range of shirts from the namesake designer himself, all complete with his signature bold patterns and colours.
Not everyone is lucky enough to spend Christmas with their nearest and dearest, and sometimes you just find yourself riding solo. Thankfully, the spirit of Christmas is strong in the city, at our favourite little shipping container-turned-bar. On Christmas Day from midday, Section 8 is welcoming orphans from far and wide to its annual Xmas get-together. Whether you celebrate Christmas or not really isn't that relevant — all you need to know is that there will be a free barbecue, ice-cold beers and beats right up until 11pm that night.
Australia's 'royal family' seems to have it all — money, power, love. But scratch the incredibly shiny surface and dark secrets abound and the knives are out. Dangerously charismatic patriarch and political kingpin John calls his clan together at the family homestead, and against the backdrop of a terrible storm, the Gleasons fight it out for a slice of the empire in Stephen Sewell's Hate. The family fortune becomes the least of anyone's worries as personal and political machinations are violent, fierce, and cruel in a battle which sees Gleason pitted against Gleason. The perfect facade crumbles and terrible secrets, shielded for years by enormous wealth, finally come to light in the 25th anniversary performance of the play, which was originally commissioned for the Australian bicentennial in 1988.
Summer might be gone, but that doesn't mean the coastline can't spring to life with vibrant happenings. Enter Elwood's Riviera Beach Club, who's transforming its sunny seaside spot into something a little more snowy for the Riviera Winter Wonderland. Presented in partnership with the Happen Group until Sunday, August 3, this immersive family-friendly experience features a full spectrum of activities bound to brighten up winter. By day, fascinating entertainment — including a custom-made ice-skating rink complete with real ice, snow blizzards and skate aids — takes over the space. Plus, private igloos paired with catering packages are primed for kids' birthday celebrations, while a fully stocked market will present festive snacks, from popcorn to snow cones. However, the mood switches up once darkness descends, as the space transforms again into an adult-only winter escape, featuring DJs and disco skating. Meanwhile, the private igloos will trade in the kids' food for premium alcohol packages, just as the market comes to life with mulled wine and cocktail stalls. Perched on a charming stretch of beachfront with stellar views of Port Phillip Bay, the day might not be as warm or sunny as the location demands. However, expect the Riviera Winter Wonderland's cosy atmosphere to make the cool weather worth celebrating. "We are really excited to transform this iconic venue into a winter wonderland experience," says Happen Group Director Daniel McFadyen. "We have ensured that we have catered to both families with young children and the adults so that everyone can enjoy this event by the bay in Melbourne." The Riviera Winter Wonderland is on now until Sunday, August 3 at Riviera Beach Club, 42B Marine Parade, Elwood. Head to the website for tickets and more information.
Having opened in April 2018, Monstera Flowers may be a fairly new store to the western suburbs, but owner Giang Truong brings more than 15 years of floristry experience to the venture. Just down Ferguson Street from The Greenery, the store supplies Williamstown with fresh simple-cut bunches, hanging and indoor plants, succulents and terrariums, as well as big custom arrangements for all kinds of functions. If you're one of the few Melburnians without a monstera in your indoor plant collection, be sure to pick up one of the store's signature beauties, which comes in its own stylish pot.
There's nothing quite like the big top. Entering that hallowed striped tent always feels like a form of transportation. No longer concerned with your workaday life, you're in a place where anything's possible — it's a snug little haven that promises hot cinnamon donuts, escapism and wonder. While Circus Oz definitely delivered on the donuts and the wonder, its brand of escapism strangely enough depends on your personal politics. For those not familiar with Circus Oz, social justice plays a big role in their performance. As much as they're out to surprise and entertain you, they're also concerned with imbuing each act with a specific political resonance. As such, But Wait... There's More gathers its story lines through political fodder. In the two-and-a-half hour performance, they cover indigenous rights, consumerism, commercialism, feminism, and 'infobesity'. It's a noble pursuit that is executed with mixed success — while you do feel more fulfilled by the experience, at times you can't help but crave the light-hearted frivolity of the circus you remember from your childhood. Outside of ideology, all the elements of the conventional circus are intact. On unicycles, hoops, and the trapeze, each member of the Circuz Oz ensemble brings an incredibly diverse set of skills to the table. Technically impressive feats are pulled off with an exciting amount of showmanship, and even a reluctant audience member will find themselves clapping and cheering. Particularly memorable moments include a delicate acrobatic dance played out on the unicycle by April Dawson and Kyle Raferty; a vivacious performance from Lilikoi Kaos with what must be close to 50 hula hoops; and an endearingly meek clown from Olivia Porter. Thankfully Circus Oz is an animal-free circus so, while your childhood memories may be tinged with lions and elephants, you'll have to make do with a particularly knowing gag with a BMX and a whip. As with all circus acts, it's not just the performers that deliver the show, and significant praise should also be directed towards the design and sound crew. The jazzy on-stage band provided a diverse and lively soundtrack to the evening, and in one impressive act we saw a performer battle mesmerising smoke rings through the darkness. Of course, it's all wildly entertaining — it's the circus, how could it not be? But in the tug-of-war between performance and plot, sometimes the blunt truths of the show take centre stage. While this works at times, for instance in the beautifully earnest Welcome to Country, at others it feels a little at odds with the performance. After all, the circus is a place of excess. It's hard to give yourself over to the joy of a finale spectacular while it's insistent on drilling home its critique of commercialism — particularly with your donuts and $10 program in hand. Photo credit: Rob Blackburn.
Summer may technically be over, but apparently no one told the weather. The nights aren't getting any warmer though, so you may as well make the most of it. Held most Saturday nights (excluding public holiday weekends) from 4–9pm, the Batman Night Market is your go-to for delicious food, hand-crafted goods and some of the best fresh produce in town. Located right next to Batman Railway Station, the market features dozens of regular traders. Food-wise you can feast on a variety of multicultural cuisines, plus crepes, gelato and other sweet treats for dessert. If you prefer to cook at home, you can also pick up a load of fruit and veggies, meat and poultry, cheese, baked goods and more. Local makers, meanwhile, will be selling art, cosmetics and boutique fashion accessories.
Looking to the future opens up a vast expanse of possibilities — some hopeful, many frightening, few certain. Even contemplating the options can really push the limits of our conceptual thinking. Fortunately, there are experts and creative thinkers out there who love nothing more. The results of those thought experiments have come to life and can be found at the University of Melbourne's Science Gallery. Science Gallery Melbourne is the perfect place to ponder the big questions. It's part of the Global Science Gallery Network — the only node of this innovative hive mind currently existing in Australia. The current highlight exhibition, Not Natural, explores the daring question of the future: how far will humanity's meddling of nature go — and will we still find ourselves on top of the food chain when we're done? [caption id="attachment_942091" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Patricia Piccinini, Kindred. Photo by Matthew Stanton[/caption] As scientific thought evolves, concepts that were once outlandish sci-fi are becoming reality: cloning, de-extinction, AI — any of which could prove to change the world for better or worse. Accordingly, this exhibit gathers local and international projects exploring the growing friction between natural and artificial. It's part art gallery, part experiment, and all groundbreaking. Works on display include Patricia Piccinini's orangutan-human hybrid family sculpture Kindred, Neil Mendoza's AI-powered typing tins of spam Spambots, real Tasmanian tiger specimens from the University of Melbourne's Thylacine Integrated Genetic Restoration Research (TIGGR) Lab, and touchable silicone organs in Noemie Soula's Mythical Living Data. Additionally, the exhibit is supported by a packed live program, including a live cooking show with bio-artists and lab-grown meat and three Friday night parties headlined by Melbourne-based contemporary artists and theatre companies. All that's left in this exciting exhibit is for you to go take a look and be the judge of the most likely course for our future. Not Natural runs every Wednesday—Saturday at Science Gallery Melbourne until Saturday, June 29. For more information, visit the website. Top images: Noemie Soula, Mythical Living Data; Neil Mendoza, Spambots. Photos by Matthew Stanton.
Wander down Malvern Road and you'll come across a set of shop windows that are a little bit brighter than most. That's The Fresh Flower Man, aka Ian Sparkes, who, across a long career, has earned a stellar reputation for producing some of the most beautiful bouquets anywhere in the city. Working with a kaleidoscope of native and exotic species, The Fresh Flower Man is on-hand to provide you with some great advice for freshening up your home or planning a special event. The colourful jungle emerging from the green store is tough to miss. Images: Parker Blain.
The flavours of South America are showcased through local produce at this beautiful restaurant and event space on Ryrie Street. The buzzing, dimly lit space — which features deep green banquette seating and artwork-adorned walls — is great for both a vibey date night or a levelled-up lunch. On the menu, you'll find a great selection of small and large sharing dishes, desserts, dessert-style cocktails and digestifs. The drinks program showcases mostly Australian and South American wines, and also has an extensive beer list.
For this year's Vivid Sydney Dinner on Saturday, June 3, the Ivy Ballroom will transform into nature's playhouse, with each of the evening's experiences revolving around the central theme of 'rewilding'. Food, art, light installations and live music will celebrate nature in all its glory with a focus on all things Australiana. Food will be the centre piece of this Vivid Sydney event — led by Merivale Executive Chef Ben Greeno and renowned chef and author Danielle Alvarez (formerly of Fred's). They've joined forces to create a one-off menu that champions NSW's local and seasonal produce, pairing each course with a fantastic local wine. And as this is Vivid Sydney, expect immersive light installations interacting throughout the space all night long, creating a proper feast for the senses. [caption id="attachment_897981" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Food and drink at the Vivid Sydney 2022 Dinner hosted at ivy Precinct, Sydney CBD.[/caption] Then comes the star-studded musical numbers. Eddie Perfect will play host (and perform a few tunes) throughout the Vivid Sydney Dinner, and be joined on stage by a series of performers. You'll see alt-pop singer Montaigne, African fusion artist Julian Belbachir and beloved vocal powerhouse Christine Anu belt out some of their most popular hits to a room of your fellow lovers of music, food and art. To keep the party going, Australia's 'First Lady of House' Kate Monroe will jump on the decks for a bespoke Vivid Sydney set. It's going to be a big night. And if last year's Vivid Sydney Dinner is anything to go by, it will likely sell out well in advance. To book an entire 10-person table or a just few seats on the shared tables, head to the Vivid Sydney website.
Backing up a new album with a tour worked well for G Flip in 2023. In fact, they won an ARIA Award for Best Australian Live Act for their efforts. For 2025's new record Dream Ride, the drummer, singer and songwriter is doing the same in 2026 — kicking off their next run of homegrown dates eight years to the month since Georgia Flipo first uploaded 'About You' to Triple J Unearthed and sparked a helluva career so far. In Melbourne, G Flip is playing Margaret Court Arena on Saturday, March 7. The last time that the ARIA Award-winning drummer, singer and songwriter took a solo tour around the country, it was to sellout crowds. [caption id="attachment_1013156" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Matt Jelonek/Getty Images[/caption] For company in 2026, G Flip will have Toronto's The Beaches and Heartbreak High star Ayesha Madon in support at all gigs. Dream Ride, the album, features singles 'Disco Cowgirl', 'Big Ol' Hammer' and 'In Another Life' — and an 80s-inspired sound, as well as G Flip playing almost every instrument on the record. [caption id="attachment_1013154" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anne Sophie Bine[/caption] Top image: Amy Martin Photography via Wikimedia Commons.
A newer addition to Melbourne's live music scene, the Brunswick Ballroom took over the space once home to The Spotted Mallard in early 2021, sporting a freshly revamped concert hall complete with stunning stained glass domes embedded in its soaring ceiling. Despite the venue's youth, it has already attracted an impressive list of well-known musicians to the stage, including the likes of Gareth Liddiard, Renee Geyer, Tim Rogers, Kate Ceberano and Ali Barter. But you can also expect a diverse lineup of emerging Aussie acts in the mix, with a program that flits from surf rock to folk and jazz — and covering just about every genre in between. From the kitchen comes a rotating 'dinner and show' menu, along with snacks like parmesan pretzels ($8), club sandwiches ($16), and both regular and vegan buffalo wings ($18). And don't miss the open-air balcony, boasting primo views of the city skyline. Meanwhile, downstairs, the Brunswick Artists' Bar is your destination for drinks, art exhibitions and acoustic sets by local musicians. Expect lots of intimate DJ shows, a regular Wednesday trivia session complete with drink specials, and the odd vinyl night to really get you grooving. Images: Nicole Cleary
UPDATE: JANUARY 24, 2019 — To help you avoid the brunt of Melbourne's scorching summer temperatures, Pixar Putt has launched new after-dark sessions, which take place every Thursday and Friday night. And they're only for adults. Running from 7–10pm, the post-work putt-putt hours are perfect for those date nights when you want to do more than just have dinner and see a movie. Oh, January. Christmas is behind us, summer is in full swing and the gifts are (mostly) forgotten. But that doesn't mean the part-tee is quite over. To keep the holiday feeling going, our favourite Pixar characters are popping up for one month at Federation Square at a new mini golf course inspired by some of our favourite Disney films. Designed to challenge both eight-year olds and adults, Pixar Putt features nine- and 18-hole courses that take you past childhood heroes like Buzz Lightyear, Sheriff Woody and Elastigirl. Hit a few balls with Darla and Marlin from Finding Nemo, and flick one past Princess Atta from A Bug's Life. No need for a trip to Disneyland. So, if you didn't beat your cousin at backyard cricket on Christmas Day, challenge them to a rematch at Federation Square in January. All you need is your hat and A-game (and no pressure if you remain defeated, there's always the nineteenth hole nearby). Pixar Putt is open from January 4 to February 3, 2019, with tee-off times every 15 minutes between 10am to 5.15pm, daily.
After critical accolades at the Next Wave festival in May, James Welsby's evocative dance production Hex returns for a limited six-show run at the Malthouse Theatre. The show will be one of several major cultural events taking place in conjunction with the 20th International AIDS Conference, which this year will bring top researchers, artists and activists to Melbourne. Partly inspired by this controversial HIV/AIDS awareness ad from 1987, Welsby's show uses movement, music and allegorical imagery to chronicle the gay community's relationship with the devastating disease. To the tunes of Queen, Liberace and Michael Jackson, three dancers move fluidly through the gay scene of the early '80s, the onset of the AIDs crisis, all the way up to present day. In doing so, the hour-long show pays tribute to the countless lives lost to illness, while exploring its impact on young gay men today. Details about other AIDS Conference affiliated events can be found here.
When acclaimed Australian playwright Michael Gow was approached by Four Letter Word Theatre about the rights to his already-debauched Live Acts on Stage, he insisted on rewriting the script; dialing up the filth to the level demanded by the company’s established fondness for provocation. The play’s a roller-coaster ride through Greek mythology, with the actors from a company on the rise juggling 45 characters in Gow’s savagely funny text. Read the rest of our top ten picks of the Melbourne Fringe Festival here.
After the year that's been, we could all use a few little wins right now. And the next edition of Click Frenzy's online shopping bonanza is happy to provide. Kicking off from 7pm (AEDT) this Tuesday, November 10, Click Frenzy's Main Event is chock full of bargains to help ease the pain that 2020 has supplied so far. Running for 53 hours, the sale is set to feature over 4000 deals and specials from more than 800 local and international brands. Those looking to indulge in some much-needed retail therapy can do so snapping up eye-popping bargains on products from favourites like Big W, Dyson, Myer, Target and stacks more. A suite of 'Go Wild' deals could see you scooping up Apple Airpods Pro for a measly $4, a nifty new airfryer for the low price of just $1, a GHD straightener for $4 or a $9 Samsung TV. Elsewhere, nab new activewear with 65 percent off 2XU, refresh your summer wardrobe with 70 percent off Gorman, fill up your cellar with 70 percent off wine, score 60 percent off bedding from Sheridan and find more bargains courtesy of Bose, Priceline, T2 and Spotlight. What's more, you could even hook up with some new wheels, with the sale event featuring hard-to-beat deals from your mates at Volkswagen and Subaru.
If you think that there's nothing sweeter than the word "weekend", except for the words "brunch" and "drinks", then you're in hot darn luck. Fancy Hank's, barbecue eatery and general provider of comfort in the form of hot food and cold drinks, is launching a new Sunday brunch session – and, to sweeten the deal even more, it's bottomless. At $50 per person, you can pick two items from the brunch menu and then qualify for bottomless Kentucky Ice Tea and Pomelo Spritz. On the menu are brekky tacos, chicken tamale, spicy spare ribs and – don't worry vegos, they've got you, too – a so-smoky-it's-almost-meaty eggplant dish. You can order an extra dish for $12.50, but bear in mind you've only got between the hours of 12pm and 2pm to stuff yourself and your hollow legs. If you end up wanting to kick on, don't forget Good Heavens is right upstairs. Fancy Hank's bottomless brunch will run every Sunday from 12–2pm. Reservations can be made via the website.
Next Wave Festival hasn't even started yet and we're already reaping the spoils. As part of their Emerging Curator's Program, Next Wave and the Centre for Contemporary Photography have teamed up to bring this young Sydney photographer's work to the fore, and we couldn't be happier about it. Raw, lo-fi and Tumblr-friendly, Mannix's photography is beautiful and relatable. Exploring his own life and those around him — a young couple, a sex worker, and numerous club kids — Mannix takes photographs that look like realistic American Apparel ads. While the subjects are all young and beautiful, there's something gritty and personal about the images that render them much more interesting. It's easy to imagine each in the collection of a past lover or close friend and as you stare at each, a shared intimacy is created. As the exhibition title would suggest, there's something precious to be savoured in the small art of the snapshot.
Melbourne's icy temperatures have set in for the long haul and every day it's just that little bit harder to drag yourself out of the house. Luckily, one riverside bar is now whipping up the ultimate nostalgic treat, to warm your hands, satisfy your sweet tooth and cure any of those lingering winter blues. Perched just below Federation Square, Riverland has launched a toasty new concoction, which is a grown-up take on the classic hot Milo of your childhood. The newly hatched Boozy Milo ($15) boasts a belly-warming blend of Havana Club rum, Milo and maple syrup, which is then topped with whipped cream, marshmallows and a sprinkling of chocolate. It's an indulgent, adults-only sip, primed for cosy nights by the Yarra. And it's not the only winter treat starring on Riverland's drinks list right now. You can also get your mitts on a Hot Apple Pie — teaming Jack Daniels Tennessee Fire with apple, vanilla and cinnamon — and a mulled wine, with the option of adding a slug of brandy, Havana Especial or Tennessee Fire. You can now find the Boozy Milo at Riverland, 1–9 Federation Wharf, Melbourne. It's open from 11am Monday–Sunday.
Wearable art meets wearable music with this trendy idea from New York company Parte LLC. Playbutton is an mp3 player embedded in a badge, each one storing pre-recorded content like an album or mix-tape. Album artwork is printed on the badge, making your music taste an integral part of your fashion statement. Sure, you can't change the sequence of the music or download new content, but that's pretty much the entire idea. It's only fitting to hark back to older forms of music consumption (like listening to an entire album, rather than buying individual songs) when teaming it up with a retro-style fashion accessory. Each Playbutton weighs just 0.8 grams, making it 175 times smaller than a traditional iPod; and bands like Mount Eerie, Bubbles and Opening Ceremony are already on board. In fact all proceeds from the sales of Open Ceremony's Playbutton go to Musicians on Call, a non-profit in New York that brings live and recorded music to hospital patients who are unable to leave their beds. [Via NOTCOT]
Gomez are on their way back to Australia. Their seventh studio album since they formed in 1997, Whatever’s On Your Mind, maintains the strongest aspects of Gomez’s sound. With gritty vocals that tear through carefully arranged background harmonies and electronic-dance sounds, the album has a spirit that is overwhelming and free-spirited but at the same time shows the maturity that the band have gained over their nearly two decade-long career. Chunky guitar and beautifully lush dynamics bring an ever-changing pace to the record, keeping it constantly fresh with a thrusting drive that has the listener on the edge. Gomez’s sound incorporates a wide range of musical elements, with flavours of blues, psychedelia and krautrock, and influence from the likes of Beck, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell and Marvin Gaye.
Puppies underwater. That's all you really need to know. But if you're looking for some more context, photographer Seth Casteel is actually one of the world's biggest catches — the man teaches puppies to swim. Teaches. Puppies. To swim. According to Mashable, Casteel has taught over 1500 dogs to paddle their way to glorious swimming success, building up their doggy confidence so they can impress the canine babes in their teen years. Shooting the lessons for his just-released and made-for-everyone-ever's coffee table book Underwater Puppies. Casteel has been doing this for a while; his first book Underwater Dogs followed the same vein. Not since these outrageously excellent photographs of dogs captured mid-shakedown have we squealed with such unfettered delight. Just look at this dude: https://youtube.com/watch?v=4ZZNVrU9w34 So here you go, the ultimate scrollworthy medicine for an average Thursday. ACK. Ruger Corey Rolley Pringles and Pick Me Reason Popsicle Monty Ava Ginger Iggy Via Mashable. Images: Seth Casteel.
Hitting the ski slopes this season? If you're quick, you can be among the first to book a stay in the just-opened Numbananga Lodge — a self-contained, ski-in ski-out snow lodge in Smiggin Holes, with easy access to all the fun of Perisher. With room to sleep six, this cosy, newly renovated pad could be an ideal base for that group snow trip you've been planning. Just keep in mind that you'll need a cool $1500 per night (during peak season) to book it — which works out to $250 each, if you can find five friends. The lodge is perched only a five-minute drive from Perisher Valley, though many will be tempted to take the scenic route: travelling by skis right from the front door, or on the nearby Link T-Bar. The lodge is available to hire out year round, and summertime at Numbananga has plenty of drawcards of its own, boasting primo views and endless opportunities for fishing, bike riding and bush walking in the nearby Kosciuszko National Park. It also costs significantly less to hire out in the off-season, dropping to as little as $350 a night. Owned and operated by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, the nature-based accomodation is a pretty rare gem, as the only publicly available, free-standing, self-contained lodge in the area. Book your Numbananga Lodge stay via the National Parks NSW website.
Printhie Wines, run by brothers Ed and Dave Swift, has also taken its cellar door experience into the online realm, cracking the top off a new weekly virtual wine tasting series. The Molong-based winemakers are hitting screens from 4pm AEST every Friday, to help you wind down and kick-start the weekend in style. Or at least, in some good, wine-loving company. Via Facebook, the guys will guide viewers through a double tasting each week, showcasing a range of drops from their own label and answering plenty of audience questions along the way. To get you in the zone, Printhie is currently slinging a virtual tasting pack via its online store, starring six of the wines featured across the next few weeks' live streams. Get one delivered to your door so you can taste along with the guys and discuss your favourites as the camera rolls.
Last week, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews unveiled how metropolitan Melbourne area will gradually ease out of its current stage four COVID-19 lockdowns. On the cards is a five-step removal of restrictions, with the first step taking place from 11.59pm on Sunday, September 13 — but life isn't going to be returning to normal any time soon. When it was first implemented, metro Melbourne's stage four lockdown was initially set to end on the aforementioned mid-September date; however, Premier Andrews has now advised that that isn't able to happen based on current coronavirus case numbers. Instead, some limits will be rolled back, with more to follow on September 28, October 26, November 23 and whenever the powers-that-be decide that a 'COVID normal' scenario — with absolutely no restrictions on gatherings, visitors, hospitality or sport — will be possible. That said, the loosening of limits at each is also dependent on health advice and hitting specific numbers of cases. So, from 11.59pm on Sunday, September 13, a few restrictions will be eased as part of step one of the roadmap. Here, we've broken down just what you can and can't do. This information is correct as of Friday, September 11. Is there still a curfew? Yes, there is still a curfew in place for metropolitan Melbourne. But, the good news is, it's been extended by an hour — starting at 9pm, instead of 8pm, and running through till 5am. For what reasons am I allowed to leave the house? Remember those four reasons first announced way back in March? Yep, it's still those. You can leave home to purchase groceries and other essentials, for care and caregiving, for outdoor exercise and recreation, and for permitted work. You can find out more about what industries are allowed on-site workers over here. [caption id="attachment_776562" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Heroes mask[/caption] Do I still have to wear a mask? Yes, masks or face coverings are still compulsory whenever you leave home. You can find out all the nitty-gritty over here. How long am I allowed to be out of the house for? You can now head outdoors for up to two hours, which is double the previously allowed one hour. You can use these two hours to exercise or to see a friend or family member (and you can split these into two one-hour sessions, but no more), but we'll get to social interactions in a second. How far can I travel? You can still only travel up to five kilometres from your home. We're sure you're very, very familiar with that patch of dirt by now, but if you want to have another look at what's around, check out this website. Can I see friends and family? Yes, but there are quite a few caveats, so bear with us. You can catch up with one other person not in your household — or all of your household members — outside of your home for up to two hours. You can exercise with them or have a picnic (socially distanced, of course), but you cannot travel more than five kilometres from your home. Inside your home, the rules are a little different. The government has introduced a "single social bubble", which allows a single person living alone or a single parent with children under 18 to nominate one person to be in their bubble. You are allowed to have this nominated person over to your home and you can go to their home — and you can travel more than five kilometres to visit them, but you must stay within metropolitan Melbourne. You can stay overnight, but you can't travel outside of curfew hours (9pm–5am). Premier Daniel Andrews has posted a little more about the bubbles here and there are more FAQs over here, too. https://www.facebook.com/DanielAndrewsMP/photos/pcb.3398375080227004/3401290863268759/?type=3&theater Can I drive to a park to exercise? As long as it's within five kilometres of your home, yes. While it was initially banned at the start of stage four, the government changed the rules after backlash on social media. Can I have a picnic in a park? Yes, as long as it's with one other person or the members of your household. Can I go to the beach? Yes, if there is a beach within five kilometres of your home. But you can go for a maximum of two hours and with one other person or the members of your household. How about a dog park? If it's within five kilometres of your home, yes. Here are some of our favourites. Can I visit a regional town? If you work in regional Victoria, you can travel there (but you'll need a permit), otherwise no. You can travel more than five kilometres from your home to see someone in your "social bubble", but you cannot enter regional Victoria for this reason. Can I go shopping? For groceries and other essentials, yes. But, not all shops are open and some have altered hours, so check before you head off. And do make sure you stay within five kilometres from your home. How about to a restaurant or cafe? You can pick up takeaway from a hospitality venue located within five kilometres of your home, but dine-in service is off the cards for now. Or a gym? Indoor gyms are currently closed, but outdoors playgrounds will be open from 11.59pm on Sunday, September 13. When will more restrictions be eased? For metropolitan Melbourne, the next step of eased restrictions is set to take place on Monday, September 28 — but only if the average daily cases is between 30–50 over the previous 14 days. If you have more questions, the Victorian Government has an extensive list of FAQs on its website. Top image: Edinburgh Park via Visit Victoria
A group of local and international artists will examine the relationship between art and industry, at a three-week exhibition at the RMIT Design Hub. Presented as part of the citywide environmental arts festival Art + Climate = Change 2015, Perceptive Power will see contributing artists explore various issues including sustainability, art activism and economic consumption through the mediums of video, installation and performance. Artists featured in Perceptive Power include Paris-based art and design duo Helen Evans and Heiko Hansen aka HeHe, as well as Melburnians Ash Keating and Keith Deverell, and Sydneysiders Joyce Hinterding and David Haines. The exhibition has been curated by Jodi Newcombe of Carbon Arts, part of RMIT University’s Centre for Art, Society and Transformation. To find out more about Art + Climate = Change 2015, head over here. Image: Ash Keating.
Looking to step up your regular trivia game? Over in Richmond, The National Hotel is giving the humble pub quiz a fun — and sinister — twist, kicking off a series of murder mystery-themed trivia nights. Launching on Thursday, August 9, the sessions each feature four quiz rounds, with punters answering questions and collecting clues along the way to help solve the final whodunit puzzle. Topics will cover everything from pop culture to general knowledge, so you'd best start brushing up on some facts. There's a swag of prizes up for grabs, from jugs of beer, to a huge $150 bar tab for the night's champion team. Entry's free and you can even bring along your pup. Round up a team of between four and six players and book your spot by emailing functions@thenationalhotel.com.au. Image: Gareth Sobey
Not content with screening movies at its regular site in Yarraville, the Sun Theatre has set up shop in Williamstown for a summer of outdoor cinema. And, for an early autumn filled with films under the stars, too — with the new Shore Cinema Williamstown running through until April. On various nights during its debut season (with evening screenings playing on different days each week), movie buffs will find the projector whirring at the Seaworks Marine Precinct, in the Gantry Plaza right by the water. You'll sit under fairy lights, direct your eyes at the big screen, tuck into choc tops and popcorn from the candy bar, and enjoy food and drinks from nearby cafes and eateries. Tickets start at $15 for an adult, which covers a spot on the grass — BYO seat. Beanbags can be hired for $20, you can score a chair for two for $45, or you can add some wine and snacks for you and your date for $90. As for what you'll be watching, the movie lineup includes recent releases such as The Personal History of David Copperfield, Wonder Woman 1984 and The Dry, plus retro titles like Get Out, Isle of Dogs and Mad Max. For Valentine's Day, you can take your special someone to see Romeo + Juliet — or head by the night before for a double of Before Sunrise and Before Sunset.
If you agree that one of the best ways to deal with just about anything is to eat dumplings until you feel better, Oriental Teahouse has you covered. After a sold-out dumpling degustation earlier this year, the restaurant is dipping its toe back into the pool of soupy feasts for World Dumpling Day with a night of non-stop dumplings. The feast that awaits you at both the South Yarra and CBD locations will include Oriental Teahouse's wide variety of dumplings. It won't just be your average fried pork and chive, either (though they do a great version of the classic) — new creations will include crab and asparagus together in one parcel, and a kimchi pork and black bean beef parcel. The kicker is that the dumplings will keep on coming until you can no longer lift a chopstick to your lips or the two-hour sitting is up — whichever comes first. It's all going down for $45 per person, which is quite reasonable, although not quite as cheap as the $22.50 all-you-can-eat dumpling dinner happening at POW Kitchen every Thursday in September. There will be two sittings — at 6pm and 8pm — at South Yarra and one at 6.30pm at the Little Collins Street location, and you can book a table through the website or over the phone.
January 2014 will see Sarah Blasko embark on a short but surely sweet Heavenly Sounds tour, with the singer-songwriter choosing a restrained program of just four shows in four churches across Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide. The tour will be the final round of performances celebrating her ARIA-nominated fourth studio album, I Awake. Loyal fans might have already witnessed the ideal pairing of the singer's ethereal tones and cathedral acoustics back in 2011, when her collaborative side project Seeker Lover Keeper (with Sally Seltmann and Holly Throsby) launched Heavenly Sounds. Now’s your chance to settle back amongst the stained glass and enjoy a night of pure Blasko. "These will be my last shows for I Awake, and really, what better place is there to sing (apart from the shower of course) than a beautiful church?" says Blasko. "I'll be playing songs from all four albums and it's likely to be the most intimate show of mine you'll see for some time."
Don your rainbow flags, bust out the glitter and pop on some platform boots (or comfy walking shoes) for Melbourne's annual celebration of gender and sexuality solidarity. In 2020, the Midsumma Pride March marks its 25th year of the LGBTQIA+ community coming together, loud and proud. At 11am on Sunday, February 2, the parade will head down Fitzroy Street in St Kilda to declare that marching for pride is as important now as it was 25 years ago, and to celebrate love and community with our friends, family, lovers and allies. The fanfare will make its way to the foreshore of Catani Gardens, where the party will continue on the Summer Pride Stage. All of this is a part of Midsumma Festival 2020's huge program of queer arts and cultural events coming to Melbourne for 22 days this summer. Image: Dean Arcuri.
iPad max volume just not loud enough? Nonlinear Studio's Amplifiear promises that you'll never struggle to hear movies and music on your iPad again. Surprisingly simple and low-tech in its design, Amplifiear simply clips on to the side of the iPad - no wires or batteries required. The device works to increase volume by reflecting and redirecting the sound from the iPad's back-facing speaker forward. Relying on the basics of physical acoustics, Nonlinear Studio's head designer Evan Clabots designed the Amplifiear out of lightweight, recyclable plastic. It's extremely transportable, and features a tension clip to accommodate all three iPad models. Currently on Kickstarter, the Amplifiear project awaits sufficient funding in order to begin production. It will remain open to donations through May 12.
When children from Panem's first 12 districts are chosen to fight to the death, each year's unlucky kids conscripted into the bloodthirsty fray that gives The Hunger Games franchise its title, they aren't simply battling for survival. In this dystopian saga stemming from Suzanne Collins' novels, they're brawling to entertain the wealthy residents of the ruling Capitol — they're forced to submit to a display of power and control, too, and to demonstrate humanity's innate cruelty — all while waging war against perishing into nothingness. Arriving eight years after the series' last page-to-screen adaptation, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is a swung sword, flung spear, hurled hatchet and jabbed knife in the same type of skirmish. This is a blockbuster franchise, but 2012's The Hunger Games, 2013's The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, 2014's The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1 and 2015's The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2 have long faded from the big screen, which virtually means no longer existing to Tinseltown, other than as fuel to relight the flame. So kicks in the "sequels, prequels, spinoffs, continuations, TV shows, remakes, reboots, reimaginings or perish" motto that may as well be etched onto the Hollywood sign. Why The Hunger Games' battle royales exist, and what their purpose and substance are, prove topics of conversation more than once in The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. A tale that features the person who created the games and the mind overseeing them — that'd be Dean Casca Highbottom (Peter Dinklage, Cyrano) and Dr Volumnia Gaul (Viola Davis, Air) — ought to ponder such notions. A jump back in time in a now five-entry franchise, and a chapter that runs for 157 minutes at that, couldn't leave it out. But a sense of nothingness still swirls around this picture, even if Collins did actually write a novel with a plot that justifies the movie's existence (unlike comparable shenanigans over in the Wizarding World, aka the Fantastic Beasts films). There's an insignificant air to this return trip to YA bleakness, as smacking of chasing cash and keeping IP bubbling in the popular consciousness was bound to inspire; this doesn't feel like a return or a bonus, but an optional extra. The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is largely engaging as it's flickering. To spin its origin story for President Coriolanus Snow, who Donald Sutherland (Lawman: Bass Reeves) portrayed with such gleeful menace in the initial movies and Tom Blyth (Billy the Kid) plays now as a young man 64 years earlier, it enlists a compelling cast. And, although nowhere near as meticulously, smartly and affectingly, it convincingly enough attempts the Better Call Saul feat of getting its audience hoping for a different path for someone with a murky future already inescapably established thanks to its lead performance. In the dialogue, riffs on Corio's surname spark retorts like "snow lands on top" — bad puns and heavy-handed nudges towards past films don't serve The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes well — yet "snow dissolves" is the prevailing vibe. Coriolanus himself doesn't here and there's four past pictures to prove it, but for all his longevity and this feature's length, the picture dedicated to him isn't the lingering kind. There's a prologue to this prequel, where a pint-sized Corio (Dexter Sol Ansell, Emmerdale Farm) and his cousin Tigris (debutant Rosa Gotzler) experience the horrors of Panem's nation-changing conflict firsthand, leaving only their grandma'am (Fionnula Flanagan, Smother) to be their guardian. When he's 18 and attending the Capitol's prestigious Academy, times are still tough for the remaining Snows, including the still-doting Tigris (Hunter Schafer, Euphoria); however, Coriolanus is a clever, savvy and determined fake-it-till-you-make-it type. As he dresses the part around his mostly snobby classmates, his hopes for college and security are all pinned on the scholarship-style Plinth Prize, which is usually awarded for academic excellence. But Highbottom and Gaul come bearing unforeseen news: in the tenth year of the country's kill-or-be-killed fights, with interest from the viewing masses lagging, the top students will be tasked with mentoring the games' tributes. Their assigned competitor winning won't guarantee them the prize, either; boosting the contest's status is just as important. Having seen other Hunger Games entries, or read them, isn't a prerequisite for following The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. Those who have will know the setup for the movie's first two thirds. Folks in that category will also spot the over-emphasised nods throughout the entire film to its Jennifer Lawrence (No Hard Feelings)-starring predecessors, to the point of wishing that you didn't. So, the reaping singles out the year's batch of doomed contenders, Corio is allocated District 12's Appalachian-accented underdog female recruit Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler, Shazam! Fury of the Gods) and, of course, she proves more than the Capitol bargained for. The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes makes good on its title by giving Lucy Gray a voice that can and frequently does carry a tune, which enamours her to everyone watching on. Her fellow gladiatorial competitors aren't impressed, especially with her public popularity. Also in the been-there-done-that category: romantic sparks flying amid the life-or-death games, with The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes happy to enter Romeo and Juliet's arena. Betrayal, duplicity, political scheming, autocratic barbarism, an indictment of entertainment at its most sensational and a savaging of the constant push to attract eyeballs pop up expectedly, too, the latter with zero self-awareness about how The Hunger Games movies are now in that domain. Returning director Francis Lawrence, who helmed Catching Fire and both Mockingjay instalments, is workmanlike. Screenwriters Michael Lesslie (The Little Drummer Girl) and Michael Arndt (also returning from Catching Fire) draw upon Collins' source material in the same way. Accordingly, along with production design that looks the part, it's Blyth and company that make the most of the film. As it tells its tale in three sections entitled 'The Mentor', 'The Prize' and 'The Peacekeeper' The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is never big on surprises, even when it heads to District 12 in its last chapter — but its stars are all in. If Blyth couldn't make Corio's vulnerability and kindness so resonant before it gives way to steeliness and ruthlessness, the film would suffer a fatal blow. If Zegler didn't shimmer with verve regardless of whether she's singing (chops already established in West Side Story), this Hunger Games entry's Hunger Games wouldn't muster up a second of tension. Tyrion Lannister might cast a shadow over Dinklage's Highbottom, but the Game of Thrones star has already demonstrated why that's a can't-look-away prospect. Davis is having a ball as the villainous head gamemaker, relish that's matched by Jason Schwartzman (Asteroid City) as always-on TV host Lucky Flickerman. Although the same can't always be said for the film around them — and definitely doesn't apply to bringing back the saga from nothingness — the odds are at least in this excellent cast's favour.
Say ciao to an Italian summer at the Italian Summer on the Rooftop — Bottomless Brunch, where the Richmond Club Hotel's rooftop has been transformed into a rustic oasis, complete with mouth-watering food and drinks that will transport you straight to the heart of Italy — without the airfare. Every Saturday and Sunday from 12–2pm, the Bottomless Brunch will set you back just $55 per person. The cost includes a selection of drinks which are all perfectly paired with an antipasto grazing board that features a variety of mouth-watering Italian classics like burrata, arancini, focaccia and more. And what's on the drinks menu, you ask? We're talking frozen blood orange G&T, frozen lychee martini, pink hibiscus spritz, orange and mandarin Spritz, or a classic mimosa. Plus, with an impressive selection of tap beers and ciders, as well as house wine and sparkling, there's something for everyone. But it's not just the drinks and food that make this brunch so special — it's the rooftop setting itself. With sweeping views of Melbourne's skyline, this Italian oasis in the heart of Melbourne's bustling Richmond district is the perfect spot to soak up the sun and enjoy a fun arvo with mates or a romantic rooftop brunch date. To book a table at Richmond Club Hotel's Italian Summer on the Rooftop — Bottomless Brunch, head to the website.
Remember the name Deniz Gamze Ergüven. The Turkish-French filmmaker may have only directed one feature to date, but it's a movie audiences won't forget in a hurry. In focusing on the troubled plight of five sisters confined to their home, Mustang might bring The Virgin Suicides to mind. Yet there's much more to the film than the comparison might indicate. Setting her film in a conservative seaside village in northern Turkey, Ergüven probes the complicated reality that siblings Lale (Günes Sensoy), Nur (Doga Zeynep Doguslu), Ece (Elit Iscan), Selma (Tugba Sunguroglu) and Sonay (Ilayda Akdogan) face on a daily basis. Stuck in a patriarchal society — and in a house overseen by a strict uncle (Ayberk Pekcan) and dutiful grandmother (Nihal G. Koldas) — their teenage lives are not their own. They're not allowed to just be girls who want to have fun; they're future wives, mothers and caregivers, destined to be defined by their husbands rather than themselves. Indeed, when Lale characterises their existence as "a wife factory", her choice of words couldn't be more fitting. As the youngest child as well as the film's narrator, it's through her eyes that viewers experience both the harsh limitations that dictate the sisters' days, and the need they feel to break free. It all starts when school winds up for the summer, with the quintet heading to the beach to splash around with a group of boys. By the time they get home, news of their apparently inappropriate behaviour has already reached their relatives' ears, inspiring a regime of virginity tests, locked doors, barred windows, cooking lessons and desperate attempts to marry them off. Being trapped in such a restrictive situation is as devastating as it sounds. And yet, thanks to the sisters' different personalities and Lale's undying defiant streak, the narrative is also laced with amusing moments and ample tenderness, as well as the spirit of female empowerment and camaraderie. As co-written by Ergüven with Augustine filmmaker Alice Winocour, the Academy Award-nominated effort proves as much a celebration of young women refusing to simply do what they're told as it is an indictment of the male-controlled status quo. It's also a film that's immersed in blossoming femininity from start to finish. While Sensoy steals every scene she's in with her naturalistic charm, her four main co-stars are no less effective. Cinematographers David Chizallet and Ersin Gok shoot the movie to stress intimacy even amidst rampant oppression, while the score by Warren Ellis evokes both tension and yearning. Accordingly, though Mustang is undoubtedly concerned with domination and escape, it's not a tale of victims, but rather a testament to resilience.
Hardware Lane's Shanghai-inspired cocktail bar Golden Monkey is welcoming the Year of the Rat with a tune-filled Chinese New Year party. The basement space will transform into A Night in Old Shanghai, on Saturday, January 25. Prepare to be entertained by the night's traditional lion dance performance, before local acts Jourdain & Jack, and Amy and Deborah Kwong have you grooving along to a dose of live R&B. You can get comfy in one of the booths, and match those tunes with some top-notch food and drink specials — Golden Monkey's known for its house cocktails and classic Chinese dishes ranging from fluffy bao to handmade dumplings. If you're with a group of mates, we suggest you order one of its giant, shareable punches served in Chinese metal steamboats. Image: Julia Sansone
You'll never have to fret over your iPhone dying again, thanks to this genius new phone case designed by Jesse Pliner and Lloyd Gladstone. Dubbed the 'JuiceTank', this sleek case effectively conceals the electrical outlet plug within. Press the button on the back of the case, and the outlet prongs pop out. Not only can you rely on JuiceTank to come to the rescue in battery emergencies, but its high-grade polycarbonate cover provides solid phone protection, minus excessive bulk. The case is currently fit for any North American plug and awaiting production funding on kickstarter.com.
Brighter Later is the coming together of songwriters Jaye Kranz and Virginia Bott, and their music is some of the most hauntingly beautiful indie sounds to come out of Melbourne in a while. Their debut album The Wolves, released earlier this year was described as 'dreamy brilliance' and gathered local and international praise including recognition from Martha Wainwright who later brought them on as her support act when touring Australia. The duo will be joined by Brite Fight and Simon Bailey (Pony Face) for their final headline show in Melbourne. The eight piece group will no doubt deliver their mesmerising sound in the intimate space that is Northcote Social Club.
