UPDATE Thursday, April 27: Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Tiny Tails Bar pop-up has been pushed back a day and will now run from Friday, April 28–Sunday, April 30. The following has been updated to reflect the change. What happens when a bunch of Aussie celebs and personalities jump on the cocktail shakers and have a crack at playing bartender? You're about to find out when the Tiny Tails Bar pops up in Federation Square from Thursday, April 27–Sunday, April 30. The pint-sized bar and its adjoining cocktail lounge are here to shake up your after-work drinks game, serving sips made by a roster of unlikely guest bartenders. The bar itself has room for just one customer at a time — they'll get to chat one-on-one with whoever's on the tins that night while their free drink is being whipped up, and take a few happy snaps, too. [caption id="attachment_897836" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Matt Zukowski and Anna McEvoy by Wayne Taylor.[/caption] The guest lineup includes Collingwood AFL favourite Mason Cox, MasterChef Australia's Conor Curran, and reality stars-turned-podcast hosts Anna McEvoy and Matt Zukowski. And you needn't worry too much about their bar skills, since they'll be working with Tails' line of ready-to-shake batched cocktails, spanning classics like a whisky sour and a gimlet. While you'll need to jump online to reserve one of the limited spots at the bar, the pop-up's Main Lounge will be open for walk-ins across all three nights, serving up plenty more free Tails cocktails to thirsty Melburnians.
When Josh Hodges (Feral Brewing Co, Cookie) and Caleb Baker (Greenhouse by Joost, Meatball & Wine Bar) began planning their dream venue, the drinks focus was never going to be a narrow one. Having racked up a combined 20 years of experience working with everything from craft beer and artisan spirits to cocktails and fine wines, the boys were set on embracing it all. And so, their first solo venture is born — Mr West Bar & Bottleshop is a multifaceted drinking destination celebrating all booze in equal measure. Set to join Footscray's ever-booming drinking scene in mid-August, this newcomer promises to tick all the boxes with its two-level, 500-square-metre space. It's will include an upstairs bar, lounge, pool room, rooftop courtyard and even a ground-floor bottle shop, stocked with a solid collection of rare and interesting drops. Get excited for an impressive 24 taps showcasing craft brews, local wines, and batch cocktails, alongside a well-traveled curation of bottled wines and spirits. Bar staff will be shaking up a gutsy, yet approachable, range of cocktails, or you can grab something interesting from the bottle shop to quaff in house. The food menu will consist of snack-happy drinking fare, with the option of bringing in your own eats from one of the nearby takeaway joints. And, if you're after more than just great sipping, keep your eyes peeled for the regular program of tastings, masterclasses, and product releases to come. Mr West Bar & Bottleshop will open mid-August at 106 Nicholson St, Footscray.
Survival is an ongoing process. If the first season of The Last of Us didn't already make that clear, the second season of the HBO series is set to arrive in 2025 to stress that message again. How does humanity endure in the aftermath of the Cordyceps virus, and the global devastation caused by it? What does it mean to persist? Also, who do we become in the process? Audiences will find out again from April. At the end of 2024, the US network confirmed that The Last of Us would return sometime in autumn Down Under. Now, it has locked in a month. An exact date is still to be revealed, but the show's comeback is getting closer. Also revealed: a new teaser trailer for the hit TV show that's based on the hugely popular gaming series, following prior sneak peeks — including as images and in promos for the network's full upcoming slate, plus an earlier season two teaser trailer. Prepare for a time jump. Prepare for a guitar. Prepare for hordes of infected. Prepare for a haunting feeling, too. Also, prepare for sirens, flares and a stern warning: "there are just some things everyone agrees are just wrong". In season two, it's been five years since the events of season one. And while there has been peace, it clearly isn't here to stay. Yes, Joel and Ellie are back — and, in their shoes, so are Pedro Pascal (The Wild Robot) and Bella Ramsey (Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget). This time, however, part of the conflict comes from each other. In season two, the show's main duo also have company from both familiar faces and a heap of newcomers. Rutina Wesley (Monster High) and Gabriel Luna (Fubar) return as Maria and Tommy, while Kaitlyn Dever (Good Grief), Isabela Merced (Alien: Romulus), Jeffrey Wright (American Fiction), Young Mazino (Beef), Ariela Barer (How to Blow Up a Pipeline), Tati Gabrielle (Kaleidoscope), Spencer Lord (Family Law), Danny Ramirez (Black Mirror) and Catherine O'Hara (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice) are the season's additions. The two teasers for the second season so far give fans a glimpse of plenty of the above new cast members, including Dever as Abby and Wright as Isaac. The Last of Us made the leap from video games to TV in 2023, and was swiftly renewed after proving a massive smash instantly. The series gave HBO its most-watched debut season of a show ever — and its first episode was also the network's second-largest debut of all time. Locking in a second season was also hardly surprising because the 2013 game inspired a 2014 expansion pack and 2020 sequel. For first-timers to the franchise on consoles and as a TV series, The Last of Us kicked off 20 years after modern civilisation as we know it has been toppled by a parasitic fungal infection that turns the afflicted into shuffling hordes. Pascal plays Joel, who gets saddled with smuggling 14-year-old Ellie (his Game of Thrones co-star Ramsey) out of a strict quarantine zone to help possibly save humanity's last remnants. There wouldn't be a game, let alone a television version, if that was an easy task, of course — and if the pair didn't need to weather quite the brutal journey. As a television series, The Last of Us hails from co-creator, executive producer, writer and director Craig Mazin, who already brought a hellscape to HBO (and to everyone's must-watch list) thanks to the haunting and horrifying Chernobyl. He teams up here with Neil Druckmann from Naughty Dog, who also penned and directed The Last of Us games. Check out the latest teaser trailer for The Last of Us season two below: The Last of Us season two will arrive sometime in April 2025 — we'll update you when an exact date is announced. Season one is available to stream via Binge in Australia and on Neon in New Zealand. Read our review of the first season. Images: HBO.
In response to Melbourne's growing Holiday Inn COVID-19 cluster, the entire state of Victoria will enter a five-day lockdown from 11.59pm on Friday, February 12 until the same time on Wednesday, February 17. That means that stage four restrictions will be back in effect, and you'll only be able to leave your house for the now-familiar four reasons. Also returning: wearing compulsory face masks whenever you do leave home. Announcing the change today, Friday, February 12, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said that "this hyper-infectious variant is moving at hyper-speed", and that advice to return to lockdown and bring back masks came on the advice of public health experts. None of the reinstated rules are new to Melburnians, of course — but it's hoped that bringing them back for a "circuit-breaker action" will help stop the spread of cases linked to the current cluster. Mask-wise, you'll need to break out your fitted face coverings and wear them. Some mask requirements do currently exist — including wearing them in public indoor spaces, which has been back in effect since Wednesday, February 3 — but the requirements are now being beefed up even further. Once midnight hits tonight, the only place you won't need to pop a mask on is inside your own home. That said, you'll only be able to leave your house for essential work, shopping for things you need, exercise for two hours within five kilometres of your residence, and for care and caregiving — however, in each and every one of those situations, you'll have to mask up. You'll need to wear face masks both indoors and outside, too, unless you have an exemption. https://twitter.com/DanielAndrewsMP/status/1360050173355773953 While the present cases are linked to Melbourne, the mask rules — and the snap lockdown— apply statewide for the five-day period. The Premier will provide further details about what happens next before 11.59pm on Wednesday, February 17. If you're now 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.
New year, new vacation season, new gorgeous destination — and new round of chaos at HBO's favourite luxury resort chain, too. After proving not only a huge hit but the best new show on TV in 2021, The White Lotus is returning for a second spin from the end of October. And, as happened in the show's first run, holidaying at the titular chain comes with a whole heap of mayhem for the new batch of guests. Trust Tanya McQuoid-Hunt, aka the character that newly minted Emmy-winner Jennifer Coolidge was born to play, to sum it up in the just-dropped trailer for season two: "it's just been a series of very bad decisions." She's the only main figure on this new getaway, and she's travelling to the just-as-exclusive White Lotus hotel in Sicily with her husband Greg (Jon Gries, Dream Corp LLC) and assistant Portia (Haley Lu Richardson, After Yang) — however the former isn't happy that the latter is with them. Also, Tanya thinks that Greg might be cheating. While the Hawaii-set first season of The White Lotus also starred Murray Bartlett (Physical), Connie Britton (Bombshell), Steve Zahn (Where'd You Go, Bernadette), Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria), Fred Hechinger (Fear Street), Brittany O'Grady (Little Voice), Kekoa Kekumano (Aquaman), Alexandra Daddario (Songbird), Jake Lacy (Mrs America) and Natasha Rothwell (Insecure), a new cast of faces is joining Coolidge and Gries this time around — all with their own vacation issues. Checking into season two: F Murray Abraham (Mythic Quest), Michael Imperioli (The Many Saints of Newark) and Adam DiMarco (The Order) as three generations of one family; Aubrey Plaza (Best Sellers) and Will Sharpe (Defending the Guilty) as a newly wealthy couple vacationing with pals played by Theo James (The Time Traveller's Wife) and Meghann Fahy (The Bold Type); Tom Hollander (The King's Man) as an English expat away with Leo Woodall (Cherry) as his nephew; Beatrice Grannò (Security) and Simona Tabasco (The Ties) as locals; and Sabrina Impacciatore (Across the River and Into the Trees) as this White Lotus' manager. Mark Monday, October 31 in your diary, as that's when HBO's biting satire will return for its second season, including via Binge in Australia and Neon in New Zealand. Yes, we know that that's the same date as Halloween, but prepare for something twistier, more scathing and more playful than trick-or-treating — at least based on The White Lotus' exceptional first go-around, which just swept Hollywood's TV night of nights in September. Once again, creator/writer/director Mike White (Brad's Status) is behind the series — and also once again, the social satire will follow a week in the lives of titular resort's guests and employees. Season two will span seven episodes, however, prolonging the holiday fun/mess. Check out the trailer for The White Lotus season two below: The second season of The White Lotus will be available to stream Down Under via Binge in Australia and Neon in New Zealand from Monday, October 31. Read our review of season one.
It might just be Australia's brightest festival: Parrtjima - A Festival In Light, which has just finished its fourth and most expansive annual program in Alice Springs. Shifting from the fest previous spring timeslot to autumn, the 2019 event attracted a record crowd of 25,000 — and, if you're keen to be among them next time around, organisers have announced that the fest will return in 2020. While exact dates haven't been revealed, the nation's first indigenous festival of its kind will light up the Red Centre in April, once again filling the region with dazzling light installations. This year's free ten-day public celebration of Indigenous arts, culture and storytelling included seven luminous displays gracing both the Alice Springs Desert Park Precinct and the Alice Springs Todd Mall. Expect a similar lineup — with all-new lighting pieces, of course — to feature next year. [caption id="attachment_715721" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Lighting the Ranges, Parrtjima festival, Alice Springs, Australia. 5/4/2019. Images courtesy Parrtjima / NTMEC[/caption] If you're already thinking about blocking out your diary, 2019's highlights might help cement your plans. Alice Spring's CBD was lit up with new installations and events, and just out of town, tourism and conservation facility Alice Springs Desert Park came alive with the festival's main attraction. Once again, a huge artwork transformed a two-and-a-half-kilometre stretch of the majestic MacDonnell Ranges, showering it with light from 6.30–10.30pm each night of the festival — and featuring an audio track voiced by Aussie acting legend Aaron Pedersen. Visitors were also able to immerse themselves in art and storytelling as part of the returning Ahelhe Itethe – Living Sands (Grounded), with installations projected onto the earth and accompanied by a striking soundscape. New additions to this year's lineup included an illuminated tunnel that attendees walked through as they enter the festival space, called Angkentye Anpernirrentye-kerte – The Language of Kin; an array of over-sized sculptures relaying the social history of First Nations station workers and their language of the land, dubbed Angkentye Stockmen Mape-kenhe – The Language of Stockmen; and a series of sculptured large-scale moths, badged The Language of Moths, in Todd Mall. There was also a huge maze for kids and a set-up of three bush taxis displaying works by First Nations artists. [caption id="attachment_715716" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Language of Kin, Parrtjima festival, Alice Springs, Australia. 5/4/2019. Images courtesy Parrtjima / NTMEC[/caption] With the news that Parrtjima will shine again, the Northern Territory will boast two glowing attractions in 2020 once again. The festival it's a nice supplement to Bruce Munro's Field of Light installation, which has been extended all the way through until December 31, 2020. Parrtjima – A Festival in Light runs until April 14, 2019 around Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. For more information, visit the festival website. Images: James Horan.
Melbourne's biennial showcase of young and emerging artist has just unveiled its latest program. Running from May 3 to 20, the 2018 Next Wave Festival will highlight some of the coolest, most exciting and most innovative up-and-comers working across theatre, dance, video, music, sculpture and everything in between. The festival will kick off with a free opening night party at the Brunswick Mechanics Institute. The soiree is being sponsored by the Archie Rose Distilling company, so you know the booze will be good. It's one of a number of epic shindigs on the program this year, with Sezzo Snot and Makeda Zucco set to take over the Tote Hotel for a night of electronic music, sound art, performance and installation, and DJ Sista Zai Zanda headling an Afro-futuristic Mother's Day eve celebration of dance, music, poetry and storytelling. The rest of the line-up is packed with standouts. Crush Time, from Brisbane theatre artist Nathan Sibthorpe, serves up a democratic dinner where participants vote on the ingredients, while Estrogenesis, by performance collective Embittered Swish, will explore contemporary transgender realities through a mix of movement, lyricism, video and live sound art. There's also the intriguing-sounding Apokalypsis by local Greenroom Award nominees Zak Pidd and Charles Purcell, billed as "a high octane theatrical flipbook performance of 100 historical disasters in 60 minutes." If that all sounds a bit too intense, you can also check out Canine Choreography from Danielle Reynolds, an in-depth investigation into the world of freestyle dog dancing which is apparently a thing that exists. Next Wave Festival runs from May 3 to 20. For more information, including the full program, visit www.nextwave.org.au. Image: Kristy Macafee.
What family dynamic holds greater prospect for drama than the one between a boy and his mother? From Norman Bates to Only God Forgives to Alex Winter's stepmum in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, movies are full of memorable mother/son pairings, not all of which have been entirely healthy. It's enough to make you think Freud might have been on to something. The latest picture to plumb the depths of maternal relations is Calin Peter Netzer's Child Pose out of Romania. Actress Luminita Gheorghiu gives a towering performance as Cornelia, a wealthy, overbearing mother who attempts to subvert justice after her negligent adult son Barbu (Bogdan Dumitrache) runs over a 14-year-old boy. As Cornelia bribes and bullies her way through the country's corrupt legal system, oblivious — or indifferent — to the pain that she leaves in her wake, viewers are offered a cynical portrayal of wealth and class in post-Stalinist Romania. Clad in expensive furs, Cornelia cuts an imposing figure, particularly in comparison to the impoverished family of the deceased teen and the overworked rural police force assigned to investigate the case. In both theme and style, Child's Pose is very much in keep with the emerging Romanian New Wave — currently all the rage amongst highfalutin film fans. Netzer adopts a minimalist approach to the drama that's acidified by bitter black humour. Handheld camerawork enhances the sense of realism, along with our feelings of outrage and discomfort. The truth is, it's an extremely unpleasant experience being trapped in the same room with Cornelia. Plenty of films manage to succeed in spite of their unpleasant protagonists, but Child's Pose isn't one of them. You can understand and to an extent even sympathise with Cornelia's actions, all of which are born out of a deep — if frequently controlling and occasionally downright creepy — love for her son. But that doesn't change the reality of her behaviour, which is appalling by any reasonable standard. The pacing, meanwhile, is unyieldingly slow, while also missing that sense of creeping escalation that makes the better films of the Romanian art house moment — Beyond the Hills, the unreleased Everybody in Our Family or the masterful Four Months, Three Weeks, Two Days — so dreadfully effective. Ultimately, Child's Pose has some insightful observations, but lacks the compelling quality of its contemporaries. https://youtube.com/watch?v=wQUh3hoGSfI
Are you full of weird obsessions and obscure cultural knowledge? Do you love art and supporting local artistic institutions? Can you claim, to a reasonable degree of certainty, that you are in possession of nine or more friends? If your answer to all three of these questions is 'yes', then it sounds like you're the perfect match for the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art's 2014 Mega Quiz. A big-brained battle royale, the ACCA Mega Quiz is a bit of a step up from your local pub trivia — hence of hefty ticket price of $250 for a 10 person table. On the upside, the trimmings are a hell of a lot better than a stock-standard parma and pot, with a selection of gourmet finger food and a wide variety of drinks. Likewise, the prizes, which include weekend getaways, opera tickets and ACMI film memberships, blow a slab of Victoria Bitter out of the water.
Having firmly established itself as one of the country's best art and design markets, Finders Keepers is shaking things up when it returns to The Royal Exhibition Building this July. One of two yearly events (the other will drop in summer), the autumn/winter season will have more of a 'festival' vibe with the introduction of an extensive food and entertainment program. The focus remains on supporting independent and up-and-coming artisans, but the market is also ramping up its food, drink and entertainment offerings. Expect a whole host of food trucks to be on standby when the post-shop hunger strikes — covering everything from curry and falafels to coffee and loukoumades. Various musical acts will provide the soundtrack as you wander the stalls including DJ sets by Mojo Juju and former Triple J host Alex Dyson. On the art and design side of things, many of the usual suspects are set to return, including Bridget Bodenham's gold-embellished porcelain and quirky candles from You, Me & Bones. Plus, there'll be debut exhibitions from the likes of jewellery brands Little Fear and Kitsu and artist Design Pulp. As part of its ongoing commitment to supporting emerging artists, Finders Keepers has introduced a new Artist Program. As the autumn/winter 2018 recipient, textile label Magpie Goose's Tiwi Bird design, in collaboration with Bede Tungatulum, is featured across all market collateral for the season. Prepare to spend a good chunk of time foraging for artsy finds for yourself or a loved one. Luckily, this year's trading hours have been extended to give you maximum shopping time, with things kicking off at midday on Friday, July 13. And, if you're the type to experience non-buyer's remorse, never fear: tickets are $5, available at the door and valid for the entire weekend, so you can always make a return visit. Start creating your shopping list now and head to the Finders Keepers directory to see the full scope of vendors. Finders Keepers Autumn/Winter Melbourne will run from July 13–15, 2018; 12pm–9pm on Friday, 10am–6pm on Saturday and 10am–5pm on Sunday. Images: Mark Lobo.
This month, we've partnered with Miller Genuine Draft to celebrate Melbourne's thriving art and design scene with a series of events dubbed the Miller Design Lab. Across six nights, we'll be showcasing a bunch of emerging creatives doing exceptional things in their respective areas of expertise. The parties are an opportunity for you to discover and experience upcoming trends and mingle with like-minded culture vultures, plus enjoy complimentary food, beer and live music. Chances are you'll be having such a good time, you'll want to kick on once the gallery shuts. So we've taken care of that, too. Across four of the six nights, when the main event wraps up at 10pm, the revelry will move to the rooftop bar at The Emerson — the official after-party venue — for more music, dancing and beers. And if you buy four bottles of Miller Genuine Draft, you'll score a piece of exclusive merchandise designed by Melbourne label Nana Judy. After the launch event on Thursday, March 21, DJ Sunshine will be on the decks. And on Friday, March 22, Alice Q and DJ Paz will keep the festivities going after Buff Diss's Design Lab. Everyone who attends one of the Miller Design Lab events is invited. Entry is free, but there are limited spots available so enter your details below to ensure you're on the guest list. And to check out the full program of Miller Design Lab events, head this way. [competition]712147[/competition] Follow @millergenuinedraftaus for more details.
According to all reports, climactic temperatures are on the up. So, how best to keep ours down? Air conditioning has been the favoured solution for years, but is it really the most satisfactory? It's a drain on the household budget, it'll leave the air drier than the jokes in an Oscar Wilde play, and it'll make you the natural enemy of asthmatics, athletes and singers. What's more, despite keeping things cool at home, air conditioning contributes to the emission of greenhouse gases. Architects, designers, engineers and scientists the world over are busy in their labs and studios developing more sustainable and attractive methods for making homes and workspaces livable. In Italy, recycled plastic is being turned into insulation; in Germany, maximum airtightness is minimising temperature fluctuations; in the United States, one man has combined heating and cooling his place with building gigantic ice sculptures. 40,000 Plastic Bottles Hold onto your soft drink bottles; you'll need 40,000 of the plastic kind to model your home on this zero energy beauty, titled Tvzeb. Designed and developed by Traverso-Vighy Architecture in conjunction with the University of Padua's Department of Technical Physics, it's hiding in the woods in north-eastern Italy, just a few kilometres outside the World Heritage listed city of Vicenza. The bottles were transformed into a 90mm layer of insulating polyester fibre, which combines with a heat minimising structural design and reflective glass to keep the elements at bay. Plants. Hundreds of Them. Inside. This is model and activist Summer Rayne Oakes' Brooklyn apartment. She keeps temperatures at an equilibrium by living in a vertical garden, with 220 plants filling her kitchen, living room and bedroom. Keeping them alive doesn't require any sacrifice of her hectic eco-awareness promoting schedule. An automated subirrigation system does the job. Pump it Up Minnesota artist Roger Hanson builds gigantic ice sculptures and keeps his home comfy using geothermal heat, which takes advantage of the Earth's stable temperatures. For cooling, a pump sends water underground, where warmth is removed; for heating, the opposite occurs — water is pumped up from the hot surface layer of the Earth's crust. Passive House The Passive House, or Passivhaus, as its German and Swiss originators call it, is all about extreme energy efficiency. To qualify, a building must meet some pretty stringent standards, including a maximum hourly air leak of only 0.6 times its entire capacity and an annual energy consumption no higher than 120kWh/m2. This is achieved through a 'passive solar' design and airtightness as close to 100 percent as is manageable. About 30,000 Passive Houses can be found in the world, most of them on the European continent. Follow the Sun Australian couple Luke and Debbie Everingham have designed and built a rotating house. Located on the Nowendoc River in the Manning Valley, it's powered by an engine that's only slightly bigger than one you'd find in a washing machine. Access to both sun and shade is optimised and construction costs are on par with those of building a regular home. Caveman Style The troglodytes had it figured out all those thousands of years ago. American couple Curt and Deborah Sleeper built this house into a sandstone cave in Festus, Missouri. Before their purchase of the space, it functioned as a roller-skating rink and concert venue, where the likes of Tina Turner and Bob Seger made appearances. The need for air conditioning is eliminated via a blend of natural insulation, thoughtful design and geothermal heat. Back to Basics Architect Giles Blunden knows about living in hot climates. He spent his childhood in the Australian outback before moving to the American South. In 2000, Natural Home magazine awarded him Home of the Year for this house, which is situated in North Carolina's first co-housing neighbourhood, Arcadia. A moderate temperature is maintained through old-fashioned methods: cross-ventilation, high ceilings, fans, a tin roof and eaves. According to Blunden, “Many of these features are just common-sense things that people have forgotten.” In the Treetops Artists Beth Kraminstein and Roy Levy wanted to live and work in their place without depending on air conditioning. So the environmentally conscious architects at Jersey Devil conjured this one up for them. Cross-ventilation is achieved through three garage doors and seventy carefully positioned windows. A new wing has been built to sit in the treetops, maximising the cooling effect of ocean breezes, while insulation is achieved through a blend of concrete, corrugated steel and Galvalume steel. Go Underground No, it's not a scene from The Lord of the Rings, it's a real-life, tall person's home, to be found in Vals, Switzerland. Certainly inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien's imaginary world, this Hobbit Hole is the product of the combined efforts of Christian Muller Architects and SeARCH. Temperatures are kept at a civilised level by virtue of its being underground, but the oval design allows plenty of sunlight to shine through and affords mountain views. Find Some Fans If an architect-designed house is beyond reach, or you can't see yourself catching up with Gandalf underground, you can always opt for a simpler solution: fans. Think of your home as you would your MySpace page. There are loads of unusual ceiling fans on the market these days, and if you want to get really serious about it, you can always consider a mega whole house cooling package, offered by businesses like Breeze Power.
Prepare yourself for a serious case of house envy. The winners of the 2017 Houses Awards have been announced and, well, it's easy to see why they won. Taking out the gong for House of the Year is the Auchenflower House in Auchenflower, Queensland. Designed by the team at Vokes and Peters, the deceptively simple dwelling was described by the jury as "the result of the architecture practice's sustained investigations into the Queensland vernacular, and the straightforward application and sensory qualities of utilitarian materials." The Auchenflower House also won the award for House Alteration and Addition Under 200m², an accolade it shared with Branch Studio Architect's A Pavilion Between Trees in Balnarring, Victoria. The Melbourne-based practice also took home the chocolates for Best New House Under 200m² with Balnarring Retreat, while Best New House Over 200m² went to Edition Office's Fish Creek House in Foster, Victoria. Check out the full list of House Award winners, below.AUSTRALIAN HOUSE OF THE YEAR – Auchenflower House by Vokes and Peters (Auchenflower, QLD) NEW HOUSE UNDER 200m² – Balnarring Retreat by Branch Studio Architects (Balnarring, VIC) NEW HOUSE OVER 200m² – Fish Creek House by Edition Office (Foster, VIC) HOUSE ALTERATION AND ADDITION UNDER 200m² – Auchenflower House by Vokes and Peters (Auchenflower, QLD) and A Pavilion Between Trees by Branch Studio Architects (Balnarring, VIC) HOUSE ALTERATION AND ADDITION OVER 200m² – Street House by ME (Burleigh Heads, QLD) APARTMENT OR UNIT – Bobhubski by March Studio (Falls Creek, VIC) OUTDOOR – Waterloo House by Anthony Gill Architects with Budwise Garden Design (Waterloo, NSW) SUSTAINABILITY – Fish Creek House by Edition Office (Foster, VIC) and Garden Pavilion by BLOXAS (Brunswick, VIC) HOUSE IN A HERITAGE CONTEXT – Jac by Panov Scott Architects (Dulwich Hill, NSW) EMERGING ARCHITECTURE PRACTICE – ME (QLD)
When the end of the year hits, do you get 'Christmas is All Around', as sung by Bill Nighy, stuck in your head? Have you ever held up a piece of cardboard to tell the object of your affection that, to you, they're perfect? Does your idea of getting festive involve watching Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Laura Linney, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Keira Knightley, Rowan Atkinson and Martin Freeman, all in the same movie? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then you clearly adore everyone's favourite Christmas-themed British rom-com, its high-profile cast and its seasonal humour. And, you've probably watched the beloved flick every December since it was first released in cinemas back in 2003. That's a perfectly acceptable routine, and one that's shared by many. But this year, you can do one better. A huge success during its past tours of the UK and Australia (to the surprise of absolutely no one), Love Actually in Concert is returning in 2022 to make this festive season extra merry. It's exactly what it sounds like: a screening of the film accompanied by a live orchestra performing the soundtrack as the movie plays. And, to the jolly delight of Aussies around the country, it's heading to Brisbane, Hobart, Wollongong, the Gold Coast, Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. Dates and times vary per city — and not all places have a venue locked in as yet — but obviously you'll be getting your Love Actually fix in the lead up to Christmas. Here, you'll revisit the Richard Curtis-written and -directed film that you already know and treasure, step through its interweaved Yuletide stories of romance, and hear a live orchestra play the movie's soundtrack. And, yes, Christmas (and love) will be all around you. Ticket on-sale dates vary per city, too, starting on Wednesday, September 28 in some places — but you can join the waitlist now no matter where you are. LOVE ACTUALLY IN CONCERT 2022 DATES: Saturday, December 10 — 4pm, Great Hall, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre Saturday, December 10 — time and venue TBC, Hobart Wednesday, December 14 — 7.30pm, WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong Thursday, December 15 — 7.30pm, The Star Gold Coast Friday, December 16 — time and venue TBC, Adelaide Saturday, December 17 — 4pm, Darling Harbour Theatre, ICC Sydney Saturday, December 17 — 4pm, Plenary, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre Saturday, December 17 — 4pm, Perth Convention and Entertainment Centre Love Actually in Concert will tour Australia this December — head to the event's website for further details, and to join the waitlist, with tickets in some cities going on sale on Wednesday, September 28.
Winter has come to Scotland — and with it, the perfect place for Game of Thrones fans to have a pint or two. Here, pretending that you're wetting your whistle in a boozy establishment in the Seven Kingdoms is easy as heading to Edinburgh's latest popup. Taking inspiration from the pages of George R.R. Martin's epic 'A Song of Ice and Fire' as well as the accompanying TV adaptation that no one can stop watching, Blood & Wine is the latest venture from events team The Pop Up Geeks. Every Wednesday and Thursday evening throughout January and February, they'll serve up GoT-inspired wines, ales, spirits and infusions. When you're sipping on Myrish fire wine and eating Frey pies (yep, they went there), you'll forget that new episodes of everyone's must-watch program aren't slated to return until June. https://www.instagram.com/p/BPKpLalDCok/?taken-by=thepopupgeeks Drinks wise, you'll also find the likes of Dornish Sour Red, The Imp's Delight and The Old Bear's Hot Spiced Wine on the menu, as well as a flight of seven tipples that lets you sample everything that Westeros and its fellow realms has to offer. Or, if you still have a Lannister-like thirst, opt for a Goslings Hot Mead or a glass of Icelandic Mountain Vodka. If the picture on the back of the bottle doesn't tip you off, the latter is made by a company co-owned by Hafþór Júlíus "Thor" Björnsson, the actor who plays Ser Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane on the show. To add the requisite finishing touches, the whole candlelit space is decked out with the appropriate bits and pieces; think shields, swords, posters, props and medieval-like flourishes. If that's not enough to send you scurrying over land and sea like a lost Stark child, then keep an eye on The Pop Up Geeks next venture, Perilous Potions, where they'll delve into the wizarding world of — yep, you guessed it — Harry Potter. Via Uproxx. Image: The Pop Up Geeks.
UPDATE Monday, October 3: The Victorian Dining and Entertainment Program's $25 million cash back fund has now been exhausted, meaning you can no longer claim any bills. See the website for more details. As a helping hand during the pandemic, you'll remember there were a few times the Victorian Government gave the state's residents free money, in the form of vouchers and spending rebates. Well now, it's brought back one of these popular initiatives, with a fresh round of cashback offers now up for grabs as part of the Victorian Dining and Entertainment Program. First launched in March and returning from today, Monday, September 19, the Victorian Dining and Entertainment Program is once again saving punters money on things like meals out, live gigs, performances and gallery visits. Victorians can claim up to 25 percent cash back when they spend $40 or more on dining or entertainment across the state — including purchases at cafes and restaurants; bars and pubs (but only if you buy food); registered clubs; breweries, distilleries and wineries (again, food has to be purchased); and fast food and takeaway outlets. [caption id="attachment_867979" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Melbourne Fringe, by Duncan Jacob[/caption] Also covered: movies, theatre shows, live music gigs, festivals and exhibitions. That means you can make your way to cinemas, exhibitions, conferences, museums, galleries and zoos — and live performances such as theatre, music, comedy, literary events and fashion shows, plus theme parks, water parks and amusement parks. The cashback program is available to redeem on venues and events anywhere in the state, and there's no restrictions as to which days of the week you can take advantage of the offer. You can claim a total of $125, and you're allowed to spread that over multiple claims, rather than just one big bill. That said, you'll want to get in quick to avoid missing out on your free money. $25 million has been earmarked for this latest round of the Victorian Dining and Entertainment Program, but if funds are exhausted early, it'll finish before the proposed claim cut-off date of December 16. [caption id="attachment_857197" align="alignnone" width="1920"] NGV's 'The Picasso Century', installation view by Peter Bennetts[/caption] The Victorian Dining and Entertainment Program kicks off on Monday, September 19. For more information, head to the Victorian Government website. Top image: Hazel, by Kate Shanasy.
Bagels remind Jeremy Marmur of his Polish grandfather, and the time he spent binging on bagels as a boy. Now, years later, he's paying tribute to both his granddad and his love of the Jewish bread with Schmucks Bagels: a new bagel joint set to open in the CBD later this month. Even if you don't have your own Polish bagel-loving grandfather, Marmur's bagels might conjure up childhood memories of a different kind. Anyone who ever had a Cheesymite Scroll stuffed in their lunchbox will get nostalgic over the Vegemite bagel: a bagel that doesn’t just come with a schmear of Vegemite, but with the stuff swirled right into the batter. Melted cheese on top is a must. Obviously. As you can see, Schmucks aren't mucking around with their product. Their traditional Polski bagels are steamed rather than boiled, which, according to Marmur, creates a lighter, fuller-flavoured bagel. "Although our concept is playful, the preparation, research and ingredient sourcing that has gone into creating Schmucks Bagels is far from that," he says. If, for some reason, you weren't indoctrinated to the cult of Vegemite as a child and it isn't your thing, it looks like there'll be plenty of other options — no matter what you can and can't eat. There will be a gluten free bagel alongside the usual sesame, seed and rye. And as well as smoked chicken, miso salmon and beef brisket, there's an impressive veggie option of grilled cauliflower, carrot, cumin, hummus and pickles. Allpress coffee will also be on offer, as will some salads and sweet things. Along with chef Simon Winfield, Marmur has teamed up with Tommy McIntosh and Ben Avramides of boutique caterer Tommy Collins to bring his bagels to the bottom end of the city, and beyond. Schmucks Bagels is due to open behind The William at Shop 9, Guests Lane on Monday, 16 November.
Been spending the start of 2018 looking to the future? That's what new years are all about, but tonight you might want to look to the skies as well. As part of a summer filled with supermoons, an extremely rare celestial event will occur: a super blue blood moon — or a supermoon, a blue moon and a total lunar eclipse, aka a blood moon, all at once. On the evening of January 31, it'll be time to peer above to see a piece of history. The last time this trifecta happened at the same time was back on March 31, 1866. They'll be more frequent in the coming decades, with others expected on December 31, 2028 and January 31, 2037. Still, if you miss it this month, ten years is a long time to wait. WHAT IS IT? If you're more familiar with The Mighty Boosh's take on the moon than actual lunar terms, here's what you need to know. As we all learned back in November 2016, a supermoon is a new moon or full moon that occurs when the moon reaches the closest point to Earth in its elliptical orbit. They're not uncommon; two have taken place since the beginning of December. The supermoon at the end of January will be a full moon, which is why it's also a blue moon. A blue moon refers to the second full moon occurring in a calendar month. Despite the saying, they happen more often than you might think, with the last taking place in July 2015, and another due in March this year. And then there's the lunar eclipse, when the moon passes directly behind the Earth, into its shadow, blocking direct sunlight. When the three celestial bodies are lined up, it makes the moon look like it has been tinted red. WHEN CAN I SEE IT? If you're keen to catch a glimpse, timeanddate.com has put together a handy to-the-minute schedule of when the eclipse will be happening in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. The super blue blood moon is expected at around 12.30am in Sydney and Melbourne, and 11.30pm in Brisbane. [caption id="attachment_655292" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sydney total lunar eclipse times via timeanddate.com[/caption] Have your cameras at the ready, obviously — and see if you can outdo the last big batch of supermoon snaps. WHERE CAN I SEE IT? Being in the southern hemisphere, we get some of the best views in the world — weather permitting, of course. Everyone in Australia should be able to catch a glimpse, but, even so, if you're living in the city, it would be best to as far away from light pollution as possible. Typically, clouds and rain are predicted for today along the east coast, which could prove really screw up visibility. If you can't get a clear view, The Virtual Telescope Project will be live streaming the eclipse from 10.30pm AEST (9.30pm in Brisbane) here. Otherwise, there will be another total lunar eclipse on July 28. Via Space.com and timeanddate.com. Updated: January 31, 2018.
Docklands' winter forecast is looking very warm and toasty, as the annual Firelight Festival returns to the precinct from Friday, June 29. The festival's second outing promises to totally eclipse the first, featuring a sprawling program of events and activities, and some particularly lavish celebrations across the opening weekend. Victoria Harbour is set to be transformed into its biggest, brightest self, playing host to nightly fireworks displays, roving performers, fire drums, flame jets and striking installations. You'll even catch three huge wooden sculptures, designed by local artist Christian Patton, set ablaze as they float along the Harbour. Throughout the month, a diverse live music lineup ranges from jazz, to gypsy, to a New Orleans brass outfit, and special guest Jo Stanley heads up a family-friendly Fireside Storytelling session, sharing tales from her literary series Play Like a Girl. Of course, foodies and booze buffs will also find plenty here to keep them off the couch and out of hibernation, including long-table feasts at Collins Square's Chiara, a program of workshops and progressive dinners exploring some of Docklands' finest food spots, and the 1930s-inspired Speakeasy Series, which descends on the area's top watering holes. The Docklands Firelight Festival kicks off with a program of opening weekend festivities from June 29–July 1, running from 5-10pm each night. The full program of events runs until July 31. Image credit: Grace Petrou
A Separation is an Iranian drama film that revolves around the divorce of Nader and Simin, who have been married for fourteen years and share an eleven-year old daughter, Termeh. Simin wishes to move the family outside of Iran in light of the turbulent conditions, while Nader wishes to stay in the country to care for his elderly father. A rapid series of events takes place following the separation, which lead to accusations of violence, theft and murder. What results is a fascinating insight into gender customs and religious devotion in Iranian society. Moreso, it unfolds as a story which explores the global themes of guilt, self-reflection and responsibility in a fascinating environment. The film has garnered unanimous critical acclaim since its original release in 2011, which has been solidified with a plethora of awards. These include Best Film at the Sydney Film Festival, a Golden Berlin Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival, the esteemed Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film at the Golden Globe Awards, and, as of today, the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Critics have praised the film for its fast pace, weaving complexity and bravery for commenting on themes which have been kept hidden to much of the Western world. A Separation is a gripping film that raises more questions that it answers, leaving viewers meddling in thought and contemplation. Thanks to Hopscotch, Concrete Playground has five double passes to give away. To win tickets to see A Separation, just make sure you are subscribed to Concrete Playground then email your name and postal address through to hello@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=B2Sswx_vrWk
It gets us around the country, and the world, much faster than any other form of transport that's in widespread use; however, there's plenty about air travel that's far from fun. No one loves being crammed into the tiny amount of space that comes with each economy seat, for instance, or getting stuck having awkward mid-air conversations with strangers. Thanks to Qantas, skipping both of those frustrations is now possible. The Australian airline has just launched a new 'neighbour-free' option. It sounds like the Australian TV landscape now that a certain beloved soap opera is off the air, but it's actually an in-flight move to give you some extra room. The concept really is as self-explanatory as it sounds — aka you'll take to the air without someone sitting in the neighbouring chair. Before you go dreaming about how you'll use the added space on your next getaway, Qantas is still trialling its neighbour-free offering at present, so it isn't available on all routes or flights. The test is only running domestically, too — so cramped overseas trips still await. Unsurprisingly, you do need to pay for the added space, with prices varying depending on the route. The Australian Frequent Flyer forum advises that the cost starts at around $30 — on top of your existing fare, of course — for short flights. Here's how it works: if you're eligible to go neighbour-free, you'll get an email 48 hours before your departure, inviting you to take up the service. You're then able to make the request up to an hour before your flight, including when you reserve your seat — or by hopping into your online reservation if you've already picked where you want to sit. That's when you'll pay the neighbour-free fee, too, and receive confirmation via email. Obviously, the whole thing is subject to availability — and it also can't be cancelled after you've set it up. If Qantas has to seat someone in your extra spot, however, you'll automatically be refunded the neighbour-free cost. (The airline advises that that might happen "for operational, safety or security reasons, even after boarding the aircraft".) [caption id="attachment_823330" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brent Winstone[/caption] Yes, you could always do this by booking two seats if you really wanted to avoid sitting next to anyone. This new option is much cheaper, though. There's no word yet as to if or when the ability to go neighbour-free might become a standard Qantas offering, or if it'll also be trialled or brought in for international trips. We can think of a few of flights where it'd be particularly handy: the 17-hour direct Perth–London route, and the planned non-stop legs from Australia's east coast to London and New York. For more information about Qantas' new neighbour-free option, head to the airline's website.
Clear your calendar. Check your annual leave balance. Dust off your biggest suitcase. In the space of less than 24 hours, not one but two dream vacation spots have added themselves back to everyone's must-visit lists — and, even better, to our can-visit lists. First came Japan, which'll drop its travel restrictions on individual international tourists in mid-October. Also announcing a big change to its border requirements: Hong Kong. The Special Administrative Region's Chief Executive John Lee advised on Friday, September 23 that it'll ditch compulsory hotel quarantine for incoming travellers from Monday, September 26. Yes, in a matter of days you'll be able to jet over to the popular getaway destination and enter without spending a stint holed up in a hotel first. The quarantine requirement will lift "for inbound persons from overseas places or Taiwan" after "analysing scientific data and striking a balance among factors such as transmission risks", the Hong Kong Government said in a statement. "The Government's goal is to minimise the inconvenience faced by inbound travellers due to quarantine requirements and allow room for Hong Kong to connect with the world as far as possible, while being able to contain the epidemic development." Also changing: testing requirements, with travellers no longer needing to provide a negative PCR test to enter Hong Kong from Monday, September 26, too. Rather, you'll have to show a negative COVID-19 result from a rapid antigen test, which needs to be taken within the 24 hours prior to getting on your flight. There are a few other caveats. A period of "medical surveillance" lasting three days applies, which requires self-monitoring from wherever you're staying in Hong Kong. And, during that period, travellers can't enter bars or restaurants — places considered "high-risk premises involving mask-off or group activities" — but they can use public transport, and shop in supermarkets and markets. You'll also need to undertake daily RATs for a week, and take a PCR test upon arrival — and on days two, four and six of your stay. Currently looking for your passport? Making big summer plans? Plotting out your bucket-list 2023 trip? That's understandable. Hong Kong's compulsory quarantine requirement will lift on Monday, September 26. For further information about travelling to Hong Kong, visit the Hong Kong Government's website.
With a slew of brewers on the beer manufacturing scene, nowadays, those crafting the hoppy delights have to work particularly hard to differentiate their beers and draw drinkers in. But you may not know that, long before craft brewers made seasonal releases hugely popular, Coopers was creating zeitgeist-capturing beers that reflected what beer fans wanted — and the Australian brewery has continued this tradition into 2018 with the release of this year's Coopers Vintage Ale. To celebrate the release of the 2018 vintage — which has, for the first time, been made using the malt from Coopers' own malting facility — we're looking into five current beer trends that brewers around the country, and the world, are embracing. [caption id="attachment_678613" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Flickr.[/caption] AGED BREWS Generally, beer should be consumed as fresh as possible — but there are some notable exceptions that prove wine isn't the only alcoholic beverage worth cellaring. Breaking with tradition, the Coopers Vintage Ale is brewed to be cellared — so, instead of popping it straight in the fridge, you're best to save it for a later date. Alongside this, local breweries have been ageing a number of small-batch brews in barrels. Oak barrels — previously used for chardonnay, shiraz and bourbon — impart subtle flavours of vanilla and light spice which can add new depths of flavour to already outstanding beers. PADDOCK-TO-PINT BREWING Ownership matters, as does knowing where your product has come from. Off the back of the paddock-to-plate movement in the culinary world, brewers and drinkers alike are embracing the paddock-to-pint mentality. Just this year, Coopers brought its malt production in-house — and, as such, the 2018 Vintage Ale will be the first vintage made using Coopers' own malt. Not only does this save Coopers the carbon impact of importing the malt from interstate and overseas, it also makes for a more consistent end brew. SEASONAL RELEASES Seasonal brews are limited release beers designed to be enjoyed at various points throughout the year. They are often based on what ingredients are most readily available at the time of brewing. The general trend among today's brewers is to do a dark ale, stout or porter in winter, and a light session beer for the warmer months. Coopers has been pumping out seasonal releases for 20 years now with its Coopers Vintage Ale. It favours the style of an English strong ale yet varies year-to-year based on the seasonal hops available. This year's offering is the first to use a house malt variety which will likely encourage rich honey, toffee and caramel malts — complemented by seasonal hop varieties that provide a balanced bitterness. Due to its strength, Coopers Vintage Ale is a great beer to age — the flavours develop and change over time, much like a fine wine. SESSIONABLE ALES There's no denying that Aussies like to congregate around a few cold ones, but a recent trend is leaning towards beers designed specifically for a drinking session. These beers are comparatively lower in strength than what many would be used to, often sitting around four percent. There was a time when less alcohol meant compromising on flavour — but, with the correct hopping regime and malt balance, we're seeing refreshing yet complex flavours finding their way into sessionables. The Coopers Session Ale, for example, is a 4.2-percent beer with plenty of fresh citrus notes. COLLABORATIVE BREWING Brewing brings people together — and we're seeing more and more breweries teaming up to create unique beers that reflect a union between the brewers and their idiosyncratic styles. For example, Batch Brewing Company recently recreated Scottish brewing powerhouse BrewDog's iconic Punk IPA for Australian shores. Collaborative brewing efforts are also seen in large-scale brewing companies like Coopers, which brews both New York City's Brooklyn Lager and Carlsberg under licence for Australian distribution. Collab brews are also popular with bars — a venue can create a brew with a brewer which speaks to its brand. SOUR BEERS Sours are the new IPAs — or that's what most beer geeks would have you believe. But sour beers are not exactly new, with recipes dating back to medieval times. Sour or wild ales can be soured with bacteria and yeast strains: lactobacillus gives sharp and acidic flavours, whereas brettanomyces gives tart and funky flavours. Sours are akin to fine wines in the depth and range of flavours they offer, hence they have found resonance with seasoned drinkers who enjoy high-quality beer. The flavour can be a bit intense at first — it's a bit of an acquired taste, but one that's definitely worth acquiring. Well, get with it — get your hands on some of the limited release Coopers Vintage Ale 2018 and try it yourself.
By now, you've probably just about recovered from the wining and dining extravaganza that was Melbourne Food & Wine Festival's 2022 edition, which descended on the city for two weeks in autumn. Handy, because it's almost time to start plotting your moves for round two — aka MFWF's regional edition, which is set to serve up a taste of the rest of the state's finest from Friday, November 18–Sunday, November 27. The 10-day festival will trip all over Victoria with a jam-packed program of feasts, parties and tasting experiences showcasing regional Victoria's top chefs, venues and produce. [caption id="attachment_871089" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Village Feast[/caption] It's kicking off with a bang in the form of the Village Feast — a two-day fiesta lighting up the Gippsland town of Thorpdale. Head along to dine at a campfire degustation by Alejandro Saravia (Farmer's Daughters), catch the Embla crew's takeover of winery restaurant Hogget, tuck into classic pub fare at the historic Travellers Rest Hotel, and sip regional goodies at a slew of bars. Across the weekend, you can also snack your way through an array of food pop-ups from chefs including Danielle Alvarez (Fred's in Sydney) and Tasmania's Analiese Gregory and the Hector's Deli crew; and treat your ears to live sounds from the likes of Mia Wray, Grace Cummings and Dorsal Fins. Other festival highlights will see the much-loved Crawl and Bite tour series head to the High Country, with the progressive tasting adventures set to explore culinary gems across spots like Beechworth, Bright and Rutherglen. [caption id="attachment_871088" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ballarat's Mitchell Harris Wines[/caption] Meanwhile, the state's largest inland city will throw open its doors for the Ballarat Unlocked dining series, featuring a feast in an art gallery, a degustation beneath the Ballarat Mechanics Institute and even a dinner that's set to recreate the 1927 opening of Australia's first Parliament House. And for those that want to really sink their teeth in and make a trip of it, there's the Signature Escapes series — a program of curated itineraries offering one-of-a-kind culinary adventures through places like Coldstream, Beechworth and Merricks North. [caption id="attachment_871086" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Lake House, Daylesford[/caption] You could lock in a weekend of wine and fine dining at Dunkeld's Royal Mail Hotel, complete with kitchen garden tours, hiking, cocktails and local cheese; or perhaps a visit to Daylesford's Lake House and its new sibling Dairy Flat Farm, hopping between tours, feasts and aperitivo hour with the legendary Alla Wolf-Tasker. [caption id="attachment_871087" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gippsland produce[/caption] Melbourne Food & Wine Festival's 2022 regional program runs from November 18–27, in locations across the state. Pre-sale tickets are available online from 10am on September 27, with general tickets on sale from 10am on September 30. Top Image: The Royal Mail Hotel, Dunkeld.
Popping bubble wrap is one of those things which will never grow old. Regardless of who you are, where you are from, and what you do, bubble popping is a universally accepted means of entertainment. For all poppaholics, behold the Bubble Calendar — a poster-sized calendar with a bubble to pop every day. This 122cm x 26cm monolith of a calendar is sure to make up for any dull day of the year. Whether it's returning from a vacation or retreating back to your cave from a tough day at work, Bubble Calendar is sure to provide you with at least one thing to look forward to in the day. [Via Lost At E Minor]
In Stay of the Week, we explore some of the world's best and most unique accommodations — giving you a little inspiration for your text trip. In this instalment, we take you to The Hotel Britomart, where you'll find modern eco-friendly accommodation set on Auckland's city harbour. If you're due for a VIP escape to this sensational hotel, you're in luck. Right now there's an ultra exclusive Auckland getaway, curated by our editors, that you can snap up on Concrete Playground Trips. But we only have 20 packages (for two travellers) so when we say 'ultra exclusive' we really mean it. WHAT'S SO SPECIAL? This is where luxury design and amenities are perfectly paired with sustainable practices (it is New Zealand's only 5-Green Star hotel). THE ROOMS Each of the 99 rooms is designed for tranquil escapism. Think of Hotel Britomart like a city retreat, lined in natural and sustainably sourced timber. Guest rooms all come with in-built sofas, hand-made ceramics and minibars full of locally sourced treats. Attention to detail is on point. But that's just your entry level experience of Hotel Britomart. You've then got the hyper luxe suites, each with their own unique selling point. The Poraenui Suite is one of their very best, giving a whole new meaning to rooftop living. This 74-sqm living space occupies a glassy pavilion tucked discreetly onto the rooftop of the heritage Buckland Building (blending heritage with modernity). Up here, both the living room and bedroom open onto a private 28-sqm terrace with views across neighbouring heritage rooftops to the city and Takutai Square. Pick a book from their mini library, order up some local New Zealand wine, and you have just found your new happy place. You won't regret staying up here. FOOD AND DRINK The in-house restaurant, kingi, is also a must-see. It is set within the heritage Masonic House, and showcases sustainably caught seafood paired with unique wines. Chef Tom Hishon has devised an evolving menu that's perfect for this all-day food-consuming haven (you'll usually find a mix of guests staying at the hotel as well as local foodies). Expect dishes like octopus carpaccio and pan-roasted snapper, alongside stories about the talented fishermen and women who sustainably caught the produce on your plate. It's all traceable and tasty. THE LOCAL AREA The Britomart area is located in central Auckland, right along the harbour. It's a 24-hour hub of culture, food and shopping. Boutique stores championing local designers are scattered all over. Restaurants, bars and pop-up food stalls keep the local workers and the tourists equally happy. And you can easily get all around Auckland from here. THE EXTRAS You can rest peacefully knowing you are staying in one of the most sustainable hotels in New Zealand — it is New Zealand's only 5-Green Star hotel. You can even make your stay eco-friendlier by booking a Green Package. For every day you're there, these guys plant a native tree at sister property The Landing, located in the Bay of Islands. Guests even have the option to fly there via helicopter, for an even longer and more luxurious getaway. And lastly, to add to its green credentials, Hotel Britomart rents out its own bikes so that guests can get around town without having to call cabs or use public transport. You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
The Japanese have a particular skill when it comes to making useful objects much more compact and convenient. It seems that such skills have extended well into the realm of eyewear, as Menicon Co. has recently revealed with Magic, the world's thinnest contact lens pack. At just '12.5% of the thickness and just 40% of the volume of a conventional pack used to store contact lenses', Magic is thin enough to slide inside your wallet. With such minuscule size, these daily lenses will be much easier to carry around when you're travelling light. The packs have been patterned by designer Yoshihiro Yagi, with a simple black and white print that mimics the daily movements of the sun. Furthermore, the contact lenses contain 2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate-Glycerol Methacrylate, which apparently allows for 'superior water retention'. These are set for nationwide distribution in Japan from April 2012. Watch the video below for a real glance at the dynamics of this product. [via PSFK]
Everyone likes going to movies, but let's face it: when it comes to in-theatre dining, your options are fairly limited. Sure, an extra large choc-top combo is fine if you don't mind day-old popcorn and taking a hacksaw to your savings account, but where's the variety? For that matter, where's the flavour? Well, this Wednesday at least, it's at the Village Cinema Drive-In out in Coburg. The first of what looks set to become a monthly tradition, the Coburg Drive-In Food Truck Festival will bring together some of the finest motorised meal vendors Melbourne has to offer, from Mr Burger and his Argentinian cousin Senor BBQ to Nem N' Nem Vietnamese and many more. After dinner, pick between one of three new releases: Sex Tape, Hercules and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Okay, fine, so they're not exactly classics, but we can recommend at least one of them. And at the very least, you're guaranteed to have eaten well.
When Sydney's new International Convention Centre opened its doors at Darling Harbour at the end of 2016, it was just one part of the area's ongoing revamp. Welcoming patrons from October 6, Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour is another — a lush 590-room hotel that marks the city's first new internationally branded luxury accommodation since the 2000 Olympics. While most hotels like to think they're offering creature comforts that you won't find at home, SSDH isn't inflating its luxe claims. As designed by award-winning Sydney architect Richard Francis-Jones, and costing a cool $500 million, the 35-storey building features floor-to-ceiling views of the city and Darling Harbour, a French-inspired rotisserie and grill, a dedicated Champagne bar and a decadent pool drinking and hangout space. Those staying the night can pick between standard rooms or 35 suites, with the latter coming complete with in-bathroom TVs, soaking tubs, private check-in and their own sky-high guest lounge. Meanwhile, anyone just looking for a beverage or meal can pick from the site's signature restaurant and three bars, as well as between the likes of deconstructed bouillabaisse, cocktails in the lobby or by the 20-metre infinity pool, and over 20 types of champers. A 450-person ballroom, 6000 external LEDs that will be used for eye-catching light displays, and other design touches that nod to the indigenous clans of the Eora nation who lived in the area — think sail-like triangular accents, and colours of red ochre and blue — are also part of SSDH's package, as is a link with Marseilles. French-theming is part of Sofitel's general approach worldwide, so they've picked the southern port city as this hotel's inspiration. As well as the look and feel, that means patrons can expect Sofitel Wine Days, aka a month of celebrating French wine and living. Find Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour at 12 Darling Drive, Sydney. Head to the hotel's website for further details.
'Tis the season for many things — although at one particular pop-up Christmas market, the festivities are entirely, deliciously gin-related. The Craft & Co's returning Gin Market is a one-stop present shop with a very distinct flavour. Taking place at The Craft & Co in Collingwood across the first weekend of December — from Friday, December 1–Sunday, December 3 — this market will showcase a careful curation of delights from an array of Aussie gin distilleries. As it's a sitdown event, they'll be going from table to table, speed-dating style, so you can hear all about the passion for their products. [caption id="attachment_876364" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rebekah Halls[/caption] Taking part: Boatrocker, Imbue Distillery, Noble Bootleggers and Bibendum, as well as Tiny Bear, Artillery and obviously The Craft & Co. Exclusive specials are promised, so if you're a real ginthusast, you'll want to stock up on presents — and, you know, a few treats for yourself. Tickets cost $35–40 depending on the session — each running for two-and-a-half hours, at 7pm on the Friday; 11am, 2pm and 5pm on the Saturday; and 11am and 2pm on the Sunday — and there'll be nine stalls on offer. And yes, tastings are included in the price, as is a The Craft & Co showbag. You do need to book in advance, too, as walk-ins won't be accepted. Images: Rebekah Halls.
War on Waste, the ABC documentary series presented by The Chaser's Craig Reucassel, brought some shocking statistics into lounge rooms all over the country earlier this year. 1.6-million viewers discovered that Aussies use more than ten million plastic bags per day and chuck out 3.3 million tonnes of food waste per year. The good news is that the show seems to have triggered some action. In mid-July, Woolworths and Coles announced that, over the next twelve months, they'll be phasing out plastic bags. And, a few days ago, the City of Sydney pledged funding for the Responsible Cafes campaign, which is helping local cafes to get rid of disposable cups. Meanwhile, the City of Melbourne is running a project that transforms cigarette butts into plastic products. Every week, the council collects more than 200,000 butts from 367 dedicated bins across Melbourne. "[It's] litter that may otherwise end up being washed down drains and into the Yarra River," said Lord Mayor Robert Doyle AC. Unfortunately, cigarette butts are not biodegradable and take ages to break down. So, in collaboration with Enviropoles (who does the collecting) and TerraCycle (who does the recycling), the City is ensuring the butts are turned into usable items, including plastic furniture and shipping pallets. Funding comes from the Victorian Government, via the Litter Hotspots program. "[So far], we have collected 1.2-million butts from around Melbourne's universities and hospitals and busy CBD locations that can be repurposed," Lord Mayor Doyle said. To draw attention to the project, there's a Perspex box filled with cigarette butts in Queensbridge Square, on the banks of the Yarra. The initiative follows the lead of Vancouver, Canada, and New Orleans in the US. "Cities around the world are looking for new ways to reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfill," said Councillor Cathy Oke, Chair of the City of Melbourne's Environment portfolio. Photo via City of Melbourne.
If you're feeling a little more adventurous this New Years Eve, hop over the Tasman to New Zealand for the Rhythm and Vines festival. Stretching over the last three days of December, Rhythm and Vines helps you welcome the new year with one of the biggest line-ups to grace the festival circuit in 2011, as well as Concrete Playground's own Pool Party. This instalment is headlined by Australia's biggest drum and bass export, Pendulum, whilst Calvin Harris brings his incredibly infectious sound to eager audiences. For the old-school demographic, DJ Grandmaster Flash will provide a great history lesson in hip-hop with his set. Don't miss out on an opportunity to see this undisputed legend working in an element that he was primarily responsible for. More bass will be provided by Skream and Benga, two dubstep pioneers who have developed a distinct, global sound from their modest beginnings in English warehouses. Other festival favourites such as Erick Morillo, Tiga and Architecture in Helsinki will also be in attendance. Accomodation ranges from rental houses to motel rooms to camping spots, so there's plenty of options to help mould your perfect festival bender experience. Courtesy of our friends at Stolen Rum, Concrete Playground has a double-pass three-day Club Stolen VIP Package up for grabs. What does the VIP Package offer? It will include an exclusive area with an uninterrupted view of the main stage, treated to delicious Stolen Rum cocktails throughout the night. Importantly, you'll also get access to toilets with actual flushes, and anybody who has been to a festival will know that this is truly a Godsend. To win this double VIP pass to Rhythm and Vines, make sure you are subscribed to Concrete Playground then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au (for Australia) or auckland@concreteplayground.co.nz (for New Zealand) by 5pm on Thursday 15 December, 2011. The winner will be notified by email soon after, and will be responsible for own transport and accommodation arrangements.
First Melbourne hosted Heston Blumenthal's Fat Duck, then Sydney got the upper hand by coaxing Rene Redzepi to bring his world-renowned restaurant Noma to Barangaroo for a few months. Now Melbourne has one-upped Australia's biggest city to take back the culinary crown, nabbing the rights to host next year's World's 50 Best Restaurants awards. The announcement was made by the World's 50 Best Restaurants group editor William Drew ahead the 2016 awards, which are being held in New York tomorrow night. It's a pretty big deal for little ol' Melbourne (and Tourism Australia) as it's only the second time the awards will be held outside of London. "After hosting 14 successful editions of The World's 50 Best Restaurants awards in London, we feel the time is right to make the event truly global," said Drew in a press release. "2017 in Australia will be the second time we have held the awards outside of London, following New York this year. There's so much international interest in Australia as a food destination, it's exciting for us to have the opportunity to take the events program to this unique country." Well, shucks. If you're not familiar with the awards, they're the ranking that everyone uses when talking about the best restaurants in the world. Last year Spain's El Celler de Can Roca was awarded the number one spot, while Noma has been a former list-topper multiple times. 2015 gave special mention to Melbourne's Attica and Brae, as well as Sydney's Quay and Sepia, which probably has a lot to do with why they've decided to come Down Under in 2017.
Despite what its name suggests, St Kilda's Matcha Mylkbar isn't just obsessed with green tea powder. The eatery is fiercely plant-based across all of its offerings — and its middle finger-shaped neon logo pointing towards the McDonald's across the street is proof. Now that a KFC branch has opened next door, the venue is taking its anti-fast food chain stance to the next level by rolling out vegan fried chicken — and it's hoping to be just as convincing as Matcha Mylkbar's famed oozy vegan poached eggs. The 'chicken' is made from organic green jackfruit that's been steeped in a smoky broth, coconut oil and kombu dashi. It's then coated in a not-so-secret ten herb and spice mix —panko, chipotle, cayenne pepper, black pepper, native Australian pepper berries, cumin, lemon zest, crushed garlic, onion and pink salt — and deep fried till golden. https://www.instagram.com/p/BytamA-HvJW/ To celebrate the new feed, the venue is opening for dinner for one night a week, launching Fried Chicken Fridays for a limited time from July 12. The "hipster family feasts" (their words) feature mac 'n' cheese waffles topped with popcorn 'chicken', along with $9 espresso martinis — and that's just the start. Match Mylkbar will also be giving out prizes to those who find a golden nugget hidden in their serve of vegan fried chicken throughout July, August and September. Over-the-top prizes include 52 breakfast vouchers for two, a six-month supply of sweet potato fries and, for one lucky winner, a trip to Japan. Find Matcha Mylkbar at 72A Acland Street, St Kilda. Fried Chicken Fridays will run for a limited time from Friday, July 12. Bookings start at 6.3opm and can be made by emailing eat@matchamylkbar.com.
When the UNESCO's World Heritage Committee sends some attention Australia's way, it often comes bearing good news. Back in 2019, it added the stunning Budj Bim Cultural Landscape to the World Heritage List, for instance. The body has also given Kakadu National Park, K'gari, the Tasmanian wilderness, the Greater Blue Mountains area, the Sydney Opera House, and the Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens the same status, too — and, among 20 Aussie places that've earned a spot on the list, the Great Barrier Reef as well. At the moment, the organisation has turned its focus to the Great Barrier Reef again. This time, though, it's doing something other than highlighting its splendours. In a new report by the offshoot of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, the WHC has recommended that the coral reef system off the coast of Queensland should be added to the list of world heritage sites that are in danger. Explaining its rationale, the WHC said that "the long-term outlook for the ecosystem of the property has further deteriorated from poor to very poor" since 2015, and that it has "suffered significantly from coral bleaching events in 2016, 2017 and most recently in 2020, as a result of global warming." It noted that in the past five years, "both the current condition and the long-term outlook for the property have deteriorated. Therefore, there is no possible doubt that the property is facing ascertained danger." The Australian and Queensland governments have a Great Barrier Reef policy — the Reef 2050 Plan — which outlines how they're working to protect and manage the reef until the middle of this century. But the WHC noted that so far "progress has been insufficient in meeting key targets." It also stated that the plan "requires stronger and clearer commitments, in particular towards urgently countering the effects of climate change, but also towards accelerating water quality improvement and land management measures. The widespread effects of the consecutive coral bleaching events further add to the significant concerns regarding the future of the property." [caption id="attachment_796501" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] The Guardian reports that if the recommendation to place the Great Barrier Reef on the in danger list goes ahead, Australia will be a pioneer in all the wrong ways — because it'll mark the first time that a natural world heritage site has been classed as "in danger" primarily due to climate change. UNESCO has asked Australia to work with the WHC to "address the threat posed to the property by climate change and determine a pathway for accelerated actions in other areas affecting the conservation of the property"; however, Federal Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley has said that the country will challenge the draft reef recommendation. "I agree that global climate change is the single biggest threat to the world's reefs but it is wrong, in our view, to single out the best managed reef in the world for an 'in danger' listing," the Minister said in a statement. To read the full UNESCO World Heritage Committee report head to the UNESCO website.
The year: 1943. The place: America. The sport: baseball. Misty faces: apparently not allowed. Yes, there's no crying in baseball, again — and yes, after proving a hit on the big screen back in 1992, A League of Their Own is back as an eight-part streaming remake with those firm thoughts about waterworks still intact. That said, in both versions, there definitely are tears in the sport. Someone proclaims there shouldn't be, although Tom Hanks doesn't do the honours the time around. And, when it arrives in Prime Video's series, which is streaming its first season in full from Friday, August 12, that line isn't code for the entire perspective that A League of Their Own is rallying against: that the bat-swinging pastime isn't for women anyway. The new A League of Their Own's characters are still forced to deal with that abhorrent view, however. The same storyline, and the same societal journey — starting with horrified newspaper editorials about the masculinisation of women, then building to excited crowds embracing the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League — slides through the show's frames, too. Indeed, much is familiar, including a small-town star catcher chasing her lifelong dream while her husband serves in the Second World War, a ragtag group of other women living their fantasies as well, a world that sees them as a joke and a male manager who used to be a major star but is only in this gig to restart his own career. But Broad City's Abbi Jacobson, who leads, co-writes and co-created this A League of Their Own, helps ensure that the series broadens its playing field. Bringing the show to fruition with Mozart in the Jungle's Will Graham, she anchors a do-over that covers a far wider range of bases. In the original Geena Davis, Lori Petty, Madonna and Rosie O'Donnell-starring film — which did initially spark a short-lived TV spinoff in 1993, continuing the movie's story but without its best-known stars — a pivotal moment happens early. Alas, it lasts mere seconds and doesn't go anywhere. At the Chicago AAGPBL tryouts, a Black woman (DeLisa Chinn-Tyler) tosses back an overthrown ball, and it's clear that she isn't permitted to be a part of this realm. A League of Their Own circa 2022 takes this idea and keeps lobbing it, dedicating half of its time to Max Chapman (Chanté Adams, Voyagers). While an immensely talented pitcher, she isn't allowed to audition, let alone play, due to her race. Back home in Rockford, she can't get a game either because she's a woman, even when she takes a job at the town screw factory in the hopes of joining the company team. Max's attempts to even get on the mound, a quest that's supported by her comic book-loving best friend Clance Morgan (Gbemisola Ikumelo, The Power) but frowned upon by her salon-owning mother Toni (Saidah Arrika Ekulona, Better Call Saul), are as much a focus as the Rockford Peaches' on- and off-field exploits. That's the team that the anxious Carson Shaw (Jacobson) is recruited to alongside lifelong pals Greta Gill (D'Arcy Carden, The Good Place) and Jo De Luca (Melanie Field, The Alienist) — plus everyone from non-nonsense pitcher Lupe Garcia (Roberta Colindrez, Vida) and the similarly dedicated Jess McCready (Kelly McCormack, George & Tammy) through to fellow teammates Esti González (Priscilla Delgado, Julieta), Maybelle Fox (Molly Ephraim, Perry Mason) and Shirley Cohen (Kate Berlant, Search Party). Just as in the OG movie, the Peaches' path to baseball success is bumpy. A chaperone (Dale Dickey, Palm Springs) oversees their every move, enforcing rules about drinking, dating and not wearing pants in public — and manager Dove Porter (Nick Offerman, The Resort) mightn't be the drunk that the film's equivalent was, but he also doesn't take the team seriously. Deportment lessons and makeovers are more important to the higher-ups than gameplay, and the whole league just a way for a candy bar mogul (Kevin Dunn, King Richard) to sell tickets to his baseball field while male baseballers are off at war. That's A League of Their Own's overall framework, which tweaks specific character beats but sticks to the same general match plan as its predecessor. Fleshing out the details couldn't be more important, thankfully, including exploring the reality of being a queer woman in the era. Again, that's a glaring omission in the 1992 feature — a beloved sports comedy by director Penny Marshall (Big) that's warm, spirited and charming, yet only nods to queer players via subtext. The new series is determined to redress that gap, exploring same-sex relationships across both Carson and Max's halves of the show, and painting a clear portrait of how fraught life was at the time if you were anything other than a straight, white, married and stereotypically feminine homemaker. Being more inclusive and honest can't lift a remake all on its own; however, it gives this batch of A League of Their Own characters more depth and emotional resonance. In all of its guises, this has always been a story about finding and owning your own park, and surveying the wide array of obstacles in these women's ways — not just sexism, but racism and homophobia as well — is crucial in providing the full picture. Making A League of Their Own today but keeping 1990s or 1940s sensibilities would've been pointless, of course. In what proves a worthy extra innings, there's never any doubt that the new series is firmly a 2022 creation, as echos through in its dialogue. Rather than feeling anachronistic, even in big speeches that encourage the team to make things epic, it helps build the sense that Carson, Max, their respective pals and their individual plights weren't ever allowed to fit in neatly at the time. It also befits a show that reconsiders as much as it remakes its source material, and that has more than a little in common with another unrelated streaming effort about women finding themselves while navigating a traditionally male-dominated sport: the cancelled-too-soon wrestling-focused Netflix gem GLOW. A League of Their Own's gorgeous ladies of baseball span an impressive cast — so much so that the series deserves a second season to bring them all back. Jacobson's first starring role after Broad City isn't a stretch, but her brand of awkwardness and uncertainty also wasn't a twenty-first century invention, something else this show implicitly acknowledges. A separate program could've been made around Adams and the scene-stealing Ikumelo, even without the A League of Their Own brand attached. And Carden continues to improve everything she's in, including when it's already excellent (see also: The Good Place, naturally, and also Barry and her one-episode part in Killing It). Colindrez, McCormack, Dickey, Berlant: they hit it out of the park, too. Being glad that A League of Their Own has a heartfelt show of its own with them in it, and roving fresh eyes over the past, is as easy as cheering for a home run. Check out the trailer for A League of Their Own below: A League of Their Own streams via Prime Video from Friday, August 12.
Port Melbourne has scored itself a taste of the 1950s jazz scene, with sophisticated cocktail lounge Clooney Kitchen & Bar opening its doors on Bay Street this week. Named not for the actor, but for his famous jazz musician aunt Rosemary, it's a little dose of old-world Hollywood glamour down under. Heading up the bar are Shannon McFarland (The Rochester, Woodland House) and Will Crennan (Gin Palace, Collins Quarter), who have pulled together a collection of artisanal spirits, inventive signature cocktails, craft beers from across Italy and Australia, and a tidy, yet well-travelled lineup of wine. Dialling up the luxury will be lesser known Italian liqueurs, Scotch tasting trays and George Clooney's own Casamigos tequila. Meanwhile, McFarland's house-made liqueurs — and the bar's opulent crystal goblets — will add a unique edge to your drinking sessions. To match, Head Chef Leigh Stanicic (Melbourne Wine Room, The Fat Duck) has designed a menu of bar snacks and small bites drawing inspiration from across Europe and Asia, featuring dishes such as Peking duck terrine with duck skin crackling, barbecue pig jowl and Davidson plum salmon crudo. You can go a la carte — and choose your own adventure — or settle in for the four-course food and cocktail degustation, a collaboration between McFarland and Stanicic. The space itself is dressed to impress, designed by Darren Kerf of Kerf Designs, with swanky plum velvet booths, art deco features and bold wallpapers full of 1950s elegance. To round out the experience, the team is matching that vintage sophistication with an old-school sense of hospitality, serving drinks carefully customised to guests' palates, and respecting the classics, while also embracing the new and innovative. And the music will, fittingly, feature plenty of old-school jazz. Find Clooney Kitchen & Bar at 171 Bay Street, Port Melbourne. It's open from Tuesday–Wednesday, 4pm–midnight and Thursday–Saturday, 4pm–1am. Images: Kevin Li.
It might not feel like it somedays in Melbourne, but winter is done and dusted for another year. With that in mind, Victoria's High Country is celebrating spring with the first-ever Festival of Short Walks. Visitors are invited to spend a week exploring the area on foot, with a bunch of walking tours taking place in and around the quaint towns of Beechworth, Chiltern, Yackandandah and Rutherglen. The festival's program is stacked with more than 30 guided tours and 40 self-guided walks, each one mapped out, timed and graded on how hard it is, so you know what you're committing to from the get-go. Don't stress if you're not super fit as the walks cater to everyone from adventurous explorers to nature lovers just wanting to escape the city — even those of us who only go for walks if there's food at the end of it. Some of the guided tours will cost you a small fee (it's $26 for Disco Dee's silent disco walking tour of Beechworth — worth it), but there are plenty that won't cost you a penny, leaving more coin to put towards cute accommodation for the weekend or dinner at Bridge Road Brewers. If you're keen to make the most of being in some of Victoria's best wine country — and don't mind spending a few more dollars — there are a couple of ticketed foodie events. Wine producers from Lake Moodemere Estate will be taking punters on a walking tour through their vineyards before serving up a three-course meal with matched wines ($175), while the 1500 Pound Party will set you back $100 for a hidden shindig with drinks, nibbles and tunes — a reward for the rocky trail hike it will take you to get there. All the info you need, including tour sign-ups, tickets, maps and tips for where to stay and eat while you're in town, can be found here.
New year, new plans to eat healthier. Yes, we all know how resolutions go. And if you're kicking things off by ditching meat — altogether, or just by trying to work more plant-based options into your meals — but you don't want to cook each and every dish that you tuck into, Deliveroo has announced a handy special to start 2022. Until Monday, January 31, the delivery service is offering Australians free delivery from more than 1500 local restaurants, but only if you're ordering plant-based fare. Looking for an excuse to munch on a fried cauliflower burger from Mary's, one of Zeus Street Greek's pitas with plant-based lamb, Katsu King's vegan katsu curries or a classic vegan burg from Betty's Burgers? We've just found it. Other eateries involved include Huxtaburger, MadMex, Fishbowl, Grease Monkey and Grill'd, plus Oriental Teahouse, Royal Stacks, Grassfed, I Love Pizza and Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers. Obviously, the list goes on. Odds are that if you can think of a dish that doesn't include meat, it's part of the deal somewhere around the country. Of course, whichever plant-based dish you choose, you'll still need to pay for whatever you'd like to eat; however, you won't have to fork out more on top to get it brought to your door. Deliveroo is calling the special 'veganuary' — and, as you usually do, you'll need to place your order via the Deliveroo app. Deliveroo's free delivery on plant-based dishes on offer until Monday, January 31 Australia-wide via the Deliveroo app.
In one of the standout movies of 2014 — in 2015 Down Under, based on when it hit cinemas locally beyond film festivals — an escapable supernatural force just kept coming. Once it had you in its sights, this presence wasn't just creepy and unsettling; it was single-minded and unrelenting. The flick: It Follows. The ominous evil: the eponymous 'it', which latched onto the sexually active, passing from person to person when they slipped between the sheets. A decade later, it's about to have company in sequel They Follow. US distributor and studio Neon has announced that It Follows is scoring a follow-up, and that two key figures are returning as well: filmmaker David Robert Mitchell and star Maika Monroe. As The Hollywood Reporter and Variety report, the pair are reteaming for a second stint of sex bringing about death thanks to one helluva cursed chain of events. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NEON (@neonrated) In the first movie, The Guest and The Bling Ring's Monroe played 19-year-old Jay Height, who got intimate with her boyfriend, found herself saddled with more than morning-after regret, then enlisted her sister, friends and neighbours to try to fight back. While Monroe will reprise her role, nothing has been revealed regarding They Follow's storyline, or anything else but Mitchell's involvement, apart from the tagline: "it's everywhere". Exactly when you'll be watching They Follow hasn't been announced, either, other than that it's coming soon. Fingers crossed that Disasterpiece (Bodies Bodies Bodies, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On) will be back on score duties, after doing such a fantastic job on the first film. After It Follows, which debuted at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival, Monroe's career has taken her to The 5th Wave, Independence Day: Resurgence, Greta and Honey Boy — and the episodic The Stranger as well. Writer/director Mitchell made his second movie with It Follows, with 2010's The Myth of the American Sleepover already on his resume first, then helmed 2018's also-excellent Under the Silver Lake. There's no trailer yet for They Follow, obviously, but you can check out the trailer for It Follows below: They Follow doesn't yet have a release date, but we'll update you when it does. Via The Hollywood Reporter / Variety.
Move aside turmeric, matcha and beetroot — the next controversial coffee trend to look out for involves an unassuming little veggie called broccoli. Yep, the green stuff could soon star on coffee menus across the country, thanks to an innovative broccoli powder created by teams at Hort Innovation and the CSIRO. The product is crafted from those imperfect-looking vegetables that would otherwise be binned, and is designed to help everyday Aussies infuse more nutrients into their diets. Packed full of fibre, protein and phytochemicals, the 100 percent broccoli powder also sounds like a pretty nifty way to sneak some greens onto your kids plates. As well as being used as a key ingredient for a range of packaged snacks unveiled during last year's National Science Week, the powder also looks set to elbow its way onto the Australian coffee scene. It was recently trialled at Mornington's Commonfolk — a sustainability focused coffee roaster and cafe that's aiming towards a zero-waste existence — though, with mixed response from customers. Image credit: CSIRO
It's time to hit the galleries, as The National has returned. Having launched in 2017, the massive biennial showcase of contemporary Australian art exhibition is again happening across Carriageworks, the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia and the Art Gallery of NSW. This year, the program features works from 65 emerging, mid-career and established artists in three incredibly thought-provoking and impressive exhibitions. The showcase brings together artists from all over the country, with fresh perspectives on Australia that span culture, gender and place. Expect installations, performances, sculptures, videos, paintings and drawings that examine what it means to be Australian. Here are ten highlights that you can't miss. [caption id="attachment_714608" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Zan Wimberley.[/caption] GHOST LINE BY TOM MÙLLER, CARRIAGEWORKS When you're checking out the exhibition at Carriageworks, be sure to stand outside at 11am and 4pm, when Ghost Line is activated. The installation transports viewers back in time to the days when Carriageworks was the Eveleigh Railway Workshops. The entire laneway is flooded with smoke, to the point where your view of your surroundings is completely obscured. Suddenly, it really seems as if a steam train is about to pull in, making a grand return to the old tracks that still line the path. It's a surprisingly simple yet disorienting experience, making this site-specific performance a must-see. Ghost Line is activated at 11am and 4pm every day. [caption id="attachment_714595" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Zan Wimberley.[/caption] (DIS)ORDER BY EUGENIA RASKOPOULOS, CARRIAGEWORKS Eugenia Raskopoulos' (dis)order takes on many layers. Part projected performance and part installation, the artwork instantly draws the viewer into the scene. On a life-like projection, Raskopoulos hovers over a tower of domestic appliances, then throws them one at a time onto (what seems like) a growing pile of broken junk. Of course, this pile is not growing, but, you cannot help but cringe with each perfectly timed crash. On the wall opposite, a neon sign blinks between 'order' and 'disorder', showing the thin line between those two states. The overall effect is an immersive, timely and defiant feminist performance that will keep you watching for far too long. [caption id="attachment_714751" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Zan Wimberley.[/caption] SONG FOR VON GUÉRARD BY MARK SHORTER, CARRIAGEWORKS Hidden at the back down several pitch black corridors, Song For von Guérard is easy to miss — and, depending on how easily you're disturbed, you may wish you had. Mark Shorter's piece is inspired by the 1863 Australian landscape painting by Austrian painter Eugene von Guérard titled North-east view from the northern top of Mount Kosciusko. It's a comment on how modern Australian identity has been defined by exaggerated European ideas of our country. Traverse the cave-like rooms and you'll stumble into a dimly illuminated space where a replica of the painting spans an entire wall. But watch out, on performance days those dark chambers will be haunted by Shorter's time-travelling persona called Schleimgurgeln — he takes the disturbing form of a naked man covered in feathers with boiled eggs for eyes. The character will hold a lit match over the piece, physically destroying the colonial European gaze of Guérard's painting. It's strange, it's creepy and it challenges old notions of Australian identity. Performance times are noon–6pm on March 31; April 6, 20, 27; May 4, 18, 25; and June 1, 15, 22. [caption id="attachment_714637" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Photo by Jacquie Manning. Image courtesy of the artist and Mimili Maku Arts.[/caption] KAMANTAKU TJUKURPA WIYA BY KUNMANARA (MUMU MIKE) WILLIAMS, MCA Kamantaku Tjukurpa wiya is the last in a three-year series of paintings, all created on repurposed canvas mailbags. While this is the artist's largest work, its message is bigger still. A comment on the conflict between Commonwealth and Anangu law, the painting is an urgent demand for recognition of the enduring culture, languages, power and humanity of Tjukurpa — the religion, law and moral systems of the Anangu people. It's a politically charged work, centring on an outline of Australia that isn't restricted by state or territory. The words written in Pitjantjatjara need no translation — instead, these words call for respect of the language and for the true owners of the land. [caption id="attachment_714636" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Photo Jacquie Manning. Image courtesy of the artist and the MCA.[/caption] THE AUSTRALIAN UGLINESS BY EUGENIA LIM, MCA Remove your shoes and enter the domed 'fishbowl', in which a lineup of yellow bean bags imitate a mini-cinema. Lim's three-channel video installation The Australian Ugliness is a reinterpretation of Neptune's Fishbowl restaurant in South Yarra, designed by architect Robin Boyd. The film moves through 30 architectural sites in Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and regional locations — these include the Sydney Opera House, the Sirius Building, the Melbourne Recital Centre and the Australian Islamic Centre. Apart from the buildings, the film's central figure is the gold-suited 'ambassador' of Lim's previous works Yellow Peril (2015) and The People's Currency (2017). In her work, Lim uses architecture to convey messages on gentrification and a loss of heritage, posing the question "who holds the right to design our spaces?" Her film calls on viewers to questions what architecture says about our culture and to learn to embody the spaces we inhabit. [caption id="attachment_714583" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Photo by Jacquie Manning. Image courtesy of the artist and the MCA.[/caption] FORT THUNDER BY LUCAS ABELA, MCA Fort Thunder: An Electro-Acoustic Playground is just what it sounds like. Artist Lucas Abela encourages participants to interact and quite literally play in his installation, which is a synthesiser that generates electronic noises as you touch it. These impromptu performances follow the artist's mantra that experiential music is meant to be played more than it is observed. The 'instrument' is best played with three points of contact, but is otherwise dependent on participants' creativity. Don't expect a trance-style sound to be emitted, either — it's more akin to an amplified rock 'n' roll guitar riff. This one is a loud and intense experience, but it's also a whole lot of fun. [caption id="attachment_712623" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Daniel Boud[/caption] LICK LICK BLINK BY WILLOH S. WEILAND, MCA Willoh S. Weiland's striking new work combines film, performance and breast-shaped gelato. Lick Lick Blink is a ten-minute cinema experience, that only one person can view at a time. The work is inspired by the #MeToo movement and examines how female images are consumed in film. Expect the screen to be solely occupied by women — a rarity in mainstream cinema. And, to take this experience to a more immersive level, Gelato Messina has created a range of breast-shaped, nipple-topped, milk-flavoured ice cream cones for participants to eat while figuratively devouring the female images on screen. The chocolate coating comes in a variety of shades, which is a reflection of the female diversity that is all too often absent in film. It's truly a trip to the movies like no other — make sure to check the performance schedule so you don't miss out on this one. Lick Lick Blink screenings are free, but booking is required in-person on the day at the MCA information desk (level one). For the full performance schedule, head online. [caption id="attachment_714586" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Photo by Jacquie Manning. Image courtesy of the artists and the MCA.[/caption] HEALA BY HANNAH BRONTË, MCA Hannah Brontë's powerful audio video installation Heala combines hip-hop with themes of trauma, Country and the womb. Brontë describes the installation as "swimming in one's grief, right down to the depths of it...[and] washing off our own trauma stories". The orange drapes are meant to replicate the light and feeling of being back in the womb, while a music video of sorts is projected in the centre. The work speaks to female trauma and empowerment within the First Nations communities and beyond. Her work examines traditions of First Nations women to tell a rhythmic story of what overcoming trauma can look like, and is a powerful reminder of female strength and resilience in the face of pain and loss. [caption id="attachment_714613" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Robert Andrew, Transitional text — Buru (2016).[/caption] A CONNECTIVE REVEAL BY ROBERT ANDREW, AGNSW This transient work changes throughout the exhibition's four months. The two soil pillars of A Connective Reveal each have a string attached, which is gradually pulling the pillars to pieces. As each layer is revealed, more and more soil falls to the ground around the work. The pillars speak to the ever-changing nature of First Nations cultures and identities, and challenge the assumptions that this culture is 'bound to the past'. Like the artwork, the First Nations past, present and future is in a constant state of motion. At the same time, the wall across from these pillars holds another artwork that gradually reveals the 'bleeding' Gadigal word buduwa — a term which refers to 'warming one's hands by the fire and then gently squeezing the fingers of another person'. The word marks a cultural refusal to be marginalised, stereotyped or ignored. As this piece develops slowly over time, it's best to view it several times throughout the exhibition months. The image above is of one of Andrew's previous works. [caption id="attachment_714770" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Photo by Mim Stirling. Image courtesy of the artist.[/caption] IRHAL (EXPEL), HOPE AND THE SORROW OF DISPLACEMENT BY RUSHDI ANWAR, AGNSW Rushdi Anwar's striking work speaks directly to his experience as a Kurdish refugee, having fled his hometown after a chemical massacre in 1988. Burnt chairs are piled unstably high, giving the sense that they could topple at any moment. The wreckage is a tribute to the ruin of displacement and a home denied. At the same time, the installation offers a message of hope, as the continually rising chairs resist their destruction — a show of strength and resilience. Anwar's installation is set against the only other artwork in the room, a series of collage prints by Eliza Hutchison, titled The difference between the eternal and the infinite. Her fractured images carry a pulse nearing chaos, creating a disorientation that then turns to confrontation in Anwar's work. Together, the two works create a dialogue about the precarious state of the modern world. The National runs from March 29–July 21 at the AGNSW and from March 29–June 23 at Carriageworks and the MCA. Top image: Mark Shorter, Song for von Guérard at Carriagworks. Photo by Zan Wimberley.
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.
Just this morning, Nike announced to the world that it had terminated its sponsorship agreement with boxer Manny Pacquiao on account of his offensive views towards same sex couples. It’s a timely reminder of the lengths to which corporations will go in order to protect their brand, even if it means dropping one of the biggest and most successful names on their books. The most powerful companies in the world understand that such power exists only insofar as the public continues to allow it, for without their buying power, these companies are nothing. The most famous and certainly most destructive example of this approach took place in the 1950s, when Hollywood’s major motion picture studios agreed to blacklist a group of their most successful screenwriters on account of their affiliation with the communist party. No crimes were committed, no treason alleged, yet these men were suddenly denied any ability to work in the industry to which they’d dedicated their lives and provided so many financial and critical accolades. Families struggled, many crumbled, and some of the blacklisted even died. And all of it because a few powerful conservatives including John Wayne and gossip columnist Hedda Hopper (played here by Helen Mirren) deigned to call them ‘un-American’. The best known of the so-called Hollywood Ten was screenwriting legend Dalton Trumbo (Bryan Cranston), the highest paid writer in town and the scribe behind such hits as Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo and Kitty Foyle. When he refused to comply with the infamous hearings of the House Un-American Activities Committee, Trumbo was immediately blacklisted and imprisoned, and soon realised the only way he’d be able to continue working was to write B-movies for a pittance under an assumed name. So began an extraordinary period in Hollywood’s history that ultimately resulted in not one, but two Academy Awards going to entirely fictitious writers. It's a story so fantastic it would seem to surpass the imagination of even the likes of Trumbo. Perhaps that explains why Trumbo the film falls somewhat short of the mark. A movie that not just centres on an extraordinarily gifted screenwriter, but also includes multiple excerpts of his craft, inherently sets up an unavoidable comparison with its own writers’ work, and the contrast is at times pronounced. The film’s tone, too, frequently errs on the whimsical despite its subject matter representing an incredibly dark and shameful period in America’s history. The scenes where its actors pay proper deference to this are by far the strongest – although the most moving scene of all takes place in the credits, when the real-life Trumbo pays tribute to his stoic daughter Nikola (Elle Fanning). Despite these issues, Trumbo tells a compelling tale. Led by a remarkable performance from Cranston, the extensive cast breathes much life into the story – and while it feels insufficiently told, the portrait of the man at its centre remains a moving one. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gryhSJxx7I
UPDATE: FRIDAY, JUNE 1 — To celebrate the release of the new batch of Bloody Shiraz Gin, Four Pillars will be giving keen drinkers a free taste of the stuff this Saturday, June 2 at bottle shops around the country. This includes the Oak Barrel, P&V Merchants and Paddington Cellars in Sydney; Mr West, Carwyn Cellars and Blackhearts & Sparrows in Melbourne; and The Cru and The Wine Emporium in Brisbane. See the full list (and tasting times) here. For the past three years, gin lovers across the country have tripped over themselves to get their spirit-loving fingers on a bottle of Four Pillars' Bloody Shiraz Gin — and that's before they've even had a sip of alcohol. The limited edition shiraz-infused concoction really is that good, so we thought you'd like to know that the next batch goes on sale this Friday, June 1. If you haven't come across the gin before, it's basically what it says on the label: gin infused with shiraz grapes. This gives the spirit a brilliant deep cerise colour and some sweet undertones (without a higher sugar content). That, along with its higher alcoholic content — 37.8 percent, compared to an average 25 percent in regular sloe gin — makes the Bloody Shiraz Gin a near-perfect specimen. Four Pillars created the game-changing gin back in 2015 when it came into a 250-kilogram load of shiraz grapes from the Yarra Valley. Experimenting, the Victorian distillers then steeped the grapes in their high-proof dry gin for eight weeks before pressing the fruit and blending it with the gin, and hoping like hell it would turn out well. It did. The last few batches have sold out really quick, so this year the distillery has acquired more shiraz to make more of the gin than ever before. Still, you'll need to move fast. The gin will go on sale for $85 this Friday, June 1 at selected bottle shops and online at fourpillarsgin.com.au. Godspeed.
The internationally acclaimed Flickerfest is back and celebrating its 33rd year running in 2024, ready to amaze audiences nationwide with an A-class lineup of cinematic delights. The annual event is Australia's leading Oscar and BAFTA qualifying short film fest with a meticulously curated selection of shorts screened, handpicked from over 3400 entries, it's one of the best springboards for burgeoning filmmaking talent in the country. On Wednesday, April 10, the festival hits town with the Best of Melbourne Shorts, bringing a curated 120-minute screening of award-winning short films that premiered at Flickerfest's Bondi home in January. The festival celebrates emerging and thriving Victorian filmmakers and gives local audiences a first look at some of the cinematic talent from their own backyard The one-night-only event kicks off at 6.30pm at The Kino Palace Cinema, with a complimentary drink on arrival before the programme starts at 7pm with filmmaker introductions and then the films themselves. [caption id="attachment_946906" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] What's In a Name[/caption] To give you an idea of what to expect, there's the compelling Best Direction recipient for 2024 What's In a Name?; about a couple whose reflections on their shared past cause fractures in the present, a comedy with the life of a man and his short film idea on the line in Room For One More; winner of Best Screenplay, St Kilda-set true story Cold Water; and the story of a comedian desperate to sign with an agent, Lean In, awarded Best Comedy. Flickerfest 2024 is coming to Kino Palace Melbourne on Wednesday, April 10 from 7pm. To see the full program and grab tickets head to the website. Top Images: Room For One More, Lean In
They can't all be great. They can't all be good. They can't all even be watchable. Every year, cinemas and streaming queues fill up with new movies — and every year, that includes a whole heap of excellent films. But, as the annual Golden Raspberry Awards also recognise, it also spans awful flicks as well. While the Oscars and Golden Globes shower love on the best and brightest movies of the past year each time that they roll around, the Razzies do the opposite, handing nominations and gongs to the films it considers the worst of the annual bunch. 2023's accolades mark the awards' 43rd and they're aiming big, with high-profile titles such as Blonde, Morbius, Elvis and Disney's live-action Pinocchio among the contenders. Of course, just as naming ace flicks is subjective, so is shaming terrible ones. Expect Elvis to notch up Academy Award nods, too, for instance. But the Razzies has given Baz Luhrmann's film two nominations, and both for Tom Hanks: for Worst Supporting Actor and Worst Screen Couple with his latex makeup. Hanks isn't just one of the world's favourite actors, but one of the Razzies' this year, also picking up a Worst Actor nomination for playing Gepetto in Disney's Pinocchio. That film received six nods in total, coming third to Marilyn Monroe biopic Blonde with eight and Machine Gun Kelly's stoner comedy Good Mourning with seven. Also among the nominees: Pete Davidson twice, for Marmaduke and Good Mourning; the Firestarter remake's Ryan Kiera Armstrong for Worst Actress; filmmaker Judd Apatow for the pandemic-set supposed comedy The Bubble; and the two 365 Days sequels. And yes, it's morbin' time at the Razzies, with the Jared Leto-starring supervillain flick ranking fourth nominations-wise with five: for Leto for Worst Actor, Worst Picture, Worst Supporting Actress (for Adria Arjona), Worst Director (Daniel Espinosa) and Worst Screenplay. The 43rd Annual Razzie Award winners will be announced on Sunday, March 12, Australian and New Zealand time. Check out the full list of nominees below: GOLDEN RASPBERRY NOMINEES 2022: WORST PICTURE Blonde Disney's Pinocchio Good Mourning The King's Daughter Morbius WORST ACTOR Colson Baker (aka Machine Gun Kelly), Good Mourning Pete Davidson (voice only), Marmaduke Tom Hanks (as Gepetto), Disney's Pinocchio Jared Leto, Morbius Sylvester Stallone, Samaritan WORST ACTRESS Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Firestarter Bryce Dallas Howard, Jurassic Park Dominion Diane Keaton, Mack & Rita Kaya Scodelario, The King's Daughter Alicia Silverstone, The Requin WORST SUPPORTING ACTOR Pete Davidson (cameo role), Good Mourning Tom Hanks, Elvis Xavier Samuel, Blonde Mod Sun, Good Mourning Evan Williams, Blonde WORST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Adria Arjona, Morbius Lorraine Bracco (voice only), Disney's Pinocchio Penelope Cruz, The 355 Bingbing Fan, The 355 and The King's Daughter Mira Sorvino, Lamborghini: The Man Behind the Legend WORST SCREEN COMBO Colson Baker (aka Machine Gun Kelly) and Mod Sun, Good Mourning Both real life characters in the fallacious White House bedroom scene, Blonde Tom Hanks and his latex-laden face (and ludicrous Aaccent), Elvis Andrew Dominik and his issues with women, Blonde The two 365 Days sequels (both released in 2022) WORST DIRECTOR Judd Apatow, The Bubble Colson Baker (aka Machine Gun Kelly) and Mod Sun, Good Mourning Andrew Dominik, Blonde Daniel Espinosa, Morbius Robert Zemeckis, Disney's Pinocchio WORST REMAKE, RIPOFF or SEQUEL Blonde Both 365 Days sequels: 365 Days: This Day and The Next 365 Days Disney's Pinocchio Firestarter Jurassic World Dominion WORST SCREENPLAY Blonde Disney's Pinocchio Good Mourning Jurassic World Dominion Morbius
For local distiller and qualified medical laboratory scientist Brogan Carr, making gin hits that sweet spot right between science and art. Along with her father Simon, Carr's created three signature gins, setting out to show the world just how diverse this spirit can be. There's the juniper-forward Australia Dry Gin dubbed Everyday Salvation, a fruity new-age number called Evening Light, and the navy strength edition called Royal Blood — a savoury concoction that pulls its flavours from Australian sea parsley, saltbush and roasted wattle seed. And it's with this character-filled trio that the Carrs have launched their new Richmond gin making operation and tasting bar to the public. North Street is now home to the modern, industrial but warm, Brogan's Way Distillery. It's a welcoming space that's primed for sipping gin when the bar opens on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights — whether enjoyed straight, as part of a tasting flight, or infused into one of the exclusive cocktails. A collaborative effort between Brogan and the legendary Shaun Byrne (Gin Palace, co-founder of Maidenii Vermouth), the cocktail menu features bitters, aperitifs and digestifs also made by the talented gin-maker. And you'll find a strong lineup of tonics from Strangelove and Capi, carefully chosen to complement those house tipples. Visitors will be able to get stuck into a range of grazing platters, antipasto boards and charcuterie plates, starring local ingredients, even including pickles made using the distillery's spent botanicals. Brogan's Way Distillery is open 5–11pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 12–6pm on Sundays at 61 North Street, Richmond.
Come summer in Melbourne, you won't just see stars on cinema screens — you'll sit beneath them while you're watching a movie. That's what Rooftop Cinema promises, and the first part of its new program certainly delivers. First stop: Tom Hiddleston navigating an anarchic society in an apartment block in High-Rise. Kicking off on December 3 and running through until the end of January 2017 (with the still-to-be-announced second half of the program spanning February to April), there's plenty more movie fun where that came from. Haven't had a chance to catch up with Marvel's latest superhero, Doctor Strange? Keen to revisit this year's lady-centric version of Ghostbusters? Want to take the ultimate US road trip with American Honey? You'll find them all on the lineup. Amy Adams-starring duo Arrival and Nocturnal Animals, amusing action hit The Nice Guys and a dose of the skux life courtesy of Hunt for the Wilderpeople also feature among the more recent portion of the program. So do two music offerings sponsored by Levi's: Nick Cave doco Once More With Feeling, as well as a look at the fab four in The Beatles: Eight Days A Week. Don't forget that checking out classics on the big screen is all part of the Rooftop Cinema experience as well, though. This year's retro contingent including tear-inducing tributes (Labyrinth and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory), all manner of Christmas hijinks (Bad Santa and its forthcoming sequel, Love Actually, Home Alone and Elf) and three nights of Michael Keaton (Beetlejuice, new release The Founder, and Birdman). If there's ever been a reason to spend your evenings outdoors for the next few months, this is it. Rooftop Cinema takes place in the Melbourne CBD, on top of Curtin House, Swanston Street (between Little Bourke and Lonsdale Streets). The bar opens daily between 11am and 1am, with films starting at 9.30pm in December and January. The February to April program will be announced in late January. Rooftop Cinema kicks off December 3. Check out the whole first half of the program at the Rooftop Cinema website.
It's hard to get a true snapshot of a place you're holidaying in when you don't have a friend who lives there to show you around. The Margaret River region presents its own unique set of challenges — with over 150 wineries and six days' worth of stunning coastal walking track, you're just not going to get to do it all are you? We've teamed up with Pullman Hotels and Resorts to bring you a guide to Margaret River that you can do in a few days, and that should leave you feeling like you really got to know the area. (If you ever decide to leave, that is. You do realise it's a food and wine mecca with a boho beach vibe that's long been punching above its weight in the culturescape, right?) Putting our heads together with Pullman Bunker Bay ambassador Shane Hilder — a creative consultant, entrepreneur and passionate amateur photographer who shot the most stunning images in this article — we've curated a list of ten must-dos that will expose you to Margaret River's many strengths. They range from a brewery in a dairy farm to a beach beloved for its stingrays, because the southwest of this country has no room for ordinary, apparently. Check out the rest of our Explore More content series to hone your itinerary for some of Australia's best holiday destinations. FOOD & DRINK [caption id="attachment_643873" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Larry Cherubino winery[/caption] MARGARET RIVER WINERIES You didn't come all this way, to one of Australia's premier wine-growing regions, not to taste a truckload of wine. Plenty of tour operators offer group trips that will help you blitz a selection of the area's more than 150 cellar doors. Alternatively, sort your own car or bike and follow an itinerary of your own invention. Taking responsible service of alcohol to heart, several of the wineries also have strong food offerings that will more than line your stomach. Cullen Wines and Vasse Felix (the region's first winery, dating back 50 years) are two estates with excellent restaurants, while Woodlands Wines has some of the best reds in the region. Don't miss: The brand spanking new cellar door at Larry Cherubino. The former head winemaker at Houghton, Larry started producing wines under his own label in 2005 and has just opened a cellar door in Wilyabrup. METRICUP'S BEER FARM Right in the midst of Margaret River's zoned agricultural area is this brewery, recently converted from a working dairy farm, and with cows still roaming its fields. The Beer Farm's old creamy is now an entrance, and the roundhouse where the cows were milked is the brewhouse, but you'll spend most of your time in the old hay shed — which has been transformed into a bar filled with handmade wood benches, chesterfield couches and floor-to-ceiling murals. An atmosphere of casual fun pervades the whole space (pinball machines, lawn games and footy posts help kick that along), and you can get a good feed from the on-site food truck. Don't miss: Their lovely cloudy cider, made from local Manjimup apples. THE GOOSE BEACH BAR & KITCHEN The main attraction of The Goose is its position at the start of the Busselton Jetty — the longest timber piled jetty in the southern hemisphere. The views from here out over the waters of Geographe Bay will make you Zen out so deeply you could forget to eat. Though, don't — it's all local southwest produce here, whipped into comforting cafe classics. Start your day with eggs any which way, the house granola with coconut yoghurt, or a more adventurous salmon pastrami and 63-degree egg on rye. Don't miss: Walking off a meal on Busselton Jetty — it stretches nearly 2 kilometres into the ocean, with an underwater observatory at the end. MARGARET RIVER FARMERS MARKETS Is there anything more pleasing than a farmers market in an actual farming area? Everything is so damn fresh, it's practically still growing, and the people manning the stall are the actual growers. On every Saturday morning at the Margaret River Education Campus, this farmers market has been running for more than 13 years. It's where residents do their weekly shop, producers test out their new creations, and visitors go to try out everything from regional honey and olive oil to kimchi and kombucha. It's only about 50 stalls, but the good vibes are disproportionately huge. Don't miss: Having a coffee by local roastery Yahava and a plate of Má Là dumplings — made in the northern Chinese style but stuffed with the produce of Australia's southwest. WELLBEING & LEISURE [caption id="attachment_643870" align="aligncenter" width="1980"] by Shane Hilder[/caption] HAMELIN BAY Two words: Friendly. Stingrays. These guys just love swimming around the jetty here and don't care if you hop in the water with them. While patting and feeding of the rays isn't strictly encouraged, people often do it anyway, so just use your common sense and be respectful. Otherwise, Hamelin Bay is great for swimming, walks or just some solid lolling around. The beach is open to the northwest, so skip it if it's a windy day and opt for somewhere more secluded. There's a reason 11 vessels have been shipwrecked here over the centuries. Don't miss: On the plus side, that's 11 sites to explore if you've got a snorkel or scuba gear. [caption id="attachment_643871" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] by Shane Hilder[/caption] CANAL ROCKS While you're in Margaret River, you've got to do a section of the Cape to Cape Track — the 140 kilometre coastal path from Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin that take about six days to walk in whole. A good segment to pick is around Yallingup, as it means you can take in the Canal Rocks. Waves have eroded a narrow path through the rocks in this headland over time, and watching the waters roar through it now is transfixing viewing. Unlike many other coastal spots, this one is great when the seas are rough, as the force of the waves is accentuated. There's a boardwalk over the rocks so you can get up close. You can swim around here too, but — need it be said — use caution. Don't miss: Watching the sunset from here over the Indian Ocean. If you're used to east-coast sunrises, you've been missing out on a world of colour. MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL Margaret River is betting that interest in mountain biking will continue to boom — it's apparently planning 500 kilometres in new trails in the coming years. There's already plenty there, winding through the region's famous jarrah and karri forests, with options for riders of all levels. Beginners can try the 10 Mile Brook track, following the Margaret River for some 15–20 kilometres, with an option to detour to the Colonial Brewery for lunch. Advanced riders might be more drawn to the Creek Trails, which include some sharp descents and what Margaret River Tourism terms the "flowy magic dirt" of Goobers Pool. Check their website for more tracks. Don't miss: Fat biking on the beach with The Margaret River Adventure Co. The oversized tyres mean your bike won't sink into the sand and it's actually fun. [caption id="attachment_643648" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] by Shane Hilder[/caption] BUNKER BAY One of the many excellent beaches along the southwest coast, Bunker Bay has the advantage of being relatively sheltered from the winds of the Indian Ocean. You'll only ever be facing smallish waves, which makes it a great spot for swimming and snorkelling. Fishing is also permitted in this area. Pullman ambassador Shane Hilder also rates this area for its photographic opportunities, especially the "forever-changing" characteristics of its afternoon versus morning light. Don't miss: A post-swim meal at Pullman Bunker Bay's restaurant The Other Side of the Moon (the name comes from a nearby surf break), which focuses on local ingredients like Manjimup truffle, Cape Naturaliste beef, and line-caught fish. ART & DESIGN RED CLOUD ART SPACE Opened in 2012 in Yallingup, Red Cloud Art Space is a gallery with two artists' studios attached. It's also the place you're most likely to find non-wine gifts for friends and family back home, as it brings a contemporary, minimal and accessible style to the Margaret River scene. Works on sale here range from WA artist Lisa Payton's abstracted and textural mixed-media canvases capturing the ocean hitting rocks (which hit around the $1000 mark) to individually handcrafted ceramic flowers by Perth's Bronwen Holding (which start at just $3). Don't forget to poke your head into the studios and watch the resident artists at work. Don't miss: Quarterly event Kaleidoscope. There's live music and drinks alongside displays of the latest work by Red Cloud artists, and your donation at the door goes to a chosen charity. MARGARET RIVER GALLERY If your budget stretches slightly higher, or you just want to get a look at some of the best contemporary art in the state, head to Margaret River Gallery. Located on Charles West Avenue in Margaret River town proper, this light and bright gallery focuses on works by leading WA practitioners and emerging artists, but it also catches some interstate names in its net. Look out for objects by local studio Melting Pot Glass, the oceanscape photography of Tony Warrilow, and poetic, migration-themed small sculptures by Lesley Whitham. Don't miss: The great jewellery selection by WA artists — clever, contemporary and not-too-exxy designs that make a great treat for someone (especially yourself). Explore more with Pullman. Book your next hotel stay with Pullman and enjoy a great breakfast for just $1.
