A staple of Melbourne’s outdoor calendar for more than six decades, each year Moomba draws thousands of happy revelers down to the banks of the Yarra. With food, games, activities, parades and scores of live entertainment, think of it as being a bit like a school fete. A really, really big one. Stretching across the entire Labour Day long weekend, this year’s festival has been divided into five different precincts. The Main Arena will host some of the weekend’s biggest music acts, including performances by Jebediah and You Am I. More music will be situated on the other side of the river in The Green, where a series of up-and-coming local performers will compete in the FReeZA Push Start Battle of the Bands. If you’re interested in extreme sports, Skate Park will feature live skateboarding, BMX and scooter competitions, while The River (located on the actual river) will showcase some of the world's best professional waterskiers. Lastly, Kids Zone will host an array of activities for families, including face painting and a Frozen-inspired ice rink. For everything happening at Moomba, visit www.thatsmelbourne.com/moomba. Image: Chris Phutully.
If you've ever said "XOXO" aloud, you've obviously seen Gossip Girl, the glossy, quickly addictive drama about Manhattan teens, their hectic lives and their glam outfits that initially aired between 2007–2012. It's the show that introduced the world to Blake Lively, Chace Crawford, Leighton Meester and Penn Badgley, and made everyone want to sit on the steps of The Met. It also demonstrated that you can never have too many headbands, and had us all wishing that Kristen Bell could narrate our every move, too. Gossip Girl is getting a follow-up series with a brand new cast that's also heading to Binge, because nothing says goodbye forever these days — and because all that drama was never going to subside for too long. But there's still nothing quite like the original, which starts with the return of Serena van der Woodsen (Lively) to the Upper East Side and the fallout within her inner circle, as constantly chronicled by an all-knowing blogger.
With fresh COVID-19 cases continuing to pop up across Australia and community transmission still a very real issue, the Victorian Government has launched a new travel permit system in an attempt to keep the coronavirus out of the state. Victoria has just chalked up six days straight without any new locally transmitted coronavirus cases; however, with other states experiencing outbreaks in recent weeks, the Victorian Government is now tightening the borders and rolling out new regulations for anyone wanting to enter from interstate locations. After going live yesterday, Monday, January 11, the new permit scheme will now manage all domestic travel into Victoria, using a traffic light-style system to categorise origin locations as red, orange or green — based on their level of risk. It applies to visitors who reside in other parts of Australia, as well as to any Victorian residents returning home from elsewhere. https://twitter.com/VicGovDHHS/status/1348469170472509440 Under the new system, travellers wanting to head into Victoria will need to apply for one of the various permit types, depending on where they've been beforehand. Anyone who has been in a designated red zone — the highest level in the system, which currently covers Greater Brisbane and Greater Sydney — is barred from entering the state. Exceptions apply to residents of NSW/Victorian border communities, and folks who've been in a red zone can also apply to receive an exemption or a permitted worker permit. The former covers instances such as emergency relocations, funerals, essential medical care, and people needing to return home for health, wellbeing, care or compassionate reasons. That said, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) states that exceptions are limited and that they'll only be granted in special circumstances. Victoria will be cracking down on rule-breakers, too — the government has warned that trying to make a land border crossing from a red zone will get you turned away, while attempting to enter by plane or sea without a permit will score you a $4957 fine. Travellers coming from orange and green zones may apply online for a permit. During the application process, you'll be asked where you've travelled to — and you'll also need to answer questions about any symptoms, close contacts and previous COVID-19 diagnoses. Anyone travelling from green zones should get a permit granted easily and only need to monitor for symptoms once they've arrived, as long as you've steered clear of any red or orange zones in the previous 14 days. If you're coming from an orange zone, you'll be required to get a COVID-19 test within 72 hours of your arrival in Victoria, and to self-isolate before and after the test until you're given the all-clear. Of course, the current designated zones and regulations are subject to change, with DHHS advising that "border arrangements are constantly reviewed based on the health situation in each state and territory". When the system went live yesterday, it did so almost three hours after its announced launch time of 5.59pm; however, it is now up and running. For more information on Victoria's new permit system — or to apply for one — head to the Department of Health and Human Services website.
If you like your beers wild and your food local, this one's for you. W Melbourne's restaurant Lollo is teaming up with one of the city's best-known breweries for a beery feast to remember. On Wednesday, August 31, you're invited to a one-off dinner both inspired by and paired to drops from La Sirene. The Alphington-based brewery specialises in traditional farmhouse-style beers, and wild ales that each tell a story of time and place — and it's these crafty creations that'll be front and centre of the evening's flavour-packed festivities. [caption id="attachment_866099" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lollo[/caption] Lollo's Creative Culinary Director Adam D'Sylva (Coda, Tonka) will be matching the beers with a six-course shared spread built around top-notch local produce. Expect plates like tea-smoked duck breast with a Sichuan dressing; chargrilled spatchcock teamed with Tuscan kale, barley and harissa; and kingfish cured in La Sirene's Saisonette and paired with tempered yoghurt. As for the brews, you're in for some truly stellar sips, including a peach and raspberry wild ale, and the famed Praline dark chocolate Belgian ale.
Live music, gourmet food and all the craft beer you can possibly quaff: you'll find it all in the hallowed grounds of the Abbotsford Convent this weekend. Running 6pm until late on Friday, October 28, and from noon until 9pm the following day, the inaugural Brewers Feast will showcase some of Victoria's best craft beers, including bevs from Moon Dog, Two Birds, Mountain Goat, Prickly Moses, Stomping Ground, Blackmans Brewery and many, many more. In addition to enjoying a cold one in the starlight and/or sunshine, ticketholders will get to attend education sessions and Q&As, and pair their beers with mouthwatering food options from the likes of Limp Brisket BBQ and Al Forno Pizza. You'll even get to take home a commemorative stein, which we're sure will get plenty of use between now and when Brewers Feast 2017 rolls around.
The Hills Are Alive music festival has today revealed their 2015 lineup, featuring a gaggle of Australian acts headlined by Melbourne-based hip-hop artist Remi. Seven years young, the 2015 edition will also mark the first time the event has spilled over into a second evening, with festival organisers promising "twice as many good vibes." Hosted at the McLaren family farm an hour and a half out of Melbourne, THAA 2015 will feature Canberra electronic group SAFIA, Tassie punk-rockers Luca Brasi, Melbourne folk-duo Pierce Brothers, Adelaide singer-songwriter Timberwolf, triple j 2012 Unearthed High winner Asta, NZ country music crooner Marlon Williams, plus a whole lot more. Despite their 2015 expansion, The Hills Are Alive remains a small festival by design, offering an antidote to the massive crowds that often characterise these kinds of events. With a capacity of just 2000 people, tickets are by invitation only, meaning you need to either be friends with one of the acts or know somebody who's been before. Attendees are encouraged to carpool to keep their impact on the environment to a minimum, while glass and pets are prohibited on account of the cows with whom you'll be sharing the campsite. The Hills Are Alive 2015 kicks off at The Farm at 3pm Friday March 27 and runs until 4pm Sunday March 29. For more information on the line-up, head to the festival website.
It's the movie that was always going to be made, the re-enacted version of one of the most heartbreaking small-town murder mysteries and biggest miscarriages of justice the United States has seen. It's also the movie that never should have been made, for the devastating true tale as told in four documentaries now — the Paradise Lost trilogy, and West of Memphis — can't be embellished, fictionalised or bested. Yet exist Devil's Knot does, a cinematic facsimile of the originals, albeit with an ample dose of star power. Though the potency of the facts remains, the sensationalist and the sentimental combine in an attempt to craft a cautionary case of tragedy crippling a community not just in its initial appearance but in the way it is then handled. Two trios drive the story: eight-year-old schoolboys who meet a gruesome fate, and teen outsiders marked for their difference. In the wake of the crime that rocked Arkansas, panicked locals start braying for the blood of Damien Echols (James Hamrick), Jason Baldwin (Seth Meriwether) and Jessie Misskelley Jr (Kristopher Higgins). For private investigator Ron Lax (Colin Firth), discrepancies complicate the reported information. As grief-stricken mother Pamela Hobbs (Reese Witherspoon) watches on, the untimely demise of her son becomes a circus fuelled by a determination to convict and a disregard for competing theories. Alas, though dead children, blamed adolescents and bureaucratic bungling make for strong material, Devil's Knot places its emphasis on Lax and Hobbs, unconvincing figures of focus rendered as observers, not participants. Their sympathetic access point isn't needed given the strength of what lies beneath, nor are Firth and Witherspoon's overplayed performances. Another issue plagues the adaptation of Mara Leveritt's 2002 text of the same name: only relating part of the puzzle. Many real-life developments occurred after the book's publication; that the outcome is relegated to the film's endnotes robs it of its conclusion. With a wealth of data to draw upon, something had to give, and the problem of recreating oft-seen scenes was always going to be difficult to overcome. Director Atom Egoyan and his writers — Deliver Us From Evil duo Paul Harris Boardman and Scott Derrickson — just can't strike the right balance, indulgent in what they include and troubled by what remains absent. What emerges in Devil's Knot is an unfortunate example of the right pedigree and intentions making the wrong moves, on a subject so scrutinised that any missteps would always stand out. With an auteur's eye on an inflammatory case, and with well-known actors wringing importance from the situation, the film wants to exemplify the kind of haunting deliberation of complexity the story demands, but its lingering gaze — narratively, emotionally and aesthetically — remains superfluously tied to its surface. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Ofkn4zYrF5U
Six decades after first dancing its way across the big screen — and singing, too — a certain New York neighbourhood rivalry is returning to cinemas. It was back in 1961 that West Side Story first made the leap from theatre to film, and now it's repeating the feat this December. Yes, the Jets and the Sharks will be facing off again. This time around, Steven Spielberg is in the director's chair. Obviously, West Side Story's narrative will remain the same, though. In the Big Apple in 1957, a Romeo and Juliet-inspired love story will play out, as Tony (Ansel Elgort, The Goldfinch) and María (film debutant Rachel Zegler) fall head over heels despite their backgrounds — because Tony's best friend Riff (Mike Faist, Panic) leads the Jets, and María is the younger sister of Sharks head honcho Bernardo (David Alvarez). Also popping up among the cast: Ariana DeBose (The Prom), Josh Andrés Rivera, Ana Isabelle (Imprisoned), Corey Stoll (Ratched) and Brian d'Arcy James (Devs), plus the great Rita Moreno (One Day at a Time) — who also played the role of Anita, Bernardo's girlfriend, in the original movie. The film's long list of talent continues off-screen, too, with West Side Story circa 2021's screenplay penned by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winner Tony Kushner (Lincoln), and the choreography coming courtesy of fellow Tony-recipient Justin Peck. Spielberg and company are taking the original 1957 Broadway show rather than the 1961 movie adaptation as their basis and, as the just-dropped first teaser trailer shows, the results look vibrant and lively, but still with a classic old-school musical sheen. Thankfully — and unsurprisingly — it also looks worlds away from the filmmaker's last feature, Ready Player One. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6xoDxf676w&feature=youtu.be West Side Story opens in Australian cinemas on December 9. Top image: Niko Tavernise, 2020 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Melburnians, it's time to step away from your streaming queue (and from that groove you've made in your couch) and start watching movies on the big screen instead. When the city's sixth lockdown ends and the next stage of eased restrictions kicks in at 11.59pm on Thursday, October 21, outdoor cinemas can restart their projectors — and a number of openair, rooftop and drive-in cinemas around town have announced when they're kicking into gear again. The Lido and Cameo's outdoor cinemas had already slated a Tuesday, October 26 reopening date, but now that stay-at-home conditions are coming to an end earlier than expected, both sites will welcome in patrons at the earliest moment they can. So, from Friday, October 22, you can head to Lido on the Roof to see wild tweet-to-screen flick Zola, or to Cameo to go the Marvel route with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Between them, the two sites will also be showing the Ryan Reynolds-starring Free Guy, where he plays a non-playable video game character who becomes self-aware; and Australian drama Nitram, the Cannes Film Festival Best Actor-winner that depicts the days leading up to the 1996 Port Arthur massacre. There's also Adam Driver, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon-led medieval drama The Last Duel, too — and the excellent new Candyman movie, which'll screen on Halloween (obviously). Wondering about the third openair cinema run by the team behind these two venues, aka Classic Cinema's Rooftop Cinema? It's set to reopen again a little later, as its screen needs to undergo some maintenance first. It'll relaunch its rooftop bar on Friday, October 22 for drinks, so you'll be able to stop by from 4–8pm on weeknights and 2–8pm on weekends. And, movie-wise, it'll give that revamped screen a workout from Thursday, November 11 — from 12.07am on that date, in fact — to show new Bond flick No Time to Die as soon as it possibly can. Over at the beloved Village Cinemas Coburg Drive-In, movies will begin gracing its under-the-stars setup again from Friday, October 22 — and it has quite a few films on the bill. As well as the aforementioned Candyman, Free Guy and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, that's where you'll be able to see The Suicide Squad, Space Jam: A New Legacy and new James Wan-directed horror flick Malignant. Capacity-wise, Victoria's roadmap allows outdoor entertainment venues to reopen with a cap of 50 people at the 70-percent fully vaxxed mark, which is where the state will be when lockdown ends on Thursday night. That number will increase when the state hits the 80-percent double-jabbed threshold, which is expected around Tuesday, November 2. For more information about Melbourne's reopening openair, rooftop and drive-in cinemas, or to buy tickets, head to the Lido, Cameo, Classic and Village Cinemas Coburg Drive-In cinemas websites. Top image: Brook James.
UPDATE, June 10, 2021: Before the lockdown ends, the Victorian Government has changed the mask rules that'll come into effect from 11.59pm on Thursday, June 10. Under this change, which stems from updated public health advice, masks will still be mandatory outdoors. Usually when winter hits, it's tempting to spend more time at home to escape the cold. Melburnians haven't had any other option so far in 2021, with the city under lockdown since the end of May — first as part of week-long statewide stay-at-home conditions to combat Victoria's latest COVID-19 outbreak, and then during a further week of lockdown just in metropolitan Melbourne itself. Come 11.59pm on Thursday, June 10, the city's current stay-at-home stint will come to an end, with Acting Premier James Merlino advising today, Wednesday, June 9, that "significant steps" will be taken. So, from Friday, June 11, you'll be able to leave your house for whatever reason you like. As Melburnians are used to by now, though, some restrictions will be in place. In fact, the rules that'll apply once lockdown lifts are all very familiar. Firstly, the five reasons to leave the house will be scrapped — so you can head out for whatever reason you like. But, you can't venture too far, with ten-kilometre rule giving way to the 25-kilometre rule. Accordingly, travel to regional Victoria will remain off the cards, including over the upcoming long weekend. To exceed your 25-kilometre bubble, you'll need to be heading to work, education, caregiving or to get a vaccination. It's expected that this rule will only be in effect for a week, but further details will be provided next week. https://twitter.com/JamesMerlinoMP/status/1402444545082593281 Other changes coming into effect largely mirror the settings that have been in place in regional Victoria over the past week. You still won't be able to have anyone come over to your house, for instance, but you will be able to gather outdoors with up to ten people. Also, food and hospitality businesses will be able to open for seated service only — with a cap of 100 people per venue and a maximum of 50 people indoors. Retail stores can also reopen, with a density limit of one person per four square metres. Offices can welcome in 25 percent of their employees, too — or ten people at a time, whichever is greater. Religious gatherings and ceremonies can return with 50 people, weddings can have ten attendees and 50 mourners can go to funerals. And, while masks will still remain mandatory indoors, the rules are changing outdoors. You won't have to wear them outside, but only if you can maintain a 1.5-metre distance from other people. https://twitter.com/VicGovDH/status/1402398048232349698 Announcing the end of lockdown and the new rules that'll come into effect, Acting Premier Merlino said the government expects that "next Thursday night, that the original metro divisions will come down and we will be able to travel more freely around the state again." He also noted that the city will be hopefully able to further ease restrictions on venues. "We will continue to assess the data each day and provide more detail, more certainty, as soon as we can," he advised. Victoria now has 83 active COVID-19 cases, including just one new local case identified in the 24 hours to midnight last night. Melbourne's lockdown will end at 11.59pm on Thursday, June 10. For more information about the rules that'll be in place from that time, head to the Victorian Department of Health website. Top image: Visit Victoria.
It has finally happened again, Melburnians. The city's projectors remained silent, its theatres bare and the smell of popcorn faded over the recent almost two-week lockdown; however, Melbourne's picture palaces are now back in business. Under stay-at-home restrictions, no one is ever short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made over by now, including new releases, comedies, music documentaries, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent more time than usual over the past 18 months glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that. And, we've rounded up, watched and reviewed the new movies that have just arrived in theatres this week. JUNGLE CRUISE Take two charming actors, then couple them up for a feature-length volley of fast-paced banter: that's the screwball rom-com formula. Place this pleasing pair in a scenic but challenging setting — one that'll highlight their individual strengths, see them turn seeming weaknesses into new skills, and will obviously bring them closer together — and that's exactly how plenty of action-adventure movies have unfurled. Sending the always personable and likeable Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt to the Amazon, Jungle Cruise stitches together these two well-established formulas. It traverses its cinematic rapids in the slipstream of 80s fare like Raiders of the Lost Ark and Romancing the Stone (and their respective sequels), and even rollicks along in the footsteps of The Mummy franchise of the late 90s and early 00s (a series which actually gave Johnson his first big-screen roles). But, as anyone with even a passing knowledge of Disney's theme parks knows, Jungle Cruise also falls from the attraction-to-film mould that the Mouse House clearly loves. Pirates of the Caribbean is an overt influence, right down to the way that some of this new flick's villains look, and thrusting all these blatant templates to the fore — and together — doesn't quite result in movie magic. Indeed, despite Johnson and Blunt's charismatic and capable pairing, as well as the movie's visually boisterous imagery, the film's modest pleasures all fade oh-so-quickly, as happens with every amusement ride. Directed by Unknown, Non-Stop, Run All Night and The Commuter's Jaume Collet-Serra, who makes a workmanlike but hardly memorable jump from unleashing Liam Neeson's special set of skills, Jungle Cruise wants to whisk viewers off on a spirited ride. That's the experiential aim of most theme park-based films: these flicks want audiences to feel like they've stepped inside the attraction from their cinema seat. So, before the movie's title card graces the screen, two sequences endeavour to set this tone. It's 1916, and Dr Lily Houghton (Blunt, A Quiet Place Part II) sneaks into an all-male science society to look for a treasured arrowhead from the Amazon. She's tasked her fussy brother MacGregor (Jack Whitehall, Good Omens) with deflecting the organisation's members by telling them her theories about a fabled South American tree, called the Tears of the Moon, that can cure any illness or break any curse. The men are dismissive, but she knows they will be. She's there to steal the trinket so it can lead her to the mythical plant, all while Prince Joachim of Germany (Jesse Plemons, Judas and the Black Messiah) tries to get his hands on it as well. When Lily comes out on top, the Houghtons are off to Brazil to hit the river, but they'll need a captain to guide their watery jaunt. In his introductory scene, the roguish Frank Wolff (Johnson, Jumanji: The Next Level) is spied conducting tourist trips down the Amazon, every step choreographed like an amusement park ride, and with his own pun-heavy showman patter narrating the journey. He's corny, and he has a jaguar in on the act, too. Accordingly, there are zero surprises when Lily enlists his services reluctantly and after some subterfuge on his side, or when he keeps trying to trick her into giving up her quest. Read our full review. THE MISFITS Imagine Robin Hood meets Ocean's Eleven meets the Fast and Furious franchise, but helmed by the filmmaker behind Deep Blue Sea, and somehow starring the unlikely combination of Pierce Brosnan (Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga), Tim Roth (Luce) and rapper/comedian/TV presenter Nick Cannon (Chi-Raq). Then, picture a film set in the fictional Jeziristan, because appropriating a particular culture and applying it to a made-up place is apparently okay by this flick's powers-that-be — and also envision a movie so blatant with its Islamophobia at every turn that Cannon's character is almost constantly making fun of Middle Eastern accents and Arabic names, citizens of this part of the globe are largely depicted as terrorists or psychopaths, a group of villains is called the Muslim Brotherhood, but all the gloss and glitz of Abu Dhabi, where the movie is shot, is leered at (as are the scantily clad women seen in its hotels, too). No one wants to visualise this flick, but unfortunately it exists. And yes, The Misfits is as atrocious as it sounds. Director Renny Harlin (who also has Cliffhanger and The Long Kiss Goodnight to his name) seems like he's simply trying to recreate shots, looks and scenes he likes from far better films, but badly. And, the fact that co-screenwriter Kurt Wimmer also has the atrocious 2015 remake of Point Break on his resume makes a huge amount of sense, because this bag of tripe just stitches together plot points from almost every other heist feature there is (as exacerbated by dialogue as bland and cliched as every aspect of the narrative). A big contender for the worst movie to reach Australian cinemas this year, and a film that surely wouldn't have ever gotten the chance if the pandemic hadn't upended the theatrical release slate, The Misfits brings together a ragtag gang of well-meaning criminals. They anoint themselves with the movie's moniker after ruling out 'motley crew' for obvious reasons, if you're wondering how stupid and inane this feature gets — and quickly. Bank robber Ringo (Cannon) usually flexes his light-fingered skills to rip off the wealthy and give back to the poor, so obviously he's keen to form a makeshift family with martial arts expert Violet (Jamie Chung, Lovecraft Country), who likes punishing terrible men; explosives-obsessed Wick (Thai popstar Mike Angelo), who blows up nasty businesses; and 'the Prince' (Rami Jaber, Tough Love), who may or may not be royalty in another made-up country. Their next target: a vault of gold hidden inside a maximum-security Jeziristan jail overseen by nefarious businessman Warner Schultz (Roth). Their latest recruits: UN-employed humanitarian Hope (Hermione Corfield, Sea Fever) and, if she can convince him, her conman dad Richard Pace (Brosnan), who of course has a history with their mark. Much that happens is nonsensical, which also applies to the messily staged and shot action scenes. The movie's sexism goes hand in hand with its blatant racism, too. Daddy issues, second chances, car chases, slow-motion explosions, pointless visual tricks — that's all part of this hideous package as well, alongside absolutely zero subtlety or enjoyment. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in cinemas — or has been lately before lockdown — check out our rundown of new films released in Melbourne on March 4, March 11, March 18 and March 25; and April 1, April 8, April 15, April 22 and April 29; May 6, May 13, May 20 and May 27; June 3, June 10, June 17 and June 24; July 1 and just this week, when the last lockdown ended. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as Chaos Walking, Raya and the Last Dragon, Max Richter's Sleep, Judas and the Black Messiah, Girls Can't Surf, French Exit, Saint Maud, Godzilla vs Kong, The Painter and the Thief, Nobody, The Father, Willy's Wonderland, Collective, Voyagers, Gunda, Supernova, The Dissident, The United States vs Billie Holiday, First Cow, Wrath of Man, Locked Down, The Perfect Candidate, Those Who Wish Me Dead, Spiral: From the Book of Saw, Ema, A Quiet Place Part II, Cruella, My Name Is Gulpilil, Lapsis, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, Fast and Furious 9, Valerie Taylor: Playing with Sharks, In the Heights, Herself, Little Joe, Black Widow, The Sparks Brothers and Old.
Lygon Street's northern stretch is dishing up more than few commuter headaches today, as a crew of over 50 firefighters battle a serious blaze at an abandoned supermarket. At around 6am this morning, VicRoads tweeted that the street had been closed in both directions between Albion and Blyth Streets, as the fire continued to burn and smoke spread. It has suggested southbound drivers hit Nicholson Street or Sydney Road instead. Fire crews are still working on Lygon Street after a building fire. Lygon St is closed to traffic in both directions between Albion St and Blyth St. Try Nicholson Street or Sydney Rd to avoid the closure — VicTraffic (@VicTraffic) August 26, 2018 Yarra Trams also took to Twitter to update passengers, announcing changes to the number 1 and 6 routes that operate along this part of Lygon Street. Neither tram was running between Brunswick Road (Stop 120) and Moreland Road (Stop 129), with busses used as replacements. Some Route 6 trams are being diverted along Sydney Road, along Route 19, while shuttle trams are operating between Route 19 stops at East Coburg and the Brunswick Tram Depot. Update - Shuttle trams are running between East Coburg and Stop 27 Brunswick tram depot (on the Route 19) for passengers to connect to diverting trams: https://t.co/37CDHt16y1 — Yarra Trams (@yarratrams) August 26, 2018 Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Fire Brigade has released a statement about the fire, confirming crews have been fighting it since arriving on the scene at about 3.30am. The roof of the sprawling building, which stretches between Lygon and Eddie Streets, has collapsed, and the blaze is being treated as suspicious. At the time of publishing, Route 1 and 6 trams had just resumed, though Yarra Trams confirmed that delays could still occur. Update: Route 1 and 6 trams have now resumed along normal lines following the earlier disruption. Delays may still occur while we work to restore normal frequency. — Yarra Trams (@yarratrams) August 26, 2018
It's been a busy couple of months of stargazing, with both the Lyrid and Eta Aquarids Meteor Showers lighting up our skies, as well as a supermoon. This weekend, there are another two reasons to look up, too: a strawberry moon and an eclipse. Well, it's penumbral lunar eclipse. And you'll have to shake yourself out of your warm bed at a super-early hour on the morning of Saturday, June 6 to catch this one. While the penumbral lunar eclipse — which occurs when the Earth moves between the Sun and the Moon, but they don't form a perfectly straight line — will start around 3.45am, the maximum eclipse will occur at 5.24am. From here, you'll only have a very short amount of time to catch the main event, with the moon setting at 6.59am. For the full details, timeanddate.com has put together a handy to-the-minute schedule of when the eclipse will be happening in each city. During a total lunar eclipse, the moon turns a shade of red, but during a penumbral eclipse, which is much subtler, it'll appear to look dark grey or silver. For a lunar eclipse to occur, there must be a full moon. This June full moon is called a strawberry moon after the wild strawberries that ripen at this time of year. If you can't get a clear view, The Virtual Telescope Project will be live-streaming the partial lunar eclipse from the skyline above Rome from Saturday, June 6 at 5am AEST.
Dance, drink, pizza, repeat. Pizza and late-night partying remains one of history's most iconic duos and they're coming together in full force as 24-hour Hawthorn club Untz Untz launches its adjoining pizza joint and sports bar, Holy Moly, tonight. The new venue has taken over the ground floor of the newly refurbished Glenferrie Road space and enjoy the same 24-hour liquor license. In addition, coffee and doughnut spot Cop Shop will launch next door shortly in April. With a crack team of hospo pros behind it, Holy Moly has some intriguing features, not least of which is the $5 pizza menu, designed by Henry Chan (of Lucky Coq and Bimbo Deluxe) and available until midnight weekdays and later on weekends. Jenna Hemsworth (former Black Pearl bartender and runner-up for Bartender of the Year 2015) has taken the reins of the drinks offering, which features a mix of classics and new-school creations, as well as two cocktails on-tap and three varieties of Bloody Mary. The space comes courtesy of interior designer Michael Delaney (Honkytonks, Sorry Grandma), along with venue director Nick Foley, with the pair describing it as "a shrine to pizza and good times". Eat your pizza in the overtly holy-themed dining hall — with pews for seats, a shrine mounted on the wall and stained glass aplenty — or head over to the memorabilia-packed sports bar, which will be screening classic sporting moments on an 80-inch plasma, and Melbourne's first VOID sound system. Holy Moly is now open at 660A Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn. For more info, visit holymoly.com.au. Images: Alexandra Drewniak.
You can't venture more than five kilometres from home right now, but you can get a taste of the Mornington Peninsula delivered to your door, courtesy of the celebrated Pt Leo Estate. Home to multiple renowned restaurants, the award-winning winery is offering an at-home dining experience for click-and-collect and delivery this week. Curated by new culinary director Josep Espuga, the lockdown-friendly offering is available daily throughout lockdown. Diners can choose from a multi-course $190 feast dubbed The Pt. Leo Favourites for Two, featuring such favourites as the lobster rotolo and char siu pork belly, alongside your pick of Pt. Leo Estate wine. Fancy add-ons from two-hatted restaurant Laura can be happily arranged. Or, you can have free rein of the a la carte menu, mixing and matching dishes such as the wood-roasted chicken, a hot-smoked barramundi and the decadent Valrhona chocolate mousse. The delivery drivers are servicing all Mornington Peninsula suburbs between Frankston and Portsea for an easy $5 flat-rate fee, while drop-offs to Melbourne and surrounds incur a $15 delivery charge. If the Pt Leo Estate is in your five-kilometre radius, you can also pre-order for collection from the pick-up window. [caption id="attachment_822391" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pt Leo Estate, by Chris McConville[/caption] Images: Chris McConville
The humble meat pie is synonymous with all things Straya, whether you’re at the footy or visiting some middle-of-nowhere country town’s bakery. But your pie experiences do not have to be limited to these scenarios, dear reader. Many of Melbourne’s gastro-pubs, cosy corners and boutique bakeries are serving up a darn good pastry, filled with quality meat and lashings of tomato sauce. Whether you’re a purist beef pie aficionado or you appreciate more adventurous fillings, we’ve managed to find Melbourne’s best pies, served best with a crisp craft brew. THE BUILDERS ARMS For something a little outside your bulk standard beef pie, try the fish pie at The Builders Arms in Fitzroy. The filling is a seafood feast and includes smoked trout, prawns, rockling and sorrel. At $33 a pop, it is perhaps one of the more expensive pies you’re likely to find around the city, but it is one of those meals that every Melburnian should try at least once in their lives. 211 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy CANDIED BAKERY While the name may suggest this Spotswood joint specialises in the sweet stuff (and trust us, they do a darn good job in that department), they are also incredibly gifted when it comes to the savoury goods. You can’t overlook a classic, and the classic beef is just that. The Cherry Tree Organics beef is beautifully cooked, and the secret ingredient doesn’t get any more Australian — it’s Vegemite. Take one of these bad boys home for lunch, crack open a James Squire The Constable copper ale and watch your favourite footy team from the comfort of your own couch. 81A Hudsons Road, Spotswood TIVOLI ROAD Pastry chef Michael James is one seriously well-qualified pie maker, having worked at Sydney’s well-renowned Bourke St Bakery, as well as Baker D Chirico and MoVida Aqui before purchasing Tivoli Road as his own. Their best pie has come down to a tie between their hugely popular beef and mushroom and their slightly more adventurous chicken, pumpkin and sage. They’ve also created a kangaroo pie with native pepperberry pine mushrooms that we’re itching to try, but we’ll take whatever we can get our greedy little mitts on. 3 Tivoli Road, South Yarra BABKA Brunswick Street's supreme bakery hits home runs with their pies every time. Our pick would have to be the lamb and apricot, but other intriguing options include veal goulash, beef with mushroom, and spinach and feta for vegetarians. While you’re certainly welcome to take these gorgeous pastry creations home with you, if you can spare the time, it’s well worth having it in store. The pies are served with a homemade kasoundi which is sensational, and your tomato sauce at home just isn’t going to compare. 358 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy FATTO A MANO The organic, gluten-free and vegan-friendly folk at Fatto a Mano are the best option if you or your friends have dietary requirements but still love a good hot pie. Their organic beef and their mushroom, haloumi and spinach pies are available in traditional and gluten-free options, so everyone can get involved. They also do some excellent pasties, sausage rolls and a heck of a lot of sweet treats to take home if you’re feeling that extra bit indulgent. 228 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy
This winter, a brand new free music festival is set to heat up the St Kilda shoreline, blasting away the chills with a jam-packed lineup featuring the likes of Hiatus Kaiyote, Adalita, Briggs and more. The inaugural Southside Live will descend on South Beach Reserve across two tune-filled weekends, from Friday, June 24–Sunday, June 26, and Friday, July 1–Sunday, July 3. The beachside stage will fire up with sounds from a diverse bunch of Aussie acts — soul-pop songstress Akosia, renowned Indigenous vocalist Emma Donovan with The Putbacks, RnB star Pania and post-punk outfit Pinch Points, to name a few. Mitch Tambo, Kaiit, Dallas Woods, Kira Puru, The Black Sorrows, Isaiah Firebrace and Freeds are also on the bill. Your ears aren't the only things in for a treat, however. The whole Southside Live precinct will be decked out like a wintry wonderland, with market stalls, neon art, food pop-ups and plenty of mulled wine to keep those cockles warm. Southside Live will run on Friday, June 24 (6–9pm), Saturday, June 25 (3–7pm), Sunday, June 26 (2–6pm), Friday, July 1 (6–9pm), Saturday, July 2 (3–7pm) and Sunday, July 3 (2–6pm). [caption id="attachment_806820" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Emma Donovan and the Putbacks[/caption] Top Image: J. Forsyth
Want to sing along to a live version of 'Emergency Contraception Blues' or do your Shuffle dance in a public place rather than in the shower (with lots of jumping involved)? Then here's your chance, because the Bombay Bicycle Club are going to be hanging out in Australia for a little while after playing The Falls Festival and a string of American gigs. It's time to learn their lyrics, perhaps eat a curry (the band named themselves after a curry chain) and practice those Northern Londonder accents ("you riiiiiiigh?"). These guys sure seem like an interesting bunch in their music clips, frolicking around London and revealing a love for moon juice, space jellyfish and antennae growing out of heads, so surely the gig will be a hit. Three of the four in the band have been playing together since they were 15, their last two albums have gone gold in the UK and Triple J seem to like them a lot too. Jack Steadman (lead vocals, guitar, piano), Jamie MacColl (guitar), Ed Nash (bass) and Suren de Saram (drums) make their music a hard one to pin down in terms of classification, but British indie folk, indie rock and twee pop all seem apt. The Paper Kites are going to be supporting them, if for some reason you needed another reason to go. https://youtube.com/watch?v=MgvBmEmtF-I
Is there anything that Bill Hader can't do? While watching Barry's third season, that question just won't subside. The deservedly award-winning HBO hitman comedy has been phenomenal since 2018, when it first premiered. When it nabbed Hader an Emmy for his on-screen efforts in 2019, it had already proven one of the best showcases of the ex-Saturday Night Live performer's talents so far, too — yes, even beyond SNL. But season three of Barry three slides into another stratosphere: it's that blisteringly clever, deeply layered, piercingly moving and terrifically acted. It's also that exceptionally well-balanced as a crime comedy and an antihero drama, that scorchingly staged during its tense and thrilling action scenes, and that willing to question everything that the show and its eponymous character are. Hader has always lit up whichever screen he's graced, big or small — be it during his eight-year SNL stint, including as New York City correspondent Stefon, or in early supporting movie parts in Hot Rod and Adventureland. In 2014's The Skeleton Twins, opposite fellow ex-SNL cast member Kristen Wiig, he'd never been better to that point. But Barry is a tour de force both in front of and behind the lens, and a show expertly steeped in the kind of deep-seated melancholy that Hader can so effortlessly exude even when he's overtly playing for laughs. He doesn't just star, but writes and frequently directs. He co-created the series with Alec Berg (Silicon Valley), and he'll also helm every episode of its in-the-works fourth season. And, every choice he makes with Barry — every choice the show has made, in fact — is astounding. Freshly wrapped up on Binge in Australia and Neon in New Zealand — and so now available to stream in full — Barry's third season is propulsive. It knows its premise: a contract killer does a job in Los Angeles, catches the acting bug and decides to change his life. It also knows that it has to keep unpacking that concept. And, it's well-aware that there are repercussions for everything we do in life, especially for someone who has spent their days murdering others for money, even if they're extremely relatable and likeable. There has long been an air of The Sopranos to Barry, and of Mad Men as well, both of which seep through season three. It's both a portrait of someone who does despicable things, and a dive behind the gloss of an industry that sells a dream: an ex-soldier turned assassin-for-hire rather than a mob boss, and entertainment instead of advertising. Three seasons in, Barry Berkman (Bill Hader, Noelle) still wants to be an actor — and to also no longer kill people for a living — when this new batch of episodes begins. That's what he's yearned for across the bulk of the show so far; however, segueing from being a hitman to treading the boards or standing in front of the camera has been unsurprisingly complicated. Making matters thornier are the many ways that his past actions, as an assassin and just as Barry himself, have caused inescapable ripples. Season three focuses on history biting back again and again, including the investigation into murdered police detective Janice Moss (Paula Newsome, Spider-Man: No Way Home), the fallout with Barry's beloved acting teacher Gene Cousineau (Henry Winkler, The French Dispatch), his relationship with fellow actor Sally Reed (Sarah Goldberg, The Night House) after she gets her own show — plus the dramas that causes for Sally — and the vengeance sought by his ex-handler Monroe Fuches (Stephen Root, The Tragedy of Macbeth). Chaos ensues, emotional and physical alike, because Barry has always been determined to weather all the mess, darkness, rough edges and heart-wrenching consequences of its central figure's actions. That's true of his deeds not only in the past, but in the show's present, and it's one of the series' smartest and most probing elements. Hader and Berg know that viewers like Barry. You're meant to. That's what the first season so deftly established, and the second so cannily built upon. But that doesn't mean ignoring that he's a hitman, or that his time murdering people — and his military career before that — has ramifications, including for those around him. Indeed, season three also spies the reverberations for Gene, Sally and Fuches not just due to Barry, but thanks to their own shortcomings and questionable decisions as they keep mounting. It's no wonder that Barry is one of the most complex comedies currently airing, and that its third season is as intricate, thorny, textured and hilarious as the first two to begin with — and even more so as each new episode gives way to the next. That's no small feat, but it's an even bigger achievement given that it's ridiculously easy to see how cartoonish Barry would be in far lesser hands. (Or, how it might've leaned into a lazy odd-couple setup with Hader as the titular figure and Bill & Ted Face the Music's delightful Anthony Carrigan as Chechen gangster Noho Hank). But Barry keeps digging into what makes its namesake tick, why, and the effects he causes. It sinks in so deeply that this, not chasing an acting dream, is what the relentlessly gripping show is truly about. And, it follows the same course across its entire main quintet. In reality, perfect and flawed aren't binary options for any single person, and this sublime piece of TV art mirrors life devastatingly well. With visual precision on par with Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, two of the most stylishly and savvily-shot shows ever made — two series where every single frame tells a tale without saying a word, and no aesthetic choice makes the expected move — Barry's third season is also spectacular to look at. It ends with an image that as simple as it is truly haunting, after a climactic finale episode that also features an intense showdown set against a purposefully stark backdrop, plus an action scene handled with more finesse and flair than most big-screen releases. As a dramatic motorcycle chase and vivid raid earlier in the season also illustrate, Barry is as devoted to staging dynamite action scenes as it is at plunging deep into its characters. And, as every intelligently penned and outstandingly performed episode just keeps proving, too, this masterful show is downright stellar at that. Barry's third season also remains immensely funny, and also savagely unsettling. Yes, it and Hader can do it all. The third season of Barry — and the first and second seasons as well — is streaming in full via Binge in Australia and Neon in New Zealand. Images: Merrick Morton/ HBO.
In the global push for a healthier planet, we've seen some pretty creative recycling initiatives, with single-use plastic bottles transformed into Adidas kicks, discarded chewing gum used to make sneaker soles, and all sorts of other genius stuff being dreamt up in between. Now, a clever project happening closer to home will see a massive haul of soft plastics, glass bottles and printer cartridges recycled into 250 tonnes of asphalt and used to construct a road in Craigieburn, a suburb in Melbourne's north. The Aussie-first trial is the result of a collaboration between Hume City Council, infrastructure services company Downer, and local recycling organisations Red Group and Close the Loop, and it could be a game-changer for sustainability. As well as being cheaper to make and a whole lot easier on the environment, the asphalt is expected to be more durable, longer lasting and better suited to heavy traffic than its regular plastic-free counterparts. This particular stretch of road alone will save around 200,000 plastic bags, 4500 printer cartridges and the equivalent of 63,000 glass bottles from landfill. As Red Group Director Elizabeth Kasell explains, "it demonstrates a great step toward a circular system, where soft plastic packaging recovered through the REDcycle Program, and other materials previously destined for landfill, can be used as a resource for Australian roads". While the major supermarket chains will phase out plastic bags from next month, we still use a hell of a lot of plastic — so it would be great to see this being put into necessary infrastructure rather than adding to landfill.
Beer and yoga. An unlikely combination, but one that's gone gangbusters across the world. And after a few trials of the concept — including a class at Sydney's Wayward Brewing — Australia looks set to see the trend come out in full force with the launch of BierYoga. Having held weekly sessions across Berlin over the past 12 months, BierYoga has launched an Australian tour with a string of dates for their beer-focused yoga classes in Melbourne and Sydney. Each hour-long session will see punters getting bendy while knocking back brews, with beer-drinking incorporated into each classic yoga pose. Think sun salutations and reverse warriors, interspersed with sips of your favourite ale. BierYoga's team of qualified yoga instructors (and, we're sure, seasoned beer drinkers) will get you loose, limber, and having fun — whether you're a total yoga novice, or a well-practiced pro. Each session's priced at a budget-friendly $10 — just bring a towel or yoga mat and you're good to go. You'll need to buy a beer at the bar separately. Classes are happening over three Wednesday nights on February 8, 15 and 22 at The Village on St Kilda Road.
It's the horror franchise that's become a massive hit, and also sports a clear formula. We're talking about The Conjuring movies, which have become their own cinematic universe over the past eight years, and generally focus on eerie happenings in both ordinary and creepy abodes. If you saw the original 2013 film, its 2016 sequel, the three Annabelle flicks to-date, The Nun or The Curse of the Weeping Woman, then you'll know what we're talking about. Indeed, based on how much cash the combined saga has earned at the box office so far, we're betting you've watched at least one of them. If people keep turning out to see the series' movies en masse, then they'll keep being made, even if some hit the mark and some are terrible. That's how Hollywood works, after all. So, a third Conjuring film is now a thing — becoming the third movie specifically with The Conjuring in its title, and the broader franchise's eighth entry. In The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, however, the saga seems to be trying something a little different. Bumps and jumps still abound, at least based on the just-dropped first trailer, but so does a crime-thriller setup. Here, paranormal investigators Ed (Patrick Wilson, The Commuter) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga, Godzilla: King of the Monsters) are called to assist in a murder trial, with the suspect claiming demonic possession as a defense. By now, you should know that the Warrens were real people, and that some of the franchise's movies draw upon cases and incidences they looked into — including this one. When it hits cinemas Down Under on June 3, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It will also feature Ruairi O'Connor (The Spanish Princess), Sarah Catherine Hook (Monsterland) and Julian Hilliard (WandaVision), while The Curse of the Weeping Woman's Michael Chaves is on directing duties. The latter takes over from Australian filmmaker James Wan (Aquaman, Fast & Furious 7), who helmed the first two Conjuring movies, but produces and gets a story credit here. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMZPMMWIWn4 The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It releases in cinemas Down Under on June 3.
Every film festival has its highlights, and its events that make each specific fest special. For the Melbourne International Film Festival, its Hear My Eyes gigs are one such standout. With movies such as Drive, Girlhood, Suspiria and Two Hands, MIFF has brought beloved and classic flicks back to the big screen, accompanied by a live — and all-new, completely original — score that's played while film lovers sit, watch and listen. It's as unique a movie-going experience as you can get, even if you've seen the feature in the spotlight countless times before — and for MIFF 2022, another exceptional film is getting the Hear My Eyes treatment. Get ready to revisit the role that made Eric Bana an international movie star, and to dive back into one of the most infamous crime tales in Australian history. In other words, get ready for Chopper. Twenty-two years after it first hit cinemas, the exceptional Andrew Dominik (This Much I Know to Be True)-directed flick will grace The Astor Theatre's big screen for one night only, on Wednesday, August 17, with sessions at 6.15pm and 9pm. It'll also pair its visuals with a brand-new original live score, as spearheaded by Mick Harvey, member of the Bad Seeds, and the musician who originally gave Chopper its soundtrack. As well as composing the new score, Harvey will be joined by supergroup Springtime — featuring Gareth Liddiard from Tropical Fuck Storm and The Drones, Jim White from Dirty Three and Chris Abrahams from The Necks — to play it live. That big-screen date with Uncle Chop Chop is all well, great and fantastic for Melburnians, with tickets on sale from 10am on Thursday, June 16 — but it's also excellent for Sydneysiders, too. Outside of MIFF, Hear My Eyes will bring its Chopper performance to the New South Wales capital, at City Recital Hall, at 6pm on Saturday, August 27. Tickets for the Sydney show go on sale at 9.30am on Thursday, June 16. Check out the trailer for Chopper below: HEAR MY EYES 2022: Wednesday, August 17 — 6.15pm and 9pm, The Astor Theatre as part of the Melbourne International Film Festival Saturday, August 27 — 6pm, City Recital Hall, Sydney Hear My Eyes' Chopper screenings with Springtime + Mick Harvey start touring the country in August. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the Melbourne International Film Festival and Hear My Eyes websites. The 2022 Melbourne International Film Festival runs from Thursday, August 4–Sunday, August 28 at a variety of venues around Melbourne and Victoria, and online. For further details, including the full program from Tuesday, July 12, visit the MIFF website.
Mondays can sometimes be a struggle, but that's not the case when Good Beer Week is in town. Especially when the beer-filled festival sees legendary chef Shane Delia (Maha, Biggie Smalls) team up with local brew stars Brick Lane to extend those weekend vibes with an evening of fire-driven food fun. Taking over the Queen Victoria Market tonight, Monday, May 13, the event features a lavish long table dinner, celebrating top local produce and cooked by Delia over open coals. It's a collaborative affair, too, and stars some truly delicious joint projects. You'll taste a limited-edition fresh-hop Brick Lane beer crafted with Ellerslie Hops, prime cuts of beef fed on the brewery's spent grain and hops and freshly baked Baker Bleu bread made using brewery wort. There'll also be a sorbet crafted from Brick Lane beer, a one-off gin cocktail courtesy of CBD distillery Little Lon, and plenty of opportunity to talk shop with the brewers.
Chapel Street has another burger joint, and this time it's the internationally loved RocoMamas. The Windsor restaurant marks the South African group's Australian debut, with the space boasting an edgy combination of neon lighting, polished concrete and street art by Sabine Kahwati. Here, RocoMamas is treating locals to their first taste of its signature 'smashed burgers', where each meat patty is rolled into a ball and then squashed flat onto the grill to lock in the juices. Choose yours crafted from beef, chicken or a meat-free ensemble. House iterations include the Rock Star, with swiss cheese, barbecue relish and RocoMamas' own mayo, the Old Skool combination of tomato, onion and special sauce, and the no-holds-barred Chilli Cheez Bomb, loaded with bacon, cheddar, mozzarella, fresh chilli and a house-made cheese croquette. Otherwise, go the DIY route and customise your ultimate smash creation from a sprawling list of burger additions. Elsewhere on the menu, you'll find all the usual suspects — flame-grilled pork, beef and lamb ribs, loaded fries, onion rings, and chicken wings in varying degrees of mouth-burn. To match, there's a full bar offering — with local beers, wine and cocktails — as well as a line of decadent custard shakes.
Choose life. Choose celebrating a movie that defined the '90s, made Ewan McGregor a star and instantly made everyone's favourite flicks of all time list. Choose spending 2017 revelling in all things Trainspotting. Film fans already have long-awaited sequel T2: Trainspotting (which is scheduled for a February release) to look forward to, and now theatre fans in Australia can choose something else: Trainspotting Live. Choose 75 minutes of intense, immersive page-to-stage antics, as based on Irvine Welsh's 1993 novel about Edinburgh heroin addicts, and first adapted for the theatre in the UK back in 1995. Yes, that means that Harry Gibson's award-winning original stage version was written before Danny Boyle's iconic 1996 movie — and you haven't really experienced the story of Renton, Begbie, Sick Boy and company until you've seen it acted out, live and in person, right in front of you. Transporting its all-Scottish cast and their distinctive accents to Adelaide from February 17 to March 19, Melbourne's fortyfivedownstairs from March 22 to April 13, and Brisbane Powerhouse from April 19 to 22, Trainspotting Live does more than that — it also brings the audience into the show, starting with an extended rave, and even including the infamous 'Worst Toilet in Scotland' scene. It's no wonder that the production has been selling out shows in London, and earning rave reviews for its no-holds-barred approach. The fact that it's being staged by In Your Face Theatre should give you an indication of what you're in for. Welsh — that is, the man who literally wrote the book, plus a sequel, prequel and Begbie-focused spin-off, and recently floated the idea of a TV adaptation — called Trainspotting Live the "best way to experience Trainspotting", in case you needed any more convincing. Just don't go confusing it with the BBC television program of the same name, which is actually about looking at railways. Trainspotting Live plays in Adelaide from February 17 to March 19, at Melbourne's Fortyfivedownstairs from March 22 to April 13, and at Brisbane Powerhouse from April 19 to 22, 2017. For more information, visit the production website.
We've heard of public bookshelves and we see piles of terrible self-help books left outside people's terrace houses all the time (just one time, we'd like to pick up a classic), but this New York artist has found a different way to pass on his unwanted paperbacks. Shaheryar Malik, an art director originally from London but working in NYC, left piles of books in high traffic spots around the city for people to pick up and read — and has created a pretty bloody beautiful work of art in the process. Dubbed The Reading Project, the art experiment was both a way for Malik to pass on books from his personal collection and express himself in NYC in a way that wasn't just taking another selfie. So he placed books in some of the busiest spots in one of the busiest cities in the world — Times Square Subway Station, Central Park, The High Line, Brooklyn Bridge — and had photographer Daniel Yim take a single photo of them. Then, the books were left for passersby to pick up, take home and read. Malik left a note with his contact details in each of the books, and according to The Guardian, he's recieved over 60 responses so far. The result is some seriously great photos of books in some of the world's most iconic locations. And literary nerds will be pleased to know that Malik has a diverse range of books in his collection, with titles ranging from Portuguese literature to the history of Nazi Germany — so if you ever bump into one of his book piles, you'll find much more than just the same self-help schtick. Via The Guardian. Images: Daniel Yim.
It isn't every day that wandering through Federation Square involves walking past — or through — a whopping 3000 kilograms of clothing waste. Thanks to an eye-catching, awareness-raising, three-day-only pop-up, however, Melburnians can currently do just that. Until Thursday, April 28, a hefty pile of discarded fashion is sitting in the middle of the Victorian capital, all to draw attention to how many threads are thrown away by Australians. The sustainability focused installation is a collaboration between Kathmandu and zero-waste advocate Joost Bakker, and it'll instantly teach you something — because the 3000 kilograms of discarded clothing that's pivotal to the piece only represents the amount of textiles disposed of by Aussies in a mere five-minute window. That's how much that gets thrown away every five minutes, in fact, with Kathmandu and Bakker's team-up designed to make that stark truth hit home. "The thing that shocked me the most — I just thought I'd use 500 kilos of clothing, but then I got 200 kilos of clothing in just one day," Bakker tells Concrete Playground. "I just went 'oh my god'. There's just this huge volume. I just couldn't quite comprehend the volume, and the weight. And then when you see these piles of clothing, or you see factories full, or you see it in landfill — the energy, the water, the labour, everything that's gone into creating that, and it's just thrown into landfill, it's crazy." The 3000 kilograms of clothes that Bakker has amassed for this project — with the help of clothing recycling centre Upparel — is used in a tunnel structure that visitors to Fed Square can mosey through. Still, it's hard not to feel the the scale of it. Again, that's completely by design. "My core belief is that people are aware, they'll do something about it," says Bakker. "Even if it's just one person who walks through that structure and gets inspired and comes up with a solution — that's what's so exciting. Globally, so many people are putting their energy into finding solutions that, over the next ten years, it'll be a thing of the past. I have no doubt that clothing waste will not exist very quickly because we're all putting our energy into it and trying to find solutions. Humans are amazing at finding solutions when we put our energy and efforts into it, and that's what's happening now. That's really what this installation is all about," he continues. The reason for the collab with Kathmandu: the company asked, and gave Bakker free rein to come up with his own way to highlight the fashion-waste problem. "I thought it was quite inspiring that a brand wanted to actually highlight this, and so I got quite excited," he notes. "I wanted to really come up with a way that you could actually immerse yourself in a volume [of textiles]. If you have a pile of clothing, it's very difficult to get a sense of how much that is," Bakker tells CP. "So I wanted to create a structure where you were really in it and immersed in it. And I'm based in Monbulk, I'm surrounded by flower farmers, and I was able to access plastics that are used for greenhouses — these are all offcuts, and we've put lots of layers of offcut plastic to create that structure that allows you to see the enormous waste that's generated." Kathmandu is also launching a new 100-percent biodegradable BioDown puffer jacket, which Melburnians will see hanging through the installation. It's made from materials — outer, inner, down, zips, threads, tags and all — that are treated with a special additive that helps accelerate biodegradation, but only in a landfill environment. The jackets will hit stores from Thursday, April 28. Bakker notes that it's moves like these that'll help see textile waste eliminated — an issue that's only been around for half a century or so anyway — and unwanted fashion items reused and recycled instead. "My belief is that waste is just a human thing. Waste is something that pretty much is only a fifty-year thing, it's a very short space of time that we've generated a waste industry. Even if you go back 60, 70 years, everything was a resource, so we didn't have things like landfills and waste dumps," he explains. "I view waste as something beautiful. It's amazing how many people have commented 'the structure is actually really beautiful, but it's filled with waste, it's filled with something that we discard, something that we don't put any value on'. All my work has been about turning that around," Bakker continues. "In nature, there's no waste. You don't walk around a forest and go 'oh my god, I'm surrounded by all this rubbish'. It's only a human thing, because everything becomes something else again. I think the sooner that as a society we embrace that idea, we can completely design waste out of everything. It can happen really quickly, and I think it will happen really quickly, because we are all aware now." Kathmandu's fashion-waste installation is on display at Federation Square, Flinders Street, Melbourne, from Tuesday, April 26–Thursday, April 28.
It isn't often that Americans seek inspiration from Australia; our humble shores are prone to mimicking rather than leading by example. And yet, just last week, Melbourne boys Chris McPherson and Chris Rendell launched Flinders Lane, a New York eatery inspired by their home city. "Most of the Australian restaurants in the city are like Outback Steakhouse or the Crocodile Dundee sort of vision," McPherson told the Village Voice. "We wanted to bring back what's actually there." Their venue, which opened on February 3, is full of the cross-section of cultures and cuisines that is so unique to Australia. McPherson and Rendell met a few years back, quickly agreeing on the need to plot a restaurant that would pay homage to modern Australian food. Predominately driven by a serious case of homesickness, the Aussie expats quickly set to work, establishing a spot for contemporary Australian cooking, a long way from home. The result? A delicious array of fresh seafood and Australian fruit and veg, from chef Rendell. Many dishes also sport an identifiable Asian influence — highlights include tandoori rabbit, steamed snapper in sesame broth and a chicken san choy bau. Drinks-wise, the boys aim to offer a boutique selection of domestic and international wines, as well as a seasonal cocktail list, steering away from the heavy Shirazes that characterise many stereotypical perceptions of an Australian drop. Three tap beers, including the classic Coopers Green, are also available to accompany your grub. The 40-seat eatery isn't covered with Melbournalia; its sleek, pared-back look is a more subtle nod to the city. There is, however, a stunning collection of Melbourne photography, including a massive print of namesake Flinders Lane on the back wall. Flinders Lane New York is located in the East Village: 162 Ave A, 212-228-6900. Via Fork in the Road.
Byron Bay Bluesfest returns for the first time since 2019 over the Easter long weekend with more than 170 performances. With international borders reopening, festival organisers have secured a stellar lineup of musicians from home and abroad. There are local draws like Midnight Oil, Crowded House, Paul Kelly, Jimmy Barnes, The Teskey Brothers, Amy Shark, Briggs and Hiatus Kaiyote, as well as the final performance of The Cat Empire with the original lineup. Plus, get excited for international stars such as George Benson, Morcheeba, The Wailers and Amadou & Mariam. The numbers tell their own story — five days, 170-plus performances, and over 70 food and market stalls mean that Bluesfest has more than enough to keep you entertained and make sure your trip north was well worth the drive. Marking its return in a big way, this year's Bluesfest runs from Thursday, April 14–Monday, April 18 at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm. And if you're wondering who else is on the huge bill, other acts include John Butler, Xavier Rudd, Pete Murray, Ian Moss, Mark Seymour & The Undertow, Kate Ceberano, Kasey Chambers, The Waifs, The Church and Kate Miller-Heidke — as well as Fat Freddy's Drop, Josh Teskey and Ash Grunwald, John Williamson, CW Stoneking, The Tea Party's Jeff Martin playing the songs of Led Zeppelin and Rockwiz Live. [caption id="attachment_661844" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Joseph Mayers[/caption] Top image: Andy Fraser
That glass of wine or icy cold beer you've been sipping solo and feeling guilty about it — it's about to become a thing of the past if you're a pet owner. Our furry companions share life's ups and downs, and now critters of both the feline and canine variety can share a beverage too thanks to the invention that is animal-friendly wine. It's the tipple that'll make humans feel better without even drinking it, and one that cats and dogs will enjoy... we think. Actually, it might just be something two-legged folks like the idea of more than their four-legged friends — but who doesn't want to pour their kitty or pooch a hard-earned drink? Currently available in the US, pet wine doesn't actually involve alcohol. Don't give your mouser or pup real booze, folks. Instead, it's made from beets, herbs and catnip, and comes in cutely named varieties such as The Doggy Mary, The Meowmosa, Catbernet, Chardognay and Pinot Meow. They're just some of the products startup Apollo Peak has been selling for the last two years, alongside special cat wine glasses — and they now have competition thanks to Pet Winery and their Catinis and Dog Perignon. Like all great ideas, someone else got their first, with a Japanese company releasing Nyan Nyan (or meow meow) Nouveau for cats back in 2013. Still, your purrfect pal surely won't mind, even if felines are known for their discerning tastes. Plus, your barking buddy now gets to join in the fun too. Via Good Food.
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.
Back to the Future Part II promised us many things. Hoverboards, video calls, instant pizza, the Chicago Cubs winning the world series, Jaws 19 — the list goes on, but only some of these have actually come true to date. While the rest of us have been wishing we could jump in flying cars, however, one researcher has taken inspiration from Marty McFly's self-lacing shoes. In the spirit of tech-infused wearables, Associate Professor Jayan Thomas from the University of Central Florida has developed solar-powered textiles that can be turned into clothing. "If you can develop self-charging clothes or textiles, you can realize those cinematic fantasies – that's the cool thing," said Thomas. That's not the only impressive part of his research, though. Not only can the copper ribbon filaments at the centre of his breakthrough capable of harvesting and storing energy from the sun, but they might then be able to be used to power other electronic devices, such as mobile phones. Imagine never having to worry about your smartphone's battery levels while you're out of the house, no matter how much time you spend snapping photos and posting them to Instagram. Imagine being able to charge your laptop, tablet or e-reader just by sticking it in your bag. Imagine being free from portable chargers, cables and taunting on-screen power indicators. We're not quite at that stage yet, but that's one of the uses Thomas envisages for his new technology, alongside electric cars. It's enough to make you exclaim "great Scott!" several times over. Via Tech Times.
Outside of Melbourne, Bendigo offers one of the richest, liveliest, best-supported art scenes in Victoria — if not Australia. Over the past few years, artists, musicians and writers have flocked to the city, in pursuit of lower rents, bigger spaces, stunning historical buildings and countryside locales. The exodus has inspired several major festivals, including the Bendigo Writers Festival, Victoria's incarnation of Groovin' The Moo and, as of September 2018, the inaugural White Night Bendigo. And as is often the case, good coffee and delicious eats have followed hot on the culture scene's heels. So, if you've been looking for an excuse to escape the city, look no more. We've partnered with Mitsubishi, in celebration of its new Eclipse Cross, to bring you the best things to do in Bendigo on your next weekend escape. Being just a 90 minutes' drive north of Melbourne, it's a small effort for a large return. [caption id="attachment_677150" align="alignnone" width="1280"] White Night.[/caption] SEE AND DO To experience White Night taking over Bendigo for the first time ever, plan your visit for Saturday, September 1. Originating in Paris in 2002, this festival has gone on to illuminate more than 20 cities across the globe each year. That includes Melbourne since 2013 and Ballarat since 2017. Expect to see Bendigo's magnificent architecture, laneways, parks and trams transform into a glowing wonderland of bright lights and installations from 7pm–2am. Headlining the program is Debra Goldsmith's Chandeliers, which will transform Dudley House into a mini Versailles using spectacular chandeliers made from recycled plastic items. Also on the bill, Head in the Clouds — a piece by artist Cameron Ross and illustrator-author Ben Sanders — will transport you to a faraway land of puffy cumulus formations. At the Capitol Theatre, Guerrilla Opera will combine live performance and light, where opera singers will perform on the steps as projections dance in the background. And inside the theatre, you can get a taste of the White Night film festival. [caption id="attachment_669921" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bendigo Art Gallery.[/caption] Along with White Night, Bendigo's many galleries beckon. The classic is the Bendigo Art Gallery. Established in 1887, the gallery is one of Australia's oldest (and biggest) regional art institutions. Until Sunday, September 16, explore Another Day in Paradise: a moving post-humous exhibition by Bali Nine member Myuran Sukumaran, who was executed by order of the Indonesian Government in April 2015. Bendigo Art Gallery is just one stop to make while you're in the View Street Arts Precinct, which features a thriving collection of art spaces, theatres and boutiques. Beyond the confines of four walls, Bendigo's artists have been busy painting murals and building sculptures. Enter Chancery Lane's Gaudi-inspired black gates created by local artist Yvonne George. Beyond the gates, you'll find a world of street art, specialty coffee, craft brews and independent designers. Then, wander through Pennyweight Walk's open-air gallery, where several new commissions are on the boil. Also worth a peek is the Bendigo Living Arts Space, for contemporary exhibitions by emerging and established artists, and the Bendigo Pottery, where ceramicists have been at the wheel for more than 150 years. Watch a demo in action or get your hands dirty making your own pot for just $20. [caption id="attachment_682560" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cortille.[/caption] EAT There are a bunch of excellent cafes around Bendigo, brewing beans from both local roasteries and those in the big smoke. Start at Old Green Bean, a friendly micro-roastery and cafe housed in an old-school dancehall. Here you can dig into tasty, nutritious bites, such as spicy roast mushrooms on sourdough with a poached egg, ricotta, truffle, rocket and parmesan. Take a short wander out the back to find a vintage clothing shop and pick yourself up something nice. Another welcoming spot is The Good Loaf, a bakery and cafe set in a heritage-listed building in the heart of the CBD. For a lighter brekkie, opt for the toasted bread board, which gives you a choice of any of the bakery's breads (you'll also get 20% off on a loaf of bread to save for later); otherwise, try one of the more substantial dishes based around homemade baked goods, such as brioche french toast with berry compote, vanilla bean mascarpone and maple syrup. In Cortille's retro caravan, Axil Coffee comes served alongside seasonal dishes, including a handful of decadent waffles, and at Percy and Percy, linger over colourful breakfast dishes like the breakfast board featuring granola with yoghurt and berries, avocado and a poached egg and bacon on toast with hollandaise. Vegetarians should look to the breakfast bowl packed with black quinoa, roasted broccoli, cauliflower, raisins, smokey tomato relish, avocado, poached egg, radish and herbs. [caption id="attachment_682125" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Woodhouse.[/caption] Come evening, the aromas wafting from The Woodhouse's redgum chargrill will be hard to ignore. Among the dark timbers and exposed brickwork of this hideaway, owner-chef Paul Pitcher elicits the richest, smokiest flavours out of some of the best steak in Victoria — from Cohuna's wagyu to Inglewood's dry-aged eye fillet. At Mr Beebe's, you'll be feasting on more quality produce via creative charcuterie, such as hickory-smoked duck breast with cumquat marmalade, and hefty mains, including lamb shoulder with provencal vegetables and parmesan polenta. If you've cash to splash, book a table at the hatted Masons of Bendigo for plates of locally sourced eats like the McIvor Farm Foods Berkshire pork belly with apple pudding, morcilla, black garlic, fennel and crackle pinwheel. Do be tempted by the Roaming Menu, which relieves you of the decision-making process and serves you a bunch of dishes selected by owner-chefs Nick and Sonia Anthony. [caption id="attachment_680483" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Balfour room in Bishops Court.[/caption] STAY The fact that so much of Bendigo was built in the 19th century (thanks to that gold rush wealth) means that the Airbnb offerings are teeming with cute Victorian cottages you can have entirely to yourself. To stay close to the CBD with a bunch of friends, book this cosy three-bedder or the luxurious Harper House. Alternatively, experience the gold rush era, mansion-style at Bishops Court, built in 1876. In the Balfour room, you'll be immersed in red velvet and antique furnishings, while lazing about in a four-poster bed in front a crackling fire — when you're not wandering around picturesque gardens or trying your hand at croquet, that is. [caption id="attachment_669918" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Quest Schaller Art Series Hotel in Bendigo.[/caption] For 21st-century sleeps, check out the spick-and-span Quest Schaller Hotel. Here, you can count on a spacious and contemporary room inspired by the artworks of Mark Schaller, with a queen-sized bed, balcony, expansive windows and mod cons, including a TV, coffee machine and free wifi. Where to next? Make the most of every week with Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross and navigate to your next destination here.
Anything can be festive with the right theming, and that includes doughnuts. Accordingly, it should come as zero surprise that Krispy Kreme will soon release a line of Christmas goods, aka doughnuts iced in red, green and white. What you might not be expecting, however, is the new range of doughnut-inspired Christmas biscuits for dogs that it has just dropped first. You know the thinking behind this new canine snack: anything humans can eat, dogs think they can munch on as well. Of course, as every responsible pet parent knows, that isn't the case. But this festive season, that's where Krispy Kreme's latest limited-edition range of 'doggie doughnuts' comes in. The company has dipped their paws in this territory before, back in 2021. This time, the round dog bikkies are all about the jolliest part of the year. Even better: they're decked out exactly as the Christmas range of doughnuts for humans will be when they arrive, so you and your pupper can go all matchy matchy with your snacks. Krispy Kreme's new dog treats sure do look like the real thing anyway, and once again hail from a collaboration with Coolum-based pet treats business Huds and Toke. They come in four packs for $10.95, with each biscuit featuring different decorating — so there's a Christmas tree-inspired bikkie, one that's meant to look like a Christmas pudding, another that's inspired by Santa's belly (including a blet) and a white, sprinkle-topped number simply dubbed 'festive ring'. The biscuits aren't made from doughnuts or chocolate, of course; instead, they use a hard-baked cookie base that uses peanut butter, carob and other canine-friendly ingredients. The bikkies are also meant to be good for chewing and for teeth cleaning — so they'll get your four-legged friend's tail wagging and help take care of their dental health. And yes, a big caveat: they are just for pets. So, just like how Fido or Rover can't have your doughnut, you can't have their version either. Find them now at Krispy Kreme stores around the country, including via drive-thru and click-and-collect. Krispy Kreme's Christmas doggie doughnuts are now available from the chain's stores — including via drive-thru and click-and-collect for a limited time.
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.
To put it lightly, 2020 has been a pretty surprising year for most. And, while so many small businesses have been forced to downsize in recent months, business owner Lauren Lance found herself in an unexpected position: signing the lease on a second location for her bespoke plant store, The Borrowed Nursery. "I've been so fortunate that I'm in an industry that has seen growth," says Lance. "People are taking more pride in their house because they're spending more time in them." Pre-COVID-19, Lance's focus for The Borrowed Nursery was for it to be a plant hire company servicing people from Brisbane to Byron Bay. The initial inspiration struck when helping some friends plan a wedding. "We were mixing and matching pots to plant succulents in, and I thought there might be something in this idea," she says. As a former interior designer, Lance quickly identified a gap in the market. "There was corporate plant hire available, but nothing where you could be a bit more creative about what you were choosing," she says. "It was all about finding an identity of our own. We wanted to focus on a more 'design' approach." [caption id="attachment_780820" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Shaelah Ariotti[/caption] The early days were a flurry of activity, and Lance remembers scribbling down her daily figures on scraps of paper: "I was not tech savvy. Eventually I realised I needed systems in place, to see which plants were doing well, and where we were making money." After starting with a traditional point of sale system, Lance moved the business across to Square. "We had a machine from a bank, but there were too many limitations. With Square, we could still get all the information and tracking we needed, but it was more user-friendly and cost-effective for the business." After outgrowing its original space, The Borrowed Nursery moved into a new spot at Mermaid Beach. Now with triple the floorspace, Lance was able to start offering the nursery for event hire, too. The industrial-chic venue is a dream location, with soaring ceilings, exposed beams, painted brickwork, and peach-hued doors. Unsurprisingly, the hiring arm of the business was a huge success, and Lance was able to hire the space out for weddings and engagement parties, baby showers, corporate workshops and photo shoots. The business was moving rapidly when suddenly the industry came to a standstill. Under Queensland's lockdown restrictions, with weddings and events postponed indefinitely, The Borrowed Nursery had to pivot in order to survive. "It was really nerve-racking at the start. The plant hire and event hire just completely dried up," she says. [caption id="attachment_780817" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Shaelah Ariotti[/caption] Luckily, Lance was able to lean into the online retail side of the nursery, and noticed that people were buying plants in "volumes we usually only see at Christmas". Shoppers were particularly interested in air-purifying plants, with increased sales of snake plants, ribbon plants and devil's ivy. With people entertaining more at home, The Borrowed Nursery was also quick to boost its homewares line, adding cheeseboards and platters for sale. "Last week we even branched out and added in a cocktail mix, which is kind of random but it's really working, and it's nice to support another local brand," says Lance. Going forward, the business owner is excited to open her next outpost of The Borrowed Nursery, at a location recently secured in Albion, Brisbane. [caption id="attachment_780818" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Shaelah Ariotti[/caption] Following Queensland's lockdown period, The Borrowed Nursery is currently focusing on traditional bricks and mortar retail. But Lance feels confident the e-commerce side of the business will be supported as it expands. "Square helped us with Click and Collect, and it's good to know that it's in the background for our next stage," she says. "You have to ride the wave. You have to be resilient. And you have to remember what your motivation is. For me, it was always about creating something from nothing, creating something truly unique, so that has kept me going." Find out how Square is supporting small businesses with the tools they need to grow, here. Top image: Shaelah Ariotti
If you're have a pet, you'll know that an overnight getaway just isn't the same without your fur baby in tow. Thankfully, a new breed of modern hotels is cottoning on to our animal-obsessed ways and delivering pet-friendly accommodation options all over Australia. The latest of these is Richmond's Element — an eco-conscious Westin brand hotel that's welcoming guests of both the human and four-legged variety. The Swan Street venue also marks Element's Australian debut. The hotel is kitted out with 168 suites, sporting a contemporary design by award-winning local architects Rothelowman and rocking a colour palette inspired by native Australian flora. But to be fair, your pooch probably doesn't give a toss about the clean, modern lines, or the eco-friendly elements like LED lighting, energy-efficient kitchenettes and water-saving taps. They will, however, be pretty keen on being able to stay with you in your room. Comfy dog beds are available for any four-legged guests, though there is a maximum of two dogs per room and they can't weigh more than 20 kilograms each — apologies to all those particularly leggy hounds and hefty pooches. The hotel also has dog-friendly mini-bar offerings, with a specially curated pet degustation (dog-ustation?) menu featuring bites like the 'Quarter Hounder' (pan-fried steak served with green vegetables) and 'The Good Dog' (market fish with steamed carrot). If you are bringing along your canine mate, there's an $80 pet cleaning fee per room, per stay. Of course, there's plenty in the way of onsite eats and drinks for humans, too. The main dining space transforms daily from a breakfast cafe to Mint Lane Restaurant & Bar for lunch and dinner, and there's a 24-hour grab-and-go pantry stocked with a sizeable range of snacks and other essentials. In keeping with the whole Westin label, the hotel also has a strong wellness focus, catering to active guests on the go. You'll find yoga classes, a 24-hour high-tech gym and even a free Bikes-to-Borrow bicycle hire program. Melbourne pet owners are having a pretty great run of late. Just a couple of weeks ago the Southside's Chapel Street stretch became Australia's first permanently pet-friendly major shopping precinct, while over in St Kilda, the Newmarket Hotel is now whipping up dog-friendly parmas. Find Element Melbourne at 588 Swan St, Richmond.
Fans of Instagrammable brunches and all-you-can-eat banquets in Prahran are about to become very happy eaters with the opening of the OTT Grand Lafayette on Clifton Street. The expansive all-day eatery is an Asian-inspired brunch spot by day and an all-you-can-eat Japanese diner by night. It's brought to you by the team behind Port Melbourne's now-closed Café Lafayette, who were known for taking popular brunch dishes to ridiculous levels then topping them off with Asian twists. Existing Lafayette fans will be glad to hear that the signature 'raindrop' cakes ($9) have made their way to Prahran — in matcha, brown sugar, rose and mint flavours. Other brunch menu items include matcha French toast, wasabi scrambled eggs and steamed bao in fried chicken, crispy eggplant, confit pork and beef teriyaki varieties. Legit cuppas by Five Senses are paired with a list of brightly coloured mocktails and cocktails, along with the Freaky Shake — a milkshake which offers toppings like mixed mini cereals, cream cheese and mini waffles. Once the sun starts to set, the 100-seater becomes an all-you-can-eat haven six nights a week, slinging bottomless plates of Japanese food for $32.80 per person. Think karaage chicken, baked scallops and miso-grilled salmon. Plus bao aplenty and the return of the "Freakshii", which is essentially mega-sized platters of colourful sushi. It's a bold move attempting to combine such distinct services, and we're not quite sure how well the two will gel to make one successful restaurant. It's one that will have to be seen — and tasted — to be believe. Grand Lafayette is now open at 9 Clifton Street, Prahran. Opening hours are Monday 8am–3pm, Tuesday–Friday from 8am–3pm and 5.30–9pm, Saturday from 8.30am–3pm and 5.30–10pm, and Sunday from 8.30am–3pm and 5.30–9pm. Images: Griffin Simm
As the slow TV trend has already taught us, staring at one gradually moving sight for an extended period can be extremely relaxing. As anyone who has ever visited an aquarium or had their own fish tank knows, watching sea creatures swim around also fits that description. Combine the two, and you have Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium's pandemic-era online resources: a series of calming videos designed to help Melburnians — and everyone, really — cope with everything that the past 14 months or so has thrown at us. Whether you're a Victorian back in lockdown, or you're located elsewhere throughout the country, we're certain that your day — and your daily routine — could use the kind of splash that only ocean critters can provide. On offer as part of 'Marine Mindfulness' are a range videos split across two sections, spanning guided meditation and slow TV. With the guided meditation clips, you have two choices: peer at luminous jellyfish for ten minutes, or spend six minutes with the creatures in Melbourne Aquarium's 2.2-million-litre oceanarium. Whichever you opt for, you'll also listen to soothing narration which tells you more about the marine life you're looking at. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FBVO7zrVZg&feature=emb_logo Prefer just watching and soaking in some peaceful music? The slow TV lineup has you covered. Spend 20 minutes watching the inhabitants of the aquarium's coral atoll, or 13 minutes peering at penguins, lizards, sharks, rays, fish and eels — and a pumpkin treat — last Halloween. There's also a 20-minute look at life in the oceanarium, as well as a 17-minute clownfish video. Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium's 'Marine Mindfulness' videos are available to view online. This article was first published on April 22, 2020, and was updated on May 29, 2021 with the most up-to-date information.
This week Art/Work sits down for a cuppa with artist Keg de Souza. Keg is one cool little lady who never fails to have her fingers in every pie. From social activist to book binder to screen printer to Rizzeria handler to tour guide to pun maker to home brewer - how she manages to fit in her day job, we don't know... Most days you'll find me starting my day by walking our snowdog to get a coffee, (for me, not him) reading the paper then I begin my 'working' day by checking emails and whittling away at whatever project I'm working on at the time - sometimes it's exciting like building a boat to paddle across the harbour, sewing a giant inflatable igloo or binding a book but most likely it's life administration which usually takes up the better part of my day! When I am not there I am at the Bookbinding Guild making books, if it's a Wednesday. I also often work collaboratively so sometimes I'm working or meeting with the various groups I'm in; SquatSpace, You Are Here or the Rizzeria. Basically I'm usually scheming about something. My day job is working as an educator at the Museum of Contemporary Art. The rest of the time I do odd bits of illustration, run workshops and whatever casual paid work I can muster up. At the moment I am working on researching a project based around the Rocks area, continuing my interest in neighbourhoods. It's just the beginning of the project but I have already found some pretty great stories from the area and I am excited to create a new work there. Also, I'm collecting broken umbrellas for it - so if you have any send them my way! If money wasn't an issue I'd just do more making and less of the other odd jobs. Being an artist in Sydney can be a struggle, just living in Sydney can be a struggle but I find that often inspires me to make stuff about that very thing. My neighbourhood is Waterloo, right next to Redfern Park which is a pretty great. In 2005 due to the anxiety we were feeling about the area's mysterious and rapid changes, SquatSpace - one of the collectives I work with, developed the Redfern/Waterloo Tour of Beauty. The tours take people on bike and bus tours of the area with various local speakers. We've been running these since then so I feel pretty connected to the area. The area has, and continues to change a lot. The rapid gentrification of the area is pretty intense - there is a fast spreading new-café rash across the park on Redfern Street and then there's Danks Street to the East but don't even get me started on that. All I can say is thank goodness for the Public Housing so we have a little diversity still, at the moment… My favourite spot in Sydney is listening to the bats in the Botanic Gardens, which unfortunately is all about to change with the plans that are already in place to evict them…wah. For a full rundown on all of Keg's projects click here or for her blog click here.
High-rise hotels and the Gold Coast go hand in hand; however, slumbering at great heights isn't the only way to stay at the tourist-friendly spot. The area is also home to plenty of motels, which come with their own low-key (and lower to the ground) charms — and, thanks to a new startup, they're getting an art-fuelled makeover. Meet Golden Ticket Motel, which wants to turn the Goldie's heritage motel rooms into highly Instagrammable experiences; think: Sugar Republic and the Museum of Ice Cream, but you can kip there. Beginning as a three-month pilot, it enlists artists to deck out motels, turning them into the kind of space that you'll want to snap copious amounts of pictures of. 'Art you can sleep in' is the official spiel, and it fits. The first venue doing the honours is Surf Street Motel in Mermaid Beach, with one room given a revamp by Gold Coast artist Dion Parker. Big, colourful, flower-filled designs feature heavily, as set against black walls. The makeover covers the brightly hued quilt and curtains, statement walls complete with a velvet centrepiece that's designed to look like flowing hair, and florals throughout the bathroom. No, you haven't stayed in a motel quite like this before. If that sounds like your kind of place for an evening, bookings are open for visits from May, starting from $235 per night. As well as soaking in the eye-catching interior design, you'll also be just a five-minute walk from Nobby Beach — because no GC stay is ever really complete without some surf, sun and sand, obviously. The pilot run is supported by a City of Gold Coast creative tourism grant — and if it goes well, the aim is roll out the concept to other Goldie motels. So, you might soon have more places to spend a night in. "The vision for Golden Ticket Motel is to create a unique overnight tourism product for the Gold Coast in collaboration with local artists during a time when there are limited exhibition opportunities for working artists in the area," said Golden Ticket Motel founder Lucy Fisher. "The Gold Coast is blessed with historic motels that should be celebrated, and I wanted to create a product that encourages motel visitation without any outlay from operators and introduce a new audience to this style of accommodation." "Ultimately, the aim is to build Golden Ticket Motel into a thriving creative tourism business based on the Gold Coast that works with artists and accommodation providers to create playful and unique overnight art experiences." Golden Ticket Motel's first pop-up at Surf Street Motel, Mermaid Beach, is available to book for the next three months. For more information, head to the Golden Ticket Motel website.
Melbourne has some amazing Italian restaurants, but the majority of them live on Lygon Street, in an exclusive clique. Across the river though, Cafe Di Stasio is the king of the green-white-red. It's a traditional, old-school kinda place, with indulgent pastas and meaty mains. We recommend the seared tuna with fennel, capers and pancetta and the oven baked salad of goat's cheese, tomato and basil for a good mix of indulgence and freshness. And if you have the stomach real estate, squeeze in the tiramisu. Once you're satiated, take a digestive stroll down the St Kilda, and enjoy the late sunset on the boardwalk — and total lack of weekend crowds and screaming kiddies. Image: Brook James.
We’re not talking lion hunting while munching caviar and canapés, nor are we dreaming of zebra reductions or tiger tartare: this gourmet safari, courtesy of travel experts Mr & Mrs Smith, features hotels whose restaurants alone are worth a bumpy ride in a 4X4, whose chefs are the big game of the food industry, and whose dining rooms draw food critics like thirsty wildebeest to a watering hole. 1. SANGOMA RETREAT Where: 70 Grandview Lane, Bowen Mountain, NSW What: Game reserve-inspired glam City grind got you ground down? Sydneysiders in need of respite should write their own prescription for a stay at African-inspired Sangoma Retreat in the Blue Mountains, just a 70-minute drive away, where five light, airy and very spacious suites loll across 10-hectare grounds. Rooms are blessed with huge freestanding Philippe Starck tubs and wraparound balconies for soaking up bush scenes, but chances are you’ll be hard-pressed to tear yourself away from the restaurant. Owner/chef Zenga Butler cooks up globe-trotting cuisine with Ottolenghi influences (healthy, seasonal, locally sourced and largely organic). It’s a relaxed affair: heaped platters of fish and salad, which you can help yourself to. 2. METROPOLITAN BY COMO Where: 27 South Sathorn Road, Tungmahamek, Sathorn, Bangkok, Thailand What: Manicured minimalism Australian chef David Thompson’s rice-white and mango-yellow Nahm restaurant in the Metropolitan by Como, Bangkok hotel may survey the pool, but you’ll only have eyes for your food, however many starlets or stallions strut past. Expect elegant Thai cuisine featuring tingling flavours and succulent seafood: kingfish salad with chilli, lime and mint, deep-fried crab with pomelo, and coconut-cream-slathered desserts. Lesser known, but equally wonderful, is the hotel’s guilt-free Glow restaurant, where Amanda Gale’s zingy salads keep you feeling great. The low prices (around AU$21 for a fresh juice and two-course lunch) are equally revitalising. 3. ROYAL MAIL HOTEL Where: 98 Parker Street (Glenelg Highway), The Grampians, VIC What: Gourgeous gourmet pub Need a dose of vitamin C? Head to Royal Mail Hotel in the Grampians, where fat pumpkins, albino eggplants and juicy tomatoes flourish ripely in the green, green garden. Dan Hunter (formerly head chef at Spain’s two-Michelin-starred Mugaritz) flirts with vegetarians and omnivores alike via two 10-course tasting menus: one leafy; one meaty. This chef melts rules like butter: lamb comes with liquorice; pigeon is paired with white chocolate. Such creativity has garnered a fistful of awards, so book your table when you book your bedroom. There’s also a casual bistro with a sunny courtyard and a tapas menu, and – for less calorific moments – mountain views, hills for hiking and a peaceful outdoor pool. 4. QT SYDNEY Where: 49 Market Street, Sydney, NSW What: Theatrical temptress Scantily clad door-sirens with flame-red wigs, rooms with DIY martini kits, a buzzing bar and a spa with hammam, ice-room and hipster barber: at sexy QT Sydney hotel, you could easily forget to eat. That would be tragic, though, given the excellent restaurant housed in the hotel’s historic State Theatre and Gowings department store buildings. Helmed by executive chef Paul Easson, under the creative direction of Sydney restaurateur Robert Marchetti, Gowings Bar & Grill is a funked-up Euro-flash brasserie which relies of the most artisan producers for the freshest Australian ingredients, and cooks them to perfection in wood-fired rotisseries. Repair to the Gilt Lounge afterwards for vintage cocktails. 5. EICHARDT’S PRIVATE HOTEL Where: Marine Parade, Queenstown, New Zealand What: Historic haven with watery vistas If you fancy drinking in both Lake Wakatipu views and silky seafood chowder, book a bedroom at Eichardt’s Private Hotel in Queenstown. This glam grand dame has mountain- and lake-spying rooms, a famous bar and a very good restaurant. Choose between dining at the award-winning bar or at Eichardt's Parlour, a private lounge and dining area on the first floor, styled with Georgian grace. Chef Will Eaglesfield is the talent in charge, plating up delicious dishes such as wild-game terrine with house pickles and mustard, and salted-cod-and-potato croquettes with herb aioli. Comfy sofas, friendly service and a toasty fireplace keep things cosy. 6. LAKE HOUSE Where: 4 King Street, Daylesford, VIC What: Restrained rural retreat Delicious little Lake House hotel in Daylesford began life in 1984 as a 40-seat, weekend-only restaurant, owned by acclaimed chef Alla Wolf-Tasker. Fast forward more than a few years, and lake-scoping rooms and a Scandinavia-inspired spa with treetop hot tubs and a blissful 75-minute signature treatment have been added to the equation. The emphasis is still firmly foodie, though: what’s dished up varies according to the season, but you can expect house-made charcuterie, heritage vegetables and fruits, local trout, eel and cheeses, free-range pork and wagyu beef. Be sure to book your table when you bag your stay, and call by Alla’s more casual café, Wombat Hill House, in the nearby Botanic Gardens. 7. ESTABLISHMENT HOTEL Where: 5 Bridge Lane, Sydney, NSW What: Everything-under-one-roof design destination Devotees of dim sum will think they’ve died and gone to har gow heaven when they clap eyes upon Establishment Hotel’s impressive Cantonese restaurant, Mr. Wong, a sprawling 240-cover space. When pork buns pale, there are plenty of other in-house options: Est., for Australian fine dining with French and Asian flair; Sushi-e, for succulent sashimi; Palings, which has a 'kitchen' menu designed for sharing, and the stunning Gin Garden bar, with lush plants, sexy pendant lamps, raw brick walls and a choice of Thai and Australian dishes. This multi-tasking pleasure palace can organise access to the Fitness First gym next door, if you start to feel fatty. 8. HUKA LODGE Where: 271 Huka Falls Road, Taupo, New Zealand What: Trad Twenties hunting lodge Fan of fishing, food and fast-paced adventures? Huka Lodge has all three covered. Set in Taupo, home to New Zealand’s largest lake in the heart of the volcanic North Island, this heritage 1920s hotel was founded as a frill-free fishing lodge, but don’t expect simple dinners of fisherman’s pie. Instead, the Michelin-starred executive chef brings European influences to contemporary New Zealand cuisine, harnessing the finest fresh, flavoursome local ingredients, including fruit from the orchard. Menus change daily according to the produce available, but previous crowd-pleasers include: freshwater lobster butter-poached with lemon-infused gnocchi and watercress, and chocolate fondant with espresso ice-cream. Cosy up in the main dining room or dine alfresco in the riverside grounds. 9. SPICERS VINEYARDS ESTATE Where: 555 Hermitage Road, Pokolbin, Hunter Valley, NSW What: Modern manor house Lovers of vine things have long flocked to the green-gold hills of the Hunter Valley, where some of the country’s sweetest, punchiest grapes flourish. Spicers Vineyards Estate makes the most of its regional charms: the 350-strong wine list (manager Belinda Stapleton's pride and joy) includes local gems from Margan, Tyrrell's and the like, or old-world classics from Burgundy and Bordeaux, and the restaurant has a veggie patch, chickens and pigs, and clever chef Mark Stapleton. Botanica's contemporary menu is loaded with lip-smacking dishes, such as house-made charcuterie, slow-cooked duck with caramelised fennel, and hand-cut pappardelle with lobster cream. Rattan chairs, earthy tones and floor-to-ceiling windows offering serene vineyard views make for a relaxed setting. 10. THE PRINCE Where: 2 Acland Street, St Kilda, Melbourne, VIC What: High-drama design, art deco grace Melbourne knows that the way to a visitor’s heart is through their stomach: this is the city where pop-up eateries sprout like mushrooms in the little laneways, after all. The Prince boutique hotel, a colourful art deco distraction in bayside St Kilda, lives up to its location, with not one but two ravishing restaurants. At Circa, rising star Paul Wilson and seasoned chef Jake Nicolson rustle up sharing plates with Asian zing: kingfish sashimi with yuzu and basil jelly, or bonito with green tea, for example. There’s a Mexican in the basement, too, but don’t be scared: Acland St Cantina spans a casual canteen and a cute, characterful restaurant. Save room for the salted-caramel ice-cream churros taco (we kid you not).
Your dog-child shuns the common doghouse you expect it to live in, and this leaves you feeling hurt and confused. But luckily Dogchitecture, a new exhibition in Mexico City, is presenting revolutionary doghouse proposals by ten design firm to help dogs feel at home. It must have been interesting getting inside the mind of man's best friend to create these functional and visually intriguing puppy palaces. Inspired by Kenya Hara's Architecture for Dogs project, which paired designers with a particular breed for all kinds of unexpected results, the firms exhibiting in Dogchitecture include BNKR Arquitectura, Rojkind Arquitectos, Broissin, PRODUCTORA, a-001, Taller 13, PMS Arch Buro, ROW Studio, Laboratorio Arquitectura Básica and ESOS. Polyforum Siqueiros in Mexico City hosts the exhibition until August 18 2013, when it goes on the road. Below is a look at some of the proposals on offer to tempt the fastidious chihuahua in your life. Productora 'Pencil House' PRODUCTORA's 'Pencil House' aims to please the eye. a-001 'Tangle Nest' a-001's Tangle Nest looks fun and interactive, like those alarming foam pits you used to be forced to leap into during gym class. ESOS 'El Wokdog' This ESOS doghouse is called "Wok" by day, cosy "Igloo" by night. BNKR BNKR Arquitectura channels dogs' enjoyment of burrowing and chasing their own tails. Broissin Broissin's proposal bypasses functional concerns and opts for aesthetic bewilderment, befitting the more esoteric dog. Beneath One Fern And here is Beneath One Fern, hosted by Zach Galifianakis. Via PSFK
The folks behind Welcome to Thornbury, Welcome to Brunswick and Belles Hot Chicken have done it again, this time unveiling a new pizza-slinging, DJ-fuelled party spot on Sydney Road. Dubbed NONO, it's made its home within the former Penny Black digs, with space for a huge 950 punters across its public bar, roomy beer garden and dedicated rave cave. Kicking on until 2am Thursday to Sunday, NONO is a surefire hit for night owls and music fiends alike, with a top-notch roster of local DJs on the decks, curated by Music Director Anyo Castro. Rubi Taboo and Bettie Rose are set to host Thursday's riotous drag bingo night (weekly from December 15), and there'll be many a music-filled Sunday session to come, too. In keeping with NONO's unpretentious nature, Executive Chef Sandy Melgalvis (Three Blue Ducks, Mulberry Group) is plating up a laidback menu of top-quality $8 pizzas, all hand-rolled to order. Find options like a classic margherita; a mushroom, mozzarella and fontina number; and a lamb kebab pizza topped with slow-cooked shoulder, spinach and tzatziki. And yep, they're $8, all day, every day; as are extras like a rocket salad and the crinkle-cut fries bathed in Belles' famed seasoning. An easygoing drinks offering features classic cocktails alongside signatures like the Northside Lights (Patient Wolf Gin with Pampelle Ruby Grapefruit liqueur and rosemary syrup) and the Super Silver Haze, crafted on Don Juilo and jalapeno brine. There's also a couple of cocktail jugs, a tap lineup starring plenty of 4 Pines brews, and fridges stocked with tinnies from the likes of Young Henry and Mountain Goat. Want help welcome NONO to the 'hood? The venue's kicking things off with a bang on December 17 (1pm–1am) and 18 (1–10pm), with a few specials and a cheeky nod to its Sydney Road address. Not only will it be giving away 420 pizzas across the weekend, but you'll also score house pints and shots for an easy $4.20 a pop. Find NONO at 420 Sydney Road, Brunswick. It's open from 4pm–very late Thursday to Saturday, and from 1–10pm Sunday.
If you're anything like us, you buy a lot of coffee, and odds are that means you burn through a lot of takeaway cups. But what you might not realise is that those cups contain a plastic liner that means they cannot be recycled. It's for this reason that the City of Sydney is throwing its weight behind a BYO coffee cup campaign – and a ton of local cafes are already on board. The aim of Responsible Cafes is to get cafes and customers to ditch takeaway coffee for good. "There are now over 2,500 cafes across Australia offering a discount to people with a BYO coffee cup," said founder Justin Bonsey. "It's great for our pocketbooks, great for cafes to bring in new customers and great for the planet." Cafes keen to get on board can sign up via the Responsible Cafes website. In return, they'll be added to a searchable map that, according to Bonesey, is visited by over 1 million people every year. Among the cafes that have already signed up include About Life Bondi Junction and Surry Hills, Darlinghurst's Infinity Bakery and The Royal, Surry Hill's BangBang Espresso and Soul Origin locations across the CBD and suburbs. The campaign will receive an injection of government funding via the City of Sydney's latest round of knowledge exchange sponsorships. "In our area alone, 100 million takeaway coffee cups end up in landfill every year – and each one takes around 50 years to decompose," said Lord Mayor Clover Moore. "Responsible Cafes connects and promotes cafes that encourage customers to refuse takeaway cups for good, and they're aiming to recruit another 100 new city cafes." It's not the first step that the City of Sydney has taken to address the issue. Last year they gave a $17,500 grant to Closed Loop, who installed standalone bins for coffee cups in office buildings in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. And it's also not the only bit of good environmental news we've gotten recently. Just last week, supermarket chains Coles, Woolworths and Harris Farms all pledged to stop using single use plastic bags as of 2018. Keep it up, Australia.
If you've ever braved the winding line for a Persa party in the cold, you're probably aware that the pub knows how to throw one. Because, once you've persevered, you're in for a real doozy at Fitzroy's Perseverance Hotel. And, this Queen's Birthday long weekend, the pub is holding a 'Yas Queen!' party in honour of our dear monarch Lizzy. Head along on Sunday, June 9, and royally indulge with two hours of bottomless beverages, between 8–10pm, including house beer, wine and vodka for $30 per person. And snacks are sorted, too. The pub will be serving up $10 jaffles all night. God save the Queen, indeed (and us from partying without proper sustenance). Plus, to celebrate in proper fashion, The Persa will be playing banging tunes all night long. Tickets are likely to be snapped up quick so grab 'em early. Celebrate our reigning monarch and her 93 years on earth (and the extended weekend) with bottomless beverages and a solid night of dancing tunes. Yas Queen Long Weekend Party will kick off at 7pm on Sunday, June 9. To purchase tickets, head this way.
