If an evening spent scoffing cheese, quaffing wine and mastering the art of ceramics sounds like your kind of lockdown situation, then you'd best clear all other weekend plans. The cheese experts at Maker & Monger have joined forces with The Pot Dispensary ceramics studio and created the boredom-busting iso kit you've been waiting for. Designed for two-to-four people, the new Cheese, Wine & Pottery Pack ($190) is a jam-packed evening of fun in a box, which you can have sent directly to your doorstep. Inside, you'll find all the bits and pieces needed to whip up a few pottery masterpieces: five kilograms of stoneware clay, a cotton work surface, a ceramics toolkit and a step-by-step guide. Plus, there's plenty more expert guidance over on The Pot Dispensary's Instagram IGTV channel, with a series of easy-to-follow video tutorials for making bowls, incense holders and more. While you flex all that creative muscle, you can enjoy some hard-earned vino. The box comes with your choice of Mosaique wine, either the Clotilde Davenne Crémant de Bourgogne fizz, or a 2019 Domaine Raphael Chopin gamay. They're both French and they both pair well to the kit's other star additions — a trio of cheeses and accompaniments, as chosen by Maker & Monger's Anthony Femia. Dig into the likes of a Marcel Petite comté, gorgonzola with honeycomb, the Delice de Bourgogne triple cream brie, Bonilla a la Vista potato crisps, fresh grapes and quince paste. Pick up is available from the Prahran Market, or you can arrange delivery to select suburbs for an additional fee. Images: Kate Shanasy
The warmer weather can only mean one thing for Melburnians: Sunday sessions with plenty of barbecued food and cold bevvies. And, here to satisfy that need is Harlow Bar, who is slinging a series of boozy, bottomless barbecue lunches — so you don't have to warm up the barbie yourself. Harlow's new offer is available every Sunday this summer between 1–3pm, from Sunday, November 3. For $59, you can snack on endless hot, smoky meats and sides, plus knock back plenty of cold ones. Food-wise, expect drunken lamb ribs, smoked kranskys and beer-brined chicken wings. Load up your plate with sides of potato salad, curried cauliflower salad, mac and cheese and pineapple hot sauce slaw. Plus, there'll also be plenty of VB-drenched onions and fat stacks of white bread to complete your meal. You won't go thirsty either, as you'll get an esky full of beers on arrival, then your choice of selected beers, house wine and spritzes after that. And no Sunday barbecue would be complete without some tunes. There'll be a DJ spinning music all arvo to keep the good times going. Grab your mates and book your spot to make sure you don't miss out.
Mary, Queen of Scots is a film steeped in two time periods, yet firmly of the times. A historical drama set in the 16th century as two female monarchs battle for supremacy, it's also a movie that could've only been made today. The true tale itself has graced the screen before, but the angle favoured by this interpretation of the story is straight out of the #MeToo era. As much as Mary, Queen of Scots tells of its titular ruler (Saoirse Ronan) and her conflict with her cousin Queen Elizabeth I (Margot Robbie), it also explores the forces pitting them against each other and putting them in their places. When Mary returns to Scotland after a childhood spent in France, she regains her throne and sets her sights on her other birthright. The only legitimate child of King James V, she boasts a claim to England, even if Elizabeth already wears that crown. What follows is a quest for sovereignty by two relatives as different as they are alike. Mary is a teenage Catholic open to love, life and birthing a successor to both kingdoms, while Elizabeth is a Protestant who refuses to marry and isn't expected to bear an heir. But they're each headstrong, intelligent and passionate, and determined to fight for what's theirs regardless of the obstacles in their path. In a movie filled with men unhappy about serving the fairer sex, including Mary's disapproving half-brother (James McArdle), a scare-mongering religious leader (David Tennant) and Elizabeth's duplicitous chief advisor (Guy Pearce), there's no doubting how cruel the world can be to a woman in power. While political manoeuvring and machinations drive Mary, Queen of Scots' plot, confident first-time director Josie Rourke works with screenwriter Beau Willimon (House of Cards) to focus on the bigger picture. Behind both queens stands a line of wolves in sheep's clothing, complying with their rulers to the bare minimum and trying to push their own agendas. If the male posturing and plotting didn't ring so true, it might've felt like a forced, convenient modern revision designed to highlight that women still struggle to be taken seriously, even if their troubles are finally getting more attention. Sadly, men attempting to tear down female leaders hasn't gone out of fashion in the past five centuries. A veteran of the London stage before this, Rourke knows where the strength of the story lies. Although her handsomely mounted picture is based on the biography Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart and clearly favours the Scottish monarch over her cousin, Mary's struggles are deepened by the comparison to Elizabeth. Indeed, through skilled, fluid cross-cutting, the film convincingly closes the gap between two women who only actually share one scene. Their face-to-face, when it comes, is climactic, emotional and memorable (not to mention strikingly staged by Rourke and her team), but Mary, Queen of Scots places them face-to-face from start to finish, in a manner. History branded Mary and Elizabeth competitors; this version of history sees them as kindred spirits. Still, for all of Mary, Queen of Scots' successes, it ultimately mirrors the plight of its protagonists: striving for greatness, and to make an impact, yet often weighed down. It's a fine, meaningful film that could've been stellar, but sometimes makes its minutiae feel routine and elongated. After a while, the letters back and forth, the scheming and strategies, and the fears and the threats all bleed into each other, even for those already familiar with the details. Thankfully, the same can never be said of 2018 Oscar nominees Ronan and Robbie, each worlds apart from their respective acclaimed roles in Lady Bird and I, Tonya. One is plucky and idealistic, the other fierce yet silently fraying, and both are tinged by exhaustion and frustration — not from squaring off against each other, but from simply fighting to exist. Any movie would be lucky to have them, and their equally timely and timeless vision of women holding their own. Mary, Queen of Scots is lucky to have both. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEC-F8cBD9s
Conveniently (and fittingly) located next to Gardenvale train station, Think Blooms offers freshly cut flowers, indoor plants and impressive floral arrangements. The store is owned and operated by founder Emily, who has been interested in floristry from a young age. Her passion shows in the Brighton store where she produces floral arrangements for weddings, corporate events and small-scale personal gifts. In addition to seriously beautiful flower arrangements (check it out on Instagram), Think Blooms sells a variety of floral-inspired artwork and general giftware. If you're wanting to shop like a local while in Brighton, Think Blooms should be on your list.
Thanks to a certain chest-bursting franchise that first hit screens more than four decades ago, Ridley Scott has long been synonymous with science fiction. So when the veteran filmmaker jumps onboard a sci-fi TV series — featuring androids again, but no aliens this time around — it's definitely something worth paying attention to. That show is Raised by Wolves, which is set in a dystopian future in the 22nd century, when the earth has been destroyed by war. Two androids, known only as Mother and Father, head to the planet Kepler-22b with two human embryos in their care, with the obvious aim of restarting civilisation. While it's immediately apparent that little will go as planned — that's just not human nature — don't go thinking that you'll be able to pick this striking, big-thinking series' every twist and turn.
One of Australia's most beloved film critics is coming to a cinema near you — and she's bringing some of the greatest movies ever made along for the trip. Co-curated by Margaret Pomeranz, the Hollywood Retro Film Festival will showcase 22 classic titles from the 1930s to the 1960s, many which have not been seen on the big screen in decades. This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Trying to narrow down the program into a list of highlights is all but impossible — after all, there's not a single weak film on there. The Searchers, Spartacus and Gone with the Wind should please fans of historic drama, while lovers of film noir can catch Sunset Boulevard and The Maltese Falcon. If you want something a little lighter, try It's a Wonderful Life, or tap your toes along to Singin' in the Rain. And if you're really undecided, perhaps try Citizen Kane. We hear that one's meant to be pretty solid. See the full Hollywood Retro Film Festival program here.
Go to the cinema in India and you’re in for a real show — answering the blower at pivotal narrative moments and launching into loud, unbridled conversation, heavy jostling, impromptu sing-a-long's minus the bouncing red ball and throwing betel nut in particularly involving sequences are all common practice. Amidst all this lively commotion it’s easy to lose sight of the real action taking place onscreen, a crying shame considering the vividly crafted, infectiously emotive hyper-realities for which the Indian film industry has become world famous. This May, the second annual Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, which fortuitously falls on the 100 year anniversary of Indian films, brings a broad selection of more than 60 of India and the wider sub-continent’s best cinema to local Hoyts and ACMI theatres. Highlights include ACMI’s 100 Years of Indian Cinema program, pure sequin encrusted escapism via Hurrah Bollywood and the counter-balancing Beyond Bollywood, a collection of experimental, art house films that suggest a deeper side to the industry, beyond much appreciated heaving bosoms and random explosions of song. Those wishing to become part of the action, a la the aforementioned Indian fondness for audience participation, can partake in the Bollywood Dance Competition at Fed Square on May 4, or attend one of multiple corresponding masterclasses, hosted by Bollywood’s finest throughout the festival. BYO bindi. Image via Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2013
Lost in Space, Loosely Speaking and Royalty are three new exhibitions at the ever-experimental Gertrude Contemporary, Melborne's first and best executed combined gallery and studio complex. Dan Moynihan's Lost in Space is an exhibition within an exhibition. Without descending into Matrix-style lingo, Moynihan devises a fantasy art gallery within the front space in which to live out an alternative version of his artistic career. This installation leads all those who enter his faux space into fictional scenarios inspired by his previous art residencies, train station encounters and artistic angst. Loosely Speaking is a collaborative effort between Ruth Buchanan, Sarah Crowest and Adele Mills. It considers the slippery logic of language and the inconsistencies of social expectations. The three women use sound, video and sculpture to gently point out how easily words and gestures can fall into the gap between understanding and misunderstanding. Reko Rennie's Royalty puts urban Aboriginal issues up in neon lights. As a Gertrude Contemporary studio artist, he draws upon local graffiti and streetscapes to feed his enduring passion for exploring contemporary Aboriginal identity via spray paint, installation and projection. While each exhibition is unique, they are all linked by a desire to recreate the spaces we move through unthinkingly, the interactions we crave automatically, and the city we take for granted.
Part bar, part performance venue, Loop provides a space for artists, film makers and live audiovisual performers (and fans of all the above) to share their creative energies — over a pizza and pot of beer. With an event calendar that offers something different almost every night of the week, expect film festival screenings, performances of buzzing electro-pop and DJs every weekend. Loop is also a pillar of the local filmmaking community, presenting Comfortable Shorts each month — a series of short films from local and international creatives.
It seems a pretty hard task to follow Hannah Gadsby's international smash-hit show, Nanette. After all, the one-woman stand-up performance copped serious praise on its 18-month travels across Australia and the UK, even scooping the top honours at both the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe. It also spawned its very own Netflix special. And when Gadsby used the show to announce she was quitting comedy for good, we thought that was it. But indeed, the beloved Aussie comedian is set to give the follow-up a red hot crack when she returns to the stand-up stage with her latest work, Douglas, named after her own pet pooch. While Nanette pulled apart the concept of comedy itself, dishing up an insight into Gadsby's past, Douglas promises to deliver a serve of "very new ideas", collected during her recent travels around the planet. This show will mark Gadsby's first-ever US tour, though us locals are getting first dibs, as Douglas makes its world debut with an Arts Centre stint for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Hannah Gadsby: Douglas tickets will go on sale at 10am AEDT on Wednesday, February 13. You can sign-up for pre-sale access here. First image: Jim Lee.
You might consider yourself a dumpling aficionado, but how many nations have your dumpling adventures taken you to? It's easy enough in downtown Melbourne to get your mouth around a xiao long bao from Shanghai or a prawn gow gee, but dumplings from other places — like Canada or Nepal — are not so easy to come by. Luckily, South Yarra's Oriental Teahouse wants to help you seriously expand your global experience — all in one night. As part of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, the eatery is hosting the United Nations of Dumplings. Happening on Monday, March 19 and again on Wednesday, March 21, it'll give you the chance to sample 16 dumplings from as many countries. Get ready for Nepalese turkey momos with tomato cilantro sauce, Polynesian crab Rangoon fried wontons, maple syrup dumplings direct from Quebec and another 13 parcels of wonder. Dumplings alone will set you back $58 and you can add matching drinks for an extra 40 bucks.
They don't make them like Nicholas Alexander Gray anymore. Besides having a name that sounds like an Oscar Wilde character, Gray is an artist, arts therapist, antiques buyer, grape picker, puppet maker, graphic designer and book collector. He's also working on an English translation of a series of seminal Buddhist texts, making a could be portrait of Nicholas Gray very intriguing indeed. Collingwood's House of Bricks gallery is hosting an enormous art book sale filled with over 2000 aesthetically inclined page turners acquired by Gray on the aforementioned crazy journey he calls life. Running alongside the sale is a collection of Gray's paintings and sculptures, also available for viewing and purchase. On Tuesday May 28 from 6pm-8pm the event opens with drinks and a performance by Gray's choir (yes, he has a choir). Image via House of Bricks.
It’s hard to write about art. How to even attempt to effectively communicate and quantify something so imaginative and indefinable that the person who made it probably doesn’t even use lined paper to scrawl their notes because they’re just so darned creative that even their shopping lists can’t exist within confines. You know what’s harder than writing about one exhibition? Writing about five. I throw my hands up, I have been defeated — West Space’s next wave of exhibitions, opening this Thursday night, can speak for themselves. In the front space Jessie Bullivant’s Giving away something that is free could be a reference to the generosity of West Space’s (free or heavily discounted, I’m not sure) bar policy. In actual fact it’s about the relationship between the size of an action and it’s weight, that other idea is just a conspiracy theory and happy coincidence. Elsewhere, Scott Mitchell’s Object Therapy obsessively explores the nature of…stuff, Pulp Fictions by Jonas Ropponen and Andy Hutson showcases a papier-mache exchange program (the best kind of exchange program), Andie Tham’s Inherited and Borrowed reimagines the grandiose and the mundane in cardboard silhouettes and Risa Sato’s Spaceship ‘Kari-nui’ sees an inflatable spaceship touch down, all the way from Yokohama via Pluto, Saturn and Mars. I could try and draw connections between this big old smorgasbord of art, but I’d be clutching at straws. Get down there to forge your own associations, whilst enjoying the high quality people watching always on offer at a West Space opening. Image credit Scott Mitchell.
It's time to live out all your Tony Hawk Pro Skater dreams from 1998. Converse Australia — those perennial titans of street cred — are bringing you a bunch of free skate workshops and assorted cool dude-ery. Over the course of two weekends, Converse are giving you the chance to learn off experts like Kenny Anderson, Nick Trapasso, Mike Anderson, and Andrew Brophy for the ever-convenient price of free. From 12-5pm on Saturday, June 8 you can get some hands-on experience making ramps and other handy skate obstacles out of wood, then follow it up the next day with a crash course in concrete. The following weekend will be one for the show-offs. From 12-5pm on Saturday, June 14, Andrew Peters and Bryce Golder will be leading a course on skate photography. Hot tip: anything shot with a fish eye lens is automatically cool. If that's not enough, skate video producer Su Young Choi will be leading a videography workshop the very next day. All the workshops are free of charge, but get in quick. Once the sk8r bois of Brunswick and Fitzroy get wind of this, places won't last long. Book your place here. Photo credit: Chris H.B. Rogers via photopin cc.
Music panel shows weren't invented when Spicks and Specks and Rockwiz started airing in Australia back in 2005, but the two series became Aussie icons quickly. Seemingly everyone watched one, the other or both, with the pair earning a devoted following by realising a pivotal fact: as well as seeing musicians live, audiences also love watching them banter, bust out their smarts and just generally connecting over music. Also taking that idea and running with it is Georgia Mooney's Supergroup, which originally debuted in Sydney in 2019 and is now taking its live variety show on the road. It's inspired by Spicks and Specks and Rockwiz, obviously; focuses on stellar songwriters; and also includes live music and interviews as well. If that sounds like your kind of night out, music fans in Sydney will get to rediscover Supergroup's wonders at the Factory Theatre from Saturday, August 13–Sunday, August 14, with an impressive lineup that includes Tim Minchin, Hannah Joy from Middle Kids and Ziggy Ramo on the first night, then Josh Pyke, Ngaiire and Martha Marlow on the second. But before that — and for the first time ever — Supergroup will also head to Brisbane and Melbourne for two shows in each city. In Queensland, from Wednesday, July 27—Thursday, July 28 at The Triffid, Ball Park Music's Sam Cromack will do the honours with Elizabeth and Seja, as will Jeremy Neale, Hope D and Evil Eddie from Butterfingers. In Victoria, Brunswick Ballroom will play host to Ruby Gill, Bob Evans and KYE on Thursday, August 4, and then to Mo'Ju, Maple Glider and Ryan Downey on Friday, August 5. Here's how it works: on each evening, the guests come together to form a band, with support from the Supergroup House Band. They'll only play together for that one night, with each high-profile songwriter taking turns to perform songs while their colleagues join in. And it's all spontaneous — with no rehearsals and absolutely zero prior planning. That means that guests get an experience that's never been seen or heard before, and won't ever happen again with the same songwriters and tunes, either. "There is something quite magical about it," says All Our Exes Live in Texas' Mooney. "It is communal and whimsical and musical in the purest sense. I have a feeling this tour will take that to a new level. It's going to feel incredibly poignant to connect again in this way, after the two years we've all had." SUPERGROUP 2022 TOUR DATES: Wednesday, July 27: The Triffid, Brisbane — with Sam Cromack (Ball Park Music), Elizabeth and Seja Thursday, July 28: The Triffid, Brisbane — with Jeremy Neale, Hope D and Evil Eddie (Butterfingers) Thursday, August 4: Brunswick Ballroom, Melbourne — with Ruby Gill, Bob Evans and KYE Friday, August 5: Brunswick Ballroom, Melbourne — with Mo'Ju, Maple Glider and Ryan Downey Saturday, August 13: Factory Theatre, Sydney — with Tim Minchin, Hannah Joy (Middle Kids) and Ziggy Ramo Sunday, August 14: Factory Theatre, Sydney — with Josh Pyke, Ngaiire and Martha Marlow Georgia Mooney's Supergroup tours Australia in July and August — head to Georgia Mooney's website for further information and to buy tickets.
We're in the thick of a glorious summer of festivals and you might be feeling the pinch in your pocket book (then again, who uses a pocket book anymore?). But don't you worry little darlings, we've got just the ticket — literally. We have a pretty darn sweet giveaway in our hot little hands which includes two tickets to Sugar Mountain festival which is happening on January 23 at the Victorian College of the Arts and Melbourne Arts Precinct. Thanks to the legends at Thinking Loud, Bacardi and Sugar Mountain, your weekend is now sorted. Importantly, this killer prize is for those of you who aren't afraid of a kick-on, because you'll also be getting two tickets to the official afterparty Hot Wax: Sugar Mountain Friends and Family Party presented by Bacardi Fuego. It's kicking on the next day, Sunday, January 24, at the Curtin House rooftop bar and the lineup includes Noise In My Head, Tom Trago and Andy Hart. It’s an exclusive guestlisted event from 12pm-3pm and where you can rub shoulders with the Sugar Mountain crew and from 3pm the doors are open to the public. You’ll actually save a whole heap of money because the prize pack includes complimentary drinks at both events — both events. And the best part? Free Boiler Room t-shirt, yesssss. Sugar Mountain is happening January 23 and Hot Wax — Sugar Mountain Friends and Family Party presented by Bacardi Fuego is on January 24. Final release tickets for the festival are $119, but thanks to Thinking Loud, Bacardi and Sugar Mountain, here's what you can score. Prize includes two Sugar Mountain tickets, two tickets to Hot Wax — Sugar Mountain Friends and Family Party, complimentary drinks at both events, a Boiler Room tee. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter and then email us at win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address.
If anything's going to bring some much-needed classiness to your lockdown, it's a little dose of Japanese fine dining elegance. And that's exactly what's being served up by acclaimed kaiseki restaurant Ishizuka as part of its new at-home food offering. While its dining room remains closed, the tiny 16-seater is whipping up a selection of its intricate fare for takeaway and delivery. And among the mix is one of the most indulgent bento boxes we've ever seen. The Single Layer Master Bento comes in at $135, brimming with a neat array of high-end inclusions to put even your most adventurous lockdown cooking forays to shame. We're talking seafood delicacies like baby abalone, snow crab, salmon roe and kamaboko (Japanese fish cake), alongside high-end meats such as premium A5 Kagoshima wagyu and duck. Other top-quality additions might feature the likes of kōhaku namasu (a daikon carrot pickle), braised eggplant with wintermelon, candied cumquats and house-made mochi. The offering changes up regularly depending on the produce in the kitchen — helmed by Michelin-starred chef Masahiko Yomoda. Order via the website's reservations page by 5pm for next-day delivery (between 3–5pm) or collection from the restaurant. [caption id="attachment_697864" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ishizuka, by Felix Forest[/caption] Top image: Eve Wilson
Do you love ice cream? Of course you do. But do you feel like you could love it just that little bit more? If so, you might want to attend a Helados Jauja Ice Cream Appreciation Masterclass. Run by the team at the Helados Jauja on Lygon Street, these two-hour sessions will reveal the secrets of their Argentinean-style ice cream, made by hand with not a single artificial flavour in sight. Of course, in order to fully understand the ice cream making process, you'll need to sample the product for yourself. Ticketholders will be taken through an 'indulgent degustation' of the Helados Jauja ice cream cabinet, where you'll find flavours such as eggnog, blood plum and shortbread, and peanut butter Nutella. Once the class is finished, you'll also get a complimentary take-home pack full of your three favourite flavours. Just make sure you get in quick — tickets to their first two sessions for the year are already close to selling out. For more information, and to keep up to date with future classes, visit heladosjauja.com.au.
Not quite ready for summer to be over? Well, you can't do much about stopping time in its tracks, but you can keep those balmy vibes kicking on just a little longer. And here to help you do just that, is the Rooftop at QT, which has teamed up with craft brewery and ginger beer masters Matso's to extend your summer experience. Happening daily up until Friday, March 25, Sunset Sessions at the Rooftop see the skyhigh space transformed into a holiday-worthy oasis, all palm fronds, tropical prints and sun-drenched lounges. In keeping with those lush aesthetics, the bar is slinging vibrant summer sips in abundance, while the kitchen has you sorted with a menu of tropical-inspired snacks. And DJs are bringing the tunes every Sunday arvo from 2pm. To quench your endless summer thirst, expect a couple of frozen cocktail varieties, signature sips like the Sharks Tale — Four Pillars Chaos Gin with white cacao, pineapple, coconut and Matso's Hard Lemon — and a range of Matso's bevs on tap and in tins. Team it with some satay coconut prawns or the crispy wings with pineapple salsa, and summer's yours for the taking. [caption id="attachment_844228" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Piers Fitton[/caption] Images: Piers Fitton
Indoor plants brighten up just about any space. That's precisely why the founders of Pop Wilder decided to start the business in the first place — they discovered how much happier they were with a bit more greenery in their lives. Featuring seasonal plants that are robust against Australia's climate — and your forgetfulness — its range includes plenty of popular choices, plus a few that can be tough to come by on your own. The store is something of an airy jungle, so pop in and see what inspires you. And if you can't, Pop Wilder is more than happy to come directly to your home if you 's prefer. Images: Tracey Ah-kee.
Having established itself as a summer favourite across the country over the last few years, the Royal Croquet Club will return to Melbourne. Back for a third year, the outdoor festival is set to take over Birrarung Marr from December 8. The 16-day event promises all the fun and flavour of previous years, offering up a buffet of live entertainment, experiential arts, food, drink, and — of course — more than a few games of croquet. The al fresco festival will see revellers of all ages and skill levels hitting the central croquet pitch, with some of Sydney's best food on hand for refuelling in between games. Expect noms from St Kilda's POW Kitchen, 8bit burgers, and barbecued things from Hoy Pinoy and Up in Smoke. Gelato Messina will once again bring back their ice cream creations in Campbell's Soup-like tins. And the fun continues away from the mallets too, with a lineup of local and international artists dishing up live tunes, including Jarryd James, Hayden James, Touch Sensitive and, randomly, Angus Stone as Dope Lemon. This year they'll also be adding The Parlour, a 70-seat pop-up theatre that will showcase acts from Adelaide Fringe. Previous years have seen as many as 60,000 people rock up, and this time 'round you can expect just as many. Entry is $20 on Friday and Saturday nights after 6pm, but free at all other times.
Op art, the playful successor to pop art, is reminiscent of the eye-fatiguing Magic Eye craze of the '90s. It never really took off in Australia, but one little-known Oz exponent of op art, John Vickery (1906-1983), was a major fan. He worked primarily as a commercial artist but in his spare time enjoyed the optical dazzle of alternating stripes and undulating patterns. A selection of Vickery's most optically outrageous paintings are on display at the Victorian College of the Arts until March. This is the person whose artistic legacy and altruistic bequest led in 2003 to the establishment of the John Vickery Scholarships, which provide two third-year students with financial support to assist in the often costly practice of producing work for final assessment. A man who created visual magic and is remembered through the act of helping struggling young artists make ends meet — surely, worth a look in. Go play with your own sensory perception and enjoy the oscillating black and white stripes as they come alive between your eyes.
Along with Glastonbury, Coachella is one of the biggest, most famous and highly coveted music festivals in the world — the type of fest that everyone wishes they could nab a ticket to at least once. While this year's festival has been postponed — from April till October — come next week, you'll be able to relive highlights from its 20 year history. Hitting YouTube at 5am AEST on Saturday, April 11 (12pm PT Friday, April 10 — when the 2020 festival was scheduled to start), Coachella: 20 Years in the Desert will feature behind-the-scenes stories, never-before-seen footage, interviews and performances from some of the world's most famous musicians. While Coachella hasn't announced exactly what performances will make it into the doco, its website does tease some highlights from every year. Jane's Addiction 2001 reunion show, MIA asking fans to storm the stage; Daft Punk debuting their pyramid stage; Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg performing with a hologram of 2Pac; Beyoncé famous 2018 show; and Amy Winehouse, Jay-Z , Björk, Tame Impala, Kendrick Lamar and so many more big-names hitting the stage. With music festivals across the world — and Australia — cancelled and postponed, and people self-isolating and social-distancing, the doco will be a great way to escape — virtually. And, if you've ever wanted to head to the Cali festival, but haven't been able to snag tickets or afford to go, it's free way to experience it. While you wait for Coachella: 20 Years in the Desert to drop, you can watch Netflix's Homecoming — a doco about that Beyoncé set — and eyeball the trailer below: https://youtu.be/pflR5xxx0bQ Coachella: 20 Years in the Desert hits YouTube at 5am on Saturday, April 11 AEST.
Contemporary art featured in galleries around the world will be on display at The Hotel Windsor this week, as part of the third annual Spring 1883. Returning to the iconic Spring Street venue this week, the free collaborative event will go ahead despite the cancellation of the 2016 Melbourne Art Fair, to which it was originally attached before the latter's untimely demise. Open to the public from noon until 6pm August 18 through 21, this year's event will boast art from more than two dozen galleries. Among the international contingent you'll find work from KANSAS Gallery in New York and Southard Reid in London, while local players include Sydney's Gallery 9 and Alaska Projects, and Melbourne's Murray White Room. The pieces on display promise to be similarly diverse, ranging from photography to ceramics to portraiture and more.
Whether you're trying to find your way around your a far-flung holiday destination, a part of your own city you're not so familiar with or your own neighbourhood, Google Maps has probably helped you out of a bind more than once. Over the years, you've been able to play everything from Pac-Man and Mario Kart to Where's Waldo and Snake via the online service, too — so using it for a global Easter egg hunt really isn't too far out of the ordinary. Because it's almost that time of year, and because Cadbury wants to remind us all to eat chocolate, the brand has teamed up with Google Maps for the second year in a row to create a virtual way for you to hide and search for Easter eggs. It's all digital, though, so it does mean that you won't actually be eating any choccies. If you want to dive into your own stash while you're clicking and scrolling away, though, absolutely no one is going to stop you. Here's how it works: you head to the worldwide Easter egg hunt website, sign up and then get hiding. Once you've picked your spot — somewhere of significance to you and the person you're hiding it for — you'll write a clue, which'll then get sent to your chosen person. For those on the receiving end, it's up to you to decipher the details and find the virtual egg. If it's too hard, that's all down to whoever enlisted you in the hunt — so, if you can't find your digital egg, you might want to ask them for more hints. You can only hide one egg at a time, and only send the corresponding clue to one person. But, you can repeat the process as many times as you like. While there is a physical component, it sadly doesn't involve racing around the world, the city or even the house actually trying to get your hands on chocolate. Instead, you can arrange to send one of seven Cadbury products to someone in Australia, including tins and hampers. Staying virtual doesn't cost a thing, however, if that better suits your budget. To take part in the worldwide Easter egg hunt, head to the Cadbury website.
Move over Babe, Piglet, Porky and Peppa. Thanks to monochrome-hued documentary Gunda, cinema has a brand new porcine star. Or several, to be exact; however, other than the eponymous sow, none of the attention-grabbing pigs in this movie are given names. If that feels jarring, that's because it breaks from film and television's usual treatment of animals. Typically on-screen, we see and understand the zoological beings we share this planet with as only humans can, filtering them through our own experience, perception and needs. We regard them as companions who become our trustiest and most reliable friends; as creatures who play important roles in our lives emotionally, physically and functionally; as anthropomorphised critters with feelings and traits so much like ours that it seems uncanny; and as worthy targets of deep observation or study. We almost never just let them be, though. Whether they're four-legged, furry, feathered or scaly, animals that grace screens big and small rarely allowed to exist free from our two-legged interference — or from our emotions, expectations or gaze. Gunda isn't like any other movie you've seen about all creatures great and small, but it can't ignore the shadow that humanity casts over its titular figure, her piglets, and the one-legged chicken and paired-off cows it also watches, either. It's shot on working farms, so it really doesn't have that luxury. It features animals destined to play their parts in the food chain, a fact that can't be avoided. But, surveying these critters and their lives without narration or explanation, this quickly involving, supremely moving and deeply haunting feature is happy to let the minutiae of these creatures' existence say everything that it needs to. The delights and devastation alike are in the details, and the entire movie is filled with both. Filmmaker Victor Kossakovsky (Aquarela) looks on as Gunda's namesake gives birth, and as her offspring crawl hungrily towards her before they've even properly realised that they're now breathing. His film keeps peering their way as they squeal, explore and grow, and as they display their inquisitive, curious and sometimes mischievous personalities, too. Sometimes, this little family rolls around in the mud. At other times, they simply sleep, or Gunda takes the opportunity to enjoy some shut-eye while her piglets play. Whatever they're doing, and whenever and where, these pigs just going about their business, which the feature takes in frame by frame. In one of the documentary's interludes away from its porcine points of focus, the aforementioned chook hops about. Whether logs or twigs are involved, it too is just navigating its ordinary days. In the second of the movie's glimpses elsewhere, cattle trot and stand, and their routine couldn't seem more commonplace as well. It doesn't take a particularly observant person to notice the tag through Gunda's ear, or the fencing surrounding her and her fellow cast of creatures. No one need listen intently, their own ears figuratively pricked, to discern the noise of the human world beyond the sounds of nature. Evidence of people — even without even the slightest glimpse of a single one — is always there for viewers to see and hear, with Kossakovsky's engrossing and meditative documentary presenting it as plainly as it does everything else throughout its duration. The audience knows that these stories won't end happily as a result. It's well aware that humankind's intended use for the film's animals will trump the critters' own urges, desires and clearly apparent emotions. Indeed, Gunda screams its abhorrence of eating flesh without saying a word; to the surprise of no one who saw his Golden Globes and Oscars speeches in 2020, Joaquin Phoenix is one of its executive producers. Everyone finds their own meaning in every movie, but patient, dialogue-free, near-hypnotic documentaries like Gunda enhance that sensation several times over. Staring at its intimate visuals — at the stunning, resonant and evocative sights it presents again and again — sparks a shower of thoughts, threads and questions, and, sans guiding words dictating what to focus on and why, each individual viewer will veer in their own direction. Some will be struck by the act of watching life come into the world, then shaken by knowing its ultimate purpose. Others might be shocked by the way that even the simplest trace of routine connects every living thing. Others still could come to think differently about their diet choices. All three and more are options here, because Gunda ensures that its audience isn't just seeing its pigs, chicken and cows in a strikingly realistic, authentic and compassionate fashion, but is also confronting and challenging their own personal choices around animals at the same time. Gunda is an immensely empathetic film — director/co-writer/co-editor/co-cinematographer Kossakovsky was inspired by his own childhood experience, when he had a pig for a best friend — and also a work of astonishing skill. So seamless are Kossakovsky and fellow writer/editor Ainara Vera's (Aquarela) efforts that it's impossible to guess that Gunda and her piglets' lives in Norway are interspliced with scenes from British and Spanish farms. Every shot seen on-screen is so gorgeously framed and lit by the filmmaker and his co-director of photography Egil Håskjold Larsen (When Man Remains), and so vivid and textured in its inky black-and-white colour scheme, that avoiding the lure of its imagery is unimaginable. It's no wonder that taking in the documentary's every second feels like an act of surrender — visually, intellectually and emotionally, and to its layered and immersive soundscape as well. This isn't just a nature doco; it's a poetic musing on what it means for every creature to be alive and an examination of humankind's display of force over the natural world, and it's as staggering as it is stirring. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilNHPfOOeIs
It might not feel like it somedays in Melbourne, but winter is done and dusted for another year. With that in mind, Victoria's High Country is celebrating spring with the first-ever Festival of Short Walks. Visitors are invited to spend a week exploring the area on foot, with a bunch of walking tours taking place in and around the quaint towns of Beechworth, Chiltern, Yackandandah and Rutherglen. The festival's program is stacked with more than 30 guided tours and 40 self-guided walks, each one mapped out, timed and graded on how hard it is, so you know what you're committing to from the get-go. Don't stress if you're not super fit as the walks cater to everyone from adventurous explorers to nature lovers just wanting to escape the city — even those of us who only go for walks if there's food at the end of it. Some of the guided tours will cost you a small fee (it's $26 for Disco Dee's silent disco walking tour of Beechworth — worth it), but there are plenty that won't cost you a penny, leaving more coin to put towards cute accommodation for the weekend or dinner at Bridge Road Brewers. If you're keen to make the most of being in some of Victoria's best wine country — and don't mind spending a few more dollars — there are a couple of ticketed foodie events. Wine producers from Lake Moodemere Estate will be taking punters on a walking tour through their vineyards before serving up a three-course meal with matched wines ($175), while the 1500 Pound Party will set you back $100 for a hidden shindig with drinks, nibbles and tunes — a reward for the rocky trail hike it will take you to get there. All the info you need, including tour sign-ups, tickets, maps and tips for where to stay and eat while you're in town, can be found here.
Godzilla might loom over a hotel and cinema complex in Tokyo, and Studio Ghibli might be one of the happiest places in the country; however there's more to Japanese filmmaking than giant lizards and heartwarming animation. To demonstrate that fact, every year the Japanese Film Festival rounds up a diverse array of the nation's latest movies, sends them Australia's way and tours the country. Running this November and December in Sydney and Melbourne, this year's festival couldn't make that case with a more eclectic range of offerings, with everything from historical martial arts epics to creepy murder mysteries to cats — always cats — on the lineup. Picking just one flick to see from is always a struggle, so we're here to help. Add these six to your must-see list, pair your movie with a bowl of ramen, and you're in for quite the Japanese feast. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dxKD1bhf4Y SNOW WOMAN Japan might be known for thrilling fare that American filmmakers can't stop remaking, but this interpretation of ghostly folklore isn't your usual J-horror affair. Moody, purposeful and graceful with its deliberate pacing, non-linear narrative and black-and-white imagery, Snow Woman tells of a hunter's altercation with a mysterious spirit, his promise to never breathe a word and the identical-looking beauty who soon arrives in his village. He's entranced, they're entranced — and so will everyone watching director Kiki Sugino's hypnotic film. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiUFEm55DLg BEFORE WE VANISH From directing Japanese horror effort Pulse, to helming Cannes prize-winning ghostly romance Journey to the Shore, filmmaker Kiyoshi Kurosawa might be drawn to haunting stories — but he never makes the same film twice. After last year's one-two punch of bad neighbour flick Creepy and French-set Gothic tale Daguerrotype, he's tussling with aliens in Before We Vanish. In this invasion-focused movie, no one actually notices the extra-terrestrials gathering information while hiding out among humanity, in a They Live-like concept that speaks to the busy, self-absorbed nature of modern life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQYrbqO0d48 HER LOVE BOILS BATHWATER Of the plethora of flicks Japan could've chosen to represent the country at next year's Oscars, it went with Her Love Boils Bathwater. Whether it'll progress in the hotly contested best foreign-language film category is yet to be seen, but it's a moving contender — and a fine example of the nation's dramatic chops. At the centre of the movie sits a dying single mother trying to make sure her bullied adolescent daughter will be able to cope without her, and resurrecting her family's bathhouse in the process. Delicately handled, with both keen insights and warm humour oozing through, this isn't mere movie-of-the-week territory. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lDMdzwMm6c NEKO ATSUME HOUSE How many hours have you spent playing the addictive cat collecting game that is Neko Atsume? There's only two answers: too many to count (for avid fans), or every waking moment from this point forward (for anyone just discovering this time-filler right now). Well, Neko Atsume House turns all that fun into a movie. Enough said, really; however if you want more details, it follows a struggling novelist who gets his groove back after not only encountering a cat, but subsequently transforming his backyard into the kind of space any kitty — plenty of kitties, in fact — would go crazy for. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNtnTCAK5-w KISEKI - SOBITO OF THAT DAY Dentists by day, pop group by night — it sounds like something straight out of an offbeat, upbeat, larger-than-life movie, doesn't it? While the story of Japanese band GReeeeN has been turned into a flick in Kiseki - Sobito of That Day, it's actually a true story. Yes, really. The chart-toppers formed in dental school a decade ago, sung their way to success and managed to maintain their fame by doing something very dentist-like: not showing their faces in public. They say that truth is stranger than fiction, and this tale definitely proves that statement and then some. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kczb7IJJg0g IN THIS CORNER OF THE WORLD Think Japanese animation, and Studio Ghibli instantly comes to mind thanks to their gorgeous visuals, expert handling of story and emotion, and all-round enchanting vibe. In This Corner of the World isn't a Ghibli film, but saying that it feels like one really is the highest praise we can muster. Indeed, writer/director Sunao Katabuchi was an assistant director on Kiki's Delivery Service, however, his latest effort is all his own. Exploring the life of a teenager wed to a young naval clerk in Hiroshima, the World War II-set movie is as poetic as it is perceptive as it combines a coming-of-age tale with a personal account of times of combat. The 2017 Japanese Film Festival screens at Sydney's Event Cinemas George Street from November 16 to 26, and Melbourne's Hoyts Melbourne Central from November 23 to December 3. For more information and to buy tickets, visit the festival website.
Forget socks and jocks this holiday season. This year it's all about experiences. So why not give the gift of local travel and send your friends and family on an enviable journey that sets them up for a stellar 2022? Plus, you'll be helping Australia's tourism industry get back on its feet. It's a win-win. If you know someone who's itching to reunite with big adventure travel experiences, you can stock up on multi-day hike vouchers or surprise them with a whale shark swimming adventure. In partnership with Tourism Australia, we've pulled together a list of thrilling experiences to help you pick the perfect present for the adrenaline seeker in your life.
Described as a cinema without the film, French artists Romain Bermond and Jean-Baptiste Maillet's Dark Circus sees the duo project striking silhouettes onto the big screen. Dark Circus tells the story of an "unhappy circus" – one where the human cannonball meets his demise and the lion tamer has the tables turned on him. Bermond and Maillet expertly interweave light, shadow and negative space – along with a light-hearted funk and soul soundtrack – to create a deeply tongue-in-cheek performance that seemingly brings a story to life out of nothing.
We all love a good Polish dumpling, but who knew the humble pierogi actually had a patron saint? His name is Saint Hyacinth and he even has a day of feasting dedicated to him. And to celebrate, your mates at Pierogi Pierogi are hosting a good ol' dumpling fundraiser. As it turns out, Saint Hyacinth was famed for feeding homemade pierogi to Krakow's poor, needy and destitute, and these locals are marking the occasion by doing something similar. At the Pierogi Pierogi stall at Queen Victoria Night Market on Wednesday, August 14 the team is giving out free plates of Polish dumpling to the first 100 people that donate to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) tins, which will be located out the front of the stall. The fundraiser is a nod to the Poles who were welcomed into Australia when they fled the communist regime in the 40s and 80s. If you miss out on free dumplings, you'll still be about to eat some and donate (and feel warm and fuzzy for two reasons). On the menu there'll be ruskie dumps (filled with potato and white cheese), kapusta version (with 'shrooms and sauerkraut) and mieso ones (with beer and vegetable). The stall will be open from 5–10pm but you better get in early if you want to snag a free (with donation) plate of pierogi.
Get your fill of the best vegan food in town at the Vegan Day Out. Come March 9 and 10, The Cruelty Free Shop is putting together another walking tour of vegan cafes, restaurants and retailers, many of which will be offering discounts, deals and free samples to anyone who stops by. For Saturday and Sunday, socially conscious eaters can stop by The Cruelty Free Shop on Johnston Street, and grab a map outlining their route. From there, it's all about making your way to to plant-based delights aplenty — and making a day (or two) of it. Whether you're a dyed-in-the-wool vegan or just curious to give it a go, you'll find a whole world of retailers catering to animal-free eating, offering meal deals, two-for-ones, coffee, wine tastings and savings on vegan groceries. The Cruelty Free Shop will also be running its own tastings throughout the day, as well as offering discounts on some of its 3000+ products. The Vegan Day Out runs from 9am–5pm on Saturday and 10am–5pm on Sunday.
When and where domestic border rules and COVID-19 restrictions have permitted, travelling throughout Australia has been on the agenda across the past year. With the country set to remain closed to international jaunts until at least mid-June, that isn't changing yet — but you can still hop on a plane and head over the ocean thanks to Qantas' just-announced new flights to Norfolk Island. Of course, travelling south to Tasmania remains a trusty option if you're eager to get off the mainland. Everywhere from Kangaroo Island and Rottnest Island to Fraser Island and Daydream Island also fit the bill. But a trip to Norfolk Island means you'll be venturing more than 1400 kilometres east from the Aussie coastline, and to an external territory of Australia that sits between New Zealand and New Caledonia. Yes, you'll only be spotting water below you while you stare out of the plane windows. Qantas' flights will kick off on Friday, March 19, and head to the Pacific Ocean spot six times a week — three from Sydney and three from Brisbane. Prices start at $412 one-way from New South Wales and $390 one-way from Queensland, with the routes using Boeing 737 aircraft, which means there'll be 2000 seats available each week. Obviously, if you live somewhere other than Sydney or Brisbane, you'll just need to get to either of them first. For now, the two routes are set to run for three months, as part of a contract that the Federal Government has awarded to Qantas. There is a possibility that it'll be extended, and that the routes will stick around for the longer term. If you're keen to spend some time soaring over the sea, then kicking back on a South Pacific getaway, you'll be departing from Sydney and Brisbane's international terminal — so you really will feel as if you're jetting abroad. There's no need to prepare yourself for a lengthy flight, though, with the trip taking around two-and-a-half hours from Sydney and two hours from Brisbane. For Sydneysiders and Brisbanites who'd rather jet off to colder climes, Qantas has also this month announced new routes from the two cities to the Snowy Mountains and the Victorian Alps. There, you're clearly definitely staying on home turf — but when it comes to making holiday plans for the next few months, before a potential travel bubble with Singapore could possibly come into effect, you definitely have options. Qantas' new flights to Norfolk Island from Sydney and Brisbane will start flying from Friday, March 19. For more information, or to book, head to the airline's website. Top image: Roderick Eime via Flickr.
Got a thing for gorgeous gardens? If so, you'll find yourself in horticultural heaven this month as Open Gardens Victoria unveils a fresh series of lush outdoor spaces for you to explore and swoon over. The non-profit organisation is back with the next instalments of its signature events, which see some of Melbourne's most beautiful private gardens temporarily opened to the public. It's your chance to admire some stunning botanical sites and landscaping works, while loading up on inspiration for your own patch of turf. February 19 and 20 is when you can wander the grounds of Cecilia's Garden in Brighton — a tranquil artist-designed space guided by Feng Shui principles — as well as Hampton's aptly titled Sanctuary, which incorporates Indigenous and drought resistant plants to create a sustainable yet sophisticated oasis. On February 25 and 26, Portsea's historic property Delgany opens its gates for you to browse its manicured gardens, limestone castle and sweeping views. And on March 5 and 6, you can pop out to Emerald for a visit to Brookdale Farm, which sports an expansive veggie garden, loads of colourful blooms, and a clever use of recycled and repurposed materials throughout. [caption id="attachment_842230" align="alignnone" width="1920"] 'Sanctuary'[/caption] Top Image: Cecilia's Garden
Make your way out west for a day of food, rides and live entertainment, as the Yarraville Festival returns for another year. Engulfing Yarraville Village and the surrounding streets, this local community festival is like ten school fetes jammed together. We're talking market stalls, local food vendors and six different stages. Here's hoping the weather is willing to cooperate. It all goes down on Sunday, February 7. There'll be more than 120 stalls selling everything from beauty products to vintage clothing, plus an entire precinct near Anderson and Wills Streets just for stuffing your face. Of the dozens of music acts lined up for the day, highlights include Kattimoni, The Mercurials and Sarah Maclaine, as well as performances by the Bindaas Bollywood Dance Company. And if you love dogs, make sure you're near the Community Stage at 11am for the annual pooch parade.
Normally, you mightn't be a fan of American football. You may not care for it at all, in fact, or know anything about it beyond Friday Night Lights. So when the Super Bowl rolls around each year, you might only pay attention for the half-time show and the movie trailers. But if you've been enjoying HBO's video game-to-TV series The Last of Us — if you've been hanging out for new episodes each week, too — then you're now a massive supporter of the biggest US football match of the year. You still don't have to watch the Super Bowl if you don't want to. But HBO thinks that plenty of people will be in America, so it's moving the episode of The Last of Us that's slated to air on Super Bowl day — on Monday, February 13 Down Under, and the show's fifth instalment — to an earlier date. That shift has a ripple effect here in Australia, with streaming service Binge doing the same. Accordingly, mark 12pm AEST / 1pm AEDT on Saturday, February 11 in your diary. This is a one-off move, with The Last of Us returning to Monday releases in Australia for its remaining four episodes of season one from Monday, February 20. Still, for one week — this week — you'll get two instalments in the space of five days instead of seven. In similarly welcome news that was announced earlier in February, The Last of Us is locked in for a second season as well. That development was hardly surprising given the 2013 game that the show is based on also inspired a 2014 expansion pack and 2020 sequel — and also because HBO's version has been attracting viewers faster than any sudden movement attracts zombies — but it was still obviously hugely welcome. If you haven't yet caught up with the thoughtful dystopian series, which is character-focused, supremely well-cast and committed to exploring not just what's happening in its contagion-ravaged world but why life is worth fighting for, it's already one of 2023's big TV highlights. Set 20 years after modern civilisation as we know it has been toppled by a parasitic fungal infection that turns the afflicted into shuffling hordes, it follows Pedro Pascal (The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent) as Joel, who gets saddled with smuggling 14-year-old Ellie (his Game of Thrones co-star Bella Ramsey) out of a strict quarantine zone to help possibly save humanity's last remnants. There wouldn't be a game, let alone a television version made by Chernobyl's Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann from Naughty Dog (who also penned and directed The Last of Us games), if that was an easy task. And, there wouldn't be much of either if the Joel and Ellie didn't need to weather quite the brutal journey. Check out the trailer for The Last of Us below: The Last of Us screens and streams via Foxtel and Binge in Australia, and will drop its fifth episode via Binge at 12pm AEST / 1pm AEDT on Saturday, February 11 — before reverting to releasing new episodes each Monday from Monday, February 20. Read our review of The Last of Us' first season. Images: Liane Hentscher/HBO.
Melbourne-based beer-lovers, here's a meeting of minds you'll be very excited about. Celebrated brewery Stomping Ground has teamed up with boutique bottle shop Blackhearts & Sparrows and pioneering Indigenous-owned food business Mabu Mabu to create a new collaboration brew. And it's wintry beer perfection. Introducing, the trio's latest project — a warming Wattleseed Stout celebrating local flavours and cool weather. The drop is getting a proper welcome, too, with a launch party firing up Blackhearts' Collingwood venue Perry's on Friday, July 8. [caption id="attachment_859550" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Wattleseed Stout brew team.[/caption] Here, you'll have the chance to taste-test the newcomer, while sipping your way through a full Stomping Ground tap takeover. Plus, four of the evening's beers will have clever food pairings, designed by Mabu Mabu chef-owner Nornie Bero — think, tartlets of leek, native currant and bunya dukkah, and saltbush lamb cutlet matched with warrigal green salsa verde. Meanwhile, you'll get to chat to all the people involved in the new brew and DJ Ingrid will be spinning tunes throughout the night. Tickets are $28, which includes entry, a can of the Wattleseed Stout and a selection of small plates. [caption id="attachment_845503" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Perry's[/caption]
Everybody loves treehouses. Don't let anyone tell you that timber structures in branches are just for kids — living in your own sky-high hideaway amongst the greenery is an urge that you never grow out of. Thankfully, from plane-shaped buildings to entire apartment blocks to Australia's finest treetop spaces, there's no shortage of spots to climb up to. And while they all come with great views, Italy's latest addition to the fold is taking the concept up a few notches. Located in the Dolomites, the two Pigna treehouses overlook the alpine range from their lofty spot — and look like they've always been there. Suspended ten metres above the ground, and measuring eight-and-a-half metres in height and six in width, the cosy, three-level holiday homes are built to resemble pinecones, using larch shingles made from wood from Central Europe's Alpe-Adria region. Inside, those spending the night will find 360-degree vantages over the gorgeous scenery, a living area with a kitchenette, and a top-floor bedroom complete with a skylight. Nestled into fir trees, the treehouses are accessible by individual bridges, with every aspect designed to provide "a journey to discover the sounds, smells and scenery of nature." The project, which was finished this year, was originally conceived by architect Luca Beltrame as part of the ArchTriump competition in 2014. Via Dezeen. Images: DomusGaia / Malga Priu Ugovizza / Luca Beltrame + Laura Tessaro.
Tequila: 1. You: 0. That's right, champ, you're hungover. And when your head is throbbing and your stomach is promising to reject your carb-loaded breakfast, it is near impossible to resist the urge to crawl right back into bed, and stay there. All day. This plan of action isn't always the practical choice, however. Especially if you are in, say, Las Vegas. There's more booze to be drunk, more shenanigans to get into. Lucky for you, there's a solution. And no, it isn't ibuprofen and a Vitamin Water. Enter the fleet of magical buses, Hangover Heaven. The brainchild of Dr. Jason Burke, Hangover Heaven buses are available for walk-in visits, or to drop by the hotel rooms of those in need. The 45-minute IV treatment rehydrates you, all the while pumping you full of hangover-busting vitamins. The treatment is FDA-approved, and available for a charge of US$150. Get in. Get out. Go rage. [via Gawker]
UPDATE, July 6, 2021: Antarctica Flights will also be flying out of Canberra this year, departing on November 7. For further details, head to the Antarctica Flights website. Seeing the South Pole is a bucket-list dream at the best of times, and even more so in these pandemic-afflicted times. But, if you have a bit of spare cash to burn, it's actually achievable — including while Australia's borders remain mostly closed to international travel. Eager to head overseas just for one day? Then you'd best get in quick to score a seat on the upcoming Antarctica flights out of Australia. As it has in previous years, sightseeing group Antarctica Flights is taking bookings for a series of rare, sky-high charter tours. And if you're wondering how the day trips can go ahead during COVID-19, that's because they're classified as domestic flights. You won't even need to take your passport with you. Departing Perth (November 14, 2021), Adelaide (November 21, 2021), Brisbane (November 28, 2021), Melbourne (December 5, 2021 and February 6, 2022) and Sydney (December 31, 2021 and February 13, 2022), these flights will cruise above the dazzling Antarctica Treaty area for around four hours. Each flight path is carefully chosen to maximise viewing from both sides of the plane and to ensure the best views should the weather turn nasty, while some passengers will rotate seats to allow everyone an equal shot at the spectacular scenery below. Travelling on a Qantas 787 Dreamliner, the whole trip clocks in at around 12.5 hours — depending on your departure city — during which you'll hear from expert Antarctic explorers, talking about the polar environment and its fascinating history. All that, while enjoying some better-than-average Qantas plane food, full bar service and, in the lead-up to the views, a spot of in-flight entertainment — classic flick Happy Feet, or some Antarctic docos, of course. As expected, this kind of plane trip doesn't come cheap — you're looking at $1199 to be seated without direct access to a window. Other options, including Standard Economy Class ($2199), Superior Economy Class ($3199) and Premium Economy Class ($3999) involve seat rotations throughout the flight, so passengers can spend time both close to the window and further away. Of course, you and your favourite travel buddy could drop $7999 each on Business Class Deluxe tickets to have a window seat and the one next to it all to yourselves for the entire flight. Regardless of which type of seat you fork out for, COVID-19 safety measures will be in effect — including temperature testing and pre-flight health and safety forms; providing disposable masks, sanitiser and disinfectant wipes; enhanced cleaning procedures; and not selling all seats in Economy Class. Antarctica Flights' 2021–22 season is open for bookings now, with flights out of Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney between November 14, 2021–February 13, 2022. Images: Antarctica Flights
It's about to get a whole lot harder for any Victorian driver to get away with using their mobile phone while driving — and it's thanks to new state-of-the art safety cameras being installed to detect the illegal behaviour. This Wednesday, July 29, the Victorian Government is launching a three-month trial of the phone detection cameras and then, if the trial is successful, hopes to roll them out across the state. So, how will they work? Well, the cameras will take high-resolution images of the front seat of the car, and those images can then be viewed in real time to detect folks using their phones while they're behind the wheel. The cameras can apparently operate in all conditions, day and night, and regardless of the weather. The new technology will be tested across several metro and regional locations, according to the government, and will be managed by Acusensus — the same Australian company that helped launch the world-first cameras in NSW. During Sydney's six-month trial of the cameras in early 2019 — before they were rolled out permanently in late 2019 — the cameras spied more than 100,000 drivers illegally using their phones. [caption id="attachment_742763" align="alignnone" width="1920"] A photo taken during the NSW camera trial[/caption] The Victorian Government will not be handing out any fines during the trial and says it will delete all photos captured, except for "a limited number of de-identified images". From 2017–2018, 30,000 Victorians were fined for illegally using their phones while driving. According to research conducted by Monash University, a mobile phone camera program — such as this one being trialled — could prevent 95 casualty crashes per year. Victoria's three-month trial of safety cameras starts on Wednesday, July 29. To find out more, head to the Victorian Government website.
Apple's plan to build its first Australian flagship store at Federation Square has been one of Melbourne's most controversial new building projects in recent times. And now, after almost 18 months of back and forth, it looks like the plans will be scrapped after Heritage Victoria today refused the huge tech company's application to knock down one of the existing buildings. Heritage Victoria has this afternoon officially refused Apple's application for a permit to 'dismantle and demolish' the Yarra Building and build a new two-level store on the site. In its refusal, the body noted that the proposed building would have an "unacceptable and irreversible detrimental impact on the cultural heritage status" of Fed Square as it would 'encroach' on public space and detract from the cohesive design of the current square format. It says that the negative impacts of the proposal "are not outweighed by the benefits". The Andrews Government has confirmed that, without the ability to build a new structure, Apple will not go ahead with the project. Instead, the government will launch a review (with public consultation) into the future of Federation to ensure it grows as "an innovative and exciting place for our community". https://twitter.com/NTAV/status/1114007888458948608 This will make opponents to Apple's plans very happy. After being announced in late 2017, Apple's proposed Fed Square store has received considerable community backlash, both around the designs and the fact that it would tear down and replace the existing Yarra Building — and displace the Koorie Heritage Trust in the process. The government has confirmed that the trust will be able to remain in its current home while the review is being completed. It's gone through a lot since. The Victorian landmark was granted temporary heritage protection in August, and then in October it was recommended for permanent inclusion on the Victorian Heritage Register by Heritage Victoria, which prevented any work on the new Apple store from commencing. This refusal doesn't mean Fed Square has heritage status — and it doesn't mean another retail offering could take its place. Heritage Victoria has stated that a "more conventional" commercial business could be viable for the Yarra Building if its requirements could result in a smaller impact on the square. Image: Robert Blackburn, Visit Victoria.
If you're partial to a big, cheesy serving of gnocchi, you'll by happy to know that Mamma's Boy Trattoria is dedicating the month of September to bottomless bowls of it. The Brunswick restaurant is dishing up endless gnocchi feasts until the end of the month. Head in for lunch between Friday–Sunday or dinner from Tuesday–Saturday, and you can tuck into unlimited helpings of the classic pasta dish for a tidy $30. With the gnocchi lineup, all palates are covered. There are traditional bolognese and napoli numbers, a four-cheese version (with fior di latte, gorgonzola, taleggio and grana padano) and a buttery mushroom and spinach bowl. With a two-hour time limit up your sleeve, you should be able to sample them all, no problems. If you'd like to finish on a high note, Mamma's cannoli will be available, too, for extra. Bottomless gnocchi is available from Tuesday–Saturday 5.30–7.30pm and Friday–Sunday midday–1pm
If you're looking for a way to get inspired by exceptional women and witness some live talent for International Women's Day this year, check out the happenings at Melbourne Quarter between Monday, March 6 and Friday, March 10. This year's International Women's Day theme is Embrace Equity, encouraging us to imagine a fair and impartial world and to see how gender equality can benefit communities everywhere. Melbourne Quarter will be home to a series of free events to commemorate all the inspirational women in our lives. From live music, guest speakers and art installations — there is so much to discover this March. To start, there will be a free (but ticketed) event – a conversation with Sarah Davidson. The commercial lawyer turned entrepreneur (founder of Matcha Maiden, host of Seize the Yay podcast and bestselling author) will speak of her own experiences and invite additional surprise panellists from the tech and education fields to discuss the theme of IWD and how we can all embrace equity. You can book your spot to the panel here. You can also check out other interactive and limited-time experiences, like a fashion installation from Tuesday, March 7 displaying female First Nations Creatives' fashion designs, curated by local label and retailer Ngali, or a free masterclass on Thursday, March 9 on the art of perfume making from The Powder Room. Bookings are essential, so make yours here. Be sure to visit the Gunpowder Walk at any point during the week, because local Melbourne artist Justine McAllister will be painting a mural inspired by this year's theme. You can also enjoy a bite to eat from local retailers and live music from an exciting lineup of Melbournian musicians on Monday, March 6, Wednesday, March 8 and Friday, March 10 between 12pm-2pm. Check out the full lineup for International Women's Day at Melbourne Quarter at the website.
Since time immemorial, poets and bards have compared rolling hills to the fecund curves of the human body: "To whit, yon vale dost suggest to mine eye the breathing bosom of my lady fair." Or some such wankery. Now photographer Carl Warner makes the literary literal, in a series of 'landscapes' composed entirely of naked men and women. Using studio lighting and Photoshop compositional trickery, individual bodies becomes duplicates, limbs are seen from multiple angles, and skin becomes desert rock hewn by the wind of millennia. With titles like 'The Cave of Abdo-Men', 'Desert of Backs' and 'Shin Knee Valley' (a personal favourite), it's easy to see both the human and geological aspects of each picture, while imagining that they're images from a real world. Channelling the idea that a body that's lived in by an individual can be conceived as a larger place to live, Warner's pictures are sensual and intriguing, inviting you to take time identifying what body parts you're actually looking at. You can scope out the full series on Warner's website. A seasoned 'Otherscaper', for decades he's been crafting his trademark artificial landscapes out of food, office supplies, tools and all manner of products — and attracting many advertising clients in the process. His most famous body of work is his Foodscapes, entirely different in colour spectrum and emotional tenor but just as impressive as these mountains and valleys of luscious skin. The Desert of Sleeping Men Shin Knee Valley Shoulder Hill Valley Desert of Backs
There are many activities you can do in a two-hour time slot. You could watch all six episodes of the ABC's satirical beauty blog Sarah's Channel, cook 60 packets of 2 Minute Noodles or listen to Pink Floyd's 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond' 4.6 times. But we think the tastiest way to pass 120 minutes is to spend it eating endless plates of tacos. And that's exactly what you can do each Sunday in January, when El Camino Cantina dishes out two hours of unlimited tacos for just $19 a pop. Rock up to the Fitzroy venue between 3pm and 6pm, and you'll be able to dig into a bottomless feast of everyone's favourite Mexican dish. To redeem the offer, you will need to purchase a drink of sorts. Watermelon margs will be $7.50 — but you can get a glass of sangria, a Dos Equis or, really, anything else on the extensive drinks menus. If you're getting a crew together, you might want to book in advance. You can lock down a table here.
After collaborating with The Flaming Lips' Wayne Coyne, nabbing a Coachella spot and spinning her way to international success over the past year, Sydney's Alison Wonderland is embarking on her second tour of industrial warehouse parties. Wonderland Warehouse Project 2.0 is set to hit the road nationwide from late May, the highly anticipated sequel to her wildly successful 2014 tour of the same name. Armed with a fresh set of tracks from debut album RUN, Wonderland will be popping up in secret locations across the country for what's pinned to be some seriously huge shows. Bringing electronica out of the clubs and into a string of mystery warehouses, this powerhouse Sydney DJ is going to run some rather unconventional, mega-scale dancefloors. Set to make her first appearance at Coachella in the States in April, off the back of casually working with Wayne Coyne for her latest record, Wonderland appears to have quite the 2015 in store. After last year's sell-out tour, get in quick to secure your spot at these epic warehouse shindigs. Tickets are only $40-45, so they sell quicker than you can fall down a rabbit hole. WONDERLAND WAREHOUSE PROJECT 2.0 DATES Brisbane — Friday May 22 Melbourne — Saturday May 30 Sydney — Saturday June 6 For tickets and more info, head to wonderlandwarehouseproject.com.
