If your favourite natural element is of the water-based variety, you'll be very happy to dip your toes into a captivating exhibition taking over the Monash University Museum of Art from Saturday, February 4–Saturday, April 1. Assembling select works from the 23rd Biennale of Sydney showcase rīvus, new exhibition Rivermouth explores the deep connection water has with the land and the sky. It does so while spotlighting six local and international artists and participants — including the mighty Birrarung or Yarra River. [caption id="attachment_891307" align="alignnone" width="1920"] 'Waterbirds: Migratory Sound Flow', 2022, Tania Candiani. Installation view, 'Rivermouth' at MUMA, 2023. Photo: Christian Capurro[/caption] Wurundjeri Elder Uncle Dave Wandin explores the latter with a work that demonstrates the importance of caring for Country, while an intricate piece by Tania Candiani features field recordings of migratory Australian birds. Elsewhere, First Peoples' approach to celestial navigation is captured via a bamboo star-mapping work by Meriam artist Gail Mabo, Diana Scherer's woven grass-based creation literally grows in front of your eyes, Jessie French uses algae to make bioplastics, and you can see how Paula de Solminihac uses natural elements to completely transform fabric into masterpieces. [caption id="attachment_891304" align="alignnone" width="1920"] 'Humus', 2019, Paula de Solminihac, 'Propeller', 2023, Jessie French, 'Entanglement', 2021–23, Diana Scherer and 'Old Gold', 2023, Jessie French. Installation view, 'Rivermouth' at MUMA, 2023. Photo: Christian Capurro[/caption] Top image: Foreground: Jessie French, 'The Myth of Nature–aga G1', 2021-2022. Courtesy of the artist & Anaïs Lellouche. Background: Cave Urban, 'Flow', 2022. Courtesy of the artists. 'Water ecosystem', 2019-2022. Courtesy of the artists & Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Lima. Installation view, 23rd Biennale of Sydney, 'rīvus', 2022. Photo: Document Photography.
Here to kick off your 2023 with a big serve of live, local tunes, is Ferdydurke's latest free music series. Every Thursday night through January, the laneway bar will be heating up to the sound of a different local band playing improv sets, covering everything from jazz and soul, to hip hop and funk. [caption id="attachment_883873" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Leilani Bale[/caption] The aptly named Jamuary is set to serve a fresh batch of talent each week, with singers, spoken word artists and rappers invited to head along, take the stage and show off their skills. DJs will be spinning from 7pm, while the bands fire up from 9pm, with acts like Busted Chops, OJ Kush and Beat Science on the lineup. And if you're keen to showcase your talents on stage, there'll be plenty of liquid courage to help you through it, with an exclusive drinks list featuring sips from Illegal Mezcal, Flor de Caña Rum and Four Pillars. Top Image: Melissa Butters
This month is set to deliver the ultimate treasure hunt for local whisky fiends, as Japanese distillery Nikka teams up with some of the city's top watering holes for two weeks of exclusive tipples. Running from Friday, February 3–Sunday, February 19, Nikka's Discover the Hidden sees nine Melbourne venues each whipping up an exclusive sip crafted on one of the label's renowned products. And you're going to want to scout out every last one of them. There's a whisky-based drink in this lineup for every kind of palate — whether you like the sound of Bouvardia's Australia-meets-Japan concoction blending the Nikka Coffee Malt Whisky with wattleseed shoyu and fresh wasabi, or you're tempted by Eau de Vie's fusion of sherry, maraschino and absinthe. Whisky & Alement has created a cocktail made on Nikka's Yoichi Single Malt Whisky, coffee-infused muscat, whey and caramelised orange, while Lily Blacks' drink teams Nikka Whisky from the Barrel with strawberry shortcake, a strawberry and stout reduction, and strawberry and rhubarb bitters. Bar Margaux, Hats & Tatts, Madame Brussels, Whisky Den and Double Happiness are also joining in the fun. Best of all? The venues are located within walking distance of each other if you find yourself in the mood for a whisky-fuelled bar crawl. [caption id="attachment_511791" align="alignnone" width="2560"] Whisky & Alement[/caption]
The sunny season has officially kicked off and, even if the weather hasn't quite got the message yet, that means a swag of summery pop-up bars are headed our way. And the latest of those comes courtesy of your mates at Moon Dog. From Friday, December 2, the brewery is setting up shop in the Arts Centre Melbourne forecourt to deliver Summer Paradiso — a season-long pop-up bar and beer garden that'll have you beating the heat in style. In front of the iconic spire, you'll be able to kick back with an array of summery bevs, including a hefty lineup of Moon Dog tap brews and tinnies, the brewery's new Razzler Alcoholic Disco Nectar varieties, Fizzer seltzers, vino and booze-free concoctions. There'll also be a crop of $13.50 cocktails — like the Fizzer Tropical Crush slushie with cranberry. Meanwhile, the Q Barbecue food truck will be slinging a menu of wood-fired smoked delights and accompaniments — think, sticky gochujang and red Sichuan pork ribs, smoked brisket with wild pepper rub, buffalo wings, beef short rib, burnt end nachos and corn ribs, just to name a few. As for the summer's soundtrack, that'll come courtesy of local DJs spinning every Friday through Sunday. Plus, you'll catch a further curation of tunes by SoundBox — a pop-up recording studio hosting a program of gigs, interviews and workshops in the forecourt from November 30–December 11. Summer Paradiso will open from 12–9pm Sunday to Wednesday, and from 12pm–12am Thursday to Saturday.
Some pop star dreams just aren't meant to be, and The Idol's are now among them. Whether you watched some of it, the whole thing or simply read about it (because no one could avoid the latter), the HBO series has been one of the most talked-about shows of 2023 — when it started dropping sneak peeks from July 2022, too, but especially once it hit streaming in June this year. All that chatter hasn't inspired the US network to bring it back for a second season, however, and unsurprisingly. As per Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, the show has been cancelled after its first season — which ran for five episodes, and focused on singer Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp, Voyagers) and nightclub impresario Tedros (Abel Tesfaye, aka The Weeknd). "The Idol was one of HBO's most provocative original programs, and we're pleased by the strong audience response," said a HBO representative in a statement. "After much thought and consideration, HBO, as well as the creators and producers, have decided not to move forward with a second season. We're grateful to the creators, cast and crew for their incredible work." Set within the music industry, The Idol followed Jocelyn as she attempted to make a comeback, got caught up in controversy and met Tedros. It bears more than a passing resemblance to UK series I Hate Suzie, but with its own stacked cast — and with Sam Levinson, the mastermind behind Euphoria, creating it alongside The Weeknd. The Idol's packed list of on-screen talent also spanned Red Rocket's Suzanna Son, Boy Erased's Troye Sivan, Schitt's Creek's Dan Levy, singer-songwriter Moses Sumney, BLACKPINK's Jennie Kim, Only Murders in the Building's Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Hacks' Jane Adams, Bodies Bodies Bodies' Rachel Sennott and Inglourious Basterds' Eli Roth. Also appearing: Hank Azaria (Hello Tomorrow!), Hari Nef (Barbie), Steve Zissis (Happy Death Day 2U), Melanie Liburd (This Is Us), Tunde Adebimpe (Marriage Story), Elizabeth Berkley Lauren (Saved By the Bell) and Nico Hiraga (Booksmart), plus Anne Heche (All Rise) in what was one of her last performances. Controversy surrounded the show not just once it was releasing episodes, but beforehand. Prior to arriving on streaming — before it premiered at 2023's Cannes Film Festival, too — the Los Angeles-set series started with She Dies Tomorrow's Amy Seimetz directing every single episode. But back in April 2022, it was revealed that Seimetz had left the project and reshoots were underway as a result. Reports also surfaced about the working environment — and, neither the viewer nor the critical response was anywhere near glowing, making The Idol's cancellation far always likely. Check out the trailer for The Idol below: The Idol season one streams via Binge in Australia and Neon in New Zealand. Via Variety / The Hollywood Reporter. Images: Eddy Chen/HBO.
If you're going to start a distillery in one of Victoria's celebrated wine regions, you need to take a creative approach. So, that's what Bass & Flinders Distillery did. Located on the Mornington Peninsula, it's all about vine-to-bottle spirits, which are exactly what they sound like. When you're sipping Bass & Flinders' brandy, you're sipping a spirit distilled down from chardonnay. If you opt for its gin, you're also tasting a drop made from shiraz. Unsurprisingly, this technique sets the brand's range apart in terms of flavour and texture as well. Also a heavy influence: the region's fresh produce, including its apple orchards, truffles and cherries, as well as native ingredients from the Aussie outback Bass & Flinders operates a distillery door, serving up its grape-based spirits, liquors and brandy seven days a week — and also offers onsite gin and brandy masterclasses.
Dystopian thriller Snowpiercer is a difficult film to categorise. Adapted from a French graphic novel by celebrated South Korean director Bong Joon-ho (The Host, Memories of Murder), it exists at a weird intersection between action film, arthouse movie and genre flick, merging violence with scathing social commentary. Released in Australia on just two screens, it's hard to imagine the film scoring big at the box office, despite the presence of Chris Evans, aka Steve Rogers, aka Captain America. But for anyone who likes their blockbuster with brains, Snowpiercer should definitely be sought out. The film takes place 17 years after a botched attempt to halt global warming plunged the planet into a new ice age. The last remnants of humanity live aboard an enormous, fast-moving train, perpetually circling the globe. The wealthy elite live at the front of the train, surrounded by the luxuries and comforts of the old world. The rest live in the rear carriages, in squalor and in fear. Evans plays Curtis, the de facto leader of the tail section, who leads his people in a revolt to try take control of the engine. Each carriage the rebels capture means another new environment, which brings with it new threats and new discoveries. In this way, Bong mirrors the structure of a videogame, allowing him to maintain an arresting sense of momentum. His visuals are expectedly stylish, while the set design is top-notch; the filthy metallic greys of the tail section soon give way to images of increasing extravagance and excess. The train is a microcosm; a reflection of the growing social and economic divide we see in the world today. The allegory is a grim one, and the violence similarly is uncompromising. Nevertheless, Bong and his co-writer Kelly Masterson inject plenty of moments of black humour. Alison Pill plays a fanatical primary school teacher who reminds her students in a sing-song voice that outside "we'd all freeze and die!" Taking even bigger bites out of the scenery is Tilda Swinton as a cruel, bucktoothed bureaucrat who parrots the party line that "everyone has their place". In comparison to some of the more over-the-top supporting players, Evans feels rather on the stilted side. He's got the brooding intensity figured out, but struggles with the more emotional stuff — there's one dramatic monologue in particular, towards the end of the film, that may cause unintentional laughter. Thankfully, he's ably supported by a cast that includes John Hurt, Octavia Spencer and Jamie Bell, as well as a regular Bong collaborator Song Kang-so. The film's ending may throw some people, but then again, that's part of its appeal. A confronting think piece wrapped in a bizarre and bloody thrill ride, the highest praise you can offer Bong's film is that it really is unique. https://youtube.com/watch?v=nX5PwfEMBM0
Only one show on TV starts in a haunted house, then jumps to an asylum for the criminally insane, then follows a coven of descendants of the Salem witch trials. And, from there, it also steps inside a travelling freak show, explores the twisted history of an LA hotel, gets caught up in a small-town cult, sees the Antichrist unleash the apocalypse and sets a serial killer upon an 80s-era summer camp as well. That series: American Horror Story. Every season, it tells a different story, anthology-style. The creepy details change, as do the narratives and characters, but the eeriness remains. Also staying the same: many of the faces seen in American Horror Story's tales, including Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Lily Rabe, Frances Conroy, Kathy Bates, Jessica Lange, Emma Roberts and Lady Gaga. The show is the brainchild of writer/producer/director Ryan Murphy (Glee, Pose) and, yes, it definitely takes audiences on a wild ride each and every season.
This article is sponsored by our partners, Bombay Sapphire. It's not unusual to be a little lazy in the summertime. Work is slow, the sun is out, and everything seems to take a lot more effort — who needs gourmet entertaining when there's the ever-so-tasty option of fish and chips on the beach? And, though we're big fans of the humble potato cake and all, it can be nice to occasionally kick things up a notch. There are summer parties to host; friends to impress! Don't stress. This year, we've got you sorted. From November 19 until December 6, Bombay Sapphire are opening a dedicated gin bar in North Melbourne. Pioneering the art of 'ginstronomy' Project Botanicals will be offering 10 gin cocktails from Raj Nagra paired with 10 summery dishes from Masterchef's Gary Mehigan. And, though it's going to be well worth the evening out, they've been kind enough to offer some take home advice. If you can't make it along (or just want to impress your friends with your secret Masterchef know-how), here's a cheeky guide to ramping up that G&T into a full-blown cocktail and adding a little pizazz to a basic chicken roll. Summer sesh: sorted. Crunchy Chicken Sliders Don't let the Australian cricket team fool you: KFC is not cool. We guarantee you can make something much more delicious from the comfort of your own home that won't send you into a vicious shame spiral. In fact, it will do just the opposite — once you master these crunchy chicken sliders from Gary Mehigan you'll be able to hold your head up high with pride. This is fried chicken done right. What you'll need: 12 soft slider or torpedo buns 500g boneless chicken thighs 1 tbsp cinnamon powder 1 cup buttermilk 1 pinch sea salt flakes and freshly ground white pepper 3/4 cup panko crumbs 3/4 cup cornflakes 3/4 cup poha flakes (rice flakes) 1/3 cup of rice flour 1/4 white cabbage, finely shredded 2 golden delicious apples 1 lemon juice and zest 3 tbsp lemon mayo 1 b/c watercress washed 2 litres vegetable oil for frying 1 handful lavender flowers How to: Cut the chicken into small cubes (around 2cm) and chuck them into a bowl. Pour over the buttermilk, add the cinnamon powder — trust us, it will be delicious — and a pinch of flaked salt and pepper. Mix it all up, cover in cling film and place in the fridge for a minimum of two hours (if you're patient enough, overnight would be better). Pour the vegetable oil into a heavy-based deep saucepan and heat to 180 degrees. Mix the rice flour, poha, cornflakes and panko crumbs together and season with a little salt and pepper. Drain the chicken from the buttermilk goodness and press the dry mix firmly onto all sides of the chicken making sure all the pieces are well coated. Set aside. Shred the apple into thin strips and drench in lemon juice and zest. Add the finely shredded cabbage, season with salt and pepper and add a few dollops of lemon mayo (see below) to make a slaw. Working in batches, lower 6-8 pieces into the hot oil for about 4 minutes or until golden, crisp and cooked through, then drain onto a tea towel. Repeat with the remaining chicken. Cut into the sliders and load them up with a spoonful of apple slaw, a few sprigs of watercress and 3-4 pieces of the crispy chicken — or more, we won't judge. Finally add a sprinkle of lavender flowers to thoroughly impress everyone. DIY lemon mayo: Mix 1 free-range egg with a pinch of sea salt, 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard, and the juice and zest of 1 lemon in a blender until light and frothy. Add 1/3 cup of olive oil and blend until creamy. Add another 1/3 cup and blend until pale and creamy. Chuck in the last 1/3 of that cup and blend until thick and smooth. This will keep in the fridge for up to two weeks. Cubeb Berry Fizz When you're making chicken rolls garnished with lavender, you'd better hope your drinks game is up to scratch. Do you think Gary's plating up his Masterchef best next to a cold tinnie? Doubtful. Project Botanicals is all about matching dishes like this to equally delicious gin creations, but there's no reason you can't recreate the magic at home. Go beyond the classic G&T and pair your slider with this fancy slice of ginny bliss. What you'll need: 45ml Bombay Sapphire 15ml lavender syrup 10ml vanilla syrup 30ml lemon juice 2 dashes lavender bitters 15ml egg white 30ml soda water How to: Add the non-carbonated ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake hard — seriously, unless you feel like getting drenched, keep the soda water out. Add some ice cubes and shake again, then strain into a small highball glass. Finish with a splash of soda water and garnish with a lavender stem. Easy! If this seems like too much trouble, Project Botanicals will be open every Wednesday-Sunday evening to do the work for you. For just $35 per person, you'll be treated to two cocktails and matching tapas style dishes. Book your tickets here.
Located at the top end of Melbourne's CBD, the Imperial Hotel offers some of the best city views from its lofty rooftop. And while summer is long gone, the pub is keeping things cosy with its boozy winter rooftop garden. Inspired by the rolling highlands, with comfy blankets, wooden furniture and back country greenery, the massive transparent rooftop marquee — equipped with a dozen new heaters — will keep the great city views without the winter chill. Keeping things toasty is a boozy cocktail selection offering an assortment of delicious winter-themed drinks and a special build-your-own hot chocolate menu. Create your own concoction, starting with a base of either Kahlúa, Baileys, red wine or choc-mint mezcal. Then, top it off with your choice of marshmallows, crushed nuts, choc mint, grated chocolate or chocolate syrup. Once you've got drinks sorted, dive into the winter food menu which includes a warm antipasto platter, loaded fries and a range of cob loaf dibs — think gooey camembert and mixed herb, lamb and rosemary or chilli pulled pork. Gazing out over Treasury Gardens, Parliament House and the city skyline, with a boozy hot chocolate in hand seems like the perfect winter choice. Imperial Hotel's winter rooftop will be open daily throughout winter, from 11am till late.
Hollywood loves an awards ceremony, and boasts a regular lineup of statuette-bestowing occasions to prove it. Stellar television shows and the folks who make them can win everything from an Emmy and a Golden Globe to a Screen Actors Guild Award and a BAFTA — and more — because cinema isn't the only screen format that likes rewarding its best and brightest at glitzy occasions with lengthy speeches and shiny trophies. Awards ceremonies are also a handy source of information for TV fans. They're fun to watch, but they can also help you work out what else you should be watching. So many television shows vie for everyone's eyeballs each year, so knowing that something has scored a few gongs (or even more than a few) might help rocket it to the top of your must-see list. Streaming platform Binge features quite a number of award-winners in its catalogue, for example, if you're not quite sure what you should marathon your way through next. In collaboration with the service, we've taken a look and picked five of our accolade-receiving favourites that you can check out now — including via a 14-day free trial for new customers.
Don't dawdle — The Exchange Beach Club is only around for four weeks, from Friday, January 24 to Monday, February 24. The month-long pop-up will bring private cabanas, umbrella-covered outdoor seating, refreshments and entertainment right onto the sand of Port Melbourne Beach. You can enjoy an ice-cold cocktail — think boozy iced tea, passionfruit caprioskas and slushies — while playing a spot of beach volleyball or totem tennis. Then you can tuck into fish and chips, a lobster roll or a burger as the sun goes down and a DJ plays summer beats. There'll also be an ice cream cart on site for when those sweet cravings hit, and, on Thursdays, the club will be hosting bottomless cocktail sunset sessions with dinner for $59 per person. Private cabanas will be available for hire across two five-hour sessions for up to four people. Oh, and puppies are welcome, too, with water bowls and free dog treats provided. The beach bar will be open from midday until 10pm each day. To make a booking, head this way.
Hit the 'invite all' button on Facebook. Friends, Melburnians, countrymen — lend us your eyes. It's the time of year where parties can spill outdoors and nobody chips their front tooth on their beer from chattering molars in the cold. It's also the time for a whole bunch of annual occasions (Christmas, New Year's Eve, Uncle Steve's birthday) so it might just be that you're in need of a venue to fit you and your 30 or so other friends/Uncle Steve's bowling mates. We know there's nothing worse than organising a night out in a group only to have it foiled by lack of space and long queues for the loos. So, we thought we'd do you a solid and give you a list of places that will provide ample space for drinking bubbly and celebrating. In partnership with Oyster Bay Sparkling Cuvée, here's a list of roomy venues in Melbourne that you can look into booking out this silly season. THE WATER RAT HOTEL, SOUTH MELBOURNE The deck at The Water Rat might be your pick for warm nights this summer — head to South Melbourne's Moray Street to find a spacious gastropub with enough room outside (comfy enclosed deck) and in (big lounges scattered around) for all. Fairy lights outside and a fire roaring when it's colder make a big space feel cosy, so bring your mates and it'll be oysters ($3 a piece) and bubbly all round. THE PENNY BLACK, BRUNSWICK The fact that The Penny Black has an enormous beer garden with heaps of booths is the least of the reasons you should go there. There are also a couple of large rooms inside to house your party, VGPS's (Very Good Pizza Specials), and a photobooth if you want to attempt to jam your whole group in to commemorate your occasion. Located in a restored post office, The Penny Black also clocks gigs and nightlife (there's a regular R&B night on Saturdays called 'Swick, because Brunswick), so your beery afternoon celebration might become a music infused night — with plenty of room to dance it on out. FITZROY SOCIAL, FITZROY Excuse us, but frosé is $6 a pop on Thursdays at the Fitzroy Social. Don't walk, run. The Fitzroy Social is fairly new about town but it doesn't show its young age — its roomy layout and nice-but-not-too-noisy vibe make it a valid Brunswick Street option for you if you're wandering around with a big group in tow. Try the aforementioned frosé or some of their punchbowl drinks, perfect for big groups — and there's a full vegan menu alternative to suit trickier eating preferences too. GREAT NORTHERN HOTEL, CARLTON NORTH The Great Northern has long been the venue of choice for loose Sunday sesh goers hanging out in Carlton North looking for a place to drink, eat, and maybe even pat a dog out the front. A bottle shop also adjoining, the Great Northern has one of the biggest beer gardens in Melbourne — so there's plenty of room to move and celebrate. THE REVERENCE HOTEL, FOOTSCRAY The locals out west have a certain amount of reverence — as it is so named — for this trusty pub, and it's easy to see why. Stumble in at any hour with just yourself or a big group and you'll be taken care of, either inside or in their big beer garden. The Reverence hosts the popular Taco Tuesday where tacos are $3 from 6-9pm. Kick it whatever the day with the resident pool and foosball tables. THE LEVESON, NORTH MELBOURNE You can't spell the word 'pub' without 'parma'. Well, you can, but they don't advise it at The Leveson. Famous for its huge (but correct in ratio of toppings to chicken) parmas, The Leveson is a prime spot to bring a big group thanks to its big dining room indoors and grassy courtyard outside. There's space for whatever your party might need to do and then some. GARDEN STATE HOTEL, MELBOURNE The Garden State is a fairly swish addition to the CBD pub scene, boasting a pretty buzzed atmosphere come Friday and Saturday nights (or really any other night to be honest). A huge venue, Garden State is split over four levels and incorporates a real live garden into the middle of things, with a beer garden, saloon and grill all thrown into the mix too. You won't have to leave the party as toasties and chips can be self-ordered at a kiosk near the bar. You might however have to leave wherever you're situated in the Garden State to find the stragglers of the party as the place is so large. PALACE HOTEL, CAMBERWELL Perhaps somewhere a little off your beaten track could be an option for your 40-head stamp collecting group Christmas do, what say you? The Palace Hotel in Camberwell may not be in Chapel or Brunswick Streets, but it certainly has its own benefits. It's large, relaxed, and has a range of food specials, so your friends can be fed for cheap. There are also pool tables for when that mid-party competitive sports urge hits your group. Play fair. TOWN HALL HOTEL, NORTH MELBOURNE The Town Hall Hotel in North Melbourne is an A+ place to watch the sports, and an even A+-er place to bring your whole group of mates to celebrate at when your team manages to win the sports. Nestled in Errol Street, there's a lovely little beer garden out the back for hot days and cold bevvies, and their website says that they're open "eight days a week". Guess you can't lose. WOOLSHED PUB, DOCKLANDS Docklands normally might not be the most convenient option for fun times at night, but we urge you to spend the extra time getting there (or spring for a maxi taxi) and pop into The Woolshed. Once an old wool storage facility and now a beaut venue sitting right on the waterfront, it is a) large, and b) does $15 cocktails during their Sunday sessions. Closed now for repairs (there was a fire earlier this year), they'll hopefully be open early 2017 in time for you to make use of long summer nights around the January/February celebration period. Celebrate this season with Oyster Bay Sparkling Cuvée — available at your local supermarket or liquor store.
The CBD space once home to long-standing pub Collins Quarter, has had a full-blown multicultural makeover, reimagined as not one, but two new distinctly different restaurants. You already know about the Mexican-accented Mejico, which took over the northern half of the building in late 2020. Now, it's been joined by sibling Indu — a sumptuous eatery dedicated to bold Sri Lankan and southern Indian flavours, also from Sydney-born Sam Prince Hospitality Group. Six years after the launch of Indu Sydney, founders Ian Hicks and Dr Sam Prince have reworked their concept for this Melbourne iteration, transforming the Collins Street site into a moody, atmospheric haven. It's a cosy space, with a front lounge area primed for pre-dinner drinks, an intimate dining room flanked by secluded curtained booths and terracotta pots filled with spices lending a heady aroma throughout. The food offering sees the kitchen drawing both on Prince's own Sri Lankan heritage, and his experiences travelling and working through the regions later in life, inspired by the warmth of the locals who'd welcome him into their homes. It's an evolved take on homely village fare, featuring classic flavours, some modern technique and even a couple of long-held recipes from Prince's own mum. [caption id="attachment_800039" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Arianna Leggiero[/caption] Hoppers are a Sri Lankan staple and a must-order from this menu. One version featuring the classic pancake shell topped with a soft fried egg and ringed with pomegranate, eggplant pickle, goat's curd and a punchy coconut sambal. You'll find a cooling dish of cured kingfish, teamed with young coconut and cucumber, and crispy besan flour fritters matched with a cardamom aioli. Heartier options might include the signature Great Lamb Raan, featuring slow-cooked meat and a fresh mint chutney, a barramundi fillet bathed in a lively tamarind rasam (stock), or the pork belly curry that comes topped with shards of crackling. And you can finish just as strong, with dessert options like the vegan chocolate and cardamom mousse. To match, a considered drinks offering stands up well to those big flavours and spicy notes. Gin reigns supreme across a selection of signature serves and G&T flights, sitting alongside a global wine list and plenty of crisp beers. Crafty cocktails include the likes of a makrut-infused mojito and a smoked chai old fashioned, though an impressive lineup of booze-free options proves just as fun, starring sips like the signature salted mango lassi. Of course, during Melbourne's five-day snap lockdown, Indu is takeaway-only. It's serving up feasts to-go until it's allowed to reopen, which can be ordered by calling (03) 9671 4376 or emailing melbourne@mejico.com.au. Find Indu Melbourne at 86a Collins Street, Melbourne. It's open from 12pm Monday to Friday, and from 5pm on Saturday. Images: Arianna Leggiero
So you're getting out of lockdown, you've painstakingly pieced together the perfect outfit and you're ready to re-enter society from your WFH cocoon. You're feeling great, looking fab and keen to head out for some delicious food. You might be catching up with a mate, treating your partner for an out-of-the-house date, or taking the plunge with that person you've been Hingeing throughout lockdown. But, there's one small hiccup: while you may enjoy all of the wonders of eating plant-based, your dining companion isn't quite there yet. Do not despair — with a plethora of welcoming and accessible plant-based restaurants all over Melbourne, you'll have no trouble finding a spot that suits you and your omnivorous pal. To help you out, we've teamed up with Vegkit to select nine that you should check out immediately, because your date shouldn't have to wait. SMITH & DAUGHTERS, FITZROY Shannon Martinez took Melbourne by storm when she opened Smith & Daughters in 2014, and, since then, has continued to inspire plant-based eating trends around the country. Arguably, Smith & Daughters has done more than its fair share to normalise plant-based dishes — nothing here is labelled as mock meat or with terms like 'fakon'. Instead, dishes such as the vodka napoli and meatballs or the roast beef fillet appear on the menu as just that, despite being plant-based from start to finish. Martinez recently announced that Smith & Daughters will be moving into larger premises with sister venue Smith & Deli, so watch for that when it opens in Collingwood later this year. [caption id="attachment_795303" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Red Sparrow Pizza by Simon S[/caption] RED SPARROW PIZZA, COLLINGWOOD AND PRAHRAN Proof that eating plant-based doesn't mean giving up your favourite treats, Melbourne's first fully vegan pizzeria has everything you'd expect from a top pizza restaurant, with the added bonus of being kind to the planet. The woodfired pies here are made using time-honoured Neapolitan techniques and the dough is fermented for 48 hours to improve flavour and digestibility before being hand-stretched to order. Less traditional, though, are some of the toppings. While the classics are represented — its pepperoni has gained a cult-like following — the menu also includes more creative pizzas like the Patatas Bravas, with a smoky tomato base, potato and 'chorizo', and the Verde, in which dairy-free mozzarella, spinach, artichoke, broccolini and pepitas sit atop a kale pesto base. Doubling down on the indulgent vibes, the drinks list is bustling with juicy natural wines and locally brewed beers. Plus, with sites on both Smith Street and Chapel Street, you can get your fix without having to cross the river. GREEN MAN'S ARMS, CARLTON Missed the pub? Us too. If you're stinging for a pint and a plate at a top vegetarian boozer (yep, they exist), then look no further than Carlton stalwart Green Man's Arms. Owned and operated by acclaimed Aussie actor Alison Whyte and her partner Fred Whitlock, this Lygon Street local serves up seasonally driven vegetarian dishes, all of which can also be made entirely vegan. You can order house-made falafels, charred corn salad with pickled capsicum, radicchio and jalapeño crema, and possibly one of the finest eggplant schnitties going. Creative cocktails and a tight selection of local craft beers help to wash it all down. LONA MISA, SOUTH YARRA One of Melbourne's biggest new restaurants of 2021 just happens to be entirely plant-based. South Yarra's Ovolo Hotel is home to Shannon Martinez' first venue south of the river, for which she has teamed up with veteran chef Ian Curley. In an eclectic setting featuring vibrant (but sophisticated) mid-century decor, the duo oversee a Latin-inspired veg-heavy menu that's designed to share and bears both the marks of Martinez's signature rebellious stylings and touches of Curley's fine-dining flair. Standout dishes include an oyster mushroom ceviche paired with coconut, fermented soybean, poblano and pineapple, while plates from the Josper include a whole cauliflower basted in a peri-peri sauce and served with a spicy chimichurri. The drinks menu celebrates the local and the seasonal, with a solid range of old- and new-world wines by the glass, as well as cocktails, cold-pressed juices and kombucha on tap. BIO BY DOC, CARLTON Through its stable of renowned Italian eateries, mozzarella bars and delis, the DOC Group has earned a solid reputation for its classic Italian fare executed to precision. However, the classics take a backseat at the team's latest addition — a new restaurant dedicated to food that is entirely vegetarian (in fact, mostly vegan) and gluten free. And it's all brought to life with the team's signature style and uncompromising quality. Plus, the airy space, which features al fresco dining and a leafy courtyard, is practically made for an intimate and laidback date night. Fresh produce is the hero here, reflecting the generations of Italian home cooking that underpins the ethos of the DOC Group. Expect dishes such as wild mushroom polenta with crispy kale and black sesame seeds; charcoal spaghetti with grilled vegetable ragu; and a signature lasagne, which features sheets of spinach pasta, plant-based bechamel and lentil ragu. TYRANNY OF DISTANCE, WINDSOR If you like your date night a little rowdy, this Windsor haunt is just the ticket. The diverse menu has something for every taste, and features bar-friendly food such as jackfruit nachos with house-blended spiced beans and Korean bao sliders packed with plant-based pork belly, spicy gochujang, roasted green onions and brown sugar peanut dust. Helping to wash all this down is a great selection of beers, wines and cocktails, the latter of which are also available by the jug — the classic Pimms jug is perfect for the upcoming warmer weather. Hot tip: get in early for one of the best happy hours in town, with $5 basic spirits, house taps and wine on offer every day between 4–7pm. THE CARRINGBUSH, ABBOTSFORD A beautiful heritage pub complete with exposed brick and a roaring fireplace, this Abbotsford local is a real gem for a casual date night. The menu is imaginative but concise, offering creative spins on modern pub fare like buffalo cauliflower with garlic and chive aioli; saffron tagine with baked rice, root veggies, coriander, preserved lemon and currants; and house-made gnocchi with cannellini bean chilli and herb puree. Drinks-wise, it's all about the taps here — the pub features a rotating selection of 22 local craft brews on tap, as well as eight wine taps. GOOD LOVE, ST KILDA With a neon sign above the bar that reminds you to 'be a good lover', Acland Street's bright and airy Good Love is ideal date-night material. Here, you and your person can indulge in boozy cocktails and a delicious array of all-day, plant-based plates, making it even more of a winner. Good Love also hosts semi-regular date nights, which lets you sit back and enjoy the company as the kitchen prepares a three-course meal and two cocktails for you. The menu at this Acland Street spot is constantly evolving, and might include the likes of seitan steak kebab with watermelon salsa and hot chips, a plant-based philly cheesesteak with fried chat potatoes, or garlic mushrooms and chilli oil on cornbread. You can pair such dishes with creative cocktails like jalapeño and tequila sangria or guava bubblegum fizz. The venue is licenced until 1am, too, so you can stick around and work your way through the list. TRANSFORMER, FITZROY A date spot sure to impress, this converted Fitzroy warehouse effortlessly oozes laidback charm, yet serves up a truly sophisticated dining experience. Both the food and wine menus change regularly to follow the seasons, and both champion organic and biodynamic culinary practices wherever possible. Past menu standouts have included dishes such as mushroom parfait with pickled shimeji, Pedro Ximenez jelly and russet crisp, and baby radishes with dill butter and black lava salt. Throw in a seriously impressive list of local and imported wines and you're all set for a memorable date night. For more plant-based dining and recipe inspo, head to the Vegkit website. Top image: Transformer
Everyone has a favourite kind of chocolate. Everyone also has a favourite kind of chocolate that doesn't actually exist. You know what we're talking about — you've fantasised about a bar of cocoa goodness that includes all your wildest, weirdest additions, and you've been cripplingly saddened every time you've looked for your crazy concoction in the supermarket. Keep dreaming deliciously big, because new Australian online retailer Chocolab is in the business of granting chocolate wishes. Whether milk, white or dark is your jam, and whether you like to find confectionery, spices, fruit, nuts, biscuits, cereal, coffee, popcorn or pretzels hidden within, your dream choccy could be an actual, eatable thing. In the company's online creation lab, you can add up to five possible bits and pieces to your 100-gram block of Belgium's finest. The lengthy list of ingredients currently includes sour gummy worms, Ovalteenies, Nerds, caramel fudge, Nutella, Fruit Tingles, sherbet, acai berries, Tiny Teddies, brownie bites, Cornflakes and more, with new options added regularly. If you don't see an add-in you like, you can even suggest your own. A block starts at $6.50, with add-ins ranging from 70c to $2. Once you've settled on your picks, your concoction is handcrafted by Chocolab's professional chocolatiers, then shipped to you as soon as possible — and yes, there's an express delivery option, because no one likes waiting for the food of the gods. Postage starts at $4 per block, so while it's not the cheapest block of chocolate in town, it's certainly the most happily indulgent. Chocolab recommends eating the finished product with a month or two, and we celebrate their optimism and judgement-free attitude. We all know your dream bar won't last that long. To find out more about Chocolab, or to design your own block of chocolate, visit their website.
MPavilion, Queen Victoria Gardens' pop-up building designed by Barcelona architect Carme Pinós, is hosting one of the year's largest collections of free events — 400 of 'em, to be exact. This year's bioluminescent-themed program is inspired by Pinós and will take over the gardens from October 9 to February 3 2019. Focusing on inclusion, women in leadership and the architecture of education, the four-month program spans live music, dance performances, talks, workshops and installations — all located inside Pinós' floating geometric structure. Many of these events aren't what you'd expect, either. Think dog walking adventures, fashion shows, regular morning yoga sessions, guided meditations and contemporary dance classes. Hands-on workshops include one with designer Vicky Featherston Tu, in which participants build a pedestrian-only city using origami techniques. A discussion on beekeeping and baking and a talk on building video game worlds and virtual reality experiences are on offer, too. Two massive parties will take over the space as well — first a Halloween ball on October 27, and then a marriage equality celebration on November 17 (featuring JOY 94.9 radio and the city's best queer DJs). There'll be plenty of local and international musicians on throughout the four months, including weekly gigs at Friday Night Fiestas. Other highlights include Hope St Radio's live broadcast on October 27, a performance by emerging Indigenous singer-songwriter Alice Skye on November 18, and a series of Bakehouse Studios' secret rehearsal sessions, with the artists announced the day before. Plus, Cuba's La Buena Vida Social Club will play three Sunday arvo sessions on October 14, November 11 and December 9, with special sangria served at the kiosk during these shows. If you're interested in the strictly architecture and design side of things, discussion topics include: 'the future is gender neutral design', 'how to start and sustain your creative project', 'perfectionism: pressure to be perfect' and the 'living closer together: symposium'. There'll also be five panel talks on Indigenous built environments with architecture forum BLAKitecture, including 'women's business' and 'Indigenising procurement'. To meet this year's MPavilion designer, you can catch a talk with Pinós on October 9, titled 'the land on which we stand'. For 2018, they've also signed on writer-in-residence Maddee Clark and artist-in-residence Esther Stewart, who will explore the intersection between architecture, writing and art. Stewart will also create a large-scale interactive installation that'll fit alongside Pinós pavilion, open from December 24–January 6. MPavilion will return to Queen Victoria Gardens from October 9–February 3, 2019. To check out the full program, head to the MPavilion website. Images: Bec Capp
Welcome to Thornbury will accommodate both your stomach and your flaming sinuses in a three-day event that is the Hot Sauce and Chilli Festival. If spice is your mate and you think you can handle some of the hottest chilli situations Melbourne can throw at you, now's your time to prove your mettle. Some you'll even have to sign a waiver to taste, so you know they'll be life-affirming. There'll be sauce offerings from Melbourne Hot Sauce, Soul Sauce and Little Brixton. If you've come for the actual food side of things, you're in luck, too — Belles Hot Chicken, Mr Burger. Bluebonnet Barbecue, Nem N Nem and Happy Camper Pizza will set up shop over the weekend, among others. And drinks? Well, the bar team will be serving 'hot pocket' shots. That's what you'll need a waiver for (and maybe some milk, too).
Belgian choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, one of the superstars of contemporary dance, is taking over the State Theatre with his internationally acclaimed new show. Described by critics as wild, sexy and beautiful, M¡longa brings the tradition of Argentinean tango slinking seductively into the modern age. Drawing inspiration from the late night social dances held in bars across Buenos Aires, Cherkaoui’s show includes a dozen Argentinean dancers, moving across the stage to the sounds of a five-piece band. The marriage of tradition and modernity is accentuated by the performance’s multimedia aspect, with massive projections lighting up an onstage screen. Dance fans had best get in quickly, however, as M¡longa is only in town until Sunday April 5. For performance times and to book tickets, visit the Arts Centre website.
If you fantasised about walking on the moon as a child, you'll be happy to know that these dreams can now become a reality for as little as $20. Well, almost. Scienceworks and Opaque Space — an award-winning Melbourne company that helps train NASA astronauts — have teamed up to create a VR experience that takes you to the moon (and beyond). And while it's not the same as being in space, it's probably the closest you'll get for under $50. The immersive VR experience and multi-player game, which kicks off on Monday, December 17, sounds impressively realistic, too. Running for 40 minutes, the astronaut simulation sees you explore a lunar space station, walk on the moon and 'look down' on earth from above — all while walking around in a seven-square-metre space with a five-kilogram backpack on. Coinciding with Scienceworks' Museum of the Moon installation — a giant floating sculpture of the moon complete with NASA imagery on its surface — Earthlight: Lunar Hub has a capacity for six peeps at a time, so grab your mates and tick 'walking on the moon' off your bucket list. Earthlight: Lunar Hub is open from 10.30am–4.30pm daily. Tickets must be purchased with Scienceworks museum entry.
While Melbourne's got no shortage of great artisan markets happening across the city each weekend, the inner west has missed out on most of the action. But that's changes with monthly market Footscray Finds, which launched in the carpark of Footscray Library in 2017. With a focus on the boutique, the unique and the handmade — and held in conjunction with Maribyrnong City Council — this event's got an offering to rival that of many of its more established, cross-town counterparts. Scheduled for the third Sunday of each month, it showcases a stellar lineup of local producers and makers with a huge array of stalls covering everything from covetable vintage fashion and books, to vinyl, handcrafted homewares and fresh vegan produce. Meanwhile, a rotation of your favourite food trucks serves up easy eats, and local acts will be dropping all sorts of live sets. Anyone wanting to be a stallholder themselves can apply now for a car boot or marquee space, which clock in at $50 each. Footscray Finds will run from 8am till 1pm on the third Sunday of each month. Entry is free.
The team from Pierogi Pierogi are taking over The Gasometer Hotel's kitchen to ring in International Workers' Day the only way they know how. As purveyors of Melbourne's finest handmade Polish dumplings, the market regulars will embrace the revolutionary spirit with traditional pierogi, hearty soups, pickled fish, and lots and lots and lots of vodka. Pierogi Pierogi promise to "put a tasty dumpling-shaped spanner into the machinations of an oppressive flavourless state". Plus, in addition to the Polish cuisine, the night will feature music from gypsy jazz band Hello Tut Tut. It all goes down from 5pm until late on Sunday, April 30.
Enjoying a glass of wine might come with plenty of medical benefits, but having a tipple isn't typically an exercise-heavy pastime. You sit. You drink. You get up, top up your beverage and repeat. You usually don't walk particularly far, let alone run. Then came the Grapest 5K run, a new series of wine-tasting fun runs that kicked off around Australia in 2017. Asking participants to put in the hard yards before getting some boozy rewards, it was such a hit that it's coming back for another round in 2018. How does it work? Grapest consists of two sections. First, you sprint, jog or set forth at whatever pace suits you best, making your way through scenic vineyard surroundings. Then, you walk another kilometre — yes, in addition to the first five, or ten if you're feeling extra energetic — while stopping at tasting stations along the way and sampling the good stuff. The latter part, they're calling a "wine waddle". Don't worry, if you're not up to the active stuff and you're simply keen on wandering and sipping, that's an option (although it does defeat the idea of combining fitness with throwing back drinks). 2018's events are scheduled for March 10 at Bendigo's Balgownie Estate and October 6 at Leura Park Estate in Geelong.
'Fear less, live more' is the motto of this death-themed arts festival, which encourages participants to embrace life. Born in Sydney in 2017, We're All Going To Die will showcase in Melbourne for the first time this year — taking over St Kilda's masterfully revamped Espy for three nights from Tuesday, March 26–Thursday, March 28. Founded by artist and director Stefan Hunt, the festival spawned from his poem, illustrated adult book and film by the same name. For the mini-fest, Hunt brings together artists, performers, psychologists and other creative communities in an empowering and interactive program that explores our notions of death and life. The mini-festival kicks off at 6.30pm and tickets will set you back $45 a pop. Those dollars will get you access to a whole range of interactive experiences, including judgement-free bedroom dancing with Groove Therapy, death meditation run by Sydney's Indigo Project (with psychologist Mary Hoang and musician Phondup), life drawing classes and live art installations. Plus nightly screenings of Hunt's film We're All Going To Die, which examines fear of death and the meaning of life. We're All Going To Die kicks off at 6.30pm each night.
Pasta and parmesan are one of Italian cuisine's perfect pairings. Eat the former without the latter, and your tastebuds will know the difference. And while sprinkling your spaghetti with fine shavings of hard cheese is all well and good (and delicious), that's nothing compared to devouring a bowl of pasta that has been prepared inside a parmesan wheel. If it sounds like all of your culinary dreams come true, that's because it is — and it's the dish in the spotlight at Cucinetta's returning Parmesan Cheese Wheel special. After a swag of successful previous events in past years, the South Yarra restaurant is bringing this cheesy fettucini situation back to start off 2024. Once again, this special means serving up the Italian specialty pasta cacio e pepe straight out of a wheel of 24-month Parmigiano Reggiano. You'll pay $36.90, with the special running across the entire month. Given that cacio e pepe is a pasta concoction made with parmesan and pepper — think: fancier, tastier mac 'n' cheese — the results promise quite the cheesy meal. The dish will be available at Cucinetta from 12–3pm and 5–9.30pm Monday–Thursday, plus 12pm till close Friday–Sunday, all between Monday, January 1–Wednesday, January 31. We'd tell you to arrive hungry, but we're sure that just thinking about it already has you feeling ravenous. Updated January 10.
The Great Australasian Beer Spectapular — better known as just GABS — returns to the Royal Exhibition Building for its ninth year over the weekend of May 17–19. After humble beginnings right here in Melbourne, the festival has now expanded to cover four cities, two countries, and is rightfully considered by most as the best craft beer and cider festival in the Asia Pacific region. Creators Steve Jeffares and Guy Greenstone (The Local Taphouse, Stomping Ground Brewing Co.) have again wrangled up the best breweries from the region and are offering up hundreds of brews, including 100+ exclusive festival beers and ciders. These exclusive and often wacky specialty brews are created just for the event and are generally the festival's main draw, giving attendees the rare chance to try brand-spanking new beers while meeting the brewers behind them. This year's festival brews include collaborations with coffee roasters, tea houses, gin and whisky distillers, biscuit makers and even an American barbecue smokehouse — so expect plenty of experimental tastes. Apart from beer, the event will also play host to mini golf, a giant beer can piñata, a roller racing derby, a silent disco and a competitive scavenger hunt. The much loved 18-metre-high beer Ferris wheel will make its return, as will the usual wandering performances and local food stalls. The weekend-long event is categorised in five sessions, with the season passes to all sessions already sold out. We wish those ticket holders the best of luck.
The King has risen. Head out to Parkes in January and you would be forgiven for thinking you're in Graceland — if there's anything this town is known for (apart from the iconic Dish, of course) it's the Parkes Elvis Festival. Pull on your blue suede shoes and get ready to find yourself a hunk, a hunk of burning love. The festival takes place over five days during the second week of January to coincide with the King's birthday (January 8, as if you didn't already know). Over 25,000 visitors flock to the town to see international and national Elvis tribute artists battle it out to be named the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist. There's also a Miss Priscilla competition, rock 'n' roll dancing, busking, a midnight show and a finale concert. The Parkes Elvis Festival is officially endorsed by the King's estate, Elvis Presley Enterprises Inc., so you know it's legit. Stop talking about it, and just do it this year. A little less conversation, a little more action.
If you've ever wanted to enjoy your nosh with casual waterfalls cascading over your feet (haven't we all?), all you need is a cheeky airfare. Nestled right at the foot of a spring waterfall in a coconut plantation and resort in Laguna, Phillipines, Villa Escudero takes novelty dining next level. A self-contained working coconut plantation, Villa Escudero was founded in the 1880s and still sports that colonial-style so prevalent in resorts in the Philippines. Featuring long bamboo dining tables set right over the water, Villa Escudero's restaurant must have some pretty pruny-footed waiters after a long shift. Sure, you could get the hose out at home and attempt to create the same effect, but Villa Escudero might have a natural one-up on your bond-losing acts. Via Lost at E Minor.
Multicultural Arts Victoria's annual Asian-Australian arts and music festival, Mapping Melbourne, is wrapping up with a big closing night party under the stars at the crisp, white lines of this year's MPavilion structure. Dubbed Medium Spicy, the free party will celebrate the creativity and diversity of Melbourne's Asian-Australian community with an all-femme lineup. Party curator and creative collective Big Bao has cued up Melbourne artists Aarti Jadu and ZK king for live sets, with experimental pop artist PRINCI (pictured) coming down from Sydney to headline the night. As the sun sets on the lush Queen Victoria Gardens, Felicity Yang and Big Bao DJs will be spinning tracks into the night. Medium Spicy is just part of a huge and diverse MPavilion program of talks, performances, workshops and installations, which continues until March 22. An on-site kiosk is open from 9am daily, serving up Three Thousand Thieves coffee, Four Pillars Gin, wines by ShadowFax and Sample Brew beers. Sounds like a perfect excuse for a picnic in the gardens before the party kicks off at 5.30pm. Image: PRINCI by Kristina Yenko.
On the lookout for a dope new denim jacket? Or do you want to be rid of that weird-looking lamp taking up space in the living room? Then, by golly, you're in luck. The Garage Sale Trail works with local council partners Australia-wide to get as many trash-and-treasure troves happening on the same day as possible. This year, more than 300,000 Aussies are expected to take part at this festival of pre-loved stuff, and hold more than 11,000 sales. A huge array of events will open their doors to bargain hunters, selling millions items. And, when the Garage Sale Trail sprawls across two big spring weekends — between Saturday, November 12–Sunday, November 13, and then again from Friday, November 18–Sunday, November 20 — online garage sales will once again be part of the fun. According, whether you're buying or selling, you have two options: do so in person, or take the virtual route. It's only the third time ever that the Garage Sale Trail is going digital, too. And, digital workshops are still also on the bill, so you can learn everything from DIY wardrobe tips to hosting the best sale. Aside from the retro goodies up for grabs, the Garage Sale Trail is all about sustainability. Instead of ending up in landfill, unwanted clutter becomes a fantastic find. So get that tight pair of sunnies for peanuts and help the environment at the same time. The Garage Sale Trail began humbly in Bondi in 2010 and is growing bigger every year. There'll be a right slew of sales happening all around Melbourne, so keep your eyes on the event website — or register online to make a quick buck from your old junk and hang out with the friendly folks in your hood. [caption id="attachment_783811" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Jo Lowrey[/caption] Images: Garage Sale Trail.
Legendary Paris bar The Cambridge isn't just an award-winning, world-renowned drinking spot — it's also got some pretty fierce climate action ambitions. In fact, the British pub-inspired boozer has mapped out a whole Global Community Plan aimed at building a more sustainable future. And next up on that to-do list is a visit Down Under for a few special guest appearances at some like-minded bars. While the team's dropping by Sydney's Re on Wednesday, May 3, and PS40 on Friday, May 5, the following week is Melbourne's turn, as The Cambridge pops up at Caretaker's Cottage on Monday, May 8. As you might know, this tiny CBD spot took out 60th place in The World's 50 Best Bars 51–100 List last year. [caption id="attachment_871413" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Caretaker's Cottage[/caption] First up, from 3–4pm, the Parisian crew will host a masterclass focused on some of the sustainable practices being put in place by themselves and the Caretaker's Cottage team. It's for walk-ins only, though spots are limited. Then, from 5–10pm, you'll catch them doing a guest shift behind the bar, serving up a menu packed full of native Aussie ingredients and heroing Flor de Caña 12-year-old rum. The drinks lineup features both Cambridge favourites and exclusive new creations — from the Paradise Lost with its fusion of oloroso and sweet vermouth, to a milk punch starring rosella, strawberry gum and fortified wine. [caption id="attachment_899072" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Cambridge team[/caption]
Melbourne Art Week is on the way, and Chunky Move is kicking off things on the right foot, so to speak. Company dancer Niharika Senapati will run a Dance Class Party on Friday, August 3, combining sweat with tunes for some inner and outer good feels. Having appeared in Chunky Move works including Depth of Field, Rule of Thirds, ANTI-GRAVITY and Accumulation, Senapati will be putting her considerable talent into a dance party designed to warm you up for the weekend. Think you've got two left feet? Doesn't matter — the Dance Class Party is all-inclusive, with everyone welcome to roll on up and enjoy the disco ball and smoke machine and live your teenage dance dreams. Plus, the ticket price of $15 includes a drink on arrival, a pre-cursor to a bangin' Friday night for sure. The party will be held in the Chunky Move studios right behind Melbourne Art Fair's 2000-square-metre pop-up marquee, Vault Hall.
When Bong Joon-ho's Parasite won Cannes Film Festival's Palme d'Or in 2019, it became the second movie in as many years to nab the coveted prize for exploring class and wealth inequality through a tale of family. The year prior, when Hirokazu Kore-eda's Shoplifters scored the same gong, it too examined the ties that bind, plus the societal circumstances that conspire against and complicate such bonds. Indeed, that's the Japanese filmmaker's favourite subject. In a career spanning over three decades, he keeps being drawn to people who are drawn together, sometimes by biology and sometimes because that's simply the hand that fate has played in shaping a makeshift brood. It's fitting, then, that Kore-eda's latest Broker — his second feature since that big win — stays true to his go-to topic while also starring Parasite's Song Kang-ho. This is Kore-eda's first South Korean film, following 2019's French and English The Truth, which was his first non-Japanese picture. This is vintage Kore-eda, in fact, and it's warm, wise, wonderful, canny and complex. No matter how his on-screen families come to be, if there's any actual blood between them, whether they're grifting in some way or where in the world they're located, the Japanese writer/director's work has become so beloved — so magnificent, too — due to his care and sincerity. A Kore-eda film is a film of immense empathy and, like Like Father, Like Son, Our Little Sister, After the Storm and The Third Murder also in the prolific talent's past decade, Broker is no different. The setup here is one of the filmmaker's murkiest, with the feature's name referring to the baby trade. But showing compassion and humanity isn't up for debate in Kore-eda's approach. He judges the reality of modern-day life that leads his characters to their actions, but doesn't judge his central figures. In the process, he makes poignant melodramas that are also deep and thoughtful character studies, and that get to the heart of the globe's ills like the most cutting slices of social realism. It isn't just to make a buck that debt-ridden laundromat owner Sang-hyun (Song, Emergency Declaration) and orphanage-raised Dong-soo (Gang Dong-won, Peninsula) take infants abandoned to the Busan Family Church's 'baby box' — a chute that's exactly what it sounds like, available to mothers who know they can't embrace that part for whatever reason — then find good families to sell them to. There's a cash component, of course, but they're convinced that their gambit is better than letting children languish in the state system. In Kore-eda's usual kindhearted manner, Broker sees them with sensitivity. Even if blue hues didn't wash through the film's frames, nothing is ever black and white in the director's movies. The same understanding and tenderness flows towards mothers like So-young (Lee Ji-eun, Hotel Del Luna, aka K-Pop star IU), whose decision to leave Woo-sung (debutant Park Ji-yong) isn't easily made but puts Broker on its course. It's on a rainy night that So-young farewells Woo-sung, placing him gently in the hatch packed with blankets and soundtracked by lullabies, and leaving a note to say that she'll be back to claim him. She's nervous and tentative, peering around to see if anyone is watching — astutely so, because two groups are waiting on her significant choice. The traffickers have their plan to enact, while detectives Su-jin (Doona Bae, The Silent Sea) and Lee (Lee Joo-young, Rose Mansion) are keen to catch them. Muddying matters for both: unlike what usually happens in this situation, So-young does genuinely return for her baby. So sparks a road trip with Sang-hyun, Dong-soo and football-loving seven-year-old Hae-jin (first-timer Seung-soo Im), a runaway orphan, to meet Woo-sung's prospective adoptive parents, all with the cops on their trail as part of a six-month investigation. Broker's plot is never straightforward, nor are the questions it incites — questions about what family truly means, what governments say it's supposed to and why a ragtag group of outsiders can find a greater sense of belonging together on the run than anywhere else. Without offering any simple justifications, answers or solutions, Kore-eda ensures that the factors that lead So-young to the baby box, and Sang-hyun and Dong-soo to the illicit adoption market, constantly demand the audience's attention. "This car is filled with liars," Dong-soo says mid-trip, but it's the why behind that statement that sits at Broker's core. Like in Shoplifters before it, Kore-eda queries the forces that've made his characters who they are, brought them to this juncture and meant that the choices they're making feel like the only ones they can. Here, that includes pondering expectations placed upon women whether or not they're mums, the baggage attached to motherhood, the alternatives to baby boxes, and the stark truth that bringing life into the world and having a family aren't the same things. If he'd decided that literature rather than cinema was his medium of choice, there's no doubting that Kore-eda would've made an excellent novelist. His plots are that layered, perceptive, generous, emotional and involving. Also, in his TV adaptation The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House, one of 2023's streaming delights, he showed that he's equally as skilled at bringing tales from the page to the screen. But filmmaking is clearly Kore-eda's calling — and he's such a masterful visual storyteller, not to mention an affectionate movie craftsman, that it's forever plain to see why. Enlisting the great South Korean cinematographer Hong Kyung-pyo, a veteran not just of the aforementioned Parasite but also Bong's Snowpiercer and Mother, Na Hong-jin's 2016 standout The Wailing and Lee Chang-dong's sublime Burning from 2018, he gives Broker an earthy, lived-in, clear-eyed and yet eternally hopeful look. Falling rain, cramped rooms, cosy car rides, sprawling countryside, everyday phone calls: this film, and Kore-eda and Hong, make each one stun and say, well, everything. Broker's score by Jung Jae-il (another Parasite alum, and also Squid Game's composer) — plus the movie's spectacular use of Amy Mann's 'Wise Up' on its soundtrack, nods to Paul Thomas Anderson's Magnolia and all — are just as impressively and attentively fashioned. Nothing quite makes a Kore-eda feature what it is like his way with casting, though, pairing his empathetic stories with actors who gracefully live and breathe the same trait under his gaze. Accordingly, Kore-eda and the always-exceptional Song are a match made in cinematic heaven; it's no wonder that the latter deservedly earned Cannes' 2022 Best Actor prize for his latest phenomenal performance as a complex patriarch-type. Kore-eda and Bae is just as sterling a duo, too, especially when it comes to conveying yearning within this already bittersweet tale. Every heartfelt portrayal in Broker gets its audience feeling, however, including the scene-stealing Lee as a woman facing impossible choices, and pivotal baby Park.
UPDATE — MAY 8, 2019: Palace Cinemas has extended the Moro Spanish Film Festival to Sunday, May 12, with additional screenings of the festival's most popular films. When Australia's annual Spanish Film Festival returns this year, it'll offer cinephiles a two-for-one affair. Fancy seeing the latest and greatest movies from the European country? Keen to watch fresh flicks from Spanish-speaking Latin America too? They're both on the lineup. While Latin American cinema has received its own dedicated Aussie fest over the past three years, in 2019 the Cine Latino Film Festival will form part of the Moro Spanish Film Festival. In short: this year's April–May fest presents the best of both worlds across a 32-title program. In Melbourne, it kicked off on Thursday, April 18, with the Aussie premiere of applauded and acclaimed Spanish comedy Champions, which picked up this year's Goya award for best film, as well as the best new actor prize for star Jesús Vidal. The feel-good flick follows an amateur Spanish basketball team comprised of players with mental disabilities and an arrogant coach who's sentenced to community service to help them bounce their way to glory. At the other end of the event is a bona fide classic: Pedro Almodóvar's Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, the 1988 black comedy is one of the movies that first helped bring Antonio Banderas to fame. Other program highlights include action-packed bank robbery drama 70 Big Ones and comedy Super Crazy, which focuses on a woman who suddenly can't stop speaking her mind. If you've ever wanted to know all there is to know about olive oil, there's also a documentary on the topic: Virgin & Extra: Jaén, The Land of the Olive Oil. And from the Cine Latino contingent, Argentinian title Rojo delves into corruption before the country's mid-70s coup, while Tremors explores a Guatemalan family's secrets. Across its full slate, the Spanish Film Festival also showcases 11 titles by female filmmakers, ranging from established talents to up-and-comers. Watch out for romance Carmen & Lola, which has proven a hit on the queer circuit; star-studded comedy-thriller Crime Wave, which stars Maribel Verdú, Javier Cámara and Luis Tosar; and the 1982-set The Good Girls, which follows the wives of wealthy Mexican men. The Moro Spanish Film Festival will screen at Melbourne's Astor Theatre, Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Cinema Como, The Kino and Palace Westgarth from April 18 to May 8. For more information and to book tickets, visit the website.
Self-sufficiency is not simply an environmental goal but an all-consuming way of life for Spanish design company, Elii Studio. With their brilliant new invention — the Jane Fonda Kit House — these Mediterranean innovators have created an experimental home powered almost entirely through that most futuristic of technologies: human movement. The concept itself is startlingly simple. The house, which resembles something between a DIY greenhouse and an M.C. Escher design, is fitted with a number of low-tech exercise devices hooked up to some pretty high-tech generators. Every time you punch out some sit-ups, jump on the exercise bike or even water the plants, these generators convert your kinetic energy into energy that can be used to power your household appliances. Thus, the fitter you get get yourself, the more episodes of Game of Thrones you can watch. While JF-Kit may certainly isn't for everyone, if you're the kind of person who likes to put their fitness first and likes to keep energy expenses to a minimum, then this might just be future-you's perfect home. Via Inhabitat
At first glance, mid-week raving and healthy living don’t seem to go hand in hand. The energetic people behind Morning Gloryville are here to turn that preconception on its head with their ingenious way to start your day in style. After a wildly successful launch in Sydney, the London-founded breakfast rave is making its way to Melbourne, launching October 15. From 6.30 to 9.30am on the last Wednesday of the month at 1000 £ Bend, Morning Gloryville will host a monthly all-ages, drug and alcohol free rave to kickstart your day. Music will be pumping with an eclectic mix of '90s dance to jungle beats and soul tunes; you’re encouraged to jump around and shake those cobwebs loose before heading to work. PBS FM's CC:DISCO, Fintan McGivern and Salvador Darling will be storming the decks, along with a dance team to get the party going. But it’s not just the furious dancing that's helping you start your day off on the right foot. The Morning Gloryville sessions will also include yoga, massage, fresh smoothies and healthy food. The recommended dress code is simply 'dress to sweat', but loads of colour and festivalwear is also encouraged — anything to help you seize the day. The only real rule is sobriety; let your inner dance monster show the world what it’s made of unimpeded by plonk. The Morning Glory rave started in London’s Shoreditch — where else — by Sam Moyo and Nico Thoemmes. "We’ve noticed the habit that when people start getting really serious jobs or have a family, or if they want to live free of alcohol and drugs, then they almost stop partying and stop dancing in that way. We thought that was a shame," says Thoemmes. "Morning Glory is a revolution of conscious clubbing. For us it’s really important to get people embodied and dancing and moving freely." It has since gathered a global following with offshoots in Barcelona, New York, Tokyo, Amsterdam, Sydney and now Melbourne. Morning Gloryville is a great alternative for those who truly dread climbing out of bed during to head to the gym before work. If you’re looking down the barrel of 8-12 hours at a desk or in an office environment, this is one sure fire way of getting an endorphins hit. The first Morning Gloryville Melbourne event will be launched on October 15, entry is $25 for adults and children under 12 rave for free. Get your tickets here. Via BBC and Fresh 92.7.
In 2018's Skate Kitchen, filmmaker Crystal Moselle let audiences air and ollie through New York, with the entrancing and often dreamlike teenage drama stepping inside an all-female skateboarding crew. Even better: it was based on a real-life group of the same name, and starred its members. Now, because this story just keeps getting better, the director has brought all of the above back for TV spinoff Betty. You don't need to have seen the film to enjoy this slice-of-life look at these girl skaters' lives, however. All you need is a couple of hours to watch these young women hit their boards, navigate the normal adolescent experiences, and cope with all the ups and downs of trying to literally glide through a male-heavy realm. And, to simply enjoy spending time with these friends — because Moselle is particularly skilled at making her viewers feel like they're part of the gang.
We've all been drooling over Scandinavian-inspired furniture and décor for a while now. But sometimes it's hard to distinguish between economical, IKEA-esque goods — which certainly have their place, ahem, those tiny light wood stools in every cafe across the country — and the kind of pieces you'll keep forever. If you're looking for the former, you already know where to go. However, if the latter is more your style you can't go past 20th Century Scandinavia. Boasting vintage furnishings that tread the perfect line between retro and modern, this store has something for everyone. The family-run business gets in new shipments from Denmark on the reg, so there's always newly refurbished pieces hitting the shop floor. Weekend shoppers, be sure to also check out the warehouse showroom located just down the road at 41 St Phillip Street, Brunswick East, which is open 11am–4pm, Saturday and Sunday, or by appointment.
Pack your sleeping bag and don your warmest flannels — Melbourne's annual mass sleepover is returning for another year. The house you'll be heading to? None other than the MCG. Yep, the MCG. But instead of 100,000 screaming footy fans, the ground will host around 1800 sleepers for the largest mass sleeper event ever in the city. Hosted by Melbourne City Mission, the event raises awareness and funds to support youth homelessness in Melbourne. You'll be kept entertained with live music, handball competitions run by AFL players, giveaways and even guided meditation to help you fall asleep. Come dressed in your best sleep attire for the sleepwear fashion competition and learn about the core challenges of homelessness that over 6000 young people face in Melbourne. Registration costs $70, and includes a cardboard box to sleep on, a dinner of warm soup, coffee, tea and a basic breakfast the following morning. You're encouraged to raise further funds with your fam and friends to help Melbourne City Mission reach its goal of $1.2 million. While you don't actually get to sleep on the hallowed turf (sorry, footy fans), but, still, there's still nothing quite like sleeping at the 'G. There's also nothing quite like sleeping outside on the brink of Melbourne winter, which should help you realise the magnitude of what it means to be homeless. If you can't make it on the night, you can show your support by donating here.
Over three days this weekend, The Big Design Market will bring the best of independent Australian and international creations under the one roof. Acting as Melbourne's Mecca for crafts, the market promises an incredible variety of products combined with plenty of free creative workshops, delicious foodstuffs to impress the epicurean, and showbags bulging with creativity. The ethical shopper will find many stocking stuffers here, with the designs focused on ethical production and sustainability that does not skimp on quality and originality. The handcrafted designs range from fashion and accessories, homewares and textiles, and lifestyle and kids products. For those interested in looking to unleash their inner creative spirit, 10 free specialised workshops will be held over the three days. Find out how to master nail art with Trophy Wife and Kester Black, make a cute Christmas ornament with Wic & Folk or learn how to create the melt-in-your-mouth 'Be My Love' chocolate raspberry dessert with LuxBite.
It helped kick-start Carlton's culinary new age, made veggies sexy with its regularly Instagrammed roast cauliflower dish and scooped up a swag of accolades for its efforts. But now, it's time for Carlton's The Town Mouse to stage its final performance, with the owners announcing that, after almost five years, they're selling their Drummond Street eatery and shutting the doors for the final time this March. Of course, this internationally acclaimed restaurant isn't going out without a proper send-off. As a last hurrah, the kitchen's putting its regular food offering to bed and plating up a special four-course set menu to see out the final six weeks. Available from February 1, alongside a limited a la carte offering, this final menu's a celebration of Dave Verheul's signature Town Mouse flair, featuring a mix of old favourites and clever new creations. It'll be on offer (with or without a sweet course) for dinners Thursday through Monday, while Sunday lunches will feature a separate $50 three-course menu, including dessert. As the Town Mouse cellar is given a final clear-out, diners can choose to match those eats to some great wines at very tidy prices, though BYO will also be available at all sittings. Keep an eye out too, for cameo appearances from a lineup of past team members and guest chefs. We're sad to see the restaurant go — especially as Nora, also in Carlton, has just closed its doors permanently. If you don't want to part with Dave Verheul's food, you don't have to — the team's CBD bar Embla is still operating as usual on Russell Street. The Town Mouse's send-off menu will be on offer from February 1 until the first or second week of March. It's priced at $68 (without dessert) or $75 (with dessert) per person for dinner, and $50 per person for Sunday lunch. Find the restaurant at 312 Drummond Street, Carlton and book at thetownmouse.com.au.
Founded by ceramics artist Amanda Reishi and operating out of her cosy home studio, Everyday Clay is about as laidback and chilled an art experience as you'll likely ever have. Amanda's philosophy is simple — uplift and inspire through the craft of pottery. Unlike many brick-and-mortar pottery spots in Melbourne, Everyday Clay operates as a mobile studio. You pick the location and number of people (up to about 60), and Amanda will bring everything to you. That makes Everyday Clay better for those who already have a group of people keen on creating — either for a hen's party or work gathering. Classes include a one-day "Create Your Own Everyday Drink Set", where students will walk away with a delightful mug, saucer and spoon. A two-day handcrafting course will explore using hands to mould creative and one-of-a-kind pieces. There is also an online course and a "Clay and Me" workshop, where students are encouraged to express themselves with a piece that represents them. It could be a clay cat. It could be an ashtray. It's up to you. There is also a focus on healing through clay — an art therapy program designed to facilitate healing, self-expression and creativity. Yes, art can be healing as well as pretty.
Pasta doesn't get much better than this – even in Italy. Three of Australia's best Italian chefs are getting together to throw a Pasta Party. For one evening only, they'll be sharing their knowledge of old world traditions and new world innovations, in between serving up a four-course, decadent dinner with, of course, matching wines. Two members of the trio will by flying in from interstate for the occasion. They are Sydney's Mitch Orr of Acme fame and Perth's Joel Valvasori-Pereza, who heads up Lula La Delizia. Joining them will be Melbourne's Andreas Papadakis (Tipo 00). On arrival, you'll be greeted with a glass of rosé, before sitting down to your feast, during which each creation will be introduced by the chef who made it. Among the dishes planned are stracciatella with shiitake and brown butter; smoked garganelli with pork and fennel sausage and broccoli; and cacao tortellini with pine mushrooms. Dessert? Absolutely. Panna cotta vera with toasted walnuts and burnt orange syrup. All matching drops come from Brand's Laira, a multi-award winning winery in Coonawarra, South Australia, with the exception of the sticky, which is a Peter Lehmann botrytis semillon. The Pasta Party will take place at Melbourne Palms, a Palm Springs-inspired restaurant set to pop up in Fed Square throughout Good Food Month. The most delicious news of all is that we're giving away two tickets, worth $140 each. To check out Melbourne Good Food Month's full program and buy tickets, head to goodfoodmonth.com. To enter, see details below. [competition]670925[/competition] Images: Nikki To
If you're healing along the Great Ocean Road, you should pay a visit to some of Australia's most stunning rock formations, coastal shrubbery and ocean views at Loch Ard Gorge. Situated close to the community of Port Campbell, this place offers a famous combination of crystal clear waters, sharp golden cliffs and a soft sandy beach. Just a few minutes' drive from the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge is a great opportunity to break out the bathers and take a refreshing dip in the ocean. Nearby, you'll find several limestone caves to explore, too, along with a host of coastal walks ideal for stretching your legs. [caption id="attachment_711543" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] Top image: Visit Victoria
Whether the folks in charge like it or not, Melbourne's myki system has been associated with more headaches and grumbles than it has with positive reviews. Now, probably for the first time, it's inspired something fun, with local design duo Dyl & Oscar launching a card game based on our public transport network. The tabletop game Touched On sees players attempt to fare evade their way around Melbourne's tram, train, and bus systems, while avoiding the cards marked as undercover ticket inspectors. Basically, it's the perfect way to indulge your inner law-breaker, without getting caught (and having to pay an on-the-spot fine) IRL. Dyl & Oscar have started a Kickstarter campaign to fund and sell Touched On, which can be snapped up for the Kris Kringle-friendly price of just $22. The pair has even created a few fun extras, including unisex socks inspired by that oh-so-familiar tram seat print. Pledges for the project are open until Monday, December 19, and the finished game is expected to ship in March next year. UPDATE: More than a week before the end of Touched On's funding period, the project has met its goal, ensuring that public transport-themed card game antics really will become a reality. For more information on Touched on or to make a pledge, visit their Kickstarter page.
If there's a live gig-shaped hole in your life right now, Indigenous Australian hip hop artist Ziggy Ramo is here to fill that void with a night of hard-hitting tunes. This Saturday, August 29, he'll take to the hallowed stage of the Sydney Opera House for an exclusive live-streamed performance, complete with striking visuals and a ten-piece band in tow. Beaming live and loud to a device near you, Ramo is set to play his debut full-length album Black Thoughts. The much-lauded work was completed in 2015 before being shelved for a few years, and has now been reborn in light of current conversations around race and colonial history. Expect a powerful performance incorporating strings and brass, brought to life alongside newly commissioned artworks by 2018 WA Young Person of the Year, Indigenous Australian illustrator Kamsani 'Kambarni' Bin-Salleh. Spiritually charged rap meets traditional Songlines to deliver a captivating musical journey, touching on collective trauma, racial discrimination, vulnerability and spiritual renewal. Got plans Saturday night? All good — the full performance will also be available on-demand after the initial live stream. While the Sydney Opera House is still closed to the public, it's running a Digital Season with full-length archival performances and live recordings. You can can check out the final lineup over here. [caption id="attachment_720224" align="alignnone" width="1920"] A gig at Sydney Opera House during Vivid by Daniel Boud[/caption] Top image: Emma Pegrum
Find sweet treats and vintage trinkets at a three-day pop-up tuck shop in the Melbourne CBD. Running from October 13-15 at Square on Little Collins Street, this cashless pop-up will feature products — both edible and otherwise — from some of Melbourne's best-loved makers and small businesses. Open 10am till 4pm, the Square Pop-Up Tuck Shop will be stocked to the brim with a host of mouthwatering treats – including amazing doughnuts from Candied Bakery and Cobb Lane, raw cookies from Ace Cookies and Milk, chocolates from Hunted and Gathered, cakes from Miss Molly's Cakes and God-only-knows what kinds of sugary concoctions from the enablers at Butter Mafia. Bargain-hunters will also find a range of handmade accessories, including jewellery from Tinka the Label, stationery from Knick Knack, and other items from home-grown businesses yet to be announced.
