Who doesn't love a pie? These flaky, buttery shells full of thick soupy goodness come in infinite forms. They can be sweet or savoury, meat-packed or vegan, and the fillings can be inspired by just about any cuisine. Finding the best pie in Victoria is almost impossible, but the city of Ballarat is spending an entire month trying to find its greatest local pie. From now until the end of August, 28 local chefs, restaurants, cafes and bakeries are gunning for the top spot, and you, dear readers, can try each and every one of them. [caption id="attachment_969123" align="alignnone" width="1920"] 1816 Bakehouse[/caption] Fans of the classic meat pie can sample 1816 Bakehouse's beef filet mignon pie, and traditional sweet tooths can score a slice of Aussie Oggie Pasty Co's apple crumble pie. But most spots are flipping the script, creating altogether wild and unusual fillings. Hope Bakery at Sovereign Hill has a Vegemite and cheese pie, Hot Temple has cooked up a green chicken mole version, The George Hotel has filled its with beef rendang, and Flying Chillies has gone all out with a curry laksa pie. The organisers have also been gracious enough to draw up an official Ballarat Pie Trail for those seeking to try as many creations as possible when visiting this regional city. Just make sure you stop by Itinerant Spirits — the winner of Ballarat's Best Pie competition — which is serving up a moreish sweet apple and vodka pie served warm with creamy pine nettle ice cream. [caption id="attachment_969126" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Itinerant Spirits[/caption] Top images: Grainery Lane and Beechworth Bakery.
When The Square won the top prize at last year's Cannes Film Festival, it was considered a controversial choice. That's an understandable reaction — an over-the-top satire about the art world that's filled with odd incidents and clocks in at nearly two-and-a-half hours long was never going to be everyone's idea of a masterpiece. But with Swedish filmmaker Ruben Östlund behind the camera, that's by design. Fittingly, he's made a piece of art that's not only about a divisive piece of art, but also proves incredibly divisive itself. A complex look at the responsibilities that come with living within a society, as seen through the filter of creativity, contemporary art galleries and the reactions to both, The Square marches straight into the gap between public posturing and private truths. As such, it places the writer-director in very familiar thematic territory. Fans of Östlund's previous film, the fantastic Force Majeure, should instantly recognise his thematic hangups, as he skewers humanity's general tendency to say one thing but do another. Last time, he stepped inside the intimate confines of a dysfunctional marriage undone by a husband's selfish behaviour in a time of crisis. Here, the filmmaker similarly contemplates a wealth of complicated contradictions, this time in a world known for being polarising, prestigious and — sometimes — downright pretentious. Indeed, if egotistical Stockholm gallery curator Christian (Claes Bang) was to offer his thoughts of the film he's in, he'd likely declare The Square a triumph — all while knowing that half of the audience strongly disagrees. Moreover, he'd do so with a particular kind of arrogance meant to pressure others to come around to his way of thinking. That's how he talks about his new installation, also called 'The Square', which is designed to cultivate empathy. Whether he's being interviewed by journalist Anne (Elisabeth Moss), discussing viral promotional strategies with his marketing team, or trying to wow the elite art crowd at gallery functions, Christian is certain that the four-by-four metre space (a "sanctuary of trust and caring" where participants "all share equal rights and obligations") is vitally essential and important. How much of his behaviour is authentic? When you're expected to act a particular way, can you ever be your real self? Or are you putting on your own piece of theatre, whether you know it or not? And should your own personal role-play come at the expense of others? Again and again, Östlund puts his protagonist in situations that ponder the boundaries between art, life, truth and performance. Christian goes home with Anne, only to discover that she has a chimpanzee for a roommate. He hosts an elaborate party, which features an actor (Terry Notary) accosting the guests by acting like an ape. He's mugged on the street, but it's so well choreographed that it could be a show. As Christian, Bang lives up to his surname. It's not a loud performance, but rather a commanding and compelling one, with the Danish actor turning in a portrayal that's as dense and disarming as the film itself. Considering he's in a movie that probes the difference between the organic and the staged, that's quite a significant feat. Furthermore, he also achieves something that Östlund sometimes struggles with: balance. The Square might contend that art, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder, but it sometimes overplays its hand in making that statement. The film is funny and insightful when you're on its wavelength, and positively grating when you're not. Its stunning set-pieces grab attention no matter which side you fall on at any given moment, but the movie can jump from astute and amusing to patience-testing with whiplash-inducing speed. And yet, in a picture this savage, smart and wildly ambitious, even the infuriating bits always feel like they're part of Östlund's playful game. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXOV2-7tYP8
There's only one problem with the beach: it can make you dumb. Seaside days are the most tempting time to read trashy chick lit and airport novels, but what does that do to your brain? And what if you forget your book altogether and are forced to passively admire the glittering horizon while your companions enjoy tales of adventure and romance? Enter the beach pop-up library: a terrific notion from French architect and industrial designer Matali Crasset (whose website is really worth a visit for playtime). Currently popping up at La Romaniquette in Istres, France, the cute 'Bibliotheque de Plage' boasts more than 350 titles, so there's little chance you wouldn't find something that appeals. Adding a personal touch to the venture, the books on offer have been carefully selected and include many of Crasset's own favourites: for example, the classic architecture text The Poetics of Space, Gaston Bachelard's beautiful and influential meditation on how we experience interiors. The beach library creates its own special space to be experienced, composed of a simple steel frame with tarpaulin wings that form three shaded alcoves for peaceful reading. The idea for the project arose partly out of local government's focus on encouraging literacy. It would be great if charming libraries like this one were a common sight beside the food and drink kiosks that appear on beaches, ensuring you would never be stuck without a quality seaside read again. Via PSFK.
This dough-fuelled Melbourne project has been baking in the oven for a while — and has now finally risen to perfection. Since Tuesday, October 17, ANTARA 128 is dishing out an array of tempting baked goods and woodfired plates to citygoers on Exhibition Street. While much has changed since news first dropped about the venue's arrival — with Head Chef Allan Doert-Eccles (ex-Gimlet, Embla and Lesa) now leading the charge alongside Head Baker Didiet Radityawan (ex-Vue de Monde, Cobb Lane, Penny for Pound and STREA) — what has not changed is the bakery and all-day eatery's commitment to a bountiful supply of baked goods and carefully crafted dishes that stray from tradition. The star-studded team behind ANTARA 128 also consists of baker Michael James (ex-Tivoli Road, Bourke St Bakery, Baker D. Chirico and MoVida) and Group Development Chef Joel Alderson (ex-Attica, Stellar, Paringa Estate and more). Thanks to Kerstin Thompson Architecture, the bakery's fitout takes a sophisticated approach, as centred around creating a viewing space for guests. The mezzanine features contemporary stone benches, plus a glass-front room where you can enjoy the baking process in full. As you wait, expect scenes of chefs and bakers preparing menu items, with some hitting the woodfired oven and others in the laminating stage. The accompanying eating house goes with elegant, earthy interiors paired with timber furniture, dark green drapery and high ceilings. ANTARA 128's menu — described as "Melbourne" by Doert-Eccles — stars artisan-crafted baked goods and produce-forward dishes that draw inspiration from its locality — but don't just do the usual. During the day, you'll stumble across a selection of seasonal viennoiseries alongside a rotating menu of varying bread loaves. The crowd favourite is the city loaf, which caters for one to two people and is made with local Victorian flours. Plus, there are also breakfast and brunch options to choose from, including several egg options, fruit-topped coconut yoghurt, and a vegetable plate paired with cheddar custard and braised onions — all of which showcase European-centric dishes with a modern Australian twist. For those dining at the all-day eatery, this theme continues. While a woodfired selection and wholefood goods feature heavily, each dish benefits from a ANTARA 128 twist. Take your pick from snacks like the anchovy twist with miso cheddar onion, and sides such as the sugarloaf cabbage with fermented cream and mushroom oil. Or, opt for heftier selections like the stone-ground conchiglie with roasted duck and a mushroom broth, or the slow-roasted and generously glazed wagyu short rib. To top it off, bakery staples make an appearance on the eatery's menu. Sourdough in particular features creatively — infused into the ice cream paired with the woodroasted apple tart, for instance — and is also used to thicken sauces and in miso. Find ANTARA 128 at 128 Exhibition Street, Melbourne — with the bakery open from 8am–2pm Sunday–Monday, 7.30am–5.30pm Tuesday–Friday and 8am–5.30pm Saturdays, and restaurant breakfast service from 7.30am–11am Tuesday–Saturday, lunch from 12–3pm Tuesday–Saturday and dinner from 5.30–10pm Tuesday–Saturday. Images: Chris McConville and Haydn Cattach.
Looking to woo this Valentine's Day? Just remember that location matters — and stunning views don't hurt, either. Luckily for you, Rippon Lea Estate has both of these things going for it and it just so happens to be hosting the ultimate dinner date for loved-up couples on Tuesday, February 14. Book your table for two at the stunning Elsternwick property from 6pm and prepare to be swept off your feet. On the evening's menu: a three-course spread featuring dishes like twice-cooked goats cheese soufflé, lemon herb chicken with creamy white wine sauce and an edible chocolate garden for dessert. Included in the $129 ticket, you'll also score a package of house-made sweet treats to take home, saving you from having to rush out and buy those last-minute Valentine's choccies. What's more, you and your lover can take a romantic post-dinner stroll through the estate's lush gardens whilst being serenaded by the enchanting cello melodies of Gary Fu. Top image: Lenish John via Wikimedia Commons.
Every year the Fringe Festival gives Melbourne the chance to show itself off with exhibitions, performances and live art filling up the city’s humming laneways, theatres, and unconventional spaces. The upside of an uncurated festival is access to the unlimited scope, diversity, and imagination of the independent scene, but the sheer number of artworks on offer can make it tricky to navigate. To give you a taste, we’ve rounded up ten events taking place during the Fringe, which runs from September 18 to October 6. Now that it’s become a Melbourne institution, it would be easy for the festival to rest on its laurels, but the artists from these pieces stand out for their sense of risk. Shows like Kids Killing Kids and Viet Kieu are testament to the increasing value Melbourne audiences are finding in cross-cultural performance, while Digital Outlawed, Momentum: Live and the Fringe’s own Digital Gardens show us a tantalising glimpse of the possibilities on the next frontier for contemporary art. Kids Killing Kids In late 2011, four young Australian writers travelled to Manila to collaborate with local artists from the Sipat Lawin Ensemble on an adaptation of the famous novel Battle Royale. When audiences began to grow night after night, baying for blood, the production attracted massive international media coverage, and forced the playwrights to ask themselves questions about the nature of collaboration across cultures, onstage violence, and contemporary Filipino culture. One of three offerings in the Festival from Melbourne theatre company MKA, Kids Killing Kids is equal parts narrative and documentary reflecting on these events. September 20 – 29, October 1 – 3; Fringe Hub - The Warehouse, 521 Queensberry St, North Melbourne Digital Outlawed Digital Outlawed is a new media exhibition presenting an imagined future of a world without computers. By removing digital media from the work itself the exhibition forces the visitor to face an uncomfortable question: is using this kind of media a necessary part of contemporary art? In a piece curated and produced by Arie Rain Glorie, the artists set out to prove that new art doesn’t have to be made in new ways. September 19 – 30; Raglan Street Gallery, 14 Raglan St, North Melbourne Yarn Devised in residence at The Australian Tapestry Workshop, Yarn is an evocative, site-specific piece of theatre that combines physical performance with poetic language. The work was created by Lily Fish (Inside A Mime's Compact, Alone, Isobel and Installation A), a member of the award-winning Fringe favourites The Dig Collective, who tease apart the mythology of the past to ground old stories in the here and now. September 25 – 28, October 2 – 5; Australian Tapestry Workshop, 262/266 Park St, South Melbourne Digital Gardens On the surface, Digital Gardens looks like the now 31-year-old Fringe trying to prove it’s still got the new age tech savvy of a pimply teenager. But don’t be put off by your first impressions — the program on offer doesn’t just use digital media as a gimmick but actually engages with its possibilities for audience interaction and storytelling. One of the ways the project will work is by collaborating with artists who are presenting in the Hub so that audiences from those shows can recreate their live experiences of that work in a digital format. Melbourne’s a city that punches above its weight in the world of independent game development, and the Fringe are inviting some of the city’s talented digital designers to dream up some immersive, multiplayer experiences for visitors. September 19 – 21, City Square, Melbourne CBD; September 28 – 29 and October 5 – 6, Prahran Town Hall, City of Stonnington Live Acts On Stage When acclaimed Australian playwright Michael Gow was approached by Four Letter Word Theatre about the rights to his already-debauched Live Acts on Stage, he insisted on rewriting the script; dialing up the filth to the level demanded by the company’s established fondness for provocation. The play’s a roller-coaster ride through Greek mythology, with the actors from a company on the rise juggling 45 characters in Gow’s savagely funny text. September 26 – 29, October 1- 5; fortyfivedownstairs, 45 Flinders Lane Simon Taylor Young Melbourne funnyman Simon Taylor was whisked away from the city’s comedy circuit after a chance run in with Jay Leno led to a regular gig writing for The Tonight Show. When he’s not coming up with gags for Jay he keeps busy with his original webseries Make It Gourmet — somehow he’s found time for a set of homecoming shows that stretches out over the course of the whole festival. September 18 – October 6; The Imperial Hotel, Cnr Bourke and Spring St, Melbourne CBD Mandek Penha “Mandek Penha is my father / Mandek Penha is my mother...” After ensnaring audiences across Melbourne over the past few years with his not-sure-if-serious cult of live music, comedy and multimedia, the Current Earthly Embodiment of Mandek Penha will be taking over upstairs at The Toff in Town in September. In the past he’s promoted his shows by hitting the streets of Melbourne, where reviews ranged from “I didn’t just get out of jail for this” to outright bafflement. Watching a packed-out audience of drunken punters be completely hypnotised by his live show’s suspiciously high production values is an experience in itself. September 23, 30; The Toff in Town, Level 2, Curtin House, 252 Swanston St, Melbourne Viet Kieu Viet Kieu is a spicy cabaret, provoking questions of Asian-Australian identity as it seduces with its dark comedy. While there’s a massive audience for multilingual performance in Melbourne, Diana Nguyen’s piece is one of only a few shows within the festival that not only try and fill that gap, but also show that this kind of diverse work deserves pride of place in the independent scene. It’s also a chance to catch the work of the director, emerging dynamo Felix Ching Ho, before she explodes next year. September 18 – 29, October 2 – 6; The Butterfly Club, 5 Carson Pl., Melbourne Momentum: Live Coming straight from the Sydney Frigne, Nat Grant is bringing her durational online composition project, Momentum: Live, to Melbourne. By integrating electronic processing and sampling with acoustic sound recordings, Nat creates cumulative sound worlds that link human, digital and natural environments. With consecutive showings in Melbourne and Sydney, Nat will be taking sounds from Newtown to Fitzroy and sculpting them into eight unique live performances across both festivals. September 19 – 22; Conduit Arts, 83 Brunswick St, Fitzroy Bushpig Reviewers called the breakout premiere of Bushpig “the most intriguing show at this year’s Adelaide Fringe” — after taking the City of Churches by storm, Bagabus Inc. are touring their first show to Melbourne and Sydney. With an array of elements across live music, illusion, and insanity, it seems like the show could easily burst at the seams — but if word of mouth’s anything to go by, the creators Hannah Malarski and Jack Richardson have crafted a piece that sears through confusion. September 19 – 28; The Owl and the Pussycat, 34 Swan St, Richmond
Standard Issue is one of many hidden boutiques in the Yarraville area. Stocking a constantly updated range of fashion from an eclectic mix of Australian and international brands, the store is bursting with flashy garments and knick knacks that'll make for the perfect gift. Located on the corner of Anderson and Bunyiyong streets, Standard Issue sells east-meets-west designer fashion from Rabens Saloner, Assembly Label's beloved basics, distinctive and whimsical jewellery by Sydney-based Kirstin Ash, longstanding Australian cult label One Teaspoon, Suncoo Paris' chic French designs, and ethical clothing from Kowtow.
'Jackie-O' Pascal and her twin brother, Marty, have been re-enacting the moment of JFK's assassination since they were teenagers. They have also been having a long-running affair. When Marty brings his fiancee, Lesly, to the family's Thanksgiving celebrations, a disturbing battle between the slightly deranged Jackie-O and Marty's oppressively normal fiancee ensues. Add a hurricane, a puppyish younger brother who takes a liking to Lesly and a slightly depressed matriarch, and you have all the ingredients for a seriously black comedy. Wendy Macleod's The House of Yes is taken to a new level of hilarity in this fresh adaptation of her cult classic about incest, mental illness and a family's inexplicable obsession with JFK. Brought to you by Little Ones Theatre, the guys that treated Melbourne audiences to Psycho Beach Party in 2013, this show promises to be a disturbing but hilarious theatrical treat. The House of Yes is on from November 27 to December 13 at Theatre Works. Thanks to Little Ones Theatre, we have three double passes for the show on Saturday, November 29, at 8pm to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address at win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au.
Write a Brisbane-set book. Score a hit on the page. Then, see your words take to the stage, then the screen. That's how life went for Trent Dalton with Boy Swallows Universe. Next, going as far as treading the boards for now, that's also his path with Love Stories. Queensland Performing Arts Centre and Brisbane Festival have just announced that another of Dalton's books is getting a stage adaptation. As the play version of Boy Swallows Universe did, Love Stories will premiere at Brisbane Festival, with Tim McGarry penning the script and Dalton contributing additional writing. Fiona Franzmann will also contribute, while Sam Strong is directing. If much of this combination sounds familiar, Strong and McGarry also brought Eli Bell's antics to the theatre when it hit QPAC first. Their stage adaptation of Boy Swallows Universe wasn't just a smash — it's still the venue's bestselling drama ever. [caption id="attachment_944825" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent Dalton, Fiona Franzmann, Sam Strong and Tim McGarry. Image: Lyndon Mechielsen.[/caption] Fans won't have to wait long to see the end result for Love Stories, with the production set to have its world premiere in spring 2024, playing QPAC's Playhouse from Tuesday, September 10–Sunday, September 29. As for who'll be bringing it to life onstage, Jason Klarwein plays a writer and husband, while Michala Banas is his wife. They're both based on married couple Dalton and Franzmann. Also in the cast: Rashidi Edwards as Jean-Benoit, a Belgian busker who is also the show's narrator. Kimie Tsukakoshi, Jeanette Cronin, Mathew Cooper, Bryan Probets and Harry Tseng round out the acting talent from there, as joined by dancers Jacob Watton and Hsin-Ju Ely. The production will set its scene from the corner of Brisbane's Adelaide and Albert streets — and if you've read the book, you'll know why. Dalton wrote the 2022 Indie Book Awards Book of the Year-winner by heading to a corner in Brisbane's CBD, Olivetti typewriter in hand, and asking folks walking by for their tales. His question: "can you please tell me a love story?". Accordingly, this is another love letter to Brisbane, as Boy Swallows Universe is. This time, however, it tells true tales about romance and life. The aim is for it to be joyous but poignant, humorous but dramatic, and to be sentimental about Brisbane while telling a range of diverse love stories. [caption id="attachment_944824" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent Dalton and Franzmann. Image: Lyndon Mechielsen.[/caption] "It's a rare and wondrous thrill to see one's words brought to life in the boundless universe of Australian theatre. It's an even greater thrill to see the love stories of so many not-so-ordinary real-life Queenslanders given such reverence and weight," said Dalton. "I've already had the great honour of informing many of the storytellers who so kindly told their stories to me on that corner that their words will now be retold in the most thrilling theatrical way by the most gifted team of creatives. These beautiful people who come from every corner of Queensland are just as excited as I am." [caption id="attachment_935699" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent Dalton, Simon Baker, Phoebe Tonkin, Felix Cameron, Lee Tiger Halley, Bryan Brown and Travis Fimmel at the premiere of Boy Swallows Universe. Image: Jono Searle/Getty Images for Netflix.[/caption] "Love Stories the show will be filled with everything that people adore about the book (and Trent's work) — beautifully specific Brisbane stories that speak universal truths, undeniably unforgettable people, and stories that sometimes break our hearts but always fill them," added Strong. "In translating Love Stories into the theatre, we're also building on the original. Trent and Fiona's own love story, which interweaves through the book, has been expanded by them for the stage show. In addition, we're including some of the incredible love stories that have been shared since the book was published." There's no sneak peek available for Love Stories yet — images, trailer or otherwise — but check out the trailers for both the stage and versions of Boy Swallows Universe in the interim: Love Stories will play the QPAC Playhouse, South Brisbane, from Tuesday, September 10–Sunday, September 29, 2024 as part of Brisbane Festival. Head to the venue's website for tickets and further details. Images: Netflix / Lyndon Mechielsen.
There's nothing like a stint of chilly Melbourne winter to inspire cravings for a hearty Sunday roast. And one with bottomless drinks to match? Even better. This, my friends, is the enviable situation that now awaits you at Mr Joe every Sunday afternoon. Book in for the Richmond eatery's new bottomless roast series from 1–3pm each weekend and enjoy a sumptuous, globe-trotting feed for $72. The shared spread features dishes like fresh bread with whipped ricotta and a red mojo sauce, plump pork and vegetarian gyozas, and an array of seasonal vegetables. Alongside those, star roasted delights like slow-cooked Asian-spiced lamb ribs, Texas-style wagyu brisket, local pork belly and a tender lamb shoulder are all on the menu as well. You're also in for two hours of free-flowing booze, including sparkling wine, Asahi beer, mimosas, margaritas, espresso martinis and a crisp watermelon punch. Images: Ben Moynihan
South Melbourne Market wants to whisk you away to Japan this winter. From Wednesday, June 4–Saturday, June 14, you'll be able to take yourself on a degustation through the stallholders, sampling ten Japan-inspired dishes along the way. Among the savoury menu, you'll find pork gyoza at Bambu, shallow-fried calamari with yuzu aioli at Greek 'n' Out, an eggplant katsu curry at Smithburg, burrata done hiyayakko style at UGO Burrata Bar, and torched salmon sashimi at Oyster Bar by Aptus. When you're ready for a sweet hit, try a hojicha-infused croissant at Agathe, a black sesame cookie at My Cookie Factory, or one of two matcha-flavoured delights: cheesecake at Cobb Lane Bakery and gelato at Fritz. Make sure to stop in at Tea Drop, where you can get a cold-brew genmaicha, a matcha or a hojicha (iced or latte-style), along with a strawberry coated in matcha and white chocolate. The entire degustation is self-guided, leaving you free to enjoy the dishes at your pace, in whatever order you like. Plus, you only need one ticket ($79). For an extra $50, you'll score a Flavours of Japan Discovery Bag filled with gourmet goodies, exclusive discounts, matcha or incense, and an art card.
Winter isn't usually the most fun time to be in Melbourne. Sure, it's nice when the local pub starts serving mulled wine, but when your favourite activities include sunny brunches, outdoor cinemas and going to the beach, grey skies and arctic winds are not your friends. But we've found at least one reason to celebrate the chilly weather: a pop-up ice skating rink right in the middle of Fed Square. Located on River Terrace overlooking the Yarra, River Rink will be open from 10am – 10pm, seven days a week, from June 18 until July 17. At night the rink will be lit up in a multitude of colours, while select evenings will also feature live entertainment. Tickets to River Rink cost $24.50 for adults, and include skate hire. Those of you without much skating experience or general coordination can also hire a plastic penguin and/or seal, which essentially serve as ice skating training wheels. Full disclosure though: you're probably still going to wake up the next day covered in bruises.
Another day, another new film festival announcement — and while we've probably made that claim before, it really is beginning to prove accurate. Come August, movie buffs will be able to immerse themselves in the big screen wonders of Latin America courtesy of Palace Cinemas' newest fest. Meet CINE LATINO: A New Festival of Latin American Cinema. Not content with adding an American indie showcase and an Aussie offshoot of the documentary-focused Hot Docs to the mix already this year, the arthouse cinema chain is keeping the festivals coming. Screening in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane and Adelaide, CINE LATINO is the first country-wide event dedicated to Latin American cinema in Australia, featuring films from Mexico, Brazil, Uruguay, Venezuela, Chile, Guatemala and more. Given that Latin America is made up of 20 Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries with over 600 million people — and has given rise to recent Oscar winners Alejandro González Iñárritu and Alfonso Cuarón — there's certain to be plenty of flicks to choose from. That'll be the task of Alex Castro, who previously oversaw the Melbourne Latin American Film Festival from 2004 to 2007. That makes quite the number of cultural touring film fests gracing the cinema outfit's big screens in 2016, with the French Film Festival currently doing the rounds, the Spanish Film Festival rolling out from April, and the Scandinavian, Israeli, Italian and British festivals also on Palace's slate throughout the year — not that we're keeping count or anything. And while you'll never hear us complaining about too many film festivals, we are mighty curious about what new niche they might move into next. CINE LATINO: A New Festival of Latin American Cinema will screen in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane and Adelaide from August 11 to 31. For more information, keep an eye on the festival website. Image: Ixcanul (2015).
Visiting the Louvre art gallery in Paris is an exciting experience. Battling the crowds to get a glance of Venus de Milo is exciting. Copping an elbow to the face as you attempt to take a selfie with the Mona Lisa is even kinda exciting. But, imagine, if you could spend an entire night inside the Louvre, exploring the halls — and taking many many selfies with Mona Lisa — without any other tourists around. A total dream. And one that could become a reality, thanks to Airbnb. Yep, the company that lets you stay for cheap in other people's homes is giving away a night at the Louvre for you and a mate (date, mum, whoever). As well as spending the night under the iconic glass pyramid, you'll be given a Renaissance-inspired cocktail to toast with Mona — while relaxing on a luxe Parisian lounge and listening to French vinyl records, of course — enjoy an extravagant feast in a pop-up dining room next to Venus de Milo, and watch an acoustic concert inside Napoleon III's lavish apartment. Pick your jaw up off the ground and enter the competition, now. Well, before April 12. This crazy once-in-a-lifetime experience is part of AirBnB's Night At series, where it gifts sleepovers at really over-the-top spots. Previous sleepovers have been held on the Chicago Bulls basketball court, at the top of an Olympic ski jump, in a shark aquarium and on the Great Wall — the list goes on. To enter the competition, you need to answer the question "Why would you be the Mona Lisa's perfect guest?" in 800 characters or less before midnight on Friday, April 12 French time, which the morning of Saturday, April 13 AEDT. The sleepover will take place between April 28 and May 2 (the winner will win a total of three nights in Paris). To win a night at the Louvre head to the Airbnb website. Images: Julian Abrams.
With drought blighting the country, Australia just sweltering through its hottest summer on record, and severe storms popping up with frequency in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, there's little doubt that the earth's climate is changing. And while the subject has fuelled many a documentary in recent years, a new Australian film is taking a different approach. Rather than chronicling the bleak status quo, it ponders how we could improve things for the future. The second film from actor-turned-director Damon Gameau, 2040 sees the Aussie exploring areas such as climate, economics, technology, civil society, agriculture and sustainability — chatting with experts, assessing the best technology currently available and prognosticating on what life might be like if we were to embrace solutions that are being worked on today. Specifically, he muses on the state of the planet in 21 years time, using his young daughter as inspiration, with the doco framed as a letter to the now four-year-old. In his previous feature back in 2014, Gameau took on unhealthy diets by consuming a whole heap of sugary food — and given That Sugar Film's local success, it's hardly surprising that he's taking a personal approach to an important topic once again. 2040 premiered last month at the Berlin Film Festival, where it struck a chord with audiences, and will have its Aussie debut at the Gold Coast Film Festival in April before releasing around the country in May. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-rTQ443akE&feature=youtu.be 2040 opens in Australian cinemas on May 23.
Strawberry Fields' Tocumwal home has remained quieter than normal of late, after the site was inundated by flood waters last October, forcing the annual music festival to cancel. But it's about to score its glorious comeback, with brand-new one-day fest Good Times heading along to give it a proper workout this autumn. Making its debut on Saturday, March 25, Good Times is set to deliver a hefty lineup of Aussie talent, with acts like Cash Savage & the Last Drinks, garage four-piece Floodlights and blues legend CW Stoneking & His Primitive Horn Orchestra already revealed to be making the trip to Tocumwal. [caption id="attachment_887375" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Will Hamilton-Coates[/caption] Now, organisers have dropped the full artist lineup, throwing big names like jazz-funk four-piece Surprise Chef, Music Victoria Award-winning songstress Bumpy and dance-floor favourite Wax'o Paradiso (aka Simon TK and Edd Fisher) into the mix. Joining them in this bush oasis on the banks of the Murray River are rising stars Glass Beams (with their signature masks), Yorta Yorta blues act Benny Walker and Alice Springs-based folk artist Charly. And you'll catch even more diversity of sound from the likes of JUMAN, Collingwood Casanovas, PBSFM's Mz Rizk and a stack of others. [caption id="attachment_887378" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Will Hamilton-Coates[/caption] The family-friendly one-stage festival is set to be capped at just 1000 guests, with camping passes available for those keen on sleeping over, as well as shuttles running to and from Tocumwal's town centre. Alongside the tunes, there'll be offerings like a flame-driven culinary program with eats by Three Blue Ducks' Mark La Brooy, Wild Pie (a new collaboration from Jo Barrett and Louise Daily), and the purveyors of wild game at Discovered Wildfoods. Plus, attendees can also enjoy a strong lineup of natural wines, a series of riverfront hot tubs for unwinding in between sets, and a pop-up lounge for resting and relaxing. And as is the case with Strawberry Fields, you'll be able to cool off with a refreshing dip in the river whenever you like. Best of all, the entirety of Good Times ticket profits will be rolled into the Strawberry Fields Community Grants Fund, going to support local community organisations and non-profits. Berrigan Shire locals have access to half-price tickets. [caption id="attachment_887377" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Will Hamilton-Coates[/caption] Here's the lineup in full: GOOD TIMES 2023 LINEUP: Benny Walker Bumpy C.W. Stoneking & his Primitive Horn Orchestra Cash Savage & the Last Drinks Charly Claps Collingwood Casanovas Don Glori Floodlights Friday Young Glass Beams JUMAN Kuzco Mz Rizk Surprise Chef Wax'o Paradiso Good Times will take place at the Strawberry Fields site in Tocumwal, NSW, on Saturday, March 25. General admission tickets start from $119, available online. Top image: Duncographic.
This month, one of Melbourne's newest rooftop bars is letting you get acquainted with some of Victoria's hottest craft distilleries — without stepping foot out of the city. Ever the champion of local booze, sky-high hideaway the Stolen Gem has kicked off a limited run of weekly bar takeovers, set on showcasing top-notch spirits from across the state. From 12pm each Saturday, through until May 14, the bar will be hosting a different guest distillery for an afternoon of tastings, exclusive specialty cocktails and distiller chats. Coming up on Saturday, May 7, you'll catch the team from family-owned Somerville distillery Chief Son, as they share some stories and pour samples of their limited-edition single-malt whisky. And on May 14, the Jamaican-style Killik Rum out of Belgrave will be taking the spotlight, with the distinctly flavoured wild-fermented spirit available to try straight, as well as blended into a signature Old Fashioned. Entry to each takeover event is free — book via the website. [caption id="attachment_852613" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lumea Photo[/caption] Images: Lumea Photo
These days, Easter promises a whole lot more than just generic choccy eggs and plain hot cross buns. Bakeries, chocolate brands, gelaterias and dessert shops across the city are getting more inventive with each passing year, whipping up all sorts of creative treats worthy of a spot on your own personal Easter hunt. Here, we've rounded up some of the coolest grown-up goodies to seek out, from hot cross bun ice cream sandwiches to Easter-themed high tea experiences. Dig in. Recommended reads: The Best High Teas in Melbourne The Best Bakeries in Melbourne Where to Find the Best Ice Cream and Gelato in Melbourne Hot Cross Cinnamon Scrolls, Hot Cross-ants and Hot Cross Buns at Penny for Pound The last few years have seen Penny for Pound become a hub of activity, as hot cross bun fanatics arrive in droves to stock up on their highly rated goods. Expect the same again this year, as the bakery returns with two premium flavours: a dressed-up classic offering earl-grey soaked raisins, currants and sultanas, and a triple-chocolate bun that packs decadent dark chocolate chunks into every bite. However, Penny for Pound is stepping things up in 2025 with the release of two never-before-seen creations – the hot cross-ant ($8.50) and the hot cross cinnamon scroll ($7.50). The first sees a flaky croissant meet classic hot cross bun flavours with a citrus finish. The latter fuses fluffy dough with spiced brown sugar, cinnamon and plump sultanas before being topped with vanilla sour cream and a cinnamon cross. Find them in-store or pre-order a six-pack of buns for $24. Scotch Cross Bun at KOI Dessert Bar Let the expert sweet-makers at KOI Dessert Bar level up your Easter feast with their Scotch Cross Bun. Made in collaboration with Benriach Distillery – the acclaimed maker of Speyside single malt scotch whisky – these boozy buns blend traditional flavours and aromas with contemporary cake design to create a luxe treat bound to impress the fam. Here, rich vanilla mousse has been infused with autumnal spices like nutmeg and cinnamon, then spiked with currants soaked in Benriach's The Original Ten whisky. Ready to buy? The Scotch Cross Bun is available for $22 at KOI Dessert Bar Melbourne for dine-in or takeaway. Every purchase also comes with a free 50ml bottle of Benriach's finest. Fruit Hot Cross Cruffins and Chocolate Hot Cross Cruffins at Lune Croissantrie First, Lune perfected croissants, so much so that the Australian bakery chain became renowned for its flaky pastries all around the world. Then came cruffins, aka croissant-muffin hybrids. For Easter, the obvious next step was hot cross cruffins, for when you want a hot cross bun, but you're also hankering for a croissant and a muffin. Lune's hot cross cruffins have been popping up annually for years, but 2025's batch is different. This time, they're made using the acclaimed bakery's signature croissant dough. You can also pick between two varieties this year: the OG and chocolate, both for $10.50 each. Can't decide which one? You can get mixed six-packs featuring both for $63. Gelato-Stuffed Easter Eggs at Piccolina Gelateria This Easter, Piccolina Gelateria is marking the occasion with a new line of limited-edition Uovo di Pasqua Easter eggs — because gelato-filled Easter eggs have well and truly become a thing in Melbourne. Available now in-store and online, you'll find three varieties, each hand-crafted, hand-wrapped and presented in a beautiful Piccolina box. Choose from the Milo Egg, featuring a malted chocolate gelato layered with homemade Milo crumb and a soft milk chocolate ganache centre; the Rocky Road, layered with homemade raspberry jellies, raspberry marshmallow and toasted peanuts; and the Golden Gaytime, featuring honeycomb gelato, chocolate malt crumble and caramel ganache. Available at all Piccolina locations for a limited time, these massive creations cost $39 each. Hot Cross Buns at Morning Market If you're looking for something a little fancy this Easter, Andrew McConnell's European-style pantry and provisions outfit, Morning Market, is serving up freshly baked hot cross buns for the very first time. Elevating the traditional recipe, these hot cross buns feature anise-flavoured pastis, brandy, cardamon and allspice, while top-quality dried prunes and apricots are added to the mix. Baked fresh until Saturday, April 19, Morning Market's hot cross buns are available for pre-order and purchase at $4.50 each or $26 for a pack of six. Whether you're nearest to the Fitzroy or Prahran store, trust these Easter treats to give your holiday a lift. Hot Cross Doughnuts, Single-Origin Eggs, Praline Treats and Chocolate Gelato at Pidapipo Most Melbourne eateries that create specials for Easter tend to make one show-stopping treat. But the crew at Pidapipo Laboratorio are given the freedom and resources to dream up all kinds of delicious things year-round. For Easter, Pidapipo has invented the hot cross doughnut ($15) – where hot cross bun dough is fried, then served hot with a scoop of fior di latte gelato and a drizzle of spiced salted caramel sauce. Meanwhile, the team has used its single-origin Dominican Republic cacao to produce bags of mini eggs ($39) and larger options with a surprise inside — wrapped mini chocolate eggs and a cute Pidapipo pin ($32). You can also opt for a wonderfully designed tin, filled with assorted medium eggs and their bestselling praline-filled chocolate ($29). Finally, Pidapipo is celebrating Easter with a trio of indulgent chocolate-focused gelato cones for $10 each. Choose from: peppermint chocolate gelato with white chocolate fudge and dark chocolate shards; white chocolate bacio gelato with Nutella swirl and hazelnut merengue; and malted milk chocolate gelato with caramel swirl, dipped in milk chocolate. All sweets are available at every Pidapipo location, except the hot cross doughnut, which is a Fitzroy Laboratorio exclusive. Hot Cross Bun Cake at Le Yeahllow Le Yeahllow is known for creating some of the most incredible cakes in Melbourne — leaning into the "is it actually cake?" territory. And the crew's Easter special is quintessential Le Yeahllow. The Hot Cross Cake (above) looks like a single or six-pack of hot cross buns, but is in fact a dense and extravagant cake. Slice into this bad boy to find layers of whipped ganache, a chocolate cremeux, chocolate and a hot cross sponge. Punters can either buy a single hot cross bun cake, or packs of six for $85 or nine for $119. Hot Cross Buns at Baker Bleu Baker Bleu, one of the best bakeries in Melbourne, is keeping things simple with its Easter treats this year — because you don't always have to go over the top. The focus is all on the sacred hot cross bun, with two tantalising options set to make your long weekend extra special. The more traditional option features raisin, cinnamon, fresh orange pulp and ginger, perfect for slathering with far too much butter. For something a little more adventurous, they've also got sour cherry and dark chocolate. Available in limited numbers, pre-order a six-pack online for $30. Easter High Tea at Pan Pacific Down at Melbourne's South Wharf, Pan Pacific is serving up its annual special Easter High Tea, which you can book here. The three-tiered spread will include a heap of savoury and sweet options, many with Easter-themed flavours and decorations. Think spiced orange and chocolate chip scones; a frangipane bunny; Easter vol au vent with mushrooms, caramelised onions and three cheeses; and a colourful Cointreau Easter egg. Sessions run daily until Sunday, April 20, with prices starting from $90.
That most wonderful of foodstuffs is getting a night to call its own, as the Melbourne Dumpling Festival returns for another year. Taking over the ground level at 206 Bourke Street, this dumpling dine-in will feature dumplings from some of Melbourne's best Chinese chefs, from Tim Ho Wan, China Red, China Chilli and Dragon Boat, plus pop-up bars, freebies and more. It all kicks off at 5pm on Friday, October 20 – meaning you'll have the whole weekend to lounge around in a food coma. In addition to the more than 50 varieties of dumplings on offer, punters can grab beverages from the Brooklyn Brewery pop-up beer garden and Double Happiness Bubble Tea pop-up cocktail bar, before scoffing down free green tea ice cream for dessert. Entry into the event is free, while you can also score free drinks with any takeaway dumpling purchase. There'll also be a fortune cookie giveaway with more than $3,000 worth of prizes and the chance to win free dumplings for a year.
The best and brightest in new queer cinema is coming to Melbourne cinemas — and to couches around the country as well. When the Melbourne Queer Film Festival returns from Thursday, November 18–Monday, November 29, it's embracing big-screen sessions via a huge 145-film lineup. And, for folks who can't make it along in person, including everyone outside of Melbourne, it's also screening more than 40 flicks online. That's the film festival dream these days, giving movie lovers the flexibility to sit in a darkened theatre or watch along from home. You'll need to attend in person to make the most of MQFF's opening night, however, with the 2021 fest — the event's 31st, in fact — kicking things off with a gala screening of powerful animated documentary Flee at The Jam Factory. Other highlights include moving drama Great Freedom, which hits MQFF after picking up a prize at this year's Cannes Film Festival; closing night's Fanny: The Right to Rock, about female rock band Fanny; the Los Angeles-set Summertime, which focuses on 25 of the city's residents as their lives intersect; French romance Anaïs in Love; and the Udo Kier-starring Swan Song. Or, there's also striking Albanian drama The Hill Where Lionesses Roar; Dramarama, a coming-out comedy about theatre kids; the St Vincent and Carrie Brownstein-starring The Nowhere Inn; and South Korea's A Distance Place.
If you're after some art with a bit more bite, be sure to put Flinders Quarter on your to-do list this month. For four weeks, the CBD pocket's laneways and buildings will be brought to life through augmented reality, all for the Flinders Quarter Augmented Art Walk. Reopening on Monday, June 21 and running until Friday, July 16, this interactive experience takes you on a self-guided art adventure through the precinct — the section between Flinders, Elizabeth, Collins and Swanston streets. Simply grab a copy of the map from participating Flinders Quarter businesses or Metro Tunnel HQ at 125–133 Swanston Street (or online). Then, download the supporting Eyejack app to your smartphone for free, hit the 'Launch AR' button and let the tour begin. Spanning nooks, crannies and walls throughout Flinders Quarter, the art walk showcases a slew of commissioned contemporary works from the likes of Stanislava Pinchuk (Miso), Anton Hasell, Dee Smart and Carla Gottgens, which are brought to life on your phone with a combination of digital animation and sound. You can escape into a colourful alternate reality with the Manchester Lane work crafted by Jingwen (Jina) He, catch Tracy Sarroff's glowing exploration of light and biotechnology in front of the City Library, or see the corner of Swanston and Flinders streets come alive with a jumping geometric design from Jasmine Mansbridge. Plus, challenge yourself to a treasure hunt and unlock all 12 artworks to be in with a shot at winning some big prizes. [caption id="attachment_813309" align="alignnone" width="1920"] 'Portal Glitch' by Sue Beyer, located at Little Mandarin Yoga Studio[/caption] Top images: 'What Lies Beneath' by Dee Smart, located at Alpha Barbers; 'You Can Find Something Truly Important in an Ordinary Minute' by Jingwen (Jina) He, located at Bared Footwear Mens.
Many Melburnians have childhood memories of lining up at Queen Vic Market's American Doughnut Kitchen van to get a bag of fresh hot jam doughnuts. It's been kicking around since 1950, and still has masses of locals and tourists lining up every weekend to watch doughnuts be made right in front of them. The team has always managed the small space well, cramming a heap of staff into the van and pumping out hundreds of doughnuts each day. But it's finally time for an upgrade. In autumn 2024, the American Doughnut Kitchen will open a bricks-and-mortar store down in Prahran Market, slinging the exact same doughnuts. For a bit of fun, the new shop has been designed to give off the same look and feel as the famous van. You'll find the signature white and blue colour scheme, plus a similar open workstation where customers can watch the doughnuts be cut, cooked and filled with the mouth-watering raspberry plum jam before being tossed in a huge bowl of sugar. Like the van, these are the only doughnuts that will be available. The family running the shop see no need to experiment with new flavours and offer a heap of different varieties. Truly, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. However, one change is coming, with the American Doughnut Kitchen's Prahran market spot also selling coffee. That means you can get your sweet treat and caffeine fix all in one spot. "This expansion has been a long time coming and is a testament to our family's commitment to creating moments of delight and connection," said American Doughnut Kitchen Managing Director Belinda Donaghey. "Our doughnuts are not just a treat; they are a symbol of tradition and indulgence. We're excited to share our legacy with more doughnut lovers in Melbourne's south while still staying true to our roots as a market trader." The American Doughnut Kitchen is set to open its new Prahran Market store this autumn, with an exact date yet to be revealed. For more information, head to the venue's website.
UPDATE Tuesday, March 9: The Boatbuilders Yard's 90s RnB brunch has been extended beyond summer, now running until Saturday, April 30. Which means you've got a few extra weeks to don your velour trackies and book in a seltzer-filled Saturday session. The below dates have been adjusted to reflect the change. There are some things best left to the 90s, like pukka shell necklaces and over-plucked eyebrows. But one thing that's happily here to stay is 90s RnB; especially teamed with good food, delicious cocktails and some of the most iconic 90s looks. If you're ready to relive your youth — or you'd rather re-do it — The Boatbuilders Yard is hosting its new 90s RnB Mixtape Saturdays every week this summer. Moon Dog are in charge of the 90s-themed drinks list, which features plenty of cocktails crafted on its signature Fizzer seltzers. Think, the Piney Limey flavour paired with Midori, and a lemon and Blue Curacao combination. There's a seltzer-filled post-mix machine, plus, a Smirnoff Ice or Passion Pop is promised on arrival to really bring back that hit of nostalgia. Food-wise, you're in for the likes of potato skins, mini hot dogs and sloppy joes — so you can pretend you're eating in the cafeteria in your favourite 90s high-school rom-com, of course. DJ Joey Lightbulb will be on the decks and taking song requests, so dig out your old mixtapes for inspiration. Tickets are $65 per person and bookings are recommended, with sessions running from 12-2pm and 2.30-4.30pm each Saturday. Don your Mytiko pants, finest beige Masseurs and hypercolour t-shirts and get ready to boogie like Y2K is imminent.
Queer film festival season is well and truly underway in Australia, but, lucky for Melburnians, the best has arguably been saved until last. Now in its 27th year, the Melbourne Queer Film Festival is serving up 135 reasons to head to the cinema from March 16 to 27, with 47 features, 15 documentaries and 73 shorts from 30 countries on the 12-day lineup. The usual festival catch-all — that is, that there's something for everyone — definitely applies. The obligatory appearance of James Franco (not once but twice) does too. So block out the bulk of the month and prepare to spend plenty of time at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Kino Cinemas and Cinema Nova, ideally watching our must-see picks of the program. PULSE An Australian-made queer body-swapping sci-fi fantasy parable about sexuality, youth and disability? We're calling it: Pulse is officially the most interesting-sounding film in the MQFF lineup. It also has a premise worthy of smashing all of the aforementioned words together, with a disabled teenage boy undergoing a strange procedure that places him in the body of an able-bodied woman. It's all in the name of love — what else? — which is how you might feel about the end result. Screening in the high-profile festival centrepiece slot, Pulse also marks the debut of writer/actor Daniel Monks and director Stevie Cruz-Martin, which means it promises on-screen intrigue and off-screen talent galore. I, OLGA HEPNAROVA There's plenty that can be said about I, Olga Hepnarova. It tells a chilling true tale in an immersive, engaging and stylistically interesting way, for starters. Oh, yes it does. Tackling the eponymous 22-year-old's murder spree and eventual execution, it's also far from upbeat viewing — but, even though the Czech effort delves into a stunning real-life crime, it's also perceptive and never sensationalist. Perhaps the strongest thing we can tell you is that, as lead actress Michalina Olszanska draws you into the mind of a loner turned killer in a mesmerising fashion, you won't forget your viewing experience in a hurry. THE INTERVENTION If The Intervention sounds familiar, that's okay. We've been keen for this one for a while. After screening at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, Clea DuVall's directorial debut makes its way to Melbourne with a heap of familiar faces helping her riff on The Big Chill. With DuVall herself, Cobie Smulders, Alia Shawkat, Natasha Lyonne, Melanie Lynskey, Jason Ritter and Ben Schwartz along for the ride, that means a reunion is in the spotlight — and, as the title suggests, the kind of caring confrontation that doesn't always go down too well. If you need any more reasons to watch, and you shouldn't, Sara Quinn from Tegan and Sara provides the score. TAEKWONDO With Taekwondo, two Argentinian talents well-versed in telling screen tales of lust and longing come together. Expect the results to pack a punch. In a film directed by Marco Berger and Martín Farina, sparks fly when the shy Germán accepts an invitation from his taekwondo teammate Fernando to join him on a summer getaway. Fernando's friends make Germán feel like part of the gang, but romance lingers beneath the male bonding — as do plenty of long, yearning looks, as well as a sensitive and intimate drama. A DATE FOR MAD MARY You've seen one wedding-centric flick, you've seen them all, right? That's a line of thinking that's easy to slip into, but Irish bright light A Date for Mad Mary is here to prove otherwise. The titular Mad' Mary McArdle gets out of prison, heads home and gets bundled into being the maid-of-honour at her best friend's wedding, leaving her in need of a companion. A combination of heart and humour makes the finished product stand out, as does a star-making turn by Seána Kerslake. Keen for more MQFF recommendations? The list doesn't stop there. We were excited about King Cobra, Tomcat, Women Who Kill and Out of Iraq when they screened at Sydney's Mardi Gras Film Festival, and eager for AWOL, The Lives of Therese, The Nest, Rara and Out Run at the Brisbane Queer Film Festival. Or, check out Being 17, which is also doing the rounds at the Alliance Francaise French Film Festival. MQFF screens at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Kino Cinemas and Cinema Nova from March 16 to 27. For more information and to buy tickets, visit the festival website.
There seems to exist this strange notion that things that are good for you can't be delicious. An extreme extension of this notion is the idea that vegan food is equally as unsatisfying and unfulfilling. Alexandra Pyke, however, disagrees with the perception that food being vegan and delicious are mutually exclusive, showing the greatest skills in culinary diplomacy since Mia asked why we can't have both soft and hard shell tacos in one packet. Pyke, fresh home in Melbourne after a lengthy stint in the US, has partnered in legendary eateries like The Fat Radish, Leadbelly and vego joint The Butcher's Daughter, and is chomping at the bit to bring her expertise to her hometown. The Alley, which will open on St Kilda Road in early March, looks to provide clean, wholesome food made from sustainable and local ingredients that also punches you in the face with bold flavours. The idea is to cross the divide between vegans who won't even look at a picture of a cow and the everyday consumer who can't look at a picture of a cow without finding themselves drawn to a steak restaurant. The menu features playful dishes like the maple bacon burger with smoky paprika, and the gluten free Mac 'n' Cheese with coconut bacon and crispy kale. It goes without saying that a vegan cafe will have salads but, much like meatloaf, it's what you do with them – The Alley, for example, will have a 'fiery' kelp noodle salad, which sounds both extremely dangerous and extremely tempting, like sky diving or downloading all the original Doctor Who serials. Cold craft beers and biodynamic raw wines will also be in abundance. The Alley will cater for 35 bums on seats at any time, but will also maintain a healthy focus on takeaway, given the demand for food on the go in the area. Find The Alley at 417 St Kilda Road from the second week of March.
You don't play a character for almost 25 years if you're not fond of them. Renée Zellweger was nominated for her first Academy Award for portraying Bridget Jones — stepping into her shoes, slipping into her skirt and seesawing between her feuding romantic options, too — in 2001's Bridget Jones's Diary. Thanks to 2004's Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, 2016's Bridget Jones's Baby and now 2025's Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, she's returned to the part three times since. "Personally, I couldn't be luckier," Zellweger tells Concrete Playground about her time in the role over more than two decades, a stint that's seen the films take Bridget from a single thirtysomething scribbling her yearning for love in her journal to a widowed single mother in her 50s. The franchise's namesake was initially born in text, in an anonymous London newspaper column penned by Helen Fielding. Then, the author took the unlucky-in-love figure to bookshelves. Bridget now feels equally as tied to Zellweger, though, even if the Cold Mountain and Judy Oscar-winner herself sends the credit for the character's success Fielding's way. "It's a testament to Helen's talent, really, and what she's mined in these characters and these experiences that are universally relatable," she advises. Although all things Bridget Jones struck a chord on the page before lighting up the screen, in cinema the series has achieved a rare feat. Film franchises about everyday women aren't common — let alone a film franchise about an everyday woman who is permitted to go where life takes her over more than two decades, delights, dramas, joys, chaos and all, and who has been allowed to age from her 30s to her 50s over that time. Across its first three flicks alone, before Mad About the Boy reached picture palaces — including Down Under from Thursday, February 13 — the saga has earned over three-quarters of a billion dollars. In Bridget Jones's Diary, Bridget's potential solutions to her singledom were her womanising boss Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant, Heretic) and buttoned-up barrister Mark Darcy (Colin Firth, Lockerbie) — and, although the picture ended with her happily in the latter's arms, The Edge of Reason repeated the same love triangle. Daniel was lost, presumed dead, in Bridget Jones's Baby, so American entrepreneur Jack Qwant (Patrick Dempsey, Dexter: Original Sin) battled with Mark for her affections, and to discover who had fathered her child. In what's being presented as the franchise's final entry, and is certainly its most moving even while remaining delightfully funny, Daniel is back and firmly now a trusted friend, which Bridget needs after Mark's passing. As Mad About the Boy's love interests, then, enter Chiwetel Ejiofor (Venom: The Last Dance) as Mr Wallaker and Leo Woodall (Prime Target) as Roxster. As calm as Bridget is usually chaotic, Mr Wallaker is a teacher at the school attended by her children Billy (Casper Knopf, Rough Diamonds) and Mabel (debutant Mila Jankovic) — and, like the man that's so deeply mourned throughout the movie, his bond with everyone's favourite British rom-com heroine takes time to kick in. Twenty-nine-year-old park ranger Roxster first meets Bridget in Mr Wallaker's company, after she gets herself stuck in a tree trying to get her kids out of it. With Ejiofor and Woodall in the parts, the fourth Bridget Jones flick has enlisted more fans. "I'd always loved the films and so it was really lovely to be asked to join," Ejiofor explains. Of course, courtesy of Love Actually, the 12 Years a Slave BAFTA-winner and Oscar-nominee — and star of everything from Dirty Pretty Things, Kinky Boots and Children of Men to the Doctor Strange movies, The Old Guard and the TV version of The Man Who Fell to Earth — already had a widely loved English romantic comedy on his resume. "It's a tremendous gift to get to join this party," notes Woodall, who finds himself in his third big-name project in three years with an already-existing fanbase. No one will ever forget his turn in the second season of The White Lotus; then came his engaging performance in the television adaptation of One Day. We also chatted with Zellweger about one of the key aspects of returning to play Bridget again and again and again: that she's the same person in each film but also not, because we all change as our lives change and we get older. Ejiofor told us about portraying a character with parallels to Mark, too, and Woodall about his run of standout roles in well-known small- and big-screen series. On How Zellweger Is Playing the Same Character Each Time That She Steps Into Bridget's Shoes — But She's Also Not, Because Bridget Changes as Her Life Changes Renée: "I love that you say that. That's a big part of the experience — it feels like a familiar reunion, and then at the same time it's a rediscovery, to try to figure out how what life has thrown at her in the interim manifests. I love that you mentioned that. And especially at this stage in in life — I think that this film is tonally and stylistically a bit of a departure from the other three, and it's looking at some really meaningful milestones that a person in where we meet Bridget now is going through. So I love that you mentioned that; of course she's different. But part of the fun was also figuring out how she hasn't changed." On What Excited Ejiofor and Woodall About Joining the Franchise — and Playing New Romantic Interests for Bridget Leo: "There wasn't much that wasn't exciting. It's a tremendous gift to get to join this party and I had nothing but joy coming into this. Well, I had nerves, but they kind of started to go away once I'd met Renée and Chiwetel, and started becoming part of the family. It was lovely." Chiwetel: "I felt exactly the same way. It was a really exciting thing. I'd always loved the films and so it was really lovely to be asked to join it. And, you know, a little intimidating, but really just an embracing experience, I think, which is led by Renée — as Leo says. And you feel very comfortable very quickly within the environment of it all. It's a wonderful part as well. Just reading the script, it was so emotional and funny, and this great part to play. So what was not to like, really?" On What It Means to Zellweger to Lead a Rare Franchise That's Not Only About an Everyday Woman, But Has Followed Bridget Through Her 30s, 40s and 50s — to Box-Office Success Renée: "Wow, I guess I don't really look at it from that perspective. It's really special and it's a testament to Helen's talent, really, and what she's mined in these characters and these experiences that are universally relatable. It's just for me personally, it's a blessing. It changed my life creatively — and look at the people that I get to work with. Personally, I couldn't be luckier. Anywhere I go in the world, I meet strangers and we laugh together immediately because they want to share their own Bridget Jones experiences, and why their friends call them Bridget Jones. And what a beautiful thing that we have this thing in common immediately — and it's vulnerability and it's our humanity, and I think that's just so special." On Ejiofor's Sense of Responsibility Playing a Character with Parallels to Mark Darcy – But Never Trying to Replace Mark Darcy Chiwetel: "Mark Darcy is such an iconic character and a completely irreplaceable character, and Colin's work on it is so special that you would be, I think, nuts to even try to sort of step into the shoes in any way. I think the only real thing you could do is try to understand the character as an individual — and, I suppose, represent how Bridget is in a different place in her life and has completely different challenges. Mr Wallaker fits into those challenges in a really complex and interesting way, especially surrounding the dynamics that they have as a family — and Mr Wallaker as an educator, and therefore his relationship and what he brings to, especially Billy, Bridget's son, in terms of what they faced and what they've been through, and how he feels he can help in some way. So he's a really interesting character with this very individual arc, I think, from very buttoned-up to somebody with a few more interesting layers to that. But I think he's quite distinct, as I think Roxster is as well. They're distinct from the other characters, and I think that's what's really special about this. I think all the parts, and all of the parts through all of the films, have been so brilliant and so individually realised. And so it was really wonderful to be part of that." On How Woodall's Experiences on The White Lotus Season Two and One Day Helped Him to Step Into Another Project with an Existing Fanbase Leo: "It's a good question. I'm sure it did, partly subconsciously and consciously, I think. There's always — always — pressure when you start a new job. I am always the most nervous for day one, when you have no idea who you're going to be working with really, and how well you're going to do or how badly you'll do. So I just approach it as much as I can with the same attitude of just being open and wanting to do well, and to be nice and good to work with. I think one thing that's nice about an already-established fanbase is that everyone wants the thing to fulfil what they are expecting and what they're hoping for. So I think it kind of makes it a bit easier." Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy opened in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, February 13, 2025.
For four decades, The Shining has been responsible for many a nightmare — not only due to Stephen King's 1977 bestseller, which helped cement him as a horror maestro, but courtesy of Stanley Kubrick's unnerving and acclaimed 1980 film. If you've ever been spooked by twins, garish hexagonal hotel carpet designs, sprawling hedge mazes, elevators filled with blood, someone shouting "here's Johnny!" or just Jack Nicholson in general, you have this macabre masterpiece to thank. From parodies to homages to overt recreations, The Shining is also the unsettling gift that keeps giving. Everything from The Simpsons to Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Ready Player One has nodded the movie's way — as has documentary Room 237, which attempted to delve into its many secrets, meanings, theories and interpretations, too. But they've got nothing on the actual sequel to the eerie story. It picks up decades later, following the now-adult Danny Torrance as he tries to cope with the fallout from his supernatural gift. (Oh, and the memory of being terrorised by his axe-wielding dad as well.) In the first trailer for Doctor Sleep — which is based on Stephen King's 2013 novel of the same name — all work and no play made Danny (Ewan McGregor) something something. Perturbed, mainly, as he grappled with the trauma he experienced in The Shining. Then he met a mysterious teenager (Kyliegh Curran) who also has the gift, and things got creepier than a ghastly woman peering out of a bath or the word 'redrum' written on a mirror. The teaser was filled with references to the film's predecessor, naturally; however the just-dropped new sneak peak ramps up the nods even further. This time, Danny heads back to the Overlook Hotel to confront his past, and things get even more ominous. Rebecca Ferguson, Bruce Greenwood and Room's Jacob Tremblay also star, with The Haunting of Hill House's Mike Flanagan in the director's chair. While King was famously unhappy with Kubrick's take on The Shining — even writing the script for a three-part TV mini-series version in the 90s — here's hoping that he approves of Flanagan's vision. This is actually the filmmaker's second King adaptation, after Netflix flick Gerald's Game. Check out the latest Doctor Sleep trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oCTK2U5lpc Doctor Sleep releases in Australian cinemas on November 7, 2019.
If you're on the lookout for a summertime adventure, a weekend away at Mount Hotham and Dinner Plain (just a 15-minute drive away) ensures you head home with endless memories. While these alpine peaks are known for their snowy activities, you might be surprised to learn that the warmer months are just as bountiful. With incredible hiking, mountain biking and glamping to be found in every corner of the region, there's also a great collection of restaurants, pubs and lodges that ensure your visit is suitably dreamy. Ready to hit the road? We've partnered with Victoria's High Country to highlight some of the area's must-visit destinations. [caption id="attachment_834174" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Victoria's High Country[/caption] BIKE YOUR WAY THROUGH MOUNTAINOUS TRAILS When there's this much alpine beauty to admire, you want to be able to experience as much of it as possible. The Dinner Plain Mountain Bike Park is one of the best places to go on two wheels, thanks to its 24-kilometre stretch of easy, flowing trails that weave their way through the famous snow gum terrain. If you'd prefer to tackle a day-long adventure, the 26-kilometre-long Brabralung Trail passes through mountainous plains and dense woodland to provide visitors with copious vistas. With the lofty JB Hut offering a wonderful camping spot, you can also pitch a tent and explore more of this pristine area when the sun comes up. [caption id="attachment_834178" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Victoria's High Country[/caption] SOAK IN SKY-HIGH VIEWS AT VICTORIA'S SECOND-HIGHEST PEAK There's no shortage of stunning hikes in the Alpine National Park, but the 22-kilometre Razorback Trail is one of the very best. It leads outdoor adventurers from Diamantina Hut to Mount Feathertop — Victoria's second-highest peak, which reaches 1922 metres above sea level. As you follow along the high, tapered ridge, moseying from one striking slope to the next, you'll be presented with mightily impressive views thanks to your position above the treeline. Don't fancy doing the full 22 kilometres? Take your tent and set up camp overlooking one of the many impressive vantage points. [caption id="attachment_834986" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Victoria's High Country[/caption] PAIR A GUIDED HIKE WITH A FIRESIDE FEAST Rather than weighing down your daypack with gourmet goods, join up with the Hike 'n' Feast experience instead. As this guided 15-kilometre stroll follows along the Huts Walk, you'll get to admire Mount Hotham's most historic (and famous) cattlemen's huts, as well as panoramic views of the surrounding peaks from the top of Mount Loch. When you reach the end of the trail, you'll wander into a remote eco-camp where you'll relax by the fireside, get to know your fellow hikers and dine on a gastronomic meal. With everything included in the price, this is a stellar way to experience Victoria's High Country. [caption id="attachment_834990" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Victoria's High Country[/caption] SLEEP IN ALPINE SURROUNDINGS AT AN ECO-GLAMPING CAMP Get back to basics — sort of — with a summertime stay at Mount Hotham's premier eco-glamping camp. Operated by Alpine Nature Experience, it lets you sleep suspended above the ground in a cosy tree tent, all while soaking up the sparkling night sky and the roaring campfire. Each booking comes with breakfast, and you can get platters and hampers for lunch — and fire-cooked dinners. As well as an array of daytime activities like yoga, guided hikes, paragliding and abseiling, there's also a wood-heated outdoor bath to maximise your relaxation if you book into the premium tree tent. SPEND A NIGHT IN A COSY ALPINE CHALET If you're really looking to get the most out of your alpine experience in Dinner Plain, staying overnight in a luxe highland chalet means that you can jam-pack your schedule even more. There are loads of places to choose from, ranging from charming freestanding chalets to six-bedroom manors with sprawling countryside views. With these chalets all positioned within the tight-knit Dinner Plain township, you'll also be able to stop in at the area's much-loved restaurants and pubs to keep you well and truly fed during your visit. And, thanks to access to nearby hikes, waterfalls and stirring lookout points, booking accommodation for the weekend will take your experience to greater heights in a variety of ways. The best part? You won't have to leave your fur baby at home — Dinner Plain is as dog-friendly as towns get, with most of the accommodation allowing your four-legged bestie to stay with you, too. [caption id="attachment_835410" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Victoria's High Country[/caption] ENJOY BURGERS AND CRAFT BREWS IN AN ALPINE BEER GARDEN Keen for a big feed? The Hotel High Plains is one of the top destinations in the region. Open from afternoon onwards, the kitchen serves up burgers, parmas and smokehouse meats. It also slings woodfired pizzas as the sun begins to set on Wednesday nights. Situated in the heart of Dinner Plain, Hotel High Plains also boasts a top-notch selection of craft beers from breweries like Panhead and Wolf of the Willows — plus a wine list that features a variety of local drops. A visit here means not only getting a bite and a beverage, but settling in at the wide-open beer garden to relish the fresh alpine air. [caption id="attachment_834994" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Victoria's High Country[/caption] SAY CHEERS TO AUSTRALIA'S HIGHEST ALTITUDE PUB Perched on the slopes of Mount Hotham, The General is a local institution. With a claim to fame as Australia's highest altitude pub — it sits at a dizzying 1750 metres above sea level — it pairs an eye-catching mountain backdrop with a stellar all-day menu. Plus brews, obviously. As you drink in the views from the pub's breezy balcony, The Genny serves classics like chicken parmas and beef burgers, as well as smaller options like corn fritters, pork tacos and chicken karaage. You can't go wrong with a feast at what feels like the top of the world. [caption id="attachment_835415" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Victoria's High Country[/caption] RELAX WITH YOGA SESSIONS AND COCKTAIL-MAKING CLASSES After you've spent the day trekking up and down the countryside, The Hub in Dinner Plain invites you to rest and recuperate. As a social enterprise dedicated to physical and mental wellbeing, it hosts soothing in-house yoga sessions and pilates classes, offers e-bike rentals, and also sports a fully stocked gin and whisky bar. Alongside a sumptuous selection of local pastries and barista-quality java provided by Bright's Sixpence Coffee, there are even regular cocktail-making classes. So, you can learn how to master numerous potent concoctions — then impress your mates when you return from your holiday. For more information on things to see and do at Mount Hotham and Dinner Plain this summer, head to the Victoria's High Country website. Images: Victoria's High Country
Australia's states have been known to serve each other some pretty stiff competition when it comes to world-class boozing and bartending. We've usually got a handful of cocktail haunts vying to take the top Aussie spot in the annual World's 50 Best Bars list (last year, that was Sydney's Maybe Sammy coming in at number 22) and innovative new venues are emerging on the scene all the time. In May, global bartending competition Diageo World Class ignited even more of that interstate drinks rivalry when it named its Top 100 Australian Bartenders for 2022, who would go on to compete for the coveted title spot. And now, after a few rounds of fierce contest and some exceptional mixology, we have a winner — Nick Tesar from Melbourne's Bar Liberty has been crowned this year's Diageo World Class Australian Bartender. Held in Sydney overnight, the final stage of the annual drinks competition saw five Aussie finalists battle it out behind the bar, as they showed off their skills across three whisky-focused challenges. Joining Tesar in the ring were fellow Victorian, Black Pearl's Kayla Saito, as well as Maybe Sammy's Sarah Proietti, Eduardo Conde from Glebe's No.92 GPR and Samuel Cocks from Western Australia's Bar Rogue. The night's challenges included a mystery box-style task centred on Talisker Scotch, which Tesar owned with a cumquat-based cocktail creation, and a speed round during which the winner managed to smash out 12 show-stopping drinks in just five minutes. [caption id="attachment_623310" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bar Liberty, by Brook James[/caption] The newly-crowned bartending king will now go on to compete in the Diageo World Class global final in September, where he'll shake and stir up a storm alongside 55 other international hopefuls in a bid to be named World Class Global Bartender of the Year. He'll have a home-field advantage, too, with the competition to be held in Australia for the first time ever. It'll descend on Sydney as part of the World Class Cocktail Festival, from September 9–18. For full details on the Diageo World Class Australian Bartender competition and more info on Diageo World Class, check the Diageo Bar Academy website.
Fixation Brewing Co, the Byron Bay brewery that is a joint venture between Tom Delmont and the Stone & Wood Group, is responsible for some pretty tasty brews. Well, one type of brew specifically: India Pale Ales. Brewing hoppy IPAs is the company's calling card — and its fixation, if you may — and now it's about to open a hoppy tasting room right here in Collingwood. Smith Street will soon be home to The Incubator, a tasting room for the IPA-dedicated brewery, which is opening this week. A bar and brewery all rolled into one, it will be creating and serving up a slew of IPAs — including some of its signature brews, and some Melbourne exclusives. Two new ones you'll be able to taste are The 86 IPA and Easey Street IPA, which will be poured straight from the tanks. The brewery bar isn't just good turf for those who want to drink, though, it's also the right place to be to learn about the brewing process, and IPAs in general. With the tanks right up close to where you'll be sitting having a tipple, be assured that any questions you might have – what is an IPA? What are hops? How does beer get made? What's in the vat? – are going to be answered by those IPA-obsessed folk in the know. No kitchen, but bringing in your own food or UberEats-ing is a go, so your stomach won't be going unlined. The Incubator is now open at 414 Smith Street, Collingwood from 4–9pm Wedneday to Friday and 12–10pm Saturday and Sunday. Images: DHyde Foto.
Rocco's Bologna Discoteca made a big name for itself among local sandwich fiends during the era of neverending lockdowns. So you can bet there are good things in store for us with the team's latest collaboration involving things between bread. Rocco's is helping to kick off Molly Rose's new guest toastie series, reviving one of its smash-hit sangas to star on the Collingwood brewery's menu from Thursday, August 25–Wednesday, September 21. The signature Fried Bologna Sandwich comes stuffed with bologna, olives and oozy mozzarella, as well as signature pickles that were made onsite at the brewery. It's available each day the venue's open, clocking in at $14 a pop. Molly Rose's beer experts have even selected a top-notch drinks pairing for it, in the newly-released New Toys golden IPA — a fresh, zesty creation that holds its own against the sandwich's rich, salty, cheesy elements. A pot of the beer will set you back $8, with a sanga-and-beer combo priced at $19.50.
By now, you've probably become well-accustomed to being shut up indoors, fantasising about dining out with mates and sipping drinks at buzzy bars. Well, here's another blissful image to add to your daydreaming montage: a summertime sipping session located 24 storeys above ground level, watching the sun set over the city. It's a dream that will soon become a reality — when the 627 Chapel Street building's luxury rooftop opens this summer. The yet-to-be-named bar and restaurant is the work of 627 Chapel Street developer Goldfields, which has also yet to announce an operator for the luxe sky-high space. It has, however, revealed it's considering "three well-known local groups", as well as an international bid out of Los Angeles. While mystery will continue to surround the plan for a little while longer, Goldfields has revealed a few key details about the design of the tower's rooftop bar. Taking cues from some of the world's most high-profile rooftop clubs, the 200-person terrace will look to fuse a modern Mediterranean aesthetic with a touch of sophisticated local flair. Fittingly, in a nod to its address, the site's footprint clocks in at 627 square metres. Across that, there'll be a mix of indoor and outdoor spaces, with an open-sided pergola, relaxed lounge areas and lush canopy trees. As you can expect, the developer says the rooftop will be a prime spot to spend those South Yarra sunset sessions, with the site boasting panoramic views across Melbourne. As for exactly which studio or designer will be bringing this luxe vision to life, that'll be up to the operators nominated by Goldfields. The makeover of 627 Chapel Street is set to come in at an eye-watering $300 million and is slated to be ready for occupancy by November this year. The unnamed rooftop bar and restaurant is set to open at 627 Chapel Street, South Yarra in the summer of 2021–2022. For more details, see the precinct's website.
As the force behind Cake Wines, Glen Cassidy has been shaping Sydney's epicurean side for six years now — and enjoying partaking in it as well. The brand is known for getting involved with the city's cultural events, while the man himself is full of tips and praise for Sydney's dining and drinking scene — particularly Redfern, the evolving inner-city suburb where Cake Wines opened its own cellar door in 2016. In partnership with Pullman Hotels and Resorts, we're helping you explore more on your next holiday and make sure you get those experiences that the area's most switched-on residents wouldn't want their visitors to miss. In Sydney, we've called in Glen, whose favourite spots range from the restaurant that's home to Gourmet Traveller's 2018 Chef of the Year to the joint slinging his favourite burgers in town. A stay in one of Pullman's two locations in central Sydney — Hyde Park and Quay Grand Sydney Harbour (there's also two more at Sydney Airport and Sydney Olympic Park) — will not only put you in the thick of all this action, it will let you rest and digest in five-star luxury at the end of the day. Read on for Glen's top Sydney food hot spots in his own words, and check out the rest of our Explore More content series to hone your itinerary for some of Australia's best holiday destinations. ESTER The team at Ester in Chippendale are big supporters of interesting wines — mostly natural, I think. The food is simple, but with what seems like a few very personal twists by the 2018 Gourmet Traveller Chef of the Year, Mat Lindsay. These guys have got the "local undiscovered but always full" vibe totally dialled. I love going there and sitting at the bar, with a couple of share plates and a few vinos. I've had some memorable afternoons there with Cake staff over the years. HUBERT Best in the game? Probably. The wine list, the menu, the atmos — CBD restaurant Hubert is a reimagining of classic dining, but without the stiffness that often accompanies food and wine this good. Hats off to the team (the Swillhouse Group, also behind Sydney establishments Shady Pines Saloon and the Baxter Inn) who have created this special place, and to the crew who work there. They deliver killer service and vibe, week in, week out. CAKE WINES CELLAR DOOR Yep, ok, I'm biased, but our Cellar Door in Redfern captures everything we love about food, wine and culture in this city. We have all our wines, different cultural programming each week, a solid selection of simple pizzas and charcuterie — all in a beautiful space down on Eveleigh Street. Vibes are always high at the Cellar Door as Redfern continues to evolve, and we're super proud to be part of it. ACME What's not to like? Acme in Rushcutters Bay boasts simple but creative cooking, a banging wine list, great staff and just an all-round vibe. Their creative approach to Italian food means you'll see dishes like cold spaghetti with okra, sesame and ponzu, and pig's head macaroni with egg yolk. We recently had a staff night out there for the launch of Ochota Barrels' new wines and the food was beautifully matched. No wonder they've just been awarded one hat by the Good Food Guide. REDFERN CONTINENTAL AND GDR Legends of the game. Redfern Continental presents a near-perfect example of casual dining, with a hidden gem of a night spot out the back. A complement to the pan-European offering in front, Gunther's Dining Room (aka GDR) is loosely East Germany themed, with curywurst and traditional German hotdogs on the bar menu. Factor in a killer wine list with selections from all around the world, and you've got it made here. $1 Oysters on Sundays in the bar are a must. This place is a regular haunt for Cellar Door staff. Redfern on the come up! SUPERIOR BURGER I grew up near this joint, so I am fond of the crew that is making such a positive contribution to the rapidly changing region that is Western Sydney. In a city overrun with burgers, I can hand on heart say these guys are the best I've tasted by far. The love, skill, energy and drive Jovi [chef Jovan Curic, formerly of Pub Life Kitchen] and the crew have for creating the best-tasting burgers comes out in spades. Get in your car and head to Wakeley — you will not regret it. HANOI QUAN Hanoi Quan offers a truly authentic northern Vietnamese experience. It's been at this spot in Marrickville since forever and gives nothing away from the outside. Had it not been introduced to me by the one and only DJ Arno, I wouldn't know about it, and I can honestly say my life would not be the same had I not tried their signature combination pho and grilled pork vermicelli. BART JR A new kid on the block in Redfern, Bart Jr is a cosy little joint that is quickly becoming my go-to. They have a great wine list (I drank a bottle of Piss Christ there only last week!), plus a fresh and simple menu that changes weekly. Do yourself a favour and stop by today. George, Anne [George Woodyard and Anne Cooper from Scout's Honour and Morris] and the crew have brought something special to the area for sure. DA ORAZIO PIZZA + PORCHETTA Food + wine + music = vibe. It's a hard combo to nail but full respect to Maurice [Terzini, the restaurateur who is also behind Icebergs] and the crew who balance this beautifully (shouts to Picnic on the bookings!). The Napoli-style pizza is made from dough that's left to rise for 48 hours before heading to the woodfire stove, while a whole Berkshire pig hits the spit roast every day (explaining the titular pizza and porchetta). Bondi needs more joints like this. FATIMA'S LEBANESE RESTAURANT Ok, this is the straight-up best "late night on the way home and don't want to get something gross" spot around. We are talking next-level Lebanese food. When it comes to takeaway, kebabs are as legit as they come, served by a proper maestro who has been there since as long as I can remember. Get the lot with chilli sauce, hummus, tabbouleh and salad. Fatima's will make sure you arrive home in one piece. Explore more with Pullman. Book your next hotel stay with Pullman and enjoy a great breakfast for just $1.
We're not big fans of food celebration days, but we are big fans of doughnuts. Especially free ones. And this Friday, June 1 — 'International Doughnut Day', if you will — a heap of shops around the city will be giving away thousands of doughnuts to mark the occasion. Whether you like them hollowed and glazed or sugared and stuffed with Nutella, you'll find them — for free. A word of warning: you'll need to get in early. Nothing draws a crowd like free doughnuts. If you miss out, or your sweet tooth still isn't sated, check out one of our favourite Melbourne doughnut shops. OASIS BAKERY, MURRUMBEENA The legendary Oasis Bakery is getting into the spirit by giving away a hefty 10,000 free doughnuts. Fans can choose from the bakery's two most popular cult creations — the classic jam-filled version, or one stuffed with a hit of Nutella. They're up for grabs from 8am through 9pm. What? 10,000 doughnuts from 8am DANDEE DONUTS, DANDENONG MARKET The colourful Dandee Donuts truck has got around town plenty in the past five decades, though, these days, it's best recognised as a mainstay of the Dandenong Markets, slinging hot, jammy, sugared doughnuts to the masses four days a week. These guys are preparing for a huge International Doughnut Day, with two trucks on site to keep up with demand. Visit either window between 8am and 4pm this Friday, to score one free classic doughnut per person. What? Free doughnuts from 8am until sold out [caption id="attachment_670537" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Credit: Simon Shiff [/caption] PONTOON, ST KILDA If you like the sound of a free warm doughnut, matched to some spiffy bay views, put St Kilda hotspot Pontoon on your radar for this Friday. The beachside bar and eatery is celebrating this international food day by handing out hundreds of its signature sugared doughnuts, from midday until they're all gone. These little beauties have been going gangbusters since hitting the menu this autumn, so don't dally. What? Free doughnuts from midday until sold out GOLDELUCK'S, EASTLAND SHOPPING CENTRE Croydon South bakery Goldeluck's has earned itself quite the reputation for its artisanal pastry creations, from clever riffs on the classic doughnut, to the doughnut-croissant hybrid it has dubbed the 'dossant'. And a whole lot of each variety will be walking out the door of Goldeluck's new Eastland store for free this Friday. From 9am, the first 50 customers to purchase a coffee will score a free doughnut to match. Then, there's another swag of free doughnuts going to the first 100 customers from 6.30pm, with the first person in line gifted a nine-pack of doughnuts and the following five punters walking away with a four-pack. To claim yours, you'll need to RSVP to Goldeluck's Facebook event and share it to your own page. What? 50 free doughnuts (with coffee purchase) from 9am, 100 from 6.30pm KRISPY KREME, VARIOUS STORES Melbourne has no shortage of artisan doughnut makers, but if you're in the mood for something a little more mainstream, you'll be chuffed to know that the folks at Krispy Kreme are also jumping on the International Doughnut Day bandwagon. On June 1, the group is set to give away a huge 50,000 original glazed doughnuts across its dedicated stores in Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia and Victoria. There's a limit of one per person — best check your local store's opening hours so you can be one of the first in line. What? 50,000 doughnuts nationally, visit your local store SHORTSTOP COFFEE & DONUTS, MELBOURNE Raised, filled, cake or cruller, Shortstop explores the boundaries of doughnut experimentation, spanning the entire flavour spectrum and borrowing a few international influences along the way. And this Friday it's jumping on the doughnut-day bandwagon and is giving away 700 free doughnuts to sweet-toothed punters. One classic cinnamon cake doughnut will be given away with every transaction, from 7.30am till they sell out. What? 700 free doughnuts (with purchase) from 7.30am HONOURABLE MENTION: COP SHOP ESPRESSO, HAWTHORN Hawthorn's Cop Shop Espresso might not be giving out any free doughnuts this International Doughnut Day, though it does have a pretty tidy deal for anyone looking to mark the occasion in style. Head in from 7am on June 1, purchase any house-made doughnut and they'll swing you a small, standard coffee, on the house. Recent doughnut hits include salted caramel, peanut butter and jelly, and a passionfruit-filled, pink-glazed number. What? Free coffee with doughnut purchase from 7am–5pm
This winter, a brand new free music festival is set to heat up the St Kilda shoreline, blasting away the chills with a jam-packed lineup featuring the likes of Hiatus Kaiyote, Adalita, Briggs and more. The inaugural Southside Live will descend on South Beach Reserve across two tune-filled weekends, from Friday, June 24–Sunday, June 26, and Friday, July 1–Sunday, July 3. The beachside stage will fire up with sounds from a diverse bunch of Aussie acts — soul-pop songstress Akosia, renowned Indigenous vocalist Emma Donovan with The Putbacks, RnB star Pania and post-punk outfit Pinch Points, to name a few. Mitch Tambo, Kaiit, Dallas Woods, Kira Puru, The Black Sorrows, Isaiah Firebrace and Freeds are also on the bill. Your ears aren't the only things in for a treat, however. The whole Southside Live precinct will be decked out like a wintry wonderland, with market stalls, neon art, food pop-ups and plenty of mulled wine to keep those cockles warm. Southside Live will run on Friday, June 24 (6–9pm), Saturday, June 25 (3–7pm), Sunday, June 26 (2–6pm), Friday, July 1 (6–9pm), Saturday, July 2 (3–7pm) and Sunday, July 3 (2–6pm). [caption id="attachment_806820" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Emma Donovan and the Putbacks[/caption] Top Image: J. Forsyth
Getting some shuteye or even slightly comfortable on a long-haul can be tricky. With its new 17-hour non-stop Auckland to New York service on the horizon, Air New Zealand is hoping to put economy travellers to sleep with a new prototype that features six lie-flat pods. The Economy Skynest is the result of three years of research and development at its Hangar 22 innovation centre in Auckland. Each bunk bed-style Skynest, measuring 200 by 58 centimetres, will have room for six sleepers. While still yet to be confirmed, it is intended that each pod will include a full-size pillow, sheets and blanket, ear plugs along with privacy curtains and lighting designed for sleep. The airline says it is exploring other features such as separate reading light, personal device USB outlet and ventilation outlet. Air New Zealand Chief Marketing and Customer Officer Mike Tod says that the development of the Economy Skynest is a direct response to economy travellers inability to stretch out on long-haul flights. It's not the first time the carrier has put energy into making economy passengers more comfortable; the Economy Skycouch allows travellers to book an entire row and transform it into a makeshift bed, while last year saw the introduction of inflight exercise videos to enhance wellbeing. The airline today filed patent and trademark applications for the Economy Skynest. It will make a final decision on whether to operate the service next year after it has assessed the performance of its Auckland to New York operations. For more information about the Economy Skynest, visit airnz.co.nz.
Fans of Instagrammable brunches and all-you-can-eat banquets in Prahran are about to become very happy eaters with the opening of the OTT Grand Lafayette on Clifton Street. The expansive all-day eatery is an Asian-inspired brunch spot by day and an all-you-can-eat Japanese diner by night. It's brought to you by the team behind Port Melbourne's now-closed Café Lafayette, who were known for taking popular brunch dishes to ridiculous levels then topping them off with Asian twists. Existing Lafayette fans will be glad to hear that the signature 'raindrop' cakes ($9) have made their way to Prahran — in matcha, brown sugar, rose and mint flavours. Other brunch menu items include matcha French toast, wasabi scrambled eggs and steamed bao in fried chicken, crispy eggplant, confit pork and beef teriyaki varieties. Legit cuppas by Five Senses are paired with a list of brightly coloured mocktails and cocktails, along with the Freaky Shake — a milkshake which offers toppings like mixed mini cereals, cream cheese and mini waffles. Once the sun starts to set, the 100-seater becomes an all-you-can-eat haven six nights a week, slinging bottomless plates of Japanese food for $32.80 per person. Think karaage chicken, baked scallops and miso-grilled salmon. Plus bao aplenty and the return of the "Freakshii", which is essentially mega-sized platters of colourful sushi. It's a bold move attempting to combine such distinct services, and we're not quite sure how well the two will gel to make one successful restaurant. It's one that will have to be seen — and tasted — to be believe. Grand Lafayette is now open at 9 Clifton Street, Prahran. Opening hours are Monday 8am–3pm, Tuesday–Friday from 8am–3pm and 5.30–9pm, Saturday from 8.30am–3pm and 5.30–10pm, and Sunday from 8.30am–3pm and 5.30–9pm. Images: Griffin Simm
When Flash Camp brought pop-up glamping to Stradbroke Island in 2016, southeast Queenslanders took note. Among them were the folks at Straddie Camping, who've now set up a permanent glamping retreat at the north island's Adder Rock, bringing luxury beachside camping to this idyllic patch of land all year round. Launching just as the weather heads into prime glamp-friendly territory, and just in time for whale migration season, Straddie Camping's Adder Rock setup features a mini-village of ten tents by the beachfront. Blending the novelty of sleeping under the stars with the comforts of home, each comes equipped with cotton sheets, fresh towels, two bamboo chairs and power. Visitors also have access to the camping ground's communal kitchen, barbecue and picnic facilities. And, in addition to the sound of lapping waves, views aplenty and shelter from native tea tree and pandanus forests, the site is also within close proximity to the more touristy part of the island. That means that following up your beachside bliss with a wander up to Point Lookout's shops, restaurant and all-important pub is on the agenda. For those keen to head to every Brisbanite's favourite island for a leisurely stay by the sea, tents are available for the very affordable rate of $99 per night for two people. Getting in quick is recommended, with the retreat certain to prove popular as Queensland's seemingly endless summer sets in. For more information about Straddie Camping, visit their website.
This Queen's Birthday Long Weekend, Melburnians are allowed to travel to regional Victoria once again, but it doesn't mean everyone can — or wants to. If you're staying local, it's certainly no time to despair. With restrictions easing, the city's shops, hiking trails, restaurants and entertainment spots are reopening, so there's plenty to explore. From starting your day with a flaky fresh-from-the-oven pastry to ending it watching a flick on the big screen at a drive-in cinema, our fair city has lots to offer. As some COVID-19 rules are still in place though, it's not 100 percent business as normal, with limited capacities and social distancing measures at most indoor and outdoor venues. So, we suggest you check the relevant websites before making plans. To find out exactly what you can and can't do under Victoria's current restrictions, have a look over here. [caption id="attachment_755062" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Falco Bakery[/caption] START YOUR DAY WITH A FLAKY FRESH-FROM-THE-OVEN PASTRY There's nothing quite like the smell of freshly baked bread and pastries to whip your appetite into a frenzy. And that first bite of fluffy doughnut or glazed danish, not too long out of the oven? That's one way to kick off your long weekend. One of the newer additions to Melbourne's bakery scene, Falco is the brainchild of the minds behind Bar Liberty and Capitano, who've here joined forces with Christine Tran (Tivoli Road Bakery, San Francisco's Tartine). Here you'll find a dreamy, innovative range of treats, both sweet and savoury, including the likes of crusty country-style loaves, cheeseburger pies and peanut butter miso cookies — though it's best to get in quick. If you want to keep the bakery crawl going, check out some more of our favourite bakeries across the city. SET SAIL DOWN THE YARRA ON A BYO PICNIC BOAT (WITH YOUR POOCH) If you want to embrace the fresh (albeit cold) air this long weekend, then head to a park for a leisurely picnic with your mates. Or, take things up a notch and feast on wine and cheese while cruising down the Yarra on one of GoBoat's eco-friendly picnic boats. Aimed at making the whole boating caper more accessible for everyday folk, the outfit's Scandinavian-designed vessels are slow-moving, a breeze to operate and don't require a boating licence, making for fuss-free sailing sessions. Each boat clocks in at 18-feet long, boasting a central picnic table with room for all the necessary snacks and booze. And despite what you might be thinking, they're pretty affordable — simply BYO food and drinks, round up enough people to jump aboard and a GoBoat session will cost you less than $22 per person, per hour. Oh, and did we mention they're pet-friendly? Surely you've got a very good boy who deserves a river jaunt. You can book here. [caption id="attachment_754694" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ocean Invaders[/caption] CHECK OUT A LUMINOUS JELLYFISH EXHIBITION Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium's interactive $1.5 million permanent jellyfish exhibition, Ocean Invaders, is worth a visit for those who'd rather spend their time indoors. Jellyfish are perhaps the most mystical of all sea creatures, but you probably haven't had much of a chance to get up close and personal with them — well, now's your chance. Spread across 300 square metres and three multi-sensory zones, and featuring thousands of jellyfish from a range of species, the exhibition is all about these ocean enigmas. You'll learn the ins and outs of jellyfish, watch them being cared for by Sea Life's ocean experts and even crawl through a cylindrical tank surrounded by them. In another zone, striking light projections lend even more magic to a range of living displays, including one transparent sphere that's packed full of floating creatures. Before you head in, you need to book a ticket, which you can do over at the website. [caption id="attachment_755976" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Coastal Walk, Mornington Peninsula, Visit Victoria/Derek Ross[/caption] HEAD ON A STUNNING SEASIDE WALK (AND PRETEND YOU'RE ON HOLIDAYS) In the spirit of turning off and seeking out some wholesome nature, we tracked down some top-notch seaside walks to freshen up your routine — because no walk will feed your soul like a walk by the water. From the beachside trails of the Mornington Peninsula to the bush tracks of Wilsons Prom, recharge this weekend by embarking on one of the nine best coastal walks near Melbourne. Expect wild scrub, picturesque paths, hidden lagoons and well-placed pubs on your endeavours.While technically out of town, most of these walks can be done as a day trip — or you can tackle the eight-day track on the Great Ocean Walk. [caption id="attachment_622465" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brook James[/caption] CATCH A RETRO FLICK AT A DRIVE-IN CINEMA Most of Australia's cinema industry has earmarked July as its relaunch date, aiming to reopen in time for the planned release of Christopher Nolan's Tenet. But if you're a movie buff keen for some big-screen fun before that, Melbourne's drive-in cinemas are filling the gap — and, given that their whole concept involves folks watching flicks in cars, social distancing is already part of the experience. You can head to Dandenong's Lunar Drive-In, Village Cinemas Coburg Drive-In or the Dromana Drive-In. On the various cinemas' lineups: The Fast & the Furious, Shaun The Sheep: Farmageddon, 1917 and Bloodshot at Lunar; Cats, Mad Max: Fury Road, Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction at Coburg; and Sonic the Hedgehog, Back to the Future, Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Muriel's Wedding at Dromana. [caption id="attachment_723354" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Taquito, Julia Sansone[/caption] HIT UP A BAR, PUB OR RESTAURANT During lockdown, many of the city's hospitality venues had to close (or offer takeaway only), but now a whole swag of them are back and welcoming dine-in customers once again. Whether you want to have a pint and a parma at your local, tuck into a taco feast or go to Carlton's OTT hot pot restaurant, you can. If you want to get a cheap feed at the CBD's debaucherous burger bar Mary's or hire out your own private igloo for dinner and drinks, you can do that, too. Or, hit up any of the reopened bars, restaurants, pubs and cafes you wish. Hot tip: with venues allowed a maximum of 20 customers (or one per four square metres) many require reservations, so check before heading in. Top image: Squeaky Beach, Wilsons Promontory by Garry Moore/Visit Victoria
The country's next big natural wine event is coming to the Sapphire Coast this August — and it'll be anything but ordinary. Nattie by Nature will transform a sprawling heritage estate into a blowout bash with lots of wine, live music, craft spirits, local produce and party vibes aplenty. It's run by Shady Pines' long-time manager Alen Nikolovski, who recently moved down to Merimbula, and his Sapphire Coast mates Ryde Pennefather and Di McDonald. "We all love drinking booze but hate boring tastings, so we decided to put on a tasting event with a party atmosphere," says Nikolovski. "It started out as just a small thing, but has grown to fit 300 people." This army of wine fans will be hosted in South Pambula's Historic Grange, a stunning 1850s heritage estate that extends across 13 acres. The space is owned — and was fitted out — by Jason Scott (formerly of the Swillhouse Group), so expect design elements reminiscent of both Baxter Inn and Shady Pines to accompany the country barn stylings. The Nattie by Nature team has gathered its favourite winemakers from around the country for this one. Drops on offer will include Greek-style wines from Southern Highlands' Ari's Natural Wine Co, small batch vinos from Clunes' Jilly Wines and certified biodynamic bottles from Adelaide Hills' Ngeringa. Plus, the Otway Ranges' Chevre Wines, Geelong's Livewire Wines, Whitlands' Konpira Maru and Canberra's Mallaluka will all host stalls, too. Enmore's P&V Merchants will make its way down south, too, as will boutique distributor Whole Bunch Wines. Apart from all the wines, the event will feature a tinnie bar by Yulli's Brews, a bloody marys stand by Patio Beverages and a gin bar by Sapphire Coast local North Eden Gin — who will also put on a live gin distillation. For eats, both Merimbula and Sydney producers will join the party. You'll be able to snag Pambula oysters from Broadwater, smoked seafood platters from Eden Smokehouse and baked goods from Wild Ryes Bakery, which is creating three pie and wine pairings just for the event. Local cheese gurus Tilba will also team up with LP's Quality Meats for some next-level charcuterie boards. And since it isn't a party without live music, soul and R&B band Immy & The Hookup will take the stage and a vinyl DJ will finish off the night with funky tunes. Located six hours' drive south of Sydney (or a one hour flight) and seven hours north of Melbourne, you'll likely want to make a weekend of it. We recommend Woodbine Park Eco Cabins and Coast Resort Merimbula, or these stunning homes on Airbnb. The inaugural Nattie by Nature will take place on August 3 at the Historic Grange, 15A Northview Drive, South Pambula. It'll run from noon–8pm and there will be a free shuttle bus between Merimbula and Pambula all day long. Tickets are $35.50 a pop and on sale now.
This weekend, Victoria's National Trust will let you into its covetable closet when it opens the doors to the tenth iteration of Melbourne's "biggest and most authentic" vintage and designer clothing sale. You'll be able to get a feel of a Armani coat and fight over Valentino as a cavalcade of items take pride of place in South Yarra's 1800s-built Como House on Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22. The pieces on offer will run from the affordable right up to the super expensive, but all will be going at a reduced price. Given some of the brands on offer — including Alexander McQueen, Armani, Valentino, Max Mara and Missoni — you'll be able to pick up some bargains, or opt for a few investment pieces. Covering fashion from late 1800s onwards (yes, there'll be 100-year-old fashion on offer), the range will focus on handbags, scarves, jewellery, hats, belts and ready-to-wear clothing. Keep an eye on National Trust's Instagram to see more sale items, which'll be posted in the lead-up. Entry to the massive sale is $2, with all proceeds going towards Como House conservation projects. We also suggest getting there early to snag the good stuff. Vintage Clothing Sale at Como runs from 10.30am–4pm, with National Trust Members allowed in from 10am. Top image: Como House by Letícia Almeida
When you think of Connie's, Heartbreaker's in-bar pizza joint, you probably think of triangles. Namely, the giant, triangular NYC-style pizza slices it's served from its takeaway window for the past four years. But now, the kitchen's switching things up, unveiling a brand-new menu of deep-dish square pizzas dubbed Grandma Pies. Taking name and inspiration from a style of pizza made famous by Italian-American grandmas on the outskirts of New York, the new 12-inch offerings are now available for delivery every Thursday–Saturday night. In the lineup, you'll find cheesy toppings like artichoke with alfredo sauce, mozzarella and spinach; a mushroom and thyme number; and the Big Bad Wolf with its mix of pork and fennel sausage, pepperoni, pancetta and red onion. There's even a jalapeno-studded smoked ham and pineapple pizza, aptly named Don't Tell Nonna. To order from the new menu, as well as a selection of booze, head to the website or jump onto UberEats. If you prefer circles and triangles when it comes to your pizza, fear not. The OG Connie's menu is set to return post-lockdown for all of your late-night slice needs. [caption id="attachment_825641" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jana Langhorst[/caption] Images: Jana Langhorst
Ah, Cherry Bar. Home to sticky floors and leopard fur. Hallowed ground of headbangers. Tucked away down AC/DC Lane, the iconic venue is the ultimate dive bar in today’s age of overlit, oversanitised rock venues. Every not-so-self-respecting local has a story tell about the night they popped their Cherry. This Sunday the bar's 7th annual street festival, CherryRock013, will be co-headlined by two gloriously disgraceful stoner rock bands — recently reformed Californian legends UNIDA and Swedish fuzz rock sensations Truckfighters. They’ll be joined by King Parrot, Barbarion, Matt Sonic & the High Times, The Murlocs, Mammoth, Gay Paris, Surefire Midnights, The Workinghorse Irons, Drunk Mums, Little Bastard and Battle Axe Howlers, plus a swag more to be announced. Cherry festivals are notoriously epic days, when the makeshift curtains come down over the graffiti laden laneway, barely concealing a writhing sea of black tees, skinny jeans and badass rockers. Expect an all-day party that blends live music and Jack Daniel's better than AC/DC ever could. Image via theheavychronicles.com
Jump on the #19 tram and head up to Sydney Road as the Brunswick Music Festival returns for its 31st year. This year's lineup is an absolute cracker, with more than 40 shows across two incredible weeks, featuring artists from all across the city, the country and the world. The needle drops on Sunday, March 3, with the Sydney Road Street Party, a massive event with more than 200 artists performing across seven stages, plus market stalls, food and more. Other standout events on this year's program include the inaugural Masquerade Ball at the Moreland Hotel on Saturday, March 16 and the return of the High Tide Pool Party on Saturday, March 9 — when djs, live performers and synchronised swimmers will take over the Brunswick Baths for a day of tunes and dance. There'll also be a a Dolly Parton tribute night, a day of wine tastings, food, art and music at Siteworks and a pumping festival hub — dubbed Mechanica — at the Brunswick Mechanics Institute, where there'll be panels, exhibitions, workshops, performances and parties. For the full Brunswick Music Festival program, head here.
Ascot Vale's permanent food truck park The Ascot Lot is making a name for itself as one of the most dog-friendly spots in the west. It's already held multiple pup parties — which have included gravy, bottomless drinks and daiquiris — and after a relative quiet 2020, the park is bringing back Pooches & Prosecco. Running from 12pm on Saturday, February 27, the dog-friendly session will feature lots of cute fluff balls and lots of sparkling wine. Victoria's Story Wines and Zilzie will both be on-hand to do some tastings and selling glasses and bottles in the dedicated Prosecco Bar, which you can then enjoy in The Ascot Lot's sprawling beer garden. You can pamper your pooch in the 'puppy mall' and even book them in for a free health check between 12–5pm thanks to Vets on Call. Don't have a dog to bring along? Maybe you can change that. There will be a chance to adopt over the weekend, with Second Chance Animal Rescue coming along with some adorable pups in need of a forever home. A fresh lineup of vendors will ensure that there are food options galore, too — including Crepes for Change, Pearl of the Quarter and Take Mie Out — and four-legged guests will even get free treats. Pooches & Prosecco runs from 12–10pm.
The program for The Great Game summarises its plot as 'Charles Darwin meets the Pussycat Dolls and together they set out for the Battle of Khartoum'. Don’t worry, I don’t know what that means either, even after seeing it. You’re on a trip deep into the Land of Quirk with this one, so don’t expect anything so prosaic as a definable storyline. The show is constructed as a giant game of make-believe between two housebound and stir-crazy sisters. Exploring an untidy room, the floor strewn with papers around a desk crowded with scientific paraphernalia, Elizabeth (Charlie Laidlaw) and Georgiana (Katherine Connolly) rifle through old books and antique letters, play-acting the characters they read about. One minute they are austere ladies swapping Bible quotes, the next they are re-enacting tribal rituals, mimicking birds they find described in a biologist’s notes or indulging in romantic fantasies about a 19th century British colonial officer (Bernard Caleo). The show is at once extremely batty and highly intellectual, with animal impressions and pants-on-the-head type clowning interspersed with elegantly articulated musings on history, social change, religion and other such weighty topics. It presents a jumble of disparate ideas, like an attic cluttered with curiosities, inexplicable odds and ends and occasional treasures. From start to finish, the show is resolutely vague. While it is hinted from the outset that the sisters are modern women play-acting ladies of yesteryear who are in turn play-acting other characters, it is never explicit who they actually are, or where or when this is happening. They may be in an isolated house in rural Australia, the room may be their deceased father’s office — or their isolation and the deceased father may simply be melodramatic fictions. If any theme is central, it is loneliness and the obsessions and deep uncertainties it breeds. I am loathe to criticise a consciously abstract piece like this for lack of plot or character depth — the sisters’ complete removal from context, even the context of their own identities, is significant in creating a mood of total isolation — but the resulting lack of impetus can leave it feeling adrift. The show, like its shut-in heroines, is very deeply involved in its own world and a few more windows open to the audience might have done it some good. Even at its most esoteric, however, The Great Game is easy to enjoy. Connolly and Laidlaw are tirelessly enthusiastic performers who evoke the dynamics of a sibling relationship well. There is room for more subtlety in the performances though, especially in an intimate venue like La Mama, but the cast do get a lot of mileage from the audience by playing big and their antics keep the laughs coming. The piece was first performed in 2012 as part of La Mama’s EXPLORATIONS program for developing new work. This is its first full season. Bless La Mama for helping bring this theatrical oddity into being, because as curious as it is, The Great Game certainly represents an individual and exploratory artistic voice.
Another year, another Archibald Prize forced to adapt to these pandemic-afflicted times. After the 2020 award was delayed due to COVID-19, this year's gong was handed out as normal — but now the Art Gallery of NSW exhibition that always follows has been impacted by Greater Sydney's current lockdown. So, the folks at AGNSW have released a virtual version of the popular showcase, which means both at-home Sydneysiders and folks around the rest of the country can view 2021's top portraits from their couch. The 360-degree experience lets you tour the exhibition at your own pace, and see its works as they appear within the gallery space. You can learn more about the pieces along the way as well, thanks to clickable hotspots that provide information about each artwork. Every year for the past century, the Archibald Prize has recognised exceptional works of portraiture by Australian artists. In 2021, from a field of 52 finalists, the coveted award has gone to Melbourne-based artist Peter Wegner for Portrait of Guy Warren at 100. A unanimous decision by this year's judges, Wegner's portrait of the centenarian and fellow artist obviously won the gong in a fitting year. "Guy Warren turned 100 in April — he was born the same year the Archibald Prize was first awarded in 1921," Wegner said. "This is not why I painted Guy, but the coincidence is nicely timed." Wegner's win came after an equal number of works from both male and female artists made the finalists list for the first time in Archibald history — all of which you can now scope out from home, alongside entries and winners for the Wynne and Sir John Sulman prizes, too. Across the three prizes, 2144 entries were received this year, which is the second-highest number ever after 2020. And, the three prizes received the highest-ever number of entries from Indigenous artists. If you don't agree with the judges, you can also cast your own vote for the People's Choice Award before 5pm on Sunday, August 29. [caption id="attachment_814784" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Archibald Prize 2021. Peter Wegner, 'Portrait of Guy Warren at 100'. Oil on canvas, 120.5 x 151.5 cm. © the artist. Photo: AGNSW, Felicity Jenkins. Sitter: Guy Warren.[/caption] Top image: Archibald Prize 2021 finalist. Kirsty Neilson, 'Making noise'. Oil on linen, 50.1 x 60.1 cm, © the artist. Photo: AGNSW, Felicity Jenkins.
If jungle vibes while shopping for greenery sounds like your perfect outing, head along to the Jungle Collective's indoor plant sale on Saturday, January 23–Sunday, January 24. It's the latest greenery-filled market from the Melbourne nursery, which stocks all kinds of weird and wonderful species. And, after hosting plenty of online-only events over the past year, this sale is a 100-percent in-person affair. Whether you're after a hanging pot plant, some palms for the garden or a giant Bird of Paradise, chances are you'll find it here. Have a reputation for killing your cacti? Overwatering your ferns? Don't worry — there'll be horticulturalists on site on the night to give you advice and chat through any questions you might have. Get inspired by greenery aplenty and learn to incorporate plants into your home and living spaces, all while browsing and soaking up some tunes. Jungle Collective is turning this event into a bit of a maze, too, so you'll enter in one spot, wander along a designated path and leave in a completely different area. Best get in quick though — these markets are always popular, with more than 170 different species usually on offer. Due to expected demand, the sale will be held in 30-minute sessions across both days, and attendees will need to register for free tickets in advance. Plus, if you come decked out in white from head to toe — and spend at least $10 — you'll also get $5 off your purchase.
