What would the global culinary scene of the last 20 years be without René Redzepi? Whether or not you've had the good fortune to dine at Noma since 2003 — including at its pop-ups in Sydney, Kyoto, Tokyo and Tulum — the mind behind the three-Michelin-starred Copenhagen eatery has helped shape the restaurant industry in the 21st century. For more than half of that time, the Danish kitchen wiz has also been cooking up a television docuseries that asks similar questions, but about the ingredients that we consume. What would the world be without chilli? What is the impact of our appetite for tuna? How has salt helped shape our history? Bananas, pigs, rice, coffee, corn: in Apple TV+'s Omnivore, they're all also in the spotlight. It was over a decade ago, when Noma was firmly established as a sensation — it's been voted the planet's best by The World's 50 Best Restaurants five times, from 2010–12, and also in 2014 and 2021 — that Redzepi came up with the idea for the series that debuts on streaming on Friday, July 19, 2024. As happens with renowned chefs, TV offers were coming his way, but never for the type of project that'd see him happily spend time away from his celebrated fine-diner. Taking inspiration from natural history documentaries, especially David Attenborough-fronted greats such as Planet Earth, gave rise to a show that treats the nutritional staples that fuel humanity with the same care and reverence. [caption id="attachment_966274" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Ditte Isager[/caption] With Redzepi leading the way within the series and Australian ex-Noma Chief Operating Officer Ben Liebmann an executive producer — the latter alongside Anthony Bourdain: Explore Parts Unknown alum Matt Goulding — Omnivore's first season whittles down its key ingredients to the eight mentioned above. "It was a giant process," Redzepi advises Concrete Playground in an interview with both him and Liebmann. More than 120 choices were under consideration, but that's one of the program's delicate balancing acts. Another is in the buffet of stories and details that it dishes up about each type of food, telling viewers the origins and history of every ingredient, stepping through the impact and importance at both a mass and a personal level, unpacking the relationship between the item in question and the climate, and recognising that none of it exists in a vacuum without having ripples around the planet. Just like off-screen, of course, Redzepi knows how to create a winning recipe. As it travels the globe, pairing meticulous footage of each ingredient's life cycle with portraits of folks whose existence revolves around them, this isn't a talking heads-led show. It observes. It appreciates. Redzepi is also heard more than he's seen. It's his second television project in as many months, however, as everyone who watches The Bear — so, everyone — will know. Given how long that Omnivore has been simmering, that timing is purely coincidental. Also, even being in The Bear briefly took some convincing. "It's a nice to have, not a need to have, for me," he shares. "I only did it because they really asked me to. I know them very well. We've known them long before The Bear was a thing, and they were in Copenhagen and they shot all these scenes, and they said 'hey, can we please have you there?'," Redzepi tells us. "And I wasn't going to be in the show. I said 'I don't know how to act. Don't ask me this.' But then they they thought it would be a great idea, and I did it. And then many people mentioned it, even though I just look at the guy for a second. I guess it's a good thing for Omnivore that that happened, and perhaps they were right in saying 'no, no, you should be briefly in there." [caption id="attachment_966275" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Ditte Isager[/caption] 2024 isn't just a big year for Redzepi in the TV realm. Before 2025 hits, he'll bid farewell to Noma 2.0 — the restaurant's guise since 2017, after it reemerged following its closure in 2016 — and say hello Noma 3.0, a test kitchen and food laboratory in its latest reinvention. Working on Omnivore has helped cement the new direction for Noma, Redzepi explains in our chat. He also credits Liebmann, whose stint at Noma from 2015–22 sits alongside working on television franchises such as MasterChef, Grand Designs and Idol, with to ensuring that it came to fruition. Ahead of Omnivore dropping its first season in full, ready for a binge that'll make you hungry for chilli, tuna, salt, bananas, bacon, rice, coffee and corn — perhaps not all at once — we spoke with Redzepi and Liebmann about what gets them excited about new projects beyond Noma, the original idea for the series, taking inspiration from Planet Earth, coming up with the right recipe for the show, picking which foods to focus on and Noma's future. Always wanted to know Redzepi's can't-live-without ingredient, too? We discussed that as well. On What Gets Redzepi and Liebmann Excited About New Projects Beyond Noma René: "I think when you get to be part of something groundbreaking, which I think Omnivore is. Being a part of a groundbreaking project with a network that believes in you, working with some of the best people on a project on a subject that I genuinely believe in, that also teaches me so much about a world that I've been in for the past 30 years — that is inspiring. And that really gets me excited when the scope is so amazing, like with Omnivore. That really does inspire me to do something like this." Ben: "I think I've heard René talk about over the years, just that simple idea of stepping outside of one's comfort zone. An opportunity, in this instance, in terms of using media and storytelling to perhaps reach a broader audience, a broader community, than we would otherwise be able to in person — about sharing knowledge, sharing hope, sharing inspiration. And with a series like this, hopefully creating a conversation and potentially hopefully creating a movement around it. I think that's still that power of media and, in this instance, what makes the project so exciting." On What Inspired Omnivore a Decade Ago — and the Original Vision René: "I can't remember if it's like 11–12 years ago or whatever, but it's a while back, and it was at a time when Noma was getting to be known around the world. We had rocket fuel on, and when that happens, you very quickly get offered TV. And I was. I was supposed to be judges in competition shows or travel. I think there was a show called Fire and Ice, and I had to travel around Scandinavia with a celebrity and teach them how to cook and stuff, and show them where to eat. And I guess it was never enticing enough for me to step out of my work. I was also very happy doing that. But it did make me think 'iIf I was ever to do this, what would I do?'. And that's when Omnivore started as a seed: a show that would have the same respect, dedication, care and sophistication towards what we eat as you would see in the great nature documentaries like Planet Earth. If we can show a beetle with so much attention and care, why can't we do that with rice? And thus inspiring people to be more inspired about what they eat and how they eat, and make them more curious about this wonderful world of food — make them hopefully realise that food is the most amazing thing on earth, besides basic nutrition. It's who we are. It's what made us. It was always the genesis of the idea. And when Ben came aboard, that's when we finally could put the pieces together. Because if I would have run it, it would never have happened because I would have tried to run it like you built a menu. It's like 'okay, we have this idea, in seven months it should be on camera, right? It should be on TV?'. That's how I would have thought about it." Ben: "I think from my side, when René originally shared the concept for it, it for me was just so intriguing. It was such a simple but yet powerful idea. And I think what intrigued me was that it had not been done before, which was in itself a very Noma thing of trying to do things that hadn't been done before. Certainly standing on the shoulders of giants in terms of programs that had inspired us in the years before, but trying to elevate, let's call it, food media. Although in some ways this isn't food media. It's this extraordinary kind of combination of food and natural history, but I think it was that amazing challenge and opportunity to try to create something. And then to build a team, an amazing team, from René and Matt, our partners at Fifth Season and obviously in Apple, somebody who believed in this idea and wanted to help it, help us realise that, was where it all began." On the Excitement, Challenges and Daunting Feeling That Comes with Taking Inspiration From David Attenborough, But with Food René: "By no means are we comparing ourselves to his productions at all. We're just inspired by him and his productions. And yes, it is super daunting. I mean, it's the first time for me. I've never done anything like this. When we do menus at Noma, I've reached a point now where when we set it up, the finals tasting, the entire team is there, the test kitchen team is there, and I think to myself 'we nailed it. I know guests will like this'. I know where on the menu they'll be surprised and be like 'oh, my god, I can't believe this'. You get a sense of that and a feel for that, and it's been a while since I had this feeling that 'okay, I have no clue if people are going to like this'. We are putting it out into the world — there might be 50 people that watch it, you being one of them, and we have no clue if people are going to like it and accept it and be inspired. They might hate it. No, they won't." Ben: "It'll certainly start a conversation. It's interesting you ask about that. I mean, 20–30 years ago, somebody also asked that question of — and we're using the old vernacular here, it was prime-time television — but would audiences sit and watch the migration of the dolphin or the mating of the polar bear on prime-time television? Because there had been nothing like that before. And it showed that audiences are looking for things that inspire them and give them hope and make them think, and start conversations. We're certainly not comparing ourselves to the Planet Earths, but we certainly took inspiration from those. Again, it was that thought of 'could we create this catalyst or this movement around food, and just give people the tools and the information to maybe have them think a little more about where their food comes from, and the impact that it has on culture and community and the planet', etcetera." On Balancing Each Ingredient's History, Impact, Influence, Relationship to the Climate and More René: "It's super hard. That was actually a challenge from the beginning to set the focus right, and to tell eight different stories that somehow still have the ethos and our beliefs in it that food is amazing and everything and the most important thing. But at the same time, to say it with different tonalities and different energies — it was really, really hard. And then also not to step into the realm of over-explaining — let the people that are actually being filmed explain, let the visuals talk, not step into the camera saying 'hey, we're going to show you this' and have 15 talking heads explaining everything — but, in that sense, being a little more adventurous. It is always a challenge to do that when you talk about food, the environment, where things come from, where they belong. It's a delicate balance always, without a shadow of doubt. And we threaded very carefully and hopefully we didn't do anything wrong, but I feel like we've really taken great care and attention to actually thread it carefully, and showcase our ideas and the places on earth with a lot of respect and care. Then ultimately, of course, we want to do that without it all telling the viewer what to do or how to do it. That it's an inspiration for people, that we respect you no matter what you choose to do. We all want the same thing: happiness and a good life. We have very different ways, each of us individually, to actually get there, but we believe in a lot of things when it comes to food — and we want to inspire you to try to see some of that, and see if you can grab some of it and implement it in your daily life. On Choosing the First Season's Eight Ingredients René: "It was a giant process of choosing these eight ingredients. We probably boiled it down from 120 or something like that, and I think we have at least season two also well-researched — of course, we don't know if we're doing season two yet, it depends on if people like season one. The process was long and it was hard. We had to do a lot of research before we actually chose. And then, of course, it's between me and Matt and all the other stakeholders in the show. Ben was heavily involved in that, but there was also other people here at the restaurant, like Devin, that works on the show as well from Noma. We had Fifth Season, the producers at Apple, everyone had an opinion actually. It was like the UN Peace Corps. And we made it happen and we ultimately ended up choosing eight ingredients that — we could have chosen eight world-altering staples, put wheat in there and the potato and so on and so forth, but we felt it would be a little too one note to have too much of that in there. We needed something that was also just about love, like the chilli story is for instance. So it was a long process. It takes a lot of research. And then once you have that, you also have a framework for each of the ingredients to actually start from, that you can explain to the director and to everyone that's involved, and then they go do their thing." On Omnivore Arriving Just as Redzepi Is Preparing to Say Goodbye to Noma 2.0 René: Actually, Omnivore has helped crystallise so many of the thoughts for the new Noma 3.0. When we go into that, we have a desire that we'd spend our team, our network, our 21 years of expertise, all the labs we have, to actually broaden our approach and work with new collaborators, start new projects that impact food in a bigger way than just cooking every night for 50 people. And in that sense, figuring out how to focus, how to bring the scope, how to have a larger scope, Omnivore helped crystallise a lot of the projects that we're going to initiate in Noma 3.0. I feel like I should also say that in Noma 3.0, we will still pop up as a restaurant now and then. When the body of work is ready and we need someone to test it on, then we'll come back and work so hard every minute to be the best of the best of the best. But Omnivore has helped crystalise some of the projects, which actually has been an amazing thing for that reason. And surprising, I would also say, that an added bonus was all that we've learned, all the meaning that we saw and all the interesting people you get to encounter, that they help guide you towards your next path. It's fantastic." On Redzepi and Liebmann's All-Time Favourite Ingredients, If They Could Only Choose One René: "Ben Liebmann, it's easy for me. You will let me know what you think, Ben." Ben: "Well, given that it's 7am here and I'm already on my second cup of coffee, it's probably coffee for me." René: "I was sure is was going to be coffee for you. For me, it's without a doubt chocolate. I cannot live without chocolate. That's for real. There's a little chocolate store in Mexico City called La Rifa. It's the best chocolate for me that exists, and I eat a block of that every day. I just can't be without chocolate." Omnivore streams via Apple TV+ from Friday, July 19, 2024.
Dating is tough, we all know this. We try to act like it's chill but admit it: the prospect of your taste being judged by someone you like is daunting. And as a result, we tend to overthink dates and overcomplicate them. It's good to be a little prepared but when you've planned an evening to the hilt, it can only disappoint you (not to mention distract you from your date). If you want to experience those memorable, miraculous, out-of-nowhere-amazing dates that somehow last forever and are over too soon, we have some advice: stop thinking so much. Opt for a spontaneous date that you'll both be surprised by, and see how much pressure that takes off. And because a surprise date can only be made better with a little sparkling, we spoke to Henkell, purveyors of fine bubbly, to get the 411 on sure-fire dates you don't have to overthink. SAY YES TO THE QUEEN VIC NIGHT MARKET Be brave and invite that cutie to the Queen Victoria Night Market on a random Wednesday. There's no need to overthink this one — the Night Markets are premium date territory. Waiting-in-line chat times, a few bevs, the joy of food samples and a high chance of a Lady and the Tramp noodle-smooch scenario are all good date fodder. We do recommend you kick it up a notch and impulsively order everything you see (the weirder the better) because there's nothing better than riding the rollercoaster of flavour together. MINI GOLF AND PIZZA IN THE CITY Channel your inner kids and head to Holey Moley in the city for some putt-putt action (and prepare to rattle off your favourite Caddyshack lines in-situ). Walk-ins are welcome, or you can you can book on the fly (helpfully, the website shows available tee-off times). But even if mini-golf is booked out, there's lots to do — like karaoke and pizza. Queue up the Don't Stop Believing or better yet, Don't Go Breakin' My Heart, and belt it out together. Impressed 'em with your crooning and want to keep the night going? Make sure you have some Henkell Blanc de Blancs on ice to keep the good times rollin'. TAKE A MINI FOOD TOUR OF LYGON STREET There'll be no bookings needed and no logistical management necessary for this date — all these phenomenal venues are on the same block. Start at Milk the Cow on Lygon (across from Cinema Nova) for an appetiser cheese board (or fondue, if you're not wearing a white shirt). Then head to Heartattack and Vine next door for Venetian bites. The bar food menu is always changing, and you can buy bites by the piece, AKA cicchetti. For a larger dish (and again, only if you're not wearing a white shirt) order the meatballs. Finally, walk back past Milk the Cow and jump in the line for Pidapipo to grab a cone of Melbourne's best gelato to enjoy (maybe over a glass of Henkell Trocken?) in the neighbouring Carlton Gardens. EMBARK ON A BELLARINE ADVENTURE If you want a truly memorable adventure date (with minimal planning required and a guaranteed good time), head out of town, just past Geelong, to the Bellarine Peninsula for a lazy afternoon of seafood and bubbles. The journey is only an hour and a half away, but the Bellarine feels like another world. First head to Port Arlington and drop in at Advanced Mussel Supply. At its Little Mussel Cafe (where you won't need a booking), grab a mussel bowl or mixed platter to share. Once you've had your fill, head to the famous Point Lonsdale lighthouse to watch the sun go down over a glass of bubbly. GO TO GAOL FOR A NIGHT Before you try to be too spontaneous with this one, you should gauge whether your date would be thrilled with a spooky night out or traumatised for life — it's an important distinction. If the former, book into an Old Melbourne Gaol tour. Tickets can be booked on the day (partly in the interest of spontaneity, partly to avoid nightmares in the lead-up) and you can choose from the ghost tour, The Hangman's tour or A Night in the Watch House — just make sure to bring a brave face. After an eerie evening of history, character acting and nervous sweating, calm the nerves over a glass of Henkell Blanc de Blancs together. Summer is here and it's time to pop the bubbly. Pick up a bottle of Henkell Blanc de Blancs or Henkell Trocken for your next sparkling occasion.
Wonder Woman. Ghostbusters. Annihilation. Hollywood has come a long way since the film days of yore, when female characters were under-represented and over-sexualised. Hasn't it? Well, maybe not quite. The costuming in this year's Tomb Raider reboot isn't quite as pervy as in the 2001 original, but outside of that there isn't much improvement. Certainly, things aren't different enough to really warrant a remake – or to catch the franchise up with the momentum of progressive feminism. This new film sees a young, broke Lara Croft (Alicia Vikander, replacing Angelina Jolie) follow in the footsteps of her mysteriously deceased adventurer father, crossing land and sea to find out what happened to him. Vikander does her best as the butt-kicking, braid-flicking protagonist – her guts and grizzle were enough to make me ponder my own laughable levels of fitness. That said, the fact I found myself thinking "grrrl you are ripped" about a zillion times gives you an indication of how little else there is to latch onto. Turns out a kick-ass heroine isn't enough to counteract crap writing. The dialogue in Tomb Raider is horribly stilted, so much so that the film's villain sounds like a parody of himself. If you had a dollar for every cliché out of his mouth – or for every time someone says something along the lines of "that's not the type of Croft I am – you'd easily have enough to cover the cost of your ticket. Despite what the writers might think, you can't just take a sub-par line of dialogue and repeat it until it becomes a zinger. The film's plotting, meanwhile, plays like a lazy mix of tropes from Raiders of The Lost Ark and The Hunger Games, with the moody origin story vibes of Batman Begins thrown in. Director Roar Uthaug doesn't manage any of it particularly well, although there are – spoiler alert – a lot of scenes where Vikander struggles in bodies of water, and they're all convincingly shot (I wrote the word "STRESSFUL" several times in my notes). The film also fails to take advantage of its strong supporting cast. Kristin Scott Thomas is chronically underused, while Nick Frost shows up all too briefly to deliver one of the movie's only genuinely funny moments (as opposed to its many unintentionally funny ones). At least the producers thought to cast someone other than a generic Hollywood white guy as Lara's partner in crime. Sadly, Daniel Wu's Lu Ren is relegated to the background in no time, and only pops up when required by the plot. The best bit of the entire Tomb Raider ordeal? To be honest, it was the very attractive promo men swinging around ropes in the foyer before the media screening. When that's the case you know you've got a dud on your hands. Our advice: give this flick a miss. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ndhidEmUbI
Chunky Move's artistic director Anouk van Dijk has taken on our shared experiences and the current time we find ourselves in with her new piece Common Ground. An encounter between two dancers — contemporary artists Tara Jade Samaya (Chunky Move) and Richard Cilli (Sydney Dance Company) — the work will be a boundary-transcending study of the instability of the world we're living in. In it, Van Dijk will explore the common ground that unites all of us and that can rupture and disturb our lives. Common Ground will look at how to stand firm when the ground around you is shifting. "There is an incredible sense of instability in the world — social, political, economic and environmental — this affects us on a visceral level," she says. Common Ground will demonstrate the universality of our shared experiences, and how we manage to find unity in a world that is shook. It'll show at Chunky Move Studios from April 26 until May 5, then at The Drum Theatre in Dandenong on May 8.
Across 2021's cooler months, locations around Australia will transform into winter wonderlands, celebrating the chilly season in all of its frosty glory. From May through until September, The Winter Village is returning after its debut run in Melbourne two years back — and this time it's dropping by several other cities as well. Modelled on your typically picturesque European winter market — and giving Aussies a taste of a winter experience that we don't really have otherwise — The Winter Village comes complete with an ice rink, an igloo village, daily snow showers, and a food and drink lineup. Think of it as your quaint wintery escape in the very heart of Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Parramatta. Melbourne is the pop-up's first stop again, with The Winter Village bringing its frosty fun to Skyline Terrace at Federation Square (aka the top of the carpark) from Thursday, May 13–Sunday, August 29. But this event is actually running concurrently around the nation, rather than making its other destinations wait their turn. So, it'll set up at Torrens Parade Ground in Adelaide from Friday, May 14–Sunday, September 5; at Northshore's Riverfront event site in Brisbane from Thursday, June 3–Sunday, August 29; and at Northbridge's Ice Cream Factory in Perth from Friday, May 28–Sunday, September 19. A Parramatta stopover is also listed on The Winter Village's website, although no dates or locations have been provided as yet. So Sydneysiders had best cross their fingers that the event will make its way to the city. Attendees will be able to dust off their skates and hit the ice, and hire a private igloo where you can wine and dine in cosy solace — either with up to five people in a smaller space, or in a six-metre-wide igloo that can cater for 14. Folks spending their time in The Winter Village's igloos will feast on grazing plates of chips, dips, mini pretzels, cured meats, fried chicken bites, mac 'n' cheese croquettes and more, drink their choice of wine or beer, and tuck into a chocolate ice cream sandwich for dessert. That's the $49 package, with the $69 option including espresso martini-flavoured chocolate fudge dipping sauce, berries, brownies, marshmallows, cookies and your choice of an Aperol spritz, espresso martini, wine or beer. Or, get festive over brunch instead — which includes a 45-minute skate session and a meal afterwards for $35. There'll also be pop-up bars and outdoor seating throughout the village, should you be keen on heading along without spending time in an igloo. The latest venture from hospitality group Australian Venue Co, the frozen oasis will be open daily and free to enter. That said, ice skating, igloo hire and a couple of winter warming beverages will come at a cost. The Winter Village will head to Skyline Terrace at Federation Square in Melbourne from Thursday, May 13–Sunday, August 29; Torrens Parade Ground in Adelaide from Friday, May 14–Sunday, September 5; Northshore's Riverfront event site in Brisbane from Thursday, June 3–Sunday, August 29; and Northbridge's Ice Cream Factory in Perth from Friday, May 28–Sunday, September 19 — and with details of its Parramatta visit still to be revealed. Head to the event's website to book igloos and skating sessions. Top images: Mazloum J.
Lasagne is a bit like lamingtons, even though the two delicious dishes taste and look absolutely nothing alike. Their one big commonality: if there's an inventive way to twist either in any way, whatever that new bite happens to be is definitely worth trying. Actually, the two foods share something else in common, because Australia's world-famous Lune Croissanterie has also given them both a whirl. It's served up lamington cruffins and lasagne pastries before, but they're both always welcome — and, to start winter 2023, the latter is back. Lasagne, but a pastry? Yes, that's now a real thing that exists — but only for this month, until Friday, June 30, at all Lune stores around the country. That spans Fitzroy, the CBD and Armadale in Melbourne, plus South Brisbane and Burnett Lane in Brisbane. From Armadale, South Brisbane and Burnett Lane only, you can also order its June specials online. So, what are these instantly tastebud-tempting lasagne pastries? Prepare to meet, devour and love the lasagne escargot. It's the second time that Lune has whipped up this particular Frankenstein's monster of a bakery creation — and, as it did in 2022, it's bound to set your stomach alive with deliciousness. Yes, it comes stuffed with bolognese and béchamel. There's also shredded mozzarella cheese, because of course there is. And, that pastry is then topped with parmesan before it goes in the oven. Also on the month-long specials menu: pumpkin pie cruffins. Using a recipe from Lune co-founder Kate Reid's cookbook Lune: Croissants All Day, All Night, this snack fills a cruffin with pumpkin pie custard and maple syrup, then tops it with cinnamon cream and cinnamon sugar. Clearly, there's winter comfort foods, and then there's Lune's winter comfort foods. Ginger molasses croissants and chocolate banana rum pains au chocolat should also get stomachs grumbling. The former stuffs a twice-baked croissant with ginger molasses frangipane, with ginger molasses cookie and cream cheese icing on top. The latter is also baked twice, and benefits from chocolate frangipane, banana jam and rum caramel inside, plus rum-spiked whipped cream and toasted cocoa nibs to cap it off. Still hungry? The pear and chocolate danish pairs chocolate custard and slices of poached pear, while the Coconut Kouign Amann takes its cues from Filipino treat pane de coco, baking in a brown sugar syrup until its caramelised, and being piped with coconut cream caramel. Lune's lasagne escargot are available from all stores — Fitzroy, the CBD and Armadale in Melbourne, and South Brisbane and Burnett Lane in Brisbane — until Friday, June 30. From Armadale, South Brisbane and Burnett Lane only, you can also order them online. Images: Peter Dillon.
Frustrated at the distant Australian release date for The Great Gatsby? Forget the flamboyance and pizzazz of Baz Luhrmann's film, because the best way to get lost in the decadent world of The Great Gatsby is through this 8-bit video game. Okay, maybe we're exaggerating a pinch, and maybe this isn't the best bit of Gatsby paraphernalia going around. But the Great Gatsby video game is undoubtedly the best Friday afternoon procrastination that we have stumbled across in a very long time. https://youtube.com/watch?v=yqTUKgQ_Cz4 The story behind the making of the game is a Gatsby-esque rags-to-riches tale in itself. Having come across the 8-bit Nintendo game at a yard sale and forking out a whopping 50c for it, the developers thought it deserved some time in the sun and transformed it into an open-source online game. For all the Gatsby fans out there, the thrill of playing as a butler-and-showgirl-killing Nick Carraway in search of both your fortune and the mysterious Gatsby himself is only matched by the games plethora of references, some of which we loved (like that deliciously smug gentleman reading a book and dishing out directions), and some which I imagine flew right over our heads. If nothing else, the game may just be one more thing to get us in the mood for Luhrmann's film, which by now we're busting to see. Via Fast Co.Create.
Melbourne's summer bucket list is set to be an extra hefty one this year, as people scramble to tick off all the experiences they missed out on over lockdown. Dining out with mates at the pub? Check. Catching an IRL gig? Check. Whizzing through the air on a zipline across the Yarra? Actually, this summer, you can check that one off, too, thanks to Firefly Zipline — an entirely unexpected new experience popping up at Fed Square for the month of December. From December 1–28, a 130-metre zipline will be installed in the heart of the CBD, connecting Federation Square with Alexandra Gardens. Punters of any age will be able to book a ticket, don a safety harness and helmet, and enjoy a hurtling flight over the Yarra, either solo or as part of a pair. Soaring nine metres above the water and clocking speeds of up to 40 kilometres per hour, it's the ride you never knew you needed in your life. And the one you probably never saw coming. Coming to fruition after many years of planning, Firefly Zipline is being brought to life with a little funding help from the City of Melbourne and the Victorian Government, in the hopes of bringing some extra action to the CBD as it emerges from lockdown. There's no age limit for zipline flyers, though anyone under 18 will need a parent or guardian present to sign their waiver, and kids under 12 will have to ride with a paying adult. You'll also need to weigh between 35 and 120 kilograms to jump aboard. It's recommended you get in quick though, with only 5000 tickets available. Firefly Zipline will operate multiple sessions daily from December 1–28. Tickets are $49 for adults, $39 for kids and $159 for a family of four. Buy yours here from November 1 onwards.
The sunny season has officially kicked off and, even if the weather hasn't quite got the message yet, that means a swag of summery pop-up bars are headed our way. And the latest of those comes courtesy of your mates at Moon Dog. From Friday, December 2, the brewery is setting up shop in the Arts Centre Melbourne forecourt to deliver Summer Paradiso — a season-long pop-up bar and beer garden that'll have you beating the heat in style. In front of the iconic spire, you'll be able to kick back with an array of summery bevs, including a hefty lineup of Moon Dog tap brews and tinnies, the brewery's new Razzler Alcoholic Disco Nectar varieties, Fizzer seltzers, vino and booze-free concoctions. There'll also be a crop of $13.50 cocktails — like the Fizzer Tropical Crush slushie with cranberry. Meanwhile, the Q Barbecue food truck will be slinging a menu of wood-fired smoked delights and accompaniments — think, sticky gochujang and red Sichuan pork ribs, smoked brisket with wild pepper rub, buffalo wings, beef short rib, burnt end nachos and corn ribs, just to name a few. As for the summer's soundtrack, that'll come courtesy of local DJs spinning every Friday through Sunday. Plus, you'll catch a further curation of tunes by SoundBox — a pop-up recording studio hosting a program of gigs, interviews and workshops in the forecourt from November 30–December 11. Summer Paradiso will open from 12–9pm Sunday to Wednesday, and from 12pm–12am Thursday to Saturday.
If you could plan your ideal summer day, here's how we're guessing it'd pan out. Drinks? Obviously. Snacks? Ditto. Live tunes? Of course. Courtyard hangs? Yes please. Eager for a cruisy Sunday session that promises all of the above? Don't want to do the organising yourself? Don't worry, you're in luck thanks to Wax'o Paradiso x Soulfor Wine's latest natural wine party on December 3. Mosey on down to the Collingwood Arts Precinct with a hankering for tasting tipples of the organic and additive-free variety, all as part of the $45 ticket price; a hunger for buying and munching on delicious dishes whipped up by a team of guest chefs; and a need to make shapes to Ben Fester, Edd Fisher, DJ Simon TK, BIG RIG and Chico Gat the Wax'o Paradiso discotheque. Doors open at midday, which is when the tunes kick off and the two-onsite bars will start serving — and if you're not so keen on the tasting part of proceedings, you can nab a party ticket for $25 (rather than $45 for added vino sipping). Image via Wax'o Paradiso.
When you woke up this morning, Thursday, February 18, your Facebook news feed probably looked a little different. Instead of news about the pandemic, restaurant openings, events and all the usual things you're used to seeing as you scroll, it was filled with memes, photos from distant family members and groups you don't even remember joining. So, what on earth is going on? Well, there's been a bit of standoff between the Australian Government and Facebook and Google, because of the Federal Government's controversial media-bargaining code, which passed through the House of Representatives on Wednesday night. In response, Facebook has banned Australian users and publishers from viewing or sharing any "news articles" on its platform. And it hasn't just banned news. Everyone from embattled Sydney art institution Carriageworks to state government-run Queensland Health, which posts daily COVID-19 updates and streams press conferences, and Melbourne Food and Wine Festival have been kicked off the social media platform. And we have, too. That means, to keep up to date with all the exciting things going on in your city, you need to track us down in other spots. Like, right here on our website, over on our Instagram pages (@concreteplayground, @concreteplaygroundmelbourne and @concreteplaygroundbrisbane), or on Twitter (@concreteplay) and by signing up to one of our newsletters. If you're in Sydney, you can sign up here: Melburnians, get your fix here: And Brisbanites, discover all the best things to do right here. You can also bookmark some of your favourite content of ours. Like the best waterfalls to swim under around Sydney, the best things to do on the weekend in Brisbane and Melbourne's best boozy bottomless brunches. Just because Facebook is boring RN, doesn't mean you have to be. Top image: Kitti Gould
The humble Australian mud crab will soon be getting all the glory at Crown Towers thanks to the international fine-diner Ministry of Crab. Following a soldout run in 2022, the global seafood legends are returning to Crown's Evergreen events space overlooking the Yarra to serve up an exclusive five-course set menu for one month only. This is a rare opportunity for Aussies to try some of the best crab dishes in the world, made by Dharshan Munidasa, one of Sri Lanka's most celebrated chefs. He opened Ministry of Crab over a decade ago in Colombo and now has outposts in Bangkok, the Maldives, Shanghai, Mumbai and Chengdu. His spots also regularly rank in Asia's 50 Best Restaurants, so it's fair to say he cooks a mean crab. From Thursday, March 28–Saturday, April 27, sustainably sourced Northern Australian Mud Crab (flown in live) will be used in the recreation of some of Munidasa's signature dishes: his pepper crab, garlic chilli crab and crab avocado salad. Mooloolaba king prawns will also feature in the set menu, which ends with a coconut creme brûlée. You'll be paying $155 for your feast — and for Melbourne seafood stans, this is a meal that's not to be missed. Find Ministry of Crab at the Evergreen event space at Crown Towers, open for dinner Wednesday–Saturday and lunch on Sundays, from Thursday, March 28–Saturday, April 27. For more information and to book a seat, head to the venue's website.
After cooking up a storm at a host of Melbourne restaurants over the past 16 years, chef Tim Martin is branching out on his own. If you've enjoyed his culinary prowess at The Cut, Taxi Dining Room, The European, Maris and even Noosa's Berardo's in Queensland, you'll want to flock to his new dual-venue venture in South Yarra in 2017. Setting up shop in Claremont Street, Harvest and Privi will quench your thirst, satisfy your stomach and provide your next group-dining spot. The former will be a bar and restaurant serving boutique wines by night and cafe-style fare by day, while the latter will be reserved for bookings of ten or more, with two private rooms accommodating parties of up to 50 people. Seasonal produce and 'long lived' techniques will be Martin's focus, including ageing meat and butchery, plus small batch producers, craft brews and naturally fermented beverages. Whatever the menu ends up boasting, it's certain to go down a treat — Martin did win The Age's Young Chef of the Year gong back in 2015, after all. Find Harvest and Privi on Claremont Street, South Yarra, in 2017 Via Hospitality Magazine.
One progressive hotel in Oslo is making a pretty bold statement through entertainment programming choices: opting for high culture over the pleasures of the flesh, it has replaced all its TV porn channels with contemporary art videos. Billionaire, magnate, philanthropist, art collector, environmental activist and sensitive dream-man Petter Stordalen, the owner of the large Nordic Choice Hotels chain, has dropped the porn-on-demand channels from all 171 of his hotels across five northern European countries. His motivation? Concern about the link between pornography and the hideous child prostitution industry, which he hopes to help UNICEF fight in its anti-exploitation campaign by doing his part via revamped in-hotel programming. Though dropping porn could seem shocking to some, Stordalen has pointed out that Nordic Choice was also the first hotel chain in the world to ban smoking, a ban which is now considered normal in most public spaces. One of Stordalen's hotels, The Thief, is an 'art hotel', an establishment with its own in-house curator (former director of Norway’s National Museum Sune Nordgren) as well as artworks by Tracey Emin and Peter Blake and special rooms where "art installations signed by supergroup Apparatjik add to your hotel experience" — itself an exciting concept, no? This provides the perfect context for art-video-on-demand in place of the former nookie channels. Nine pieces of high-end video art are currently on rotation on the rooms' interactive TVs, including Sam Taylor-Wood’s 'Still Life' (2001). In this work, you get to watch a bowl of still-life oil painting-like fruits slowly become festooned with mould and decay (perhaps a winking nod to and comment on porn?). Surely it would be soothing to switch from Miley twerking on the VMAs to a thought-provoking piece of modern art while you relax in Oslo. Apparently guests have responded very favourably to the change. Via Hyperallergic.
IKEA's blue-and-yellow Frakta bag has been a shop staple for 30 years. It has helped carry your purchases of (too many) tea light candles, has been an integral part of moving house, has been used to make everything from masks to boots and has even inspired a $2000 Balenciaga knockoff. And now, it's getting a (temporary) new colourway. IKEA has just dropped a limited-edition rainbow version of the instantly recognisable, and super versatile bag, and it's available at all Aussie stores. The multi-coloured Kvanting — with six stripes of purple, blue, green, yellow orange and red, and yellow handles — was first released in the US at the start of June to coincide with Pride Month, with 100 percent of profits from the bag going to the Human Rights Campaign. In Australia, IKEA has decided to make a one-off $20,000 donation to ACON, a NSW organisation that works in HIV prevention and LGBTQI+ health, instead. https://www.instagram.com/p/ByLAEnWAJh9/ Kvanting is available to purchase in-store at all Aussie IKEAs now for just $1.99. It'll be available online from August, too. Kvanting is now available for $1.99 at all IKEA stores across Australia. To find your closest, head to the IKEA website.
The offering at Balaclava's newest wellness studio Upstate is a supercharged one, with a schedule that runs from reformer pilates to meditation, all the way through to Bikram And you can get a taste of it all for free, when the venue welcomes the public for a jam-packed open house weekend on April 27 and 28. Punters keen to kick-start their post-Easter fitness regime will be able to experience a swag of those classes first-hand, with 22 free sessions happening across the weekend. Start your Saturday with a hot yoga or reformer class, or work up a sweat at a pilates HIIT class. Finish off the weekend with a yin yoga class and sound bath meditation on Sunday night. You'll just need to book in via the website. As well as joining a class or two, you'll get the chance to meet the founders — Lululemon Ambassador Gail Asbell and sister Charelle Cuolahan — and find out more about becoming a member. This is their third studio — the two also run studios in Geelong and Torquay, which will also being doing free classes over the weekend. The studio will also provide post-workout treats and kombucha, and there'll be chances to win activewear and three-month memberships. Images: Ed Sloane Photography.
With 1654 stores to its name worldwide, Five Guys' burger joints have become a common sight across America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia — and soon, they'll also be opening in Australia and New Zealand. The cult-favourite chain is making the leap Down Under as part of a master franchise agreement with Seagrass Boutique Hospitality Group, aka the folks behind The Meat & Wine Co, Hunter & Barrel, 6 Head, Ribs & Burgers, Italian Street Kitchen and Butcher and the Farmer. Sydneysiders can start getting excited first, with Seagrass currently looking for suitable locations in the city's CBD. "Our aim is to identify high-visibility ground-floor sites in high-traffic areas," said the company's Chief Marketing Officer David Ovens in a statement. But burger lovers in other states, and in New Zealand, can also prepare their stomachs, with around 20 stores due to launch in Australia alone — although exactly where and when Five Guys will be popping up is yet to be revealed. What we do know is why Five Guys has amassed quite the reputation — and why, given the number of big-name US burger chains with hefty followings, such as Shake Shack and In-N-Out, it stands out. Its made-to-order burgers skew in the classic rather than oversized, jam-packed direction. They come with two hand-formed patties on toasted buns with your choice of toppings (including pickles, grilled mushrooms and jalapeños), plus bacon cheeseburgers that add two strips of bacon and two slices of Kraft American cheese as well. Five Guys also serves up hotdogs, sandwiches, hand-cut fries (with or without Cajun spices) and vanilla milkshakes. Don't go thinking the latter are boring, though — you can add bacon, bananas, peanut butter, salted caramel and even Oreo pieces to your design-your-own beverage. The chain started back in 1986 in the Washington, DC area and, as anyone with allergies should note, only cooks its fries in peanut oil. Five Guys is currently looking for sites in the Sydney CBD, with stores in other Australian states — and in New Zealand — to follow. No opening dates have been revealed as yet — we'll update you when more information comes to hand.
Exercise should be fun. It is a great way to feel fit and fresh and make new friends along the way. Running on that treadmill can be repetitive though, and by now you are probably zoned out of Zumba. So we're all ears to new workout options and technologies that can rejuvenate our routines. Thankfully, creative trainers all across the world have been hard at work creating the next big thing for you and your friends to throw yourselves into. These weird trends are taking over gyms, parks and post-workout coffee discussions everywhere. Want the endless energy to conquer whatever heights a new workout takes you to? We recommend you get fitted in the latest Boost technology found in the Adidas adistar Boost, available in limited release from our friends at the Athlete's Foot. Bokwa Where: Nationwide Dance-inspired fitness classes show no sign of fatiguing any time soon, and Bokwa is the latest craze stepping out onto the floor. Bokwa is cardio with a culture, fusing conditioning with customary African dance to create a full body workout that will leave you craving more. The best part is you can be as uncoordinated as you like and still join in, with the steps all spelling out basic numbers, letters and words. So basically if you have read this far into the article, you can Bokwa. Virtual Reality Cycling Where: Athlete Lab, Sydney and Best Practice Personal Training, Brisbane Virtual Reality cycling takes cyclists on a virtual vacation from inside their own gym. The class utilises a large projector or screen display to simulate scenery and environments from all across the world to crash through the cycling constraints of the four walls surrounding exercisers. Whether you are peddling the pavement in New York or assailing the Alps, you will find yourself working up a serious sweat whilst dodging cars without the danger. TRX Suspension Training Where: Fitness First centres across Australia or your own home TRX Suspension Training is ready to get you navy-fit anywhere, anytime. All you need are suspension bands and your own body weight to perform a rewarding resistance workout that caters to all levels of fitness and gets you fit for whatever life throws your way. You do not even have to pay for a gym membership as the bands can be put up anywhere from your bedroom to the local park. Bingo! Quidditch Where: Across Australia Yes, you read correctly. Quidditch is taking over the world as Harry Potter fans look to keep the magic going. There is no need to have read or seen any of the books or films to take part though, with all equipment, including your very own broomstick, supplied and rules very easy to pick up. Once you embrace looking silly alongside everyone else, you will probably end up having the best time you have ever had with a broomstick between your legs. So lace up those runners, mount up and seek that snitch. Street Workouts Where: Anywhere outdoors Street workouts provide you with the best opportunity to head outdoors for your exercise this winter. This workout emphasises the utilisation of public facilities and your surrounding environment. You could do activities such as pull-ups on the monkey bars, dips on the park bench and jumping over obstacles, parkour style. Plus, it is all for the price of free. Extreme Obstacle Courses Where: Nationwide Whether you want to be a Tough Mudder or a Spartan Racer or both, there is an extreme obstacle race out there waiting for you to conquer it. These gruelling courses stretch up to 20 kilometres and allow you to test all elements of your endurance as you crawl through mud, swing over pools and climb over walls. Then they zap you with live wires, just to make sure your heart is in it. It is all worth it at the end, though, as you are rewarded with that glorious sense of athletic achievement and personal pride. Backwards Running Where: Outside Backwards running is the process of running backwards. See, it is nice and simple. Aside from being a fun way to imagine the world in reverse, it also is said to be good for your fitness, as it can improve your balance and take the strain off muscles used in that boring forward running. This is a good time to pull on a pair of adistar Boosts, as the extra cushioning in the sole provides support for the heel when running backwards. Check out this clip for some motivation. One to try on a track very clear of obstacles. Cycle Karaoke Where: Currently only the US Cycle Karaoke — or Cyclaoke, as we have taken to calling it — finally provides an opportunity to sing your way into shape. It aims to get you exercising at your optimal heart rate, so if your rendition of Queen's 'Bicycle Race' is proliferated with panting, then you should ease off a little. Then again, if you are belting out 'Eye of the Tiger' with ease then you really need to focus on your pedal power rather than your power ballad. Either way, it is exercise at its embarrassing best. Antigravity Yoga Where: Nationwide Ever wondered what it would feel like working whilst airborne? If so, then antigravity yoga is for you. By settling into a supportive silk hammock you can exercise off the ground and remove a significant amount of stress from your body. Combining elements of yoga, dance and the aerial arts, it will help you form a concrete core as you have fun learning to fly. Man Versus Horse Marathon Where: Wales, United Kingdom If none of these are for you, though, and you want the ultimate challenge, then you should race a horse. The annual Man Versus Horse Marathon covers a 35km cross-country course and is the ultimate test of man versus animal. You can take on the horse all by yourself, or you can take two gym buddies with you and claim team glory. With only three human winners in the 32-year history of the race, your name could go down in history forever. Before you head out on these 10 super-charged new workouts, it helps to have the endless energy harnessed by the new Adidas adistar Boost on your side. They're in limited release at the Athlete's Foot now. How do you boost? These four athletes have a few ideas to rival our own. Vote for your favourite to be in the running for your own pair of Adidas adistar Boost running shoes. https://youtube.com/watch?v=nTH4KKY5_5s https://youtube.com/watch?v=RJYVuVV-yC4 https://youtube.com/watch?v=u3-xitE0fy0 https://youtube.com/watch?v=juY_jxiCJms Top image: Tough Mudder contestants in costume.
Melbourne's getting another alcohol-fuelled brunch, and this one has a dress code — of leotards, lycra, spandex, leg warmers, and anything glittery, sparkly, shiny and neon. While you're channelling a thoroughly 80s vibe, teased hair won't go astray. Perhaps it'll even make you more aerodynamic on the roller rink. On Saturday, August 24, it's time to dress up in all of the above and strap on a pair of roller skates. You can't dance around a Roller Disco Brunch without them. The rink will pop up at Seaworks in Williamstown, running in conjunction with the 1.5-kilometre Pac-Man-inspired maze — so you can do both in one day if you do choose. When you're not busting out your smooth retro moves to plenty of the era's hits — yes, Cyndi Lauper songs will be given a spin by the DJ — you'll be tucking into bottomless mimosas and pizza slices. There will be three 90-minute brunch sessions: at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. These will set you back $75.23 and include your food, booze and skate hire. If you just want to get your skate on, there'll be four more sessions on the Saturday — at 5pm, 6.30pm, 8pm and 9.30pm — as well as three on the Friday night. These just include a turn on the skates and are $39.55 each. Peachy keen, jelly bean? You can buy tickets now. UPDATE: MAY 28, 2019 — This article previously stated that the Roller Disco Brunch would be held on June 29, 2019. This has now been changed to August 31, and the above has been edited to reflect the new date.
A decade has sashayed away since Bianca Del Rio won the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. After emerging victorious over Australia's own runner-up Courtney Act, the drag queen and comedian has been conquering Down Under stages ever since. Among multiple tours over the past ten years, the fabulously quick-witted talent last brought her Hurricane Bianca whirlwind this way in 2022 — and she'll next break out her devilish snark and timing in 2025. The global favourite keeps building upon her massive past decade or so, with the dimple-cheeked performer doing everything from tours upon tours to hitting the West End stage in the musical Everybody's Talking About Jamie and also popping up in the film version as well. Then there's 2016 comedy Hurricane Bianca and its 2018 sequel Hurricane Bianca: From Russia with Hate, plenty more appearances on various Drag Race seasons and specials, web specials, music videos and even an episode of Celebrity Family Feud. Accordingly, you know what to start watching in preparation for Del Rio's Dead Inside gigs in Melbourne — although, as you'll know if you've seen her live before, there's nothing like seeing her in the flesh. Del Rio's 2025 visit will break out the cutting insults — plus her larger-than-life persona in general — across three nights from Friday, January 31–Sunday, February 2 at the Comedy Theatre.
With over 45 million visitors globally, Body Worlds is one of the world's most visited health and wellness exhibitions. It's also frequently described as a "life changing experience" — visitors can expect to leave with an understanding of the marvel that is the human body. Now, the original exhibition of real human bodies is coming to Australia for the first time this August. The Body Worlds Vital exhibition, on display at the Melbourne Showgrounds from August 13 till November 18, takes attendees on an intricate journey of the workings of the human body, through an authentic, visual display of over 150 donated specimens. The human bodies and body parts, donated for the benefit of public education, have gone through a meticulous process of plastination, and demonstrate the complexity, resilience and vulnerability of the human body in distress, disease and optimal health. The exhibitions were founded by anatomist and scientist Dr Gunther von Hagens and physician and conceptual designer Dr Angelina Whalley. And all the specimens displayed at the exhibitions are from an established body donation program with consenting donors — so far 17,000 bodies from around the world have been donated to Dr von Hagens' Institute for Plastination. The Australian tour specifically focuses on contemporary diseases and ailments and how everyday lifestyle choices can improve health and wellness, to live with vitality. The 150 specimens on display stem are preserved through a scientific process that replaces body fluids with polymers. Interactive elements include the Anatomical Mirror, where visitors will see how organs are positioned in their own body, a photo display that showcases longevity and healthy ageing, and healthy organs shown in direct comparison with diseased organs. The exhibition will be open daily, from 10am–5pm Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, from 10am–6.30pm Thursday and Friday, and 9.30am–6.30pm Saturday and Sunday.
Fancy Hanks has long been one of Melbourne's top destinations when it comes to old-school American-style barbecue. But if you think that's the only string to their bow, then prepare to be pleasantly surprised. After a sold-out July pop-up, Majestic Hawker will take over Abbotsford's Bodriggy Brewery with Singaporean nosh for three nights in August. Featuring new dishes as well as some from last time round, we're hoping to see the soy-marinated chicken wings with chilli vinegar, sambal stingray served in banana leaf and fried banana fritters with pandan coconut ice-cream return. Turns out Americans aren't the only ones who know their way around a charcoal grill. Fittingly, the chef in charge of the pop-up is none other than Alicia Cheong, who previously ran Hank's kitchen when they were based at The Mercat Cross Hotel. Cheong is back in Melbourne after a year-long stint at the Michelin-starred Restaurant Par Andre in her native Singapore. Tickets to the August pop-up will remain extremely well-priced at $30 for three dishes or $50 with drinks — both beers and cocktails — included. Tickets to the 7pm sitting have already sold out, and places at the additional 6pm sitting are expected to do the same. Images: Eugene Hyland.
If your kind of heaven features soft, pillowy lobster rolls and floating clouds of peanut butter parfait, then you'll be happy to know that Andrew McConnell's long-awaited Supernormal (aka the only version of the afterlife we want to know about) is finally here. After the success of the restaurant's three month-long Fitzroy pop-up, Supernormal opens early next week at its brand new Flinders Lane site. A follow-up to McConnell's Golden Fields, which recently closed up shop in St Kilda to make way for the CBD venture, Supernormal will see a whole new McConnell-esque modern Asian fusion menu while keeping a few cult Golden Fields dishes (PB parfait included, phew). According to Good Food, you can expect to be chowing down on all the important (and on-trend) food groups, including pork belly, kimchi and steaming bowls of ramen. Supernormal makes it restaurant number five for McConnell, who already operates Cumulus Inc, Cutler & Co, The Builders Arms Hotel and the soon-to-be Luxembourg, which will take the place of Golden Fields on Fitzroy Street. Opening today in the dining epicentre of Flinders Lane, the restaurant looks decidedly more fun (and a little cheeky) with the use of super kawaii Pacman-like figures in their branding and the inclusion of karaoke — I repeat, karaoke — in their private dining room. Lobster rolls with a rendition of 'Wannabe'? Yes please. Meanwhile, the pre-opening pop-up seems to be a trend such among hyped venues. Chris Lucas's Kong has popped up at the city's Rue & Co ahead of its actual opening. Update 1 May: This article originally stated that Supernormal was opening April 30. That occasion has now been pushed back to early next week.
Life is so busy these days, one can't help but wish some things would just sort themselves out. We have technological advancements and perhaps Google to thank for such laissez-faire attitudes. PumpTire's prototype for a self-inflating tyre appeals to the whinger in us but also proves to be an eco-friendly invention saving time, money and extraneous resources needed to pump a flat bicycle tyre. Components of the PumpTire includes a tyre, a detachable valve and inner tube. It can be used in conjunction with existing rim models and works as the cyclist rides their bike. According to founder of PumpTire Benjamin Krempel, it works "by using the rolling motion of the tyre to draw in air from the atmosphere". A hollow tube attached to the edge of the tire pushes air into the tyre. The tyre is even capable of sensing when the ideal air pressure is reached. PumpTire is currently promoting its invention on Kickstarter to raise funds for further engineering design, testing and purchasing tools and materials. https://youtube.com/watch?v=rMmZnzG9QqI [via PSFK]
With her obliteration and infinity rooms drawing huge crowds around the globe, a range of merchandise brandishing her dot-filled designs on scarves and umbrellas, and even her own busy museum in Tokyo, Yayoi Kusama is one of the most popular artists alive today. That makes a documentary about the art star feel almost inevitable; however for filmmaker Heather Lenz, Kusama: Infinity was nearly two decades in the making. Drawn to Kusama's work as an art student in the 90s, Lenz decided to make a movie about the Japanese artist long before her pumpkins filled Instagram feeds. It wasn't an easy process. As a female filmmaker trying to direct a documentary about a female artist — and, more than that, about a female Asian artist — the path from concept to finished film was filled with knockbacks and setbacks. And that's before even getting Kusama involved. In several ways, the difficulties that Lenz experienced prove apt for a doco about Kusama, who found the world far from welcoming when she started to pursue her dreams. Lenz's struggles are also indicative of a filmmaker who was simply ahead of the times. When Kusama's star began to rise, the writer/director/producer/editor's path became smoother. With Kusama: Infinity now screening in Australian cinemas, we chatted to Lenz about her colourful and informative movie. The first-time feature filmmaker actually initially planned to make a biopic about Kusama — and that's just one of our topics of discussion, alongside the long and complicated process of bringing the documentary to fruition, the allure of Kusama's work and the joys of meeting the artist. BECOMING INTERESTED IN KUSAMA'S WORK BEFORE HER CURRENT FAME "It began in the early 90s — that's when I first saw an image of her work. I was earning degrees in art history and fine art, and for probably every thousand or so male artists we learned about, we learned about perhaps five women artists. And Kusama was definitely not among them at that time. Around 1990, there was an exhibition at the Centre for International Contemporary Art, and that helped start the process of putting Kusama back on the map in America. I saw an image of her work in that catalogue, which at the time was the only catalogue on her art — and I really felt from that exposure that her contribution to the American art world hadn't been properly understood or recognised. I was just really interested in her, and later I decided to go back to school and get a film degree. While I was a student, I started working on a biopic script about her. Then, over time, I decided to put that on hold and work on a documentary — in part because Kusama was still alive and able to tell her story her own words." THE PARALLELS BETWEEN THE FILM'S DIFFICULT PATH AND KUSAMA'S OWN CAREER "In the beginning, it was her artwork and the fact that she had been neglected that attracted me to her. But over time, I began to tune in more and more into her tenacity and everything that she had to overcome in order to finally achieve success — because it was, of course, mirroring the issues that we were facing. When I started the film, I was rather naive about the obstacles and challenges women directors faced. I just thought, 'oh, if you work hard, you can achieve whatever you set your mind to'. But when I started pitching the film to people, I was constantly told that it was a terrible idea, that no one would be interested. And it was men telling me that. I just felt like, well, we don't have the same taste. But there was a point where I had the opportunity to pitch the film to a woman who actually worked for Madonna back when she had a production company. And I thought, 'oh wow, she's really going to love this'. Instead, she questioned the fact that I wanted to make a film about a foreign female, so it never advanced to Madonna to review. At the time, I really wasn't thinking of Kusama as a woman or as Asian. I just thought here's someone who's lived this super compelling, interesting life, who's a brilliant artist, so she would be a great subject for a film. But that's when I started to get the idea that there were pre-conceived ideas about what's going to sell and what isn't. And even within the last few years, I had someone tell me 'you can't put her on the poster because she's Asian and no one will want to see the movie'." DOING MORE THAN JUST CONNECTING THE DOTS "I wanted to shine a light on her and her accomplishments — I wanted her to get more attention. These days, people know about her from social media, so they've seen images of her art, but they really don't know her backstory. I wanted to show the world in which she was raised, which was Matsumoto City. She was growing up in the 30s, and her dreams and ambitions to be an artist at this time, they were just completely out of step with the expectations for her. The idea her family had for her was that she was get married — not only get married, but have an arranged marriage — and become a mother. And to just to have a much more conventional life. She was just really really out of step with that. I think she thought that when she got to America [in the 50s] that the doors would be much more open and things would be much easier, but of course she still had many, many obstacles to overcome. I wanted to show everything she was up against, and to correct her place in history. That remains very very important to me. Recently I screened the film at a college and I had an art history professor, who was a man, tell me that the film was going to change the way he taught this section of art history in the 60s. That was very exciting. Those kinds of things are really meaningful." THE ALLURE OF KUSAMA'S ART "She's made a broad range of work. The work that seems to be featured these days is a lot of the infinity rooms and a lot of the more colourful pieces she's made in recent years. I think people see it as a very optimistic and cheerful work, which is very interesting given the issues she's had with depression and everything. It's almost like she's managed to take her own trauma and transform it into art that functions in a way like an antidepressant for society." WORKING WITH KUSAMA "Kusama actually has a history of cancelling on people, because maybe she's not feeling well or she's just not in the mood or whatever it is. So it was very risky to go all the way to another country, hire a crew and just take on all this expense and just not even know if she would show up. But fortunately she did show up and we really clicked. At the end I told her it was the happiest day of my life, and she said 'mine too'. Then a few months later I was able to go back, and that time I was able to spend a whole month in Japan. I had this very rare opportunity to go through her archives, which were just extraordinary. There were so many amazing photos. There were letters and receipts and calendars — there was just a treasure trove of archival materials for me to explore. It was really amazing." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRqxWNn3iQU Kusama: Infinity is now screening in Australian cinemas. Read our review.
For years, its beery creations have appeared at leading bottle shops, graced the Good Beer Week lineup and sat among the winners of the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers list. Now, finally, Deeds Brewing will have a taproom and tasting bar to call its own with its Glen Iris brewery set to open to the public from this weekend. Located in a 2600 square metre former mechanics workshop, the new venue will launch on Saturday, June 26. Showing off the results of an extensive six-month makeover, there is room for 150 people across a ground floor and booth-filled mezzanine level, featuring a 20 metre-long bar and a sprawling kitchen. It's a lofty, open, mod-industrial space, offering views of the brewing equipment and fermentation tanks from wherever you sit. A 28-tap lineup will focus largely on Deeds' own house creations, pouring year-round sips like the XPA and Juice Train NEIPA alongside a rotation of seasonal and limited-edition brews. The beers are backed by a curation of local wine, Aussie spirits and cocktails, plus brewery tours and tastings will also be on offer. Head Chef Paul Kasten (Stomping Ground, Host Dining) is delivering a menu that's at once approachable and clever, incorporating both beer and classic beer ingredients throughout. You're in for bites like focaccia teamed with malt butter, hop-cured salmon with creme fraiche and Geraldton wax, chicken wings featuring fish sauce caramel, and brussels sprouts with pale malt and onion cream. Blue Grenadier is coated in a Deeds draught batter then matched with malt vinegar; a wagyu MS9+ blade fillet comes alongside an ale glaze and green chilli harissa; and pork cheeks feature a mole sauce and mizuna (Japanese mustard greens). And if dessert's on the cards, prepare to be won over by the likes of a stout brownie and a malted whipped cheesecake with caramelised puff pastry. Paired with a serve of Deeds' latest dark, malty creation, of course. Find Deeds Taproom & Kitchen at 4 Paran Place, Glen Iris, from Saturday, June 26. It'll be open 5.30–11pm weekdays, and 12–11pm Saturdays and Sundays.
Clocking in at $40 million and five years in the making, the redevelopment of Melbourne's Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) has been a monster task. But now, almost two years after the site closed to the public back in early 2019, we've finally got a reopening date. The newly renovated ACMI is set to make its much-anticipated return on Thursday, February 11, 2021. When the doors reopen, the museum will be showing off a complete overhaul, featuring a range of new spaces and facilities across an expanded precinct. Of course, famed free exhibition The Story of the Moving Image is being reborn, allowing audiences to explore the history and future of the moving image through a series of interactive experiences. People are already excited about one of the exhibition's new star additions, after plans were revealed for a futuristic car installation paying homage to Mad Max. As announced in October, the new-look ACMI will also showcase a nifty new feature called The Lens — a handheld device for visitors to use while they're browsing the galleries and exhibitions. You'll be able to tap The Lens at around 200 different touchpoints throughout the museum, to collect objects of interest — which'll then be available for you to explore on any device afterwards, no matter where you are. The initiative is part of ACMI's plans to provide guests with an integrated, multi-platform visitor experience that extends long after they've left the building and headed home. Other big additions include state-of-the-art cinemas, the new high-tech Gandel Digital Future Labs aimed at fostering young creatives, and a major new work by Gunditjmara Keerray Woorroong artist Vicki Couzens, which sits adjacent to the permanent exhibition. The Australian Centre for the Moving Image will reopen its doors on Thursday, February 11, at Federation Square, Flinders Street, Melbourne. In the meantime, its The Story of the Moving Image exhibition is currently available to view online, along with a suite of other screenings and experiences.
Cinco de Mayo kicks off on Monday, May 5, so finding an appropriate way to celebrate is the right move. While no one would blame you for shaping a feast filled with tamales and carnitas, Deep End Pizza and Dingo Ate My Taco have collaborated once again on their crowd-pleasing Birria Pizza. Bound to make the month one to remember, this limited-run creation combines Deep End's beloved Detroit-style pizza base with Dingo's authentic birria – a slow-cooked Mexican stew — inviting you to dip your slice as you dine. The duo first released this notorious combo in 2023, becoming something of a viral success. Now it's back, but only from Monday, May 5–Monday, June 30, meaning you've got a brief window to experience how Dingo's supremely tender and slightly spicy birria has found its perfect match with Deep End's light and airy base. So, feast for the holiday or enjoy the ideal excuse to get insanely indulgent – just know it's available exclusively at Deep End Pizza's Fitzroy store. "While I've seen birria done on NY-style pizzas, the fluffy crust on our squares is ideal for soaking up that rich consommé," says Deep End owner Paul Kasten. "Even we were surprised by how magnificently it all came together once we topped it with their brisket, Oaxacan cheese, and signature toppings. We can't wait for taco and pizza enthusiasts to experience this fusion."
For the second year running, Formula 1 cars won't race around Melbourne's Albert Park during the Australian Grand Prix, with the event cancelled once again in 2021. It was scrapped in 2020, too, after it was initially due to take place just as the COVID-19 pandemic hit Australia. This year, the race had already been postponed from March to November, but now it won't be held at all. Announcing the news today, Tuesday, July 6, the Victorian Government advised that the event has fallen victim to the pandemic — and to Australia's slow vaccination program and new caps on international traveller numbers specifically — as has this year's Australian MotoGP on Phillip Island. The Formula 1 race was due to take place on November 21, and the MotoGP on October 24; however, the state was unable to give the sports' governing bodies assurances that both would be permitted to proceed. As a result, the organisers of the two events have chosen to move on with their 2021 seasons without stops in Victoria. Both races are expected to return in 2022, though. "The Victorian Government understands the need for Formula 1 management and MotoGP controller Dorna Sports to confirm their schedules, and the decision not to proceed in 2021 was mutually agreed with those bodies," said the Victorian Government in a statement. https://twitter.com/ausgrandprix/status/1412275229800292353 The big Formula 1 race has hit Melbourne every year since 1996 — every year until last year, that is. At present, it's contracted to return to Albert Park between 2022–25. The MotoGP's history on Phillip Island is very similar, with the event first held there in 1997, and contracted to continue until 2026. Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula said that "it's very disappointing that these much-loved events can't proceed but this is the reality of the pandemic — but until we get much higher vaccination rates we cannot return to more normal settings." He continued: "we are getting to work on plans for 2022 immediately and can't wait to welcome the world's best drivers and riders and all motorsport fans back to Albert Park and Phillip Island." Whether Melbourne's other big international sporting event, the 2022 Australian Open, will also be impacted by Australia's sluggish vaccine campaign and our traveller caps — and the fact that anyone heading here from overseas needs to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival — is obviously yet to be seen. The Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix and Australian MotoGP will no longer go ahead in 2021. For more information about the cancellation, head to the Victorian Government website and the Australian Grand Prix website.
Dig a little deeper into the art of food and wine pairing at this eye-opening Good Food Month tasting event with Rob Dolan Wines. On June 11, 12 and 19, and July 17, the Yarra Valley winery's barrel room will be the backdrop for your transformation into a wine pairing pro. Master of Wine and renowned wine judge Meg Brodtmann kicks things off by guiding guests through a hands-on lesson on how to taste wine and how various drops interact with different foods. Armed with your newfound skills and a glass of Rob Dolan's White Label pinot noir, you'll then sip and taste your way through a table of common ingredients on the hunt for the wine's best flavour matches. The group's top picks will be used as the star ingredients for the day's fresh pasta entree, whipped up by two-hatted chef Tyson Bertoncello in front of your eyes. After tucking into this customised course, the food pairing fun continues — you'll enjoy a slow-braised beef cheek main that's been carefully designed to complement the Signature Series cabernet sauvignon, followed by a sumptuous finale featuring Stone + Crow cheese (made on-site) teamed with Rob Dolan's Two Barrel Batch muscat. [caption id="attachment_813453" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chef Tyson Bertoncello and Master of Wine Meg Brodtmann[/caption]
How do we view the world? How does the world view us? Do we behave as expected, or as we really are? If we were to catch ourselves in a truly unguarded moment, what would we see? While these are more profound questions than I generally like to ask myself on a Friday night, such notions of inner conflict and self-awareness are the themes of Chunky Move’s latest contemporary dance piece, 247 Days. I guess there's always next Friday night for an uplifting salsa class? Part of Melbourne’s Dance Massive program, 247 Days is a complex and conceptual piece, exploring notions of inner conflict, self-discovery and reflection in an incredibly emotive work conceived by artistic director, Anouk van Dijk. A moving set of mirrors by Michael Hankin combined with lighting by Niklas Pajanti creates a backdrop of kaleidoscopic reflections and looming shadows, adding both aesthetic and symbolic value. Along with Marcel Wierckx’s clever and beautifully composed sound design, these supporting elements drive the piece, as much as the dancers themselves. Leif Helland, Lauren Langlois, Alya Manzart, James Pham, Niharika Senapti and Tara Soh are undeniably masters of their genre, showcasing commanding solo moments alongside the ability to almost melt into one another as an ensemble. Their energy moves through the audience in electric waves, with more than one audible “holy shit” having escaped from my own mouth mid-performance. While undeniably enhanced by the music, set and lighting, what makes this piece so profoundly affective are the unguarded, unrelenting bodies of the performers. At times manic and always dynamic, moments of high tension are tempered by stillness, providing balance and finding a place of equilibrium. There’s something very powerful about watching a person give everything they have and the matted, sweaty hair and glistening forms visible at the end of the performance are testament to this. As a bright-eyed and bushy tailed 20-something just trying to make it in this crazy, messed up world, perhaps I relate so easily to this emotional rollercoaster because the ideas and themes are specifically relevant. But I think it is more a human similarity, a universally relatable sense of inadequacy and self-consciousness that basically gets inside your gut and twists hard. Whatever is bubbling down inside you will surely be extracted during 247 Days. Image by Jeff Busby.
Located in the heart of the bustling city centre, Le Charme is filled with long teal banquettes and lotus flower-shaped light fittings hanging from the ceiling. Matching teal shutters keep the restaurant's interior sheltered from the frenetic foot traffic outside its doors. It's inside this seemingly serene — and definitely charming — restaurant that you'll enjoy executive chef Gary Lau's extensive and affordable menu. It's filled with lots of pescatarian and vegetarian options, too, so everyone can get in on the action. The $9.90 lunch menu features generous bowls of beef pho and bun bo hue, while its $11.90 menu is filled with hits like spicy chicken laksa, stir-fried beef with rice and mapo tofu. During your midday feed, you can also add a drink — including tea, soft drink and Vietnamese coffee imported directly from Hanoi — to your meal for an extra $2. Head here at night and you'll find an a la carte that pulls its inspiration from across Asia. There's a Hong Kong-style soft shell crab with black beans ($11.90), dumplings ($6.90–7.90) — served steamed or pan-fried — chicken mee goreng ($14.9) and a lineup of popular Vietnamese noodle soups and cold vermicelli dishes. But for the best bang for your buck, order the $30 'feed me' menu (for a minimum of two people), which includes a whopping six dishes: four entrees, one main and a dessert. While exactly what you'll get changes regularly, expect the likes of crunchy wasabi prawns, pan-fried chicken and prawn dumplings, chicken san choy bao and a rich Saigon curry with beef brisket, potato and okra. For dessert, you'll get banana fritters and coconut ice-cream. There's a vego option available for meat-free folk, too The Chinatown diner also has a range of Asian-inspired cocktails and mocktails on offer, with standouts being the opulent salted caramel espresso martini ($19) — made with Kahlua, Baileys and a Nutella rim — and the fruity Royal Rose Fizz ($20). A tidy lineup of beers, ciders and wines are available, too. Images: Julia Sansone.
Live music and heaving dance floors have been scarcer than normal these past two years, but this weekend, Red Bull invites you to dive right back in the deep end. They're teaming up with some of Melbourne's favourite venues, club nights and programmers to deliver an epic ode to local nightlife, held across one huge weekend. From Friday, March 25–Sunday, March 27, Red Bull Melbourne Unlocked will descend on Kensington's multi-level creative hub The Hoi Polloi with a stacked program of gigs, activations, food pop-ups, mini raves and other nightlife experiences — all under one roof, with free entry. You'll catch an immersive rave room from Novel and Glamorama; a gaming precinct by Ballers Clubhouse; a pop-up edition of the Palais Theatre hosting performances and other fun courtesy of Poof Doof and Chasers; and even a spin-off version of Madame Brussel's famed roof terrace. Pawn & Co, 29th Apartment and Storyville will reimagine their signature offerings as a raucous indoor boat party, while Laundry makes an appearance via an onsite hip hop and rap club. Across these activations, you'll catch a jam-packed lineup of gigs and performances, from artists like Cassettes For Kids, Nina Las Vegas, Tornado Wallace, Amyl & The Sniffers and Elsy Wameyo. The fun starts from 6pm each night and it's free to head along, though you'll have to RSVP online to secure your spot. [caption id="attachment_847325" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hoi Polloi[/caption] Top Images: Cherry Bar, Poof Doof
Let's face it: nothing beats Mum's cooking. That is, unless she delivers up fresh, comforting, 'good for you' meals to your door and cleans up afterwards. In which case, give her break. There's an alternative. (And, for the record, you should always be doing the dishes anyway.) Youfoodz is a new healthy food delivery service that, quite simply, delivers yum, nourishing food to your door. Without you having to lift a finger — other than placing the order, of course. The Brisbane startup is all about fostering a healthy lifestyle by creating cleaner alternatives to Aussie favourites, such as their bacon and egg bagel and superseed-crusted fish and sweet potato chips. The 45 meal options are promised to stay fresh seven to nine days in the fridge, and the delivery turn around time is as little as 12 hours. As if healthy, prepared meals delivered fast aren't good enough, Youfoodz also makes sure you won't go broke, with most meals priced at $9.95 each. Cheap and healthy don't generally go hand-in-hand — especially for Sydneysiders who are accustomed to paying $19 for a salad — but healthy, fresh and cheap food for under a tenner? That sounds like a pretty sweet deal. From brekkie to dinner and all the snacks and drinks in-between, Youfoodz have all the bases covered. The menu may use all of the buzzwords — chia seeds and quinoa get a mention — but also means that everyone can get in on the fun. Even if you're dairy or gluten free. They're now spreading their wings beyond Brisbane to deliver to the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, as well as major grocers across Australia. So go ahead and tuck into their new summer menu, which includes meals like the sesame pork summer salad and the pesto and pumpkin chicken salad. Mum would most definitely approve. Concrete Playground readers can get their first Youfoodz meal for free by entering the code YF-FreeMeal at checkout. To order your meal and view the full menu, head to youfoodz.com.
Over the past few weeks, racially motivated discrimination, oppression and injustice has been in the global spotlight. It's a subject that always demands action and attention, both worldwide and within Australia. Lately, however, it's been particularly thrust to the fore due to the Black Lives Matter movement, and protests over the death of American George Floyd at the hands of a police officer — as well as, at the local level, the ongoing fight to end the systemic mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by law enforcement, and to stop Indigenous Australian deaths in custody. This isn't a new topic. The quest to end racial prejudice and inequality isn't new either. Centuries of history can attest to that fact beyond the current news headlines — and so can a wealth of powerful documentaries on the subject. Some recent films chart the American civil rights movement. Others explore the lives and impact of Indigenous Australian musicians. And, with examples from both categories, five such docos are now available to watch for free on YouTube for the entire month of June. All five films are distributed by Australian company Madman Entertainment, and all have previously screened in cinemas and/or at film festivals. They're all vital viewing, too — and, at present, doing so doesn't involve any cost or require a subscription to a streaming platform. The documentaries are now up on Madman's YouTube channel, as embedded into the company's website. Leading the bill are a trio of movies with a local angle, and with a particular interest in Indigenous music. Viewers can watch Gurrumul, the immensely moving portrait about the chart-topping late Indigenous talent from Elcho Island off the coast of Arnhem Land; then check out Murundak: Songs of Freedom, which focuses on Aboriginal protest music, specifically following The Black Arm Band and other Indigenous Australian musicians on tour; then view Westwind: Djalu's Legacy, about Yolngu elder and master Yidaki (didgeridoo) player Djalu Gurruwiwi and his efforts to pass on his culture's ancient Songlines. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_USf1UQIAYg Those docos are joined by two films that examine race and injustice in America, and prove particularly relevant to current US protests. 3 1/2 Minutes, Ten Bullets chronicles the 2012 murder of 17-year-old high school student Jordan Davis — who was shot at a Florida gas station after an argument over loud music — as well as trial that followed, and the media coverage and resulting protests also. Then there's Raoul Peck's potent and affecting Oscar-nominee I Am Not Your Negro, which tackles racism in America from a historical perspective. That's conveyed through the words of novelist, poet and activist James Baldwin — words written in the mid-70s, but sadly still applicable today — with Samuel L. Jackson serving as the documentary's narrator. In sharing the five films, Madman is encouraging everyone to not only watch, but to learn, listen, and talk about them with friends and family. It's also suggesting that viewers donate to support relevant causes, naming a worthy organisation — and, in some cases, multiple organisations — for each documentary. To watch Gurrumul, I Am Not Your Negro, Murundak: Songs of Freedom, Westwind: Djalu's Legacy and 3 1/2 Minutes, Ten Bullets for free until the end of June, head to the Madman website. Top image: I Am Not Your Negro.
Summer is almost over, and what better way to welcome the cooler months than with wine season at Hyatt Centric Melbourne's Langlands Restaurant & Bar? In fact, the venue is serving up an exclusive six-course dinner paired with some of Tar & Roses' finest reds, whites and sparklings to see you happily sipping through autumn. Starting at 6pm on Friday, April 12, Tar & Roses is slinging serves of its curated wine list with picks such as pinot grigio, pinot noir, chardonnay, and more. At $200 per head, not only will you get the best grapes, but you will also be offered flavour-packed dishes ranging from fresh oysters to a Southern Ranges beef cheek. If you're still feeling peckish, don't worry: the menu includes a lemon sorbet paired with prosecco, as well as cheesy locals to go with your rosé. Only 20 slots are available for this one-night occasion. Head to the website to secure your ticket.
The suburbs are twinkling. Yes, it's that time again: the merriest time of the year. If December to you means luminous festive decorations — November as well, or basically the second that Halloween is over — then simply driving through your neighbourhood can be jolly enjoyable. Wherever you look, there just might be a glowing set of Christmas lights sharing its seasonal merriment and brightening up the suburban streets. Of course, these lit-up displays really shouldn't cause such a fuss. They pop up everywhere every year, after all, and we're all well and truly aware of how electricity works. But glowing bulbs are just so hard to resist when it's the happiest portion of the calendar. Keen to scope out the best and brightest seasonal-themed houses and yards? An Australian website called Christmas Lights Search is likely to pique your interest, especially given that it has been updated for 2024. [caption id="attachment_882324" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Donaldytong via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Christmas Lights Search is as nifty and handy as its name suggests, covering festive displays all around the country. To locate all the spots that you should head to, it's as easy as entering your postcode or suburb — or those of places nearby — and letting the site deliver the relevant options. Plus, it also rates the lights displays, if you want to either go big or stay home. It's constantly being updated as well, so, like the best combos of glowing trees, sparkling bulbs and oversized Santas, you might want to check it out more than once. When you pick an individual address listed on the site, you'll be greeted with some key information, too. The level of detail varies per listing, but expect to potentially peruse photos, the ideal hours to swing by, a date range and a description of what's on offer. All that's left is to get searching, plot out where you'll be heading every night between now and Christmas Eve, and get ready to see oh-so-many reindeer, candy canes and snowmen. Putting up your own Christmas lights for the neighbourhood to see? Spotted something in your travels that you think everyone else would like to check out? You can add both to Christmas Lights Search as well. [caption id="attachment_882325" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] To find festive displays near you, head to the Christmas Lights Search website.
If there was ever a year to see if you could stream every film and television show ever, it's the one that we've just lived through. We've all heard the jokes about 'finishing Netflix', which have felt particularly accurate in 2020. But, en masse, Australians have been gravitating to the same movies and TV programs over the past 12 months — and Netflix has just revealed the 17 most popular titles. The streaming platform hasn't detailed them in order, so no one flick or series tops the list. But it has broken down 2020's huge hits by genre, naming a film and show in each — except in the reality TV field, for self-explanatory reasons. The big trends: stars and twists. Famous faces and thorny stories feature prominently, as you probably noticed all year based on Netflix's in-platform top ten feature. So, what were we all watching? In the action genre, Aussies feasted their eyeballs on Chris Hemsworth vehicle Extraction and Karate Kid spinoff Cobra Kai. We went light and fluffy in the comedy category, thanks to Holidate and Emily in Paris. In the horror realm, IT: Chapter Two and The Haunting of Bly Manor emerged victorious — and if you're wondering about the former, which first hit cinemas in 2019, Netflix counts anything that debuted on the platform across 2020. When it came to drama, Aussies couldn't get enough of Enola Holmes and The Queen's Gambit (if you've been scoping out chess sets for Christmas, you know that's true). Spenser Confidential and The Sinner: Jamie were the top thrillers, The Kissing Booth 2 and Dash & Lily the most popular romances, and Pokémon: Detective Pikachu and Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous the kid-friendly hits. Too Hot to Handle took the reality TV crown, while, doco-wise, everyone watched American Murder: The Family Next Door. And Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness, of course, because no one can now remember a time when we didn't know who Joe Exotic was. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acTdxsoa428 Netflix didn't announce any figures to go with this list, so we don't know just how many people watched any of the above. And, obviously, popularity isn't the same as quality. Some of the above hits are great, and some are downright terrible. If Extraction and the Mark Wahlberg-starring Spenser Confidential didn't release in March and April, when the world was going into lockdown, maybe they wouldn't have attracted so many eyeballs, for instance. Australian-made shows and movies didn't score their own category, but the streaming platform did note that Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House of Fun spent almost two weeks in the local top ten. In other trends, Aussies watched 60 percent more flicks and series in languages other than English compared to 2019, doubled our viewing of Korean dramas and checked out more than twice as much anime as well. For more information about Netflix, or to stream any of the above shows and films, head to the streaming platform's website. Top image: Phil Bray/Netflix.
Lebanese charcoal chicken joint Henrietta is serving up something new for autumn, and it involves an 'All-You-Can-Eat Charcoal Chicken' menu. Starting Saturday, April 13, guests can indulge in 90 minutes of unlimited succulent charcoal chicken paired with traditional sides for just $48 per person. [caption id="attachment_949146" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Photo by Jiwon Kim[/caption] You can expect hot chicks, crispy chips, creamy toum, fattoush salad, Henrietta's signature hummus, and pickles. "The 'All-You-Can-Eat Charcoal Chicken' offer is for loyal guests who are obsessed with our chicken or for those who are new to Henrietta and simply want to gather round the table and enjoy the true spirit of Middle-Eastern hospitality," says Ibby Moubadder, ESCA Group's co-founder. Of course, an all-you-can-eat wouldn't be complete without some booze. Patrons have the option to go for a bottomless upgrade on select wine and beer for an additional $35 per person. Head over to Henrietta Charcoal Chicken at 75 Chapel Street in Windsor for the new 'All-You-Can-Eat Charcoal Chicken' menu, available during lunch hours on the weekend. [caption id="attachment_949148" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Photo by Jiwon Kim[/caption]
Melbourne seems to be following the pattern of another day, another new development. But instead of completely decimating the environment around it, Melbourne's newest mini suburb development in the city's inner-northeast looks like it might the most sustainable yet. It's set to become the world's first 'Tesla Town', with Tesla Powerwalls built into every home along with solar panels and electric car recharging points. The new 2500-home development is called YarraBend, and it will border Alphington, Ivanhoe and Kew in Melbourne's northeast. It's being developed by local property group Glenvill, who, on the YarraBend website, have billed the new residential space as "a world-first Tesla suburb" which is "designed to achieve the highest level of sustainability and quality of life". So what exactly does having a Tesla Powerwall in each home mean? Well, quite a lot. A Tesla Powerwall is a battery that not only powers your home but one that stores power for when you need it. It's designed to hook up with your power source, which is either solar power, or the grid, where most people get their electricity from. And it's really smart, because depending on which power source you have, the Powerwall will either store the solar energy for later or charge itself from the grid in off-peak times. This not only saves you and your household some cash, but it's a step away from Australia's reliance on dirty coal and fossil fuels for power, and means that we can move towards cleaner energy like solar, wind and geothermal. Plus, with Australia only getting its first shipment of the batteries earlier this year, this will be the first large-scale project to utilise them. According to the Urban Development Institute of Australia, YarraBend will be one of the most environmentally sustainable developments in the country. "This development leads the way in sustainability," the UDIA's Danni Addison told the Heidelberg Leader. "Some areas that are a standout include water reduction of 43 per cent, landfill reduced by 80 per cent and the potential to reduce energy use by 34 per cent." Along with the Powerwalls, solar panels will also be a standard on houses in YarraBend. Making it even more futuristic, residents will also be connected through their own app and have access to a complimentary tech-concierge, who'll be on hand to help when your internet goes down. Which, if your internet connection's anything like ours, is all the goddamn time. Via Heidelberg Leader.
Regal drama fans, it's time to give The Crown a rest and direct your streaming queue towards a different take on the UK monarchy. The Emmy-winning hit Netflix series isn't the only on-screen source of royal intrigue of late, and you'll find plenty of the same bases covered in Spencer — 90s-era chaos and tension galore, especially — as well as Kristen Stewart doing career-best work playing Princess Diana. KStew just got nominated for an Oscar for the part, in fact, and it's easy to see why. Saying that Spencer director Pablo Larraín (Jackie, Ema) has cast his Diana well, pitch-perfect head tilt and all, is a royal understatement. And, although the film only hit cinemas Down Under in late January, it's doing what many flicks do recently — including Dune, The Matrix Resurrections, The French Dispatch and The 355 in just the past month — and jumping to streaming while it's still showing on the big screen. Your next royal date arrives on Friday, February 18, which is when Spencer will be available to watch with Prime Video subscriptions. Obviously, heading to the cinema will always be the most glorious way to see a movie, but having options regarding when and where you can watch is always welcome. In the bold and enthralling slice-of-life biopic, the year is 1991, the time is Christmas and the place is the Queen's (Stella Gonet, Breeders) Sandringham Estate, where the Windsors converge for the holidays (yes, Spencer is now prime seasonal viewing). As scripted by Peaky Blinders and Locked Down's Steven Knight, the choice of period puts Diana (Stewart, Happiest Season) in one of the most precarious situations of her then decade-long married life, with her nuptials to Prince Charles (Jack Farthing, The Lost Daughter) turning into an "amicable separation" within 12 months. Spencer's focus is on three days, not all that defined the People's Princess' existence before or after, but she can't stop contemplating her past and future. The Sandringham grounds include the house where Diana was born, and those happier recollections — and time spent now with her children (debutants Jack Nielen and Freddie Spry) — give her a glow. Alas, all the monarchical scrutiny simmers her joy to ashes, unsurprisingly. Timothy Spall (The Last Bus), Sally Hawkins (The Shape of Water) and Sean Harris (The Green Knight) also feature, but Stewart is obviously the star of the show. With two-plus decades as an actor to her name, she hasn't spent her career as a candle in the wind, with her flame both blazing and flickering since her first uncredited big-screen role in The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas — but, by Elton John's definition, she's always known where to cling to. After jumping from child star to Twilight heroine and then one of the savviest talents of her generation, she's gleaned where to let her haunting gaze stare so piercingly that it lights up celluloid again and again, too. Spencer joins Stewart's resume after weighty parts in Clouds of Sils Maria, Personal Shopper, Certain Women and Seberg, and has her do something she's long done magnificently: let a world of pain and uncertainty seep quietly from her entire being. Check out the trailer for Spencer below: Spencer is still showing in cinemas Down Under, and will be available to stream via Prime Video Australia and New Zealand from Friday, January 18. Read our full review. Top image: Pablo Larraín.
Want to get your long weekend off to a cracking start? How does this sound: a night spent dancing up a storm to DJ tunes in a huge brewery, while sipping on a few boozy slushies. That's the situation that awaits you at Moon Dog World's free Good Friday Eve party, kicking off from 6pm on Thursday, April 14. The giant Preston brewpub is serving up a big dose of long weekend musical goodness — not only is legendary electro duo Close Counters headlining the evening's soundtrack, but they'll be backed by local favourites MzRizk and DJ Be Kind To Other People. And it'll all be spinning until 1am. As always, Moon Dog's 72-tap bar will have a host of good stuff to quench your thirst and fuel your best dance moves, including cocktails, craft brews and some special slushies made on their signature Fizzer seltzers.
It's time to get excited about dinosaurs again, not that anyone ever stopped being fascinated with the planet's ancient creatures. Come May, one of 2022's best new shows is making a return for 2023 with a brand-new season filled with dino love — yes, David Attenborough's spectacular Prehistoric Planet is returning. Apple TV+ has just announced the roaringly great news, and will again air the show's second season as a five-part nightly event. So, across Monday, May 22–Friday, May 26, one instalment will arrive each day, serving up more stunning dinosaurs, more informative insights voiced by the one and only Attenborough, and more of Hans Zimmer's soundtrack. "The award-winning first season of Prehistoric Planet brought dinosaurs back to life in a way global audiences had never seen before," said Jay Hunt, Creative Director, Europe, Apple TV+, announcing the news. "Collaborating with the brilliant Jon Favreau and our fantastic partners at the BBC, we are thrilled that viewers will once again have the opportunity to be immersed in our world as it was 66 million years ago and to experience even more weird and wonderful creatures." This time around, the team at BBC Studios Natural History will be using photorealistic visual effects by MPC — the kind that Favreau used in his versions of The Jungle Book and The Lion King — to focus on new dinosaurs, habitats and scientific discoveries. So, you'll spend time with the Tarchia, one of the largest Ankylosauri, for instance. That said, the Tyrannosaurus rex will be back among other dino favourites. Of course it will. What's better than one of the Attenborough siblings marvelling over our planet's ancient creatures? None other than David following in his brother Richard's footsteps, of course, just as it was in 2022. While the latter showed dinos some love back in Jurassic Park — with the now-late actor and filmmaker even uttering the iconic words "welcome to Jurassic Park" — his broadcaster, biologist and natural historian sibling largely surveyed the rest of the earth's living creatures in his iconic documentaries before Prehistoric Planet. With its first season, the show instantly earned its place among David Attenborough other doco highlights — a list that spans The Living Planet, State of the Planet, The Blue Planet, Frozen Planet, Blue Planet II, Our Planet, Seven Worlds, One Planet, A Perfect Planet and Green Planet, as well as Planet Earth and Planet Earth II, plus documentary David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet), just to name a few. There's no trailer for Prehistoric Planet's second season yet, but you can revisit the season one trailer below: Prehistoric Planet season two will hit Apple TV+ across Monday, May 22–Friday, May 26, with a new episode available to stream each day. Read our full review of Prehistoric Planet season one.
The King has risen. Head out to Parkes in January and you would be forgiven for thinking you're in Graceland — if there's anything this town is known for (apart from the iconic Dish, of course) it's the Parkes Elvis Festival. Pull on your blue suede shoes and get ready to find yourself a hunk, a hunk of burning love. The festival takes place over five days during the second week of January to coincide with the King's birthday (January 8, as if you didn't already know). Over 25,000 visitors flock to the town to see international and national Elvis tribute artists battle it out to be named the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist. There's also a Miss Priscilla competition, rock 'n' roll dancing, busking, a midnight show and a finale concert. The Parkes Elvis Festival is officially endorsed by the King's estate, Elvis Presley Enterprises Inc., so you know it's legit. Stop talking about it, and just do it this year. A little less conversation, a little more action.
If you're partial to a big, cheesy serving of gnocchi, you'll by happy to know that Mamma's Boy Trattoria is dedicating the month of September to bottomless bowls of it. The Brunswick restaurant is dishing up endless gnocchi feasts until the end of the month. Head in for lunch between Friday–Sunday or dinner from Tuesday–Saturday, and you can tuck into unlimited helpings of the classic pasta dish for a tidy $30. With the gnocchi lineup, all palates are covered. There are traditional bolognese and napoli numbers, a four-cheese version (with fior di latte, gorgonzola, taleggio and grana padano) and a buttery mushroom and spinach bowl. With a two-hour time limit up your sleeve, you should be able to sample them all, no problems. If you'd like to finish on a high note, Mamma's cannoli will be available, too, for extra. Bottomless gnocchi is available from Tuesday–Saturday 5.30–7.30pm and Friday–Sunday midday–1pm
Australia mightn't be home to any of the globe's top restaurants for 2023, but love is pouring out for our wineries. Among the many lists of the world's best — which also includes bars and steak joints — the World's Best Vineyards ranking names the planet's top wine destinations. Earning a spot this year: three South Australian winemakers. From the Aussie contingent, McLaren Vale's d'Arenberg nabbed the highest placing, coming in at 17th. Sprawling around a giant cube might've helped. That five-storey square is quite the centrepiece, but the Osborn family's organic and biodynamic tipples score plenty of attention on their own. The awards also praised the vineyard for living "up to its billing as 'more than just a cellar door'". Next on the list: Henschke in Eden Valley, which boasts a vineyard that was planted more than 150 years ago, and nabbed 26th spot. Then comes Magill's Penfolds Magill Estate, which dates back to 1844 and is particularly known for its shiraz, in 44th place. None of these wineries were anointed the best in Australasia, however. That honour went to New Zealand's Rippon, in Central Otago, which also sits in 11th spot in the top 50. The awards heaped praise onto the Southern Alps favourite for producing "a highly lauded range of pinot noir from this magnificent landscape and its biodynamically farmed vineyards". While Down Under was well-represented among the Best 50 Vineyards, 23 vineyards in this year's list hailed from Europe. France alone scored nine spots, the highest number for any single country. That said, the top placing went to Argentina's Catena Zapata, which also won overall South American vineyard. Next came Europe's first listing, for Spain's Bodegas de los Herederos del Marqués de Riscal, followed by Chilean vineyard VIK in third, Creation in South Africa in fourth, and France's Château Smith Haut Lafitte in fifth. Completing the top ten: Bodega Garzón in Uruguay, Montes in Chile, Germany's Schloss Johannisberg, and both Bodegas Salentein and El Enemigo Wines in Argentina. If you plan your getaways around vino, consider this list a handy piece of travel inspiration. If you're just interested in the drops, consider it a guide for your next trip to the bottle shop. The World's Best Vineyards also names a 51–100 list, which saw New Zealand's Craggy Range come in at 58th, Man O' War at 77th and Kumeu River Wines at 81st, plus Australia's Seppeltsfield Barossa at 98th. To check out the full World's Best Vineyards Top 50 and 100 lists, head to the awards' website. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
Julie — the hatted bistro in the Abbotsford Convent — is getting a helping hand through the cold weather. Each month in winter, a different chef is taking over the restaurant, bringing unique and, most importantly, comforting dishes to the menu. In May, Canadian chef Emmanuelle Leftick was in charge. Now, it's Diana Desensi, who'll be running the show throughout June. She's worked with a bunch of Melbourne's top chefs, including Karen Martini and Matt Wilkinson, and was a key player in the opening of Saint George in St Kilda. At Julie, Desensi is bringing a five-course feast to the table. Start with house-made ricotta and agrodolce alongside fresh focaccia, before moving onto bacalao croquette and Zio's salumi with persimmon relish. Next comes Desensi's favourite — the pasta — in the form of cacio tortelli with radicchio and milk sauce. The main is lamb abbacchio with Reggiano, served with sides of Roman beans with olive and lemon, and garden leaves dressed in anchovy and lemon. Finish up with amarena cherry and chocolate torte. Desensi will be at Julie from Thursday, June 5–Sunday, June 29th. In July, chef Harriet Tomlinson will take the reins. Top image: Marie-Luise.
Late night walks along the 86 tram route are about to get a whole lot more colourful. For ten straight nights, the Gertrude Street Projection Festival will light up Fitzroy, as walls, shopfronts, footpaths and even tree trunks are transformed into eye-catching works of art. The festival runs July 10-19, with projections on display from 6pm to midnight. More than 35 sites along the street will be illuminated, from Smith Street to the Carlton Gardens. As you stroll up and down the block, keep your eyes peeled for works by Arika Waulu, Robert Jordan and Jemila MacEwan, as well as a roving live performance piece from the team at Uprising Theatre. You’ll also be able to catch live music, video installations, industry panels and more indoors at The Catfish, which for the third year in a row will play host to the Projection Festival Hub. It’ll also be the site of both the opening and closing night parties, the latter of which happens to be robot-themed. And yes, homemade costumes are encouraged. For more information about the Gertrude Street Projection Festival, visit www.gspf.com.au Images: Chris Phutully via Wikicommons and Gertrude Street Projection Festival.
UPDATE: NOVEMBER 6, 2019 — We knew that ABC's perennially popular music quiz show Spicks and Specks was making a comeback with the OG crew, and now we have an air date. It has been announced that the first of four specials will hit small screens at 7.40pm on Sunday, November 24, as part of the network's Ausmusic Month celebrations. The other three will drop sometime in 2020 — we'll let you know when dates are announced for those, too. What's better than watching a heap of top Australian talent sit around and talk about music? Watching them do all of the above while answering questions, competing for points and just generally being funny, too. That's the concept behind ABC TV show Spicks and Specks, which took a few cues from the UK's Never Mind the Buzzcocks, pit Aussie musos and comedians against each other, and has proven a hit several times over. A weekly favourite when it first aired between 2005–2011, it just keeps coming back — and is about to do so again for four brand new specials. When the program was first revived back in 2014, it returned with a new host and team captains. This time, it's going back to the original lineup. That means that Adam Hills, Myf Warhurst and Alan Brough will all step back into the quiz show realm yet again. When the trio did just that back in 2018, for a one-off reunion special, it became the ABC's most-watched show of the year. Unsurprisingly, that huge response played more than a small part in inspiring this new comeback. If you're already eager to show your own music trivia knowledge and play along — we all know that's as much a part of the Spicks and Specks fun as seeing the on-screen stars unleash their own skills (or lack thereof) — then look out for the first special this November. It'll air on Sunday, November 24 as part of the ABC's network-wide celebration of Ausmusic Month, and it'll naturally focus on all things local. Then, at some point in 2020, three more specials will hit the airwaves. The Spicks and Specks crew obviously hope you're feeling suitably retro, with each show focusing on a different decade — the 90s, then the 00s and finally the ten-year period we've all just lived through. And, if you need a refresher, this comedic chat about a Star Wars Christmas album will do the trick: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KNMtDu7TAY Spicks and Specks will return to ABC TV on Sunday, November 24 at 7.40pm and then again in 2020. We'll keep you updated with exact dates when they come to hand.
Baker Bleu started life as a tiny Elsternwick storefront in 2016, but its long-fermented sourdough bread and seasonal pastries helped it quickly rocket to cult status. Now, it's one of the best bakeries in Melbourne, boasting sites in Caulfield North, Prahran and Sydney's Double Bay. Its bread and pastries are also carted off to a heap of Melbourne cafes every day. Having nailed the whole grab-and-go bakery situation, the crew's next venture will be an all-day cafe in Cremorne — slated to open this spring. Its much-loved baked goods will all be up for grabs here, but there's going to be so much more available. For one, folks can dine in, either inside the fresh new digs designed by IF Architecture (who've worked on luxe spots like Marion, Attica and Etta) or out on the street. Its savoury game will also be amped up. Expect a heap more freshly made sangas, plus a selection of sourdough pizzas. "We're thrilled to be opening a store in Cremorne," says baker and owner Mike Russell. "It's a slightly different market for us and marks an exciting new chapter for Baker Bleu, it's something bigger than anything we've done before." Baker Bleu's new cafe will be found at 65 Dover Street, Cremorne. We don't have an exact opening date yet, but we will be sure to keep you updated as soon as we find out more. In the meantime, feel free to head to the venue's website for additional information.
