From March to September each year, Aussie Rules football is Melbourne's favourite sport. From Wednesday, April 3, 2024, via a sprawling showcase that marks the NBA's first official global touring exhibition, basketball wants to join in as well. The NBA Exhibition celebrates hoop dreams and all things b-ball, and is making its first-ever visit to the Victorian capital. After premiering in Warsaw, Poland in 2021, The NBA Exhibition bounced into Brisbane in November 2023. Now, at The District Docklands, it's Melbourne's turn, bounding through basketball history at the same time. Catnip for fans of Air and Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, this sports-focused affair is big in scope and size, surveying the culture of hopping onto the court and the lifestyle that goes with basketball, too. Visitors can traverse 1100 square metres and make their way through 20 themed sections. Created with the National Basketball Association, The NBA Exhibition aims to lure in b-ball diehards, casual followers and folks that haven't thought about the sport since their school PE lessons alike — and attendees of all ages. Looking at basketball memorabilia is part of the presentation, but so is throwing a ball around yourself and, thanks to the virtual and augmented reality aspect of the showcase, taking snaps with your favourite NBA players. So, you can get a photo with the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy, too — aka the coveted prize that each year's NBA Finals' winner receives — and shoot hoops, see how far you can jump and test your reflexes as well. Fancy a picture showing that you can slam dunk, even if you can't? There's a section of The NBA Exhibition for that. Eager to watch NBA highlights using VR goggles? That's also on the agenda. Keen to get surrounded by iconic NBA moments? That's what the infinity room is for. With names like Michael Jordan and Shaquille O'Neal obviously featuring — and Kobe Bryant, Steph Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird as well — other elements of The NBA Exhibition include a heap of balls and shoes on display; footwear and hand prints from past and present players; art that was commissioned for a pop-up NBA Gallery exhibit in Sydney in 2022, featuring Australian and First Nations artists; and celebrating NBA players that've made the jump from Australia, which is likely to feature Patty Mills, Ben Simmons, Luc Longley, Andrew Gaze and more. Images: Muse Marketing and Entertainment.
When Lewis Carroll first sent Alice down the rabbit hole back in 1865, he couldn't have guessed just where she'd end up. While the English mathematician-turned-writer obviously knew she'd be wandering around Wonderland, that was just the beginning of her white rabbit-chasing journey. Countless film, TV, comic book, game, stage, music, music videos and ballet adaptations have taken the famous character far and wide — and, come 2018, she'll be stopping by Melbourne. From April 5 to October 7, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image will pay tribute to all things Alice in Wonderland, the centre's major exhibition for the year as part of the Victorian Government's Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series. A world-premiere event crafted and curated by ACMI, the entirely original showcase will take fans through the screen history of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There — aka the two Carroll-penned books that introduced not only the titular heroine, but the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat, the hookah-smoking Caterpillar, and food and drink with "eat me" and "drink me" labels. Proving a date you won't want to be late for, fans can follow Alice on her voyage through more than 40 cinema and 30 television versions, as well as through popular culture in general. Spanning her first big screen appearance in 1903 to 2016's Alice Through the Looking Glass, the exhibition will step through her different guises, and the technologies that have brought her story to life, all in an interactive, experiential way. That includes animation, puppetry, live-action cinema, video games, CGI, 3D and more, as well as playful environments, digital activities and behind-the-scenes glimpses. "With Wonderland, ACMI has created an interactive exhibition where audiences will explore the magic of film craft and its integral role embedding this much loved story in our imaginations for generations," explains ACMI CEO and director Katrina Sedgwick. Given ACMI's two on-site cinemas, it's safe to assume that an enchanting lineup of Alice in Wonderland films will also feature.
There comes a point when buying something for your dad becomes impossible. He has the gadgets, the tools, the hobby gear, and the polo shirts. What he probably doesn't have is a day with you — phones down, full attention, doing something totally memorable. That's the real win this Father's Day. Not another thing for the shelf, but an experience you can both enjoy doing together. Whether he's still bragging about his first Commodore or just enjoys the great outdoors, these Adrenaline-approved experiences are designed to be shared. Here are seven ideas to help make that happen in and around Melbourne. Take a V8 Supercar for a Spin at Sandown Nothing says "cool dad moment" like seeing him behind the wheel of a proper V8 supercar. At Melbourne's Sandown Raceway, this Race Car Experience lets your dad live out his racing fantasy for six blistering laps. He'll be briefed by professional instructors, kitted up in proper race gear, and then let loose on one of Melbourne's best motorsport tracks. Even if he's never gone faster than the West Gate speed limit, he'll be buzzing by the end of it. And if you're up for it, you can join him for back-to-back sessions, resulting in twice the trash talk over lunch. Book a V8 race car drive experience here Go Off-Road with Rally Driving in Avalon For dads who prefer dust over tight cornering, Rally Driving at Avalon is a must. Located just outside Geelong, this off-road course is designed with long straights, loose gravel, and plenty of corners to slide through. Your dad will handle a fully spec'd Subaru WRX STi, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, Toyota 86 or Subaru BRZ for 16 fast-paced laps with a pro in his ear the whole time, guiding every drift. Then he'll jump in the passenger seat and let the instructor show off. It's intense, fun and the drive back home will no doubt be full of laughs. Book a rally driving experience here. Do a Track Driving Day in Your Own Car Some dads love their cars as much as they love you. If that sounds like yours, this Track Day at Sandown is the ultimate Father's Day activity. For one full day, he can take his own car out on a professional racetrack and experience what it's really made of — legally, safely and without speed limits. He'll get safety briefings, track etiquette guidance, and all the space he needs to push his driving skills to the max. If dad was the one who first taught you how to drive, this is the ultimate way to pay him back. Book a track driving day in your own car here. Visit Hector's Deli in South Melbourne For breakfast done right, head to Hector's Deli in South Melbourne, or one of their other locations in Richmond, Little Collins or Fitzroy. These guys have turned the humble sandwich into a cult item — messy, crunchy, flavour-packed and very, very satisfying. Choose from thick-cut pastrami, fried chicken and melty cheese layered between slices of golden toast. Pair it with a solid coffee and you've got the kind of fuel that sets the tone for a big day ahead. Come early as lines form fast, but it's worth the wait. Go on a Fishing Charter in Sorrento This Sea Fishing Adventure is the perfect option if your dad's more into calm mornings, good banter and the occasional bite. You'll spend a few hours cruising through Port Phillip Heads, soaking up the fresh air while you cast lines for snapper, salmon and flathead. Everything's sorted with your ticket, including rods, bait, snacks and drinks, so you can both focus on the important stuff: winding down and talking rubbish in the best way. Even if the fish don't bite, the time together is the real reward. And if they do? Just don't let him tell the same fishing story twice. Book a fishing charter here. Watch the Sunrise From a Hot Air Balloon If you're chasing something more peaceful (and photogenic) go for a Hot Air Balloon Ride over Melbourne. You'll meet your pilot pre-dawn, watch the setup, then float silently above the skyline as the city wakes up below you. After you touch back down, you'll sit down for a prosecco breakfast at Mansfield Coffee Merchant. It's stunning and something that feels like a genuine adventure you can do together. If all dad wants is to see you happy, this is the best gift you can give him this Father's Day. Book a hot air balloon here. [caption id="attachment_860199" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Earl Carter[/caption] Book a Dinner at Gimlet in Melbourne CBD If you want to finish up the day with something a little fancier, book a table at Gimlet at Cavendish House. It's decked out with polished timber and old-school charm. Whether you're there for lunch or dinner, the oysters, local and imported cheese selection, Gippsland beef tenderloin and perfect martinis are all a highlight. If your dad's a fan of great service, great cocktails and good conversation, this one will hit the mark. This Father's Day, don't get stuck trying to pick the "perfect gift". Choose something you'd love to do, then bring your dad along to experience it together. Book dad an adventure with Adrenaline — five-year validity, instant delivery and memories made together.
Wherever your suitcases are currently stashed, dig them out: spring is almost here, Jetstar has dropped an end-of-winter flight sale, and a range of Australian and international destinations await. There's no better motivation for a getaway than cheap fares, whether you're keen to soak up the sunshine away from home, book your next big overseas trip, lock in a pre-Christmas vacation or plan your first holiday of 2025. All of the above scenarios are covered by the Australian carrier's latest batch of discounted flights, which start at $34. As always, that price spans trips from Sydney to Byron Bay. From there, the Gold Coast, Hamilton Island, Uluru, Bali, Tokyo, Hawaii, Bangkok, Seoul and Vanuatu are among the options, and the list goes on from there. Some specific highlights include Sydney to Hamilton Island from $79 and Melbourne to Hamilton Island from $109, Brisbane to Cairns from $69 and Brisbane to Tokyo from $335 — plus Honolulu flights from $280 out of Sydney, $285 from Melbourne and $359 departing from Brisbane. Domestically, other destinations span Newcastle, Darwin, Mackay, Busselton, Sunshine Coast, Whitsunday Coast, Hobart, Launceston and Hervey Bay. And from the overseas bargains, you also have Osaka, Queenstown, Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, Fiji, Singapore, Manila, Phuket, Krabi and Ho Chi Minh City to pick from. Travel periods vary, starting as early as September 2024 and ranging as late as July 2025, if that helps you to decide where — and when — to go. You've got until 11.59pm AEST on Monday, August 26, 2024 to nab your flights, or until sold out if they're snapped up by other travellers before then. There are a few rules, as is always the case. All sale fares are one-way, and they don't include checked baggage — so you'll need to travel super light or pay extra to take a suitcase. Jetstar's Just Plane Good Sale runs until 11.59pm AEST on Monday, August 26, 2024 — or until sold out, if snapped up earlier. 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.
Poof Doof Drag Brunch is back – and it's bigger, brighter and more glorious than ever. Starting on Sunday, April 27, the party will take over The Espy's spectacular sunroom once a week for ten action-packed weeks. Leading the star-packed program is Isis Avis Loren, who won season three of RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under. Look out, too, for Cerulean, who won Miss First Nation 2023 at the Miss First Nation: Supreme Queen Competition during Sydney WorldPride. Then there's Lynduuh, current Miss Dragnation Australia. Plus, every week, there'll be appearances from surprises guests, while Nic Holland will provide the soundtrack alongside DJ Argonaut. Your ticket ($75 plus a booking fee) buys you the show, as well as two hours of bottomless house wine, beers, spritzes and rainbow mimosas with edible flowers. Also included is access to the bloody mary drama station, where you can spice up your cocktail with tomato juices, hot sauces, bacon, pickles and more. Meanwhile, you'll be snacking on a grazing spread by Menzies. Some of the delights on the menu are salmon and cream cheese mini bagels, party pies, bacon rolls, tiny franks, pink lamingtons, pop-that-cherry danishes and Golden Gaytime muffins.
Blessed be your streaming queue one last time, or at least until a TV version of The Testaments arrives. The Handmaid's Tale is finishing in 2025, concluding with the page-to-screen hit's sixth season. As both the first teaser trailer and the just-dropped full sneak peek at the award-winning series' last run illustrate, June (Elisabeth Moss, The Veil) is again up for a fight. Since 2017, watching The Handmaid's Tale has meant wishing for one thing: the end of Gilead, the totalitarian, male-dominated society that rules the show's dystopian version of the United States. In the award-winning series adapted from Margaret Atwood's 1985 book, that outcome is finally coming in a way, at least for viewers for now. When June says that "this is the beginning of the end" in the new trailer, ideally she means for the way of life that she's been forced to endure — but whatever happens, this specific Gilead story will wrap up. "Now it's time for them to be afraid of us," June also states. For the show's protagonist and her fellow red-wearing women, revolution is coming. Rallying against the oppressive status quo however possible has sat at the heart of this series since day one — and in its last season, June is back waging war. As the initial teaser trailer for season six had June note, outlining the ways that the regime has tried to push her and her fellow women down, including via their restrictive attire, "the dress became a uniform — and we became an army". If you haven't read The Testaments, and therefore have no idea where Atwood has guided her franchise on the page from here, it's set 15 years after the events of its predecessor and also includes familiar characters. How that'll play into the end of The Handmaid's Tale on-screen obviously hasn't been revealed. Season six's plot will chart June's battle to take down Gilead, though, plus Luke (O-T Fagbenle, No Good Deed) and Moira (Samira Wiley, Breaking News in Yuba County) joining the resistance, Serena's (Yvonne Strahovski, Teacup) efforts to change Gilead, tests for Nick (Max Minghella, Maximum Truth), and reckonings for Commander Lawrence (Bradley Whitford, The Madness) and Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd, The Friend). The sixth season of The Handmaid's Tale debuts on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. Down Under, it streams via SBS On Demand and Neon. Praise be for what looks like one helluva last hurrah for the show. Madeline Brewer (Space Oddity), Amanda Brugel (Dark Matter), Sam Jaeger (Wolf Man) and Ever Carradine (The Neighbourhood) also all return among the cast, with Josh Charles (Moss' The Veil co-star) a new addition. Check out the full trailer for The Handmaid's Tale season six below: The Handmaid's Tale season six debuts on Tuesday, April 8, streaming Down Under via SBS On Demand and Neon.
The Abbotsford Convent Open Day is not a day when nuns sign up for a life of service, but a day when you get to play peekaboo at one of Melbourne’s hard-fought-for spaces. The history of Abbotsford Convent will have struggling community organisations salivating across the country. The story goes like this. One day, some really short-sighted people wanted to turn the historic, swoon-worthy site into high-density housing and a mini golf course. Smelly idea. A small group of locals saw the tragedy and thought of a fresher idea. Now the Convent is a thriving community, cultural and arts precinct. It has sexy artist studios and galleries, performance spaces, a community radio station, as well as a bakery, bars, restaurants and an outdoor cinema. And the natural gardens and heritage buildings have been saved (hurrah!) This Sunday, you can see everything in action — free workshops (drumming, dancing, cooking, learning French), exhibitions, performances, kids activities, food, The Sophia Mundi Steiner School Fair and much more. It’s time to celebrate the un-convent-ional. Image by eythian.
After a fairly long stretch of time in which twee monarchs Belle and Sebastian haven't graced our shores, the prolific Glaswegian darlings of indie pop, and facilitators of bedroom dancing everywhere since 1996 are returning to Australia. Even though our arty-side-of-weird inner teenage selves are squeeing with excitement, no one's begrudging them the long absence; frontman Stuart Murdoch has been keeping well busy writing and directing his 2014 movie musical, God Help the Girl. This tour comes in the immediate wake of the release of their ninth studio album in two decades, Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance. We spoke to Murdoch about stylistic changes, having cocktails created in one's honour, putting politics in pop, and how — once — you may have just been his unwitting muse. You’re heading to Australia very soon, and you’re doing a show at Taronga Zoo — pretty cool. Have you ever played anywhere else kind of unusual? Well, we played at the American ambassador’s house in London last month at a party, because his wife was a big fan. That was interesting. They made a special cocktail in our honour and served them, and people got really drunk. It was pretty red, so I think there was raspberry in it somewhere, but I think that was the only thing that was non-alcoholic. Do you think it summed you up as a band in a cocktail? I didn’t taste it, because I don’t really drink. But it went down pretty sweet, so maybe it did sum us up. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vS1Hf3CVGs[/embed] I was reading this interview you did with Meredith Graves and you're talking about the new record and whether it's a political record or a radical record. Some of the tracks — like 'Allie' and 'The Party Line' — do seem overtly current and like commentary on the state of the world. Were you consciously making something more political with this album? No, not consciously. I think it crept in there. When you say overtly, I think it's probably more covertly. I don't think I could ever put the politics first and foremost. I think if I was in The Clash, or if I was Billy Bragg... They have a flair for that kind of stuff. They're telling it how it is, whereas I don’t feel quite so polarised. I'm not quite sure what I think about certain subjects, so it's nice to have the characters in the songs think about the politics. You see the story of Allie who seems to be pretty messed up with all the pressures on her personally and politically. In 'The Cat with the Cream' it's almost like a similar character who's musing about the disappointments of the politics of the day, wishing she could get behind a true leader. I love the line about her making a list of her heroes and thinking about what they went through and how "it's much darker, much harder than anything that happened to you." I feel like everyone who lives privileged, safe lives must have that thought. I agree with that. I'm always looking back. You can't avoid all that. I watch so many history shows on the BBC. Growing up in the '70s in Scotland, I felt that we were living in the shadow of the Second World War. It wasn't really too much after that. Most of the teachers at our schools fought in the war. You didn't have a choice. You went off and did your bit for your country and you went through all this hardship, and it does put into perspective the troubles in our own lives. What about your song 'Enter Sylvia Plath'? Everyone seems to be saying how big of a change it is for you, that it's super dancey and it doesn’t really sound like the Belle and Sebastian that we're used to. Tell me about making that and what went into it and how it came to be as it is. I'll tell you — that one was super easy. I don't mean to sound like I'm being arrogant. Okay, maybe on the surface there's a little bit of a stylistic change but there's nothing unnatural about it; it was super easy for us to do. I just woke up and I heard that sound in my head, it couldn't sound any other way. Once we got the bass going and we got a few synths on it — that's definitely the way it's supposed to be. I love so much of the music from the early '80s, and I guess I'm channeling some of that into this new record, which is fun to do. But I think the theme of the story, the words, they're consistent with what Belle and Sebastian has written about for years and years. You've talked about muses in the past, and there's a song on the album called 'The Everlasting Muse'. Back around the time of your diary-series-cum-book The Celestial Cafe you said your muse was the Belle and Sebastian fan. You've also talked about Glasgow being your muse before. What about now — do you have a muse or muses? I do change my mind from year to year. You change and you grow up and you think. But that's a life, isn't it? I do remember specifically when I was writing the diary all the time. I was a single guy, I was living on my own, so every night I would be addressing who I thought was the Belle and Sebastian fan, because they were reading the diaries. I knew who I was writing for. But the idea of the muse is almost like a two-way street. Sometimes I can't decide whether you're writing for the muse, or whether the muse is writing for you. In that song on the new record, it's a two-way thing. I'm acknowledging that the muse exists — that somebody is sending me this music, that it's coming from somewhere else. But I'm beseeching her to send me some pop songs because I need to write a whole album. That was the first song that I wrote for this album. I just thought it would be kind of funny, kind of cheeky to actually address the muse directly. I love that line, at the end, what is it? "Be popular, play pop—" "Be popular, play pop, and you will win my love." It's a bit tongue-in-cheek. I like that idea. I like that idea that if we ever somehow cut through to the general public, that at last the muse will return her love. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4-ozvWipFE[/embed] One thing that seems to be carried through all the music you've made with Belle and Sebastian — which spans about two decades now — is that it's full of characters and stories. Not all pop music has that. Why do you think there is that storytelling pattern in your music? I'm not saying that’s an ideal thing, I'm not saying it's better than other music. It's a trick, to an extent. Sometimes the best pop music comes from a person’s experience. But the trouble was I didn't have so much experience, especially when the group started, because I was sort of waylaid with this illness, and it stopped me from doing so many things. I was really stuck inside a room a lot of the time, so I used to dream. I used to fantasise about everyday living. To me, the idea of people going off to their nine-to-five job was tremendously glamorous. The idea that they would be around other people all day, that they would tell jokes at the photocopier... All that stuff seemed glamorous to me. So I ended up writing about characters rather than my own life. Have you got any glamorous plans for while you're here in Australia? Not too much. I just want to feel the sun on my bones. I want to lie out on a park bench and just feel the warmth. See Belle and Sebastian at the Tivoli on January 28, at the Enmore Theatre on January 29, at Twilight at Taronga on January 31, or at the Palais Theatre on February 1. Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance is out now via Matador.
Funtimes for booklovers?! Are you for realz?! Debut Mondays throws book nerds a bone with local talent reading a selection of their latest work. You’ll be plenty contented rubbing shoulders with Australia’s literary vanguard, or if you’re the shy retiring kind, just sit back and listen to the stories. No wonder Melbourne has earned the official status of a UNESCO City of Literature. The Wheeler Centre is everything a creative, thinking city needs – an arena for new ideas and conversation, a community for emerging writers and veterans. Take your pick of readings, talks, lectures and debates. For once, an Australian government is investing in its literary culture, and it’s paying off. October brings diverse writers Edwina Preston, Zane Lovitt, Jessie Cole and Robyn Dennison. This year, the event takes over the already popular basement bar café, The Moat. Call ahead for the $20 pre-event package of a meal and a glass of wine. Mondays just got more interesting. Debut Mondays are free, but booking is essential.
There's no meal that can't be improved by dessert — yes, even breakfast — and no special occasion, either. That's all in Gelato Messina's wheelhouse, and it's mighty fond of releasing specials to make holidays even tastier. The latest example: the chain's Easter offering, which brings back its popular 2021 snack pack. Even better: if you've always wanted to smash open a Messina Easter egg, that's on the menu as well. Your tastebuds might already remember Messina's hot cross bun version of the brand's sticky snails — and they can savour it again this year. Basically, it's the brand's interpretation of a Cinnabon-style scroll, then combined with an Easter favourite. It's another of Messina's limited releases, and it'll be available at all of its stores for a very short period. Wondering what exactly Messina's hot cross bun sticky snail entails? Well, that spiced sticky hot cross bun dough is filled with choc chips and vanilla custard. Crucially, raisins aren't included — but it is topped with a cinnamon malt caramel. The sweet bake-at-home bite to eat can only be ordered online on Monday, April 4. It will set you back $65, which includes a one-litre tub of the brand's triple choc gelato hot tub, too — which features milk chocolate gelato, toasted white chocolate mousse and Ecuadorian dark chocolate crack. Or, also available at the same time — and for the same price — is the Messina Easter egg. Made from 44-percent single-origin cocoa couverture chocolate, the 420-gram egg comes filled with even more sweet treats. Crack it open and you'll find white and milk chocolate chickens, white chocolate and passionfruit gel fried eggs, caramelised white chocolate and waffle cone mini eggs, and milk chocolate hot cross bun bites. Messina now opens its orders at different times for different places, so you'll want to hop online at 9am for Queensland and Australian Capital Territory stores, 9.30am for Victorian shops, and at either 10am, 10.30am or 11am depending on where you are in New South Wales. Once you've placed your preorder, pick up will be available between Thursday, April 14–Sunday, April 17 from your chosen Messina location. And, after you've got the hot cross bun sticky snail safely home, you just need to whack it in the oven for 20–25 minutes at 160 degrees and voila. Gelato Messina's Easter snack packs and Easter eggs are available to order from Monday, April 4, for pick up between Thursday, April 14–Sunday, April 17 — head to the Messina website for further details.
Thought bingo was for your nan? Think again. It's also for you — or perhaps, if she's a groovy gran, for the both of you. Hijacking the traditional format of bingo with raves, conga lines and lip sync battles, Bingo Loco is 50-percent one of those strange dreams you get after eating too much cheese and 50-percent just a walloping good time. Come Friday, May 8 at 170 Russell, the MC will keep the night rolling, while confetti showers and smoke cannons will go off throughout the evening (perhaps wear your glasses). Bingo ravers will compete for ultimate glory (and prizes) over the course of multiple rounds. In between the traditional bingo games, you'll be expected to groove to classic 90s rave bangers, partake in dance-offs and battle others for lip sync queen titles. Basically, be prepared for many high-octane, energetic activities — gone are the days of simply raising your hand when you've got a full sheet of numbers. Doing your stretches and vocal warm-ups first are advised. You'll vie for prizes, which in the past have included Coachella tickets, mobility scooters (nan, listen up), boats and lawnmowers (maybe for your dad), among other goldmines. Bingo Loco has been running across the globe for a few years and now will trumpet its way around Australia once more, with proceeds going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation Australia.
Writing a prescient tale is the science-fiction holy grail, and a feat that Philip K Dick firmly achieved. Making a movie that becomes the prevailing vision of what the future might look like in the entire world's minds? That's a stunning filmmaking feat, and one that Ridley Scott notched up as well. The reason for both? On the page, 1968's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?. In cinemas, 1982's Blade Runner. And if you need reminding of how stunning a story that the iconic sci-fi author penned, or how spectacular a film that the legendary director then turned it into, look no further than Blade Runner's return to the big screen — with a live score. When Dick pondered the difference between humans and artificial intelligence more than half a century back, he peered forward with revelatory foresight. When Scott followed fresh from Alien, he did the same. Now, in 2023, with the clash between the organic and the digital a daily part of our lives in this ChatGPT-heavy reality, of course it's time for Blade Runner to flicker again. Film lovers, get ready for another dream movie-and-music pairing. Get ready for synths, too. Vangelis' stunning score will echo as Scott's feature screens at Melbourne's Hamer Hall, in the only Australian stop announced so far for Blade Runner Live — an event that premiered in London in 2019, made its way around the UK, then hit Japan earlier in 2023. The Victorian capital will host two sessions, on Saturday, November 4–Sunday, November 5, and show the Final Cut version of the movie. Wondering how it differs from the OG release, and also the House of Gucci, The Last Duel and Napoleon filmmaker's Director's Cut? First unveiled in 2007 for the feature's 25th anniversary, it's the only version that Scott truly had full artistic control over. Blade Runner's narrative, if you're new to the franchise — which also includes exceptional 2017 sequel Blade Runner 2049 and recent animated series Blade Runner: Black Lotus, with a new Blade Runner TV series also on the way — focuses on the one and only Harrison Ford (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny) as cop Rick Deckard. His task: finding replicants, aka androids, which turns into quite the existential journey. It's almost impossible to name a movie or TV series in sci-fi that's popped up over the four decades since Blade Runner first arrived that hasn't owed Scott's film a massive debt — and any synthesiser-fuelled score that hasn't done the same with Vangelis. And yes, add Blade Runner to the list of favourites getting another silver-screen run that celebrates their tunes heartily, alongside everything from Star Wars: Into the Spider-Verse to The Lion King to Star Wars and Harry Potter, plus The Princess Bride, Home Alone and Toy Story. Check out the trailer for Blade Runner below: Blade Runner Live will play Melbourne's Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne, on Saturday, November 4–Sunday, November 5. Head to the event website for further details, and tickets from 10am AEST on Friday, August 11.
Dance music hits. An orchestra. Combine the two and Ministry of Sound Classical is one end result. For a few years now, this event has been giving Australia what no one probably knew they wanted when Ministry of Sound first started as a London club night back in 1991: tunes that usually fill dance floors performed by classical musicians. If you're a fan of making shapes and you're fond of getting nostalgic, then Ministry of Sound keeps indulging — sometimes by throwing huge 90s and 00s parties that nod back to raves three decades back and club nights at the turn of the century, and sometimes via this orchestral tour that gives bangers from the past 30 years a new live spin. In Australia, the latter is returning before 2025 is out, including seeing out spring in Melbourne. This year's run heads to Sidney Myer Music Bowl in the Victorian capital on Saturday, November 29, with Cassius headlining. Conducted by Vanessa Perica and with DJ Groove Terminator on backing duties, the Ministry of Sound Orchestra takes pride of place, of course, with vocalists and other talents on hand to assist. Ministry of Sound Classical is calling 2025's run a summer dance music festival — even if Melbourne's date is a few days prior — which means that a curated food and bar lineup is also on offer, as is a silent disco. As for the soundtrack, the event surveys tunes that've packed dance floors over Ministry of Sound's existence — so you just might hear classical renditions of Basement Jaxx, Darude, Röyksopp, Robin, Underworld, Moby, Fisher and more played by its orchestra. Images: Ruby Boland, Ashlea Caygill and Jack Dullard.
The public pool is fun and all, but spending the afternoon throwing down some moves on a giant inflatable water slide? That's how we want to cool down this summer. Luckily, you've got just a few more days left to tick off that little summer bucket-list item, at The District Docklands' supersized pop-up Slip 'n' Slide. Making its home beneath the soaring Melbourne Observation Wheel, the Astroturfed water park will be sticking around to offer some sweet heat relief until Sunday, January 26. The leafy pop-up is decked out with garden games and a water mist zone, though the star of the show is the elevated, 25-metre-long blow-up water slide. This bright yellow monster is free to ride and fitted out with two lanes, so you can even challenge your mates to a few cheeky races. It might be mostly for kids, but as long as you're over the age of four and taller than 110 centimetres, anyone's allowed to have a go. It's open from 11am until 5pm each day.
Sometimes, we take the little things for granted, and we don’t get a chance to stop and smell the roses. While roses should be around for a little while longer, artist Catherine Young has worked in collaboration with Swiss perfume company Givaudan to create a collection of fragrances that we may lose due to climate change. The Ephemeral Marvels Perfume Store (or TEMPS for short) features eight perfumes in the scent of Coasts, Coffee, Honey, Wine, Eucalyptus, Peanuts, Ice and Hardwood Trees. Young approached Givaudan with the smells that she wanted to capture and the feelings or memories that she wanted to evoke, and the scientists went from there. The perfumes are held in beautiful glass bottles, each with a hummingbird on the label. "Because of its speed, the hummingbird is known as a messenger and stopper of time," writes Young on her website. "It is also a symbol of love, joy and beauty. The hummingbird is also able to fly backwards, teaching us that we can look back on our past. This could be the saddest perfume collection ever produced. And while it's not likely to flip the Ian Plimers of the world into acting on climate change, there's no denying it is a poetic way to communicate the message. Scent is renowned for its ability to transport us back to a past memory. Think of all the things we stand to forget if we can no longer visit them via olfactory highway. Unfortunately, the scents are not for sale. TEMPS is part of Young’s solo exhibition The Apocalypse Project, held at the Mind Museum in the Philippines. This is also not the first time that Young has used scents as part of her artistic work. In graduate school Young created a book called An Olfactory Memoir of Three Cities: Manila, New York, Barcelona, which featured smells from three cities Young had previously lived in. Via Fast Company.
Fancy prancing through fields laced with the charm of provincial France? It's just casual summer weekendery when So Frenchy So Chic is in town. The ever-popular one-day French festival is waltzing back to Melbourne in 2021, although this time there'll be a few changes. If you haven't been before, expect an entire afternoon of French-inspired niceties, including (but not limited to) gourmet picnic hampers, top-notch tipples and a chill French soundtrack. But, this particular event has been badged 'Le Long Lunch', rather than being called a festival. From 11am on Sunday, February 21 at Rippon Lea House and Gardens, you'll listen to tunes from Tame Impala's Julien Barbagallo, ex-Paris street musician Nadéah, Melbourne-based five-piece Bananagun, Melbourne DJ Mike Gurrieri and So Frenchy So Chic founder Jean-François Ponthieux. And, you'll do so in a group with your mates — because, to stick to social distancing requirements, tickets are only being sold in lots of six or ten. This picnic is fully catered and licensed, too, with So Frenchy putting on the works. You can pre-order a picnic box, or grab something from Frederic, Romu, Tarts Anon, Milk The Cow and L'Hôtel Gitan on the day. As for drinks, expect French champagne and beer from Laurent Perrier and Kronenbourg 1664. Images: Max Kruse.
As a nation girt by sea, as our anthem tells us, Australia boasts plenty of water. We're surrounded by it thanks to our scenic shorelines, picturesque harbours and cosy coastal inlets. And courtesy of the gobsmackingly gorgeous pools, curvy rivers and splash-tacular waterfalls found inland as well. Indeed, it's particularly easy to take a dip if you're in Melbourne, whether you're roaming around close to home or roving further afield when the weather's warm. Sea spray, refreshing swimming holes and even crystal-clear public pools are usually only a stone's throw away. Here's where you'll find them — and cool down.
It's blast from the past time, again — and time to spend a couple of nights journeying back a few decades just by hitting the dance floor. Whether you lived through the 90s rave scene, spent every weekend enjoying club life in the 00s or just wish you were old enough to have ticked both boxes, Ministry of Sound will take you there when its huge Testament parties return for 2024. Ministry of Sound itself was around through both eras, so you couldn't be in better hands to get retro via old-school 90s and 00s bangers. The Testament events last toured Australia in 2023, and will return for this year from the end of August through to early September — for two nights each in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, plus one-day-only stops on the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast. Each evening is devoted to either the 90s or the 00s, so you'll need to attend both if you want to make shapes to tunes from both decades. But it's a choose-your-own-adventure type of affair, so fans of late 20th-century beats can hit up the session dedicated to 90s house, rave, trance and garage tracks if that's all that you're keen on, while lovers of 00s electro and breaks get their own shindig. More than 80 DJs will be on the decks between Saturday, August 31–Sunday, September 8, with Danny Rampling, Judge Jules and Seb Fontaine joined by Mousse T, Laidback Luke and X-Press 2 on headlining duties. The first three, all from the UK, are all about the 90s — and the second three are no strangers to getting dance floors pumping with 00s tunes. Australia's own John Course, Mark Dynamix and Dirty South are also on the lineup, alongside over 70 other names across the tour. And if you went to 2023's events, you'll be making a date with different venues in some cities. In Sydney, the newly reopened White Bay Power Station will host a music party of this type for the first time. In Brisbane, Felons Barrel Hall awaits for letting loose by the river. Ministry of Sound: Testament 2024 Dates: Sydney: Saturday, August 31 — 00s session at White Bay Power Station Saturday, September 7 — 90s session at White Bay Power Station Melbourne: Saturday, August 31 — 90s session at The Timber Yard Saturday, September 7 — 00s session at The Timber Yard Brisbane: Sunday, September 1 — 00s session at Felons Barrel Hall Friday, September 6 — 90s session at Felons Barrel Hall Gold Coast: Sunday, September 1 — 90s session at Miami Marketta Sunshine Coast: Sunday, September 8 — 00s session at The Station Perth: Friday, August 30 — 00s session at Metro City Sunday, September 8 — 90s session at The Court Ministry of Sound: Testament 2024 Lineup: Danny Rampling Judge Jules Laidback Luke Mousse T Seb Fontaine X-Press 2 Dirty South John Course Mark Dynamix Minx Alex Taylor Andy Murphy Ange Annabelle Gasper Barking Boy Ben Korbel B2B Declan Lee Boogs Casey Leaver Cassette Chantal Chiari Chris Wilson Craig Obey Darren Briais Diamond D Ember Franky D Gavin Campbell General Lee Goodwill Greg Sara Hutcho Ian Spicer Illya Jackness Jade James A Jen E JJ John Ferris Jumping Jack Kate Monroe Kevin Matt Kitshon Matt Nugent Menis Micah Miggy Mike Dotch Mind Electric Ming D Miss Doodes Mr Sparkles Pete McNamara pH Pussymittens Rachel Harvey Rob Sharp Robbie Lowe Robin Knight RobKAY Rudy Sam Hill Sardi Sgt Slick Shamus & Gabby Sheen Spacey Space Stephen Ferris Sunshine Sweet Chilli DJ's T-Rek Tim McGee Tonez Trent Anthony Ministry of Sound: Testament 2024 will tour Australia in August and September. For further details, and to buy tickets — with pre-sale registrations until 11.59pm on Tuesday, May 21, then pre-sales from 12pm on Wednesday, May 22 and general sales from 12pm on Thursday, May 23 — head to the event's website. Images: Rachel Rachel / Ashlea Caygill.
First, Australian supermarkets introduced restrictions on the amount of toilet paper that customers could purchase. Next, as COVID-19-related panic-buying ramped up, Aussie chains also announced dedicated shopping times for the elderly and people with disability and implemented limits on a wide range of everyday items. Now, in their latest attempt to help combat the spread of the coronavirus, local stores are putting a cap on the number of customers allowed in store at any one time. Coles, Woolworths and Aldi have each announced plans to restrict the number people who can shop for groceries at once, marking the supermarket chains' next tactic to enforce social-distancing measures. The move comes after stores have already implemented a range of other initiatives in recent weeks, including rolling out plexiglass screens to separate checkout clerks from customers, placing stickers on the floor 1.5 metres apart at checkouts and encouraging shoppers to use the length of their trolleys as a distancing guide. Coming into force from this Monday, April 6, the restrictions will vary store by store, depending on each shop's size. Overall, though, each chain is taking a similar approach — enlisting staff and security to enforce limits, decide how many customers are allowed in every store at any one time, and make sure that queues outside each shop also adhere to the 1.5-metre social distancing requirements. Outside Woolies stores, for example, there'll be signage and a coned area, showing customers where to queue. The chain will also employ a one in, one out policy in terms of letting customers inside its stores. Coles advises that shoppers will be assisted at the entrance to each store, and may be asked to queue to get in where necessary. And it's worth remembering that Coles, Woolworths, Aldi and IGA have all also released a collective plea for consideration, stressing the need to stick to new restrictions — and reminding shoppers something that should just be a given, aka that hardworking supermarket staff should be treated with courtesy and respect. For more details on Australian supermarket customer limits, keep an eye on Coles, Woolworths, Aldi and IGA's websites. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.
The Australian Centre for the Moving Image might be all about celebrating screen art — peering at films and TV shows, stepping into virtual reality and showcasing the talents that've made such a huge impact, for instance — but that doesn't mean that the Melbourne-based venue doesn't appreciate nature. The world around us can look stunning projected as large as a cinema can allow. David Attenborough has turned his documentaries about the planet into their own spectacular genre, too. And the natural realm can provide experimental artists with quite the playground to ponder, as Marshmallow Laser Feast: Works of Nature is exploring. This world-premiere exhibition sees art collective Marshmallow Laser Feast unveil a showcase of works that muse on trees, black holes, cells, breathing, space, science and more. Hitting ACMI from Thursday November 23, 2023–Sunday, April 14, 2024, Works of Nature spans five major pieces that aim to deeply contemplate and appreciate humanity's role in nature, and just nature overall. And, these aren't tiny pieces — these large digital works aim to inspire awe in both their size and content. This is the London-based MLF's first major showcase in Australia, adding a stint Down Under to appearances at the Sundance and Tribeca film festivals, the Istanbul Design Biennial, Lisbon Triennial and the V&A and Design Museum in their hometown. [caption id="attachment_917014" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Marshmallow Laser Feast, 'Distortions in Spacetime', 2018, courtesy of the artists[/caption] That impressive history is matched by a significant lineup of names involved with MLF's immersive Works of Nature pieces. Cate Blanchett (The New Boy) lends her narration, director Terrence Malick (A Hidden Life) executive produces, while Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood (Licorice Pizza) and fellow acclaimed composer Jóhann Jóhannsson (Last and First Men) are among the talents providing music — the latter's work continuing to entrance after his passing in 2018. Daisy Lafarge provides poetry, while Jon Hopkins, Meredith Monk and Howard Skempton also contribute tunes. Whether you're a Melburnian or have a trip to the Victoria capital in your future, you'll be able to see the meditative Evolver, which uses Blanchett's voice to journey through the human body, breath, the origins of cells and the cosmos — and Distortions in Spacetime, which heads to a black hole's edge. Or, there's the large-scale Sanctuary of the Unseen Forest, a video installation about the Amazon's kapok trees. Thanks to The Tides Within Us, oxygen is in focus again via six static pictures. And with We Live in an Ocean of Air, MLF examine how that last word in the piece's moniker connects life on earth. [caption id="attachment_917018" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Marshmallow Laser Feast, 'We Live in an Ocean of Air', courtesy of the artists.[/caption] Marshmallow Laser Feast: Works of Nature is running at the Australian Centre of the Moving Image until Sunday, April 14. For more information or to book tickets, visit the website. Top image: Marshmallow Laser Feast, 'Distortions in Spacetime', 2018, courtesy of the artists.
When it comes to art exhibitions, second chances aren't common. A big-name showcase may display at several places around the world, but it doesn't often hit the same venue twice. French Impressionism is an exception, then, returning to the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne in 2025 after initially gracing the institution's walls in 2021. When it was first announced for that debut Australian run, French Impressionism was set to be a blockbuster exhibition — and with 100-plus works featuring, including by Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Mary Cassatt and more, it's easy to understand why. But 2021 wasn't an ordinary year, like 2020 before it. Accordingly, when this showcase of masterpieces on loan from Boston's renowned Museum of Fine Arts opened Down Under, it was forced to close shortly afterwards due to the pandemic. Cue another season in this part of the world four years later, thankfully, with French Impressionism back at NGV International from Friday, June 6–Sunday, October 5, 2025. This is one of the largest collections of the eponymous art movement to ever make its way to Australia, complete with works that've never been seen here before. [caption id="attachment_977042" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Claude Monet, French, 1840–1926, Water lilies, 1905, oil on canvas, 89.5 x 100.3 cm, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Gift of Edward Jackson Holmes Photography © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. All Rights Reserved.[/caption] Again part of the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition series, French Impressionism isn't short on gems, especially given the array of artists with pieces on display, which also includes Camille Pissarro and Berthe Morisot. But one certain must-see is the presentation of 16 Monet pieces in one gallery, all in a curved display to close out the showcase — and focusing of his scenes of nature in Argenteuil, the Normandy coast and the Mediterranean coast, as well as his Giverny garden. In total, there's 19 Monet works in French Impressionism from the Museum of Fine Arts' collection (Water Lilies among them), and that still leaves the US gallery almost as many to display in Boston. Another section digs into early works by Monet and his predecessors, such as Eugène Boudin — and Renoir and Pissarro's careers also get the in-depth treatment. As the exhibition charts French impressionism's path across the late-19th century, visitors will enjoy three never-before-seen-in-Australia pieces, with Victorine Meurent's Self-portrait one of them. Ten-plus Degas works, as well as two pieces that were part of the very first exhibition of French Impressionism that took place in 1874, also feature. If you made it along to the showcase's first trip Down Under, you will notice changes, with the exhibition design reimagined for its latest presentation. [caption id="attachment_977038" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Camille Pissarro, French (born in the Danish West Indies), 1830–1903, Spring pasture, 1889, oil on canvas, 60 x 73.7 cm, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Deposited by the Trustees of the White Fund, Lawrence, Massachusetts, Photography © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. All Rights Reserved.[/caption] Top image: excerpt of Camille Pissarro, French (born in the Danish West Indies), 1830–1903, Spring pasture, 1889, oil on canvas, 60 x 73.7 cm, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Deposited by the Trustees of the White Fund, Lawrence, Massachusetts, Photography © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. All Rights Reserved.
Freak out, losers and cosmic girls — you've got the number-one song in heaven to dance to. Adelaide music festival Harvest Rock has just announced who'll be hitting its stages in 2023, and the jam-packed lineup is overflowing with legends. Jamiroquai's only Australian show, Beck doing the same, the absolute icons that are both Nile Rodgers & Chic and Edgar Wright's favourite band Sparks: they're all headed to the South Australian capital in October. A two-day blend of music, food and wine — well, it is in SA — Harvest Rock debuted in 2022 and instantly proved a success, attracting 15,000 attendees per day. This year, the festival will return for another stint of tunes, bites and beverages at Rymill Park / Murlawirrapurka and King Rodney Park / Ityamai-itpina, Adelaide, on Saturday, October 28–Sunday, October. Whether or not you live in the City of Churches, the event has amassed a killer roster of talent worth planning a weekend around. Jamiroquai will play an exclusive Aussie performance filled with classics like 'Canned Heat', 'Virtual Insanity', 'Little L' and, yes, 'Cosmic Girl', in what'll be the Jay Kay-fronted British band's first show on our shores in more than a decade. Will there be hats? Here's hoping, with audiences set to find out when the group headlines the Saturday. Beck was last in Australia earlier in 2023, playing Bluesfest and doing an acoustic tour, but this time the Californian great will return with his full band to headline Harvest Festival's Sunday roster. It's almost been three decades since he came to fame with 90s anthem 'Loser', and he's kept making ace tunes from there — 'Where It's At', 'Devil's Haircut' and 'Sexx Laws' all included, across 14 records since his 1993 debut album Golden Feelings. 'Le Freak' and 'Good Times' will get a whirl when the one and only Rodgers takes to the stage with his band Chic, which was first formed more than 50 years ago. As a guitarist, Rodgers is in a league of his own (see also: his work on Daft Punk's Random Access Memories, including single 'Get Lucky'). As a writer and producer, he's had a hand in everything from David Bowie's Let's Dance album to Madonna's 'Like a Virgin'. Sparks will draw upon a whopping 57 years of making ridiculously catchy and smartly funny tunes, including 'The Number One Song in Heaven', 'This Town Ain't Big Enough for the Both of Us' and latest single 'The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte'. In a glorious move, they've been beginning their recent sets with 'So May We Start' from Annette, too, which won them the Best Composer award at Cannes. The rest of Harvest Rock's lineup is no slouch. Santigold, Chromeo, Bright Eyes and Ladyhawk join the international contingent, while Flight Facilities, Baker Boy, Julia Jacklin, Chet Faker, Ocean Alley, Bad//Dreems, Thelma Plum and Vera Blue are among the Aussie names. And, back on legends, Paul Kelly will also take to the stage, as will The Rolling Stone Revue featuring Adalita of Magic Dirt, Tim Rogers of You Am I and Tex Perkins — yes, all teaming up to play The Rolling Stones' greatest hits. Dubbed Harvest Rock II and hailing from Secret Sounds, the crew behind Splendour in the Grass, the returning spring fest will feature Adelaide's top restaurants and eateries serving up food at the Feastiville precinct, onsite eatery Wildwood led by arkhé's chef and co-owner Jake Kellie, a culinary-focused stage and wine tastings as well. Plus, there's a wellness centre doing tarot readings and massages, and mini festival Little Harvest for kids. If you're keen to make a weekend of it, you can grab a VIP ticket package including accommodation from Concrete Playground Trips. HARVEST ROCK II LINEUP: Bad // Dreems Baker Boy Beck (Australian exclusive) Bright Eyes Built to Spill Chet Faker Chromeo Flight Facilities — Decades DJ set Jamiroquai (Australian exclusive) Julia Jacklin Ladyhawke Nile Rodgers & Chic Ocean Alley Paul Kelly Sam Barber Santigold Sparks The Lemon Twigs The Rolling Stone Revue Thelma Plum Vera Blue Warpaint Harvest Rock 2023 will take at Rymill Park / Murlawirrapurka and King Rodney Park / Ityamai-itpina, Adelaide, on Saturday, October 28–Sunday, October 29, 2023 — with tickets on sale from 9am AEST on Wednesday, August 9. Head to Concrete Playground Trips for a VIP package for two, including tickets and accommodation.
With its latest movie-fuelled event, Underground Cinema is hoping that you've never felt like this before — and that you love Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey dancing up a storm in a much-loved 1987 romantic drama. As part of the outfit's new Immersive Cinema spin-off, it's promising to plunge cinephiles into the world of Dirty Dancing. And give you the time of your life, presumably. Hitting Flemington Racecourse for three nights in March 2019, Dirty Dancing: The Immersive Cinema Experience won't just screen one of Swayze's biggest film roles, but will recreate the world of the popular film. That means that attendees will travel back to 1963 in spirit, check into Kellerman's Mountain House in the Catskills, and enjoy a day of painting classes, volleyball, croquet and — of course — dance lessons. You can probably also expect a stint of carrying watermelons, as well as a talent show. It all ends with a sunset screening of Dirty Dancing on the big screen. You'd be just a fool to believe that's all that's on the agenda. Actors and dancers will roam around like the wind, and, food and drink-wise, Americana-style eats and several pop-up bars slinging summery cocktails are on offer for those with hungry eyes (and stomachs). You'll also be able to wander through recreations of Kellerman's famous fictional spaces, from the staff quarters where Francis 'Baby' Houseman gets her first taste of dirty dancing, to the studios where she learns all the steps from and starts swooning over Johnny Castle, to the restaurant where nobody puts Baby in a corner. Like the film version of Kellerman's, the event is also an all-ages affair — Underground Cinema's first that'll welcome families and kids along. And everyone is encouraged to dress up like it's the 60s, although appropriate footwear for dancing is a must. Tickets are available in two tiers, with the $89.90 'Kellerman's Guest Experience' giving you access to all of the above, and the $129.90 'Time of My Life Package' (naturally) also letting you sashay in via express entry, nab a premium elevated viewing spot, explore secret spaces and take a group dance class with one of Kellerman's dance instructors.
It wouldn't feel like Easter without artisan patissiers Le Yeahllow getting in the mood with the creation of a playful treat that surprises and delights in equal measure. This time around, they've got two special desserts to share, helping you bring a little more creativity to your Easter get-togethers. Fresh in 2025, Le Carrot is an ode to the humble carrot cake. Expect layers of silky smooth vanilla bean cream cheese with a bright carrot marmalade and soft carrot walnut sponge. Of course, these picture-perfect creations are finished with Le Yeahllow's signature attention to detail and shiny glaze. Available as a single petit gateau or 6-inch cake, as the brand says, it's an "unexpectedly chic" carrot cake. Next up is a more familiar face, or bun, or was that cake? Returning after becoming an instant hit for the long weekend in 2024, the Hot Cross Cake amps up the bun you know and love with a hyperreal and indulgent twist on classic flavours. Centred on a hot cross bun-inspired sponge cake, decadent Valrhona dark chocolate crèmeux, plump raisins and chocolate chips add to this attention-grabbing invention. Available as a single 'bun', or as a slab of six or nine, this dessert became an Easter sensation last year for good reason. While you're welcome to order these creations online for pick up, there's another way you can score Le Yeahllow's sought-after desserts. For the first time, the patisserie has partnered with Le Meridién Melbourne, a five-star stay on Bourke Street, to offer an exclusive benefit to guests booked from Wednesday, April 16–Wednesday, April 23. Take your room key and stroll to either of Le Yeahllow's CBD locations to score a free French Chocolate beverage with any cake purchase. With this whimsical seasonal release, Le Yeahllow remains one of Melbourne's go-to spots for tantalising desserts that live up to their 'elegantly playful' moniker. Emerging as a COVID-era success story, the patisserie now has three locations across the inner-city, including Driver Lane, Little Collins Street and slightly further afield on Claremont Street, South Yarra. Le Yeahllow's Carrot Cake and Hot Cross Cake are available for a limited time at Driver Lane, Little Collins Street and Claremont Street locations. Head to the website for more information.
ANZAC Day commemorations are set to take shape a little differently this year, thanks to those now very familiar restrictions in place to help curb the spread of COVID-19. With group gatherings off-limits, tradition is taking a bit of a backseat, and the usual parades and dawn services honouring our soldiers have had to be cancelled. But there are still plenty of ways you can show your support for the ANZACs, while sticking to social-distancing directives. From driveway memorials, to ANZAC bickie baking sessions, here are some top ideas for getting involved with ANZAC Day 2020, virtually. [caption id="attachment_665411" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance via Flickr[/caption] PAY YOUR RESPECTS WITH A LIVE-STREAMED DAWN SERVICE While ANZAC Day services across the country usually involve hundreds of punters gathered at dawn to pay their respects, social-distancing measures mean things will be drastically downsized this year. But even without the crowds, you'll still be able to tap into that sense of solidarity, as many of Australia's landmark sites take their regular ANZAC commemorative services online. Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance is set to live-stream its Dawn Service for all to watch on Facebook, kicking off at 6am on Saturday, April 25. Meanwhile, the ABC will have all the proceedings from the Australian War Memorial in Canberra streamed live from 5am, across its radio, TV and online channels. Expect to hear The Last Post played at around 6am. If you can't make it to a screen for one of these dawn sessions, RSL NSW is also streaming a closed service at 10am, hosted in Sydney and available to watch live via its Facebook page. And RSL Queensland has created a short ANZAC service of its own — download the audio from the website and tune in whenever suits. The organisers of the annual Coloured Diggers March, Babana Aboriginal Mens Group will also be hosting Zoom gathering at 11am to remember the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who served. 'LIGHT UP THE DAWN' FROM YOUR DRIVEWAY Social gatherings are currently a no-go, but on April 25, Aussies across the country will be bringing the ANZAC spirit to the end of their driveways — or balconies, front porches or living rooms — instead. RSL clubs nationwide are encouraging locals to mark the occasion with an at-home show of respect, inviting us all to 'light up the dawn' from 6am on ANZAC Day. You can pledge your support to the initiative online, then honour the ANZACs from wherever you call home, taking a moment to remember those who've served our country, perhaps while streaming a live service on your device. Many folks will light candles, others will have shrines and wreaths on display, and there's sure to be plenty of red poppies around, all in tribute to our armed services personnel. Share your personal ANZAC service with the tags #StandTo #ANZACspirit and #lightupthedawn [caption id="attachment_768400" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Australian War Memorial via Travis/Flickr[/caption] CREATE YOUR OWN ONLINE TRIBUTE The Australian War Memorial is drumming up some virtual support for our ANZACs by inviting Aussies to create their own online tribute, as part of its new #ForTheFallen initiative. To get involved, simply record a video of yourself reciting the 'Ode if Remembrance', or document your own ANZAC project, then pop it on social media tagged with #ForTheFallen. If you need a little memory boost, the lines to the section of Laurence Binyon's classic poem For the Fallen go like this: "They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them." DONATE TO THE ANZAC APPEAL The RSL's long-running ANZAC Appeal will still go ahead this year, though it's had to face a few logistical changes given the current pandemic situation. There won't be any of the usual streetside collections — instead, most of the fundraising efforts will take place online, inviting financial donations to be used to support veterans and their families. You can help provide servicemen past and present with much-needed things like crisis accommodation, emergency financial help, and physical and mental health support, by donating via the website. This year's appeal is running right through the month, up until April 30. GET INVOLVED IN THE WORLD'S BIGGEST MEAT TRAY RAFFLE This ANZAC Day, you can give back to Aussie veterans, support a bunch of local businesses and be in with a shot at winning the ultimate meat tray prize — all at the same time. Kicking off this week across Australia, the inaugural World's Biggest Meat Raffle is out to beat the Guinness World Record for the greatest amount of meat-trays ever won in a single competition. This meaty movement's being headlined, of course, by legendary 'lambassador' Sam Kekovich, and will raise much-needed funds for Swiss 8: a veteran-founded non-profit focused on mental health support. The charity's work is especially important during these uncertain times we're all facing. Organiser The Village Co has joined forces with local butchers all over the country to create the mega prize haul of 10,000 meat trays, which equates to a whopping 2000 kilograms of snags, steaks, burgers and more. The major winner will score a whole year's worth of weekly meat trays, both for themselves and eight lucky mates. Grab your tickets here. JOIN AN ONLINE ANZAC BISCUIT BAKING SESSION There's no doubt the tastiest part of any ANZAC Day commemoration is the bickies. And those oat biscuits are set to get just as big a workout this year as ever before, thanks to all the new-found kitchen skills that have been honed in isolation. If you're keen to spread the ANZAC message via a few homemade baked goods, you can even join others from across Australia and New Zealand for a huge online ANZAC biscuit bake-off. Hitting Zoom at 2pm AEST on April 23, you'll find the Bake Together: ANZAC Biscuits Live baking session hosted by culinary historian and cookbook author Allison Reynolds. You can follow along with Reynolds as she guides you through her method, or simply tune in while using your own go-to recipe. And you'd better have the kettle on standby as there'll be plenty of time for questions and conversation. [caption id="attachment_683489" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cybele Malinowski[/caption] TUNE INTO AN ANZAC DAY CONCERT WITH SOME AUSSIE MUSIC LEGENDS Paul Kelly, Jimmy Barnes, Delta Goodrem and The Wiggles are just some of the artists coming together (virtually) for this year's ANZAC Day concert Music from the Home Front. Screening on channel Nine from 7.30pm, the concert will see 16 music legends from Australia and New Zealand come together to celebrate the two countries, pay respects to those who've served and also thank front-line workers during COVID-19. Also on the lineup: Courtney Barnett, Marlon Williams, Kevin Parker from Tame Impala, Missy Higgins, The Rubens and Vance Joy. Top image: Dee Why RSL
The salon is back. Not the hair salon (although that is very much back too, thank god), I'm talking Paris in the 18th century. Social gatherings where artists, writers and other enlightened folk could discuss big ideas without needing to stick within the guardrails of polite society. Admittedly, this could describe your last afternoon hit out at the pub. But a couple of Sydney-based curators and culture aficionados are bringing back the concept of the artist salon as it was originally intended — and to be a fly on the wall would be a pretty killer ticket. Susan Armstrong and Michelle Grey are the duo behind Arts-Matter. They curate events that bring together artists from various mediums — from painters to product designers to hip hop artists — and host them in intimate settings to spark conversations around society, creativity and cultural values. It all started in the first of Australia's lengthy lockdowns when restrictions were preventing people from accessing art in the usual means via tangible exhibitions, galleries and shows. So Armstrong and Grey took the unprecedented circumstances as an opportunity to try something a little different. "While there's always been incredible programming offered at our favourite museums, galleries and institutions, their events can sometimes be genre-specific — an artist talk at a gallery, or a music performance at a concert hall," explains Armstrong. "We wanted to provide people with a broader cross-section of the cultural arts." "Creativity thrives when silos collide, and many of us are interested in hearing interdisciplinary discussions with thought-leaders across the cultural gamut, from fine art to music, theatre, fashion, architecture, literature and film. We've also found that by hosting small salon-style events in private homes, guests open up and connect in a way that's not always possible in a public venue. Plus, you were allowed to drink while standing up, which was a big bonus!" Excellent point. In the year since Arts-Matter was conceived, Michelle and Susan have brought together an impressive lineup of Australia's most fascinating creative talent to speak and perform, including Genesis Owusu, Ben Quilty, Ngaiire, Tony Albert, Dinosaur Designs founder Louise Olsen, Ramesh Mario Nithyendran, and Rafael Bonachela. The pandemic has in many ways changed the way we experience art, from the emergence of virtual galleries that can get you a front row look at the great masterpieces to the increasing popularity of NFTs. But is digital the future for artist and art lovers alike? In a word: nah. Says Armstrong and Grey: "We've seen an explosion of promotion on social media — which gives viewers an intimate peek into both the professional and personal lives of the artists we love — and a whole host of digital and virtual shows and art fairs, but nothing beats human connection so we know everyone is excited to get back in touch with the physical world!" "In these troubled times art has the power to heal and unite, and at the same time it's also an important marker of history. Humans need art to express their individual and shared stories. Art and creativity can provide great catharsis for communities, and after almost two years of a global pandemic, we're all in need of a bit of emotional release." You can follow the future projects of Arts-Matter here.
Making a winter date with Dark Mofo always feels like crawling into another world — and, based on the Tasmanian festival's programs over the years, that's the active aim. The Apple Isle's moody and brooding music and arts event takes its cues from its host and organisers, the Museum of Old and New Art, of course, which results in a lineup filled with the surreal, strange, sublime and surprising. In a 2022 bill that includes everything from rainbows to the Chernobyl score played live in an immersive industrial setting, that trend is naturally set to continue. After announcing the first highlights for this year's fest back in March — and revealing that it'll run over two weeks as well — Dark Mofo has dropped its full 2022 program. If a trip south between Wednesday, June 8–Wednesday, June 22 wasn't already on your agenda, it should be now. All up, Dark Mofo 2022 will feature more than 100 artists from 30 countries, and span everything from acclaimed local names hitting the stage to a life-sized doll house that attendees can wander through, all to celebrate the theme 'resurrection'. [caption id="attachment_849626" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lingua Ignota video still, courtesy of the artist and Dark Mofo, Tasmania, Australia.[/caption] First, the tunes. The Kid LAROI, Japanese cult-favourites Boris and English indie muso Baxter Dury will be doing their thing on the fest's first weekend — with the latter intriguingly described as "comedown disco". Then, the following week, Chelsea Wolfe and Emma Ruth Rundle join the bill, as do the return of Hymns to the Dead, Swiss metal band Triptykon doing an Aussie exclusive show, Perfume Genius, and four-day experimental and electronic music microfestival Borderlands. Yes, there's truly something here for everyone. Two big music highlights spring from the realm of film and television: live performances of the scores to 2021's excellent new Candyman and 2019's haunting HBO miniseries Chernobyl. With the first, Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe will be playing the sounds that helped make the movie so unnerving. At the second, Emmy-winner Hildur Guðnadóttir (also an Oscar-winner for her Joker score) will team up with Chris Watson and Sam Slater, and all proceeds from the show will be donated to Voices of Children to help Ukrainian children and families. All of the above joins the previously announced Kim Gordon, who'll bust out songs from her 2019 solo release No Home Record, plus Berlin-based composer and producer Nils Frahm playing Music For Hobart. And, Spiritualized, Deafheaven and American multi-instrumentalist Lingua Ignota are already on the lineup, too. [caption id="attachment_849627" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sabio / Dark Mofo. Image courtesy of the artist and Dark Mofo, Tasmania, Australia.[/caption] That's your ears well and truly taken care of — but Dark Mofo's visual lineup is just as impressive. Lovers of engaging art will want to check out Japanese Australian artist Hiromi Tango's Rainbow Dream: Moon Rainbow, which will feature a healing colour palette to put viewers in a joyous mood. Also a must-see is Hobart-based Sabio's Holy Mother of God: Emergency Doll House, which'll use projection mapping, sculpture and animation to turn a three-storey building into a carnival-style trip through the subconscious. Jónsi from Sigur Rós is on the bill as well, thanks to a multi-channel immersive experience inspired by the recent eruption of Iceland's Fagradalsfjall volcano. And, so is Anger, a performance dedicated to Kenneth Anger's life and work in occult cinema. And, as revealed last month, there'll be pieces by new video media artist Bill Viola and multi-channel video artist Doug Aitken — plus exhibitions focusing on Jeremy Shaw, Fiona Hall and AJ King, and Robert Andrew, which'll all launch at a music, fire and art-filled Mona Up Late shindig. [caption id="attachment_849628" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Blue Rose Ball. Photo Credit: Dark Mofo/Jesse Hunniford, 2018. Image of Société Anonyme Costume Ball Hadley's Orient Hotel. Image courtesy: Dark Mofo, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.[/caption] Throw in a heap of Dark Mofo's signature festivities — such as the return of The Blue Rose Ball and its costumed debauchery, the Nude Solstice Swim (because it wouldn't be Dark Mofo without it), the City of Hobart Winter Feast on the waterfront, Night Mass: Transcendence in the In The Hanging Garden precinct and the Reclamation Walk — and yes, this is a huge program. Also popping up again is Memorial, too, which sees people provide the ashes of their loved ones to be placed inside a handcrafted firework that then explodes for everyone to watch. Dark Mofo will run from Wednesday, June 8–Wednesday, June 22 in Hobart, Tasmania. For more information or to buy tickets — with subscriber tix on-sale at 10am on Monday, April 11 and general tix at 12pm on Monday, April 11 — head to the festival website. Top images: Winter Feast, Dark Mofo 2021. Dark Mofo/Jesse Hunniford, 2021. // 3.2, 404.zero, Dark Downtown, Dark Mofo 2021. Dark Mofo/Remi Chauvin, 2021 // Courtesy: Dark Mofo, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
Since Victoria's hospitality industry began welcoming customers back through the doors after the state's 2020 lockdowns, outdoor dining has proven a key tactic. Indeed, eating outside has been a big part of the state government's approach as restrictions have eased, and of individual councils' path through the pandemic, too — and, after the City of Melbourne committed to keeping the strategy going until at least mid-2021, the Victorian Government has now announced expanded funding for 22 other councils to do the same throughout autumn. In total, $5 million has been allocated under the second round of the Local Councils Outdoor Eating and Entertainment Package, including to 13 councils in metropolitan Melbourne. In the Maribyrnong City Council area, $250,000 will be used to expand the current program of parklets in suburbs such as Footscray and Yarraville, including broadening the scheme to new areas. In Monash, $500,000 will go towards continuing outdoor dining at Pinewood Shopping Village and Hamilton Place in Mount Waverley, in Glen Waverley and at Haughton Road in Clayton. Other Melbourne councils to benefit include Port Phillip City Council, which is receiving $500,000; Stonnington, which'll get $200,000; Yarra, which has been allocated $500,000; and Darebin, which'll nab $150,000. The funding has bee prioritised to councils who've already experienced high demand for outdoor dining over the past months — as seen through increased numbers of customers visiting local restaurants, pubs and cafes. As announced in September 2020, the Victorian Government's Outdoor Eating and Entertainment Package spans $87.5 million all up, $29.5 million of which has been allocated to councils across the state — with grants also available to businesses to help them adapt to outdoor dining. Metropolitan councils and regional city councils can receive up to $500,000 each, and rural councils can get up to $250,000, which can be used on infrastructure such as streetscaping and lighting, and to reduce and waive permit fees for hospitality businesses. For more information about the Local Councils Outdoor Eating and Entertainment Package, head to the Victorian Government website. Top image: Kate Shanasy.
Eating out in Melbourne is arguably a Melburnian's favourite thing to do. Even those on a budget should be able to eat at nice places. And you can! Plan your days correctly and you won't pay more than $15 for a meal again; play the system right and you can still eat like a king (oysters included). With our guide to the best culinary bargains around town, you can eat cheap (but not poorly) seven days of the week. Monday BURGERS AND SLIDERS - THE RAINBOW HOTEL, FITZROY Apparently this 140-year old pub — sitting slightly out of the Brunswick street spotlight — exists in a tiny pocket of Fitzroy that inflation forgot. A fact that, on Monday nights, is reflected in the form of $12 burgers and $7 slider specials. $29 BUFFET - CHINA BAR, CITY China Bar buffet: it's not the height of class, but it's what I imagine heaven might look like. The $29 weekday lunch session (Monday to Thursday from 11.30am - 3pm) might not seem that cheap to the untrained eye, but to the savvy student it's an opportunity to consume one's own body weight in roast meats, seasonal stir-frys and weird Asian desserts — eliminating the need to eat for several days afterwards. $15 BURGER AND A PINT - THE MERRYWELL, SOUTHBANK While it may be a little too close to the Crown Complex for comfort, Merrywell's $15 burger and pint happy hour between 4-6pm provides down-on-luck punters an affordable feed — particularly after an unfortunate turn in the casino arena. $1 PINXTOS - NAKED FOR SATAN, FITZROY Diners pluck their own pinxtos (delicate morsels like jamon, pickled octopus or arancini balls which sit atop slices of crusty bread) from the glass cabinets at the bar, and count the number consumed at the end of the night. Somehow, the serve-yourself honesty system works surprisingly well — but then, who's seriously going to cheat when it's only $1 a serve? FANCY LUNCH BOX - CAFE VUE, CITY The three-piece lunch box ($18) serves up a starter, savoury and sweet, all packed up and ready for you to take back to your desk in lieu of the full Vue de Monde experience. Also available in vegetarian and gluten free lunch packs, expect prettily packaged treats like chow mein salad, broccoli with crispy garlic, chilli and yuzu, pulled pork bun, and chocolate and passionfruit sundae. Tuesday $10 BURGER APOCALYPSE MEAL DEAL - ZOMBIE BURGER, ST KILDA Sure the branding might be a little aggressive, but if the zombie apocalypse ever hits, there will no doubt be time aplenty to down a couple of $10 burgers (served with fries and drink) while you watch the undead slowly converge from down the street. $9 BURGERS - 1000 POUND BEND, CITY People pack in to this loosely assembled warehouse space — which looks suspiciously like the lounge room of a student sharehouse — for $9 burgers and happy hour drinks every Tuesday from 4 - 11pm. Stay for the free wifi and stream a few episodes of House of Cards while you’re at it. $15 BURGER DEAL - MARKOV, CARLTON Burger, chips and a Brunswick Bitter will only set you back $15 on Tuesday nights at Markov. If you tend to buck the brioche trend — favouring something a bit more old school — it's here that you'll reach meaty, savoury nirvana. $3 TACOS - THE REVERENCE, FOOTSCRAY There is not a lot more that needs analysis here. When tacos are offered at such an inoffensive price, one accepts, whether hungry or not. It’s simply the right thing to do. Top up the Myki and make the trip to the Footscray badlands. $5 PIZZAS - WHOLE LOTTA LOVE, EAST BRUNSWICK It's all about the music at Whole Lotta Love. But as luck would have it, they dish up a mean pizza as well — keeping you drinking and enjoying tunes until the early hours. $5 every single day of the week. Wednesday $1 WINGS - TRANSPORT BAR, CITY From 5-9pm, load up on chicken for only $1 a bird-bite. This is the kind of thing that makes hump-day a little more manageable. $17 ALL YOU CAN EAT WINGS - FATHER'S OFFICE, CITY Father's Office has flown under the radar for too long, written off by many as a thinly-guised booze barn. But look past the suits and student specials — this venue is a lot of fun. On Wednesdays, don a bib and tuck into All You Can Eat chicken wings for $17. $29.50 ALL YOU CAN EAT TAPAS - THE LONG ROOM, CITY From Tuesday to Thursday, Longroom turn their al a carte menu into an unlimited tapas feast. Order two dishes at a time, as many times as you like, until you've worked your way through the entire menu — for less than $30. $10 STEAK SANDWICH - GLORIA SWANSTON'S KITCHEN, CITY Lounge is known to get a little loose on the late night shift, but at lunchtime their kitchen knocks out a killer student feed. Specials vary each day;, but on Wednesdays it's the steak sandwich for a tenner. $5 PIZZAS - CUSHION LOUNGE, ST KILDA Partied too hard last night, forgot to eat and now your body is being uncooperative? Rookie mistake. Head to Cushion midweek, where you can down those cheeky beers with a wad of discount pizza to absorb the blow. Thursday $12 PUB LUNCH - CAPTAIN MELVILLE, CITY Pub classics like parmas, fish and chips and burgers are most generously plated between 11.20am and 3pm, Monday to Thursday. For an extra $3 you can add a sneaky lunchbreak beer. $1 OYSTERS - PANAMA DINING ROOM, FITZROY Mother Shucker's Oyster Hour happens every night of the week between 6-7pm, where you can gorge on freshly shucked oysters for $1 per piece, and ultimately leave the restaurant both satisfied and highly aroused. $12.50 LUNCH SPECIAL - BONEY, CITY Between 12-2pm, duck into this revamped dive bar to dine on their daily special. On Thursdays it's a vego-friendly barley risotto with eggplant, tomato and feta. $4 PIZZAS, DOGS AND SALADS - LUCKY COQ, WINDSOR The Coq has been a saviour to Melbourne's financially-struggling students, artists and musicians for many years, but they've now taken things to the next level. Deals are on every day, but on Sunday you can get any pizza, hotdog or salad you fancy for just $4 from open 'til close. $4 PIZZAS & $12 BURGERS - THE PENNY BLACK, BRUNSWICK What better way to relax than with an afternoon sess in the courtyard on the ciders, some live music, and a few rounds of pizza with mates? At $4 a pop with free entry, you may as well skip work and make a day of it. $1 TACOS - THE DAN O'CONNELL HOTEL, CARLTON Making all our taco dreams come true, every Thursday The Dan churns out $1 tacos all night. Charging a super cheap price, probably in line with these little corn tortillas are worth, it's a good excuse to inhale as many tacos as you like without breaking the bank (we're looking at you Mamasita). Friday DIRT CHEAP SPRING ROLLS AND DUMPLINGS - HAPPY PALACE, CITY The staff name badges may be unbelievably politically incorrect (they all say 'Nigel'), but those with a sense of humour will consider this a selling point. For everybody else, at least come for the $2 dumplings (5-6pm) and $5 boxes of spring rolls. $3 HOTDOGS - FERDYDURKE, CITY The happiest hours for hotdogs at this alleyway bar are between 12 and 5pm, where for $3, you can throw back classics such as the Dirty Furke (frank with cheese and chilli beans), or the Charles Bronson (frank with cider, caramelised onions, gherkins and cheese). $7 PIZZAS - POLLY, FITZROY For those decadent, cocktail drenched evenings when a street-corner souvlaki seems inappropriate, a gourmet pizza at Polly (like gorgonzola, fig and pancetta) should fit the bill — and from 5-11pm, that bill will only come to $7. $1 OYSTERS - ALBERT PARK HOTEL, ALBERT PARK Just because a venue is known for finer dining doesn't mean it's above putting on a budget oyster hour. The seafood soiree is available all day Friday, at $1 a shucked treat. $7.50 LUNCH DEAL - YIM YAM, COLLINGWOOD Having set up shop in four locations throughout Melbourne so far, this Thai restaurant group most recently opened up in Collingwood, where they’re offering $7.50 lunch specials every day of the working week. Saturday $5 FRIED CHICKEN PO BOYS - HORSE BAZAAR, CITY Firing up the fryer from 8pm on Saturday nights, Horse Bazaar complements the live music and art projection by pumping out po boys for only $5 a serve. DIRT CHEAP DUMPLINGS - CAMY SHANGHAI, CITY Revel in the charmingly rude service as you devour mountains of steamed pork parcels — best enjoyed with a group of mates and bottle of BYO. No matter how hard to try or how much you order, somehow it never costs more than $15. PAY AS YOU FEEL - LENTIL AS ANYTHING, ABBOTSFORD Often mistaken for a hippy hang-out, this socially-conscious restaurant has been providing visitors with wholesome vegetarian meals for over 13 years on a pay-as-you-feel basis. Now spread across three venues (Abottsford convent, St Kilda and Footscray), as testament to the strengths of the social enterprise industry. $2.99 BREAKFAST - IKEA, RICHMOND There's something terribly sterile about canteen dining, but at Ikea they at least know how to do it with maximum efficiency for the lowest possible price. Until 11am every day you can get a full hot breakfast — including scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages and hash brown — from only $2.99, no home assembly required. $5.50 ALL YOU CAN EAT - CROSSWAYS, CITY An inner-city Hare Krishna temple providing vegetarian lunches for only $5.50 ($7.50 without a concession), where you'll be welcomed with open arms and flowing sarongs. Saturday lunch is Special Subji and rice with pappadum, lassi, date halva and custard. Sunday $10 BREAKFAST CHEESESTEAK - SPARROW'S PHILLY CHEESESTEAKS, FITZROY For the uninitiated, a philly cheesesteak is an American steak sandwich combining thinly sliced beef and melted cheese in a bread roll. Of the various incarnations available, Sparrow's $10 special 'breakfast' cheesesteak — of beef, cheese, egg and hash brown — is a clear market leader. HOURLY PARMA SPECIALS - ROCHESTER CASTLE HOTEL, FITZROY Pay-by-the-hour parma deals ($6 at 6pm, $7 at 7pm and $8 at 8pm) are in dwindling supply in these modern times. Fortunately, the Rochester pays blatant disregard to such progression and does it anyway; in keeping with their penchant for playing 90s indie rock. FREE BBQ - WORKSHOP, CITY Workshop is not just that bar you find yourself in at 1am, gyrating on the dance-floor against a Columbian backpacker. It's also the place of a cheap daytime feed — and few meals are cheaper than a free BBQ (6-7pm Sundays). LOCALS CURRY NIGHT - HORN PLEASE, FITZROY NORTH North Fitzroy locals have been onto it for years; the local curry night buffet ($20) on Sundays allows punters to enjoy favourites from Horn’s menu, served fast and friendly and in an unlimited manner — allowing you to spend your savings on craft beer. $3 FISH AND CHIPS - 29TH APARTMENT, ST KILDA This is not a joke; it only costs $3 to score a fish'n'chip combo at 29th Apartment. It's only available with a drink purchase, but let’s be honest — the best time to immerse yourself in fried goods is after a session on the ciders.
Patricia Piccinini's otherworldly pieces have popped up all across Australia, and now it's the TarraWarra Museum of Art's turn to host. The not-for-profit public art gallery has announced an almost four-month-long showcase of the artist's efforts from November this year — including the return of her unmissable installation work The Skywhale. The 34-metre-long, animal-shaped hot air balloon will float through the sky in the lead up to the exhibition's opening, so keep an eye out. Called Patricia Piccinini and Joy Hester: Through love…, the exhibition will display from November 24, 2018 to March 11, 2019. It'll not only focus on the woman with an incredibly distinctive view on all things weird and wonderful — and on the thin line between humanity and animal kind that's engrained in her creative portfolio — but on fellow Australian artist Joy Hester. If the latter's name doesn't sound familiar, she was a Melbourne artist who passed away in 1960, favoured brushwork and ink on paper, and is considered one of Piccinini's key influences. This'll be the first time anywhere in the world that a gallery has explored the connection between the pair, with more than 50 pieces on display. With the showcase broadly focused around the theme of love and intimacy as well, visitors will get to see the evolution of Aussie art through the output of the two inimitable figures, with Hester's ink and paper works considered touchstones for Piccinini's sculptures, photographs, videos and drawings. In both camps, attendees will be treated to something either rare or brand new. Much of Hester's work is rarely seen, though her famous couple-focused series Love 1949 and Lovers 1955–56 will be on display. As for Piccinini, she'll be represented by both new and existing large-scale pieces. Piccinini will also unveil a major new work, Sanctuary, at this exhibition. The work is comprised of a wall print, a graphite on paper drawing and, the focal point, a sculpture of two figures embracing. The elderly couple depict characteristics of both humans and bonobos — an endangered ape species known for its intimate relationships. Through this work, Piccinini is exploring human relationships with animals, environment and technology. Images: Rick Liston, Installation view of Patricia Piccinini, Kindred, 2018; Rick Liston, Installation view of Patricia Piccinini, The Lovers, 2011; Rick Liston, Installation view of Patricia Piccinini, The Young Family, 2002; Rick Liston, Installation view of Patricia Piccinini, Sanctuary, 2018; Rick Liston, View of artwork flying in Yarra Valley on November 24, 2018, Patricia Piccinini, Skywhale, 2013; Rick Liston, Installation view of Patricia Piccinini, The Young Family, 2002. All images courtesy of the artist, Tolarno Galleries, Melbourne and Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney For more spring places, spaces and events to discover in regional Victoria visit Your Happy Space.
In good news for people who like raw dance clubs, a raw dance club is opening! Come August 12, Melbourne will have a new place to party with XE54 opening in an underground basement on City Road. The new venue (in Southbank, of all places) comes from some powerful collective hospo chops. Simon Digby, Tony Perna and Nick Vas of Roar Projects have drawn on the team behind Beyond the Valley to book some killer nights, including a flagship Saturday offering. Resident DJs will take the venue from week-to-week, but you can also expect a curated blend of electronic, house, techno, disco and an eclectic mix of international and local headliners. "We aim to create something that, regardless of the time of year or which specific week you attend, there will be a Saturday nightspot for electronic music lovers with the right attitude to come together and enjoy good music," says head booker and promoter Mike Christidis of Beyond the Valley. They've also called on the team International Worldwide to do the interior design. FYI, International Worldwide are the big wigs behind Holy Moly, Honkytonks (RIP) and The Bottom End. They've done it up right with raw graf murals in primary colours to delineate the warehouse-y space. Neon accents do the rest of the work to create the unpretentious atmosphere they're aiming for. XE54 will open at 334 City Road, Southbank on August 12. For more info, visit their Facebook page.
Last year, in bitter news for the Sydney restaurant scene, three-hat fine diner Sepia (recipient of a crazy amount of awards) announced it would be closing down at some point in the next two years. Now, co-founders Martin Benn and Vicki Wild (the head chef and front of house, respectively) have given the restaurant closure a date: December 31, 2017. Yep, at the end of the year, the restaurant — which has been open for eight years and is widely acknowledged as one of the best restaurants in Sydney, and the country — will take its leave. But that doesn't mean its owners will. While giving punters a closing date, Benn and Wild have also announced their post-Sepia project: they'll make the move to Melbourne to open a new venue in collaboration with restaurateur Chris Lucasin 2018. Yowsa. The partnership is great news for Melbourne, who is already anticipating a new Chris Lucas opening later this year. Lucas is the Lucas from hospitality group The Lucas Group, the brain behind Chin Chin, Baby, Kong, et al. The trio haven't given any hints as to what the restaurant will be like, but — considering they have decades of experience between them — it's gonna be a guaranteed good time for all our taste buds. The restaurant's Sydney departure also sadly signals the retirement of George Costi, a founding partner of Sepia and renowned seafood wholesaler, who will not renew the Sussex Street lease. But all good things must come to an end — and we give props to Sepia for pulling the plug in its prime and leaving behind a beautiful corpse. The team have promised finale of epic proportions though, so start saving your pocket money if you want to make a reservation before the year is out. We can't wait to see what comes next. Image: Lucas Allen.
After creating an instant hit with inner-north food truck park Welcome to Thornbury, the 300 Burgers Group is back for round two. The team is continuing its northside foray with a new venture in collaboration with famed Sydney-based brewery 4 Pines. Together, the duo has grand plans to create the most sustainable food precinct, bar and beer garden in town. Nestled behind Sydney Road's Brunswick Mess Hall, 4 Pines Welcome to Brunswick will be a little smaller than its Northcote sibling indoors, but it'll still boast space for 450 visitors. Outside, however, you can expect a much roomier, park-like outdoor zone, decked out with loads of lush greenery and a solid spread of both sunny and shaded areas. And yes, it's all as dog-friendly as it sounds. The food offering comes courtesy of a curated food truck rotation, with up to four vendors on-site each night, backing up menus from the Mess Hall kitchen. Regular appearances from favourites like Mr Burger, Woking Amazing, Sparrow's Philly Cheesesteaks and Nem n Nem will ensure there's always a spread, with vegan and gluten-free options aplenty. Meanwhile, the beer lineup is set to feature entirely 4 Pines brews, with signatures like the summer ale, pale ale, pacific ale and kolsch starring alongside the brewery's seasonal Keller Door releases. That'll mean a constant rotation of beer styles, alongside a lineup of wines, spirits and cocktails. An environmentally sensitive design by Breathe Architects will be heavy on the recycled and reclaimed materials, though the planet-friendly ethos doesn't end there. "We want it to be the most environmentally-friendly pub in Melbourne," explains Co-Owner Scott Assender. As such, the venue is aiming to eventually produce all its own energy on-site and send zero waste to landfill. Visiting food trucks will be using only compostable packaging and an anaerobic digester will be used to transform any organic waste into energy and fertiliser. It's certainly not the first time 4 Pines has shown a passion for the environment. Forty percent of the electricity used at its Brookvale brewery and headquarters is now solar powered and, last winter, 4 Pines released its first carbon positive brew The Upcycle Ale crafted using surplus bread donated by Brasserie Bread. Find 4 Pines Welcome to Brunswick at 1 Frith Street, Brunswick, later this year.
As a food writer and critic based in Western Australia, Max Brearley lives a life of truffle hunting, native-food foraging and long, wine-led lunches across Margaret River's rolling estates. The southwest lifestyle is what lured him over from the UK, and his work is now regularly published in The Australian, delicious., The Guardian and Halliday. In partnership with Pullman Hotels and Resorts, we're helping you explore more on your next holiday and make sure you get those experiences that the area's most switched-on residents wouldn't want their visitors to miss. In Margaret River, we've called in Max, whose favourite spots range from the region's best winery restaurant to a burger truck run by a street-food doyen he's followed around the world. A stay at Pullman Bunker Bay in the Margaret River region will not only put you in the thick of all this action, it will let you rest and digest in five-star luxury at the end of the day. Read on for Max's top food hot spots in his own words, and check out the rest of our Explore More content series to hone your itinerary for some of Australia's best holiday destinations. CULLEN WINES A founding winery of the region, Cullen has an international reputation for their wines and the manner in which they're produced. Chief winemaker Vanya Cullen has a commitment to the land, seeing herself and her team as custodians. It shows in the wine, which is certified both organic and biodynamic, and it's always a stop when I'm introducing people to the region. A taste of the Kevin John (Chardonnay) and the Diana Madeline (predominantly Cabernet) — both named after Vanya's parents, the winery's founders — is non-negotiable at cellar door. Also high on the must-taste list is the Amber, a Semillon Sauvignon Blanc that is an expression of low-intervention technique. The grapes are fermented in different vessels, including amphora and open fermenters, with extended skin contact. Some describe it as a white, made like a red. MIKI'S OPEN KITCHEN Mikihito Nagai's handle on tempura is masterful. While it may not seem like an obvious dining destination to showcase the region, Miki's Open Kitchen is the essence of what makes the Margaret River region so dynamic; it is a place where winemakers, chefs, artists, photographers, writers and other creative souls are drawn by the ocean, the land, the wine, food and lifestyle. Miki is no exception, and in a matter of years has built a fervent local following for his skill, use of the region's best produce and, well, just being Miki. A seat at the counter for the second sitting ensures plenty of time to watch the master at work. It's fully licensed, though you can also BYO wine, and they serve two sittings an evening. BURGER BONES I first met cook come raconteur Cooper in a south London pub. Then, he was at the forefront of the street food movement and known for making the city's best loaded dogs, with an eye on raising the quality of his ingredients. I didn't think that conversation would lead to a friendship on the other side of the world. Returning home to the southwest after twenty years, he flipped to burgers but is no less fastidious about the meat, the grind, the bread and his technique. Made to order in his customised food truck, Burger Bones isn't fast food, so expect a short wait as he shapes the patty and steams each bun. I favour the Filthy Dirty Burger — a double patty with black cherry barbecue sauce, onions and cheese — but I'm always open to off-menu suggestions. EAGLE BAY BREWING CO The beer community is strong between the capes, and for those with an interest in grain as well as grape, Eagle Bay Brewing Co is a must-try. It's available at bars and bottle shops throughout the region, but there's no better place to drink it than at the source. The d'Espeissis family have been on their Eagle Bay property since 1950, and while the previous generations were more concerned with farming than brewing, it was the younger d'Espeissises who built the brewery and restaurant back in 2010. I'm a fan of their robust Pale Ale, but look out for the Brewer's or Single Series drops. A solid food offering makes it a popular lunch spot, with an atmosphere that is pure southwest; you could be sat next to a mining magnate, a pro-surfer or a jobbing food writer. VASSE FELIX It's a difficult call to name just one winery restaurant, but Vasse Felix never disappoints. It's the perfect spot to enjoy the wares of chief winemaker Virginia Willcock and her team, with an elevated view over some of the estate's original vines. Chef Brendan Pratt took the reins in September 2017 from local legend Aaron Carr (to be found at Yarri, in Dunsborough from early 2018) and he's immediately proven his talent. Asian and European techniques meet, with Pratt celebrating the best of each season. If you've time in the region, Will's Domain in Yallingup) and Knee Deep in Wilyabrup are also home to two of the regions youngest, and most accomplished chefs. YALLINGUP WOODFIRED BREAD Gotthard Bauer, the German baker behind the region's best bread, is modest in a world of hyperbole. He takes an all together slower approach to his craft, using certified biodynamic flour, proper fermentation and resting, and woodfired ovens — a process that is the antithesis of the factory-scale bakeries many have become used to. As well as baking your daily bread, the Bauers also have the Gugelhupf, a candy-striped shack at 18 Yallingup Beach Road, selling the sweet and savoury cake of the same name. I've bought many of these savarin baked treats as intended presents over the years, but strangely they never quite make it to their intended recipient. There is now a Woodfired Bread outpost in Margaret River (Unit 2/2 Boodjidup Road) and at the weekly Margaret River Farmers Market. WHITE ELEPHANT CAFE This is the place to come to understand what Margaret River life is all about, with an Indian Ocean view over Gnarabup Beach. Take a coffee from the kiosk and have a walk on the boardwalk or down on the sand, or sit up on the deck and take breakfast or lunch. White Elephant is a year-round haunt for locals. Beyond just a standard beach cafe, it has great hospitality pedigree, alongside sister venues Morries (Margaret River) and The Common (minutes away, at Gnarabup). While it seems blasé to ignore the view, I'm partial to a spot by the fire in cooler months with a newspaper and the pick of the menu. I've been known to file copy from here. THE COLOURPATCH CAFE At the southern end of the capes, Augusta has no shortage of spectacular views and places to find fish and chips (at least five at last count). The Colourpatch Cafe has in recent years been slowly refurbished, retaining its coastal town charm, with river views from the cafe and terrace. Local fish is chalked up, with Augusta whiting from the Blackwood River a sustainable favourite. While eating in is always an option, my ritual is finding a spot down towards Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse with a view over the Southern Ocean and the possibility, in season, of a whale sighting. SETTLERS TAVERN A Margaret River institution, Settlers Tavern has one of the best wine cellars in Australia. While on the surface it is a traditional pub, owners Karen and Rob Gough have a passion for wine built through years in the industry; Rob was a one-time San Francisco sommelier and Karen worked to import Australian wines to the States. With many labels not having a cellar door presence, this is the perfect place to discover the region's smaller and often most interesting producers. Added to this, the Goughs aren't parochial in their outlook, and you'll find a good representation of premium Aussie wine from across the country. That's why this is a hub for winemakers, both resident and visiting. RIVERSMITH One-time winemaker Lachlan MacDonald is a familiar face at Riversmith, his cafe and retail space. The whitewashed walls, art deco frontage and sleek design give little hint to its former life as a garage and petrol station. At one time I'd fill the tank here, but I'm much happier filling up on coffee and diving into their menu, which has a focus on good local produce. Licensed, they've got a small selection of local wine and beer available. Homewares, books and design items are available in the rear retail area — a lifesaver on a number of occasions for forgotten birthdays and the odd Christmas present. Explore more with Pullman. Book your next hotel stay with Pullman and enjoy a great breakfast for just $1.
Our city's urban landscape has inspired some pretty nifty haunts over the years, from rooftop Airstream hotels to bars inside disused trams. But it feels like we're about to reach peak Melbourne with the arrival of Whitehart, a double-decker container bar that's hidden down a CBD laneway and sporting a very healthy dose of street art. The brainchild of husband and wife duo Stephen Johnson and Sabrina Santucci, the bar has breathed new life into a former carpark just off Little Bourke Street, with the pair drawing inspiration from the most memorable drinking spots they've encountered on their overseas jaunts. The bar is an urban oasis with a mix of indoor and openair spaces, plus multi-storey art installations and striking wall projections courtesy of local design studio Daisylegs. Throw in a considered lineup of craft brews, boutique wines and signature cocktails, and eats from a selection of the city's food vendors, and we've got one hell of a new CBD watering hole.
If you've been battling with the idea of deactivating your Facebook account but decided against it because it would 'disconnect' you from a considerable amount of social happenings, then news of Facebook Messenger, a standalone SMS app that was launched yesterday, might just clench this reality. Competing against Google+ and its accompanying mobile app, Facebook Messenger allows you to communicate with other Facebook users (not necessarily your Facebook friends) via SMS. According to Wired, the app "wrangles all private communication" between Facebook users into one thread. The app also features group chats, picture distribution and location services so you can continue to keep in touch even if you aren't logged onto Facebook - all communication is delivered by either notifications or texts. The app is available through iTunes and the Android Store for free, and if this is Facebook's attempt to do away with SMS by providing the same service at no cost, then deactivating your account might be just a tad bit harder to do. https://youtube.com/watch?v=wcRipEHsA64 Image: cydiaiphoneblog.com
Some events are worth locking into your diary regardless of who's playing and what's brightening up the place, and Parrtjima — A Festival In Light is one of them. An annual favourite in Alice Springs, the Indigenous arts, culture and storytelling festival just might be Australia's most luminous event, as attendees will learn when it returns from Friday, April 7–Sunday, April 16. Parrtjima announced its 2023 dates last year, and also outlined its theme — 'Listening with Heart' — plus some of the light-heavy artworks that folks can look forward to. Now, it has dropped two further details: the list of musicians taking to its stages, as well as a sneak peek at what this year's installations will look like. The music bill overflows with First Nations talent, including Docker River Band, Eastern Reggae Band, Emily Wurramara, JK-47, KAIIT, Karnage and Paul Ah Chee. They'll be joined by Radical Son, Richard J Frankland, Discovering Leerpeen Mara, Rowdy Birds, The Andrew Gurruwiwi Band and The Merindas across the ten days — and with a range of dazzling backdrops. "Parrtjima is a unique experience of large-scale light installations combined with a fascinating program of not just music but also talks, workshops and film," said Northern Territory Major Events Company CEO Suzana Bishop, with the organisation delivering the event on behalf of the Northern Territory Government. "As well as being visually stunning, Parrtjima offers so many other experiences, and the chance to see some of Australia's leading Indigenous artists perform. Combined with the unique tourism offerings available in the Red Centre, Parrtjima is not to be missed." Parrtjima's 2023 theme is inspired by the artwork surrounding the Statement from the Heart. That piece depicts Uluru-Ku Tjukurrpa, the Uluru story of connection, and was created by a group of artists from Multijulu as led by Maruku artist Rene Kulitja. So, Kulitja will work with other of artists for Parrtjima to turn the Statement from the Heart artwork into a large-scale immersive light and sound installation. That means that Parrtjima attendees will find themselves plunged in the world of the Aṉangu people of the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands surrounding Uluru. The idea is to feature ancient songlines, plus Indigenous viewpoints on Country, as well as connecting to First Peoples' strong links with the land, water and sky. Two things that'll also be on the bill: two of the festival's regular annual attraction, aka a huge artwork that transforms a 2.5-kilometre stretch of the majestic, 300-million-year-old MacDonnell Ranges, showering it with light each night of the festival; and Grounded, the installation projected over the red dirt at tourism and conservation facility Alice Springs Desert Park. Free to attend, Parrtjima is just one of Northern Territory's two glowing attractions in 2023, with Australia's Red Centre lighting up in multiple ways. The festival is a nice supplement to Bruce Munro's Field of Light installation, which — after multiple extensions — is now on display indefinitely. PARRTJIMA — A FESTIVAL IN LIGHT 2023 MUSIC LINEUP: Docker River Band Eastern Reggae Band, Emily Wurramara JK-47 KAIIT Karnage (DJ) Karnage n Darknis Paul Ah Chee Radical Son Richard J Frankland Discovering Leerpeen Mara Rowdy Birds (DJ) The Andrew Gurruwiwi Band The Merindas Parrtjima – A Festival in Light will run from Friday, April 7–Sunday, April 16, 2023 around Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. For more information, visit the festival 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.
Your flirtation with the humble crumpet might not have graduated much beyond the odd Golden-branded supermarket packet, but that's all set to change with the arrival of one new, very dedicated cafe. Holy Crumpets has landed in Melbourne's CBD and it's a full-blown celebration of the old-school brekkie favourite. The brainchild of local crumpet aficionado Joshua Clements, the cafe's premise is simple, yet genius: cracking house-made crumpets paired with top-quality Melbourne coffee. Locally sourced ingredients star throughout the menu of crumpets, which are all baked in-house daily and all $5 (apart from a couple of 'Fancy Bois' for $7). They're not your standard crumpet either — they're made using naturally fermented sourdough with freshly milled wholewheat flour, for a snack that's a little more nutritious than its supermarket cousin. [caption id="attachment_735625" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tracey Ah-kee[/caption] As well as six-packs of untoasted crumpets to stock your pantry, you'll find a rotation of single-serve, ready-to-scoff options, featuring crafty toppings alongside more traditional options. Think Vegemite, jam and cinnamon, passionfruit curd with ricotta, and even a seasonal concoction of truffle butter, blackberry honey and finely grated pecorino. A trio of peanut butter varieties runs from a rich, dark roast to one with macadamia and wattle, and there's currently over half a dozen honey options you can have slathered on your crumpet. The perfect match? Top-notch coffee from Melbourne's own Wood & Co. Espressos and batch brews star alongside a slew of Assembly teas and Chai Boi chai to round out your oh-so-cosy crumpet feast. Find Holy Crumpets at 5 Little La Trobe Street, Melbourne. It's open weekdays from 6.30am–2.30pm. Images: Tracey Ah-kee
From Thursday, June 27 at Melbourne's Her Majesty's Theatre, expect three words to echo with enthusiasm: "be our guest". The venue is the latest home to the Australian season of Disney's Beauty and the Beast musical, which has arrived Down Under as a newly reimagined and redesigned production. Playing until October, this huge show brings a tale as old as time to the Victorian capital after its Aussie-premiere run in Sydney and subsequent stint in Brisbane — and marks the latest in a growing line of Disney hits to come our way. Frozen the Musical did the rounds in recent years, as did the musical version of Mary Poppins. This version of Beauty and the Beast first made its way to the stage in the UK in 2021, and reworks the original show that premiered in the US in the 90s — adapting Disney's hit 1991 animated movie musical, of course. Fans can expect the same Oscar-winning and Tony-nominated score courtesy of composer Alan Menken and lyricist Tim Rice, including all the beloved tunes such as 'Be Our Guest' and 'Beauty and the Beast'. It also comes with new dance arrangements by David Chase, and with original choreographer Matt West revisiting his work. Cast-wise, the production features all-Australian talent, including Brisbanites Shubshri Kandiah as Belle and Jackson Head as Gaston, the Gold Coast's Jayde Westaby as Mrs Potts, Melbourne's Gareth Jacobs as Cogsworth, plus Brendan Xavier as Beast and Rohan Browne as Lumiere. Images: Daniel Boud.
Purrfect news, feline fans: everything a dapper doggo can do, a cute cat can as well. While that's an accurate statement in general, as anyone who has ever shared their life with both a pooch and a kitty will know, it's also the thinking behind Melbourne's returning animal event. From the folks behind the Dog Lovers Show comes the mouser equivalent: the Cat Lovers Show. If you wear the 'crazy cat person' label as a badge of honour, stop to pat every moggie you meet while you're walking down the street or spend your all of your spare time watching cat videos (or all of the above), then you'll want to block out Saturday, June 4–Sunday, June 5 in your calendar. Expect the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre to come alive with the sounds of meows, and expect pussy lovers to come out in force. On the agenda: feline-focused education and celebration. Before you go thinking about adorable kitties wearing glasses and sitting at desks, or popping streamers and wearing party hats (awwwwwwwww), humans will be doing the learning and rejoicing. Really, what's more informative and exuberant than entering the Pat-A-Cat zone and getting cosy with cats of all shapes and sizes — and possibly taking one home with you? Checking out surreal cat art or hitting up the Paws & Prosecco bar comes close, obviously. If that doesn't tickle your whiskers, attendees will also be able to take a purrfect match quiz to find out which type of cat suits them best, meet different breeds, listen to talks by experts such as TV vets Dr Chris Brown and Dr Katrina Warren, see My Cat From Hell's Jackson Galaxy beamed in to do a Q&A and browse a heap of stalls. And if you're motivated by knowing exactly how much cat antics there'll be, expect more than 300 kitties from 30-plus breeds, plus around 40 rescue group stalls. Also on offer: a cat-inspired food menu at the onsite cafe. Dough Truck, Black Pearl Bubble Tea, Pretzel Station, Crepes n Coffee, Little Schnitz, Sushi Box and Spiral Spuds will also be dishing up food and drinks. Just remember: there'll be plenty of mousers in the Cat Lovers Show house, so you'll need to leave your own moggie at home.
You've seen the movies countless times and maybe even scored tickets to the stage production, but even diehard fans won't have experienced Harry Potter quite like this. Imagery inspired by hit play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will take on an energy of its own, as it's splashed, larger than life, across the facade of the Old Treasury Building during White Night Reimagined. You'll spy captivating designs by English artist and illustrator Peter Strain, nodding to that famed fictional Patronus Charm (Expecto Patronum!). So expect to see ethereal stags, does, otters and even Jack Russells float across the historic building. The DAE White Night creative team has teamed up with large-scale projection experts The Electric Canvas to capture the movie-inspired magic for this one-night event. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will run from 7pm–2am.
You may have 'going to the snow' on your list of winter things to do (and for obvious reasons why) but despite the name, the Snowy Mountains also has plenty to do outside of the chilly season. There are many adventures to take and some highly picturesque hikes to discover, plus there's a heap of regional epicurean delights to try. A five hours' road trip from Sydney, the Snowy Mountains is home to some of Australia's best snowfields, sure. But there's so much more to discover in the region when the days are warmer and the region flourishes. There are excellent hikes and plenty of itineraries to suit your interests. Here, we've got some top ways to eat and drink your way through the area all year round. [caption id="attachment_659674" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW.[/caption] WINES IN COOL CLIMES Tumbarumba, located in the foothills of the Snowy Mountains, is one of Australia's premium, though lesser-known, cool climate wine regions. It supplies grapes to some of the award-winning and recognisable wine brands in Australia. Want to try the wine that was awarded New South Wales' best sparkling in 2017? Then head to Courabyra Wines cellar door for a vineyard tour and wine tasting. Open Thursday to Monday, the cellar door's restaurant focuses on seasonal, local produce paired with sparkling, chardonnay and pinot noir from the vines a few paces away. For those wanting to really immerse themselves in a vinous adventure, private vineyard tours can be organised in advance with owner Cathy who will guide you through the history of the region — with a full glass of wine in your hand. SCHNAPPS FROM THE AUSSIE ALPS To have a real taste of the Australian Alps, head to Wildbrumby on the Alpine Way towards Thredbo to try its range of Snowy Mountains spirits. Australia's only schnapps distillery uses pure mountain water and homegrown organic fruit and botanicals. Combining traditional European methods with its organic Australian produce, the distillery is consistently innovating and pushing the boundaries with its flavours. It's also created a high-proof vodka, the Spirit of Chardonnay varietal and an award-winning gin. But the true heart of the operation lies in the schnapps, where Wildbrumby founders Brad and Monika Spalding use Monika's grandfather's original Austrian distilling recipe. Sourcing organic fruit from their neighbouring farm, they crush apples, pears, berries, stone fruit and the like into a pulp and ferment it in temperature-controlled vats for four weeks. The fermented pulp is then distilled, leaving a spirit roughly 80- to 90-percent in alcohol. This is then blended down with pristine alpine water and bottled onsite. Wildbrumby has daily al fresco tastings of the entire range at their lovely country restaurant in the warmer months, which has outdoor dining as well. There's also an onsite shop where you can buy your favourite flavours of schnapps to bring home. PALE ALE AT HIGH ALTITUDES Visit Australia's first mountain brewpub Kosciuszko Brewery at the Banjo Paterson Inn in Jindabyne. With the 600-litre brewing tanks directly underneath the bar, it's here where you'll get the freshest pour of the pub standard. As an added bonus, there is staff on hand to take you on a tour of the brewery so you can see the whole process of how their iconic brew is made. Made from pale and Munich malts, and brewed with Tassie Galaxy hops, the beer's malty flavours and fruity hop finish make it a good drop for any season. After a long day of exploring, it's an excellent spot to wind up your day with a couple of brews before tucking yourself in for the night down the hallway in the Banjo Paterson Inn. COOKIES 1020 METRES UP If eating at high altitudes is more your thing, grab a snack at 1020 meters above sea level at Snowy Mountains Cookies in Jindabyne. These cookie experts make all kinds of treats, from your favourites like ANZACs and triple chocolate to more unique flavours like spiced caramel and date, coconut and even savoury flavours. If you prefer salty over sweet, opt for their bite-sized rosemary and parmesan, crispy corn and chilli, cheese and native nigella seed cookies. Stock up the car with goodies to take home, but don't be surprised if you eat all your snacks on the trip home. APPLES FRESH FROM THE ORCHARD Every autumn, the annual Batlow Ciderfest fetes the harvest of one of Australia's most celebrated apple-growing towns. At the big street party, you'll be able to try an array of Batlow's boutique ciders alongside other regional ciders, craft beers and wines. You can also visit the various orchards to pick your own produce as well as try apples in every conceivable way — crumble, pie, toffee, chutney. Not visiting during May? That's okay, a lot of the growers and producers hold daily apple hunts for visitors to come and pick their own produce and learn more about the history of Batlow and the apple production in the region. Discover all that the Snowy Mountains has to offer outside of winter months, from jam-packed adventures to the most picturesque hikes and so much more.
It's been a long time coming, but the construction at 731 High Street, Thornbury has finally finished. After servicing the domestic animals of the inner north as a pet store, the spacious shopfront if now serving coffee, rather than collars, as well as cafe fare you certainly wouldn't feed your dog. Short Round is the latest addition to the area and, judging by the amount of locals and non-locals there in its second week, this is definitely Thornbury's newest thing. A burgeoning suburb in itself, Thornbury is perhaps a perfect milieu for Short Round. Unlike its neighbouring suburbs, Thornbury is yet to be inundated with cool coffee haunts — although, if this very well-received opening is anything to go by, it is sure to be next. With a stream of coffee savants, long-time local residents, and those just wanting to give the space a once-over, it's a good thing they knocked down the existing pet store-era walls to create a much larger, open area. Situated on a corner, the cafe makes use of the natural light, and the high ceilings do much to increase the sense of space. Inside, the fresh charcoal and timber fit-out boasts individual, window and communal seating, while around the corner on Ballantyne Street you can sit outside in the remnants of a suburban pergola. The food offering, like so many other venues at the moment, is seasonal, with the spring menu featuring in-season cherry tomatoes, green peas and spring lamb. Served all day, breakfast ranges from sweet (butterscotch house made waffles with vanilla mascarpone and toasted pecans; $13.50) and savoury (breakfast pizza with egg, pancetta, passata, bocconcini, cherry tomatoes, wild rocket and olive oil; $13.50), but lunch might be an even harder decision. Choose from the slow spring lamb with spring onion herb salsa, feta smashed potato, cherry tomato and green peas ($19) or the Labourer's Lunch — local Velimirovic kransky & deluxe ham, piccalilli, braised cabbage and vintage cheddar with mixed bread ($18.50). The Proud Mary coffee ($3.80) is, of course, good all year round, as is the selection of sparkling, red and white wine. Also stocked are the Thornbury-based 3 Ravens Golden Altbier ($8), Mountain Goat Hightail Ale ($7) and Cheeky Rascal cider ($11). Short Round has the air of a cafe that is a fixture, not a fresher. While it's been open a mere two weeks, it doesn't appear to have the fresh legs that suburban cafes tend to land on. The newest addition to a thriving Thornbury, it is surely set to flourish along with it.
Whether you're a Melburnian or an upcoming visitor to the city, if your early winter plans involve heading out for a meal, the Victorian Government and the City of Melbourne want to give you an extra incentive. As initially announced at the beginning of May, the two government bodies have teamed up on a new dining scheme that'll offer 20-percent rebates for eating out in the CBD, Chinatown, Lygon Street, Docklands, North Melbourne, Kensington and Southbank. Originally called the CBD Dining Experiences Scheme, and now dubbed 'Melbourne Money', the initiative will kick off on Friday, June 11. It'll cover food and drink purchases in-store at restaurants, cafes and pubs, as well as bars, clubs, breweries and distilleries. The rebate applies to transactions between $50–500 (including GST), meaning that you'll get as little as $10 and as much as $100 back. The big caveat: you do have to purchase something to eat, with your drinks only covered if you're buying food. Another important thing to take into consideration: it works on a first in, first served basis. So, heading out as soon as the scheme starts — which happens to be on the Queen's Birthday long weekend — and submitting your claim for a rebate immediately afterwards is recommended. Both residents of and visitors to the City of Melbourne can get their cash back after they've been to a hospitality venue, received an itemised receipt at the time of payment, then taken a photo of it and uploaded it to the Melbourne Money website. Within five working days, you'll then score 20 percent of the bill's total via a transfer to your bank account. Melbourne Money forms part of the Victorian Government's next $107.4 million million in spending to revitalise the city, which is included in the 2021–22 Victorian Budget. The Victorian Government is providing $7.4 million towards the scheme, with the City of Melbourne kicking in another $1 million. The dining initiative is the latest scheme to help the state recover from the pandemic, following vouchers for travel to both regional areas and the CBD — and it adapts an idea that's already been rolled out in New South Wales (and, before that, in the UK as well). The Melbourne Money scheme kicks off on Friday, June 11. For more information, head to the City of Melbourne website. Top image: Josie Withers, Visit Victoria.
After a year mostly void of dancing and nightclubs, some Melbourne party favourites are making their much-anticipated returns. The latest: electro music hub Xe54, which is making its comeback in a big way. Following 12 months in hibernation, the club night is moving into a new multi-storey venue on Little Collins Street with — wait for it — a 24-hour licence. You'll probably already know the space as The Bottom End. Kicking off this new iteration with a bang on Saturday, March 6, Xe54 is set to fire up the new digs every Saturday night, spinning electronic tunes until the wee hours each week. You can expect the same signature neon strip lighting as that of the night's former Southbank home, though this time around, it's backed by an upgraded sound system and re-energised music programming. First launched back in 2017, Xe54 has become a staple of Melbourne's underground house and techno scene, teaming up with a swag of leading promoters, and pulling an impressive mix of local and international talent to its decks. Solomun, Carl Craig and Gerd Janson are just some of the reputable names to have drawn crowds to its dance floor in recent years, though there's also been a strong focus on supporting local emerging acts. Organisers are plotting a huge night to kick-start the new series on Saturday, March 6, with the musical lineup to be revealed in the coming days. Stay tuned for all the details. Find XE54 at The Bottom End, 579 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, every Saturday from March 6. For more information and music program updates, visit its Facebook page.
Sydney fine-dining institution Nel is known for its next-level set menus, with its always-popular Disney degustations taking beloved animated films and turning them into mind-blowing dishes, and its Christmas banquet bringing the ultimate festive cheer with inventive takes on seasonal classics. Now, the CBD venue is going rogue with a 11-course set menu based on everyone's favourite fried chicken fast food chain — the home of 11 secret herbs and spices, KFC. Available for $75 per person across just three days on the weekend of Friday, April 1–Sunday, April 3, the dinner will take iconic menu items from the Colonel and transform them into luxurious, unrecognisable culinary creations. The experience has been created by Nel's owner Nelly Robinson, with each course designed to combine the extravagance of Nel with the fun and playfulness associated with fast food. Highlights from the menu are too abundant to list out, but some exciting concepts you'll be presented with include supercharged wings charred and served on a bed of charcoal, a candle made of gravy that will drip onto a potato bun, and the portrait of Colonel Sanders that's used as the KFC logo recreated on a plate with flavours of fried chicken, tomato, lettuce and pepper mayo. Elsewhere on the menu, you'll find takes on popcorn chicken, Original Recipe drumsticks and the twister — all manipulated and elevated by the chefs at Nel — as well as some yet-to-be-revealed surprises. Wines will be served to compliment the dishes, and finishing off the whole affair will be a nitrogen-dipped chocolate mousse that promises to melt in your mouth. "As a lifelong fan of KFC, creating an 11-course degustation with their most-loved menu items and elevating them to new heights has been a dream come true," Robinson said. The profits are also going to a good cause, with 100-percent of the proceeds from the three nights being donated to KFC's charity partners The Black Dog Institute, ReachOut Australia and Whitelion. With both Nel and KFC expecting this limited-time banquet to be in high demand, you'll have to sign up to a waitlist at KFC's website in order to be in the running to nab tickets to the event. [caption id="attachment_846235" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nelly Robinson[/caption] KFC and Nel's degustation will be happening at a secret location in Sydney between Friday, April 1–Sunday, April 3. You can join the waitlist at KFC's website.
Sometimes places just feel right. You walk in and suddenly you're okay with being there. Harvest Organic Foodstore, Cafe & Kitchen in Fairfield is one of those places. For those playing at home, this space has only been Harvest since its relaunch earlier this year. The cafe has previously lived on Gertrude Street, Fitzroy as Organic Gertrude, before migrating to Station Street in 2004 and becoming Harvest this January, almost ten years later. Harvest is one for the community. It's an organic cafe in the front, and an organic foodstore and takeaway spot out the back. Mornings see this space filled with fresh, warm Baker D. Chirico bread, which is well worth getting up with the sun for. All day organic breakfast is a good thing. Start with a quinoa and sago porridge with agave, toasted almonds and coconut flakes ($13), or perhaps the mushroom ragu on rye with baby kale and poached eggs ($17). Lunchtime sees jerk chicken and farro salad with raw walnuts, spinach, and apple cider dressing ($19.50), or the red lentil dahl with brown rice, coconut coriander chutney, and yoghurt ($15). There are also a range of tarts and pies in the cabinet. They are perfect for the buy now, eat later situation. For those who want to cook for themselves, these guys have you covered for that too. From the shelves you'll find flours, grains, cereals, nuts, dried fruit, and chocolates. In the fridge there yoghurts made of milk, or make of cashews, cheese, milk, tofu, eggs, and in-house pre-packaged soups and take home foods. You'll also find organic meats for sale, including fresh cuts of beef and lamb from Sprunt Farms, and ham, bacon and cured meats from Skara Artisan Smallgoods. We dare you to go in and come out empty handed. We can't.
Unlimited noodles, bottomless booze. That's what's on offer every weekend lunchtime at Richmond's New Quarter. The Vietnamese restaurant — from the team behind Hanoi Hannah, Tokyo Tina and Firebird — has jumped on the Melbourne bottomless brunch train, but is swapping out eggs and avocado on toast for oodles of noodles. For a very modest $49 per person, diners get to choose two snacks from a lineup of mini banh mis, hot and sour oysters, wagyu beef skewers and grilled corn tartlets — before they dive into bowls of unlimited noodles. Let us give you a preview of what you're dealing with on the noodle front. [caption id="attachment_804577" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Parker Blain[/caption] There are five different noodle dishes available during New Quarter's Non-Stop Noods lunch, and diners can swap from one to the other as they lick each of the bowls clean. You can either focus on the food, not letting anything else distract you as you work your way through the noods, or you can add a bottomless booze package to the whole affair. For $60 per person, you'll get two hours of unlimited tap beer, wine and carafes of the crew's house margarita made with makrut and ginger-infused blanco tequila. And while there is a time limit of two hours on the bottomless booze, there is no cap on how long you can feast on noodles. Consider this New Quarter bottomless lunch as a proper eating challenge, but a damn delicious one. Food and drink images: Ashley Ludkin
It's no secret that Melbourne's dumpling game is strong. So if you're going to use the word in your restaurant name, you'd better be bringing the goods. As the latest addition to the buzzing Smith Street stretch south of the Grace Darling, Bowl Bowl Dumpling has made that very call, and passed the test. Inside, the double storefront space has a hipster-friendly, modern zen feel, with earthy tones and verdant foliage interspersed with pops of colour. The exposed brick walls, pendant lights and elegant Japanese clay tableware all show signs of effort. While it doesn't always feel cohesive, it's certainly one of the more comfortable dumpling dining experiences you can expect at this price range, with not a plastic table in sight. Those plump little pillows are, of course, the stars of the menu, but you can kick things off with a few Pan-Asian starters — perhaps some nicely battered salt and pepper calamari ($8.50), or a serve of vegetarian spring rolls ($6.50). With seven dumpling dishes on offer, there's an option to satisfy most, and all but one come with a share-friendly 10 to a serve. Take a few friends and a bit of an appetite and you can walk away having sampled the lot. Dumpling fans will know that xiao long bao are something of a technical yardstick, and Bowl Bowl's version of the soup-filled buns definitely don't disappoint. Touted here as 'Water Bomb' dumplings, they're delicate and juicy, ready to burst with fragrant, gingery pork broth ($14.50 for eight). In terms of technique, the gluten-free, Italian-style chicken dumplings ($13.50 for 10 pieces) don't quite hit the same mark, with skins a little on the thick side, but the fennel filling is tasty and fresh and the combo is a refreshing change from the norm. Then, those really in the mood for some feasting can get stuck into a handful of bigger dishes, like the Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce ($18) or fried rice ($18.50). The drinks list is a step up from the usual dumpling dinner offering — beers are basic, but there's a handful of Australian wines, all hovering around $9 for a glass and $35 for a bottle. Service, too, trumps that at the flourescent-lit set, with attentive, friendly staff showing off some practised moves. This is hardly the dumpling experience you're used to, but a meal at Bowl Bowl is sure to convert you.
A slew of new Melbourne rooftop bars opened or underwent major refurbs this summer (including but not limited to Mirror Mirror, Skinny Dog Hotel and Johnny's Green Room). But there's still stacks of sky-high real estate out there just waiting to be transformed into a new bar or restaurant. The Preston Hotel is Melbourne's latest spot to put its rooftop space to good use as it prepares to launch its new sun-soaked cocktail haunt, Lulu Bar, on Friday, February 9. Compared to the old-school boozer and sports betting space downstairs, the new bar is significantly more flash and set to draw in a younger crowd. The two spaces are a perfect representation of how Preston is changing. But while Lulu Bar is more refined than The Preston Hotel proper, it is still leaning into distinctly laidback rooftop vibes. Local artist Sebastian Fransz has designed a colourful mural as a backdrop for the casual sofas and short timber tables on which to rest your drinks. The setup's pretty minimal, although you really don't need to overdo it when you've got such banging city views. Those wanting more intimate, cool cocktail bar energy will likely be pleased by the indoor space, fitted out with plenty of artwork, matte rouge walls and leather couches. A bit more love has gone into this part of Lulu Bar. Same goes for the food. Chef Pras is running the kitchen, serving up tapas-style share plates like chicken and corn croquettes with peri peri mayo and sticky pork ribs. House-made pizzas will also feature for those after something more substantial. Pair the crowd-pleasing eats with bespoke seasonal cocktails (leaning into the spritzes and boozy slushies this summer), local wines and craft beers. The Lulu Bar team also plans to host DJs, rooftop cinema events and wine tastings throughout the year, so do keep an eye out on its Instagram page for updates. The crew isn't reinventing the wheel here, just giving Preston a chill rooftop bar where the drinks will be flowing. Find Lulu Bar at 635 High Street, Preston. It will open on Friday, February 9, operating 3pm–late on Thursdays and 12pm–late from Friday to Sunday.
