Whether the folks in charge like it or not, Melbourne's myki system has been associated with more headaches and grumbles than it has with positive reviews. Now, probably for the first time, it's inspired something fun, with local design duo Dyl & Oscar launching a card game based on our public transport network. The tabletop game Touched On sees players attempt to fare evade their way around Melbourne's tram, train, and bus systems, while avoiding the cards marked as undercover ticket inspectors. Basically, it's the perfect way to indulge your inner law-breaker, without getting caught (and having to pay an on-the-spot fine) IRL. Dyl & Oscar have started a Kickstarter campaign to fund and sell Touched On, which can be snapped up for the Kris Kringle-friendly price of just $22. The pair has even created a few fun extras, including unisex socks inspired by that oh-so-familiar tram seat print. Pledges for the project are open until Monday, December 19, and the finished game is expected to ship in March next year. UPDATE: More than a week before the end of Touched On's funding period, the project has met its goal, ensuring that public transport-themed card game antics really will become a reality. For more information on Touched on or to make a pledge, visit their Kickstarter page.
Eating out has always been central to Melbourne life, but the way people are doing it is starting to look a little different. Despite cost-of-living pressures, diners are still heading out — they're just being more selective, more value-focused, and a lot savvier about when and where they go. According to industry operators and booking data, here's how the city's dining habits are evolving. Smarter Deals, Not Just Discounts Commune Group — behind venues including Studio Amaro, Moonhouse, New Quarter, Tokyo Tina and Firebird — has seen this shift first-hand. Over more than a decade, the group has weathered everything from the pandemic to seasonal downturns. But in the past year, it's doubled down on clever ways to entice people into restaurants. "There's a certain cohort in Melbourne at the moment that are looking for deals and specials throughout the week," says Managing Director Rob Gringlas. "I think that hasn't always existed — or maybe it has, but we weren't aware of it." Instead of blanket discounts, the team has leaned into value-driven activations that still feel special. At New Quarter, the "High Tide" weekend special features an impressive selection of raw seafood, banana-leaf steamed snapper, salads, condiments and rice or vermicelli — a spread you won't find on the standard menu. Unlimited drinks are also included but Gringlas says that's a value-add, not the full story. "Instead of just saying, 'here's a set menu and we are offering bottomless booze', we're trying to create bespoke menus that are things you can't otherwise get," Gringlas says. This is just one of several specials being offered across the group, from Moonhouse's Fish Night (a $30 midweek deal built around the market catch of the day) to Firebird's Chicken Night (a $25 Wednesday exclusive of woodfired chook and two sides). Gringlas says they're not meant to last forever — they'll typically run three to six months — and while they've managed to draw in younger crowds chasing specials, they also give loyal regulars a reason to come back. Value Plays From High-End Operators While the seasonal set menu at Gimlet will set you back $160 a head before drinks, its sibling bar Apollo Inn offers the same considered service and ambience that Trader House is known for at a more approachable price point. Its current collaboration with Grey Goose — a flight of three mini martinis for $45 — removes the barrier to entry, giving cost-conscious consumers a chance to experience the brand without blowing their budget or committing to a multi-course meal. This shift is something operators across the city are leaning into. Grant Smillie, owner of Marmont, says he's "never seen more operators putting forward offers and value-driven initiatives — often venues that historically never touched discounting." He suggests that at the moment, diners are being more strategic than ever about when and where to visit in order to maximise the value of their experience. So it pays for operators to lean in — something that Smillie is unafraid to do. At Marmont, a $35 wagyu-and-fries combo every Wednesday has become a mid-week staple, letting diners enjoy the full venue experience at a fraction of the price. They're also serving mini martinis for $14 a pop and snacks from $15 — offerings that Smillie says appeal to those seeking small luxuries in the face of cost-of-living pressures, the so-called "lipstick effect." Across Melbourne more broadly, the same pattern is playing out. Diners are swapping big-ticket dinners for smaller indulgences — from sweets to inventive drinks. Non-alcoholic beverages are a big part of this shift too, with people happily spending $10 on a specialty tea or coffee as an everyday luxury, even if they're holding back on bigger-ticket purchases. Hotel Restaurants on the Rise Another cost-of-living twist? The resurgence of hotel restaurants. According to OpenTable, Australians are increasingly treating hotel dining as an attraction in itself — a sense of escape and indulgence without leaving town. 40 percent of diners surveyed say hotel restaurants beat independents on atmosphere, underscoring the growing pull of hotel dining. Casual dining still rules (74 percent prefer it when eating at hotels), but rooftops and buffets are hot contenders — and often a destination in their own right. In Melbourne, that's driving fresh interest in spots like North & Common at Adina Coburg, Lona Misa at the Ovolo South Yarra, Salted Egg at the Quincy Hotel and Fleet Rooftop Bar at the Vibe Hotel Melbourne, set on the 22nd floor with sweeping views and a fitout that feels more like a destination bar than a hotel restaurant. Luci at Hilton Melbourne is also leaning into value-adds, having resurrected its BYO offer with no corkage — a rare five-star incentive for those chasing luxe nights out for less. Cheap-and-cheerful dining still has its place, but the trends suggest Melbourne diners want something special — they just can't invest as much as they used to. They're doing it smarter, stretching their dollars further, and chasing small luxuries that feel worth the spend. Looking for some cheap eats in Melbourne? Here are our fave meals under $20. Images: Supplied
Turn it back up to 11: 41 years after the members of Spinal Tap were first immortalised on film, David St Hubbins (Michael McKean, The Diplomat), Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer, The Simpsons) and Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest, Mascots) are scoring their second big-screen moment. As announced in 2022, iconic 1984 mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap is getting the sequel treatment. And if this felt like one of those "I'll believe it when I see it" follow-ups, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues has just dropped its first trailer ahead of hitting cinemas Down Under this spring. Filmmaker Marty DiBergi is also back to chronicle the group's latest antics — which means that IRL director Rob Reiner (The Princess Bride, A Few Good Men) is as well, both playing the fictional part on-camera and helming Spinal Tap II: The End Continues. As the sneak peek shows, he's pointing the camera at a reunion concert and its preparations, including efforts to find a new drummer, merchandising ideas and waxing lyrical about Spinal Tap's journey so far. Elton John, Questlove and Paul McCartney are also sighted in the first glimpse at the new film, as Spinal Tap's estranged bandmates reform, grapple with their past and contemplate their mortality — and ponder how the latter might help bring in fans. Viewers will be able to watch along with their efforts from Thursday, September 25, 2025. If you're new to all things Spinal Tap, the fictional English heavy metal band initially debuted on American TV in 1979; however, it was This Is Spinal Tap that made them legends. With this trio, there is indeed a fine line between stupid and clever. The group behind 'Lick My Love Pump', 'Sex Farm' and 'Hell Hole' have reformed in reality a number of times, too, and released albums. This Is Spinal Tap isn't just an 80s comedy gem that everyone needs to see at least once, and actually several times more than that. Every music documentary since for the past four decades has followed in its footsteps, straightforward and satirical alike. Also, Spinal Tap's name has become shorthand for OTT bands who take themselves too seriously. The OG film is also hitting picture palaces in 2025, re-releasing in 4K from Thursday, August 7. Check out the trailer for Spinal Tap II: The End Continues below: Spinal Tap II: The End Continues releases Down Under on Thursday, September 25, 2025. Images:Bleecker Street & Authorized Spinal Tap LLC.
It's that time of the year already. When mid-January hits, everyone is back at work and the summer's holidays start to fade away, we all get a new obsession: booking their next vacation. Consider Webjet's current flight sale, filled with discounted fares to Australia's Red Centre, exactly what you need, then — and an excuse to start packing your suitcase. Until 11.59pm AEDT on Friday, January 20, the travel site is slinging one-way flights to the Northern Territory from just $19 one-way — at a discount of up to $150 off in total on some fares. Of course, that first figure is just the starting point, so you mightn't score such a cheap flight depending on which day you're planning to travel, and also where you're jetting off from, but there are still some mighty cheap prices available. The sale covers trips to Uluru and Alice Springs, for travel from now — yes, right now — through to April 5 this year. Fancy an autumn jaunt to the middle of the country? Making end-of-summer plans to help brace yourself for the cooler weather? Just craving another break already? They're all options. One key caveat: the discounted prices are available for inbound flights only, so you won't receive the same discount to come home. [caption id="attachment_773731" align="alignnone" width="1920"] NT by Tourism Australia[/caption] Among the list of deals, the $19 fares are a starting point for flights from Sydney to Uluru, Melbourne's (from Tullamarine) start at $30 to the same destination, Hobart to Uluru legs begin at $108, and Adelaide to Alice Springs fares start from $115. Wondering what to do once you get there? Uluru's incredible Field of Light installation remains a permanent recommendation — and you can also check out our guide to visiting the Red Centre. [caption id="attachment_847444" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Central Australia[/caption] Webjet's Red Centre sale runs until 11.59pm AEDT on Friday, January 20. Top image: Tourism NT, Salty Travellers.
Constantly thinking about your next getaway, especially now that travel has been returning to normal? We all are. Always trying to plan your next trip, but keen to make the most of your budget — or make your holiday dollars stretch across as many vacations as possible? Yep, we're all doing that, too, and that's what flight sales are for. With that in mind, Jetstar and Qantas have dropped yet another batch of cheap fares, in Qantas Group's biggest combined domestic flights sale of 2022. Over a million seats are on offer, and routes with discounted fares are within Australia — so get ready to explore your own backyard. If you're keen on a cheap Jetstar flight, with one-way prices starting at $35, you need to get in quickly — come 8pm AEDT today, Thursday, October 13 (or earlier if sold out), it'll all be over. With Qantas, the sale runs until 11.59pm AEST on Thursday, October 20 (but, again, earlier if sold out), with one-way fares starting at $99. Actually, 70 percent of Jetstar's sale fares are under $100, too — while more than a quarter of Qantas' deals are under $200. Expect to be spoiled for choice destination-wise; between Qantas, QantasLink and Jetstar, the sale spans 67 destinations around Australia, capital cities and regional towns both included. On the list via Jetstar: Sydney to Melbourne (Avalon) for $35, Adelaide to Melbourne (Tullamarine) for $45, Canberra to Brisbane for $75, Melbourne (Tullamarine) to Cairns for $90 and Sydney to Uluru for $90 as well. Qantas' cheap flights include Sydney to Byron Bay for $99, Melbourne to Launceston for the same price and Brisbane to Cairns for $149. Jetstar's sale runs until 8pm AEDT on Thursday, October 13, while Qantas' sale runs until 11.59pm AEST on Thursday, October 20 — or until sold out. 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.
Ahead of World Whisky Day this Saturday, May 20, The Bottle-O is here to ensure you have all the fun facts needed to bluff your way to being a whisky connoisseur — even if you've yet to take a sip. Whisky can be intimidating for some, but it's a versatile spirit with a style that's guaranteed to suit anyone and everyone. You could enjoy a bourbon on the rocks or a scotch neat, a ready-to drink flavour-laden can or a shot topping up a citrusy highball (which we have a standout recipe for). Or, maybe you'll like it sweet and cinnamon-spicy. Guaranteed: there's a dram for you. Now, where should your explorations start? What's with the barrels? Why are ice cubes called 'rocks'? And why, oh why, is it somehow correctly spelled both whiskey and whisky at the same time? Let's dive in. WHISKY 101 Let's start with the basics. Whisky is a spirit made with grain, water and yeast that's distilled in massive copper stills (essentially kettles) and then aged in barrels. But you can't just use any grain. You'd be hard-pressed to find a tipple made with oats, for instance. In Scotland, whisky is made from malted barley, whereas in the United States, they use a combination of corn, rye, wheat and barley. WOOD GIVES WHISKY ITS COLOUR AND FLAVOUR Did you know that when whisky comes out of the still it's totally clear and colourless? The colour of whisky comes from the oak barrels it's aged in. Oak barrels contain vanillin, which (as its name suggests) gives a vanilla flavour, but when toasted (literally charred on the inside with fire) the wood gives more caramel notes. As the temperature in the storeroom fluctuates — warmer in summer and cooler in winter — the spirit seeps into the wooden grain taking on the colours and flavours. American bourbon distillers use virgin barrels (read: never been used before), while Irish whiskey and other producers use secondhand bourbon or wine barrels to age their spirit. The longer a whisky spends in a barrel the more flavour it gains. This is why you might get cherry notes on an Irish whiskey, after being aged in a barrel that used to have sherry in it, and more honeycomb flavours from a bourbon like Jim Beam. The year on a whisky label tells you the number of years it's spent in a barrel. So, Glenfiddich 12 Year has spent, yep, 12 years in a barrel before being bottled and sent to the shelves of your local The Bottle-O. IT IS SPELLED BOTH WHISKY AND WHISKEY It's fairly common knowledge that whisk(e)y originated in Ireland and Scotland. The original Gaelic term — uisce beatha, pronounced ish-kah va-ha — was anglicised when the Brits took over, which resulted in the two different spellings. Simplified, Irish whiskey is spelled with the 'e' and Scottish without. This little trivia tip will help you work out where a whisky's distilling method or style originated from. For example, we've got our exceptional drops Down Under usually missing the 'e', indicating we learned our trade from the Scots. The Yanks, however, were trading with the Irish — so whiskey it is (as is seen on classic bourbons from Kentucky). 'ON THE ROCKS' MEANS EXACTLY THAT Fun fact: freezers weren't always around, making it easy for you to grab a few ice cubes to both keep your sip cool and take the bite out of the booze. So, what did the highlanders do to make their scotch more palatable? Simple, they would take cold rocks (like stones from a clear stream or spring) and put them in their cup before adding their whisky and diving in. Nowadays, we've moved on from actual rocks — although you can find fancy fake ice cubes made from rock if you want to be clever about it — but the phrase has lived on. WHISKY LIQUEURS AREN'T FLAVOURED WHISKIES Essentially, a whisky liqueur is a combination of a base whisky and other ingredients like herbs or spices. And flavoured whisky? It's made by adding ingredients to whisky during the ageing process. If you're in the mood for a sweet and spicy twist on whisky, one liqueur that fits the bill is Fireball. This Canadian spirit blends cinnamon and whisky for a fiery and flavourful drink that's perfect for sipping or mixing into cocktails. Whether you're a whisky fanatic searching for your next favourite dram, or you've only admired from afar up until now, now you've got five fun facts in your pocket to bluff your way through celebrating on World Whisky Day, Saturday, May 20. Now's the time to pick a bottle from your local The Bottle-O and discover its deliciousness. The Bottle-O is the independent store slinging your favourite boozy sips all over Australia — and a standout spot to nab your whisk(e)y of choice. Ready to dive in? Head to the website. Top image: Choochart Choochaikupt (first)
As Melbourne's frosty winter temperatures kick in, so do the cravings for comfort food. Specifically, big bowls of fresh saucy pasta, cooked just how Nonna would like it. But, if you haven't got the skills (or patience) to hone your own at-home pasta production game, you'll find a new culinary saviour in Fairfield's newly launched Pasta Poetry. The brainchild of Melbourne hospitality veteran Theo Krambias (CH James), Pasta Poetry is a multifaceted homage to the art of pasta-making. The boutique pasta shop is now open, with an adjoining restaurant set to launch later this year. Heading up the kitchen is a dynamic duo — Executive Chef Elena Kavallaris, fresh from a trip spent training in Bologna, Italy, and Head Chef Robin Turner (La Luna Bistro in Carlton, Zsa's Bar and Bistro in Northcote). Together, they're whipping up the store's signature range of fresh handmade pasta and traditional sauces, ready for you to take home and turn into a masterpiece of your own. On the ever-changing menu, you'll find expertly executed varieties like egg tagliatelle, tortello tondo stuffed with spinach and locally made ricotta, and cappelletti filled with 18-hour braised ox cheek. Gluten-free and vegan options abound, with gnocchi crafted using chickpea and tapioca dough, and a saffron pumpkin ravioli. Sauce options run to the likes of a creamy parmesan zabaglione, a buttery white wine number and the classic Bologna-style slow-cooked ragu. If you get overwhelmed with choices, friendly staff are on hand to help you mix and match your way to new pasta night heights. In-store, you'll also find a couple of ready-to-heat lasagne varieties, house-made garlic bread and a classic two-person tiramisu. Plus, there's a tidy selection of pasta accompaniments including cheeses, herbs and a range of wine. For the summer 2021-22 season, Pasta Poetry has also unveiled its new al fresco courtyard where you can kick back with antipasto plates, freshly-made pasta serves and summer-inspired cocktails. There's even a central bocce court for some friendly competition. The courtyard's open through summer from 3pm Wednesday to Friday.
When Renee Bennett (Amy Schumer) glances in the mirror, her own loathing stares back. She hates what she sees. She hates how she's viewed by the world. Painstakingly trying to follow YouTube hair and makeup tutorials, she yearns to meet society's beauty standards. "I've always wondered what it's like to be undeniably pretty," Renee tells a model friend (Emily Ratajkowski) at the gym. When her dream receptionist job is advertised — at the Fifth Avenue head office of her cosmetics brand employer, a step up from her current Chinatown workplace — she's certain she won't get it due to her appearance. Wishing for a permanent makeover, Renee even throws a penny into a fountain during a storm in desperation. That doesn't work, but then she hits her head during cycling class and suddenly loves her reflection. In I Feel Pretty, the twist is right there in the title — Renee's appearance doesn't change, just her perception. Now certain that she's the total package, she oozes confidence, takes risks and enjoys the life-altering changes that come with her boosted self-esteem. She not only gets the job, but gets to work with her idol, company CEO Avery LeClaire (Michelle Williams). She assumes that the kindly Ethan (Rory Scovel) is hitting on her at the dry cleaners, asks him out and they start dating. Charting Renee's transformation, seasoned rom-com writers-turned-directors Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein (He's Just Not That Into You, The Vow, How to be Single) craft a typical "make a wish" flick, but set their sights on body image. The film even includes a glimpse of Big, in case the Tom Hanks-starring '80s hit didn't instantly spring to mind. Helming their first feature, Kohn and Silverstein have a very specific aim: discarding society's narrow concept of hotness, showing that a little self-belief goes a long way, and fashioning an empowering comedy as a result. An important goal, it's one that Schumer has spent her stand-up and on-screen careers championing. It's there in her comic routine, in countless Inside Amy Schumer sketches and in Trainwreck as well, but I Feel Pretty doesn't belong in the same company. Here, there's an enormous gap between the film's intentions and its execution. Specifically, the view the movie celebrates doesn't quite match its contents. Trying to have its body-positive cake and eat it too, I Feel Pretty says it's what's on the inside that counts while demonstrating the opposite. The film presents a character who's only successful and happy when she thinks she's attractive, and when she thinks that the world agrees — and while viewers can see that Renee still looks the same, it invites them to laugh when she acts like she's a supermodel. You could argue that the movie chuckles with rather than at her, but she's rightly glowing with pride instead of giggling. You could also suggest that the film is making fun of Renee's over-the-top behaviour, which involves sidelining her lifelong best buds (Aidy Bryant and Busy Philipps) and generally acting like a diva. However, the number of times that another character reacts like Renee isn't physically all that paints a very different picture. Take one particularly problematic scene as an example. On her first date with Ethan, Renee decides to enter a seedy bar's bikini contest. Ethan suggests that she doesn't really fit the part, doing so with subtlety. But the MC doesn't share his tact, appearing shocked when Renee takes to the stage, and later describing her as "the kind of woman who could handle herself in a knife fight". The way the scene is staged and shot reinforces his view, encouraging the audience to guffaw heartily at the premise (because a woman who doesn't look like a conventional swimsuit model baring some flesh is apparently funny?) while also offering up plenty of incredulous reactions from the on-screen audience. Sure, everyone eventually appreciates Renee's gusto, complete with cheers and applause. But if what's on the outside doesn't matter in the film's opinion, why milk the situation for easy laughs first? That's I Feel Pretty's whole approach. Served up in bright and shiny packaging, and layered over a formulaic story, the movie's mixed messages don't end there, although it's never mean or ugly — just muddled. The idea that Schumer isn't desirable is ridiculous, but the comedian is actually at her best when she's earnestly engaging with Renee's feelings of inadequacy. It's a side she doesn't often show on-screen, and it suits her. Williams' rare foray into comic territory is similarly impressive, with the acclaimed actress playing the more exaggerated part, illustrating that everyone has insecurities and stealing every scene she's in. Indeed, as proved the case with Tilda Swinton in Trainwreck, Schumer is upstaged by her co-star. Well, that and the film's superficial nature. A flick about peering beneath the surface, I Feel Pretty ultimately ignores its own advice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-FMymitzf8
When Sydney Sweeney was in Sydney at a Sydney Swans game earlier in 2023, it wasn't just because she was playing the Sydney version of Pokémon and catching them all. Rather, the Euphoria and The White Lotus star was filming a romantic comedy. And when Boxing Day hits this year, cinemagoers will be able to see the end result. Right now, you can watch a sneak peek at rom-com Anyone But You, too, thanks to the movie's just-dropped first teaser trailer. The setup: Sweeney plays Bea, who had a great first date with Ben (Glen Powell, Top Gun: Maverick), then suggests that they pretend to be a couple when things don't quite work out otherwise. There's more to the story, but that isn't what teaser trailers are for — so why the pair's spark fizzled after their first date hasn't been revealed so far. As for that pretence, it comes while they're at a destination wedding. The location: Australia, obviously. From the first look, this clearly falls into a specific category of Aussie-made movies, aka flicks shot Down Under that can't stop reminding viewers that they're set Down Under. So, the trailer includes multiple shots of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House. The latter even features in the background as Bea and Ben are having a Titanic moment on a boat. Anyone But You is directed and co-written by Will Gluck, who has both Easy A and Friends with Benefits on his resume, then the vastly dissimilar Annie and the two Peter Rabbit movies. On-screen, as well as Sweeney, Powell and a whole lot of Sydney — the city — Alexandra Shipp (Barbie), GaTa (Dave), Dermot Mulroney (Secret Invasion), Bryan Brown (C*A*U*G*H*T) and Rachel Griffiths (Total Control) also feature. Check out the trailer for Anyone But You below: Anyone But You opens in cinemas Down Under on December 26, 2023.
The Museum of Contemporary Art Australia will be transformed next week when the Games of Thrones Exhibition hits Sydney. With over 100 real artefacts, props and costumes (no replicas) the free exhibition will keep fans from gnashing their teeth as they await season five. The exhibition features a virtual experience that simulates life on top of the wall, where fans can catch a 360 degree panoramic view over Castle Black, as well as the opportunity to snap a selfie atop the Iron Throne. Liam Cunningham, who plays Davos Seaworth on the most downloaded program in history, is in town to launch the show. On a sunny winter morning outside Three Williams cafe, we caught up with the Irish engineer-turned-actor to talk finger puppets, potatoes and patricide. So thanks for chatting to us after no doubt a long flight. It's wonderful. I've a mate here who I've been threatening to come and see forever and I just haven't had the opportunity and when this came up they didn't have to ask me twice. This exhibition has gone all over hasn't it? Toronto, Amsterdam, Belfast, London. It's a real treat. What's really cool about it now is that HBO aren't trying to make a quick buck out of it. It's free. It's a little thank you to the fans for, you know, making it as big as it is. But it needs to finish real soon, otherwise I'll be naked in the next show, which would be unheard of. All my costumes are in this exhibition. For the fans, it's just a real treat. There are some fans, aren't there? Nobody knew it was going to be such a phenomenon. It's just this really expansive backdrop to an incredible story of family and paranoia and jealousy and power and how power corrupts and how the powerful, generally speaking, are just taking care of themselves. Our first female PM loved the show. Yeah she's a fan, a big fan! And Barack Obama. He insisted on getting season four before the public got it. So power does corrupt. That's how you know you've got power. He's a big fan. Jack Nicholson is a fan. Martin Scorsese. Who else? It's extraordinary the amount of people who love this show. You see it at the exhibition. You've got the emos and the goths and those people coming along who are kind of hardcore but generally speaking it's kids from sixteen to one hundred and sixteen watching it. It's not a niche program at all because it's unpredictable. Right from when our leading man Ned Stark got chopped it was a game-changer, because it broke, especially for the States, where your leading man gets in trouble, overcomes, gets the girl and disappears, boring boring boring. People went, 'What? Hold on, we need to watch this thing properly, because this is just messing with our heads.' If Davos suddenly turned around and told Stannis to shove it I don't think we'd see that coming. It's not in his nature. He's the kind of guy, if you were in trouble you'd want him in your corner. His loyalty and decency is unquestionable. Listen, he's treated well apart from having his hand chopped off. Is it a glove you use? Sometimes it's a glove. Sometimes it's little green puppets on my fingers that then get digitally removed. Pop quiz: If Davos was going to be killed off would you prefer his head was chopped off, his skull was popped or torture? Torture's always good 'cause you have the audience on your side. You're sort of a veteran but you started late as an actor. You worked as an engineer, lived in Africa and got married all before taking up the game. Your career before GoT is pretty accomplished but has your life changed in a big way since – I've been outed. I feel like I've been gay and kept it quiet and now people know. But you're coping. But I'm in front of the pride march with a stick. There is a bit of that. Listen, people's memories are really short. What's good about it is I have to wear this [gestures to beard], my pubic balaclava, when filming and when I finish filming off it comes and nobody knows who I am. Luckily I started late enough not to be impressed by myself. But you're Ireland's pin-up boy… There's a very healthy begrudgery in Ireland. No one gives a fuck who I am. You're not allowed to get on any sort of pedestal. It's kind of healthy. My ego's enormous anyway. I don't need it massaged. I can do that myself. You've brought your youngest along. Are you the coolest dad ever? Of course. Isn't that obvious. No, yeah, he's my travelling companion. He keeps me out of trouble. He keeps me out of the pip. I think he had a book. I'm impressed. A kid with a book. Yeah, but it's a book about guns. I'm raising a small serial killer. At the moment he's choosing which weapon to end my life with. He's probably looking at me through the window and saying I'm gonna pop a cap in your arse, Dad. No, he's cool. He's a sixty-year-old man trapped in a thirteen-year-old body. He's the kind of dude I got to for advice. He's an extraordinary little fella, my boy. In my last 35 seconds I have to ask, for my editor, reflections on The Little Princess? She's a fan! Quite a few tweets come through — OMFG Davos Seaworth is the dad from The Little Princess. The Little Princess was nineteen years ago so a lot of those eight-year-old girls are now watching me as Davos. And now they're hugely attractive, gorgeous-looking women, and I'm close to death at this stage, but at least I've kept these ladies very happy when they were kids and I'm keeping them happy when they're grown-ups. I love my job. There's not many movies for daddies and little girls. Can you think of any other ones for fathers and daughters? Oh man, the The Shiralee. It's this Australian one … It's got Bryan Brown in it. I used to look like Bryan Brown. Just quickly, I'm working on a story and I want to list all the things you can do with potatoes. Because you're Irish, and I don't mean to be racist, but I was wondering if you could add anything to my list. So far I've got mashed potato, fried potato, boiled potatoes, potato bake, potato soup... Mashed potato sandwiches. Keith Lemon's favourite dish. If you had to give up onions or potatoes? Well this is not an option. No. I cook. You have to give up one. Shit. Onions or potatoes? Onions are so incredibly important but listen, we'd die without potatoes. Now you're going to remember The Shiralee or will you forget? It's S-h-i-r-a – [A lady walks past and tells us to shut up our very female-specific body parts several times before moving on.] ...Welcome to Australia! That's fantastic. I wonder if she arranges flowers for a living. When do you head home? I leave Tuesday. We're going to open the exhibition. I couldn't wait to get down here. Does Australia really feel as far away as everybody – It's the moon. It's the moon. Next stop, the Sea of Tranquillity. Game of Thrones: Season 4 is now available on Google Play. The Game of Thrones Exhibition is at the MCA from July 1-5.
2021 was a tough year for many, but it turns out there's nothing like back-to-back lockdowns to spawn some truly creative ideas. While doors were closed and restrictions lingered, some local businesses and communities banded together to help make life a little more bearable. During the many months Melbourne was under stay-at-home-orders, a stack of hospitality businesses went above and beyond to help those that were struggling. And a heap of our favourite spots came up with new and innovative ways of keeping their staff in work, while keeping locked-down patrons fed, entertained and feeling hopeful. We've compiled a list of seven fresh ideas that emerged during this lockdown-filled year, helping both us and the greater communities through some tough times. Whether it was streetside food pop-ups, next-level home meals or a virtual festival, these pivots truly made their mark.
Fairfield pasta boutique and kitchen Pasta Poetry is celebrating the launch of its dreamy new al fresco courtyard by putting it to extra good use over the balmy summer months. Right through until the end of February, the sunny space will be turning on the charms and hosting your ultimate aperitivo session, every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Head along from 3pm and find yourself transported to a summer day in Bologna. A weekly rotating food offering delivers top-notch antipasto, sides and classic desserts, along with the venue's expertly crafted pasta varieties — served by the entree size, so you don't have to limit yourself to sampling just one. Get set for the likes of ox cheek-filled cappelletti or chickpea gnocchi in rich sugo, perhaps chased with a Caprese-style chocolate torte for dessert. Meanwhile, you'll be quaffing local brews, wines and spirits — think, 3 Ravens' New World IPA, Pizzini prosecco from King Valley and Melbourne Gin Company gin. There's also a handful of summery cocktails including an elderflower spritz and a reworked negroni. And all the while, you can be engaging in a spot of friendly competition on the central bocce court. [caption id="attachment_837805" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Simon Shiff[/caption] Images: Simon Shiff
With international trips off the cards for the next little while — even if a travel bubble with New Zealand does eventuate by the end of the year — it's time to throw the focus back onto the stunning scenes and world-class landscapes found right here on home soil. After all, this big ol' island of ours is brimming with enough natural beauty to give any international destination a run for its money. And now the folks at Tourism Australia have come up with a new way for you to scratch that domestic travel itch, without even leaving your front door. The organisation has just dropped an impressive new video series, tipping its hat to the unique sights, sounds and textures of Australia. The flicks really endeavour to engage your senses and make you feel like you're there, too, with the videos made using high-tech 8D audio — a sound engineering treatment designed for listening through headphones, which makes music and effects sound as though they're coming from every angle. Each of the six videos is themed around a different colour, evoking various emotions based on the striking hues of Australia's natural scenescapes. For example, the soothing Blue: A Moment of Joy mini-escape takes punters crashing through waves at Esperance in Western Australia, gliding over the sparkling waters of the Great Barrier Reef, swinging by Hervey Bay for a spot of whale-watching and frolicking with seals in South Australia's Baird Bay. [caption id="attachment_784598" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hutt Lagoon, Tourism Western Australia[/caption] The Magenta: A Moment of Freedom video envelops audiences in the romantic sunsets and vibrant tones of destinations like Hinchinbrook Island National Park, the Kimberley and Hutt Lagoon, while White: A Moment of Peace is a minimalist's dream, featuring calming shots of Lake Eyre's salt plains, Fraser Island's glistening sands and Mount Kosciuszko's slopes drenched in snow. Whether you're allowed to trek interstate just yet or you're simply planning for the day when you can, these virtual escapes should offer a good dose of domestic travel inspiration — no long-haul flight required. Check out all six video escapes at the Tourism Australia website, or via the YouTube channel. Top images: via Tourism Western Australia and Tourism & Events Queensland
Strachan Lane's La Chinesca was but a short-lived operation, and already we're welcoming a newcomer in its place. Unveiled a couple of months ago, Peruvian-inspired Harley House comes courtesy of the same four owners (including noted artist, Vincent Fantauzzo) yet charges in an entirely different direction — dishing up modern Peruvian fare in a edgy New York-style basement setting. Decor-wise, the moody, subterranean space makes all the right noises, combining generous Chesterfield-style booths, polished concrete and exposed brickwork with a selection of Fantauzzo's artwork, evoking just the right amount of darkness. While the picanteria-style Peruvian dishes being plated up by the kitchen are a touch more light-hearted, they're every bit as well executed, full of bold South American flavours and begging to be shared. They're also surprisingly friendly on the hip pocket. Navigate the menu on your own terms, or relinquish $49 (along with all responsibility) and let the native chef send out the highlight reel collection. You'll get a delicious introduction to the food and flavours of Peru — and you definitely won't leave hungry. Warm bread rolls made from tapioca flour and cheese ($9 for four) are an addictive opening note, sided by grassy pisco olive oil and a crunchy popped corn that goes by the name of canchita chulpi. Follow them with sweet and tender grilled scallops — served in a saltado sauce and dolloped with mayonnaise ($21 for four) — and you're off to a salivating start. In true Peru style, the seafood options here are bountiful. For a flavour and texture hit, try the ceviche of local white fish, which pulls together tender, barely-battered squid, crisp cos lettuce and that same crunchy corn, all bathing in a lime and chilli-infused sauce ($22). The traditional grill, or parilla, gets a serious workout, between various cuts of beef, a whole spatchcock and some Peruvian skewers called anticuchos. But if it's meat you're after, don't overlook the so-called burgers ($16): these housemade Asian-style steamed buns filled with clever flavours are deserving of a far more exciting name. Get your mouth around the pork belly option, a perfectly balanced creation that teams succulent meat with slivers of red onion, thinly sliced sweet potato and a punchy yellow pepper paste called aji amarillo. As well as a global selection of beer and wine, the bar offers a solid cocktail lineup (featuring plenty of pisco and rum, mind you), and it's not hard to imagine the space transforming effortlessly into hip, late-night drinking den. Bring your crew, take advantage of those big, comfy booths and dig into Harley House's menu — even if it's your first taste, it won't be long before you're hooked on Peruvian cuisine.
Forget Emily in Paris — the best Netflix series set in the French capital focuses on a light-fingered smooth mover who is as adept at stealing hearts as he is at pilfering jewels and art. The streaming service's Lupin isn't the first screen outing based on the Maurice Leblanc-penned master of disguise, with the author's famous character first popping up on the big screen over a century ago, then appearing in both movies and TV not just in his homeland but also in the US and Japan since. Centred on a gentleman thief who takes his cues from the fictional figure, however, Netflix's take on all things Arsène Lupin is equally creative, riveting, twisty and entertaining. With the charismatic Omar Sy (Jurassic World Dominion) as its lead, it also couldn't be better cast. Viewers initially discovered this Lupin's delights in January 2021, when Sy's Arsène superfan Assane Diop started showing off his larceny skills in the series' instantly engaging five-episode first part. The angle proved savvy. The central casting is sparkling. Creators George Kay (who has since made the Idris Elba-led Hijack) and François Uzan (Family Business) perfected the rollicking vibe, while director Louis Leterrier (Fast X) turned in some of his best work helming the debut three instalments. It's no wonder that the show became the most-watched series in a language other than English on Netflix at the pre-Squid Game time. A second five-chapter part arrived in June the same year, but audiences have had to wait until now for a third. Streaming its seven new entries from Thursday, October 5, Lupin's third part dazzles again. Crime capers don't much more charming — and bingeable — than this page-to-screen heist affair. Leblanc introduced the world to Lupin in short stories in 1905, with 17 novels and 39 novellas following. In some, Herlock Sholmes pops up — and yes, the reference to Arthur Conan Doyle's detective is clearly on purpose. Although Sherlock Holmes isn't quite Arsène Lupin's English equivalent, the two characters give readers and viewers alike the same thrills. If spending time with smart figures with silky skills in can't-put-down and can't-look-away mysteries is what you're after, both deliver. Netflix's Lupin gives the French favourite a modern-day Sherlock-esque spin, but with another pivot to put the suave Senegal-born Diop and his various quests in the spotlight. When Diop first sashayed across streaming queues, he was on a mission to avenge the incarceration and death of his father Babakar (Fargass Assandé, Represent), who was imprisoned back when Assane was a kid for stealing a diamond necklace once owned by Marie Antoinette. Lupin's striking debut heist involved burgling the jewellery again — and from the Louvre no less — as Diop kept trying to establish his dad's innocence. In season two as well, Babakar's wealthy former boss Hubert Pellegrini (Hervé Pierre, Benedetta), who owned the necklace it was initially taken, is chief among Diop's targets. Just like everything from Squid Game to Succession, there's an eat-the-rich angle to Lupin; perhaps more than Sherlock Holmes, Robin Hood comes to mind. Season three tasks the ever-resourceful Diop with coping with becoming headline fodder for his efforts with Pellegrini. He's long been in hiding since, which is having an impact upon his childhood sweetheart-turned-estranged wife Claire (Ludivine Sagnier, The Serpent Queen) and their teenage son Raoul (Etan Simon, Jeune et golri). Cue a new big scheme — with trusty assistance from his gadget-making best friend Benjamin Feel (Antoine Gouy, Gold Brick), another mainstay from his school days — to abscond with a priceless black pearl, fund a new life and start afresh with his family. But it isn't just police detectives Youssef Guédira (Soufiane Guerrab, Visions) and Sofia Belkacem (Shirine Boutella, Christmas Flow), one a massive Lupin aficionado himself and the other slowly being convinced of the books' relevance, who boast a keen interest in anything that possibly involves Assane. Flashbacks to the 90s, to Diop (Mamadou Haidara, La vie de ma mère) and Claire (Ludmilla Makowski, Bardot) as high schoolers, remain in Lupin's return, with the series as concerned as ever with cause, effect and actions having consequences. Kay and his writing team not only adore layering in references to their source material as heftily as their protagonist, who bases his exploits around his inspiration, but piling in multiple mysteries. This is a show to sleuth along with, including puzzling through the same whodunnits that catch Assane's attention and pondering any heist series' main question: how'd they do it? Lupin always eventually explains the steps behind Diop's trickery, whether he's donning a luxe purple suit and ageing himself up to blend in by standing out or rushing through Paris' catacombs — and the reveals never disappoint. As tautly scripted and stylishly shot as Lupin is, and as enjoyably OTT as many of its robberies prove, there's no doubting that this wouldn't be the gem it is without the perfectly cast Sy. While it was his César Best Actor Award-winning role in 2011's The Intouchables that first brought him to worldwide fame, leading to parts in X-Men: Days of Future Past and Jurassic World, it's Lupin that has cemented the Micmacs, Mood Indigo, Monsieur Chocolat and Night Shift actor as a global star. Enlisting him as Diop is a Daniel Craig-in-Bond, Tom Cruise-in-Mission: Impossible stroke of genius — and he's just as debonair, and adept at donning disguises. There are plenty of reasons that Assane has become a hero to the French masses in Lupin's latest go-around, but Sy's magnetic performance couldn't be more essential for at-home audiences. Also pivotal: that Lupin isn't merely sleek action fodder with an excellent lead, plus gripping ups and downs. Emotional stakes have always been crucial to the show, as has unpacking traumas both now and across generations, the chasm between the one percent and everyone else, and interrogating racial divides as well as class clashes. It works as a Parisian travelogue, too, upping the thrills by getting Diop sneaking around — and often flatout waltzing into — well-known sights. John Wick: Chapter 4 isn't the only 2023 must-see to make excellent use of the Arc de Triomphe, for instance. In Lupin part three, the Place Vendôme, Père Lachaise Cemetery and Château de Thoiry also feature prominently. Lupin tours already exist, of course, but now they have a few more stops. Check out the trailer for Lupin part three below: Lupin part three streams via Netflix from Thursday, October 5.
Next time you visit the National Gallery of Victoria, you'll find yourself immersed in fish, farm animals and skyscrapers. Why? Because Julian Opie has moved in. In his first major Australian exhibition, Julian Opie, the London-born artist has brought together more than 60 of his most-famous works. He's transformed the NGV water feature into an aquarium filled with virtual carp and Federation Court into a mini-metropolis, crowded with 13-metre high skyscrapers. Head into the Grollo Equiset Garden to meet a menagerie of sheep, horses and crows and into the foyer to find city slickers on their way somewhere or other. Meanwhile, the NGV moat is now home to a version of the Manneken Pis, the famous statue of a little boy weeing in Brussels, Belgium. Images: Tim Ross, courtesy of the NGV International.
You've forsaken smashed avocados, saved all your cash and somehow have enough money to purchase your own property — and, naturally, you want to make the transaction count. May we suggest a 16th-century British cottage that's been dubbed the most haunted house in the UK? Anyone can buy an apartment in the suburbs, but only one person can nab a notorious spot that was once a medieval witch prison. Located in St Osyth in Essex, the property in question is known as The Cage. Back in the late 1500s, it was used to house 13 women accused of witchcraft while they were awaiting trial. Three were ultimately sentenced to death by hanging, including the infamous Ursula Kemp — a midwife and healer who came under suspicion after people in her neighbourhood, including children, became sick and died. That's not the end of The Cage's unnerving story. In the years until 1908, the house was also used to detain men, women, and children. Unsurprisingly, the spot has featured on local ghost tours and as the subject of a television docudrama, with current owner Vanessa Mitchell even co-writing a book about her spooky experiences living in the property. [caption id="attachment_726177" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Right Move[/caption] Mitchell's time onsite was short-lived — she moved out "because of the relentless paranormal activity" according to Home Domus, who've listed the house for sale — however she has owned the spot since 2004. If you're keen to follow in her footsteps and you have £240,000 or more to spare, the two-level house features three reception rooms, a kitchen, a ground floor cloakroom, two bedrooms and a bathroom. Outside, a walled courtyard comes complete with a door to a walkway known as "Coffin Alley", where dead bodies were once transported on the way to the local cemetery. Top image: Home Domus 360.
Pairing movies with music is no longer new news, but the latest returning event that's serving up that combo is hoping for two things. Firstly, it's betting on a whole lot of love for Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey dancing up a storm in a classic 1987 romantic drama. Secondly, when it comes to getting excited about seeing that now 36-year-old flick on a big screen with its soundtrack performed live, it's hoping that you've never felt like this before (or, not since 2022's shows). Obviously, Dirty Dancing in Concert wants to give you the time of your life as well — and to not only let you celebrate one of Swayze's biggest and most charming film roles, but to immerse you in the movie from the moment you take your seat. No one will be carrying watermelons or checking into Kellerman's Mountain House in the Catskills, but the digitally remastered feature will grace the big screen, and a live band and singers will perform its iconic songs as it plays. Just as swoon-worthy: the fact that those musicians will stick around afterwards to headline a party that'll naturally have you singing and dancing. If you're feeling adventurous and inspired by the movie, you might even want to try to recreate the famous lift. Here, nobody will put you or Francis 'Baby' Houseman in a corner — and you'd be just a fool to believe otherwise. Your hungry eyes will soak in Baby's first taste of dirty dancing, her eager rehearsals and her growing infatuation with Johnny Castle, as well as her parents' bitter unhappiness about the entire situation. This blast-from-the-past affair is touring Australia and New Zealand across September and October, with dates locked in for Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, the Gold Coast, Auckland and Christchurch. And yes, because Dirty Dancing in Concert is certain to be popular, it's bringing its 80s-themed fun to sizeable venues, so you'll be having the time of your Dirty Dancing-loving life with plenty of people. DIRTY DANCING IN CONCERT 2023 AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND TOUR: Friday, September 1 — Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne Saturday, September 2 — Darling Harbour Theatre, ICC Sydney Friday, September 22 — Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane Saturday, September 23 — Adelaide Entertainment Centre Arena, Adelaide Sunday, September 24 — Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, Perth Thursday, September 28 — The Star Gold Coast, Gold Coast Saturday, September 30 — Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, Auckland Sunday, October 1 — Christchurch Town Hall, Christchurch Dirty Dancing in Concert will tour Australia and NZ in September and October 2023 — head to the show's website for tickets and further details.
This article is sponsored by our partners, Wotif.com. Adelaide is no stranger to pesky licensing laws impeding the onward march of excellent late-night bar culture, but thankfully in April last year the city’s council saw reason and introduced friendlier regulations. The result? A city that's turning on its charm year-round, not just in February and March when the Adelaide festival and WOMADelaide convert the place into a bohemian heaven. 2014 is Adelaide’s year of the small bar. Here’s a selection of the finest. THE GALLERY ON WAYMOUTH Big, bold and shiny, the Gallery replaces Fad Bar with a more upmarket, suits-friendly offering with two levels of bars to mingle and a middle level for dining. The walls feature a changing gallery of contemporary art, but if that’s not enough to soothe your Friday afternoon exhaustion, get stuck into some BBQ beef ribs and crusty bread ($11) or a heartier main of Saltbush lamb ($27). 30 Waymouth Street, Adelaide UDABERRI Adelaide’s Hindley Street may be one of Australia’s more eccentric red-light main drags, but it has no shortage of laneways like Leigh Street housing civilised bars such as Spanish wine bar supreme, Udaberri. Offering Basque-style bar snacks including an extensive list of Spanish cheeses, it’s all the civility you’ll ever need after a loiter down Hindley Street. Udaberri Pintxos y Vino, 11 Leigh Street, Adelaide PROOF Set on the suitably obscure Anster Street, Proof wine bar is a sophisticated little joint manned by bar staff in waistcoats. Proof will satisfy a hankering for an Old Fashioned or an honest cheese toasty (and by honest we mean beef ragu with Fontina). Proof, 9A Anster Street, Adelaide THE BOTANIC BAR An Adelaide institution, the Botanic on North Terrace has undergone some serious sprucing in recent times. Improvements include spicy chicken wings provided by Golden Boy Thai, who are now serving authentic Thai goodness to thankful Botanic punters as they sip on a luscious Montenegro sour or Rangoon Standard. 309 North Terrace, Adelaide ROCKET ROOFTOP Rocket Bar is Adelaide’s original home of good music. Rocket Rooftop serves serious adult wine from McLaren Vale’s Alpha Box and Dice and also has a solid cocktail list. Rocket Rooftop is the perfect place to enjoy a cool drink on a balmy summer’s night under the best palm tree in the state. 142 Hindley Street, Adelaide THE COLLINS BAR A nod to the roaring 1920s, the Collins Bar shows off some of the state’s best local wines as well as a playful list of cocktails sourced from their extensive, if alarmingly tidy bar. They’re offering the usual suspects in the bar snacks department, such as lemonade-braised pulled pork slider and slaw at a bargain $8. Oh, they also have a fantastically long tequila list. Hilton Adelaide, 233 Victoria Square, Adelaide CLEVER LITTLE TAILOR As its name suggests, the Clever Little Tailor is little and clever. It’s a bonafide small bar — intimate, classy and dedicated to quality booze. Set in an old vintage store on Peel Street, it’s been decorated with old school decor and is serving excellent beers such as Mountain Goat, Feral Hop Hog and Four Pines, along with a selection of charcuterie from Lucia’s at the Central Markets. Clever as they come. 19 Peel Street, Adelaide CANTINA SOCIALE Showing off the best of Adelaide’s boutique wine industry, Cantina Sociale serves authentic, one-off wines not available in any stores, wine lists or bars. Located on Sturt Street, this is a haven for wine lovers to really love their wine. 108 Sturt Street, Adelaide LOFT OYSTER AND WINE BAR The Loft is one of Adelaide’s newest bars located on Gouger Street in the Central Market precinct. With its sparkly new interior, it’s a perfect after-work drinks spot, serving Asian inspired mezze and oysters in every way imaginable. Level 1, 128 Gouger Street, Adelaide STREET-ADL Street-ADL is the first of a two-part venture from chef Jock Zonfrillo. Offering informal dining, cocktails and street food, Street-ADL is all-American with its cheeseburgers and sundaes, and true blue with its Goolwa pipis and lamingtons. Street ADL, 285 Rundle Street, Adelaide
If Vincent van Gogh can do it, and Claude Monet and his contemporaries like Renoir, Cézanne and Manet as well, then Frida Kahlo can also. We're talking about being the subject of huge, multi-sensory art exhibitions — the kind that takes an artist's work and projects it all around you so you feel like you're walking into their paintings. First came Van Gogh Alive, which has been touring the country for the last few years. On its way next is Monet & Friends Alive, launching at Melbourne's digital-only gallery The Lume at the end of October. And, after that, Frida Kahlo: Life of an Icon is heading to Sydney as part of the hefty and just-announced Sydney Festival program for 2023. Frida Kahlo: Life of an Icon will make its Australian premiere in the Harbour City — and display only in the Harbour — from Wednesday, January 4, 2023. For two months, it will celebrate the Mexican painter's life and work, taking over the Cutaway at Barangaroo Reserve with holography and 360-degree projections. The aim: turning a biographical exhibition about Kahlo into an immersive showcase, and getting attendees to truly understand her art, persistence, rebellion and skills — and why she's an icon. Visitors will wander through seven spaces, and get transported into the artist's work — including via virtual reality. That VR setup will indeed let you step inside Kahlo's pieces as much as VR can, although the entire exhibition is designed to cultivate that sensation anyway, with digital versions of Kahlo's paintings expanding across every surface. The showcase hails from Spanish digital arts company Layers of Reality, alongside the Frida Kahlo Corporation, and will feature historical photographs and original films as well — and live performances of traditional Mexican music. As part of the interactive component, attendees will also be able to make their own flower crowns, and turn their own drawings into Kahlo-style artworks. And, you'll be able to immortalise the experience in souvenir photos, too. For Sydneysiders, Frida Kahlo: Life of an Icon is one of the most exciting announcements in Sydney Festival's massive 2023 lineup. For folks residing elsewhere, it's a mighty good reason to make a date with Sydney this summer. The exhibition comes to Australia after touring Europe and the US, and also displaying in Canada, Puerto Rico, Israel and Brazil. Frida Kahlo: Life of an Icon will run from Wednesday, January 4–Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at The Cutaway at Barangaroo Reserve, 1 Merriman Street, Barangaroo. For more information, or to book tickets, head to the Sydney Festival website.
Perhaps you love architecture. Maybe you need a reason to play tourist in your own town. Or, there could be a specific building, place or even house somewhere around the city that you've always wanted to peek inside. Each year, Open House Melbourne delivers much to spark excitement about no matter which of these categories you fall into. Its aim, including from Saturday, July 26–Sunday, July 27, 2025: to get everyone appreciating the structures and spaces that make up the Victorian capital, and also pondering Melbourne's future in the process. Accordingly, this is an event where you could be wandering around Werribee Open Range Zoo's new 21-hectare elephant habitat one moment, then peering behind the scenes at Southbank Theatre or exploring the new Melbourne Place hotel the next. Or, you might prefer to check out the new veloway on the West Gate Tunnel Project, hit up Port Phillip's new EcoCentre, make a date with Essendon Fields Airport Terminal and get on the turf — and see where the players hang out — at the Western Bulldogs' Whitten Oval. In total, almost 200 buildings, places and experiences are on the just-announced 2025 program, giving attendees ample options. Thanks to that hefty number, this is one of Open House Melbourne's largest-ever lineups. Highlighting hidden histories is a particular focus, with 'stories of the city' this year's theme. "'Stories of the city' underscores that idea that the city is more than just bricks and mortar — Melbourne is about people and place. Every building, street and public place in our city has a unique story to uncover," explains Open House Melbourne Executive Director and Chief Curator Dr Tania Davidge. Also pivotal this year: championing accessibility, which is where Open House Melbourne's new Access Map, detailing mobility-friendly and neurodiverse-considerate sites, comes in. Other sites on the full program include Melbourne Recital Centre, Rone and Callum Preston's street art studios, the Melbourne Vixens' home ground, the Duldig Studio museum and sculpture garden, Crumpler's Bag House, Australian Print Workshop, Australian Tapestry Workshop, the Spotswood Pumping Station, the new Prahran Skate Park and Kangan Institute's Health and Community Centre of Excellence. The ABC's Southbank studios, Yarraville Sun Theatre, Yan Yean Reservoir Park and the Shrine of Remembrance have been popular in past years — and they're back on Open House Melbourne's 2025 lineup, with more than 65,000 people expected to attend. If you're always interested in stepping inside stunning private residences, 13 are welcoming in visitors this year. Also doing the same: both 1 Heller St Brunswick and Bills Street Social and Affordable Housing. On the events side of the bill, Reworlding: Naarm is a three-hour adventure that plays out on the city's streets; First Nations kayak tours of the Yarra are at the heart of What's Good for the Birrarung is Good for Everyone; and you can learn more about some of those secret histories at interactive installations, talks and photography exhibitions. Plus, because every city needs a soundtrack, Mick Harvey, alongside producers Ernie Rose (Little River Band and Split Enz) and Roger Savage (Rolling Stones and The Easybeats — and an Oscar-nominee for Moulin Rouge!'s sound), will get chatting. Open House's film series is back, too, with architect Greg Burgess in the spotlight. Open House Melbourne runs across Saturday, July 26–Sunday, July 27, 2025 around Melbourne — head to the event's website for more details.
With the sheer number of popular 90s nights happening at the moment, the recent remake of childhood favourites like The Lion King and Aladdin, and the return of artists such as Usher, Janet Jackson, it was only a natural step for the biggest selling boy band — and the target of all your teenage affection — to make a return, too. Backstreet's back, alright. So, unroll your posters and dust-off that secret diary, and get ready to belt out the lyrics to 'Everybody (Backstreet's Back)', 'As Long As You Love Me' and 'I Want It That Way', when the famous five — AJ McLean, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter, Howie Dorough and Kevin Richardson — head to Australia in May 2020 for a very nostalgic arena tour. Hitting up stadiums in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, the Backstreet Boys will also be performing songs off their just-released tenth album, DNA. It (surprisingly?) debuted as number one on the charts when it was released and features Grammy-nominated single 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart'. But, we know you'll most likely be there for the 90s and early 00s goodness. You've got nine whole months until they're here, so plenty of time to relearn the moves to 'Everybody' and rewatch many retro music videos. Here's one for you to start with: https://youtu.be/6M6samPEMpM BACKSTREET BOYS DNA WORLD TOUR 2020 DATES Brisbane — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Wednesday, May 20 Sydney — Qudos Bank Arena, Friday, May 22 Melbourne — Rod Laver Arena, Tuesday, May 26 Perth — RAC Arena, Saturday, May 30 Backstreet Boys DNA World Tour pre-sale begins at 3pm on Tuesday, September 17 with general tickets go on sale at midday on Monday, September 23 via Live Nation.
I've sung in lots of choirs in my time. The Australian Youth Choir, for example (is it just me, or was that just so incredibly nineties?) My high school choir, the NSW School's Spectacular combined choir, the Newtown Community Choir, to name a few more. Sure, singing in choirs is one of the many nerdy things I have done in my life so far. But there's nothing quite like the buzz you get from uniting together with other singers as one voice. It gets me through my one obligatory visit to church at Christmas time: I'm a carol-singing tragic. Composer Eric Whitacre believes singing in unison to be a fundamental part of human experience. His Virtual Choir project uses technology to bring people together from around the globe to sing his compositions. The first experiment in 2010 saw 185 singers from 12 countries posting videos of themselves to YouTube singing one of the 4-part harmonies from Whitacre's piece Lux Arumque. Whitacre had previously uploaded a video of himself conducting the piece in silence which participants could watch as they sang their parts. The next installment of the project is a performance of Whitacre's Sleep, and is set to be unveiled on April 7 2011. The choir has increased 100 fold, with over 2000 voices from 58 different countries now taking part. Part of the beauty of it all is the prospect of so many individuals alone at their computer screens, who are nevertheless together as part of a bigger picture, sound and purpose. https://youtube.com/watch?v=zyLX2cke-Lw https://youtube.com/watch?v=D7o7BrlbaDs [Via TedEX]
The iconic corner site at 2 Acland Street in St Kilda is no stranger to change, having taken on many incarnations and debuted an array of new offerings over its many, many decades of life. Existing as the Ryan Hospitality Group's multi-faceted venue The Prince since 2018, it's just unveiled its latest addition — a brand-new iteration of second-level restaurant Prince Dining Room. The diner has entered a new phase of life, complete with an overhauled food offering and refreshed approach. While the space's aesthetic remains largely unchanged with its crisp white walls, art deco features and signature curved booths, the kitchen has upped the sophistication factor, debuting a refined menu anchored in technique and driven by fire. Executive Chef Dan Cooper (ex-Aria, Circa) has the reins, pairing Mediterranean flavours with local produce and giving more than a nod to the coast. Start with the likes of yellowfin tuna tartlets, beef tartare with bottarga and a gruyère puff, and burrata sided with smoked tomato jam and pollen. The day's fish is done with clams, fennel and nduja butter, hand-cut tagliatelle shines bright with citrus butter and golden trout roe, and a saddle of Tassie lamb comes matched with smoked eggplant. You can even sit down to half a crayfish, elevated with garlic butter and 'charcuterie XO'. The adjacent drinks offering is now known as The Bar at Prince Dining Room, backing the venue's award-winning wine list with a fresh crop of beers, booze-free sips and cocktails — from the likes of a burnt orange highball to a Black Manhattan crafted on bitter amaro. The site's other elements are kicking along as usual, including the Prince Public Bar downstairs, the Prince Bandroom, Little Prince Wine and the 39-room Prince Hotel. [caption id="attachment_758266" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kristoffer Paulsen[/caption] Find the updated Prince Dining Room on Level 2 at 2 Acland Street, St Kilda. It's open from 4pm–late Wednesday–Thursday and from 12pm–late Friday–Sunday.
Your money will go a little bit further at Marios Cafe this Thursday, as the iconic Fitzroy eatery turns back the clock. April 28 marks three decades to the day since Mario Maccarone and Mario De Pasquale opened their doors on Brunswick Street. To mark the special occasion, they're serving up a menu where everything costs the same as it did in 1986. Okay, so not quite everything. Booze prices will be staying on this side of Y2K, but everything else is going down, down, down. We're talking lasagne for $4.50, rib eye for $8.50 and coffee for $1. A buck. For coffee. In Melbourne. Can we stay in 1986 forever, please? Marios will be open on their birthday from 7am to 10.30pm. Based on the amount of attention their time travelling stunt has gotten, we're expecting quite the queue. Oh, and bonus points from us to anyone who dresses up in leg warmers.
So you're getting out of lockdown, you've painstakingly pieced together the perfect outfit and you're ready to re-enter society from your WFH cocoon. You're feeling great, looking fab and keen to head out for some delicious food. You might be catching up with a mate, treating your partner for an out-of-the-house date, or taking the plunge with that person you've been Hingeing throughout lockdown. But, there's one small hiccup: while you may enjoy all of the wonders of eating plant-based, your dining companion isn't quite there yet. Do not despair — with a plethora of welcoming and accessible plant-based restaurants all over Melbourne, you'll have no trouble finding a spot that suits you and your omnivorous pal. To help you out, we've teamed up with Vegkit to select nine that you should check out immediately, because your date shouldn't have to wait. SMITH & DAUGHTERS, FITZROY Shannon Martinez took Melbourne by storm when she opened Smith & Daughters in 2014, and, since then, has continued to inspire plant-based eating trends around the country. Arguably, Smith & Daughters has done more than its fair share to normalise plant-based dishes — nothing here is labelled as mock meat or with terms like 'fakon'. Instead, dishes such as the vodka napoli and meatballs or the roast beef fillet appear on the menu as just that, despite being plant-based from start to finish. Martinez recently announced that Smith & Daughters will be moving into larger premises with sister venue Smith & Deli, so watch for that when it opens in Collingwood later this year. [caption id="attachment_795303" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Red Sparrow Pizza by Simon S[/caption] RED SPARROW PIZZA, COLLINGWOOD AND PRAHRAN Proof that eating plant-based doesn't mean giving up your favourite treats, Melbourne's first fully vegan pizzeria has everything you'd expect from a top pizza restaurant, with the added bonus of being kind to the planet. The woodfired pies here are made using time-honoured Neapolitan techniques and the dough is fermented for 48 hours to improve flavour and digestibility before being hand-stretched to order. Less traditional, though, are some of the toppings. While the classics are represented — its pepperoni has gained a cult-like following — the menu also includes more creative pizzas like the Patatas Bravas, with a smoky tomato base, potato and 'chorizo', and the Verde, in which dairy-free mozzarella, spinach, artichoke, broccolini and pepitas sit atop a kale pesto base. Doubling down on the indulgent vibes, the drinks list is bustling with juicy natural wines and locally brewed beers. Plus, with sites on both Smith Street and Chapel Street, you can get your fix without having to cross the river. GREEN MAN'S ARMS, CARLTON Missed the pub? Us too. If you're stinging for a pint and a plate at a top vegetarian boozer (yep, they exist), then look no further than Carlton stalwart Green Man's Arms. Owned and operated by acclaimed Aussie actor Alison Whyte and her partner Fred Whitlock, this Lygon Street local serves up seasonally driven vegetarian dishes, all of which can also be made entirely vegan. You can order house-made falafels, charred corn salad with pickled capsicum, radicchio and jalapeño crema, and possibly one of the finest eggplant schnitties going. Creative cocktails and a tight selection of local craft beers help to wash it all down. LONA MISA, SOUTH YARRA One of Melbourne's biggest new restaurants of 2021 just happens to be entirely plant-based. South Yarra's Ovolo Hotel is home to Shannon Martinez' first venue south of the river, for which she has teamed up with veteran chef Ian Curley. In an eclectic setting featuring vibrant (but sophisticated) mid-century decor, the duo oversee a Latin-inspired veg-heavy menu that's designed to share and bears both the marks of Martinez's signature rebellious stylings and touches of Curley's fine-dining flair. Standout dishes include an oyster mushroom ceviche paired with coconut, fermented soybean, poblano and pineapple, while plates from the Josper include a whole cauliflower basted in a peri-peri sauce and served with a spicy chimichurri. The drinks menu celebrates the local and the seasonal, with a solid range of old- and new-world wines by the glass, as well as cocktails, cold-pressed juices and kombucha on tap. BIO BY DOC, CARLTON Through its stable of renowned Italian eateries, mozzarella bars and delis, the DOC Group has earned a solid reputation for its classic Italian fare executed to precision. However, the classics take a backseat at the team's latest addition — a new restaurant dedicated to food that is entirely vegetarian (in fact, mostly vegan) and gluten free. And it's all brought to life with the team's signature style and uncompromising quality. Plus, the airy space, which features al fresco dining and a leafy courtyard, is practically made for an intimate and laidback date night. Fresh produce is the hero here, reflecting the generations of Italian home cooking that underpins the ethos of the DOC Group. Expect dishes such as wild mushroom polenta with crispy kale and black sesame seeds; charcoal spaghetti with grilled vegetable ragu; and a signature lasagne, which features sheets of spinach pasta, plant-based bechamel and lentil ragu. TYRANNY OF DISTANCE, WINDSOR If you like your date night a little rowdy, this Windsor haunt is just the ticket. The diverse menu has something for every taste, and features bar-friendly food such as jackfruit nachos with house-blended spiced beans and Korean bao sliders packed with plant-based pork belly, spicy gochujang, roasted green onions and brown sugar peanut dust. Helping to wash all this down is a great selection of beers, wines and cocktails, the latter of which are also available by the jug — the classic Pimms jug is perfect for the upcoming warmer weather. Hot tip: get in early for one of the best happy hours in town, with $5 basic spirits, house taps and wine on offer every day between 4–7pm. THE CARRINGBUSH, ABBOTSFORD A beautiful heritage pub complete with exposed brick and a roaring fireplace, this Abbotsford local is a real gem for a casual date night. The menu is imaginative but concise, offering creative spins on modern pub fare like buffalo cauliflower with garlic and chive aioli; saffron tagine with baked rice, root veggies, coriander, preserved lemon and currants; and house-made gnocchi with cannellini bean chilli and herb puree. Drinks-wise, it's all about the taps here — the pub features a rotating selection of 22 local craft brews on tap, as well as eight wine taps. GOOD LOVE, ST KILDA With a neon sign above the bar that reminds you to 'be a good lover', Acland Street's bright and airy Good Love is ideal date-night material. Here, you and your person can indulge in boozy cocktails and a delicious array of all-day, plant-based plates, making it even more of a winner. Good Love also hosts semi-regular date nights, which lets you sit back and enjoy the company as the kitchen prepares a three-course meal and two cocktails for you. The menu at this Acland Street spot is constantly evolving, and might include the likes of seitan steak kebab with watermelon salsa and hot chips, a plant-based philly cheesesteak with fried chat potatoes, or garlic mushrooms and chilli oil on cornbread. You can pair such dishes with creative cocktails like jalapeño and tequila sangria or guava bubblegum fizz. The venue is licenced until 1am, too, so you can stick around and work your way through the list. TRANSFORMER, FITZROY A date spot sure to impress, this converted Fitzroy warehouse effortlessly oozes laidback charm, yet serves up a truly sophisticated dining experience. Both the food and wine menus change regularly to follow the seasons, and both champion organic and biodynamic culinary practices wherever possible. Past menu standouts have included dishes such as mushroom parfait with pickled shimeji, Pedro Ximenez jelly and russet crisp, and baby radishes with dill butter and black lava salt. Throw in a seriously impressive list of local and imported wines and you're all set for a memorable date night. For more plant-based dining and recipe inspo, head to the Vegkit website. Top image: Transformer
If you were diagnosed with coeliac disease over ten years ago you were given a packet of rice crackers, an apple and an apologetic smile as you were sent out into the big, bad, wheat-filled world. Now, it's a different story. For folks that can't tolerate gluten, there are now (really good) gluten-free pizza places, breweries that brew only gluten-free beer and even a totally gluten-free multi-story Mexican restaurant in the CBD. And, once a year, there's also an entire expo over an entire weekend just for gluten-free foods. On the weekend of October 5–6, the Convention and Exhibition Centre will be wall-to-wall with gluten-free snacks. We're talking plenty of free samples from the likes of Well and Good, Arnotts, Senza, Two Bays Brewing Co. and Venerdi. Plus, you can learn more about coeliac disease at one of the talks happening throughout the day, or get tips on cooking without contamination. If there's ever a time you don't have to worry about pesky traces of gluten, it's here. Go forth and feast, friends.
Already dreaming of warmer days? The annual Tesselaar Tulip Festival is set to feature close to one million tulips planted across five acres of farmland, offering the perfect excuse to wander through endless fields of flowers to celebrate the start of spring. The tulip farm will come alive for its famous festivities from Saturday, September 16–Sunday, October 15, with a calendar of themed weekends promising something for all. Running September 16–17, Turkish Weekend will dish up a program of live art, music and food in honour of the country that played host to the first tulip festival over 400 years ago. Then, Dutch Weekend (September 22–24) will transport you straight to Holland, homeland of the festival's founders Cees and Johanna Tesselaar. Get set for clog dancing, sjoekbak (Dutch shuffleboard) and, in a recreation of Amsterdam's famed Alkmaar Cheese Market, a host of traditional eats — last year this included oliebollen (Dutch dumplings), bitterballen (meatballs), poffertjes and Tesselaar's signature Double Dutch ice cream. More great eating awaits at Food, Wine & Jazz Weekend (September 29–October 1), where you'll enjoy local drinks and gastronomical delights among the tulips. Also on the bill: a couple of Children's Weeks, a weekend devoted to retro rock 'n' roll, and an Irish Weekend filled with craic. Tickets are available at the farm, but you can buy them online in advance from August 1 to skip the queue.
This year's bushfire season is particularly dangerous. Before you head on an out-of-town adventure, check the CFA and Parks Victoria websites and heed any alerts and warnings. Whether you're planning a winter getaway surrounded by natural splendour or waiting until the weather warms up to venture back outdoors, the Victorian Government has delivered an extra incentive — all camping fees at state and national parks have been cut in half. The price drop came into effect on July 1, affecting 35 parks across the state. Sites include Budj Bim National Park, which now sits on UNESCO's World Heritage List; both the Grampians and Great Otaway national parks, should you been keen on visiting one of Victoria's high-profile beauties; and locations as varied as the Brisbane Ranges National Park just an hour out of Melbourne, as well as the Murray-Sunset National Park in the state's northwest. [caption id="attachment_650212" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Grampians National Park by Visit Victoria[/caption] Campers will now pay as little as $2.70 per person at some spots, although the average lingers between the $10-15 mark. The reduced fees only apply to campsites — if you're eager to stay in a cabin, lodge, hut, cottage, or other form of accommodation with a hard or fixed roof that falls within Parks Victoria's remit, you'll still pay the regular charge. The move comes four years after the government completely scrapped camping costs at a heap of parks in regional Victoria, eradicating fees at 500 basic sites throughout 70 campgrounds in 19 parks. As part of the 2019/20 budget, the state will also gain 30 new campgrounds at yet-to-be-disclosed sites, while 30 existing spots will receive upgrades — such as the Greater Bendigo National Park, Lake Eildon's Fraser campground and the Princess Margaret Rose Cave. You can learn more about camping in and around Melbourne here, and check out our favourite free camping spots (if you'd rather not spend a cent). For a full list of Victorian State and National Parks now offering half-price camping fees, or to book a campsite, visit the Parks Victoria website. Images: Camping at Wilsons Promontory National Park
Chef Domenico De Marco (Tipico, L'Altro Mondo, Rockpool Sydney) combines his love of cycling with his love for the food of his home country at his new Carlton North restaurant. Giro d'Italia takes you on a tour through Italy, much like the 100-year-old Italian bicycle race the venue is named after, with each dish on its menu representing a different region. The dining room in the Edwardian terrace building on Rathdowne Street is a mashup of old and new. Dark timber panelling runs around the bottom of the room, while forest green leather covers a wall and green felt another. Framed black and white photos of De Marco's cycling heroes sit side by side two colourful photos of his own bike resting nonchalantly against a Melbourne street art-covered wall. Suspended wooden beams house solar-powered strip lighting. Old meets new in more than the decor, too. The drinks list covers the Italian classics — bottles of pinot grigio, valipolicella and sanigiovese line the walls and there's draught Birra Moretti— but you'll also find four wines on tap (two whites, two reds) and a particularly refreshing watermelon martini. After years of working at fine-dining restaurants, De Marco is taking a homely approach to his dishes, some of which reference his Nonna's cooking. Focaccia is baked twice a day, before lunch and then again before dinner, and comes out before the meal with a dollop of fresh tomato coulis for ripping and dipping. The calamari fritti ($21), uses all of the squid — the head, wings and body — is lightly fried and served with squid ink aioli, pickled zucchini and salad leaves tossed in a slightly spicy vinaigrette. It's a great plate to share as a starter, although it's also completely manageable on your own. Made-to-order tortelli ($26) are filled with pumpkin, sealed, cooked and served with a burnt butter sauce topped with crumbled amaretti biscuits, which soak up the butter and add a little almond-y sweetness. De Marco proudly claims that his Filipino sous-chef Ferdinand Malgarejo (who has worked alongside De Marco in various kitchens, progressing through the ranks from kitchen hand) makes the best Italian food in the world. He is certainly quick. Ferdinand can fill and close seven tortelli in 32 seconds. While making the tortelli to order is novel, and ensures maximum freshness, De Marco introduced it for a different reason: to reduce waste."When you make the filled pasta ahead of time and put it in the fridge, you risk wastage," explains De Marco. "And why would I do that when he [Ferdinand] is so fast? You are eating pasta that was closed a minute and a half ago." Desserts also hide much more than their fluffy, chocolate-covered exteriors first convey. The tiramisu ($14), for example, might look like any other tiramisu, but De Marco makes everything from scratch — including the savoiardi biscuits and the mascarpone. He also beats the egg whites with sugar syrup for 45 minutes for extra fluffiness. According to De Marco, "It is like eating a cloud." De Marco is happy at his new restaurant, but he'd hope to be — he lives above it, goes to bed at 2am and gets up at 5am. "I love it so much. This is me," he beams. Images: Parker Blain.
As Persian New Year (Nowruz) is overlapping with this year's Melbourne Food & Wine Festival, the team at Free to Feed has decided to throw a huge food- and tunes-filled party. On the night of Wednesday, March 20, Free to Feed's Fitzroy North site will be transformed by Iranian immigrants and refugees as they cook up a traditional three-course dinner and play a heap of live music. The crew hasn't released a menu, but we can expect the dishes to come with saffron rice and ruby red barberries that symbolise the love, light and hope that the New Year brings. And while the $102 ticket doesn't include drinks, a bar will be on-site for those wanting to buy some bevs. Beyond this, the special Nowruz event will be somewhat of a cultural exchange, where guests will hear stories, jam to Persian music and learn more about the culturally significant New Year traditions of the Persian people. Tickets to the party will not only get you a great midweek night out, but the profits will help Free to Feed support people seeking asylum, new migrants and refugees with training and meaningful employment. It's so wonderful to see a Melbourne Food & Wine Festival event really support the community. Images: Sam Biddle
If a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, we can only imagine the results when you step things up a notch and tuck into a table laden with Mary Poppins-inspired treats. That's the premise of Sofitel Melbourne on Collins' latest themed high tea series, which has just kicked off to coincide with the hit Mary Poppins musical currently enchanting audiences at Her Majesty's Theatre. Sofi's Lounge is the setting for this supercalifragilisticexpialidocious spread, available from 2–4.30pm every Saturday until June 10. Served buffet-style and clocking in at $125 per person, it'll see you digging into a whimsical parade of sweet and savoury bites inspired by the magic of the classic tale. You're in for some exclusive, aptly named creations such as The Tu'ppence Coin — a layered dessert of apple emulsion, salted caramel parfait and caramel chocolate — and A Spoonful of Sugar, featuring an unexpected explosion of matcha, white chocolate and passionfruit served atop a teaspoon. There's the Dingley Dell Shepherd's Pie, a range of themed finger sandwiches, an opera cake inspired by Bert's jacket, profiteroles decorated with mini Mary Poppins hats and even a pink chocolate fountain. And of course, in the most delightful way, there's a nod to that British classic, scones with jam and cream. Free-flowing tea and coffee is included with your high tea, though there's also a slew of wine, champagne and cocktails available to add on.
Yass, a small NSW town near Canberra received the signature Queer Eye makeover when the Fab Five descended on the town earlier in June. Well, the whole town didn't, but George — a cattle farmer and former rodeo cowboy — did. As did the local pub. A rundown of the show, for the uninitiated, the original Queer Eye for the Straight Guy show hit screens a whopping 15 years ago — running from 2003 to 2007 — and the reboot Queer Eye returned to Netflix this year. The general premise is that the Fab Five give less-fashion-savvy men (and it seems, establishments) much-needed makeovers. In Yass, while three of the Fab Five, Jonathan Van Ness, Tan France and Karamo Brown, were looking after George the cattle farmer, the remaining two — Antoni Porowsi and Bobby Berk — renovated the local pub's bistro and introduced a new signature dish to the menu. Fittingly, the five were also crowned — by Yass Mayor Rowena Abbey — Yass Queens. Yas, queen. If this reference is lost on you, it's a term said to have originated in the 80s ballroom community, but recently surged to popularity thanks to this YouTube video. The Australian mini-episode of Queer Eye will is now available to watch, with Queer Eye's second season also streaming on Netflix since June 15. Check out Yass, Australia! below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vM2zD5FtrkQ&feature=youtu.be
Architecture aficionados and self-confessed sticky-beaks, listen up. The historic city of Bendigo, located an easy two-hour drive from Melbourne, will throw the doors open on some of its top buildings for one weekend next month. Across October 27–28, locals and visitors will get the chance to see inside spaces that are generally closed to the public. A boom town during the gold rush period, Bendigo is home to a rich architectural heritage that has been met with rapid development in recent years. Hop on one of the vintage trams and explore the city from the inside. The Open House weekend is a chance to engage with city planners and discuss Bendigo's design future. Visitors are welcome to explore the iconic designs of the city, from private homes and heritage buildings to commercial and civic developments. Over 20 buildings will be on display — highlights include the $630 million Bendigo Hospital (the largest regional hospital development in Victoria), along with B House, a newly completed, bespoke three-bedroom townhouse designed by E+ Architecture. Plus, you can enter the historic Beehive Building while its still under renovation. The building was designed by the famed Charles Webb (the architect behind Melbourne's Royal Arcade) and erected in 1864. Alongside the program will be a series of talks and public workshops. For more information or to pre-book tours, head to the Open House Bendigo website.
If you've been looking for a reason to finally book that trip to Tasmania, here it is. Beaker Street Festival is returning from Tuesday, August 12 to Tuesday, August 19 and it's bringing a full week of death, pleasure, humanity and connection to Hobart and beyond. Don't be fooled, this isn't your average science festival. Now in its ninth year, Beaker Street is where art meets ideas and curious minds come together to explore what it means to live well, die better and stay curious along the way. There's over 70 events to look forward to across the week, including museum takeovers, field trips, speakeasy-style science salons, plunge pools, live music, pub nights, expert talks and experimentation. [caption id="attachment_1007080" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Oi Studio[/caption] The festival's main stage at Hobart City Hall is returning this year with a jam-packed schedule of headline talks, performances and debates. It's the kind of festival that makes you feel like a local, with something new and weird to discover around every corner. "We want to remind people that science isn't just learning facts – it's about feeling, experiencing, and connecting. It invites us to explore big ideas, expand our perspective, and share moments that bring people together," says Festival Founder and Creative Director Dr Margo Adler. [caption id="attachment_1007079" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Rosie Hastie[/caption] So whether you're a science nerd, a live music fan or just someone who wants a reason to visit Tassie this winter, this festival is for you. Beaker Street Festival runs from Tuesday, August 12 to Tuesday, August 19 across Hobart and regional Lutruwita/Tasmania. See a full festival guide and book your tickets now on the Beaker Street Festival website. By Jacque Kennedy
Hex After critical accolades at the Next Wave festival in May, James Welsby's evocative dance production Hex returns for a limited six-show run at the Malthouse. The show is one of several major cultural events taking place in conjunction with the 20th International AIDS Conference. Partly inspired by a controversial HIV/AIDS awareness ad from 1987, Welsby's show uses movement, music and allegorical imagery to chronicle the gay community's relationship with the devastating disease. Saturday and Sunday (Until July 22) at the Malthouse. More info here. Vinyl Records Pop-Up Store Convinced that the world sounds just that little bit better on vinyl? Then head on down to Northcote Social Club on Saturday, July 19, and you'll find shiny new and beloved second-hand records for sale across a pretty mindblowing range of genres — some you weren't even aware were a Thing. The impromptu store, based out of the NSC bandroom, opens its doors for business at midday on the dot. Saturday, June 19, at Northcote Social Club. More info here. The Myth Project: Twin As part of this year's NEON Festival, The Myth Project: Twin by Arthur (the surrealist adventurers behind Cut Snake) is exploring the depths of the human psyche and the strength of blood ties. After the disappearance of her twin sister, Ana falls into a dark alternative reality, a world ruled by dreams and riddles. Described as a mix of opera-noir, cabaret and naturalistic drama, The Myth Project: Twin is the first instalment of Arthur's multi-play episodic exploration of the Australian psyche. Saturday and Sunday at the Southbank Theatre. More info here. Our Vinyl Weighs a Ton screening The legendary Stones Throw Records is home to a metric bucket-tonne of vinyl. The LA-based hip hop label is known for their left-of-centre artists, avant garde nature and ability to break artists well before dinner table fame. Feature length documentary Our Vinyl Weighs a Ton takes a close look at the label and its master, commander and founder Chris Manak, aka Peanut Butter Wolf — an exceptional DJ and producer in his own right. Manak is in the country for Splendour in the Grass later this month, but will be hanging at Howler for the screening and a special Q&A on the night. Sunday, July 20, at Howler. More info here. Sunday Afternoons in July As part of the City of Yarra’s annual Leaps and Bounds music festival, Ali Bird and Richard Stanley of Aarght Records are making Sundays a little more tune-filled for everyone. Kicking off at midday for three Sundays in July, a solid lineup of bands, top notch vinyl record market and smorgasbord of treats await to round off your weekend. It's Harmony, Bitch Prefect and Empat Lima on July 20. Sunday, July 20, at Copacabana International. More info here. Charlie's Country There are very few faces as synonymous with Australian cinema as that of actor David Gulpilil. His third and most recent film with Rolf de Heer marks the last part in a loose thematic trilogy — one that began with The Tracker in 2002 and continued with Ten Canoes four years later. Gulpilil looks far older than his 61 years, but as Charlie he may never have been better — he's just taken home a best actor award at Cannes for it. It's a performance loaded with understated feeling, one that's obviously informed by a wealth of personal experience. His very face tells a story, about a country, its people, and its cultural and cinematic history. What a wonderful piece of acting in a likewise remarkable film. All weekend long at Palace Verona. Full review here.
An irreplaceable part of Melbourne's food scene for quite a while now, it seems our loveable taco-wielding, dessert-driven rolling truckies won't be disappearing anytime soon. Practically invented for summer, there are a whole slew of food truck gatherings happening around the city this season, from St Kilda's Hank Marvin Markets to Welcome to Thornbury to the new post-apocalyptic themed Richmond Yard. So grab some of Melbourne's best street food and chow down practically anywhere under the sun — it all depends on where they decide to anchor for mealtimes. So without further hungry ado, here are Melbourne's best food trucks and where to find them. THE LITTLE MUSHROOM CO. If you thought good street food only came in a greasy, deep-fried, meaty form, The Little Mushroom Co. is keen to change your perception. Despite its strictly vegetarian-only menu, the majority of Melburnians have had little trouble welcoming this particular four-wheeled friend. Serving up some of this city's best vego grub, the truck is known for its dynamic, punchy spices and succulent mushroom burgers — as you might have guessed. What to order: The Ultra Mexican Mushroom Burger. Their bestseller, a combo of portobello and Swiss brown mushrooms with spicy chipotle, balsamic and rocket on a pillow-soft, crunchy ciabatta bun. Where to find it: At the Queen Victoria Night Market every Wednesday (until March 2016); at the Hank Marvin Market every Saturday; on rotation at Welcome to Thornbury. thelittlemushroomco.com SUPER TACO Dispelling the myth that all Mexican street food is a potential hazard to your stomach, Super Taco's tacos not only get the tick of approval, their humble food truck creations are some of the best in Melbourne. One of the newer trucks on the scene, the taco truck comes from the guys behind Mr Burger and Fancy Hanks. Catering to they city's curiosity for strange food, Super Taco is known for utilising special (super, even) unconventional ingredients like cactus. Look for the playfully obnoxious blue and yellow truck – we don't think you'll have any trouble locating it. What to order: Four-mushroom taco with Meredith goats' feta and pickled red onion. Where to find it: The Super Taco truck is a regular at Welcome to Thornbury and Federation Square, and keeps their Twitter updated with their location. facebook.com/gosupertaco HAMMER & TONG One of Fitzroy's favourite cafes, Hammer & Tong, reached the pinnacle of good ideas when they decided to hit the streets of Melbourne. The truck is part time roamer of the Melbourne city streets, and part time resident at their Brunswick location, aptly named BCKYRD. While the guys are best known for their soft shell crab burger, the BCKYRD menu differs slightly, including smoked meats and gumbo. What to order: Soft shell crab burger with sesame slaw, Sirarcha mayo and coriander. Where to find it: At BCKYRD every Saturday and Sunday; at various other locations during the week — watch their Facebook and Twitter to follow their whereabouts. facebook.com/hammertongtruck MR BURGER From one lonely little food truck to four permanent stores and seven rolling truckies, you could say that Mr Burger has grown on Melbourne, just a bit. If there's one thing this city loves more than a good food truck, it's a food truck that sells darn good burgers. These gloriously tender meat patties are sandwiched between buns of salad-y, cheesy goodness and topped with Mr Burger's impeccable signature sauce. You might as well give up on the idea of a healthy lunch and order some crispy chips and a decadent milkshake too. What to order: An all-out Mr Double with double of the good stuff: double beef, double cheese, double bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle and signature special trucker sauce. Where to find it: Mr Burger have four permanent locations in Little Bourke Street, Fitzroy, Windsor and the Queen Vic Market. Plus, they have six food trucks roaming Melbourne, including one at Federation Square Wednesday to Sunday, and one on rotation at Welcome to Thornbury. For the other trucks' whereabouts, check their website. mrburger.com BLENDCO The perfect summer refreshment coming to a (hopefully) convenient corner near you. The now-international juice brand still sells some of Melbourne's tastiest and healthiest super juice blends out of their truck in Cremorne. With a standard location on Newton Street, the van also frequently visits festivals and other Melbourne events. Look for the adorably minimalistic, whitewashed, fruity-smelling truck. What to order: The Red Blend: raspberries, blueberries, coconut water, banana and SKIN superfood blend. Where to find it: 3 Newton Street, Cremone, Monday to Friday; at various festivals and events on the weekend. blendco.com.au TOASTA Shining the spotlight on the humble toastie, don't be fooled into underestimating the powers of the everyday sandwich. In the hands of TOASTA, one of Melbourne's finest food truck institutions, these toasties are some of the best things since sliced bread. Crunchy, stringy, piping hot and balanced with a king-hit of fresh herbs or veg, be warned — these cheese-filled contraptions are dangerously addictive. What to order: The Sammi: four cheeses, blanched spring greens and dill. Where to find it: TOASTA usually frequents the Hank Marvin Markets on Saturdays and the Welcome to Thornbury food truck park. You can track them down through Facebook and Twitter. toastafoodtruck.com.au LIL NOM NOMS Just when you thought Melbourne's Vietnamese food scene couldn't get better, Lil Nom Noms rolls out. A Melbourne favourite, the truck offers tasty traditional steamed bao, rice paper rolls, banh mi sliders and herby rice noodle salads. It's fresh, light street eating that every foodie can get on board with. What to order: Two steamed bao: one braised pork, coriander and cucumber, and one lemongrass chicken with slaw and hot sauce. Where to find it: It doesn't have one fixed place, but you can track its movement on Twitter. lilnomnoms.com.au BIBIMBAP Everyone loves a good bibimbap. There's literally nothing not to like about the mixed Korean veggie bowls topped with your favourite tender meat. And, considering Melbourne's Bibimbap food truck was crowdfunded online, it's safe to say our city has more than a good appetite for the Korean dish. What to order: Tofu bibimbap with sesame sauce. Where to find it: The Bibimbap food truck is on rotation at Welcome to Thornbury and Chadstone Shopping Centre — you can find them via their Facebook page. bibimbap.com.au BILLY VAN CREAMERY Don't settle for artificial flavours this summer. Billy Van Creamy's handmade, natural gelato skips the colours, preservatives, emulsifiers and stabilisers all together, producing some of Melbourne's best tasting gelato. Out of a truck. Who would've thunk it? We're not sure what the magic recipe is behind this gelato, it could have something to do with the organic milk, fresh nuts or seasonal fruit, but we're happy to indulge whenever they're around anyway. What to order: Watermelon gelato. Full stop. Where to find it: Billy Van Creamery regularly appear at the Hank Marvin Markets and Welcome to Thornbury, and are sometimes stationed at Rucker's Hill, Northcote. For their whereabouts, check their Instagram. billyvancreamy.com.au GRUB FOOD VAN Unlike other moveable food trucks, Grub Food Van is a permanent fixture on Moor Street. More like a cafe that happens to be in a van, dilapidated picnic chairs and tables sit outside the food truck in summer, and there's an indoor greenhouse for when the weather turns sour. The space around the back of the van houses picnic-style chairs, ping-pong tables, greenery and mismatched rugs. Not too shabby for some (supposedly) grubby food. What to order: Charcuterie board with jamon serrano, ossocollo, calabrese, duck rillettes, pickles and grilled sourdough. Where to find it: Permanently moored at 87-89 Moor Street, Fitzroy. grubfoodvan.com.au
When you wish upon a star, do you wish for all things Disney to be worked into your daily life? If so, then you'll be familiar with Sydney fine-dining institution NEL and its Once Upon a Time degustations. Since 2019, the Harbour City restaurant has been regularly plating up 11-course meals featuring dishes inspired by the Mouse House and its movies. In fact, it's done so four times so far. 2024's run will mark the enchanting dining experience's fifth chapter, then — and NEL's Executive Chef and namesake Nelly Robinson has new film-themed culinary creations in store. From Tuesday, April 16–Saturday, August 10, fans of top-notch meals and Disney alike can flutter into the Surry Hills eatery to enjoy courses that take their cues from Frozen, 101 Dalmatians, The Jungle Book and more. Both savoury and sweet dishes are on offer, with or without beverages — including cocktails — that also help tell a magical tale. For those who'll never be able to let their Mouse House obsession go, cured ocean trout Nordic-style — complete with a pickled onion snowflake, snow made out of cream cheese, and dustings of lemon and dill done at your table — is on the menu. Of course the Cruella de Vil-themed plate goes with a black-and-white colour scheme, featuring ricotta gnocchi, pan-seared mushroom and a celeriac velouté. And there'll be far more than the bare necessities tempting your tastebuds with the banana-shaped cream paired with roasted white chocolate and peanut butter brittle. Other courses include a nod to Peter Pan via a golden sweet pastry crumble, aka the Once Upon a Time degustation's version of pixie dust; saying "hi ho, hi ho" to a Snow White-inspired dish; and also paying edible tribute to Mulan, The Lion King, Bambi and The Nightmare Before Christmas. There's even NEL's version of a wand, aka a chicken and eggplant pastry that comes in a crisp tulle. "I am taking our diners on a journey of nostalgia. It is so much fun creating this menu. The films continue to inspire me. With the team at NEL, we have crafted the menu to ensure a moment of joy and wonder in every single dish," says Robinson about his fifth Once Upon a Time menu. NEL is known for its themed degustations, also spanning KFC-inspired dinners, Moulin Rouge!-themed and Christmas degustations, and heroing native Australian ingredients in the past. Unsurprisingly, the Once Upon a Time spread is especially popular — and because it serves up new and fresh dishes riffing on the Mouse House's favourites each time, it's always a different experience each year for locals and Disney-adoring visitors to Sydney. Price-wise, this childhood-inspired feast will require an adult salary, costing $185 per person, with beverages matched for an extra $165. Reserving a spot ASAP for dinner Tuesday–Saturday from 5.15pm, and for lunch from 12pm on Saturdays as well, is recommended — this always books out. NEL's Once Upon A Time (Chapter Five) degustation is on offer from Tuesday, April 16–Saturday, August 10, 2024 at 75 Wentworth Avenue, Sydney. For more information or to book, head to the NEL website.
After keeping us all on the edge of our seats for a good six months, boutique music agency Novel has at last dropped the final details about its hotly anticipated new event space, B3. But we're not angry, because, as announced by the group today, the huge new venue is none other than the underground car park at Etihad (soon to be Marvel) Stadium. It's set to make quite the debut, too, as it plays host to the next edition of dance event Smalltown on Thursday, September 27, which is also AFL Grand Final Eve. This is the first time this space will have ever been used for a dance music event. Novel's already lifted the lid on the event's headliner, announcing German house techno boss DJ Kroze a couple of weeks ago. And now that we know the location of its shiny new playground, we've also got a peek at the rest of the international lineup: Belgian rising star Charlotte de Witte, and Germany's acclaimed Gerd Janson. B3 is an exciting proposition for Melbourne's dance music scene, with capacity for 5000, a very convenient late-night licence and a pretty incredible space to boot. "We cannot wait to turn that space into something that punters will never forget," said Novel Director Daniel Teuma. "Preparations are already underway to see how we can visually enhance the space's concrete facade, and on the night there will be interactive installations, art installations, and of course, Funktion-One sound.'" Novel's scored the exclusive rights to host dance music events at B3, which — perhaps the only bad part about this story — will be limited to just three or four a year. B3 is located in the underground car park at Etihad Stadium (to be Marvel Stadium from September 1), Docklands. The first event, Smalltown, will kick off on Thursday, September 27 — third and fourth release tickets are on sale now here.
If you've seen a man in the moon, the Virgin Mary in a grilled cheese sandwich or a monkey in the callus of a tree, do you know there's a word for what you've been experiencing? It's 'pareidolia', which the Collins Dictionary defines as "the imagined perception of a pattern or meaning where it does not actually exist". In his notebooks, Leonardo da Vinci wrote that the phenomenon inspired great art: "If you look at any walls spotted with various stains or with a mixture of different kinds of stones ... you will be able to see an infinite number of things which you can then reduce into separate and well-conceived forms." Google is now taking pareidolia to a whole new level. Combining facial recognition software and Google Maps, Google Faces can identify human features on the Earth's surface. Given that the aforementioned cheese sandwich sold for $US28,000, we can only begin to imagine what the discovery of Jesus's visage in someone's backyard might do for property values. Google Faces is the brainchild of Onformative, 'a studio for regenerative design', based in Berlin. They have created an algorithm that, in combination with Facetracker, scans the satellite images provided by Google Maps, honing in on geographical elements that resemble an eye, nose, mouth or forehead. So far, the programme has circumnavigated the world twice, and it'll continue its journey over the next few months, gradually zooming in on the Earth to access new perspectives. Via io9.
It could've been stickier than a marmalade sandwich. After directing the first two Paddington movies so delightfully, and either writing or co-writing both 2014's Paddington and 2017's Paddington 2 as well, filmmaker Paul King opted to dance with another beloved pop-culture character instead of making a third date with a certain adored Peruvian-in-Britain bear. Wonka, starring Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown), as the chocolatier, was also a gem. With Dougal Wilson making his feature helming debut, Paddington in Peru has turned out charmingly as well. Wilson has been behind the lens for decades on music videos, short films and advertisements. If you've seen the clips for 'Fit But You Know It' by The Streets, 'Take Me Back to Your House' by Basement Jaxx, Dizzee Rascal's 'Dream', Jarvis Cocker's 'Don't Let Him Waste Your Time', 'Psyche' by Massive Attack, Goldfrapp's 'Happiness' and 'Life in Technicolor II' from Coldplay — among other vids — then you've seen his work. He's received Grammy, MTV Europe Music Awards and UK Music Video Awards nominations for his efforts, but taking over a big bear hug of a cinema franchise that's adored by audiences of all ages (and, in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, by the one and only Nicolas Cage) is quite a task. Was it daunting? How did Wilson approach it, knowing how much viewers have warmed to all things Paddington on the silver screen over the last decade — and knowing, of course, the character's history on the page, where the Michael Bond-created critter first popped up in 1958, too? "You try not to make the pressure make you have a nervous breakdown, really," he tells Concrete Playground with a laugh. While he was new to the series, he was "surrounded by a very good team who all worked on the previous films", which assisted. "I had the same cinematographer, Erik Wilson [who also lensed Better Man], as the first two films. Same producer, Rosie Alison [Wonka], who is fantastic. Mark Burton [an Aardman Animations veteran, including Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl] was one of the writers who worked on the first two films. And James and Jon, two of the other writers, Jon Foster and James Lamont [the creators of animated series The Adventures of Paddington], they'd also contributed to some of the writers' rooms on the first two films. Then I had the director of animation Pablo Grillo [The Little Mermaid], who was a huge part the first two films." "So I had a really good team to help me, who could, if not reassure me — because it's not something you should be reassuring yourself, but it's hard to work on that, and you just have to chip away and keep working and craft it as best you can — but they had been there before, so they were a great team to work with," Wilson continues. For the franchise's third instalment, Wilson, his veteran Paddington colleagues, plus a cast still led by Ben Whishaw (Black Doves) turning in a lovely and lively vocal performance, all have new terrain to traverse. Although Paddington hails from Peru, he's one of London's most-famous animal residents, and so the first two movies largely set their narratives in the UK. With a roster of actors that's added Emily Mortimer (The New Look) as Mrs Brown, taking over from Sally Hawkins (The Lost King) in the first two pictures, and also enlisted Olivia Colman (Wicked Little Letters) as the singing Reverend Mother at the Home for Retired Bears and Antonio Banderas (Babygirl) as riverboat captain Hunter Cabot, the third film unfurls as an adventure in the South American jungle. Paddington and the Browns (including The Agency's Hugh Bonneville, Houdini and Doyle's Samuel Joslin and Man Down's Madeleine Harris) arrive to visit Aunt Lucy (Imelda Staunton, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget), then find themselves searching for her — and El Dorado. The job for Wilson, then, wasn't just stepping into a heartwarming saga that King had established and then furthered so wonderfully — it was also upping the stakes, playing with a new location, taking inspiration from Buster Keaton and Werner Herzog, and more. We also chatted with the filmmaker about how he came to make his feature directorial debut with a Paddington flick, what excited him most about the job, balancing the slapstick and emotionally resonant elements of the movie (and others), the importance of Whishaw's voicework, the cast's new big names, how his music-video background assisted and more. On How Wilson Came to Make His Feature Directorial Debut with a Paddington Movie "Well, I was quite happy doing short things. They're great fun and they're very distracting. I had made various attempts to start on a longer-form thing, but I'd always haver about whether I got the story right or get paranoid that it wasn't. And then another short thing would come along and it would be more of a delay before the long thing ever got made. But I was working on another thing — a much-smaller long thing. Then this opportunity came up and I thought 'well, unlike other attempts I was making with features, I knew this would definitely happen' — because they really wanted to make a third film. And while it wasn't what I anticipated the first thing I would maybe try to do in long-form, I realised it was a great opportunity, and as did lots of my friends. They said 'oh, it's Paddington, you've got to do that'. Also I really admired what Paul had done on the first two films. Paul was off doing Wonka, so wasn't going to do the third one. And I really admired the style. I thought the way he told those stories, the way he coordinated the world and created the character Paddington himself, and the tone of the scriptwriting was so good. And that the humour was great. It had this lovely, quite unique modern-British comedic sense. And, despite being a family franchise, he'd really made it quite smart, and you could be any age to enjoy it. So I admired all these things and I thought 'well, I should probably take this opportunity'. But I was really scared because the first two films are really cherished and really good — and very well done. And I was under no illusion that this would be easy. We had to work on the script quite a lot with the writers as well, and develop that. And then it's a real technical challenge — and we were taking Paddington out of the environment in the first two films and taking him somewhere completely new, where he'd only been fleetingly in the first two films. So yeah, it was terrifying. But I felt I had to try." On What Excited Wilson the Most About Diving Into Paddington's World "I find the first two films really funny, but also quite emotionally powerful, and I was excited to try — I guess, as well as being terrified, I was excited to try to create something that if it was at least half as good as those two films, then I felt like I would have been really happy. So that was exciting knowing that we were aspiring to make something that could be good. Specifically, I was very excited by the mixed-media approach that Paul had started in the first two films. Using animation for some parts, I loved that in my short-form work. I was really excited about how intricately and brilliantly the action sequences were done in the first two films. I was keen to get my teeth into the slapstick sequences in this film. I was very excited by the approach to the design of the cinematography and the heightened style which we were going to try to continue. It's challenging because we were in London, and London is a big character in those first two films. And it does really, the locations and buildings in London really contribute to the style. But we are obviously in a natural environment in Peru. So it was a challenge, but I was also excited to try to continue the style of the first two films in an environment that was novel to them. We tried to that by setting it within an Incan labyrinth that sort of became our stand-in for how the National History Museum works in the first film, or Hunter's riverboat becomes the same as the train in the second film. It was just trying to find proscenium arches for certain scenes that continued he style of the first two films in a way that was as fun and as intricate as they did." On the Juggling Required to Make a Warmhearted, Globe-Crossing, Treasure-Hunting Mystery Adventure That's Also About Identity, Acceptance and Kindness "If you don't have both, then it will feel quite one-dimensional. So while Paddington will always mess things up or get himself in quite serious spots of bother, it's all because he means well and it's all because he's trying to do the right thing. So that does guide you in the script-development process. Also, we were completing the circle of the trilogy, which was basically the story of an immigrant who's looking for a home, who's trying to find their home — and then in the second film, someone who becomes part of a wider community but loses that place and has to fight to get it again, and in doing so finds out finds out a bit more about himself. And in the third film, it's about the experience of an immigrant who has to ask themselves where their home really is and what home means. So there was a deeper theme lying behind all the fun and the action, and we had to bear that in mind the whole time. And it obviously comes into focus towards the end of the film where Paddington finds out something about how he ended up in that river in Paddington 2 and where he might really be from. So there was always the undercurrent of that guiding us, and Paddington's outlook on life guides us. Even in the smallest details, like there's a scene where he tries to drive the boat and ends up — spoiler alert — ends up sinking the boat by accident, and that's all just because he wants to help. He wants to do the right thing. And so it often steers you, his outlook on life. It's not gags for the sake of gags. It's gags because he's trying to do the right thing at that moment." On the Scene in Paddington in Peru, Amid the Film's Many Visually Imaginative Sequences, That Wilson Is Most Pleased About "There's a few, but the one I thought was very ambitious but hopefully we carried it off was the finale chase at the end of act three — where Paddington's being pursued by the character Hunter, played by Antonio Banderas, around an Incan labyrinth by an Incan citadel, which is very inspired by Machu Picchu. During the research and location-scouting phase of the project, I went to South America for two months and I saw a lot of Incan architecture. And I went to Machu Picchu twice and explored those ruins, and I realised that would be a great place for a chase and for all sorts of interesting physical comedic moments to develop. In the same way as Paul drew on Chaplin in Paddington 2, I'm an enormous fan of Buster Keaton, and we worked in some Buster Keaton — there's a literal homage to the famous moment where the wall falls on Buster Keaton in Steamboat Bill, Jr within this chase. Then there's references to Raiders of the Lost of the Ark. There's nods to Aguirre, Wrath of God and Fitzcarraldo. But that particular chase around the Incan ruins, that was really fun to do because we had to work out a sequence of comedic moments within a chase that we could then apply to an Incan citadel, and it just felt like a very good expression and condensation of the idea of Paddington in Peru. It's like, let's take Peru and put Paddington inside and hopefully fun will ensue." On Not Really Needing to Guide Ben Whishaw's Vocal Performance — or Imelda Staunton's as Aunt Lucy "They're somewhat old hands at this now, because they've both done two films already. And they're also just brilliant actors. So I often don't really have to tell them really much to do. I just, we get the first few performances, we might develop it, get some options — because sometimes you also don't quite know in the recording session with them exactly what will feel right within the edit, until you get the recordings back to the edit suites and then play those performances off against the other cast or the particular cut you have. But no, they really inhabit those characters. Ben is the heart and soul of Paddington. And when you hear his voice — because we didn't have his voice right at the start, we started just with scratch dialogue. You do a read-through with stand-ins. And often in the edit, it's sometimes my voice doing Paddington's voice, just because we needed Paddington to say something in particular we don't happen to have as a recording. So in the later stages of the edit, we start doing the voice sessions with Ben and with Imelda, and then those voices go in. And also, you don't have Paddington's animation to begin with. You just might have some — again, sometimes it's my incredibly crude drawings, which my editor Úna Ní Dhonghaíle [Young Woman and the Sea] had to up with. She had to do chase sequences where it's just this frozen awful drawing of Paddington. But then when you put Ben's voice on it, somehow it absolutely comes alive and the emotion sings through. And the same with Imelda. I think we got her voice quite late in the day and suddenly the scene just came alive when we put it on. I don't have to tell them to do very much. It's very, very easy with those actors because they are just so expert." On How Crucial Whishaw's Voice Is as Paddington, Especially Given That Colin Firth Was Initially Cast for the First Film "There's a magic to Ben's performance and it just shows you that it's very difficult to put your finger exactly on what it is that that really works when you see that animation combined with that voice. And I think it was very hard thing to predict. He wasn't originally the voice of Paddington, and it was switched during the editing of the first film, I believe — and then once you hear it, you think 'well, how could that ever have been a different choice?'. I think the fact that it maybe wasn't obvious when Paul and his team were making the first film, who Paddington's voice should be, is part of the magic of why Ben works. And it's quite hard to articulate why he works. He just has this — there's an element of wisdom to his voice, but there's also an element of childish innocence to his voice. It's a lovely, subtle, slightly contradictory combination. And there's a real intimacy to his performance. And also you really believe the character and you believe he cares. That's just something interwoven in the fabric of Ben's performance. What exactly, how exactly he does that, I don't know. That's the magic." On Adding Olivia Colman and Antonio Banderas to the Cast "We needed an amusing British nun who just felt like she was in a Paddington film. And as soon as someone mentioned Olivia Colman, we couldn't really think of anyone else, so that just seemed to click together. Then we sent her the script and asked if she wanted to do it, and within the same day we got a response: 'love to, I'm already learning the guitar'. So that was it. It was pretty simple. Antonio was equally keen on the project. We needed a charming Spanish riverboat captain who was quite swashbuckling, and of course your mind immediately turns to Antonio Banderas. So they just seemed the right, obvious choices for two archetypal roles. And luckily, they were very, very into it." On the Sense of Responsibility That Comes with Making a Heartwarming, Joyous Film That Offers Viewers an Escape — But Also Have Some Darkness in It "It's a big responsibility. And it's lovely to see the reactions of people who've seen the film and have found joy in it and found their spirits lifted by it. That's a wonderful thing to do. Obviously they're joyful, but you have to have the dark moments as well in order for the joy to work. And also you can't slap the joy on in too saccharine a manner, otherwise they won't feel authentic. But yes, they have a very positive outlook on the world and that all just emanates from Paddington's character, which he has an optimistic view of the world. He always looks for the good in people, and he always believes that if we are kind and polite, the world will be right. So the joy from the films, I think it all emanates from Paddington's worldview and his ability to change people. He often doesn't change that much himself, but he can change other people for the better. He'll find the good in people and change them." On Why the Paddington Films Have Struck Such a Chord with Audiences "I think basically because Paul got it right. He managed to get the character right, managed to get the tone of the humour right and managed to get the execution right. It could have been done differently, but it was just very, very smartly done. And again, you mentioned Ben Whishaw — Ben Whishaw just inhabits Paddington. And then the animation, the director of animation on all the films has been a brilliant guy called Pablo Grillo, and the combination of the way Paddington is designed and moves and animates and emotes with Ben's voice is just something, there's something magical there, and it was to the credit of all the team on the first two films that they just managed to make that resonate. So, I can't take the credit for that myself. I think that's just something that I inherited and I did my best to continue." On How Wilson's Background in Music Videos Helped with Directing His First Feature "That format of filmmaking, short-form, especially short-form set to music, is — well, the way I've done it, is there's a lot of attention to detail because you only get a short amount of time to show stuff. I also try to put stories into these pieces of videos. And I love it when the pieces are as packed as possible and as intricate as possible. So I really enjoyed applying that to the sequences in Paddington. I also thought, for the first two films, they do feel very carefully crafted and every moment seems to count. So it didn't seem too different a style for this film. Although, story is king and the story comes from the script, so I very much had to respect the scenes where the actors have to deliver a story — but I love trying to entwine that with style and design, and how it was directed and how the shots slotted together. Then it really came into its own when I was doing an action sequence or a slapstick sequence, or even a musical sequence, obviously when the Reverend Mother sings a song. So it really helped, but it was also a good new experience to do long scenes with actors performing and delivering great performances. That was maybe something that I hadn't experienced as much when I did short-form of stuff, but I really enjoyed it. I really enjoyed attacking that sort of scene as well." Paddington in Peru released in Australian and New Zealand cinemas on Wednesday, January 1, 2025.
Talk about a big hook: while shark movies and serial-killer films comprise their own unnerving genres, each swimming with ample must-see viewing, Dangerous Animals combines the pair into an entertaining thriller mashup. The Gold Coast-made and -set picture boasts marine predators aplenty. The real monster in the hierarchy, however, lives on land and is very much human. Indeed, in a post-Jaws world — June 2025 marks five decades since Steven Spielberg's blockbuster sparked many a permanent case of galeophobia — one of The Loved Ones and The Devil's Candy filmmaker Sean Byrne's aims with his third feature, and first in ten years, is to do justice to rather than villainise the feared toothy fish. His new antagonist: Tucker, Dangerous Animals' shark-obsessed murderer. The victim of an attack in his younger days, he's now in the cage-diving business. As viewers learn early on, tourists frequenting his boat to swim with the ocean's creatures get more than they bargained for. From Jai Courtney (American Primeval) in the part, the movie receives exactly what it needs, though: an unforgettably terrifying performance, bringing to life a figure that's charismatic from the outset, while equally unsettling from the get-go as well. Tucker charms his customers, but there's aways an edge to him. He's menacing and obsessive, and also believable and fleshed out — and a little vulnerable, too. When Dangerous Animals introduces American-in-Australia Zephyr (Hassie Harrison, Yellowstone), everyone watching knows that the dedicated surfer is bound to paddle into Tucker's orbit, even as the solo traveller is making a rare connection with local real-estate agent Moses (Josh Heuston, Heartbreak High). The screenplay by first-timer Nick Lepard obliges — but this isn't the type of film where foreseeing such a turn of events kills the tension and suspense. Although Tucker abducts Zephyr to indulge his sadistic shark-feeding ritual, she knows the true threat and isn't afraid to sink her own teeth into fighting back. An engaging big-screen experience results, as does a movie that earned a rare endorsement on its way to cinemas Down Under. At 2025's Cannes Film Festival, Dangerous Animals became the first shark film to ever grace the event's program. "To be the first shark film to be officially selected for Cannes was kind of mindblowing," Byrne tells Concrete Playground. "And to be in Directors' Fortnight as well, which traditionally is a very film-literate sidebar — but it was a great vote of confidence that, I think, the selection committee saw this as a subversion of the traditional shark film." [caption id="attachment_1009141" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Belinda Rolland © 2025.[/caption] "What I loved the most was, the Cannes experience, that was the first time that an audience had seen the finished film," Byrne continues. "So I was terrified. And because it is a very film-literate audience over there, I was thinking 'how are they going to perceive this?'. But they absolutely understood that this is just a fun, unhinged night at the movies, and really responded to that, and laughed and gasped. And we got a ten-minute standing ovation. So, yeah, it was incredibly gratifying. But to begin with I was petrified, because it was the first time that an audience had seen the finished film and on quite a big stage, so the stakes felt high." Playing Tucker, the stakes are raised for Courtney, too. It's a complex role — and one that Byrne has likened to Kathy Bates in Misery, Jack Nicholson in The Shining and Christian Bale in American Psycho. The Australian actor, making his second homegrown flick in succession after the immensely different, family-friendly Runt, hasn't shied away from playing the bad guy across his career so far. Here, the IRL true-crime fan was excited about the many layers to his Dangerous Animals part, as he adds to an on-screen resume that began two decades back in short Boys Grammar — and has spanned the likes of Jack Reacher, A Good Day to Die Hard, Terminator Genisys, the Divergent movies and two Suicide Squad entries in Hollywood. Is a willingness to get dark behind the range of antagonistic parts to Courtney's name? "I think it's just something that's started to happen. You find things that are in your wheelhouse," he advises. "And I'm not afraid of that or necessarily in search of it, either. It's just that, I guess, things that tend to be the stuff that come my way, that meet up with where my interests are, happen to be that way. But the goal for me is just to try and shake it up whenever I can. And fortunately films like Runt come along and I get to play a loving father of two, and completely depart from this world whatsoever. As long as I pepper a few of those in here and there, hopefully I'm not pigeonholed too heavily." A premise like Dangerous Animals' is a rarity, no matter how common both shark and serial-killer fare are separately. Yes, for both Byrne and Courtney, that's a drawcard. Respecting the film's sea-dwelling creatures, complete with using real animal footage as much as possible, was another key element for its director. So was the fact that this is as much a movie about the importance of love, and the power that someone believing in you can give. For its star, Tucker's dance sequence to Steve Wright's 'Evie' wasn't a motivating factor — but it's one of the film's most-memorable moments in a flick filled with them. We also chatted with Byrne and Courtney about the above, unpacking Australian larrikins and ideas around Aussie masculinity, how starring in a shark picture leaves you feeling about them and their career journeys as well, among other subjects. On the First Reaction When a Horror Movie About a Shark-Obsessed Serial Killer Stalking the Gold Coast — and About Man Being the Real Monster, Too — Comes Your Way Jai: "I think I read something that felt really original. It was a great story and had really strong characters at the centre of it, which is a sort of immediate way in — because I think with something like this, you get a loose logline before you're about to crack it open and it's like 'okay, it could go either way'. But Nick Lepard, who wrote our script, had really done a lot of work in giving these characters maybe a bit more depth than you'd come to expect from a film of this nature. And I think that's what made it a bit of a unique experience, and certainly made it appealing to me to want to get involved with. I think Tucker, he's so much more than the shark-obsessed serial killer. And we don't get to explore tons of his backstory, but there is a lot of colour to him, and I think seeing a chance to bring all that to life with this undertone of his morally ambiguous intentions was what really attracted me to it. And then, just speaking to Sean and kind of getting on common ground as far as what we thought was necessary for him. I didn't want this character to feel like a broad-strokes-washed-over-evil-intentions guy. If that was the movie he was trying to make, I don't think I would have been there. But I think we both wanted him to feel like there was a sort of deception there. And it had to feel fun. I wanted it to feel familiar and uniquely Australian, but also the genre speaks to the world, and we play into all the classic tropes that you might expect. It also does a good job of not taking yourself too seriously. There's a few winks to the audience in this film, where I think if you get onboard — it's why it's so important to see it with an audience, too, I really believe, because there's an energy to it that when you're sharing the space with others who are on the same ride, it becomes really palpable." Sean: "I tend to write my own scripts, much to the frustration of my agent and manager. And then this crossed my desk, and immediately I was just struck by the high-concept of serial killer film meets shark film. And I thought 'why hasn't anyone done this?', especially when you had the fact that this is the first shark film where the sharks aren't really the antagonist — man is. So I felt like Nick Lepard had actually kind of cracked the code. Because, Jaws masterpiece though it is, has done such a disservice to the sharks, where the same formula has been followed over and over again to the point that sharks are beginning to become an endangered species — because it was so culturally seismic. And so to get this shark film that was unlike any other shark film, but also had a conservation angle — but on top of that, was just a wild, fun night at the movies — it was just irresistible.' On Exploring Tucker's Layers — Including His Childhood Shark Attack and the Physical Scars It Left, Plus the Trauma, Vulnerability and Emotional Damage — All While He Remains a Shark-Obsessed Serial Killer Jai: "You just have to find the quiet moments and allow them to be there without trying to sell it too hard. The camera is an interesting thing, because it sees things that are saved for the audience for later. It's not like on set — you can't kind of like sell it all for the people that are in the room. And I think Tucker, there's an opportunity with him sometimes — where even just his response to certain comments made by Zephyr, or questions he's asked by Heather [Ella Newton, Girl at the Window] in the start of the film, there's things that can be quite potent. I just wanted to find opportunities with him to reveal a bit of his tenderness. And I think that's the thing that, for me, was like the gateway into figuring out who he was — is like this wound. We don't get to hear a lot about it in the film. There's one moment that sort of touches on it. But there's a bit of arrested development. He's stuck in a place where he was abandoned as a kid, and this somewhat otherworldly encounter touched him, and that's by way of being victim of an attack. But it almost made him feel chosen in a way. And so a lot of that is really just figuring out the path for yourself, where you're going 'alright, here's this bloke who's got this gaping wound in him, this trauma, but feels this immense connection to the animal'. All of that is just sort of say that he's found a crusade for himself that feels real. And it might be misguided, but he has a true belief in it. And so there you have the building blocks of who he might be, and then the fun part is stacking on the colourful bits on top. Even just costume and makeup and finding his look, finding the shape of his body — I mean, that for me, it's all part of building who Tucker is, and I wanted him to feel like a real salty, kind of born-out-of-the-marina, familiar Australian figure." On Courtney's Chance to Turn in a Horror Performance That Aims to Be as Memorable as Kathy Bates in Misery and Jack Nicholson in The Shining Jai: "Oh no, I didn't really approach it with any of that in mind. I just approached it with a goal to just do something that was dynamic and big, and get to explore all the corners of this human, really. And I think Sean and I were onboard with each other, and there was an immediate trust. And I think he let me — I was kind of like 'you help me with the temperature, and the volume of where we're pulling moments up and down and in and out, and I'll take care of sending it as hard as I think it needs to'. I mean, the material is there. But that stuff is a blueprint, it's not prescriptive. Every actor is going to come and do that with their own instincts. I saw a version of it in my head when I first read it, and I felt like that was the version that would work for the film. And fortunately I was given the chance to do it, and I'm proud with what we came up with." Sean: "I think any kind of horror film that stands the test of time, the antagonist haunts the audience's nightmares well after they've left the cinema. But I wanted it to be a great time as well. You think of Hannibal Lecter, and as disturbing as he is, he's fun. And Kathy Bates in particular, that character is just so wonderfully goofy, and she doesn't swear. And there's a certain theatricality to antagonists in commercial horror films, and we really wanted to aim for that and keep it fun. But also, the great thing about Jai is he's such a great character actor. I knew he would bring emotional nuance to the character where it was required — and capture the broken child inside the man, and point to this shark attack that he'd had as a child and capture all that. But also, he was also Captain Boomerang. He's got this wild charisma that reminded me of kind of Eric Bana in Chopper. And that's how the spider catches the fly, with charisma and letting tourists, they let their guard down. And finally, he's physically really intimidating and genuine — he could kill you with one punch. So I just thought combining the charisma with the kind of character actor that he is and the physical intimidation would be a really electric mix, to the point that I thought that this was the role that he was born to play. And so I was so thankful that we got him." On What Goes Into a Good Dance Sequence for Courtney, Given That He's in Quite the Unforgettable One in Dangerous Animals Jai: "God, I couldn't even tell you. I was daunted by that whole thing, because I'm by no means a dancer and it should never be filmed when I'm dancing. But we knew what it wanted to feel like. It's completely unchoreographed and just improvised. Tucker's kind of having this wrap party for his own little film that he's made, and it's a private look at this person in a light that we don't really get to spend a lot of time with them outside of that moment in the film. That needle drop of 'Evie' was written into the script. I know that song very well. I could already see it and hear and feel it. And I didn't plan any of it. I just had to go in, get in that mindset that he's in that night and just go for it. I think we did it in two takes. We did one, and we just ran it again from a different angle, and it was just me and Shelly [Farthing-Dawe, In Vitro], our cinematographer, with a handheld camera in the space. It was kind of like 'what we get is what we get'. And fortunately it turned out to be something really fun." On Unpacking Australian Larrikins and Ideas Around Aussie Masculinity Through Tucker Sean: "I think we've all had that kind of tour-guide experience. It doesn't necessarily need to be a shark-diving boat, but we're always in the hands of the tour guide. So yeah, there was that, but also he's almost an outdated representation of the kind of masculinity or toxic masculinity that I think the film works as a Trojan horse to say that this is something that needs to be kind of defeated. And Moses, in many ways, is the anti-Tucker. But I think it's inherent in the title. It's called Dangerous Animals. He is definitely more dangerous than what's in the water. But ultimately, I think Zephyr is the most-dangerous animal — and the allegory is she needs to defeat this. This is something that needs to be defeated. His philosophy needs to be destroyed." On Whether Being a True-Crime Fan Helps When You're Portraying a Serial Killer Jai: "I think so. I think I leant on my curiosity for people that are capable of things that we can't quite understand. And yeah, I do just have a fascination with it. It's one of those things where I think it's easy to judge that and feel like for some reason you're excusing these behaviours, or we're glorifying it or whatever — but I don't know, I've just always been fascinated by how close we might get to people that are capable of these crazy things without even knowing it. And that's interesting to me. You know, you don't really know who you're sitting next to on the bus or in a pub or whatever, and for some reason that doesn't terrify me — it intrigues me. There's not a story you could tell me that's too dark. I'm kind of here for it in a strange way. So yeah, I guess it led me in a little bit. But even with Tucker, the experience of shooting it, there were moments that hit a limit. There's a night we had where Ella Newton, who plays Heather, is strung up in the harness over the open water in the middle of the night, screaming for her life — and everyone was squirming, honestly, after a few minutes. We were all kind of, the whole crew, myself included, we're just like 'can we make this stop? This is too much'. And it's a testament to her performance and what she was giving it. But yeah, when your disbelief is suspended somewhat, even as a performer, you know you're stepping into wild territory." On the Importance of This Being Not Just a Killer Shark Flick and a Serial-Killer Movie, But Also a Survivalist Thriller, Plus a Film About Love and Finding Someone Who Helps You Believe in Yourself Sean: "Oh absolutely. I'm so glad you said that, because I think that's almost a central theme — that it's about love, or the difference that love can make in a life, and what an absence of love can do to a person as well. And I think it's this collision course between these two broken people that have had to learn to survive on their own, which actually sharks do. They're birthed in the shallows, and then they're left on their own to survive. So in many ways, Zephyr and Tucker know each other better than anyone else on the planet does — in a similar way to De Niro and Pacino doing Heat. Even though they're opposites and they're trying to kill each other, it's like, well, they actually understand each other as well. I think ultimately, Zephyr uses the ocean to ease her loneliness, and she uses it in a way that's about solace — whereas Tucker takes advantage of the ocean, ultimately, and it comes back to bite him." On How Making a Film About Sharks — Even When They're Not the Villain of the Movie — Leaves You Feeling About Them Afterwards Jai: "Sharks are scary. Let's get one thing straight, right: I don't think anyone's not scared of sharks. Maybe there are people out there that have a completely different affinity with them, but I don't need to come closer than anyone should. I would love to cage dive with whites. I've been in a tank, in a cage with some sharks, but they weren't exactly maneaters, so, you know, I wasn't in fear of my life. But there's something so incredible and mythical about giant beasts that could consume humans, that I think it's rare — that's sort of a rare quality on this earth. You think of big cats and maybe bears, and other than that, there's things that will kind of poison you. But sharks are a very unique threat, and they live in a world that we really can't get too close to or understand. So I think there's always going to be this quality to that that keeps people in fear. But they're beautiful. And nature is beautiful. And it's just the nature things. There's a line in the movie about it not being the shark's fault, Tucker references his own, being the victim of his own attack, and yeah, that is the case — it isn't." On How Crucial It Was to Use Real Shark Footage, Including to Dispel the Notion That They're Villainous Creatures Sean: "I feel like shark films recently have become so reliant on CGI, just because you can have lots of them in the shot. And they tend to be super sleek and more like a video game. But since Jaws, there's been so much overfishing of sharks. And they carry scars the same way that we do. And so I wanted to present them in a kind of documentary, real light — because our scars as humans are a big part of our personality. So I wanted to depict that with the sharks and show them as the majestic creatures that they truly are. And the only way to do that is treat them with the respect and show them for real. So 80 percent of the sharks that you see are real. Everything underwater is real. It's all taken from 4K footage that our shark researcher sourced to match storyboards and photographic references. The only CG is the fins above the water, because it's pretty much impossible to cover the intricate shark blocking with real shark fins. And all the shark photography really happens underwater because no one ever captures fins. So that was a necessity. But yeah, it just felt like I hadn't seen that in a shark film for such a long time, just real sharks in their element and appreciating them in all their beauty." [caption id="attachment_804997" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Suicide Squad[/caption] On How Courtney's Franchise Experience in Everything From Die Hard and Terminator Flicks to the Divergent Series, Jack Reacher and Suicide Squad Helps on a Film Like Dangerous Animals Jai: "Filmmaking is weirdly all the same. Your experience of it might change because the budget is different, but that's really not — you're just telling different stories. It doesn't really get better or worse. Maybe some people wouldn't like to work on a film of this size and give up a few basic luxuries, but that doesn't really — having more money to spend on screen doesn't make something more fulfilling to make. Sometimes it's just the bare-bones stuff where the story is as good as it gets and the character's really well rounded out and you're working with a phenomenal director, and it can be a really contained drama, but it's just as alive to shoot because of what we do as storytellers, as people that play dress ups. And it's all make believe. It's nice to put a big costume on sometimes and jump around on huge stunt rigs, and get to be involved with epic crash sequences or whatever. It's a lot of fun. But I enjoy the intimate, small stuff just as much. I guess I'm fortunate to be able to shake it up and operate in many different spaces." On What It Means to Courtney to Be Able to Come Home and Make Films That Are as Diverse as Runt and Dangerous Animals Jai: "It's everything. I hope that never ever ends. Australia's such a great place to work. I love the crews there. I've been fortunate to be part of some really special films — and I don't think it'll ever change. As long as we keep telling stories, I'll keep wanting to be involved." On Byrne's Journey From The Loved Ones Through The Devil's Candy to Dangerous Animals Sean: "I think it's probably a perception out there that if you do something that a lot of people end up seeing and gets some kind of cult status, that there's going to be money on tap. And the unfortunate reality is if you write original films about humans hunting other humans, they're not that easy to get off the ground. That's why there's more supernatural films than there are serial-killer films, because it's easier to blame the devil. In fact, I kind of had to do that in The Devil's Candy to get the money. So I've written constantly in the years between The Loved Ones and The Devil's Candy, and The Devil's Candy and Dangerous Animals, and optioned all of my scripts. But then Hollywood is so risk-averse, that that's why they want something that can mitigate the risk and justify their decision. Hence it's got to be either IP-driven or a sequel, or kind of supernatural — and that's why I was so thrilled when this crossed my desk. I had another film that was a lower budget that actually got the money at the same time as Dangerous Animals. So after all that time, it was like an embarrassment of riches. But Dangerous Animals felt the most-commercial choice, just because it's a shark film that has a very loyal following, plus it's a serial- killer film. And I was really happy to have that safety net that I could explore the extreme nature of man, but have the loyal shark fans to hold it up." On How Courtney Sees His Path From His First Screen Acting Role Two Decades Back, Through Huge Hollywood Franchises, Comedies, Local Fare and Much In-Between Jai: "I don't know. I'm still figuring it out, I think. Just trying to stay engaged with the material that I'm choosing nowadays. I'm a big believer in it all being part of the story, and there's some elements of that that you can control and a lot you have none over. So, I don't know, man. It gets tough out there. I'm just really grateful to get to do this for a living. There's nothing else I would be doing or ever will. [caption id="attachment_884171" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kaleidoscope. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2022.[/caption] And I really am in touch with that gratitude when I'm working. It's a real pleasure to get to do this. So I'm just trucking along, trying to keep growing as an artist — and try to hopefully do stuff that I'm thrilled to roll out of bed and get to involve myself in." Dangerous Animals opened in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, June 12, 2025.
Winning the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers poll for 2023, Mountain Culture's Status Quo Pale Ale is living up to its name. The tipple from the New South Wales brewery in the Blue Mountains was also anointed 2022's top drop. So, from that ranking to the just-announced new countdown — which was unveiled on Saturday, January 27, 2024 — the existing state of affairs has indeed been maintained. When the end of January rolls around in Australia, folks get a-counting — and brews sit alongside tunes. The nation loves working through the top 100 songs of the past year thanks to Triple J's huge annual music poll, and has for decades. And, it loves celebrating the beers that everyone is likely sipping while listening to that countdown, which is where GABS' ranking of Aussie craft beers has come in for 16 years now. This yeasty poll does for beer what the other Hottest 100 does for bangers, and it loves repeat winners. In both 2020 and 2021, Canberra's Bentspoke Brewing Co did the honours with its Crankshaft American IPA. In 2022 and 2023, that brew came in third instead. Mountain Culture also bested 2017 and 2018 winner Balter Brewing Company for the second year running, with its Balter XPA notching up second position in 2022 and 2023. And, it beat out Your Mates Brewing Co, which nabbed fourth place this year. In fifth: Bridge Road Brewers' Beechworth pale ale. The rest of the top ten includes Gage Roads Brewing Co's Single Fin Summer Ale in sixth, Coopers Brewery's Original Pale Ale in seventh and Stone & Wood Brewing Co's Pacific Ale — the winner of the 2011, 2015, 2016 and 2019 polls; 2020's second-place getter; and 2021 and 2022's fourth beer on the list — in eighth. Young Henrys sits ninth with Newtowner, while Pirate Life Brewing came in tenth with its South Coast pale ale. Mountain Culture, which is run by husband-and-wife team DJ & Harriet McCready, also placed 22nd with its Cult IPA, 41st with its Be Kind Rewind NEIPA and 46th with its Summer Pale Ale. Obviously, it made more than a little company. 2023's hottest 100 was whittled down from 436 vote-receiving breweries and 1877 of their beers. From that hefty list of contenders, 63 different breweries scored a spot on the full list of 100 brews. That covers 27 beers from NSW, 24 from Queensland and 22 from Victoria, plus 11 from Western Australia, and eight each from the ACT and South Australia. 2023's rundown saw quite the turnover in tipples, too, with 28 of 2022's top brews dropping out and being replaced in 2023's rundown. Held by GABS — or the annual festival also known as the Great Australian Beer SpecTAPular, which returns for 2023 this May and June — the countdown is a people's-choice poll decided by booze lovers around the country. If you're thinking "less background, more beer", here's what you've been waiting for: the rundown of the best beverages from the past year that just keep tempting tastebuds. Working your way through the whole 100 isn't just a great way to show your appreciation for locally made brews, either — consider it research for the 2024 countdown. GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers of 2023: 1. Mountain Culture Beer Co — Status Quo Pale Ale 2. Balter Brewing — Balter XPA 3. BentSpoke Brewing Co — Crankshaft 4. Your Mates Brewing Co — Larry 5. Bridge Road Brewers — Beechworth Pale Ale 6. Gage Roads Brewing Co — Single Fin Summer Ale 7. Coopers Brewery — Original Pale Ale 8. Stone & Wood Brewing Co — Pacific Ale 9. Young Henrys — Newtowner 10. Pirate Life Brewing — South Coast Pale Ale 11. Philter Brewing — XPA 12. Black Hops Brewing — G.O.A.T. 13. Little Creatures — Pale Ale 14. Beerfarm — Royal Haze 15. Capital Brewing Co — Coast Ale 16. Range Brewing — Disco 17. 4 Pines Brewing Company — Pacific Ale 18. 10 Toes Brewery — Pipeline 19. The Grifter Brewing Co — Grifter Pale 20. Rocky Ridge Brewing Co — Jindong Juicy 21. Coopers Brewery — Sparkling Ale 22. Mountain Culture Beer Co — Cult IPA 23. Balter Brewing — Eazy Hazy 24. Stomping Ground Brewing Co — Gipps St Pale Ale 25. Moffat Beach Brewing Co — Passenger Pale Ale 26. Mountain Goat Beer — GOAT Very Enjoyable Beer 27. Better Beer — Better Beer Zero Carb 28. Blackflag Brewing — Rage Juicy Pale 29. Heads Of Noosa Brewing Co — Japanese Style Lager 30. Blackman's Brewery — Juicy Banger IPL 31. Green Beacon Brewing Co — Wayfarer Tropical Pale Ale 32. Heaps Normal — Quiet XPA 33. KAIJU! Beer — KRUSH! Tropical Pale Ale 34. CBCo Brewing — CBCo Pale Ale 35. Matso's Broome Brewery — Mango Beer 36. Feral Brewing Co — Biggie Juice 37. Hawkers Beer — West Coast IPA 38. Bright Brewery — Alpine Lager 39. Brick Lane Brewing Co — One Love Pale Ale 40. One Drop Brewing Co — We Jammin' 41. Mountain Culture Beer Co — Be Kind Rewind 42. Balter Brewing — Hazy 43. BentSpoke Brewing Co — Barley Griffin 44. Capital Brewing Co — Capital XPA 45. Balter Brewing — Cerveza 46. Mountain Culture Beer Co — Summer Pale Ale 47. James Squire — One Fifty Lashes 48. Your Mates Brewing Co — Sally 49. Gage Roads Brewing Co — Side Track All Day XPA 50. Little Bang Brewing Co — Sun Bear 51. Hop Nation Brewing Co — Rattenhund Classic Pilsner 52. Hiker Brewing Co — Cloudscapes 53. Bodriggy Brewing Company — Speccy Juice 54. Akasha Brewing Co — Super Chill Pacific Ale 55. Hop Nation Brewing Co — J-Juice Hazy IPA 56. Range Brewing — Lights + Music 57. Seeker Brewing — Mystic NEIPA 58. Heads Of Noosa Brewing Co — Black Japanese Lager 59. White Rabbit — Dark Ale 60. Bridge Road Brewers — Bling IPA 61. Coopers Brewery — Australian Lager 62. The Grifter Brewing Co — Serpents Kiss 63. Dainton Beer — Blood Orange NEIPA 64. Moon Dog Craft Brewery — Old Mate 65. Hawke's Brewing — Hawke's Patio Pale 66. Shout Brewing Co — Mullet Pale Ale 67. Modus Brewing — Modus Cerveza 68. Deeds Brewing — Juice Train 69. Coopers Brewery — XPA 70. Kosciuszko Brewing Co — Kosciuszko Pale Ale 71. Black Hops Brewing — East Coast Haze 72. Balter Brewing — Captain Sensible 73. 4 Pines Brewing Company — Japanese Lager 74. Stone & Wood Brewing Co — Hinterland Hazy Pale Ale 75. BentSpoke Brewing Co — Sprocket 76. Capital Brewing Co — Hang Loose Juice Hazy IPA 77. Little Creatures — Rogers 78. Sunday Road Brewing — Cryotherapy 79. Rocky Ridge Brewing Co — Rock Candy 80. Margaret River Beer Co — In the Pines 81. Big Shed Brewing Concern — Boozy Fruit 82. Blackflag Brewing — Affinity Tropical Pale 83. Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel — Three Sheets Pale Ale 84. Brouhaha Brewery — Strawberry Rhubarb Sour 85. Helios Brewing Co — Dionysus Oat Cream DIPA 86. Banks Brewing — Cake Eater 87. Coopers Brewery — Best Extra Stout 88. 4 Pines Brewing Co — Hazy Pale Ale 89. Fixation Brewing Co — Fixation IPA 90. Little Creatures — Little Hazy Lager 91. Bad Shepherd Brewing Co — Peanut Butter Porter 92. CBCo Brewing — CBCo IPA 93. Yulli's Brews — Amanda Mandarin IPA 94. Stone & Wood Brewing Co — Cloud Catcher 95. Moffat Beach Brewing Co — Moff's Summer Ale 96. Capital Brewing Co — Trail Pale Ale 97. Young Henrys — Hazy Pale Ale 98. Wolf of the Willows Brewing — Wolf PUP Hazy Pale Ale 99. Range Brewing — Dripping in Green: Citra 100. Your Mates Brewing Co — Macca For more information about the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers of 2023, head to the GABS website.
Take a must-visit Paris art museum, an acclaimed Victorian gallery, an iconic French painter and one of the world's most influential architects, mix them all together, and Australia's latest huge exhibition is the end result. So is something unsurprisingly stunning: the world premiere of Pierre Bonnard: Designed by India Mahdavi at the NGV International in Melbourne. The National Gallery of Victoria's revolving door of blockbuster exhibitions shows no sign of slowing, with this exceptional meeting of creative minds gracing its halls from Friday, June 9–Sunday, October 8. When the temperature dips each year, the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series kicks in — and, as created in collaboration with the Musée d'Orsay, home to the world's largest collection of Bonnard works, this ode to Bonnard and Mahdavi is the current centrepiece. On display: more than 100 pieces by the famed French artist, but seen through a fresh lens. Helping provide that new perspective is scenography by internationally renowned architect and designer Mahdavi, in a major showcase that was originally slated to debut in 2020 before the pandemic did its thing. An icon of late 19th- and early 20th-century art, and a good mate of Henri Matisse, Bonnard is known for his colourful, textural depictions of French life, offering stylised yet subtle glimpses of intimate domestic scenes, urban backdrops and natural landscapes. Pierre Bonnard: Designed by India Mahdavi includes a hefty collection of the artist's own paintings, drawings, photographs, prints and other decorative objects, alongside works from his contemporaries — including Édouard Vuillard, Maurice Denis, Félix Vallotton and cinematic pioneers the Lumière brothers. Attendees can expect to step through Bonnard's early artistic days in the 1890s, highlighting his focus on Parisian street life; his evolution from there, including when he started focusing on more domestic scenes as inspired by his relationship with his companion Marthe Bonnard; and his love of landscape, especially from 1910 onwards, and as influenced by his fellow pal Claude Monet. Numerous pieces are on loan from the Musée d'Orsay, as well as other museums and private collections in Europe, Australia and the USA. The NGV's own collection also includes significant works, however, including Bonnard's 1900 painting La Sieste (Siesta). Considered one of the world's most influential architects, multi-award-winning Mahdavi has been commissioned to help bring the historic pieces to life via her scenography, tasked with creating a setting that complements Bonnard's signature use of colour and light. The results aren't just spectacular — they're dreamy. Images: Installation view of Pierre Bonnard: Designed by India Mahdavi, on display from June 9–October 8, 2023 at NGV International, Melbourne. Photos: Lillie Thompson.
UPDATE, Thursday, February 29: The Nonnas at Ronnie's has sold out, but you can head to the venue's website to find out more about it to head by another time. Don't worry if you don't have a nonna of your own because Ronnie's in the CBD will be hosting a dinner run by a bunch of nonnas for this year's Melbourne Food & Wine Festival. On Wednesday, March 20, Ronnie's crew will host a few two-hour seatings (with only the 6pm and 7.30pm slots available at the time of publishing), during which diners can experience the love and warmth that only a nonna's hospitality can provide. Wholesome alert! [caption id="attachment_920567" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pete Dillon[/caption] The Italian matriarchs hail from The Furlan Club, one of Melbourne's oldest Italian social clubs, and will share a heap of their generations-old dishes on the night as they take over the restaurant's kitchen. This will include a few different kinds of pasta and some of Ronnie's own focaccia and salads. A welcome drink will be included in the $94 ticket price and the bar will be open for all your additional beverage needs. Live music will also be on the cards to liven up this old-school Italian party in the city.
A glimpse and a whiff of Clover Flower's vibrant, considered designs, and it's hard not to feel instantly buoyed. Margaret Ransfield's CBD store has become a go-to for its expertly-curated arrangements and colourful bouquets, ranging from the bold and romantic, to the petite and whimsical. Here, you'll find statement pieces destined to wow — just check out the aptly named Heartbreaker — along with timeless posies of seasonal blooms that are perfect for imparting some instant warm and fuzzy feels. And, if you're shopping the online store, you can pimp out your order with a swag of extras including vases, chocolates and other sweet gifts.
When Ben & Jerry's wanted to call for action on climate change, it stuck to its strengths, releasing a new ice cream flavour to draw attention to the topic. When it wanted to specifically target the Australian Government's support for fossil fuels, it did the same as well. But, in its latest effort to support renewables, the dessert brand has decided to branch out. Its new release won't just satisfy your sweet tooth — it'll also quench your thirst. For a limited time, Ben & Jerry's beloved choc chip cookie dough flavour is no longer just something that you eat. You can now drink it, too, thanks to a collaboration with 4 Pines. The brew tempting your tastebuds: a new Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Nitro beer. And yes, like ice cream, it's best served as cold as possible. When you crack open a can — which can be bought individually, in four-packs and in 24-tin cartons from Monday, May 17 — you'll then sip a lactose-infused brown nitro brew. Expect a decadent and creamy taste, as well as plenty of colour thanks to the nitro infusion. You'll also find the beer on tap at selected venues, and on the menu at the GABS Craft Beer and Cider Festival in Melbourne and Brisbane — and if you start hankering for dessert afterwards, well, that's understandable. When 4 Pines was in the brewing stage, the new beer was made with energy sourced from solar and wind — which powers the brewery's main Brookvale site and headquarters. But that's not the only way that the ice cream-inspired brew is drawing attention to renewable energy. Teaming up with community-owned power company Enova Community Energy, Ben & Jerry's and 4 Pines are contributing funds from the beer project to Enova to use to install solar panels for a community group. So, your next brew can help a worthy party do their bit to help the planet. Ben & Jerry's and 4 Pines' Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Nitro beer hits bottle shop shelves on Monday, May 17. You'll also find it on tap at selected venues, and at the GABS Craft Beer and Cider Festival in Melbourne and Brisbane.
It was a busy year for St Kilda's historic pubs in 2018. At the end of November, The Espy reopened after three years behind closed doors and a mighty reno. Then, the new-look Prince of Wales Hotel launched its restaurant. In 2016, Melbourne businessman Gerry Ryan and his son Andrew took over management of the pub — now just The Prince Hotel — and have since overseen a multimillion-dollar makeover, in with Melbourne's IF Architecture. Located on the second level of the spruced-up St Kilda haunt, Prince Dining Room has taken over the space previously home to Circa, which closed its doors after 20 years in 2017. In the kitchen, Executive Chef Dan Hawkins (Stokehouse, Circa and Longrain) and Head Chef Dan Cooper (Circa and Garden State Hotel) are creating a Mediterranean menu, showcasing local, sustainable and ethical ingredients from local markets, the St Kilda Veg Out garden and a network of producers, growers and fishermen. Make your may through a selection of skewers and flatbreads — like Flinders Island lamb with fermented chilli, and prawns with sesame, lemon and coriander — or a main, such as the woodfired turmeric chicken with pickled ginger, and add a bunch of sides. The lineup of smaller bites includes options like baby cabbage with prawn butter, and woodfired zucchini with feta, almond and ras el hanout (Moroccan spice mix). As you can probably tell from the aforementioned dishes, there's an emphasis on cooking with fire in the Prince Dining Room kitchen."Fire causes changes in flavour, texture and appearance, to provide a unique final product that cannot be replicated by other means," said Hawkins in a statement. Cocktails do not use fire, but are instead fruit-driven with colourful concoctions like the Jackie & Jess featuring grapefruit juice and thyme syrup, and the bourbon-heavy Louis Li a mix of Aperol, amaro and lemon juice. A succinct list of local and international beers and wines — including a few quality $10-a-glass drops — rounds out the drinks list. In coming up with the design, IF Architecture wanted to respect the building's Art Deco architecture and historical significance, while also adding more light and space. The centrepiece is an oval black steel bar, while eclectic seating — made by local and Italian artisans from metal, wrought iron and wood — and soft, curvaceous banquettes in brown, pink and green hues surround it. Images: Gareth Sobey.
The hustle and bustle of the silly season is undoubtedly joyous but also sort of stressful. The biblical epic that is trying to make plans for a group of four or more is the hallmark of the month of December, and there's only so much we can help with — but damned if we're not going to try. The least we can do is provide some inspo, but we must leave the booking up to you. Our recommendation? Hit up one of these standout venues for a bottomless booking that the group won't resist.
Fans of Australian mysteries, page-to-screen crime tales, Eric Bana (Dirty John) getting sleuthing and all things Aaron Falk, you'll have to wait a bit longer for your most-anticipated Aussie film of 2023. With the SAG-AFTRA strike currently in effect, and Bana a member of the union, Australian and New Zealand distributor Roadshow Films — in consultation with the filmmakers — has decided to push back The Dry sequel Force of Nature: The Dry 2 from its planned August release. "It is with some regret, but a large amount of conviction, that we have decided to postpone the release of Force of Nature: The Dry 2. I'm incredibly proud of this much-anticipated Australian film and want to be able to do it justice by promoting it thoroughly," said Bana in a statement. "Due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, of which I am a longstanding member, it is not possible to do that at this time. Just as we did with The Dry, our plan is to be face to face with the cinemagoing public through event screenings, Q&As and press appearances at the time of release. I stand in support of the changes that SAG-AFTRA are fighting for on behalf of all working actors. I apologise for any inconvenience it causes anyone who has pre purchased tickets to our already soldout Q&A sessions. Thanks for your understanding. See you at a cinema soon," Bana continued. When the Aussie star stepped into Falk's shoes in The Dry, more movies were always bound to follow. On the screen, the film became a massive Australian box-office hit in 2021 thanks to its twisty mystery, determined detective, stunning scenery and spectacular cast. It was capitalising, of course, on the story's proven success on the page. And, to the delight of movie producers and audiences, the beloved novel by author Jane Harper was just Falk's first appearance. Accordingly, throw that formula together again and you now have Force of Nature: The Dry 2, the big-screen sequel that no longer has a release date — with exactly when it'll hit cinemas now yet to be confirmed. This follow-up sees the core duo of Bana and writer/director Robert Connolly (Blueback) return, with the latter again investigating a case. This time, as both the movie's initial teaser and full trailer explore, Falk is looking into the disappearance of a hiker from a corporate retreat attended by five women. Alongside fellow federal agent Carmen Cooper (Jacqueline McKenzie, Ruby's Choice), Falk heads deep into Victoria's mountain ranges to try to find the missing traveller — who also happens to be a whistle-blowing informant — alive. Also featuring in Force of Nature, which has a powerhouse list of Aussie talent just like its predecessor: Anna Torv (The Last of Us) as missing hiker Alice Russell, plus Deborra-Lee Furness (Jindabyne), Robin McLeavy (Homeland), Sisi Stringer (Mortal Kombat) and Lucy Ansell (Utopia). Richard Roxburgh (Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe), Tony Briggs (Preppers) and Kenneth Radley (The Power of the Dog) pop up, too, while Jeremy Lindsay-Taylor (Heartbreak High) is back in the role of Erik Falk. Reteaming not just after The Dry, but also fellow 2023 release Blueback, Connolly and Bana make quite the pair when it comes to Aussie crime cinema — with Connolly the producer of one of the best local crime movies ever made, aka 1998's unnerving The Boys, and Bana famously the star of the similarly excellent Chopper. It's likely that this won't be the last big movie that's delayed due to the current actors' strike, with Hollywood talents fighting against diminishing residual payments for performers, and to establish firm rules about the future use of artificial intelligence in the industry. When they took action in mid-July, SAG-AFTRA's members joined their counterparts in the Writers Guild of America, who've been striking since May. Check out the full trailer for Force of Nature: The Dry 2 below: Force of Nature: The Dry 2 doesn't currently have a release date for Australian and New Zealand cinemas — we'll update you when one is announced. Read our full review of The Dry. Images: Narelle Portanier.
