Laughter: it’s what separates us from the animals. Well, that and the ability to comprehend our own mortality, but that’s hardly the best way to open a story about a comedy festival. LOL! We’re all going to die! So ignore that. Just shy of 30 years old, this year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival will be the biggest in its history, with more than 550 shows across 145 venues. Of course there’s no guarantee that all of them will be funny, which is why we’ve trawled through the lineup to bring you our hand-picked recommendations, from big names to intriguing newcomers. Honourable mentions go to MICF staples including The Gala, RAW Comedy, The Great Debate and Upfront — consider our thumbs up there implied.
In the on-screen sea that is the never-ending list of films and television shows constantly vying for eyeballs, Taika Waititi and Rhys Darby have frequently proven gem-dappled treasure islands. When the immensely funny New Zealand talents have collided, their resumes have spanned four of the most endearing comic hits of the big and small screens in the 21st century so far, aka Flight of the Conchords, What We Do in the Shadows, Wellington Paranormal and Hunt for the Wilderpeople — and now, with HBO Max pirate parody Our Flag Means Death, they've given viewers another gleaming jewel. The brainchild of writer, showrunner and executive producer David Jenkins (People of Earth), this show was always going to swashbuckle its way into streaming must-see lists — and into comedy-lovers' hearts — based on its concept alone. The inimitable Darby stars as Stede Bonnet, a self-styled 'gentleman pirate' and a great approximation of Flight of the Conchords' Murray if he'd existed centuries earlier. Meanwhile, Waititi dons leather, dark hues aplenty, an air of bloodthirsty melancholy and a glorious head of greying hair as Edward Teach, the marauder better known to the world as Blackbeard. While the latter is a household name — pop culture has been inserting him into stories for decades: Ian McShane played him in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and Hugh Jackman did the honours in Pan, for instance — Bonnet will be a new discovery to most of Our Flag Means Death's audience. Also a real-life figure, he left his life of wealth, privilege and comfort to rove the oceans. That's a scenario that this ten-episode comedy has plenty of fun with, complete with Bonnet's onboard library decked out with classics and summer linens-filled auxiliary wardrobe. In its first three episodes, Our Flag Means Death establishes its fish-out-of-water situation — or its tale about a ruffled shirt-wearing aristocrat seemingly out of his depths while sailing across treacherous waters, to be more accurate. Bonnet is not one for the usual pirate stereotypes, and that takes some adjusting to by his crew. Among those with him on the Revenge: Lucius (Nathan Foad, Bloods), his righthand man and official scribe; Buttons (Ewen Bremner, First Cow), a seasoned seafarer and source of advice; Black Pete (Matthew Maher, Marriage Story), who constantly claims to have worked with Blackbeard; the fire-obsessed Wee John Feeny (Kristian Nairn, aka Game of Thrones' Hodor); and the initially secretive Oluwande (Samson Kayo, Truth Seekers) and Jim (Vico Ortiz, The Sex Lives of College Girls). Scene-setting and ensemble antics abound in the series' opening instalments, including a run-in with a British navy captain (Rory Kinnear, No Time to Die) with ties to Bonnet's past, and another a fellow pirate captain-turned-bar owner (Leslie Jones, Death to 2020) and one of her husbands (Fred Armisen, Los Espookys). But then Blackbeard arrives, taking over the Revenge with his first mate Izzy (Con O'Neill, The Batman) — and Our Flag Means Death starts becoming a rom-com. From the outset, it's already a gloriously inclusive and emotionally astute comedy. Bonnet wanting his crew to be in touch with their feelings, rather than simply solve everything with swords and violence, is one of the aforementioned ways that he bucks expectations. But that trend deepens and grows as its two key swashbucklers gravitate towards each other, riding the waves from adversaries to co-captains to potentially something more. From its first trailer, Our Flag Means Death delivered answers to questions that no one knew they had, such as "what'd happen if Waititi and Darby played pirates?" and "what if Waititi and Darby played pirates alongside Spud from Trainspotting and Hodor?". Now that the results have played out across an entire season — all of which is available to stream in Australia via Binge and in New Zealand via Neon — it's sweeter than a bottle of rum to a buccaneer (or oranges to fend off scurvy, which definitely get a mention in the show). Smartly, Our Flag Means Death doesn't just satirise pirate archetypes. It isn't content with finding easy laughs at the whole 'gentleman pirate' caper, either. Instead, it's a comedy about plundering one's own depths to find out who you really are, where you truly belong and who should comprise your chosen family — whether you've been set up for a life of luxury, you're the world's most fearsome scourge of the seas or you're simply roving the oceans with them. When Waititi's Blackbeard steps into the story, meet-cute and all, less of its focus resides upon its other supporting characters. When you've got comedic greats such as Waititi and Darby bouncing off of each other — as they do from episode four onwards, and with pitch-perfect comic chemistry — you let them have the spotlight. Still, subplots that flesh out the remainder of the Revenge crew's histories wholeheartedly link in with Our Flag Means Death's focus on reinvention and rediscovery, and its open heart. Relationships are laid bare, and secrets, too. In the process, cliches are dismantled, correct pronouns are used, and everyone helps build a thoughtful and sincere comic caper. Indeed, add Our Flag Means Death to the list of delightful sitcoms that beam with warmth, even when it's soaking cat flags (yes, that's a pirate banner adorned with a feline) with blood. Stellar talent doesn't always equate to a must-see, something special or both, of course; however, Our Flag Means Death ticks all of those boxes — and the who's who that is its guest and supporting cast also includes fellow Conchords alum Kristen Schaal, Big Mouth's Nick Kroll, Arrested Development's Will Arnett, and Aussies Claudia O'Doherty (Sarah's Channel) and Angus Sampson (Bump). With Waititi also helming the pilot and executive producing, his winning ways with TV comedies continue, too, after a top-notch few years that've included the What We Do in the Shadows television spinoff and Reservation Dogs as well. Ahoy, streaming lovers — let Our Flag Means Death sail into your queue right now. Check out the full trailer for Our Flag Means Death below: Our Flag Means Death's first season is available to in Australia via Binge and in New Zealand via Neon. Images: Aaron Epstein/HBO Max.
Fitzroy's resident all-hours R&B grime bar Laundry has long been the place to hear some dirty tunes and be one with the d-floor on a Saturday night, but come Tuesday, January 24 it'll play host to something a little more #cleanliving: hip hop yoga. Led by local yogi Drew Watson with accompanying beats from MIMI (of CRXZY SXXY CXXL), who will mine the back catalogues of just your average kings and queens of music — Kanye, Drake, Chance The Rapper, Beyoncè, Rihanna, et al. The soundtrack might be hectic but don't be afraid, the class will cater for yoga beginners as well as the more experienced. Even better than finding inner zen to Drake's 'Started At The Bottom' is the fact that all the proceeds will go to the Victorian Salvation Army. Tickets are limited, however, so snap 'em up quick smart.
Renowned Champagne house Mumm is set to release its glamorous Mumm Grand Cordon bottle across Australia this month. It'll launch this new Champagne with an exclusive VIP event in the Melbourne CBD on April 19 — and we're giving away passes to the whole shebang. Mumm Grand Cordon takes the house's iconic red sash to the next level, creating the world's first Champagne bottle with no label. Instead, a real red ribbon is sculpted into the glass — a technique created in partnership with avant-garde designer Ross Lovegrove. The bottles will be available exclusively in select bars, restaurants and hotels, with the release following the Mumm Grand Cordon's theatrical launch night. The exclusive event — which is not open to the public, only VIP guests and lucky Concrete Playground readers — will take place at Melbourne's beloved Garden State Hotel on Flinders Lane and will be a high-energy night of Champagne flutes and cocktails, confetti canons, DJs, dancers and canapés prepared by Garden State Hotel's head chef Ashly Hicks. Guests will also have the chance to learn how to sabrage a Champagne bottle (open the bottle using a sword). The event will take over an underground space of the venue, so expect moody vibes with dim, red lighting and plenty of surprises in store. Lucky for Concrete Playground readers, we're giving away two VIP packages for you and three friends to attend the event. Competition winners will have access to every bit of the lavish fun and all of that luxurious Champagne. To enter, see details below. [competition]662986[/competition]
God or the atom. Science versus faith. It's one of the great ongoing debates in human history; a conflict inextricably connected with the meaning of life itself. It's also the foundation for the tedious new film by writer-director Mike Cahill. Contrived and pretentious from title card to end credits, watching I Origins is like being trapped in a room full of undergrad philosophy students. It's got no shortage of interesting ideas; it just lacks the maturity to see them develop. At his best when playing on the fringes of insanity, actor Michael Pitt is uncharacteristically stiff as bow-tied hipster biologist Ian Gray. An unreserved atheist, Ian believes he can disprove religious doctrine through his research into the evolution of the human eye. Against all odds, he also finds himself caught up in a whirlwind romance with the more spiritually inclined Sofi, played by French actress Astrid Berges-Frisbey. It's a pretty unconvincing pairing to be honest, one that feels more like the result of a screenwriter's scribbling than it does proof of the adage that opposites attract. In any case, the bulk of the film's thematic conflict — at least initially — plays out in arguments between the two. However thin their romantic connection, the roots of the film's problems lie more in Cahill's dialogue, which is a fatal combination of self-important and dumb. "I believe in proof," says Ian, condescendingly. "Just because you can't see something doesn't mean it isn't there," Sofi responds. Cahill is obviously aiming for a sense of intellectual and spiritual ambiguity. Instead, his characters just sound like children, and fairly annoying ones at that. A couple of unexpected plot turns see Ian's faith in reason start to falter, as the film shifts from relationship drama to pseudo-scientific thriller. The second half of I Origins is a hell of a lot more engaging than the first, even if it's built on a string of ridiculous coincidences. Or hey, maybe it's divine intervention? Again, the problem isn't so much the narrative mechanics, but the painfully pompous manner in which they're presented. Plot bombs meant to blow the audience's minds are far more likely to result in groans, or possibly sniggers. Of course, that's assuming you haven't already been put to sleep. https://youtube.com/watch?v=sEGppIgwKf0
He lived there. He spent his last moments there. In between, he recorded music, played small gigs, and based his studio and record label there, too. We're talking about Paisley Park, the house formerly known as Prince's private and creative sanctuary. Only a few hundred people have had the privilege of entering — but now, the compound that shares its name with one of his songs is open to the public. Six months after his tragic passing, the multi-talented musician's siblings have allowed the first tours of the massive mansion 30 minutes outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota; however not everything has gone according to plan. Until the local Chanhassen City Council meets in December to consider zoning issues and safety concerns, the midwest site is only open on a limited basis — currently on October 6 to 8, and 14. It is hoped that people will be able to celebrate his life, musical output and legacy at the 65,000-square-foot complex on a more regular basis after the council meeting. Fans that have stepped through the doors of the Prince-focused equivalent of Elvis Presley's Graceland so far have not only wandered through the main floor of the site (which was built in the mid '80s), or spied the recording and mixing studios where Prince recorded, produced and mixed many of the iconic tracks we all know and love. They also reportedly spotted an urn containing the late performer's ashes, plus his personal office, with his belongings untouched since he was last in the room. The rest of Paisley Park also boasts Prince's private NPG Music Club, as well as the massive soundstage and concert hall where he not only rehearsed for tours, but also held exclusive private events and concerts. Thousands of artifacts from Prince's personal archives are also display. If you've ever wanted to feast your eyes on his concert outfits, awards, musical instruments and artwork — or rare music and video recordings, concert memorabilia, automobiles and motorcycles — you'll find them here. According to Prince's sister Tyka Nelson, "opening Paisley Park is something that Prince always wanted to do and was actively working on." While the lyrics of his 1985 song advised that "admission is easy, just say U believe and come 2 this place in your heart", ticketing — which is still on sale now — costs either US$38.50 for a 70-minute self-guided tour, or US$100 for a longer, more extensive VIP experience within what we're hoping are purple-coloured walls.
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.
Melbourne is in the middle of a big screen boom. We've already told you about the brand-new multiplexes coming to Coburg, Moonee Ponds and Footscray, but now it's time to case your movie-loving eyes to Melbourne's south east. M-City Monash is a planned residential and retail precinct set to open on the corners of Blackburn Road and Princes Highway in Clayton, a short walk from Monash University. The development will consist of four apartment towers, a 250-bed hotel, commercial offices, eateries, supermarkets and — as we learnt this week — a six-screen cinema. The theatre will be operated by Village Cinemas, and will have a combined capacity of over 1000 seats. They're also touting "a stylish bar" and "innovative food and beverage component", with one spokesperson describing "a bistro style food and drink offering with a more urban styled cinema experience geared towards millennials." In a statement, Village's Divisional CFO Chris Stanley said the new cinema would see the company "completely moving away from what is deemed a traditional cinema complex." Sounds like they're still locking down the details on this one. Still, colour us intrigued. The cinema at M-City Monash is slated to open in late 2019.
After wowing us with their inaugural bash last year, Beyond the Valley is back for round two. With a brand new location in the Gippsland Parklands some 90 minutes out of Melbourne, the three-day festival, which crescendos on New Year's Eve, will feature dozens of high profile acts across two separate stages. What better way to ring in 2016 than with Flight Facilities, Jamie xx, Last Dinosaurs and Miami Horror? The above names are just the tip of the iceberg, with Tkay Maidza, The Jungle Giants, The Rubens, Seth Troxler, Skepta and Nico Ghost among a host of others slated to make an appearance. As with last year, punters will be able to feast on the offerings from gourmet food stalls (and yes, they have vegan and vegetarian option) while sipping on an array of boozy bevs. For more information about Beyond the Valley 2015 including the full lineup, visit www.beyondthevalley.com.au.
Adding to Ovolo's growing Australian portfolio, the hotel company has revealed its next new location. Come 2020, a six-storey site will open in South Melbourne — the first that the brand will manage, but won't own. Due to be built at 183-199 Moray Street, the$50 million South Melbourne hotel will bring 100 rooms to a mixed-use precinct that's being developed by Perri Projects. If you're already planning a staycation, you can expect the usual Ovolo flourishes. That includes a distinctive interior design scheme tailor-made for the location. At its other Aussie hotels — such as Ovolo Laneways in Little Bourke Street in the CBD — the company offers a heap of freebies, such as a free mini-bar with every room (including a lolly bag full of treats), free breakfast with every stay, free wi-fi, free laundry and free happy hour drinks each day. Here's hoping that they're all part of the South Melbourne spread as well. Construction is due to start in the second half of 2019, with the hotel also set to feature bars, restaurants, and a rooftop function and events space. The news caps off a big 2018 for Ovolo, with its two Brisbane sites in Spring Hill and Fortitude Valley opening this year. Find Ovolo South Melbourne at 183-199 Moray Street, South Melbourne from a yet-to-be-revealed date in 2020.
Organised Chaos explores how the line between graffiti and fine art is becoming increasingly blurred. What was once exclusively “urban” has become somewhat domesticated — Banksy pieces sell to Brangelina for over $400,000. The sterile white walls of a classic gallery seem as far as possible from street art's chaotic, guerrila origins, making us wonder if graffiti loses its meaning when viewed out of context? AWOL is a collective that embraces both sides of the scene, throwing up pieces and gallery shows in equal measure, often on an impressively large scale that is demonstrative of the striking talents of each of the collective's artistically diverse members. The crew's founder is Slicer, who has previously proven his ability to singlehandedly carry a whole exhibition with RTIST. Slicer's work dips into abstraction, but always remains unmistakably rooted in graff. Brash colour schemes and extreme, slashing geometry combine to create exciting and engaging work. This exhibition is as eloquent an argument as you'll find against those who claim street art belongs only in the open as Slicer proves it can be just as effective when bordered by four walls. Image credit Slicer via awolcrew.com
Pull out that old Discman, break out the cargo pants and start practising your smoothest early noughties dance moves — the pop tour of your wildest teenage dreams is hitting Aussie shores this summer and it's got more stars than a TV Hits sticker collection. This February, the inaugural So Pop festival is set to deliver a huge serve of nostalgia to stadiums across the country, pulling together an extra juicy lineup of old-school icons, headlined by none other than Aqua and Vengaboys. Melbourne Arena will be transported back to the 90s and 00s for one glorious night each, playing host to the pop-drenched soundtrack of your youth. Heading up the show are Danish group Aqua, who promise to leave tunes like 'Barbie Girl' and 'Doctor Jones' firmly wedged in your head, and from the Netherlands, Vengaboys, with party-starting smash hits like 'Boom Boom Boom Boom!!' and 'We Like to Party! (The Vengabus)' — and none other than Lou Bega with, of course, 'Mambo No.5'. Relive more of the glory days with sounds from Irish legends B*Witched — who gifted us with the likes of 'C'est La Vie' and 'Rollercoaster' — UK heroes Blue, of 'All Rise' fame. Italy's Eiffel 65, dance pop act Mr. President ('Coco Jambo'), the USA's Outhere Brothers and The Netherlands' 2 Unlimited ('No Limit', 'Get Ready') round out the throwback showdown.
If you've ever wished for your own personal sommelier, you're in some serious luck. The Wine Gallery is an Australian-based, online wine store that delivers wine curated by one of the best wine sommeliers in Australia right to your front door. And when The Wine Gallery say "one of the best wine sommeliers", they mean it — for this project, Australian entrepreneur Tom Walenkamp has teamed up with three-time Sommelier of the Year Banjo Harris Plane, whose resume also boasts former head sommelier at Attica and co-owner of Fitzroy's Bar Liberty. The idea originated when Walenkamp was studying abroad in France. "My European classmates already knew so much about wine from their culture and I thought the Australian market would really benefit from this type of knowledge," says Walenkamp. "I love drinking wine but always felt a bit on the outside — I call it playing wine roulette because you never know what you're going to get." Not so with The Wine Gallery. The deal is simple: subscribers take a palate quiz and receive three recommend bottles each month based on personal preferences. The bottles on offer are hand-selected by Plane's wine team and each bottle comes with tasting notes, detailed information on the grapes and stories behind the wine makers, along with recipes and food pairings. If you aren't happy with a bottle they'll replace it without a fuss and there's also no lock-in so you can pause, skip or cancel your membership whenever you like. "It's a fully interactive site, with ratings and feedback systems, so after two months no two people will have the same recommendations," says Walenkamp. "You don't have to go with our recommendations, either — you can always swap bottles, add more, or decide to go with all reds for colder months, for example." They've also just rolled out a new, 'state of the art' rewards program — thanks to third co-founder and expert coder Humberto Moreira — which keeps track of the different wine types, production methods and wine regions of each bottle you receive. This allows members to log in and track their wine journey in a visual way, with a few free bottles of plonk as you earn 'badges'. The three bottles are reasonably priced at a uniform $69 and The Wine Gallery will ship anywhere in Australia for a flat rate of $9 (they offer complimentary shipping for orders over $150). Morning orders will even be dispatched same day, so you don't have to wait long to crack one open. "The site is an access point for people that don't really know where to start exploring, and being an independent, online store mean can share our love and knowledge of wine with a much broader part of the Australian population," says Walenkamp. The Wine Gallery will ship anywhere in Australia. To sign up or for more info, visit thewinegallery.com.au.
Flight of the Conchords return home for a New Zealand and Australia tour this winter. Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement, the goofy halves of this comedy and musical duo, announced the tour on their website, saying, "We are finally returning to Australia … mostly to apologise." Fans seem to agree that there is nothing to be sorry for: the original tour dates have already sold out. Luckily, additional dates have been added; make sure to snatch yours up quickly. The pair returns from a lengthy run of success abroad, including a BBC radio series, HBO television series, film appearances and an Oscar. Tickets go on sale here on Tuesday, April 17, at 9am. Australian Tour Dates: Thursday, 5th July 2012 - Sydney Opera House, Sydney Saturday, 7th July 2012 - Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Tuesday, 10th July 2012 - Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Newcastle Wednesday, 11th July 2012 - WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong Friday, 13th July 2012 - Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide Saturday 14th July 2012 - The Plenary, Melbourne Wednesday 18th July 2012 - Challenge Stadium, Perth
Stock characters and clunky, heavy-handed storytelling keeps Healing, the new Australian drama from Peaches director Craig Monahan, well and truly tethered to the ground. Co-scripted by Monahan alongside veteran TV writer Alison Nisselle, the film takes its inspiration from a real-life state prison program, in which inmates in minimum security help rehabilitate injured birds of prey. Despite the unique premise and setting, however, the film soon grows dreary and unfocused — leaving an unfortunate cast of workman local actors with no opportunity to soar. The most interesting thing about Healing is the location in which it takes place. A minimum security jail in bushland Victoria, the facility looks more like a camp site than a penitentiary, and offers an original spin on the traditional prison setting. The men housed here are at the end of their sentences, or have been convicted of lesser crimes. The focus is no longer on punishment, but on rehabilitation. It's in this setting that dedicated prison case-officer Matt Perry (Hugo Weaving), working in conjunction with staff at the nearby Healesville Sanctuary, decides to establish the avian care program. The timing coincides with the arrival of a new batch of prisoners, including sullen 18-year murder veteran Viktor Khadem (Don Hany). Despite the objections of his supervisors, Perry decides to put Viktor in charge of the initiative, in the hopes that caring for the animals will help prepare him for his imminent release. While the birds, particularly Viktor's favourite wedge-tailed raptor Jasmine, are undeniably majestic, animals yearning for freedom is a ham-fisted motif for a prison movie. Sadly, such clumsiness is all too typical of Niselle and Monahan's screenplay, in which plot points seem to vanish and personalities change drastically from scene to scene. Viktor goes from serene one minute to intolerably bull-headed the next, while antagonistic inmate Warren (Anthony Hayes) sneers constantly with one-dimensional villainy. Even worse, the arc of the film's most intriguing character — Viktor's drug-addled bunkmate Shane (a twitchy Mark Leonard Winter) — gets no resolution at all. Hany and Weaving are solid as always, but both have been far better elsewhere. For that matter, so has Monahan. Both Peaches and his debut feature The Interview had a certain edginess. Healing, on the other hand, feels safe to the point of total blandness. https://youtube.com/watch?v=RG7hQuVffOg
An annual celebration of queer performance and culture, there was a time Midsumma was one of the only opportunities for the city to quench its addiction to culture over the sleepy summer. Now hemmed in closely with SummerSalt and White Night, Midsumma offers up a heady mix of live performance, public events, talks and parties. This year's program is especially cabaret-heavy, but its eclectic mix of visual art, live music, and cutting-edge performance work keeps Midsumma’s summer festival crown firmly in place. Midsumma Carnival As always, the festival kicks off on January 18 with the free, open-air Carnival in Edinburgh Gardens, featuring sets from festival performers such as Abbar and Dolly Diamond. Other highlights include the annual Midsumma Dog Show and James Varnish singing 'Connect', a track taken from his V EP and recently chosen as Midsumma's 2015 anthem. There will also be well over 140 stallholders in the Festival Village. 2015 also sees the fifth instalment of Miss Gay and Miss Transsexual Australia; it's the best kind of pageant, one that not only rewards beauty but also the competitors' advocacy. January 18, Edinburgh Gardens, Free. Affluenza Since the age of fourteen, young man about Melbourne, Will Hannagan-McKinna, has racked up an impressive number of original projects and performances to his name. He’s snared a spot in New York’s prestigious New York Musical Theatre Festival for HouseWarming, co-created the web series Melbourne Black and even won an unlikely shout out from Julian Assange. His solo cabaret shows have been a series of completely distinct, freshly reinvented pieces, now his latest, Affluenza, sees Will trade in his innate Fitzroy hipsterhood for the role of a Disney-corrupted former pop star. "[It's] LiLo meets Miley, only gayer". His trailer alone — seamlessly inserting himself into a promo for Hannah Montana — makes Affluenza essential watching for Melbourne cabaret fans. January 22 - February 8, The Butterfly Club, $25 - $32. Black Faggot For those who missed Victor Rodger’s award-winning Black Faggot at last year’s Melbourne Fringe, Midsumma’s a welcome chance to catch the playwright/performer’s work before it goes on to continue its meteoric rise. Rodger wrote the show as a reply to the Destiny Church protests against New Zealand’s Civil Union Bill, in which thousands of members marched on parliament, led by conservative Bishop “We have had enough of liberal behaviour in this country” Tanaki. Since its Auckland premiere, the show has found acclaim across the world, most impressively at the Edinburgh Festival, with punters and critics alike being blown away by Rodger’s ability to combine manic, sketch-type comedy with poignant reflection. February 3 -7, Gasworks Arts Park, $22 - $32. Jumpers for Goalposts Tom Wells drew heavily on his own experience as a young gay man to write Jumpers for Goalposts. "A lot of plays about gay people are about people in a bar, being hedonistic, not being supportive of each other, and that's not what my experience of being gay is like, it just isn't," he said. "What you write is the play you want to see in the world." And, after the runaway success of its Melbourne premiere directed by Tom Healey late last year, the show — about Team Barely Athletic, who compete in a LGBTI football league in Hull – returns to Red Stitch for a season in Midsumma. Read our review of the 2014 production here. January 19 - 25, Red Stitch Actors Theatre, $25 - $30. Sissy Blvd Devotees of Australian lit mag The Lifted Brow will probably recognise the work of the four queer cartoonists on show in Sissy Blvd. Merv Heers, Sam Wallman, Lee Lai and Katie Parrish have all contributed work to the magazine, but together the exhibition makes for a diverse offering. Some of Sam Wallman’s work – like Ashtrayan Hishtry Thru Political Cartoons – reminds us of a really messed up Larry Gonick mashed with the calculated weirdness of Married to the Sea, while Lai’s work traverses transient and constructed notions of identity in portraiture. Together, the four artists make up some of the most interesting and original graphic storytellers kicking around the country. January 15 - March 15, The Substation, Free. Show Stopper It’s a big call, but Agent Cleave might just have the best hair of in Melbourne. Maybe it's just a bonus that he’s also one of the city’s most captivating drag performers. Besides his past appearances onstage in smash hits like Sisters Grimm’s Summertime in the Garden of Eden, Cleave’s certainly got the best bio of anyone in the Midsumma program: "The body of a panther and the eyes of a crocodile, with tears to match". Hopefully his solo cabaret Show Stopper at Howler lives up to this formidable reputation. January 21 – 23, Howler, $22. Bad Adam / PONY Theatre Works has a reputation for presenting some of the city’s edgiest queer theatre throughout the year, playing host to indie companies like Little Ones and Sisters Grimm. Now, to kick off the new year, they’re featuring a double bill of contemporary performances that interrogate narratives of male sexual experience. Bad Adam, by Dosh Luckwell, is a meditation on the sticky intricacies and complications of gay pleasure, attraction and cruising, while Jay Robinson’s PONY is a contemporary dance work that draws on a transformation from pony into stallion as he navigates the fraught landscape of trying to construct a male, sexual identity growing up in Australia. Febuary 4 - 7, Theatre Works, $18 - $22. Edi Donald and the Transients While Midsumma certainly has enough cabaret to spare, there’s not a great amount of live music on offer. Edi Donald and the Transients come as welcome relief to those who might prefer a little less schmaltz and a little more sincerity. This six-piece band hailing from Alice Springs give us epic, genre-splicing songs which conjure up a vision of Australia’s desert heart that enfolds questions of gender, privilege, and identity within Donald’s searing voice and reflected audio-visual projections. January 29 - 31, Footscray Community Arts Centre, $15 - $20. The Jacobeans Hannah Malarski and Jack Richardson make up Bagabus Inc, a partnership that’s borne “supple fruit”, including shows like Bushpig, a 2014 hit across Australian fringe festivals in Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne, and their genre-busting monthly sketch show podcast, Faces for Radio. The pair’s latest live show The Jacobeans aims for a satirical romp through time, one that throws up their signature blend of humour and surrealism in stark juxtaposition. January 22 – February 7, Club Voltaire, $15 - $20. Finucane & Smith's Caravan Burlesque... Wilder West! Finucane & Smith have single-handedly redefined burlesque in Melbourne and across the world, elevating the form to a place that occupies the perfect mix of populist entertainment and political edge. Since its premiere in 2005 their Burlesque Hour has been seen by nearly 50,000 punters, selling out shows across Australia, and their work has traversed right around the globe, from Tokyo to Sao Paulo. …Wilder West is the latest title to add to the company’s impressive repertoire. Febuary 5 – 14, The Substation, $25 – $57.
Movie versions of best-selling young adult literature have become an exercise in taking the good with the bad. For every aspect book-to-film adaptations get right — presenting an intricate vision of a dystopian future, and championing strong female protagonists, for example — there are just as many elements that fail to hit the mark. The trend of splitting final instalments into two features typifies the latter, resulting in more screen time but less satisfaction. With The Divergent Series: Allegiant, the series' penultimate chapter proves its worst to date. Indeed, it's little more than filler. Having cottoned on to the manipulated, artificially manufactured status of her closed-in, factionalised Chicago society, series protagonist Tris Prior (Shailene Woodley) is now determined to discover just what lurks beyond the city's imposing walls. With her trusty band of rebels by her side, including her boyfriend Four (Theo James), brother Caleb (Ansel Elgort) and the duplicitous Peter (Miles Teller), Tris hatches a plan to find the real puppet-masters behind the only way of life she has ever known. Cue a battle between the past and future, right and wrong, and any other opposing forces that returning director Robert Schwentke can throw into the mix. Allegiant endeavours to place its feisty heroine in the grey zone between two sides and mindsets, as illustrated not only by the rift between the crusading Evelyn (Naomi Watts) and the kindly Johanna (Octavia Spencer) back in Chicago, but also in the machinations of controlling newcomer David (Jeff Daniels) out in the wider world. Yet it does so in as blunt a manner as possible. The film is loaded with obvious clashes, be it between the bonds of love and family, moving forward or retaining the status quo, or spaces of dusty desolation and shiny innovation. These conflicts are designed to liven up a narrative that is largely treading water while waiting for the final film, but they're ultimately unsuccessful. Equally problematic are storylines about superior DNA strands, child soldiers and Truman Show-like surveillance, all of which add complication but are never especially compelling. Ramping up the bickering and the subplots also comes at the expense of the series' already tenuous sense of character. If Tris and her pals felt thinly drawn in Divergent and Insurgent, and more than a little similar to their counterparts in the likes of The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner franchises, then this time around they're positively flimsy. Once again, that leaves Woodley to act grim and concerned, James to fulfil the eye-candy quota, Elgort to do very little, Teller to steal all the best lines, and all four to look very bored while doing so. Three films in, they're going through the motions, which may as well be the movie's motto. Of course, a big finale is due to be delivered by 2017's The Divergent Series: Ascendant. However with Allegiant's trying aspects clearly outweighing any lingering sense of intrigue about the underlying concept, an important question springs to mind. No, it's not whether the franchise can be redeemed, but rather if we should even care either way.
Technology just keeps getting smaller and smaller. UK game developer David Braben has created the prototype for a mini computer, so tiny and efficiently manufactured that it could be provided to school kids for free. It's called the Raspberry Pi USB computer, and it functions as a real PC, with USB and HDMI ports meaning you can hook it up to a keyboard and television screen in no time. The Raspberry Pi Foundation exists to promote the study of computer science and related topics, especially at school level, and to put the fun back into learning computing. "We plan to develop, manufacture and distribute an ultra-low-cost computer, for use in teaching computer programming to children. We expect this computer to have many other applications both in the developed and the developing world," reads a description of the Pi project on the foundation Web site. https://youtube.com/watch?v=pQ7N4rycsy4 [Via Mashable]
In news that every Victorian has been waiting to hear, Premier Daniel Andrews has confirmed that the state's five-day snap lockdown will come to an end at 11.59pm tonight, Wednesday, February 17. The city's residents will be allowed to leave their homes for more than just the familiar four reasons, and to travel more than five kilometres from their houses; however, with nine days still remaining as part of the usual 14-day COVID-19 incubation timeframe, some rules will stay in place for the near future. The lockdown came into effect in a bid to contain Melbourne's Holiday Inn COVID-19 cluster, and has seen all of Victoria revert back to stage four restrictions since Friday, February 12. It proved a case of deja vu, after the state underwent two lockdowns in 2020. Thankfully, as at midnight on Tuesday, February 16, Victoria currently only has 25 active COVID-19 cases, and reported no new cases in the past 24 hours. It's due to those low numbers that lockdown will finish, and that most restrictions will revert back to the conditions that were in place before the five-day stay-at-home period. Not all of them will, though. You'll only be able to have five visitors to your house per day, for instance, which is a reduction from 15 pre-lockdown. Outside gatherings in public will also be limited to 20 people. https://twitter.com/DanielAndrewsMP/status/1361823417121468416 These new rules will remain in place until at least Friday, February 26, and the Premier doesn't expect any other changes to occur between now and then. Masks will also remain compulsory everywhere indoors except at when you're at home — including at the supermarket, the office and at hospitality venues — and you'll also need to keep wearing them outside if you can't maintain social distancing. Hospitality and retail businesses can reopen and welcome in customers, but there will be capacity and density limits. For restaurants, cafes, bars and eateries, the one person per two-square-metres rule will be in effect both indoors and outdoors, but only once 25 people are onsite. There's no requirement for seated service, though, and dancefloors are allowed — with one person per four-square-metres, up to a cap of 50 people. And, for shops, the one person per two-square-metres rule applies, with no other caps. https://twitter.com/DanielAndrewsMP/status/1361823864712400896 Entertainment venues will be back in action, too, but they'll have limits as well. Seated indoor venues, including cinemas, will have to max out at 50-percent capacity — up to a total of 300 people. Indoor non-seated venues such as galleries will have the same caps, as well as the one person per two-square-metres rule if they're using electronic record keeping to track attendees (and one person per four-square-metres otherwise). Both seated and non-seated outdoor venues will be able to welcome in 75-percent crowds, with the same rules on density and record keeping applying. Weddings and funerals can occur with no attendee limits, but density quotas of one person per two-square-metres will be in effect if electronic record keeping is used to track attendees. Indoor exercise, including at gyms, is back with the one person per four-square-metres rule applying, as well as class caps of 50 people. And, in terms of heading to the office, workplaces will be able to have 50 percent of their employees onsite. As always, the usual hygiene and social distancing practices remain in place, as does the request to get tested if you exhibit even minor COVID-19 symptoms. All of Victoria will come out of stage four restrictions at 11.59pm on Wednesday, February 17. For more information about the rules moving forward, head to the Victorian Department of Health website. Top image: Taquito by Julia Sansone.
It was a sad day when Polaroid announced it was going to stop producing film. The iconic camera was used by artists Andy Warhol, Chuck Close, Helmut Newton and Robert Mapplethorpe and nothing quite matches the simplicity and beautiful graininess of Polaroids. But now, you don't have to feel glum whenever you look at your photo wall - it's not all over yet. The clever clogs at Polaroid have found a way to keep the camera alive without using the traditional film. Meet the Polaroid Z340. It is a 14MP camera with a 2.7-inch LCD display and an integrated printer that produces 3x4-inch color prints. The printer uses inkless printing technology from Zink Imaging where special print paper has embedded dye crystals which are activated by heat to form the image. It's not cheap at $299.99, and a pack of 30 photos costs $19.99. But hey, instant gratification is priceless. Fingers crossed that the images will still have that dreamy imperfection that makes them unique.
The murky world of web analytics is usually left to advertising types and businesses who want to know about you so they can sell stuff to you. But the newly launched browser extension and website, Voyurl, aims to enhance your browsing experience through infographics that break down your web habits with real-time recommendations. Founder Adam Leibsohn was one of these advertising types. Having had a successful career in advertising as Group Director of Digital Strategy at a NYC advertising agency, Anomaly, Leibsohn has channelled his expertise in consumer behaviour and developed Voyurl, or what he calls the "anti-social social network." He says while social networking sites bring your social circle to the fore, Voyurl is more concerned with how you browse the web. At this month's NY Tech Meetup, Leibsohn was applauded by the audience when he said: "unlike a lot of services, we [Voyurl] actually don't want you to authorise Facebook or Twitter." Instead, what Voyurl does is collect your browsing information and present it in a series of infographics that lets you see trends, recommendations and comparisons seamlessly. There is an option to share your information through social networking of course, but the focus remains on your browsing habits. A feature that lives up to Leibsohn's claim that the browser extention is the "anti-social social network" is the "anti-me" button that presents information based on your anti-self (in case you were curious about what sort of websites your anti-self would be looking at). Concrete Playground got in touch with Adam Leibsohn in New York and asked about the gap Voyurl fills in the user browsing experience and, yes, the usually murky world of web analytics. What did you have in mind when you thought of the concept for voyurl? So, for a long while, I worked as a digital strategist at an ad agency in New York. After being introduced to countless marketing technology firms and data auctioneers that use an ethical gray area to peddle in user data, I thought it was time for a platform that was open about its data use and put the user first. With that in mind, we sought out to build Voyurl. We want to disrupt the behavioural data marketplace that occurs without most peoples' awareness by putting the control of this behavioral data back into the hands of those who generate it: all of us who use the web. We want empower people through their data. So, we've begun to build a platform that puts all this data to work for anyone who generates it. The best part is that you don't have to do a thing. You just browse the web like you already do; and, we'll do the rest. How does it work? We analyse behaviour, not identity. So we try our best to determine where on the web your behaviour indicates positive preference. Then, we find other people who have behaved like you. And then, we figure out what stuff those folks have looked at and liked that you haven't seen yet... and we recommend those things to you. And since your browsing behaviour powers our content recommendation engine, we'll never recommend something to you if you've clicked on it before... ever. This way every recommendation we make to you is guaranteed to be genuinely new, each and every time. How will this benefit businesses? For us, this is mainly about how it can benefit our members. If our members are empowered through their data, then maybe businesses will be encouraged to figure out a better way to interact with them to get data they need. So really, we're trying to create a dynamic that fosters a positive experience through data for everyone. If both consumers and businesses can get what they want by leveraging data, we think we're taking a step in the right direction. What feedback have you gotten so far? The feedback has been incredible. People are really enjoying the data, the trends, the content recommendation, and the comparisons and fun features we offer. For instance, we allow users to invert our recommendations so that they can get content fed to them that's 180º away from who they are. It's our little way of allowing you to take yourself out of the filter bubble. Folks have been really great with feedback and input. They're already looking for some fun new features to help make things more social. If you want to try Voyurl for yourself, can can access the private beta via invitation at www.voyurl.com/concreteplayground
Having departed from its initial spot in Richmond, Fabric Deluxe has called Footscray home since early 2018. Undeniably passionate about everything sewing and fabric related, Fabric Deluxe sets out to engage budding seamsters from the younger generations who are searching for a fun and accessible skill to learn. For those that are looking to pick up a new hobby or complete their latest sewing project, Fabric Deluxe has just about every imaginable colour, pattern and haberdashery item you could ever need.
Since first opening its doors back in 2013, Sydney's Golden Age Cinema and Bar has proven a home for interesting and eclectic movies, screening new independent and arthouse fare alongside offbeat retro favourites. It's the kind of venue that shows flicks you won't see in multiplexes, all in boutique surroundings. And if you like its taste in films — or you're Melbourne or Brisbane-based cinephile who regularly wishes they could experience Golden Age's program, too — then you'll definitely like their latest venture as well. As plenty of other companies and cinemas have been doing during the COVID-19, Golden Age is getting into the streaming game. Now available online, Movie Night by Golden Age Cinema showcases movies that've graced the venue's screens over the years, as well as others chosen by the cinema's programmers. That includes a curated selection of recent and new releases, with extra films added to its lineup every week. At the time of launch, the service's range features The Trip to Greece, which was supposed to release in cinemas but has been fast-tracked to streaming instead; 2019 favourites Portrait of a Lady on Fire and Parasite; and thoughtful documentary For Sama, which hit the big screen earlier in 2020. Viewers can also revisit Bong Joon-ho's excellent monster movie The Host, see Nicolas Cage milk an alpaca in Color Out of Space, and enjoy Robert Pattinson's recent stellar work in High Life and Good Time. Spanning award-winners, cult favourites, fashion docos and collections of Asian, Aussie and European cinema, Movie Night's highlights also include 2018 Cannes Palme d'Or winner Shoplifters, adorable cat documentary Kedi and masterful German comedy Toni Erdmann — as well as Sydney Film Festival prize-winner Aquarius, Australian drama Judy & Punch, and docos about Yayoi Kusama, Roy Halston Frowick and Alexander McQueen. https://www.facebook.com/OurGoldenAge/photos/a.472586509492206/2993131060771059/?type=3&theater Films are available to watch on a pay-per-view basis, with prices varying per movie — from $4.99 for an older title to $19.99 to something brand new (such as The Trip to Greece). And, for Sydneysiders eager to physically return to Golden Age, it's also opening its doors for private screenings of up to ten people from June 1 — so you and your mates can pick a film to watch on the big screen, then get the whole place to yourselves for three hours. For more information about Movie Night by Golden Age Cinema — or to watch a movie — visit the streaming service's website. Top image: Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Madman.
Satire can be a tricky business. Misjudge your aim and it comes off as too malicious, misjudge your audience and you've got a room full of bewildered people trying to channel their discomfort into nervous laughter. MTC's newest production, The Beast looks set to strike the perfect tone for each. The show, Eddie Perfect's debut as sole writer, is a black comedy about a group of middle-class, inner-city friends in their mid-thirties. After circumstances arise leading them to adopt a simple country life, they are forced to reconsider their much-lauded earthly values as they are faced with the difficult job of slaughtering a young cow. These are people Melbourne audiences are ready to laugh at. The kind of shiraz-suckling, clean living, organic so and sos that spend endless dinner parties berating people for not considering the environmental consequences of their supermarket purchases, while hiding the fact they have several gas-guzzling SUVs parked in the double garage. Perfect claimed the idea for the show came to him from his time spent in the Yarra Valley. Go figure. It's not all laughs at their expense, however. After the conflict with the cow, Perfect's characters are left a little morally stranded — the repercussions of their actions, or inactions reaping grave consequences on their future ethics and social personas. Like all good satire, The Beast presents a crucial moral core for its audience too — in this modern age, how can we reconcile our imagined social activism with our real world actions?
What do board shorts, obnoxiously colourful Hawaiian shirts, Reg Mombassa (of Mental As Anything fame) and surrealist art all have in common? They have all participated in the evolution of Mambo, one of Australia's iconic clothing brands. Famed for injecting humour and artistic expression into a surfing apparel industry more preoccupied with the branding of products than creating memorable designs. This year marks the 30th year of the Australian surf brand, which was dreamt up by Dare Jennings by the pool of a Redfern motel, over a slab of beer and some Jatz crackers. Not limited to clothing, Mambo has slapped their designs onto surfboards, posters and ads. Over the years the brand has churned out some pretty iconic designs. From the contentious Aussie Jesus at the football, to the oddly enduring farting dog – the designs have continued to shock and delight Aussie audiences throughout time. Dancing the line between political incorrectness and social awareness, Mambo frequently used their designs to grapple with issues such as religious intolerance, racism and commercialism. In 1995, they protested French nuclear weapon testing in the Pacific with the 'Chirac' t-shirt, donating $40,000 of the profits to Greenpeace. In 1998, they released the 'redneck' design, to protest the racist tenets of the One Nation Party — with proceeds going to National Aboriginal and Islander State Development Association, an organisation that would have been threatened by a victorious One Nation Party. Proudly Australia, the brand has harnessed local talent during its tumultuous 30-year trajectory. From designing the Australian Olympic uniforms in 2000 to financial insecurity in 2008, the brand still stands strong today as a pioneer of Australian design. Celebrating this, The National Gallery of Victoria will be showcasing the Mambo: 30 years of shelf-indulgence exhibition. Curated by T-shirt devotee, Eddie Zammit, original art director Wayne Golding and the current owner of the brand, Angus Kingsmill, the exhibition will feature the largest collection of Mambo works to date, incorporating all the unique Australianisms that defines the brand. Mambo: 30 years of shelf-indulgence will be on display at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia at Federation Square in the NGV Studio from the 6th of December 2014 until the 22nd of February 2015. Entry is free.
For too long the precious black liquid that keeps your brain afloat during 8am meetings on Monday has gotten all the attention. But what about the intricately designed disposable cup? It's easy to forget about (let alone give any sustained attention to) the vessel of cardboard that carries that lovingly brewed coffee to our lips — but we'd be pretty lost without it. Coffee Cups of the World is an unabashed display of one man's beautiful takeaway coffee journey across the world documented on Tumblr and Instagram. "I want people to look at the coffee cups and be conscious of them," New Zealand professional food photographer Henry Hargreaves told Cool Hunting. "The to-go cup is the best piece of advertising for coffee shops, but not everyone gives it enough attention." Until now, that is. Hargreaves (who you might know for his eerie food photography series of death row inmates' last meals) has collected coffee cups from cafes in Europe, the United States, Australia and New Zealand. He has even enlisted a friend from South Africa to send him a bunch and — great news — is now encouraging the public to do the same. See more of Hargreaves's work at the Coffee Cups of the World Tumblr and on his online portfolio. Via Cool Hunting
In need of some perspective? Spend a weekend with your head in the clouds at Sky High Mount Franklin. This next-level luxury holiday house is perched atop a ridge just next to Mt Franklin and affords 360-degree views of rolling paddocks and forests, backdropped by spectacular mountains. The sunsets are off the charts. During the day, plan a hike and picnic atop Mt Franklin, a (now extinct) volcano, and come evening, take in the stunning sunset from your outdoor saltwater plunge pool. If you'd rather get cosy, snuggle into your king-sized bed and enjoy the show via epic floor-to-ceiling windows. The home is located just a stone's throw from Daylesford, so you can indulge your lush side even further on a trip into town.
Located in the heart of the bustling city centre, Le Charme is filled with long teal banquettes and lotus flower-shaped light fittings hanging from the ceiling. Matching teal shutters keep the restaurant's interior sheltered from the frenetic foot traffic outside its doors. It's inside this seemingly serene — and definitely charming — restaurant that you'll enjoy executive chef Gary Lau's extensive and affordable menu. It's filled with lots of pescatarian and vegetarian options, too, so everyone can get in on the action. The $9.90 lunch menu features generous bowls of beef pho and bun bo hue, while its $11.90 menu is filled with hits like spicy chicken laksa, stir-fried beef with rice and mapo tofu. During your midday feed, you can also add a drink — including tea, soft drink and Vietnamese coffee imported directly from Hanoi — to your meal for an extra $2. Head here at night and you'll find an a la carte that pulls its inspiration from across Asia. There's a Hong Kong-style soft shell crab with black beans ($11.90), dumplings ($6.90–7.90) — served steamed or pan-fried — chicken mee goreng ($14.9) and a lineup of popular Vietnamese noodle soups and cold vermicelli dishes. But for the best bang for your buck, order the $30 'feed me' menu (for a minimum of two people), which includes a whopping six dishes: four entrees, one main and a dessert. While exactly what you'll get changes regularly, expect the likes of crunchy wasabi prawns, pan-fried chicken and prawn dumplings, chicken san choy bao and a rich Saigon curry with beef brisket, potato and okra. For dessert, you'll get banana fritters and coconut ice-cream. There's a vego option available for meat-free folk, too The Chinatown diner also has a range of Asian-inspired cocktails and mocktails on offer, with standouts being the opulent salted caramel espresso martini ($19) — made with Kahlua, Baileys and a Nutella rim — and the fruity Royal Rose Fizz ($20). A tidy lineup of beers, ciders and wines are available, too. Images: Julia Sansone.
With the holidays just coming to an end, we're all now emerging from prime binge-watching season. So, if you feel like you've glued your eyes to every possible TV show and movie there is recently, that's completely understandable — but the great thing about streaming is that there's always something else popping up, demanding your attention and helping you maintain that comfy groove in your sofa. Returning series releasing their latest seasons, brand new shows that haven't been on your radar, recent favourites that you mightn't have seen, retro classics that are always worth a revisit, flicks that'll keep you talking — they're some of the fresh additions to the streaming world recently, and they're all ready to add to your 2021 watch list. If you're wondering where to start, we've teamed up with streaming platform Binge to pick five must-sees that'll help you start the year with some top-notch viewing. You can view them all on the Australian service, including via a 14-day free trial for new customers.
To celebrate the latest drop in its Bonded series, Triple Mash, Jack Daniel's is hosting a series of immersive whiskey tastings dubbed Triple Mash Medley. It promises to be a sensory session like no other, featuring whiskey (of course), country music compositions crafted for the tasting, cocktails and canapes. It's landing in Melbourne at the returning rooftop bar Blue Diamond on Monday, October 7. The Bonded Series is named for The Bottled in Bond Act of 1897, which stipulates that the whiskey must be from a single distillery, a blend of whiskies from a single distilling season, aged in a federally bonded warehouse for at least four years and bottled at 100 proof (American parlance for 50 percent ABV). The Triple Mash meets these requirements as a blend of three straight bottled-in-bond whiskies made in Lynchburg, Tennessee. It is 60 percent Jack Daniel's Straight Rye Whiskey, 20 percent Jack Daniel's American Malt Whiskey and 20 percent Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey. Triple Mash is a bold whiskey ideal for sipping. Its dried fruit aromas, warm, rounded mouthfeel, and honeyed sweetness are balanced by subtle grain spice and a spicy finish. It also serves as a rich base for complex whiskey cocktails. Triple Mash is best enjoyed with soothing country music, which is exactly why the Jack Daniel's crew is curating a series of sonically immersive tastings in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. The Melbourne event is happening at the soon-to-be reopened Blue Diamond, a luxe rooftop bar perched 15 floors above the CBD. Boasting decadent cocktails and excellent views, the Blue Diamond is set to be the go-to spot in the city. Music is a big game here, with beats from resident DJs and international acts. Now, Jack Daniel's is bringing a country element. At the tasting, guests will be invited to put on headphones — but rest assured, this isn't a silent disco. They'll be guided through a one-of-a-kind sensory journey, listening to tracks created by Professor Charles Spence, a leading sensory expert from the University of Oxford, alongside award-winning musicians from String Musicians Australia. These tracks pair classic country sounds — acoustic guitar, fiddle and double bass — with the whiskey tasting and experience how the music can bring out tasting notes like grassy herbs, peppery spice, rich toasted oak and deep caramel to enhance the whiskey's flavours. If you're a whiskey lover, get yourself to the Blue Diamond. Book your spot via the link. Please drink responsibly.
Holed up above Swanston Street for over a decade now, this second-hand goliath is one of the largest vintage stores in the country. With racks packed full of one-of-a-kind fabrics cut into new fashionable styles, old leather boots and bags at bargain prices, and a huge collection of band t-shirts, Retrostar is a destination in itself. It's easy to lose an entire afternoon trying on countless outfits, flipping through the styles of yesteryear and swiping free lollipops from their friendly service counters. Bonus: they also regularly host warehouse sales with thousands of pieces priced at just $5. Be sure to get their early to avoid the carnage.
Melbourne's much-loved pop-up wine festival Into The Vines is heading back to The Rochester Hotel (The Rochey) for the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival with a special Iberian-themed edition. Head over to the Johnston Street pub on Thursday, March 27, where you'll get to meet winemakers and try an excellent selection of wines. There will be locally-grown Iberian varieties alongside wines from some of Victoria's top wine importers that are often only found in restaurants, providing a unique opportunity to compare old world and new. Whether you're new to the world of wine or a seasoned connoisseur, there'll be the chance to upskill your wine knowledge with a glossary of wine terms and a card to rank and score wines you sample over the course of the evening. To give you an idea, expect drops from local wineries like Sutherland Estate, Steels Gate Wines and Muto Wines, alongside Tasty Things Wines and Soul Wines, imported from Portugal and Spain, respectively. Tickets cost $38 a pop, and they include a heap of tastings and a $10 voucher that you can use to purchase bottles of your favourite vinos. This is the perfect excuse to fill your fridge, cellar or bar cart with special drops to last you through the year. You've also got the option to preorder an Iberian-inspired dinner on the night; Chicken ragu canelones with squid ink, corn butter sauce, and fermented chilli. You'll be buying these drops directly from the winemakers, so expect great prices and that warm fuzzy feeling that comes with supporting a small local business. Moreover, some of these wines are only available on-premise at Melbourne's wine bars and restaurants, so it's a great way to shop them at a more affordable price. You're also guaranteed to love what you get because you'll have tried it already. But if you're after more, you can get around the special masterclass (an additional $20) run by wine expert Jay Bessel — who's highly regarded and sought after for curating wine lists in many of Melbourne's top dining establishments. Sample and talk through one wine from each of the producers paired with bites from the region prepared by chef Ian Ho. Bessel will be on hand to explain why the pairing elevates both the food and the drink, the terroir the wine is best produced in, and how to compare locally made to its native origin. Into The Vines' regular inner-city wine festivals are always hugely popular and sell out, so make sure you lock in your tickets ASAP for this special Iberian-edition evening.
In the just-dropped full season-three Only Murders in the Building trailer, Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez, The Dead Don't Die) asks Oliver Putnam (Martin Short, Schmigadoon!) and Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin, It's Complicated) a key question: "who are we without a homicide?". When you're characters in a murder-mystery comedy who make a podcast about murders in your building, death comes with the territory. So does chatting about it — and both are covered in this latest and lengthiest sneak peek at the show's new batch of episodes. This time, it's actor Ben Glenroy (Paul Rudd, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania) who has shuffled off this mortal coil — and at opening night of theatre producer Putnam's latest Broadway show. Of course Mora, Putnam and Savage are going to get sleuthing again, as they did with past murders in season one (aka one of the best new shows of 2021) and season two (one of the best returning shows of 2022). And of course scrambling to save Putnam's career is also part of the storyline. Season three stars not only Gomez, Martin, Short and the ageless Rudd, but also the one and only Meryl Streep (Don't Look Up) as it add another bit of murder, a new mystery to solve and plenty of laughs to the winter streaming lineup. The show returns on Tuesday, August 8 with its main trio spending plenty of time on Broadway trying to work out who is responsible for Gilroy's death, and why, with help from Streep as his co-star Loretta Durkin. "Is this really happening again?" asked Putnam in the first teaser trailer for the new batch of episodes. Yes, yes it is. So is the series fondness for big-name guest stars, as viewers will know from both season one and two. Tina Fey (Girls5eva) has been a significant presence, Sting and Amy Schumer have played themselves, and Cara Delevingne (Carnival Row) has also popped up. If you're yet to experience Only Murders in the Building's charms, it follows its central odd trio after they bond over two things: listening to a Serial-style podcast hosted by the show's own version of Sarah Koenig, aka Cinda Canning (Fey); and a death in their luxe abode. Of course, they did what everyone that's jumped on the true-crime bandwagon knows they would if they were ever in the same situation, starting their own audio series that's also called Only Murders in the Building. That's how season one kicked off — and continued, proving a warm, funny, smart and savvy series at every step along the way. In the show's second go-around, another death needed investigating. That time, it was someone the main trio were all known not to be that fond of, so suspicions kept pointing in their direction. Check out the full trailer for Only Murders in the Building season three below: Only Murders in the Building's third season will start streaming Down Under via Star on Disney+ from Tuesday, August 8. Season one and two are currently streaming. Read our full review of season two — and of the show's first season, too.
Throw those GoPros, bubble bottles and novelty gumboots in your rucksack, Splendour in the Grass is returning to North Byron Parklands for another year of festival merriment. As usual, rumours have run wild in anticipation of the lineup announce, but the details for Splendour 2017 are finally here. And we're happy to report that some of the rumours were true. As announced by triple j, there's no Lorde or Frank Ocean, but LCD bloody Soundsystem will be Splendouring — it will be the reunited band's first return to Australia since they played Big Day Out back in 2011. The lineup also doesn't state that Splendour is their only show, so stay tuned for news of a national tour (hopefully). It also seems that, happily, the predictions for The xx and Queens of the Stone Age were correct too. Joining them is one heck of a lineup that includes HAIM, RL Grime, Banks and Two Door Cinema Club, along with Future Islands and LA hip hip artist Schoolboy Q, who will be doing one-off Australian shows at the festival. Australian artists on the bill include Tash Sultana, King Gizzard, D.D Dumbo, Dune Rats, A.B Original, Big Scary and more. Anyway, we know what you're here for. We'll cut to the chase. SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS 2017 LINEUP The xx Queens of the Stone Age LCD Soundsystem Royal Blood HAIM Sigur Rós ScHoolboy Q (only Aus show) Vance Joy Two Door Cinema Club Peking Duk RL Grime Bonobo Father John Misty Catfish and the Bottlemen Tash Sultana Paul Kelly Stormzy King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard George Ezra Future Islands (only Aus show) Banks Bernard Fanning Dune Rats Cut Copy Ásgeir Allday Meg Mac Rag 'N' Bone Man Thundamentals Lil' Yachty San Cisco Client Liaison Real Estate Dan Sultan Vallis Alps D.D Dumbo Maggie Rogers Tove Lo POND Big Scary The Smith Street Band Oh Wonder A.B. Original Dope Lemon The Kite String Tangle Young Franco Julia Jacklin Kingswood Amy Shark Luca Brasi The Lemon Twigs Vera Blue Slumberjack Bad//Dreems Bag Raiders Topaz Jones Middle Kids Ocean Grove Confidence Man Bishop Briggs Late Nite Tuff Guy Julien Baker Kilter Lany Hockey Dad Kirin J Callinan Airling Cosmo's Midnight Gretta Ray Moonbase The Peep Tempel Tornado Wallace The Murlocs Mallrat Luke Million The Wilson Pickers Romare Jarrow Good Boy Kuren Oneman Winston Surfshirt Set Mo HWLS Harvey Sutherland and Bermuda CC:Disco! Enschway DJHMC Nite Fleit Alice Ivy Willow Beats Willaris. K Mookhi Plus... Swindail Dena Amy Andy Garvey Planète Sam Weston Super Cruel Christopher Port Lewis Cancut Kinder plus triple j Unearthed winners Splendour will return to North Byron Parklands on Friday 21, Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 July. Onsite camping will once again be available from Wednesday, July 19. Tickets go on sale Thursday, April 6 at 9am sharp AEST. More info will soon be available at the official Splendour In The Grass site. Image: Bianca Holderness.
With the last film finally released, the Harry Potter juggernaut has finally ground to a halt. No more books. No more films. For many fans it marks the end of childhood and for a few people, it will thankfully mean the end of acting careers. Sure, JK Rowling has moved the empire online with Pottermore, but for many, the magic is gone. If you find life a little empty without Hogwarts perhaps you should give quidditch a try. The muggle version is a little like lacrosse or handball, but with broomsticks, and an extra person dressed in yellow playing the role of the snitch. Some Australian universities have founded teams, and there's talk of a trans-Tasman competition. All eyes will soon be on the 5th annual quidditch world cup, contested by American colleges and teams from around the world, being held in New York in November. The event has been described by Fox sports as "a cross between the superbowl and a medieval festival" and although people might dress up to go along, the competition on the field is fast-paced and hotly contested.
In these cutthroat days of citizen journalism, a single tweet can obliterate a career. Just ask all these people. That which has been posted — and shared 20,000 times — cannot be unposted. And whether you were drunk, feeling sorry for yourself, on some kind of weird ego trip (Anthony Weiner = Carlos Danger?), really bad at conveying irony, genuinely misunderstood or just plain stupid when you penned the fatal line, excuses aren’t likely to get you out of hot water. Precedent suggests that neither your employer nor the angry mob is likely to be too easily persuaded. But if your most ill-thought-through posts are still buried deep in your feed, rather than across the front page of the Daily Mail, there’s hope. A new app by the name of Clear can burrow into your social media past, analyse your history and flag posts that seem inflammatory or offensive. Based on a mix of miraculous algorithms and Watson, a supercomputer created by IBM, the app works on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Clear’s creator is a man who’s name you might have seen in the headlines. Earlier this year, EthanCzahor was working on a campaign for Jeb Bush, former governor of Florida and possible 2015 presidentialcandidate, when a flurry of old tweets appeared out of thecyber-ether. One read, “Most people don’t know that Halloween is German for ‘night that girls with low self-esteem dress like sluts.’” And another, “When I burp in the gym I feel like it’s my way of saying, ‘sorry guys, but I’m not gay’.”Czahor lost his job within 48 hours of starting, which was a huge blow for a 31-year-old who’d spent his twenties pursuing a career in politics. From the get-go, Ethan maintained that the tweets were jokes, the meaning of which had become skewed. “I was telling jokes with my friends and they were completely tongue-in-cheek and completely harmless,” he told Time. “But years later after I had forgotten about them, they’d been pulled out of context and it looked terrible.” “You exist in a lot of places on the Internet,” he said. “And I just feel that you have the right to at least know what’s out there, and to take care of it.” Via Mashable and Time.
From a new $1.3-million Richmond rooftop to talk of a rooftop bar at Tullamarine Airport, Melbourne's high spots have been getting more and more attention of late. One of the more recent additions is QT Melbourne's secret rooftop garden, which has just reopened for summer. Not that the space, dubbed Secret Garden, hasn't existed before now. It was established as a garden while back by an executive chef of QT's Pascale Bar and Grill, but opened to the public for the first time in 2018. Now, the 40-person bar is run in collaboration with Healesville gin experts Four Pillars. So, you can expect exceptional G&Ts, alongside two gin-spiked cocktails: the Spiced Negroni spritz and the Bloody & Lemon, the latter of which is made with Four Pillars' cult-favourite Bloody Shiraz gin. Neither of those tickle your fancy? You can also create your own cocktail, using herbs from the garden to mix with the gin of your choice. You'll be drinking these surrounded by native river mint, fruit salad sage and blue lilly pillys, while looking out across the city skyline. The bar will also be hosting masterclasses and tasting sessions throughout the summer, before it closes with the end of the season. Secret Garden Bar is open 3–9pm Thursday and 3–11pm Friday–Saturday. Images: Kate Shanasy
Situated just across the street from the Sun Theatre, Cornershop in Yarraville is something of an institution in the west. Lively staff, vintage tables and a pastel green counter with a wooden top greet you when you walk in, and a menu filled with mouthwatering standouts like the zesty coconut dahl with poached eggs ($16.50) and the moreish bacon and egg butty with HP sauce ($15) makes it difficult to choose what to eat. Local roasters Profile provides the coffee, which is served with milk from Fitzroy's Saint David Dairy (or alternatives from Bonsoy and Milklab). It tastes just that little bit better when sipped on a sunny day in the Cornershop courtyard.
He turned the world's most famous shipwreck into one of biggest movies in history and reinvented 3D filmmaking to make another box office behemoth — and now James Cameron is bringing the ocean's depths to Sydney. Making its world premiere at Sydney's Australian National Maritime Museum from May 29, 2018 until January 30, 2019, James Cameron – Challenging the Deep will dive deep into the Titanic and Avatar director's rather expensive hobby: deep-sea exploration. When you make a movie about a necklace called the Heart of the Ocean, becoming obsessed with the sea is understandable, and Cameron has quite the array of artefacts, specimens, underwater recordings, inventions, cinema-scale projections, and film props and costumes to prove it. They'll all be on display, in a showcase that examines the filmmaker's passion for understanding and wading through our oceans. According to the The Sydney Morning Herald, Cameron himself will be in attendance to open the exhibition — taking a break from making four (yes, four) Avatar sequels. And if you're wondering why he's launching his latest project here, it could have something to do with his custom-built Deepsea Challenger submersible, which was made in Sydney. Back in 2012, Cameron piloted the vessel to the Mariana Trench, a cool 10,994 metres below the sea and also the deepest part of the ocean, becoming the first person to venture there solo. You might've seen a documentary about his efforts, 2014's Deepsea Challenge 3D, which is just one of the many movies to chart his fascination with what lurks beneath. After kicking things off with 1989's The Abyss, he not only sent Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio running around the RMS Titanic, but made his own documentary about exploring its real-life ruins, aka 2003's Ghosts of the Abyss. Expect The Abyss and Titanic to feature heavily in the exhibition. James Cameron – Challenging the Deep will display at Sydney's Australian National Maritime Museum from May 29, 2018 until January 30, 2019. For more information, visit the exhibition website. Image:NOAA/Institute for Exploration/University of Rhode Island via Wikimedia Commons.
Here's one way that 2025 is certain to dazzle: with Lightscape and its luminous path through the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne making a comeback this winter. Walking through stunning lights as far as the eye can see, moseying beneath a canopy of glowing multi-coloured trees, wandering between ribbons of flashing beams, taking the most lit-up route through nature that you can imagine — you'll be able to do all of this again, just like in 2022, 2023 and 2024. If you attended in past years, this fourth Lightscape stint does have surprises in store. 2025's event will feature 20-plus stunning new installations. So, no matter whether you're a veteran or a newcomer, you haven't seen this. Exactly what'll be on offer hasn't been revealed as yet, but it'll be on display from Friday, June 20–Sunday, August 10. Lightscape first hit Australia in 2022 after initially taking over gardens across the United Kingdom and the United States. Developed by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in the UK, it has understandably proven a huge success — and more than two-million people wandered along its glowing trails in a season overseas. 2024's Melbourne event featured the return of the popular Winter Cathedral, which is made out of glowing bulbs — and also the vibrant Laser Garden. Also included last year: Submergence, letting patrons move through suspended — and colour-changing — lights by the thousands, for instance, and Lili with its glowing three-metre-tall flowers. Whatever is on the agenda in 2025, prepare to see the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne illuminated by immersive and large-scale pieces scattered along that lengthy walking route, including sparkling trees, shimmering walkways and bursts of colour that look like fireworks. Prepare to feel like you're being bathed in radiance — and ample neon — as well. Pop-up food and drink stalls are usually a feature, too, as scattered throughout Lightscape — selling, we always hope, mulled wine to keep hands warm in the thick of winter.
Jacob Elordi returning to Australia. Snowtown, True History of the Kelly Gang and Nitram director Justin Kurzel and screenwriter Shaun Grant reteaming. Richard Flanagan's Booker Prize-winning novel making the leap to the screen. A cast that also includes Belfast's Ciarán Hinds, Olivia DeJonge (Elvis) and her The Staircase co-star Odessa Young (My First Film), Limbo and Boy Swallows Universe's Simon Baker, Heartbreak High's Thomas Weatherall, Love Me's Heather Mitchell and Tokyo Vice's Show Kasamatsu. Combine all of the above and Prime Video's five-part miniseries The Narrow Road to the Deep North is the end result — and if you hadn't already scheduled it in for a couch date in April, you will after watching its just-dropped trailer. "Are you a gambling man?" Elordi's Dorrigo Evans is asked at the beginning of the series' sneak peek. "Occasionally, yeah" is his response — before wagering on the chances of making it through the year alive. Set to hit your streaming queue on Friday, April 18, 2025, The Narrow Road to the Deep North tells a tale of love and war, and of Evans' journey from a prisoner of war as a Lieutenant in World War II, working on the Thailand-Burma Railway, to becoming an acclaimed surgeon. Elordi shares the show's lead role with Hinds, playing the younger version of the character in a tale that jumps between different time periods — and includes a life-changing stint of falling in love with Amy Mulvaney (Young). DeJonge and Baker feature with Elordi and Young, plus Weatherall and Kasamatsu, in the show's 40s-era timeline, while Hinds hops in when the series gets to the 80s, which is where Mitchell pops up as well. Initially announced a couple of years back, then premiering at this year's Berlinale, The Narrow Road to the Deep North brings its star back to the small screen three years after the second season of Euphoria in 2022 — and a likely a year before the HBO favourite's third season arrives. He's been busy on the big screen since, though, courtesy of Saltburn, Priscilla, Deep Water, The Sweet East, Oh, Canada and On Swift Horses, before what's set to be prime Easter long-weekend viewing drops. Prior to all of the above projects, and also before the three Kissing Booth films helped boost his career first, Elordi scored his first on-screen acting credit beyond short films in Aussie movie Swinging Safari. Since then, however, the Brisbane-born talent has largely focused on working overseas. So The Narrow Road to the Deep North is a rarity of late on his filmography, with the actor heading home to make the drama. Charles An (Last King of the Cross), Essie Davis (One Day), William Lodder (Love Me), Eduard Geyl (Born to Spy) and Christian Byers (Bump) are also among the cast. Check out the trailer for The Narrow Road to the Deep North below: The Narrow Road to the Deep North will stream via Prime Video from Friday, April 18, 2025. Images: Prime Video.
The beloved Cameo Cinema will once again showcase some of the summer's most talked-about films on its magnificent outdoor movie screen under the stars. Kicking off for the 2021–22 season the moment it can — that'd be on Friday, October 22, when Melbourne comes out of lockdown — and screening through the rest of spring and summer, this outdoor film-watching spot will give cinema lovers the chance to relax in deckchairs and beanbags, with craft beer, homemade choc-tops and freshly popped popcorn in hand. If that's not worth the drive out to Belgrave, then we just don't know what is. Featured on the big screen will be a selection of new flicks, starting with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Free Guy, Nitram and The Last Duel — and throwing in a Halloween session of Candyman, too. From there, you can look forward to Marvel's Eternals, new Bond instalment No Time to Die and Disney's latest animated effort Ron's Gone Wrong. More flicks, both recent and classic, are set to be added to the lineup as well as spring and summer go on. It doesn't hurt that the Cameo concessions are a cut above what you'll find at your local shopping centre multiplex. It has craft beer and boutique wines — and dogs are welcome here, too. In line with current COVID-19 restrictions, masks are mandatory and capacities are limited.
Ever wish you could teleport out of the office and into, say, the idyllic surrounds of the Versailles Palace? Well, that need no longer be the stuff of dreams. Using Street View technology, Google has launched the World Wonders Project, an initiative that aims to bring the world's most breathtaking heritage sites directly to you. In a virtual experience like no other, users will be able to access high resolution photographs, 3D imagery and YouTube videos of up to 132 landmarks and architectural sites from 18 countries around the globe. Partnering with Getty Images and UNESCO among others, the World Wonders Project is part of Google's mission to preserve ancient and modern heritage sites, and to make these cultural landmarks accessible for future generations in an ever-expanding digital archive. Whether you're an avid traveller or average procrastinator, Google's highly interactive application is designed to virtually transport you into new, exciting worlds from the convenience of your desk. The Project site has a range of user-friendly functions to navigate your chosen destination. To embark on your virtual globe-trotting experience, you can access information compiled about the site, flick through albums of stunning photos, or for the more adventurous - click on the 3D modelling option and experience the wonders of navigating your dream location in all its 360 degree, street-level glory. Visit Google World Wonders
When it comes to an island filled with dinosaurs, humanity just won't learn. Since Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park hit bookstores in 1990, spawning not only Steven Spielberg's 1993 blockbuster film, but two direct sequels and the recent Jurassic World spin-off trilogy, people just keep clamouring to share the same landmass as re-animated prehistoric beasts. Now they're about to do so all over again in a just-announced animated Netflix series. Headed to the streaming platform in 2020, Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous will hail back to the events of 2015's initial Jurassic World flick — and to the franchise's familiar setting, Isla Nublar. This time, six teenagers have been chosen to attend a new adventure camp on the other side of the remote deathtrap. If you've seen the movie, you already know that the dinos break loose (of course they do), which'll leave the plucky youths fighting to survive. Executive produced by Spielberg — as well as Jurassic World executive producer Frank Marshall, plus two-time series director Colin Trevorrow — the show will help fill the gap until the live-action Jurassic World 3 releases in 2021. It's being overseen by Scott Kreamer (Pinky Malinky) and Lane Lueras (Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny), and forms part of Netflix's family slate, so you can probably expect less scares than usual (although the teaser below is a little creepy). Given that it's aimed at all ages, you can probably expect more (albeit friendlier) dinosaurs, however. Just who'll be voicing Camp Cretaceous' characters has yet to be revealed. The same remains true for everyone's two burning questions: whether a few familiar Jurassic World talents will pop up, and if any of the old-school Jurassic Park gang will lend their vocals. Our wish, and it's an obvious one, is for more Jeff Goldblum. If you're keen for the briefest of sneak peeks of Camp Cretaceous, check out the first teaser below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkFrNm5M_Ck Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous doesn't have an exact release date as yet, but it's expected to hit Netflix in 2020. We'll keep you updated with specific timing when it comes to hand.
It's hard to think of a wrong way to prepare the humble chicken — but of all the various methods, frying might be our favourite. Juicy pieces of poultry, coated in flour, salt, herbs and spices, cooked piping hot and served with tangy sauce and a cold glass of James Squire: it doesn't get much better than that. We Melburnians are spoiled for choice when it comes to this particular bird — in fact the hardest thing about putting together this list was trying not to drool over the pictures. From classic culinary contenders to some lesser-known gems, here are the best fried chicken joints Melbourne foodies should flock to. GAMI Forefather to Melbourne's Korean Fried Chicken craze, the Gami chain is now pumping out poultry at four locations (three in the CBD and one in St Kilda). While there's a small invitation of dumplings and side dishes, it's important to stay focused and keep that stomach space free for the real reason you came: fried bird bits. Honestly, there's not a great deal of decision making that needs to happen here; you either want your chicken with bones or boneless, with or without sauce. As for beer, you can get it on tap, in jugs or — our preference — in a mini keg that sits on the edge of your table. It's also advisable to request extra napkins. You'll thank us later on this one, when the sticky sweet-soy-garlic sauce drips from your fingers to your elbows, and you begin to regret the fact you brought a Tinder date along. Shop G, 535 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne (and various other locations); (03) 9670 3232; www.gamichicken.com.au DA RIN If all three of the city Gami venues are at capacity (and they often are), give newcomer Da Rin a shot. They recently entered the gauntlet by offering a similar fried chicken menu (available with or without bones, in original, sweet and spicy, and honey and garlic flavours), but stepped up the competition by throwing in a few wildcard menu contenders. Get adventurous with the dakmoraejip (a stir fry of veggies and spicy chicken giblets) or the egg tang (a savoury egg custard made with pengi mushrooms. It's better than it sounds on paper, promise). 169 Bourke Street, Melbourne; (03) 9639 0721 BELLE'S HOT CHICKEN If you're one of many seeking out the best battered chook in the city, it's hard to go past Belle's Hot Chicken, where their sole focus is just that. Chose your cut of meat (wings, tenders or dark meat), your spice level (mild, medium, hot, really hot or 'really fucking hot') and your favourite side (like coleslaw, potato salad or mac and cheese). It all comes with complimentary pickles and a slice of bread to soak up the oozing spices. This is Fitzroy's take on Nashville comfort-eating, and it's damn, damn good. 150 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy; (03) 9077 0788; www.belleshotchicken.com ROCKWELL & SONS Advance bookings are essential if you want in on Rockwell & Sons' popular fried chicken night, which only happens on Wednesday evenings. It's often booked out weeks in advance. testament not only to Melbourne's affection for a food craze but to the restaurant's ongoing success (this is no pop-up operation — they've been going strong for years). Order your bird at least three days ahead, because preparation starts early in the week with a slow-brine process, after which the poultry is slathered in buttermilk and gently tickled/served with whatever traditional accompaniments are being offered that day (such as coleslaw, mac and cheese or biscuits). 288 Smith Street, Collingwood; (03) 8415 0700; www.rockwellandsons.com.au CHICK-IN Chick-In serves similarly sticky, crowdpleasing fried favourites to Gami, albeit among more contemporary settings (rather than canteen-style decor, they've gone with a look that more closely resembles a Fitzroy single origin cafe). While the fried chicken itself is similar to that of its competitor, a major point of difference lies in the Korean-Western fusion-style accompaniments like kimchi fries, as well as the single serve, non-sharing options which cater to solo lunchtime diners during the middle-of-the-day trough-feed. Assuming you're in no hurry to return to work, try knocking back one of their soju mojitos, or relax with a bottle of One Fifty Lashes. G23/620 Collins Street, Melbourne; (03) 9973 6244; www.facebook.com/chickinmelbourne LEONARD'S HOUSE OF LOVE You'd be forgiven for thinking that Chapel Street was a rather long way away while spending some time in Leonard's House of Love. Leonard's vibe is log cabin-meets-houseparty, with an American-style menu jam packed full of poultry. You can grab original or spicy tenders, popcorn chicken, a southern fried chicken burger or a chicken and gravy roll. Even the sides are chook-based, with charcoal chicken fries and charcoal chicken nachos both totally legitimate options. 3 Wilson Street, South Yarra; 0428 066 778; www.facebook.com/leonardshouseoflove KODIAK CLUB It's said that Kodiak serve the most authentic American buffalo wings in Melbourne. Whether this is a factual claim is inconsequential — you should come here to eat, not to argue. It's an all-round pleaser of a plate, containing just enough heat to satisfy fans of vinegary hot sauce without isolating those with a lesser-trained heat palate. Order by the dozen (forget the small serve, trust us on this); your wings will arrive with wads of napkins, wet wipes, blue cheese sauce and a few stumps of celery sticks that are intended purely for garnish, not for filling up on. Don't make that rookie mistake. 272 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy; (03) 9417 3733; www.thekodiak.club HOT STAR Setting up dispensaries at several hole-in-the-wall city shopfronts, the Hot Star chicken franchise comes co-located with those takeaway tea shops that always have offensive queues sprawling outside them, blocking peak hour Swanston Street foot traffic. But one can overlook such tiny faults in return for a fillet of fried chicken as big as a human head. Nobody knows what part of the bird comes shaped this way, nor do they understand exactly what goes into that addictive, crunchy coating. But after a bite, you'll probably decide it's best not to ask questions and just run with it. 231 Swanston Street, Melbourne; www.hotstarchicken.com.au FRYING COLOURS According to its website, Frying Colours is a 'Korean Eating Place', presumably for chicken you put in your mouth using your hands. But it's more than that — the restaurant's menu extends further than other Korean chicken joints that specialise in throwing just one type of animal into the deep fryer, offering a full grill service as well as traditional bibimbap, bulgogi, hotpots and dumpling dishes. A whole chook will cost $32, which seems like about the average market rate for Korean Fried Chicken in Melbourne's current economic climate. The meat is miraculously moist without succumbing to sogginess — but if you need further lubrication, the BYO policy will hold you in good stead. 520 Macaulay Road, Kensington; (03) 9939 9679; www.fryingcolours.com.au FRIED AND TASTY Sometimes, a name says it all. The birds at Fried and Tasty are just that: fried and tasty. The acronym F.A.T is probably fairly appropriate as well, given how often we chow down at this Brunswick East chicken coop. In addition to boned chunks, tenders and BBQ wings, Fried and Tasty have a whole host of different chicken burgers and a yummy selection of sides. To be honest though, if you're not ordering buttermilk waffles with chicken, vanilla ice cream and Canadian maple syrup, you're probably doing it wrong. 360 Lygon Street, Brunswick East; (03) 8560 3328; www.friedandtasty.com JUANITA PEACHES Juanita is certainly not your standard lass, with a logo that resembles the sort of tattoo you might acquire from a trip you don't remember to Surfer's Paradise. But all in all, she's got the goods, and she's worth trying. With a small menu on offer, the fried chicken — crispy on the outside and juicy in the middle — definitely tops the list of things to order at this establishment. The burros were a little on the dry side but still tasty, and with a lick of hot sauce, all ills are remedied. All the usual sides are at the party too, including chips and a zingy slaw to cut through that chicken grease. 12 Edward Street, Brunswick; (03) 8060 6664; www.facebook.com/juanitapeaches Words by Veronica Fil, Laura Dawson, Tagen Davies and Tom Clift.
East Brunswick Village — home to Rumi, The Rocket Society, Bridge Road Brewers, Bellboy Cafe and FoMo Cinemas — is throwing a huge block party on Sunday, November 10, from 11am–5pm. Triple R's resident DJ Small Fry will be playing tunes throughout the day, while the precinct's food and drink venues will be slinging one-off dishes, signature creations and limited-edition craft beers. Bridge Road Brewers is providing beer for the occasion — made just for the Village Feast — plus, they'll be plating up epic house-made Bavarian soft pretzels loaded with jalapenos, olives, spring onion and cheese sauce, or smoked ham, hot pickles and cheese sauce. [caption id="attachment_977709" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tacoya's nori tacos[/caption] Rumi's chefs will be serving their famous HSP, and its sibling venue The Rocket Society will be pumping out homemade falafels with an optional natty wine pairing. You can also get around prawn and crab rolls from Bellboy Cafe, beer and wine from Blackhearts & Sparrows, and special sweet popcorn from FoMo Cinemas — featuring mini marshmallows, chocolate chips and crushed graham crackers. To top it all off, you'll also find a small makers market where over ten local artisans will be spruiking their wares, competitions, raffles and kid-friendly entertainment. It's all about the community feels at the Village Feast. [caption id="attachment_972176" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bridge Road Brewers[/caption]
[Via Mashable]
'Do one thing and do it well' used to be a mantra of many successful businesses. Google did search. Car makers made cars. Hotels gave you a place to sleep. But now, following the diversification model others have set, Vibe Hotels are releasing music. Vibe: The Chillout Suite is the fourth in the series featuring local talents such as Angus & Julia Stone, Lior and Washington, as well as international acts like Florence + The Machine and Gomez. There's even room for a few classics like Mazzy Star's Fade Into You and Jeff Buckley's Last Goodbye. To celebrate the launch of the album, Vibe are offering one lucky Concrete Playground reader a chillout accommodation package valued at $490 including a one night stay for two people at any of their hotels in Sydney, Melbourne or the Gold Coast, including buffet breakfast, a copy of Chillout Suite, and a late check-out so you can really relax. To enter, just make sure you're a CP subscriber then email us at hello@concreteplayground.com.au by 5pm on Friday, July 8.
