As December rapidly approaches (it'll be 2020 before you know it, people) and temperatures soar, it's time to enjoy some of those traditionally festive flavours with an Australian twist. Ahead of the holiday season, Grey Goose La Vanille has returned to a selection of local bars for a limited time only. The premium French vodka is infused with natural vanilla flavours from beans harvested in Madagascar — there's no added sugar. The flavour originally swept through bars back in 2003, and though it's not available to buy in shops, it started reappearing on international shelves last year. Now, the bold caramelised toffee notes are back just in time to add a vanilla twist to classic vodka cocktails throughout the holidays. Thankfully, we have the hook ups — here's where you can get your lips around an exclusive cocktail with a vanilla twist. [caption id="attachment_705698" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Peaches by Kate Shanasy[/caption] WHERE CAN YOU DRINK IT? With such exclusivity surrounding Grey Goose La Vanille, bartenders around town are taking the opportunity to whip up some special creations for the occasion. At just a handful of bars around Australia — including Sydney's Maybe Sammy, Eleven Rooftop in Brisbane, Geelong's The 18th Amendment Bar and Adelaide's 2KW — you'll find some delightfully summery cocktails championing the smooth vanilla flavour. In Melbourne, get down to Peaches, the CBD cocktail bar just above barbecue restaurant Cheek, where a delicious vanilla cocktail is sure to go down a treat as you relax among the whimsical retro-pink decor. Down in Windsor, Aussie-themed cocktail bar and bottle shop Galah will be mixing up something special with homegrown flavours, too. GALAH: LIVING LEGEND This one is sure to live up to its name. The bold toffee notes of Grey Goose La Vanille meet a fruit salad of sweet and tart flavours, including lychee, passionfruit, grapefruit and lime. Not to stray too far from the Aussie tilt of a Galah, there's also native inspiration in the kakadu plum chardonnay and rivermint to round out the drink, which is shaken and strained into a coupe glass. Pair the Living Legend with modern Australiana bar food, like a leek and potato tart, crocodile skewers or fried cauliflower. [caption id="attachment_705708" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kate Shanasy[/caption] PEACHES: VANILLA WATERFOWLER The crew at CBD newcomer Peaches have kept it nice and simple with this one. In a collins glass, you'll get Grey Goose La Vanille with lemon, Italicus Rosolio Di Bergamotto Liqueur, vanilla sugar and five mint leaves. It's shaken and strained before being topped with Garage Project White Mischief Salted Peach Sour. It's sure to have you feeling refreshed on a hot summer day, and will go well with Peaches' beloved chicken sanga. Each Grey Goose bottle is distilled and bottled in France, and the high quality vodka has a 100 percent traceable production process, from crop to cork. Upgrade your weekend by choosing the premium vodka — with a vanilla twist — in your classic cocktail.
If seeing movies and TV shows you love pick up shiny trophies is your preferred form of sport, congrats — awards season is here for another year. We're never too far away from Hollywood's latest opportunity to celebrate itself, given that the Emmys were only a couple of months back. But the period between December and March tends to be the entertainment industry's version of Christmas (or until April in 2021, given that the Oscars happened later than usual). Accordingly, it's that time of year for the Golden Globes, which has just announced its latest batch of nominees. That said, if you're keen to actually watch a heap of people collect their accolades come Monday, January 10, Australian and New Zealand time, think again — the ceremony won't be televised due to multiple controversies surrounding the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the organisation behind the awards, and whether it'll stream somewhere (and if any celebrities will actually show up) hasn't yet been revealed. The list of films and series competing still spans plenty of 2021 favourites — covering both the big and small screens, because the Globes likes to have it both ways. Among the cinema fields, Jane Campion's phenomenal western The Power of the Dog leads the charge with seven nods, a feat only matched by nostalgic Kenneth Branagh-directed drama Belfast, which was inspired by the filmmaker's own childhood. And in the TV categories, Succession picked up five nominations, Ted Lasso and The Morning Show nabbed four, and a heap of shows — including Squid Game — picked up three. The Power of the Dog received Australian funding — and from New Zealand, too — so there's a local tie to this year's nominees. Campion also scored a nod for Best Director for the film, and Aussie actor Kodi Smit-McPhee earned a spot among the Best Supporting Actor nominees. Still staying local, Nicole Kidman is a Best Actress in a Drama contender in the cinema fields for playing Lucille Ball in Being the Ricardos, while Succession's Sarah Snook scored a Best Supporting Actress nomination in the TV categories. A heap of other excellent flicks and shows earned some love as well — including a Best Drama nod for Dune, a Best Comedy nomination for Paul Thomas Anderson's Licorice Pizza, acting recognition's for the latter's first-timers Alana Haim (yes, of Haim) and Cooper Hoffman (son of the Philip Seymour Hoffman), plus a trio of nominations for The Great, Hacks and Only Murders in the Building. Other highlights span the Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical nod for Annette's Marion Cotillard, Lupin's two showings, and Jennifer Coolidge's recognition for The White Lotus. Plus, after making history in 2021 for nominating three women for Best Director for the first time ever — after only ever nominating seven other female filmmakers in the Golden Globes prior 77-year run — the awards have given not only Campion but also The Lost Daughter's Maggie Gyllenhaal some love this time around. If you're wondering what else is in the running, here's the full list: GOLDEN GLOBE NOMINEES: BEST MOTION PICTURE — DRAMA Belfast CODA Dune King Richard The Power of the Dog BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE — DRAMA Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye Olivia Colman, The Lost Daughter Nicole Kidman, Being the Ricardos Lady Gaga, House of Gucci Kristen Stewart, Spencer BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE — DRAMA Mahershala Ali, Swan Song Javier Bardem, Being the Ricardos Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power of the Dog Will Smith, King Richard Denzel Washington, The Tragedy of Macbeth BEST MOTION PICTURE — MUSICAL OR COMEDY Cyrano Don't Look Up Licorice Pizza Tick, Tick … Boom! West Side Story BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE — MUSICAL OR COMEDY Marion Cotillard, Annette Alana Haim, Licorice Pizza Jennifer Lawrence, Don't Look Up Emma Stone, Cruella Rachel Zegler, West Side Story BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE — MUSICAL OR COMEDY Leonardo DiCaprio, Don't Look Up Peter Dinklage, Cyrano Andrew Garfield, Tick, Tick … Boom! Cooper Hoffman, Licorice Pizza Anthony Ramos, In the Heights BEST MOTION PICTURE — ANIMATED Encanto Flee Luca My Sunny Maad Raya and the Last Dragon BEST MOTION PICTURE — FOREIGN LANGUAGE Compartment No. 6 Drive My Car The Hand of God A Hero Parallel Mothers BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN ANY MOTION PICTURE Caitríona Balfe, Belfast Ariana DeBose, West Side Story Kirsten Dunst, The Power of the Dog Aunjanue Ellis, King Richard Ruth Negga, Passing BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN ANY MOTION PICTURE Ben Affleck, The Tender Bar Jamie Dornan, Belfast Ciarán Hinds, Belfast Troy Kotsur, CODA Kodi Smit-McPhee, The Power of the Dog BEST DIRECTOR — MOTION PICTURE Kenneth Branagh, Belfast Jane Campion, The Power of the Dog Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Lost Daughter Steven Spielberg, West Side Story Denis Villeneuve, Dune BEST SCREENPLAY — MOTION PICTURE Paul Thomas Anderson, Licorice Pizza Kenneth Branagh, Belfast Jane Campion, The Power of the Dog Adam McKay, Don't Look Up Aaron Sorkin, Being the Ricardos BEST ORIGINAL SCORE — MOTION PICTURE Dune Encanto The French Dispatch Parallel Mothers The Power of the Dog BEST ORIGINAL SONG — MOTION PICTURE 'Be Alive', King Richard 'Dos Orugitas', Encanto 'Down to Joy', Belfast 'Here I Am (Singing My Way Home)', Respect 'No Time to Die', No Time to Die BEST TELEVISION SERIES — DRAMA Lupin The Morning Show Pose Squid Game Succession BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES — DRAMA Uzo Aduba, In Treatment Jennifer Aniston, The Morning Show Christine Baranski, The Good Fight Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid's Tale MJ Rodriguez, Pose BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES — DRAMA Brian Cox, Succession Lee Jung-jae, Squid Game Billy Porter, Pose Jeremy Strong, Succession Omar Sy, Lupin BEST TELEVISION SERIES — MUSICAL OR COMEDY The Great Hacks Ted Lasso Reservation Dogs Only Murders in the Building BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES — MUSICAL OR COMEDY Hannah Einbinder, Hacks Elle Fanning, The Great Issa Rae, Insecure Tracee Ellis Ross, Black-ish Jean Smart, Hacks BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES — MUSICAL OR COMEDY Anthony Anderson, Black-ish Nicholas Hoult, The Great Steve Martin, Only Murders in the Building Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso BEST TELEVISION LIMITED SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION Dopesick Impeachment: American Crime Story Maid Mare of Easttown The Underground Railroad BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION Jessica Chastain, Scenes From a Marriage Cynthia Erivo, Genius: Aretha Elizabeth Olsen, WandaVision Margaret Qualley, Maid Kate Winslet, Mare of Easttown BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION Paul Bettany, WandaVision Oscar Isaac, Scenes From a Marriage Michael Keaton, Dopesick Ewan McGregor, Halston Tahar Rahim, The Serpent BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION Jennifer Coolidge, The White Lotus Kaitlyn Dever, Dopesick Andie MacDowell, Maid Sarah Snook, Succession Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TV Billy Crudup, The Morning Show Kieran Culkin, Succession Mark Duplass, The Morning Show Brett Goldstein, Ted Lasso Oh Yeong-su, Squid Game The 2022 Golden Globes will be announced on Monday, January 10 Australian and New Zealand time. For further details, head to the awards' website. Top image: The Crown, Des Willie/Netflix.
As was expected, Cate Blanchett has scooped up the Best Actress Oscar for her role in Woody Allen's Blue Jasmine. She used her time on stage wisely, opening with a joke (shouting at the audience "Sit down! You're too old to be standing!"), praising the abundant creative talent in Australia and telling rival nominee Julia Roberts "Julia, hashtag, suck it!" (presumably an in-joke). She also made a strong point about the validity, both creative and financial, of films with female protagonists at the core: "And perhaps those of us in the industry who are still foolishly clinging to the idea that female films, with women at the centre, are niche experiences… they are not. Audiences want to see them, and, in fact, they earn money. The world is round, people!" https://youtube.com/watch?v=ifvZnFvpTl4 Lupita Nyong'o also deserves a mention for eloquence under pressure, with parts of her very emotional acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actress still managing to sound truly poetic. Best Supporting Actor Jared Leto very sweetly thanked his mother and brother before teetering momentarily over the awkward-actor-zone when he murmured about "all the dreamers out there". Best Original Screenplay winner Spike Jonze was brief and to the point. Those of you who speak Spanish will probably appreciate Alfonso Cuarón's Best Director acceptance speech (you'll at least understand the whole thing), and the sight of Steve McQueen literally jumping for joy after his 12 Years a Slave won Best Film will no doubt become a favourite image around the globe. https://youtube.com/watch?v=yaZ1CODR-fs We do need to mention Matthew McConaughey, who, in an Oscars featuring predominantly classy, coherent acceptance speeches, gets major points deducted for his turn at the microphone after winning Best Actor. After thanking God, family and those involved in the film, he took a scary detour down a very strange, rambling avenue when he revealed that when he was 25, his hero was… himself, ten years later. That's right. The story was a little bit hard (in fact, excruciating) to follow, but from what we can gather, Matthew McConaughey's personal hero is, and has been for some time, Matthew McConaughey. Go figure. So to round-up then, the major winners at the 2014 Academy Awards were: Best original screenplay: Spike Jonze for Her Best director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity Best film: 12 Years a Slave Best supporting actor: Jared Leto for Dallas Buyers Club Best supporting actress: Lupita Nyong'o for 12 Years a Slave Best actor: Matthew McConaughey for Dallas Buyers Club Best actress: Cate Blanchett for Blue Jasmine Looks like our predictions proved to be pretty spot-on, didn't they? Oh, and take comfort, whilst JLaw didn't win an award, she did manage to fall over again, this time on the red carpet. So there's that. https://youtube.com/watch?v=4tUsX2U-dPA More from the Oscars: Meryl, Lupita and Amy can't resist dancing to Pharrell's Happy either, Ellen takes the ultimate Oscars selfie and orders pizza and the Oscars drinking game.
Grab your pencils, you big nerds! The National Gallery of Victoria, in partnership with writing school The Good Copy, is hosting a free three-day crossword festival as part of the fourth annual Melbourne Art Book Fair. Running from March 16-18, the event will feature workshops, contests and even a spelling bee (where the winner gets…a dictionary). Word geeks can participate in a live crossword solve before stepping "behind the grid" into the world of clue-writing with the The Age's own Liam "LR" Runnalls. The lexicological luminary will also be manning the clue booth, where he, along with Chris Black and Siobhan Linde from The Big Issue, will turn your name into a cryptic crossword clue. There'll even be a crossword tournament, complete with live commentary, that will culminate in a final showdown on Sunday.
Want to get your long weekend off to a cracking start? This should do the trick: a night spent dancing up a storm to DJ tunes in a huge brewery while sipping on a few boozy slushies. That's the situation that awaits you at Moon Dog World's free Good Friday Eve party, which kicks off from 5pm on Thursday, April 6. The giant Preston brewpub is serving up a big dose of long-weekend musical goodness — not only is legendary duo Confidence Man hitting the decks to headline the evening's soundtrack, but they'll be backed by local favourites MzRizk and DJ Be Kind To Other People. The tunes start from 7pm and it'll all be spinning until 1am. As always, Moon Dog's 72-tap bar will have a host of good stuff to quench your thirst and fuel your best dance moves, including cocktails, craft brews and slushies made on their signature Fizzer seltzers. What's more, if you're there between 5–7pm, you'll find Razzlers — the brewery's new range of fruity RTD cans — going for $8 a pop. Entry is free and you can RSVP online. But as always, the sprawling venue will have lots of space for walk-ins, too.
As long as current release dates hold, 2023 is a year of threes for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Viewers will see three MCU flicks. They'll also watch three new streaming series. And, among those movies is The Marvels, which teams up a trio of female superheroes. Those characters: Captain Marvel (Brie Larson, Fast X), Ms Marvel's Kamala Khan (debutant Iman Vellani) and WandaVision's Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris, Candyman). As seen in a debut sneak peek earlier this this year and now the just-dropped full trailer, they're joining forces and trading places. The film acts as a sequel to both Ms Marvel and Captain Marvel, also marks third entry in the MCU's Phase Five, and features Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton, The Handmaid's Tale) on a mission to destroy worlds. Apart from the whole universe-in-peril situation, this is clearly a dream come true for massive MCU superfan Khan, who has always been thrilled and surprised at everything happening to her. Loving the MCU, going to MCU fan conventions, obsessing over Captain Marvel, then learning that you have superpowers just like your heroes: that's enough to leave you perpetually astonished and overjoyed in tandem, an emotional state that's still in play in The Marvels. Ms Marvel was always leading up to this big-screen release, which is also the 33rd movie in the MCU, following fellow 2023 cinema releases Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. It's due in cinemas in November, and is clearly making the most of having three caped crusaders in its frames in the trailers. If you're wondering, Carol has her identity back from the Kree and she's taken revenge on the Supreme Intelligence; however, that has consequences, and the universe has become destabilised. So, The Marvels need to team up to do the usual MCU thing: save everyone and everything. Also returning: Secret Invasion's Nick Fury (Samuel L Jackson, The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey) and a whole heap of Flerkens, including Goose. As well as Larson, Parris, Vellani, Jackson and Ashton, The Marvels features Park Seo-joon (Parasite). Behind the lens, Candyman's Nia DaCosta directs, and co-wrote the screenplay with Megan McDonnell (WandaVision), Elissa Karasik (Loki) and Zeb Wells (She-Hulk: Attorney at Law). And those three MCU shows this year? Secret Invasion, the return of Loki and newcomer Echo. Check out the full trailer for The Marvels below: The Marvels releases in cinemas Down Under on November 9, 2023. Images: Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2023 MARVEL.
If Game of Thrones has taught us anything, it's that no one is ever happy. After all, this is a world where weddings end in slaughter, kings are poisoned mid-feast, queens casually mention that they wiped out your entire family, killing a zombie leader still can't save a girl from dragon fire, and finally finding love usually comes with betrayal — and the discovery of new relatives. But if every fictional Stark, Lannister and Targaryen has seemed less than chipper across the hugely popular HBO show's eight seasons, they've got nothing on a group of disgruntled fans who absolutely hate the last batch of episodes. These GoT watchers don't just dislike the five episodes of season eight so far. Rather, these folks despise them so much that they're demanding for all of them to be remade. The idea of agreeing to disagree, realising that wrapping up nearly ten years of storytelling was never going to please everyone, recognising that endings are always tricky or just accepting that a few disappointing episodes of your favourite show won't spark a white walker-filled apocalypse is clearly lost on some. The uproar spiked after GoT's latest instalment, the carnage- and dragon-heavy The Bells, which is also the series' second-last episode ever. Plenty of viewers have plenty of opinions about the show's narrative arc, its soaring body count, character development and how the expected showdown between Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) and Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) turned out, sparking a Change.org petition to "remake Game of Thrones season eight with competent writers". The petition was actually launched after the preceding episode, but took off in the past week. Thanks to darkly lit battle sequences and a quick glimpse of a modern-day takeaway coffee cup, GoT gripes have been coming in thick and fast this year. At the time of writing, more than 900,000 people have signed up — because "there is so much awful crap going on in the world, people like me need to escape into things like Star Wars and Game of Thrones," explains the petition's originator, Dylan. The main source of misdirected ire are showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, who were tasked with conjuring up the show's storylines when it overtook George RR Martin's books. And if you're wondering about the Star Wars reference, that's the pair's next gig, overseeing a new trilogy that'll launch after this year's Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker. There's even a second petition now, directed towards Disney, asking for Benioff and Weiss to be pre-emptively removed from the space opera franchise. Online tantrums and outlandish fan service demands like this aren't new, as the backlash to the female-led Ghostbusters and to most women characters in big-name series have shown. Unsurprisingly, both Game of Thrones and Star Wars have specifically been plagued by the latter kind of ridiculous complaints. DC Comics fans also tried to shut down Rotten Tomatoes when they didn't like Suicide Squad reviews, too — before said fans had even seen the film themselves. There are countless more examples, but just because these entitlement-fuelled hissy fits are popping up regularly, doesn't mean they should be considered normal behaviour. Unless Game of Thrones ends with a dragon on the throne, it's never going to make everyone happy. Okay, that idea won't thrill a lot of people either. But not only whining loudly and incessantly because a movie or TV show doesn't meet your specific personal hopes, dreams and expectations, but insisting that it be remade to suit you, is as silly as GoT wrapping up with a resurrected Ned Stark (Sean Bean) as king or everyone learning that they're just a figment of the Three-Eyed Raven's imagination. Game of Thrones' final episode arrives on Monday, May 20, Australian and New Zealand time. Images: Helen Sloan/HBO.
Australian artist and filmmaker, Amiel Courtin-Wilson returns home to share his experiences in the United States with his latest solo exhibition, The American Experiment. Over the last 17 years Courtin-Wilson has worked in filmmaking in the USA, and the exhibition is set to feature a range of his works in a variety of mediums, including moving image installation, audio recordings and “diagrammatic endeavours to find new graphic representations of cinematic structure”. Gertrude Contemporary has recently been exploring interdisciplinary exhibitions, and Courtin-Wilson’s work fits the bill perfectly. The American Experiment specifically explores the intersection of contemporary art and documentary film. Emma Crimmings, director of Gertrude Contemporary, describes Courtin-Wilson’s work as “not strictly documentary in nature or form, but rather carefully contrived portraits of trauma and survival. "Straddling a space somewhere between the real and unimaginable, his work is characterised by its combination of highly authored realist narratives with imagery that is raw, fragile, violent, impressionistic — and often times staggeringly beautiful.” Well if that’s not a tick of approval, we’re not sure what is. Catch this acclaimed, multi-award winning filmmaker’s work while you can.
Wave your crab claws in the air, because the CBD's newest pop-up is dedicated to two of life's finer things: seafood and Champagne. After a successful run at HWKR Melbourne back in 2017, Pinchy's has a returned to the city with brand new menu. Located on Emporium's level three food court, Pinchy's will serve up prawn, Alaskan king crab and Maine lobster rolls along with killer sides like truffle fries and creamy crab croquettes. Head chef Thibault Boggio, previously of Vue De Monde, has big plans to expand the menu, too, with dishes like smoked ocean trout and octopus on the horizon. There's also a big focus on sustainability, with the team sourcing from environmentally conscious suppliers in the US. And, because a lunch break lobster roll wouldn't be complete without a glass of something bubbly, the pop-up will also offer a selection of signature pours courtesy of Veuve Clicquot. The pop-up is open from 10am–7pm Saturday to Wednesday, and until 9pm on Thursday and Friday.
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.
Sweet Christmas alert: when festive season gets into full swing for 2023, Wonka will bring its treats to the big screen. Here, Roald Dahl's chocolatier gets an origin story from writer/director Paul King and his co-scribe Simon Farnaby, who were also behind the wonderful Paddington films — with Timothée Chalamet making the goods and Hugh Grant getting bantering as an Ooompa-Loompa. He's had his heart broken during a lusty Italian summer, romanced Saoirse Ronan in a Greta Gerwig film not once but twice, spiced up his life in a sci-fi saga and sported a taste for human flesh. Now Chalamet is singing and dancing into a world of sugar. For everyone keen to see a new take on a childhood favourite starring one of the internet's boyfriends, Wonka will hit cinemas Down Under on Thursday, December 14 — and both the initial trailer and the just-dropped latest sneak peek are big on whimsy and pure imagination. First gracing the page almost six decades back, in 1964 when Charlie and the Chocolate Factory initially hit print, Willy Wonka has made the leap to cinemas with Gene Wilder playing the part in 1971, then Johnny Depp in 2005. The difference this time: not just Chalamet making sweet treats, but a film that swirls in the details of Wonka's life before the events that've already been laid out in books and filled two movies. The picture's main man has a dream — and, after spending the past seven years travelling the world perfect his craft, he's willing to get inventive to make it come true. Starting a chocolate business isn't easy, especially when the chocolate cartel doesn't take kindly to newcomers, selling choccies at an affordable price and sharing their wares with the masses. From there, brainwaves, optimism, determination, wild and wonderful Wonka inventions, and life-changing choices all spring, plus big vats of chocolate, chocolate that makes you fly — and Willy's dedication to making "the greatest chocolate shop the world has ever seen". Also accounted for: a mood of wonder, and not just due to the umbrella-twirling dream sequences and cane-whirling dance scenes in the first trailer, or the leaps through fairy floss and chats with Grant's (Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves) Lofty. Indeed, the magical tone doesn't just fit the tale; it's exactly what King and Farnaby spun when they were celebrating a marmalade-loving bear. King helmed and penned both Paddington movies, while Farnaby also did the latter on the second (and acted in each). The duo worked together on wonderful and underseen 2009 film Bunny and the Bull as well, and on The Mighty Boosh, of which King directed 20 episodes. On-screen, Wonka's cast is as jam-packed as a lolly bag, with Chalamet and Grant joined by Farnaby (The Phantom of the Open), as well as Olivia Colman (Heartstopper), Sally Hawkins (The Lost King), Keegan-Michael Key (The Super Mario Bros Movie), Rowan Atkinson (Man vs Bee), Jim Carter (Downton Abbey: A New Era) and Natasha Rothwell (Sonic the Hedgehog 2). Yes, you'll want a golden ticket to this. Check out the latest trailer for Wonka below: Wonka releases in cinemas Down Under on December 14, 2023.
Having cemented its status as a firm favourite in the Mornington Peninsula beer scene, one young brewery now has its sights set on the big smoke. Dromana's locally made and locally loved Jetty Road has announced plans to open a huge brewery and gastropub in the heart of South Melbourne. The team has lodged an application to transform a sizeable chunk of real estate on Market Street into a multi-storey beer oasis, complete with a fully operational microbrewery, a 250-seat modern Australian restaurant and a mezzanine dining space. The new venue is set to bring Jetty Road's trademark laid-back coastal vibes to the city, reimagined with an urban edge. More concrete plans will be revealed once the project's officially been given the green light, though we do know Head Brewer Blake Bowden is keen to start working on some new experimental beers and launch a barrel-aging program. [caption id="attachment_736959" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jetty Road Brewery, Dromana[/caption] The team is still waiting on planning approval for the new South Melbourne site — which should come through, hopefully, next month — but hopes to open the doors by late 2020. Jetty Road's Mornington Peninsula brewery launched in late 2018, making its home within the now buzzing Dromana Industrial Estate, and is known for its signature easy-drinking brews including a pale ale, an IPA and the mid-strength Steady Street. Jetty Road Brewery is slated to open at 139–145 Market Street, South Melbourne in late 2020, pending approval of its development application. In the meantime, you can find Jetty Road Brewery at 12–14 Brasser Avenue, Dromana. Image: Jetty Road Brewery, Dromana
George RR Martin is joining forces with art collective Meow Wolf to produce the most insanely magic art complex imaginable. Attempting to raise $100,000 on Kickstarter, the installation artists and the Game of Thrones mastermind want to build one epic art space: The Meow Wolf Art Complex in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Built within the site of an old bowling alley Martin bought specifically for the project, the complex will house 19 affordable artist studios, two rotating gallery spaces, and The David Loughridge Learning Center with arts education programming by local non-profit ARTsmart. But the real jaw-dropper here is Meow Wolf's plan for unprecedented 20,000 sq. ft. complex to be constructed by over 75 artists — dubbed The House of Eternal Return. Celebrated for their large-scale, immersive installation experiences, the Sante Fe-based collective Meow Wolf have just the ideas Martin was looking for when he bought the bowling alley. Following Meow Wolf's wildly successful interdimensional ship installation The Due Return in 2011, the team will likely be using most of the Kickstarter funds toward Meow Wolf's first permanent exhibition, The House of Eternal Return. Visitors will be able to crawl, climb and be immersed within the 'rooms' of the house, from trailer parks to crazy tree houses to spaceship-like condos. "The House of Eternal Return will be a radical new form of storytelling, where audiences are immersed within a multimedia art experience that unfolds through an interactive and magical narrative," says the team on their Kickstarter page. Here's their artist renditions of what's planned for the House: 'Crazy Tree Houses' 'Cactus Trailer Dream' 'Portals Bermuda' Martin and Meow Wolf have so far raised $45,654 of their $100,000 goal with 13 days to go. Martin intends to fully renovate the space ahead of Meow Wolf's 10-year lease on the property. Whattaguy. Check out the Kickstarter campaign here.
Everyone loves Jamie's Italian. Or at least that's what we discovered when, back in November 2016, we reported that the Jamie Oliver had officially bought back his Australian restaurant chain after its parent company, the Keystone Group, went into receivership. People were excited — and the man himself even came to town to relaunch the venues. But now, a year on, things have taken a bit of a turn. The Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group will cease to manage its Australian restaurants, effective immediately. Last night, The Australian Financial Review reported that the group had gone into administration, and this morning it released an official statement announcing "a new operating partner for its Australian business". This partner is the Brisbane-based Hallmark Group, and it will take over the management of Australia's Jamie's Italian restaurants. What does that mean for your dinner plans? Well, the Sydney, Brisbane, Parramatta, Perth and Adelaide venues will continue to operate as usual, but, sadly, the Canberra outpost has already closed. "We'll be working closely with Jamie and the UK team, staff and local suppliers to keep driving the business forward and delivering exceptional experiences across the country," said a Hallmark representative. "Hallmark are actively seeking new suitable locations for the next Jamie's Italian." The news isn't that surprising considering the group has been in a spot of trouble in the UK — The Sun has reported that Oliver's group is in £71.5 million of debt, and will soon close 12 of his 27 restaurants. It'll be interesting to see if this changes much for Jamie's Italian. Will it bring back its $10 pasta deals? Will it finally expand to Melbourne? We'll keep you posted.
Festival season is well and truly upon us, with the Woodford Folk Festival the latest event to announce its program. If you fancy seeing out 2019 and welcoming in 2020 while catching a heap of bands, wandering between arts performances and getting a little muddy across a grassy patch of southeast Queensland, the fest has you covered for its whopping 34th year. Taking place at Woodfordia about 90 minutes north of Brisbane, this year's event will be held for six days between Friday, December 27, 2019 and Wednesday, January 1, 2020 — with Amanda Palmer, Lior, Horrorshow, The Herd, Kate Miller-Heidke, Electric Fields, Emma Louise, Archie Roach with Paul Grabrowsky, and Kasey Chambers among its high-profile talent. In total, over 2,000 artists will put on more than 1600 shows across the festival's 25 stages, all in venues that range from a 25,000-seat amphitheatre to chilled-out hangout spots. With the lineup featuring everything from music, art, circus and cabaret to yoga, dance and comedy, there's plenty of other highlights — including a spoken word, comedy and performance program that tasks American Gods and Stardust author Neil Gaiman with reading from his work as the sun sets on the first day of the new year. Elsewhere, Woodford's 2019–20 bill spans arts, dance and meditation workshops, plus a heap of circus and cabaret shows. And, if you're bringing littlies, the event's Children's Festival within the broader fest is also returning. Or, you can explore Woodfordia's rainforest plants on a guided tour, eat a feast of bush foods, play a real-life fantasy game and soak in the flames at the fest's annual closing fire ceremony. Fancy celebrating New Year's Eve with an Elton John sing-along? Woodford won't go breaking your heart, because that's on the agenda also. While the annual Queensland festival has weathered an uncertain future in recent years, it remains a staple of the state's end-of-year calendar — and visit will also boast a whole heap of stalls around the grounds (195 in 2018–19), turning the site into a mini-village for its duration. That includes everything from bars, cafes and restaurants, to an on-site doctor's surgery and two general stores. As always, camping is available at one of the fest's multiple campgrounds, or you can nab a ticket just for the day. Either way, expect to have company, as around 132,000 people attend each year. The 2019–20 Woodford Folk Festival runs from Friday, December 27, 2018 and Wednesday, January 1, 2019 at Woodfordia on the Sunshine Coast. To view the program and buy tickets, head to woodfordfolkfestival.com Images: Woodford Folk Festival via Flickr.
Fancy wrapping up this year's NAIDOC Week celebrations on the dance floor, moving to sounds from an all-Indigenous lineup of artists and performers? Electronic music collective Tongberang'i Ngarrga Inc. is dishing up that exact scenario, when it takes over Abbots Yard on Saturday, July 9, for its next NAIDOC Week Dance Party. Across nine hours, the openair precinct will come alive for a bumper showcase of techno, visual art, dance, comedy and storytelling, all from First Nations talent. [caption id="attachment_860142" align="alignnone" width="1920"] DJ Dameeeela[/caption] On the 14-strong bill, you'll catch DJ and Boiler Room regular Dameeeela, along with minimal house star Yarra, comedian and Deadly Funny finalist Ben Moodie, music festival favourite Harley James, the Dhungala Dancers, techno legend DJ Kiti and Kulin storyteller Uncle Larry Walsh. Plus, see visual artist Fred Leone creating live graffiti works. You'll dance, laugh and be inspired as this curation of First Nations creatives pays homage to this year's NAIDOC theme, 'Get up! Stand up! Show up!'. The event is designed to be family-friendly, pet-friendly and inclusive, so bring the whole gang along. [caption id="attachment_860143" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Uncle Larry Walsh[/caption] Top Image: Abbots Yard
One (wo)man shows are a tricky beast — their success, regardless of the quality of the material, lives and dies on the shoulders of just one actor. Failing an absolute powerhouse performance, even the most fascinating of character studies can descend into one dimensionality. Local group If Theatre's new show, Boxman, starring young African-born actor Terry Yeboah, presents a captivating story that is only bettered by the nuances of the solo performance. Written by Daniel Keene and directed by Matt Scholten, Boxman tells the story of a former child soldier and refugee whose life again hits rock bottom when he finds himself displaced, homeless and creating shelter from the discarded waste of strangers. Somehow this production manages to find hope and joy in the most desolate of situations, thanks to a character who refuses to let life crush his fighting spirit. While it doesn't hurt that Boxman was created specifically for Yeboah by Keene, the actor does more than perform the part: he disappears into the role until he becomes the former child soldier. With a cruelly brief two-day theatrical run, don't think twice. Image via gasworks.org.au
Despite also serving up everything from all-day vegan breakfast to ice cream sandwiches, we still think that fries are the best thing about Lord of the Fries. It's right there in the name, after all. The chain's chips are particularly tasty — as made with Australian potatoes and cooked in a cottonseed sunflower oil blend. There is one thing better than Lord of the Fries' titular dish, however. That'd be free shoestring fries from the chip-loving establishment. And on Wednesday, July 13, the vegan fast food joint is giving away just that. Free. Fries. Yes, really. To snag free fries on Wednesday, you'll need to head to your chosen store in between 4–5pm and you'll be gifted a serving of shoestring deliciousness. You don't even have to purchase any vego nuggets to redeem them. There is a limit of one freebie per person, though, so take that into consideration if you're feeling particularly peckish. You'll get your choice of classic sauces, too. This is clearly great news for anyone who like fries, aka everyone — and Melburnians can choose between ten different stores. And if you're wondering why, that's because it's National Fry Day. Of course it is. There are a few caveats, as is always the case with this kind of giveaway. So, the freebies span one Lord of the Fries stickered cup of shoestring fries and one classic sauce, with the latter popped directly on top of the former. Again, you can only get one per person, and only in-store. And, it's only for shoestring fries — not the classic, chunky or sweet potato versions.
Good Beer Week is back for its ninth year, taking over Melbourne and regional Victoria with a huge number of beer-related events running from Friday, May 10 through Sunday, May 19. And, this year, the annual craft brewing celebration is expanding to focus on live music, art and culture, too. It'll all starts with a free party at the Beer Deluxe Federation Square festival hub, where Melbourne's own high energy act Sugar Fed Leopards will help kick the festival off in its new direction. The following day, on Saturday, May 11, Moon Dog Brewery will host its own mini festival of music, art and beer at its new Preston brewhouse. Dubbed A Day on the Cans, the lineup includes British India, Ali Barter and Tumbleweed Watch, along with DJs, live street art and tattooing. A comedy festival will take over North Melbourne warehouse space The Third Day in a night of stand-up, brews and fine-dining — the latter two are thanks to famed Aussie chefs Matt Stone and Jo Barrett of Yarra Valley's Oakridge and Queensland's Balter Brewing, who just topped the GABS Hottest 100 List. Some more out-there entertainment includes East vs West, a collab between Reservoir's Hawkers Brewery and Western Australia's Cheeky Monkey. The night is part-zombie apocalypse immersive reality experience and part-brew-off, with plenty of beer-related prizes to be won. Plus, beer masterclasses will run out of the festival hub all week, this year aimed at both home-brewers and industry folk. And Boatrocker is hosting a full 'university program' at Whisky and Alement — punters can explore the world of wild ales and sour beers, learn how to pair beer with food and discuss the ins-and-outs of cellaring. Check out the full program here. As with previous years, many of the events are free, but ticketed events are selling out fast. Best get to scheduling out your week now.
When Frozen the Musical opened in Sydney in December 2020, it was a very big deal. Sydney was not only the first stop on the stage production's international tour, but it was one of the only places in the world where people could see a Broadway show — and it still is today. So, if you've got your hands on one of those hot tickets, you should make the most of it. Luckily, a bunch of local venues have jumped on the bandwagon to celebrate this cultural phenomenon coming to town. If you've found yourself swept up in the magical story of Princesses Anna and Elsa — and you just can't get 'Let It Go' out of your head — make it last with these Frozen-themed treats. TREAT YOURSELF TO A WHIMSICAL BRUNCH Darling Square's Auvers Cafe has pulled out all the stops with its themed menu to celebrate Frozen the Musical. The menu is available throughout the production's Sydney run, giving you the perfect excuse to indulge in a decadent brunch before or after you see the show. For drinks, there's the Ice Palace Mocktail, the Warm Hug white hot chocolate and the Snow Queen cocktail. Sweet tooths can pair their drink with The Coronation Croissant (stuffed with creamy spirulina and blue caracao sugar flakes) or the North Mountain Pancake Stack (vibrant blue spirulina pancakes topped with lychee marscapone, vanilla ice cream and berries). After something savoury? Opt for the Arendelle Fjord (blue-eye cod with risotto, tempura oyster, spirulina fish broth and edamame) instead. [caption id="attachment_803745" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jasper Avenue[/caption] GET A BRAIN FREEZE FROM THIS ICY BLUE DESSERT All Frozen fans know ice plays a crucial role in the story, so it should be a big part of your experience seeing the musical, too. Darling Square's Dopa Don and Milk Bar has just the thing. The Frozen Storm is Dopa's spin on kakigōri, a Japanese-style shaved ice dessert. Kakigōri is traditionally sweetened with condensed milk, but this limited-edition version incorporates blue pea flower, blue spirulina syrup and coconut and banana cream. And as you dig into the delightful domed dessert you'll come across purple potato, sago, coconut jelly and another surprise ingredient. ORDER THIS OTT CAKE MADE BY DESSERT ROYALTY When Elsa accidentally sets off an eternal winter in the Kingdom of Arendelle, it's, well, pretty bad. But Masterchef Australia alum Reynold Poernomo has once again proven his dessert king title with this Eternal Winter cake. Available through his popular dessert bar KOI, Eternal Winter features raspberry, vanilla, mint, chocolate brownie and strawberry marshmallow. Given how intricately decorated it is, this cake is only available for click-and-collect, which you can do here. KOI has also just announced a special Frozen-inspired Snowflake Egg, with white chocolate, vanilla and citrus, which will be available for click-and-collect from its Chippendale and Ryde stores between March 18 and April 1. SIP THIS COOL BLUE COSMO Whether you're a Sydney local or you've travelled from afar to see the award-winning show, one way to break the enchanting spell after the show is heading straight home. Instead, book a night at Novotel Sydney Darling Square, which is just around the corner from the Capitol Theatre, and take advantage of its proximity to some of Sydney's best restaurants and bars. One such spot, which is conveniently connected to the hotel, is Pumphouse. The heritage-listed bar is serving this brilliantly blue Frozen Cosmo, garnished with blueberries and mint, for $20 while the show is running. Keen to pair your cocktail with a feed? Pumphouse also runs a pre- and post-theatre dining special. All you have to do is flash your theatre ticket to score a main meal and drink for $25 per person. For the latest info on NSW border restrictions, head here. If travelling from Queensland or Victoria, check out Queensland Health and DHHS websites, respectively. Top image: 'Frozen the Musical', Lisa Tomasetti
Fancy an art experience that extends beyond looking at works on a wall? Then prepare to be impressed by Melbourne's new 3000-square-metre, 11-metre-high immersive digital art gallery. Originally set to open in late 2020, then postponed till autumn 2021, and now finally set to launch when the first day of spring hits — so, Wednesday, September 1 — The Lume will make its home permanently at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC). The big drawcard: projections of some of the world's most celebrated artworks, which will be splashed across various surfaces. Those luminous displays will be backed by powerful musical soundtracks, too, and even complemented by aromas. The inaugural exhibition at The Lume will celebrate the works and life of Vincent van Gogh. So, you'll be able to walk through artworks like The Starry Night and Sunflowers while listening to a classical music score. If you were lucky enough to make it up to Sydney last year for Van Gogh Alive, expect something very similar. The project is the brainchild of Melbourne-based Grande Experiences, which, for the past 15 years, has hosted immersive exhibitions and gallery experiences in over 130 cities across the world — and is taking Van Gogh Alive around Australia this year, too. The company also owns and operates Rome's Museo Leonardo da Vinci. The Lume will open at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Wednesday, September 1. General public tickets go on sale at 12pm on Thursday, June 3 — with wait list pre-sales from Monday, May 31.
Since Iron Man first soared into movie theatres in 2008, proved a huge hit and started a massive franchise, fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe have been getting their caped crusader fix on the big screen. But, while this immensely popular superhero realm mentions its preferred medium right there in its name, the MCU has also made the leap to television — including via Disney+'s WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier so far this year. Marvel and Disney+ aren't stopping there, either. A heap of new shows are in the works at the streaming platform, including Ms. Marvel, Hawkeye, She-Hulk, Moon Knight, Secret Invasion (about Samuel L Jackson's Nick Fury), Iron Heart, Armour Wars, I Am Groot, a Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special and a series set in Wakanda. Next up, though, is Loki — and, after releasing a sneak peek last year, the Mouse House has dropped a full trailer for the soon-to-premiere show. Obviously, if you've seen a Thor or Avengers movie, then you know who Loki is about. Creative series names aren't part of the package here. So, Tom Hiddleston (Kong: Skull Island) is back as the God of Mischief — and he's enjoying stepping into the trickster's shoes again, if the glimpses so far are anything to go by. Viewers will watch Loki's antics post-Avengers: Endgame, with Owen Wilson (Wonder), Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Summerland), Sophia Di Martino (Yesterday), Wunmi Mosaku (Lovecraft Country) and Richard E Grant (Can You Ever Forgive Me?) rounding out the main cast. When the series starts airing from Friday, June 11, Loki finds himself in a bit of trouble thanks to his previous actions with the Tesseract. The TVA — that'd be the Time Variance Authority — is on his case, which is where Wilson's Mobius M Mobius comes in. Obviously, more time-travelling trickery is in Loki's future from there. We're guessing that Wilson will say "wow" once or twice, too. Check out the full trailer for Loki below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUwwdj6AlBA Loki will be available to stream via Disney+ from Friday, June 11. Top image: ©Marvel Studios 2020. All Rights Reserved.
Prepare yourself for a serious dose of girl power: Janelle Monáe and Kimbra have announced they're joining forces for an Australasian tour, on sale this Thursday. The two pop heavyweights, who bonded at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland last July, are coming to Australia for The Golden Electric Tour at the end of May. Scheduled for four shows throughout Australia, the dynamic duo is also making a stop in Kimbra's native New Zealand before closing out the tour in Melbourne. The award-winning pop powerhouses will co-headline the tour, combining forces for a portion of the show while also playing individual sets. Kimbra and Monáe first made sweet music together at an impromptu bar gig when they met last year. Their taste for eccentric pop music coupled with fierce vocals proved a heavenly match, thus the idea for a joint tour was born. To (successfully) hype us all up for the endeavour, the pair released an unfathomably adorable video singing a mash-up of Aretha Franklin's 'Rock Steady' and Michael Jackson's 'Wanna Be Startin' Something', both of which are sure to be on the set list. https://youtube.com/watch?v=SyqltX5lRhQ Monáe will feature tracks from her 2013 release The Electric Lady, as well as her celebrated 2010 debut album The ArchAndroid. Kimbra is expected to release the follow-up to her 2011 album Vows later this year, so fans should expect some new gems amongst the singalongs. Tour Dates: Friday, May 16 - Challenge Stadium, Perth Monday, May 19 - Hordern Pavilion, Sydney Wednesday, May 21 - Brisbane Convention Centre, Brisbane Saturday, May 24 - Vector Arena, Auckland Monday, May 26 - The Plenary, Melbourne Tickets go on sale 10am on Thursday, April 17 via Live Nation. Pre-sale is available for My Live Nation members at 10am on Monday, April 14.
Fairfield can sometimes feel like a sleepy little town, but it is certainly not starved for good coffee. Fifteen Pounds on Railway Place right next to Fairfield station, is serving up good food and great coffee, as well as providing tired workers on their morning commute with their caffeine fix. White tiles, wooden seating and a charming little courtyard — complete with lemon tree — make you feel at home at once. The crowds that are often circulating waiting for a table, however, may not. They are serious about their coffee here — as all good Melbourne cafes should be. Campos coffee is served up for your regular order, and single origin and pour over round off the coffee offering. The menu dishes up some great Melbourne brunch favourites. The Fifteen Pounds Breakfast Board ($15) is one for those unable to decide on just one breakfast. Some house-made fruit and nut granola sits next to seasonal fruit salad and multi-grain toast with avocado and feta smash. It really is all the good bits. For something a little heartier try The Greek, a mix of house-cut potatoes, scrambled eggs and house-brined feta on organic toast ($14.50). The lunch menu sticks to salads, rolls and a handful of larger items. The calamari with chilli caramel and Asian herb salad ($18) offers a lighter option, while the Wagyu beef burger with gruyere cheese, caramelised onion, lettuce, tomato and relish with hand cut chips ($19.50) is hard to go by. The cabinet holds the keys to the sweets like macarons, mini cupcakes and rotating muffins, which are moist and topped with the likes of blueberries and passionfruit syrup. At Fifteen Pounds, dessert is always a good idea. Fairfield may be a slow-moving suburb, but, just like the rest of Melbourne, it survives on seriously good brunch.
"We found love in a hopeless place," sings Rihanna, the sound of exuberance in her voice. With her declaration of romance gracing the soundtrack several times, American Honey has its unofficial anthem. The song in question couldn't be more fitting in the latest exploration of individuality and independence from Fish Tank and Wuthering Heights director Andrea Arnold. The film treks through desperate, desolate towns, but doesn't dwell in any one spot, or indulge in hopelessness for long. Instead, it combines the heady excitement that accompanies the first flourishes of something new, with the less-than-glamorous reality that inevitably seeps to the surface. Indeed, love isn't the only thing the film's road-tripping teen protagonists find, as they go door to door selling magazines across middle America. Cramped in close confines in cars and cheap hotel rooms, they witness wealth and poverty, meet kind and predatory strangers, and confront memories and emotions they don't have the words to express, but can convey only through their eclectic taste in music. That, plus a crew member who whips out his manhood whenever he can, and Shia LaBeouf sporting one hell of a rat tail. It's LaBeouf's Jake, a middle manager, who inspires 18-year-old Oklahoma resident Star (Sasha Lane) to flee from her sleazy dad and into a vehicle with the ragtag gang. She seeks nothing more than a pay cheque and a different scene, even if the former isn't easily earned, and the latter isn't quite the escape she thought it would be. The quick-thinking, smooth-talking salesman tricks that have served the charismatic Jake so well don't come naturally to Star, though amorous feelings for her new pal quickly do. Staying on the good side of the group's scantily clad, profit-obsessed leader, Krystal (Riley Keough), is a taxing job in itself. Landscapes fly by, spied out the van's windows, yet the more things change, the more they seem the same. Star can't help but have the celestial bodies she's named for in her eyes as fresh experiences, people, places and parts of life open up to her. A first-timer spotted on spring break by writer-director Arnold, Lane is as unguarded and realistic as you could want in such a film, and gives the impression of living rather than acting. Likewise, LaBeouf appears to coast rather than perform, in what may be the perfect vehicle for his careening off-screen ways. In support, Keough electrifies with little more than a steely glare and a no-nonsense demeanour. The entire cast, both leading and background, feel totally authentic — and while that's a term that gets bandied about a lot by film critics, the truth is American Honey oozes it from every frame. It's a product of Arnold truly going the extra mile, taking the cast on the road just as seen in the movie, and adopting stylistic choices designed to immerse viewers in the story. Boxing the film into a 4:3 aspect ratio demands the audience's focused attention, as does the dream-like sheen that tints her minutiae-filled images. Accordingly, there's potent, probing poetry in every shot, just as there is in every element of Star's ebbing, flowing life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJbJsAdDilk
Instagram looked rather fetching last week. Hoards of hovering fashion bloggers, well-dressed punters breaking out their most social media-baiting outfits and a somewhat random Gerard Butler all descended on Sydney's Carriageworks last week for Australia's premier fashion event. Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia is a tossed salad of the fashion industry's heavyweights, Next Big Things and hopeful scenesters eager to catch a glimpse of the coming season's boldest and brightest looks. Fresh from a long, house music-fuelled week of drooling over impossibly high heels and disarmingly playful outfits we could never comfortably wear into the office, Concrete Playground takes a look at next year's biggest trends. Looks like next year we'll be wearing wetsuits, donning enough sparkles to blind passers-by and asking our mums for style advice. Image: Toni Maticevski, Dion Lee, Ginger & Smart Luxe sports We all know Australia is a sporting nation, but who could have predicted that a fair whack of the MBFWA designers would premiere collections referencing sportswear as a key inspiration? Prominent zips, pockets, mesh panels, racer backs, fabrics that looked totally capable of wicking moisture — sporty detailing was everywhere this year. Dion Lee went varsity track-and-field, Ginger & Smart inserted a hint of streetwise mesh into otherwise romantic pieces, and several newcomers came out looking ready to race. The style reached its zenith, however, with Toni Maticevski, who sent athletics-inflected eveningwear down the runway (and it was stunning and formidable and would be perfectly rocked by Claire Underwood on House of Cards). Style inspiration: Sochi Olympics Image: Gabriel Lee (Raffles showcase), Ciara Nolan (The Innovators), Toni Maticevski Neoprene dreams Although a pedant might say neoprene is just one subset of the sports trend, the textile (you might know it as wetsuit material) was so prevalent at MBFWA that it deserves a mention in its own right. As well as anchoring the athletic collections of Maticevski et al, it made appearances contrasting against floatier, finer fabrics in the girlier wares of Cameo, Alice McCall and Gabriel Lee (part of the Raffles International Showcase), while Ciara Nolan achieved ultimate neoprene-age with her dinosaur-inspired (yes, dinosaur inspired) pieces. Best of all, neoprene should prove surprisingly wearable, particularly in skirts, where it not only makes sculptural curlicues from your waist to your knees but has a hold-everything-in effect. Stay away from any neoprene jumpsuits though; that could well just be a wetsuit. Style inspiration: Surfers. Duh. Image: Yousef Akbar, Alice McCall, Bei Na Wei SO SHINY This season designers are infusing a little celebration in each of their pieces. Accompanying the straight-up party that is Romance Was Born's hootenanny of an exhibition, Reflected Glory, designers like Aurelio Costarella, Alex Perry and Zhivago are making a dance floor out of mere clothing. Basically, the more sequins you can pack into a pair of pants the better. Metallic, rigid tunics and playsuits shone down more than one runway, making appearances everywhere from Alice McCall to Bei Na Wei, while glass beadwork, monochrome sequins and shimmering tassels made an absolute shindig of the Yousef Akbar runway. Day to night has never been easier. Style inspiration: Vince Noir’s mirrorball suit Image: Dyspnea, Alice McCall, Haryono Setiadi OVERLAYS We could see right through this one — overlays are getting serious exposure. Romantic as ever, intricate lace is all loved up by designers like Aje, Alice McCall and Alex Perry, prettying up full-length onesies, sheer business shirts and playful cocktail dresses. Appropriately breezy for her cruise-inspired birthday collection, Alice McCall paired long hemlines with high-waisted ‘50s style undergarments, while Ae'lkemi took sheer to the next level with gowns, shirts and skirts almost whispered on. The best thing about the evolution of sheer into overlays? Odds are you can actually wear it in the street. Style inspiration: Freedom Image: Hayley Elsaesser, Alice McCall, Emma Mulholland LOUD PRINTS Oh, you're thinking of wearing that ditsy floral dress? No. Life is short and this year's designers want you to spend yours not as a wallflower but as a rare, crossbred and likely poisonous orchid. Therefore, those who are working with colour (and not strictly monochrome and structural, which is, of course, also a thing right now) are working in vivid technicolour smashed together in brash prints. We're particularly taken with Emma Mulholland's and Hayley Elsaesser's sweet spins on childhood nostalgia and Alice McCall's mystical and alluring digital pyramid print. Fortunately, mixing prints is the pinnacle of this trend, so: let's wear both. Style inspiration: Ken Done Image: Dyspnea, Aelkemi, RACHELALEX THAT '70s SHOW Hemlines are longer, prints are bolder, sleeves are bigger — the '70s are the season's chosen decade for a runway revamp. Bell bottomed pants, asymmetrical tunics and winged sleeves made appearances in the Ellery, Bianca Spender and Ae’lkemi shows, while the impossibly bright, geometric prints of Desert Designs and tie-dyed designs from Rukshani channel an early '70s post-Woodstock vibe. Zhivago brought out yellow long-sleeved gowns with plunging necklines and Jayson Brunsdon featured super feathered, luminescent collars and one-shouldered numbers, also seen in Haryono Setia's candy corn-coloured tunics. Style inspiration: Studio 54 Image: Hayley Dawson, Yousef Akbar, Dion Lee MIXED MATERIALS Sometimes you need to pair something with its opposite to truly bring out its best qualities. Alex Perry fused rough snakeskin with bejewelled silk, Dion Lee is bringing leather to denim like only the Ramones could and newcomer Hayley Dawson introduced feminine, sheer cotton to hardy industrial uniforms. Yousef Akbar's Francis Bacon-inspired collection ended with floor-length gowns of half neoprene half silver sequins, while Bei Na Wei blended industrial strength synthetic mesh textiles with shiny leather to find a futuristic femininity. Style inspiration: Neenish tarts Image: Cameo, Emma Mulholland, Ellery MORE OF WHAT YOU'VE ALREADY GOT Not everything is a flash in the fashion pan; some trends are showing staying power that's a good two seasons long. Crop tops, bustiers and sheer garments are still around in a big way (layer the two together and you have something approaching modesty), while matchy-matchy monochrome remains a strong look, particularly in statement white. Style inspiration: MBFWA 2013 Top image: Emma Mulholland. Words by Shannon Connellan and Rima Sabina Aouf.
Dust of your black-hued and gothic-looking outfits: what else do you wear to Wednesday Island, a fan festival dedicated to the creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky Netflix series, that'll have Jenna Ortega (Death of a Unicorn), Emma Myers (A Minecraft Movie) and Tim Burton (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice) in attendance? On Saturday, August 16, 2025, one Australian spot — Cockatoo Island / Wareamah in Sydney Harbour — will embrace the macabre with the Wednesday crew themselves. Netflix has been teasing Wednesday Island for a few weeks now, including officially announcing the event when the platform dropped the full trailer for Wednesday's second season, then opening entries for VIP attendance to feel like you're at Nevermore Academy. Now, the streamer has confirmed that Ortega, Myers and Burton will be there, and also Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, who created the show in the spotlight (and wrote the screenplay to 2024's Burton-helmed, Ortega-starring Beetlejuice Beetlejuice). All five key Wednesday folks will make appearances at Wednesday Island as part of their global Doom tour to promote the series. Peach PRC and ŪLA are also on the lineup at Cockatoo Island's temporary makeover, providing the tunes. Netflix is calling the pop-up takeover a "Nevermore playground" and promising a "most grave surprise", too — and there'll be a walk-in doll's house and a cocktail spot as well. If you've always had a fondness for anything Addams Family-related, this probably sounds like a dream. Whether you first discovered pop culture's eeriest family via the 90s films, through old episodes of the 60s TV show, in various animated guises over the years — including on the big screen — or thanks to Wednesday, that fantasy can now become an IRL reality if you score admission to Wednesday Island. Applications for VIP double passes have closed, but you'll be able to enter for regular passes between Wednesday, July 23–Sunday, August 3 via the pop-up's website. To do so, you'll need to provide your details, and give an original and creative answer to this question: "in 25 words or less, confess your most delightfully deviant Outcast trait — the kind that would make Wednesday smirk with approval". You'll find out if you've scored a ticket on Monday, August 4. Only those aged over 16 can go in the running, and you'll then need to dress in attire to suit the Wednesday celebration. Boat transport to the island, plus one food and one beverage token, will be included if you're selected. As for watching the series when it returns for its second season, you'll be doing that in two batches. Part one arrives on Wednesday, August 6, then part two on Wednesday, September 3. Check out the full trailer for Wednesday season two below: Wednesday Island is taking over Cockatoo Island in Sydney on Saturday, August 16. Head to the pop-up's website to enter for general admission tickets between Wednesday, July 23–Sunday, August 3, 2025 — or just for further information. Wednesday season two arrives in two parts, with part one dropping on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 and part two on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, both via Netflix. Read our full review of Wednesday season one. Images: Bernard Walsh, Helen Sloan and Jonathan Hession/Netflix © 2025.
Sometimes ice cream speaks louder than words. And on the topic of marriage equality, where words of support from 72 percent of Australians hasn't made much of an impact on policy makers, making a statement with frozen dessert is worth a shot. That's what Ben & Jerry's are doing with their latest push in the campaign for Australian marriage equality. They've partnered with The Equality Campaign (formerly Australian Marriage Equality) to ban punters ordering two scoops of the same flavour in their Australian stores until marriage equality is achieved. That's right: no more double scoops of New York Super Fudge Chunk. Using its scoops as a symbol, the ice cream giant is also offering an in-store postal service across their 26 stores nationwide, allowing patrons to write a message in support of marriage equality to their MP — these will then be hand-delivered by the Ben & Jerry's team. The in-store service will only be available from May 22 through June 9, but you can also have your message faxed to your local MP through The Equality Campaign website, which directs you to your specific MP by area code. This small, yet timely move is made in advance of the next parliamentary sitting on June 13 and is meant to keep marriage equality at the forefront of parliamentary debate and make it easier for Aussies to communicate their support of LGBTQI+ rights to the government. The Ben & Jerry's brand has a history of commitment to social justice and has been particularly focused on marriage equality in recent years, notably with their 2013 launch of the I Dough, I Dough ice cream flavour and campaign. The flavour will be back in stores this month to further hit the message home — but only one scoop at a time. The debate around marriage equality has continues to garner support from big brands, with Airbnb's 'incomplete' rings, Skyy Vodka's Cheers to Equality campaign and Qantas CEO Alan Joyce confirming the airline's support of the issue. And, on the opposite side of the equation, let's not forget the consumer boycott against Coopers after The Bible Society released a tone-deaf video trivialising marriage equality. Maybe losing the freedom to choose our own ice cream flavours will force some policy makers to spring into action. The Ben & Jerry's same-flavour ban will be instated across their 26 Australian stores. You can drop off a letter to your local MP at your nearest store until June 9 or send it over via The Equality Campaign website.
Here's one of Sydney Film Festival's many annual delights: for Australian cinema obsessives who can't make it to Cannes, which is most, it's a cure for movie FOMO. Plenty of the titles that wow audiences in France each year head Down Under the next month. For 2025, here's a few, all playing between Wednesday, June 4–Sunday, June 15: Josh O'Connor (Challengers) and Alana Haim (Licorice Pizza) in heist-thriller mode in filmmaker Kelly Reichardt's (Showing Up) 70s-set The Mastermind; It Was Just an Accident, the latest feature from acclaimed Iranian director Jafar Panahi (No Bears), who is also the subject of one of SFF's 2025 retrospectives; and Dangerous Animals, hailing from Australian helmer Sean Byrne (The Loved Ones, The Devil's Candy) and telling a tale of a shark-obsessed serial killer on the Gold Coast. Musing on its eponymous author as only filmmaker Raoul Peck (I Am Not Your Negro) can, Orwell: 2+2=5 is also taking the Cannes-to-Sydney route. So is coming-of-age story Enzo from BPM (Beats Per Minute)'s Robin Campillo; Mirrors No 3, which sees German director Christian Petzold reteam with his Transit, Undine and Afire star Paula Beer; Nigeria's My Father's Shadow, the first-ever movie from the country to be selected to play on the Croisette; The Secret Agent, led by Wagner Moura (Dope Thief) for filmmaker Kleber Mendonça Filho (a Sydney Film Festival Prize-winner for Aquarius); and Vie Privée with Jodie Foster (True Detective: Night Country). Some of these titles are vying for this year's SFF prize, in the competition's 17th year — where opening night's Together, a new body-horror by Australian filmmaker Michael Shanks (The Wizards of Aus) starring Alison Brie (Apples Never Fall) and Dave Franco (Love Lies Bleeding) is also in contention. Will DJ Ahmet, a Sundance-winner after collecting its World Cinema — Dramatic Audience Award, emerge victorious? Or will that honour go to 2025 Berlinale Grand Jury Prize-winner The Blue Trail? They're also in the running. What features Tom Hiddleston's (Loki) newest performance, with The Life of Chuck directed by The Fall of the House of Usher's Mike Flanagan and based on a Stephen King novella? What also boasts Jacob Elordi (Oh, Canada), Daisy Edgar-Jones (Twisters) and Will Poulter (Warfare) in queer romance On Swift Horses, plus Richard Linklater's (Hit Man) Blue Moon with Ethan Hawke (Leave the World Behind), Margaret Qualley (The Substance) and Andrew Scott (Ripley) — alongside Carey Mulligan (Spaceman) in music-fuelled comedy The Ballad of Wallis Island, the Dylan O'Brien (Saturday Night)-led Twinless and Pike River with Melanie Lynskey (Yellowjackets) getting its world premiere? This year's Sydney Film Festival. Which event is adding to its screening venues in 2025 in a spectacular way by showing films at Sydney Opera House, too? And which fest has 201 movies from 70 countries on its lineup, with 17 world premieres, six international premieres and 137 Australian premieres among them? The answer is still the same. Other 2025 highlights include Berlin's Golden Bear-winner Dreams (Sex Love); Aussie effort Death of an Undertaker, the directorial debut of actor Christian Byers (Bump), who uses an IRL Leichhardt funeral parlour as his setting; Dreams, with Jessica Chastain (Mothers' Instinct) reuniting with her Memory helmer Michel Franco; satire Kontinental '25, from Do Not Expect Too Much From the End of the World and Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn's Radu Jude; and What Does That Nature Say to You, the latest from South Korea's prolific Hong Sang-soo (In Our Day). Or, there's the near-future Tokyo-set Happyend, the Luca Guadagnino (Queer)-produced Nineteen, Tibetan-language anthology State of Statelessness (the first ever, in fact), Naomi Watts (Feud) and Bill Murray (Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire) in page-to-screen dramedy The Friend, Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar collaborator Kahlil Joseph's BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions, and Vicky Krieps (The Dead Don't Hurt) and Dacre Montgomery (Stranger Things) tackling grief and possession in Went Up the Hill. Among the standouts on the festival's documentary slate, Jennifer Peedom (River) turns her focus to the quest to make the world's deepest cave dive by Thai cave rescue hero Dr Richard Harris in Deeper, 20 Days in Mariupol's Mstyslav Chernov works bodycam footage from the Ukrainian frontline into 2000 Metres to Andriivka and All I Had Was Nothingness features unused material from iconic Holocaust documentary Shoah 40 years on. Plus, Floodland is focused on Lismore, Journey Home, David Gulpilil charts the iconic actor's journey to be laid to rest, Prime Minister shines a spotlight on Jacinda Ardern and trying to open a Tokyo restaurant is at the heart of Tokito: The 540-Day Journey of a Culinary Maverick. Fans of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, take note: it's up for discussion in Chain Reactions from Alexandre O Philippe (Lynch/Oz). If you miss the video-store era, Alex Ross Perry (Her Smell) understands, and has made Videoheaven about it — a film essay solely comprised from movie and TV clips. A New Leaf, The Heartbreak Kid, Mikey and Nicky and Ishtar director Elaine May earns SFF's second 2025 retrospective, while the fest's lineup of restored classics includes the Aussie likes of Muriel's Wedding, Somersault and Mullet, plus Angel's Egg from Ghost in the Shell director Mamoru Oshii. For viewers of all ages, the live-action How to Train Your Dragon is also on the program. Barry Keoghan's (Bird) new Irish thriller Bring Them Down; the Australian premiere of homegrown animation Lesbian Space Princess; music documentaries One to One: John & Yoko and Marlon Williams: Ngā Ao e Rua — Two Worlds; Tilda Swinton (The Room Next Door)- and Michael Shannon (The Bikeriders)-starring post-apocalyptic musical The End; intimacy coordinators getting the doco treatment; Ellis Park, about Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds collaborator, Dirty Three founder and frequent film-score composer Warren Ellis: they're on the lineup, too. So is the one-film movie marathon that is 14-hour picture Exergue — on documenta 14, which is set inside the 2017 edition of the documenta art exhibition in Germany and Greece.
There are so many rankings in the culinary world! It was only a couple of months ago we were showering praise on Attica for being the best restaurant in Australia as per the rankings in Restaurant magazine. Then, earlier this week, Gourmet Traveller weighed in on the debate and reaffirmed Ben Shewry's Melbourne restaurant as the best. Now the Weekend Australian and their annual 'Hot 50 Restaurants' ranking have deemed Neil Perry's Rockpool as the greatest in all the land. We don't know what to believe, but we do know that having too much delicious food everywhere can hardly be a bad thing. The poll, self-described as "Australia's most honest snapshot of the national restaurant scene," was released this weekend. Rockpool Sydney took out the top gong and various other awards were divvied up across the nation. The titles of both 'Hottest Regional' and 'Hottest Victorian' restaurant was awarded to Dan Hunter's Brae in Birregurra. Wasabi was named the best in Queensland. Martin Ben from Sydney's Sepia was named 'Hottest Chef'. And Melbourne's Stokehouse, rebuilt this year after a devastating fire, was named 'Hottest Classic' without a hint of irony. Editor of the Weekend Australian Magazine Christine Middap had endless praise for both Sydney, Melbourne and South Australia in her published list, though openly derided the restaurant scene in Canberra, Brisbane and Perth. "An almost obsessive, market-driven surge in informality too often has translated to slackness [in these regions]," she said. Foodie cattiness aside, the list itself proves some interesting reading. While some Melbourne and Sydney favourites — Attica, Chin Chin, Momofuku and Rockpool — are regulars to the yearly ranking, 28 of the 50 restaurants included are new additions from last year. Chances are you'll be able to comb the list and find something new near you. However, all that depends on how much money you're willing to fork out. Though they do award a 'Hottest Value' title — Adelaide's nose-to-tail eatery Daniel O'Connell — the rest of the list is bound to set you back a few clams. Maybe save these ones for a special occasion and stick to Concrete Playground's advice for the rest of your trips out. It is The Australian after all. Via The Australian. See the full published list of restaurants here.
Sure, summer's technically over, but in one little astroturfed pocket of the city, it's kicking on strong. Pint-sized bar Chuckle Park is gripping onto those warm weather vibes with both hands and it won't let go — well, not until it throws its Neverending Summer party on March 14, at least. Expect a lively little shindig, in celebration of the bar's brand-new cocktail menu and revamped opening hours. From 4–5pm, Mountain Goat will be doling out complimentary beers (one per person — don't go getting any ideas), while free tasters of the new cocktail lineup are up for grabs on the hour at 5pm, 6pm and 7pm. Buy a drink and post a snap of any of these new sips to your Instagram account on the night for the chance to win a $100 bar tab. Rounding out the festivities, there'll be cocktail paddles and specials galore on Jameson Whisky cocktails, set to a soundtrack of live tunes from JJ&Ray and DJ sets from some of Chuckle Park's resident acts.
Each winter Vivid draws Sydney out of hibernation with a festival of light installations, talks, workshops and performances. Now in its tenth year, the festival is bigger and brighter than ever. From the illumination of major city landmarks to international acts and challenging ideas, there's a lot to pack into the 23 nights. With the help of our friends at YHA Australia, we've put together a rundown to help you navigate the festival. From what to see and do and to where best to eat and drink. [caption id="attachment_670002" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Sydney Harbour YHA rooftop[/caption] STAY With so much to see and do during Vivid, you'll want to be close to the action. Sydney Harbour YHA in The Rocks is the perfect home base; it's just a stone's throw away from the installations in The Rocks and walking distance to Circular Quay and the Botanic Gardens. It's also right in the thick of some of the most historic pubs in Sydney. The building combines modern comfort with the heritage of the area — it's set above archaeological remains of colonial Sydney. Choose from private or dorm rooms and head to the rooftop balcony to treat yourself to one of the best views in Sydney. From this bird's eye vantage point, you'll have an uninterrupted view stretching from the Harbour Bridge to the Sydney Opera House, Customs House and city buildings, all lit up for the festival. Grab a drink and settle in to soak it all up. If you'd prefer to stay a touch further away from the heaving Circular Quay, YHA also has locations in Sydney Central and Railway Square. Here, you'll be in walking distance of Haymarket (and its many dumplings, noodles and 30c cream puffs), Spice Alley and Darling Harbour's stunning light installations. All three YHAs are offering 20-percent-off during Vivid, too. [caption id="attachment_625341" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bodhi Liggett.[/caption] EAT You'll need to keep your energy levels up in order to fit in everything in during the festival. Luckily, there are heaps of great food options around. Start the day with quality coffee and a beautiful, picturesque breakfast at The Grounds of the City. If you're short on time, though, you can grab a cup of joe and a brekkie burger, bowl or muffin from the takeaway window. For lunchtime refuelling, head to La Renaissance Patisserie for house-made pies, baguette sandwiches and pastries. The tree covered courtyard is a sweet little place to retreat from the crowds for a little while. In The Rocks Centre behind Kendall Lane, you'll also find the Fine Food Store serving up sandwiches, salads and winter warmers like soups and stews. When the sun goes down, check out the new Bar Patrón by Rockpool for authentic Mexican eats, margaritas and views of the Vivid lights. Alternatively, head to The Morrison, located between The Rocks and Wynyard, for a mean sirloin steak or the $1 oyster happy hour from 6–7pm each Wednesday. And if you've really got cash to splash and a burning desire for views with some top eats, head to Cafe Sydney. Found above Customs House (which will be covered in a Snugglepot and Cuddlepie light show), this place serves up Australian haute-cuisine with a killer view. The restaurant also has a dedicated vegan menu for those looking for some fine dining that considers their dietaries. For another prime spot with more casual eats, head next door to Gateway — home to Neil Perry's Burger Project, Din Tai Fung, Four Frogs Creperie and Gelato Messina. DRINK The Rocks area is heaving with pubs — in fact, two of them, The Lord Nelson and The Fortune of War, lay claim to being Sydney's oldest. The best way to fit them all in is to head on a pub crawl — starting at The Lord Nelson, making tracks to the potentially haunted Hero of Waterloo, heading up to The Glenmore rooftop for excellent harbour views, passing by The Fortune of War and finishing up at the newly refurbished Orient. If you're after something more sedate and refined, hit Henry Deane, the rooftop bar at Hotel Palisade which boasts incredible views of the harbour and the lights of Vivid. Otherwise, check out Bulletin Place for intricately crafted cocktails, or cosy up at The Doss House, a new underground whisky bar set in an incredible heritage building in The Rocks. [caption id="attachment_624496" align="alignnone" width="1920"] James Horan.[/caption] SEE The projections onto the Sydney Opera House have been the crowning glory of the Vivid light display since the festival's inception. This year the sails will feature the work of artist Jonathan Zawada, blending everyday objects with the pictures inspired by the Australian environment. Meanwhile, Skylark makes use of the high rises around Circular Quay, featuring a custom-built laser atop the Harbour Bridge projecting onto buildings in a stunning light show every half hour. The Southern Pylon of the bridge will be lit with Bangarra Dance Company's Dark Emu, melding dance and art and paying homage to the agricultural knowledge of Indigenous Australians. [caption id="attachment_623212" align="alignnone" width="1920"] James Horan.[/caption] See bacteria writ large at Beautiful and Dangerous in The Rocks. The work takes you under a neon microscope to explore some of the deadliest diseases facing mankind and what's being done to curb them. While you're in the area, look skyward and see A Little Birdie Told Me — a work depicting the threat to many of our native bird species. The festival of light also makes full use of the glorious Botanic Gardens, with installations dotted throughout. Impressions shows a time-lapse of flora captured from the garden throughout the day, displayed across five huge canvases. Check out The Bloom, a giant metallic flower covered in LED pixels. And hanging in a canopy of trees is Hyperweb, a giant web combining light and soundscape. DO With so many artists and thinkers in town, you might want to extend your stay to fit more in. Top of the ticket is Solange, performing at the Sydney Opera House. Her shows are sold out, but festival organisers recommend checking the website daily for last-minute releases. Also in town are Grammy award-winning singer St Vincent and legendary rapper Ice Cube. There are heaps of local acts to check out too, including No Mono, Middle Kids and Stonefield. For one night only Heaps Gay will host a fabulous, not-to-be-missed fancy dress party, Qweens Ball, at Town Hall. Plus for a change of pace, this year's festival also includes a jazz series for the first time. [caption id="attachment_574541" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Bodhi Liggett.[/caption] Vivid Ideas will get your mind bubbling about the big issues. There are talks on everything from building a sustainable future and the threat to democracy to the art of creativity and understanding consciousness. For podcast nerds, the Audiocraft Podcast Festival features a line-up of industry heavyweights in a series of talks and workshops. If you're headed to Vivid this year, YHA is offering 20% off stays for Concrete Playground readers during the festival. The offer applies to all rooms (private and multi-share) at Sydney Harbour YHA, Sydney Central YHA and Railway Square YHA. Use the code VIVID to claim the discount when you book online, valid Sunday to Thursday between Sunday, May 27 and Friday, June 15. More info about the offer and other weekend discounts here. Image: Destination NSW.
The CBD's Straight Outta Saigon is relaunching its weekday lunch menu, and is tempting customers down to the restaurant with a fairly fun three-day dining deal. From Wednesday, September 4–Friday, September 6, you can order a lunchtime bowl of pho and pay whatever you like — be it with money, a shoe or whatever else you fancy. Although, if you can afford to pay a decent price for your pho, we recommend you do — don't be an ass. Three different phos are up for grabs (including a vegan version) during the Pay 'Pho' What You Want deal, each cooked for over ten hours. The full lunch menu, which includes bites like bao buns, rice paper rolls, crispy chicken, fried rice and stir-fried dishes alongside the pho, will then officially launch on Monday, September 9. Images: Pablo Diaz.
Those hobbits will go on. In JRR Tolkien's pages, they went on perilous Middle-earth adventures. On screens big and small for decades so far (and into the future, with more TV episodes and movies on the way), they've trekked, ate second breakfasts and attempted to project precious jewellery. Onstage in Australia in 2025, they'll also be marking an eleventy-first birthday, receiving a gold ring, taking a quest to Mordor and attempting to fight evil, all in The Lord of the Rings — A Musical Tale. Dating back to 2006, just after the original live-action movie trilogy, this stage musical was revived in the UK in 2023, opened in the US in July 2024 and will hit New Zealand this November. After that, it'll then take the hobbits to Australia from January 2025. First stop: Sydney's State Theatre. The Market Street venue will host the only Aussie season announced so far, kicking off on Tuesday, January 7, with how long it'll be playing yet to be revealed. Lord of the Rings fans elsewhere across the country, take note, too: you might need to go there and back again to discover what happens when Middle-earth gets melodic. Your guides for the show are the hobbits, of course, as Frodo and company celebrate Bilbo Baggins, then depart The Shire upon a life-changing journey. Thanks to Tolkien, what occurs from there has enthralled audiences for 70 years now, with The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers initially hitting bookshelves in 1954. There's been no shortage of ways to indulge your Lord of the Rings love since Peter Jackson's features — including his Hobbit trilogy — helped fan the flames of pop culture's affection for Frodo, Samwise, Pippin, Merry and the franchise's many non-underground-dwelling characters. Cinema marathons, visiting the Hobbiton movie set, staying there overnight, hitting up pop-up hobbit houses, sipping hobbit-themed beer: they've all been on the agenda. Only The Lord of the Rings — A Musical Tale is combining all things LoTR with tunes and dancing, however, in a show that sports a book and lyrics by from Shaun McKenna (Maddie, La Cava) and Matthew Warchus (Matilda the Musical, Groundhog Day the Musical), plus original music by Slumdog Millionaire Oscar-winner AR Rahman, folk band Värttinä from Finland and Matilda the Musical alum Christopher Nightingale. The Lord of the Rings — A Musical Tale will make its Australian premiere at the State Theatre, 49 Market Street, Sydney, from Tuesday, January 7, 2025. Head to the production's website for further details and to sign up for the ticket waitlist. Images: Liz Lauren.
Earlier this morning we reported that the NSW government was set to announce some pretty big reforms to the taxi industry, namely ones that would see Uber legalised throughout the state. Originally reported by The Daily Telegraph late last night, the news that the NSW government was stepping up to meet the ride sharing service halfway so soon after the New South Wales Road and Maritime Services effectively put the company on notice was surprising — and, it seems, not entirely accurate. As brought to our attention by ABC News, NSW Premier Mike Baird was quick to shoot down any claims that a final decision on Uber's legal-ness has been made. Speaking to Sydney radio station 2UE this morning, Baird said that the claims — which were picked up by The Guardian, 9 News and us — jumped the gun a little. "What we've agreed to do is to have this issue looked at, and Gary Sturgess, who's obviously well respected in public policy, has looked at this issue for us and prepared a report and made some recommendations," Baird told 2UE. "That report will be considered as part of the due process of government and it will go to Cabinet in good time, and when that is done we’ll have much more to say about it." Until then, Uber. Via ABC News.
For every roamer and traveller hoping to get off the beaten track this summer, travel website Hooroo has uncovered 40 of Australia's best-kept holiday secrets. In a nationwide search for Australia's favourite 'secret spots', the Qantas Group's new online accommodation site has called out to Australians to submit their most beloved clandestine travel destinations. What came back were hundreds of hidden gems and attractions, from spectacular waterfalls, untouched coastlines and unreal rock formations, to hip milk bars, hearty B&Bs and dozens of tucked-away travel lodges. An expert panel of travel and lifestyle writers and presenters cut the list down to the Top 40 secret destinations and now it's up to the public to decide which of these beautiful and jaw-dropping locations is Australia's favourite hidden holiday treasure. Have your say at the Hooroo Facebook page for a chance to share in over $14,500 in prizes. The Top 5 destinations will become an official Hooroo 'Secret Spot'. Voting closes at 5pm on December 17, 2012 so get in quick to have your say.
With all the working from home and social distancing Melburnians have been doing, there's a good chance you've racked up minimal time on the ol' public transport system this year. And, while we're not sure it's even possible to have tram withdrawals, there is one nifty way you can fill the PT-shaped hole in your life — socks. Specifically, some very spiffy socks printed with the same iconic green tram-seat print you've sat your bum on countless times in the past. Yep, those brightly coloured beauts from the minds behind Melbourne's public transport-themed card game Touched On have made a comeback, apparently re-released due to burning demand from the people. Originally launched as a playful add-on to Touched On's 2016 Kickstarter campaign, the funky foot coverings quickly earned their own legion of fans and sold out faster than a tramful of fare-dodgers fleeing a surprise Myki inspector. Now, after continued requests from sock-hungry Melburnians, the locally made hosiery is available once more, with a fresh batch of sock stock up on Touched On's online store. The Tram Socks come in two different sizes, clocking in at $17 a pair. While you're there, you can browse and buy a bunch of other Touched On goodies, from colouring books to the OG commuter-inspired party game. You can nab yourself a pair of Tram Socks from the Touched On website. Shipping is a $5 flat-rate Australia-wide, with free delivery for orders over $30.
Kick off your shoes and slather on the sunscreen because 3 Ravens and Thornbury Bowls Club are teaming up for another year of community fun and, of course, a good beer. This year's festival, running from 12–6pm on Sunday, November 3, includes a variety of outdoor activities and prize giveaways — all in the spirit of celebrating the start of summer. Throughout the afternoon, you can chow down on classic barbecue fare, and either join a casual game of free barefoot bowls or test your skills by entering the Bowl Off. For this competition, you'll fight it out with fellow bowlers to roll your ball closest to a 50c piece. Prizes will, of course, be up for grabs with this one. A stack of beer can games and kid-friendly activities will also be set up all over the club. 3 Ravens will be running the pop-up bar, pouring a range of their brews to thirsty players. To celebrate of the launch of its 86 Tram series, the brewery will also be running The Gigantic Raffle, which, true to its title, boasts some mighty big prizes. Enter for the chance to win merch like caps, t-shirts and stubby holders, bar vouchers, a nine-year Social Bowls Club membership, or even free beer for an entire year. Entry to the festival is free, but you can also snag a $10 Golden Ticket, which includes entry to the Bowl Off and Gigantic Raffle as well as three cans of beer.
They played a couple in Drive opposite Ryan Gosling (The Fall Guy). They bickered their way through New York's 60s-era folk scene in Inside Llewyn Davis, too. Now, after teaming up for acclaimed filmmakers Nicolas Winding Refn and the Coen brothers, Oscar Isaac (Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse) and Carey Mulligan (Spaceman) are reuniting on-screen again, this time to lead the cast in Netflix's feuding anthology series Beef. A second season of the acclaimed show is officially on the way, so get ready for more grievances. This time, the new eight-episode run will focus on a young couple who sees a fight between their boss and his wife, and the aftermath, which takes the drama into a country club as well. Everyone has petty feuds. That's one of the truths behind the the Golden Globe-, Emmy-, Gotham, Screen Actors Guild Award-, Independent Spirit Award and Producers Guild Award-winning series, which brought squabbling strangers into everyone's streaming queues in 2023 and became one of the best new shows of the year in the process. Beef was initially meant to be a once-off, but plenty more people could always disagree, argue and hold grudges on-screen — and, soon, some more will. Earlier in 2024, Jake Gyllenhaal (Presumed Innocent) and Anne Hathaway (The Idea of You) were rumoured to be starring in Beef's second season, which would've been a reunion for them as well — see: Love & Other Drugs and Brokeback Mountain — but Isaac and Mulligan are doing the honours instead. Back then, it was also reported that Cailee Spaeny (Priscilla) and Charles Melton (May December) could be among the cast that's taking over from Steven Yeun (Nope) and Ali Wong (Paper Girls), with that part still happening. If you missed season one of the Lee Sung Jin (Dave)-created Beef, it followed Danny Cho (Yeun) and Amy Lau (Wong) after they got in a fender bender, then neither handled it well. Cue a feud that they can't shake, infiltrating their lives and relationships. If their quest for revenge each other just fizzled out, there obviously wouldn't be a series. Part of Beef's ongoing beef in season one stemmed from a comedy staple: putting opposites together and seeing what springs. Danny is struggling as a contractor and isn't happy about it, while Amy lives a seemingly idyllic life thanks to her success as an entrepreneur. They both share a need to get back at each other, though — and to see through their clash to the end. Lee is back for season two as the show's creator, while Yeun and Wong are onboard as well as executive producers. There's obviously no trailer yet for the second season, but check out a clip from Beef season one below: Beef season two doesn't yet have a release date — we'll update you when more details are locked in. Beef season streams via Netflix — read our review. Top image: The Card Counter, courtesy of Focus Features / ©2021 Focus Features, LLC.
As well as being part of many an art-gazing adventure when it opens its blockbuster Escher x Nendo exhibition this summer, the National Gallery of Victoria will also become a temporary workout destination when it hosts a slew of free wellness classes. The classes come courtesy of Lululemon — the brand is celebrating its 20th anniversary and will take over the gallery's serene Grollo Equiset Garden for a 20-week series of yoga, circuit and meditation classes. And they won't cost you a cent. Kicking off Wednesday, November 14, there are three sessions to choose from, running both in the mornings and after-hours. Punters can reconnect with their flow at a grounding yoga class, build mindfulness with a meditation session, or bump up the heart rate at the all-body 'sweat' class. They'll be led by a team of Lululemon's local ambassadors and fitness experts and will cater to all fitness levels. They're designed to get you bending, stretching, de-stressing and working those muscles, right through the summer months. Classes are free to join, with mats provided, though you'll need to book here (and quick!) to secure your spot. Breathe. Sweat. Stretch. will take place in the Grollo Equiset Garden at the NGV International from November 17 until March 26, 2019.
Dozens of independent arts organisations are looking down the barrel of extinction, after being ditched in the latest round of Australia Council funding. The news makes for depressingly familiar headlines, and marks the latest in a series of significant blows to the country's artistic community since the Federal Government cut the independent funding body's budget to the tune of $60 million over four years. Among the 62 previously funded organisations to miss out are the National Association for the Visual Arts, Melbourne's Red Stitch Actor's Theatre and youth-focused Express Media, and Sydney's Force Majeure dance company and PACT Centre for Contemporary Artists. Organisations lucky enough to receive funding, meanwhile, include Queensland's Metro Arts, Multicultural Arts Victoria, and Carriageworks in Sydney. In total $112 million will be invested between 2017 and 2020. The full list of recipients can be found via the Arts Council website. "In a country with an ever growing population we should be receiving ever greater cultural investment and government support," said Arts Party leader PJ Collins. "Instead we have constant and major cuts to our communities and opportunity in developing and recognising our native talent." A number of the affected organisations also spoke out against the cuts. "This is devastating news not just for Next Wave but for all artists and the Australian community," read a statement from the organisers of Melbourne's Next Wave festival (which is on right now). They also pointed out that the decision to drop funding comes even as the festival is being met "with critical and audience acclaim, and record-breaking box office numbers." Likewise, Kath Melbourne of Sydney theatre company Legs on the Wall told ArtsHub that they and many other organisations were the victims of "political decisions [made] behind closed doors." Australia Council CEO Tony Grybowski tried to put a positive spin on the announcement, stating that "while celebrating the success of the companies forming the new cohort, the Council acknowledges that the outcomes of this highly competitive process will be difficult for some companies and is committed to supporting the sector through this period of change. This support will take various forms, responding to the different needs of both individual organisations and practice areas." Via ArtsHub. Image: Next Wave.
Bringing the beloved Mattel doll to cinemas in live-action for the first time, Barbie wasn't specifically made for concert screenings. But with a soundtrack filled with Oscar-winning and -nominated tunes, as well as tracks by Dua Lipa, Haim, Dominic Fike, The Kid LAROI, Pink Pantheress and more, it's certain to prove quite the treat when the hit film makes its way around Australia with a live orchestra playing its music. Yes, Greta Gerwig's (Little Women) take on the iconic toy is returning to the big screen Down Under, this time with Billie Eilish's 'What Was I Made For?', the Ryan Gosling (The Fall Guy)-crooned 'I'm Just Ken' and more performed by the orchestra as audiences watch — all thanks to Symphonic Cinema Presents. Barbie the Movie in Concert's sessions will first kick off in Melbourne at the end of 2025. After that, it's set to tour the country in 2026. So far, only the Victorian capital gig has announced its details, hitting Plenary Theatre at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Saturday, December 13, 2025. It's a Barbie bonanza in the city of late, given that it is also currently playing host to the Malibu Barbie Cafe's first-ever Australian appearance until the end of summer. If you're located elsewhere across the nation, you'll need to wait to find out when the event is coming to you — and giving you another date with the box-office sensation of 2023. Whenever and wherever else it pops up, expect Kenergy aplenty. As viewers already know from the Margot Robbie (Asteroid City)-starring flick, Barbie can be anything. Although screenings of the film can't be President, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist, a diplomat and a Supreme Court justice, or a mermaid, doctor, lawyer and Pulitzer-winner, they can take many guises, such as movie-and-music events like these upcoming screenings. Symphonic Cinema Presents is also touring concert sessions of Top Gun: Maverick, Gladiator and The Nightmare Before Christmas if you're keen to see other beloved films with their tunes performed live in the coming months. Check out the trailer for Barbie below: Barbie the Movie in Concert is playing Plenary Theatre, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Melbourne on Saturday, December 13, 2025 — with ticket presales from 10am on Tuesday, August 5 — and then touring the country in 2026, with dates to be announced. Head to the Symphonic Cinema Presents website for more details.
If you're a fan of Gelato Messina and its frosty sweet treats, 2020 is the year that just keeps on giving. That saying doesn't apply to much over the past 12 months, but it definitely fits in this situation. The dessert chain has released all manner of one-off specials, launched a new range of chocolate-covered ice cream bars in supermarkets, dropped a new merchandise line and brought back its Christmas trifle, for starters — and now it's aiming to take care of your summer drinks list. Teaming up with Cocktail Porter, Messina is now serving up DIY kits that'll let you make your own boozy beverages — either using Messina's gelato or its just-as-beloved toppings. Basically, it's the answer to a familiar dilemma, especially when the weather is warm. No one likes choosing between tucking into a chilled, creamy dessert or having another boozy beverage, after all. The Messina dessert cocktail packs come in two flavours: dulce de leche espresso martinis, and gin-fuelled coconut and lychee piña coladas. In the former, you'll get Ciroc vodka, coffee liqueur, premium cold-drip coffee and Messina's dulce de leche topping, plus Messina's chocolate hazelnut spread and shaved coconut to go on top. In the latter — which are being called 'giña coladas' — you'll receive Tanqueray gin, coconut water, pineapple juice, verjuice, and vouchers to go pick up a tub of Messina coconut and lychee gelato. As well as choosing with variety you'd prefer — caffeinated and zesty or fruit and refreshing, basically — you can pick between two different-sized packs. A mini espresso martini kit costs $85, while a mini giña colada kit costs $89, and both serve up six drinks. Or, you can opt for the large ($149/159), which makes 18 dessert cocktails. Cocktail Porter delivers Australia-wide, if that's your summer drinking plans sorted. To order Cocktail Porter's Gelato Messina cocktail kits, head to the Cocktail Porter website.
Throughout 2021, Marvel and Disney+ have been showering viewers with new TV series, all featuring characters we all know and love from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. So, you've probably watched Loki get up to his trickster antics in Loki, and seen The Falcon and The Winter Soldier team up in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. And, you likely now have Hawkeye's next adventures in the upcoming Hawkeye on your radar as well. Yes, these MCU streaming series couldn't have more straightforward names. Yes, Marvel has now turned watching TV into big-screen homework, given that its movie franchise keeps hitting cinemas (thanks to Black Widow and Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings already this year, and with Eternals and Spider-Man: No Way Home still to come before 2021 is out). And yes, the first of these new MCU Disney+ shows finally made everyone take notice of the always-great Kathryn Hahn, who stole every scene she was in each and every time she popped up in WandaVision. Obviously, WandaVision was about Marvel characters Wanda and Vision, with Avengers: Endgame's Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany reprising their roles. But Hahn also played a significant part as neighbour-slash-witch Agatha Harkness, even nabbing an Emmy nomination for her efforts. So, because she was such a fan favourite, she's now getting her own show. Variety reports that the series will be a dark comedy about Agatha, starring Hahn; however, details beyond that are currently under wraps. But the character has a considerable history, only some of which WandaVision dived into. In comic books, she's been around since the 70s — and, story-wise, her tale dates back to the Salem witch trials. The news — and the world's reaction to the glorious Hahn — won't come as a surprise if you've been watching the exceptional actor throughout her pre-Marvel career. She stole scenes in Parks and Recreation, Transparent and I Know This Much Is True as well, and made an impact in movies as varied as Revolutionary Road, Our Idiot Brother and the Bad Moms flicks. And, she's also exceptional in Netflix film Private Life as well. Exactly when Marvel and Disney+'s Hahn-led Agatha Harkness spinoff will arrive hasn't been revealed. But, you can get the Emmy-winning 'Agatha All Along' tune stuck in your head again now until more news drops: WandaVision is currently available to stream via Disney+. When Marvel and Disney+'s Agatha Harkness spinoff will drop hasn't yet been revealed — we'll update you when more information is announced. Via Variety. Image: Suzanne Tenner, Marvel Studios.
Christmas may not be on your mind just yet, but it's definitely on the mind of the Four Pillars owners, who have launched a pop-up gin store at Myer Melbourne Located in the Bourke Street department store, it's sticking around straight through to New Year's Eve and includes a store full of exclusive Four Pillars goodies. The gift shop will offer the entire Four Pillars core range of gins and merch, along with a few very limited releases from Four Pillars distillery, including the much sought after 2020 Australian Christmas Gin and new double-barrelled negronis. You'll also find a heap of gin-spiked products, including Christmas puddings, cranberry and orange relish, and a new dry gin salt created by Four Pillars and Olsson's Salt. This year's store won't have tastings or cocktails, unfortunately, but you can plan a trip to visit Four Pillars' OG Healesville distillery over the summer break. Four Pillars' Bourke Street pop-up is open from 9.30am–7pm Monday–Wednesday, 9.30am–9pm Thursday–Saturday and 10am–7pm Sunday.
Not content with becoming a fixture on Australia's roads, and possibly taking to the skies as early as next year, Uber is now hitting the water at one of the country's greatest natural features. If you've always wanted to cruise the Great Barrier Reef by submarine, now you can now book one via the Uber app. No, this isn't a joke — but it's definitely a marketing stunt. Aptly named scUber, the new service — which will be available between Monday, May 27 and Tuesday, June 18 — is a collaboration between Uber and Queensland's state tourism body. Of course, diving down deep via scUber is incredibly pricey at $3000 for two people. But if you're particularly flush with cash and have always dreamed of seeing the reef this way, now you can. According to research by Tourism and Events Queensland, plenty of people have this exact experience on their bucket list. Your big stack of bills gets you a trip to the southern Great Barrier Reef's Heron Island from May 27, or to north Queensland's Agincourt Reef off the coast of Port Douglas from June 9. You'll be picked up from your location by Uber, naturally — although you'll need to be in Gladstone, Cairns, Palm Cove or Port Douglas. Then you'll be taken by helicopter to either scUber destination, where you'll jump inside the submarine and dive under the water for an hour. Afterwards, you'll head back to your original pickup spot. The submarine actually holds three people — someone who knows what they're doing will be going down with you. They'll take you deep, down to 30 metres, where 180-degree views await. Obviously, there are a few other drawcards: you don't have to learn how to dive or get a license, and you won't get wet. Uber will also be partnering with Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef as part of scUber, donating $100,000 to the protection and conservation organisation, as well as the equivalent value of every scUber ride purchased. And, in conjunction with Tourism and Events Queensland, it's giving away a scUber package complete with flights and five nights accommodation — which is open to eager folks not only from Australia, but from New Zealand, the USA, Canada, the UK and France too. You'll need to enter by 1.59pm, Australian time, on Monday, June 1. scUber will be available from Monday, May 27 to Tuesday, June 18 in Gladstone, Cairns, Palm Cove and Port Douglas. For more information, visit scUberqueensland.com. Images: Tourism and Events Queensland.
Tucked away off a quiet patch of Russell Street is a thimble-sized bar spoken about in the whispers of whisky lovers Melbourne-wide. With a staggering 500 (yes, you read that correctly, five hundred!) different types of whisky on offer, lovers of the amber liquid will be spoilt for choice. But don't worry about being overwhelmed by the sheer variety on offer — the knowledgeable and unpretentious bartenders put in the hard yards testing each tipple, and are happy to guide the uninitiated towards the best drop for your palate. They even offer the occasional whisky masterclass for those who want to go that one step further in their appreciation of the spirit. Drop by for an introduction to whisky, an education on Islay whisky, or even a special class on Australian made whisky. It's the type of bar where you would expect suits to come for after work drinks, executives to hold a boozy meeting or couples to have a fancy date night. Though this whisky lounge bar seems like the last place you would go to get rowdy, it's definitely the place for a stiff drink. If you need a fast kick-start to a night out, try the amazing value for money Glaswegian Boilermaker: a shot of whisky and matched beer for just $10. The cocktail list is full of all the classics you would expect from a specialty bar. (Seriously, try the whisky sour.) If what you crave doesn't include a large chunk of ice in your tumbler, then make sure you try a mug of Hot Buttered Wine ($18). This warming brew is served nice and hot with ample amounts of Glendronach 12 year whisky, a splash of the thick, dark and sweet Pedro Ximinez wine and a luxurious lashing of butter, complete with a drop of maple syrup and a sprinkling of nutmeg. Don't feel up to whisky? There's a tight wine list and some really excellent beers, as well as the usual bar essentials. Lovers of whisky, though, need look no further than W&A. And if you're not yet converted, just have a word to the staff. You never know — they might just introduce you to your new favourite drink.
Last year was hot. We sweltered through Australia's warmest summer on record, a hotter-than-standard autumn, a warmer-than-usual winter and a spicy spring as well. To the surprise of no one, the next few months look set to continue the trend. This week, BOM released its climate outlook for the March to May period, revealing that most of the country is in for warmer days and stickier nights than we usually see at this time of year. Yep, the soupy weather is set to continue. In fact, across the majority of Australia, there's a 60–80 percent chance autumn temperatures will be a whole lot warmer than the median. To give an idea of exactly what that all means, the average daily maximum temperature for March sits at around 23.9 degrees in Melbourne, 24.8 in Sydney and 28 in Brisbane. In May, it's around 16.7 degrees for Melbourne, with 19.5 for Sydney and 23.2 for Brisbane. The BOM is forecasting that we'll see warmer than that across the three months. Unfortunately for farmers, parts of Queensland are looking to struggle through drier-than-average autumns, too. Elsewhere, it's likely rainfall will be relatively average. While recent heavy rainfall across NSW and southeast Qld has helped ease the dry in some areas (and increase Sydney's water storage by a whopping 30 percent), BOM is saying some regions require "several months of above average rainfall" to bring them out of drought — which doesn't look likely to happen this autumn. The recent spate of heavy rain has also helped — thankfully — to ease some of the catastrophic bushfires that have been burning across the country, with the NSW RFS today announcing that for the first time this season all bush and grass fires in NSW are now contained. While that is unquestionably great news, it might not be the case for long, with BOM saying the warmer-than-average days and nights predicted over the next four months will increase the chance of heatwaves and elevate bushfire risk. Image: Kenny Lover by Julia Sansone
