UPDATE Tuesday, July 19: Due to popular demand, Mr Miyagi in the Big Smoke has been extended and will now run until Saturday, September 3. To make a booking, jump over to the website. The following article has been updated to reflect the change. After close to a decade of winning hearts and bellies on Chapel Street, Mr Miyagi is spreading its wings for its first-ever CBD pop-up. The modern Japanese spot is teaming up with QT Melbourne and taking over the hotel's Hot Sauce Laneway (Portland Lane) for a two-month stint devoted to smoke, fire and meat. Thursday to Saturday nights, from June 30–September 3, Mr Miyagi in the Big Smoke will be dishing up a new menu of Japanese delights, starring plenty of goodies cooked over binchōtan (white charcoal). Bringing the fire to this winter pop-up are dishes like a togorashi lamb chop teamed with shiso dressing, and an edamame and pea smash; a play on the classic smoked salmon; miso-glazed cornbread; nori tortillas with yuzu yoghurt and rockling; and a dessert they've dubbed the Hickory Smoked Miso Caramel Coal. A supporting drinks list pays equal homage to smoke and char, featuring sips like the Golden Gai — a riff on the Manhattan starring chocolate, whisky and vermouth. Mr Miyagi's usual lineup of signature Cocky T's will also be on offer if you'd prefer to quench your thirst with the likes of the Hello Kitty Sour. You can book your table online — sittings are at 5pm, 5.15pm, 6.45pm, 7pm, 8.30pm and 8.45pm Thursday to Saturday. Images: Pete Dillon
When Eric Bana (Dirty John) stepped into Aaron Falk's shoes in The Dry, more was always bound to follow. On the screen, the film became a massive Australian box-office hit in 2021 thanks to its twisty mystery, determined detective, stunning Aussie scenery and spectacular cast. It was capitalising, of course, on the story's proven success on the page. And, to the delight of movie producers and audiences, the beloved novel by author Jane Harper was just Falk's first appearance. Accordingly, throw that formula together again and you now have Force of Nature: The Dry 2, the big-screen sequel that hits cinemas in Australia and New Zealand on August 24. This follow-up sees the core duo of Bana and writer/director Robert Connolly (Blueback) return, with the latter again investigating a case. This time, as both the movie's initial teaser and just-dropped full trailer explore, he's looking into the disappearance of a hiker from a corporate retreat attended by five women. Alongside fellow federal agent Carmen Cooper (Jacqueline McKenzie, Ruby's Choice), Falk heads deep into Victoria's mountain ranges to try to find the missing traveller — who also happens to be a whistle-blowing informant — alive. Also featuring in Force of Nature, which has a powerhouse list of Aussie talent just like its predecessor: Anna Torv (The Last of Us) as missing hiker Alice Russell, plus Deborra-Lee Furness (Jindabyne), Robin McLeavy (Homeland), Sisi Stringer (Mortal Kombat) and Lucy Ansell (Utopia). Richard Roxburgh (Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe), Tony Briggs (Preppers) and Kenneth Radley (The Power of the Dog) pop up, too, while Jeremy Lindsay-Taylor (Heartbreak High) is back in the role of Erik Falk. Touting its connection to The Dry right there in its name, Force of Nature: The Dry 2 comes after its predecessor did massive ticket-selling business. Not only did it notch up more than $20 million in Australian ticket sales, but it sat in sixth at the annual Aussie box office two years back after Hollywood franchise titles Spider-Man: No Way Home, No Time to Die, Godzilla vs Kong, Peter Rabbit 2 and Fast and Furious 9. Yes, greenlighting this sequel must've been the easiest decision ever. Yes, you can probably expect Harper's Exiles to get the movie treatment next. Reteaming not just after The Dry, but also fellow 2023 release Blueback, Connolly and Bana make quite the pair when it comes to Aussie crime cinema — with Connolly the producer of one of the best local crime movies ever made, aka 1998's unnerving The Boys, and Bana famously the star of the similarly excellent Chopper. Check out the full trailer for Force of Nature: The Dry 2 below: Force of Nature: The Dry 2 releases in Australian and New Zealand cinemas on August 24, 2023. Read our full review of The Dry. Images: Narelle Portanier.
The folks behind Welcome to Thornbury, Welcome to Brunswick and Belles Hot Chicken have done it again, this time unveiling a new pizza-slinging, DJ-fuelled party spot on Sydney Road. Dubbed NONO, it's made its home within the former Penny Black digs, with space for a huge 950 punters across its public bar, roomy beer garden and dedicated rave cave. Kicking on until 2am Thursday to Sunday, NONO is a surefire hit for night owls and music fiends alike, with a top-notch roster of local DJs on the decks, curated by Music Director Anyo Castro. Rubi Taboo and Bettie Rose are set to host Thursday's riotous drag bingo night (weekly from December 15), and there'll be many a music-filled Sunday session to come, too. In keeping with NONO's unpretentious nature, Executive Chef Sandy Melgalvis (Three Blue Ducks, Mulberry Group) is plating up a laidback menu of top-quality $8 pizzas, all hand-rolled to order. Find options like a classic margherita; a mushroom, mozzarella and fontina number; and a lamb kebab pizza topped with slow-cooked shoulder, spinach and tzatziki. And yep, they're $8, all day, every day; as are extras like a rocket salad and the crinkle-cut fries bathed in Belles' famed seasoning. An easygoing drinks offering features classic cocktails alongside signatures like the Northside Lights (Patient Wolf Gin with Pampelle Ruby Grapefruit liqueur and rosemary syrup) and the Super Silver Haze, crafted on Don Juilo and jalapeno brine. There's also a couple of cocktail jugs, a tap lineup starring plenty of 4 Pines brews, and fridges stocked with tinnies from the likes of Young Henry and Mountain Goat. Want help welcome NONO to the 'hood? The venue's kicking things off with a bang on December 17 (1pm–1am) and 18 (1–10pm), with a few specials and a cheeky nod to its Sydney Road address. Not only will it be giving away 420 pizzas across the weekend, but you'll also score house pints and shots for an easy $4.20 a pop. Find NONO at 420 Sydney Road, Brunswick. It's open from 4pm–very late Thursday to Saturday, and from 1–10pm Sunday.
Melbourne, rejoice! No longer will your late-night pho cravings go unsated. From early December, the team behind Hochi Mama are opening Australia's first ever 24-hour pho joint in the CBD. Pho real. Set to open on Russell Street in the heart of the CBD, the team at Twenty Pho Seven will set out to deliver exactly what their name suggests. Pho. 24/7. Whether it's a breakfast broth or a substitute for that 4am kebab, these guys will have you covered. "We are confident in providing an authentic yet tasty and hearty bowl of Pho that will keep you coming back for more," said co-founder Thai Ho. "We have so many great ideas that we can't wait to share with everyone." In addition to promising "the best pho in Melbourne", Twenty Pho Seven will also serve up an array of Vietnamese entrees – including rice paper rolls, spring rolls and banh me. They'll also have a number of Asian-inspired cocktails on offer, served in bubble cups. Look for Twenty Pho Seven at 138 Russel Street, Melbourne from early December. For more information, you can check them out on Instagram.
Ora has been a hotspot for coffee and brunch lovers in Kew for quite some years now. Most days, locals fight over the few seats inside and out in the garden to score some of the best brekkie in the area — often waiting quite a while to get a spot. It's clear that Ora outgrew its small site a while ago. But instead of having to relocate, the team was given the opportunity to knock down a wall and take over the space next door. Thankfully, they took the leap and expanded the cafe in early 2024, so it now holds up to 40 people inside and out. While they were at it, they also redesigned the whole cafe to have a more contemporary and high-end feel, and chose to extend the opening hours from Wednesday to Saturday. Now instead of being kicked out after lunch service, locals can stick around for some wines and share plates late into the night. Head Chef Adam Hutchings (ex-Soho House) has dreamt up the new evening menu, cooking up a broad-reaching selection of dishes that include crispy whitebait with yuzu mayo, pea and preserved lemon arancini, 12-hour barbecue beef brisket and king prawn skewers paired with chimichurri. Manager Alex Damoulakis has curated a list of wines from local and international makers and picked a few classic Med-inspired cocktails to serve at night — or during a boozy brunch.
Who says Halloween celebrations can only go for one night? Not Fitzroy bar Bimbo. Seeing as the spooky night doesn't fall on a weekend this year, Bimbo is suggesting you celebrate for an entire week. From Monday, October 28, the bar will be hosting a costume party every night of the week until Sunday, November 3. The best look gets a $100 voucher — that's 25 x $4 Bimbo pizzas, if you're doing the math — so start planning those costume changes, stat. Get down for Halloween-themed drink specials (some complete with lychee "eyeballs"), different DJs each night (check out the website and pick your poison), and say "trick or treat" at the bar between 7pm and 8pm for a free pot of beer. Happy Halloween indeed.
Cinco de Mayo kicks off on Monday, May 5, so finding an appropriate way to celebrate is the right move. While no one would blame you for shaping a feast filled with tamales and carnitas, Deep End Pizza and Dingo Ate My Taco have collaborated once again on their crowd-pleasing Birria Pizza. Bound to make the month one to remember, this limited-run creation combines Deep End's beloved Detroit-style pizza base with Dingo's authentic birria – a slow-cooked Mexican stew — inviting you to dip your slice as you dine. The duo first released this notorious combo in 2023, becoming something of a viral success. Now it's back, but only from Monday, May 5–Monday, June 30, meaning you've got a brief window to experience how Dingo's supremely tender and slightly spicy birria has found its perfect match with Deep End's light and airy base. So, feast for the holiday or enjoy the ideal excuse to get insanely indulgent – just know it's available exclusively at Deep End Pizza's Fitzroy store. "While I've seen birria done on NY-style pizzas, the fluffy crust on our squares is ideal for soaking up that rich consommé," says Deep End owner Paul Kasten. "Even we were surprised by how magnificently it all came together once we topped it with their brisket, Oaxacan cheese, and signature toppings. We can't wait for taco and pizza enthusiasts to experience this fusion."
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.
The theme of this year's Melbourne Fringe Festival is 'Eat Your Art Out', which sees most of the 470-plus events explore the relationship between food and art. You'll be invited to join interactive dinners, cook at pop-up barbecues and drop by the weekly Fringe Flavours Night Market. Every Wednesday evening from September 18–October 16, Queen Vic Market will play host to food stalls, bars, local artisan shops and heaps of Fringe performances. You can tuck into Polich dumplings from Pierogi, Pierogi, handmade pasta from La Trafila, a huge selection of tacos from the Le Mano, Korean corn rice from Oksusu and fluffy souffles from the Tokyoki Souffle team. There'll also be three separate bars running each night. One will serve up a selection of berry-infused cocktails, another will shake up nothing but margaritas, and the third will be run by the Fringe Night Market itself — serving beer, wine, spiced rum and gin and tonics. When it comes to entertainment, you're absolutely spoilt for choice. Tash York will perform their wine-filled cabaret show, Throw Catch Collective will run a food-themed juggling act, Bettie Bombshell and Ruby Sklippers will perform family-friendly versions of their burlesque shows, and Boyd Kelly will be DJing most nights — bringing soul and funk beats to the Fringe Flavours Night Market. You can, of course, look up who is performing in advance and go along for their free show at the market, but we love to be surprised by Melbourne Fringe Festival events — simply rocking up and hoping for the best. That's kind of the of the point of the Fringe. Discover a new artist at the spring night market series, and if you really love them, pay for tickets to their main Fringe show. The Fringe Flavours Night Market is running every Wednesday from 5-10pm from September 18–October 16. For more details, head to the venue's website.
If your pre-coronavirus routine involved weekend plant sales and an ever-growing bounty of delightful green things, life's probably looking very different these days. Events are off the menu, shops are closed and that plant collection is pretty much dependent on whatever goodies you can get delivered to your door. It's this situation that's helped spawn Melbourne's newest online plant and gift retailer Vine Boy, which is out to offer locals some fresh gifting options, without the exxy price tags. To save you forking out the big bucks, Vine Boy's online store is stocked with an affordable curation of potted indoor plants, along with Aussie-made gifts like St Ali specialty coffee, luxe bath products from Grown Alchemist, Zig Zag Rd wines, Moss St scented candles and pre-batched booze from the crew at Melbourne Martini. Best of all, it's refreshingly accessible, with prices starting from an easy $8. The plant selection is a decent one, featuring varieties like Monstera deliciosa and Bird of Paradise, available in different sizes. And with chic pots as standard inclusions, you won't be surprised with a list of add-on charges at the checkout. In fact, you can mix and match items to create a whole swag of different gift packs between the $50 and $100 mark, delivery costs included. There's no extra charge for orders over $75, otherwise it's a flat-rate delivery fee of $10 to most Melbourne suburbs. You'll even nab same-day delivery if you order before 11am. To check out Vine Boy's full range and order delivery, head on over to
Something delightful has been happening in cinemas in some parts of the country. After numerous periods spent empty during the pandemic, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, picture palaces in many Australian regions are back in business — including both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made, including new releases, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. THE FORGIVEN Patience is somewhat of a virtue with The Forgiven. It would be in it, too, if any of its wealthy white characters hedonistically holidaying in Morocco were willing to display the trait for even a second. Another addition to the getaways-gone-wrong genre, this thorny satirical drama gleefully savages the well-to-do, proving as eager to eat the rich as can be, and also lays bare the despicable coveting of exoticism that the moneyed think is an acceptable way to splash plentiful wads of cash. There's patently plenty going on in this latest release from writer/director John Michael McDonagh, as there typically is in features by the filmmaker behind The Guard, Calvary and War on Everyone. Here, he adapts Lawrence Osborne's 2012 novel, but the movie that results takes time to build and cohere, and even then seems only partially interested in both. Still, that patience is rewarded by The Forgiven's stellar lead performance by Ralph Fiennes, playing one of his most entitled and repugnant characters yet. Sympathies aren't meant to flow David Henninger's (Fiennes, The King's Man) way, or towards his wife Jo (Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye). Together, the spiky Londoners abroad bicker like it's a sport — and the only thing fuelling their marriage. Cruelty taints their words: "why am I thinking harpy?", "why am I thinking shrill?" are among his, while she counters "why am I thinking high-functioning alcoholic?". He's a drunken surgeon, she's a bored children's author, and they're venturing past the Atlas Mountains to frolic in debauchery at the village their decadent pal Richard (Matt Smith, Morbius) and his own barbed American spouse Dally (Caleb Landry Jones, Nitram) have turned into a holiday home. Sympathy isn't designed to head that pair's way, either; "we couldn't have done it without our little Moroccan friends," Richard announces to kick off their weekend-long housewarming party. But when the Hennigers arrive late after tragically hitting a local boy, Driss (Omar Ghazaoui, American Odyssey), en route, the mood shifts — but also doesn't. The wicked turns of phrase that David slings at Jo have nothing on his disdain for the place and people around him, and he doesn't care who hears it. His assessment of the desert vista: "it's very picturesque, I suppose, in a banal sort of way". He drips with the prejudice of privilege, whether offensively spouting Islamophobic remarks or making homophobic comments about his hosts — and he doesn't, nay won't, rein himself in when Richard calls the police, reports the boy's death, pays the appropriate bribes and proclaims that their bacchanal won't otherwise be disturbed. The arrival of Driss' father Abdellah (Ismael Kanater, Queen of the Desert), and his request that David accompanies him home to bury his son, complicates matters, however. While David begrudgingly agrees, insultingly contending that it's a shakedown, Jo helps keep the party going, enjoying time alone to flirt with hedge fund manager Tom (Christopher Abbott, Possessor). John Michael McDonagh hasn't ever co-helmed a feature with his filmmaker brother Martin, but actors have jumped between the duo's respective works, with Fiennes — who starred in Martin's memorable In Bruges — among the latest. The siblings share something else, too, and not just a knack for assembling impressive casts; they're equally ace at fleshing out the characters inhabited by their dazzling on-screen cohorts via witty and telling dialogue. The Forgiven plays like it's in autopilot, though, but having Fiennes, Chastain, Smith and Jones (who appeared in Martin's Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) utter its lines is a gift. Indeed, here it's the attitudes captured while they're speaking, and the behaviours and mannerisms made plain in how they're speaking, that add layer upon layer to this murky affair. That'd ring true even if Driss, Abdellah and the tense journey with the latter to inter the former weren't even in the narrative. Read our full review. FULL TIME Perhaps the greatest trick the devil ever pulled — the devil that is time, the fact that we all have to get out of bed each and every morning, and the sleep-killing noise signalling that a new day is here — was to create alarm clocks in a variety of sounds. Some are quiet, soft, calming and even welcoming, rather than emitting a juddering screech, but the effect always remains the same. Whatever echoes from which device, if your daily routine is a treadmill of relentless havoc, that din isn't going to herald smiles or spark a spring in anyone's step. The alarm that kickstarts each morning in Full Time isn't unusual or soothing. It isn't overly obnoxious or horrifying either. But the look on Laure Calamy's face each time that it goes off, in the split second when her character is remembering everything that her day will bring, is one of pure exhaustion and exasperation — and it'd love to murder that unwanted wake-up siren. That expression couldn't be more relatable, as much in Full Time is, even if you've never been a single mother living on the outskirts of Paris, navigating a train strike, endeavouring to trade up one job for another for a better future, and juggling kids, bills, and just getting to and from work. At the 2021 Venice International Film Festival, Antoinette in the Cévennes and Call My Agent! star Calamy won the Best Actress award in the event's Horizons strand for her efforts here — and while the accolade didn't come her way for a single gaze, albeit repeated throughout the movie, it easily could've. Mere minutes into Full Time, it's plain to see why she earned herself such a prize beyond that withering gape, however. Calamy is that phenomenal in this portrait of a weary market researcher-turned-hotel chambermaid's hectic life, playing the part like she's living it. In our own ways, most of us are. The first time the alarm sounds, Julie Roy (Calamy) is already lethargic and frustrated; indeed, writer/director Eric Gravel (Crash Test Aglaé), who won the Venice Horizons Best Director gong himself, charts the ups and downs of his protagonist's professional and personal situation like he's making an unflagging thriller. In fact, he is. Julie is stretched to breaking point from the get-go, and every moment of every day seems to bring a new source of stress. For starters, her job overseeing the cleaning at a five-star hotel in the city is both chaotic and constantly throwing up challenges, and the hints dropped by her boss (Anne Suarez, Black Spot) about the punishment for not living up to her demands — aka being fired — don't help. Julie has put all her hopes on returning to market research anyway, but getting time off for the interview is easier said than done, especially when the French capital is in the middle of a transport strike that makes commuting in and out from the countryside close to impossible. Also adding to Julie's troubles is well, everything. The childcare arrangement she has in place with a neighbour (Geneviève Mnich, Change of Heart) is also precarious, thanks to threats of quitting and calling social services. Having any energy to spend meaningful time with her children at the end of her busy days is nothing but a fantasy, too. Trying to get financial support out of her absent ex is a constant battle, especially given he won't answer the phone — and the bank won't stop calling about her overdue mortgage payments. It's also her son Nolan's (J'ai tué mon mari) birthday, so there are gifts to buy, plus a party to organise and throw. Julie is so frazzled that having a drink with her best friend is a luxury she doesn't have time for, because some other task always beckons. And when a father from her village, the kindly Vincent (Cyril Gueï, The Perfect Mother), helps her out not once but twice, she's so starved of affection that she instantly misreads his intentions. Read our full review. MURDER PARTY With apologies to William Shakespeare, all the world isn't just a stage in French farce Murder Party. Instead, it's a game, then another one, then yet another after that. This candy-coloured murder-mystery takes perhaps the ultimate high-concept setup and hones in on a crucial fact: that audiences love whodunnits, whether they're watching them on the screen or reading them on the page, because charting the unravelling details entails sleuthing along. In other words, when we're wondering who killed who in which room and why (and with what weapon), we're playing. The board game Cluedo also nailed this truth, as have murder-mystery parties, plus the increasing array of other interactive shows and events that thrust paying participants into the middle of such puzzle-laden predicaments. And while Murder Party acknowledges this idea in a variety of manners, here's the first and simplest: it's set among a family famed for making best-selling board games themselves. First-time feature writer/director Nicolas Pleskof and his co-scribe Elsa Marpeau (Prof T) kickstart the film with a killer setup: that eccentric crew of relatives, their brightly hued home on a sprawling country estate, an usual task given to a newcomer and, naturally, a sudden passing. Architect Jeanne Chardon-Spitzer (Alice Pol, Labor Day) is asked to pitch a big renovation project to the Daguerre family, transforming their impressive abode so that living there always feels like playing a game (or several). Patriarch César (Eddy Mitchell, The Middleman) already encourages his brood to enjoy their daily existence with that in mind anyway, including dedicating entire days to letting loose and walking, talking and breathing gameplay. But he's looking for a particularly bold next step. He's unimpressed by Jeanne's routine proposal, in fact. Then he drops dead, the property's doors slam shut and a voice over the intercom tells the architect, plus everyone else onsite, to undertake a series of challenges to ascertain the culprit among them — or be murdered themselves. Also thrust into the high-stakes game, which'll dispense with anyone who refuses to take part or guesses incorrectly: César's son Théo (Pablo Pauly, The French Dispatch), daughter Léna (Sarah Stern, Into the World) and nudgingly named youngest boy Hercule (Adrien Guionnet, Le Bazar de la Charité). Yes, sibling rivalry complicates the hypothesising, as well as the attempts to stay alive. Théo is particularly friendly towards workaholic Jeanne, adding another complexity to the already-chaotic situation. Similarly at hand is the dead man's younger wife Salomé (Pascale Arbillot, Haute Couture) — a mystery writer herself — and his no-nonsense offsider sister Joséphine (Miou-Miou, The Last Mercenary). And, because a home this immense was always going to have some help hovering around, butler Armand (Gustave Kervern, Love Song for Tough Guys) gets drawn in, too. If Amelie and Knives Out combined, the end result would look like Murder Party. If Wes Anderson and Agatha Christie joined forces, the outcome would be the same. It's highly unlikely that Pleskof was ever going to call his feature Murder in the Game-Filled Mansion or Death While Rolling the Dice, but that's the overwhelming vibe. There's an escape room element, too — thankfully, though, nodding towards the Escape Room franchise isn't on the agenda. Murder Party's characters get stuck in intricately designed locked spaces and forced to piece together clues to secure their freedom, and are only permitted to remain breathing by keeping their wits about them, but no one's in a horror movie here. Read our full review. THE REEF: STALKED In the crowded waters of cinema's shark-attack genre, which first took a hefty bite out of the box office with mega hit Jaws and then spawned plenty of imitators since, a low-budget Australian effort held its own back in 2010. The second movie from writer/director Andrew Traucki after his crocodile-attack flick Black Water, The Reef wasn't ever going to rake in enough takings to threaten the larger fish, but the stripped-back survival-thriller was grippingly effective. As Black Water did with 2020's Black Water: Abyss, the creature-feature helmer's shark film has now be given a sequel — and like Traucki's other franchise, this followup is a routine splash. The filmmaker keeps most of the basics the same, casting out a remakequel, aka a movie about basically the same scenario but with different faces. No, Traucki isn't seeking a bigger boat, or even to rock the one he has. The Reef: Stalked does make one curious new choice, however, stemming from its nine-months-earlier prologue. The film's opening sequences set up quite the harrowing source of trauma for protagonist Nic (Teressa Liane, The Vampire Diaries), and also clumsily equate domestic violence with the ocean's predators in the process. The aim is to show how Nic and her youngest sister Annie (debutant Saskia Archer) refuse to become victims after their other sibling Cathy (Bridget Burt, Camp-Off) is stalked and savaged in a different way, devastatingly and fatally so, at the hands of her partner Greg (Tim Ross, Dive Club). Drawing attention to assaults against women and femicide is a worthy mission, but it lacks bite here. Traucki's metaphor is as clear as the sky on a cloud-free day, and yet the domestic abuse plot point primarily plays as a way to complicate Nic as a character — PTSD flashes and all — rather than make a meaningful statement about violence within intimate relationships. After finding Cathy herself, Nic is so understandably distressed that she heads as far away as she can, but returns from overseas for a big diving and kayaking trip that was important to her sister. With friends Jodie (Ann Truong, Cowboy Bebop) and Lisa (Kate Lister, Clickbait), as well as Annie — who isn't known for enjoying the water, let alone for handling herself on it — they embark on a multi-day paddle. It isn't long until a different sinister force terrorises their getaway, though; even if you don't already know what "the man in the grey suit" refers to in surfer slang, this is a shark-attack sequel, after all. Aside from the haunting shots taking Nic back to Cathy's last moments, everything about The Reef: Stalked plays out as expected from the moment the quartet set off from north Queensland. Cue the obligatory waves of jump scares, many efficiently staged but their impact lessening as they just keep coming in increasingly predictable ways (when shark flicks are happy to swim by the numbers, if you've seen one movie like The Reef, 47 Metres Down, The Shallows, Bait, The Meg and the like, it feels like you've seen them all). Cue the tension that springs from the film's characters rarely being close enough to the shore to escape — but, when it's convenient, being close enough for kids playing on the beach to become potential fodder. Cue a score by Mark Smythe (Love You Like That) that tells viewers exactly how to react at every moment, too, and dampens the thrills and frights as a result. Still, Traucki has cast The Reef: Stalked well, enough that buying Nic and company's life-or-death stress comes easily. Trusting them, rather than clunkily overcomplicating the setup — no matter how well-intentioned — might've resulted in a better return to The Reef. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in Australian cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on April 7, April 14, April 21 and April 28; and May 5, May 12, May 19 and May 26; June 2, June 9, June 16, June 23 and June 30; and July 7, July 14 and July 21. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as Fantastic Beasts and the Secrets of Dumbledore, Ambulance, Memoria, The Lost City, Everything Everywhere All At Once, Happening, The Good Boss, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, The Northman, Ithaka, After Yang, Downton Abbey: A New Era, Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy, Petite Maman, The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Firestarter, Operation Mincemeat, To Chiara, This Much I Know to Be True, The Innocents, Top Gun: Maverick, The Bob's Burgers Movie, Ablaze, Hatching, Mothering Sunday, Jurassic World Dominion, A Hero, Benediction, Lightyear, Men, Elvis, Lost Illusions, Nude Tuesday, Ali & Ava, Thor: Love and Thunder, Compartment No. 6, Sundown, The Gray Man, The Phantom of the Open, The Black Phone, Where the Crawdads Sing and Official Competition.
Melbourne's weather might be starting to cool off, but hump day is only about to get hotter. That's thanks to The Espy's new series of blink-and-you'll-miss-it Wednesday night offers, which promise to inject a bit more midweek fun into your life. Running Wednesdays from March 30–April 27, Change Your Plans will dish up a different range of specials and events each week, announced only via the venue's newsletter at 10am each Wednesday morning. Stay tuned and you'll have some pretty sweet hump day fun to look forward to, starting with this week's blisteringly budget-friendly offer: $1 dumplings from the Mya Tiger kitchen. The tasty morsels are available today only (March 30) across the entire venue, with a choice of both pork and chive dumplings, or the mushroom and choy sum number. Future weeks' offers won't be unveiled until the morning of each launch, though there's the whisper of some very good stuff to come. We're talking $10 lobster rolls, $5 spritzes and maybe even some cheeky free beers. [caption id="attachment_699782" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alex Drewniak[/caption]
Laying claim to being Australia's coffee-sipping capital, Melbourne isn't short on top-quality cafes. But it's not every day we score a coffee destination with quite the pedigree of Campos Coffee's new Victorian flagship, which has just made its home on Chapel Street. The Australian International Coffee Awards' reigning Champion Australian Coffee Roaster (and two-time winner of the accolade), the Sydney-born brand is gearing up to turn the big 2-1 this year. And what better birthday present than a stylish new Melbourne outpost celebrating primo coffee alongside a host of talented local creatives? Lining the walls of the two-storey cafe, you'll find a rotation of local artworks, the ongoing collaboration kicking off with an exhibition of clay sculptures by Victorian ceramicist Cassie Hansen. Meanwhile, local crew Pot Dispensary are behind the custom cups that'll prettily house your long blacks and lattes. The space itself is abundant in warm hues, retro curves and timber panelling, executed by design studio Guru Projects and offering an elegant nod to the Euro espresso bars of yesteryear. Venture upstairs to find a fresh white- and green-accented room that's used to host coffee training sessions and cupping events. As with its Brisbane and Sydney flagships, Campos' extensive range of caffeinated wares is front and centre here in South Yarra. The OG Superior Blend features alongside rare Geisha varieties and the newly-launched Lab Series, which stars a curation of limited-release single origin sips. Home-based coffee drinkers are also in expert hands here, with a handpicked retail selection of brewing and grinding equipment on the shelves. As for the food, you can settle in with a lineup of sandwiches, pastries and other sweet treats courtesy of Glen Iris' AM Bakehouse, while vegan food business Mahadeva's Kitchen has a range of plant-based goodies to choose from, too. Find Campos Coffee's new Victorian flagship at 572 Chapel Street, South Yarra. It's open from 7am–3pm on weekdays and from 8am–4pm on weekends. Images: Jana Langhorst
Sydney Dance Company is celebrating its 50th anniversary in style — with a 2019 season premiere that sees three of the country's best choreographers on the bill. Following its run in Sydney, this trio of performances will share the stage at Arts Centre Melbourne for a limited time from Wednesday, May 8 to Saturday, May 11. The show begins with artistic director Rafael Bonachela's world premiere, Cinco. The performance combines the talents of award-winning lighting designer Damien Cooper, fashion designer Bianca Spender and Argentinian composer Alberto Ginastera. Five of the city's best dancers will take the stage for the performance, which is set to Alberto Ginastera's 'String Quartet No.2'. To follow is a premiere of Gabrielle Nankivell's Neon Aether. The immersive experience transports the audience to a celestial world 'beyond the clouds'. Completing the trio is Melanie Lane's WOOF, which first premiered for New Breed 2017 (a Sydney Dance Company and Carriageworks annual initiative showcasing emerging choreographers). It's an eerie performance that combines romantic, classical and pop dance styles with a score composed by renowned British electronic artist Clark. The Sydney Dance Company Triple Bill will run from Wednesday, May 8 to Saturday, May 11. Tickets start at $30 and can be purchased here. We also have double passes to the preview night to give away. Enter your details below for a chance to win. [competition]712166[/competition]
It may be a little bit gimmicky, but something about the combination of wine and 75-year-old steam locomotive is strangely enticing. Oh, the possibilities it represents! Taylors Wines are putting on this wacky little event in the Mornington Peninsula, in an effort to fundraise for Mornington Railway. After you jump aboard the old train, you'll be treated to wine tastings and education, cheese platters and raffles. You know, all the things you would absolutely expect from a vintage train ride. Just so you know, the dress-up theme is steam punk.
The Commonwealth Games are not coming to regional Victoria. One year on from its announcement and just three years out from the event, the 2026 games are going to have to find a new host after Victorian Premier Dan Andrews announced his government had pulled the plug on hosting the global sporting event. In a press conference on Tuesday, July 18, Andrews announced the decision had been made after the reported cost to host the games had nearly tripled since it was first budgeted for back in 2022. "What's become clear is that the cost of hosting these games in 2026 is not the $2.6 billion that has been budgeted and allocated," said Andrews. "It is, in fact, at least $6 billion and could be as high as $7 billion. "[This] is well and truly too much for a 12-day sporting event. I will not take money out of hospitals and schools to fund an event that is three times the cost as estimated and budgeted for last year." The plan for the 2026 games was to share the event between four regional hubs – Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland – each with their own athletes' village and sports program. [caption id="attachment_831273" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Robert Blackburn, Visit Victoria[/caption] While the games were set to deliver billions in regional upgrades and tourism, the state government has instead announced a $2 billion+ regional fund. This will invest in sporting facilities, tourism, community sport and social and affordable housing across the state's regional areas. Included in the package is a commitment to deliver the facilities promised to these regional hubs as part of the 2026 games. As well, 13,000 new homes that will be built across regional Victoria. Andrews promised that the Victorian Government had "looked at every option", including moving the games to Melbourne. However, all alternatives far exceeded the original $2.6 billion budget. The premier said talks with Commonwealth Games authorities had been amicable and productive, but no plan for where the games would now be hosted was announced. Neither the Commonwealth Games nor Commonwealth Games Australia have made an announcement yet. Australia only recently held the games, back in 2018 on the Gold Coast and still has a massive sporting event on the horizon, with the 2032 Olympic Games already locked in for Brisbane. Bit of a long one this morning. You might have heard the news this morning that Victoria will no longer be hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games. And I wanted to tell you about the decision. — Dan Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) July 17, 2023 The Commonwealth Games will no longer take place across Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland in 2026. Head to Victorian Premier Dan Andrews' Twitter for a full run-down of why the government has pulled the plug.
Just a few short weeks ago, when we were craving comedies to watch, we noted an important fact: that Parks and Recreation's Leslie Knope knows how to handle herself in a pandemic. She's already done so once, in a fifth-season episode of the beloved sitcom — and, while the show came to an end in 2015, viewers are about to see how the Pawnee, Indiana resident copes with the coronavirus. In a one-off special to raise money for US charity Feeding America, the cast of Parks and Recreation are reuniting to tackle COVID-19. And, more importantly, they'll be showing the world how their adored characters are managing at the moment. Adding another scripted instalment to the series, the show's stars will be resuming their on-screen alter egos, courtesy of a brand new episode that follows Leslie's (Amy Poehler) efforts to keep in touch with her friends while everyone is social distancing. The whole gang will be back, including not only Poehler as Leslie and her Making It co-host Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson, but Aubrey Plaza as April Ludgate-Dwyer, Chris Pratt as Andy Dwyer, Aziz Ansari as Tom Haverford, Adam Scott as Ben Wyatt, Jim O'Heir as Jerry/Garry/Larry/Terry Gergich and Retta as Donna Meagle. Although Rashida Jones' Ann Perkins and Rob Lowe's Chris Traeger left the series halfway through its sixth season, they'll be back as well, Variety reports — and you can also expect a few other yet-to-be-revealed guest stars from the show's original run, too. https://twitter.com/parksandrecnbc/status/1253461556102197251 As Poehler reveals in the above video announcing the news, it was all filmed individually from each cast member's home. That means that when this Parks and Rec special hits US screens on Thursday, April 30 (with an airdate Down Under yet to be announced), it'll look a little different to the show's usual episodes. Of course, no Parks fan will mind. Indeed, if you fall into that category, a new episode is literally the best news you could receive right now — so start making waffles, gather all the bacon and eggs you have, and make sure you've got plenty of whisky on hand. A Parks and Recreation Special airs on Thursday, April 30 in the US. There's no word yet about screening details Down Under, but we'll update you when they come to hand. Via Variety.
It's possible that as much has happened in the last few weeks for The Rubens as it has in their entire musical career, but that's not a bad thing — they've only been a band for two years after all. As well as heading inland for a slot at Groovin' the Moo and being whisked off to a mystery regional location for the triple J One Night Stand festival (at which they'll headline along with Flume), April will see The Rubens head off on their biggest Australian tour to date. The shows come off the back of their debut self-titled album released in September last year, containing the catchy Black Keysish rambler 'My Gun'. New singles 'Never Be The Same' and 'Lay It Down' effortlessly layer that same backcountry clang over slower, more soulful foundations. If this is where they are after only 24 months, we can't wait to see where they're headed next. https://youtube.com/watch?v=eKrVHMTcEuc
It's cold — freezing in fact — but that won't do anything to stop Melbourne's flour fiends flocking to Collingwood Town Hall this Saturday, August 14 for the Flour Market's winter bake sale. After a string of pop-ups at Melbourne Central in June and a doughnut festival in Sydney last month, the baked goods bonanza is back for another seasonal instalment. The main drawcard for this market is Sydney's Black Star Pastry, who will be travelling down south with their famous strawberry watermelon cake just for the occasion. But aside from the cake (which you're probably going to get anyway), there'll be doughnuts from Cobb Lane and All Day Donuts, classics American-style pies from Bakewell & Co, coffee from Everyday and some dreamy-sounding gooey caramel brioche bites from Boris Portnoy. A photo posted by Flour Market (@flour_market) on Aug 6, 2016 at 11:51pm PDT In the past the Flour Market has drawn huge crowds lining up halfway around the block to get their mitts on some cream-filled, jam-glazed, artisan patisserie, so we recommend getting there early. Entry is $2. If you prefer your pastries guaranteed, you can buy an Early Riser ticket for $10 from Wednesday, August 10. Check their Facebook page for more details as they announce them.
In the not-so-distant future, a visit to Melbourne Airport could also include a session at its sleek new rooftop bar. Having already announced a huge overhaul of facilities — proposing extra runways, expanded pick-up and drop-off zones, and extra travelators — the airport has just revealed another swag of potential improvements, on the cards as part of a planned $500 million makeover. The ambitious suite of proposals include a four-storey revamp for Terminal 2 (the international terminal), complete with rooftop bar and restaurant — an apparent nod to the CBD's famed laneway bars — viewing deck, five new airline lounges, extra seating and around 30 new specialty shops and eateries, with a focus on dishing up a high-end pre-flight experience for international travellers. Meanwhile, building is set to start early next year on a 464-room Fender Katsalidis-designed hotel near Terminal 4, which would house its own commercial gym and pool. This will be built in conjunction with the Accor group, with half of the rooms Novotel branded, and the other, Ibis. Other plans include the addition of four new roads and an elevated road loop network to help ease congestion, including an express elevated connection from the Tullamarine Freeway to the existing T4 Express Link. The airport's also set to score its own solar farm to supply all that extra energy. It's being installed beside the Northern Access Road, with 20,000 solar panels to be unveiled in the first stage by 2020. Best of all, this hefty makeover could mean eventually forking out less for flights. "More efficient airline operations and a greater number of airlines attracted to Melbourne, all combine to bring down airfares," said Melbourne Airport CEO Lyell Strambi in a statement. "So you get a better airport experience, and a cheaper flight, and a wider choice of destinations you can fly to." If approved, work on the Terminal 2 upgrade would kick off in October 2019, and is slated for completion by late 2022 — the same year construction on Melbourne's Airport Rail will hopefully begin.
Stray Neighbour melds bar, restaurant and gastropub seamlessly — a feat that should not be taken for granted. Where a lounge area with pool table could have brought the warm industrial vibe of the dining area down towards 'grunge', it doesn't. Where a vast timber-clad bar area and casual booth-style seating with bare wooden tables could have made you doubt the focus on and delicacy of the food, it doesn't. A wonderfully chameleonic beast, it's a destination for bar hoppers, foodies and all sorts of happy locals in between. The menu proper heroes seasonality and simplicity, with eats for snacking sessions right through to those long, friendly feasts. Fly by for crisp barbecue chicken ribs ($12.90) and truffled cheese arancini ($12), or settle in with the likes of a herb-crumbed chicken schnitzel ($24.90) and one of the top-notch steak dishes. A share-style 'feed me' menu clocks in at an easy $55, or $60 with dessert. Meanwhile, a new weekend breakfast offering holds its own against the neighbourhood's ever-buzzing cafe set — head in early to kick-start your morning (or battle your hangover) with the likes of honeyed ricotta doughnuts ($16), an oozy croque madame ($16), or guindilla-laced scrambled eggs($18.50). Matched with coffee by Supreme, it's a sure-fire weekend winner. Images: Brook James
Founded by husband and wife duo Bec and Chris Lutz in 2006, Design A Space is where you'll find creative works by many of Australia's most admired independent designers. It as a rotating selection of artists each month, and more than 150 notable designers who have set about creating fashion and accessories for the entire family. Many of the works uncovered at Design A Space are limited edition pieces that you won't find anywhere else. Add something bright to your wardrobe this winter, while supporting some of Australia's most respected emerging and established artists. Design A Space is also located at 20 Manchester Lane, Melbourne and 212 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. Images: Mark Lobo/Visit Victoria.
If your life could use a bit more Pixar magic at the moment, then Disney is here to help, with the Mouse House rushing the beloved animation studio's latest film to Australian and New Zealand audiences via digital rental and its streaming platform Disney+. Featuring the voices of Chris Pratt, Tom Holland, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Octavia Spencer, Onward was originally slated to release on the big screen Down Under on Thursday, March 26; however those plans changed when cinemas were ordered to shut. While the movie did play in Australian theatres for a few days over the weekend immediately beforehand, giving dedicated audiences a sneak peek, cinemas were hardly packed at the time — so, if this elf-filled adventure is still on your must-watch list, you're not alone. Pixar fans will be able to get their animation fix via video on demand from Friday, April 3, which'll require paying separately to view the film. Or, if you're already a Disney+ subscriber — or you've been thinking of becoming one — you'll be able to watch Onward on the company's own streaming platform as part of its regular package from 6pm on Friday, April 24. Story-wise, Onward tells the tale of brothers Ian and Barley Lightfoot (Marvel co-stars Holland and Pratt), two teenage elves who've grown up without their dearly departed dad. Thanks to an unexpected flash of long-dormant magic, they're given the chance to spend one last day with their father — but, in order to do so, they'll have to undertake a perilous quest in Barley's rundown van Guinevere. From the above description, you might've noticed that Pixar's usual formula isn't at play here, with the company branching beyond the "what if toys/cars/rats/robots/monsters/feelings had feelings?" setup that's served it so well in everything from the Toy Story franchise to Inside Out. Rest assured, however, that Onward's central elf siblings do indeed experience a whole heap of emotions as they cast spells, try to decipher mysterious maps, endeavour to avoid curses, explore their complicated brotherly relationship and team up with a part-lion, part-bat, part-scorpion called The Manticore (Spencer). Fast-tracking Onward to digital platforms is the latest example of film industry's efforts to adapt to the changes forced by the spread of COVID-19. In Australia and New Zealand, Disney follows fellow distributor Roadshow's lead — with the latter also speeding up the online release of a number of its big titles as well. Check out the trailer for Onward below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxKXiQvyG_o Onward will be available to purchase separately on digital platforms in Australia and New Zealand from Friday, April 3, before hitting Disney's streaming platform Disney+ as part of its regular package at 6pm on Friday, April 24. Images: © 2019 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
If you didn't end April or start May binging Heartstopper, then you probably weren't anywhere near your streaming queue or social media. As charming as romantic comedies, LGBTQIA+-championing tales, British series and coming-of-age stories can get, this webcomic-to-page-to-screen delight dropped all eight of its first-season episodes at once, became an instant Netflix hit and started many an obsession — regardless of whether you currently are or ever have been a queer teen trying to be true to yourself, navigating high school and riding the emotional rollercoaster that is falling in love. The great news: if you haven't seen it already, season one is obviously still there and waiting. The even better news: Netflix has just renewed the series for two more seasons. So, sometime in the future — with no dates given as yet — Heartstopper will be making tickers miss a beat again, and twice, with the graphic novel's author and illustrator Alice Oseman also returning as the show's writer (and creator, obviously). It's easy to see why more Heartstopper is on its way — and not just because its narrative has continued past where season one stopped on both the web and in print. The series hit the Netflix top-ten list in 54 countries, wowed audiences and earned the social-media attention to prove it, and has already made stars out of its delightful cast. ✌️ more seasons of Heartstopper! 🍂🍂https://t.co/u65kBHzJ9p pic.twitter.com/s6NKkU9Hl3 — Netflix UK & Ireland (@NetflixUK) May 20, 2022 Story-wise, Heartstopper heads to Truham Grammar School, where Charlie Spring (first-timer Joe Locke) is in year ten. He finds himself seated in his form class next to year 11 rugby player Nick Nelson (Kit Connor, Little Joe) at the start of a new term, and sparks fly swiftly and overwhelmingly — at least on Charlie's part — with a crush and then a life-changing love story both blossoming. While director Euros Lyn (Dream Horse) gives Heartstopper's first season a dreamy look and feel — with emotionally astute showers of colour, too — teen romance is always complicated. Actually, teen life in general is. Also popping up here, with their own ups and downs: Charlie's self-hating secret boyfriend Ben Hope (Sebastian Croft, Doom Patrol); his disapproving, high-drama best friend Tao (fellow debutant William Gao); their recently out trans pal Elle (Yasmin Finney); her lesbian school friends Tara (Corinna Brown, Daphne) and Darcy (Kizzy Edgell); and the quietly happy-go-lucky Isaac (Tobie Donovan). Oh, and Oscar-winner Olivia Colman (The Lost Daughter) as Nick's mum. The end result isn't afraid of teen tropes or rom-com cliches, such as grand gestures in the pouring rain, blissful montages and the stress of text messages — but it also isn't willing to deliver anything other than a thoughtful and tender account of high schoolers being and finding themselves, even amid unavoidable teen angst and taunting. There's currently four volumes, spanning five chapters, of Heartstopper on the page — and a fifth volume set to arrive in February 2023 — so fingers crossed there'll be even more seasons of the Netflix series in our futures. Check out the trailer for Heartstopper season one below: Exactly when Heartstopper will return for season two and three hasn't yet been revealed — we'll update you when dates are announced. The first season of Heartstopper is available to stream via Netflix. Read our full review. Images: Rob Youngson/Netflix.
After a jam-packed summer, MPavilion is launching into the final month of its hefty five-month season. And to celebrate, it's throwing a good ol' party in the park, complete with live tunes and free vino. Don your dancing shoes and head along from 5pm to catch sounds and performances from the likes of DJ Brontesaurus Sex, hip hop act Roya the Destroya, hula-hooping troupe Marawa and The Majorettes, and master of illusions Kozo Kaos. Then, kicking you on into the evening will be the supremely danceable tunes of Imperial Leather and DJ JNETT. Along the way, expect plenty of dazzling costumes, roving performers and interactive hula hooping sessions. What's more, to help you limber up those hips, the folks from Shadowfax Wines will be pouring a selection of their local drops on the house. [caption id="attachment_835351" align="alignnone" width="1920"] John Gollings[/caption]
Drinking some of the finest brews on the Mornington Peninsula while sitting inside the reclaimed stable of a champion racehorse may sound like an odd pairing, but at St Andrews Beach Brewery you can do just that. The brewery has been constructed inside a former racehorse training centre. In 2017, the 92-acre property became a fully functioning brewery, with the 1200-metre race track replaced by 8000 apple and pear cider trees. The training facility-turned-brewery was previously owned by the Freedman family and ran as the Markdel Thoroughbred Complex, which produced hundreds of winning racehorses. Now it's owned by Andrew Purchase, who returned home to the Mornington Peninsula after co-founding a successful brewery in France. So far, it has created a slew of award-winning beers — with appropriately equestrian names, such as the Race Day Czech pilsner and 6 Furlongs US pale ale — which are packaged on site with with facility's own kegging and bottling line. In addition to a variety of beers there is also a diverse menu with pizzas, seafood, salads and desserts with dairy-free, gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options. St Andrews Beach has live music every weekend, too. You can walk in and grab a brew or book a stall table for a group of six or more here.
Gauchito Gil is Argentina's Robin Hood. As such, it seems fitting that Australia's own Malbec World Day has been borrowed from the South American country, where the majority of the world's malbec comes from. If this day is a donation from the grape god, it's one we're happy to accept. After a successful three years, Gauchito Gil is once again bringing Malbec World Day to Melbourne with a five-hour wine bonanza at North Melbourne's Meat Market on Sunday, April 17. The event comes from the organisers of the Pinot Palooza and Game of Rhones, and mirrors the free-reign tasting set up. Your $50 ticket will include a wine glass, and from there you'll be able to move around, sampling over 80 Australian and Argentine Malbec varietals. Other events have been known to get a little boozy, so to soak up all that wine there will be top-notch empanadas from Piqueos, The Mill House, El Alamo, Gertrude Street Enoteca and Sydney's Porteño — all vying for the prestigious Golden Empanada award. It really doesn't matter if you know everything there is about malbec or if you don't know much at all, because Malbec World Day is about education and celebration of the Argentine grape. And what better way to celebrate than with an bottomless glass of wine?
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.
What's better than watching a heap of top Australian talent sit around and talk about music? Watching them do all of the above while answering questions, competing for points and just generally being funny, too. That's the concept behind ABC TV show Spicks and Specks, which took a few cues from the UK's Never Mind the Buzzcocks, pit Aussie musos and comedians against each other, and has proven a hit several times over. A weekly favourite when it first aired between 2005–2011, it just keeps coming back — including its current series of new specials. When the program was first revived back in 2014, it returned with a new host and team captains. This time, it's back with its original lineup. That means that Adam Hills, Myf Warhurst and Alan Brough have all stepped back into the quiz show realm yet again. When the trio did just that back in 2018, for a one-off reunion special, it became the ABC's most-watched show of the year. Unsurprisingly, that huge response played more than a small part in inspiring this new comeback. If you're already eager to show your own music trivia knowledge and play along — we all know that's as much a part of the Spicks and Specks fun as seeing the on-screen stars unleash their own skills (or lack thereof) — then you probably lapped up the show's Ausmusic Month special last year. And, in the first half of 2020, you probably enjoyed its 90s episode and episode dedicated to 00s tunes as well. Next up, it's tackling past decade, focusing on all the tracks, bangers, one hit wonders and more that released between 2010–2019. When it airs at 7.40pm AEST on Sunday, December 20, viewers can expect questions about the best and the worst songs the last ten years had to offer — and expect not just Adam, Myf and Alan, but musicians Kate Miller Heidke and Vance Joy and comedians Claire Hooper and Luke McGregor as well. The 10s-focused episode marks the fourth of Spicks and Specks' specials, wrapping up its four-show comeback over the past year. And, if you need a refresher in the interim, this comedic chat about a Star Wars Christmas album will do the trick: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KNMtDu7TAY Spicks and Specks: 10s Special will air on ABC TV on Sunday, December 20 at 7.40pm. The show's Ausmusic Special, 90s Special and 00s Special are all currently available to stream via ABC iView.
Has there been a certain furry, four-legged friend missing from your whisky-drinking sessions? Well, not anymore — Melbourne's landed a new neighbourhood bar that's about as dog-friendly as they come. Setting up shop on Port Melbourne's Bay Street, The Tipsy Cow's bringing the goods for humans and pooches alike, boasting both a broad-ranging drinks offering and a dog-friendly courtyard in which to enjoy the spoils. For their first joint venture, owners Anupam Sharma and Paul Tudor were out to create a comfy "den for grown-ups", with all the things they themselves would want to find in a bar: squashy couches, a toasty fireplace, sports on the telly, plenty of great whisky and, most importantly, a whole lotta dogs. The beer lineup's a healthy mix of local craft brews and European favourites, and the cocktail list pays homage to the classics, but it's the whisky selection that's getting people most excited. After all, there aren't too many other beer gardens where you can enjoy a Talisker 18-year-old or a Macallan Sienna in the company of your pup. Don't have furry mate of your own? Grab a drink and head out back anyway — you're guaranteed some wet nose kisses from The Tipsy Cow mascot and resident pooch, Nisha. There'll be a selection of cheese and charcuterie platters on offer once the kitchen's up and running, and the upstairs loft space is set to play host to regular tasting events in the not-too-distant-future.
Australia's war on waste has received a significant boost, with the Federal Government pledging to ensure that 100 percent of the country's packaging is recyclable, compostable or reusable in the next seven years. Announced by Minister for the Environment and Energy Josh Frydenberg, the target will be implemented by 2025 or earlier. The Commonwealth will also work with state and territory governments to increase the nation's recycling capabilities — and prioritise 'waste-to-energy' projects, which convert waste that is unable to be recycled into energy. Also on the agenda: ramping up the purchase of recyclable materials by the various levels of government by using more recycled paper, and building roads and construction projects out of recycled mattter. The focus not only on mandating the widespread uptake of recyclable packaging, but also finding ways to use and process it forms part of the country's response to China's decision to stop importing waste. Since the beginning of 2018, Australia has been struggling to find solutions for the 1.3 million tonnes of recyclable materials it previously sent to Chinese facilities each year, a figure that accounts for 35 percent of our recyclable plastics and 30 percent of our recyclable paper and cardboard. Earlier this month, it was discovered that one Queensland council had been sending recyclable matter to landfill instead. The promise to scrap non-recyclable packaging in general arrives as several other eco-friendly bans are coming into effect — or, in the case of Hobart's Australia-first commitment to get rid of single-use plastic containers, are set to by 2020. Single-use bags are on their way out in most states, with Queensland joining the fold this coming July and Victoria following suit, leaving New South Wales as now the only state that hasn't made the same pledge. Elsewhere, Aussie bars venues have begun phasing out straws, and campaigns to reduce the use of single-use takeaway coffee cups also continue.
With over 45 million visitors globally, Body Worlds is one of the world's most visited health and wellness exhibitions. It's also frequently described as a "life changing experience" — visitors can expect to leave with an understanding of the marvel that is the human body. Now, the original exhibition of real human bodies is coming to Australia for the first time this August. The Body Worlds Vital exhibition, on display at the Melbourne Showgrounds from August 13 till November 18, takes attendees on an intricate journey of the workings of the human body, through an authentic, visual display of over 150 donated specimens. The human bodies and body parts, donated for the benefit of public education, have gone through a meticulous process of plastination, and demonstrate the complexity, resilience and vulnerability of the human body in distress, disease and optimal health. The exhibitions were founded by anatomist and scientist Dr Gunther von Hagens and physician and conceptual designer Dr Angelina Whalley. And all the specimens displayed at the exhibitions are from an established body donation program with consenting donors — so far 17,000 bodies from around the world have been donated to Dr von Hagens' Institute for Plastination. The Australian tour specifically focuses on contemporary diseases and ailments and how everyday lifestyle choices can improve health and wellness, to live with vitality. The 150 specimens on display stem are preserved through a scientific process that replaces body fluids with polymers. Interactive elements include the Anatomical Mirror, where visitors will see how organs are positioned in their own body, a photo display that showcases longevity and healthy ageing, and healthy organs shown in direct comparison with diseased organs. The exhibition will be open daily, from 10am–5pm Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, from 10am–6.30pm Thursday and Friday, and 9.30am–6.30pm Saturday and Sunday.
Take a stroll down the industrial-clad Rupert Street and you might see a small, copper fox peering at you. Don't be alarmed. For you've just discovered Collingwood's most sleek and sly bar on the block, Rupert on Rupert. The red fox, bar manager Radar Rad says, was inspired by owner Ric Corinaldi's beginnings in Warrandyte, where foxes run rampant. Midnight blues and tartan bench seats are a bold and welcoming statement from Ric and team, who have transformed this warehouse into one cunningly fine, aesthetically imagined den. The bar isn't much of a burrow — there's too much natural light flooding in from the ceiling windows for that. And the appeal lies beyond just the use of sunlight and those tempting metal curves of the motorbikes they keep on show. It's the fine touches, like the copper piping that runs around the bar for your feet to rest on, that shows this group care not only for aesthetics, but are catering to comfort and class. Venue Manager, Maxwell Finch (ex The Beaufort), further explains that Ric and team wanted a more inclusive venue, mirroring not only Ric's beginnings at the edge of suburbia, but also more of an older country mentality. They achieve this with their menu. Rupert's menu is designed to be shared, with a focus on European peasant food. Parsnip chips with babaganoush ($8.50) and panfried tofu with satay and mint ($18) make great snacking morsels to get you started. Rinse these down with one of their on-tap drinks. Choices range from a house red or white, to two apple ciders or one of their eight Australian favoured beers. The more substantial feasts include their wood-fired oven pizzas. Choose from a paprika spiced Polish sausage sort ($22.50) or maybe one scattered with smoked trout, olives and pea tendrils ($23). Dietaries can also be catered for, with gluten free pizza bases or nutzarella vegan cheese ($4 each) available on request. Finish the night with our preferred apple and whiskey squeeze The Jappels are Here ($10), and Rupert's personal favourite: a glass of Vermut Negre, a Spanish vermouth ($7), served on the rocks. With a range like that, it's definitely a classy enough place to take a date. Or your mum. Motorbikes and tartan have never worked better together. And if foxes have to surface for food and water, then Rupert provides the perfect sanctuary for such nourishment.
In Melbourne, yet another ridesharing service has thrown its hat into the ring, with China's DiDi Chuxing launching its DiDi Express platform across the city today, Monday, June 25. The new app is now available to download, promising locals 'an affordable, convenient and reliable ride-sharing alternative', as DiDi goes head to head with the likes of Taxify, Ola, Oiii and Uber, which just launched its new carpooling service. And it's sweetening the deal with some pretty tempting launch incentives, for both riders and drivers. Those travelling with the service will enjoy a tidy 50 percent discount (capped at $10 per trip) on all DiDi rides from now until the end of July, and will receive a $20 credit every time they introduce a friend to the platform. DiDi drivers can look forward to forking out zero commission when operating during peak times or in a peak area, and no commission plus a $5 bonus when doing both at once. They'll also take advantage of a stable 20 percent commission at other times and introductory bonuses for completing 20 trips in a seven-day period. The company's promising 24/7 support to both drivers and riders, an itinerary sharing feature for those riding, and a strict driver vetting process. DiDi Chuxing launched in China in 2012 and has quickly become a huge player in the global ridesharing game — it has since bought out Uber's Chinese operations and has stakes in numerous companies, including Ola, Taxify, Lyft and Grab. It'll be interesting to see how its services stack up to what's already on offer and how many drivers will be available at any one time. You can now download the DiDi Express app from the app store.
Get ready for 18 days of around-the-block queues and arguing with people who refuse to put away their phone. That's right, Melbourne movie lovers: the Melbourne International Film Festival is a mere three-and-a-bit weeks away, and the freshly spoiled lineup is as diverse and enticing as ever. Of the more than 300 films and 52 countries represented on this year's MIFF program, the Australian contingent looks particularly impressive. The festival kicks off on July 31 with the world premiere of Predestination, a time travel thriller starring Ethan Hawke and Noah Taylor. Tony Ayres' period crime film Cut Snake has been tapped for the centrepiece gala, while closing night will feature Joel Edgerton and Melissa George in the Melbourne-set police drama Felony. Other local highlights include SXSW's Aussie darling The Infinite Man; Amiel Courtin-Wilson's grim but beautiful new drama Ruin; a destined-to-offend reboot of the classic Ozploitation film Turkey Shoot; and the latest cine-centric documentary from Not Quite Hollywood director Mark Hartley, Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films. American indie cinema will also have a strong showing this year, with major titles including Richard Linklater's 12-year passion project Boyhood, Kelly Reichardt's lauded environmental thriller Night Moves and James Gray's fourth consecutive Palme d'Or competitor The Immigrant. Nicholas Cage, meanwhile, proves he still knows how to act as the titular character in David Gordon Green's new character piece Joe, while Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig give rare dramatic performances in The Skeleton Twins, which also won a screenwriting award at Sundance. Speaking of major festival winners, MIFF patrons can look forward to not one but two new films from Quebecois enfant terrible Xavier Dolan, in the form of the breathtaking mother-son drama Mommy and the tense psychological thriller Tom at the Farm. The former film shared the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival with Goodbye to Language, a 3D experimental work from the 83-year-old Jean Luc-Godard. The tense, strikingly shot Czech drama Honeymoon won Jan Hrebejk directing accolades at his native Karlovy Vary last July, while a little closer home, the Dardenne Brothers' Two Days, One Night deservedly took the top prize at this year's Sydney Film Festival. Melbourne's programmers have also continued their impressive run of Asian cinema, with standouts including Wong Kar-wai's long awaited martial arts epic The Grandmaster and the immaculately photographed Chinese neo-noir Black Coal, Thin Ice. More daring MIFFers might also want to check out the latest blood-soaked opus from Japanese provocateur Sion Sono, Why Don't You Play in Hell, described by Film.com critic David Ehrlich as "quite possibly mankind's greatest achievement". From the documentary section, no film buff should skip Jodorowsky's Dune, a fascinating and often hilarious look at what many people consider the single greatest movie never made. Also on tap: master documentarian Errol Morris probes the mind of former US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld in The Unknown Known, while Michel Gondry animates a series of interviews with Noam Chomsky, posing the question Is The Man Who Is Tall Happy?. Alternatively, if all that sounds too challenging, maybe try I Am Big Bird, a no-holds-barred expose about Sesame Street's resident yellow pigeon. MIFF 2014 runs from July 31 until August 17. Tickets go on sale to the general public at 11am on Friday, July 11. For more information, visit the MIFF website
Throwing shapes on the dance floor is one thing, but how about really thrilling that inner tween of yours with a pair of skates, a roller rink and an afternoon of disco? Come October you'll have the chance to do all of that, with the Collingwood Underground Roller Disco returning for its latest instalment. Once again setting up shop in a carpark beneath the suburb's landmark high-rise flats — and kicking off at 3pm on Saturday, October 20 — it's set to be a family-friendly affair, with a lineup of much-loved Melbourne DJs and performers setting the beat for punters of all ages. Expect a mix of boogie, disco, and house beats as you go for a roll for the entry price of $10. You can take your own lucky skates or hire some on the day — for $5 per hour — and there'll be plenty of eats and drinks on offer to help fuel those freestyle moves. Start practicing now and grab tickets at the door.
So you've made it through another year. And whether it was a slog or not, you are entitled to treat yourself this holiday season. To some that may be a festive getaway; to others, it might be telling your friends you're busy for the night while you hit the couch and get through all those new Netflix shows you may have missed this year — rumour has it Sabrina is coming back this month with a special Christmas episode. Others still may want to embrace the outside world and head out. If that's you, Melbourne is chockers with fancy destinations you've probably got on your 'for a special occasion' list, but we're here to tell you that every occasion is a special occasion. So splash out and remember you only live once and that life should be filled with bubbly wine. But, if your budget only stretches to bubbly water, we hear you and have teamed up with Bank of Melbourne to help you out. While we've rounded up some top-notch, splashy places, we've also figured out how you can head to these and not spend more than $50. ORDER A LOBSTER FEAST AT UNABARA Get some of the aphrodisiacs of the sea (aphroseasiacs, if you will) with a jaunt into Unabara. A Japanese restaurant specialising in lobster and oysters, Unabara has two presences in Melbourne — its Emporium restaurant and a newer ramen house in Melbourne Central. Pop into the Emporium lobster bar for a half South Australian rock lobster grilled and served with fries, salad and your choice of sauces for $39.90 — saving room if possible to peruse the oyster menu (they're served nine different ways). Or, head into the ramen bar for a bowl of Deluxe Unabara Lobster Sapporo Miso Ramen, also featuring half a crustacean for $28.90. GRAB VUE DE MONDE FARE AT LUI BAR Nestled next to ultra-fine dining Vue De Monde, the jewel on Shannon Bennett's crown, is Lui Bar. Also on the 55th floor of the Rialto and with a dress code, Lui Bar gives you the fancy feels that VdM is known for but at a much, much smaller price point. Head up there for a Lui Counter Meal, a chance to sample some of Vue De Monde's fare via a lunch box for $39. You'll get a choice of three dishes, a glass of wine or beer and even have a sweet treat thrown in to finish. Check out the views up from the 55th floor and say "oooh, ritzy" as you figure out you're ascending more floors than dollars you'll pay. Available from Thursday to Sunday, 12–2pm. PAMPER YOURSELF AT THE PENINSULA HOT SPRINGS The Mornington Peninsula Hot Springs has recently copped a big old refurb, meaning it's become even better, just in time for you and your tired bones to go, relax and rejuvenate a bit. The Bath House offers early bird and twilight bathing (weekdays before 9am and after 7pm) for $25 or off-peak (Monday to Friday) for $45. Stay as long as you want — or until they close at 10pm — soak those aching muscles and let your money woes float away. Who needs a fancy organic vegan mud spa experience when you can relax in beautiful mineral geothermal waters for under $50? You can also do a pizza and spa experience, FYI, which is a little more expensive, but we thought you should know. GRAB THE EXPRESS LUNCH AT CECCONI'S Italian restaurant Cecconi's sits up the east end of Flinders Lane and houses a huge reputation, a cellar bar and some truly great bowls of pasta. It also runs a $40 express lunch special, wherein you can nab two courses and a glass of house wine for two lobsters. Cecconi's has been providing the hallmark of good Italian dining in Melbourne since 1998, and it's a critic's darling; this is a great option to get amongst it. Good news for coeliacs, too — there's even gluten-free bread and pasta options. Praise be to the Cecconi gods (the Bortolotto family, helmed by matriarch Olimpia). [caption id="attachment_638855" align="alignnone" width="1620"] Brook James[/caption] ORDER FANCY COCKTAILS AT 1806 If it's cocktails you seek, it's luxe cocktails you'll find at 1806, designated fancy bar in Melbourne CBD. Probably one you've stumbled into late at night on your way up Exhibition Street, 1806 is anything but casual. The long and detailed list of cocktails is categorised by era, featuring cocktails that date from all the way back to 1650 till now. Named after the year the word 'cocktail' was first printed, 1806 offers theatricality, exemplary service and a sureness that you won't be stopping at just one cocktail: there's around 60 to try that range from $17 to $22. DINE ON TRUFFLES AT SAGRA Sagra is a restaurant and bar on Malvern's Glenferrie Road that boasts a couple of levels, a rooftop bar and modern arty decor. They also feature, on the seafood-heavy and comfort-high menu, a couple of dishes where you can sample the culinary world's version of gold: truffles. Sniffed out by animals but dug up by people, truffles are rare (and expensive) because of their difficulty to farm, so, unfortunately for us, they're always found in small doses. But here at Sagra, you can find them aplenty. Opt for the duck liver pâté with truffled clover honey ($18), crayfish roll with truffle aioli ($12), a smoky risotto funghi with white truffle oil ($30), the half roasted duck served with truffle ($42) or the hand-cut chips with truffle pecorino ($13). SPEND A SUMMER'S NIGHT (GIN IN HAND) AT THE ADELPHI POOL DECK The Adelphi Hotel is one of Melbourne's unicorns. Smack-bang in the middle of town, this four-star hotel features a rooftop bar with a pool attached that's also open to the public ($35 per person). Off the back of last year's success, this summer, the Adelphi is again running its Four Pillars-hosted Gin Thursdays and Fridays. Partnering with the gin distillery, guests will be able to head up to the pool deck between 5pm–9pm every Thursday and Friday from January 18 till March 29. Four Pillars cocktails will be served along with snacks from Om Nom Kitchen, but like last year, get in early because there'll be limited capacity. OPT FOR A CHEESE AND SAKE FLIGHT AT MILK THE COW Generally, it's all about the cheese and wine pairings over here, but if you're indulging, why not splash out on something a bit different? Try a cheese and saké flight at licensed fromagerie Milk The Cow, with locations in both Carlton and St Kilda. For $22 or $36, you can have three or four cheeses custom matched to the saké you'll be served. Rest assured it'll be a harmonious pairing, as each cheese choice will be carefully thought out and explained by your cheesemonger. Cheese, of course, is the best of all the savoury things you can eat, and saké is known for its rich and umami flavours. So, 1 + 1 = 2 = good. Quick, delicious maths. ENJOY A LEISURELY WEEKDAY HIGH TEA AT MAMOR CHOCOLATES Mamor Chocolates is a place of good things: chocolate, high teas, chocolate high teas, Champagne brekkies and super lush red velvet couches — all things good for the soul. Though it's definitely the sort of place you treat yourself to, it is possible to do so for under $50; just pick the weekday morning or afternoon tea option. Mamor runs sittings on Wednesdays from 2–5pm and Thursdays to Sundays from 11am–1.30pm — the perfect time to use that 'dentist appointment' excuse at work (or, you know, do the responsible thing and wait until you're on Christmas holidays). The menu ($47) will convince you even if we don't: ribbon sandwiches, scones with jam and cream (of course) and the chef's selection of petit fours. Wash it all down with endless tea, coffee or pink lemonade and you might actually be heading to the dentist the next day after all. Worth it. [caption id="attachment_573639" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Jeff Busby.[/caption] SNAG DISCOUNTED TICKETS TO THE OPERA Nothing feels more high brow than the opera, and Opera Australia is making your 'Madame Butterfly' dreams achievable on a 'Ms Moth' budget. The affordable ticket scheme is a good'un: you can either enter the ballot and try your luck for a chance at $20 tickets or nab the student rush tickets for $47 if you're a full-time studier. The Student Rush tickets are only given to those with a valid ID, and you have to head into the Box Office from 9am on the day of the performance. If you tick all those boxes, however, you'll be sipping prosecco at interval in no time. SIP CHAMPAGNE AT ATRIUM BAR Nothing signifies a celebration like a chilled glass of bubbly (well, one that isn't Passion Pop), and it's worth braving the particular situation that is Crown Casino to make your way to Atrium Bar. A designated champagne bar, Atrium is a swish, shiny lounge that gives you the option of over 20 different champagnes. Some are only by the bottle (such as the vintage Louis Roederer 'Cristal' 2009 that'll set you back a cool $695) but don't panic, others are available by the glass (Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut, $33). And, Atrium are running a January special: two flutes of Piper-Heidseick for $35, available from the 7th - 27th of the month. BOOK A PRIVATE WHISKY TASTING AT WHISKY AND ALEMENT If whisky is more your poison of choice than bubbles, we've got you covered here, too. Whisky and Alement on Russell Street in the CBD is a whisky bar with just a little more. With a perpetually changing menu of around 1000 whiskies at the bar, it also runs private whisky tasting tours for groups of ten to 18. Perfect for a birthday, a work function or a lush way to celebrate the end of the year, tastings run from Thursday to Sunday and start at $35 per person. Groups receive a talk from a whisky expert, then are able to taste the four whiskies on offer. Top image: Adelphi Pool Deck.
Moon Dog has gone and brought a whole new meaning to the words 'go big, or go home'. The Abbotsford-born brewing company has unveiled its hotly anticipated, mammoth new Preston brewery, dubbed Moon Dog World. The team's made good on the grand plans it announced for the venue back in March. Clocking in at 12,000 square metres, the multi-warehouse site is supposedly longer than the MCG end-to-end, and has room for a huge 725 punters. The name hints at a theme park or adventure land and, between the jungle of greenery, the Tiki-style bar, the indoor waterfall and the illuminated rainforest lagoon flowing right through the centre, that's basically what awaits. Blue and white-striped deck chairs perched right by the water promise to be prime real estate in the coming months. Over to one side presides an elevated DJ booth and VIP terrace, while opposite, a two-level conglomeration of shipping containers has been transformed into a series of cosy rooms, hidden booths and open balconies. You'll even find a mini pinball arcade tucked away somewhere inside. A hefty central bar is pouring one heck of a beer list, decked out with no less than 72 taps — never has there been this many Moon Dog brews offered in one spot. True to form, it's a diverse collection, featuring label favourites including the Old Mate pale ale and Cake Hole black forest stout, alongside seasonal releases like the Cherry Seinfeld sour ale. A rotation of guest drops rounds out the beer offering, though there's also an all-Aussie wine lineup, classic tap cocktails and a few signature concoctions, for those after something different. [caption id="attachment_744578" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The swordfish skewers.[/caption] It's a space for all occasions, with a food offering to match, featuring burgers, share plates and charcoal dishes. Grab a beer and settle in with some crispy chicken ribs doused in lime and chilli caramel, squid karaage served with lemon and kewpie mayo, or maybe the swordfish skewers finished with feta, almond dukkah and a capsicum mojo rojo. Burgers run from the likes of a crispy chicken number loaded with kewpie and barbecue sauce, to a vegan creation starring a sweet potato and kimchi patty. You can even grab a half or whole free-range chook, hot off the kitchen's charcoal rotisserie and served with gravy, chilli oil or spicy za'atar oil. Perfect Sunday session food. Add to all that the handful of sports screens and a sunny outdoor beer garden, and this is one boozy theme park you'll never want to leave. Find Moon Dog World at 32-46 Chifley Drive, Preston daily from 11am. Images: Kate Shanasy.
If you heard the name 'Funland' in Australia, you'd think it was one of two things: an offshoot of Dreamworld where you'd be surrounded by obnoxious tourists, or an offshoot of Sexyland where you'd be harangued by middle-aged sex pests. Neither sound all that desirable. But in New York this week, Funland is an 'erotic playground' designed by British artists Bompas and Parr at the Museum of Sex — a bizarre combination of both Dreamworld and Sexyland that's infinitely better than either. One of the most obviously titillating (lol) attractions at the frisky fairground is an enormous bouncy castle full of giant protruding breasts. Appropriately titled, Jump for Joy this artwork is for those of us constantly frustrated by the absence of adult playground equipment, and also for lovers of big squishy Skywhale-scale boobies. In addition to this absolutely amazing thing which might be worth booking a flight for on its own, Bompas and Parr are also presenting four other fairground attractions with a sexual bent. There's an R-rated cinema, The Tunnel of Love — a mirrored labyrinth where patrons must go in search of the Gräfenberg (G) Spot, a mechanical horse-riding game where the animal is replaced by a certain male appendage, and a climbing wall made out of body parts knowingly titled Grope Mountain. The artists behind this utter excellence actually have quite the reputation outside of giant grope-able genitals too. Known for their extraordinary culinary innovations, they were responsible for London's NYE celebrations last year creating the world's first edible fireworks display. They also make the most incredible artisan jellies you've ever seen. What a life, eh? The entire Funland installation is of course a great celebration of sex positivity — an important principle of the NY institution in which it will be held. But the artists also claim they're responding to the erotic nature of fairgrounds themselves. Bompas explained to Wired this week that fairgrounds were a place to "hold hands and have a snog"; they're a place of thrills, pleasure and climaxes. Gives you a whole new perspective on the Royal Easter Show, right? Via Wired and Gothamist.
The second weekend in July is one for truffle hunters and lovers to mark in their diary. Winter is truffle season people, and the good folk at Truffle Melbourne are putting on a festival for the highly-sought after rich delicacy. Did you know that Australia is the 4th largest black truffle producer in the world? Yes, they may be a little bit fancy, but they’re more accessible than what you might think. Melbourne Truffle Festival, held at the Caulfield Racecourse, will feature Melbourne’s greatest truffle chefs as they demonstrate their tantalisingly tasty secret recipes. There'll be plenty of tastings on offer by the festival's executive chef Philippe Mouchel, plus truffle product samples from other artisan food businesses. Even if you have no idea what to do with truffle, experts on the day will offer advice on finding, choosing and preparing truffle dishes at home. Truffle snuffling aside, we're counting down until this little gem of a festival highlight. The festival will a stage a mock truffle hunt — with truffle dogs in tow — for those wanting to go on the tastiest game of hide and seek we've come across yet.
It's that time again: to wish that you're in Germany for the next month, or to do your best to pretend you are even while you're right here at home. That's the kind of response that Oktoberfest inspires, because we can't all always head over to Europe just for the annual brew-fuelled celebration. Melburnians can hit up The Bavarian's various locations around town between Friday, September 16–Sunday, October 9 instead, though. On the menu: parties, German-style beers, schnapps, giant pretzels, pork-heavy menus, Sunday sausage sizzles and, at Knox, Oompah bands providing a soundtrack. So, everything you could want and need to mark the occasion. The venues will sport all the Oktoberfest trimmings — greenery, ribbons and bright tables cloths included — and staff will be decked out in dirndls and lederhosen. Yes, you're encouraged to dress up as well. If you're most excited about the drinks, there'll be eight types of beers, plus tasting paddles to sample them all. Also, the final week of the fun — so, from Monday, October 3 onwards — has been dubbed Big Beer Week to ramp up the brews. Fancy living your best Oktoberfest life all year round afterwards? You can purchase one of The Bavarian's one-litre steins to take home with you and— for $40, which includes a beer that you'll drink onsite first. Food-wise, options start with the OktoberBoss set menu, which serves up a feast of pork knuckle, pork belly, sausages, schnitzels and sides (plus a schnapps on arrival) for groups of four-plus for $49 per person. If it's just you and one mate / your date, there's the Oktoberfest Mate set menu is for two-plus diners for the same price, spanning pretzels, pork belly, sausages, schnitzels and sides. Brews can be added to each menu for an extra $45 per person — and you can cap things off with an apple strudel for $7 a pop. Love pretzels? A special lineup of giant versions is on offer for the first few days of The Bavarian's Oktoberfest shenanigans, from Saturday, September 17–Friday, September 23 — including ones topped with bacon, filled with cheese and covered in sprinkles (no, not all at once). Or, there's a black forest doughnut pretzel. The word for that is yum. Snag fans can make a date with those sausage sizzles, which are available on Sundays in October. There'll be six types of traditional bangers, served solo in a roll (from $10) or via a sausage wheel on a stick.
Addams Family fans, it's time to get a witch's shawl on and a broomstick you can crawl on, because Netflix — and Tim Burton — are gonna pay a call on popular culture's most famous supernatural brood. Come November, the streaming platform will release Wednesday, the high school-set series about the eerie family's teenage daughter. And, in a way, there's more than one Wednesday on offer. To answer the obvious question, yes, the show will drop on a Wednesday: Wednesday, November 23, in fact. To answer your next two queries, yes, Christina Ricci is among the cast — but no, she isn't playing the titular role, because that honour goes to Jenna Ortega. Ortega is having quite the year, especially when it comes to horror. This new take on The Addams Family follows her roles in Scream, Studio 666 and X already in 2022. When she shares the screen with Ricci, as seen in the just-dropped new Wednesday trailer, the latter plays Nevermore Academy teacher Marilyn Thornill. As also shown in the initial teaser trailer from back in August, Wednesday obviously focuses on its namesake — aka the Addams' eldest child, who plenty of teenage girls with long black hair have been compared to for decades. Wednesday is indeed a teen in the new series, and she has been terrorising her way through schools, hopping through eight of them in five years. Now she's ended up at Nevermore Academy, where her mother introduces her with an apology: "please excuse Wednesday, she's allergic to colour". Morticia (Catherine Zeta-Jones, Prodigal Son) actually met Gomez (Luis Guzmán, Hightown) at the school, and they think that she'll love it — but clearly Wednesday's storyline isn't going to be that straightforward. While she's there, she'll have a monstrous killing spree to stop, and a supernatural mystery linked to her parents a quarter-century ago to solve. Sleuthing, high-school antics and all things Addams Family: that's the spell that Wednesday plans to cast. Also part of the series, as seen in the sneak peeks so far: a creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky vibe, as befitting a family that has been around for 84 years now, and just keeps scampering around screens big and small like a mischievous severed limb. Wednesday treads in huge footsteps, given that this isn't the first time that The Addams Family has made the leap from a beloved cartoon in The New Yorker to the screen. The 1960s TV series is a gem of the era, and 1991's live-action film The Addams Family and its 1993 sequel Addams Family Values — starring Ricci as Wednesday — are two of the best movies of that decade. (The less said about the recent animated flick and its own follow-up, however, the better.) In Burton, the show boasts a director who could easily be one of the altogether-ooky crew's long-lost relatives, and has spent his entire career channelling their gothic aesthetic. In fact, the trailers look like Burton is filtering his Frankenweenie, Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands vibes through Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children — so, it looks exactly like a Tim Burton-directed version of The Addams Family was always going to. Netflix's eight-part series also stars Isaac Ordonez (A Wrinkle in Time) as Pugsley and George Burcea (Comrade Detective) as Lurch, while Game of Thrones' Gwendoline Christie is also set to pop up. And, in the latest trailer, the new Uncle Fester is revealed — as played by Fred Armisen (Los Espookys). Check out the full trailer for Wednesday below: Wednesday will stream via Netflix from Wednesday, November 23. Images: Courtesy of Netflix © 2022.
If you think hard enough, you may remember 'Harley & Rose' as a melancholic track from the 90s. Fast forward to 2018 and Melbourne chef duo Josh Murphy and Rory Cowcher use it as a nostalgic reference for their new bar-cum-pizzeria restaurant in Melbourne's west. Located on Barkly Street, West Footscray, Harley and Rose is very much a neighbourhood hangout complete with its very own in-house bottle-o. The culinary rising stars, best known for their time spent at the Builders Arms Hotel, Cutler & Co. and Cumulus Inc., have worked on and off together for years. "We're very much on the same page when it comes to what we like and don't like about restaurants and food," says Cowcher. "When it came to writing the first draft of the menu, it just sort of came together within an hour. We didn't really need to talk it out." The result? A very casual, neighbourhood bar with a menu showcasing everything the boys like to eat themselves. "We both spend a lot of time cooking on our Webers at home and wanted to work with that style of cooking — and we both love pizza so we used that as a starting point," says Murphy. The boys enlisted the help of Dion Hall from Projects of Imagination to create an approachable and comfortable environment centred on a neighbourhood quality. The 90-seater also features a front courtyard perfect for summertime drinks with friends. The menu is simple, featuring six woodfired pizzas and five mains alongside a heap of salads and snacks, including cured meats and tasty seafood plates. While sharing is the best way to taste everything, the boys are also big on going solo. "The menu is just as much designed for sharing as it isn't," says Murphy. "You can grab a couple of pizzas and order some sides, or you can have a steak or enjoy both, really." You'll find all the Italian classics on the pizza menu; there's everything from margherita to prosciutto to diavola, as well as a pipi pizza with parsley, lemon and cream. For those after a little more, mains include the prime rib eye steak, whole baby snapper, and the highly coveted spaghetti cacio e pepe. Add the Roberta's romaine lettuce salad with candied walnuts, pecorino and mint and finish off with one of the epic desserts. Our pick: the 18+ heartbreaker featuring Bulleit bourbon and Maltesers. The wine list is managed by ex-Cumulus beverage manager Mark Williamson and features a stack of varietals from established producers both local and beyond. If you're after something to take home, visit the in-house bottle-o located just behind the bar. It offers around 100 different take-home varietals that are also offered in the restaurant – a try before you buy kinda approach. Beer also takes centre stage at Harley and Rose with brewed tap Napoleone Helles lager from the Yarra Valley and Young Henrys Newtowner pale ale up for the taking. Images: Giulia Morlando
When it comes to a romantic weekend for two, a solo trip or a break with the besties, you can't beat the cosy feels of a tiny house. Perfect for escaping the daily grind, a mini abode makes up for the space it lacks with plenty of good times and fresh air. With so many tiny houses in NSW, it's easier than ever to find the right one for you. Whatever your vibe, whether it's a quaint rural stay complete with rolling green hills or a luxe cabin by the water, NSW has a pint-sized holiday home to suit. We've done the hard work for you and rounded up some of the best small-but-mighty tiny houses you can book in NSW. Pick a favourite, pack a bag and get set for a taste of that minimalist life. Recommended reads: The Best Places to Go Glamping in NSW The Best Places to Stay in the Blue Mountains The Best Hotels in Sydney The Best Dog-Friendly Hotels in Australia [caption id="attachment_1009756" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Robert Walsh.[/caption] Billy's Hideaway by Huch, Wollombi Surrounded by bushland and overlooking a Billabong, this architecturally designed cabin is completely off-grid, offering a luxurious yet sensitive addition to the landscape. Enjoy panoramic views from the open-plan living, or settle in the hot tub with a glass of wine. From $448 a night, sleeps 2 adults, 2 children. Kumbogie Cabin, Daruka A cosy off-grid cabin for two, set among rolling green hills and bushland. Unwind on the porch overlooking the trees, or settle in by the outdoor fire. From $170 a night, sleeps two. The Bower at Nanny Goat Hill, Kangaroo Valley This charming tiny house in NSW is a farm retreat that makes for the ultimate small group getaway, boasting all the creature comforts, and a tranquil setting complete with resident goats and chooks. From $230 a night, sleeps four. Vineyard Cabin by Outpost, Exeter Nestled amongst the vines of Exeter Vineyard & Cellar Door in the Southern Highlands, this cabin combines rustic country charm with understated luxury. Cosy and authentic, unwind and immerse in the simple beauty of the Australian countryside. From $290 a night, sleeps two. Byron Hinterland Tiny House, Possum Creek A chic escape for two in a peaceful pocket of the Byron hinterland. This off-grid stay is effortlessly stylish, complete with sunny deck, hammock and reading nook. From $230 a night, sleeps two 6Sixteen The Banks, Agnes Banks With its idyllic rural setting and Blue Mountains outlook, this tiny home is one dreamy getaway. Enjoy the fire pit, sun-drenched deck and comfy loft bedroom. From $229 a night, sleeps three. Ligo, Wolgan Valley An architecturally designed tiny home surrounded by the picturesque cliffs of the Newnes Plateau within the Gardens of Stone National Park, escape the daily grind and immerse in the ruggedness of the Australian bush, with a side of luxury. From $449 a night, sleeps two. Horseshoe Hideaway, Mullion If you fancy stargazing from a hot-tub off the beaten track and waking up to sweeping mountain views, make this tiny house in NSW your next getaway. There's a fire pit and a floor-to-ceiling window in the shower, so you'll never miss the view. From $350 a night, sleeps two. Tiny Escape Tiny House, Wollombi A pint-sized paradise for two sitting among rugged bushland that promises a rejuvenating time away. There are luxury linens, a fire pit and acres of nature waiting to be explored. From $200 a night, sleeps two. The Hill Station, Mount Tomah Nestled in the heart of the Blue Mountains, this renovated cabin is the ideal couples retreat. Conveniently close to the Mt. Tomah Botanical Gardens, enjoy plenty of tranquil garden walks followed by afternoons curled up by the fireplace. Fron $380 a night, sleeps two. Boatshed Bliss, Dangar Island Soak up the sun on the shores of the Hawkesbury River in this pet-friendly retreat. You will have to get a boat to this secluded tiny home. With a private beach at your doorstep, you'll enjoy plenty of time by the water, whether you're taking a dip or watching the sun set over the lapping waves. From $275 a night, sleeps three. The Salty Dog, Newport One of the best tiny houses in NSW that's close to Sydney, this tiny boathouse takes 'on the water' property to the next level. The floating home for two comes complete with a cosy loft, downstairs dining space and kitchen and yes, a boat to get back to shore. From $655 a night. Sleeps two. [caption id="attachment_786394" align="alignnone" width="1920"] By Wilken Photography[/caption] Arabella, Beaumont An award-winning designer stay, complete with fairytale-like forest setting. While the tiny home itself is impressive, but it's the incredible one-way glass bathroom hidden among nearby trees that steals the show. From $290 a night, sleeps three. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy. Top image: Arabella by Love Space Photography. All other images supplied.
Mediterranean-inspired bars and restaurants are popping up all over the city. They're heroing minimalist design features with plenty of natural finishes. Spritz menus are now a thing. And classic Euro-centric bites — especially simply-prepared seafood — are everywhere. This kind of food is seen to be the best companion to the lighter and juicier wines (plus the beloved pét-nats) that are growing in popularity right now. We're not unhappy about this trend. The Mediterranean style of dining, which can go from light snacking and sipping on wines to full-on feasting, is downright fabulous. The latest spot to capitalise on this is Lucia in South Melbourne. But it isn't simply jumping on the bandwagon. The crew here are already responsible for creating a handful of charming European wine bars and restaurants in Melbourne (Riserva, Baia Di Vino and San Lorenzo). Lucia seems like a very natural addition to the group. For this venture, owners Frank Ciorciari and Anthony Silvestre have brought on Jordan Clavaron (ex-Society, Cutler & Co) as Head Chef. Lucia's all-day menu is inspired by Claravon's travels around Spain, France and Italy, and there is a particularly strong seafood focus. That'll be pretty obvious once you walk in and see the impressive seafood bar and watch as waiters carry out the all-too-luxurious caviar service — another growing trend in the fine-dining Melbourne scene. Pasta, risotto, steaks and a decent selection of small snacking plates will also be available, alongside a dedicated bar menu that includes the Lucia Burger — only available to diners at the bar. Head Sommelier Simone Garro is running the wine side of things at Lucia and has curated a 400-strong wine list that covers a range of prices, regions and grape varieties. For those wanting to try some rare drops without having to get a super spenny bottle, Garro has even made a few available by the glass by using a Coravin. Lucia's Bar Manager Efe Iseri (ex-Strato Bar, Kisumé) has also created some Euro-inspired cocktails and has stocked the bar with a hefty selection of digestives and aperitifs. Hospitality veteran Christian Janko (Entrecote, France-Soir) has been tasked with running the front of house. Having worked at two of the best French restaurants in Melbourne (famed for having exceptional old-school European service), you should expect to be well looked after. Even though this particular style of drinking and dining is all over Melbourne these days, Lucia has a team of hospo heavyweights ready to fight off the competition. You'll find Lucia at 11 Eastern Road, South Melbourne, open 12pm–late from Tuesday to Saturday. For more information, head to the restaurant's website.
If you've been dreaming about a new set of wheels to help you gracefully glide into the sunny season, the legends at Amsterdam-born bike label Lekker can help you out. For two days this October, the company's North Melbourne store will host another edition of its ever-popular 'garage sale' filled with bikes, bargains, eats and beats. The party starts pedalling at 10am on Saturday, October 26 and Sunday, October 27 at Lekker's cheery Provost Street warehouse. Those in the market for new wheels will be able to test ride a few different designs, and, if all goes well, buy one — bikes, accessories and parts will be discounted, some by up to 50 percent. Backing up the fun and embracing those sweet spring vibes, there'll be a soundtrack of groovy tunes, plus free pancakes and beer. Don't risk a sleep-in, though — Lekker's past sales have seen pretty hefty lines of punters keen for those bicycle bargains and you don't want to miss out. Lekker Bikes Garage Sale will run from 10am–5pm.
Everyone loves to have a secret. Especially foodies. They live for the discovery of a restaurant before anyone else, and protect the name of their favourite dumpling joint with extreme rigour lest it become one that attracts a crowd. These people need a safe place where they can enjoy fine food and conversation without the worry of disclosing their deepest. That's where Secret Foodies comes in. Secret Foodies throw surprise dinners for people who like to share great food over good conversation with likeminded food lovers. They've been holding events in Sydney for a while now, and since their expansion to Melbourne last year, their events have gained somewhat of a cult following. You won't know where you're going or who you'll be sitting next to at the dinner table, but you can just anticipate some delicious things to happen inside your mouth. Their next event — held this Friday, 24 October — will be crazy. Jamaican Me Crazy. The theme is Caribbean, with drinks that match the flavours of the region (i.e. rum) and, we hear, Jamaican jerk pork done three ways. The night costs $85 for food and three drinks, and the location will be sent to you via a last minute text message at about 5pm that day. So if you consider yourself a bit of a foodie, head along to eat, drink and swap secrets. You never know, you might uncover a few big ones. Concrete Playground readers can receive $10 off their Secret Foodies ticket by entering the code concretejamaica at checkout.
Fervent fans of The Roots, listen up! Don't worry if you don't have the cash for Falls or you can't make Southbound Festival — they’ve just announced they'll be playing two sideshows in Sydney and Melbourne with Australian MC Urthboy as a special guest. So that's two more chances to see The Roots jam out their first Australian gig since 2007. You will no longer have to resort to watching episodes of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon to get your fill of Questlove's magic. Expect to hear a lot from their most recent album, Undun (2011), whose reverse narrative arc followed the short life of Redford Stephens and featured play-it-compulsively songs like 'Kool On', 'Make My' and 'The OtherSide'. Even if you don't know much about The Roots, if you’re remotely fond of hip hop or neo-soul then this is a rare opportunity to see one of the most influential, visionary, long-loved groups to ever emerge from Philly (in 1987 and still kicking!) up close and personal. Tickets go on sale soon. Tour dates: Sydney: Friday, December 27 – Hordern Pavilion (tickets on sale Tuesay, 8 October, at 2pm) Melbourne: Saturday, December 28 – Festival Hall (tickets on sale Thursday, 10 October, 9am)
