It's time to splash out on a new collar and tell that fur baby of yours to kiss their FOMO goodbye — Chapel Street is now the first permanently pet-friendly shopping precinct in Australia. The busy area is now officially a haven for four-legged friends, with a huge selection of its stores, cafes, bars, gyms and even health clinics welcoming pets with open arms. At the moment, over 300 Chapel Street venues boast pet-friendly status and they're now even easier to spot following the introduction of special 'paw-on-the-door' window decals. The stickers will be displayed by any venue where pets are welcomed, making it a breeze to head out for a day of shopping, wining and dining, all with your best mate in tow. They'll get to indulge in some fashionable strutting and, who knows, with a few #DogsOfChapelStreet tags — or #CatsofChapelStreet, if you want to kick that off — under their belt a career as a fur-shionable style icon could be in the works. [caption id="attachment_738199" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Leo's by the Slice by Kate Shanasy.[/caption] If you want to plan your stops before you head out, the Chapel Street Precinct website also lists all of the pet-friendly businesses. It's a diverse lineup that includes the likes of fashion boutique Tibbs & Bones, beauty salon Bat Your Lash, eyewear store Oscar Wylee, hot dog joint Massive Wieners, St Edmonds cafe and NY-inspired all-day diner Gramercy Social. There's even a dog-friendly hotel, the Quest Prahran, in case you're planning a getaway or staycation with your bestie. As Australia's health regulations prevent pets from entering supermarkets or being within ten metres of food consumption or prep areas, a heap of food spots have created specific dog-friendly areas (many of them outside), including Leo's by the Slice, Leonard's House of Love, Hawker Hall, Tokyo Tina and Betty's Burgers. With research showing Aussies have one of the highest pet ownership rates in the world, with a hefty 62 percent of households owning a fur-baby, we're pretty sure Chapel Street is about to get a whole lot busier. To check out the full list of pet-friendly spots on Chapel Street, head to the website. Top image: St Edmonds
One of the only cities in the world where all the colours of the rainbow can be ordered in the form of a hot drink, Melbourne is obsessed with bright-coloured lattes. Rather than a standard latte made from boring old coffee beans, we're now seeing the hot milky (or, sorry, mylky) drinks being made with anything from beetroot to ground tea leaves to algae. If you don't understand how blue algae could possibly be made into a drinkable substance — you're not the only one. To help you navigate this brave new world where ordering a latte doesn't necessarily mean you're ordering a coffee, here's your guide to Melbourne's non-coffee lattes. [caption id="attachment_587733" align="alignnone" width="1280"] The blue algae latte at Matcha Mylkbar.[/caption] THE BLUE ALGAE LATTE We predicted algae would be a think this year, and Melbourne has proven us right. The blue algae latte — which is most recognisably served up by St Kilda's Matcha Mylkbar — is lovely shade of Smurf blue thanks to the addition of active blue algae. Like other superfoods of its kind, algae is said to support immunity and health. To turn algae into liquid form, MM convert it into powder and mix with ginger, lemon and warm frothed coconut milk. It's definitely an acquired taste. Real Food Organic also do a similar algae-based pale Blue Majik Latte. Where to get it: Matcha Mylkbar, Real Food Organic. [caption id="attachment_587747" align="alignnone" width="1280"] The golden latte at Serotonin Eatery.[/caption] THE GOLDEN (TURMERIC) LATTE There are several ways to approach golden latte making, from using juiced turmeric root to boiling dried turmeric and straining it to create what some health nuts refer to as liquid gold. Turmeric is an anti-inflammatory, so these golden mugfuls are good for settling tummies. Over at Organica Cafe, they use an organic blend to create a mild, Indian-spiced flavour — they also sell their latte blend so you can try your hand at making it at home. Street Organics in Malvern make a turmeric latte, which boasts plenty of aromatic, immunity-boosting ginger, while part-gym, part-restaurant, Serotonin Eatery infuses their coconut milk-based golden turmeric with ginger, cinnamon and black pepper. Where to get it: Organica Café, Street Organics, Serotonin Eatery. [caption id="attachment_587752" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Beetroot lattes at Happy Place.[/caption] THE BEETROOT LATTE Made from beetroot juice or powdered beetroot derived from the dried vegetable, these neon lattes are famed for their high antioxidant properties — so it's a perfect order if you can feel a cold coming on. You can get one at healthy haven Happy Place and, over at Abbotsford's Kitty Burns, they do an epic red velvet beetroot cacao latte. It's a sweet, healthy alternative for those who prefer their lattes caffeine-free. Where to get it: Kitty Burns, Le Petite Prince, Happy Place, Matcha Mylkbar. [caption id="attachment_587754" align="alignnone" width="1280"] The red latte at Fresh Organic Goods.[/caption] THE RED LATTE No, the flavour is not actually 'red' — these concoctions are actually made from ground rooibos tea. At Prahran's Fresh Organic Goods, their red lattes are a slightly sweet, slightly bitey version of your morning coffee, but with a whole slew of vitamins and minerals like calcium, iron and potassium. Where to get it: Fresh Organic Goods. [caption id="attachment_587756" align="alignnone" width="1280"] The matcha latte at Matcha Mylkbar.[/caption] THE MATCHA LATTE Go rogue on your usual local with Melbourne's favourite non-coffee order: the matcha latte. Matcha is a finely ground powder of green tea leaves and has sort of transcended the health food hysteria to become a part of normal, everyday fare. One of the best places to find it? Little Rogue. Tucked behind a vintage blue door on Drewery Lane, they serve up an addictively rich, gloriously green matcha latte — and in summer they do smooth iced matcha lattes. SMAK Food House's thick and creamy matcha soy latte is also a front-runner in Melbourne's green scene, while Trei Café was also one of the first to serve some much-needed winter-warming green tea lattes in Glen Waverley. Where to get it: Little Rogue, SMAK Food House, Trei Café, Matcha Mylkbar. [caption id="attachment_587757" align="alignnone" width="1280"] The rainbow latte at Too Many Chiefs. @butterbingmelb via Instagram.[/caption] THE RAINBOW LATTE This one's a little ridiculous. At Brighton's Instagram-famed Too Many Chiefs, they don't like to restrict your colour choices. Their rainbow coffee is a mixture of their four other non-caffeinated choices – beetroot, matcha, turmeric and blue algae. If you're looking to hit peak rainbow, this is where to go. Where to get it: Too Many Chiefs
Australia might be working through a few issues, but delivering top-shelf world-class cocktail bars sure ain't one of them, as again proved at last night's World's 50 Best Bars awards in London. Now in its ninth year, the prestigious awards ranked Melbourne's iconic Black Pearl at number 22, the same spot it claimed in 2016's list. This year, however, the bar backed it up with a few extra accolades, scooping the gong for Best Bar in Australasia and honoured with the title of Legend of the List, for its efforts in making the cut each year the awards have been held. Sydney bar The Baxter Inn also made a return to the list, this time clocking in at number 45 and rounding out the Australian contingent. Taking out top spot, along with the title of Best Bar in Europe, was The American Bar at London's Savoy Hotel. This is a win for us Aussies also — the international cocktail icon just announced it'll take over The Black Pearl and Sydney's Eau De Vie for a series of pop-ups later this month. London again proved the most represented city in the list, honoured with eight top 50 placings. The World's 50 Best Bars awards are decided by a group of over 500 industry experts from across 55 countries.
Go dotty about the world, and it'll go dotty about you: that's the Yayoi Kusama story. For seven decades, the Japanese artist has thrust polka dots to the centre of her paintings, collages and installations, making her a contemporary art favourite — and all of those years of circular creativity are now coming to Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art. From 4 November 2017 to 11 February 2018, GOMA will host Yayoi Kusama: Life is the Heart of a Rainbow, a major showcase of her lengthy and prolific career since the 1950s. Co-curated with the National Gallery Singapore, where the exhibition is currently on display until September, it will boast than 70 of her pieces — featuring 24 works from her recent My Eternal Soul series, which has been ongoing since 2009, and currently comprises 500 canvases in total. Kusama's early painterly experiments, a multi-decade presentation of her 'net' paintings, soft-sculpture and assemblage will also grace the gallery's spaces, as will performance documents and large-scale installations. With the celebrated artist no stranger to the Queensland Art Gallery and GOMA, a number of her iconic pieces will be making a return. Two artworks commissioned for the gallery's 2002 Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art will feature, including Narcissus garden in the QAG Watermall. Of course, the beloved interactive experience that is The Obliteration Room will also be brightening up GOMA's Children's Art Centre for the first time since summer 2014-2015. Fans of plastering a white room full of coloured dot-shaped stickers, rejoice. Fans of Kusama's bright riot of dots and hues, rejoice as well. Images: Anwyn Howarth.
When it comes to forming habits, three weeks is often bandied about as the right amount of time to cement a new part of your routine. With annual massive music, technology, screen and gaming festivals, perhaps three years is a better fit. After initially making its debut in 2023, then returning in 2024, SXSW Sydney will be back again in 2025. Mark your calendar accordingly. You can now call the huge event a fixture of not just the Harbour City's cultural calendar, but also Australia's. The dates for its third iteration: Monday, October 13–Sunday, October 19. Although there's no lineup details as yet, attendees can expect big things again after 2024's fest built upon 2023's successes. The second-ever SXSW Down Under featured 1400 conference sessions, 95 screenings, 315 performances and 150 games. It also hosted more than 92,000 unique visitors, with folks attending from 56 countries. In terms of total visits, the seven-day festival notched up 300,000 — including 190,000-plus people heading along to the 163 events as part of the free programming in Tumbalong Park. Darling Harbour, Chippendale and Broadway will be among the places playing host to SXSW Sydney in 2025, but more details there are still also yet to be revealed. "SXSW Sydney 2024 was a great success on all fronts, and was bigger than its debut year in attendance numbers and sessions throughout the week," said SXSW Sydney Chair Geoff Jones, announcing the 2025 dates. "We look forward to paving the way for more innovators across the tech and innovation, music, screen, games and creative industries by providing these creators with an opportunity on a global stage." Whatever graces the bill in 2025, it'll follow on from Black Mirror's Charlie Brooker, Chance The Rapper, Future Today Institute founder and CEO Amy Webb and Nicole Kidman in 2023, plus The Kid LAROI, human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson, author Johann Hari, The New Boy filmmaker Warwick Thornton, The Babadook composer Jed Kurzel, Grace Tame and Tim Minchin in 2024 — and heaps more. SXSW Sydney 2025 will run from Monday, October 13–Sunday, October 19 at various Sydney venues. Head to the SXSW Sydney website for further details. Images: Paul McMillan, Jess Gleeson, Brendon Thorne/Getty Images for SXSW and Nina Franova/Getty Images for SXSW Sydney.
Brooklyn artist Stephen Meierding has pulled bicycles apart to make his short film Bicycle Sounds. The video takes its soundtrack from noises made by bicycle wheels, spokes, chains, gears and bells. Each bike part creates a different sound, which combined create an interesting rhythm. The film's progression shows the wheels spinning faster, the sound and the visuals getting a little heavier and slightly more manic, while playing cards attached to the spokes with pegs create visual stimulation. Meidering premiered the film at the recent Bike Shorts film festival in New York, where it took out the top prize. [via Wired]
Melbourne loves markets. We have the Night Market, Noodle Market and now the Big Design Market that, as you might suspect, is both big and full of designer items. 'How big?' I hear you ask. Well there are over 200 designers from Australia and New Zealand including CycleStyle, Juke Cases, A Skulk of Foxes, Able and Game, Bailey Nelson and the surprisingly attractive concrete Pop Plant Plant Pots (try saying that fast). When your arms can’t possibly carry any more designer goods it will be time to take a rest at one of the great food outlets setting up shop at the market. Miss Chu’s rice paper rolls always hit the spot, Beatbox Kitchen and Taco Truck will be showing you how it’s done and you can wash the inevitable feast down with a craft beer or cider from 2 Brothers Brewery. Conveniently held just before Christmas this market will be great for snapping up those last minute gifts for your friends with a taste for designer goods or, if you’re like us, treating yourself to a present.
“Hollywood is a place where they'll pay you a thousand dollars for a kiss and 50 cents for your soul, I’m still holding out for the 50 cents” — Marilyn Monroe. It’s time to unpack that diamond studded ball gown, faux-fur jacket or tux and bow tie because World Bar and Restaurant are holding an old Hollywood glam party at their Yarra River facing bar. Step into Tinsel Town for the night as Marilyn Monroe, Marlon Brando, Fred Astaire, or Bette Davis. This riverside party package includes drinks, canapés, a live pop and soul band and DJ. Don’t be that guy who doesn’t make an effort — go on and dress up.
I'm a late convert to live theatre. For a combination of socioeconomic and cultural factors, the theatre always seemed to me like something other people did. I grew up thinking it was for fancy people. Rich people. Not people like me. Thankfully, life has its twists and turns, and, as an adult, I can now say I love the theatre — and I'm making up for lost time. There's one musical I've had my eyes on for a while. In 1989, a show hit the stage that would become a phenomenon in the theatre world. Miss Saigon, the brainchild of the creators of Les Misérables, Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, is a saga of love, loss and resilience set against the grim backdrop of the Vietnam War. The story sweeps us into the life of Kim, a young Vietnamese woman (well, 'woman' — she's 17 at curtain open) whose life is upended by war. She finds herself working in a brothel owned and led by a charismatic being known only as 'The Engineer'. It's here she meets Chris, an American soldier, and it's here where they fall in love, only to be torn apart by the tumultuous fall of Saigon. Even though the story is well known, I still feel like it's best not to give away the rest. And by well known, I mean well known. Since its debut, Miss Saigon has traversed the globe, mesmerising audiences in 32 countries and 373 cities, performed in 15 languages, and racked up over 70 theatre awards. From its record-breaking premiere in London to its storied runs on Broadway and everything in between, the show has continually evolved with the times in which it is presented. The latest Australian production, which just wrapped a stunning run at the Sydney Opera House, is a testament to the show's enduring appeal. Directed by Jean Pierre van Der Spuy, with musical staging by the late great Bob Avian, and additional choreography by Richard Jones, the production is wild. The set design by Matt Kinley and Totie Driver — inspired by Adrian Vaux's original concept — is mesmerising. And then there's the music. A blend of powerful orchestration and Eastern percussion that sonically transports you straight to 70s Saigon. In fact, Miss Saigon uses the widest range of far Eastern percussion instruments of any Western musical with featured instruments including baos (Chinese opera gongs), hyoshi-gi (Japanese kabuki clappers), chū-daiko (Japanese taiko drums), kyeezee (Burmese temple bells) and Thai ching cymbals. When I took my seat at Melbourne's Her Majesty's Theatre, I expected a good show — there must be a reason the narrative is still going strong all these decades later. What I didn't anticipate was the sheer physicality and emotion that exuded from every character. Every single person who stepped on that stage killed it. Wild to think that as much as it's a magic night for the audience, for the cast, it's just another day of showbiz — the impressive jumps and flips and gut-wrenching cries and passionate make-outs will be repeated the following day, and the next day, and the next day. Isn't that insane to think about? How some humans can just reproduce magic, whenever they want!? And we, the ones in the crowd, get to bask in the marvel of it all. Abigail Adriano, as Kim, was a force of nature. The way she commanded the stage was so incredible to witness, especially for someone so young (19!). Her voice is a real joy to hear live; it boggles the mind that people can be so talented. She plays every arc of Kim so convincingly, from shy and awkward at the beginning to every complicated spectrum of human emotion possible as her story evolves. When things get tragic, her performance becomes even more believable. Her pain is almost palpable, with a certain scene leaving the audience dead quiet in awe. Starring alongside Abigail are Nigel Huckle and Nick Afoa, playing American soldier Chris and his best friend John respectively. The pair brought their characters' internal battles and moral dilemmas to life. But it's Seann Miley Moore as The Engineer who really stole the show. What an absolute raging inferno of charisma and talent. And what an honour it was to witness. Every scene involving Seann became a battle of what to focus on, because you so badly wanted to see what was going on in the crowded background scenes but there was no way you were taking your eyes off Seann. Speaking of background. The show had so many layers, it's something you could easily see multiple times and keep taking something new away. The background actors gave incredible performances, and the choreography was so impressive to witness — the stage was full of B and C and D plots flashing in and out of our periphery while the main plot took the limelight, making it so hard to pay attention (in the best possible way) because everywhere you looked you saw magic. The technical aspects of the show also blew me away. The set pieces, including a giant Ho Chi Minh head and Statue of Liberty face, were imposing and pretty damn cool. But the real star was the helicopter scene. I've now learned it's famous as a showcase of onstage practical effects, but at the time it genuinely surprised me and it was so realistically executed that you could almost feel the wind from its blades. And here's something that blew my mind post-show — the music is performed live by a full orchestra tucked away beneath the stage. So hidden were they that I didn't even realise until the show was over and my companion pointed it out to me. My page space is running out, even though I could keep ranting and raving, so I'll leave you with this. Miss Saigon isn't just a musical, it's a journey that encapsulates the human experience in times of conflict, reminding us that humans can find beauty in even the worst circumstances. Whether you're a seasoned theatre-enjoyer or a first-timer, Miss Saigon is well worth your butt on the seat. You'll see an excellent show and also witness a narrative that has now carved its way into theatrical history. Which I think is pretty damn cool. Catch Miss Saigon at Her Majesty's Theatre until Saturday, December 16. Grab your tickets here.
Across the 92-year history of the Oscars, only five women have ever been nominated for the Best Director award. Only one has won, too, with Kathryn Bigelow emerging victorious in 2009 for The Hurt Locker. Indeed, if anyone needs a reminder that gender inequality is still a big issue in the film industry, the situation at the Academy Awards paints a strong picture. When it comes to what viewers watch, one new streaming service is attempting to push more female filmmakers to the fore — and more movies and shows both starring and about women, too. Called Femflix, it has just launched in Australia and New Zealand with a growing catalogue of titles, all of which feature a female-identifying creative as its director, producer, writer, cinematographer or lead protagonist. The aim, obviously, is to support and champion stories about women and made by women — with Femflix developed to promote gender balance, tear down stereotypes and showcase a wide variety of female characters on-screen. And if you think that the timing is perfect for a women-focused streaming platform following the emergence of the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, that's exactly what helped inspired the service. Among its launch catalogue, audiences Down Under can watch local films such as 52 Tuesdays, Strangerland, Tracks, Strange Colours and Waru, international flicks including Julieta, The Third Wife and Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts, plus star-studded cinema releases from the past few years like Suffragette, Madame Bovary and Testament of Youth. Or, you check out thrillers such as Compliance, sci-fi films like Before We Vanish and documentaries including I Am No Bird, Janis: Little Girl Blue and The Song Keepers. Offering free 3o-day trials, and costing $8.99 per month afterwards, Femflix can be streamed online, including via Chromecast and Airplay, with video apps for smart TVs under development. The new service arrives at a busy time for new streaming and online viewing services, with 2020 not only seeing everyone spend more time watching things at home, but giving viewers more to watch — including the launch of horror streamer Shudder Down Under, the global launch of short-form platform Quibi, the debut of architecture and design-focused platform Shelter, and cinemas including Palace in Australia and Roxy in New Zealand releasing their own pay-per-view options. For more information about Femflix — and to sign up — visit the streaming platform's website.
Since the untimely passing of legend David Bowie in January, mourning fans have been creating respectful and fitting ways to remember him. They've held tributes all across the country (and the world) in the form of concerts, karaoke, screenings and dance parties. But fans looking to get closer to the life of the prolific artist now have another avenue to consider: a stay in Bowie's former holiday house in the Caribbean. The house, which is on the luxury Caribbean island of Mustique, has just gone up for rent — albeit for a whopping $52,000 AUD (or $78,000 AUD in high season) per week. That's cool, right? I mean, what you're paying for is priceless. Bowie had the villa built himself back in 1989, and a lot of the original design and fixtures still stand. Everywhere you stand, it's likely you'll be standing in the exact same spot that Bowie once stood (we're not sure how long it will take for that game to get old, but we're guessing a substantial amount of time). Of course, the house — named the Mandalay — comes with a lot of non-priceless things too, like an infinity pool, personal waterfalls, an epic outdoor dining pavilion, views of the Atlantic Ocean and a staff of 10 (including your own personal chef). It has five bedrooms (each with their own private verandah), sits on 6.2 acres and comes with neighbours like Kate Moss, Hugh Grant and royals Will and Kate. It's important to note that the home doesn't come straight from Bowie's hands — he sold the property back in the '90s to publisher Felix Dennis. Following Dennis' death, it was bought by English entrepreneur Simon Dolan, who has now put the house up for rent for the first time. But if you've got $50k to spare on a lavish Caribbean trip, you may as well go all out and holiday like Ziggy Stardust. Via Travel + Leisure.
Your favourite restaurant's wine list might be impressive, but if the best drops are only available by the bottle, you've got to be willing to pay up to get a taste. However, Coravin has come up with a range of nifty products that allow wine-lovers to pour by the glass without popping the cork. Throughout May, they're spreading the gospel around the globe with the Coravin World Wine Tour. Taking over five much-loved wine bars around the country, every bottle on their menus will be poured by the glass. Returning to previous destinations including Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide, the tour is also adding Perth and Noosa to its stops for the first time. Making the most of the brand's by-the-glass tools, vino fans will have the chance to indulge in rare and diverse bottles without having to stump up for the full cost. Held from Thursday, May 1–Saturday, May 31, there's a good chance a sophisticated wine bar near you is getting involved. In Sydney, the Coravin World Wine Tour touches down at Love, Tilly Devine. Tucked away in a Darlinghurst laneway, this cherished spot is bursting through the week with wine-lovers who know their stuff. With 300 bottles to choose from, guests can sip their way through the list, or pair a glass or two with dishes from a highly seasonal food menu highlighting local farmers, growers and makers. In Melbourne, Richmond's Clover is where you can celebrate a shared love of natural vinous pleasures, complemented by fire-cooked delights. "It's really going to, quite literally, open up the possibilities for our guests to try something new, and allow our team to open more and more of their favourite wines; some a little unusual, and all delicious," says James Griffin, Beverage Manager at Love, Tilly Devine. "A few to look out for are the incredible skin contact wines of Staffelter Hof, the world's oldest working winery at nearly 1,200 years old, Patrick Sullivan's superb Victorian single-vineyard chardonnays, and the irresistible Poppelvej wines of Uffe Deichmann, McLaren Vale's best lo-fi Danish winemaker." Meanwhile, Adelaideans are invited to Jennie Wine Bar to experience its refined wine collection, where each bottle has a story to tell, from its environmental origins to its grower's personality. More than just a wine bar, you can roam the walls to find the perfect bottle to take home. Shadow Wine Bar is Perth's debut host, where a sleek industrial space comes to life with cuisine and wine delivered with a special nod to Italy. Lastly, Noosa's 16-seat Atelier Wine Bar offers a contemporary cellar-like space primed for indulging in 150 world-class vintages and elegant European-inspired small plates. "A new generation of wine drinkers are increasingly curious, adventurous, and willing to experiment with new varieties and styles. Offering more wines by the glass allows drinkers to find their new favourite variety, region, or style, without taking the risk of buying a whole bottle," says Coravin Founder, Greg Lambrecht. "We are delighted to be working with five iconic Australian wine destinations to bring our World Wine Tour to five states, giving Australian wine lovers an unparalleled level of choice for wine by the glass." The Coravin World Wine Tour takes place across multiple venues around Australia from Thursday, May 1-Saturday, May 31. Head to the website for more information. Images: Kera Wong, Jack Fenby, Jacqueline Jane.
The idea of modern pizza might have been born in Naples, but that won't stop Romans from thinking their thin and crusty alternative is the superior slice. If you feel similarly, you'll be thrilled to know South Melbourne Market has welcomed Pizzateca Lupa – a Roman-style cafe and pizzeria named after Rome's symbolic she-wolf. While the corner of Cecil and Coventry Streets is far from the Seven Hills, diving into the menu offers plenty of reason to visit. Exploring authentic Italian cuisine in a laidback setting, brothers Lino and Gabriele Torre have shaped a takeaway lunch featuring traditional slices of teglia — square focaccia baked in a tray — adorned with a handful of rotating toppings. Meanwhile, there's also classic pizza tonda — round pizza with a super thin crust — made fresh to order. However, the dine-in menu is where Pizzateca Lupa really shines, showcasing the full spectrum of antipasti, pasta, pizza and Italian specialities. Kick off your feast with fried globe artichokes, fritto misto, and a selection of artisanal cheeses and meats. Then, delve into Roman-style pasta dishes made with Pastificio Liguori, one of Italy's oldest pasta producers, including carbonara tubettone, cacio e pepe spaghetti and amatriciana fusilli. As for the dine-in pizza menu, you'll find 13-inch pizza tonda options, from the tried-and-true margherita to the inventive norma, combining fried eggplant, smoked fior di latte, cherry tomatoes, ricotta salata and basil. "Traditionally, Roman pizzas feature a light and crispy crust, which is what we're doing at Pizzateca Lupa. We're really focused on depth of flavour, it's not just about adding tomato and anchovies; we pre-cook the tomatoes for richness and every ingredient is considered using the best quality produce we can find," says Co-Owner and chef Gabriele Torre. The drinks menu is just as thoughtful, with ST. ALi's dark roasted 'Italo Disco' blend delivering a pick-me-up shaped by Italian coffee sensibilities. If dining in, explore a selection of Venetian spritzes, or sip down a paloma or negroni. You'll also encounter beers from Peroni and Bodriggy, while a curated wine list spans local and Italian varieties, available by the glass, carafe or bottle. Pizzateca Lupa's design is also a hit, inspired by alimentari-style stores. Led by Melbourne-based architects Jackson Clements Burrows, a fruit and vegetable shop was transformed into this bright 34-seat cafe and pizzeria. Evoking the quiet charm of European simplicity, a deep red palette and walnut tones invite a warm dining experience, while street-side tables and chairs conjure just a hint of Rome's food neighbourhoods, from Trastevere to San Lorenzo. Time for a slice? Se manga. Pizzateca Lupa is open Wednesday–Sunday from 11am–9.30pm at 116 Cecil Street, South Melbourne. Head to the website for more information. Images: Michael Pham.
2024 is already set to be a huge year for Australia's most-inclusive music festival, after the Dylan Alcott-founded Ability Fest announced that it would not only play Melbourne but also hit up Brisbane as well. Mere days after revealing its expansion, the event has now dropped its lineup — and, with Ocean Alley, King Stingray, Cub Sport and Bag Raiders leading the bill, it too is massive. Ability Fest will first head to Alexandra Gardens/Birrarung Marr in Melbourne on Saturday, October 19, then to Victoria Park/Barrambin in Brisbane on Saturday, October 26. The roster of talent varies slightly per state, but the aforementioned four acts will take to the stage in both cities. So will Asha Jefferies, Boone, Brenn!, Dewbs, Eliza Hull and jamesjamesjames, alongside Jordan Brando, Jordz, Kita Alexander and a triple j Unearthed winner. From there, Melburnians will can catch ONEFOUR, Crybaby, DAWS, Floodlights, Kuzco, NayNay and Wax'o Paradiso. In Brisbane only, punters will see Middle Kids, Cheq, Eves Karydas, Mikalah Watego, Moss, Neesha Alexander and Xeimma. Across both locations, Ability Fest is splitting its musicians across two stages, one for bands and one for DJs. The fully accessible event, which launched in 2018, has been carefully designed from the get-go. It features ramps and pathways for easy access, Auslan interpreters working alongside the artists, and elevated platforms to give everyone a shot at seeing the stage. Plus, there's also quiet zones, dedicated sensory areas and accessible toilets. The Brisbane festival will cater to around 5000 people, and Ability Fest is committed to being financially accessible during the current cost-of-living crisis in both of its stops. Accordingly, tickets will only cost $60 plus booking fee, and carers will receive complimentary entry. The fest is also lowering the age of admission to 16 so more folks can head along. While dishing up primo live tunes and music experiences to Aussies of all abilities, the not-for-profit fest also raises money for the Dylan Alcott Foundation, with 100-percent of its ticket proceeds going to the organisation. [caption id="attachment_963990" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Chloe Hall[/caption] "Ability Fest is all about bringing people together through music — a celebration where everyone, regardless of ability, can have an extraordinary time," said Alcott. "I'm particularly excited about the diverse and talented artists we have lined up this year. Their performances will undoubtedly bring such a unique energy to Ability Fest, uniting our community and creating unforgettable moments." [caption id="attachment_963997" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Glenn Hunt[/caption] Ability Fest 2024 Lineup: Brisbane and Melbourne: Asha Jefferies Bag Raiders Boone Brenn! Cub Sport Dewbs Eliza Hull jamesjamesjames Jordan Brando Jordz King Stingray Kita Alexander Ocean Alley triple j Unearthed winner Melbourne only: Crybaby DAWS Floodlights Kuzco NayNay ONEFOUR Wax'o Paradiso Brisbane only: Cheq Eves Karydas Middle Kids Mikalah Watego Moss Neesha Alexander Xeimma [caption id="attachment_963996" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Chloe Hall[/caption] Ability Fest 2024 Dates and Venues: Saturday, October 19 — Alexandra Gardens/Birrarung Marr, Melbourne Saturday, October 26 — Victoria Park/Barrambin, Brisbane [caption id="attachment_963995" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Chloe Hall[/caption] Ability Fest 2024 will hit Melbourne and Brisbane in October 2024. Pre-sale tickets will be available from 12pm AEST on Wednesday, July 10 (register online), with general tickets selling online from 12pm on Thursday, July 11. Head to the festival website for more details. Top image: Chloe Hall.
Thanks to airport reads and movies based on them, everyone has heard of The Da Vinci Code. Leonardo da Vinci's Codex Atlanticus is the true stunner, though. The 12-volume set is filled with the artist and inventor's drawings and writings, detailing his thoughts and featuring his sketches on a wide array of topics. It dates back to the 15th and 16th centuries. It's priceless. Original pages from it are also on their way to Australia. From Saturday, March 16, Australia's first permanent digital-only art gallery The Lume will exhibit Leonardo da Vinci — 500 Years of Genius, the Melbourne venue's major 2024 exhibition. In its immersive fashion — because creating walkthrough art experiences is its approach — the site is paying tribute to the Italian Renaissance master. Most of the showcase will involve towering versions of artworks such as the Mona Lisa on the walls, plus pieces from his contemporaries as well; however, Codex Atlanticus will be a big feature, too. This is the first time that sheets from Codex Atlanticus will be on display in Australia. Since 1637, it has called Milan's Biblioteca Ambrosiana home. It's thanks to a relationship between the latter and Grande Experiences, which is behind The Lume and also Rome's Museo Leonardo da Vinci, that some of its pages can head this way. The Codex Atlanticus features entries from da Vinci from between 1478–1519, dating up to the year of his death. In his handwriting — in Italian, of course — and as sketched by his fingers, everything from flying machines and architecture to engineering and hydraulic systems are covered. [caption id="attachment_943630" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Biblioteca Ambrosiana[/caption] "These pages from the Codex Atlanticus represent not just a collection of sketches and writings but a gateway into the brilliance of Leonardo da Vinci's mind," said The Lume founder Bruce Peterson. "Their arrival in Australia is profound, allowing visitors to explore Leonardo in a once-in-a-generation opportunity." Leonardo da Vinci — 500 Years of Genius is clearly more than the world's most-famous enigmatic smile beaming down, then. The gallery is calling it its "most ambitious, immersive and breathtaking yet", which is quite the claim for a collection that follows a van Gogh celebration, a focus on Monet and his peers and the First Nations-centric Connection. The Last Supper will also enjoy the spotlight in a big way, while the Mona Lisa will link in with the segment of the exhibition that's all about French optical engineer Pascal Cotte, who invented a multispectral camera and has peeled back the artwork's layers using his research. Accordingly, get excited about Mona Lisa Revealed, which will include an exact 360-degree replica — the only one in the world — as created thanks to Cotte's 240,000,000-pixel multispectral camera. Also among Leonardo da Vinci — 500 Years of Genius' highlights: 50 of da Vinci's "machine inventions", which will be on loan from the Museo Leonardo da Vinci in Rome. This part of the exhibition will hero recreations made in Italy from the artist and inventor's sketches, and also using the materials and techniques he would've at the time. The exhibition will step through da Vinci's life, as well, including journeying through Florence's streets, Venice's canals and Milan — as brought to attendees via sight, sound, scent, touch and taste. That said, Leonardo da Vinci — 500 Years of Genius isn't solely about its namesake's well-known works, with the 3000-square-metre multi-sensory gallery also exploring his inspirations and those creating their own masterpieces at the same time. Botticelli's The Birth of Venus, Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling and works by Caravaggio will feature, for instance. In Queensland, at HOTA, Home of the Arts, Grande Experiences's Italian Renaissance Alive will also take a broader look at the period — but anyone wanting a glimpse of Codex Atlanticus will need to head to Melbourne. Leonardo da Vinci — 500 Years of Genius opens at The Lume, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, 5 Convention Centre Place, South Wharf, Melbourne, from Saturday, March 16, 2024 — head to the venue's website for tickets and further information.
Next time you have a great idea while making a cup of coffee, it could spark a hit comedy flick. That's what happened to Jackie van Beek, New Zealand comedian and one half of the writing/directing/acting duo behind The Breaker Upperers. "I was literally just wandering aimlessly around my kitchen, and I was just thinking about all those conversations that we've all had with friends about that horrible moment when you realise that you have to break up with your partner, and that feeling of dread," she explains. "And I just thought, "gosh, how much money would somebody pay to not have to do that themselves?". And I thought it'd be quite a lot of money, and I know a lot of people that would pay to get out of that responsibility." To answer the obvious question, van Beek never considered setting up a business to end other people's relationships for cash. Instead, she called fellow NZ comedian and actress Madeline Sami, and they started working on what would become 2018's best comedy. That was back in 2013. The script took years to perfect between other jobs, and the film shot across 22 days in 2017, with a cast that included Boy's James Rolleston and Rosehaven's Celia Pacquola. This year, The Breaker Upperers premiered its tale of best friends Jen (van Beek) and Mel (Sami), their love-busting business, their various life woes and their Celine Dion karaoke singalong at SXSW, and then opened the Sydney Film Festival. "It has been a whirlwind few months," Sami observes. "I didn't really have any expectations on how it would do. You spend so long editing the film, making it, and then you're just kind of relieved to have finished it. Then it comes out, and then all of these other people see it and take it into their hearts, and it's just overwhelmingly lovely." Indeed, while The Breaker Upperers is all about helping others when love has faded, there's plenty of love blossoming for this smart, funny film, with audiences both overseas, in New Zealand and in Australia reacting warmly. With the movie now releasing around Australia, we sat down with van Beek and Sami to chat about real-life break-ups, smashing rom-com conventions and working collaboratively in a Kiwi comedy scene that also includes the film's executive producer, Taika Waititi. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-phMlkRiWIg ON CREATING ROLES FOR THEMSELVES THAT DIDN'T EXIST OTHERWISE Sami: "We wanted to write characters that were fucked up women in their thirties, and that didn't have to settle down. That was the big, big point for us. Otherwise it's so unrealistic and so much pressure for women, and I hate that." van Beek: "And so exclusive. We've of course got so many friends that are single, in their early forties and are not going to have a baby now. What about happy endings for those guys? So it was very important that — we love rom-coms, but it was very important for us that we buck the convention and that we didn't end with a double church wedding with two women and two men tying the knot and talking about children." Sami: "We definitely thought about it in drafts and played with the idea, and it just never sat right. And we were just like, this is really a story about being okay with who they are, and accepting that and not having to bow to society's expectations — and the movies' expectations — of what your life should be like. It's really the movies. The movies tell us that we need to have all this shit together, especially for women. I think the pressure on women in movies — just the damsel in distress thing, it goes right back to Snow White. Or in all the Disney stuff. There's a princess who's stuck in a tower or she's in a coma, which is fucking dark, and she needs to be saved. And that same thing is in rom-coms today — a woman who's…" van Beek: "All befuddled." Sami: "And needs to be saved. And it's like, no we don't. We're cool. Just chill." van Beek: "We can figure out our own mess. It doesn't have to involve a man." Sami: "And also, a happy ending doesn't have to be what we've always been told what a happy ending is. It doesn't always have to be that conventional, settle down thing. It can just be 'well you're just not as dark and fucked up as you were at the beginning of the movie'." ON DECIDING TO NOT ONLY WRITE AND STAR IN THE BREAKER UPPERERS, BUT TO DIRECT IT, TOO van Beek: "It was always on the table." Sami: "We were scared." van Beek: "Were we scared? I wasn't scared." Sami: "There was a fear that it would take the fun away from the acting, which is what the whole reason we wanted to do it. It wasn't like scared to do it — it was just whether we were going to give ourselves too much of a workload." van Beek: "Yeah that's right. We knew that if we got too stressed, and we're on screen doing improvised comedy, it's just not going to be fun for us or the audience — so the stakes were quite high in making that decision." Sami: "And then we just like, we can't think of anyone who could fulfil this vision for us that we are planning in our own heads, so why don't we just do it? Take the gamble, and make sure we surround ourselves with really talented, experienced people so that we're supported. And that's what we did." van Beek: "People who are confident at improvisation, so we could all get there. And Taika was helpful." Sami: "Taika, we've worked with a lot — and he would've been a wonderful director for this film. But we knew that we were never going to get Taika because he was on Thor and was committed to that for years. But he shares our sensibility, we've worked with him — he directed the first series of a TV show that I'd made in New Zealand called Super City, and we had a lovely time when we worked together in that way. And he'd definitely get it. But he wasn't available, so we were the ones." van Beek: "But we got Jemaine Clement, who is an old friend of ours as well, he came up for three or four days of pre-production when we wanted to stand up and start exploring the characters ourselves. He'd come into the rehearsal room, and we'd do rewrites with him, and so it was all really..." Sami: "Collaborative." van Beek: "Supportive." Sami: "We've got so much amazing talent around us in New Zealand. There's so many amazing comedians coming up, and writers, that it was just really important for us to be energised by them. So we'd just keep them around us all the time, just everyone 'come in, add a joke in here if you want, yeah that's a good idea.' Just keep it fresh for ourselves, especially because we'd been writing for four-five years, so at a lot of points in that time, when you're right in it — especially towards the end, towards pre-production — you can't see. You're really close to it." ON SEEING NEW ZEALAND COMEDY FINALLY GET RECOGNITION OVERSEAS van Beek: "With Taika's films, and Flight of the Conchords and Rhys Darby having done so well internationally — we were over at SXSW with our film, and people were saying after the screening 'that's New Zealand' humour. They were identifying it. 'We love New Zealand humour! We love you guys.' It was quite exciting that people identify it, and many thanks to Taika who brought that New Zealand comedy voice into the mainstream with Thor." Sami: "When there's a bunch of people, and when there's support — the New Zealand Film Commission have really made an effort to get in behind New Zealand comedy over the last ten years probably. And because we've had success internationally, then there's more support back home. And it's kind of like with the Danish thrillers. All of a sudden the world loves Danish thrillers, and it's just the people making them are making them really well. I guess coming out of New Zealand right now, we've got a lot of great comedy, and it's just a time where it's just being recognised for what it is." van Beek: "Long may it last." Sami: "It's exciting. It's really just, I think, the world getting to know that New Zealand comedy a bit — and it started with Flight of the Conchords. There's an awkwardness to the comedy we make. So yeah, who knows how long that will last. But it's exciting that we don't have to explain our accent any more. People can start to tell the difference a little bit [between Australian and New Zealand accents]. We'll see Americanss try to do a Kiwi accent rather than just going 'oh, I can do a Kiwi accent — g'day mate'." van Beek: "Now they do Flight of the Conchords." Sami: "Yeah, 'Brett'. Or they do, 'oh hi, I'm Korg,' [from Thor: Ragnarok] or stuff like that. They're showing that they know the difference." van Beek: "By mocking us in a different way." Sami: "I loved being mocked." ON FINDING INSPIRATION FOR THE FILM'S MANY BREAK-UP SCENES Sami: "I've never been two-timed by someone, and then found out that... aah, I think I have." van Beek: "You have?" Sami: "Maybe I have." van Beek: "There's always going to be a bit of crossover." Sami: "There's just a bit of subconscious stuff — for me, the break up scenarios, everything you see in the film, nothing is specific to anything but everything is influenced by stories we've heard or things we've experienced. But there's no one like, 'yeah, I had this terrible breakup and this is exactly how the story went'." van Beek: "Or 'yeah, my boyfriend pretended to be in a coma and then died.' That all came from our imagination, but it was more like — definitely I've been through phases in my life when I've been a bit more like Jen, and just been in denial. I've been heartbroken and not wanting to grow up." Sami: "We did have a lot more scenarios and they got a lot more extreme. Obviously some were cut for time, and we didn't shoot all of them — a lot of them we just weren't going to be able to. To shoot someone falling off a speedboat in the middle of Auckland of harbour and taking an underwater scuba to an island and then sailing off, that would've been the whole budget of our film probably, just for that one day." van Beek: "We spent a bit of time writing it though." Sami: "It was a lot of fun writing and thinking out the ways people might choose to break up with each other." The Breaker Upperers is now screening in Australian cinemas.
Come with us on now, on a journey through time and space, to the world of Behind The Boosh. You may not hear those words spoken aloud when you walk into the exhibition celebrating British comedy troupe The Mighty Boosh, but fans will think them. When you're peering at behind-the-scenes peeks into Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding's hilarious and surreal creation, as snapped by fellow group member Dave Brown, that's the very first thing that should come to mind. A part of all things Boosh since the troupe was first formed in the 90s, Brown played Bollo the Gorilla, Naan bread, Black Frost and Australian zookeeper Joey Moose. He's also taken care of tour posters, DVDs, set graphics and merchandise; compiled and designed The Mighty Book of Boosh; and had a hand in Boosh music and choreography. And, he's been snapping away with his camera — the results of which are gracing this photography showcase. There aren't enough elbow patches in the world for this exhibition, or shoes filled with Baileys. Whether or nor you can find either — or the black hair dye and strong hairspray needed to get Vince Noir-style locks, green Old Gregg-esque body paint or 60s-era suits that look like they've been taken straight from Howard Moon's wardrobe — heading to Sydney's M2 Gallery and Melbourne's North Gallery this August means getting a glimpse into the minds behind The Mighty Boosh's stage shows and radio series, and obviously the three-season TV gem also called The Mighty Boosh. Brown's two decades of images traverse a history that saw The Boosh become a live smash at the Edinburgh and Melbourne Comedy Festivals, then a 00s cult hit on the small screen. These days, Fielding might co-present The Great British Bake Off and do team captain duties on Never Mind the Buzzcocks, while Barratt has been playing a part in The Great, but they'll always been known for The Boosh. "These images are like children to me, badly behaved children with no manners but also beautifully funny, insanely dressed up children that are two dimensional and don't move," explained Brown of his Behind The Boosh photos. "I love these pics, incredible memories of a special time with my Boosh band of brothers and sharing them with our beautiful Aussie Boosh fans is long overdue." "The love The Mighty Boosh still has to this day is comparable to legendary acts such as Monty Python and continues to draw in people of all ages. It was such a bonus to have a great photographer who was part of the show; Dave never missed anything! I almost find it difficult to look at them because it takes me back immediately to that time, and because Dave was always taking photos, the snaps are genuine; they're not posed," said Fielding. "Dave is a lens with legs! Ever since I have known him, he's had a camera strapped to his face. I have a terrible memory which is why Dave is my saviour, if we are our memories then without Dave Brown I simply would not exist," added Barratt. Brown is also in Australia with the exhibition, which runs from Wednesday, August 2–Sunday, August 6 in Sydney and Wednesday, August 16–Sunday, August 20 in Melbourne. In both cities, on the Saturdays in each, he's doing an artist talk to chat through his work — and being part of a troupe, plus their various onstage and on-screen shows, where anything could happen. In Sydney as well, Brown will hit the decks at Redfern Surf Club's Surfapolooza festival on Saturday, August 5. BEHIND THE BOOSH AUSTRALIAN DATES: Wednesday, August 2–Sunday, August 6 — M2 Gallery, 4/450 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills, Sydney Wednesday, August 16–Sunday, August 20 — North Gallery, Level 1/55-57 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne Behind the Boosh displays in Sydney and Melbourne in August 2023 — head to the exhibition website for further details. Images: Dave Brown.
Now that Victoria's sixth lockdown is behind us, Melburnians no longer need to spend all their time at home. And, if you're now keen to venture into the CBD outside of work hours, the City of Melbourne has brought back an affordable solution. Not everyone wants to spend too much time on public transport at present; however, getting a park in the city isn't usually a cheap option. That's changing between Wednesday, October 27–Saturday, December 25, with a number of Wilson, Secure, Ace, Care Park, Nationwide and First Parking sites doing $5 parking deals. If you took advantage of the special last time it popped up back in July, you might've noticed a difference: there's a few more car park companies involved this time around. That cheap fee will still apply at the same times, though — so it's on offer after 4pm on weekdays and all day on weekends. Just like last time, the deal aims to encourage Melburnians to spend more time in the CBD. The catch: you do still need to pre-book before you drive in, either by hitting up either company's website or their app. And, you'll need to enter the code 'CITYPARK21' while booking. Across the two months, the discounted rate can be redeemed at more than 20 car parks — and just like in the middle of the year, you can expect it to prove popular. "When we launched the $5 deal in July, it generated more than 41,000 bookings in just a few weeks," said Lord Mayor Sally Capp. "This is one of the many initiatives we are rolling out to support city businesses, encourage visitation, and help Melbourne bounce back faster and stronger. On the first weekend after lockdown lifted, some key city locations experienced up to a tenfold increase in activity in the evenings. That confirms what we suspected — that people are bursting to get back to City of Melbourne," the Lord Mayor continued. For more information about the City of Melbourne's $5 CBD parking between Wednesday, October 27–Saturday, December 25, head to the City of Melbourne website.
In the early hours of Sunday morning, you'll be able to track down a free KFC feast in the streets of Melbourne. And it'll feature a KFC dish Aussies haven't tried before. KFC is using the end of daylight savings as an excuse to host this feast, too, which means it's a great way to spend that bonus weekend hour. On Sunday, April 7, stay out in the city and stuff your face with free KFC Chachos (chicken nachos) between the hours of 2am and 3am. Well, the second 2am till 3am. The hour of free food will kick off once the clock has ticked over from 2.59am to... 2am. So, you'll need to stay cosied up in a bar nearby — with a cocktail in-hand, of course — till then. Here are 17 of our favourite CBD spots to keep you occupied (and warm) until the enchanted Chachos hour begins. The event will be the first (and only) time Aussies will be able to try the KFC Chachos, which are classic KFC tenders topped with avocado, Supercharged Sauce, nacho cheese sauce and tomato salsa. In addition to Chachos from the food truck, there will be music by local DJs and beanbags to lounge on. The KFC food truck will be serving free Chachos in front of the State Library, 328 Swanston Street, Melbourne, from 2am to 3am (after the clock goes back) on Sunday, April 7.
When Bridgerton initially premiered on Netflix at the end of 2020, becoming the platform's most-watched original show ever at the time, did it get you dreaming of stepping into its world? If so, you've been in luck ever since thanks to a flurry of events themed around the series, including unofficial balls, garden brunches and more. Your next opportunity arrives soon, and also requires venturing out of Australia's capital cities. Your destination: Bowral in the New South Wales Southern Highlands. Bridgerton season three is on its way, dropping four episodes in May 2024 and then four more in June this year — and to celebrate, Netflix is bringing the series into real life. This is the streaming service that set up public toilets based on Squid Game, Heartbreak High and Emily in Paris back in February, after all. In the past, it has also opened a Stranger Things rift on Bondi Beach, unleashed the Squid Game Red Light, Green Light doll by Sydney Harbour and a had pop-up Heartbreak High uniform shop slinging threads in Newtown, too. This time, it's giving a regional town a makeover. Head to Bowral between Tuesday, April 16–Tuesday, April 23 and you'll see what this patch of Australia looks like when it's harking back to the regency era. A number of spots around town will receive the Bridgerton treatment, with local businesses joining in on the fun. The idea is to make you feel like you're getting the full ton experience. If you want to dress up to fit the part, that's obviously up to you. While the bulk of the details are still vague, a few specifics have been revealed already, including the fact that there'll be a garden party at Milton Park to close out the week. To score tickets, you'll need to channel your inner Lady Whistledown — because noting what would be written about you in the series' gossip sheet in 25 words or less is how you'll enter to nab a spot at the shindig. Also, Bowral's Empire Cinemas will be hosting four free screenings of the first episode of Bridgerton's third season across Monday, April 22–Tuesday, April 23, letting you see it weeks before it makes its way to Netflix on Thursday, May 16. If you're going to treat yourself to a getaway this April, you can now make it a Bridgerton-loving getaway. And if you're a Bridgerton obsessive who lives in Bowral, prepare for plenty of company. Check out sneak peeks at Bridgerton season three below: The town of Bowral will get a Bridgerton-themed makeover from Tuesday, April 16–Tuesday, April 23. For more information, keep an eye on the event's website. Bridgerton season three will stream via Netflix in two parts, with four episodes on Thursday, May 16, 2024 and four on Thursday, June 13, 2024. Images: Liam Daniel/Netflix.
It’s difficult to imagine, in the age of online media, that a blossoming new art style could have stirred up that much controversy. But Lurid Beauty: Australian Surrealism and its Echoes, the new exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria, will be exploring exactly that: the rise of sexual, psychological and controversial surrealist art on the Australian scene since 1930. Lurid Beauty will span many different mediums including installation, fashion and poetry. And prepare your psyche for representations of warped sexuality and perverseness, as surrealism was inspired by the theories of Sigmund Freud, which involves a fair whack of embedded misogynistic gender roles and Dali-esque dream madness. The exhibition will feature works from James Gleeson, Max Dupain, Albert Tucker, James Cant, Roy de Maistre, Peter Ellis, Tim Schultz, Julie Rrap, Pat Brassington, Clifford Bayliss, Rosslynd Piggott and many more.
Founded by twins Cam and Chris Grant back in early 2017, Unyoked's tiny houses have been in high demand since the outset. There are 13 cabins across NSW, Victoria and Queensland, including one designed by Matthew McConaughey. All properties have been placed in secret patches of wilderness, in the middle of nowhere, allowing you to escape all the hustle and bustle of the city. The off-the-grid experience brings you the convenience and comforts of four solid walls, alongside the adventure, spontaneity and closeness-to-nature of camping. Unyoked's ethos is to connect back with nature to help unplug, alleviate stress and anxiety. Each cabin is designed to make you feel like you're part of the surrounding landscape, too. Think timber, oversized windows, solar power, composting toilets and a blissful lack of wi-fi. At the same time, though, simple comforts are taken care of, so you get a cosy bed, kitchen appliances, firewood, coffee, milk, herbs and the like. [caption id="attachment_745749" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Luisa Brimble[/caption] Images: Unyoked and Luisa Brimble
Over the past decade, Disney has made a hefty commitment to remaking its animated classics as live-action movies, as seen via the two Alice in Wonderland films, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Dumbo and Aladdin, to name a few. The next to get the same treatment is 101 Dalmatians, and the Mouse House is going with the same approach it used with the Maleficent flicks. Yes, there'll be spotted dogs in Cruella, but this Emma Stone-starring spinoff is all about its villainous namesake. Set to release in May — and currently slated for cinemas, rather than making the move to Disney+ like Mulan did last year — Cruella focuses on Estella de Vil before she becomes the puppy-kidnapping figure that everyone already knows. It's the 70s, she's in London, and she's an outcast and a grifter. Estella is also desperate to become a fashion designer, and draws the attention of industry veteran Baroness von Hellman (Emma Thompson, Last Christmas). Obviously, Estella's relationship with the Baroness isn't going to end well. Even if you only have the faintest memories of 101 Dalmatians, Estella clearly has to morph into that tale's antagonist. And, based on the just-dropped first trailer for Cruella, she's going to do so in a movie that seems to have seen what Joker did — including the fact that it won Joaquin Phoenix an Oscar — and decided that's a good model to run with. As well as Stone, her two-tone hair and striking outfits — and Thompson, too — Cruella features Richard Jewell's Paul Walter Hauser, Outside the Wire's Emily Beacham, Yesterday's Joel Fry, The Good Place's Kirby Howell Baptiste and 1917's Mark Strong. The film marks a reunion between Hauser and director Craig Gillespie, after they worked together on I, Tonya, while the script is co-written by Isn't It Romantic's Dana Fox and The Great's Tony McNamara. If a live-action version of Cruella de Vil sounds familiar, that's because Disney has done it before. Back in 1996, Glenn Close took on the role in 101 Dalmatians, and then sported a heap of black and white again in 2000 sequel 102 Dalmatians. So, never one to leave its past works alone for too long, the Mouse House is following in its own footsteps in multiple ways with Cruella. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmRKv7n2If8 Cruella releases in Australian and New Zealand cinemas on May 27.
If you're a fan of author, comedian and NPR humorist David Sedaris, then you'll know that he's a frequent visitor Down Under. Missed him on his last trip in 2023? 2025 is your latest chance to experience his snappy wit, as well as his discerning and astute ability to observe life's moments — both trivial and extraordinary — in both an observational and unique way. This is Sedaris' seventh trip Down Under, spanning stops in both Australia and New Zealand — including at Hamer Hall in Melbourne on Thursday, February 6–Friday, February 7. If you haven't seen Sedaris live before, his shows are part of the reason that he's built up such a following. Onstage, he regularly weaves in new and unpublished material, too — and the satirist will throw it over to the crowd for a Q&A as well, and also sign copies of his books. [caption id="attachment_862849" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anne Fishbein[/caption] Sedaris has more than a few tomes to his name, so you have options for him to scribble on, including Happy-Go-Lucky, Calypso, Theft by Finding, Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls, Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Holidays on Ice, Naked and Barrel Fever. Sedaris is equally celebrated for his constant This American Life appearances and must-read pieces in The New Yorker, and boasts everything from the Terry Southern Prize for Humor and Jonathan Swift International Literature Prize for Satire and Humor to the Time Humorist of the Year Award among his accolades. If you've been searching for a supportive environment to use the phrase "how very droll", this is it. [caption id="attachment_862850" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anne Fishbein[/caption] Top images: Jenny Lewis, Prudence Upton.
So, you read one of 2023's huge literary sensations. And, you engaged with one of TikTok's biggest memes. What comes next? Diving into them both at All About Women. Notching up 12 years when its 2024 edition takes place, this Sydney Opera House event enlists impressive talents to dig into gender, justice and equality, including by exploring the hits, trends and issues of the 12 months prior. Accordingly, naming Yellowface author Rebecca F Kuang and Roman Empire scholar Mary Beard for next year's one-day festival couldn't make more sense. Kuang will be heading to Sydney to chat about her satirical novel, which dives into cancel culture, cultural appropriation and diversity in the world of publishing, and has been a must-read since arriving on shelves in May. As for Beard, she's coming to the Harbour City fresh off the release of her latest book The Emperor of Rome, and will explore misogyny, power, murder and gossip in the ancient world — and its relevance to now. So, how often will All About Women think about the Roman Empire? At Beard's session, plenty. [caption id="attachment_929572" align="alignnone" width="1920"] John Packman[/caption] So far, Kuang and Beard are the first headliners on the 2024 event's program, with both getting talking in Australia for the first time. But they'll have company when the full lineup drops in January. All About Women brings together international and Australian artists, thinkers and storytellers to examine a broad variety of topics relevant to its main focus — so, to gender, justice and equality — via panels, conversations, workshops and performances. After expanding to two days in 2022 and then to three in 2023, Sydney Opera House's key feminist festival is running as a one-day event again in 2024. The date to mark in your diary: Sunday, March 10. Won't be in Sydney that day, because you'll be away or you live elsewhere? All About Women will also take place online again. "It will be such an honour to host both Rebecca F Kuang and Mary Beard on their first speaking tours in Australia. We look forward to announcing our fierce and fearless co-curators and the full lineup in the new year, and can't wait to welcome audiences back to the festival for its 12th year in March," said Sydney Opera House Head of Talks and Ideas Chip Rolley. 2024 marks the third year that the fest is enlisting a team of co-curators to put the program together. 2023's cohort gave audiences everyone from riot grrrl pioneers Bikini Kill to child actor-turned-I'm Glad My Mom Died author Jennette McCurdy. [caption id="attachment_837698" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jacquie Manning[/caption] [caption id="attachment_844647" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Prudence Upton[/caption] [caption id="attachment_844646" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jacquie Manning[/caption] All About Women 2024 will take place on Sunday, March 10 at the Sydney Opera House, and also stream online. The full program will release on Tuesday, January 16, 2023 — check back here then for further details. Tickets for the just-announced first sessions go on sale at 9am on Thursday, December 7, with pre sales from 9am on Tuesday, December 5. Top image: Jacquie Manning.
It's time to get the word "Jellicle" stuck in your head again: to mark 40 years since it first hit the stage in Australia, Cats has locked in a new season Down Under. Back in July 1985, Aussie audiences initially experienced Andrew Lloyd Webber's acclaimed production, which turned a tale inspired by poems from T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats into an award-winning theatre hit. The place: Sydney, aka where Cats is heading again from June 2025. Four decades ago, the show pranced and prowled through Theatre Royal Sydney — and the new season will scamper across the boards there again, too. There's no word yet on whether the show's 2025 Australian run will make stops in any other cities, so if you're keen for some new Cats memories, booking a seat in the Harbour City is your only current way of guaranteeing them. "Cats is a legendary show that I've admired for over 40 years. A sparkling fusion of music, dance and verse, it was revolutionary when it first opened and enticed new audiences into the world of musical theatre," said producer John Frost for Crossroads Live about the new Aussie performances. "I can't wait to bring the original production of Cats back to Australia where it all began, at Theatre Royal Sydney, to celebrate its 40th anniversary in Australia." If you're new to Cats, it spends its time with the Jellicle cat tribe on the night of the Jellicle Ball. That's the evening each year when their leader Old Deuteronomy picks who'll be reborn into a new Jellicle life by making the Jellicle choice. And yes, "Jellicle" is uttered frequently. Of late, audiences might be more familiar with Cats as a movie. In 2019, the musical made the leap from stage to screen with a star-studded cast including Idris Elba (Hijack), Taylor Swift (Amsterdam), Judi Dench (Belfast), Ian McKellen, (The Critic) James Corden, (Mammals) Jennifer Hudson (Respect), Jason Derulo (Lethal Weapon), Ray Winstone (Damsel) and Rebel Wilson (The Almond and the Seahorse) playing singing, scurrying street mousers. If you ever wanted to see Swift pouring cat nip on a crowd of cats from a suspended gold moon, or were keen to soothe your disappointment over the fact that Elba hasn't yet been James Bond by spotting him with whiskers, fur and a tail, this was your chance. For its efforts, the Tom Hooper (The Danish Girl)-directed film picked up six Golden Raspberry Awards, including Worst Picture. But while the movie clearly didn't hit the mark, you can see why this feline-fancying musical has been such a huge theatre hit when it makes its Aussie stage comeback. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cats Australia (@catsthemusicalau) Cats will play Theatre Royal Sydney, 108 King Street, Sydney, from June 2025. Head to the musical's website to further details and to sign up for the ticket waitlist. Images: Alessandro Pinna.
It's pretty clear the good folk behind Top Paddock, Three Bags Full and Two Birds One Stone are completely unable to sit still; they're opening a brand new cafe dubbed Kettle Black this month. Nathan Toleman, Ben Clark and Diamond Rozakeas are setting up their latest venture on Albert Road in South Melbourne, in a rather odd-looking building that fuses a Victorian terrace house with a modern apartment building. With the new cafe's fitout at the hands of South Yarra design firm Studio You Me, we’re expecting to see something pretty bold (the only sneak peaks we've seen on Twitter so far are wooden parquetry wall detailing and hexagonal tile-meets-concrete flooring). Just last year, Top Paddock won Best Cafe Design in the Eat Drink Design Awards and Best New Cafe in The Age Good Cafe Guide awards, so there's some relatively big shoes to fill right there. While the menu direction hasn't been hinted at yet, if Toleman, Rozakeas and Clark's other ventures are anything to go by you can expect top-notch service, Five Senses coffee pumping all day and a foolproof, freshly housemade smorgasbord of nosh options. Kettle Black opens at 7am on Thursday, July 24. Find the new digs at 50 Albert Road, South Melbourne. Via Good Food.
There are plenty of things to do in Federation Square, whether staring at the big screen, visiting ACMI, sitting in a bar or just enjoying a stint of people-watching is your kind of thing. Or, on Saturday, October 20 and Sunday, October 21, you could simply climb a very tall wall. We're not recommending that you attempt to scale any of the buildings onsite, obviously. And if you're not fond of heights, we're not recommending that you day any climbing. But if you're keen for a scamper, you will be able to hoist yourself up a rock wall thanks to YoPro. Between 10am–4pm each day, just head to the Swanston Street Forecourt to start literally moving up in the world. As well as nabbing a few yoghurt samples to fuel your fun, you can also pick up a number of prizes.
South Melbourne Market wants to whisk you away to Japan this winter. From Wednesday, June 4–Saturday, June 14, you'll be able to take yourself on a degustation through the stallholders, sampling ten Japan-inspired dishes along the way. Among the savoury menu, you'll find pork gyoza at Bambu, shallow-fried calamari with yuzu aioli at Greek 'n' Out, an eggplant katsu curry at Smithburg, burrata done hiyayakko style at UGO Burrata Bar, and torched salmon sashimi at Oyster Bar by Aptus. When you're ready for a sweet hit, try a hojicha-infused croissant at Agathe, a black sesame cookie at My Cookie Factory, or one of two matcha-flavoured delights: cheesecake at Cobb Lane Bakery and gelato at Fritz. Make sure to stop in at Tea Drop, where you can get a cold-brew genmaicha, a matcha or a hojicha (iced or latte-style), along with a strawberry coated in matcha and white chocolate. The entire degustation is self-guided, leaving you free to enjoy the dishes at your pace, in whatever order you like. Plus, you only need one ticket ($79). For an extra $50, you'll score a Flavours of Japan Discovery Bag filled with gourmet goodies, exclusive discounts, matcha or incense, and an art card.
Best known for its dedicated exhibition space, Craft Victoria is a little treasure trove of art and design right in the heart of the CBD. While its gallery space is always full of nifty creations and happenings, the gift store next door is equally as compelling. Most items in store are produced by local artists including ceramics, homewares, jewellery and textiles. With everything offered at a surprisingly fair price, Craft is the perfect place to go if you're ever in need of a creative kickstart (or a really great gift).
Kawaii alert: Hello Kitty and her adorable entourage are opening a colourful cafe in the heart of Melbourne. Opening on Friday, May 9, the Hello Kitty and Friends Cafe will be the first of its kind in Australia, bringing Sanrio's most iconic characters to life through food, art and, naturally, super-cute design. Popping up at Melbourne Central, this immersive, multi-zone experience merges Japanese pop culture with a bold dose of Melbourne flair, and is no doubt set to become a must-visit spot for fans of Hello Kitty, Cinnamoroll, Kuromi and My Melody. The whole concept has been brought to life by a team of Australian creatives, including art director Eddie Zammit — who was behind the striking visual identity for Hello Kitty's recent Chadstone pop-up — and illustrator Travis Price. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Eddie Zammit (@eddiezammit) Inside, you'll find four themed spaces, each dripping in pastel tones and Sanrio references aplenty. At the centre of the action is Cinnamoroll World, an ode to the eponymous cinnamon roll-tailed puppy. You can also explore the Friends Garden, where bespoke illustrations of Sanrio characters share the spotlight with Melbourne Central's iconic Clock and Coop's Shot Tower. In a rush? Stop by the Hello Kitty Corner, ideal for a quick, but no less cute, refuel to break up the shopping with a takeaway coffee and pastry. On the menu, you'll find appropriately kawaii Japanese-inspired picks, like strawberry sandos, fresh rainbow poke bowls and character-themed bento boxes that feel more like collectibles than meals. And that fourth themed space? That'd be a gift shop, stocked with limited-edition merch you won't find anywhere else. Think: embroidered patches, tees, plushies, key rings and monthly drops, all designed by Aussie creatives to celebrate the mash-up of the Hello Kitty world and Melbourne's creative energy. "This one-of-a-kind experience is a true celebration of two icons — Hello Kitty and Friends, and the vibrant city of Melbourne," says Silvia Figini, Chief Operating Officer Sanrio (EMEA, India and Oceania) and Mr Men (Worldwide). "We're proud to have seamlessly blended Sanrio's beloved aesthetic with Melbourne's unique spirit and creativity." The Hello Kitty and Friends Cafe opens on Friday, May 9, at Melbourne Central. For more info, head to the Melbourne Central website.
It's that time of the year: you've set your out-of-office, made the couch your new home, and only plan to leave to head to the beach, eat festive food or party. That means it's prime movie viewing time, and Google and Amazon have just the film-oriented gift for the occasion, offering up 99 cent film rentals. Need to catch up on The Jungle Book, Lights Out or Louis Theroux: My Scientology Movie? Get your Christmas mix courtesy of Love Actually, Elf or Die Hard? Revisit John Wick before the sequel arrives in cinemas next year? Or enjoy Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping seeing that it didn't end up making it to Australian theatres? Here's your chance. The good news: Google Play's deal is available in Australia and runs until January 23, 2017, with a limit of one film per user. The discount is applied at checkout, and once you finalise the transaction you have 30 days to watch your pick. The not so good news: Amazon might've launched Prime Video on our shores just last week, but their rental service hasn't made the jump. Of course, if you're interested in renting something from their library and you're handy with a VPN, you might know how to make that happen.
After opening seven Queensland locations in the past two years and announcing plans to launch 50 more Australian stores over the next three years, Taco Bell is set to launch not one, but two Victorian stores by the end of the year. And the first one is swinging open its doors on Chapel Street in just one week, on Saturday, December 7. If you make it along to the opening day, you'll be able to score some limited-edition merch and one lucky taco fan will win a year's supply of food. The second Victoria store is set to open in Hawthorn later this year. Menu-wise, the usual Taco Bell range will be on offer, complete with burritos, quesadillas, nachos and, of course, tacos. For those dining in, frozen margaritas and a range of craft beers will also be available. https://www.facebook.com/tacobellaus/photos/a.1461510760603853/2591202694301315/?type=3&theater Taco Bell's Australian arm currently includes stores in Annerley, Cleveland, North Lakes, Robina, Southport, Logan Central and Townsville, with two more set to open in NSW before the year's out. With promises of more than 50 across the country, we can expect a few more to open in Melbourne in the upcoming months and years, too. This is, however, Taco Bell's third attempted foray into the Australian market. The chain tried to launch here in 1981 (and was then taken to court by Sydney store Taco Bell's Casa) and again in 1997 — but both attempts were unsuccessful and the brand withdrew. Find Taco Bell at 352 Chapel Street, South Yarra from 10am on Saturday, December 7.
After a sold-out season in Sydney last year, Muriel's Wedding The Musical is coming to Melbourne's Her Majesty's Theatre for a limited season in 2019. A co-production between Sydney Theatre Company and Global Creatures, the musical adaptation of Muriel's Wedding is like a perfect high school reunion — maximum 80s nostalgia without having to tell any of your old friends you're in HR now. When Muriel Heslop realises that the small town of Porpoise Spit has nothing in store but grim futures, she decides to take off, with only her parents' chequebook, a couple of ABBA albums memorised note for note and a vague sense that the wider world has something that she is hungry for. PJ Hogan, who wrote and directed Muriel's cinematic adventure, has adapted and updated the script for the stage, while Kate Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttall have built the music around ABBA's towering back catalogue. There's a real buzz around Muriel. Sure, it's a chance to re-immerse yourself in the unadulterated joy of Muriel's hijinks, but it's also because Muriel hasn't stopped holding the mirror up to our desperate, fame-hungry society since she first hit the screen. As director Simon Phillips points out: "Muriel's governing delusion is becoming a celebrity and becoming famously married. The world has caught up with Muriel." The Melbourne season follows news that the show won a slew of awards at July's Helpmann Awards, Australia's annual awards for live entertainment and performing arts. Muriel's Wedding The Musical picked up five gongs across the two nights of awards, including Best Original Score, Best Music Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Sound Design and Best Choreography in a Musical. It will run a limited season in Melbourne before heading back to Sydney for a month in June. Muriel's Wedding The Musical will play a limited season at Her Majesty's Theatre, 219 Exhibition Street, Melbourne from March 2019. Tickets aren't yet on sale, but you can sign up to the waiting list here. Image: Christine Messinesi.
Returning in 2018 with its biggest program ever, Open House Melbourne is your ticket to the city's architectural past and present. The Open House Melbourne Weekend is the headline event, which this year features 224 buildings that'll swing open their doors and grant the public access to variety of rarely seen private homes, institutions and city landmarks across July 28 and 29. Scale the rooftops of Melbourne Central, head underground in a former explosives store or take a look around one of Melbourne's finest modernist homes. We've picked out some of our favourites below, but with 87 properties appearing on the program for the first time, there's much to see for Melbourne's architecture and history lovers. AUSTRALIAN ISLAMIC CENTRE Seamlessly linking historical Islamic motifs with contemporary Australian architecture, the Australian Islamic Centre set out to demonstrate the future of mosques in Australian suburbs. Designed by Glenn Murcutt, one of the world's most respected architects and Australia's only Pritzker Architecture Prize winner, in collaboration with Elevli+ Architects, the centre was included in Wallpaper magazine's highly prestigious list of Top Buildings That Shaped Culture in 2017. Funded by the Newport community, the building provides an elegant space for worship, education and recreation. Buy tickets to the Australian Islamic Centre here. MELBOURNE CENTRAL One of Melbourne's most recognisable landmarks, Melbourne Central is filled with hidden rooftops and lookouts. Led by local historian and writer Dale Campisi, the tours of the building will give attendees the inside scoop on Melbourne's architectural history and the chance to hear how the Coop's Shot Tower and its soaring glass cone came to be. Designed by Walter Coop as an ammunitions facility in 1889, the building remains just one of three 19th-century shot towers left in Australia. In the 1980s, Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa was brought on board for the addition of the 20-storey glass cone, which provides Melbourne Central with its bright and contemporary space. Buy tickets to Melbourne Central here. STOKEHOUSE PRECINCT Those familiar with the St Kilda foreshore might remember the fire that devastated the popular Stokehouse restaurant in January 2014. Reopening in late 2017 as a beachfront collection of eateries, the spot has the added claim to fame of being the first Five Star Green Star rated building of its kind. Now housing the lively Pontoon bar, acclaimed restaurant Stokehouse and the much-loved fish-and-chip kiosk Paper Fish, the building was awarded the Green Star rating for its sustainable design and construction, as well as the ongoing sustainable operation of the building. The tour — led by eco-warrior Joost Bakker — will discuss much of the innovative green-friendly tech within the complex, including solar energy, 'E-water', onsite composting and much more. Buy tickets to Stokehouse Precinct here. JACK'S MAGAZINE One of the more unique places on Open House Melbourne's 2018 lineup, Jack's Magazine is a former explosive store first opened in 1878. Set along the banks of the Maribyrnong River, the building is largely concealed — constructed within a hillside and positioned behind a large bluestone perimeter wall. Decommissioned in the 1990s, Jack's Magazine is currently closed to the public. But during Open House Melbourne's special weekend you'll be able to take a rare tour of the hidden tunnels and tramways as visitors are led around the site's main buildings, including the vast gunpowder store. Something of a kooky leftover from Melbourne's past, Jack's Magazine is a significant heritage building that's in the process of a revitalisation project. Buy tickets to Jack's Magazine here. THE MAD HOUSE Located in Beaumaris, The Mad House is a 1961 modernist-style family home that's an embodiment of the area's housing aesthetics from the 1950s through to the early 1970s. Privately owned, the current residents recognised the building's design legacy when they bought the home in 2011, choosing to save the house from the bulldozer and slowly restore it using as many of the house's original features as possible. Sourcing vintage lighting, wallpaper, shelving and furniture to match the home's style, Melbourne architect Adrian Bonomi was commissioned to update the kitchen and bathroom. Retaining its modernist design in stunning fashion, The MAD House demonstrates a careful balance in its modern appeal, while also remaining true to its historic character. Buy tickets to The Mad House here. AUSTRALIA 108 Standing at a dazzling 319 metres, Australia 108 (once completed) will be the 'tallest building to roof' in the Southern Hemisphere. Designed by Fender Katsalidis Architects, Australia 108 will change the skyline of Melbourne with its ultramodern, sculptural form becoming home to 1100 apartments across 100+ floors. Inspired by the Commonwealth Star on the Australian flag, the design features a 'golden starburst expression' that'll complement the colours of the nearby Eureka Tower. For this tour, property developer Sinclair Brook and Fender Katsalidis will guide you through of the first completed stage of Melbourne's newest landmark tower. Buy tickets to Australia 108 here. 'THE AUSTRALIAN UGLINESS' Providing an introspective look into the 'Australian Dream', The Australia Ugliness is a three-channel video installation by Melbourne artist Eugenia Lim. Considering the great modernist architect Robin Boyd and his book of the same name, Lim, fitted out in a gold suit, plays the character of The Ambassador who shape-shifts between student, tourist, client, property investor and resident across more than 30 Australian architectural sites. As the keynote of Open House Melbourne 2018's program, The Australia Ugliness will be installed in the Melbourne School of Design, alongside a free month-long program of related talks, walks and special events on diversity, liveability and sustainability. Buy tickets to 'The Australian Ugliness' here. Open House Weekend Melbourne runs from July 28–29, head to the website for full event details and to purchase tickets.
"You know you're like the tenth guy to try this, right? It never works out for the dipshit in the mask." So scolds TV reporter Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox, Shining Vale) in the latest trailer for Scream VI, saying what everyone that's ever watched this slasher franchise has long known. But, if bad past outcomes for fellow Ghostfaces were going to stop the next killer in the horror-film saga from getting stabby, there wouldn't even be a new flick to begin with. If you like scary movies, then you've likely watched a Scream film or five over the last quarter of a century. And, across that period — ever since the OG feature became a box-office smash in 1996, then delivered 1997's Scream 2, 2000's Scream 3, 2011's Scream 4 and 2022's Scream, plus TV spinoff Scream: The TV Series — you've seen the saga's mask-wearing killer Ghostface slash his way through the fictional Californian town of Woodsboro multiple times, as well as a college in Ohio and then Hollywood. This time, however, he's following in The Muppets' footsteps and making a date with Manhattan. In both the initial Scream VI teaser trailer from back in 2022 and the just-dropped full sneak peek, New York City has an unwanted guest — and the current person donning a Ghostface mask is more than a little obsessed with their task. Early in the clip, there's even a shrine to the franchise so far, taking a trip down memory lane through the saga's history. There's also another familiar face: Hayden Panettiere (Nashville), returning to the fold as Kirby Reed following Scream 4. She joins Cox as Weathers, the last Scream's Melissa Barrera (In the Heights) and Jenna Ortega (Wednesday) as sisters Sam and Tara Carpenter, and Jasmin Savoy Brown (Yellowjackets) as the siblings' film-obsessed pal Mindy among the existing franchise players making a comeback to get stalked by Ghostface once again. Or, make that Ghostfaces. In the two trailers so far, it's clearly Halloween, and costumes abound on a NYC subway. Among all that spooky attire: more than one black-clad person in a Ghostface mask, making Sam, Tara and Mindy more than a little distressed. Ghostface also whips out a gun in a convenience store, slinks around New York's streets and gets Gale on the phone. Does the latter signal an end to one of the series' original characters? Amid references to other horror movies, and to the franchise's own past, that's how those kinds of scenes usually play out. Whatever's in store for Gale, Kirby and company — and whether Kirby might be the killer this time around, because this series does love links when it comes to Ghostface's identity — will be revealed in early March, when Scream VI hits cinemas. Ready or Not's Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett return to direct, as they did with 2021's Scream. Also involved, featuring on-screen: She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and The Other Two's Josh Segarra, Servant and The Grand Budapest Hotel's Tony Revolori, and Australian Nine Perfect Strangers and Ready or Not star Samara Weaving, plus Dermot Mulroney (Umma) and Henry Czerny (another Ready or Not alum). Check out the full Scream VI trailer below: Scream VI releases in cinemas Down Under on March 9. Images: Philippe Bossé.
One of Australia's leading fine diners is having a crack at the casual dining thing this season, launching a brand-new indoor-outdoor restaurant space in the heart of the Yarra Valley. Attica Summer Camp, the latest venture from acclaimed chef-owner Ben Shewry, is open for business, serving up a laidback, approachable food and drink offering to see us through the warmer months. While Shewry's Attica is known for its envelope-pushing high-class cuisine, the situation at this new sibling is an entirely different affair, featuring a sprawling countryside setting and a playful, informal vibe. "It's going to be a super fun, high-energy, casual place that's been inspired by this time we've all been through," Shewry told Concrete Playground back in November. "And wanting to just break free from that feeling, and look towards something that's more optimistic and positive." To that end, expect a broad-ranging menu with bites to suit a quick picnic session, a long lazy lunch and plenty in between. Shewry's trademark food sensibilities shine throughout and as promised, much of it evokes memories of childhood campfires and summer holiday feasts from way back when. If you're building up to a main event, you'll find an abundance of choice in the starters lineup, where house-made focaccia and butter is served with the likes of hot-smoked king salmon, chicken liver pâté with cherries, or maybe pork pastrami and hot sauce. A couple of chilled soups — one green, one salsa-inspired — are already causing quite the stir, while picnic classics run to plates like grilled scotch eggs and a crunchy house coleslaw. There are crisp hasselback potatoes done unconventionally on the charcoal spit, cauliflower licked by the rotisserie and rare kangaroo skewers, which can all be enjoyed alongside Attica cocktail creations, a lineup of wines by the glass and even Shewry's new go-to summer sip: friesling. Just don't fill up too much before you get to have a crack at the dessert trolley, featuring dreamy things like negroni marmalade 'Tim Tams', a lemon tart and a next-level black forest cake starring Yarra Valley cherries preserved in Four Pillars gin. As for seating options, consider yourself spoilt for choice, no matter the weather. You'll find indoor tables, an outdoor terrace with primo valley views, an all-weather openair dining pavilion and even an al fresco pergola where you can kick back on a cushion enjoying vino and snacks beneath the vines. Limited walk-ins are available, though bookings are also accepted. Find Attica Summer Camp at 45 Davross Court, Seville. It's slated to run until at least the end of May, so head in earlier rather than later.
UPDATE: April 27, 2020: Annabelle Comes Home is available to stream via Netflix, Foxtel Now, Google Play, YouTube and iTunes. There's an incredibly cynical, albeit accurate, way of looking at Annabelle Comes Home, which marks the eighth film in the Conjuring Cinematic Universe in the past six years. A second sequel to a spin-off from 2013's The Conjuring, this horror flick once again draws upon the lives and work of real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga). As you can tell from the film's title, it also features the creepy doll called Annabelle, which is either a possessed plaything or a beacon for other demonic spirits, depending on narrative requirements in any given picture. This time, however, the franchise delves further into the Warrens' treasure trove of cursed and occult trinkets. There are so many other spooky and unnerving items that they literally fill a heavily padlocked room. Spying everything from jinxed samurai armour to haunted board games to prowling hellhounds, it's easy to glean what the saga's producers, including Australian filmmaker James Wan, are thinking — more eerie objects, more potential movies. New films about soul-collecting ferrymen and demented bridal dresses will likely eventuate (although, if the latter does, it'll have big shoes to fill following the fantastic, completely unrelated British movie In Fabric). That's just how the entertainment business works. Thankfully, as Annabelle Comes Home unleashes a bedevilled toy box worth of terrifying forces, it livens up the franchise's familiar template, has ample fun with the haunted house concept, and even throws in some goofy teen movie-style antics as well. The Annabelle series hasn't been great so far, so this mightn't sound like the biggest compliment, but Annabelle Comes Home is its best instalment yet. In a saga that also includes the lacklustre The Nun and The Curse of the Weeping Woman, it's also the best Conjuring Universe flick since the movie that started it all. Written and directed by Gary Dauberman — who has penned four Conjuring Universe films now, as well as 2017's It and its forthcoming sequel — Annabelle Comes Home sticks to its simple premise. After being involved in a number of violent incidents, the damned dolly is brought to the Warrens' suburban Connecticut house. Not only is it locked in their artefacts room, but it's sealed in a glass case emblazoned with multiple warnings of the "do not open" kind. And there Annabelle sits, until Ed and Lorraine go away overnight on a case, leaving their quiet, pre-teen daughter Judy (McKenna Grace) at home. Friendly, sensible babysitter Mary Ellen (Madison Iseman) knows better than to snoop, touch things she shouldn't or to even invite the cute boy from across the street (Michael Cimino) over. Of course, her curious pal Daniela (Katie Sarife) doesn't share the same mindset. As a screenwriter, Dauberman's past scripts have relied heavily on formula. That doesn't substantially change in his directorial debut, however he does an impressive job of making Annabelle Comes Home seem otherwise. Two sleight-of-hand tactics drive this bump- and jump-fuelled film, and they're both effective. Firstly, viewers are aware that this is more grist for the franchise mill, and that more movies will come — at this rate, the Conjuring series will probably haunt us for so long, it'll become its own hair-raising legend. But this latest chapter has such a great time careening between its multiple spine-tingling entities that nothing ever feels overly stock-standard, other than the titular doll (and she plays a smaller part than might be expected). Secondly, audiences have experienced ominous shadows, unsettling creaks and unexpected knocks at the door before, especially in this horror saga, and yet variety is once again key. Knowing that every sinister noise and strange occurrence is caused by the same disturbing toy again and again? Tired. Being kept guessing about which demonic object will pop up at any given moment? That's not only more thrilling, but it gives the movie more range to mix up its chilling imagery. Courtesy of hazy lighting and a moody atmosphere, Annabelle Comes Home nails the creepy tone anyway, with cinematographer Michael Burgess (The Curse of the Weeping Woman) making the most of the movie's main location. If trapping a few unsupervised kids in a house while otherworldly forces wreak havoc sounds like classic 80s territory, that's the vibe the picture goes for, even though it's set in the 70s. In a welcome improvement, the teen focus also shakes up the story beats, exploring threads about bullying, grief and young love — instead of just waiting for more spooks and scares, and padding them out with an uneasy tone. The film's characters also feel less like mere narrative pawns as a result. They still make stupid decisions, including ignoring all of those locks and "keep out" signs, but they're given flesh to jump out of. Overall, it's enough to make horror buffs wish that both the broader franchise and the now three-film Annabelle series had tried a few different tricks earlier. And although this is entirely the point, it's enough to make viewers look forward to possible new spinoffs, too. As the long-running Marvel Cinematic Universe continually demonstrates, these episodic, intertwined properties can (and probably will) keep going on forever. But as long as every single chapter isn't a carbon copy of the last, just with a new figure its centre, they can still surprise and entertain. Finally, Annabelle Comes Home shows that idea can be done well, rather than routinely, in the Conjuring Universe. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6M0RbShLpI
It already takes the crown as Australia's biggest shopping centre, and ranks amongst the largest in the world, too. But Chadstone isn't stopping with the upgrades anytime soon. After adding a luxury hotel and a couple of new restaurants to its grounds in 2019, and enjoying plenty of upgrades in recent years, the centre today unveiled plans for its latest addition — a new entertainment and dining precinct dubbed The Social Quarter. Clocking in at over 10,350 square metres and a cool $71 million, the project is set to feature 18 new food and entertainment 'experiences', with a focus on al fresco dining. Designed for all seasons and occasions, it's gearing up to open its doors this summer. On the food side of things, you'll find new outposts from six different hospitality retailers, including New Zealand-born Asian-fusion restaurant White + Wong's and its sibling Sardine Bar, Italian eatery Cinque Terre and Melbourne's much-loved Piccolina Gelateria. The crew from South Melbourne's Half Acre is opening an all-day Euro diner called Cityfields. And there'll be a new venue from Urban Alley Brewing Co (also Docklands and Knox), complete with its own onsite brewery creating craft beer exclusively for The Social Quarter. When it comes to playtime, punters of all ages will be spoilt for choice with venues from Archie Brothers Cirque Electrique, Strike Bowling and Holey Moley, alongside a new iteration of Hijinx Hotel — Funlab's vibrant 'challenge room hotel' concept, which debuted in Sydney in winter. They'll complement Chadstone's existing Legoland Discovery Centre and Hoyts cinema complex. [caption id="attachment_868118" align="alignnone" width="1920"] White + Wong's[/caption] The Social Quarter is also set to show off some sleek design work, helmed by renowned architects Jackson Clements Burrows, along with Buchan, Decibel and Lat Studios. It's aiming for a 5 Star Green Star rating, will feature an art-covered facade with works by artist Matthew Johnson, and boast a cutting-edge louvred glass roof design made up of 468 individually glazed pieces. The precinct will also showcase views across to the CBD from its restaurant spaces. [caption id="attachment_868117" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Urban Alley[/caption] [caption id="attachment_868111" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bar Sardine[/caption] Find The Social Quarter at Chadstone Shopping Centre, 1341 Dandenong Road, Chadstone, Victoria, from a yet-to-be-confirmed date this summer.
Flinders Lane seems to be the place for happening restaurants in Melbourne at the moment, and the Meatball and Wine Bar is no different. A dedicated artisan meatball venue, they know a thing or two about simplicity done just right. It's a small yet warm space where exposed brick, communal tables and quiet booths make it inviting for day and night. The menu starts with a range of cured meats, including capocollo (14.50 for 40gm) and truffle salami (14.50 for 40gm) as well as a selection of mozzarella from fior de latte ($12.50) to mozzerella de bufala ($14.50). But let's be honest: the real draw card here is the balls. You can stay simple with your choice of balls (pork, beef, chicken, fish and vegetable) with either red, white or green sauce ($15) or add any side including Italian beans, creamy polenta, handmade pasta or a market special vegetable ($18) for something a little heartier. It has to be said here, the meatball sliders are a little bit special ($16 for three). Local and fresh produce are important to these guys and they are using Lilydale chicken, Black Berkshire pork and beef from O'Connor in Victoria. The dessert menu keeps in theme with the 'whoopie mac', where a ball of ice cream — flavour of your choice, of course — is sandwiched between two cookies. No meatball and wine bar would be complete without a wine list. With a heavy Italian focus sip on Prosecco Farra de Soligo, Veneto ($10 a glass), or a 2010 sangiovese from Tuscany ($10). 250ml and 500ml sizes are served up, in true Italian spirit. The Meatball and Wine Bar now do breakfast. While we were expecting some wordplay and innuendo around balls in the morning, what we weren't expecting was their new and innovative way of slow cooking their scrambled eggs. They then shape the eggs into a ball, serving up three perfectly round morsels of breakfast-appropriate balls. The balls, either creamy egg, egg with charred corn and aged cheddar or green eggs are paired with red, white or green sauce ($9) and a range of sides from smoked salmon ($4.50) to something green ($4). Sliders ($12 for three), avocado and caprese salad on quinoa bread ($9.50) and muesli with milk, yogurt and honey ($8) round out the breakfast menu. There is nothing wrong with good tucker served up with an innuendo or two. It's fun, give it a go.
Starting life in St Kilda in 1955 before relocating to Brunswick in 2012, Record Paradise more or less does what it says on the tin. The Sydney Road store is a veritable haven for both casual listeners and audiophiles alike, and stocks a huge range of new and recycled vinyl, CDs and cassettes, as well as books and turntable equipment. Music-wise, the specialty here is local independent releases, while the selection — which totals into the thousands — also includes a wide range of genres from artists and labels across the globe. This northside gem also plays host to events such as the occasional music trivia night, or the odd in-store gig showcasing local talent. Images: Julia Sansone
Summer may technically be over, but apparently no one told the weather. The nights aren't getting any warmer though, so you may as well make the most of it. Held most Saturday nights (excluding public holiday weekends) from 4–9pm, the Batman Night Market is your go-to for delicious food, hand-crafted goods and some of the best fresh produce in town. Located right next to Batman Railway Station, the market features dozens of regular traders. Food-wise you can feast on a variety of multicultural cuisines, plus crepes, gelato and other sweet treats for dessert. If you prefer to cook at home, you can also pick up a load of fruit and veggies, meat and poultry, cheese, baked goods and more. Local makers, meanwhile, will be selling art, cosmetics and boutique fashion accessories.
We've all been drooling over Scandinavian-inspired furniture and décor for a while now. But sometimes it's hard to distinguish between economical, IKEA-esque goods — which certainly have their place, ahem, those tiny light wood stools in every cafe across the country — and the kind of pieces you'll keep forever. If you're looking for the former, you already know where to go. However, if the latter is more your style you can't go past 20th Century Scandinavia. Boasting vintage furnishings that tread the perfect line between retro and modern, this store has something for everyone. The family-run business gets in new shipments from Denmark on the reg, so there's always newly refurbished pieces hitting the shop floor. Weekend shoppers, be sure to also check out the warehouse showroom located just down the road at 41 St Phillip Street, Brunswick East, which is open 11am–4pm, Saturday and Sunday, or by appointment.
Kick off your shoes and slather on the sunscreen because 3 Ravens and Thornbury Bowls Club are teaming up for another year of community fun and, of course, a good beer. This year's festival, running from 12–6pm on Sunday, November 3, includes a variety of outdoor activities and prize giveaways — all in the spirit of celebrating the start of summer. Throughout the afternoon, you can chow down on classic barbecue fare, and either join a casual game of free barefoot bowls or test your skills by entering the Bowl Off. For this competition, you'll fight it out with fellow bowlers to roll your ball closest to a 50c piece. Prizes will, of course, be up for grabs with this one. A stack of beer can games and kid-friendly activities will also be set up all over the club. 3 Ravens will be running the pop-up bar, pouring a range of their brews to thirsty players. To celebrate of the launch of its 86 Tram series, the brewery will also be running The Gigantic Raffle, which, true to its title, boasts some mighty big prizes. Enter for the chance to win merch like caps, t-shirts and stubby holders, bar vouchers, a nine-year Social Bowls Club membership, or even free beer for an entire year. Entry to the festival is free, but you can also snag a $10 Golden Ticket, which includes entry to the Bowl Off and Gigantic Raffle as well as three cans of beer.
Chapel Street has another burger joint, and this time it's the internationally loved RocoMamas. The Windsor restaurant marks the South African group's Australian debut, with the space boasting an edgy combination of neon lighting, polished concrete and street art by Sabine Kahwati. Here, RocoMamas is treating locals to their first taste of its signature 'smashed burgers', where each meat patty is rolled into a ball and then squashed flat onto the grill to lock in the juices. Choose yours crafted from beef, chicken or a meat-free ensemble. House iterations include the Rock Star, with swiss cheese, barbecue relish and RocoMamas' own mayo, the Old Skool combination of tomato, onion and special sauce, and the no-holds-barred Chilli Cheez Bomb, loaded with bacon, cheddar, mozzarella, fresh chilli and a house-made cheese croquette. Otherwise, go the DIY route and customise your ultimate smash creation from a sprawling list of burger additions. Elsewhere on the menu, you'll find all the usual suspects — flame-grilled pork, beef and lamb ribs, loaded fries, onion rings, and chicken wings in varying degrees of mouth-burn. To match, there's a full bar offering — with local beers, wine and cocktails — as well as a line of decadent custard shakes.
In Stay of the Week, we explore some of the world's best and most unique accommodations — giving you a little inspiration for your next trip. In this instalment, we go to The Lindis in Canterbury, New Zealand, where you'll find small but mighty luxe pod accommodations overlooking the Ahuriri Valley's dramatic landscape. If you're itching to get away and ready to book an Aotearoa holiday now, head to Concrete Playground Trips to find a fabulous line-up of deals on roadtrips around New Zealand — including car rental, accommodation and breakfast. WHAT'S SO SPECIAL? These nature pods are inspired by the tiny homes you've seen popping up all over Australia and New Zealand — but so much more luxurious. The design of the rooms, the epic views and the access to the nearby lodge all make for a spectacular stay. THE ROOMS What the Lindis pods lack in size (they're about 18 square metres), they more than make up for with amenities. Each totally private room boasts a king-size bed with lush linens, ensuite with premium toiletries and private bathtub, an outdoor sitting area and, crucially, heating for when the outside temperature drops. But one of the best features comes in the form of the pod's structure itself. Three of the sides are covered in double-glazed mirrored glass than spans from floor to ceiling — perfect, in other words, for sitting in bed and marvelling at the incredible valley views before you. The Lindis pods are also entirely separate from everything else on the property, but you are within a short walk of the property's main lodge. Head here for the property's main dining room, a bar, lounge areas, a games room and a billiards room. FOOD AND DRINK One thing to note up front: at The Lindis, daily breakfast, lunch, pre-dinner drinks and canapes, multi-course dinner and the minibar is all included in the price of your stay. Because a truly relaxing getaway should involve needing to make as few decisions as possible. On the menu, you'll find produce that's either locally sourced or harvested from the property's on-site garden, from wild venison to porcini mushrooms and even locally caught seafood. The ever-evolving menu can also be paired with a nightly rotating selection of New Zealand and international wines. THE LOCAL AREA The Lindis is located in the Ahuriri Valley on New Zealand's South Island. Up here you'll spend your time among rugged mountain ranges, wetlands bursting with wildlife, tussock grasslands and vast beech forests. If you're looking for peace, quiet and reconnecting with nature, you're in the right place. THE EXTRAS Sure, you could take in the rugged terrain from your bed or outdoor terrace, but The Lindis also offers plenty ways that allow you to experience the land from up close. Take yourself on a hike or e-bike ride through the valley, or saddle up for a horseback tour for a truly unforgettable experience. Want to see it from above? The Lindis also offers helicopter flights so you can truly feel on top of the world. If you're after something more leisurely, book a picnic or barbecue package. And, when the sun goes down, join the team for a spot of spectacular stargazing. Head to The Lindis website to book a stay at one of its luxurious pods. Feeling inspired to book a truly unique getaway? Head to Concrete Playground Trips to explore a range of holidays curated by our editorial team. We've teamed up with all the best providers of flights, stays and experiences to bring you a series of unforgettable trips in destinations all over the world.
As its name suggests, Second Home is the kind of place where you can get comfortable and unwind. Housed within a recently renovated mid 1970s building created by architect Alistair Knox, the beauty of the space is all within the details: vast skylight windows, gum trees, lush furnishings and an open fireplace. Second Home is one of the newest additions to Jason M Jones' empire (joining Entrecôte, Bancroft Brewers, The Stables of Como, Porgie and Mr Jones), so it makes sense that this space has been established with comfort in mind. Located down a quiet backstreet in Eltham and surrounded by warehouses, it's somewhat of a sanctuary in an unlikely place. So, in escaping from the everyday, it might be fair to say that locals and visitors flock to the cafe just to observe that lived-in feeling in a home away from home. Humans — we're an odd bunch. Fans of Jones will recognise familiar items off the menu, which is split into Beautiful Brunch and Lovely Luncheon — particularly, his famous golden folded eggs ($15.90), which continue to be a crowd pleaser. A comprehensive list of options extends to also include an on-trend almond milk chia pudding ($14.90) and robust breakfast burger featuring grilled Hopkins River beef ($17.90). The standout remains the hearty Ploughman's Lunch ($18.90), which varies in its selection of terrines, cheeses and pickled vegetables. Come weekends, the libations trolley is also sure to soothe (or aggravate) any headaches, with a Bloody Mary, Bellini or Aperol Spritz ($12.90-13.90) amongst many friends at the ready. A north-facing courtyard has recently opened which is sure to extend the sitting time at Second Home. In addition, a rotating selection of art available for purchase also creates a gallery amongst the gumtrees. With all of this, the Eltham cafe covers every staple needed in creating the living room you never had, but always needed.
The Queen Vic markets are embracing Melbourne’s artsy community once more in a joint venture with Craft Victoria. New Craft, a new design market held on the first Sunday of every month, is a goldmine if you’re on the hunt for handmade quality jewellery, ceramics, furniture, artwork, accessories, and other knick knacks. Some of the stall holders in May include ceramic and homewares specialists Bind | Fold, the clever design folk at Steller Atelier, the imaginative jewellery of One Sunday Morning and the colourful bags of Cassia Essentiels. Stallholders change every month, so each Sunday brings with it new designers and creatives to A Shed (located on the corner of Peel and Victoria Street). Like all things at Queen Vic, prices are reasonable and you won’t break the bank for quality pieces to decorate yourself or our home. Go on, treat yo' self and support local artistic talent. For an updated list of artists each month, check the New Craft website. Image: Steller Atelier.
"International in flavour, cosmopolitan in style." It seems this nostalgic pop duo know exactly how to describe themselves. Harvey Miller and Monte Morgan may come across as a tongue-in-cheek late '80s novelty band, but it would be a mistake not to take them seriously. Their single from last year, 'Feeling', is some seriously sweet synth-pop that is full of heart, and the latest track 'Free of Fear' summons you to the dance floor — pastel suit and over-sized aviators optional. Client Liaison have built their fan base from their live shows, and they've sold out their last two gigs in Melbourne. If you need further convincing, their music is only currently available as a digital download or vinyl, so if you want to hear everything they've got to offer, get down to the Northcote Social Club. Go on — put it on the Diners Club Card, cash in those Ansett frequent flyer points and party like it's 1989. https://youtube.com/watch?v=oo5VopP64Mk
Holgate Brewhouse is one of the most popular craft breweries to come out of Victoria and its brewhouse is the spot to taste their award winning brews. Situated in the village of Woodend (about an hour our of the city), the brewery has been around since 1999 and was set up in Paul and Natasha Holgate's backyard. The bar is very much a country corner pub, with eight taps, classic pub grub and live music every Friday night. If you've overindulged, no worries — grab a room upstairs for the night, with a dinner and beer tasting package while you're at it. Image: David Hannah/Visit Victoria.
