It's been just over two years since Melbourne first scored its own edition of Singapore's famed Hawker Chan: home of the world's cheapest Michelin-starred meal, founded and helmed by chef Chan Hong Meng. A second local venue landed at Chadstone Shopping Centre mid-2019 and now, outposts number three and four are set to follow suit. Not one, but two more Hawker Chan restaurants are gearing up to open their doors at Box Hill Central this month. Launching on Friday, January 31 and mid-2020, in each of the precinct's two food courts, the venues will mark a shift for the brand, unveiling a new, beefed-up menu offering. Of course, legendary signature dishes like the soya chicken and char siu pork will be front and centre, though here they'll be joined by a slew of new additions. An expanded lineup of rice and noodle options means you can now match your hero protein to the likes of an aromatic chicken stock rice, hor fun or egg noodles, and both half and whole chickens will be available to order. Or you might fancy tucking into brand-new dishes including the gutsy chilli wontons in slick red broth and a Malay-style chicken curry with rice. Sticking with tradition, chef Chan himself will be flying into Melbourne to help launch the two newcomers. And for an all-important dose of good luck, he'll be the one whipping up that first batch of signature soya chicken. Find Hawker Chan at Shop FC002, Box Hill Central (North Precinct), from January 31. Hawker Chan at 1 Main Street, Box Hill (Box Hill Central) will open in mid-2020. CORRECTION: JANUARY 22, 2020 — The above article previously stated that both Box Hill Hawker Chan restaurants would be opening on January 31. This is incorrect. The North Precinct store (at Shop FC002) is opening on January 31, but the Box Hill Central store will not open until mid 2020. The above article has been updated to reflect this.
The National Gallery of Victoria has hosted some of Australia's biggest contemporary art exhibitions in recent memory. There was the Andy Warhol and Ai Weiwei blockbuster that paired the works of two of the most significant artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, the huge debut of the NGV Triennial late last year and, next week, the Melbourne gallery will unveil a collection of works from New York City's MoMA. But, in the coming years, all these exhibitions could be moved to a new location, as the Victorian Government has today announced plans for a brand new contemporary art gallery to be built nearby. This is a pretty big deal. The new gallery — dubbed NGV Contemporary (NGVC) — will be part of a major redevelopment of the Southbank arts precinct and, according to the Victorian Government, will be the biggest contemporary art gallery in the country. While it will be part of the NGV, it'll be a standalone gallery, and will be built around the corner on the site of the old Carlton & United Breweries building on Southbank Boulevard. It sounds like the NGV's permanent collection will stay at NGV International, while NGVC will focus purely on contemporary art and design. As well as the gallery itself, the redevelopment will also add 18,000 square metres of public space to the area, theatre upgrades and new facilities in an attempt to turn 1 City Road into Melbourne's arts hub. The State Government will invest $208 million for the first two years of the project — this will allow the NGV to start planning and raise philanthropic funds. Premier Daniel Andrews is calling the redevelopment a "once-in-a-generation" project, and thinks it will be a "game-changer" for the city. Once completed, we think it's safe to assume that the NGV will be able to pull even more big names for its blockbuster exhibitions.
You've probably already heard of WeWork, the international coworking movement. The company has 230 coworking spaces around the world. In 2016 it opened its first coworking venture in Sydney, and WeWork's first massive Melbourne space in the London Stores building is now open. And when we say massive, we mean massive. With six floors and space for more than 700 creatives to shack up and compete for funniest coffee mug, it's set to become the place to work in Melbourne. But don't expect a cookie-cutter corporate office that will put you to sleep. The interior was designed, interestingly, by graphic designer Sui Yao, and has been decorated by Australia artists Georgia Hill, Mik Shida and FunSkull. With an open-air terrace, and an endless supply of kombucha, nitro cold drip coffee and fruit-infused water, you won't mind staying late at work. So, what kind of perks can you expect from a coworking space? The best part of coworking (apart from meeting likeminded folk and working in a beautiful office) is the events. You can schmooze at ample networking dos, lunch and learn sessions, happy hours, and even yoga and massage events. The WeWork system also gives members access to each other at locations across the globe, like your own in-real-life LinkedIn. The location (on the corner of Bourke and Elizabeth streets) is taking enquiries now and WeWork haa already announced a second venue, opening 2018, on Collins Street.
If you're looking for a relaxed bar promising rooftop views of the surrounding city and plenty of whisky cocktails and food until 3am, look no further than Hats and Tatts in Melbourne's CBD. This dive bar relocated from its South Melbourne digs to its new two-level spot in the heart of the city, offering up good tunes, great drinks and American comfort food in the realm of hand-held classics like burgers, fried chicken and more. If you're in a particularly playful mood, Hats and Tatts also has a collection of retro arcade games including an Addam's Family pinball, and a billiards table so you can flex your hand-eye coordination as you keep the good times rolling. There's also a Selfie Mirror bathroom if you're feeling the desire to show off your Insta-best (although after the aforementioned whisky cocktails, sometimes we find it's better to resist the urge).
What do board shorts, obnoxiously colourful Hawaiian shirts, Reg Mombassa (of Mental As Anything fame) and surrealist art all have in common? They have all participated in the evolution of Mambo, one of Australia's iconic clothing brands. Famed for injecting humour and artistic expression into a surfing apparel industry more preoccupied with the branding of products than creating memorable designs. This year marks the 30th year of the Australian surf brand, which was dreamt up by Dare Jennings by the pool of a Redfern motel, over a slab of beer and some Jatz crackers. Not limited to clothing, Mambo has slapped their designs onto surfboards, posters and ads. Over the years the brand has churned out some pretty iconic designs. From the contentious Aussie Jesus at the football, to the oddly enduring farting dog – the designs have continued to shock and delight Aussie audiences throughout time. Dancing the line between political incorrectness and social awareness, Mambo frequently used their designs to grapple with issues such as religious intolerance, racism and commercialism. In 1995, they protested French nuclear weapon testing in the Pacific with the 'Chirac' t-shirt, donating $40,000 of the profits to Greenpeace. In 1998, they released the 'redneck' design, to protest the racist tenets of the One Nation Party — with proceeds going to National Aboriginal and Islander State Development Association, an organisation that would have been threatened by a victorious One Nation Party. Proudly Australia, the brand has harnessed local talent during its tumultuous 30-year trajectory. From designing the Australian Olympic uniforms in 2000 to financial insecurity in 2008, the brand still stands strong today as a pioneer of Australian design. Celebrating this, The National Gallery of Victoria will be showcasing the Mambo: 30 years of shelf-indulgence exhibition. Curated by T-shirt devotee, Eddie Zammit, original art director Wayne Golding and the current owner of the brand, Angus Kingsmill, the exhibition will feature the largest collection of Mambo works to date, incorporating all the unique Australianisms that defines the brand. Mambo: 30 years of shelf-indulgence will be on display at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia at Federation Square in the NGV Studio from the 6th of December 2014 until the 22nd of February 2015. Entry is free.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single cafe operating in Melbourne cannot survive without a coffee-making gimmick. Stovetop Espresso's is — as you may have guessed — stovetop espresso, an Italian steam-based coffee produced by passing hot water pressurised by steam through ground coffee. It's tiny but fashionable, and it's a first on the Melbourne coffee scene. This cafe space, however, is free of gimmicks and co-owned by two brothers who are possibly the nicest people you'll ever meet. Their stovetop espresso is served on a monthly rotation of local guest blends. The house blend comes in two cup or four cup pots ($6 or $10 respectively). The menu has tasting notes attached, and 5 Senses have created a special blend for the cafe using beans ground specifically for stovetop extraction. There's also a Masala blend of Prana Chai ($4) and quality tea from sereniTEA ($3.50). The smell within Stovetop is so fantastic it's almost possible to get a caffeine high just by standing at the door. The menu is inventive but inexpensive; it caters to the 'special requirements' crowd without offering the dreaded spinach and ricotta combo. Think lightly fried sweet potato and chia balls topped with poached eggs, rocket and baba ganoush ($14, V GF), or spiced quinoa and sago porridge with almond milk, coconut flakes and toasted almonds ($9, V GF). If your beat is 'Where's the beef?', try a crisp, beef bourguignon pie with a puff pastry hat or a hearty sausage roll – the pastry chef, Alex, really knows his stuff. You can grab a house white, red or a Coopers Pale ($6) to drink at any time of day. Bottles of NZ Sauvignon Blanc and Barossa Valley Shiraz stand to attention behind the main service area and the usual spirits are lined up to order. Beers on offer include Peroni and Asahi and cider drinkers will happily discover that there's Coldstream Apple Cider ($7). The local uni crowds could go nuts here, and the well designed rustic interior — designed by Robert Bolitho from Piece in collaboration with Adrian Malarbi from Hoi Polloi — gives Stovetop a pre-loved feeling. It smells great and boasts the familiarities of home, with a square communal table and triangular-shaped rooftop. Get your quiche crowned with caramelised onion relish before it sells out.
For almost 30 years, December 21 Down Under has been known as Gravy Day. The reason: Paul Kelly's 'How to Make Gravy', which released in 1996. The best way to mark the occasion, of course, has always included making gravy and listening to the song. But in 2024, there'll be another way to celebrate: watching the movie adapted from Kelly's tune. News that the flick was coming initially dropped in 2022, with musician Meg Washington and writer/director Nick Waterman announcing that they'd locked in the rights to make the song into a film. Then, Australian streaming platform Binge revealed that it's behind the movie, marking its first-ever original feature — and that it'd hit this year. Now, the movie version of How to Make Gravy has a release date, arriving on streaming on Sunday, December 1. How to Make Gravy, the film, also now boasts a trailer. So, if you've been wondering how a tune becomes a movie, here's a glimpse. The Royal Hotel co-stars Daniel Henshall (RFDS) and Hugo Weaving (Slow Horses) feature as Joe and Noel. The first hails from the song — he's the prisoner who writes to his brother Dan to kick things off — while Noel is a new addition. Also starring: Brenton Thwaites (Titans) as Dan, Kate Mulvany (The Clearing) as Joe's sister Stella and Damon Herriman (now that he's no longer playing Charles Manson in both Mindhunter and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) as her husband Roger. French actor Agathe Rousselle from Titane, who is making her first English-language film, also features as Joe's wife Rita. And yes, there's a Frank and a Dolly, aka Joe's twin daughters (newcomer Rose Statham and Christmas on the Farm's Izzy Westlake) — and an Angus, Joe's son (Jonah Wren Phillips, Sweet Tooth). Still on names from the music, Eloise Rothfield (Boy Swallows Universe) is Dan's daughter Mary, while Eugene Gilfedder (Babyteeth) and Kym Gyngell (The Artful Dodger) are brothers Gary and Murray. Kieran Darcy-Smith (Mr Inbetween) is also among the cast as new character Red — and with Washington one of the picture's driving forces, Adam Briggs, Brendan Maclean, Dallas Woods, Patience Hodgson and Zaachariaha Fielding are among the musicians with cameo roles. There's no word yet if Kelly pops up as the film tells of Joe's family's preparations to spend their first Christmas without him. Check out the trailer for How to Make Gravy below — and, because you've likely now got it stuck in your head, the music video for the song as well: How to Make Gravy will stream via Binge from Sunday, December 1, 2024. Images: Jasin Boland.
If you're not already familiar with Melbourne's much-loved 400 Gradi, here's a fact: owner Johnny Di Francesco won World Pizza Champion in 2014. So, his pizza is some of the best in the world. Fast forward to now and Di Francesco is about to giveaway some of this world-renowned pizza, for free. To celebrate National Margherita Day (supposedly, it's a thing), 400 Gradi is slinging free margheritas all day on Monday, June 11. It's a public holiday and the giveaway is happening at all 400 Gradi venues in Melbourne, so there's really no reason to miss out. At the moment, there's no limit to how many pizzas the restaurants will be giving away, but it will be limited to one per couple. To get your cheesy, doughy round, free of charge, you'll just need to post a pic of it on Insta and show it to a staff member. You can find all the nitty-gritties here.
When Australia's last Blockbuster store closed its doors back in 2019, it marked the end of an era — especially if you spent your childhood and teenage years trawling through racks of VHS tapes, renting as big a stack as you could carry, then gluing your eyes to the TV every weekend. Every Aussie city also has its own stories about losing beloved independent video shops and, if you're still a fan of physical media in the streaming era, you might even have a few ex-rental bargains from closed-down stores sitting on your shelves at home. It's these fond feelings for a part of life that's now gone that new live cinema performance Coil aims to tap into, all while paying tribute to all the long-lost spots that once celebrated and nurtured cinephilia. Video stores were more than just places to rent tapes — they were havens of filmic discovery, sources of inspiration and thriving local communities — and that's all baked into this production. Coil made its world premiere at this year's Mona Foma, and brings its tribute and farewell to Australia's video shops to Sydney and Melbourne — playing PACT in Erskineville from Thursday, February 10–Saturday, February 12, then heading to Brunswick Mechanics Institute from Thursday, February 17–Saturday, February 19. The latest work from re:group, a collective of artists based between Hobart, Wollongong and Sydney, Coil stages its show in a set that recreates a 90s-era video shop. The focus: telling a tale of nostalgia, loneliness, friendship and viability that pays homage to those gone-but-not-forgotten spaces and celebrates the communities forged within them. It's a performance designed to ponder questions — including what we've lost now that we browse online sites for flicks instead of physically walking the aisles. That's a line of thinking that resonates with re:group well beyond simply yearning for the glory days of renting out VHS tapes. The collective itself started almost a decade ago with a cast of ten, but now only has one performer. "It parallels our own story as a theatre collective continuing to make work despite the clear unviability of it all, trying to survive in the business of live performance in an age of online streaming," explains co-creator and performer Steve Wilson-Alexander. And if you're wondering how a live cinema performance with a one-person cast works, Coil takes place live on stage before its audience, but deploys video design that lets its lone performer play every character in cinematic scenes. You'll be watching all of that happen, with the show combining verbatim interviews with real-time filmmaking — all to make the kind of performance that you definitely won't see on streaming. Coil plays PACT, 107 Railway Parade, Erskineville, from Thursday, February 10–Saturday, February 12, then heads to Brunswick Mechanics Institute, 270 Sydney Road, Brunswick, from Thursday, February 17–Saturday, February 19. For more information, head to the production's website. Images: Rosie Hastie.
While Melbourne's got no shortage of great artisan markets happening across the city each weekend, the inner west has missed out on most of the action. But that's changes with monthly market Footscray Finds, which launched in the carpark of Footscray Library in 2017. With a focus on the boutique, the unique and the handmade — and held in conjunction with Maribyrnong City Council — this event's got an offering to rival that of many of its more established, cross-town counterparts. Scheduled for the third Sunday of each month, it showcases a stellar lineup of local producers and makers with a huge array of stalls covering everything from covetable vintage fashion and books, to vinyl, handcrafted homewares and fresh vegan produce. Meanwhile, a rotation of your favourite food trucks serves up easy eats, and local acts will be dropping all sorts of live sets. Anyone wanting to be a stallholder themselves can apply now for a car boot or marquee space, which clock in at $50 each. Footscray Finds will run from 8am till 1pm on the third Sunday of each month. Entry is free.
A longtime winter staple of Melbourne's inner-north, the Gertrude Street Projection Festival returns for its luminous 14th year this month, once again set to light up the area with a program of after-dark art. Running from Thursday, July 28–Sunday, July 31, presented by the Centre for Projection Art, this year's festival speaks the theme 'A Soft Pulse'. And it's increased its footprint, spilling beyond its usual home of Gertrude Street into the surrounding precincts, and with a new hub at Collingwood Yards. After dark each night, the festival precinct will come alive with a trail of projection artworks by names like Anna Schwann, Edwina Green, Henry Wolff, Josef Gatti and more, splashed across buildings, footpaths and windows. Rug up and explore them on a self-guided art tour. Meanwhile, Atherton Gardens will host the opening night festivities on July 28, featuring live performative storytelling by local elders sharing their own pieces of Gertrude Street history. You'll also catch a series of artist conversations and panel chats at Collingwood Yards, with post-talk drinks at Hope St Radio, and a DJ-fuelled festival block party featuring tunes by General Feeling Sound System. [caption id="attachment_861954" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Centre for Projection Art[/caption] Top Images: Mathew Lynn and Chris Cohen
UPDATE: APRIL 3, 2020 — The Chapel Street spot has launched Gnocchi on the Blocky: a drive-thru and delivery service for its gnocchi, of course, and selected menu items. From 4–9pm Tuesday–Saturday, you can get lamb ragu gnocchi ($25), pretzels with smoked cheddar ($8), peanut butter brownies ($16) and cocktails ($22) delivered to your door. Order via the website. The airy space at the end of Chapel Street — formerly home to a health food cafe — has crossed over to the dark side. Its once light and bright fit-out has been replaced by a dark and ambient decor combining recycled timbers, giant drapes of fabric hanging from the ceilings and a melange of antiques mounted on the walls. What was once Uncommon is now a restaurant and cocktail bar called Lover. The food at this Windsor restaurant bar doesn't have a specific cultural identity, but rather draws influences from around the globe. But it does have an overarching theme: nostalgia. The restaurant best evokes this through its food. Old classics you may have eaten as a child come out to play in modern forms. And this is done successfully by head chef Paul Turner — who hails from Cutler & Co. Let's start with the hot hot pork crackers ($8), a rendition of prawn crackers that use pork flavours instead of traditional prawn. They are paired with a herb cream and saltbush and make for a perfectly satisfying starter — meeting diners with a crackle initially then softly disintegrating seconds after. The prawn toast ($7) may take you back to the days of family yum cha, only at Lover it's paired with chorizo, echoing the Spanish pairing of seafood and sausage. If you eat cured meat and you're only going to get one starter, let it be the pretzel ($8). It may sound ridiculous that we're recommending you order a pretzel at a restaurant, we know. But it's a freshly baked pretzel stuffed with wagyu, pickles, cheddar and mustard — so, it's is a must. To break things up, there is also a series of salads and vegetable dishes on offer. Take it easy with a cos lettuce salad with fresh herbs and ranch dressing ($8) or live on the wilder side by ordering a grilled pumpkin dish topped with curried pepitas, burnt butter miso, and pear ($16). One dish that is a touch lacklustre is the kingfish crudo ($18). Though artistically presented, its cucumber, yuzu and charred avocado counterparts are not enough to make for a memorable dish. On the other end of the spectrum, there is the gnocchi ($26) — which is absurdly generous in flavour. Simply paired with three main ingredients, zucchini, basil and cheese, the pan-fried nubs of potato are a delight to delve into. If you head in on a Wednesday, you'll be able to sample a generous bowl of gnocchi (which changes weekly) and a glass of wine for a neat $25. When it comes to drinks, cocktails are the word at Lover — all prettily picturesque and met with generous flavour. Visitors will find a blueberry and sage sour made with infused gin ($18), as well as a coconut and elderflower margarita ($18). Lover also sports a collection of white, red and sparkling wines from across the globe to match its diverse food offerings, too.
Heartland Records has been a North Melbourne local since 1992. Previously located on Peel Street, its current space on Victoria Street is larger. There's the full spectrum of genres on offer, with new releases as well as back catalogue titles. The shop's owner Paul Cook prides himself on their friendly service and passion for vinyl. One loyal visitor is reported as saying, "I started off as a customer, and ended up working here to feed my vinyl habit." Could be you! Either way, a visit to Heartland is sure to turn up some new music discoveries and inspire your listening. Images: Parker Blain.
The multimillion-dollar redevelopment of Sorrento's historic Continental Hotel will see the 145-year-old heritage building completely overhauled, complete with a multi-faceted hospitality offering headed up by renowned chef Scott Pickett (Estelle, Matilda) and publican Craig Shearer (North Fitzroy's Terminus, The Plough in South Brisbane). The dramatic transformation includes a slew of food and drink venues, such as the pub's main restaurant — named Audrey's, after Pickett's grandmother and cooking muse — along with a public bar and beer garden, a late-night venue, poolside and in-room dining, and a rooftop deck. The lineup will range from upscale degustation menus to casual pub fare, with an expected capacity of 5000 diners across the whole multi-venue site. The sprawling, high-profile hotel won't be short on additional function spaces either. There are plans to restore the building's original grand ballroom to its former glory to sit alongside an assortment of other private, bookable rooms. The hillside precinct will also eventually be home to a new 108-room luxury InterContinental Resort Hotel and a wellness centre. [caption id="attachment_823638" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Parker Blain[/caption]
The Sun Bookshop is what boutique bookstore dreams are made of. Tucked into the gorgeous art deco Sun Theatre building, the shop sells everything from a curated selection of fiction, biography, history, travel and crime to art, design and photography books — plus a fun selection of artistic cards. And if you well up at thoughtful, heartwarming kid-puns, then grab a tissue — the Sun's business-child The Young Sun is only 60 steps away on Murray Street. It features a collection of beautiful children's books in a homely, cosy space. Both bookstores also host events, which you can keep up to date with here and here.
Melburnians love to start food trends in Australia. We do, after all, have the greatest food culture in the country. But Sydney got one up on us back in 2019 when Demochi started selling Japanese-style mochi doughnuts out of a food truck by the Banksia Hotel. It was the first place in Australia to sell these glazed bad boys that resemble sugar-coated inflatable pool toys. The sweet masterpieces blend the airy, crispy elements of a doughnut with that unique chewy mochi texture. And Sydneysiders have been going nuts for them ever since the doughnut truck landed in their city. Since then, owners Dennis and Monique Chan (of Dirty Bird food truck) have opened up a permanent spot in Sydney and, as of Tuesday the 23rd of January, a new store in Melbourne's CBD within Midtown Plaza on the Corner of Bourke Street and Swanston Street. Demochi changes up the doughnut flavours fairly regularly, but you might come across flavours like yuzu and mint or matcha glazed dough boys, as well as more traditional doughnut flavours such as strawberry or chocolate glaze. Whackier varieties may include doughnuts frosted with cereal and milk and a cheeky fairybread number. The Chans have also expanded their dessert offerings since opening the Demochi food truck in Sydney. Now, they serve up their own house-made soft serve ice cream topped with toasted meringue and the super fun Demochi Fried Chicken — it looks like a drumette of fried chicken but is actually a crunchy wafer that's been covered in ice cream, dipped in chocolate and tossed in crumbed cereal. It's served in a classic chicken shop takeaway box and is an absolute must-try if sugar is your truest vice. A new cake range will also be available at Demochi's new Melbourne site, including a crispy chocolate coffee cake and the strawberry brûlée mascarpone gateaux. Sweet-toothed CBD workers and locals best add this one to their dessert hit list. You can find the new Demochi Melbourne shop at 246 Bourke Street (inside Midtown Plaza), open 11am–7pm from Monday to Saturday, and from 11am–5pm on Sundays. For more details, check out the venue's website.
Standing out as a pub in Richmond is no easy feat. But as there's no shortage of multi-level venues equipped with beer gardens, balconies and sports bars, perhaps it's time to mix up the mood with a drink at the inner east's smallest pub, Nixie Nox. But in a case of less being more, the tight space has seen Melbourne hospitality veterans Stu Bellis, Marilla Gair and Chris Dore cram enough personality into the venue to foster something akin to the neighbourhood pub experience of old. So, just how small are we talking? All up, the venue has capacity for 80 patrons, spread among the lively, 40-person public bar, the 25-capacity covered outdoor atrium, and an intimate upstairs dining room that seats just 25. While the kitchen fit-out required a little creativity, Nixie Nox's food punches above its weight, relative to the venue's size. Here, a menu by head chef Stacey Tuara (ex-Meatmaiden) showcases elevated pub classics, as well as dishes catering to vegetarians, vegans and diners with dietary restrictions — no easy feat on a list of just four share plates and four mains. Shares include six-hour beef burnt ends glazed with Wolf of the Willows Hazy Pale Ale and served with preserved chilli mustard and a refreshing green sauce and miso mushroom daikon cakes paired with crispy chickpeas and black vinegar reduction. Mains display similar thoughtfulness and reverence for classic pub fare — a silky and rich lamb ragu pappardelle is given some serious depth with the addition of smoked parmesan and basil oil, while the Hard Nox Parm sees crumbed sous vide chicken breast topped with fresh mozzarella and smoked sugo. The drinks list is similarly considered. Craft beers and hard-nosed brews are poured from a duo of taps or plucked ice-cold from the fridge in tinnies, stubbies and longnecks. Sure, there are complex IPAs and XPAs to mull over — or you can grab a no-nonsense staple like a VB or XXXX Gold. There's also a curated wine list that explores Australian and overseas labels — with almost all available by the glass — alongside an extended cocktail list spanning classic, house and 'elevated' creations like a millilitre-perfect dry martini served in a chilled Nick & Nora glass. "Nixie Nox is more than just a pub — it's a place where locals can come together, connect over great food and drinks, and feel at home," says Bellis. "We've poured our hearts into creating a welcoming space that reflects the spirit of Richmond, and we can't wait to share a drink and a story with everyone who walks through our doors." Nixie Nox is open Wednesday–Thursday from 4pm–late and Friday–Sunday from 2pm–late at 141 Swan Street, Richmond. Head to the venue's website for more information.
Pop into Avery & Arlo for stylish and comfortable women's wear that won't break the bank. Stocking pieces created by the shop's owner Shari Splatt — championing flowing, chic styles in simple colours and floral patterns — Avery & Arlo also has a big range of fashion from other local designers. Plus, it has kids' clothes so you can dress your babe in the sweetest linen rompers from The Lullaby Club while you go casual in leopard print drop crotch pants and a print tee from Cartel & Willow, and slip into a pair of woven leather slides by Walnut Melbourne. There's also a range of delicate handmade pieces by local maker FinerRings Jewellery.
Untitled Group — the same crew behind Beyond the Valley, Pitch Music & Arts and Ability Fest — is renowned for its high-energy day parties; though as you know those have been in pretty short supply these past two years. Thankfully, you're invited to dive right back into the fold this weekend, as the group gears up to host another of its famed openair music celebrations. Return of the Untitled Day Party will take over Burnley Circus Park on Saturday, January 29, with a stacked lineup of live tunes primed for grooving among the gum trees. Hitting the stage for an afternoon and evening of dance-friendly sonic treats, you can catch local acts like Willaris. K, Late Nite Tuff Guy, KLP, Torren Foot and Made in Paris. Originally sold out, the event's since released a few more tickets, but you'll want to be quick if you're keen to nab yourself one. Find them over here. The event will operate under strict COVID-19 safety plans — keep an eye on Untitled's social media channels for any updates or changes.
Having opened in April 2018, Monstera Flowers may be a fairly new store to the western suburbs, but owner Giang Truong brings more than 15 years of floristry experience to the venture. Just down Ferguson Street from The Greenery, the store supplies Williamstown with fresh simple-cut bunches, hanging and indoor plants, succulents and terrariums, as well as big custom arrangements for all kinds of functions. If you're one of the few Melburnians without a monstera in your indoor plant collection, be sure to pick up one of the store's signature beauties, which comes in its own stylish pot.
If you're tossing and turning all night — it might not just be because of the state of the world. Your mattress and pillow is something you spend nearly a third of every day lounging on, so it's never not a good time to treat yourself to some upgrades. Luckily, premium homewares brand Ecosa wants to help out. In the lead-up to the end of financial year, everything on the Ecosa website is 25 percent off from Monday, May 31 until Wednesday, June 30. So, if you've been complaining non-stop to your office buddies about a crook neck, get yourself fancy memory foam pillow. The ergonomic pillow boasts an adjustable height, a curved shape that suits side and back sleepers and a compressible foam that supports the natural shape of your head. Plus, it comes with two compression bags so you can pack it up and take it with you everywhere. If that's not enough, Ecosa is also offering free shipping and returns Australia-wide, plus a 100-day free trial period. So if you order a mattress, bed base or one of Ecosa's new cot mattresses, you'll be treated to free same-day delivery, meaning you can start sleeping right from tonight. Ecosa is a one-stop sleep shop with luxe bamboo sheets, silk pillowcases, wooden bed base, memory foam mattress and weighted blanket all available at the discounted price. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
While the reopening of interstate and international borders is on the horizon, exploring Victoria's own backyard will still be at top of the travel agenda for many Melburnians over the coming months. And, if you've been tempted to check out the vibrant pink colours of the state's largest, oldest inland salt lake, Lake Tyrrell, now you've got another reason to venture up northwest to the Mallee region. Namely, the newly completed Sea Lake Visitor Information Centre, viewing platform and upgraded facilities, which were unveiled last week. Built with the help of $300,000 funding from the Victorian Government and with support from the Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund, the new centre features a central tourism hub, an Indigenous art gallery and gift shop. There's also a sleek new viewing platform overlooking the water, offering the best vantage point for happy snaps of the famed lake. The improved infrastructure was created in an effort to boost tourism to the region, while also upgrading and protecting Lake Tyrrell for future generations. [caption id="attachment_812361" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Sea Lake silos, featuring artwork by Drapl and The Zookeeper.[/caption] Other government-driven initiatives designed to reinvigorate the area's tourism potential include after-dark activations for the Buloke Silo Art Trail, a streetscape revival project and the community-led Bounce Back Buloke grants program. At 120,000 years old, Lake Tyrrell is best known for the pink hue it takes on during warmer, more humid times of the year, thanks to a particular resident micro-algae that emits a red pigment. The colourful landmark is also a popular stop along the northeast corner of the Silo Art Trail, located close to the large-scale artworks at Lascelles, Patchewollock and Sea Lake. Find the new Sea Lake Visitor Information at 65 Horace Street, Sea Lake — around four hour's drive northwest of Melbourne. Top Images: Visit Victoria
Huge birthday, huge program, huge list of reasons to spend an entire year at the Sydney Opera House. Come October 2023, the iconic Australian venue will reach its 50th birthday, and it's doing what everyone does when it hits a massive milestone: celebrating for as long as possible. In fact, the Opera House is dedicating 12 whole months to its 50th-anniversary shenanigans, starting a year in advance. From October 2022, the acclaimed Sydney Harbour venue will kick off the festivities in the most fitting way — with From the Sails: Light Years, a nightly projection series featuring new art by Sam Doust and Art Processors, which'll adorn the structure's famous sails from Wednesday, October 19–Sunday, 30. Obviously, that's just the beginning of a hefty program, with the already-announced Amadeus starring Michael Sheen taking over the site's newly revamped Concert Hall from Tuesday, December 27, 2022–Saturday, January 21, 2023, too. Also on the bill: a full lineup that spans 230-plus performances, events and experiences, covering outdoor concerts, community events, First Nations storytelling, tours, public art, exhibitions and more, and happening in the venue's theatres, on its forecourt and online. From Thursday, October 20–Sunday, 30, that includes From the Steps: Voices at Dusk, which'll see local community choirs — as curated by resident company Sydney Philharmonia Choirs' Artistic Director Brett Weymark OAM — sing free open-air choral performances on the Opera House steps. Also outdoors, this time running from Thursday, November 10–Saturday, November 19, is a concert series at the Opera House's forecourt featuring Tim Minchin, New Zealand's Fat Freddy's Drop and two shows by Vance Joy. There'll be two free gigs, too — one dedicated to Yolŋu music and culture with Djakapurra Munyarryun, Dhapanbal Yunupingu, the Andrew Gurruwiwi Band and more on the lineup, and another that'll see Ngaiire and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra join forces. [caption id="attachment_871449" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ngaiire[/caption] While Sydney Opera House hasn't unveiled the full program yet, with further events set to be announced in the coming months, the rest of the lineup so far features two big festivals: Inside/Out at the House and Open House Festival. The first will arrive at the beginning of May 2023, heroing performances by the London Symphony Orchestra, Australian Ballet, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs and Australian Chamber Orchestra. Each show will take place inside either the Concert Hall or the Joan Sutherland Theatre, but you'll also be able to watch in the forecourt, where they'll be broadcast to an openair cinema setup. At the second, Open House Festival will live up to its name across the entire month of October 2023. That means hosting performances, events and activities in every part of the Opera House, and also holding an open day where attendees can go exploring. [caption id="attachment_871446" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ken Leanfore[/caption] Plus, Bangarra Dance Theatre will unveil the world premiere of a new production in June 2023, under incoming Artistic Director Frances Rings. Sydney Theatre Award-winning play The Visitors will receive a new staging, directed by Quandamooka man Wesley Enoch — and the Opera House will present Blak & Deadly: The First Nations Gala Concert in conjunction with Sydney WorldPride 2023. Also, the Central Australian Aboriginal Women's Choir (CAAWC) — which hails from six remote Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory — will unleash their vocals in the Concert Hall, German operatic tenor Jonas Kaufmann and an international cast will perform La Gioconda, and Mad Scenes by Jessica Pratt will showcase the Australian talent. [caption id="attachment_871445" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Daniel Boud[/caption] Marking a full-circle moment given that it was part of the Opera House's opening in 1973, Sydney Dance Company will stage three works. And, there'll be a revamped Opera House tour that highlights past performances and historic moments. Clearly, this year-long party is going to be massive — it's supported by the NSW Government's Blockbuster Funding initiative, and 'blockbuster' is the right word for it. [caption id="attachment_871453" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Prudence Upton[/caption] Sydney Opera House's 50th anniversary program kicks off in October 2022 and runs for a year. For more information, head to the Sydney Opera House website. Top images: Prudence Upton / Keith Saunders / Anna Kacera.
Put your hand on your heart and tell us: how excited are you that Kylie Minogue has not only announced a new world tour, which is her biggest in 14 years, but that she's starting it in Australia? Headlining Splendour in the Grass 2024 mightn't have worked out after the Byron Bay music festival was cancelled mere weeks after revealing its lineup, but the Aussie pop superstar is ensuring that local fans will see her new Tension tour before anyone else on the planet. It's about to be 'Padam Padam' summer all over again, with Minogue kicking off her latest shows in February 2025, beginning with a one-night gig in Perth. From there, she also has single dates locked in for Adelaide and Brisbane, plus two shows apiece in Melbourne and Sydney. [caption id="attachment_870885" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Darenoted Ltd[/caption] The last time that Minogue embarked on a tour this big was back in 2011. The last time that she hit the stage Down Under was in 2023 to open Sydney WorldPride. "I am beyond excited to announce the Tension tour 2025. I can't wait to share beautiful and wild moments with fans all over the world, celebrating the Tension era and more!" said the singer, announcing her tour dates, which also spans stops in Bangkok, Tokyo, Kaohsiung and Manila in Asia after her Aussie shows, then hitting up Glasgow, Newcastle, Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield, London, Nottingham and Birmingham in the UK "It's been an exhilarating ride so far and now, get ready for your close up because I will be calling Lights, Camera, Action ... and there will be a whole lot of Padaming!" Minogue's 'Lights, Camera, Action' mention references the first track on the other piece of big news, a brand-new album called Tension II that's set to drop on Friday, October 18, 2024. In what's proven a massive career since her Neighbours-starring, 'I Should Be So Lucky'- and 'Locomotion'-singing 80s era, it's been a big last few years for Minogue thanks to the huge success of the Grammy-winning 'Padam Padam', a brief return to Neighbours and a Las Vegas residency — and now the Tension tour keeps that streak running. Kylie Minogue Tension Tour 2025 Australian Dates Saturday, February 15 — RAC Arena, Perth Tuesday, February 18 — Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide Thursday, February 20–Friday, February 21 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Wednesday, February 26 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Saturday, March 1–Sunday, March 2 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Kylie Minogue's Tension tour kicks off in Australia in February and March 2025. Ticket presales start from Tuesday, September 24, with general sales from Wednesday, October 2 — both at staggered times. Head to the tour website for more details. Top image: Erik Melvin.
Since opening in March, Fitzroy's Evie's Disco Diner has been serving up vegan-friendly comfort food in the surrounds of a 80s-themed eatery straight out of Stranger Things. And this winter, you can take shelter from Melbourne's winter chill in its converted neon warehouse space and get stuck into the eatery's new menu. On the lineup you'll find some decadent winter warmers alongside grub inspired by America's deep south, including gumbo and seafood chowder. Vegans need fret not as half the menu will still be meat-free, with dishes such as mock hot dogs and vegan Halal Snack Packs. To drink, there's warming mulled wine and cider. And to help you forget about the rather gloomy weather, things are getting a bit boozy with a new bottomless brunch held on Saturdays and Sundays from 11.30am to 2.30pm. Kicking off on Saturday, July 14, the brunch features three hours of all-you-can-drink mimosas and Champagne, plus your choice of fried-chicken topped waffles, maple bacon pancakes or a BLT and fries — for only $55 a head. Each option can also be made vegan on request, and all the ingredients are sourced locally — so there's really no excuses to miss out on this weekend recovery session. Bookings are essential, so contact Evie's ahead of time to secure a spot for you and all your nostalgia-loving mates.
Over the past 12 months, Melbourne scored its own multi-sensory (and permanent) digital art gallery, Flinders Street Station Ballroom welcomed Patricia Piccinini's latest strange and surreal artworks, and plenty of other dazzling exhibitions have popped up around the city. So yes, while the last year hasn't been great for many reasons, it's still delivered exceptional art — and now a showcase that recreates Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel frescos is coming to Emporium Melbourne, too. On display from Saturday, January 22–Sunday, March 20, Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition is filled with life-sized versions of all the stunning art that has long made the Vatican cathedral a must-visit destination. The showcase's 34 pieces have all been created using a printing technique that emulates the look and feel — and detail, colours and brushstrokes — of the original paintings, so it really is the next best thing to seeing the real thing on the other side of the globe. Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition hits Melbourne after sold-out stops in Chicago, London and San Francisco, and takes between 60–90 minutes to peruse. Of course, you can still view the OG pieces digitally via the Vatican's online tour — but this'll let you take in the immense detail beyond your computer screen. These artworks have glistened for more than five centuries and, as absolutely everyone knows, they comprise quite the sight.
While they’re among our closest neighbours, the cinema of Indonesia doesn’t get a whole lot of attention in Australia, save for the martial arts carnage of The Raid and its recent sequel. Yet there’s a lot more to the Asian archipelago’s movie industry than broken limbs and severed tendons, as is demonstrated by the program at this year’s Indonesian Film Festival. Although unable to rival other national film fests in terms of size, the IFF aims to showcase the diversity of Indonesia’s national cinema through a selection of films across a variety of genres. Amongst the most intriguing entries on the 2014 program are Something in the Way, a drama about a devout Muslim taxi driver who falls in love with a prostitute, and What They Don’t Talk About When They Talk About Love, a coming-of-age story set in a school for the blind. The festival will also welcome several filmmakers, producers and actors as guests, with many screenings being followed by audience Q&As. For the full IFF program, visit www.iffaustralia.com
So, you want to save some money. Perhaps you're looking to finally put a deposit down on your first home. Or maybe your ol' clunker of a car is on its last kilometres. Or do you simply want to treat yourself to that pair of Gucci sunnies you know you don't actually need but you can't stop thinking about? Often, while we're in savings mode, we switch to totally denying ourselves the things we love, making ourselves miserable in the process. But the good news is you don't have to give up everything. Save smarter, not harder. And have fun doing it. To help get you started, we've partnered with Great Southern Bank to come up with some easy ways to save without having to live a totally joyless existence. From chopping your weekly food bill to a banking hack that'll have you adding to your savings without even noticing, these tips will keep you on track. BECOME YOUR OWN BARISTA We know, we know. You need your caffeine fix. We're not saying to cut that double-shot oat milk latte altogether, but buying one or two a day adds up really quickly. Keen to crunch some numbers? Let's say your average coffee costs $4 and you buy two every day — that's $2920 spent on java every year. Add that up over five years and it's a whopping $14,600. Instead, invest in a bit of kit to get your coffee hit at home. Proper espresso machines are great, but also pricey. Keep an eye out for a secondhand one and you might be able to score a bargain. Alternatively, get a good percolator and some quality beans. You can score a percolator for as little as $12 (that's three coffees) that'll last for years to come. For beans, you can get your fix from top Aussie coffee roasters. While price varies due to blends, beans and all sorts of things, beans from local roasters will usually cost somewhere between $15–23 for 250 grams (about 35 cups worth). You might even want to throw a milk frother into the mix, then you'll be whipping up deluxe coffee at home in no time. Best of all, you can do it all in your dressing gown. Then, once a week or so, treat yourself to the real deal at that local cafe with the cute barista. You're only human, after all. DITCH THE CROWDED COMMUTE This one is kind of a no-brainer for inner-city dwellers. Why go through the hassle of being packed onto hot and crowded public transport, especially in the age of social distancing? The same goes for driving — nobody wants to waste time (and petrol) sitting in traffic. Even if it means starting half an hour sooner than you would normally, walking to your destination means you're getting exercise and saving money. For longer trips look into getting a bike, scooter or skateboard (again, secondhand bargains are everywhere). If you have to travel quite the distance, electronic bikes are a godsend. Whether you're already in the office or are going back when restrictions further ease, ditching the public transport life even once or twice a week is better for the bank, the environment and your physical and emotional wellbeing. MEAL PREP LIKE A PRO Meal prepping: it sounds tedious at first, but once you get into the swing of it, it's really not that much of a hassle. And, spoiler alert, it can actually be fun — or, at least, it'll give you a sense of achievement on an otherwise unproductive Sunday. If you're a novice, start simple: try roasting a whole chook with veggies. You'll easily get a couple of dinners out of it, and the leftover meat can be used for sandwiches, salads and burrito bowls. Oh, and don't bin the carcass — it'll make a great homemade stock that you can portion out and freeze for later. Don't eat meat? Dust of that slow cooker and make a huge dhal for an easy-yet-nourishing feed. The more prep you do, the better and more inventive you'll get with it. Soon your homemade lunches will easily surpass that underwhelming $18 toastie you ordered on Uber Eats. FOLLOW THE SEASONS Now that you're on the way to becoming a whiz in the kitchen, you'll want to know how to cut down that grocery bill. It's just simple supply and demand, really. Shopping seasonally means that if you're buying something that's readily available the price is lower as there are fewer costs going into acquiring it. We're incredibly fortunate in Australia to have amazing fruit and veg available all year round, but certain things grow in abundance in summer rather than winter and vice versa. So, embrace shopping and cooking seasonally. You'll eat well and expand your repertoire while saving so that it feels almost natural. [caption id="attachment_737580" align="alignnone" width="1920"] SWOP Clothing Exchange, Trent van der Jagt[/caption] GET THRIFTY Thrift shops, Salvos, Vinnies, Depop, Facebook Marketplace — there's no end to the bargains and unique pieces you can find without the hectic price tags. More often than not, op shops are located near other op shops so you can make a day of traversing a few and seeing what you can find. Pro tip: go to affluent suburbs, where you're more likely to uncover some rare gems in top condition. And while you're mindlessly doomscrolling on your phone at night, try browsing on Depop. You'll be surprised and delighted by the great designer pieces you can find from the likes of 3.1 Phillip Lim, Acne Studios, Zimmermann and more. EMBRACE THE GREAT OUTDOORS Spring is here, so it's time to get outside and enjoy some fresh air and sunshine. And it'll be lighter on the wallet than a night on the town. Pack a picnic and head to the park for a long-awaited catch-up with your mates. If you're lucky, you'll be able to snag a public barbecue to have a cook-up and embrace the simple pleasures of a DIY outdoor feast. Toss a frisbee or a football, challenge your buds to a game of Finska, and stuff sausages into your pockets so all the dogs come to play with you. Okay, maybe not that last one, but you get the idea. BANK BETTER Knowing where your money is and why you're choosing to put it there is important in terms of goals and improving your overall financial literacy. If you're clamouring to get your first home, choose a bank that maximises your saving potential, such as Great Southern Bank. Great Southern Bank is empowering young Aussies with their banking to get them to their savings goals faster. Whether you're saving for a house deposit or just want to develop better banking habits, Great Southern Bank has a number of smart tools and features to get you there. One is The Boost, where you can set a predetermined amount (between $0.01 and $5) from your everyday transaction account to be automatically transferred to your savings account every time you make a purchase. That means every sambo, short black and schooner is subtly boosting your savings. Once you've got that all set up, you'll want to keep your savings fund from shrinking. For instance, if you get a bit tap happy when you're out having a good time (who doesn't), your bank balance can take quite the hit. This is where having a spending cap on your account can come in handy. Be realistic about how much you'll need depending on the activity. And, here's the tricky part: don't transfer more. You'll thank yourself later. Great Southern Bank is empowering Aussies to get clever with their banking. Whether you want to stick to your savings goals with The Boost or hide your house deposit fund from yourself with The Vault, Great Southern Bank helps you get there. For more information on savings tools and home loan options, head to the Great Southern Bank website. Top image: SWOP Clothing Exchange, Trent van der Jagt
The Mornington Peninsula has quickly shaped up to become the ultimate relaxation destination for bathing enthusiasts and wellness fiends this summer. Already, we had the OG, Peninsula Hot Springs, followed a few months ago by stunning newcomer Alba Thermal Springs & Spa. And now, the region's scored another gem, with the final phase of the much-anticipated Aurora Spa & Bathhouse opening within the Continental Sorrento this week. A new flagship for the award-winning Aurora Spa Group, the site is set to make a huge splash with this cutting-edge, 500-square-metre bathhouse — a luxe indoor wellness precinct boasting numerous mineral pools and one of the largest saunas in the southern hemisphere. Inside, award-winning design studio Woods Bagot (W Melbourne, Barlow) has created a stylish coastal-inspired sanctuary filled with neutral tones, sandy terrazzo tile and oak panelling, aligning to their design notes in the adjacent hotel. Offering a modern take on traditional bathing practices, Aurora is kitted out with a suite of state-of-the-art facilities and experiences for you to explore. Along with that Nordic-style sauna, you'll find features like an icy plunge pool, an aromatherapy steam room, the 36-degree sky-lit Daydream Pool, a reflexology pool and a suite dedicated to halotherapy — a treatment that involves breathing in salty air. You can take a beat to revel in your newly rejuvenated state in the Centella Thermal Lounges, beneath a striking hand-sculpted copper art installation. And for a bracing, Finnish-style experience, hit the custom-designed Glacial Mist Room — a chamber that's dialled into between 6 and 10 degrees, and recreates the elements of wind, rain, mist and ice. Meanwhile, the adjoining spa is offering treatments ranging from holistic facial therapies and massages, to algae body wraps and botanically-charged scrubs. And of course, you can mix and match spa offerings and bathing rituals to really maximise your bliss. If you're after some guidance, Aurora has a suggested 10-step bathing ritual designed to optimise your time in the bathhouse, or you can luxuriate at your own leisure. Prices start from $95 for a 90-minute weekday visit. Find the newly completed Aurora Spa & Bathhouse in The Continental Sorrento, 23 Constitution Hill Road, Sorrento. The bathhouse is open daily from 9am–9pm. Images: Nikole Ramsay
Some of us are happy just snacking on the final product, but if you're keen to learn the chocolate trade, Pidapipo has the perfect session for you. Running from 10am–12pm on Saturday, July 5, in the Fitzroy Laboratorio, the famed gelateria is bringing back its bustling chocolate-making class. Held over two hours, this hands-on session invites guests to join Pidapipo's Master Chocolatier, Arno Backes. A sweet-treat savant, he'll deepen your understanding of chocolate-making fundamentals, then teach you tempering techniques used by the pros. Snacking on Pidapipo's single-origin chocolate along the way, your task involves hand-crafting a selection of decadent chocolate pieces. Moulding, filling and shaping as you go, it won't take long to nail the skills needed to level up your next dinner party. Once the session comes to an end, you'll head home with a Pidapipo chocolate bar, a copy of co-founder Lisa Valmorbida's cookbook, Gelato Eight Days a Week, and your own handmade chocolates bound to impress your pals.
Talk about a show that delivered on its promise the first time around: when a fresh-from-Russian Doll Natasha Lyonne teamed up with Knives Out and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery filmmaker Rian Johnson on a whodunnit-of-the-week TV series, Poker Face did indeed prove a delight. A second season was quickly greenlit, in fact, and now it's on its way to your streaming queue. The sleuthing gem has also just dropped its full season two trailer. While the combination of Lyonne (Fantasmas) and Johnson was always set to be an ace, Poker Face gave the detective setup a particular spin. Protagonist Charlie Cale has a handy gift: being able to tell when someone is lying. In each weekly episode, she then worked her way through resolving a different crime, all while on the road in a Plymouth Barracuda. Then and soon, when season two kicks off on Thursday, May 8, 2025 Down Under — where it streams via Stan in Australia and TVNZ+ in New Zealand — Lyonne also has a heap of other well-known faces for company. Where season one boasted The Brutalist Oscar-winner Adrien Brody, to name just one high-profile figure, season two will feature fellow 2025 nominee Cynthia Erivo (Wicked) in multiple roles. If you're a fan of John Mulaney's wonderful Everybody's Live talk show, rejoice: not only Mulaney but also Richard Kind (Mid-Century Modern) are guest starring in Poker Face season two. From there, this season's roster also includes John Cho (AfrAId), Melanie Lynskey (Yellowjackets), Katie Holmes (Rare Objects), Awkwafina (Black Mirror) and Giancarlo Esposito (The Residence), as well as Alia Shawkat (Severance), BJ Novak (Lessons in Chemistry), Carol Kane (Between the Temples), Corey Hawkins (The Piano Lesson), Saturday Night Live pair Ego Nwodim (Mr Throwback) and Ben Marshall (Please Don't Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain), Sam Richardson (It's Florida, Man) and Margo Martindale (The Sticky). Then there's Cliff 'Method Man' Smith (Power Book II: Ghost), Haley Joel Osment (Blink Twice), Justin Theroux (Running Point), Kathrine Narducci (The Alto Knights), Kevin Corrigan (Deli Boys), Kumail Nanjiani (Only Murders in the Building), Patti Harrison (The Electric State), Sherry Cola (Nobody Wants This), Gaby Hoffmann (Zero Day), Simon Rex (Red Rocket) and more. As well as the stellar lead turn from Lyonne and the show's smart writing, part of the fun of Poker Face stems from seeing how the series weaves in such a dream supporting lineup. The above list follow in the footsteps of The Menu's Hong Chau and Judith Light, Lil Rel Howery (Deep Water), Danielle MacDonald (The Last Anniversary), Chloë Sevigny (Bones and All), Ron Perlman (Nightmare Alley), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Pinocchio), Ellen Barkin (Animal Kingdom), Nick Nolte (The Mandalorian), Cherry Jones (Succession), Jameela Jamil (She-Hulk: Attorney at Law) and Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All At Once) in season one. And yes, you'll have two chances to get a mystery fix from Johnson in 2025, given that Wake Up Dead Man, the third Knives Out movie, is also on its way this year. It too boasts another stacked cast, this time surrounding Daniel Craig (Queer) with Josh O'Connor (Challengers), Glenn Close (Back in Action), Josh Brolin (Outer Range), Mila Kunis (Goodrich), Jeremy Renner (Mayor of Kingstown), Kerry Washington (The Six Triple Eight), Andrew Scott (Ripley), Cailee Spaeny (Civil War), Daryl McCormack (Bad Sisters) and Thomas Haden Church (Twisted Metal). Check out the full trailer for Poker Face season two below: Poker Face season two streams from Thursday, May 8, 2025 via Stan in Australia and TVNZ+ in New Zealand. Read our review of season one. Images: Sarah Shatz/PEACOCK.
Even when you're holidaying in a place that's known for its sun, surf and sand, sometimes you just want to splash around while peering down on the world. The Gold Coast is as famed for its sky-high stays as it is its beaches, so finding a towering hotel to spend a few nights in isn't hard. But if you're looking for somewhere brand new with a rooftop infinity pool boasting views out over Southport, there's only one place to book into. TRYP by Wyndham Southport Gold Coast marks the chain's first-ever outpost in Queensland and only the second Wyndham Hotels & Resorts site in Australia, after it made its Aussie debut in Adelaide. The brand also boasts venues in the US, China, the Philippines, Germany, Greece, Portugal, Brazil and Paraguay, among other spots around the globe, but joins the list of hotel names making the leap Down Under. Come 2025, Australia's first Mondrian will sit at the other end of the Gold Coast, in Burleigh Heads, for instance. St Regis has also locked in its initial Aussie appearance on the Goldie, but in 2027, with Budds Beach its destination At TRYP by Wyndham Southport Gold Coast, guests can turn an apartment in the 4.5-star hotel into their temporary home away from home, staying in of the 225 self-contained one-, two- or three-bedroom spaces. Whichever you pick, you'll have your own fully equipped kitchen, a dining table for meals if you're eating in, plus a king-sized bed. And as for gazing beyond the four walls around you, you'll get either waterway or hinterland views, including from balconies with floor-to-ceiling windows. Open since Wednesday, December 4, 2024 — just in time for summer holidays — the hotel is part of Southport's $3.8-billion Imperial Square development. But there's plenty onsite at TRYP by Wyndham Southport Gold Coast to keep you on the premises, such as an Italian and Mediterranean restaurant serving up dishes, alongside that rooftop swimming spot. Amore Ristorante started welcoming in diners back in mid-November in advance of the broader hotel's launch, and can cater to 100 people. Serving up breakfast, lunch and dinner daily under Executive Chef Robert McWhinnie, the restaurant's menu spans Tweed River oysters and crab mousse-stuffed blossoms for starters, wagyu beef bolognese among the house-made pasta options, plus wild-caught seafood and boneless chicken with lemon cashew cream for something more substantial. For dessert, chocolate cannoli and tiramisu made with Lavazza coffee are two tastebud-tempting choices. To wash all of the above down with, the drinks list features both a range of cocktails and Italian and local wines. While heading up top for a dip is already a drawcard — and you'll see both the ocean and the city as you swim — a luxe day spa is also on the way. So, when you're not taking a splash, you'll be able to hit the steam room or sauna. A fitness centre is onsite, too. When the Imperial Square precinct is finished, it'll be big — so sizeable, in fact, that it'll feature the tallest towers on the Gold Coast. Find TRYP by Wyndham Southport Gold Coast at 59 Meron Street, Southport, Queensland — and head to the chain's website for booking and further details.
As fans of Melbourne's own La Tortilleria will be quick to tell you, not all tortillas are made equal. The brand has earned a cult following not just for its namesake corn-based creations, but also for its colourful Mexican eatery in Kensington. And now, it's brought its legendary wares Bayside, having opened the doors to its much-anticipated new Highett restaurant. Chilpa has arrived in the former Hot Lips Hacienda site, decked out every bit as vibrantly as its inner-northwest sibling. And the team's legendary nixtamal (made using a special corn preparation method) tortillas and totopos (tortilla chips) are the stars of the show here on Railway Parade, too, showcased throughout a menu of punchy dishes. The share-friendly lineup kicks off with classics like guacamole and salsa, refried beans, and chilaquiles — a dish that's kind of like the unbastardised version of nachos, featuring a saucy mix of totopos, salsa roja, crema and cheese. You'll find ceviche for seafood lovers and vegans alike, a handful of snack-friendly topped tostadas and a range of cheesy quesadilla varieties, along with grilled meats like the al pastor pork with pineapple salsa. If tacos are life, Chilpa has your back in a big way. The options are plentiful, ranging from a slow-cooked pulled lamb number with refried black beans and arbol salsa, to a corn battered fish taco with slaw and jalapeno mayo. There's a vegan-friendly barbacoa-style creation, a chicken option featuring chipotle tomato salsa and an ode to Jalisco's famed birria taco, paired with the traditional consomme for dipping. You'll want to save stomach space for flan, too — this take on the classic is made from a family recipe passed down from co-owner Gerardo Lopez's own abuela. The tortilla maestros also know what's what when it comes to taco-friendly libations and Chilpa's bar is stocked with an expert curation of agave-based sips from the homeland. There's also a tight crop of wines, easy-drinking brews aplenty and a lineup of festive cocktails — from the tequila-spiked horchata to a spicy margarita finished with habanero chilli. Find Chilpa at 2 Railway Parade, Highett. It's open from 5–9pm Wednesday and Thursday, 12–10pm Friday and Saturday, and 12–9pm Sunday. Images: Michael Pham
Summer is a mere few weeks away and there's no better seasonal combo than a weekend barbecue and icy cold craft beer. We’re on mission to inspire and enhance your barbecue experience this silly season by bringing to you recipes that go beyond the simple sausage sizzle. We've searched Sydney's most talked-about restaurants from the buzzing inner west to the slick CBD, the stylish eastern suburbs and all the way to the chilled-out northern beaches for recipes that will earn you a pat on the back and cheers from your soon-to-be-impressed guests. Ten top-notch chefs from across town with a talent for wielding a set of barbecue tongs have matched one of their favourite grill-friendly recipes with a brew from James Squire's solid craft beer range. Crisp pilsners with zesty Hartsyard octopus for the sun lovers. Strong Porters to wash down Neil Perry ribeyes. Golden ales with Pinbone's barbecued duck hearts for the adventurous. Thank us later; your summer barbecues will be talked about for many moons. BARBECUED DUCK HEARTS WITH CUMQUAT AND MUSTARD — PINBONE INGREDIENTS: Duck hearts Handful of cumquats (or oranges and mandarin) Creme fraiche Hot English mustard Bitter leaves METHOD: Brine duck hearts in a 5 percent salt/water solution for 30 minutes. Remove and dry with paper towel. Grill on the barbecue for 2 minutes on each side and rest. Cut cumquats in half and grill on barbecue until nicely charred (orange and mandarin also work nicely if you can’t find cumquats). Mix equal parts creme fraiche and hot English mustard together and lay the mustard base on one half of the plate. To serve: Season generously and garnish with bitter leaves. Pair with James Squire Stow Away IPA. BBQ FREMANTLE OCTOPUS — GREGORY LLEWELLYN FROM HARTSYARD Serves 4 INGREDIENTS: 1kg Fremantle Octopus separate into individual tentacles only 4L Water 300g salt 100g paprika smoked peel of one lemon 4 cloves of crushed garlic tbsp peppercorn tbsp fennel seed tbsp coriander seed METHOD: Heat half the water with the salt until dissolved. When dissolved pour warm solution into remaining cold water. Toast all spices (minus the paprika) together over a medium/high heat until fragrant. Add to liquid mixture. Add garlic, paprika and lemon peel. When mixture is cool add octopus tentacles and brine for 12 hours. Remove from brine, rinse and dry. Place into a heavy bottomed saucepot and cover with extra virgin olive oil. Cook on stove top at about 75-80°C ensuring the oil does not boil for 2-2.5 hours. Remove the octopus from pot. It should be fork tender with a tiny bit of chew. Refrigerate until cold (this should probably be done the day before). Prepare BBQ to about 200°C. BBQ octopus until suction pads are crispy and the tentacles are evenly cooked but not black. When cooked toss into a bowl with the following dressing: DRESSING: 100ml olive oil 2 tbsp sliced garlic 1 tbsp fresh oregano leaves picked 1 tbsp fresh parsley leaves picked 1 tsp crushed red chilli flakes Cook olive oil and garlic until slightly brown. Add the rest of the ingredients until crispy. Remove from heat. Let cool. Season with the juice of two lemons. Pair with James Squire Four 'Wives' Pilsener. STICKY LAMB RIBS WITH POMEGRANATE AND SOY GLAZE — DANIEL SAN INGREDIENTS: 30gm peeled eschallots 0.1gm pomegranate 60gm cos lettuce 5gm flat leaf parsley 5gm mint 2gm extra virgin olive oil 300gm Junee lamb American ribs GLAZE: 50gm peeled garlic 4gm lemons 80gm frozen wasabi tube 150gm castor sugar 15gm sea salt flakes 60gm sesame oil 400gm pomegranate molasses BRAISING STOCK: 2L water 10ml Kikkoman soy 10ml mirin 10ml sake 5gm radish daikon 20gm young ginger METHOD: Place ribs in braising stock and place in oven on 160°C for two hours. Take ribs out and leave to cool in the stock for one hour. Cook ribs on the bbq and glaze with the above. Serve on cos lettuce with pomegranate drizzled on top. Pair with James Squire's The Constable Copper Ale. SMOKED BARBECUE WINGS w/ BULLEIT BOURBON BARBECUE SAUCE — HENRIETTA SUPPER CLUB INGREDIENTS: 2.5L pork (or beef stock in a pinch) stock FOR BARBECUE SAUCE: 250ml Bulleit bourbon 2 cinnamon sticks 3 star anise 2 cloves 1 lime (juice and zest) 2 lemon (juice and zest) 100ml good sherry vinegar 1 x can of coca cola 1 x can ginger ale 25g whole black pepper corn 100ml real Canadian maple syrup 500ml of store bought barbecue sauce METHOD: Place in a large pot on a medium heat-high heat. Reduce until sticky. pass through a chinois or large sieve. Store in an airtight container and refrigerate once cooled. To prepare the wings, poach desired quality of wings in a good-quality wings chicken stock for 25min. Coat with a seasoned flour (we use 'Cajun flour' — corn flour, plain flour, Cajun spices and seasoning). Deep fry for five minutes on 180 degrees or brown on the barbecue hot plate in good quality cooking oil. Place cooked wings in a steel bowl and coat generously with the barbecue sauce. Garnish with chives and serve with chipotle mayo (real mayonnaise with a slug of chipotle hot sauce like El Yucateco or Tabasco). Pair with James Squire Nine Tales Amber Ale. SMOKED PORK RIBS — PATRICK FRIESEN AND CHRISTOPHER HOGARTH FROM PAPI CHULO INGREDIENTS: 4 USA-style cut pork ribs BBQ rub BBQ sauce Apple wood and oak chips METHOD: Try to find pork ribs with the most amount of meat you can. Clean the silver skin off the back of the ribs using a fork to pry it off and a tea towel to hold onto the silver skin when you pull it off. Season both sides lightly with BBQ rub and smoke straight away. Smoke at 120°C over oak and applewood for one hour. Wrap in foil and smoke at 120 degrees for another hour and a half. Brush with BBQ sauce and enjoy. BBQ SAUCE: 50gm Heinz ketchup 16gm Frank's RedHot sauce 20gm Yamasa soy 10gm water 30gm brown sugar 6gm black pepper 3gm smoked paprika 3gm sweet paprika 2.5gm onion powder 2.5gm garlic powder 5gm Korean chilli powder Mix all ingredients in a bowl and let sit for an hour. BBQ RUB: 100gm salt 20gm cracked black pepper 4gm onion powder 2gm garlic powder 20gm paprika 5gm smoked paprika 5gm cayenne Mix in a bowl right before you want to use. Pair with James Squire Sundown Australian Lager. RIB EYE ON THE BONE — NEIL PERRY FROM THE BURGER PROJECT INGREDIENTS: 4 x 360g rib eye on the bone Sea salt Extra virgin olive oil for grilling 4 lemon wedges METHOD: Heat the barbecue or grill — whether using wood, charcoal or gas — until extremely hot. Salt and oil each side of the steaks and allow to come to room temperature. Place steaks on the grill, cook for approximately five minutes, rotate the steak 90 degrees to get the cross pattern on the meat halfway through the cooking. Turn the steak over and cook for another four minutes. Allow the meat to rest for a few minutes off the grill. Place on a cutting board and slice each of the steaks into five or six slices, form the meat back to its original shape and serve on a plate with a sprinkle of salt, drizzle of olive oil and a wedge of lemon. Pair with James Squire Jack of Spades Porter. LAMB BURGER WITH PICKLED EGGPLANT, WATERCRESS AND HARISSA — MICHAEL RANTISSI FROM KEPOS STREET KITCHEN Serves 4 INGREDIENTS: 750gm good-quality coarse lamb mince 2 teaspoons coriander seeds, toasted and crushed 1 bunch coriander, leaves picked and finely chopped 3 - 4 tbsp olive oil 4 tbsp harissa 1 tsp chilli flakes Salt and pepper to season 4 brioche burger buns, toasted ½ cup makdous (pickled eggplant stuffed with walnuts available from Middle Eastern grocers) 1 bunch watercress Harissa aioli METHOD: Combine the lamb mince, coriander seeds, fresh coriander, olive oil, harissa and chilli in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper and mix to combine. Once combined, divide the mixture into four and then gently shape the burger patties with your hand. Don't overwork the patties too much as it makes them tough. These burgers can be cooked in a frypan on the stove top or the grill on your barbeque. Cook to your taste, two to three minutes per side for medium rare or longer for your requirement. To assemble toast the brioche burger buns (inside of bun only). Take the base of the burger bun and add a dollop of the harissa aioli, a spoonful of the pickled eggplant with walnuts, watercress, then the patty, add another handful of watercress and another dollop of aioli and then top with the bun. Pair with James Squire One Fifty Lashes Pale Ale. BARBECUE CHICKEN WINGS — CHUR BURGER INGREDIENTS: 1kg mid cut chicken wings BARBECUE SAUCE: 1 onion, finely chopped 6 cloves garlic, finely chopped 100ml olive oil 150g brown sugar 150ml Worcestershire sauce 500g ketchup Juice of 2 lemons 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh thyme Place chicken wings in a large pot and cover with cold water. Bring water to the boil, stir chicken wings gently and then turn heat off. Let wings sit in water for 12 minutes and then pour wings into a colander. Place on trays in a single layer and refrigerate overnight to dry out. Sweat off onion and garlic in the olive oil until soft but with no colour (about 2-3 minutes). Add everything else, bring to a simmer and cook out for about 10 minutes. Cool down and store in refrigerator. Toss in the barbecue sauce mix and then place on hot grill until smokey and charred. Remove from grill and place into a clean bowl and toss with some further barbecue sauce and a squeeze of fresh lemon. Serve. CHIPOTLE MAYO: 1L plain mayonnaise 150ml Melbourne Hot Sauce Chipotle & Cayenne 10g rosemary, chopped 10g fresh oregano, chopped 10g parsley, chopped Mix all together. Pair with James Squire Hop Thief American Pale Ale.
Fresh from causing vehicular chaos in the Fast and Furious franchise — and loving it — Jason Momoa is swapping roads for the ocean in that other big-budget saga he's been known to glisten through: DC's movies. It's been five years since the first solo cinema swim for Arthur Curry arrived, with Aquaman marking just the sixth entry in the DC Extended Universe. Now the series will hit 15 instalments with sequel Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, ahead of a fresh direction for the comic-book company's flicks under new co-head honchos James Gunn and Peter Safran (The Suicide Squad's director and producer, respectively). So, Momoa is back as DC's wettest superhero. What happens for the actor and his character from here, however, hasn't yet been confirmed. Wherever both go, they're going to tussle with Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Ambulance) as Black Manta again first — as Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom's just-dropped first trailer shows. Slated to hit cinemas on Boxing Day as the fourth DC feature of 2023 after Shazam! Fury of the Gods, The Flash and Blue Beetle, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom also hails from Australian director James Wan (Malignant), as the first film did — and sees Patrick Wilson (Insidious: The Red Door), Amber Heard (The Stand), Nicole Kidman (Special Ops: Lioness) and Temuera Morrison (The Book of Boba Fett) return alongside Momoa and Abdul-Mateen II. Dolph Lundgren (Minions: The Rise of Gru) and Randall Park (Strays) are back as well, all in another movie that dives into the sea, heads down to Atlantis and paddles about trying to save the world. The story this time: Black Manta is still after vengeance, but now has the Black Trident and its powers to help. So, as well as being a father and the new King of Atlantis, Aquaman has to seek his own assistance. That's how Wilson's Orm, Curry's half brother, ends up fighting by his side instead of being his imprisoned enemy. So, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom looks set to splash around a tale about family in a variety of ways. Again, Momoa did just pop up in Fast X — and Wan also has a history with that high-octane realm, directing Fast and Furious 7 in 2015. Wan and Wilson keep loving dipping in the same pool together, too, given that Wan created The Conjuring franchise and co-created the Insidious franchise. Check out the trailer for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom below: Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom opens in cinemas Down Under on Tuesday, December 26, 2023.
The only resort on Daydream Island in The Whitsundays has finally reopened after being devastated by Cyclone Debbie back in March 2018. And, after a huge $100 million redevelopment, Daydream Island Resort is doing it in serious fashion — with a 200-metre living reef, three restaurants, a poolside bar and an outdoor cinema to boot. The exclusive resort reopened today — Monday, April 15 — with 277 fully refurbished suites that span ocean, garden and pool views. Those aren't any ordinary ocean views, either, with crystal clear turquoise waters surrounding every corner of this tiny oasis. And the massive, newly landscaped pool wraps throughout the resort's tropical gardens and links to its coral beaches, offering views of the Great Barrier Reef beyond. The resort's living reef has also been revitalised — it's a coral lagoon that spans 200 metres and surrounds the central building, with its 1.5 million litres of water housing over 100 species of fish, coral and invertebrates. Guests can learn from local marine biologists while helping to feed baby stingrays and explore the new underwater observatory that lies four metres below sea level. [caption id="attachment_716885" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Looking from from the pool.[/caption] Daydream Island will also boast three distinct restaurants and three bars, all of which feature seasonal and local produce. Fine-dining restaurant Infinity offers panoramic ocean views and a menu of Asian-fusion eats, along with a teppanyaki private dining room. Then there's Inkstone Kitchen and Bar, a modern Australian restaurant using native ingredients. Think crispy skin coral trout sourced from Bowen, served over squid ink linguine, and surrounded by thin slices of smoked crocodile and Australian caviar, too. For cocktails, you'll head over to the gin bar, Tonic. The third dining greenhouse-style option, Graze will open in the coming months, along with two other bars. An outdoor cinema will launch in June, too. While you're in the region, don't miss the chance to do a bit of exploring and check out the nearby Whitehaven Beach, which is listed as one of the best beaches in the world.Those keen to explore the Whitsundays further can book snorkelling, helicopter tours, sailing, jet-skiing and island-hopping experiences through the resort. Of course, all this doesn't come cheap. Rates start at $392 per night — and that's just for a standard room. Start saving now, or just daydream by having a scroll through the photos. Daydream Island Resort is now open. For more to see and do in the region, check out our Outside Guide to the Whitsundays.
My sister and I — like many of you, I'm sure — are really good at being really bad at dancing. The other day on her orientation day at university, she was made to play a game: find one person who is the eldest child, find one person who has been to Spain, find one person who is a great dancer. Long story short, my sister's inflated sense of her own dance ability became the focus of the entire classroom, as the teacher asked her what type of dance she studied. Her answer? "Er… I just love krumping." For those of you who share this passion, or perhaps enjoy something a little more structured, you want to be twerkin' all the way to Dance Massive 2013, an extensive program of dance work hosted by Arts House, the Malthouse Theatre, and Dancehouse. Each venue is set to curate a program of events, ensuring you'll be privy to a specially tailored selection of flexible fun wherever you go. We've picked out a few shows for everyone to enjoy, whether your signature move is the sprinkler, the Harlem Shake, or the pirouette. WeTubeLIVE Everyone likes watching people dance on YouTube. It’s infectious, fun, and can be damn impressive. WeTubeLIVE will bring YouTube dancing to the offline world as 50 performers interpret 100 dance clips made famous on the internet. The best (or potentially worst) part? If you fancy yourself a bit of a Beyonce protege, you can apply to perform at the event. BRB, polishing up my Single Ladies routine. The Recording Staged like a film set, The Recording goes through the process of filming a scene from start to finish. The performers learn their lines and work on the scene together as the work evolves into a full-blown cinematic production. Directed and choreographed by Sandra Parker, The Recording is part dance, part play, and part installation. One for the theatrically inclined. P.O.V. If you're the kind of person who's the first to stick up their hand come audience participation time, you’re going to love P.O.V. Choreographed by Chunky Move's Lee Serle, P.O.V. gets rid of that invisible wall between audience and performer. Viewers sit spaced apart as dancers move around them, becoming totally immersed in the performance. Go to the toilet before it starts — you really don’t want to be the person who has to get up and fight their way through a bunch of dancers on a full bladder. Conversation Piece Incorporating a spoken word element, Lucy Guerin's Conversation Piece uses words as stimulus for the dance performance. A different conversation is held between performers — there's three actors and three dancers involved — for the first eight minutes of each show, which is looped and backed with music as the work progresses. There must be some kind of planning beforehand though? Imagine a dance routine to, "What do you wanna do? I dunno, what do you wanna do?" It's got a certain rhythm, I guess. Dance Your Heart Out Itchy feet after watching all those dancers? If you’d like to have a crack at it yourself, head along to Dance Your Heart Out, a series of morning dance classes from March 18-22. Hosted by some of Australia’s funkiest movers and shakers (literally), classes are $20 and start at 10am every day. Sadly, most begin at Intermediate/Advanced level, and there are no classes for "incredibly inflexible but enthusiastic bedroom dancers" like myself. However, if you've got some experience under your belt, it's a great opportunity to shake it with the best of 'em. Dance Massive runs from March 12-24, and performances will be hosted across four venues. Aside from the shows there’s a bunch of other stuff, like open studios and forums, which offer extra insight into what is for many, an unfamiliar industry. Images via dancemassive.com.au/Centre Stage/Psy.
In 2019, the Great Barrier Reef gained a new addition, as well as a new way to enjoy its natural underwater delights. When the Museum of Underwater Art installed its first artworks in December, it became the southern hemisphere's first attraction of its type — and yet another reason for everyone to add visiting Australia's tropics to their travel bucket list. Two artworks were put in place at the time. The first, Ocean Siren, is located 30 metres offshore from The Strand jetty at Townsville and actually towers above the water; however, it interacts with live water temperature data from the Davies Reef weather station, then changes colour in response to variations as they happen. The second Coral Greenhouse, definitely lurks below the sea. And, until now, that meant that visiting it was a bit of a problem. As part of an official launch of the Museum of Underwater Art's first phase, folks can now take a tour of Coral Greenhouse — with recreational divers and snorkelers able to access the work from Saturday, August 1. The tours are being run by Adrenalin Dive Townsville and Pro Dive Magnetic Island, who'll help you see and swim through this striking sculpture. Down the track, SeaLink Queensland, Yongala Dive Burdekin and Orpheus Island Resort will be able to take you for a splash, too. [caption id="attachment_778364" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Matt Curnock[/caption] And it is striking. Coral Greenhouse sits 18 metres below the waterline on the John Brewer Reef off Townsville, measures 12 metres in height and weighs around 58 tonnes. It's made out of stainless steel, neutral marine grade cement and zinc anodes, and it does indeed look like a greenhouse. In fact, it's an underwater building. It's also filled with more than 20 sculptures, many resembling local school children — and has been made to both stand up to wave pressures and cyclones, and remain visible to divers and snorkelers. Most importantly, it isn't just a greenhouse in name, with the piece featuring coral garden beds. With that in mind, Coral Greenhouse is also designed to "offer opportunities for scientists, marine students and tourists to engage in action-based learning and to conduct globally important research on coral reef restoration and new technology," marine sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor notes. The creator of the Museum of Underwater Art, he sees this particular work as "an interface into our underwater world" and a way "to tell stories of the Great Barrier Reef, and for people to understand what a fragile, beautiful and sacred space it really is". [caption id="attachment_778365" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Matt Curnock[/caption] In total, four pieces are planned for the Museum as part of its aim to highlight reef conservation, restoration and education — with two more sculptures set for Palm Island and Magnetic Island in the future. Palm Island's forthcoming installation will connect the spot's the cultural story to the land and sea, according to the MOUA's website, and is expected to be in place by the July 2021. As for the Magnetic Island artwork, it's working towards a December 2021 unveiling. Of course, while the first tours of the underwater museum have officially kicked off, not everyone can get into Queensland. The Sunshine State has, at writing, closed its borders to all of Victoria and greater Sydney. Find the Museum of Underwater Art off the shore of Townsville, Queensland. For more information, visit the museum's website. To book a tour, head to the Adrenalin Dive or Pro Dive Magnetic websites. Images: Matt Curnock
Don't be fooled by the petite shopfront and narrow entryway — this new South Yarra cafe may be but tiny, but it's packing in some big flavours. Perched near the busy corner of Toorak Road and Chapel Street, Tom Dick & Harry has been busily cementing its status as one of the area's better coffee spots. Even if you haven't been in yet, social media has undoubtedly introduced you to their takeaway cups, which are stamped distinctively with the face of a French bulldog named Harry. All day long, those cups — holding a well-handled Illy blend and boasting a nugget of homemade biscotti on the side —are sailing out of the cafe's street-side coffee nook. But delve in deeper and you'll find there's plenty more than just good coffee on offer. For nine-to-fivers, the lunch cabinet is gold, brimming with the day's fresh mix-and-match salads ($8-14) and virtuous breakfasts-to-go. You might find a fruit-infused chia pudding ($8) or toasted muesli, layered with pear, orange blossom and vanilla bean yoghurt ($8). Less healthy, but every bit as Instagram-worthy, are the fresh-baked, big-as-your-head muffins, positioned craftily beside the coffee machine. The pace slows a bit come the weekend, when the 2XU-clad crowd and inner city brunchers make their nests in the small rear dining area, curing hangovers, sharing newspapers and sipping on ginger, pear and lime tonics ($5.50). The eat-in menu is concise, and yet holds something for everyone, harnessing plenty of fresh flavours and hinting at some thoughtful kitchen minds behind the scenes. Build your own breakfast of eggs and sides, or opt for one of three tasty, all-day kitchen creations. For instance, white beans, crushed with lemon and a good dose of chilli, come piled atop toast, with grilled chorizo, blistered vine cherry tomatoes and a perfectly poached egg ($19.50). Even more impressive is this cafe's version of Melbourne's perennial favourite: the avocado smash. Here, it's served on chia seed toast and surrounded by a riotous quinoa salad ($17.50). Diced zucchini, cauliflower, green beans, pomegranate, corn, currants, seeds and goats' cheese all play off each other for a lively, yet well-balanced breakfast creation that'll leave you feeling pretty damn good about yourself. For lunch, there's some Asian-inspired brioche sliders, a big salad of miso glazed salmon and soba noodles, or the slightly more decadent, Harry's Reuben: a fat brioche bun holding thick slices of corned beef, sauerkraut, swiss cheese and a housemade special sauce. With a side of with chilli-salted fries ($20.50) for good measure. A modern fit-out, a bit of whitewash and some cheery staff have transformed a narrow, windowless space into an inviting little spot that’s just as great for quick weekday lunching as it is for lazy weekend brunching.
It might've taken three years, but Netflix has finally produced its first original Aussie series. Shot entirely in Queensland, and providing fuel for your summer binge-watch sessions, Tidelands is a supernatural crime drama series about a fictional fishing village, dubbed Orphelin Bay, with strange inhabitants: a group of dangerous half-Sirens, half-humans called 'Tidelanders'. Cal McTeer (Charlotte Best), a young women who returns to the small village after a stint in jail, discovers the body of a local fisherman and must navigate the town's drug smuggling history while also investigating the Tidelanders, who are led by Adrielle Cuthburt (Elsa Pataky). Eight episodes, each running for 50 minutes, have been made by Brisbane's Emmy Award-Winning production company Hoodlum Entertainment. Available on Netflix since Friday, December 14, Tidelands doesn't just gift Australian users with a new favourite series, with the show landing in all 190 countries that the streaming platform is available in. Thinking you've seen plenty of Aussie stuff on Netflix already? You're not wrong; however there's a difference between throwing old sitcoms and standup specials into a range inexplicably overflowing with new Adam Sandler movies, and actually funding brand new Australian material. Last year, it was announced that they'd join forces with the ABC to co-produce a second season of Glitch, which showed them dipping a toe in the water — but now they're completely diving in. Before watching the entire series, check out the full trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhsjoQLKaiY Tidelands is now available on Netflix.
It's time to break out those picnic rugs — The Peninsula Picnic is back for the first time in two years for its annual celebration of food, wine and good times. Taking over the Mornington Racecourse on Saturday, March 19, this year's lineup promises to be as impressive as ever, showcasing the region's finest epicurean delights alongside a rather nifty musical offering. Showing off their goods on the day — and ensuring bellies and wine glasses stay happily full — will be a hand-picked selection of local producers. Expect offerings from renowned wineries like Prancing Horse, Paringa Estate and Montalto, and dining hotspots like Red Gum BBQ, Doc Mornington and Green Olive. There'll also be spirits from Bass & Flinders Distillery and Jimmyrum, plus a series of wine masterclasses and market stalls. Topping it all off, The Peninsula Picnic has landed a cracking lineup of live tunes, headlined by Bernard Fanning. He'll be joined by Boy & Bear, ARIA-nominated duo Mama Kin Spender, folktronic group Amaru tribe and multi-instrumentalist Steph Strings.
With gathering restrictions continuing to ease and the weather slowly warming up, picnics are set to be very much on the menu for the next few months. And we've now scored another premium picnic destination, in Lakeside at Carousel — a new al fresco pop-up from the folks behind renowned South Melbourne venue Half Acre and local catering company Food & Desire. This one sees Albert Park Lake's famed Carousel building and waterfront Pelican Lawn transformed into a lush picnic ground, open daily until the end of summer. There'll be umbrella-shaded spots for groups, and various furniture and picnicking gear available to hire, ranging from deck chairs to fold-up tables. Or you can BYO rug to throw down on the sunny turf as you please. Punters are welcome to pack a picnic feast from home, though it'll be hard to pass up the range of culinary delights offered on-site. Lawnside takeaway windows are slinging a menu of seasonal fare that's best enjoyed perched on a blanket with the sun on your back. Think, cheese and charcuterie boards, loaded mezze platters, Chicago-style hot dogs, and classic fish and chips. Breakfast might include açai bowls, and bacon and egg rolls, while sweet-toothed folk can delight in the likes of hot jam doughnuts and a summer pavlova ice cream situation. Food is available from 9am through till sunset, every day. A pop-up bottle shop will be supplying picnickers with wine and cocktails, and there'll be a calendar of live tunes and DJ sets to keep you entertained. Prefer a traditional restaurant set-up? Carousel's The Deck will also host sit-down dine-ins for lunch and dinner from Sunday, November 7. Images: Lucas Worcester
Kombucha on tap, halva ice cream and house-made falafel. No it's not a new music festival, but rather a pub in Carlton. Meet The Green Man's Arms, a 100 percent vegan and vegetarian establishment owned by legendary publicans and artists Alison Whyte and Fred Whitlock (The Terminus, Yarra Valley Grand). "We have one vegan child, one vegetarian and one omnivore," says Fred. "As a family, we hardly ever eat animal meat protein anymore. We just want to create a friendly little place that has food that is fast, fun, fresh, affordable, delicious and healthy. A place that is full of our crowd, our crew." In collaboration with Israeli chef David Raziel, the duo has created an animal-free menu, based on ethically-sourced seasonal produce. For pub snacks there's house-made falafel; pan-baked Yemeni lahuh bread; fried eggplant with soft egg, Israeli salad and tahini; and green beans with mushroom and creamed corn. Among the mains are a grilled vegetable salad with beets, red cabbage, onions, almonds, labne and pomegranate dressing; and house-made couscous with rich stock and roasted vegetables. Dessert offerings include house-made halva ice cream and knafeh pastry with ricotta, pistachios, pickled grapes and syrup. Punters can feel even better about their cruelty-free feast by matching it with a vegan wine. You'll find both De Bortoli's Vinoque Yarra Valley Nebbiolo Rosé, and Lobethal Road Pinot Gris on the list, while local brewers are well represented too. Look out for Hawkers Pilsner, Stomping Ground Saison and Holgate Mt Macedon Pale Ale. Designated driver? Get all the bubbles and none of the headaches with a glass of sparkling kombucha served on tap.
St Kilda is home to many of Melbourne's most iconic venues, but perhaps none are more totemic of the suburb than its foreshore. While this beachside promenade is popular all year round, it's when the warmer weather hits that the palm-lined boardwalk really comes to life with walkers, joggers and rollerbladers creating a hub of activity. Meanwhile, on the other side of the sand, it's not uncommon to see kitesurfers, windsurfers and swimmers in, on and above the glistening waters of Melbourne's most famous beach. The foreshore area is also home to the historic St Kilda Pier, a popular angling spot that dates back to 1853 and still offers some of the best CBD views from anywhere in town. If you head to the end of the pier, you'll be able to see the colony of resident fairy penguins burrowing in the rocks at the breakwater. Image: Visit Victoria
Melbourne's other gin festival is back. Back in 2016, Melbourne was faced with the happy problem of having not one, but two gin festivals on the cards. You might know the hugely successful Juniperlooza, a locally organised festival. Well, this different festival — confusingly called Junipalooza (yes, that's an 'a' instead of an 'er') — came to Melbourne by way of the UK, and was unsurprisingly dedicated entirely to gin. And it's back again for another year. The Melbourne version of the festival (the first to be held outside of the UK) is a twin event to Junipalooza London, which started back in 2013. The event will be held over two days this October at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. It'll be hosted by founders of the UK's Gin Foundry, Olivier and Emile Ward — so you know you're in good gin-pouring hands. The renowned brothers live, breathe and drink gin, compiling all their knowledge onto their comprehensive online gin directory. It makes sense then that the pair have teamed up with local gin expert, The Gin Queen (aka Caroline Childerley) to celebrate the noble spirit in Melbourne. Junipalooza will feature sampling stations, cocktails and gin masterclasses with some of the world's best distillers. More than 40 distillers from around the globe will be in attendance, giving punters the chance to take a bottle or two of their favourite gin home. This year, there'll be a four-course gin dinner — with matched gin cocktails, of course — being held on Thursday, October 24 at Cumulus Inc. You can snag a $155 ticket (which includes festival entry, too) here. The festival will take place over the weekend of October 26-27, and tickets are on sale now. We see a lot of gin drinking in your future.
Grazeland Director John Forman recently teamed up with El Taco's Neven Hayek and Sandrow Yalda to create two huge new Mexican bars and restaurants. The first of the two venues to open is Preston's Bar Mexico, a two-storey haven for agave-based tipples. Located within the former Northside Food Hall on the Preston end of High Street, the bar showcases over 50 tequilas, mezcals and raicillas sourced directly from distilleries across Mexico. Sure, you can shoot some of these shots with your mates, but they're best consumed like a fine wine. Take your time sipping on these agave-based bevs, exploring different regions of Mexico as you make your way through the list. But if straight tequila ain't your thing, you can always take your pick from the extensive cocktail menu. Get around classics like a marg or paloma, or change it up by sampling Bar Mexico's tequila espresso martini or tequila old fashioned. You'll also find Aussie and international beers on tap, plus an impressive selection of Mexican brews in bottles or cans. A handful of wines are also available, almost all by the glass, too. Siblings Hayek and Yalda are on food duties, and they're serving up El Taco's signature style of Mexican street eats. Start off with crowd favourites like jalapeño poppers, flautas and elote before getting onto the bigger bites like quesedilla, nachos and tacos — the crew's famed birria tacos are a must-order. If you're after a proper feast, go straight for the build-your-own taco platter. This massive serve comes with slow-cooked pulled beef and adobo-marinated chicken, as well as a heap of fillings and ten corn tortillas that you can fill however you like. It's family-style eating at its finest. You'll find Bar Mexico at 39 High Street, Preston, open from 5–10pm Wednesday, 5–11pm Thursday, from 4pm–late Fridays and from 12pm–late on Saturdays and Sundays. For more information, visit the venue's website.
Located on the first floor of the original Fitzroy Post Office is Cream Melbourne — an absolute hair institution. Owners Lee Scott and Richard Tucker have been serving the eclectic Fitzroy community for the past 20 years, remaining always relevant with their simple yet effective ethos: 'Let's make it work'. Scott and Tucker, with their team of experts, strive to create a welcoming space in which clients are able to achieve their hair goals. Cream is all about passion and diversity while continuing to be at the forefront of technical skill and innovation. Blow-dries start from $72, while more complicated dos are $108 and up.
Australians, it's time to pack away your gumboots for the year and completely forget about dancing in a field this spring — because music lovers won't be descending upon North Byron Bay Parkland in November. For the second year in a row, Splendour in the Grass has been forced to change its plans due to the pandemic. Like fellow Byron Bay festival Bluesfest, the event will now sit out 2021 completely due to the COVID-19 situation in New South Wales, and will instead reclaim its usual winter slot in 2022. The dates to mark in your diary: Friday, July 22–Sunday, July 24, 2022, as that's when the fest will now celebrate its 20th-anniversary event. And, in a welcome development, festival organisers have confirmed that already-announced headliners Gorillaz, The Strokes and Tyler, The Creator will all still play next year. "With vaccine rollout progressing more slowly than anticipated, we have made the decision to move the 20th-anniversary edition of the festival to July 2022," said Splendour in the Grass co-founders Jessica Ducrou and Paul Piticco in a statement. "We are confident that moving the festival to July 2022 will finally see us enjoying Splendour in the Grass in all its glory. More of the population will be vaccinated, international talent will have the ability to enter the country more freely and we'll be able to deliver the Splendour in the Grass that you know and love." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Splendour in the Grass (@splendourinthegrass) The news is hardly unexpected; Bluesfest made the same announcement just two days ago, on Wednesday, August 18. Also, Splendour had already ditched its usual July 2021 plans in favour of a move to November, and also scrapped a planned pop-up event in Sydney in July as well. One Splendour-related event has gone off without a hitch this year, though: Splendour XR, the event's online-only fest. Who else will join Gorillaz, The Strokes and Tyler, The Creator onstage hasn't yet been revealed, but the festival now has plenty of time to finalise its lineup given that Splendour's new dates are 11 months away. If you have already purchased a ticket for SITG 2020 or 2021, you'll be happy to know that they're still valid for the 2022 edition. And if you don't have a ticket yet, you can head to the festival's website to nab a pre-loved ticket now. Splendour in the Grass has been postponed again and will now take over North Byron Bay Parkland from Friday, July 22–Sunday, July 24, 2022. All 2020 and 2021 tickets are valid for the new dates, with pre-loved tickets currently available via splendourinthegrass.com. Top image: Charlie Hardy.
Don't dawdle — The Exchange Beach Club is only around for four weeks, from Friday, January 24 to Monday, February 24. The month-long pop-up will bring private cabanas, umbrella-covered outdoor seating, refreshments and entertainment right onto the sand of Port Melbourne Beach. You can enjoy an ice-cold cocktail — think boozy iced tea, passionfruit caprioskas and slushies — while playing a spot of beach volleyball or totem tennis. Then you can tuck into fish and chips, a lobster roll or a burger as the sun goes down and a DJ plays summer beats. There'll also be an ice cream cart on site for when those sweet cravings hit, and, on Thursdays, the club will be hosting bottomless cocktail sunset sessions with dinner for $59 per person. Private cabanas will be available for hire across two five-hour sessions for up to four people. Oh, and puppies are welcome, too, with water bowls and free dog treats provided. The beach bar will be open from midday until 10pm each day. To make a booking, head this way.
