Melbourne's summer bucket list is set to be an extra hefty one this year, as people scramble to tick off all the experiences they missed out on over lockdown. Dining out with mates at the pub? Check. Catching an IRL gig? Check. Whizzing through the air on a zipline across the Yarra? Actually, this summer, you can check that one off, too, thanks to Firefly Zipline — an entirely unexpected new experience popping up at Fed Square for the month of December. From December 1–28, a 130-metre zipline will be installed in the heart of the CBD, connecting Federation Square with Alexandra Gardens. Punters of any age will be able to book a ticket, don a safety harness and helmet, and enjoy a hurtling flight over the Yarra, either solo or as part of a pair. Soaring nine metres above the water and clocking speeds of up to 40 kilometres per hour, it's the ride you never knew you needed in your life. And the one you probably never saw coming. Coming to fruition after many years of planning, Firefly Zipline is being brought to life with a little funding help from the City of Melbourne and the Victorian Government, in the hopes of bringing some extra action to the CBD as it emerges from lockdown. There's no age limit for zipline flyers, though anyone under 18 will need a parent or guardian present to sign their waiver, and kids under 12 will have to ride with a paying adult. You'll also need to weigh between 35 and 120 kilograms to jump aboard. It's recommended you get in quick though, with only 5000 tickets available. Firefly Zipline will operate multiple sessions daily from December 1–28. Tickets are $49 for adults, $39 for kids and $159 for a family of four. Buy yours here from November 1 onwards.
With the recent program launches of the Lido's rooftop cinema, Moonlight Cinema, Rooftop Cinema, Sunset Cinema et al, it's clear Melbourne's furiously enthusiastic love for cinema under the stars isn't waning anytime soon. And now QV Cinema has announced it too will be returning for the 2016-17 season. Usually the realm of hectic shopping sprees, QV Melbourne last year launched its own openair cinema, and it will return with summer screenings running every Thursday to Sunday night from November to February. It's an intimate 80-seat deckchair cinema on the astroturf outside the Queen Victoria Women's Centre, and the whole program is curated by Melbourne filmmaker and film programmer Gus Berger, who runs Red Hot Shorts at ACMI. Expect festive films in December (think Bad Santa, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Elf), an Australian film on Australia Day (The Sapphires), a focus on Melbourne independent films, alongside '80s favourites and selected special event films. There'll also be three dog-friendly Doggie + Deckchair screenings, starting with a doggy red carpet before Lady and the Tramp on December 10. All proceeds from ticket sales going to non-profit animal charity Lort Smith. With tickets at $12 (and $14 for the dog screenings) each, it's a pretty budget-friendly date option for the summer. Opening night is happening on Wednesday, November 30, and it's pretty fittingly fashion-themed with the Sex and the City movie (the first one, of course). Best bit? Opening night is completely free, you just have to register on the QV Cinema website. Then you can spend your pennies on a sea salt soft serve cone from Aqua S. The QV Outdoor Cinema will run from November 30 till February 26, 2017. To view the full program and buy tickets, visit qvcinema.com.au.
Dracula's castle is the place that nightmares are made of, as anyone who has read Bram Stoker's iconic 1897 gothic novel or seen a vampire flick knows. Nestled in the Carpathian mountains in the heart of Transylvania, it's also a place you can actually spend a night in. Well, it's a 14th century mountain-top manor that served as the inspiration for the creepy dwelling in the book, but you get the picture. Close enough, right? No, the fictional master of the undead isn't pulling his own What We Do in the Shadows-style caper; it's not a share house, and there won't be a doco crew there filming everything. And no, you don't have to willingly get lured in by a charismatic recluse who can turn into a bat, or turn up to help him with legal matters (but hey, if you want to pretend that you're Keanu Reeves in the 1992 movie, go for it). Instead, it's as simple as hitting up Airbnb to win a chance to stay at Bran Castle in Romania. The accommodation-sharing service has offered up shark tanks, van Gogh's bedroom, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' secret lair and an Abbey Road slumber party with Mark Ronson before, so you shouldn't be surprised. Now that's how you celebrate halloween. Plus, the evening will be hosted by the great grand-nephew of Bram Stoker himself, Dacre Stoker, who actually wrote a sequel to the bloodsucking classic in 2009. After riding in a horse-drawn carriage at sunset, probably seeing swooping bats and hearing howling wolves, he'll answer your knock at the door — and once he does, you're trapped until dawn. As an expert on Transylvanian lore, he'll guide you through lamp-lit corridors, creepy nooks, squeaky staircases and secret passages. There's 57 rooms in total, including lofty tower lookouts, deep dark crypts, a grand dining room perfect for an intimate candlelit dinner, and luxurious velvet-trimmed coffins to sleep in. Entrants must be 18 and over, and it goes without saying that anyone who is easily frightened shouldn't bother. For more information, visit the castle's listing on Airbnb.
You love your mum, and if you're looking for ways to spoil the leading lady in your life, we're here to help. Because let's face it — your favourite underground bar is a bit too dingy, and your go-to ramen joint is a bit of a lazy pick for the woman who gave you, you know, life. This is your chance to deliver something momentous and memorable — and earn some serious brownie points on the side. From luxuriously long lunches to boozy brunches and everything in between, we've rounded up the best places for Mother's Day in Melbourne, and for every weekend after it. Go forth and really make mum's day. Recommended reads: The Best Restaurants in Melbourne The Best Wine Bars in Melbourne The Best Pubs in Melbourne The Most Romantic Bars and Restaurants in Melbourne For Wine Lovers: Fergusson Winery This Mother's Day, Fergusson Winery in the Yarra Valley is hosting a luxury garden party surrounded by rolling vineyards. The team has created a four-course menu just for the occasion ($99) and will set up a bunch of lawn games for the afternoon — just hope for good weather. There will also be a themed cocktail menu, matching wines (obviously) and a special gift for each of the mothers who attend the lunch. For Immersive Art, Dining and Yoga: The Lume Melbourne digital art gallery The Lume's current multi-sensory exhibition is dedicated to Vincent Van Gogh, and this exhibition will be the gallery's final before closing its doors forever on Sunday, June 1. Van Gogh's masterpieces cover all the floors and walls, making for an experience that goes above and beyond your typical art gallery. And for this Mother's Day, there will be a few ways to celebrate at The Lume. For a special meal with a special lady, you can book a spot at Caffè Terrace 1888, the on-site dining destination that blends into the immersive space, for a taste of 19th-century French classics inside the works of Van Gogh himself. If Mum is a wellness lover and doesn't mind an early start, The Lume's wellness program is running a special 8am class on the big day for $35 per person. Move and Connect with Her Run combines gentle yoga and soothing sound baths for a restorative Mother's Day experience you couldn't find anywhere else. If you need early morning energy to support Mum, the class includes complimentary coffee for all participants beforehand. For Classic Mother's Day High Tea: Mary Eats Cake, Royal Exhibition Building and Sofitel on Collins Treating your mum to a luxe Melbourne high tea is a classic Mother's Day experience. It's easy, no matter the size of the group, and it doesn't have to be too expensive. There are also heaps of places in Melbourne that have made one-off afternoon teas for Mother's Day. First, Mary Eats Cake is running its Mother's Day High Tea again (from $75 per person) from Thursday, May 1–Saturday, May 31, as well as a dedicated Ultimate Mother's Day High Tea for $95 per person on the weekend of the occasion. Both include your usual high tea treats of specialty cocktails and mocktails, savoury and sweet treats, and oh-so-many scones. For a touch of historical elegance, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building is hosting a Mother's Day high tea with complimentary bubbles and live classical music for $139 per person, while Sofitel on Collins has put together a Mother's Day high tea in No35 Restaurant with complimentary champagne, degustation bites and live music from $155 per person. For Mums Who Love a Cause: Mother's Day Classic and The Terrace Sure, you could spend your day indulging in all sorts of high teas and treats across Melbourne, but the occasion marks a great opportunity to get moving for a damn good cause. The Mother's Day Classic is an annual Mother's Day marathon (or walkathon) that circumnavigates Royal Botanic Gardens to raise money for breast cancer and ovarian cancer research. Nearby to the course is an ideal recovery spot at one of Melbourne's most scenic cafes: The Terrace. You can recover with an à la carte booking or opt for the Mother's Day high tea package, which includes sweet and savoury treats, a hibiscus spritz and bouquets (available for preorder) across three sessions for $89 per person. For Ceramics Shopping: Three Day Clay Pop-Up Instead of picking a present to get your mum ahead of time and hoping she loves it, why not take her shopping for her own gift instead? You can hit up stores all over the city or opt to visit the Three Day Clay pop-up store on Sydney Road in Brunswick. 13-plus artists will sell their wares during the mornings and afternoons from Friday, May 8–Sunday, May 11. The event is even open in the evening on Friday, when the team will give a glass of complimentary sparkling wine to everyone who stops by. For a Lunchtime Feast: Bottomless Yum Cha at David's If you prefer a more casual, all-you-can-eat feast for Mother's Day in Melbourne, then you've got to check out David's in Prahran. On Saturday, May 10 and Sunday, May 11, the team will serve up their bottomless yum cha ($74 per person), with seatings throughout the day on Saturday and bookings into the evening on Sunday. Given that it's Mother's Day, there will be more than enough tea and spritzes to enjoy throughout your booking. These guys are super quick with their service, so you know the staff won't let your glass lay empty for long. [caption id="attachment_951928" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Petrina Tinslay[/caption] For Total Luxury: Reine and La Rue Reine and La Rue is home to one of the finest dining spaces in Melbourne. It's also hosting one of the most decadent Mother's Day meals in Melbourne. For both lunch and dinner, the team has created a stunning set menu and is giving guests the opportunity to personalise the occasion. When booking, guests can choose between a preordered box of sweet treats or an elegant floral bouquet to adorn their table. The experience isn't the cheapest, clocking in at a hefty $245 per person, but it is great for those looking to go all out this Mother's Day. For Fresh Flavours: Lona Misa If you're not drawn to the temptation of scones, teas or even a hearty pub feed, there are some more adventurous Mother's Day offerings around town. One of those is at Lona Misa, the South Yarra Latin hotspot that specialises in approachable and vegan-friendly fare. The team has put together a long lunch menu for Mother's Day, for $95 per adult. Expect potato bread and grilled shiitake anticuchos skewers, roasted peri-peri chicken, roasted cabbage with salsa macha and Andean papas with black garlic mayo. All that comes with free-flowing coffee and tea, and two hours of bottomless mimosas, spritzes, wine and beer. For a Sweet Treat: Piccolina Not all Mother's Day treats have to include outings to Melbourne restaurants and bars. Sometimes, you just want to hang out at home and have some family time. If that's your plan, but you still want to do something a little special, think about pre-ordering some of Piccolina's limited-edition tiramisu gelato sandwiches. The pastry chefs over at one of Melbourne's best gelaterias have adapted the timeless Italian dessert into an all-new form, with chocolate-dipped and cocoa-dusted sponge wedged around a slab of ganache and marscarpone gelato. You can pick them up on Mother's Day and deliver them yourself for an easy $22. Top image: Mary Eats Cake
An all-day diner and a Melbourne institution, the European has been welcoming patrons for just on fifteen years. If you can't physically get to the continent of its attribution, then this is your next best bet. No questions asked. There's only a few hours of the day when the venue isn't bustling. It's a good thing when an icon cannot rest. Situated opposite Parliament House at the top of Spring Street, every visit to the European will transport you to the old-world romanticism of Europe. It's a place of instant pleasure, where the scuffed floors, chipped wooden panelling and dim lighting are all a part of the charm. Be sure to make it your mission to get there even on a glum Melbourne afternoon, when its appeal suddenly becomes all the more glamourous. Regardless of the time of day, the menu brings the traditions of France, Italy and Spain to the table in an articulate, thoughtful and proud selection of dishes. It's honest fare without the presence of trends or fads. From 7.30am until very late, take your pick: a continental breakfast ($18.50), seasonal mushroom risotto with truffle oil ($21.50) or lamb saddle, braised belly, sweetbreads and gnocchi ($39.50) are all at your calling. Legend has it that the European's tiramisu ($12) posits a cult following so strong that it will be never, ever be removed from the menu due to the fear of the backlash that might ensue. Be sure to wash this one down with a strong, bold coffee ($3.50). If you can resist, the chocolate salty caramel, peanuts and sour cream ice-cream ($14.50) is indulgence executed with absolute perfection. The European's calling is clearly in its longevity. Alongside other city favourites it resonates in its ability to welcome and to remain authentic in its offering. It's a cultural institution that is worth as many visits as a lifetime can suffice.
These days, it seems you can glamp anywhere your comfort-loving heart desires — from Taronga Zoo to Cockatoo Island to right next door to a fine dining restaurant. Now, the possibilities have been extended even further, with the introduction of fancy-pants tents smack-bang in the middle of lush vineyards at Balgownie Estate, Bendigo, Victoria. That's right, you can spend your next weekender sipping top-notch wines on an outdoor lounge on your own private deck, soaking up sunset-flooded rural views — all safe in the knowledge that a linen-covered, queen-sized bed is just a stumble away. The tents, of which there are 15, are also set up with rugs, lighting, furnishings, aircon, tea-and-coffee making gear and bar fridges. One even has its own hot tub. There are three types on offer. The Bell Tent offers room for two, the Bell Tent Twin can accommodate four and the Luxury Safari Tent comes with a few glamorous extras, including an indoor couch, a four-poster queen-sized bed and a kitchenette. Also on the property is Balgownie Estate's restaurant, open for brekkie, lunch and dinner. And, if you can be bothered moving, downtown Bendigo is home to bars, cafes, restaurants and art galleries galore. Or, you can time your stay with the next Grapest wine-tasting fun run, which will take place on the winery's grounds. Balgownie Estate glamping will open for visitors from 1 February 2018. Bookings are available now via www.balgownieestatebendigo.com.
It's hard to get a true snapshot of a place you're holidaying in when you don't have a friend who lives there to show you around. The Margaret River region presents its own unique set of challenges — with over 150 wineries and six days' worth of stunning coastal walking track, you're just not going to get to do it all are you? We've teamed up with Pullman Hotels and Resorts to bring you a guide to Margaret River that you can do in a few days, and that should leave you feeling like you really got to know the area. (If you ever decide to leave, that is. You do realise it's a food and wine mecca with a boho beach vibe that's long been punching above its weight in the culturescape, right?) Putting our heads together with Pullman Bunker Bay ambassador Shane Hilder — a creative consultant, entrepreneur and passionate amateur photographer who shot the most stunning images in this article — we've curated a list of ten must-dos that will expose you to Margaret River's many strengths. They range from a brewery in a dairy farm to a beach beloved for its stingrays, because the southwest of this country has no room for ordinary, apparently. Check out the rest of our Explore More content series to hone your itinerary for some of Australia's best holiday destinations. FOOD & DRINK [caption id="attachment_643873" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Larry Cherubino winery[/caption] MARGARET RIVER WINERIES You didn't come all this way, to one of Australia's premier wine-growing regions, not to taste a truckload of wine. Plenty of tour operators offer group trips that will help you blitz a selection of the area's more than 150 cellar doors. Alternatively, sort your own car or bike and follow an itinerary of your own invention. Taking responsible service of alcohol to heart, several of the wineries also have strong food offerings that will more than line your stomach. Cullen Wines and Vasse Felix (the region's first winery, dating back 50 years) are two estates with excellent restaurants, while Woodlands Wines has some of the best reds in the region. Don't miss: The brand spanking new cellar door at Larry Cherubino. The former head winemaker at Houghton, Larry started producing wines under his own label in 2005 and has just opened a cellar door in Wilyabrup. METRICUP'S BEER FARM Right in the midst of Margaret River's zoned agricultural area is this brewery, recently converted from a working dairy farm, and with cows still roaming its fields. The Beer Farm's old creamy is now an entrance, and the roundhouse where the cows were milked is the brewhouse, but you'll spend most of your time in the old hay shed — which has been transformed into a bar filled with handmade wood benches, chesterfield couches and floor-to-ceiling murals. An atmosphere of casual fun pervades the whole space (pinball machines, lawn games and footy posts help kick that along), and you can get a good feed from the on-site food truck. Don't miss: Their lovely cloudy cider, made from local Manjimup apples. THE GOOSE BEACH BAR & KITCHEN The main attraction of The Goose is its position at the start of the Busselton Jetty — the longest timber piled jetty in the southern hemisphere. The views from here out over the waters of Geographe Bay will make you Zen out so deeply you could forget to eat. Though, don't — it's all local southwest produce here, whipped into comforting cafe classics. Start your day with eggs any which way, the house granola with coconut yoghurt, or a more adventurous salmon pastrami and 63-degree egg on rye. Don't miss: Walking off a meal on Busselton Jetty — it stretches nearly 2 kilometres into the ocean, with an underwater observatory at the end. MARGARET RIVER FARMERS MARKETS Is there anything more pleasing than a farmers market in an actual farming area? Everything is so damn fresh, it's practically still growing, and the people manning the stall are the actual growers. On every Saturday morning at the Margaret River Education Campus, this farmers market has been running for more than 13 years. It's where residents do their weekly shop, producers test out their new creations, and visitors go to try out everything from regional honey and olive oil to kimchi and kombucha. It's only about 50 stalls, but the good vibes are disproportionately huge. Don't miss: Having a coffee by local roastery Yahava and a plate of Má Là dumplings — made in the northern Chinese style but stuffed with the produce of Australia's southwest. WELLBEING & LEISURE [caption id="attachment_643870" align="aligncenter" width="1980"] by Shane Hilder[/caption] HAMELIN BAY Two words: Friendly. Stingrays. These guys just love swimming around the jetty here and don't care if you hop in the water with them. While patting and feeding of the rays isn't strictly encouraged, people often do it anyway, so just use your common sense and be respectful. Otherwise, Hamelin Bay is great for swimming, walks or just some solid lolling around. The beach is open to the northwest, so skip it if it's a windy day and opt for somewhere more secluded. There's a reason 11 vessels have been shipwrecked here over the centuries. Don't miss: On the plus side, that's 11 sites to explore if you've got a snorkel or scuba gear. [caption id="attachment_643871" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] by Shane Hilder[/caption] CANAL ROCKS While you're in Margaret River, you've got to do a section of the Cape to Cape Track — the 140 kilometre coastal path from Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin that take about six days to walk in whole. A good segment to pick is around Yallingup, as it means you can take in the Canal Rocks. Waves have eroded a narrow path through the rocks in this headland over time, and watching the waters roar through it now is transfixing viewing. Unlike many other coastal spots, this one is great when the seas are rough, as the force of the waves is accentuated. There's a boardwalk over the rocks so you can get up close. You can swim around here too, but — need it be said — use caution. Don't miss: Watching the sunset from here over the Indian Ocean. If you're used to east-coast sunrises, you've been missing out on a world of colour. MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL Margaret River is betting that interest in mountain biking will continue to boom — it's apparently planning 500 kilometres in new trails in the coming years. There's already plenty there, winding through the region's famous jarrah and karri forests, with options for riders of all levels. Beginners can try the 10 Mile Brook track, following the Margaret River for some 15–20 kilometres, with an option to detour to the Colonial Brewery for lunch. Advanced riders might be more drawn to the Creek Trails, which include some sharp descents and what Margaret River Tourism terms the "flowy magic dirt" of Goobers Pool. Check their website for more tracks. Don't miss: Fat biking on the beach with The Margaret River Adventure Co. The oversized tyres mean your bike won't sink into the sand and it's actually fun. [caption id="attachment_643648" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] by Shane Hilder[/caption] BUNKER BAY One of the many excellent beaches along the southwest coast, Bunker Bay has the advantage of being relatively sheltered from the winds of the Indian Ocean. You'll only ever be facing smallish waves, which makes it a great spot for swimming and snorkelling. Fishing is also permitted in this area. Pullman ambassador Shane Hilder also rates this area for its photographic opportunities, especially the "forever-changing" characteristics of its afternoon versus morning light. Don't miss: A post-swim meal at Pullman Bunker Bay's restaurant The Other Side of the Moon (the name comes from a nearby surf break), which focuses on local ingredients like Manjimup truffle, Cape Naturaliste beef, and line-caught fish. ART & DESIGN RED CLOUD ART SPACE Opened in 2012 in Yallingup, Red Cloud Art Space is a gallery with two artists' studios attached. It's also the place you're most likely to find non-wine gifts for friends and family back home, as it brings a contemporary, minimal and accessible style to the Margaret River scene. Works on sale here range from WA artist Lisa Payton's abstracted and textural mixed-media canvases capturing the ocean hitting rocks (which hit around the $1000 mark) to individually handcrafted ceramic flowers by Perth's Bronwen Holding (which start at just $3). Don't forget to poke your head into the studios and watch the resident artists at work. Don't miss: Quarterly event Kaleidoscope. There's live music and drinks alongside displays of the latest work by Red Cloud artists, and your donation at the door goes to a chosen charity. MARGARET RIVER GALLERY If your budget stretches slightly higher, or you just want to get a look at some of the best contemporary art in the state, head to Margaret River Gallery. Located on Charles West Avenue in Margaret River town proper, this light and bright gallery focuses on works by leading WA practitioners and emerging artists, but it also catches some interstate names in its net. Look out for objects by local studio Melting Pot Glass, the oceanscape photography of Tony Warrilow, and poetic, migration-themed small sculptures by Lesley Whitham. Don't miss: The great jewellery selection by WA artists — clever, contemporary and not-too-exxy designs that make a great treat for someone (especially yourself). Explore more with Pullman. Book your next hotel stay with Pullman and enjoy a great breakfast for just $1.
Residents of Melbourne, here's some good news to buoy you in these dark times. Barkly Square in Brunswick has announced they'll be running a pop-up cinema throughout December and January. It'll go down in the laneway of the shopping centre and unlike other outdoor cinemas that have recently been announced — like Moonlight and Sunset — this one has a difference: it's silent. Kind of like when you go to the drive-in and attach the speaker to your car, they'll be transmitting the film's audio through dedicated headphones. The best part is that all proceeds from the event will be donated to the Victorian Deaf Society. And even better, tickets are only a tenner. Take that Hoyts. There's only 60 seats per screening though, so be sure to book early — especially for the spesh Christmas screenings. On the whole, the lineup is pretty decent and eclectic, with everything from Donnie Darko to Home Alone to Whiplash. BARKLY SQUARE OPENAIR CINEMA PROGRAM 2016-17 16 December — Home Alone 23 December — Elf 6 January – Whiplash 7 January – Amy 13 January – The Big Lebowski 14 January – Amelie 20 January – Guardians of the Galaxy 21 January – Dogtown and Z-Boys 27 January – Hunt for the Wilderpeople 28 January – Donnie Darko The Barkly Square Openair Cinema will take place at Barkly Square, 106 Sydney Road, Brunswick. Films start at 8.30pm and are preceded by live entertainment. Find out more and book tickets here.
If acts of kindness are among your new year's resolutions, then the Lost Dogs' Home would like to invite you to a garden party. The organisation currently has more than 100 cats and kittens in need of homes, and what better way to meet them than at a summery evening gathering, in between snacks and chats? The Meownificent Garden Party will be happening at the Home's shelter in North Melbourne, on Wednesday 24 January from 4pm. All felines in attendance will be desexed, microchipped, vaccinated and treated for worms and fleas. Should you find a cat that takes your fancy, you can take him/her with you for free. Meanwhile, kittens will be $110 each — that's half the usual price. To take a peek at the guests' profiles in advance, head to their website. "What better way to start 2018, than by welcoming a new furry family member to fill your home with fun and companionship?" said Ben Pocock, general manager, shelter and outreach services at the Lost Dogs' Home. "Your perfect match is bound to be here waiting for you." The party, which will go on until 8pm, will also feature summery treats, giveaways, games and activities, with people of all ages welcome. Don't forget that, even though kittens and cats are easy to fall in love with at first sight, they do need years of ongoing cuddles and care, so have a good, long think before bundling a cutie into your arms and rushing off into the sunset. The Meownificent Garden Party takes place at 4pm on January 24 at The Lost Dogs' Home, 2 Gracie Street, North Melbourne. For more information, visit their website.
In 2019, a horrible goose wandered around a quiet village, then chaos ensued — and instigating it became one of the most-entertaining ways to mash buttons. Untitled Goose Game first released in September that year. By the time 2020 hit, more than a million copies had been sold, getting folks controlling a pesky waterfowl with a penchant for trouble. That's honking phenomenal for an indie game out of Melbourne, and it's a feat that the city's Australian Centre for the Moving Image keeps celebrating. After giving Untitled Goose Game the live orchestral treatment back in 2022, the Aussie screen museum is now hosting a world-premiere exhibition dedicated to the title. Honk! Untitled Goose Exhibition will feature different versions of the game from its various development stages that you can play, plus sketches, concept art and design material for attendees to check out. It'll be a lovely five months in Federation Square from Tuesday, September 17, 2024–Sunday, February 16, 2025, and you'll be an adoring Untitled Goose Game fan. Sorry Mario Kart. Move over Tetris. Forget Wii Sports, Pokémon Go, Street Fighter or whatever other title first springs to mind whenever you think about video games. They're all well and good, but they aren't about to take over ACMI like this homegrown hit from House House. If you're new to Untitled Goose Game, it's a puzzle game — and, yes, it's about a goose. You play as the bird, and your aim is to move objects and other characters, and just generally cause mayhem in a small village. No description can really do it justice, though; you just need to play it. While the game has filled oh-so-many hours over the past few years, and gotten its ARIA-nominated original soundtrack by Dan Golding stuck in everyone's heads, Honk! Untitled Goose Exhibition isn't just for diehard gamers. No matter if you know every inch of the game or you're only hearing about it now, you'll be plunged into its world in an interactive showcase that's designed to get you playing. How slapstick factors in, plus the form of comedy's history, is also a big feature. We don't expect that running off with keys, socks, glasses, radios and the like will be a part of it, however. "As a museum of screen culture, video games are at the heart of what we do. Since ACMI's inception, we've been collecting and exhibiting games and bolstering their local creation," said ACMI Director and CEO Seb Chan, announcing Honk! Untitled Goose Exhibition. "Untitled Goose Game is one of Melbourne's most recognisable video-game exports of the past decade. We've been involved from playtesting its early development in the ACMI + RMIT Audience Lab, to presenting a series of live scored events in partnership with Orchestra Victoria. We're honoured to give the goose the exhibition it deserves, revealing to audiences how it was made, and the wider cultural context it has come from." "It's a very strange privilege to see our work commemorated in a public exhibition. Though we design our games to be played by a wide audience, we never imagined that that design process might itself be made accessible within the walls of a gallery," added House House Co-Director Michael McMaster. "It's been such a pleasure working with ACMI to open up our sketchbooks and hard drives and present them to the public like this — we can't imagine a better place to showcase our goose." Honk! Untitled Goose Exhibition will display at ACMI, Federation Square, Flinders St, Melbourne, from Tuesday, September 17, 2024–Sunday, February 16, 2025. For further information, head to ACMI's website.
The rapidly evolving landscape of the Sydney CBD continues to gain international recognition, raking in three nominations at this year's annual awards given by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH). The well-regarded, Chicago-based competition rewards outstanding design, planning and construction of tall buildings, and remains an influencer in future building projects worldwide. The most notable finalist are the International Towers at Barangaroo, which have been shortlisted in the 'Best Tall Building: Asia & Australasia' category. They will compete against eight office buildings and hotels in the region — including four in China, three in Singapore and one in South Korea. If awarded, Barangaroo will then go up against the three additional regional winners from the Americas, Europe and Middle East & Africa categories to be judged for the title of '2018 Best Tall Building Worldwide'. Sydney is not new to this honour, with One Central Park taking home the gold back in 2014. But the plaudits doesn't stop there, with two George Street buildings also in the running for lesser awards. The EY Centre is up for the Best Construction Award, making the final cut with five other buildings from New York City, Salt Lake City and Shenzhen (China). This building already gained national recognition in 2017, winning the Harry Seidler Award for Commercial Architecture at last year's National Architecture Awards. In the Ten Year Award, residential complex Lumiere is a finalist against international designs in the States, the UK, Dubai, China and Bahrain. The award is bestowed on buildings that prove valuable to their cities over a period of time In all categories, the winning projects must display innovative designs that enhance their respective cities. The winners will be announced May 30-31 at the inaugural Tall + Urban Innovation Conference in Chicago, which will celebrate the best in international design innovation, technologies and construction. Via Commercial Real Estate and Architecture AU. Feature image via Wikimedia.
A road trip through the American South is one of those epic, once-in-a-lifetime journeys. It's also the epitome of Americana and offers an unrivalled way to experience the South. The sheer distance between many of the South's most distinctive sights, sounds, culture and history can only be bridged via four wheels, and there's no freedom quite like the one when you take to the road. Your next destination depends only on your interests and how much fuel (or gas, as it's known in the States) is in the tank. In partnership with Travel South USA, we've curated the best routes in each of the South's nine states to accelerate your trip planning. Create an adventure that's entirely your own by linking up different sections of the region's countless routes. Whether you want to cruise through vibrant towns, savour Southern cuisine or catch your breath in the face of awe-inspiring natural scenery, the open road can take you there in the South. Route 66 — Missouri One of America's most iconic highways, driving along Route 66 is a classic American road trip. Affectionately known as "Mother Road", the route covers over 450 kilometres traversing America from east to west, but Missouri's stretch is one of the highway's best segments. Not only will you pass through two of Missouri's largest cities, encounter well-preserved motor courts harkening to a bygone era and enjoy incredibly scenic views, it also takes in some of the Route's most historic attractions and is lined with fascinating landmarks that will have you stopping the car every couple of miles. Music, Marches and Mardi Gras — Alabama The South is and historically has been a region of outsized cultural impact in America — and a road trip through Alabama is one of the best ways to see the history of the US firsthand. Stop in the central cities of Birmingham, Montgomery and Selma, where Dr. Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks made history; in Muscle Shoals where music history was made with recordings by many of America's most influential artists; and in Mobile, which is one of America's oldest cities, the birthplace of Mardi Gras and where you'll find fresh seafood straight out of the Gulf. For miles of powdery white sand, beaches, resorts and plenty of outdoor fun, be sure to stop at Alabama's coastal cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach too. Outer Banks Scenic Byway — North Carolina Extending for over 138 miles (about 220 kilometres), the Outer Banks Scenic Byway follows the barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina. Showcasing the region's scenery and history, you'll drive alongside pristine beaches, windswept dunes and local landmarks. In addition to the charming coastal towns en route, be sure to add these must-sees to your road trip itinerary: Wright Brothers National Memorial, which commemorates where the first flights in heavier-than-air aircrafts took place; Jockey's Ridge, the tallest living sand dune system on the Atlantic coast; Cape Hatteras National Seashore, where you'll find America's tallest lighthouse; and fuel your sightseeing by filling up on oysters along the North Carolina Oyster Trail. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail — Kentucky The American South is the birthplace of bourbon and nowhere is it better to experience that culture than in Bourbon country itself along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. The trail takes you through the state's legendary distilleries, showcasing the craft of bourbon-making. With the option to stop at a few distilleries in the state or at each and every single one, the trail can last anywhere from four days to a whole leisurely month on the road — all while taking in the rest of the sights of Kentucky too. Tennessee Scenic Trails & Byways — Tennessee Tennessee's 95 counties are filled with hidden gems just waiting to be explored. Take the scenic route and embark on any number of the state's 16 self-guided scenic drives. The trails and byways are a breeze to follow — they're well marked by brown signs — and you'll discover captivating attractions, local eateries and noteworthy stops along the way. Highland Scenic Highway — West Virginia Nestled in the Monongahela National Forest, the Highland Scenic Highway is one of the most stunning drives on America's East Coast. Over 43 miles (about 70 kilometres) the route traverses crystal clear rivers and wild forest where native spruce trees tower. This unmissable drive promises panoramic views and adventures in the Potomac Highlands and is one of the best ways to experience West Virginia's natural beauty. [caption id="attachment_988789" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Angela Liguori[/caption] Scenic Highway 11 — South Carolina Named after the Native Americans who once called the South Carolina foothills home, Cherokee Foothills Scenic Byway (South Carolina Highway 11) captures some of the most stunning views of South Carolina's mountains and landscapes. Along the highway, take in views of Table Rock State Park's 350-million-year-old granite dome. Stop along the way for a hike or canoe in the State Park, or continue driving to experience the beautiful Wildcat Branch Falls from the comfort of your car. Natchez Trace Parkway — Mississippi If you've ever wondered where the largest octagonal home in America can be found, the answer lies along the Natchez Trace Parkway at Longwood, a historical home that's listed on the US National Register of Historic Places. Spanning 444 miles (about 715 kilometres) through Mississippi and two other states, the scenic drive includes historical points of interest and passes through lush forest where outdoor adventures such as biking, hiking, birdwatching, picnicking, or camping amidst the state's wilderness await. Great River Road — Louisiana See all of Louisiana along the Great River Road which follows the Mississippi River from north to south. This route is a designated All-American Road, which means it contains features that can't be found anywhere else in America. On this route, you'll find UNESCO sites such as Poverty Point World Heritage Site, where artifacts dating back to 1700–700 BC are still being uncovered; the Frogmore Plantation and Gins, a still-functioning cotton farm that tells story of slavery in the area; the tallest state capitol building in the US in Baton Rouge; and New Orleans where an abundance of museums can be explored alongside world-class venues and restaurants and a thriving live music scene. Find your next adventure in the South. Discover more unforgettable destinations and start planning your trip with Travel South USA.
For years, its beery creations have appeared at leading bottle shops, graced the Good Beer Week lineup and sat among the winners of the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers list. Now, finally, Deeds Brewing will have a taproom and tasting bar to call its own with its Glen Iris brewery set to open to the public from this weekend. Located in a 2600 square metre former mechanics workshop, the new venue will launch on Saturday, June 26. Showing off the results of an extensive six-month makeover, there is room for 150 people across a ground floor and booth-filled mezzanine level, featuring a 20 metre-long bar and a sprawling kitchen. It's a lofty, open, mod-industrial space, offering views of the brewing equipment and fermentation tanks from wherever you sit. A 28-tap lineup will focus largely on Deeds' own house creations, pouring year-round sips like the XPA and Juice Train NEIPA alongside a rotation of seasonal and limited-edition brews. The beers are backed by a curation of local wine, Aussie spirits and cocktails, plus brewery tours and tastings will also be on offer. Head Chef Paul Kasten (Stomping Ground, Host Dining) is delivering a menu that's at once approachable and clever, incorporating both beer and classic beer ingredients throughout. You're in for bites like focaccia teamed with malt butter, hop-cured salmon with creme fraiche and Geraldton wax, chicken wings featuring fish sauce caramel, and brussels sprouts with pale malt and onion cream. Blue Grenadier is coated in a Deeds draught batter then matched with malt vinegar; a wagyu MS9+ blade fillet comes alongside an ale glaze and green chilli harissa; and pork cheeks feature a mole sauce and mizuna (Japanese mustard greens). And if dessert's on the cards, prepare to be won over by the likes of a stout brownie and a malted whipped cheesecake with caramelised puff pastry. Paired with a serve of Deeds' latest dark, malty creation, of course. Find Deeds Taproom & Kitchen at 4 Paran Place, Glen Iris, from Saturday, June 26. It'll be open 5.30–11pm weekdays, and 12–11pm Saturdays and Sundays.
First it was clap lights. Then it was Siri. Then Amazon released the Echo, their wireless voice-activated device. Now, Google (in true Google style) has swept in, taken all these ideas, made them better, and announced their plans to release their own voice-controlled speaker and device: Google Home. Announced at Google's I/O developer conference in California last week, Google Home is a device that isn't meant to be a device, as such. You don't swipe it or tap it — it doesn't even have a screen. Basically, it's a really smart small speaker that can both play music and listen to what you're saying. It's got a series of always-listening far-field mics that can hear you from across the room, so you can ask it questions, control your connected devices and play music and video through Chromecast. It also looks like a giant salt shaker. So it'll blend right in to your benchtop (we assume that was Google's thinking). Home will be integrated with Google Assistant, Google's voice technology (and essentially their version of Siri). Assistant will pull info from the Internet to answer your questions — like 'what's the temperature today?' and 'do you love me, Google Assistant?' — and allow you to have two-way convos with an empty room. Apparently 20 percent of all queries on Google's mobile app and Android devices are voice searches so, y'know, it's a thing. Home is essentially the same product as Amazon Echo, but it looks as though Google's voice technology and sound quality could be of a higher calibre. All remains to be seen. There's no date set as to when Google Home will be available to buy, but you can sign up to get updates on the product here. Via The Next Web.
If you were walking along the street, going about your normal day and happened to spot Timothée Chalamet, you'd likely stop on the spot in astonishment. First, the bad news: the real Little Women, Lady Bird and Call Me By Your Name probably isn't moseying around Melbourne at the moment. Now, the good news: if you head to the corner of Caledonian Lane and Lonsdale Street, you will spy a towering mural of him instead. You won't miss it, actually. You're not meant to — it's part of an eight-building piece that covers 615 square metres, all to mark the release of sci-fi epic Dune in Australian cinemas. The film was initially slated to release in 2020, but has been delayed multiple times due to the pandemic. Come Thursday, December 2, it's finally sending its sandworms and spice wars our way (and, yes, it's completely worth the wait). As Melbourne's new artwork is all about the movie, it also features other cast Dune members — Oscar Isaac (Scenes From a Marriage), Rebecca Ferguson (Reminiscence), Jason Momoa (Aquaman), Javier Bardem (Everybody Knows) and Josh Brolin (Avengers: Endgame) all included. This massive laneway piece took six weeks to create, with six Melbourne artists putting in more than 2000 hours of work and using nearly 1000 litres of paint. Sure, Sydney got a giant Squid Game Red Light, Green Light doll back in October — but who wouldn't rather a huge Timothée Chalamet? Melbourne's Dune murals are currently on display on the corner of Caledonian Lane and Lonsdale Street. Dune opens in Australian cinemas on Thursday, December 2.
When the latest version of Mulan starts its story, it does so with a crucial piece of narration that clearly signals the movie's intentions. "There have been many tales of the great warrior Mulan, but ancestors, this one is mine," Hua Mulan's father Zhou (Tzi Ma, The Farewell) advises the audience. Most viewers know the titular character's name from Disney's 1998 animated musical. The Mouse House is behind this new film, too, as part of its growing stable of live-action remakes of its own past hits (see: everything from Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast to Aladdin and The Lion King). But Mulan circa 2020 isn't interested in slavishly recreating the company's last take on the tale frame by frame, just with flesh and blood rather than illustrations — instead, it's smartly interested in retelling the Chinese legend in a rousing and vibrant way. As first transcribed in the Ballad of Mulan in the sixth century, the story of Hua Mulan holds a considerable place in history — and it is easy to understand why. When her elderly and ailing father is conscripted to serve in the Imperial Army, with no son of an acceptable age to take his place, Mulan steals his armour and sneaks off to join the forces for him. To do so, she disguises herself as a man, which none of her colleagues or superiors suspect. The fact that she has considerable martial arts, swordplay and archery skills assists, of course, but Mulan's kindly subterfuge sees her become a formidable and respected warrior who helps save her kingdom. With Whale Rider and The Zookeeper's Wife's Niki Caro in the director's chair, Mulan covers the expected tale; it wouldn't be a Mulan movie otherwise. But this story first fought its way across the big screen in a 1927 silent film, and has been no stranger to the page, stage or cinema over the past 93 years — so just repeating the 1998 movie really would've been the laziest option. Accordingly, the feature's four writers (Jurassic World's Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, plus Christmas Perfection's Elizabeth Martin and Lauren Hynek) aren't afraid to wrangle their own version of the narrative, and Caro doesn't shy away from imparting a specific tone and focus either. Where its animated predecessor played the situation in a lighthearted but still respectful manner (think: talking dragons, cricket sidekicks and lively songs about arranged marriage), this iteration adopts a weightier mood, stressing the significance of its protagonist's journey at every turn. Cue details both familiar and new, including ditching the aforementioned Eddie Murphy-voiced dragon for a symbolism-laden (and mute) phoenix, scrapping the romantic subplot with Mulan's commander and delving into the treatment of women in multiple ways. As the Emperor's (Jet Li) military battles invading northerners led by the revenge-seeking Böri Khan (Jason Scott Lee, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny), Mulan (Liu Yifei, Once Upon a Time) not only fights alongside her peers and tries to keep her secret from her mentor (Donnie Yen, the IP Man franchise) and her rival (Yoson An, Mortal Engines), but also comes up against shapeshifting sorceress Xianniang (Gong Li, Memoirs of a Geisha). Mulan isn't very subtle about juxtaposing the two women's plights — nuance is rarely Disney's specialty — but the comparison is always moving. And, with Liu serving up a quieter, more stoic performance and Gong getting a showier part as the outcast on the other side, they offer something that the company's movies aren't always known for: multiple visions of femininity, even in a story that literally tasks its lead with pretending to be male. As a result, Mulan feels like it's forging its own path even when it does hit recognisable notes, either from the 1998 film or from general cinematic tropes. Its central figure is given an almost superhero-esque origin story, involving her innate ability, or qi, because Disney is also the home of Marvel and Star Wars — but in charting her quest to succeed, the film never merely drums to the requisite beats. This version of Mulan was always going to heighten the inspirational angle, too, to rightly reflect today's attitudes; however the emotions it earns are genuine. When a coming-of-age story about a determined young woman defying the shackles of her gender and her culture in a groundbreaking way is treated thoughtfully and intelligently, it's always going to evoke a reaction. While viewers will be watching Mulan on a small-screen — after the feature was originally scheduled to play in cinemas in March, had its date delayed several times until July and August due to COVID-19, then opted for a streaming release via Disney+ instead — there's no missing the movie's visible spectacle, too. Australian cinematographer Mandy Walker (The Mountain Between Us, Hidden Figures) delivers a sweeping feast of lush imagery across a plethora of landscapes, and lenses energetic wuxia-inspired combat action as well. Indeed, this is one of Disney's most sumptuous-looking remakes, and one of its better examples in general anyway. The chasm between the company's best do-overs (Pete's Dragon, The Jungle Book) and its worst (Alice in Wonderland, particularly) is considerable, but this big-hearted, captivating and striking film easily falls into the first category. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK8FHdFluOQ Mulan is available to stream via Disney+ from Friday, September 4, for an extra price of AU$34.99/NZD$39.99 on top of your regular Disney+ subscription. It'll join the service for no extra fee from December 4. Top image: Jasin Boland. © 2019 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
There are few things in this world more disappointing than turning 11 and not receiving your letter of acceptance to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. JK Rowling promised us more than that. There were supposed to be magic feasts, potions and robes we could splay out like bats. Learning the fact that this world was forever out of our reach was worse than our grief for Santa, the tooth fairy and the Easter Bunny combined. Now — though it may be several years too late — the creation of a new Massive Online Open Course (MOOC) promises a little restitution. Hogwarts is Here operates in exactly the same way as online universities (meaning it's the closest thing to legit we're ever going to get). The course offers nine-week classes that reportedly allow you to "progress through all seven years of schooling and be assigned a professor, homework assignments, quizzes and more". HiH has all your basics covered: after setting up an account at Gringotts and getting your textbooks from a virtual Diagon Alley, you can study everything from Transfiguration, Charms and Herbology to the all-important Defence Against the Dark Arts. Assignments are graded and, according to this student at Slate, it's harder to get Hermoine-level grades than you might first think. Of course, this isn't the first attempt to connect us to the wizarding world via virtual means. The official (read: copyright protected) Harry Potter online experience, Pottermore, has been around since 2009. However, with its primary focus on online roleplay, it's had mixed reviews. HiH allows users to stop with that fantasy crap and get down to some serious study. Sure, there are house dormitories and common rooms, but now that your childhood dreams have finally come true it's ultimately time to knuckle down and work. You owe it to your 11-year-old self.
It was a busy year for St Kilda's historic pubs in 2018. At the end of November, The Espy reopened after three years behind closed doors and a mighty reno. Then, the new-look Prince of Wales Hotel launched its restaurant. In 2016, Melbourne businessman Gerry Ryan and his son Andrew took over management of the pub — now just The Prince Hotel — and have since overseen a multimillion-dollar makeover, in with Melbourne's IF Architecture. Located on the second level of the spruced-up St Kilda haunt, Prince Dining Room has taken over the space previously home to Circa, which closed its doors after 20 years in 2017. In the kitchen, Executive Chef Dan Hawkins (Stokehouse, Circa and Longrain) and Head Chef Dan Cooper (Circa and Garden State Hotel) are creating a Mediterranean menu, showcasing local, sustainable and ethical ingredients from local markets, the St Kilda Veg Out garden and a network of producers, growers and fishermen. Make your may through a selection of skewers and flatbreads — like Flinders Island lamb with fermented chilli, and prawns with sesame, lemon and coriander — or a main, such as the woodfired turmeric chicken with pickled ginger, and add a bunch of sides. The lineup of smaller bites includes options like baby cabbage with prawn butter, and woodfired zucchini with feta, almond and ras el hanout (Moroccan spice mix). As you can probably tell from the aforementioned dishes, there's an emphasis on cooking with fire in the Prince Dining Room kitchen."Fire causes changes in flavour, texture and appearance, to provide a unique final product that cannot be replicated by other means," said Hawkins in a statement. Cocktails do not use fire, but are instead fruit-driven with colourful concoctions like the Jackie & Jess featuring grapefruit juice and thyme syrup, and the bourbon-heavy Louis Li a mix of Aperol, amaro and lemon juice. A succinct list of local and international beers and wines — including a few quality $10-a-glass drops — rounds out the drinks list. In coming up with the design, IF Architecture wanted to respect the building's Art Deco architecture and historical significance, while also adding more light and space. The centrepiece is an oval black steel bar, while eclectic seating — made by local and Italian artisans from metal, wrought iron and wood — and soft, curvaceous banquettes in brown, pink and green hues surround it. Images: Gareth Sobey.
"Well sir, there's no easy way to say this. Your wife isn't who she says she is." So starts the just-dropped full trailer for the fifth season of Fargo, the anthology TV show inspired by the big-screen Coen brothers masterpiece. Spinning blackly comedic crime tales just like the movie, this series charts a different caper with each go-around — and enlists a different cast, too — with the wife being spoken about here played by Ted Lasso's Juno Temple. Like season one, two and the movie, Fargo season five spends its time in Minnesota and North Dakota. The year: 2019. Dorothy 'Dot' Lyon (Temple) is the otherwise-ordinary person falling afoul of the law, or so it seems. Indeed, as her husband Wayne (David Rysdahl, Oppenheimer) learns, she not an average Midwestern housewife. And, as also seen in two prior sneak peeks, there's plenty more to this story. With Jon Hamm (Good Omens) also starring as Roy Tillman, the North Dakota Sheriff (and preacher) on Dot's trail, this tale is set to get twisty fast — and also include a heap of other familiar faces. Joining Temple, Hamm and Rysdahl: Jennifer Jason Leigh (Hunters), Joe Keery (Stranger Things), Lamorne Morris (Woke), Richa Moorjani (Never Have I Ever), Sam Spruell (The Gold) and Dave Foley (The Kids in the Hall). In a case of spectacular casting, Keery will put his famous hair to good use as Tillman's son Gator, in a franchise that also loves unpacking the ties of blood that bind and cause chaos. Spruell plays a drifter who is enlisted to help on the search for Dot, while Leigh hops onboard as Wayne's mother, aka the 'Queen of Debt' thanks to being a debt collection company CEO — and Foley plays her in-house counsel. Among the cops, there's Moorjani as a deputy from Minnesota and Morris as a North Dakota counterpart. Oh you betcha there's accents, crime capers, dedicated cops, and people doing dark deeds for selfish reasons and then getting karmic comeuppance, with Fargo season five arriving in Australia via SBS On Demand on Wednesday, November 22. 2023 marks almost a decade since writer, director and producer Noah Hawley leapt from Bones, The Unusuals and My Generation to diving back into crime in often-frosty American places with sly laughs. The first two seasons arrived back to back in 2014 and 2015, with season three then following in 2017 and season four in 2020. Now, after another three-year gap, the show returns with another new story and cast, but still set in the same world as the Fargo movie. Check out the full trailer for Fargo season five below: Fargo season five will start streaming via SBS On Demand on Wednesday, November 22. Images: Michelle Faye/FX.
When it comes to spooking cinemagoers, A24 has a mighty fine track record. The Witch, Hereditary, Midsommar and In Fabric sit among its on-screen nightmares, and X, Bodies Bodies Bodies and Pearl as well. The latest film on the independent film and TV company's list is Talk to Me, which is clearly joining immensely impressive company. It also slips into another category: flicks that make it nerve-shreddingly plain that no one should ever mess with the dead. Whether they're zombies or vampires, or ghosts haunting various abodes, or spirits possessing people or dolls, little good ever seems to arise when someone — or, in this case a group of folks — decides not to let the deceased remain deceased. Of course, if people did heed this advice, we wouldn't have anywhere near as many scary flicks to watch, including this Australian effort. A24 has found its latest frightfest Down Under, with Talk to Me stemming from Adelaide-born twins Danny and Michael Philippou. They're also known as RackaRacka, which you might know from the YouTube channel, and this is their feature debut. A word of warning: if you're not a horror person — and, generally, you either are or you aren't — then neither the initial trailer nor the just-dropped new sneak peak is for you. Based on a concept by Bluey producer Daley Pearson, Talk to Me's premise is horror 101, but it doesn't feel like that for a second in its glimpses so far. This eerie affair is all about conjuring up spirits using an embalmed hand — because what else would you use a mummified appendage for? It starts as a game between friends, another scary-movie staple, then opens the door to the spirit world. Starring Sophie Wilde (The Portable Door), Miranda Otto (The Clearing), Zoe Terakes (Nine Perfect Strangers), Otis Dhanji (June Again), Chris Alosio (Millie Lies Low) and Alexandra Jensen (Joe vs Carole), Talk to Me enjoyed its world premiere at the 2022 Adelaide Film Festival, and has kept doing the rounds from there. Sundance, Berlin, SXSW, Overlook: it's scared them all since. The movie will hit general release on July 27 in Australia and New Zealand. The film's soundtrack is a drawcard, too, including New Zealand hip-hop collective SWIDIT — plus tracks from Lucianblomkamp, IJAE, Sia, Takara, ONEFOUR and The Kid Laroi. Composer Cornel Wilczek (Clickbait) takes care of the score. Check out the latest trailer for Talk to Me below: Talk to Me opens in Australian and New Zealand cinemas on July 27, 2023.
Let the games begin — again. Following a three-year wait since its award-winning first season, and after teasing the show's 2024 return since January, Squid Game will start playing again on Boxing Day. If you usually spend the day after Christmas shopping, at the cinema or recovering from your food coma by trying to play backyard cricket, you now have other plans if you want to catch the next instalment of the South Korean thriller ASAP. Netflix has not only advised when its huge 2021 hit — one of the best new TV programs of that year, in fact — will finally make a comeback, but has also announced that there's even more in store. After Squid Game season two arrives on Thursday, December 26, 2024, Squid Game season three will drop sometime in 2025. There's no exact date for the latter as yet, but it will be the final season, closing out the Squid Game story. The streaming platform revealed both pieces of news with a date announcement teaser that features a running track, competitors in recognisable green tracksuits, and also-familiar folks in red watching on alongside the masked Front Man — and with a letter from series director, writer and executive producer Hwang Dong-hyuk. "I am beyond excited to be writing this letter to announce the date for season two and share the news of season three, the final season," said Hwang. "Seong Gi-hun, who vowed revenge at the end of season one, returns and joins the game again. Will he succeed in getting his revenge? Front Man doesn't seem to be an easy opponent this time, either. The fierce clash between their two worlds will continue into the series finale with season three, which will be brought to you next year." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Netflix US (@netflix) So, yes, season one's protagonist Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae, The Acolyte) is back. So is his nemesis (Lee Byung-hun, The Magnificent Seven). If you're wondering what else is in store after the hefty gap — Squid Game was such a huge smash in it first season that Netflix confirmed at the beginning of 2022 that more was on the way, and also released a teaser trailer for it the same year, before announcing its new cast members in 2023 — a few further details were dropped earlier in the year. That's when Netflix previously unveiled a brief snippet of Squid Game season two, arriving in a broader trailer for Netflix's slate for the year — as it releases every 12 months. In the footage, Seong Gi-hun answers a phone call while at the airport sporting his newly crimson locks. He's soon told "you're going to regret the choice you've made". Cue his statement of vengeance; Squid Game meets John Wick, anyone? Wi Ha-joon (Little Women) is back as detective Hwang Jun-ho, as is Gong Yoo (Train to Busan) as the man in the suit who got Gi-hun into the game in the first place. A show about a deadly competition that has folks battling for ridiculous riches comes with a hefty bodycount, which means that new faces were always going to be essential in Squid Game season two — so that's where Yim Si-wan (Emergency Declaration), Kang Ha-neul (Insider), Park Sung-hoon (The Glory) and Yang Dong-geun (Yaksha: Ruthless Operations) all come in. If you somehow missed all things Squid Game when it premiered, even after it became bigger than everything from Stranger Things to Bridgerton, the Golden Globe- and Emmy-winning series serves up a puzzle-like storyline and unflinching savagery, which unsurprisingly makes quite the combination. It also steps into societal divides within South Korea, a topic that wasn't invented by Parasite, Bong Joon-ho's excellent Oscar-winning 2019 thriller, but has been given a boost after that stellar flick's success. Accordingly, it's easy to see thematic and narrative parallels between Parasite and Squid Game, although Netflix's highly addictive series goes with a Battle Royale and Hunger Games-style setup. Here, 456 competitors are selected to work their way through six seemingly easy children's games. They're all given numbers and green tracksuits, they're competing for 45.6 billion won, and it turns out that they've also all made their way to the contest after being singled out for having enormous debts. Netflix turned the show's whole premise into an IRL competition series as well, which debuted in 2023 — without any murders, of course. Squid Game: The Challenge has already been picked up for a second season. Check out Netflix's season two date announcement clip for Squid Game season below: Squid Game season two will stream via Netflix from Thursday, December 26, 2024. Season three will arrive in 2025 — we'll update you when an exact release date for it is announced. Images: Netflix.
The World's 50 Best Bars list was just announced in Hong Kong, with two Australian hot spots taking out impressive rankings. Sydney's Maybe Sammy affirmed its position as Australia's most consistently awarded bar on the list, while Melbourne's Caretaker's Cottage improved its previous ranking. The annual list, which has been operating since 2009, is curated from the votes of The World's 50 Best Bars Academy, which includes expert bartenders, consultants, specialists and drinks writers. The list, as voted for by more than 800 experts across the world, represents an international guide to the best bars and drinking destinations globally. The inclusion on the list this year, at number 42, marks seven consecutive years for Sydney bar Maybe Sammy. The bar, co-founded by Vince Lombardo and Stefano Catino in 2019, has garnered an impressive array of national and international awards since its opening, including being named Best Bar in Australasia five times by The World's 50 Best Bars. Catino says, "For seven years, we've proudly put Sydney on the global cocktail map, and that consistency means everything to us. Australia is one of the best food and drink destinations in the world, and we're honoured to be part of it. Thank you to everyone who voted — it truly means the world." Caretaker's Cottage, tucked away in Wesley Place precinct in a historic bluestone building, is no doubt one of Melbourne's favourite and most awarded bars. It can now add another notch in its belt, being ranked number 19 on the list, and taking out the Best Bar in Australasia award for 2025. The World's 50 Best Bars List says of the petite-sized Melbourne hotspot, "Beneath the skyscrapers in the middle of the Melbourne CBD, there's a small, humble-looking place that was once the residence of the caretaker of the church next door. It's here you'll find a small team taking care of the thirsty, the tired and those in need of a good time…the real feat they've achieved in a small place is ensuring that — despite being Melbourne's busiest cocktail bar — every guest feels like they've found a place of their own." In another impressive feat that puts Aussies on the world stage, the double-concept venue Tigra (downstairs) and Disco Pantera (upstairs) were honoured with the Best Bar Design Award 2025. Feels like a drink is in order all round. Images: Mario Francisco. All this talk of drinks got you feeling like a bar crawl? Check out the best bars in Melbourne — weekend plans sorted.
The retro vibes are high at Leonard's House of Love, a log cabin-themed dive bar off Chapel Street in South Yarra. One part Twin Peaks and one part ski trip-party, Leonard's is run by the same team behind Ramblr: Guy Bentley, Mark Catsburg, Nick Stanton and Jon Harper. And the four are about to add another notch to their belts, opening a new pizza joint north of the river in Carlton. Leonardo's Pizza Palace will make its home in a very old building at 29 Grattan Street. The owners plan to keep the bones of the original structure intact, which include some pretty "epic" stained glass windows. They want the restaurant to feel like it's been there for a very long — Italian-mobster-length of — time. Despite its historic location, the venue will continue the casual party-bar vibe that's well-known to the team's other establishments. In terms of food, obviously pizza is the name of the game. Though they're still deciding on an exact menu, it'll be about classic Italian-American style pizza — and we'd bet our bottom dollar this means there'll be pepperoni somewhere. Considering where they've chosen to take up residence – in the midst of Melbourne's competitive Italian dining precinct around Lygon Street – we bet it'll also be pretty good. Leonardo's Pizza Palace is slated to open at 29 Gratten Street, Carlton in the summer of 2018. For further updates, check the Leonard's House of Love Instagram.
It added booze to bowling, turned mini-golf courses into bars, and gave mashing buttons and hitting the arcade an alcohol-fuelled makeover as well. That'd be Funlab — and, if you like indulging your inner kidult over a few drinks, odds are that you've hit up its venues such as Strike, Holey Moley, Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq, and B Lucky and Sons over the past few years. That's the company's remit, after all: taking the kinds of activities that you enjoyed back when you weren't old enough to knock back cocktails, then adding the hard stuff. And, that's exactly what it's doing at Hijinx Hotel, its next venture. No, you can't stay there — but the world-first concept will see you hanging out in a space that's been decked out like a hotel, and then solving mental and physical puzzles as you wander through it. Funlab has dubbed Hijinx Hotel a 'challenge room hotel'. So, each of its 15 rooms will be filled with challenges for you to work through — with points awarded for how well you do within four minutes. Some rooms will see you play Twister or The Floor is Lava. Others will be decked out like the Titanic. There's one called the cereal ball pool room as well, which sounds chaotic. Basically, if you're a bit of a sleuth or you're never known to turn down a dare, you'll be in luck. Set to open in Alexandria in Sydney on June 3, Hijinx Hotel aims to riff on the escape room concept — but serve up fun that's far less stressful. Design-wise, it will look still like a hotel, even if you can't slumber there. There'll be a faux hotel reception and all, and the venue will take its aesthetic cues from the likes of The Grand Budapest Hotel and Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. Based on the renders so far, there's also a bit of an Overlook Hotel vibe — but sorry, The Shining fans, this new hangout isn't meant to be sinister. And yes, obviously there's a bar. Actually, there'll be three. Exactly what'll be on the menu hasn't yet been revealed, but expect booze and bites to eat. Whether you're a Sydneysider now planning your next stint of kidulting or you live elsewhere and you're making plans for a trip to the Harbour City, Hijinx Hotel visitors will find the venue alongside a huge new Holey Moley that'll feature 27 holes — including some that are ten times the size of those at other spots. And if you're wondering exactly where both newcomers will sit, they're joining the location that currently boasts Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq. Usually, Funlab launches its new concepts in one city, then shares the love across other east coast capitals. So Melburnians and Brisbanites, cross your fingers that Hijinx Hotel will eventually pop up closer to home. Find Hijinx Hotel at 75 O'Riordan Street, Alexandria, Sydney, from June 3 — we'll update you with further details when they're announced. For further information about Funlab, head to the company's website.
Beau is afraid. Beau is anxious. Beau is alone. Beau is alive. Any of these three-word sentences would make a fitting name for Ari Aster's third feature, which sees its titular middle-aged figure not just worry about anything and everything, but watch his fears come true, concerns amplify and alienation grow — and then some. And, in the Hereditary and Midsommar filmmaker's reliably dread-inducing hands, no matter whether Beau (Joaquin Phoenix, C'mon C'mon) is wallowing in his apartment solo, being welcomed into someone else's family or stumbling upon a travelling theatre troupe in the woods, he knows that he's truly on his own in this strange, sad, surreal and savage world, too. More than that, he's well-aware that this is what life is inescapably like for all of us, regardless of how routine, chaotic or grand our individual journeys from emerging out of our mother's womb to sinking into death's eternal waters happen to prove. Aster has opted for Beau Is Afraid as a moniker, with this horror-meets-tragicomedy mind-bender a filmic ode to existential alarm — and, more than that, a picture that turns catastrophising into a feature. Psychiatrists will have a field day; however, experiencing the latest in the writer/director's growing line of guilt-dripping celluloid nightmares, so should viewers in general. Even with Chilean The Wolf House helmers Cristóbal León and Joaquin Cosiña lending their help to the three-hour movie's midsection, where animation adds another dreamlike dimension to a picture book-style play within an already fantastical-leaning flick frequently running on dream logic, Aster embraces his favourite deranged terrain again. He makes bold choices, doesn't think twice about challenging himself and his audience, elicits a stunning lead performance and dances with retina-searing imagery, all while pondering inherited trauma, the emotional ties that bind and the malevolence that comes with dependence. Death, the bonds of blood, life's onslaught of damage, long-kept secrets, wild and weird groups, odd rituals, unnerving altercations: yes, they're all present and accounted for in Beau Is Afraid as well; yes, this is unshakeably and unmistakably an Aster joint. When he slides into suburbia in the second act, he also gets as Lynchian as he ever has — that Beau Is Afraid springs from a ravenous mind fed a diet of Eraserhead, Twin Peaks and Inland Empire isn't in doubt long before Mariah Carey's earworm 'Always Be My Baby' scores a Blue Velvet-esque spin. Charlie Kaufman's Synecdoche, New York and Anomalisa, Darren Aronofsky's mother!, Richard Kelly's Southland Tales: they're equally among this movie's melange of peers, ambitious and impressive company that offers a litmus test for viewers. Swimming through someone else's mindscape is never easy, after all, and doesn't Aster love sharing that feeling. Beau Wassermann is an average Joe with a rundown flat in a dilapidated neighbourhood, his therapist (Stephen McKinley Henderson, Causeway) on speed dial, and O'Loha frozen dinners — an incredulous mix of Hawaiian and Irish cuisines — for sustenance. He's also the son of a wealthy and controlling businesswoman, Mona (played by American Horror Story's Patti LuPone, plus The Craft: Legacy director Zoe Lister-Jones in flashbacks), another mainstay on his call list (Moviefone, the US number for obtaining cinema session information that's been defunct since 2014, is another). And, he's wracked with stress whenever he leaves his house, which doesn't seem that far-fetched given there's a nude killer dubbed 'Birthday Boy Stab Man' by the news on the loose. That said, after Beau Is Afraid shows its namesake's birth from his perspective, obligatory slap on the rear and all, then meets him nearing 50 and nervous about a trip home, he's just fretful all the time anyway. Thanks to an escalating series of unfortunate events — another string of words that could've doubled as Beau Is Afraid's title; Disappointment Blvd was the actual original moniker — the basis for that apprehension is similarly swiftly apparent. From the tiniest minutiae to the biggest change, Beau's existence keeps getting worse, then bleaker still, then even more grim and hopeless. He's prescribed anti-anxiety pills that he's told absolutely must be taken with water, but doesn't have any and his building's supply is shut off. When he sprints to the convenience store across the road, everyone on his crime-riddled street slips into his apartment and trashes it. Aster begins Beau's malaise in the everyday, but becomes hellish quickly, a pattern constantly repeated when he's hit by a van and taken in by the married Grace and Roger (Only Murders in the Building co-stars Amy Ryan and Nathan Lane), watches that aforementioned theatre production, reflects upon his time as a teenager (Armen Nahapetian, NCIS) on a cruise holiday falling for his first crush (Julia Antonelli, Outer Banks) and seeks answers about his father. In only his second on-screen role since winning an Oscar for Joker, Phoenix plays Beau with deeply internalised sorrow, so much so that spying his shoulders do anything but slump in the character's uniform of pyjamas seems like the most fanciful thing that could happen — and this is a movie overflowing with eccentric, imaginative and absurd touches. It's a fascinating performance, both vulnerable and primal at once, as situations exceeding Beau's foulest terrors keep bubbling. Crucially, whether Beau Is Afraid is in Freudian and Oedipal mode, or bringing Misery or Station Eleven or Lord of the Rings to mind in Aster's unceasingly distinctive way, or having its central figure wrestle naked in the bath, Phoenix is committed to the ride and to being the everyman. He's in an often bitingly funny black comedy as much as he's in a horror flick, and he's both game and empathetic as Beau overtly endeavours yet struggles to keep it together. Ideally, no one watching is discovering intruders perched above their baths and monsters in attics, but they'll always understand Beau's panic, shame, dismay and humiliation. Of course, when Aster gets amusing, it's in largely while getting so distressing that you really can only laugh, as Beau's mushrooming plight forever is. If every possible development in your life is always the most miserable, what else are you meant to do? That's Beau Is Afraid in a smart, dark, cerebral, gut-punching, hope-crushing, relatable, hilarious and horrific nutshell. Aster packs in humour wherever he can, though, demanding the utmost attention to his returning Hereditary and Midsommar cinematographer Pawel Pogorzelski's purposefully disorienting frames for slapstick silliness, dick jokes and brief flashes of background wordplay (Asstral Projection and Erection Injection are the names of the peepshows next to Beau's building, for instance). Beau is afraid of it all, and teeming with anxiety over it. He's alone in it all, but that's what being alive is. It'd be the film's biggest surprise if Aster wasn't chuckling — and having the ultimate fever dream.
Some stories just can't stay away from the screen, and Cinderella is one of them. Filmmakers have been drawn to the fairy tale since the silent era, resulting in beloved animated flicks, playful takes on the tale such as Ever After and Ella Enchanted, and Disney's 2015 live-action adaptation. Arriving next: a new musical that combines glass slippers and pining for a better life with singing, dancing and a fairy godparent named Fab G — with the latter played by Pose's Billy Porter. This version of Cinderella stars singer Camila Cabello as the titular character, while The Craft: Legacy's Nicholas Galitzine plays Prince Robert. Also popping up: Idina Menzel (Frozen II) as Cinders' stepmother, Minnie Driver (Starstruck) and Pierce Brosnan (Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga) as the king and queen, and Romesh Ranganathan (Staged) and James Corden (The Prom) as both footmen and mice. The latter is a producer, too, and came up with the idea for the film, while Pitch Perfect writer and Blockers helmer Kay Cannon sits in the director's chair. Clearly, if a new version of Cinderella doesn't hit the screen every few years, Hollywood must turn into a pumpkin. While musical takes on the tale aren't new — see also: the stage version that's about to hit Australia — this one is set to feature pop songs. So, you'll be seeing Cabello, Menzel and company singing tracks you know, as well as crooning their own new original tunes. Just how that'll turn out will be revealed on Amazon Prime Video on Friday, September 3, with the film originally slated for a cinema release, but then snapped up by the streaming platform instead. In the just-dropped first trailer, there's plenty of songs, colour and also humour. "Do you want to go to that ball?" asks Fab G at the end of the clip, to which Cinders replies: "yes, I was just crying and singing about it like two minutes ago". Check out the Cinderella trailer below: Cinderella will be available to stream via Amazon Prime Video from Friday, September 3. Top image: Christopher Raphael
It's the best action movie of this century. The best Australian flick of the same period, too. And, it's one of the very best in general as well. But, because the arid expanse that usually surrounds Broken Hill was too green when filming took place, six-time Oscar-winner Mad Max: Fury Road was actually shot overseas. That won't be the case with its follow up Furiosa, though. Focusing on a younger version of the character played by Charlize Theron in Fury Road, Furiosa is actually a prequel — and it'll begin filming in New South Wales in June this year. The Queen's Gambit lead Anya Taylor-Joy will be stepping into the formidable figure's shoes, and starring opposite Chris Hemsworth. Watchmen's Yahya Abdul Mateen II will also feature and, although no other cast members have yet to be announced, it's safe to expect that plenty of local faces will pop up as well. It has been six years since Fury Road first motored its way across the big screen, so Furiosa can't arrive soon enough. Exactly when the latter will actually hit cinemas is yet to be revealed, but it'll do so after a relatively short gap by Mad Max standards. If you feel like you've been waiting for ages to see the franchise continue, it's worth remembering that there was a 30-year gap between 1985's not-so-great Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome and Fury Road's triumphant arrival in 2015. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced the news today, Monday, April 19, noting that the shoot "is expected to support more than 850 local jobs and bring in around $350 million into the NSW economy". And while it's all good and well that the Mad Max series is continuing, that it'll be shot in Australia and that it has quite an impressive cast, that'd really mean nothing if director George Miller wasn't involved. Thankfully, he'll be back behind the lens, as he has been on 1979's Mad Max, 1981's Mad Max 2, and both Beyond Thunderdome and Fury Road as well. Obviously, a sneak peek of Furiosa won't be available for quite some time given that it hasn't even begun shooting yet, but you can relive Fury Road's glory in its trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEJnMQG9ev8 Furiosa will start filming in NSW in June. Exactly when the film will hit cinemas hasn't yet been revealed, but we'll update you with details when they're announced
The Marvel Cinematic Universe's 22nd film might be called Endgame, but we all know there's more where it came from. Of course there is. In July, Spider-Man: Far From Home will swing into cinemas, continuing the MCU and the story of everyone's favourite friendly neighbourhood web-slinger (the Tom Holland version — sorry Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield fans). If you haven't seen Endgame, and you're averse to spoilers, we're not going to tell you anything that isn't already widely known. Far From Home has been in the works since 2017's immensely fun Spider-Man: Homecoming proved a hit, it released its first teaser back in January and it's officially considered the end of the MCU's phase three. But if you don't want to know what follows on from the huge Avengers showdown that's currently in cinemas, then you definitely won't want to watch Far From Home's new trailer. Consider this an official spoiler warning — something that the trailer itself includes at the start. Yes, really. By getting Holland to deliver the caution to camera, Marvel and Spider-Man distributor Sony shows it clearly has a sense of humour, especially since the young star is known for being loose-lipped with important MCU details. Picking up where Endgame left off, Far From Home sees Peter Parker pondering what the end of its immediate predecessor means, all while he's headed to Europe with his friends. Step up for the good of the world, or pursue his crush on MJ (Zendaya)? They're some of Spidey's options. Once again directed by Jon Watts, who helmed Homecoming, the movie also features Jake Gyllenhaal as Mysterio — as well as familiar faces in the form of Marisa Tomei as Aunt May, Jacob Batalon as Parker's best friend Ned, and Jon Favreau as Happy Hogan. Oh, and because it's an MCU film, Samuel L Jackson as well. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFoz8ZJWmPs Spider-Man: Far From Home releases in Australian cinemas on July 4.
If you're fond of cats big and small — fluffy, hair-free, scampering, sleeping and the like — then you'll know one golden rule: every day is better when there's meowing mousers involved. And, maybe you've secured that sweet situation thanks to your own purring pet. Or, perhaps you're just the kind of person who makes a beeline to any kitten they see, tries to become its best friend and can't focus on anything else while it's in the vicinity. Whichever fits, adding more cats to your day is something that every feline fan wants — and it's definitely a part of the Cat Protection Society of Victoria's new dream gig. It's a volunteer job, spanning a three-month stint in Melbourne, but it'll 100-percent bring kittens your way. The role: CPSV's official 'cat cuddler'. Yes, that's really what it's called. Obviously, what it entails is rather self-explanatory — because the lucky person who scores the position will be tasked with providing love, affection and enrichment to the cats and kittens in the society's care as they wait to be adopted. The word you're looking for? "Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww". This is the organisation that offered cat cuddling gift vouchers as Christmas gifts last year, after all — but this is even cuter. The caveats: you'll need to be in Melbourne to take the gig, and you'll need to have a minimum of three hours per week — on one weekday each week, and during normal operating hours — to head to CPSV's adoption centre to give its kitties all those snuggles. If that sounds like you — or if you've got a pussy-loving pal that you know would love it — all applicants have until Friday, June 4 to apply to temporarily join the society's team of around 40 volunteers. To throw your name in the ring, you'll want to head to the CPSV website and upload a short video (up to two minutes max) that explains why you should be the official Cat Protection Society Cat Cuddler, and also complete the online application form. To apply for the Cat Protection Society of Victoria's 'cat cuddler' position before Friday, June 4, head to the organisation's website.
Last night, the best chefs in the world descended on the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore for the annual World's 50 Best celebrations. And while there were plenty of Australians present at the awards — including the event's host, Australian journalist and TV personality Annabel Crabb — no local restaurants made the top 50. Australia's highest ranking restaurant was Attica in Melbourne, which came in at number 84 in the long list announced last week. Fellow Victorian Brae also came in at 101. This year, the list expanded to 120 for the first (and only) time, as a one-off nod to San Pellegrino's (the award's primary sponsor) 120th anniversary. The top five restaurants for 2019 were dramatically different from previous years as former World's 50 Best winners — including Eleven Madison Park and Osteria Francescana — were barred from the list, and instead added to a 'Best of the Best' lineup. The top gong, for the first time in the event's 17-year history, went to a French restaurant: Mirazur. Run by Argentinian-born chef Mauro Colagreco, whose cooking is also inspired by his Italian grandparents, Mirazur is located in an old 1930s villa in the French Riviera, near the Italian border. And, we're guessing it's going to be pretty hard to get a booking there for the next little while — so, we suggest planning a French vacay for 2020 (or beyond). Rounding out the top five were Copenhagen's Noma at number two, which reopened in a new space with a new seasonal menu last year; Spain's Asador Etxebarri at number three; the soon-to-close Gaggan in Bangkok at number four; and fellow Danish restaurant Geranium at five. Other new and notable additions to this year's list include a first-time inclusion for Dominique Crenn's famed San Francisco spot Atelier Crenn and NY's Cosme, by the 2019 Best Female Chef Daniela Soto-Innes, which was the highest ranked US restaurant. https://www.instagram.com/p/BzI0i_OlDGg/ The winning restaurants were chosen by a 1000-strong global voting panel which, for the first time, had an equal gender balance. Five restaurants led by females made the top 50, the same number as last year. You can check out the full list of the World's 50 Best Restaurants here and read more about the long list here. First image: Mirazur by Nicolas Lobbestael.
After an unseasonably warm winter, anyone who has been outside this month will have noticed the trend continuing, with Sydney's weather seeming to forget that spring comes before summer. Indeed, fresh from experiencing one of the hottest winter days on record, the city has just hit the same milestone when it comes to September evenings. Earlier this week, Weatherzone predicted that the temperature would reach sweltering heights this weekend, and they weren't wrong. Overnight, the mercury didn't dip below 26 degrees, ready for a high of 33 degrees today. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that when the temperature did make it to 25.7 minimum this morning, it still eclipsed the September record by 3.7 degrees. And, the records keep coming. The September high for the entire state was broken yesterday according to the ABC, with temperatures topping out at 40.5 degrees in Wilcannia in western New South Wales. With White Cliffs and Bourke, the town became the first in the state to venture over 40 degrees during September. Just over the border, Mildura hit the highest temperature ever recorded in Victoria during September, making it to 37.7 degrees. https://twitter.com/weatherzone/status/911539706302676993 Things are expected to cool down on Monday, for those in need of a reprieve — aka everyone. For now, total fire bans are in place across large parts of the state. And if you're feeling some anxiety about global warming, and what the rest of the year holds in store, that's completely understandable. We've said it before and we'll say it again: best grab a fan now; it's going to get quite the workout. By Sarah Ward. Via ABC / Sydney Morning Herald.
Everyone has heard about — or tried to eat their way through — KitKat's famed range of weird and wonderful Japanese flavours. A cough drop version once existed, and it really wasn't great. The sake version, a perennial favourite, is absolutely delicious. But if you're vegan, none of these varieties will have tempted your tastebuds. KitKats in general won't have either, actually. That changed back in 2021 for Aussies who follow a plant-based, dairy-free and cruelty free diet, and were also keen to sink their teeth into a KitKat. The brand launched a vegan-certified KitKat, as made with a rice-based milk alternative. The result: a KitKat covered in a smooth plant-based milk chocolate — not dark chocolate — which is then layered over the usual crisp wafers. The original run of plant-based KitKats was a limited-time deal; however, they're now back in Australian supermarkets again. This time, they've hit Coles stores — and only for a short period. That means that everyone can now have a break — and a KitKat — with KitKat Plant Based joining other plant-based alternatives among Nestle's products. So, if you'd like to crack open a few fingers while tucking into a glass of plant-based Milo, you'll be able to. The 41.5-gram bars cost $3 and, if you're super keen, they can also be ordered from the KitKat Chocolatory website. When your next sugar craving hits, add them to your list alongside vegan Natural Confectionery Co fruit lollies, vegan choc tops, and vegan Magnums, Cornettos and Weis Bars. KitKat Plant Based is available now at Coles stores around Australia — or you can them from the KitKat Chocolatory website.
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.
This time last week, Melbourne was enjoying the pandemic's version of normality — so much so that a new rebate scheme to entice diners to eat out in the CBD had just been announced. But a lot can change in just seven days, as Victoria's current COVID-19 cluster has shown. The state is now on day four of a seven-day lockdown, case numbers have been growing and the list of exposure sites just keeps ballooning, too. When the first cases were revealed last week, two venues were named on Monday afternoon. The list had gone up to 43 by Wednesday morning, and then hit a whopping 83 locations on Thursday. Now, on Monday, May 31, it has reached 271 locations. So if you've spent your time in lockdown binging whatever you can stream and constantly refreshing the Victorian Department of Health's rundown of exposure sites, that's perfectly understandable. Among the latest inclusions, Chadstone Shopping Centre is one of the big ones. The alert covers seven locations within the overall site over a single day including the entire centre itself — as a Tier 2 site — from 11.53am–2pm on Wednesday, May 26. If you went shopping during that window of time, you'll now need to get tested immediately and self-isolate until you receive a negative result. If you went to Bakers Delight between 12.40–12.45pm, Zimmerman between 12.50–1.30pm, Optus between 12.27–1.17pm, Breadtop between 1.03–1.37pm and Woolworths between 1.16–1.56pm, you fall into the same category. And if you were at Yokozuna from 11.55am–12.52pm, you were at a Tier 1 site, which requires getting tested immediately and self-isolating for 14 days regardless of the result. https://twitter.com/VicGovDH/status/1398903110207033347 Other recent additions to the list include the 412 and 525 PVT bus routes at various times on Wednesday, May 26 and Thursday, May 27 (all Tier 1); Target and Coles at Point Cook Shopping Centre from 3.30–5.30pm on Wednesday, May 26 (Tier 1); and various sites at Northland Shopping Centre on Saturday, May 22 (including Tier 1 for H&M between 2.30–3.50pm). Obviously, with 271 places now named, the list goes on — also spanning the likes of Dan Murphy's Brunswick East (Tier 2, from 2.30–3pm on Saturday, May 22), Brighton Beach Hotel (Tier 2, from 3.09–4.52pm on Sunday, May 23) and the La Trobe University library (Tier 1 on level one and Tier 2 elsewhere, all from 11.45am–2.30pm on Tuesday, May 25) as well. Melburnians can keep an eye on the local list of exposure sites at the Department of Health website — as usual, it will change as more sites are identified. For those looking to get tested, you can find a list of testing sites including regularly updated waiting times also on the Department of Health website. And, has remained the case throughout the pandemic, Melburnians should be looking out for coughs, fever, sore or scratchy throat, shortness of breath, or loss of smell or taste, symptoms-wise. For further details on the latest exposure sites and updated public health advice, see the Department of Health website. Top image: Google Maps.
Dust of your black-hued and gothic-looking outfits: what else do you wear to Wednesday Island, a fan festival dedicated to the creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky Netflix series, that'll have Jenna Ortega (Death of a Unicorn), Emma Myers (A Minecraft Movie) and Tim Burton (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice) in attendance? On Saturday, August 16, 2025, one Australian spot — Cockatoo Island / Wareamah in Sydney Harbour — will embrace the macabre with the Wednesday crew themselves. Netflix has been teasing Wednesday Island for a few weeks now, including officially announcing the event when the platform dropped the full trailer for Wednesday's second season, then opening entries for VIP attendance to feel like you're at Nevermore Academy. Now, the streamer has confirmed that Ortega, Myers and Burton will be there, and also Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, who created the show in the spotlight (and wrote the screenplay to 2024's Burton-helmed, Ortega-starring Beetlejuice Beetlejuice). All five key Wednesday folks will make appearances at Wednesday Island as part of their global Doom tour to promote the series. Peach PRC and ŪLA are also on the lineup at Cockatoo Island's temporary makeover, providing the tunes. Netflix is calling the pop-up takeover a "Nevermore playground" and promising a "most grave surprise", too — and there'll be a walk-in doll's house and a cocktail spot as well. If you've always had a fondness for anything Addams Family-related, this probably sounds like a dream. Whether you first discovered pop culture's eeriest family via the 90s films, through old episodes of the 60s TV show, in various animated guises over the years — including on the big screen — or thanks to Wednesday, that fantasy can now become an IRL reality if you score admission to Wednesday Island. Applications for VIP double passes have closed, but you'll be able to enter for regular passes between Wednesday, July 23–Sunday, August 3 via the pop-up's website. To do so, you'll need to provide your details, and give an original and creative answer to this question: "in 25 words or less, confess your most delightfully deviant Outcast trait — the kind that would make Wednesday smirk with approval". You'll find out if you've scored a ticket on Monday, August 4. Only those aged over 16 can go in the running, and you'll then need to dress in attire to suit the Wednesday celebration. Boat transport to the island, plus one food and one beverage token, will be included if you're selected. As for watching the series when it returns for its second season, you'll be doing that in two batches. Part one arrives on Wednesday, August 6, then part two on Wednesday, September 3. Check out the full trailer for Wednesday season two below: Wednesday Island is taking over Cockatoo Island in Sydney on Saturday, August 16. Head to the pop-up's website to enter for general admission tickets between Wednesday, July 23–Sunday, August 3, 2025 — or just for further information. Wednesday season two arrives in two parts, with part one dropping on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 and part two on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, both via Netflix. Read our full review of Wednesday season one. Images: Bernard Walsh, Helen Sloan and Jonathan Hession/Netflix © 2025.
First it was The Guardian. Then came The Huffington Post. And now The New York Times is the latest international publication to launch in Australia. After vague affirmations that the daily newspaper was looking to expand into Australia in August last year, the Times has today — Tuesday, May 2 — officially launched a Sydney bureau and, with it, extended coverage of news and issues that affect Australians. Unlike The Guardian and HuffPost, the The New York Times' Australian coverage will not have its own edition, but will be integrated into its global site. The addition of an Australian newsroom — which is being led by Damien Cave, who was the publication's deputy national editor in the US — will serve to insert Australian issues into the global agenda. This new coverage, which kicks off today, will include news, investigations, opinion pieces and cultural coverage. The New York Times Australia coverage can be found under the world section of the site. Though the Times works on a subscription model, Australians have unlimited access the site for free until May 8.
Just over a week ago, Melbourne had notched up seven full days without any locally acquired COVID-19 cases. Exactly seven days ago, venue restrictions and mask rules eased. But, as the pandemic keeps proving over and over, a lot can change in a short period at the moment. Once again, Victoria is currently in lockdown, case numbers have been growing and, as always happens with the latter, the list of exposure sites is expanding as well. At the time of writing — on the morning of Friday, July 16 — the Victorian Department of Health's rundown of exposure sites now lists 125 venues. Yes, that's a big number. Yes, it has been increasingly quickly. And, it has also been demonstrating that it really hasn't been a good week for folks who went to shopping centres and sporting events. Earlier in the week, both the MCG and the Highpoint Shopping Centre were popped on the list. As of late yesterday, Thursday, July 15, Chadstone Shopping Centre and the Wallabies game at AAMI Park have been named as exposure sites as well. Thankfully, neither are Tier 1 sites, which would've required getting tested immediately and self-isolating for 14 days regardless of the result; however, folks who were at either location at specific times and dates will need to take action. Regarding Chadstone — which was on the list during the last outbreak, too — the alerts cover Monday, July 12 between 5.25–6pm. If you went to Kmart, Target or Zing Pop Culture during that window of time, you'll now need to get tested immediately and self-isolate until you receive a negative result, as they're all listed as Tier 2 sites. For AAMI Park, at the Australia versus France rugby union match on Tuesday, July 13, two different sections have been listed. If you were on level one, in aisles 20–23, from 8.05–10pm, you also need to get tested immediately and self-isolate until you receive a negative result — as those areas are Tier 2 sites. If you in zone two at all at the same time, you were in a Tier 3 site, which requires monitoring for symptoms. https://twitter.com/VicGovDH/status/1415547340539056130 Obviously, with 125 places now named, the list goes on. It's likely to keep growing, too, given that Victoria reported ten new locally acquired cases in the 24 hours until midnight last night, and the same number in the previous 24 hours as well. Melburnians can keep an eye on the local list of exposure sites at the Department of Health website — as usual, it will change as more sites are identified. For those looking to get tested, you can find a list of testing sites including regularly updated waiting times also on the Department of Health website. And, has remained the case throughout the pandemic, Melburnians should be looking out for coughs, fever, sore or scratchy throat, shortness of breath, or loss of smell or taste, symptoms-wise. For further details on the latest exposure sites and updated public health advice, see the Department of Health website. Top image: Gary Houston via Wikimedia Commons.
"I didn't want to simply be a socialite," Jep Gambardella (Toni Servillo) tells us. "I wanted to become the king of socialites." He has succeeded grandly in this most empty of ambitions; his life seems an endless parade of high-society gatherings, fashionable soirees and art gallery openings. A louche writer resting on the laurels of his lone novel and the occasional magazine piece, Jep has turned recently turned 65 and is shaken from his decadent torpor when he learns that his first love has died. The news acts as a reminder of his own looming mortality and is a chance to reflect on the gradual decline of Rome. Writer-director Paolo Sorrentino's last film was the somewhat divisive little gem This Must Be The Place; this is a much more elaborate affair, stuffing dozens of vignettes of city life into its 142-minute running length. It evokes comparison with his great countrymen Federico Fellini and feels like a belated companion piece to La Dolce Vita, in its ambition, sweep and affectionate but pointedly warts-and-all portrait of a decaying, decadent metropolis. The Great Beauty is in cinemas on January 23, and thanks to Palace Films, we have 15 double in-season passes to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Read our full review here. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=koxRDhAQOpw
There's no shortage of ways to send your love to your nearest and dearest, though sometimes an emoji, a surprise bunch of flowers or even a hardy succulent just doesn't cut it. Similarly, showering those close to you in sweet treats is far from difficult — but Australia's new chocolate company wants to provide another option. Combining taste, style and heartfelt messages, Good Measure Co is offering up the country's newest personalised artisan chocolate delivery service, not only ferrying their cocoa-based delicacies around the nation in attractive packaging, but letting you write your own tender missive to go along with them. You pick what goes inside and on the outside, choosing from gourmet dark and milk chocs in blueberry, milk and honey, dark raspberry, chocolate noir and signature salted caramel flavours — or Champagne truffles — plus four styles of box and whatever nice words you can dream up. Those eager to tailor their choccie selection for their special someone can expect to pay $50 for a box of 12, and $75 for 24. Boxes with a range of pre-written statements are also available for the same price, ranging from "chocolate for my favourite" to "it's time to celebrate". And, the cost includes free delivery, arriving the same day in Sydney for orders placed before 11am, and the next day if ordered afterwards. The company was created by Pete and Hannah Craggs, who "wanted to reimagine the humble chocolate box, and create a new way to share the joy of chocolate with friends and family in a simple and easy way," Pete explains. Continues Hannah, "we've tapped into the same sense of occasion and excitement you'd get from giving and receiving flowers, but with high quality, gourmet chocolate instead." For more information, visit Good Measure Co's website.
When Toy Story hit cinema screens back in 1995, the Oscar-winning movie made history as the first entirely computer-generated feature-length film. The huge Pixar hit also made audiences everywhere fall hard for a bunch of loveable playthings, because you're never too old to find a friend wherever you need it. It's completely okay if you're feeling a little wistful and teary just thinking about it. Nine years after the last Toy Story movie, the animation studio is counting on that very sentiment — and that viewers everywhere just aren't ready to farewell these animated pals. While 2010's Toy Story 3 was pitched as the final flick in the series, this film franchise could reach to infinity and beyond. For now, it's just unveiling its next chapter. Releasing on the big screen in June, Toy Story 4 sees the return of Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the gang (and the return of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and company as voice talent). Given that Andy, the protagonist from the original three flicks, has given away all of this toys, the group are now the proud property of Bonnie — and a new adventure awaits, as does a new homemade buddy called Forky (Tony Hale). Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Christina Hendricks and none other than Keanu Reeves also join the voice cast — the latter playing a daredevil character called Duke Kaboom, and likely saying "whoa!" more than once. Check out the full trailer below, and prepare to get mighty nostalgic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmiIUN-7qhE Toy Story 4 releases in Australian cinemas on June 20, 2019.
Let's face it: plastic is a major problem. A petroleum-based, entirely man-made substance, plastic is the super-villain extraordinaire in the fight against pollution. Despite our recycling efforts, a lot of plastic tends to end up in the ocean, causing enormous wastelands such as the Great Garbage Patch in the Pacific where plastic to marine life ratios have reached 6:1. You'd think by now we'd have come up with an alternative. In 2009, Coca Cola released a sustainable plastic bottle of which a ground-breaking 30% was made with raw bio materials. Not good enough for PepsiCo, who announced yesterday the successful development of a 100% plant-based bottle. The prototype is made of switch grass, pine bark and corn husks, and the company plans to use orange peel, oat hulls and potato in future versions. The bottle retains a similar molecular structure to plastic, meaning it looks and feels the same – minus the environmental impact. It's a major step forward in the future of sustainable packaging. Pepsi plans to test the logistics of mass-producing the bottle in 2012, and if all goes well they'll make the switch. Let's hope they share the idea so the phase-out of plastic production can begin. [Via Fast Company]
Airports are a necessary part of the international travel experience. They're hardly most people's favourite place or anyone's ultimate destination, but you can't fly overseas without visiting them. Next time you're jetting abroad, however, you might want to add a visit to Singapore's Changi Airport to your trip. Nothing breaks up a long-haul journey like a 40-metre tall indoor waterfall, after all. After hosting a short-term immersive Harry Potter-themed world over the Christmas period, the Asian transit point has now launched a new permanent addition — the 137,000-square-metre Jewel Changi complex, under a glass-and-steel dome, that's jam-packed with shops, dining options, greenery, activities and one massive water feature. Designed by Safdie Architects, it takes over ten storeys, including five above the ground and five below, as part of the airport's terminal one expansion project. If it's the cascading attraction that you're most interested in, it's called the Rain Vortex. As the name suggests, it uses water collected from above. Running from 8am–12.30am, it's also the world's tallest indoor waterfall, and also provides the backdrop for a light show. Surrounding the Rain Vortex is the Shiseido Forest Valley, which is home to over 2000 trees and palms, as well as more than 100,000 shrubs, all across five storeys. To allow visitors to really soak in the natural splendour, the manicured garden features a number of walking trails that take around half an hour each to complete — and they're open 24/7. Although the waterfall and garden have been welcoming travellers since Wednesday, April 17 — as has Jewel Changi in general, its new onsite IMAX theatre and YOTELAIR Hotel, plus Nike, Marks & Spencer, Muji, Zara and Uniqlo stores as part of 280 retailers and eateries overall — there's also more to come. From June 10, the site will mark the opening of its fifth-level Canopy Park, which'll bring with it a heap more adventurous activities. Specifically, visitors will be able to walk along a bridge suspended 23 metres above the ground, and even see through the glass floor to the garden below. You'll also be able to bounce along a 250-metre span of sky nets, wander through both a hedge maze and a mirror maze, and slip down the slide-filled sculptural playground. Forget just killing time on a layover, searching for a phone charger or suffering in uncomfortable chairs while you're waiting for your flight home. Here, you might have to remind yourself that you're actually at an airport. For further details, visit the Jewel Changi Airport website.
Chef Alejandro Saravia is building his restaurant empire at a cracking pace. He's already made a name for himself in Melbourne with contemporary Australian restaurants Farmer's Daughters and Victoria by Farmer's Daughters. And in April this year, he launched the ambitious 220-seater Morena Sydney, which champions South American flavours. But that ain't all. Come spring this year, he'll open two neighbouring venues in the 80 Collins precinct that build upon the original concept of Morena Sydney. The first is Morena Restaurant, which offers a formal dining experience much like the Sydney outpost. Here, Saravia is pulling inspiration from his homeland of Peru, alongside Cuba, Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil and Mexico in crafting the menu. [caption id="attachment_964136" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Morena Sydney[/caption] When it comes to bevs, there'll be a focus on Spanish and South American wines as well as signature cocktails heroing Latin American spirits. The second site, sitting right next to Morena Restaurant, is Morena Barra. Here, you'll find an all-day dining experience that's focused around a central bar and inspired by the vibrant cantinas found throughout Latin America. When it comes to this food and drink lineup here, you can expect slightly more casual renditions of Morena Restaurant's offerings. Much like Saravia's other Melbourne venues, locally sourced seasonal produce will be at the heart of both Morena Restaurant and Morena Barra. He's worked in Australian restaurants since 2006, developing mighty strong relationships with Victoria's top growers, graziers and fishermen. [caption id="attachment_964133" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Morena Sydney[/caption] "After the outstanding reception to Morena Sydney, I am so excited to be bringing the Morena concept to life in the heart of Melbourne," shares Saravia. "With Farmer's Daughters around the corner, Morena will be continuing to deliver warm hospitality and exciting culinary experiences in Melbourne's CBD. The new venues will refocus the ways that Melburnians engage with the diverse cuisines from across Latin-American cultures. "For me, opening Morena in Melbourne represents a full circle of my time in this industry in Australia. Since arriving in Australia in 2006, I have been working to shine a light on the unique flavours and hospitality of Latin America; and here in my hometown of Melbourne I am excited to bring this to life in two unique venue offerings. "At Morena Melbourne, we will continue to transform Australians' perspective of Latin-American cuisines, showcasing the diverse culinary heritage whilst preserving the rich cultural roots and authentic flavours that define it." [caption id="attachment_964135" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Morena Sydney[/caption] [caption id="attachment_964134" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Morena Sydney[/caption] Morena Melbourne will open on Little Collins Street in spring 2024. For more information on the new restaurant opening, check out the venue's website. Top image by Katje Ford and all other images by Arianna Leggiero.
McDonald's has been serving up Big Macs and soft serve cones to Australians for 50 years, so to celebrate the big five-oh, the golden arches are running a series of promotions and adding some new items to the menu. The latest celebratory surprise popping up at Macca's around the country is a special Birthday McFlurry. While the fast-food chain is no stranger to limited-edition McFlurry flavours — good (apple pie) and bad (bubblegum) — this new edition really takes things up a notch. The Birthday McFlurry is packed with bite-sized pieces of the fan-favourite custard pie, alongside a drizzle of caramel sauce and sprinkles to give it that birthday feel. As well as the inclusion of the bite-sized custard pie pieces in the McFlurry, the full-sized pie will return to the menu for anyone that's been missing the crispy custard-filled treat. Earlier this month, McDonald's kicked off its birthday celebrations with a day of 50-cent Big Macs across Australia. And the celebrations aren't stopping any time soon, with more fun surprises set to pop up throughout July and August. Australia's first McDonald's opened in Yagoona in 1971 and has grown to over 1000 stores nationwide in the 50 years since. The Birthday McFlurry and custard pie are available exclusively via Uber Eats from tomorrow, Wednesday, June 30 through until Wednesday, July 7, before becoming available in all Macca's nationwide for a limited time from Wednesday, July 7. McDonald's Birthday McFlurry is available via Uber Eats from Wednesday, June 30 and available in-store and on McDelivery from Wednesday, July 7.
After more than a year of teasing — including initial hints in 2019, official confirmation in 2020, a first teaser a week ago and a full trailer a couple of days back — Friends: The Reunion will finally hit screens this month. HBO's US streaming platform HBO Max has gotten the gang back together, reuniting Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer and Lisa Kudrow to chat about orange couches, smelly cats and whether a couple is on a break. And, in just-announced news, Australian viewers will be able to get their own hefty dose of 90s sitcom nostalgia at the same time as folks in America. Local streaming platform Binge has just announced that Friends: The Reunion will hit the platform at 5.02pm on Thursday, May 27. Aussie fans were always going to be able to watch the special somewhere, and Binge was always the likely destination, but that has only been confirmed less than a week out from the show's airdate. Dubbed 'The One Where They Get Back Together' in the special's teasers, the reunion comes 27 years since the TV sitcom about six New Yorkers made audiences a promise: that it'd be there for us. And, as well as making stars out of Aniston, Cox, Perry, LeBlanc, Schwimmer and Kudrow, Friends has done just that. Sure, the hit series wrapped up its ten-season run in 2004, but the show has lived on — on streaming platforms, by sending an orange couch around Australia, by screening anniversary marathons in cinemas and in boozy brunch parties, for example. Friends: The Reunion promises to take pop culture's lingering affection for the show to another level, though. During the unscripted special, the actors behind Rachel, Monica, Chandler, Joey, Ross and Phoebe will chat about their experiences on and memories of the show — all on the same soundstage where Friends was originally shot, so expect to see some familiar faces and some recognisable decor. Aniston, Cox and the gang also have a few other famous pals for company, with the hefty guest lineup spanning folks with connections to the show and others that must just love it. On the list: David Beckham, Justin Bieber, BTS, James Corden, Cindy Crawford, Cara Delevingne, Lady Gaga, Elliott Gould, Kit Harington, Larry Hankin and Mindy Kaling, as well as Thomas Lennon, Christina Pickles, Tom Selleck, James Michael Tyler, Maggie Wheeler, Reese Witherspoon and Malala Yousafzai. Check out the Friends: The Reunion trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYB1HvwHnkg Friends: The Reunion will be available to stream in Australia via Binge, hitting the platform at 5.02pm on Thursday, May 27.
Gracing the intimate space next door to Peter Gunn's Collingwood fine diner IDES, is the star chef's genre-bending wining and dining venture, March. Embracing various elements of a wine bar, a pub and an izakaya, it's not about to be locked into just one box — just know that it's moving in a very different direction than its sibling. The 26-seater is your go-to for clever small bites with contemporary flair, matched to a broad-ranging curation of sake, wine and cocktails. Expect a moody space rocking deep charcoal tones throughout, and with a low, marble-topped statement counter allowing plenty of interaction between those with front-row seats and staff behind the bar. As you'd expect given Gunn's culinary street cred, the drinking snack game here is strong. While the two venues share a kitchen and a flair for creativity, March's menu walks its own path with a concise, oft-changing lineup rooted in Japanese flavours and technique. Venture in for plates like edamame coated in some kind of umami magic ($9), green chilli pickled mussels with crispy garlic ($15), sake-steamed pippies finished in a yuzu parsley butter ($25) and braised pork belly with a spicy nori glaze ($25). Plus, a crispy sweet and sour quail ($28) that'll have you making fast use of the supplied hot towel. IDES sommelier Hayley McCarthy heads up the drinks offering, with Victorian and South Australian drops ruling the by-the-glass lineup, and next door's wine list and cellar selection delivering even more gems. Expect interesting pours that'll shake a few preconceptions (perhaps a Dilworth & Allain pinot noir blend, or the Konpira Maru Pan Opticon riesling out of the King Valley) alongside signature cocktails and a solid crop of sake.
It has been more than two years since Australian fans of factual flicks were first able to head to streaming platform iWonder to get their documentary fix in a big way. It wasn't the first doco-focused service to hit Australia, and plenty of other other streamers also weave non-fiction throughout their catalogues — but it nonetheless launched with more than 500 hours of on-demand content available to Aussie viewers. Now, with more than 1000 titles in its lineup, the service is adding a new reason for Australians to drop by — for Sydneysiders at present, and for anyone who is placed under isolation orders in the near future. The platform has announced that it's offering 50 percent off its subscriptions for folks in lockdown. So, if you're a Sydney resident in need of something new to watch right now, after a couple of weeks at home and counting, this might be timely news. If you live elsewhere, you might want to bookmark this for later. Documentaries currently available on the platform cover a huge range of topics — from fast food social experiment Super Size Me through to gaming classic The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters. Other highlights include the exceptional Sherpa, which explores a series of tense incidents on Everest; Oscar-nominee For Sama, which was shot on the ground in Aleppo over five years; and both Whiteley and Basquiat: Rags to Riches, about the two artists. Under the lockdown deal, the $6.99 per month and $69.90 annual subscription fees will be halved to $3.50 and $35.50, respectively. New users will also receive the 14 days free as part of a trial. The service is available on iOS and Android, as well as online via its website, and on Telstra TV, Apple TV and Android TV — and can be cast to the small screen via Apple TV and Chromecast. The discounted price will remain in place for some time, too, because it's tied to Australia's vaccination rates. iWonder will offer the cheap rate until 75 percent of folks have access to the jab — but you'll have to be in an area under stay-at-home restrictions to only pay half-price. For more information about iWonder, or to sign up, head to the streaming platform's website. Top image: Sherpa.
It's a great time to be a fan of Neve Campbell-starring 90s horror movies. The Scream franchise is coming back again with Campbell onboard, but that isn't the only spooky film from the era that she's known for. Also leaving an imprint was The Craft, with its tale of four high school outcasts who decide to get witchy. And, 24 years later, it's now getting a sequel. Called The Craft: Legacy, this second effort appears to not only follow on from the original, but to also borrow its main storyline. A teenage girl moves to a new town, gets tormented at school and then buddies up with three similarly unpopular classmates, who initiate her into their coven. Soon, they're using their abilities against their peers, and learning that their powers have consequences. As the just-dropped first trailer for the film shows, this description applies as much to the new movie as it does to its predecessor. Also evident in the teaser: plenty of famed moments from the first flick getting a do-over, so prepare to start chanting "light as a feather, stiff as a board". And yes, when an adult tells this new gang of girls to be wary of strangers, they do indeed reply with "we are the weirdos". Devs, Pacific Rim: Uprising and Bad Times at the El Royale's Cailee Spaeny plays Lily, the new girl in town, while Gideon Adlon (Blockers), Lovie Simone (Selah and the Spades) and Zoey Luna (Pose) also feature as her dark magic-loving pals. And, because Lily needs a reason for showing up, that comes in the form of her mother, played by Michelle Monaghan (Saint Judy), who moves their two-person family to a new town to live with her boyfriend, played by The X-Files' David Duchovny. Written and directed by Zoe Lister-Jones (Band Aid), and adding to Blumhouse's growing slate of sequels and remakes — think Halloween, Black Christmas, Fantasy Island and The Invisible Man — The Craft: Legacy is headed to cinemas Down Under at the appropriate time of year. It'll hit screens on October 29, aka just before halloween. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxZ774gziwU&feature=youtu.be The Craft: Legacy releases in Australian cinemas on Thursday, October 29.
