Alone is a performance art installation. No, scratch that — it's a psychological experiment. Created by Los Angeles-based artist Devon Paulson and film producer Lawrence T. Lewis, it hurls participants into a city-wide, 'haunted house'-style scenario. And, it's coming to Australia. Aided by a crowd of actors, the hour-long walkthrough will see participants transported around Melbourne, into inexplicable, scary or hilarious situations that are designed to mess with their sanity. Participants must sign a waiver beforehand and be in good physical and mental health, which just might says something about what the night will involve. They're then taken to a secret location to begin their terrifying abduction. No mobile phones are allowed and it's likely that your clothes will get dirty. "Alone explores the complex folds of the human psyche and the human condition, from the inside out," says Paulson. "The truth is that one needs to experience Alone to understand it." According to the website, "your body may be aggressively touched and moved or tenderly embraced or utterly left displaced and alone." Despite having organised the event 18 times over the last six years, the creators refuse to reveal details of previous stints. "What I can say is that the situations will cause participants to traverse the spectrum of human emotion," says Paulson. "But the crucial goal is to dislocate you, from the world, from others, from comfort, from self." And yes, it begins on Valentine's Day — but it's a completely solitary journey, so don't think about bringing your date. "Some experiences you may find yourself in a group situation, but as in life, you will eventually find yourself to be alone," reads a hard-hitting FAQ on the Alone website. Alone runs from February 14–27. Head to the website for tickets and more details.
We've all got that one friend whose media diet exists solely of documentaries. They're usually, to be honest, the most interesting of us all wielding their accumulated eccentric knowledge. However, documentaries and doco-style films have long become mainstream and the capitalist marketplace has heard our hungry cries for more. Introducing DocPlay, the new Netflix for docos. It's an Australian and New Zealand-based service that lets you stream documentaries directly. Their libraries are stuffed full of all the big names — Blackfish, Exit Through the Gift Shop, Advanced Style — complemented by some niche Aussie and international titles with a big emphasis on music. A premium member fee of $6.95 a month (or $69.95 a year) will grant you access to their ever-growing library. And if sign up to a free account, you'll get access to their rotating selection of docos. This week features Annie Leibovitz: Life Through A Lens, Academy Award winner The Cove, Ai Wewei: Never Sorry, and A Complete History Of My Sexual Failures amongst others. Not bad, not bad at all. If you don't want to cough up though, you can expect ads aplenty. It's still a pretty fresh service and can only get better with time. But anything that enables us to while away a Sunday watching back-to-back docos can only be good thing.
When you find the coming together of good coffee and a good conscience, great things usually follow. Fest of Merit, the newest venture from youth social enterprise YGAP, proves this to be true. Found in an open space on Swan Street in Richmond, they haven't held back on the interior. It's raw, exposed and perfectly executed. Hanging lights and plants finish the look perfectly (as do the handsome wait staff, but that's a whole other story). As YGAP's newest project, Feast of Merit donates all of their profits to youth education and youth leadership in Malawi, Ghana, Rwanda, Bangladesh, Cambodia and Australia. On top of this they focus on seasonal produce, raw foods and locally sourced drinks. Local, ethical and sustainable food is served up with a distinct Middle Eastern flavour. The breakfast menu caters to a range of tastes with the sweeter side of things looking like Bircher muesli, coconut water, apricot, pistachios, and hung yoghurt ($11.50) and a bowl of backyard fruits, chia seeds, orange blossom, yoghurt ice and smoked almonds ($12.50). For those going down the savoury path, you can opt for the young asparagus, ricotta and avocado with harissa toast and a soft egg ($16) or the beetroot (pickled, raw and roasted) with wild rice, candied walnuts, salted ricotta and za'atar spice ($13.50). Lunch is a 'choose your own adventure' experience with three salads available with three optional proteins for a more hearty meal. You might see a roasted Dutch carrot, mint, pistachio, currant, freekeh, harissa and preserved lemon salad topped with roasted Milawa chicken. Job done. Smoothies, juices, and digestives dominate the drinks list with a raw almond milk creation calling out our name. Warning: raw treats may tempt you as you're paying the cheque. But don't worry — your money is going to a good cause.
For most of us, the uncomfortable feeling that creeps in when you share a social justice status (linking a petition or an article, or writing a strongly-worded open letter, as is the fashion) is accompanied by the thought: is this enough? Am I keyboard warrior? How can I effect real change? The couple behind this Richmond cafe might be able to help you out with that. Jane and Francois Marx are the husband and wife team from Long Street Coffee and their aim is to bring you coffee and bring jobs to refugees. But making the transition from social justice keyboard warrior to real-life warrior is not an easy feat, nor is it cheap. Long Street Coffee is the product of a three-year long journey. They've been the worthy recipients of an Australian Women's Weekly grant, successful Pozible campaign and generous community donations from everyone from photographers to stonemasons to get them on their feet. The community response to the enterprise, which trains refugees over a six-month period and helps them find ongoing work, has been overwhelmingly positive — and a breath of fresh air in the face of Australia's refugee laws. "I think that we're seeing the backlash against the hostility towards refugees," says Jane. "We are part of a larger movement that opposes the overwhelming hostility from the media and punitive measures from the government. In the face of all that, there's a movement of people saying you are not representing us as a nation; we want to be a place that welcomes refugees." Jane says that while there's a big risk in setting up any small business, and particularly in employing untrained staff, Long Street Coffee is not a charity. Jane and Francois have 20 years combined experience in the industry and understand what it means to be a competitive small business. The cafe is a hybrid: part social justice enterprise and part booming small business with its finger on the pulse. "Part of the mission with Long Street was to be able to employ people with a refugee background who wouldn't otherwise be able to get jobs. And part of the scaremongering that comes from the government and the media is coming from ignorance. People don't actually know refugees but if they were able to see the people in the boats as oppose to the boat itself… If you could go to place that and be served coffee by a refugee and hear their stories, you would see that they are people. We want to break down the stigma. We didn't see that 'fair go' being extended to the refugee community. It is only a fair if it applies to everyone. Everyone who lives here should be able to fulfil their potential and realise their dreams." Get down to Long Street Coffee and do your part in showing these total legends some hard-earned support.
The best time to enjoy Victoria's High Country isn't only when the snow is falling. In the summer months the ski slopes transform into bucolic hiking trails. Alongside top-notch dining, cultural events and mountain accommodation, Mount Buller and its surrounds provide a brilliant summer escape. In collaboration with Victoria's High Country, we're highlighting just some of the top reasons to explore Mount Buller this summer and reconnect with nature in one of the most stunning settings Victoria has to offer. [caption id="attachment_833255" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Victoria's High Country[/caption] EXPLORE AN AUSTRALIAN FILM ICON AT CRAIG'S HUT Consider yourself a bit of an Aussie cinema buff? Head to the High Country this summer and explore Craig's Hut — the iconic setting featured in The Man From Snowy River. Since being built for the film, this landmark has become a popular waystation for people navigating the inland wilderness during the warmer months. As well as the chance to see one of our nation's defining cinematic settings, a visit to Craig's Hut also offers endless countryside vistas thanks to its prime position atop Clear Hills. Whether you drive, hike, mountain bike or — like the titular film character — ride a horse to the hut, you'll want to pack a picnic to soak up the views. Don't want to carry your lunch with you? Then, book a spot on a local tour to hear mountain tales over a catered dinner. [caption id="attachment_832800" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Victoria's High Country[/caption] TAKE A STROLL TO BINDAREE FALLS As the weather heats up, a visit to Bindaree Falls becomes increasingly appealing. Tucked deep in dense bushland, this scenic waterfall provides the perfect pitstop on a hot summer's day. After a short stroll to a viewing platform conveniently placed behind the cascades, you can cool off with a refreshing spray of fresh water. With access limited for much of the year, the warmer months ensure adventurers can drive to within a 10-minute walk of the falls. And thanks to its setting within Mansfield State Forest, Bindaree Falls is an ideal place to pause during a forested hike or walk between historic mountain huts in the surrounding area. [caption id="attachment_833256" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Victoria's High Country[/caption] HIKE THE HIGH COUNTRY Criss-crossing Mount Buller's slopes is an incredible experience in wintertime. But the euphoria is just the same when you undertake a stunning summer hike through the region. Although there are numerous paths to choose from, the Summit Nature Walk is an easygoing way to enjoy the alpine flora and fauna. Time your walk with sunset to see the sky and surrounding scenery slowly change colour. Elsewhere, the Little Mount Buller trail is a slightly more undulating seven-kilometre circuit that sees you wander through a plain of snow gums before being treated to some striking mountain views. For an even tougher but no less spectacular challenge, the Delatite River Trail Walk features a dozen log bridge river crossings over its nearly ten kilometres. SIT BACK AND RELAX AT ABOM BISTRO For a laidback meal at the heart of the mountain make a stop into ABOM Bistro. Located along Athlete's Walk in the middle of Mount Buller's bustling village, this long-standing Buller go-to is the place to grab a tasty lunch or dinner in cosy, chalet-inspired surrounds. And although the mulled wine has been replaced by chilled beers, you and your holiday crew will enjoy this popular après-ski destination. ABOM Bistro also offers great accommodation so you can take your time and stay overnight, then explore the hills even more the next day. OR, REFUEL IN STYLE AT BIRDCAGE If you're looking for somewhere a little fancier, Birdcage has you covered. Just a few doors down from ABOM Bistro, you'll be presented with outstanding food, coffee and cocktails that provide a buzzy metropolitan vibe on the mountainside. Open from breakfast, find favourites like smashed avo and truffle scrambled eggs. As the kitchen roars into life later in the day, head along to feast on heartier options like chicken ribs, wagyu beef burgers, and prawn and ginger dumplings. Stop in for happy hour and split a refreshing gin and elderflower cocktail jug with your crew to round out the experience. [caption id="attachment_832801" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Victoria's High Country[/caption] HAVE A PICNIC AT THE SUMMIT The idea of a sunset picnic at the summit of Mount Buller might sound more appealing than spending your afternoon in the bar. And with genuinely awe-inspiring perspectives to uncover across every side of the mountain, who could blame you? Drop into the well-stocked Buller Grocer to find everything from fresh fruit and deli meats to wine and spirits — including an excellent range of local produce from nearby growers — take your swag up to the peak for a delightful al fresco session. UNWIND AT MT BULLER CHALET Spending a few days exploring the High Country is a heavenly idea. But you're going to need somewhere cosy to rest your head after all those activities. The Mt Buller Chalet is our pick, thanks to its range of well-appointed rooms and suites that are backdropped by impressive views of the mountain range outside. Its ideal location in the heart of the village also makes it the perfect place from which to set off on your adventures. Need a bit of R&R? Head to the on-site spa, sauna or indoor pool for some me time, or get the blood flowing with a workout in the fully equipped gym. [caption id="attachment_841127" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jarritos Mexican Soda (Unsplash)[/caption] ENJOY A MEXICAN FIESTA WITH A VIEW You're invited to indulge in some of Mount Buller's best local producers, growers and foodie delights at Long Lunch, a regular event series showcasing the region's diverse culinary landscape. The upcoming long lunch takes place on 5 March, and will see the much-loved winter go-to Bullrun Cantina turned into a high-altitude fiesta. There'll be a wide range of Mexican fare on offer — think slow-smoked meats, tostadas, fresh chilli, salsa, mole and more — as well as an excellent selection of tequila, all of which can be enjoyed with sweeping views of the high country beyond and a live soundtrack provided by the talented Blues Roulette ensemble. If you're looking for an excuse to eat, drink and dance the day away with spectacular views to boot, make sure you get yourself a ticket before they're all sold out. For more information on things to see and do at Mount Buller this summer, head to the Victoria's High Country website. Plan and book your activities and accommodation at the Mount Buller website. Top image: Victoria's High Country
When it comes to finger-licking, napkin-required fried chicken in Melbourne, it's hard to pick a favourite. Are you partial to a brined and crispy American-style bird or one that's sticky with Korean sauce? Whatever your fried chook fancy, Melbourne's got a version to suit, with an array of local restaurants out to make this famed dish their own. If you weren't already craving some juicy chicken coated in special seasonings, sauces and other crushed snacks, you sure will be after reading this. Here's where to find Melbourne's best fried chicken joints. Recommended reads: The Best Cheap Eats in Melbourne The Best Burgers in Melbourne The Best Steaks in Melbourne The Best Pizza in Melbourne
If you've been to see a blockbuster on the big screen this year, odds are that you've been to see a Disney movie. The Mouse House is responsible for Captain Marvel, Avengers: Endgame, Aladdin, Toy Story 4 and The Lion King, after all — and it still has both Frozen 2 and Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker to come before the year is out. And now, the huge entertainment company is set to loom large over your streaming viewing, too. This morning — Tuesday, November 19 — it launched its new Disney+ platform Down Under. The service features a heap of content that spans its hugely popular brands, including Disney classics, Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars and National Geographic. On Disney+ you'll find over 600 films and 7000 episodes of TV, so it's basically everything your Disney dreams are made of (and there's a free trial to get you started). From previous announcements, we already knew we'd be watching Star Wars series The Mandalorian, the awkwardly named High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, animated Toy Story spinoff Forky Asks a Question and factual series The World According to Jeff Goldblum. And, along with the platform launch, the live-action Lady and the Tramp has also dropped along with the Anna Kendrick-starring Christmas flick Noelle. Disney has also previously unveiled a lengthy list of upcoming shows that'll hit the platform over the next few years, so prepare for multiple Marvel series about Loki, Hawkeye, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, and the Scarlet Witch and Vision; a Lizzie McGuire revival; and Star Wars shows about Obi-Wan Kenobi (featuring Ewan McGregor as the beloved jedi) and Rogue One's Cassian Andor as well — although none of the above have release dates as yet. What's noteworthy, too, is the array of classic fare that's now available to stream. Disney has amassed a hefty library over the years and, after merging with Fox earlier this year, it picked up plenty of other films and TV shows. That means that you can stream Marvel Cinematic Universe flicks, Pixar hits, Star Wars movies and all your old favourite Disney animated films, naturally. Home Alone, 10 Things I Hate About You, The Muppets, TRON, Avatar, Sister Act, Hocus Pocus, Honey I Shrunk the Kids, The Rocketeer, Turner and Hooch and The Sound of Music. Boy Meets World, Duck Tales and The Simpsons also rank among a very sizeable pool of titles, as Disney+'s new Instagram video shows. https://www.instagram.com/p/B5BWValA0I8/ A bunch of National Geographic docos can also be found on the platform, including rock climbing nail-biter Free Solo, the touching Jane Goodall film that makes great use of archival footage and Leo DiCaprio's 2016 climate cahnge interrogation Before the Flood. The complete list of titles — which you can browse here — confirms what Aussie audiences will able to watch upon launch. Different local rights deals with other platforms have meant that Australian fans couldn't necessarily just assume that their favourite flicks would automatically be available on Disney+ straight away. For example, until recently, Stan had plenty of Disney content available to stream. Of course, it seems that turning Disney+ into a one-stop shop for the company's movies and series is the ultimate aim. On that note, viewers can expect all of the company's aforementioned big 2019 movies to hit the platform, too, as well as its entire film slate from 2020 onwards. If you want to try out the new service before committing to a subscription, you can sign up for a free one-week trial over here. Disney+ is now live, with subscriptions costing AU$8.99 per month or AU$89.99 per year. You can sign-up for a free seven-day trial here. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
When someone tells you to try to put yourself in another person's shoes to understand how they feel, it isn't meant literally. In the Freaky Friday franchise, however, the Coleman family keep taking that idea to the extreme, albeit not by choice. In 2003's mother-daughter body-swapping comedy, Tess (Jamie Lee Curtis, The Last Showgirl) and Anna (Lindsay Lohan, Our Little Secret) found themselves switching places courtesy of a fortune cookie. In 2025's sequel Freakier Friday, their lives and the circumstances have changed, but waking up as someone else is back on the agenda. It was back in 2023 that word arrived about a follow-up to the 00s version of Freaky Friday. Audiences will see the results on the big screen this winter Down Under, with Freakier Friday locking in a Thursday, August 7, 2025 release date. As for what's in store this time around for the Colemans, the sequel's just-dropped first teaser trailer promises more chaos, plenty of nods to its predecessor — a nostalgic favourite — and taking the identity-crisis scenario up a few notches. Story-wise, Anna has a daughter herself and is about to gain a stepdaughter, with the process of merging families happening just as a familiar scenario pops up. At the beginning of the debut sneak peek, Anna and Tess are told by a fortune teller (Vanessa Bayer, No Good Deed) that they've "walked in each other's paths" and "learned a lesson — a lesson that may serve you again". Cue the ground rumbling once more, plus quite the shock the next morning. When it was revealed in 2024 that the new film would feature "a multigenerational twist", we wondered if there'd be multiple swaps and if the kids would be trading places with their grandmother — and yes, the trailer has the answers. Also returning alongside Curtis and Lohan from Freaky Friday: Mark Harmon (NCIS: Origins), Chad Michael Murray (Sullivan's Crossing), Christina Vidal Mitchell (The Terminal List), Haley Hudson (Queen Gorya), Lucille Soong (Raya and the Last Dragon), Stephen Tobolowsky (The Madness) and Rosalind Chao (3 Body Problem). For more company, Julia Butters (The Fabelmans), Sophia Hammons (The Absence of Eden), Manny Jacinto (The Acolyte) and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (Never Have I Ever) join the cast. Behind the lens, Nisha Ganatra (The High Note, Late Night) is directing, with Curtis and Lohan among the executive producers, all on a movie that keeps building on the Freaky Friday name. The first Curtis and Lohan team-up didn't start the franchise, of course. Instead, it began with the 1972 book by Mary Rodgers, then the 1976 Jodie Foster (True Detective: Night Country)-starring first movie adaptation, and also a 1995 remake with Gaby Hoffmann (Zero Day). After 2003's beloved Curtis- and Lohan-led take, horror flick Freaky also gave the idea a spin in 2020. Check out the first teaser trailer for Freakier Friday below: Freakier Friday releases in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, August 7, 2025. Images: Glen Wilson © 2024/2025 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The new happiest place on earth is mere months away from opening, with Studio Ghibli's very own theme park welcoming in animation lovers when November 1 arrives. Long in the works, Ghibli Park has had animation lovers waiting to wander its 200-hectare expanse in Nagoya's Aichi Prefecture, around a three-hour train trip from Tokyo, since back in 2017. And wondering exactly how magical it will look for just as long, too. The answer? Supremely enchanting; yes, getting spirited away will be easy here. Ghibli has been dropping early glimpses, even if its recent Hayao Miyazaki-directed cat train trailer was solely animated (but still wonderful). Now, it has just unveiled a treasure trove of new sneak peeks at the upcoming venue. The park will open in phases, but the first won't be short on highlights, including what's been dubbed Ghibli's Great Warehouse — aka its main area. Think of it like a fair within the overall attraction, featuring a video exhibition room, three special exhibition rooms, plus shops and cafes all in one space. Many movie lovers' first stop will be Orionza, a cinema that'll seat 170 patrons and screen ten Ghibli shorts — all of which have only previously been seen at the studio's existing Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, a city on the western outskirts Tokyo. The easy highlight: the 13-minute-long sequel to My Neighbour Totoro, which is an absolute delight, unsurprisingly. Fancy entering one of Ghibli's films? The park also includes recreations of 13 famous scenes from the company's cinematic catalogue that you can step into, including becoming Spirited Away's Chihiro by sitting next to Kaonashi on a mysterious train by the sea. Or, another exhibition focuses on Ghibli's knack for drawing delicious-looking food, and is certain to make you hungry. And, if you're curious how Ghibli's works — such as posters, videos, music and books — appear overseas, there's an exhibition about that as well. Because you'll want souvenirs, the Ghibli's warehouse store will sell Ghibli goodies galore, including items specific to the park. Expect two things: to want to purchase everything, so much so that you'll contemplate whether it's worth getting another suitcase to take home with you; and plenty of company while you're browsing and buying. For a bite or a drink, the Great Warehouse's cafe and milk stand will both take their cues The Wind Rises. One will sling sandwiches and pizzas, while the other focuses on sips to drink — and a sweet made of red bean paste between two pieces of castella, as seen in the movie. Yes, it all truly does resemble the Japanese animation house's glorious frames in real life — as that aforementioned Studio Ghibli museum already does as well. Also slated to feature across the whole park: a life-sized version of Howl's Moving Castle, the antique shop from Whisper of the Heart, Kiki's home from Kiki's Delivery Service and a village area that pays tribute to Princess Mononoke. The Aichi Prefecture Expo Park spot is already home to a replica of Satsuki and Mei's house from My Neighbour Totoro, and Totoro still features heavily in the expanded setup — with the site even initially described as having a My Neighbour Totoro focus. Or, you can check out nods to the cat from Whisper of the Heart and The Cat Returns, buildings with design elements that take their cues from Laputa: Castle in the Sky, and a super-sized garden that'll make you feel like you're one of the tiny characters in Arrietty. Expect more nods to Ghibli's various features to follow, recreating other aspects from its three-decade-old body of work (and possibly its most recent movie, Earwig and the Witch). The animation house also released a new short video with added glimpses at the park, because there's no such thing as too many sneak peeks at something this entrancing pic.twitter.com/oZUKE36Jeg — スタジオジブリ STUDIO GHIBLI (@JP_GHIBLI) September 15, 2022 If you're now planning a Ghibli-centric holiday, Japan's changed its border rules in September to let overseas tourists enter the country without booking guided tours. At the time of writing, you do still need to be travelling on a package tour, however — through a travel agency, even if it just covers your flights and accommodation. Fingers crossed that changes soon. Ghibli Park will open on November 1, 2022. For more information, head to the venue's website. Images: © Studio Ghibli.
Bathhouses certainly aren't novel in Melbourne's inner streets, but it does feel like the pace of new openings has quickly picked up steam. Well, add one more to the list, as else Bathhouse has announced a mid-2026 arrival in South Melbourne. Where some bathhouses are increasingly intertwining wellness with our social lives, else is maintaining a ritualistic approach, where stillness remains sacred and the simple act of bathing can be transformative. Rising to that aspiration is no mean feat, but else's impressive location won't do its prospects any harm. Settled into Emerald Hill, one of Melbourne's oldest suburbs, the bathhouse will reimagine its century-old building. Formally home to a wool trader and a Croft's Store — a once-thriving grocery chain — the three-level space is carefully being reworked to integrate a serene sense of calm within its historic context. "We wanted to offer something that would help people unwind and take care of themselves, a peaceful space woven into the rhythm of local life. Bringing else to South Melbourne felt natural," says else founder Paul Absalom. Serving as an architectural reminder of Melbourne's past, the building is flooded with natural light while being framed by exposed brick, timber beams, wool bale pulleys and an old-world lift shaft. That's a storied setting for a curated wellness journey, with guests invited to move through thermal baths, cold plunges, saunas, tranquil lounges and a mud and steam room. Plus, openair rooftop pools provide a sweeping view of the not-too-distant skyline. While this first else Bathhouse is plenty ambitious, the team has already announced a second location. Trading an urban oasis for the High Country, wellness enthusiasts will soon encounter a peaceful outpost in the scenic mountain town of Bright. Meanwhile, plans are also underway for future Melbourne locations, with hopes to redefine wellness across the region. Although the modern wellness space is constantly evolving, else is looking to rewind a little. Rather than viewing itself as a day spa, a recovery centre or a social club, it aims to revive the tradition of communal bathing, where a shared sanctuary offers pure relaxation. Say Absalom: "Else is about presence, it's about slowing down and stepping away from the noise of everyday life." Else Bathhouse is expected to open in April 2026 on Bank Street, South Melbourne. Head to the website for more information.
It was an incredibly sad day when iconic St Kilda venue Stokehouse burned down in 2014. Now, after a two and a half year hiatus, it's finally coming back, renovated and designated into a 'precinct' of multiple bars and restaurants, set to dominate that seaside like only Stokehouse can. Over the past few months, the Van Haandel Group have opened the first two stages of the beachside precinct. Fish and chip kiosk Paper Fish was first back in October, followed by ground floor venue Pontoon in mid-November. But while the 400-capacity casual beachside bar and eatery was an exciting opening, it was certainly no match for the hardcore anticipation that has surrounded the relaunch of the one and only Stokehouse Restaurant, which will finally open tomorrow, Friday, December 9. While details (and photos) about the soon-to-be revealed restaurant are scant, this is what we know so far. The new building has been designed by architect Robert Simeoni which, as well as having a five Green Star rating for sustainability, looks pretty epic due to half of it being covered by a sand dune. After doing a stellar job on Stokehouse's previous 2010 refurbishment, Pascale Gomes McNabb has returned to fit out the new restaurant space, which will include a 12.5-metre oval bar and room for 130 diners. Chef Ollie Hansford will be on the pans, who you might have heard of from his stint at the short-lived Stokehouse City. This is what it's looking like: Hello Stokehouse terrace 🙌🏻 A photo posted by Stokehouse St Kilda Beach (@stokehousestkilda) on Dec 5, 2016 at 11:12pm PST Can't wait to check it out? Well, you might have to sit tight. The restaurant opened up bookings a few weeks ago, and they're already booked out until March 2017. Keep an eye on their Instagram for when they open up the next lot of bookings. Stokehouse Restaurant will open on Friday, December 8 on Level 1, 30 Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda. For more info, visit stokehouse.com.au. By Imogen Baker and Lauren Vadnjal. Top image: Kristoffer Paulsen.
Party with petunias and watch a circus amongst the cleomes at Tesselaar's Kabloom Festival of Flowers — where millions of blooms will serve as a backdrop for daily circus performances, photoshoots for social media influencers and lunchtime picnics. Running from Saturday, March 23–Sunday, April 21, the Dandenong Ranges festival will feature acres of colourful flowers and whimsical performances by Circus Oz. The main circus will run each day for the duration of the festival, featuring magical woodland creatures and awe-inspiring stunts. Throughout the day, the fairies and sprites will have a variety of other acts, including tightrope walking over flowers, juggling, hula hooping and contortion. Other festival attractions include food and market stalls — yes, including a flower market — for the adults. There are also a variety of activities for children's entertainment, including circus and drumming workshops, face painting, interactive storytelling sessions and garden games. On Easter long weekend, there will also be an Easter rabbit hunt where you search the fields for rabbits instead of eggs, and go in the running to win some prizes. Visitors can also take a tractor train tour of the farm to view the flowers and learn more about how they are planted and cared for. Some activities require prior registration. Tickets start at $23.50 for adults, $19.50 for concessions, and children under 16 can enter the event for free. You can also bring your pooch along with you as long as you keep them on a lead. Water bowls will be dotted around the grounds to keep them happy and hydrated.
Having completed a sold out Australian tour only last year, funny man Gabriel Iglesias returns to Melbourne for two nights of high-octane laughs. Known for mixing storytelling with voice effects, Iglesias provides a roller coaster of comedic experience from start to finish. Known predominantly for his shows I'm Not Fat I'm Fluffy and Hot and Fluffy, Iglesias' comedy career has been moving forward in leaps and bounds. Having started work for a mobile phone company, Iglesias suddenly changed to a career in comedy, risking his financial security for a shot at his dream. Luckily for us, Inglesias has been performing to audiences all over the world for the last 12 years, and even featured in the 2012 film Magic Mike with Matthew McConaughey and Channing Tatum. Inglesias will be performing two nights of stand up at the Regent Theatre. Don't miss your chance at seeing this electric, life-filled performer in the flesh.
Ordering wine by the glass doesn't mean you won't get a top-quality drop. Yet, casting your eye over the wine list only to discover that most options require you to stump up for an entire bottle, you wouldn't be blamed for feeling like you're missing out. Offering a solution to this first-world problem is Coravin, whose handy wine preservation tools make pouring from the bottle without popping the cork a reality. Returning to Australian shores for the second Coravin World Wine Tour, five wine bars around the country are getting involved so you can enjoy rare and diverse bottles by the glass. Hosting the Melbourne stop of this international affair is Clover, a happening Richmond wine bar renowned for its appreciation of natural wines. From Thursday, May 1–Saturday, May 31, guests will have the chance to indulge in any bottle on the menu without having to front up for the whole thing. Plus, you're bound to discover a host of incredible pairings with the venue's fascinating fire-cooked cuisine. Clover Co-Owner Lyndon Kubis is no stranger to thoughtfully conceived wine bars and shops. He's also behind Collingwood's The Moon, Prahran's The Alps Wine Bar, Milton Wine Shop in Malvern and Toorak Cellars, among other vino-related ventures. Head along to Clover and discover the full range of seasonal grape goodness pouring throughout May.
Somewhere in the dark recesses of a record company, a phone rings in the jazz music copyright department. Five minutes later, an email begins to circulate around Hollywood: "URGENT: 1920s costumes required. Wooden tennis racquets also welcome. Destination not yet known, but assume Manhattan or France". Finally, casting agents receive a visit from a mysterious stranger with a very specific request: "I need a girl. Young. Sexy but approachable. Almost too young, without being obvious, if you follow?" He winks and disappears into the smog. The clues are unmistakeable. The conclusion, unavoidable. Woody Allen is making a movie. His 47th, in fact, and his most handsome in quite some time. Yet the eyes can deceive, and just as his characters learn throughout Magic in the Moonlight, beauty all too often masks a shallowness that will always, eventually, out. It is, to put it simply, very light fare across the board. Amusing more than hilarious, sweet yet far from moving, Magic in the Moonlight is as fun to watch as it is easy to forget. Set (once again) in the 1920s, the entire film is built around a simple, singular premise: esteemed magician Stanley Crawford (Colin Firth) is brought to the French Riviera to debunk the charming young American clairvoyant Sophie (Emma Stone). Her bewildering talents, however, quickly defy his every attempt to expose her, deftly penetrating every layer of his stoic scepticism. Faced with the possibility that real magic might exist, the insufferably rational and pragmatic Stanley finds himself questioning everything, from the meaning of life to the love of his soon-to-be wife. It's a romantic comedy of sorts, but the pairing of Stone and Firth fails to spark any real on-screen connection despite both actors ticking all the boxes individually. It's worth remembering there's almost 30 years between the two, an age gap (or chasm, rather) that Stanley acknowledges early on as 'preposterous'. It's perhaps less a joke than a symptom of the film's ultimate inability to resonate. Either way, you don't really care whether they get together or not, just as it matters little whether Sophie's talents are legitimate. The stakes are low, and for a film all about magic, the only genuine mesmerising comes from the scenery. https://youtube.com/watch?v=nzcPdGxuewU
Girls to the front: that's the mantra at Australia's dedicated Centre for the Moving Image in 2023. We're the country that gave the world Cate Blanchett, Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie, to name just a few renowned Aussie actresses owning the silver screen in recent years, so we're no stranger to celebrating formidable women in cinema. It tracks, then, that ACMI has curated a world-premiere exhibition dedicated to femininity across screen history — which, from Wednesday, April 5, is now open. Six-month-long showcase Goddess: Power, Glamour, Rebellion declares its affection for ladies of the screen right there in its name. Examining how women are represented in cinema and television, it pays tribute to standout ladies, how depictions and expectations of femininity have changed, and what female talents have symbolised — and been forced to deal with — about and from the society around them. Displaying until Sunday, October 1, it's both a massive and a landmark exhibition. More than 150 original costumes, objects, artworks, props and sketches are now gracing the Federation Square venue's walls and halls, all championing oh-so-many women and their impact. Launched in-person by the one and only Geena Davis, who is also the exhibition's lead ambassador, Goddess fittingly includes outfits worn by her and Susan Sarandon in 1991's Thelma & Louise — and that's just the beginning of its treasures. Among a lineup that spans threads that've never been displayed before, various cinematic trinkets, large-scale projections and other interactive experiences, attendees can check out odes to Marlene Dietrich in 1930's Morocco, Pam Grier's spectacular Blaxploitation career, Tilda Swinton in 1992's Orlando and the aforementioned Robbie via 2020's Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). Plus, there's Mae West's sky-high heels from 1934's Belle of the Nineties, as well as Michelle Yeoh's fight-ready silks from 2000's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The list goes on, clearly, covering Anna May Wong, Marilyn Monroe, Laverne Cox and Zendaya as well. And, everything from Glenn Close's Cruella de Vil in 102 Dalmatians to the Carey Mulligan-starring Promising Young Woman also gets time to shine. As it charts how representations of femininity have evolved over the years — not just in different eras, but in different places, too — Goddess also aims to inspire a rethink of plenty of cinema's memorable female characters. Silent-era sirens, classic Hollywood heroines, unforgettable femme fatales and villains, Bollywood stars, women in China and Japan's cinematic histories: they're all being given the spotlight. Goddess is also plunging into provocative on-screen moments from Hollywood's silent days through to today that've not only left an imprint, but also played a part in defining (and altering) what's considered the feminine ideal. So, expect an interrogation of how women on-screen have helped to redefine fashion expectations, sparked boundary-breaking genres and spearheaded the #MeToo movement — and to spend time thinking about how screen culture has shaped the world's views of gender. As it does with its big exhibitions, ACMI is pairing Goddess' wide-ranging display with soundscapes by Melbourne-based composer Chiara Kickdrum, and also hosting a sprawling events program complete with late-night parties, performances and talks — and film screenings, of course. Fancy taking an in-depth curator tour of the exhibition after hours? That's on the bill monthly. There's also a music program called Goddess Nights from late May, which'll focus on three femme-centric live music lineups with performances by DJ JNETT, CD, POOKIE and Ayebatonye — and a curated range of food and booze put together just for each evening. For film buffs, movie series Divine Trailblazers will focus on contemporary actors at the height of their powers, while the Goddess Sundays is all about on-screen personas. So, the first includes Angela Bassett's Oscar-nominated performance in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Academy Award-winners Michelle Yeoh and Jamie Lee Curtis in Everything Everywhere All At Once, Cate Blanchett conducting a masterpiece in Tár, Viola Davis in warrior mode in The Woman King, Filipino actor Dolly De Leon stealing every scene she's in in Triangle of Sadness, and Leah Purcell writing, directing, producing and starring in The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson. Unsurprisingly, the exhibition is ACMI's big midyear blockbuster — and its 2023 contribution to the Victorian Government's Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series, as Light: Works from Tate's Collection was in 2022. After showing in Melbourne for its premiere season, Goddess will then tour internationally, taking ACMI's celebration of women on-screen to the world. Goddess: Power, Glamour, Rebellion exhibits at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Federation Square, Melbourne, from Wednesday, April 5–Sunday, October 1, 2023. For more information and tickets, head to the ACMI website. Images: Eugene Hyland Photography.
One of Melbourne's most recognisable rooftop addresses is getting ready to reveal a dramatic new look. This spring, MAMAS Dining Group — the crew behind Hochi Mama, Suzie Q and Winsdor Wine Room — will unveil its seventh venue: a Japanese izakaya-inspired rooftop set in the former home of Madame Brussels. The third-floor space at 59–63 Bourke Street will swap pastel garden party vibes for a low-lit, disco-drenched homage to 1980s Tokyo. Expect smooth disco and old-school hip hop spinning on vinyl, a drinks list that flows well into the night, and panoramic views of the city skyline — all wrapped in a retro-modern fit-out by hospitality architects Directitude. In the kitchen, MAMAS' Culinary Creative Director Michael Stolley will oversee a menu of share-style Japanese fare. Sushi from master chefs will sit alongside smoky, chargrilled yakitori and other snacky izakaya classics, paired with an extensive sake list, Japanese-inspired cocktails and top-shelf craft beers from Japan. With seating for up to 150, the venue aims to channel "the soul of Shibuya nights and the heart of Harajuku days". For MAMAS Dining Group CEO and Director Thai Ho, the upcoming opening is a moment worthy of the group's tenth anniversary: "We're so excited to open our seventh venue in the heart of Melbourne's CBD, a huge milestone to mark MAMAS' 10 years of operation in Australia's most renowned city for hospitality. To open in one of the city's most iconic locations is a fantastic opportunity." When the doors of the yet-to-be-named venue swing open this spring, expect a rooftop that swaps Pimm's jugs for sake carafes, cucumber sandwiches for smoky yakitori, and prim garden parties for moody Tokyo nights — and a whole new chapter for one of Melbourne's most coveted rooftops. MAMAS Dining Group's as-yet-unnamed seventh venue will open in the former Madame Brussels site this spring. For more information, head to the group's website.
Remember when your mum told you that being popular wasn't everything? There are many situations where that advice holds true. Take watching movies, for example. Sure, superhero flicks look great on the big screen — but for every blockbuster you head along to, there's probably a heap of smaller films you're missing out on. They're the small players in a world that focuses on big hits, and the ones that pop up at fewer cinemas, run for shorter spans, and don't break attendance records. But just because they don't get as much love, doesn't mean they're not worth viewing. Indeed, among the ranks of the under-seen lurk some of the year's best efforts. Take these ten, which — by way of a limited screening season or lacklustre local box office performance — you may have missed, but we think you really should take the time to see. A MOST VIOLENT YEAR It has been a good year for Oscar Isaac. He's about to feature in one of the year's biggest films (that is, Star Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens), he made an unnerving impact in the best artificial intelligence movie of 2015 (Ex Machina), and he starred in a heartbreaking HBO TV series made by The Wire's David Simon (Show Me A Hero). But before all three, he teamed up with always exceptional Jessica Chastain in A Most Violent Year, a moody, '80s mob thriller from All Is Lost writer-director J. C. Chandor. The tale of an honest man corrupted as he follows his ambitions might seem familiar, but there's nothing that's routine — and plenty that's riveting — about this devastating dissection of the American dream. Read our full review. THE TRIBE Writer-director Miroslav Slaboshpitsky's first feature was always going to be a hard sell. The film runs for more than two hours without a word of dialogue, a hint of music or even any subtitles, with its characters — a group of classmates at a Ukrainian boarding school for the hearing impaired — communicating only through sign language. And it's not just a difficult concept; in an effort that becomes both violent and haunting — all the more so because it demands audiences pay the utmost attention to what they can see — it's also difficult to watch. Reports of fainting are widespread, but those who can stomach its brutal sights will find a movie completely unlike anything else they've ever seen before. Read our full review. LONDON ROAD When the National Theatre turned the real life 'Suffolk Strangler' case into a stage production, it probably wasn't expected. Adapting the play into a film shouldn't have been quite as surprising, but the results certainly are astonishing. Filmmaker Rufus Norris (Broken) teamed up once again with writer Alecky Blythe to bring the theatre work to the screen — not only telling the tale of the murders of five prostitutes that rocked England's Ipswich in 2006, but charting the media frenzy that followed and the reactions throughout the community. What makes London Road stand out isn't its narrative, though, but its approach. The words uttered by actual residents of the area, reporters covering the case and sex workers become a musical sung in stuttered bursts and choreographed in a highly stylised fashion. It also features a memorable performance by Olivia Colman, as well as appearance by Tom Hardy as a taxi driver. TANNA Two youths fall in love, but external forces — i.e. the wishes of their families — complicate matters. With that description, you're likely thinking about Romeo and Juliet — however, there's more to the first feature shot entirely in Vanuatu than simply following in William Shakespeare's footsteps. In fact, the film actually stems from a local tribal tragedy, uncovered by writer-director-producer duo Martin Butler and Bentley Dean after spending seven months living with the indigenous Yakel community, and then working with them to make the movie. Calling Tanna authentic is underselling its heartfelt account of the story, its impassioned performances and its arresting images — the latter of which makes the most of the South Pacific archipelago nation's lush greenery and ash-spewing volcanoes. GIRLHOOD With Girlhood, the third time is the charm for filmmaker Céline Sciamma — although, with the likes of Water Lilies and Tomboy also on her cinematic resume, the first and second times were pretty up there too. Her film might sound like a female version of Richard Linklater's 2014 hit, but even though it also serves up a coming-of-age narrative, that couldn't be further from the truth. Charting the tough times faced by 16-year-old Marieme (Karidja Touré) on the outskirts of Paris, the movie tackles maturity on the margins with a raw, realistic and intimate approach — and with stunning performances from the largely untrained cast, too. Plus, it ensures viewers will always feel fondly about Rihanna's 'Diamonds', which provides the soundtrack for the film's most striking scene. Read our full review. PARTISAN Trust a film about a charismatic figure that lures single mothers and their children into his cult-like enclave to have the same mesmerising impact upon its viewers. In relating the experience of the oldest boy in the commune, Alexander (Jeremy Chabriel), when he's deemed mature enough to complete special tasks, Ariel Kleiman's debut feature is the kind of movie you can't look away from — even if you want to. Partisan might be inspired by actual accounts of child assassins, but this is an atmospheric take on allegiance and rebellion, rather than an action flick. It's also the latest effort to feature a hypnotic performance by Vincent Cassel, who's no stranger to playing menacing men, but is rarely given a role so simultaneously threatening and understated. Read our full review. '71 The complexities and contradictions of war are thrust onto the screen in '71, and so is rising star Jack O'Connell. If both seem frenetic and anxious, that's understandable — the film recounts the terrors of The Troubles in Northern Ireland, as seen through the perspective of a rookie British solider left in unsympathetic territory by his squadron, after all. Director Yann Demange splices the two together with skill, his first-time helming efforts as intense as the movie's lead portrayal. If you thought O'Connell was good in TV's Skins, or in previous big-screen offerings Starred Up and Unbroken, prepare to see him blow those performances out of the water. Read our full review. LIFE If ever there was a match made in cinema heaven, it's the combination of Anton Corbijn and James Dean. Add actor Dane DeHaan to the equation, and you've got a movie that smoulders as much as its subject, all while peering behind the tragic star's mystique. Everyone knows that Dean was killed in a car accident at the age of 24 with just three films to his name — and while other features have attempted to give him the biopic treatment, capturing his allure is a much more difficult feat. With the same precision he demonstrated in his last account of a fallen idol, the Joy Division-centric Control, Corbijn achieves just that as he focuses on Dean's connection with Life magazine photographer Dennis Stock (Robert Pattinson). Read our full review. THE SALT OF THE EARTH If a picture is worth a thousand words, then Sebastião Salgado's efforts are worth several multi-volume encyclopaedias. Yes, his images are that intricate and informative — as they should be. The Brazilian social documentary photographer and photojournalist has travelled the world for more than 40 years, snapping the people and places few ever see. Thankfully, the film that charts his life, work and impact is just as engaging and illuminating, as directed by veteran filmmaker Wim Wenders alongside Sebastião’s son Juliano Ribeiro Salgado. Don't take the younger Salgado's involvement as a sign of the documentary's sentimentality, however. Instead, he helps craft a textured portrait of a man who has dedicated more than just his career to taking textured portraits. Read our full review. ZERO MOTIVATION One of the year's funniest and most thoughtful movies sprang from an unlikely place: within the human resources unit of an Israeli army administration office. There, two pencil-pushing women (Nelly Tagar and Dana Ivgy) dream of something more — however, they're never unaware of their status, nor of the military side of their employment. You're probably thinking that Talya Lavie’s feature sounds like it wouldn't be out of place alongside other amusing yet perceptive looks at bureaucracy and war, and you'd be right. Blackly comic as well constantly subversive, Zero Motivation is a slacker comedy and a contemplative consideration of combat, all in one package.
Summer is calling. That means long sunny days, drinks with your mates, good food, and, of course, Bondi Beach. Back for its second year, THE ICONIC and Rolling Stone AU/NZ are raising the heat with SUMMER SOUNDS, a one-day-only event to help Aussies kick-start the warmer weather in style. [caption id="attachment_1025329" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] THE ICONIC SUMMER SOUNDS[/caption] On Saturday, November 1st, 2025, North Bondi Surf Lifesaving Club will be transformed into a celebration of music, fashion, and culture. Aussie icons, The Veronicas, are set to hook you up and headline the party. Think sun-soaked beats, statement fits, and coastal cocktails, all set against one of the most famous beaches in the world. [caption id="attachment_1025313" align="alignleft" width="1920"] Bondi Beach via Getty Images[/caption] You might be asking, how can I attend? Luckily, THE ICONIC is giving you the chance to score tickets. All you have to do is head to THE ICONIC's website and share, in 25 words or less, which summer anthem you would play first at SUMMER SOUNDS to kick-start the party. One lucky customer will be crowned the MVP by receiving 4 x return flights to Sydney (if you and your friends aren't local), 2 x nights' accommodation in Bondi Beach, and a $3000 voucher from THE ICONIC to head to the event in style*. [caption id="attachment_1025319" align="alignnone" width="1920"] THE ICONIC SUMMER SOUNDS[/caption] There'll also be 25 SUMMER SOUNDS double passes up for grabs, ensuring more fashion fans can enjoy this money-can't-buy experience. So, start planning your look, select your party anthem, and get ready for a weekend that screams summer in Sydney. Win your way into summer's most ICONIC event. *T&C's apply
UPDATE, December 4, 2020: Sound of Metal opened in select Melbourne cinemas on Thursday, December 3, and also streams on Amazon Prime Video from Friday, December 4. When Sound of Metal begins just as its title intimates, it does so with the banging and clashing of drummer Ruben Stone (Riz Ahmed, Venom) as his arms flail above his chosen instrument. He's playing a gig with his girlfriend and bandmate Lou (Olivia Cooke, Ready Player One), and he's caught up in the rattling and clattering as her guttural voice and thrashing guitar offers the pitch-perfect accompaniment. But for viewers listening along, it doesn't quite echo the way it should. For the bleached-blonde, tattooed, shirtless and sweaty Ruben, that's the case, too. Sound of Metal's expert and exacting sound design mimics his experience, as his hearing fades rapidly and traumatically over the course of a few short days — a scenario that no one wants, let alone a musician with more that a few magazine covers to his band's name, who motors between shows in the cosy Airstream he lives in with his other half and is about to embark upon a new tour. 'Heavy metal drummer loses his hearing' is the six-word way to sum up Sound of Metal, but that's not all the film is about. Ruben's ability to listen to the world around him begins to dip out quickly and early — a scene where he's driving is methodically crafted to convey to the audience just how out of the blue and jarring it is — leaving him struggling to cope. It's how he grapples with the abrupt change, and with being forced to sit with his own company without a constant onslaught of aural interruptions distracting him from his thoughts, that the movie is most interested in, however. Ruben feels a sense of loss and also feels lost. As the awards-worthy soundscape makes plain, he feels both cast adrift and assaulted. With apologies to cinema's blockbusters (which usually monopolise the sound categories come Oscars time), no other feature this year mixes its acoustics together in as stunning and stirring a fashion, and also bakes every single noise heard into its script, and its protagonist's journey, as well. Reluctantly, Ruben takes up residence at a rural community for addicts who are deaf; he's four years clean himself, but the turn of events has Lou worried. While he's in the care of the soulful Joe (Paul Raci, Baskets), an ex-soldier and ex-alcoholic with kindness seeping from his pores, Ruben must move in alone — farewelling the love of his life and their shiny caravan. Again, he's unmoored, even as he's welcomed in by other residents and the children at the school where he's taught sign language. Although Joe stresses that deafness isn't something that needs to be fixed, Ruben is obsessed with rustling up the cash for a surgically inserted cochlear implant. The movie's most telling sequence, though, comes when Joe notices that Ruben literally can't sit still or stand his own company, and tasks him with spending his days in a quiet room unburdening his angst onto a piece of paper. On the first go, he's so distraught and so desperate to escape his brain that he smashes a doughnut as if he was beating a snare in an intense solo. 'Intense' is the word for Sound of Metal, and for its decision to express Ruben's distress as immersively as possible. It's also a term that doesn't completely do the movie justice. Making his feature directing debut, and co-writing another screenplay with filmmaker Derek Cianfrance as he did with 2012's The Place Beyond the Pines, Darius Marder turns his picture into a masterful exploration and skilled evocation of the kind of anxiety that's drummed deep into a person's darkest recesses. Viewers don't just hear what Ruben hears, but also feel what he feels as he rages and rallies against a twist of fate that he so vehemently doesn't want yet has to live with. While the film specifically depicts hearing loss, it's so detailed and empathetic in conveying Ruben's shock, denial, anger and hard-fought process of adjustment that it also proves an astute rendering of illness and impairment in general. That's Ahmed's recent niche; in two consecutive roles in just the past year, the always-excellent actor has played musicians who are blindsided by their health and the impact of a sudden affliction on their future. This year's Berlinale-premiering Mogul Mowgli, where he steps into the shoes of a British Pakistani rapper with an autoimmune condition, doesn't just pair perfectly with Sound of Metal. Together, the two movies demonstrate how committed Ahmed is to telling such tales in a piercing, probing, visceral and lived-in way. Here, he learned to play the drums and American Sign Language. What resonates as persistently as the muffled buzz that replaces Ruben's ability to discern ordinary sounds, though, is how affectingly and attentively his on-edge but also vulnerable portrayal is attuned to the everyday grief that comes with his character's situation. Losing a part of yourself, whether it's an actual sense or the sense that you'll always be healthy, is dispiritingly tough. Accepting and making the most of that scenario is just as difficult. Being deaf shouldn't be considered a state that needs to be cured, as Joe rightly espouses, so Ahmed's powerfully physicalised performance shows the fight and fortitude it takes to get to that place mentally and emotionally. From the exceptional work of supervising sound editor Nicolas Becker (Suspiria, American Honey, Gravity) to the urgent, in-the-moment cinematography favoured by Daniël Bouquet (Elektro Mathematrix), every choice made under the talented Marder's guidance has the same outcome as well. Indeed, when Sound of Metal ends — not with a bang, nor a whimper, but with a quiet yet potent moment — it has taken its audience deep into Ruben's journey, made those on- and off-screen confront both specific and existential anxiety, and rousingly, movingly and sensitively challenged traditional depictions of and attitudes towards disability in the process. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFOrGkAvjAE
It's a chair made out of swords. So notes Daemon Targaryen's (Matt Smith, Morbius) description of TV's most-fought-over piece of furniture of the past 13 years: the Iron Throne. Not one but two hit HBO shows have put squabbles about the sought-after seat at their centre so far, and the second keeps proving a chip off the old block in a fantasy franchise where almost everyone meets that description. If the family trees sprawling throughout Game of Thrones for eight seasons across 2011–19 and now House of the Dragon for two since 2022 (with a third on the way) weren't so closely intertwined in all of their limbs, would feuding over everything, especially the line of succession, be such a birthright? Set within the Targaryens 172 years before Daenerys is born, House of the Dragon could've always cribbed the name of another HBO success. In season two from Monday, June 17 Down Under — via Binge in Australia and Neon in New Zealand — season one's black-versus-green factionalism remains a civil war-esque showdown over which two offspring of the late King Viserys the Peaceful (Paddy Considine, The Third Day) should wear the crown and plonk themselves in the blade-lined chair. The monarch long ago named Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy, Mothering Sunday) as his heir. But with his last breaths, his wife Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke, Slow Horses) — also Rhaenyra's childhood best friend-turned-stepmother — claims that he changed his pick to their eldest son Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney, Rogue Heroes) instead. In King's Landing, the response was speedy, with Rhaenyra supplanted as the next ruler before she'd even heard over at Dragonstone that her father had passed away. Based on Fire & Blood, which George RR Martin penned as backstory after A Song of Ice and Fire's first five books A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons, House of the Dragon has also long painted Rhaenyra as the preferred type of chip off the old block. She too wants peace, not war. She also seeks stability for the realm over personal glory. If Viserys spotted that in her as a girl (Milly Alcock, Upright) when he chose her over Daemon, his brother who is now Rhaenyra's husband, he might've also predicted the dedication that she sports towards doing his legacy, and those before him, proud. Aegon, also the grandson of Viserys' hand Ser Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans, The King's Man), sees only entitlement above all else. Martin's tales of family dynasties — the names Stark, Tully, Lannister, Baratheon and more also pop up again — trade in the cycles that course through the bonds of blood, especially in House of the Dragon. Everyone watching knows what's to come for the Targaryens in Daenerys' time, right down to an aunt-nephew romance as the counterpart to Daemon and Rhaenyra's uncle-niece relationship. (No one watching has started this prequel series, the first spinoff of likely many to Game of Thrones, without being familiar with its predecessor). Ice-blonde hair, ambition that soars as high as the dragons they raise and fly, said flame-roaring beasts of the sky, the inability to host happy reunions: these are traits passed down through generations. Some are a matter of genes. Martin continues to explore why the others persist. Season one took to its role as the next on-screen trek across Westeros with seriousness, devotion and reverence, leading to a front-ended run intrigue-wise with talk — scheming, plotting, proclaiming who should be next to sit upon several thrones — and laying the groundwork for more seasons to come monopolising the ten-years-later back half. It was exactly what fans of this TV franchise could've wanted, in no small part thanks to its fondness for overt mirroring that stresses the point that some things trickle down from parent to child no matter what. Season two has less establishing to do, and therefore a quicker pace and tighter focus. It's content in one time period. It also has not just the aftermath of a usurpation but also of a tragic death at the hands of Aegon's younger brother Aemond (Ewan Mitchell, Saltburn), who bears a grudge and wears an eyepatch (the two are connected), to traverse. Rhaenys (Eve Best, Nurse Jackie), cousin to Viserys and Daemon, sums up one of the tragedies that House of the Dragon has committed itself to unpacking: that skirmishes will become such a given that no one will recall or care why the blacks (Rhaenyra's camp) and greens (Aegon and Alicent's) took up weapons and began torching each other with dragons in the first place. The audience won't forget. With images thankfully easier to discern — there's no repeat in the first four episodes of the dull-looking day-for-night atrocity of season one, its low point — the show's return witnesses the cost of pursuing the Iron Throne. It spends more time with the smallfolk, aka those beyond the royals and their cronies. It observes their reaction to the bad blood's brutality at its cruellest. And it does so even while making good on the big promise of Targaryens tearing into each other in a Seven Kingdoms period when dragons weren't a rarity: those mid-air sweeping and snapping dragon frays, which are gloriously brought to life. Scaling back the scene-setting and future-plotting is a gift to House of Dragon's cast in season two, especially to D'Arcy and Cooke. Rhaenyra's battle is really a battle with Alicent more than her son — and the two actors behind the parts expertly handle the task of conveying not only the duelling ambitions feeding the Targaryen tussle for the crown and throne, but also the emotional stakes and costs in their friends-turned-enemies portrayals. Best, as another Targaryen who should've been queen but was overlooked for Viserys, joins them in expressing what it means to walk every step with Westeros' engrained malice shaping your path beyond your control. Seeing their characters team up may now be left to fan fiction, but House of Dragon is a better series with their performances at its heart. As uttered with the snarling glibness that Smith oozes so well in his scene-stealing role, that aforementioned account from Daemon of what everyone is fighting over might sound flippant. It's designed to. But trust House of Dragon to encapsulate the undying source of its heat, and of the perpetual clashes within this conflict-riddled saga, with such a seemingly easy and ordinary turn of phrase. When the fact that leading means climbing across a path of violence, then sitting atop one, even if you're devoted to eschewing bloodshed — again, the Iron Throne is literally a chair made out of swords — and when that fact is such a routine aspect of life that no one thinks twice about it, what else but more feuding can spring? Check out the full trailer for House of the Dragon season two below: House of the Dragon season two streams Down Under via Foxtel and Binge in Australia, and SoHo, Sky Go and Neon in New Zealand, from Monday, June 17, 2024. Read our review of season one. Images: HBO.
2024 is set to be a huge year for Australia's most-inclusive music festival, with the Dylan Alcott-founded Ability Fest not only playing Melbourne but also hitting up Brisbane as well. Expanding is a massive achievement for the event. Also hefty: the lineup, with Ocean Alley, King Stingray, Cub Sport and Bag Raiders leading the bill. In Victoria, Ability Fest will head to Alexandra Gardens/Birrarung Marr in Melbourne on Saturday, October 19. As for what'll get you moving to the tunes, attendees will also see Asha Jefferies, Boone, Brenn!, Dewbs, Eliza Hull and jamesjamesjames, alongside Jordan Brando, Jordz, Kita Alexander and a triple j Unearthed winner. From there, Melburnians will can catch ONEFOUR, Crybaby, DAWS, Floodlights, Kuzco, NayNay and Wax'o Paradiso as well. Ability Fest is splitting its musicians across two stages, one for bands and one for DJs. The fully accessible event, which launched in 2018, has been carefully designed from the get-go. It features ramps and pathways for easy access, Auslan interpreters working alongside the artists, and elevated platforms to give everyone a shot at seeing the stage. Plus, there's also quiet zones, dedicated sensory areas and accessible toilets. Ability Fest is committed to being financially accessible during the current cost-of-living crisis in both of its stops. Accordingly, tickets only cost $60 plus booking fee, and carers receive complimentary entry. The fest has also lowered the age of admission to 16 so more folks can head along. While dishing up primo live tunes and music experiences to Aussies of all abilities, the not-for-profit fest also raises money for the Dylan Alcott Foundation, with 100-percent of its ticket proceeds going to the organisation. [caption id="attachment_963996" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Chloe Hall[/caption] Ability Fest 2024 Lineup: Asha Jefferies Bag Raiders Boone Brenn! Cub Sport Dewbs Eliza Hull jamesjamesjames Jordan Brando Jordz King Stingray Kita Alexander Ocean Alley triple j Unearthed winner Melbourne only: Crybaby DAWS Floodlights Kuzco NayNay ONEFOUR Wax'o Paradiso Top images: Ian Laidlaw, Chloe Hall and Jayden Ostwald.
As attempts to combat COVID-19 ramp up around the globe — and as bans on mass gatherings, such as Australia's new ban on events with over 500 people, come into effect in more countries — venues and organisations everywhere are temporarily shutting down. New York's Metropolitan Opera is one of them; however it's not letting its fans spend their self-isolating days without their beloved artform, announcing nightly live-streamed opera performances from its collection. From Monday, March 16 US time (Tuesday, March 17, Down Under), the NY institution will stream a different opera each evening. Called Nightly Met Opera Streams, the program will start with high-profile shows such as Bizet's Carmen, Puccini's La Boheme, Verdi's Il Trovatore and La Traviata, Donizetti's La Fille du Régiment and Lucia di Lammermoor, and Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin — streaming each for 20 hours from 7.30pm New York time each night. Even better — Nightly Met Opera Streams is free, so you can enjoy world-class opera recorded live (and streamed in HD) without either paying a cent or leaving your couch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afhAqMeeQJk At present, only the first week of shows has been announced. Featuring performances dating between 2007–2018, they star Met Opera talent such as Elīna Garanča, Roberto Alagna, Diana Damrau and Juan Diego Flórez. Nightly Met Opera Streams commence on Tuesday, March 17, Australian and New Zealand time, with a new show live-streamed every day and available for 20 hours afterwards. For further details, visit the Met Opera website. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. Top image: Bengt Nyman via Wikimedia Commons.
Kabir Singh has taken the Mukka brand from strength to strength in recent years. Not only did he move the original Fitzroy site into a much larger venue on Brunswick Street, but he also went down south to launch Mukka St Kilda. And now, just this month, Singh and his business partner Shaurya Jain have opened a third location in Carnegie. While the first two Mukkas similarly hero New Delhi street food and multi-regional Indian curries, the new restaurant — dubbed Good Old Mukka — is leaning into more nostalgic dining vibes, plating up traditional Indian eats. You'll find many of Mukka's most-loved street food starters, dosas, biryani and curries on the Carnegie menu as well as some new dishes, but thalis are the greatest additon. This South Indian tradition sums up what the new venue is all about — recreating family-style eating that harks back to Singh's childhood memories. On one big plate, you'll be served a stack of street food bites, followed by salads, pickles, chutneys, curries and naan bread. Think of it like a set menu, or series of courses, that keep getting added to the same plate. You don't discard the starters and sauces you don't finish, they simply mix in with the next course that's added to the plate — just like how you'd eat at home. A smaller menu is also available for lunch from Tuesday–Friday, with four-tier tiffin tins taking centre place on the menu. The team won't tell you what's included within each layer, as it changes most days. The cheaper (and smaller) Indian bento bowls are also up for grabs at lunch, which include a choice of curry, bread, steamed basmati and papadums for either $21 or $23. Pair this all with tap Kingfisher beer, Indian-inspired cocktails, a small selection of Aussie wines and a long list of single malt whiskeys. If Good Old Mukka is anything like its siblings, it'll be home to some of Melbourne's best Indian food.
A brand new $150 million boutique hotel is coming to Southbank, set to open in September 2025. The 188-room hotel will be developed by Time & Place and MaxCap Group, while operations lie with the Collection by TFE Hotel. TFE Hotels are the same team behind Brisbane's Calile Hotel and the new luxury 102-room hotel coming to Sydney's Surry Hills. Across a sprawling ten-storey building, Hannah St. Hotel will play host to a new bar, restaurant, lap pool, fully-equipped gym, workspace and rooftop bar. "What I love about this project is that Hannah St. Hotel will deliver an experience in a neighbourhood that is transforming, thanks to an investment in Australia's largest cultural infrastructure project, into a truly world-class art precinct," TFE Hotels' CEO Antony Ritch says. "Southbank is connected to the best of Melbourne." "This is a neighbourhood hotel. A building with roots in the community and a place where you're welcomed in to enjoy the hospitality," Time & Place's Tim Price says. It follows news that the Arts Centre will score her next facelift, as part of the Victorian Government's $1.7-billion Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation project. TFE Hotels' new Collection property in Southbank is expected to open in September 2025. We'll bring you more details as they become available. Images: renders, supplied.
Songs, tears, Travis Barker on the drums playing 'In the Air Tonight', host Anthony Anderson advising that his mother would be on "playoff mama" duties to keep the acceptance speeches for the 20-plus awards on time, first presenter Christina Applegate (Dead to Me) getting a standing ovation, a tribute to The Sopranos with an ode to James Gandolfini, Jennifer Coolidge winning another award for The White Lotus: now that's how you start an awards ceremony. The accolades: the 2023 Emmy Awards, being held on Tuesday, January 16, 2024 Australian and New Zealand time after they were postponed during Hollywood's writers' and actors' strikes. And before half an hour had even ticked over, Anderson had advised that "Miami Vice taught me that all I needed was a tanned white friend and a cool white jacket"; Coolidge had announced that Mike White "definitely dead so I'm going along with it", then thanked all the evil gays; The Last of Us ' Pedro Pascal claimed that his arm was in a sling because Succession's "Kieran Culkin beat the shit out of me"; and the latter's co-star Matthew Macfadyen thanked his two on-screen wives, aka Sarah Snook and Nicholas Braun. So, in the second huge Hollywood night of nights in as many weeks, the Emmys started better than the Golden Globes. In fact, that's an understatement. And that's even before Tina Fey (Mean Girls) and Amy Poehler (Moxie) took to the Weekend Update desk, the Cheers and Ally McBeal casts reunited, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia's stars pondered why they don't have Emmys, Ru Paul spoke out against hate, DAHMER — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story's Niecy Nash-Betts thanked herself and Matty Matheson couldn't be more passionate about hospitality with a "restaurants forever!" shout. All of the throwbacks and nostalgia, and spreading the love far beyond what was nominated, was in honour of a big milestone: the Emmys reaching 75 years. These awards should always feel like a celebration of the entire medium; however, that can be easier said than done — but it's a task that the delayed 2023 ceremony perfected. The big winners mirrored the Golden Globes, aka Succession among the dramas, The Bear in the comedy field and Beef in the limited series field. So, while there was no been-there-done-that feel to the presentation between the two awards, that came through in the recipients — supremely worthy as they all are. The main trio weren't the only shows to score prizes, but plenty of deserving series went home empty-handed — see: Better Call Saul, Yellowjackets, Barry and Only Murders in the Building, to name a few — even amid the warm hug-style vibes. What else nabbed a trophy? Who else was in contention? We've got that covered. Here's a rundown of the awards handed out at the main ceremony, plus the nominees competing for them — and you can check out the seven winning shows you should watch ASAP, too. EMMY NOMINEES AND WINNERS 2023 OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES Andor Better Call Saul The Crown House of the Dragon The Last of Us Succession — WINNER The White Lotus Yellowjackets OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES Abbott Elementary Barry The Bear — WINNER Jury Duty The Marvelous Mrs Maisel Only Murders in the Building Ted Lasso Wednesday OUTSTANDING LIMITED SERIES Beef — WINNER DAHMER — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story Daisy Jones & the Six Fleishman Is in Trouble Obi-Wan Kenobi OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES Jeff Bridges, The Old Man Brian Cox, Succession Kieran Culkin, Succession — WINNER Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul Pedro Pascal, The Last of Us Jeremy Strong, Succession OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES Sharon Horgan, Bad Sisters Melanie Lynskey, Yellowjackets Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid's Tale Bella Ramsey, The Last of Us Keri Russell, The Diplomat Sarah Snook, Succession — WINNER OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES Bill Hader, Barry Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building Jason Segel, Shrinking Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso Jeremy Allen White, The Bear — WINNER OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES Christina Applegate, Dead to Me Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary — WINNER Natasha Lyonne, Poker Face Jenna Ortega, Wednesday OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TELEVISION MOVIE Taron Egerton, Black Bird Kumail Nanjiani, Welcome to Chippendales Evan Peters, DAHMER — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story Daniel Radcliffe, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story Michael Shannon, George & Tammy Steven Yeun, Beef — WINNER OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TELEVISION MOVIE Lizzy Caplan, Fleishman Is in Trouble Jessica Chastain, George & Tammy Dominique Fishback, Swarm Kathryn Hahn, Tiny Beautiful Things Riley Keough, Daisy Jones & the Six Ali Wong, Beef — WINNER OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES F. Murray Abraham, The White Lotus Nicholas Braun, Succession Michael Imperioli, The White Lotus Theo James, The White Lotus Matthew Macfadyen, Succession — WINNER Alan Ruck, Succession Will Sharpe, The White Lotus Alexander Skarsgård, Succession OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES Jennifer Coolidge, The White Lotus — WINNER Elizabeth Debicki, The Crown Meghann Fahy, The White Lotus Sabrina Impacciatore, The White Lotus Aubrey Plaza, The White Lotus Rhea Seehorn, Better Call Saul J. Smith-Cameron, Succession Simona Tabasco, The White Lotus OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES Anthony Carrigan, Barry Phil Dunster, Ted Lasso Brett Goldstein, Ted Lasso James Marsden, Jury Duty Ebon Moss-Bachrach, The Bear — WINNER Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary Henry Winkler, Barry OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES Alex Borstein, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel Ayo Edebiri, The Bear — WINNER Janelle James, Abbott Elementary Sheryl Lee Ralph, Abbott Elementary Juno Temple, Ted Lasso Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso Jessica Williams, Shrinking OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TELEVISION MOVIE Murray Bartlett, Welcome to Chippendales Paul Walter Hauser, Black Bird — WINNER Richard Jenkins, DAHMER – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story Joseph Lee, Beef Ray Liotta, Black Bird Young Mazino, Beef Jesse Plemons, Love & Death OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TELEVISION MOVIE Annaleigh Ashford, Welcome to Chippendales Maria Bello, Beef Claire Danes, Fleishman Is in Trouble Juliette Lewis, Welcome to Chippendales Camila Morrone, Daisy Jones & The Six Niecy Nash-Betts, DAHMER – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story — WINNER Merritt Wever, Tiny Beautiful Things OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A DRAMA SERIES Andor, Benjamin Caron, Bad Sisters, Dearbhla Walsh The Last of Us, Peter Hoar Succession, Andrij Parekh Succession, Mark Mylod — WINNER Succession, Lorene Scafaria The White Lotus, Mike White OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A COMEDY SERIES Barry, Bill Hader The Bear, Christopher Storer — WINNER The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, Amy Sherman-Palladino The Ms. Pat Show, Mary Lou Belli Ted Lasso, Declan Lowney Wednesday, Tim Burton OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE Beef, Lee Sung Jin — WINNER Beef, Jake Schreier DAHMER — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, Carl Franklin DAHMER — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story,Paris Barclay Fleishman Is in Trouble, Valerie Faris, Jonathan Dayton Prey, Dan Trachtenberg OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A DRAMA SERIES Andor, Beau Willimon Bad Sisters, Sharon Horgan, Dave Finkel, Brett Baer Better Call Saul, Gordon Smith Better Call Saul, Peter Gould The Last of Us, Craig Mazin Succession, Jesse Armstrong — WINNER The White Lotus, Mike White OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A COMEDY SERIES Barry, Bill Hader The Bear, Christopher Storer — WINNER Jury Duty, Mekki Leeper Only Murders in the Building, John Hoffman, Matteo Borghese, Rob Turbovsky The Other Two, Chris Kelly, Sarah Schneider Ted Lasso, Brendan Hunt, Joe Kelly, Jason Sudeikis OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE Beef, Lee Sung Jin — WINNER Fire Island, Joel Kim Booster Fleishman Is in Trouble, Taffy Brodesser-Akner Prey, Patrick Aison, Dan Trachtenberg Swarm, Janine Nabers, Donald Glover Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, Al Yankovic, Eric Appel OUTSTANDING SCRIPTED VARIETY SERIES A Black Lady Sketch Show Last Week Tonight with John Oliver — WINNER Saturday Night Live OUTSTANDING REALITY COMPETITION SHOW The Amazing Race RuPaul's Drag Race — WINNER Survivor Top Chef The Voice OUTSTANDING TALK SERIES The Daily Show with Trevor Noah — WINNER Jimmy Kimmel Live! Late Night with Seth Meyers The Late Show with Stephen Colbert The Problem with Jon Stewart OUTSTANDING LIVE VARIETY SPECIAL The Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show Starring Rihanna Chris Rock: Selective Outrage Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium — WINNER The Oscars 75th Annual Tony Awards OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A VARIETY SERIES The Daily Show with Trevor Noah Last Week Tonight with John Oliver — WINNER Late Night with Seth Meyers The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Saturday Night Live The 2023 Emmys were announced on Tuesday, January 16, Australian and New Zealand time. For further details, head to the awards' website. Top image: Chuck Hodes/FX.
The world as we know it could do with some improvement. That's a bit of an understatement; however it's also the idea behind Melbourne's returning Transitions Film Festival. This showcase of cinema aims to explore ways in which our future could be brightened, covering a huge range of topics such as food, climate change, animal welfare and renewable energy. Transitions doesn't just have an environmental focus, however. Technological innovation, gender equality, online privacy, social justice and artificial intelligence all rate a mention on the fest's 28-doco lineup — which includes 24 Australian premieres. Screening flicks at Cinema Nova between Thursday, February 21 and Friday, March 8, and hosting events at Loop Project Space & Bar and Brunswick Mechanics Institute too, the program also features sustainability academics, artists and entrepreneurs chatting about the subjects covered on-screen. Film-wise, opening night's Point of No Return explores the first ever solar-powered flight around the world, Vestige heads to South Africa to cover the efforts to save the few remaining black and white rhinos, and It Will Be Chaos charts an Eritrean refugee's attempt to navigate Italy's immigration system. There's also The Guardians, about the illegal logging threat to an ancient Mexican forest; She Started It, which highlights women tech entrepreneurs; and More Human Than Human, which ponders AI. And if you were a fan of Chasing Ice, The Cove and Racing Extinction, The Human Element comes from the same producers — and offers a visual depiction of how climate change is affecting our air, earth, fire and water. Image: The Human Element, Matthew Kennedy, Earth Vision Institute.
Adding to its growing Australian portfolio, Ovolo hotel group opened its latest Melbourne location in 2021. This stunning Melbourne hotel is located near the corner of Toorak Road and Chapel Street, the Ovolo South Yarra brings plenty of 70s glam to the area with a retro design by Luchetti Krelle and bold furnishings. Expect graphic wallpapers, patterned couches and lots of chrome accents, plus four 'Rockstar' suites named after iconic musicians. At Ovolo, you can expect the hotel chain's usual flourishes. That includes being dog friendly — so, yes, your four-legged bestie can join you on your next getaway. At its other Aussie hotels — such as Ovolo Laneways on Little Bourke Street in the CBD — the company offers a heap of great complimentary perks, such as a free mini bar (including a free loot bag), free breakfast with every stay, free wi-fi, free self-service laundry and a free happy hour drink each day, which are all available at South Yarra, too. Also on the menu for Ovolo South Yarra: a fresh restaurant and bar. If you've visited the chain's other on-site hospitality venues — Mister Percy in Sydney's Pyrmont-based hotel, Za Za Ta in Brisbane and Monster at the Ovolo Nishi in Canberra — you'll know this location's offerings won't disappoint. Lona Misa, Ovolo's Latin-inspired restaurant is a huge win, adding to Melbourne's eclectic food scene. It's also fully plant based, so expect great food that's super sustainable. And the Backroom is their hidden bar, tucked away on the famed Toorak Road in South Yarra (discoverable only by a singular, signature, neon martini glass sign). Blending rock soul with contemporary art deco design, it's a great place for a post dinner tipple and a late-night snack. Appears in: The Best Hotels in Melbourne
Never picked up a snowboard or snapped on a pair of skis? No problem. Not only are there ample opportunities to upskill on the slopes — there's so much more to Thredbo than snow sports. Welcome to the après-ski lifestyle: fine wine, fondue, fireplaces and some next-level snowfields fashion. This winter is your chance to go all out with luxurious champagne lunches, outdoor dance parties, live music, mountaintop feasts and fireworks lighting up the night sky. Whether you want to jump into the jam-packed events calendar or wind down by the fire at a cosy bar with a schnapps in hand, you're about to discover why Thredbo is an award-winning winter experience. THE FASHION Forget being swaddled in shapeless, dull puffer jackets and uninspiring colour palettes. Thredbo is all about the 80s snowfield chic. We're talking stylish fluoro detail, faux fur, and a killer headband and flashy goggle combo that'll have you looking sharp on the mountain and at the bar. Need some inspo? When it comes to vintage winter gear, it's go hard or go home. So crack out the snowflake sweaters and furry headbands and get ready to put your best boot forward. THE PARTIES Congratulations, you now have a wardrobe fit for the First Base First Base's A Vintage Après Ski Soirée — the wildest party you'll find in Thredbo this winter. If you think a night of dancing, DJs and Canadian Club will help to cut through winter's bite, make First Base your number one party priority. July 23 will see Stace Cadet take pride of place; August 20 brings the ever-fabulous Poof Doof to the chilly locale; and attendees on September 3 are in for a surprise headliner. Heineken is joining forces with Thredbo to transform Alpine Bar into the outdoor live music space of dreams with Heineken Saturday. Set Mo will be bringing their groove-heavy dance tracks on June 11; while the August 6 session will be a tribute to the electronic mastery of Daft Punk courtesy of Discovery, the duo dedicated to the One More Time virtuosos. And, if that mega offering still has you wanting more, White Claw Weekend is bringing KLP to increase the heat in the snow town. Seltzers and a DJ set from an industry heavyweight after a morning on our glorious slopes? The makings of an epic Saturday. If you only hit up parties for the food (we get it), take the Alpine Gondola up to Merritts Mountain House for its Bavarian-inspired winter feast. The Kareela Hutte Supper Club is a genteel affair where you can watch the Saturday night fireworks with a champagne and canapé in hand. Or, if you're after something a bit more low-key, see what's on at some of the smaller local venues, such as the regular trivia night at T-Bar. THE MUSIC Can't make it to one of the parties? Don't worry, you won't miss out on Thredbo's music scene. Venues around the village have loads of live gigs throughout the busy winter months. Swing by Merritts Mountain House for regular DJ sets or head over to the Schuss Bar to catch live bands performing. The Lounge Bar at First Base is the perfect spot to kick back with a drink by the fire and take in a solo set. Make sure you keep an ear out for more local gig announcements closer to the snow season — chances are there'll be something that grabs you. THE FOOD You might not think of Thredbo as a foodie destination, but that's about to change. Apart from its top-notch restaurants and delightful ski-side kiosks, Thredbo is laying on a spread of delicious events this winter. First up, the GH Mumm Long Lunch will return with luxurious alpine fare and the finest bubbles. On Wednesday evenings from July 13–September 7, you can ride on the Snowcat to Kareela Hutte for a night of premium wining and dining overlooking the picturesque snowy village. Craving a foodie experience, but can't wait to hit the slopes? Head up the mountain for a Sunrise Session. Nothing will beat a delicious breakfast and mimosa on the mountain before jumping on your skis or snowboard in the first rays of light. THE DRINKS Whether you're chasing a fine wine by the fire or hankering for mountaintop steins of beer, Thredbo has an ideal venue for your preferred tipple. Eagles Nest — the highest restaurant and bar in Australia — offers beer, wine and cocktails with an unparalleled view. Love a bev but can't loathe getting in and out of your gear? Head to ski-in, ski-out venue Kareela Hutte for your vino break. Down in Thredbo village, the Après Bar at The Denman boasts a brilliant range of spirits and liqueurs and a team of cocktail experts ready to shake up your perfect winter drink. For an enviable wine list, hit up Cascades Restaurant, Sante or grab a bottle at Thredbo Cellars. Or, take a trip out of town to the Wildbrumby distillery for locally produced schnapps, vodka and gin at the cellar door. THE VILLAGE Whether you stay in a cabin, chalet, apartment or the Alpine Hotel itself for your winter wonderland, you'll soon discover that Thredbo is more than a resort — it's got that community vibe. Be sure to visit the village bakery, the aptly named Local Pub to tie one on, and then go full alpine indulgence with fondue at Candlelight Restaurant and a rejuvenating session at Tineke Edwards Massage Therapy after a big day on the slopes (or in the lounge bar). For a touch of arts and culture, you can check out JK Gallery and Mountain Shop for original artworks, sculptures and homewares. THE STORIES Whatever winter adventure you choose, you'll have plenty of stories to tell. Whether you travel with the whole crew, the family, or make new friends along the way, you can sit back at the end of the day and regale them with tales of your successes and slip ups on the slopes. Did you catch the fireworks? The ice sculptures? Which roaring alpine fireplace is, in fact, the most cosy? Soon, you'll have all the intel on secret spots to share with your crew that are sure to keep you heading back, year after year. Keen to check out Thredbo's après ski scene for yourself? For more information and to plan your snow trip, visit the website.
Japanese and Peruvian cultures have intertwined for over 100 years, leading to the creation of a fascinating fusion cuisine known as Nikkei. It combines both cultures' produce and cooking techniques to craft new dishes and traditions that are bursting with colour and flavour. And while Melbourne has hosted plenty of Nikkei pop-ups, and a few restaurants have presented limited-time Nikkei menus, our city hasn't had a permanent restaurant dedicated to this cuisine — as far as we know. Until now, that is, thanks to Chapel Street's new Inca at Morris Jones, which opened on Saturday, July 6. Chef Carlos Moreira is running the kitchen here, pumping out classic Nikkei dishes like ceviche and tiradito — but with his own contemporary twists that go well beyond the usual varieties you're used to. Sure, you'll find the obligatory kingfish ceviche which graces every other menu in Melbourne, but there are also playful tuna, salmon and vegan versions. We're also eager to sample the wagyu beef tiradito served with crispy capers, cornichons and mustard tartufo nero. Beyond these, you'll also find the likes of Sydney rock oysters with pisco sour granita; tostada de carmarones with aji verde; spanner crab taquitos; a whole dry-aged duck with burned orange and aji amarillo crema; and a 300-gram black angus picanha with sweet potato and anticuchera sauce. Moreira is originally from Brazil, but has spent vast amounts of time in Peru researching the origins of Nikkei cuisine. He's also worked in his fair share of Michelin-starred and hatted kitchens, so we are expecting big things at Inca. The drinks list is also inspired by Nikkei flavours, boasting plenty of Peruvian pisco sours, Japanese whiskies and light lagers. All of this is being served within the recently renovated Morris Jones, which is also home to a luxe bar with a dance floor and DJs, and a newly designed courtyard that takes it cues from West Hollywood in the 60s and 70s. While you're hitting up Inca for Nikkei eats, be sure to nose around the rest of Morris Jones. You'll find Inca at 163 Chapel Street, Windsor, open 4pm–1am on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and 12pm–1am from Friday to Sunday. For more details and to book a table, visit the venue's website.
Fancy a morning coffee rave to start your weekend early? Frank Green, everyone's favourite reusable cup and bottle brand, is hosting a unique event combining music, coffee and community, all in the spirit of sustainability. The festivities kick off on Friday, July 11, when South Melbourne cafe Clementine transforms into a daytime club from 9–11am. Renowned DJ CRŸBABY will be on the decks spinning tunes to wake you up for your Friday. Right in time for Plastic Free July, everyone who attends will be given a limited-edition, custom Frank Green reusable cup that can be used after the event for discounted coffees at Clementine. The message? Sustainability doesn't always have to be serious. To win a ticket for you and a friend, visit Frank Green's Instagram and enter the competition. Get in quick; entries close at 6pm on Tuesday, July 8. Images: Supplied.
Somehow, entirely inexplicably, we're already thinking about Christmas. This year, skip the typical department stores and instead pick out unique gifts for your family and friends at The Big Design Market. Coming to Melbourne for the ninth time this December, the three-day independent designer extravaganza features over 250 stallholders selling furniture, fashion, homewares, textiles, and much more. With such a wide range of products, you're sure to find something for even the pickiest people on your list. You can also expect a smorgasbord of food options from local favourites like 400 Gradi, Miss Chu, Koko Black, All Day Donuts and Billy Van Creamy, and St Ali will be doing coffee all day (with a discount given to those that bring their keep cup). Plus, cocktails from Sydney gin distillery Archie Rose and tinnies from Moo Brew, will ensure you're sorted for Friday night (or Saturday arvo) drinks. The Big Design Market always commissions an impressive installation, and this year Min Pin artist Penny Ferguson will fill the Exhibition Building with a giant mobile of her cute and colourful illustrations. Each year the market also puts together a showbag of goodies from some of the stallholders, including Abby Seymour, Able & Game, Orbitkey and Hello Miss May. A limited number will be available to purchase each day for $30 ($150 value). Entry is $5 this year — but a percentage of that will be donated to Landcare to help support the organisation's restoration projects. So prepare your bank account, and get ready to have your Christmas shopping done earlier than you ever have before. The market will be open from 10am–9pm on Friday, 10am–7pm on Saturday and 10am–5pm on Sunday.
Melty jaffles, oozy raclette, crispy saganaki and an array of other cheesy dishes are all on the menu at Cheese Night. Happening every Wednesday from 5pm, this turophile's dream is a collaboration between Longsong — the bar above Thai restaurant Longrain on Little Bourke Street — and cheesemonger Anthony Femia of Maker and Monger. For every session, Femia handpicks a selection of outstanding Australian cheese, which the Longsong chefs then transform into a delectable morsel. Most selections come from small producers, such as South West Victoria's L'Artisan, where third-generation cheesemaker Matthieu Megard uses only local, organic milk and traditional techniques. Once a month, Femia attends in person, to host a cheese tasting. You might've seen him dishing up raclette from his antique French food cart at Prahran Market or heard that he came fourth at the 2013 Cheesemonger World Championships held in Loire Valley, France. Meanwhile, behind the Longsong kitchen is head chef David Moyle, whose CV includes Circa and The Pacific Dining Room. Bookings can be made online or by getting in touch with the eatery via email or phone, and it's an a la carte, pay-for-what-you-eat affair. Image: Griffin Simm.
The night owls of the northside have scored an eclectic new drinking den, hidden upstairs behind an unassuming facade on Northcote's Arthurton Road. The newly opened Kepler's Yard is both a cosy cocktail bar and an escapist's delight, taking both its name and inspiration from legendary astronomer and mathematician Johannes Kepler. Venture on up and you'll find an intimate space featuring cheerfully mismatched thrifted furniture, themed trinkets and walls decorated with an array of astronomy-related paraphernalia. Heavy red drapes and gilded mirrors lend an old-world vibe, while squashy vintage lounges encourage lengthy late-night visits. As a neighbour and sibling to music venue 24 Moons, it's little surprise Kepler's Yard will be championing creativity across a regular program of DJ nights, musical offerings, comedy performances and even live drawing sessions. And, from 5pm every Sunday, local crew Pelican Villa delivers a chilled-out curation of weekend-wrapping sounds for Spin City Sundays. Stay tuned for some regular trivia, too. Otherwise, it's a comfy haunt where you can tuck into vinyl tunes and crafty cocktails well into the wee hours — the bar's open until 3am Tuesday to Thursday, with a 5am close on Fridays and Saturdays. The lineup of planet-themed libations might include the whisky- and ginger-infused Mars Attacks, as well as the Neptune Nip — a rich blend of bourbon, chocolate bitters and vanilla. Alongside those sits an all-Aussie offering of wine, beer and cider. And, while there's no kitchen as such, you can order in a bite from various local eateries to be dropped off straight to your table or couch. Find Kepler's Yard at 2 Arthurton Road, Northcote — open from 6pm–3am Tuesday–Thursday, 6pm–5am Friday–Saturday and 6pm–1am Sunday.
The debut program for Rising is set to light up and transform precincts all across Melbourne including the winding inner-city stretch of the Yarra. From May 26–June 6, the river — also known by its traditional name, Birrarung — will play host to a 200-metre-long glowing eel skeleton, undulating atop the water. Unlike some of the more questionable things to be found between the riverbanks, this large-scale creature is a beauty, created by renowned public art crew The Lantern Company. Titled Wandering Stars, the piece reflects on First People's connection to the river and nature, crafted from hundreds of community-made floating lanterns and shimmering glass eels, and emitting a mysterious soundscape as it moves. Your best views of the artwork will be on the water's edge at Birrarung Marr, where you'll also find yourself in pretty good culinary company. To complement Wandering Stars' visual delights, expect riverside pop-up kitchens from Meatsmith (Andrew McConnell and Troy Wheeler's celebrated specialty butcher), delivering a soul-warming, charcoal-fuelled winter menu. Cosy up to the likes of slow-cooked beef short rib, fennel-glazed fried chicken sandwiches, and fancy hot chocolates with house-made clove and orange marshmallows. [caption id="attachment_810874" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Expect charcoal-fuelled eats from Meatsmith.[/caption]
Although your wardrobe might be begging for an update, there's no rule saying your fresh threads need to be brand new. Then again, not all second-hand and vintage fashion is created equal, so if you're looking for something special, SWOP is likely where you'll find it. Its colour-coded racks are always a goldmine when it comes to finding something both fashionable and sustainable. Plus, as well as promoting anti-waste, the buyers are big on inclusivity — so most of the clothing you'll find is affordable, and there tends to be plenty of options for all body types. Images: Victoria Zschommler.
Midsumma, Victoria's premier LGBTQIA+ annual event, has just kicked off, serving up 22 days of bright and bold happenings until Monday, February 2. Having been frequent collaborators in recent years, the rainbow-tinged festival is once again teaming up with the NGV to present Queer Histories, Futures & Creativity — a special program highlighting LGBTQIA+ stories from the 20th century through to the present. The series kicks off on Friday, January 30, with a Midsumma-curated edition of NGV Friday Nights. Taking over the Great Hall from 6–10pm, queer club scene regular DJ ENN is spinning the tunes. At the same time, award-winning performance artist Bendy Ben roves the ground floor, captivating audiences with their brand of drag cabaret that shifts between high art and the glitter-speckled gutter. On Saturday, February 7, this collaboration reaches its peak with four events throughout the day. Babies & Barking Dogs: Keith Haring & Melbourne reflects on the iconic artist's 1984 visit to Melbourne, exploring his creative legacy and socio-cultural impact. Then, Beyond the Binary: Marlow Moss delves into the artist's contributions to queer art and culture, contextualised by the NGV's recent acquisition of Moss' painting, Composition yellow, blue, black, red and white. In the afternoon, it's time for Queer Worldmaking: Women Photographers 1900–1975. Here, NGV curators Maggie Finch and Meg Slater lead a ticketed tour of the ongoing NGV exhibition, highlighting a selection of the LGBTQIA+ moments on display. Finally, Re-Imagining Gender: Rei Kawakubo & Vivienne Westwood reveals how these landmark artists subverted gender to transform how we think about fashion — a free booking is required. Top image: Wild Hardt Photography.
As most of us loudly exclaim every year, how on earth is it February already? With that, Valentine's Day is almost upon us. Whether you're all in on the celebration of love, you adamantly tell anyone who will listen that it's a money-making conspiracy or you only acknowledge Galentine's Day, there's nothing bad about an excuse to spread warm and fuzzy feelings. If you don't feel like dropping tonnes of cash on one of the many set menu dinners on offer, here are five ideas for V Day that won't break the bank. [caption id="attachment_760801" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ardian Lumi[/caption] LEARN A DANCE OF LOVE AT THE IMMIGRATION MUSEUM For anyone who loves to dance, or likes the idea of dancing but isn't quite sure how, The Immigration Museum has you sorted. It'll be open late for Latin Valentine in honour of the Mexican tradition El Día del Amor y la Amistad (The Day of Love and Friendship). Entry is just $20 each (or a little extra for a sultry dance workshop or a chocolate and tequila tasting), for a night of salsa dancing, afro beats, cocktails, street food and mariachi love song dedications. To celebrate the importance of platonic and familial love, there's also speed friending sessions, personalised compliment cards and a Polaroid photo booth. PAT POOCHES AND GET SMOOCHES AT THIS BREWERY Romance prospects looking a little slim this Valentine's Day? Fear not — your mates at Abbotsford's Moon Dog have the perfect solution, involving some very good boys and plenty of furry (and perhaps a little slobbery) kisses. This February 14, the Abbotsford brewery is serving up a big dose of puppy love with its dog-filled Valentine's Day bash, complete with an adorable doggy kissing booth. It'll be manned by some of Moon Dog's favourite four-legged friends, offering smooches from 4–6pm. Who even needs love when doggy snogs are on the cards? Fittingly, this paw party also coincides with the launch of the latest drop from Moon Dog's Doggo Mates beer series: the big, hazy Leon's New England IPA. Rock up from 4pm and you can be one of the first to sample it fresh from the tap. And, of course, if you've got a pooch of your own, they're welcome to come along and join in the loved-up, Valentine's Day fun. SEE A FILM IN ONE OF MELBOURNE'S PRETTIEST GARDENS A twilight picnic, a bottle of wine and a movie under the stars, all with the grass of Rippon Lea Estate under your toes. Idyllic. Barefoot Cinema has returned to the gorgeous garden for another summer, and this February 14 it's screening the always romantic (despite the teenage deaths) Romeo + Juliet. Tickets are $22 a pop so BYO picnic and pick up a bottle of vino from the bar. Barefoot isn't the only outdoor cinema showing flicks this Valentine's Day, either — you can also head to Moonlight Cinema at the Royal Botanic Gardens, which is screening Ghost; catch Rocketman at the MCG; or watch a free screening of The Notebook at the pop-up Fed Beach. SOAK IN THE SWEET SOUNDS OF THE MELBOURNE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA A free concert at Sidney Myer Music Bowl is a summer right of passage at this point and a super romantic (and cheap) way to spend Valentine's Day this year. La Dolce Vita (the sweet life) will kick off at 7.30pm, conducted by Benjamin Northey, featuring the MSO horn quartet and the world premiere of a MSO commission by Richard Mills, 'Island Signal Island Song'. We advise putting a picnic together and getting down early (doors open at 4.30pm) to secure your spot for a night of classical overtures under the stars. EMBRACE THE 'TRUE' MEANING OF THE DAY: CHOCOLATE (AND CRAFT BEER) Richmond's Concrete Boots Bar is aiming to help you escape the usual love day schtick with craft beer and chocolate extravaganza Schmalentine's Day. Teaming up with sweet specialists The Dessert Plate, Concrete Boots will be pairing paddles of craft beer with artisanal chocolates. For $16 a paddle, you'll get three brews, each with a taste of its perfect chocolate buddy. Try the Big Shed Golden Gaytime stout paired with Cocoa Rhapsody's Mocca, a mango IPA from Jetty Road and Monsieur Truffe's caramel milk chocolate with sea salt, or a chai flavoured choccy with a Belgian blonde ale from Hargreaves Hill. There'll also be snacks, share plates and chocolatey desserts to enjoy. Top image: Immigration Museum
It's hard to get a true snapshot of a place you're holidaying in when you don't know a resident who can show you around. It can take years to truly get to know a place, and while tourist spots are the obvious starting point, they can also leave you wanting to dig deeper. We've teamed up with Pullman Hotels and Resorts to bring you a guide to Brisbane's less obvious but obviously fabulous experiences. It's not exactly a local's guide, because visitors are not exactly locals and we all want to treat ourselves while on vacay. But it is a round-up of the best of the best art, food and fun found in Brisbane — and given the city offers an abundance of each, it was not easy to whittle it down. Putting our heads together with Mark Wayper, marketing and loyalty executive at Pullman Brisbane King George Square, we've curated a list of must-dos that will leave you wanting more of Brisbane. A former musician and Disney Cruise Line staffer who regularly volunteers for arts festivals, Mark's stayed in the service industry for the pure love of bantz with guests. Let our joint recommendations guide you to the perfect day out in Brisbane, and check out the rest of our Explore More content series to hone your itinerary for some of Australia's best holiday destinations. FOOD & DRINK DOO BOP JAZZ BAR His excellency Sir Howard Moon once said "Never disturb a man when he's in a jazz trance". At Doo Bop Jazz Bar, you'll be surrounded by like-minded soul brothers and sisters soaking in the live sounds of both local and interstate talent (no trance interruptions allowed!). The two-level live music venue in the heart of Brisbane's CBD features a jazz bar, piano bar and late-night jam sessions for those itching to get on stage. Need some liquid courage? No problem! Their extensive and sophisticated wine list will have you scatting up a storm in no time. Don't miss: The late-night jam sessions, at least from the spectator's side. CREOLE SOUL KITCHEN Brisbane is full of surprises. What visitor would guess, for instance, that it's home to some of the most delicious gumbo? Southern hospitality is well and truly alive and thriving in Creole Soul Kitchen. This cosy Spring Hill eatery is well worth the visit for its charming service alone. If seafood isn't your thing, then it also offers a "create your own" pasta menu, paying homage to New Orleans' Italian influence. Don't miss: The gumbo. SANTA MONICA PIZZA AND BURGER BAR Across the road from Central Station, Santa Monica Pizza and Burger Bar is right on one of the busiest crossings in the CBD. Few places manage to channel the character of Brissie itself, but — laidback, casual and ever so stylish — this place manages to do just that. Grab yourself a booth, kick back with a burger and a craft beer, and enjoy the ample people-watching opportunities. Don't miss: The Cajun chicken burger THE GRESHAM If you feel the need to mix a bit history and architecture with some of the highest-quality rum (let's face it, who doesn't?) then visiting The Gresham is a must. Initially designed for the Queensland National Bank in 1881, The Gresham building is now the only heritage bar in Queensland. Think sandstone walls, dim lighting, a vintage piano and an open fireplace. Don't miss: Their signature Sunnyboy cocktail is a nod to the nostalgic childhood treat, with passionfruit, coconut, butter and vodka — an obvious adulthood essential. CONTEMPORARY ART & DESIGN [caption id="attachment_643158" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] by Mick Richards[/caption] METRO ARTS The search for contemporary art in Brisbane shouldn't necessarily default to visiting the popular QAGOMA. It's understandable to want to escape the crowds and look for something a little more intimate (without making the trek out to the suburban galleries). Metro Arts ticks all the boxes. A buzzing CBD hub of all things contemporary art, Metro Arts is a community-based venue with no shortage of exhibitions, performances, poetry readings, workshops and independent film screenings. Its exhibition program showcases a new artist every nine days. Don't miss: Check out the gallery on level two for works by artists ranging from graduates to established professionals in an array of mediums. PIGEONHOLE It may sound like the perfect hiding spot for the CBD's most populous bird, but in fact, Pigeonhole is the perfect place to find a souvenir for the person that has everything. Just like the bird itself — friendly, a little bit quirky and a little adorable — here you'll find personality-driven clothing, novelty gifts, statement pieces and local designer homewares. You won't have to travel too far either, as Pigeonhole is tucked away in the centrally located Wintergarden Shopping Centre. Don't miss: Keep an eye out for hard-to-find brands like Concept Japan as well as Aussie favourite Able and Game. ARTISAN A centre for craft and design, Artisan is a space much like the makers that frequent it — unconventional and completely charming. The store shelves are full of ceramics, jewellery and textiles to purchase, while interactive exhibitions reflect the diversity of Brisbane's contemporary arts community. Don't miss: Their workshops, which range from spoon carving to textile design and life drawing. LEISURE & WELLBEING [caption id="attachment_643146" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] by Tatiana Gerus[/caption] MT COOT-THA They say it's lonely at the top, and boy, they couldn't be more wrong. Standing at the lookout of Mount Coot-tha will have you surrounded by an epic 360-view of the always gorgeous Brisbane city, as well as fellow hikers and foodies. Choose between the 30-minute Summit Walking Track if you're a beginner, or the 1.5-hour Eugenia Circuit trail, which takes in the eucalypt woodlands across to the Simpson Falls viewing deck. Don't miss: Reward yourself with a post-hike lunch at the Summit Restaurant. The pressed pork belly with braised cabbage and jamon is a winner. The best part about ordering multiple desserts? You'll burn it all off on the way back down. JAMES STREET Quite possibly the most glamorous street in Brisbane, James Street has evolved into the city's ultimate fashion and lifestyle mecca – with not a shopping centre in sight. The beautiful, tree-lined precinct is filled with al fresco dining options, a cinema and more than 130 specialty stores stocking sought-after labels. Drop into Calexico for key pieces from Rag & Bone, Camargue for eclectic threads from Dries Van Noten, and Optiko for a pair of killer shades to get you through Brissie's enviable sunshine. Don't miss: Look out for James Street Up Late events throughout the year to snap up bargains while taking in cocktails, street food and live music. SAKURA DAY SPA NEW FARM PSA: Explorer exhaustion is a real thing. All that walking, shopping, eating and drinking your way around the city is bound to take a toll. Kick up those tired feet and pop into Sakura Day Spa, just minutes from the city yet far enough to feel like you've just entered your very own Japanese sanctuary. A massage or facial here will have you finish your holiday feelings actually rested for a change. Don't miss: Sakura's signature body treatment — 120 minutes of dessert-inspired bliss that includes a vanilla salt scrub and chocolate body wrap, followed by a refreshing Vichy shower. Explore more with Pullman. Book your next hotel stay with Pullman and enjoy a great breakfast for just $1.
One of the northside's best-loved beer gardens has been transformed into a beach-inspired oasis primed for the scorching temperatures hitting Melbourne left, right and centre. The Fitzroy Beer Garden's sprawling courtyard now boasts an extra ten cubic metres of sand, vibrant tiki styling and a pop-up beach bar, to help you keep your keep cool right through until the end of summer. To match its snazzy new looks and Mikey XXI wall art, the bar's also whipping up a fresh range of summery cocktail creations. Snag a spot on one of the daybeds or kick back in a beach booth and enjoy sips like the Summerside — a blend of gin, strawberry puree, lemon and balsamic — or the share-friendly Princess Peach jug, featuring vodka, Chambord, peach schnapps, apple juice and mint. Of course, the Gertrude Street bar's weekly lineup of specials and parties continues, too, only now with a blissed-out beachy backdrop. Catch taco night every Tuesday, DJs and $10 burgers every Friday and $5 tinnies from the new beach bar from 6–7pm daily. You can check out all the daily specials over here. The Fitzroy Beach Garden is open from midday–1am daily. Images: The Fitzroy Beer Garden
Ever since the world initially watched Squid Game in 2021, Netflix has been obsessed with bringing everyone's favourite South Korean streaming series into real life. First came pop-up stunts. Then arrived reality competition show Squid Game: The Challenge, obviously without a body count. Experiences that let everyone play the show's games without appearing on TV are also part of the IRL fun. As the show's second season approaches, dropping on Boxing Day 2024, Australia keeps welcoming Squid Game activations — starting in St Kilda, where 200 pink guards relaxed on the Melbourne suburb's beach to kick things off. Three years back, however, Young-hee made its eerie presence known in Sydney. The Red Light, Green Light doll has now returned to the Harbour City, crossing the famous waterway by ferry with 300 pink guards as an escort to get to Luna Park Sydney for Squid Game: The Experience. On Thursday, December 12, 2024, a towering sight joined the harbour alongside the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House — and, as the pictures show, it was quite an image to behold. From Saturday, December 14, you can head to Luna Park to be in the doll's company. Just in time for the Christmas holidays and Squid Game season two's release, Squid Game: The Experience will get everyone playing with Young-hee. Call it Red Light, Green Light. Call it Statues. Call it Grandmother's Footsteps. Whichever name you prefer, how good are you at the game that involves folks a-sneaking, ideally without being caught? Now, how would you fare trying to creep forward while avoiding being spotted when Young-hee is lurking? Squid Game: The Experience lets you find out. Get your green tracksuit ready. Front Man will be there to dare you to take the Squid Game challenges IRL. Busting out your marbles skills and walking over the glass bridge are also on the agenda. Some games are inspired by the Netflix program. Others are brand new. You'll only know if Squid Game: The Experience takes any cues from the thriller's second season, though, if you drop by after Thursday, December 26. Players can take part individually, or in groups of up to 25. As you work through the challenges, which get harder as you go along, you'll earn points. Another difference from the series: if you get eliminated from a game, you'll still be able to take part in the challenges that follow. Squid Game: The Experience arrives at Luna Park Sydney, 1 Olympic Drive, Milsons Point, from Saturday, December 14, 2024. Head to the venue's website for more information and to buy tickets. Squid Game season two streams 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.
What a year it's been for Violent Soho. The Brisbane lads' sold-out national tours in July and December went gangbusters, and they've stolen the show at many of Australia’s leading festivals including Splendour in the Grass, Groovin' the Moo and triple j's One Night Stand. They've dominated the Carlton Dry Independent Music Awards, with four nominations — more than any other artist nominated — and two awards for their critically-acclaimed album, Hungry Ghost: Best Independent Album and Best Independent Hard Rock, Heavy or Punk Album. Just this weekend, they've slayed their final festival before Christmas; the foursome headlined Festival of the Sun on Saturday. When we called guitarist James Tidswell to catch up on this year thus far, he's sitting in his backyard eating strewed apple and quinoa, and hanging out with his baby girl who was born in May this year. Bless. But back to the rock and roll stuff — here are five reasons why Violent Soho are a top bunch of blokes for the Australian market. THEY'RE GREAT MATES WITH OTHER BANDS During their Hungry Ghost national tour this past July, Violent Soho played to massive crowds all over the country. While there was plenty of fun to be had on stage, Tidswell was at his happiest watching the support bands do their thing. "I watched every band every night," says Tidswell. "Highlights were Sounds Like Sunset — they opened the Friday Sydney show. Every night Luca Brasi and Smith Street Band ruled. White Walls were awesome. Ceres were awesome. A whole bunch of bands really, they were the highlights." On a side note, the band also loved how rowdy their fans got, even on a school night. "The show in Sydney on the Tuesday night was surprisingly good, I guess that's only because it was a Tuesday and I didn't expect it to go off quite like that, but that was awesome." THEY'RE A DEMOCRACY Violent Soho had the great honour of programming RAGE in August, and the show was inevitably what can only described as rad. The lads included the likes of Frenzal Rhomb, Sandpit, The Drones and Dune Rats on their video playlist. Anyone who has ever tried to compile a party playlist with your mates knows that you can't always get what you want. But it doesn't have to be that way, at least not for the Violent Soho guys. "We got 16 songs each, we just went up and did our own thing," explains Tidswell. "We all chose things for different reasons. I know that Mikey went for videos that you'd want to see late at night, so he chose The Ramones' Pet Cemetery, which has a rad video, and stuff like that. Everyone went for different things." Tidswell chose songs he loves, and thinks you should love too. "I went for songs that I really like and wanted other people to like, or at least hear. I think it was heaps of friend's bands." THEY WOULD RIP A GUMBOOT BONG GIVEN THE CHANCE A couple of truly awesome things happened during Violent Soho's set at Splendour this year. Firstly, bassist Luke Henery's three-year-old son Oscar came out on stage with the band and won the hearts of thousands. Secondly, a dude ripped a gumboot bong. When asked if he would do the same thing if the opportunity ever arose, Tidswell didn’t hesitate with a response. "Ha! Yeah I would! When I saw it I thought it was so cool. I didn't see it happening, I saw the photo later on. What a legend. I'd definitely do that, I think it’s the smartest move." If it's good enough for their fans, it's good enough for Violent Soho. FACT. THEY TAKE IT ALL IN THEIR STRIDE Hungry Ghost was released in the States at the end of September and while the record itself wasn't be harmed, their single 'Covered In Chrome' had to undergo a radio edit for the famous catch cry "Hell Fuck Yeah". Instead of this being a major bummer, Tidswell shrugs it off with ease. "It's just for the radio release. We knew we had to do that anyway. We released a song there in 2010 called 'Muscle Junkie' and the lyrics go 'fuck you fuck you I hate your face' over and over again. We knew you couldn't just put fuck on a song on the radio over there." In other band news, Violent Soho have also completed their second vinyl pressing for Hungry Ghost, which sold out in less than 24 hours. When asked if the widespread appreciation for their third record felt overwhelming, his response is simple. "Yeah. That's the only way to describe it, for sure." THEY JUST NAILED FESTIVAL OF THE SUN The final stop for this year’s festival circuit for Violent Soho was Festival Of The Sun’s 10th anniversary in Port Macquarie. Joined by the Jezabels, Shihad, Dune Rats and Jackie Onassis for the two-day festival, the guys were, true to form, keen to see some music as well as playing it. "There's tons of good bands playing, so that will be good." There's plenty to be happy about playing at Festival Of The Sun according to Tidswell, as he explains, "It’s just in a good area, a real good spot... Good bands, good people in that area, I like it." What's next then? For the rest of the year, Tidswell will continue to enjoy his downtime of hangouts in Brissy, skating, having breakfast in the backyard at 1pm, and hanging out with his little lady. Delightful. Image credits: AP Photography, Stephen Booth.
Prahran's High St Hotel has reopened with a fresh new direction and energised spirit just in time for the silly season. At its heart, it maintains its strong sense of community, with a quality hospitality offering, inclusive atmosphere and approachable space. The pub is led by Nic and Bianca Gordon (former owners of Blue Tongue Wine Bar), who have transformed the venue into a contemporary, multi-purpose space to create a place where people can truly connect. "Our vision is to reimagine a once iconic venue into a vibrant and multi-space destination, catering for all that work, live and play in our community — and beyond our dynamic postcode." On the menu, you'll find tried and tested pub classics such as fish and chips, hand-crumbed chicken parmas, Victorian grass-fed steaks, and cheeseburgers with seasoned fries. There are plenty of snacky small plates to get you through an afternoon of bevvies, such as deep-fried lasagne bites, crab and prawn toasts, bresaola crumpets, and haloumi with apple and honey. Bianca says, "Every dish is designed to strike the right balance between quality and approachability, creating a dining experience that feels both familiar and special." With a mega screen and multiple other large televisions, the beer garden is set to become the local go-to for match day. It's just as friendly to families, with a dedicated kids' menu and a welcoming atmosphere. And a strong sense of family and community is what sets the place apart. The venue manager and assistant are Nic's nephew and cousin; Bianca's mum helped redesign the interiors; and as part of a program to give back, the pub will launch an annual $10,000 community grant for local sporting clubs in the area. Images: Supplied.
After an extended pandemic-driven hiatus, Prahran's Grand Lafayette shifted gears in a big way, reopening in May 2022 with a brand-new chef and refreshed food direction. Now with chef Jonny Wu (Misschu) at the helm, the 100-seat all-day eatery celebrates classic Japanese flavours reimagined with a modern accent, and even boasts a dedicated tempura station. Embrace the crunch with delicately battered morsels ranging from mixed mushrooms ($26.5), to kingfish ($29.5), to oysters served with yuzu maple ponzu and rose salt (4pc, $25.5). Elsewhere on the new a la carte menu, an expansive lineup of raw bites and sushi features the likes of beef tataki ($26.5), soft shell crab roll elevated with broccolini and sweet corn miso (8 pc, $23.5) and scallop carpaccio with a black wine glaze ($29.5). Deeper in, expect a mix of familiar favourites and new creations — plump salmon bao ($12), chicken or prawn katsu served with an ume and prune sauce ($14.5), and crab croquettes finished with a spicy jalapeño miso (3pc, $22.5). There's also a range of rice bowls, noodles and udon soups, including a tempura-topped number made with chicken dashi soy broth ($22). Meanwhile, fans of Grand Lafayette's earlier days will appreciate the dessert offering, which includes four variations on the oh-so-photogenic signature raindrop cake ($9). [caption id="attachment_854403" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Griffin Simm[/caption] Images: Griffin Simm
What will inspire you to spend your Sunday nights busting out your music trivia knowledge, and also playing along with one of the most-beloved Australian TV shows there is? The return of Spicks and Specks for 2024. Back in 2023, the ABC announced that it was bringing the series back for a new season after it took the past year off — and you can now mark Sunday, June 9 in your diary for the big comeback. Among everything that the ABC has ever broadcast — news, entertainment, after-school kids shows, oh-so-much Doctor Who and late-night music videos to keep you occupied after a few drinks all included — the Adam Hills-, Myf Warhurst- and Alan Brough-led Spicks and Specks is up there among the favourites. If you're keen to watch a heap of top Australian talent sit around and talk about tunes again, this season's guests from the music side of things include Anthony Callea, Marlon Williams, Elly-May Barnes, Nooky, Montaigne and Dan Sultan, as well as Mark Seymour, Oli from Lime Cordiale. Among the comedians, Hamish Blake, Tommy Little, Steph Tisdell, Abbie Chatfield, Shane Jacobson and Jenny Tian will feature. Plus, Adrian Eagle, Gut Health and Lime Cordiale will perform. Here's how it works, if you've forgotten: the show's contestants answer questions, compete for points and just generally be funny, too. That's the concept behind the series, which takes more than a few cues from the UK's Never Mind the Buzzcocks, pits Aussie musos and comedians against each other, and has proven a hit several times over. It was a weekly favourite when it first aired between 2005–2011 — and it keeps being resurrected. As fans already know, Spicks and Specks has enjoyed more comebacks than John Farnham, although that has meant different things over the years. When the program was first revived back in 2014, it did so with a new host and team captains, for instance. And when it started to make a return with its original lineup of Hills, Warhurst and Brough, it first did so via a one-off reunion special. That 2018 comeback proved more than a little popular. It became the ABC's most-watched show of that year, in fact. So, the broadcaster then decided to drop four new Spicks and Specks specials across 2019–20 and, for 2021, to bring back Spicks and Specks in its regular format. In 2022, ten new episodes hit. The new season will air at 7.30pm on Sunday evenings via ABC and ABC iView — and new segments will also be part of the fun. T0 tide you over until June, here's a classic clip from past Spicks and Specks runs: Spicks and Specks will return to ABC TV and via ABC iView from 7.30pm on Sunday, June 9, 2024.
Approaching the mental health of your loved ones, and your own, isn't always the easiest, but two Sydneysiders have produced a novel way to get the public opening up to each other. Intangible Goods is an installation by artists Mark Starmach and Elizabeth Commandeur, who've combined year's worth of involvement in the marketing industry with a shared experience of growing up with family members who struggled with mental health. Presented by Art & About Sydney at three CBD locations from now until April 8, Intangible Goods makes engaging with contemporary psychology accessible and easy to interact with. The former advertising colleagues share the unusual bond of having family members diagnosed with schizophrenia and have found an outlet for these experiences to go alongside their exposure to the negative aspects of consumerism that's a mainstay of their professional careers. "In both our lives, we found that our families were very hidden about it," says Elizabeth. "They felt like they couldn't be open with their friends or family and that it wasn't something they could talk about publically." With Intangible Goods, Mark and Elizabeth hope to give people a way to express their inner feelings with an element of fun and whimsy. [caption id="attachment_661905" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Katherine Griffiths. Courtesy of City of Sydney.[/caption] VENDING GOODNESS More than familiar with the typically heavy-handed campaigns marketing agencies produce concerning mental health, Mark and Elizabeth approached the subject with a touch of light-heartedness. Noticing similarities between advertising principals and psychological theories such as Maslow's Hierarchy, the duo wanted to make use of their marketing experience, help people consider their own mental wellbeing and embrace these conversations in a more comfortable way. Their solution? Intangible Goods — a vending machine stocked with ten different 'snacks' that'll feed your wellbeing. Neatly designed, each product line is the result of considerable consultation with mental health professionals and a survey of 550 of their fellow Sydneysiders who were asked what they needed most in their lives right now. Mark explains, "Throughout our survey, several answers bubbled to the top. Something like 41% of people responded that they wanted closer connections with the people in their lives, which was a clear outlier. But, in thinking about what connection to others actually is, it can't clearly be defined to just one single type of connection." That's why each individual 'Connection' package has its own concept inside. Where one reminds you to stay in touch with friends and family, others suggest making new relationships or improving your sense of belonging in the community. The same has been done for other responses, which vary from 'Purpose' to 'Structure', 'Spontaneity' to 'Calm'. Each product can be bought from the vending machine for $2 with all profits going towards beyondblue, the Mental Health Association NSW (WayAhead) and the Schizophrenia Research Institute at NeuRA. CONSUMING LESS, LIVING MORE Mark and Elizabeth are first to admit the world of marketing and advertising can promote unhealthy habits around consumerism. As Elizabeth explains, "For me, I think consumerism is habitual and almost an everyday thing. But I think much of it is mindlessly purchasing goods that help fulfil some sort of empty void in our lives." Intangible Goods aims to turn this concept upside-down by redirecting the energy put into promoting products into something positive. By providing visitors with a conversation starter and something that'll elicit an emotional response, the installation is aimed at encouraging visitors to think critically, as well as providing a way to navigate their own mindset. MAKING BIG, FIRST STATEMENTS While the concept had long been floating around Mark and Elizabeth's heads, the nitty-gritty of Intangible Goods took almost a year to complete. Being the first major art project both Mark and Elizabeth have produced, adjusting from their largely structured professional lives to something more abstract and holistic took some getting used to. This adjustment was only made more difficult with Elizabeth working remotely from Copenhagen for the duration of 2017. But after many midnight phone calls, shared online spreadsheets, discussions with vending machine suppliers, budget lists and safety reports, the pair's hard work has finally been realised. Working alongside Art & About Sydney and the City Of Sydney, Mark says the creative process was made easy with the freedom the duo were granted. "Everyone involved gave us license to run with our vision and helped us stick to it faithfully, which is not something we're super used to from working in the world of agencies." Intangible Goods will be vending across Sydney CBD 24 hours a day from March 26 until April 8, 2018. Find it at Martin Place, between Pitt and George streets from March 26–29, Customs House Square from March 30 to April 3 and Pitt Street Mall from April 4–8. See full details here.
As far as culinary memories go, for many Australians street food evokes holiday recollections of steaming pad Thai precariously balanced on a paper plate at a bustling Bangkok market, ketchup-laden three-for-$1 hot dogs in Times Square or condensed milk and peanut butter waffles relished on a hurried Hong Kong stopover. As part of Ketel One's Modern Craft Project, Brisbane-based architect, designer and social entrepreneur Helen Bird drew inspiration from the success of a recent wave of street food vendors setting up mobile shop in other highly regulated countries to inform the mobile food project she launched earlier this year, which aims to satiate a growing hunger for not only international cuisine but socially and environmentally sound practice. In a bid to bring a little bit of holiday spirit to her urban surrounds in the form of quick, cost-effective and tasty fare, Bird personally designed an artfully constructed and environmentally sustainable spin on the humble bicycle-cart to peddle around the laneways of Brisbane. Not one to be motivated by the pursuit of business success alone, Bird has harnessed the project as a literal vehicle through which to provide assistance for migrants and refugees wishing to enter the local food industry. Working with Street Food Australia (SFA), a social enterprise small business incubator established by Bird last year, participating protegees will take on the running of a bicycle-cart, while receiving the ongoing support and mentorship necessary to successfully establish a functioning business that serves food from their native culture. After raising start-up funds through the crowd sourcing website Pozible late last year, in February SFA launched their first street food vendor bike, a steamed dumpling cart, as part of a pilot designed to test the fundamentals of the project. “Growing up my father was a bank manager who would lend money to migrants to start their first businesses. These families had no money, no business plan and the difficulty of a language barrier, but somehow when Dad would take me to their houses years later, they would be living in big, fancy places, thanks in part to the opportunity he gave them'”, says Bird, reflecting on what initially propelled her to fuse an acute understanding of business principles with her expert knowledge of craftsmanship to benefit the lives of those less fortunate. To describe Bird's career path as unusual is conservative — she’s had a stint making circus equipment, spent time installing massive bamboo art sculptures in Europe and established a successful design studio, Pearler, with her "right-hand man and business partner" Billerwell Daye. Formal architecture training, a lifelong penchant for carpentry, welding, "repairing, rebuilding and picking apart everyday objects" and a commitment to doing things the long, hard way has allowed Bird to develop the formidable skillset necessary to craft the bicycle-carts used in the project, which are modeled on an economic, social, ecological and cultural sustainability quadruple bottom line. "This project draws on diverse and complex processes, collaboration, old and new skills and the understanding that craft, design and society can meld together in exciting possibility to create something that helps other to achieve their full potential," explains Bird. Much as Bird works to provide deserving migrants and refugees the kind of opportunities that hold the potential to completely re-route their futures, the Ketel One legacy, awarded to her this week, has opened up previously impossible avenues for the development and expansion of the project. Bird plans to direct the $100,000 prize money towards establishing an office and workshop away from home to draw, model and test the bicycle-carts and oversee the project, obtain core resources she currently lacks and even donate a bicycle-cart to a new vendor, dramatically reducing their start-up costs. Like a true modern craftswoman, Bird seeks to achieve big changes through small acts carried out slowly and simply. If this starts with a bite of a mini banh-mi, tequila ribs or Mexican elote bought off the back of a travelling trike, that's an initiative we don't need to be asked twice to support. The training wheels are about to come off, thanks to the Ketel One legacy.
Boasting first-class wineries, coastline, bushland and surf beaches, Margaret River has more than earned its reputation as one of Australia's most beautiful places to explore. It's a region where you can go mountain biking along twisty old logging tracks, seek out Australia's megafauna fossils at Mammoth Cave and visit Busselton's eight-metre-deep Underwater Observatory — all in one action-packed day, should you choose. If it gets too much or you're due a little 'me time', Margaret River has just as much to offer those who want to wind down and experience some of the finer things in life. From sampling wines at one of the oldest wineries in the area to sitting in natural spas or simply watching a beautiful sunset over the ocean, the region has no shortage of bounties in the self-care department. From pristine beaches and bountiful wine regions to alpine hideaways and bustling country towns, Australia has a wealth of places to explore at any time of year. We've partnered with Tourism Australia to help you plan your road trips, weekend detours and summer getaways so that when you're ready to hit the road you can Holiday Here This Year. Under current COVID-19 restrictions in Australia, there are some restrictions on where you can go on a holiday. But, you can start dreaming. Bookmark this for when you can explore once again. [caption id="attachment_720253" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Western Australia[/caption] WATCH THE SUNSET AT SURFERS POINT A ten-minute drive from the main town of Margaret River, Surfers Point in Prevelly is one of the best surf beaches in Australia. But it's not only the waves that draw people to its white shores; well equipped with viewing platforms and benches, Surfers Point is also one of the best spots around for admiring the stunning pinks, oranges and reds of a sunset over the ocean. For those who want next-level sensory delights, pack a picnic basket with local wine and cheese to enjoy while you take in the views. Trust us, you won't regret it. [caption id="attachment_720296" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jarrad Seng[/caption] VISIT THE INJIDUP NATURAL SPA Nothing says serenity more than a secret natural spa. Found at the end of an unmarked gravel path, near the car park at the end of Wyadup Road in Yallingup, Injidup (or Wyadup) Spa is a natural rock pool with amazingly clear water that bubbles up like a jacuzzi as waves from the ocean are pushed through the crevasse. Now that the word is out, it's not quite the secluded spot it used to be, but if laying your tired body against warm rocks while water foams and flows around you is appealing, it's worth a visit. TREAT YOURSELF TO A MASSAGE AT BODHI J Nestled in the cliffs above Injidup Beach and offering panoramic views of the Indian Ocean is Bodhi J at Injidup Spa Retreat. Treatments range from body wraps to mineral facials and spa baths, but the Li'Tya Marta Kodo rock massage is a signature. Inspired by Aboriginal Australian techniques for realigning energy flow, the massage includes applying hot stones to your body's pressure points in a rhythmic massage that'll have you feeling so boneless you'll be floating on air long after it's over. STAY IN A LUXURY VILLA WITH YOUR OWN PRIVATE SPA AT THE LOSARI RETREAT Fancy being surrounded by 100-year-old peppermint trees while you sip champagne in a hot tub overlooking a pristine lake? Then the Losari Retreat is the place for you. Set on 26 hectares of lush greenery, the boutique hotel is only an eight-minute drive from the Margaret River town centre but makes you feel transported to a secret country escape much farther away. The four limestone villas each have their own private outdoor spaces with spa baths, as well as cosy lounge areas and fireplaces that are perfect for when the weather gets a little cooler. And, as if that wasn't enough, there are also in-villa spa treatments and massages for when you really need pampering. HIKE A PORTION OF THE FAMOUS CAPE TO CAPE TRACK White sand beaches, clear blue waters, rugged cliffs — Margaret River is filled with show-stopping scenery, and there's no better way to enjoy it than by hiking a portion of the famous Cape to Cape Track on one of Walk into Luxury's guided tours. Along the way, you'll explore the likes of surfer favourite Redgate Beach, bash through Boranup Karri Forest bush and witness spectacular ocean views at Canal Rocks. Once you've satisfied your sense of adventure, it's time to do the same for your appetite, via gourmet platters, lunch hampers and a particularly indulgent midday meal at Vasse Felix, Margaret River's first vineyard and winery. Whether you're planning to travel for a couple of nights or a couple of weeks, Holiday Here This Year and you'll be supporting Australian businesses while you explore the best of our country's diverse landscapes and attractions. Top image: Injidup Spa Retreat.
Everyone knows novelty-sized things are infinitely better than their regular-sized counterparts. Fishbowl margaritas! The teeny tiny toys you get in Kinder Surprise eggs! The only drawback I can think of is 'fun-sized' chocolate bars. There's nothing 'fun' about teasing me with a Mars bar half as big as it should rightfully be. Now the ever-popular novelty trade is turing its sights to the post — can our love of adorably small things save a dying industry? The World's Smallest Post Service is a project run out of California by Leafcutter Designs and its founder Lea Redmond, though Redmond herself can't really tell you why it exists. Since launching a tiny letter transcription service in 2008, Redmond has been channeling her passion for miniature things and finessing the ultimate form of correspondence. Six years and one fully-funded Kickstarter project later, the tiny stationery service has hit the big time (pun unfortunately intended). The entire package — which includes enough materials to create 24 tiny letters, six tiny packages and one 3D mailbox — is only as wide as a regular pen and features a much-needed magnifying glass. Once the kit is purchased you can scribe the cutesiest of cutesy messages to your friends, pass notes in class without ever being caught, and your life will invariably be one step closer to that of a character in a Wes Anderson film. Of course, these novelties aren't wholly impractical. The deluxe kit features translucent regular-sized envelopes so you can send your tiny mail through the real-world post. It may be a little more hassle than the regular route, but at least the person receiving the letter will know that you battled the fiddly ordeal that is tiny envelope origami and microscopic stamp hell. How romantic. The Kickstarter campaign is still in full swing despite having already reached its goal (it seems people really, really want this). Get on board now if you're keen to nab some of the pledgers' perks. Remember: Twitter may be an easier means to sending tiny messages but it's nowhere near as darn cute.
