When Netflix added DAHMER — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story to its catalogue in 2022, complete with WandaVision, Mare of Easttown and American Horror Story actor Evan Peters playing the titular IRL murderer, it popped another true-crime effort on its ever-growing pile. Whether Zac Efron is playing Ted Bundy in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, the sadly finished Mindhunter is tussling with real-life killers, or The Serpent, The Stranger and The Good Nurse are also dramatising reality, the streaming platform isn't short on movies and shows that bring grisly slices of history to its queue. Next up: the Menéndez brothers. When DAHMER — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story proved a hit, as it was predictably going to, Netflix made the next least-surprising move it could: it renewed Monster as an anthology series. At the time, the service revealed there'd be at least two more seasons— "two more instalments that will focus on other monstrous figures who have impacted society", in fact — but exactly who would be in the spotlight wasn't announced. Now, the platform has named Lyle and Erik Menendez as Monster's next subjects, and advised that Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story will arrive in 2024. There's still a shortage of details otherwise, including exactly when next year viewers will be streaming the show and who'll be starring in it — but this too is a well-known true-crime story that's earned plenty of media attention before now. In a teaser to announce the series, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story plays the infamous 911 call featuring Lyle sobbing on the night that his parents died. For those new to the story, Lyle and his younger brother Erik were investigated, tried and convicted for the 1989 shootings of their parents José and Mary Louise 'Kitty' Menéndez, who were killed in their Beverly Hills home. Monster creator and prolific TV producer Ryan Murphy remains behind the series, adding another anthology effort to his resume after American Horror Story and American Crime Story. And whoever he gets to play the brothers, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story isn't the only new dive into their tale that's heading to Netflix. The platform also announced that it's making a documentary feature about the case as well, aided by exclusive access to Lyle and Erik. Check out the teaser announcement video for Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story below: Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story will stream via Netflix in 2024. We'll update you with an exact release date when one is announced. DAHMER — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story is available to stream now via Netflix. Images: Netflix.
Roadtripping combines a show pony portion of adult responsibility with the type of wind-in-your-hair freedom you just don't get in every day life. Ipso facto, it's the perfect way to travel. And if the Great Ocean Road isn't really your scene — or all those Instagram-famed pastures of the UK are sure to break bank — then Central Europe is where to start. Not only are car rental prices blasphemously affordable, but this part of the world is filled with hundreds of untouched marvels of Natural Wonder calibre. You can see the snow-capped mountain ranges of Slovenia, Europe's largest lake in Hungary, that infamous Croatian coastline and every wonder from Brno to Budapest all in under two weeks and for less than half a grand. Here's how. [caption id="attachment_570201" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Benjamin Combs[/caption] WHERE TO HIRE A CAR If you want to conquer a good deal of Central Europe on wheels, and have some time up your sleeve, do a no brainer and fly into the country that has a) the cheapest flights, and b) the cheapest car rental. Your best best is either Prague, Slovenia's capital Ljubljana or Bratislava in Slovakia — they all have a history of offering some pretty great deals on car rental (we're talking a few hundred dollars a week here). Their locations are also perfect for doing a circular route of the region without having to back-track. Most car hire companies cap their young drivers fee at seven to ten days, so if you hire for longer than a week, you're probably not going to pay more than $100 extra for being under 25 (compared that to the UK where you'll pay upwards of double). Check out rentalcars.com and skyscanner's car rental search for the best deals. [caption id="attachment_570192" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Guillaume Speurt via Flickr[/caption] WHERE TO TRAVEL Your rule of thumb should be get to the countries beginning with S, and stop at places with B. Slovenia, Slovakia and Serbia not only the hold the most insane nightlife in Europe, but each city is home the crème da le crème of Europe's castles, cathedrals and mountains. Lake Bled in Slovenia is beyond words — just look at the above photo. It's worth finding someone to elope with just for an excuse to get hitched at Spiš Castle in Slovakia, and when you get to Serbia, you'll find the remains of some kind of ruined, history-laden castle at most major turn offs. What's that? Oh, just King Stephen's timeshare that was ruined by a Mongolian invasion in the 14th century. Cool. If you're a confident driver, give the Austrian Alps a shot — and if you're driving between Slovenia and Austria or Slovakia you'll have to give them a go anyway as there's no getting around them. You'll have to be careful (ice is slippery, duh) but it's a resume-worthy feat getting over them alive/without crying at least a few times. Hungarian and Slovakian backroads are filled with some pretty eery, Deliverance-esque sights, like old women selling fruit and veggies from old school desks and men leading pigs along the road. But, on the upside, there's plenty of cows and sheep and the aforementioned pigs to pat. Inner-Croatia is hilly, which makes for brilliant en-route sightseeing, and you need to check out at least one of its national parks. Plitvice Lakes is outrageous. Little tip: If you're at the point where Slovenia and Croatia meet at the coast, duck into Trieste, Italy for lunch. It's only an hour or so detour. [caption id="attachment_570210" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Jean-Frederic Fortier[/caption] WHAT TO PACK IN THE BOOT You're not Bear Grylls-ing it so don't worry about gallons of water, flint or flare guns. First off, double check with your rental company that your car contains a Green Card — this proves you have the minimum car insurance needed as an international driver. You'll also need a multi-city European sim card for on-the-go internet (Vodafone offers a goody, as does giffgaff), some Euro (regardless of the country you're in) and a paper map or two wouldn't go astray. You can pretend to be a real adventurer and do this trip without GPS; the highway signs throughout Central Europe are easy enough to follow, but at the same time English isn't widely spoken in smaller towns and villages, so doing the trusty Amazing Race tactic of pulling into a servo and asking which way to Phil Keoghan may prove a little fruitless. Also, make sure you also have an ice scraper, a good board game (we recommend Uno or Bananagrams), so many dry socks and an iPod chockers with podcasts. [caption id="attachment_570196" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Marijana Petrovic[/caption] WHERE TO STOP FOR CHEAP EATS The most underwhelming part of your roadtrip will be the amount of McDonalds you see. Globalisation, eh? At the same time, go to at least one in Austria because they do a super yummy banana milkshake. In the major cities, pay a visit to food markets — we can recommend the Great Market Hall in Budapest, Viktualienmarkt in Munich, Open Kitchen in Ljubljana and Havel Market in Prague). Remember, you have a car and can therefore can grab something quick from the supermarket, and drive anywhere you want and picnic on Lake Balaton or under the shadow of some Yugoslav-era castle. TOLLS In every country you're going to have to buy a different vignette, or prepaid road toll — it's a little sticker you put on your windscreen. You can buy them from most servos, though Shell is your safest bet. Bank the word vignette and use it when asking for one because most service stations sell cards at the counter that look like vignettes, but are actually tokens for car washes. So even though you'll have the cleanest car this side of Austria, you'll also obtain the status of most wanted toll evader. Learn from our mistakes. Anyway, this website gives a great overview on where you'll need them and at what cost. [caption id="attachment_570208" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Dominic Lange[/caption] KEEP IN MIND... If you're travelling in winter, you're going to be equipped with snow wheels. They don't feel drastically different from normal wheels, but they create more friction with the road, which is occasionally noticeable. If you're driving in snow, be careful! Drive gently, avoid harsh acceleration, hard breaking, abrupt downward gear changes or steering movements. Houses are very close to major roads so watch out for ducks, chickens and children. Be wary driving in the dark, and always check what time the sun is setting in order to make realistic deadlines to get to your next location. Straight highways aren't forever, and ripping around, up and down mountains at 150 kilometres an hour in the dark is petrifying. Parking isn't so bad in most of Central Europe, and most underground car parks are about a quarter of the price of major city parking in Australia. If you attempt street parking in cities like Budapest, Vienna or Prague you risk morphing into an angry roadtrip dad and saying things you don't mean and losing your friends/wife/respect of your children. Risk it if you dare. If you conquer around 200 kilometers every couple of days (about three to four hours driving), you can easily do the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia and Austria in two weeks. Good luck, friends. Top image: Genie Austin.
Melbourne-born lingerie label Kat The Label emerged from founder Kate Nixon's love for lace. In 2015, the then-fashion design grad started handsewing vintage-inspired lace bralettes in her Byron Bay home and sharing them on Instagram — leading to her designs being worn by the likes of Kylie Jenner. After trading solely online for all that time (apart from the brand's head office and small retail space in Cremorne, Victoria), Kat The Label is finally getting a flagship store as gorgeous as the lingerie it houses, and you can find it on High Street, Armadale. Stepping into the Armadale boutique is like being enveloped in an intimate bubble. Velvet drapes, brushed aluminium and carpeted surfaces give the space a soft feel, courtesy of Angus Edward Interior Design. On the opening weekend of 7–8 November, browse the collection while sipping on complimentary iced lattes and matchas in Daily Iced takeaway cups — available from 10am–1pm. Brides-to-be can book a dreamy, powder-blue bridal boudoir for one-on-one fittings, complete with bubbles and bespoke accessories — a little indulgence to get you ready for the big day (or night!). Kat the Label stylists are on hand to help you find the perfect lace or silk set that you can personalise with a playful embroidery service; think something cheeky like initials or the wedding date. Alongside signature designs, find lacy black and white delicates from a bridal collab with influencer Jacquie Alexander, plus spicy options like garters and fishnets. Images: Supplied
Sometimes, Guillermo del Toro dallies with vampires. Sometimes, he saunters into haunted houses, creepy carnivals and eerie orphanages instead. Encounters with kaiju and romances with amphibious creatures also dot his filmography, as do untraditional superheroes and twisted fairytale realms. With all of the above, across a career spanning three decades now, the director has thoroughly proven himself an avid collector. You don't amass a resume like his without actively endeavouring to curate an on-screen compendium — with his movies stuffed full of ideas, themes, motifs and images that just keep fascinating the acclaimed filmmaker. So far, the proof has beamed into cinemas for movie-goers to revel in, starting with Cronos and most recently gifting the world Nightmare Alley. From film to film, del Toro delves into gothic horror staples. He splashes around haunting tales over and over, and works through his obsession with horror's — and life's — go-to contrasts (think: light and dark, pleasure and pain, and the macabre and the magical). He has an Oscar or his troubles for directing The Shape of Water, and he isn't done adding big-screen features to sit beside two Hellboy flicks, Mimic, Blade II, The Devil's Backbone, Pan's Labyrinth, Pacific Rim and Crimson Peak yet. But, now streaming via Netflix, new TV horror anthology Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities is a natural fit for someone so eager to collect and dissect the unsettling, unnerving, mysterious and curious. The first season of the series starts as other iconic anthologies have: with its central figure offering a mood-setting introduction to the stories to come. Alfred Hitchcock did it in the 50s and 60s. Rod Serling and Jordan Peele have done the same with different versions of The Twilight Zone. Now, it's del Toro's turn. His addition to the fold shares its name with his own 2013 book, which collates notes on and sketches for his films till then, details about unfinished projects, and observations by peers such as James Cameron and Neil Gaiman — and, fittingly, sports an introduction entitled "the world as cabinet". With this show, though, del Toro assembles anew rather than surveys his past. Also, he has filmmakers such as The Babadook and The Nightingale's Jennifer Kent, Mandy's Panos Cosmatos, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night and Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon's Ana Lily Amirpour, and Cube's Vincenzo Natali on hand, with eight directors helming an episode apiece in this must-see collection. Sometimes, Cabinet of Curiosities gets grim and cautionary. At other times, it's stomach-churningly gory and grotesque, particularly if you're not fond of rats, guts or pondering your own mortality. It can sport soulful restraint, unleash a stunning display of phantasmagoria and delight in being off-kilter. No matter what mode it's in, it always heads back to the past, giving the show's eight-episode initial run a timeworn feel. That vibe also flows through in del Toro's intros, where he announces each instalment beside the titular structure. Given wooden form and resembling a multi-level mansion, it's always matched with a corresponding handcrafted piece that represents the episode to come. There he is, collecting again — and inviting his audience to collect these lovingly assembled narratives, and their thrills and chills, along with him. Cabinet of Curiosities' debut chapter hails from the only director without their own past horror flick to their name. As a cinematographer, however, Guillermo Navarro has lensed six of del Toro's features, plus the likes of From Dusk Till Dawn, Jackie Brown, two Night at the Museum movies and two Twilight films, too. Navarro gets the series off to a promising start with Lot 36, about a right wing-sympathising veteran (Tim Blake Nelson, Nightmare Alley) who purchases storage units to hawk their contents when their owners default on payment. His latest acquisition comes from someone with a shady past, bringing nerve-rattling repercussions. In the process, this stylishly shot 90s-set affair ruminates on xenophobia, and the world views that find comfort — and power — in being horrific and discriminatory. Next, the show's two most grisly episodes follow: Natali's Graveyard Rats and David Prior's (The Empty Man) The Autopsy. The first adapts Henry Kuttner's 1936 short story, follows a cemetery caretaker (David Hewlett, Clarice) who robs coffins as a side hustle, and has him fighting rodents in an underground labyrinth for his spoils — and the result is stressful and squirmy. The second also springs from the page, from Michael Shea in 1987, and plunges deep into viscera and entrails. Mythic Quest and Moon Knight's F Murray Abraham is the coroner doing the splicing, but what he discovers among the victims of a mine explosion spans well beyond squishy internal organs. There are no disappointing drawers in Cabinet of Curiosities; the tone varies, but del Toro and his colleagues are committed to contemplating what scares us and why. So, while Amirpour's The Outside is noticeably lighter than its counterparts, squeezing out a satirical, The Stuff-esque, Christmas-set satire on consumerism, conformity and beauty, the Kate Micucci (Clerks III), Martin Starr (Spider-Man: No Way Home) and Dan Stevens (I'm Your Man)-starring chapter is as sinister and disquieting as the rest of the series. Cabinet of Curiosities next gets Lovecraftian with two takes on the author's stories: Pickman's Model and Dreams in the Witch House. One sees The Vigil and Firestarter's Keith Thomas explore art's function as a mirror, the other has original Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke spirit Harry Potter's Rupert Grint into a dance with ghosts, and they both drip with unease in their respective ways. Cabinet of Curiosities does save two of its shiniest treasures until last, however — and what gleaming treasures they are. Wishing that both had graced the silver screen and stretched out to feature length is an instant reaction. No one is currently making movies like either the aforementioned Cosmatos or Kent, who go to completely opposite extremes with their stellar anthology instalments. The former's The Viewing, focusing on four 70s-era celebrities summoned by a rich eccentric (RoboCop's Peter Weller) for a night of drugs, conversation and staring at a secret discovery, is a wild, dazzling, synth-scored trip in the best possible way. As for The Murmuring by Australia's own Kent, it reunites her with The Babadook's Essie Davis for another stirring and striking haunted-house tale about grief and motherhood, this time working with a story by del Toro himself. Check out the trailer for Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities below: Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities is available to stream via Netflix.
When Craig Wedren and Anna Waronker's 'No Return' starts playing over Yellowjackets' opening credits, it couldn't be more perfect for a variety of reasons. With its 90s-style sound, the tune fits the show's mood exactly. Its title sums up one of its biggest themes, too. And, those two words also ring true for viewers — because when you watch this immediately intriguing, excellent and addictive series, which follows the fallout from plane crash, there's no turning back to a time when you weren't obsessed with it. Hungry for more? After proving one of 2021's best new series and quickly getting picked up for a second season, Yellowjackets has locked in a return date. Bust out your best 90s-appropriate threads and start learning survival skills again, because the series will start unfurling its next batch of episodes from Friday, March 24, 2023 via Paramount+ in Australia and Neon in New Zealand. In just-as-exciting news, that season-two date was accompanied by very brief sneak that's filled with snow, the show's creepy symbol, knives and blood. It doesn't drop any narrative details or provide any glimpses at the show's stacked – and growing — cast, but it's filled with classic Yellowjackets eeriness, as a series about a New Jersey high school's girls soccer team after they crash in the forest and possibly turn to cannibalism should be. If you're new to the series, it jumps between that 90s tragedy and the survivors 25 years later. In their high-school prime, Shauna (Don't Look Up's Melanie Lynskey as an adult, and also The Kid Detective's Sophie Nélisse as a teenager), Natalie (Welcome to Chippendales' Juliette Lewis, plus The Book of Boba Fett's Sophie Thatcher) and Taissa (Billions' Tawny Cypress, and also Scream's Jasmin Savoy Brown) were key players on the titular high-achieving squad, while Misty (Wednesday's Christina Ricci, as well as Shameless' Samantha Hanratty) was the squad's frequently bullied student manager. Then, en route to a big match in Seattle on a private plane in 1996, they entered Lost territory. That accident saw everyone who walked away from the accident stranded in the wilderness — and those who then made it through that ordeal stuck out there for 19 months, living their worst Alive-meets-Lord of the Flies lives. Season two will pick up after plenty of chaos in both timeframes, and with new faces among the cast. Introducing more of the team in their adult guise is very much on the agenda, including Simone Kessell (Muru) playing the older Lottie and Lauren Ambrose (Servant) as the older Van. In their younger years, both characters are played by Australian actors, with Courtney Eaton (Mad Max: Fury Road) as Lottie and and Liv Hewson (Santa Clarita Diet) as Van. Also joining the show: Elijah Wood, who is no stranger to leafy surroundings thanks to his time in the Lord of the Rings franchise. He'll play Walter, a citizen detective who is set to challenge Misty — the adult version, presumably. Check out Yellowjackets' first teaser for season two below: Season two of Yellowjackets will start streaming from Friday, March 24, 2023 via Paramount+ in Australia and Neon in New Zealand. Read our review of season one.
There's nothing like the freedom of the wide open road, and there's never been a better time to spread your vehicular wings and explore. The best part? If you're keen on top nosh, you can basically eat your way from Melbourne to Sydney — and eat well. Cities don't have a monopoly on amazing food. In fact, road trip eats are perfect for hardcore locavores, since travelling through rural and regional areas gives you the opportunity to sample ingredients directly from the source. Just imagine hitting the coast for fresh-off-the-boat seafood, discovering hidden gems of farmside fine dining or tucking into a rough-and-ready American-style barbecue. Helping to make your food-filled dreams a reality in 2021, we've plotted a Melbourne-to-Sydney journey worthy of the finest diners. Strap on your seatbelt and your bib — you're in for a treat. Please stay up to date with the latest NSW Government health advice regarding COVID-19. [caption id="attachment_802765" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Banksia[/caption] BANKSIA, PAMBULA You might not expect a pedigree of upscale dining in this wee heritage-listed cottage just outside of a tiny seaside town, but here we are. Within the walls of Pambula's Old Bank building, Head Chef Huw Jones, formerly of Zanzibar in Merimbula, marries his fine-dining credentials with home comforts. Banksia offers a three-course set menu with matching wines, served in a homey space with an open fire. The menu is ever-changing but leans Italian, tapping into the ethos of selecting high-quality ingredients and letting them shine. Expect some fried polenta here, prosciutto there, and perhaps a roasted pork collar with potato gnocchi or zucchini flowers with romesco sauce. Finishing on desserts like hazelnut ice cream with fresh fruit and a brandy snap, a meal at Banksia manages to be delightfully old-school but not old-fashioned. [caption id="attachment_795571" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dulcie's Cottage, Claudine Thornton, Destination NSW[/caption] DULCIE'S COTTAGE, MERIMBULA Dulcie's Cottage is filled with old-world charm, but keeps a youthful edge — think vintage heritage meets fresh-as local produce and craft brews. The walls of this chilled-out craft beer and cocktail bar are decked out in taxidermy and photos from its nearly hundred-year history. The food is served from a genuine 1950s kitchen caravan in the light-festooned beer garden. It keeps things simple: either hit fresh oysters with lemon and nuoc cham or grab one of the hefty burgers. While it's hard to go past the classic Dulcie Burger, fussy (or ambitious) diners can select the build-your-own option instead and load on extra patties, bacon, slaw and jalapeños. Would you like fries with that? Choose between A Few Fries ($4) or A Lot Of Fries ($8) — finally, sizing that makes sense. Dulcie's is also a buzzing live music venue, making it the perfect wind-down pit-stop for some road trip R&R. [caption id="attachment_804034" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Poacher's Pantry, Destination NSW[/caption] POACHER'S PANTRY, SPRINGRANGE A restaurant with its own vineyard and artisanal smokehouse? This is your ultimate charcuterie stop. Poacher's Pantry offers an award-winning range of handcrafted, smoked smallgoods, from classic bresaola and bacon to kangaroo prosciutto. You can sit in at the Smokehouse Restaurant for multi-course brunches and lunches seven days a week, enjoying unique specialties like vodka and lavender cured salmon, labneh, charred citrus, bottarga and chives, or hot smoked ocean trout and herb crepe with lemon ricotta, asparagus, green apple and mustard cress. The vegetarian dishes are no less impressive, putting the Poacher's organic kitchen garden produce front and centre — like heirloom garden vegetables with whipped feta and pea shoots. Don't have time for a long lunch? Pick up a picnic hamper instead, complete with the venue's Wily Trout Vineyard wine. [caption id="attachment_802695" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rick Stein at Bannisters, Jesse Smith, Destination NSW[/caption] RICK STEIN AT BANNISTERS, MOLLYMOOK Rick Stein became a household name for putting coastal produce at the forefront of his dining, and his restaurant in Mollymook, Rick Stein at Bannisters, is no exception. Naturally, the menu changes daily depending on the catch, but that's the way you want it. Survey the ocean from on high as you tuck into freshly shucked oysters, or salmon, swordfish and tuna sashimi. The menu is peppered with Southeast Asian elements, such as Cambodian-dressed Eden mussels, or fusion-style Hervey Bay scallops with toasted hazelnut and coriander butter. For a more casual affair, The Rooftop Bar and Grill at Bannisters Pavilion offers the likes of salt and pepper calamari, fried cauliflower, prawn linguine and chargrilled chicken. [caption id="attachment_792595" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Three Blue Ducks, Kitti Gould[/caption] THREE BLUE DUCKS, NIMBO Three Blue Ducks has taken its traditional farm-to-table style and set it in the Snowy Mountains. In the light, airy lodge of Nimbo Fork, the restaurant's menu celebrates the produce of the Riverina district with an ethos of simplicity, honesty and sustainability. From hefty tomahawk lamb chops and duck fat-roasted potatoes to smoked Nimbo trout with dill and crème fraîche, the simple approach lets the quality of the ingredients do the heavy lifting. It extends the same care to vegetables as it does to meat, with satisfying, meatless main events like oven-roasted potato gnocchi with pea and ricotta sauce or harissa-spiced roasted cauliflower. Finish with sea salt meringue with lemon curd and chantilly cream or a special house cocktail, like the Smoky Spritz. [caption id="attachment_795568" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Argyle Inn[/caption] THE ARGYLE INN, TARALGA If you're as much a fan of historic restorations as you are fine dining, you'll want to stay the night after your dinner at The Argyle Inn. The warm lighting on the dark wood walls of the main dining room sets the tone for cosy country hospitality in this recently restored 19th-century inn. Being co-owned by two sustainable farmers means the menu skews seasonal and as local as possible, even down to the wine list. The contemporary Australian menu is hearty in winter and light and fresh in summer. The dishes are genteel but unpretentious: fresh pasta, local beef, house-made pickles, terrines, rillettes and some of the best sourdough you'll find in the Southern Tablelands. [caption id="attachment_795564" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Paste[/caption] PASTE, MITTAGONG Prepare for a memorable Thai-style dining experience at Paste. Chef Bee Satongun's menu is centred on the rediscovery of old recipes, traditions and forgotten culinary techniques of Thailand. Using fresh Australian produce, Paste offers refined Thai cuisine in an ever-changing seasonal menu — think roasted duck with lychee, hot mint, banana flower and blood lime; Moreton Bay bug with chu chee curry; 'crying tiger' aged T-bone with phaya rum, ghee, sticky rice, lemongrass and tamarind jaew; and, of course, special crab fried rice. Robust flavours don't end at the main course, with show-stopping desserts like fermented rice sorbet with passionfruit and mango encased in a delicate chocolate dome. [caption id="attachment_795575" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Two Smoking Barrels[/caption] TWO SMOKING BARRELS, WOLLONGONG You'll find this Carolina-style low-and-slow barbecue joint smack-bang between two car yards. It's an impressive set-up at Two Smoking Barrels with a grill rig used to smoke and season meats with native ironbark. It has everything from melt-in-your-mouth pit-smoked brisket to pork rolls, house sausages and short ribs on offer. There's a feed for every appetite, whether you need a quick, smashable burger or you want to settle in for a big ol' meat platter before you hit the road again. The sides are classic barbecue soul food: potato gems, slaw, cornbread, mac 'n' cheese and speciality burnt-end beans (the crispy, well-seasoned end bits of smoked meats). Warning: this is not food for the faint of heart, so wear your loosest pair of jeans. Start planning your great escape to New South Wales this season by visiting the Visit NSW website. Top image: Poacher's Pantry, Destination NSW
Most of us know that bananas are chock-full of goodness, from loads of potassium to energy-boosting carbs primed for when we're getting active. But these yellow wonders can do more than just keep your hunger at bay, as this new nationwide event reveals. This month, Australian Bananas is teaming up with four-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer Ariarne Titmus to launch the Banana Swim Pass — your free ticket to 70 participating pools around the country for one day only on Wednesday, January 21. Following October's Banana Gym Pass, this summer-inspired alternative is perfect for those keen to power through a few laps or enjoy a laidback splash about. To score your free dip, simply buy a banana from any local grocer and bring it along to your nearest participating swim centre — head to the website to find yours. "The Banana Swim Pass initiative is a fun way to encourage Australians of all ages to jump in and enjoy the benefits of getting active in the water," says Titmus. "I love that everyone can rock up with a banana and get in for free. Grab a banana, hit the pool, and make your body swim!"
The residents of Box Hill should be very pleased with themselves. Not only do they have some of Melbourne's best Cantonese food (among other cuisines) on their doorstop, but they've also just landed a brand new, insanely cute café — and we're already planning a pilgrimage to try it out. After operating as a takeaway coffee pop-up in the area, The Penny Drop has opened a permanent 100-seat cafe-restaurant in the newly refurbished ATO building on Whitehorse Road. And hot damn is it good looking. We can't decide which part we like more — the experimental menu or the Pinterest-worthy interior, which has been seriously decked out by interior designers We Are Huntly. It manages to find a balance between minimalism and warmth (with the help of some pastel pink tones) and has a large circle feature that reminds us of The Kettle Black. But let's talk about the menu. At first glance it may look like your standard offering, but that's the charm — the menu puts an Asian-inspired take on your favourite staples. Breakfast dishes like plain old pancakes sound like heaven (buttermilk pancakes with coconut foam, black sesame and pistachio dukkah, raspberry compote and palm sugar caramel), and don't even get us started on the potato and garlic chive waffle with poached eggs, ham, hollandaise and wakame. Some dishes don't fit any breakfast stereotype but still make our mouths water, like the tea-smoked salmon with spring onion pancake, bean shoot salad, avocado and son-in-law eggs. The lunch menu (available from 11.30am till 3pm) is sparser, but burgers are prominent — the soft shell crab burger with Kewpie tartare, coriander, cucumber and lime takes our fancy — but the dinner menu (available after 5.30pm) really sparkles. Try the fried chicken wings with mandarin sauce and sesame ($13) or the coconut beef short rib with sweet fish sauce, pomelo and soft herbs ($39) and drift away to dream land. The Penny Drop is open for brekkie, lunch and dinner all week as well as servicing all your takeaway coffee needs. Another cute, tasty reason to spend more time in the 'burbs.
When Julia Child famously said, "If cooking is evanescent, so is the ballet", she lifted cookery to the status of creativity. Her passion wasn't one of just housekeeping — no ma'am — it was one of craft and she proved it doesn't matter if it enjoys the same length of tangibility as a painting or a pirouette. Further cementing that food is art, The Olsen — the flagship hotel of the Art Series Hotel Group — combines culinary culture with local art at its adjoining restaurant, Spoonbill. Drawing inspiration from landscape artist John Olsen, after whom the hotel is named, Spoonbill doesn't falter on design or aesthetic. The matching of rustic timber with black and grey tones means that the interior is sleek, but not uncomfortable. The rounded bar and woven ceiling pieces create character in the open space, and the arrangement of tables gives intimacy in close proximity. Located on a busy Chapel Street corner, the restaurant acts as a refuge from the weekend hustle — there's something comforting in watching the outside world blow along from behind glass, the hubbub replaced with the sound of clinking wine glasses. It lacked atmosphere on a Saturday afternoon, but, being a hotel venue, would be sure to seat more guests and locals come evening. With few diners present, however, you'll be sure to receive personal recommendations and service from waitstaff. The menu is designed for a snacking, drinking or a full dining experience. Choose items from an a la carte menu, or go with the Laurent-Perrier Sharing Menu — your choice of any six, nine or twelve ($65-105 per person) dishes spanning entrees, mains and desserts. Origins are an important part of the menu, which relies heavily on seasonal, regional produce. If you're feeling peckish try the Cloudy Bay oysters delivered daily by Mike ($4 each) or the Gamekeepers Sausage — a finely blended sausage of Otway Ranges pork, fennel and chilli served with grilled scamorza, relish and pine mushrooms ($18). The soft tacos ($6.80 each), however, were off the mark: the soft shell crab was moreish but missing some spice and the pastrami with lettuce and cheese was more lunchbox sandwich than lavish. The main fare covers all the bases you'd expect, from duck to slow-cooked beef cheek and a 100-day aged Gippsland porterhouse. On the day of dining the seafood option was a piece of decidedly melt-in-your-mouth barramundi on a bed of risotto ($35), and was a standout dish. John Olsen's Famous Paella ($33 for one) — a house specialty — featured a generous spattering of good, fresh seafood, but lacked the crispy top layer and spectrum of flavours of traditional paellas. However, it is dessert that is the work of art. A passionfruit creme is fresh, not too heavy and a perfect way to cleanse the palette, and the cinnamon poached pear with ginger spiced crumble, honey brittle and burnt honey ice cream (both $16) is presented breathtakingly on the plate. If you're feeling rather full and want to bypass dessert, coffee is by St Ali and dessert cocktails, wines and port round out the wine list. The Olsen endeavours to create art within its walls, and Spoonbill is no different. From its John Olsen artwork and clean structural design to its regional Australian menu, it's clear that it is an aesthetic experience as much as it is a culinary one.
Melburnians living in the inner north know CERES as a local institution, with this Brunswick East social enterprise pushing for social and environmental change for the past 40 years. Whether you visited with school or on your own time, you've probably taken part in a gardening workshop or educational program that levelled up your green thumb. Now the organisation is stepping things up with a revamped fortnightly Saturday market, stacked with local creativity, quality vintage goods and handcrafted wares. Running from 9am–2pm, local makers, artisans and designers will take over the parkland on November 8, November 22 and December 6. Plus, there's a special Christmas market planned for December 20, perfect for any last-minute gifting needs. Tucked in between CERES' thriving green spaces, on-site cafe, bustling nursery and more, visitors can expect a curated mix of stallholders, from handmade ceramics and sustainable fashion to preserves, toys and art. And with the organisers mixing things up for every edition, you'll discover different creative goods every time you swing through. "This market brings together everything people already love about CERES: community, creativity and care for the Earth," says Sam Hulls, Market Coordinator at CERES. "We're building a space that reflects the community's values while supporting local artists and small producers."
Before Wolf Man let out any howls on-screen, it went into production with a roaringly great idea: Leigh Whannell, fresh from his 2020 hit The Invisible Man, again taking on one of horror cinema's iconic monsters. But this update of 1941 classic The Wolf Man almost didn't happen, at least not like this. In the past decade, rumours first circulated that Dwayne Johnson (Red One) was set to bay at the moon, then a reimagining with Ryan Gosling (The Fall Guy) was simmering — the latter of which Whannell was linked to, then dropped out with Blue Valentine and The Place Beyond the Pines director Derek Cianfrance set to step in instead, then returned to but with Christopher Abbott (Poor Things) starring. Initially, Whannell declined the Wolf Man opportunity. Why did he change his mind? "I think it was hitting upon my way into the character," he tells Concrete Playground. "They were very smart in their inception of me — they said 'well, just as an exercise, what would you do? How would you approach this character if you were to do it — not saying you are, but what if you were?'. And so I started thinking about it, and once I hit upon this idea of perspective and using the camera to shift perspective, that's when I was hooked. Once I have an idea that is keeping me awake at night and I can't stop thinking about it, it's almost like you have to make that film to get that idea out of your system. If something's obsessing you, then you've got to exorcise it. You've got to get it out. And that was it." Co-written by Whannell with his wife Corbett Tuck — an alum of the Whannell-co-created Insidious franchise as an actor, including featuring in his directorial debut Insidious: Chapter 3 — this Wolf Man delivers what it promises, of course. It's a werewolf film, with Abbott's character of Blake Lovell destined for an unwanted transformation. But as anyone that saw The Invisible Man and experienced how it found an inventive way into its well-known horror figure knows, and everyone who watched Whannell's body-horror Upgrade before that and spotted its riff on Frankenstein as well, the Australian filmmaker isn't interested in straightforward or obvious do-overs. He's modernising movie monsters and grounding them in resonant emotion. As The Invisible Man's lead, Elisabeth Moss (The Veil) wasn't in the titular role but rather played the transparent force's target, aka his ex-girlfriend, for instance, in a picture about domestic abuse, coercive control and gaslighting. This time, while again examining the loss of agency as he keeps doing cross his career, Whannell spins an exploration of trauma, plus the transformation and grief that it can spark — and of a marriage and a family tested by it, and also of the breakdown of communication in a relationship, and the mourning over losing someone slowly before your very eyes — around cinema's werewolf archetype. It's a hauntingly effective way in, and a shrewd and engaging one. Again, feeling the impact on those closest to the movie's namesake is essential. As Blake's wife Charlotte, enter Ozark Emmy-winner Julia Garner, starring with Abbott for the third time following Martha Marcy May Marlene (the feature debut for both) and an episode of Girls. She's also currently on a four-film streak where tension and unease is the prevailing mood. The latter and discomfort were equally crucial in her turn in quickly bingeable, ripped-from-the-headlines streaming series Inventing Anna. "There's not just one family member," Garner advises, explaining why it was so pivotal to her that what Charlotte goes through is just as key to the narrative as what Blake faces. Wolf Man uproots the couple and their eight-year-old daughter Ginger (Matilda Firth, Coma) from their San Francisco existence — where Charlotte is an investigative journalist and loving it, Blake is a doting dad but adrift in his surroundings otherwise, and strain already stresses the pair's marriage. While it takes some convincing, soon they're in rural Oregon, where Blake grew up and where the film opens. As a child (feature first-timer Zac Chandler) in the 90s in an area where a strange virus has been linked to wildlife, his survivalist father (Sam Jaeger, The Handmaid's Tale) isolated the family from the rest of the world. Blake has now inherited the property, sparking his comeback decades later, as well as the use of impressive practical effects by Whannell's team to make good on the movie's moniker. First coming to fame at home as the film critic on beloved 90s Saturday-morning TV show Recovery on the ABC, and with acting credits in The Matrix Reloaded, Death Sentence, Dying Breed, The Mule and more to his name, Whannell did indeed wish when he was starting out to be where he is now. His path that also spans bringing both the Saw and Insidious franchises, two of the biggest sagas in horror of the 21st century, to audiences with fellow Australian James Wan (Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom) — and starring in them. But he steadfastly appreciates his journey and, as he notes, "that luck plays a massive part in film-industry success". While he's been doing big things as Aussie filmmaker, Garner keeps working with Down Under talents. See also: Kitty Green's The Assistant and The Royal Hotel, plus Rosemary's Baby prequel Apartment 7A from Relic's Natalie Erika James. We chatted with Whannell and Garner about their routes to Wolf Man, how the film continues trends in each of their careers, casting and the movie's fresh interpretation of the Wolf Man story. The figure is no stranger to the screen, after all, with 2010's The Wolfman also going the remake route, and focusing on werewolves at the heart of films as varied as 1935's Werewolf of London; the 80s trio of An American Werewolf in London, The Howling and Teen Wolf; and Wolf in the 90s (and others). Part of our interview, too: Whannell's recurring themes, Garner's reunion with Abbott and more. On Whether Whannell Ever Dreamed That He'd Be Modernising Iconic Movie Monsters Back When He Was a Film Critic on 90s ABC Series Recovery Leigh: "I think I did dream. I mean, 'dream' is the right word, because they were very much daydreams. I don't think I took it past the daydreams. Once you start actualising a daydream, where you're drawing up plans and charts, and thinking about the chess moves that you're going to make to get there — I was just wishing for it. So I think that the fact that I actually am doing it is a literal dream come true, but it's also surprising to me. Because I think if I hadn't met the right people at the right time — and it's a very particular path I had to walk. One wrong move and this all goes in a different direction. On Garner Engaging with a New Way Into a Horror Classic in Wolf Man Immediately After Rosemary's Baby Prequel Apartment 7A — and If That's a Daunting Task Julia: "With this one, I feel like a lot of it is just that's what people want to see now. I feel like most of the movies that come out in this day and age are horror in a way, so I think that's what's popular now. And I'm just an actor that that needs to work — what can I say? No. But that's what's popular. The thing with Wolf Man that's interesting is that I actually didn't watch any — I've watched the previous Wolf Mans before, even before I was attached to this movie, but I didn't rewatch any of the previous Wolf Mans because I always felt like it felt very different and it wasn't connected to the previous Wolf Mans at all. So I wasn't going to take that as reference, movie reference. I found other places that were more beneficial for this Wolf Man than the previous Wolf Mans." On What Motivates Whannell to Make New Versions of All-Time Horror Greats Leigh: "I think they're iconic characters that people know. They're known around the world. The Wolf Man, Invisible Man, Dracula, Frankenstein — these characters are truly global, and people have a firm idea in their head. You say 'Frankenstein' to somebody and they have a picture in their head, probably the classic Boris Karloff image of the square green head with the bolts in the neck. There's that, but having said that, they're not locked in. People have done many things with these different characters. You can take the Wolf Man and plug it into a teen comedy. They did with Michael J Fox in the 80s. You can take a werewolf and plug it into a children's film. My kids watch animated movies with the Wolf Man running around, and Adam Sandler's doing the voice of Dracula. They're very malleable. They're so entrenched in pop culture that they don't even have to sit in one lane anymore. [caption id="attachment_788088" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Invisible Man[/caption] That's what's exciting to me, because getting people into movie theatres these days is difficult. If you can take a really known character like that and create essentially an original film inside of it — like with The Invisible Man, I was essentially creating my own story. I wasn't adapting a novel. I was creating this character of Cecilia, her inner world. So it's a way of having my cake and eating it. I get to write an original movie that's based on an iconic character, and the fact that it's so well-known means that studio has a way in. They can sell it to people. It's an equation you have to think about, I think, when making movies these days, because getting people into theatres is tough." On Why Whannell's Approach to Horror Monsters Appealed to Garner, and What She Was Excited to Dig Into Julia: "That it felt very real and very grounded. I thought that was a super-interesting combination, with the supernatural element of a monster movie, like Wolf Man. So, that contradiction — well, any contradiction always interests me. I think playing a mother, but not only playing a mother, playing a working mother — a mother that is struggling with what her identity is. I interviewed a lot of working mothers separately, and they all had similar responses, in a way. And the pressure of being a woman in this in this day and age — there was different pressure being a woman in the past, but there's now this different pressure of this day and age, and they all had similar responses. But then to add on top, something that was also just interesting was the sense of acting, how I approached it, too, was the seven stages of grief taking place in one night. And I think that was a really interesting challenge as an actor, because playing anything that takes place in one day is very challenging, let alone having the stages of grief — that's very challenging as well." On Wolf Man Combining Its Monster-Movie Setup with Musing on a Marriage Breakdown, a Family Strained by It, and Grief and Loss Leigh: "I think it is a balancing act, but it's one of the things I love about screenwriting is calibrating it. You're shaping something. You're making this sculpture. And to me, there's something very musical about writing a film, because there is a rhythm to it — and it's a rhythm that you just feel, you kind of feel it in your bones. You're just like 'okay, I need a chord change here. It's time for a big moment, and then I'll pull back'. I love doing that. I love being the god of my own little world. So much of life is out of our control — but when you write a screenplay, you create these people and you can treat them badly, you can treat them well, you can give them victories, you can rip the rug out from underneath them. There's something very cathartic about that, about controlling the fate of these imaginary people. And so I do enjoy that calibration. I do enjoy deciding — and so I'll give them a moment of connection, and I'll give them an emotional moment, and then I'll be vicious to them. You really are putting these characters through the wringer and you just have to use yourself as the barometer of 'when do I get emotional and when do I write things up a little bit?'. On Elements of Horror, Tension, Unease and Discomfort Simmering in Garner's Last Four Films in a Row — Including The Royal Hotel and The Assistant Julia: "I think it's funny. I look at those two movies, I don't look at them as horror movies so much, Royal and The Assistant. I look at them more as movies that have a lot of tension, and movies that have more of a grey area — and that's what feels like horror, a grey area is sometimes scarier because it feels more real. But this movie is different from anything that I've done, because this is actually the most of an action movie from out of anything that I've done, so that was one of the things that I also wanted to do. There was a lot of physical just running and all the things that I'm doing this movie. It was like an action horror movie it felt like, this film." On Why Whannell Keeps Telling On-Screen Tales About the Loss of Control and Agency Leigh: "That's interesting. A lot of times I treat interviews like free therapy, where I'm discovering in real time what the hell it is I do with my life. The old saying 'a fish cannot describe water' applies — I'm so inside of my films and so close to them that I'm not always the best person to tell you what they're about. Someone like you, who's coming in with a fresh set of eyes, you have a better Google Maps-view of this thing that I've done, and you maybe can pick up things. So I'm surprised a lot of times. Hearing you say that, I'm like 'okay' — and thinking about it, I'm like 'yeah, you're right'. There is this throughline through Upgrade and The Invisible Man and Wolf Man, and a lot of stuff I've done. I think that — just unpacking this in real-time here for you — I think that feeling like being out of control is something I'm afraid of in my own life. I'm somebody who wants to know what the plan is. I'm trying to keep a lid on the chaos of life. Some people are better at going with the flow. I definitely need that and I've always been like that. So maybe it's a fear of mine that's coming out. But also I think it just makes for good drama when you have someone who is being stripped of their agency and who they are. That's just great drama, especially when the person doesn't deserve it, when they're a sympathetic character. They say the key to screenwriting is to put your main character up a tree and throw rocks at them. I guess I enjoy torturing these fictional people because that makes for a good screenplay." On the Importance of Key Surroundings in Garner's Recent Films, Such as Wolf Man's Oregon Farm Setting Julia: "Surroundings in general, I think, is — and this is actually not on the actor, but I think if a director is not using the surroundings, that is not good for the film because it's a character on its own. So you're not getting to know another character in the film." On How Whannell Knew That Abbott and Garner Were His Wolf Man Leads Leigh: "I knew both of their work and knew how talented they both were. With Chris, the final straw was seeing him do a play in New York where he was just so great. And he was just ball of energy on stage, just raging — and then I went and saw him backstage and he's just chilling out with a glass of wine. And I was like 'okay, this guy, this guy is amazing that he could do that and then this'. I could see that he could switch it on and off. And with Julia, I already knew what she was capable of. So a lot of times with actors, unless you're a Christopher Nolan or Steven Spielberg, you really are just fishing for a yes. You don't always get that. I've written plenty of impassioned letters to different actors trying to sell them on a film I'm writing and gotten the rejection. Even directors can get rejected. Actors face a lot of rejection, but directors do too. So I'm just so happy that these particular two people responded. I was waiting for Julia. I was like 'uhhh, I haven't heard anything for a couple of days'. I'm reading into it. 'I guess she's going to pass'. And then she texted me a little wolf emoji. And I was like 'all right'. It was just one of those happy times when two people you know can do it both said yes." On Garner Working with Christopher Abbott for the Third Time — and How They Drew Energy From Each Other in Their Wolf Man Performances Julia: Well, it definitely didn't feel like the first time I met him. So that was easy. And Chris is such a great actor, so I was very excited to attach myself to this. Chris met me when I was 16 years old, which is crazy — there is history. Just being real, I think is so important. Being real and being open, because if you have just open behaviour, then that makes your scene partner hopefully more open. So that openness is contagious, and then you get a real response. On What Whannell Makes of His Journey From Australian TV to Co-Creating the Saw and Insidious Franchise, Then Upgrade, The Invisible Man and Wolf Man Leigh: "A lot of it's been surprising. So much of the movie industry is gambling, and you the old saying 'nobody knows anything' applies, I think. Certainly in Hollywood, where you've got these big studios spending lots of money and it's a profit-driven industry. Unlike Australia, it's not a a government-supported art form. It's a deluge of capitalism, and you stand or fall on that box office. And there are detours you can take, i.e. spend less — well, then you're not on the hook as much; the less money you spend, the less you're expected to make. So anyone who manages to scrape out a career, it's kind of a surprise — because when James Wan and I did that first Saw movie, we never expected that people would actually go to see it, and never expected to turn into this huge franchise. And it was a total bonus prize. So it's surprising more than anything. And I think when luck is involved, it can keep you humble — or it should. If you start believing that you're there because of destiny, that you were chosen by the hands of fate, that's when you're in trouble. That's when your ego's talking. But if you have a healthy awareness that luck plays a massive part in film-industry success, it does keep you god-fearing. It keeps you humble in the face of that luck. Here I am again talking to you, I'm rolling the dice again. I've made a film. I'm hoping it does well. But I have no idea how it's going to connect with audiences. That part isn't up to me. There's nothing I can do or say to make this film connect with people. It either will or it won't. So yeah, I'm just very well-aware of that." [caption id="attachment_927986" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Royal Hotel[/caption] On How Garner's Run of Working with Australian Directors Came to Be Julia: "I don't know. Well, Kitty is one of my closest friends, so I will do anything with her. I literally was just like 'I need to call her'. I love Australians. I think you guys are awesome. And you guys have great, great directors and art coming out of there, so I'm always intrigued by what an Australian has to say." Wolf Man opened in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, January 16, 2025. Leigh Whannell will chat about the film at the 2025 AACTA Festival, which runs from Wednesday, February 5–Sunday, February 9, 2025 at HOTA, Home of the Arts, 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast.
Fried chicken lovers: start drooling. KFC is set to unveil a brand new burger inspired by the flavours in Peking duck, but there's a catch: the only place you can get your hands on it will be at their new music festival on Cockatoo Island. The Colonel will throw the music festival in the iconic Sydney Harbour spot with an all-star local lineup on Sunday, March 13, and yes, all tickets include free KFC Peking Cluk burgers. You lucky ducks. The Peking Cluk burger has been created in collaboration with local TikTok sensation Dimsimlim and is made from Original Recipe fried chicken coated in a hoisin glaze sauce with a healthy topping of dry spring onions, cucumber and cabbage slaw. As for the headliners at the festival — it's Peking Duk, of course. The rowdy DJ duo are stepping up to help the Colonel as KFC's official burger spokespeople, and will be performing at the festival alongside beloved Yolngu rapper Baker Boy and Sydney favourite Thandi Phoenix. Attendees will be treated to Peking Duk's brand-new live show that they created over the last two years. The show has only been seen a few times at the likes of Field Day and features big party energy, remixes of previous material and plenty of synthesisers. "We've been in the bunker making the live set totally different, totally unique. It's going to be fun and it's going to be an experience that nobody's had before," Peking Duk's Reuben Styles told Concrete Playground. Adam Hyde of the duo put it more succinctly: "Get clucked, go cluck yourself, cluck off and have a clucking great time on Cockatoo Island with the boys." [caption id="attachment_753774" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cockatoo Island[/caption] Cockatoo Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has hosted iconic musicians including The Wailers, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Skrillex and Lorde. "We've never done Cockatoo Island and that's such an iconic spot for gigs. So many epic artists have come through and done shows there," said Styles. "We didn't expect our first time playing there to be a KFC collab, but god damn it's going to be so fun." The festival will mark one of very few gigs the pair have been able to play since the start of the pandemic. "Anytime a gig goes ahead now it feels like a huge relief that we actually get to put on a party and play a set for people," Styles continued. "It's so hard to pump people up about a gig when you know there's such a high chance it won't go ahead. Doing more intimate shows like the KFC one is so great for the interim because you can say, 'Hey, here's a show, it's going to go ahead, let's all get excited.'" Style and Hyde, alongside festival buddy Thandi Phoenix and a heap of Aussie musicians took a stand last month against the NSW Government's restrictions on live music and religious gatherings. The group of musicians labelled themselves Thrillsong after it was revealed that Hillsong hosted a large youth event with many similarities to a music festival during a time when festivals were unable to go ahead. "I think it was a great thing," Styles proclaims about Hillsong's gathering. "It shined a light on how stupid the government's rules were to allow religious events to go down but no any other form of musical events." If you want to catch Peking Duk's new set and get your hands on the Peking Cluk burger, tickets to KFC's Cockatoo Island music festival are available via Moshtix now for $50, but be quick as they're sure to be snatched up quickly. There's no word yet whether the Peking Cluk burger will be on offer more widely in KFC stores. [caption id="attachment_636228" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Baker Boy by Bec Taylor.[/caption] KFC's Cockatoo Island music festival will be on Sunday, March 13 featuring Peking Duk, Bakery Boy, Thandi Phoenix and plenty of burgers. Tickets are on sale now. Top image: Peking Duk at Sunset Piazza, DNSW
Finding the perfect balance in a cafe can be tough — some are just too big, others too small — but if Goldilocks could visit Northcote's Poke the Bear, we'd bet she would think it's just right. It's the latest venue from hospitality guru Ryan Cassidy (ex-Truman, Galleon, Veruca Salt) and it boasts a menu of breakfast and lunch options, all of which come with a healthy side of pun. If mornings aren't your thing order a Grizzly Bowl of acai, banana and coconut water, topped with chia seeds, goji berries and toasted coconut, or channel you inner caveman with the Bear Hands: a brekky taco packed with scrambled eggs, avocado, tomato relish and pico de gallo. Lunch options include a selection of toasties, soups, nachos and poke bowls, while sides come under the banner of Bear Essentials. Coffee is provided by the experts just down the street at Wide Open Road, while non-coffee drinkers can choose from a freshly squeezed red, yellow or green juice from the Se-Juiced menu. Located in what was once Radio Mexico North, the cafe's design remains largely the same: it's bright, open and filled with leafy greens. While the puns might make your eyes roll, Poke the Bear has all the makings of a northside hotspot.
One of Melbourne's original laneway haunts, the multi-level Campari House has a space for every mood and occasion. Get comfy in the dining room with a feast of rustic Italian fare, unwind over cocktails and DJ tunes in the upstairs lounge, or venture to the astroturfed rooftop bar to team an Auchentoshan & Ale with sweeping city views. The Italian-inspired menu features fresh, modern dishes — from steamed local bay mussels ($18), roasted beetroot ravioli ($28), braised lamb ragu ($28), and a traditional Italian tiramisu ($14). All of which, should be aptly complemented by a glass of Campari, obviously. Images: Giulia Morlando.
There's something about the end of winter that gets Australian music festivals locking in their plans for spring, summer and beyond. Already as 2024's frostiest season come to a close, Meredith, Always Live, Beyond The Valley, Bluesfest, Lost Paradise and SXSW Sydney have either announced or added to their lineups. Next up: Good Things. Back when winter was just beginning, the fest confirmed that it'd be back this year and set its dates across the country's east coast. Now, its roster of acts is here just before spring arrives. Korn, Sum 41, Violent Femmes and Billy Corgan will lead the bill when Good Things heads to Melbourne on Friday, December 6, then Sydney on Saturday, December 7 and finally to Brisbane on Sunday, December 8. [caption id="attachment_970650" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Maurice Nunez[/caption] As in previous years, Good Things is again taking over Flemington Racecourse, Centennial Park and Brisbane Showgrounds. That's where you'll hear 'ADIDAS', 'Got the Life', 'In Too Deep', 'Pieces', 'Blister in the Sun', 'Add It Up', 'Today', '1979' and more from the fest's first four big names alone. The complete lineup features both international and local highlights, including Germany's Electric Callboy, plus America's Mastodon, The Gaslight Anthem, Kerry King and L7. Among the homegrown acts, Jet, The Living End and The Butterfly Effect will all take to the stage, as will Killing Heidi performing their 2000 album Reflector in full. Festivalgoers can also look forward to carnival-style stunts and acts at STAGE 666, which returns after proving a hit in 2023. This year's hefty list of bands follows in the footsteps of the reunited TISM, Bring Me the Horizon, The Amity Affliction, NOFX, Millencolin, Devo, Fall Out Boy, Limp Bizkit, Corey Taylor and Pennywise, all of which have graced Good Things in the past two years alone. Good Things 2024 Lineup: Korn Sum 41 Violent Femmes Electric Callboy Billy Corgan Mastodon Kerry King The Gaslight Anthem Jet The Living End L7 Northlane Bowling for Soup Alpha Wolf Sleeping with Sirens The Butterfly Effect 311 AViVA Destroy Boys Dragon Frank Turner and The Sleeping Souls From Ashes to New Grandson Highly Suspect Imminence Killing Heidi (performing Reflector in full) Loathe Reliqa Taylor Acorn Good Things 2024 Dates: Friday, December 6 — Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne Saturday, December 7 — Centennial Park, Sydney Sunday, December 8 — Brisbane Showgrounds, Brisbane Good Things hits Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane in December 2024. Presale tickets go on sale at 10am AEST on Tuesday, August 27, with general sales from the same time on Thursday, August 29. Head to the festival website for more information. Good Things images: Kane Hibberd.
Television perfection is watching Elle Fanning (The Girl From Plainville) and Nicholas Hoult (The Menu) trying to run 18th-century Russia while scheming, fighting and heatedly reuniting in ahistorical period comedy The Great. Since 2020, they've each been in career-best form — her as the series' ambitious namesake, him as the emperor who loses his throne to his wife — while turning in two of the best performances on streaming in one of the medium's most hilarious shows. Both former child actors now enjoying excellent careers as adults, they make such a marvellous pair that it's easy to imagine this series being built around them. It wasn't and, now three seasons in with its latest ten-episode run arriving on Stan and Neon from Saturday, May 13, The Great has never thrived on their casting alone. Still, shouting "huzzah!" at the duo's bickering, burning passion and bloodshed-sparking feuding flows as freely as all the vodka downed in the Emmy-winner's frames. This devilishly loose and amusing parody of Catherine the Great's reign first found life on the stage, with its Australian creator Tony McNamara initially unleashing The Great's winning havoc upon Sydney Theatre Company in 2008. His process: stepping into the past, throwing familiar figures and events together, then shaking them around to make his own satirical story. Earning him a BAFTA and an Oscar nomination for co-penning The Favourite, too, that approach clearly resounds with the playwright, screenwriter and producer. Here, it results in a savage and witty charmer that ponders which tales end up echoing through history, and why, while also tearing into royalty and wealth's sense of entitlement and privilege — eating the Russian rich and powerful, and making it an exquisitely moreish meal. In season one, the former Princess Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg of Prussia travelled to Russia to marry the gleefully frat boy-esque Emperor Peter III, a plan on his part that'd have history-making repercussions. It's meant to solve her family's financial woes and give him an heir, but her idealism plus his arrogance and immaturity prove a Molotov cocktail. Swiftly, she's plotting her way to the top job, to enlightening her adopted homeland with progressive ideas and to far-from-harmonious wedded life. In this "occasionally true story", as The Great has happily badged itself from its very first days, there was never any question that Catherine would overthrow Peter; the details, however, don't simply spill into the handsomely staged and colourfully costumed series from reality. Season two saw the show's main couple still waging war on each other, including via soldiers and within the venomous royal court. As their various hangers-on kept jostling for relevance and importance — including Peter's lifelong pals Grigor (Gwilym Lee, Top End Wedding) and Georgina (Charity Wakefield, Genius), his aunt Elizabeth (Belinda Bromilow, Doctor Doctor), Catherine's former servant Marial (Phoebe Fox, The Aeronauts) and co-conspirator Orlo (Sacha Dhawan, Doctor Who), the country's resident Archbishop (Adam Godley, Lodge 49) and military head Velementov (Douglas Hodge, I Hate Suzie Too) — it also had Catherine pregnant, her acid-tongued mother (Gillian Anderson, The Crown) make a visit and its central marriage come to stabbing blows. Now, in a new batch of instalments all either written or co-written by McNamara, Catherine and Peter begin the third season sure about their love for each other, but just as flummoxed as ever about making their nuptials work. She's attempting to reform the nation, he's the primary caregiver to their infant son Paul, her efforts are meeting resistance, he's doting but also bored playing stay-out-of-politics dad, and couples counselling is called for. There's also the matter of the royal court's most prominent members, many of whom were rounded up and arrested under Catherine's orders at the end of season two. From Sweden, exiled King Hugo (Freddie Fox, House of the Dragon) and Queen Agnes (Grace Molony, Mary, Queen of Scots) are also hanging around after being run out of their own country due to democracy's arrival. Also, Peter's lookalike Pugachev (also Hoult) is agitating for a serf-powered revolution. In lesser hands, The Great might've been a mere soapy diversion (when it comes to jumping back into the past, eagerly ignoring the facts and merrily dishing up straightforward melodrama, see: Bridgerton). But this series remains one of the sharpest programs currently airing as well, thanks in no small part to its astute insights. Each subplot, whether it's Catherine and Peter's conflict over ordaining Paul as next in line to the throne by divine mandate, or the chaos caused when Catherine legalises divorce (including for Marial and Grigor's affair), or the especially sycophantic Arkady (Bayo Gbadamosi, War of the Worlds) and Tatyana (Florence Keith-Roach, Juliet, Naked) doing whatever it takes to stay in court, unpacks today's social and political ideas as much as its setting's. When Pugachev starts riling up crowds at big rallies spent attacking Catherine, for instance, thinking of recent headlines happens instantly. The Great has always been as magnificently absurd as it is smart and biting, a blend that also doesn't stop now. Since episode one, Bromilow has carved her place alongside Fanning and Hoult by playing Elizabeth as delightfully fanciful but steely, while The Gallery's Henry Meredith steals almost every scene he's in as Marial's 11-year-old shoe-loving wannabe-assassin cousin and husband Maxim. But season three skews darker, too, which is also a terrific and intelligent turn. Indeed, in a show that's never been shy about a body count (when Catherine wants to criminalise murder in this run of episodes, neither the court nor the people respond warmly), it's positively bold about adding to its casualties, contemplating the choices that grief inspires and exploring raw emotions. It was true in season one, never in doubt in season two and an established fact with season three: The Great keenly, heartily and truly lives up to its name. In fact, the show's latest go-around is a case of something great becoming even greater — and more addictive and irresistible — in its willingness to get bleak, its joyous mix of ridiculousness and drama, and its superb main performances. Fanning relishes Catherine's complexities again and again, leaning stunningly into heartbreak and leadership's heavy toll. Flitting between suave and rough-and-tumble, Hoult couldn't be having more fun in his dual parts. When they're together, their scenes are ceaselessly electrifying. McNamara gives season three an exceptional ending, complete with a nod to Australia, after ensuring that The Great has been forever changed by this supremely bingeable return; here's hoping, though, that there's still more greatness to come. Check out the trailer for The Great season three below: The Great season three streams in Australia via Stan and in New Zealand via Neon from Saturday, May 13.
What's better than hosting a big arts festival in one location? Spreading the love across two different cities on consecutive weekends. That's the format that worked for Mona Foma, the Museum of Old and New Art's (MONA) key summer event, when it was last held in 2021 — so that's exactly what'll happen again in 2022. Come January, arts and music fans will be able to soak in the fest's eclectic sights and sounds in two places: in Hobart and in Launceston. Although Mona Foma was originally held in Hobart, where MONA is located, the event made the move to Launceston in 2019. So there's plenty of reasons behind splitting its program between both Tasmanian cities. Launceston will be up first, from Friday, January 21–Sunday, January 23, with Hobart getting the nod the next week from Friday, January 28–Sunday, January 30. Just what'll be on the bill hasn't been announced as yet, and won't be until Friday, December 3 — but you can start marking your calendars now anyway. Tasmania is also reopening its borders to double-jabbed visitors from Wednesday, December 15, which is great news if you now know what you'd like to do — and which huge arts fest you'd like to hit up — this summer. The border reopening applies to double-vaxxed travellers from both interstate and overseas, too, which could have some influence on Mona Foma's lineup. [caption id="attachment_784489" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Flaming Lips, Mona, Hobart, Mona Foma 2016. Photo Credit: MONA/Rémi Chauvin. Image Courtesy Mona, Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.[/caption] "Delivering a festival in two cities in January 2021 felt like nothing less than a miracle," said Mona Foma curator Brian Ritchie. "Come January 2022 we'll do it again and promise another festive burst of euphoria and unforgettable moments." In terms of what's in store, Ritchie advised that the MONA team "is working on strange new venues, indefatigable creativity, cultivation of powerful talent and the unpredictable." Mona Foma will take place from January 21–23, 2022 in Launceston, and from January 28–39, 2022 in Hobart. We'll update you when the full program is announced on Friday, December 3 — but head to the festival website in the interim for further details. Top image: Faux Mo, Mona Foma 2021. Mona/Remi Chauvin. Image courtesy of the artist and Mona, Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
Collingwood's RVCA Corner Gallery and the Heavy Time Institute presents Party in The Back, a photographic exhibition from celebrated skateboarder Tino Razo opening on April 21. Razo's evocative images of sunset-drenched skate-sessions document the faded grandeur of South California's abandoned suburban pools. The same adventurous spirit that drove him to use word-of-mouth, satellite technology, and pure luck to track down deserted territories also permeates the tone of his art. Steeped in nostalgia for a thrill-seeking youth gone by and increasingly ungraspable notions of the American Dream, the exhibition, categorised as a 'lyrical photo eulogy', is a narrative of decay and discovery. Having skated for over 30 years, Tino Razo lives his photo project, and his perspective is accordingly authentic. His work is being exhibited in Australia for the first time, alongside an Anthology Editions book of all images, available to purchase alongside limited prints for the duration of the show.
Burger fiends of Melbourne, the wait is finally over. Legendary Sydney crew Mary's has today, Monday, January 20, opened the doors to its first permanent local venture, located on Franklin Street in the CBD. With four Sydney outposts under their belts, co-owners Jake Smyth and Kenny Graham have brought their American-style burgers, decadent fried chicken and general loose vibes down south. And, unlike their one-day kitchen takeover at Leonard's House of Love and two-month kitchen residency at cocktail bar Fancy Free, this time, it's a permanent fixture. The CBD venue is Mary's biggest yet, boasting space for 140 punters, a cosy mezzanine level and — perched dramatically from the roof — a supersized, custom wrought-iron chandelier, hung with over 24,000 dead rose stems. You'll find the cavernous space tucked down a laneway, marked simply by a glowing red light. [caption id="attachment_758203" align="alignnone" width="1920"] RC Stills[/caption] The brand's grungy, rock 'n' roll attitude is alive and well here, as is that penchant for unapologetically big-flavoured fare and top-notch vino. The menu showcases familiar favourites like the signature Mary's burger, the fried chook and the much-loved mash and gravy, alongside a handful of site-specific creations solely for the Melbourne crowd. In especially happy news for herbivores, a full vegan offering is also being dished up, mirroring the smash-hit plant-based lineup that debuted at Mary's Circular Quay outpost last May. True to form, there's plenty of love here for excellent wine, with a 100-strong list by much-lauded Mary's wine director Caitlyn Rees. Expect a lineup that's a little bit left-of-centre and very fun, shining a spotlight on the industry's young guns and emerging winemakers. [caption id="attachment_758205" align="alignnone" width="1920"] RC Stills[/caption] And, as is custom with a Mary's venue, there's a high-octane soundtrack to help bring it all to life. Find Mary's Melbourne at 167 Franklin Street, Melbourne. It's open from 4pm–1am Monday–Thursday and 12pm–1am Friday–Sunday. Images: RC Stills
Deciding how to spend what is potentially your first big international trip in years is a big call. If you're seeking the buzz of a big city but don't want to forgo outdoor adventures, we have an unexpected suggestion for you: New York State. Yep, The City That Never Sleeps delivers all the metropolitan hype you're craving while also being within reach of countless intrepid adventures. Extend your stay in the state and dedicate some time to experiencing all the incredible scenery and activities the blissful upstate region has to offer — it'll add another memorable dimension to your trip. Here, we've teamed up with New York State to present a selection of epic outdoor adventures that'll level up your next holiday itinerary. [caption id="attachment_851067" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mike Groll[/caption] PADDLE DOWN THE HUDSON WHILE HEARING LOCAL LEGENDS Along the Hudson River's eastern shoreline, the charming village of Sleepy Hollow is well worth a visit to check out the eclectic mix of historical buildings, multicultural food spots and recreational activities. It also happens to be one of New York's best spots for kayaking. Kayak Hudson ensures visitors of all experience levels can enjoy the scenery with an expert guide on its two-hour tour. You'll launch from a tiny beach at Horan's Landing, then paddle down the river past the 19th-century Tarrytown Lighthouse. Plus, if you're a fan of ghost stories, you'll love hearing all about The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, a spooky tale that gives the community its haunted reputation. [caption id="attachment_844987" align="alignnone" width="1920"] NYSDED, Darren McGee[/caption] TREK THROUGH DIVERSE FOREST TERRAIN The city streets offer plenty of excitement, but you don't have to travel far to find mind-blowing hiking destinations in New York. A two-hour drive from NYC, the Catskill Mountains is another hugely popular mountain range. Across a diverse network of hiking trails, populated with waterfalls, river crossings and woodland terrain, this outdoor wonderland is an undeniably rewarding area to discover. The average wayfarer won't have a problem completing the Kaaterskill Falls hike. Likewise, the Overlook Mountain summit, which you'll reach via a steady incline will reward you with sweeping views of Hudson Valley, plus old hotel ruins and a fire tower. Or, a little further afield, discover the state's highest peaks in the colossal Adirondacks — Ampersand Mountain reaches 1022 metres and you can reach the summit via a sprawling trailhead lined with wildflowers and panoramic views. [caption id="attachment_844999" align="alignnone" width="1920"] NYSDED, Darren McGee[/caption] TAKE A TOPSY-TURVY RIDE DOWN A RIVER There are many experiences that spring to mind when thinking of New York. Theatre shows. Basketball games. Eating your weight in pizza and hot dogs. But whitewater rafting? Probably not. Well, throw it on your bucket list because the state actually has a selection of places to ride the rapids. The Black River Gorge plunges visitors into a narrow ravine loaded with bumpy ledges and boulders — you'll paddle through 14 major rapids on a 3.5-hour Adirondacks River Outfitters Adventures tour. Elsewhere in the Adirondacks, Ausable Chasm is also recognised as a top-notch rafting location, with this floating tour providing a relatively calm water-going experience. Departing from Table Rock, you'll navigate through the Grand Flume canyon to soak up the striking rock formations before arriving at the Whirlpool Basin's choppy rapids. [caption id="attachment_847389" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Courtesy of Maid of the Mist[/caption] GET UP CLOSE TO NORTH AMERICA'S MOST LEGENDARY WATERFALLS Maid of the Mist has operated in the shadow of Niagara Falls since 1846, attracting nature-lovers looking to get an up-close glimpse of the three waterfalls that encompass this famous landmark. Its tours of the Falls started out in rickety rowboats 150 years ago, but you'll be glad to hear that Maid of the Mist's fleet has undergone a significant upgrade — it began tours on 90-foot zero-emission electric vessels in 2020. Prepare to be awe-struck as you make for the base of the American side of the Falls standing atop the double-decker boat in your souvenir poncho, which will (somewhat) protect you from the near 600,000 gallons of water rushing over the falls per second. You'll also be taken to check out the largest of the bunch – Horseshoe Falls – to encounter dramatic whitewater pools and towering rock formations. [caption id="attachment_845287" align="alignnone" width="1920"] NYSDED, Darren McGee[/caption] ZOOM THROUGH THE AIR AT DIZZYING HEIGHTS Step out of your comfort zone with the New York Zipline Adventure Tour. Set against the backdrop of the Catskills at Hunter Mountain, this canopy experience is the highest, fastest and longest in North America, ensuring you get a once-in-a-lifetime perspective on the surrounding mountain peaks. There are two adventures to choose from: the Skyrider Tour and the Mid-Mountain Tour. The former is the top choice, as you'll hook into five separate zip lines that stretch for over seven kilometres. As you whip along at breakneck speeds, the peak distance from the ground of 180 metres is bound to make your head spin. [caption id="attachment_844982" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Larry Tetamore[/caption] GET A BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OVER AN EXPANSIVE STATE PARK You won't find many places better for hot air ballooning than Letchworth State Park, a sprawling green expanse nicknamed 'The Grand Canyon of the East'. The landscape definitely lives up to this moniker, with dense woodlands, waterfalls and gorges, ensuring your gentle float through the air comes with a spectacular view. On a tour with Balloons Over Letchworth, you'll lift off from Middle Falls to rise high above the countryside before gliding so low you can almost touch the rivers. Tours run daily from May to October, depending on the weather, but an autumn visit guarantees you'll catch colourful changes sweeping across the hinterland. [caption id="attachment_846386" align="alignnone" width="1920"] NYSDED, Darren McGee[/caption] FLEX YOUR SKIING SKILLS AT THIS MASSIVE WINTER RESORT You don't need to trek across the country to find a celebrated ski destination — this one is just 2.5 hours from NYC. The Catamount Mountain Resort provides an excellent experience for alpine enthusiasts, particularly after a major 2018 upgrade brought new lifts and snowmaking machines to support the diverse runs (the longest of which is 2.8 kilometres) and a snow tubing park. Yet winter isn't the only time to visit, with the mountain resort remaining incredibly active throughout the warmer months. Home to the longest continuous zipline in the United States at almost 1700 metres, as well as a thrilling aerial adventure park, Catamount is the perfect spot to immerse yourself in New York's midsummer beauty. [caption id="attachment_851070" align="alignnone" width="1920"] NYSDED[/caption] DIVE SEVERAL SHIPWRECKS BENEATH ST LAWRENCE RIVER Forming part of the international border between the United States and Canada, the St Lawrence River has been a major shipping corridor for hundreds of years. Unfortunately for the vessels and some of their crew, this treacherous stretch of the Thousand Islands-Seaway region has claimed many a freighter and schooner. Today, the river is one of North America's top shipwreck diving locations for beginners and experts alike, with dozens of vessels to explore. Several local dive companies organise gear and guided underwater adventures to the most popular, including the Islander and the SS Keystorm. [caption id="attachment_846387" align="alignnone" width="1920"] NYSDED, Darren McGee[/caption] BE A BIG KID FOR THE DAY AT THIS NATURE-FOCUSED INTERACTIVE PARK Over the last 25 years, The Wild Center has become one of New York's premier attractions for outdoor encounters. Situated in Tupper Lake, on the edge of the Adirondacks, this sprawling 115-acre property's nature walks, museums and kid-friendly play areas help bring people closer to the natural world. The Wild Walk is the park's most popular activity, featuring a series of elevated bridges and tree houses leading visitors through the forest canopy. Meanwhile, a viewpoint replicating a massive bald eagle's nest provides a stellar spot to take in the landscape. Alongside a vast network of hiking trails and ponds, there's also fascinating public art and wildlife encounters. To start planning your trip to New York State, head to iloveny.com. Also, be sure to check out our recommendations for the best food and drink stops, cultural experiences, places to stay and day trips from NYC. Top image: NYSDED, Darren McGee
Lime Cordiale are showing some love to some of Australia's biggest regional hubs on a new tour that will see them performing in RSL clubs and intimate venues along the east coast. Spanning eight shows stretching between the Sunshine Coast and Frankston, the Fantastical Country Club Experience will deliver the band's catalogue of beloved hits, plus tracks from their upcoming third studio album, to cities and towns that are often missed on major national tours. The tour will kick off just north of Sydney with a pair of shows at the Dee Why RSL on Friday, March 17 and Sunday, March 19. From there, Lime Cordiale will head to Wollongong's Waves, Beer Deluxe in Albury, The Pier in Frankston, Venue 114 on the Sunshine Coast, Panthers Port Macquarie and, finally, The Coliseum in Rooty Hill on Sunday, April 15. Two of the stops — Dee Why RSL on March 19 and Venue 114 on Saturday, April 8 — are all-ages affairs, meaning Lime Cordiale fans young and old on the Central Coast and the Sunshine Coast can head along. The infectious five-piece will be joined by upcoming singer-songwriter Aleksiah on all eight dates, as well as Gold Coast musician Bella Amor in Dee Why, Wollongong and Albury, and sunny four-piece Coterie across the final four shows of the tour. Lime Cordiale recently landed four songs in Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2022 including 'Holy Moley', their latest in a series of collaborations with the multi-talented British actor, DJ and musician Idris Elba. Their upcoming album hasn't been given a name or release date yet, but it's set to feature recent singles 'Colin', 'Country Club' and 'Facts of Life'. LIME CORDIALE'S FANTASTICAL COUNTRY CLUB TOUR 2023: Friday, March 17 and Sunday, March 19 — Dee Why RSL Friday, March 24 — Waves, Wollongong Friday, March 31 — Beer Deluxe, Albury Sunday, April 2 — The Pier, Frankston Saturday, April 8 — Venue 114, Sunshine Coast Sunday, April 9 — Panthers, Port Macquarie Saturday, April 15 — The Coliseum, Rooty Hill Lime Cordiale will tour the east coast of Australia in March and April. Tickets to the 'Fantastical Country Club Tour' are on sale now.
Riding bulls in Broome, empty pie shops, Western Sydney's total boss suit-wearing sapeur trend straight from the Democratic Republic of Congo — Australian life is pretty hard to pin down. Legendary Sydney artist Ken Done, The Messenger Group owner and creative director Lisa Messenger and award-winning Sydney photographer Stephen Dupont have come close to it, painstakingly trawled through a record 1250 entries in the City of Sydney’s 2014 Australian Life competition. Part of this year's Art & About program, the exhibition formerly known as Sydney Life has been expanded to include the whole country this time around — as well as Instagram. Unsurprisingly attracting a record wave of Australian photographers — both established and upcoming — Australian Life now has its 22 finalists, all of whom sought to capture their own little corner of Australia as intimately or vastly as possible. The resulting shortlist (notably mostly made up of NSW photographers) is a significantly diverse patchwork of Australian daily life in its weirdest, funniest and saddest moments. "We opened this iconic competition to all Australians for the first time and we are delighted with the result," Lord Mayor Clover Moore said. "We’ve received record numbers of entries providing unique glimpses into the lives of people from right across our country." The Australian Life competition is no small fry; the winner takes home a cheeky $10,000 prize. The top shot is set to be announced at Art & About Sydney’s free public launch party in Martin Place on Friday, September 19, after which you'll be able to stroll through Hyde Park's St James walkway and take in all 22 finalists in large-scale reproductions until October 12. Casual snappers, you've still got a shot at glory and fame. If you think you've nailed a moment of pure Australianness with one of your Instagrams, make sure you hashtag it #australianlife and enter the official Instagram part of the competition. Entries are open until September 18 and will be announced October 3. Australian Life 2014 finalists: Georgina Pope (Goulburn, NSW) — A great day for drying Berylouise Mitchell (Ashfield, NSW) — Anzac Day Tribute Godelieve Mols (Dee Why, NSW) — AFL Match in Ngukurr, Arnhem Land, NT Rodney Campbell (Lane Cove North, NSW) — Boarding Glenn Campbell (Darwin, NT) — Brothers in Boob Tubes Natalie Grono (Lennox Head, NSW) — Children of the tribe Rob Annesley (Lugarno, NSW) — ColourMeRad 5K Ivana Jovanovic (Botany, NSW) — Dinner Jon Lewis (Wombeyan Caves, NSW) — Farewelling Martin Sharp Desmond Kok Hui Ong (Redfern, NSW) — For Sale Paul Blackmore (Tamarama, NSW) — Icebergs Matthew Newton (Hobart, TAS) — I’m a fire starter Jewels Lynch (Tweed Heaqds, NSW) — Mutitjulu Dreaming Richard Payne (Manly, NSW) — PIES Brent Winstone (Bondi Beach, NSW) — Pondering in the tent of wonder Lisa Maree Williams (Bondi Junction, NSW) — Rio Station Warwick Kent (Crows Nest, NSW) — Rush Hour Tamara Voninski (Alexandria, NSW) — Saltwater Cowboys Louise Whelan (Avalon, NSW) — Sydney Sapeurs Dianne English (Round Corner, NSW) — The Doll House Andre Martin (Artarmon, NSW) — tin city John Goodridge (Newington, NSW) — Windbreak For more details and full stories behind the finalists visit Art & About.
Melbourne CBD bars and restaurants work hard to get the after-work crowd, luring them with all manner of boozy deals. Now, every Friday until March 22, George on Collins is joining the fold. Instead of competing with the 5pm crowd of bars and restaurants that run deals, George on Collins is instead focusing on those of us looking for a spot to kick on. From 9–11pm every Friday night, the team serves up free-flowing margaritas for $79 per person for an experience they've dubbed George's Social Club. Spicy, passion fruit and classic margaritas are up for grabs, and guests will also get a complimentary roti taco filled with either fish, tofu or pork. It'll probably be smart to order a few more on the night or get a few other bar snacks for the table — all available until close. To keep the Friday night party vibes going till late, George on Collins will also be hosting DJs until they kick everyone out. But if you're not up for a late one, the team is also offering $15 classic margaritas during happy hour from 3–6pm, Tuesday through to Friday. Yes, we can have chill end-of-week drinks too. Other post-work deals around the CBD include the Lukas Group's $9.50 cocktail hour every Thursday across all group venues. And Culprit at W Melbourne has a huge selection of unlimited drinks and food deals running from Tuesday to Thursday.
Not all that long ago, the idea of getting cosy on your couch, clicking a few buttons, and having thousands of films and television shows at your fingertips seemed like something out of science fiction. Now, it's just an ordinary night — whether you're virtually gathering the gang to text along, cuddling up to your significant other or shutting the world out for some much needed me-time. Of course, given the wealth of options to choose from, there's nothing ordinary about making a date with your chosen streaming platform. The question isn't "should I watch something?" — it's "what on earth should I choose?". Hundreds of titles are added to Australia's online viewing services each and every month, all vying for a spot on your must-see list. And, so you don't spend 45 minutes scrolling and then being too tired to actually commit to watching anything, we're here to help. We've spent plenty of couch time watching our way through this months latest batch — and, from the latest and greatest to old favourites, here are our picks for your streaming queue from September's haul of newbies. BRAND NEW STUFF YOU CAN WATCH IN FULL RIGHT NOW THE MAD WOMEN'S BALL Hitting streaming mere days after premiering at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival, The Mad Women's Ball marks the latest thoughtful and enthralling stint behind the camera for Mélanie Laurent. The French actor who'll forever be known for Inglourious Basterds features on-screen in this, too, and turns in a layered and textured performance. But, behind the lens for the sixth time — and the first since 2018's Galveston — she transforms an already-gripping tale into a film that's vivid, passionate, empathetic and resonant. You could compare The Mad Women's Ball to One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest, although that's oversimplifying things. Both are primarily set within comparable facilities, with the Salpêtrière neurological clinic the key location here, and both hone in on the power imbalance between those admitted and those running the show. But the Salpêtrière's patients are all women, most have been checked in against their will, the word 'hysteria' is thrown around too often by the male doctors, and 19th-century Paris treats anyone who doesn't conform to to the placid, dutiful female norm with contempt. That's what Eugénie Cléry (Lou de Laâge, who also starred in Laurent's 2014 film Breathe) learns after she starts hearing spirits. When her wealthy family find out about her new ability to communicate with the dead, she's packed away despite her pleas and protests, and confined to a place where she's little more than an inmate for men to torture with ice baths and other supposed cures. Laurent plays a nurse who becomes sympathetic to Eugénie's cause, but the film has just as much time for the sense of camaraderie that springs between the facility's wrongly institutionalised charges. It also offers space for other on-screen women to make an imprint, and serves up not just a potent but a handsomely staged adaptation of Victoria Mas' novel Le bal des folles. The Mad Women's Ball is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video. SQUID GAME Exploring societal divides within South Korea wasn't invented by Parasite, Bong Joon-ho's excellent Oscar-winning 2019 thriller, but its success was always going to give other films and TV shows on the topic a healthy boost. Accordingly, it's easy to see thematic and narrative parallels between the acclaimed movie and Netflix's new highly addictive Squid Game — the show that's on track to become the platform's biggest show ever (yes, bigger than everything from Stranger Things to Bridgerton) less than two weeks since it released. Anyone who has seen even an episode knows why this nine-part series is so compulsively watchable. Its puzzle-like storyline and its unflinching savagery making quite the combination. Here, in a Battle Royale and Hunger Games-style setup, 456 competitors are selected to work their way through six seemingly easy children's games. They're all given numbers and green tracksuits, they're all competing for 45.6 billion won, and it turns out that they've also all made their way to the contest after being singled out for having enormous debts. That includes series protagonist Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae, Deliver Us From Evil), a chauffeur with a gambling problem, and also a divorcé desperate to do whatever he needs to to keep his daughter in his life. But, as it probes the chasms caused by capitalism and cash — and the things the latter makes people do under the former — this program isn't just about one player. It's about survival, the status quo the world has accepted when it comes to money, and the real inequality present both in South Korea and elsewhere. Filled with electric performances, as clever as it is compelling, unsurprisingly littered with smart cliffhangers, and never afraid to get bloody and brutal, the result is a savvy, tense and taut horror-thriller that entertains instantly and also has much to say. Squid Game is available to stream via Netflix. MIDNIGHT MASS No one can accuse Mike Flanagan of being lazy. In the past three years, he's made four different Netflix horror series, plus The Shining sequel Doctor Sleep. In the two years before that, he directed four other movies. Yes, he's prolific, and he also knows and loves his unsettling niche. Midnight Mass is the third of those aforementioned shows, and forgoes the ghostly setup of The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Bly Manor — and it spins its musing on loss in multiple forms, faith in just as many varieties, and mortality and everything it means into a commanding seven-part miniseries. For Riley Flynn (Zach Gilford, Good Girls), the show's narrative begins with the biggest mistake of his life. After killing a woman while drunk driving, he spends four years in prison, haunted by her bloody face whenever he tries to close his eyes. Upon his release, he has no choice but to head home to Crockett Island, where his god-fearing mother (Kristin Lehman, Altered Carbon) is thrilled, his Ron Swanson-esque dad (Hill House and Bly Manor alum Henry Thomas) barely says a word, and his now-pregnant childhood sweetheart (Kate Siegel, Gerald's Game) has just made a comeback after her own absence. Also upsetting the status quo: the arrival of Father Paul (Hamish Linklater, Legion) to fill in for the island's ailing priest, and a wild storm that wreaks havoc. When he's spinning episodic stories, Flanagan likes to tease. He likes fleshing out his always-eclectic range of characters, too, and Midnight Mass is no different. Here, he adores monologues as well, but that's hardly surprising given the stellar cast he's writing for. It's been a great year or so for disquieting miniseries set on small, sparsely populated islands, thanks to The Third Day as well, and this is just absorbing. Midnight Mass is available to stream via Netflix. STRONG FEMALE LEAD When The Final Quarter opted to explore AFL footballer Adam Goodes' career purely using footage from the time — focusing on his stint on the field during its last stages, as the name makes plain — it weaved together media clips from his games, general AFL coverage, news stories, press conferences and interviews from the era. The result: a heartbreaking picture of the ex-Swans captain's experiences with racism that couldn't paint a clearer picture. Strong Female Lead does the same, but swaps sports for politics and discrimination based on race for prejudice predicated upon gender. Given that Australia has only ever had one female Prime Minister, that's where this fast-paced documentary heads, with director Tosca Looby (See What You Made Me Do) and editor Rachel Grierson Johns (Roller Dreams) letting existing media materials about Julia Gillard do all the talking. Anyone who can remember the headlines, news commentary, panel shows and talkback radio discussions from her 2010–13 spot in the nation's top job will know what they're in for, but seeing it all so deftly sliced together couldn't be more powerful. The sexism she faced at every turn isn't a relic of that not-at-all-distant past, of course. Indeed, Looby's approach makes all the horrendous words flung Gillard's way cut like a fresh wound, and simultaneously also sting like an old scar that won't heal. That's the cumulative effect of enduring the horrific things said, her overall treatment as PM, the odious behaviour of her parliamentary peers, and the belittling comments and placards, too. Strong Female Lead is a film to get angry with, as it's meant to be. It's also a celebration of Gillard's achievement in becoming Prime Minister, her work both along the way and in the role and other world leaders who've broken the glass ceiling. What lingers, though, is the fierce and formidable indictment of what women in positions of authority have been forced to navigate. Strong Female Lead is available to stream via SBS On Demand. EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE They're both underdog stories, they're both set in Sheffield in England's north, and they both have the accents to prove the latter. They each follow struggling locals trying to carve out a better life, and feature the entertainment industry prominently. And, they both chronicle characters breaking out of their comfort zones, shocking plenty around them, and working towards a big show, event or both. The movie that got there first: The Full Monty. The newcomer: Everybody's Talking About Jamie. That's about where the similarities between the two end, however, other than the inescapably feel-good vibe they both stir up. In this case, that crowd-pleasing sentiment springs from teenager Jamie New (first-timer Max Harwood), his quest to become a drag queen and his determination to chase that dream by first frocking up for his school prom. Already bullied, considered a disappointment by his soccer-loving father (Ralph Ineson, Gunpowder Milkshake), but adored by his mother (Sarah Lancashire, Yesterday) and best friend (fellow film debutant Lauren Patel), he isn't certain about showing his drag side to the world. He needs mentoring by a former drag icon (Richard E Grant, Can You Ever Forgive Me?), in fact, to even get the courage to do so. And, from there, the path to unleashing his inner queen is nowhere near as sparkly as the red heels his mum gives him for his 16th birthday. Where Everybody's Talking About Jamie isn't at all surprising, whether you're familiar with the stage production it's based on, or the real-life tale it's inspired by — or if you've just seen other against-the-odds British flicks such as Kes and Billy Elliott. Nonetheless, from its first frame to its last, this lively and sweet musical still shimmers, glows and charms. Everybody's Talking About Jamie is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video. NEW AND RETURNING SHOWS TO CHECK OUT WEEK BY WEEK SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE In the initial two episodes of Scenes From a Marriage, Mira (Jessica Chastain, IT: Chapter Two) and Jonathan (Oscar Isaac, Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker) brush their teeth in front of their ensuite mirror. It's an everyday task in a familiar place, spanning something we all do in a space we all use, but this five-part HBO miniseries turns these two scenes into a complex snapshot of its central couple. It takes not just skill but feeling and understanding to turn such a mundane activity into a must-see; however, that's this weighty show's remit. Scenes From a Marriage gets viewers engrossed in cleaning teeth because it's ordinary, and because everything within its frames fits the same description. Its central relationship careens from happy to heartbroken, comfortable to distraught, and assured to messy, but it also charts a path that countless others have. Accordingly, Mira and Jonathan start the series cemented in their routine, but with each of its five episodes dedicated to a significant day over the course of several years, much changes. The ambitious tech industry executive to his ex-Orthodox Jewish philosophy professor, Mira drops a bombshell, their lives shift over and over, and yet plenty stays the same as well. As penned and helmed by The Affair's Hagai Levi — remaking the 1973 Swedish TV miniseries by iconic film director Ingmar Bergman — Scenes From a Marriage is a show about patterns, cycles and echoes, in fact. It ponders how they ripple through relationships and, when broken or changed, how their absence is felt. The result is devastating and powerful, shot and scored with intensity, and home to exceptional performances from Chastain and Isaac, who prove just as irresistible in their second collaboration in a stormy union as they did in 2014 also-stellar A Most Violent Year. The first three episodes of Scenes From a Marriage are available to stream via Binge, with new episodes dropping weekly. Read our full review. ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING If you've ever listened to a true-crime podcast, decided that you'd make a great Serial host yourself and started wondering how you'd ever follow in Sarah Koenig's footsteps, then you should be watching Only Murders in the Building. The Disney+ series follows three New Yorkers who follow that same process. Actor Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin, It's Complicated), theatre producer Oliver Putnam (Martin Short, Schmigadoon!) and the much-younger Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez, The Dead Don't Die) are all obsessed with a series hosted by the fictional Cinda Canning (Tina Fey, Girls5eva), to the point of bonding over it as strangers. Then, when someone turns up dead in their building, they decide that they can sleuth their way through the case — by getting talking themselves, naturally. But being a true-crime podcast diehard and making a true-crime podcast clearly aren't quite the same thing, and turning amateur detective isn't clearcut either. Entertaining and exceptionally well-cast, Only Murders in the Building makes makes the most of its main trio's mismatched vibe. It's filled with hearty affection for everything it jokes about, resulting in an upbeat satire of true-crime obsessions, podcasting's pervasiveness and the intersection of the two. It adores its single-setting Agatha Christie-lite setup, it's always empathetic, and it also loves peppering in highly recognisable co-stars and guest stars such as Fey, Nathan Lane (Penny Dreadful: City of Angels), Amy Ryan (Late Night) and even Sting. The series is also written and acted with enough depth to pair relatable character insights with its bubbly, clownish fun. If Knives Out was a sitcom, and also a little goofier, it'd turn out like this — and that's a delight, obviously. The first seven episodes of Only Murders in the Building are available to stream via Star on Disney+, with new episodes dropping weekly. Read our full review. WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS How do you match a season of TV that introduced the world to yet another ace Matt Berry character? That's a question What We Do in the Shadows faced with its third season, after its last batch of episodes featured Jackie Daytona — the "regular human bartender" persona adopted by Berry's bloodsucker Laszlo Cravensworth. Thankfully, this vampire sharehouse comedy found an easy solution. It's still doing what it does best, which includes gifting the glorious Berry (Toast of London) and his co-stars Kayvan Novak (Four Lions), Natasia Demetriou (Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga), Mark Proksch (The Office) and Harvey Guillen (Werewolves Within) reams of witty and hilarious dialogue. Picking up where the last season left off, the show's vamps now have a new job running the local Vampiric Council; however, the mockumentary-style series still knows that it's at the best when its stars are riffing either together or directly to the camera. Obviously, the Staten Island-dwelling bloodsuckers' new gig comes with ample chaos and, as it dives into everything that follows, What We Do in the Shadows is still one of the silliest yet smartest horror-comedies that's ever been made. But as proved the case with the movie it sprang from — aka Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi's 2014 film of the same name — so much of the joy and laughs here come from watching exceptional comedic talents inhabit their characters' fangs, banter about undead tropes and bounce off of each other. That hasn't changed in season three, and the entire series is still a side-splitting gem in each and every episode. The first five episodes of What We Do in the Shadows' third season are available to stream via Binge, with new episodes dropping weekly. Y: THE LAST MAN On paper, Y: The Last Man sounds familiar, even if you haven't read the source material. Based on the 2002–08 comic book series of the same name, it steps into a post-apocalyptic time where an eerie illness wipes out everyone with a Y chromosome — humans and other mammals alike. Accordingly, it initially resembles a reverse version of The Handmaid's Tale and Children of Men. Thankfully, this dystopian tale heads in its own direction. First, it spends an episode plotting out the pre-plague status quo for Yorick Brown (Ben Schnetzer, The Grizzlies), his US Congresswoman mother Jennifer (Let Him Go) and his paramedic sister Hero (Olivia Thirlby, Goliath). Then, it dives deep into the world-changing event that sees males wiped out en masse. It isn't a spoiler to say that Yorick survives, because the title ensures that's clear. Also making it through: his Capuchin monkey Ampersand. As the globe's women react, adjust and endeavour to traverse a whole new way of life, Yorick endeavours to do the same — and, based on its first episodes, it makes for gripping viewing. It's the type of show that starts out with an obvious been-there-done-that vibe, especially at the moment. Anyone who has filled even part of the pandemic binge-watching movies about contagions, outbreaks and infections will recognise plenty of elements, but this is also the kind of series that takes its time to settle in, and to expand and grow. It's ongoing focus on what comes next, rather than simply exploring what happened, is also filled with possibilities — timely ones, too, given the current state of reality. The first five episodes of Y: The Last Man are available to stream via Binge, with new episodes dropping weekly. A RECENT MUST-SEE YOU CAN (AND SHOULD) STREAM NOW ANOTHER ROUND Even the most joyous days and nights spent sipping your favourite drink can have their memory tainted by a hangover. Imbibe too much, and there's a kicker just waiting to pulsate through your brain and punish your body when all that alcohol inevitably starts to wear off. For much of Another Round, four Copenhagen school teachers try to avoid this feeling. The film they're in doesn't, though. Writer/director Thomas Vinterberg (Kursk) and his co-scribe Tobias Lindholm (A War) lay bare the ups and downs of knocking back boozy beverages, and also serve up a finale that's a sight to behold. Without sashaying into spoiler territory, the feature's last moments are a thing of sublime beauty. Some movies end in a WTF, "what were they thinking?" kind of way, but this Oscar-winning Danish film comes to a conclusion with a big and bold showstopper that's also a piece of bittersweet perfection. The picture's highest-profile star, Mads Mikkelsen (Arctic), is involved. His pre-acting background as an acrobat and dancer comes in handy, too. Unsurprisingly, the substances that flow freely throughout the feature remain prominent. And, so does the canny and candid awareness that life's highs and lows just keep spilling, plus the just-as-shrewd understanding that the line between self-sabotage and self-release is as thin as a slice of lemon garnishing a cocktail. Another Round is available to stream via SBS On Demand. Read our full review. Need a few more streaming recommendations? Check out our picks from January, February, March, April, May, June, July and August this year — and our top straight-to-streaming movies and specials from 2021 so far, and our list of the best new TV shows released this year so far as well.
The idea that arts and sports don't mix was never going to hold up in Melbourne, a place where standing in line at the city's annual film festival often means hearing a chat about AFL scores filtering down the queue. Eclipse Cinema is another case in point. When it opens in August 2025, it will launch the Victorian capital's newest boutique and independent movie theatre at an address that was previously home to the Sherrin factory. Aussie rules footballs are no longer manufactured at 32 Wellington Street in Collingwood. Soon, big-screen delights via digital projection and high-definition sound will be the site's main creation. Set to start welcoming in film lovers by the time that winter is out, Eclipse nods to cinema history, too, by taking the name of a picture palace that once stood on the suburb's Smith Street from 1913 to around 1917. Expect a blast from the past among the 64-seater spot's movie range as well, balancing new releases with retrospective flicks, with a particular focus on indie, queer, First Nations and gender-diverse filmmaking. Melbourne-made fare will also be in the spotlight, and so will titles that you mightn't have caught on their limited general-release runs. This is the type of venue where a Pedro Almódovar (The Room Next Door) picture will grace the screen each Wednesday, for instance, and where the likes of 2024 Melbourne International Film Festival Bright Horizons Award-winner Universal Language will also get a spin. Eclipse Cinema hails from owner/operator Mark Walker, who boasts 15-plus years working at MIFF, was a projectionist at both Yarraville's Sun Theatre and Carlton's Cinema Nova, and also co-founded Pivotonian Cinema in Geelong, running it for nearly ten years. "It is so exciting to be launching a new boutique cinema in this culturally rich neighbourhood, and I'm truly confident locals will embrace the independent and cutting-edge cinema that the Eclipse will offer," says Walker For snacks and sips during the silver-screen show, Eclipse Cinema will dish up popcorn and homemade choc tops, as well as wine. Before the theatre opens its doors — in fact, to help it finish its build and do just that — you can also show your support via its Pozible crowdfunding campaign. Until the end of July, Walker is aiming to raise $25,000. Rewards include a three-year founding membership, which will see your name featured on-screen at every session and score you discounted tickets; private-screening packages; and big-screen advertising options. And no, Melbourne can never have too many cinemas — with FoMo in East Brunswick and Palace Penny Lane in Moonee Ponds among the city's other openings in the past few years. A new IMAX at Village Cinemas Fountain Gate is also on the way before the end of 2025. Find Eclipse Cinema at 32 Wellington Street, Collingwood sometime in August — keep an eye on the venue's Instagram and Facebook pages in the interim, and head to its Pozible campaign before Thursday, July 31, 2025 to lend your support.
Residents of Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, if you were looking forward to watching a Channing Tatum-starring movie about male strippers jump into real life right in front of your eyes, we have bad news. After the pandemic delayed Magic Mike Live's Sydney season, then interrupted its Melbourne run, the stage show has completely scrapped the rest of its Australian tour — so, if you haven't already, you won't be seeing it IRL anytime soon. In 2012, when the world discovered all things Magic Mike — and that it was based on Tatum's own experiences working in the field — everyone was a little sceptical. But the film boasts a great director in Steven Soderbergh, and a cast that also includes Matthew Bomer, Joe Manganiello, Olivia Munn, Riley Keough and peak McConnaissance-era Matthew McConaughey. Also, it's great. Alongside 2015 sequel Magic Mike XXL, the franchise takes a smart and sensitive look at men chasing the American Dream by taking off their clothes, with Tatum successfully turning what could've been a forgettable chapter of his pre-fame life into a hit big-screen series, and — unsurprisingly — then bringing it back to the stage. Yes, Magic Mike was always going to return to where it all began. As seen in Las Vegas, London and Berlin, Magic Mike Live sees real-life male dancers strip up a storm for eager audiences. And, in Australia, it has been doing so in a 600-seat spiegeltent called The Arcadia — but the struggles of dealing with the pandemic has seen the show's organisers call it quits on the Aussie tour. "Everyone at Magic Mike Live is heartbroken to have to make this decision but we have been left with no choice," said Executive Producer Vincent Marini in a statement. "After enduring four lockdowns and millions of dollars in refunds and cancellations, we simply can't sustain a tour that has no opportunity to perform. Our performers, crew, management team and local industry partners in Australia have constantly amazed us with their talent, dedication, and resiliency. Their hard work combined with the truly heart-warming reception we received from audiences in Sydney and Melbourne, make us hopeful that we can someday return to Australia and finish what we started." Accordingly, the remainder of the show's Melbourne season will no longer go ahead when the city gets out of its sixth lockdown — and stints in Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide have been totally scrapped. Magic Mike Live was due to head to Brisbane in November, then move on to Perth and Adelaide throughout 2022. Fingers crossed that the show will eventually plan another Aussie run, with the cancellation seeing it join a lengthy list of live productions affected by the pandemic so far. Hamilton's long-awaited Australian premiere season is currently on hiatus in Sydney due to the NSW capital's ongoing lockdown, and Jagged Little Pill the Musical has postponed its planned 2021 Australian debut until yet-to-be-announced new dates, for instance. Also, Tony-winning musical The Phantom of the Opera has pushed back its Aussie seasons until 2022 and Moulin Rouge! The Musical didn't make its local bow in mid-August as slated — although the latter will hopefully hit the stage in Melbourne after lockdown lifts. Magic Mike Live will no longer be resuming its Melbourne season, or heading to Brisbane, Perth or Adelaide. For more information, visit the show's website. Images: Peter Brew-Bevan.
One of 2018's most interesting Australian documentaries told a unique and intriguing tale, stepping into the life of Sydney's Jason King. When the real-life figure isn't working as a security guard, he's out hunting ghosts, although he's not always doing the latter quite as literally as it might seem. King does indeed have a penchant for the paranormal, as well as a side business busting spirits out of people's houses. But, given that the first ghost he says he ever saw belonged to his own brother, who told him that he needed to find their estranged father, he's also haunted by his past. After hitting the big screen last year at film festivals and in general release, Ghosthunter is now taking on a second life — a fitting development, given its subject matter. As hosted by documentarian and filmmaker Ben Lawrence (who helmed the doco about King, plus this year's Hugo Weaving-starring Hearts and Bones), the film has now inspired a five-part podcast, delving further into this strange and compelling story. Released by Audible, it's available to listen to from today, Tuesday, July 23. It's great news for anyone who saw the movie and wanted to know more, and for folks who didn't get around to watching it just yet as well. And, it's obviously a stellar development for true-crime buffs, with Ghosthunter's five 30-minute episodes featuring police investigations, court dramas, family secrets, difficult traumas, murky mysteries, estranged figures from King's history and — naturally — hunting ghosts. Lawrence spent seven years turning King's tale into a documentary, so he has plenty of extra details to share. He starts with King's first ghostly memory, unpacking the rollercoaster ride of a story from that point onwards. In a podcast that doesn't just dabble with true crime, but with family memoir, it helps that King himself makes for an equally charismatic and eccentric character. As Lawrence explains: "you never know how deep the rabbit hole will take you. There were so many personal twists and turns over the seven years creating Ghosthunter that I found myself deeply immersed in Jason's life — I was even the best man at his wedding." Ghosthunter joins Audible's growing slate of Australian content, following in the footsteps of Marc Fennell's It Burns podcast, about the competitive world of breeding super hot chillies. Ghosthunter is available now on Audible — as part of existing member subscriptions, or free with a 30-day trial. The documentary can be rented on YouTube, Google Play and the iTunes Store.
In a few years, when someone hands you an Australian $5 note, that cold hard cash in your hand will look more than a little different. The nation's banknotes have undergone a makeover in the past few years, with a revamped $5 note doing the rounds since 2016 — but that same denomination is about to get another redesign to replace Queen Elizabeth II. Whether you pay for your coffees with actual money or you barely handle physical coins and notes, every Aussie knows that the late monarch's likeness adorns some of our legal tender, including our $5 note. Accordingly, with the Queen's passing in 2022, we all started wondering two things: whether we'd get a day off (answer: yes) and what's happening to our currency. Now, the Reserve Bank of Australia has announced that the $5 note will replace the portrait of the Queen, but not with King Charles III. Instead, in welcome news, one side of the note will feature "a new design that honours the culture and history of the First Australians". "This decision by the Reserve Bank Board follows consultation with the Australian Government, which supports this change," the organisation said in a statement. "The Bank will consult with First Australians in designing the $5 banknote. The new banknote will take a number of years to be designed and printed. In the meantime, the current $5 banknote will continue to be issued. It will be able to be used even after the new banknote is issued." The other side of the $5 note will remain unchanged, so it'll still boast an image of the Australian Parliament. That design features the Forecourt Mosaic, which is based on Michael Nelson Jagamara's Central Desert dot-style painting Possum and Wallaby Dreaming. As the Reserve Bank's statement makes plain, exactly how the new $5 note design will pay tribute to Australia's Indigenous culture and history hasn't yet been finalised. In the past, Australia's currency has featured imagery of Aboriginal rock paintings and carvings, and designs based on a bark painting by David Malangi Daymirringu, thanks to the original $1 banknote from 1966 — before that denomination was replaced with a gold coin. The Reserve Bank also issued a one-off $10 note as the nation's first-ever polymer banknote in 1988, which highlighted examples of ancient and contemporary Aboriginal art. And, the $50 banknote currently in circulation pays tribute to author, activist, inventor, musician, preacher and Ngarrindjeri man David Unaipon. For more information about Australia's currency and any changes, head to the Reserve Bank of Australia's website.
Running off to a tropical island is one of the ultimate getaway dreams. When the beach surrounds you — and plenty of greenery, too — how can everyday life's troubles cause any bother? On Hook Island in The Whitsundays in the near future, cabin stays will do their part to help you escape your normal existence. So will dining atop a cliff, hanging out at a beach club and swimming in forest pools. A yoga pavilion will assist as well, as will a lounge telling the island's history. If everything goes to plan, come 2027 you'll be able to head to the Great Barrier Reef to relax at the just-announced Hook Island Eco Lodge. More than a decade has passed since the landmass in the Coral Sea boasted its own place to stay, with the former Hook Island Wilderness Resort closing in 2013 after weathering damage from 2011's Cyclone Anthony. A group led by Epochal Hotels' CEO Glenn Piper is setting out to change that. Both sustainability and luxury will sit at the heart of the new eco lodge; indeed, setting a new standard for luxe sustainable travel for Australia is one of the venue's goals. After nabbing the leasehold in 2022, Piper and his team — working with design firm Luxury Frontiers — are also keen to revive the locale following several cyclones, and get visitors enjoying its 9.3-hectare expanse again, including by using Hook Island's natural features as the resort's inspiration. To slumber in, there'll be 39 cabins spanning six different types of accommodation (some at the beach, some in the forest). Multiple eateries will also be part of the site, including a fine-diner atop a cliff that'll pair dishes made with local produce with views out over Stingray Bay. For ocean swims, that's where the beach club will come in — complete with all-day dining, a bar, a pool, a lounge deck peering across Hook Passage and, for evenings, an outdoor firepit. Or, opt to take a splash in leafy surrounds thanks to the eco pools, which'll be among a forest spa. When travellers hit the island, they'll be welcomed at the arrival pavilion. For finding out more about the destination, the Explorer's Lounge will be your go-to. It's obvious what's on offer at the yoga pavilion — and there'll also be a family-friendly lounge, plus an adventure club for kids. Drawing from experience working on the Four Seasons' Naviva in Mexico, Nayara Tented Camp in Costa Rica and Madwaleni River Lodge in South Africa, Luxury Frontiers is set to deck out the eco lodge's interiors with brown, blue, green and coral hues, alongside other tones, that match the island — and design cyclone-resistant buildings made with sustainable materials. Ensuring that the resort settles in harmoniously with the landscape, including its plants and habitats, is also a key component of the plan. "Hook Island is a truly spectacular part of the world — its raw beauty deserves a sanctuary that both preserves and celebrates every facet of its charm. Our vision is bold: to create an experience that redefines luxury travel through a deep, authentic and wild-spirited connection to nature," said Piper. "This project has been a labour of love; we've poured our hearts into blending thoughtful design with a profound respect for the island's heritage and delicate ecosystem. After being closed for more than a decade, we can't wait to soon welcome overnight guests and day visitors alike to experience its magic firsthand." [caption id="attachment_807810" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] [caption id="attachment_604486" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Pierre Pouliquin.[/caption] Hook Island Eco Lodge is expected to open on Hook Island in The Whitsundays sometime in 2027 — we'll update you with more details when they're announced.
Preston has been slowly but surely cementing its status as a primo booze destination of late. October saw the suburb welcome Moon Dog's mammoth new brewery and, now, it's just landed Melbourne's first fully functioning independent urban winery, courtesy of renowned label Jamsheed. The brand from winemaker Gary Mills has been operating out of the Yarra Valley since 2003, but it has never had a cellar door to call its own. At the end of 2019, inspired by similar venues he'd seen during time in Portland, USA, Mills moved operations entirely to Preston and his groundbreaking urban winery was born. "I figured if all the breweries and distilleries popping up in Melbourne at the moment can work, so would a winery," Mills said in a statement. [caption id="attachment_760171" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Julia Sansone[/caption] Sitting on Albert Street — a handy stone's throw from both Moon Dog World and 3 Ravens Brewery — Jamsheed's new home takes the form of a two-level, 170-person warehouse space complete with a foliage-filled winery and tasting bar downstairs, and a separate spirits-focused dive bar above. It's a relaxed, industrial-style hangout that invites you to pull up a seat and get acquainted with some top-notch local wines, as you experience the sights, sounds and smells of a proper working winery. The whole catalogue of Jamsheed drops is on offer at the bar, including the newest releases, plus you'll find a hefty retail selection of take-home bottles. "We've been specifically cellaring something of everything we've made back to 2003 in order to be able to offer the full library through the winery and the cellar door," said Mills. There's also an assortment of craft beers and ciders from local mates such as Hop Nation and 3 Ravens, alongside a tidy range of homegrown artisanal spirits. Venture upstairs and you'll discover an even cosier escape, complete with free-to-play pool table, vinyl tunes and squashy retro couches. [caption id="attachment_760170" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Julia Sansone[/caption] In place of a full kitchen offering, the food situation currently includes the likes of flatbread toasties and charcuterie boards. Though, in the coming months, get set for woodfired pizza, pasta and snacks courtesy of the crew from nearby Wolf and Swill. And stay tuned for a program of tastings, bar takeovers, guest winemaker visits and masterclasses, too, set to be announced via the Jamsheed's social channels and website. Find Jamsheed's urban winery at 4 Albert Street, Preston. It's open 5–11pm Wednesday–Saturday and 12–9pm Sunday. Images: Julia Sansone
The highly-anticipated line-up for the colossal Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival has just emerged, and this year the Californian festival will feature one identical line-up playing twice on consecutive weekends in mid-April. On Friday April 13 & 20, indie rock duo The Black Keys will headline the shows after successfully selling out Madison Square Garden in a matter of minutes. Also performing will be staple house favourites Afrojack and Swedish House Mafia, while rap fans will be treated to a set from Kendrick Lamar, the West Coast's most prized up-and-comer. Concrete Playground was able to chat recently with Alex Turner of the Arctic Monkeys, who will also take the stage on the first day. On Saturday April 14 & 21, rock giants Radiohead grab the coveted headline spot, while hipster favourites Bon Iver and Feist tail closely behind. Electronic fans will be pleased with the addition of production wizards Flying Lotus and SBTRKT, two acts who are pushing the boundaries of electronic dance music with great creativity. The older demographic of festivalheads can dust off their studded leather jackets for a set from seventies punk legends the Buzzcocks. The final dates on Sunday April 15 & 22 will be headlined by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, and who better to close off this Californian festival than the duo who placed the state on the hip-hop map throughout the nineties and beyond. However, the real music shockwave this week was the reformation of At The Drive-In, who's relentless post-hardcore sound still goes unmatched. Instrumental hip-hop heads will also want to see the legendary DJ Shadow and lightning hands of AraabMUZIK, the self-proclaimed "MVP of the MPC." Gotye will fly the Australian flag as the only artist making the trip from Down Under for the 2012 instalment. You can check out the complete line-up here, but you might want to read it over at least four times, because there's an avalanche of artists to get through. This is a dream festival for most music fans, and a credit to organisers for gathering such a ecclectic range of sounds. If you have some spare coin and free time on your hands, there won't be many other options better than this. Head over to California for a weekend that will go down as one of the all-time greats.
Hailing from the Victorian High Country, Blackmore Wagyu's first-class beef is almost unmatched when it comes to marbling and melt-in-your-mouth tenderness. For one night only, the team is linking up with their friends at Circl Wine House to celebrate their harmonious relationship through a four-course dinner. Presented on Thursday, May 29, at Circl's Punch Lane digs, Executive Chef Elias Salomonsson will serve a menu focused on rare beef, under-utilised cuts, and prime versus braised creations. He'll set the tone with starters like potato rosti with rib-eye cap and caviar, and Sydney Rock oyster with wagyu fat and yeast flakes, before guests are treated to the main event. Here, the third course features smoked rump cap with horseradish and nasturtium. Meanwhile, rib-eye beef cheek with mushroom, black garlic and bordelaise is served alongside Remi's Patch leaves and Gippy Gold potatoes with caramelised brown onion emulsion and chives. Rounding out this tantalising feast, the fourth and final course ends on a sweet note without overlooking the theme, as guests dine on a dark chocolate tart, wagyu fat caramel and vanilla. Throughout, this exclusive dinner will make the most of Circl's 1,500-bottle wine list, with three optional wine pairings offering rare and iconic sips from its deep coffers.
When The Social Network arrived in cinemas in 2010 with its can't-look-away performance from Jesse Eisenberg (A Real Pain) as Mark Zuckerberg, David Fincher's (The Killer) steely direction and Aaron Sorkin's (Being the Ricardos) incisive script, it was firmly an origin story. As the world knew even then just six years after Facebook's founding, however, the platform was only just getting started. As a result, a sequel to the three-time Oscar-winning movie — including for Sorkin's screenplay — has always felt like a matter of when not if. Cue The Social Network Part II, which is now reportedly in the works. Deadline has revealed that the follow-up looks set to move forward, with Sorkin back to lead the charge. This time, he's not just writing but also directing. While Fincher is also in sequel mode at the moment, he's stepping into Once Upon a Time in Hollywood's realm, helming the Brad Pitt (F1)-starring follow-up to Quentin Tarantino's also Oscar-winning picture. It's expected that The Social Network Part II will use the Wall Street Journal's 'The Facebook Files' article series from October 2021 as its basis — which means that the platform's impacts, and those of fellow Meta-owned social-media service Instagram, could be in the spotlight. There's no word yet on a release date, so when you'll be seeing the film on the big screen is yet to be revealed. In the same category: The Social Network Part II's cast. Whether Eisenberg will step back into Zuckerberg's shoes — and into a role that's among the most pivotal in the early days of his career, as also proved true for co-star Andrew Garfield (We Live in Time) — is not yet known, then. Alongside creating the small screen's Sports Night, The West Wing, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and The Newsroom, Sorkin has directed three films so far: Molly's Game, The Trial of the Chicago 7 and Being the Ricardos. The first two on that list also saw him nominated for screenwriting Oscars. Among the initial The Social Network's accolades: the Oscar for Best Original Score for Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. There's no word yet whether The Social Network Part II will boast their efforts again to help cement an unsettling tone. There's obviously no trailer so far for the The Social Network Part II — but check out the trailers to The Social Network above, plus its first ten minutes below: The Social Network Part II doesn't yet have a release date — we'll update you with more details when they're announced. Via Variety/Deadline.
One of Australia's foremost auteurs. One of the country's best actors. The outback noir genre. The stunning Aussie landscape. The nation's traumatic history of racial inequality. The remnants of the colonial past that still echo today. Break Limbo down to those basic components and, on paper, it might seem as if Ivan Sen is in limbo himself. The filmmaker has been here before with Mystery Road and then Goldstone. In fact, with those two movies about Indigenous detective Jay Swan (Aaron Pedersen, Jack Irish), he started Australia's best film and TV franchise, which has gone on to spawn three ABC series after its two big-screen outings so far. Whatever writer, director, co-producer, cinematographer, editor and composer Sen keeps adding to his resume — including detouring into sci-fi with 2022's Loveland — he'll always be the reason that Mystery Road and its followups exist. With Limbo, he isn't repeating himself. Rather, he's a filmmaker haunted by the nation's reality and driven to keep exploring it. Enter this black-and-white Coober Pedy-shot tale about another police officer riding into a small Aussie town to look into a case that few people have been all that fussed about until now because the victim isn't white. Enter a purposeful examination of the way that the trauma a country has spent two centuries perpetuating and overlooking can only linger. Enter one of the most powerful movies of Sen's career, and a spectacular collaboration with another acclaimed Aussie: Simon Baker. It mightn't seem like a stretch to see Baker play someone affiliated with law and order. He isn't in American TV procedurals The Guardian and The Mentalist anymore, though. Since back in his E Street days, he's frequently forged on-screen ties with the thin blue line — and in recent Australian film High Ground as well. But Baker continues to grow and astound as an actor. In Limbo, he's an astonishingly guarded yet vulnerable presence as heroin-addicted detective Travis Hurley, who is on a cold-case mission while traversing his own purgatory. His task: investigating the 20-year-old disappearance of Indigenous girl Charlotte Hayes, which garners an unsurprisingly wary response from her brother Charlie (Rob Collins, The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson) and sister Emma (Natasha Wanganeen, The Survival of Kindness). Sen and Baker first met in 2004 back, far earlier in their careers. The former had a project that didn't eventuate, but now they've finally made a collaboration happen. "You know, you don't count your eggs until they're hatched when it comes to actors," Sen tells Concrete Playground about wanting to get Baker onboard for Limbo. "But he responded very quickly and very strongly, and so then the whole script just changed, and focused on our interactions and our conversations — which usually happens with with my work. Once the actor comes on, we start. Okay, let's find the real story here and pursue that." Baker was similarly enthused. "I like Ivan Sen's films. I really like his films. He's a good filmmaker. He's got a clear vision and he knows how to get that onto the screen," he advises in the same discussion. "And he's very singleminded and he does a lot of the stuff [behind the lens]. So, from a filmmaking standpoint alone, I wanted to go through that experience." Screening in Australian cinemas since May 18, the end result is already one of the standout Aussie movies of 2023. Back in February, Limbo premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival, contending for the Golden Bear — and, with fellow homegrown title The Survival of Kindness, broke a 17-year drought for Australian films in the prestigious official competition. This is clearly more than just a new Mystery Road, as Sen and Baker expanded upon in their chat with Concrete Playground. We talked to the pair about the enduring appeal of outback noir and law enforcement stories, the feature's real-life ties, shooting amid Coober Pedy's underground dugouts, and whether there's a future for both Jay Swan and Travis Hurley — including together. ON THE CONTINUING FASCINATION WITH OUTBACK NOIR AND LAW ENFORCEMENT Ivan: "I guess it's a combination of constantly having the justice system within our faces, within our family and within our communities. The justice system is always there. And it's always been like that — and things haven't been getting better either over the last few years. In combination with that, I've always had an attraction to police work. I'm a fan of all those 24–48-hours shows, American police documentaries and even COPS, believe it or not — you know, the Fox COPS. Because they show reality. They're a chance to see. The cops are always cleaning up society's 'garbage' and that 'garbage' has always involved my family — and it's something that's always been of interest to me." Simon: The truth is that's just sort of what unfolded for me. For a large part of my career early on, I was a young parent and I came from a pretty blue-collar existence, so I always saw my role as less as an artist and more as someone that had to provide for a family. So I focused more on that, and it happened to come about through television [on shows like The Guardian and The Mentalist]. Which, in American television, there was a period of time there where there was nothing on American television that wasn't a procedural crime show. If it wasn't a procedural crime show, you were in in scrubs reciting medical jargon, which I was always going to be shit at — too many syllables." ON THE IMPORTANCE OF LIMBO'S STORY Ivan: "Like everything, everything just comes from the power of place. Coober Pedy has been within my sights for many years, specifically the underground living culture of the place, which I don't think has been really explored very much in narrative before. So I was keen to make a story that involved the underground and aboveground elements of this incredible landscape. I just went out there and the story just came to me, really. It's a manifestation of a lot of the crimes that have affected Indigenous families and the lacklustre response from authorities. While I was out there writing the film there, I found out there was actually a very similar thing that happened in Coober Pedy with a young girl there — very very similar. But if you start digging below the surface, there's not many country towns in Australia that don't have some kind of case like this at some point." ON THE PROCESS OF MAKING AN IVAN SEN-DIRECTED AUSSIE CRIME-THRILLER Simon: "When we first met, we were both pretty young and pretty green in our careers. It was nice to come back together now that we both had a bit of mileage under our belts. And we both kind of — well, certainly I can speak for myself, I know who I am a lot more these days than I probably did back then. It was good. We played around with the script. The story pretty much stayed the same, but there was a bit of stuff here and there that we played around with, and dug in a bit deeper with — and that was a very easy and fluid experience working that way. It was a lean and very focused production. We didn't shoot over a great period of time, and it was really efficient. I like that experience. I like the feeling of serving — like you're making something. You're not standing still for too long that you kind of get bored with the process; you're in among it and you're making something. I think that, coupled with the story — I thought the way into the story was really interesting. It's about so much and at the same time it's really efficient in the way it is about so much. I had a great time. It's weird because I never thought I was not going to have a great time. There's a lot of times when you when you sign onto a movie or you get involved in a movie and you sometimes you go 'oh shit, what have I got myself into here?'. And I never felt that ever. When making a film goes well from the script onwards, it gets better and better, and more focused. But to do that you've really got to know what the movie is about properly. And often what the movie is about can be derailed because people get attracted to shiny things — and, next thing it can become this indulgent exploration. You've got a crew there, and 'maybe we'll shoot this?', and it might have nothing to do with actually what the movie is about. Then you end up with a bunch of spare parts that people try to put back together as a movie. But Ivan, from the very first script, it's about about refining and improving on that. And I feel like that's the way — that's a great way to make a film. So you're never really losing what that the genesis is, it's only getting stronger and stronger. And then you know that, as an actor, what you're putting into it, what you're doing, is contributing in a very positive way." ON COOBER PEDY'S INFLUENCE OVER THE STORY Ivan: "For a story that's about people that are damaged and kind of stuck in their ruts, stuck within their environments, Coober Pedy lends itself to this idea of a limbo — living in a memory or living in a place where you can't move forward or backwards or up or down. And the landscape of Coober Pedy is so desolate that it just allows you to focus, and especially with the black and white, it really lets you focus on the characters and this predicament that they're all faced with of not moving forward or moving back. Coober Pedy has this whole underground living culture that I find fascinating, and I also felt appropriate for the state of mind of all these characters who were stuck in these positions where where they couldn't move forward or backwards — and also, to a point that they were not aware that they were within this position as well. There's just something about that underground aspect there which also does connect with the religious connotation of limbo and what that is within the Bible of of being not in hell and not in heaven — halfway in-between waiting for your time, waiting for a decision to be made about your fate. I felt that was really appropriate as well." ON HOW LIMBO'S HEROIN-ADDICTED COP EVOLVED ON THE PAGE AND SCREEN Simon: "I think the idea of him being in his own sort of purgatory or his own sort of limbo, and he's stuck as a human being, and having his own struggles and sense of trauma, I thought was an interesting point into this story of this other family and their trauma, and how fractured and broken that family was because of that trauma. I felt like that was the key into it, where in a sense it helped him to identify and figure out — well, not figure out; I don't really believe that he's gonna figure it out — but it gives it gives him a level of empathy and relatability, in a way, coupled with the kindness of the family bringing him in. Originally, what was it, Ivan? Originally, in the very first script that I read, he was a diabetic?" Ivan: "Yep." Simon: "And I think we talked about the idea of him actually being someone that is medicating because he can't face his own demons. Then we took that further into this idea of a person that's running from themselves through addiction. Then we explored it from there. There was something about that addiction that creates a vulnerability, and in that vulnerability there is that opportunity. No matter how hard he shields himself from feeling or connection, the vulnerability of addiction makes him susceptible to being able to connect — or for someone to connect with him, like the family or particularly the kids in that family breaking through that shell. It's almost like the harder he works to protect himself, the more vulnerable he gets." ON GIVING LIMBO A SEQUEL — OR EVEN BRINGING IT INTO THE MYSTERY ROAD FRANCHISE Ivan: "Wouldn't that be interesting — the duo, the two cops. Hopefully Simon and I will go on to do more stuff together. I'm a believer in if you feel like you've done something, you've done it, and there's no need to kind go back again unless there's a really good reason for that. Simon and I, I think we get along pretty well. We're a pretty good, creative, efficient, energetic team for old guys. We give those young guys a run, I reckon, for their level of passion. Ours is probably more mature, like a nice fine wine or something. But who knows? Never say never. I think there may be another Jay Swan film at some point. I have another idea for for Jay. Probably more in line with this one with the subtlety of it. Maybe a romance?" Limbo opened in Australian cinemas on May 18. Read our review.
It's what Melbourne is known for: having a drink on the top of one of its city buildings as you see out the day in style. We know there are many to choose from, so in partnership with Jim Beam, we've put together a list of four rooftop bars where you can find something a little different — from cheeseburgers in old tram carriages to cocktails above a Chinese restaurant.
It's likely safe to say that no one IRL has met their significant other via the unique combination of a flashed nipple, a dog on the street, then strangers coming together not only to ensure that an injured pooch gets the medical treatment that it needs, but to care for the cute pup together from that instant forwards. It's the type of situation that screenwriters conjure up. In this case, writers and actors Harriet Dyer and Patrick Brammall have done just that. But one of the charms of Colin From Accounts from its first scenes back when its initial season arrived at the end of 2022 is the fact that it takes an only-on-TV (or in the movies) kind of meet-cute and makes everything about it, and also all that's followed between its protagonists, feel authentic. The charisma between Dyer and Brammall was always going to radiate a genuine vibe. They're married. They're also no strangers to working together on an Aussie comedy series where sparks fly between their characters. The now-American Auto and Evil stars, respectively, also teamed up on the two homegrown seasons of No Activity across 2015–16 (they each appeared in the show's US remake as well, which ran for four seasons across 2017–21, and preceded both versions of the show with A Moody Christmas and Ruben Guthrie). To watch, even playing folks who wouldn't have any awareness of each other if it wasn't for an impossible-to-predict series of events as in Colin From Accounts, their shared presence couldn't be more comfortable. [caption id="attachment_881020" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lisa Tomasetti[/caption] There's an ease to Colin From Accounts that spans far beyond its on- and off-screen driving forces, though, and a relatability. Even the sequence that gets Ashley and Gordon, aka Dyer's medical student and Brammall's microbrewery owner, crossing paths unfurls with a sense that each step along the way isn't out of the question. In fact, it all begins as everyone watching has experienced themselves: with two people not knowing what to do when they literally cross each other's path in the street. Kicking off as you mean to go on — with amusing and insightful comedy that manages not to seem too far from reality when it's at its most heightened, with a new couple and their adorable pet, and with a winning sense of humour — is firmly Dyer and Brammall's approach with Colin From Accounts.facc Accordingly, it's been no wonder that the Binge series has proved a viewer favourite at home and overseas, and earned renewal for a second season. It wasn't a surprise, either, when it started collecting a swag of awards — AACTAs and Logies in Australia, also gongs from the nation's writers' and casting guilds, plus the Breakthrough Comedy Series accolade alongside the Outstanding Performance in a Comedy Series prize for Dyer at the first-ever Gotham TV Awards in the US. Speaking with Concrete Playground about season two, which is streaming for Aussie audiences via Binge, Dyer and Brammall give the series the sheen of a miracle, however, thanks to sharing a simple fact: that Colin From Accounts began as a fun thing for the pair to write for themselves, including to act in, but without thinking that anything more would come of it. [caption id="attachment_881024" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tony Mott[/caption] For most, that'll be the least-relatable thing about the hit series: that something this delightful can spring from merely "bouncing an idea around", as Brammall describes it, without having confidence that it'd find its way to the screen. With the pair's resumes — Dyer's also includes Down Under, Killing Ground, Love Child, The Other Guy, The Invisible Man and Wakefield, while Brammall's sports Home and Away, Griff the Invisible, The Moodys, Offspring, Upper Middle Bogan, Glitch, Overlord and Lodge 49, to name just a few other credits for both — the least-believable aspect might be that there was ever any question that the project would, could and should make it to fruition. Season two of Colin From Accounts doesn't dare feel like an easy repeat of the first. Ashley and Gordon are past the will-they-won't-they stage, but now they have the next question to ponder: should've they? The season picks up with them still regretting giving Colin away, so much so that they're desperate to get him back to the point of popping up in the park where he's playing with his new owners, becoming a big part of Colin's new humans' lives — much to the latter's chagrin — and doing whatever it takes to bring their dog back home. But that's just the opening storyline, and something to distract a no-longer-new duo from whether they really are right for each other. From there, the season digs into their romantic histories, approaches to self-pleasure and miscommunication, then what happens when meeting the parents doesn't quite gel and how they might want different things for the future. In addition to the show's original idea and sliding-door moment, we also chatted with Dyer and Brammall about their starting point for the second season, plans for Ashley and Gordon across the series' latest eight instalments, and veering down a new route in its fifth episode. If you've ever wondered how difficult it is to come up with a name that'll work for both a dog and a TV show, we plunged into that as well, then explored the naturalism of Colin From Accounts' dialogue — another factor that makes it feel so authentic — including both when it's scripted and improvised. [caption id="attachment_881023" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tony Mott[/caption] On the Original Idea for Colin From Accounts Springing From a Nipple Flash, a Dog and Strangers Committing to Take Care of a Cute Injured Pooch Together Harriet: "We just made it up." Patrick: "We were just bouncing an idea around, really. I mean, we didn't think it would get made. It was just like 'hey, this would be fun to write something for us to act in because we're actors'." Harriet: "We wanted two people that only had chemistry. They didn't know each other, they didn't have ..." Patrick: "Anything in common." [caption id="attachment_881021" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lisa Tomasetti[/caption] Harriet: "They were not expecting to see each other beyond that moment. It could have been a sliding-door situation where the postman didn't let the dog out, and she just flashes her nipple and he keeps driving and goes 'who was that woman?', and tells his friends at work and that's it." Patrick: "Yeah, that's right." Harriet: "But because the man didn't close the gate properly, then you've got a dog. And that's the kind of magical bit." [caption id="attachment_881022" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lisa Tomasetti[/caption] On the Deliberation That Went Giving a Dog That Name That Also Doubled as the Moniker for a TV Series Harriet: "It's interesting. I never actually loved the name Colin From Accounts as a TV show. I didn't know what else to call it, but I thought it sounded a bit broad, but it's working. It's worked. I can't note it now." Patrick: "Are you kidding? I loved it always." Harriet: "You did." Patrick: "Yes." Harriet: "Yes." Patrick: "We did talk — Binge at one point were like 'hey, do we love the title? Do we think it should be something else?'. And we had a think and the best we could come up with was Dog with Wheels." [caption id="attachment_952631" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lisa Tomasetti[/caption] Harriet: "Dog with Wheels is a different kind of broad." Patrick: "Yeah, yeah. No, not good." Harriet: "It's neither better nor worse, though." Patrick: "Colin From Accounts, I love it cause it's a good misdirect." Harriet: "People think it's about Patty." [caption id="attachment_964082" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Joel Pratley[/caption] Patrick: "Yeah, and that my name's Colin. But it comes from real life because we, a few years ago, fostered a dog for a short time, and he had a name we didn't like. It was Minshu. Like, well done, but we just didn't he looked like a Minshu. And so we literally that conversation we have in episode one season one, pretty much verbatim ..." Harriet: "Airlifted, yeah." Patrick: "... a conversation that we had in life. 'What does he look like? He looks like a Colin. He looks like Colin from accounts'. And we did that, and it amused us to call a dog Colin From Accounts. And so because these two characters, they meet on the same frequency. That's what turns each other on about the other. So that made sense to make that the name of the show, because that's a weird thing when they meet." [caption id="attachment_952629" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lisa Tomasetti[/caption] On the Starting Point for Season Two as Writers, and Diving Further Into Ashley and Gordon's Lives and Relationship Harriet: "We knew that we had to get the dog back, otherwise no one would forgive us. But we knew that it couldn't be that simple —we had to give them obstacles. They couldn't just be like 'oh, here you go'. And so it did feel a little hijinks-y trying to give them — they try, it's blocked, they try, it's blocked, but ultimately, they got him. We just had to get him back. And then once we solved that — we wanted to solve that nicely by the end of the first episode, because we didn't want to spend a lot of time on what felt pretty obvious — but then it was like 'okay, so we got him'. We also talked about do we work without him? We opened the curtain of that, and then we got him back. So that kind of curtain is still a little open, because well, now we've got him, but should we still stay together?" [caption id="attachment_964083" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Joel Pratley[/caption] Patrick: "That's right, because just before that moment happens in episode one, Gordon's like 'you know, let's just see what we're like without him, just us'." Harriet: "And then: knock, knock, knock." Patrick: "And then: knock, knock, knock — and things take over. But really, what we knew we wanted to explore in this season was the baggage that people bring to a relationship. And it's a little bit more Gordon's baggage because he's been a single pants man for so many years. He's in his 40s, and he's just never had a long, meaningful relationship." Harriet: "And he's less front-footed about his stuff. I think Ashley wears her heart and all her BS on her sleeve, whereas he's kind of tucking it away into weird corners. And trying to present this clean guy. And then she finds that box of beers and is like 'what? Just be open about whatever you are'." [caption id="attachment_952630" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lisa Tomasetti[/caption] Patrick: "That's right. So we knew we wanted to open doors in each of them. Now that they're together, what does that mean? So that's what we did. And then we just thought about what do we want the other characters to do?. And we thought of some setpieces in episode four — at the start of episode four, there's a funny kind of moment in our new relationship, which we thought was funny, a bit sexy, and also a bit cringy and real. And we thought that's not only funny, it could be a great conversation-starter for people in relationships to talk about their sexuality." Harriet: "And what their sexuality means to them, and what does it look like when they're by themselves, and habits and all that kind of stuff." [caption id="attachment_964084" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Joel Pratley[/caption] Patrick: "And in episode five, we changed the format of the show a little bit, just to play with something, a particular idea. And the idea we had for that is something that happens to Ashley, and that dictated the form of that show. It's quite different to the other episodes." Harriet: "Yeah, five is a bit different." Patrick: "And then we wanted to meet Gordon's family. And so these things kind of presented themselves, and we placed them around the season where we felt it was appropriate for them to come up." Harriet: "Yep." Patrick: "And then before you know it, you've got a season, you've got eight shows." On Ensuring That the Show's Dialogue Sounds Authentic — Both as Writers and as Actors Harriet: "Because we wrote it, we have a healthy disrespect for it. Learning lines is very easy when you or he wrote it. And also, it's funny, our script supervisor, they're the ones that come over and go 'it's actually and not but' — and we had to pretty quickly go 'we're probably not going to say what we wrote'. But sometimes we have to because we're hitting points. And also sometimes the joke is written so well that you do have to learn exactly the rhythm of it." Patrick: "Yeah." Harriet: "But there's definitely moments that ad-lib happened, and we just always left space for that. And our director Trent O'Donnell [who also directed No Activity] was so good at that. He'd give you a bit to riff on — like that whole bit with the unicycle that was so kind of iconic in season one, 'was this yours? How long have you been single?', that was a bit that he just called out from behind the camera because the props and art department put a unicycle there. That wasn't in the script, but then it ended up in the trailer. So the show is just the sum of its parts like that. Because Patty said ' hey, I want Gordy's house to be filled with half-completed hobbies'. So they had there like herbs, a punching bag ..." Patrick: "A drum kit." Harriet: "Drums, the unicycle. And it was just like this man has so many hobbies and he's not seeing any of them through." Patrick: "That's right, because it speaks to character." [caption id="attachment_964086" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Lisa Tomesetti[/caption] Harriet: "And so that realism that you're talking about, every department delivers on that, and then we just play with all the world." Patrick: "And we always, we're never too strict about the script. As Harry just said, we leave about ten percent for play, because you might find some magic there." Harriet: "And if you've got time, we go 'let's do a fun run', and that's all the characters. Just say your favourite bits of the script, but if there's something else that's popping into your head, say that." Patrick: "Or if the line isn't working for an actor, we'll just go 'don't worry about that. What do you want to say instead?'." Harriet: "But sometimes if the pitch doesn't feel right — especially some day players, they'll have an idea of what Colin From Account is, and so they'll pitch a joke that's just not it. And we'll be like 'oh my god, it's so good, but not that'. But also 'have a go, let's do that, and then we'll just do one as a script because we need it for the big guys upstairs, they're asking for it'." Patrick: "But equally, some people are great at improvising in that way. But the thing to make it feel like 'oh, this does not feel like this is the scripted bit and this is the improvised bit'. It's all got to feel real." Harriet: "Yes, yes." Patrick: "And when we're writing, that's very much one of our primary things is to make it feel like something that humans would actually say, rather than a bit of exposition." Harriet: "That's right. So some of the stuff that is definitely scripted feels improv because it's just a bit throwaway — it's not overly worked." Colin From Accounts streams via Binge, with both season one and season two available now. Read our reviews of season one and season two. Top image: Joel Pratley.
Melbourne is always bragging about its 'best-kept secrets' that are tucked away in back alleys and laneways all over the city. Well, the secret's out. We've recently given you the hot tip on the best laneway coffee spots — now it's time to offer up our picks for Melbourne's best bars hidden away in unlikely corners. Whether you're after classic cocktails or a cold beer, these ten bars will meet your thirst-quenching needs and often have some pretty nifty interiors to boot. Section 8 Pull up a milk crate and set yourself up in this excellent outdoor bar just on the edge of Chinatown. The bar, which has been constructed out of an old shipping container, serves everything from your spirit of choice to a cheeky long neck. While the space is essentially a converted parking lot, parasols and lanterns pretty up the place, and the street art on the surrounding walls display some of Melbourne's finest talent. Finally, these guys know how to throw a party — Rizky's Block Party is on monthly where they play the best hip hop beats and serve up awesome Caribbean food. 27-29 Tattersalls Lane, Melbourne, 0430 291 588, section8.com.au Shebeen Want to drink international beers and do some good at the same time? Shebeen is the place to satisfy both your thirst and charitable urges. 100% of the profits from every drink you purchase go to aid organisations all over the world, with each charity listed under every drink so you know exactly where your dollars are going. They also do some seriously good bar snacks; their sliders and banh mi are particularly noteworthy for a light dinner option. Shebeen also hosts screening events like Speakeasy Cinema, so it's worth checking out what's on. 36 Manchester Lane, Melbourne, (03) 9650 6931, shebeen.com.au Double Happiness Slink down Liverpool Street in the city and give this propaganda-themed hole-in-the wall a go. The service here is fantastic, and while their set cocktail list is impressive and bursting with oriental flavours of lychee, coriander and plum wine, they are also happy to make something that suits your personal taste. But really, these guys know what they're doing — we can't recommend the October Revolution cocktail highly enough. Plus, there is a lovely open fire, perfect for chilly Melbourne nights. 21 Liverpool Street, Melbourne, (03) 9650 4488, double-happiness.org Misty Hosier Lane is undoubtedly one of Melbourne's most impressive street art laneways, and Misty is just one more gem that can be found there. An excellent spot for a 'nice drink' before a show at the Forum, and the majority of the light source radiates from the back-lit bar. The cocktails are where it's at here, and the bartenders love getting a bit creative with their concoctions. Records spin from 9pm most nights, so get ready for some soul grooves. 3-5 Hosier Lane, Melbourne, (03) 9663 9202, mistybar.com Sister Bella Created by the St Jerome's 'Master' five years ago, Sister Bella can be a tricky one to find, but it's well worth the hunt. This one is a staple for the 'no frills' customer, and if you do want something a little fun, you should probably grab a Pirate Drank, consisting of Sailor Jerry's spiced rum with ginger beer and fresh lime. The bar food, like the drinks, are standard but reliable crowd pleasers; get yourself a Slutty Pumpkin Pizza (roasted pumpkin, feta, basil and pine nuts) and thank us later. 22 Drewery Place, Melbourne, sisterbella.com Romeo Lane Although we were sad to say goodbye to our favourite inner city wine bar Von Haus, it's with happy cocktail-fed smiles that we can say it's reincarnation, Romeo Lane, is just as good. The small bar still looks much the same, and manages to nail intimacy without pretension — which is what we loved about Von Haus anyway. And while the shift has changed to creating incredible cocktails, there's still a European wine list to choose from. Open from noon, this is a great spot to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. 1 Crossley Street, Melbourne, (03) 9639 8095, romeolane.com.au Bar Americano Taking its cues from Italian espresso bars and Robert Vermeire's 1922 book 'Cocktails: How to Mix Them', Bar Americano is serious business. This standing room only establishment is designed for drinking (and eating) on the go, as a max of ten people at a time can get amongst the excitement. This one is for the connoisseurs of classic cocktails; if you had the opportunity to visit Der Raum (owner Matt Bax's previous bar) you'll know that you're in very good hands. If you can't wait until night time that's fine — swing by for an espresso during daylight hours. 20 Presgrave Place, Melbourne, www.facebook.com/baramericanomel Hihou While this Japanese-influenced cocktail bar is elegant and very civilised, there is plenty of fun to be had at Hihou. Once you have arrived and de-shoed (depending on where you're sitting) you're welcomed with hot towels for your hands as you fan over the many sake, sochu and cocktail options for your drinking pleasure. Simon Denton, the great man behind Izakaya Den, is responsible for this hidden gem. Our hot tip is to come hungry — whether you want to pick at some chilli miso edamame, or get stuck into the kingfish ceviche, the choice is yours. First Floor, 1 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, (03) 9654 2977, hihou.com.au The Croft Institute Self described as 'the first of Melbourne's laneway bars', The Croft appeals to your inner science-nerd sensibilities. The shelves are stocked with an array of delectable spirits and plenty of oddly-shaped beakers, syringes and test tubes, making the prospect of devouring one of their custom designed cocktails an intriguing one. If the stark black and white tiles and dim lighting is giving you the willies, head upstairs to the gymnasium bar, complete with inbuilt bleachers and turf bar. 21 Croft Alley, Melbourne, (03) 9671 4399, thecroftinstitute.com Hell's Kitchen Centre Place really is the most ideal Melbourne laneway for people watching, and at Hell's Kitchen you get a birds eye view above the crowds. Plenty of local beers on tap and an intriguing wine list is topped off with house-infused vodka — flavours including chilli, lychee and ginger and honey. We'd recommend popping in here for an afternoon drink and a catch up, and, if you're peckish, they serve food until 10pm. 20 Centre Place, Melbourne, (03) 9654 5755, facebook.com/hells-kitchen/
It's been a long time between Australian visits for UK disco-pop queen Jessie Ware. The last time she graced our shores was for Laneway Festival all the way back in 2013. In the time since, she's released four albums, including the immensely critically acclaimed What's You Pleasure in 2020 and its equally vibrant recent follow-up That! Feels Good!. But, it looks like the drought may be coming to an end, with Ware letting it slip that she's got plans to perform at Australian music festival Summer Camp later in 2023. On the most recent episode of her podcast Table Manners with Jessie and Lennie Ware, the singer and her mother Lennie were joined by a fellow pop icon: Australia's very-own Dannii Minogue. While the episode traverses the dynamics of the Minogue family and the delights of panna cotta, one eagle-eared Twitter user noticed that Ware dropped the unannounced goss that she'd be heading Down Under soon. "I'm actually going to Australia in November for this festival called Summer Camp," Ware said while discussing travel plans, and the possibility of doing a Table Manners series here in Oz. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Summer Camp Festival (@summercampfestivalau) Summer Camp hosted its inaugural festivals in Sydney and Melbourne in 2022, combining top-notch tunes and LGBTQIA+ pride through a stacked lineup featuring Years & Years, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Big Freedia, Cub Sport and The Veronicas. The festival was also set to arrive in Darwin and Perth; however, after it was postponed from February to November, it was forced to reduce its scale to a two-date run. The festival hasn't announced its 2023 plans as yet, but its website does state "2023 dates coming soon". If Jessie Ware is to be believed, it looks set for a November comeback. We'll be sure to keep you updated whenever some concrete news comes through on a Jessie Ware tour of Australia, or a return for Summer Camp. If you want to hear the specific section of the podcast, it kicks off just after the eight-minute mark. Table Manners with Jessie and Lennie Ware is available wherever you find your podcasts, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts. You can keep up to date with the latest Summer Camp announcements at the festival's Instagram account. Top image: Raph_PH via Wikimedia Commons.
Having tempted us with their coffee window (cleverly positioned on the path to Victoria Park station) for four months now, Dr Morse is now in full swing, complete with a newly-acquired liquor license, beer garden, roaring open fire and one of the best value burgers in Melbourne (big call, we know). The space, on a corner beside the railway station, is a bit like a cat with nine lives. In the past few years it has been Kiss FM's pizza joint, followed by the Johnston Street Milk Bar and now, in its present reincarnation, Dr Morse. Originally, it appears, the space was an old apothecary, and the owners have restored some of the original features, including brick wall signage advertising Indian Root Pills ('for indigestion'). Hopefully this homage to its early successes will help the new owners to solidify their own. It's an interesting space, and everything has been carefully considered. The open fire place is a huge plus, warming the noses and fingertips of the lucky group who nabs the sofa and ottoman seating around it, and the beer garden will be a joy in summer, with its own bar and a BBQ hinting at plans for the warmer months. It's quite clear the aim here was to create a space that encouraged Sunday sessions and relaxed afternoons spent drinking craft cider and snacking on hand cut chips with chipotle aioli ($6). Or, looking to cure any Saturday night ills? The beef burger will do just that. It's perfectly sloppy, the bun is rich and buttery, and for $10, it's a steal. The organic quinoa salad with avocado, pistachio, pomegranate, corn and soft-boiled egg ($16) is as remedy of a different kind, and equally good value. In the mornings, the coffee window opens at 7am every day to give early morning commuters a caffeine hit and baked breakfast goods, before the main doors open up at 11.30am. The focus with the drinks list is on local makers: Abbotsford's Moondog beer is on tap, the wine list favours small Victorian labels, and there is tea available from Collingwood's Storm in a Teacup. Whatever your ailment, Dr Morse aims to cure it — or at least make you forget for a while.
Daylesford is a haven of spa retreats, friendly pubs, roaring fireplaces and mountainous beauty. Nestled into the foothills of the Great Dividing Range and just a stone's throw from the healing powers of Hepburn Springs, it's lovely at anytime of year, but winter brings a special kind of magic. Rather than feeling like you should be out, relentlessly doing, you can shamelessly surrender to warm, cosy, heartening indulgences — from soaking in hot tubs filled with nutrient-rich mineral water to sipping craft ales by a roaring fire. Here's your guide to winter decadence in Daylesford and its neighbouring towns. Winter slips by quicker than you think, so make plans soon. WHERE BREAKFAST MEETS DESSERT The French sure know how to do a winter's breakfast: with hot chocolate. Follow their lead at the Chocolate Mill, a strawbale marvel 7km north of Daylesford that produces handmade chocolates. Peer into the open kitchen to witness the creators in action before claiming a table at the Hot Chocolate Cafe. Next stop, real breakfast. You'll get it with a stone fireplace at Moto Bean Coffee Roasters in Malmsbury, about 30 kilometres' north-east of Daylesford. Formerly a farmer's barn, this epic, industrial-inspired cafe is dotted with classic motorbikes and dedicated to roasting coffee beans. Tuck into an apple hotcake with whipped honey mascarpone, walnut crumbs and baby herbs. FUEL UP BY THE FIRE Come lunchtime, head to the Farmers Arms, where you can hide away in a booth or soak up some rays in the beer garden, accompanied by your dog. The menu is all about fancied-up pub classics, such as roasted pork belly with mash, broccolini, Harcourt apple cider jelly and red wine jus. Another spot where it's easy to while away a winter's afternoon is the Cosmopolitan in Trentham. This gorgeous 1866 pub, encircled by weatherboard verandahs, was rebuilt in 2009 following a 2005 fire. The extensive craft beer and local wine lists will keep you sampling for hours, plus, on Sundays, there's live music. Eats are gastropub-style — think smoked duck breast with grilled witlof, beans, kipflers, hazelnuts, sherry vinegar and maple dressing. If you want to treat yourself, then swing over to Kyneton – about 30km north-west – for dinner. At Source Dining, owner-chef Tim Foster serves up hatted creations, accompanied by a wine list that holds two Australian Wine List of the Year Glasses. Try the local beef tartare, with pickled farm beetroot, beetroot mayonnaise, cured yolk, fresh horseradish, salt and vinegar kale, and potato chips. Most produce comes straight from the kitchen garden. Alternatively, there are excellent woodfired pizzas at Olive Jones in Macedon. SOAK AND SINK INTO SPAS Every visit to Daylesford should involve a long, long soak in Hepburn Springs' warm, nutrient-rich mineral waters. Victorians have been onto this since 1895, when Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa was built. The complex, which scored a $13-million revamp in 2008, hosts two social pools, as well as private tubs for those keen to rejuvenate in peace. Once you've bathed, try drinking the waters: various springs are dotted around Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve. Alternatively, at Salus Day Spa at Lake House Hotel, sink into a deep tub in a treehouse, surrounded by blonde timber and lush greenery. Also in Hepburn Springs is Shizuka Ryokan, a Japanese wellness retreat, inspired by ryokans: ancient inns where samurai warriors would go to rest and reflect. Don a kimono and wander around the minimalist grounds before settling in for a spa treatment – be it a Geisha facial based on 1200-year-old techniques or a shiatsu massage. FINE INDOOR PURSUITS Now that you're thoroughly relaxed, it's time to get arty at the Convent Gallery, a mansion turned convent turned gallery. Or get your hands dirty with a sourdough-making workshop at RedBeard Historic Bakery, Trentham, where the results will be baked in a massive 19th-century oven. If that sounds like too much thinking, get even more relaxed with a wine tasting session at Passing Clouds' stunning cellar door in Musk, just five minutes' drive from town, before continuing to Daylesford Cider Company for mulled ciders, made with organic apples, by the fire. THE COSIEST SLEEP SPOTS One of the hands-down best things about winter is snuggling in bed, ensconced in doonas, woollen blankets and piles of pillows. Add a roaring fire, and there's no going anywhere. Luckily, Daylesford and its surrounds are packed with dreamy retreats. At the luxe end of the scale is Clifftop At Hepburn, where private villas come with spectacular views, spas, stone hot tubs, massage chairs and fireplaces. Another collection of beautiful villas surrounded by bushland is Kudos. These architect-designed wonders offer fireplaces and spa areas that open onto private decks. To step back in time, sleep over at Peppers Mineral Springs Hotel, built in 1935. There's a day spa onsite, with mineral water baths, heated to 37 degrees Celsius, stunning Italian gardens and Stuart Rattle-designed lounges, splashed with marble, leather and polished wood. Rooms vary from cosy classics to a four-bedroom villa built in 1864. For a stay in downtown Daylesford, book at Frangos. Think high ceilings, spa baths and quirky touches, such as hand-embroidered pillows, mirror walls and velvet bed heads. There's also an in-house Endota Spa. To explore more winter indulgences in the Daylesford region and get booking, visit the Wander Victoria website. Top image: Peppers Mineral Springs Hotel.
It's big, it's bold, it's unapologetic, and it's fresh off the smoker, folks. Yep, Melbourne's finest food destination, Il Mercato Centrale has officially launched Il Texan Barbecue. Famous for pizza, pasta and other delicious Italian delights, Il Mercato Centrale is now expanding its culinary borders via some of the world's most fabulous food artisans, starting with Armstrong Barbecue. From Wednesday, March 5, the stellar team are bringing house-made beef sausages, fall-off-the-bone pork ribs and juicy pulled pork to your dining doorstep. Il Texan Barbecue is a purist's spin on the Central Texas-style barbecue. Leading the feast is pitmaster and Executive Chef, Nathan Zammit, working alongside co-founder and Texan native Tim Jordan. Zammit has worked in some of Europe's best-loved kitchens, and is dedicated to the artistry of the perfect barbecue – from the ideal brisket bark to the deep smoke rings that make or break legendary pitmasters. Expect fire, smoke and the good-ol' fashioned hard work required to knock up the best damn brisket you can imagine – napkins, please! "The best way to eat Texas barbecue is with your hands, a stack of butcher paper and plenty of napkins," says Zammit. Every bite represents an authentic experience, adds Jordan. "In Texas, barbecue isn't just food," he says. "It's a tradition, a way of life. You don't just 'make' barbecue; you honour it. The fire, the patience, the wood, it all matters. If you're not waking up at 3am to tend the pit, you're not doing it right." Smoked "low and slow" for 12-18 hours over seasoned local hardwoods, the collagen-rich cut and absolute king of a dish becomes smoky, tender perfection, with a crisp black bark and melt-in-your-mouth interior. It's uncompromising, with that simple elegance you can only get from true culinary craftsmanship – plus just the right amount of salt, black pepper, smoke and time. So, whether you're grabbing yourself a solo tray or enjoying a mouth-watering feast with friends, count on the kind of food that's worth waiting for. Get those tastebuds ready for an authentic experience – with all the bells, whistles and smoke rings you can handle. Il Texan Barbecue is now on the menu at Il Mercado Centrale, 546 Collins St, Melbourne. Find out more at the website.
Since Dark Mofo first introduced House of Mirrors back in 2016, the installation has sat at the top of everyone's must-do list. Created by Australian installation artists Christian Wagstaff and Keith Courtney, it's exactly what it sounds like: a walkthrough space filled with reflective surfaces that will not only strands you in a maze of your own image, but turns your likeness into a kaleidoscope. After touring the country, the world's largest travelling mirror maze has returned to Hobart's Museum of Old and New Art. The installation was unveiled in late 2020 as part of the museum's post-pandemic revamp and reopening. Is it fun, creepy or both? Wander through the disorienting, perception-altering, panic-inducing, optical illusion-based labyrinth and decide for yourself. The modern, minimalist twist on the fairground classic features 40 tonnes of steel and 15 tonnes of mirrors — with no added gimmicks, no special effects, no soundtrack or soundscape. If your trip down to Tasmania coincides with this year's Dark Mofo celebrations, check out our round up of the best things to eat, see and do on the island during the winter months. House of Mirrors is open from 10am–5pm Friday–Monday. Images: House of Mirrors (2016), Christian Wagstaff and Keith Courtney. Photo by MONA/Jesse Hunniford, courtesy of MONA, Hobart, Tasmania.
When TRANCE was added to Dark Mofo's 2023 lineup, it didn't just gift the festival a three-day theatre-meets-rave performance from Berlin-based Chinese artist Tianzhuo Chen. It did that, of course, but it also distilled the essence of the Tasmanian winter fest down into one must-see event. At this show, you don't just buy a ticket, take a seat and get 90 minutes of entertainment. Rather, you wander in and out, enjoying a true experience — and, in the ultimate act of fest surrender, you let yourself go along for the ride. That really is Dark Mofo in a nutshell. Each year, its June lineup features much that you need to plan ahead to attend; hot tickets sell out, and fast. But if there's ever been an arts festival that lends itself to seeing where the moment takes you, embracing the unexpected and revelling in the moment, it's this one. And, gloriously, that makes it a delight for last-minute planners. Haven't locked in your Dark Mofo schedule yet? We understand — and we're here to help. Now that the festival is underway until Thursday, June 22, the CP Team has put together a guide to our top picks for a stunning time if you're the kind of person who only decides what they're doing on the day. Obviously, TRANCE is on the list, but so are nine other standouts. [caption id="attachment_904503" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image courtesy of the artist and Dark Mofo.[/caption] DEAFHEAVEN PERFORMING SUNBATHER Ten years ago, almost to the day, Sunbather changed metal music. Its transcendent mix of glistening guitars, hellish black metal vocals and impassioned drums were divisive at the time, but would go on to influence musicians both inside and beyond heavy metal spheres for the next decade. A festival exclusive, Deafheaven Performing Sunbather is a must-see for fans of any kind of rock music. The seasoned performers will be hitting the Odeon stage on Thursday, June 15 for an hour-long tour through their beloved album. You'll hear the epic first rising note of 'Dream House', then everything through to the grand fadeout of 'The Pecan Tree' — and you'll hear something astonishing. Ben Hansen, Junior Editor [caption id="attachment_886260" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nicole Marianna Wytyczak[/caption] A DIVINE COMEDY If you're heading south to Dark Mofo's fortnight-long dedication to hedonism, you probably already know that you're in for all-day debauchery, boundary-pushing displays of creativity and a bloody great time. But if you haven't locked in your itinerary, A Divine Comedy is a stellar choice to add to your lineup. This two-hour Australian-exclusive movement piece comes from choreographer Florentina Holzinger, whose work is characterised by a fusion of dance, stunts and pushing her audience's comfort levels to the max. In this piece, we join Dante on her travels through "hell, purgatory and paradise". Through a red haze, an all-female-identifying cast brings to life the journey of horror, joy and everything in between — with motocross, hypnosis and plenty of bodily fluids thrown in, too. There are tickets available for Friday, June 16–Sunday, June 18, with the Sunday show Auslan interpreted for those with accessibility needs. Grace MacKenzie, Branded Content Manager [caption id="attachment_904505" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image courtesy of the artist and Dark Mofo.[/caption] SILENT SYMPHONY Sound and vision. It's such a simple combination, and it hums at the heart of all festival experiences. We see. We listen. We're engaged, entertained and maybe even transformed — including (or perhaps especially) when we're in darkness, hearing kinetic light and sound instruments, all thanks to Silent Symphony by London-based arts collective United Visual Artists. Part of Dark Mofo's free program, and letting attendees drop in from 4–10pm Thursday, June 8–Sunday, June 11 and Wednesday, June 14–Thursday, June 15, this City Hall work has a clear purpose: to send its audience into the cosmos. Everything seen and heard is inspired by the belief that the universe has its own inaudible music, with UVA creating a piece that mimics planetary orbit. If stepping into a haze and being enveloped by what follows is your kind of release, prepare to be transported. Sarah Ward, Associate Editor SEX + DEATH DAYCLUB So many of Dark Mofo's events are scheduled in the evenings, but I'm keen to explore even more during the day. That's why the Sex + Death Dayclub is on my agenda. This nightclub is only open during the afternoon, and is hidden within the Mona museum itself, running from Friday, June 9–Monday, June 12 and again from Friday, June 16–Monday, June 19. Simply purchase entry into the museum and find the club at the IMPORT EXPORT lounge. Inside, you'll grab some drinks, hide (or dance) in some dark corners of the installation, and listen to DJs and live music chosen by Hobart-based artist Ben Salter. Either start your day here or kick on to this joint in the morning, after a big night out at some of Dark Mofo's other wild events. Andrew Zuccala, SEO Editor [caption id="attachment_904563" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Zuriaake, Grywnn via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] HYMNS TO THE DEAD I'm no longer in my moshing prime (in fact I'm years past it), but I still believe that thrashing in a circle pit is a pastime that's truly ageless. Putting the 'dark' in Dark Mofo is Hymns to the Dead — a black metal extravaganza featuring a triumvirate of acts traversing three continents for a night of metal carnage and axe-crunching musical brutality. On the lineup: Haunter from the USA, Zuriaake from China (yes there's a ripe metal scene in China worth investigating) and Dødheimsgard, the legendary Norwegian visionaries of the genre. If spiritual enlightenment is what you seek at Dark Mofo and extreme loud noise is your pathway to achieving it, you just might find the divine here. Suz Tucker, Editorial Director [caption id="attachment_898571" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Photo credit: Dark Mofo/Jesse Hunniford. Image courtesy Dark Mofo, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.[/caption] WINTER FEAST If you're in Hobart for Dark Mofo, a visit to the Winter Feast across Thursday, June 8–Sunday, June 11 and Thursday, June 15–Sunday, June 18 is a must. Arrive hungry and dive headfirst into 85-plus different culinary stallholders ranging from tender barbecue and local wines to sustainable cheeses and next-level s'mores. Chef's Table alum Ana Roš is flying in for the occasion to headline the food fest with a four-course exploration of Slovenian and Tasmanian eats. Some other choice suggestions for stallholders to hit up include Bruny Island Oysters (a must when in Tassie); Moo Brew, which has created a limited-edition Winter IPA; Formosa Bites, serving up chargrilled satay squid on a stick; Baked Snow, for deep-fried Taiwanese chicken or scallop sandwiches; and Eden Pantry, for a homely serving of apple pie and vanilla ice cream to round out your night. Ben Hansen, Junior Editor [caption id="attachment_904568" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ogoh Ogoh: The Burning, Dark Mofo, 2022. Photo credit: Rémi Chauvin, 2022. Image courtesy of Dark Mofo 2022.[/caption] BLUE VELVET LOUNGE Didn't make it to Dark Mofo in time for the David Lynch-inspired masquerade ball, which kicked off the already weird and wild fest in the most fitting manner possible? Don't worry, there's more where that came from. You don't need to don a mask to hit the Blue Velvet Lounge, but you will be in a place most wonderful and strange. Here's hoping that cherry pie will be on the menu. Open nightly from Thursday, June 8–Sunday, June 11 and Wednesday, June 14–Sunday, June 18, and free to enter, this Dark Park spot is all about hanging out over tunes, performances, bites and beverages — Dark Mofo-style, of course, which means that anything can and will happen. It's also home to this year's ogoh-ogoh, the sculpture that invites attendees to write down their fears, which will be burnt at the end of this year's run. Sarah Ward, Associate Editor [caption id="attachment_897774" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Camille Blake. Image courtesy of the artist and Dark Mofo.[/caption] TRANCE Drop-in drop-out 12-hour performance TRANCE from Tianzhuo Chen plunges you into an immersive otherworldly space filled with cartoonish larger-than-life creatures. Here, from Thursday, June 8–Saturday, June 10, you'll find a group of multi-talented performers flexing their range of talents across the mammoth day-to-night show. Depending when you arrive, you might find yourself among a bassy DJ set, a crunk dance-off, a concert from a metal band or a ambient wave of electronic music. Whichever awaits, they'll be accompanied by the movement of the troupe, with the goal of making you truly connect with the moment and your experience, and — as the name says — putting you into a state of trance. Ben Hansen, Junior Editor [caption id="attachment_895366" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Courtesy of the artist and Dark Mofo.[/caption] TRENTEMØLLER If you're like me, aka a poor planner through and through, then you might not be organised to head down to Dark Mofo until the closing days of the festival. That's fine, because events like Trentemøller's Tasmanian stop are on the schedule to keep us latecomers occupied — I'll see you there. The Danish electronic music composer hits MAC2, a large waterfront space, on Sunday, June 18. And for this show, he's taking cues from an environment that has a lot in common with Dark Mofo: Scandinavia. Kicking off at 9pm, the concert will flit between a state of frenetic and the serene, fuelled by electronic shoegaze tunes. Will we feel a viking spirit? Fingers crossed. Alec Jones, Junior Writer [caption id="attachment_898330" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Photo credit: Dark Mofo/Jesse Hunniford. Image courtesy Dark Mofo, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.[/caption] NIGHT MASS: EXSTASIA You haven't done Dark Mofo right if you haven't added Night Mass: Exstasia to your itinerary. Here, you can let all of your worries fade away as the music captivates your senses. This must-attend event will take you on an intoxicating journey across genres, from techno and synth-pop to manic garage and baile funk, as you tear up the dance floor — and there's still tickets on offer for Friday, June 9 and Friday, June 16. Whichever evening you pick, expect a lineup of memorable tunes featuring influences around the world, and likely discovering your new favourite artists. And, of course, dancing well into the early hours of the next morning. Nishika Sharma, Editorial Assistant Dark Mofo 2023 runs from Thursday, June 8–Thursday, June 22 in Hobart, Tasmania, with tickets on sale now. Still looking for Dark Mofo inspiration? Check out our wholesome-to-hedonistic guide, which'll help you stack your festival itinerary based on the level of chaos you're after. Top image: TRANCE by Tianzhuo Chen | Dark Mofo 2023. Photo credit: Camille Blake. Image courtesy of the artist and Dark Mofo. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
Martha Marcy May Marlene is a moving psychological thriller detailing the plight of Martha (Elizabeth Olson), who has recently spent two years living with an abusive cult and its deceivingly charming leader (John Hawkes). After her escape, she reunites with her sister Lucy (Sarah Paulson) and brother-in-law (Hugh Dancy). She attempts to mould her life back to routine, yet is unwilling to divulge details of her mysterious and lengthy disappearance. Despite her family's concerns and inquiries, Martha's history is still kept hidden in darkness and the film pivots around the haunting memories of her ordeal. When such memories begin to fuel her paranoia and the fear that she may be recaptured, Martha becomes a victim of her past as her concept of reality becomes distorted with immense vigour. A dark and magnetic exploration of human consciousness, Martha Marcy May Marlene exposes the unturned side of humanity that we fear to recognise. The film is directed and written by Sean Durkin, who won the esteemed award for "Best Director" at the Sundance Film Festival in 2011, and opens in cinemas February 2. Courtesy of Fox Searchlight, Concrete Playground has twenty double passes to giveaway. To win tickets to Martha Marcy May Marlene, just make sure you are subscribed to Concrete Playground then email your name and postal address through to hello@concreteplayground.com.au by 5pm on Friday, January 21. https://youtube.com/watch?v=KFu-zcQ7Mh4
Camberwell cafe The Old Garage has made quite the name for itself with its progressive, plant-driven menu, which offers vegan options for every single dish. And this month, it's celebrating its first birthday in the most fitting way possible — with a big day of animal-friendly fun. Join in the block party shenanigans from 11am on Saturday, March 6, when chef and co-owner Prince Dib fires up the barbecue for a vegan feast featuring snags from Ascot Vale's The Kynd Butcher. It'll taste good and feel good, with all profits going to support the New Life For Animals Rehoming Centre. Then, from 2–4pm, it's your pooch's time to shine, thanks to a free photo studio shoot taking happy snaps of the day's four-legged guests. And as always, there'll be plenty of puppuccinos on offer, with proceeds from each of the dog-friendly drinks heading to local no-kill animal shelters and sanctuaries, like Loki's Lodge in Derrinal.
Fitzroy has welcomed a new haven of 70s disco dazzle, as The Lame Duck arrives to heat things up this summer. Behind a glittering gold door and up a flight of stairs on the corner of Gertrude and Smith Streets, this newbie's rocking a retro pool room aesthetic with a definite disco edge. Cementing those old-school party vibes, expect a healthy dose of wood panelling, a shrine to the one and only Cher, a working photo booth for late-night happy snaps, and a Billy Bass presiding happily over the room. A vintage purple pool table snookers all the others in town, and enormous booths — decked out in hot pink palm trees, no less — are primed for group festivities. With a nifty 4am licence, and a couple of hospitality veterans at the helm, it's a place where letting your hair down is most certainly encouraged. The cocktail offering is embracing the very best of eras past, slinging new-school takes on some of the 70s' best-known daggy drinks. There's the daring Mezcal Sunrise ($18) with pink grapefruit juice, a piña colada-margarita mash-up ($18) and the signature Lame Fluffy Duck ($18) — a gin and Aperol sour. They're all ten bucks if you get there for happy hour between 5–7pm Tuesday to Thursday. More retro classics pepper the snacks menu; you'll find yourself stepping back in time with bites like pickled onions, hot dogs and an oozy baked camembert fondue. Meanwhile, the DJ tunes will be spinning nightly, with residents like JNETT and Capt'n Shergz throwing down a hearty mix of disco, funk and soul jams. Be sure to bring your party shoes — dancing on the tables is a-ok at The Lame Duck. At least for the time being. Images: Jess Middleton.
Moors Head are not making what comes to mind when you think pizza; they are actually aiming to make 'inauthentic pizza'. These inauthentic pizzas come in the form of pides and manoushes. It's pizza given a Lebanese twist and it's good folks, it's really good. Try the Sultan Mehmet, a pide filled with tomato, lamb ma'anek, red pepper, feta, and black olives. If you and your friends and particularly hungry, you can go all in on an inauthentic feast, which comes with Turkish delight and mint tea for dessert. Images (exterior): Julia Sansone
Melbourne's north doesn't have enough late-night wine bars serving oversized slices of pizza. At least, that's what Sam Peasnell and business partners Adam Goldblatt and Tom Peasnell think. They're the talented trio behind Preston hotspot Dexter Meat & Buns and they've just opened a casual pizza joint directly across the road. "There aren't too many places in Preston that are open later and doing drinks so we thought a couple more bars would be nice," says co-owner Sam Peasnell. "It's somewhere for our staff and customers to go after dinner." It's called Takeaway Pizza and it's a concept the boys have wanted to explore for a while now. "Adam [initially] wanted to do pizza at Dexter, but Tommy's plan to do barbecue won so we've sort of been waiting for an opportunity to get back to it." The way it works is pretty simple: out front is a takeaway pizza joint where you can order 12-inch American-style spicy pizzas through a small window, while inside is a fully stocked cocktail and wine bar. It's the kind of place you can duck in for a quick beer while you wait for your pizza, or roll into for a few kick-ons after a dinner over the road. It's what the boys are describing as a northside take on a southside-style wine bar. "Rather than have an amazing glass of wine with a charcuterie board, you'll be eating it with a spicy slice of pepperoni pizza — we think that's kind of the way the north would do a wine bar," says Sam. Images: Frances Parker
When winter rolls around, it's all too easy to hide away and only catch glimpses of the outside world through your Instagram feed. This year, fight the urge to bundle up on the couch for the next few months and go cure the inevitable wanderlust you'll get from scrolling through social media. You don't even have to go that far. Especially when spots like Port Stephens are an easy 2.5-hour drive away. You might associate the area with sun and surf, but it's packed with spots that are perfect for chilly days, too. Picture yourself kicking back in a comfy couch with a top-shelf tipple while staring out at still water. Or, how about blissing out in a hot tub after an aromatherapy massage? Then there are the whales. 'Tis the season for watching after all. We've got your itinerary covered below. Now, all you've gotta do is book the trip. [caption id="attachment_774058" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] SET SAIL TO WATCH FOR WHALES Between May and October every year, thousands of humpback whales swim along Australia's east coast, and one of the best places to watch them just so happens to be Port Stephens. Climb aboard a tour that you can book though Concrete Playground Trips to spend three hours cruising in the deep, looking out for tail slaps, body rolls and breaches. Alternatively, stick to the land — some of the best spots include Tomaree Head, Boat Harbour, Anna Bay and Fishermans Bay. GET UP CLOSE TO AUSTRALIA'S CUTEST MARSUPIALS We bet you have a soft spot for koalas because, well, who doesn't? And if you want to see these cuddly creatures up close — and contribute to local preservation and conservation efforts — we suggest paying a visit to Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary. Set within eight hectares of bushland, the sanctuary includes a koala hospital, Sanctuary Story Walk (a 250-metre pathway telling the story of the koala and its habitat) and the Newcastle Airport Skywalk — a 225-metre elevated pathway that provides a treetop-style experience in the koalas' natural habitat. The sanctuary has accommodation on-site, too, including glamping tents and suites, if you'd like to spend a little longer in the koalas' bushland retreat. Overnight guests are treated to an early-morning tour during the morning feeding routine, so you can see the koalas at their most active. INDULGE IN A TREATMENT AT SPA LUCCA A really good winter escape should involve a long spa treatment, which you'll conveniently find at Spa Lucca. As soon as you step into the peaceful, ocean-inspired surroundings, you'll feel instantly at ease. The extensive menu covers aromatherapy massages, chakra balancing sessions, body polishes and plenty more, including several signature 'rituals'. There's also a blissful private bath, where you can soak your stresses away, as well as a sauna and steam room. To go all-out, book a package, which bundles a bunch of treatments into one ultra-relaxing session. [caption id="attachment_774065" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] GO ON A 4WD BEACH AND SAND DUNE ADVENTURE This 4WD trek takes you to all the best bits of Birubi Beach, including the famous Stockton Sand Dunes — the biggest dunes in the entire Southern Hemisphere. At the dunes, the guide will take you sandboarding with all the equipment provided. It's guaranteed to be the most fun you've had since you threw yourself down a grassy hillside as a kid. Then you'll glide across the coast to gawk at stunning sites and search for pipis wiggling about the shore. You can then take a few back to your accom to taste later. GO TOP SHELF IN A WHISKY BAR Your wintry escapades continue at Moby's Bar. Sink into a leather lounge, surrounded by mahogany and stone, and sip your way through whiskies from all over the world. There are even a few bottles from Port Ellen, on the island of Islay, which closed in 1983 and is now considered one of the most coveted drops on the planet. To sample some top whiskies, head there between 4–6pm for happy hour. Afterwards, head to The Wild Herring to feast on local seafood, like seared scallop croquettes and Moreton Bay bug pies — nothing says winter by the beach quite like a hot seafood pie. EAT OYSTERS STRAIGHT FROM THE FARM For some people, loving oysters is in their blood. Take the Holberts, a Port Stephens family who've been farming the tasty little molluscs for five generations. Their business is now one of the biggest oyster producers in New South Wales — even with plenty of fierce competition. The best part of all this is that you're welcome to drop by the farm, chat about what they've learned over the past 100 or so years and taste the results — freshly shucked. Plus, you can do all that while sitting on the waterfront and sipping a beer or wine. And, if you happen to have a bottle of something special in your suitcase, you're welcome to BYO (wine only). [caption id="attachment_716523" align="alignnone" width="1920"] John Spencer OEH[/caption] STROLL ALONG WRECK BEACH There are 26 beaches in Port Stephens, so it's never difficult to find a stretch of sand to call yours for a day. While many are well-known to locals and visitors, others are harder to find — and don't attract as many weekend crowds. One of these is Wreck Beach, a glorious cove tucked away behind Shoal Bay. To get there, and feed your intrepid spirit at the same time, take the Wreck Beach Walk (currently closed for repairs), a one-kilometre trek through coastal angophora forest. Once you're on the sand, keep a lookout for whales and dolphins; Port Stephens is home to a resident dolphin community, which numbers somewhere between 90 and 120. [caption id="attachment_716286" align="alignnone" width="1920"] High Tea at Galley Kitchen[/caption] HAVE HIGH TEA WITH UNLIMITED BUBBLY If there's one delicious way to while away a winter's afternoon, it has to be at a high tea with bottomless sparkling wine. And the only way you could make it even better is with tranquil, dreamy waterscapes to gaze at — which is exactly what you'll get in The Galley Kitchen. Set in an airy, light-filled space with expansive views over Port Stephens, the tea is available every day from 2.30–4.30pm. It'll set you back $89 but that includes unlimited sparkling wine, plus as much Ronnefeldt Tea as you can drink. Feeling inspired to book a truly unique getaway? Head to Concrete Playground Trips to explore a range of holidays curated by our editorial team. We've teamed up with all the best providers of flights, stays and experiences to bring you a series of unforgettable trips in destinations all over the world. Top image: Tomaree Head Summit, Destination NSW
A sunny afternoon spent hanging out in a historic garden, smashing bubbly and playing petanque — it sounds like something out of some European holiday, but it's a situation you can find under an hour away from Melbourne. Cleveland Winery's lush green grounds are located in Lancefield — and it has views of the vineyard and the Macedon Ranges. On warm days you can eat and drink out of on the deck, or head indoors to the restaurant, which doles out dinner on Friday and Saturday nights, and woodfired pizza on weekend afternoons. Make sure you head down to the winery's famous underground cellar door to smaple some of the winery's shiraz, chardonnay and sparkling pinot noir.
