It's finally happened. London's latest and greatest pop-up bar lets you literally inhale alcohol, a project that could only be the work of wildly ambitious, gastronomic artists Bompas and Parr. Built on the site of an ancient monastery in Borough and opened on July 30, the wonderfully-named Alcohol Architecture bar lets you walk into an actual cloud of cocktail. Sam Bompas and Harry Parr have used big ol' humidifiers to saturate the air with a cocktail of spirits and mixer, so you can simply breathe in the drink and let that sweet, sweet alcohol make its way to your bloodstream via lungs and eyes. Of course, visitors to the pop-up are advised to "breathe responsibly" — and the hour session of inhalation isn't quite enough to get you drunk, apparently. You're given a robe to protect your clothes from reeking of cocktail afterwards, and you'll be surrounded by atmospheric sounds to intensify the inhaling experience. #breatheresponsibly at @alcoholicarchitecture regram from @soniashahx A photo posted by Bompas & Parr (@bompasandparr) on Aug 6, 2015 at 8:59am PDT "Inside, the sound is modulated, so that it is like you are right inside the glass," Parr told Bloomberg. "It's a dense atmosphere that builds into a thunderstorm with lightning. It's a new way of experiencing drink, and it's social because it's an immersive shared environment. You all have the same flavor sensation. "It's like going to the seaside and finding that fish and chips taste better. Part of that is that in a human environment, your ability to perceive taste is heightened. It's the opposite of being in an aeroplane. Alcohol tastes better, with more nuances: You can detect more subtle flavors when it is humidified." We're on! Launch night of the bar tonight! A photo posted by Alcoholic Architecture (@alcoholicarchitecture) on Jul 29, 2015 at 12:37pm PDT This isn't the first jaw-dropping foodie installation Bompas and Parr have dazzled us with in recent memory. After opening a pop-up which tailored cocktails to your DNA, hosting anatomical whisky tastings allowing you to taste different aged whiskies from their same-aged human body, and creating lava-powered barbecues, the pair brought one hell of a banquet to this year's Dark Mofo festival in Tasmania — which involved much nudity and the eating of an actually beating pig's heart. If you're headed for London anytime soon, Alcoholic Architecture will be open until early 2016 at One Cathedral Street, Borough Market, London. Tickets and more info over here. We chatted to Sam Bompas recently, head over here to delve into pagan feasts, Vegemite chocolate and Australian food trends. Via Bloomberg.
The 62nd Sydney Film Festival closed on Sunday, June 14, having unleashed a number of great and good films upon the city. But 'great' isn't all we go to the festival for — we come looking for the stuff that challenges us, for the weirdest concoctions that will never get a cinema release, for the wild artistic risks that might not even work as a motion picture and, yes, for the failures that went down swinging. So with that appetite guiding our cinematic feast, here are our critics' highlights of the festival. THE BEST THE CLUB If there's one club no one wants to be a member of, it's the one at the centre of Pablo Larrain's latest film. The director of 2012's No keeps his voice political and his eyes focused on his Chilean homeland, with the injustices committed by the Catholic Church his new point of focus. That his chilling and complex tale takes place within a coastal retirement home for disgraced priests should give an indication of the dark psychological territory he traverses, though Larrain spares his judgment for the system rather than his subjects. There, he's scathing about the culture of covering up scandals, as demonstrated by a final act that just might render viewers speechless. He's also likely to cause another club to form: those of avid fans of the atmospheric feature, and of his continued contemplation of corruption. -Sarah Ward TEHRAN TAXI Road movies often take characters on a literal and emotional journey from point A to B. You know the ones. Jafar Panahi interprets driving, talking, growing and learning a bit differently; the director turns on-screen cabbie in Tehran in an effort that merges art and life on several levels. Panahi is currently banned from filmmaking, yet once again uses his limitations as inspiration — including in setting and staging his latest feature in a taxi, and in combining fact and fiction. In this year's Berlin Film Festival Golden Bear winner, he makes a statement about his own predicament while drawing attention to the restrictions prevalent in modern-day Iran. Forget heading off on holiday; his road trip takes audiences through his and his nation's everyday existence. -SW THE HUNTING GROUND It was a fantastic festival for documentary filmmaking, with titles like Going Clear and Sherpa taking on pressing real world issues with empathy and determination. But of all the docos in the program, Kirby Dick’s The Hunting Ground stands out as perhaps the most important. Over 103 devastating minutes, the Oscar-nominated filmmaker exposes the endemic rates of rape on American college campuses — crimes that administrators at many of the country’s leading universities have a shameful history of trying to sweep under the rug. It’s a grim and confronting story, but one that needs all the attention that it can get. -Tom Clift VICTORIA If you thought the long takes in Gravity and Birdman were impressive, then have we got a recommendation for you. Filmed in a single real-time take, Sebastian Schipper’s Victoria follows a young Spanish expat living in Berlin, who after a big night out finds herself the unlikely participant in an early morning bank heist. Schipper’s audacious shooting style adds a sense of immediacy to the tale, taking viewers through the city’s famous club scene and into its seedy criminal underworld on the same emotional rollercoaster as Victoria herself. Gripping and empathetic, this is experiential cinema at its finest. -TC THE WORST SHE'S FUNNY THAT WAY Screwball comedies can be a love 'em or hate 'em affair. Sometimes their fast-talking banter charms. Sometimes their reliance upon too many conveniences grates. Sometimes, like in She's Funny That Way, the latter outweighs the former. In his first film in more than a decade, writer/director Peter Bogdanovich brings together a likeable cast of Owen Wilson, Imogen Poots, Rhys Ifans, Will Forte and Kathryn Hahn, yet pushes them past the point of farce and into tiring territory. There are a few giggles to be had, alongside obvious love for genre, but it's the late-stage cameo that most will remember this movie for, and that's never a good thing. -SW AMONG THE BELIEVERS Among the Believers isn’t so much a bad film as it is a disappointing one. Documentarians Hemal Trivedi and Mohammed Ali Naqvi were allowed unprecedented access to Abdul Aziz Ghazi, the leader of the notorious Red Mosque network which is widely viewed as a breeding ground of religious extremism in Pakistan. Yet we can’t help feel that they squandered the opportunity, with the resulting documentary offering little real insight into the minds of the would-be terrorists or the social and political factors that create them. With so much media attention given to the threat of Islamic terrorism, Among the Believers needed to bring a lot more to the table to rise above the noise. -TC THE BOLDEST EXPERIMENTS ARABIAN NIGHTS Making a three-volume, 383-minute feature is a bold choice, but the length of Miguel Gomes' Sydney Film Festival competition-winning effort is actually one of the least bold things about it. Yes, he's made his movie an endurance test; however, it's his choice of content and the way he splices it together that's audacious. Often involving trials and other forms of judgment, frequently featuring animals (bees, a talking cockerel, the canine winner of Cannes' coveted Palm Dog Award, and too many chaffinches), and flitting between surreal segments and documentary-style observation, the thematically connected chapters try to achieve a feat the director himself acknowledges as impossible. That'd be seducing in narrative while acknowledging the misery of Portugal's harsh economic reality — and if it sounds like courageous, challenging work, that's because it is. -SW TANGERINE Loud, gaudy and unapologetically crass, Sean Baker’s Tangerine is a far cry from a stereotypical festival film, and honestly, that’s a big part of why we loved it. Shot on the streets of Los Angeles using tricked-out iPhone 5s, the film follows a transgender prostitute named Sin-Dee as she blazes through the city with her best friend Alexandra in tow, on the hunt for her pimp boyfriend who she’s learnt has been unfaithful. The hyper-raw cinematography suits the plot and characters to perfection: tacky and stylish and outrageously funny all at once. And beneath all the humour lies surprising emotional depth. -TC THE MOST WTF THE FORBIDDEN ROOM Guy Maddin's latest effort, as co-directed with Evan Johnson, is the kind of movies cinephiles dream of. No, it's not your usual, stereotypical serious movie fare — this really is something that feels it has been ripped out of someone's head mid-slumber, or perhaps mid-hallucination. Think tripping through cinema history, complete with mind-altering substances, and you're still nowhere close to the ride this takes through layers of stories, colours, genres, tropes and film stocks. The Forbidden Room is a movie that teaches you how to take a bath, has a wolf hunter as its hero, and relays the thoughts of a volcano and a moustache. We're not kidding. Yes, it really is that offbeat and glorious. -SW A PIGEON SAT ON A BRANCH REFLECTING ON EXISTENCE The title of this film is probably the least strange thing about it, hence its place in our coveted WTF section. The third part of a thematic trilogy by Swedish filmmaker Roy Andersson 15 years in the making, A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence consists of a series of deadpan tragicomic vignettes ostensibly ‘about being a human being’. Sexually aggressive dance instructors, a pair of morose travelling salesman and the long dead King Charles XII are just a few of the bizarre characters who inhabit this esoteric comedy, one that had us scratching our head in bafflement as often as it had us laughing. -TC
If you've long felt you missed out on a decent childhood because you weren't bunking in with the Swiss Family Robinson, you can now make up for lost time. Treehouses for grown-ups are one of the latest fads sweeping global architecture, and a new apartment block in Turin, Italy is among the wildest. Named 25 Verde (25 Green) and designed by architect Luciano Pia, the five-storey apartment block doubles up as an urban forest. There are 190 trees snuggled within the structure, with 40 of them creating a tranquil courtyard garden, and the rest providing greenery for 63 uniquely luscious apartments. While the lower floor offers leafy garden-facing arrangements, apartments on the upper floor come with spacious, sunny terraces. Both, however, come with ample opportunities for making your own secret password security precautions and 'no boys/girls allowed' signs. Apart from their obviously eco-friendly presence, the trees also help to moderate temperature in the apartments — filtering sunlight on hot days and providing insulation when the weather cools. Total bosses. To pay 'em back, the trees are kept alive by an irrigation system that uses harvested rainwater. Meanwhile, heating is provided by ground water pumps and ventilated walls enable additional 'breathing'. Vertical gardening might have met its match. Via Huffington Post.
Well, it’s official: animal-themed cafes have reached critical levels of absurdity. After cats, owls and even teacup pigs, an impending eatery in East London will pay tribute to the humble blobfish, the gelatinous sea dweller that was recently voted the ugliest animal in the world. Set to open in summer 2016, the Blobfish Cafe will be home to three blobfish specimen named Barry, Lorcan and Lady Swift. No word on how the aquatic trio are handling their newfound celebrity, although Lorcan already has his own twitter account, where he mostly tweets about Tom Cruise. Of course, running a blobfish cafe isn’t as simple a proposition as just rounding up a few stray cats. The fish reside on the ocean floor off the east coast of Australia (booyah!) at depths of around 1000 metres, where the pressure is several dozen times that of the surface. As a result, the owners of the cafe have had to construct a special tank capable of replicating the deep sea environment, a mammoth undertaking described on their website as 'not cheap'. Still, the trade-off for the blobfish community may well be worth the cost. The 2013 public ballot by the Ugly Animal Preservation Society threw the species into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, with the fleshy pink fish beat out the axolotl, the proboscis monkey and the kakapo, aka the New Zealand owl parrot, to claim the title of God’s most hideous mistake. To make matters worse, a rise in deep sea trawling is threatening blobfish populations. Do you really want to live in a world without this guy? The cafe is yet to reveal their food and drinks menu, although they’ve promised a mix of light lunches and more substantial evening meals, along with weekly gourmet nights consisting of an eight course deep sea themed tasting menu. Presumably that doesn’t include eating blobfish. A number of online retailers also sell plush blobfish toys. That piece of information doesn’t really have anything to do with the cafe, but we still thought it was worth mentioning. We’re also not entirely convinced this whole story isn’t an elaborate hoax, although if it is it’s a pretty amazing one. Via London Evening Standard.
The Vegie Bar has been kicking around for almost thirty years. The all-vegetarian restaurant was ahead of its time when it opened three decades ago, and is all the more in-vogue now. Monday through Sunday, lines of people will put their name down and wait for a table — sometimes a pokey communal one — just to get a feed. The open plan warehouse-style room is filled with exposed brick, wooden tables and a whole lot of history. With a pinboard listing rooms for rent on one wall and a separate room with a liquor licence, this venue is a Brunswick Street institution. As you weave your way through the menu, you'll find everything is vegetarian, a lot is vegan, and gluten free options are plentiful. More recently, raw dishes have been added to the already vast lineup. Start with the classic veggie spring rolls with sweet chilli sauce or the vegan chicken bao with crispy chilli oil and Asian herbs. Mains are broken down into wraps and burgers, salads, pizzas and other main dishes. The vegan beef rendang serves up succulent vegan beef with onion, capsicum, carrot and potato, while the Mexican burrito is packed full of beans, baby spinach and Spanish onions. This bad boy has been on the Vegie Bar menu for almost the entire 30 years, too. Desserts are rather impressive. There is a rotating assortment of cakes from a gluten and dairy free chocolate mud cake, to baked berry cheesecake to raw macaroons. How they make it all taste so damn good is a mystery, but we're happy to just enjoy the goods. When it comes to the drink list, Vegie Bar has anything from the super juice of beetroot, spinach, carrot and cucumber and smoothies, to a bottle of organic German Riesling from Gunderloch. Vegie Bar is the kind of place where any lifestyle can be catered for, but no one will impose one on you. You don't have to be vegan or be a champion of the raw food movement to enjoy your dhal or a big fat piece of vegan chocolate cake. Appears in: The Best Vegan Restaurants in Melbourne for 2023
If you can't stop eating curry, here's one for you: Welcome to Brunswick is hosting a festival dedicated to curry on Saturday, August 12. The Cold Ones & Bold Ones fest will see all your favourite curry vendors assembled to deliver a day of flavour-filled dedication to curry. Expect a vast array of iterations too, with curries promised to start at just $10. On the cards: a 100-spice curry, Japanese chicken katsu curry, beef massaman, spicy red pumpkin and more. The festival announcement follows the reopening of Welcome to Brunswick's next door hall venue, aptly named 'The Hall'. Of course, a wide range of spice-quenching beers will be available to accompany your curry throughout the day, including a coconut curry lager from 4 Pines Brewery. Live music with a live DJ set featuring retro tunes round out the day's lineup. The festival kicks off at midday, bookings are available online — and kids and dogs are welcome. Images: supplied.
In a food-obsessed city like ours where there's a quality feed to be discovered around just about every corner, why put a limit on your eating abilities? Melbourne's got a plethora of excellent all-you-can-eat options to rival even your fondest childhood memories from the Pizza Hut buffet and Sizzler salad bar (RIP). Break out the stretchy pants in preparation for some proper feasting with these great all-you-can-eat offers. ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT YUM CHA AT DAVID'S Delivering that authentic yum cha experience within smartly revamped designer digs, iconic David's Prahran offers the kind of all-you-can-eat experience even your mum would approve of. What's more, at $38 per person on Saturdays (and $40 per person on Sundays), your bank account will be pretty chuffed as well. Choose the 11.30am or 1.30pm sitting, and settle in against crisp, white interiors for an upscale take on unlimited yum cha. How many of those plump dumplings can your stomach handle? How much? $38-40 per person. ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT TEMAKI AT TOKOSAN The closure of Toko in Prahan has seen Tokosan take its place, with a focus on cocktails, karaoke and a casual Japanese snack menu. On Tuesdays they're honing in on temaki — which, for the uninitiated, is basically a cone-shaped hand roll — with endless supplies for just $20. There will options for vegetarians too. If you haven't tried temaki before, Tokosan's outdoor lounge courtyard is a pretty good place to make your debut. How much? $20 per person. ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT MEAT AT POLEPOLE Carnivores in search of some serious midweek indulgence will find a whole lot to love about African-inspired Polepole, especially during Tuesday night's weekly all-you-can-meat extravaganza. From 5pm, punters can rock their taste buds and stuff their bellies with a smorgasbord of slow-cooked, African-style meat dishes and sides for the budget-friendly price of $39 per person. We're talking an endless array of melt-in-your-mouth ribs, vibrant salads and addictive harissa grilled corn cobs. Get in before 7pm to save even more coin with a few cheeky happy hour drinks. How much? $39 per person. ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT SUSHI AT OKAMI JAPANESE One of the greatest things about Japanese food is that it rarely leaves you feeling horrendously full, even after scoffing an insane amount of it. Which means that an unlimited feasting situation at somewhere like Okami packs a serious punch in the value department. This spot has seven outposts across Melbourne (including Brunswick, Caulfield, Footscray and Camberwell), each one offering an all-you-can-eat menu for about $30, if you've got at least two diners. Go to town on sushi and sashimi, tempura and teriyaki, knowing you'll probably even have belly room left over for some green tea ice cream for dessert. How much? $30 per person. ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT WINGS AT SAN ANTONE BY BLUDSO'S BBQ Mondays at San Antone can get pretty darn messy. But when you're elbow-deep in fried chicken, it's pretty likely you won't mind that much. The Crown restaurant is renowned for its American-style smoked meats and to kickstart each week, it offers two hours of endless chicken wings for just $25 per person. These finger lickin' goodies are smoked for two hours and then served by the bucket, teamed with your choice of sauce and a pile of golden fries. Settle in and keep that chook coming until those Monday blues are a distant memory. How much? $25 per person. ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT BRAZILIAN MEATS AT B'CHURRASCO If you're good mates with meat, the ultimate feasting situation awaits at this buzzing CBD spot. Modelled on Brazil's rodízios, or all-you-can-eat, BBQ restaurants, B'Churrasco is famed for its unlimited meat feasts, where a parade of marinated morsels are served on skewers and carved right there at your table. Get acquainted with one of the city's best examples of Brazilian dining, across a seasonal pick of 12 quality, roasted meat cuts, and a whole bunch of authentic sides. Visit on a Wednesday or Thursday, and you can load up on the likes of beef ribs, chicken wings, and house made chorizo, along with a bellyful of accompaniments, for $45 per head. On other nights the spread will cost you $56 each. How much? $45–56 per person. CROSSWAYS VEGETARIAN, CBD For all-you-can-eat, minus the meat and any kind of pretension or style, it's hard to beat this longstanding Hare Krishna haunt. Perched above Swanston Street, Crossways plates up a different plant-based feed each day of the week, and you can eat your fill of the tasty, wholesome fare for just $7.95 (or $5.95 if you're a concession card holder). Feast up big on the likes of South Indian coconut curry, satay veggies, and lentil pasta, and even sate your sweet tooth with a house-made dessert — you'll still roll out with change from a tenner. How much? $5.95–7.95 per person.
Shane Delia’s newest venture is going to delight the ever living crap out of fans of old school hip hop. Aptly named Biggie Smalls, the joint blends '90s hip hop with a classic New York diner setting and is built around an ethos of authenticity. You might remember Delia from his recent SBS series Shane Delia’s Spice Journey or one of his top drawer, fine dining venues, which makes his urban diner eatery in Collingwood seem like an odd choice. Being a massive Notorious B.I.G. fan as a kid, he's finally realised a lifelong love of hip hop and food in one establishment. That’s not to say it’ll be like any old kebab joint. We can’t forget that Maha, Delia’s most well-known enterprise, has received a chef's hat for the last six years, so Biggie Smalls is definitely in capable hands. Delia says the restaurant will be a 'KBab joint' and the offerings will be simple, non-traditional but will stay loyal to his Middle Eastern heritage. Delia's years of expertise really shine through in the menu, which features kebabs as mains with a basic list of sides, desserts and drinks to accompany. You can take your pick of some of the tastiest kebab options we've ever heard: there's the C. Wallace (flaxseed falafel, herbs, pickles, onions and smoked hummus). Yep, enjoy obliterating one of those. Then there's the West Coast (fried shrimps, harissa and almond mayo, herbs and pickled onion), the East Coast (maple glazed pork belly, crackling, (peanut butter hummus, herbs and pickles) and the Dirty South (fried chicken, pumpkin pie hummus, herbs, pickles and onion) to name a few. Did we mention there's a peanut butter caramel injected pretzel for dessert? Because there is. That's a real thing. That you can soon eat. Oh and the official venue hashtag? #readytodine. Classic. Biggie Smalls, located at 86 Smith Street, Collingwood, will open at 11am on Thursday, December 10. Find out more on their website.
Despite having barbecued its first rib just eight months ago, Bluebonnet is a solid hit with Melbourne carnivores. And, with two venues already on-the-go, it's now arrived Geelong — specifically, The Workers Club. The Bluebonnet crew has teamed up with the Workers with two ideas in mind. The first is serving up the best American-style barbecue possible. To that end, a brand new, signature Bluebonnet smoker has been built for the new venue. Like its predecessors, the smoker’s been constructed by hand every step of the way, and boasts serious dimensions: 3.5 metres long with a 2000 litre capacity. The second idea is to bring live music to the meat. A genuinely solid lineup of local artists are already booked in, including British India, Northeast Party House and Jeff Martin. The space itself, which once served as an auction house, is an ideal live music space, featuring a bandroom, bar, dining area and outdoor seating. Governed by seasonality, the menu will be a little different every time you visit. If you’ve been festivalising this summer, there’s every chance you’re familiar with the Bluebonnet buns which, you’ll be pleased to know, are a regular fixture. Other staple hunger-busters include smoked Riverina Angus brisket, smoked porter braised beef cheek and Berkshire pulled pork. They're paired with some left-of-field sides, from guindilla, cheddar and confit garlic cornbread to apple and kohlrabi slaw. Both pre-gig snackers and platter-sharers are welcome. You’ll find The Worker’s Club at 90-92 Little Malop Street, Geelong. It’s open Monday to Thursday, 5pm till late, and Friday and Saturday from 12pm. We've picked Bluebonnet Barbecue as one of the Ten Best Barbecue Joints in Melbourne. Check out the list here.
Sydney-based singer-songwriter Elizabeth Rose is taking a stand on marriage equality, with a brand new single out today. Titled ‘Division,’ the pulsating electronic pop track tackles the issue of same-sex unions head on, with lyrics like ‘I got friends who need the satisfaction of equality,’ leaving little doubt on where the singer stands. Even better, the musician is putting her money where her mouth is, with sale proceeds being used to help fight discrimination. “Australia is tipped as the ‘lucky’ country, but reflecting upon what we stand for, I'm not sure that we are all that we’re cracked up to be,” says Rose. “Our peers fall victim to acts of discrimination and are denied the right to equality.” ‘Division’ is currently available to download from the singer’s website on a pay-what-you-want basis. The proceeds will be donated to Australian Marriage Equality. The single comes at a significant point in the national marriage debate. After Ireland passed marriage reform via popular referendum last month, Australia remains one of the few holdouts in the developed world. Polling suggests the Australian public is overwhelmingly in favour of marriage equality, but politicians continue to lag behind. Opposition leader Bill Shorten introduced a private members bill to a depressingly empty Parliament on Monday, with only five Liberal MPs bothering to attend. “We are moving towards this significant moment in Australian history,” affirmed Rose. “I urge people to accept and embrace this need for equality in our country.” To download ‘Division,’ visit Elizabeth Rose’s website. To learn more about the goals of Australian Marriage Equality, go here.
Whenever Vivid takes over Sydney to kick off winter, the city instantly gets brighter. Unleashing a huge festival of lights and vibrant installations, live music, food and talks will do that, of course. Mark Friday, May 26–Saturday, June 17 in your calendars for 2023, with the annual festival returning with a typically massive program. One headlining event is an appearance from Mike White, creator and writer of HBO's The White Lotus alongside the hit show's star and entertainment icon Jennifer Coolidge. The duo is coming to the Harbour City's Aware Super Theatre at the ICC Sydney for an exclusive in-conversation session moderated by Benjamin Law as a part of Vivid Ideas. Lights-wise, more than 50 installations will be bringing bursts of colour to the Harbour City, with public installations, 3D projections and ticketed events all part of the lineup. The Vivid Light Walk is back with free public works inspired by nature popping up from over 100 light collaborators and 26 international light artists from 13 countries. First Light will also return, celebrating Australia's original custodians and opening the festival with a performance from Yolngu supergroup Yothu Yindi. Other notable installations include Written in the Stars, which will see over 1000 drones light up the night sky and a huge Tumbalong Park activation called Dance Together, which will have you shaking your hips underneath three giant floating rings suspended above your head. Plus, the previously announced Lightscape will also be a part of the program. The after-dark light festival will be taking over the Royal Botanic Garden from 5.30pm each night. 2023 marks the first time the festival has introduced Vivid Food, a dedicated lineup of culinary events, to the program. The next-level eats are headlined by a two-week residency from New York chef Daniel Humm f the three Michelin-starred Eleven Madison Park at Matt Moran's Aria. There will also be a range of collaborations as part of the Vivid Chef Series, a dedicated barbecue pop-up featuring Firedoor's Lennox Hastie, Chefs on the Harbour, a view-heavy overwater dinner on the luxury superyacht The Jackson with Nel's Nelly Robinson, plus popular chefs Khanh Ong and Mark Olive, and Mary's Group's one-day HERE NOW food, wine and music festival. Music is always a huge component of the festival, and this year's lineup does not disappoint. The Sydney Opera House has rolled out a predictably showstopping and diverse mix of artists, starting with Devonté Hynes (also known as Blood Orange) performing selected classical works with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. The bill also features José González celebrating the 20th anniversary of his album Veneer, Cat Power recreating and reinterpreting a 1966 performance by Bob Dylan, and appearances from the likes of Thundercat, Yaeji, Ella Mai, Weyes Blood, Hiatus Kaiyote, Ethel Cain, Sleaford Mods, Squarepusher, Iceage, Kimbra and Budjerah. Outside of the Sydney Opera House, Vivid's music lineup will include A Bend in the River: A Celebration of the Life & Music of Archie Roach at the Sydney Town hall with Paul Kelly, Emma Donovan, Dan Sultan, Kutcha Edwards and Becca Hatch among the friends, collaborators and contemporaries that will perform during the tribute. Tumbalong Park will again host 12 nights of free live music featuring Yothu Yindi, Hatchie, Kaiit, A.Girl, Ziggy Ramo, Cornelius and a celebration of 15 years of triple j's Unearthed High competition. And, Carriageworks has curated a genre-spanning lineup with the like soft Desire Marea, Flying Lotus, Molchat Doma, Liv.e, Floodlights and Soft Centre. [caption id="attachment_892843" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption]
Nothing counteracts Melbourne's frigid winter weather like drinking a glass of red or an old-fashioned by a roaring open fire. But most pubs — and the Metropolitan Fire Brigade — don't take too kindly to people lighting up their furniture, so you'll have to stick to drinking dens with built-in fireplaces. These venues will let you fill your belly and defrost your toes by a fire — and help you avoid those pesky arson charges. The only bad thing about these situations will be when you have to go head home. NEPTUNE, WINDSOR Neptune Food and Wine, as its name might suggest, has the latter. It also has a fairly impressive collection of empty wine bottles lining the window ledges down the back of the restaurant and a fireplace. Nab a spot on the leather sofa downstairs to reap its warmth, otherwise huddle nearby next to the wine wall or in one or the atrium-style booths. On cosy afternoons we recommend a plate of charcuterie and cheese, or a bowl of spaghetti. Paired with a glass of Margaret River shiraz, it's the ultimate winter dish. DR. MORSE, ABBOTSFORD Tucked away under Victoria Park Railway Station, the roaring fire in this converted Abbotsford apothecary is the perfect cure for all your winter woes. The Jr. Morse takeaway window does a roaring coffee and breakfast trade with early morning commuters, but the real fun starts later on. Comfy couches and ottomans surround the open fireplace, and are the perfect spot to chow down on what we've already dubbed one of the best value beef burgers in town. As for beer, Dr. Morse recommends pairing it with a shot of whiskey. And you should probably listen to him — doctor's orders and all. FERDYDURKE, CBD Ascend from the rowdiness of Section 8 on Tattersalls Lane and you'll be rewarded with some cosiness above Chinatown at Ferdydurke. While things get loose up here too, it's also very cosy — in large part due to the fireplace nestled into the back corner. Pull a stool up nice and close while you nurse a glass of pinot and perhaps a jalapeño and cheese toastie. NEIGHBOURHOOD WINE, FITZROY NORTH Any trip to this Fitzroy North gem is nothing but an absolute pleasure, but it's best when its fireplace is roaring. Neighbourhood Wine is open every night of the week, so any chilly eve is the perfect time to pull up a perch at the bar for a bottle of wine and some snacks. Or, head in on Sundays for the roast lunch — for $40 you will receive an entrée and dessert as well. After that, stick around for a game of pool on their massive billiards table, or kick back and listen to whatever vinyl is spinning. CIAO CIELO, PORT MELBOURNE Once a modest but respectable Italian eatery on Bay Street, Port Melbourne, Ciao Cielo has taken things up a notch with its brand new digs. In late May, the fine diner reopened in Port Melbourne's courthouse, following $1.5 million makeover to the 1860s building. It has soaring ceilings and heritage features now offset by New York-style booth seating, striking marble bars and — most importantly — cosy fireplaces. Next to the fire you can take the fine dining route for a menu of modern classics, like the king prawn risotto with bisque and marjoram gremolata, a Sardinian-style goat leg with polenta, and the Tuscan-inspired, 1-kilo grass-fed Florentine steak. They're backed by plenty of old favourites, with the kitchen's flair for house-made pasta shining through in dishes like the squid ink linguini and a bolognese ragu with tagliatelle. Meanwhile, the adjoining bar is dishing up a more casual affair within a 150-seat Amalfi-inspired marquee covered in fairy lights, which is next to the main dining room. THE LOCAL TAPHOUSE, ST KILDA We've long been an advocate of St Kilda's Local Taphouse, with the European-style tavern scoring a spot on our list of Melbourne's ten best craft beer bars. This Carlisle Street institution truly is one of the must-visit locations for draught lovers, rotating through more than 400 different beers a year. Whatever they're tapping this week, there's no better place to enjoy it than by the outdoor log fire that warms up the Taphouse's spacious rooftop beer garden. They've also got a second, indoor fireplace downstairs, for when the weather turns sour. And there's even an indoor bocce court. THE RETREAT, BRUNSWICK A point-of-call for any true Northside denizen, this Sydney Road icon can lay claim to one of the nicest beer gardens in Melbourne. It's also got a hearty dinner menu, nine different beers on tap, and is arguably one of the best places to catch up-and-coming local bands. Basically, it's a great place even without the crackling fire — with it, there's really no reason to ever leave. And if you ever do need a change of scenery, just head upstairs to the Amelia Shaw Saloon, complete with fireplace of its own. THE GRACE DARLING HOTEL, COLLINGWOOD The Grace Darling has been a staple of Smith Street for a long, long time — built in 1854, it's apparently the second oldest pub in the city. Regulars will have clocked plenty of hours knocking back drinks in the footpath beer garden out front, but with the weather the way it is, we'd rather be indoors near one of the two blazing fires. The food is classic pub fare on the fancy side, while the candlelit bar has a dozen local draughts on tap. Add to that an atrium restaurant out back plus two separate bandrooms, and it's clear why the Grace is still standing after all this time. THE TIPSY COW, PORT MELBOURNE Here's one that basically has it all. The Tipsy Cow Malt and Vine Co. in Port Melbourne boasts squashy couches, sports on the telly, plenty of great whisky and, most importantly, a toasty fireplace. Oh, and a whole lotta dogs. The dog-friendly has a solid whisky selection that'll warm you up from the inside while fire fire defrosts your toes. It's one of the only places you can enjoy a Talisker 18-year-old or a Macallan Sienna in the company of your pup. Don't have furry mate of your own? Grab a drink and head out back anyway — you're guaranteed some wet nose kisses from The Tipsy Cow mascot and resident pooch, Nisha. THE RAINBOW HOTEL, FITZROY A mere 50 metres removed from the hustle and bustle of Brunswick Street, The Rainbow Hotel is a personal favourite. Its enormous undercover beer garden (complete with pool table) is a great place to while away a lazy afternoon — especially when you're also ballooning on their spicy buffalo wings with blue cheese sauce. If things get too chilly come nightfall, you can toast your outsides by the fireplace, while warming your insides with any of 100 different beers. A great live music lineup is just the icing on the cake. THE POST OFFICE HOTEL, COBURG The Post Office Hotel is a well-rounded gastropub experience, complete with bandroom, large terrariums atop tables and a cracking open fireplace. The menu is well-priced and tasty, and includes everything from pork schnitties to mushrooms and polenta to potato gems. If that all sounds a little too much for you, the bar next door offers a more humble experience — and, yes, it has a fireplace, too. LAZERPIG, COLLINGWOOD Sometimes you just want to eat a pizza by the fire under the lights of a disco ball. And at Lazerpig you can do just that. The Collingwood bar serves up some of the best pizza in town, and does it to a very good soundtrack, lots of booze and and — if you skip the main dining room and take a seat by the bar — the crackling or a fire. Order a carbonara pizza and a spice negroni and settle in. TRAMWAY HOTEL, FITZROY NORTH Comfortable, warm and friendly, with plenty of tasty food offerings and a variety of local beers, Tramway is just about the perfect pub to get away from the cold. Soft overhead lighting matches the pleasant glow of the fire as it smoulders quietly in the corner of the room. Tramway Conductor Golden Ale headlines a list of quality draughts on tap, from Victorian breweries including Mountain Goat and Quiet Deeds. Meanwhile, your snacking options range from delectable Chinese sweet buns filled with fried chicken, pickled carrot and Coca-Cola teriyaki, to comfort food like mini-hots dog and extra cheesy mac 'n' cheese.
The one and only Marina Abramovic will be settling down in Sydney this week. Her 12-day-long Kaldor residency will begin on June 24, transforming Walsh Bay’s Pier 2/3 into a public art laboratory. Abramovic is the undisputed “grandmother of performance art”. She gained notoriety in art circles for her daring and death-defying performances from the ‘70s onward; however, it was her 2010 retrospective, The Artist Is Present at MoMA which catapulted her into the cultural mainstream. Following high-profile collaborations with the likes of Lady Gaga and Jay Z, Abramovic has reached rock-star levels of popularity herself. If it feels like Abramovic sprung out of obscurity around five years ago, you might wonder how she came to be the world’s most famous performance artist. Let's journey back. PERFORMANCE ART AS (DANGEROUS) EMPOWERMENT As a bright-eyed Serbian student, Abramovic took the leap over to Western Europe during the '70s and became a key player in the genesis of performance art. One of her earliest and most significant achievements has been reconfiguring the relationship between artist and audience. These were the first steps into participatory artworks, upending the standard passivity of the spectator. Her self-objectifying performance Rhythm 0 (1974) gave power to a particularly masochistic swarm of gallery-goers. Abramovic lay naked on a table next to a whole range of objects, including perfume, a rose, a feather, scissors, a scalpel and a gun loaded with one bullet. From decorative to sinister, these objects were used at the whim of participants who were compelled to decide whether to act or prevent an action. The situation escalated when Abramovic was cut with razor blades, the gun was held to her head, and rose thorns were pressed into her stomach. She is not being melodramatic when she claims that art is a matter of life and death. Over a period of decades, she has subjected herself to demanding physical conditions, cultivating an ability to push through pain barriers and enter a trance like state during performances. This has allowed her to build a strong sense of power and resilience. Image: Marina Abramovic, Rhythm 0 (1974) PERFORMANCE ART AS TRUST AND ENDURANCE Abramovic began performing with artist and former life partner Ulay (Uwe Laysiepen) in 1976. They became the power couple of the ‘80s art world, united by a compulsion to examine consciousness. They also shared the strength-through-pain ethos that Abramovic had been working on as a solo artist. Many of their works come across as if they are trying to fuse themselves together or create a combined self. In one performance, Relation in Space (1976), they ran at each other repeatedly, violently knocking bodies. After 12 years of artistic and personal companionship, Abramovic and Ulay parted ways in an epic gesture of farewell. Beginning their journey from opposite ends of the Great Wall of China — Abramovic from the Yellow Sea and Ulay from the Gobi Desert — they travelled for 90 days before officially ending their relationship. PERFORMANCE ART AS ARTEFACT As Abramovic stepped up as a solo artist for the second time, she became passionate about preserving the craft of performance art, experimenting with alternative methods of documentation. At one point, she stated that there are to be no repetitions of this kind of art — you cannot have a substitute for the real experience. However, the artist broke this rule when staging the spectacular series Seven Easy Pieces (2003), which paid homage to the pioneers of performance art. Piecing together fragmented records, Abramovic recreated ephemeral performances by Bruce Nauman, Vito Acconci, Valie Export, Gina Pane and Joseph Beuys, putting her own individual spin on them. The re-enactments took place over seven days at the Guggenheim Museum. Of course, the relationship between art and the archive can be tricky business, particularly with regard to preserving the spontaneity and integrity of the original event. In any case, Abramovic’s pedagogical project is ongoing. The Abramovic Institute was a Kickstarter-funded initiative which took off in 2013, dedicated to durational performance and interdisciplinary research. Image: Marina Abramovic performing Gina Pane's The Conditioning in Seven Easy Pieces (2003). PERFORMANCE ART AS MINDFULNESS From 2010 onward, Abramovic seems to have a newfound subtlety and quietness. More recently there have been fewer clanging bodies and life-threatening situations. Unlike her earlier performances, she is expending energy in a different way, deeply influenced by Eastern spirituality and mindfulness. A good example of this would be the massively hyped retrospective at MoMA drew in approximately 750,000 people. Spread across six floors of the gallery, the 2010 exhibition was unprecedented in scale. The centrepiece of the show, The Artist Is Present, showcased the shamanistic Abramovic, silently projecting energy into her sitters for eight hours a day, every day. Surely, there is an element of narcissism here. While Abramovic has built a solid legacy of groundbreaking performances, she may be coasting on charisma these days, inviting the public to bathe in her superstar status. Regardless of this cynical thought, there is something compelling about The Artist Is Present. It is testament to Abramovic that a piece which could have easily lapsed into tacky sensationalism turned out to be profoundly moving. Image: Marina Abramovic, The Artist Is Present (2010) PREFORMANCE ART AS A BRAND Today, Abramovic has become a brand in and of herself. However, contrary to her popularity, performance art isn’t the most lucrative trade. Her works don’t actually fetch much — a mere fraction of the kind of money thrown at Jeff Koons and Damien Hirst. While criticism levelled at Abramovic may strike the occasional chord of truth (mainly in regard to her potential narcissism and theatricality), some of it seems like the product of stuffy art world insiders who see celebrity collaborations as tainting the intellectual heritage of performance art. They're quick to denounce 'sell-outs', but that very term seems to imply a big divide between high art and popular culture. Abramovic is responsible for pioneering some of the most significant aspects of performance art — arguably she has a degree of ownership over them. So why shouldn't she be able to use these techniques however she sees fit? Why not use Lady Gaga as the face of The Abramovic Method? If Marina Abramovic has made performance art more accessible for a new generation, that’s a good thing. Marina Abramovic: In Residence is on at Pier 2/3 in Sydney June 24 to July 5. It's free to attend, but be prepared to queue.
Food, fashion, art, music, film and photography: you'll find it all at Afro Hub, Melbourne's new café, bar, retail and exhibition space dedicated to the work of the African Australian community. Located on Nicholson Street in Carlton North, the multi-purpose venue is the brainchild of 26-year-old Saba Alemayoh, owner of Fitzroy's (awesome) Saba's Ethiopian Restaurant. "There are so many people in the African Australian community who are doing amazing things," she said. "Afro Hub is a platform for them to showcase their creative talents to a wider audience." The space will launch on the weekend of September 17 with a two-day celebration featuring music by a range of African Australian performers, art by award-winning photographer Atong Atem, a pop-up shop selling handmade accessories, and plenty of tasty food. In the weeks and months that follow, Afro Hub will play host to music performances, comedy shows, spoken word acts, film screenings, fashion shows, art exhibitions and more. In its first three months the space will be dedicated to East Africa, with a focus on countries such as Ethiopia, Eritrea and Sudan. The café section will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, featuring mouthwatering meals from Saba's Ethiopian chef Tekebash Gebre. Find Afro Hub at 727 Nicholson Street, Carlton North. For more information visit www.afrohub727.com.au.
It's the yearly exhibition that leaves us with jaws on the floor; the 59th annual World Press Photo exhibition is coming to Australia for another year. Beating 97,912 submissions by 5692 photographers from 131 countries, Denmark's Mads Nissen took out the top spot for 2014 Photo of the Year for his intimate, poignant portrait of Jon and Alex, a gay couple in conservative St Petersburg, Russia. After almost six decades of beautiful and devastating photojournalism, the WPP contest continues to be one of the world's most important platforms for art, journalism and humanising the headlines. The World Press Photo exhibition can be seen at Sydney’s State Library of NSW, May 23 - June 21; WA Museum in Perth, July 4 - 26; and Brisbane Powerhouse, August 8 - 30. Before the exhibition makes its way to Australia, take a look through some of the landmark images that caught the eye of the WPP judges; from an orphaned rhino in Kenya to Lionel Messi at Brazil's World Cup, Istanbul's anti-government protests to a young Kamilaroi girl in Moree, New South Wales. With many of the photographs documenting the more saddening news headlines, they're often not easy images to look at, but it's the work of these photojournalists that wakes up an otherwise ignorant world. Jon and Alex (St Petersburg, Russia) — Mads Nissen 2014 Photo of the Year and First Prize Contemporary Issues, Singles "Jon and Alex, a gay couple, share an intimate moment at Alex’s home, a small apartment in St Petersburg, Russia. Life for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people is becoming increasingly difficult in Russia. Sexual minorities face legal and social discrimination, harassment, and even violent hate-crime attacks from conservative religious and nationalistic groups." Istanbul Protest (Istanbul, Turkey) — Bülent Kiliç First Prize Spot News, Singles "A young girl was wounded during clashes between riot police and protestors after the funeral of Berkin Elvan, a 15-year-old boy who died from injuries suffered during anti-government protests. Riot police fired tear gas and water cannons at protestors in the capital Ankara, while in Istanbul, crowds shouting anti-government slogans lit a huge fire as they made their way to a cemetery for the boy’s burial." Laurinda (Moree, New South Wales, Australia) — Raphaela Rosella First Prize Portraits, Singles "Laurinda, a young Kamilaroi girl, plays with her dress as she waits for the bus that will take her to Sunday school. Many disadvantaged communities in Australia face entrenched poverty, racism, trans-generational trauma, violence, addiction, and a range of other barriers to health and wellbeing." Monkey Training for a Circus (Suzhou, Anhui Province, China) — Yongzhi Chu First Prize Nature, Singles "A rhesus macaque cowers as its trainer approaches, while training for a circus act, in Suzhou, eastern China. Performing animals in circuses and zoos are enormously popular in China. After years of pressure from animal-welfare groups, the Chinese government has banned animal circuses, and implemented regulations to stop abuse at state-owned zoos, but many trainers say they have not heard of the ban, nor have any intention of stopping. Authorities in Suzhou, which with its 300 troupes is known as the hometown of circus in China, have announced plans for developing alternative circus entertainment, without performing animals." The Final Game (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) — Bao Tailiang First Prize Sports, Singles "Argentina player Lionel Messi faces the World Cup trophy during the final ceremony at Maracana Stadium. His team lost to Germany 1-0, after a goal by Mario Götze in extra time." Mindsuckers (Santa Barbara, California, USA) — Anand Varma First Prize Nature, Stories "When a male sheep crab (Loxorhynchus grandis) is infected by Heterosaccus californicus, a parasitic barnacle, it stops developing fighting claws, and its abdomen widens, providing a womb for the barnacle to fill with its brood pouch. Nurtured by the crab, the eggs hatch. Thousands of baby barnacles disperse to infect anew. Many parasites not only feed off their hosts, but appear to manipulate the host’s behavior in a way that is advantageous to the parasite’s life cycle." The Beckham Catch (East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA) — Al Bello Second Prize Sports, Singles "Odell Beckham (#13) of the New York Giants makes a one-handed touchdown catch in the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium." Blue Sky Days (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA) — Tomas van Houtryve Third Prize Contemporary Issues, Stories "People exercising in central Philadelphia. Drone operators may consider such ‘signature behaviors’ as evidence of the existence of a training camp. Since 2002, the United States has used unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, or drones) to collect intelligence and carry out airstrikes in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia. The aircraft are guided via satellite by distant operators. The attacks have resulted in a large number of fatalities, including hundreds of civilians. The photographer bought a small drone, fitted it with a camera, and flew it in the US over the sorts of gatherings that have become habitual targets for airstrikes abroad—weddings, funerals, groups of people praying or exercising. He also used it to photograph settings in which drones are used to less lethal effect, such as oil fields, prisons, and the US-Mexico border." Orphaned Rhino (Kenya) — Ami Vitale Second Prize Nature, Singles "A group of young Samburu warriors touch a black rhino for the first time in their lives, at the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, in northern Kenya. Black rhinos are almost extinct in Kenya. This young calf had been orphaned when poachers killed its mother, and was hand-raised at Lewa. Most people in Kenya never get the opportunity to see the wildlife living around them, especially at such close quarters. Attention is often given to the effect of poaching on wildlife, but there is little focus on indigenous communities, who are on the frontline in the clash between poachers and armed game wardens. Birthday Chocolate (Baroncea, Moldova) — Åsa Sjöström Second Prize Daily Life, Singles "Igor whispers into his friend Renat’s ear, at school in northern Moldova. It is Igor’s birthday, and his grandmother has given him chocolate to hand out to his classmates. Moldova is Europe’s poorest country. In the past ten years, one third of the working population has gone abroad in search of better-paying jobs. Children often find themselves looked after by elderly relatives, or left in orphanage boarding schools. Igor has a twin brother. They do not know their father and their mother died soon after leaving to work in Russia, when they were two years old." Cadets (Koninklijke Militaire Academie (Royal Military Academy, Breda, the Netherlands) — Paolo Verzone Third Prize Portraits, Stories "Portraits of cadets in some of Europe’s most prestigious military academies." Rescue Operation (Mediterranean Sea, Italy) — Massimo Sestini Second Prize General News, Single "Refugees crowd on board a boat some 25 kilometers from the Libyan coast, prior to being rescued by an Italian naval frigate working as part of Operation Mare Nostrum (OMN). The search-and-rescue operation was put in place by the Italian government, in response to the drowning of hundreds of migrants off the island of Lampedusa at the end of 2013. The numbers of people risking their lives to cross the Mediterranean Sea rose sharply in 2014, as a result of conflicts or persecution in Syria, the Horn of Africa, and other sub-Saharan countries. OMN involved the Italian Red Cross, Save the Children, and other NGOs in an effort not only to rescue lives, but to provide medical help, counseling, and cultural support. Naval officers were also empowered to arrest human traffickers and seize their ships. In its one year of operation, OMN brought 330 smugglers to justice, and saved more than 150,000 people, at least a quarter of which were refugees from Syria. The operation was disbanded in October, and replaced by Triton, an operation conducted by the EU border agency Frontex, focusing more on surveillance than rescue." The Bull Market (Niuniuba, Sichuan, China) — Cai Sheng Xiang First Prize Daily Life, Singles "Yi villagers hold a cattle market in a forest outside the town of Niuniuba, near Liangshan, in Sichuan. The Yi ethnic minority live largely by agriculture, livestock herding and hunting. There are around 7.5 million Yi in China, concentrated principally in Sichuan and Yunnan provinces." The 59th annual World Press Photo exhibition can be seen at Sydney's State Library of NSW, May 23 - June 21; Perth's WA Museum, July 4 - 26; and Brisbane Powerhouse, August 8 - 30. Check out all the 2015 winners and runners up here.
If dropping by your local car wash makes you want to unleash your inner kidult, then you'd better get yourself to the National Gallery of Victoria's Grollo Equiset Garden this spring. In October M@ STUDIO Architects will be setting up a pretend car wash, which you'll be welcome to treat as one giant playground. Their brilliant idea is the winner of the 2016 NGV Architecture Commission. You'll be able to find your fun easily — just look out for the old-school, glittering sign. Head inside to discover a true-to-size car wash replica, based on an actual existing one in Blackburn. But you can forget your run-of-the-mill cement and nasty fluoro lights. Instead, you'll be surrounded by walls of cricket netting, looking up at a pretty translucent ceiling, frolicking in bright pink AstroTurf and kicking back on rubber speed bumps. There'll be five 'bays' altogether, two hung with red plastic curtains and one equipped with a mist diffuser. So, though you probably won't be able to go for an all-out water fight, you won't escape totally dry (should that be your car wash wish). Plus, at night, the whole scene will light up, letting you have nocturnal adventures galore. To celebrate this epic creation, the NGV is organising a slew of events. In what seems similar to the Queen Victoria Gardens' MPavilion, this outdoor structure will host talks, live music and performances over both spring and summer. But, if you're not in the mood for shows, you can head along to hang out with friends anytime. "We are thrilled to be selected as the winner of the 2016 NGV Architecture Commission," said M@ STUDIO Architects. "Open competitions such as this provide a vital platform for architects to experiment and facilitate public discourse around the broader ideas that motivate the specific design explorations." The annual NGV Architecture Commission invites architects to come up with clever, clever installation ideas for the Grollo Equiset Garden. Entries are judged for their originality, their new ideas concerning architecture and design, and their innovation in material use, fabrication, sustainability and recyclability.
If you're keen to eat food that looks more like abstract modern art, Lume is the place for you. The restaurant, which is the brainchild of chefs Shaun Quade and John-Paul Fiechtner, opens tonight in South Melbourne and the menu is a doozy. The restaurant will be divided into two areas: a speakeasy style bar with a set menu and, for the brave at heart, an ambient restaurant with an 18- to 20-course tasting menu. And here’s the kicker: you won’t know what you’ve eaten until after you’ve eaten it. The unique tasting menu won’t be made available until after the meal. Yeowch. “We are creating an atmosphere for a completely interactive," says Fiechtner. "The tasting menu will be unpredictable — we want to play around with the palate, ensuring the meal ebbs and flows between size, appearance and flavour." Think of it as extreme gastronomic fine dining, a mystery for your tastebuds to work out. Quade and Fiechtner say they don’t want to courses to proceed in the traditional rhythm, with canapés leading to the protein main and rounding off with dessert and coffee. They want to surprise you and shake it up — what this means, we can only guess, but hopefully it will fulfil our childhood dreams of dessert coming out first. You can also put your detective skills to the test with the blind wine list, composed by maître’d Sally Humble and sommelier Brodie Comer. Find Lume at 226 Coventry Street, South Melbourne. Book your experience at Lume's website, 18-course tasting menu $140 per person. Images: Tom Ross, Brilliant Creek.
No longer will ravenous souls roam the mean streets of Melbourne on a wild-eyed search for their favourite food truck. Opening today on High Street, Thornbury, Welcome to Thornbury is Melbourne's first permanent food truck trailer park, featuring some of the tastiest names in mobile food vending that the city has to offer. Dreamed up by the legends at Mr Burger, Welcome to Thornbury is located at 520 High Street, just a hop, skip and a jump from Croxton Train Station and the 86 tram line. Once a used car yard, the newly-renovated, 4000-square metre venue features both indoor and outdoor seating, and will host as many as six different food vendors and 700 hungry patrons a night. The Welcome to Thornbury calendar, which you can find on their Facebook page, promises 43 trucks in August alone, including Mr Burger, Ramen on Wheels, Caliko BBQ, Gorilla Grill, Senor Churo, White Guys Cook Thai and Sliders on Tyres. They've also got their own in-built 200-seater bar, where you can grab cocktails, wine and beer by the bottle or on tap. Welcome to Thornbury is open between 5pm – 9pm Monday – Thursday, 12pm – 10pm Friday – Saturday, and 12pm – 9pm Sunday. For more information check them out on Facebook. Via Good Food. Image: Mr. Burger.
For Benjamin Law, it all comes back to family. One of five children born to immigrant parents from Hong Kong, Law made a name for himself as a columnist for Frankie, where he frequently wrote about his large, dysfunctional family. It's a habit he'd continue in his best-selling memoir The Family Law, which in turn became the basis for his brand new sitcom on SBS, the first episode of which premiered last week. In an unprecedented move, the network chose to release the first episode on Facebook ahead of its television premiere. Yet perhaps even more significant is the fact that the show puts an Asian-Australian in the spotlight — an all too rare occurrence on Australian TV. In the lead-up to the release of the show's second episode, Law gave us his two cents about the origins of the program, their groundbreaking release strategy and the importance of diversity in entertainment. ON BRINGING PAGE TO SCREEN "The book [The Family Law] came out in 2010. It's about growing up gay and Asian in coastal Queensland in the 1990s as my parents' marriage falls apart. It's a classic Australian story! So that came out, and I kind of fret that no one will really get it, because it seems to me to be such an obscure story. But what happens is that a lot of people relate to it for all the reasons that I just talked about. A lot of Chinese-Australian and Asian-Australian people relate to it, a lot of people who grew up in Queensland relate to it, a lot of people who grew up gay relate to it, and a lot of people whose parents' marriage busted up relate to it. So it kind of exceeded my expectations. "From there it landed in the hands of Tony Ayres, the filmmaker, who has made some of my favourite films of the last few decades. He's just this powerhouse, and as soon as I heard that he was interested I had to stop myself from squealing like a fan-girl. I'd seen his film The Home Song Stories maybe a year before. My whole family did, and we came out of the cinema crying buckets. I was like, if you can make something like that, I'd love to see what you could do with The Family Law. So we signed up with Matchbox Pictures, and Tony curated this incredible production team...[and] we all came together and started working." ON TURNING YOUR FAMILY INTO SITCOM CHARACTERS "I think [my family] are always kind of nervous. Hell, I write the stuff and I'm always nervous about their reaction. But I've been writing about them in columns and in my book, for quite some time, and I kind of know where the boundaries lie. And the good thing about this show is that we weren't writing a documentary. All the characters are based on people in real life, but we wanted to write a comedy with a lot of emotional truth, and in order to do that we had to be wildly promiscuous with what actually happened. "Funnily enough, as time goes on and more and more people see the show, so much of the feedback is, 'Holy crap, that's my family, that's my dad, that's me!' And that's pretty sweet. It's the best reaction you could hope for really." ON THE WHITE FACE OF AUSTRALIAN ENTERTAINMENT "The show isn't about race, or race relations, or racial tensions, or finding your racial identity... but we were completely aware and happy to acknowledge the fact that this was addressing something that has been lacking in Australian TV for a long time. One in ten Australians has a significant Asian background, but we just don't see that diversity on television. And it's not just about Asians either. It's about brown Australians and black Australians, and seeing our actual racial makeup. Why we remain one of the whitest TV environments is just baffling. A 2016 show about a Chinese-Australian family is groundbreaking. And I'm really glad that it's breaking new ground, but it's kind of astounding that it's taken so long. "I think it's more to do with the television landscape and how frighteningly mono-cultural it is. All the commercial breakfast networks are white. The main cast of Home and Away [is] completely white. How many of the panel shows we watch are all white? You start noticing it constantly. "I didn’t grow up watching any show that resembled The Family Law... and the way that it manifests can be pretty toxic, when you don't see your own face reflected in your own media. I've been reading some essays lately that people have written in response to the show, saying 'I sort of grew up a bit self-hating and wanting to be white, because anything else was undesirable. My own face was undesirable and not legitimised by how we reflect ourselves in media and television and the arts.'" IS FACEBOOK THE NEW TV? "SBS proposed it. They'd never done it before, and as soon as they said it, it just made complete sense. Nearly all of us are on [Facebook], it's a part of our daily lives, and it gives the opportunity to click on something and watch a full episode of something that's already in our face. Not only that, but you can share it, you can interact with it, you can tag people and tell them about it. So we put it up there for a really limited amount of time, from Friday afternoon until the end of Sunday. At least two million people saw it, at least 1.1 million people had a good look at it, and thousands and thousands of people watched the episode in its entirety. "It sounds revolutionary, but when you're doing it you're just watching a show on another platform. Television is so many things nowadays ... so I'm really stoked that we went with that. People were wondering if it would affect our ratings, but I suspect that it might have even boosted them, because we far exceeded the expectations of what the show would rate once the TV broadcast went to air." Watch The Family Law on Thursday nights on SBS at 8.30pm.
Have you ever wanted to have the choice between 160 different bitters? If your answer is yes, we're here to tell you that Lily Blacks is your bar. Tucked into Meyers Place off the top end of Bourke Street, this little gem means business. Lily's is run by Lachlan McAllister and the team behind many a great Melbourne bar, including recent Smith Street addition Mr Wow's Emporium. Like all of McAllister's venues, anyone and everyone is welcome to sip a tipple with Lily. In the early hours of the evening, you'll find yourself rubbing shoulders with the after-work crowd, and the hospo crew often pop in for a pre- or post-shift beverage, too. Lily's channels 1920s glamour and exudes that speakeasy vibe with a little extra cheek. When it comes to the drinks list, aside from the wall of bitters, they pride themselves on knowing a thing or two about gin. On their cocktail list classics sit comfortably next to original creations that are all carefully labelled with their key flavour: sweet, dry, boozy, tall, sweet, sour, and bitter are all descriptions you'll have to choose from. Try Lily's decadent Eton Mess made up of Larios gin, lavender, strawberries and fresh lime ($18). Or perhaps stick with something stronger, like the Japanese Cigar made from Courvoisier VS Cognac, Ardbeg Whisky, Hickory-smoked Orgeat, and bitters ($18). If the trusty Old Fashioned is your thing, however, it's time to get excited. There are six on the menu, with an array of weird and wonderful bitters. Try Matusalem clasico rum with Bob's chocolate and house-made cinnamon and fig bitters ($19). Taking care of the beer and wine drinkers among us, craft brews like the Hawthorn pale ale is on tap ($6 a pot), and you can get a Bai Ha Noi from Vietnam ($10) by the bottle. Eight wines are available by the glass — two sparklings, three white, and three red. If you're in a celebratory mood, you can also splurge by getting the Bollinger 2002 by the bottle ($295). And if Lily Blacks wasn't already enough fun, they also run monthly Iron Bartender competitions, where Melbourne's finest bartenders go head to head in an Iron Chef-inspired battle of the shakers. Secret ingredients and an enthusiastic crowd are guaranteed to follow.
Get your hands on some high quality art, craft and furniture, via a new online auction service that donates all of its proceeds to charity. Created with Care is the result of a partnership between maker community marketplace Handkrafted and artist-to-buyer platform Bluethumb. Launching earlier this month, the online auction room has recruited a select number of Australian artists and furniture makers, who are auctioning off unique, handmade pieces for charities of their choice. Visitors to Created with Care can currently place bids on five different items, including a 3D artwork by Erin Nicholls and Lars Laug, and a hand painted wooden bowl by Stephen Ziguras and Anne Ellison. A number of additional pieces will come up for auction in the coming weeks, with bidding on all items closing at 5pm on Friday, June 10. Nominated charities range from bushfire relief to animal rescue to asylum seeker aid. Current bid only $525... Furniture maker Ben Percy @benpercydesigns and artist Salleigh Olsen @salleigholsenart collaborated to produce this beautiful work of art - with all proceeds of it's sale to be donated to StreetWork, a charity helping young troubled teenagers turn their lives around. You can place your bid and explore more of the #CreatedWithCare16 collaborations we have curated together with @bluethumbart at www.createdwithcare.com.au Made by re-sawing solid American Hickory (donated by @britton_timbers) and as the seat and backrest are separately supported, the laminated legs 'flex' as individuals sit down. A photo posted by Handkrafted (@handkraftedco) on Apr 25, 2016 at 12:49am PDT "Every day I look at incredible art, yet these pieces are beyond my greatest expectations," said Bluethumb co-founder Edward Hartley. "They have set the bar for future artists and crafters." To see what's up for auction and to place a bid, visit www.createdwithcare.com.au.
Clear your calendars, art lovers. We're coming up fast on the end of the year, and that means Midsumma is right around the corner. Melbourne's largest queer arts and culture bash, the Midsumma Festival has showcased the talents of local creatives from within the city's LGBTIQ community every year since 1988. Tickets to Midsumma 2016 are due to go on sale later today, meaning it's time to start poring obsessively over this year's program and seeing how much stuff you can fit in. Running for three straight weeks from January 17, Midsumma 2016 will be spread across more than 80 different venues, and will cover everything from visual art and performance to community events and parties. As has become tradition, the festival's centrepiece event will be the annual Pride March along Fitzroy Street in St Kilda. This year, the march will put an emphasis on the fight for marriage equality. The Pride March is one of three major flagship events on this year's program. The Midsumma Carnival and TDance will once again kick off the festival with a five-hour lineup of free live music and entertainment in Alexandra Gardens. We'll also see the launch of the first ever National Water Polo League Pride Cup at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre, in which the Victorian Seals National League will take on the Brisbane KFC Breakers. The night will also feature an exhibition grudge match between Australia's only LGBTIQ clubs, the Melbourne Surge and the Sydney Stingers. Carn the Surge! Other standout events on the program include the DRAGNATION drag competition, the Lesbian Comedy Gala and the Yass Pride! party at Luna Park. A performance from award winning cabaret singer Michael Griffiths looks set to be pretty great and the premiere of a new multimedia art exhibition Company of Men is another of our must-see events. Tickets for Midsumma 2016 will go on sale today. For more information about the festival including the full program guide, visit midsumma.org.au
Radiating sunshine from its pint-sized digs overlooking Lincoln Square, Hareruya Pantry is a takeaway-only hole-in-the-wall created by Kantaro Okada, who also brought us other Japanese gems, 279 and North Melbourne's Le Bajo. The tiny Japanese convenience store-meets-cafe specialises in bento and gelato, its name translating to 'sunny shop'. And indeed, it's as cheery as they come, drawing queues from breakfast till dinner. Shelves are stocked with a neat array of takeaway treats and snacks, while at the counter, staff scoop from shiny tubs of gelato. Vibrant, loaded bento boxes are brimming with various osouzai (side dishes), teamed with meat and egg, the fish of the day, or vegetarian options. Savoury snacks might include the likes of onigiri, sandos and chicken karaage tossed in dashi amazu (a sweet vinegar), while during colder months, you'll find oden boxes (a Japanese stew), served with the broth ready to pour over the dry ingredients. Sweet-toothed visitors to Hareruya will delight in the rotation of house-baked pastries — think, castella, miso brownies and matcha cookies — and the drinks offering runs to freshly-pressed juices and lattes of both the caffeinated and matcha-infused variety. House-made gelato fills the Italian Pozzetti freezer, the rotating lineup fusing classic Japanese flavours with Italian techniques. Shirogoma (white sesame), sweet potato, and red fruits with elderflower and yuzu are just some of the varieties being scooped of late. Get yours in a cup or take-home tub, daifuku-style (wrapped in mochi skin), or sandwiched between rice wafer crisps like a traditional monaka. The petite Hareruya store boasts a couple of bench seats, though if the sun's a-shining, you'll find the adjacent grassy park is the ideal setting to hoof down your bento and gelato.
It's been a great 12 months for queer-themed cinema. Moonlight won last year's best picture Oscar, Call Me By Your Name had everyone swooning and transgender drama A Fantastic Woman not only wowed festival crowds, but also picked up this year's best foreign-language Academy Award. They're just the big players, however. There's plenty of other top LGBTIQ+ cinema where they came from. And, in even better news, much of it is heading to Melbourne for the 2018 Melbourne Queer Film Festival. Running through the numbers, it's shaping up to be another impressive fest when MQFF hits up ACMI, Kino Cinemas and Cinema Nova from March 15 to 26. Across its 12 days and 85 sessions, film buffs can expect 38 features, 14 documentaries and 72 shorts. That includes two world premieres, 12 Australian premieres and 21 Melbourne premieres — and, from all of that, we've selected our five best picks of the bunch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIqwrEtTw-A IDEAL HOME What happens when a couple suddenly meets the grandson they never knew they had? Plenty — and when that hard-partying pair is played by Steve Coogan and Paul Rudd, expect plenty more to occur as well. It's not the first time they've starred together, nor the first time they've shared the screen and pondered the meaning of family, with 2011's Our Idiot Brother also featuring on their respective resumes. Here, however, expect a warm queer comedy about the the connections of kin (be it of blood or of choice) of all shapes and sizes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h6Zwdi86Nw THE CAKEMAKER A sensitive, involving and exceptionally acted German drama that'll tempt your tastebuds and touch your heart, The Cakemaker explores the aftermath of a chance meeting, a passionate affair and a tragic accident — all while acknowledging the many complexities that exist when it comes to love. Berlin-based pastry chef Tomas (Tim Kalkhof) not only falls head-over-heels for Israel businessman Oren (Roy Miller), but is driven to act when their romance is cut short. Tracking down Oren's widow Anat (Sarah Adler) in Jerusalem, Tomas finds a new bond forming over unspoken grief and appetising baked goods. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBGLipbSi_M MANSFIELD 66/67 Never far from the headlines in both life and death, '50s and '60s star Jayne Mansfield was an actress, Golden Globe winner and Playboy playmate. She was also accused of being a Satanist, and became the subject of a persistent myth that she was decapitated in the car accident that claimed her life. Focusing on her final years, Mansfield 66/67 touches on all of the above — and includes interpretative dance sequences in its camp compilation, because why not? John Waters, Kenneth Anger, Peaches Christ and Tippi Hedren rank among the interviewees in a documentary that definitely isn't your standard behind-the-scenes effort. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuIpb6Z6Tuo TORREY PINES From its style of stop-motion animation to its heartfelt true coming-of-age tale, every inch of Torrey Pines should feel hand- and homemade. That's because it is. An autobiographical effort from trans animator Clyde Petersen, the film dives into his '90s upbringing as a Star Trek fan with a schizophrenic mother, takes viewers on their road trip across the US, and explores everything that arises when you're with grappling with identity and sexuality. It's also stuffed full of pop culture references, including pop to Australia's own Crocodile Dundee. SO LONG Enjoying its world premiere at MQFF, So Long has a stronger Aussie connection — made in Melbourne by filmmakers Caitlin Farrugia and Michael Jones, it adds lesbian mumblecore to the country's cinematic output. You might recognise the general story of two just-single twentysomethings navigating life and love might, and there's no doubting that we've all seen that scenario many times before. Familiarity doesn't always breed contempt, however, particularly when it's both realistic and relatable. Keen on more MQFF highlights? Check out Freak Show, A Moment in the Reeds, Signature Move and Sensitivity Training from our 2018 Mardi Gras Film Festival picks, and Desert Hearts, Love, Simon, The Feels and After Louie from our 2018 Brisbane Queer Film Festival selections. There's also I Dream in Another Language from our 2017 Sundance Film Festival list, and BPM (Beats Per Minute) from our Alliance Francaise Film Festival rundown. Melbourne Queer Film Festival 2018 runs from March 15 to 26 at ACMI, Kino Cinemas and Cinema Nova . For more information, visit the festival website.
Many years ago, Laki Papadopoulos and Mark Price gave Fitzroy the ultimate gift, opening their vegetarian eatery, Vegie Bar. Then, over twenty years later, the team behind the cult restaurant and other inner-north success stories Rice Queen and Panama Dining Room gave another gift for the suburb: Transformer. Although not that old, Transformer Fitzroy looks like it has always been here — perhaps because the building which houses it has been part of the Rose Street landscape for a long time. Inside, a lot of attention to detail given to the former electrical transformer manufacturing warehouse. Lofty wooden ceilings, painted brick walls, recycled timber furniture and a whole lot of greenery create a natural, relaxed vibe that pulls you in and invites you to stay a while. The chefs know their way around the vegetable patch and put out thoughtful, flavourful dishes. Fresh, innovative combinations showcase the best the season has to offer, and the kind of foods our bodies crave at this time of year. Delicious ricotta gnocchi with porcine puree and mixed local mushrooms will warm you from the inside out. Goat and sheeps halloumi smothered in rich ruby red grapefruit and fennel puree come together in a dish that is not only a riot of abstract colour, but a flavour sensation. On a menu designed to share, all combinations would lead to happiness, however, the stand-out dish, both in aesthetic appeal and eye-closing, blissful sigh-inducing deliciousness is the bahar-braised eggplant with preserved lemon labnah and pickled red onion. You won't find any fake meat here. Transformer is all about pure, honest vegetable dishes. Luke and his team do enough amazing things with vegetables that you won't even miss it. The drinks list features alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages that will have goodness coursing through your veins, such as the Aromatic with Brunswick Aces 'Hearts' Sapiir served with tonic or soda. There are also some pretty impressive organic and biodynamic local and overseas wines and craft beers — not to mention the cocktails. With names such as Grassy Nola and Banana Paddlepop, and ingredients like Tasmanian pepper berry salt and pecan bitters, there are adventures to be had. Appears in: The Best vegan Restaurants in Melbourne for 2023
While Reykjavik is praised for its "ability to make the most of an inhospitable climate", Auckland for its "unbelievably friendly folk", Budapest for "music... not just concerts, but in the streets, on the radio, and in cafés," and "wonderful pubs filled with laughter", Sydney has taken out the top spot as the friendliest city in the world. Run as a Reader’s Choice award by Condé Nast Traveler and focused on how a visitor feels in each city, the Friendliest and Unfriendliest City in the World poll asks readers to submit reviews of each city with a focus on the overall warm fuzzies generated by their experience. “Everything from location (no one likes an airport city) and political perception (everyone watches the news) to size and basic language barriers can make a destination unattractive to tourists and be a factor in their evaluation of a place’s ‘friendliness’," according to CN. Sydney's been praised for its people skills, regardless of what you might see on George Street any day of the week. "Such friendly people," enthused one voting reader. "So much so that after we met an Australian woman on our flight there, she offered to pick us up at our hotel and spent a whole day showing us her favourite parts of the city." Sydney earned snaps for the Bridgeclimb, the Cruise Like a Local Sydney Harbour boat tour, and Bonza Bike Tours got a big ol' high five as "a great way to see some of the lesser-known sights." Overall, readers found simply "nothing to not like" in Sydney, although importantly, all mentioned experiences are tourist-focused. Last year's friendliest winners were tied: Melbourne and Auckland. Sydney came in at number five; tied with Dublin, who just narrowly missed out on the top spot this year. Of course, Sydney was supremely modest about it. Ha! IN YOUR FACE @dubcitycouncil!! We're the friendliest city in the world! http://t.co/T1WgOPUVu7 via @CNTraveler pic.twitter.com/9rIafVZ59o — City of Sydney (@cityofsydney) August 18, 2015 Australia and New Zealand have done pretty nicely on worldwide city rankings of late — the Great Barrier Reef nabbed #2 on Lonely Planet's Ultimate Travelist and Melbourne ranked #1 Most Liveable City on the Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) liveability survey. So Sydney's apparently the friendliest, Melbourne's the most liveable, what do you reckon? CONDE NAST'S 2015 FRIENDLIEST CITIES IN THE WORLD: 10. Reykjavik, Iceland 9. Auckland, New Zealand 8. Budapest, Hungary 7. Kyoto, Japan 6. Edinburgh, Scotland 5. Bruges, Belgium 4. Kraków, Poland 3. Queenstown, New Zealand 2. Dublin, Ireland 1. Sydney, Australia But what of the jerks? The Unfriendliest Cities in the World side of things is a little hairier, with no Australian or New Zealand cities making the cut for another year. Up high. Cannes was dissed for being expensive and "bloated simply by the prestige of its famed film festival," while Jakarta was called "dirty and congested," despite gaining praise for its food.” Moscow got a bad wrap for "dour, unfriendly people" and "deplorable traffic", while Nairobi was flagged as "dangerous and volatile". But Caracas, Venezuela took out the top unfriendly spot as a place of "rampant crime, a scarcity of basic necessities, and a poor quality of life." CONDE NAST'S 2015 UNFRIENDLIEST CITIES IN THE WORLD: 10. Cannes, France 9. Jakarta, Indonesia 8. Moscow, Russia 7. Cairo, Egypt 6. New Delhi, India 5. Nairobi, Kenya 4. Guatemala City, Guatemala 3. Guangzhou, China 2. Casablanca, Morocco 1. Caracas, Venezuela Via Condé Nast Traveler. Image: Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel.
Having moved into the heritage-listed Masonic hall in 2012, The Hall at Welcome to Brunswick (formerly known as The Brunswick Mess Hall) is a bit of an all-rounder. The beer barn has great food and a historic atmosphere — with a young, vivacious vibe. It's the kind of place to can head to for either a quiet mid-week date (it's not open on weekends) or a big gathering with mates. Upon entering the unassuming building on Sydney Road, you'll immediately appreciate the atmosphere and beauty of the space: exposed beams, huge arched windows, greenery-lined walls and an atrium perfect for a pre-dinner drink. The dining experience is just as relaxed. Asian favourites abound, featuring the likes of pork belly baos, salt and pepper tofu, red pumpkin curry, pad Thai and crispy pork belly served with apple salad — all fab for sharing. On weekends (especially when the weather heats up), you best head next door to Welcome to Brunswick's beer garden — home to stacks of 4 Pines beers, food trucks and friendly dogs. It's slightly more laidback than The Hall and significantly bigger — BYO big group of mates and settle in for some long days and nights of drinking and eating.
The Wheeler Centre is renowned for their innovative programming, but the project they're cooking up now is a doozy. Named after that most endearing punctuation mark, The Interrobang: A Festival of Questions is a festival that is calling on you to decide the topics of conversation. The idea behind the festival is a democratic one: using crowdsourcing techniques, the program is being written around questions submitted by the public and presented to a Brains Trust of writers and thinkers over the two-day festival in Melbourne on November 27-28. Emily Sexton, the head of programming at The Wheeler Centre, says that as well as creating a festival made from publicly sourced questions, she also wants us to question the question. What makes a good question? Can the right question change the landscape of discussion for the better? As well as submitting questions, the public are invited to vote for the best questions. “The way we imagine it is a combination of very potent, political, urgent questions of our time, like 'what is the future of European democracy and what will happen to organisations like the UN or the EU that were founded on a collective idea? Is that still relevant for contemporary life?' But also really inconsequential, playful questions like 'where are all the baby pigeons? Why don’t we ever see them?' I hope there’s a really great mix of personal or political questions,” she says. “There’s no question too big or too small.” There’ll be no shortage of answers either. The Interrobang has assembled a Brains Trust of 25 artists, thinkers, writers and doers from around the world to tackle the questions posed. Included is Wild writer and 'Dear Sugar' advice columnist Cheryl Strayed, cult sci-fi author and tech activist Cory Doctorow, Australia’s sweetheart Benjamin Law, the former Greek Minister of Finance Yanis Varoufakis, playwright and Twitter hero Nakkiah Lui, journalist Geraldine Brooks, broadcaster Mark Colvin and chef and presenter Adam Liaw. The prerequisite for all the panellists was the need for pluralism and enthusiasm about a range of topics. Don’t expect any sales pitches or pre-made answers here; with such a diverse panel, the aim is to explore the topics from every angle. Emily promises that every question, big or small, will be used in some way in the program. “It’s a significant democratic exercise in a way of handing over control and exploring what people really want to know,” she says. We, for one, are intrigued and would very much like to know where the baby pigeons are. We’ll have to wait until November to find out. Submit your question to The Interrobang via the event website. Tickets for the festival go on sale October 12.
Learn how to make the perfect Sri Lankan curry or produce Persian pickles like a pro, at a series of pop-up cooking classes taught by asylum seekers and refugees. Held at a number of Melbourne venues throughout June and early July, the Free to Feed project aims to empower and enrich the local community by providing jobs and opportunities for its newest and most vulnerable members – while keeping the rest of us happy with insanely tasty food. The initiative will welcome instructors from Iran, Pakistan, Kenya and Sri Lanka – and for many of them, it represents their first employment opportunity since arriving in Australia. Students can learn the secret to mouthwatering lentil dhal, try their hand at making rose petal jam, or cook up hotdogs (yes, hotdogs) like they do on the streets of Tehran. Free to Feed classes are currently being held on select Saturdays and Sundays at venues including Crunch Cafe in Northcote, Grub Food Van in Fitzroy and The Neff Market Kitchen at the South Melbourne Cooking School. For more information visit the website.
Get outside for a little fresh air and exercise with a pack of marauding, flesh-eating zombies snapping at your heels. After pulse-racing chases around the US and Asia, undead obstacle course Run For Your Lives is headed to Sydney and Melbourne. Halfway between a marathon and a Romero movie, the rules for the event are relatively simple: participants navigate various obstacle, including a blood pit, a ropes course and even a Resident Evil-style 'laser grid', while trying their very best not to be eaten tagged. Every survivor gets three lives, represented by blood coloured flags tied to their waist. Lose all three lives and it's game over. You can also choose to play as a zombie, with a hair and makeup team on hand to help with your ghoulish transformation. Regardless of which team you’re on, don’t wear anything you won’t mind getting damaged, and make sure you bring a spare change of clothes, shoes... and a towel. And before you get any bright ideas, this is strictly a weapons free event, so leave the sawn-off shotgun at home. After the race, players will be able to attend an apocalypse afterparty, with dance music, live entertainment and zombie-themed activities. You'll probably need to let off some steam after this. Run For Your Lives hits The Dairy in the Western Sydney Parklands on Saturday September 5, before heading to a yet to be confirmed location in Melbourne on Saturday October 24. Tickets to the Sydney event are available now and start from $59. For more information, visit www.runforyourlives.com.au. View all Sydney Events.
Looking for a fancy new dinner destination? Perhaps you've got a hot date lined up, have guests in from out of town or are looking to impress the in-laws. Whatever the reason, if it's stylish surrounds you're after, the winners of the fourth annual Eat Drink Design Awards have it in spades. Revealed yesterday at a ceremony in Melbourne, the awards celebrate the very best in hospitality design across Australia and New Zealand — although this year, the podium was crowded with Aussies alone. From a shortlist of 88 venues, eight took home gold while a further 26 received high commendations. Best Restaurant Design was awarded to Italian eatery Beccafico in Sydney, with the panel of judges citing "the unfinished joinery of recycled and fire-charred hardwoods, a sculptural beauty to the circular neon tubes that line the walls [and] a resort-like feel to the slatted boardwalk that bisects the space with wire-brushed timber banquets". The Best Cafe Design was shared by The Kettle Black in South Melbourne, described by the judges as "the apotheosis of cafe design right now — light, airy, spacious, where everything is carefully considered yet it all comes across as insouciant in the extreme," and Abbots & Kinney in Adelaide, commended for "the play between the radical simplicity of the overall concept and the extraordinary accomplishment of the execution and finish". Best Bar Design, meanwhile, went to Smalls in Melbourne, where judges highlighted "the colour and materials palette — moody, muted putties, flat blues and concrete greys offset by the occasional glimmer of glassware and brass," as well as artisanal touches such as "handmade ceramic tiles" and "open joined banquettes," and fine detailing seen in "marble tabletops, aged black leather and charcoal velvet upholstery". The remaining awards included Best Retail Design, awarded to The District food court in Sydney's Chatswood Interchange shopping mall (home to Tim Ho Wan and Hello Kitty Diner); Best Identity Design, awarded to casual Bangladeshi restaurant Bang Street Food in Sydney; and Best Temporary Design, awarded to the Australian Pavilion Installation at Cafe di Stasio in Melbourne. Last but certainly not least, Bondi's Icebergs was inducted into the Eat Drink Design Hall of Fame. Have a flick through the gallery for some serious hospitality design porn.
UPDATE: April 25, 2019 — On ANZAC Day, Arbory Afloat will be open from 7am, serving up two breakfast burgers (one with mushrooms and pesto, the other with terrine and fried eggs), breakfast pizza topped with egg, cheese and porchetta and Gunfire Breakfasts. The latter are hot mugs of black coffee spiked with plenty of rum — you do have the day off, after all. 'Melbourne's famed floating bar is back for another spring and summer season on the Yarra. And this time, it's bigger and better than ever before. Arbory Afloat, which made its debut in 2015, has reclaimed its prime position in front of on-shore sister venue Arbory Bar & Eatery on the Yarra. But this year it has gained a considerable extra 19 metres in length — that's on top of the 50 metres and 407-person capacity it had last year. The temporary bar and restaurant has again been designed by Lucienne Hemmingway of Curious by Design, and is inspired by train trips through the Cinque Terre, where the beaches and cliffs are surrounded by citrus and fig trees. And real citrus and fig trees you will find on the floating bar, nestled amongst lush garden beds, white furnishings and pops of green and orange. It also has a second-storey rooftop bar with a lengthy magnum menu, featuring rosé and Champagne aplenty. Dubbed Upper Deck, the 116-seater bar has panoramic views of the river and day beds, so you can spend lazy summer days making your way through dozens of oysters, woodfired pizzas and 1.5 litres of something pink (with a friend or two to help, of course). It's also available to be hired out, if you're planning a party for a special occasion. Chef Nick Bennett has designed the menu, which is also inspired by the seaside villages on the Italian Riviera. A woodfired pizza oven, taking pride of place in the open kitchen, will be pumping out Neapolitan-style pizzas, including the Suina topped with buffalo mozzarella, porchetta and crackling, and the Lele with cime di rapa, prawns and chilli. You'll also find lots of seafood, pasta, light salads and sandwiches stuffed with cured meats and cheeses on the menu. Would it be a visit to seaside Italy without spritzes? We think not. And luckily, there'll be plenty. Blood orange and Aperol spritzes will be on tap, sitting pretty on the drinks menu alongside less-Italian cocktails such as piña coladas and watermelon sangria. Those wanting something simpler can choose from one of eight different G&Ts. Arbory Afloat is open from 11am–1am daily.
People who live in Sydney's beachy suburb Manly have always thought they had it all. It 'all' used to be the surf, the sand, the pub, an 18-minute alcohol-serving fast ferry into the city and a home within walking distance to all these things. But things are changing in the suburb on the other side of the bridge from the CBD — and it's giving locals even fewer reasons to leave the Manly bubble. And more reasons for visitors like you to see what it's like inside. Reason one: the food. It's not just wharf-based spots like Hugo's, Manly Wine and Wharf Bar anymore. Sydney hospitality giant Merivale has opened a second Queen Chow outpost, 4 Pines brewery now has an all-day eatery and the iconic waterside Manly Pavilion has finally reopened. There's also Chica Bonita and its newer Japanese joint, plus The Boathouse set up shop at Shelley Beach in 2015, bringing a whole bar dedicated to charcuterie and cheese (!!) and even a cafe dealing in fermented foods. Reason two is not a new one — it's the water. The surf isn't as life-threatening as Bondi, and Shelley Beach is prime for snorkelling on a clear day. If you want to explore past the Esplanade (and you do), there's plenty of kilometres for you to walk and even a few hidden coves to discover. Travelling to Sydney soon? Book a flight with Qantas and set out for this suburb by the sea packed with a burgeoning food and bar scene, plenty of scenic walks and, of course, lots of beach — ocean-side, bay-side and tucked away shores. FRIDAY NIGHT: DINNER AT SUNSET SABI Most destinations that aren't bed are a bit tough to get to on a Friday night, but not Manly. If you're based near Circular Quay and you could be there before you can even finish a beer. The fast ferry only takes a very precise 18 minutes, and it has a bar on board. For accommodation, there are plenty of Airbnb options, but if you want to stay right across from the beach, the Novotel Manly Pacific is your best bet. While watching the sun go down over the beach is highly recommended, stray away from the beachfront to Pittwater Road for a sunset of a different kind. At Sunset Sabi, food is done in an izakaya style, but it sure ain't tradition. Ingredients like jalapeños, bacon, parmesan and kettle chips (the chilli kind) all make their way into sushi rolls and other bite-sized morsels. Make sure you try the teeth-glueing caramel miso popcorn, the deep fried rice balls and the sweet heat roll with spicy tuna, cucumber, green beans and avocado inside, and tuna, white onion, shallots, chilli roe with sabi'q sauce on the outside. Book in advance to ensure you get a seat — this place is busy. SATURDAY MORNING: BREAKFAST BOWLS AND A BIG WALK Healthy eating seems to be synonymous with beachside suburbs, but this ain't Bondi — well, not yet anyway. Manly does have its own little health hub though, with Pure Wholefoods, Ora and Bare Naked Bowls. A contender for the best breakfast bowls in Sydney, this hole-in-the-wall cafe does seven different acai bowls, along with oats, porridge and smoothies. Best to get there early as the post-yoga crowd fill it out quite quickly — or get it takeaway, get a coffee from Barefoot around the corner and eat it by the beach. After you've finished breakfast, pull your walking shoes on and join up with the Manly Scenic Walkway and head in the direction of North Head. The track will take you past Spring Cove, uphill to the North Head sanctuary, right out to the killer views at Fairfax Lookouts and back down the other side of the head to Shelley Beach (see map). All up, it's about nine kilometres. You might want to wear your bathers for a post-walk dip. [caption id="attachment_557644" align="alignnone" width="1280"] The Boathouse[/caption] MIDDAY: LUNCH AT THE BOATHOUSE Every challenge must have its reward and after that hefty, hilly walk, your reward is this: lunch at The Boathouse. Securing the absolutely kickass location with frontage at pedestrian-only Shelley Beach, The Boathouse has really outdone itself. You can head in salty and sandy or recently showered in your crisp white linens — it doesn't matter here. Order seafood, perhaps in the form of the tuna crackers, the trout board (with sliced trout and trout pate) or the decadent seafood platter. The hectic 'order at the counter and find a table' system still stands, so come with both patience and an appetite. It's worth it. [caption id="attachment_560528" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Manly Kayak Centre[/caption] AFTERNOON: KAYAK TO STORE BEACH Manly Beach is great for a surfing lesson (see Sunday's activities) or a quick dip, but it's pretty busy and generally feels a bit hectic. So we suggest going somewhere a bit more secluded for the afternoon. Store Beach on Manly's North Head is accessible only by water, meaning its visitors are restricted to boat owners, stand-up paddleboarders and kayaks. Rent a kayak from Manly Kayak Centre at Manly Wharf, take in a few tips and paddle around the head to the small beach. It only takes about 30 minutes, and it's well worth it for this little patch of paradise. EVENING: BEER, WINE AND CHEESE Brewery 4 Pines was named after the pine trees that line Manly beach. And you'll be able to get a good look at 'em from the 4 Pines Brewpub, which sits just across the road from the beach on the East Esplanade. Here you can try a pint of the pale ale or stout, or give them all a go with a tasting rack. When you're feeling peckish, wander over to Cured, which sits in one of Manly's little laneways off the main mall (which, we're warning, you should probably avoid on a Saturday night). This small bar ticks all the small bar boxes with its triple threat offering of cheese, charcuterie and wine. They've got 18 meats — most of which come from a farm up at Byron Bay — and ten cheeses, which include an epic triple cream brie, a tasty blue and some seriously milky burrata. They'll also help you out with some chicken liver pate, an Aperol Spritz if you're so inclined, or some local beers from Dad & Dave's Brewing. Buy a bottle and settle in. SUNDAY MORNING: BREAKFAST AT ORA You've ticked breakfast bowls off your list, and at Ora you can cross off fermented foods as well. Ora has a long mission statement — of which is literally written on the walls — but here's the short of it: all the ingredients are organic, healthy and locally grown. Much of the menu is good for your gut too; the fermented oatmeal with carrots and spices may just be the thing to settle your wine-addled stomach. The breakfast plate is much more satisfying though, with eggs fried in ghee, mushroom, greens, avo, sauerkraut and the seedy 'sai' bread. Naturally, Ora serves kombucha, as well as turmeric lattes (and normal lattes as well) and — for the really committed — cups of bone broth for $6. [caption id="attachment_561211" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Manly Surf School[/caption] MIDDAY: JOIN A SURFING LESSON On one of our best beaches to learn how to surf at, it would be remiss for you to spend a weekend in Manly without catching a wave. Book a lesson with the guys at Manly Surf School — they'll get you kitted out with a wetsuit and a board, and then take you out for two hours on the waves. Their groups are small, the instructors are literal pros, and they're very patient with even the most unpromising of surfing students. Lessons run for two hours and cost $70. Book in advance and hope for some sweet surf. Or, head along to the Australian Open of Surfing from February 27 to March 6 to watch instead. AFTERNOON: LUNCH AT THE HERRING ROOM There's just something about swimming in the ocean that inspires a tummy to rumble, and after two hours in the surf, it's probable that yours will be absolutely roaring for something to eat. If you can manage to shower without wasting away with that empty stomach, know that lunch is going to be worth it at The Herring Room. Set in a renovated surf shop on a quiet part of Pittwater Road, it's away from all the hubbub of Manly's main drag and is an absolute delight. The space is cosy, bright and feels somewhat like a friend's home, making it perfect for Sunday lunch. Order a bottle of sparkling (or bring your own for $6 corkage per person) and tuck in. The salt and pepper squid is a must if you're dining post-surf, and the scallops with cauliflower puree and pancetta are top notch. Cut into the squid ink ravioli and watch it ooze with egg yolk, then eat it up with the crabmeat, salmon roe and lemon-thyme beurre blanc it's served with. The service here is excellent, and it's the ultimate way to wind down your weekend in Manly. Ready to get away and experience Sydney? Book with Qantas for great fares to Sydney and NSW until 24 September. Terms and conditions apply.
The story of a young man staring down the barrel of an arranged marriage even as he finds himself falling head over heels for someone else, Ali's Wedding has been billed as Australia's first Muslim rom-com. It's an intriguing tag that could prove either a hook or a hindrance when it comes to attracting a mainstream audience. The good news? The film is fantastic. Director Jeffrey Walker and writer/star Osamah Sami (on whose life the story is closely based), have crafted a hilarious, heartwarming film about love, community and living up to the expectations of your family; a film that both embraces difference and celebrates the things that make us the same. And yet with the film due to hit cinemas on August 31, the question still remains: will local audiences be willing to embrace a story about a Muslim immigrant, in which there is hardly a white character in sight? "We're right on the edge of finding out," says Walker. "The way that I view it is: we've had thousands and thousands of people come and view the film, from small communities to big cities to festivals, and the feeling is the same. I think people go in, particularly if they're of a conservative background or whatever, already a little bit dubious. They go in, perhaps, with a preconceived notion. But the one comment we've had throughout all of the screenings is that by the end of the film there's a great deal of love and appreciation… and the sense is that once people have seen it, [they realise that] the things that we all have in common far outweigh the differences." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEMeZDmvYhs ON REPRESENTING A (SLIGHTLY) DIFFERENT WORLD TO YOUR OWN "In the journey of this film, I came in quite late," says Walker. "But it's relative, because [it took] about seven years to bring all the pieces together. Osamah originally told Tony Ayres of Matchbox Pictures a story about his life, and that spurred on Tony to go and chat to [co-screenwriter] Andrew Knight." "They spent a long time writing it, they spent a long time financing it, they spent a long time bringing it all together," says Walker. "I was fortunate in some regards in that I joined it at the point that it was fully financed." Walker does admit to having a sense of hesitation in attaching himself to a project set in a world he knew so little about. "I loved the story, but there was an intimidating edge to it, because I also felt like I didn't want to do the community any injustice," he says. "But rereading it I almost just discounted all that, and went really to what I thought was the heart of the film, and the story, and the characters. From there I saw what the universal things and qualities were, and I felt like I could work with that." WORKING WITH OSAMAH According to Walker, one of the keys to the film's success was his collaborative relationship with Sami — both on screen and off. "I think the very first time we met he was going to take me out to visit a couple of mosques in Melbourne, and basically begin our journey working out how we were going to approach this film," Walker recalls. "So I met him much more as a writer, and in his capacity as an associate producer, than I did as the leading actor of the film. We struck up a great friendship, and making him feel proud and happy of this film has been a great motivator for me throughout the entire journey." "He made me feel extremely comfortable, and he was so open, and tolerated all my ridiculous and stupid questions," Walker continues. "Even when I think about asking them now, it's a bit like the ABC series You Can't Ask That. I just had to go there. But then I had a greater understanding of who he was, of who his family is, and of his world and his community. He gave me the confidence to be able to tell this story." ARE AUSTRALIANS READY FOR THIS FILM? As our interview with Walker comes to a close, our conversation returns to how audiences are likely to react to the film. "My desperate hope for the film is that while you might initially be trying to play catch-up on what it is to be in a mosque, or what's unique about being in a Muslim household, eventually that all washes away as you see that, ultimately, the [things] that young people go through in their twenties in the Muslim community is a version of exactly what someone with a Western background goes through," he says. As for any Australians who might be clinging to anti-immigrant views, Walker's message is simple. "We're a very young country. For anyone to stand with any sense of entitlement to Australia whose family history only goes back four or five generations is an odd standpoint from my point of view… the only people in Australia who deserve any entitlement are the Indigenous people, and the rest of us all just need to get along. We all travelled an immigrant's path to be here." Ali's Wedding screens at the Melbourne International Film Festival on August 10, and releases in cinemas on August 31.
Home to an endless variety of Asian cuisine, a single street in Melbourne's east houses some of the best honest, hawker-style food in the city. On Kingsway, Glen Waverley, deceptively delicious eateries run rampant. The epitome of casual eating, Glen Waverley’s dirt-cheap Asian food is kind to both your stomach and your purse. Although often associated with notoriously poor customer service, it's quite arguably one of Melbourne's most loved and regarded cheap eating scenes. Bring some good humour and you'll enjoy a simple, tasty meal — and in classic Glen Waverley style, it won't cost you more than $15. CHIVE DUMPLINGS AT HONG KONG DIM SUM: $3.80 It's one of the smaller restaurants in Glen Waverley, but that makes Hong Kong Dim Sum ideal for grazers reluctant to break the budget on high-class yum cha. This eatery doesn’t wheel around trolleys filled with food — instead opting for a small, specialised yum cha menu made to order. Stick to classic dim sum options like the scallop or chives dumplings ($3.80 for three) and you'll walk away pleasantly topped up with quality Chinese fare. If you're particularly impressed by the food, you can purchase a freshly frozen set of items from the freezer. 77 Kingsway, Glen Waverley; (03) 9545 3886; facebook.com PRAWN MEE AT PAPPA RICH: $12.90 Always the crowd pleaser, dining at Pappa Rich usually involves a short wait at peak times. But don't be deterred by the queue — you'll be seated surprisingly quickly with expert staff cleverly maximising the spacious interior. Although technically a Malay eatery, the menu is heavily influenced by Indian and Chinese flavours. There's a variety of dishes to choose from, and a pleasantly creative drink menu. The Pappa Prawn Mee is a highlight here, with a balanced broth of rich prawns and tangy Asian spices. The flavours at Pappa Rich are a little more intricate than some other Glen Waverley eateries, which is surely reflected eagerly by the restaurant's devoted following. 92-94 Kingsway, Glen Waverley; (03) 9560 0968; papparich.net.au YONG TOFU AT THE GRAND TOFU: $9.80 Here at The Grand Tofu you'll find one of the biggest, steaming hot bowls of noodle soup available for a mere ten bucks. This is classic Asian street-style soup at its best. There are a few other standard hawker flavours on the menu, including some notable vegetarian options, but Yong Tofu orders dominate most nights. Choose from a braised, tom yum, or curry soup base. Add your choice of noodles (or choose a mix) and six feature items. As a little delight, the generous range of dumplings, fish-stuffed vegetables and bean curd items are displayed in a glass case for you. The vegetarian bean curd roll and stuffed eggplant are particular standouts. 102 Kingsway, Glen Waverley; (03) 9560 1700 PORK DUMPLINGS AT RARAMEN: $8.80 If crowds are anything to go by, this inconspicuous dining hall serves some of the best budget dumplings in Melbourne. The menu is extensive, but most patrons don't read beyond the dumpling list. Which is fair enough, really, when a mere $8.80 will buy you 12 of the juiciest pork treasures in town. Steamed or fried, these succulent, warm parcels are easily some of Glen Waverley's most popular hidden gems. A two-storey restaurant, RaRamen is a treat for groups with the upstairs section featuring lengthy tables specifically designed to accommodate sharing and general festivity. And if you needed another reason to visit, there are also free slurpees. 114 Kingsway, Glen Waverley; (03) 9561 5665; facebook.com HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE AT STRAITS OF MALACCA: $9.80 Traditional Malaysian dishes with a western-friendly influence reign supreme at this lively restaurant. There's a genuine mix of conventional and modern Malaysian flavours, but the "most popular" Hainanese Chicken Rice is a particular standout. Beautifully light chicken rice with sharp and sweet sauces complement softly steamed meat — be patient for this one, it's worth it. If you feel adventurous, try some Malaysian drinks including the classic Kopi ($3) and the Three Layered Teh ($3.5). Ambience can be lacking occasionally, but the food is so gloriously cheap here that it's hard to mind. 78 Kingsway, Glen Waverley; (03) 9561 3880 Malacca Straits image credit: annieenguyenn; The Grand Tofu image credit: foodiebebs; Hong Kong Dim Sum image credit: Alpha via Flickr
Operator 25's stunning dishes first started flooding Instagram feeds and inspiring weekend CBD brunch trips back in 2013. Now, almost three years later, owners Randy Dhamanhuri and Valerie Fong are again wowing Melbourne café crowds with beautiful eats, opening the doors to their latest venture in Prahran, last Thursday. Located on High Street, Middletown packs a serious visual punch, from the chic, blue-and-white interiors, through to the artfully plated fare landing on the tables. The team have created a downright beautiful space in which to enjoy luxe food — all royal blue wall panelling, charming curves and Art Deco fixtures. This is brunching at its most sophisticated, Fong's menu marrying classic flavours and seasonal produce with her signature flair for technique. Each dish here is dressed to impress, and about as close as food can get to being too darn pretty to eat. The likes of a pork pastrami eggs Benedict, drizzled with aerated blood orange hollandaise, or coffee-laced waffles, scattered with strawberries and truffle honey, are as much a treat for the eyes as they are for the tastebuds. Of course, there's caffeine aplenty. A dedicated Brew Bar is serving up beautifully executed Code Black coffee and picture-perfect matcha lattes. Find Middletown at 229 High Street, Prahran. Open Mon to Fri 7am–4pm and Sat and Sun 8am–4pm. Images: Peter Clarke.
Charging your smartphone will soon be as foolproof as placing it on your coffee table. Taking already existing technology and fusing it into your own home, Swedish retail giants and regular media-baiting happening creators Ikea have jumped on wireless power capabilities to release built-in wireless charging furniture. According to the Wall Street Journal, this will be the first time built-in wireless chargers are available to consumers from a mass-market furniture retailer. Ikea made the big announcement on Sunday at Barcelona's Mobile World Congress. They've recruited the likes of Qi for the collection, a wireless power standard from the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC). Alongside two other standards, this is one of the companies responsible for the wireless charging technology you would have already seen in airports, cafes and hotels and generally lost your shit over a few years ago. But until now, major furniture stores haven't taken advantage of the downright convenience of the technology, or the logic in embedding the charging capability in surfaces you already rest your smartphone on during charge times. So how does it work? Qi does away with all those dastardly cables and the annoyance of choosing between model connections, as the furniture itself is the one plugged in. When switched on, the lamp base, coffee table or side table's energy or bookshelf transfers to your smartphone or tablet (yep, maaaaagic), depending whether or not it supports Qi charging — there's 81 Qi-compatible types of smartphone, but iPhones aren't one of them, sorry Apple fans. Apparently the wireless charging-capable furniture will cost a mere $22 more than regular furniture from Ikea, proving the Swedish homeware giants truly have money to burn and credibility to gain. If all goes well with the embedded furniture line, you could be able to buy a wireless charging kit to fit to your existing, beloved dining table soon for about $34, which is a lot cheaper than replacing all those lost, broken chargers of yours. The wireless-charging furniture collection will hit Ikea shelves in Europe and the US on April, 15, followed by a global roll-out, so keep 'em crossed. Via Wall Street Journal.
Tickled is, to put it mildly, pretty bloody weird. Brilliant and fascinating, sure, but also bloody weird. Directed by New Zealand journalist David Farrier along with fellow first-time filmmaker Dylan Reeve, the documentary purports to be about a strange and some would say rather homoerotic subculture that the pair discovered after stumbling across an online ad — an ad offering to fly young, fit men out to Los Angeles where they would be tied down and tickled on camera. In truth, however, the tickling is merely the tip of the iceberg. Indeed, Farrier and Reeve had barely started their investigation when they began receiving threatening emails from Jane O'Brien Media, the company responsible for the ads. Before long, the filmmakers found themselves neck deep in a story of bullying, intimidation, sexual fetishes and a search for the truth — one that is still very much ongoing, despite the film being out in theatres as we speak. Prior to the documentary's release, we sat down with Farrier at the Melbourne International Film Festival, where we spoke about everything from his first run-in with Jane O'Brien media, to being sued for defamation, to the moment when the film's villain crashed a Q&A screening in LA. Like we said… bloody weird. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOBXuCYB4jQ WELL THAT ESCALATED QUICKLY "All I've done for the last ten years are these two minute whacky subculture stories, and I just thought this would be one of those," says Farrier, when we ask about the origins of the project. "But that response I got back was so strange. I just remember being so blown away by it. And it happened very quickly. Within the first week I was getting legal threats." The threats weren't just legal, but personal too, attacking Farrier for being gay and even going after Reeves' wife and children. "I got quite upset," admits Farrier. "It was really stressful. It's hard to get across how non-stop all those emails were. It was unrelenting." Of course, the irony is that, had the company not reacted so viciously, Farrier would have probably dropped the whole thing. "If they'd responded like normal humans, there would have been no documentary. Even if they'd just said, 'We're a bit busy,' I probably would have just moved on to something else," he says. The other tipping point was when the pair found upwards of 50 websites featuring videos of former tickling competitors, complete with their names and personal information. "It was just a really clear example of doxing, where you suddenly had people's cell phone numbers and addresses, and all their tickling videos, mixed in with a whole bunch of lies about them," says Farrier. "Once Dylan found those domain names, that [existed] purely to bully people, we thought that a film was what we could use to expose this." A QUESTION OF ETHICS One of the challenges of making Tickled was the fact that many of its subjects — the people who worked for O'Brien, if she even existed — didn't want to be filmed. "When you're making a film about people who don't want a film made about them, there's going to be ethical questions," says Farrier. "If someone says, 'We don't want to be on camera, we don't want to give you an interview,' then of course you have to [ask], 'Okay, is there no film? Or do you proceed on and record them anyway?" Watching the film, you get the distinct sense that Farrier wanted to give his subjects a taste of their own medicine — that after exploiting and publicly humiliating so many people, it was high time sometime turned the camera on them. Ultimately, Farrier stands by the decisions he and Reeve made, saying that they were conscious of "the bigger picture, of what we wanted to expose," adding that he feels "very comfortable about the direction we took things." When asked to speculate on the motivations of the person who (the film purports) sits at the centre of the conspiracy, Farrier smiles before offering a carefully worded response. "I've already been sued twice for defamation, so I can't talk on my opinion on any of the characters in the film," he says. "I'd like to. I've got a lot of theories." THE STORY CONTINUES As strange as the content of documentary may seem, what's happened since the release has arguably been even stranger. Not only have the filmmakers been sued, but a website has appeared — www.tickledmovie.info — that aims to discredit the film. But the most surprising moment came at a screening in Los Angeles back in June, when two of the major players from Jane O'Brien media showed up unannounced and got into a heated discussion with Reeve. The film's US distributor posted footage of the confrontation on Facebook and, like everything else in this story, it is absolutely bizarre. "It's publicity for us, to the level where people think we've hired actors to do it," says Farrier. "I don't know. We're dealing with people who aren't fully grounded in reality, and who don't fully understand how the online world works… I genuinely don't think they were expecting us to have cameras there, but I'm sorry, you can live stream from your cell phone." Fittingly, Tickled is very much a film about that online world, and how it has become a breeding ground for harassment. "I think people respond to the film because we're super aware of online bullying at the moment," says Farrier. "It's always existed, but it seems to have reached a kind of extreme, whether it's Gamergate or this hate campaign against females because they're in a Ghostbusters film. We're at this peak level of harassment, and I think this is just another crazy reminder of that." Tickled is in cinemas now. Read our full review here.
Away from the spotlight that shines so brightly on the hospitality scene in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, pubs in Adelaide have been left to develop their own identity, quietly amassing a swathe of excellent venues that cater for all manner of nights out. Whether in the heart of the metropolis, or a weekend retreat away from the city, the drink-slingers in and around the southern capital have carefully curated their approaches to drinking, dining and generally letting loose. Together with our mates at Hahn Brewers, we've come up with a guide to the pubs of Adelaide. Whether you're after a beer garden, a party, a drink by the water or a trivia night, we've got you covered. FOR A BEER GARDEN: ALMA TAVERN, NORWOOD There's a whole load on offer at the Alma Tavern, but the jewel in the crown for the Norwood venue is their spectacular beer garden. Set just below ground level, the outdoor area is peppered with comfy tables and chairs, lined with cushioned booths and adorned with festoon lighting and a few trees bringing a slice of the outdoors to the indoors. Just like the cultural identity of Australia, the Alma's menu includes influences from all around the world (get some orange and clove duck legs in your life). Grab a beer and sit out in the sunshine at the Alma — it's a foolproof beer garden option. FOR AN EVENT: THE JADE MONKEY, ADELAIDE The Jade has been around in one form or another for the last thirteen years, but its current home is at St Paul's Rectory in the heart of the city. It has always been a hub of local live music and a great place for a beer, but now it also hosts a wide array of events. Stop by on a sunny afternoon and you might find a music festival is going on. If not, there could be a pop-up cinema, a vinyl sale or a songwriting class. If whatever event is on at the time doesn't take your fancy, you can settle back in the garden with a beer for the afternoon and enjoy the peaceful surrounds. FOR TRIVIA: THE EDINBURGH CASTLE, ADELAIDE The Edinburgh Castle has become locally famous for its themed trivia nights. Many are television-based, with previous trivia topics being Friends, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Seinfeld, The Simpsons and Breaking Bad. Trivia nights happen inside the venue, but you should stick around afterwards (or you could come a little early) and grab a beer in the Castle's huge beer garden. Food options are classic pub grub and there's a huge $10 section on the menu. FOR A PARTY: PALAIS HOTEL, SEMAPHORE It's all well and good to head to a venue for a cheeky brew and a delicious feed. It's nice to soak in a good view and relax with some chilled beats. But, at the end of a hard week, or any other occasion you might fancy, sometimes you've just got to get dressed up and get down. The Palais Hotel is perfectly set up for mad parties, with multiple bars, an extensive drinks list and plenty of space by the beach. DJs play almost every night at the Palais, and their Australia Day and New Year's Eve parties are legendary. FOR A BEER BY THE WATER: RAMSGATE HOTEL, HENLEY BEACH Australians harbour a deep love for the ocean. We also love a good drink, so the ultimate combo is when the two meet in absolute glory — the beachside pub. The Ramsgate Hotel is a great pub simply because of its relaxed atmosphere and its proximity to the beautiful Henley Beach. When you're done visiting the churches and vineyards that populate Adelaide, there aren't many better things to do than enjoy a cold beer while watching the sun go down at the Ramsgate. FOR A ROAD TRIP: VICTORY HOTEL, SELLICKS HILL When the crushing hubbub of metropolitan mayhem becomes a little too much, there's nothing like escaping to the country for a quick recharge. If that's your go, the Victory Hotel have got you covered. The B&B sits atop Sellicks Hill and has magnificent views over Sellicks Beach and even into a bit of wine country. The menu is top-notch, but it's the wine cellar that truly takes the cake. Pair that with a couple of beers, a good feed and some darling cottages available for guests, and it's clear that an escape to the Victory is a real winner. FOR A BRITISH FEED: FOX & FIRKIN, TEA TREE GULLY Pubs, as we know them in this country, are largely thanks to the great British tradition of sinking ales and demolishing deliciously rich and filling combinations of meat, veg and carbs. Perfect. A decent British menu, however, can be a bit hard to come by, so places that keep the tradition alive are hidden gems to be revered. Fox & Firkin is a little out of town, but the food is definitely worth the trip. The menu includes British classics like Welsh rarebit or the beef and Guinness pie (complete with mushy peas), while also maintaining Aussie pub classics like burgers, seafood platters and the schnitzels that betray the hidden Germanic roots of the British Isles. FOR THE GAME: ARKABA, FULLARTON The Arkaba Hotel provides a great experience if you're into sport. It's the home of Sportys Bar and Arena, one of the premier sporting bars in town. The local Sportys takes their sport seriously, setting up the entire bar as an homage to spectating physical activity. There are plenty of TVs, tonnes of room and the bar is fitted out with all the knick knacks and wood panelling that is the stuff of man cave dreams. If you're after AFL, football or a good sport like rugby, Sportys has got it all. Sign up to Hahn Brewers and settle down with a drink this weekend. Top image: Ramsgate Hotel.
When your nine-to-five plays out like a well-oiled machine, it can sometimes feel like each week is a little same-same. But Melbourne is brimming with a fine bounty of things to experience and explore each and every day. So aside from casual laziness and a little lack of inspiration, there's really nothing stopping you from squeezing a little adventure and spontaneity into your schedule. We've teamed up with Mazda3 to celebrate the landmark 40th anniversary of their iconic small cars, and in turn, help you celebrate the Melbourne landmarks and institutions we all love. This week, discover and rediscover the things that make Melbourne so great, with seven different detours through our city's classic spots. From Monday to Sunday, channel that Melburnian spirit, and enrich your everyday with one completely achievable, time-honoured activity that helps bypass any mundane roadblocks in your routine. This week, rediscover the classics of Melbourne we know and love, from a double feature at The Astor Theatre, to a long lunch at Grossi Florentino, to a rummage through the Queen Victoria Market. Plus, we've got your future detours sorted for the new few weeks here. All require no more effort than a tiny break from the norm — what's your excuse for not trying them all?
If you wander into Aunty Peg's looking for a latte, you won't find one. But rather than being turned away, you'll be sat down at the bar. You'll be talked through the coffee, perhaps given a taste or a smell (no obligation, of course). And before you know it, you'll probably be sipping a nitrogen-charged cold brew straight out of a beer glass. That seems like standard practice at Aunty Peg's, which opened way back in 2014 to showcase and sell the best beans Proud Mary can find. The drop-in coffee bar is attached to the newly relocated Proud Mary roastery, which is conveniently just a hop, skip and jump from their flagship cafe. There is one bar, three coffees on rotation, and two options. Filter or espresso. Everything's black. You might try the fragrant Colombian Popayan Reserve Washed Decaf, or perhaps go for a nitrogen cold brew. This one is special: the Panama Geisha beans (a relatively new varietal) are brewed for 52 hours at 4 degrees and then poured straight from the keg, giving it a beer-like texture. It's easy drinking and perfect for summer. The guys here know their coffee, and they want you to know about it, too. Watch them make your pour-over filter at the bar or drop in during the week, and find out how to brew your beans just right. Always wanted to learn how to use your French Press? This is your chance. It's a vast space, and the bar is just a small part of the Proud Mary story. As well as the warehouse and roastery, there's the retail corner, training area and upstairs bakery and event space. For a coffee nerd, Aunty Peg's is the ultimate school. And if you're still after that latte, Proud Mary is just around the corner. Appears in: Where to Find the Best Coffee in Melbourne
You may bear the daily grind of 9-5 working life and deal with the responsibilities that come with being a fully-fledged adult, but your inner-child, however hidden, still remains inside you. They're always in there, just waiting for a jumping castle or an ice cream cake or a big green hill to roll down. So let them out for a while. Reunite with that childish enthusiasm and joy of life by treating yourself to the awesomeness of theme parks, novelty games and creative curiosity — this time without Mum and Dad in tow to limit your sugar consumption. Now, who said being an adult doesn't have its perks? DO SWEET FLIPS AT BOUNCE Remember the hours and hours spent jumping on the backyard trampoline doing sweet flips and tricks? Bounce sure hasn't forgotten, and offers a colourful urban playground to reunite with the joy of anti-gravity and the rush of being airborne. With over 100 springy trampolines, enjoy aerial manoeuvres, slam dunking, wall-running, jumping into a foam pit and dodgeball — and create enough static electricity to zap your nearest and dearest and create an '80s electrified up-do. You'll find Bounce in Blackburn North, Glen Iris and Essendon Fields. DO SOME COLOURING AT CRAFTERNOON CAFE Lose yourself in your own world without teachers telling you to colour within the lines at Carlton North's Crafternoon Cafe — with the added bonus of treating yourself to coffee and cake. For only $10, you can get your hands stuck into some play dough, pasting or finger painting and create to your little heart's content. CUDDLE LAMBIES AT COLLINGWOOD CHILDREN'S FARM Set on seven hectares of lush green paddocks and gardens, escape the city surrounds and reconnect with the rustic joy of simple farm life at this urban farm. For $10 entry you can play farmer for a few hours by taking part in milking the cows, feeding chooks, bottle-feeding lambs, stroking guinea pigs, donkeys and horses. For fresh farm-grown goodies, check out the farmers' market on every second Saturday of the month, and make sure you stop by The Farm Cafe for lunch. GO ROCK CLIMBING AT HARDROCK While some climb Everest, others conquer the tough vertical wall at Hardrock. Challenge your upper body strength and test your Spidey talents by tackling the six- or 16-metre climb. Donning safety harnesses and climbing shoes, grip and twist your body like a pretzel to get to the top. Your reward will be bragging rights and abs of steel. Hardrock have locations in the city and Nunawading. LEARN A THING OR TWO AT SCIENCEWORKS Who said museums were boring? Sure, it's an educational activity — but with a planetarium, a lightning room and a race against Cathy Freeman, it's a lot of good, clean fun. You may not have paid the Spotswood museum a visit since you were in primary school, but it's well worth a re-visit. The culturally rich experience will be good for your brain — and useful for excelling at pub trivia. GO ICE SKATING IN DOCKLANDS Find bliss while gliding in this Olympic-sized rink while singing "ice, ice, baby" — or attempt to beat your mates in a skate-off without comically slipping over. Docklands' Medibank Icehouse is now the O'Brien Group Arena, and free lessons are offered most days to help skating novices transform from stumbling Bambi into the next Bradbury. It's a chilly environment at 16 degrees, so rugging up is highly advised. GO NUTS ON THE FAIRY FLOSS AT LUNA PARK The big-toothed giant of St Kilda has been freakishly smiling since 1912 — and while many things have changed over the century, the love of sticky pink fairy floss and the thrilling obsession with rollercoasters remains strong. Thrill seekers should aboard Pharaoh's Curse or the Great Scenic Railway while classics like the dodgem cars and the mighty Ferris wheel are still going strong as theme park favourites. PLAY LASER SKIRMISH AT TECH ASSAULT Is there anything more enjoyable than hunting down your friends with a laser gun? It's humans vs. humans in this urban battleground, where the only thing that can save you is skill, your plastic laser gun and good eyesight. Located in Thornbury, Tech Assault offers a perfect indoor-outdoor landscape for shooting your mates (and strangers) with lasers and saving the world. Plus, the experience has been designed by gamers — so you know it's going to be legit. WATERSLIDES! AT FUNFIELDS Ah, this is where childhood dreams truly come true. More than just a water park, Funfields, located 40-minutes out of Melbourne, has alpine tobogganing, go karting and more amusement rides than you can poke a stick at. Once you've had enough of being on dry land, try the Blackout, with its 120m drop into darkness, and the Wipeout, a mix of rapids which may or may not result in losing your togs. Or just go up and down the good old-fashioned waterslides. Top image: Dollar Photo Club
Aussie documentary Punks For West Papua has no intentions of turning the noise down. Following April's craft beer screening at Sydney's Wayward Brewing Co., this must-see doco has been gaining volume over the last few weeks and will begin a tour of screenings (and paired live gigs) across Australia's bars this month. Never heard of Punks For West Papua? No sweat, we'll clue you in. PFWP is an Australia-wide movement organised by Jody Bartolo and his band Diggers with Attitude. Released earlier this year, the movement's documentary follows the Australian punk scene's fight for people in West Papua, who've experienced genocide at the hands of the Indonesian government since the 1960s. "Punks are used to raising their voice against the government, so this is a natural cause for them," says the doco's Australian director Ash Brennan. The documentary uncovers some shocking truths, including the seemingly deliberate blind eye-turning by the US, UK and Australian governments, who co-own the world's largest gold mine in West Papua (that casually makes a profit in the billions each year). The West Papuan peace protests against the devastation of their land and natural resources have been repeatedly met with massacre by their Indonesian occupiers, who have been systematically stripping the West Papuan identity for over 50 years. This tragic story has been kept quiet by the ban on journalists and foreign aid in the region, so the film aims to raise money and awareness for the Free West Papua cause. "It's happening right next to us and people know nothing about it, but once they do we find they really want to take action," says Brennan. The doco, which has already won the 2016 Documentary Feature Award of Merit at the IndieFest Film Festival in San Diego, features an interview with two time Nobel Peace Prize nominee and long time WP political prisoner Benny Wenda. The Nelson Mandela of the WP cause, Wenda will introduce each screening, most of which are followed by a live punk gig. This punk cause won't stop there, with an annual, global concert planned for the end of June. "The point was to raise real awareness, and seeing the cause go international is a victory, says Brennan. "The film has done its purpose," he adds. What started as one gig back in 2015 is now spanning five countries, including US, UK, Australia, South Africa, Spain and Japan. That's going to be one loud roar for injustice. PUNKS FOR WEST PAPUA SCREENING TOUR DATES: May 4: The Rosemount Hotel, Perth May 11: The Elephant and Wheelbarrow, Melbourne May 24: Law Faculty at University of Sydney May 25: Crowbar, Brisbane May 26: Italo Club, Lismore May 27: Pighouse Flicks, Byron Bay (presented by five-time AFI winner and two-time Academy Award nominee David Bradbury) Can't make the screenings? You can rent or buy the film here, which includes the complete Benny Wenda interview. Proceeds from the rental of P4WP go to the United Liberation Movement for West Papua.
The heat has turned up a notch and those long sunny days are stretching into balmy summer nights. What we are saying is, it's cocktail o'clock basically all the time. And while some cities scramble to the beach after work on particularly hot evenings, a Melbourne summer wouldn't be complete without prolonging your return to your hot house with a few cocktails and some top-notch bar food. Maybe you want to perch on a roof terrace with friends or retreat to an underground air-conditioned basement for some quiet time. Whatever you want, you've got it — here are the best icy-cold summer drinks and where to get them. SPECIAL CUP AT HOT SAUCE If cocktail time coincides with dinner time, then Hot Sauce is a sure fire winner. Situated down a laneway inside the new QT Melbourne, the soundtrack is a mix of 90's throwbacks, classic hip hop and a few little-known tracks you will want to Shazam for later. But what to drink? We suggest the Special Cup. Japanese caramel fried chicken with spicy chilli and black sesame sits above a specially-made cup that hides a deliciously matched cocktail of Melbourne-made Capi sparkling smoked cola and Japanese whisky underneath. Cocktail and snacks in the same vessel? This is late night dining done right. VIETNAMESE MOJITO AT UNCLE CBD St Kilda's Uncle has been dishing up modern, upmarket Vietnamese eats for the last few years and recently crossed the river to open up a sister venue in the CBD. The casual sharing menu has a mix of classic eats that will remind you of street food adventures around Ho Chi Minh City (if you should be so lucky to have had some), and the cocktail menu is very much a Melbourne interpretation of classics with a Vietnamese twist. Think lots of Szechuan pepper, pho spices, Vietnamese mint and of course plenty of Sriracha and fresh fruits. Uncle's twist on a Mojito is perfect for washing down spicy, Vietnamese pho — particularly if you crave it even on hot days. Plenty of stolen white rum, Vietnamese mint, fresh cumquats, palm syrup, lime and soda will satisfy even the most staunch of Mojito purists. [caption id="attachment_608153" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Simon Shiff[/caption] CHAMPAGNE ICY POLES AT ARBORY Icy poles and booze — they're the two staples of a quintessential long, hot Aussie summer and, let's face it, what icy treat can't be improved by the addition of alcohol? Thanks to POPS, which launched in Australia last year, these two faves come together in a genius mix of Champagne and ice served in a Calippo-like cardboard vessel. The Classic is a frozen Champers and juice icy pole and the Bellini is a mix of hibiscus, blood orange juice, peach schnapps and Prosecco. The only bar you can currently lick these frozen delights at is riverside bar Arbory. It's a damn fine choice of venue, but if it's too hot to leave the house — or you want to enjoy POPS by a pool of your choice — then booze delivery lifesavers Tipple deliver the frozen treats to you in 60 minutes. BLOODY SANGRIA AT GOOD HEAVENS Just when you thought all bar themes had been exhausted, the team behind BBQ joint Fancy Hank's opens an '80s Miami Vice-themed rooftop bar. Perfect for summer, Good Heavens has a prime position on the second level of the building that once contained Tuscan Bar with a partially-open rooftop overlooking Bourke Street. While the bar has plenty of '80s-inspired classic cocktails (including a reinterpretation of a Blue Lagoon), it's the Bloody Sangria we are most excited by. Fresh blood orange juice is shaken with Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur, rosemary syrup and fresh citrus before getting topped up with Pinot Grigio. This cocktail would make it feel like summer even if it wasn't. QUINCESS LAYER AT NIEUW AMSTERDAM Last year robbed the world of many great celebrities. To honour the late Carrie Fisher who will be long remembered for, amongst other things, her defining role as Princess Leia in the Star Wars films, comes the Quincess Layer. This cocktail is full of East London dry gin, cardamom liqueur, Mozart Dry, house-made raspberry and white cacao tonic, coffee oil and a quince paste rim. This is a perfect after-dinner cocktail — but we also recommend trying dessert. Here's to you, Princess. FROSÉ AT MR MIYAGI It wouldn't be a 2017 cocktail list without mentioning one of the most Instagrammed drinks of the summer: frosé. This is less Frankenstein's monster and more a welcome love child between adult drinks and Slurpees — and the master of this summer treat is Chapel Street restaurant Mr Miyagi. Domaine Chandon Pinot Noir Rosé, which has notes of strawberries and cream, is tossed into the restaurant's own Slurpee-style machine with a little sugar to be slushed, crushed and frozen for thirsty guests. Topped with an exotic-looking edible flower, we don't think this will be the only summer of frosé. WATERMELON PASSION AT 400 GRADI Walking past Brunswick's 400 Gradi, you could easily be forgiven for thinking it's just another pizza joint. You would be very, very wrong though. After Johnny Di Francesco's win at the World Pizza Championships — where 400 Gradi's margherita was awarded first prize — this pizza joint quickly shot to the top of every foodie's hit list. To wash down your award winning pizza, we suggest getting a sweet Watermelon Passion. Gin, fresh watermelon juice, a squeeze of lime and some sprigs of mint make this one of the most simple, yet tasty summer drinks on our list. YARRA VALLEY SOUR AT ROOFTOP AT QT Perched 11 floors above Melbourne sits one of the city's newest rooftop destinations: the Rooftop at QT. This bar is a mix of openair deck and casual indoor couches, which will come in handy when the warmer months unfortunately come to an end. The expert bartenders are capable of making a drink to your tastes, but we suggest starting off with a few of their signature tipples first. The Yarra Valley Sour is made with Healesville's Four Pillars gin, freshly squeezed lemon, orange blossom, egg white and topped off with a drop of Pinot Noir. We know what you're thinking: red wine in a gin-based summer cocktail? You'll have to trust us on this one — it's going to be one of your new favourites. With capacity for 185 people, we recommend getting here early to secure a seat. This is one of the best places to enjoy a balmy night, watching the cityscape with an ice-cold cocktail in hand. MO' MONEY AT SEOULJA BOY What kind of monster doesn't love a daggy pun? The team behind Bourke Street's new Korean-Japanese bar Seoulja Boy are not afraid to make a few. But what this bar is really about is anju — that is, the Korean version of izakaya pub food. So expect lots of smaller plates designed to be eaten, in a casual way, with friends over drinks. In honour of The Notorious B.I.G's classic lyrics, Mo'Money is a Korean-inspired cocktail made with green tea, muddled cucumber, mint, lime and Korean soju. If you're still thirsty after the Mo' Money, take the next logical step by ordering the Mo' Problems. TOKYO COCO AT HORSE BAZAAR With regular nights featuring everything from storytelling and live hip hop to traditional Japanese performances and open mic nights, Horse Bazaar has something for everyone. But for summer, they've crafted some unusual and delicious cocktails to match their menu using classic Japanese ingredients such as yuzu, Japanese whisky, pickled ginger, umeshu liqueur and green tea. Our pick though is the Tokyo Coco which mixes strawberry-infused coconut water, Diplomatico Blanco white rum, a touch of rosewater and freshly squeezed lime juice. Perfect.
It's that time of year where you should probably start getting your New Year's Eve plans in order. To help you out, Beyond the Valley has just announced the lineup for their celebrated four-day festival in Lardner, Victoria and it's pretty.bloody.good. Just two years old, the Victorian festival is fresh on the New Year's circuit, starting out in 2014. Despite this, they've managed to secure a rather colossal lineup featuring Hudson Mohawke, Phantogram and ZHU among plenty of others. The lineup has some solid Australian flavours, including festival favourites Sticky Fingers, Safia, Dune Rats and Alex Lahey, who absolutely killed it when she opened up Splendour in the Grass last month. We think DZ Deathrays summed it up nicely with this post: Enough chat, here's what you're after. BEYOND THE VALLEY 2016 LINEUP: Alex Lahey Bag Raiders Bakermat Chance The Rapper Dena Amy DUNE RATS DZ Deathrays Eats Everything Emma Louise Giraffage GoldLink Harts Hermitude Highasakite Hot Chip Hudson Mohawke Japanese Wallpaper Jarryd James Jme Kllo Kölsch Ladyhawke Lastlings LUNICE Montaigne Motez MSTRKRFT Oliver Huntemann Paces Pachanga Boys Hippie Dance Phantogram Running Touch Ryan Hemsworth Safia Skream Slumberjack Sonny Fodera Sticky Fingers Thundamentals TOKiMONSTA Total Giovanni Vera Blue Wafia What So Not ZHU Tickets go on sale Thursday, August 11 at 9am from beyondthevalley.com. Images: Beyond the Valley.
Superheroes are taking over Brisbane — and if you're a fan, it's marvellous. Between May 27 and September 3, Marvel: Creating the Cinematic Universe brings caped crusaders, their costumes, props and the artistry that makes them soar — both on the page and on the screen — to the entire ground floor of the Gallery of Modern Art. Featuring more than 500 objects (including more than 60 costumes), the exhibition provides a peek behind the scenes of one of the biggest film franchises ever made. In fact, it's the largest amassing of Marvel movie artefacts of its kind in the world, ever. You could dub it a blockbuster, and you'd be right. Launching the exhibition, QAGOMA director Chris Saines was eager to explain that some of the items on display have Chris Hemsworth's DNA on them; however getting up close to objects touched and worn by Thor — including on the forthcoming Thor: Ragnarok, which was shot on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane last year — is just part of the fun. Casting your eyes over original and concept artwork, exploring the interconnected realm that has been splashed across cinemas for the past decade, and playing with the pre-and post-production techniques behind the movie magic are also on offer. Indeed, Marvel: Creating the Cinematic Universe endeavours to show that popular mainstream entertainment and art can be one and the same, especially given the level of detail that goes into both comic books and their movie adaptations. Walking through areas dedicated to the exhibition's three key themes — 'The Cinematic Assembled', 'Decoding the Universe' and 'Behind the Scenes' — delves into both individual and interconnected narratives, and highlights the creativity involved on a movie as well as an overall cinematic universe level. Along the way, you'll say "I am Groot" to giant humanoid trees, pretend you're a smart-talking racoon, peer into a yet-to-be-seen planet and star in your own Marvel poster too. Discovering the full collection is something best experienced for yourself, and, if you can make it to GOMA before September, here's five things to look out for. THE ASGARDIAN THRONE ROOM The eagerly anticipated Thor: Ragnarok mightn't hit cinemas until October; however Marvel: Creating the Cinematic Universe offers a glimpse of just what's in store (don't worry, there's no plot spoilers). You can't miss the giant, gleaming throne room that takes centre stage in the exhibition, and nor would you want to. Just look at it! Costumes and weaponry from 2013's Thor: The Dark World also feature. HULK'S BED Speaking of Asgard and its famous warrior, he's not alone in his next cinema outing. The giant green mass of muscles that is the Hulk is set to tear things up on screen — and, as you'll see here, take a rest as well. What kind of bed does the Hulk sleep on? This one. Saying that it's huge is an understatement — this photo really doesn't do it justice. Also on display are his weapons, which make Thor's mighty mjolnir seem absolutely tiny in comparison. IRON MAN'S SUITS He's the reason the Marvel Cinematic Universe even exists, and, in typical Tony Stark style, he gets his own room. It was back in 2008 when Iron Man demonstrated that the world wanted more superhero movies, and one of the suits from that pioneering flick lines GOMA's walls — alongside versions from 2010's Iron Man 2 and 2013's Iron Man 3. As you can see, over the years he's had quite a few upgrades. THE FIRST APPEARANCE OF SPIDER-MAN Spider-Man just keeps slinging his way into cinemas, but 57 years ago, he was only starting to crawl his way across paper. With the initial movie in what will be his third film series in the past 15 years due to drop in July, checking out the first piece of artwork to feature his image proves quite a timely experience. It might seem amazing now, but these kinds of things were usually thrown away back in the day — no one knew just what a big deal they'd become. DOCTOR STRANGE'S MIND-BENDING WORLD Every one of the 15 films that comprise the Marvel Cinematic Universe to date is represented in the exhibition — and, thanks to the forthcoming Spider-Man: Homecoming and Thor: Ragnarok, the 16th and 17th flicks too. Doctor Strange mightn't get quite as much space as some of the bigger titles, but the GOMA folks sure know how to make the movie's costumes stand out. With Inception-like visuals playing a bit part in the flick, expect to witness them in person thanks to some mirrored fun. Marvel: Creating the Cinematic Universe is on display at Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art from May 27 to September 3. For more information, visit the exhibition website. Images: Sarah Ward and Marvel: Creating the Cinematic Universe' Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane, 2017 / © 2017 MARVEL.
Peanut butter and blueberry jam. Vanilla creme and chocolate ganache. Lime curd with toasted meringue. These are just a few of the diabetes-inducing flavours that have earned Doughboys a reputation as one of the best doughnut outfits in town. For the past couple of years, Will McKenzie and his team of dough-fiends have popped-up in shared spaces, coffee shops and markets around Melbourne, spreading joy and tooth decay wherever they go. Now, in a piece of news that has us drooling over our keyboard, they've finally cut the ribbon on their first official store. Located towards the Southern Cross end of Bourke Street in the CBD, Doughboys HQ has been a long time in the making, with McKenzie teasing plans for a permanent storefront all the way back in May. Still, we have a suspicion that it'll all be worth the wait. Following a successful trial run on Christmas Eve, they'll be open for realsies on January 4. We might start camping out now though, to make sure we're first through the door. Designed by Studio Esteta, the store boasts tiled floors, high ceilings and ample display cases, so sugar-obsessed doughnut-lovers can press their noses against the glass. Small Batch Roasting Co. will be providing the coffee, and hopefully they'll keep up their partnership with Gelato Messina as well. Because if there's one thing better than a doughnut, it's a doughnut stuffed with chocolate fudge brownie ice cream. Doughboys Donuts is located at 535 Bourke Street, Melbourne and will be open for business from Monday January 4. For more information visit them on Facebook or at their website. Via Good Food.
Last February, we lost our collective shit over these adorable little souls. Now, because it's spring and dreams can come true, dumpling monarchs Din Tai Fung have gone ahead and brought back those cute, cute little morsels — the sweet lamb buns are back. Available from throughout Sydney and Melbourne from September 26 – November 30, Din Tai Fung's sweet little buns are limited edition, Instagrammable goodness. Just LOOK AT THEM. They're called 'Baa Buns' because sometimes life just gets it right. Good news, you don't have to connect the dots between the lamb inside and out of the bun — they're desserty little blighters. Baa buns come steamed-to-order with a formidable filling of molten dark chocolate and taro, $3.80 each. The little edible lambies will be available in Sydney at World Square, Central Park, Westfield Chatswood, Westfield Miranda, and in Melbourne at their Emporium chapter. There'll be limited quantities at each venue, available daily. But if you visit on the same day as us, we take no prisoners. Din Tai Fung's limited edition spring sweet lamb buns are available from throughout Sydney and Melbourne from September 26 – November 30 (not available at Din Tai Fung cafe court venues).
Red Door Yum Cha is far from your traditional, family Chinese restaurant. Firstly, you won't see a yum cha trolley wheeling around. Rather, diners order off a menu, and the food comes directly from the kitchen without doing the rounds.Secondly, Red Door actually doubles up as an antiques and furniture store. You may find yourself sitting on a black lacquered dining table, among traditional red wardrobes and dressing tables, that are all for sale (and you can run on home with). The menu is a construct of old and reinvented Chinese food. You'll find traditional prawn har gow. The scallop dumplings arepretty smashing, too. If you want the best of the land and the sea, go the pork, prawn and corn dumplings. Coeliacs, you'll behappy to know that two thirds of the dumpling menu is gluten free. Moving on from dumplings (even though you may not want to) are the more substantial dishes. The Chairman Mao hong shaorou is a must. Braised pork belly is paired with Chinese wine, star anise and ginger, freshened up with bok choy to create a knockout dish. The braised beef hotpot is also hard to pass up, slow cooked in a black bean stock and served with rice and vegetables. To drink is an abundance of teas, spanning from oolong to herbal iced teas. There's no such thing as a cocktail jug here —instead, drinks like the Elderflower Collins are hidden in traditional Chinese teapots. Shielded by the calmness of white lanterns, Red Door is a calmand enjoyable dining space — where tradition and modernity fuse.
