One of Broadway's hottest and most prohibitively priced tickets of the last five years, The Book of Mormon, is set to get an Australian staging. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews made the announcement today on his Facebook page, saying "I'm thrilled we're bringing the most successful piece of theatre in the world today to Victoria." The musical will make its Australian premiere at Melbourne's Princess Theatre in early 2017. Written by South Park and Team America's notoriously puerile creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, together with Robert Lopez of genius grown-up muppet show Avenue Q, The Book of Mormon is probably one of the most lauded comedies ever to have centred on the Church of Latter Day Saints, African missions, AIDS, bum jokes and super ironic racism. If it wasn't so smart and so funny, few would forgive it. But since it is, The Book of Morman has picked up nine Tonys, four Olivier Awards and a Grammy since it debuted in 2011, and has been called "one of the most joyously acidic bundles Broadway has unwrapped in years". Directed by Parker with choreographer Casey Nicholaw, the show will have a new local cast. Parker has commented on the team's enthusiasm for the Australian production and then made a Tasmania joke: "We can't wait to get started. Everyone says we should look to Tassie for casting so that's where we're going first." If you've been among the throngs to see the musical in New York, Chicago or London, then you'll be plenty excited that your Melbourne friends will now get the chance to go learn all the idiosyncratic details of Mormonism, meet war criminal General Butt-Fucking Naked and know the true meaning of the hakuna matata-like saying 'Hasa Diga Eebowai'. And because this is the most exciting piece of musical theatre news since Matilda, the waitlist for tickets has already opened. Sign up at the Book of Mormon website for priority ticketing information. Whether the show will tour outside of Melbourne is yet to be confirmed. In the meantime, get in the mood by watching this clip of Girls star and original Mormon cast member Andrew Rannells singing the ballad of religious faith 'I Believe' at the Tony Awards. UPDATE MONDAY, DECEMBER 7: Priority tickets for The Book of Mormon are now on sale via Ticketmaster. GO.
The splish-splash of water isn't something you'd usually expect to find much of inside the walls of a gallery, but that's all set to change as NGV Australia pays homage to one of our great Australian icons: the swimming pool. Opening on August 18, The Pool: Architecture, Culture and Identity will explore this cultural symbol in all its glory, with the help of a multi-sensory, 11-metre pool installation, set up within the gallery's Design Studio. The free interactive exhibition will play with water, sound, light and scent to highlight the connection between culture, landscape and architecture. It'll look the real deal, too, complete with wooden decking and sun lounges — and visitors will even be allowed to dip their feet in for a refreshing paddle. This is the first time the installation has come to Australia after showing at the 2016 Venice Architecture Biennale. Further emphasising the swimming pool's link to our national identity, eight pool 'lanes' will each feature an audio excerpt from a high-profile Aussie figure, sharing their own nostalgia-tinged, pool-inspired stories. This will include The Slap and Barracuda (good pre-exhibition pool-related reading, by the way) author Christos Tsiolkas and Aussie rock god Paul Kelly, through to Olympic gold medalists Shane Gould and Ian Thorpe. The Pool: Architecture, Culture and Identity will show at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia from August 18 until February 2018. For more information, visit ngv.vic.gov.au.
Ever driven across the Story Bridge and thought, "Wouldn't it be great to go to a market here?" We know, that might not have crossed your mind exactly. But it must've popped into the heads of the folks behind Hamilton's Eat Street Markets, because that's exactly what they're about to do. On July 5, the Brisbane landmark will be doing more than just linking Kangaroo Point and Fortitude Valley. In fact, cars will have to find an alternate route across the river, because a food market is taking over the entire bridge. Around 50 vendors have been invited to sell their delicious, delicious wares, so there'll be plenty of tasty treats on offer. A whopping 20,000 people are allowed on the bridge at a time, which sounds like a lot — but what Brisbanite would miss out on checking out this historic, ultra-novelty event? Indeed, given that everyone in Brisbane has already seen the bridge covered in fireworks many, many times, there's probably no better way to celebrate the 75th birthday of the heritage-listed icon. The bridge officially opened for business back on July 6, 1940 after five years of construction, and now sees an average of 97,000 cars zoom across it each day. While gathering for a bite to eat on the bridge might be something new, spending money there isn't. It was originally a toll road, with charges removed in 1947. Since 2005, people have been paying to scale its heights as part of the Story Bridge Adventure Climb experience. Now, for one night only, you can snack, browse and devour delicious local food with the best view in town. Brisbane's Story Bridge will closed to traffic for the food market for one night on July 5. Via Brisbane Times. Image: andzzz, judyvannorman and Tim Williams — Flickr via Wikimedia Commons and Eat Street Markets. View all Brisbane Events.
The KitchenAid Artisan Mixer is now smaller — which means they're perfect for that infuriatingly tiny amount of bench space in your house. Whether you whip out the classic Empire Red, go for something more tropical like the Orange Sorbet, or opt for something a little newer and classier like the Matte Black – KitchenAid Artisan Minis are just as pretty as they are practical. To celebrate its launch in Australia we've got five (and one attachment) to give away. Choose your colour, and then choose from one of the fifteen KitchenAid Artisan Mini attachments available (food processor, pasta maker, spiralizer are just a few — you can do much more than bake with this thing), and enter your details below. Make sure you agree to the competition terms and conditions, and be quick, entries close at midday on Sunday, October 30. [competition]592968[/competition] Image: Samantha Hawker.
Today a brand new sleek restaurant and bar opens — but it's not where you'd expect. MPD Steak Kitchen isn't located in the CBD, or the inner suburbs. It's in the outer southeastern suburb of Berwick. And not only that, the new 200-seater has an ex-Vue de Monde chef and a former Attica sommelier on board. Not bad for Berwick. MPD — which is a nod to the Meatpacking District in New York City — is a concept from Victor and Robert Zagame, who are the same siblings behind Spice Market and that suburban family bistro chain Zagame's. As the name suggests, it's a venue with a very specific focus. Steak. Really, really nice steak. Taking charge of the kitchen at the two-storey venue is Chris Bonello, former executive chef at the Vue Group, which includes Vue de Monde and Bistro Vue. He'll be in charge of sourcing prime cuts of beef, including Cape Grim sirloin, Rangers Valley pope's eye and rump from Blackmore Wagyu. Side options range from hand-cut chips to truffle mac and cheese and honey-glazed brussels sprouts with pancetta. If, for some inexplicable reason, you don't feel like steak at a steak restaurant, other mains include John Dory with char-grilled lettuce, olive tapenade and pearl barley, and Flinders Island lamb with radish, sunflower and quince. That said, we do have to admit that we're quite taken by a couple of the dessert options, like the burnt mandarin mousse with dulce de leche, basil sorbet and dehydrated milk, and the white chocolate parfait with pistachio aero, lemon curd and bitter chocolate. The wine list includes an impressive 250+ options chosen by ex-Attica restaurant manager and young gun sommelier Banjo Harris Plane. Not into wine? They've also got craft beer and cider, a selection of bourbons and scotches, plus a number of adventurous cocktails made with liquid nitrogen. MPD Steak Kitchen is now open on the corner of Greaves Road and Clyde Road, Berwick. For more information visit mpdsteakkitchen.com.
Spring is in the air and that means festival season is upon us. We've just wrapped up Fringe and already we're on to the next one. Spanning two and a half weeks, this year's Melbourne Festival lineup includes 70 events, including 17 Australian premieres, featuring artists, musicians and theatre makers from all around the world. Here are just ten of the festival events you should go out of your way to make time for.
Melbourne likes movies. Melbourne likes rooftop bars. Little wonder then that the Rivoli Cinema in Camberwell is about to start serving cocktails at a slightly higher altitude. Set to open next month, nineteenforty will be a garden-inspired rooftop bar that offers panoramic views of the surrounding suburbs. Named for the year that the now-iconic picture palace first began operations, the east side's newest watering hole sounds like an ideal date spot, with drinks and a movie all rolled into one. The look of the bar will be designed to complement the cinema's art deco trappings, with timber cladding, potted plants and festoon lighting. Food-wise they'll offer a selection of bar snacks including wedges, veggie spring rolls, and cheese and dip platters, along with pizzas and gourmet popcorn options like salted caramel, white raspberry, maple bacon cheese and pecan pie. As for drinks, moviegoers can pick between an array of wines, beers and ciders, or sample cocktails like the Athena (apricot brandy, cloudy apple and lime) and the South of the River (Star of Bombay, St Germain Elderflower, apple, lime and mint). "We've always been enamoured by the history of the cinema," said Rivoli site manager James Zwack. "The rooftop bar seems like the perfect way to invite guests to enjoy the space as much as we do." The Rivoli isn't the only cinema to look to the sky in recent times, with the recently opened Lido on nearby Glenferrie Road offering rooftop screenings throughout summer. nineteenforty will open at Rivoli Cinema, 200 Camberwell Rd, Hawthorn East, after September 16.
It's absolutely true and absolutely about time. There's an official Hello Kitty diner coming to Sydney. Yep, it's not quite another kitten cafe, but we'll take it. Whether the establishment will be pop-up or permanent, the crew haven't revealed much at all yet, with a single Instagram post saying: The diner's Facebook page indicates the diner's cuisine will be primarily American, with hot dogs and burgers flagged; so it looks like it won't be the Hello Kitty yum cha style Hong Kong can look forward to at the world's first official Hello Kitty restaurant. This isn't the first Hello Kitty establishment for Australia — Sanrio's first licensed Australian Hello Kitty Cafe is in Adelaide, selling simply adorable cakes and baked goods. If you can't wait a few months until the Sydney diner reveals an opening date, just book a trip on the Hello Kitty airplane, regularly running from Paris to Taipei in all its Kitty glory. Watch this space for more info as it comes out, we're sure there's going to be adorable images of Hello Kitty-shaped burgs coming your way soon. Image: Hello Kitty pancake by Ellie, Kawaii Kakkoii Sugoi. Not part of the upcoming menu but adorable anyway.
If you're a regular coffee drinker, no doubt you've been caught up in the recent push towards recyclable or reusable coffee cups. And for many of us, drinking the sweet nectar from a one-use, environmentally-unfriendly takeaway cup is just not the same as a weighty, handmade ceramic cafe cup. But who has the time to stop and sip? Where can you find a fusion of both? Thanks to a talented Queensland couple, you can now have your ceramic-bound coffee and drink it (on the go) too. Queensland potter Renton Bishopric and partner Clare Botfield have recently launched Pottery for the Planet — a series of limited edition pottery pieces that raise money and awareness of environmental issues. "If we want to continue living in a beautiful clean country and world, we have to make some serious changes and that starts with the choices of each individual," says Bishopric. In an effort to make this choice a little more design-savvy, the duo has begun making what customers have dubbed 'Planet Cups', bespoke ceramic coffee cups that reduce paper cup wastage, one coffee at a time. Bishopric and Botfield make each 8oz or 12oz cup by hand on the pottery wheel, drying and firing them in the kiln before glazing in a selection of colours. The intricate process by which they are made means each Planet Cup is unique. "With a handmade product there are so many variables starting with the hands of the person that threw the pot, down to the firing environment in the kiln. So no matter what, each cup is unique from its brothers and sisters," says Bishopric. Each Planet Cup comes with a silicone lid and the option of a heat band so extra hot coffee drinkers can protect their fingers. Due to the incredible popularity of the Planet Cups, an online shop is set to be launched soon. In the meantime, the colourful creations can be purchased through the pair's Sunshine Coast retail store, Cinnabar Soul. You can also check out the Pottery for the Planet website for a list of local stockists. If you live in Hobart, you're going to need one very soon. Image: Renton Bishopric Ceramics.
When Kevin Bacon stood up in Footloose and said, “This is our time to dance. It is our way of celebrating life,” what he didn’t say was “but only for skinny people”. And yet, that seems to be what we mean these days. 'Fat' dancers and performers aren’t often seen, and so many people seem to have so many opinions on fatness and how fat people move through our society. We look at fat people and assume things — that the person is lazy, slovenly, unhappy and definitely, definitely ungraceful and unconnected to their bodily wellbeing. Now fat activist and artist Kelli Jean Drinkwater and resigning Force Majeure artistic director Kate Champion are working together to broaden our outlook on the body and the act of dancing. Their show Nothing to Lose was a viral and sold-out hit of the Sydney Festival in January, and now it's coming to Melbourne for a longer season at the Malthouse. The work is highly topical, audacious and — coming from dance-theatre masters Force Majeure (Never Did Me Any Harm, Food) — sure to be a powerful watch. Challenging as it is to our prejudices, it might even be the most important work you see at the theatre this year. We spoke to Drinkwater and Champion about the thinking behind the provocative project. What troubles and interests you about the way our society views fatness? Kelli-Jean Drinkwater: As an artist and a fat woman, what I find fascinating and intensely frustrating is the one-dimensional view of fat people and the lives we lead. Fat is usually seen as something to be deeply ashamed of and avoided at all costs. The mainstream culture here in Australia still has an incredibly narrow view of fat people, our capabilities, our health, our relationships. There is so much more to our lives as individuals that is rarely given a platform to be explored. I think we need to engage in critical thinking about our relationships to our own bodies and why most people, regardless of their size, are unhappy with how they are physically. Let’s also investigate how this impacts our view of other people and their bodies. Hopefully then we can start to be more accepting and, dare I say, even celebratory of the many ways there are to have a body. What are we missing if we only see athletically built people dance? Kate Champion: Well it seems to me we’re missing out on about 95 percent of the population being represented on stage as dancers! Obviously there’s a certain athleticism that lends itself to achieving technically difficult physical feats and certain styles of choreography. I can certainly appreciate that for what it is, but there is so much more to dance and what dance can be than that. It can be quirky, soulful, intriguing, captivating and intoxicating when performed by a person with a less ‘typical’ dancer’s body who really owns their movement. What is it like to be a fat person in an un-fat-friendly world? KJD: I can only speak from my experience, but being a person of size in our relentlessly body-shaming culture is tough. We are constantly judged, mocked, berated, pathologised, patronised and silenced in really obvious but also often insidious and subtle ways. The flip side of that is you have to learn to have a thick skin and a strong sense of your self-worth to hold your head up. I just try and use any negativity that comes my way to fuel the fat activist fire. It feels like fat activists are making some positive strides, particularly on the internet through memes such as #fatkini. Do you agree? KJD: I do believe that there is a noticeable groundswell in body positivity and fat activism here in Australia, much more than there was ten or even five years ago, and it's long overdue! And for sure social media is playing a huge part in that by creating access to communities that encourage each other to critique dominant cultural ideas around fatness. It’s like this collective tipping point and I think people regardless of their size are sick of feeling pressured by a prescribed standard of 'physical perfection', whatever that means. I believe audiences are eager to see a broader scope of bodies on stage. That’s what is so refreshing about Nothing to Lose. It’s a really timely work. What aspects of fatness do you explore through Nothing to Lose? KJD: [We're aiming] to explore the often overlooked aspects of the fat experience as well as give a fresh perspective on the more obvious ones. We explore the strength, capability and complexity, both physically and intellectually, that our cast live every day. We are also not shying away from the controversial issues but are instead seeing this as an opportunity to present a different side of the story. Our fearless cast are as interested in going to the more unexplored places in this work, as Kate and I are. Nothing to Lose has been in development from an open call-out. What surprised you or went differently than you thought it would over the course of this development? KC: Through both the auditions and ... the relatively brief periods of development so far — two weeks in 2013 and the same this year — we have focused on developing our level of trust with each other in order to see just how far we can go with material both physically and psychologically. This is sensitive subject matter but we need to make sure we’re not tiptoeing around any important issues. If we can’t approach the work with a no-holds-barred attitude amongst ourselves, then we’ll miss out on the full extent of the cast’s movement capacity and the full impact and levels of complexity that the subject matter contains. It’s been refreshingly honest and extremely illuminating so far! I'm amazed by the range these performers possess. They have filled us with inspiration to create a truly original, thought-provoking performance. Why should people watch this show? KC: People should watch this show to broaden their appreciation of who should dance on stage and what dance can be. To my mind all good shows have elements that are unexpected, confronting, joyful, insightful, confusing and liberating. This show aims to realign conditioned response in order to see and value the dancing body afresh. Nothing to Lose is on at the Malthouse Merlyn Theatre from March 11-21. Head to the Malthouse website for more info and to book. This article was originally published in Sydney as Why Fat Dancers Might Be the Most Important Thing You See at Sydney Festival.
Cat cafes around the country are in for some adorable competition, with a new animal-themed eatery set to open in Melbourne's northern suburbs. Rabbit-lovers David Johnson and Helen Hu are currently asking for donations for what they hope will becomes Australia's first ever bunny cafe. Frankly, if the words 'bunny' and 'cafe' aren't enough to make you donate on the spot, then we just don't know that there's anything we can do for you. The couple, who previously owned and operated a handmade accessories shop in Olinda, are currently looking for $20,000 to secure a location in or around Fitzroy. Anyone who wants to see this happen can donate via the cafe's website. Alternatively, you can check out their Facebook page, where they've been auctioning off rabbit-themed merchandise including rings and mugs, and posting many, many, painfully cute bunny videos such as this one. No news yet on what food the cafe will be serving, although they have unveiled a coffee menu with beverages named after the beloved pets of generous donors, including the 'Flopsy' Cappuccino, the 'Ruffles' Hot Chocolate and the 'Bunzor' Espresso. (Bunzor? Seriously?) As for their fluffy tenants, they'll come courtesy of Victoria's first and only no-kill rabbit shelter, the Rabbit Run-Away Orphanage – and unlike many cat cafes, the plan is to make all the animals in the cafe available for adoption. To make a donation to Bunny Cafe Melbourne, visit their website at www.bunnycafemelbourne.com.au Via The Northsider. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
Here at Concrete Playground, we travel a lot. And because we travel a lot, we have a lot of handy little tips that can take going on an aeroplane from a chore to a delightful, exciting experience that you go through before heading off on the holiday of a lifetime. After extensive research, we're proud to say that none of these travel hacks are as simple or obvious as roll your clothes in your suitcase. In partnership with Expedia, here are ten tips to make your travel process easier this summer. We're going on holiday. 1. PICK AN AIRLINE AND STICK WITH IT If you finally find an airline that has comfortable seats, suitable prices and good service — stick with it. Most airlines have their own frequent flyer program, which despite any preconceptions you might have, are actually really easy to join and get rewards from. Flying with the same airline every time makes your flight choice easier, and even when you're booking through online travel agents you can still enter your frequent flyer number. It might cost you a little more to fly Qantas, but the extra money you fork out will end up in your pocket (in the form of business class flights, members only prices and free upgrades). Virgin Australia use Velocity, and Qantas have their own Frequent Flyer program. 2. CLEAR YOUR BROWSER COOKIE HISTORY IF YOU'VE BEEN FLIGHT HUNTING The incognito window is your best friend. Often if you're returning to a website every day to check the price of the same flight, the company knows and can potentially adjust prices accordingly so you hit that 'buy now' button. Maybe you procrastinate on booking and the next day go back to your flight and find it has gone through a significant price rise. At that point you're likely to book before it gets any more expensive. Nice one, corporations. Combat this by opening an incognito window and hiding your cookies. Sometimes cookies can work in your favour (by saving your shopping cart, sending through deals to flights you've searched for), but they can potentially be used for evil too. Best be safe and clear your browser history. 3. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, THINK AHEAD AND AVOID BAGGAGE FEES For reasons unknown to us and the rest of world, most Australian airlines now have a measly 7kg cabin baggage allowance. That's barely enough for a laptop, phone, charger(s), bottle of water and change of clothes. It's true that airlines don't always weigh your carry on before you get on the plane, but they MIGHT. Which means you could be charged $60 for packing that extra pair of shoes you didn't really need. Be smart and pack light. If you know you have more than 7kg, check in a bag. On most airlines it costs about $20, and it will save you the stress of pleading with airline attendants and crying at the terminal. Virgin and Qantas included checked bags in the ticket price, which in peak times is often worth the extra money. Travel with a duffle bag rather than a suitcase — heavy roller bags will do you no favours. 4. SEAT CHOICE TACTICS When choosing your seat on the plane, don't choose the empty row. Instead, choose the row that has one other person in it, because the next person that comes along won't want to squeeze between the two of you, will they? Another tactic is to wait with your seat selection until the very last minute (before check-in closes), then you'll easily be able to see what's been taken and what's still available. For shorter flights, sitting at the front of the plane means you'll likely get off the plane 10-15 minutes earlier. [caption id="attachment_580107" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Levi Morsy.[/caption] 5. BOOK AT THE RIGHT TIME The best time to book an international flight is four to six months before you fly — that's when the airlines have a better idea of how quickly, or slowly, a flight will start to sell out. For domestic tickets, book between one to two months. Travel on off days and seasons, typically Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. Red eyes, the New Year period and flights that leave just after work are a no-go. Keep an eye out for sales — the best ones happen around Boxing Day, January and the mid-year period. 6. AND IN THE RIGHT PLACE Everyone hates booking fees. This unexpected surprise is particularly bad when booking direct through airlines — there's often a booking fee of up to $14.95 just for using your credit card. Avoid this by simply using a debit card instead, or booking through an online travel agent (like Expedia) that doesn't charge booking fees. If you're organised enough, book your flights and accommodation at the same time and you'll often get special deals so you can save yourself a bunch of money. 7. ALL THE REWARDS PROGRAMS It seems like every airline and website is trying to make you sign up to their own loyalty program. As annoying as email spam can be, if you're a frequent traveler (or daydreamer) these programs are often worth it. You'll often get members only flights, VIP hotel bookings, double frequent flyer points and the ability to pay with your rewards points. That means potentially free flights and accommodation, and access to the best deals as soon as they become available. The more you use the same website, the more rewards you'll accumulate. So just like we mentioned above about airlines — stick to the same website. 8. THINK BEFORE YOU BOOK Nothing is more disheartening to a holiday than being slammed by unnecessary airline fees. Changing the time, or name on your ticket can attract a fee up $175 per ticket in Australia. Put more thought into that ticket you're about to buy — are you sure this is exactly when you want to fly? If you're unsure about dates but need to book, look into travel insurance. It's the only thing that will save you in this situation. Put a few dollars aside for a good policy that covers you for change fees and you'll be sort of sorted. 9. DO YOUR RESEARCH AND PRICE MATCH Most airlines, booking websites and online travel agents have some form of price matching function which can often be of great benefit to you and your wallet. Do some hunting around for flights, accomodation and packages on different websites, and then do some hunting around for price match policies. Jetstar use Price Beat Guarantee — they'll beat the price of any flight on the same day within the same time frame by ten per cent. Expedia will price match hotels and packages (flights and hotels booked together), and you'll get a $50 voucher for the trouble. 10. CREDIT CARDS CAN ENABLE YOUR TRAVEL HABITS If you've been brave enough to get yourself a credit card, you may as well get one that really helps you out and saves you some money when it comes time to travel. Most credit cards come with benefits, but some come with travel specific benefits — like travel insurance and special deals that practically pay for the annual fee attached to it. The American Express Explorer card partners with Qantas. It's a little pricier ($395 annual fee), but you get $400 travel credit to spend on the American Express travel website, travel insurance and smart phone screen repair insurance included. Virgin Australia have their own credit card and you get a $129 voucher every year, and the 28 Degrees credit card is particularly good for international travel (no fees on overseas purchases). If you're a regular traveller, the annual fee on a travel credit card pays for itself. Become an Expedia+ member and book your summer holiday in the January sale — you'll have access to prices that others don't see.
Forty years ago, a filmmaker wanted to journey to a galaxy far, far away, and he needed a republic cruiser's worth of epic tunes to go with it. Enter John Williams and the theme everyone now knows. When the first notes of Star Wars: Episode VI — A New Hope's score started playing over the film's opening crawl, movie and music history was made. Neither Williams nor George Lucas could've known just what they'd unleashed, nor that Luke and Leia, Han and Chewie, and the next generation of wannabe jedis and empire lackeys would still be gracing cinema screens decades later. To celebrate not only the space opera saga's longevity, but the upcoming release of Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi in December, St Kilda's Palais Theatre is hosting the Star Wars event to end all Star Wars events: Star Wars: The Force Awakens in concert. We've got a good feeling about what promises to be a force-filled evening of sound and vision, with the last film in the franchise screened in all its Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac and Adam Driver-starring glory, and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra picking up their instruments to perform the corresponding score. Conducted by Nicholas Buc, who'll be living out one of his dreams, they'll play Williams' Oscar-nominated music from the saga's seventh flick live across three concerts on December 8, 9 and 10. Following in the footsteps of the similar Harry Potter shows enchanting audiences this year, also featuring a score by Williams, this is not a trap — but BYO lightsaber, droid and wookie. And if you're a Sydney jedi master or Brisbane rebel who can't make it south, try taking Yoda's advice and trusting the force. The Melbourne gigs have been badged as the series' Australian premiere, so this mightn't be your only hope. Fingers crossed the show will jump on the Millennium Falcon and tour the rest of the country. Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens will screen at the Palais Theatre on December 8, 9 and 10, 2017. Grab tickets here.
Five generations back, the Hamilton family planted some of the first vineyards in South Australia. It was 1837, a mere year after the arrival of European settlers in the state, and to this day they continue to produce top-quality, award-winning wine under the name Hugh Hamilton Wines. Mary Hamilton, Hugh Hamilton’s daughter, has been the CEO for the last seven years and explains that her father has always been considered the black sheep of the Hamilton flock. “He was a very spirited young boy and got up to a fair bit of mischief," she says. "He was never going to be corralled into anything and has always remained an elusive character.” Hugh’s lively sense of humour and his ability to march to the beat of his own drum has never wavered, so it makes sense then that the wines have names such as The Scallywag Chardonnay and The Scoundrel Tempranillo. Quality, flavoursome wine is the number one priority for Hugh Hamilton Wines and they have ensured this by sourcing grapes from their three vineyards. McLaren Vale hosts perfect conditions for ripening grapes and viticulture, as it’s located between the Adelaide Hills and the coast. “Most people are not aware of this, but McLaren Vale has the most diverse geology of any wine region in the world,” explains Hamilton. Each of the three vineyards have very different soil types which greatly influence the flavour of the grapes, from the black clay at their cellar door vineyard, producing darker-style shiraz (think bitter dark chocolate and black olives) to their next vineyard 500 meters down the road that produces more red-fruit flavours due to a different soil type and climate. Hamilton refers to this as their "big comfortable red velvet chair" with a generous and juicy yield. As part of the FreeWines app, Hugh Hamilton Wines have contributed two of their expert drops; 'The Trickster' Pinot Grigio and 'The Rascal' Shiraz. The Trickster is made from grapes sourced from the Adelaide Hills and came about due to Hugh’s love of freshly shucked oysters and his desire to create a wine that would pair with it perfectly. Described as “racy, upbeat and brisk,” Hamilton would recommend pairing this wine with seafood dishes such as salt and pepper squid, prawns and, of course, fresh oysters. The Rascal, described as “the quintessential McLaren Vale Shiraz, with lots of fruit ripeness but also elegance,” goes beautifully with a scotch fillet or beef casserole. When it comes to selecting a wine for herself, Mary is often influenced by her mood first, rather than having a constant go-to drop. At the moment Hamilton is particularly taken with the medium-bodied 'The Mongrel' Sangiovese, “It’s got lots of lovely, juicy cherry-flavoured fruit, and it tends to be a great partner with the food I cook, which is often Mediterranean or Middle Eastern.”
Wedged up in the corner of Eastern Europe, bordered by the Baltic Sea to the north and Latvia to the south, sits Estonia. It's a quiet little country that's spent most of its life as a Russian-German pull toy and has a population of only 1.3 million. But if there's one thing that these 1.3 million people can do, it's cook. Estonia is throwing around some legit food and drink game at the moment, and now is the perfect time to get on board. Tallinn might be one of the trickiest places to get to from Australia, but it's certainly one of the most worthwhile if you have a palate for affordable, fine dining. Think fresh local produce, age-perfected cooking techniques and more craft beer than you can poke a stick at. Good meals won't cost you more than $15, and most come with a view worth more than the plate itself. Pack a knife, fork and your best appetite and head to the new culinary crux of Europe. GETTING THERE First and foremost, you're going to have to get to Tallinn, Estonia's capital. Unfortunately there's no speedy, one stopover flight from Australia to Tallinn, so if you're going to visit, we suggest tagging it onto a European adventure. Flights out of most major European airports won't break the bank. Another option, depending on where you're coming form, is by boat — there are direct sea routes from Helsinki, St Petersburg and Stockholm. While this sounds like a city in the middle of nowhere (and it kind of is), don't think you're signing up for some Bear Grylls-inspired brush with danger. Most Estonians in Tallinn speak very good English, and they have Vapiano if homesickness kicks in. STAY Estonian Airbnb is a dream. While the Australian dollar doesn't fair so well against the Euro, the cost of living, eating, drinking and dancing in Estonia is a cheap as cheese (cheese in Tallinn is very cheap). You can get a good Airbnb for about $20-40 a night, and some spacious ones for about $100. Of course, there are fancy, Old Town penthouses with six plus bedrooms you can splash out on for about $1000 a night too (pictured). Don't be afraid to suss out the suburbs when it comes to accommodation. Unlike London or Paris you can reside just about anywhere in Tallinn and be able to get into the Old Town (the epicentre of Tallinn) without a hassle, because a) Tallinn is a fortieth of the size of Brisbane, b) the tram system is a breeze, and c) Uber is dirt cheap (we're talking $5 from the airport to city centre here). There are some great, tinea-free hostels near and in Old Town that cost anywhere between $10-30 a night. EAT Now this is what we're talking about. Estonian cuisine is influenced by its Scandinavian and Russian neighbours, with a strong emphasis on fresh, homegrown or locally produced elements. Estonians really care where their food comes from, so most dishes contain a lamb or fish base, and are paired with local veggies, homemade sauces and yeasty, dark bread. Old Town has some great restaurants but, like any tourist hotspot, you're always at risk of being overcharged for a stew that was cooked last week, frozen, and stuck in the microwave for a couple of minutes. Head there first to do the touristy thing, take some snaps, have a look at the architecture, trip over a jaded stone on the old footpaths and work up a hunger. Then get out. Mere Puiestee street runs parallel to Old Town's eastern side, and the huge brick buildings and line of trees hide some of the city's best and trendiest restaurants. SfääR (pictured above) is an award winning, quaint little restaurant and clothing store that has a menu and cocktail list worth crossing a few major oceans for — definitely try the homemade zucchini and sun-dried ravioli with a buttery sage sauce. If you're after something a little heavier and/or hangover friendly skip next door to Scotland Yard Pub. The street behind homes Alter Ego, a classy, upper-class restaurant that showcases the best Mediterranean in the city. Down by the water, you'll find the abandoned Linnahall, an old sports and concert venue, which is haunting and definitely worth an explore. But before it you'll find the Eesti Kaasaegse Kunsti Muuseum (Museum of Contemporary Art), an adjoining art book shop and Klaus. Klaus really brings home the term 'modern Estonian food'. Think mussels with green curry and lime, Estonian lamb casserole with jasmine rice, duck breast with plum puree, wild mushroom tartare, and desserts that deserve Nobel Prizes. On Friday and Saturday evenings you'll find a lot of very important and trendy looking people dining and getting drunk there. This is the insider's Estonian restaurant. The one place in Old Town we will push you towards is Vegan Restoran V. The meals are huge, cheap, inventive and tasty beyond expectation. It's in pretty high demand since it racked up a number of global vegan eating awards. It's currently ranked the 16th best vegan restaurant in the world — and the prices are cheaper than McDonalds. Carrot cake in Estonia makes the stuff over here look like grated carrot chucked in the microwave for a couple of minutes. Gustav's variation consists of about five thin layers of velvety, nutty carrot cake and citrus sour cream mousse. This was our equivalent of falling in love abroad and being faced with the decision of whether to stay or leave and risk never loving again. Gustav has two locations in Tallinn, with their Vabriku street venue adjoined to Fabrik Restoran — which features an award-winning, Asian influenced menu and possibly the best duck fried rice and pork bao you'll find in a 1000km radius. DRINK Like most of Eastern Europe, drinks aren't too pricey in Estonia, and you can get a wine from one of those fancy glass bottles with a cork for only a couple of bucks. Estonia has a number of emerging, microbreweries — and if you're looking to scour, then head to Uba Ja Humal or Drink Shop. They're both craft beer Meccas. Make sure to try Siidrikoda — an Estonian craft cider — and anything by Käbliku or Põhjala Breweries. There's a lot of clubs targeted towards backpackers, so if you're chasing a bit more of a local, relaxed drinking vibe, try any one of Estonia's underground theatre bars. Von Kraahl is one of the most popular, showcasing homegrown productions and local beer. Protest is a pretty 'in' kind of place, so don't worry if you feel like everyone here is already best friends and you've just crashed a party. Just drink up, sing some Aerosmith on the man-built karaoke set up and you'll eventually make your way in. Top image: Mike Beales. Second image: Mark Litwintschik.
Victoria is truly a cornucopia of earthly delights. Just a few hours from the centre of Melbourne lie some of Australia's lushest landmarks – the Grampians, the Great Ocean Road and Wilsons Prom, to name a few. And yet something often stops us from getting out of the city. Whether it's a lack of time, a private vehicle, like-minded friends or camping equipment, it's easy to not take full advantage of our location and get out into nature. Enter Hike and Seek, a boutique tour company that take small groups on day adventures from Melbourne. After launching in September last year, co-founders James McCleery and Mette Kortelainen quickly realised they were onto something amazing. "We started with two tours and now we're doing six tours on a weekly basis," says James. "Generally we book every tour out…it's been an absolute dream for us." McCleery and Kortelainen live and breathe an outdoorsy lifestyle. They imagined Hike and Seek several years ago while hiking in Wilsons Prom and now spend six days a week leading hiking tours. Unlike big tour companies, Hike and Seek is a little more personal. With just eight people on a tour, you'll be picked up by a Kombi van named Olivia from either St Kilda or the CBD. From there on out, Hike and Seek provide everything, from equipment and ethically-sourced coffee from Supreme to fresh vegan food and snacks throughout the day. So where do they take you? McCleery and Kortelainen run full and half-day tours to some of the best hiking spots around Melbourne — Wilsons Promontory, the Otways, Cape Woolamai on Phillip Island, Mt Buller, the Grampians and the Mornington Peninsula all make the list. As the tour groups are so small, they're perfect for solo travellers and anyone looking to make new friends. But this isn't some tourist activity full of visiting families and rowdy groups of backpackers. "We thought our target marketing was the travellers and the backpacker, but we realised quickly that 70 percent of our market is Melbourne-based," says James. "We actually get a lot of corporate people. We get Airbnb customers and Melbourne-based people, who've just always wanted to do it — they've heard of Wilsons Prom or the Grampians, but they've never been. Or their friends bail last minute, or they don't have a car or they wanna do it with a group." Hike and Seek also offer something else you won't find with most big tour companies: delicious vegan food. Before becoming a full-time hiker, Mette studied nutrition in Helsinki, so all the food you'll chow down on is super healthy and animal product-free, and bound to give you plenty of energy to tear through your hike. "We're not preachers at all but so many people are so intrigued by it [the vegan food]," James says "They're there to get active and healthy as well, so there's a like minded group of people there who're embarking on a journey together". Come summer, they'll even be expanding to two- and three-day camping tours for those who CBFed buying a tent but crave time out from the city. All you have to worry about now is finding a comfy pair of shoes. Hike and Seek run tours from Melbourne most days of the week. Tours book out fast so you'll need to book in advance at hikeandseek.com.au. Love a good hike? Here's eight one-day hikes that you can do on your own from Melbourne.
"It's one of those things where you keep pinching yourself," says director David F. Sandberg, the brains behind new 'be afraid of the dark' horror movie Lights Out. Given the whirlwind couple of years the Swedish filmmaker has experienced, his reaction is completely understandable. Back in 2013, he was an aspiring director with a love of making scary flicks and a dream to hit the big time, just like plenty of others. And then he had a great idea, made a short that took off, and his phone started ringing. Also called Lights Out, that two-and-a-half-minute effort managed to turn everyone's childhood fears of something sinister lurking in the darkness into the kind of creepy fare most horror features can't master. And one of the calls it sparked came from producer Lawrence Grey, who happened to know Saw, Insidious, The Conjuring, and Fast & Furious 7 director James Wan — and the rest, as they say is history. Actually, the end result is an effective and unnerving movie that looks as spooky as it sounds, and sets actresses Teresa Palmer and Maria Bello against a shadowy figure that only appears when it's not so bright in a particular spot. With the film currently screening in Australian cinemas, we chatted with Sandberg about coming up with an attention-grabbing premise, fielding the calls that made his dreams come true, and working with one of the modern greats of the genre. ON TURNING A FEAR OF THE DARK INTO A HORROR MOVIE "It came from this thing I'm sure many people have experienced, where you turn the lights off at night and you think you sort of see something there in the shadows — and you have to turn it back on to check. And Lotta [Losten, Sandberg's wife, and the producer and star of the 2013 Lights Out short] and I had this idea: what if there actually was something there every time you turned off the lights? "We made the short for an online horror competition. We had been trying to get money to make shorts in Sweden but had been unsuccessful, so we figured let's just make them on our own — we don't need a lot of money, I have a camera and Lotta is an actress, so we can do it by ourselves. So we just had to come up with the scariest thing we could do in our apartment with just one actor, and that seemed like the perfect idea." ON GOING VIRAL — THEN GETTING CALLS FROM HOLLYWOOD "It just suddenly — after we had uploaded it to YouTube, a couple of months after that — just became this viral sensation and started getting millions of views. And all of a sudden all these people in Hollywood wanted to talk to us. And it was just insane that a two-and-a-half minute short can get so much attention, you know? "I had to make a spreadsheet with everyone I talked to and what was said last just to keep track of it all. And one of the first producers who got in touch was Lawrence Grey, and it just seemed like he knew what he was talking about — and he was very passionate about making this into a feature. So I went along with him, basically. "He knew James Wan because they had been talking about maybe doing something together. So he sent the short to James, and he had already seen it online actually and thought it was a really cool short — but he didn't know if there was enough there for a feature. So, I wrote like a treatment of what I wanted the story and the characters to be that Lawrence sent to James, and that got him on board and to maybe see that, okay, maybe this could be a feature after all." ON FINDING A FEATURE-LENGTH STORY FROM A 2.5-MINUTE SHORT "There isn't a lot of story in the short really. It is just a concept — and that was very freeing when it came time to make it into a feature because it meant that all we had to do was stay true to that concept. We didn't have a story that we had to stay true to. "Lotta and I have made movies, and we've made them really short so there hasn't been time for real stories or characters with backstories and all that. So it was like finally we could explore that aspect and really create characters that you care for — which I think is really important in a horror movie, because if you don't care about what happens to the characters, you probably won't get scared." ON WORKING WITH JAMES WAN "I was honoured that he wanted to come on board as a producer because he is like the modern horror master. And he has all these ideas and all this experience. He's created I don't know how many franchises now. And he has kind of a similar story in that he came from another country and made a short that was turned into a feature in Hollywood. "He was telling me, 'Just have fun with it, because it's a crazy business.' I tried my best, but since it was my first feature I was very stressed out, because like, this is my shot, I'd better not stuff this up, this is my one shot at Hollywood. But yeah, he was great to have as a mentor." ON HOW TO MAKE SURE 'LIGHTS OUT' MEANS LIGHTS OUT "It was very important for me that we had true darkness, because in a lot of Hollywood movies, you just have a lot of blue light and that's supposed to represent darkness — but you still see everything. So it was really important to have pitch-black darkness where any kind of evil could hide. And that took some convincing of everyone to make that happen. And also, to play with, to just have certain light sources like Martin [played by actor Gabriel Bateman] with the candle or Teresa [Palmer] with the UV light down in the basement, and to not light it apart from those lights. And again, that was a bit of an issue. "That was something that James Wan helped out with because, when I told sort of the camera crew that I wanted to have the scene lit by just candle light, they were like, 'No, no, you've gotta light the movie.' But then when we were shooting that scene, James Wan came by the set, and he was like, 'Hey, you know you should shoot that scene with just the candlelight.' And everyone's like, 'Yeah, great idea James, lets do that.' And I was like 'Oh, okay.'" ON LIVING THE DREAM (STARRING ANNABELLE) "I mean, this has all happened so fast that I still haven't really processed everything that has happened because I've only been in this country [the US] for a year and a half — and I'm already in the middle of directing my second movie [the James Wan-produced Annabelle 2, the sequel to the 2014 spin-off from The Conjuring]. I'm not really sure what's going to happen afterwards, but I'm just happy for everything that's happened so far. It's awesome. It's what I've always dreamed that I want to do. And I mean, just doing stuff like this, these interviews, just because I made a two-and-a-half minute short — it's insane. I mean, my life goal was to direct a Hollywood feature, and I've actually achieved that, which is pretty amazing." Lights Out is currently screening in Australian cinemas.
Jackson Browne dropping a cover of The Eagles' 'Take It Easy'? Classic Bluesfest. Kendrick Lamar echoing across Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm with "This. Dick. Ain't. Freeeeeeeee."? New Wave Bluesfest. Bringing over 200 performances to seven stages over five 12-hour days, Bluesfest returned to the hallowed, well-gumbooted grounds of Tyagarah just out of Byron Bay over the Easter weekend. This outrageously-loved festival brought in its 2016 chapter with one of its most eclectic lineups yet (but importantly, brought back the festival's renowned yearly menu of fish tacos, Yemen rolls and organic doughnuts). From Celtic voodoo to pre-WWII 'minstrel blues', Icelandic indie folk to truly avant garde performance art rock, this year's festival took the genre-spanning game next-level. Kicking off the first night, Kendrick Lamar drew one of the most dominantly Young Person crowds of the festival. Following widely praised shows in Melbourne and Sydney, the 'King Kunta' gamechanger brought his wildly eloquent unpacking of race and identity to the festival's opening night — from 'Backseat Freestyle' to 'Alright'. Lamar gave ups to fellow festival headliner and R&B legend D'Angelo, who, helped the Bluesfest crowd find new hinges in their pelvises with his two highly seductive sets — even though multiple reports from Thursday's set saw Kendrick fans actually booing the R&B icon. Really. Booing D'Angelo. Kids today. Big favourites Tedeschi Trucks Band and Grammy award-winning, face-melting multi-instrumentalist Grace Potter made most Bluesfesters highlight lists, alongside a swathe of relative newcomers to many Aussie ears. Jerron"Blind Boy" Paxton had the festival well abuzz, the twenty-something multi-instrumentalist specialising in '20s and '30s blues a la Fats Waller and "Blind" Lemon Jefferson. Our jaws are still on the floor in the Delta tent after seeing San Francisco's super fun outfit Con Brio, lead by the unforgettable Ziek McCarter — the lovechild of Michael Jackson and Bruno Mars with better abs. Punters stood open-mouthed and wonderfully freaked out watching legendary avant garde experimental art rock collective The Residents. We raised plastic cups to Mojo Juju's "love song to Newcastle", attempted terribly to sing along Nai Palm-style with Melbourne's Hiatus Kaiyote, madly Googled 'Shooglenifty' and generally flailed around in bona fide Dad Dancing style to Mick Fleetwood. Big ups have to be paid to Friday night's heart-in-mouth set from The National, ending with frontman Bryce Dessner genuinely gobsmacked by one heck of an emotional, to-the-syllable singalong. Bluesfest delivered yet another feelgood, like-clockwork festival, nabbing only one and a half days of downpour and less mud than usual. More than one artist, including the legendary Jackson Browne, called it "the best festival in the world". With police happy, punters happy, sleeping kids in wheelbarrows happy and artists happy, we reckon that calls for another organic doughnut. Images: Andy Fraser. Words: Shannon Connellan.
Although it certainly doesn’t feel like it, spring is just around the corner. So too is Melbourne Spring Fashion Week, and this year they're really pushing the boat out. Alongside the catwalks and usual fashion bonanzas around town, Emporium Melbourne have received the memo that we’re all just big kids in high fashion garb and are creating a multi-storey playground for us. The highlight? A freaking ball pit. Every level of the CBD's already fancy Emporium will be replete with unique activities and installations. As well as getting your guilt-free shop on (because it’s Fashion Week, duh) you can also dive head-first into a 3m x 3m chic ball pit without feeling like you might accidentally elbow someone’s child in the face with your enthusiasm. And while you’re in there, feel free to have a ANTM moment and pose for the cameras. And the fun won’t stop there. For hairy gentlemen, you'll find Whiskey + Whiskers on the lower ground level. While the ‘whiskers’ side things doesn’t mean a kitten-petting station, it does mean you can deposit yourself here for a bev and beard trim. Upstairs on the ground floor is where you’ll find the giant neon playground that spits out prizes every hour (yes, you read that correctly). One floor up, you'll find the beauty station for the ladies with a hair and beauty bar for makeup retouching, coloured contact lens trials and a braiding station (face it — there’s nothing more luxurious than someone gently braiding your hair). All this primping and preening will make sense during the evening when you make your way up one more floor to the party level. Hello, free prosecco on Friday. Hello, garden party and official MSFW photo booth, we'll be here for a while. And we’re not even done yet. If your weary legs can carry your shopping bags, new hair-do and booze-fuelled body up the stairs, make your way to level three to welcome spring with a snack in the cafe court while being serenaded by local live music.
October. It's the month where the weather starts to warm up (well, fingers crossed), spring fashion sweeps through the city and we finally get that glorious hour of sunlight to fuel our after-work adventures. So what better time to start splorin' the CBD? Melbourne Festival is on and is taking over the city with a cavalcade of art and red webbing, there's a bunch of exhibitions (showing everything from Banksy's work to that of designers Viktor&Rolf) and a festival dedicated entirely to our preferred drink for this time of year: the G&T. Get amongst it.
Melbourne lead Australia into this awesome craft beer age we've found ourselves in, and there are so many great breweries in the city that we're truly spoilt for choice. But we bet you haven't even considered how many more craft brewbars there are all around Victoria. Jonesing for a road trip? What better trip to take than one that lands you with a fresh beer in hand. Here are ten Victorian breweries worth road tripping for. BRIGHT BREWERY Bright Brewery is a mountain town brewery, and so, naturally, they use only fresh mountain water in their brews. Being able to say your brews are 'mountain crafted' is pretty badass, not to mention extremely picturesque. The brewery door is open daily and features a 24-tap bar, which is especially impressive — even for a brewery. The Fainters Dubbel or Razor Witbier are our recommendations. The brewery's proximity to Mount Buffalo and Alpine National Park also means you can make this one a double road trip and sneak in a hike between pints. 121 Great Alpine Road, Bright. BRIDGE ROAD BREWERS Bridge Road Brewers is located in the historic gold mining town of Beechworth, which is a town stuck in the 19th century in the most picturesque of ways — a reason for a visit in itself. Another is the Austrian/Italian-inspired pizzas and daily baked pretzels by co-owner Maria Frischmann. Of course, the biggest draw to Beechworth is the beer, and Bridge Road is constantly turning out something new. While visiting, seek out the Chevalier series and the Mayday Hills collection — this new line of barrel-aged and wild-fermented farmhouse beers are the best to come out of the brewery yet. 50 Ford Street, Beechworth. BLACKMAN'S BREWERY Blackman's Brewery is located in Torquay, just off the Great Ocean Road and back from the beach — an ideal location for a surfer's brewery Apart from the location, the Wildcard series is the main draw here, their single keg batches that you can only get at the cellar door. It doesn't get more small batch than that. The kitchen is open until late, with a share plate grazing menu that is crafted around the brews. If you're in Geelong, they've also got a small brewery bar in Dennys Place. 26 Bell Street, Torquay. RED HILL BREWERY Red Hill Brewery doesn't just invite you to stop on by for a beer, they invite you to stay the night too. The Brewer's Cottage is a three-bedroom house located on the grounds, the self-contained unit features an open fire, barbecue area and even a trampoline. You can join the brewers for Friday arvo brews and really get the full Red Hill experience. The brewery focuses on European styles and their farmhouse-esqe cellar door has the range, including the scotch ale and Belgian blonde that we especially recommend. 88 Shoreham Road, Red Hill. BAD SHEPHERD BREWING CO. Bad Shepherd Brewing Co. is run by husband and wife duo Dereck and Diti Hales. They've mastered the cellar door technique with one of the best combos out there: good ol' beer and barbecue. Of the brews, the ESB and hazelnut brown are especially tasty, while the menu is a mix of smoked meats and comfort food, from mac and cheese ($5), texas brisket sandwiches ($12) and the all-mighty meat platter for two ($53). It's a brewpub done right. 386 Reserve Road, Cheltenham. HARGREAVES HILL BREWING COMPANY The Hargreaves Hill Brewing Company is set in a charming colonial building rather than the industrial warehouses that so many other breweries operate out of. It makes sense, considering their restaurant is a destination in itself, serving up proper New Orleans-style southern fried chicken ($22) on its menu. While you dig in try their beers in the form of a flight, and make sure the ESB and Abbey Dubbel are among those tasters. The best bit is that they're open every day of the week, so you can stop by anytime and grab a fresh pint or two. 25 Bell Street, Yarra Glen. HOLGATE BREWHOUSE Holgate Brewhouse is one of the most popular craft breweries to come out of Victoria and their brewhouse is the spot to taste their award winning brews. Situated in the village of Woodend (about an hour our of the city), the brewery has been around since 1999 and was set up in Paul and Natasha Holgate's backyard. The bar is very much a country corner pub, with eight taps, classic pub grub and live music every Friday night. If you've overindulged, no worries — grab a room upstairs for the night, with a dinner and beer tasting package while you're at it. 79 High Street, Woodend. MORNINGTON PENINSULA BREWERY Mornington Peninsula Brewery's symbol is derived from a medieval alchemy sign for 'drinkable gold' — and they go to great lengths to fulfil that promise. As they're so focused on their brews, it's a no-frills roller door situation, and they're slinging simple yet tasty pizzas to accompany your brews. If you hit the brewery bar when the Russian Imperial Stout is on tap, don't miss it (or any of their Imperial series beers, for that matter). For the non-beer drinkers among you, you won't be shunned — they have a range of local wines and ciders as well. Mornington is also the only brewery we know that offers free brewery tours every Friday, which includes tastings of their core range. 72 Watt Road, Mornington. DAINTON FAMILY BREWERS After being gypsy brewers for three years, 2016 finally saw the Dainton Family Brewers open their own brewhouse. The taphouse has three separate areas, including a dining room featuring rotating food trucks, a mezzanine overlooking the brewhouse and, most importantly, a beer garden — the perfect spot to enjoy their sours and summer pale ales this summer. The bar also offers snacks, chips and pies from a local bakery, so you'll have plenty to wash down with beer. 560 Frankston-Dandenong Road, Carrum Downs. PRICKLY MOSES Prickly Moses uses only pure Otway rainwater in their brews, and being able to say your brews are made with ingredients from a lush rainforest is pretty epic— as is their location. Set on Otway Estate, you have the option to stay in their spa accommodation and double whammy a trip to the vineyard, brewery and cidery. Among the many beverage options, or favourite is the new Raconteur IPA. The estate is also dog-friendly, so you really can't go wrong here. 10 Hoveys Road, Barongarook.
Two of life’s greatest pleasures are joining forces, thanks to the ever-publicity stunt savvy crew at Ben & Jerry’s. Not content with their dominion over the world of iced confectionery, the company have just announced a partnership with New Belgium Brewing Company to develop an ice cream flavoured beer. Continuing the company’s long tradition of absurdly decadent flavours, the name of the brew has been announced as Salted Caramel Brownie Brown Ale. Details are still relatively scarce (and we're still unsure whether this taste sensation will taste of dreams or outright devilry), although we do know that the drink will contain 6.3 percent alcohol and is set to be released in the United States in the latter half of the year. No word yet on whether it’ll make the journey to Australia, although we’re definitely keeping our fingers crossed in weird, weird curiosity. While it may be a while until we get ice cream flavoured beer, take some comfort in the fact that beer flavoured ice cream is already totally a thing. Molecular ice creamery Nitrogenie released a Pale Ale Caramel flavour in time for last year’s Oktoberfest Brisbane, while Gelato Messina previously produced a VB sorbet for Australia Day. And now Young Henrys are making ANZAC biscuit flavoured beer, we can't really complain. According to The Huffington Post, the partnership between Ben & Jerry’s and New Belgium will benefit Protect Our Winters, an environmental organisation committed to combating climate change. A spokesperson for New Belgium said that the collaboration will “raise awareness around issues we are passionate about, and that the results will be delicious.” This isn’t the first time that Ben & Jerry’s have toyed with mind-altering substances, with the company previously floating the idea of a marijuana-infused ice cream flavour in territories where recreational cannabis use is legal. Via The Huffington Post.
Those who were mad fans of Bill Cunningham, or watched and loved the 2010 documentary Bill Cunningham: New York (that Venn diagram is probably a single circle), would be unsurprised to hear that the legendary fashion photographer was still shooting less than a month before his death last Saturday. Cunningham's tenacity and single-minded focus, along with his modesty and warmth were just some of the things that made the street style photographer such a joy to watch. As a reporter and historian of fashion he displayed an extraordinary depth of understanding of his subject. It's a little dismaying therefore to discover that finding photos taken by Bill Cunningham is harder than you might expect. Trawl the usual channels (Google, Tumblr, Pinterest) and inevitably nearly every image will contain a telltale flash of blue — the French workman's jacket that Cunningham made his now-iconic uniform. Though I can't blame anyone for wanting to swoon over Cunningham himself, it seems fitting to honour the reluctant celebrity by turning our attention back to his work — if nothing else, there's no doubt that's what he would have preferred. [caption id="attachment_578295" align="alignnone" width="1280"] William J. Cunningham, Facades, Penguin Books, 1978.[/caption] NEW YORK IS ITS OWN STAGE Cunningham's muse, friend and co-star Editta Sherman poses in full Edwardian get-up in this shot from Cunningham's 1978 book Facades. Many of the photographs from the book depict authentic period costumes (which Cunningham himself had collected) placed against a backdrop of iconic New York architecture. The photos are contemplation on a city that, perhaps more than any other, has made progress and modernity into an aesthetic. Though Cunningham is better known for his (generally) unstaged street photography, this photo of the Lady Bracknell-esque Sherman includes elements of the photographer's sense of humour which are familiar. Note the advertisement hanging on the graffitied subway car above Sherman: "A woman of good taste". [caption id="attachment_578296" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Bill Cunningham, Vogue, (Conde Nast, March 1974).[/caption] AMERICAN FASHION "OOZES VITALITY" If you're interested in 20th century fashion history then don't walk, RUN to watch this 2014 interview in which Cunningham describes "the most exciting fashion show" of his life. Cunningham is momentarily reduced to tears as he recalls details of the 1973 'Battle of Versailles' fashion show, in which French and American designers were pitted against one another. The two nations' designers represented two different fashion ideologies, and Cunningham wasn't shy about naming his victor. In the Chicago Tribune, he wrote that the Yanks "devastated" their French counterparts, with their "uncluttered American taste oozing vitality". Halston was among the American contingent who showed at Versailles, and though this 1974 photograph by Cunningham displays the more overt, embellished glam of the coming decade, one can still recognise in the dress' cut the kind of simplicity of design that Cunningham was still championing 40 years later. [caption id="attachment_578297" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Bill Cunningham, 'Make Your Own Art: On the Street', New York Times (OCT. 31, 2014)[/caption] FASHION NEEDS EXPERIMENTATION TO AVOID SIMPLY BEING COMMERCE So here's a fun fact: Bill Cunningham literally invented the application of the word 'deconstructionism' to fashion (Bonnie English, Japanese Fashion Designers: The Work and Influence of Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto and Rei Kawakubo, Berg, 15 Aug. 2013 , p.170). It is a rare thing indeed to encounter someone with so fierce, varied and long-lasting an appetite for fashion. In a 1989 video interview, Cunningham described how he first recognised parallels between the early 1980s designs of Rei Kawakubo, and the clothes worn by New York's homeless women. His tone is not uncritical as he makes this extraordinary observation, but you can also detect his exhilaration as he goes on to make a further link to the proportions of medieval European dress. More recently in his 'On The Street' video series for the New York Times, Cunningham showed his continued fascination with the avant-garde by comparing the red of mainstream fashion to Kawakubo's "blood and roses". He concluded: "Fashion as we know it today is absolutely commerce. Very little artistic expression. Lots of it is very beautiful and women look wonderful in it. There's nothing wrong with that! But you have to have this wild experimentation." [caption id="attachment_578300" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Bill Cunningham, 'Dashing', New York Times (February 24, 2012).[/caption] COLOUR IS POWERFUL AND DEMANDS YOUR RESPECT Many of Cunningham's most enticing collage spreads for the New York Times were based around a colour theme. Cunningham sensitivity to and appreciation of colour was something else. In 1965, the New York Times reported on a presentation given by Cunningham at Carnegie Recital Hall (the same building in which he lived and from which he was evicted in 2010). Cunningham spoke to an audience of fashion designers and students and described the colours he had seen at the recent Paris couture shows. To illustrate the colours he "sliced a pumpkin in half, peeled a banana and held up a raw beefsteak to illustrate the major colours…", documented by Bernadine Morris in her 'Two Views on Fashions: One Scholarly, One Pop' piece. Cunningham never lost his voracious appetite for fashion, and it's hard to imagine that we'll see his like again.
There's a lot to learn about the gin and tonic. The classic combination of bitter and sweet has become a cocktail staple — mixed with a little lime and a lot of ice, it's endlessly refreshing and easy to make. We've all gone into a bar and had a bad G&T, but we've all gone into a bar and had a decent one too. How can the combination of two ingredients have such a different outcome? In partnership with Bombay Sapphire, we investigated. This is how you make the perfect G&T — from the tonic water, all the way to the garnish. OBVIOUSLY, YOUR CHOICE OF GIN IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT We've been treated to a gin resurgence of late. Hundreds of distilleries across the world are now creating their own gin — there are smaller, craft gin companies that have popped up and larger, more established brands that will hopefully stay around and bless us with gin forever. Gin is made with a base spirit, and botanicals (like coriander, orris root and juniper berries) are added during the distillation process in order to produce a certain, sweet flavour. Every gin company uses botanicals in its own way to produce its own unique flavour. "It's what you do with the botanicals that differentiates gin," says Sean Forsyth, Bombay Sapphire ambassador. "Bombay Sapphire is the only London dry gin to infuse the botanicals by steaming them instead of boiling them, which produces a brighter, more vibrant, kind of fresher, uplifting flavour." Gin is an incredibly varied drink, so it's important to figure out what brand (and flavour) suits your palette before you start using it in your G&Ts. Luckily, "never has the consumer had more choice available to them", says Forsyth. Try out a few brands and decide on one that you like. TONIC WATER MAKES UP THREE QUARTERS OF YOUR COCKTAIL Tonic water is not to be underestimated. Like gin, its flavour also varies drastically between brands. Smaller craft producers, according to Forsyth, focus on "natural cane sugars, using high quality, filtered waters, and of course using real botanicals, real quinine and real spices to flavour their mixers." The result is a tonic that isn't overly sweet, syrupy, and is generally more approachable than one you would find on a supermarket shelf. Many bartenders favour the brand Fever Tree in their drinks, because they focus on all of the above factors, as well as making sure their tonic has a decent level of carbonation. "A lot of bubbles is really important to a great gin and tonic," says Forsyth. The fizz tickles your nose and the smell of the gin becomes more apparent." But again, "it all comes down to preference and taste," he says. Don't be too hasty to chuck out the Schweppes if that's what you prefer. GET A LITTLE INVENTIVE WITH YOUR GARNISHES Arguments over the best garnish for the G&T are heated, but the answer arguably lies in the geography. Limes grow in India, and lemons usually don't, so it's most likely that "the original garnish for the gin and tonic was actually lime, not lemon", as Forsyth says. If you choose to garnish with lime, rub the rind around the rim of the glass before dropping it into your drink. Half of what you taste is what you smell first, and this tactic will take the lime flavour to the next, subtle level. But don't get bogged down in tradition — mix up your garnish with something that complements or contrasts with the botanicals. For example, Forsyth recommends you sling a little black pepper and strawberry, or some cassia bark in there to get a "really delicious, almost Christmas inspired gin and tonic". YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE THE CLASSIC G&T, AND THAT'S OKAY Maybe you don't like the combination of gin and tonic water, no matter how hard you try to get involved. That's completely okay. Maybe you prefer your drink a little sweeter. If so, add a touch of sugar syrup, or something like a melon syrup to your drink to jazz up your adventure a little further. Better yet, try out some cocktails that play with the G&T tradition, like a Lemon Collins, a Gin Rickey, or a Gin Basil Tonic, a drink that the guys at PS40 knocked up just for Forsyth that uses gin, lemon, fresh basil, a touch of sugar and a healthy dose of tonic. If you're just not that into tonic water, try mixing your gin with soda, or opting for a stronger Negroni or martini. If you like drinking gin, you have so many options of things to do with it — the cocktail world is your oyster. Images: Kimberley Low and Steven Woodburn (top image).
Lighthouses have been the guiding beacon of lonely seas for centuries. Although nowadays we are blessed with GPS technology and automated glowing lights, these romantic towers guided fisherman, shabby sailors and new migrants safely to the rocky shores around Melbourne, a city that was then only just finding its feet. Visiting and climbing the steep spiralling staircases of these historical lighthouses is a romantic and windy experience that is best combined with a picnic or some quality local fish and chips on the lookout or a nearby beach. Here are ten of the best to visit near Melbourne. Recommended reads: The Best Summer Day Trips From Melbourne The Best Coastal Walks Near Melbourne The Best Beaches in Melbourne The Snorkel Spots in and Around Melbourne [caption id="attachment_564228" align="alignnone" width="1280"] bryce.muchow via Flickr[/caption] Cape Otway Lightstation, Great Ocean Road Need a little bit of light in your life? How about a beacon of hope? Sending glowing rays out into the ocean off the Great Ocean Road, the Cape Otway Lightstation was the first thing migrants saw when arriving in Australia. The oldest lighthouse on the grizzly-looking cliffs on the mainland, the lighthouse is also a choice whale watching spot, conveniently located on the migration path of 20 types of whales. Koalas are also known to roam these parts. [caption id="attachment_564247" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Paul Carmona via Flickr[/caption] Queenscliff High Light, Bellarine Peninsula What's this? A black lighthouse? Yes, they exist — but only as a minority. The Queenscliff High Light is one of only three black lighthouses in the world. It stands together with the white Queenscliff Low Light to guide ships into the entrance of Port Phillip Bay. After having fish and chips in town, take a squiz at these majestic constructions at Fort Queenscliff. [caption id="attachment_564220" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Jorge Láscar via Flickr[/caption] Cape Liptrap Lighthouse, South Gippsland Navigating the turbulent washing machine on high-speed seas over the Bass Strait was made easier in the 1800s by this joyous octagonal structure. Close to Wilsons Prom and nestled between Waratah and Venus Bays, visiting Cape Liptrap Lighthouse also means you can take a stroll along the sandy beaches, swim in the ocean or stay for a few nights at one of the nice little bush camps. Eastern Lighthouse, Mornington Peninsula Behold the tallest lighthouse on mainland Victoria. This 34-metre steel tower of a beast with 120 spiral steps lives on the foreshore reserve at McRae, between Dromana and Rosebud. No longer operating (but forever in our hearts as one of the best of its time), the Eastern Lighthouse guided ships on the South Channel on the eastern side of Port Phillip Bay. These days, you can stay at the McCrae Lighthouse Retreat and take in its magnificence from your dwelling. Split Point Lighthouse, Great Ocean Road Have you ever, ever felt like this? Yes, finally, here is the lighthouse of our childhoods. Known to some as Spilt Point, but to many others as the 'White Queen', this popular tourist mecca in Aireys Inlet is the lighthouse from every '90s kid's favourite show, Round the Twist. Prior to its TV fame, the lighthouse prevented shipwrecks along the coast, where ten occurred. Now, it's great for 360-degree views of the Great Ocean Road area and offers tours for Round the Twist fans. [caption id="attachment_564235" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Jorge Láscar via Flickr[/caption] Lady Bay Lighthouses, Warrnambool These two red and white lighthouses, still in working order, sit side by side atop of the historic Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village in Warrnambool. As well as directing ships, these twin lighthouses have overlooked the building of the Garrison and cannons — a response to the perceived threat of foreign forces to the British Empire in 1880. Although the cannons still work, these days, the lighthouses are more of a relaxing lookout spot for tourists. [caption id="attachment_564236" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Robyn Cox via Flickr[/caption] Cape Schanck Lightstation, Mornington Peninsula They say good things come to those who wait. And Cape Schanck knows that better than anyone — they waited a good long 18 years before this limestone baby was built. Praised by lighthouse enthusiasts as one of the best original lighthouses, it's a beaut history lesson and glimpse into the life of a keeper with the on-site museum. Look at old relics and abandon the wistful dream of light keeping — the poor sap had to rewind the lamp every hour on the hour, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. [caption id="attachment_564237" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Ian Cochrane via Flickr[/caption] Wilsons Promontory Lightstation, Wilsons Prom If you fancy strapping on all your food and camping gear for a steep stroll from Tidal River and heading into the native wilderness for 18 kilometres, you'll discover the most southerly (and most remote) lighthouse in Australia. The Wilsons Promontory Lightstation is a granite tower with three keeper's cottages (which can be booked for accommodation) close by. The spectacular view over the coastline is ideal for spotting seals. [caption id="attachment_564244" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Stevage via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Point Hicks Lighthouse, East Gippsland In 1770, Captain Cook wrote in his diary: "With the first daylight this morn the land was seen, it made in sloping hill covered in part with trees and bushes, but interspersed with large tracts of sand." He was writing of Point Hicks, which, located in the rugged beauty of Crajingolong National Park, is now known historically as Cook's first landfall in Australia. The Point Hicks Lighthouse marks the spot where the Endeavour came to shore. The surrounding land is untouched and unchanged, and looks as it did hundreds of years ago. Isolation and ancient beauty doesn't come easy though — it's over four hours drive to the national park from Melbourne and some bush bashing in your car may be involved. [caption id="attachment_564245" align="alignnone" width="1280"] trilia2013 via Flickr[/caption] Timeball Tower, Williamstown What exactly is a timeball? Is it a futuristic device created by our ancestors to predict the apocalypse? This doomsday-esque tower sits in the southwestern Melbourne pocket of Williamstown. Originally built for use as a lighthouse in 1849, the structure was later used as a timeball tower from 1861 to 1926, where the ball dropped every day at 1pm to allow shipmasters anchored offshore to correct their chronometers. What is a shipmaster? And what is a chronometer? It's all very mysterious. Top image: Cameron Murray for Visit Victoria.
If someone hasn't already reminded you that today is the first of March (with a petrified look of a person on the brink of a mid-life crisis, no less), this bit of news should well and truly confirm that summer is over. Vivid Sydney has this morning given us the first tidbit from their 2017 program, announcing indie folk-rock band Fleet Foxes as their first visiting artist. The US band will bring their bright dance-around-the-forest songs to the Sydney Opera House for four exclusive shows on May 26–29 this year. These will be the band's only shows in Australia — and their first here in five years — so tickets will be allocated via a ballot system. Anyone who sat online to get (or miss out on) tickets to the Opera House's Bon Iver show last year will appreciate this method of allocation. Fans of Fleet Foxes will know the band have been extremely quiet of late; they haven't released an album since Helplessness Blues back in 2011. The band is set to release their third album this year — which, according to Consequence of Sound, is called Ylajali — and has already locked in some European tour dates post-Vivid, meaning that we could potentially be the first to hear their new material. The Fleet Foxes gig is the first announcement for Vivid 2017, which will this year run from May 26 until June 17. The full program will be announced later this month. That should get you excited for winter. Fleet Foxes will play four shows at the Sydney Opera House from May 26–29. The ballot is open now until 11.59pm on Sunday, March 5. You can enter 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 from October 14. That's when 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 called Haven't you always wanted...?, it's the winner of the 2016 NGV Architecture Commission — and it's free to check out. 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.
The Rockpool brand is about as strong a brand you can find in Australian dining, with the flagship Sydney venue — that's regularly voted in the top ten steakhouses in the world — opening back in 2009. Inspired by the great steakhouses of North America, Rockpool prides itself on sourcing its beef from the top providers in Australia — and when teamed up with its exceptional wine list, it's easy to see why its reputation is bulletproof. While its big brother in Sydney hogs the limelight, the Melbourne restaurant by no means lives in its shadow, with a style and reputation all its own. Located within the Crown Casino complex, the venue itself is elegant and stylish, with wooden finishes throughout and wood-panelled walls that seem to add flavour to the beef. The chefs also perform in an open kitchen, adding an element of theatricality. The Melbourne Rockpool menu begins with snacks and cold starters such as a caviar bar complete potato crisps and condiments, as well as a yellowfin tartare with black sesame and Davidson plum. Hot starters include whole grilled king prawns, woodfired wagyu chorizo and grilled octopus with chimichurri. Mains have something for everyone, with the menu featuring easily accessible favourites such as grilled lamb rump, Tasmanian rock lobster and a wild green spanakopita. The woodfire grill is where Rockpool made its name though, and features cuts from Australian producers such as Blackmore, Cape Grim and Robbins Island — you can rest assured you're getting the finest cuts on the market. The Blackmore dry aged scotch 9+ is aged for 30 days and is just about the perfect cut of meat, while the Coppertree Farms rib eye on the bone is aged for 32 days and is incredibly succulent. Pair your beef with condiments including mustards and a jalapeño hot sauce, as well as sides including padron peppers, roasted brussels sprouts and sautéed potatoes with garlic, rosemary and wagyu fat. Equally as impressive as the woodfire grill, is the wine list — that one of their professional sommeliers will guide you through. There's everything, from a light Huon Valley pinot noir by the glass to a $57,000 bottle of Chateau Haut-Brion from 1982. While Rockpool in Melbourne is certainly fancy, and you'll want to dress sharp for it, it's not too exclusive for the average Joe. Circle the next special date on the calendar and make a booking. Just be sure to bring your appetite.
A real life Willy Wonka is on his way to Melbourne. Catalan designer Martí Guixé has made a name for himself at the intersection of food, art and design, with works ranging from flavoured postage stamps to breathable cuisine. Now the so-called father of food design will present his first major Australian exhibition at NGV International, in the form of a colourful, custom-designed kitchen designed to teach kids and families about their attitudes to what they eat. Running from mid-June until mid-September, the free interactive exhibition, entitled Fake Food Park: Martí Guixé for Kids, will consist of "hands-on activities and digital design challenges" that encourage visitors to "sprout new ideas for food concepts and flavours" — and create their very own 'Fake Food Park' menu. The exhibition will also feature a selection of Guixé's drawings and illustrations as well as his famous fruit-and-vegetable wallpaper, which has previously been featured in galleries including MoMA, Design Museum London and the National Art Centre Tokyo. "We are delighted to bring the ground-breaking ideas of Martí Guixé to the NGV Kids exhibition space," said NGV director Tony Ellwood. "Guixé is a pioneer in his field; designing, innovating and challenging notions of how we eat in often whimsical and surprising ways... Fake Food Park will ask budding young designers to think about the future of food and reconsider familiar food items, from inventing snacks which can be eaten underwater to drawing novel combinations of everyday ingredients." Find Fake Food Park at NGV International from June 11. For more information visit the NGV website.
It's not like you ever need much of an excuse to flee the city for a couple of days filled with wine, regional eats and entertainment. But hey, that's exactly what's calling you to jump in the car and head a few hours northwest of the city in May. Long-running flavour fest Grampians Grape Escape returns to Halls Gap Recreation Reserve from Friday, May 2–Sunday, May 4, dishing up yet another jam-packed program to mark its 32nd instalment. Sample hundreds of local craft beers, ciders and wines, and give your appetite a proper workout with food stalls slinging everything from woodfired pizza to paella. You can pick up some new skills at one of the weekend's many masterclasses, and learn culinary secrets at cooking demos led by the likes of Justine Schofield and Dani Venn. Visitors on Saturday can also join the Grampians Winemakers Barrique Auction, where one of the region's top shiraz blends is auctioned off in lots. If this is on your agenda, be sure to keep heaps of spare space in the boot of your car before heading up to the Grampians. Admission costs vary depending on which day(s) you'd like to visit, starting from $40 online. Bus transfers and local glamping options are also available.
Anyone who's ever worn a suit in summer or been forced to make interdepartmental small talk with awkward colleagues in the lunch room will understand that corporate jobs can blow hard. It's no wonder why so many of us are jumping ship to startups and freelance work, lapping up that delightful freedom comes picking a coworking space. Melbourne has some slammin' spaces where creative people gather to do big things and you owe it to yourself to pick the best one for you. What's most important? Power points, ping pong, free biscuits, networking events, slick decor, indoor plants, comfy lounges, speedy wi-fi or all of the above? You'll never blitz a to-do list quicker than at a desk in one of these surefire winning spaces. THE CLUSTER The Cluster is the bigwig of coworking spaces. The sprawling corporate office space is located across Queen and Market Street in the CBD and overlooks the Yarra (it's fancy AF). More importantly, they're geared up for serious business with six multimedia meeting rooms. Their laundry list of impressive tech and corporate clients means the Cluster is the kind of space that would best suit serious(ly financially stable) startups and small companies who need a corporate infrastructure to grow (hello endless colour printing). But it's not all corporate — there's a keg in the kitchen. 17/31 Queen Street, Melbourne ROY SPACE Here's one for all your plant lovers out there. Roy Space is nestled right in the heart of Fitzroy, just off the intersection of Brunswick Street and Johnston Street, and boasts a healthy jungle of indoor plants in a bright, beautiful space. The cute office has a small population but large desks (about two metres wide), which is the ideal combination. Speedy internet, 24-hour access, table tennis and a separate meeting room is all included in the (very reasonable) monthly price, making it perfect for creative freelancers. Roy Space, 3 Chapel Street, Fitzroy MACQUARIE STREET STUDIO Macquarie Street Studio is your new home away from home for the creative coworkers who are looking for a beautiful blank canvas on which to build your perfect office. The raw, white industrial space is flooded with light and the attached photography studio makes it ideal for photographers, artists, graphic designers and anyone with minimalist leanings. It's just off High Street in Prahan, close to train, tram and a swag of cafe choices. Macquarie Street Studio, 1/24 Macquarie Street, Prahran INSPIRE9 One of the biggest benefits for freelancers and startups to get involved with a coworking space is the networking and skill-share opportunities that arise from close working quarters. Inspire9 taps into that potential for young companies. The former Australian Knitting Mill space in Richmond has been renovated and transformed into a light, airy, contemporary open plan office decked out with plants, bean bags, pool tables and reading nooks. Where Inspire9 up their game is their killer parties, social and networking events — after all, nothing bonds colleagues like a dress-up party. Level 1/41 Stewart Street, Richmond FRAMEWORK Framework on Swanston Street is a small coworking space on the CBD fringe with a tonne of charm. Their amenities game is on point too, with both table tennis and pool table to choose from, a working fireplace, two meeting rooms and all the cookies you can feasibly gobble without losing your coworkers' respect. The space was renovated and expanded in 2015 and now features polished floor boards, exposed brick and lots of natural light. You'll find yourself a mix of artists, photographers, entrepreneurs and digital agency folk. Oh, and the wig maker responsible for Dumbledore's glorious beards. 458 Swanston Street, Carlton REVOLVER CREATIVE If you're looking for coworking digs on the south side, Revolver will be your first port of call. They're located on Chapel Street, specialise in tech startups and combine the best of new-school and old-school office spaces. The space is industrial, functional and inviting with a great pricing structure and all the resources you could need. Like seriously, they've thought of everything. On-site café and coffee machine, an office Flexicar, soundproof Skype rooms, showers, bike racks, meditation cave and more meeting spaces than you'll know what to do with (but probably have meetings in). Revolver Creative, 231 Chapel Street, Prahran YORK BUTTER FACTORY York Butter Factory, named after the original 1855 building, is located is behind a heavy red door on King Street in the CBD. It's a big space (577 square metres to be precise), spanning two floors but they managed to fill it with big players in the tech world so you can rub shoulders with valuable contacts. The old space has been beautifully renovated but retains that old-school charm. It also features five meeting rooms, a café/kitchen area and a huge event space. 62-66 King Street, Melbourne DEPO8 Depo8 is another creative coworking space just off Chapel Street with members across a broad list of industries. The mid-sized office is warm and minimalist with a crafty, homemade feel and is, of course, decked out with plants. They're ideal for non-committal co-workers as they offer incredibly flexible (and hourly) rates but no doubt once you're there you'll fall in love with the place. As well as generous spatial arrangements, they're got you covered on all the office essentials — kitchen space, gratuitous caffeine, bike storage, showers, meeting rooms and super speedy internet. What more could you want? Level 1/39 – 41 Mount Street, Prahran ROTSON Rotson Studio is another babein' shared work space in Fitzroy that's all flattering light, lush indoor plants and minimalism. Being just around the corner from Naked for Satan also helps Rotson's cool factor. The studio has polished wooden floorboards, high ceilings and a view of the city as well all the amenities you can shake a stick at (kitchen, showers, bike racks, high-speed internet). The team is made up of vibrant young entrepreneurs and creatives so if your work family is in need of an upgrade, this is the studio for you. Rotson Studio, Level 2,/105 Victoria Street, Fitzroy CCLABS Formerly known as Queens Collective, CClabs co-working space is favoured by tech startups. This Queen Street space is ideal for those of you who need your desk to be Tumblr-esque level immaculate before you can concentrate. But apart from the uncluttered and beautifully presented space, Queens Collective's strength lies in their networking events which are numerous and high-powered. 1/20 Queen St, Melbourne Top image: Roy Space.
The process of making sourdough is a complex one, and the Swedes talk it as seriously as they take their creamy meatballs and minimalist furniture design. If you're doing it by the book, creating one loaf is a very long and complicated task, and like the art of making whiskey, ramen, craft beer, cold drip and growing a beard, it has amassed a devoted niche following. But in an adorable move, Sweden has opened its own 24-hour hotel, just for sourdough. You'll find this adorable land of loaves in the Arlanda airport in Stockholm, run by the RC Chocolat bakery. You can check in your sourdough any time of day, 24/7, for about 100 Swedish krona [about $17] a week. They'll keep your sourdough, care for it, feed it with an organic flour of your choice and massage water into the dough, then hand it back, all ready for baking. But why the need for a hotel? The process of making sourdough involves ‘refreshing’ or massaging the dough and, depending on a host of factors, may need to happen every 24 hours for two weeks. So if you’re a hip Swede, living in an airy loft apartment in Stockholm, cultivating a batch of pungent sourdoughs but you need to travel to a typography convention, what do you do? Before, you had to stay home with the loaves and tend to them lovingly, like they were your children, and then eat them with jam while sad-drunk because you’ve spent your youth raising loaves of fashionable bread instead of a family. But now you can check your dough-children into a hotel while you jet around the world and know they’re receiving top-class care and attention. Charlotta Soor, the owner of RC Chocolat, told Munchies that the Scandinavian love of food with an acid component (such as sour milk and yoghurt) might explain the nationwide obsession with sourdough. She also added, “One has to remember that a sourdough can live for generations as long as you take good care of it, which is pretty amazing.” You’re not wrong, Charlotta, this is all pretty amazing. Well there you have it folks, a hotel for bread. Now back to the studio. Via Munchies. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
When the clock struck midnight on December 31, 2019, this year began in a familiar fashion. All around Australia, beverages were raised in cheers to the next 12 months. But as we all know by now, 2020 hasn't delivered what anyone hoped for. If there has been a silver lining to this tough year, however, it has been the renewed focus on supporting local businesses. As well as spending more time at home, shopping local, eating local and sipping local have all been on the agenda. And that has been essential for two Queensland drinks companies, Brisbane's Aether Brewing and Far North Queensland's Mt Uncle Distillery. They've been forging ahead and doing what they do best — and what their local fans love — even under the most trying of circumstances. Queenslanders have certainly shown them both affection, with Aether and Mt Uncle picked as the Sunshine State's favourite tipples during the BWS Local Luvvas initiative. Aether's brews and Mt Uncle's Botanic Australis Gin will now receive an extra helping hand with getting both products stocked in more BWS stores. And we've spoken to the masterminds behind the two drops about their dream jobs, their love of making top-notch drinks and the importance of homegrown support. WHEN YOUR PASSION BECOMES YOUR JOB With Mt Uncle Distillery based on a farm in the Atherton Tablelands, head distiller and director Mark Watkins doesn't just spend his days making the most of FNQ's sultry weather — he also makes drinks perfect for those tropical climes, too. Indeed, his love of the region's climate is one of the reasons he is doing what he does today. "Given the inability to grow grapes up here, I decided to put my wine science degree to use and make rum," he explains. Watkins started his distilling journey before his studies, as a teenager. "Needless to say, I was popular with my mates," he notes. But when he dived into the botany side of his degree, he "fell in love with Australian native plants, and had the drive to pursue the production of the quintessential Australian gin" — which is where the concept of Botanic Australis began. For Aether's Dave Ward, his move into brewing arose out of a completely different field — fly-in fly-out jobs building gas plants. Meeting and working alongside his now-former business partner, they both realised that "FIFO wasn't exactly the life we wanted to live forever, and the thought of owning a brewery really just fit with what we wanted," he advises. The fact that Ward already had a lifelong passion for brewing and beer helped, unsurprisingly. Ward credits that affection for yeasty beverages, and for making them, to his father. "It is one of my earliest memories as a child, brewing with dad and his friends — the exploding bottles in the laundry, the dodgy stouts from extract and some pretty awful beer," he explains. "Those memories have stuck with me my whole life, and fuelled my love of brewing and great beer. I home-brewed on and off for most of my adult life, and eventually I found my life in a position where I was able to live my dream." GETTING CREATIVE — AND LOCAL Obviously, it takes more than just a fondness for a frothy beverage to make it in the drinks industry. As Ward advises, "brewing for me is an expression of creativity". He's now at the point where, when he's "on the brew floor or designing new beers, it comes naturally" — but he admits that getting to that point required hard work. "The real challenge started when I started studying and I realised that I knew nothing about beer. The more I learnt, the more I wanted to know, and the more I realised that my lifetime wasn't going to be enough for me to learn everything I need to be the brewer I want to be," he says. Perhaps it shouldn't come as a surprise, then, that when asked to describe a great beer, Ward notes that it "isn't a style, or a flavour, or even a taste". Rather, he sees it as "the ability to make a beer for everyone". At Mt Uncle, Watkins has a firm view of what makes a standout spirit, too. For him — like much of his approach to his work — it reflects his location. While it'd be hard not to love distilling gin in such scenic, relaxed and leafy surroundings, Watkins can't separate his tipples from his home base. "A great spirit should reflect the environment that creates it," he tells us. In practical terms, that means that Mt Uncle sources or grows all of its ingredients locally. It's a great source of pride to the distillery, with everything in its products either stemming from around the distillery or from a stone's throw away. ADAPTING TO TOUGH TIMES WITH HOMEGROWN SUPPORT In Mt Uncle's case, you could say that what goes around comes around — in a positive manner, of course. "We are a very small business and times recently have been quite trying," Watkins says, referring to this pandemic-afflicted year. "Local support is essential and a massive part of our business' DNA. If it wasn't for our local fan base we would not be here." For Ward, the embrace of Brisbane's beer community has been just as pivotal. "Honestly, if it wasn't for the amazing support that locals gave — whether they are in our neighbourhood or we are stocked in theirs — we would more than likely have gone under when COVID-19 hit," he admits. "Over the past few years, we have seen a shift towards local; people want to know who makes their beer, food or products," Ward observes, "and the last 12 months have pushed this further into the spotlight". To find these or other Queensland drinks as part of the BWS Local Luvva's initiative, head to your nearest BWS store.
Located within the historical Garden State Hotel on Flinders Lane, Tippy-Tay is Melbourne's love letter to the coastlines of Italy. Walk across the yellow and green brick-framed threshold of this stylish trattoria and be transported immediately to the Mediterranean. The menu embraces everything that we love about Italian food: simple, well-sourced ingredients and dishes designed to share. Start your meal with freshly shucked oysters, octopus 'salami' or pumpkin and goat's cheese arancini. Move onto antipasti with wagyu carpaccio, yellowfin tuna or parmesan custard with radicchio, orange, and hazelnuts. Pasta dishes include a classic spanner crab fusilli or Manjimup truffle and porcini mafaldine — or try something a little different with two-sheet lasagne verde with slipper lobster, prawn, mussels and scallops in a white sauce. Tippy-Tay is slinging pizzas like the lobster diavola with slipper lobster, 'nduja, cherry tomato, chilli and garlic alongside classics like margherita and cacio e pepe. Mains include options like grilled swordfish with golden olive caponata and fennel, roasted eggplant with chickpeas, tomato and chilli, and 250-gram Jack's Creek bavette steak with rocket and parmesan. Can't decide what to eat? Go for the 'Feed Me Menu' — there's even an option to add three paired wines and a limoncello to finish. If you're thirsty, there's plenty to choose from on the drinks menu. There is a thoughtfully curated wine list that heroes Italian grapes with a couple of vinos from South Australia, Victoria and New Zealand. The cocktail menu features the classics like negroni and margarita, as well as some house creations such as the frozen limoncello — made with Tippy-Tay's own limoncello — and frozen Malfy G&T, Tippy-Tay's OG cocktail made with Malfy blood orange gin, pineapple, citrus and tonic.
Between clean eating and superfoods, who would have thought fried chicken would be the craze that stuck around? And if you're one of many seeking out the best battered chook in the city, it's hard to go past Belles Hot Chicken, where their sole focus is just that. Formerly Belles Diner, chefs and co-owners Aaron Turner and Morgan McGlone have converted the space on Gertrude Street into their own, while leaving most of the original interior in tact. Brown booths keep it casual without crossing the line to kitsch, and tables are lined with dishes inspired by Nashville, Tennessee, where they've both just spent the better part of recent times. Let's be honest, if you find yourself at Belles, there's a good chance you're there for the chicken, but — just in case you're not — there are fish and mushroom alternatives too. The menu is laconic, but once you step up to the counter to order, there are more choices to make than you may first think. Which cut of chicken do you want: wings, tenders or dark meat? And which level of spice can you handle? Mild, medium, hot, really hot — or are you daring enough for the really f**king hot chicken? No matter your selection, the crunchy, golden coating gives way to juicy, tender meat and the heat has certainly got a bit of kick to it. It's served with pickles and your choice of a side on top of a slice of bread to soak up the oozing spices, which will set you back $16. For an extra $2, choose from three sauces to combat the fire in your mouth. The sides ($5), such as mixed pickles and mac and cheese, could do with a bit more spunk, but the star of the show shines. Wait until the weekend for the chicken and waffles special ($18). Yep, you have not lived until you've tried the sugary sweet leavened dough drowning in maple syrup, and coupled with the savoury pieces of poultry. There's American beer, there's wine, there's whiskey, there's a record player blaring in the background and staff are sometimes inclined to dance around the restaurant. It's fun. Sure, it's a little more expensive than good old KFC, but it comes without the stain of the fast food stigma. It's a hell of a lot tastier and it's so on-trend.
UPDATE, January 8, 2021: Color Out of Space is available to stream via Shudder, Google Play, YouTube Movies and iTunes. He's the king of the unhinged, the master of on-screen mania and perhaps the only person that can make pouring vodka all over themselves while howling look perfectly natural. He is, of course, the one and only Nicolas Cage. While his resume boasts more ups and downs than a rollercoaster — an Oscar for Leaving Las Vegas on one side, his oh-so-many forgettable straight-to-video flicks on the other — he's also the ideal person to lead Lovecraftian horror adaptation Color Out of Space. Whenever Cage keeps things quiet and normal, he evokes the unnerving sensation that perhaps everything is too quiet and normal. When he's letting loose, there's really no telling what could happen next. A film about a glowing meteor that crashes on an alpaca farm and not only forever changes a family's existence, but their entire grasp on reality, Color Out of Space needs both Cage's unsettlingly calm and brain-bogglingly over-the-top sides. More than that, it thrives on them. Six months after his wife Theresa's (Joely Richardson) mastectomy, Nathan Gardner's (Cage) life is settling back into a routine. With their three kids — stoner Benny (Brendan Meyer), wannabe wicca Lavinia (Madeleine Arthur) and primary school-aged Jack (Julian Hillard) — the couple has taken over Nathan's late father's remote New England property, lapping up its tree-lined surroundings and the slower pace that comes with it. The oddest thing they have to deal with: Nathan's certainty that alpacas are the future. Well, that and the grin on his face when he's milking the woolly animals. Then, just as a hydrologist (Elliot Knight) arrives to survey the farm's water, a blazing rock plummets from the heavens — turning the sky an otherworldly shade of fuchsia, unleashing both radiation and shape-shifting aliens, and sparking quite the wave of strange events. 'Strange' is a relative term in any given situation; what's unusual to one person mightn't seem all that out of the ordinary to someone else. But by combining a HP Lovecraft short story, the beacon of weird that is Cage, and a director known for making vivid and distinctive movies, Color Out of Space is emphatically, undeniably strange — regardless of your individual threshold for the bizarre. That filmmaker is Richard Stanley, who gained attention with a couple of sci-fi and horror flicks in the early 90s. Since 1996, he's been best known for being fired from the big Marlon Brando-starring flop The Island of Doctor Moreau. Stanley hasn't actually directed a fictional feature since, sticking to a few documentaries until now — and based on the hallucinatory imagery splashed across Color Out of Space's pink and purple-hued frames, he has decades of strangeness stored up. When Cage begins yelling maniacally, the farm's water turns sinister, grotesque critters start scuttling around and mutated flesh begins to feature heavily, Color Out of Space unleashes all of its absurd and peculiar wonders. When Cheech & Chong's Tommy Chong plays one of the most sensible characters — a hermit squatting on the Gardners' land, and the first person to verbalise his suspicions about the luminous boulder and its effects — this head trip of a film demonstrates that it's definitely not on any standard wavelength. It actually takes 40 slow-burning minutes until Color Out of Space dazzles viewers with its batshit antics, just like its incandescent rock gradually overpowers everyone in its vicinity, but the feature's first act is anything but subdued. Festering with unease, as aided by Steve Annis' (I Am Mother) vibrant cinematography and Colin Stetson's (Hereditary) psychedelic score, this movie is just waiting to explode with mind-bending havoc. Considering that it's also a film about the mess that follows a disease like cancer, simmering with distress then breaking out in chaos always feels supremely fitting. Still, much like Cage at his most Cage-esque — running around the streets claiming he's undead in 80s curio Vampire's Kiss springs to mind, as does every second of 90s action blockbuster Face/Off — Colour Out of Space is a movie that sometimes approaches its limits. It means to push them. In fact, given its source material and Lovecraft's renowned fondness for all things monstrous, it has to. When an otherwise ordinary family is being driven mad by a colourful meteor in visually, emotionally and physically disturbing ways, a mood of relentlessness and ridiculousness is wholly appropriate. But, as glorious as the movie's gleefully bonkers sights, sounds and story developments all are, they can threaten to weigh the feature down. The Gardners are no longer experiencing time in a normal way, and audiences can be forgiven for feeling like they're going through the same process. Stanley turns Lovecraft's wild, weird tale into an off-kilter kaleidoscopic spectacle — and another suitably strange entry on Cage's lengthy resume, naturally — but occasionally lets it get a little too lost in its own delirium. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLmvs9Wrem0
The Australian mud crab will soon be getting all the glory at Crown Towers thanks to the international fine-diner Ministry of Crab. Following a sold-out run in 2022, the global seafood legends are returning to Crown's Evergreen events space overlooking the Yarra to serve up an exclusive five-course set menu for one month only. This is a rare opportunity for Aussies to try some of the best crab dishes in the world, made by Dharshan Munidasa, one of Sri Lanka's most celebrated chefs. He opened Ministry of Crab over a decade ago in Colombo and now has outposts in Bangkok, the Maldives, Shanghai, Mumbai and Chengdu. His spots also regularly rank in Asia's 50 Best Restaurants, so it's fair to say he cooks a mean crustacean. From Thursday, March 28–Saturday, April 27, sustainably sourced Northern Australian Mud Crab (flown in live) will be used in the recreation of some of Munidasa's signature dishes: his pepper crab, garlic chilli crab and crab avocado salad. Mooloolaba king prawns will also feature in the set menu, which ends with a coconut creme brûlée. You'll be paying $155 for your feast — and for Melbourne seafood stans this is a meal that's not to be missed.
Becoming something of a winter tradition in recent years, Pidapipo Gelateria's hot chocolate is back again for the season, making it easy to warm up your hands with a drink-meets-dessert creation. Borrowing techniques from the world of pastry, Pidapipo Co-Founder Lisa Valmorbida developed this recipe back in 2023 alongside Head of Production Nicola Totaro, resulting in the ultimate winter comfort. For first-timers, expect a cup of pure indulgence, where rich and silky hot chocolate is crafted from 70% dark chocolate, meaning there's soothing warmth in every sip. Topped with a generous scoop of Pidapipo's signature house-churned fior di latte gelato folded with marshmallows, the hot chocolate is crowned with caramelised hazelnut croccante — ensuring the ideal sweet crunch finish. "We didn't expect our hot chocolate to become such a thing – but it did, and it's been so nice hearing how much you all missed it. So yes – it's back, and we're so excited to share it with you again!" says Valmorbida. While previous years saw Pidapipo's beloved hot chocolate only available at select stores, the good news is that now every location is serving up this heartwarming beverage until the end of August. Featuring an unchanged recipe that resonates with nostalgic goodness, don't miss your chance to order one from the Fitzroy Laboratorio, alongside the Windsor, Degraves Street and Carlton stores. Perfect for a cold snap pick-me-up or just an extra sweet treat, have no doubt that this decadent drink will bring a little more warmth to your chilly bones this winter. Ready to sip? Pidapipo's cult-followed hot chocolate is available now for $10.50. Pidapipo Gelateria's hot chocolate is now available at all locations — Fitzroy, Degraves Street, Carlton and Windsor — until Sunday, August 31. Head to the website for more information.
Easter weekend is set to serve up much more than just chocolate and bellyaches this year — it also marks the return of much-loved music festival Boogie, which is headed back to Tallarook for its jam-packed 16th instalment. Descending on its longtime rural home from Friday, April 7–Sunday, April 9, the annual celebration of tunes and good vibes is set to deliver as stacked a lineup as ever. Joining in the fun this time around are the likes of jazz-funk four-piece Surprise Chef, 'cosmic country' star Freya Josephine Hollick, Grinspoon's Phil Jamieson, punk legends Private Function, USA outfit The Pink Stones and Sugar D, plus stacks more. [caption id="attachment_886806" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Suprise Chef[/caption] Willie J and the Bad Books, Headspin, Queenie and Full Flower Moon Band will be coming to the party, as will Eils & The Drip, REB, Collingwood Cassanovas and Foggy Notion. There'll be multiple stages, serving a juicy blend of everything from blues and alt-country, to indie rock and electro. What's more, the skilled selectors at 1800 Lasagne have curated a late-night lineup to have you dancing till the wee hours, featuring high-energy acts like Wax'o Paradiso, Andee Frost, David Smiley and Sophie McAlister. You'll even catch the 1800 Jazzagna band, joined by the likes of James Tom and Deadnecks firing up The Clubhouse. Stay tuned, because there's more to be announced, too. [caption id="attachment_886815" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Maclay Heriot[/caption] BOOGIE 2023 LINEUP: Andy Golledge Band Archer & Martha Spencer Batts Collingwood Casanovas The Counterfeits' Wild West Show featuring Freya Josephine Hollick Danika Smith Eils & The Drip Foggy Notion Full Flower Moon Band Girl & Girl Guitar Wolf A Celebration of The Band's The Last Waltz Phil Jamieson The Pink Stones Private Function The Prize Queenie Quivers The Slingers Surprise Chef Watty Thompson and His Ensemble Willie J & The Bad Books The Clubhouse 1800 Jazzagna Deadnecks Headspin James Ellis & The Jealous Guys James Tom REB Sugar D Late Night Vibes curated by 1800 Lasagne Adriana Andee Frost Colette David Smiley Sophie McAlister Wax'O Paradiso Catch Boogie at Our Friends Farm, 210 Tallarook-Pyalong Road, Tallarook, from Friday, April 7–Sunday, April 9. Tickets are $349, and available online now. Top image: Jacinta Oaten.
Are the 2020s the golden age of dessert? It sure feels that way, with all the options of artisan ice cream, fruity matcha lattes, oh-so-thick cookies and hyper-realistic creative cakes. For Melbourne, there's one name in that last category that is making a name for itself as one of the best cake shops in town. Le Yeahllow has quickly climbed the ladder since opening into a post-COVID world desperate for a sugary escape from the dreary reality of life with a specialty fusion of flavour and design that results in cakes that look and taste one of a kind both instore and when delivered to your home. Concrete Playground sat down with the brand's founder, Samsky Yeung, to find out the story behind the snacks. How Did Le Yeahllow Come to Be? "So, the first shop used to be a Zumbo Patisserie. I worked in a cafe background, and most of my shops were in shopping centres, but then in the Melbourne lockdown, everything closed. One day, I was in South Yarra at Zumbo, and it was gone. It looked very empty and sad, but everything was still there, the kitchen and cool room were still there. It was COVID, and we were all bored at home, so I asked the guys if they wanted to do anything here. We decided to make the new shop yellow to give it some life and energy, and the name came from there to just make it a bit different. Cafes have a culture where you come in, get your smashed avocado, and leave. You can make food at home, but cafes have an experience. But [in lockdown], we couldn't deliver that experience, not in the same way. So we wanted to make something people could send to each other to check in when they couldn't see each other in real life. So we made this." Le Yeahllow Describes Itself as "Elegantly Playful", What Does That Mean for You? "If you want a chocolate cake or a tiramisu cake, I'm pretty sure any cake shop could do that. But if you want a mandarin chocolate cake, that's Le Yeahllow. When a cake is more than just a sponge and cream, when the cake has a reason, it becomes a design, it becomes elegant. But at the end of the day, a cake is something for everyone, it shouldn't be that expensive. It's not like you're buying Louis Vuitton, it's also playful. So we put it together, it's elegantly playful and I hope that's something everyone can enjoy." Do Any Specific Global Cuisines Influence Your Products? "A lot of people find us, and they think we're Japanese, but I'm from Hong Kong. What we make is fusion; we usually cook with French techniques, but a lot of our products, like the Yuzu Hatchimitsu or Hanami, use Japanese ingredients — like yuzu and cherry blossom. But one of my favourites is Le Mandarin. For Chinese people like myself, we see the mandarin, and we think it brings us luck, but the flavour profile of the cake is very English or Scottish, with mandarin, chocolate and ginger. So it's a fusion of all sorts. We use a lot of local ingredients, too: fruit from local farms, natives like Davidson plum, and a lot of chocolate. We use Japanese flavours, but you don't find much chocolate or nuts in Japanese or Asian bakeries. That's why we define ourselves as a cake shop; we don't limit ourselves, and we can serve something for everyone." Which Cake Do You Think Summarises the Brand Best? "That's a difficult question, but I do have an answer. My favourite is Le Mandarin, it's very elegant, very cool, very delicious. But imagine a kid taking a bite of that. Not every kid likes ginger, so it might not be the most popular. It's very important to have something everyone can like. It has to look good, it has to taste good, taste like Le Yeahllow, and I think that's our Mango Chiffon Cheesecake." Was There a Flavour That Never Left the Kitchen That You Wish You Could Revive? "Yes, it was last year: Chef Steven and I had sampled chocolate from our supplier Valrhona. It tasted like sweet corn and caramel, a really elegant product. It was in November, which is a busy period of preparing for Christmas, and the supplier gave us three days to come up with a flavour to hero that sweet corn flavour. So we went to the market, bought lots of different sweet corn, and did a blind tasting. A lot of people liked the chocolate, but with only three days and all the Christmas preparation…we tried, but we just couldn't launch it." Tell Us About the Rest of Your Talented Team, Who Makes What Happen? "It started with Chef Steven and me. We'd worked together at a cafe. Then lockdown hit, and nobody worked, so we called the [cafe] team and said, "Hey, if anybody needs work, you can help us make cakes, help with packaging, or help with delivery." That's how we started the business. Now it's me, then Chef Steven who looks after the cakes, the creativity, our general manager Vi runs the front of house and marketing, and trains all the staff — they don't have KPIs, we just teach them how to help people find the cake that's best for them." What's Next for Le Yeahllow? "So we have our new CBD store, that's our third outlet, which is very exciting. That's coming in at an unexpected angle, because it used to be a Black Star Pastry, but they closed all their Melbourne stores. It's very close to our original store, but it's very exciting for the brand. And for that new store we've created a new product, Barre De Chocolat, which looks like a chocolate bar but it's actually a cake. That comes in four flavours: Original Milk, Chocolate Yeahllow, White Raspberry and Pistachio Luxe, I'm really excited about those." Do You Think You'll Ever Expand Out of Melbourne? "I was just in Sydney, but I'm comfortable in Melbourne. I like the city. If you're really into money, work in finance, I don't need to be expanding, I don't need 100 stores. I'm happy with what I'm doing. If I can make a little money, too, that's good." For more information on Le Yeahllow, or to order a cake of your own, head in store or check out the website.
One of Melbourne's favourite year-round floating bars, Yarra Botanica, is hosting a new monthly market. Kicking off on Sunday, May 28 and running each month throughout winter, some of Victoria's best producers and growers will be swinging by the Yarra River's two-storey pontoon bar and eatery. Come along on Sunday, June 25 and you'll be treated to Infinity Blue's local barra and drinks from Rye-based Penni Ave Distillery. Sunday, July 30 brings along Wattle Farm's oyster mushrooms and Banks Botanicals' alc-free selection of spirits for Dry July. Finally, Richmond favourite Brogan's Way and Thomastown's That's Amore fromage will be popping down on Sunday, August 20. To celebrate their special guests, the team at Yarra Botanica will also be curating specials to showcase all the goodies, so snag a spot riverside to sip and snack through the afternoon. Images: Supplied.
We all know how boring wet weather is. Now, two women have developed a way to cure that boredom with an umbrella that makes 8-bit sounds when it is hit by rain. Alice Zappe and Julia Läger used 12 sensors, 2 speakers and an Arduino minicontroller to enable their umbrella to create sounds. The intensity of the rain changes the sound, surely making for an interesting compilation in a torrential downpour. Although the umbrella doesn't produce actual songs it could easily be modified to play pre-recorded tunes. It's a bit of fun while you are walking in the rain and will most definitely put some smiles on otherwise glum faces in the rainy street.
When Percy Fawcett gazes upon the Amazon in The Lost City of Z, he does so with wonder blazing in his eyes. A real-life geographer, soldier and explorer played here by Charlie Hunnam, Fawcett is dispatched from Britain to South America to survey the border between Bolivia and Brazil, only to become beguiled by his new rainforest surroundings. Many movies would explain his reaction through dialogue alone, but James Gray's latest effort works in more than just words. The filmmaker behind The Immigrant and We Own The Night, Gray is known for crafting precise, painterly visuals. It's little wonder that his excursion through tropical greenery shares Fawcett's fondness in each and every frame. To watch The Lost City of Z is to stare deep into the splendour of untamed nature, and to appreciate the mystery and allure that comes simply from looking. The colour and movement; the locals and the wildlife; the sense of how different it is to early 20th century England — it's all there, in cinematographer Darius Khondji's striking images. It's an essential touch, given that examining the mindset that inspired Fawcett's repeated treks into the jungle is one of the movie's main aims. If there were ever any doubts that Gray would be able to jump from his urban-set back catalogue to the grandness of the Amazonian wilds, they're quickly dispelled. When we first meet Fawcett, he's a young army officer hunting stag for sport. He's considered talented, yet a shadow hangs over his family name thanks to his drunken father. Asked to do the Royal Geographic Society's bidding on the other side of the world, he soon leaves his wife Nina (Sienna Miller) and infant son for trampling through luscious growth, with Corporal Henry Costin (Robert Pattinson) and on-site guides for company. If he hadn't fallen for the Amazon's magnetism, as well as a story about a lost city teeming with gold, his jaunt might've ended with a happy return home. But Fawcett is haunted by his desire to find the fabled locale — and prove that advanced civilisation exists beyond western society — even if it costs him his life. As the film's existential adventures continue, Pattinson gets grimy, Tom Holland pops up, as does Italian acting legend Franco Nero. Ultimately though, The Lost City of Z belongs to Hunnam, who wipes King Arthur from our memory. Poised, passionate and persistent, with ample charm thrown in, he plays his protagonist as an imperfect but still decent man driven by a multitude of motivators. The character is also surprisingly progressive, breaking from the racist, sexist, classist, jingoistic and colonialist attitudes of his peers. In short, he's the sort of person you'd be willing to follow through dense foliage. Just as seeing is believing when it comes to Gray's mesmerising sights, Hunnam ensures viewers feel the calling coursing through Fawcett's veins. Accordingly, The Lost City of Z becomes more than just a dazzling account of a real-life trek through uncharted terrain. That's not to say that it doesn't impress as an intimate adventure flick, an exploration of fevered obsession, or as a textured and thoughtful biopic — in fact, it succeeds as all three. But what lingers most of all is an understanding of why people chase even the most challenging and unlikely of dreams, what they hope to find, and how such mysteries leave their mark on history. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2RYbGgBQeM
The Ritz-Carlton is already one of the most luxurious hotels in Melbourne, boasting a sky-high pool and spa, the brilliant restaurant Atria, and some damn fine suites and rooms. But for three days in October, it's taking it up a notch. From Thursday October 17–Saturday, October 19, the hotel is hosting a selection of lavish food and bev events — bringing together both local and international talent to make it all shine. First off, you can book a spot at The Ritz-Carlton's one-of-a-kind aperitvo hour ($80 per person) led by Michelin-starred Chef Angelo Aglianó from The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong. Aglianó is working alongside Michael Greenlaw for this pre-dinner sip and snack session, which is taking place within the Lobby Lounge on level 80 — boasting unrivalled views across the bay. Aperitivo bites will combine Aglianó's passion for Sicilian cuisine with Greenlaw's love and respect for local produce. Those wanting a bigger feed from these top-tier chefs can also get around the duo's lunch and dinner collaborations. Running throughout the three days, you can sample the chefs' five-course tasting menu for dinner ($180 and an additional $110 for paired wines) or their smaller three-course lunch menu ($130 and an additional $60 for paired wines). From 5–8pm, the Cameo bar will play host to a $50 sunset cocktail hour run by Tokyo's Gold Bar — which was ranked among Asia's 50 Best Bars for 2023 and 2024. Your ticket to this includes one cocktail and a gourmet snack pairing (plus the option to purchase more world-class cocktails throughout the three-hour event). If you wish to extend your Gold Bar experience, you can book a spot at Cameo later in the evening (with a minimum $70 spend), and sample more cocktails and snacks. This will run from 8pm, and comes with live music late into the night. None of these experiences come cheap, but that's why it's labelled the Luxury Dining Series. If you can afford to treat yourself to one of these food and drink events, be sure to book a spot before they sell out.
A film festival that brings the best and brightest new Japanese movies to Australian cinemas each year is a film festival to cherish. Also ace: a film fest that features a solely digital lineup of flicks and TV shows from Japan that you can check out from your couch. So, while it isn't time for the IRL Japanese Film Festival for 2024 yet — it last hit locations around the country across September–November 2023 — the Japanese Film Festival Online will keep you entertained come winter. Both fests serve up a handy way to view the latest and greatest Japanese fare without hopping on a plane, but only the online version lets you do so from home. Running from Wednesday, June 5–Wednesday, July 3, 2024's version will feature 23 films and two TV dramas, the latter serving up 20 episodes. And, you'll be able to check out for four Japanese horror shorts, too, all of which initially debuted in 2023 at the first-ever Horror Film Competition in Japan. The other big drawcard: Japanese Film Festival Online screens its program for free. Accordingly, this lineup won't test your budget, whether you're keen on I Am What I Am, which stars Drive My Car's Toko Miura; Anime Supremacy!, about a new director and a hotshot facing off while making their own competing anime; Single8, a Steven Spielberg (The Fabelmans)-influenced picture about Star Wars-loving teens making their own movie; or classic anime Kimba the White Lion from 1966. Film lovers will be catching the movies on the program between Wednesday, June 5–Wednesday, June 19. Fellow feature options include Father of the Milky Way Railroad, a biopic about poet and novelist Kenji Miyazawa; magazine drama Kiba: The Fangs of Fiction; Baby Assassins, where teen assassins are forced to give up the murderous life; and The Handsome Suit, about a magical outfit. TV fans will be tuning in from Wednesday, June 19–Wednesday, July 3, with 2017's Rikuoh starring Kôji Yakusho (Perfect Days), and stepping inside a traditional Japanese sock company — and 2015's Downtown Rocket based on Shitamachi Rocket novels about an ex-aerospace researcher who leads a factor that he inherited. While you won't pay a thing to watch, you do still need to register via the fest's website. Won't be in Australia at the time? The fest is available in 27 countries. "JFF Online 2024 is not just a film festival; it's a cultural bridge connecting fans of Japanese cinema across the globe," said The Japan Foundation in Sydney's Manisay Oudomvilay. "From the comforts of your home, you can traverse a wide array of genres — from heartfelt dramas and engaging documentaries to captivating anime stories. This festival celebrates the breadth and diversity of Japanese storytelling." "Our lineup includes films that challenge the norms, explore deep human connections, and celebrate the artistry of both seasoned and emerging Japanese filmmakers. We invite cinema lovers and Japanophiles alike from around the world to join us in this unique virtual celebration of Japanese cinematic artistry," continued Manisay. The 2024 Japanese Film Festival Online runs from Wednesday, June 5–Wednesday, July 3. For more information and to register to watch, visit the festival website. Top images: Single8 Film Partners / Jun Ikeido, TBS / Kenji Yamamoto / Anime Supremacy! The Movie Production Committee.
Been spending the first half of 2021 pondering the future? Given how the past year has panned out, that's only natural. But in the early hours of Friday, June 25, you might want to look to the skies as well — and feast your eyes on this month's noteworthy lunar sight. For folks located Down Under, this is when you'll see this year's 'strawberry' full moon. According to NASA, it could also be considered a super full moons, with different publications split on the matter. If you choose to deem it a supermoon, you'll know that they aren't particularly rare — one occurred back in April, and then another took place in May — but there are still plenty of reasons to peer upwards this time around. If you're wondering what else you need to know, we've run through the details below. WHAT IS IT? If you're more familiar with The Mighty Boosh's take on the moon than actual lunar terms, here's what you need to know. June's full moon is called a strawberry moon not because it's pink or red — it isn't — but because that's when strawberries traditionally ripen in the northern hemisphere. Of course, it's currently winter in the southern hemisphere, but the name still sticks. And, if you're going with the supermoon school of thought, that name applies to a new moon or full moon that occurs when the moon reaches the closest point to Earth in its elliptical orbit, making it particularly bright. Again, they're not all that uncommon — whether or not you want to claim this one as a supermoon. WHEN CAN I SEE IT? If you're keen to catch a glimpse, you'll want to peek outside on Friday, June 25. In Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, the moon will be full at 4.39am according to Timeanddate.com. In Adelaide, that time moves forward half an hour, so it'll take place at 4.09am — and in Perth, it'll be earlier still, at 2.39am. Those times refer to the exact full moon time. Of course, the moon will still be visible in the sky before then — and looking rather full, even if the exact minute hasn't arrived. So, if you'd prefer to take a gander at a more pleasant hour on Thursday, June 24 or even in the evening on Friday, June 25, that's understandable. WHERE CAN I SEE IT? You can take a gander from your backyard or balcony, but the standard advice regarding looking into the night sky always applies. So, city-dwellers will want to get as far away from light pollution as possible to get the absolute best view. If you can't get a clear vantage, The Virtual Telescope Project will be live-streaming from the skyline above Rome from 5am AEST on Friday, June 25 . The 'strawberry' full moon occur at 4.39am AEST on Friday, June 25 along Australia's east coast — although the moon itself will be visible in the sky all evening before that. For further information, including about timing, head to Timeanddate.com.
