A kickass fish and chippery is the first part of St Kilda's new-look Stokehouse to open for business. Starting service at 4pm today — Friday, October 21 — right off the St Kilda Beach boardwalk, Paper Fish kiosk will offer sustainable, healthy(ish) eat-in and takeaway options all throughout summer. Open noon until late seven days a week, now until the end of daylight savings, Paper Fish will serve up "sustainable seafood and fresh quality produce" in "environmentally friendly packaging". Menu items include flathead, blue grenadier, salmon or gummy served grilled or tempura fried, as well as fritto misto (small fried bits of seafood), sweet potato cakes and crinkle-cut chips in a cone. Customers will also be able to quench their summer thirst with beer, canned wine and icy granitas, including a number of 'grown up' varieties. The kiosk itself can seat 70 diners, but getting take away to eat your fish and chips on the beach is a given. They'll also be introducing online ordering next year. The kiosk opens ahead of the full Stokehouse re-launch. The iconic venue burnt down in 2014, but is set to reopen on December 6. It will also be home to Pontoon, a ground floor bar and eatery set to open at the end of this month, serving grilled seafood, share plates, and frozen rose – aka 'frose' – on tap. Find Paper Fish in the Stokehouse Precinct at 30 Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda. For more information follow them on Instagram or visit paperfish.com.au.
A brand new streaming service could change the way you watch new release movies — assuming you're willing to fork over the cash. The latest online endeavour from Napster co-founder Sean Parker, Screening Room wants to bring movies into your living room on the same day they hit cinemas. The idea has already received backing from several major Hollywood filmmakers, including Peter Jackson, Martin Scorsese, J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg. But hostile theatre chains and prohibitive costs could mean the service remains a way off yet. The biggest hurdle, it would seem, is the cost of the service. Subscribers would need to purchase a US$150 set top box, after which they'd be charged $50 per film, which would remain available to them for 48-hours. Admittedly, you're paying for the convenience of not having to leave the house, and if you get enough people to chip in, it could easily work out cheaper than going to the cinema. But by the same token, if you're willing to wait a few months, you'll be able to watch the exact same movie on Netflix for a fraction of the price. The reason for the cost is in part to placate theatre owners, who might understandably be none too pleased about Parker trying to muscle in on their territory. According to Variety, as much as $20 out of each $50 rental fee would be paid to exhibitors, in return for two free tickets to see the given film in theatres, should Screening Room subscribers so choose. Film studios would also get a substantial slice of the pie, with Universal, Sony Pictures and Twentieth Century Fox all expressing interest in getting on board. There have, however, been several prominent naysayers, including filmmakers James Cameron and Christopher Nolan, who reaffirmed their commitment to theatrical presentation. It's easy to see their point: films are designed to be viewed on the big screen with the best possible picture and sound, something that cannot be replicated at home. On the other hand, it only takes one jerk on their phone in front of you to ruin the whole experience. Of course regardless of what happens with the Screening Room, we'd wager it'll still be quite a while before it makes its way to Australia. Looks like movie night is still a go, for now. Via Variety.
Look, in our book, every single day is gin day. But this Saturday, June 11, the drink that launched a thousand drunk texts (and counting) will be officially celebrated the world over. It's World Gin Day. And considering the experimental foodie age we live in, it doesn't seem appropriate to celebrate with just another gin and tonic — not when you can have it infused with ants or steeped in red wine grapes, anyway. So we've found two new weird Australian gins that won't only make for an unconventional G&T, but will spark a few conversations and raised eyebrows too. ANGRY ANT GIN — BASS AND FLINDERS Up and coming gin barons often differentiate themselves and their product by distilling the botanicals of the local area to give a distinctive, but familiar, flavour and scent. Australian species lend themselves perfectly to the task — but for the chaps down at Bass and Flinders Distillery in Victoria's Mornington Peninsula, that simply wasn't weird enough. They've distilled a gin made with a special ingredient: ants. Like all gin, Angry Ant is made up of a selection of botanicals. But along with the usual juniper berries and lemongrass, the essence of ants has also been thrown in. That's because ants release a pheromone during the distillation process, which produces a flavour that complements the other botanicals to create a damn fine gin. While they're not the first people to use the tiny insects in gin — Copenhagen's Nordic Food Lab produces an Anty Gin that costs a bomb per bottle — they're certainly the first in Australia, with the ants sourced from Wooleen Station in WA. Grab a bottle here, if you dare. BLOODY SHIRAZ GIN — FOUR PILLARS Ron Swanson may say that "clear alcohols are for rich women on diets" and while we usually take his word as gospel, we couldn't disagree more with him on this one. But if you want to add some colour (and kick) to your 5pm G&T, look no further than Four Pillars' brand new Bloody Shiraz Gin. The revolutionary gin created by Victorian gin legends Four Pillars is exaaactly what it sounds like — a Shiraz and gin blend. To create this bloody monster, they steeped Yarra Valley Shiraz grapes in their high-proof dry gin for eight weeks before pressing the fruit and blending it with the gin, and hoped like hell it would turn out well. It did. The pretty, deep purple hue combined with a potent alcoholic content (37.8 percent, compared to an average 30 percent in sloe gin) and sweet undertones make the Bloody Shiraz Gin a near perfect specimen. Four Pillars are releasing the mix on World Gin Day — you can head down to their Healesville distillery to try it or buy it on their website. And on that day, we'll raise a toast to all the gins that were and to all the weird, delicious gins that will soon be. Cheers to you gin, you glorious bastard!
Uber's switched on marketing team are at it again. Less than a week after teaming with Optus on an Australia Day stunt that saw cricket umpires dispatched to backyards around the country, the ridesharing service have announced their latest promotion. From 11am on Sunday January 31, Uber users will be able to summon a driver to collect unwanted gifts and second-hand clothes for donation to the Red Cross. The promotion is being run in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Geelong, Adelaide, Perth, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast, in partnership with local Red Cross Shops. Users wishing to donate can simply log in to the app between 11am and 4pm and select the 'Clothing Drive' option. The Red Cross asks that people bag up their donations, and only include items that can be resold. "The more donations we receive the more we are able to support the work of Red Cross around Australia," said Red Cross Shops Marketing Manager Kate Dear. Proceeds from sales at Red Cross Shops go directly to support the daily work of the organisation. Here's hoping people respond to this Uber promotion with the same enthusiasm that they did to ones involving kittens and ice-cream. Sure, helping people in need might not be as exciting as cats on demand, but you'd be hard pressed to argue it isn't a little bit more worthwhile. For more information visit the Uber newsroom.
Having smashed it on Uber-EATS in late 2016, Mahalo Poké has set up permanent digs in Richmond. Stroll on down to 77 Swan Street at brekkie, lunch or dinner for a cornucopia of Hawaiian-Japanese flavours. The hospitality legends behind the operation are the folks from Botherambo, who serve up cracking Thai dishes just next door. "The demand on UberEATS surpassed all our expectations which spurred on the demand for a permanent venue," said owner Nathan Peck. "With this new venue we can now offer a larger menu, which can still be ordered via UberEATS, or enjoyed in our fresh and breezy interior which is fresh and fun." For brekkie, you'll be hooking into Hula Waffle, which comes loaded with pure maple, bacon, house ice-cream and macadamia crumble, or Aloha Smashed Avocado, featuring togarashi and jalapeno tomato salsa on sourdough. Meanwhile, the dinner menu offers Spicy Salmon with pickled ginger, corn, edamame, ka'ukama, carrot, purple cabbage, volcano ponzu and soy tahini sauce, as well as The Big Kahuna Burger. That's buttermilk fried chicken, pineapple, bacon, apple cabbage and wasabi slaw on a Hawaiian sweet bun, among many, many other in-your-face combinations. Match your choice with a beer, wine, kombucha, cold brew coffee courtesy of Niccolo or the amazing Coco Dragon — a marvellous concoction of dragonfruit, mango chai, coconut, cashew, honey and coconut milk. Find Mahalo Poké at 77 Swan St, Richmond. Opening hours are 7:30am-10pm Monday-Friday and 8am-10pm Saturday and Sunday.
Anyone who has ever watched a horror movie before knows that you should never, ever go into the woods. Yet that's exactly what the people behind Australia's coolest new immersive cinema experience are asking you to do. Horror Movie Campout is a blood-soaked overnight camping trip held in a secret Blair Witch-style forest an hour from the city. Just please, leave the machete at home. Coming to Melbourne in December and Sydney next year, this uniquely scary take on outdoor movie-going will treat campers to two classic horror films, along with a number of gory shorts. The first is 1973's head-spinner The Exorcist – enjoy the serenity of fear while roasting marshmallows and munching on popcorn (or spilling it) into the early hours of the morning. The second popular horror feature will be voted for by HMC campers via Facebook. But it's not just the movies. Beyond the comfort of your cosy cinema spot, surprises lurk in the forest. Is someone following you? Is that a person’s shadow, or just your imagination playing tricks? Horror Movie Campout promises to put your heart – and your bladder – to the test. Each $180 ticket includes a tent to sleep three mates. Glamping options are also available for $240, offering luxury horror-goers VIP perks such as express entry and primo spots in front of the screen. Just don't think you're exempt from the special horror surprises. Melbourne’s Horror Movie Campout is being held at Point Cook Homestead on December 4 and 5, while the Sydney event will be held in early 2016. It should also probably go without saying that this is strictly an R18+ event. Image via Dollar Photo Club.
The dulcet, knowledgeable voice embodying the soundtrack to a generation of nature docos is returning to our fair shores, with Sir David Attenborough set to roll through town in February. He'll be taking the stage for Sir David Attenborough – A Quest For Life, a series of live talks hosted by our own Ray Martin. The esteemed writer, filmmaker, producer, and host will give audiences a unique glimpse into his jam-packed, six-decade career. Sir David will give some insight into the changes he's witnessed along the way, as well as delving into some of the world's current environmental challenges — all delivered in that charming, distinguished voice we know and love so well. The tour kicks off in Auckland on February 2, followed by shows in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH – A QUEST FOR LIFE DATES AUCKLAND 8pm Thursday, February 2 — The Civic BRISBANE 7.30pm Saturday, February 4, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre SYDNEY 7.30pm Wednesday, February 8 and Thursday, February 9, State Theatre MELBOURNE 7.30pm Saturday, February 11, and (new date) Monday, February 13, Plenary, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre ADELAIDE 7.30pm Tuesday February 14, Festival Theatre PERTH 7.30pm Thursday, February 16, Riverside Theatre, Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre
To help ease the somewhat painful transition into another Melbourne winter, the team at Welcome to Thornbury is bringing back one of its most snuggly weekend food event — a festival dedicated to the glorious combo of mulled wine and hot cheese. The ever-popular party descends on the Northside food truck park from noon, Saturday, June 3, pulling together a selection of hot, gooey creations from some of the city's favourite cheese-slinging vendors, with warming sips to match. This is where all your cheesiest dreams come true, with the likes of Sparrows Philly Cheese Steaks, Super Cheese, Toasta, Hesi Jimbo hot chicken, Woking Amazing and Mr Burger serving up signature delights of the melty variety. Of course, you won't find a better pairing to all that dairy than some hot, spiced booze; especially since the bar will be rounding out its usual offerings with mulled wine varieties and hot toddies.
Melbourne duo Kllo (formerly Klo) are Australia's band of the moment and are touring the east coast to promote their upcoming album, Well Worn. The tour's one of the most anticipated we've seen in 2016 so far, so expect each show to be pretty damn packed. Since releasing their 2014 debut EP Cusp, cousins Simon Lam and Chloe Kaul have played sold-out shows and festivals throughout Australia and internationally, from Dark Mofo to Melbourne Music Week and Barcelona's Primavera Sound Festival. The pair have been clocking up streaming numbers in the millions, popping up on artists-to-watch lists, and they've also recently been announced as part of the huge Splendour in the Grass lineup. 'Bolide', the album's first single, is a dance track inspired by Caribou's Our Love album and is a song about unconditional love (nawwww). The EP takes inspiration from underground dance music and is said to enhance Kllo's high-gloss hooks. The tour will feature special guests and gives fans a sneak peek of the album, which will be released internationally on August 5 across Kllo's now three labels: Good Manners Records, Ghostly International and Different Recordings // PIAS . Image: Charlie Brophy.
Melbourne film buffs, you'd best get all the sunlight and exercise you can now, because the 2016 Melbourne International Film Festival is a-coming. The city's annual celebration of cinema might still be two months away, however with sneak peeks of this year's lineup popping up thick and fast, that time is certain to fly by. We already know that MIFF 2016 is set to kick off their 65th fest with Aussie sci-fi effort The Death and Life of Otto Bloom. We also know they'll be highlighting the big screen possibilities of virtual reality and offer an impressive eight-film program for audiences of all ages. Now, the first MIFF program has dropped, giving you more features, documentaries and shorts to look forward to — 37 more, in fact. Showcasing all things local courtesy of the fest's premiere fund, which helps finance Aussie flicks, five other homegrown films with receive their world premiere at this year's MIFF. And with psychological thriller Bad Girl, dance documentary Ella, artistic portrait Monsieur Mayonnaise, cult expose The Family and the delightfully titled Emo (the Musical) on the bill, they're certainly a varied bunch. Looking further afield, the 2016 selection also includes the highly anticipated likes of Mia Hansen-Løve's Things to Come, which won the filmmaker the best director prize in Berlin; love-focused anthology offering Madly, featuring chapters helmed by Mia Wasikowska, Gael García Bernal and Bat for Lashes' singer/songwriter Natasha Khan; and Japanese effort Happy Hour, which has been called a cross between 13-hour French New Wave effort Out 1 and Sex and the City. Louis Theroux: My Scientology Movie stands out among the docos announced, and don't overlook the shorts, either. That's where you'll find the Danny DeVito-directed Curmudgeons, as well as Guy Maddin's psychedelic and satirical making-of effort Bring Me The Head Of Tim Horton. Plus, in excellent news for Melburnians harbouring a severe case of film fest envy, a whole heap of movies that are about to grace Sydney's own event are also on the lineup. They include Aussie comedy Down Under in MIFF's centrepiece spot, Greek oddity Chevalier, quirky local coming-of-age film Girl Asleep, Sundance hit Certain Women, and the Tom Hiddleston-starring social satire High-Rise. Werner Herzog waxing lyrical about the internet in Lo and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World, Laurie Anderson's intimate and affecting Heart of a Dog, behind-the-scenes political documentary Weiner, and competitive tickling portrait Tickled are also among the titles revealed so far — and yes, the list goes on. Basically, all this alone is enough to induce a bout of scheduling anxiety, and that's without seeing the rest of the couple of hundred films in the complete, yet-to-be-unveiled program. Of course, if you're anything like us, you don't even need exact details of what's showing when to know that you'll be spending all of MIFF looking at a cinema screen. The Melbourne International Film Festival runs from July 28 to August 14. For more information, visit the MIFF website — and check back on July 5, when the full program is announced.
As of today, you can put Jay-Z in charge of your music. That’s right, TIDAL, the streaming service that the rapper bought from Scandinavian platform Aspiro in February, has been relaunched in 31 countries, Australia included. Oodles of artists are pretty thrilled about it, having replaced their Twitter profile shots with turquoise squares and splashed #TIDALforALL all over the place. On Sunday night, Jay-Z went so far as to co-opt one of Bob Dylan’s most famous lyrics: Not quite, perhaps, what the singer-songwriter had in mind when he was asking ‘senators’ and ‘congressman’ to ‘heed the call’, but anyway. With the likes of Coldplay, Madonna, Usher, Nicki Minaj, Daft Punk and Alicia Keys championing the service with the vehemence and coordination redolent of a charity campaign, we’re taking a good look into what’s causing all the excitement. What exactly is TIDAL promising, when compared with its chief rival, Spotify? HIGHER QUALITY SOUND (AND A HIGHER PRICE TAG) The biggest drawcard for TIDAL is sound quality. By subscribing to TIDAL’s premium service, at US$19.99 a month, you get to access 'lossless high fidelity' sound, which none of its competitors offer. What this means is that, instead of being compressed into MP3 or WAV formats (often referred to as 'lossy'), the music is streamed to you almost exactly as it was recorded. For audiophiles, this is a massive win, even it does mean a higher price tag. If 'lossless' means nothing to you, think of it like choosing between standard and high definition Netflix. Still not convinced? Trial TIDAL premium free for thirty days and see how your ears go. For those uninterested in lossless, high def sound, TIDAL does offer a standard tier at US$9.99 month. However, unlike Spotify, there’s no free option. For people who’ve become accustomed to accessing music gratis, this might seem pretty unattractive. But for a start, it keeps TIDAL ad-free. MORE DOSH FOR MUSICIANS And how about giving a thought to songwriters? For 43 million spins on Pandora last year, Pharrell made only $2700. Sure, in Pharrell’s case, that might not matter too much — he’s obviously rolling in it and can charge mountains for appearing live — but for unknown, indie artists or dedicated songwriters who don't perform, it’s nothing short of exploitation. That’s why Mark Holden’s talking to Federal Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull about it. We're still waiting for the exact numbers Jay-Z's going to pop in artist wallets, but with only paid membership available it's bound to be decent. TAY TAY Low artist royalties is one of the reasons why Taylor Swift pulled her songs from Spotify and why her label Universal has been pressuring the streaming service to abolish free music, which leads to another point — if Tay has been missing from your stream, you can now Shake It Off, because she’s making her music available on TIDAL. There's no skirting the truth, higher fees for users mean better royalties for songwriters. EXTRA CONTENT Finally, TIDAL will be alluring subscribers with a whole bunch of exclusive material, including studio sessions and demo tracks. Spotify’s been doing this, too, but given Tidal's vocal artist support base, we can bank on expecting the unexpected.
Chinese artist Ai Weiwei has established a studio on the Greek Island of Lesbos, where he and his students will create works relating to the ongoing European refugee crisis. Ai made the announcement while visiting the island, which has become one of the main entry points into Europe for hundreds of thousands of refugees, many of whom are fleeing the conflict in Syria. "As an artist, I have to relate to humanity’s struggles...I never separate these situations from my art," Ai told reporters. "I think that good art only comes out from when we have strong beliefs in aesthetics and human dignity. This can never be separated." The 58-year-old hopes to return to the island several times this year. He also plans to create a memorial on the island for refugees who lost their lives at sea. Ai, whose art frequently deals with human rights issues, has only recently begun travelling internationally again, having had his passport confiscated by Chinese authorities in 2011 when he was imprisoned for 81 days. Since its return he has visited London, where he snapped a selfie with Julian Assange, and Melbourne, where he attended the opening of the Andy Warhol / Ai Weiwei exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria. He has chronicled his experiences in Lesbos via social media, posting images of himself with refugees and volunteers. Happy new year #refugees #lesvos A photo posted by Ai Weiwei (@aiww) on Dec 31, 2015 at 8:56am PST A photo posted by Ai Weiwei (@aiww) on Dec 30, 2015 at 11:42am PST Engines of refugees boats #refugees #lesvos A photo posted by Ai Weiwei (@aiww) on Dec 31, 2015 at 1:57am PST In related news, volunteers for Greenpeace and Medecins San Frontieres recently created an enormous peace sign in Lesbos using discarded refugee life jackets, in an attempt to bring more attention to the crisis. More than half a million migrants have passed through the Greek Islands in the past 12 months alone. Via The Guardian.
Well, this is rather excellent branding. Britpop kings and experts in cheesemaking Blur are selling its own ice cream for their latest album tour. Coinciding with Blur's newest album The Magic Whip, the new edible merch is an attempt to recreate the neon sign on the cover; taking something like Gelato Messina's Jack White flavour next level. Damon Albarn and the lads teamed up with UK based ice cream company The Licktators, whose previous music-themed flavours include 'John Lemon' and 'Jiggy Pop'. But the company really made its headline-worthy reputation after releasing 'Baby Gaga' for the royal baby — an ice cream flavour made with human breast milk. Yep. Really. Blur's own escapade into iced confection will, of course, be called 'Magic Whip' after the new album. Attempting to mimic the cover art, the ice cream will be vanilla custard flavour with raspberry sauce. Unfortunately, 'Magic Whip' will be available exclusive at the legendary foursome's concerts and at a few London co-ops this year. We're not sure whether the ice cream will make it to Australia for their highly anticipated Splendour appearance and stadium tour, but until we're sure we'll be cooking up our own Blur dessert using the recipe hidden within the video for lead album single 'Go Out'. Via AV Club.
Disney and Marvel. When the union was forged, many wondered whether it would be death of both or the start of something special. Then The Avengers made about a trillion dollars and it looked like things might be okay. Key to the acquisition was Disney’s hands-off approach, guaranteeing the gritty Marvel world would not suddenly be required to include musical numbers like: “I’m a Wolverine and I’m the best you’ve ever seen”. The latest offering — Big Hero 6 — is a Disney movie based on a Marvel comic that perhaps 11 people in the world have ever heard of. That meant the Disney team could largely ignore the source material and simply ‘Frankengrab’ the parts they liked, which in this case was little more than the film’s title. The action takes place in the city of San Fransokyo, a portmanteau blending not just names but also architecture, with the iconic San Francisco Bay playing backdrop to a very aesthetically Asian metropolis. Living in it are the bothers Hamada: technology prodigies who direct their talents in wildly different arenas. Hiro builds robots for underground gambling, while his older brother, Tadashi, tries repeatedly to entice him to the prestigious Institute of Technology. When tragedy strikes, Hiro finds himself inadvertently partnered up with Tadashi's prototype robot ‘Baymax', and it’s here that Big Hero 6 hits its stride. Baymax is, quite simply, a revelation. Tender, naive and scene-stealingly funny, he’s a bulbous inflatable carer-bot, a sort of Stay Puft Marshmallow Man with a med degree. Voiced by Scott Adsit (30 Rock), Baymax is singular in purpose: he wants to help people. But with several kinks yet to be ironed out, his efforts often prove more troublesome than beneficial. Add to the mix a mysterious, murderous villain who compels Hiro to train Baymax in martial arts and you get a Kung Fu Panda adventure mixed with the traditional Disney themes of loss, love and learning. There is, of course, a video game undercurrent to the action, because tied into the release of Big Hero 6 is a video game; however, the blend of characters, comedy and carnage is in the right ratio. The animation is also spectacular. Speaking at the screening, producer Roy Conli showed us some of the new technology developed specifically for this film to be made, and none was more impressive than the world-building engine responsible for San Fransokyo. The city is enormous and unbelievably detailed. It feels real, which keeps the story grounded when it might otherwise stray too far into silliness. The star, though, is Baymax. Adsit’s ability to emote through an expressionless blob is a giant accomplishment, responsible for more than few tears and sniffles throughout. Big Hero 6 may not be quite up to the level of Pixar in terms of story, but it’s still a great addition to the Disney family of films and one that all members of the family will enjoy.
What would you do if you were a little less freaked out by consequences? Would you talk to more new people, fear a bit less, dance a little more like FKA Twigs, quit your desk job and make that film you've always wanted to? Some sparkling young Australians are already flinging their inhibitions into a ziplock bag and seizing this little ol' life with both hands. Concrete Playground has teamed up with the Jameson crew to give you a sneak peek into the lives of some bold characters who took a big chance on themselves. They've gone out on a limb and rewritten their path, encapsulating 'Sine Metu', the Jameson family motto which translates to 'without fear' — getting outside your comfort zone and trying something new. After all, we only get one shot at this. Take notes. Sydney's Jason Perini knows all about the anti-comfort zone. He's a man standing on the precipice of an opportunity so monumental it's overwhelming — a fully loaded-career with seriously big names already sitting in his credit roll. Alright, so it's not quite as dramatic as all that but he has recently found himself hurtling from struggling up-and-comer to directing Oscar nominated Maggie Gyllenhaal in a film he wrote himself in the space of a few short weeks. One of three winners of Jameson's 2016 First Shot competition, an international short film comp giving aspiring writers and directors their 'first shot' in the film industry, Jason's channelling 'Sine Metu' all the way to Hollywood with his film The New Empress. But how the heck did he get there? GET BY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM YOUR FRIENDS/AWESOME WIFE Jason started his directing career, as all great directors do, on the other side of the camera. Graduating from the Actors Centre Australia in 2009, he starred in a few short films, episodes of Underbelly, and a few plays for the likes of Belvoir, RockSurfers and NIDA. Highly sought after as a voice over artist, he churned out ads for KFC, Sony and Samsung before taking a little more creative control over his film career. He wrote and starred in multiple award-winning short films including 2012 Tropfest finalist and Best Comedy winner at NYC's BrownFish International Film Festival Kitchen Sink Drama, and the Cannes-screened short A Little Bit Behind. Being a director, writer and actor was paying off. In his new arrangement though, the scales are loaded. On one side is his family (wildly supportive wife Susan, three young kids and preschool fees stacking up), fear and niggling self-doubt. On the other side is the pure joy of making films and a fair dollop of entrepreneurial spirit. In the end, they balance each other out — but it doesn't come easy. "My wife reassures me to keep moving in this direction and making short films because… I think she just sees the joy it brings me," he says. "And that it brings me a level of satisfaction." Perini doesn't fit into any preconceived notions you might have about actors and directors. He could be your brother, your mate, your neighbour, your uncle — there's not a skerrick of Tinseltown pretentiousness in him and he seems acutely aware of that. What he lacks in old Hollywood gravitas he more than makes up for in relatability. He's not a polished protagonist and seems to have no faith in things working out for him. For some, that fear might be calcifying, but for Perini, it makes him cautious, calculated and hardworking. His approach isn't razzle-dazzle, it's a hard slog, and maybe that insight is why Trigger Street Productions president Dana Brunetti, Kevin Spacey and Maggie Gyllenhaal, chose his script out of hundreds to win First Shot. FYI, this is the straight-up baller way Jameson, Trigger Street and Spacey told the three First Shot winners they'd won (get the tissues ready): EAT HUMBLE PIE FOR EVERY MEAL There's nothing glamorous about clawing your way up the film industry ladder. Like most of the creative professions, there's a dearth of funding and a saturation of hungry mouths to feed. Putting a dollar value on creative ideas can be challenging but not as difficult as going hand-to-mouth to potential investors and supporters. But that's the reality for most filmmakers. There's no fat stack of Hollywood money, no personal assistants and no safety net. Making it work means calling in a lot of favours. "Constantly having to approach people I don't know and say, 'I don't have much money, my idea is probably not very good but would you be willing to come along and help out with this thing,' you think, 'I don't want to do this, it's out of my comfort zone.' But in five years, if I hadn't given it a shot, I would kick myself. "I'm not getting any younger. I get nervous calling anyone on the phone, I can't stand it. I get weirded out by emailing people [the same as] approaching people cold. But the more you do it, you still don't like it but you know that's what you have to do." Herein this simple admission lies the crux of Perini's appeal – he's you. He's all of us, unpolished and goofy and cringing about having to pick up the phone and ask a favour. He's a man with the same hang-ups, the same road blocks we all have (age, time, money, warring responsibilities), who's managed to somehow close his eyes, steel himself and awkwardly run screaming into the fray 'without fear'. FAKE IT TILL THE HOLLYWOOD HEAVYWEIGHTS NOTICE YOU Perini quickly discovered that for him, being an actor was far easier than being an everything else (don't throw anything at us, actors). As director, producer and writer, he finds himself holding a lot of threads which threaten to unravel at any moment and ruin everything. "What's nice about it is that you get more of a vision but then if it comes crashing down, it sucks," he says. "If I was acting it I'd just go, 'Oh they cut it badly, the director was a jerk.' But there's nowhere to hide once you start producing, directing and writing." His approach to his craft is one of self-assured humility; an oxymoron that blends equal parts ability and uncertainty. When asked if he thinks he's a good filmmaker, he's characteristically self-deprecating. "No I don't," he says quickly. "I think I'm a baby in it. Now that I've made two films completely on my own, in the sense that I produced them and wrote them, I think I learned the hard way really quickly. I look back at both those films and would do them completely differently. But I've learnt so much… that's kind of helpful." Trigger Street and Maggie Gyllenhaal evidently disagree. Perini's script, which he nearly didn't submit, was chosen out of hundreds as a co-winner of First Shot. The prize is a filmmakers' dream Your script is brought to life with you as the director, Kevin Spacey as creative director, Trigger Street as producers and Maggie Gyllenhaal in front of the camera. As you may guess, Perini is dealing with it in a characteristically low-key way. "They're gonna have a rude shock when I turn up and don't know what I'm doing... I'm just thankful and I want to learn from them as much as I can. I want to be as ignorant as I can and soak it all up." Want to experience a little bit of 'Sine Metu' yourself? Thanks to Jameson and The Rewriters, one extremely fortunate Concrete Playground reader (and their even more fortunate mate) will get the chance to 'fear less' and go on a big ol' adventure to Ireland. In addition to two return flights departing from your choice of Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, this epic giveaway comes with five night's accommodation and $500 spending money you can use to paint the Emerald Isle red. ENTER HERE. For more about how 'Sine Metu' influenced John Jameson's journey visit Jameson's website. Images: Michael Ciccone, Jameson, Trigger Productions.
Unicorns invaded the runway last night. For the Australian Fashion Week's final Resort 2018 showing, Sydney's Romance Was Born, known for its outlandish, yet highly desirable collections, worked with two-time Archibald winner Del Kathryn Barton to send out sparkling unicorns, polka dotted femme fatales and grand dames draped with rich prints in Barton's iconic style. This is Electro Orchid. The name references Barton's eponymous show from 2014, where she presented a series of smudgy word paintings in pink gouache, which was reflected by models who strutted down the catwalk wearing nothing but handwritten evocative messages, nude undies, a pair of killer shoes, oh and a good dose of sparkle. As expected RWB's Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales brought the spectacle to MBFWA, ending the week on a runway acid trip and giving life to all of our wildest dreams — which we'll now also be able to wear in the coming months. With such an extravagant showing, it was only fitting to keep those glittery good vibes a-glimmer. So, the fashion set said goodbye to Carriageworks for the year, and made its way to QT Sydney to celebrate with a grand finale of pink tinsel and neon lights, cocktails, oysters and a soundtrack of ABBA and Whitney Houston. (The party also opened a small RWB archival exhibit at QT's Parlour Lane, on free public display until the end of the month.) Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia has come and gone, bringing with it an epic collaboration between two Australia design icons in their own right (yes, one of those is the Opera House), street style by the sea, hectic mullets and a slew of trends to now mull over and decide which will influence what we're wearing next from our fine Aussie designers. Until next time MBFWA, you've been quite the ride. Images: Tim Da Rin / Flaunter.
Reluctant pirates of Australia, this one's for you. Announced today, Australia's getting a brand new internet service, Yournet, which uses geododging to grant you access to TV from around the world. No VPN/funny business needed. Yournet is a soon-to-be-launched internet provider with a philosophy that everyone should pay for the content they consume, but also that Australians often get shafted out of competitive deals and easy access to good streaming services because of a certain someone’s monopoly on the market (Foxtel. It's Foxtel. Foxtel.). According to SMH, Yournet will un-geoblock your access to the holy grails of cheap TV streaming (US Netflix, Hulu, HBO Now, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer) and other blocked foreign sites. Yournet will become available in August and you’re looking at an ADSL2+ connection for $129.95 with unlimited downloads, which is a wee bit more than your current (terrible) TPG bargain bin deal. But considering a good VPN will cost up to $10 a month and Yournet has an uncapped download limit, we’re pretty into it. Yournet is also designed specifically for people who like to procrastabinge-watch entire seasons of TV shows without slow buffering times reminding you of the mountain of responsibilities that lurk outside of the safe zone (your laptop-warmed, bed pillow fort). If you're using Yournet, you will need to find your own way to sign up for blocked overseas services and actually pay for the service. But once you're signed up, Yournet allows you to flick between platforms easily with the 'Global Mode' service — unlike many VPNs like Hola, which don't allow Australian geoblocked sites through to the rest of the world, you can just flick between BBC and ABC iView for example. With Australia's new copyright laws rolling out with gusto, this could be the solution that lets you hang up the cutlass and parrot. How this is possibly legal, we're still pretty in the dark. However, Fairfax references legal advice that this type of technology to bypass geoblocking is perfectly okay, something that consumer advocacy group CHOICE Australia thinks is not exactly correct. "It's possible that we'll see a legal challenge against Yournet, similar to the actions against Global Mode services in New Zealand," CHOICE campaigns manager Erin Turner told SMH. "CHOICE remains concerned that the recently passed Copyright Amendment (Online Infringement) Bill 2015 will allow Australian rights holders to block access to online tools that allow consumers to access geo-blocked services. This isn't an anti-piracy measure, it's an anti-consumer measure that could see some of Australia's biggest companies block access to their international competitors." Check out Yournet here, launching in Australia in August. Via SMH.
In huge news for the Australian music industry and fans alike, US music events giant Live Nation has announced it's snapped up a controlling stake in Secret Sounds Group — the organisation behind both Falls Festival and Splendour in the Grass, run by Jess Ducruo and Paul Piticco. This 51 percent stake marks the first Aussie acquisition for the enormous LA-based company, which already lays claim to over 80 global festivals, including Lollapalooza, Reading, Leeds, Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits, Governor's Ball, Electric Daisy Carnival, and Rock Werchter. According to Music Business Worldwide, the deal excludes Secret Sounds Group-owned record labels Dew Process and Create Control, and Dew Process Publishing. Helmed by Michael Rapino, Live Nation has been buying up especially big in the music biz of late, with France's Nous Productions, South Africa's Big Concerts, and a majority stake in Tennessee's AC Entertainment just some of the 2016 additions to its ever-bulging portfolio. Nine months into this year, the group had already forked out a cool $113.1 million on net acquisitions. "Splendour in the Grass and Falls are the two most iconic festivals in Australia," said Rapino in a statement announcing the deal. "Jess and Paul have created events that attract the biggest artists in the world but still feel uniquely Australian. We look forward to partnering with them to find new ways to grow our live event footprint across Australia." Secret Sounds co-CEOs Ducrou and Piticco echoed the sentiment in their statement. "We started Secret Sounds with the sole mission of introducing Australians to the best artists, events and music possible, and Live Nation is the perfect partner to help us take this goal to the next level. With their support we can continue to curate the lineups that fans love, while also experimenting with new exciting ways for fans to experience live music." That such a big global player is now shouldering in on the Aussie festival scene and in control of two of our most prominent music events, could spell dramatic changes ahead. Via Pedestrian and Music Business Worldwide. Image: Splendour/Bianca Holderness. Home page image: A. Catt.
A nirvana of live music and creative thinking nestled smack bang in the middle of one of America’s most conservative states, Austin, Texas is amongst the most hypeworthy cities in the world. Never is this truer than during South by Southwest, a ten day festival of hugely talked-about movies, must-hear new music and groundbreaking, interactive tech. From flying cars to talks by Edward Snowden, this year’s event has once again got us turning green with envy. To help us cope with hardcore FOMO, we’ve come up with seven things happening at SXSW 2015 we wish we were bragging about experiencing firsthand. MEERKAT IS TAKING OVER With a tech-head on every corner, SXSW has become a premiere destination for developers looking to launch their latest app. Twitter and Foursquare both got their start in Austin, but this year the buzz has coalesced around Meerkat, an app that lets you live stream video from your phone to Twitter. Interesting idea, although whether it has staying power remains to be seen. VIRTUAL REALITY IS PUTTING PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE AT SNL40 Right now it feels like we’re right on the cusp of virtual reality actually being a thing. The team at Saturday Night Live certainly think so, teaming up with Sony to capture the filming of their recent 40th anniversary show. Just think: now you’ll be able to experience Eddie Murphy’s awkward guest spot like you were squirming in the audience firsthand. THERE'S A KWIK-E-MART FOOD TRUCK HANDING OUT FREE SQUISHEES Celebrating 25 years since the Kwik-E-Mart first opened its sliding doors on The Simpsons, Fox have created a food truck for SXSW that's serving up free squishees to lucky, lucky jerks for the duration of the festival. The flavours? 'Not So Very Cherry' and 'Give 'em the Razz'. The whole thing's a publicity stunt of course, and coincides with the announcement of the first ever 1100-piece Lego Kwik-E-Mart set. JIMMY KIMMEL TAPED A COMMERCIAL FOR A LOCAL AUSTIN VIDEO STORE For the second year in a row, late night host Jimmy Kimmel made the trip to Texas for a week’s worth of shows, with guests including Bill Murray, Willie Nelson and Kanye West. But the highlight might be the trio of TV ads he recorded for Austin’s Vulcan Video, where he and a self-effacing Matthew McConaughey pay tribute to Leonard Nimoy and extol the virtue of VHS. Alright, alright... alright? THERE'S BEEN SWORD FIGHTING AT SXSWESTEROS Well of course there was a Game of Thrones thing. HBO’s SXSW installation, teasing the launch of the show’s fifth season, has been one of the biggest drawcards of the festival, with lines stretching around the block. Fans got the chance to practice their swordsmanship, snap a pic in the Iron Throne and get a taste of the show’s latest branded beer, Three-Eyed Raven Ale. As of yet, no one appears to have been betrayed and brutally murdered, but we’ll be sure to keep you posted. TINDER'S BEING USED IN A CREEPY BUT MOVING MARKETING CAMPAIGN Okay, so we’re not exactly sure we’d actually want to experience this one. Like any popular social networking app, Tinder has got its fair share of bots, but none of them are quite like Ava. While she appears to be a pretty 25-year-old, she’s actually part of a viral marketing campaign for sci-fi thriller Ex Machina, which premiered at the festival over the weekend. It’s a clever stunt, although we can’t help but feel a little bad for the guys who swiped right. PEOPLE ARE VOLUNTARILY STAYING AT BATES MOTEL We all go a little crazy sometimes. Some of us are even crazy enough to want to stay in a pop-up Bates Motel, publicising the A&E thriller television show with a terrifying stay. An exact replica built with the help of the show's set designers for the third season of Bates Motel, the pop-up fully functioning hotel accommodates guests in three rooms from March 13-21. You're only able to check-in by winning a daily sweepstakes in the motel office. Lucky winners have found a fake blood spatter in the shower in their room, along with poor ol' Norma's bathrobe on the bed. Freaky. PEOPLE ARE GENUINELY RALLYING AGAINST ROBOTS Perhaps a few of Ava’s disgruntled victims were amongst the protestors at the Rally Against Robots, a protest march attempting to warn festivalgoers about the dangers of artificial intelligence. Or at least, that’s what it looked like. Turns out this was actually another marketing stunt, for a dating app called Quiver. That said, we’ve seen The Terminator enough times to think they might actually be on to something. PUNTERS ARE TAKING INTERSTELLAR VR TOURS Speaking of virtual reality, a VR tie-in with Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar put attendees 'inside' the film’s Endurance space craft — letting them explore the ship in zero gravity and get a glimpse of a time-warping black hole. No word on whether this experience actually helps you understand the plot of the movie, but either way it sounds pretty cool.
Ethical shopping is really goddamn hard sometimes. On one hand, you don’t want clothes that have been painstakingly made by someone earning a dollar a day in a sweatshop. On the other hand are a bunch of shopping bags because you've no idea where to even start shopping ethically. Like everything, an ethical mindset happens incrementally and the first step you can take is here — the Good On You ethical shopping assistant app is seeking crowdfunding. Intended to help you make better consumer choices, the Good On You app amalgamates information on the ethical rating of fashion brands, either by search term or in your local area. The app also measures different production impacts and processes such as child labour, treatment of animals and contribution to climate change. Basically, the app tells you all the real ingredients that went into making your must-have leather jacket, leaving no stone unturned. At times, it may be a hard pill to swallow if your favourite brands don’t pass the test, but the GOY team don't want you to stop shopping — the app also feature alternative suggestions, based on your style, that do better ethically. And perhaps the feature with the greatest potential to catalyse change is the ability to directly message brands who don’t pass muster (fire up your emoji dictionary for maximum emotional impact). There are a few ethical shopping assistant apps on the market right now, however this is the first that systematically catalogues Australian fashion and beauty brands — and it’s about time. Ethical shopping needn’t be a time-consuming ordeal and with an app that creates brand transparency it hopefully soon won’t be. Image: Dollar Photo Club and Good On You. UPDATE DECEMBER 18, 2015: Thanks to awesome crowdfunded dollars, Good On You reached their target of $15,000 and the app is now live. You can download it from their website. Go team!
A magical feast awaits the foodies of London, inspired by the writings of C.S. Lewis. For two weeks starting in late January, fiction-inspired supper club The Literary Hour is hosting a five course Narnia-themed banquet — and yes, you have to step though a wardrobe to attend. Just don't forget to bring your winter furs. Set to take place in a secret location somewhere near Tottenham Hale station in north London, Feast in Narnia is but the latest literary supper club hosted by the group. Previous dinners took their cues from the Brothers Grimm and Roald Dahl, and featured dishes such as Cinderella's pumpkin arancini and Willy Wonka's whipple-scrumptious fudgemellow delight. They've also run a not-so-fairytale dinner inspired by Hannibal Lecter, featuring blood soup, brain fritters and Silence of the (Ten Hour Slow Roasted) Lamb. What exactly you'll find on the menu in Narnia is currently being kept under wraps, although the organisers are promising "traitors' tea with Mr Tumnus" and "a fine fishy time with Mrs Beaver". We figure that it's not too much of a stretch to assume that Turkish delight will feature prominently as well. Londoners can book themselves a spot at the table via Grub Club. The rest of us might have to find our own enchanted wardrobe to transport us there first. Via Londonist.
Generally speaking, New Year's Eve can go one of two ways. Get it right, and it's a chance to let loose with your friends and celebrate the promise of the next 365 days. Get it wrong, and it's an unending hellscape of munted revellers, terrible music and being cooked to death on crowded public transport. But while it doesn't always seem like it, there are other options — ones that don't involve crushing crowds or spending an arm and a leg on some 'exclusive' party that'll only end up disappointing. If you're not one for blowouts and can't be stuffed watching the fireworks, here are five alternative suggestions for NYE 2018. HOST A DINNER PARTY At the end of the day, the best thing about New Year's Eve is getting together with your friends and loved ones. Well, it turns out you can have all that without the stress of leaving the house. Invite a few of your closest friends around and then get busy cooking. Once the night is underway you can keep yourselves amused with everything from bake-offs to board games to catching up with old episodes of Brooklyn Nine-Nine. If nothing else, getting your friends to supply the booze will mean you save yourself a bundle to spend in 2019. HOST A SLUMBER PARTY Doubling down on our previous suggestion, a sleepover saves you the awkwardness of kicking your mates out at 1.30am once the party has wound down — and it means you don't have to worry about dressing up, since you'll presumably all be hanging out in your pyjamas/'at home' clothes anyway. Spend the evening and early hours of the morning playing Cards Against Humanity and gorging yourself on snacks before collapsing onto a giant pile of pillows in the living room. As an added bonus, this idea means you get to wake up in a room full of your favourite people… and then you can guilt them into helping you with the cleanup. GO CAMPING While everyone else is figuring out the best way into the city, we reckon that there's a very strong case to be made for heading in the opposite direction. If it's serenity you're after, grab a tent, a sleeping bag, an esky and a couple of friends, and make your way deep into the bush. There mightn't be fireworks, but as you're ringing in the New Year gazing up at the stars, you won't feel too hard done by. Just make sure you're aware of any fire restrictions that might be in place, and be careful on the roads. Check out some of our favourite spots outside of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Auckland. MOVIE MARATHON There were a ton of great movies to hit cinemas this year (we wrote about some of our favourites over here). As we gear up for another Oscar season, there's no better time to fire up your Netflix account and catch up with the flicks you might have missed. If you do want to get out of the house, select Palace Cinemas around the country are hosting advance NYE screenings of the crowd-pleasing Green Book, with a celebratory glass of Prosecco included in the ticket price. Alternatively, Melburnians can pay a visit to the historic Astor Theatre and rock into January with Prince's Purple Rain. FIND SOMEWHERE TO VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME IN 2018 Look, let's be honest — 2018 was not a great year. So why not spend its final moments figuring how to make 2019 a better one? Volunteering is a great item to include on your list of New Year's resolutions, and there are no shortage of worthwhile organisations looking for extra bodies. Medicine sans Frontiers, Oxfam, Second Bite and the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre sit at the top of our list, but a quick Google search will reveal hundreds of others. Wouldn't it be nice to wake up on January 1 feeling good instead of just really, really hungover?
Woken up in a self-induced, whiskey-fuelled, stomach-grating, cold-sweating Sunday Hades too many times? You’re about to feel real guilty. London’s wholesome beige cashmere cardigan of a suburb, Notting Hill, is about to open the unthinkable: an alcohol-free cocktail bar called Redemption. We like to call this a ‘juice bar’. But apparently there's more to it than that. Redemption is London’s first alcohol-free bar, the city’s only ‘cocktail spot’ with a mocktail and food menu designed by nutritional therapists. Created by Catherine Salway, ex Virgin Group Brand Director, executive chef and raw, vegan specialist Andrea Waters, the bar sports the tagline, “Spoil yourself without spoiling yourself.” It’s the latest in a ‘healthvolution’ (yep) of dry bars happening across England, tackling the country’s huge social drinking focus by simply replacing the booze with Healthy Things. It's like almost like nicotine patch for being around bars. “These days it’s hard to get away from booze – you can’t even go to the cinema without being offered a glass of wine,” says Salway and Waters. “With Redemption, we are creating a space away from temptation that still feels like a treat. We’re challenging the convention that we need alcohol to lubricate every social occasion.” Anyone who just did Dry July (right here), would probably be down with this. But let’s be honest, this isn’t a ‘cocktail bar’. Basically it’s a wholesome, vegan cafe open late and using a buzzword to generate articles like the one you’re reading now. Consider us suckers. Redemption’s less about getting smashed on Negronis and more about filling your weekends with less sugar and alcohol. Think 'beet-o-tinis', 'apple mockjitos', and the mildly terrifying-sounding ‘lettuce spray’. For those who don’t drink at all, or those looking to detox the Captain Morgan from their pores, this is a great, appealing initiative from a country whose deep-set drinking problems mirror our own. Perhaps it’s time for a Redemption of our own? *rolls over, orders pizza online, burps Chardonnay* Redemption Bar opens on August 10 at 6 Chepstow Road, London. Open Monday – Saturday 10am – 11pm. Sunday 10am – 5pm. Via VICE and Sharking for Chips and Drinks. Images: Redemption and Sharking for Chips and Drinks.
People are always finding new and exciting ways to advance technology — and when their aim isn’t creating phone apps or more realistic pornography, it’s often about helping others. The Chilean team behind the SULI project fall into the second category of helpers. Their solar-powered SULI lamp is designed to bring a quick, easy, renewable light source to people without access to electricity. SULI estimates 1.5 billion people worldwide are without access to lighting, and use alternatives (such as kerosene lamps, candles, etc.) that are expensive and dangerous. And while solar-powered lights aren’t exactly new technology, an easy, cheap and versatile application for solar lighting is. With 3D-printed accessories, the SULI lamp has applications in both the developed and developing word. It can be used as a flashlight, a bicycle light, a garden light, a reading lamp or (this is the best one) screwed onto a water bottle and transformed into a device that throws light up to five metres. The light takes up to 12 hours to charge and the charge lasts for around 50 hours. For those of you trying to cut down your electricity bills, this may be the gadget for you. With two years of development and several grants behind them, the SULI team has finally brought the project to us via Indiegogo. For US$52 plus shipping you can send yourself one lamp, but for $85 you can add a second that gets sent to Haiti, where 3500 people are still living without electricity or access to water since the devastating 2010 earthquake. SULI have already raised US$22,000 but they still need to sell a few hundred more lamps in order to keep production costs low and their altruism train rolling. So get on board with this clever idea, fill your house with SULIs and know that while your household enjoys light after dark, so does a household in Haiti. Via PSFK. Image via Suli Lab.
Anyone who’s dreamed of spending a summer living in Berlin has just gotten some added incentive. The German capital has officially enacted new rent-control legislation, in order to curtail rising rental prices that have been driving low-income earners out of the city. Must be nice. The new law, which was approved by the German parliament in March, will prohibit landlords from increasing rent to more than 10 percent above the local average. The law was already in place for existing contracts, but will now apply to new tenants as well. Berlin was previously experiencing some of the fastest rising rental rates in Europe, with the average rate jumping by more than 9 percent between 2013 and 2014 alone. If you’re wondering why Australia doesn’t have similar legislation on the books, then welcome to the club. A recent global survey that took into account rental prices as well as various other cost of living factors including food, transport and utilities found that Sydney was the fifth most expensive city in the world, with Melbourne right behind at number six. Brisbane came in at 21, while Perth and Adelaide tied at 24. By comparison, New York City was number 26. That’s right. Living in New York is less expensive than Perth. The NSW Greens Party actually proposed changes to Sydney rental laws during their state election campaign earlier in the year. Under their proposal, rises in rent would be tied to the rate of inflation, and landlords would be restricted to one price increase per year. Member for Newtown Jenny Leong has pledged to introduce the legislation to the state’s lower house. In the meantime, Flight Centre has tickets to Berlin starting at $1499. Via The Guardian. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
Easter is one holiday that can lose its sheen pretty quickly. Usually once your parents decree you’re “too old” for Easter egg hunts. But with the four-day break and eating-centred celebrations (because you fasted for the last six weeks for Lent, right?), there’s plenty to get excited for.* While some venues shut, others turn on the charm. Only the best have made it into this list, our Ultimate Easter Weekend Itinerary. 'Hot Cross Chocolates' all round. *Did you notice that we didn’t say egg-cited? That took all of our effort. By the Concrete Playground team.
Meredith is a festival where you're guaranteed to have a good time, no matter what. But whatever your reasons for heading to the three-day December festival in central Victoria, you won't be disappointed with the acts Aunty Meredith has just announced for this year's lineup. If you've seen their Letterman set (and who hasn't by now), you'll be chest-beatingly happy to know that Future Islands will be headlining the bill, bringing their empassioned live show to The Sup. Todd Terje will be bringing his space disco all the way from Norway to head up vibes on Saturday night, as Chicago's Noname — both are coming to Australia for the first time. Warpaint, Total Control, ESG and !!! are among acts to join NZ's already-announced Aldous Harding. And that's not even a half of it. Aunty has really covered all bases here. You're wondering how you can get tickets to this aren't you? Meredith tickets are only available by entering the ballot. You can still do so at here up until 10.27pm on Tuesday, August 15. Fingers crossed that we can all hang out in The Sup on December 8, 9 and 10. But we know what you're really here for. We'll cut to the chase. Here's the lineup — and we're promised a few more are still to be announced. MEREDITH MUSIC FESTIVAL 2017 LINEUP Todd Terje & The Olsens Noname ESG Total Control !!! Future Islands Warpaint Downtown Boys Mark Seymour and The Undertow Aldous Harding Harvey Sutherland & Bermuda Amyl and The Sniffers Big Thief Pissed Jeans Various Asses Japanese Breakfast RVG The Teskey Brothers DJ Jnett The Senegambian Jazz Band Rings Around Saturn Kikagaku Moyo Meredith Music Festival will return to Meredith on December 8–10, 2017. Onsite camping will once again be available from Friday. To put your name in the ballot to win tickets, go to 2017.mmf.com.au.
With three holiday dates coming up, April is the month to plan a weekend getaway. If you're still looking for your ticket out of the city, Flash Camp has just announced they'll be hosting a pop-up glamping site within Shoalhaven's Coolendel private reserve from April 7 through 25, including the Easter and ANZAC Day holidays. Only a 2.5 hour drive down the South Coast from Sydney and thirty minutes from Nowra, the remote location is an easy trip to achieve a true bush experience — well, kind of. As to be expected, the tents look quite luxe. The bell-shaped, premium 'Flash Tents' come with a king-sized mattress, covered in plush bedding and perched on timber pallets. The tents also feature solar lighting, table and chairs, Biology toiletries and a hand-woven Armadillo & Co rug. For groups looking for a slightly (very slightly) more traditional camping experience, Flash Camp also offer their regular bell tents with air beds. Guests will also have access to the existing Coolendel amenities, including hot showers and barbecue facilities, as well as a communal Flash Camp tent with seating, fairy lights and a campfire. The glamping site will be located within Coolendel's 52 hectares of bushland along the Shoalhaven River. Nature lovers will be keen on this secluded grassy park, which is an ideal location for spotting wombats, goannas, wallabies and native birds. Apart from nature watching and bushwalking, guests can also try a spot of canoeing, biking and fishing. Rates vary from $110 to $220 per night, depending on day of the week and holidays. Food is not provided, though, so campers should make sure to pack the eski full for the duration of the trip. Flash Camp Glamping will pop up at Coolendel from April 7 through 25. To book, visit the Flash Camp website. For more glamping options, check out our list for the ten best glamping spots near Sydney .
If the name CJ Hendry doesn't ring a bell, a peek at these artworks will make you want to change that. Putting herself to the ultimate test, this Brisbane artist's latest collection 50 Foods in 50 Days shows just what can be achieved in a day's work. With just 24 hours, a felt tip pen and a 200,000 strong Instagram following to be held accountable to, Hendry took on the challenge of completing a hand-drawn masterpiece every day. Talk about dedication to the cause. These artworks are much more than just rushed scribbling's. They're top notch hyperreal snapshots of meals consumed by prisoners during their last days on death row. Pretty full-on. Drawn atop stunning $800 Hermes plates, Hendry has already gained the attention of the likes of Kanye West and Vera Wang (they've both nabbed pieces of her latest collections). Setting up in a pop-up luxury food store, the works will be woven into displays of gourmet oils, chocolates and teas. Pushing viewers to take part in this visual (and literal) feast, Hendry's work is sure to stir up some intriguing dinner table conversation.
A couple hundred comedians walked into a bar. And then a theatre. And then a club. And then the Melbourne Town Hall. Brace your funny bone because it's Melbourne International Comedy Festival time — and this year's lineup down not disappoint. Alex Edelman, Arj Barker, David O'Doherty and Stephen K. Amos are just some of the big international acts who'll come flying into town (and, boy, will their arms be tired). They'll share the stage with high-profile locals acts including Becky Lucas, Anne Edmonds, Charlie Pickering and Lawrence Leung. And that's to say nothing of the endless amateurs and up-and-comers who'll by cracking jokes through the festival, which runs from March 28 right through until April 22.
For all of us down here in the southern hemisphere, Christmas has never really aligned with the classic ‘snowy tree, Christmas jumpers, roast dinner and egg nog’ style of celebration enjoyed by the north. Frankly, the thought of eating a hot, greasy wad of ham on a 35-degree day is kind of gross — give us a tinnie and a prawn skewer anytime. But that doesn’t mean we don’t like to pretend, and the Hotham Street Ladies have just the thing. These cheeky Melbourne artists have created a sweet, sweet installation for the iconic Hotel Windsor that features a massive, traditional Christmas spread. There's a fat roast chicken, glazed ham, juicy lobster, baked whole fish (man, we sure eat a lot of meat at Christmas, Gaviscon must rake it in) and not to mention the succulent desserts and sides. This piece of art looks better than any Christmas meal you’ve ever made (hell it looks better than most things) and the kicker? It’s made entirely from icing sugar. The Christmas at The Windsor exhibit (which is on display from December 1 to January 5) took over a month to create and the gals used an incredible range of modelling and piping techniques to work in so much detail. Aren't across these bold, culinary artists? The Hotham Street Ladies are an artist collective of five women — Cassandra Chilton, Molly O’Shaughnessy, Sarah Parkes, Caroline Price and Lyndal Walker — who derive their name from the days when they lived together in a share house in Collingwood. Their mutal passion for cakes, baking, feminism and craft has since informed their work and it’s pretty damned cute (with a big streak of feminist badassery). Check out some of their other work, including a puppy cake covered in iced flowers, candy beards, a table setting designed around leftovers and this gloriously graphic iced period stain installation in the men’s toilets at the Victorian College of the Arts. Christmas at The Windsor is on display at the Hotel Windsor, 111 Spring Street from December 1 to the January 5.
Finally, the Bloody Mary will have a breakfast bev companion. Bacardi has been cooking up what is thought to be the first spirit distilled from tea leaves, a new product they're calling Tang. Although we're pretty sure that's already a long-copyrighted drink name for a sugary orange fizz, Bacardi are running with it as inspired by the Chinese Tang Dynasty — when the country's obsession with tea really put down its roots. And with tea still the second most widely consumed beverage in the world (behind coffee, of course), it looks like Bacardi's capitalising on a still-travelling bandwagon. Someone at Bacardi obviously saw more than The Grim in their tea leaves. Apparently the company has been developing a brand new distillation process for four years, according to The Spirits Business. Releasing complex sugars from green tea leaves, the process makes the tea leaves fermentable — so able to become booze. Looks like someone at Bacardi left the leaves in their home teapot too long and had a Brilliant Idea. The fermented gloop then heads to distillation phase, before being blended to really get those tea flavours out. Then the whole thing is diluted with French spring water at Cognac's Grey Goose distillery and you've got yourself a 'tea spirit', designed to drink alongside Chinese food or dropped into cocktails. If you're all fired up to drop a little Tang in your morning cup, be warned; it's going to be exclusively distributed in China (initially only from DFS Hong Kong until May). Plus, it's not going to be cheap. Bacardi are only making small batches of 2000 500ml bottles a go (HK$1888 or AU$318), with the first 500 of the batch numbered, so you're going to see some pretty steep eBay prices on Tang. Via The Spirits Business.
Calling all Gordon Gekkos and Jordan Belforts, the UK's got a new bar for you. The Reserve Bar Stock Exchange is London's new venue where drink prices fluctuate in real time according to their nightly popularity, opening on June 17. Set across three floors, Reserve is attempting to connect customers to the value of their cocktails, and how quickly one drink can rise in value while another crashes. It all depends on which drink is most popular on the night — classic supply and demand. There's a live market price board where you can see how different cocktails are doing, and the bar's smartphone app will let you keep track of things at your table — an app that also allows patrons to order cocktails right to their table. The bar's advice? "Buy low, play the market, and when the market crashes... everybody wins." We guess that means a sweet cheapo special. So who's the Wolf of Wall Street behind this whole deal? Reserve has been dreamt up by Alan Grant and his crew, whose former escapades include London's Cherry Jam, Supper Club and Notting Hill Arts Club. It's London's first bar of its kind, but it's not the world's — Austin, Texas has a stock market themed bar called The Brew Exchange, where the hundred beers on tap fluctuate according to popularity. If you happen to be in London (or you've got buds over there) before the bar opens on June 17, Reserve is offering punters the chance to feel like a right ol' Gecko — you can invest £25, £50 or £100 in the bar and you'll double your money instantly with a 100% return of £50, £100 or £200 in bar credit. The Reserve Bar Stock Exchange opens on June 17 at 46 Gresham Street, London. Via The Drinks Business. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
This holiday season, there's only one decoration we want hanging from our Christmas tree. It's the latest absurd dessert from the team at Gelato Messina, who so far this year have created ice cream cigars, ice cream hamburgers and an ice cream inspired by an air freshener. Available just in time for a yuletide family feed, Messina's 2015 Christmas cake combines the tastes of gingerbread, pear and chocolate. With flavours that smooth, it's no wonder they called it the Michael Baulble. The limited edition dessert, which can be ordered now until December 22 through the Gelato Messina website, consists of burnt butter and gingerbread gelato with pear mouse and fruit mince florentine, enclosed in a chocolate dome and dusted with gold powder. It also comes with vanilla brandy custard, which should be warmed and applied generously before eating. The Michael Baulble costs $90 and can be picked up from select Messina stores in Sydney (Roseberry, Miranda and Parramatta), Melbourne (Fitzroy) and Queensland (Coolangatta). According to Messina it feeds 16 people, although let's be real here: there's no way you're sharing it with that many people. Sure, Christmas is the time for giving and all that, but everyone has their limits. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=6&v=SUp6tmSbQN0 To order your own Michael Baulble, visit the Gelato Messina website. Via Good Food.
In the latest "hello young people" example of giant fast food chains desperately attempting to be cool, McDonalds has announced that a dedicated French fry 'concept store' will open tomorrow in Sydney and it's called, wait for it, Fries With That. You can probably hear us sighing from here. Located on Glebe Point Road in Glebe, Fries With That will throw its doors wide to the insatiably curious masses at 11am tomorrow and the menu is (as you may have guessed) dedicated solely to fries. It's a big trend-sucking gimmick to promote their new loaded fries menu, and they'll be test running six new varieties of toppings. The most popular topping will get the honour of becoming a permanent member of the illustrious Maccas menu. As is tradition in a democratic country, you vote by smashing down your fave French fry flavour. After Camperdown's new eatery The Corner turned out to be a Maccas in disguise last year, this is just some more casual bandwagon-jumping for Maccas. Just look at this on-trend interior, blonde wood, white tiles, exposed light bulbs — someone's been paying attention: It's only open for three days and will close up at 6pm on Sunday, giving you only three days to try all the new flavours — which are, quite honestly, boring as batshit. The six options include sour cream and sweet chilli, Caesar, curry, pesto and parmesan, chipotle cheese sauce and peri-peri cheese sauce. Yawn. They'll also be serving gravy loaded fries which launched nationally yesterday. Eh, we'll probably inhale some. Stop looking at us like that. Find Fries With That at 166 Glebe Point Road, Glebe. Opening hours Friday, May 27 to Sunday, May 29 11am-6pm.
Ever been gettin' loose out on the town and thought, “I could destroy a round of mini-golf right now.” Procure an Argyle-patterned vest and beige slacks immediately, because the good folk at Howler are bringing back their custom-made nighttime mini golf course to conquer. One heck of a drawcard launched in July, the triumphantly returning Howler Mini-Golf-O-Rama features nine holes each complete with a classic theme (think windmills, volcanos and jungles, classic mini-golf). It'll be back at Howler from Sunday December 27 to Wednesday, January 6, from 3pm on weekends and 6pm on weekdays. And it's FREE if you buy a bev. To use the course, all you have to do is turn up to Howler, buy yourself and/or your golfing buddies a drink and choose your putter. The course will be set up in what was once Howler’s bandroom, and to keep the good times flowing, guest DJs will pump up the jams (and hopefully play a non-stop dubstep remix of Lee Carvallo’s putting challenge. In fact, consider this an official request). Check out Elliphant and MØ carving up the course in July, to give you an idea. Now, let's all dig out our Happy Gilmore VHS's and prepare to just taaaap it in. Find Howler Mini-Golf-O-Rama at 7-11 Dawson Street, Brunswick from Sunday December 27 to Wednesday, January 6, from 3pm on weekends and 6pm on weekdays. Golfing is free if you buy a drink from the bar. Image via. Marcus Hansson.
Always wanted to roller skate to disco at ACMI? This is your chance. As part of Melbourne Music Week, the cultural institution will host a retro roller jam complete with disco balls, bad outfits and a live soundtrack from Australia's own jazz, soul and R&B legend Renée Geyer. Geyer — whose four-decade career has landed her in the ARIA Hall of Fame — will be supported by acts Kylie Auldist, Chelsea Wilson and DJ JNETT, who'll be spinning four decades of tunes for you to roller dance the night away to. This looks set to be one of the funnest events on the MMW program.
There was never a dearth of choice for brekky options in Collingwood, but now the choice is even tougher. Proud Sprout has opened recently on Smith Street, blending Australian breakfast and lunch classics with a Nepalese and Sri Lankan twist. Owners and operators Karishma and Waseem (who also run Little Temper in Hawthorn) grew up in Nepal and Sri Lanka before migrating to Australia a decade ago. Karishma handles the kitchen while Waseem, an architect by trade, handled the fitout. Karishma's menu combines the best of both of their lived experiences. Expect the expected with a bit of a twist — dishes like eggs benny made with smoked trout, sweet potato rosti and avocado hollandaise. Or a French toast rendered truly indulgent with custard crème, strawberries, pistachio crumb and maple. Or the special, the Rikshawwala, a dish of spiced cauliflower, potato, fried eggs and roti paratha. Like a good Melbourne cafe, they're sourcing their coffee exclusively from Padre and the drink menu features a broad range of caf and de-caf options (think smoothies, juices, and chais as well as turmeric and matcha lattes). They also do a mean lunch salad and specialise in takeaway build-your-own lunch boxes (no more sad sandies from Coles for the Smith Street lunch crowd). And keep an eye out for a dinner menu later in the year. Find Proud Sprout at 76 Smith Street, Collingwood. Open Tuesday to Friday 7am–4pm and Saturday and Sunday 8am–4pm.
Wondering what to say when you step inside Brisbane's new mini-golf bar? At Holey Moley Gold Club, it really is all there in the name. And, as awesome as the concept of having some drinks, donning a visor, hitting the indoor greens and taking a few swings on pop culture-themed holes sounds, the reality is even better (and weirder). Entering Holey Moley is like entering an alcohol-fuelled indoor amusement park for adults, even if the building it's in — a former church — makes that quite the surreal experience. So does the angel statue decked out with golf clubs, the pink-lit neon sign declaring "I like big putts and I cannot lie", and the twirling giant disco ball hanging in the centre of the venue, which visitors familiar to the site's many previous watering holes and live music spaces will recognise. Of course, with the right wall taken up by a stocked bar, it's obvious that this is a drink-focused spot with two nine-hole mini-golf courses inside, rather than a putting facility that happens to serve booze. Each hole has a six stroke maximum, however whether you decide to keep score is completely up to you — it's fun, rather than sports, that the venue wants to promote. Even taking a quick glance at the eighteen different holes on offer demonstrates that having a good time is the main aim here, unless you're scared of clowns and puppets, that is. Suspended from a frame and lurking on the ground, these vaudevillian creeps adorn the seventh stop on the ground level, which means anyone suffering from coulrophobia has plenty of time to work up the courage to play there. Beforehand, you'll hit your way through a beachy (fri)endless summer, enter a glow-in-the-dark space for three holes of luminous action, and play pinball and pool with a golf ball and club. Yes, really. Keeping with the arcade theme, a putting version of skeeball marks the end of the lower course — but don't worry, more holes await upstairs. That's where you'll show off your short game on a turntable, in a bathroom and a gym, and on a Twister board, to highlight just a selection of the standouts on the upper level. You'll also tap, tap, tap the ball into a Nintendo-focused hole that pays tribute to Super Mario and Donkey Kong, brave the Mad Putter's Tee Party, prove that you're obviously not a golfer at a bowling alley, and marvel at the glory of the nine-iron throne. You just know the latter is going to be mighty popular, particularly for selfies that'll clog up your Instagram feed. For something different between rounds, ping pong tables provide a break from the main action, as do a selection of old-school video games. Or, chew a couple of gum balls, grab a drink, and sit down and watch everyone else. In fact, the cocktail list is worth the trip alone, thanks to beverages like the Tee-quila Mocking Birdie (with Don Julio Blanco Tequila, Blue Curacao, sour mix and sugar syrup), Teeyonce Knowles (Pampero white rum, soda, fresh mint, limes and syrup) and Happy Gilmoreo (Chambord raspberry liqueur, Smirnoff Red vodka, Baileys, milk, chocolate sauce, crushed Oreos and whipped cream). Yep, we're calling it: Holey Moley is about to become everyone's favourite new hangout. Holey Moley Golf Club opens on September 29 at 25 Warner Street, Fortitude Valley. For more information, check out their website and Facebook page.
With so much space and so few people, Australia has the edge when it comes to country pubs. There are eccentric, outback institutions, hundreds of kilometres from anywhere, that have witnessed murders and shoot-outs and cattle stampedes. There are posh hotels with incredible views and gourmet menus featuring emu and camel and kangaroo. There are cosy joints with fireplaces where the locals will sidle up for a yarn within minutes and offer you a beer. Here are ten of the best of the lot. PUB IN THE PADDOCK, TASMANIA There are two reasons to visit Tassie's Pub in the Paddock. One, it's actually in a paddock. So, you'll find yourself in the country — seriously — and surrounded by spectacular, rolling green scenery. Two, it's home to a beer-sculling pig by the name of Priscilla, who can knock back a stubby in seven seconds. Don't fret; the alcohol content is significantly diluted. You can stay the night in one of six private rooms, and the pub, which has been licensed since the 1880s, is famous for its fresh-fuelled menu and hug-worthy hospitality. Find Pub in the Paddock at 250 St Columbafalls Road, Pyengana, 30 kilometres inland from St. Helens. Give 'em a call on (03) 6373 6121. GRAND HOTEL, WESTERN AUSTRALIA Built in 1902, the Grand Hotel is as friendly as ever. Back in the day, it was an epicentre for local gold diggers, but these days it shares its home town of Kookynie with just ten people. Travellers still drop by, though, to hang out on the Grand's wide, shady verandahs and stay the night in its spacious, old-school rooms. Keep an ear out for ghosts. The Grand Hotel is on Kookynie Rd, Kookynie, which lies 200 kilometres north of Kalgoorlie. Call on (08) 9031 3010. PRAIRIE HOTEL, SOUTH AUSTRALIA Situated right where the Flinders Ranges turn into the outback, the Prairie Hotel, which has been licensed since 1876, serves up your cold one with excellent mountain views. It's also home to one of Gourmet Traveller's Top 100 Gourmet experiences, the Feral Mixed Grill. That's kangaroo fillet, camel sausage, goat chop and emu patty. There's enough accommodation for 90 people, from fancied-up heritage rooms to architect-designed executive studios to self-contained cabins. You'll find the Prairie Hotel on the corner of High Street and West Terrace, Parachilna, 90 kilometres north of Hawker. Make a booking on 1800 331 473. DALY WATERS PUB, NORTHERN TERRITORY It's possible that the Daly Waters has a bigger bra collection than any pub in Australia. The legend goes that, back in the '80s, a passenger passing through bet her coach driver that, if she couldn't drink a nominated number of beers, she'd leave her bra behind. She lost. Ever since, other patrons have felt the urge to donate their undergarments to the display. Built in 1930, the Daly Waters sits on the Explorers Way, 600 kilometres south of Darwin and 900 kilometres north of Alice Springs. Its official dress is 16 Stuart Street, Daly Waters. Call up on (08) 8975 9927. SCARBOROUGH HOTEL, NEW SOUTH WALES On a sunny Sunday, many a Sydneysider scoots down to the Scarborough Hotel for a lazy afternoon overlooking the sea. Situated just an hour's drive from the city, it's not quite as hardcore countrified as other pubs on our list, but you'd travel a long way to find one with better Pacific Ocean views. The spacious 'Seacliff' Beer Garden comes with both tables and island-inspired huts. Best to book in advance on weekends. The Scarborough Hotel is at 383 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Scarborough. Make contact on (02) 4267 5444. THE LOADED DOG, NEW SOUTH WALES Country music fans crowd into The Loaded Dog every third Saturday of the month for its legendary live gigs. A stack of well-known country musicians have played there, including Amber Lawrence, Luke O'Shea and Felicity Urquhart. Built in 1848 in the then bustling, now disappearing town of Tarago, 69 kilometres northeast of Canberra, the pub used to be the main pit stop for travellers to and from the national capital. Now, it's on the scenic route, but worth the detour for its open fireplaces and hearty bistro fare. The Loaded Dog is at 1 Wallace Street, Tarago. The number is (02) 4849 4499. NINDIGULLY PUB, QUEENSLAND Daly Waters might have the bras, but Nindigully has the Akubras. One-hundred-and-forty or so of them hang on the walls, donated mostly by local farmers and stockmen. Situated on the banks of the Moonie River, Nindigully is the oldest continuously licensed pub in Queensland, having been in operation since 1864. Visitors are welcome to camp and park their caravans nearby, and there are free showers on tap. Find this one on the Carnarvon Highway via Thallon, 160 kilometres west of Goondiwindi, 45 kilometres east of St George and 70 kilometres of the Queensland-New South Wales border. Call in on (07) 4625 9637. BIRDSVILLE HOTEL, QUEENSLAND One of Australia's most famous pubs, the Birdsville Hotel perches on the edge of the Simpson Desert, in the town of Birdsville, 1,590 kilometres west of Brisbane and 720 kilometres south of Mt Isa. One hundred people live there. The pub was opened in 1884 and is a gathering place for locals, who are only too happy to shout visiting strangers a beer and a story or several. If you're keen to stay, there's plenty of room at the associated motel units. Stay over on a Sunday night and you'll be treated to a traditional roast. The Birdsville Hotel is on Adelaide Street, Birdsville, and can be reached on (07) 4656 3244. TINAMBA HOTEL, VICTORIA Tinamba Hotel makes the list for keeping its old-school, unassuming atmosphere, but introducing a delicious, locally sourced menu. The owners even list their producers on their website. Established in 1874, the pub has changed hands numerous times and is now owned by food-and-wine-loving pair Brad Neilson and Damien Gannon, who bought and revamped it in 2009. The pub is situated in Gippsland dairy farming country, in the small town of Tinamba. Find it at 4-6 Tinamba-Seaton Road and get in touch on (03) 5145 1484. TANSWELLS COMMERCIAL PUB, BEECHWORTH For getting in touch with your bush-ranging ancestry, Tanswells Commercial Pub in Victoria's northeast is the place to go. Ned Kelly and his Gang used to drink here while planning their next exploits. These days, there's an open fire and a long drinks list, featuring craft beers and wines from local, regional and international producers. Stay over and leave yourself time to wander through the historic goldfields town of Beechworth. Find Tanswells Commercial Pub at 50 Ford Street, Beechworth and phone in on (03) 5728 1480.
Canadian duo Megan James and Corin Roddick are bringing their lauded dark electro-pop sounds and captivating live show to Melbourne and Sydney, thanks to Splendour in the Grass. Purity Ring's incredibly strong debut album Shrines dealt out such slam dunks as 'Fineshrine' and ‘Obedear’, and in March this year they released their second record, Another Eternity. Their latest material emerges from the mysterious darkness surrounding Shrines, and blissfully leans towards more upbeat dream pop, which we happily receive. Hitting Australia for Splendour, Purity Ring have drummed up these hugely anticipated sideshows you should lock down tickets for immediately; who knows how long it will be until we see them next?
If there's one type of hospitality offering that Melbourne is lacking, it's the all-day venue. You know, somewhere that you can sit with a coffee and read the paper, whether it's 8am or 5pm. Somewhere that you can go to finish off some work and then transition straight into knock-off drinks. But the CBD is getting there, especially when Morgan McGlone opens his new morning-to-night all-rounder on Collins Street in February next year. Natural History will be the Belles Hot Chicken chef's biggest venue to date. That's because it won't just be one venue, but, effectively, it will be two. Up front will be the cafe, which will serve up the more casual fare: coffee, doughnuts, pastries and porchetta rolls. But venture further into the space and you'll find the bar and grill — a huge 350-seat venue in the vein of upmarket bistros you might find in NYC. It doesn't look like fried chicken is on the menu, either. Rather, diners will be able to choose from steak tartare with fried oysters, pork chops and a one-kilo T-bone steak. Desserts will be distinctly American — think key lime pie and peach cobbler. What we're perhaps more excited about is the drinks list. McGlone has been championing natural wines for a while now, and Natural History will give him the chance to stock a full bar with them, along with local craft and non-pasteurised beers. He's teamed up with the 100 Burgers group (Mr Burger etc.) and Michael Delany and Jaimie Wirth (of hospo partnership International Worldwide) to make the space a reality. The design sounds like it's aiming to transport diners far away from Melbourne with vintage 60s tiling, 19th century stained glass and a straw ceiling. There will also be a 15-metre-long taxidermy 'diorama' set up along the dining room wall, which sounds...interesting. Natural History will be open Monday to Saturday from 7am to late from February 2018. We'll keep you updated on an opening date — but until then, we'll anticipate a new space that we can visit any time of the day.
Ever wanted to own your own Banksy original? Well now for a mere $435,000 you can. And while that may sound a bit steep, the price actually isn't that bad when you consider that it includes the entire three bedroom house on which the mural is painted. Located on the side of a two-story terrace in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, Spy Booth depicts three secret agents dressed in trenchcoats and dark glasses monitoring a nearby phonebooth with surveillance equipment. Painted in April 2014, it's viewed as a comment on the global surveillance scandal caused by whistleblower Edward Snowden. The house is located just a few kilometres away from the headquarters of the GCHQ, Britain's security and intelligence agency. But while you might imagine that having a Banksy on the side of your house would be a blessing, the owner of 159 Fairview Road says he has experienced constant stress since the appearance of the artwork, which he's been unable to remove or sell since council planners granted it retroactive planning permission. So instead, he's selling the whole building. "If Cheltenham want it, they can have it," 45-year-old David Possee said in an interview. "Just buy the building off me, I just want to get on with my life. Cut me free, you can have the Cheltenham Banksy." Fair warning to any potential bidders out there: while the artwork may be great, the house itself is in need of serious renovations. Or, as real estate agents Peter Ball & Co put it, "requires a comprehensive schedule of refurbishment." To view the listing, go here. Via Domain.
“Have you skied before?” This is the question I am asked — repeatedly — on the way to Thredbo: at reception when checking in at the Thredbo Alpine Hotel, at a five-course champagne brunch in an inflatable igloo on the ski slopes (a combination of words I never thought I'd say), while dancing and chatting to strangers during a poolside party started by French phenomenon La Folie Douce and, of course, when collecting gear and being assigned to a ski lesson on the final day of this weekend celebrating the Thredbo Top2Bottom race. The answer is sort of, once, when I was in high school and spent a day tumbling down Friday Flats. But if you think Thredbo isn’t for you, it’s time to think again. There’s a lot more than just skiing on offer in this alpine village getaway. ARRIVE AT THE HOTEL; DON'T LEAVE THE HOTEL From outside, the Thredbo Alpine Hotel (Friday Drive, Thredbo Village Resort, +61 2 6459 4200) looks austere — with a grey timber exterior capped by an aggressively sloping roof. But inside, it’s warm and wood-panelled, the staff are chilled out and friendly and there is a roaring log fire in the middle of the lobby lounge. The setting is pretty spectacular too. From the hotel room window, I can see a snow-covered mountain that reflects the pink morning light, and a pristine landscape of sky and trees. The rooms are small and haven’t been refurbished since the ‘80s, but this adds a rustic charm and comfort. The hotel breakfast is deliciously comprehensive, and the restaurant windows look out onto the slopes. Whether you’re into the bircher muesli or hash browns (or both), you can sit in your warm smugness and watch early morning skiers tear down the Supertrail at their own peril. The hotel also has an outdoor spa, an in-house massage therapist and sauna. So you basically have no reason to leave. OPEN CHAMPAGNE THE RIGHT WAY: WITH A SWORD On the first morning, I am whisked away to Crackenback Drive and treated by Mumm Champagne to a five-course champagne degustation with chef ambassador Josh Lopez (from Brisbane’s GOMA restaurant). The pop up restaurant is set on the snow in an inflatable igloo by the ski slopes. Mumm ambassador Chris Sheehy introduces the champagne at the beginning of each course, followed by Josh Lopez, who explains his approach to each dish. I learn how to open a bottle of champagne with a saber (the essential trick is to chill the neck of the bottle for a couple of hours to get a clean break), eat black rose caviar off the back of my hand and appreciate how truffle coated in 24 carat gold goes marvellously with a cordon rouge (that’s a type of champagne). The dessert is the highlight (or perhaps my head is rather light by this point), an architectural feat with macadamia, berries, vanilla and rose petals, matched with a light rosé. An evening champagne and caviar masterclass with Sheehy and Lopez was also available to Thredbo visitors at the Segreto Restaurant back at the Alpine Lodge Hotel. PARTY LIKE IT'S -5ºC (IT IS) Thredbo Alpine Hotel is known for its afternoon après-ski parties, and from 3-6pm international party-starters La Folie Douce took to the poolside stage, pumped up the beats and got the crowd going. It’s hard to explain the magic of La Folie Douce and exactly what happens up there on stage, but they charmed us with what essentially is a glorified karaoke-cross-Rihanna-inspired dance routine, hollering and grinding to a set of pumping music, encouraging the audience to follow suit. And before long, half the audience was up on stage, a squish-friendly party of ski jackets and champagne-fuelled shenanigans. And amazingly, it was finished in time for dinner. CELEBRATE OTHER PEOPLE'S ATHLETIC VICTORIES Upon assignment to this story I had a momentary freak-out where I thought I might have to actually ski in the 25th Anniversary Top2Bottom race — a kind of City2Surf for the slopes. Each year, a slew of skiers, snowboarders and even a select few fatbike racers (literally people riding fat bicycles down the slope) compete on Australia’s longest run (3.2km) for a $1200 prize pack. Luckily, all I had to do was hang out at the finish line by the Mumm Champagne pop-up bar and cheer them on. There were dramatic crashes, narrow finishes and plenty of champagne-popping to start the day. ATTEMPT TO SKI, DECIDE TO INVEST IN A TOBOGGAN The opportunity to ski came on the last morning of the trip. I quickly realised that the preparation for this sport takes more energy than the sport itself. I wore way too many layers of clothing, struggled to get my ski boots on and then walk in them (skis in tow) to the shuttle bus. But once on the magic carpet at the bottom of Friday Flats, under the friendly guidance of Albert our ski instructor, the snowplough position came rushing back to me and I went rushing down Friday Flats. It was exhilarating! But next time I think I'll invest in a toboggan. LET'S DO THIS; GIVE ME THE DETAILS Thredbo is open 365 days a year, though the ski season runs from the June long weekend to the October long weekend. By air: Qantas and Virgin Australia service Canberra Airport from major Australian cities. Canberra Airport is a 2.5 hour drive from Thredbo and shuttle transfers to and from the airport can be arranged. Several major car hire companies also hire from Canberra. By bus: Greyhound Australia run daily services from Canberra and Sydney, Murrays run daily services from Canberra during July and August and other service operators also offer transport and packages. By car: Thredbo is approximately 500km, or 6 hours' drive, from both Sydney and Melbourne. If you’re cruising to the mountains from Sydney, once you’re on the Eastern Distributor there are only a few sets of traffic lights to Thredbo. From Melbourne, the fully sealed Kosciuszko Alpine Way is your scenic window as you wind through the spectacular Kosciuszko National Park. The National Parks and Wildlife Service collect park use fees upon entry to the park. You can purchase your pass from the Entrance Station 13km before you get to Thredbo, the Snowy Region Visitors Centre in Jindabyne, the National Parks Visitors Centre in Khancoban, or the Thredbo Information Centre. Check out some tips for safe snow driving before you leave home. Roslyn travelled to Thredbo as a guest of Mumm champagne.
UPDATE: MARCH 31, 2020 — This much-loved vegan spot is now offering a limited menu available for takeaway and delivery, so you can enjoy penne carbonara, vodka-spiked spaghetti and tiramisu in your own home. Check out the full menu here. The early success of new Fitzroy restaurant Smith & Daughters has taken everyone by surprise, including first-time restaurant owners Mo Wyse and Shannon Martinez, who run the floor and head up the kitchen respectively. Understandably, there have been some teething issues; the restaurant has been booked out every night since opening and, at one point, they were forced to abort a lunch service to re-stock absolutely everything in their kitchen. Despite all this happening within a week of opening, the staff haven't stopped smiling, and the food certainly hasn't suffered. For a completely vegan restaurant to appeal to non-vegan patrons and avoid any subculture stereotype or prejudice is fairly remarkable. And, the Latin-inspired food is great. For a carnivore and dairy-fiend, I couldn't have been happier with what Smith & Daughters put in front of me. The tasty house-made guacamole with tortilla chips ($12) was a fabulous entry point to the menu, which consists of 'small plates' and 'big plates' — all of which are very shareable. Avoid the paella (delicious al dente rice flavoured with vegetable saffron stock was sacrificed by the faux seafood) in favour of the tacos ($14 for three), which consisted of soft, floury (but gluten free) tortillas filled with spicy 'chorizo' and potato, jackfruit carnitas or mushroom nopales and sweet grilled corn. They rival anything from the many (non-vegan) taco specialists around Melbourne. With other offerings such as Spanish tortilla with a beautifully crafted creamy house-made aioli ($7), 'tuna' and green pea croquettas ($15 for three), and crowd favourite taco con ensalada ($16), it's the sort of menu that can make decision time a tricky thing... especially if you want to leave room for a round of warm Spanish doughnuts or chocolate tart with avocado ice cream. The entire menu is plant-based, local and organic, and the kitchen puts in a lot of effort and consideration to make sure flavour is not hindered by the cause. As a result, non-vegan diners will happily return to this new culinary hotspot, and Melbourne's vegan contingent will rejoice their new favourite as one they can happily share with their non-vegan friends. If you still need any convincing, the cocktails coming from behind the bar were stunning creations in themselves.
How Kevin Hart's never made it to Australia for a stand-up tour before is beyond us (apart from a one-off set at Sydney's Comedy Store), but the celebrated US comedian is about to rectify that. Off the back of an epic US arena tour, Hart will bring his What Now? tour to Australia this February. Hitting Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney from Wednesday February 3, Hart will take over some of our biggest venues for a four-date run of shows. Both a stand-up veteran and a comedy film actor you might have seen Hart in Get Hard opposite Will Farrell, Little Fockers, Death at a Funeral, Fool’s Gold, Soul Plane, the Chris Rock-directed Top Five, or getting coffee in a car with Jerry Seinfeld. He's also starring in Ride Along 2, but Australia hasn't seen that sequel just yet. But Hart's going back to his roots with this tour. The 36-year-old really got his start while sizing men and women for footwear, when he performed at an amateur night in Philadelphia, subsequently quitting his job and ending up as a regular at lauded joints like The Boston Club, Caroline’s, The Laugh Factory, and The Comedy Store in Los Angeles. His 2011 Laugh at My Pain tour hit it out of the ballpark — in February 2011 he sold out LA's hallowed Nokia Theater for two nights in a row, breaking the record previously set by the great Eddie Murphy. KEVIN HART WHAT NOW? AUSTRALIAN TOUR: Wednesday, February 3 — Perth Arena, Perth Friday, February 5 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Staurday, February 6 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Sunday, February 7 — Allphones Arena, Sydney Tickets on sale 10am Friday, September 4. My Live Nation and ticket agent presale starts 2pm September 2 until 5pm September 3. For more info, head over here. "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" Kevin Hart from Peter Holmes on Vimeo.
Enjoy a breakfast of champions at whatever hour you please, courtesy of Australia's first ever cereal cafe. Opening its doors in Melbourne in just over a week, this pop-up snack hub will be serving all your childhood and/or late-night share house favourites, including Froot Loops, Coco Pops and Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut. Launching February 12, Cereal Anytime is the latest temporary tenant of Richmond’s year-long food and retail precinct, Swan Street Chamber of Commerce. Supposedly, the aim of the cafe is “educating people on foods in moderation”, which might get tricky given the sugar content of what they serve. Perhaps a limit of one bowl of Frosted Flakes per customer? The cafe will operate via a “pay-it-forward” payment system. Upon entry, diners simply peel a Post-it note off the wall, which they can then use to pay for their bowl of cereal. The Post-its can be replenished for $4 a pop, ensuring that those who are a little less fortunate don’t miss out. A recent cereal cafe that opened in London served over 120 different kinds of cereal, 13 milks and more than 20 additional toppings, so our iteration has something of a reputation to live up to. It sparked huge demand, followed by something of a culture war when some very practical types balked at paying £3.50 for flakes out of a box. Melbourne's version, with its element of feelgoodery, should sidestep that issue. Hungry members of the public can help decide the cafe’s final menu and gain entry on day one (February 12) via a ballot on their Cereal Anytime Facebook page.
A few months after Tropfest's near-death experience, founder John Polson has gone into greater detail on the alleged "financial mismanagement" that almost led to the festival's downfall. Appearing on triple j's Hack with Tom Tilley, Polson spoke about the moment when he first found out about the event's economic woes, and appeared to imply that blame lay at the feet of his business partner, Tropfest managing director Michael Laverty. "We raised well over a million dollars towards Tropfest last year and I got an email in early November saying we had not enough money to move forward with the event," Polson said on the Thursday, February 12 radio show. "It was obviously an incredible shock and a devastating blow." Polson claims to have documents proving the financial mismanagement, but declined to share them due to his impending court case against Laverty's company. "I don't believe Michael Laverty did the cliche thing of going off and spending it in the Bahamas but clearly something went wrong," he said. "There was massive, massive financial mismanagement that went down with this event and it's terrible and I'm trying to fix it." Tropfest was thrown a lifeline in December when CGU insurance stepped in to fund this year's festival, which will take place this Sunday in Sydney's centennial gardens. Polson is currently working on plans to secure the festival's long term future, and recently launched a crowdfunding campaign which has a week left to reach its $100,000 target. Polson also spoke about Hollywood star Mel Gibson, who was this week announced as a Tropfest judge alongside actors Simon Baker and Rebecca Gibney, director Jocelyn Moorhouse and cinematographer Don McAlpine. The news raised some eyebrows, given Gibson's unfortunate habit of saying appalling things whenever he's near a microphone. Nevertheless, Polson defended the choice, calling Gibson "an Australian icon." "As a 15-year-old in 1980 I went to see Mad Max and watched it three or four times over," said Polson. "What's happened to him in the last few years you'd have to ask him about." Via Hack. Image: Tropfest.
How's this for a way to blow off steam at the end of a working week: Abbotsford is about to become Melbourne's official home of casual and competitive axe throwing, which is exactly what it sounds like. Maniax is the brainchild of Stephen Thomas, who first came across the sport while living in Canada. "My wife and I used to go every week to watch the league," he tells Concrete Playground. "Down this back alley in Toronto there's this small warehouse with a bunch of targets set up, and a fire burning out the front. Everyone was right into it, and it was a really cool atmosphere." Upon returning to Australia, Thomas opened Maniax Sydney, and it soon proved to be a bit of a hit. "Think of it as an alternative to bowling or lawn bowls," he says. "We get birthday parties, hens parties, bucks parties, even family groups. Then midweek, we do corporate team building sessions. Google, Spotify, Australian Navy, Commonwealth Bank, IKEA, Qantas, you name it, they've been in." For Maniax Melbourne, Thomas has secured a warehouse just east of Hoddle Street, around 100 metres from Collingwood Station. "We've got six dedicated throwing areas, so we can take six separate groups at a time," he says. "It's going to have a very rustic, very industrial feel with lots of iron and wood." Thomas also plans to partner up with local bars and restaurants. "In Sydney we've got a guy called the Pig Baron who comes and sets up a pig on a spit," he explains. "Then afterwards we send them round to the local craft brewery for a few refreshing ales after the axe throwing." When we remark that axes and alcohol should probably be kept separate, he laughs. "It's a good combination in the right order," he agrees. "Axe throwing first, then the beer afterwards. Always in that order." Admittedly, not everyone is as keen on the idea of axe throwing as Thomas is. Maniax has already been approved by the City of Yarra, but is facing a battle at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) after a member of the public lodged an appeal. Still, Thomas is confident that the decision will go in their favour, and hopes to be open for business by late October. Once they are up and running, Thomas has big plans, including league nights like the ones they've set up in Sydney. "We hope to eventually have a Melbourne champ and a Sydney champ and be able to fly the Melbourne champ up to Sydney or vice versa and have an Australian champion," he says enthusiastically. "And because we're actually part of the National Axe Throwing Federation in Canada, our league members qualify for the National Championships in Canada. I'd love more than anything to see us find an Aussie champ and then fly them over to Canada to compete." To stay up to date on Maniax Melbourne's progress, visit www.maniax.com.au/melbourne.
