If you're a female chef, sommelier, waiter, restaurateur or manager — in short, if you're a woman and you work in hospo — there's a brand new not-for-profit in Australia dedicated to you. It's called WOHO and it's already attracted the support of some big names in the industry, including Christine Manfield, Danielle Alvarez and Nadine Ingram, who'll be acting as mentors. Even though 51.8 percent of Australian hospitality workers are women, only 15.4 percent of CEOs in the same industry are. So, when it comes to the top jobs, females are seriously underrepresented. WOHO will be bringing educational opportunities and forums to professionals at all stages of their careers. Members will be able to share experiences, ask questions, discuss issues, seek advice and access a supportive network. There'll be a formal mentoring program, regular events and meet-ups. "It is a very exciting time for Australian hospitality, which is now getting more recognition on the world stage," says Julia Campbell, founder and chair of WOHO. "While our forward-thinking approach to food and concepts is well-recognised, it is imperative that we face the issue of female underrepresentation at a senior level in the industry. WOHO is a vehicle for us to inspire, recruit and retain more females and to give them the confidence to support themselves and each other in their professional development." The rest of the WOHO Board is made up of Anna Pavoni (Ormeggio), Jane Hyland (4fourteen), Claire van Vuuren (Bloodwood), Michelle Maiale (A Tavola), Jane Strode (Bistrode CBD), Lisa Hobbs (Dedes Group), Lisa Margan (Margan Estate), Kerrie McCallum (delicious and Stellar) and Lyndey Milan (OAM). WOHO will launch on May 29 at 6pm at Three Blue Ducks, 1/85 Dunning Avenue, Rosebery. There'll be food by Bloodwood, 4Fourteen, Pastry Project and Bistrode CBD, and drinks by Printhie, Lisa McGuigan, Margan Estate, Young Henrys and Santa Vittoria. Tickets are $25 (members) or $30 (non members). WOHO membership is $10/month.
Goodbye Hollywood, hello Hallyuwood. No, that's not a typo. Instead, it's the thriving Korean film industry, which has become a major player in the global cinema realm in more ways than one. First, there's the spate of high-profile Korean directors making the jump to English-language movies, such as Okja's Bong Joon-ho and Stoker's Park Chan-wook. Next, there's the growing list of Korean flicks that have earned American remakes, like Oldboy and The Lake House. And finally, there's the all-round ace movies that Korean's finest cinema talents keep pumping out. It's the latter that's in the spotlight at the annual Korean Film Festival in Australia, which marks its eighth year in 2017. From high-octane crime efforts to different takes on familiar genres to thoughtful dramas, this year's lineup is filled with highlights — including these five must-see picks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoc0KZQnoKA THE VILLAINESS It's a great time for kickass women in cinema, finally. Wonder Woman and Atomic Blonde have company, however, and her name is The Villainess. This killing machine-focused thriller ramps up the action and body count as a trained assassin seeks bloody vengeance after her husband is murdered on their wedding day. Spies, secrets, Kill Bill-like mayhem, and La Femme Nikita-esque trickery and duplicity — they're all on the bill, as is a memorable display from star Kim Ok-bin (perhaps best known for Park Chan-wook's Thirst) as the formidable Sook-hee. THE DAY AFTER Another Australian film festival, another Hong Sang-soo film. It's becoming a habit, but the Korean writer/director is nothing if not prolific, having made four flicks in the past year alone. Hong's latest boasts his usual trademarks — booze and interpersonal battles — in a tale about a publisher's affair with his assistant, his wife's expectedly unhappy reaction, and his new helper caught in the middle. Fans will know that misunderstandings and written missives feature as frequently in his movies as free-flowing soju, and that's the case here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7STTUWI0as SEOUL STATION One of 2016's unexpected highlights gets an animated prequel — and yes, that's a rather rare development. Train to Busan was exactly what a zombies-on-a-train flick should be, and while Seoul Station isn't that movie, it is intriguing in its own right. Flesh munching and mindless shuffling takes over the titular railway stop, as brought to light in grittily drawn frames that somehow make the ravenous masses of undead even more frightening. You might think you've seen every take on zombie movies ever made, but we're betting that you haven't seen this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvqaLwfh0C0 THE WORLD OF US Winner of best youth feature at the 2016 Asia Pacific Screen Awards, The World of Us uses the friendship between two ten-year-old girls to explore the social reality facing kids in modern-day South Korea, and dissect the situation given to them by their adult counterparts. In doing so, the small in feel, sizeable in impact effort relays a relatable story audiences all around the world have been through. There are few things tougher in childhood than realising the inequities and differences that are used to separate the population, particularly when they don't go in your favour, something that director Yoon Ga-eun clearly understands. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jhPgL0_3ac BECAUSE I LOVE YOU Even given their fantastic premise, a good body swap film can not only entertain and amuse, but can also offer ample insights about walking in someone else's shoes. Because I Love You is the latest to attempt that feat, though it's not just content with making songwriter Lee-hyung inhabit one other person. No, a sole soul switch clearly isn't enough. Instead, after an accident renders him hospitalised, he hops from body to body trying to solve their romantic problems, all while his own potential fiance waits for him to wake up. Need a couple more suggestions? Here's two others. We recommended The Bacchus Lady highly back when it played at the 2016 Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival, while Karaoke Crazies caught our interest from the 2016 SXSW lineup. The Korean Film Festival in Australia tours the country from August 17 to September 23, screening at Sydney's Dendy Opera Quays from August 17 to 26, Melbourne's Australian Centre for the Moving Image from September 7 to 14, and Brisbane's Event Cinemas Myer Centre from September 8 to 10. For further details, check out the festival website.
The advertising will tell you that Brisbane's BIGSOUND is all about a whole lot of music, played by whole lot of bands, at a whole lot of venues over a whole lot of nights. And it is. But there is a deeper subtext to the festival — it's a deliberate symposium of an important cross-section of 'the music industry'. Music label representatives, radio producers, agents, artists, producers and even lawyers descend upon the Valley in an expedition to unearth and support Australian talent. BIGSOUND 2017 had an especially broad and eclectic showcase this year, guaranteeing no two punters had the exact same experience. But, in an attempt to compress four nights worth of amazing performances into a list, here's the ten most kickass, going places artists we came across. [caption id="attachment_636231" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Bec Taylor.[/caption] BOAT SHOW Boat Show might be one of the most important bands that played BIGSOUND this year. They've opened for San Cisco and Pond, yet still haven't reached the acclaim one would expect for possibly the best punk band in Australia at the moment. Punk — not post-punk. Boat Show don't just play sharp and sweet compressed guitar lines with nonsense lyrics about petty modern gripes. Boat Show are angry, and their tracks are poignant, feminist anthems about the many patriarchal constructs in society that need to change — and the energy Boat Show brought to Heya Bar made the entire audience embrace the notion that it can be achieved. Lead singer Ali Flintoff jumped from amp to amp, got amongst the crowd, and demanded to be heard. She even approached the lanyard-wearing audience members and made a public, ironic, and hilarious attempt to 'network'. Boat Show has big things ahead of them. [caption id="attachment_636279" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Bec Taylor.[/caption] OH MERCY Oh Mercy aren't exactly undiscovered as such — they've been around since 2008, have four studio albums under their belt and an ARIA. But the aesthetic of Oh Mercy, canvassing both the ensemble and the sound of the band, is perpetual, and the band we saw at BIGSOUND 2017 seemed to resemble a contemporary take on Brit-Pop, with some remnant of resemblance to the Hoodoo Gurus. The founding member Alexander Gow took to the Woolly Mammoth stage looking like a dashing Garth Marenghi with his leather jacket, and sung of love and heartbreak in that way only an acoustic guitar-playing front man can. His backing ensemble was tight and rich, and it was evident Gow had complete faith in his band, and this afforded him the complete freedom to engage with the audience in an authentic way. [caption id="attachment_636239" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Bec Taylor.[/caption] DONNY BENET There's nothing about Donny Benet and his big band that doesn't scream '80s, with his killer saxophone solos, rippling, almost ironic synth tones and endless hip movement. Benet himself might have been one of the most personable performers at BIGSOUND. At both his shows he danced with the crowd and was seen around the Valley inviting people to rub his bald head. A man you could call the king of anachronistic fashion (a heavily contested title amongst the BIGSOUND crowd), he was a favourite for photo opportunities, and embraced the role with relish. His songs are sensual synth-pop anthems detailing sexual ballads, all homages to the age of shoulder pads and powersuits. As a musician, Benet is doing something no-one else is in Australia is — and as a live-act he's wickedly fun. [caption id="attachment_636252" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Bec Taylor.[/caption] SLOW DANCER Slow Dancer (Simon Okely), along with Didirri and Stella Donnelly, completed the trio of the most beautiful, simplistic artists at BIGSOUND 2017. His whispered anthems and minimal instrumentation made for one of the most heartwarming sets of the festival. His music is deeply thought-provoking — best listened to with closed eyes, prompting reflection on childhood memories and lost loves. His set at the Blackbear Lodge was one of the last acts of night one of the festival, and the crowd sat absorbed in an appreciative silence. [caption id="attachment_636230" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Bec Taylor.[/caption] BIG WHITE Big White is Australia's answer to Pavement, almost two decades later. Their distinct jangle rock filled The Zoo on the second day of BIGSOUND to a solid crowd. The five-piece seem to be an ensemble in the truest meaning of the word, a single pulsing organism working as one to produce technically fanciful yet fun music. Their almost ineffable stage demeanour is that of a band of brothers (and sister), and is one expressed well by their music. While they haven't made the festival headlines yet, if their insanely dedicated fanbase keeps growing as they are, it won't be long before Big White are an established name in the national scene. [caption id="attachment_636255" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Bec Taylor.[/caption] BRIGHTNESS There is a certain kind of band where someone can listen to the lead singer and think "gosh, I hope he's okay". Such are the lyrics of Brightness. Lead singer Alex Knight conducts his backing ensemble as an iconoclastic figurehead. His sound is an angry indie-rock but the resounding authenticity of the sound lies in Knight's acoustic guitar and gripping vocals. One only needs to listen to their hit single 'Oblivion' to perfectly understand the allure of Brightness. Simple lead guitar and bass lines (usually played on one string) create a musical vacuum in which Knight's art is free to grow and dominate the stage. [caption id="attachment_636258" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Bec Taylor.[/caption] DIDIRRI Like Slow Dancer, Didirri was one of the more acoustic, meditative sets of BIGSOUND. Comparable to Slow Dancer's beautiful lyrics and stage presence, and Stella Donnelly's endearing modesty, Didirri is a natural performer. Even when only using a nylon-string guitar, Didirri, in his recordings and in his live performances, fills all spaces in an uncanny way. Didirri might actually be magical — or a great vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and gripping storyteller, at the least. [caption id="attachment_636248" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Bec Taylor.[/caption] MADDY JANE Maddy Jane's entry on the Spotify BIGSOUND playlist was 'No Other Way', a dole-wave, blues pop hit that's fiercely catchy and reminiscent of Courtney Barnett. With interesting guitar lines and endearingly peculiar lyrics, one might have expected her BIGSOUND sets (of which she played an above-average, three) to mimic Barnett. But her sets were far beyond this scope. Maddy Jane's musical prowess, lyricism, and engaging stage presence is amazing for someone of only 22 years old. Both Jane and her band seem to truly enjoy performing, and the audience of 256 Wickham couldn't help but get on board with this compelling energy. [caption id="attachment_636225" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Bec Taylor.[/caption] BAKER BOY A lot is said about Australia's hip hop and rap scene, and most of what is said is generally valid criticism. Which is why talented Australian rappers are such diamonds in the rough and usually cause a good deal of excitement. Based on Baker Boy's set at Oh Hello! on the second day of BIGSOUND, he's an Australian rapper to get very, very excited about. This 20-year-old artist is from remote Northern Territory and he is doing everything right — poignant lyrics (some of which he sings in the language of his people, the Yolgnu), a bit of didgeridoo, and the best dance moves of BIGSOUND. Baker Boy told the crowd we could expect new music from him shortly — so look out for that. [caption id="attachment_636263" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Bec Taylor.[/caption] STELLA DONNELLY Stella Donnelly was one of the last acts of BIGSOUND. This may have been a deliberate choice as her performance was nothing short of emotionally draining (in the best conceivable way). She is an endearingly human performer and engages her audience in frank conversation. She committed herself fully to her performance at the Heya Bar, from crossing her eyes when she hit her high notes, to throwing her body into each and every rhythmic beat. With only an electric guitar and a microphone as her instruments, every member of the crowd was moved by Donnelly's performance, laughing and even crying together as a single presence. In the course of half an hour she sung little comedic ditties, and deeply heartbreaking ballads — an especially impressive juxtaposition to her equally striking work as the rhythm guitarist for Boatshow. Go listen to her stuff.
It's such a shame David Bowie's not around to see this. Sydney installation artist Michaela Gleave has come up with an app that translates constellations into musical scores so you can 'play' the stars above you. Wherever you are in the world, at anytime of night, A Galaxy of Suns can read your geolocation and plays the music it transcribes from the constellations within your view. But don't expect space to sound like Ziggy Stardust or Sun Ra. Instead, the app reads the galaxy as though it's a score. The transposing — which has been years in the making — was a collaboration between Gleave, composer Amanda Cole and programmer Warren Armstrong. What's more, every 'song' comes with a matching light display, choreographed according to the stars' movements, as they rise, cross the sky and set. Gleave launched the A Galaxy of Stars app at Dark Mofo's Dark Park this month, where the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra helped to bring the night sky's songs to life. She'll be doing a similar performance with the Bristol Choir at the Bristol Biennial in September this year for the work's international premiere. But you don't need a choir to do this thing. You can download the app for yourself via iTunes (for iOS) or Google Play (for Android).
Gold Leaf has a couple of very important drawcards. One, is there are many around for your convenience — Preston, Burwood, Springvale and Sunshine. It seems likely that whatever far reaches of Melbourne your weekend might lead you to, Gold Leaf has got you, and will feed you up nice and good. Thirty years old and smashing out delish Cantonese food since way back then, Gold Leaf has more dumpling options than you have fingers to count 'em on. You're absolutely spoilt for choice. Make your way here – it's even worth braving going to the Docklands for – when you're really hungry and ready to roll, and expect tasty, fresh fare. Just make sure you save room for a custard tart or six for dessert.
Melbourne’s rockstars will go head to head with the bigwigs of community radio, at the twenty-first annual Reclink Community Cup. In a dance as old as time — otherwise known as the mid '90s — muso team the Rockdogs will take on the combined forces of PBS, Triple R, SYN FM, 3RPP and 3MBS, aka the Megahertz, in a highly entertaining and heckleworthy game of amateur charity football with a year’s worth of bragging rights on the line. Played once again at Elsternwick Park, proceeds from this Sunday's match will be donated to Reclink Australia and used to improve the lives of people suffering from disability, homelessness, substance abuse and economic hardship through participation in sport and the arts. Coming off a thrilling nine point win last year, the Rockdogs will be captained by My Dynamite keyboardist Nick Cooper, while the Megahertz will look to co-captains Cat of PBS’ The Breakfast Spread and Chris Gill of Triple R’s Get Down to serve up a piping red hot plate of revenge. The match will be bookended by a series of live performances by the likes of Adalita, Pearls, Graveyard Train and Public Opinion Afro Orchestra, all of whose musical credentials are a lot more impressive than their footballing ones. Hey, if you want professional athletes, go to the MCG.
Chinatown can be a little imitating - even for regular visitors. With so much choice at your fingertips, how can you guarantee you've chosen the right venue? If it's dim sum you're after, Crystal Jade is a reliable choice. Situated smack-banging in the middle of the main Chinatown action on Little Bourke Street, Crystal Jade's yum cha service is an affordable and authentic experience (even down to the somewhat rushed service). When an extensive menu threatens to overwhelm, a venue's signature dish is usually a safe bet - in this case, it's the snow crab with foie gras. Dumplings include classics such as ginger prawn along traditional staples like chicken feet, beef ripe and beef offals, while the BBQ pork rice noodles make the perfect compliment. Finish up with some crab meat fried rice and a healthy serve of pork liver congee.
At this point, it's not really a surprise when Uber announces some strange, attention grabbing promotion. Sometimes they bring you ice cream. Other times, it's kittens. And this Australia Day, they're delivering the most Australian thing of all: an umpire to officiate your high stakes game of backyard cricket. Starting from 11am on January 26, Uber users in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra will be able to log onto the app and, with the touch of a button, request an UberUMPIRE who can lay down the law when it to comes to the at best sketchily laid out rules of the countries favourite backyard pastime. "Like so many great traditions, the official ‘rules’ of this revered sport have long been a cause of debate, testing the patience (and mateship) of well-meaning backyard athletes across the nation," reads a statement on Uber's website, confirming that yes, this is in fact an actual thing that is happening. "We thought it was about time someone put a stop to this, so we’ve joined forces with the legendary Billy Bowden and our mates at Optus to bring you UberUMPIRE – your very own, real-life, legit, Cricket Umpire on-demand." https://youtu.be/7Gxi6TKtVFk Via Pedestrian. Image via Dollar Photo Club.
The world now has unprecedented access to Australia's most recognisable landmark, after the launch of a new partnership between the Sydney Opera House and the Google Cultural Institute. More than 1000 historical items, including photographs and architectural drawings, have been made available online as part of the new digital collection, along with a virtual reality tour featuring some of Australia's leading classical musicians. Developed over more than six months, the online exhibition can be accessed by anyone with an internet connection, providing them with a behind the scenes look at one of the most iconic performance in the world. Archival footage, interviews, photographs and other documents take visitors through the history of the building's design and construction, but perhaps the most exciting element of the collection is the 360-degree tour for Google Cardboard, complete with performances by young Australian soprano Nicole Car, and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in rehearsal on the Concert Hall stage. "The Sydney Opera House is the symbol of modern Australia, its premier cultural venue, number one tourist destination and a World Heritage-listed masterpiece of human creativity," said NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for the Arts Troy Grant. "The launch of this incredible collection will mean more people can explore the Opera House's rich history and the diverse artistic and cultural experiences it offers, wherever they are." "We're delighted to have worked with the Sydney Opera House to bring this cultural icon online and make it available for all the world to experience," added Google Cultural Institute Director Amit Sood. You can access the Sydney Opera House on the Google Cultural Institute via desktop, tablet or mobile. Just visit the Google Cultural Institute's Sydney Opera House page or download the Google Arts & Culture app from the App Store or Google Play.
Home wine delivery is finally catching up with the wine fiend’s need to sample as many drops from as many places as often as possible. A new US-based service by the name of Vinebox brings wines to your door — by the glass, rather than by the bottle. For a neat monthly price, subscribers score three premium drops, sourced from wine regions all over the planet. Fingers crossed for an Australian version. Each tasting comes in the form of a 100ml vial. Thanks to Vinebox’s patented, cutting-edge tech, the packaging process meets the stringent standards demanded by bottling. The wine is not exposed to oxygen at any point, so you can store your samples for at least three years. Vinebox’s team of specialists and sommeliers are experts in unique vineyards, obscure locations and wines that wouldn’t normally be available in the US, so subscribers can count on fun and interesting discoveries. And the company provides your own user account, enabling you to keep track of your tastings and thoughts. Once Vinebox has established your preferred flavour profiles, you can choose to receive personalised recommendations — very much like this savvy taste-predicting app. So who dreamed up this handy service? Vinebox is the creation of two former attorneys from New York City, Matt and Rachael, who quit their jobs to pursue their passion for wine. Their goal is to promote “spectacular” wines made in independent wineries around the world that often don’t make it to bottle shop shelves. Unfortunately, Vinebox is only taking sign-ups from US residents at the moment. We’re hoping it’s not long before it catches on here.
Melbourne's NGV International is celebrating the unique designs and lasting legacy of fashion icon Christian Dior, in a world premiere exhibition launching this Sunday, August 27. Running until November 7, The House of Dior: Seventy Years of Haute Couture will be one of three major surveys of Dior's groundbreaking work, alongside exhibitions in Paris and New York. The Melbourne show will include more than 140 show-stopping garments, stretching the length and breadth of the label's extraordinary history. "Highlights of the NGV's House of Dior exhibition will include one of the few surviving examples of Christian Dior's New Look collection, which revitalised women's fashion in the post-war era," said gallery director Tony Ellwood last year. "And of course it wouldn't be a Dior exhibition without their sculptural tailoring, their signature ball gowns and their glamorous evening dresses which have become synonymous with the fashion house." "Audiences will discover the nuances of Dior's fashion design, and observe the ways in which these have evolved through the decades. The exhibition will also celebrate the milestones of Dior's six successive designers," he added. A key element of the exhibition will be an exploration of Dior's historic 1948 spring fashion parade at David Jones in Sydney, considered to be the first complete Dior collection to be shown outside of Paris. The exhibition will also tie in with the gallery's first ever Gala Ball on Sunday. Images: Installation view of House of Dior: Seventy Years of Haute Couture at the National Gallery of Victoria. Shot by Sean Fennessy.
MPavilion, the annual architectural commission and design event that sees a new temporary structure erected in Melbourne's lush Queen Victoria Gardens each spring, has unveiled its next iteration: an inside-outside contemporary take on the ancient amphitheatre. It will open to the public between October 2017 and February 2018. The work of two Netherlands-based architects from internationally renowned practice OMA, Rem Koolhaas and David Gianotten, this year's pavilion plays on the form of the ancient amphitheatre. With flexible design configurations, the structure will create a forward-thinking space for MPavilion's annual program of workshops, public debate, and music and arts events. According to MPavilion founder Naomi Milgrom, 2017's project is an exciting, multi-faceted work that "reflects the way architecture is going in the future". OMA's design centres around two tiered grandstands — one fixed, and the other rotatable, allowing for various interactions with the surrounding landscape and those impressive city skyline views. They'll be circled by a bank of native plants and crowned with a floating grid canopy that will house all that lighting and technical gear, while the translucent roof above is designed to capture the sunlight like an urban beacon. The build of MPavilion is slated to kick off in this August, with the design duo hoping their structure will be seen, "not just as an architectural object, but as something that injects intensity into a city and contributes to an ever-evolving culture". OMA's 2017 MPavilion will be open to the public between October 3, 2017, and February 4, 2018 inside Melbourne's Queen Victoria Gardens. For more info, visit mpavilion.org.
Louis Theroux's recently announced speaking tour of Australia could lay the seeds for a new documentary, the esoteric filmmaker has revealed. Speaking to the ABC, the British documentarian mentioned that he has long considered making a film in the outback, and that his upcoming visit could double as a reconnaissance mission. "I've always been interested in the landscape of Australia," said Theroux. "I've got a romantic association both with the American West and the Australian interior which seems to strike [an] emotional tone of austerity and size and remoteness, people carving out their destinies in this vast wilderness." "I don't know exactly what the story is but I've loved the idea of being in that frontier... the town at the end of line, this one-horse town with lives that combine dignity and a sense of desperation." "This two-week tour, I will keep my ear to the ground," he added. Theroux's documentaries for the BBC have tackled a range of controversial topics, from the American prison system to the porn industry and the hate-mongering Westboro Baptist Church. He also recently spoke about wanting to make a documentary about US Presidential hopeful your drunk uncle at Thanksgiving. His two-week trip of Australia kicks off in September and will include speaking engagements in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane. Via ABC.
One of the beacons of light on Melbourne's event calendar in a fairly glum cold weather stretch is the Queen Victoria Market's Winter Night Market. And now it's set to return — and it's bigger and gutsier than ever before. Kicking off on Wednesday, June 6 the market will pull together a global array of eats, a plethora of live entertainment and roaring open fires. As always, this year's market promises to not only brighten up your winter Wednesday nights, but to fill your hungry stomachs. The 30-strong lineup of food stalls will send punters trekking across the world, this year featuring the likes of traditional Italian loaded flatbread from Beato te Panigaccio,c hurro bowls with oozy hazelnut sauce and vanilla ice-cream from Churro Kitchen, a debut appearance by Tribal Tastes Whole Foods and their African-style fish and chips, and That's Amore's legendary pastas, which are tossed in a parmesan wheel before landing on your plate. Of course, there'll be mulled wine from ReWine and steaming hot cider from Coldstream to warm your belly and hands as you browse over 50 carefully curated design and specialty stalls. Top all that off with a dollop of live music and roving entertainment, and you've got one hell of a cosy winter situation. The Winter Night Market will run from 5-10pm each Wednesday, from June 6 until August 29.
Hey kids, seems pizza does grow on trees, according to mightily-moustachioed, all-American comedian Nick Offerman. In a brand new Funny or Die video, the Parks and Recreation star takes you on a rip-roaring tour through his fictional Pizza Farm — where the team are hard at work "growing the ripe, juicy pizzas your kids love.” We wish. "What could be healthier than this? Acres of pizza, kissed by the sun, stretching as far as the eye can see." Offerman, or ‘food expert’ Daniel Francis, unearths Sloppy Joes from moist fields irrigated by cola, picks taquitos from the tree, wanders past fish finger vineyards, and eats a fresh slice of pepperoni pizza straight from the tree. “If it’s on a plant, it’s good for you, who cares how it got there.” According to TIME, Offerman’s genius Pizza Farm is apparently a big ol’ flip of the bird to idiotic protests against First Lady Michelle Obama’s huge campaign to change US school lunch regulations and get Congress to reauthorise the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 — which regulates the amount of unhealthy, high fat, high sugar, high salt food you can serve to school kidlets at lunch. Until then, most US school lunches will remain as cheaply-made and unhealthy as they can possibly can be. But as Offerman says, "French fries are practically salads, which is why I like mine with ranch." Pizza Farm with Nick Offerman - watch more funny videos Via TIME.
The City of Melbourne has finally spilled the beans on what's happening at the Queen Victoria Market's Munro site. To be revamped by PDG Corporation, the Council-owned spot — which is the building that, up until recently, housed The Mercat — will be transformed into a mixed-use development, offering affordable housing, spaces for artists, a gallery, among other facilities. The City bought the Munro site back in October 2014 to the tune of $76 million. The purchase aimed to make sure that Queen Vic Market wouldn't ever have to put up with a nasty neighbour, in the form of a chain store, ugly apartment block or massive supermarket. "This was always about planning for growth and QVM's future prosperity," said Lord Mayor Robert Doyle in an announcement today. A huge $89.7 million will go into the redevelopment. When it's done, Melburnians will have a gallery and studio spaces, as well as a community centre and kitchen. Plus, the plan takes families into consideration, through the addition of a 120-place childcare facility and a services centre dedicated to maternal, child health and family services. On the more commercial side, there'll be residential apartments, a hotel and retail spaces. Perhaps most controversial is the erection of a 196-metre tower (roughly 60 storeys) will sit at the eastern end of the development towards La Trobe Street. These plans have been under negotiation with PDG for a while now but, according to Lord Mayor Doyle, the tower will allow for the market-end of the Munro building to be low-rise. "We have incorporated design elements that honour Queen Victoria Market's rich and diverse history, including brickwork to reflect the existing Mercat Hotel façade, which will be retained," the Lord Mayor said. According to The Age, the approval of the building required PDG to provide 56 low income housing units and underground car parking, which will free up space to create a new 1.5-hectare open space called Market Square. This development, which should start later this year, is part of the Queen Victoria Market Precinct Renewal. The renewal aims to restore the market's heritage while delivering modern facilities, and will span the next five years. As well as refreshing the existing sheds and fixtures, the $250 million revitalisation will also see a new elevated greenhouse-style pavilion built, the new Market Square and another area that can host markets, festivals and more at the intersection of Queen and Therry streets, dubbed Market Cross.
When the ancient Greeks dreamt up democracy many moons ago, they surely knew their labour of political love would reap plentiful rewards for humanity — barbecuable rewards. Voting and sausage sizzles go together like Q&A and provocative tweets. And in 2016, you don't even have keep your fingers crossed for a damn sizzle at your voting booth — there's an actual Australian election sausage sizzle tracker website to help you, aptly named Snagvotes. No longer will you needlessly wheel around town, crazed with hunger and the insatiable need to drag a giant bedsheet-sized piece of paper into a booth, to find a sausage sizzle in your electorate. Created by Australian legend and all-round goalkicker Grant Castner, Snagvotes compiles a list of all the polling booths in Australia, thankfully cross referencing sausage sizzles with cake stalls. Important. The site was unearthed by Junkee last year, and was so popular that it's back, spreading election day cheer (pinpointing exactly where you can go to stuff your face full of tubed pig meat, fried onions, local go-getter spirit and democracy). They're even giving back to the community with sausage-based 'How To Vote' guides. What a world we live in! In 2013, there were a staggering 1470 sausage sizzles across the county, at 19 percent of all polling booths and we're hoping like hell to beat that total in 2016. Volunteers can register their snag station here and snag-hungry voters can find their closest sizzle here. Remember to thank your barbecue team.
Put your popcorn and choc top down for a sec and switch to tea, scones and a cheeky Pimm's Cup — it's British Film Festival time. Every year, the annual cinema showcase gathers up the best new movies Old Blighty has to offer, bringing them to Palace Cinemas for our antipodean viewing pleasure. From October 24 to November 15, the fest is back for its 2017 run. As always, BFF is a positively jam-packed affair, spanning true romances, hard-hitting dramas, music documentaries, literary origin stories and a retrospective feast of mystery flicks — and they're just some of the highlights from what promises to be a busy few weeks of British movie-watching. If you're feeling a little overwhelmed with options, stick with our five picks of the festival below. MARY SHELLEY On a rainy summer night just over two centuries ago, a teenager, her future husband and their friends sat around a Swiss log fire and gave themselves the challenge of writing a ghost story. The competitors included English poets Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley — but it was the latter's girlfriend, young Mary Wollstonecraft, who easily won their contest. Pondering the concept of a reanimated corpse, she started penning Frankenstein (or The Modern Prometheus — aka the greatest horror novel ever written). Starring Elle Fanning as the author, and directed by Wadjda's Haifaa Al-Mansour, Mary Shelley relays her efforts, telling the intriguing tale behind her famous creature. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukJ5dMYx2no THE DEATH OF STALIN He has turned British bureaucracy and US politics into a smart, hilarious farce across two stellar TV comedies, but The Thick of It and Veep's Armando Iannucci isn't done satirising the powers that be — or, that once were in The Death of Stalin's case — just yet. Given its title, there are no prizes for guessing what his second big screen directorial effort is about. With a cast that includes Steve Buscemi, Jason Isaacs, Jeffrey Tambor, Paddy Considine and Michael Palin, Iannucci adapts the graphic novel of the same name into an amusing and irreverent look at the aftermath of the USSR dictator's passing in 1953. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yurPcX4xrqI HOW TO TALK TO GIRLS AT PARTIES Trust Neil Gaiman to write a short story about a shy '70s punk teenager crossing paths with a curious visiting alien. Trust Hedwig and the Angry Inch's John Cameron Mitchell to turn the tale into an interesting and engaging sci-fi rom-com. As offbeat as its sounds, How to Talk to Girls at Parties corrals ever-busy The Beguiled co-stars Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman into its account of love, rebellion, taking risks and fighting for what you want in life. That might sound like your average teen romance, but this zesty, imaginative and thoroughly likeable effort is anything but. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQmBd5-ITyA ENGLAND IS MINE "Stop being a mardarse," Steven Patrick Morrissey is told early in England Is Mine. Of course he is. But, if he'd taken that advice, everything from The Smiths to this film wouldn't exist. Yes, this biopic of British singer and songwriter's early years in Manchester plays out just as you'd expect — the moody brooding, the lines like "life is too short for cliches", and the distinctive appeal of its central figure (played by Dunkirk's Jack Lowden) included. It won't convert anyone new to the Morrissey cause and you won't hear any of his hits, but the end result certainly is as melancholy as an unauthorised flick about 'the pope of mope' should be. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppBlSpdVlEA JAWBONE A knockout boxing film that demonstrates how a familiar, frequently seen genre can still pack a considerable punch, Jawbone also marks a landmark effort for British actor Johnny Harris. Previously best known for the likes of Snow White and the Huntsman and various incarnations of the This Is England TV series, Harris stars, writes, produces and loosely bases the feature's narrative on his own teenage fighting experiences. Ray Winstone, Michael Smiley and Ian McShane also pop up on screen in this social realist boxing offering, but there's no doubting that this compelling and convincing underdog story belongs to Harris from start to finish. The 2017 British Film Festival screens in Sydney from October 24 to November 15, Melbourne from October 26 to November 15, and Brisbane from October 25 to November 15. For more information and to buy tickets, visit the festival website.
The seasons are changing, beer lovers. And true to form, the brewers at James Squire’s Malt Shovel Brewery are changing with them. Mixing up their methodology yet again, the craft beer company have just announced the latest iteration of their mercurial American-style Pale Ale, with the uniquely flavoured Hop Thief 7. Described by James Squire senior brewer Rob Freshwater as "probably the number one beer of choice amongst the brewers," the Hop Thief variety began as something of an experiment, but has quickly evolved into one of the company's best loved beers. What makes the beer stand out is its constantly changing recipe; each Hop Thief instalment is made with a different combination of hops, allowing the brewers to essentially reinvent the beer each time. This most recent iteration combines Galaxy and Mosaic hops. According to head brewer Chris Sheehan, the first strain adds "a vibrant citrus and passionfruit aroma," while the second adds "pine notes and a strong, earthy undertone." "Our last Hop Thief release was incredibly popular, so we needed to make sure we came up with a unique and equally flavoursome successor," says Sheehan. "We've worked hard on this brew and believe we've created a beer adult Australians will love." Certainly, Hop Thief 6 will prove a tough act to follow. Not only was it a hit with the general public, but it also took home Bronze at the 2014 Australian International Beer Awards. Still, no one at James Squire seems too worried. Hop Thief 7 will available in-pack and on-tap nationwide in March.
There's plenty to love about newly-opened, vegan snack bar, Follies. Along with a food and beverage menu that's entirely plant-based, Follies pays homage to the classic pintxos bars found in Barcelona and San Sebastian. Everything on the menu comes in a bite-sized ration, served on toothpicks as a nod to its Basque Country heritage. Follies is the lockdown brainchild of Melbourne-born and bred Olivia Franklin, a young but eager hospitality veteran. A nostalgic ode to the 70s, Follies' fit-out has been brought to life with the help of retro wallpaper prints, bright orange table tops and the fuzzy, original carpet from the 70s. Patrons will find a reliable everyday menu of hot, cold, sweet and savoury pintxos priced at $5.50 for a small stick and $7 for a large. The pintxos bar choices run to the likes of peach and goats cheese crostini done with a balsamic glaze ($5.50), and cream cheese-stuffed peppers laden with walnuts ($7). Extra soft and juicy Italian meatballs are served coated in a rich tomato and red wine sauce ($7), while a Patatas Bravas with roast chickpeas ($7) is a must-try. Seasonal and event-themed specials are also promised to make appearances throughout the year. Drinks take the form of house cocktails, spritzes, local beers and an ever-evolving selection of vegan, low-intervention wines. The Frosty Fruit margarita contains a crowd-pleasing tequila, Cointreau, passionfruit and lime ($22), while a Porny Pom mixes vodka, vanilla, pomegranate liquor, molasses and prosecco ($22). Low-to-no alcohol drinks are given plenty of love too, with a range of iced teas, spritzes and pét-nat for guests looking for alternative bevvies. An enticing daily happy hour offers $18 cocktails, $10 spritzes, $9 wines and $7 schooners. Bottomless lunch comes in at an easy $75, including bottomless pintxos, spritz, beer and wine. Images: Genevieve Rankin
No shirt, no shoes, no problems whatsoever. London is getting a pop-up restaurant that takes the concept of casual dining to a whole new level. Opening over the northern summer, The Bunyadi promises a dining experience free from the distractions of your complicated modern life. That means no phones, no electricity and – yep! – no clothing. Now, technically the no clothing clause is an optional one, with the restaurant split into nude and non-nude sections. But who are we kidding here: if you're rocking up to a clothing optional restaurant and not going naked, what exactly was the point? Taking its name from the Hindi word for 'natural', The Bunyadi is the brainchild of Lollipop, the pop-up specialists responsible for ABQ, London's Breaking Bad-themed cocktail bar. Guests at their new venture will be seated in wood-hewn furniture and dine by candlelight on flame-cooked food served in handmade clay crockery. "We believe people should get the chance to enjoy and experience a night out without any impurities: no chemicals, no artificial colours, no electricity, no gas, no phone and even no clothes if they wish," Lollipop founder Seb Lyall told Made in Shoreditch. "The idea is to experience true liberation." Reservations will be released on a first come, first serve basis. Anyone interested in dining in the buff can sign up to the waitlist behind 3500 other nudists at The Bunyadi's website. Via Made in Shoreditch. Image: Patryk Dziejma. UPDATE APRIL 28, 2016: As of today, there are a whopping 28,000 people on the waitlist for The Bunyadi. And it's climbing. Better off just getting your kit off in the dining room at home?
A new study by Melbourne's La Trobe University has led one expert to suggest what we've all known deep down for years: dogs should be allowed at the pub. A recent survey of more than 2300 Victorian pet owners found that 63 percent of dogs were not walked daily and that many animals were left alone for large amounts of time throughout the day. The solution? Take them out drinking, of course. According to La Trobe researcher Dr. Tiffany Howell, only 26 per cent of people take their pet on an outing every day, and 17 per cent do it less that once a week. It's a concerning statistic that RSPCA spokesperson Michael Beatty attributes to restrictive Australian laws that mean dogs are allowed in fewer public places than they are in other countries around the world. "In England or Scotland or New York they are always getting exercise because they go everywhere with their owner," Beatty told the ABC. "In Australia they can't go everywhere with their owner, like a pub ... They can in Europe and most parts of America and the UK." Obviously, we here at Concrete Playground fully support the notion that dogs should be allowed in pubs and bars. For starters, it'd mean you'd never have to drink alone again. Studies have shown that animal companionship is great for people's mental health and happiness, so that's another big mark in its favour. Plus, if you have one too many beverages, your dog can help you find your way home. Mr. Beatty also said that human laziness plays a major part in why pooches aren't getting enough exercise, telling the ABC that "unfortunately some people seem to think that owning an animal is a right rather than a privilege. With that privilege comes certain responsibility." And in case you were wondering, it's not just dogs in need of a workout. The same La Trobe Uni study found that 40 per cent of cats were overweight. Frankly, a nice long pub crawl would probably do them good. Just whatever you do, don't give your pets alcohol. We know you'll be tempted, but really, we cannot stress that enough. Via ABC Online. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
The Chaser gang are getting back to their roots, with plans to publish a brand spanking new print magazine. The team behind The Hamster Wheel, Yes We Canberra, Sydney's Giant Dwarf theatre and the Make a Realistic Wish Foundation have recently launched a crowdfunding campaign to get the satirical publication off the ground, with the aim of releasing their first edition in the next couple of months. According to the group's Pozible page, The Chaser Quarterly will be a 96-page colour magazine that will address "the key problem of our time: namely — there is not enough content in the world." They're hoping to raise $50,000, money they say will be use to establish a "'tax effective' offshore corporate structure" so as to ensure the project isn't stymied "by the onerous burden of paying tax to fund Australia's hospitals, schools and roads". Truly this campaign video says it all. Right now, a $25 pledge will get you a copy of the magazine, while $50 will see it signed by the entire Chaser team. More extravagant rewards include the chance to pitch your own article for $500 (although there's no guarantee it will be published), or the opportunity to run your own full page ad for $1500 (on the condition that it "fundamentally undermine the product it is seeking to sell".) Although best known for their highbrow political satire on television, The Chaser team actually started out publishing a fortnightly newspaper that ran for six years between 1999 and 2005. Among their memorable stunts from this period was the time they published Prime Minister John Howard's home phone number on their front page. Assuming they reach their Pozible target, the first edition of The Chaser Quarterly will be published in spring 2015 and feature articles by many familiar Chaser contributors, including Andrew Hansen, Chris Taylor and Craig Reucassel. In order to keep up the appearance of a successful company, head team members will be payed in Beluga Caviar, while the rest of the creatives, including writers, cartoonists, illustrators and graphic designers, will divvy up $300 between them. Pledge via Pozible and keep an eye on the Chaser Quarterly website for updates.
From children playing in the sea near Arnhem Land to an elderly man cleaning his suburban pool, Australians from all walks of life are represented in the 22 stunning images chosen as finalists in this year's Australian Life photography contests. An initiative of Art and About Sydney, the competition is the second largest photography contest in the country, with a cash prize of $10,000. The winner will be announced on September 17, while all the finalists will be on display along the St James walkway in Sydney's Hyde Park from September 18 to October 11. The judges for this year's competition are previous winner Tamara Dean, ARTHERE founder and Stills Gallery curator Sandy Edwards, Australian Centre for Photography curator and exhibition programmer Mark Feary, and interior stylist, author and lifestyle blogger Jason Grant. Organisers have also partnered with Tourism Australia for a special Instagram competition, which last year drew more than 30,000 entries. Amateur photographers can submit their entries using the hashtag #australianlife and go in the running to win $5000. The Instagram competition closes on October 1, with winners announced on October 9.
Lovers of cinema and hummus-fuelled picnics rejoice: the Moonlight Cinema program has finally arrived and it’s looking mighty good. The lineup features some of this year's biggest new Hollywood releases alongside more demure titles, family favourites and age-old classics, so you can guarantee you’ll find something that piques your interest. Let’s start with the bigwigs What better way to see the big releases of summer than outdoors on a balmy night? Star Wars: The Force Awakens, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part Two and SPECTRE are all showing and (we’d imagine) best viewed under the stars. We’re also thrilled to see a fair whack of female-centric films in the lineup too, as well as an array of movies that cover hitherto taboo topics in the popular cinema circuit. Joy, starring everyone’s favourite human Jennifer Lawrence, follows the unconventional story of a mother of three as she builds a business empire in the '90s; Suffragette is an important historical period drama about women's fight for the vote in pre-war Britain and appropriately features a dreamy cast of unique and unapologetic women including Meryl Streep, Carey Mulligan and Helena Bonham Carter. We’ve also got The Danish Girl, featuring Eddie Redmayne and Alicia Vikander, which explores the life of transgender artist Lili Elbe. Closer to home on Australia Day, we’ve got The Dressmaker, a montage of Kate Winslet looking hot and Liam Hemsworth looking filthy hot (maybe other things happen in the plot too but why would they bother?). And at the other end of the spectrum is the lighthearted comedy Sisters, featuring unstoppable duo Amy Poehler and Tina Fey. But don’t think the gentlemen miss out. The Revenant, Leonardo DiCaprio’s latest Oscar bid, was directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu (of Birdman fame) so you can guarantee it’ll be equally beautiful, dramatic and weird. And if you miss The Martian or missed Jurassic World in cinemas, you can catch them at Moonlight sessions too. As always Moonlight Cinema will be throwing back to classics: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Top Gun, Dirty Dancing and Grease. Tickets are on sale now for the summer sessions so get booking lest you get stuck in front of Dirty Grandpa (yes, a film where you can see Robert Deniro making out with April Ludgate while Zac Efron wears a vast array of golfing sweaters — that is apparently showing too :/). Moonlight Cinema runs across Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide from December 3, Perth from December 5 and Brisbane from December 16. Tickets are on sale now from the Moonlight Cinema website.
Chucks: for a long time, it seemed like every second person had a pair. There have been different colors, patterns and materials, but there has never been a significant redesign of this ubiquitous shoe. Or at least there hadn't been – until now. On July 28 Converse is officially set to release the All Star II, a brand new iteration of their classic Chuck Taylor All Star. It's about time, too. As iconic as they may be, Chucks aren't historically the most comfortable shoe to actually wear. Walk any significant distance in them and your feet tend to feel like a combination of white noise and the burning sensation of the sun. Thankfully, it would appear Converse has been listening to our complaints. You won't hurt your arches with the new All Star II, which uses Nike Lunarlon cushioning to make it feel like you're walking on a fluffy cloud. The shoe will also feature a more "breathable" micro-suede lining and a padded non-slip tongue. At the end of the day though, while the guts may be different, the outside remains more or less the same. Converse is keeping the familiar rubber toe, All-Star patch and matte eyelets, albeit with a few minor enhancements. Moreover, classic Chuck-lovers don't need to worry: the All Star II isn't replacing the original. Rather, it's an addition to the family. Unlike its predecessor, there are only four colours available for the limited initial run (black, blue, red, and white). That being said, don't be surprised if Converse release more versions of this new shoe after the first run has ended.
"Black people. I love you. I love us. Our lives matter." One Facebook post and Alicia Garza made history, a call to action that would gain traction and spark the founding of #BlackLivesMatter in the wake of the violent deaths of African Americans Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Eric Garner and many others. It's one of the world's most important international activist movements, campaigning against violence toward black people, and Garza will bring it front and centre at this year's Festival of Dangerous Ideas. Set to return to the Sydney Opera House over September 3 and 4 for its eighth year, FODI is bringing one of its most serious, enlightening programs yet as part of Sydney Opera House Talks & Ideas. Delivering the opening address with none other than Stan Grant, Garza leads a host of colossal thinkers and strong minds not afraid to question the problematic way things are — over 50 speakers across 24 solo sessions, 12 panels and one free workshop. This year, FODI has four major themes: 'Disappearing Countries', 'Dealing in Death', 'Disruptive Behaviour' and 'Dirty Politics'. One sure to provoke is apparently repentant author of The Game Neil Strauss in his sure-to-be-debated talk 'Cheaters, Sex Addicts and Pick-Up Artists'. UK comedian and The Young Ones legend Alexei Sayle dives into his ratbag past with 'Thatcher Made Me Laugh' — a perfect pairing for anarchists locked in for Henry Rollins' already-announced 'Blood Sport' talk about US politics. In fact, politics in Australia and abroad feature prominently in FODI's response to current 'World is fukt' times. Favourites Annabel Crabb and David Marr will pull apart the recent (and by-FODI, it'll be solved) federal election in 'The Government We Deserve?' — both have written biographies on Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten respectively, so this one's going to be a humdinger. Marr's also hosting an epic two-hour forum titled 'Can We Solve The Asylum Seeker Crisis?'. Perpetual WTF-generator and controversial commentator Andrew Bolt will lead a talk dubbed 'How Many Dangerous Ideas Can One Person Have?', so expect Twitter to be all over that one. Climate change and social justice feature prominently on this year's bill, with Canadian activist Sheila Watt-Cloutier's 'The Right To Be Cold' set to be a highlight — she sees the failure of the world to act on climate change a gross violation of Inuit human rights — and The Economist's Environment Correspondent Miranda Johnson wants fishing the high seas stopped. Arts and sport will both get their turn on the chopping block this year. Sport nuts should jump on tickets to see journalist Tracey Holmes, sports scientist Stephen Dank (yep, that guy), former Olympic swimmer Lisa Forrest, academic Jason Mazanov and former IOC boss Kevan Gosper will be deciding whether drugs in sport should be legalised. Visual artist, activist and Drawing Blood author Molly Crabapple (who designed this year's 'FODI-land' concept on the festival website) will take you from Syria to Guantanamo Bay and back to Occupy Wall Street. We Need To Talk About Kevin author Lionel Shriver wants you to break a rule a day, while author of The Magicians trilogy and TIME's book critic Lev Grossman will argue that 'There Are No Good Books'. But we haven't even scratched the surface on FODI 2016, from former Kevin Rudd staffer Jennifer Rayner standing up for millennials in 'Generation Less', to the incredibly important panel 'Not Worth Living' delving into the specific, tragic epidemic of suicide in Indigenous people. Plus, co-founder of The Maintainers Lee Vinsel wants people to stop worshipping innovation and start focusing on maintenance of technology — something we can't wait to argue with him on. Sydney Opera House Talks & Ideas team of Ann Mossop and Danielle Harvey have curated this seriously epic program, with Simon Longstaff from The Ethics Centre as curatorial adviser . The 2016 Festival of Dangerous Ideas is coming to the Sydney Opera House on September 3 and 4. Multipacks are on sale from July 11 at 9am, single tickets on July 14 from 9am, all from the FODI website — where you'll find the full FODI program alongside Molly Crabapple's web design.
Beloved short film festival Tropfest made the devastating announcement yesterday that due to mismanaged funds by the third party agency in charge of, you know, correctly managing funds, the festival has been cancelled this year. Founder and director John Polson made an (appropriately) salty statement on Facebook. “I have been made aware that the company contracted to raise the funding and administer the Tropfest event is unable to move forward for financial reasons. It is too early to tell what has actually happened here, although it is hard to avoid concluding there has been a terrible and irresponsible mismanagement of Tropfest funds.” And fair enough, as he estimates the funds mismanaged run into six figures. "It goes without saying that this announcement is the most difficult one I've made in Tropfest’s 23 year history," said Polson. "My heart goes out to this year’s 16 filmmaking finalists, to our incredible list of sponsors and partners, and of course to our loyal and beloved audience." Tropfest has been a staple in the Australia film vernacular since 1993, when it screened for an audience of 200. It's broadcast each year live to approximately 150,000 people around Australia and, despite everything, apparently received ample support this year, making the announcement even more upsetting. It’s a tangible blow to the Australian arts and filmmaking community as Tropfest was (and still is, we sincerely hope) one of the few festivals to offer sizeable prize money and valuable industry experience to the winning entrants (including a trip to Los Angeles to take meetings with film industry execs among other prizes). Can someone make a Kickstarter already so we don’t have to live in a world without Tropfest?
An upcoming exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria will bring together the realms of high fashion and high art. Celebrating the extraordinary work of Dutch designers Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren, Viktor&Rolf: Fashion Artists will showcase some of the luxury fashion house's most iconic haute couture pieces, as it celebrates one of the most remarkable partnerships in the world of modern fashion. Running from October 21 through to February 26, 2017, the world-first exhibition has been developed by the NGV in partnership with Viktor&Rolf, under the curatorship of international guest curator Thierry-Maxime Loriot. In addition to the more than 35 original items, the exhibition will also feature the duo's upcoming work Dolls, a collection of antique dolls dressed in some of the pair's most memorable designs. "We are extremely excited to be working in collaboration with the National Gallery of Victoria on this exhibition and highlighting the craftsmanship involved in creating our wearable art," said Horsting and Snoeren in a joint statement. "It is an honour for us to bring our designs to the Southern Hemisphere." Collaborating for the first time in 1992, Horsting and Snoeren have long been renowned for their boundary pushing designs and experimental runway shows. Perhaps their most memorable showing was in 2003, when they teamed up with actress Tilda Swinton (of course) along with an army of Tilda lookalikes for their One Woman Show autumn/winter collection. Viktor&Rolf: Fashion Artists opens at NGV International on October 21 this year. Tickets are on sale now at ngv.vic.gov.au/viktorrolf.
Having established itself as a summer favourite across the country over the last few years, the Royal Croquet Club will return to Melbourne. Back for a third year, the outdoor festival is set to take over Birrarung Marr from December 8. The 16-day event promises all the fun and flavour of previous years, offering up a buffet of live entertainment, experiential arts, food, drink, and — of course — more than a few games of croquet. The al fresco festival will see revellers of all ages and skill levels hitting the central croquet pitch, with some of Sydney's best food on hand for refuelling in between games. Expect noms from St Kilda's POW Kitchen, 8bit burgers, and barbecued things from Hoy Pinoy and Up in Smoke. Gelato Messina will once again bring back their ice cream creations in Campbell's Soup-like tins. And the fun continues away from the mallets too, with a lineup of local and international artists dishing up live tunes, including Jarryd James, Hayden James, Touch Sensitive and, randomly, Angus Stone as Dope Lemon. This year they'll also be adding The Parlour, a 70-seat pop-up theatre that will showcase acts from Adelaide Fringe. Previous years have seen as many as 60,000 people rock up, and this time 'round you can expect just as many. The Night Noodle Market regulars will need somewhere to go once that wraps up this week. The Royal Croquet Club Melbourne will come to Birrarung Marr from Thursday, December 8 to Sunday, December 23. For more information as they announce it, check back here or visit royalcroquetclub.com.au.
Launching something new takes a lot of gumption — not to mention legwork. Everyone's got ideas — you've probably got a few scribbled down on a napkin somewhere. But it takes a particular kind of drive and perseverance (and a bunch of cash) to turn lofty concepts into an actual, physical Thing. For this year's REMIX Sydney conference (June 2-3), Concrete Playground will be digging into the idea of launching something new, focusing on the businesses we couldn't write fast enough about — with a special curated session on 'How Long Does It Take to Become an Overnight Success?' We'll be digging into Australian success stories, brave folks who started something new. What's it like to open a soda factory in Sydney? How do you launch a brand new wine festival — on an island? We took five with three leading Sydney innovators, who'll be sitting on our REMIX panel: Kristen Francis, festival founder and director of the insanely popular Wine Island (winner of CP's Best New Event of 2015), Michael Chiem, co-founder of Sydney soda company PS Soda and its just-opened CBD factory/bar PS40 (Sydney's first of its kind), and Georgia van Tiel and Carla McMillan, co-founders of citywide gym class pass Bodypass (winner of CP's Best New Product of 2015). How did they come up with something new in this day and age? How did they get it off the ground? Take notes. [caption id="attachment_572830" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Wine Island.[/caption] Why/how did you come up with the idea for your business? Kristen: I'd been producing events for about ten years for clients, as well as my own music festival Legs 11, but as I get older I want to concentrate more on my own productions and not die wondering. The concept for Wine Island simply came about during my morning walks around Rushcutters Bay. I always noticed the pretty little island of Clark and wondered why nothing ever happened there so I started my research and two years later, it became a reality. Logistically, it's the worst idea ever, but being a bit of a dreamer… It's the best. Michael: The idea for our business actually stemmed from past experiences Thor (my business partner) had experienced in New York. He had consulted for a soda brand to be launched in Europe developing flavours and had such good feedback he decided to further expand the concept and move to Sydney to launch it here, as Sydney has such amazingly diverse produce and native ingredients. We both met in Sydney at Bulletin Place and worked so well together the relationship grew organically from there, Thor wanted to make a soda factory, I wanted to open a bar and forming them together would allow us to work sustainably reducing waste by working nose to tail across bar and soda and maximising productivity and exposure. Georgia: I was living in NYC at the time (18 months ago) and Carla reached out to me to tell me about a genius idea she had. Carla has always been a yogi and didn't really find that she liked spending all her time in one studio. Carla was often at three to four different studios in a week and often spending hundreds of dollars each week. I also, as an avid fitness fan, felt like I was one of those people that loved trying out different studios and different classes. We both love the idea of people having more fun and variety in they workouts and making sure they keep the boredom at bay (the number one killer of all fitness regimes!). At the time, there were about ten different models, similar to Bodypass, setting up in the US and I thought it would be a good idea for Carla to head over to NYC, do some research with me and see if there was a market for this sort of thing in Australia. After about two months, we thought there was a space and we felt like we had a model that would work really well in Australia. I headed back from NYC in November 2014 and we literally have not stopped since. I think we just surpassed our 2000th class! [caption id="attachment_572854" align="alignnone" width="1280"] The PS Crew (Michael's on the left).[/caption] What made your idea different from everything else out there? How did you make it stand out? Michael: The concept of a tradesman making his own tools is no new concept. For many years baristas have been roasting coffee, sommeliers making wine and beer guys making beer. It's all been done before, except for bartenders making soda (well at least to the extent we are making it). The idea stands out more as the soda factory side of our business is integrated into our little cocktail bar and we are very transparent about it all. We also take a culinary approach, not using any essences or artificial flavours. Everything is done in house, by hand, using natural and local produce. Georgia: We are not a studio, we are not instructors, we are a membership that gives ultimate flexibility, huge amounts of variety and a great opportunity to meet new people and socialise. Having a workout buddy really helps to keep your fitness goals in check and keep you going back for more, even when the sun isn't up yet or the rain is pelting down. One of our other big standouts, I believe, is that we have given Bodypass a personality. Carla and I are both fit gals but at the same time we love to enjoy life and all it has to offer. We both believe in balance and doing something because it's fun, not because you have to or you should. Bodypass is a lifestyle that Carla and I are all about and we wanted to share that with other people. Kristen: Firstly, it hadn't been done before (I guess no one else wanted to give themselves a heart attack) and secondly, we treat our festival like a mini-holiday on your doorstep with very limited numbers per session — which everyone appreciated. It's like you're experiencing the full holiday package which includes transport and welcome drinks, then a relaxing and luxurious island escape full of wine and food. We know there are quite a few wine festivals around Sydney nowadays so we also wanted to promote unique wines in a unique setting. [caption id="attachment_572881" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Bodypass (Carla on the left, Georgia on the right).[/caption] What problems did you run into while planning/building, if any? How'd you manage them? Georgia: Growing. Like any startup, funding played a huge role. Our business is a tech business and building anything like this was always going to cost a lot of money. Starting Bodypass was a balancing act between meeting new studios and signing them up and trying to get Bodypass in front of possible investors. Carla and I had a good partnership as she was more client/studio facing and I was able to work on the business set-up. This enabled us to grow and also catch the eye of Fairfax Media. Michael: So many! We should write a book on all our mistakes as a guide on what not to do when opening a business haha! Always staying positive even at the hardest moments is necessary. You can't let it get you down for too long. We were lucky enough to have a really good team behind us who were very supportive, from our designer, Thor's wife Livia from Ultra Violet, to our planner, certifier, handyman Seamus from Sea Studios, who built all the furniture. It was difficult but the end result we are thrilled by. Kristen: Well firstly, it was no, no, no from the National Parks. However, I've never been so persistent with an idea so I kept on calling until I finally got through to the person who said yes, yes, yes — it paid! Producing an event on an island is a logistical and eye-wateringly expensive exercise, so it was extremely important to be organised and try not to leave much room for error. But you know, Mother Nature has her own plans, and whilst the first festival session on Friday morning was a sparkling paradise of an image, the evening session was anything but. We pulled all the bars in so people could get under the huts and others were tucked away in caves sipping their Savs. Luckily everyone got into the spirit and there were a lot of dancing ponchos making the most of it. [caption id="attachment_572833" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Wine Island.[/caption] What was opening day/launch day like and how did you celebrate? Kristen: As mentioned above, the first day was both sides of the coin. As the second session of the first day was so wet, we sat on the ferry soaking, exhausted and celebration was a hot shower. Boring, but true. Georgia: Carla bought an amazing bottle of champagne around February, when Fairfax starting talking to us and it finally looked like we would have some financial investment. We planned on drinking that when we signed with Farifax but when you have sometimes four classes a day, having a hangover was not an option. We did however have a lot of fun when we launched to the public in June 2015. Let's just say a few classes were cancelled the following day. Michael: Opening day was a small mole hill (goal). Opening the door is great but it only begins our long journey of constantly trying to provide the best drinks we possibly can, whilst having shit tonnes of fun. We have so many goals now to tick off including bottling our final product and future collaborations and events to focus on — we're always looking forward. You can catch Kristen Francis, Michael Chiem, Georgia van Tiel and Carla McMillan speaking at REMIX Sydney from June 2-3 at Sydney Town Hall, at Concrete Playground's special curated session on 'How Long Does It Take to Become an Overnight Success?'. More info right here.
Spring is in the air — and what better way to celebrate than with a meal at St Kilda's new seasonal Asian eatery and bar. Headed by chef Golf — a Kong BBQ, Chin Chin and Hawker Hall veteran — Spring and Summer will bring an eclectic mix of Thai, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian and Singaporean cooking to Barkly Street, along with Asian-inspired cocktails to make it feel like summer all year-round. Starting service, fittingly enough, on the first day of spring, the 50-seat restaurant features a small but appetising menu that will evolve with each passing season. Entrée options include fried school prawn with lime mayo, lotus root chips with shichimi salt, and kingfish sashimi with green nam jim and coconut cream. Mains, meanwhile, range from tempura soft shell crab with coconut curry sauce, to caramelised pork belly with papaya salad. The inaugural menu also boasts a pair of killer dessert options in a matcha pannacotta with chocolate soil and sesame brittle, and pandan coconut ice cream with yellow bean and sweet potato chips. As for the liquid refreshments, diners will have the run of a summery cocktail menu. Standouts include the Bangkok Mule (coconut tequila, coriander and alcoholic ginger beer), the Full Moon Party (spiced rum, coconut tequila, pineapple juice and coconut cream) and the Business Trip to Japan (beefeater gin, maraschino liqueur and lemon juice). Alternatively, they can choose from a number of beers, wines or sodas. WEEKEND • Suns out, wings out! We're open for lunch on weekends 🍗🍺🍗🍺 Does it taste as good as it looks? Come in and find out! #SpringAndSummer A photo posted by Spring and Summer Restaurant (@springandsummerrestaurant) on Sep 2, 2016 at 7:17pm PDT Find Spring and Summer at 192 Barkly Street, St Kilda. For more information visit springandsummer.com.au.
Come the end of next year, you won't need to hit the beach to catch a few waves. A site near Tullamarine, around 23 kilometres outside the Melbourne CBD, is set to become the location of Australia's first ever urban surf park. Owned and operated by Perth company Wave Park Group, Urbnsurf Melbourne will boast a 320 metre long pool and employ Wavegarden technology to generate man-made waves between 0.6 and 1.9 metres high. The facility will cater to both experienced surfers and beginners, while LED lagoon lighting will ensure visitors can keep surfing after dark. Wavegarden technology is currently utilised at the Surf Snowdonia wave park in Wales, while another park is set to open in Austin, Texas later this year. In addition to the wave pool, Urbnsurf will include a licensed cafe, a surf shop, board and wetsuit rental services, surf classes, playgrounds, a rock climbing wall, skate ramps and a mountain bike course. Wave Park Group founder Andrew Ross told The Age that the park would eliminate typical marine hazards that come with surfing on the ocean, and described the facility as a kind of "driving range for surfers." Entry prices are yet to be confirmed, although Ross estimated a one-hour session would cost between $20 and $50 depending on the season. Urbnsurf Melbourne is currently slated to open in late 2017. To stay up to date, visit their website or check them out on Facebook. Via The Age. Header image via Dollar Photo Club.
First there was camping, but nature is icky and the hard ground is no Posturepedic. Then there was glamping, which is certainly a step up but still requires you to be outside with only a thin velour track pant and tasteful white canopy between you and the bugs. But now, thankfully, there's a way to get the best parts of camping (good company and fire-cooked food) without having to leave the city or wear ugly hiking shoes and unflattering shorts. Hunter and Barrel is the new dining concept hitting Sydney and Melbourne in late 2015. With a menu focused on coal-roasted meats and seasonal vegetables, big barbecued skewers, sharing boards, stews, soups, pies, and generally hearty fare, H&B will deliver the sensory experience of camping without the inconvenience of actually, y'know, camping. Think warm, hearty dishes such as slow-roasted beef rib, seafood and pork belly cooked over the restaurant's coal grill, washed down with your classic craft beer or barrel-aged wine. Although contemporary horror films have taught us to fear the foreboding idea of a remote cabin (thanks Evil Dead and Cabin in the Woods), the primal part of our psyche still longs to get back to nature. Bradley Michael, the CEO of Seagrass Boutique Hospitality Group who own Hunter and Barrel, told Good Food the venue would have a “sexy camping, hunter’s cabin feel.” The décor at Hunter and Barrel, designed by ODO, will feature big rocks and rustic pipes — and your drink will be delivered by a suspended wall covered with barrels (whatever this ends up looking like). Hunter and Barrel is set to open in Cockle Bay, Sydney on October 10 and Ringwood, Melbourne on October 29. Via Good Food.
For the third year running, the fair city of Melbourne is gearing up for an arts festival of truly epic proportions. On Saturday, February 21, White Night takes over the CBD, with an astonishing lineup of installations, performances and activities running from sundown until the first light of dawn. This year’s event features work by more than 700 artists, ensuring there’s no shortage of things to discover over the course of the night. Of course, when you’re battling crowds of more than half a million people, a little planning can go a very long way. With that in mind, here are our picks for the ten things not to miss on White Night 2015. 4 ELEMENTS Although light and projection have been a big part of White Night since its beginnings, this particular endeavour looks like the best use of the medium yet. Using the facade of the Royal Exhibition Building as a canvas, 4 Elements combines the qualities of fire, water, wind and earth, while also incorporating elements of music and dance. Given the location outside of the central city hub, this also seems like the perfect way to ease into the evening. I COULD HAVE DANCED ALL NIGHT Another favourite of previous White Night programs were the all-night dance marathons. This year they’re moving from Federation Square to near the corner of Lonsdale and Elizabeth Streets. Not that you should have any trouble finding them — just listen for the music. Sponsored by VicHealth, dance styles being taught this year include samba, break dancing, ballroom, burlesque, afro fusion and Ukrainian folk. RABBIT HOLE 2015 marks the 150-year anniversary of the publication of Lewis Carol’s Alice in Wonderland — and what better place to commemorate it than the State Library of Victoria? Projections on the outside of the building will recount the beginning of Alice’s journey, while a 360 degree projection inside the Library’s Dome will take visitors further down the rabbit hole than they’ve ever been before. CIRCLES OF LIGHT Surely one of the more unique installations in the lineup, Circles of Light combines light and music with the latest in horticultural innovation. Sensory plants — whatever those are — in the Queen Victoria Gardens provide the key to the work; touch a leaf to make music or to fill the rotunda with light. While you’re in the gardens, you can also check out a pair of giant, neon angel wings or view three short films about the Greek financial crisis. THE PURSUIT OF WHOLENESS Last year, Freya Pitt wowed White Nighters with her work The Skies Are on the Ground. This year, she returns with The Pursuit of Wholeness, an interactive performance piece that combines storytelling, visual art and twitter with classic scenes of romance from both ancient and contemporary literature. Performed amidst the pews of the Collins Street Baptist Church, the piece is meant to explore the meaning of love and commitment. It all sounds a bit heavy, but fascinating too. THE UNAUTHORISED HAGIOGRAPHY OF VINCENT PRICE Programmed by the same folks who brought you 101 Zombie Kills during White Night 2013, this 45-minute montage pays tribute to one of history’s most notorious purveyors of schlock. Relive some of Vincent Price's most iconic screen roles, from the original House of Wax to The Muppet Show. Also worth noting is that ACMI’s cinemas are air conditioned, making this the perfect way to escape from the crowds. INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION EXPLOSION While you’re at ACMI, you can also check out this program of animated shorts, carefully selected by the team at the Melbourne International Animation Festival. The first stream runs from 7pm to midnight and features plenty of wholesome content for young kids. Things take a dark turn after midnight, however, with an entirely different lineup, featuring (amongst other things) a gun-toting teddy bear and a drug-addled, sex-addicted penguin. Who said cartoons can’t be for grownups too? PRESAGE 2014 Hosted in the NGV Great Hall, this work by Parisian Hicham Berrada is described as “authentic chemical theatre”. By combining various chemicals in beakers before his audience, the artist is able to create a spectacular show of colours and shifting shapes. Yeah science! SITA'S GARDEN One of the centrepieces of this year’s White Night program, Sita’s Garden celebrates the richness of Indian culture. Set up along the banks of the Yarra, this festival within a festival includes dancing, music and a selection of Bollywood films, plus stands selling Indian street food all night long. The river itself will be filled with glowing lotus flowers, while the new day will be welcomed with a ceremony saluting the sun. MUSIC ACTS Wisely avoiding the bottleneck situation created by a single stage at Flinders Street Station, this year’s music program is split between three different locations: Music for a World Stage at Melbourne Museum, Indie Music Stage in Alexandra Gardens, and Jazz @ The Forum at, you guessed it, The Forum. Artists performing include Tek Tek Ensemble, Bobby Singh, Stella Angelico, Airling, REMI, Deaf Wish, Tijuana Peanuts and dozens more. For everything happening at White Night 2015, visit www.whitenightmelbourne.com.au
When last year's Dark MOFO program dropped, House of Mirrors immediately rocketed to the top of everyone's must-do list. Created by Australian installation artists Christian Wagstaff and Keith Courtney, it's exactly what it sounds like: a walkthrough space filled with reflective surfaces that will not only strands you in a maze of your own image, but turns your likeness into a kaleidoscope. Since then, the installation has made its way to Brisbane and Sydney for a stint at January's Sydney Festival. And now, eager Melburnians will soon get the chance to wander through the disorienting, perception-altering, panic-inducing, optical illusion-based labyrinth for themselves. From April 7–30, the mirror maze will take over Rosalind Park adjacent to Bendigo Art Gallery for three weeks of reflective roaming, with the modern, minimalist twist on the fairground classic featuring 40 tonnes of steel and 15 tonnes of mirrors — and no added gimmicks, no special effects, no special lighting, no soundtrack or soundscape. It'll be the first time House of Mirrors has come to Victoria — and with Bendigo less than a two-hour drive (or train ride) away, it's an easy one to do on a day trip. The House of Mirrors will be at Bendigo Art Gallery from April 7–30. For more information, visit their website.
You've seen plenty of Cate Blanchett on movie screens and stages around Australia, but now you'll be able to watch the Academy Award winner in Australia's art galleries too. Starring in German artist Julian Rosefeldt’s latest video piece, Blanchett is set to be the face of Manifesto, seeing its world premiere at the Australian Centre For the Moving Image on Wednesday, December 9 before heading to Sydney's Art Gallery of New South Wales. Manifesto is a series of powerful monologues, performed by Blanchett and screened via thirteen channels. Each monologue is a manifesto about art. Collectively, the speeches explore many of the ‘isms’ that have shaped art history, from Futurism and Dadaism to the Fluxus Movement, Situationism and Dogma 95. Rosefeldt pieced them together from the writings of numerous artists, architects, dancers and filmmakers, including Claes Oldenburg, Yvonne Rainer, Kazimir Malevich, André Breton, Elaine Sturtevant, Sol LeWitt and Jim Jarmusch. He then had Cate deliver them from the mouths of unusual characters and in unexpected spaces. Manifesto will show at ACMI until March 2016, before moving to the AGNSW, where it will screen from 28 May until 13 November. ACMI commissioned the work in conjunction with AGNSW, Hamburger Bahnhof - Museum für Gegenwart, Berlin and Sprengel Museum, Hannover.
Fancy seeing the latest mysterious tale from the man behind The Lobster, starring Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman and Alicia Silverstone? Carol director Todd Haynes taking Julianne Moore and Michelle Williams into enchanting all-ages territory? The '90s-set AIDS activism drama that won this year's Queer Palm? Melbourne cinephiles, you're in luck. The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Wonderstruck and BPM are coming straight from Cannes to the Melbourne International Film Festival this August. They'll be joined by 30 other just-announced, direct-from-the-Croisette flicks, including the Juliette Binoche-starring Let the Sunshine In, Russian Jury Prize-winner Loveless, and Josh Hartnett heading to Japan in Oh Lucy!, plus documentary Nothingwood about the filmmaker dubbed the Ed Wood of Afghanistan. MIFF will also feature a heap of Cannes films seen at other Aussie fests, helping cure any SFF and QFF-missing envy. Catch Palme d'Or winner The Square, Robert Pattinson crime flick Good Time, Michael Haneke's Happy End, the Andy Samberg-produced Brigsby Bear, Aussie newcomer Danielle McDonald in Patti Cake$, best actress winner In the Fade and Hong Sang-soo's Claire's Camera — and given the fest's opening night pick and other announced flicks, catch yourself spending August 3 to 20 watching many a movie. The Melbourne International Film Festival runs from August 3 to 20. For more information, visit the MIFF website — and check back on July 11, when the full program is announced.
Some things just get better with age. And if its first 2017 program announcement is anything to go by, Melbourne Music Week (MMW) is certainly one of them. Celebrating its eighth run this November 17–25, the festival will again transform spaces throughout the city into unique live music venues — and, as usual, expect a few surprises. The biggest is the addition of a new all-ages event called Miscellanea, which'll take over all three levels of the Melbourne Town Hall on Sunday, November 19. You'll see the iconic building as never before, its many varied spaces playing host to a program of gigs, DJ sets and performances from the likes of HTRK, Tyrannamen, Taipan Tiger and Underground Lovers. The multi-genre event will even feature a Grand Organ takeover in the Main Hall. Also on the agenda is a November 11 performance by American singer-songwriter Ariel Pink at Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, and the return of the annual Face The Music industry conference, with its diverse lineup of workshops, conversations and performances. This year, hear from the likes of legendary Ramones drummer Marky Ramone and German promoter Silke Westera, along with local minds like triple j music director Nick Findlay and Brisbane-based artist Mallrat. Meanwhile, Harvey Sutherland's Bermuda headlines an evening of live music gold for The Age Music Victoria Awards after-party, and Saturday, November 25 sees Ferdydurke and Section 8 join forces to host the ZOO street party. This will be a smorgasbord of visual art, live music and performance, featuring the likes of indigenous rapper Briggs and UK duo Fatima and Alex Nut. Melbourne Music Week 2017 will take place across the city from Friday, November 17 to Saturday, November 25. Tickets are up for grabs from 11am today, September 19, with the full program set to drop on Tuesday, October 17. For the first annoucnement, visit mmw.melbourne.vic.gov.au.
You probably think that James Bond hails from Scotland. But that's where you'd be wrong. As a matter of fact, the world's greatest secret agent actually grew up in rural NSW. Forget about Connery, Brosnan and Craig. To the people of Goulburn, the name Bond is synonymous with hometown hero George Lazenby — and now they're hosting a festival in his honour. Kicking off today and stretching on into the weekend, Spyfest Goulburn is a festival dedicated to the world of international espionage, running September 25-26. There'll be parades, parties and a city-wide game of I Spy, capped off by an appearance by Lazenby himself, who grew up in Goulburn before shooting to (short-lived) stardom as the second man to portray the world's most famous big screen spy. Event organisers will host several free screenings of Lazenby's sole Bond adventure, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, over the course of the weekend. Other events include a Secret Agents Gala Dinner featuring the music of the great Shirley Bassey, and a Shagadelic Disco inspired by MI6's other international man of mystery. Naturally, costumes are highly encouraged. Several local businesses will also be getting into the spirit of the festival by temporarily changing their names, including one chemist who has gone with the inspired new moniker 'Licensed to Pill'. We're pretty sure 007 would approve of the pun — at least Roger Moore would. For more information about Spyfest Goulburn, visit the festival website. Via ABC News.
One of you is about to experience the luck of the Irish. Thanks to Jameson and The Rewriters, one extremely fortunate Concrete Playground reader (and their even more fortunate mate) will get the chance to channel a little 'Sine Metu' and travel 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. Explore Irish history (all the way back to the Celtics and Vikings) in the National Museum, pay a visit to Dublin Zoo, or take a road trip out into the insanely beautiful Irish countryside. Recommended holiday read: James Joyce. Heck, you might just want to join a traditional music session in the pub — where no one will snigger at your mad tin whistle skills. Or take yourself on a foodie tour of the city — inhaling flaky Irish pork sausage rolls, warming Irish coffees, local cheddar-stuffed blaa rolls, Irish sea salt ice cream, and everything (everything) with hearty soda bread. Of course, Dublin's a Mecca for whiskey lovers. You'll be taken on a VIP tour of the historic Old Jameson Distillery, a must-do for any self-respecting whiskey diehard. And of course, there'll be tastings. Share this around to your crew and get everyone to enter — throw every possible chance in the hat and hope the sprites are kind. Entries are now closed. Stay tuned to your inbox, winners are announced Friday 17th June, 2016. Image: Giuseppe Milo.
Cold and dark and gloomy, winters in Hobart aren't exactly the most attractive proposition. Or at least they weren't until the birth of Dark Mofo. Presented by the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), for the past few years this immersive arts festival has disturbed and dazzled locals and mainlanders alike with a mix of music, performances, installations, light and sound works, and art that simply defies categorisation. And from the looks of things, 2017 will be no exception. Dark Mofo's 2017 lineup is an expectedly weird and wondrous beast, featuring all manner of artists from around Tasmania, Australia and the world. Creative director Leigh Carmichael has called the program their "most ambitious yet", while pointing to a number of works — including iy_project 136.1 Hz, a large-scale laser work by the UK's Chris Levine, and Siren Song, a city-wide audio piece involving a range of female artists — as highlights sure to keep "the audience, the organisers, and some of the authorities enthralled." [caption id="attachment_616924" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Image courtesy of the artist and Dark Mofo.[/caption] Carmichael also draws attention to 150.Action, from Austrian artist Hermann Nitsch. The dark, disturbing performance piece involves an orchestra and around 500 litres of blood, and is sure to be one of the standouts of the final weekend. "This work will be extremely confronting and challenging, but we would encourage our audience to embrace the opportunity to witness the intensity of the ritual, in this one-off exclusive performance, unlikely to ever happen in Australia again," said Carmichael. Then there's Crossing, a 200-kilometre pilgrimage down the Midlands Highway, which will take participants on a pilgrimage to six different churches over six consecutive nights. They'll experience a mix of light, sound and video art along with organ and theremin performances from Melbourne's Miles Brown. [caption id="attachment_616925" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Image: Antony Crook. Courtesy of the artist and Dark Mofo.[/caption] Of course it should go without saying that this is just the tip of the iceberg. This year's enormous music lineup features the likes of Scottish art-rock legends Mogwai, indigenous hip-hop act A.B. Original, and Norwegian black metal pioneers Ulver in concert with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. There'll also be an industrial-scale transcendental rave at Hobart City Hall presented by the Red Bull Music Academy. MONA, meanwhile, will use Dark Mofo as a platform to unveil its latest exhibition, The Museum of Everything, described by its curators as "an astonishing assortment of artworks from the world's first and only wandering institution for the untrained, unintentional, undiscovered and unclassifiable artists of the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries." The exhibition will have its grand opening on the first Saturday of the festival, and will be on display at MONA until early April 2018. Then there are the Dark Mofo staples. The annual Winter Feast will once again feed all comers, while Dark Mofo Films will feature a selection of big screen curios new and old. And who'd want to miss the annual Nude Solstice Swim, a communal dip in the ocean at sunrise the day after the longest night of the year? Just remember, winter in Hobart can be pretty bloody cold. Dark Mofo runs from June 8-21. For more information and tickets visit .darkmofo.net.au. Top image: MONA/Rémi Chauvin, 2014. Courtesy MONA Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
When it came to putting together a live action version of Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, director Jon Favreau must've found himself thinking about the bare necessities. We don't just mean the catchy song that helped make the major Disney version such an enduring hit, though the tune does feature again this time around. In trying to bring the story's wilderness setting and talking animals to life, the actor-turned-filmmaker had to consider which aspects were essential. Would it be killer special effects? An all-star voice cast? A fresh new talent to play the film's only human role? Capturing a sense of movie magic? Yes, no doubt they all crossed his mind as he prepared to tackle the tale of man-cub Mowgli (newcomer Neel Sethi), his jungle upbringing and the creatures — wise panther Bagheera (voiced by Ben Kingsley), hypnotic snake Kaa (Scarlett Johansson), honey-loving bear Baloo (Bill Murray), giant primate King Louie (Christopher Walken) and fearsome tiger Shere Khan (Idris Elba) — he encounters. Indeed, the proof is in the enchanting end product, which blends both the book the animated film people know and love into a photo-realistic, live action package in the best way possible. So just how did the man that partied with Vince Vaughn in Swingers, kickstarted the current superhero cinema craze by directing Iron Man and made everyone crave Cuban sandwiches in Chef approach such an ambitious project? With Favreau in Australia recently to promote The Jungle Book, we took the opportunity to ask him about making talking animals look real, tracking down Bill Murray, getting advice from the kitchen and more. ON ADAPTING (AND PAYING TRIBUTE TO) SUCH A BELOVED STORY "I think you have to capture the spirit of the animated film, but if you're doing it in a photo-real way — which is what we set out to do — making it a G-rated kids movie probably wasn't going to work for us. So we felt that doing a PG-rated movie that skewed a little bit older and appealed more to adults as well as kids was not that big of a leap. We did try to include music and characters and tone, and cast it in a way that felt like it was related to the older film. And it's always tricky as a director when you're trying to balance tone. Because not only were we influenced by the '67 animated Disney film, but we're also influenced by the stories written by Rudyard Kipling that were quite a bit darker and scarier and more adventurous. So we tried to combine those things and pay homage to all the influences." ON CREATING A GRAND CINEMATIC ILLUSION "There was an opportunity here to do something really exciting and fresh and new that would surprise children and adults alike, because we're using technology that has never been used before. And people who see this are very hard-pressed to figure out what's been generated by computers and what's real. And there's very little real at all. It's very hard to wrap your head around it when you see it. I think nowadays, honestly, there's so much competition on television, on the internet, on cable. There's so much good programming and so much good content out there that if you want to ask people to go to the movie theatre and spend their money and sit with 3D glasses on, you'd better give them an experience that they can't get anywhere else. And that was the appeal here. It's like being a magician coming up with a magic trick. You really want to create a grand illusion. There's nothing like the big screen and 3D to do that. So there's a lot of techniques that I combined in a way that really hadn't been done before. I borrowed a lot of the technology from Avatar when it comes to motion capture, and building out the characters and the world. I also studied pretty closely how they did Gravity and how they put those live action characters into this computer-generated environment." ON CREATING 'REAL' ANIMALS (AND TAKING CUES FROM AN AUSTRALIAN TALKING PIG) "So much of the planning is so technical. But at the end of the day, after you plan how the magic trick is done and you figure out what elements you need to deliver to be able to convincingly fool the audience that they're looking at something real, then you have to wind it back and make sure you infuse it with character and emotion — and in some cases music — and make it feel effortless and invisible. Because the real reward here is that you show people a movie that's very tech-heavy, that's completely synthetic, but yet they feel like they're looking at real animals in a real jungle and feeling real emotion for real characters. And that's always tricky. Some movies do it well. Although here, over ten years ago, Babe did a great job with relatively low-tech effects. So it shows that if you have a good filmmaker and a good story, that does half your work for you." ON GETTING HIS DREAM CAST (AND GETTING HOLD OF BILL MURRAY) "This is a dream cast for me — I didn't think I would get them all. I didn't think I would even get access to Bill Murray, who is notoriously difficult to get a hold of. He doesn't have an agent so you can't get to him through the normal channels. So through writing letters and leaving messages and sending artwork I finally got a call back from him, and that was a one of the great victories in this process. I would've had to change the character [of Baloo] if it was someone else." ON HOW WORKING WITH CHEFS PREPARED HIM FOR THE JUNGLE BOOK "I think the best preparation was actually the training I did with the chefs [on Chef]. Because I had to learn how to cook and I worked with the chefs on the film, and they're very good at overseeing other chefs. A big part of their culture is you have a head chef but then there's other chefs who are also very talented and well-trained and want to present a vision. And part of being an executive chef is bringing together all of those talented people and having them work towards the same goal — and overseeing all the artists and overseeing the vision of all these technical people was a big part of The Jungle Book. Two thousand people worked on this movie. And sometimes one person is working on a shot and another person is working on another shot that are going to be right next to each other, but they don't really reference each other's work until it all lays into the film. I had to stand over the whole process and make sure it was all consistent and fits together in an invisible way. Chefs are very good at keeping consistency in their restaurants from dish to dish and from night to night, and watching how they oversaw and inspired and maintained quality control over the process was quite inspiring and informative for what I do as a director." The Jungle Book is currently screening in Australian cinemas. Read our full review.
Some of Australia's best bar teams will go head-to-head to nab mad bragging rights, an epic photo shoot and a huge trip to Glasgow this winter, with the announcement of the 12 finalists for Auchentoshan's national Distilled Different competition. Each bar team was invited to conjure up a unique new cocktail incorporating Auchentoshan American Oak for the competition, with entries open since April 2016. Why'd they all do it? Oh, just a cheeky chance at winning a casual a trip to Glasgow, home of Auchentoshan — the only triple distilled Scottish single malt whisky in the world. Triple distilled, people. Before the winner is crowned, all 12 bar teams will find their talented faces featured in a national exhibition, Dare to be Distilled Different, with their submitted cocktail entry. So who's in the top 12? AUCHENTOSHAN DISTILLED DIFFERENT 2016 AUSTRALIAN FINALISTS: Della Hyde (NSW) Donny's Bar (NSW) Stitch Bar (NSW) Doris and Beryl's Bridge Club and Tea House (NSW) Ramblin' Rascal Tavern (NSW) Eau de Vie Sydney (NSW) Kittyhawk (NSW) Highlander Bar (VIC) 1806 (VIC) The Gresham (QLD) Mr Goodbar (SA) Dominion League (WA) Here's a little sneak peek at the concotions that made the cut: Flight of Fancy // Auchentoshan American Oak, Fortified Sour Grapefruit, Honeyed Walnut Syrup, Salted Apricot and Goats Cheese Bitters, Orange Blossom Egg White // #DistilledDifferentAU A photo posted by Kittyhawk (@kittyhawksyd) on Jul 19, 2016 at 11:25pm PDT • The Shake & Bake • 🍰 Auchentoshan American Oak, Cacao, spiced berry patisserie syrup & lemon. This bad boy goes live tomorrow at Della Hyde. See you at the bar 👌🏼 #distilleddifferentau #auchentoshan #americanoak #dellahyde #cocktails #darlinghurst #theexchange #liquiddessert #stopit A photo posted by Lachlan Sturrock (@lachysturrock) on Jul 20, 2016 at 12:22am PDT Late night creations! Our #hot #whisky #cocktail the #OakenToastan is perfect for this freezing #winter night in #melbourne! Made with #auchentoshan #americanoak! #distilleddifferentau A photo posted by Highlander (@highlanderbar) on Jul 12, 2016 at 7:35am PDT The team's been hard at work preparing our new cocktail list, and we're almost ready to let the cat out of the bag. Here's a little teaser for you to get your tastebuds ready: #Auchentoshan American Oak, Pineau Charente, honeycomb & rose vermouth with tannic acid and walnut. #DistilledDifferentAU #whisky #cocktails #darlinghurst #drinkporn A photo posted by Eau De Vie Sydney (@eaudeviebar) on Jul 19, 2016 at 11:34pm PDT Our Gordon Hunter created for the national Auchentoshan competition..! #DistilledDifferentAU #cocktails #cocktailporn #drinks #bar #auchentoshan @theauchentoshan #whiskey #picoftheday #instagood #honey #good #manly #AU @the_blend #mixology #donnysbar #manly A photo posted by Donny's Bar & Restaurant (@donnysbar) on Jul 11, 2016 at 8:16pm PDT Introducing the swing low(land) 🍸Auchentoshan American oak, fig and allspice syrup with pear. Our entry into the Auchentoshan distill different cocktail competition. #distilleddifferentau #auchentoshan #mrgoodbar #agoodplacetosin A photo posted by Kate O'Donnell (@kateivyo) on Jun 30, 2016 at 7:31am PDT
The Wheeler Centre is wrapping up the year with a bang, this week announcing the jam-packed program for its fifth and final 2016 season. As always, it's a lineup filled with thought-provoking stories and inspiring characters — and of course, big literary names. There are some huge Wheeler wins on the bill, including Emmy-winning TV writer, Dan Harmon, who's the brains behind such comedy creations as Community and Rick and Morty. On December 16, he'll be dropping in for a night of fast and loose comedy gold, joined by Jeff B. Davis and Spencer Crittenden. Elsewhere on the program, you'll have the chance to indulge your inner politics nerd. November 9 will see the centre host a countdown to the result of the US election, while local activists Elaine Pearson, Gary Foley, Tess Lawley and Amelia Telford discuss the prospect of political change in the 21st century for a November 14 event, titled 'What's That Sound? Activism Today'. Caroline Wilson will deliver the centre's inaugural F Word Address on November 10, Richard Higgins will embrace the humble pun, in all its glory, for 'Pundemonium, One Hour of Solid Puns', on November 9, and formerly imprisoned Australian journalist Peter Greste will explore the plight of writers around the world who are still in detention. There's no shortage of out-of-town fun either, including Masha Gessen on 'Donald Trump's Lessons in American Democracy', which will take place at Bendigo's Capitol Theatre on December 5, Geelong's Word for Word Non-Fiction Festival on November 20, and the Books and Ideas at Montalto series, which sees foodie greats Stephanie Alexander and Larissa Dubecki in conversation at Montalto Vineyard and Olive Grove. Deng Adut will detail his trajectory from a small village in Malek, South Sudan, to life as a child soldier in the Sudan People's Liberation Army, to the Australia Day stage, in conversation with co-writer Ben Mckelvey at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka, Ballarat. Blockbuster action author Matthew Reilly returns to Australia for his only Victorian event: Matthew Reilly on 'Books, Blockbusters and Blowing Stuff Up' at Frankston Arts Centre, coinciding with the release of his latest book, The Four Legendary Kingdoms. There's plenty more where that came from — jump on the Wheeler Centre's website to see the program in full.
Contrary to popular belief, you don't need to be a professional bartender or barista to whip up a good espresso martini. You just need to have a good technique, great ingredients and something that sets your drink apart. At Grey Goose's Boulangerie Bleue waterside mansion party this summer, a salted espresso martini was served — a classic post-dinner combination of vodka and coffee liqueur with a little chocolate and a pinch of salt as a finishing touch. We asked Grey Goose's lively global ambassador Joe McCanta to show us how to make this variation on the classic — check out his technique below. ESPRESSO MARTINI 50ml Grey Goose Vodka 30ml (one shot) single origin espresso 20ml coffee liqueur 1 pinch of salt Garnish: salted dark cocoa powder Chill your coupe by adding ice. Mix your vodka, espresso and coffee liqueur in a shaker. Add a pinch of salt and some ice. Shake, and then strain your mixture into your coupe. Top with cocoa powder and salt. Fancy trying another? Grey Goose Vodka's 'discover' function will tell you what cocktail you're perfectly suited for. Dive into the luxury that your city has to offer — check out our Luxe Guide to Sydney and Melbourne. Food, spas, glamorous hotels and extraordinary experiences are waiting. Image: Steven Woodburn.
A fried chicken feast, a cocktail lab and a garden party catered by some of the hottest chefs in town are among the highlights of this year's spectacular Good Food Month program. Taking over Melbourne for the whole month of November, this annual culinary cavalcade will once again see the city transformed into the foodie equivalent of Valhalla, with parties, sit-down dinners and everything in-between to satisfying your most extravagant cravings. This year they're packing as much as they can into every one of the 30 days in November. And while some of the big ticket events have already sold out, there's still a heap you can sneak in to. Clear your calendar and start fasting now.
Things are looking a little bit queer in Federation Square, with the return of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival to ACMI. The largest event of its kind anywhere in Australia, this year's festival features over 100 different features, documentaries and shorts, from searing dramas to crowd-pleasing comedies and everything in-between. Throw in special events ranging from speed dating to a virtual reality drag show, and film lovers will have their work cut out for them. Standout films on this year's program include the highly anticipated Australian documentary Remembering the Man, a retrospective screening of Rainer Werner Fassbinder's The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant, and the local premiere of low key indie drama Boulevard featuring one of the final performances by the great Robin Williams. There's also a stellar selection of documentary, animated, gay and lesbian short films, plus industry workshops, public panels and more. Below, we've put together a list of five must-see films on the MQFF program. Tickets to many of them are already close to selling out, so get in quick while you still have the chance. GRANDMA Who hasn't wished that Lily Tomlin was their grandmother? The actress and comedian has proven a force to be reckoned with since the '60s, and does so again in the movie that makes our dreams the fictional Sage's (Julia Garner) reality. When the teenager needs help finding cash and dealing with a problem, she turns to Tomlin's feisty family matriarch. The likes of Marcia Gay Harden, Judy Greer, John Cho and Sam Elliott also join in the episodic antics, though Grandma's title gives away the true star of the show, offering the veteran performer a potent role and a poignant character study suited to her talents. REMEMBERING THE MAN Maybe you first discovered the real-life story of Tim Conigrave and John Caleo in 2015 Aussie feature Holding the Man. Maybe you had already read Conigrave's best-selling book of the same name. Either way, you'll want to see Remembering the Man, the latest effort to recount their tragic romance from their first meeting as Melbourne schoolboys in the late '70s to the cruel blow that the '80s AIDS epidemic served them. This time, documentarians Nickolas Bird and Eleanor Sharpe not only chart a familiar tale in factual form, but offer up previously unseen footage of and unheard details about Conigrave and Caleo's relationship. Our advice: bring tissues. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRlVn4cKxJE ADDICTED TO FRESNO The woman behind cult comedy But I'm a Cheerleader, director Jamie Babbit returns to MQFF with her latest film full of sex, death and dark humour. Judy Greer stars as Shannon, a recovering sex addict who moves in with her lesbian sister Martha, played by Orange Is the New Black star Natasha Lyonne. But things get a little more complicated after Shannon accidentally murders someone, leading to a blackmail plot and a string of robberies. Aubrey Plaza, Allison Tolman, Fred Armisen and Molly Shannon co-star, giving Addicted to Fresno one of the sharpest comic casts in the festival. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSzxvKyM608 CLOSET MONSTER Arriving at MQFF following a world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last year, the stylish debut film from 26-year-old director Stephen Dunn is billed as a drama with smatterings of dark comedy and a touch of David Cronenberg. Connor Jessup plays 18-year-old Oscar, whose confused sexual identity stems from witnessing a violent gay bashing when he was a child. Closet Monster looks bold enough to distinguish itself from the numerous coming-of-age films that pepper the MQFF program each year. And if nothing else, it's got Isabella Rossellini as the voice of Oscar's pet hamster Buffy, which quite frankly seems like it'd be worth the price of admission alone. SCRUM Another strong looking local doco on this year's festival program is Poppy Stockwell's Scrum, about Australia's first gay rugby union club. The film follows a group of players for the Sydney Convicts, each of whom hopes to be selected as part of the squad to compete for the Bingham Cup, an international biennial tournament held by the International Gay Rugby Association and Board. Screening alongside the film is the short documentary Boxeadora, about one woman's quest to become Cuba's first female Olympic boxer. The Melbourne Queer Film Festival runs from March 31 to April 11. For the full program visit mqff.com.au. By Tom Clift and Sarah Ward.
So, you've mastered all the usual yoga poses, and you think you've attempted every variation that there is. Not so fast. There's a style you mightn't have tried, and it's all the rage in Brisbane. That'd be blindfolded yoga, aka one of the main attractions at the Left Brain / Right Brain workshop at Woolloongabba's Princess Theatre on January 29 and 30. Yes, it's exactly what it sounds like. All that bending and breathing you're familiar with — well, it's about to seem a whole lot different when you're doing it without being able to see anything. Using sensory deprivation to sharpen focus, shift attention inward and heighten instincts is the name of the game, with the trend towards sightless stretching gaining traction around the world for a couple of years. If you're keen to give it a go, you might also want to peruse the rest of the event's program. A sound bath session or other movement and music-oriented mind-expansion techniques, anyone? Of course, we haven't yet mentioned the most exciting part — well, for those a little self-conscious about their form, that is. With a blindfold wrapped around your head, you can't see your exercise classmates and they can't see you either. You don't get that at bikram or disco yoga. For more information, visit the Left Brain / Right Brain website. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
