Entertainment

Although we may be stuck here for a Monday to Friday grind, don’t let that stop you from venturing back on the weekend for some of the best-kept brunch secrets that are right under our noses. Skip the south side/north side arguments this weekend, here are the best (neutral ground) spots for city brunchin'.

Stay updated with the best movies and documentaries on Netflix Australia this August. Your ultimate streaming guide is here.

Mighty MIFF (Melbourne International Film Festival) is back this week from Thursday 8 August to Sunday 25 August. The program is 250 films thick, with round-the-clock screenings, world premiers, and emerging talent debuts. We’ve deciphered the program into bite-sized pieces so you know what to watch, where to eat (and drink), and all the things you can do off-screen.

In Melbourne, if there's a stage, there'll be theatre, and fortunately, there are plenty of both in this city. From local to international titles, there are thespians a plenty duking it out under the spotlights, portraying fables of mystery, sci-fi, right across to classic productions. 

Clear your calendars for a night of daringly dark jokes from the depths of humour as The Kraken Black Spiced Rum's Darkest Show returns for a second year. This time with Rhys Nicholson, Anne Edmonds, Greg Larsen, and Daniel Muggleton at the helm. 

Kick back and dive into the best Disney+ has to offer in Australia and New Zealand for 2024.

Whether it’s a '90s sitcom or a cult classic blockbuster that’s found its way into your rotation, the cooler weather is making us want to rug up on the couch and turn on those guilty pleasures. 

In just a few days time, new-comer FoMo Cinemas in East Brunswick Village is set to pop corn for the first time to debut a new premium approach to the cinema-going experience that celebrates film nostalgia.

There’s no need to jet off to Europe for a culture fix. Instead, set your sights on Auckland (aka Tāmaki Makaurau) just a short plane ride away. New Zealand’s largest city turns it on over the summer months with a vibrant event line-up encompassing music, art, culture, and all things inspiring.

We'll show you how to ace the off-court scene by serving up Melbourne's best during the Australian Open

We know there’s a lot to get through on Netflix, Stan, Disney+, Apple TV and so on, but sometimes you just need to get outside, right? Who said the outdoors meant no screen time though? Not us. And let’s be real here, sometimes you just want to enjoy the movie without that kid behind you kicking your seat, or the group next to you talking over the tear-jerker moments. The best outdoor cinemas Melbourne has are free from such distractions. So pack a blanket and switch your phone to silent, we’ve got movies to watch.

From the creators of Semi-Permanent, the most prestigious event of its kind this half of the globe, comes Never Permanent. In partnership with the City of Melbourne as part of its new arts festival, Now or Never, it’s a one-day splendour of presentations by talented and passionate creatives worldwide. Headlined by the renowned Roman Coppola, LA-based co-writer of Wes Anderson hits such as The Grand Budapest Hotel and Asteroid City, it’s an event you won’t want to miss out on this month. 

To help you start mapping out your next New South Wales adventure, we’ve rounded up a bunch of the most exciting events to mark in your diaries.

If films are your schtick–you’ll be pleased to know that Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) will be back in theatres and online this August. Perfect for a winter night out, MIFF is packed with everything from engrossing documentaries and insightful speakers to anticipated blockbusters and plenty more. 

Dipping into the decade of nostalgia, Yellowjackets on Paramount+ is back for another nail-biting season.

There's never been a better time to be (or indulge) a Disney fan with the Disney100 Celebration taking over the 'Happiest Place On Earth'.

For artists like Isaac who are drawn to creating, music is undeniably in their blood, so we've teamed up with Australian Red Cross Lifeblood to dive a little deeper and uncover the passion for collaboration, live performance and a drive to contribute to the world around him that pump an unmistakable rhythm through his veins. 

We’ve linked up with Australian Red Cross Lifeblood to take you on a deep dive into Australian artists with music in their blood, and there’s no better place to start than with LK (her dad is Paul Kelly, and if that doesn’t suggest she was born with music flowing through her veins, we don’t know what does.)

Inspired by the power of the Post-it note to spark a spicey vibe in the new Paramount+ series, The Flatshare, we’ve scoped out our fave ways to show your partner some love for free and let the romance and good vibes flow.

Summer in Sydney is looking the goods. After a successful traffic-stopping inaugural festival in January of this year, it's just been announced ELEVATE Sydney will be returning next month to celebrate summer and the new year. 

Taking inspo from Paramount+’s new rom-com series, The Flatshare, we’ve pulled together six ways you can slowdown and reconnect with your roomies amongst everyone’s busy schedules. 

Based on the best-selling book by Beth O’Leary (that we may or may not have devoured in a single sitting), The Flatshare will be dropping on Paramount+ on XX December, so the countdown is well and truly on. 

From grass-stomping day festivals and one-off intimate gigs to globally-revered performances and three-day camp-outs, you’re spoilt for choice; no matter where you are in Australia, we guarantee these music events are well worth the flight, train or road trip convoy with your crew. 

Hit the pavement, Melbourne, because an otherwordly AR exhibition trail of invisible art is launching in Melbourne's Arts Precinct this month.

Film lovers rejoice! 20th Century Studio's hottest new release, Amsterdam, is hitting cinemas next month and we're on the edge of our seats to see it. 

Mia Thomspon shares her thoughts on the harmony between technology and dance. 

We delved into the world of mindfulness and meditation apps and here's what we found. 

You know who you are. You felt a little buzz inside when you read the headline of this article. When faced with a bookstore your inner voice can always justify spending on a book. The reason varies from the classic, "My bookshelf wouldn't be complete without it", to the desperate, "I know I have a huge pile of books to read but I need this one". While you aren't averse to the e-book, you're still a book sniffer at heart.

Cashing in your AL and going on vacay might seem tempting, but these tips will help your craft a healthy foundation for dealing with burnout in the long run. 

We share tips on how to implement achievable goals, ahead of Reason Season with Rob and Lachlan from Funny Business. 

As part of the Evenings module for Reason Season, these our fave reads to unwind before bed to reap all of those relaxing rewards.

Join us for Reason Season to craft healthy daily habits and routines.

From films to fulfilling culinary adventures, this is the perfect culture-lovers escape. 

Enter the SBS Emerging Writers' Competition and you could win $5,000.

This is one show you do not want to miss. 

Nestled in the beating heart of Surfers Paradise, we’ve found the perfect place for the ultimate fun day out. Think: epic games, live sport and a total foodie nirvana. So where can you find this awesome spot? Perched on the corner of Surfers Paradise Boulevard and Cavill Mall, boasting a 100-metre frontage opposite the world-famous Surfers Paradise Beach, is Paradise Centre. Home to over 90 stores, an alfresco dining precinct and a buzzing entertainment hub, gather your crew and make tracks here stat.

When we think of a model, we conjure a standard vision in our minds. You know the one. For decades, model status has remained tall, thin, white, able-bodied and cis-gendered. Not always, but most of the time. 

We've tried to hit a range of genres to please every ear and offer a listen for every mood. 

Vivid LIVE is the perfect opportunity to discover your new favourite emerging artist amongst the much anticipated 2022 live music line up. 

While die-hard Potterheads have less than a month to catch the production as a two-parter marathon, many will relish in the fact Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will continue its Melbourne season, however as a reimagined, one-part performance. 

Autobiographies are a window into the soul and sometimes they are so powerful they can change the reader, so and here are our top picks of the 10 you should read at least once in your life.

Needless to say, the food in Melbourne is some world class grub, in fact we’ve built a bit of a rep for having one of the richest and most diverse culinary scenes on the planet. The question on our lips though is—does the carpet match the plates?

It’s been a couple of spins around the sun since we’ve been able to crack into the timeless tradition of the summer music festival. With restrictions at an ease, there’s enough day boogies, warehouse soirees and out-of-town celebrations to swing a cat at. 

If you’ve fallen into a bit of a playlist funk recently, we hear you. Often it can feel like the ol’ algorithm is starting to hit a snag, serving you up the same beats on repeat. So, to help prevent a playlist flatliner and bring on those summer vibes, we asked a few of the Urban List team to share what they’re spinning.

Welcome to sunny Rook Island, an idyllic, tropical paradise. It’s the perfect place to soak up some sun, and catch up on some much-needed R’n’R—that is, if you had the chance to stick around. Instead, you and your mates are captured by a small army of henchmen and become yet another of the victims imprisoned by the infamous Vaas Montenegro. And boy, does he have big plans in store for you…

Here at Urban List, we often talk about how your fashion thirst shouldn’t cost the earth—and the same goes for your home. 

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Outdoor movie powerhouse, Open Air Cinema has teamed up with Disney+ once again to bring back their sell-out drive-in cinema so you can catch all your favourite nostalgic flicks on the big screen.

Moonlight Cinema will return this summer for its 25th year, showing new and classic movies in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, and Brisbane.

In 2017, Kiama four-piece indie rock band Pacific Avenue was born, but their history goes way back.

We caught up with CIVIC and spoke to Jim over a couple of Sailor Jerry bevs about good vegan dinners, getting tattooed by Eddy Current Suppression Ring’s Danny Young, and how they’re planning to go ‘all in’ and finally celebrate their album release.

At just 23 years of age, Naarm singer and artist Kaiit (she/they/he) is one of the most exciting talents to grace the Australian music scene and bless our ears with her sweet and honeyed vocals. 

It’s time to splurge on popcorn buckets as big as your head, frozen cokes and choc-tops because 20th Century Studios' newest historical drama, The Last Duel is the big-screen experience of your dreams

While we shouldn’t be burying our heads in the sand on the situation that we’re facing, sometimes, disconnecting from the noise is necessary. The legends over at Zoo’s Victoria are helping you find some catharsis in your day with several live streams watching candidly over their furry—and feathered—friends.

Shut those blinds, pull those drapes and mute the group chat. This is officially a sign to have a lazy weekend in. 

If you, like me, were hopeful we had MIFF 69 in the bag, you’d also be feeling the weight of this morning’s announcement. And while the idea of having to wait another year to be ushered down the aisles of The Forum or The Capitol with popcorn and cocktail in hand isn’t a pleasant one to ruminate on, it’s not all bad news. 

The hunt is on.

Enthralling as it is overwhelming, the program is hefty to say the least, so we’ve enlisted someone who knows it inside and out, the MIFF brains trust, more affectionately known as MIFF’s Artistic Director, to break it down and share with us his top picks.

Isol-Aid Homegrown is a collaboration providing creative and financial support to emerging acts across Australia and New Zealand.

Leaps and Bounds showcase of the sheer talent that’s smattered liberally just north of the Yarra river. In its third year, Leaps and Bounds is making, well, leaps and bounds with a festival that’s as diverse as it's ever been. You’d be remiss not to explore the program to its fullest—which you can do so here—however there are several unmissable events in the near two-week celebration of all things audible, visual, sensory and beyond. Scope them out here:

Over summer, Fed Square was transformed into a bustling green oasis. And now, everyone’s favourite cultural hub is about to receive a winter glow-up of epic proportions with an undeniably French twist.

And it’s going to save 2020

There’s no business like show businesses, and 2020 proved that to all of us. Last year, the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) went online for the first time and racked up their largest audience ever, so this year’s festival will build on that success with a hybrid delivery at home and in the real world.

Everyone loves a trip down memory lane. And what better way to get you there than a movie night with some old-school 90s classics. 

 One of the world’s most acclaimed musicals, Hamilton, is coming to Melbourne.

May movie mayhem is here. 

Not since Priscilla has Australia seen something as bloody fabulous as RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under. Coming this September the absolute dazzling line-up will descend upon Australia for a spanking live tour featuring all ten of the Queens from season one of the show.

If you, like us, have rewatched all your favourite sitcoms from back to front during the city’s very lengthy lockdown twice over (and taken a trip to Central Park more than you’d like to admit), then you’re probably craving some new content. Well, fortunately for you, and us, Friends! The Musical Parody is finally coming to Melbourne.

We sit down with Linda Marigliano to dissect the ultimate dinner party.

Once upon a time, a little animated mouse on a steamboat stole the hearts of many, and now almost one hundred years later, that mouse is the face of one of the biggest and most-loved animation studios in the world. From humble beginnings, Disney has become synonymous with magic, childhood and all things animation. And now for the first time, the Disney: The Magic of Animation exhibition is travelling south of the equator and coming exclusively to ACMI in Melbourne. 

Winter is coming and there’s been plenty brewing north of the wall, it’s been over ten years since we first waded our way through the world of Westeros and watched as crowd favourites fell to the sword (sorry Ned) and our very expectations were dashed episode after episode.

It’s been a bit dry out there on the festival front for the last 12 months, we all know the story of COVID et cetera. But Victorians have stuck through it and now it’s time to party—safely, of course. There are plenty of local festivals to hit up over the next couple of months, so get in the car, get the glitter out, have a boogie and live your best festival life. 

We sit down with Australian singer-songwriter Thandi Phoenix to uncover what makes a luxe long lunch.

We’ve rounded up 10 of the best board games around, whether you’re playing with two or six, amateurs or pros.

The Welcome To Thornbury crew has decided that slinging good times doesn’t have to stop at brews and food, so they’ve just transformed their warehouse space into an indoor cinema.

Welcome to Culture Curve—your go-to guide to what’s on the rise and slide in culture in April 2021. 

We sit down with Touch Sensitive to chat about the perfect movie night set-up.

It has just been announced that Flight Facilities and Mallrat will be joining For The Love’s epic line-up at URBNSURF, so grab your mates and get ready for some seriously good surfing and sounds.  

After a few false starts for theatre in Melbourne over the past year for reasons we don’t need to discuss, Disney’s Frozen, The Hit Broadway Musical is set to open this June at the magnificent Her Majesty's Theatre.

Brunswick Music Festival is back with an impressive line-up of local talent spanning over ten huge days. From Friday 5 March to Monday 16 March, beloved Brunswick venues will play host to a plethora of live music, with all tickets $10 or free. That’s right, ten bucks or free.

It’s true, our love for hip hop runs deep. We’re big fans of the genre’s boundary-breaking, rebellious attitude (perhaps a love that’s been magnified after living through the insanity that was 2020) and it’s the leading part in the revival of '90s streetwear fashion. 

After a long, cold year full of almost no stimulation, Melbourne is coming back alive with a plethora of events, performances and exhibitions being announced on the daily. The latest is Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge! stage show, and first-round tickets are on sale now.

It’s always a vibe when one of Melbourne’s cultural hubs puts on an after-dark, adults-only, boozy session, and the latest to do so is none other than the Scienceworks Planetarium.

​If you’ve never been into colouring books, puzzles seem far too mundane, you could ever stay consistent with journaling, we think we may have just found your favourite new mindfulness hobby.

On one hand, the capacity limits at NGV can be seen as a sort of silver lining in that you can wander through the Triennial with at least a few square metres around you, though on the other hand, it means tickets are somewhat of a scarcity—that’s why the NGV is bringing back its evening sessions for an entire month beginning on Friday 15 January.

As part of MPavilion’s comprehensive season, the long-running cultural festival is resurrecting Melbourne’s much-loved Rooftop Cinema for a very limited season.

With indoor capacity limits still in place, many of our cultural institutions are taking it outdoors. The latest to announce their iteration of the open-air celebrations is the Melbourne Museum with Summer Sessions, and the program is a doozy.

One of Melbourne’s most cherished independent cinemas, The Sun Theatre, is setting up shop with a second location in the Gantry Plaza at Seaworks Williamstown.

Those who rang in the 2019/2020 new year at Sun Cycle will recall quite the rave. Looking back, anyone would have thought we were partying like it was one of the last festivals of our time. Well, after a year hiatus, Sun Cycle returns to give it another nudge on Saturday 30 January (restrictions permitting). 

To save you the heavy lifting in organising your crew, we’ve hand-picked the MMW-Extended events you won’t want to miss. 

You had us at drive-in. Village Cinemas have teamed up with the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) to create Australia’s first indoor drive-in—they’re calling it the MCEC Drive In(Door) Cinema. Weather is no match for this drive-in, rain or shine, you can enjoy movies from the comfort of your own car. 

The second edition of the block party in December 2021 will feature international headliners, and will take up Duke Street as well as Bond Street, and Southampton Crescent.

Welcome to Culture Curve—your go-to guide to what’s on the rise and slide in culture in December 2020.

Melbourne is set to come back alive this summer, with outdoor events around the city like we've never seen before.

Melbourne Music Week is set to return in December, and this year, the program will be spread over three months to revitalise the local arts scene.

Pedro Pascal is somehow still insanely attractive even while wearing a helmet the entire time.

Your go-to guide to what’s on the rise, and on the slide in culture right now. 

News of the venue being purchased by Hillsong Church for approximately $23 million dollars broke earlier this week, with the exact future purposes of the venue being unclear.

It's been a while since we've been able to go to the movies, but with the reopening of Dromana Drive-In this week, it's all seemed a little bit closer. Now, Coburg Drive-In has announced that they'll be back showing films from Wednesday 3 June.

Here’s a taster of who you can expect to party with at this year’s Isolation Degustation.

You may or may not be aware that Coburg’s former prison, Pentridge, has been undergoing a massive redevelopment. And today, the news comes that a major part of the new Urban Village will comprise of a 15-screen cinema.

Saying that we all miss those amazing things we used to take for granted, be that leaving our 5km radius or making a day of things like we used to, is an extreme understatement.

You may recall those terrifying shipping container experiences, Seance and Flight, where you almost soiled yourself in fear. And then at the beginning of lockdown came Double, the audio experience from the same team—well, pull out some fresh pants because they’re back with another instalment called VISITORS.

And now for some good news, the summer iteration of Australia’s most hedonistic festival, Mona Foma, will return to Tasmania late January from Friday 15 January to Sunday 17 January in Launceston, and Friday 22 January to Sunday 24 January in Hobart.

Admit it, we all have a soft spot for adorable mammals and otters are probably one of them. With big eyes and small fluffy physique, many people see otters as friendly mammals. But while we can’t visit the zoo to see these cute-looking creatures goof around, Victoria Zoo is bringing them—virtually—to your home with Animals at Home. 

This month, we're adding bedroom pop to our playlists, a genre spawned from artists getting creative in iso. We investigate a new wave of augmented reality e-commerce that's adding a little creativity to practicality, and we take a deep dive on the mega-force of gaming—no longer just a channel for entertainment and escapism, but the final curtain of pop culture. 

And yes, you should cancel your weekend plans.

We’ve curated a list of our recent sounds you need to check out, from Gaga’s latest bops to a few Aussie favourites.

Along with almost everything this year, Rone’s latest exhibition, Rone In Geelong, has been postponed indefinitely. While it’s likely we’ll be seeing the Melbourne-based artist’s evocative, large scale masterpieces in the flesh for the next while, you can get your hands on his just-released self-titled book.

The multi award-winning musical, created by Lin-Manuel Miranda, was initially due to head to our shores in March 2021. But with a little thing called COVID getting in the way, that's on the back burner for now. Fortunately, there's still a chance to see the ground-breaking hip hop musical, and you don’t even need to max out your credit card for it. Hype up, because Hamilton the movie is coming direct to your lounge.

Melbourne's music scene took a big hit when the pandemic hit our city, and as we climb our way out of isolation, it's time to look ahead to events getting back up and running around the city.

The Parking Lot Social is a supersized drive-in event unlike anything Australia has ever seen before, complete with movies, comedy, bingo, car karaoke and more.

Chances are you've watched almost everything there is to watch on Netflix, Stan, Disney+ and every other streaming service out there. But now it's time to get back to the legit movies.

After some uncertainty, the 69th Melbourne International Film Festival will go ahead, though it’ll expectedly look a little different.

Northside gem Cinema Nova may be closed at the moment, but the dedicated team of cinephiles are doing their best to bring the experience to you with a choc top flash sale this Saturday. 

Undisputed legend, and host of Triple J’s Good Nights, is chucking on a party this Saturday night at 8pm with a bunch of her muso mates, and everyone is invited.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’d know that the short-form video app, Tik Tok has well and truly taken over the world. 

You may know Nkechinyere Anele (AKA Nkechi) from her time fronting Aussie soul legends, Saskwatch, or maybe you’re familiar with the singer, songwriter and radio presenter from Triple J’s eclectic world music program, Roots ‘n All. She also founded an online platform exploring race, identity and the wider conversation around culture in Australia called The Pin.

Consider your app game sorted for 2020.

Forget about cherry-picking your gigs this month, because Melbourne’s hottest new festival—Can’t Do Tomorrow—is serving up fiery musical acts left and right. Not only is Can’t Do Tomorrow going all out in the street art scene, but the music lineup is not something to be scoffed at. With the likes of Melbourne legends TEYMORI and MzRizk, Triple j favourite Cool Out Sun, Australian dance music powerhouse DJ JNETT and more, Can’t To Tomorrow is about to become your ultimate February gig haven. And because we’ve always got your back, if you use the promo code URBANCDT when you book, you get $10 off your ticket cost.