Newsletter | #107 | What's On this Week Newsletter | #107 | What's On this Week

Welcome to this week's Melbourne events, exhibitions, sports and community guide for January 19 - January 25, 2009.

This week.. Melbourne is back on the world map with all eyes on the Australian Tennis Open as well as many other events to keep our visitors entertained.

Australia Day [next Monday] is all but here with many events celebrating the big day across the long weekend, including New Gold Mountain at the Arts Centre this Sunday. There's also more festivals than you could shake a flag at this week with Skandia Geelong Week, the Eltham Heritage Jazz and Blues Festival, and the City of Kingston's multicultural event Globe to Globe.

There's the Box Hill Chinese New Year celebrations, and Le Carnaval Spirituel will also offer yet another two days of free performances this week in St Kilda, while Port Fairy continues to offer a range of events with their ongoing Moyneyana Festival, which runs until next Wednesday.

There are sport details, special dining offers and info on upcoming events and highlights in beautiful Melbourne, so read on and enjoy!

What's On this Week is an overview of the (too many to mention) events happening this week in Melbourne. To see everything that is happening on any given day this week, view our What's On MELBOURNE Calendar

NEWSLETTER
Get your copy of What's On this Week!


Major Events Guide
New Gold Mountain is a special two-day event, presented by The Arts Centre and Australia Day Victoria. Held this Sunday and on Australia Day on Monday, the free event is a celebration of Chinese Australian heritage, arts and culture with performances, a mini-hawkers market, a Chinese tea house, a noodle making demonstration, acrobats and more.


The Eltham Town Jazz and Blues Heritage Festival, now in its 10th year, is a free festival that transforms Eltham Town as the place comes alive with locals and visitors bringing their families to mingle and enjoy the music, food, wine, art and shopping in its vibrant cafe society and diverse shopping precinct. It's held this Saturday and Sunday.


Skandia Geelong Week, Australia's largest sailing event, begins this Friday with special events taking place in Geelong until Australia Day, next Monday. First held in 1844, Skandia Geelong Week features entertainment for the entire family, with shoreside activities, art and craft markets, street theatre and talented musical acts across two stages.


Australian Open Live Site - From Thursday to Sunday, you can watch the Australian Open on Fed Square's big screen and also test your skills with great activities that include the Slalom Sprint and Hit the Target. There's also the thrill of beating the Totem Tennis World Record set last year with the official attempt being held on Saturday 24 January. Anyone can enter!


The Globe to Globe World Music Festival, held this weekend, is the City of Kingston's annual celebration of our multi-cultural community. Cultures from around the world will come together at Namatjira Park in Clayton South with African drumming workshops, Salsa lessons and dancing demonstrations. There will also be kids' attractions with rides and fireworks on Saturday.


The Murray River International Music Festival opens on Tuesday with a concert in Ampelon Gardens in NSW, just a stone's throw from Mildura. The concert will feature Interpreti Veneziano from Venice, one of the finest Vivaldi players in the world. With more special events held in various venues along the Murray in Victoria, the festival runs until February 1st.


The Box Hill Chinese New Year Festival, held Saturday and Sunday, offers a huge weekend of fun, food and music that celebrates the new lunar year. The festival will welcome in the Year of the Ox with performances on two entertainment stages, rides and up to a 100 food and handcraft stalls throughout the Box Hill Mall and also lion and dragon dancers.


Springvale Lunar New Year Festival - Melbourne's largest Asian shopping precinct will be abuzz with Asian New Year's celebrations. Presented by the Springvale Asian Business Association, it takes place Sunday at Springvale Shopping Centre and festivities will include great entertainment such as cultural performances, delicious food and traditional firecrackers.


Midsumma Festival continues this week, celebrating 21 years as Melbourne's premier Gay and Lesbian festival. With queer centric and queer friendly performances and entertainment, the festival offers includes special performances, cabaret, art exhibitions, community events and much more with an extensive program that runs until February 18.


Le Carnaval Spirituel is a free show that will take place this Thursday and Friday at St Kilda Town Hall. Formed in 1979, the French performance troupe are celebrating their 30th anniversary this year with a festive show filled with music, dance, yoga, martial arts and theatre, showcasing the cultural heritage and talents of India's ancient Vedic culture.


The Port Fairy Moyneyana Festival, Victoria's longest running festival, is a community event that offers fun for the whole family while assisting community groups raise significant funds. Running until January 28, the festival features daily entertainment that includes historic tours, concerts and film screenings, camel rides, workshops and much more with many attractions free.


The Herring Island Summer Arts Festival continues with special events taking place every Saturday and Sunday until April 13th. Held at the Herring Island Environmental Sculpture Park in Toorak, which is accessible by boat with a punt service, this weekend you can see an exhibition by the Wildlife Art Society of Australasia along with special artists demonstrations.


Australia Day
Australia Day is coming up, held on Monday January 26. With a wide range of special events held to celebrate the day, our guide can help you find something to do with plenty of free events and activities that you'll find in Melbourne and throughout the suburbs with many local councils offering events such as BBQ days, Ceremonies and more.
Adopt a Duck Today!


Upcoming Events
NEW LIVE CALENDAR
To find out about future events in Melbourne, have a look at our new calendar, with details about many more events that lie ahead, including Exhibitions, Gigs, Markets, Expos and more..
View Future Events on any day of the week
(Stupidly balmy nights notwithstanding!)



Special Ticket Giveaway
Circus Sunrise Spectacular is an action-packed show for all the family, currently showing at Water Front City, located under the Southern Star Ferris Wheel. With shows during School Holidays, the circus will be offering a stunning show by presenting a special Holiday Spectacular that will run until February 1. Circus Sunrise is a family circus with lineage going back to 1648!

Win a Family-Pass!!!
Courtesy of Circus Sunrise, OnlyMelbourne has FORTY family-passes to give away, with each Family Pass offering FREE entry for 2 Adults and 2 children!

For your chance to win one of the Family Passes to Circus Sunrise, simply email your name, address and contact details with 'OnlyMelbourne Tickets Giveaway' as the subject line.

To email your entry ---> Click Here to Enter Competition
Note: Family Passes are only valid for the week of January 26 (Australia Day) to February 1st, 2009.
Only Winners will be notified.



School Holiday Guide
School Holiday Guide for all the latest on what to do with the kids during the Summer School Holidays continuing through December and running until January 27 in 2009. The guide is Updated Weekly to highlight the best things to do over the holiday period for the young and young at heart, with events, tours and holiday care programs.. all in marvellous Melbourne!

Melbourne Zoo Twilights is a chance to enjoy music performed live at Melbourne Zoo. With performances held each Saturday and Sunday evening, the program runs until March 15, with this year's season boasting one of their best musical line-ups ever. Held on the zoo's concert lawn areas, each evening also includes selected species on display until 7.30pm.


South Side Funk features the funkiest DJ's from both Melbourne and interstate playing true old-school funk like you'll never find at any other venue. Held every Friday night at Big Mouth, located in St Kilda, South Side Funk is the hottest place in Melbourne for all you money-maker shakers. If you like to get down with groovy basslines then South Side Funk on Fridays is for you.


Comedy & Burlesque
The Australia Day Eve Comedy Debate, held this Saturday at Waterfront City in Docklands, kicks off the Australia Day weekend with music, laughter and a lively bit of comic sparring from Dave Grant, Claire Hooper, Dave O'Neil and other comedians. With Corinne Grant as MC, there'll also be a musical performance by the percussion group Tumbarumba.


I did it HER way is a light hearted view of a boy who lives in a woman's world with women's rules. A show that's all a joke until someone stands up and argues back, JC La Fontaine's production explores the feminist agenda and where he stands in the midst of it, using experiences he's had over the years with women in different environments such as the workplace.


Red Door Burlesque has returned to Melbourne with new shows held on the last Sunday of every month, offering the finest in burlesque, vaudeville and circus at the elegant Order of Melbourne in Swanston Street. This Sunday they'll have their grand opening to celebrate the long weekend in style with special guest Samantha Diamond from Sydney's Kiss Kill Cabaret.


Cinema
The St Kilda Openair Cinema, beginning this Thursday, offers an eclectic mix of live music and entertainment provided by local and national artists. Running until February 19, the cinema is held on the rooftop of St Kilda Sea Baths and features a diverse program that includes retro classics, family films, and even documentaries and shorts from film festivals.


The Rooftop Cinema flickers into action with film screenings held each week from Tuesday to Sunday. Screening everything from cult favourites to new releases and documentaries, it's the height of entertainment with screenings held on the rooftop of Curtin House, located in Swanston Street, offering night lights, classic cinema and the rooftop bar.


Moonlight Cinema is back, held at the Royal Botanic Gardens. With screenings running until March 15th, the open air cinema features a program that includes latest releases, contemporary films and cult classic movies. A great way to spend a night out with friends and family, you can bring your own picnic or purchase dinner and drinks at the cinema.

Live Music Guide Melbourne Venues and Gig guide.


Melbourne For Kids
Australia Day Pool Party - Celebrate Australia Day this Sunday at Queens Park Swimming Pool. On the special day the pool festivities will include a free BBQ, a jumping castle, lots of pool inflatables and even a live DJ performing. Located in Moonee Ponds, the Queens Park Outdoor Pool features a learners pool and a toddlers pool with frog slide and fully catered kiosk.


DinoStory | Sand Sculpting Exhibition - Sand Sculpting Australia will again present a special display at the Frankston Waterfront with their newest theme, DinoStory. Featuring the work of sculptors from Australia and overseas, the sand carvings will take the form of dinosaurs in stunning detail. The exhibition runs throughout the holidays.


The Wind in the Willows - Melbourne's favourite family entertainment is currently running, continuing its well-loved tradition of bringing the animals home to the Royal Botanic Gardens. Pack a picnic, pack the kids... and join Rat, Mole, Badger, Otter, Portly and, of course, Mr Toad, as they bring to life Kenneth Grahame's immortal story of life on the riverbank.


Amazing Antarctica - Melbourne Aquarium's amazing new Antarctica exhibit is open during the summer school holidays, offering a completely unique experience as Australia's only venue to feature sub-Antarctic penguins. Don't miss the daily penguin feeds where the keepers will help you discover more about the daily life of the Aquarium's newest residents!


Circus Shows
The Horseman From Snowy River is a show that brings Australia's love of horses to life with live performances held in Burnley Oval. A production of international horse master, Rene Gasser, his new show features some of the most beautiful horses in the world offering a stunning showcase of animal talent that also includes sheep and dogs. Shows are held Friday to Sunday.


Circus Sunrise Holiday Spectacular is an action-packed show for all the family, currently showing at Water Front City, located under the Southern Star Ferris Wheel. With special holiday shows held throughout the School Holidays, the circus will be presenting their Holiday Spectacular until February 1. Circus Sunrise is a true family circus with lineage going back to 1648!


Circus Oz has returned to Australia, following their successful tour of Italy, with limited shows during the Summer School Holidays. The Circus Oz show is a high-energy animal free spectacular, bursting with colour, comedy and breathtaking feats! They'll be appearing this Thursday, Friday and Saturday with special performances held at Frankston Arts Centre.


Puzzles & Competitions
Spot The Difference
There are 5 Differences between these two pictures of the Vintage Talking Tram in Bendigo... See if you can spot them! Sign up for answers revealed in Next Week's Newsletter


Last week's answers are further down with Melbourne Trivia
More on the Vintage Talking Tram | Learn More about Melbourne!


Competitions
Artz Blitz, held by Kingston Arts Centre is a 24-hour competition where entrants get the opportunity to create an artwork to a specific theme, exhibit in a dynamic exhibition and go into the running for over $3000 worth of prizes. With 180 places available for artists to pre-register, registrations close February 6 with the theme announced on 3RRR on later in February.


The Aussie Millions Poker Championship will be hitting Crown Casino next year in January, beginning 23 days of competition as poker players from the world over and across Australia try their hand (pun intended) at winning one of the world's biggest poker prizes. To play in an Aussie Millions event you must be a Crown Club member, so register soon if you plan to buy in.


Community
The Westgate Punt Service is a service that ferries people across the Yarra River, cyclists included. There grew a widespread belief that the punt was no longer operating, but this is simply not true, with the service still running today on weekends, Public Holidays and special days, making a fun link between the Bay Trail West bike trail to the Bay Trail.
More about the Westgate Punt Service


Yoga at the Park is an initiative of The Health and Yoga Council of Australia, presenting Yoga classes in some of Victoria's most beautiful parks and gardens. Set in a relaxed environment, classes are designed to suit many age groups and levels of experience with lessons held each Sunday morning at 10am in various public parks around Melbourne.


Speakers Forum | Soapbox Oratory - Every Sunday afternoon, soapbox orators (that means you if you have something to say) take turns speaking on various topics from differing viewpoints on the State Library Lawns. Questions, comments, heckling and interjections are welcome from all, simply turn up on the day to participate or hear what others have to say.


Dynamic Drawing Classes, held by Ron Curran, can help you discover your creative identity and find your power through drawing. Classes take place every week on Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings, held at Brunswick Street Gallery. Classes cost $18, with no need to book, and each class includes a model, music and facilitation provided on the day.


You Can Help
There are many social causes that are relevant to people from all walks of life, many of which rely on public support to better the community or assist those who are less fortunate or to benefit others. This week we ask you to consider the following..

The Great Australian Sunny Sizzle, presented by Interchange and held at Federation Square on 27th March, is a celebration to raise awareness of the needs of young people with a disability and their families. You can also hold a Sunny Sizzle BBQ at your workplace, school, sports club, or anywhere else, and help Interchange raise awareness of volunteering opportunities. 
➼ www.onlymelbourne.com.au


Update Page