Newsletter | #110 | What's On this Week Newsletter | #110 | What's On this Week

Welcome to this week's Melbourne events, exhibitions, sports and community guide for February 9 - February 15, 2009.

This week.. There's no end of special events to celebrate Valentine's Day for all the lucky lovebirds, while single folk and those who embrace all things platonic can find their own fun with some great music festivals including Sunday Sounds, a special day of performances to raise money for Kew's Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre.

There's also the Homestead Blues Festival offering a day of some of the finest blues and jazz music, and you can also feast your eyes on the Writers at the Convent festival, celebrating our love of books with a wide range of special events.

Melbourne's newest music venue the Melbourne Recital Centre continue their weeklong program of concerts, while those who missed the Whittlesea Country Music Festival due to the tragic bushfires can make their way to Albury this weekend with all tickets available for use at the Kinross Country Muster.

Special Announcement
We'd like you to consider the first and most important mention in our newsletter about how you can show your support to those who have been affected by the tragic fires seen over the last weekend. You'll find information about how to donate to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal and also how to show your support in many other ways.

We here at OnlyMelbourne would also like to express our deep remorse for those who have suffered great losses in this tragedy and also our equally deep respect and awe for the overwhelming generosity that all Australians have shown to those less fortunate.

Victorian Bushfire Appeal | To Donate Phone 1800 811 700
In the wake of the devastating fires this weekend, the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund has been launched to support communities impacted by devastating fires which have ravaged many parts of Victoria. To donate to the fund through Red Cross visit www.redcross.org.au or call 1800 811 700 toll free.
For more about how to help Visit Here

NEWSLETTER
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

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

Get your copy of What's On this Week!


Major Events Guide
Sunday Sounds at the Royal Talbot is a fabulous day of live music held this Sunday to raise awareness and funds for the Creative Therapies Service at the Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre in Kew. The event is free with $2 donation parking, and there'll be performers including Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter and also kids' activities, a market stall and much more.


Writers at the Convent returns this year, celebrating Melbourne's love of reading, writing, books and ideas. Along with showcasing literature from many genres and for all ages, the festival also explores subjects as diverse as our iconic food culture, global politics, climate change, life-changing travel and more. It runs from Friday to Sunday at Abbotsford Convent.


The Homestead Blues Festival, held Sunday at the historic Point Cook Homestead, features gourmet food, wine and free children's activities along with international and leading local blues acts that include Michael Charles, Jimi Hocking's Blues Machine and the Andrea Marr Band. Presented by the Rotary Club of Laverton Point Cook, all proceeds go to charitable causes.


The Melbourne Recital Centre is celebrating its opening as Melbourne's most exciting, newest music venue with a week-long festival of concerts that runs until Saturday with two concerts nightly. There will also be an Open Day held on Sunday with family activities and a chance to explore the venue with events offering interaction between performers and the public.


IMPORTANT NOTE - The Whittlesea Country Music Festival was unfortunately cancelled due to the fires last Saturday and all campers were evacuated and are safe after committee members helped evacuated campers. Due to the cancellation of the festival you are entitled to use your tickets at the Kinross Country Muster held this weekend - MORE DETAILS BELOW...


The Kinross Country Muster, held this weekend from Friday to Sunday, sees some of Australia's most popular Country Music performers featuring in a huge line-up of stars at Albury-Wodonga's Kinross Woolshed Hotel. Beccy Cole again headlines the event along with other stars of Australian country including the iconic Chad Morgan. Kids under 18 are admitted free.


The Hot Sauce & Fiery Foods Festival, held this weekend at the Redback Chilli Co farm in Jindivick, focuses on the Australian Chilli Culture in a stunning outdoors location in rural Victoria, just a stone's throw away from Melbourne. Now Australia's longest running Chilli festival, it also showcases Gourmet Food and Boutique Beers and offers live music and kids' activities.

Note: Due to the recent bushfires, this festival is still set to go ahead but the organisers request that all traffic come from the Warragul township and turn left on to the Jindivick/Neerim South Road as you come into Neerim South. Check Website for more details closer to event date at www.hsfff.com



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



Exhibitions - Art | Festival | Show
Sugar and Spice and All Things Nice is a one-night only exhibition that will be held this Saturday at Gallery 696 in Brunswick. With not a snip, snail or puppy dog's tail in sight, the exhibition is a charming display of some sweet feminine art with works by artists Bec Winnel and Kate Lightfoot who share a passion to send a little love and beauty back into the world.


Cell, by Fiona Dalwood, is her latest exhibition of digital art photography that follows her previous shows 'Bound' and 'Nasty' by continuing her exploration of tactile history, documenting prisons. Featuring images that include San Francisco's infamous Alcatraz and Ararat's historic J-Ward Asylum and Gaol, it opens Wednesday at 69 Smith Street Gallery.


Rainforest Rescue will be holding an Art Auction this Saturday, with proceeds assisting the not for profit organisation in maintaining their protection and restoration programs. Held as part of the Caspar Brace exhibition, there will also be works from over 30 well-known and emerging artists on display and up for auction. Admission is $10 and the auction is open to all.


Explorations is the result of a collaborative project that sees the winners of Frankston's 2008 Six degrees competition have their work exhibited at Dandenong's Walker Street Gallery. Open until February 24, the show features the work of Carolyn Henry who explores human emotions through body language and Georgie Zuzak's explorations of urban and industrial themes.


Far to Here, beginning Wednesday at Fortyfivedownstairs, is a photographic exhibition by Kabir Dhanji that documents the lives of Darfuri people in Sudan. Capturing the lives of Darfuri people who fled the conflict in Sudan, while Darfuri youth capture their day-to-day experiences in Australia on their own cameras, the resulting images span continents and generations.


Sketchel vs 696 is an exhibition that celebrates the Launch of the second series of Sketchel, customised art satchels, which has teamed up with Brunswick's Gallery 696 to introduce over 50 new designs of the satchel bags. With designs by local, national and international artists such as Aida Sabic, the exhibition will run until next Wednesday.


The Chinese Museum will be celebrating the Chinese New Year in February with a special exhibition of a photo series that documents the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Domestic Torch Relay's impact on a nation of 1.3 billion Chinese. The photos by Katrina de Jersey, the only Australian to accompany the Flame to 112 cities in China, will be on display until February 27.


Minuscule/Massive/En Masse is an exhibition at Hand Held, a gallery in Bourke Street specialising in artist made books and items. Running all month, the exhibition is a playful display based on the experimental text 'Alley Cat Nomad', an unpublished novel by Adrian Lawson, using different formats, sizes and techniques to present the one book.


Lily Mae Martin is currently showing her self-titled exhibition, held at the Fitzroy gallery, Unpretentiously Underground. Running throughout February, her exhibition explores the tension of personal relationships between families, friends and partners with portraits drawing inspiration from everything from cartoons and contemporary comics to pre-renaissance fine art.


Max Dupain on Assignment is an exhibition that features many never seen before works by the late and legendary Australian photographer, Max Dupain, whose government work from the National Archives and Noel Butlin Archives Centre collections will be showcased with over 60 examples of Dupain's work. It runs until May at the Victorian Archives Centre in North Melbourne.


The Cunningham Dax Collection is currently showcasing two exhibitions, Beyond the Three Trees and Healing Childhood Trauma. With over 12,000 works by people who've experienced mental illness or psychological trauma, the Collection in Parkville is dedicated to the ethical exhibition of these works, using art to raise awareness of public mental health education.


Speaking for the Ordinary Man, now showing at St Kilda's Jewish Museum of Australia, is an exhibition of sculptures by Charles Aisen, a tinsmith whose sculptures trace not only his own life journey but that of many Jews who settled in Australia. His touching works evoke the traditional world of pre-war Poland and the immigrant experience in Carlton.


The Water Hole is an exhibition by Swiss artists Gerda Steiner and Jörg Lenzlinger, who have created a stunning ecological fantasy-world in the main gallery of the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art. Bringing together made and found objects to create extravagant, magical installations that are full of allegory and beauty, the exhibition will run until March 1st.


Launches & Seminars
Free Roses & Catwalk at Flinders Street - This Valentine's Day there will be 1,000 red roses given out free at Flinders Street Station. Perfect for anyone feeling left out this weekend, or even saddled with a blithe partner, the free giveaway is part of the launching event for Eternal Bridal Gowns & Accessories and it starts at 2pm with a catwalk session every hour until 7pm.


Celebrate Library Lover's Day is a special Author Talk held at Doncaster Library this Valentine's Day on Saturday where you can come along to meet fantasy romance authors Narrelle Harris and Keri Arthur and find out what Libraries, Vampires and Valentine's Day have in common. The discussion takes place at 2:30pm and is free, however bookings are required.


DANCE101 will be launching their newest Salsa Night this Friday at the Docklands bar, Fix. The beginning of what will be a monthly event at the venue, the evening includes champagne on arrival, a two course dinner, live bands playing Latin music and a performance by some of Melbourne's finest dancers following your own warm up dance class.


Evolution - The Experience is a special series of lectures, theatre, film and more that commemorates the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin and the 150th anniversary of the publication of The Origin of Species. Running until Friday the program explores Darwin's ongoing and far-reaching impact with events that use a broad range of media.


Performances & Theatre
Skin, a performance taking place at St Kilda's Theatreworks, is a mix of contemporary and modern dance driven by 10 exceptional dancers, who bring to the show their own unique styles and talents. Directed and choreographed by Robert Sturrock, the show showcases the talents of the Melbourne contemporary dance community. It runs from Thursday to Saturday.


Burn This, playing from Thursday to Sunday at Chapel Off Chapel, is a play by Lanford Wilson explores the disruption and revelations that four people are left with in the wake of the accidental death of a man named Robbie. Set in the bohemian art world of downtown New York, the vivid and challenging drama will be running until March 1.


InHarmony, presented by SLAMS Music Theatre, is a show inspired by some of the great ensemble numbers rarely performed in concert format, including music from Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, Spring Awakening, The Lion King, and more. With tabled seating and with food and drink available, it runs until Saturday at Knox Community Arts Centre.


The Taming of the Shrew is a fun night of Shakespeare Under The Stars with Glenn Elston's wildly entertaining production of the Bard's classic play. A story of a relationship that starts with fire and brimstone but leads to deep love and admiration, performances are being held at the Royal Botanic Gardens, with shows running each week from Tuesday to Saturday.


Billy Elliot the Musical is now playing at Her Majesty's Theatre. Based on the cult film, the stage production features music by Elton John and follows the journey of a young boy in a small mining town who stumbles across a ballet class while on his way to a boxing lesson, and realises that his future lies not in the boxing ring, as his father hoped, but on stage as a dancer.


Wicked, based on Gregory Maguire's novel, is the hit musical that tells the untold story of the legendary witches from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. When Dorothy famously triumphed in Oz, we only ever heard one side of the story. Now playing at the Regent Theatre, the creative team that brings the story to life includes many of Broadway's most celebrated talent.


Classical Performances
Cry Baby Classical Concerts, organised by 3MBS 103.5FM Classically Melbourne and the City of Yarra, offer parents and children the chance to enjoy classical music. With a performance held this Monday at Malvern Town Hall, entry is by Gold Coin donation. Music for children will be performed live on the day by a variety of local classical musicians.


Entertainment & Nightlife
Kate Vigo will be returning to the popular venue, Manchester Lane this week for one night only when she performs this Thursday night. Performing the jazz tunes that have always captivated her audiences, she'll be supported by Rosaline Yuen and Lydia Phillips who'll be singing the sweet folk pop tunes that have earned her rave reviews. Performances start at 8.30pm.


Leonard Cohen will be performing this Tuesday night at Rod Laver Arena with tickets still available but selling fast in the wake of his sell-out concert held last Thursday. Having seen last Thursday's show, I highly recommended it, with Cohen proving himself to be one of this generation's most amicable and generous performers, now at the seasoned age of 74.


The Good Vibrations Festival, held this Sunday at The Nursery in Flemington Racecourse, brings together the finest beat-based party music from around the world with standout performers that include Fatboy Slim, The Presets and many others in an impressive line up. With an unforgettable party atmosphere the festival is one of the key Summer events.


The Fairfield Amphitheatre Summer Concert Series, held this Sunday in Fairfield Park is a free event that will begin at 5pm. Held each Sunday in February, the concerts showcase musical performances from many backgrounds with Sunday's performance including the costumed dance of Mahindra Bali. The day is BYO but refreshments will also be on sale on the day.


Leticia will be performing every Thursday night throughout February at Bar Nancy in High Street, Northcote. Appearing along with special guests each week, Leticia's performances will include her new single 'Behind your smile' from her forthcoming album "Fallen Angels"a genre-defying collection that showcases her crystal-clear voice and songs that can inspire and uplift.


Donna & The Aspinauts - Renowned Australian performer, Donna Williams, will perform with Victoria's first autism-spectrum band The Aspinauts this Saturday as part of the Upwey RSL's 90th anniversary on Valentines Day. With a vocal delivery reminiscent of Laurie Anderson, the band performs a blend of styles with video backdrops and gestural signing.


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.


Roar Sounds is a series of live music events, held at Melbourne Zoo every Thursday evening in February. An event held for people of all ages, Roar Sounds takes place at the zoo's open-air arena and you're able to bring your own food and drink while you enjoy the cruisy summer sounds with this week's performance including the bands Wolf & Cub and Van She.


Valentine's Day Events
Naughty Night Out will be hosting a Valentine's Party this Saturday at Mirrors Lounge Bar in Fitzroy. A cocktail party for couples who want to have a fun and exciting night out, the evening includes sexy, sassy entertainment with burlesque shows, red hot Latin dance performers, lingerie fashion parades, a Naughty Trivia Competition and even a dancing lesson.


Street Science Aerosol Workshop - Street Science is a free monthly workshop where kids and teens can learn the art of legal aerosol art with the Street Science team, some of the most talented, experienced and friendliest of the Australian hip-hop community. The aerosol art session takes place the 2nd Wednesday of each month at The Venue in Noble Park.


Hocus Pocus - Science and physics become mere playthings as the world of magic, with all its baroque, buoyant charm, comes to City Museum. Proving that magic is in Melbourne's blood, the exhibition shows how our city has radiated with wonder and possibility since its streets were first paved with gold, featuring souvenirs, tools, artworks and more dating back to the 1850s.


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 take the form of dinosaurs in stunning detail. The popular exhibition will be running until April 26.


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.


Puzzles & Competitions
Spot The Difference
There are 5 Differences between these two pictures of one of the view at night from the 19th Century Portable Iron Houses in South Melbourne... 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 Portable Iron Houses | Learn More about Melbourne!


Competitions
The Melbourne Amazing Race will be returning to Melbourne for the 10th time on March 14th, and all Melburnians are invited to register now to enter and compete in the charity event that's inspired by the hit TV show of the same name. Raising funds for the Royal Children's Hospital, there will also be fantastic prizes up for grabs in the unique event.


Community
Welcome to Melbourne, held as part of the Newcomers Network's events, is a free informal social event held on the Second Friday of every month. All people are welcome to attend, but in particular, the event encourages people who have moved to Melbourne from intrastate, interstate or overseas to make new friends. It's held at the Rendezvous Hotel on Flinders Street.


Beginning Your Family History - The Genealogical Society of Victoria is holding a seminar this Tuesday about how to use the society's resources and the Internet to discover more about your family history. Covering births, deaths, shipping records and much more, it begins at 10am at their centre in Collins Street. Entry is $30 for members and $40 for non-members.


The Atheist Society is an organisation for those who accept that there is no credible scientific or factually reliable evidence for the existence of a god, gods or the supernatural. The Atheist Society will be holding a free public lecture this Tuesday at East Melbourne's Unitarian Hall. Followed by questions and discussion, the event is free and will begin at 8pm.


Melbourne Tigers Home Game
Melbourne Tigers vs Townsville Crocodiles

Wednesday 11 February
Game starts at 7:30pm
State Netball & Hockey Centre, Parkville


Go Karting
The 2009 Victorian Open Sprint Kart Championships will take place this week at the club racing track of the Eastern Lions Kart Club, running from Friday to Sunday. The racing track of the Eastern Lions Kart Club is located at The Hume International Raceway on Tooborac Road in Puckapunyal, located approximately eight kilometres from Seymour.


Melbourne Tours
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Last Week's Puzzle Answers
Spot The Difference
Here are the 5 Differences in last week's picture of Southgate Complex...

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