Newsletter #208 | What's On Melbourne Newsletter #208 | What's On Melbourne

Welcome to this week's Melbourne events, exhibitions, sports and community guide for Tuesday to Monday, December 28 to January 3, 2011.

This week... the year is officially done and dusted with the be all and end all of celebrations on Melbourne's calendar, New Year's Eve! Among the many shindigs and shenanigans that are taking place in town, there's the City of Melbourne's very own soiree with a free family-friendly festival in Yarra Park.

You'll also find numerous music festivals that are eager to get busy with the boozin' and the schmoozin' with the likes of Falls Festival among them, offering several days of festivities leading up to the big night.

For those of a sporty bent, there's the Vodafone Ashes Live Site with free telecasts on a big screen where you can kick back on St Kilda Beach and enjoy the ongoing Boxing Day Test Match. Those of a realllllly sporty bent, can partake in the Infolio Portsea Twilight, a fun run held just two days after New Year's Eve. And more power to ya if you choose to have a stab at that one.

On a personal note, which I don't enter into often - recent exploits of lavatory freshener mishaps aside (see Newsletter #199 for that one) - this year's been one of many changes for myself. Readers of the Newsletter we published as last New Year's Eve loomed upon us might recall my proud declaration of having a lovely gal to smooch come Midnight.

Well, a year's now gone by and I'm more than proud to say I'm still with her, her two gorgeous children, and also my own wonderful teenage son who came to live with us at the start of the year and has since grown into a towering Shrek-like monolith who overshadows me at the goofily, awkward age of 14. Something I find obscenely wrong, especially when he refers to me as 'Midget' in public and asks, 'Can I keep him?' while patting me on the head.

During this year we've shared, my long-suffering partner and extended family has endured (at a guesstimate) twelve broken mugs, five broken plates, a bowl of oil wrongly placed in the cupboards so it could spill across one of my loved one's best tops, a mishap involving the well-meant cleaning of her daughter's tooth in preparation for the Tooth Fairy only to have said tooth fall down the sink drain, several inadvertent head-butts and a very broken fridge that was propped up by all manner of inefficient items that would have made MacGyver proud.

The majority of these tribulations have involved my partner walking in to find me on my knees, looking nervous as I either prop up a fridge, retrieve broken crockery or hastily disassemble kitchen pipes. So, needless to say, come the day I pop the question, I'll have to avoid an immediate panic by standing high above her on a chair, while looking nonchalant. I'll then ask her to be mine forever and point her to the kitchen sink where I'll have undoubtedly dropped the ring.

Why am I telling you all this? Because, in the year to come, my New Year's resolution is to step out from the shadows and be a bit more forthcoming with our Newsletter introductions. And quite a gamble it is, too, I'm finding.

With a year's worth of evidence mounted against me, I'll be the first to admit that I come with a greater dash of Jerry Lewis than a twist of Dean Martin. I'll be doing my best to emulate the latter, though, with a martini in hand come New Year's and my very patient gal by my side. And that, for me, is all I need for a wonderful New Year's Eve.

The point of all this is also that there's a lot that can happen through a year, and we're happy to have shared the year with you. OnlyMelbourne has gone through many changes, and we're pleased that you've come along with us for the ride. We also look forward to the year ahead and the many changes it may bring.

Have a very safe, happy and wonderful New Year's from the team @ OnlyMelbourne



Major Events
Port Fairy Moyneyana Festival, Victoria's longest running festival, is a community event that offers fun for the whole family with daily entertainment that includes historic tours, concerts and film screenings, camel rides, workshops and much more with many attractions and special events free.
When: December 22 to January 27


Australian Latvian Arts Festival, now in its 53rd year, takes place at various venues in Melbourne with a program that includes art exhibitions, theatre performances, folk dancing, choral concerts and Letts Celebrate! - a free and festive day for all ages at Elwood's Melbourne Latvian House.
When: December 26 to 31


Spirit of the Square presents a range of fabulous Christmas activities for the whole family at Federation Square. Mixing much-loved Christmas traditions with contemporary and often cheeky surprises, attractions include over 100 animal stencils, celebrations and a giant wishing penguin.
When: December 1 to 30


Film Festivals
Indian Melbourne Film Festival, held for the first time at the recently revamped cinema of India Talkies in Bourke Street, celebrates the best of Indian films with a program that goes beyond the Bollywood hype with movies that aim to bring people from various backgrounds together.
When: December 27 to January 2


Music & Arts Festivals
Falls Festival, held in the Otway rainforest above Lorne and Victoria's Great Ocean Road, features a spectacular natural amphitheatre playing host to some of the best musicians performing along with an Arts Village offering workshops, roving performers and stalls, food and more.
When: Wednesday to Saturday, Dec 29 to Jan 1


Pyramid Rock Festival, now celebrating seven years, is a huge event held on Phillip Island that celebrates the New Year with a line up of performers that includes the first Australian appearance of legendary 90s hip-hop group, Arrested Development, N*E*R*D and Little Red.
When: Wednesday to Saturday, Dec 29 to Jan 1


Betterdays returns to Carousel on Albert Park Lake with the ultimate boutique party experience. With reduced ticket numbers this time around, patrons will have a lot more elbow room and more VIP bars while enjoying a DJ line up that includes Junior Jack from Belgium and Alan Braxe.
When: Saturday January 1 - Doors open 1pm to 10pm


Day In The Vines, held at Rochford Winery, makes New Years Day an entertaining event with jazz performances, DJ's, commercial house and live bands spread over three arenas within the gorgeous vineyard. Along with a Fashion Area "Style Lab"the event includes group dance lessons.
When: Saturday January 1


Summadayze, a Melbourne institution since 1999 that has gone on to be a national event, kicks off the New Year with an enormous dance music party held at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl with a huge line up of performers and DJs that includes Miami Horror, Chromeo and Zombie Disco Squad.
When: Saturday January 1


Global Sound Festival, held at Shed 4 in Docklands, marks New Year's Day with a staggering line up compiled by of Melbourne's Best Clubs, Dj's And Promoters. Old School Bands, Burlesque Performers and guest International DJs will perform in massive inside and outside areas along the water.
When: Saturday January 1


New Year's Eve
City of Melbourne New Year's Eve Celebrations presents the annual fireworks spectacular along with entertainment on offer throughout the city with highlights that include the free Family Festival at Yarra Park with a free concert, activities and guests that include Guy Sebastion and Yo Gabba Gabba.
When: New Year's Eve - Friday December 31


New Orleans | New Years Eve @ Longroom
NYE @ Platform28 
➼ www.onlymelbourne.com.au

➼ Events Calendar - Find out Whats On any day of the week!



Update Page