Newsletter | #258 | What's On this Week Newsletter | #258 | What's On this Week

Welcome to this week's Melbourne events, exhibitions, sports and community guide for Tuesday to Monday, December 13 to 19.

This week... It's still a tad quiet, what with Christmas thick in the air, so all we really have is the Oromo Community Festival at Federation Square with a vibrant celebration of African culture. All else bears the distinct shine of tinsel, so I apologise to any Scrooges out there.

I also apologise for the newsletter being out later than it should be, a good deal of the night was spent piecing together what we hope is a Holiday Guide that'll help get you through the upcoming hullabaloo of all things children. Be sure to keep an eye on it, because there are a great many more events to come.

Truth be told, with all things Christmas at the moment, I can now appreciate the concept of the many 'Santa's Helpers' you'll find scattered throughout Melbourne. I could have done with some carbon copy helpers myself over the weekend while wrestling with numerous presents, not to mention my turn at kinder duty.

At best, my other self could have taken a bullet for me and grazed the leftovers from snack time in my stead. Never again shall I make such an error. There's a reason why gloves are required in food preparation.. it's just a shame it's not a two way street.

Oh the folly... The gastonomic folly!



OnlyMelbourne Welcomes
Each week we highlight some of the new business and event listings in the OnlyMelbourne Events Calendar and Business and Services directory.

The Comedy Magic Show, held at La Mama Theatre in Carlton, is a fun performance by Luke Hocking, one of Melbourne's leading professional magicians. Packed with amazing magic and illusions, the show even features magic with a mind reading raccoon puppet!
When: Saturday & Sunday, January 7 & 8


Christmas Guides & Events
ISCW Christmas Carnival, presented by Werribee's Italian Sports Club, is a great family day with free attractions that include go karts, an animal farm, bouncing castle and a special visit from Santa. There'll also be food stalls, exotic car shows on display and an undercover market.
When: Sunday December 18 - 11am Onwards


Spirit of the Square presents fabulous Christmas activities for the whole family at Federation Square. Mixing much-loved Christmas traditions with contemporary and cheeky surprises, attractions include a forest of 150 Christmas trees, live music, free family portraits and community choirs.
When: December 1 to 30


Melbourne's BEST Christmas Lights, our guide to the best Christmas Lights in town has now been running for 11 years. With our popular site, Christmas Lights Melbourne, you can also list your own lights or any others you know of in your area for FREE!!
Visit Christmas Lights Melbourne


Christmas Carols Guide - With Christmas approaching, you'll find many events across Victoria that include not only the traditional Carols by Candlelight, but also plenty of fun and attractions for the children before the big sing-a-long, with most Carol events free to attend.
View OnlyMelbourne's Christmas Carols Guide


School Holiday Guides
Check out our School Holiday Guide for the latest on what to do with the kids during Summer Holidays. The holiday guide offers a great range of activities for the young and young at heart, with events, tours, workshops, concerts and holiday programs.. all in marvellous Melbourne!
School Holiday Guide - Dec 22 to Feb 1


Melbourne Playgrounds is an online guide to thousands of Melbourne activities and playgrounds for the entire family. With extensive information about play centres, playgrounds, sports parks and more, you'll also find many free activities to entertain the kids over the holidays.
More about Melbourne Playgrounds



Major Events
Oromo Community Festival, held at Federation Square, celebrates Oromo in the North East of Africa with food stalls, jewellery and fashion displays and live performances. Along with an Oromia Coffee Ceremony, there'll be informative displays about the Oromo culture.
When: Sunday December 18 - 3pm to 7pm


Upcoming Events
St Andrews Christmas Twilight Festival, held at St Andrews Community Market, features live entertainment for the whole family with a roaming clown, a light show, and a fantastic range of food and gift stalls along with a visit from Santa arriving on a CFA fire truck.
When: Tuesday December 20 - 4pm to Late


Exhibitions - Art | Festival | Show
Oasis, held at Dianne Tanzer Gallery in Fitzroy, is Eugenia Lim's exhibition which explores the hikikomori - Japanese ''shut-ins'' who suffer social phobia. Estimated at about 700,000, mostly male, Lim explores the phenomenon with elements of video, installation and lightboxes.
When: Until December 23 - Closed Sundays


Images of Home, held at Melbourne's fortyfivedownstairs, is a multi-channel sound installation created by sound artist, Angela Grant, using samples provided by students of Officer Primary School, who used digital recorders to capture the sounds of their environment.
When: Tuesday to Saturday, December 13 to 17


Dog, presented at the Art Gallery of Ballarat, is an exhibition of new drawings by Peter Aldrich. Referring to the Australian colloquial use of the word in describing any man who is untrustworthy and unlikeable, his works explore inappropriate and harmful masculine behaviour.
When: Until January 22


Picture This City, held at Incinerator Gallery in Moonee Ponds, explores the history of Moonee Valley through images captured by local photographers over the past 150 years with artist Elizabeth Gertsakis revealing past lifestyles through photographic collages and multi-media.
When: Until February 26 - Closed Mondays


The Art of Star Wars, held at Armadale's Silver K Gallery, is the largest Star Wars Exhibition ever presented in Australia. With works by some of the finest artists and illustrators, commissioned by Lucas Films, the exhibition recaptures classic scenes and themes from Star Wars
When: Until January 29 - Entry Applies


The Ecstasy of Infrastructure, held at TarraWarra Museum of Art in Healesville, is an exhibition by Sam Leach, whose works offer a recontextualisation of elements that have been drawn from selected paintings by Ralph Balson and Edwin Tanner from the TWMA collection.
When: Until March 4


Summer Salon Group Show brightens up the normally quiet gallery period with Collingwood Gallery, now eleven years old, presenting its first group show with artworks being sold 'off the wall' during the show with new works replacing sold pieces throughout the exhibition.
When: December 9 to January 22 - Closed Sundays
Note: Also Closed between Christmas Day & New Year's Day


2112: Imagining the Future, held at Melbourne's RMIT Gallery, explores what the world may look like 100 years from today. Featuring works by Philip Brophy, Debbie Symons, Sam Leach and others, International and Australian artists reveal both uncertainty and hope.
When: Until January 28 - Closed Sundays


Monoculare, showing at Chapel Off Chapel in Prahran, reveals the creative vision and accomplishments of graduates of NMIT's Diploma in Photoimaging with each talented and emerging photographer having brought together a large body of work to an impressive conclusion.
When: Until December 18


Figures in Geometry is a photographic exhibition combining the works of Robert Young and Andrew Wurster, whose compositions with the camera are influenced by disciplines drawn from painting and drawing. The works are on display at Melbourne restaurant, Sotto e Sopra.
When: Until January 15


Tim Handfield, who has been working at the forefront of new photographic printing processes since the late 70s, will exhibit at Wheelers Hill's Monash Gallery of Art with works that trace how his documentary practice has developed alongside changes in photographic printing.
When: Until January 22 - Closed Mondays


As Modern as Tomorrow, presented at the State Library of Victoria, collects the works of photographers in postwar Melbourne. The exhibition offers a unique insight into the changing social fabric of Melbourne as captured on film with images taken between the 1930s and the 1960s.
When: Until February 5 - Open Daily


Colour Study, held at Prahran's one hundredth gallery, is an exhibition of works by Tony Edelman, an artist who uses colour and abstraction to capture many elements around him, and Tina Alesi, whose works are a vibrant exploration of the use of colours and where it takes her.
When: November 30 to December 18 - Wed to Sun


Pattern Spill, one of two exhibitions held at Karen Woodbury Gallery in Richmond, features a range of small-scale objects created by Lionel Bawden, whose works use vibrantly coloured pencils that are fused together and then sculpted to form shapes that convey movement and flux.
When: Until December 17 - Wedensdays to Saturdays


Made in Hollywood, presented by Bendigo Art Gallery, is an exhibition of photographs drawn from the archive of the John Kobal Foundation, the legacy of the film historian and collector. Over 90 images capture portraits of Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Clark Gable and other greats.
When: December 3 to February 12


View More Exhibitions


Expos, Launches, Open Days & Lectures
Melbourne Sports Hub on Show marks the opening of Lakeside Stadium at Albert Park's Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre with a weekend of activities and attractions that include the Zatopek:10 athletics event, a treasure hunt, football matches, fantastic prizes and giveaways.
When: Saturday & Sunday, December 10 & 11


More Expos & Launches | More Open Days | Dorothy the Dinosaur's Rockin' Christmas is a fun live show filled with beautiful music and dancing as everyone's favourite dinosaur meets the man in red from the North Pole when he turns up to her surprise Christmas party. It's held at Pakenham's Cardinia Cultural Centre.
When: Friday December 16 - 10am


The Nutcracker Christmas Projections give State Library of Victoria a colourful makeover with the classic Christmas tale shown through brightly coloured animations, cast upon the exterior of the building. Free to view, the projections offer an engaging night out for the family.
When: Until December 24 - 9pm to Late


Scuba Santa will be making special visits in the world famous Fish Bowl of Melbourne Aquarium, spreading Christmas cheer for all even while surrounded by sharks, stingrays, turtles, and hundreds of other marine animals during the daily Dive Feed.
When: Until December 25


Christmas @ City Square, renamed Christmas Square during December, brings seasonal cheer to Melbourne with a magical forest of living trees where children can visit Santa in his house, discover nutcracker soldiers, giant presents, a traditional Nativity scene and more.
When: Until December 24
Also See: Santa's Post Box - Until December 17
Also See: Santa in City Square - Until December 24


The Christmas Show, appearing at various venues, brings the magic of Christmas to life with a live stage show packed with excitement. Presented by Ready Set Go, the exciting show stars Santa himself, along with Mrs Claus and a host of loveable Christmas characters.
When: December 6 to 18 - Various Venues


Gingerbread Village, presented at Melbourne Town Hall, is a special attraction by Epicure's award-winning pastry chefs, who'll be constructing a village made entirely of gingerbread. With kids' activities and plenty of treats, entry is by gold coin donation to Starlight Children's Foundation
When: December 1 to 24


Santa Special on Puffing Billy presents a delightfully decorated steam-hauled train that allows Santa to meet as many families as possible with the jolly fellow himself at Emerald to hand a present to each child whilst Santa's helpers provide adults with tasty refreshments.
When: Saturdays Until December 17


Circus
Silvers Grand Magic Circus will be holding performances at Burnley Oval. Established in 1976, Silvers Grand Magic Circus offers a great show for people of all ages with performers including everything from jugglers and clowns to acrobats, international performers and more.
When: Until December 18


Markets, Fetes and Fairs
Melbourne Market Guide
View MARKETS calendar to make the most of the rare sunny days (it's a coin toss, isn't it!) and head to one of Melbourne's many excellent markets for a bargain!

A growing number of food, produce and even wine markets are springing up around the suburbs.

Fetes Fairs & Shows
Art & Craft Markets
Food & Produce Markets
Swap Meets
Garage Sales


Wining & Dining
bookarestaurant.com
bookarestaurant.com is the easiest way to book a restaurant online. With the choice to search by cuisine and location, you can find great dining offers with some of Melbourne's finest restaurants. Bookings are free and can be made online at any time of the day.
Book a Restaurant Today


Sporting Events
Cricket
Big Bash League Twenty20

Melbourne Stars vs Sydney
Saturday December 17
Melbourne Cricket Grounds (MCG)


Soccer | Hyundai A-League
Hyundai A-League - Week 11

Melbourne Victory v Wellington Phoenix
Sunday December 18 - 5pm
AAMI Park, Melbourne


Golf
Australian Masters Golf Tournament, held at Victoria Golf Club in Cheltenham, attracts some of the world's best golfers who will again compete for the coveted Gold Jacket, with players including Luke Donald, Ian Poulter and the defending champion, Stuart Appleby.
When: Thursday to Sunday, December 15 to 18


Cycling
Australian Madison Championships brings together some of the best young cyclists from around Australia. Held at Darebin International Sports Centre in Thornbury, the night will also include the Melbourne Cup on Wheels Final and finals of the Victorian State Keirin Championships.
When: Saturday December 17


7 Peaks Alpine Ascent Challenge is a chance for riders of all levels to take on the peaks of Victoria's High Country to win a trip to next year's Tour de France. With climbs in Mt Baw Baw, Dinner Plain and other areas, riding four of the seven courses puts you in the running.
When: Until March 31


Community Sports
Albert parkrun is a FREE weekly 5km event for runners of all standards, which takes place every week in Albert Park, offers an opportunity for people of all backgrounds and ages to come together on a regular basis to enjoy this beautiful park and get physically active into the bargain.
When: Saturdays, 8am - FREE but Registration Required


View More Sports Events


Let Melbourne Know...
Advertise Your School Fete, Fair or Carnival FREE!
Everyone wants to support their local school by going to their annual fundraiser. Last year we promoted a whopping 1,200 school events. So, make sure you let your school organizers know they can list their fete, fair or carnival for FREE @ OnlyMelbourne!
Add Your Event for FREE Today!!


Trivia & Humour
Shaggy Dog


Shaggy Dog by Deej - Click Here to find what happens!


Melbourne She Wrote..
The world's first female detective thriller writer was Mrs Fortune and she was published during 1871 in Melbourne under her nom-de-plume 'W.W'.

Her book was called, The Detective's Album: Recollections of an Australian Police Officer.

More World Firsts in Melbourne.. | Read Melbourne Trivia...


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What's On this Week is an email overview and reminder of the (too many to mention) events happening this week in Melbourne.

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