Newsletter | #268 | What's On this Week Newsletter | #268 | What's On this Week

Welcome to this week's Melbourne events, exhibitions, sports and community guide for Tuesday to Monday, February 21 to 27, 2012.

This week... we seem to have hit the veritable jackpot in regards to festivals. With music well and truly covered, there's the Rhythm & Vines Festival along with Between the Bays. On the foodie front, the ever popular Picnic at Hanging Rock returns for yet another year. There's also many a culture to be celebrated with festivals showcasing Greek and Egyptian traditions, while Geelong's Pako Festa casts a wide net, celebrating cultural diversity itself.

On the more local side of affairs, it's that time of year again when civic pride rears its festive banner with a great many community festivals to enjoy. Anyone inclined to hop on that bandwagon can feel free to display some community spirit by bravely crawling into the wall-space of my house to help me figure out what's left its litter in there.

Nearest I can tell, it sounds like an unruly mob that consists of a baby bird, a kitten, a frog, and going by the constant hungry noise they all make, possibly a teenager. That last one's a stretch, though... unlike my son, these critters do in fact thankfully shush when I loudly put my foot down.



Major Events
Western Port Festival, held on Hastings Foreshore, has something for people of all ages with a vibrant Street Parade, food stalls and fireworks displays. Free to attend, there's also the Art & Artisans Show, car and boat shows, carnival rides and watersports for kids.
When: Friday to Sunday, February 24 to 26


Antipodes Festival sees festivities take over Melbourne's Lonsdale Street Greek Precinct to celebrate all things Greek. Free to attend, the festival will feature two main stages showcasing the talents of local and international acts, food stalls, children's entertainment and more.
When: Saturday & Sunday, February 25 & 26


Pako Festa, held in Geelong, is the largest free celebration of Australia's cultural diversity with something for people from all walks of life. Bringing together the art, music and food of many backgrounds, the festival features workshops, performances, films, craft displays and activities.
When: Saturday February 26


Craigieburn Festival is a free community celebration with a vibrant carnival and circus atmosphere. Along with children's activities and car displays, festival highlights include the CFA Torchlight Parade, Craigieburn Art Show, live music, a fireworks spectacular and more.
When: Saturday & Sunday, February 25 & 26


Selandra Rise Better Living Festival, held at Clyde North's new residential community, offers a great day out for the family with attractions the include healthy food and beverage stalls and fun carnival activities such as face painting, a jumping castle, live music and roving characters.
When: Saturday February 25 - 12pm to 4pm


Ashburton Festival celebrates the best of what the suburb can offer with its main street transformed for a family-friendly day of exciting activities. Fun and always different, the Ashburton Festival features live entertainment, free 'come and try' activities, trader stalls and rides.
When: Sunday February 26


Clayton Street Festival has entertainment for the whole family with cultural performances held across three stages. Now in its 9th year, along with workshops, roving performers, interactive activities and community information stalls, there's also the Youth Zone and Enviro Zone.
When: Sunday February 26 - 12pm to 6pm


Egyptian Festival, held at Queen Victoria Market, celebrates the culture and traditions of this fascinating country with traditional Egyptian music performances and fantastic food. Presented by the Friendship Australian Egyptian Association, there'll also be a great range of stalls.
When: Sunday February 26


Moonee Valley Festival offers great entertainment for the whole family with market stalls, roving performers, four entertainment stages with live music, delectable food stalls and even displays that include the City West Water Eco Tent will feature gardening guru Vasili.
When: Sunday February 26


Melbourne Bikefest returns with a bigger program that celebrates bikes as part of everyday life with a program of attractions and satellite events that incorporate the fun and philosophies of biking with fashion, film, workshops, social events, competitions and much more.
When: February 17 to March 17 - Various Venues
My Bike Project: Saturday February 25
Bikefest Village Picnic: Saturday March 10
Bike Runway: Thursday February 15
BikeFest BMX jam: Saturday March 17


Sustainable Living Festival offers great attractions, workshops, seminars and special events held across Melbourne to highlight how to help protect the environment. It features the Big Weekend at Federation Square with market stalls, entertainment and more.
When: February 11 to 26


Ventana Latina Fiesta, held at various venues in Frankston, celebrates Latin American culture with a range of activities that include art workshops, special film screenings, public forums and more leading up to Ventana Street Fiesta, showcasing global music, market stalls and food.
Ventana Arte: 31 January to 19 March
Ventana Cultura: 28 February to 29 March
Ventana Film Festival: March 2 & 3
Ventana Musica: March 16
Ventana Street Fiesta: March 17


Food & Wine Festivals
Harvest Picnic at Hanging Rock embraces Victoria's love of food and wine by showcasing over 100 small producers who will present their delicious array of goods. Held at Hanging Rock Reserve, the day includes live music, fun activities for kids and cooking demonstrations.
When: Sunday February 26 - 9am to 5pm


Music & Arts Festivals
National Play Festival showcases the best in new Australian playwriting with a curated season of the most exciting new Australian plays from around the country. Held at the Malthouse Theatre in Southbank, there are also special presentations, discussions and industry symposia.
When: Wednesday to Saturday, February 22 to 25


Between the Bays Music Festival, held in Moorooduc, returns for its 7th year with a family friendly atmosphere of food and music. With an eclectic line up of performers for people of all ages, guests include Mark Seymour, CUSTARD, The Fuzzbirds and Lah Lah's BIG Live Band.
When: Saturday February 25


Rhythm & Vines Festival, held at Rochford winery in the Yarra Valley, offers an entertaining day with great food and wine and a combination of live music and vineyard D.J's spread over two main arenas with International R&B singer Aaron Deponce performing.
When: Sunday February 26


Herring Island Summer Arts Festival offers exhibitions every weekend at the Herring Island Environmental Sculpture Park in Toorak. Accessible by boat with a punt service, the arts festival includes special artists' demonstrations, talks, workshops, activities and more.
When: January 14 to April 1 - Weekends


Exhibitions - Art | Festival | Show
Self-conscious: Contemporary Portraiture, held at East Caulfield's Monash University, explores some of the many ways in which artists approach contemporary portraiture and represent different modes of identity. Featured artists include Donna Bailey, Mutly Çerkez and Simryn Gill.
When: Until April 7


Regarding the Face is an exhibition by Alexandra Sasse, whose focus on a small select circle of models create a deep understanding of the language of painting and drawing and the intangibles of human presence through colour and line. It's held at Melbourne's fortyfivedownstairs.
When: Until March 3 - Tuesdays to Saturdays


Peter Macdonald, a self-taught artist who likes to engage in a realistic style of painting, will be exhibiting works at The Ryzowy Gallery of Creswick Woollen Mills. Well known for his portrayal of the Clydesdale, his style brings his subjects to life without being enslaved to fine detail.
When: Until March 13


Freshwater Saltwater is a travelling exhibition presented by the Australian National Maritime Museum, held at Geelong Gallery. The exhibition features works by Indigenous artists who have used printmaking techniques to record their traditional stories, designs and clan totems.
When: Until April 15


Wall of Seahorsel, held at the Centre for Contemporary Photography in Fitzroy, is a new series of works by New Zealand's Yvonne Todd. Curated by Serena Bentley, Todd's works feature the costumed inhabitants of an imagined community who connect through dance moves.
When: Until April 1 - Wednesdays to Sundays


This Is The Show, held at South Yarra's Mossgreen Gallery, is an exhibition of works by Rennie Ellis. A photographer and author, his images and words have titillated and tickled the public's imagination for years, leaving behind a treasure trove of images spanning over three decades.
When: Until March 3 - Closed Sundays


Tamworth Textile Triennial, held at Melbourne's RMIT Gallery, showcases a range of textile skills that challenge traditional ideas of the craft - from resist printed textiles to hand embroidered cross-stitch, metal wire knitted on a machine to cloth woven on a jacquard loom.
When: February 10 to March 24
Artist Floor Talk: March 22 - Bookings Required


Studio 12, a collective of Mornington Peninsula award winning artists, will present contemporary and traditional works at The Well in Camberwell. With artists demonstrating daily, some proceeds from the show will help support Biala Early Childhood Intervention Centre.
When: February 6 to March 3


objets de desir, held at Langford 120 in North Melbourne, is an exhibition of works by Jan Murray, who has focused on certain relationships between painting and its internal and external architecture by using the creation and installation of plaster simulacra of paintings.
When: February 2 to March 3 - Wednesdays to Sundays


Strandbeest, presented at Federation Square, brings to Melbourne the talents of Dutch artist Theo Jansen, whose kinetic 'artificial life' sculptures will be publicly displayed for a limited time. Fusing art and engineering, Jansen creates giant, self-propelling sculptural creatures.
When: February 1 to 26


View More Exhibitions


Expos, Launches, Open Days & Lectures
Better Homes & Gardens LIVE is finally coming to Melbourne offering a great family day out at Carlton's Royal Exhibition Building. With all your favourite Better Homes and Gardens TV experts on stage, there'll also be workshops, fun entertainment for kids and over 250 exhibitors.
When: Friday to Sunday, February 24 to 26


Jeff Hook TShirt Package Launch - Geoff Hook, one of Australia's most iconic artists, well known for his caricatures, realist drawings and watercolor paintings, has teamed up with Saint Side to release a limited edition TShirt Package. The launch will be held at Melbourne's Saint Side City.
When: Friday February 24 - 6pm to 9pm


Pottery Expo is an annual exhibition of unique works in ceramics, held on the banks of Warrandyte's Yarra River. With innovative ceramics by Australian studio artists, the expo includes demonstrations of pottery making techniques, clay activities, music and food.
When: Saturday & Sunday, February 25 & 26


New Age Healing & Psychic Expo, next appearing at Cardinia Cultural Centre in Pakenham, showcases jewellery, incense, salt lamps, crystals and more. Visitors to the expo can also have a personal psychic reading with experienced mediums, clairvoyants and tarot readers.
When: Sunday February 26 - 10am to 5pm


Best of the Independent Games Festival, presented at ACMI Cinema in Federation Square, gives kids the chance to play brilliant new games by indie designers for free with a showcase of favourites from the Independent Games Festival, dubbed the 'Sundance of the game world'.
When: December 20 to March 25


More Expos & Launches | More Open Days | Tinkertown


The Lion in Winter, performed by Heidelberg Theatre Company in Rosanna, is James Goldman's witty play of a thoroughly dysfunctional and fascinating royal family. With a setting of a 12th century Christmas, the play reveals themes that are no less relevant today.
When: February 23 to March 10


Tuesdays with Morrie, presented at The Basin Theatre, is a play based on true events that celebrates the power of friendship and those who make a difference in our lives. Written by Mitch Albom, it details his visits with an old college professor and friend with a terminal illness.
When: Until March 10 - Thursdays to Sundays


Due Paesi, Due Cuori, which translates to Two Countries, Two Hearts, is an Australia's first ever Italian theatre play with subtitles. Held at the Clocktower Centre in Moonee Ponds, the play draws on the true story of a young lady who finds her soul mate, love and the truth.
When: February 24 to March 4


The Seed, presented by Melbourne Theatre Company, is a witty and raw examination of family ties as it follows Rose, a writer who observes the reunion between her father and estranged grandfather. Featuring Sara Gleeson and Tony Martin, it's held at the Arts Centre.
When: February 17 to April 4


The Wild Duck, held at Southbank's Malthouse Theatre, is a taut, stripped-back rendition of Isben's modern classic with its characters cast into the contemporary world. A bittersweet portrait of family dysfunction, deception and denial, The Wild Duck resounds for a new age.
When: February 17 to March 17


Yes, Prime Minister, held at Melbourne's Comedy Theatre, is the live comedy from the original writers of the hit BBC TV series. Set in present day, in the oak panelled drawing room of the British Prime Minister's country residence, the play offers an engagingly funny look at politics.
When: Until February 26 Book Now


A Chorus Line, held at Her Majesty's Theatre, is the hit show that celebrates the unsung heroes of the American Musical Theatre, the chorus dancers. The production is a brilliantly complex fusion of dance, memorable songs and compellingly authentic drama.
When: February 4 to March 4 | Book Now


Melbourne Zoo Twilights offers the chance to enjoy music performed live at Melbourne Zoo with a fantastic program that boasts a great range of performers. Held on the zoo's concert lawn areas, each concert evening also includes special displays of selected species.
When: Until March 18 - Saturdays & Sundays


View More Live Gigs


Cinema
Rooftop Cinema flickers into action with film screenings of everything from cult favourites to new releases and documentaries, literally offering the height of entertainment with screenings held on the rooftop of Swanston Street's Curtin House along with the rooftop bar.
When: Until March 29 - Various Dates


The Shadow Electric, Melbourne's first large scale independent open-air cinema, is held within the beautiful grounds of the Abbotsford Convent. Along with screenings of quality films, the cinema also has a licensed bar with food, live music entertainment and a shorts film program.
When: Until April 29 - Thursdays to Sundays


Southgate Cinema presents films that include popular releases, art house films, documentaries and more right in the heart of Southgate. Free to attend, it provides an outdoor experience while remaining undercover inside the centre with screenings held under the open atrium.
When: Until February 29 - Tuesdays & Wednesdays - 7pm


Cameo Outdoor Cinema in Belgrave features state-of-the-art sound, stylish deckchairs and a whopping great screen. With a program of arthouse and quality mainstream films, they'll be screening first release films, offering a fantastic cinematic experience throughout summer.
When: Until April 14 - Various Dates


Ford Focus Moonlight Cinema, held at Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens, offers a program of latest releases, cult classics and contemporary films. A great way to spend a night out with friends and family, you can bring your own picnic or purchase food while there.
When: Until March 25 - Various Dates


View More Cinema


Melbourne For Kids
Teddy Bears Picnic, held at Rippon Lea House & Gardens in Elsternwick, invites children to bring a picnic blanket and their teddy bear for a day of fun. Highlights include a teddies parade and Ripplea Bear, who'll be joined by some very special guests.
When: Sunday February 26 - 10am to 4pm


Sand Sculpting Australia will again present a special display on Frankston's Waterfront with this year's theme of Toytopia featuring over 3,500 tonnes of sand carved into spectacular sculptures depicting dolls, teddy bears and other iconic childhood toys.
When: January 26 to April 26


Summer Groove Kids Concerts celebrate Melbourne Zoo's 150th anniversary with performances for children that include shows from Wild Aussies, Blinky Bill and Friends, Hey-Dee-Ho and many other special guests, offering a great chance to gather for lunch at the Zoo stage.
When: January 2 to February 26


Circus
Stardust Circus, Australia's largest circus with animals, will be holding performances in Cranbourne. The performance features lions, monkeys, Liberty horses and trick ponies, acrobats, Aerialists, the sensational flying trapeze, clowns and more for the whole family.
Cranbourne: Until March 4 - Wed to Sun


Silvers Grand Magic Circus will be appearing with performances held in Pakenham. Established in 1976, the circus offers a great show for people of all ages with performers including everything from jugglers and clowns to acrobats, international performers and more.
Pakenham: Until March 4 - Various Dates


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
Tea & Terroir is a workshop with internationally renowned tea expert May King Tsang, who will showcases how natural elements of a tea garden or region influence the distinctive flavours of tea. Presented by Tea&Sympathy, an independent specialty tea label, it's held in Thornbury.
When: Thursday February 23 - 6:30pm to 8pm


Poultrygeist, inspired by the cult film of a similar name, is a special menu presented by The Commoner in Fitzroy. Paying a cheeky homage to the Silver Screen throughout the year, special dinners will be on offer through selected months with unique cult movie inspired menus.
February Menu: Poultrygeist


Murder On The Puffing Billy Express presents a unique and intriguing night of murder, mystery and suspense aboard Puffing Billy's evening dinner train special. With guests invited to come dressed as their favourite Agatha Christie character, prizes are also offered to the best dressed.
When: Until November 22 - Various Dates


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
Football
AFL NAB Cup
Round 1 | Week 2
Geelong, St Kilda and Sydney
Friday February 24 - 6:45pm
Marvel Stadium, Docklands


Soccer
Hyundai A League | Week 21

Melbourne Heart v Central Coast Mariners
Sunday February 26 - 5pm
AAMI Park, Melbourne


Basketball
NBL Championship | Round 21

Melbourne Tigers V Adelaide 36ers
Saturday February 25 - 7:30pm
State Netball and Hockey Centre, Parkville


Motor Sports
Superbike World Championship, held at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, offers non-stop action, drawing the world's best riders along with locals that include Australia's Josh Brookes. The thrilling event also features a bike expo, live music, nightlife and much more.
When: Friday to Sunday, February 24 to 26


Bowls
Australian Open Bowls is the Southern Hemisphere's biggest and most lucrative bowls event. Held at Darebin International Sports Centre located in Thornbury, the event features singles, pairs and triples for both men and women with a six figure prize purse up for grabs.
When: February 19 to 25


Golf
Amateur Foursomes Championships, hosted by Riversdale Golf Club, include The Australian Men's and Women's Amateur Foursomes Championships. With both events played over 36-holes Foursome Stroke Play, they precede the Men's and Women's Riversdale Cups respectively.
When: February 14 to 24


Horse Racing
Sportingbet Park Race Days

Midweek Meeting (Hillside)
Wednesday February 22 - Gates Open 11am
Sportingbet Park, Sandown


TGIFebruary Friday Night Racing brings an added thrill to racing nights at Moonee Valley with Premium Night Racing also offering the chance to win up to $5,000 in the Dining Boxes during February.
Race Nights:
Fridays in February- Gates Open 5:15pm


Community Sports
Hits & Giggles Program, held at various venues, is a female only 6-week program designed to give women who have not played Squash or Racquetball the chance to learn and practice the basic skills of Squash or Racquetball in a social, non-intimidating and fun environment.
When: Commencing February 23 to 25


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


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Trivia & Humour
Shaggy Dog


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


How High... ICI?
Melbourne's first skyscraper was the ICI Building on Nicholson Street, East Melbourne, which now stands as the Orica Building. Until 1958, buildings had to be under 132 feet - the highest that fire ladders could reach at this time.

From November 1958 to 1961, after the law had subsided, the ICI Building was the tallest building in Australia.

Read more about Melbourne's Buildings History | Read Melbourne Trivia...


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