Category: MELBOURNE

Doing work drinks? Head to Baby Pizza in Richmond

Lasagne pasta

As the weather in Melbourne gets nicer and the sun stays up for longer, the time’s now to get your after-work drink on. And who doesn’t love an alfresco afternoon? With Baby’s new spring aperitivo special available daily from 3pm to 5pm until the end of November, there’s never been a better reason to knock off work early or gather your crew. Sip on a spritz for only $8.50, a Peroni or Rosé for $6.50, or try Baby’s newest cocktail, the elderflower Chandon Garden Spritz for $8.50.  Baby PIzza sits almost on the banks of the Yarra, offering direct access to after dinner walks and an uninterrupted route into South Yarra by foot, if you’e keen – or need somewhere for kick-ons. And if you’re thinking of a visit this month, don’t forget, in celebration of World Pasta Day on Friday 21 October, Baby are offering up $20 bowls of pasta for lunch – yes you read that right, $20 bowls of pasta! With the return of crowd favourite Cacio e Pepe for one day only, this is one special you definitely don’t want to miss.  For more and to make a booking, head to the Baby Pizza website

New local grocer, Leaf is open in Armadale Melbourne

vegetables

Leaf serves ‘village grocer’ vibes and there’s a new one opening in Melbourne. Leaf will welcome visitors this October and bring locals fruit and veg wholesale. The modern-look Armadale store will house a range of curated produce and high-quality ingredients. Hard-to-find products from local and international small-scale producers, whether organic, sustainable and conventionally grown and produced are set to line the walls and shelves, bringing a taste of local to the well-known, premier shopping destination. Like its Elwood and Hawthorn siblings, Leaf Armadale will offer in-store experiences to encourage the local community to shop and eat more sustainably. This includes the Australian-first self-pour Schulz Organic Dairy ‘milk bar’; a station where eco-conscious shoppers can bring in their own glass bottles to fill with fresh, quality Schulz Organic Dairy milk, reducing plastic waste and packaging. To compliment pour your own milk will be a full range of bulk grains, nuts and seeds to scoop yourself. Find Leaf Armadale at 833 High Street on Friday 30 September.

Mejico Melbourne is opening a new tequila bar in the city

Mejico Melbourne

One of Melbourne’s best Mexican restaurants, Mejico, is launching a new Tequila Bar above their vibrant and modern dining space this October. Located in the heart of the CBD in Pink Alley laneway, Tequila Bar by Mejico will offer a unique drinking experience for Melburnians, serving up one of the finest and largest selections of tequila and mezcal in Australia. A unique city destination for evening meet-ups to early hour sessions, Tequila Bar by Mejico will serve food and beverages from 9pm until 3am, Thursday to Saturday. Showcasing a signature tequila and mezcal cocktail list for guests to enjoy, the bar will also offer a selection of tasty late-night eats such as Daylesford Beef Brisket Empanadas and Jalapeño Poppers. For more, head to the Mejico Melbourne website

Swim in one of the most stylish pools in Melbourne – without a booking!

W Hotel pool

Summer’s on its way and that means the toggs are out and water is where you’ll find us. So, if you’re in the middle of town and in the need of a splash, head to the W Hotel in Melbourne, who’ve just decided to open up their pool without the need of a room booking. Bbook a poolside session Monday to Friday to relax and recharge in Melbourne’s most glamorous location – with 12HR access to WET, the hotel’s stunning pool with gold adorned roof and sweeping city views, steam room and fully equipped FIT gym. With a fruit platter and mocktail delivered to your sun lounge on arrival and access to order from the in-room dining menu throughout the day, W Melbourne has all the essentials covered down to towels, showers and lockers so you can simply sit back and relax. The perfect way to experience a stylish swim session with friends or family in the centre of the city – or better yet to spend the 9-5 working poolside and then recharge with a post-work dip. For more, head to the W Hotel website

At last, Sullivan+Strumpf art gallery opens in Melbourne

Sullivan Strumpf art

Melbourne’s reputation around the country and the world as the artistic and cultural centre of the Australian continent is hardly debated. So, despite the long waiting time, there’s no surprise that finally, Sydney gallerists behind Sullivan+Strumpf have decided that now’s the time to join the crowd. Further to their hometown of Sydney and second expansion into Singapore, Melbourne will now welcome a gallery in the northeast Collingwood, opening with exhibition by Tony Albert, Remark – a follow up to his sellout 2021 exhibition, Conversations with Margaret Preston. Opening in October 2022, the new 300sqm will showcase works by Sullivan+Strumpf’s impressive stable of leading contemporary Australian and Asia Pacific artists – amongst them Lindy Lee, Polly Borland, Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran, Tony Albert, Angela Tiatia, Alex Seton, and Darren Sylvester. For more and to plan a visit, head to the Sullivan+Strumpf website

Explore China’s past at the National Gallery Victoria in Melbourne

China art

Exploring the largest neighbour of Australia is now a lost easier with the latest exhibition at the NGV in Melbourne. The new exhibit named China – The past is present highlights the influence of traditional cultural and artistic practices in contemporary Chinese culture and is open this October from the 15th to 20 February 2023. The exhibition features more than 120 works drawn primarily from the NGV’s historical and contemporary collection of Chinese art and design, which, combined, span over three millennia and an array of art forms – including painting, calligraphy, ceramics, metal works, lacquer ware, textiles, furniture, video, posters, photography and mixed media.   Offering a new interpretation of the NGV’s expansive collection of Chinese art and design, the exhibition features never-before-displayed and recent acquisitions, including a photographic sequence by Sydney-based Xiao Lu, who is widely considered to be China’s first feminist performance artist and one of the best-known artists from China’s Avant Garde art movement of the late 1980s. In the photographs, the artist references traditional Chinese spontaneous calligraphic expression by tipping calligraphy ink over her body.  Tickets are free. For more head to the NGV website

Restaurant for father’s day: Best restaurants to take Dad this Australian Father’s Day in Sydney and Melbourne

Restaurant for father's day

Father’s Day is fast approaching on Sunday 4 September, so now is literally the time to get planning and making reservations to take the ol’ man if you’re not planning on getting him a gift! There are some great gift options and chances to win here, if you’re interested. NOUR Sydney Nour is a sophisticated dining space providing Sydneysiders with quality service and impeccable produce. With a fresh and exciting take on traditional Lebanese, Nour’s stylish food and signature cocktails have earned them the accolade as the best restaurant in Sydney on TripAdvisor. Dine from any available banquet menu this Father’s Day (September 4) and all Dad’s present will receive a $50 voucher redeemable across the ESCA Group. Book a table LILYMU Sydney Lilymu is where the culture, cuisine and traditions of Southeast Asia collide. Through an unrestricted approach in the kitchen and bar, Lilymu’s dishes and drinks are traditionally inspired and curated from China and South East Asia, incorporating a fresh, yet delightfully modern perspective. Dine from any available banquet menu this Father’s Day (September 4) and all Dad’s present will receive a $50 voucher redeemable across the ESCA Group. Book a table at Lilymu STOKEHOUSE Melbourne This Father’s Day, Stokehouse St Kilda is celebrating dads with a specially curated three-course menu by Executive Chef Jason Staudt.  Combining only the best seasonal produce and Australian beach luxe, the seafood-centric menu includes starters, your choice of main, sides and an incredible dessert by Group Pastry Chef Ash Smith.  You can expect to see fan favourites like Yellowfin… Read More

Time to see QUEER stories from the NGV Collection in Melbourne running out

Queer drag queen

The National Gallery of Victoria is exploring Queerness in its full space exhibition Queer: stories from the NGV collection, which ends this month, 21 August. As they say, QUEER shines a light on the NGV Collection to examine and reveal the queer stories works of art can tell. This exhibition of works from the NGV Collection spans historical eras and diverse media including painting, drawing, photography, decorative arts, fashion, video, sculpture, and design and explores queerness as an expression of sexuality and gender, a political movement, a sensibility, and as an attitude that defies fixed definition. And this month through closing weekend of the exhibition, the Gallery will host a schedule of free programs, talks, entertainment, and late-night access to the exhibition in case you missed it or need another visit. And if you fancy a party, well the NGV has that, too. The NGV Queer Climax: Closing Weekend Party is a free event hosted by Queer performer and Drag Queen, Aysha Buffet filled with an impressive line-up of iconic queer performers, bars courtesy of Yering Station (drinks available for purchase), and late-night access to QUEER: Stories from the NGV Collection. The line-up of performers has been curated by Ruby Slippers and is an epic showcase of talent for all to enjoy.  Make a free booking here 

Melbourne’s Affordable Art Fair is back this September

View from up top 2 inc Art to Art and Fenton and Fenton

Returning to Melbourne this September 2022, Uniting trusted galleries with avid aesthetes, the famed Affordable Art Fair aims to help people discover new artists and galleries and demystify the conventional art buying experience with highly visible and relatively affordable pricing. For a few days this September (1-4), the Fair will collate myriad art forms including painting, sculpture, photography and limited-edition prints. With something to suit all budgets, prices will start from $100 and cap at $10,000. Similar to the Affordable Art Fair of 2021, buyer’s will walk away with select pieces or arrange for delivery of larger or bulkier buys for their homes, places of work and collections. Exhibiting galleries include the coveted Martinich&Carran on Victoria’s Surf Coast, Prahran’s Fenton & Fenton, Studio Gallery founded by Melbourne artist Kerry Armstrong, and all-female collective, Tits & Co. Leading Australian online gallery Bluethumb will return for its second year with M Artist Collective making its Fair debut alongside JUMBLED and BlackCat Gallery. London’s Rebecca Hossack Gallery (RHG) headlines the list of international galleries with The Gallery Eumundi travelling from Queensland. The full list of exhibiting galleries can be viewed on the Affordable Art Fair website.

NGV Melbourne hosting a jewellery and body adornment exhibition

Man jewellery scaled

There’s a new a new display highlighting the NGV’s important and multidisciplinary collection and it’s all about your favourite thing: jewellery. The NGV will present an exquisite selection of works from antiquity to the present day, reflecting the wide variety of making traditions and practices across different material, cultural and geographical contexts. And why does it matter? Well, like few other disciplines around the world and from antiquity, it’s defined by a relationship with the body, jewellery and body adornment are among the world’s oldest known artforms. Drawn from multiple areas including Indigenous Art, Decorative Arts & Antiquities, Australian Art, Asian Art, Fashion and Textiles and Contemporary Design, the exhibition will range from the ceremonial and talismanic. Think from the decorative and conceptual. The display features work composed of dazzling, highly prized materials, such as precious gems, metals and iridescent seashells, as well as unexpected materials, such as hair, plastic and rubber, which challenge conventional thinking of what constitutes jewellery and its significance. Jewellery and Body Adornment from the NGV Collection will be on display from 27 August 2022 – 12 June 2023 at NGV International, St Kilda Road, Melbourne. Free entry. Further information is available via the NGV website: NGV.MELBOURNE