Yayoi Kasuma makes more history at NGV Melbourne
This summer, the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) in Melbourne invites you to lose yourself in the extraordinary universe of Yayoi Kusama.
FOOD & DRINK, ARTS & CULTURE, LIFE & TRAVEL
Tag: melbourne
Melbourne food festival in the suburbs you need to visit
Hold onto your hats and ready your taste buds because the 7th annual East Malvern Food & Wine Festival is making its grand return. Coming to the stunning Central Park on Sunday, November 17, 2024, from 12 noon to 6 pm. This isn’t just any old gathering—it’s a gourmet gala that’ll have your senses singing. And guess what? Entry is absolutely free! Yes, you heard right. Free as a bird. Set against the lush backdrop of Central Park, this festival is a tantalizing tapestry of the finest wines, scrumptious food, and toe-tapping tunes. Picture this: you, a glass of Victorian wine in one hand, a gourmet treat in the other, all while swaying to live pop-up musical performances. It’s not just a festival; it’s where your weekend dreams come to life. Speaking of wines, prepare to be spoiled for choice. We’re talking about a lineup that reads like a who’s who of Victoria’s finest: Petronio Wines, Steels Gate Wines, Noble Red Wines, and so many more. Whether you’re a connoisseur or just love a good tipple, there’s something to suit every palate. And if wine isn’t your thing, don’t fret! Our local craft beer heroes, Hop Hen Brewing and Two Doors Brewing, along with top-notch distillers like Hobson Distillery, have got you covered. Feeling peckish? The festival’s food scene is a smorgasbord of culinary delights. Dive into Bao Melbourne’s fluffy clouds of goodness, or spice things up with Spanish Paella. There’s sushi, arancini, dumplings, wood-fired pizza—it’s a food lover’s paradise. And for the sweet-toothed among… Read More
Melbourne: best mid-week dining deals
Heading out mid-week for knockoffs or a quick bite to eat with family is still very much on the agenda, thanks to these amazing Melbourne hotspots offering specials that cater to every palate and pocket. Whether you’re in the mood for sipping cocktails by the picturesque Yarra River or munching on wood-fired pizzas in the charming suburb of Kew, there’s a deal out there to make your week infinitely tastier. Here’s a rundown of some of the best midweek steals happening right across Melbourne. Yarra Botanica – Margarita Mondays Studley Park Boathouse – 2 for 1 Pizza Fargo & Co – Luxe Thursdays Get ready to spice up your mid-week routine with these delightful deals in Melbourne. Who says you have to wait for the weekend to treat yourself?
Discover the home of Australian whisky at Starward’s new distillery and bar precinct
After winning 24 Double Gold medals in 2 years, Starward goes even bigger with its recent unveiling of a brand-new distillery tour and bar experience.
Embark on a memorable New Year’s Eve dining experience at Stokehouse
Get ready for an extraordinary culinary journey this New Year’s Eve at Stokehouse. With a curated 4-course dinner by executive chef Jason Staudt, this dining experience promises to be truly unforgettable. Starting from 7pm, guests will have the opportunity to indulge in opulent pre-dinner delights at STOKEBAR. Picture yourself savoring freshly shucked oysters and premium canapés, perfectly complemented by the light and crisp tones of Pol Roger champagne or one of Stokehouse’s signature cocktails. Once seated, prepare to be wowed by a stunning caviar service featuring Polanco Oscietra caviar, harvested in Uruguay and adorned with Stokehouse’s unique garnishes. Following this luxurious starter, guests will be treated to a show-stopping dish of poached southern rock lobster, melon gazpacho, and buffalo curd, all crafted using locally and sustainably sourced ingredients. For the main course, guests can choose between two premium options: an aged and glazed Macedon Ranges duck or King George whiting with summer peas and salmon roe caviar butter. These dishes will be accompanied by a choice of two sides, including a refreshing Ramarro farm tomato and stone fruit salad, as well as hot chips with citrus salt. To cleanse the palate, a refreshing lemon sorbet with Bellarine extra virgin olive oil will be served before moving on to the grand finale. Indulge in a popcorn mille-feuille with salted caramel ganache and old-fashioned baba, meticulously crafted by Head Pastry Chef Ash Smith. This decadent dessert is the perfect ending to an extraordinary dining experience. As you celebrate the new year, Stokehouse’s extensive cellar offers a wide… Read More
Vue de monde and Lui Bar: A Fresh New Chapter Begins
Australia’s crown jewel in the culinary world, Vue de monde, alongside its sibling bar, Lui, and premier event space, are back at Melbourne’s Rialto Towers, unveiling their fresh and exciting new faces after a three-month hiatus. Vue de monde, renowned at both national and international levels, presents a distinctive dining room and a kitchen that have both been significantly revitalised. Executive chef, Hugh Allen, shares his enthusiasm over the improvements, “The transformation of Vue de monde and Lui Bar, a project several years in the making, is finally complete. The hiatus provided us with the time we needed to craft exquisite menus for both the restaurant and the bar. We eagerly await our loyal clientele’s reactions to the changes and look forward to welcoming new guests to our venues.” Vue de monde, under the leadership of Executive Chef Hugh Allen and General Manager Hugo Simoes, introduces an all-new 18-serving menu. This menu harmoniously mingles familiarity and innovation, continuing Vue de monde’s tradition of showcasing top-notch Australian producers. Lavish dishes include grilled lamb sweetbreads paired with asparagus from Koo Wee Rup and fermented macadamia sauce; padrón peppers stuffed with heirloom eggplant cooked in wild nasturtium oil, and a decadent two-part marron serving. The dining room now boasts signature Vue de monde tables by Ross Didier and kangaroo hide table tops by Theo Hassett, enhanced lighting, and an overhauled private dining room featuring a bespoke hand-blown light feature by Leisa Wharington. The open kitchen, a long-standing Vue de monde signature, also receives a major upgrade. Lui Bar,… Read More
Jewish International Film Festival is on across Australia this October
This year, the Jewish International Film Festival (JIFF) returns to Australian screens from 23 October – 6 December, presenting a diverse array of enchanting and enlightening tales from Jewish cinema worldwide. Boasting 55 Australian premiere films from 19 countries, the Festival programme includes 30 feature films, 20 documentaries, two series, and six short films, alongside a suite of live events across Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart, and the Gold Coast. According to Artistic Director Eddie Tamir, the 2023 JIFF reflects the timeless resilience and adaptability of the Jewish spirit, offering a remarkable line-up of films from the deepest roots of Yiddish culture to Australian stories and boundary-pushing tales. He described the Festival as an immersive journey that reflects on the past and acts as a beacon for the future. The Festival begins with the Australian Premiere of ‘Matchmaking,’ Israel’s biggest blockbuster of 2023. This romantic comedy, directed by the mastermind behind ‘Magic Men’, has won the Audience Award at the Miami Jewish Film Festival and takes audiences on a journey with Moti Bernstein, an Ashkenazi ideal who defies tradition for Nechama, a Mizrahi beauty. As for Australian stories, JIFF 2023 invites audiences to delve deep into history and emotion. ‘Revenge: Our Dad the Nazi Killer’ thrusts viewers into the post-WWII era, where three brothers uncover their father’s suspected revenge spree against Nazis. The closing night film, ‘The Jewish Nazi?’, follows the astounding journey of Alex Kurzem, made “Hitler’s youngest soldier” by a Latvian Nazi battalion after the massacre of his Belarusian family. The Festival’s… Read More
Bell Shakespeare Announces 2024 Season
For the first time in over a decade, Bell Shakespeare presents a thrilling new production of King Lear. Staging this epic work in an intimate setting promises Australian audiences a fresh and captivating experience unlike any before. Bell Shakespeare’s 2024 season also sees the triumphant return of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, set to tour at over 23 venues throughout the nation. This ambitious undertaking aims to reach areas it failed to visit in 2021 due to the pandemic-related disruptions. Artistic Director Peter Evans adds a thought-provoking dimension to the season with In A Nutshell: The Poetry of Violence, exploring Shakespeare’s depictions of violence. In an energetic statement, Artistic Director Peter Evans said, “Welcome to Season 2024, where we relish Shakespeare’s highest achievements in the ridiculous and the sublime: A Midsummer Night’s Dream and King Lear. The season promises a unique blend of the familiar and the new, comedy and tragedy, the ridiculous and the sublime.” Kicking off the season at the Sydney Opera House from 6 – 30 March, Shakespeare’s classic comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream promises magic, mirth, and mayhem. This production, which had already toured to several regional venues in Australia in 2021 before COVID border closures disrupted remaining dates, is set to return in 2024 at 23 venues across New South Wales, Western Australia, Victoria, and the ACT. After a lengthy hiatus since 2010, King Lear, directed by Peter Evans and starring Robert Menzies (Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet) in the titular role, is set to make a grand comeback. Premiering in Sydney… Read More
Get your booking for Drag Brunch Sundays at The Smith, Prahran Melbourne
Sometimes brunch can be boring. To remedy that, you need a little glitter in your life. Enter The Smith Prahran, offering up Sunday brunch options that serve food, yeah, but offer up the snacks the likes of Max Drag Queen up as the main dish in all her glamorous glory. A two-hour brunch package that includes a brunch dish and bottomless spritzes, you’ll be entertained by Max and Jaw Breakers’ DJs Kali and Sabrina. For the menu and to make a booking, head to The Smith Prahran’s website.
Changing your drinking habits: What’s Your Story?
Over the next two weeks, Melbourne will come alive with three artwork installations that highlight one thing: the drinking culture in Melbourne is taking a shift. But, is it for you? The City of Port Phillip, City of Stonnington and City of Melbourne are all coming together this summer to highlight a fundamental shift in the way Melbourne locals approach their drinks. They hit the streets and targeted people from the ages of 18 to 24 who enjoy pubs, visit clubs and are out ’til all hours, making the most of Melbourne’s renowned nightlife. What did they find? Three poignant quotes from hundreds of people they collected stories from that really shone a light on some promising shifts in the approach we might be seeing towards drinking and drinking culture. Hot tip: it’s a healthier one. Aptly titled What’s Your Story? – see it at @whatsyourstorymelb on Insta – it formed a new campaign by the three local governments that is about asking participants a series of questions relating to their nightlife experiences in Melbourne and relaying the three core approaches to drinking culture that exist now into interactive artwork around the city. It’s all a part of VicHealth’s Alcohol Culture Change Initiative which aims to change cultures of risky drinking in Victoria. “Music is all I need” was the first of three installations to make its way to Queensbridge Square (15 February), before the other two take an even rotation to give each message a natural moment in the spotlight. It’s reflective of a culmination of quotes… Read More