Month: March 2017

MICF Review: Desperate & Dateless

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As comedy shows go, Ginger and Tonic’s ‘Desperate and Dateless’ is funny but not overly hilarious…. however it doesn’t matter at all, this fabulous foursome of ladies in red have voices like naughty angels, offer all the fun and entertainment of  Pitch Perfect, but without the hideous cup song and put forward cheeky, relevant content about the modern world of being single, desperate and well…. dateless. Their repertoire was a mix of original lyrics to familiar tunes (our favourite, Tinderella, is one that we guarantee you won’t be able to walk away from the theatre without it stuck in your head), plus parodies and some straight up covers – including an awesome Salt n’ Pepa rap from Laura “Burzy’ Burzacott – fantastic! The 2017 Melbourne International Comedy Festival offering has taken a definite shift this year to be more inclusive and cognisant of the LGBTI community, it’s a refreshing move and one that unifies Melbourne’s festivals as cultured, educated, appealing and open to all, and we were exited to see that this show was on board …

MICF Review: Sink Full of Forks

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The first show we were invited to attend as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival was Jacqueline Mifsud’s – ‘Sink Full of Forks.’ Jacqueline is an already established performer, a co-host of the CH31 news satire program ‘The Leak’ and also works with Fox Sports as a warm up comedian, she’s someone who’s taken time to hone her craft and we, the audience get to enjoy the fruits of her labour. Sink Full of Forks (and yes, this phrase DOES get a well-linked reference in the material presented) is Jacqueline’s second MICF show and includes tales of her time in France rock-starring as an unpaid tour guide surviving on tips alone, references to meaningful conversations with staplers, heartbreaking woes of going through a break up as well some serious home truths for the intelligent, independent woman. Jacqueline is is charming and funny, and not just haha funny. We literally had tears running down our cheeks from laughter, even pausing after one particularly awesome punch line to have a ‘Pete-and-Manu-like knowing glance’ between us. This …

Stuck for the Easter Weekend? Hop on in…

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Who doesn’t love the Easter long weekend? Come rain or shine, Melbourne is ready to play with a variety of events and activities on across the city for all ages. Here’s our top picks: Kids Big and Small – Big Games Adventure at HarbourTown Oversized boardgames anyone? Enjoy lifesizes Hasbro, NERF HQ, Garden Games, a Jumping Castle and, of course, an Easter egg hunt. While you’re there, enjoy a ‘kids fly free’ deal, when accompanied by a full paying adult on the Melbourne Star. Keep an eye out for the roaming Easter Bunny, and be sure to collect your Adventure Passport – stamps collected from all five locations of the Free Games Adventure puts you in the draw to win an amazing Hasbro prize pack. Set amongst the shopping precinct of Docklands, enjoy up to six hours of parking for only $10, and explore a variety of local food and beverage options to refuel. When: Daily from 11am till 2pm, 3rd to 17 April 2017 Where: Harbour Town     Old traditions made new – …

Top 5 – MICF Under 30 Club

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We’re always keen to check out some up and coming Melbourne International Comedy Festival performers to round out a full festival experience, and 2017 will be no exception. Not only are tickets to these shows cheaper than larger more established names, you’ll also get the supreme pleasure of saying to your friends in 2 years’ time…. ‘I totally saw them before they were huge..’ Enter, our top 5 picks for shows this festival featuring comedians under 30 who are making their mark (or already have) this MICF. Sam Taunton – Taunts Down for What Sam was a RAW Comedy finalist and has self-appointed himself as Australia’s premier yarn man. His show covers important topics like his regretful teenage years, travel, and whether he cleans his bed enough. 30 March – 23 April 2017. Tickets and more information on MICF website. Becky Lucas – Little Bitch Becky has previously written for TV’s Please Like Me, and has already opened for big names like Wil Anderson and Joel Creasey. Her show, Little Bitch has been described as …

Craft & Co pasta making workshop melbourne

Be a Pasta Master

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Where can you find a place to learn, eat and drink? At The Craft & Co workshop! We attended their pasta making class, and gosh did we love it. Don, the head chef of the restaurant teaches you step by step how to make the perfect pasta at home. This informative class also provides you a booklet which you can take home. On top of everything, the décor of the restaurant is rustic and earthy. The class is held just in front of a room where they brew beer. The class begins with Don explaining how to perfect your pasta from making the dough. He gives you time to ask as many questions as you desire. (Here is a small tip from Don if you are unsure how much flour you need for just two people – 300 grams will be plenty!) Don then shows you how to make different types of pasta – spaghetti, tortellini, ravioli and more. The best part of the class is that you get a hands-on session and actually make …

Our rather large MICF giveaway

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We know how it is. Every year the Melbourne International Comedy Festival rolls around, you lose your mind trying to plan ahead and see as many shows as possible, and then just end up missing out on everything. What if we took that planning away from you. What if we had a huge bunch of FREE tickets to giveaway, to check out some seriously talented performers. And what if you could take a friend? Well, all of your little Melbourne Comedy Festival dreams have come true. We’ve got double passes to see all of the shows listed below, just take your pick, enter below before the listed cut off date and you’ll go into the draw. Check back here regularly as we add new performances to this list. It’s that simple. Terms and conditions of entry available here. The Comedy Zone Where: Trades Hall – Old Council Chambers, Cnr Lygon & Victoria Streets, Carlton When: Monday, 3 April @ 8.15pm Catch these exciting new stars in action before they’re breaking news worldwide. Do not adjust your sets – these …

2017 MICF Interviews

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The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is returning in 2017 with a spectacular line up of local and international performers in over 500 shows – running for four, hilariously entertaining weeks. We caught up with three local performers, and got their thoughts on the festival, tips on how best to enjoy it and the inside oil on their upcoming shows…. Gillian Cosgriff – 8 Songs in 8 Weeks What about the MICF gets you excited? Seeing as many shows as I can, especially new ones. This year I’m hanging out to see Liam Ryan, Double Denim, and Alice Tovey. Also, eating my own body weight in potato cakes. What’s your top three recommendations for visitors to Melbourne to get the most out of MICF? 1. Take a chance on a show you’ve never heard of before – a new venue, a new genre of comedy, someone who flyers you in the street. 2. Go to the Festival Club to see a bunch of comedians in one show. It’s a great way to find a comedian you …

Choose Trainspotting Live

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You know the drill. Choose life. Choose a career. Choose a family…. Choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players and tin can openers.. and so in. We all know it, we all love it, and an exciting news, this cult-classic Irvine Welsh novel adaptation is hitting Melbourne stages from 22 March – 13 April 2017. Not many people know, but the stage adaptation of Trainspotting was actually written before the movie was made by Harry Gibson. Presented by Andrew Kay, Associates and Kings Head Theatre, and in it’s 21st year, it continues to simultaneously make it’s audience laugh, cry and cringe as they are fully immersed into the heroin-fueled world of Renton, Begbie and Sickboy. Trainspotting is entirely immersive, meaning you as the audience are actually a part of the story. It’s pitched as raw, uncomfortable (in the best ways possible) and kicks off with a rave complete with strobe lighting and glow-sticks – so you know it’s going to be non-stop. It comes with a warning: Don’t wear your best clothes….. we say, ‘Choose casual comfort.’ Where: fortyfivedownstairs, 45 Flinders …

Soko – Abbotsford

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Soko is a high-end Japanese restaurant hide-out in Abbotsford where you can dine and be inspired by their beautiful, delicate plating and their Scandinavian-style décor. Spoil your taste buds with traditional Japanese dishes and delicious Malaysian fusion rice bowls. Soko is owned by two talented businessmen from Japan and Malaysia (hence the Malaysian fusion), which serves up mainly cold dishes like sashimi and sushi, plus Sinzuku ramen & craft beer. The chefs at Soko are all trained in Japan. Their sushi chef worked in Japan for 8 years and their ramen master has worked in Japan for 10, so the quality and taste is of the highest, traditional level. We recently visited Soko to check out their fabulous menu and fell in love with the intricate, artistic plating and relaxed, minimalist ambiance. Our favourite item of the menu was Soko’s Kingfish Carpaccio, which comes with kingfish sashimi, radish, cucumber, and a cucumber and wasabi sorbet. It was extremely refreshing and every mouthful was full of flavour, their inclusion of the cucumber and wasabi sorbet definitely …

Giveaway: A Few Less Men

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A FEW LESS MEN, is the hilarious sequel to the worldwide hit A FEW BEST MEN, and follows the story of a destination wedding in Australia’s Blue Mountains, which goes horribly wrong when one of the main characters, Luke gets drunk and falls off a cliff. The rest of the  boys, David (Xavier Samuel), Tom (Kris Marshall) and Graham (Kevin Bishop) suddenly find themselves transporting their friend’s corpse back to London, where his grieving Aunt is planning the funeral. When their private jet crash-lands in the bush, the boys must carry the body across the treacherous landscape, resist some sexy ravers, dodge a machete-wielding mother, all in a race against time to return Luke home. It opens in cinemas on 9 March, and we’re giving away one, in-season double pass, to five lucky winners, to check it out for themselves. Entry is simple via the form below, and closes 5.00pm Monday 6 March 2017. Competition has now closed. Terms & conditions available here.