Author: We Know Melbourne

The Village Festival

Celebrating it’s 10th birthday, The Village Festival returns to Edinburgh Gardens this October. Part old-school circus, part village carnival, and part edgy arts festival, the festival is the perfect one to welcome in the summer festival season. The birthday festivities will feature  four days and nights of creativity, curiosity and craziness. With a program full of interpretive dance, theatre, and kids performances, this is truly an event with something for everyone (and their dog!). When: 29 October – 1 November 2015 Where: Edinburgh Gardens, Fitzroy North Visit the website here. 

The Coburg Drive-In Food Truck Festival

The Coburg Drive-In Food Truck Festival returns this week and this time the food trucks on rotation are Sliders on Tyres, Taco Truck, Smokin Barrys, Real Burger, Flamin Lamb Spit, Nem N’ Nem, Korean Fried Chicken, Brazilian Bites, Manny’s Donut Café plus more! Round up the gang and catch either The Walk or 2D Burnt! The perfect way to spend a warm Spring evening. When: Wednesday, October 21 & Thursday, October 22.  Where: Coburg Drive in Visit the website here

Fitzroy’s 127 Brunswick Street

Opening just in time for summer, 127 Brunswick Street is the newest dining spot on the ever popular Brunswick Street. Taking over the old man’s pub, the Old Colonial Inn, the newly revamped 5 story venue, 127 Brunswick Street is the works of Vince Sofo and Paul Adamo, owners of St Kilda’s Esplanade Hotel. Exploring the venue this week, there’s several spots from which to choose to dine or drink. There’s Ichi Ni Nana Izakaya on the bottom floor, Village People Hawker Food Hall on the next floor up, and Upside Rooftop and Bar, of course on the top floor. Each has their indoor and outdoor dining space, making them the perfect place to enjoy dinner on a balmy summer’s evening. We opted for Ichi Ni Nana Izakaya after a couple of wines at Upside Rooftop. We had heard such positive reviews of Ichi Ni (in St Kilda) so are our expectations were high, and we’ve got to say that it lived up to all the hype. Offering up a tapas-style menu, we had difficulty trying to pick …

The Changing Face of Victoria

Take a step back in time and discover the people, places and events that have shaped Victoria. From Ned Kelly’s original armour, to letters from World War One and images of Coles 100 years ago, the Library’s historic collections of photographs, personal accounts and artefacts will delight and amaze.  New items and stories are added to this exhibition twice yearly, revealing different aspects of the Library’s historic collection. Visit The Changing Faces of Victoria exhibition in the octagonal, fifth-level balcony of the State Library’s Domed Reading Room. When: 1 Jan 2014 – 31 Dec 2016 Where: State Library of Victoria Visit the website here. 

Federation Bells

Birrarung Marr’s Federation Bells are a set of 39 bronze bells that chime out more than 30 compositions three times and the City of Melbourne with Arts Victoria are giving the public the opportunity to  compose the music for Melbourne’s Federation Bells. Head to  www.federationbells.com.au, where you can create a virtual multi-track masterpiece using the 39 distinctive bells. Publish your composition and you can hear it played on the Federation Bells installation in Birrarung Marr. Listen out for the bells ringing each day between 8am to 9am, 12.30pm to 1.30pm, and 5pm to 6pm. When: 22 Jan 2014 – 20 Nov 2016 Where: Birrarung Marr Visit the website here.

Unset Typologies

‘Unset Typlogies’  by Izabela Pluta, explores how the nature of photomural wallpaper enables observers to hypothesise the existence of a past and glimpse the possibility of a future while inviting us to contemplate the relentless renewal of the CBD over time. Commissioned by the City of Melbourne Public Art Program, her photomural banner depicts a transitional site, where light fittings, ceiling panels, vents and lights are suspended as a result of a building’s transformation. When: 30 Jan 2013 – 30 Dec 2015 Where: CitiPower Substation, 620-640 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne, Visit the website here. 

Andy Warhol | Ai Weiwei

What do you get when you cross one of the most influential figures in contemporary art and culture with one of the leading Chinese contemporary artists of this time?  The biggest contemporary exhibition Melbourne has ever seen! This December, NGV International will be showcasing the works of Andy Warhol and Ai Weiwei for Andy Warhol | Ai Weiwei,  before it moves onto The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh. “Developed by the NGV and The Andy Warhol Museum, with the participation of Ai Weiwei, will explore the significant influence of these two exemplary artists on modern art and contemporary life, focussing on the parallels and intersections between the two artists’ practices. Surveying the scope of both artists’ careers, the NGV exhibition will present over 300 works, including major new commissions, immersive installations and a wide representation of painting, sculpture, film, photography, publishing and social media.” There’ll be over 200 of Warhol’s most celebrated works ( including the famous screens such as Campbell’s Soup, and celebrity portraits, sculpture and installation, and an extensive selection of film, music and publishing; …

Voices from Afghanistan Exhibition

The Voices from Afghanistan exhibition will display over 850 objects illustrating the experiences of Australians at war and in peacekeeping operations, from Pre-Federation to the present day, with a particular focus on individual and unit stories of Victorian service and sacrifice. The  temporary exhibition is located in the  Galleries of Remembrance, a $45 million Victorian Government redevelopment that utilises 1,600 square metres of undercroft space that exists beneath the Shrine of Remembrance and will present the perspectives of participants, of those affected by the war – both in Afghanistan and in Australia – and of eyewitnesses to the conflict. When: 11 November 2014 – 27 March 2016. Where: Shrine of Remembrance Visit the website here. 

Ben and Jerry's Open Air Cinemas

Ben & Jerry’s Open Air Cinemas

Ben & Jerry’s Openair Cinemas are back again this Summer and will be lighting up Brisbane in October and November before travelling to Melbourne in December and Sydney in January and February. With a jam-packed program full of old classics such as Grease, through to the latest blockbusters (such as Black Mass and The Martian), there’s no better way to spend a balmy summer’s evening. As always there’ll be tasty food and frosty beverages from the licensed bar, along with live music from  exciting emerging Australian musicians. When: 29 November – 20 December 2015. Where: St Kilda Visit the website here. To celebrate their return, we have 5 double passes to each of those cities to giveaway. To win, just ‘tell us your fave Ben and Jerry’s flavour and why in 25 words or less’ ! Competition closes 20 November 2015 This competition is now closed. Visit the full program here.  We Know Melbourne tip: Head down to the Sunday screenings (aka ‘Sundae Session’) for a dedicated live music event with FREE Ben & Jerry’s ice cream for …

Midsumma Festival

Melbourne’s annual queer celebration, Midsumma Festival returns this January for another great 2 weeks full of arts and culture spread over 85 different venues. Bringing together a mixed bag of artists and performers, the festival will include events and activities such as visual art, theatre, cabaret, live music, parties and film. When: 17 Jan 2016 – 7 Feb 2016 Where: various venues across Melbourne and regional Victoria Visit the website here.