Latest Posts

Winter Fashion in Melbourne

Published by

Stuck with old hoodies and track pants this winter? Then we have the perfect five Melbourne CBD stores to visit that will have you setting the fashion standard this winter.

Dangerfield – Funky, vintage, alternative, fun and unique. These are just some of the terms that come to mind when stepping inside a Dangerfield shop. They offer a great variety of seasonal fashion and accessories to stand out from the crowd this winter, including classy throw backs from their revival and princess highway ranges or the Dangerfield range that brings out the inner grunge.   

224 Flinders St, Melbourne

Topshop – Need a complete rebuild of your winter wardrobe? Then the ever popular Topshop is a must. As one of the worlds biggest fashion retailer brands, Melbourne Emporium’s multi-level store will have you overwhelmed with the wide range of sleek on-trend selections, from formal business attire to casual hip street wear. Either have a light browse by yourself or book an appointment with one of their personal shopping assistants, specially picked to help you find your particular style.

 Emporium Shopping Centre, 287 Lonsdale St, Melbourne

Monster Threads – For those who love to add a more artistic element to their choice of fashion, Monster Threads integrates edgy casual wear with fun character illustration, street and folk art. Quirky t-shirts, singlets, jumpers and hoodies are sure to lighten the mood whenever you slip one on, especially accompanied by a range of designer knick knacks such as tablet sleeves, notebooks and pencil cases.

Shop 9, Centreway Arcade, 259-263 Collins St, Melbourne 

Forever New – Another on the must visit list for winter fashion in Melbourne is the ever growing Forever New collection. Boosting a large variety of quality in-season fashion included stylish knit wear to keep you warm through those cold nights and trendy boots to keep your feet dry. Bargains are always there for the taking for those with the keen eye, with prices kept at a generous level.

Melbourne Central 164 Lonsdale St, Melbourne  

100 Squared – A boutique market located in Melbourne Central Shopping Centre, 100 Squared is seen as a breeding ground for up and coming local designers by showcasing their new designs and inspiration. Enjoy the laid back approach that is shown when you browse through the items on display, without the pressure to buy or move on. This out of the box market certainly fits right within the trend-setting scene of Melbourne.

Ground and Level 1 Melbourne Central, Melbourne  

Start your wardrobe makeover by booking your stay in Melbourne at Ibis Little Bourke Street. Book your stay with Ibis Melbourne Little Bourke and enjoy a free breakfast plus $25 off each night.* Book the Winter Offer here.

shopping-uz3e0

*Book before 3o September. Valid for stays from 1 June until 9 October 2016.

 

A lazy brunch at Street Talk Café

Published by

Last weekend, we crossed the river to the south side to Street Talk Café for a late, lazy brunch. Positioned on the High Street, diners have the option of sitting on the tables on the street, inside the cafe or out the back in the undercover courtyard. As lovers of sunshine, we chose the front.

Opening late last year, Street Talk Café is the brainchild of Dean Fouritz and is a simple celebration of coffee and delicious, locally sourced produce, culminating in hearty, wholesome fare. Greek, Italian and Middle Eastern spices are fused in what can simply be described as flavours with extraordinary substance.

We must admit that everything on the menu sounded delicious and we had such a hard time deciding, but after we heard the recommendations from Dean, we knew we had to order the Iron Mike. The dish is described  as cauliflower florets, fresh green peas, yellow lentil puree, toasted chickpeas, burnt lemon, poached eggs, almond flakes and oregano salt. A well-balanced dish in terms of texture and taste with a burnt lemon providing the right tart to the dish. The Iron Mike is a tasty alternative to the usual breakfast fare that you find at other cafes. 

IMG_3011.JPG

Balancing ourselves with a healthy option, we also opted for The “OG” Acai Bowl – with unsweetened acai berry puree, gluten free granola, seasonal fruits + Co-yo. We forgot to ask what the OG stood for but we can say the bowl was a KO for knockout! The staff reminded us that the bowl was unsweetened so it might be a little less sweet than what we were used to, but we didn’t notice it being unsweet at all. The dish was beautifully presented – almost designed for Instagram, and the flavours had us converts of ordering acai bowls where ever we go to see if any could top it, as this bowl was just perfect.

As sides, we also got to try treats from the cabinet including the vegan bread, which they make in-house and a Berry muffin topped with a Tim Tam.

Street Talk Café is a little gem on High St in Armadale. Perfect for a relaxing afternoon catching up with friends over delicious food.

Visit the Street Talk Cafe website.

The Life of a Circus Oz Performer

Published by

Rob Curtis was always destined to be a  star circus performer. Starting tap dancing and juggling at the age of 11, it wasn’t long before he joined his first circus at just 15 years old. Fast-forward to many years later, Robbie is now a member of the Circus Oz family where he is a juggling, tumbling and acrobats master. We had a chat with him about all things Circus Oz.

 

Robbie, you started your circus career at such a young age! Was it always a childhood dream that you got to live out?
I was very physical as a youngster. I knew from very early on that I wanted to do something physically creative for a job. When I joined the Flying Fruit Fly Circus and discovered acrobatics and dance, I knew that was all I ever wanted to do!

 

You definitely have the most fun job of anyone we know, but we can imagine it’s some pretty serious work as well! Can you tell us  what you love most about being a performer in CircusOz?
What I love most about being a performer is the opening night of a new production. There is an air of nervousness, apprehension and excitement in the air. You’re always supported by the ensemble but you have no idea what the audience is going to think and you
just have to believe that the hard work you’ve put in during rehearsals will result in an amazing show.

 

Can you tell us your funniest/weirdest moments in your time at Circus Oz?
When you work at Circus Oz, every moment is either funny or weird!

 

Why do you think audiences love Circus Oz so much?
Circus Oz is an Australian icon. It’s been entertaining audiences for nearly 40 years and people that went to see Circus Oz as kids are now taking their kids! Overall I think audiences love Circus Oz because it celebrates community, humanity, hilarity and diversity.

 

Why should everyone see the upcoming TWENTYSIXTEEN this June?
TWENTYSIXTEEN is a fabulous new show and still classic Circus Oz. It’s full of mind-blowing physical feats, hilarious tricks, live music and you’re guaranteed to have a ridiculously good time.

Finally one of your talents is juggling. Want to give us any tips so that we can show off some circus skills to our friends?
Just start by throwing an object in the air and attempt to catch it with your other hand. Go back and forth and repeat, adding more objects when comfortable. Preferably start with small objects that don’t break or bite.

 

TWENTYSIXTEEN runs from 15 June to 10 July 2016 at the Circus Oz, Big Top Birrarung Marr.

 

The Desperattes: A Lady’s Guide to the Art of Being a Wingman

Published by

‘You can be my wingman any time….Bulls***! You can be mine.’

Quite possibly the second best quote from one of the greatest Tom Cruise movies of all time, and line I desperately wanted to drop after seeing this supremely talented trio hit the stage. I want to borrow them next time I’m out on the town… in fact the entire audience did.

As a moderately recently single lass (but not quite at desperate status), I was more than intrigued by the name of this all-girl group, the fabulous show name, and seeing their hot pink beehives in real life. So armed with one of my best actual-girl-wingmen, off we trot, wine in hand to get some tips from these sharply dressed women of the shocking pink hair.

We weren’t disappointed. I’ve come home with a list of fabulously hilarious pick up lines as long as my arm (I’m not sharing as I’ll spoil the show), as well as every single female orientation of the term ‘cock block.’  

A Lady’s Guide to the Art of Being a Wingman  is true feminism without even trying, a cheeky turn of the tables on the ‘wolf pack’ hunting behaviour (some) men apply when out on the town with their mates.

But, wingman tips aside, this was a musical, and a fun one at that. These ladies can sing, and not just individually. Their harmonies were so joyful to listen to. This entire show was an absolute pleasure to watch. We laughed, so hard. We sang along.

I even cried (a little bit). Sharp, satirical and relatable with the voices of Motown angels. A winning combo.

The Desperettes themselves are made up of the gorgeous Daisy (Belinda Hanne Reid), Delilah (Lisa Woodbrook) and DeeDee (Natasha York). Their show wrapped up on Sunday 15 May.

Where: Butterfly Club, 5 Carson Place

Italian Wine & Food Festival

Published by

Enjoy everything that’s good about eating and dining in Italy at the Italian Wine & Food Festival. Debuting this year, the festival will bring together the best Italian cooks from Melbourne including Johnny di Francesco (400 Gradi) and Rosa Mitchell (Rosa’s Canteen + Rosa’s Kitchen) who will be headlining the show.

Shop until your heart’s  content with over 200 of Italy’s finest wines plus salumi, cheese, pasta, coffee, olive oil, gelato and pastries at the Gourmet Traveller Food Market. If you want to learn how to cook authentic Italian cuisine like Nonno, there’s be demonstrations from 400 Gradi, Caterina’s Cucina e Bar, 38 Chairs, Trattoria Emilia, La Bonta, Bar Idda and Saluministi.

Spend the whole day there or even make a night of it with DJs playing the best Italian vinyl and European track until 9pm. Buon appetito!

When: 11am – 9pm, Sunday 29 May

Where: Royal Exhibition Building

Visit the Melbourne Italian Wine & Food Festival website.

 

Get your body moving at a Silent Yoga Disco

Published by

If you’re anything like us, you’ll be struggling to find the motivation to exercise in this colder weather. The old boring routine at the gym doesn’t seem to be as fun in winter, especially when you could be sitting in front of the TV or drinking vinos next to a fireplace. Enter Flow After Dark Silent Yoga Disco! After a massive sold-out Sydney event, the next chapter is coming to Melbourne this May

The Disco session will be 90 minutes of all-level Vinyasa Yoga led by Flow Athletic co-founder, Kate Kendall, to the fluid beats of Sydney DJ, James Mack. Partnering with Silent Sounds, Style Runner is bringing fun back to winter exercise.

When: 7pm – 9pm, Tuesday, 14 June 2016

Where: Melbourne Town Hall

Visit the Flow After Dark website.

Melbourne’s Must Eat Winter Dishes

Published by
Baby, it’s cold outside. If all you’ re craving is something hot to warm you up from the inside out, brave the cold because these winter dishes are worth coming out of hibernation for!

 

Pork Buns–Tim Ho Wan
Join the lines at the world’s cheapest Michelin-star restaurant, because Tim Ho Wan’s world- famous pork buns are worth the wait.

Oven baked gnocchi – Solarino

Flavoursome balls of goodness. This pasta dish is the perfect winter comfort food.

Hot & Spicy Boneless Fried chicken  – Sam Sam

Crispy on the outside, juicy and tender on the inside. Ain’t no thing like a fried chicken wing.

The Godfather – Hakata Gensuke

If you can handle the heat, we’d recommend ordering the Godfather level 2 – it will warm you up from the inside out. Be warned, it’s super spicy!

Squid Ink Tagliolini , squid & bottarga – Tipo 00

Cooked to perfection, this rustic dish is perfectly complemented  with a winter red wine.

Brisket Reuben – 5 Points Deli

A classic Reuben  that comes with sauerkraut, swiss cheese and Russian dressing. It’s friggin’ huge so share it with a friend or if you’re anything like us, you’ll want it all to yourself.

food-z54h8

Melbourne on a Budget

Published by

If you’re strapped for cash, but still want to get the best out of our city these five activities will give you the best bang for your buck without putting a dent in your wallet.

Eureka Skydeck

Conquer your fear of heights and get a bird’s eye view of Melbourne from the Eureka Skydeck. Tickets are only $20 for an 88th floor view.

Half Tix

Still a word of mouth secret even to local Melbournians, Half Tix is a box office located at Melbourne Town Hall, offering heavily discounted tickets to most shows and activities that are currently running around the city such as theatre shows, tours, river cruises, comedy and festival events. The only catch is the tickets are for the day of performance or event but if you have a flexible schedule, this shouldn’t bother you.

Free Walking Tour

The tour that we recommend starts from the State Library of Victoria (at the front of the Sir Redmond Barry statue) at 10:30am each day and runs for approximately 2 ½ hours. Its a great opportunity to take your Melbourne experience to another level by absorbing the rich history, culture, art, architecture and even those hidden lane ways and bars you have heard about.

Asian Beer Café As you may already be aware, having a drink in the Melbourne CBD can be quite damaging to the wallet! Enter local favorite, the Asian Beer Café. Located in Melbourne Central Shopping Centre, this hidden gem offers a relaxing venue to let your hair down, without melting the credit card in the process.

Scienceworks Museum  An ideal choice for those visiting with children, or adults who are still children at heart, the Scienceworks Museum offers a spectacular range of themed exhibitions and interactive displays that will keep all children and adults entertained while learning about the wonders of the scientific world. Tickets to the museum are free for children/concession holders and around $14 for adults.

 

Festival of Steve

Published by

A day for the modern man.

Celebrating the dapper gentleman, the annual Festival of Steve returns to Melbourne this May. Taking on a new location at Federation Square, the festival will gather designers, retailers, purveyors of classic merchandise, stylists and outfitters to rejoice in being a thoroughly modern gentleman. This year’s program will include a series of talks:

12pm – Scorsese Curator Talk. Presented by ACMI in partnership with Festival of Steve.

2pm – Scorsese, Style and Masculinity. Presented by ACMI in partnership with Festival of Steve.

4pm – The Rise of Men’s Style. Presented by Festival of Steve in partnership with Executive Style.

Along with the talks, you’ll be able to taste some of Melbourne’s finest food and beverages while chatting to some of the best-groomed men of Melbourne.

Get your beard oil ready!

When: 11am – 6pm, Saturday 28 May

Where: Federation Square

Visit the Festival of Steve website.

Community Dining at Tamil Feasts

Published by

The We Know Melbourne team are always looking for new and exciting places to eat, places to try that are bit different, but still delicious and provide a true gastronomic experience. Last night we discovered just that! Heading out to Ceres in Brunswick we joined a community of diners who had to come to try Tamil Feasts.

Tamil Feasts is a social enterprise supporting recently settled asylum seekers through the celebration of food and culture. Initially starting just over a year ago, the feasts were initially only supposed to be a one-off event, but they were so popular they had to hold more. They now serve twice-weekly feasts (vegetarian/vegan on Tuesdays, meat/vegetarian on Mondays) , prepared by four Tamil men currently seeking asylum in Australia.

Our feast last night was a 3 course vegetarian banquet which started off with bhajis, a small flat cake or ball of vegetables, fried in batter. Delicious and crispy, it was the perfect dish to whet our appetite! The feast then continued to include a thali type plate serving a mixture of curries including Capsicum & Potato Curry, Green Leek Dahl, Banana Chilli Curry and Garlic Chutney. Each a flavour explosion on their own, the curries had the right amount of spice without burning our taste buds (although we must admit, we do love spice), with our favourite being the Banana Chilli Curry. We couldn’t help but go back for seconds! To finish off the banquet, we were served a vegan style dessert that is found all across Sri Lanka, the jangerey. The fluorescent orange colour of the dessert popped off the plate and the sweetness of the dish was the perfect way to end a giant feast.

Bhajis
NIro, Sri, Nirma, Nigethan
Jangerey

While we are raving about the food, the experience itself took it up another level. Before our main course we got to hear from the four Tamil chefs, Nigethan, Sri, Nirma and Niro, and their story of how they got to where they are now. For most of them, they had been locked in detention for up to 6 years before getting this opportunity to become chefs of Tamil Feasts, which created immediate part-time employment for them, providing them with a pathway to future work within the hospitality industry! Along with the volunteers of the evening (it’s National Volunteer Week, so shout outs to them), they were able to run Tamil Feasts every Monday and Tuesday! Humble and gracious, their speeches filled our hearts with joy and we realised that by eating here, we were eating for a cause (and of course, amazing Tamil food). The whole evening was an intimate affair, with the opportunity to meet and talk to the Tamil men to hear their stories, and also to meet and connect  with others on our communal table.

We walked away from the evening with our hearts filled, our bellies full and of course a takeaway container full of Tamil curries for lunch for the next day!

When: 6:30pm Monday & Tuesdays, weekly

Where: Ceres, Brunswick

Visit the Tamil Feasts website.

We Know Melbourne tip: Bring cash if you want to buy alcoholic drinks at the bar and make sure to keep $5 aside for your takeaway container!
Dine for $20 this Tuesday, 17 May! Email us at ask@weknowmelbourne for the special deal!