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Dandenong Festival of Lights

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For the first time ever, the captivating Chinese Cultural Works Light Spectacular is coming to Australia in September. Following successful tours throughout Europe and China, the Chinese Light Spectacular is set to amaze Melbourne with its Dandenong Festival of Lights.

The Dandenong Festival of Lights will provide an incredible Chinese cultural experience for the whole family to share and enjoy through its display of 32 beautiful and unique silk lanterns. The vibrant light displays, some of which are an impressive 20m wide and 8m high, come in all shapes and forms, including windmills, Chinese Zodiacs, dinosaurs and many more.

When: 6pm- 10pm, 11th September – 18th October 2015

Where: Dandenong Showgrounds, Greaves Reserve

Visit the website here.

The Bar that Jack Built

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Calling all electricians, carpenters, joiners, technicians, finishers, artists, designers and regular Joes. Jack Daniels wants to celebrate his birthday with you!

Jack Daniels is a mysterious man. No one knows exactly when he was born because there are no birth records, but it’s customary to celebrate Mr. Jack’s birthday every year in September.

Last year, In 2014, Jack Daniel’s created the world’s first crowd-sourced bar in Sydney to celebrate his birthday and honour his craftsmanship, style and uniqueness. This year, it’s being taken to a whole new level with the creation of the world’s first bar built on tour, completely crowd-sourced by fans.

So if you’re handy with your hands, crafty with your craft or just a general Mr (or Mrs) fix it all, Jack would like you to  donate your time and expertise in exchange for whiskey (of course) and an invitation to celebrate Jack’s birthday in style – in the very bar you help to build. Curious and crafty fans check out the dates to get involved here. 

And for the rest of us, “The Bar That Jack Built” will be open to the public in Melbourne for a Jack Daniel’s birthday extravaganza in Federation Square from 18 – 20 September.

Find out more information here. 
 

https://www.facebook.com/JackDanielsAustralia.

Melbourne turns 180!

Melbourne turns 180 years old!

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Did you know that Melbourne is almost 180 years old? This Sunday will  mark 180 years since Melbourne was founded on 30 August 1835 by settlers who sailed from Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania) aboard the schooner Enterprize.

Celebrate our fabulous city with these free events around town:

Official flag-raising ceremony

Join city councillors, the 2015 Junior Lord Mayor competition winner, Melbourne Day chairman Campbell Walker and committee, VIPs, dignitaries and others as we hoist the city’s flag at 9am.

  • Hear the 35-piece Royal Australian Navy Band Melbourne.
  • Meet the Enterprize’s “first settlers” in period costume — including Gilbert, the Tassie tabby, Melbourne’s first cat!
  • Sing along to sea shanties by the Enterprize Shanty Band.
  • See and hear roving town crier Brad Croft in full voice.
  • MC Sally “Dr Feelgood” Cockburn, of radio 3AW’s Talking Health show.\

Melbourne Day Free all ages concert

Melbourne-born music legends Daryl Braithwaite and Russell Morris headline our FREE concert on Sunday, August 30, in the Docklands — proudly sponsored by GOLD 104.3 with Brig and Lehmo.

Melbourne Day Market

The regular Docklands Sunday Market is celebrating our city’s 180th anniversary with a special, Melbourne Day-themed variety market. Open from 10am – 5pm.

Find out about more events and other special offers for Melbourne Day here. 

Free Disco Yoga at Queen Vic Markets

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Disco yoga is coming to Queen Victoria Market!

Blending beats with powerful Vinyasa Yoga and freestyle dance, Yoga guru Nickie Hanley introduces DISCO YOGA to Queen Victoria Market. Get your bend and groove on to the uplifting beats of a live house D.J. whilst delving into your inner thoughts.

Entry is free and there will be healthy giveaways and free tastings. Mats supplied by Lululemon.

Register here. 

Yoga for a Good Cause

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Yoga classes are often priced at $20 or more, but this Thursday I joined a wonderful yoga class, for little more than a couple of gold coins. After finishing work and jumping in a lift to the 15th floor of The Swanston Hotel, I hopped into position on a mat, looking out over the city of Melbourne while the sun was just beginning to set – what a view!  Our teacher, Lucienne lead us through a series of (sometimes challenging) postures, breathing, stretches and meditation.

I left feeling some soreness in my muscles but totally rejuvenated and knew I would be sure to sleep well that night.

It was the absolute perfect way to end the workday and my gold coins went to Mission Australia and I even received a little gift bag filled with herbal teas, bath & body products and a free class pass at the nearby Kaya Health Club, in return for my donation.

To find out more about events and news at The Swanston Hotel, Grand Mercure, sign up to their mailing list here.

Written by Guest Blogger, Sally Lord. 

hot chocolate

Hash Specialty Coffee & Roasters

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New to Melbourne, Hash Speciality Coffee & Roasters is the epitome of Melbourne hipsterdom. From the logo (yes, it’s a hashtag), through to their range of filter and cold brew coffees, this cafe, is one you’ll take your out of towner friends to, that will make them question why they aren’t living in Melbourne already.

While we chose to dine there for breakfast, one cooler Sunday morning we must admit that the main drawcard for us was the speciality hot chocolate – We even passed up coffee to drink it. You’ve probably seen the photos already, the one that makes you look twice and wonder how it even works. (To be honest, we thought the same thing). Served on a wooden board, their signature “Hash Hot Chocolate”, is made with Mork Dark Chocolate (80% cocoa)  and served with fairy floss to sweeten the bitterness. Pour the hot chocolate over the fairy floss over and watch it dissolve like magic. For $6 it’s a chocolate mouthgasm!

Image: https://www.facebook.com/hashcoffeeroasters/

Visit the Hash Specialty Facebook page here.

La Tortilleria

Hola Mexico

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Melbourne’s well-loved The Mission Foods Mexican Festival is back. This September 13, celebrate Mexican Independence Day with Melbourne’s top Mexican chefs, artists and musicians as they take over Federation Square.

Surrender your senses to Mexico in many different ways including:

Taste bud tour: Melbourne’s top Mexican restaurants have each been charged with presenting an authentic, regional dish from one of the 32 states of Mexico. Munch your way across Mexico with restaurants including Mamasita, Touche Hombre, Los Amates, La Tortilleria, Mexico City, Paco’s Tacos, Mesa Verde, Kikiriki, Guzman y Gomez, South American BBQ, Mad Mex, Santa Ana Tapas Bar, Taco Truck Chillis Mexican, El Sabor and many more.

Mexican Cantina/Bar: Taste the most famous traditional Mexican brew, tequila, from Jose Cuervo, the oldest active distillery in Latin America where tequila is produced with the Cuervo family’s unique recipes, expertise and handcraftsmanship. There’s also mescal, Mexican beer (Corona, Pacifico, Negra Modelo) and wine. The bar opens at 1pm. Tequila and mescal tasting sessions will also run during the day. Follow the Festival’s Facebook updates for more information about booking into a tasting session.

Viva Mexico Stage: presenting local Mexican musicians, folk dance groups, traditional Mariachi band, live salsa band, Mexican rock band, dance lessons, Mexican DJs and much more.

Mexican Market: a space for authentic Mexican handcrafts jewellery, clothing, Mexican food products and services

Window to Mexico: discover works from Mexican artists, traditional costumes from Mexico and read about the different regional cuisines of Mexico in the Atrium at Federation Square.

For the kids: Children can ahead to the dedicated the Mission Foods Kids’ Corner for some great kids and family activities.

WIN: To celebrate all things Mexican, we have partnered with Mission Foods Mexican Festival to give away give away a $50 Mexican food hamper from   La Tortilleria. To enter, follow the link and tell us in 25 words or less your favourite Mexican food and why. {THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED}

 

Lido cinemas

A Night at Lido Cinemas

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Having missed the opportunity to catch Dope at MIFF earlier this month, we have been eagerly awaiting it’s general release in Melbourne cinemas and on Thursday our wait was over. Lido were doing a special screening of it and we jumped to buy tickets. 

You may have been to Lido cinemas back in the day if you’re from an older generation, but for us, and what it seems like the whole audience (there was definitely a generation Y thing happening), we never got to experience it in it’s full glory. 

Lido Cinemas’ history dates back over 100 years, to when it first opened in 1911, but it hasn’t been a cinema this whole time. Closing down in 1960 to became a dance school, and then a cabaret theatre, the cinema then became an unused building about a decade ago.

Upon entering the building, you can still notice a lot of the old fixtures and setup, but it no longer is a dated cinema. Given a fresh new look with lots of bright green couches, lighting projections and an overall modern hipster feel. 

The food bar serves gourmet cheeses, toasted sandwiches, miso soup, dumplings and Edamame beans and the booths and tables seem to be the happening spot to hang out amongst the younger adults. 

Lido cinemas screens a range of movies, ranging from arthouse through to international blockbusters. They are also supporting local film producers, with the 8km radius – documentaries filmed and produced within an 8km radius. We got to watch the one about the corporal from the army barracks.

With their Rooftop Cinema opening in November, this cinema will surely be the place to hang out in the summer, we only wish we lived just a short walk away.

Visit the website here. 

Melbourne Cup Carnival Garden Party

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The Emirates Melbourne Cup is coming to Como.  Get dressed in your spring racing best and spend a leisurely afternoon filled with food and fashion at the Como House’s Melbourne Cup Carnival Garden Party.

The event will be spring racing themed with live entertainment and will include a silent auction with all proceeds going towards the ongoing restoration of Como.

When: 12pm – 4pm, Saturday 19th September

Where: Como House, Crn Williams Road & Lechlade Avenue, South Yarra

Cost: $65pp (limited tickets available)

We Know Melbourne readers receive a 10% discount. Use promo code CUP10 at time of booking.

Book: http://www.trybooking.com/Booking/BookingEventSummary.aspx?eid=148041&bof=1 Or contact (03) 9656 9889, bookings@nattrust.com.au

 

Shadow Thieves

A Sicilian Shindig

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Two of Melbourne’s finest (and yummiest) Italian restaurants, Bar Idda and Ombra Salumi Bar have joined forces this September for ‘A Sicilian Shindig.’ The evening will be a big feast to celebrate Sicilian food and wine, including dishes such as rabbit, agro dulce, verdura; arancini – pork ragu, peas, mozzarella; and cassata siciliana.

‘A Sicilian Shinding’ will be the first event in the monthly Shadow Thieves series. Stay tuned for the other collaborations they have up their sleeves.

Where: Ombra Salumi Bar, 76 Bourke Street Melbourne

When: 7 September, 6:30pm.

Cost: $75 per person with wine.

Visit the website here.