New Venue - Red Bennies

Out on a Saturday night on Chapel Street is not always on my radar of a great night ( traffic, queues, hoons, and an acute awareness that time has changed... The New Orleans, The Black Prince, Greville street amazing furniture markets... oh dear! was is that long ago..)

And - when I am told we are heading the old Viper Room... hmmmm - really??!!

BUT.. The guys behind Red Bennies are up to adding a new slice of amusement to this strip...

We went to the 3rd of three opening nights, on Saturday, and were greeted with a room full of a supportive and funky crowd.. comedic MC, yoyo mime act, and a couple of Burlesque acts including swings and parasols as apparatus.. - though would have loved more!

Some live music the crowd danced to, finishing up with 2 good DJ's and a few more waxed Moustaches than I had expected to see. (The circus is in town after all I suppose...)

I left with a certainty I'd be back, and that the venue will continue to improve as a spot to watch for in the haze of sameness in Prahran / South Yarra Chapel Street.

Fiona

Flash Girls occupy Bar Nancy in Northcote

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but for Michael Brady it's also in the flaws of human composition. In Flash Girls for the 2010 Midsumma Festival, Brady presents harlots of the nineteenth century and Vogue cover models of the twentieth century, continuing his exploration of the concept of beauty and the role of the façade. The result is a new series of contrastive black and white paintings revealing subjects that appear surgically enhanced or unrealistically beautiful. On closer view however, this façade veils a heavily textured surface of cracks, lumps and other imperfections rendered in plaster, acrylic, enamel spray and ink.


While Midsumma 2010 is (sadly) coming to an end, Flash Girls will remain open to the public until at least March, as a semi-permanent installation in the northside Bar Nancy (which doubles as Vivurtu Gallery). See Michael’s latest works (all for sale) at the bar during regular opening hours - installed high above the front bar or tantalisingly low in the back room, where each flash girl occupies her own private booth. Naturally, they are best viewed after dark, with a cocktail in hand.

Bar Nancy is open Tues - Sun 5pm - late

Michael can be contacted on 0430 111 061, or michael@arcadepublications.com

To Market.. to Market.. Sisters Market!

So yes there is another Market that has come within my radar..

so many these days...

Maru designs directed me this way... and if you have done the Rose Street Market thing.. then perhaps this another option!?

Brunswick Town Hall 233 Sydney Road, Brunswick

Saturday 13th Feb - 10am-4pm

Trop Fest... Sunday 21st - Melbourne venue still TBC!

It started for us as just a little bit of curiosity... but Tropfest is high on our Melbourne ( Australian) calendar of Must Do's - especially when its free!
Tropfest - an amazing showcase of amateur and professional short films that are exclusively made for this festival... they must include a signature item somewhere in the film each year, ( this year the item is DICE ) and the film must be of a specific length, so each film entered has never been publically seen before.. then a final group of 16 are presented in a simulcast style event ( beamed out of Sydney) its a laugh, inspirational, and always surprising who you may see on the screen...
Traditionally its been at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in the Kings Domain - Melbourne... so lets hope if not there.. its as fabulous..
Grab a cooler bag, a few epicurean supplies, and pull up the picnic rug.. and settle in Sunday 21st.. we will let you know where when we know!

Drink - your shout... make the most of this Summer"sunshine week

We know its not Friday yet... but wow.. if only it was!
Seamstress... or should I Sweatshop - basement hang out... brings Chinese New Year good times early... and 5-8pm Every Friday 'til Autumn... :)            - pic supplied by Seamstress..

Here's a deal to wash away working day worries
all so very retro too:)

Cooler Cups with a refreshing blend of seasonal fruit and vodka, all elegantly topped off with a West Coast Cooler - $8

Gents, come to the party with a Coopers Green for a fiver, or have two for a tenner... One for you, one for Barry. Cheers!

Wash away bad 'round the water cooler chat' from the week in the air-conditioned basement or enjoy the sunshine in the courtyard.

Laneway Festival 2010

Its a discrace I know, I never got to the Real laneways festival in the City urban laneways... some may say I am not a true believer... but know this... I was there, next to it, in the crowds, working! :) so this year... it came to be that I could venture off, and join the throng of 2010!

Here is a little pic of Dappled Cities... too much in their GOLD one piece suits on back to front... in 36degrees.. madness ... :)

XX, Florence and the Machine, as well as youngsters Frowning Clouds kept the folky vibe upbeat... NICE work Footscray!

Fiona

So if you are like me, the re-discovery of a label is always like finding an old friend...!

this little pop up shop in Collins Two3four is just the same, and this time we may actually be friends...

Well after buying 2 dresses last friday... it could be love...

Say hi to Rosemary... the designer and WATCH this label...

dont miss out!

Fiona... :)